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

This Week: Spring Break, Easter Egg Hunts, Little League Baseball, ELA and Math Test Prep

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/21/2013 - 4:00pm

There are a lot of memes out there taking Punxsutawney Phil and his groundhog brothers to task for their early spring prediction. With Monday's snowstorm and a forecast for more snow next week, it's hard to believe that spring is here, but it is along with spring break. All of our sites have awesome suggestions for enriching spring break activities and Easter celebrations. Our Boston site also has a great post about creative calorie-free treats to stuff in Easter eggs and awesome spring-themed crafts in case you're looking for ways to spend time together at home. Plus you can always catch a new family movie: The Croods opens on Friday, and Studio Ghibli's From Up on Poppy Hill and Oz: The Great and Powerful are already playing.

Spring break is a great time for a day trip. There are lots of wonderful tri-state area destinations and some don't even require a car, like NJ's interactive Liberty Science Center, which is easily accessible via PATH train. If you're looking for an overnight getaway, check our Travel site. It's not too late to plan a last-minute spring break getaway!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

This Week: NYC Birthday Party Guide, Easter Egg Hunts and St. Patrick Day Parades, Spring Break Camps

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 4:00pm

We had an awesome time last Saturday at our live baby chicks portrait sessions at Big Apple Portraits. And we were really impressed by how gorgeous our readers are (the kids were cute, too). Though the photo shoot is over, Easter fun is just beginning. There are a slew of egg hunts in NYC throughout the month as well as plenty of Easter activities in Connecticut, New Jersey and on Long Island. Meanwhile St. Patrick's Day is this Sunday and there are lots of ways to celebrate throughout the tri-state area this weekend, including parades in NYC and a way over yonder.

Have you looked at our NYC Birthday Party Guide lately? We've added a lot of new posts over the past few weeks, including info on indoor swimming pool parties, our top ten party places in the Bronx and Queens, and Brooklyn gym parties. If you're planning a vacation not a birthday, be sure to check out our Travel site. We recently reviewed the Mountaintop Lodge at Lake Naomi in the Poconos and rounded up farms where families can stay overnight near NYC.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

This Week: Free & Cheap Camps in NYC, Easter Egg Hunts, New Giveaway, Focus on Forest Hills, Queens

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 03/07/2013 - 4:00pm

Did you see NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott's live webcast on Wednesday night about the core curriculum and New York State test changes? We did, and our Facebook posts sparked some interesting conversations. One of the best things about this site—beyond telling our readers about great things to do with kids in NYC—is being able to interact with our fellow NYC families. We also get lots of post ideas from your questions and comments, so don't be surprised if you see a post related to the webcast and your thoughts in the next week or two.

On a lighter note, the big March holidays are almost upon us, and we've got ways for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Easter all over the five boroughs. Even though Easter isn't until March 31, you can celebrate this weekend at our Live Baby Chicks Portrait Event or at the first egg hunt of the season at Brooklyn Plantology. Of course some special holiday events only happen outside of NYC, like train rides with the Easter Bunny in New Jersey. They make for great day trips.

Since we know a lot of families are still trying to figure out what to do about summer camp, we updated our always-popular free and cheap summer camps for NYC kids post. The lottery for one of our favorite inexpensive summer programs, the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp, which costs $500 for seven weeks, is currently underway. And speaking of inexpensive camps, how would you like a free week of Pony Camp at Dapple Hill Farm in Whitehouse Station, NJ? All you need to do is enter our giveaway and see if you get lucky. We launch new giveaways every week so be sure to bookmark our giveaway page.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend for NYC Kids: Early Easter Egg Hunts, St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, Muppets March 9-10

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 03/06/2013 - 4:00pm

Even though Easter, Passover and St. Patrick’s Day have not officially arrived, you can celebrate all three this weekend. Put on your best green outfits and head to the Throgg's Neck St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Children's Museum of the Arts for an Irish Dance Party or the Kids Film Fleah at the Irish Arts Center. Meanwhile you can enjoy the first Easter egg hunt of the season at Brooklyn Plantology or hit the Streit's matzo factory for Passover Palooza.

