It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays in NYC. The Rock Center tree has arrived (though it's not lit yet), the ice-cream truck perpetually parked by my daughter's school is playing Christmas songs (no, I am not making that up) and we're furiously updating our Holiday Fun Guide to help you plan out your season. New holiday-related posts this week include everything you need to know about Macy's Balloon Inflation the night before the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, what's new at the annual Grand Central Terminal and New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Shows and turkey farms you can visit on Long Island.

Speaking of planning your season, are you coming to our Mommy Poppins Holiday Photo Event this Saturday on the Upper East Side? Cross holiday cards off your to-do list as the pros from Big Apple Portrait shoot playful pics of your kids with Santa or against a seasonal background. Other activities include cookie decorating, crafts and storytime, plus giveaways and discounts on cards. Although the morning sessions are pretty much sold out, we still have space in the afternoon so reserve your spot now!

We also have a super-awesome giveaway this week: Four tickets to see the musical Annie on Broadway. Enter now as the giveaway ends early on Friday.

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

All of those ghoulish decorations (like the Grim Reaper pictured) will soon be replaced by colorful twinkling lights. The period between Halloween and the holidays is always such a blur. So much seems to happen so quickly in those two months—especially this year with the mayoral election coming up next week and Hanukkah coinciding with Thanksgiving. We're not trying to stress you out! In fact, we want to help you get a jump on your seasonal to-do list by holding our second annual Mommy Poppins Holiday Photo Event early on Saturday, November 16. The awesome photographers from Big Apple Portraits will be snapping pictures of kids with Santa (or against a seasonal background), plus you'll get a $25 credit toward holiday cards and there will be fun crafts, storytime and other activities. Sessions are selling out fast so book yours today.

Speaking of planning ahead, many of our sites published their November Go Lists this week and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade isn't the only must-do tri-state area event. Find out about the best things to do throughout the month in NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Another theme across all of our sites this week? What to do with all of that Halloween candy. We've got lots of recommendations including repurposing it, using it for crafts and science experiments, bringing it to a dentist participating in a candy buy back, or, our favorite, donating it to worthy charities.

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

Fall is in full swing and we've got some great seasonal deals for New York City families. Our generous sponsors are offering discounts on a variety of fun kids' activities for all ages and interests, including a live-action stage adaptation of Jim Henson's beloved Dinosaur Train (one of our top fall family theater picks), creative classes at Let's Gogh Art NYC, a holiday photo shoot from c'est beau photo, tickets to Quiet Clock, the Musical and the Zumbini™ music and movement program for tots. Don't wait to take advantage of these great bargains. Deals this good will be gone long before the first snow falls.