Donald Eng

Donald Eng

Latest posts by Donald Eng

What’s Open in Coronavirus Shutdown: Hikes, Games, Art You Can Do While Social Distancing

Submitted by Donald Eng on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 11:15am

With social distancing practices putting the kibosh on the normal slate of early spring activities, parents who have spent the past week as a homeschooler/school nurse/short-order cook sure could use a break. Thanks to our Coronavirus Guide for Parents, families have turned to some terrific online options like virtual museum tours and concerts or clever podcasts to keep kids entertained. However, many of us would love some new ideas for getting fresh air or connecting with our community without screens.

We scouted the area and found some great local activities that families can still do safely, from a coastal birdwatching walk to take-out craft projects from some of our favorite local art studios. Please check in with these spots and local restrictions before heading out to make sure visits are still allowed, and remember to observe social distancing guidelines of keeping yourself (and kids) at least 6 feet away from non-family members. Have fun—and hang in there.

June GoList: Best Things To Do with CT Kids This Month

Submitted by Donald Eng on Sun, 05/26/2019 - 3:00pm

With school winding down and camps just getting started, June really is the perfect month to devote to family fun. It's Connecticut Trails Day from June 1st to 2nd, so consider kicking off the month with one of these short, easy hikes that are perfectly suited to kids. Highlights this month include lots of festivals, front porch concerts, fireflies and pirates. Of course our Summer Fun Guide and events calendar are chock-full of more ideas, but if we had to choose our very favorite June activities, these picks would make our top 25. Have fun out there!

Columbus Day Weekend: Parades, Scarecrows, and Taste

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 10/04/2017 - 4:13pm

It's Columbus Day Weekend, and the annual three-day holiday weekend includes the usual family activities like the annual Columbus Day parades in New Haven and Bridgeport. For a more traditional autumn-focused outdoor activity, check out the annual Southington Apple Harvest Festival, which draws an estimated 100,000 visitors each year. If you're in the mood for a little fall flavor, there is the annual Taste of Fairfield featuring two dozen restaurants, breweries, and food vendors, and the annual Mystic Chowder Days where you can indulge in clam fritters, fish tacos, shrimp po'boys and eight different bisques and chowders. With the kids off from school Monday, it's a perfect chance to have an extra family day exploring the 165 interactive exhibits at the CT Science Center, or any one of these 50 Things to Do With Kids on Columbus Day. As always, we recommend calling ahead in the event of rain to make sure outdoor events are still on.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Fun: Harvest Fairs, Waterfalls, and a Celebration of Nature

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 2:25pm

Summer weather is scheduled to make a comeback this weekend, with unseasonable temperatures expected to climb back into the mid-80s Saturday and Sunday. The warm sunny weekend is perfect for checking out Connecticut's largest annual agricultural fair. There's more outdoor fun to be had at the Fair Weather Acres Fall Festival and in Newington at the annual Waterfall Fest. Head to Trumbull for a celebration of crisp fall apples, or just relax and spend some time learning about that most peaceful of critters, the monarch butterfly. As always, we recommend calling ahead in the event of rain to make sure outdoor events are still on.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Fun: Fall Festivals, Bats, and a Celebration of Apples

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 2:34pm

With Labor Day weekend behind us, the fall season is officially here. School is back in session, making weekend fun with the kids even more precious. Celebrate at harvest and autumn festivals in Hebron and Ledyard. Enjoy everything apple at the St. Peter's Apple Festival. If you are looking to stay indoors, the Wadsworth Atheneum's free admission Saturday is this weekend, as is UConn's annual community puppet-making workshop. As always, we recommend calling ahead in the event of rain to make sure outdoor events are still on.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Fun: Hot Air Balloons, Country Fairs, and a Celebration of Native Culture

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 08/23/2017 - 4:16pm

For most people in Connecticut, this is the unofficial last weekend of summer, as school districts start opening for the 2017-18 school year next week. But there's still time to enjoy the fun options that abound in the state this weekend, including a hot air balloon festival, sunflower mazes, and the Last Roar of Summer at the Yale Peabody Museum. When the sun goes down there is also plenty to do, including a food truck feast, or a post-game fireworks display at the ballpark.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Fun: Waterski Show, Pirates, and All Things Italian

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 5:55pm

The dog days are upon us, and soon it will be time for back-to-school shopping. But there is still time for a few more weekends of summer fun. For starters how about learning about the history of the very first airplane flight, which took place right here in Connecticut (no matter what North Carolina says). For more down-to-earth fun, learn about the role pirates played in Colonial trade. And after you've worked up an appetite, refuel with pizza, porchetta, sausages, pastries, and gelato at the 50th Annual Italian Festival. As always, in the event of rain, be sure to check that your intended activity is still on before jumping into the car.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Weekend Fun: Carousel Stories, Pirates, and Connecticut's Coney Island

Submitted by Donald Eng on Wed, 07/26/2017 - 12:46pm

Summer is racing by at breakneck speed, with the last weekend of July already upon us. In addition to the numerous fairs and festivals this weekend there are a number of unique events perfect for a family with kids. For starters how about spending a day as a pirate? You can also learn about the history of carousels and their animals, and even celebrate reaching summer's halfway point. As always, in the event of rain, be sure to check that your intended activity is still on before jumping into the car.

We hope you'll follow Mommy Poppins Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and subscribe to our newsletters to stay in touch. Have a great weekend!

Pages