Kids

NJ Cat Cafes: Purr-fect for Feline-Loving Kids and Families

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 2:00pm

If you're a cat-lover who craves a new place to sip a cappuccino while enjoying some downtime with your kids, then you're in luck: the cat cafe trend has officially arrived in New Jersey. Three kitty cafes have opened in the Garden State since July 2016—in Asbury Park, Rahway, and Palmyra—and the best part is, they're all kid-friendly. Guests big and small are encouraged to pick up a toy and get down on the floor to interact with the cafe's feline friends. For kids who go gaga for kitties, it's a cool alternative to a traditional indoor play space—and, since all of the four-legged residents are up for adoption, you just might leave with a new best friend.

Read on for more about NJ's three cat cafes and get ready to plan an a-meow-zing visit.

Fearless Girl Statue Set to Move to New NYC Home

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 10:22am

Fearless Girl, the bronze statue put up in NYC by an investment firm last year ahead of International Women's Day, is about to get a new, long-term home in the city. The guerilla-style art installation was meant to bring attention to the lack of women in senior-level management positions and became an instant selfie magnet for women and girls of all ages.

It has spent the past year staring down the Charging Bull in Bowling Green Park. She's also directly across from the New York Stock Exchange in the Financial District.

15 Houston Mother's Day Brunch Spots to Reserve Now

Submitted by Carrie Taylor on Tue, 04/24/2018 - 10:26pm

Whether you're looking for a spot to take your own mother (or grandmother, or any other mom figure in your life you'd like to celebrate), or you would like to forward this list along to the significant other as a mildly subtle "hint hint," we have 15 ideas for a drool-worthy Mother's Day brunch. Many of these spots, which are listed in no particular order, offer lunch and dinner if brunch isn't your thing and range from elegant to casual chic. All of them offer a meal mom is sure to remember!

8 Free Cinco de Mayo Celebrations that Are Great for Families

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 04/24/2018 - 1:58pm

First let's set the record straight: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, and—while the festivals might look similar—confusing the two holidays is as gringo as, say, putting pastrami in a taco. (Actually, scratch that—LA is pretty darned proud of its pastrami tacos.) Let's simply agree that just because the US named its independence holiday 4th of July doesn't mean that Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) is Mexico's independence day. What the day actually celebrates is an underdog Mexican victory over a French military attack on Puebla, Mexico in 1862. The holiday is mostly observed in Puebla and in Southern California, where there's little mention of the French, but much swinging at piñatas and dancing to mariachis. After all, by the first weekend of May, who needs more excuse than that to revel in the sunshine?

Butterflies and Birds: Where You Can Interact with Them on LI

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Tue, 04/24/2018 - 1:30pm

You know what they say: Birds of a feather flock together. Well, on Long Island they seem to flock to nature preserves, centers, sanctuaries, and farms. Flutter around our area and you can get up close with some beautiful butterflies, too. But don't just wing it — we have the skinny on hoo to see and where.

Need another animal fix? Visit our zoos and gardens guide. Many outdoor petting zoos operate on a seasonal schedule, opening in spring or summer, and closing in fall before the snow arrives.

Review: Gaming with the Franklin Institute's Newest Exhibit

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Tue, 04/24/2018 - 12:00am

For the avid gamer in your family or for the nostalgic parent who wants to show off their Asteroids skills, Franklin Institute’s latest exhibit GameMasters, one of the many things new to Philly in 2018, gives gaming savvy families a fun way to spend an hour or two in the city. I recently took my young children to check out the new exhibit and here’s what we found.

Petting Zoos Near NYC Where Kids Can See Farm Animals

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Mon, 04/23/2018 - 3:00pm

We're so fortunate to live in a city that offers an incredible array of fun spring activities for kids, but sometimes I fret over the disconnect from nature. I want my daughter to be as comfortable in the country as she is in the urban jungle, so we're always looking for ways to get out of NYC and explore the expansive farmland that borders the city.

While you can meet some furry friends at the city's wonderful zoos, and even get hands-on at their mini petting zoos, there's something particularly special about enjoying an authentic farm setting. We've rounded up our top petting zoos and animal havens to get some serious face time with furry friends. Get ready to load up the family for a day of donkey petting, goat bottle-feedings, and sheep shearing.

Here are our favorite spots for an up-close animal encounter, all within two hours of NYC.

Outdoor Go-Karts Around Houston: The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush

Submitted by Ashley Jones on Mon, 04/23/2018 - 2:41pm

On your mark, get set, go! Take the wheel and head toward one of these family-friendly go-kart tracks in the greater Houston area. Feel the wind in your hair as you whip around hairpin turns and race down straightaways toward the finish line. Go the extra mile at these fantastic outdoor tracks, many of which also offer fun activities such as laser tag, mini golf, and arcade games.

Cirque Du Soleil's Volta Is an Artful Adrenaline Rush

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Mon, 04/23/2018 - 12:00pm

Cirque du Soleil's Volta show, which just landed in the greater NYC area, is a feast for the senses. From a stirring score to exhilarating acrobatics and heart-stopping thrills, the newest Cirque spectacle captivated audience members of all ages at the performance my 10-year-old son and I saw Sunday afternoon under the Big Top at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it will run through May 6.

Volta also plays at the Nassau Colesium on Long Island, beginning May 17, and at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, starting in July.

Flushing's Peek-a-BooO Play Area Brings Super-Sized Kid Fun

Submitted by Sally Chaffin Brooks on Mon, 04/23/2018 - 10:00am

Kids in New York City are used to making the most out of small spaces, so when you find a wide open place where they can roam free, it’s a real treat. At over 6,000 square feet, Flushing’s new play space, Peek-a-booO, is a super-sized delight. And it’s not just huge, it’s filled with modern, bright, fun climbing equipment, ball pits, interactive games, toys, and so much more!

Read on to find out all the details about this massive new Queens indoor play area.