Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in west la, CA

Weekend Warrior: Ralph's World and Ziggy Marley

by Susan Choi

June 04, 2009

There are some very cool activities going on this weekend so let's get right to it!

Ralph's World and Lisa Loeb will be performing at the Echoplex on Saturday at 11 am. If you haven't heard any of Ralph's World's songs, go to his website right now. He is a very cool kid's musician and his music is fun for adults to listen to, too! Lisa Loeb joins him for this not-to-be-missed concert.

Hey, man! Another amazing concert happening this Saturday at 10:30 am at Club Nokia, LA Live is a Reggae concert starring Ziggy Marley. It is a family concert featuring music from his latest album Ziggy Marley Family Time so children are encouraged to attend.

If you just can't get enough music this weekend, check out the LA Acoustic Music Festival at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm. Check out the website for a list of scheduled performers. This festival benefits the California Acoustic Music Project which is a non-profit organization "whose mission is to provide California School children the benefit of music education every day."

Want to make a difference for children fighting life-threatening illnesses? Join the Second Annual Walk for Wishes benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation at the AT&T Center downtown on Saturday. The two-mile walk starts at 9 am. You can register now by going to their website or do walk up registration.

The 2009 Leimert Park Village Book Fair is also on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. This book fair, which was started to encourage literacy in Los Angeles, will features many different children's book authors. There will be food samplings made by celebrity chefs in the organic farmer's market. Face painting, clowns, a crafts pavilion and a magician will all be featured in the Children's Village.  In addition, Scribble Press from the Westside Pavilion will offer an opportunity for youth to write, create, and publish their own books on the spot.

This may sound unusual to visit the open house of the bureau of sanitation but at the same time, when would you have the opportunity to go? This Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm, visit the South Los Angeles District Yard for truck demonstration and tours, free food and games, 15 gallon citrus tree adoptions and free mulch. What a great way to teach children about recycling!

Japanese American National Museum will be hosting, Beat The June Gloom: a hands on family cooking class this Saturday at 11 am. It is an interactive family cooking class of simple summertime treats the whole family can enjoy. $25 per parent/child pair for members and $35 per parent/child pair for non-members. Be sure to reserve your spot by calling the museum.

The Zimmer Museum is hosting Family fun day on Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm. Passport to the World: Greece is the theme this week. You and your children will explore the art and culture of Greece.

It is story time at Southwest Museum of American Indian on Sunday from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. Two beautifully illustrated Navajo stories, The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter, illustrated by Julia Miner and Turquoise Boy, written and adapted by Terri Cohlene and illustrated by Charles Reasoner will be read followed by a hands-on, docent-led activity.  Read more...

Community Classes: Great Alternative to Expensive Enrichment Classes

by Susan Choi

March 31, 2009

Has the economy has affected your family personally? Maybe you or your spouse have not lost your job but still need to cut back spending. As parents, it is hard to force our children to make sacrifices when it comes to their education, especially when they love art or gym. Never fear, your local community recreation classes are here! I was looking into classes for my kids but I thought it would be good information to share. We took a couple art classes and a gym class through both the Mar Vista recreation center and the Santa Monica community class program. There are obvious differences between the professional classes and the community classes such as facilities and supplies. However, the prices are hard to beat. If you are looking to cut costs but still want to provide great classes to your kids, consider looking into your local programs. All of the following community classes have online registration and are already taking registration for the Spring classes. Don't miss out!

Santa Monica--Classes are held at the local parks around Santa Monica and range from soccer camps to art classes. They also have a princess dance class and preschool programs as well.

Mar Vista--Classes are generally held at the Mar Vista Recreation Center and range from jewelry making to inline skating classes. They also have parent & me classes as well as soccer and basketball leagues.

Cheviot Hills--Classes are generally held at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center and range from Chinese classes to cooking classes. They also have toddler programs and host great vacation camps.

Culver City--Classes are generally held at the local parks around Culver City and range from Taekwondo to piano lessons. They also have interesting cultural dances for adults and an ongoing preschool program.

