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

5 Things To Do in Los Angeles on a Rainy Day

by Nina Moon

I know I'm not the only one that often finds myself wringing my hands on the rare rainy day around here. In Los Angeles, even rainy-day stand-bys like the mall are park-like ventures complete with farmer's markets (think: the Grove). So what is there to do in LA on a rainy day? Turns out, plenty.1. California Science Center With special exhibits geared towards children under 7, the California ... Read more >

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5 Things To Do When the Sun's Shining

by Nina Moon

This list is nowhere near comprehensive since the sun shines here, well, a lot. LA has been designed with the sun in mind so you'd be hard-pressed to find places that aren't good for sunny day visits. Here are a few of my favorites nonetheless: 1. Redondo Beach and Pier After splashing around in the waves, head up to the pier and eat lunch at Pacific Fish Center where you're giant crabs and ... Read more >

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The Littlest Picasso - Lakeshore Learning Store

by Nina Moon

There are countless stores around Los Angeles to buy top-quality professional art supplies (for top dollar, of course). There also countless toy stores with an aisle or so devoted to paints and play-doh and Crayola crayons. But I've found no better place to buy kids' arts and craft supplies and educational toys of all kinds, than Lakeshore Learning Store. Located on Venice Boulevard near the old ... Read more >

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History Lessons - Olvera Street

by Nina Moon

Known as the birthplace of the City of Angels, Olvera Street represents the oldest part of downtown. Technically, Los Angeles was founded on a site slightly southeast of Olvera Street in 1781 by a group of Spanish settlers, but they were forced to higher ground due to flooding. Olvera Street was the central street on the plaza of the new town. In the 1926, a socialite named Christine Sterling ... Read more >

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Things That Go Vroom! - Travel Town at Griffith Park

by Nina Moon

Toddlers have no attention span and can't sit still for two moments, so the sayings go. But put a train in front of my son, and he is perfectly content to sit and chime choo choo! So as soon as my son was old enough to scramble around on his own two feet, I jumped at the chance when my mom's group planned a trip to Travel Town at Griffith Park where Los Angeles' locomotive history is on ... Read more >

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5 Best Ways to Enjoy Griffith Park

by Nina Moon

Los Angeles isn't exactly known for its wide open spaces. But even though Griffith Park may not be as well known as say, Central Park, it has been Angelenos' backyard for generations. During the recent devastating wildfires, I couldn't peel my eyes off the images of the park in flames. Fortunately, the park is recovering and seems to be as robust as ever.1. Los Angeles Zoo Set into the ... Read more >

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Room to Run - 5 Places to Tire Out Your Preschooler

by Nina Moon

The hours between 2 and 4 in the afternoon are holy in our home. Mess with them and you have to deal with a burnt-out mommy in all her fury. Routine may be naptime's best bud, but a good run around outdoors never hurts either. Here are the five places I turn to when I need to ensure a good afternoon nap.1. Palms Recreation Center This neighborhood park has a small playground perfect for young ... Read more >

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10 Things you must do with your child in Los Angeles before they grow up

by Nina Moon

When Caius was born I had trouble imagining as one of those talkative, mobile toddlers I saw my friends running after, but here he is now about to start preschool. So even though it's impossible for me to picture my children as adults, I know that it will happen eventually. I may always be their mommy, but my time as their guide to the city is limited. Here are ten things I must do with them ... Read more >

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Mozart, Moby or Miles - Grand Performances Summer Festival

by Nina Moon

Mozart, Moby or Miles Grand Performances Summer FestivalMy brothers and I grew up to a pretty eclectic collection of music. At any given time, my parents were indoctrinating us to the tunes of Nirvana, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix or Chopin. I've always appreciated this early exposure to such diverse sounds. With two-thirds of the performers hailing from around the LA area and the others part of a ... Read more >

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Budding Art Critic -- Boone Children's Gallery at the LACMA

by Nina Moon

LACMA is enormous, overwhelming even. Where do you start with a preschooler? Why, Boone Children's Gallery of course! There really isn't much not to love here. The gallery is really more like a gigantic warehouse separated into different art and activity stations by towering shelving units displaying children's artwork. The room's theme, construct, carries throughout each station children can ... Read more >

