Marisa Cohen

When Mayor Bloomberg banished smoking from bars, a whole new world opened up for New York's hard-to-please tweens: shooting pool. It's fun, educational (they're calculating angles and force!) and a fraction of the price of other city activities. If you hit one of these local billiards clubs before 6pm on a weekend, your well-behaved kids will be warmly welcomed. Just follow two rules: Adult supervision is required, and please, no hustling the tourists. Amsterdam Billiards With classic jazz on the speakers and an abundance of dark wood and polished brass, this upscale East Village joint has the vibe of an elegant university club. Even so, the middle-school set fits right in on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Kids can watch the pros play in tournaments, or host the world's most debonair birthday party (for ages 11 and up).110 E 11th St between Third and Fourth Aves (212-995-0333, amsterdambilliardclub.com). $5.75--$10.75 per person per hour. Brownstone Billiards The spacious basement club, with 30 pool tables, six Ping-Pong tables, bowling, air hockey and basketball hoops, has hosted birthday parties for many a Park Slope tween. It's attached to a sports bar with 30 big-screen TVs and a full menu of game-day grub like mozzarella sticks and burgers, so the entire family can stay entertained for hours. 308 Flatbush Ave at Seventh Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-857-5555, oceans8atbrownstone.com). $12 per hour for two players (buy two hours and get the third free). Eastside B

Kids' movies adapted from children's books can cause bouts of anxiety—they can either be a blissful walk through memory lane or make a complete mess of a beloved story we’ve held sacred all these years. To save you the trouble of viewing some sinkers, we’ve searched through a long list of films—including our 50 best kids’ movies—to present to you the 20 best kids’ movies adapted from children’s books. Prep your kids by nabbing the story in its original form from any of these book stores in NYC, ordering some New York pizza and settling in for a fun movie night.

The neighborhood hipsters are probably still fast asleep (if not just coming home) when Pat Kiernan heads out from his Williamsburg home to NY1’s Chelsea studios at 4am. Since 1997, Kiernan has been the TV station’s morning news anchor—and a good slice of New Yorkers wouldn’t think of waking up without their cerebral espresso boost from his sharp critiques of the day’s headlines. RECOMMENDED: Notable parents on why NYC is the best city in the worldAlso sleeping in on those early mornings are Kiernan’s wife Dawn, a VP at the advertising research firm Nielsen, and his daughters Maeve, 9, and Lucy, 11. “The girls watch me briefly in the morning when they get up, but Dawn limits their NY1 time so they can get ready for school,” explains Pat—though they’ve picked up the headlines habit from their dad and often sneak a peek at the cover of the Times before school. The Kiernan family is still getting to know their new area—they moved across the river from Manhattan last year, drawn not by the bars and ironically tattooed masses, but by the neighborhood’s warm, small-town feel. "We love that when you go to a store here, the owner is usually working the counter," explains Pat. “It’s a really easy neighborhood. We bike everywhere and the girls love taking the ferry to school,” says Dawn, adding that they have their own wheels plus an annual Citi Bike membership. The Kiernan family also takes advantage of the public tennis courts ("You can just go online and make a reservation instead o

On October 9 and 10, curious New Yorkers of all ages will be lining up to get a normally off-limits look at places like the Chrysler Building and artist Tom Otterness's studio during Open House New York (ohny.org). But don't confine your touring adventures to this one fall weekend—there are plenty of other behind-the-scenes sights to take in all year long. Behind the Emerald Curtain of  Gershwin Theater, 222 W 51st St between Broadway and Eighth Ave (emeraldcurtain.com). Saturdays at 10am. $30. Ages 8 and up.The gist: During the 90-minute tour, young fans can ogle costumes originally worn by Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel and watch a "making-of" video in the theater. Unfortunately, kids don't get to ride on Elphaba's broomstick, but they do get to hear what it's like. Who will love it: Glee fans and theater-obsessed tweens and teens. They'll hear dishy backstage tales from one of the musical's ensemble members. Madame Alexander Doll Factory615 W 131st St at Broadway (212-283-5900, madamealexander.com). Mon--Fri 9:30am--4:15pm. Free. All ages.The gist: Free tours of the 87-year-old doll factory include a walk through the showroom and museum, a film about the history of the company and, of course, a stop at the gift shop, where dolls start at $10. Make a reservation to view the doll hospital and the design area ($8, children ages 3--12 $4). Who will love it: Girly girls, from toddlers to grandmas. They'll see hundreds of pieces, including such favorites as Angelina Ballerin

