Rosalind Muggeridge

Rosalind Muggeridge spent 10 years working at non-profit museums in London and NYC before transitioning to freelance writing after having kids. She spent 4 years as the events editor at NY Metro Parents. A long-time Brooklyn resident, Rosalind and her family love calling the borough home.

Latest posts by Rosalind

Best Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in NYC 2025

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Sun, 12/07/2025 - 10:17am

Il Gattopardo serves a seafood-inspired feast in honor of the Christmas holiday.

Tired, holiday-weary parents: This list of family-friendly restaurants open on Christmas in NYC is a gift to you. In the craziest of seasons, booking a reservation at one of these family-friendly NYC restaurants takes one thing off your to-do list. Most of these NYC restaurants are serving scrumptious Christmas meals in-house, but if you'd prefer to dine in the comfort of your own home, we've got you covered there, too, with a handful of restaurants that happily cater your Christmas feast.

Find plenty more seasonal picks in our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Fun and kid-friendly eats for any occasion—or none at all—in our Family-Friendly NYC Restaurant Guide.

The Most Unique Christmas Trees in NYC You’ll Want to See (and Snap!) this Holiday Season

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 12/02/2025 - 2:26pm

The tunnel through the Christmas tree at 1221 Avenue of the Americas is a delightful surprise! Photo by Jody Mercier

New York City sparkles with Christmas trees on every corner, but some standouts go way beyond twinkling lights and classic ornaments. From dazzling museum creations to quirky neighborhood wonders, these are the most unique Christmas trees in NYC that families flock to each year. Each is as photogenic as it is imaginative.

Whether you’re hunting for an off-the-beaten-path Christmas tree in NYC, planning a festive family itinerary, or just looking to refresh your holiday photo roll, the city is packed with unexpected delights—think intricate origami, vintage toys, and even construction cones turned into holiday magic. Read on for the most creative, must-see NYC Christmas trees that make the season shine a little brighter.

Best 2025 Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in NYC

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Fri, 11/21/2025 - 8:31am

Enjoy the magic of Christmas in Dyker Heights as the neighborhood lights up for the festive season. Photo courtesy of Dyker Heights Lights

'Tis the season for brilliant Christmas lights! Every year it seems the Christmas light installations in New York City get more elaborate, making a visit to the top holiday lights displays a must-do seasonal activity.

We've rounded up the best holiday light displays in NYC. Most of these attractions are in the far-flung stretches of the five boroughs, such as Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, the Rockaways and Howard Beach in Queens, and on Staten Island, but all of these holiday houses are worth the trip.

So, start your own holiday tradition this year by checking out these spectacular Christmas lights when dusk hits. To find more seasonal fun, visit our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday Fun.

What’s Open on Thanksgiving in NYC? Places Open for Family Fun in 2025

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Sun, 11/16/2025 - 7:17am

Bring your skates and hit the ice for free at Bryant Park. Photo by Colin Miller

Whether you're a local or a visitor, you may be wondering what's open on Thanksgiving Day in NYC. Once you've watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float through town, this list of fun things to do on Thanksgiving Day in NYC is filled with kid-friendly activities that go beyond feasting on turkey. From museums, ice rinks, and cultural attractions to shops and grocery stores, discover what’s open on Thanksgiving for families in NYC

All our top picks for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend can be found in our Guide to Thanksgiving in New York City. From all of us at Mommy Poppins, we're wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving. We're grateful you're here with us.

14 Family-Friendly Restaurants in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Thu, 10/23/2025 - 11:53am

Dig into a freshly scooped cup at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream's Williamsburg shop. Photo courtesy of Van Leeuwen

Whether you're a local family or visiting NYC with little ones in tow, Williamsburg, Brooklyn bursts with family-friendly dining options that make eating out with kids a breeze. From casual taco joints with playgrounds nearby to pizza spots where picky eaters are always happy, this hip Brooklyn neighborhood has plenty of restaurants that welcome kids with open arms—and often, high chairs.

We’ve rounded up our favorite Williamsburg, Brooklyn restaurants that cater to families, offering everything from stroller-friendly spaces to kids' menus, outdoor seating, and quick service. These spots aren’t just tolerable with kids—they’re actually enjoyable for the whole crew.

Here are our 14 top picks for the best family-friendly restaurants in Williamsburg, where kids can eat (and wiggle) happily while grown-ups enjoy a great meal, too.

Beetle House NYC Serves the Spookiest Dinner in Town—But Is it Kid-Friendly?

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 10/21/2025 - 9:57am

Costumed character and spooky decor are trademarks of a night out at Beetle House NYC. Photo by the author

If your family loves Halloween, Tim Burton, or anything delightfully creepy, you’ve probably seen Beetle House NYC pop up in your feed. With its year-round haunted vibes and costumed characters roaming the dining room, this unique restaurant promises the creepiest dinner-and-a-show-style experience in town. But is it worth a visit, and if so, is it family-friendly? We recently checked it out with kids in tow to find out if it lives up to the hype—or the fright.

No matter the season, find all our picks for family-friendly eats in our NYC Kids' Guide to Restaurants, plus all our spooky season must-do's in our Halloween Fun Guide.

Launch Trampoline Park Lands in Brooklyn with Wall to Wall Play

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:22pm

Launch's new Bay Ridge location is a welcome addition where city kids to expel some serious energy!

Launch trampoline park has landed in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, transforming the old Modell’s space on 86th Street into a high-energy indoor playground that’s already drawing crowds of local families. With wall-to-wall trampolines, giant slides, a climbing wall, and arcade games, Launch brings a much-needed indoor entertainment destination to South Brooklyn—especially welcome as colder months approach and parents look for active, weatherproof places to let kids burn off energy.

For more indoor play spaces, check out our list of the 24 best kids' indoor playgrounds and play spaces in NYC, and bookmark our NYC Kids Guide to Sports Centers, Gyms, and Fun Zones in NYC for even more romping spots.

NYC Hotels with Views of the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on Fri, 09/19/2025 - 11:23am

Take in views of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the JW Marriott Essex House New York.

Chances are you're not even thinking about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade yet. After all, we still have Halloween to get through! But anyone familiar with NYC hotels will tell families looking to book an NYC hotel room where they can watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2025 to begin doing so up to a year ahead of time. If you want to score one of these NYC hotels with a view of Snoopy, Spidey, Bluey, and friends, you've got to plan in advance.

It's not just NYC tourists who splurge on hotels for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We've had many New Yorkers write in asking which NYC hotels look out on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. While some of these NYC hotels still have availability as of this writing, call right away, as everything will likely sell out. If you do get shut out, it's worth checking closer to Thanksgiving since there are sometimes last-minute cancelations.

Rosalind Muggeridge

Latest posts by Rosalind

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