KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Fri, Feb 13: Teens on Stage presents Water for Elephants at The
Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Sat, Feb 14: Monster Jam at UBS Arena
Sat, Feb 14: Amazing Animals Week at CSTL - The Center for Science Teaching and Learning
Sat, Feb 14: Annual Camellia Festival at Planting Fields
Sat, Feb 14: Sweetheart Saturday at The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor
Tue, Feb 17: School’s Out, We’re Open! February Vacation Arts is Just Around the Corner at Gold Coast Arts Center
Fri, Feb 20: February Break at the Cradle of Aviation
Sat, Feb 28: Wizard of Oz- Saturday Morning Family Show at The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Fri, Mar 13: Pot O' Gold Scavenger Hunt at The Whaling Museum and Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor
Sun, Mar 15: Puppet Festival Mississauga at Crane Creations Theatre Company
Sat, Mar 21: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical - CM Children's Theatre |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Next week, my husband and I are heading to a Valentine's Evening behind-the-scenes tour of the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, New York. It’s the same Frank Lloyd Wright museum we’ve
visited several times, but this version is fancily dressed for the holiday: candlelight, champagne, treats, and a fresh perspective on something familiar. That’s the real magic of Valentine’s Day: It’s one of those perfectly made-up holidays, constructed out of paper hearts, glitter, and good intentions... and it manages magically to transform our spaces, our schedules, and our spirits. As publisher, I've had a 25-year front row seat to
communities around the country who turn nothing into something every February. This year, visitors can say "I Love Thee" in a Victorian mansion in Riverside, CA while a re-enactor in a top hat explains the romantic origin of the Hershey’s Kiss. Frying Pan Farm Park in
Virginia will help kids say "I Love MOO!" with farm animal puns. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center invites everyone on a Valentine's Express Steam Train ride that is more light-hearted than steamy. And next Saturday, biologists at the California Academy of Sciences will hand out heart-shaped valentines to their African penguins—who will then present them to their mates to help line
their nests. Not all Valentine’s Day celebrations require you to get out and about, though; just muster some creativity and apply it to stuff you already have lying around the house. Cut hearts from red paper and tape them to the door. Dress in scarlet or rose or salmon pink. Light a candle at dinner while you're eating heart-shaped cheese, toast, bacon, or lasagna (here are 25 fun recipes from Food Network). When you and your kids dress up your world together, you’re not just celebrating love, you’re celebrating creativity. And they're learning the life skill of transforming ordinary stuff around them into something special. It only takes one step beyond the good intention to make it
so. Love can be grand, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be grand to be great.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
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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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Portledge School in Locust Valley offers an exceptional Pre-Nursery through Grade 12 education on a stunning 62-acre campus. If you want something, you have the power to make it happen: this is the ethos at Portledge School. A robust and accessible
selection of course offerings provides Portledge students with opportunities to discover and explore interests beyond the classroom. What makes Portledge unique is how far students are able to expand these opportunities into passions that impact their personal and intellectual curiosity.
Discover how Portledge blends tradition with future-readiness. Visit, inquire, or apply today at www.portledge.org.
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YMCA Preschool Open Enrollment for 2026-2027 School Year!
The YMCA of Long Island's Early Childhood/Preschool Programs are committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for young children to learn, grow and develop social skills. Our teachers create a warm and loving atmosphere while offering a developmentally-appropriate, engaging curriculum, where children can play, discover and learn.
Age range: 18 months* - 4 years old.
*Please check your local branch as ages vary per location.
Learn more and register at: ymcali.org/childcare
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The Cradle of Aviation Museum and the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical Operation Mincemeat team up for a WWII-style codebreaking scavenger hunt through the galleries. Recruits will search for nine hidden briefcases, collect the letters, crack the secret
code, and report to the Museum Store to claim a reward and be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Operation Mincemeat.
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This party is for the true princess in your life. We encourage guests to dress as their favorite Princess, young royals will have a fun filled event. First you will see a performance on stage with some of your favorite Princesses. Then we give you time to
take your own photos with your little princess and the performer Princesses. Next you enter the Princess Tea Room and are served tea, lemonade, cupcakes and cookies. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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HarborFrost is a celebration of winter in Sag Harbor highlighting two extreme elements—fire and ice! Featuring live ice carving demonstrations, ice sculptures along Main Street, live music performances and indoor children’s activities. The festivities
culminate with the stunning Fireworks by Grucci display off the end of Long Wharf. There’s something for everyone! Spend the day shopping and dining in Sag Harbor—we are OPEN for business.
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Children get to have fun crafting in their pajamas. Make Valentine's Cards, mobiles, and other fun crafts. The holidays may be over but the kids on Long Island still need warm pajamas! Bring a set of new pajamas to donate to EJ's-Pj's.
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Admission includes access to the Cradle of Aviation Museum galleries and Nassau Reptile Expo. The Expo features over 175 tables of reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate breeders and supply vendors
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New York City has never bloomed like this. At The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle, orchids collide with concrete in a dazzling reimagining of the Big Apple, from stoops and slice shops to the subway itself. Step into a breathtaking
fusion of nature and cityscape artistry in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and experience the flair and style of New York transformed by thousands of flowers.
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Embark on an adventure through the museum to collect clues and crack puzzles as you follow the paths of shipwrecked sailors, clever castaways, and daring ocean scientists.
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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- Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt - The Whaling Museum & Education Center of Cold Spring Harbor, 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, Feb 5-7, Gallery Hours 11AM - 4PM
- EJ's-Pj's: Crafts in Pajamas | Walt Whitman Birthplace Association - 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746, Sunday, February 7, 1:00PM
- Sag Harbor Harborfrost 2026 - Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Wharf St, Sag Harbor, New York 11963, Sunday, February 7,
4:00PM
- Ivy League School Open House - Ivy League School and Day Camp, 211
Brooksite Dr, Smithtown, NY 11787, Sunday, February 7, 10:00AM
- Smithtown Christian School Open House - Smithtown Christian School, 1 Higbie Drive, Smithtown, NY 11787, Sunday, February 8, Feb. 8, 2026 at 1:30pm
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Long Island area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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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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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure on Long Island? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues and complete your mission-all before time runs out! Whether you're escaping a
spooky cabin, cracking a high-stakes heist, or breaking a magical curse, escape rooms offer exciting, screen-free fun for kids, teens, and adults.
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Long Island 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 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Long Island Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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