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

Weekend Fun: Spring Flings, Dance Parades, Food Fests, Ninja Turtles

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 4:00pm

Over 1,000 dancers plus DJs and live bands will light up NYC at the annual Dance Parade. Photo courtesy of the event

Spring fling takes on a whole new meaning this weekend at Saturday's spectacular 13th Annual Dance Parade, plus Brooklyn's Spring Fling in Prospect Park, and the bound-to-be-wild Swamp in the City Cajun Family Dance in Red Hook. Speaking of swamp things, the Paley Center's new Teenage Mutant Ninja celebration may be right down your manhole—er, up your alley, with giveaways and a meet-and-greet with the rad reptiles on Saturday.

Fairs and festivals are everywhere, of course. The 9th Avenue International Food Festival takes over the west side all weekend—though vegetarians might want to detour to 18th Street for the Vegetarian Food Fest. Truck afficionados can touch their fill at PS 295's Touch-a-Truck extravaganza, and the Bronx Kid Fest promises deep sea VR fun in addition to the usual kids' activities.

On Sunday, don't miss Brooklyn's Fabulous Fifth Street Fair, the Annual Fleece Fest at the Prospect Park Zoo, and the National Museum of the American Indian's annual Children's Festival. Ferry to Ellis Island for the Asian American & Pacific Islander Fest. Or get your barbecue on at the Essex Street Market Block Party.

Looking for evening entertainment under the stars? Shakespeare in the park kicks off with an abbreviated, female-led Hamlet: Princess of Denmark in Bryant Park. Bring blankets and other critical movie-watching paraphernalia to FREE evening screenings of Sing in Queens, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Teen Titans Go! to the Movies in Brooklyn, or Incredibles 2 on the Upper East Side, in the Bronx, and in Brooklyn.

Planning ahead? Today would be the perfect time to sign up for a 4th of July cruise to maximize fireworks fun (before they all sell out!).

Meanwhile, the MommyPoppins events calendar continues its breakneck buildup of spring and summer events. Dig in!

Weekend Fun: Governors Island, Lincoln Center, Free Comics, Star Wars, NYC Bikes

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 4:00pm

Artists and makers lead workshops and demonstrations for kids at the Inventgenuity Festival. Photo courtesy of the Beam Center

They don't call it MAYhem for nothing: May in NYC means a zillion things for families to celebrate and do. From the 21st Annual Blessing of the Bikes to Bike Expo New York, to fun fests like the Lincoln Center Block Party, the Transit Museum's Party on Wheels, CMA's Japanese Cultural Festival, Brooklyn's Inventgenuity Fest, and the Urban Wildlife Fest, you can't help but get into the spring swing this weekend.

It's opening weekend—at last—on Governors Island, which means The Yard is ready for kids to start constructing (or deconstructing), and Adventures on Governors Island is back with its zip line, maze, and climbing walls. New on Governors this year: the 1st Annual Shindig asks families to pitch in around the isle in exchange for an exclusive afternoon party. Bonus: The ferries are FREE for opening week!

The Children's Museum of Manhattan rolls out a full weekend of Star Wars-themed fun for May the Fourth Be With You Day. May 4 is also FREE Comic Book day: Be sure to check with your local comic haunt for goodies. And it's Big Swim Big Kick day at Asphalt Green! Meanwhile on Staten Island, the Willowbrook Park carousel opens, and Cinco de Mayo gets a salute with a park screening of Coco.

A bumper crop of school fairs are happening this weekend, including Calhoun (West 81st), PS 116, and Columbia Greenhouse (West 116th). The annual Hippo Playground Fair romps onto the calendar with pony rides and bouncy castles. And PS 56 in Brooklyn is full STEAM ahead, with a fair dedicated to interactive science and math fun.

Be sure to glance at our May GoList and our guide to May Fairs and Festivals around NYC, and maybe get a leg up on Mother's Day (next weekend!) with our updated Mother's Day Brunch picks or top 25 activities. This weekend is especially packed with possibilities, so don't forget to review our calendar for more ideas.

Weekend Fun: Car-Free Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Festivals Galore

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 04/24/2019 - 4:00pm

Get ready for old-school fun at the 12th Annual Street Games at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

National Arbor Day is April 26, so naturally this weekend includes lots of tree-themed outings. For starters, the massive Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri festival takes place all weekend, celebrating those fleeting cherry blossoms and Japanese culture. More tree hugging can be accomplished at Wave Hill's Arbor weekend, at The Evergreens Cemetery, and at the Queens Botanical Arbor Fest. While you're in Queens, stop by the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck for a snack.

