Nina Harada, Author at L.A. Parent

Mental Health Resource: Teens 4 Teens Help

Published September 27, 2023

By Taylor Nelson

Teens 4 Teens Help is an online peer-to-peer mental health platform.

Teens 4 Teens Help was founded by Kathy and Jeff Long a few years after their own daughter, Kara, was admitted to a Residential Program for eating disorder treatment. Upon her recovery, Kara began speaking about her disorder at a few high schools. During one such visit, a young man told Kara that her words inspired him not to go through with his plan to commit suicide, and to reach out for help instead. There and then, the idea for Teens 4 Teens Help was born. The Long family had seen first-hand not only that stories have the power to change lives, but also how those stories perhaps better impact young people when they’re told by their own peers.

Today, Teens 4 Teens Help is growing into a flourishing online peer-to-peer mental health platform. The first thing you’ll see when you visit the homepage of their website is a carousel of videos. These clips tell the stories of young people experiencing myriad mental health struggles — including addiction, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and eating disorders — all of which are navigated by millions of teenagers every day.

In one video titled “Stories of Depression – Sarah,” a young woman talks in depth about her history with mental health, which began in middle school. She is incredibly open about her experience, sharing everything from the insecurities that manifested her depression, to the internal monologue that ran on a loop at her lowest lows, to the moment she admitted how bad her mental health had become to her mother. “I told her. I was like, ‘I’m not okay right now. I feel like dying and I don’t know how to explain it.’”

_{True stories of depression on the Teens 4 Teens Help website. PHOTO COURTESY TEENS 4 TEENS HELP}

In the clip, Sarah is eager to show others who struggle with depression that they are not alone, and that they are not beyond help. Her candor throughout the video evokes a powerful emotional response from the viewer. Her honesty allows a sense of hope to pervade her video, hope that others her age will fight against their own depression and find the help they need, as she did. “It might be so tiny now, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And at the end of the tunnel, it’s pretty beautiful.”

None of the video testimonials are preachy. The storytellers don’t claim to have the perfect remedy for the mental health struggles they deal with, and they don’t entreat fellow peers to follow a universal path to recovery. In an age where teenagers are being told how best to manage their mental health by adults left and right, stories like these from Teens 4 Teens Help serve as a resource that is refreshing, for the simple reason that it comes from a contemporary.

Aside from the mental health testimonials, Teens 4 Teens Help is also home to a variety of resources, from which those who are suffering can glean hope, education and inspiration to begin their journey to recovery. The nonprofit regularly posts “Teen-Talks,” during which members of Teens 4 Teens Help’s youth advisory board, which operates in tandem with a professional advisory board, interview experts on topics including grief, academic stress, self-harm, ADHD and stress. Under the “Self Help” tab, teens can find support in the form of mental health-related book and podcast recommendations, music playlists, coping tips, educational websites and simple notes of encouragement from fellow teenagers who understand their struggle. One such note reads: “I know life’s tough sometimes, but you are strong. And remember, you are never truly alone.” For those in need of more immediate or professional mental health support, Teens 4 Teens Help also offers visitors a litany of hotlines, support groups and therapists to connect with.

Now, Kathy and Jeff Long, along with their team, are working to connect with middle and high school’s across the country and spread the well of encouragement, knowledge and hope they have created. More and more schools are establishing “wellness rooms” for students on their campuses, and Teens 4 Teens Help aims to equip each with a healthy coping skill tool box, full of things like educational material, coping strategies, breathing exercises, stress toys and links to their website. They provide the tool boxes with the hope that young people might latch onto something in them that relieves the internal pain they’re experiencing, that they might end up on the Teens 4 Teens Help homepage and discover dozens of stories just like theirs. And that they might choose to follow them towards recovery.

As Kathy Long puts it, “everybody has their own journey. We can’t push them in one direction, but we can at least put a light on the path and they can choose to take it.”

Taylor Nelson is a student, writer and editorial intern for L.A. Parent

Cooking with The CrunchBros: Kimbap Recipe

Published September 12, 2023

By Nina Harada

Local father-son duo Jeff and Jordan Kim, better known as The CrunchBros on their popular YouTube channel and TikTok and Instagram accounts, share kid-friendly Japanese and Korean-inspired recipes along with family-friendly meals from popular take-out places like Jollibee and WingStop and local restaurants. The charismatic pair wrote their first cookbook, “Cooking with the CrunchBros: Casual and Fun Korean- and Japanese-Inspired Recipes from Our Kitchen to Yours,” which is out Oct. 17, featuring fun, easy and kid-approved recipes like shoyu chicken, miso cheese corn and kimbap, a Korean seaweed rice roll. The CrunchBros shares their kimbap recipe, which they call “a one-stop shop for a meal.”

Kimbap

Ingredients

1 medium-sized carrot

2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided

8 ounces (225 g) spinach

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 nori sheets

4 cups (744 g) cooked rice

8 ounces (225 g) takuwan

8 ounces (225 g) bulgogi

Roasted sesame seeds for garnish

Preparation

Cut the carrots into matchsticks.
Heat a medium-sized frying pan on medium. Add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, carrots, and salt to taste. Cook the carrots until tender. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
Using the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, spinach, and salt to taste. Cook the spinach for 3 minutes or until completely wilted. Remove the spinach to a colander and let drain and cool.
Next, whisk the eggs and add a pinch of salt. Add a thin layer of egg into the pan. Flip once and cook until set. Then remove from the pan and place onto a cutting board. Repeat until all the egg mixture is cooked. Once the eggs have cooled, cut into 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) strips and set aside.
Take a full sheet of nori and place it on a cutting board. Take the rice and spread a thin layer to cover the entire surface of the nori. Next, start placing each desired item lengthwise across the middle of the rice. Roll from one end to the other, making sure to roll it into a tight cylinder.
Serve whole or cut into 8 pieces. Garnish with sesame seeds.

Censorship & Freedom Calls

Published September 7, 2023

By Julia Hansen

While California, especially SoCal, is often lauded (and criticized) for its more progressive leanings, the region is not immune to the book-banning fervor and other challenges to free speech. Below are some local examples of censorship — and some ways people of all ages can get involved to address it.

Calls to censor

Last year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom received 1,269 demands to censor books in libraries in 2022, the highest number it has documented in 20 years. Most of these books are written by or about authors who are LBTQIA and BIPOC.
The most banned books from last school year included “Gender Queer: a Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “Flamer” by Mike Curato.

In 2020, the Burbank Unified School District temporarily banned the teaching of books such as “Huckleberry Finn,” “Of Mice and Men” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” after some parents complained that the novels contain racial slurs. The ban led to an avalanche of outcries and more than 5,000 protest signatures.
This June, some North Hollywood parents at Saticoy Elementary School protested a pride event, which included a reading of “The Great Big Book of Families.” Protestors burned a pride flag outside a transgender teacher’s classroom.
Glendale Unified School District saw violent protests in June over LGBTQ curriculum material, leading to three arrests.
Also in June: The Temecula Valley School Board rejected a textbook that included information about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected to public office in California. After Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened the school district with a $1.5 million fine for rejecting the state’s new social studies standards, the board reversed its decision.
Protesters were removed from a library in Sherman Oaks during “Drag Queen Story Hour.”

Calls to freedom

The annual Banned Books Week will take place Oct. 1-7, and this year’s theme is “Let Freedom Read.” The campaign promotes freedom of expression, freedom of access to information and the freedom to read. bannedbooksweek.org
Comedian and TV host Joy Behar’s “Joy’s Banned Books Club” segment on “The View” highlights both kid-friendly and adult banned books.
Pickle the Drag Queen hosts drag story time for children of all ages at the West Hollywood branch of the L.A. Public Library. weho.org/community
The American Library Association (ALA) has a special website page centering censorship, including ways to support librarians, donate, seek legal assistance and more. ala.org
The National Coalition Against Censorship promotes a book censorship action plan on its website: ncac.org/resource/book-censorship-toolkit
Over at United Against Book Bans, you can add your name to the “Freedom to Read” statement, download the social media kit, learn how to organize peaceful protests and more: uniteagainstbookbans.org
Teach kids about Tessa Keslo, who, in 1889, became the sixth city librarian in Los Angeles, transforming the public library into a true metropolitan system and fighting moralistic censorship along the way. lapl.org
Visit the Let America Read website to take action with organizations such as The FReadom Fighters, a grassroots group of librarians providing support to librarians, teachers, students and community members. letamericaread.org

Spotlight on a Banned Author: Elana K. Arnold

Published September 7, 2023

By Cassandra Lane

At least 16 of Elana K. Arnold’s books have been banned or challenged. A Long Beach native, Arnold is an award-winning author of YA and middle-grade novels. PHOTOS COURTESY ELANA K. ARNOLD

Long Beach native Elana K. Arnold was in middle school when she fell in love with her first fictional character — Anne of Green Gables.

The PBS miniseries adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books premiered in 1985, and Arnold’s seventh-grade teacher assigned her students to watch it for homework. Because she was on punishment at home, Arnold watched the show on a tiny black-and-white portable TV that she snuck into her room, fiddling with the TV’s rabbit ears to get the picture as clear as she could, then melting into the story moving across the screen. And when she learned that the show was based on a book series, she became enraptured by the literary version, too.

“Anne was my idol,” Arnold says. “She understood what she wanted; she knew how to ask and advocate for it. Even before I met Anne, I wrote — poems, little stories, lots of beginnings.”

Arnold went on to become a prolific and bestselling author of books for children and teens, garnering awards and honors that include being named a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and receiving the Michael L. Printz Award honor.

Arnold’s latest, “The Blood Years,” is a fictionalized version of her grandmother’s teenage years growing up during the holocaust in Czernowitz, Romania. The novel’s launch on Oct. 10, though, will look quite different from the launches of the author’s other books — namely because she finds herself caught in the book-banning frenzy that has swept the nation. At least 16 of Arnold’s YA and middle-grade books have been banned or challenged. On Oct. 22, she’ll serve on a Banned Books Week panel co-hosted by the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles and PEN America Los Angeles, and on Oct. 26, she’ll be a panelist for a similar book censorship talk at UC Irvine, also co-hosted by PEN America L.A.

I spoke to her in the weeks leading up to her launch.

Book banning is not new. So many of our beloved authors — Judy Blume, Toni Morrison — were banned in years past. How would you compare what’s going on today to past censorship?

Today’s book banning fervor seems akin to other moral panics of the past: the Satanic Panic and the Dungeons & Dragons panic in the 1980s and 1990s, to name just two of the more recent panics. Everything is cyclical, as Opa, a character in my forthcoming novel, “The Blood Years,” often says. Panic is cyclical, too. The target shifts, but the urge to blame and scapegoat seems eternal. This time, books and their authors — especially books and authors that challenge heteronormative patriarchy and white supremacy — are at the center of the target.

Why do you write?

I write for lots of reasons. When I was young, I desperately wanted people to like me. I deeply yearned for friendship, and to be understood, and to understand others. But I didn’t have these things. What I didn’t know then is that many of my difficulties in social situations, much of my yearning to connect but inability to penetrate the circles of friendship of my peers, most of the reasons the other kids considered me “weird” were related to the fact that I’m autistic. As a child of the ’80’s and a girl, I was passed over as “gifted and talented” and “just quirky.” No one seemed to notice my deep loneliness, my constant state of confusion, my sense that I was walking around in a world fogged thick with clouds. Books were a place where I got to hear what the characters were thinking — what they feared, what they hoped, what they dreamed. I suppose music is a similar portal for some people, but as a noise-averse person, music wasn’t something I turned to. A quiet room, a bowl of fruit or chocolate, a snoring dog or purring cat close by, a book. Ahh.

Writing is a natural evolution of the relationship I’ve always had with books. It’s where I go, still — to the page — to sort out that which fascinates, horrifies, titillates, amuses and compels me.

Have you, in the past, dealt with having your books banned or threatened to be banned?

The book banning fever that has taken up so much air space over the past couple of years is really the first time I’ve seen a coordinated effort to remove my work from public spaces and school collections. In the past, I have been told quietly by librarians and teachers that they love my work but won’t put some of my titles on their shelves because they’re not sure about the content being “appropriate” for teens, but it’s not until the coordinated efforts of groups like Moms for Liberty (a ridiculous misnomer) that I’ve seen widespread targeted attacks.

And now, several of your books are on the “challenge” list. Which ones and why?

I have 16 titles that have been banned or challenged — the second largest list of targeted books of any American author, according to PEN America. My job is to create more art, and giving too much space in my head to ignorant, bullying people who want to strip all children of access to a diverse, vibrant body of literature does not serve my art.

In general, though, I can tell you that the arguments against my young adult novels (the books that are most commonly challenged) include claims that they are pornographic, anti-Christian, support abortion and are pervasively vulgar. I shouldn’t need to say this, but my novels are none of these things. They explore and reflect the fascinating, complex, sometimes bloody, fraught, dangerous experiences and emotions of my own coming-of-age.

Elana K. Arnold’s latest book, “The Blood Years,” will hit stands Oct. 10.

How did you first find out your books were being banned (or challenged)?

I hear about bannings in many ways: concerned parents and students have reached out to me through my website, through Twitter and Instagram to let me know what’s going on in their communities; a friend of mine who partners with PEN America to track the bannings sometimes gives me a heads-up. Very often, I get a Google alert about it when it makes it into the news.

I know that the things that I write can feel subversive and uncomfortable and unsettling and even gross. But that’s what writing is. It’s about wrestling with life, and life is all these things, too. These parents say they want to keep kids “innocent.” But that’s not true. What they want is to keep kids ignorant — ignorant about America’s history and racism, ignorant about violence towards cisgender and transgender women, ignorant about the LGBTQIA+ community, ignorant about their own bodies.

I don’t write books to teach lessons. I write to untangle that which confuses and compels me; I write to transform my own painful lived experiences into art; I write to celebrate being a human. So the bannings don’t stop me from working. They remind me that it’s my great privilege to have a voice, and they spur me to be even louder.

To learn more about Elana K. Arnold, visit elanakarnold.com.

Book-Banning Battles

Published September 7, 2023

By Cassandra Lane

As much as we search for a reflection of ourselves in the stories we read, books are also where we go to learn about those who are not like us. Books help eradicate ignorance. They often change previously hardened hearts and minds. They empower the disempowered.

As a kid, I used to slip behind my grandmother’s heavy living room curtains to sneak in reading between chores. Each book cradled between my hands was a vehicle transporting me to lands, characters and ideas beyond the confines of my own upbringing and the largely likeminded people who made up my family and community. Woe unto the sibling who dared disturb me!

But those interruptions of bliss, while annoying, were child’s play. I had no idea then that a Judy Blume book I was reading had been banned (because she dared write about puberty and other real-life issues). And I certainly never would have imagined that the 2020s (a decade I assumed would be as advanced as “The Jetsons”) would turn out to be an era of renewed censorship battles — from books getting banned from libraries and schools to burned in public spaces.

The inscription at Los Angeles Central Library reads “Books invite all: They constrain none.”

Yet aren’t books and other forms of writing protected under the First Amendment guarantee of free speech? According to David L. Hudson Jr., a First Amendment law expert cited by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, book bans violate the First Amendment because they deprive children or students of the right to receive information and ideas.” However, the issue is not so clear-cut. Government actions that some may deem censorship — especially as related to schools — are not always neatly classified as constitutional or unconstitutional, because “censorship” is a colloquial term, not a legal term, The Free Speech Center reports. And in some cases, limitations on freedom of speech are constitutionally permissible, as courts have allowed public officials to take “community standards” into account when deciding whether materials are obscene or pornographic.

When it comes to allowing the general public to define what is “obscene” or “pornographic,” it’s a slippery slope. Indeed, much of the banned (physical removal) and challenged (attempts to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group) books are those that center (or briefly mention) race, racism, LGBTQ+ characters and issues and coming-of-age themes, such as dealing with puberty and/or sex.

“The leadership in our books department, both in Los Angeles and New York, reached out to me to say this book banning thing is really bad now,” says Deborah Marcus, an executive for the Creative Artists Agency Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the entertainment and sports agency CAA. “What’s happening is parent groups are challenging books, librarians are being fired or they’re afraid to put books on shelves for fear of backlash. And then, those books are not available to kids.”

Book banning “is bad for kids, teachers, the entire educational ecosystem and our democracy,” Marcus says. “Two of the areas that the CAA Foundation spends most of its time working on are supporting kids and working to support a strong democracy through civic engagement. So, I said, ‘Let’s figure this out.’”

Marcus is overseeing Let America Read, a campaign the foundation (in partnership with PEN America, Campaign for Our Shared Future, the ACLU and other organizations) launched in April in response to the sharp uptick in book banning legislation and proposed legislation, as well as individual and local efforts to ban books. “People on the West Coast often mistakenly believe that the book banning problem is a red state problem, but that’s simply not true,” says Allison M. Lee, managing director of PEN America Los Angeles. Censorship efforts are alive and well in SoCal and beyond, she says.

The Last Bookstore is located on a corner of Spring Street in Downtown L.A. that is darkened by the shade of skyscrapers. Its name can elicit feelings of comfort and uneasiness. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA LANE

With celebrities and other high-profile supporters, the Let America Read campaign grew exponentially in just a few months. Organizers are gearing up for Banned Books Week, an annual event (taking place Oct. 1-7 this year) to celebrate banned books and their authors. “This October, we’ll bring together Black authors who have been banned and other authors of color, too, but we really want to focus on Black authors because they’re particularly targeted,” Marcus says.

While book banning can seem like a conservative-versus-progressive issue, it’s more nuanced than that. For instance, some Black parents have protested the teaching of classics they deem racist at the same time some white parents have protested the teaching of American history covering slavery and Jim Crow. Shutting out any voice is a Pandora’s box, critics of book banning argue.

“Just to be clear, Let America Read will always be nonpartisan,” Marcus says. “It is a nonpartisan effort, but school board elections are important. School board members have the authority to do x, y and z. And if you care about x, y and z, make sure you vote for the right school board member for you.”

Let America Read is partnering with the I Am a Voter campaign, which aims to increase civic engagement. Participants can text VOTER to 26797 to check their voter registration and register to vote.

What else can parents do?

“You can ask teachers how you can support them, what do they need to be successful?” Marcus says. “Help teachers advocate. Parents have a very loud voice, as we’ve learned.”

And using that voice to ask questions about controversial books can help create an atmosphere of intimacy and trust. “What I have heard about in Los Angeles is people having questions about books on shelves in both public and private schools, and, by the way, that’s OK,” Marcus says. “It’s OK for a parent to be concerned about literature that might be in a library. That parent is invited by the librarian to go in and have a conversation. That librarian has that book in their library for a specific, educated, researched reason. The librarians I’ve spoken with have told me that that is how it used to be. It creates dialogue; it creates understanding. Then, if a parent still doesn’t want their kid to read that book after that conversation, that’s their right as a parent — but for their individual child.”

Cassandra Lane is Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent and author of “We Are Bridges: A Memoir.”

Inclusive L.A.: Job Placement

Published September 7, 2023

By Renee Elefante

For both parents and young adults, the transition from adolescence to adulthood can be quite daunting, especially as young adults start looking for jobs and pursuing their passions. For neurodiverse adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, the path can be even more challenging. Fortunately, a number of organizations in California are responding to the need.

Regional centers

The seven Los Angeles County Regional Centers, under the oversight of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, are a great place to start. Each location is designed to provide community support, resources and access to services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, including an employment program through the Department of Rehabilitation. The programs are offered to people 18 and up with a high school diploma or who are 22 and have a certificate of completion, according to South Central L.A. Regional Center Chief Advancement Officer Kiara Lopez.

Lopez says her regional center has services ranging from job training and tools to assistive technology and connecting jobseekers, and that participants have been placed with Disney, Walgreens, CVS, Starbucks, Jimmy John’s, Universal Studios and the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Beyond the Bell program.

Most regional centers also offer adult day services and programs relating to behavioral management, arts, culinary, theater arts, community integration and more. Plus, they offer transition-to-adulthood training, parent education classes and more to parents of young adults.

If you have, or are, a young neurodiverse adult looking for employment, Lopez advises speaking with the service coordinator at the regional center near you about employment goals or objectives — and to begin exploring employment options two years before exiting school. And for young adults who don’t yet know what they want to do, there’s no need to worry. “SCLARC is here to assist you and guide you,” she says.

The Help Group

The Help Group, based in Sherman Oaks, offers a range of programs and services geared toward neurodiverse individuals, helping them learn career skills, obtain part-time work and connect with their peers in fun social events.

The Help Group’s Advance LA program provides services to adults ages 18 to 35 and has been around for almost 10 years, according to Heather Humphrey, the senior director of adult and clinical services. Advance LA offers one-on-one coaching in which the coaches help clients write their resumes and apply for jobs. The coaches also help young adults struggling in college and who need help with organization, time management and other skills. “It’s really dependent on the individual and their goals and where the deficits and skills are,” Humphrey says. “Our job is to really help someone build up those skills so that there are no deficits or very few deficits.”

In addition to coaching, Advance LA offers social opportunities, from monthly Club LA events to recreational summer camp programs. Club LA events have included an RV arcade, cooking talent shows and art. Event locations vary depending on the activity. “Lots of young adults on the spectrum lack some social skills and have a really hard time maintaining friendships or making friends,” Humphrey says. “So, this is an opportunity for [them] to be in the same place at the same time and, hopefully, meet other folks that they’d like to be friends with to increase their social activities and their exposure to social groups and peers.”

The Help Group’s core services are its schools for neurodiverse students, from pre-kindergarten through high school. High school students often participate in its Workability program that receives funding from the Department of Education or its We Can Work Through program that is funded by the Department of Rehabilitation, in which students can get up to 100 hours of paid work experience in community-based settings. Once students reach 18, they can intern with various employers in the community and move over to the Bridgeport Vocational Center, geared for adults aged 18 to 22. For students interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, The Help Group has a STEM3 Academy to help students develop their skills in these fields before moving on to four-year universities.

Also on The Help Group’s menu of services:

An employment program via the Department of Mental Health where young adults with a mental health diagnosis can pursue employment options.
Parent coaching and parent support groups that aim to help parents learn to start letting go of their young adults, allowing them to become more autonomous.

Exceptional Minds

Exceptional Minds has a similar philosophy. With the goal of helping young adults prepare for and pursue a career in the entertainment industry, the Sherman Oaks organization offers a three-year full-time program starting every fall. During the first year, students have the opportunity to figure out what their skills and passions are, whether it be animation, visual effects or 3D. When the second year rolls around, students can then focus on the areas they are passionate about and skilled in. In the final year, students enroll in advanced classes.

David Siegel, executive director and CEO of Exceptional Minds, noted that sometimes the program will allow students who just graduated from an art college to enter into the program as a second-year student. “We have a lot of different components and a lot of different types of programs so that we can really provide a customized experience for our participants,” Siegel says, “and being in Los Angeles puts us in really incredible proximity to this incredibly creative entertainment industry.”

Throughout the three years, students also take classes on vocational training and career readiness, learning how to participate in mock interviews and create a resume and portfolio. Students have access to the organization’s career center to further aid in developing their job-search skills. By the time they graduate, they go on to obtain internships, full-time jobs or work in the organization’s studio as a graduate artist. Siegel proudly notes that his students have been employed by Disney, Nickelodeon, Netflix and Mattel, and graduate artists have worked on visual effects and end credit sequences for a variety of Marvel movies.

“It’s just incredible how diverse the skill sets are of our artists, and how inclusive of those skill sets are our partners and the entertainment industry [are],” he says. “And we pride ourselves on developing a unique and really awesome workforce. It’s a talent pool that didn’t exist years ago, and now companies like Disney and Nickelodeon and Netflix, they’re looking at that talent pool as an opportunity to find new and unique voices and put them to work.”

Best Buddies

Based in Los Angeles, Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that offers friendship, inclusive living, leadership and employment programs.

Its first program, One-To-One Friendships, aimed to help develop friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, from elementary school to college. There’s also an adult friendship program called Citizens for those who graduated or have aged out of the school system. “The program offers social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded,” says Summer Robinson, the program supervisor for jobs at Best Buddies. “Through their participation, people with IDD [intellectual and developmental disabilities] form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.”

According to Robinson, Best Buddies has national employer partners — including Accenture, Mod Pizza, JLL, Office Depot and Holland & Knight — who help place job seekers.

Before participants secure employment, they work with a Best Buddies staff member or volunteer to create their resume, determine what career they wish to pursue and develop interviewing skills. Once a job is secured, staff assists them with the onboarding process, ongoing job coaching, employer support and employer DEI training.

Best Buddies also offers a living program for people with and without IDD to live independently and meet other residents, including students at UCLA, as the program partners with the university to give students access to local sporting events, provide on-campus meal plans, apply to on-campus jobs and join university clubs. Residents are assigned to a residential manager, who assists in budgeting, grocery shopping, roommate skills and more.

ETTA

ETTA, previously known as the Etta Israel Center, is another organization in this field. The nonprofit runs an employment services program that provides vocational training and support for adults 18 and up with developmental disabilities. ETTA also has resources for students attending college, including helping with their class assignments, accompanying them to classes and helping them find competitive employment.

ETTA sponsors volunteer jobs through Café ETTA, its coffee kiosk stationed in the Cambridge Farms Supermarket in Valley Village. ETTA also volunteers with Food Forward, a nonprofit that fights hunger and food waste that also has a variety of volunteering options. ETTA volunteers help with the food giveaways every Thursday, which are done for the entire community and serve an average of 45 families, according to Josh Taff, the director of community relations and intake. ETTA is also in the process of creating a community farm near the main office in North Hollywood, where participants will plant and maintain crops.

“If somebody comes in and they want to do a program, we’ll assess them to make sure they’re appropriate for that and that we can meet their needs,” says Director of Programs Hillary Kessler. “We’ll ask them what do they want their lives to look like? What are their short-term goals? What are their long-term goals? How much support do they need? What should that support look like? And we try to implement that based on each person’s unique program.”

If you are, or know, a young neurodiverse adult looking for job training, the L.A. community has a number of options to help you find success.

Renee Elefante is a rising senior at Chapman University and an editorial intern for L.A. Parent. She is also the editor-in-chief for her university’s student-run newspaper.

Inclusive L.A.: A Roadmap for Success

Published September 7, 2023

By Taylor Nelson

The moment your child receives an autism diagnosis is life-changing — and often laced with relief. A diagnosis helps predict the issues your child may face throughout their life and opens the door to a variety of academic and support networks. However, while these networks exist, the process of seeking them out can feel overwhelming.

L.A. Parent is here to help. Here is a roadmap for success.

How to find a school

Finding the right school for a child with autism can be a major point of stress for parents, but there are a variety of educational options available through school districts — from general education with accommodations to private and publicly funded specialized schools.

For children seeking non-specialized schools, placement can be determined through an IEP, or an Individualized Education Plan, developed by a team of individuals from various educational disciplines, the student with a disability, family members and/or designated advocates to ensure that a child who is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

When it comes to assessing schooling options in Los Angeles, The Help Group is one place parents can turn. It is one of the largest nonprofit organizations serving children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Help Group runs 14 day schools in the L.A. area, most of which are nonpublic, meaning they provide special-education services based on students’ IEPs. Frostig School in Pasadena is part of The Frostig Center and serves 135 students in grades 1-12, with campuses in Pasadena and West L.A. Frostig students have diagnosed learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, processing disorders and dyscalculia, while others live with ADHD, high-functioning ASD and anxiety. And Bridges Academy in Studio City educates a diverse group of gifted students with a range of strengths, interests and learning differences.

Others to note: Young Learners Preschool offers children 2 to 5 a specialized, evidence-based curriculum with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:3. Stem³ Academy caters to autistic children who have a particular interest in STEM fields. Bridgeport Vocational Center is geared toward young people 18 to 23 with ASD, offering vocational-skills training that includes job-placement support.

Navigating the education system for an autistic child demands both resilience and patience. There are advocacy groups to assist, although teachers and administrators are always a good starting point, especially with an IEP. The Help Group’s schools aim to help parents provide the best possible education for their child and, as Stem3 Academy puts it, instill in them the knowledge that “students with diverse needs are not less capable, not less able to flourish and produce meaningful results; they are every bit as capable, often more so, than their typical peers.”

How to find a therapist

Nearly all autistic children (and adults) with ASD benefit from some form of therapy. It is important for parents to evaluate their child’s functional skills (communication, daily living skills, emotional regulation, etc.) in order to formulate clear goals they hope to achieve in therapy.

When searching for a therapist, find someone with experience treating autistic clients. The Child Success Center is a developmental learning facility whose psychologists are dedicated to helping children with ASD succeed in all areas of life through therapy. The Child Success Center uses a “whole child” approach and sensory integration to craft a unique therapy plan for each individual, supporting them from infancy through early middle school. The impact of the Child Success Center’s therapy is evident from the testimonials given by parents with children in its program. One such testimonial reads: “My son left therapy today so happy and with such confidence, that I cannot find words to express what this means to us.”

For parents whose children are finishing up middle school, in high school or beyond, there are still other therapeutic resources to be explored. Last year, The Help Group launched Lumina Counseling, a new counseling center with therapists experienced in treating autism spectrum disorders. At Lumina, children, adolescents, adults and families can receive individual, group and family therapy, in conjunction with psycho-educational evaluations.

How to find a social network for kids

Making friends can be an especially challenging endeavor for people with autism, and recent research has found they not only connect more easily with others who have ASD, but also feel more comfortable and affirmed participating in groups led by autistic leaders. The Help Group knows this and offers a variety of programs and services to help children and adults with ASD connect with their peers and build social networks.

Younger kids might enjoy one of The Help Group’s Kids Like Me summer camps, clubs, classes and afterschool programs. Their classes include, but are not limited to, 2D game design, martial arts, fitness and cooking. Some of their popular clubs are karaoke club, Dungeons and Dragons and Craft Corner. All of Kids Like Me’s offerings are designed especially for children and adolescents with ASD, and the majority of them are open to all ages.

For those approaching or already in adulthood looking to form social groups, Advance LA is a promising place to turn. Another subsidiary of The Help Group, Advance LA specializes in one-on-one coaching for young adults with ASD. Life skills coaches provide clients with academic assistance, executive functioning practice, independent living skills and dating coach services. To help these clients create and maintain friendships, Advance LA also runs a social group called club l.a.. The group serves adults ages 18-35 and gets together every month for fun events such as karaoke night, bowling or “speed-friending.”

Club 21 provides the educational tools and resources that enable individuals with Down syndrome to be fully included. From first diagnosis onward, Club 21 Learning and Resource Center empowers families to identify the needs of their child with Down syndrome and teaches them how to navigate the terrain of the medical, educational and regional center systems to maximize their child’s potential. Its program focuses on family support, school support, direct educational training and community building.

There is a chain of seven regional centers in Los Angeles County operated by the state Department of Mental Health, and each center is a nonprofit, private corporation that contracts with the California Department of Developmental Services to coordinate or provide community support, resources and access to services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

If parents find that their child shows no interest in programs like club l.a. or Kids Like Me, there is no cause for concern. The Help Group’s Senior Director of Autism & Clinical Services Dr. Laurie Stephens points out that “it is a ‘neurotypical’ idea that everyone wants friends and to be around others, when in reality that isn’t always true.” If a child does not express a desire for friendship or feelings of loneliness, they may be perfectly content spending the majority of their time on their own.

Support networks for parents

When trying to address all the needs of a child with ASD, parents often underestimate how crucial it is for them to find a support group for themselves. Navigating a child’s autism diagnosis can create high stress levels for families, and research shows that parents who participate in support groups gain a greater sense of agency, feel less isolated and perceive their parenting skills to improve.

Advance LA offers a free parent support group called Parent2Parent that meets bi-weekly and is facilitated by experts. Parent2Parent’s mission is to create a safe space to share struggles and celebrate their children’s successes. Groups like this not only allow parents to connect with other caregivers facing the same issues, but also function as a sounding board and problem-solving resource for them.

Getting your child, and you, the appropriate support is a big first step, even as discovering what that support looks like takes time. As Stephens puts it: “Remember that there is not one intervention strategy or methodology that works for all, nor is there one philosophy that applies to all autistic children.”

Effective support, and oftentimes therapy, coupled with the right educational environment, will put your child on a path for success.

Taylor Nelson is an editorial intern at L.A. Parent and is a student at Scripps College.

Back-to-School Mental Health

Published September 7, 2023

By Shelley Gaske

Allow your children to help you in choosing a therapist for them.

The beginning of school can feel like a sunny day…right before a tornado touches down. But with a bit of storm preparation, this school year can be different — especially when we start with a focus on mental health. Teaching your children to evaluate and prioritize their mental health can lead to positive changes in their relationships with you, their peers and school overall.

While a 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report reveals that anxiety and depression in children and teens soared during the early years of the pandemic, small steps to help young people understand and manage their emotional and mental well-being have far-reaching potential.

This year, up your game in keeping your children healthy and connected.

Schedule one-on-one time with each child

Jasmin McGregor, a licensed clinical social worker, works as a psychiatric social worker for the Los Angeles Unified School District. PHOTO COURTESY JASMIN MCGREGOR

People of all ages want to be seen and heard, plain and simple. Working with the chaos of work and life, parents can schedule as little as 30 minutes weekly with each child to strengthen connections. Integral to this time is putting phones away and resisting the urge to multitask.

Jasmin McGregor, a licensed clinical social worker who works as a psychiatric social worker for the Los Angeles Unified School District, confirms that children crave recognition. “There’s a lot of power in validating children,” says McGregor, who also has a private practice in Los Angeles. “A lot of times, children don’t feel validated.”

One way to help each child feel validated is to give “complete attention to one child at a time, [which] is a treasure,” says Mary Cook, who works with families as a certified addiction counselor in Lomita. “It helps the child pay more attention to themselves.”

While you can do a specific activity together, hanging out is good enough. Spending time “doing nothing” does a lot of somethings. “Ask them what they like, and why they like it,” Cook suggests. “Asking preferences lets the child learn what is nurturing and helpful for them.”

These deep dives give parents a chance to ask more about the child’s thoughts, giving them a better framework if any mental health issues emerge later.

Mary Cook is a certified addiction counselor in Lomita. PHOTO COURTESY MARY COOK

Upgrade your daily check-ins

We’ve all hit the “fine” wall: Their day was “fine.” Lunch was “fine.” The fire drill was “fine.” Even worse is asking, “What did you learn today?” and hearing “Nothing.” Hitting these conversation walls deflates kids and parents alike.

There is hope, however: We can alter our daily summary by changing the question we use to open our discussions with our kids.

“I’ve learned to say, ‘What did you practice at school today?’” says Edith Grant, a mother of two daughters, 9 and 12, in Los Angeles.

Caregivers can also ask: “What did you feel today?” This open-ended question allows kids the freedom to report on their emotions with minimal pressure. For younger children, a feelings chart posted in a high-traffic part of the house can be helpful. This can spark interest in their own emotions and build self-regulation skills they’ll take into adulthood.

Don’t worry if they are puzzled or try to resurrect “fine” initially. Help them expand their check-ins by giving your own. Being careful not to unload work gripes or personal stresses, try something like “I was excited to wear my new shoes in the morning, then I was confused after a meeting, and now I’m a little tired and happy to see you.” Looking at your own emotional inventory serves a twofold purpose: You keep track of what you and your child’s feelings are and your child learns that it’s safe to talk about emotions.

“I’m constantly asking them how they’re feeling and asking why they think they’re feeling that way,” Grant adds. “I check in with myself, too, and ask, ‘Am I really mad at this?’”

“Children will internalize the example,” Cook says. Demonstrating that it’s normal to feel multiple or conflicting emotions normalizes theirs and makes them better at understanding what multiple emotions feel like in their body. “It helps the child to know themselves better, [to know] that they’ll continue to learn and grow.”

Talking through emotions without judgment increases the likelihood kids will come to you if they have troubling or worrying emotions they don’t know how to handle alone.

Book therapy

Fall is a good time to see who is accepting new clients, and while many therapists returned to in-office visits, many also continue to have video-chat sessions.

Both McGregor and Cook report that sudden shifts in demeanor can indicate a mental health issue. McGregor advises parents and caregivers to look for “abrupt changes in behavior, social isolation. Especially for Black and Brown children, anxiety can look like irritability.”

“If you’ve already built a good relationship with the child,” Cook says, “you go to them and say, ‘I’ve noticed some changes since last month. We could talk about it if you’re ready. And if you’re not, just know that I know something happened, and I’m here for you.’”

Children can participate in choosing a therapist. They may have friends in therapy that speak highly of certain therapy types (talk or art therapy) and can be motivated to find a therapist that does similar work.

Finding a therapist with similarly lived experience can be paramount. “If they can see someone they identify with in any way,” McGregor says, “they’re more likely to be open and actively engage in therapy.” Gender, ethnic background and other similarities to the child can help them feel safe.

While therapy is great, don’t count on it to fix everything overnight.

“I noticed parents assumed I was going to ‘fix’ their child,” McGregor says. “One, they aren’t broken. And two, I’ve given them tools and skills so they can manage whatever symptoms and behaviors are happening.”

If your own daily check-ins are showing signs of anxiety, depression and exhaustion, consider your own therapy appointment. Cook says the best way to parent “is by healing any problems you had by being raised by your parents or any trauma you’ve suffered in childhood by building your own emotional maturity, healing and resilience.”

Brave learning an emerging skill

By “emerging,” I frankly mean something you are not good at. This could be dancing tutorials on YouTube, drawing classes, juggling…anything that’s a new skill. Adults try to avoid situations where they may look incompetent or silly, but kids often face new challenges and look to their caregivers to gauge how to handle them. When adults participating in a new skill show bravery and resilience, kids learn they can, too.

The opposite is already true, Cook warns. Some adults don’t want to try new hobbies or give up a sport if they don’t immediately catch on. “If parents see their child doing something they don’t like, it’s important to ask: ‘Do I model that for them?’” Modeling perseverance and taking yourself less seriously shows children mistakes are unavoidable.

“The goal is not to make mistakes,” Grant says, “but the reality is that’s how we learn. We’re human, we’re going to make mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes.”

Learning a new skill with your child evens the playing field — you’ll both be beginners. And that can be critical to building children’s internal reasoning. Cook says: “The first question we can ask is ‘What can I learn from this?’ ‘How can I grow from this?’”

Your effort to manage negative self-talk can boost your mood, too. Reframing “I’m terrible at this” to “I’m learning and learning takes effort and time” will be pure magic when you hear your children repeat it.

Create clear boundaries…together

We can retire the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do.” Children of all ages function better with clear, mutual boundaries. Instead of trying to set rules, talk as a family about the best way to solve a problem together. If leaving soccer practice drags on, let everyone weigh in: “How do we feel when it takes forever? How could each of us work to make it faster?”

Phones and social media are another area ripe for boundary discussions.

Grant shares her children’s screen schedule: “They can watch TV Monday to Friday, and use devices Friday to Sunday.”

Carve out one-on-one time with each child. PHOTO COURTESY CANVA

Every family will land on different answers, and McGregor recommends adults taking an honest look at their own habits. “It’s important to model that healthy relationship with your phone. There’s nothing like going to dinner and everyone’s on their phones.”

Opportunities to meet anxiety, depression and negative self-talk arise at every age. While children in elementary school are learning to make friends, middle schoolers are exploring their identity and how they relate to society. High schoolers deal with the impending pressures of the adult world along with navigating friendships, romance and school. Through it all, family and caregivers are the single best model to teach honesty and resilience.

This school year, connect with your children and don’t be afraid to recruit outside help. “If you’re seeing some signs that your child may benefit from therapy,” says McGregor, “don’t allow the stigma to keep them from getting the help they need because that can be life or death.”

If you need help finding a therapist, one resource to help you launch your search is psychologytoday.com.

Shelley Gaske is a dog mom and writes about mental health across the lifespan.

2023 Back to School Guide

Published September 6, 2023

It’s time to trade our beach totes for backpacks and summer reads for school books. But how do we decide what backpack, books or other supplies to get for our kids as they transition back to school? Our friends at the National Parenting Product Awards have put together their annual guide to help with this transition, featuring NAPPA Award-winning products that have been tested and evaluated. This year’s guide includes books and toys that teach social emotional learning, activities that inspire STEM learning and creativity and books and apps for parents.

NAPPA Awards is a family-focused brand with a mission to “showcase the best toys, learning tools, games, books, music, baby, family and home products.” It has been serving families for more than 33 years.

For even more product reviews, check out nappaawards.com.

Editor’s Note: Let’s Learn Together

Published September 5, 2023

By Cassandra Lane

My favorite social media holiday is back-to-school time — when our feeds are flooded with photos of your kids’ first day of preschool, elementary, middle and (if they let you take a photo) high school. I also delight in the images of parents dropping off their new college students, though I do choke up a bit with you as I imagine you driving away, leaving a part of your heart behind in some strange land, I mean, on campus.

My own kid is just two years away from that moment, so I begged him to let me take a first-day shot this year. I blamed it on his new t-shirt — a charcoal number with a large face of Sade painted on the front, her hair pulled back, her signature gold hoops dangling. “It’s just so darn cute,” I told Sol. “And it’s like you’re wearing my childhood. I loved Sade when I was your age!”

