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

Things To Do in NYC This Weekend: Book Fests, Pre-Thanksgiving Fun, Holiday Trains & Lights

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 11/20/2019 - 1:20pm

Head to Liberty Park at the World Trade Center, which has been transformed into a lantern display featuring the 12 zodiac animals from the Lunar Calendar. Photo by Janet Bloom

The holiday season roars into town like a freight train—or like one of the holiday train shows popping up all over, including the Grand Central Station and the New York Botanical Garden displays. Kids can even test their inner engineers at the Transportation Museum's Train Operators workshop.

As we head toward Thanksgiving, honor original Americans at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, where you can see the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers on Sunday. Kids can create "Skyscraper Hand Turkeys" at the Skyscraper Museum on Saturday, or listen to kids tell funny tales of Thanksgiving past and future on Sunday.

Beloved kid lit authors appear at the Brooklyn Children's Book Fair on Saturday, and kids can snag half-off bestsellers at the Goddard Riverside book fair all weekend. In the Bronx, kids can craft up a storm at the Riverdale Temple Gift Fair.

All that, plus the town is lighting up like a holiday pinball machine. Dazzle is set to 11 at the NYC Winter Lantern Fest, The Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights are all a-twinkle, and the Seaport's Winterland Skating rink glitters on the East River. Don't forget to consult our November GoList and our Event Calendar for a comprehensive array of events and activities.

Things To Do in NYC with Kids this Weekend: Apple Fest, Re:Play, Battle of Fort Washington

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 11/13/2019 - 4:00pm

Rockefeller Center is ready to start decorating its latest Christmas tree. Photo by Janet Bloom

Thanksgiving trots into town a bit later than usual this year—which means those other holidays, you know, the ones with all the gifts and sparkle—are relegated to the back stage area a tiny bit longer, pacing and practicing their lines. For parents, that means a short window to catch our breath and enjoy some of the non-holiday-themed family fun that abounds in NYC, from slime museums to a brand-new MoMA, from hands-on Lego art to a high-concept infinity room.

Also for your consideration, this weekend's top picks include a re-enactment of the Battle of Fort Washington, CMOM's Apple Fest, New Victory's fab Re:Play production by the geniuses also known as Mummenschanz, and a hike through the autumn leaves on Staten Island.

Of course, holiday fun is pretty easy to find, too. Try Native storytelling at Wyckoff House, Thanksgiving with the Beasts, or even a production of A Charlie Brown Christmas (some holiday fun just can't wait!)

Meanwhile, take a deep breath and start making your plans for the Thanksgiving Parade, or buy tickets for one of this year's bumper crop of NYC Nutcracker shows. There's no denying it: the holidays are almost here (hooray!). As always, consult our November GoList and our Event Calendar for a dazzling array of events and activities.

Things to Do in NYC This Weekend: Pumpkin Smash, Day of the Dead, Diwali

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 10/30/2019 - 3:00pm

Over 1,000 lanterns will be on display at the Lantern Festival Pop-Up at Liberty Park in Manhattan. Photo courtesy of the event

Ready to pack away all those spiders and skeletons, but not sure what to do about Mr. Jack O'Lantern? Head to the annual Pumpkin Smash in Chelsea on Saturday, or the one in Corlears Hook Park on Sunday. Minecraft fans won't want to miss the big Minefaire event at NYSCI this weekend. The first weekend in November also brings the New York Marathon through town, and PS 118's annual race celebration boasts bounce houses, face painting, and a front-row view of the runners.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, sparkles at Manhattan's Asia Society and Queens' Flushing Town Hall on Saturday. There are Dia de Los Muertos celebrations this Saturday at the AMNH, The National Museum of the American Indian, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Or get in some leaf peeping this weekend at the Fall Forest Weekend at the NY Botanical Garden.

With Election Day coming up next week on November 5, don't miss our list of 20 Fun Things to Do with NYC Kids on Election Day. As always, remember to scan our November GoList and ever-growing calendar.

20 Fun Things To Do with NYC Kids on Election Day

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 10/30/2019 - 9:30am

Bring the kids to vote with you on Election Day. Photo by Kate Lewis Andrews

New York City kids get a day off from school on November 5, 2019, and it might just be the perfect day for an accompanying adult to call in sick (or civic!). Fall weather usually provides perfect temps for hitting up one of New York City’s many destination playgrounds, and we’ve also scoured our event and museum listings, and combed through our day trip guides to put together a list of 20 great things to do on Election Day when school is out.

If you're among the many (if not most) parents who have to work one way or another on Tuesday, November 5, check out our directory for the many mini camps around the city offered on Election Day. And while you're at it, peruse our November GoList, our Fall Fun Guide, and our list of free family events in November for an action packed November beyond Tuesday.

Read on for 20 ideas on how to spend the day—and maybe hold a family vote to choose one or two.

Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids: Halloween, Day of the Dead

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 10/23/2019 - 4:00pm

Show off your Halloween costume in the parade at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. Photo courtesy of the museum

It's officially "Halloweekend" with spooky fun all over NYC, including the Haunted Halloween Walk and Fair in Prospect Park, trick-or-treating on Governors Island and at Grand Central Station, Staten Island's Halloweekend at Snug Harbor, and the AMNH Halloween Celebration, along with smaller-but-equally-fun events like the Brooklyn Boo at City Point, the Irish Halloween fest, and the Halloween Harvest Fest in Socrates Sculpture Park.