So what if the classes are not held in a world class facility or the art classes uses way too much glitter? Your kids will love the classes and your wallet will too!


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Weekend Warrior: Last Weekend of March and Special VIP Event at Pottery Barn Kids at the Grove

by Susan Choi

March 26, 2009

It is hard to believe the end of the month is already here. There are a lot of activities this weekend, and it is supposed to be perfect weather, so go out and enjoy!

Japanese American National Museum will be hosting the Spring Rolls into JANM event this Saturday at 11 am! It is an interactive family cooking class of assorted Asian food, including, what else, spring rolls! $25 per parent/child pair for members and $35 per parent/child pair for non-members. Be sure to reserve your spot by calling the museum.

Rhythm Child will be beating their drums at Descanso Gardens this Saturday at 1 pm. If you haven't experienced Rhythm Child yet, what better place than the beautiful venue of Descanso Gardens?

Discover Japanese culture with the family festival at the Getty Center this Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. There will be interactive art workshops, puppet shows, craft demonstrations, and Taiko drum playing. Admission to the Getty Center and the festival are both free!

Kathleen Zundell will be continuing the Saturday Storytelling Series at Children's Book World this Saturday at 10:30 am. With her puppet pal, Philbert, Kathleen engages children with silly jokes, tales, and poems. Free to the public.

Swazzle Puppets will be performing at the Mark Taper Auditorium this Saturday at 2 pm. A cheerful troupe of imaginative woodland creatures will be telling Forest Fables, which is based on Aesop's fables and classic fairy tales.

Debi Derryberry will be performing Passover Musical Happening at the Jewish Community Library of LA on Sunday from 3 pm to 4 pm. She is the voice of Jimmy Neutron and a kid's favorite for musical performers.

Create your own mini kite during family playhouse time at the Autry National Center on Sunday from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.

Randy Kaplan will be performing at McCabe's in Santa Monica on Sunday at 11 am. Randy Kaplan sings songs that blend folk, alternative, American roots and pop in a wildly unpredictable show. Tickets are $8.

The Skirball Cultural Center is hosting a Family Weekend Workshop . The theme this Sunday at both 10 am and 1 pm is the Garden of Sand, Stone, and Sprigs.  In honor of the Jewish holiday Passover, create and take home your own Zen garden with sand, stones and herbs. Tickets are $15 per parent/child pair for members and $25 per parent/child pair for non-members. Tickets also include admission to Noah's Ark exhibit.

And finally, this Sunday from 8:30 pm to 10 pm, there is a VIP event at the Pottery Barn Kids at the Grove, and Savvy readers are invited! You will be receiving 10% off any purchase (even furniture!) and refreshments will be served.

Inauguration Day: Yes You Can Enjoy this Day with your child

by Susan Choi

January 20, 2009

This past election, my older daughter was asking a lot of questions. I won't tell you whom she would have voted for if she was old enough, but it is funny to me that she had a firm opinion about the up-for-grabs presidency post. With the inauguration underway today, this past Sunday's NBC Dateline special on Michelle Obama caught my daughter's attention, and my husband was forced to forego  Read more...

Looking back at 2008

by Susan Choi

December 30, 2008

What an amazing year it has been at Savvy Source West LA! The site officially launched in May with Nina Moon and she filled the treasure troves with tons of toddler-friendly times. Savvy source West LA has advice on what to do with your kiddies during sunny days , rainy days , weekend days , and special days . Interested in art ? music ? books ? No problem. We've got it covered. Want  Read more...

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

by Nina Moon

September 23, 2008

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...

Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center

by Nina Moon

September 15, 2008

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...

Sweet Ways to Cool Off

by Nina Moon

August 26, 2008

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  Read more...

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

by Nina Moon

August 13, 2008

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  Read more...

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

by Nina Moon

July 21, 2008

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...

Little Gourmet: Culver City Farmer's Market

by Nina Moon

June 25, 2008

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  Read more...