Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik's early career editing teen magazines somehow morphed into a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a very long sojourn at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick online and then Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com local. She was a founding member of the WebbyAward winning GoCityKids, has written for Family Fun Magazine, Vanity Fair, and New York, and her novel for middle schoolers, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. She strives to keep the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar packed and accurate, and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Free in September: 51 Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 08/29/2023 - 3:26pm

Italian pride—and tasty eats—are on the menu at the annual Feast of San Gennaro, which takes over Little Italy in September. Photo by Jody Mercier

Back-to-school season can be expensive, but we've found more than 50 free things to do in NYC with kids this September. September in NYC serves up the last few bites of summer fun, with Labor Day weekend. This month also marks the kickoff of fall festivals around NYC with the West Side County Fair, the Rockaways' sweet NYC Honey Fest, Little Italy's San Gennaro, and the big book fest in Brooklyn.

The free family fun doesn't stop there: The Met is opening its brand new play space, Morningside Lights celebrates classic literature, and science geeks can Submerge on the west side.

Read on for more than 50 free things to do in New York City this September with kids, including events in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Find more top events on our always-packed Family Activity Calendar.

37 Top Mommy-and-Me Classes in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 08/28/2023 - 3:43pm

WeBop's mommy-and-me classes get parents and kids grooving. Photo by Ayano Hisa

Mommy-and-me classes rule, and not just because little ones learn something new. In a city like NYC, taking a mommy-and-me swimming lesson or parent-and-me music class with your infant or toddler is a great way to meet other parents, and a social baby is a happy baby.

The hardest part of signing up for daddy-and-me or mommy-and-me classes in New York City might be choosing from the hundreds of options, so we've rounded up nearly 40 mommy-and-me classes in NYC that our community of expert parents recommends most.

You can find more mommy-and-me classes for kids and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our New York City Classes for Kids Guide for more kids' activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 08/25/2023 - 10:04am

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

The US Open is in town bringing with it the annual Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, which is loaded with family-friendly entertainment. Summer Streets brings its car-free fun to Brooklyn and the Bronx. And families can also party at the Paley's Disney-themed bash, or learn all about the Battle of Brooklyn.

Summer days are waning, but we're doing our best to ease the transition with these picks for free and cheap after-school programs, plus we've got all the important dates on the public school calendar here. Before you load those backpacks, though, check off all the must-dos on our end-of-summer bucket list.

Free in August: 75+ Things To Do in NYC with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 08/04/2023 - 11:20am

Bryant Park's Picnic Performances welcome New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. Photo by Ryan Muir Lores

NYC empties in August, but the free things to do keep rolling. The lull before back-to-school is anything but dull, and we've found 75 fun free August activities in NYC for families. Our top picks for fun, free things to do this August include Summer Streets, which sets kids loose with awesome activities at rest stops along the way, the annual Blues Barbecue in Hudson River Park, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Fest, and the always-lovely Hindu Lamp Ceremony.

Legions of dancers take over Battery Park for the week-long Battery Dance Fest. And music and kites harmonize at FlyNYC in Riverside Park.

Finally, August ends "love all," when Arthur Ashe Kids' Day returns during US Open Fans Week. Plus, you can play with MommyPoppins at the Seaport on August 23!

So, put away your wallet and venture out for one of these fun, free things to do in NYC this August. We also have a full list of free outdoor movies. Be sure to keep the Mommy Poppins Family Activity Calendar handy for new ideas and updates, and consult our giant list of 100 FREE things to do this summer for even more picks.

Best Summer Festivals in NYC in August 2023 for Families

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 07/31/2023 - 6:04pm

Join Brooklyn Children's Museum in celebrating Caribbean history and culture with a day of dance, music, food, and more! Photo courtesy of BCM

August ushers in the final round of summer festivals in NYC. This last gasp of summer celebrations includes some of our favorite summer festivals in NYC like Summer Streets, the Puppet Fringe Fest, Brooklyn's gorgeous Hindu Lamp Ceremony, the Sand Sculpting Contest on Coney Island, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Fest, and, of course, Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the US Open. We've found more than two dozen summer festivals in NYC this August and the best part: They're (almost) all FREE.

Read on for more details on these top summer festivals in NYC this August, and find more must-dos on our list of 100 FREE things to do in NYC this summer. Be sure to bookmark our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide for more fun seasonal happenings.

28 Best Things to Do in NYC August 2023 with Kids: Summer Streets, Outdoor Movies, and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 07/30/2023 - 11:21am

During Summer Streets, kids and adults take over seven miles of NYC streets to play, run, walk, and bike. Photo courtesy of NYC DOT

Summer is not over yet! August in New York City has so many things to do outdoors, like outdoor movies and concerts, summer festivals, and the best beach days.

It's the final lap of summer with back-to-school season right around the corner. It's the perfect time to coast down traffic-free Summer Streets, hit the Puppet Fringe and FlyNY festivals, and eat our weight in popcorn at all the FREE outdoor movies.

If you're feeling festive, light up the East River at the always lovely Hindu Lamp Ceremony, take in the Battery Dance Fest, and discover your inner Michaelangelo while making sand sculptures on Coney Island. Celebrate that magic combo of Blues and Barbecue in Hudson River Park, too. Plus, you can play with MommyPoppins at the Seaport on August 23!

Our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide is filled with entertainment across the five boroughs, and our list of 100 FREE summer to-do's extends through the first day of school, too.

Berry Picking near DC: The Best Pick-Your-Own Berry Farms

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 07/02/2023 - 11:32am

Fill your bucket with the sweetest, freshest berries at area farms. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms

It is often said that kids are more likely to eat a fruit or veggie if they can grow it or pick it themselves. So if you want your child to experience the sweet taste of berries this summer, head to one of these farms that offer berry picking near DC. In addition to yielding the sweetest, freshest berries you can find, these pick-your-own farms in Northern Virginia and Maryland offer a fun and educational way for families to spend time together outdoors.

Here are 14 of the best places to go berry picking near DC, where strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and more can all can be picked straight from the bush or tree. Many of these farms also offer fun extras like playgrounds and petting zoos.

For more local farm fun, check out out Pick-Your-Own Guide to Farms in Washington, DC.

30 Best Things To Do in NYC July 2023 with Kids: Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and More

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 06/30/2023 - 2:18pm

Celebrate all things French when Bastille Day takes over Madison Avenue with a blocks-long street fest. Photo by Michael George

Cue the fireworks, because July is here, bringing with it tons of 4th of July fun, plus plenty more family-friendly things to do in New York City.

Of course, July brings Independence Day, with fireworks all over town—including the big Macy's 4th of July display—but we have found tons more amazing things to do with kids in New York City all month long.

The Big Umbrella fest welcomes kids with (and without) sensory differences at Lincoln Center. Goats get their due with a festival in Riverside Park, and City of Water Day, Sprinker Day at Asphalt Green, and the Randall's Island's Waterfront Fest are all getting our calendar delightfully damp.

For drier celebrations, check out the Math Festival downtown or Governors Island's Poetry Fest. Summer Streets start rolling out in July, too.

Keep an eye on our lists of FREE outdoor movies and summer concerts, as they're updated frequently, and find more top July fun on our list of 100 FREE things to do this summer in NYC and our Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

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