“I love Sade, too,” he said, except he pronounced the name so that it started with a smooth s and rhymed with fade.

“It’s ‘shah-day,’” I said. “Look, if you’re gonna wear history, you need to know it. Name me one Sade song!”

He stumbled, but, being the jokester he is, quickly gathered himself. “I can do better than that,” he quipped. He started singing muffled, indecipherable verses — peppering in words like “life” and “love” — to throw me off. I didn’t recognize the melody at all.

“What the?”

I doubled over and he did, too. Deep belly laughs that carried so much: joy to spend a few mirthful moments before the start of a new school year and a yearning for summer vacation to stretch on a bit longer, allowing me to take on a new project: schooling the kid in all things Sade.

But even though our time with our school-age kids is limited most of the year, we can squeeze in light and heftier lessons about life, the world, history — and we can open ourselves to what they have to teach us as well.

This L.A. Parent issue captures this two-way street of learning:

Our cover model, the “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” actress Abby Ryder Fortson, talks about she caught the acting bug at 4 while accompanying her actor parents to auditions.
In “Back-to-School Mental Health” and “How to Keep Calm During the Chaos of the School Year,” we explore ways to help your kids — and yourself — have a healthier, less stressful year.
“Gender is a Spectrum” guides us on how to support trans and nonbinary youth and their families.
“AI & Your Kids” is our first foray into this ever-evolving technology.
Our Inclusive L.A. section offers a roadmap to success that covers navigating your child’s autism diagnosis and finding support to employment advice for young neurodiverse adults.

Other stories cover the book-banning fury sweeping the nation (and California is not exempt), reflecting on freedom on the beautiful island of St. Croix, story time and math tips from PBS SoCal, student leaders, better sleep and lunchbox tips, fantastic fall events and more.

Enjoy, and have a safe and enriching new school year!

AI & Your Kids

Published September 5, 2023

By Tonilyn Hornung

Genein M. Letford is founder and CEO of CAFFE Strategies and author of “The Future Classroom of Intercultural Creativity.” PHOTO COURTESY GENEIN M. LETFORD

As parents, we guide our children through many of life’s firsts: first steps, first days of school and, now, first contact with artificial intelligence.

While AI used to be a futuristic concept explored in sci-fi movies, it is weaving its way into our kids’ learning landscapes. What are the pitfalls and positive potentials of children using AI — and what boundaries should be set around this ever-evolving technology?

For this generation of students, having a healthy relationship with AI will be part of the equation. Matthew Paolucci, Ph.D., a professor and director of Teaching and Learning at Sonoma State University, frames AI in terms of scale like this: “Think of it in the same way as the effect of the onset of the internet. Every aspect of life is going to be affected by this moment.” Artificial intelligence is just that — fake thinking — and now AI-based systems are more accessible to kids.

Sree Sreenivasan, a long-time digital expert and CEO and co-founder of Digimentors, says this set of tools can be confusing to understand, but this doesn’t mean we should ignore it. “AI is not something we need to tame, but something we should understand and learn to work with,” Sreenivasan says.

So, with AI set to influence so much of our lives and technological advances, how will it affect your child’s learning at school? Is Wall-E or Skynet just around the corner for our kids?

Classroom concerns

Author and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) middle-school English teacher Noriko Nakada says, “When I first started hearing about AI, I downloaded it to see what it can do.” She found that popular apps such as ChatGPT are easily accessible and designed so users can enter a prompt and have anything from essays to poetry to speeches written for them.

ChatGPT is super versatile. It can help you find information, give recommendations or assist you with tasks. It’s like having a clever buddy who’s always there to lend a hand. And ChatGPT wrote those last three sentences when given the prompt: “Explain ChatGPT in a casual way.” This leads to the question: Is AI a hindrance or a help in your child’s learning?

If chatbots are designed to create content, could they write that tricky essay on “The Outsiders” for your child’s class? In a word: Yes.

Of course, there has always been the chance some students will look for easier ways to finish their homework. But while cheating is an age-old concern, using AI can run deeper than cheating on assignments. “What we’re seeing is a tool that, if misused, will be doing the thinking for the student,” Paolucci says.

AI can make it simpler for those on the lookout for a homework shortcut since it does your research, a first draft or writes your essay (with or without perfect grammar when prompted). It may seem as though AI can do everything but pack your kid’s school lunches, but it can’t learn for your child.

Keeping kids honest

Genein M. Letford, M.Ed., founder and CEO of CAFFE Strategies and author of “The Future Classroom of Intercultural Creativity,” says it’s important to communicate to students that no one can take their place of being the learner. “If you give everything to AI, you’re robbing yourself of the benefit of growing,” Letford says.

Writing essays or putting together that in-class speech allows students to think beyond what happens in the classroom. It improves knowledge and develops research skills. Letford goes on to say that technology is here to help us be better people, not to be us. And since, Nakada says, we can’t pretend AI doesn’t exist or that kids won’t use it, parents need to talk about it with their kids.

Michael Roemer, Ph.D., and director of Global Education at Trinity Valley School, says it’s important and effective to have a conversation about how AI can be used appropriately. “If we don’t have these conversations, we aren’t preparing our kids for their future,” Roemer says.

When it comes to AI generating a homework assignment, start students thinking about the repercussions. Roemer suggests using open-ended questions such as: Why do you think this is wrong? What’s the moral ethical dilemma here? “Instead of ignoring the situation, show kids how to be honest with it,” Roemer encourages.

In addition to questioning your children, Paolucci suggests engaging with the tool yourself to show children healthy ways AI can be used to enhance learning. “It’s important to ask your kids, ‘How can you use this as a tool for thinking rather than the thinking itself?’” For example, Roemer says that with a topic in mind, AI can be a useful tool for brainstorming ideas. “AI can also be good for research,” Roemer says. Apps like ChatGPT can be asked to simplify complex topics, which is like having your very own tutor, thus making learning more accessible. “Now students can use that particular source because they understand it,” he says.

Using AI productively

When used as a study support, artificial intelligence can empower students at home — and in the classroom. Roemer and digital expert Sreenivasan say AI can be used to help classes run more efficiently by helping students of different learning levels in the same classroom. Both explain that students with learning differences (such as ADHD or dyslexia) can have lessons specifically geared for them, so teachers can use AI for this purpose. In education terminology, this is called “differentiated instruction.” “You try to teach differently so everybody should grasp the idea,” Roemer says.

In the classroom and at home, AI can be used as a jumping-off point for inspiring curiosity and creativity. Letford advises using AI to support a child’s sense of wonder and awe, to use AI and other technologies to show them there’s a whole universe out there to explore. “It’s a trait they’re going to need in their adulthood,” Letford says. “They have to have their own curiosity to drive them to be a life-long learner, which is an easier skill to build now.”

Supporting your child’s curiosity creates a continuing interest in learning and builds creative-thinking skills — a trait AI isn’t (yet) really able to duplicate.

The experts agree that demonizing or pretending artificial intelligence doesn’t exist isn’t helpful. Roemer says: “There are a couple of reasons an absolute ban is problematic. One of those being, I feel it’s naive. What we ban can become more attractive.” This is because from a social psychology standpoint, the more a person’s behavior feels restricted, the more likely they are to do it, Paolucci explains. Besides, there is no learning in this scenario, which is why talking to your child about the pitfalls and positive potential of AI is so important.

Artificial intelligence and all its nuances can feel overwhelming, but AI can be used in positive ways to further your kiddo’s learning. Popular and trusted educational websites such as Khan Academy are exploring its value “to mimic one-on-one tutoring experiences,” and Roemer says Khan Academy is an incredible resource for students.

Finding positive ways to introduce AI to your children can support their curiosity and love of learning. When asked how students can use ChatGPT, the chatbot even states, “…it’s important to use it as a supplement to traditional learning methods and not rely solely on its responses.” And as Sreenivasan says, “AI is already around us, we’re using it every day. But that’s where we discuss the ethics of it.”

And we do that together.

Tonilyn Hornung is an author and freelance writer who lives with her husband, son and many furry friends.

PlayLA’s Visually Impaired & Blind Soccer Clinics Return to L.A. City Parks this Fall

Published September 5, 2023

By Nina Harada

The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) will present visually impaired and blind soccer clinics as part of the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department’s PlayLA Adaptive Youth Sports Program this fall. From Sept. 16 through Nov. 4, PlayLA’s free clinics will be held at two locations for blind and visually impaired youth ages 5 to 17.

Clinics will be held Saturday mornings on the Westside from Sept. 16 through Oct. 7 at Mar Vista Recreation Center, and in Pacoima from Oct. 14 though Nov. 4 at Hubert H. Humphrey Recreation Center. Participants of all skill levels will be taught blind soccer fundamentals, drills, game play and communication by coaches and members of the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team.

A member organization of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and U.S. Soccer, The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes was officially named by the USOPC in January 2022 as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. The U.S. will make its Paralympic debut in blind soccer at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic games will help lead the blind soccer clinics in L.A.

“The amazing feedback we received from last year’s clinics was incredibly fulfilling,” said Paralympic gold medalist and USABA Blind Soccer Sport Ambassador David Brown. “It doesn’t matter if you are sighted or visually impaired, blind soccer is a sport in which anyone can participate and instantly know what to do… you just have to get used to the blacked-out eyeshades. For these clinics to be in the L.A. areas raises awareness of the sport being part of the LA28 Paralympic Games and that there is a sport for the blind in which individuals can participate and feel part of a team. What participants can learn from this sport is teamwork, communication, confidence and the feeling of acceptance.” Brown will help lead the blind soccer clinics in L.A.

PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program provides access to inclusive, quality sports programing for youth of all abilities throughout the year. Other clinics offered include para surfing, wheelchair basketball, para equestrian and sitting volleyball. For more information visit adaptivesportsla.org.

Peggy Curry from Curry Girls Talks Gluten-Free Living, Parenting in L.A. & Taco Pie

Published August 24, 2023

By Chelsee Lowe and Nina Harada

Peggy and Megan Curry are the mother-daughter duo behind Curry Girls. PHOTOS BY LAURA DART PHOTOGRAPHY

As our fall calendars fill up with back-to-school extracurriculars, playdates and holiday gatherings, creating filling, nutritious dinners that everyone will eat can sound like a daunting task—especially if you have vegetarian or gluten-free members in your family. Peggy Curry, or Pegs as she’s better known, understands and embraces this challenge with her business partner and daughter, Megan. The mother-daughter duo created Curry Girls Kitchen, a health and wellness platform that includes health coaching services, cooking classes, recipes and more, to share their passion for food and health. We asked Peggy to talk about her gluten-free journey, what it’s like working with her daughter and one of her favorite recipes, Taco Pie, that can be adapted with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan or paleo options.

Tell us a little bit about your journey to going gluten-free. What are some misconceptions people have about the descriptor “gluten free?”

Starting at just three months old, my daughter Megan, began really struggling with her health. At first it was chronic ear infections and by high school she was dealing with fevers, hair falling out, and repeated infections. We went to western doctors, functional medicine doctors, you name it. But nothing we tried ever got to the root of the problem.

As a holistic health coach, I happened to be working with a group of Celiac parents at the time. When they heard of Meg’s symptoms, they suggested I get her tested for gluten intolerance. I had my own personal health problems, as did my husband, Tim, so I said “okay let’s give this a shot.” All three of us got tested, and sure enough, we all had the gluten intolerance gene. To confirm, we got our other daughters tested, and yep, they all tested positive, too. So, during our family meeting that week I shared the results and said “hey wouldn’t it be great if none of us had any of these symptoms anymore?” That’s when we made a pact to go gluten-free for a year and see if we felt any improvements. Six weeks in… three months in… we’re all like, “Okay… something is clearly working.” By the six-month mark, all of our symptoms were gone and we were feeling great. That’s when we fully adopted the gluten free lifestyle and never looked back.

Honestly, the biggest misconception about “going gluten-free” is that it’s a bummer. When I found out the solution to my health issues was as simple as a diet change… I was so relieved! What a gift it was to reclaim my health. Back in those days, there were very few gluten-free resources, so it took a fair amount of trial-and-error to recreate my carby favorites. But in the two-ish decades since we all got diagnosed, advancements in gluten-free food manufacturing and recipe development have come SO FAR! At least for the modern Angeleno, it is totally possible to go g-free without giving up on any of your favorite foods. All the yum without the symptoms? Yes please!

Talk about being mother/daughter team. How did that come about? Most people assume that would be tricky…how do you make it work?

It IS tricky. It’s hard. That’s the truth. Megan and I started Curry Girls Kitchen in 2012. In fact, for the first give years of our business relationship we did couples’ therapy and continue to as needed. We both started working together because we each share such a passion for food and helping others heal, but we also have such different personalities. Sometimes when you get two very different and strong personalities together, they can clash—especially under pressure. So, in our years of counseling, we really work to focus on nurturing our mother/daughter relationship and establishing boundaries between our work lives and our family lives. That separation was such a learning curve for me. I am always “on” and in constant create mode. I’ve had to learn to give Megan her space, and focus when we’re together to just be her mom. Ultimately, our differences have become our greatest asset. We are constantly teaching each other new ways of being and exposing ourselves to fresh perspectives. This made Curry Girls Kitchen super adaptable and versatile. For example, before the pandemic lockdowns, we were able to pivot to an entirely digital business model with e-books, online courses, and virtual coaching that highlighted our functional medicine backgrounds. Then, when I was writing and releasing my cookbook, Megan took over the business to give me time to publish “Damn Good Gluten Free” while she maintained all our social platforms. Now we’re in a new era. These days, I’m managing our multiple social platforms to give HER the space to spread her wings as a coach, private chef, and recipe developer. We’re always working to give space for what we need to grow and develop our unique gifts and talents. We support each other’s interests and allow one another to take the reins when it’s our turn to shine.

Talk about your “Damn Good Gluten Free” cookbook — what should people know? What’s your personal favorite recipe (or two)?

Damn Good Gluten Free is THE roadmap for anyone diagnosed with autoimmune conditions. That said, most doctors will suggest a gluten free diet. Unfortunately, so many of us when we get diagnosed are left to fend for ourselves in the middle of a major lifestyle shift. I set out to make the guiding resource I never received. It’s comprehensive for foodies like me, who want to get into the nutrition nitty gritty. It’s easy to use for the busy parents, who just want a meal plan to follow and pantry guide to help them shop. And its inclusive for all kinds of eaters, because healthy eating is not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. That’s why I formulated almost every recipe to include paleo, diary-free, vegetarian, and vegan variations. I wanted to make sure that everyone can eat healthfully and deliciously together based on their needs.

Actually, the Taco Pie Recipe is a great example of that. It’s easy, modifiable, scalable, and you can whip it all up in one pot. So simple! So yummy! It’s definitely one of my all-time favorite recipes. And it’s the one gift I will make and share with friends and family who recently had a baby, or a family is in need. It is such a favorite meal for all ages. I will admit, Tim is currently making this for dinner. So, the smells wafting from the kitchen may be influencing my decision.

Angelinos tend to be relatively health-minded, active people. Do you find that locals are receptive to your goals as a chef and mentor, in terms of cooking cleaner/healthier food?

Yes and no. I think for a lot of Angelinos, their intention is to eat healthier and cleaner. But I have observed that on a foundational level, many people do not know what true health is. Yes, food is an important component, as is mental health, emotional health and social health. To me, the critical key for true health is knowing which foods work best in your body. Then true health integrates and balances all of those factors. When we zone in on food specifically, there are two main culprits that have kept many of my clients from fulfilling their wellness goals.

One, is simply lack of body awareness. Every BODY is different. We each have different needs and respond to specific foods differently. However, many of us go through life without acknowledging our bio-individuality and incorporating it into our health protocols. So, first things first: know your body’s cues. Actually listening to our body when it communicates to you, and respond accordingly. Typical chronic symptoms include headaches, sinus congestion, IBS, bloating after meals, psoriasis and digestive issues. Know which foods are your personal super foods helps you feel energized and vibrant. We use our Curry Girls Cleansing with Food Reset to help our clients discover which foods help them eliminate chronic symptoms and put autoimmune into remission. Taking action is a person’s first step in health prevention and not getting complacent if things feel “off.” All too often people are just willing to accept fixable chronic symptoms because it’s “always been that way” or “it’s not that big of a deal.” I can tell you firsthand how impactful it is to honor your body’s needs.

The second issue that keeps people from optimal nutrition, is the use of subpar ingredients. When I meet people, who are otherwise “doing everything right,” the missing link is usually the quality of their food. Most people living in Los Angeles understand how toxic our modern agricultural industry is today using chemicals and pesticides to grow our food. We give thanks to the numerous food documentaries that have educated us that not all food is created equal. If you want to get the most bang for your buck nutritionally, the bulk of your ingredients should be fresh, organic, local and in season. We Angelinos are spoiled by our incredible farmers and markets. Our farmers markets are the greatest for finding whole, close to the source ingredients. The farther our food is from its source, the lower the it’s nutritional value. Knowing your farmers and how your food is grown is a gift we have living so close to our food source.

Where did you raise your kids? What do you love about living and working in So Cal?

We were blessed to raise our kids in Manhattan Beach. In fact, our family has been living on the same block for the past 40 years. I can tell you, as a lifelong resident, the best thing about the SoCal beach lifestyle is the sense of community. While our girls were growing up, they were among 36 kids in our 20-house cul-de-sac. It was a total blast! Block party vibes always! The best part was how everyone took care of everyone’s kids. To this day, even though our block has changed, there is still such a feeling of neighborly support. When the kids were all growing up it was like one big family. We all rallied to support each other. And, if heaven forbid anything bad were to happen, our amazing community always shows up to help when needed.

Taco Pie

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1 1⁄4 lb. ground dark meat chicken, turkey or beef
½ -3/4 cup organic ketchup
2 teaspoon Mexican seasoning blend
1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1⁄2 teaspoon ground chili pepper or pepper flakes (optional)
Organic gluten free coconut, almond, corn or brown rice tortillas

Preparation
Heat pan on medium heat.

Brown ground meat, and crumble meat with fork, until browned.

Add the seasonings, then the ketchup.

Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.

Keeping the meat nice and moist. Add a little more ketchup if needed.

While meat is cooking, ready the following:

1 pie plate or quiche dish

3 gluten free tortillas, unheated

1 can refried black beans, pinto beans or another exotic flavor of refried beans

1 fresh corn cob husked and shucked off from the cob or 1 can of organic corn

1-2 cups grated cheese blend: jack and cheddar cheeses, feta and or a specialty Mexican cheese blend package.

Layering your taco pie:

Start with one tortilla; spread a heaping spoonful or more of refried beans onto the tortilla.

Make sure you have enough to repeat for two more layers. You can eyeball the can in third.

Spread a third of the meat mixture over the beans.

Next, sprinkle with corn.

And last, top with grated cheese blend.

Repeat two more times.

Sprinkle top with Mexican seasonings and chopped fresh cilantro.

Bake at 350 uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until hot, browned and bubbly.

Topping Ideas: Guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

Taco Variations:
Vegetarian: Use vegan crumbles, cooked brown rice, diced zucchini, corn and black beans.

Dairy-free: Use Kite Hill almond crumbles, Daiya or Follow Your Heart brand vegan cheeses.

SoCal readers interested in supporting local, can purchase a copy of “Damn Good Gluten Free” at Pages Bookstore. Otherwise, Kindle and Hardback copies are also available on Amazon.

Disney Junior Celebrates New and Returning Shows at Disney Junior & Friends Playdate at Disneyland California Adventure Park

Published August 21, 2023

By Nina Harada

Disney Junior & Friends Playdate, a three-day event held at Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney District Aug. 18-20, celebrated the stories and characters from Disney Junior’s preschool shows through special announcements, parades, live show and more. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, revealed new Disney Junior projects, holiday-themed episodes and casting announcements at the event on Friday, Aug. 18.

DISNEY JUNIOR & FRIENDS PLAYDATE – Today, during ‘Disney Junior & Friends Playdate’ event at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, attendees were treated to sneak peeks and announcements, as well as fun-filled fan activities celebrating the magical, entertaining, and music-filled stories and beloved characters of Disney Junior. (Disney/Richard Harbaugh) MICKEY MOUSE, WINNIE THE POOH, MIRA, TIGGER

Actor Mykal-Michelle Harris, LA Parent’s Nov/Dec 2022 cover model, will voice Ariel in “Disney Junior’s Ariel.”

Disney Junior programming, available on the Disney Junior YouTube channel and streaming on Disney+, features content geared towards preschoolers aged 2-7. Programming announcements included a new iteration of Disney Junior’s flagship series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” which will debut in 2025. The updated version of the Emmy Award-winning animation will feature an expanded clubhouse area for just for Minnie. Other announcements included the cast for “Disney Junior’s Ariel,” an animated musical series premiering in 2024. Ariel will be played by Mykal-Michelle Harris, who was the cover model for our 2022 Holiday issue of LA Parent. After the cover shoot she chatted with our Editor in Chief Cassandra Lane about her love of the industry and how she got her start in acting.

Peabody Award-winning “Doc McStuffins” will premiere “Doc McStuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In!” on Sept. 6, which will be the first time fans will see new content since 2020. New series “RoboGobo,” which follows Dax and his five adorable, adopted pets, will premiere in 2024 with noteworthy guest stars like Alan Cumming and Ana Gasteyer. The new “Playdate with Winnie the Pooh” and “Me & Winnie the Pooh” shorts debuted on Disney Junior YouTube and Disney Junior on Aug. 18. Hit series “Firebuds” returns to Disney Junior and Disney + with a second season and new episodes of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will debut Nov. 8.

A Halloween-themed episode of SuperKitties premiers Sept. 25.

Special holiday episodes were also announced for Disney Junior programs, including a Halloween-themed episode of “SuperKitties,” premiering Sept. 25, and a Rosh Hashanah-themed episode of “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends” premiering Sept. 15. Other holiday content includes a Dia de los Muertos-themed episode of “Mickey Mouse Funhouse,” debuting Oct. 6 and stop-motion special, “Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats,” premiering Oct. 1.

A Rosh Hashanah themed episode of “Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends” premiers on Sept. 15.

“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure and heart,” said Davis. “From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play.”

Town and Country Resort in San Diego: First Vacation as a Family of Four

Published August 17, 2023

By Nina Harada

Town and Country Resort in San Diego features a sprawling pool complex. PHOTO BY JUSTIN KRIEL/ COURTESY TOWN AND COUNTRY RESORT

I walk behind my eldest daughter Naomi on our way to daycare for the very last time, my five-month-old baby strapped to my chest. She does not hold my hand or wait for me to catch up. Her nose is in a book, awkwardly turning the pages while trying to avoid the overgrown native plants in our neighbor’s front yard, which she does because we’ve walked this same path for the last two years. Tomorrow she will start “big school” and clearly, she is ready, but I am not. In anticipation for this rite of passage I told my husband I wanted a family trip before the back-to-school madness begins. After all, we’ve never gone anywhere just the four of us yet. So, the final weekend of summer break we packed our swimsuits, snacks and other essentials and headed south.

The 671 guest rooms at Town and Country Resort feature plush beds, plenty of space and artwork by local artist Andy Davis. PHOTO BY JUSTIN KRIEL/ COURTESY TOWN AND COUNTRY RESORT

San Diego has become one of our happy places, as I’m sure it is for many, with its year-round perfect weather, local breweries, sandy beaches, and my favorite, palm trees. Despite arriving at Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley very late on a Friday night, I still felt an instant sense of calm as we drove past the row of palm trees lining the entrance. The mid-century lobby was all vibes with couples at the Monkey Bar sipping cocktails, live music and tweens and teens soaking up their final days of freedom. As much as I’d love to disregard the girls’ bedtimes in the name of summer vacation, to sip wine around the fire pits outside the Monkey Bar and put our feet up, we have not reached that level of parenting yet. But that’s okay. We take the elevator up to our suite and that ride alone had Naomi excited. If that’s all it takes, then she’s in for a treat.

Photo-ops and fun in the sun

The flamingo chair makes a perfect phot-op. PHOTO COURTESY NINA HARADA

Seeing the 23-acre property in the daylight from our balcony we got our bearings. “Pink chair!” Naomi exclaimed pointing to the Instagram ready giant flamingo shaped chair against a colorful mural backdrop. “Twisty slide!” she said pointing in the other direction at the four-story 150-foot twister waterslide. In between, the property’s zero entry main pool glistened, rows of lounge chairs neatly surrounding the 10,000 square foot pool complex. As most parents of little ones know, just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you get to sleep in. Fortunately, the in-room coffee maker held me over until everyone was dressed to stroll over to MRKT, the hotel’s gourmet grab-n-go market featuring very San Diego fare like acai bowls, breakfast burritos and fish tacos.

After breakfast we had to have our own little photo shoot by the chair. As my husband was juggling our baby and the iPhone to snap a picture, a woman and her young son volunteered to take the ever-elusive photo of all of us. “They’re only this little once,” she said insisting on taking multiple pictures to get the right shot. “He was our do-over.” She ruffled her son’s hair who was being a good sport about this morning interruption. “We’ve got two in college and then—surprise! It was the best surprise.” She squeezes her son. “Enjoy this time.” I squeeze my baby girls a little harder. I know she’s right, how fleeting this moment can be despite the challenges that come with parenting little ones. After all, this was our last weekend before entering the world of packed lunches, permission slips and picture day. I try not to think of all that at lunch, a “mommy and Naomi date” as she likes to call it. I do my best to hold back tears as I stare at her across the table, sipping on sparkling apple cider out of a champagne flute. “Stop looking at me!!” she grumbles and breaks me out of my spell.

Pool time

Take a slide down the 150-foot twister. PHOTO BY JUSTIN KRIEL/ COURTESY TOWN AND COUNTRY RESORT

That afternoon, which happened to be Steel Drum Saturday, we snagged some poolside chairs in the shade, thanks to a local couple with young kids and a baby enjoying the resort for the day. The property was full of parents like them who “get it,” which is part of the reason we could relax a little unlike past vacations. I sat on the edge of the kiddie pool as I kept an eye on Naomi who was playing in the water with a little girl. The girl’s mom had three other children, she explained to me, ages 7, 10 and 12. “She was my surprise baby,” she said pointing to her 3-year-old. “I had an IUD that was supposed to last 10 years. But it lasted four. She was meant to be!”

Dinner and a movie

After an early evening stroll through San Diego River Park, directly behind our building, we sat down for dinner at Lapper Kitchen + Tap, the resort’s fast-casual restaurant featuring a full bar and kids menu. As dinner was winding down, Naomi asked if she could play on the lawn across from the Lapper. Shocked that she didn’t ask one of us to go with her, I said, “Of course.” We could easily see her from our table where we were still sipping our beers. She takes a moment to observe from the sidelines the older kids rolling down the small grassy hill. When she felt ready, she joined in on the fun. My eyes welled again; she is ready.

Enjoy a meal around the fire pit at The Lapper. PHOTO BY JUSTIN KRIEL/ COURTESY TOWN AND COUTRY RESORT

The sky was turning that gorgeous dusty pink as we walked back to our room. By the pool, a giant inflatable screen was getting ready to show the 2006 animated film “Happy Feet,” one of the many family-friendly activities at the hotel. But we were tired from a full day and even Naomi agreed it was time to go to sleep. The next day, after the daunting task of packing up a car with kids, I asked Naomi how she felt about the trip. I expected her to talk about the pink chair or the pool, or even the hotel elevator. To my surprise she answered, “Squeezed, loved, hugs.”

Our first family vacation as a family of four wasn’t all pink sunsets and relaxing meals, not with a baby and a four-year-old, but our time at Town and Country Resort was certainly full of love, squeezes and hugs.

Bistro, Bocce and Bowling Collide at Westfield Topanga

Published July 19, 2023

By Nina Harada

Westfield Topanga Mall has your new Saturday date night –with or without the kids– covered. Pinstripes, an experiential dining and entertainment concept from Chicago, opened its newest location in the San Fernando Valley this summer. The restaurant and entertainment venue, which joins a slew of new restaurants and shops as part of Westfield Topanga’s 2023 expansion, features modern Italian/American cuisine, wine, beer and cocktails in addition to bowling and bocce ball.

Pinstripes’ bistro serves made-from-scratch pastas, pizzas, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches and more using locally sourced ingredients. Start the night off with a handcrafted cocktail or craft beer, followed by a wood-fired pizza and end your meal with their house made gelato. Their menu features seasonal chef specialties, a curated wine list and ever-changing craft beer selection.

The 28,000 square foot space also features 12 bowling lanes, four bocce courts and customizable event spaces for up to 1,200 people. Guests can enjoy a drink on the intimate patio out front as well as on the indoor/outdoor terrace on the second level between games.

Pinstripes is located at Westfield Topanga, 600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park. For more information visit pinstripes.com.

Finding Coffee and Community in Little Tokyo

Published May 2, 2023

By Nina Harada

As an accountant, James Choi figured he’d spend his life immersed in a world of numbers — not flour and coffee. But that all changed when, in 2011, his mother set about opening her dream bakery in Little Tokyo’s Japanese Village Plaza. Weeks before opening day, both her business partner and her baker left, so Choi stepped in to help his mom move forward with the opening.

His help was supposed to be a temporary fix. It ended up transforming into a career change.

“I didn’t think it was going to work,” he recalls of that first year. They were selling cookies and pastries from store-bought frozen dough and didn’t know much about coffee. He jokes that in those early days, when Yelp still had a lot of influence on small businesses, all the reviews for Café Dulce were about how nice the staff was, but there was no mention of the food or drinks.

“Being at the store every day and getting involved with the community, he’s just really good with people,” Cindy Choi says of her husband. “So that hospitality aspect…people came to Dulce just to get coffee. I think it just built organically.”

More than 10 years later, people line up for their signature fruity pebble donut holes, apple tuna sandwiches made with Fuji apples, signature dulce latte and the good vibes that the Chois have continued to cultivate since day one. Now, their brand has grown to five Café Dulce locations in L.A. and their latest venture, Yoboseyo! Superette, a specialty market and café they opened last summer in the former storefront of Bicycle Coffee. When the multi-level space, which was already set up to roast coffee, became available during the pandemic, James saw an opportunity to have their own roastery. There was also a huge retail space below, and Cindy saw it as an opportunity to create a specialty marketplace highlighting local makers. “We wanted to become a little launching pad for them,” she says. “Our little small business helping other small businesses.” In the store, you can find candles, cards, artisanal foods and more.

The Choi family has grown, too. Five years ago, Cindy and James became parents with the birth of their daughter Autumn (who is the inspiration for Yoboseyo’s logo). And just a few months ago, they welcomed Autumn’s baby brother. As small business owners who are also parents raising their kids in Downtown L.A., it was important to James and Cindy that Yoboseyo become a community space for the neighborhood and for families. One step in that direction was creating a jiu-jitsu studio in the back of the restaurant. Eventually, they will offer classes for all ages, so parents can drop their kids off and hang out while enjoying a coffee or snack — or take a class themselves.

“Even the little popsicle fridge we have — that’s like my childhood from Korea,” Cindy says. “You go and dig for your favorite popsicle when your grandfather gives you a dollar to go to the neighborhood store.” James and Cindy saw that scene come to life when one day their daughter and her friends visited the shop. The kids burst through the doors and went straight to the ice cream chest to pick out their favorite treats.

Running six shops and parenting two littles is no easy task, but the Chois say they wouldn’t trade it for the world. Also, coffee helps. James shares Café Dulce’s fan-favorite dulce latte, which makes for a great mid-day pick-me-up for parents.

Dulce Latte

1 part condensed milk

2 parts espresso and milk of choice (steamed or cold and over ice)

Mix 1 part condensed milk (20-25 grams or to taste) into espresso and incorporate with milk of your choice.

If steaming milk, steam milk separately, then incorporate it into the espresso and condensed milk. If serving cold, pour the espresso and condensed milk into the cold milk, then serve over ice.

Note from James: “If you don’t have access to espresso at home, try condensed milk in your coffee, anyhow. It’s a great way to incorporate sweetness, cream and a heavier mouthfeel into your morning jolt or afternoon pickup. It’s especially good in cold brew and cold brew concentrates. We love condensed milk. Asians love condensed milk. It’s a way we can incorporate some Eastern influences into our Western coffee beverages.”

Find Yoboseyo! Superette in Little Tokyo at 358 E. 2^nd St. Find Café Dulce in Japanese Village Plaza at 134 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, in ROW DTLA at 777 S. Alameda St. #150, in USC Village at 3096 McClintock Ave. Ste. 1420, in Vernon at 2520 S. Alameda St. and in the Fashion District at 210 E Olympic Blvd.

Spotlight: Meet Story Pirates Co-Founder and CEO Benjamin Salka

Published February 13, 2023

By Nina Harada

Benjamin Salka, co-founder of Story Pirates. PHOTO COURTESY STORY PIRATES

If you have a child under 12 chances are you know Story Pirates, through their award-winning podcast, hilarious music, fantastical books, or their Creator Club, which gives families activity guides, invites to member-only events, bonus podcast episodes and more. Benjamin Salka co-founded the popular kids’ media brand in 2004 after a group of friends put on a sketch comedy show based on stories and ideas by real kids. They saw an opportunity to celebrate kids’ voices through storytelling. We asked Benjamin how Story Pirates has impacted his role as a dad, what stories inspired him as a kid and what he likes to do with his family in L.A.

What inspired you to start Story Pirates?

After growing up as a theater kid in Santa Monica, I spent my twenties in New York assisting some prominent directors and producers in theater and film, including Scott Rudin. He was legendary for being an A-list producer and, he was outlandishly brutal to his assistants. He fired me no fewer than nine times, and I left that job confused and conflicted about what to do next. On one hand, I picked up strong producing skills from him, and on the other, I felt burned by an entertainment culture that tolerated — and even celebrated — abuse of those with low status. When my co-founder Lee Overtree, who I’d met in college at Northwestern, approached me a year later about helping him start the Story Pirates, it was the most exciting idea I’d ever heard: an entertainment brand devoted to elevating the status of kids as storytellers. It felt like something I could pour my heart into and feel great about. We started performing in small theaters and schools, and the response from the kids, parents and teachers was amazing. That was 2004, and I’ve never looked back. We now produce one of the top podcasts for kids with 65 million downloads and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.

Story Pirates will perform their annual benefit show on March 11 at the Saban in Beverly Hills. PHOTO COURTESY IAN CURCIO

Tell us about Story Pirates Changemakers and your upcoming benefit show.

Story Pirates Changemakers is the non-profit arm of Story Pirates. We created this literacy and arts education organization to make Story Pirates media available and accessible to under-resourced schools, children and communities. We produce annual fundraiser performances in Los Angeles and New York, and our L.A. benefit is coming up on March 11th at 4:30 p.m. at the Saban in Beverly Hills.

If you’re a fan of the Story Pirates Podcast, you’ll recognize the format. The show is entirely based on stories sent to us by real kids, adapted by professional comedians and musicians. We’ll be performing fan favorite songs and sketches, along with a running improvised segment created on the spot from suggestions by kids in the room. And we’ll be raising money for Changemakers to bring Story Pirates programs into Title I schools. The show runs just over an hour and is perfect for kids ages 5-12. This year’s L.A. benefit will include Peter and Eric from the Story Pirates Podcast, Alex and Andrew from SPTV (which airs on KLCS-TV in LA), plus a livestreamed video visit from DJ Squirm-a-Lot. The cast will also debut the first live performance of the kid-inspired original song “Fart Out Loud Day,” which is one of our hits.

How has running Story Pirates impacted your role as a father? Do your kids listen to the podcast and watch your shows?

Story Pirates fundamentally changed my view of childhood. In so many ways, our culture is really condescending to kids. They constantly feel like adults are telling them what to do, what to think, and who to be. Story Pirates flips that on its head and lets us see the world from kids’ own perspective. As a dad of two, I feel the same pressure everyone else does to raise kids who know what is expected of them. Story Pirates reminds me to take equal time to just listen. And what they have to say is so amazing! It’s almost always hilarious and often really profound. My kids love Story Pirates, especially the songs, and it’s a cool way to connect with them.

What was your favorite story as a kid?

I was obsessed with standup comedy as a kid. I had almost every comedy album you could get on vinyl and cassette. I also loved Garfield and The Far Side and my favorite book was “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” I was obsessed with comedy.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I hated brushing my teeth as a kid, and low and behold, I got so many cavities. I want to go back in time and tell my younger self that brushing your teeth is great! He’d never believe me, though.

What is the most memorable moment you’ve had at one of your live events?

We’ve done thousands of live events, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but here are three standouts:

Performing at the Kennedy Center for both of President Obama’s inaugural weekends.
John Oliver performing a sketch almost entirely in Spanish while the audience laughed so hard, they nearly cried.
A show where a kid got so excited to see the Story Pirates that he puked.

What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend in L.A. with your family?

My kids and I love to meet up at different parks around SoCal with my sister and her kids. Our families got really close during the pandemic, and we were always looking for places to gather outdoors. Parks are free, they’re endlessly fun for the kids, and there are a lot of them. It takes almost no planning and always feels fresh.

February Book Corner: Self-Love, Kindness and Family

Published February 8, 2023

By Nina Harada

Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!

Written and illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Sometimes friends love the same thing for different reasons, and that difference can reveal lessons in cooperation and competition. That’s true for the two friends in “Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!” Otter just wants to play, while Beaver is determined to make his dam. In the end they learn how to make both work but working together. Ages 4-8. Available Feb. 21.

Luna Finds Love Everywhere

By Dr. Shainna Ali

Mental health expert Dr. Shainna Ali shares developmentally appropriate self-love lessons for kids in “Luna Finds Love Everywhere.” The colorful picture book follows cheerful Luna as she navigates simple tasks, like having breakfast, getting dressed or playing with friends. Throughout the story, the book poses questions, like “How do you feel when things don’t go your way?” or “What are some of your favorite things to do?” to get young readers thinking about self-expression and self-esteem. Ages 3-5.

Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear

By Nadine Brun-Cosme and Oliver Tallec

“Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear” travels through the seasons with beautiful illustrations of three best friends having fun together in the forest. The rabbit, duck and bear think they do everything together until they realize they’ve all found solace under a beautiful fir tree on their own. They learn that time with friends and time alone are equally nice. Ages 4-8. Available Feb. 14.

Sunny and Oswaldo

By Nicole Melleby, and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo

“Sunny and Oswaldo” is a touching picture book that introduces themes of empathy and mental health in an age-appropriate way. Young Sunny is not a cat person, so when her dad excitedly brought home a scruffy, unfriendly cat named Oswaldo, she wasn’t happy. But when Oswaldo goes missing one night, Sunny realizes how much Oswaldo means to her dad. Ages 4-8.

Lasagna Means I Love You

By Kate O’Shaughnessy

Author Kate O’Shaughnessy is a trained chef and her love and expertise of food and recipes shines through the pages of “Lasagna Means I Love You,” the bittersweet story of eleven-year-old Mo who suddenly finds herself in search of family when the death of her beloved grandmother puts in her into foster care. Through letters to her grandmother and recipes she’s collected from other families, Mo processes the big changes in her life and eventually finds a family she can call her own. Ages 8-12.

Family Meeting Planner

By Alex Mont-Ros

Alex Mont-Ros, dad to eight children knows a thing or two about the challenges of raising a family. Over the last two decades as a dad, he held family meetings to encourage communication and address the day-to-day needs of everyone in his family. He learned the importance of planning, accountability, organization and focus to successfully run these meetings, which led to the creation of “The Family Meeting Planner,” a workbook designed to help families get on the same page and improve their communication and connection.

For more book suggestions, check out our January Book Corner.

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in L.A.

Published February 2, 2023

By Nina Harada

Love is in the air! Whether you’re celebrating self-love, Galentine’s Day or a traditional Valentine’s Day with your partner, L.A. is full of ways to celebrate love and friendship all month long. From crafts to movies to traditional romantic meals, we’ve got you covered in our Valentine’s Day roundup.

