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4th of July Fireworks

Jul 2nd, 10 / 3 Comments
4th-of-july-fireworks

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, more so than Thanksgiving or Christmas around.

Thanksgiving always gave me a stomach ache since  I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted and would end up in bed unable to move because of the pain from eating all day.

Christmas was ruled out for a different reason.  My family never really managed to spend a single Christmas together. Someone was always missing so it was a bitter-sweet holiday for me.

But the 4th of July was different. My dad would come home that day with an incredibly big box of fireworks and bags of food for the barbecue.  The whole day was spent listening to music, smelling the charcoal from the fire and waiting for the great tasting food.  But the best part of the day was saved for last: fireworks!  Once it was dark enough everyone in my family would go out to the street and watch as the adults put on a show for all the kids.

As an adult, I still enjoy the 4th of July, but it’s not the same now that my dad is not around -don’t panic or feel sad.   He is still alive, but has retired and moved out of the country – We still barbecue at the house, but now we go to a professional fireworks show at different locations every year. This has become our new family tradition.

So if you are looking for something to do with your whole family, going to a fireworks show would be a great way to build your own family tradition.

Here is a listing you can use, thanks to the Safe July 4th Coalition:

July 2

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000
July 3

Avalon/Catalina
Isthmus Cove – Barge
Avalon
9:00 p.m.

Carson
Home Depot Center
Chivas USA vs. Philadelphia Union Soccer Match
18400 Avalon Blvd.
Carson
Game at 7:30, Post game fireworks

Cudahy
Cudahy Park
5220 Santa Ana St. (Field that backs up to the Riverbed)
9:00 p.m.

Hawaiian Gardens
Pharis Fedde Middle School
21409 Elaine Ave. (Pioneer & 215th St.)
9:00 p.m.

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000

Irwindale
Irwindale Speedway
13300 Live Oak Ave.
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

La Mirada
La Mirada High School (Soccer Field)
13520 Adelfa Ave.
9:00 p.m.

La Puente
La Puente Park
501 N. Glendora Ave.
9:00 p.m.

Lawndale
Luezinger High School, Field
41118 W. Rosecrans Ave.
Lawndale, CA (Prairie/Rosecrans)
9:00 p.m.

Long Beach
The Queen Mary
1126 Queen’s Highway

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of music, activities, BBQ and more aboard the world-famous Queen Mary. Commemorate independence day with a gigantic firework display at 9:00 p.m. with the best view in the city.

Tickets include admission to the event, access to the ship and a spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $24.95/adult, $12.95/child (5-11), $21.95 for military/seniors.
Buy tickets online, call (877) 342-0738, or purchase on the day of the event.
Buy tickets for Saturday July 3rd or Sunday July 4th.

Norwalk
Cerritos College
11110 E. Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk
9:00 p.m.

Norwalk
North City Library – Parking Lot
12350 Imperial Highway
9:00 p.m.

Palmdale
Marie Kerr Park
2723 Rancho Vista Rd.
Palmdale
9:10 – 9:45 p.m.

Rosemead
Rosemead High School, Football Field
9200 Mission Dr.
Rosemead
9:00 p.m.

South El Monte
Shively Park
1105 Santa Anita Ave.(Fawcett Ave & Santa Anita).
South El Monte, CA
9:00 p.m.

July 4

Alhambra
Almansor Park
800 S. Almansor St.

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
See the show from anywhere in the park. Limited parking, so arrive early.
Bring your own picnic or purchase food from various Youth Group Food Vendors.

Artesia
Artesia Community Park
12000 block of South Street / Elaine
Admission is free
9:00 p.m.

Baldwin Park
Sierra Vista High School
3600 Frazier Ave. (Field behind bleachers)
9:00 p.m.

Burbank
Starlight Bowl
1249 Lockheed View Drive

The Starlight Bowl’s 2010 Summer Concert Season begins with a “Salute to the Soul of America.” Enjoy an exciting evening of music and patriotism culminating in a spectacular aerial fireworks finale as the sights and sounds of Liberty ring out at the Bowl this 4th of July!
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Entertainment from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Fireworks – 9:00 p.m

Carson
Home Depot Center
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders Soccer Match
18400 Avalon Blvd.
Carson
Game at 7:30, Post game fireworks

Calabasas
Calabasas High School
22855 W. Mulholland Hwy.
9:00 p.m.

Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake Recreation Area (Lower Lake)
32132 Castaic Lake
9:00 p.m.

Cerritos
Cerritos High School
12500 E. 183rd Street
9:00 p.m.

Claremont
Pomona College (Hammer Throw Field)
6th Street / N. Mills
9:00 p.m.

Commerce
Rosewood Park (Parking lot of Youth Center)
2535 Commerce Way
9:00 p.m.

Culver City
4401 Elenda Street
Annual 4th of July fireworks show at Culver City High School.

Gates open at 5PM, entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m., and the fireworks start at 9:00 p.m.
Suggested Donation is $2.00 per person.  Bring a picnic or enjoy food from snack bar and vendors.
Parking is available in nearby lots for $5 per car. Enter those lots off of Braddock Dr. at Huron Ave., two blocks east of Sepulveda Blvd.

Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar High School – Baseball Field
21400 E. Pathfinder Rd. (Pathfinder & Brea Canyon)
9:00 p.m.

Downey
Downey High School
10410 Brookshire (Brookshire and Firestone)
5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Food and Family Fun
9:00 p.m. 25-minute Fireworks Show

Gardena
Rowley Park (Baseball Field)
13220 S. Van Ness Ave.
9:00 p.m.

Hansen Dam
11770 Foothill Blvd.
Lake View Terrace

4th of July Celebration at Hansen Dam is in its 16th year and is a free fun- filled family oriented event which includes food, music, games, rides, prizes and other entertainment, which culminates with one of the most dramatic fireworks displays in the area.
Saturday, July 3rd 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, July 4th 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Hollywood
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular with special guest Vince Gill
Friday, July 2, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
323.850.2000

Huntington Beach
City Beach (between Main & Beach Blvd.)

$10 tickets on pier seating (hb4thofjuly.org for tickets)
Free on beach (better view, we think)
Hotels to watch fireworks – Shorebreak, Hilton, Hyatt beach front rooms
9:00 p.m.

Huntington Park
Salt Lake Park (Northwest Soccer Field)
3401 E. Florence Blvd.
9:00 p.m.

La Crescenta
Crescenta Valley High School
2900 Community Ave.

Entrance is via La Crescenta Elementary
Tickets are $5 each; children under 2 get in for free.
9:00 p.m.

La Habra
La Habra High School (Baseball Field)
801 Highlander
9:00 p.m.

Lancaster
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
2551 West Ave H

Celebrate the 4th of July with the entire family at the FREE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR here at the A.V. Fairgrounds.
6:00 p.m. – Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division – $25 admission
7:00 p.m. – Entertainment in grass area outside Grandstands
8:00 p.m. – Grandstands open for FREE ADMISSION to Fireworks
8:15 p.m. – Rural Olympics Event – Gravel truck & trailer backing, a tractor race, an antique car potato race, and a first-time event: The World’s Strongest Farmhand!
9:00 p.m. – Fireworks

Entertainment at The Cantina following the fireworks show.

Grandstand seating is available on a first come first serve basis. Or, you can bring chairs and blankets to sit on the grass. There will be plenty of food and parking is FREE!

Lancaster
Lancaster Municipal Stadium
2401 W. Avenue I
Lancaster
9:00 p.m.

Lynwood
Lynwood City Park (Baseball Fields)
Bullis Rd./Century Blvd.
9:00 p.m.

Long Beach
The Queen Mary
1126 Queen’s Highway

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of music, activities, BBQ and more aboard the world-famous Queen Mary. Commemorate independence day with a gigantic firework display at 9:00 p.m. with the best view in the city.

Tickets include admission to the event, access to the ship and a spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $24.95/adult, $12.95/child (5-11), $21.95 for military/seniors.
Buy tickets online, call (877) 342-0738, or purchase on the day of the event.
Buy tickets for Saturday July 3rd or Sunday July 4th.

Lynwood

Lynwood City Park
Baseball Field
11301 Bullis Rd.
9:00 p.m.