All that, plus Car Free Earth Day is back in Manhattan and Brooklyn on Saturday, and every borough is hosting festivals galore, including this weekend's Street Games in Harlem, the Puppetry Arts Fest in Park Slope, the free NYFEST (about all things soccer) in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Prospect Park's Earth Day fest, the Jack and Jill School Spring Fair in Stuyvesant Town, and Staten Island's How To Festival, to name just a few. And something more to chew on: the Brooklyn Public Library celebrates the Very Hungry Caterpillar's 50th anniversary on Sunday.

Check out our Spring Fun Guide, the best upcoming family festivals this season, events for the pre-K and toddler crowd, and more outdoor fun like the May 1 opening of Governors Island, or maybe a little mini golf (did you know there are now 14 miniature golf courses in NYC—at least one in each borough?)! And don't forget the calendar, which gets fatter every day as summer approaches!

Weekend Fun: Egg Hunts, Earthfest, Cherry Blossoms, Little League Parade

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 04/10/2019 - 4:00pm

At Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island, the Cherry Blossom Festival features traditional and modern Japanese cultural performances. Photo courtesy of Roosevelt Island

It's only the middle of April, and the Mommy Poppins Event calendar is bursting at the seams. Easter on the horizon means there are scores of egg hunts around town. This weekend alone, FREE Easter egg hunts are happening in Carl Schurz Park, Fort Greene Park, Highbridge Rec Center, Old Stone House, and more. Or head over to the Macy's Easter Eggs-Perience for crafts, candy, and photo ops with the Easter Bunny.

At the American Museum of Natural History's annual Earthfest on Saturday, Patti Smith and Michael Stipe perform on the main stage, and kids can party with the Pop-Ups, participate in Bash the Trash workshops, and explore interactive carts. Saturday is also Little League Opening Day in Prospect Park, complete with parade and ceremonial first pitch.

One of the cooler, slightly under-the-radar, FREE events this weekend is Columbia University's Community Day on Saturday. Head to the Upper West Side for screenings of Flubber or The Absent-Minded Professor, virtual reality fun, and the chance to hold a brain in your hands.

Spring festivals are in full swing. On Roosevelt Island, families can check out cherry blossoms as well as traditional tea ceremonies, Japanese performances, and a cultural fair. The Apple Blossom Fest in Queens runs through Sunday, too. Plus, it's time again for the annual Shearing of the Heather. Bagpipes and kilts abound in Fort Tryon's gorgeous heather garden, and it's Spring Sunday at Rockefeller Plaza, with music by Dan and Claudia Zanes, face painting, and art projects for kids.

Of course there's more. Take a gander at the ever-expanding calendar, bookmark our juicy April GoList, nab some inspiration from our Spring Fun Guide, and—if you've been putting it off—let us give you a leg up on summer camp planning.

Weekend Fun: Tartans, Folk Fest, Apple Blossoms, Egg Hunts...and Eels!

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 4:00pm

Step inside LSD's (Diplo, Labrinth, & Sia) psychedelic "Genius" video at Sony Square Fan 360. Photo by Janet Bloom

Brooklyn is family fun HQ for NYC families this weekend: Not only is it Luna Park Opening Day (expanding this year to include a rope course and zip lines), but the Brooklyn Folk Festival brings bands, sing-alongs, a banjo toss, and more. Dance to the music of David Bowie at the Rock and Roll Playhouse for FREE on Saturday, and Smorgasburg is back in Prospect Park come Sunday.

In the mood for some bagpipe music and men in kilts? Excellent: It's Tartan Week, with the return of the Fifth Avenue Tartan Day Parade Saturday and a concert of music from the highlands Sunday. Pro tip: Get to Bryant Park before Saturday's parade for a Pipes and Drums performance.

In Queens, kids can enjoy the Apple Blossom Children's Carnival at the Queens County Farm Museum or the hands-on fun that is the Bionic Me exhibit at the New York Hall of Science. You can go full herbal at the Botanical Garden on Saturday, too.

