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: Maker Faire Preview, Lower Manhattan Preschool Fair, Pumpkin Patches & Apple Orchards Near NYC

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 1:00pm

As a cliched jaded New Yorker, I am rarely starstruck. But I found myself grinning like a baby when I met Bob, Maria, Oscar the Grouch and Abby Cadabby at a special preview of the Sesame Street exhibit that just opened at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. (Look for my full review on Sunday.) When I was growing up in NYC in the '70s, Sesame Street was my preschool experience. But early childhood education today is a whole other world. That's why we're proud to be sponsoring this Saturday's Lower Manhattan Early Childhood Education Fair with HRP Mamas, where parents can meet preschool directors from some of downtown's most prestigious programs while tots have fun making adorable WeeWork clothespin critters at the Mommy Poppins table. The fair is FREE but preregistration is required.

Fall officially arrives next week, which means apple- and pumpkin-picking season are about to kick into high gear. This week we updated a bunch of posts in our Pick Your Own Guide including the best apple orchards in Westchester and Rockland County, and the top pumpkin patches in New Jersey, on Long Island and in Connecticut's Hartford County. And if you're on the hunt for giant corn mazes, try Long Island and Fairfield County, CT.

Happen to know a few kids in Massachusetts who are doing great things for their communities? Then nominate them for our Beantown site's Kids Who Really Rock contest. Finalists will be featured in a Mommy Poppins Boston post and get to appear on stage at the Boston Kids Really Rock music festival. One grand prize winner will also receive a $500 donation to a charity of his or her choice. We're accepting names through Saturday, September 27 so tell all your friends in MA.

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

New Victory Theater 2014-15 Season Highlights: The Best Family Shows for NYC Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 09/15/2014 - 4:00pm

For years, I've had a serious addiction that I've now passed on to my daughter: We both can't get enough of live theater (hey, there are worse things to inherit). Thankfully, we live in NYC, where shows are plentiful both on Broadway and Off, plus there are many theater companies mounting eclectic productions specifically for family audiences.

The award-winning New Victory Theater in Times Square is one of the best of the bunch. I've been taking my nine-year-old daughter there since she was a toddler, because the New Vic consistently offers entertaining and engaging shows for all ages, from babies to grown-ups, at reasonable prices (tickets typically top out at $38). But the New Victory is much more than just a place to go see a show. Through a range of interactive educational activities like performance workshops and camps, and pre- and post-show programming, the organization is raising the next generation of theatergoers.

For the second year in a row, we here at Mommy Poppins are proud to be partnering with the New Victory Theater. Throughout the season, we'll be giving you access to its incredible lineup of shows, ticket discounts and a pair of exclusive events for Mommy Poppins readers. We kick off our partnership with a preview of the New Victory's 2014-2015 season, including show recommendations for every age and stage, tips on how to save money on tickets, video clips from the upcoming productions and details about enriching programs that may be under your radar.

This Week: NYC Harvest Festivals, Best Fall Museum Exhibits for Kids, Cool New After-School Classes

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 09/11/2014 - 12:00pm

Everything's coming up autumn on all of our sites this week. In NYC, we officially launched our Fall Fun Guide with new posts about the best museum exhibits for families this season, and harvest festivals, pumpkin patches and even a giant corn maze right here in the Big Apple.

Speaking of apples, we added a bunch of new posts to our Pick Your Own Guide including apple orchards on Long Island and in New Jersey (even low-spray ones), and pumpkin patches in Connecticut. Long Island also highlighted ten fall foliage nature walks, although you don't need to leave NYC to see cool colorful leaves.

If you're looking for a culture-filled destination for one of the upcoming holiday weekends (public school kids have four days off for Rosh Hashanah and three days for Columbus Day), our Family Travel site just shared a great three-day itinerary for Montreal. Fall is a wonderful season to visit before the winter chill sets in, although the city is quite beautiful around the holidays.

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

This Week: NYC Fall Festivals, Apple Picking Season, Free Trial Classes for Kids, Back to School Fun

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 09/04/2014 - 2:00pm

Facebook has been a seemingly endless stream of adorable back-to-school pics this week. We even posted some first day pics from our Mommy Poppins bloggers and are encouraging readers to share their photos in the comments. (We can't get enough of those spiffy outfits and backpacks.) In addition to getting back to the books, we've been prepping for fall, updating our apple picking posts and our roundup of September fairs and festivals, and compiling lists of FREE trial classes for enriching kids' programs in NYC, New Jersey and beyond.

