Our December cover girl Betsy Brandt; photo by Michael Jurick; on Betsy Brandt: Shoshanna dress, Stephanie Kantis gold cuff bracelet; location: The JCC in Manhattan

Features

Breaking Fab
Rising star, mother of two, and New York newcomer Betsy Brandt makes an elegant transition from “Breaking Bad” to sitcom sweetheart on “The Michael J. Fox Show”

The Gift Of Giving Back
Celebrate both the true spirit of the holiday season as well as the core of New York City’s sense of community with some of our favorite local, family-centric charities

Got Class?
A sneak peek into the varied enrichment offerings coming this winter, from arts and music to sports and dance

Family Fun Guide

10 Great Events For December
Pirate School, “A Christmas Story,” “Peter & the Wolf,” and more

The Ultimate Checklist For A Classic NYC Holiday
A guide to the best tress, Santas, lights, “Nutcracker” shows, window displays, and seasonal shopping locales

The Center Of It All
New York City’s premier hub for the performing arts, Lincoln Center, is many children’s first introduction to opera, ballet, jazz, and—of course—the circus

Home & Away

Travel
Sweet ski escapes near NYC, plus our editor’s picks for fab family winter break resorts

Quality Time
Add creative flair to a holiday crafting staple—paper snowflakes—with our step-by-step tips

Columns

Editor’s Note
Hands Off, Hands On

Events & Offers
A 74th St. MAGIC giveaway, New York Family’s upcoming Camp Fairs, and the scoop on the ultimate moms’ night out

Scoop
Cute clothes from Cabbages & Kings NY, the latest in LEGO news, a memory-keeping app for parents, and more

Lysst
Great gifts—both luxurious and understated—for grownups (because the holidays aren’t only about the kids)

Treats
The most fun and festive toys of the year for all the little sugar plums on your nice list

Parent In Profile
After years of supporting parents of multiples in both local and national organizations, NYC mom Natalie Diaz has written a book about everything she’s learned

Activity Of The Month
Young NYC gymnasts from a variety of gyms and programs give us their tips on sticking it

The Last Word
A local mom remembers her twins’ first Christmas in the NICU