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Mozart, Moby and Miles -- SummerSounds at the Hollywood Bowl

by Nina Moon

There's nothing quite so romantic or fun as an evening at the Bowl, listening to music under the stars. Kids love the outdoor setting and the endless flights of stairs. And who wouldn't love eating a picnic dinner with hundreds of other Angelenos? Unfortunately, sometimes the evening concerts are just a little too late for our littlest ones. Luckily, every summer the Hollywood Bowl holds ... Read more >

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What's in a Name - The Hollywood sign

by Nina Moon

Los Angeles is known world-wide for Hollywood, but ironically, most tourists probably know more about it than than most native Angelenos (especially those not involved in that business we call show). Most of us are so busy trying not to look like tourists that we never bother to visit the so-called tourist traps. But (warning: parental boasting ahead!) my son has recently learned his alphabet ... Read more >

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Mozart, Moby or Miles: Saturday mornings at Ford Amphitheatre

by Nina Moon

Everywhere you turn, it seems, there's a summer music festival going on in LA. I suppose you really can't have too much music though, right? Like its nearby big brother the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre hosts an excellent annual summer music festival in the evenings. But for the kids there is Big!World!Fun!, their Saturday morning family concert series. There's no need for your wiggly ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors: Father's Day edition

by Nina Moon

When our weekends aren't already filled with kids' birthday parties or visits to the grandparents' house, my husband and I quite often look at each other dumbly, wondering what in the world we're going to do to fill the time. Half the time we just end up puttering around the house or maybe spending a few hours at the park. Sound familiar?Well, hopefully we'll be able to overcome our seemingly ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors: Summer Solstice Edition

by Nina Moon

Today is officially the longest day of the year. Even better, LAUSD closed its magnificent doors on our children yesterday and today is the official first day of summer. That means that this weekend is going to be a very, very long weekend, which is a good thing right!?! But what are you going to do with all that extra time? This Saturday from 1-3pm, kick off the summer by celebrating the summer ... Read more >

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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 >

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Essential Summer Music -- Summer Music Festivals In and Around Los Angeles

by Nina Moon

Summer has descended and with it has come the annual outdoor music festivals. Unlike indoor concerts where children are generally expected to stay still and quiet (and, really, what fun is that?), these outdoor concerts are the perfect opportunity to expose your child to professional music in a fun, more laid-back environment. They're also perfect for a romantic date with your SO. Of course no ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

Help your children learn about going green at Venice Eco-Fest this Saturday from 10am-7pm at Windward Avenue and Ocean Front Walk. They will have a special Kid's Explor-o-rama featuring animals, stories and music. It's also a great opportunity to safely dump everything from old computers to defunct cell phones. For those who can't manage to wait for Fourth of July of fireworks, Santa Monica ... Read more >

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Los Angeles Fireworks Round-up

by Nina Moon

When I was little my parents would lay out a blanket in our front yard and we would watch the fireworks rising above a nearby local park while running up and down the street with the rest of the neighborhood kids. My own kids are growing up in a condo where there will undoubtedly be no balcony view of pyrotechnics. There are, however, many great places in Los Angeles to celebrate our nation's ... Read more >

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Layover Lifesavers: A Preschooler's Guide to the LAX

by Nina Moon

LAX is not a place I look forward to spending any time at all. Whether you're arriving, departing, dropping someone off or picking someone up, LAX is a tangled maze of cars, people, and of course, planes. If you happen to have a longish layover in LA, don't try and wait it out at the airport, especially if you have children.Since you need to estimate being at the airport at least two hours ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors: Independence Day edition

by Nina Moon

If you're not going away for the long weekend or pet sitting for your parents that are (that's us!), there's plenty of Independence Day and non-Independence Day related activities to keep you and your little ones entertained.Of course, tonight you'll need to check out the fireworks.If you miss the fireworks tonight, you can still catch them post game at The Home Depot Center.Saturday morning is ... Read more >

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Three Days In and Around Los Angeles - Santa Monica

by Nina Moon

Obviously we could spend several days writing about just one of the many LA neighborhoods (and we have so check the archives yo!), but not all of us are lucky enough to actually live here (insert sarcasm about smog and traffic). What if you only had three days to spend in LA? What are the must-sees? Where should you stay? And, most importantly, what should you eat?For the next three days Being ... Read more >