Marina Del Rey
Barge in the main channel between Fisherman’s Village and the Breakwater (the ocean entrance to the harbor).
Popular locations to watch include:
Fisherman’s Village – 13755 Fiji Way (2 blocks west of Lincoln Blvd.)
Burton Chace Park – 13650 Mindanao Way (1 block west of Admiralty)
Marina Beach (Mother’s Beach) – 4101 Admiralty Way (1 block south of Washington Blvd.)
9:00 p.m.

Norwalk
Cerritos College
11110 E. Alondra Blvd.
Norwalk
9:00 p.m.

Pacific Palisades
Palisades Charter High School
15777 Bowdoin Street
July 4th
Entertainment 6:30 p.m.
Fireworks 9:00 p.m.

Pasadena
Rose Bowl
“Americafest 2010″

The Biggest and Best Fireworks Show in Southern California
Celebrate America with Music, Food and Fireworks
Full Day of Safe and Affordable Family Fun,
Food and Entertainment
Drum Corps International Presents five
World Class Unit Performances
2:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Tickets $13
Children 7 & under FREE
Active Military with ID FREE

Pico Rivera
Meller Elementary School (West grass area)
6016 Rosemead Blvd.
Pomona

Pomona
Pomona Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley
Pomona

It’s the 24th annual fireworks spectacular at Fairplex. Monster trucks and motoX extreme get the crowd cheering and the stupendous fireworks are the grand finale.
Monster Truck and Big Air Free style Motocross 8 p.m.
Fireworks Spectacular 9:15 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

Tickets are available at the kiosk at Fairplex Green Gate (located at Gate 1 on McKinley Avenue) beginning Monday, May 10 –July 4 (or until sold out) or online. Green Gate box office will be open weekdays noon-7 p.m., starting June 28-July 2.  Hours Saturday & Sunday, June 26 & 27, July 3-4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Reserved Box Seats $19.50
Trackside Bleachers $17.50
General Seating $14.00
Free, ages 2 and younger
PARKING Gate 17 on Fairplex Dr.
General Parking $9
Preferred Parking $12
*ACTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Porter Ranch
Shepherd of the Hills Church
“4th of July Spectacular”
19700 Rinaldi Street
Porter Ranch

This FREE festival and fireworks show at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter
Ranch includes moon bounces and face painting for the children, an outdoor stage
show as well as optional food purchases from over a dozen local food vendors.
The evening will conclude with a twenty-one minute aerial fireworks display,
presented by Pyro Spectaculars by Souza at 9:15 pm.
When: July 4, 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm, Gates open at 4:30
Cost: Free
Parking: Free

Redondo Beach
Seaside Lagoon
200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach

Gates open at 2:00, Fireworks at 9:00 p.m.
Kids 4th Annual Freedom Parade at 7:00, Live Entertainment until 10:00 p.m.

San Fernando
San Fernando Recreation Park
208 Park Avenue, (4th Street and Park)
Highlights of this year’s event include:

Old Memories SFV Classic Car Show
Classic Cars will be on display beginning at 10:00 a.m. Competition will be for City’s Choice and various categories. The Trophy Ceremony will be at 2:00 p.m.

Live Entertainment
Headliner The Brotherhood will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. The high energy band specializes in Rhythm and Blues, Latin Rock, and Old School. Other performances include regional Mexican folkdances by Ballet Folklorico Juvenil Ollin and a guest appearance by the City’s acclaimed Mariachi Master Apprentice Program

Fireworks Finale
Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:00 p.m. Entitled America The Beautiful, this year’s pyromusical will be orchestrated in English and Spanish using aerial and close proximity fireworks.
The event will also include vendors, games, face painting, and of course plenty of delicious food.

Admission is free and open to all ages. Arrive early to ensure the best seating for a fun-filled day of entertainment, food and fireworks. This is a family event – alcohol and smoking is prohibited. For more information, contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (818) 898-1290.

Santa Clarita
Valencia Town Center, Top of market Parking Structure
26735 Circle Drive, Santa Clarita (Citrus Dr/Magic Mtn. Pkwy)
9:15

South Gate
South Gate Park
Corner of Pinehurst and Tweedy
9:00 p.m.

