Toby is our uber-busy events editor for Mommy Poppins LA. Feel free to email Toby about events for our LA area calendar.
Submitted by Toby B on
Princess and Pirates Sing-a-long, the new show from Lythgoe Family productions has everything you could hope for in a children’s theater event: princess after princess (as well princes and pirates), high-spirited dance numbers, fun, silly comedy, and rousing sing-a-longs. If you're wondering whether this summer show is the right one for your family, read on!
Submitted by Toby B on
The first day of school has been creeping farther and farther back in recent years, cutting deeper and deeper into summer. For many schools, August is part of the school year now, while other districts still cling to the time-honored "never before Labor Day" approach. All of this can make summer camp complicated to maneuver for some families, while others are knee-deep in homework.
From Baldwin Park's August 11 start date to Torrance’s September 4, don't just assume you know when school starts based on last year! Check our list of start and finish dates for the 2014-2015 school year (and all days off in between) in and around LA County...
Submitted by Toby B on
Whatever you do this weekend, DON'T GET OUT OF TOWN! There’s another one of those Carmeggedon, Carpocalyse things happening, and they’re calling it … the Century Crunch. I know, I know, it doesn’t have much gloom and doom sound to it, but it’s right at the airport. They’re knocking down a bridge, road improvements yadda yadda traffic nightmare. And probably zombies. Just stay home, play in your backyard, or if you have to, venture downtown. (They have toys.)
Think you're safe if you're heading to San Diego for Comic Con? Ha! You and half a billion other people! Do they even have enough oxygen for all those people? No, you'd better stay right here in the beautiful City of Angels. And what a weekend it will be! We have National Dance Day, the circus, and the OC Fair, Dragon Boats and Malibu Arts and Summer Fest at Venice Beach. Kids can build sand castles, run like heroes, cheer for cowfolk, boo the bullies and sing with Cinderella. Best weekend ever!
Or you could always go to New York.
Keep reading for our conveniently located in LA picks for this weekend ....
Submitted by Toby B on
I know it feels like the summer is just getting started, and I guess in some sense it is. In the "oh my gosh there are so many things I haven't done yet!" sense: totally true. Have you danced under the stars at the pier? Have you delighted to Shakespeare by moonlight? Have you eaten fried everything at the OC Fair or splashed in the water or taken in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl? Well then, your summer has barely begun.
But in that other sense, the "how many days of summer break remain?' sense, oh boy, we're in trouble. Without actually putting a date on it, I will just say that some of us may be in one-month countdown mode for the dreaded Back to School. So all of you who are thinking "sounds great, I'll get to it later": there is no later. It's now or thanks for playing, better luck next summer.
What's a Momma to do? Check out our calendar. Make note of the super awesome fun times contained therein. (Might I suggest: Piratical, princessical sing-a-long, storylicious entertainers, out-of-this-world family night, free sweet treat, and gabba-rific meet and greet amusements?) Lay out your blanket, break out the sunscreen and let's get this party started!
Keep reading for some of our most summery picks for this weekend ....
Submitted by Toby B on
Summer, summer, summer, so much to to do! Not only does this weekend offer the OC Fair, Ringling Brothers Circus, fútbol, and dinosaurs; we have an outrageous assortment of movies and concerts under the stars, free Shakespeare and theater for kids, drumming, and dance and the chance for your kid to become a star (or at least get tattooed like one). I know I say this every week, but we can only fit so many events in our newsletter, so be sure to check out our events calendar to make sure you don't miss anything because there is just so much going on and...
Hello? Are you listening to me? Oh, really? Then what did I just say? Mm hmm, that's what I thought! You should.... (I'm not going to say it for you)... check out our... (you're on your own here, buddy!)... it's that thing with dates on it... (so close!) Events calendar! Check out the events calendar! (That's it!) And what will your reward be for clicking through? Insight into kids clubs, and art projects, and kids clubs with art projects. The scoop on train rides, and fishing classes, (but no train rides that are fishing classes, though that sounds pretty cool).
And oh yeah, there are those freebies coming up that might, say, give you a sugar-fueled brain freeze, or leave you looking like a million bucks. Those are the kinds of gems our calendar is filled with. If you like that sort of thing. (And I bet you do!)
Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend ....
Submitted by Toby B on
What’s that you’re doing? Are you… working?!? Stop that! Stop that right now! It’s summer, missy. S-U-have some fun-MER. We at Mommy Poppins take summer frivolity very seriously, and we want to make sure you do the same. Starting now, we declare this to be the Summer of Play. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, make playhouses out of cardboard, count birds and flowers on your street, paint masterpieces with sidewalk chalk, and turn your lawn into a gameboard. Looking for some inspiration? We can get you started with a list of 100 Ways to Play.
Now, play is its own reward, but there’s no reason we can’t sweeten the pot. Share your summer fun ideas, photos, and tips on social media and we just might return the favor with some fun-makin' gear. Let the hashtags begin!
Whatever the season, your source for weekly activities remains the same: our ever-expanding calendar of events. This weekend alone, we can entice you with birthdays (Kidspace's, faeries' and our country's), ceremonies honoring ancestors and a new library, celebrations of Shakespeare, and sanitation, and open air concerts and movies.
Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...
Submitted by Toby B on
Well look at what the sun is up to! Staying out super late, giving us the longest day of the year (and shortest night), and all around putting the sol back in solstice. Our favorite star is leaving no doubt that summer is here. (And in case you needed any reminders, how about the seemingly endless stream of outdoor concerts and moonlit movie screenings that pop up for the season.)
Though why you would need a reminder with your kids lazing around the house filling your days with sunshine is beyond me. You can fill their days with sunshine (and water play and bike rides) with the sweet summer activities listed in our Summer Fun Guide.
Those school-less Mondays through Fridays are going to leave you with a lot more hours to enrich. Hey, what’s that Mommy Poppins has in our magic bag of tricks? Ho ho here you go: our new weekly feature that highlights the best of our, say what, Monday to Friday events. It’s like we read your mind.
Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...
Submitted by Toby B on
My birthday’s coming up. Not this weekend but soon, and I want you to be prepared. We’ve already shared cool places to have a party, and that’s great and all, but let’s face it: birthdays are about getting stuff. I’ve cleared out the shelf space for the tie-dyed socks, corn husk dolls, and milk jug piggy banks you are no doubt already hard at work creating. But that’s only going to get you half-way there. I want free stuff. I want ice cream and shrimp and ye old joust, and our list of birthday freebies has ‘em all (but you may need to convince them that I’m 12 or under).
There’s another freebie coming up, and it doesn’t even have to be your birthday! Friday is National Doughnut Day; otherwise known as hand over my Krispy Kreme and no one gets hurt. I'll take mine with sprinkles, please.
And, of course, every weekend is a gift here in sunny So Cal, with events aplenty and many of them free. Highlights this weekend include Club MomMe’s Spring Family Fest, the Pacific Islander Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and Make Music Pasadena (where a day’s worth of entertainment can be had for a song).
Keep reading for some of our favorite picks for this weekend...