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Three Days In and Around Los Angeles - Downtown

by Nina Moon

Downtown is probably more friendly to suits and singles than families with kids under five, but that doesn't mean that can't be an interesting place for your children. Especially if your children haven't experienced, well, really tall buildings that can be kind of cool. And if you are here for business, but had to bring along the kids, this list will help you navigate the kid-friendly side of ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

It's been a long week, hasn't it? I'm really feeling the whole TJIF sentiment today. Even better, this weekend my family will be heading down to my parents' home in the South Bay (free babysitting! Woohoo!). In that vein, we'll start the edition of Weekend Warriors in Redondo Beach, right smack in the heart of the South Bay.On Saturday, why not drive down Redondo Beach? You can spend the day at ... Read more >

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Happy Quatorze Juillet

by Nina Moon

Our friends in France are celebrating Bastille Day today. And, as a matter of fact, Angelenos were celebrating it on Sunday in WeHo (sorry I missed it for last weekend's Weekend Warriors). Still, there are plenty of ways to introduce your child to French culture and language in Los Angeles. Not only is Los Angeles home to two different French preschool-12th private schools, each with multiple ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors - Disco anyone?

by Nina Moon

This is a weekend where you're not going to want to stay at home. With everything from disco for babies to circus performances to those uber-celebrities of the preschool set (I'm talking about Diego and Dora, don't you know) coming to town, you're preschooler is bound to have fun.On Saturday morning at 11, head down to Topanga Canyon's Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum for Creative Playground's ... Read more >

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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 >

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Kids Going Green - Eden's Green Closet

by Nina Moon

From creating a separate recycling bin to eating locally grown foods to (gasp!) using public transportation, everyone seems to be going green nowadays. I'll be honest though, the importance of caring for the environment never really hit home for me until I had children. And even then, one area of waste I never considered was my kid's clothing. Until, that is, I happened upon Eden's Green ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors - Sandcastle edition

by Nina Moon

There's nothing quite so quintessentially summer as building sandcastles at the beach. This Saturday from 10am-2pm, The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro will host a Sizzlin' Summer Sandcastle Day. BYO shovel, bucket and imagination, claim a spot on the sand and build castles, tunnels and moats galore. But what happens when you mix slime and sand? Slime-lovers are in luck this weekend as ... Read more >

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Water Play When You Don't Have a Yard

by Nina Moon

At least a few of my posts here at Being Savvy Los Angeles have had not-so-subtle grumblings about our lack of a yard. Don't get me wrong, we love our neighborhood and our condominium is spacious and I'm very, very thankful for our home. But I can't deny that I have frequent fantasies of my children running around in a yard, which will have a swing set, a sandbox and a vegetable garden where we ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors -- Beatles Edition

by Nina Moon

The other day a little girl showed up to my son's preschool with an ipod shuffle. Whether or not you would allow your preschooler their own personal music player, her playlist was absolutely awesome. In addition to the standard kiddie tunes and some great adult-friendly children's music, she was rockin' out to a bunch of old Beatles' numbers. And it's true, even a two-year-old can appreciate the ... Read more >

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Trump National Golf Club - A Tot Hiker's Haven

by Nina Moon

This past weekend our non-golfing family spent Sunday morning at Trump National Golf Course. No, we weren't signing up our two-year-old for golf lessons. Trump National Golf Course, situation at the edge of a cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes with a fabulous view of the ocean, is criss-crossed with public hiking trails and surrounded by swaths of protected land where plants native to the area grow ... Read more >

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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 >

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Weekend Warriors: Olympic Edition

by Nina Moon

So I don't know about you all, but this weekend I'm going to try and spend as much time in front of the television as possible. My son's preschool is having an Olympic-themed week starting Monday so I figure a little preparation won't hurt him, right?For those of you who plan on seeing the light of day, there does happen to be some great events going on in Los Angeles this weekend. For starters, ... Read more >

