Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik's early career editing teen magazines somehow morphed into a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a very long sojourn at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick online and then Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com local. She was a founding member of the WebbyAward winning GoCityKids, has written for Family Fun Magazine, Vanity Fair, and New York, and her novel for middle schoolers, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. She strives to keep the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar packed and accurate, and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Virtual Concerts, Storytimes, Events, and Classes To Stream from Home this Week

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/18/2020 - 1:02pm

Author and illustrator Mo Willems invites kids into his studio at lunchtime to create some of his beloved characters. Photo by Ally Noel

This week's "weekend event picks" is the strangest one we've ever done. With Americans being urged to avoid groups and stay close to home, our event calendar currently has more virtual activities than actual events. But something really cool has happened: artists, writers, and singers, plus theaters, zoos, and kids' class instructors all over the country are stepping up to create virtual events for families to stay engaged despite being homebound, and discover new favorite activities and music...and we are loving it.

We've also been busy—creating an exciting new feature for these unusual times, called Poppins@Home. Watching all our favorite kid spots closing their doors, we immediately realized that not only were families going to lose out on being able to get out to museums, play spaces, gymnastics classes, and more, but all these businesses were going to be in hot water. So for the past week, in addition to working on our Coronavirus Guide for Parents and switching over all our content to be about things to do at home like 63 Easy Science Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff and 21 (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids, we've also been building a whole new platform for virtual classes and programming.

You can get an early look at Poppins@Home now. We're still working hard to add lots more content on it and inviting our favorite kids' programming providers to join in, too. So stay tuned for even more. And, since we worked fast and furious on it, if you find any issues using the site please let us know. Or if you know businesses who should be on there, please send them the link.

Stay safe, have fun, and tune in to all the great things we've found for families to do in this new virtual world. Read on for our picks of the best virtual events.

Things to Do and What's Canceled in NYC This Weekend: Covid Closures, Walking Tours

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 4:40pm

AMNH is closed through Friday, March 27. Catch the interactive exhibit The Nature of Color when it reopens. Photo by Kendra Snyder for AMNH

All of the St. Patrick's Day parades have been canceled or posponed, but you can still catch the Kids' Fleadh on Saturday. You can even take an Irish in NY Walking Tour and learn why St. Patrick's Day is more American than Irish. Big Onion Tours are organized in small groups and take place outdoors.

With coronavirus cases on the rise, beware that many organizations are changing plans quickly. We're doing our best to keep our calendar listings current, but please click through to the venue websites to confirm events are still on before heading out, and don't forget to pack the hand sanitizer and tissues.

Keep an eye on our March GoList or our daily NYC Event Calendar for updated info on everything happening in NYC.

Best Summer Camps in Queens: 16 Camps Catering to Diverse Interests

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 03/10/2020 - 5:35pm

Blue Dolphin camp feels like a home away from home. Photo courtesy of the camp

We've sprung forward and that means summer is just around the corner. With that in mind, it's time to find a great summer camp for your kid.

For starters, you've got to figure out whether your kid would like to spend all day doing sports, or art, or mixing it up in a traditional camp. If your kid's a bit adventurous, they might want to take advantage of summer to try something new—say, surfing or game design. Good news, though, when it comes to camp opportunities options abound in Queens.

With that in mind, we did a little winnowing, looking for programs that have consistently delivered great reviews from participating families. Read on for some of the best summer camps in Queens!

New Summer Camps for NYC Kids in 2020

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 03/08/2020 - 4:33pm

Sign your kids up for a summer of adventure, fantasy, intrigue, and splendor at the NY Society of Play camp.

Cue the panic: Summer camp search season is entering a full-tilt frenzy. It's that time of year when NYC parents shudder in unison upon realizing they still haven't figured out what to do come June. If you, too, have put off summer planning until now, breathe a collective sigh of relief. We've got you covered with this list of new summer camps.

As one glance at our Summer Camp Guide proves, NYC and its surrounding suburbs offer tons of summer camp choices, from cooking to coding, music to sports, and everything in between. And because NYC is always changing, we've found 11 new summer camps or programs for the 2020 season, including some new locations for old favorites. Book now because summer break will be here before you know it.

Things To Do in NYC This Weekend: Purim, Women's History, and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/04/2020 - 4:07pm

Kick winter to the curb with the annual Purim Carnival at Commonpoint Queens. Photo courtesy of the venue

Purim arrives on Monday, March 9, but why wait to celebrate? The 92nd St Y, the Park East Day School, BKLYN Studios, Commonpoint Queens, and the Tribeca Synagogue all host celebrations Sunday. You can also find out what it was like to be a Jewish child on the Lower East Side more than a century ago or learn about Navroz, the Muslim festival celebrating spring at CMOM on Saturday.