Unlike Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Year's Eve is a tricky holiday for parents. Do you hire a sitter and head out for the night? (If so, be sure to read our tips for hiring a sitter on December 31!) Or do you change into your jammies and watch the ball drop on TV with the whole family? Fortunately, there's a third option: Ring in 2010 with the brood in tow at one of these kid-friendly New Year's Eve events. Nighttime celebrations The Big Apple Circus: Dance On!Fri Dec 31 at 9:30pm. Lincoln Center, Damrosch Park, Amsterdam Ave at 62nd St (212-962-5471, bigapplecircus.org). Subway: 1 to 66th St--Lincoln Ctr. $25--$175. We loved this year's dance-heavy edition of the Big Apple Circus and we know your kids will too. Catch the show on December 31 and get an extra bang for your buck at the postshow party, during which ringmaster Kevin Venardos invites guests into the ring to count down to midnight. All ages. Black, White and Pink New Year's Eve at the PlazaDec 31; dinner seating at 5:30 or 6:30pm. The Palm Court, Fifth Ave at Central Park South (212-546-5300, theplaza.com/dining/palmcourt). Subway: N, R to Fifth Ave. $120, children under 13 $85.Overnight packages are also offered for an additional fee. Plaza-dwelling kid-lit character Eloise may be the most pampered tyke in town, but tonight your kids can get a taste of her lavish lifestyle at this swanky family fete. Guests join Eloise, her pets and her nanny for a three-course dinner in the Palm Court, followed by f

February can be a tough month for New York City kids. Sure, there are heart-shaped lollipops to look forward to on Valentine's Day, and public-schoolers get a weeklong break. But the rest of the month? Bleh. The only glitz left over from the holidays is that stray strand of tinsel clinging to the back of your sofa, and the first signs of spring—like the return of Mister Softee and Little League—are still a couple of looong, chilly months away. You could sit around in your overheated apartment waiting for the ground to thaw, or you could try one of these activities guaranteed to add a blast of sunshine to even the most brutal winter day. 1. Splash around in an indoor poolDig out that Tinker Bell suit—there are plenty of heated pools around the city where little ones can swim like it's the middle of July. Check out your local Y: If you don't want to spring for an annual fee, you can ask about a one-week trial membership, or find a friend who'll sign your crew in as her guests. Another option is to buy a pass to the city's public pools ($150 per year for adults, free for kids under the age of 18), and take your pick from a bunch of indoor oases (go to nycgovparks.org/facilities/pools for information). For a fancier splurge, buy a one-day pass to Asphalt Green, which has family swim hours on the weekends (adults $35, kids $10). 2. See a Broadway show—cheap!For music-loving families (ahem, those of us who swoon over television shows like American Idol and Glee), there is no sound

It seems almost a miracle that in the decade since Governors Island was handed over to the people of New York, it has remained a cool, artsy destination for families without ever crossing the line to commercial or crass. This season, families can take a free ferry ride over from the Battery Maritime Building or Brooklyn Bridge Park every Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday from May 26 through September 30. (Fridays are off-limits this year while Parks crews renovate 30 more acres for next summer.) Once you get there, spend the day enjoying the rolling green hills, Victorian houses and magnificent views, or kick it up a notch with these kid-friendly festivals and activities. For more information on island events, go to govisland.com. Attend opening weekend festivitiesCelebrate the seasonal reopening of Governors Island at the Family Festival on Memorial Day weekend (Sat May 26 noon--4pm; free). Kids can enjoy arts-and-crafts activities, face painting, bike-helmet fittings, and performances by Astrograss, The Maybelles and Arm of the Sea Theater. Foodie families should also check out the 5 Boro PicNYC (Sat May 26, Sun May 26 11:30am--4:30pm; $35, children under 12 free with a paying adult). Expect live music, a taco competition, a grilled-cheese cook-off, food from more than 20 stations, including Jimmy's No. 43 and Van Leeuwen ice cream, and free-flowing beer for parents. Enjoy some grubKids can build castles in the sand while snacking on burgers at Water Taxi Beach, or try Ja

