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

Trick-or-Treat in Los Angeles: Safe and Spooky Neighborhoods

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 10/15/2021 - 12:07pm

Don't forget to mask up this year to brave the trick-or-treating crowds!

We might be a little biased because we think Los Angeles has the best everything, but we’re pretty sure the best trick-or-treating neighborhoods in the country are all in LA. The Halloween decorations on local homes are second to none, and many blocks across the city close off streets to traffic and have trick-or-treating parties. But in a city this big, some neighborhoods go all out on Halloween, and some remain pretty quiet. Where should you go? We’ve compiled a list of the most legendary trick-or-treat neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange County. Here’s where to go to find lots of treats—not to mention some prime photo ops.

Home Haunts and Amazing Halloween Decorations in Los Angeles (2021)

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 10/10/2021 - 11:07am

This haunted house is worth a drive from any neighborhood! Photo courtesy of Haunted Groundz, via Facebook

If you want to get into the spirit of Halloween without being scared by Halloween theme park prices, there are lots of free ways to get into the spooky spirit. You can seek out a free Halloween event—and trick-or-treating is always free. But for a fun night of exploring the city and getting in the holiday mood, nothing beats checking out the skeletons our neighbors have dragged out of the closets. One of the perks of living in the film capital of the world is that the people who make movies bring that same love of spectacle and entertaining to their front yards. Some homes go all out with spooky, creepy, and cool Halloween decorations that you can drive or walk by, while others create private haunted houses that rival the spectacles at big theme parks.

So after visiting a pumpkin patch and losing yourself in a corn maze, immerse yourself in the season by visiting one of these free house haunts or wandering through one of these neighborhoods full of movie-ready Halloween decorations.

Scary Halloween Haunts and Haunted Houses near Los Angeles for Big Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 10/04/2021 - 11:29am

Knott's Scary Farm is for kids 12 and up, while Knott's Spooky Farm is for everyone. Photo courtesy of Knott's Scary Farm

Did someone say Haunted House? What goes on at theme parks in Los Angeles for Halloween is nothing like the wholesome thrill of a Tigger-clad child ringing doorbells for candy. It may seem like Los Angeles celebrates a night that's all about children with an awful lot of entertainment that is clearly not for children, but these frightful haunts keep the Halloween fun going for older kids and teens. But how to know which haunts are best for which ages? We've braved a few of them to share our reviews of just how scary is scary.

Looking for something not quite so scary, and a good deal cheaper? Check out the Best Free Home Haunts in Los Angeles. And for perfectly tame Halloween activities for younger kids, we rounded up 20 Not-So-Scary Halloween Events for Los Angeles Preschoolers.

20+ Awesome Indoor Kids' Birthday Party Places in Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 09/30/2021 - 12:26pm

Throw a party in this pretty play space, where everything is taken care of for you. Photo courtesy of PlayLab

Outdoor birthday parties are one of the great things about living in Los Angeles; most of the year you can simply claim a corner of a public park or throw down some blankets on the beach. But sometimes you need an indoor kids’ birthday party place. Maybe it’s winter, and you can’t risk a sudden rainstorm. Maybe your kids have asked for something special after last year’s virtual birthday party. Or maybe you just want someone else to do the setup and cleanup.

From rock-climbing to ice skating and bowling to bounce houses, these are some of our favorite indoor kids' birthday party places for entertaining the masses without stressing about the weather, decor, or anything at all. For all your birthday party needs, be sure to check out our Birthday Party Ideas Guide for LA Kids.

Los Angeles Gets an Oscar: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opens to Visitors

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 09/28/2021 - 10:34am

Click your heels three times and you'll be in, well, the Academy Museum!

"Do we need a movie museum?" Tom Hanks asked the first invitees in the Academy Museum 0f Motion Pictures' new Geffen Theater. He looked at us like we were crazy, before finishing, "Yeah!"

We Angelenos know what we're famous for. Hollywood has been synonymous with the movie industry for so long that people outside of LA don't even realize it's a neighborhood. Other cities have movie theaters, but only in LA do we see the street we just drove down to get to the movie theater on the screen in the movie.

So, yes, if there is one museum Los Angeles needed it was the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a museum dedicated to the art of film-making which we've been doing in this city for more than 100 years. Movies are LA history, and that makes it something to teach our children—who, incidentally, get free admission to the new museum! Read on to find out what we get to see, do, and experience at the new Oscar Museum—including holding our very own Oscar.

Disneyland for Halloween: Oogie Boogie Bash, Trick-or-Treating, and More Magic in the Kingdom

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 09/21/2021 - 11:30am

It's a tough call which kids love more, Disneyland or Halloween—so giving them Halloween and Disneyland together is the ultimate parenting slam dunk. With anything Disney, of course, getting the most out of the experience takes some planning ahead. What's right for your family? Halloween Time in Disneyland, the super-popular Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure, or a combination of the two? Since the Oogie Boogie nighttime extravaganza sells out months in advance, if you're reading this in September your decision is partially made up—though it's never too early to start a plan for next year!

Read on to find out everything that is special about a trip to Disneyland Resort at Halloween time, and all the ways that Halloween makes the happiest place on Earth even happier.

The Best Pumpkin Patches near Los Angeles For Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 09/19/2021 - 11:05am

From local parking lot patches to farms near Los Angeles, here's where to find your perfect pumpkin.

Ready to talk pumpkin patch? The Great Pumpkin is awfully spoiled for choice around the Southland throughout the Halloween season. To find the perfect pumpkin patch near Los Angeles for your family, you've got some decisions to make, because they run the gamut from small to large, folksy to commercial. There are festival-type pumpkin patches with extra activities, farms where kids can pick their own pumpkins, and smaller pumpkin patches in every neighborhood in town. Choose a pumpkin, pick some fresh veggies, snap a Halloween photo, and maybe even take a pony ride at one of these 2021 pumpkin patches.

If you're looking for more Halloween adventures, check out our roundups of the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, cool corn mazes, scary haunts, and more!

Along Came a Spider Pavilion: Big Spiders Are Back at the Natural History Museum

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 09/13/2021 - 10:02am

Spiders are the stars at the Natural History Museum.

The spiders are back! It's time to say buh-bye to the beautiful butterflies of the Butterfly Pavilion to make room for their slightly spookier friends. Every fall, the Spider Pavilion takes over the space on the Natural History Museum’s South Lawn and turns it into the seasonal home to more free-range, eight-legged tenants than anyone in his right mind could want. The Spider Pavilion is an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare and an eight-year-old boy’s version of heaven.

Roberta B

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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