Say “I Do”

If you’re ready to go all in for Valentine’s Day, marry your sweetheart at Santa Clarita City Hall during The Big I Do Event on Feb. 14. The all-inclusive wedding ceremony allows each couple to invite up to six guests for the group celebration, which includes brunch, wedding cake, champagne toasts, professional photographer, dance floor and an actual marriage license. Up to $600. santa-clarita.com

Spa Day

Nothing says romance like a couples massage. Burke Williams Spa is offering special Valentine’s Day packages, including massage therapy, facials, manicures, spa baths and their all-new tranquility massage treatment. $185 and up. burkewilliams.com

Treat yourself or join a loved one at Burke Williams Spa. PHOTO COURTESY BURKE WILLIAMS SPA

Kids’ Crafts

Join Urbanic, a stationary and gift shop in Venice, for Little Valentine Craft Club on Feb. 5 to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your little ones. Browse the store and sip on drinks while your little one makes learns to make their own craft from Violet of Rock Paper Scissors. For ages 4 and up. FREE. urbanicpaper.com

Romantic Dinner

Enjoy a romantic four-course meal at the historic Raymond in Pasadena. PHOTO COURTESY THE RAYMOND

Need date night ideas? Take a stroll through downtown Pasadena and enjoy a six-course tasting menu and a parting gift at Perle Restaurant. $15-$175 per person. perlerestaurant.com Or head to the historic Raymond for a four-course menu, featuring roast duck, black cod and delicious desserts. $140 per person. theraymond.com

The heart-shaped pizza at Mickey’s Italian Deli and Pizzeria in Hermosa. PHOTO COURTESY MICKEY’S ITALIAN DELI AND PIZZERIA

And don’t leave the kids out on Valentine’s Day! They’ll love the heart-shaped pizzas at Mickey’s Italian Deli and Pizzeria in Hermosa. These love-shaped pies have become a family tradition. Ordering it with favorite toppings allows kids to have some fun at home before the parents spend a little time with each other. mickeysdeli.com

Comedy Night

Celebrate love with some laughs at Giggles & Grooves Valentine’s Day Edition on Feb. 17. The live show at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium features stand-up comedian and actor Lil Duval and award-winning R&B singer/songwriter Donell Jones. $47 and up. visitpasadena.com

Roses are Red

Don’t forget the flowers! The Grove will host a special pop up from Holy Chic Los Angeles, which will feature an exclusive collection of infinity roses and other Valentine’s gifts through Feb. 14. thegrovela.com

Play Date

Bring the kids to North Weddington Park in North Hollywood on Feb. 4 for a special Valentine’s Play Date with Shane’s Inspiration. The Valentine’s fun will include crafts, snacks and plenty of playground fun. FREE. inclusionmatters.org

Volunteer

All ages are invited to Big Sunday’s 11^th Annual Valentine’s Day Spread the Love Event. On Feb. 14 volunteers will gather at Saint Barnabas Senior Center next to MacArthur Park to make cards and goodie bags for senior citizens, followed by a dance class and brunch. bigsunday.org

Puppy Love

Celebrate Puppy Love on Feb. 11 at The Shore Room at The Seabird Resort in Oceanside. The special Valentine’s Day event for dog lovers and their furry friends will feature dog treats, boozy drinks, a puppy kissing booth, dog sway and more. FREE. theseabirdresort.com

Outdoor Movie

If you like to stick to tradition, celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic movie. Rooftop Cinema Club Arts District has plenty to choose from in their Rooftop Romance film series. Catch “La La Land” on Feb. 14, “The Notebook” on Feb. 19 or “500 Days of Summer” on Feb. 24. $16.50 – $25.50 for adults; $11.75-$13.75 for kids 12 and under. Note some films are for 18 and over. rooftopcinemaclub.com

Lovely Staycations

Looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day getaway?

These hotels are offering special Valentine’s Day promotions — perfect for a last-minute parent escape, a relaxing staycation for those looking to get away close to home or a family getaway trip as some of the properties are super family-friendly!

At Hotel Winters in Winters, Calif., “everyday in February is Valentine’s Day.” Available offers include: 10% off best available rate; a bottle of wine and Valentine’s treat; $50 off spa treatment of choice (per reservation) and complimentary dessert at Carboni’s.

At Hotel Ziggy in West Hollywood, the “single AF” package includes a $50 credit at B-Side Pizza; curated vinyls by solo artists to play in-room; cleansing masks by Tenth and Mae and more.

Also in West Hollywood, the “Love is Better in Bed” packages at Chamberlain and Le Parc Suites include a champagne breakfast in bed for two; 20% off in-room spa treatments from Soothe and more. Montrose in Beverly Hills has a similar package.

In Corte Madera, Marin Suites is offering 15% off its best flexible rate, as well as a welcome amenity including chocolates, sparkling cider and a rose-petal presentation. And for its “Harbor of Love” theme, Harbor Court in San Francisco includes a waterfront room, bottle of champagne, box of chocolates and more.

SoCal Events to Celebrate Black History Month

Published February 1, 2023

By Nina Harada

The Nicholas Brothers in a scene from Stormy Weather (1943), from left, Fayard Nicholas and Harold Nicholas. Photographic print, gelatin silver. Courtesy Margaret Herrick Library, Twentieth Century Fox

February is Black History Month. Although a month is never enough to celebrate the vast contributions and achievements of Black Americans, it is a time when museums, libraries and other cultural institutions host numerous events in honor of Black History Month. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite celebrations and events in and around Los Angeles.

Celebrate Black History Month at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with their groundbreaking exhibition, “Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971.” The museum will also host a three-day Regeneration Summit Feb. 3-5 featuring live music, workshops, screenings, food vendors and more. Read about our Editor-in-Chief’s visit to the exhibition here. $15-$25. Free on Feb. 4 for SoCal Museums Annual Free for All day. academymuseum.org

Adai Lamar will serve as the grand marshal for the 43rd Annual Orange County Black History Parade & Unity Festival on Feb. 4.

The 43rd Annual Orange County Black History Parade & Unity Festival returns to Anaheim on Feb. 4 with food, entertainment, vendors, celebrities, college fair, art contest and more. The parade route starts at Anaheim and Lincoln Ave, marches to Water St. and returns to Anaheim City Hall. oc-hc.org

Learn about Underground Railroad quilt codes with the Santa Catalina Branch Library on Feb. 18. Artist Alyson Toone leads this Art Quilt Block Portraits workshop where participants will make their own textile collage. For ages 13 and up. FREE. pasadena.evanced.info

Join the Pasadena Public Library at La Pintoresca Branch on Feb. 21 for a presentation of African Talking Drums. Renowned percussionist and teaching artist Chazz Ross leads this all-ages workshop. cityofpasadena.net

Southern California Children’s Museum is collaborating with KidLit in Color all month long to highlight some of their favorite Black authors through Instagram takeovers, story times and arts and crafts. $10. socalkids.org

Aquarium of the Pacific hosts their 21^st annual African-American Festival Feb. 25-26. The weekend features live music, dance, storytelling and more. Included with admission. aquariumofpacific.org

California African American Museum hosts their Black History Month Prosperity Market on Feb. 25. The pop-up event celebrates Black farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs and features food, artisan goods, live DJ, kids corner and wellness offerings like yoga and a sound bath. FREE. caamuseum.org

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is spotlighting Jordu Schell, a sculptor and concept artist who has been working in the film and television industries for over 30 years, and who is one of only a few African American creature artists in his field. He has found inspiration from the museum’s entomology and live animals collections to create some of film’s most iconic creatures. He was instrumental in the creation of the Na’vi and other creatures in James Cameron’s blockbuster film “Avatar,” shaping the designs of the characters using physical sculptures. Over the years, Schell has conceptualized creatures and characters for major projects including “Hellboy,” “Men In Black,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Predator,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and more. NHM.ORG/LAatplay

Join Parenting for Liberation on Feb. 18 at the Black-owned Blackbird flagship space in Culver City as the organization celebrates its inaugural Black Parent Innovation cohort. Fellows accepted into the program were awarded $5,000 each to ideate, experiment and hone new strategies to help their communities thrive. Learn about their projects, engage in panel discussions celebrating Black ingenuity and celebrate Black innovation. parentingforliberation.org/innovation/

Santa Monica Black Lives Association and DTSM, Inc. will host a day of music, conversation and celebration at the Celebration & Solidarity: Black History Month Festival along the Third Street Promenade from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, March 11 (this event was rescheduled due to weather).

The free festival features live musical performances by rapper Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among many others. Attendees can enjoy delicious meals from Black-owned local restaurants and shop a variety of African American-made products from local vendors. Exhibits highlighting the contributions of African Americans in science and technology will be on display, and a celebrity panel discussion featuring former Los Angeles Laker Norm Nixon and others will explore the impact of African Americans in the entertainment industry.

To conclude Black History Month, Oak Park Brewing Co. and Peoples Beer are collaborating with The Ray Charles Foundation to release a limited edition free-of-alcohol brew celebrating the musical icon Ray Charles, that will be available during a limited-time pop-up at Fixins Soul Kitchen in DTLA.

Fixins Soul Kitchen, the full-service soul food restaurant that celebrates African American culture and traditions owned by NBA legend and 55^th mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson, is inviting all to come together to celebrate the legendary Ray Charles from Feb, 23-March 31 at the pop-up, which will include Ray Charles art and a playlist curated by The Ray Charles Foundation.

A presentation and tasting of the Ray Charles Brew will take place 12 p.m. Feb. 23.

January Book Corner: Books that Encourage Empathy & Joy

Published January 26, 2023

By Nina Harada

Oona in the Arctic

By Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Raissa Figueroa continue the adventures of Oona the mermaid in the third installment of their Oona series, “Oona in the Arctic.” When Oona helps a lost baby beluga whale find its way home, they meet kind strangers and make new friends. Their journey through the arctic sea shows how a little kindness goes a long way. Ages 4-8.

A Kids Book About Anxiety

by Ross Szabo

Between the pandemic, holidays and typical growing pains, there is a lot to feel anxious about. But if we aren’t used to talking about mental health, experiencing anxiety can be scary or confusing. Ross Szabo, Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA, tackles the important conversation around mental health in “A Kids Book About Anxiety,” which is meant to be read together, adult and child. Through simple text and visuals mimicking a heartbeat, “A Kids Book About Anxiety” shows what anxiety can feel like and how we can live with it.

Very Good Hats

By Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Bestselling author and bookstore owner Emma Straub released her first children’s book. “Very Good Hats” is a colorful and joyful look into the different ways we can see ordinary objects. Acorns make perfect hats for fingers and bubbles make great temporary hats. Not only does it inspire us to look at the world in a new light, the charming illustrations remind us of the limitless imagination children bring to this world. Ages 2-5.

This Little Kitty

By Karen Obuhanych

In “This Little Kitty” debut author-illustrator Karen Obuhanych uses rhyming text and playful illustrations of cats doing very cat-like things, like grooming, sitting in a box for hours and clawing the chair. The humorous picture book will make both kids and adults giggle as they read along. Ages 3-7.

Love Without Wings: an Adoption Fairytale

By Adam Swain Ferguson, illustrated by Veronica Stanley-Hooper

L.A.-based writer, producer and director Adam Swain Ferguson adapts his own true story of becoming a father in this modern fairytale. “Love Without Wings” tells the story of two kings who dream of becoming fathers. One day the two kings and a beautiful fairy wished upon the very same star. The fairy wished she could find the perfect family for the baby boy growing in her belly. This touching story weaves together the challenges of adoption with the magic of dreams coming true.

Shine Bright

by Kheris Rogers, illustrated by Michal Renee Roe

16-year old multi hyphenate Kheris Rogers adds children’s book author to her list of accomplishments with “Shine Bright.” In her debut picture book, Kheris pulls from her own experience of getting bullied for her dark complexion. The protagonist Imani loves meeting new people until one day a group of kids make fun of her for looking different. Imani turns to her sister who reminds her of all the reasons she shines bright. This uplifting book is filled with affirmations that remind us all the ways we shine bright, too.

For more book suggestions, check out our December Book Corner.

2023 Lunar New Year Celebrations in L.A.

Published January 11, 2023

By Nina Harada

Santa Monica Place will host a Lunar New Year celebration on Jan. 28. PHOTO COURTESY SANTA MONICA PLACE

The Lunar New Year lands on Sunday, Jan. 22, which also marks the year of the rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac. Los Angeles is marking the new year with family-friendly parades, festivals and performances all around town.

Westside

Santa Monica Place’s Lunar New Year celebration returns Jan. 28 with traditional Chinese lion dance performances, balloon and dough artists and cherry blossom Wishing Trees. The Center Plaza will be decorated with overhead red and gold lanterns. Everyone who attends the celebration will receive red envelopes with special deals from participating shops and restaurants. FREE. santamonicaplace.com

Join the festivities at Caruso properties where The Grove and The Americana at Brand are celebrating Lunar New Year! From Jan. 17 – 31, guests visiting the properties can ring in the Year of the Rabbit through dazzling décor, special festivities and store promotions that carry the storied meaning, traditions and symbolism behind the celebration.

Join the festivities at Caruso properties where The Grove and The Americana at Brand are celebrating Lunar New Year! PHOTOS COURTESY CARUSO

Pick up a traditional lucky red envelope at Caruso Concierge to receive exclusive offers from stores and restaurants.
Enjoy a New Year parade featuring traditional lion and dragon performances at The Americana at Brand from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 29.
Visit Sprinkles at The Grove for a limited edition Lunar New Year Gold Bunny cupcake.
Visit Sur La Table at The Americana at Brand for a Lunar New Year collection of festive serving trays, dishes, utensils and more.
Head to Tory Burch to shop its exclusive Lunar New Year collection, including carrot key chains, bunny wallets and vibrant coin pouches.
Enjoy 20% off your next food or beverage experience at Nordstrom Bar Verde.

Downtown
The 45th Annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker, one of the largest and oldest Lunar New Year run/walk events, returns to Chinatown Feb. 18-19. The annual 5K/10K/Kiddie/PAW’er Dog Run/Walk & Bike Ride features a special Kiddie Run. All kiddie run participants receive a goodie bag, medal and lucky red envelope. $30-$50 firecracker10k.org

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles presents the 124^th Annual Golden Dragon Parade on Jan. 28. The colorful celebration will start at Broadway in Chinatown and end at Hill St. FREE. culturela.org

San Gabriel Valley

Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with rabbit-themed crafts and story times at the Arroyo Seco Regional Library in Highland Park on Jan. 23. FREE. lapl.org

Join the City of Monterey Park for their annual Lunar New Year Festival Jan. 21-22. The weekend-long event, held on Garvey Ave. between Garfield and Alhambra Avenues, will feature a carnival fun zone, traditional New Year lion and dragon dancers, food and more. FREE. montereypark.ca.gov

Alhambra’s Lunar New Year Festival on Jan. 29 will be part of the Alhambra Farmers Market. Catch lion dancers, live candy sculpting and live Chinese character demonstrations on the main stage and enjoy food, crafts and more at the Farmers Market. FREE. alhambralunarnewyear.com

The Huntington will celebrate Lunar New Year with their own weekend-long festival Feb. 4-5. The family-friendly event features lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, music, art and craft demonstrations, Chinese floral arts displays, food trucks and more. Festivities will take place in and around the Chinese Garden and other performance spaces. $24 – $29; $13 for ages 4-11; free for ages 0-4. huntington.org

South Bay

South Coast Botanic Garden hosts their first-ever Lunar New Year Celebration on Jan. 28-29 to welcome the year of the rabbit. Decorate paper lanterns, enjoy a Chinese calligraphy artist demonstration and storytelling, play games, watch performances by lion dancers, fan dancers and drummers and more. Included with admission. southcoastbotanicgarden.org

The 9th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival will celebrate the Year of the Rabbit on Jan. 21. The free event will feature lion dancers, crafts, food and a festive finale. FREE. portoflosangeles.org

Orange County

Celebrate the Lunar New Year from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15 at Disney California Adventure Park. PHOTO BY RICHARD HARBAUGH/ COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT

Disney California Adventure Park will celebrate the Lunar New Year from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15 to play tribute to Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures. The Lunar New Year celebration features “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” Mickey and Minnie in their festive attire, kid-friendly crafts, a Sip and Savor pass for Lunar New Year Marketplaces and more. Included with admission. disneyland.disney.go.com

Segerstrom Center for the Arts hosts their annual Lunar New Year celebration on Jan. 28. The performance will include music and dance in a fusion of musical traditions from East and West. $35 – $139. scfta.org

Celebrate MLK Day in L.A.

Published January 9, 2023

By Nina Harada

Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for MLK Jr. Day of Service.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day takes place Monday, January 16th. Fortunately, many annual in-person events are back to honor King’s legacy and give back to our community.

MLK Jr. Day of Service with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy – Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for MLK Jr. day of service at White Point Nature Preserve on Monday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Help care for the White Point Native Plant Demonstration Garden by removing invasive weeds, water native plants and groom trails. pvplc.volunteerhub.com

11^th Annual MLK Day Clothing Drive & Community Breakfast – Join Big Sunday on Jan. 16 at 24^th St. Elementary for an all-ages block party and put together winter clothing kits for folks in need. Other activities include arts and crafts projects to benefit local nonprofits, entertainment from the Blue Breeze Band, the popular community breakfast and, new this year, the Big Sunday MLK Day Marketplace, spotlighting minority-owned businesses. bigsunday.org

L.A. Works MLK Day of Service – Join L.A. Works on Jan. 16 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a family-friendly day of volunteering. Learn about native plants and climate change and experience a recreated March on Washington in Minecraft. laworks.com

Join the City of Santa Clarita for its 2nd annual Unity Walk.

King Day 2023 – The California African American Museum hosts its annual King Day on Jan. 16 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a full day of festivities. This year’s theme is “MLK: A Legacy of Service.” The free event features a performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, family-friendly activities, food trucks and more. caamuseum.org

Kingdom Day Parade – The 38^th annual Kingdom Day Parade returns to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on Jan. 16. The parade, which will also be televised live at 11 a.m., will have floats, performances and presentations from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and S. Western Ave. to Crenshaw Blvd., and then south to Vernon Ave. This year’s theme is “America, The Last Best Hope of the World.” kingdomdayparade.org

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Walk – The City of Santa Clarita hosts its second annual unity walk to honor Dr. King’s core values of faith, education, nonviolence, love, leadership, community and hope. The program will feature guest speakers celebrating Dr. King, followed by a quarter-mile community walk through Central Park. santa-clarita.com

Ongoing Celebrations at USC – USC will host a variety of events from now through late February to celebrate King’s legacy and Black culture and achievements. A few highlights:

“MLK in Los Angeles” – Jan. 3-March 5 – Exhibit chronicles Kings visits to South L.A. and USC. fisher.usc.edu

Performing Arts Summit – 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 13 – Celebrates today’s generation of artists with workshops, students performances, a panel and networking dinner. linktr.ee/usgpac

MLK/FBI A Screening and Conversation with Sam Pollard – 7 p.m. Jan. 17 – Deemed as “timely as an alarm clock” by The New York Times, the award-winning 2020 documentary will be followed by a discussion featuring its acclaimed director, Sam Pollard, and USC Annenberg professor Miki Turner. visionsandvoices.usc.edu

“MLK/FBI,” a film directed by Sam Pollard, will screen at USC Jan. 17 PHOTO COURTESY USC

Gibney Company (a Visions and Voices signature event) – 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 – The progressive dance company from New York City presents a dynamic evening of connection, exhilaration and inspiration to ignite a cultural renaissance that has ripple effects far beyond the studio and stage. visionsandvoices.usc.edu

2023: Producing to Power in the 21st Century – 7 p.m. Feb. 1 – Award-winning filmmaker Melissa Haizlip and USC Annenbereg professor Robeson Taj Frazier will discuss “SOUL!” Ellis Haizlip’s pioneering TV show that celebrated Blackness through music and talk at the height of the civil rights movement.

An Evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones – 6 p.m. Feb. 21 – The inaugural event of the Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Speaker Series at USC will feature Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of “The 1619 Project” and one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” in conversation with Allissa V. Richardson, associate professor of journalism and communication at USC Annenberg and founding director of the USC Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab.

Cedars-Sinai’s Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive – Jan. 9-20 – In honor of the civil rights leader’s legacy of serving those in need, Cedars-Sinai will host a food drive by partnering with Open Arms Pantry. Donation bins will be placed at several locations across Cedars-Sinai. Details on bin locations and requested types of food donations will be forthcoming. Consider donating nutrient rich food, grains, soups, oats, juice, etc.

A Mommy-and-Me Getaway

Published January 6, 2023

By Nina Harada

Our digital editor road trips with her toddler along the Central Coast

Maybe it’s the L.A. in me, but I’ve always had an affinity for highways. They’re like little memory portals — going west on the 10 freeway recalls my early twenties, juggling work and classes and frequent weekends soaking up the sun on Santa Monica Beach. Heading north on the 101 freeway brings back my childhood, musical dinners at Miceli’s and back-to-school shopping at the Topanga mall.

When my almost 4-year-old daughter Naomi and I got to travel up California Highway 1 on a weekend getaway, it felt like we were opening a new portal, not just to the ridiculously cute towns dotted along California’s Central Coast, but also to core memories that, perhaps, my daughter will recall when she’s older and driving these California freeways herself.

Avila Beach

Highway 1’s picture-perfect coastal towns are not just new to us. “Each little town is still very untapped,” Katie Sturtevant, a Central Coast native and stewardship travel program director with Highway 1 Road Trip, told me over lunch. “A lot of people don’t realize you can do all the trips in one day.” It’s true: Avila Beach, Cayucos and San Simeon, are not that far from L.A., but each of these gems deserves exploration.

We arrived in Avila Beach a little early for our lunch with Katie at Mersea’s on the Harford Pier, a casual seafood restaurant, just in time for Naomi and I to marvel at the loud pile of sea lions sunbathing on a small barge below. “Mama, what are they saying?” Naomi asked, giggling. I know nothing about sea mammals, but I said, “I think they’re hungry. Just like us. Let’s go!” Just a few yards away, we enjoyed our fish and chips and lemonade overlooking the water. Though Naomi could’ve been entertained by the seagulls for the rest of the afternoon, there were more animals to see.

A short drive up Avila Beach Drive leads to the picturesque Avila Valley Barn. Kids roam free among the sunflower fields while parents order food from Chicken Shack & Smoke House or browse fresh fruits and vegetables and handmade pies at the farmstand. Naomi made a beeline for the goats, who were eager to snag the fresh lettuce from her little hand. After visiting the other animals — ponies, sheep, cows and llamas— it was time for an ice cream break at the Sweet Shoppe.

The farmstand at Avila Valley Barn. PHOTO COURTESY HIGHWAY 1 ROAD TRIP

The goats at Avila Valley Barn love fresh lettuce. PHOTO BY NINA HARADA

Back in the center of town, we checked into Avila Lighthouse Suites, an all-suite luxury hotel with ocean views, a heated pool and lawn games, to freshen up before dinner. Not even a day into our trip and it was already so special. We’d never traveled just the two of us before, but I was tired — and pregnant. The plush bed and ocean breeze were just what I needed to muster the energy for dinner at Mulligan’s Bar & Grill at the Avila Beach Golf Resort.

Running for ice cream at Avila Valley Barn’s Sweet Shoppe. PHOTO BY NINA HARADA

As the sun set, Naomi and I huddled around a firepit, listening to live music and savoring our grilled cheese, burger and hot chocolate from the bar. Sandy and George, a sweet couple in their 80s, and their daughter, who was visiting from San Pedro, asked if they could join us since their fire pit wasn’t working. Once again, I couldn’t help but see into the future. While Sandy and George danced into the night and I chatted with their daughter, Arolyn, I thought about my husband and me — grayed and wrinkled, sharing hot toddys and lots of laughs with our adult daughter. “Your parents are the cutest,” I told her.

“Actually, they separated when I was 3, divorced when I was 5 and remarried when I was 10,” Arolyn confided. “They realized the yachts and the cars and all that stuff didn’t matter. It’s all about family in the end.”

Cayucos

Hidden Kitchen serves up organic, locally sourced fare. PHOTO BY NINA HARADA

Day two of our mother-daughter road trip started with our bike ride along the Bob Jones Trail, a paved path that winds through the golf course, forested valley and San Luis Obispo Creek. We picked up our e-bike and child’s trailer from Bolt About in town, which I was nervous to use, but it turned out to be a lot easier than I thought. Naomi got to enjoy the views from her little trailer while I got a good work out pulling her. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fresh air in a single weekend.

It was time to make our way to our next stop, Cayucos, an enchanting seaside town with beautiful beaches, surfing, swimming and a sweet little Main Street dotted with antique shops and cafés. Known for its blue corn waffles and tacos, The Hidden Kitchen filled us up for lunch. Naomi and I shared tacos and smoothies at the organic, locally sourced beachfront restaurant. Next, we stopped by Brown Butter Cookie Company for the most delicious sweet-and-salty shortbread before heading to the beach playground.

Brown Butter Cookie Company on Main Street in Cayucos. PHOTO BY NINA HARADA

By the time we checked into the Shoreline Inn on the Beach, a family-owned-and-operated motel with ocean views, the solo parenting plus pregnancy was getting to me. As we sprawled out on the hotel bed watching the only cartoon I could find, “Spongebob Squarepants,” while the sun was making its early descent over the horizon, a view I didn’t have to miss thanks to the oceanfront room, I tried to let go of the guilt that we were watching TV instead of playing on the beach. We woke up about an hour later in time to stroll over to Schooners, an iconic American seafood restaurant and bar overlooking Cayucos State Beach, for dinner. We enjoyed Alaskan halibut and chicken strips while looking out at the playground we were playing at just a few hours earlier. Nearby, a large family navigated the beautiful chaos of dining with small children.

Cayucos is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Elephant seals sunbathing at The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. PHOTO BY NINA HARADA

San Simeon

We kicked off our third and final day with breakfast burritos and pastries at Luna Coffee Bar, a family-owned café set in a lovely garden patio. There’s plenty of seating, but a fellow mom sipped her coffee standing, rocking her newborn strapped to her chest, her husband handing her bites of toast. I remember those early days and am in awe of the young girl now sitting across from me, my little road-trip buddy.

For our last leg of the trip, we hopped in the car and drove to see the elephant seals of San Simeon. The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery off Highway 1, just past Hearst Castle, is a free, public viewing area open year-round. The largest seal in the Northern Hemisphere, the northern elephant seal, can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Braving the strong coastal winds, we made the short walk to the overlook. “Look mama!” Naomi pointed to a lone elephant seal making its slow slide across the sand. We were excited to spot one. And then, we realized it was making its way over to its 50 or so friends. The rookery hosts up to 24,000 elephant seals each year.

On our drive home, I asked Naomi, as part of our new daily gratitude ritual, “What’s something you’re grateful for?” Without skipping a beat, she said, “Hanging out with mama.”

My eyes may have teared up just a little. If my daughter doesn’t remember this trip, I know I will.

A native Angeleno, Nina Harada is an artist and Digital Editor of L.A. Parent.

Revisiting Yoga

Published January 6, 2023

By Ani Duzdabanyan

If you’ve tried yoga and it didn’t work for you, return to its roots and find a practice that speaks to your body’s needs

The Light Inside Yoga specializes in a therapeutic and trauma-sensitive approach to yoga and wellness. PHOTO COURTESY NIKI SACCARECCIA

Several years ago, I was in a horrific car accident. I survived, but I can’t say the same about my back, which was already suffering from scoliosis and the sweet burden of the two babies my body carried within just a couple of years of each other.

After extended physical therapy and numerous visits to a chiropractor and pain management specialist, I was able to achieve some relief, but the “don’t do’s” and “can’t do’s” list was long — with no end in sight. At one point, my doctor suggested I try yoga — that ancient art of mindfulness, body movement and inner balance. I had always been fascinated with Eastern civilization, philosophy and history, and this was an opportunity to learn the secrets of the yoga sutras and to satisfy my longtime interest while (hopefully) rehabilitating my back.

I bought a yoga mat, matching pants and a cute water bottle and headed to my local YMCA, which offered three free yoga class trials. Everything felt right — the dimly lit room, relaxing music playing in the background and people placing their yoga mats in perfect positions to watch the instructor’s every move.

“Namaste,” the instructor said, bringing her hands together in the shape of an ark, and we all followed suit, our voices a low-toned choir. As the lesson started, I tried my best to do the asanas (poses). But nothing felt right. I felt embarrassed and childish. Suddenly, I remembered how I had always hated any type of physical exercise. For all of its allure, actually doing yoga felt like yet another form of exercise. “Next time, it’ll be better,” my neighbor, an elderly lady with an enviably flexible body, said, smiling at me.

I returned to my second trial lesson, but it did not get better. For my third try, I signed up for a private class by paying a one-time fee. Each session, my mind raced through my list of chores instead of relaxing with the poses. And by the end of every session, I was exhausted, my body burning with pain.

I decided to give up yoga, but in this relinquishing I became more eager to understand it.

Back to the root

The word yoga derives from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means to unify or yoke. Practitioners say that yoga, then, is about integrating the whole self — despite divisions we may perceive internally and externally.

“Yoga tries to bring us to a place of mental stability,” says Arielle Silver, co-founder of Bhavana Flow Yoga, which offers classes daily via Zoom and in-person pop-up events around SoCal. “We get caught up in the weather of constant change. Yoga philosophy says that while the weather is changing, your soul stays the same. The practice connects you to what T.S. Eliot calls the still point in the turning world.”

Yoga — on your terms

In the U.S., we’ve come a long way since Indra Devi opened the first yoga studio in Hollywood in the 1950s. Once a place mostly accessible to a specific group of people, nowadays, yoga studios are attracting very diverse yogis with all types of bodies, conditions and ages.

“Yes, yoga is for all body types, but not all asanas are accessible to all bodies,” says Thea Pueschel, a yoga and meditation teacher in Long Beach. “However, there are some modifications that one can use to get the same benefit if a pose is not accessible,” she says. “For example, people with long legs and short arms likely cannot touch the floor — not due to lack of flexibility but personal anatomy. They can modify it by putting blocks under their hands.”

While she’s a teacher, Pueschel reveals that she, too, uses aids. “I personally have short arms and cannot do eagle arms because of the size of my chest, and soft compression makes it impossible for me to stack one elbow on top of another,” she says. “Instead, I can cross my arms and put my hands on top of my shoulders [like a self-hug]. Many folks struggle with more complex asanas that you see on Instagram, not realizing those poses are the exceptions to what the human body can do, not the norm. Only a small percentage of the population can get into those types of poses.”

One Down Dog yoga studio owner Jessica Rosen’s 7-year-old son Max shows off a few poses. PHOTO BY JEVONE MOORE

People with special physical conditions, injuries or pain need an appropriate approach that is often not available in regular yoga studios. Niki Saccareccia, founder of Light Inside Yoga, specializes in a therapeutic and trauma-sensitive approach to yoga and wellness. For the last 14 years, in a class she named “BACK,” she has taught people how to enjoy yoga through self-acceptance, tolerance for discomfort and remembering that pain, like healing, is a process we must work through step by step.

“It’s about educating and reframing our mindset around experiencing discomfort and using the tools of yoga to help us feel safe, regulated and resilient, and to understand what we are still capable of in our practice,” Saccareccia says. “To trust our body and learn how to respect its limits, to become an ally in how it heals and adapts, rather than fighting with the fact that we aren’t feeling or moving the way we want to or used to prior to the injury.”

“BACK” is one of the classes in One Down Dog yoga studio, which has three locations — Eagle Rock, Echo Park and Silver Lake — and was founded by Jessica Rosen (who, with her son Max, is our cover model this month). One Down Dog not only provides various types of yoga classes in person and remotely, but also prepares instructors with 200 and 300 hours of training, continuing education and mentorship. During and after the pandemic, Rosen saw an increase in the number of people who want to be trained in one-on-one yoga practices with a focus on restorative and mental health aspects. Rosen started doing yoga when she was earning her degree in psychology in college. She was invited into the yoga class that her parents were teaching to release the stress she was in at that time.

“I danced my whole life,” she says. “So that was kind of my number one form of movement. I decided to take a class with them, and I loved it! It was a different way of dancing. It was moving, linking breath with movement, moving from one thing to the next.” As a graduation gift, her parents bought her a yoga-training class, which led to a successful career. While L.A. is saturated with yoga studios, Rosen says it’s important to find the right instructor and training for your body’s needs.

Breathing through it

During the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga studios had to shift their practices to online classes in order to keep their communities alive. By using Zoom, yoga instructors stayed connected with their students and helped them navigate through the stress and anxiety of the pandemic. Some studios, such as One Down Dog, still keep online or hybrid classes with a lower membership cost. However, remote practice also presents some challenges, particularly for people who have some ability challenges.

Pueschel noticed that her students weren’t as responsive to Vinyasa flow (a dynamic practice of linked movement to breath), but they were drawn to Yin yoga (a passive practice with long holds of yoga poses). This shift is an example of the right instructor meeting you where you are.

Silver, who has always conducted her classes remotely, is convinced that if instructors first teach students how to breathe, this will train their bodies to connect their breath with each pose, aiding them better through the session — even from the other side of a screen.

After listening to all these yogis, I suddenly had an urge to pull out my mat, which has been hiding in a dusty closet corner for a couple of years. “Maybe I’ll give it another try,” I thought. Perhaps I can revisit a yoga studio once again in search of inner peace and to work on this back of mine — this time with the right instructor.

Ani Duzdabanyan is an Armenian-American journalist based in L.A. She writes about diverse communities and cultures.

New Year Boundaries

Published January 6, 2023

By Gregory Keer

Now is a good time to re-establish boundaries and (eventually) reap the rewards

I hate arguing with children — mine or anyone else’s. Yet somehow I managed, with my equally complicit wife, to bring three superb debaters into my life. I have also willingly engaged in a career as a high-school educator, working with adolescents, the greatest logic adversaries in recorded history.

With my sons, the Conquistadors of Conflict, the most frequent battle is no surprise: boundaries.

Here are a few examples:

Me: “You can’t ride a skateboard without a helmet.”

Son #1: “None of my friends’ parents make them wear helmets.”

Me: “This parent wants to protect you from a brain injury.”

Son #1: “I hate you.”

Me: “Be home by 11 p.m.”

Son #2: “The party won’t be over by then.”

Me: “I want you to be rested for tomorrow’s soccer game.”

Son #2: “I hate you.”

Me: “No phone at the dinner table.”

Son #3: “Ethan just asked me a math question and I should help him.”

Me: “I don’t want you distracted from your time with us.”

Son #3: “I hate you.”

In each case, I drew the line and rationally explained the reason for the line. In each case, my children employed the parent-ego killer of “I hate you.” In some cases, that phrase has made me wobble and give in. But while conceding resulted in my temporary hero status, it also sparked long-term issues with setting clear lines later.

Fortunately, I haven’t given up on better boundary setting and, battle scars and all, I offer personal revelations so you don’t have to mess up as many times as I have.

The start of a new year is a great time for families to re-establish boundaries and rules.

The pandemic’s effect on boundaries

Perhaps the most challenging time for boundary enforcement for most parents was during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many household rules got washed away in 2020. I felt sorry for myself, but worse for my kids, especially my youngest who was at home, cooped up in his room. So I found myself easing up on boundaries for social media and even tolerating my kid’s unwillingness to leave his bed during Zoom school days.

Then, as life reached a “new normal” in 2021, I struggled to re-establish limits.

Betsy Brown Braun (betsybrownbraun.com), a Los Angeles-based child development and behavior specialist and author, keenly observes this pandemic-induced impact on parenting. “Post-pandemic, everyone feels terrible that our kids were the losers in learning and development,” says Brown Braun, who is also the best-selling author of “Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents” and “You’re Not the Boss of Me: Brat-proofing Your 4- To 12-Year-Old Child.”

“Parents feel they need to give kids what they want, make them happy, give them what they didn’t get” during the pandemic, she says.

Kids need boundaries — more than ever

While it may feel good to be the nice parent who lifts the guard rails so your children can have unencumbered fun, too much freedom can actually have a counter-effect on their well-being.

Kids will always test limits and rules. And after the prolonged pandemic stretch, during which they didn’t naturally have a chance to learn from trial and error out in the world, they may be prone to flout limits even harder. This is when parents need to be true guardians, not the friendly older person they live with.

“Children need limits,” says Lila Snow, professor of child development at Los Angeles Pierce College. “It’s scary to be untethered. While it’s normal for a child to push against the walls of the spaces we put them in, if we drop those walls completely, they don’t have a sense of how to fix things that go wrong and can’t know where to get help.”

Brown Braun points out that children “need parents to be the safety net they cannot be for themselves.”

Approaches to re-establishing boundaries

If you’ve had a period of being more permissive, your kids may feel betrayed if you try to go authoritarian on them by suddenly taking away unlimited Netflix — or their beloved cell phones — on school nights.

Instead, take things slow.

Brown Braun, the mother of triplets and grandmother of six, reasons, “It’s important that your child feels they have a voice and can feel heard. Involve your child in the [boundary setting]. Say something like, ‘I don’t feel comfortable with you going to that concert. Let’s put our heads together to see how it will work with our family.’ They might respond with, ‘You just don’t understand. You’re old!’ To which you could say, ‘Let’s both work this out or else I’ll just have to make a decision.’

“Just because they balk doesn’t mean you don’t set the limit,” Brown Braun says. Re-setting rules “doesn’t mean we have to punish. It means we have to teach.”

Snow, the mother of two and grandmother of two, reinforces slow boundary re-establishing. “Scale things down. Go from eight hours of cell use to six hours. Don’t do it all at once.”

Another key strategy is to model the behavior you want to see in your kids. “We need to demonstrate our own boundaries,” Snow says. “We, too, might cut back on phone use. We have to be mindful of our hypocrisy. We can’t swear in the car while driving if we want our kids to refrain from swearing.”

She continues that it can be helpful to explain what you are going through in regard to trying to set boundaries for yourself. “You might say, ‘Boy, I was eating a lot of Halloween candy,’ if we want our children to eat less garbage food,” she says. “When they resist, tell them, ‘I hear you. I’m having a similar experience. We’re all going to get through it.’”

Children don’t listen to us, Snow says, “They watch you. Do the behavior you want from them and do it loudly.”

In addition, there is the immeasurable value of offering encouragement when curbing stubborn habits in children. Snow says we can teach our kids through resilience techniques and through supportive words such as, ‘You’ve done this before and can do it again. Remember when you first started playing that instrument and you wanted to give up? Look at you now!”

Brown Braun points out four other nuanced points about boundary-setting:

Nothing is forever. See if the limit is working. Be prepared to revisit and revise.
Be responsive to the environment. Consider the child and situation.
The limit does not have to be applicable for all members of the house, i.e., being ready for dinner might look different for each person. Fair does not mean equal.
A boundary must make sense. It cannot be improvised and/or explained as necessary “because I say so.”

Key types of boundaries

Consistent messaging on re-established boundaries will help reduce friction with your child and even within yourself. Yet with so many rules to revisit, it helps to think of these key types:

Bedtime — For younger kids, ease them into earlier bedtimes that are free of tempting electronics. For tweens and teens, invite them into the reasoning about what’s healthiest for them (teens need 9-10 hours of sleep).
Electronics — For all kids, stop screen use at least 30 minutes before bed. Help them shift to activities such as reading a picture book or novel.
Mealtimes — Model that phones are not welcome at the table.
Nutrition — Children need guidelines to help them establish healthy nutrition habits. They should also be allowed leeway to pick some foods themselves.
Homework — Collaborate with your child to determine the time needed for homework that is done before play or kicking back. Invite them into the crafting of that as they get older under the theme of personal responsibility.
Attitude — Model a positive attitude for kids of all ages. Give them alternatives to expressions of frustration, anger or defiance. When we mess up on this score, we should admit our mistake. Children benefit from seeing their parent’s ability to acknowledge errors and self-correct.
Curfews and substance experimentation — With older kids, have conversations about health and safety limits. One effective tool is to offer that they can tell peer-pressuring friends they have to go home by a certain time or can’t drink that beer because “My mom/dad will ground me for a month!” Tell them you are fine being the bad-guy excuse.

Boundary setting, and especially boundary re-setting, is really hard. This is where surrounding yourself with like-minded parents can support you when things get challenging. Kids may say they hate you for re-establishing rules, but you know the facts. Children need, and secretly want, the lines that mark a healthy space for security and growth.

One day, they’ll love you for it.

Gregory Keer is a husband to one, father to three, high-school educator and grizzled veteran writer.

Crystal Clear

Published January 6, 2023

By Chelsee Lowe

Find the right crystal for your needs at Open Eye in Mid-City. PHOTO BY RICKY FABRIZIO

Interacting with gemstones is one way we can intentionally slow down and reflect on our physical and emotional needs

I don’t deem myself a religious person, but the part of spirituality I do relate to is the concept of energy. And how to define that? In physics, energy is the capacity to perform an activity. As overworked parents, we complain of low energy while marveling at the boundless energy that seems to seep out of our kids’ pores. This is energy of the day-to-day variety.

When we dip our toes into the waters of spiritual meaning, the word energy is more about a feeling — something we sense inside and around us. I can physically and emotionally understand the power of this kind of energy best when I take a walk in the forest. With the trees towering above me, their needles whispering in the wind, I feel both large and miniscule. A pinpoint in a sprawling universe while also a human whose everyday choices matter. More often than not, a walk in the woods brings me to tears.

Spiritual moments can be inspired by a person, place or thing that deeply resonates with you, and if you have experienced this for yourself, you are likely open to the idea that crystals (gemstones) — minerals made by Mother Earth — can impact your physical and emotional energy. And as modern life gets faster and more furious with every passing year, more of us are looking for ways to hit the brakes in order to enjoy the time we have with our significant others, closest friends and children. If you’re in need of a new strategy to help your kids be introspective stewards of their own lives and the world around them, take them to a crystal shop and see what happens.

Open Eye owner Madison Young says her space is arranged like a “crystal candy shop.” PHOTO BY RICKY FABRIZIO

“Children nowadays are magical little beings,” says Madison Young, owner of Open Eye, a crystal shop in Mid-City. “They’re very intentional. And they are willing to come into the shop and follow their intuition.”

Young opened Open Eye in February 2018, and she loves nothing more than to welcome the “crystal curious” into her shop. She can talk about energy all day — she basically does. If you are feeling the need to balance something in your life, Young will help guide you to the right gem.