Kids can parade in costume on Coney Island, in Greenwood Heights, the Bronx, Greenpoint, the Upper East Side, Tribeca, and the Children's Museum of the Arts. Dogs don disguises (along with the occasional iguana, cat or parrot) at pet costume parades in Fort Greene, at the High Line Hotel, and in Madison Square Park.

Halloween isn't the only holiday in town this weekend: You'll find Day of the Dead celebrations at the Staten Island Children's Museum and St. Mark's Church in the Bowery. Meanwhile, Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, shines at the Rubin, the Museum of the City of New York, and the SI Children's Museum on Sunday.

For Halloween events on Thursday, October 31, check out our complete roundup of Halloween Day festivities, plus our comprehensive NYC trick-or-treating guide. There's still time to pick the perfect pumpkin before the big day, too, even within the city limits. And if you've left costume decisions to the last minute, we've got your back! Don't forget: in the aftermath, you can donate all (or some) of your leftover candy and, later in November, smash your pumpkins.

Note: Some events this weekend may be rescheduled or cancelled due to expected weather conditions, so be sure to double-check before heading out.

It's never easy to whittle down all of NYC's amazing Halloween events to one post, so do check our October GoList, Event Calendar, and Halloween Guide for even more ideas.

Things To Do in NYC this Weekend: Open House, Pumpkin Point, Halloween

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 10/16/2019 - 3:00pm

Celebrate family and tradition with face painting, art making, and performances at El Museo del Barrios SUPER SÁBADO: Día de Muertos Celebration. Photo courtesy of the museum

It's Open House New York weekend, and there's so much to see! NYC's landmarks open their doors for (mostly) FREE tours, and we've hand-picked a few of the best options for families in all five boroughs, including the Edgar Allen Poe Cottage in the Bronx, the Little Red Lighthouse in Manhattan, the Noguchi Museum and Gallop Sunrise Stables in Queens, Historic Richmond Town and the National Lighthouse Museum in Staten Island, and the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club in Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, we're running full speed toward Halloween in New York City, costumes flapping behind us, with Pumpkins and Potions on the Upper West Side and Pumpkin Point on Governors Island. Pet lovers can trot to Carl Schurz's Halloween Howl or Washington Square Park's Dog Day Halloween Costume Party and Parade, or pitch in at the Sean Casey Animal Howl-o-ween Bark Block Party. Museo del Barrio has you covered for Dia de los Muertos face painting and performances.

There are family-friendly fall festivals all over town this weekend, too: Saturday, head to the Harvest Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Red Hook Harvest Fest, Staten Island's 6th Annual fest at Clay Pit Ponds, Juniper Valley Park's Halloween Fest, Cooper Hewitt's Design Fest, or Atlantic Terminal Plaza's HarvestFest—complete with pony rides! On Sunday, it's Old Home Day in Historic Richmond Town, Harvest Homecoming (formerly Ghouls & Gourds) at Brooklyn Botanic, and Astoria's 4th annual Batty over Halloween bash.

Need a break from Halloween? Taste of the Seaport beckons on Saturday, with kid-friendly activities, live music, and food. The Little Orchestra Society kicks off its season this weekend with music from The Magic Flute. You can get a special sneak peek of R.J. Palacio's new graphic novel, White Bird, at Symphony Space.

As always, our October GoList features the month's best picks, and our Fall Fun Guide has the lowdown on seasonal must-dos. If you want to start planning for Thanksgiving or even December holiday events, dig into our Event Calendar.

Looking for a Preschool in Chelsea? Start Here.

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 10/15/2019 - 12:12pm

Avenues: The World School. Photo courtesy of the school

Are you just a parent, standing in front of a preschool, asking it to let your child in? We know that sometimes conjuring the right preschool fit is almost as daunting as getting your kid into the right college, but the odds are excellent that you'll find a great spot for your little one, and if you're in the Chelsea neighborhood, you're in luck. This famously family-friendly downtown NYC neighborhood offers plenty of wonderful options for preschool-searching parents.

Before you launch your hunt for a preschool in the Chelsea neighborhood, it helps to know what kinds of questions to ask on a preschool tour, and how other NYC parents decided on a preschool. There are also a few terms to know: Our list below sorts preschool options by type, including Traditional Preschools (which follow the NYC school calendar), Year-Round Preschools (which are in session during the summer and holiday breaks), Cooperative (which requre a time investment from parents), Dual-Language (Mandarin and Spanish preschools are popular), Religious, and Montessori or Reggio-Emelia (which both focus on child-led learning).

And even though it is strongly recommended that your start your search early (at least a year in advance), remember that spots do open up. Ask about wait lists if you're late to the process or new in town. Good luck!

New Art of the Brick Exhibit Dazzles at New York Hall of Science

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 10/10/2019 - 4:00pm

Green and blue brick men preside over the play stations at The Art of the Brick.

Lego maniacs in the five boroughs now have an alternative to making a trek to Westchester (or awaiting the opening of the Legoland Resort coming next year to the Hudson Valley) if they want to commune with huge piles of colorful building bricks. The New York Hall of Science's spectacular Art of the Brick exhibit is on view now through January 26.

Using more than a million bricks, artist Nathan Sawaya created over 100 pieces for this exhibition, from recreations of iconic pieces of art to original sculptures including a stunning T. Rex. In collaboration with photographer Dean West, the exhibit also showcases an innovative multimedia collection of Lego art photography. For more details about the interactive play stations and installations, read on.