WELCOME · EDITION #001 · TUESDAY
👋 Hello
We live in Manhattan with a 6-year-old son and 10-month-old baby, and we created this newsletter because raising kids in NYC is incredible... and exhausting to organize.
Every week there are dozens of activities, school deadlines, and programs that open and close, and nobody has time to research it all.
We do that research for you and filter it the way we live it: Does it work with a stroller? Can a 6-year-old sit through it without getting bored? Is it worth it with a nap in the middle?
Every Sunday, in minutes: the best weekend plans, the news that actually affects you as a family, and the context to understand it. No noise, no endless lists.
Thank you for being here from the beginning.
⏱️ THIS WEEK IN 30 SECONDS
🎃 Halloween week runs Mon Oct 26 to Sat Oct 31. Full guide inside.
⏰ SHSAT registration closes this Friday the 30th.
🏫 Middle school applications are now open (they close December 11).
☀️ A dry week for outdoor plans. Wear a warm layer under the costume.
🕐 And on Sunday, November 1, we set the clocks back an hour: sunset moves to 4:52pm, so the following week it gets dark much earlier.
🎃 SEASONAL GUIDE · WEEK OF OCTOBER 26 TO 31
Halloween in NYC
It doesn’t all happen on Saturday the 31st. This week there are Halloween plans from Monday through Friday (many after-school, several free), and the big day closes out the week. We’ve organized it day by day, with the best plan for each.
🗓️ THE WEEK AT A GLANCE
MON 26: Museum 9/11 · 5:30pm · FREE
TUE 27: CMOM: tote bags · 2:45pm · FREE
WED 28: Trick-or-Streets, Canal St · 3–7pm · FREE
THU 29: Election Day, BCM · 2–5pm · FREE
FRI 30: Tricks and Treats, Bryant Park · 4–6pm · FREE
SAT 31, as a route:
10:30 Brooklyn Heights → 11–4 AMNH or Seaport → 2pm Seaport parade → 6:30pm Park Slope → 7pm Village Parade
⚠️ The Central Park Pumpkin Flotilla is canceled this year.
🗞️ WHAT’S NEW IN THE WEEK
1. SHSAT registration closes this Friday the 30th. It’s a separate registration from the high school application, which closes December 4.
For you: If you have a child in 8th grade, this is the week to register them. Don’t leave it for the general application.
2.NYC is adding 10,000 2-K seats for fall 2027, for more than 12,000 in total, across 22 of 32 districts.
For you: You can’t apply yet (no date has been announced), but if you have a toddler, the outlook for 2027 just improved a lot.
3. Middle school applications are now open (they close December 11) and kindergarten applications open December 9.
For you: These are two different calendars. If you have kids at both levels, write down both dates, not just one.
👀 Where is NYC’s most spectacular Halloween hiding?
No ticket, reservation, or budget needed. Just comfortable shoes, a willingness to walk, and heading out as the sun starts to set.
We’ll tell you where to find some of the houses and streets with the most spectacular decorations. Save it to plan your family Halloween walk.
🎃 The Halloween House Hunt
Want it on your phone? Just give it a quick tap!
A route of spooky houses in
📍 MANHATTAN
· Upper East Side
📍 Route: East 67th St → East 71st St → East 78th St
· Upper West Side
• W 69th St: a classic stroll to admire the Halloween decorations without any stroller hassle.
💸 Price: Free
🕓 When to go: At sunset, to enjoy the decorations lit up
🧡 Parent tip: Head out at sunset (this week it gets dark around 5:53–5:59pm) so you can appreciate everything with the lights on. Bring a warm layer, and remember that house stairs and entryways are private. Enjoy the decorations from the sidewalk.
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Taking a long trip and worried about your pet?
Marialejandra’s Personal Home services are available. They visit home once or twice a day to feed them, with refreshed water, a clean litter box, and keep them company. You get photo updates so you can see how they’re doing.
Their routine stays the same, and they get to be in their own space. Reach out if you’d want to meet and greet
Meet winnie and milo ♥️
Which this week's plan would you do with your kids?
If this letter saved you a search, share it with another NYC family. Every subscription helps us keep doing this every week.
— Marialejandra & Eloy
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