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

21 Best Things To Do in NYC December 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 12/01/2023 - 1:21pm

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical takes the stage at the Queens Theater. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Holiday lights, sights, and celebrations abound in NYC this December. Read on for our top things to do with kids to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.

We're still plowing through the leftover turkey, and we have to start prepping for Christmas, Hanukkah, and 2024's final bow. Luckily, there's a spectacular array of kid-friendly things to do in December.

The month kicks off with Annie at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and Whoopi Goldberg takes on a starring role. The Met Opera's The Magic Flute is a can't-miss at Lincoln Center, plus the month brings tons of holiday fun, including the cacophony of musical madness that is Unsilent Night.

Keep our top picks for holiday must-do's handy all month long, too, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for easy access to all the holiday hullabaloo that pops up!

Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in NYC for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/06/2023 - 6:49pm

Start your trick-or-treating off right at BAM's free Halloween party, BAMboo! Photo courtesy of BAM

Halloween can be magical, with over-the-top decorations and plenty of family-friendly Halloween events in NYC, but little revelers are often overwhelmed by its trappings. With that in mind, we've tracked down a bunch of Halloween activities that are perfect for preschoolers and deliver just the right amount of "treats" for the pint-sized crowd, including our very own FREE Mommy Poppins Halloween bash.

Enjoy these gentle Halloween events for the under 5 set while you can—your kids will be celebrating at the Village Halloween Parade before you know it. You can find more festive happenings for all age groups in our New York City Kids Halloween Guide, and our Family Activity Calendar, which is continually updated with new, fun events as we learn about them.

Berry Picking near DC: The Best Pick-Your-Own Berry Farms

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 11:32am

Fill your bucket with the sweetest, freshest berries at area farms. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms

It is often said that kids are more likely to eat a fruit or veggie if they can grow it or pick it themselves. So if you want your child to experience the sweet taste of berries this summer, head to one of these farms that offer berry picking near DC. In addition to yielding the sweetest, freshest berries you can find, these pick-your-own farms in Northern Virginia and Maryland offer a fun and educational way for families to spend time together outdoors.

Here are 14 of the best places to go berry picking near DC, where strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and more can all can be picked straight from the bush or tree. Many of these farms also offer fun extras like playgrounds and petting zoos.

For more local farm fun, check out out Pick-Your-Own Guide to Farms in Washington, DC.

Best Family-Friendly Beaches Near DC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 06/16/2023 - 10:00am

Sun's out, guns out in Ocean City. Photo courtesy of Ocean City MD Tourism

While Washington, DC is certainly not a beach town, there are plenty of family-friendly beaches near DC to spend the day or a weekend if you're willing to make the drive. These range from smaller beaches on the Potomac River or the Chesapeake Bay that are not too far away, all the way to farther locales like the Delaware beaches, Virginia Beach, and even North Carolina's Outer Banks.

So pack the car (and the kids) for a day trip, a weekend, or a longer vacation at one of these 10 family-friendly beaches near DC that are most certainly worth the drive. If you're looking for water fun within the DMV, see our lists of the best swimming lakes, parks with beaches, outdoor water parks, sprinkler parks and splash pads, and free public swimming pools in and near DC. Go on in—the water's fine!

Upper East Side and Upper West Side Private Schools with Pre-K

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 04/20/2023 - 12:59pm

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School's early education programs feed into its middle and upper schools in the Bronx. Photo courtesy of the school. Photo courtesy of the school

Manhattan is a mecca for private elementary schools, and many offer robust Pre-K programs. These private elementary schools on Mahattan's Upper East and Upper West Sides vary in size and educational philosophy, providing families with plenty of opportunities to find the right fit for their children.

The best part of starting early: If your child gets into the Pre-K program at one of these private elementary schools, they can often continue their primary and even secondary private school education without having to apply again.

As you embark on the process of finding the perfect fit for your little one, it's worth bookmarking this piece on 10 questions to ask during a preschool tour, and our Preschool Directory is an excellent resource to find more programs in Manhattan and beyond as well.

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

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 04/13/2023 - 10:00am

Get creative this summer at Creatively Wild Arts Studio. Photo courtesy of the studio

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, NYC offers a huge selection of art summer camps 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 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 where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Best Zoo and Museum Summer Camps in NYC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 04/10/2023 - 4:18pm

The Queens Zoo offers zoo summer camps for kids ranging in age from 18 months up to 13 years covering a variety of wild themes. Photo courtesy of WCS

When the time comes to book summer camps in NYC, parents sometimes overlook NYC's museums, zoos, and the New York Aquarium, but these culturally rich organizations offer an incredible selection of summer camps.

Some popular summer camps at NYC museums sell out in the blink of an eye, but we're including them here so they're on your radar for next year and beyond, including summer camp at the American Museum of Natural History and The Met.

No matter your child's interest, we've got tons of options in our New York City Summer Camp Guide, including picks for great creative and performing arts summer camps in NYC and cool STEM summer day camps. You can find more great camp programs in our camp directory where you can search by interest, age, or borough from Brooklyn and the Bronx to Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens.

Summer Memberships for Families: Pools, Beach Clubs, Museums, and Zoo Memberships Worth Buying

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 07/05/2022 - 5:27pm

Nab a summer membership to Breezy Point Surf Club and go for a dip in the pool or a wild water slide ride. Photo courtesy of the club

Summer memberships come in handy as the costs to entertain kids over the next couple months really start to add up. If your kids develop a deep devotion to the Bronx Zoo, like ours did, a single visit can cost almost as much as your electric bill. And, for us, that's where purchasing a zoo membership came into focus.

A family membership can also help make other favorite summertime destinations more affordable: botanic gardens, museums, and—naturally—pools and beach clubs. While the city's outdoor pools don't require summer memberships, they do get crowded, so we've rounded up some other options for family-friendly memberships, including pool memberships, zoo memberships, and more spots for summer fun indoors and out. No matter your family's interest, take note: While the initial investment of a family summer membership can be pricey, do the math and consider how frequently you'll visit. You're likely to find that these family membership deals are worth the splurge. Looking for a family membership for the cool weather months? Check out these family memberships worth buying for winter.