Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Mother's Day Weekend in Westchester: Tulips, Carnival, Science Barge

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 05/09/2018 - 12:00pm

This weekend is all about you, Westchester and Hudson Valley moms! We know how hard you work, how many balls you juggle, how many diapers you’ve changed, and we want to help you savor the moment when your family puts on their best manners and honors the lady who holds it all together. The tried-and-true Mother’s Day brunch is a popular way to celebrate, but we've also rounded up 35 ways to spend Mother’s Day that don’t involve a restaurant reservation.

For live entertainment, kick up your heels with Laurie Berkner, or wag your tail with The Stunt Dog Experience. Looking for free events? More performances await at the 10th Anniversary of the Science Barge, where there will also be games, kites, giant puppets, robotics, and more; the White Plains Comic Fest will offer workshops, crafting, special appearances, and other comic-y attractions; and the Albany Tulip Festival will showcase more than just loads of beautiful blooms, but also Dutch traditions and festival-type fun. There are also carnival rides at the Hudson Valley Fair and at the season-opener of Rye Playland!

Looking for more ideas? Read on for all our top picks, head to our Event Calendar for additional options, and plan the rest of the month with our May GoList. For more seasonal activities, be sure to check out our Spring Activity Guide. Then, after polishing off your breakfast in bed, get out and enjoy all the fun ways you can spend this special weekend with your family.

From all the parents at Mommy Poppins: Have a very happy Mother’s Day—we know you deserve it!

A Peek Down the Rabbit Hole at Tilly’s Tea with Alice

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 10:00am

For five weekends starting May 4, a new walk-through production will allow children to enter the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Experience classic children’s literature in a new way at Tilly's Tea with Alice: A Curious Adventure Through Wonderland. Read on for our sneak peek so you can snag your tickets before they sell out.

Want more inside scoops? Subscribe to our newsletters to stay abreast of other fun experiences coming to Westchester and the Hudson Valley! More events like this can be found on our Event Calendar.

ICS Carnival: A Family Fun Tradition in Lower Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Tue, 04/24/2018 - 4:00pm

The annual carnival presented by the Immaculate Conception School in Tuckahoe—known colloquially as "the ICS Carnival"—is one of two must-do carnivals in Lower Westchester (the other being the annual Lake Isle carnival). The large-scale scope of the event makes it destination-worthy for families with kids of all ages.

An annual tradition for more than 20 years, I’ve been taking my kids for nearly a decade, and I expect to continue to do so till they go off to college (maybe even beyond).

Read on for our first-hand account of this fun-filled annual tradition, and check our Event Calendar for other fun happenings!

Easter Weekend for Westchester Kids: Bunnies, Eggs and Disney Live!

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 5:00pm

Whether or not you celebrate Easter, you’ll find great family activities this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families. There lots of Easter egg hunts to fill up those baskets, as well as locomotive fun aboard the Easter Bunny Train. The most egg-citing thing about EGG-citement? Not messing up your own kitchen!

Not all weekend fun is eggy and bunny-ish. Tickets remain available to Disney Live!, the kind of experience that is likely to send your child’s jaw dropping at the sight of beloved characters on stage. For a lower-priced and lower-key performance, try a Magic Show.

As this weekend commences a week (or so) off from school, rely on our spring break guide for ways to optimize the time, and peruse our hot-off-the-press April GoList to plan the whole month.

Read on for more! Check out our Event Calendar for additional options, and sign up for our rnewsletters to be totally in the know.

Spring 2018 Festivals and Fairs in Westchester

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/23/2018 - 12:00pm

Photo of Fol de Rol County Fair by Susan Miele for Mommy Poppins

Despite the mild winter we’ve had, it’s always exciting to anticipate the arrival of spring. Beyond warmer weather and longer daylight, the caliber of events ratchets up, particularly the fairs and festivals that depend on these conditions. Westchester is buzzing with many such events all season long, promising fun-filled outdoor events for the entire family.

We've rounded up our favorite spring festivals, street fairs and celebrations happening throughout Westchester, many of which are free. Be sure to check out our Spring Activity Guide for more seasonal fun and sign up for our newsletters and consult our Event Calendar to stay informed of more great family events!

The Royal Hanneford Circus: An Annual Tradition that Won't Break the Bank

Submitted by Susan Miele on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 10:00am

While circuses like Ringling Brothers, The Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil are household names, the lesser-known Royal Hanneford Circus ranks on the list of must-see circuses. We took it upon ourselves to check things out at a recent visit in Westchester, N.Y., and have what you should know about its upcoming visit to Wilmington, Mass.

Read on for the inside scoop, and be sure to sign up for our newsletters to receive stories like this in your inbox!

25 Free Things to Do in March with Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 03/04/2018 - 10:36am

In like a lion, out like a lamb goes March, the saying goes. Indeed, though we can't complain of a harsh Westchester winter this year, we nonetheless can look forward to the arrival of spring mid-month and the fun that lies ahead. We're always hunting for a good bargain, so below we've rounded up our top free events for families to help our readers get the most out of the month without getting the most out of your wallets.

Some of the free seasonal fun this month include Easter egg hunts, St. Patrick's Day parades and (though not all are free) maple sugaring. And, though Mother Nature's gone easy on us so far, there still may be a good snowfall ahead and the chance to go sledding at one of our favorite hills. And don't forget our list of free places to play for year-round fun.

Read on for our top picks, but also consult our Event Calendar for more free (and not-so-free) activities. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we'll keep you in the know, March and beyond!

Presidents' Day Weekend Fun with Westchester Kids: Circuses, Curling

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 2:00pm

Image of "Swallows and Amazons" courtesy of the Jacob Burns Film Center

If you’re staying in town for the three-day weekend, get ready for lots of local fun for families right here in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

As we reported in our February GoList, the circus is in town! With the recent closing of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the performance by The Royal Hanneford Circus is that much more special. If clowns aren’t enough ha-ha for you, grab some more giggles at Mr. Pennygaf's Cirkus Sideshow Spectacle. Or, for less comedic entertainment, the kid-adventure film Swallows and Amazons looks promising.

If the Olympics has your family asking, “What’s curling and where do people do that?” then take advantage of the local Curling Open House and skip the flight to Pyeongchang. And since Presidents’ Day is intended to honor our presidents, celebrate accordingly at Washington’s Birthday Celebration.

Read on for more of our top weekend picks and check out our Event Calendar for an even bigger selection of activities this weekend and beyond. Kids off from school next week? Check out 40 Things to Do with Kids on a Westchester Winter Staycation to avoid cabin fever.