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

Spring Theater Preview: 15 Family-Friendly Stage Shows in NYC

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/31/2022 - 4:37pm

Catch the Paw Patrol gang live during The Great Pirate Adventure at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Photo courtesy of VStar Entertainment.

This spring, the family theater scene is finally back in full bloom! There are page-to-stage (or screen-to-stage) adaptations of preschooler favorites (Leonardo, the Terrible Monster, The Pout-Pout Fish, PAW Patrol Live!); inventive theatricalizations of beloved grade-schooler books (Dog Man: The Musical, Charlotte's Web); and powerful productions aimed at adolescents (Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Step Afrika!'s history-inspired Stono).

Best of all, most of these 15 family-friendly shows have tickets starting at $25 or less, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one ticket to our favorite Broadway shows!

10 Must-Visit Underrated NYC Parks

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:31pm

Grab a picnic and head to Owl's Head Park for the lush green grass! Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

Central Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park—even if you only just arrived in NYC, we probably don't need to tell you these are all must-see green spaces, but they're also popular and crowded. Fortunately for us, according to the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, 14 percent of the city is parkland. That's more than 30,000 acres! So, if you're looking to find a new-to-you outdoor destination to explore, we've got 10 off-the-beaten-path parks worth putting on your NYC family bucket list.

Find more spots to explore in the great outdoors with our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in NYC.

Winter Theater Preview: 15 Family-Friendly Stage Shows in NYC This Season

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 4:00pm

Infused with rap, freedom songs, hip-hop dance, and humor, Jabari Dreams of Freedom is a powerful production playing the New Victory Theater beginning in March. Photos by Abboye Lawrence.

In-person performances are back and you don't need to dig into your 401(k) to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC. This winter, there are lots of family-friendly productions that cost a sliver of what you'd pay to see one of our favorite Broadway productions.

There are wonderful winter theater options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (Sesame Street Live, Blippi: The Musical); stage adaptations of popular picture books (Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends); and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (the aerial arts-filled The Little Prince, Flip Circus). Bonus: Some of our winter theater picks are also being streamed to at-home audiences.

Best of all, most of these 15 family-friendly winter theater shows have tickets starting at $25 or less, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway seat!

NYC Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 11:07am

Get the classic kid's Burgers and Fries for FREE every Monday at The Hop Shoppe.

Most NYC kids have a diet that's heavy on eating out, and why not? New York City has some of the best kid-friendly restaurants anywhere. Of course, dining out doesn't come cheaply, especially in this town—unless you happen to be a child. For NYC kids, there really is such a thing as a free lunch...if you know where to go. At these local eateries, you can feed those hungry mouths for the unbeatable price of $0, while you get a break from playing chef. We know what you'll be making tonight: reservations.

Holiday Lanterns and Light Shows in NYC for 2021

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 11/04/2021 - 5:59pm

The NYC Winter Lantern Festival on Staten Island is an immersive wonderland of lights. Photo courtesy of the festival

New York City really knows how to light it up for the holidays. Aside from all the residential light displays and tree lightings, holiday lantern shows and seasonal Christmas lights sparkle across the city. From the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's new Lightscape display to the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo, the city sure does shine during the Christmas season. This year, there's even a duo of outdoor holiday lantern shows in Queens and on Staten Island, offering the perfect festive destination for Christmas 2021.

So, read on for all the details you need to get your glow on this holiday season and bookmark our Christmas Fun Guide for more seasonal happenings.

Best Family Theater in NYC This Fall from Winnie the Pooh to SIX on Broadway

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 09/30/2021 - 5:05pm

SIX on Broadway brings plenty of girl power to the stage at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus

By now you've probably heard that Broadway is back! But what about theater for young audiences? Because children under age 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, many beloved theater series for families, including BAMkids, Just Kidding at Symphony Space, La MaMa Kids, Central Park's Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, and Lincoln Center Kids, are still on pause. Even the New Victory Theater is reopening with a show for high schoolers. However, if your family is craving the communal magic of in-person theater, there are some fabulous fall theater shows aimed at tweens and teens, plus an eye-popping Winnie the Pooh puppet show for the sippy-cup set.

The Best Family-Friendly Shows to See This Winter

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 01/14/2020 - 4:00pm

Dog Man: The Musical by TheaterWorksUSA plays at the Queens Theatre. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

You don't need to dig into your 401K to give your kids a memorable live theater experience in NYC. This winter, there are a slew of family-friendly shows for all ages that cost a sliver of what you'd pay to see a Broadway production.

There are wonderful options for kids of all ages from toddlers to teens, including shows aimed specifically at the preschool set (Taste the Clouds, Gustafer Yellowgold, Sesame Street Live!); stage adaptations of popular picture books (Dog Man, Pete the Cat, She Persisted); a production specifically created for children on the autism spectrum (SUDS); and eye-popping spectacles for the whole family (Thunderbird American Indian Dancers in Concert, Drumfolk).

Best of all, most of these 27 shows are priced at $25 and under, so you can take the whole family for less than the price of one Broadway ticket.

Best Holiday Shows for Kids and Families in NYC 2019

Submitted by Raven Snook on Fri, 11/22/2019 - 10:00am

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Photo courtesy of Character Arts

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows. While there are plenty of extravaganzas to splurge on, like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and all those beautiful Nutcrackers, if you've got young children you may not want to blow all of your bucks on theater tickets.

That's why our roundup of Christmas-season family theater includes a range of productions, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.

From live stage adaptations of classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Christmas Carol, to seasonal musicals based on popular picture books, to amazing circus feats and offbeat experiences, here are our top 18 holiday shows for NYC families for the 2019 holiday season.