Santa Clarita
Valencia Town Center
Off top of parking structure
26735 Circle Drive
9:15 p.m.

South Gate
South Gate Park
Corner of Pinehurst and Tweedy
9:00 p.m.

Studio City
CBS Studio Center
Grand Ole 4th of July Fireworks Festival
4024 Radford Ave., Studio City

On the Main Stage
Shel
Cody Bryant

In the VIP Room
Jaron and the Long Road to Love

Blacksheep
Exhibition Squadron

Kids Fun Zone

All-American Smokehouse BBQ

Business & Green Expo

To purchase tickets, see info below:

Online ticket orders will be taken until noon on July 3rd. Rooftop wristbands allow guests to see the fireworks display from the roof. These special tickets are limited and will be sold on a first come, first served basis
General Admission Adult: $15 ea.
Please note that General Admission prices go up on day of event ($20 for adults and $10 for children) and rooftop wristbands may be sold out by day of event.
Website

Torrance
Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd.
30th Annual Old Fashion 4th of July Celebration
Starts at 11:00 a.m.
Fireworks at 9:00 p.m.

Torrance
Barge off Coast of Torrance Beach
Palos Verdes and Via Rivera.
9:00 p.m.

Walnut
Walnut High School
South end of Baseball Field
21207 La Puente Road
9:00 p.m.

Woodland Hills
Warner Park
5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Entertainment starts at 6 p.m.
Fireworks at 9 p.m.

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Top 10 Summer Splashes

Jun 28th, 10 / 0 Comments
top-10-summer-splashes

Top 10 Summer Splashes

One of my fondest childhood summer memories was spending Friday afternoons at my Grammie and Pop’s pool.  My younger brother and I would spend hours sitting on the pool steps giggling as we splashed each other with water or held competitions to see who could blow the best bubbles (“car washes,” as well called it) with our faces in the water.  Back then, and even now, the pool functions as one of those “must-go-to” summer spots.  The atmosphere of water, grass, families, and laughter couldn’t be better place for family gatherings. I’ve put together a list of 10 pools where I think you as a family will enjoy spending a day, afternoon, or even just a couple hours.

1. Banning Pool

1450 N. Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744

Contact: 310-548-7420, banning.pool@lacity.org

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays, 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

2. Hansen Dam Aquatic Center

11798 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Contact: 818-899-3779

Hours:  Weekdays and weekends 10am-7pm, waterslide hours 11am-6pm

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

3. Santa Monica Swim Center

2225 16th St. Santa Monica, CA 90405

Contact: 310-458-8700

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Weekends 10:00am-7pm

Cost: Resident Child-$1.00, Adult-$2.50, Non-Resident Child-$2.00, Adult-$5

Other: Outdoor, 2 pools, Pool Temperature 80F

4. Hubert H. Humphrey Pool

12560 Filmore St. Pacoima, CA 91331

Contact: 818-896-0067

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Waterslide at pool

5. John C. Aruge Expo Center

3990S. Menlo Ave, Los Agneles, CA 90037

Contact: 213-763-0129

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Lap and shallow wading pools

6. Algin Sutton Pool

8800 S. Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90044

Contact: 323-789-2826

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

7. Peck Park Pool

560 N. Western Ave, San Pedro, CA 90732

Contact: 310-548-2434

Hours: Monday-Friday: 3:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

8. Griffith Park Pool

3401 Riverside Dr. Los Angeles, Ca 90027

Contact: 323-644-6878

Hours: 11am-6pm on weekdays and 1:00pm-5pm on weekends

Cost: FREE for youth under 17, $2.50 for adults, or $2.00 for adults showing a library card.

Other: Outdoor pool as well as other activities available within Griffith Park.

