Katherine Dhurandhar

Latest posts by Katherine

Tennis in Lower Westchester: 7 Great Centers for Westchester Families To Learn and Play Tennis

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Mon, 10/03/2022 - 11:42am

Photo courtesy of The New Rochelle Racquet Club

It's never too early (or late) to learn to play tennis. Whether your child aspires to be the next Serena Williams or is just looking for some great exercise and healthy fun, Westchester County offers some of the best tennis centers offering lessons, camps, and so much more. And since the courts go indoors for the winter, this is a sport the whole family can enjoy all year round.

Tennis classes are available for all ages and skill levels, so if tennis is a sport you’re looking to learn, or even if your kid is already a seasoned tennis player, read on for our picks of the top tennis facilities in lower Westchester. Grab your racket and get ready for fun, great exercise, and professional instruction close to home.

You can find more sports classes–and even book a class online–in the Mommy Poppins directory of classes and listings. Check out our Westchester Classes for Kids Guide for classes for kids of all ages.

Free Halloween Events and Halloween Parades in Westchester for Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 10/02/2022 - 1:46pm

The Cross County Shopping Center's annual Halloween bash features a lively blend of dancing, bouncing, crafting, stories, games, trick-or-treating, and more. Photo courtesy of the event

Two of our favorite things collide in October: Halloween and FREE events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. With all the money spent on costumes, ticketed events, and parties, having no-cost events to add fun without adding expense is a perfect way to enhance the season.

Get ready to get the most out of Halloween without getting the most out of your wallet. We’ve rounded up 20 Halloween events that are FREE to attend. From costume parades to scavenger hunts, there’s enough variety here to justify getting costume mileage on many occasions throughout the month.

Be sure to check out our Guide to Halloween Fun for Westchester Families for other ways to enjoy the spooky season. And if you’re looking for more action, head to our Family Activity Calendar for all sorts of fun events.

Best of October: 20 Things to Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 09/30/2022 - 6:35am

Celebrate the Mexican holiday of Dia de los Muertos with a FREE family concert at Caramoor. Photo courtesy of Caramoor

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means Westchester and the Hudson Valley are alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and of course trick-or-treating—so many opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

In addition to tons of Halloween fun this month, there are several harvest celebrations, including the Soukup Farms Fall Festival, the Heritage of West Nyack Fall Festival, and the annual Columbus Day Pumpkinfest. For artsy fall fun, check out the premiere of the Serious Fun Arts Festival, featuring live mural painting and art making for the whole family, or the Magic of Storybook Animals art exhibit.

Find more top October fun in our rundown of best ball festivals near Westchester, our Halloween Fun Guide for Westchester Families, and our Westchester Fall Fun Guide,

We’re adding more events to our Family Activity Calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

Top Halloween Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley in 2022

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/25/2022 - 7:44am

Legoland New York is decked out for the Halloween season. Come in costume to enjoy all the rides and attractions, plus Halloween-themed shows and "brick-or-treating" throughout the park. Photo by author

Spooky season is here, and there’s no shortage of family events this Halloween in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Whether you have thrill-seeking teens or pumpkin-loving toddlers, we’ve got plenty of options for your brood.

Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are prime Halloween destinations, owing to their pride in being the home of Washington Irving and the setting of his famed The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Throughout the region, haunted attractions abound for the older set, while little ones can delight in friendly fun like Monster Mash-inspired brick-or-treating at Legoland New York or a visit with costumed alpacas. Meanwhile, the whole family can enjoy Westchester's most celebrated Halloween event, the Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze.

Read on for our list of the best Halloween events in Westchester and nearby. To get the most out of this fun season, turn to our Halloween Fun Guide, which includes recommendations for top local corn mazes, pumpkin patches near Westchester, at-home Halloween activities, and much more. You’ll also find many more Halloween (and other) events on our Family Activity Calendar, with new ones added frequently.

Pregnancy and Parenting Classes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Families

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Fri, 09/23/2022 - 7:26am

Take a prenatal class with a partner at Prana Prenatal Yoga. Photo courtesy of the studio

Looking for pregnancy and parenting classes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley? Read on for some of the top options in the area.

Parenting is not an easy job, and we could all use some help sometimes, whether you are expecting a new baby or going through the difficult teenage years. Thankfully, there are plenty of parenting classes right here in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, from pregnancy and birth classes to positive discipline and special-needs parenting classes. Many of the classes also offer additional support groups for parents to share their experiences and be part of a community.

You can find more parenting classes–and even book a class online–in the Mommy Poppins directory of classes and listings. Check out our Westchester Classes for Kids Guide for classes for kids of all ages. And find more new-parent resources in our Westchester Baby Guide.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Best Dance Classes in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Mon, 09/05/2022 - 2:00pm

Kids get a great foundation in classical ballet at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Photo courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem

If you have a budding ballerina who's pleading for dance classes in New York City, you'll find yourself spoiled for choice, and that fact holds true across genres and genders. We've rounded up 18 studios offering dance classes in NYC for kids. Most of these local dance classes in NYC offer programs for boys, and in general, you can study multiple styles at one studio; only a few specialize in one discipline.

For more great classes for kids, including everything from baby sign language classes to gymnastics classes, check out our New York City Classes for Kids Guide and Classes Directory.

Columbus Day Weekend in Westchester: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Mon, 09/05/2022 - 11:58am

An annual Columbus Day tradition, the Pine Island Pumpkinfest, features tons of kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of Pine Island Chamber of Commerce

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley over the long Columbus Day weekend? We've got tons of family-friendly events to add to your list.

Whether you call the holiday Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, we're celebrating the day off on Monday, October 10 with tons of fun things to do. The long weekend makes a great jumping-off point for Halloween celebrations, beginning with the G-rated Headless Horseman Haunted Children's Day on Saturday. Enjoy pick-your-own fun at Seed Song Farm's weekend-long Pumpkins and Sunflowers Harvest Fest, and save some energy for a trip to the popular Eastchester Columbus Day Parade on Monday.

We've got tons more seasonal picks on our list of the best Halloween events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, and you can find more things to do any day on our Family Activity Calendar.

And don't miss your chance to win! Mommy Poppins is sponsoring a pretty amazing giveaway: The grand-prize winner will get a 2 night all-inclusive trip for 2 adults and 2 children (including airfare from the continental US, food, & beverages) to Velas Vallarta family resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Enter to win our Family Fun Resort Getaway.

Best Harvest and Pumpkin Festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this Fall

Submitted by Katherine Dhurandhar on Sun, 09/04/2022 - 11:34am

Enjoy the fall on the beautiful grounds of Boscobel during the Heritage Apple Fest. Photo courtesy of Boscobel

Fall festivals in Westchester and the Hudson Valley incorporate some of the season's spectacular offerings, including romping around local pumpkin patches and eating delicious apple cider doughnuts. Plus, many of these wow-worthy weekend events involve carnival rides, treats, and live music.

For even more ways to celebrate autumn, check out our guide to the best places for apple picking in the area, and be sure to peep our Best of September roundup for even more things to do.

Looking for even more family-friendly activities? Consult our Event Calendar and Fall Fun Guide, and sign up for our newsletters to get posts like this delivered to your inbox.