All of our regional sites also published brand-new September Go Lists highlighting the best things to do with kids throughout the month in Westchester, New Jersey, on Long Island and even further afield. With the Rosh Hashanah holiday weekend coming up (public schools are closed Thursday, September 25 and Friday, September 26, in case you didn't know), you may have time for a Go List-inspired day trip or a weekend getaway. Our Travel site just did a lovely post about Lake George in the Adirondacks, which is a wonderful destination for fall foliage.

And we have a great giveaway going on: Enter to win four tickets to see the long-running smash Blue Man Group. It's one of our top five Off-Broadway shows for families.

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

This Week: NY County Fairs, Labor Day Weekend Family Getaways, Free NYC After School, End-of-Summer Fun

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 08/21/2014 - 12:00pm

Even though it's still a week away, Labor Day weekend seems to be on everyone's mind. So we started a special Labor Day section in our Summer Fun Guide featuring family getaway ideas, including destinations that don't require a car, plus last-minute travel deals on more far-flung excursions like Niagara Falls, Portland, Maine and even Orlando.

Our regional sites are good places to look for offbeat day trip inspiration. Just this week, Connecticut posted about the nature-filled town of Monroe, New Jersey shared a list of the top 25 things to do with preschoolers in the state, Westchester rounded up county fairs in upstate New York and Long Island has a super-detailed Hamptons and North Fork Family Guide.

If you're looking at a NYC staycation, our Summer Guide is packed with last-chance seasonal fun like water playgrounds, pools and beaches (that's my daughter at the Rockaway installation in Fort Tilden above, a must-see if you're heading to the shore over there).

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

This Week: Hersheypark & Chocolate World, NYC Camps with Space in August & September, Trip to the New York Renaissance Faire

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 08/14/2014 - 2:00pm

Can you hear that ticking? That's summer break winding down. (Back-to-school ads are in full force, and I've even spied some Halloween merch already!) But you still have time for a few more summer flings both in NYC and beyond. If you're looking for a multi-day family getaway, our Travel site shared insider tips for visiting Hersheypark and Chocolate World with kids. Day trips more your thing? We've got the scoop on five fabulous New Jersey beaches less than an hour by car from Manhattan, the best things to do with kids at the New York Renaissance Faire in Westchester, and five family-friendly bike paths on Long Island's East End. Of course there's no shame in just enjoying a NYC staycation—that's my daughter and her friends in the photo enjoying treats at Coney Island last weekend. And we may go there again this Saturday for its big annual Sand Sculpting Contest.

Before you start planning the final weeks of summer, remember, this is your very last chance to enter our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE, which ends on Friday. All you need to do is share photos of your family having fun on social media with the hashtags #summerofplay and #playmatters, and you'll be automatically entered to win our grand prize: All the fixings to host the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash, including a $200 gift card for Imagine Toys, a $100 gift card for Big Dot of Happiness for custom party tableware, banners and favors, and delicious organic snacks from Kind, Ella's Kitchen and Earth's Best.

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

This Week: Last Chance to Enter Our Summer of Play Challenge, Water Theme Parks Near NYC, Coney Island & Brighton Beach

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 08/07/2014 - 12:00pm

It was a big week in my household as we celebrated my daughter's ninth birthday—twice (and we have one more party coming up at my mother-in-law's this Saturday. Remember when kids just got one bash?). Of course, summer birthdays can be a bit of a drag since so many friends are away. But we've been making up for it by getting the most out of the waning season, and we've got some fun trips planned to water theme parks, Coney Island and even Martha's Vineyard.

Speaking of isles off Massachusetts, our Boston site just published posts about the best things to do with kids on Georges Island and Spectacle Island, two historic Governors Island-like spots that are worth exploring if you're visiting Beantown. Want to go even further? On our Travel site you'll find a roundup of the best summer activities for kids in Burlington, Vermont and reviews of two VT resorts offering cool summer getaway packages. We've got closer day trip ideas, too: Our Long Island site recently spotlighted seven spots to get face time with animals in the Hamptons and Westchester profiled historic mansions with interactive activities for families.

While you're having all this fun, don't forget to share photos of your family on social media to be entered to win our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE grand prize: All the fixings to host the Ultimate Summer of Play Bash, including a $200 gift card for Imagine Toys, a $100 gift card for Big Dot of Happiness for custom party tableware, banners and favors, and delicious organic snacks from Kind, Ella's Kitchen and Earth's Best. We're picking our big winner next week so it's your last chance!

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

Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festivals in New York City: Moon Cakes and Flying Lanterns

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 08/05/2014 - 9:00am

Recently we rounded up a slew of outdoor fairs and fests in September. Below we're spotlighting the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a Chinese tradition that's celebrated all over the city.

Basically a Chinese harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival marks the fall equinox. Traditionally, families go out to admire the big autumn moon, eat elaborate moon cakes and light pretty paper lanterns. There are a number of organized celebrations around the city.