“Every crystal carries its own vibrational frequency,” she says. “If you’re going to go into a meeting, let’s say, and you need your energy all fluffed up, you might grab a pyrite or a sunstone. Or if you need to wind down for the night, you might grab a lepidolite, amethyst or lithium quartz. Each one works in its own way to regulate your emotional and spiritual body. I love to cultivate a delicious crystal cocktail for a person, for the moment they’re in.”

You can easily discover crystal properties through a Google search. Open Eye’s website is helpful as well, listing the qualities of each stone in its description. For example, rose quartz is described as a “stone for love, for one’s self and others,” and is said to be helpful in releasing tension, stress, anger and resentment. If you are seeking abundance, say in money or personal power, you might gravitate toward citrine, believed to be a strong manifesting crystal. Once you’ve selected that just-right crystal for your needs, Young will happily explain how to incorporate them into your life.

“Your personal energy field is about nine feet wide. Think about how, once someone gets close to you, you can sense their energy or frequency,” she says. “Crystals work similarly. If it is near you, its frequency is working with yours. The more you have it on you or near you, and the more intention you put into it, the stronger it engages with your field.”

And if you’re looking to explore your spirituality, think of crystals as a terrific gateway. Intentionally using crystals often leads to a growing interest in other metaphysical practices, from meditation and sound baths to hypnosis, Young says. When it comes to our own wellness and expansiveness, there’s no better time to dig in than now.

“Crystals can pave your spiritual path,” she says.

This shop full of metaphysical tools was founded by YouTuber Sal Biadora. PHOTO COURTESY EAT READ LOVE

Local shops to get your shine on

Eat. Love. Read.

Studio City, eatreadlove.me

This Ventura Boulevard shop is the brainchild of YouTuber Sal Biadora, whose big online following — currently at 750,000 YouTube subscribers — inspired him to open this “one-stop metaphysical shop.” Guests can peruse crystals, hand-poured candles, tarot cards, astrology tools and more, all with the whimsical sounds of running fountains and calming music in the background. Director of Operations Ryan Vanderhei says it’s common for people to come in and linger, thanks to the relaxing atmosphere.

Also common is parents shopping with kids of all ages, teaching the younger generation about this “alternative medicine,” or different ways of relief, Vanderhei says. Crystal bracelets, which are an affordable way to wear and experiment with crystals, are one of the shop’s top-selling items.

House of Intuition

Echo Park, Highland Park, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Costa Mesa, houseofintuitionla.com

Opened by LGBTQ+ Latinx business owners Alex Naranjo and Marlene Vargas, House of Intuition is a spiritual oasis designed to “help others feel hope when they feel hopeless, to feel powerful when they feel defeated and to bring intention within.” Crystal jewelry attracts the teen crowd, who often come having already read up on what crystals might help them through a challenging time. And there are loose crystals in the shop, too, all energy tools with their own potential and metaphysical properties.

But House of Intuition’s best-selling product is the “magic candle.” Individually labeled with intentional words or phrases (think “creativity,” “gratitude,” “abundance”), these candles are “ritual tools” that invite users to manifest and meditate on what they are seeking while burning the candle, thereby gathering powerful support from the universe as they proceed. Related crystals reveal themselves at the bottom of the candle.

Liberate Yourself

Sherman Oaks, Los Feliz, liberateyourself.com

Head to Los Feliz’s Liberate Emporium to shop for crystals and other metaphysical tools. You can also peruse crystals at the newer location in Sherman Oaks — Liberate Yourself — but this shop stands out for its versatile outdoor space. There’s a calendar full of events held here, from mommy-and-me yoga classes to kid-friendly sound baths. And there’s an occasional crystal-mining class, held in partnership with Because I Rock. Perfect for kids who want to dig for treasure, this event lets students mine crystals from the original mud and rock they grow in.

Additionally, the colorful patio can be booked for kids’ birthday parties. Stop by or call the shop to get further details about this option.

Open Eye

Mid-City, openeyecrystals.com

Owner Madison Young says her shop is organized like a “crystal candy store,” with tables and gems arranged by color. Come in and go with your intuition: What crystal is calling to you? Why might that be? Young will help you navigate the shop and its many offerings. Additionally, if you’re really down to learn more about crystals and their properties, tune in every Friday to what Young calls “Crystal QVC,” a live crystal discussion that she leads on Instagram: @openeyecrystals.

During these shows, large crystal specimens you might only see in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History or other natural history museums are on digital display, and Young expounds upon their properties for your enjoyment (and education).

Chelsee Lowe, a writer and mom in L.A., writes about food, culture and travel.

More Gems Across the Southland

Angels on Earth, Inglewood and West L.A.
angelsonearthonline.com

The Crystal Shrine, Burbank
thecrystalshrine.com

Spellbound Sky, Silver Lake
spellboundsky.com

KM Crystals, Santa Monica
kmcrystalshop.com

Crystal Matrix, Atwater Village
thecrystalmatrix.com

It’s time to have the ‘mental health talk’ with your teen

Published January 6, 2023

By Ross Szabo

Teenagers today are facing unprecedented levels of stress. In a recent study, researchers from the Health Resources and Services Administration found that anxiety and depression among young people have drastically increased over the last five years.

This data doesn’t surprise me. In my work as the wellness director at Geffen Academy at UCLA, I’ve witnessed students struggle to regain their footing since the pandemic began. Some kids lost years of social interaction, gaining new social anxieties or behavioral problems in their place. Others struggled to re-learn how to focus and study in-person again. Everyone has needed time to reconnect and adjust. But even before 2020, young people needed help. In fact, since 2007, mental health problems have been on the rise, fueled in part by growing social media use and academic pressures.

My students are no exception. Kids as young as 12 regularly complain to me about pressure to get into a “good” college. High school students anxiously talk about posting their own college admissions news on social media. Outside of school, kids tell me they can’t log offline because they need to keep up with what their friends are doing. My students feel constant pressure to look like their social lives are filled with fun and interesting events. Students tell me they feel socially isolated, and others have said they post online even when they feel sad — to create the appearance that they are having fun.

Teenagers have always been angsty, but today’s teens are facing problems that can seem puzzling to a generation of parents that grew up without the same pressures. However, it’s crucial that parents don’t turn away from adolescent mental health. When teens feel alone, feelings of depression and anxiety are more likely to be amplified. The best way to combat this is through open discussions.

I’ll be honest. These sorts of conversations won’t always be easy. If your own parents once sat you down for a talk about the birds and the bees, it’s likely that you cringe even thinking about that memory (I know I do). But, if you’re lucky, you may also have come away with some information and resources. Just because our kids aren’t always receptive to talking to us about sensitive subjects doesn’t mean we should avoid difficult conversations.

Following are some tips on how to start.

Treat your teen as an expert

Teenagers want to be seen and heard; they want their experiences to be validated and believed. As a parent, there’s a natural inclination to want to lead a conversation, but sometimes the best thing you can do is ask your kid what they know.

Instead of lecturing them on the dangers of vaping or telling them what to do if they feel stressed, try asking some questions first: What have you heard about stress? What are some ways you see people dealing with stress? How do you typically deal with stress, and how does it impact you? Affirming your kids’ expertise on their own mental well-being is the first step toward empowering them to take care of themselves.

Talk about mental health the same way you do physical health

We’ve made a lot of progress on destigmatizing mental health since I was a teenager, but the topic can still be taboo.

To help kids feel more comfortable talking openly, it’s important to explain that mental health is similar to physical health. Just like with physical health, it’s helpful for kids to understand signs and symptoms of problems before they appear — and to get regular checkups. By framing mental health as similar to physical health, parents can also help teens understand that ~~mental health~~it fluctuates throughout life and is sometimes impacted by challenges and changes such as stress, lack of sleep, loss, rejection and other external factors.

Provide a calm, stable presence for your child

As a parent, there’s nothing more anxiety-producing than seeing your kid struggle, but it’s important that we leave our own emotions at the door when starting conversations with the young people we care about.

Anxious energy can cause teens to close up or feel anxious themselves. Your teen may share information that is surprising or concerning in conversations about mental health, but it’s important to remain calm and nonjudgmental. In doing so, you can model what it looks like to cope with an emotion and provide a stable presence for your child. After the conversation, continue to foster a sense of safety at home by providing a space that feels emotionally predictable.

Model vulnerability for your kids

Ross Szabo is an educator and the wellness director at Geffen Academy at UCLA.

I didn’t grow up in a home where people talked about their emotions, which was part of why it was so hard for me to reach out to my family for help when I needed it as a teen. While it’s important not to let our own emotions dominate conversations with young people, adults don’t have to pretend to be perfect. Instead — as in conversations about sex, drinking or drugs — we can share vulnerable moments from our own lives to help illustrate lessons. When being vulnerable, it’s critical to make sure you share things you have already processed. Remember that the story should provide insight, and that the conversation isn’t about you. You’re being vulnerable so your kid can connect with you.

Recently, a student privately expressed to me that he feels very nervous at the start of the school year, but fears that his peers will judge him if he expresses his worries. I responded by sharing more about my own back-to-school jitters and let him know that being anxious during periods of change is normal. I told him that in my own life, when I feel nervous, I try to focus on what I can control. I then asked him what factors he might be able to control right now. Our conversation was vulnerable, honest and productive. Once the student understood his problem was not unusual or shameful, it became easier for him to address it directly.

Keep lines of communication open

The mental health talk can and should be an ongoing discussion. Make sure your child knows they can come to you with questions. Continue to check in regularly — even when it feels awkward.

Parents can also consider taking some of the burden off themselves by investing in mental health education. By giving kids the tools they need to understand and address mental health — through helping them develop healthy coping mechanisms and a more expansive vocabulary to discuss emotions — we can destigmatize mental health concerns and provide kids with the support they need. Talking about mental health can be tough, but if kids can do it, parents can, too.

Ross Szabo is an award-winning mental health speaker, advocate and speaker. He serves as the wellness director at Geffen Academy at UCLA and CEO of Human Power Project.

A Soup for New Moms

Published January 6, 2023

By Chelsee Lowe

Raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Angie Lee spent many childhood weekends at the local swap meet, where her parents ran a booth selling tools and other household goods. She and her two younger brothers happily played around customers and in the aisles while snacking on elote, tacos and Mexican candies from neighboring vendors. Back at home, she tried her hand in the kitchen at a young age, guided by cookbooks for kids. But when her parents divorced some years later, she took on nearly all of the kitchen duties.

“I was 13, and my mom was now a single parent at work all day,” Lee says. “My brothers really depended on me.”

Angie Lee, former executive chef at Caravan Swim Club, is now a personal chef. PHOTO COURTESY ANGIE LEE

She took her new responsibility in stride, trying new dishes and even fielding her siblings’ “reviews.” One day, a brother insulted her fettuccine alfredo, saying the version at Sizzler was better. Her sense of kitchen competition flamed. There was no way she could let a chain buffet restaurant trump her. She started to spice things up, literally, experimenting with bolder flavors and spices.

When Lee left home, it was to study economics at University of California, San Diego. She didn’t yet see herself as a chef, despite the fact that she quickly became everyone’s favorite cook in college. Once she had her bachelor’s degree in hand, she entered the finance world and spent five rather unhappy years there until a family member’s event pulled her out of her blues. She was cooking for her aunt, who was hosting a dinner party, and the guests were so enamored with her food that they wondered why in the world she wasn’t cooking for a living.

It was the quiet push she needed. With a little help from that same aunt, Lee moved to La Crescenta and started culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. A post-program externship brought her to three-Michelin-star Martin Berasategui Restaurant in Lasarte-Oria, Spain, and what followed upon Lee’s return to L.A. makes for a formidable resume of hotel restaurant experience: a stint at The Beverly Wilshire, five years as sous chef at The London West Hollywood, a short stretch at Santa Monica Proper (foiled by the pandemic) and the role of executive chef at Hotel June’s beloved Caravan Swim Club in Westchester.

Chef Angie Lee ate lots of seaweed soup after she had her daughter, Riley. PHOTO COURTESY ANGIE LEE

The menu at Caravan Swim Club was crafted with a specific inspirational concept by restaurateur Steve Livigni: the dreamy coastal road trip between San Diego and Ensenada. No menu idea could have excited Lee more. “To this day, I am in love with Mexican food,” she says. “I had never met Steve before, so when he told me the concept, I was so excited and I had so many ideas.”

She perfected battered shrimp tacos for the restaurant and tested out nearly 20 versions of hot salsas before choosing a few for a salsa trio. Ceviche, sea bass with a Fresno chili slaw and chicken pozole are other offerings at the restaurant. For Lee, designing the menu was a homecoming of sorts. “That job made me believe that everything happens for a reason,” she says, “because I had always wanted to cook Mexican food, and to showcase the flavors I grew up eating.”

A bowl of dried seaweed. PHOTO BY CHELSEE LOWE

As great as the position was for Lee (she helmed Caravan in its first two years), she came to a turn in the road when she had her daughter, Riley. She felt called to spend more time at home, so she traded in her executive chef title late last year and became a personal chef. So far, Lee says, it’s working out quite well; she spends more time with Riley (now 17 months old), less time managing staff and budgets and more time at the stove. She considers her clients’ culinary preferences as she designs weekly dinner menus and she introduces them to new foods — such as this traditional Korean seaweed soup, a nod to her own heritage.

“It’s custom for Koreans to have this soup after childbirth, and to eat it for a whole month,” Lee explains. “Seaweed has so many good things in it, so it helps with recovery. Then, because generations of moms have eaten this soup, it’s also tradition to have it on your birthday, in remembrance of your mother.”

“Birthday soup,” as it’s known to many Koreans, is true comfort food, warming and healing and packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Lee ate it herself for a month after having Riley.

“I never understood why my mom would make such a huge pot of it,” she says. “It would last a week or so. But then, I made it myself and I knew: seaweed blows up on you!”

Whether you’ve just had a baby yourself or are looking for a great wintry pick-me-up, try Lee’s seaweed soup recipe.

Seaweed soup

¼ cup dried seaweed

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon salt

½ pound ground beef

4-5 minced garlic cloves

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 cups water

Note: Lee says that this soup is even more flavorful when reheated the next day, so you can always double (or triple!) this recipe to have leftovers or to feed a larger group.

In a large bowl, hydrate about ¼ cup dried seaweed in water for 10 minutes. Try seaweed brands such as Miyuk or Wakame.

Strain seaweed with a colander to remove water.

Heat up a soup pot, drizzle in ½ tablespoon sesame oil and sauté hydrated seaweed for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt as you sauté.

Remove seaweed from pot and set aside. Add another ½ tablespoon sesame oil to pot, then brown ½ pound beef for 2-3 minutes. (Ribeye cubes are preferred here, but Lee’s mother used clams, so try what you like best!)

Add the minced garlic to pot and cook for 30 seconds.

Add seaweed back into the pot with beef, sauté for another minute and add 2 cups of water to cover.

Bring to a boil, then add 1 tablespoon soy sauce and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.

After cooking, taste and add more salt, if desired. Enjoy the soup on its own or serve over rice.

To Suffer and Dance Together

Published January 6, 2023

By Cassandra Lane

On a cold night in the middle of December, I could not sleep. My mind seemed to be wired to a network of sleepless souls across the City of Angels, thousands of bodies not tossing and turning but lying flat in our beds, our boulder-sized hearts pinning us down in a collective grief. It was the day we learned that Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a beloved dancer, DJ, dad, husband and friend, had left us in what authorities ruled a suicide.

I tried to stop checking my phone but could not. Images of Boss’ grinning face flooded all social media feeds. Videos of him dancing — solo or with his wife, Allison Holker — seemed to haunt us. How, people asked over and over in comments rife with confusion and anguish, could someone who seemed so happy, who brought such joy, have willingly taken his own life? Questions like these, though, can be harmful and demonstrate how much work we have yet to do as a culture in understanding mental illness.

My own understanding expanded recently after reading a writing student’s manuscript about her depression and suicide ideation, a burden she’s carried since she was a child and a condition she’s tried to “cure” (unsuccessfully) with more than 22 therapies. Despite her personal struggles, this writer brought such love and depth to our workshop. Her sense of humor was quick and quiet, the kind that takes a moment to catch, but when it does is a sudden flame lighting up a crisscross of campfire logs in a dark forest. Watching her deadpan face break out into a mischievous grin was pure joy. After workshop, we discussed ways to explore writing about mental illness for parents and families — specifically, for you: our L.A. Parent community.

In these times, none of us are completely well. Instead of blame and guilt, what if we try our best to share resources, deepen our understanding of mental illness and connect to each other through sharing our stories?

Elena Epstein, our creative director, remembers interviewing Boss when we featured him and his kids on our cover for our Father’s Day issue in 2017. “He was genuinely so sweet and kind,” she says. “And he absolutely loved being a dad.”

Unless we’re granted a seat inside someone’s brain, we can’t know what internal battles they’re dealing with, what “invisible” illnesses they might have. That they are able to spread joy in the middle of that kind of pain must spring from a bottomless well of generosity.

A dance of gratitude for that. And a pledge to extend compassion toward everyone’s unique health and wellness needs.

Reindeer Oat Bites

Published December 21, 2022

By Natasha Case

Recipe courtesy Natasha Case, founder of Lunch Bunch.

Equipment needed: large mixing bowl, sheet tray, spoon or spatula, nori punch

Reindeer Oat Bites

Ingredients

8 ounces gluten free oats, Bobs Red Mill

0.31 ounces flax seeds, ground

1 ounces toasted sesame seeds

1 ounces hemp seeds

8 ounces sweet potato puree, Farmer’s Market

4 ounces maple syrup

.27 ounces cinnamon

.16 ounces vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon salt, Kosher

Method

Mix everything together: Add all ingredients listed above into a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.

Chill for at least an hour in the refrigerator.

Roll + Shape: Roll mixture into 1 inch balls and press down with the palm of your hand. Place on a lined baking sheet pan and start placing design ingredients.

Reindeer Oat Bite Assembly

Ingredients

Sweet potato oat bites (above)

Pretzels, cut in ½ (for antlers)

Maraschino cherries, cut in ½ (for noses)

White chocolate chips (for eyes)

Nori (seaweed) for eye pupils

Method

Prepare the reindeer faces by punching out circle dots with a nori punch. Cut the pretzels in half and cut the cherries in half.

See photos and place design items accordingly. Tip for the reindeer antlers: stick them into the oat bite rounds first and secure them by pressing the surrounding areas tight into the pretzels. Then place the eyes, nori and nose.

New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Ideas for Families in L.A. and Beyond

Published December 20, 2022

By Nina Harada

Ring in the new year at Grand Park’s free NYE party. PHOTO COURTESY THE MUSIC CENTER

Looking for ways to ring in 2023? We’ve rounded up the best family-friendly New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events happening in L.A. and a few just a short drive down the coast.

Los Angeles

Grand Park’s NYELA
Ring in the new year at Grand Park’s free NYELA music and dance party, featuring DJs and musicians, including DJ Marques Wyatt and Cuban Funk band Cimafunk, performing on two stages. The family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration crescendos with an epic countdown to 2023 depicted by Grand Park’s signature 3-D video projection and light show on City Hall. FREE. grandparkla.org

“Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert” returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall on Jan. 2. PHOTO BY CHRIS LEE

Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert
The annual concert returns to the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Jan. 2. Inspired by the annual Viennese New Year’s concert tradition, “Salute to Vienna” features music by Johann Strauss and his contemporaries, performed by singers, dancers and a full orchestra. Ages 5 and up. $49 – $150. musiccenter.org

Pull My Finger New Year’s Eve Edition
Ring in the new year by laughing with the family in this family-friendly comedy show on Dec. 31 at Bergamot Station Arts Center. Hosted by The Crow, a mom-owned and operated comedy club, “Pull My Finger” is G-rated. $25. crowcomedy.com

New Year’s Eve with The Roots
Ring in the New Year with GRAMMY-award-winning hip-hop band The Roots on Dec. 31 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. $69 and up. laphil.com

L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow
Celebrate the New Year at L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow. The all-ages celebration includes express entry to the lights display, buffet dinner, kid-friendly dance party, games, photo ops, live broadcast of the Times Square ball drop and a New Year’s toast with complimentary champagne for adults and sparkling apple cider for kids. $100 for 18 and over; $75 for ages 2-17, free for ages 0-2. lazoo.org

Celebrate NYE at LA Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow. PHOTO BY JAMIE PHAM/COURTESY GLAZA

Swan Boat Night Rides
Grab a blanket and hot chocolate to ride the Swan Boats at Echo Park Lake, which are decorated with holiday garlands and LED lights for the season. Online reservations are required. Open NYE and New Year’s Day. $11; $6 for ages 0-17. wheelfunrentals.com

The lobby bar at Pasadena Hotel & Pool will open at 6 a.m. for the Tournament of Roses Parade. PHOTO COURTESY PASADENA HOTEL & POOL

GLOW Party and New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Join Marina Del Rey for their annual GLOW Party and New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Burton Chace Park on Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. The family-friendly event features DJs, live entertainment, food trucks, face painting, photo booths and more. FREE. visitmdr.com

EVE
Ring in 2023 with EVE, Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual NYE celebration featuring music entertainment fireworks and access to select rides and attractions with extended hours until 2 a.m. $139. universalstudioshollywood.com

Tournament of Roses Parade

Catch the annual Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 2 in Pasadena. Camp out along the 5.5 mile route or hang out at Pasadena Hotel & Pool’s newly renovated lobby bar, which will open at 6 a.m. with a breakfast and bar menu on the day of the parade. tournamentofroses.com

New Year’s in Pasadena Walking Tour
Walk the first leg of the Rose Parade route before the parade and learn all about the festivities and activities around the Rose Bowl. The 1.8 mile guided walking tours take place on Dec. 30 and 31 and last about two hours. $28 for ages 13 and up; $16 for ages 5-12; free for ages 4 and under. lawalkingtours.com

Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo
Celebrate the first day of 2023 with a traditional Japanese New Year celebration in Little Tokyo. Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo will will feature taiko drum performances, calligraphy demonstrations, mochi making workshops, Japanese dances and food booths at Weller Court and Japanese Village Plaza. FREE. littletokyola.org

Orange County

32^nd Annual Lighting of the Bay
Watch more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations float along the bay every evening through New Year’s Day at the Annual Lighting of the Bay at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. Make it an extra magical evening with s’mores around the beach bonfire. Newport Dunes’ public fire pits are available on a first-come basis. FREE. newportbeach.com

New Year’s Eve at Knott’s

Ring in the new year with Knott’s New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring a midnight fireworks spectacular, PEANUTS characters dressed in their New Year’s best, dance classes from the Jitterbug Jumpers and more. Included with admission. knotts.com

Winter Fest OC
Winter Fest OC will have extended hours on New Year’s Eve for family-friendly fun. The celebration includes a holiday parade and tree lighting spectacular show, an early 6 p.m. NYE countdown and firework show with 80s tribute band, ice tubing, carnival rides, seasonal food and drinks and more. $21.95 and up. winterfestoc.com

San Diego County

Kid’s New Year’s Eve at LEGOLAND
Spend the last day of 2022 at LEGOLAND California Resort. The Carlsbad theme park gets into the holiday spirit with a winter wonderland transformation, including elaborate décor, twinkling lights and falling snow. Ring in the New Year with fireworks, treats and entertainment at their Kids’ New Year’s Eve with a bedtime-friendly countdown at 7 p.m. Enjoy live singers, fireworks and confetti surprise. Included with park admission. legoland.com

Virtual

Story Pirates New Year’s Eve Virtual Party
NAPPA Award-winning improv comedy artists Story Pirates invite kids to join the year-end interactive Story Creation Zone and virtual party. FREE. storypirates.com

Win Tickets to ‘Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation’

Published December 20, 2022

By Nina Harada

Everyone’s favorite characters from A.A. Milne’s beloved “Winnie the Pooh” books come to life in this new musical stage adaptation created and directed by Jonathan Rockefeller, acclaimed producer, director and writer known for his family-friendly stage shows.

Life-size puppets of Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the whole cast of the Hundred Acre Wood tell new stories accompanied by an original score by award-winning composer Nate Edmondson. The all-ages show also features many of the original songs, like “Winnie the Pooh” and “A Rather Blustery Day.”

“Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation” received its West Coast premiere at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on Nov. 23 and is running through Dec. 30. Tickets are $35 and up. To win free tickets, head over to our Instagram and enter our giveaway! We will announce two winners on Thursday Dec. 22. For more information about the show and its National Tour visit winniethepoohshow.com.

December Book Corner: Animal Friends & Songs

Published December 19, 2022

By Nina Harada

This month’s roundup includes illustrated children’s stories about animals that inspire friendship and song.

The The Bird and The Bee

By Johnnie Forster

Inspired by his own marriage, which represents the union of two different backgrounds (Forster is Jewish and his wife is part Native American and African American), “The Bird and The Bee,” is an illustrated story about two creatures from different backgrounds who join forces to help save the forest. The book is accompanied by “The Song of The Bird and The Bee,” written and performed by M’Jesti, available on all major streaming platforms.

Eala: The Mother Swan / La Madre Cisne

By Ayn Cates Sullivan, Illustrated by Paige Ozma Ashmore

The bilingual picture book, “Eala: The Mother Swan/ La Madre Cisne,” tells the story of a young boy named Hugo who goes in search of magical swans from a folktale his grandmother told him. Hugo finds the swan Eala who helps him rediscover his sense of self, which he had lost. The beautifully illustrated book is written in both English and Spanish. Recommended for ages 5-9.

Teddy’s Tails

By Georgia Edmonds, Illustrated by Jake Biggin

The new children’s picture book series “Teddy’s Tails” encourages young readers to learn new vocabulary through the stories of a beloved dog named Teddy and his loving family. The books are written in verse so that children can experience the flow and rhythm of language. The first book, “Teddy and the Tygers” and second book, “Teddy Versus the Underwear” are out now. Recommended for ages 2-6.

The Animal Song

By Jonty Howley

Author and musician Jonty Howley’s illustrated “The Animal Song” follows three animal friends who decide to form a traveling band. The crocodile, bear and weasel travel through the seasons playing music everywhere they go until they get too tired to play anymore and fall asleep. The perfect bedtime story, the book also includes musical composition and lyrics at the end and a link to hear the song performed by Jonty himself. Recommended for ages 4-8. Available Jan. 10, 2023.

For more book suggestions, check out our November Book Corner.

New on Screen: What to Watch in December

Published December 13, 2022

Nina Harada

The Boss Baby Christmas Bonus

Everyone’s favorite boss baby returns for the holidays with “The Boss Baby Christmas Bonus.” It’s Boss Baby’s first Christmas, but he’s having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit. His older brother Tim takes him to the mall to meet Santa, but the plan to lift Boss Baby’s spirits backfires when he’s mistaken for an elf. Available on Netflix.

The Mighty Ones

Peacock and Hulu present new episodes of “The Mighty Ones,” an animated series about a group of creatures—a twig, a pebble, a strawberry and a leaf— who live in an unkempt backyard. The tiny but mighty friends continue their adventures, determined to have fun and live large.

Cartoon Network’s Holiday Celebration

Get into the holiday spirit with festive Cartoonito and HBO Max Specials from family-friendly favorites like “Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.” On Dec. 26 catch a “Snowplow Struttin” episode where Thomas learns how to use his plow for his friends. Other holiday specials include “Sesame Street The Nutcracker,” “Teen Titans Go!” episode, “The Great Holiday Escape,” “Batwheels” episode “Holidays on Ice” and more. Now streaming.

Puppy Place

The second season of “Puppy Place” continues the story based on Scholastic’s best-selling book series by Ellen Miles, “Puppy Place.” Dog-loving siblings Charles and Lizzie continue to help puppies find their forever homes. Available on Apple TV +.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Apple TV+ presents the animated short film, “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse,” based on the best-selling book of the same name by author Charlie Mackesy. The story follows an unlikely friendly between the title characters as they help the boy’s search for home. The all-ages film premieres on Dec. 25 on Apple TV+.

For more movie and TV show recommendations, check out our November roundup.

Spotlight: Meet The Cameron Boyce Foundation’s Libby Boyce

Published November 23, 2022

By Nina Harada

Libby and Victor Boyce started The Cameron Boyce Foundation in 2019. PHOTO BY LARRY HIRSHOWITZ

When Libby and Victor Boyce lost their son, actor, dancer and philanthropist Cameron Boyce to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Patients), they knew they had to honor their son’s legacy and raise awareness around the disease that took his life. In 2019, soon after Cameron’s passing, they started The Cameron Boyce Foundation. We recently spoke with Libby Boyce for National Epilepsy Awareness Month, which the Epilepsy Foundation has recognized since 1969. She shared with us misconceptions around the disease, advice for families dealing with epilepsy and how to spread awareness for epilepsy.

You recently celebrated three years of The Cameron Boyce Foundation. For those unfamiliar, can you talk about the foundation and its mission?

We created the foundation right after Cameron passed to continue his philanthropic endeavors, but we quickly realized we needed to do something about Epilepsy and the lack of information about this disease and in particular about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Our mission statement is: The Cameron Boyce Foundation (est. 2019) honors the legacy of Cameron Boyce by aiming to cure epilepsy through funding research, education and awareness campaigns while still supporting causes that were important to Cameron.

What is your advice for parents who may be dealing with epilepsy in their family?

Be armed with information, do your research, get involved with epilepsy organizations to stay informed, be confident and comfortable with your health care team, see an epileptologist at least for a second opinion if not for ongoing care, keep a journal that identifies triggers, look into seizure monitors, and take it seriously.

What is the one thing you wish people knew about epilepsy?

It is the most common neurological disease that we know and talk the least about.

What is the biggest misconception about epilepsy?

That you are born with it. You can get epilepsy at any point in your lifetime. 1 in 26 people WILL get it in their lifetime.

What are some other resources for people with epilepsy or who know someone with epilepsy, and what can they do to spread awareness?

I encourage those with epilepsy to talk about it, get first aid/CPR trained, be armed with knowledge, visit TheCameronBoyceFoundation.org, and be supportive of the epilepsy community.

2022 Jingle Holiday Gift Guide

Published November 21, 2022

The 2022 holiday season is here and it’s time to get a started on your holiday shopping list. It can be hard to know where to start to find the right gift for the kids in your life. There are so many wonderful toys, books and games out there, how do you know which one to buy?

Our friends at the National Parenting Product Awards have put together a curated list of over 150 gift ideas, from toys that inspire kindness and positivity to outdoor fun to games and puzzles that encourage learning and more. NAPPA’s annual gift guide features award-winning toys, crafts, books, games and unique finds for kids of all ages.

Every product included in this guide has been tested and evaluated. NAPPA Awards is one of the longest running award programs in the industry. It has been celebrating the best in family products for more than 32 years.

For more award-winning products visit nappaawards.com.

Thanksgiving 2022: How to Celebrate with Your Family and Community

Published November 16, 2022

By Nina Harada

Grab the family for a Thanksgiving Day run at the annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY TURKEY TROT LOS ANGELES

From annual turkey trots to sharing delicious home cooked meals, Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness. If you’re looking for a new Thanksgiving tradition or just searching for something to do that week, we’ve rounded up some fun ways to celebrate turkey day.

Eat

Don’t feel like cooking this year? Brazilian restaurant Fogo de Chão will be offering special Thanksgiving options, available for delivery or in-person. Children ages 6 and under dine free on Thanksgiving Day with a purchase of an adult churrasco, a unique dining experience. Locations in Pasadena, Downtown, El Segundo and Beverly Hills.

For a truly family-friendly experience, skip cooking and head to one of Mimi’s Café’s many SoCal locations for a three-course turkey dinner. Dine-in or pick up the feast anytime between Nov. 19 and 23.

Union Station Homeless Services’ beloved annual tradition “Dinner in the Park” returns to feed those in need this Thanksgiving. For those with access to a kitchen, you can pick up meal supply boxes on Monday, Nov. 21 at the Adult Center in Pasadena. For those without access to a kitchen, stop by the Adult Center on Nov. 23 for a no-contact pick up of a deliciously prepared Thanksgiving meal. If you have the means, you can help donate ingredients for these Thanksgiving meals by shopping their Amazon wish list.

See

Visit The Gentle Barn on Thanksgiving to cuddle and feed rescued turkeys. The special Thanksgiving Day event also includes pie, games and more. $50; free for ages 0-2.

Hear

For some at home entertainment, check out award-winning comedy-improv group Story Pirates’ “Bugs and Daff’s Thanksgiving Road Trip,” a 4-part original podcast series produced for Warner Bros. Animation. To check out Story Pirates live, from home, DJ Squirm-a-Lot will host a Thanksgiving Mixtape Live party on Nov. 25 with an interactive Q&A.

Run!

The 10^th Annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles returns to Downtown L.A. Thanksgiving morning to raise funds for The Midnight Mission. Dress up in your best Thanksgiving-themed gear and get on your marks in front of Los Angeles City Hall. The 5K and 10K run/walk course wraps around Grand Park and passes other DTLA landmarks like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Museum of Contemporary Art. Ages 12 and under can join the Widdle Wobble for their own mini run.

Other family-friendly Turkey Trots happening in L.A.:

Annual Harry Sutter Memorial Turkey Trot Fun Run in Torrance
45^th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot in Dana Point
5^th Annual Rose Bowl Turkey Trot in Pasadena
Drumstick Dash in North Hollywood

Where to Experience ‘The Nutcracker’ in L.A. this Holiday Season

Published November 15, 2022

By Nina Harada

American Ballet Theatre will perform “The Nutcracker” at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Dec. 9-18. PHOTO BY MARTY SOHL

In December 1892 a two-act ballet called “The Nutcracker” choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Tchaikovsky was performed for the first time at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since its debut, the ballet has become a holiday tradition throughout the world. Since then, the classic ballet has undergone many interpretations making it accessible to diverse audiences young and old. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to catch “The Nutcracker” in L.A. this holiday season, from an immersive experience to high tea and more.

Los Angeles Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea at Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills returns Nov. 19 and 20. The annual fundraiser includes an immersive afternoon tea party experience, featuring High Tea sweets and bites, a special performance of scenes from “The Nutcracker,” followed by holiday crafts, photos with Santa, dancing with Clara and her doll friends, hot cocoa and browsing the European Winter Market for holiday gifts. $250 and up. losangelesballet.org

Guests have a few opportunities to catch the full version of Los Angeles Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” throughout Southern California. The L.A.-themed version of the holiday classic will perform at The Alex Theatre in Glendale Dec. 3-4, at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center Dec. 10-11, at UCLA’s Royce Hall Dec. 16-18 and at the Dolby Theatre in DTLA Dec. 22-24 and 26. $38 and up. losangelesballet.org

Experience The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle select dates Nov. 19 – Dec. 31 at Lighthouse ArtSpace in Hollywood. The timeless holiday tale is brought to life with immersive projections, special effects, magical photo ops and more. $30. immersive-nutcracker.com

Bob Baker’s “Nutcracker” returns to Bob Baker Marionette Theater Nov. 26 through Jan. 8, 2022. Created in 1969, the marionette adaptation of the classic ballet has been preserved and renovated for its 2022 season. $25; free for ages 0-2. bobbakermarionettetheater.com

PHOTO COURTESY BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER

For a parents night out, Los Angeles Philharmonic presents “The Nutcracker” with Dudamel, leading Tchaikovsky’s original and Duke Ellington’s swinging reimagination of the many colors and drama of the original Dec. 3-4, 14 and 18 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. $97 and up. laphil.com

Inland Pacific Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” at two locations this December. Catch the magic at Lewis Family Playhouse in Rancho Cucamonga Dec. 3-4 and 10-11, or at Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside Dec. 17-18. $24 and up. ipballet.org

American Ballet Theatre presents holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Dec. 9-18, featuring dazzling costumes by Tony-Award winner Richard Hudson and choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. $29 and up. scfta.org

Join Festival Ballet Theatre for a family-friendly production of “The Nutcracker” at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Featuring colorful scenery and dazzling costumes, the all-ages show will perform Dec. 10 – 11, 17-18 and 20-24. Attendees of The Nutcracker ballet production may purchase tickets to the pre-show Tea Party where adults can sip on a glass of champagne while children will be gathered to listen to the story of The Nutcracker and be visited by some of the characters from the ballet. The sit-down tea includes finger sandwiches, sweet treats, tea and lemonade. $45 – $70. festivalballet.org

The Long Beach Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” for the 40^th year at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center from Dec. 16-23. This annual holiday tradition features a full symphony orchestra, flying sleigh, real live horse and on-stage pyrotechnics for a memorable evening for the whole family. $34- $125. longbeachnutcracker.com

Light up the Night: Where to See Holiday Lights in L.A.

Published November 9, 2022

By Nina Harada

PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA, INC.

‘Tis the season for breathtaking light displays, festive light parades and more as SoCal gets into the holiday spirit. We’ve rounded up the best spots to see holiday lights throughout L.A.

Menorah and holiday tree lighting ceremonies

The Official City of Santa Monica Holiday Tree Lighting will take place Dec. 1 from 6-8 p.m on Third Street Promenade. The annual lighting ceremony of the 24-foot-tall holiday tree will include performances by local school groups, free photos with Santa and a snowy surprise. Santa Monica’s annual Menorah Lightings will take place nightly Dec. 18-25 beginning at sundown. FREE. downtownsm.com

Fairmont Miramar Hotel’s 150-year-old fig tree will be illuminated on Dec. 1. PHOTO COURTESY HUMPHREY_XperienceFactory

Gather around the Fairmont Miramar‘s 150-year-old 80-foot high Morten Bay Fig Tree for their annual tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The landmark tree will remain illuminated throughout the holidays. fairmont-miramar.com

Join Roundhouse Aquarium and the city of Manhattan Beach for the 33^rd Annual Tree Lighting and Open House on Nov. 16 at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Celebrate the lighting of the aquarium with games, prizes, hot chocolate and cookies for all guests. FREE. roundhouseaquarium.org

Third Street Promenade’s Menorah Lighting will take place nightly Dec. 18-25. PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA, INC

The Promenade at Westlake will host its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 18, featuring a whimsical holiday show, fireworks, snow and a welcome from Santa Claus. Come early to shop the curated Holiday Market. shoppromenade.com

Hosted by Gloria Estefan, the 24^th Annual A Home for the Holidays at The Grove on Nov. 20. The show will feature stories of adoption from foster care to raise awareness of this important issue. Other entertainment includes Andy Grammer and Kat McPhee and a fireworks show with the lighting of the 100-foot-tall white fir Christmas tree. thegrovela.com

Chabad Jewish Community of Pacific Palisades and Palisades Village present its annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 18. The celebration will close Swarthmore Street for musical entertainment, traditional light bites and blessings from Rabbi Zucche. FREE. palisadesvillageca.com

The Commons at Calabasas will host its annual Menorah Lighting ceremony on Dec. 21 with musical entertainment, kid-friendly activities and complimentary refreshments before the ceremony. shopcommons.com

Boat parades & coastal lights

The all-volunteer Huntington Harbor Boat Parade Dec. 10-11 features the theme “Swinging to the Sounds.” View the 60^th annual parade from the local public beaches. Arrive early as parking is limited. FREE. hhboatparade.org

Dana Point Harbor hosts its 47^th annual Boat Parade of Lights Dec. 9-11 with a “Surfin’ USA” theme. The rest of the harbor will be lit up, too, with its annual holiday light display consisting of more than 700,000 LED lights, including a giant whale sculpture and the crowd favorite Merry Kiss Me arch. FREE. danapointharbor.com

The 32nd Annual Lighting of the Bay runs Nov. 25-Jan. 1, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY NEWPORT DUNES

Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights returns Dec. 16-17 with festive boat décor and carnival fun under the 2022 theme “Out of This World.” The boat parade will be followed by a grand fireworks finale. FREE. venturaharborvillage.com

Watch more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations float along the bay beginning Nov. 25 at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. Make it an extra magical evening with s’mores around the beach bonfire. Newport Dunes’ public fire pits are available on a first-come basis. The 32^nd Annual Lighting of the Bay continues nightly through New Year’s Day. FREE. newportdunes.com

Lightscape’s Bubble Baubles by Atelier Sisu are one of many installations displayed Nov. 11-Jan.8, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY ATELIER SISU

Join Huntington Beach for the 25^th annual Light a Light of Love Pier Lighting on Dec. 4 at Pier Plaza. A parade on Main Street will be followed by the lighting ceremony, which benefits the Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter. FREE. surfcityusa.com

Immersive lights

Los Angeles Zoo’s nighttime winter attraction L.A. Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow will transform its grounds into an immersive landscape filled with spectacular lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees and more. The 90-minute stroll takes visitors on a journey through the animal kingdom, featuring LED-light displays, immersive exhibits, photo ops and more. Seasonal treats, like hot cocoa and churros, will be available for purchase. Nov. 18 – Jan. 22, 2022. $34; $27 for ages 2-12. lazoo.org

Descanso Gardens’ annual Enchanted Forest Of Light returns Nov. 20 – Jan. 8, 2023 featuring returning favorites like a town of “stained glass” creations built by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin, Flower Power on the Promenade and magical lighting effects in the Ancient Forest. $22-$40. descansogardens.org

Internationally acclaimed Lightscape will return to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. The after-dark, illuminated trail will span one mile and feature spectacular sights with eye-catching artistic installations that come alive at night with color, imagination and sound. Most nights Nov. 11-Jan. 8. $34-39; $15-$20 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and under. arboretum.org

Moment Factory and Fever present Astra Lumina, an immersive night walk experience through South Coast Botanic Gardens. The multi-sensory experience uses light, scenography, original soundscape and projection to spark emotion and plunge visitors of all-ages into an imaginative world. Dec. 8-Jan.15, 2023. $29; $20 for ages 4-12. astraluminalosangeles.com

Skate Into the Holidays: L.A. Ice Skating Rinks to Visit This Winter

Published November 8, 2022

By Nina Harada

The outdoor skating rink at Winterlit in Santa Monica opens Nov. 16. PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA INC.

Family-friendly ice skating rinks are back, just in time for the holidays. Whether you’re an old pro or you just want to join in on the SoCal winter fun, these ice skating rinks have something for everyone. Mostly outdoors, the pop-up rinks also offer plenty of festive programming through January.

Ice at Santa Monica returns to downtown Santa Monica with Winterlit. Beginning Nov. 16, skate the 8,000-square-foot-rink on the corner of 5^th Street and Arizona Avenue. The grand opening event will include free skating, live DJ and treats. The rink will be open daily through Jan. 16, 2022. $20. downtownsm.com

After a three-year absence, Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square returns this winter. From Nov. 23-Jan. 1, enjoy skating outdoors in the heart of Downtown L.A. Visit Nov. 23 for the Icebreaker Opening Celebration, which will feature a live performance, special guests and the “icebreaking” ceremony where a large ice sculpture will be shattered. $20. holidayicerinkdowntownla.com

Pasea Hotel and Spa’s outdoor ice skating rink will run Nov. 25-Dec. 31. PHOTO COURTESY MERITAGE COLLECTION

Pasea Hotel & Spa transforms its lawn into an ice skating rink again this holiday season. From Nov. 25-Dec. 31, The Ice Rink at Pasea Hotel & Spa will have themed nights, Santa visits, luxury fire pit experiences, festive drinks and bites, photo ops and more. $30 and up. paseahotel.com

Although The Cube Santa Clarita has ice skating year-round, December is a special time to experience the rink. The Second Annual Christmas Tree Skate at The Cube features a tree-lighting ceremony, public skating session, Christmas carols and plenty of photo ops on Dec. 2. The Holiday Skate Show on Dec. 10 interprets “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with an all-local cast. $15-$25. thecubesantaclarita.com

November Book Corner: Books for Giving

Published November 7, 2022

By Nina Harada

This month’s roundup includes books that would make great holiday gifts for adults and kids, from beautifully illustrated stories to a thoughtful guide for working parents.

Hacking the Code: The Ziggety Zaggety Road of a D-Kid

By Gea Meijering, Illustrated by Mads Johan Øgaard

The illustrated chapter book follows 5^th grader Kees as he navigates school with his dyslexia. Writing assignments are challenging but fixing things or science experiments come easy.
Written by a mother of a dyslexic son, “Hacking the Code” reveals how every brain operates in different ways giving each of us unique strengths. Ages 8-12.

Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable

By Meteor 17 Books

Inspired by the iconic pop song from 1971, Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable is a beautifully illustrated story about a lonely newspaper boy who discovers friendship, creativity and melody through his daily paper route. The poetic and bittersweet book explores the meaning behind the words of the classic song. Ages 4-7.

Guinness World Records 2023

By Guinness World Records

A fun read for both kids and adults alike, the classic “Guinness World Records” returns with new record-breaking achievements in the 2032 edition. The jam-packed book features celebrities like Rihanna and Billie Eilish, star animals like Alvin the Shetland pony and incredible kids like 7-year-old blind skateboarder.

Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much)

By Yael Schonbrun, PhD

In “Work, Parent, Thrive,” clinical psychologist and parent Dr. Schonbrun offers practical steps we can take to rethink the challenges of working parent life. Early in her own journey as a working parent she felt, “no matter what I was doing, I felt like I could and perhaps should be doing something else.” Instead of listing ways we can juggle more, the book addresses these feelings around being a working parent and how we can shift our perspective.

Dragonboy and the Wonderful Night

Written and illustrated by Fabio Napoleoni

“Dragonboy and the Wonderful Night” is the follow-up to fine artist Fabio Napoleoni’s debut picture book series “Dragonboy.” With Unicorngirl and his stuffed animal friends, Darwin, Yellow Kitty, Drako and Simon by his side, Dragonboy embarks on a backyard adventure to discover the wonder and magic of the night and of our world. Ages 4-8.

For more book suggestions, check out out October Book Corner.

Spotlight: Meet Bestselling Children’s Books Creator Matthew Reinhart

Published November 7, 2022

Nina Harada

Paper artist and pop-up book creator Matthew Reinhart recently moved to L.A.

L.A. resident and artist Matthew Reinhart is known for his imaginative pop-up books, like “Frozen,” “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars” and more. His most recent book, “Marvel Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-up Book” is now available for pre-order. We recently chatted with Matthew about his art, his books and life in L.A.

Tell us about the new “Marvel Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book.”

“Marvel Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book” stars the biggest heroes of the Marvel Universe (and a few villains) illustrated, as I like to say, in three dimensions, combining interactive pop-ups with spectacular comic book artwork. I crammed as many Marvel characters into this book as I could! Working on this project has really been a dream come true for me, since the very beginning of my career about twenty years ago. Having grown up on the legendary comic book art of artists like Jack Kirby, Jim Lee, Steve Ditko and Todd MacFarlane (to name a few), it only felt natural to me that favorites like the Hulk, Spider-Man and the X-men exploding into action off the pages of a pop-up book.

“Marvel Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book” is available for pre-order.

What first drew you to comic books, comic art and paper art?

I wasn’t a big book reader when I was young – I liked the pictures! Comics were less acceptable reads when I was young, at least in a school setting. I was drawn to science fiction (due to STAR WARS primarily) and fantasy, but was forced to read the classics in school. Those sorts of books, at least at the time, weren’t interesting to me – they weren’t the kind of escape that I needed or wanted to find in books. Comic book stories about super heroes, giant robots, mutants and space aliens were more my speed – and still are!

As far as my interest in paper arts, I don’t think I’ve ever NOT been into creating with paper. I mean, as a kid, paper is about the only universal material that all kids have access to create with. Whether I was making cardboard dioramas with old cereal boxes or puppets from paper cups and leftover cardboard, I’ve been a paper artist since day one. Paper is a magical material, really – it’s flat, light and easy to manipulate. You can cut, shape, rip and fold paper and yet, with some modifications, it can become very strong, it can cause movement, stand under its own support and, if you’re not careful, it can cut you!

As an avid creator of children’s books, how do you stay inspired?

I try to stop and take a look at the world around me. There’s so much to take inspiration from – Hubble telescope photos of the Pillars of Creation, a construction crane, street art, a Transformers toy, cereal box design – it’s all right in front of our eyes every day. I also think the deep connection to my childhood self helps. I don’t think the kid inside me ever left – whether that’s good or bad!

Did you have a mentor growing up? And what role did that person play in your life and your career?

It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I had any sort of mentor in my life, aside from my parents and family. It wasn’t until I was in college that someone took some interest guiding me along creatively. I took a figure drawing class and was already fairly adept, but my instructor, Professor Cliff Peacock (yup, that’s his real name) didn’t quite accept the work I was making. I was clearly better than other students in the class, but he could see that I wasn’t challenging myself. He pushed me to do the uncomfortable, to try new techniques, to take roads untraveled. He may not remember me or think he did anything special for me during that class at all. I feel very differently about it – he opened my eyes to a bigger world.

Best life advice you received growing up?

Don’t be afraid of change – and be open to changing your mind. Work hard and give everyone equal respect.

When not working, where will we find you?

At the gym first thing in the morning or outside taking a walk through the neighborhood. Oh and I love a good shopping trip to Target!

What would you tell your middle school self?

Keep on the path, but maybe get outside more and exercise! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and laugh at yourself – I mean, it was the mid-1980’s, so there was a lot to laugh at.

What are some of your favorite spots and activities in and around L.A.?

We’ve been here less than a year, so we’re still feeling everything out. Top of the list so far: walks in Runyon Canyon, visits to the Getty, lunch at the Farmers’ Market at the Grove, dinner at Casita del Campo in Silverlake – sometimes I’m just happy enjoying the view of everything from the Hollywood Hills.

Money Matters: Creating Ways to Thrive as a Family Financially

Published November 3, 2022

By Thea Fiore-Bloom, Ph.D.

Invite your kids into your financial planning at home.

Kamin Samuel, Ph.D., was the U.S. Navy’s first African American woman helicopter pilot, but that role had nothing on the job of parenting. “Even though my job was to fly helicopters, I’m clear on what the hardest, most courageous job on the planet is — parenthood,” Samuel says. Luckily for us, she also happens to be an expert on neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to rewire itself around money.

I reached out to Samuel for some insights because the stress and economic hardships dealt by the COVID-19 crisis have made the courageous job of parenting more challenging than ever.

Her acumen for creating wealth after a crisis is the result of her years of military service, personal triumph over bankruptcy, success as a business leader and international wealth coach, as well as her role as a board member for the EduCare Foundation, an L.A.-based nonprofit that aims to cultivate compassionate leadership skills in children.

Here are a few of Samuel’s tips on how to financially flourish even during these times.

What do you say to folks who may be stressed or anxious because their family is in a tough place financially right now?

I’d say what I wish I could have said to myself coming out of my own bankruptcy and foreclosures, and that is this: “The amount of money I have at this moment does not define me. It’s not who I am. It just reflects an aspect of what I do in the world. I can create, recreate and reinvent myself and my opportunities at any time, starting today.”

Students in the EduCare Foundation, a nonprofit where Kamin Samuel serves on the board of directors. PHOTO COURTESY EDUCARE FOUNDATION

Are there any action steps you recommend parents take to help get confidence and serenity back around money?

Many people don’t realize how much energy goes into worrying about not being able to handle another pandemic or emergency if one occurs. One great way for a parent to dial the pressure down is to set up a 10-month emergency fund. In the beginning, it’s normal to imagine your weekly contributions will never amount to enough. But you’ll be surprised how quickly your money will add up and how getting kids involved may transform the stress into a game.

The pandemic prompted many parents to ask “What if something happens to me or my spouse? How will my kids get by?” Any advice?

Setting up health directives, wills and college funds are tasks most of us want to put off. I understand. But my own life journey from financial struggle to financial prosperity has led me to run toward the hard stuff. I now know the sooner those big-picture things are taken care of, the sooner I’ll enjoy a greater sense of well-being and optimism. That’s good for two reasons. First, well-being and optimism create the perfect conditions for wealth to grow. And second, science has proven that optimistic people live healthier, longer lives.

Speaking of science, what is neuroplasticity and what financial benefit can it offer parents now?

Neuroplasticity is the ability of our brain to literally change in response to new information or stimulation. Science has proven we can rewire our brains to achieve a goal.

This is the methodology many Olympians have used to achieve success. When Olympians are mentally rehearsing or simulating what they wantto create in their lives, their brains don’t actually know that the positive things they are imagining are not already real. So, their brains go ahead and create new neural pathways to help the athletes achieve their heart’s desire. And we can do that, too — around our money.

My work asks, “What if wealth is an inside game?” “What if you could transform your wealth and life from the inside out?” “And what practical action steps could you take to make that dream a reality?”

What’s one last piece of advice you’d give to parents who are trying hard but may feel overwhelmed emotionally or financially now?

It’s OK to make financial mistakes. We all make them. In the past, I took my mistakes personally. I felt shame. I thought I was a failure. When, in reality, all that happened was that what I tried in that particular instance didn’t work out. The same holds true for you.

See your mistakes as mis-takes, like in film. If you make a mis-take, say to yourself, “OK, let’s try that shot a different way.” Give yourself lots of do-overs.

Kamin Samuel says we can reinvent opportunities for ourselves at any time. PHOTO COURTESY KAMIN SAMUEL

As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”

For more empowering financial advice, read Kamin Samuel’s book, “Increase Your Abundance Starting Today. A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Transform Your Thoughts and Life to Attract More Wealth, Success and Joy After Debt, Bankruptcy or Failure,” and visit her website, KaminSamuel.com.

More Financial Resources

· Book: “I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works” by Ramit Sethi (contains great information on setting up an emergency fund and much more).

· Book: “Route 529: A Parent’s Guide to Saving for College and Career Training with 529 Plans” by Patricia A Roberts.

· Website: Low-cost legal help for preparation of advance health-care directives, wills and trusts for L.A. residents: lawhelpca.org/subtopics/will-drafting-and-estate-planning.

Violin Visions: A mother’s wish for her son’s music lessons surpasses reality. Can you relate?

Published November 3, 2022

By Lisbeth Coiman

Lisbeth Coiman flipped through a box of old photos to find one of her son’s early violin days. PHOTOS COURTESY LISBETH COIMAN

At 5 years old, my son was a stick figure of a boy with round eyes and a desire to seize the world in his fist. In his karate lessons, he practiced his katas and basics with dexterity: front jack, side jack, turn. His oversized gi fell over his shoulder as if he had borrowed his clothes from a husky 10-year-old kid.

He loved karate, but then I took him to a Sunday concert to listen to a soloist play violin. He sat on the edge of his seat, his feet dangling as he watched the musician play a Niccolò Paganini solo. At the end of the concert, my little boy tugged at my shirt.

“I want to play violin,” he said.

“Sorry, honey, but I can’t afford karate and violin at the same time,” I said. “You will have to choose.”

“I choose violin,” he said after thinking about it for a whole weekend.

I didn’t tell him how excited I was. Instead, I said, “Are you sure? That’s a big commitment.”

He was sure. We scanned the classified ads for violins.

A used violin cost me twice my monthly income, but I knew he would become a great musician. I thought, He’ll be a soloist and will introduce me as his mother.

The first time he played, it sounded like somebody had stepped on a cat’s tail. “He is just beginning,” I reassured myself. His classes were in the middle of the afternoon, which meant I had to take time off work to board a series of connecting buses back and forth.

My son serenaded me with his out-of-tune screeches on Mother’s Day, birthdays and holidays. I bought strings, paid for repairs and helped him prepare for recitals while the image of my son as the greatest violinist on the surface of Earth kept growing in my head — despite serious indication that he progressed with difficulty at best.

One day, I caught him practicing in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“It sounds great in here, Mom.”

He enjoyed violin for the first four years. The teachers praised him and encouraged him.

During his fifth year at the conservatory, a stricter teacher demanded two hours of daily practice. My nagging over my then 10-year-old’s ill treatment of the expensive instrument mutated to constant arguments with him. We argued about how much time he needed to play.

“I practiced already,” he’d say.

“Not long enough,” I’d say.

“I want to play with my friends,” he’d say.

He never learned to sight-read music. The hyperactivity that had led him to take karate lessons and ride his bicycle down the stairs interfered with the need for stillness that this demanded.

One day, the teacher told him, “You’ll be second violinist all your life if you don’t practice.”

I complained to the director and continued to bring my son to classes until one day he came out of the classroom earlier than usual.

“What happened?” I asked.

“The teacher cut my hair.”

My son had grown a four-inch ponytail. The teacher didn’t like it and, without consulting me, cut it off.

Despite the violation, I wasn’t ready to give up the violin. “It’ll grow back,” I said, encouraging him to keep playing.

My son pushed back. “I won’t play anymore,” he said. “It’s not just the hair. I don’t want to practice two hours every day.”

I honored his wishes, but I could not let go of the violin. It remained in the closet, inside its beat-up box until a year or so later, when my former husband and I moved from Venezuela to Canada in search of a better life for our children. We sold everything except 34 boxes of books and the violin.

My second son followed in his brother’s footsteps. First, they took karate lessons together, but when my older son left for college, my younger one picked up the violin.

I thought: Maybe this time I’ll become the mother of a famous violinist. I’d wear beautiful floor-length gowns to his concerts.

His new school didn’t have an orchestra program, so he joined the marching band. By 10^th grade, though, he dropped the violin for the French horn.

Again, into the closet the violin went. Just before Kid Two was about to start college, we moved to California, downsizing to fit our much smaller home in Los Angeles. Because we were done raising kids, we decided to sell the violin.

My youngest tried eBay, Craigslist…anything to make a buck out of his instrument, but he had no luck.

“You know what? I’m gonna trade the violin for a guitar,” he said, and so he did.

The first time I visited him in college, he serenaded me with a twangy rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on his guitar.

My sons didn’t become professional musicians, but they did become disciplined men with good work ethic, capable of making their own decisions about what is important to them. They both practice music on the side. The geologist has a recording studio at home in Denver. The biologist plays gigs in bars in San Francisco.

I’m grateful for the years that the violin was in our lives, holding my hopes for my beloved children, giving me a structure on which to base their education, a guiding light in times when I was lost and didn’t know how to raise my kids. I didn’t become the mother of a famous violinist, but the proud mamá of two wonderful men.

Lisbeth Coiman performed a version of this story in the Listen to Your Mother and Library Girl shows. She is the author of the memoir “I Asked the Blue Heron” and poetry collection “Uprising / Alzamiento.” Originally from Venezuela, she lives in Los Angeles.

Dishes That Delight: Get Inspired With These L.A. Chefs and Their Favorite Festive Dishes

Published November 3, 2022

By Chelsee Lowe

Chef Eric Greenspan launched his own high-quality American cheese brand this year. PHOTO COURTESY ERIC GREENSPAN

Whether you keep it simple with a few special homemade dishes from multiple households or go for a grand and over-the-top smorgasbord, there’s nothing like a family holiday meal. The L.A. chefs we feature here agree wholeheartedly. And during the holiday season, when they’re hosting or attending a holiday party, they know exactly what they’re making to give the festivities that special touch.

Check out their top holiday food picks for some kitchen inspiration this season.

Eric Greenspan

Culinary director of Virtual Dining Concepts and founder of New School Quality American Cheese (available at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills)

Holiday pick: Latkes

Chef Courtney Van Dyke helms both restaurants at DTLA’s Hotel Per La: Bar Clara and Per L’Ora. PHOTO COURTESY HOTEL PERLA

The story: “Hannukah is my favorite holiday, obviously, because you get presents,” Greenspan says. “But from the food perspective, I loved (and still love) gathering around in the kitchen and frying latkes to order. They come out of the oil, onto a paper towel and boom — they’re hot, crispy, fried potatoes and onions. With sour cream and some sweetness from apple sauce, there’s nothing better. Usually, they’re potatoes, onions, eggs and flour, but I get funky with mine. Anything you can do with a potato, you can do with a sweet potato, a celery root, a beet. You can have fun with it. My favorite kind of latke is a beet and carrot latke. Grate raw beets, grate raw carrots, and I do add a little bit of potato and onion so the people don’t revolt. You can only shirk tradition so much.”

Tips: Don’t let the frying step of this process keep you from making latkes at home. In a shallow pan, get the oil hot (test it with a drop of your latke batter), then place giant spoonfuls of batter in. Cook in batches and enjoy.

Courtney Van Dyke

Executive chef at Bar Clara and Per L’Ora at Hotel Per La, Downtown L.A.

Holiday pick: Beef Wellington

Chef Courtney Van Dyke’s favorite holiday dish is beef Wellington. PHOTO COURTESY HOTEL PERLA

The story: “This is essentially my grandmother’s dish. She made it for the holidays, but she put her spin on it,” Van Dyke says. “Since she hated mushrooms, she didn’t do the traditional mushroom duxelles on the outside of the tenderloin; she just did straight herbs de Provence and a ton of salt and pepper. Then the crust was Pillsbury croissant dough, the twist-and-pop one. That saved time around the holidays with kids, of course. We now make it every year for Christmas. This meal is like a hug, it’s so comforting.”

Tips: Buy a whole tenderloin and trim off the edges. Sear it, with all the salt and pepper on it. Then, pack on herbs de Provence and cover it with Pillsbury dough. Van Dyke adds sides such as creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes with creme fraiche.

David Lopez

Executive chef of Nueva, Venice

Holiday pick: Whole braised turkey

David Lopez is the now executive chef at Nueva. PHOTOS COURTESY DAVID LOPEZ

The story: “This tradition has been going on for over 30 years in my family, led by my mom,” Lopez says. “Every year, I try to write down her secret recipe. She marinates a turkey for 72 hours on the dot, then braises it for 10 hours, low and slow. I think this is where I fell in love with cooking. I’ve been watching her work this dish since I was five years old. There’s no sense of urgency. She’s cooking with love, and you can taste it. We make it on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s — all three holidays — religiously.”

Tips: Components of Lopez’s mom’s secret recipe include capers, caper berries, traditional Mexican spices such as coriander and nutmeg, plus bay leaf, an entire jar of Dijon mustard (on top and underneath the bird’s skin) and lots of pats of butter.

Burt Bakman

Pitmaster and owner of Slab, Mid-City

Holiday pick: Matzo balls

The story: “I like to ask, ‘What can I do to barbecue-ify this dish?’ — no matter what I’m making,” says Bakman. “Matzo balls are very simple: matzo meal, some eggs, some fat.”

Try Chef Lincoln Carson’s French fare at his new Hollywood restaurant, Mes Amis. PHOTO BY JOHN TROXELL FOR MES AMIS

Tips: Bakman suggests breaking out of the box when cooking matzo balls. “Instead of chicken schmaltz, I like to use smoked beef fat,” he explains. “Then, you eat them like you usually would, in a soup — a chicken soup, maybe, or better yet, in beef bone broth. Make your bone broth with beef ribs or short ribs bones that were smoked, then you have the smokiness in the soup and in the matzo ball. From above, the dish looks familiar, but as you get closer and smell it and taste it, you see that it’s different.”

Now that the weather is cooler, Bakman has plans to make a smoky ramen with bone broth and brisket at Slab. And, having triumphantly weathered the pandemic, new Slab locations are coming soon to Pasadena, North Hollywood and Woodland Hills.

Lincoln Carson

Executive chef of Mes Amis, Hollywood

Holiday pick: Lamb Wellington

Chef Lincoln Carson’s lamb Wellington. PHOTO BY WONHO FRANK LEE

The story: “My wife’s family is in New Orleans and South Carolina, and we often spend holidays there,” Carson says. “It’s always a big southern meal and generally multiple days of eating. One year, the day after Thanksgiving, my wife’s aunt pulled out a whole tenderloin and said, in her perfect southern drawl, ‘I don’t know what to do with this.’ I put together a beef Wellington last minute, with store-bought pastry and prosciutto. We now do that every year, and the dish became the inspiration for the lamb Wellington at Mes Amis. It’s just a little more of a fine-dining version.”

Tips: Carson sears half of a lamb loin with tons of rosemary and butter, then cools it down before dressing it in an olive and mushroom duxelles. Next comes layers of homemade spinach crepe and pastry before baking. Serve with lamb jus fortified with a bit of lamb fat and preserved Meyer lemon.

Suzanne Tracht

Chef and owner of Jar, Mid-City

Holiday pick: Red Pozole

Chef Suzanne Goin runs two locations of A.O.C., plus Caldo Verde in DTLA’s Proper Hotel. PHOTO BY JULIA STOTZ

The story: “For the past 21 years, Jar has been open for Christmas Eve dinner,” Tracht says. “That means our entire team is working during the holidays. Somewhere along the way, a tradition began: When our estimable line cook and runner, Jose Luis Escobar, starts making the world’s biggest pot of red pozole with pork, we know Christmas is right around the corner. We eat it for days, topping it with finely shredded cabbage and cilantro, and we squeeze in lots of lime.”

Tips: For incredible tamales, Tracht visits Tamales Liliana in Boyle Heights each holiday season. Don’t miss the chili-cheese tamales. Tracht’s children adore them, and the chef buys enough every year for her staff to bring some home to their own families.

Suzanne Goin

Chef and restaurateur, A.O.C., West Hollywood and Brentwood

Holiday pick: Veggie sides

Suzanne Goin puts a Spanish twist on her sweet potatoes during the holidays. PHOTO COURTESY SHIMON AND TAMMAR ROTHSTEIN

The story: “I love the Spanish twist of my sweet potatoes with bacon and spinachfor the holiday season,” says Goin. “The sherry gives the sweet potatoes a deep and rich unexpected note, and I always include Brussels sprouts [in a holiday meal]. I dreaded them as a child, finding them mushy and cooked to death, and my mom alwayshated them, too, until I made this version — pan-braised with pancetta and balsamic vinegar.”

Tips: Home cooks can find versions of these recipes in Goin’s cookbook “Sunday Suppers at Lucques.”

Chelsee Lowe, a writer and mom in L.A., writes about food, culture and travel.

Ask the Experts: Co-Parenting Tips During the Holidays

Published November 3, 2022

By Elena Epstein

It’s holiday season, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most wonderful time of the year for all families. In fact, November and December loom like gray clouds for some — conjuring up feelings of loss, anxiety and disappointment.

For this month’s “Ask the Experts” column, we asked certified family law specialist Patrick Baghdaserians for a few tips on how divorced and separated families can best manage the holidays. He is managing partner of the Baghdaserians Law Group, a law firm in Pasadena that is dedicated to family law mediation and litigation.

How can divorced or separated parents best prepare for the holidays?

Divorce attorney Patrick Baghdaserians offers some tips for co-parenting during the holidays. PHOTO COURTESY PATRICK BAGHDASERIANS

Plan
Communicate (including written)
Be reasonable

Co-parents should not leave holiday planning to the last minute. They must appreciate the fact that the children are in two households. Leaving things to the last minute or providing notice at the last minute opens up the floodgates for resentment and defiance.

Co-parents should memorialize planning and efforts in writing. I recommend using the OurFamilyWizard app. This helps maintain transparency and can later be used in court if someone acts inappropriately.

How should parents talk to their children as the holidays approach?

If the children are seeing a therapist, co-parents should broach the subject matter through therapy. If they don’t have a therapist, then I would provide notice to the children well in advance, so they don’t feel that things are being dropped on them last minute.

How can co-parents best navigate the stresses that are inherit during the holidays — family gatherings, differences in gift giving traditions, etc.

They can navigate the stress by being reasonable and considerate to the other side. This helps ease the tension and makes for a smoother transition and holiday. Also, putting aside differences and focusing on what is important is in the best interest of the child.

What do kids need the most from their parents during this time?

Stability, security and love.

Any other advice for successful co-parenting during the holidays?

Be festive! Put aside past issues and gripes. Focus on healing and promote the best interest of the children.

What health & wellness questions are keeping you up at night? Send your questions to elena.epstein@laparent.com and we’ll ask the experts.

MiJa Books: Born Out of Parents’ Wish for Diverse Stories

Published November 3, 2022

By Tonilyn Hornung

Stephanie and Muammar Reed’s daughter was the inspiration for their children’s bookstore, MiJa Books, which is in Lakewood. PHOTO COURTESY STEPHANIE REED

MiJa Books grew out of the need for parents Stephanie and Muammar Reed to assemble a more inclusive book selection for their newborn daughter. Stephanie grew up with a love of reading and knew passing on this love to her daughter was important, so she was consumed with visions of an in-home library for her little one.

As she and her husband set out to fill their Afro-Latina daughter’s bookshelves, they were surprised to discover they struggled finding books with mixed-race or ethnically diverse characters in stores and online. That’s when the Reeds decided to build a website that could be a resource for other families or educators dealing with this same dilemma. “At first, the website was a curated list of books,” Stephanie explains. As the list grew, so did their social media presence and connections with local authors. “Then fast forward to November of 2021, and we opened our first brick-and-mortar store in Lakewood, California,” she says.

One of the most important things parents can offer their children are words, Stephanie says. This is why MiJa Books focuses on books in the age ranges of 0 to 8 years old. “We try to emphasize the fact that learning starts from day one, and so we focus on board books. They’re actually our best sellers.” You can check out these and other selections online at MiJaBooks.com or in person at their store in Lakewood.

Children enjoy an event at Mija Books. PHOTO BY MIRELLE ORTEGA

Another way MiJa Books supports young readers is by promoting bilingual education with a YouTube Channel, MiJa Books Storytime, where kiddos can go to get in their read-aloud story time. Reading out loud to your child can introduce kids to words they might not hear every day, which expands their vocabulary and their imagination.

Inspired by a love for their daughter, Stephanie and Muammar are on a mission to highlight books that feature diverse cultures. Stephanie says the vision she holds close is for all children to come into their bookstore and find something they enjoy, “because at the end of the day, we’re trying to create a more inclusive world.”

Rockin’ Out With a Kid Band

Published November 3, 2022

By Tonilyn Hornung

Lennon and Dan Epand write music together for the new kid band Homescool. PHOTOS COURTESY HOMESCOOL

If you’re looking for new tunes you and your kiddos can enjoy together, get ready to be schooled in the power of rock by Homescool (yes, without the “h”).

This all-kid band is fronted by 8-year-old Lennon Epand, who draws her inspiration from powerful female singer/songwriters such as Aja Volkman and Avril Lavigne. The band began as a pick-me-up project during the remote-learning portion of the pandemic. Looking for ways to channel those big feels of screen time overuse and basic burnout, Lennon and her musician dad, Dan Epand (from Nico Vega), decided to channel some of that extra energy and write music together. This new homework assignment, well…it resulted in a perfect score. What started out as a father/daughter collaboration quickly shifted into a community effort. The band now includes a revolving collective of talented kids whose parents come from bands you might have heard of, such as Imagine Dragons and The Who.

Homescool has been on some field trips, playing music festivals and charity events. And Lennon continues to focus on writing hard rockin’ honest songs, whether they be about how much she loves her cat or playing the drums. Look for their latest releases on their website Homescool.com and get ready to be inspired and, of course, rock out with your family.

Getting Kids Their First Phone Is Never Easy; This Book Helps

Published November 3, 2022

By Cassandra Lane

Getting your child her first phone can be an overwhelming ordeal, and if you’re anything like I was, you’re trying to push it off for as long as you can. With the holidays coming up, your time may be running out.

We’ve spoken with technology experts before about cell phone usage for kids. However, Orange County mom of two and licensed clinical social worker Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., has written a book, “First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette,” that speaks directly to kids. Pearlman says she wrote “First Phone” for kids ages 8-13, the age range when most kids are getting their first smartphone, iPad or digital device. “It teaches about boundaries, digital etiquette, safety, self-care, social media, cyberbullying, sexting, sleep, when to Google and when not to and scams/phishing and other dangers,” she says.

“I wrote this book after hearing from so many parents who are struggling with their tweens and teens and their digital access,” Pearlman says. “I believe the best way to protect children is to arm them with the information to make good choices. Parents can’t be with their kids on the bus or at friends’ houses. It’s impossible to shield kids completely. So, the next best thing is to teach them how to stay smart and safe online.”

The book is filled with fun illustrations and stories that center five young characters created from composites of stories Pearlman has heard over time. What your young reader will enjoy is that this guide doesn’t talk down to them. Rather, the narrator addresses them with the assumption that young people want to make the best choices. There’s also a great glossary of tech and urban terms, as well as common acronyms parents will find helpful. Another feature parents will love: a sample smartphone etiquette contract covering everything from privacy issues to daily technology-use behaviors.

A ‘Main Street’ Holiday: Our metropolis offers a variety of old-fashioned avenues to shop and spend quality time

Published November 2, 2022

By Mike Sonksen

To get into the holiday spirit, explore Los Angeles County’s “Main Streets.”

There are 88 cities in Los Angeles County, and some of these locales boast quaint downtowns that hearken back to the Pacific Electric streetcar — decades before freeways, big-box stores and massive shopping malls took over. These downtown districts stand apart from the many high-end and hipster stretches — à la Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue, Venice’s Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard and Highland Park’s York Boulevard — that dot the Southern California landscape.

Instead, they still carry a “Main Street” vibe, lined with locally owned storefronts and eateries, offering a perfect way to spend your hard-earned holiday money and some quality family time. Along the way, there is also a hodgepodge of local history. As you shop for unique gifts, celebrate some fascinating lesser-known corners of L.A. County. Here, in alphabetical order, are four neighborhoods rich with history, shopping and delicious food. There are many more within driving distance, but these four are a great start.

Bountiful in Burbank

All Johnny Carson jokes aside about “beautiful Downtown Burbank,” there is actually quite a walkable district of shops and eateries along San Fernando Boulevard between Olive and Magnolia avenues. In between shopping, make a stop by Burbank’s stunning Art Deco city hall on Olive, built in 1942, just a block away from San Fernando Boulevard.

Unique Vintage is a revered vintage clothing store on San Fernando Boulevard, while Z a mba, just a few doors down, is a global gift shop selling clothing, books, novelty gifts, jewelry, candles, furniture and unique lamps. This shopping area is comprised of a mix of old buildings and renovated structures.

Just adjacent to the smaller stores on San Fernando are the Burbank Mall, the Skechers Store, Urban Outfitters and the Gap Factory Store. Though these spaces offer more standard fare, the area has lots of parking, some good deals and a variety of choices for just about any shopper. And, San Fernando Boulevard has almost two dozen eateries, including the beloved comfort-food restaurant, Granville.

Dream Décor in Monrovia urges locals to “shop small.”

Part of Burbank’s appeal is that even though it has two of the largest film studios in the world (Disney and Warner Brothers), it still has a very small-town Americana feel on many of its streets and in most of the city’s residential areas. Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank a few miles west of Downtown Burbank, where it transitions into North Hollywood, is known for a dozen blocks of boutiques and iconic bakeries such as Porto’s Bakery & Café, but Burbank’s downtown in the northeastern section of the city has its own underrated charm.

Merry in Monrovia

Officially incorporated in 1887, Monrovia is the fourth oldest city in L.A. County. Only Los Angeles, Pasadena and Santa Monica are older. Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia has to be one of the most fascinating streets in Southern California.

One of the avenue’s most popular boutiques is Dream Decor, which sells furniture, office items, bedding and countless accents — lamps, small sculptures, planters, rugs — at reasonable prices. Meanwhile, Mimmers is a boutique selling eclectic women’s apparel and Puff Monkey Pop Culture Shop sells anime-related shirts, hats, stationery and bags, as well as other pop-culture-inspired merchandise.

One of Monrovia’s most popular events is the Monrovia Street Fair & Market, which takes place 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, hosting merchandise vendors, food trucks and live performances. The Monrovia Public Library is just north on Myrtle, and it is a picturesque structure in a park setting.

The Aztec Hotel on Foothill Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue is an iconic roadside motel that dates back to 1925-26 and the days of Route 66. It’s been closed for more than a decade, but you can still enjoy its exterior beauty. Designed in the Mayan Revival Style by architect Robert Stacy-Judd, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Monrovia’s African American history stretches back to the 1880s. The Monrovia Historical Museum celebrates these roots, along with the city’s early aviation and film industry history. Monrovia is physically beautiful because it lies at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Look north to see the majestic Mount Wilson and Mount Baldy standing in the distance.

Spirited in San Pedro

San Pedro is much more than just cargo cranes, bridges and big shipping containers. Both Sixth and Seventh streets in Downtown San Pedro rival just about any street in SoCal when it comes to boutiques, vintage stores and other specialty shops. And, San Pedro was one of the first truly multicultural neighborhoods in L.A. County, with deep histories of Croatian, Italian, Greek, Japanese, Mexican and Portuguese communities, among others.

Lovell’s Records in Whittier is one of the oldest record stores in Southern California.

Long known for its working-class roots and connection with the shipyards and fishing industry, there is an equally rich artistic and cultural history in the area. My first experiences in San Pedro were with my grandfather, who would take me to Point Fermin Park. We would look out at the ocean and gaze at Catalina Island across the water. He would always tell me about how he proposed to my grandmother there in 1941. Years later, I went to a lot of poetry events at Sacred Grounds coffeehouse on Sixth Street, which remains open. It’s a well-known fact that one of L.A.’s most legendary poets, Charles Bukowski, spent the last two decades of his life in San Pedro.

You’ll find an abundance of shops on Sixth Street. One of my favorites is PM Sounds, a record store filled with rows and rows of vinyl records, especially funk, soul and jazz. My 13-year-old daughter loves Old School Vintage, a thrift store full of women’s wear, leather jackets, colorful t-shirts, funky old books and a whole lot of knick knacks. Drop-In Gifts is next to Old School Vintage and it’s

loaded with items such as fedora hats, berets, hoodies, purses, bracelets, sunglasses and San Pedro-themed shirts, sweaters and caps. The Zen Den San Pedro sells crystals, incense, candles, new-age books, gratitude journals, everything astrology, body oils, earrings and more. The intoxicating scents that waft through the store will make you linger for a while.

One street south of Sixth, Seventh Street has a few less shops, but is lined with artist’s studios, a few gallery spaces and two restaurants where you can get fish and chips. The Winthrop Gallery of Art & Curiosities specializes in taxidermy, old cameras and offbeat, one-of-a-kind items that could be the perfect gift for that really creative family member.

There’s a mural of Bukowski in the alley between Sixth and Seventh streets, and storefront facades with old iron gates and tin molding. Many of the stores are in buildings nearly a century old, but the exteriors are well-kept. San Pedro is an alluring neighborhood with much more than meets the eye.

The Wishing Well toy store in Whittier. PHOTOS BY MIKE SONKSEN

Wish-filled in Whittier

Tucked next to Puente Hills, Uptown Whittier is filled with unique and creative boutiques. One of the best known is Local Fixture, which carries mugs, greeting cards, purses, backpacks, books, stationery, art supplies, pet items and Whittier-themed hoodies and shirts. It is one of the most comprehensive boutiques I have ever seen. The shop also boasts a coffee bar selling joe, tea and pastries.

Whittier is named after the 19th-century poet John Greenleaf Whittier, so it’s no surprise Whittier College’s mascot (formerly the wooly mammoth “Johnny Poet”) is called “the Poets.” It is also apropos that Greenleaf Avenue is one of the main streets in Uptown Whittier. A few blocks of Greenleaf are now blocked off to cars, and the pedestrian-friendly stretch makes the district really welcoming. It’s a great place to sit outside, get a coffee and people watch. Your kids will love The Wishing Well toy store on Greenleaf, which is surrounded by a few small bakeries and eclectic eateries.

More gems on Greenleaf include Lovell’s Records, one of the oldest record stores in Southern California and Midnight Books, which hosts frequent literary readings and specializes in books centering social justice.

There are other Main Street-like roads in the immediate vicinity — Comstock Avenue, Bright Avenue and Philadelphia Street — that have a fair number of shops. One of my favorites is Casita del Pueblo, a designer boutique on Philadelphia Street

Our small-town-vibe areas help make L.A. an interesting place to live and explore. They are filled with one-of-a-kind gifts and experiences — which is what our most treasured ones deserve this time of year and beyond.

Mike Sonksen is a Los Angeles poet, professor and author of “Letters to My City.”

Lights, Bells and Emotional Swells: We gathered ‘Round Festive Sounds to Hear What Local Musicians Love About Holiday Music

Published November 2, 2022

By Gregory Keer

Genevieve Goings wrote a song called “Crazy for Christmas Lady.” PHOTO COURTESY GENEVIEVE GOINGS

I have happy early memories of singing “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” around the candles, but I was also enraptured by Christmas music coming from stop-motion TV specials and department stores. The warm and expressive “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio tops my expansive list of favorites.

Like me, many of Southern California’s finest family-music creators believe that, in the season of giving, one meaningful gift can be sharing songs that touch your spirit, whether from your childhood or a recent moment when a holiday tune knocked your brightly colored seasonal socks off.

In chats with eight family-music acts, we discussed their treasured holiday songs, traditions and personal recordings.

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Jeremy Toback, the bassist and singer-songwriter who, with Renee Stahl, forms the indie-folk duo of Renee & Jeremy, says Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here” was a childhood favorite.

“As an adolescent, it was ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham!” he continues with a laugh. “Our family has mixed religions [Judaism on Toback’s side and Christianity on his son’s mom’s side] and ethnicities. Music goes on as a part of that.”

Cover for Genevieve Goings’ “Very Merry” album. PHOTO COURTESY GENEVIEVE GOINGS

With his sons, ages 16 and 21, he has also shared Ella Fitzgerald’s holiday renditions, Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” and James Brown’s “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto.” Toback says the 1940s-1960s was an age when “musicality combined with sentiment.”

Of Renee & Jeremy’s holiday recordings, Toback describes “Winter Wonderland” as a dreamy version of the classic. Their “Sunny Christmas,” meanwhile, is more upbeat.

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After a long run leading Choo Choo Soul, which was featured on the Disney Channel, Genevieve Goings now creates TV music and teaches voice and recording skills.

The childhood holiday songs she adored were the Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Santa Claus” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band as The Lucky Band. PHOTO COURTESY THE LUCKY BAND

She plays these for her 2-year-old son, but also shares newer music, such as Jazzy Ash’s “Zat You, Santa Claus?” and the Alphabet Rockers’ “My Holiday.” That last song, Goings says, “conveys that wherever you’re from, that’s my holiday.”

On her recent holiday EP, her song “Crazy for Christmas Lady” is “about a woman who has everything in her attic, then December strikes and she brings it all out. It has a Motown vibe, which gives me that holiday feel.”