March is Women's History Month. Award-winning author Vashti Harrison (Bold Women in Black History, among other great titles) makes an appearance at the New-York Historical Society on Sunday. Kids can also meet historical interpreters portraying some of the women's rights movement's legendary leaders. While you're pondering the wonders of girl power, this weekend would be the perfect time to catch a performance of She Persisted, enjoy the story of Cinderella, or follow Alice down the rabbit hole.

As you can see, the weekend brings with it plenty of fun, though the arrival of coronavirus may curb the crowds or cause schedule changes. Be sure to double-check with the venues to ensure all events are on before heading out, and heed the advice of the CDC to keep you and your kids healthy. If you decide to stay in, be sure to check our boredom busters to keep everyone entertained.

As always, you can find more top events in our March GoList, or our packed daily Event Calendar. We've also rounded up 40 FREE events happening this March, including some this weekend.

Best Summer Camps in Brooklyn

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 02/28/2020 - 10:53am

BHMS opens the doors in late June to welcome campers to A Montessori Summer. Photo courtesy of the camp

So, you're looking for a new summer camp and, naturally, you want the best for your child. "Best" is, of course, a relative term. Without putting too fine a point on it, "best" could describe the one that best fits your financial picture. Or has great counselors. Or culminates in a rock concert. Or gives kids lots of water time. Maybe when you close your eyes and think "Best Summer Camp," you envision one where your child is spirited away for a day of fun on a little cloud, while you sleep in (that's my idea of best, anyway, and I am still looking). Believe it or not, our list of the best Brooklyn summer camps includes picks for almost all of those scenarios.

While "best" is a bit subjective, Brooklyn has tons of excellent options when it comes to summer fun. So, think of this as a little tasting platter. Excellent options in a sea of delicious dishes. Check our Directory for many more and be sure to visit our Summer Camp Guide for other top picks.

Read on for the big reveal. Here are 21 Brooklyn summer camps that just might provide the best fit for your family.

Things To Do This Weekend in NYC: Leap Year, NYICFF, St. Pat's Parades

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 02/26/2020 - 4:18pm

Transform the world around you at the interactive technology showcase Teknopolis. Photo by Ros Muggeridge

We have what might theoretically be described as an extra day this year—and Saturday is that day. Celebrate the leap year with a visit to Staten Island's St. George Library, where kids can find out all about leap year and have a dance party. With the calendar turning to March on Sunday, St. Patrick's Day parades are already prepping to meander down local boulevards. Join the throngs in Sunnyside, Queens, or on Staten Island!

Since you have this extra day on your hands, why not head to the Bronx to check out the opulent Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden? You can catch a performance of Drumfolk at the New Vic, introduce your tweens to Jane Austen, or snuggle up with some popcorn as the New York International Children's Film Fest gathers momentum.

More Saturday to-dos include an indoor block party in Brooklyn and a celebration of Danish Halloween (Fastlavn) at Scandinavia House. Sunday's options include a salute to Hinamatsuri (Doll's Day) at Japan Society, squirrel data gathering in Manhattan parks, Mummenschanz in the Bronx, and carnival fun in Brooklyn. And if the weather holds out, Wildman Steve Brill celebrates his 38th year of foraging with tours this weekend in Central Park and Prospect Park.

Come Monday, don't forget to salute good old Dr. Seuss on his birthday—he'll be 116 on March 2! Parties are popping up all over town in his honor, and we have some fun at-home ideas for you, too.

Find more top events in our March GoList or our always packed daily NYC event calendar.

Things To Do in NYC This Weekend: Film Fest, Black History, New Museum Exhibits and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 02/19/2020 - 4:12pm

The Black Future Festival at the Brooklyn Children's Museum invites kids to reflect, act, and look toward the future. Photo courtesy of the museum

Whether you've just returned from a family vacay, or you've been in the city for all of midwinter break, this weekend offers a chance to visit the Children's Museum of Manhattan's new Superpowered Metropolis exhibit or try some engineering activities at NYSCI, which just debuted a Survival exhibit. You've even got one last chance to check out Kids Week at the Intrepid before it rolls to a close on Saturday.

The New York International Children's Film Fest kicks off this weekend. While the School of Visual Arts Theater is the main hub, families can also catch the kid flicks at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn and Scandinavia House in Manhattan. A very cool (and FREE!) alternative is the 90-Second Newbery Film Fest on Saturday.

Black History Month is quickly coming to a close. Still, this weekend's activities include an extraordinary Black Culture Fest at the Children's Museum of the Arts, interactive performances, crafts, and a scavenger hunt at the Museum of the City of New York, plus the Black Future Fest at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Other unbeatable options include performances by Gustafer Yellowgold and Pete the Cat, the National Museum of the American Indian's the Art of Storytelling, and BAMKids' Teknopolis, where kids can experiment with technology in a series of virtual reality and multi-sensory installations. Oh, and the American Museum of Natural History is all about polar bears Sunday.

Need more ideas for family-friendly fun to fill your weekend? Our packed Event Calendar and Winter Fun List are here to help.