At L.A. Museums
Tween Time: Odd-tober
The spookiness level of Halloween happenings can range from quite slight (Halloween story times) to excessive (Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor). There are some too intense for young kids but not exclusively for adults: Venture into The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens (www.huntington.org) Oct. 26 for The Huntington After Dark, where the Guild of […]
Horror of Cinematic Proportions
Many museums and cultural venues will throw Halloween celebrations this season. The Natural History Museum (www.nhm.org) is doing so on a cinematic scale – with an exhibition inspired by horror films. And it’s not just a display of cool movie memorabilia. The exhibit, entitled “Natural History of Horror,” examines the connections between cinema, science and […]
26 L.A. Halloween Haunts for Families
The origins of the childhood (OK, grown-ups like it, too) holiday we call Halloween can be traced to an ancient Celtic harvest festival. When the Romans conquered the Celts, they added a couple of their own fall celebrations to the mix, one of which honored the Roman goddess of orchards and gardens, known as Pomona. […]
6 Fall Festivals for L.A. Families
Don’t call them Halloween events! These fall festivals don’t ask you to dress up in costumes and are less candy-focused, although they’re more likely to have pig races. Moorpark’s Underwood Family Farms’ Fall Harvest Festival, running through Oct. 31, delivers the Corn Stalk Labyrinth and giant hay pyramids all week, while weekends add the Animal […]
Our 7 Favorite October Family Events
Our favorite events in October feature math, cats, drawing, printing, cooking, P-22 and a rainbow fish.
Go Wild in L.A. This Summer With an NHM Guide
The words “wild L.A.” might conjure images of Hollywood celebrities and lavish parties, but this story is about the flora and fauna that exist in our urban sprawl. In the book “Wild LA: Explore The Amazing Nature In And Around Los Angeles” by Lila Higgins and Gregory B. Pauly with Jason G. Goldman and Charles […]
A Parent’s Ode to Kidspace
L.A. isn’t often described as a “beautiful city,” which is to say that no writer would rank it among towns such as San Francisco or Paris. OK, sure, there’s the Riviera of Malibu, the exquisite beaches of the South Bay, the golden oak-laden hills of the Verdugos and the lush residential canyons that make up […]
Journeying Through L.A.’s Art Scene With Kids
My 4-year-old, Hank, and I watched a local news story the other day about award-winning class paintings rendered by kindergarteners. “I guess that’s not bad for 5-year-olds,” I said. “Why is this on TV, Dada?” asked Hank. He loves to draw, and I proudly cherish all of his renderings (to be saved in perpetuity like […]
Neighborhood Gallery Offers More than Art
Families in the Arlington Heights area of L.A. have a hidden gem in their neighborhood. The Underground Museum, an unassuming storefront art gallery, serves as a community center, farmers market, yoga and meditation studio and outdoor movie theater. Founded by the late painter and installation artist Noah Davis and his wife, Karon Davis, The Underground […]
Murals in Los Angeles: Taking Art to the Streets with Kids
L.A. is a heavyweight contender in the battle to be the city with the most splendid street art on Earth. Venice, the San Fernando Valley and the Downtown Arts District are teeming with work by some of the world’s most famous muralists, and our area boasts a torrent of Technicolor innovations from local talent. City […]
P-22 Makes His Debut at the Natural History Museum
To get into the Natural History Museum’s new installation about famed Griffith Park mountain lion P-22, you have to cross the freeway. OK, it’s not really a freeway, but the 10 lanes of scaled-down moving traffic projected onto the floor at the installation’s entrance make an impression. “The Story of P-22, L.A.’s Most Famous Feline,” […]
Learning About Rancho History – and Service Dogs!
If your family is headed to one of the monthly Creation Station art workshops or other family events at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Rd., Long Beach; www.rancholoscerritos.org), keep an eye out for Marcia Harris and her canine companion. A longtime volunteer at the rancho, Harris also raises service dogs. Harris began volunteering at the […]
Car Museums Worth the Drive
I guess it’s only appropriate that here in the traffic capital of the world we have two excellent museums dedicated to the evolution of the car. The irony, of course, is that while the Petersen Automotive Museum is only about 11 miles from the Automobile Driving Museum, it could take you more than an hour […]
Museum Tips For Special-Needs Families
Museums of all kinds can be great experiences for kids with special needs. A little planning and a few extra steps can make your visit great. by Julee Brooks For families of children with special needs, the thought of visiting a busy public space such as a museum might seem daunting. There are things, however, […]