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

Weekend Warrior: Museum Concerts for Kids

by Susan Choi

August 13, 2009

Many of the local museums are hosting special kids programs for the summer. Take advantage as the summer draws to a close (already!?!).

The Skirball Cultural Center is hosting Rhymin' Reason on Saturday at 12 noon and 2 pm. Two science and nature-loving teachers write and sing fun songs about everything from bugs to the stars in the sky. On Sunday at 12 noon and 2 pm, Kutturan Chamoru perform Authentic Micronesian Chamoru dance.

The Getty Museum is hosting a Garden Concert for Kids Series on Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm. This week's performers are Recess Monkey--three Seattle-based elementary school teachers who write songs from their experiences in the classrooms. Their music evokes the sounds of the Beatles but with children's themes.

Celebrate summer at the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday starting at 11 am with the 11th annual Summer Festival on the Courtyard: Kaeru's Carnival. Enjoy this free event with face painting, Taiko drums, obon dancing, and arts and crafts. There will also be a BBQ lunch available to purchase--proceeds go to supporting the museum's programs.

Family Saturdays at the Ford Theatre continues on Saturdays at 10 am and runs through the end of this month. This year's theme is Big!World!Fun! Celtic Spring will be performing An Earthquake of Irish Dance. Celtic Spring is a family who plays the fiddle and does Irish step-dancing, musically backed by the parents. They were finalists of the TV show America's Got Talent. Children are free but reservations must be made for them. Adults are $5. This week's science-based preshow activity is to be announced. Workshop begins at 9 am before the show, so get there early!

The monthly series called Drum Downtown continues at the Music Center. Come this Saturday from 10 am to 11:30 am and enjoy this free event (first come, first served). Hand drums, shakers, tambourines, and other percussion instruments will be provided for you and your children to rock out.

Ilen Cohen and her puppet Woody will be continuing the Saturday Storytelling Series at Children's Book World this Saturday at 10:30 am.

The Zimmer Museum is hosting Family fun day on Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm. Today's craft will be making a Muñecas quitapenas, or Guatemalan worry dolls, which help children forget their troubles and fall asleep.

Levitt Pavilion at MacArthur Park is hosting a free summer concert series. It is a casual, open-lawn venue where you can pack a picnic dinner and enjoy an outdoor concert that is family friendly and free! Target is hosting the Children's Night concert series on Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm. This Sunday, it is Choo Choo Soul from Playhouse Disney. Genevieve the Conductor will take your family on a tour of fun songs along with beatboxing and breakdancing by cool kid DC.

Why Westside Pavilion is My Second Home

by Susan Choi

August 04, 2009

If I am not at home or on the road, chances are, I am at Westside Pavilion Mall. This mall has everything you could possible need and a lot of fun activities for kids. The location is ideal and it really has it all. Here are some of my favorite stores and some events you may not have known about before.

Kids Club--The first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm, Westside Pavilion hosts a free kids program called Kids Club on the third floor food court area. Every month, they invite a different entertainer such as a balloon artist or marionette puppeteer. Also, at 5:30 pm, Music, Stars, and Masters performs a pre-show for the children. Check it out tomorrow (August 5th)!

Music, Stars and Masters--As I posted before, I love them. Everyone there is so cool, and all my kids adore their classes (semi-private piano lessons, Rock Stars, and Music 'n' me). If you are considering an enrichment class for your child, call Music, Stars and Masters for a free trial class.

Three Cheeky Monkeys--Just a couple doors down from the music classes is my favorite toy store. They recently moved to this expanded space and now have twice the fun for your little one. They have toys out for your kids to play with while you check out their selection. They carry a lot of the classic redux toys, wooden toys, non-battery operated, creativity encouraged toys. Everything is reasonably priced and they gift-wrap fror free. Through the month of August, they will have free face painting available on Sunday afternoons.

School Cents--Westside Pavilion participates in a Shopping Partnership program that rewards schools monetary prizes. This year $25,500 was donated to thirty local schools through this program. Isn't it nice to support organizations with a social conscience?

With the great food court, children's play area (which I affectionately call "the fruit pit"), and many children's clothing stores, Westside Pavilion is a great resource for parents. More reasons to go out and help stimulate the economy!







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Weekend Warrior: Last Weekend of July

by Susan Choi

July 23, 2009

There is so much to do this weekend around the LA area, so let's get right to it...

Family Saturdays at the Ford Theatre has begun this month at 10 am and runs through the end of August. This year's theme is Big!World!Fun! This week's performers are the Masanga Marimba. This ensemble music group performs music from Latin America and Africa on Zimbabwean marimbas. Children are free but reservations must be made for them. Adults are $5. This week's preshow activity is entitled, Junior Scientist Workshop--Air: Butterfly and Bugs. Your child can draw different wings of bugs based on the many specimens that will be available for viewing. Workshop begins at 9 am before the show, so get there early!

