Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Best Things To Do on Mother's Day 2025 in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 04/20/2025 - 11:56am

Mother's Day is the last day to check out Animationland at the National Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

It's just about time to celebrate Mom for Mother's Day 2025! This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 11. While there are many delicious restaurants serving Mother's Day brunch near DC, there are also plenty of other fun things to do on Mother's Day 2025 near DC with kids.

Here are 16 fun Mother's Day activities in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. They include everything from exhibits to live theater to farm visits.

Need more inspiration? Check out our great ideas for Mother's Day gifts she'll love, and make-at-home Mother's Day brunch recipes kids can prepare without too much supervision. Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

Easter Weekend 2025 in NYC: Easter Egg Hunts, Auto Show, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 04/18/2025 - 8:01am

It's officially spring in NYC when Central Park starts to bloom. Photo by Brittany Petronella/NYC Tourism + Conventions

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Easter weekend.

The Easter Bunny hops into town this weekend, so grab your bonnets and head to the annual Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue, hunt for eggs while climbing at Brooklyn Boulders, or beat the Easter Bunny at axe throwing! We have all the top Easter Egg hunts detailed here.

You can also check out some cool cars at the New York International Auto Show and commune with Mother Earth on Governors Island

Earth Day 2025: 22 Earth Day Activities in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:08pm

Celebrate Earth Day with Union Square's annual festival on Thursday, April 17. Photo courtesy of Union Square Initiative

Earth Day 2025 officially lights up the calendar on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, but NYC celebrates all month long, from last weekend's EarthFest at AMNH through Car-Free Earth Day the last weekend of the month.

Earth Rocks takes over the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and Governors Island and Randall's Island each celebrate with their own Earth Day festivals. Plus, Broadway's Earth Day Celebration salutes the planet with songs and activities. Read on for all our top picks for celebrating Earth Day with kids in NYC and find more good-for-the-planet tips on our Earth Kids Guide to a Greener Planet.

Earth Day, the Big Swim, Macy's Flower Show, and More Things To Do this Weekend in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 11:15am

The Broadway Celebrates Earth Day concert returns for Car-Free Earth Day featuring live performances from Broadway stars. Photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Earth Day festivities peak this weekend, from Friday's Bioblitz at Belvedere Plaza to Car Free Earth Day citywide, Broadway's Earth Day concert, and the fests on Randall's Island, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Plus, families can explore the new Davis Center in Central Park and Open Studios in Dumbo, and dive in to the Big Swim at Asphalt Green. End the weekend with a visit to Macy's annual Flower Show, where kids can make a LEGO flower to take home.

This weekend is not only Earth-friendly, it's wallet-friendly too. All of our picks are FREE!

Best Art Summer Camps near NYC: Performing Art Camps, Theater Camps, Sleepaway Art Camps

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 03/31/2025 - 2:46pm

Get ready to shine onstage at Child's Play NY. Photo courtesy of Child's Play NY

New York City is the epicenter for the arts, so of course, it's home to a diverse and amazing selection of art summer camps. With many world-class professional artists teaching here, there's a huge selection of art summer camps in NYC, ranging from visual art camps to performing art camps and filmmaking summer camps. From Brooklyn to Midtown to the Bronx and beyond, you can find the perfect New York City art summer camp from our list below for your budding artist.

For more summer camps in New York City, including free and cheap summer camps for NYC Kids and popular preschool camps in NYC, be sure to bookmark our NYC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory to search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Easter Egg Hunts and More Best Things To Do in NYC April 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 03/30/2025 - 5:54am

The Macy's Flower Show is one of the most colorful destinations in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier

Dinos, Easter, and Earth Day add up to lots of fun for kids in New York City this April!

April arrives with fool-proof fun: The animatronic Dinosaur Safari is stomping through the Bronx Zoo again, families can shift gears at the New York International Auto Show, and everyone can celebrate Earth Day at the American Museum of Natural History.

Catch some rising stars at LaGuardia High's production of Little Shop of Horrors, hang with Mommy Poppins at Babytopia, and show off your Easter finery at the annual Easter Parade or one of these Easter egg hunts popping up all over town.

21 Best Spring Festivals and Fairs in NYC this April for Families

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 03/28/2025 - 10:44am

Celebrate the end of Ramadan with music, dance, food, and family-friendly activities at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo by Winston Williams /courtesy of Brooklyn Children’s Museum!

Spring festivals abound this April as New York City's fair season kicks off with nearly two dozen fun and mostly FREE fairs, festivals, parades, and carnivals. Of course, it helps that April not only brings showers, it also brings plenty of fun holidays to celebrate alongside accompanying spring festivals! Annual Mommy Poppins favorites this April include the Big Umbrella Festival, Car-Free Earth Day, and our own Babytopia!

Read on for our top picks for NYC spring festivals this April and bookmark our Family Activity Calendar and Spring Fun Guide for all our seasonal must-do's.

Free Activities in April 2025: Best Things To Do in NYC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 03/24/2025 - 2:21pm

The Big Umbrella Festival welcomes kids, teens, and adults for a dynamic series of programming at Lincoln Center beginning Friday, April 4. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Center

April in New York City showers us with tons of FREE things to do, including Lincoln Center's Big Umbrella Festival, a slew of Earth Day celebrations, and tons of Easter egg hunts!

Families can parade around NYC in Tartan or Easter bonnets, celebrate spring with music at Carnegie Hall, and snatch awesome freebies at our own Babytopia event! And don't miss all the free Kids' Week fun in all five boroughs during the action-packed spring break week.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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