Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in West LA, CA

5 Ways to Get to Know Los Angeles with Your Preschooler

by Nina Moon

Los Angeles, unlike most major metropolitan cities, is sprawling. Taking stock of the city as a whole can be daunting, even more so when you have a preschooler in tow. And while so many Angelenos spend most, if not all, of their lives in their respective neighborhoods, that really is a shame. So why not play tourist (albeit a far cooler, in-the-know tourist) this summer and explore the City of ... Read more >

Continue reading "5 Ways to Get to Know Los Angeles with Your Preschooler"

Little Gourmet: Culver City Farmer's Market

by Nina Moon

Let me begin with a confession: I am not a farmer's market shopper. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, but I always seem to have a good excuse. (It's too expensive! I don't have time! It's too crowded! I'm too tired! I have a rock in my shoe and can't walk!) Certain fab bloggers, however, have been slowly chipping away at my anti-fresh produce resolve.Yesterday, I broke down. The weather ... Read more >

Continue reading "Little Gourmet: Culver City Farmer's Market"

Toddler on a Sugar-High - Patbingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)

by Nina Moon

What could be better on a hot summer day (or night!) than a big bowl of patbingsu, the Korean version of shaved ice, but oh so much better. Ice? Check. Ice cream? Check. Cold fresh fruit? Check. Add pat (sweet red beans), dduk (rice cake), some sweet condensed milk and maybe some colorful, fruity cereal bits and you've got a perfect summer dessert. As a little girl, I used to love this dish even ... Read more >

Continue reading "Toddler on a Sugar-High - Patbingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)"

Mozart, Moby or Miles -- Pershing Square Kids

by Nina Moon

One of the best parts of writing for Being Savvy Los Angeles has been discovering the sheer multitude of things to do in this city. For instance, did you know that Los Angeles has an outdoor ice skating rink? In downtown, no less? Pershing Square, a square block of public space in the heart of downtown, transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter. Obviously that's not the most useful ... Read more >

Continue reading "Mozart, Moby or Miles -- Pershing Square Kids"

Even Better Than the Farmer's Market? - Tierra Miguel Foundation Farm

by Nina Moon

Eating well has always been important to me. And by eating well, I mean eating healthy. Sure I drink more coke than one person should and, yes, my sweet tooth is bordering on addiction, but I also try to make sure that my family is eating balanced, nutritious meals. Part of that quest has recently involved exploring our local farmer's markets. Sure it can be expensive, but I've found that if I ... Read more >

Continue reading "Even Better Than the Farmer's Market? - Tierra Miguel Foundation Farm"

Top 5 Los Angeles Beaches, Pools and Watering Holes

by Nina Moon

There are so many great beaches in Los Angeles. I have so many happy memories of skipping stones in Malibu, digging for sand crabs in Hermosa, body surfing in Redondo and building sandcastles at RAT beach. So really, if you're looking for a sun-soaked, salt watered day, just head west and stop when you hit the coast. Nevertheless, there are some specifically kid-friendly spots that are worth ... Read more >

Continue reading "Top 5 Los Angeles Beaches, Pools and Watering Holes"

Koreatown Plaza Market -- Bring Your Preschooler and An Empty Stomach

by Nina Moon

Like so many families in Los Angeles, we find ourselves frequenting several different grocery markets in order to find all the food items we want/need. I go to Trader Joe's weekly for the basics, then to what we've dubbed the regular supermarket (i.e. Albertson's, Ralph's, etc.) for things like Ritz crackers (mmm'salty goodness!) and roasted whole chickens, and to our local farmer's markets for ... Read more >

Continue reading "Koreatown Plaza Market -- Bring Your Preschooler and An Empty Stomach"

The Corner Market -- Is Los Angeles a walkable city?

by Nina Moon

Click over to Walk Score, a website that rates the walkability of cities and neighborhoods in the US, and you'll find that Los Angeles is the 9th most walkable city in America. When I heard this my first reaction was probably similar to the one you're having right now. Namely, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?But yes, supposedly only 16% of Los Angeles is car-dependent. As in, the vast majority of Angelenos ... Read more >

Continue reading "The Corner Market -- Is Los Angeles a walkable city?"