Don't forget to apply for FREE summer STEM camps (Friday is the deadline), or to get your tickets for one or two of the lovely children's shows playing this spring, including The World Inside Me, which closes after this weekend. And did we mention that it's Eel Weekend in the Bronx? And that Staten Island is hosting a massive Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday? Consider yourself notified.

We're endlessly adding to our Event Calendar, so don't forget to check it before heading out. Plus, please peruse the April Go List, April Spring Festivals, and FREE things to do this month to prep for the amazing month ahead in NYC! And don't miss our invaluable guide to all the Easter Egg Hunts around town.

Weekend Fun: Brick Fest, Lightning Thief, Earth Hour, PJ Masks, Carousel

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 4:00pm

Even if it's still chilly you can celebrate spring with a ride or two on the beautiful carousel in the heart of Brooklyn's Prospect Park! Photo by Mommy Poppins

It's our sworn duty to bring you all the best NYC events every week, but this week we have one nationwide event to share: Join us and the World Wildlife Fund for EarthHour on Saturday to help focus attention on protecting nature. We'll be sitting in the dark, hoping to see some stars.

For the rest of the weekend, the lights are fully ON and all systems are GO. Don't miss the New York Hall of Science's annual Brick Fest Live, the city's ultimate salute to LEGO—this year featuring glow-in-the-dark bricks! Seats are still available for one of the hottest tickets in town, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, at the Beacon all weekend. And if you're looking for confirmation that spring has arrived, the Prospect Park Carousel is newly open and ready to take kids for a spin or two.

If you're looking for pure entertainment, don't miss PJ Masks Live at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik at Lincoln Center, Not My Monster at the Flea, The Paper Bag Players at the Jewish Museum, Swan Lake at Lehman College, or The Kids 'N Comedy March show.

If EarthHour inspires you to commune with nature, meet some squirrels at Fort Greene Park, make a rose terrarium at Morris-Jumel, or celebrate Holi, the Indian Color Festival, at the Queens Museum.

Our event calendar is fizzing over the top with more great things to do, and we have carefully curated lists of the Best Spring Events for Toddlers and Preschoolers and the Best Shows for Kids This Spring—catch 'em while you can!

Weekend Fun: Flower Show, Purim, Kids' Theater, Circus...and Desserts!

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 3:30pm

Astonishing athletes defy gravity and execute breathtaking feats in the spellbinding New Shanghai Circus. Photo courtesy of the circus

It's officially spring! While the weather might not have gotten the memo (yet), the Macy's Flower Show is blooming again with a space-inspired floral fantasy featuring marvelous celestial blooms, and kids can take a trip to outer space with Peppa Pig on opening day this Sunday.

This weekend dishes up plenty of great theater for kids too, including Colors at BAM, The Magic Schoolbus, While You Were Out at LaMama Kids, and Underneath a Magical Moon, a re-imagining of Peter Pan (sign up for the interactive pre-show workshop). The New Shanghai Circus takes a bow in Queens on Saturday and Staten Island on Sunday.

If you're looking for FREE fun (who isn't?), make balloon cars at Brooklyn's MakerSpace, catch a free concert and screening of Up in Queens, sing songs from around the world with Mr. Patrick at the Children's Library, take in lion dancing (and popcorn!) at Sunset Park's Lantern Cultural Fest, or check out Philosophy for Kids as part of the Tilt Festival at the Brooklyn Library.

Purim parties on at the Riverdale Temple and Rock and Roll Playhouse on Sunday, or make holiday masks all weekend at the Children's Museum of Manhattan. And for the cherry on top, confections rule at the Dessert Goals Festival, all weekend in Long Island City.

For more, more, more, peruse the March GoList, FREE things to do this month, and our ever-expanding calendar.

Best Events This Fall for NYC Preschoolers

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 09/02/2018 - 9:20am

All aboard the Transit Museum's vintage buses at October's Bus Festival. Photo courtesy of the museum

Let the fall fun begin! This fall there are tons of events, festivals, and shows in NYC just right for the preschool crowd. From fall fairs with petting zoos to music performances to great toddler and preschooler activities, here are 30+ fall events for NYC preschoolers—and best of all, many events and activities are FREE.

Don't forget to check out our September GoList and Best NYC Fall Festivals for even more great fall events, not to mention our just released Fall Fun Guide. Looking for a special day trip? Preschoolers are old enough to pick their own apples this September or even find the perfect pumpkin.

Drew Kristofik

Latest posts by Drew

Pages