Meet Florence, a six year-old girl who has a life-threatening disease so rare her parents have started to call it Florencitis. (Her doctors term it autoimmune encephalitis.) She desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. It is not easy for her parents to ask for donations, but they need to raise $50,000. They're more than halfway there. Please take a minute to consider how you can help, by a donation, or by spreading the word. You can read more about Florence at the site of one of her biggest fans (Liz from Moms 101 and Cool Mom Picks) or at the donation page. Thank you.

The next Camp Fair is this weekend! Come research the possibilities at New York Family's Camp Fairs--produced in collaboration with the American Camp Association NY & NJ--on Saturday, February 4 in Morningside Heights at the Bank Street School. For more information on day and sleepaway camps and to register, click here.

Speaking of Camp Fairs, New York Family just launched a virtual camp tour at therightcamp.com. The site is a one-stop resource to help parents find the ideal summer experience for their children.

*Not your typical stuffed animal--Skip Hop's new Hug & Hide Activity Toys are sure to keep your infant, ages three months and up, entertained for hours. And New York Family is giving away one lamb Hug & Hide to a lucky reader. To enter, post on our Facebook page telling us why you want to win. Then, email us with "Hug & Hide" in the subject line. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 8.

With over 70 family films from 26 countries, the BAMKids film fest returns to Brooklyn with quirkier programming than ever before! The weekend is sprinkled with a few killer performances, too. (Saturday-Sunday) 

It's round three of Lunar New Year events, with celebrations taking place from the Met to the streets of Flushing. (Saturday-Sunday) 

Live gators, Cajun cuisine and 15-foot-tall Cypress trees will fill Chelsea Market in honor of the History Channel's third season premiere of Swamp People. (Saturday-Sunday)

Come sail away with Ship-Shape: Nautical Scale Models, the Intrepid's new exhibit. Learn all about the construction of model ships. (Saturday-Sunday) 

Opening this weekend, The Festival of the Vegetables at the Metropolitan Playhouse will take kids on a musical journey of a supermarket's veggie shenanigans. (Saturday-Sunday)

Get ready for a two-day family dance party at the Apollo Theater, chock full of performances, instrument-making workshops and groovin' from the '30s to the '60s. (Saturday-Sunday)

The Story Pirates are at it again. This time, the creative bunch performs "My Museum Story," a performance set in the American Museum of Natural History, which includes actors, puppets and live music. (Saturday)

For lively Greek mythology, check out cartoonist George O'Connor's reading of Hades at the Strand. Ages 7 and up will love the action, drama and adventure. (Saturday)

V-DAY ALERT: Kick off Valentine's Day early with a family day at the French Institute. Events include a movie screening, arts and crafts, cookie decorating and a French story time. (Saturday)

Unleash your inner mad-scientist at the free Hands-On Nano Demo at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Participate in hands-on activities that explore the structures, materials and properties of this complex field. (Saturday)

Ages 6-12 can celebrate the best of North and South American music with West Side Story and Other Music of the Americas by The Little Orchestra Society. This performance will spotlight the Dancing Classrooms Youth Dance Company. (Saturday)

Day and night merges for a concert of groovy tunes by Shine & The Moonbeams at Symphony Space. This duo will come together for a stellar performance of R&B and rock 'n roll. (Saturday)

V-DAY ALERT: Go bananas with a lovey-dovey bash at The Bowery Poetry Club. Meredith LeVande and Monkey Monkey Music will sing songs and teach youngsters how to say "I love you" in a few different languages. (Sunday)

For both parents and their wee ones, Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton will cover familiar classics from Bob Marley to The Velvet Underground at 92Y Tribeca. (Sunday)

V-DAY ALERT: Learn the basics of composting while creating heart-shaped compost cookies your garden will love at the Queens Botanical Garden. (Sunday)  

Get down with the Shababa Mamas! The "most harmonious moms you'll ever meet" will be performing at the 92nd Street Y along with The Miracle Makers and Coco, the sloth puppet. (Sunday)

V-DAY ALERT: Head to the UES Barnes & Noble for a reading of Zombie in Love to find out how one hopeful zombie eventually finds his one-and-only. (Sunday)

For even more events this weekend and beyond, check out our Family Calendar.     

Super Bowl Sunday is a time for big family fun. To help your home team enjoy the game to its fullest we've gathered a bunch of festive and delicious recipes (including one from Eli Manning), plus some great tips for getting your children psyched for the game. Kickoff!

New York Theatre Ballet   

Private School Edge