Best place to bust a moveSony Wonder Technology LabEver wonder how they got those animated penguins to dance like Savion Glover in Happy Feet? If so, check out the Dance Motion Capture exhibit at this midtown spot. Kids stand in front of the camera and do their best booty shake and hand jive. Then, they choose an avatar and watch as the character performs their unique moves. Have your kids wear dark clothes, which the camera can capture better. 550 Madison Ave at 56th St (212-833-8100, sonywondertechlab.com) Best place to giggle at naked statuesThe lobby of the Time Warner CenterLooming roughly 20 feet tall over the lobby of the Time Warner Center, a pair of whimsically zaftig nude sculptures by Fernando Botero have been amusing curious city kids for the past six years. It's not just children who love to laugh at the tubby bellies and naked bits, though—so many hands, big and small, have touched the man's privates that they've been burnished to a color lighter than the rest of the statue. After your crew gets its giggles out, there's plenty more to see—grab a good read at Borders or ogle the cookies at Bouchon Bakery. Be sure to wave good-bye to the statues on your way out. They'll be waiting, in all their glory, for your family's next anatomy lesson. 10 Columbus Circle at 59th St (212-823-6300, shopsatcolumbuscircle.com) Best preboarding time killerBrowsing the shops at Grand Central TerminalIf you're visiting Nana and Poppy on Long Island, maybe you can pick up a paperback

American Girl Place609 Fifth Ave at 49th St (212-644-1145, americangirlplace.com)Interactive activity Give dolls a fancy 'do at the Hair Salon ($10 to $20 per doll) or sit down for a tasteful afternoon tea ($20 per human; dolls eat free).Birthday component Packages include lunch, cake and goody bags for guests—and their doll friends. If a member of your group doesn't have an American Girl of her own, the store will lend her one for the party.NYC favor We love Rebecca's Coney Island souvenir set ($32).Rating 4 stars Build-a-Bear Workshop565 Fifth Ave at 46th St (212-871-7080, buildabear.com)Interactive activity Kids choose a favorite animal, then head to the filling station to stuff it. After that, they can dress their new charge in one of hundreds of outfits and pick up a birth certificate before taking it home.Birthday component Parties start at $10 per kid to simply stuff a small animal (accessories and clothes are extra); if you want a private party room with the whole shebang, add on $400.NYC favor A Mets or Yankees uniform for the bear, complete with cap and stirrup socks ($15).Rating 4 stars Lego store at Rockefeller Center620 Fifth Ave between 49th and 50th Sts (212-245-5973, lego.com)Interactive activity Play games or get model-building ideas at the computer stations in the Master Builder Bar; on the first Tuesday of each month, kids can take a free Mini Model class.Birthday component A Lego pro teaches your gang how to build some cool models for an hour, plus you get

From the city's best new sports hub for little athletes to a beer-garden in Brooklyn that's extremely kid-friendly, our best of 2013 list has something for every New York City family. Read on to see which attractions, birthday party entertainers, restaurants and other things to do in New York City our editors named the best of 2013. Plus, find out who took top honors in our best of 2013 readers' choice poll! 

You know all those New Yorkers who complain about the Disneyfication of Times Square? Well, now they have even more of a reason to grump, and we're okay with that. The new Disney flagship store is literally a sparkly princess's paradise. A twinkling blue path (smiling employees explain to young guests that it's made of pixie dust) winds through bright displays of Rapunzel costumes, singing Ariel dolls, light-up wands and dress-up shoes. Eventually, families come upon a 20-foot-tall pink-and-gold castle. Have your child look up—she might just catch an animated Tinkerbell flitting across the walls. But fear not, little brothers of the world; there's plenty for boys at the two-level store, including Buzz Lightyear super blasters, customizable Lightning McQueen cars and a $500 life-size Hulk head in the Marvel Comics section (the company was acquired by the big D last year). A handful of interactive features might actually tear the kids away from the merch, like the cozy Disney Store Theater, where they can cue up scenes from their favorite movies on the big-screen video jukebox, and the castle's Magic Mirrors, where a wave of a special wand causes princesses to appear in the background. Just like the perpetually happy employees, tykes will be grinning from ear to ear during their visit. Parents, though, will likely end up grimacing from having to spend a ton of money...but it's certainly cheaper than a trip to Orlando. 1540 Broadway between 45th and 46th Sts (212-626-2910, disne