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

Home Haircut Tips by Experts: How To Cut Kids' Hair in a Pandemic

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 05/08/2020 - 12:00pm

Professionals offer tips for parents trying home haircuts.

As days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, coronavirus quarantine brings a new challenge: the haircut. We're all starting to look more than a little scruffy. Your son's hair is now completely covering his ears. Your daughter's hair is slightly lopsided (one side grows faster than the other—who knew?). Hubby's hair is veering into a kind of Sasquatch/hippy hybrid. And let's not even mention a look in the mirror. When I catch a glimpse of the neighbors during our daily social-distancing walk, I can see, even at a distance, that they are experiencing a similar problem. It's evident the time has come for a haircut. Read on before you pull out your scissors: We've talked to some industry pros from kids' salons around the country to get the best tips for at-home haircuts. These tricks will get you through until the stay-at-home orders are lifted.

So, take a step back from your "let it grow" philosophy, follow these pro-backed haircut tutorials, and dip your toes into the world of home haircuts. For more helpful advice, plus boredom busters to help you survive the coronavirus with kids, be sure to visit our Stay-at-Home Guide.

Washington DC-Area Toy and Book Stores Offering Curbside Pickup and Delivery

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 05/04/2020 - 4:33pm

Hooray for Books has a great selection of kid lit. Photo courtesy of Hooray for Books

In the absence of, well, everything normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have tapped into all of their creative resources to stay connected and keep kids happy. We've traveled around the world via cool online tours, enjoyed VIP seats for spectacular streaming entertainment, and completed countless science experiments to stifle the monotony of being at home all day every day. Yet, we've found a new (or used!) book to get lost in or a new toy to engage with can help kids build a bridge from where we are (stuck at home) to our imaginations. With that in mind, we've rounded up a 13 Washington, DC-area toy and book stores offering curbside pickup or delivery for customers, and we have no doubt these local shops would love to hear from you.

The next time you find yourself in need of something new for the kids, consider placing an online order, shopping over the phone, or via FaceTime at one of these stores. Not only will you find a gift for your child, but you'll also support a small business in the process while staying safe with contactless curbside pickup or delivery to your doorstep.

For even more home-based ideas and resources, be sure to check out our Stay-at-Home Guide, which outlines tons of activities and boredom busters.

Grocery Delivery Services in NYC to Get You Through the Pandemic

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 04/13/2020 - 4:54pm

Misfits Market delivers ugly, but otherwise perfectly edible fruits and vegetables right to your door.

Buying groceries might have been a bit of a challenge even before our current situation, what with maneuvering shopping carts through busy streets and subway stairs while balancing young children, meandering tweens, and "helpful" teens. But now, as days of confinement stack up, getting groceries is a challenging obstacle course that takes thoughtful planning. Even if you're fortunate enough to have a great go-to store nearby, you might not want to venture out. Another option: grocery delivery services.

If you decide to go this route, one thing is clear: It's smart to order more than a week's worth of groceries. Fill your cart with choices that don't require refrigeration, saving room for those that must be kept cold or frozen, and be willing to accept substitutes for items in short supply. While markets are continually restocking, items might not be available on your delivery date.

NYC is fortunate to have several grocery delivery options, but the sheer population density has created a challenge for even the best services. The situation, as they say, is fluid, and so we're also including options that are experiencing growing pains in hopes they'll find the help they need to expand their delivery services. Our picks include local stores, bodegas, and enterprising small businesses, plus we've also included some useful resources for tracking available takeout options from local restaurants, too.

So, start your shopping list and read on for 22 grocery delivery services, handy ordering apps, and restaurants ready to deliver food right to your stoop. Looking for more help during this trying time? We've got plenty of tips, tricks, and boredom busters in our Stay-at-Home Guide plus a roundup of city services and resources to make life a bit easier.

Easter Brunch and Dinner Takeout and Delivery Options in Connecticut

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 04/06/2020 - 11:39am

Ham and all the fixings are available online from Fresh Market. Photo courtesy of Fresh Market

Your Easter or Passover table might not have as many family or friends as usual this year, but that doesn't mean your meal can't be festive. Plenty of restaurants are offering brunch and dinner takeout or delivery options, taking cooking off your plate for the holiday.