9. Rosebowl Aquatics

360 N Arroyo Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 91103
Contact: (626) 564-0330
Hours for Recreational and Family Swim: Tues-Fri 12-2pm, Mon.-Fri evenings 7:30pm-8:30pm, Weekends 2pm-4:30pm

Cost for Non-Member Day Use: Adult (18 & over) 2$, Children (17 & under) $1.00

10. Westwood Recreation Center

1350 Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025

Contact: 310-478-7019

Hours: Mon-Thurs. 8:00am-10:00pm, Fri. 8:30am-9:30pm, Sat. 8:30am-6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am- 5:00pm

Cost: Adults-$1.25, Seniors and Kids FREE

Info: Indoor, 1 pool, temperature 81F year-round

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Top 10 Summer Concerts for the Family

Jun 21st, 10 / 2 Comments
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by Ms. Mayra

When the days get longer, the temperature gets hotter, and the kids finish up school it becomes that time of the year, summer time! Falling back on those old “bag-of-tricks” activities of going to the beach, playing card games, or running through the sprinklers can always provide endless entertainment, but, sometimes you just need a change. Why not become more familiar with the rich cultural diversity that our very own Los Angeles offers?  In order to save you and your family tons of hours sorting through various concert offerings, we have created a “Top 10″ list of concerts around the Los Angeles area that we think would be fun for the whole family. Enjoy!

1.  Summer Season at the Hollywood Bowl

Bring your children to the Hollywood Bowl’s new summer music festival, SummerSounds 2010! Here children can explore aspects of music and engage in rhythm filled performances and workshops that explore aspects of the Los Angeles culture. All events are held at either at 10am and 11:15 am.
When: June through September
Where: 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
Cost: 7$ tickets
Phone: (323) 850-2000,
Website: www.hollywoodbowl.com/education/summersounds/index.cfm

Some events we think you and your children might enjoy are:

Dafra Drum and Dance Company (July 5-16): Discover the rhythms of West Africa as found in our Los Angeles Crenshaw District.
La Santa Cecilia (July 19-30):  Explore the joyful Latin-American fusion that can be found on Olvera Street.
Klezmer Juice ( Aug 2-13): Experience the delightful Yiddish music and dances from our own Fairfax Avenue.

2.  Grand Performances

Grand Performances’ summer series presents world-class, world-renowned artists.
When: June through October
Where: California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Downtown Los Angeles
Cost: FREE
Metro: Red Line to Pershing Square
Info: 213-687-2159
Website: www.grandperformances.org

3. Ford Amphitheater Summer Season

If you and your family feel like being outside on a nice summer night, this is the place to go! The Ford Amphitheatre’s family summer series, Big!World!Fun!, is comprised of eight Saturday hour long music, dance, and theatre performances for children ages 4 to 10.
When: May – October
Where: Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 E. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood
Cost: Children FREE, Adults 5$, Parking 1$
Info: 323-461-3673
Website: http://www.fordamphitheater.org/en/events/category/id/36

Upcoming events:

Troupe Vertigo - Sat. July 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Taiko Project - Sat. July 10, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Wicked Tinkers – Sat. July 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

4.  Twilight Dance and Music

Hawaii, Jamaica, and Africa are just a handful of the locations represented by this summer series concert.  When you’re done with a longs days work and want to relax with your family, go listen to some fun tunes at the rocking boardwalk.

When: Thursdays in late July through August
Where: Santa Monica Pier
Cost: Free
Parking: Valet
Website: http://www.santamonicapier.org/twilight

5. Pershing Square Summer Concert Series

Pershing Square, a unique outdoor city scape venue, offers a season of Friday Night Flicks including movie classics, musicals, sci-fi, and adventure that are fun for the entire family!  For those who love a big bag of popcorn with their movies, popcorn is on the “SQUARE” (free).
When: Friday nights 8:00-10:00pm
Where: Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St. Downtown Los Angeles
Cost: FREE
Info: 1-888-527-2757

Website: http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/events/downtownStage/nightFlicks.html

Upcoming films include:

June 18th - The Princess Bride
June 25th - Babe
July 23rd - Boulevard nights
July 30th - Valley girl

6. Symphony in the Glen

One of the main goals of Symphony in the Glen is to provide excellent classical music performances in an environment that’s welcoming to children and families.  Not only does Symphony In the Glen provide great music to listen to, but they also include parent/child activities that are geared toward focusing the children on the music and performance.

When: Various Dates
Where: Griffith Park
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.symphonyintheglen.org/

Some programs you may like are:

Junior Maestro Conducting Class - Children and parents learn the basics of tempo and conducting an orchestra.
The Great Kazoo Career - Children receive a free Kazoo and a coloring workbook titled Learning About Notes & Rests.
Learning about the Orchestra - Children receive an Introducing The Orchestra coloring workbook and learn to identify members of the different instrumental families and how these instrumental families produce distinctive sounds.
Concert Tips for Parents – Pre-concert children’s programs, good concert manners, restlessness, supervision.

