Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in greater los angeles, CA

Weekend Roundup 8/8

August 06, 2009

Weekend Roundup

Traveling with the kids is such a chore, but remember that you are creating memories for them.  It's what you signed up for when you had kids, so you might as well accept that a vacation with them is not actually a vacation for you.  I learned that lesson again when my family went camping last weekend at Pismo Beach.  Read our story here.

For the next few weekends we'll be in Connecticut.  "Summering in Connecticut" as I like to say, even though it's only for most of August.  We'll enjoy the hot sticky weather there, and then come back to Los Angeles to cool off.  It's a dry heat. 

While we're away I will continue to highlight activities and ideas for you and your preschoolers.  Here are a few gems for this weekend:

TONIGHT - Thursday August 6
Summer Twilight Thursdays continue at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.  An Afro-Brazilian group sings, you recline on a blanket with a picnic dinner, the kids scamper about, chasing butterflies.  It's a pretty picture.

SATURDAY - August 8
Consider taking advantage of Katie's Cooking School's parent's night out.  Drop off at 6:30 - your kids make a yummy treat and get to play, then you pick them up at 10:30.  Everybody wins.

FRIDAY - SUNDAY

Free concerts continue in the evening at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena

Check out this awesome list of water play areas around town, courtesy of LA Kidstuff

County Fairs:

We drove by the Ventura County Fair last weekend and if we weren't so exhausted we absolutely would have stopped.  It looked like a blast!

Weekend Roundup - BlogHer '09 edition

July 23, 2009

There are no lazy days of summer around here, I'm afraid.  July kicked off our bad back/sick/family visiting/travel season so my household has been rather, well, chaotic.  I remind myself that priority 1 = the children.  Priority "up there too, honey" is my husband.  Then work (for $) then work (for the love, which includes this site), then parties like the ones at BLOGHER '09 which I am really excited to be attending this weekend.  I just can't contain it.  The networking, the free stuff that I will share with you, and the things I will learn will all come back to benefit this space.  If you are attending, please let me know so we can jump up and down and try not to pee our pants together.

Meanwhile, back in the valley...

SATURDAY

Frugal Festival!  Meet the Bargain Babe in person!  Get chances to win free cash!  Get financial advice on the run!  Play outside!

Space Camp at Borders in Canoga Park to celebrate 40th Anniversary of Apollo moon landing. (I will be at BlogHer but otherwise I would not be missing this event that is so perfect for my four year old.  Sigh.)

Free movie at Warner Center Park:  Alvin and the Chipmunks, starts at dusk.

SUNDAY

Warner Center Park free concert!  Desperado, an Eagles tribute band, 6 to 8pm.

Summer Family Fun at Farmers Market LA 12-3PM, face painting and a circus!

Music Monday: More Putumayo Kids

July 20, 2009

Okay, so, bear with me.  I know I just reviewed a Putumayo Kids CD recently, but I'm psyched to tell you about this one because, well, I loved it.  Way more than the other one.

Picnic Playground is another globe-trotting CD with artists from all over the world contributing tunes about loving food.  The songs on this disc are happy, lilting, and just fun to listen to.  It's perfect music for prepping dinner, and even eating dinner, come to think of it.  The kids bopped around without even realizing it when this music was on.

The American release date is July 28th.  Visit the website to preview the songs.  If you get the actual CD, the liner notes include recipes, too!

School of Rock

July 13, 2009

I loved the movie "School of Rock" starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, and that girl from iCarly.  It's one of the rare films that I will watch multiple times if I'm flipping through channels (on the rare occasion that I'm in control of the remote) and it happens to be on cable at the time.  Quotable, funny, and entertaining, it also put dangerous thoughts in my mind of training my kids to be rock stars.  I can't blame the movie entirely, though, because my two little boys can faux-rock a microphone and shred a cheap plastic guitar like nobody's business.  It's like they were born to do it.

How cool is it, then, that there is a real school of rock right here in the valley?  Music, Stars, and Masters now holds classes at Westfield Topanga, right near the carousel, on Mondays and Wednesdays.  In these classes, children learn the basic concepts of music including theory and proper technique.  Once they get to the "Rock Star" level, students actually get to perform different roles in a band, using music videos for reference and recording their own performances!

