Sonia Gonzalez

Sonia Gonzalez

Sonia is a veteran editor and writer for Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring greater New York with her husband and their three kids and is always on the looking out for innovative, educational and fun things to do with them. She is thrilled to have this platform to share what she finds with Mommy Poppins readers.

Latest posts by Sonia

Dia de los Muertos: Free Day of the Dead Events for Westchester Families

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 10/24/2016 - 4:15pm

Halloween is fast approaching, and while you're counting down to the big day and enjoying all the fun haunted happenings around town, why not consider adding a multicultural flair into the mix? Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is technically not a Halloween event; however, it falls right around the same time of year and shares many similar customs and themes.

This Mexican tradition may sound somber and spooky, but it’s actually a joyous time of year, meant to honor family and friends who have passed on. Revelers prepare special foods, don colorful outfits, and create alters adorned with flowers, smiling skulls (calaveras) and candles to celebrate lost loved ones. Festivities include dancing, joyful skeletons (calacas), masks, plenty of candy, skulls made out of sugar, and marigolds, the traditional flor de los muertos (flower of the dead). Day of the Dead is observed on November 1 and 2, but events are already taking place. Read on for ways to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Westchester. The best part—all events are FREE.

Looking for more things to do? Consult our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters.

Ragamuffin Parades: Costume Parades for Westchester Families

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 4:00pm

Halloween is just around the corner! In addition to our list of top outings for this month, there are seasonal celebrations all over town, including a plethora of ragamuffin parades. (Did you know these actually started out as a Thanksgiving Day tradition?)

In addition to traditional marches, some towns go a step further with carnivals, entertainment, live music and more. Read on to find out where to join the ragamuffin tradition in Westchester!

Looking for more seasonal fun? Check out our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook!

Pumpkins and Scarecrows Invade New York Botanical Garden

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 09/22/2016 - 11:15am

Come autumn even urbanites seem to crave seasonal harvest displays more often found at the pick-your-own farms just outside NYC's borders. Lucky for us, there are amazing fall fests right here in the city and even a corn maze for those who really want that farm experience. Now we can add the just-opened fall and Halloween-themed outdoor displays at New York Botanical Garden to our list of the best seasonal happening around NYC.

My family always heads to the Botanical Garden in the Bronx for its annual exhibit of pumpkins and gourds, so we were excited to see this year's brand-new programming. Titled Pumpkins: Playful & Plentiful, there are gourds galore, plus seasonal activities and events for kids in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden, a guaranteed hit for families with small children. And though my now-teenage(!) son has outgrown the Children's Garden, he did perk up a bit when I mentioned NYBG's other new exhibit, Scarecrows: From the Heartland to Horror, a trail of spooky and original sculptures that is not recommended for young kids.

We just visited and have the scoop on what to expect at this year's fall festivities at the New York Botanical Garden, so read on for more details.

Trapeze Classes for NYC Kids: Where to Study Circus Arts

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 07/18/2016 - 11:00am

At Streb's Kids Fly class, participants learn at their own pace.

Some kids are content to sit and watch others fly gracefully above their heads. And then there are the ones who crave the adrenaline rush and, let's face it, the coolness of being able to say nonchalantly, "Yeah, I've totally been on a trapeze before."

If you've got one of those young thrill-seekers at home, it may be time to consider aerial arts classes. Flying trapeze isn't the only way to swoosh through the air. At these five circus spots, kids can learn how to defy gravity on silks, ropes, the lyra (aka aerial hoop) and more, all on safe equipment under the watchful eye of experienced instructors.

Mommy Poppins Honors 20 years of the New Victory Theater

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 06/30/2016 - 10:00am

Mommy Poppins has been covering the best of kids in NYC for just about ten years—and so have our kids, who have grown up helping us review it all. In honor of the 20th anniversary of The New Victory Theater in Times Square, we wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful theater that has been a big part of our kids' lives. Opened in 1995, The New Victory Theater is a non-profit performing arts venue that provides high-quality performances in a stunning theater for kids of all ages—seriously, you'll find shows for your baby and your teen and every age in between—at affordable prices. Its diverse lineup includes circus performances, dance shows, and theater productions from around the world, as well as workshops, camps, and theater engagement activities—and our kids have done it all.

So here's what the theater-going kids (and moms) of Mommy Poppins have to say about the New Victory Theater on its 20th birthday:

30 Things to Do with Kids in the Bronx this Summer

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Thu, 06/09/2016 - 10:00am

There's more to the Bronx than Yankee Stadium. NYC's northernmost borough is home to a melting pot of cultures, a vibrant art and music scene that includes the birthplace of hip-hop, and more green space than any other borough. Not to mention bragging rights for the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, and NYC's largest park.

Bronxites have much to be proud of, with historic treasures such as Bartow-Pell Mansion and Poe Cottage, access to the Bronx River for canoeing and rowing, countless cultural destinations and of course, Yankee Stadium. With so many places and activities to experience, the Bronx is a great destination for families.

This summer is a great time to get to know the borough better and experience its great outdoor fun, festivals, art and more. Read on for 30 things to do this summer with kids in the Bronx, many of which have been tried and approved by this Bronx mom and her three Bronx-born kids.

Kid Bike, Seat and Gear Rentals for Pedaling Around NYC

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Wed, 04/20/2016 - 10:00am

Bike riding makes for a great family outing—with a little help from the right gear. We scoured NYC looking for the best bike rental locations that offer child bike seats, tandem bikes, trailers and more to make biking with kids seamless fun for the whole family. And while May is National Bike Month, and the warm spring temps may propel families to head outdoors to enjoy the season, bike riding is also a great summer and fall activity, as well as year-round transportation option for many New Yorkers.

So whether you're a space-challenged New Yorker without the room to store bikes and bulky children's seat attachments for your toddler, or just visiting for the day, read on for our top rental picks.

For more seasonal fun, check out our NYC Spring Fun Guide.

Winter Break Camps: Where Kids Can Get (or Stay) Fit Over School Break

Submitted by Sonia Gonzalez on Mon, 12/14/2015 - 10:00am

The holidays can be a hectic and joyous time of year. Between live holiday shows, shopping, Breakfast with Santa and more happening around town, it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that Westchester kids will be off of school for nearly two weeks! And though they may be waiting with giddy anticipation for the Christmas morning, how will they spend their time during the rest of their break? How about keeping your kids active with a fitness or sports mini-camp?

Westchester has many fantastic options, including basketball camps, fitness camps, even rock climbing adventures. Read on for details on sports and fitness-related mini-camps happening over the holiday break in Westchester.

For more holiday fun, be sure to check out our Holiday Fun Guide and our December GoList!