The Santa Monica Playhouse is hosting a Cinderella Gala Grand Masquerade Ball on Saturday at 6:30 pm. Come dressed up in costumes (or your own idea of grand ball attire), and prepare to be royally entertained! With dinner, dancing with a prince, face painting and more, this is sure to be an evening your little prince or princess will not forget. Proceeds from this evening the Santa Monica Playhouse Diversity-in-Education Family Theatre Program.

On Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is hosting Sizzlin' Summer Sandcastle Day. Bring your own supplies and help your kids build something fun in the sand.

The Wiggles Go Bananas at the Gibson Amphitheatre this Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm and 5 pm. Kids of all ages love the Wiggles and seeing them live is a real treat!

Ellen Switkes will be continuing the Saturday Storytelling Series at Children's Book World this Saturday at 10:30 am.

The Skirball Cultural Center is hosting Contra-Tiempo on Saturday at 12 noon and 2 pm. The urban Latino dance theater troupe performs salsa-inspired dances. On Sunday at 12 noon and 2 pm, you can listen to the Karen Golden tell stories from around the world, accompanied by her saxophone.

The Skirball is also hosting a family event called The Science of Super Heroes on Sunday at 10 am and 1 pm. Join the Scarlet Scientist and investigate the secrets behind some of comic books' greatest heroes! Through hands-on experiments, expose the truth behind various super powers such as flight, x-ray vision, and lightning speed. Tickets to this event also grants you entrance to Noah's Ark.

Levitt Pavilion at MacArthur Park is hosting a free summer concert series. It is a casual, open-lawn venue where you can pack a picnic dinner and enjoy an outdoor concert that is family friendly and free! Target is hosting the Children's Night concert series on Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm. This Sunday, it is youth talent night. Youth from Westlake and surrounding communities will be the stars.

The Fowler Museum at UCLA is hosting a Kids in the Courtyard art session on Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Make a kangaroo mask and then compete in a leaping contest! The Summer Sunset concert featuring Dave's Aussie Bush Band begins at 4 pm. The native Australian music group will perform folk and pop songs from Down Under.

The Zimmer Museum is hosting Family fun day on Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm. Today's theme will be Korean kites.

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Weekend Warrior: Last Week of April and a Pat on My Back

by Susan Choi

April 23, 2009

I feel like I say this every month but I can't believe it is already the end of the month! April flew by and May is around the corner. For many students, May is the last month of school! Yikes! Already? Do you have your summer plans set yet? If not, check out the Camps and Classes section of the main Savvy Source site. I'll share a few favorites on Tuesday. Until then, there are some fun activities available this weekend--many of them are free to the public!

Is your daughter a Fancy Nancy fan? Then RSVP for a special Storyopolis and the Geffen Playhouse event featuring Robin Press Glasser, the illustrator of the Fancy Nancy books. She will be presenting her new book Tea for Ruby, which was written by Sarah Ferguson, the dutchess of York. This free event is on Saturday at 11 am. Advance RSVP is required by emailing education (at) geffenplayhouse (dot) com. Please indicate the number of people in your party.

On Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, the Los Angeles Times is hosting their annual Festival of Books at UCLA. This event features authors and musicians, and has something for everyone, regardless of your subject preference or age. This event is free but tickets are required for indoor panel and speaker sessions (available through ticketmaster.com).

Taiko Center of LA will be performing at the Mark Taper Auditorium on Saturday at 2 pm. The mission of the Taiko Center of LA is to preserve this Japanese art form of drumming. Therefore performances are often free to the public, and participation in classes and workshops is welcomed.

Pillow Theatre at the LA Music Center is hosting another free event for preschoolers. This month's performance is ZunZun, musical theatre duo Stephen Snyder and Gwynne Cropsey, blend a variety of folkloric instruments, storytelling and comedy to celebrate the vast array of sights, sounds, stories and songs of the endangered rain forests of the Americas. The Rain Forest Sings (La Selva Canta) is a musical journey filled with songs about monkeys, snakes, jaguars, the rainforest canopy, and an orchestra of birds performed in Spanish, English and Portuguese. Performances are at 10 am and 11 am. This event is free but tickets are required. The box office will be open one hour prior to each performance.

The Murad Inclusive Health Center and Spa invites all new, seasoned and expecting moms to enjoy a day filled with treats and tips for moms and moms-to-be. On Saturday from 12 noon to 4 pm, Murad's team of experts will provide guests with the most up-to-date tips and trends in diet, nutrition and acupuncture. Indulge in Mama Mio and Mineral Essence products and free makeovers and receive a complimentary Murad gift product for scheduling a Murad signature treatment. Attendees will enjoy a free 30 minute yoga class, receive Murad Skin evaluations and be pampered! No cost to attend, just RSVP.