7.  Monday Morning Concerts

An intimate educational setting for children, ages 5-11, consisting of a performance, a brief history lesson on the musical and cultural style being presented, followed by a question-and-answer session with the performers.
When: Monday mornings, June – August 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Where: Madrid Theatre, 21622 Sherman Way., Canoga Park
Cost: FREE
Info: 818-347-9938
Website: www.culturela.org/madridtheatre/

8.  Levitt Pavillion Free Music Under the Stars

The Levitt Pavillion in Pasadena hosts concerts every day, but Wednesday nights are reserved for children! Come enjoy programs that are aimed for you and your kids!
When: Wed. 7 pm Children’s Night
Where: Levitt Pavillion, Memorial Park, 85 E. Holly St, Pasadena, CA
Cost: Free
Metro: Gold Line to Memorial Park
Website: http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/summer-calendar-2010.html

Various programs include:

June 30th - Rhythm child: Rock and roll for kids where they can begin to explore rhythms created in a drum circle.
July 21st - Brian Vogan will share songs from his album, “Little Songs,” which was named one of the best kid CD’s of the decade.
August 4th – Kiddle karoo Goes Green: A musical experience about recycling and keeping the planet clean.

9.  Garden Concerts for Kids at the Getty Center

The summertime tradition of Garden Concerts for Kids returns with a great lineup of kids’ music! This is a free outdoor music series for kids and their families in the Getty Center’s Central Garden featuring some of the best children’s musical artists from across the nation.
When: Saturdays and Sundays 4-5:30, August 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22, 2010
Where: The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Cost: Free
Parking: $15, free after 5 pm, tram to museum
Phone: (310) 440-7300
Website: www.getty.edu,

One performance you shouldn’t miss is the band MilkShake performing on August 7th and 8th at 4pm. Milkshake is a band on a mission: to create great rock music for kids.  Milkshake’s lively attitude and lyrically lighthearted songs have won fans of all ages and will get you dancing with their authentic rock-and-roll spirit.

10.  Sunsets Calabasas Summer Series

The Calabasas Tennis and Swim center has put on concerts that are free to the public for many years. This event is targeted more towards the parents, but kids would enjoy it as well. Join them in relaxing on the grass while enjoying the upbeat, family friendly bands!

When: 6pm, various dates
Where: 23400 Park Sorrento, Calabasas, CA 91302
Cost: Free!
Parking: Free at 23400 Park Sorrento or 23500 Park Sorrento
Info: http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/sunsets.html

Upcoming performances that you may enjoy:

August 1 – Opa Opa, the Latin beats of Opa Opa’s joyful tunes will get your whole body moving!
August 15 – Walk Like a Man, if you love Frankie Valli, the “Four Seasons” or the Tony Award winning Broadway hit “The Jersey Boys” then you’ll love this show!

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Potty or Parent Training?

Jun 17th, 10 / 2 Comments
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by Momanista

I had a good laugh this morning when I learned that June is National Potty Training Awareness Month. Because is there any parent of a toddler UNAWARE of this? Even if you are in no rush on this stage—and I wasn’t—it can feel like the rest of the world has a schedule you aren’t keeping.

The very general rule is to wait until a child is between two and three to even introduce the potty. It just so happened that friends bequeathed us their Elmo potty when my son was about 18 months old, when we were still absorbed with some other milestone. Lacking storage, we parked it in the restroom corner for the future.

Maybe it was because my own Mom used cloth diapers with three kids, but my baby book indicates I was on the throne at 9 months old. I was in no such rush.

Frankly, diapers were easier. Even traveling, my kid loved the plane bathroom changing table and those disposables seemed to hold a gallon of fluid in a pinch. And yet, from the time our kid was 2, someone or other at the playground or park would want to talk about potty training. Have you started? When will you start? Have you tried….?

I mastered the art of smiling while silently making my grocery list.

