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

Breakfast with Santa in NYC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/15/2024 - 9:09am

Share a special holiday experience with your child at American Girl New York's Santa brunch. Photo courtesy of American Girl

Breakfast with Santa—or a tasty Santa brunch—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, sweet treats during Santa brunch at American Girl New York, and even FREE fare at Empire Outlets on Staten Island. 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.

Big Top Comes to the Big Apple: Big Apple Circus and More High-Flying Shows in NYC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:38am

The Big Apple Circus has pitched its big top in Damrosch Park for a fun-filled show that's an ode to its hometown. Photo by Jody Mercier

It's easy to run away to the circus in NYC—we have so many big tops passing through town each year that you can snag a seat in the stands in any season. A trip to the circus is an exercise in joy and a great introduction to live performances for little kids. High-flying acrobats and glittering costumes are great attention grabbers!

The beloved Big Apple Circus holds its annual holiday season run, dazzling audiences at Lincoln Center with acrobats, trained poodles, magic, and more. Circus newcomer Flip Circus makes multiple stops for audiences in Forest Park and McCarren Park, while the Grand Shanghai Circus brings a taste of China to St. George on Staten Island. Come spring, Cirque du Soleil's Luzia lights up Randall's Island, and the New Victory Theater has a pair of circus troupes on its docket this season, too.

Read on for all the touring circus acts you can catch in NYC, and book your tickets for your favorite big top now to ensure you don't miss out on the action.

The Best Nutcracker Ballets in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 11/10/2024 - 7:13am

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

We've found more than 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 afterparty. We've also found a preschool-friendly Nutcracker performance starring stunning marionettes and three performances that are completely FREE.

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

Veterans Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: 15 Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 11/08/2024 - 10:13am

The visionary Omnium Circus returns to the Queens Theatre with "I'm Possible!" Photo courtesy Omnium Circus via Queens Theater

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.

Monday 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.

The Big Apple Circus is back at Lincoln Center and early holiday fun arrives with the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. You can also climb aboard the North Pole Express for a chat with Santa or celebrate the American Wing's 100th birthday at The Met.

39 Free and Fun Things To Do in NYC this November with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Thu, 10/31/2024 - 10:06am

Canstruction is free and open to the public at Brookfield Place through Monday, November 11. Photo by Heidi Lee

We've found 39 free things to do in NYC this November with kids, so there's no reason to fall into the spend-and-splurge trap of 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.

The Veterans Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue, and holiday trees start sparkling in Park Slope and elsewhere, too.

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

Halloween Weekend 2024 in NYC: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Tue, 10/29/2024 - 10:15am

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 spook 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 Thursday, though. Saturday brings with it a Diwali celebration at Flushing Town Hall and Day of the Dead at El Museo del Barrio. Pint-sized theater-goers should book their tickets now to see New Shoes at the New 42.

21 Best Things To Do in NYC November 2024 with Kids

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 10/27/2024 - 8:32am

Experience the magic of the Tianyu Lights Festival at Citi Field this holiday season. Photo courtesy of the festival

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 brand-new Tianyu Lights Festival at Citi Field.

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.

Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 10/25/2024 - 12:54pm

All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann

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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