The Mommy Poppins team is also hosting a fun spring-themed event: portrait sessions with live baby chicks. Come out and get an adorable photo of your kids and enjoy other activities.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Winter Fun Guide.

This Week: March Go List, Easter Portrait Deal, St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, New Giveaways

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 4:00pm

Am I the only one who can't believe it's March? But it must be true: Temperatures are rising, days are getting longer, daffodil shoots are peeking through and our March Go NYC List is up! For those of you who love to plan ahead, our brand-new Go List highlights the absolute best things to do all month, and a bunch of our picks take place this weekend including the kickoff of the New York International Children's Film Festival and the debut of Topsy-Turvy, Madison Square Park's new interactive public art display.

March also brings St. Patrick's Day, summer camp registration, Easter and spring break. Our Travel site has a bunch of spring break getaway deals and we're furiously at work updating our annual Easter egg hunt post. In the meantime, how about posing for an adorable portrait with live baby chicks in honor of the season? Mommy Poppins has partnered with Big Apple Portraits for a fun, one-day-only event, where families can sit for a photo shoot with the chicks, make cool crafts and enjoy other perks.

Read on for details about how to book your session, as well as info on our new Giveaway page and links to all of the other things we covered on the NYC site this week.

All About Oz: 5 Ways to Experience the Magic of the Wizard of Oz in NYC

Submitted by Raven Snook on Wed, 02/27/2013 - 10:00am

Disney's epic adventure Oz: The Great and Powerful hits theaters next Friday, March 8 and I don't think I've been this excited about a family movie since the relaunch of The Muppets back in 2011. My daughter and I are both counting down the days until we can see this Wizard of Oz prequel, which focuses on the Kansas-born Wizard's journey to Oz, where he tangles with three stunning witches, including my kid's favorite, Glinda (that's her in the photo, dressed up as the original Good Witch for Halloween a few years back).

If your kids (or you) are as into all things Oz as my family is, there are some fun ways to celebrate L. Frank Baum's magical world right here in New York City. From Books of Wonder's unparalleled collection of Oz titles to a behind-the-scenes tour of the musical Wicked to a big blue Oz hot-air balloon set to land in Central Park, here are five ways to get carried away to this fantastical place—no tornado required.

Giveaway: 10 Pirate Picture Books by Local Children's Author Carole P. Roman

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 10:00am

Carole P. Roman wasn't always a children's book author. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens before settling on Long Island, she became a teacher, then a mother and finally went into the family transportation business. But once her own kids had kids, she realized she wanted to try something more creative.

After watching his mother make up stories for his young child, Roman's son dared her write a children's book. So in 2012, she self-published Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life, a rollicking adventure about kids pretending to be on a pirate ship. Although it was initially done as a lark, the book went on to make Kirkus Reviews' list of the Best Indie Books of 2012 and suddenly a series of books—and Roman's new career—was born.

We're giving away copies of Roman's second Captain No Beard story, Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience, to ten lucky readers. Read on for details on how to enter, and for our interview with the author about her favorite places to take her grandchildren, her creative inspirations and a peek at the new books she's working on.

This Week: Summer Camp Guide 2013, Maple Sugaring Day Trips, Purim Carnivals

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 02/21/2013 - 4:00pm

I never thought I'd be so happy to see school buses clogging up the streets! Those yellow vehicles were a welcome sight for the NYC families who suffered through the month-long strike. It was a wonderful way to return to school after midwinter break, which was short but filled with fun. Here at Mommy Poppins, we even slowed down a bit so we could spend some quality time with our children. We hope you did too!

But now it's back to business. And since it's February, one of the top things on most parents' to-do lists is figuring out summer camp. We're in the midst of updating and expanding our NYC Summer Camp Guide, and this week we posted about the best new programs set to debut this year. But don't just look at our Camp Guide: Our sister sites also have the scoop on exceptional camps in their areas, including commuter programs. So check out our Summer Camp Guides for Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Even though February break has come and gone, these final winter weekends are a great time for day trips. Maple sugaring season has arrived and we've got the scoop on the best places to taste the sweet stuff in upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Or consider a visit to the World of Wings in nearby Teaneck, New Jersey, where kids can get up close and personal with butterflies, insects and reptiles, and then hit an indoor bounce house, all in one building!

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week: