Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

20 Free Indoor Activities in Los Angeles for When You Just Can't Play Outside

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 01/20/2022 - 9:26am

Attend a Broad Museum family weekend workshop. Photo courtesy of the museum

There is no limit to what a family can do outdoors in Los Angeles, and our clichéd weather makes enjoying outdoor activities possible most days of the year. But on the occasional day when the mercury drops below 50 degrees or soars above 100 degrees—or when water perplexingly falls from the sky—we need a backup plan. Indoor activities are sprinkled throughout our bucket list of 100 Things To Do with LA Kids Before They Grow Up, but wouldn't it be handy to have one list of totally free things to do with kids indoors? We thought so, too!

Free Admission for Kids at 40+ Family Attractions, Museums, & Theme Parks in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 12:21pm

The Great Park Balloon in Irvine is free for everyone! Photo courtesy of cityofirvine.org

Getting in free at Disneyland: it's one of those precious moments of childhood that if you blink, you miss. But unlike the ones you can't put a price on, this one is worth about $100. In other words, it's really worth keeping track of when those free admission deals for kids run out. If you're working your way down our Bucket List for Los Angeles Kids, you should probably coordinate with the cut-off ages below; some of the museums you can catch on their free admission days (and happily, some are free every day!), but the theme parks, museums, and other attractions listed below really drive home the bittersweet point that you're only young once.

How To Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 01/03/2022 - 9:04am

Time to kick that tree to the curb. But is that allowed in your city?

On the 12th day of Christmas, my city gave to me—a chance to recycle my Christmas tree!

Whether from a lot at the corner or a cut-your-own farm in LA's outer regions, we lug those lovely-smelling, triangular chunks of evergreen wonder home on top of our cars each December amid singing, warm drinks, and family bonding. Thoughts of what will become of them a few weeks later are pushed to the outer regions of our To Do Lists. Well, the 12th day of Christmas is quickly approaching, and our To Do Lists have come home to roost. Luckily, recycling a Christmas tree does not have to be difficult to arrange; all you need is a little information, which we've assembled here!

New Year's Eve with Kids: Things To Do on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles as a Family

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 12/24/2021 - 11:32am

Have an only in La-La Land New Year's Eve with the Echo Park Swan Boats. Photo courtesy of Wheel Fun Rentals

It’s almost New Year’s Eve— and out with the old, in with the new sounds pretty good this year! While many events are going virtual again this year, there are still loads of in-person New Year celebrations and things to do on New Year’s Eve with kids in Los Angeles. Ring in 2022 by taking the kids for a paddle in swan boats, ice skating in the heart of the city, seeing fireworks, or even taking the kids to a Noon Year's party. There are also plenty of innovative ways to party at home, family style, or learn some cool New Year celebrations from around the world.

More events and activities can always be found on our event calendar and our guide to the best activities of the week. That’s a wrap on 2021—we did it, LA!

Happy New Year from all of us at Mommy Poppins.

What's Open on Christmas Day in Los Angeles: A List of Fun Things To Do

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 12/19/2021 - 1:29pm

Take a ride on the iconic funicular railcar! Photo courtesy of @60x80 on Instagram

The presents were opened hours ago. Dinner is hours away. The kids are already starting to bicker and everyone is crashing from too much candy. You gotta get out of the house. But what is open on Christmas Day in Los Angeles?

Those who don't celebrate the holiday have asked that question for years, and the traditional answer is Chinese food and a movie. But there are actually loads of places open on Christmas Day. From venues and stores open on Christmas to sledding on the sand or snow, here are over 25 fun things to do and places to go on Christmas!

You can find even more seasonal activities in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Los Angeles or on our Calendar of Events.

Be sure to check with the venue for its COVID guidelines and requirements before heading out . Many places in LA now require guests to show either proof of vaccination or a negative test; some events are getting canceled or postponed at the last minute due to the latest COVID surge.

75 Fun Things To Do in Los Angeles this Winter Break

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 12/12/2021 - 12:05pm

The Santa Monica Pier is stunning at Sunset. Photo by David Pruter

Shhhhh. Do you hear that silence? They're gone! All those people standing in their socks at airport security, telling their kids to hurry up and knock back the juice box, they've all cleared the highways for winter break! Doesn't it make you glad to be in LA? While all those other Angelenos are away, you can do anything, anywhere, and it probably won’t take you more than 20 minutes to get there.

Have friends you miss in Burbank? Never get to the beach? Now is the time to start checking items off our 100 Things To Do in LA Bucket List, or try a few of the far-fetched and fun outings below that won't feel nearly so far during Christmas vacation.

Outdoor Ice Skating at the Best Seasonal Ice Rinks in Los Angeles for 2021-2022

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 12/06/2021 - 12:02pm

Skating at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Photo by Allen Ling

Outdoor ice rinks are back!

One thing Angelenos love doing during the winter months is pretending that it’s winter, and the most fun way we do it is by turning parking lots and other open spaces into outdoor skating rinks for the holidays. Whether your family is trying ice skating for the first time, or you've got budding figure skaters and hockey players looking for a change of scenery from indoor skating lessons, nothing says Southern California quite like the sight of kids and families in tank tops and mittens figure skating in the sunshine.

Best Christmas Light Displays and Christmas Lights on Houses in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 12/03/2021 - 11:25am

Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo puts on a gorgeous display. Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

When the lights start going up, then you know it's Christmas! And whether your holiday of choice is Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, or Kwanzaa there is a timeless joy in taking a spin around the neighborhood to look at the local Christmas lights on houses. The big flashy light displays are coming back after dimming a bit last year to discourage crowds, and there is always a special magic to finding over-the-top lawn displays created by someone's (if thankfully not your) next-door neighbor. Here we've rounded up the best Christmas lights on houses across the city, from famous displays like Candy Cane Lane to smaller neighborhoods that dazzle.

Can't get enough Christmas lights? Check out some of LA's holiday light shows and drive-through Christmas lights events as well as the dazzling light displays in enchanted gardens. Find all this and more in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities for Los Angeles Families.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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