Babble Los Angeles
Here’s a selection of family events taking place this weekend around the Los Angeles area, plus a few others on the horizon.
Friday, March 25
The Pacific Area Spring Carnival with games, rides, food and all that good stuff is at the Pacific Community Police Station (12312 Culver Blvd., Mar Vista) starting Friday at 5 to 11 p.m., and continuing Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday until 11 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to the LAPD Pacific Area Youth Programs and Station Fund.
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Maybe, just maybe someday we’ll put some more careful thought and design sense into the room that our kids’ share. For now the arrangement is functional but far from ideal, and I consider it to be a good day is when I don’t nearly impale my foot on a toy, and most of the miscellany (AKA “all that crap” when I’m feeling less polite) finds its way back to storage bins.
Pacific Palisades-based interior designer Heather Bland, who has three children of her own, has a specific passion for working on kids’ spaces. Bland’s “non-decorated” philosophy means contrasting colors and textures feel fun and not overly stiff, rather than being an grown-up’s agenda being superimposed over kids’ needs.
Bland shares the following recommendations for finding décor choices everyone can agree on and making a young person’s room truly feel like his/her own space.
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Cultivating plants and growing food has no age minimum, so young gardeners and farmers, take note. SHFT, actor Adrian Grenier’s website dedicated to sustainable living, green materials, and eco-conscious tools, is currently casting a web video series about the next generation of gardeners and growers. Producers are in search of high school and college-age kids who love to get their hands dirty and are enthusiastic about maintaining a direct connection to their food sources. The series will feature gardens of any size and location, and more importantly, the budding 14-to-25-year-olds who maintain them.
Even though the urgency has dropped from headlines compared to last week, Japan relief efforts continue apace. In Los Angeles, this past weekend saw the Pray For Japan art fundraiser exhibition at JapanLA, a benefit at the Blue Whale in Little Tokyo, among other events. Several restaurants around town continue to pitch in, too. Takami in downtown is currently donating 100% of its revenue to the Red Cross Japanese Relief Fund. Today, March 21, 25% of proceeds from Innovative Dining Group restaurants, which include Delphine, Sushi Roku, BOA, and Katana, will be given to the Red Cross. And the always delightful Starry Kitchen Downtown continues to offer free dessert to customers who contributed to the Red Cross by text “REDCROSSS” to 90999.
A selection of recent local stories of interest to parents and families in the Los Angeles area. And goodness, has it been an exhausting, overwhelming, heart-wrenching and nerve-wracking news week.
Sales of potassium iodide pills jump as radiation fears increase in Southern California, despite ongoing monitoring and L.A. County public health chief Dr. Jonathan Fielding’s insistence on “minimal risk of harmful exposure to radiation in the United States.” But this drug carries many risks and side effects. [L.A. Times]
Concern and relief among Los Angeles area residents for friends relatives in Japan, and local communities organize to support relief work. [L.A. Japanese Daily News, Santa Monica Daily Press]
The Irish might not have the most distinguished culinary tradition, but come St. Patrick’s Day, there are plenty of special foods to get psyched about. Particularly if you happen to love green edibles in both natural and artificial states. (I’ve had many conversations over the years various with friends about our shared yet stigmatized love for the Shamrock Shake.) While making fun green foods is hardly a substantive lesson in Irish history, it’s hard to not be charmed by all these creative ideas for homemade St. Paddy’s treats. And keep reading for info about Los Angeles restaurants and bakeries — OK, and some bars, too — honoring St. Paddy’s Day on Thursday. (The bars part isn’t so much for the kids.) This is the kind of greenwashing I get a little excited about, even if I’m still kind of embarrassed to admit it.
If you’re shy about uttering random non sequiturs, then this offer might not be for you. But it’s worth getting over any shyness at any location of The Counter burger joint, because saying “Get Lucky” means a $3 green beer or green shake. Or “like” the Counter on Facebook and then flash your smart phone or print-out with the evidence to get a free green shake.
Squeezing anything else into a packed family schedule is challenging, especially when it comes to things that are easily put off, or don’t rank high on the list of fun. And when you’ve got a baby in the mix, forget it. (Speaking of which, I really should get that WAY overdue dentist appointment on the books already).
So Santa Monica-based therapist Laurel Lippert Fox, Ph.D. has an unorthodox and creative method for helping people who want to get into the counseling groove, but have a tough time incorporating therapy into their lives. Fox meets clients for sessions that combine walking and talking in Santa Monica, during which the baby in a stroller and/or dog is welcome to join.
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This year’s Planned Parenthood L.A.’s Food Fare at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium last Thursday was, as always, a lovely and well-organized event. An array of vendors selling mostly kid, home, food, and décor-oriented wares donated a portion of their sales to benefit PPLA’s work and mission. I was invited to attend and headed over for the daytime session, which was complete with protesters this year, and included tastes from local favorites Clementine, Factor’s Deli, Pitfire Pizza, Michael’s, Pinches Tacos, Valerie Confections, Linda’s Gourmet Latkes, Cafecito Organico, Thyme Cafe, Crust pies, Gotta Have S’More, and others. Chef Che’s Truck was parked outside, but then the Border Grill Truck took over that spot for in the evening, since chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger were honored this year for their longtime support of Planned Parenthood.
Obviously not everyone of all ages can participate in the same way at this gathering, but Angel City Brewing previews its new home and Art & Beer Garden in Downtown L.A. at 216 S. Alameda St. before the facility officially opens on March 17th. Kids are allowed (I’m hoping to check it out), and hours are amenable to family schedules, since bottles of Angel City and other microbrews will be popped open starting tonight, and then at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Festivities include food trucks, art and live music. It’s about time Downtown L.A. got a proper biergarten! Just make sure everyone is on his/her best behavior. Parking is located on the Alameda side; check Angel City’s Facebook page for other useful info and updates.
There was no such thing as Spring Break camp when we were growing up. Come March or April, we’d just hang around home, have playdates, or maybe go on a little vacation. Things aren’t that simple any more. For better or worse (but certainly more expensive), this day and age means plenty of well-organized spring break options while school is shuttered. Or some schools might offer on-campus activities to replace the school day.
Now there’s a bunch of organizations, schools, museums, and other kid businesses that offer spring camps all around Los Angeles. I also recently learned about Silverlake Camps, which sounds like a perfect selection of awesome L.A. field trips for elementary schoolers, packed into one week. Other camps might teach you how to build a fire and set up a tent, but Silverlake Camps helps encourage future engaged urban citizens and proud Angelenos.
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