Around this time, I was bewildered when a co-worker decided that she was done changing diapers. She didn’t like the look of them with the outfits that beckoned from her daughter’s closet. “See this?” she told her 22-month-old, pointing to the half-empty bag of diapers. “When the last one is gone, you’ll have no choice but the potty.”

She told me this with great satisfaction. But I wondered: if potty training is an essential act of independence for a child, why would you take that away from them?

That’s not to say we didn’t start gently nudging at age 3. We checked out the library books on potty training, then the video of the same story. Over the months, my son watched it with fascination and giggles. But he looked at the potty as an amusing piece of furniture on which to thumb through books.

The standing up peeing was easy, made fun by tossing in some Cheerios into the bowl and having him aim at them. Any suggestion from a loved one, we considered, starting with no-demand reading on the throne and heaps of praise.

Then came preschool. It seemed the single reason parent friends tried to accelerate potty training. Despite people telling me it was against the law, plenty of preschools I liked wouldn’t do diapers. (It takes more staff)

And so I witnessed some very crafty, but occasionally harsh, efforts by friends and relatives to get their kid out of diapers. We tried some of what they tried as encouraging motivation:  shopping for big-kid underwear of their choice, wearing them for short periods, pushing fluids then going naked in the backyard over the summer for a few hours and having the potty chair nearby.

These seemed to leave the choice to the kid, yet avoid power struggles. Whereas one friend said her son insisted on ditching diapers at barely two and had constant accidents in car seats, which left Dad screaming and undone. For the same reason, another friend had to replace a couch. Still another followed the guidance that leaving a child in soiled diapers will force them to want out of them and go on the potty.

The most extreme case I heard of, when I was starting to fret, involved a relative who shall remain nameless. Nothing but the best for her sons, whom she wanted to attend a coveted preschool in her town. She had lied and said both were potty trained, fully expecting they would be after six months.  Instead, the weekend before school started, she drew a target on newspaper, which she put on the bathroom floor, and said, go on that and I will give you this large toy truck.

Both boys did it, and I was speechless, proving also that it is possible to be impressed and horrified at once.

By then, my son was waiting for space at the beloved neighborhood preschool, small, affordable, whose owner built a big tree house for her charges. We had four months to liberate from Pampers.

I will confess to attempted bribery:  a prized Thomas the Tank train in return for a deposit. When it was declined, we passed on the preschool, backed off the subject, and waited. A month or two later, the promise of an hour at the toy store train table in return for going commando turned out to be the right time and place.

What you learn with parenting, I think, is that no matter what you are worrying about will pretty much turn out just fine anyway.

And so for National Potty Training Awareness Month, I suggest you retain a sense of humor (this link should help, and my favorite of the useless gadgets is a talking toilet paper roll holder: www.momlogic.com/2008/06/bizzare_potty_training_product.php

And remember the most helpful truth ever told about potty training. It was actually a question: have you ever seen a kindergartner in diapers?

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Parenting

Renee & Jeremy Rock!

May 6th, 10 / 1 Comment
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Renee & Jeremy are parents and veteran singer-songwriters who make music that both parents and children adore. Their debut, “It’s A Big World,” is fast becoming a lullaby classic, and the new record, “C’mon,” seems fit to break the family music genre wide open, with its serious beats, honey sweet hooks and shimmering harmonies.

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Just for Fun

New Moms Encouraged to Breastfeed their Babies

May 6th, 10 / 1 Comment
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EAST LOS ANGELES — New moms at White Memorial Medical Center will get the encouragement and support they need to choose breastfeeding as the healthiest option for their newborns, thanks to a nearly $500,000 grant the hospital received from First 5 LA as part of its Best Start LA-Baby-Friendly Hospitals project.

Study after study shows the benefits of breastfeeding. It helps fight infection, reduces the risk of asthma, childhood obesity, even Leukemia. And yet, a majority of mothers right here in Los Angeles choose not to breastfeed.

Taking care of sick babies is Dr. Robert Tefft’s life’s passion. But as head of the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit at White Memorial Medical Center he knows breastfeeding doesn’t just benefit premature babies, but all babies.

