Raven Snook

Raven is a writer, editor, performer and mom, who was born and bred in NYC, just like her husband, her mother and now, her daughter. As a writer, she's contributed articles to New York Magazine, Time Out New York, The Village Voice, the New York Post, TV Guide, Better Homes and Gardens, iVillage, AOL TV and Moviefone, Parents.com, and worked as an in-house editor for ParentsConnect.com and TimeOutKids.com. As a performer, she's appeared on many downtown stages (sometimes even for pay!), a couple of obscure films and TV shows, and The Maury Povich Show as a female drag queen. She's also the founder of Hot Mama Burlesque, the world's only all-moms burlesque show. After being the NYC editor from March 2011-March 2015, she is now happy to just be a blogger as she pursues additional writing opportunities.

Latest posts by Raven Snook

5 NYC Playgrounds with Artwork by Famous Artists: Awesome Kid Photo Ops

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 06/02/2015 - 1:26pm

New York City overflows with art. From world-class museums to offbeat public art installations, you can find creativity all around town. But there's one place you might not think to look: the playground. Turns out a handful of famous NYC artists designed permanent play structures and murals for some local playgrounds. While I'll admit they're not necessarily active play destinations, these romping spots are definitely worth a visit if you want to snap a few amazing, only-in-NYC pics of your kid in front of works by the likes of late graffiti great Keith Haring and sculptor Tom Otterness.

See Immersive Art in Central Park & Snag Some Free Ice Cream

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 05/19/2015 - 5:20pm

My 9-year-old may not have a big backyard like her suburban peers, but she does have Central Park. The northeastern corner of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's 843-acre masterpiece is literally across the street from our apartment. But while it's got some amazing attractions, like the recently renovated East 110th Street Playground, the Lasker Rink and Pool, the Harlem Meer for catch-and-release fishing and the gorgeous Conservatory Garden, this part of the park isn't as well known as the rest. That's why the Central Park Conservancy decided to make it the setting for Drifting in Daylight, a new immersive pubic art installation celebrating the nonprofit's 35th anniversary.

The Conservancy collaborated with Creative Time to curate eight site-specific works of art, including special performances and experiences, that complement this serene section of Central Park. Some are so subtle, you and your kids may not even notice them! And that's exactly the point. Drifting in Daylight isn't about spectacle; it's about creating memories. From listening to soothing classical music, to watching recreations of famous movie scenes, to indulging in FREE ice cream (definitely the kid-friendliest piece of the bunch), Drifting in Daylight is a great reason to discover (or revisit) northern Central Park with kids.

Celebrating Mother's Day in NYC: 15 Awesome Family Outings Chosen by Real-Life Moms

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 05/04/2015 - 4:41pm

For busy moms who already spend so much time planning fun and enriching activities for their families, Mother's Day can feel like yet another chore. Sure, a fancy or even not-so-fancy Mother's Day brunch is nice and easy to organize. But finding cool activities for the rest of the day that both the kids and mom will truly enjoy? That's not so simple.

So this year we turned to the experts, our fellow mamas, for inspiration. We asked our readers and bloggers to share their favorite things to do on Mother's Day and while it's true many said, "Sleep!," others had some pretty creative and memorable ways to celebrate with their families. Best of all, these ideas aren't unique to Mother's Day—you can try most of them anytime. I've always said Mother's Day should be a monthly holiday.

9 Morningside Heights Places to Play: Parks, Landscaped Grounds & a Drop-in Play Space

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 04/21/2015 - 4:00pm

We finish up our series of posts on Morningside Heights with a roundup of the best places to play in the area, both outside and indoors. Considering its relatively small size, the neighborhood has an impressive number of green spaces, from traditional parks and playgrounds, to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine's gorgeous grounds and Columbia University's campus, which are both open to the public. And if it's rainy or cold outside, there are a handful of indoor romping spots, including Manhattan's least expensive drop-in play space. Here are our top nine places to play in Morningside Heights.

Bronx Culture Trolley: A Fun and Free Way to Explore the South Bronx

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 04/15/2015 - 2:19pm

Taking a trip on the Bronx Culture Trolley had been on my activity wish list forever (along with things like visiting the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, swimming at Jacob Riis beach and getting a full eight hours of sleep). So earlier this month on a drizzly afternoon, I decided to finally cross it off. My five-year-old daughter and I put on our raincoats, grabbed her sketch book and headed up to Hostos Community College to catch the old-fashioned, green-and-red ride.

The free trolley, which is sponsored by the Bronx Council on the Arts, offers hop-on-hop-off service to various culture spots in the borough, and it’s great for art-loving families. We wrote about it back in 2007, when it used to leave from midtown Manhattan and go to famous institutions like the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden and Little Italy on Arthur Avenue. These days, the trolley departs on the first Wednesday of every month from the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College (easily accessible by the 2, 4 and 5 subways), and makes a loop through the South Bronx, stopping at lesser known but vibrant places like the Pregones Theater, BronxArtSpace and the Bronx Museum of the Arts.

If you’ve never been to the area (or heck, the borough!), this is a fun and free way to sample a bit of what the Bronx has to offer—beyond the Yankees and the zoo.

Mother's Day Brunch in NYC 2015: Mama's Choice

Submitted by Raven Snook on Fri, 03/27/2015 - 4:00pm

Figuring out where to eat on Mother's Day always gives me heartburn. Trying to find a place that will please me, my husband, my 9-year-old and my own mother (since she lives in NYC, too) is quite a challenge.

So this year, instead of stressing out about where I'll end up on Sunday, May 10, I decided to turn to the experts: my fellow NYC moms. In addition to updating our list of fancy Mother's Day brunch spots in New York City, we asked our always knowledgeable Mommy Poppins readers to recommend their favorite restaurants for the holiday—or any day.

For even more family-friendly brunch suggestions, check out our NYC Kid-Friendly Restaurant Guide.

Readers' Choice: Top 42 Summer Outings for NYC Kids and Families

Submitted by Raven Snook on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:00pm

When you're looking for something cool to do with the kids in NYC, who do you ask? Other local parents of course!

That's why we asked our readers to tell us about their favorite summer day trips in and around New York City. The answers ran the gamut from famous favorites (Coney, Coney, Coney!) to lesser-known destinations (Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island) to creative city itineraries (a DIY walking tour based on Food Network shows. Yum!).

So in addition to all of our other roundups of summer fun, including 100 free things to do this summer and 40 staycation destinations, we're happy to share the 42 top summer outings for NYC families as chosen by our fellow moms and dads.

This Week: Spring Break Travel Deals, Best New NYC Camps, Diggerland Day Trip

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/12/2015 - 4:00pm

It's been an exhilarating week here in NYC. Now that winter has finally let go, my daughter and I took a long walk through our East Harlem neighborhood and spotted the first signs of spring: daffodil buds and Mister Softee trucks. And, like many of our fellow public school families, we participated in a citywide protest criticizing Governor Cuomo's controversial teacher evaluation proposal (glad we didn't have to do it in the snow).

With all that activity, the upcoming school recess can't come fast enough as far as we're concerned. Our Travel site has an enticing roundup of spring break family travel deals in case you're looking to take a full-fledged vacation to Florida, California or Mexico. Or check our regional sites for great seasonal day trips like New Jersey's seaside Jenkinson's Aquarium, the construction-themed amusement park Diggerland, which reopens this weekend, and the end of maple sugaring season in Westchester.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Latest posts by Raven Snook

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