Not just a cute home video, but a chance for kids to realize their dreams early on in life.  Is that so wrong?

The classes at Topanga are an expansion from MSM's original school at the Westside Pavilion.  Being Savvy West LA's Susan Choi actually brought her two children and shares her experience - and a tip on getting  free trial class.  My first impression of her experience was to be excited that you can drop off your child and run errands at the mall during class!  Music - it's a bonus.

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This Weekend Around the Valley: July 11/12

July 09, 2009

My mommy is coming!  Yes, that's right, I'm getting some much-needed mama love from my own mama.  You're never too old to run to mommy for comfort! 

I'd rent her out if I could, because she's a very comforting presence.  Alas, she's not for hire.  For the rest of you, here are some fun things going on around these parts:

-Summer Safety Funfest, by First 5 LA.  Car seat training classes (and a free car seat while supplies last!), swim lessons, trucks to explore, rock climbing, face painting, and free lunch.  Saturday 9am - 1pm at Expo Park in Los Angeles (3980 Menlo Ave Los Angeles, CA 90037)

-Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Warner Center Park, Sunday 6pm - 8pm.  Another concert in the lovely park, most likely with less people than last weekend!  The band does a concert for the kids at Madrid Theater on Monday July 13 at 10AM, too.

-Pan-African People's Arkestra at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena, July 12, 7pm.  An African American Jazz band performs the music they love to share for free.

-Public Art Party in Beverly Hills, Saturday July 11, 12pm to 6pm.  A walking tour of outdoor art in beautifully manicured Beverly Hills.





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Music Monday - Putumayo Kids

June 29, 2009

Cheap or Free Summer Movies and Activities

June 23, 2009

AMC Summer Movie Camp - Every Wednesday at 10 AM participating AMC Theaters (the closest one for us is AMC Burbank 16) will charge only $1 per ticket and also offer cheaper concessions.  Each week features a different film - click here for the schedule.

Regal Entertainment Group's Free Family Film Festival happens every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 AM.  Click here and select California, then scroll down to theater location to see schedule of films.  Tickets are FREE! (our closest locations are the Commons at Calabasas, Santa Clarita and Simi Valley)

The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks is showing free movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10AM (doors open for the rush(?) at 9:00).

Starting July 18, the Valley Cultural Center will host movies outdoors at Warner Park in Woodland Hills.

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The Grove Summer Sessions:  Come join us as we host our Summer Session for kids, a 10 week entertainment and educational series with L.A.'s premier cultural and art institutions, every Tuesday beginning June 23 through August 25, from 2-4pm in The Park.  Each week, a different museum or cultural partner will be featured, provide free arts and crafts, entertainment and educational activities to stimulate young minds.

The Commons at Calabasas hosts Kids Club arts and crafts or music every Tuesday at 6pm.

Music Monday: Twenty-something angst for the preschool set

by Kim Tracy Prince

October 20, 2008

Once upon a time I had a coworker named Charlie who said he made an album. When he was ready to share it, I was prepared to be underwhelmed, because everyone and their mother has an album or a script in Los Angeles. Right? I accepted the CD and on my way home I popped into the player in my car. This is what I heard. By the time I got to  Read more...

Music Monday: Music Your Kids Will Dig and You'll Like Too - vol. 1, Classical Music

by Kim Tracy Prince

October 13, 2008

I proudly announce the return of David Tobocman, who explained to us how to create engaging children's music that does not make you want to smash your CD player. He's back with a series of essays about introducing your child to good music and helping them cultivate their own musical tastes. Watch this space for his continuing series. Can you dig it? To tell you the truth, I try to go slow  Read more...

Mozart, Moby, or Miles: Shaking those bodies

by Kim Tracy Prince

July 14, 2008

The most amusing thing about my children listening to music is the way they react physically: it's as if their bodies are little tuning forks, vibrating from head to toe with the joy of hearing a favorite song or discovering a new one. They dance to everything from the music on those maddening plastic toys to Yo Yo Ma. That's why I long to expose them to the pleasures of dance instruction.  Read more...