At L.A. Museums
Tween Time: Art and Soul in L.A.
Take in a fascinating mosaic of African American and art history – from the rise of the civil rights movement through the ascension of hip-hop – by visiting exhibits at four L.A. art institutions. “Black Is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Brathwaite,” an exhibit on view through Sept. 1 at the Skirball Cultural Center (skirball.org), […]
The Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer
Whether you’re Team Dog, Team Cat or both, there’s plenty of fun on tap in June. Here’s a roundup of Cat and Dog festivals in Los Angeles. Feline fans will purr with excitement over CatCon (catconworldwide.com) June 29 and 30 at the Pasadena Convention Center. The weekend includes cat-centric seminars, workshops and experiential activations, appearances […]
Don’t Pass up Pasadena’s Pageantry This Month
Pasadena is throwing all types of parties in June, and you are invited. Things kick off June 8 with the Playhouse Block Party (playhouseblockparty.org) from noon-10 p.m. at El Molino Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. This free festival includes live music and performances, a family stage, more than two dozen interactive exhibits and games, theater tours […]
Cayton Children’s Museum Opens This Month
The Cayton Children’s Museum, formerly known as the Zimmer Children’s Museum, will officially open its new doors June 29 in Downtown Santa Monica. Cayton is run by ShareWell, an L.A.-based nonprofit focused on arts and youth development programming, and is made possible with a gift from philanthropists Andrea and Barry Cayton. It will be located […]
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 […]
Our 7 Favorite June Family Events
You’ll find performances, puppets, short films, big-time art, winged dragons, special athletes and a beach museum among this month’s top events.
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, […]