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

Free Art and Theater Classes and Camps for NYC Teens

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 08/14/2023 - 6:06pm

The 92NY's Program for Excellence in the Arts offers professional training to talented teens through its audition-based programs in performing and fine arts. Photo courtesy of 92NY

NYC's FREE art programs are one of the main reasons my family endures the challenges of raising kids in NYC. Whether your kids are into making theater, music, or fine art, there are myriad art programs in NYC that offer excellent training—and some are 100% FREE. Admittedly, these no-cost, audition-based performing and fine art programs are competitive, but they can be life-changing for talented, motivated kids and teens. Don't worry if your child doesn't get in the first time: Most of these organizations accept new participants annually, and sometimes it takes a few tries. As the mother of an art- and theater-loving daughter, I speak from experience!

Read on to find out how to apply to these FREE art programs in New York City. Deadlines for fall are coming up fast! You'll find more enriching programs for kids and teens, including our top picks for musical theater classes in NYC in our New York City Guide to Kids' Classes.

Guide to Visiting The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Hudson Valley: Get Your 2023 Tickets Now

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 08/10/2023 - 2:33pm

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze returns to Van Cortlandt Manor for its 19th season in 2023.

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Hudson Valley is a must-do Halloween event in the tri-state area. Now in its 19th year, The Blaze Hudson Valley is a walk-through Halloween experience scheduled to run 61 nights between September and November 2023. Halloween season might seem far off, but The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze is a perennial sell-out, and tickets just went on sale. Act fast to get yours or risk missing out.

For those traveling from NYC, The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze is worth the splurge and is accessible via public transportation. The event even made our list of 100 things to do with kids in New York state before they grow up. Prefer to head east? Old Bethpage Village Restoration hosts The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze: Long Island.

NYC's Shakespeare in the Park and More Classics: How to Get Tickets and Tips for Bringing Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 06/06/2023 - 9:59am

The Hudson River Classical Theater Company presents The Importance of Being Earnest in Riverside Park this summer. Photo by Daniel Cermak for the Hudson River Classical Theater Company

To see, or not to see Shakespeare in the Park with kids? That is the perpetual question when it comes to Shakespeare and other classics. While FREE outdoor mountings of the Bard's iconic plays abound in NYC every summer, some are more family-friendly than others. The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions get all the press and feature big stars, but also involve hard-to-get tickets, long run times, and prickly patrons who may give you the stink eye if your child gets fidgety. Happily, lots of other local troupes put on quality, no-cost Shakespeare shows in various NYC parks. These revivals don't require tickets or reservations, are engaging and accessible, and often clock in at less than two hours, so your kids have a better chance of making it all the way through (and if they don't, just leave quickly and quietly—no money wasted!).

I started taking my daughter to outdoor Shakespeare when she was 7 and now, as a teen, she's totally hooked. Here are nine FREE classic shows to enjoy with your kids this summer, plus tips on how to make the most of the experience, and the lowdown on how to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park if that's atop your list. Find all our picks for kid-friendly theater no matter the season in our Guide to Children's Theater in New York City.

Best Things To Do in NYC with Teens

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 05/25/2023 - 1:05pm

The Firebird Project puts on Broadway-caliber productions with teen talent. Photo courtesy of The Firebird Project

It can be tough to find things to do in New York City for teens. They're too old to want parents to accompany them everywhere, but many teen activities require adult supervision. If your high schooler's social life has been reduced to online gaming or scrolling TikTok clips, help them mix it up by sharing this roundup of 15 things to do in NYC with teens that they can do on their own, a few of which were even created by NYC teens.

Many of these teen activities are FREE or inexpensive, so you won't have to raise their allowance. Find more things to do in NYC with teens in our Teen and Tweens Guide to NYC and our jam-packed Family Activity Calendar.

NYC Puppet Shows, Workshops, and Festivals for Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 1:09pm

The charming Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre presents reimagine classics with the old-school art of marionette puppet shows. Photo courtesy of the City Parks Foundation

These puppet shows in NYC are the perfect first-time theater experience. Even if your kids can't sit still for more than five minutes, chances are they'll make it through a puppet show. The colorful characters are captivating, the stories are often adaptations of familiar fairy tales, the tickets are FREE or cheap (and certainly a lot less than nabbing seats for our favorite Broadway shows). Puppet shows are also short, and if your kids make silly faces at the stage, the puppets won't get offended (and neither will the puppeteers—they get it).

While the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park is the best-known destination for children's puppet shows in New York City, there are many other companies regularly mounting puppet shows for families, and a few offer birthday party packages.

A few other NYC theaters, notably the New Victory, also present puppet shows, like the upcoming Baobab and Wink. DR2 Theatre is also hosting a return engagement of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Be sure to check our Event Calendar for even more puppet fun, including a variety of interactive Puppetsburg puppet show productions.

Indoor Swimming Pools in NYC Offering Day Passes

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 01/23/2023 - 5:05pm

Asphalt Green has a pair of campuses with beautiful indoor pools.

It's easy to find a swimming pool in NYC during the summer months, when there are plenty of FREE swimming pools to visit, but if you're looking for year-round options or less-crowded waters, the possibilities are more limited. We've rounded up the best indoor swimming pools in NYC offering day passes, from private pools to off-the-beaten-path community spots. All are kid-friendly and welcome families for swimming and other water fun.

Read on for our top picks for indoor swimming pools in NYC and find more options for family fun in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones in NYC.

Score Big Discounts on Broadway Show Tickets When Broadway Week Deal Returns

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 01/05/2023 - 10:06am

Broadway Week, the semi-annual program offering discounted tickets to big-name Broadway shows, like The Lion King, returns January 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Disney on Broadway

Broadway Week, the theater industry's big BOGO promo returns. So, set a calendar alert to grab these discounted tickets to Broadway shows because Broadway Week ticket sales launch Tuesday, January 10.

Past Broadway Week discounted ticket promos have included plenty of our favorite family-friendly Broadway shows. Read on for all the details.

Best Off-Broadway Shows for Kids: Affordable Children's Theater in NYC

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 10:28am

The off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors is perfectly set in a small theater, with big performances from its cast. Photo by Emilio Madrid-Kuser

Taking kids to a Broadway show is an exciting and memorable experience. It's also a pricey one. That's why it's worth looking beyond Broadway, where you'll find some long-running, kid-friendly shows that are less expensive, more offbeat, but just as special.

From a bubble-filled, surefire toddler hit to a hilarious slapstick comedy to those world-famous blue dudes, there are options for all ages and interests. We've even shared ways you can snag deeply discounted tickets. All of these Off-Broadway productions make great birthday party activities, too.