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Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis, parents of two children, lead The Lucky Band, and they’re always looking for fun ways to present a diverse, culturally rich world, Diaz says. “Growing up, I liked Chuck Berry’s ‘Run, Run Rudolph’ and the Beach Boys’ ‘Little Saint Nick.’ Alisha’s background is Broadway. For her, it’s ‘White Christmas,’ the movie musical. The kids enjoy ‘White Christmas’ and those Crosby and Sinatra crooner tunes.”

In his early years, Diaz played with Darlene Love, whose “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” appeared on the 1963 Phil Spector-produced holiday album. He says the memory “still gives me goosebumps. Now, my kids hear that single and say, ‘That’s my dad’s song,’ even though the original recording had nothing to do with me!”

The Lucky Band’s own holiday music includes covers of “Feliz Navidad” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” “It feels good to play those songs,” Diaz says.

Album cover for Andrew & Polly’s “So Freaking Ready For A New Year.” PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW & POLLY

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Polly Hall of Andrew & Polly savors “The Latke Song” by Debbie Friedman. “My heart melts for the lesser-known lyrics of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’” she says. “Don’t we all ‘have to muddle through, somehow?’”

Her co-creator and husband, Andrew Barkan, is partial to “Carol of the Bells” from “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” And for their three children, whether it’s the mystique of Duke Ellington’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” the novelty of “Frozen’s” “In Summer” or new additions such as Pierce Freelon & Fyütch’s “This Kwanzaa,” “we love to spark their imaginations with diverse songs full of humor and magic,” Hall says.

Nathalia Palis is a singer-songwriter and music therapist. PHOTO COURTESY NATHALIA PALIS

The pair enjoys playing holiday parties for fans and has “a tradition of driving by the neighborhood festive lighting decorations, listening to old holiday music,” she says. For the first holiday episode of their musical podcast for kids, “Ear Snacks,” they wrote a song called “Thank You for the Box,” an ode to the magic of packaging, which appears on their EP “Other Days.”

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Growing up in Colombia, singer-songwriter and music therapist Nathalia Palis enjoyed everything from “Burrito Sabanero” to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” Her childhood home was steeped in a tradition called La Novena de Aguinaldos. “Nine days before Christmas, we’d gather around the nativity and sing carols,” she explains. “The songs were joyous and fun. Everyone would try to ‘outloud’ each other.”

Having children in the states with her American husband, she shares the music of her culture with her kids. Her 18-year-old daughter plays ukulele, while her 12-year-old son harmonizes when they sing at home. To create the big family effect she had in Colombia, she invites neighbors over to sing.

Palis, whose latest album is “Mis Colores,” has an earlier piece she wrote, “Navidad Latina,” as a tribute to the various Latin American traditions around her.

C.J. Pizarro of Mista Cookie Jar loves to play “Feliz Navidad” and “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” for guitar sing-a-longs with his family. PHOTO BY CAMMY MILLER

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C.J. Pizarro is another artist who uses multicultural influences, including for his “Island Folky Rock ‘n’ Roll for the Inner Child.” He’s performed with his stepkids (now 18 and 21) as Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips at venues from the Getty museum to Lollapalooza. “My second-grade class sang ‘Nuttin’ For Christmas,’” he recalls. “The melody gave me the feels — how sad! But it also gave me the chuckles.”

With his family, “Feliz Navidad” and “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” are favorites for guitar sing-a-longs. “At my holiday shows, I sing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ Round one is the traditional version; round two is done with the ad-libs.

Cover for Martin & Rose’s “Dear Heart” album. PHOTO COURTESY MARTIN AND ROSE

“I’ve done a few holiday releases myself,” he says. “One of my favorites is a ‘White Christmas’ revamp called ‘Robot for X-Mas.’”

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The married duo of Martin and Rose Music, parents of four, chatted with me while road-tripping to a show. Their style has evolved from high-energy pop to folk-Americana-country.

Musicians Polly Hall and Andrew Barkan of Andrew & Polly. PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW & POLLY

Stefanie Rose loved “White Christmas” because “where I grew up, we didn’t have a white Christmas, which was my kid fantasy,” she says. “I liked ‘Pablo, Santa’s Reindeer,’ but I can’t find a recording of it!”

“When I was a kid,” Daniel Martin reflects, “we’d go to my aunt and uncle’s house. It was Crosby and Sinatra [holiday tunes] that I heard in the ‘80s.”

The family listens to songs about Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. “The 4-year-old plays them over and over,” Martin says. “We like ‘Dominick the Donkey.’ The kids know all the classics.”

For their own recordings, they have an album called “Welcome Winter,” which features their daughter on a track.

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Four years ago, Jaque Becker, known as Mama B (who has recorded with Uncle T), started making voice memos of her son cooing and crying. “I began building catchy melodies” with them, she says.

She, too, has loved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” album since she was a kid. “We got my eldest a vinyl version of it,” Becker says. “He knows it’s special.”

She also favors “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and other jazz-inspired songs. She adds that the “Home Alone” movie score is another favorite.

Becker says that she wants her two children to form their own memories of the holidays and music. “I want them to think of the foods they like, smells in the house, specific places,” she says. “I want it to remind them of their parents as they grow up.”

All of these musicians possess a collective belief that music can color children’s lives with fun, hope and love. “We live in a highly disconnected time,” Toback says. “The holidays are about connection between people and in family. Music evokes that.”

Hall agrees. “Holiday music can positively mark the passing of time and build anticipation toward a seasonal event, both of which are great strategies for cultivating happiness,” she says. “It provides a sense of belonging.”

Gregory Keer is a husband, father of three, high school educator and grizzled veteran writer. Find his columns and more at FamilyManOnline.com.

Actress Mykal-Michelle Harris — Work is What She Loves

Published November 2, 2022

By Cassandra Lane

Mykal-Michelle and mom Kimberly Harris danced to Christmas tunes as they posed for our holiday cover. PHOTOS BY PHILICIA ENDELMAN. /HAIR/MAKEUP BY TAMARA TRIPP AND SHADARA HOLMES. STYLING BY SHELLI BRADLEY/THE BRADLEY STUDIO

It was May when I met 10-year-old actress Mykal-Michelle (“Mimi”) Harris and her mom, Kimberly Harris, for a cover photo shoot meant to capture the spirit of the holidays.

Photographer Philicia Endelman and I met the mom and daughter at an office building in Hollywood, where floor-to-ceiling windows showed off the almost-summer sun blazing from its crystal-blue sky. Nothing about the scene screamed winter holidays. Until, that is, Mimi and her mom showed me their outfits — the Christmas-red fringe dress that Kimberly donned for the cover shot, her deep-wine evening dress, Mimi’s strawberry drop earrings, green and red hair ties, silvery bubble skirt and even her red Chuck Taylor high-tops, softened by ruffle socks (her favorite).

Someone turned on Donny Hathaway’s rendition of “This Christmas” and the mood was set. Mother and daughter danced, twirling each other between Endelman’s shots, then stopping to pose in a perfect blend of professionalism and mutual adoration.

After the shoot, I sat down with them to chat about family (Mimi is the youngest of four) and breaking into the TV and film industry. I loved her role as sassy Santamonica Johnson in ABC’s sitcom “Mixed-ish,” a spinoff of “Black-ish.” She currently plays Alice on Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home” and has played roles in “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Big Little Lies” and more.

How did you get started in the industry?

Kimberly: At the time, Chase Manhattan Bank was running this campaign with Serena Williams where Serena was fully dressed, with a full beat (makeup) and in heels, but she was on a tennis court hitting balls. Whenever that commercial would come on, all you would hear was Serena’s grunt and her hitting the balls, and wherever Mimi was in the house, she would run to the television and just stand there in awe of what she saw. She was 2, going on 3, at the time. And we would wonder what’s going through her mind. I now know that it was representation.

She was outside playing tennis with my husband one day, and she came running in, saying, “Mommy, Mommy: Daddy told me I could be like Serena Williams!” And for her hero, her dad, to tell her she could be like another hero that she saw on television who seemed outside of her grasp — that was a big deal. I saw her excitement and I picked up my phone and just recorded her telling me because I knew it was going to be very animated. I put the video on my little Facebook page, where I had about 200 friends. Within an hour, that video had tens of thousands of views.

Within 24 hours, it had over 12 to 15 million views. “Good Morning America” was calling us, Serena’s people were calling us, trying to figure out how to make all of this happen, and then we were on a press junket tour within 24 hours. It was like the perfect storm.

Mykal-Michelle, how do you remember that time?

Basically like that, but in way less detail! I remember my dad saying I could be like Serena Williams. That was mind-blowing to me! Mom told me that agents and managers started to call, and let’s just say: We picked up the phone.

What were the first projects?

Kimberly: Because Mimi was just turning 3, [our manager] in New York said, “She’s too young for television right now. But commercials, we can do. She’s going to pop, and she’s going to do well in this business, but you’re going to have to ride it out.”

Mykal-Michelle Harris got into the holiday spirit early for our cover shoot in May.

Well, I started getting feelings from what I call the Holy Spirit. Other people call it fate, the universe — whatever. We took the manager meeting, and she ended up with a global commercial with IBM Watson and Sesame Street. They rewrote the commercial on the spot. She was supposed to be one of the kids. They ended up dismissing all of the other kids and allowed her to be the kid. She ended up doing all of the print work for that commercial and then also did print work for Burlington Coat Factory, and then it ended up being a national campaign. So people were just starting to become familiar with what they still call “the Serena Williams girl.” Then Steve Harvey’s “Little Big Shots” called, and once that happened while we were in L.A. filming, all of the top kid agencies somehow got in contact with our representation and asked us to take meetings.

Five months after that, we moved [from New Jersey] to L.A. with nothing in hand, but knowing that something big was about to happen, and she got the L.O.L. Surprise contract. She ended up with a four-year contract with them and became the face of L.O.L, so that gave her more exposure. The first show that she got on was a pilot on Amazon…only one episode was shot. She had one line.

Mykal-Michelle: No, I had two lines: “I’m a banana. No, heeee’s a banana.”

Kimberly: That’s right! Well, it made it to Amazon, but they didn’t pick it up. Little did we know that that would be the casting team that would — three, four years later — put her on “Mixed-ish” because they remembered “I’m a banana.” They told us then that they could see how talented she was, they’d watched her commercials. She’d already appeared on “Big Little Lies” and “The Affair” on Showtime.

I guess that’s what they say is true, “Casting is paying attention.” Once you book that room — which is what we try to tell young people all the time — it’s not about booking the job. It’s about booking the room, because they will remember you. All those years later, they cast her in her first regular series role, “Mixed-ish.” That was the beginning of a really phenomenal career that only God could shoot us in this direction.

How was your experience working on “Mixed-ish”?

Mykal-Michelle: It was incredible. It was really my first TV family. Whenever you go onto a new series, you get a new family, and your TV set family keeps growing and growing and growing. And it felt so incredible to just have people I could talk to, people I could hang out with no matter what.

What are you working on now?

Mykal-Michelle: We are still actively filming “Raven’s Home,” and so we’re in the middle of that right now. “Cheaper by the Dozen” has been out for [several] months, and I’m working on my clothing line.

Auntie Ray [Raven-Symoné] is directing the last couple of episodes of “Raven’s Home,” so I am shadowing her directing because I want to become a director, producer, writer, creator… And so, I’m shadowing her, taking my notes. I also registered three pieces in the Writer’s Guild.

Tell me more about the clothing line.

Well…it’s high fashion, if I do say so myself. We have suits coming out, dresses, jumpsuits… . Some of the VIP line will be in higher-end stores, but we also really want it to be accessible for all. This whole thing came about because I love ruffle socks. I’m a sock addict, but we weren’t finding a lot of cute socks or accessories that we needed, so I went to my mom one day and said, “If we can’t find it, let’s just make it. So, we are making a lot of things that are hard to find these days.

Do you have any advice for other children pursuing acting?

Kimberly: I was a K-12 educator and I still have a desire to educate, but now it’s in this industry that we call home, because I feel like it feels so magical and mystical to people. It’s really not. It’s about hard work and opportunity just like every other industry.

As a mother who talks to other parents, I tell them that it is important to understand that this business is about hard work, training and knowing your craft, and then understanding the business side of show business.

Mykal-Michelle: A lot of adults will tell me to make sure I enjoy my childhood. This is what I love. Besides playing video games and a few other things, work is what I love.

Visit mykalscorner.com or follow Mykal-Michelle on Instagram @mykalscorner.

Getting In the Spirit Takes Planning

Published November 2, 2022

By Cassandra Lane

Cassandra, holding the gift of “Sarah Vaughan’s Golden Hits” last Christmas. PHOTO BY MARCUS RICH

As soon as September rolls around, my son starts waxing on about the winter holidays, dropping hints about his burgeoning Christmas list and licking his lips with the anticipation of his favorite Thanksgiving food: candied yams.

“Sol,” I playfully scolded him this year, “it’s still summer in my book. It’s hot outside, school just started, and I’m still adjusting to that. I am not ready to start talking about wish lists and candied yams.”

He laughed, agreeing to leave me alone for a while, to warm up to the idea that summer would soon be over, no matter the L.A. weather. We were in the kitchen, so I opened the spice cabinet to take a quick inventory of what I already had on hand.

Nutmeg, allspice, vanilla extract, cinnamon? Check.

Secret family ingredient that our kinfolk swear sets our sweet potato pies and candied yams apart? Missing.

I made a mental note to stock up early since I’ve experienced too often the horror of waiting until the last minute and finding empty spice shelves. I silently thanked my son for his early cravings.

Besides, just a couple of days later, after we published the September/October issue of L.A. Parent, I hopped on a Zoom call with the other members of our editorial team to plan out our holiday issue. Working for a magazine means working a few months into the future. And so, despite my tendency to want to hang onto summer, it was time to get into the holiday spirit. As we strategized the ideas that grew into the stories you see here — Mike Sonksen’s Main Street-inspired shopping adventure, Chelsee Lowe’s roundup of some of our local chefs’ favorite holiday foods, Gregg Keer’s walk down holiday memory lane with local musicians, Nina Harada’s calendar of the best ballets, parades and light shows — I felt the first twinge of holiday giddiness.

Through sound and image, taste and scent, these stories are lovely reminders that leaning into our senses can help soften our inner Scrooges, reawakening our connection to whatever holidays we celebrate. My husband started lighting his own festive spark in early October by bringing home pumpkin-scented candles, lush plants, cinnamon-spiked pinecones and the thickest plaid blanket I’ve ever seen.

To light my own fire, I slipped onto my record player a gift he gave me last Christmas: “Sarah Vaughan’s Golden Hits.” The jazz great’s rendition of “Misty,” especially, gets me in the spirit. While it’s not a holiday song, for me, the beautiful and complicated feelings that the holidays can conjure up reside in Vaughan’s wistful sound — nostalgic memories of yesteryear, wishes that were never granted, losses we thought would do us in — all swirling together without judgment.

Whether this is your favorite time of the year — or you can’t wait until all the hoopla is over — I wish for you deep, end-of-the-year exhales. I wish for you, my fellow parents, a moment to pause and bask in unbroken peace.

Cassandra Lane is Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent.

DIY Holiday: Framed Family Portraits

Published November 2, 2022

By Cathy Weiss

This project is a meaningful walk down memory lane — and embraces wishes for the future

Artist Cathy Weiss creates an example of the watercolor portraits project. PHOTOS COURTESY CATHY WEISS

Holiday giving can be most rewarding when it extends beyond shopping to include gifts made by our loved ones’ hands. This season, cozy up with your family to create these special, hand-drawn watercolor portraits that you can frame in a compact disc case or traditional picture frame.

This is a wonderful project for elementary school children. They can make a family portrait using source materials such as photos, do a fine line drawing and then add watercolor for a beautiful, one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays. This project also includes your child’s three wishes — one for the world, one for the family and one for themselves. Gift it to friends and loved ones, or save it for your own home!

Materials needed:

Photographs of the people and pets in your family you want to include
One paper to watercolor on that is cut to 3.5-inch square
One paper to write on that is cut to 3.5-inch square
One decorative paper cut to 4 ¾-inch square (if you want to glue the image and wishes on one larger paper, then cut that paper to a desired size — one that can fit a standard frame)
Pencil for sketching
Thin Sharpie to trace your pencil image
Watercolor pencils
CD case or picture frame
Glue stick

Students create their own watercolor portraits for their families.

Steps:

Decorate the paper with handmade stamps.

On a piece of paper, sketch out the people and pets in your family. You can sketch their full figures or just their faces.
Trace the sketch with a thin Sharpie.
Using either watercolor pencils (my preferred choice) or watercolors, paint your picture.
In a notebook, write out your three wishes — one for the world, one for your family and one for yourself. Once satisfied, copy them onto the cut paper.
Glue the painting on the decorative side of your paper.
Glue the wishes on the back side, or underneath if doing the one-sided option.
Put into the CD case or frame.

Stamping the paper:

Take a foam plate and cut out your desired shape. Draw into it with a pencil. This can be used to decorate the paper. Use some water-based relief ink or water-based paint to ink the foam. Place it face down and rub with your finger.

You have made a memory gift for your family!

Cathy Weiss is an award-winning artist and educator based in L.A. Known for her large installation pieces done in woodcut and mixed media, she also inspired children for more than 30 years by integrating art into her curriculum to help students find their voices. cathyweissink.com

Create a Family Tea Ritual: Art of Tea Founder Steve Schwartz Shows Us How

Published November 2, 2022

By Chelsee Lowe

Your family can enjoy a regular tea ritual as a break from the hustle and bustle of life.

Years ago, when Art of Tea founder Steve Schwartz visited the Maldives for work, he stayed at a resort surrounded by some of the world’s most wildly beautiful waters, yet everywhere he looked, he saw people staring down at their phones.

“We were in paradise,” he recalls, “and no one was talking to each other.”

For Schwartz, tea is an antidote to our over-stimulated lives. He has three daughters — ages 13, 14 and 17 — so he knows full well what modern-day parenting feels like. He aims to help his kids (and others) be present, mindful souls in a culture that doesn’t lend itself to thoughtful living. Providing opportunities for respite and restoration is what Art of Tea is all about.

Schwartz founded his tea company, headquartered in Monterey Park, in 2004 in the minimal confines of his living room. He had studied Ayurvedic medicine for years, traveled to see, smell and taste the finest hand-harvested tea leaves in the world, then started experimenting with making his own blends at home. His ingredients were so special that his work quickly caught the attention of local hospitality folks. Wolfgang Puck was Schwartz’s first high-profile customer, followed by Vera Wang, The Peninsula Hotels and many more.

“They had faith in me, and they trusted me,” he says. “I was sourcing something authentic that you couldn’t get in a lot of places. And we have stayed true to that.”

Nearly 20 years into the work, Schwartz still loves to geek out about tea. Give him a few minutes and a listening ear, and you’ll get an education on the planet’s oldest beverage (outside of water). First, he might tell you, in the politest way possible, that drinking store-bought bagged tea is comparable to eating only the dust at the bottom of a potato chip bag. He will remind you that true tea comes from one evergreen shrub — camellia sinensis — while tizanes (often called “herbal tea”) are what we’re drinking when we enjoy steeped flowers, herbs and spices. Then, he is sure to share that ingredients in a premium tea blend, including minor amounts of caffeine, polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins, help relax the senses.

Writer Chelsee Lowe and her 9-year-old daughter Olivia give Steve Schwartz’s tea ritual a try in their home. PHOTO BY CHELSEE LOWE

“In L.A., we’re surrounded by traffic, people, the hustle and bustle of life,” he says. “Sometimes we just need permission to just chill out a little bit, and tea gets us to that space. I can conversate with my wife and have a good conversation with my kids. Tea gets us into that zone. It cuts the frays of the mind.”

Of course, Schwartz and his family drink and connect over Art of Tea creations. The company sources raw materials directly from the best farms — dried fruit, flowers and tea leaves — and all are rigorously quality tested at his Monterey Park warehouse. There are dozens and dozens of tea options for sale online, from Yunnan black and Meyer lemon to vanilla berry truffle and a seasonal pumpkin pie. What’s stunning about a canister of any loose-leaf Art of Tea product is how visible the ingredients are. In a scoop of white winter chai, I spotted fennel seeds, peppercorns, anise and cinnamon chunks. A scoop of apple pie tea looks like an abstract fall wreath, all oranges and creams with a pop of red from whole pink peppercorns. To top it off, these teas smell as wonderful as they look. Just preparing my sachet was a mindful and multisensory experience — precisely what Schwartz is going for.

“We can make our home a sacred space with tea,” he says. “We’re here for such a short time. What can we do to live the most precious life we possibly can? Being really mindful and having intention with your loved ones is the greatest gift you can give yourself and them.”

Here, Schwartz shares his recipe for a family tea ritual.

Recipe for a Family Tea Ritual

Schwartz, his wife and their three daughters hold a family tea ritual every Saturday morning. It’s a time of mindful togetherness, plus a digital detox, he says. You can replicate this ritual any day, any time, with any kind of tea.

If you try the whole-leaf, handcrafted blends from Art of Tea, preparing your own sachet can be part of your family’s collaborative process. More important than even the tea, Schwartz says, is your presence and focus. We hope this inspires you to create your own ritual with your family.

Art of Tea products are made with organic, loose-leaf ingredients and are blended fresh to order. PHOTO BY AUDREY MA

Step 1: Turn off all screens in your home.

Step 2: Gather as a family and draw your water together, in silence or in conversation.

Step 3: Heat your water in a well-cleaned kettle or pot.

Step 4: Select your tea, perhaps the same for the whole family, perhaps a different tea for each person. (For their ritual, Schwartz’s family usually has Art of Tea’s Egyptian chamomile, or they gently muddle fresh mint leaves then drop them in the teapot before steeping Art of Tea’s Earl Grey creme inside, too.)

Step 5: Sit or stand together and tune into multiple senses as you steep, then sip. Share what you’re smelling and tasting. Share if the tea reminds you of something else.

Step 6: Enjoy these moments of slowness, intention and restoration.

In honor of the season, peruse Art of Tea’s fall and holiday selections here. Don’t miss the dark chocolate peppermint tea, another Schwartz family favorite.

Holiday Pop-up Shops: Best Places to go Holiday Shopping in L.A.

Published November 2, 2022

By Nina Harada

Wander through a festive village at Ventura Harbor Village’s annual Winter Wonderland & Marketplace. PHOTO COURTESY VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE

Every year the holidays seem to sneak up even faster than the year before. Fortunately, L.A. has no shortage of holiday pop-up shops, artisan fairs and craft markets this fall. Browse local makers and grab a unique gift for everyone on your list.

Join Rancho Los Alamitos for their Holiday Shopping & Artisan Event on Nov. 5. Enjoy light refreshments while shopping the Rancho Los Alamitos Museum Gift Shop, which will showcase goods from local artisans, specialty foods and more. FREE. rancholosalamitos.org

2^nd & PCH hosts its monthly open air artisan pop-up, Creative Communal Makers Market, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17, featuring 30 curated vendors, live music, photo ops and meet-and-greets with characters for kids. FREE. creativecommunal.com

Jackalope: An Indie Artisan Fair returns this winter with its signature curated shopping experience, featuring locally handcrafted goods. Get your holiday shopping done in Pasadena Nov. 19-20 and in Burbank Dec. 10-11. FREE. jackalopeartfair.com

Starting Dec. 17, The Proud Bird culinary food bazaar in Inglewood will host a holiday pop-up for families to bring their little ones this Christmas season. At the event, families can take festive photos with Santa, get creative and whip up some hand-made gifts at a holiday craft station, indulge in hot chocolate at a hot cocoa station and more.

Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo presents their annual Holiday Art Market Dec. 2-4. Browse through 40 professional artist studios and guest vendors, enjoy free activities for kids, delicious food and treats available for purchase and craft beer and wine. FREE. studiochannelislands.org

Meet Santa, Mrs. Clause and their reindeer while shopping local businesses at the Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace at Ventura Harbor Village Dec. 10. FREE. venturaharborvillage.com

Support small businesses while shopping hundreds of sellers at Unique Markets Annual Holiday Market at the California Market Center in Downtown L.A. Dec. 10-11. Enjoy free drinks, photo booth, DJ lounges, food and a Family Fun Zone especially for kids. $15 and up (includes a free tote bag). uniquemarkets.com

Grab a family photo at the free photo booth at Unique Markets Annual Holiday Market Dec. 10-11. PHOTO COURTESY UNIQUE MARKETS

New on Screen: What to Watch in November

Published November 1, 2022

By Nina Harada

A Christmas Story Christmas

Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max present the family comedy, “A Christmas Story Christmas” starring Peter Billingsly The sequel to the 1983 holiday favorite, Ralphie is now grown up and must deal with Christmas as a dad. Available Nov. 17 on HBO Max.

Slumberkins

Apple TV+ presents their new children’s series with the Jim Henson Company, “Slumberkins.” Created by two moms, Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen, “Slumberkins” started as a children’s education and emotional health brand known for its plush characters and books. Now the popular characters from the books come to life in this mixed media pupped/2D animation series. Available Nov. 4 on Apple TV+.

A Gingerbread Christmas

Food Network and discover+ team up to deliver a delicious story, “A Gingerbread Christmas,” staring “Ace of Cakes” host, cookbook author and bakery owner Duff Goldman. The original holiday feature follows Hazel Stanley who discovers the family bakery is in decline. She hopes to save the family business by winning a gingerbread house competition led by food celebrity Mark Clemmons (Duff Goldman). To make your own taste of the holidays, check out Duff’s snickerdoodle recipe he shared with us last winter. Available Nov. 11 on Discovery+.

Gigi & Nate

Lionsgate presents “Gigi & Nate,” an inspiring story inspired by actual events. Nate suffers a near fatal illness weeks before going off to college, leaving him quadriplegic. His mother helps him bring home a service animal named Gigi, a curious and intelligent capuchin monkey. Together, Nate and Gigi develop an unbreakable bond. Available Nov. 15 on Blu-ray and DVD.

Gratitude Revealed

Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg was inspired to express his gratitude for the world in the pandemic. Hoping to uplift others during such a difficult and unpredictable, he created the documentary “Gratitude Revealed,” which features stunning nature footage, intimate conversations with thought-leaders like Deepak Chopra and Jack Kornfield and more. Now available on VOD.

Everybody Dance

In the new documentary, “Everybody Dance,” filmmaker and former dancer and dance teacher Dan Watt follows five kids with different disabilities on a journey toward their dance recital over the course of 10 months. Their inspiring stories show how powerful arts education can be.

My Father’s Dragon

Netflix and Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon presents the animated feature, “My Father’s Dragon.” Inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, “My Father’s Dragon” follows Elmer, who struggling to cope after moving to the city with his mother, runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Available Nov. 11 on Netflix.

Gabby’s Dollhouse

DreamWorks Animation presents the newest season of “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” the preschool show that follows the adventures of Gabby and her Gabby Cats in Gabby’s magical dollhouse. Season six promises even more fantastical adventures and crafts, and a magical holiday moment with Santa Kitty and their Kitty reindeer. Available on Netflix.

For more movie and TV show recommendations, check out our October roundup.

Spotlight: Meet Author and Podcaster Bonnie Wallace

Published October 26, 2022

By Nina Harada

Local author, podcaster and mom Bonnie Wallace launches her new app based made-to-order phonics book program “We Can Books” on Oct. 15. Inspired by her father’s idea to pair a familiar image from a photo with a simple key word in order to help teach Bonnie’s first daughter Claire how to read, “We Can Books” allows families to create their own personalized phonics reading books for their children. We chatted with Bonnie about the importance of physical books over digital, parenting advice and the lasting impacts of learning how to read.

Please tell us a little about “We Can Books.“

“We Can Books” is a fun, intimate way to teach your child how to read, and create a family heirloom. In many ways, it’s also a return to the non-digital age.

Basically, “We Can Books” uses the power of association plus phonics to help your child learn to read. It’s an intuitive way to connect letters, sounds and meaning. And it combines the best of proven phonics teaching methods made possibly by 21st Century app technology, and quality print-on-demand bookmaking, to give your child a unique learn-to-read book they’ll want to open again and again. It’s based on an idea my father had when my own kids were ready to learn how to read, so it’s also a wonderful legacy project to honor my dad.

Learning to read early and well is one of the keys to a successful life. It’s literally the key to doing well in school, which in turn affects self-esteem, and a whole host of other foundational aspects of a child’s life. It’s one of the most important things you can do for a child.

What benefits do tangible books have over e-books or online learning?

There are increasing numbers of studies that demonstrate some alarming things about screens and children. Children 3-5 years old who use screens more than the recommended one hour a day without parental involvement have lower levels of development in the brain’s white matter, which is associated with language, literacy and cognitive skills.

Other studies show that comprehension and learning is greater when kids read on paper rather than on a screen. Why this happens isn’t well understood, but some experts think that screens may tax the brain more than paper. Additionally, enhanced eBooks with sounds, animations, etc. can reduce learning because of the distractions.

How can parents find time to bond with their kids in our fast-paced world?

I think creating a ritual where you sit down with your child and read with them every night before bed is a beautiful way to share special time and bond, as well as strengthening positive associations with reading. It’s a chance to step away from the screens, and just be present to each other. By the time your child is old enough to begin making the connection between letters and sounds and meaning, you can make some of that special time include helping them learn how to read themselves, which is one of the most beautiful and exciting things a parent and child can share, I think.

What is the best advice on parenting you’ve received?

Trust your instincts. It’s easy to feel anxious and overthink parenting because it’s such an overwhelming responsibility. But if you slow down and listen to your inner voice, you usually know what to do.

What is the best life advice you received growing up?

You must be true to yourself. This will attract your people to you and keep the people who are wrong for you away. It’s also the only way to really be happy. I’ve instilled this in my own kids, Claire Hosterman, who’s a top vocal coach, and Dove Cameron, who’s a successful actor and musical artist—and it took them a while to believe me, but now they see the wisdom in it!

When not working, where will we find you?

You’ll probably find me with my husband Simon or with our kids. They’re my favorite people. I’m happiest when we’re just spending time together at home here in L.A.

Dutch Baby from ‘Bigger Bolder Baking… Every Day’

Published October 24, 2022

From “Bigger Bolder Baking Every Day” by Gemma Stafford. Copyright © 2022 by Gemma Stafford. Photography © 2022 by Carla Choy. Reprinted by permission of Harvest, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

5-Ingredient Dutch Baby

Makes 1 10-inch pancake (4 servings)

Serving meals family-style doesn’t just mean bringing everyone together at the table— it also means fewer dishes! A Dutch baby is shared straight out of the cast-iron pan it’s baked in, making it perfect for entertaining a group.

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cups (120 milliliters) whole milk

1/2 cups (71 grams) all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons (42 grams) butter, melted

¼ teaspoon salt

Strawberry Compote (below) for serving

Whipped Cream (below) for serving at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a 10-inch cast-iron (or oven-safe) skillet on the middle rack to heat up as well.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until well blended. Add the flour, 2 Tbsp.
(28 g) of the melted butter, and the salt and whisk until smooth.
Carefully brush the bottom and sides of the hot skillet with the remaining 1 Tbsp (14 g) melted butter, then immediately pour the batter into the skillet.
Bake, without opening the oven, for about 20 minutes, until golden brown and well risen. The Dutch baby will deflate a bit when you remove it from the oven, but that is normal.
Serve immediately, with strawberry compote and whipped cream. This is best enjoyed the day it is made, but any leftovers can be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Strawberry Compote

Makes 2 cups

3½ cups (17½ ounces / 497 grams) fresh strawberries, quartered

¼ cup (57 grams) granulated sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice and bring to a very gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cook until the berries have softened and the liquid has thickened slightly, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
Once cooled, use straight away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Whipped Cream

Makes 2½ cups

1½ cup (360 milliliters) cold heavy cream

Place the cream in a medium bowl and, using a handheld mixer or a whisk, whip until soft peaks form. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate until needed, up to 2 hours.

Petite Peppermint Patties

Published October 19, 2022

Joseph Schutz, pastry chef at Oceana Coastal Kitchen at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, created some holiday treats for the Mission Bay restaurant. Fortunately, you can make you own mini peppermint patties for the holidays with his recipe.

Petite Peppermint Patties

Ingredients

Filling

PHOTO COURTESY CATAMARAN HOTEL RESORT AND SPA

92 grams Crisco (not flavored)
250 grams powdered sugar, sifted
2 grams salt
30 grams warm water
2 1/2 grams vanilla extract
1 tablespoon corn syrup
10 grams candy canes, crushed

Cookies

100 grams bittersweet chocolate
23 grams butter
1 egg
75 grams granulated sugar
19 grams all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
70 grams mini semisweet chips

Instructions:

Cream Crisco in mixer until lightened. Add powdered sugar and salt, mix on low.

Combine water and vanilla extract, then add to mix, scraping and increasing speed. Mix 2 full minutes.

Add corn syrup in a slow stream. Filling should be light and fluffy.

Add water as needed, while the mixer is running to adjust for texture.

Fold in crushed candy canes by hand. Scoop or pipe filling onto a cookie and sandwich with another.

Melt bittersweet chocolate and butter together. Set aside.

Combine sugar and egg. Whip in a mixer on high speed for 15 minutes. Whip to a very thick and fluffy ribbon. Beat in melted chocolate mixture.

In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gently fold into batter. Gently fold in mini chips.

Allow batter to rest 30 minutes or chill in the refrigerator until slightly thickened.

Scoop 3⁄4 inch balls and chill in the refrigerator until firm. Cut each ball in half and form into mini balls. Spaced 1” apart on baking sheet lined with Silpat or baking paper.

Bake at 325 degrees until slightly puffed and crackly. Cool completely on pan.

Spotlight: Meet Young Actor, Dancer and Brand Ambassador Juju Brener

Published October 19, 2022

By Nina Harada

Juju Brener has been acting since she was a baby, so it’s no surprise that she took to the craft. With her actor mom Shirly and actor sister Mila, the 10-year-old actor has plenty of support to guide her through Hollywood. However, Juju is stepping out into her own spotlight with her latest role as young Sarah Sanderson in “Hocus Pocus 2” and a recent collaboration with YMI jeans. We spoke with Juju about her journey in the business and how she juggles it all.

Please tell us a little about your role in “Hocus Pocus 2.”

I play Young Sarah Sanderson, the iconic witch created by Sarah Jessica Parker as a child. Playing a witch, it being Disney and Halloween being my favorites made it extra special! Sarah is fun, often silly and sometimes a bit of an airhead, with all kinds of personality, physical, vocal, and even hair characteristics. I watched a lot of SJP as Sarah and listened to New England pilgrim accents. My mom and sister Mila, who are both actors as well, helped me in researching the period, the Salem witch trials, and understanding the script and context.

After I booked the role, my acting teacher Scott Parkin and his daughter Miranda (assisted by our mutual acting friends Michael Reiser and Jeremy Cohenour) cut a back-to-back reel of only Sarah’s parts in the film. I kept watching without sound to incorporate all the specific behavior and body mannerisms. And alternated by listening to her voice without looking at the moving picture. SJP talked in interviews about how she created Sarah’s voice, so it was important for me to stay authentic and match her. As a kid, I had to find that register within my own voice. Then for different moments of the script, I incorporated body mannerisms. SJP had specific movements and I wanted to create my own kid version of what those would be while staying true to her character. I knew the fans and SJP will expect that and wanted to give it all I could. I worked to embody her. Everyone who knows me personally was joking that by the time we wrapped I couldn’t get Sarah Sanderson out of me. I was talking and reacting like Sarah, even off-set.

When did you know you wanted to be an actor? How did you get started?

I have been acting since I was a baby. I shot my first national commercial for Verizon when I was six weeks old! My sister Mila is an actress, so was my mom Shirly Brener and my grandmother Smadar Brener is an icon from Israeli cinema. I was born into it. My sister and I are third generation actors. We both have artistic interests and have been acting, dancing, making art, doing voiceover animation and music since we were teenie. It was natural for us. I used to go to all my sister’s shoots and auditions and was excited when her agents and manager took me on, so I worked hard to book my own jobs. I got inspired and learned a lot and still do from my mom, grandma and Mila.

You’re also a dancer, brand ambassador and budding designer for YMI Jeans Girls. Tell us about your other projects and roles/ how did you get involved with them?

As soon as I could walk, I would groove and try to dance whenever music was played. Mila was already professionally training, so naturally, I joined her. Dancing and music are my passions. Dance is also my sport. I dance as much as I can and take multiple choreography, ballet and freestyle classes weekly. Some of my favorite studios are Eighty-Eight Studios and Playground. I love how music makes me feel and how it’s a way of expression.

Same with fashion, I was drawn to it early on because it’s a way of creative expression. I’ve been expressing my own unique individuality through my outfits for as long as I can remember. My grandmother is crafty and taught me and my sister how to put patches on our jeans from an early age. My sister Mila used to model for them when she was younger, and we stayed in touch over the years. CEO/Founder David Vered is a “Hocus Pocus” fan, so when I wrapped the movie David and my branding agent Yoav Davis of Davis Media NY put their creative ideas together to come up with a project we can collaborate on. The idea was to spotlight their kids’ line. I have been co-designing the line alongside the company’s creative team, which will include jeans, pants and jackets. In addition, I’m also the brand ambassador for YMI Jeans Girls. The brand is awesome because it appeals to girls and women of all ages who are confident, vibrant, fashionable and want to express themselves through what they wear. It was important to all of us to create a capsule collection that reflects the trends of the moment in youth sizes. I can promise that kids, tweens and teens will love the fits.

Having a multi-faceted career, how do you juggle it all?

I have a lot of energy and have always been a kid that likes to be busy, but honestly I don’t know how I would do it without my mom and Mila. My mom is very organized and keeps a good schedule to cover it all. All her years in the industry add knowledge and efficiency. Same goes for Mila. She helps coach and prep, and is always there when possible on days of shoots. We’re like our own little production company, the three of us, where we interchange responsibility. Our hours are all over the place but all of us don’t ever stop until it’s finished. Lately, the schedule has been more demanding than ever, juggling so many facets, my mom is saying we need an assistant ;).

We really try to stay grounded and humble. Since my family is very familiar with the industry (my dad is also a former writer/producer) and we all understand how much focus, hard work, and dedication it requires. To be honest, my parents get excited when I clean my room and do my schoolwork.

Did you have a mentor growing up? What role did that person play in your life and your career?

I didn’t have one mentor, but multiple people in my life that have taught and inspired me. I’ve always looked up to Mila who is so multitalented and committed. I learned so much from her and still do. When I worked with Morgan Freeman on “Vanquish” he was very calm and centered, which was inspiring as an actor. It was epic to have that experience at eight years old. I also learned a lot from the directors I worked with, specifically the last couple of years with Anne Fletcher, George Gallo and Jack Henry Robbins. They handle so much responsibility with grace and ease. I’m very grateful I got to learn at a young age from these creative, special humans.

Recently working alongside the amazing, dedicated team at YMI on the fashion biz side. David Vered owner/CEO/founder is an inspiration, from his vision how he built the company from the ground up, to the way he operates. He’s always genuine and treats people with respect and kindness. Maria Munoz, head of marketing has really handheld me through the process. I love how she’s so diligent and always gracious and sweet.

My acting teachers Cynthia Bain, who has taught me how to approach scene study with a strong work ethic in a very professional way, and longtime teacher and friend Scott Parkin is very special to me. His sense of humor and energy are infectious! He has believed in me and pushed me to go out of my comfort zone, be bold in my choices as an actor, and stay true to who I am as a person. My dedicated hard-working agents Pam Fisher and Domina Holbeck at A3 and manager April Mills, are just awesome humans who have believed in me since day one! These sweet and encouraging ladies are helping me aim high and achieve my dreams.

When not acting, where will we find you?

I love traveling; it’s been a big part of my life. Some places I’ve been to are Thailand, Israel, Miami, New York, New England and the South. My dream is to go to Hawaii. I would also say I’m a foodie, especially desserts, so I’m always looking for cool places to eat or coffee shops to get fun drinks and snacks. My family and I are snow skiers, so you can find me on some slopes in the winter. I also love beachy resorts where I can swim and do water sports. I equally like big urban cities with museums, shows and shopping. My dream right now is to travel to Japan and Hawaii. I’ve always been into amusement parks and as soon as I was tall enough to hit the cool rides, I got pretty obsessed with roller coasters. I love Disneyland, Six Flags, and Universal. I also just like to hang out with my friends. We really love sleepovers and some of my friends have pools, so we go swimming. We also just like going to the mall, eating, shopping at stores and grabbing frozen yogurt or boba.

What are some of your favorite spots and activities in and around L.A.?

There is so much I love about L.A.! There is always something either fun, cultural, fashion, culinary or entertainment related to do. Some of my favorites are: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, The Americana mall, Will Rogers State Beach, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Lake Hollywood Park, Hollywood Farmers’ Market, Eighty-Eight Dance Studios, Playground L.A. Dance studio, The Getty Museum, The Hollywood Bowl, Brandi Melville, The Palm Coffee Bar, Malibu, Coffee Commissary, Koreatown-area shaved ice and boba, Hummus Bar, The Grove, Universal City Walk and the movie theaters, Sky Zone, Century City mall, Third Street Promenade, Ysabel, Urth Café, Tartonni Café and Din Tai Fung.