At the Skirball Cultural Center on Sunday at 10 am, create your very own 3D superhero figure to take home. After drawing inspiration from the galleries, head over to the art studio and use clay, glue, fabric, and other special materials. Fee includes admission to workshop and Noah's Ark: $25 Child-Adult Pair; $15 Member Child-Adult Pair; $5 per additional Adult or Child. Entrance to Noah's Ark at 10 am and studio art workshop begins at 11:30 am.

This weekend, there are two really important walks you can participate in:
March for Babies is sponsored by March of Dimes. It will be held at Exposition Park on Saturday at 8 am (registration at 7 am).
Children's Cancer Research Fund is sponsoring a Kids 4 Kids 5K Run/Walk in Century City on Sunday at 10 am (registration at 8 am).
Please click on the respective links for more information and to register.

Not to toot my own horn but GoCityKids-LA added West LA Savvy Source as an exceptional local blog site for parents. If you like us too, go on their site to get more information on other events going on throughout the week, and give us a rating and review (subliminal text: five stars, best local blog). Thanks!

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.

Weekend Warrior: The First Weekend of March

by Susan Choi

March 05, 2009

When I collect the weekend activities for our Savvy readers, I try to stay within a 10 mile radius. There is so much to do in our neck of the woods that I don't feel it is necessary to venture out further. However, this time, I am including a few more activities a little further away because they seem worthwhile (Debi Derryberry, whale-watching and tide pools, anyone?).

There are a lot of beach related activities this weekend. Unfortunately, rain is in the forecast for the weekend. But if the weather holds out, check out the following:

Every first Saturday of March marks the annual "Whale of a Day" event held at Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes. This festival celebrates the migration of Pacific Gray whales. The event is free to the public and features many activities for children including crafts and face painting. There will also be food and gift vendors. Hopefully, you will also catch a glimpse of the migrating whales too! From 10 am to 4 pm.

Want to teach your children about volunteering and caring for the earth? Join the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on their Native Garden Workday/Beach Cleanup day from 8 am to 10 am on Saturday. You and your kids will work with the staff and other volunteers to help maintain the Cabrillo Coastal Native Plant Garden as well as help clean up the beach. Registration is required by today (Thursday). Can't make it this Saturday? Join them any first Saturday of the month.

Also at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on Sunday is the Weekend Tide Pool Walk . March is the last month to take part in this free activity. Expose your kids to sea anemones, sea stars, crabs and tide pool fishes. Just be sure to wear warm clothes and shoes with good traction.

If it does rain, here are some other indoor activities:

Wow! Massages for parents, and princess dress-up, face painting and food, while being serenaded by Debi Derryberry? Sounds awesome! Come check out the Royal Dance Party show at the Stardancers Horizon in Glendale from 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

LA Doll-maker Dorothy Elliott-Taylor will be visiting the Craft and Folk Art Museum on Saturday between 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm to demonstrate how to make a fashionable paper doll . Simple stitching and sewing may be involved, so be prepared to help out your kids. Reservations are required and it is $6 per child.

LA storyteller Karen Golden helps you get into the Purim spirit at the Jewish Community Library of LA on Sunday from 3 pm to 4 pm. This event is free.  Read more...

New Books for the New Year and how to get them cheaper

by Susan Choi

January 06, 2009

Though I am always sad to hear about a bookstore closing, I thought I would pass along the information to you. The Borders on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is closing on 1/10/09. Forty percent off (almost) all items in the store. While you are there, look for the following books which are appropriately themed for the new year. A New Beginning by Wendy Pfeffer .  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...

Children's Book World -- Why I want to live there

by Nina Moon

August 07, 2008

No, really. I want to live in this bookshop, lie down on the carpet and inhale that musty new book smell in my sleep. Children's Book World , located on Pico Boulevard just a hop, skip and jump away from Westside Pavilion, is unassuming enough. In fact, I passed by it probably 100 times before even noticing it was there. No matter, I've found it now. After parking in the back lot (there's  Read more...

Weekend Warriors - Sandcastle edition

by Nina Moon

July 25, 2008

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...

Weekend Warriors - Disco anyone?

by Nina Moon

July 18, 2008

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...

Weekend Warriors

by Nina Moon

July 11, 2008

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  Read more...

5 Book Nooks for Tots

by Nina Moon

May 22, 2008

Some parents want to pass on to their children a love of music. Others long for their children to appreciate art. Others hope their children will love to cook. For me, it's literature. I want my children to delve enthusiastically into an afternoon spent reading, to get lost in an imaginary world (even to mourn a bit when it's over on the last page), to relish the smell of a new book. So  Read more...