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Veteran's Park in Culver City -- Pretend Play at the Park

by Nina Moon

For so long my son played obsessively with two things: balls and wheels. End. Of. Story. So when he finally began to venture into the world of pretend play, cooking pasta for me to eat and building tables and chairs out of Legos for his heretofore neglected stuffed animals to eat dinner on, I was so very happy. You see, I am not so good at the endless throwing of balls and pushing of cars. But ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors -- Fines, Fire Trucks and Festivals

by Nina Moon

All of us, I'm sure, have had an overdue library book here or there. But what about those embarrassingly overdue books? Several months, even years, overdue? It's almost easier to just stop going to the library under the weight of that fine, right?Instead, you take advantage of the Los Angeles Public Library's Fine Free Week, which ends this Sunday. And it's still not too late to take advantage ... Read more >

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Venice Canals - Overlooked but Not Forgotten

by Nina Moon

This past weekend my husband and I decided to take the kids to stroll the Venice Canals, an oft overlooked but surprisingly diverting use of a Saturday morning. Originally encompassing 16 miles of canals, the majority of the canals were filled in the late 1920s to make room for increasing car traffic. The remaining canals are lined with multi-million dollar mansions, post-modern glass ... Read more >

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Aquariums in Los Angeles -- Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

by Nina Moon

For so long practically everything that moved underwater was a fish to our son. Whale? Fish. Shark? Fish. Dolphin? Fish. Sea otter? Fish. Now, finally, he's starting to differentiate to the point that if we happen to leave off the puffer in pufferfish we are promptly corrected: No, NO! Puffahfish! Puffahfish!It's probably the perfect time to visit an aquarium, no? Nice that we happen to live ... Read more >

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Ocean View Farms Community Garden --A Tiny Green Thumb in the City

by Nina Moon

A friend of mine recently bought a home, modest but spacious enough for her family of five, with a beautiful yard where she has started cultivating roses and a vegetable garden. While I am very happy for her, I admit that I turned a bit green when I saw her yard. We live in a condominium and our balcony, unfortunately, gets no direct sunlight. All I can do is dream about how lovely it would be ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

My son and I are big Elizabeth Mitchell fans her children's folk tunes are just the thing for sunny afternoons, both playful and calming. So I'm absolutely psyched to go see her and her family perform at the Getty Center Central Garden this weekend. Pack a picnic and go see this free family concert on Saturday or Sunday at 4 and 5pm. Starting tonight, check out the Fiesta La Ballona festival at ... Read more >

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Sweet Ways to Cool Off

by Nina Moon

It's hot. Nothing much else to say about it. It's just hot. I give my two-year-old a bath and 30 minutes later he's sweaty and stinky again. And my baby is pretty much going nekkid 24/7. Now you could simply crank up the AC, run through the sprinklers a few times and maybe take a dip at a local pool, but why not indulge in some cool, sweet treats to beat the heat? Here are a few tips to keep you ... Read more >

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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 >

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Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

It seems like just a few weeks ago when I was heralding in the first day of summer, the longest day of the year and the end of the school year. And now suddenly you want to tell me that summer is nearly over? That this is Labor Day weekend? No!Okay, okay, so denial is not the most effective tactic against the onslaught of autumn. Perhaps I should just try and take advantage of what's left of it. ... Read more >

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Art and culture for the cost of parking

by Nina Moon

One of the best things about living in a big city like Los Angeles is the sheer amount of options you have when it comes to museums. You can take a stroll through a world-class sculpture garden, immerse yourself in ancient Egypt or spend a morning on playing with the animals in Noah's Ark. And if you plan it right, you can do it all for free. Okay, you'll probably have to pay something for ... Read more >

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Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

As you already know (because you've already entered our giveaway), the LA County Fair starts TODAY. My family is planning on making the trip this weekend for the first time ever and, from what I gather, there's more to do (and, more importantly, eat) than one can possibly imagine. So, get thee to the fair! LA Greek Fest is also taking place this weekend with Greek music, dance, art, food and ... Read more >

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Library Card Sign-Up Month - The most crucial back-to-school item of all

by Nina Moon

In addition to marking the traditional start of school, September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. So whether you're new to Los Angeles or you've lived here for years but just haven't made it out to your local branch yet, now is the time to get yourself a library card (or key card!). Your preschooler can also get his very own library card (you just know how much they'll love that), but know that ... Read more >

