Just one closing—but it's a sad one An iconic Theater District gathering spot and one of our top places to eat with kids in Times Square is no more. This past Sunday, Cafe Edison, the perfect place to introduce the brood to blintzes, latkes and matzo ball soup, shut its doors. Known to regulars as the Polish Tea Room, the restaurant didn't close due to lack of business (in fact, there was a star-studded campaign to try to save it). However, the owners of the space plan to turn it into (wait for it...) an upscale dining destination with a name chef. Now where will we get Jewish comfort food before a Broadway matinee on the cheap?

Ice, ice baby Considering it may reach 60 degrees on Christmas Day, it strangely seems like a good season for ice cream. In honor of the holidays, you can grab FREE (with admission) scoops of Blue Marble goodness at the Museum of the City of New York from December 26 through January 4. Suggested admission is $14 for adults, free for children under age 20, and the museum has lots of cool programming for kids over the break, like making paper Mkeka place mats for Kwanzaa, crafting snow globes and putting together winter-themed collages.

Despite the unseasonably warm weather, NYC's outdoor ice rinks are open throughout the break. Brooklyn's McCarren Rink is offering something awesome for children with special needs who have trouble with traditional skating: ice sledding. These handicap-accessible ice sleds are available for FREE to families with special needs so their kids can have fun on the rink. Before heading over, call 718-388-7433 to make sure one will be available when you arrive.
 

Animal attraction If you're thinking of visiting the Central Park Zoo over break (hey, it's even open on Christmas Day), make sure you meet its newest residents: a pair of harbor seals named Adam and Anson who were recently relocated from their birthplace, the New York Aquarium. You'll find them in the pool next to the Polar Circle penguin and puffin habitats.

More animal fun: Manhattan's ASPCA is offering discounted adoption deals on homeless pets through Christmas Eve. If you know someone who would flip to find a dog or cat under the tree, consider stopping by for a look. The ASPCA promises to find the right pet match for your family in terms of lifestyle, personality and even energy level.

Culture on the cheap While the Soviet-born, anti-Big Brother surveillance state citizen in me is wincing a bit, I am intrigued by the major cultural discounts offered to anyone who signs up for an IDNYC card next year. Available to any New York City dweller age 14 or older, the cards are meant to help people who might otherwise have trouble obtaining an official government-issued ID card, such as youths, undocumented immigrants and the homeless. However, to entice everyone to sign up, the card comes with cool benefits like free or discounted tickets and admission to a host of attractions throughout the five boroughs, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Public Theater, the New York City Ballet, the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. Considering my teenage son's homework assignments frequently require visits to these places, it's tempting to tell him to get one. If you're interested in applying for IDNYC, you can sign up here.