Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
Latest posts by Laurie
Martin Luther King Jr., the chief spokesperson for the civil rights movement, is memorialized annually on the third Monday in January. This floating holiday has evolved into more than just a day off from school; it's now deemed a National Day of Service. MLK Day encourages volunteers across the country to donate their time to make a difference in their communities while honoring the civil rights icon. This day reminds us of hope, compassion, and the ongoing potential for social change.
While most volunteer opportunities are virtual or drop-off this year, there are still plenty of ways to support Martin Luther King Jr.'s mission throughout New Jersey. Unless otherwise noted, all events take place on Monday, January 18, 2021.
While the shorter days and colder weather may have you dreaming of hibernation, we've found more than 30 reasons to leave the house for winter fun. In-person events are limited during this pandemic winter, yet there are plenty of remedies for the cooped-up blues, with opportunities for fresh outdoor air, plus some safe indoor activities.
Bundle up and explore the state's skiing and snowboarding spots, outdoor ice rinks, and more. The indoor destinations listed have enacted safety protocols and reduced capacities, so be sure to check the individual websites for specific requirements.
Read on for our best of winter list for the Garden State, and be sure to check out our Event Calendar and Winter Fun Guide for even more great ideas. Plus, if you're looking to fill the downtime, check out our Poppins@Home site for great online activities.
While 2020 is shaping up to be a simpler holiday season, there's no reason to skimp on your favorite holiday foods. Forgo the heavy cooking and treat the family to a delicious takeout Christmas dinner or Christmas Eve meal to-go from a New Jersey restaurant or market. We've rounded up a handful of options for your Christmas meal, whether you want to have the whole meal catered or just need a few a la carte entrees, sides, and desserts to round out your holiday spread.
Check out these no-fuss Christmas dinner takeout options throughout New Jersey. While making your holiday preparations, consider visiting one of these Garden State Christmas tree farms, and catch up with St. Nick himself at one of these awesome Santa encounters.
The long Thanksgiving weekend has arrived, featuring four days of festivities with all the trimmings. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the weekend at dazzling drive-thru light displays, including The Winter Wonderlights Spectacular Drive-Thru, Orchard of Lights, and a new Six Flags drive-thru, which all debut this week. Plus, kick off the holiday shopping season with daily surprises at American Dream's Wish Week, and search treasures for sale at Morris Museum's Rock and Mineral Weekend.
If you're planning a simple, low-key gathering for Thanksgiving, enjoy these 25 Thanksgiving games and crafts while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade online. You can even start plotting out some funny Elf on the Shelf ideas.
As always, you can find even more things to do in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Fun Guide, which is jam-packed with seasonal happenings, including our holiday bucket list for New Jersey families.
Playgrounds are the perfect destination when you need a change of scenery and a change of pace. Your kids get fresh air and exercise for FREE! But what happens when your school-aged children decide they’re too cool for their once-favorite neighborhood parks? My 8-year-old former playground-enthusiasts have recently begun to turn their noses up at the local swing sets. And if I do talk them into a playground visit, we last about five minutes.
Playground parents—don’t give up yet. I haven’t! There are some destination playgrounds in New Jersey with features and contraptions novel enough to satisfy even the pickiest playground cynics. These play areas include zip lines, crazy slides, Spiderman-type climbers, and other structures that challenge the ages 7-and-up crowd. We've rounded up some of our top picks across the state, and take note: These playgrounds all feature plenty to entertain the younger siblings as well.
Find more romping spots in our Parks & Playgrounds Guide for Jersey Kids.
Let there be light! Due to popular demand, the colorful, animal-shaped lantern sculptures at the Franklin Park Zoo will be illuminated on a nightly basis starting this week. In this first official week of fall, Boston families can also create a tide pool, enter a scarecrow contest, or grab one last chance to see dinosaurs "roaming" Gillette Stadium. Read on, because we've rounded up more top events happening this week and beyond in the Boston area—most in person!
Looking for even more seasonal fun? It's high time to go apple picking, get lost in a corn maze, or visit animals or sample cider at a Massachusetts farm. Just remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing. If more enriching activities are what you're after, our Back-to-School Fair is still going on; catch the last few free demo classes this week, including Atlantic Acting and Coucou French. As always, keep tabs on our Boston events calendar for daily updates on reopenings at favorite spots, and more local and virtual opportunities for family fun.
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