Most restaurants that are still open offer curbside takeout, and some offer delivery via Doordash, Dine-in, and UberEats. And a few are also able to provide their own delivery service, if you get your order in early; and some provide extra treats, like chocolate bunnies and peeps! Decorate the table with Easter crafts and dyed eggs, connect with loved ones via Zoom or FaceTime, and savor your holiday.

24 Best Classic Board Games for Family Game Night

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 03/31/2020 - 10:58am

Pull out a block, place it on top but don't let the tower fall in the fun and challenging Jenga.

Why not go old-school for family night this week and gather around the table to play one of these classic family-friendly board games? Board games have a lot to offer: They inspire competition. They can build spelling skills (Scrabble and Boggle), math skills (Monopoly and Hi-Ho! Cherry-O), and some are just plain fun (Sorry!). Here, we've rounded up a pile of options for every age group. More good news: None of these 24 board games break the bank, and you might even have some of these board games in the back of your closet, gathering dust.

Need more options for screen-free family time? We've got tons of resources and activities in our Games and Activities Guide for Family Fun.

Virtual Concerts, Storytimes, Events, and Classes To Stream from Home this Week

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/18/2020 - 1:02pm

Author and illustrator Mo Willems invites kids into his studio at lunchtime to create some of his beloved characters. Photo by Ally Noel

This week's "weekend event picks" is the strangest one we've ever done. With Americans being urged to avoid groups and stay close to home, our event calendar currently has more virtual activities than actual events. But something really cool has happened: artists, writers, and singers, plus theaters, zoos, and kids' class instructors all over the country are stepping up to create virtual events for families to stay engaged despite being homebound, and discover new favorite activities and music...and we are loving it.

We've also been busy—creating an exciting new feature for these unusual times, called Poppins@Home. Watching all our favorite kid spots closing their doors, we immediately realized that not only were families going to lose out on being able to get out to museums, play spaces, gymnastics classes, and more, but all these businesses were going to be in hot water. So for the past week, in addition to working on our Coronavirus Guide for Parents and switching over all our content to be about things to do at home like 63 Easy Science Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff and 21 (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids, we've also been building a whole new platform for virtual classes and programming.

You can get an early look at Poppins@Home now. We're still working hard to add lots more content on it and inviting our favorite kids' programming providers to join in, too. So stay tuned for even more. And, since we worked fast and furious on it, if you find any issues using the site please let us know. Or if you know businesses who should be on there, please send them the link.

Stay safe, have fun, and tune in to all the great things we've found for families to do in this new virtual world. Read on for our picks of the best virtual events.

Things to Do and What's Canceled in NYC This Weekend: Covid Closures, Walking Tours

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 4:40pm

AMNH is closed through Friday, March 27. Catch the interactive exhibit The Nature of Color when it reopens. Photo by Kendra Snyder for AMNH

All of the St. Patrick's Day parades have been canceled or posponed, but you can still catch the Kids' Fleadh on Saturday. You can even take an Irish in NY Walking Tour and learn why St. Patrick's Day is more American than Irish. Big Onion Tours are organized in small groups and take place outdoors.

With coronavirus cases on the rise, beware that many organizations are changing plans quickly. We're doing our best to keep our calendar listings current, but please click through to the venue websites to confirm events are still on before heading out, and don't forget to pack the hand sanitizer and tissues.

Keep an eye on our March GoList or our daily NYC Event Calendar for updated info on everything happening in NYC.

Best Summer Camps in Queens: 16 Camps Catering to Diverse Interests

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 03/10/2020 - 5:35pm

Blue Dolphin camp feels like a home away from home. Photo courtesy of the camp

We've sprung forward and that means summer is just around the corner. With that in mind, it's time to find a great summer camp for your kid.

For starters, you've got to figure out whether your kid would like to spend all day doing sports, or art, or mixing it up in a traditional camp. If your kid's a bit adventurous, they might want to take advantage of summer to try something new—say, surfing or game design. Good news, though, when it comes to camp opportunities options abound in Queens.

With that in mind, we did a little winnowing, looking for programs that have consistently delivered great reviews from participating families. Read on for some of the best summer camps in Queens!