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

This Week: Spectacular Holiday Lights, What's Open on Christmas & Christmas Eve, Holiday Break Day Trip Ideas

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 12/18/2014 - 4:00pm

Regardless of what you celebrate, everyone seems to be in holiday overdrive this week. My family is busy gearing up for our favorite Christmas Eve traditions: last-minute gift shopping (probably at a seasonal market) followed by Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park. And since we still don't have our tree, I bet we'll buy one that night, too.

If you're thinking of taking a day trip over holiday break, you'll find lots of inspiration on our regional sites. Check out over-the-top Christmas displays in Westchester, Connecticut and Philly; explore the waterside haven of Port Jefferson, Long Island; or head across the Hudson to the nearby Liberty Science Center to conquer the brand-new Infinity Climber, which is suspended 35 feet in the air!

Even though our kids will be out of school, we'll still be right here bringing you the best things to do in NYC and beyond throughout the season. So don't worry: There's more fun yet to come!

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

Should Kids Go "Into the Woods?" A Parent Movie Review

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 12/18/2014 - 1:00pm

As a diehard musical theater fanatic who's raising my nine-year-old daughter to be one, too, I'd been planning for months to take her to see Into the Woods on opening day. (Luckily, we scored an invite to an advance screening.) That said, having seen two different stage mountings of the show plus the American Playhouse recording of the original Broadway cast, I kept thinking, Into the Woods really isn't for kids. Stephen Sondheim's satirical take on familiar fairy tales explores what happens after the happily ever after, and it's as grown-up as it gets. Multiple characters die, others engage in infidelity, and there are undercurrents of violence and sexuality (not unlike those Brothers Grimm originals). And yet, this star-studded cinematic adaptation is Disney's big Christmas movie release. So, has the subject matter been completely sanitized in order to attract families?

This Week: Winter Travel Deals, Christmas Tree Farms Near NYC, Making the Holiday Season Really Special

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 12/11/2014 - 1:30pm

Because of a personal loss as well as some of the disturbing things going on in our city and country these days, I've been putting a lot of energy into making my family's holiday season feel even more special than usual (in between some tough conversations about grief and justice with my daughter). In addition to our annual traditions such as going to Macy's Santaland and seeing all the department store windows, we've been crossing things off our holiday bucket list, like enjoying tea with Santa at the Plaza and splurging on holiday spectacles like Cirque Ziva and the family opera Puss in Boots/El Gato con Botas.

Of course, you don't need to spend lots of money to make the season magical. This week, we wrote about no-cost ways to connect with Santa online and over the phone, shared a pair of inexpensive and easy-to-make holiday crafts, and posted slide shows of gloriously over-the-top holiday homes on Long Island, in Philly and Connecticut, all FREE to see.

In the market for a winter getaway? Our Travel site has a roundup of enticing vacation deals near and far, and a few are even valid during the upcoming school break.

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

This Week: Best December Family Events in NYC & Beyond, Holiday Windows, Santa Brunches, Volunteering with Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 12/04/2014 - 2:00pm

It's beginning to look a lot like... well, you know. Over the past week, my daughter and I have been rushing around playing tourist, seeing all of NYC's iconic holiday sights like the spectacular department store holiday windows, various Santas and the illuminated tree at Rockefeller Center. We experienced that last one from the comfort of an MTA bus—we're not crazy enough to try to get close!

Since it's a new month, all of our sites have brand-new GOLists highlighting the absolute best things to do with kids throughout December in NYC, Westchester, New Jersey, Long Island and beyond. The sheer number of activities during the holidays can be overwhelming and we hope these carefully curated GOLists help your family plan your season so you don't miss the really special stuff.

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

This Week: Macy's Santaland Opens, Cut Your Own Christmas Trees in NJ & LI, Holiday Illuminations, Thanksgiving Weekend Event Picks

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 11/27/2014 - 12:00pm

There's a lot going on this holiday weekend in NYC beyond Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our Thanksgiving and Holiday Guides are packed with plenty of ways to celebrate the season, including the best places to see Santa like Macy's Santaland, festive Christmas tree illuminations and the kickoff weekend for the jaw-dropping Dyker Lights displays in Dyker Heights.

There's lots of holiday fun in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island and Connecticut, too. You can cut your own Christmas trees on LI and in NJ, take a train ride with Santa in NJ or gawk at amazing holiday displays in Philly.

If you happen to be traveling up I-95, our Connecticut site has a list of fun family pit stops if you need a break along the way. And if you're in the market for a virtual vacation, our Travel site has a slide show about the best family activities in Jamaica's Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week. We hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving!

This Week: Behind the Scenes at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Holiday Shows for NYC Kids, Best Holiday Light Displays in the Tri-State Area

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 11/20/2014 - 4:00pm

Are your kids giddily crossing out the days on your wall calendar like mine? She can't wait until Thanksgiving arrives because she loves Macy's big Parade, plus she knows that means the other holidays aren't far behind (we do Christmas and Hanukkah in this house).

Already, our regional sites are posting about the most spectacular holiday houses on Long Island and in New Jersey, along with only-in-the-suburbs seasonal experiences like Santa train rides.

In addition to being excited for next week's festivities, we're psyched about this Saturday's Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater. We're hosting a special performance of 360 Allstars, a high-octane spectacle featuring BMX bike tricks, battling break-dancers, acrobats, athletes and a live beat boxer. Mommy Poppins readers save 20% on tickets to the 7pm performance on November 22 and enjoy cookie decorating after the show (and get to meet a few of us bloggers since we'll be there with our kids, too).

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

This Week: November Travel Deals, Turkey Farms Near NYC, Mommy Poppins Night at the New Victory Theater

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 11/13/2014 - 12:00pm

With the Thanksgiving and holiday breaks coming up, you may be thinking about getting out of town for a few days. Our Travel site just posted a fabulous roundup of seasonal getaway deals, both near (the Poconos, Pennsylvania Dutch Country) and far more exotic (Atlantis in the Bahamas).

Of course you don't need to leave town to have a memorable time celebrating with your family. Try whipping up some vintage Thanksgiving recipes, making a few festive holiday crafts or hitting a nearby turkey farm before the big day.

And we've got a question for you: What are you doing next Saturday evening? Hopefully joining us for Mommy Poppins night at the New Victory Theater. We're hosting a special performance of 360 Allstars, a high-octane spectacle featuring BMX bike tricks, battling break-dancers, acrobats, athletes and a live beat boxer. Mommy Poppins readers save 20% on tickets to the 7pm performance on November 22 and enjoy cookie decorating after the show (and get to meet a few of us bloggers since we'll be there with our kids, too).

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

This Week: NYC Thanksgiving Guide, Giving Back Over the Holiday Season, Focus on Sunset Park

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 12:00pm

We made it through Halloween and already turkeys and trees are replacing pumpkins and skeletons all over town. Time always seems to speed up at this time of year as we head into the frenzy of the holiday season. But it's important to slow down and make time for what's important: hanging out with our families and giving thanks for what we have.

Celebrating Thanksgiving was a major theme across our sites this week. In NYC, we shared important viewing tips for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the Balloon Inflation the night before, and we rounded up kid-friendly Thanksgiving volunteering opportunities so families can give back to their communities. (Speaking of, we're still collecting donations for our Mommy Poppins virtual food drive to benefit Feeding America.) Meanwhile, Westchester has the scoop on where to buy organic, pasture-raised turkeys, New Jersey has expert advice on prepping your Thanksgiving meal, and we've got roundups of family-friendly restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner in NJ and Connecticut.