KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a teenager, a math teacher I respected told me that there are two kinds of people: Those who make pizza, and those who grab as many slices as they can. "At the end of the day," he said, "you want to be someone who has made more pizza than she eats." He said this to me at the perfect time, when I was just forming my ideas about who I was and was going
to become. I decided I wanted always to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation, so I started thinking about how to use the time I have here on Earth to make as much pizza as I possibly could. Over the years, I found that the key to success in this long-term goal is to tune my mental radar to the very near future, to stay in control of my time rather than giving it away to an algorithm that serves endless empty calories: How best do I use the next five
minutes, the next half hour, the next day? It all adds up. Even young kids can add value to the world, especially if they watch their parents doing it. New Year's resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, especially when they're overly specific. But resolving to be on the positive side of the pizza-making equation is straightforward. For some easy recipes for quick wins, check out my quick-read article 12 Starter Ideas for Pizza on Earth. Then look up from your phone, scan your world, and you'll find all the ingredients you need. Here's to a delicious 2026!
—Debra Ross, publisher
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Noon Year’s Eve is back on Wednesday, December 31st from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, featuring the Capital Region’s biggest pajama party — complete with games, interactive fun, prizes, and giveaways. As a special treat, every child will receive one free mini taiyaki from Tori Taiyaki, and Prince UFO will be on-site with treasure maps to make the event even more exciting — while supplies last. We’ll wrap up the celebration with the moment everyone waits for: the NOON countdown and a giant balloon drop! Hosted with B95.5 and Colonie Center, sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets and Prince UFO. Details and activities may be subject to change.
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Families will enjoy two fun-filled sessions (10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-3:00pm) featuring facepainting, hands-on activities, amd a joyful countdown celebration all designed to welcome 2026 (a little early) the Museum way! (The Museum is not open for regular hours this day, only for Noon Year's Eve sessions). Tickets MUST be purchased in advance: https://cmssny.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/noon-years-eve-choose-session
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Join us at the New York State Museum for a festive midday countdown on New Year’s Eve! Celebrate the arrival of 2026 with friends and family as we enjoy crafts and activities for all ages. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
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Join us for First Night at Delmar’s Four Corners with family activities, an ice sculpture sponsored by Sunmark Credit Union, music by DJ Nate Derucher, the At First Bite food truck, Mr. Hooper’s famous hot chocolate, and more! FIREWORKS START AT 6:45 PM.
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The Berkshire Bach Society and WMHT co-present Bach at New Year’s: The Six 'Brandenburg Concertos', an event that has been a holiday tradition since 1993. Nine-time Grammy Award winner and Artistic Director Eugene Drucker leads the Berkshire Bach Ensemble in the iconic works that started it all. Join Berkshire Bach and WMHT for an afternoon of great music and dazzling performances and start your New Year on a high note.
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Join us for our annual Kwanzaa celebration! There will be a candle lighting ceremony, performances, vendors, speakers, activities for children, refreshments, and more.
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A special evening of merriment highlighting Crailo's role in American Revolution history! Join us as we celebrate Henry Knox's late 1775/1776 journey transporting artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, after which we'll revel in the holiday traditions of the past with live music, traditional fare, bonfire and more! Venture across the river where the Knox story and celebration continues at Schuyler Mansion!
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We will be hiking around the beautiful Moreau Lake starting the hike all together at the park office. There will be a section of the hike that allows people to split off if they want to make it a shorter loop of about 2.1 miles or they can continue on the longer hike of 3 miles, and both will end either at the Warming Hut or back at the Park Office. Well-behaved dogs on a 6-foot or shorter leash are welcome. Hikers should bring water and wear appropriate clothes for the weather, waterproof hiking shoes, and micro spikes if they have them. This is a free event. The "shorter" loop is 2.1 miles and will consist of paved road, elevation gain/loss of only about 100 feet, the pavement eventually brings us into the woods with some roots, but a clear hard path, and about halfway there is a bridge with some benches. The hikers have the option to stop at the warming hut for hot chocolate and treats on the way back, or they can go straight back to the office. The "longer" loop is 3 miles…
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Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures will whisk families away on an immersive getaway chock-full of magical participatory moments. Featuring new and classic tales, this multi-generational experience visits Albany playing January 1-4 at MVP Arena. Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and his pals for a high-octane ride in Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations. All guests ages 2 and older are required to have a ticket. Group Sales are not available.
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Meet Barbie®: the multi-generation powerhouse that started it all, made history, and broke boundaries. Barbie™: A Cultural Icon Exhibition celebrates Barbie as a reflection of culture, with exclusive designer interviews and an up-close look at vintage dolls, iconic cultural moments, and fashion trends from each era. The exhibition features a priceless collection of over 300 artifacts from the 64-year history of Barbie, including the very first 1959 doll, an original Barbie Dreamhouse, behind-the-scenes prototypes, as well as some of the most infamous Barbie dolls throughout history. Visitors will also find numerous photo ops throughout the exhibition for shareable moments. A role model, a muse, a best friend—Barbie means something to everyone. Step back into your childhood and join us on this exhibition of a six-decade evolution, and the making of a global icon.
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- Santa's Playland Christmas Lights at Quick Response Restore - Quick Response Restore - Round Lake, NY, Fri, 1/2 - Sun, 1/4, 5 pm - 11 pm
- Winter Reading 2026 - Clifton Park, NY, Fri, 1/2, 9:00AM
- Full Moon Hikes - Gansevoort, NY, Sat, 1/3, 5:00 PM
- Saturday Story-time - Rensselaer Public Library - Rensselaer, NY, Sat, 1/3, 11 AM
- Sunday School - Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Delmar, NY - Delmar, NY, Sun, 1/4, 9:45 am
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships.
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Albany area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's best places to take kids in the Capital District as voted by New York parents! Parents vote, we do the math, and the result is the Top 20 Places to Take Kids! But there is LOTS more to do in Albany than even just this wonderful list: visit
KidsOutAndAbout.com to see our events calendar, find seasonal activities, get ideas for the perfect day trip and MORE.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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