It’s super cool that a couple of hours outside L.A. there are awesome nearby awesome cities like Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Big Bear. We often take weekend trips to those places and others to chill and recharge, like a mini vacay.

Where can readers follow you on social media?

IG: @jujubrenerofficial

Twitter: @jujubrener

FB: @Juju Brener

YouTube: Mila & Juju Brener

Local High School Student Wins BigFuture College Scholarship

Published October 14, 2022

By Nina Harada

Mia (center) was one of BigFuture’s scholarship program winner.

Panorama High School student Mia was surprised in front of her classmates with a $40,000 scholarship by taking a few simple steps towards planning for college. The BigFuture Scholarships program, which awarded Mia and one other high school student the grand prize for the month of September, is currently open to all class of 2023 students.

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho helped present the award to Mia. “We are incredibly proud of Mia and the proactive work she completed to ensure her future is bright with opportunities,” the Superintendent said. “This is an example of what the possibilities are when students take small steps to pursue their dreams.”

BigFuture helps high school students plan for their future through their online dashboard, which simplifies the otherwise daunting college application process with simple steps. Each completed step unlocks the next steps, like building your college list to practicing for the SAT. Every month, BigFuture selects two students to win the $40,000 scholarship, while hundreds more receive $500 awards.

For more information visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

October Book Corner: Inspire & Empower Young Readers

Published October 14, 2022

By Nina Harada

This month’s book roundup includes stories that empower young people to make a difference in the world with actions big or small, and inspire them to use their creativity to find fun at home with everyday objects or in the great outdoors.

I Can’t Wait to Vote

by Tiffany Lanier, Illustrated by Olika Nikolskaia

“I Can’t Wait to Vote” follows 6-year-old Autumn who joins her parents at the polls on election day. During the car ride to their polling place at the library, Autumn imagines all the issues adults get to vote on. Nikolskaia’s cheerful illustrations depict the little girl in each scenario—Autumn as a councilgirl at City Hall or as a local judge. Lanier’s book aims to inspire other young citizens like Autumn to realize the importance of voting.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Changemakers

By Rebel Girls

The global empowerment brand for kids, Rebel Girls, releases the fifth volume of their “Good Night Stories” book series, “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Changemakers.” The inspiring book features notable figures like Taylor Swift, Zendaya, Greta Thunberg and more, all under the age of 30, in addition to original artwork by more than 60 young female and nonbinary artists. Ages 6 and up.

P.S. – We Made This! Super fun Crafts That Grow Smarter and Happier Kids

By Erica Domesek, Illustrated by Steph Stilwell

Los Angeles-based DIY expert, Erica Domesek, worked with Dr. Laurel Felt, who has her PhD in Childhood Development and Play, to identify the ways kids can thrive from each project in “P.S. – We Made This!” The colorful and easy-to-follow book is filled with creative projects, like Brick Oven Pizza (made from cardboard boxes) or Squeegee Artwork (using shower squeegees), that encourage kids (and parents!) to step away from their screens and build self-confidence through creating and crafting. Available Oct. 25.

Can You Spot the Leopard

Written and illustrated by Karen B. Winnick

Author, illustrator and President of the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, Karen B. Winnick’s latest children’s book “Can You Spot the Leopard,” pairs her full-color paintings with short poems about each animal spotted on a Jeep ride through the African savanna. The book is filled with real facts about animals from aardvarks to zebras before finally spotting the leopard. Recommended for ages 7-9. Available Oct. 25.

Finding Free Fun

By Yogi Roth, illustrated by Roxanne Rainville

On-air college football analyst, TV host, coach, filmmaker and author Yogi Roth believes in the power of sports and story. Inspired by his father who taught him to seek out fun through the outdoors and by his 7-year-old son, Roth wrote “Finding Free Fun.” A children’s book about discovering the ways, big or small, to enjoy the world around us, the protagonist Zayn learns that free fun is everywhere, from “a quiet moment under the waves” to “the wind blowing through your hair on a bike ride.”

Blue’s Clues & You

By Nickelodeon, National Eczema Association and Understand AD

Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues & You,” National Eczema Association and Understand AD, which aims to empower people living with atopic dermatitis, join forces for Eczema Awareness Month this October with their new E-book “Blue and Frida Felt Become Ecz-tra Special Friends.” The educational storybook about Blue and her new friend, Frida Felt, who has eczema, explores the power of friendship and how to embrace what makes each of us unique.

One of our favorite local children’s book authors, Seth Fishman, has a new book coming out Oct. 25 from a Penguin Random House / Penguin Workshop. This fun book is called “Bad Drawer” and it encourages to embrace creativity without being limited by perfectionism. Kirkus Reviews calls it a “creative story with a sound message: If at first you don’t succeed, ask a friend for help.”

For more book suggestions, check out our September Book Corner.

New on Screen: What to Watch in October

Published October 11, 2022

By Nina Harada

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Sony Pictures presents the live-action, CGI musical comedy “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” starring Javier Bardem, Constance Wu and Shawn Mendes. Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” follows the Primm family to New York City where their lives change when their young son Josh discovers Lyle, a singing crocodile who loves baths and music. The film will feature original songs performed by the stars, written by the team behind “The Greatest Showman.” Now in theaters.

Abominable and The Invisible City

DreamWorks Animation presents “Abominable and The Invisible City,” a new comedy adventure series based on the 2019 movie “Abominable.” The series follows the yeti, Yi, Jin and Peng through a magical world filled with magical creatures in need of their help. Together, the kids set out on extraordinary adventures through their city and beyond. Season 1 is now streaming on Peacock and Hulu.

MAIKA: THE GIRL FROM ANOTHER GALAXY

Well Go USA Entertainment presents “MAIKA: THE GIRL FROM ANOTHER GALAXY,” which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival in the Kids section. The Vietnamese sci-fi feature follows a grieving 8-year old boy as he befriends a mysterious alien girl named Maika. Together they embark on a fun-filled adventure taking on bad guys while helping Maika find her way home. Available on digital.

Mack & Rita

For the parents looking for a night-in, Lionsgate’s “Mack & Rita” starring Diane Keaton is the perfect comic relief. About a 30-year old homebody whose inner 70-year old is released, literally, during a bachelorette trip in Palm Springs, “Mack & Rita” celebrates being true to yourself at any age. Available on Blu-ray and DVD Oct. 18.

For more movie and tv show recommendations, check out our September roundup.

Halloween and Fall Sweet Treats & Eats

Published October 11, 2022

By Nina Harada

Bianca’s festive cookie decorating kit is available for pick up at their Culver City bakery.

Whether you’re looking for fun, at-home DIY treats, or an excuse to get out of the city for some seasonal drinks on the coast, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Fall beyond your average pumpkin patch. (But we’ve got a roundup for those, too!)

Cookies, Cakes & Candy

Culver City bakery and restaurant Bianca is offering festive cakes and cookie decorating kit to celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. Pre order by Oct. 24 for pick up on Oct. 28-30. $24 for cookie decorating kits. $64 – $90 for cakes. $15 for Pan de Muerto, a traditional sweet bread. biancalosangeles.com

Dylan’s Candy Bar has a slew of spooky treats and fall delights, like their Fall Festivities Tackle Box, Spooky Good Time Marshmallow Kebob, Shimmering Skull Milk Chocolate Cocoa Bomb and more. $7.50 – $30. dylanscandybar.com

California and Texas based SusieCakes’ Halloween-themed menu features fun treats like pumpkin maple cupcakes and jack-o-lantern face cakes. For more at-home DIY fun, pick up their DIY sugar cookie or cupcake boxes. $22 and up. susiecakes.com

Spooky Spirits

Create fall cocktails with You & Yours Distilling Co.’s vodka and gin.

Have a little fall getaway to imbibe in some of San Diego’s not so spooky spirits. From the head brewer of Ballast Point Brewing comes Cutwater Spirits, featuring Devil’s Share American Whiskey, with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and licorice. sandiego.org. You & Yours Distilling Co. produces small-batch vodka and gin including the creamy, vanilla-sweet Y&Y Vodka. youandyours.com

Wine lovers have a new spot to try this fall, at the Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room in Ventura Harbor Village. Try wine by the glass ($13 – $18) or bottle (average of $32) in a relaxed atmosphere steps away from the ocean. Food pairings, like a chocolate flight and curated meat and cheese plate, are also available. venturaharborvillage.com

Good Eats

If you’re hosting a Halloween gathering at home, Platterful, the all-in-one charcuterie subscription gift, is offering fun Halloween-themed boxes. Each box ordered also donates 10 meals to combat childhood hunger. $75 and up. tryplatterful.com

While in San Diego take advantage of the fall happenings at the Bahia Resort and Catamaran Resort. From Oct. 1 – 31, kids ages 12 and under eat free at Catamaran’s Oceana Coastal Kitchen or Bahia’s Dockside 1953 with each paid adult entrée. Parents will appreciate bottomless mimosas at Catamaran’s Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet, along with fresh pastries, seafood, mini desserts and more. catamaranresort.com, bahiahotel.com

Kids eat free at Catamaran’s Oceana Coastal Kitchen.

For more fall fun ideas, check out our fall roundup.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

Published October 7, 2022

By Nina Harada

It’s that time of year for pumpkin spice everything, so why not breakfast? Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious and co-founder of One Potato, created a simple and crowd-pleasing pumpkin spice oatmeal recipe for a crock pot. The healthy meal is easy to make, by throwing all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Set the timer, enjoy your coffee and before you know it, breakfast is served.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker (serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients

2 cups water

2 ½ cups milk of choice

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

1 cup steal oats

Maple syrup or honey (optional)

Preparation

Place all the ingredients in a crock pot and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4-8 hours (note that the cooking time can vary depending on your crock pot. Crock pots without non-stick surfaces tend to get hotter, so you’ll want to stick closer to a 5-hour cooking time).

10 Best Pumpkin Patches in L.A.

Published October 6, 2022

By Nina Harada

Pumpkin patches are more than just a field of oversized squashes. These days, pumpkin patches host a variety of kid-friendly activities that can fill an entire afternoon. From hay mazes and haunted houses to carnival rides and petting zoos, there is something for everyone at these fall favorite events. We’ve rounded up the best pumpkin patches throughout L.A., Ventura County and the O.C.

Ventura County

For some all-around fall fun, make the drive to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark for their 25^th annual Fall Harvest Festival. Through the month of October, the 50-acre farm will feature a giant pumpkin patch, games, rides, photo ops, live entertainment, themed weekends and more. $14 – $28. underwoodfamilyfarms.com

The Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch in Thousand Oaks is open Oct. 1 – 31. Sort through locally grown pumpkins, ride the train, play carnival games and say hello to adorable farm animals at the petting zoo. Ages 3-15 can run obstacle courses and mazes, race down large slides and bounce high in the various inflatables. Admission is FREE. Attractions are $1.35 and up. seasonaladventures.com

West L.A.

PHOTO COURTESY MR. JACK O’LANTERN’S PUMPKIN PATCH

With locations in Torrance, West LA, Hollywood and The Original Farmers Market, Mr. Jack O’Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch is your one-stop-shop for all your fall family fun. Each location has games and activities like themed bouncy houses, pumpkin decorating, corn mazes, animal feeding, photo stations and more. Open Sept. 29 through Oct. 31. Tickets, sold by the bundle, are required for the games. Admission to the pumpkin patch is FREE. mrjackolanternspumpkins.com

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch returns to Culver City Oct. 7-30 with a special Trick or Treat Spooktacular on Oct. 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. The family-friendly event will have a bounce house, straw maze, petting zoo, pumpkin decorating and plenty of pumpkins to choose from to bring the Halloween spirit home. $1 and up. mrbonespumpkinpatch.com

Search for your perfect pumpkin at Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch in West LA and then spend the rest of your day exploring the petting zoo, bounce house, pony rides, train rides, straw maze, giant slides, face painting and carnival games. Oct. 1 – 31. Closed Oct. 3-6, 10, 17 and 24. Admission to the pumpkin patch is FREE. Attractions are $4 and up. shawnspumpkinpatch.com

San Fernando Valley

Tina’s Pumpkin Patch in Sherman Oaks features a daily petting zoo and pony rides. The pumpkin patch asl has an obstacle course, bouncer, train ride and free straw maze. Oct. 1 – 31. Admission is FREE. Attractions are $4 and up. tinaspumpkinpatch.com

The 32^nd annual Toluca Lake Pumpkin Festival features a haunted maze through Oct. 31, along with coin-op rides and a petting zoo that will remain open through the winter holidays. Attractions are $7 – $10. tolucalake-pumpkins-christmastrees.com

The corn maze, train ride and pumpkin patch at Forneris Farms in Mission Hills run Oct. 8 – 31. While you’re there, pick up some in-season produce to take home. $5. fornerisfarms.com

Orange County

From Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 select your pumpkin from Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, a real pumpkin patch, featuring wagon rides, straw-bale maze, photo ops, arts and crafts and barnyard animals. For a more mellow experience, Hana Field Pumpkin Patch will offer pick-your-own pumpkins and flowers, in addition to the cow train, arts and crafts, root shoot and a pumpkin cannon. $10; free for ages 2 and under. Additional tickets required for certain activities. tanakafarms.com

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch features plenty of family-fun, including hay rides, train rides, moon bounce, face painting, panning for gold, John Deere race cars, cookie decorating, carnival games, pumpkin toss ring, pumpkin decorating, hay maze, haunted house and festival fall photo ops. $3 – $7 entry fee, $7 activity tickets. irvineparkrailroad.com

For more seasonal fun, check out our fall festivals roundup and Halloween guide.

Spotlight: Meet Candice Dickens-Russell, President and CEO of FoLAR

Published September 23, 2022

By Nina Harada

Candice Dickens-Russell, Executive Director, Friends of the LA River (FoLAR). PHOTOS COURTESY CANDICE DICKENS-RUSSELL

Candice Dickens-Russell raises her family in L.A., where Candice herself grew up. Having served as the regional director for environmental education for the State of California Department of Education, on the Blueprint for Environmental Literacy Taskforce and on the board of Friends of the LA River where she now works, she understands the significance of the L.A. River to our community and our environment. We recently spoke with Candice about her new role at FoLAR, how families can get involved with the L.A. river and where her favorite L.A. spots to explore with her family.

Please tell us a little about your new position at the Friends of the LA River (FoLAR).

I am the new President and CEO of FoLAR. My job is to support and lead the team as we build an inclusive movement to realize our vision of the L.A. River as a vibrant, functioning and supportive ecosystem. I bring a perspective that combines sustainability, environmental education and equity to our work. I’ve been involved with FoLAR as a supporter and board member for many years so this is a wonderful opportunity and I’m excited to be in this role.

Candice’s daughter Eden participating in one of FoLAR’s clean up events.

What is RIVER FEST?

River Fest is a free open-air festival celebrating the L.A. River’s deep connection to art, environmental justice, community health and climate adaptation at the scenic L.A. State Historic Park. There will be food trucks, a live DJ, short environmental films on a 45-foot screen, raffles and interactive booths from FoLAR and our partners. It’s a celebration of our year and it’s going to be lots of fun!

How can kids and families get involved with Friends of the LA River?

Our largest audience is children. Every day our education programs bring students to the river or the river to students in the form of our River Rover. We’re dedicated to sharing our work with young people who will ultimately be the ones shaping the river’s future. And there are so many ways families can connect with the L.A. River. Helping our children understand that we have a vital river in Los Angeles that runs through and connects our communities is the first step. There’s also biking, kayaking, birdwatching, and just spending time along the L.A. River every day.

How do you think families take better care of our environment?

Start with figuring out what’s important to your family and how you can make changes in your life to protect the things that you value. And when you do this, include your children. Let them know the reasons behind why you recycle, or don’t use plastic utensils, or conserve water, or plant native plants in your garden – whatever it is! It’s easy to just do these things and not talk about them. Give our children the opportunity to see us engaged in the practice of protecting the environment and invite them to take part.

You grew up in L.A., tell us a little about your growing up experiences in and around Los Angeles? Fondest memories?

My family loved going to the movies (my dad always insisted we watch ALL of the credits at the end), fishing, and spending time at our neighborhood parks. I think we were at the park every day, involved in one activity or another. I have so many memories of afternoons and evenings with my brother and sister in our neighborhood parks.

Did you have a mentor growing up? And what role did that person play in your life and your career?

Growing up I really looked up to my grandmother. She supported her children through college and then went herself to become an RN. She had so many great sayings and I find myself quoting her every day. My grandmother thought I could do anything and I believed her.

Best life advice you received growing up?

More wisdom from the ancestors – my grandfather used to say, “What’s wrong with now?” meaning go ahead and get it done. It’s our family version of carpe diem. I embody that!

How has parenthood changed you?

Candice and her daughter Eden enjoy Hawaii.

It has certainly made me more patient. I’m a big planner but I’ve learned that not all things can be planned in parenthood. I would often say when my daughter was very small that as soon as I felt like I got into a groove, she would change. She would drop a nap or change in some other way. Parenting has taught me to live in the present with patience and joy.

When not working, where will we find you?

In our garden relaxing in the hammock reading a book with my daughter. I’m a beekeeper, my husband tends our vegetable garden, and my daughter has a fairy garden. We basically live in our yard.

Best advice on parenting you’ve received?

I once read that our children come through us, not from us. I really loved that! My daughter is 100% her – not half me and half my husband. It’s such a gift to recognize and honor that. She and I are very different. It is so fun to watch her grow up and celebrate who she is and who she’s becoming.

What are some of your favorite spots and activities in and around L.A.?

Our family loves to travel. Locally, we’re big tidepoolers, and we enjoy gardening and camping. The Natural History Museum is a family favorite – our daughter has basically grown up there. We have taken a picture of her in the same spot over the years which has been fun. We have also spent many afternoons exploring the Arboretum, visiting the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and going to the Farmers’ Market. And of course spending time on the River!

Chicken-Broccoli Egg Rolls

Published September 23, 2022

By Dini Klein

Chicken-Broccoli Egg Rolls

Serves 4 (Makes 12 egg rolls)

Ingredients

For egg rolls

4 cups chopped BBQ-Rubbed Chicken (page 32) or 4 cups chopped rotisserie chicken

6 cups chopped Roasted Broccoli (page 35) or 6 cups of your favorite roasted or sautéed vegetable finely chopped (e.g, sautéed cabbage, frozen peas and corn, broccoli, stir fry mix)

½ cup store-bought BBQ sauce

12 egg roll wrappers

Cooking oil spray or light olive oil

For serving

½ recipe Roasted Zucchini (page 35)

½ recipe Ranch Dip (page 36)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper and grease the parchment with cooking oil spray.
Make the egg rolls: In a medium bowl, mix together the chicken, broccoli, and BBQ sauce. Place one egg roll wrapper on a work surface and set a small cup or bowl of water nearby. Fill the egg roll wrapper with roughly ¼ cup of the chicken mixture. Fold the bottom up, then fold in the left and right sides and roll up the wrapper to enclose the filling. Dab some water on the edge to seal and place the egg roll seam side down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat to make 12 egg rolls total.
Spray the egg rolls with cooking oil spray (or use a pastry brush to brush them with olive oil) and bake for 30 minutes or so, until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a serving platter and cover to keep warm.
Meanwhile, spread the zucchini onto another parchment-lined baking sheet and warm in the oven, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, in the oven with the egg rolls.
Serve the egg rolls with the ranch dip and zucchini on the side.

Rally Remedies

Get the kids involved in the egg roll rolling process. It’s fun!
If you’re making these egg rolls vegetarian, stuff them with store-bought prepared tofu and/or your favorite sautéed vegetables.
Lighten it up by stuffing the egg roll filling into tortillas, or make it gluten-free by serving the filling in lettuce cups.

Fall Fun for the Family: Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches and More

Published September 19, 2022

By Nina Harada

The heat wave finally broke and kids are back to school, which means weekends are for getting outside for some fall fun. We’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly fall events from pumpkin patches to spider pavilions happening in and around L.A.

Fall festivals

From Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 select your pumpkin from Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch, a real pumpkin patch, featuring wagon rides, strawbale maze, photo ops, arts and crafts and barnyard animals. For a more mellow experience, Hana Field Pumpkin Patch will offer pick-your-own pumpkins and flowers, in addition to the cow train, arts and crafts, root shoot and a pumpkin cannon. $10; free for ages 2 and under. Additional tickets required for certain activities. tanakafarms.com

On Oct. 16, the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival returns to the city of Calabasas for a full day of family-fun. The festival includes inflatable rides, games, character encounters, custom car show, Halloween themed contests, dance party, pumpkin painting booth, live music, a festival beer garden, treats and more. $15; free for ages 24 months and under. cityofcalabasas.com

The annual P-22 Festival returns to Griffith Park on PHOTO BY JOHN SCIULLI/ GETTY IMAGES FOR NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION

Help celebrate the season with Family Fall Fest and raise funds to support Mama Made, local nonprofit benefiting mom-owned businesses. This family-friendly event features face painting, soft play area, crafts, music, photo sessions, Halloween costume sale and more. FREE; $20 suggested donation. mama-made.org

Fall Festival at The Original Farmers Market returns Oct. 22-23 with a pumpkin patch, pig races, fall themed games, live music, crafts and plenty of photo ops. FREE. farmersmarketla.com

Getting Wild

Urban Wildlife Week is Oct. 15-22, with three free, family-friendly events throughout L.A. to learn about L.A.’s famous mountain lion P-22 and ways to preserve urban wildlife.

Urban Wildlife Week kicks off with Wildlife 2 Watts on Oct. 15 at Ted Watkins Memorial Park. Join 3^rd Rock Hip Hop, L.A.-based organization that uses music to teach children about the environment, and the National Wildlife Federation for a day of musical performances, art activities and learning with native wildlife ambassadors. FREE. savelacougars.org

From Oct. 15 to 22 join National Wildlife Federation on a hike through the Santa Monica Mountains, Following the Footsteps of P-22. FREE. savelacougars.org

Finally, on Oct. 22 join the community-wide festival P-22 Day, featuring over 100 fun and educational exhibits, including a rock-climbing wall, children’s art activities and live music. FREE. savelacougars.org

Oktoberfets

Oktoberfest has beer for the parents and games and entertainment for the whole family. PHOTO COURTESY DAN MCKERNAN/ BIG BEAR GUIDE

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest returns for 9 weekends of celebration this fall. Enjoy live entertainment from Balvarian polka music to a traditional German dance troupe to SoCal cover bands. The festival includes an outdoor beer garden, fun competitions and contests, a new interactive game, plus plenty of children’s fun and games such as kiddy mug holding matches, pretzel toss and an enhanced kids’ play area with giant inflatables. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 10 through Nov. 9 and Fridays in October. $5 – $60. bigbearevents.com

Huntington Beach’s Old World Village hosts their version of Oktoberfest from Sept. 18 to Nov. 6. Explore cobblestone streets, enjoy authentic German beers and bites, and dance to bands flown from Germany. Wednesdays and Thursdays are free family nights. Fridays and Saturdays are 21+. $10 – $25 Fridays through Sundays. oldworldhb.com

Join the The Catalina Museum for Art & History for Oktoberfest on Oct. 7. Part of First Fridays at the Museum, this family-friendly event features live music by Hammerstein, an authentic Bavarian polka rock band, the traditional singing of the schnitzelbank, brats with all of the fixings, free giveaways, an Oktoberfest-themed art project for kids and German beer for adults. Guests are encouraged to dress up in lederhosen and dirndls, and B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Stein) to enjoy a drink and to be entered into a raffle. $20 – $25; $10 for ages 3-15. catalinamuseum.org

Enjoy Sunset Pier Walks along the Scripps Pier Sept. 25 – Nov. 5. PHOTO COURTESY BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY

Fall into nature

Join Birch Aquarium for Sunset Pier Walks along the iconic Scripps Pier Sept. 25 through Nov. 5. Experience stunning sunsets on select Saturdays and Sundays this fall while learning about fieldwork being conducted by Scripps Oceanography researchers in the 90-minute tour. Ages 9 and up. $25 – $30. aquarium.ucsd.edu

Campland celebrates its 54^th anniversary during Campland on the Bay Day on Oct. 1 with festivities for both the public and resort guests. Family-friendly activities include games, food trucks, raffle prizes, live entertainment and the resort’s famous giant waterslide. FREE. campland.com

Spider Pavilions

Join Natural History Museum for their annual Spider Pavilion and get a rare glimpse into the secret life of spiders. See spectacular webs, speak to educators, peek into enclosed habitats and more. Sept. 18 – Nov. 27. $7 – $15. nhm.org

South Coast Botanic Garden hosts their own Spider Pavilion, featuring hundreds of live spiders, including tarantulas inside glass cases. Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. $5 – $22. southcoastbotanicgarden.org

For more fall fun, check out our Halloween Guide.

Family-Friendly Halloween Guide: 20 Spooky SoCal Events

Published September 16, 2022

By Nina Harada

Dress up in your best costumes for Boo at the L.A. Zoo. PHOTO BY JAMIE PHAM/GLAZA

We’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly Halloween events in SoCal for some spooky fall fun. From spider pavilions to trick-or-treating to immersive events, our roundup has you covered.

Interactive horror theater series returns to the historic Phillips Estate in Pomona Sept. 15. The one-of-a-kind Halloween event will include a new play “Delusion: Valley of Hollows,” which explores 1970’s American cults with a supernatural twist. $89.99 and up. enterdelusion.com

Get a glimpse into the secret life of spiders at Natural History Museum’s seasonal Spider Pavilion. From Sept. 18-Nov. 27 walk through the open-air pavilion to see spectacular webs, peer through glass into enclosed habitats and more. $7-$15. nhm.org

Get up close and personal with spiders at the Natural History Museum’s Spider Pavilion Sept. 18-Nov. 27.

South Coast Botanic Garden hosts their own Spider Pavilion, featuring hundreds of live spiders, including tarantulas inside glass cases. Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. $5 – $22. southcoastbotanicgarden.org

The team behind L.A.’s Haunted Hayride joins Shaquille O’Neal for a new Halloween attraction: Shaqtoberest. On select dates beginning Sept. 29 through Halloween, guests of all ages can explore six themed areas on the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach as they are guided by O’Neal’s voice. Each area will include Halloween trails, games, live entertainment and food and beverage vendors. $29.99 and up. shaqtoberfest.com

Descanso Gardens’ signature all-ages fall event Carved returns Oct. 7-31 with its popular pumpkin house, hay maze, glow-in-the-dark face painting, live pumpkin carving and special Day of the Dead installation. $20-$38. descansogardens.org

It’s Halloween Time at Disneyland resort Sept. 2-Oct. 31. Downtown Disney and both amusement parks will feature festive seasonal décor such as the iconic Mickey Mouse pumpkin, Disney characters in brand-new Halloween looks and a nightly projection and light show, “Halloween Screams.” Certain rides will get seasonal transformations: Cars Land at Radiator Springs becomes Radiator Screams and the Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday a la Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Included with admission. disneyland.com

Carved returns to Descanso Gardens Oct. 7-31. PHOTO BY JAKE FABRICIUS

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights includes even more scares than before, with two new terrifying haunted houses, The Horrors of Blumhouse and another based on the 1978 slasher film “Halloween.” Enjoy live entertainment, themed food and drinks and get terrified on select dates Sept. 8-Oct. 31. Recommended for ages 14 and up. $72 and up. universalstudioshollywood.com

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch returns to Culver City Oct. 7-30. PHOTO COURTESY MR. BONES PUMPKIN PATCH

Celebrate Halloween on the Boardwalk on Oct. 28, with costumed boat rides, costume contest, DJ, prizes, giveaways, photo ops and trick-or-treating on the Boardwalk and Pier in Redondo Beach. FREE. redondopier.com

Don your costumes for special Halloween-themed classics with Rooftop Cinema Club throughout October. Catch spooky favorites like The Ring, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, The Craft, The Addams Family, The Blair Witch Project and more at the El Segundo location and at their newest location in the Arts District. Special screenings will feature themed décor, photo ops, special offers and more. $19.50 and up. rooftopcinemaclub.com

The 49^th season of Knott’s Scary Farm returns with new haunting experiences on select dates Sept. 22 to Oct. 31. This year’s fest features 17 haunting experiences, including five scare zones, nine mazes and three sinister shows. Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children ages under 13. $59 and up. knotts.com

Family-friendly immersive Halloween event, Nights Of The Jack, returns to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas Sept. 30 through Oct. 31. Featuring thousands of hand-carved pumpkins and immersive scenes along the nearly mile-long walking trail, the annual all-ages event also offers food, drinks, and sweet treats from L.A.’s best food trucks and a full bar for the adults. $29.99 – $44.99. nightsofthejack.com

Travel back in time to Cemetery Lane Oct. 19 – 30. PHOTO COURTESY CEMETERY LANE

Time travel back to the ‘50s and ‘60s during this year’s Cemetery Lane at Heritage Square Museum on select dates Oct. 19 – 30. All-ages are invited to trick-or-treat through the gated “neighborhood” of Victorian manors, which will transport guests to a time when pop culture became fascinated with the Addams Family, the Munsters and other monster movies. The 45-minute to one-hour immersive experience includes 13 trick-or-treat stops, photo-ops, character interactions, vendors and food trucks. $27 – $32; free for ages 2 and under not trick-or-treating. cemetarylane.com

Outside of L.A., but worth the drive, is LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat experience. This year’s kid-friendly Halloween celebration features new LEGO Monster characters, a scavenger hunt, costume contest and the premiere of the 4D not-so-spooky movie, “The Great Monster Chase!” Brick-or-Treat launches Sept. 17 and runs Saturdays through Oct. 29. Included with general admission, which starts at $89.99. LEGOLAND.com

Ride the carousel at Haunt’Oween Sept. 30-Oct.31. PHOTO COURTESY HAUNT’OWEEN

Trick-or-treat at SeaWorld Spooktacular Sept. 17 – Oct. 31. PHOTO COURTESY SEAWORLD

Experiential Supply Co’s 3^rd annual Haunt’Oween returns to Westfield Topanga Sept. 30 – Oct. 31. The family-friendly Halloween event features trick-or-treating, face painting, bounce houses, games, rides, photo ops, food, adult beverages and more. $40 and up. hauntoween.com

SeaWorld San Diego’s family-friendly SeaWorld Spooktacular features trick-or-treating, Halloween mermaids, dance party, hay maze, pumpkin hunt and more. Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 17 – Oct. 30 and Oct. 31. Free for kids with a paid adult ticket through Oct. 31; $59.99 and up. seaworld.com

Halloween in L.A. isn’t complete without a ride on the Haunted Hayride, returning to Griffith Park select nights from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31. Walk through the Town Square of Midnight Falls, trick-or-treat and tour the Midnight Mortuary before or after your epic hayride. $29.99 and up. Recommended for ages 13 and up. losangeleshauntedhayride.com

Watch animal pumpkin feedings at Boo at the L.A. Zoo, Oct. 1-31. PHOTO BY JAMIE PHAM/GLAZA

Don your best costumes for Boo at the L.A. Zoo, which returns Oct. 1 – 31 with daily spooktacular sights and sounds. Weekends feature open-air live shows, animal pumpkin feedings, themed photo ops and more. Included with admission. lazoo.org

FORT:LA presents a self-guided tour of fantastical architectural homes in L.A. throughout October. The Witch Houses 3 Trail map, curated by “Buffy the Vampier Slayer” actor Amber Benson, will be available on Oct. 10. fortla.org

For more Halloween events, check out our calendar.

Challah in the Round

Published September 12, 2022

By PJ Library

On Rosh Hashanah a symbol of making ourselves and the world more whole is eating a round challah.

Challah in the Round

Ingredients:

To make two (egg-free!) round challah breads you’ll need:

1½ tablespoons yeast

2½ cups warm water

1 teaspoon, plus ½ cup sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon salt

8 cups flour

1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Dissolve the yeast in the water with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Whisk the mixture together, then add the oil, salt, and remaining sugar. Add the flour gradually, mixing well and then working it in with your hands. Take turns kneading as a family for about 10-15 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Work in the raisins (optional). Cover the bowl with a towel and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, let the dough warm to room temperature, then punch it down and separate into two portions.

Braid a Round Challah

Challah is usually shaped in a simple long braid, but you can turn any challah recipe into a Rosh Hashanah recipe by braiding it in the round.

When you reach the braiding stage, shape the dough into six strands of equal length.
Lay three strands horizontally on a floured surface, then weave the other three strands into them vertically. Lift the bottom strands as needed to weave the top strands in. The ends of the strands will stick out.
Now braid the ends together on all four sides. Gently tuck the braided edges underneath the middle section. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to create your second loaf.
Grease two round baking tins and transfer your loaves into them. Let the dough rise for another hour, then bake at 350 degrees for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown. If desired, glaze with a mixture of warm honey and a drop of water.

For the full recipe, including a video on how to braid your challah bread, visit PJlibrary.org.

Celebrating the High Holidays with the Help of PJ Library

Published September 12, 2022

By Nina Harada

PJ Library, a free program for families raising Jewish kids, is offering more resources for families during the High Holidays this year with its new edition of “A Time To Grow: A PJ Library Family Guide for Starting the Jewish New Year.” The beautifully illustrated guidebook is available to download for free online and for purchase in print, with PJ Library subscribers receiving copies in the mail as part of their free subscriptions.

Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese, the newly expanded “A Time To Grow,” offers activities, recipes and rituals for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Some activities include creating a “kindness wheel” for the New Year and having a stargazing sleepover party in honor of the last day of Sukkot. Learn about symbolic foods, like apples with honey or challah bread, through blessings and recipes, follow step-by-step guides to celebrations and use prompts to have thoughtful discussions around the meaning behind each holiday among your family.

In addition to the guidebook, PJ Library offers playlists, music videos and a NAPPA award-winning podcast, “Afternoons with Mimi,” to help make your high holidays more memorable and fun. PJ Library’s hub for family-friendly audio resources, LISTEN, includes a special Sukkot episode from Sesame Street, podcast episodes that explain the backstories of the various holidays, sing-along music and more.

“A Time To Grow” features family-friendly activities to celebrate the High Holidays. PHOTO COURTESY PJ LIBRARY

PJ Library mails over 240,000 curated Jewish children’s books to children ages 0 to 12 every month for the past 16 years. The free program is a fun and easy way for families to share Jewish culture and values with their children.

A Good Time for Halloween Time and Plaza de la Familia at Disneyland Resort

Published September 12, 2022

By Nina Harada

Growing up in a multicultural household we were lucky enough to celebrate many holidays: Passover, Hanukkah, Christmas and Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day) to name a few. But every year the one we got most excited about was Halloween. Each back-to-school season was not only about buying notebooks and backpacks, but also fall decorations, costumes and pumpkins. My dad isn’t one to dress up, but he always said he loved Halloween the most because it brought the whole neighborhood together. People from all walks of life—young and old—would open their doors and lean into the fun. That’s what Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort feels like; one happy neighborhood where everyone, local Angelinos and visitors from around the world, have come together for some good ‘ol fashioned fall fun.

Mickey Pumpkin Apple. PHOTO BY DAVID NGUYEN/ COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT

When my 3-year-old daughter and I arrived, the first thing she noticed was, “Pumpkins!!! Mickey pumpkin! Goofy pumpkin! SO many pumpkins!” (The second thing she noticed was Anna and Elsa were not at the entrance to greet her). Everywhere you look, the park is decorated in festive, fall colors, which, for a moment, can make you forget it’s 100 degrees and not quite sweater weather. The heat did not deter us or the other hundreds of other visitors, dressed in princess costumes, custom matching Disney shirts announcing a family reunion or bachelorette party, or classic Halloween-themed Mickey and Minnie ears, which was our accessory of choice.

Festive foodie fun

Pumpkin Spice Churro. PHOTO BY DAVID NGUYEN/ COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT

Simply walking around would’ve been enough for my daughter, in awe of the Disney magic. But we had rides to ride and food to eat. The seasonal churros were my daughter and my favorite treat, which come in limited time flavors like pumpkin spice and chocolate cookie crumble. I appreciated the fall-themed coffee drinks like the pumpkin cold brew, a perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up to brave the rest of my day with a toddler. Other fall treats include Oktoberfest-inspired burgers from the Galactic Grill, pumpkin spice funnel cake from Stage Door Café, and ghost pepper micheladas for the adults. If you can’t make it into the park, you can still feast on some themed treats at Downtown Disney. La Brea Bakery Café will feature kids monster pancakes on Oct. 31, Kayla’s Cake is offering mummy macarons through Sept. 31 and Marceline’s Confectionery has various fall-themed Mickey and Minnie apples dipped in chocolate, caramel or vanilla.

Spooky sights & sounds

Haunted Mansion Holiday gets a Halloween makeover. PHOTO COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT

While we were on the hunt for Anna and Elsa, we met many wicked queens and other villains looking to stir up trouble. Throughout the park Disney villains and characters are dressed up in Halloween attire. But my daughter simply wondered if they knew where the Arendelle sisters were. As we waited in line for Haunted Mansion, which received an extra frightful makeover for Halloween Time, my daughter delighted in all of the skeletons looking at us. She also wondered if they knew Anna and Elsa. If my daughter was about an inch taller, we would’ve ventured over to Guardians of the Galaxy’s Monsters After Dark, a thrilling ride to rescue Groot from monsters. Other Halloween-themed attractions include Radiator Screams (aka Radiator Springs), my daughter’s personal favorite, and the famous giant Mickey Mouse pumpkin on Main Street, U.S.A.

Fall for the family

Over in Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure, Plaza de la Familia features an immersive celebration inspired by Día de los Muertos. Unfortunately, the heat cancelled Disney and Pixar’s “A Musical Celebration of Coco” the day we were there. But we still got to see fantastic Mariachi music at Paradise Gardens Bandstand and meet Miguel from “Coco.” Other seasonal features include an arts and crafts section where you can make your own spirit guide mask from “Coco” and post personal messages on the beautiful Memory Wall.

The Paradise Garden Bandstand features Mariachi music live on stage. PHOTO BY RACHEL BENNETT/ COURTESY DISNEYLAND RESORT

As we made our way back to Disneyland for a final train ride around the park, I was about to give up on my daughter’s all-day search for her heroes when we bumped into Anna and Elsa! We waited in line along with other families with small children, single women in their forties and fifties and couples decked out in their Halloween costumes. No matter their age or background, everyone was just as excited to meet the queens of Arendelle as they were to partake in the festivities of fall and Halloween Time. The scene reminded me of being with my family, walking around our neighborhood where everyone, including my dad, was excited to see Halloween come alive. The spirit of fall, Halloween and the magic of Disney is alive and well.

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort runs through Oct. 31 and Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park runs through Nov. 2.

Addressing Youth Violence: Foster communities that break isolation

Published September 1, 2022

By Sehba Sarwar

“Why is it so hard to understand that I have guns but love peace?” asks Jim, a tall 20-something-year-old when we bump into each other at a gun show in Houston.

Jim carries two satchels. One contains a Kalashnikov, a Russian AK-4 /assault rifle that I have seen on guards in my home city, Karachi, Pakistan. In the other are bullets, he tells me.

Speechless, I gaze at him. Jim was my student at a public high school where I taught creative writing and journalism. With his thin frame and long hair, he was known on campus as a white “hippie” and tech genius.

I am at the gun show because I want to learn more about what is exhibited and who attends the shows that are advertised on billboards each month. My community is comprised of artists, activists and educators, and I don’t know anyone who owns an assault weapon. Or so I believe before I run into Jim.

Once inside the building, I document attendees, who are mostly men but also women and children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. They walk through crowded aisles, perusing guns and revolvers that are laid out for purchase. I also capture an image of a confederate flag that flaps over antique weapons.

Fifteen years have gone by since my first and only exploratory visit to a gun show, but I’m still haunted by that encounter with my former student. Even today, I wonder what I could have learned about Jim had I taken him up on his offer to meet for coffee or talked to more of his peers. I was busy with my organization and raising my daughter, and I don’t know what I would have done with information had I gleaned anything disturbing, besides reporting it to the police.

Six years ago, I moved to Los Angeles, where I write and teach. As always, whenever a mass shooting occurs anywhere in the world, I want to learn more about the lives lost. These days, however, I am struck by the killers’ ages.

A Washington Post story highlights how, of the 196 shooters who killed four or more people in a U.S. public place since 1966, “more than 40 percent were between the ages of 18 and 29.” A psychiatrist quoted in the report points out that the prefrontal cortex that is “critical to understanding the consequences of one’s actions and controlling impulses, does not fully develop until about age 25.”

My daughter Minal is 17, a few months younger than the two men who, in May, killed 31 citizens and children at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y., and at a school in Uvalde, Texas. I ask her if she could imagine herself or fellow male students collecting weapons and killing people because of their age or race.

She meets my eyes. “My friends and I would never do that. But there are running jokes about possible school shooters.”

Teenagers who participate in a high school leadership workshop that I offer in Pasadena are also concerned about social outliers who they imagine could become murderers. Some of my students recently organized walkouts at their campuses. One of the organizers tells me that she feels empowered. “We can’t let killers like these go unnoticed,” she says.

This year alone, there have already been more than 390 mass shootings in the United States, reports the Gun Violence Archive. Though California has the strictest gun regulation in the U.S., three out of 16 mass murders this year were in Los Angeles and Sacramento. And the U.S. remains the most heavily armed civilian population in the world. The reality of these statistics impacts our teenagers.