Which is why it frightens him that although 48% of mothers exclusively breastfeed statewide, here in East LA, the number is only 14%. Dr. Tefft says it is a critical health issue for babies in the area.
But the $473,000 grant from First Five LA will help them change that. First educating the nursing staff to encourage breastfeeding, rather than give out free formula. And to help dispel a common myth in the community that bottle feeding is better and easier than breastfeeding.

New mom Mayra Maciel knows the benefits of nursing which is why she says she won’t listen to people who encourage her to give her new baby formula.

She says although her family encourages her to breastfeed many of her friends say it’s better to bottle feed because you can just leave the baby with a bottle, you can make it fast, instead of having to hold the baby for so long and have him on you all the time.

She says she tells them no, that breastfeeding is best. And she says it makes her feel closer to her newborn. Doctor Tefft says that bonding helps both mother and baby immeasurably. He says in the NICU, just the contact with mothers skin makes babies calm down and improves their oxygen levels.

If you want to find out more information, go to www.whitememorial.com

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Breastfeeding

Baby dancing to Beyonce… oh yeah.

May 5th, 10 / 0 Comments
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Just for Fun

Social Media Basics

May 1st, 10 / 0 Comments
social-media-basics

If you are looking to understand what social media is, then I may be able to help . Social media is the term used for different Web sites, or more commonly known as forums, that allow people to share, connect, and build communities.

Social networking, on the other hand, is the actual act of making connections on all the different social media Web sites/forums.

Some of the most popular forms of social media include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, and Tumblr.

But what’s so great about social media and why should you join all the different virtual worlds?  Well, here are some of the advantages: you can get information almost immediately, you can customize that information to fit your needs and interests, and you can connect with people from all over the world!

Think of it this way, if you like cake and your favorite flavor is chocolate, you can join groups that only talk about cakes or only talk about chocolate, or, even better, they only talk about chocolate cake!

Here are two videos that can help you understand this better:

I understand that not all forums will be a good fit for everyone since they all offer different things.  So how do you choose the best social media Web site for you?   Hopefully an explanation of each will help you answer this question.  But when in doubt, don’t be afraid.  Take the plunge and try it out for yourself.  The worst thing that can happen is that you hate it and you end up deleting your account – and that is perfectly fine too!

Facebook
Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, or connect with co-workers.  What is great about Facebook is that you can share and view almost anything, depending on the privacy settings you select (we’ll get to that in a second).  You can share pictures, videos, quotes, or update your friends on almost anything, from what you did last weekend to the story you read in the Times.

Also, you can become a fan of different groups that share the same interests as you, like the Ready. Set. Grow! fan page.

If you are worried about privacy, Facebook has one of the best privacy features when it comes to social media.  Facebook allows you to choose who views what information so that only your family, per say, may be able to see pictures of your kids, or only your colleagues can see your email.

If you are ready for the Facebook world, here is a step-by-step demo on how to sign up for an account.

Twitter
In countries all around the world, people follow the sources most relevant to them and access information via Twitter as it happens—from breaking world news to updates from friends.

Twitter asks one question, “What’s happening?” Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web. This of it as a constant stream of people’s thoughts, ideas, and information.  You can view Ready. Set. Grow!’s Twitter Page to get a taste!

The video Twitter in Plain English explains how twitter works.

By using Twitter, you stay connected with friends, relatives, and coworkers so that you have a sense of what folks are up to but you are not expected to respond to any updates unless you want to. Additionally, users are very much in control of whose updates they receive and when they receive them. For example, Twitter provides settings for scheduling Twitter to automatically turn off at dinner time and users can switch off Twitter updates at any point.

Ready for Twitter?  Here is a video on how to sign up!

MySpace
MySpace allows you to add friends to your network, express who you are by customizing your profile, write blog entries, play your favorite songs, upload videos and music, join groups and much, much more!  Also, if you like music and enjoy discovering new bands, MySpace has become one of the leading Web sites for musicians and to share their music and get discovered.

Lastly, you can also create MySpace pages for your parenting group or organization.  Here is Ready. Set. Grow! on MySpace so you can get a taste!

Of course, this would not be complete without a video on how to sign up:


Now that you have gotten through the world of social media, this is the best advice we can give you is to not be afraid, try it out, and who knows? You might discover that social media is actually fun!

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Social Media