Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.

Latest posts by Drew

Holiday Lights, Christmas Carousel, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/21/2025 - 8:29am

The Bronx Zoo comes to life after dark during its annual Holiday Lights event. Photo by Terria Clay/courtesy of the Bronx Zoo

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

If your calendar is anything like ours, your head is spinning from the countless holiday events that make their grand debut this weekend—and we haven't even climbed aboard the glittering, new, double-decker Christmas Carousel outside of Macy's yet—it springs to life on Friday!

We're ready to hit the Bronx Zoo for an after-dark safari when the holiday lights spring to life, and can't wait to catch Impact: The end of the Age of the Dinosaurs, which has just opened at the American Museum of Natural History.

Holiday shows are springing to life on-stage, too, including a beautiful new iteration of A Christmas Carol at The Perelman downtown.

Keep reading for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Breakfast with Santa in NYC in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:40am

Enjoy plenty of sweet treats during breakfast with Santa at Stella 34 Trattoria. Photo courtesy of Stella 34 Trattoria

Breakfast with Santa—or a tasty Santa brunch, tea, or dinner—might be in order if your child wants a hearty visit with the big red guy. We've found the best spots for families to enjoy a special holiday meal with Santa Claus in New York City, ranging from the extravagant Radio City Breakfast Spectacular to a lavish breakfast with Santa at Macy's and sweet treats during Santa brunch at American Girl New York. You can even hop on a cruise with Santa!

Keep in mind that all of these breakfasts with Santa in NYC require reservations and sell out quickly. No matter which one you choose, bring your camera—and your appetite. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be adding more NYC breakfast with Santa options as we find them. You'll find all our seasonal picks for family fun in our Holiday Guide for New York City Families.

Best Nutcracker Ballets in New York City to See with Kids 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 11/13/2025 - 11:34am

The Yorkville Nutcracker stars talented local dancers in an NYC-centric version of the classic tale. Photos by Eduardo Patino

The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experience for kids and parents, but there are now so many versions of The Nutcracker ballet in NYC a parent could go sugar-plum crazy trying to figure out which one is best for their family.

We've found a dozen variations of The Nutcracker ballet playing this season across all five NYC boroughs, from the New York City Ballet's classic iteration at Lincoln Center to a 92Y production complete with a fabulous, family-friendly after party. We've also found a preschool-friendly Nutcracker performance starring stunning marionettes, and three Nutcracker performances at Brookfield Place that are completely FREE.

Read on for our curated recommendations for the best Nutcracker ballets in NYC for families, and find more holiday must-do's and Christmas activities in our NYC Kids' Guide to the Holidays.

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in NYC: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 9:56am

The Big Apple Circus puts up its big top in Damrosch Park for a seasonal run beginning Friday night. Photo courtesy of Big Apple Circus

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, and that means it's time for the biggest celebration of service in the United States: the NYC Veterans Day Parade. You can also salute our military at the Intrepid Museum's wreath ceremony.

More weekend fun includes catching up with the zany troupe of the Big Apple Circus when it opens at Lincoln Center on Friday, and welcoming the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree with a day-long festival of fun on Saturday. You can also celebrate reading at the Brooklyn Children's Book Fair.

24 Best Things To Do in NYC with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:15am

See your favorite characters come to life at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation. Photo by Eugene Gologursky/courtesy of Macy's.

November brings plenty of things to do in NYC as we gear up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in NYC this month.

November ushers in the holiday season in NYC and now's the time to book tickets to our most anticipated holiday events. We're counting down the days to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon inflation and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the month's end. But, there's plenty of fun for city kids before those giant balloons take flight.

Families can check out the annual Canstruction exhibition at Brookfield Place or run away to the Big Apple Circus. Sparkling holiday light shows brighten the evening sky, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's enchanting Lightscape. You can even get an early start on Christmas with a Passport to Santa!

These are just a few of our favorite things to do in New York City this November—we're adding more events to the New York City Family Event Calendar every day.

Halloween Weekend 2025 in NYC: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 10:09am

Dumboween is scarily entertaining, beginning with the annual March to the Arch followed by crafts, costume contests, live music, and trick-or-treating, of course! Photo by Hassan Mokaddam

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for Halloween weekend.

We're in full fright mode at last, up to our eyeballs in Halloween activities. Our top picks for Halloween proper include the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade and Brooklyn's free fete, BAMBoo! When you're done parading and partying, you'll need this list of NYC's best trick-or-treat neighborhoods, so you know where to source the goodies!

The fun doesn't end on Friday, though. Day of the Dead delights abound. You can squash your squash on Saturday at Pier 84 or the Astoria Park Pumpkin Smash. Pint-sized theater-goers can see a silly musical version of Snow White at the New Victory Theater, which opens its season this weekend.

34 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC November 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 10/30/2025 - 12:57pm

Canstruction is free and open to the public at Brookfield Place through Monday, November 10. Photo by Heidi Lee

We've found 34 free things to do in NYC this November with kids, sparing everyone a bit of that spend-and-splurge trap that comes with the holiday season. Our list of free things to do in November includes annual favorites, like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Canstruction display at Brookfield Place.

Tunes ring out from Symphony Space's Stevie Wonder Wall to Wall jam, the Veterans Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue, The Plaza Hotel celebrates Eloise's 70th anniversary, and holiday trees start sparkling in Park Slope and elsewhere, too.

Read on for all our top free event picks in November 2025, and don't forget to hop over to our best of November list, which includes our top picks all month long.

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC in 2025

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 9:46am

Meet Santa aboard The Polar Express chugging along the Morristown and Erie lines. Photo courtesy of the Morristown and Erie Railway

These Polar Express train rides near NYC bring the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s popular Christmas picture book, The Polar Express, to life each winter. We've found festive Polar Express train rides, Christmas trains, and holiday trolleys all within a whistle's blow of the New York City metro area.

A huge hit with kids and parents alike, these Christmas trains near New York City spark the imagination and holiday spirit with seasonal snacks, stories, and even gifts—not to mention a visit from Santa himself. You can even find a North Pole Express bus right in the heart of Manhattan.

No matter which Polar Express train ride you choose, your family can combine your outing with an annual Santa Claus photo-op and bring home the lasting memories of a holiday adventure.

These Christmas train rides sell out quickly, often months in advance, so book now if you want to go. Find more regional Polar Express and Christmas train rides in our roundup of New Jersey Christmas trains and Philadelphia Polar Express rides, plus plenty more local seasonal offerings in our Christmas Guide.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

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