To tackle these realities, everyone can take action. What if each week all teachers stopped class for an hour and dedicated time to hold open discussions about the grief and outrage that young people feel? Or if everyone drove to the site of a mass shooting to offer condolences and respect? What if everyone continued the push for assault weapons to be taken off the market so 18-year-olds could not enter school buildings, grocery stores, hospitals and subway stations to devastate lives? What if all victims’ names were embedded in our teenagers’ history textbooks?

It is imperative that we create space for teens to share their reflections. After two decades of working with teens and now raising one, I have formed a deep respect for their wisdom. Teenagers know who is being bullied and who is the bully. They know who is a loner and who is popular — and why. They can share insights about their peers.

I would have to write a much longer essay to explore what leads young men in Pakistan and other countries to choose suicide vests. But one of the commonalities between the killers in the U.S. and suicide bombers is the isolation that young men feel when they choose such paths.

As another academic year gets underway, I wonder what public education could look like if funding could be allocated for every school to create small pods or storytelling workshops facilitated by trained youth leaders or social workers, where students can talk about issues and share observations — and where everyone is seen and heard. What if these meetings were part of the daily schedule and were as critical to the school day as lunch, math and physical education?

The families and communities in Uvalde, Buffalo, Newton, Columbine, El Paso, Parkland and many more cities will never be the same. And unfortunately, others will join their ranks — unless we take action. Even as government bodies debate legislation and policy change, citizens can make a difference every day, as has X González, who survived the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting and whose speech went viral in 2018.

Teenagers want to be part of the movement to prevent senseless slaughter. There is a growing student-driven movement for gun reform. We can support more young people by empowering them to become part of this inspiring movement for change.

Helpful Resources

If you hear or see anything that causes alarm, talk to a counselor at your teen’s school or tap into local resources:

L.A. County’s Department of Public Social Services
877-613-8777 | dpss.lacounty.gov/en/resources/contact.html
L.A. County Mental Health Resources
800-854-7771 | lacounty.iprevail.com
March for Our Lives: marchforourlives.com
Students Demand Action: studentsdemandaction.org
Team ENOUGH: teamenough.org
Gen Z for Change: genzforchange.org

Other links:

Teen Line: teenline.org
Mental Health America: mhanational.org/talking-adolescents-and-teens-starting-conversation

Sehba Sarwar’s essays, short stories and poems have appeared in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Callaloo and elsewhere. She is the author of the novel “Black Wings.”

Beyond ABCs at Home: Making literacy part of your family’s lifestyle

Published September 1, 2022

By Jamie Mayes

As an education consultant, I found myself overwhelmed this summer with email after email from parents with a similar request: “My child is struggling with reading. Please help.”

Each plea tugged at my heartstrings. In addition to these clients, my phone buzzed with close friends whom I’d assumed had their children’s literacy skills — reading, writing, speaking and listening — under control. But their children, like so many others across the country, are experiencing the long-term impacts of COVID-19 that go beyond physical and mental health.

Our nationwide literacy problem is nothing new. For nearly 20 years, student literacy has been an urgent discussion in the education community. According to national statistics, roughly 21% of the U.S. population struggles with literacy — with California having the lowest literacy rate. In the Golden State, 76% of fourth-grade students read below proficiency level, according to a 2021 report by Think Impact. The widening learning gaps have been attributed to excessive absences among teachers and students and the emotional trauma brought on by the stress and anxiety of going to school during the pandemic.

Multi-state licensed therapist and clinical social worker Alexis Young says that while schools sought to use technology to bridge the educational gap during the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in anxiety and inability to focus because of overexposure to online programming and social media.

When I first meet with new clients, I always remind them: “You are the first teacher your child ever had. Let’s talk about how you can teach literacy at home.”

While many parents are open to working with their children, they are unsure how to begin. They also wonder how to fit teaching literacy into their already busy schedules. As a single mother, I can relate. I spent several years figuring out how to navigate my role as a parent, high school teacher and business owner. To my delight, my young son played a vital role in helping me develop a plan that strengthened our family and jump-started his literacy.

One of the greatest misconceptions is that literacy has to look a certain way — specific terminology, well-structured lessons and rigid thinking processes. Literacy should and can fit into our normal lifestyle with ease. Here are a few ways to integrate literacy into your daily family life.

First, know your child’s reading level — often available through standardized and other reading tests given at school — so you can provide the best literacy support possible. If your child’s school does not provide such information, community-based literacy centers may be able to provide assessments.

Start a family book club

When people think of book clubs, Oprah Winfrey’s famous book picks or a group of older women sipping wine and reading the latest popular novel may come to mind. However, book clubs are a growing trend that can benefit everybody, including parents and their children.

I’ve encouraged many parents to start a book club in their homes. It is one of the easiest ways to identify your children’s literacy problems and create a literacy culture in the home. If your children are around the same age, have them vote on one book each week or month for the entire family to read. If there is a wider age gap, select a theme or holiday within the month and choose books based on that theme for each age and reading level. Then, select a day for the family to discuss the books. To get the discussion rolling, try writing questions out on slips of paper and placing them in an empty fishbowl or other container.

Lee Antwine III learned to cook homemade pizza at 3 years old. PHOTO COURTESY JAMIE MAYES

In addition to cultivating a culture of literacy at home, books offer a great way for parents to talk about subjects that affect children without the discussion feeling too uncomfortable. Want to talk about bullying and self-confidence? Consider the children’s book “Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell. Looking for a way to discuss depression and peer pressure with your teens? Check out Holly Bourne’s “The Manifesto on How to be Interesting.”

Cook new recipes as a family

When I was still teaching fulltime, I used to come home exhausted in the evenings. I had three missions: spend quality time with my son, prepare dinner and get ready for bed. The “quality time” goal always seemed to slip just out of reach. As I cooked, my son watched television, played learning games on his tablet or scribbled in a coloring book at the table. After dinner, bath time and preparing for bed zapped what little energy I had left.

But this cycle shifted when my son was 2. One evening, he pulled his step stool up to the counter next to me and asked if he could help cook dinner. His inquiry had me so befuddled that I stumbled around trying to figure out what a toddler could do in the kitchen. That first night, we experimented with stirring, grabbing ingredients from the refrigerator and looking at recipes together.

I soon realized that making cooking a family experience encouraged vocabulary enhancement and comprehension — two essential literacy components. My son responded well to identifying objects, learning to read easy labels on food and using cooking language. I used index cards to label different objects in the kitchen. Each evening, I would take a few minutes to review the labels before we cooked dinner. Eventually, he practiced the words on his own and used them in conversations.

This kind of labeling does not have to be relegated to the kitchen. Try labeling toy boxes and other items in all of your rooms. The extra benefit of this tactic is that it does not require constant direct engagement to be effective. Children connect words with items through repetitive exposure, sound and phonetic recognition.

Our fun and success with family nights in the kitchen inspired my son and me to write a cookbook entitled “Cooking with Mom” to encourage other families to spend time together. Our book shares tips for parents to engage their children in cooking and teach kitchen safety. My son, now 7, has enjoyed his learning experience so much that our book has led to speaking engagements and a YouTube channel called Cooking with Fam.

Make libraries great again

Libraries are one of the most underused places for free literacy resources and activities, yet they are the foundation of literacy and intellectual stimulation for learners of all ages. In a world of social media and apps, libraries have sought to regain the attention of the crowd that used to pack their building for computer use, free magazine reading, story times and other literacy-based activities.

While the internet is a hard market to compete with, the public library isn’t giving up — especially during a time when literacy support is needed more than ever. This past summer, the Los Angeles Public Library offered a program called Summer with the Library, where participants could earn points and badges by participating in library arts and literacy-based activities. This program provides online and in-person participation and resources for all age groups, including adults.

Not only could this program partner well with a family book club, but family members can also use it to spark friendly competition. Children and parents set rules and goals for the competition. They can agree upon a prize or prizes for meeting literacy goals. Parents can assign a prize based on reaching multiple goals or offer one major prize for the person who earns the most badges or points through the program. Parents should not shy away from participating in the competition as well. Nothing motivates kids more than beating their parents in a friendly battle!

Connect with community-based literacy programs

If you’re looking for additional literacy assistance beyond your child’s school, Los Angeles is home to community programs that focus on literacy, parent engagement and classroom intervention.

The Special Education Literacy Clinic of California State University at Northridge provides literacy support for special education students and their families. The center partners tutors with families to assess and identify students with learning disabilities and works with families to teach literacy to students diagnosed with mild to moderate disabilities. The tutors are reading specialists and university students working toward degrees in special education and educational therapy. Director Vanessa Goodwin says the clinic has been active for more than 20 years, providing invaluable services to local students and families. However, as education and student learning evolve, so does the program, and one of the most significant changes happened due to the pandemic. According to Sue Sears, coordinator of clinical services, the clinic began offering services online and building relationships with children and families outside the Los Angeles service area. While the center plans to re-open its doors to the public this fall, the online component will remain in place.

Former San Diego Chargers player Kassim Osgood reads to children as part of the Tackle Reading program. PHOTO COURTESY KATHRYN STARKE

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair is a non-profit, community-based organization that has promoted family literacy and education for the past 15 years. The fair, which will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person programming this year, focuses on inclusivity and diversity in literacy by bringing a wealth of prominent African American authors, panelists and poets to the community. Cindy E. Exum, executive director and producer of the book fair, aims to provide an atmosphere where literacy is celebrated, families can receive educational insight and local writers can strengthen their visibility and connection with the community. This free event provides activities and resources that bring literacy from to the community.

Another program aiming to help families improve student literacy is Tackle Reading, an educational initiative to promote a love of literacy and passion for football. Founder Kathryn Starke, a literacy consultant and author, partnered with the NFL to bring retired and current NFL players to classrooms and public family literacy events. While parents significantly influence the learning atmosphere, programs such as Tackle Reading help to reinforce the importance of literacy and inspire children to enjoy reading. Starke doesn’t just throw the pass for famous athletes to read to children — she goes for the touchdown by providing literacy training for educators and parents, too.

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair includes children literacy and literature programming. PHOTO COURTESY LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE BOOK FAIR

For many years, I believed children lacked interest in reading because other things were more appealing to them. But my philosophy on student literacy and learning evolved during my 13 years as a classroom teacher. I realized that the culture I established around reading, the patience I demonstrated and how I implemented literacy strategies in my classroom, influenced my students. We discussed the meanings behind song lyrics, shared personal stories related to our school-selected texts and, most importantly, I showed my students how excited I was about reading. As a parent, I try to maintain the same passion for literacy with my son. Each night, we set aside time to read, and we like to watch movies that correlate with our books’ themes. It’s been amazing to listen to him make connections between the books we read and movies we watch.

Literacy is ingrained into everything we do — from learning how to use the latest social media platform to learning how to perform life-saving surgeries. My hope is that we continue to search for fun ways to shift literacy from strictly a school concern to a part of our daily family lifestyle.

Jamie Mayes is the owner of Jamie Mayes Educational Consulting & Literacy Services, LLC. As the author of seven books, Mayes believes that meaningful literature and proficient literacy are the keys to transforming families and society.

Let’s Talk About Speech: Speech development milestones to know and steps to follow for support

Published September 1, 2022

By Chelsee Lowe

When my first child was born, I was surprised by the frequency of her pediatric appointments. The nurses would draw lines on the medical table paper above her head and below her toes to track her length, then set her diaper-free body on a miniature scale to record her weight. The doctor would gently squeeze her abdomen to check her organs, look at her eyes, ears and mouth. These procedures were followed up by a barrage of questions: How long are her sleep stretches? How many ounces of milk is she drinking? How many wet diapers does she have a day?

I was flustered. I hadn’t counted diapers and I didn’t have any idea how much milk my baby got when nursing. I was hardly sleeping myself. My mind felt like scrambled eggs, my body like broken eggshells. But as the weeks and months passed and I slowly began to come back online as the self I recognized, I appreciated all the milestones that medical experts watch for as a child grows — patterns that help doctors and families better support kids when a need arises.

Like weight and height, language develops in an expected, patterned way — with a bit of range at any given stage. But your child’s language development might not be something you think about much. It’s more abstract than milestones we measure physically, and if you’re a first-time parent, you have no other child to which to compare your baby.

Despite how nebulous early language development might seem, there are concrete measures. I spoke to experts in the field to create this primer on language development in children.

What to know: typical speech milestones

Bielca Sosa, a bilingual pediatric speech-language pathologist, works with children of all ages, through her private practice, Let’s Talk Speech in L.A., as well as with students in local charter schools. According to Sosa, the following milestones are great for parents to be aware of so that they can seek evaluation and support for their child if needed. These milestones cover major aspects of language development, including speech articulation and receptive, expressive and social language.

6 months: Responds to sounds by making sounds; strings vowels together when babbling; likes taking turns making sounds with parent; makes sounds to show joy and displeasure; starts to say consonant sounds.

1 year: Responds to simple spoken requests; uses simple gestures (shaking head “no,” waving “bye”); says “mama,” “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh;” tries to repeat words you say; repeats sounds or actions to get attention.

18 months: Says several single words; points to what they want; knows what ordinary things are for (milk, ball, spoon); points to get the attention of others; shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal, pretending to feed it, for example; follows one-step verbal commands (e.g., sits when you say “Sit down.”).

2 years: Gets excited when with other children; knows names of familiar people and body parts; says sentences with two to four words (e.g., big bubble,” “car go beep”); follows simple instructions; points to things in a book and names them (cat, bird).

3 years: Takes turns in games; follows two- and three-step instructions; can name most familiar things; says first name and age; talks well enough for strangers to understand; carries on a conversation using two to three sentences.

4 years: Is increasingly creative with make-believe play; talks about interests; follows some basic rules of grammar; sings a song from memory and tells stories.

5 years: Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe; speaks very clearly; tells a simple story using full sentences; uses future tense (e.g., “Grandma will be here soon.”); knows about things used every day, such as money and food.

What to do if you’re concerned

If you believe your child needs language support, your next steps might depend on your child’s age. If they are an infant or toddler and not yet in school, your nearest regional center is an incredible resource. There are seven state-funded regional centers in Los Angeles County, and each one stands ready to assess, diagnose and support your child. Most services are free, regardless of family income. Since early intervention is beneficial, gathering more information via assessment can only help.

If your child is already in public school, be it preschool or higher, your school is now a great resource, says Kortney Spencer, a speech-language pathologist who has worked in Culver City Unified School District for eight years. Parents can request that a teacher have a child assessed, though usually it’s a teacher who flags a child for support in this setting. Over the course of their career, a teacher works with hundreds of children, and this often gives them a wide perspective on developmental stages and needs.

Once a school refers a child to Spencer, she seeks permission from parents to informally assess the child. If she feels there’s a language deficit to address, she conducts formal testing, determines a diagnosis, then supports the child on her way to meeting targeted speech and language goals. To qualify for free services through public school, Spencer says, a child’s disability must impact their academic performance. For example, if they mispronounce their “r” sound, but can read the sound and write the sound appropriately, they may not qualify for on-campus support.

If your child isn’t eligible, but you still believe they need services, going to a private practice is another option. Michelle Aylon is a speech-language pathologist who works at private practice Nikki Rubin Speech Therapy in West Los Angeles.

When she’s not providing services on campus, she partners with caregivers who want services despite their child’s ineligibility via the school process. Also, sometimes a child sees a pathologist at school, but the family wants additional support after school hours. Aylon notes that services at a private practice are fee-based. Coverage for services can vary depending on your insurance company.

Dispelling misconceptions

Dispelling misconceptions around speech and language is part of the work that speech pathologists do. A common one revolves around speaking two or more languages in the home. If a student is an English-language learner and is diagnosed with a language deficit, parents sometimes assume that speaking two languages might be confusing a child and/or that they should cease speaking another language at home.

“The data shows that this is not the case at all,” says Sosa of Let’s Talk Speech. “If a child has a true speech delay or disorder, it will be in both languages. So, if you take one away, you’re just taking away the cultural connection that comes with that language — and [the child’s ability] to connect with family members who speak it.”

Pamela Wiley, president of L.A. Speech and Language Therapy Center, says the “wait and see” approach is another misconception. Her center has operated for more than 40 years and works with children as young as 18 months old and adults, offering comprehensive services for an array of learning needs. No matter your child’s age, Wiley says do not wait to get help.

“If you think there’s a problem, you’re the parent, you know,” Wiley says. “The sooner you get services, the better the outcome. Seek out support, be persistent and be your child’s best advocate.”

Chelsee Lowe is a writer and mom in L.A. who writes about food, culture and travel.

Island Roots: Exploring history, culture and family on Maui

Published September 1, 2022

By Elena Epstein

When I first meet Auntie Malihini, a cultural practitioner at Maui’s Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, she walks me over to the kukui nut tree on the grassy oceanfront lawn. With her gentle and nurturing manner, she explains how this tree has had a significant role in the traditional culture, lifestyle and celebrations of her family and her ancestors.

L.A. Parent publishers Elena and Ron Epstein pose with Anela. PHOTO COURTESY ELENA EPSTEIN

“This is a tree of life and light,” she says. The oil from the nuts creates candle pods to provide illumination. It can also soothe burns and wounds. The sap of the tree can be used to heal cold sores and other mouth irritations; the trunk of the tree was used to make canoes. A native of Maui, Auntie Malihini grew up as the oldest of 11 kids. “The beauty of our island is the people,” she says.

Auntie Malihini, who has worked at the Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel for 29 years, possesses a vast knowledge of the iconic property that opened on the sunny western shores of Maui in 1964. Part cultural ambassador and part historian, she embodies the spirit of ohana (family). As she walks through the grounds, she stops to ask guests about their kids and grandkids. She reminisces about return guests’ anniversaries and life events.

A sense of ohana is why the majority of guests at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel are return visitors. While watching the sunset on the beach, my husband and I meet a couple from Tacoma, Wash., who have stayed at the hotel 14 times. They know the staff by name and stop to say hello to Uncle Bobby, the bellman who has worked at the hotel for 53 years.

An aerial shot of Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel. PHOTO COURTESY KĀ’ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL

An impromptu jam session by Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel employees. PHOTO COURTESY KĀ’ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL

The hotel, which boasts 432 rooms, recently underwent an $80 million kealaula enhancement project. The term kealaula refers to the light of early dawn and the glow of sunset, symbolizing the renewed essence of the hotel. Indeed, a sense of rest and relaxation greets us the minute we walk into our premium oceanfront room in the Papakū south wing. Sliding the glass doors of our lanai open, we hear the gentle waves of the ocean rolling in, and the distance between us and L.A. traffic, between us and our daily responsibilities back home, stretches wider and wider.

The design of each renovated room is a soothing mixture of muted colors, modern elements and Hawaiian culture. A unique touch in each room is an employee-made makamae shadow box with traditional items including kīholo (shark hook), lūhe‘e (octopus lure), lei kūpe‘e (nerite sea shell lei), leiomanō (shark tooth weapon) and ‘upena (fishing net).

Guests make a lei at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel. PHOTO COURTESY KĀ’ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL

Completed in 2021, the project includes the renovation of the 180-room Kauaʻi wing and the 84-room Lānaʻi wing, newly renamed Papakū south wing and Kauhale southeast wing. The hotel also opened a spectacular new 5,000-square-feet oceanfront restaurant, Huihui, which means “star constellation” or “to join, intermingle, mix.” Huihui, centered around the theme of ancient art of Hawaiian navigation, is a feast for the senses — a fusion of modern and Hawaiian cuisine with incredible ocean views. While we savor our kula salad of local mixed greens and hand line ahi seasoned with nīoi (Hawaiian chili pepper), we watch the sun slowly set, creating a golden glow against the piercingly clear sky. Huihui offers an abundance of locally sourced menu items, ranging from fresh seafood and organic produce to Moloka’I venison.

Culture and responsibility

Beyond the lovely amenities, warm ocean waters and balmy air, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel is focused on sharing the culture of the island with its guests. The employees view it as their kuleana (responsibility) to make sure guests understand their authentic culture and history. Kindness and respect for the environment, for the traditions and for cultural sites is woven throughout the design and upgrades of the hotel and new restaurant, as well as in complimentary activities offered daily.

In our pānānā class, we learn that Polynesian voyagers in outrigger canoes were exceptional wayfinders who navigated the Pacific Ocean by watching the sun, stars and movements of seabirds. A young girl in our group asks about Disney’s “Moana” movie. It turns out that Ānela, our alakaʻ (cultural practitioner), took part in helping the movie developers gain a better understanding of the traditional non-instrument navigation methods that explorers relied on. The young girl is excited to learn that in the scene when Moana determines her latitude by using her hands to measure the angles between the star and the horizon is precisely the star navigation technique that voyagers used to sail across the ocean in search of land.

In our lei class, Hoʻonui teaches us how to twist and tie ti leaves, which we learn are traditional leis symbolizing appreciation and respect and are often used as gifts for graduations, weddings and other special events.

A 2019 Hula o Nā Keiki hula competition winner. PHOTO BY AUBREY HORD

During our hula class, we learn that through dance families honor and preserve their stories and cultural histories. Each movement is part of an oral story passed from one generation to the next. It’s about a way of life, spirituality, honoring your ancestors, the land and the ocean.

And in the snorkeling class, we learn about the tropical fish that feed off the coral surrounding the island, and of the many species in the area — from sea turtles to sharks — and their importance in the ecosystem and how to safety interact with them. The hotel also operates a waʻa kaukahi, a six-person single-hull outrigger canoe as part of its ocean activities program.

To immerse visitors in island traditions and celebrate the cherished hula dance, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel hosts the annual Hula o Nā Keiki, Maui’s only children’s hula competition. This year’s event, scheduled for Nov. 10-12, marks the 30^th anniversary.

I have been to Maui several times before, but this is the first time that I really soaked in its culture and traditions. The hotel invites all guests to join a special sendoff ceremony filled with music and well wishes for safe travels back home. It is during this ceremony where we receive our kukui nut leis and learn my favorite way to say goodbye — a hui hou: “Until we meet again.”

Elena Epstein is Creative Director of L.A. Parent.

Ask the Experts: Extracurriculars — How Much is Too Much?

Published September 1, 2022

By Elena Epstein

We all want well-rounded children. But when it comes to signing them up for extracurricular activities, how much is too much?

To gain some insight, we checked in with an expert: Suzanne Silverstein, a registered art therapist and founding director of the Psychological Trauma Center and the Share & Care Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Extracurricular activities are important, but how do we know how many activities are ideal during the school year?

Every child is different. How one child engages in extracurricular activities might be completely different from another child. The first step is to talk to your child about their interests. What activity or activities would they like to try? Give them the opportunity to experience the activities they are interested in.

In terms of how many activities to try, it is important to see if your child can manage their schoolwork. Is it getting completed on time and are they understanding the work they are given? Do they seem stressed by having after-school activities because they are falling behind with their schoolwork? Are they going to bed on time, or are they staying up late trying to complete their work? As a parent, you may need to cut out activities if your child is unable to manage their workload, even if they are enjoying their activities.

How can parents better understand their child’s feelings about a particular activity?

First step is to talk to your child about the activity and ask them specific questions. What do they like about the activity? How does it make them feel about themselves? What did you learn from your discussion? Reflect on what you’ve learned and then have a follow-up discussion with your child about your reflections. This may help your child understand their own feelings better as well.

Second, watch them engage in their activity. Do they look like they are enjoying it? Does it appear to make them feel good about themselves? Are they getting along with their peers who are taking part in the same activity? Compare what your child says about their activity with what you observe. By talking with them and observing them, you can better understand how your child feels about the activity.

Do you have some guidelines for parents based on the age of the child — preschool, elementary school, tween and teens?

For younger children, expose them to many activities until one seems to spark their interest. If your child really likes sports, have them be part of a team or work with a coach. If they like science, enroll them in a science camp or one that deals with building things like Legos.

There are also sleep-away camps for older children where they are exposed to various activities. One can also find summer activities through your child’s school or at a neighborhood park. Teenagers will generally let you know what they like. Pay attention to what they like to talk about. Do they like to talk about artistic activities such as art, drama, music, movies? Or is it competitive activities such as sports, chess or contests? Maybe they are interested in politics and student government. Once you learn about their interests, look for activities that your child seems to be leaning towards.

Here are some highlights:

Try an activity to see if your child likes it before making a commitment
Observe your child taking part in activities they are interested in
Pay attention to your child’s behavior and stress level
Keep in mind these are extra activities

What if you have a child who wants to try everything and is busy every single day?

There can be a case for too much extracurricular activities. It’s important for your child to experience some down time, time to relax and recharge. Talk to your child about the importance of down time. You can also role model this for your child by reading, taking a short walk, eating a good meal.

Children benefit from learning how to deal with unstructured time. Learning how to be with themselves and not always with friends can be valuable. Maybe there is an activity they learn to do by themselves at home. They may also like family activities such as cooking meals together, playing board games as a family or watching a movie together.

What if you have a child who does not want to participate in any extracurricular activities?

It’s important to see your child for who they are. Talk with them about what interests them and observe them to see if there are some areas of interest that you could help them expand on.

Ultimately, you want to help your child develop into their own person, not the person you might want them to be.

What health & wellness questions are keeping you up at night? Send your questions to elena.epstein@laparent.com and we’ll ask the experts.

In the Dough With Neopolitan Pizza Master Daniele Uditi

Published September 1, 2022

By Chelsee Lowe

Chef Daniele Uditi flips dough at his restaurant, Pizzana. PHOTO BY DANE DEANER

As far back as he can remember, Chef Daniele Uditi has lived and breathed dough. His mother was a chef, his grandpa was a pastry chef and his aunt was a bread maker. No matter where he turned as a kid in Caserta, Italy, there were bags of flour. That was fine by him. He grew up playing in what he calls “the sticky stuff,” mixing dough by hand for his family’s creations.

All that “child’s play,” as he calls it, has amounted to a dynamic career in pizza making. His cooking caught the attention of Chris O’Donnell years ago in Brentwood, and the actor invited Uditi to his backyard for what would become a routine Sunday evening of making pizza for O’Donnell’s elite guests, such as Sophia Loren and Gwenyth Paltrow. Uditi laughs when he talks about his trajectory in L.A. When he first arrived in 2010, a consulting job gone wrong left him broke and sleeping in a van in Venice.

Exterior of Pizzana. PHOTO BY CHELSEE LOWE

At O’Donnell’s house, Uditi met Sprinkles Cupcakes founders Candace and Charles Nelson, who were so impressed by his pizzas that they teamed up with him to help found his first restaurant, Pizzana. Research for the project included trips to Italy to find the best cheese, and to organize a plot of land in the San Marzano region that would raise tomatoes only for Pizzana. Uditi boasts that he scored the best location — one near Mount Vesuvius, which is known for its nutrient-rich soil. The richer soil makes produce more flavorful.

“I went right where Vesuvius is,” Uditi says with a smile. “I sat down and talked to Mount Vesuvius and said, ‘You and me, let’s do business.’”

Pizzana debuted in 2017 — and so did Uditi’s son Kuno. The chef delights in watching his child grow up around incredible food just as he did. Kuno has a creative eye, too: He once topped his homemade pizza with Cheetos.

“Kuno loves making a mess, like me when I was a kid,” Uditi says. “Anytime I make pizza, he’s in with his hands in the sticky stuff. And he’s actually very good at stretching pizza.”

The dough recipe here is the same one used at Pizzana, and it’s the same dough from Uditi’s youth, made with flour, water, salt and yeast.

While this pizza doesn’t require a sauce, Uditi recommends keeping the sauce on pizzas that do need a sauce simple. “There’s this myth about putting a bunch of ingredients in a sauce,” he says. “My sauce is only tomatoes, sometimes just crushed by hand, a pinch of salt. That’s it. We want to preserve as much of the flavor of the tomatoes as possible. We don’t cook it down. The tomatoes were already steamed, so you don’t need to recook them unless you’re doing a different style of pizza. Neapolitan pizza is just crushed tomatoes and salt.”

One of the pizzas served at Daniele Uditi’s Pizzana. PHOTO BY DANE DEANER

Lately, Uditi has been manning the oven at Pizzana’s brand-new Sherman Oaks location, but he recently found himself in an equally enjoyable place: on the set of a new food competition show, “Best in Dough,” where Uditi will reign as a judge. The show airs on Hulu Sept. 19.

“I enjoyed [making the show] so much,” Uditi says. “First, I get to eat pizza all day, and nobody tells me, ‘That’s too much pizza.’ And second, I got to meet so many people who love pizza as much as I do. It was a natural sharing of experiences. And it’s a competition, yes, but it’s loving and caring. I hope people like the show as much as I liked shooting it.”

Grilled vegetable pizza

Courtesy Daniele Uditi, Pizzana

For the dough

Yields 4-5 pizzas (250 grams, or 8.8 ounces, each)

1000 grams (35 ounces) King Arthur bread flour or Caputo

650 grams (23 ounces) water, room temperature

5 grams (about 1 teaspoon) active dry yeast

35 grams (1.2 ounces) sea salt

In a bowl, add the flour and water and combine until the mixture comes together. Let rest for 30 minutes.

Dissolve the yeast in a little warm water and add to flour and water mixture. Knead until all the yeast is absorbed.

Once the yeast is fully absorbed, add the salt and continue mixing. The process of kneading should last 10-15 minutes to start developing some gluten.

Let the dough rest for at least an hour before dividing and rounding.

After one hour, start dividing the dough into ball shapes of 250 grams (8.8 ounces). Place each ball of dough on a tray or in a plastic container and let proof at room temperature for 5-6 hours. The balls of dough should be double their size.

For the pizza

1 pizza dough

1 zucchini, cut in half and then in thin slices

½ eggplant, cut in coins

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Pepper

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 mozzarella di bufala

1 tablespoon flour

One hour before cooking, place pizza stone in oven and preheat to 500 degrees.

While the oven preheats, prepare the dough. Dust a clean countertop with a little (approximately 1 tbsp) semolina or regular flour to prevent the dough from sticking.

To stretch the dough, start by pressing down in the center of the ball, using your fingers to flatten the center. Gently push the dough out from the center to form the crust, leaving an inch and a half rim around the circumference of the pizza. The crust should be approximately 10 inches in diameter.

Once the crust is ready, transfer it from the countertop to a pizza peel. Meanwhile, grill zucchini and eggplant with olive oil, salt and pepper until lightly charred. Add heavy cream to the base of the pizza dough.

Cover the cream with the grilled vegetables. Add the garlic and parsley over the vegetables. Bake the pizza for 6-7 minutes at 500 degrees.

Tear the mozzarella di bufala into smaller pieces and scatter over the top of the pizza.

Cook the pizza for 2 more minutes at 500 degrees. Enjoy!

Head to Eagle Rock for an All-Day Date

Published September 1, 2022

By Katie Moore

If you’ve let date nights become an endangered species in your life, it’s time to change that. Whether you’ve been married 45 years or have met a new someone and this will be your first time going out together, remember this: consistent dating is essential to maintaining any relationship.

Need inspiration planning your next outing? Allow me to introduce you to my neighborhood: Eagle Rock.

Nestled in Northeast L.A., this quaint pocket of the Southland is home to unbeatable food and adorable shops that surround Occidental College’s stunning campus. This area is great for families and also perfect for a night on the town — or a whole day out. Note that a couple of these spots stretch into nearby Highland Park.

Breakfast essentials

Picture this: It’s a Saturday morning and you and your partner have just dropped the kids off at their morning dance class. You’re famished because you didn’t get to grab a bite in the morning rush. Delia’s Restaurant is a perfect remedy. Start with the quintessential breakfast burrito that comes with a variety of filling options and pair it with fresh-squeezed orange juice. The owners worked hard to keep this beloved piece of the neighborhood open during the pandemic. Your stomach will be glad they did.

Perhaps you’re not in the mood for a homestyle breakfast, though, and want to grab some quick food to go. A couple blocks down from Delia’s is Belle’s Bagels: a bagel shop that makes fresh batches every day using locally sourced ingredients. Order early because they have a limited daily stock, and once the bagels go, the shop closes for the day.

Lunch and a look around

One of my favorite things about Eagle Rock is how connected and walkable it is — something you can’t say about every L.A. neighborhood. That is part of what makes it such a great date spot, especially around lunch time, where you can start off your afternoon with some shopping on York Boulevard. Add to your closet at Ramon’s Rags to Riches, a vintage boutique, and Big Bud Press, enter stationary heaven at Shorthand and even fulfill your spiritual needs at House of Intuition.

After all that shopping, you’ll need to re-energize with some food, and there are great spots just a few feet away. Depending on which side of the street you’re on, two of York Boulevard’s most popular restaurants will be fighting for your attention.

On one corner sits Town, an independently owned pizzeria churning out fresh-made pies every minute. On the other corner sits Joy, a Taiwanese eatery with a unique menu that evokes the emotion for which the restaurant is named. And while both restaurants offer a dine-in option, take your date on the go and walk a couple blocks over to Occidental College’s campus, where you can set up a nice picnic on the quad. During the summer, there are fewer students around, so you can enjoy yourself on the grass or cozy up on a bench near the school’s newly renovated main fountain. The campus is so picturesque it belongs in the movies. Don’t believe me? Just ask the director of “Clueless.” Some of the movie’s most famous scenes were filmed on Occidental’s campus.

Dinner and dessert

Nothing is classier than a good old-fashioned dinner date, so save yourself a Google search and take it from me that Eagle Rock has some amazing dinner options, all within a 10-block radius.

For a sit-down dinner, Colorado Boulevard is the place for you. You’ll find the iconic Casa Bianca Pizza Pie, a family-style Italian restaurant with food so filling and delicious that you’ll want to take a to-go box just for the garlic bread. With plenty of seating and homey decor, the atmosphere of this restaurant is cozy and inviting and, even though it’s a popular family spot, is perfect for an intimate date. It is cash only, so be sure to bring your bills.

Another great spot on Colorado is Chateau Lemongrass, a Vietnamese eatery that has incredible food for incredible prices. I recommend the traditional pho. If you want to branch out, try the pho tacos as an appetizer.

For a more casual evening out, check out The Oinkster, which is home to some of the best burgers you’ll ever try. The red barn-style building is hard to miss, and after a long day of parenting, you deserve a little grease in your diet. Or, if you’re a vegan sports enthusiast, be sure to go to Wolfie’s Hot Chicken. The seating is primarily outdoors with a beer-garden feel full of great views of various TV screens for those looking to multitask and catch the latest game. The “chicken” is so flavorful you’ll hardly be able to tell that the menu is 100% vegan!

To round out any good dinner, you have to indulge your sweet cravings, and for that York Boulevard is coming in clutch once again. Fulfill your hot summer night needs at Magpies Softserve, which not only offers a unique assortment of soft-serve ice cream combinations, but massive slices of ice cream pie that you could share with your loved one… or not. Select from a variety of house-made toppings and sit out front at the shop and people watch as York comes to life at night.

Drinking, dancing and carrying on

Who says parents can’t still have a night of dancing out on the town? While we may not have crazy clubs like WeHo, Eagle Rock is home to some amazing bars. Walt’s Bar is every retro gamer’s dream. With pinball machines lining the wall opposite the extensive bar, this place brings out a young spirit in all its patrons and has an inviting atmosphere. I will say that the drink selection is pretty limited to just beer and wine, so if you’re looking for something a little stronger, I might recommend The York.

The York has a slightly broodier atmosphere with its low-lit booths and darker aesthetic, but when contrasted with the extremely friendly bouncers and bartenders, the place feels a lot cozier. What’s more is this place hosts the occasional live band, and every Monday night at 9 p.m., you and yours can compete in a weekly trivia night. Great idea for a double date!

Finally, if you’re like me, you’ll agree that no night out is complete without a bit of dancing. Check out The Goldfish, a bright and colorful disco-themed club complete with pool tables, a disco ball and a massive fish tank behind the bar. This bar regularly hosts live musicians and great DJs who perform right on the dance floor, so you can be sure to get up close and personal with the music. The staff members here are super welcoming and the space is organized so it can be as private (or not) as you want.

I hope this roundup helped you plan your next date night. Feel like taking some pictures and posting them to social media? Be sure to tag us so we can see your date-night adventures. See you in Eagle Rock soon!

Grooming Young Creative Writers

Published September 1, 2022

By Cherie Cofer

Writing in the Schools students Alexa Lopez and Natalie Prado read their poems at a Red Hen event. PHOTO COURTESY RED HEN PRESS

The Writing in the Schools program, a creative writing program that Pasadena-based publishing nonprofit Red Hen Press launched in 2003, is back up and running after a pandemic lull.

Since creating Writing in the Schools (WITS), Red Hen has worked to promote literary independence and community impact for more than 4,500 students in elementary through 12^th grade. The program currently supports around 300 students at five schools in the Los Angeles area.

In creative-writing workshops, students read books developed for the WITS program: “How to Free a Naked Man from a Rock” for middle and high school students and “Did Pirates Rip Her Arms Off?” for elementary students. Published authors lead students in reading poems and other written works and discussing literary devices used in the writing.

After all the reading and discussions, it’s the students’ turn to produce, and workshop facilitators encourage them to draw inspiration from the readings to write their own poems and short stories. By the end of the workshop, students have created enough writing to produce a bound anthology of their written work. You can enjoy their works and learn more about the program at redhen.org/writing-in-the-schools/.

UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat Campaign Gets Digital Update

Published September 1, 2022

By Cherie Cofer

For more than 75 years, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has advocated for the rights and protection of the world’s most vulnerable: children. One of the ways this vision has been supported is through the annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, the longest-running youth engagement activity in the U.S., which has raised more than $195 million for children around the world.

This year, while UNICEF’s mission remains the same, its Halloween-inspired campaign will feature some changes. Instead of asking volunteers to brandish its orange milk cartons to collect change, this October, a new and spooky QR code will launch across the U.S. This code will be available for anyone to download and include in their Halloween celebrations, allowing donations and meaningful engagement opportunities via any smartphone.

Funds raised from Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF will support UNICEF’s work to keep kids healthy, educated and safe. All participants young and old are encouraged to add meaning to Halloween by visiting unicefusa.org/trick-or-treat.

School Spotlight: Multicultural Learning Center

Published September 1, 2022

By Cherie Cofer

Multicultural Learning Center students experience project-based, hands-on learning and exploration while developing literacy in English and Spanish. PHOTO COURTESY MULTICULTURAL LEARNING CENTER

Language has the ability to transcend borders and open us up to experience other cultures and worlds. A school aiming to lead the way in this kind of boundary breaking is nestled in the heart of the San Fernando Valley.

The Multicultural Learning Center (MLC) is a public charter school with a mission to “bring together a diverse community of learners where cultural and individual differences are the building blocks of academic, social, and intrapersonal success,” founders say, and promote social competence and justice.

Founded in 2001 by mother-daughter team Tony Bornstein and Gayle Nadler, MLC uses the gift of diversity to fuel its learning blueprint. The cornerstone of this initiative is its dual-immersion program, which weaves native English and Spanish speakers and encourages tolerance and global citizenship. Not only are educators developing bilingual and bi-literate scholars, but “strong academic data shows the impact they are having on their students,” says Myrna Castrejón, California Charter Schools president and CEO.

The Multicultural Learning Center received the 2022 Charter School of the Year Award from the California Charter School Association. Through the Global California 2030 initiative, the state department of education’s goal is to have 50 percent of all K-12 students proficient in two or more languages, and Nadler says MLC is helping pave the way.

Learn more at mlccharter.org.

We Love It: A Few of Our Editors’ Favorites

Published August 31, 2022

By Elena Epstein

Packie Daycare Preschool Backpack

Features an art tube for transporting art and teacher notes, side water bottle holder, D-Ring for hanging toys, waterproof outer coating and an interior zipper compartment. $34, ages 2-5, urbaninfant.com

Tot Cot Daycare Preschool Nap Mat

100% machine-washable pillow, a slim-quilted lining, child’s name tag, straps to secure on the cot, an attached premium no-pill fleece blanket and a handle for easy toting. $43, ages 2-4, urbaninfant.com

Fashion Fidgets Collectible Fidget Doll

Will your fidget doll pop, twist, pull or spin? Each doll comes with a keychain to attach to a backpack. $9.97, ages 5+, walmart.com

Listen and Learn Animals

Engage little learners in beginning reading and writing skills with the help of fascinating animals in this activity book. $12.99, ages 4-6, evan-moor.com

(re)zip Lay Flat Lunch Bag 5-Pack

Food-safe, leakproof, BPA-free, freezer safe and ideal for packing snacks and lunches. Double-lock closure provides an airtight seal. $19.99, rezip.com

Unlock it! Number Match

Corresponding keys and locks give children hands-on practice with number recognition, matching and counting from 1 to 20 while building motor skills. $31.99, ages 3-6, lakeshorelearning.com

KeaBabies Toddler Pillow with Pillowcase

Get good sleep this school year with this thoughtfully designed pillow featuring ergonomic spinal health support. $26.96, ages 2-5, keababies.com

Mini Clothing Stamp

Great for labeling tag-less tees, sweaters, jackets and uniforms. Small enough for on-the-go labeling and preloaded with ink that is washable for up to 40 washes. $32.50, mabelslabels.com