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5 perfect preschool playdates

by Nina Moon

Preschool may make it a tad bit easier to set up playdates (no more desperately hoping that another lonely parent will send a friendly smile your way), but there always remains that question - where to go? Here are five perfect places for your kids to play and for grown-ups to bond.Play - I love that Play is set up to facilitate both playdates and one-on-one bonding between parent and child. ... Read more >

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Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center - Teaser

by Nina Moon

I finally made it out to the raved-about Noah's Ark exhibit at the Skirball Center today. I've been procrastinating, probably because I'm bad at doing anything that involves advance tickets (you must order tickets in advance, which can be done online). After today, however, I'm hitting myself over the head - how could I have waited so long? My son loved every minute of our two-hour visit. We ... Read more >

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Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center

by Nina Moon

Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Museum, nestled just off the 405 freeway north of the Getty Museum, is a whimsical, imaginative, non-stop fun destination for young children. Maybe because I'm so desperate for a children's museum here in Los Angeles (because the old one has moved far, far away - or at least too far to visit before naptime) the entire two hours I was there I couldn't stop ... Read more >

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It Takes Two - 5 activities that are more fun with a pal

by Nina Moon

Sometimes planning a playdate seems like more effort than it's worth. After all, it's hard enough to watch your own kid, let alone their friend too. But preschoolers are at that magical age where they're just learning to play with and not just alongside other children, and it's worth it to give them time with other children even outside of preschool. Here are a few better-with-two fun ... Read more >

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The Getty Museum - A Preschooler's Guide Part 1

by Nina Moon

You exit the 405 at Getty Center Drive and make your way to the parking entrance where you fork over $10(!!!!) for parking. You enter the underground parking lot and pass several large school buses and your heart sinks as you anticipate large hordes of elementary school students ready to trample on your tiny preschooler. But you continue on (since you already paid the ten bucks, there's no ... Read more >

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Flashback - 5 favorite posts from September

by Nina Moon

My husband has been working long hours all this month so I've basically been flying solo around here for a month. Needless to say, I welcome October with open, grateful arms. Still, September wasn't a total wash. In case you missed it, here are five of the best posts from September.1. Bistro de l'Hermitage - friendly French food for four-year-olds - Because excessive alliteration aside, it ... Read more >

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5 Places to Spark Your Preschooler's Imagination

by Nina Moon

If summer means ample opportunities to explore the world outside, the coming of fall - yes, even in Los Angeles - ushers in a cornucopia, if you will, of the arts and crafts. What it's too cold to play outside, what better than to experiment with paint and clay or curl up in a comfy corner and read a beautifully illusrated picture book? Or even write one? Here are five Los Angeles locations that ... Read more >

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Pumpkin Activities for Preschoolers

by Nina Moon

This is the first year my son is old enough to actually, sort of "get" Halloween. Or at least the pumpkin-loving, candy-eating, door-to-door-knocking, costume-wearing part of Halloween. His first Halloween I dressed him up as a bumble bee and let him waddle around my friend's neighborhood. Last year, I was too pregnant with my now infant to even make an effort. But this year we're going all out, ... Read more >

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Halloween Events for Preschoolers in Los Angeles

by Nina Moon

When you're a kid, one day of Halloween is simply not enough. And we here at The Savvy Source are trying to help you sort through the deluge of pre-Halloween festivities. So maybe you've already shopped for a costume and you've got your Halloween craft thing going on, but here are some fab parties coming up in Los Angeles between now and Halloween. Scribble Press - Just drop in the store ... Read more >

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Five Tips for Trick-or-treating with preschoolers

by Nina Moon

This being Los Angeles, the land of make-believe, there are no dearth of scarily decked-out haunted houses, skeletons dangling in foliage and realistic bloody corpses. Color me overprotective, but this isn't my idea of an ideal Halloween for a preschooler. I'm also not one for crowds and the idea of waiting in long lines to knock on doors when I'd consider ourselves lucky to even knock on 10 ... Read more >

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Picture Book Classics - Old and New

by Nina Moon

Just because a book is old doesn't make it a classic and just because a book is new doesn't mean it's not a classic either. The test of time just takes too long in the brief interim of childhood. So here are a few of our family's classics, both old and new. Now that winter's here, my son and I have been re-reading The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats with Peter's bright red snowsuit and ... Read more >

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