Stay Strong: How to Make Parenting and Fitness Work Out
On a recent Sunday, as I was lying in bed (still half asleep), a light drizzle showered the orange tree outside my window. I stared at the ceiling, feeling awfully lazy. Suddenly, I heard the thundering footsteps of my 4-year-old, Hank, rushing toward my door. The door burst open. “Dad! Wake up!” he yelled, yanking […]
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 […]
The Great Ice-scape, or How I Learned to Let My Kids Love the Snow
My boys loathe the cold. My boys loathe the heat, too, but since it’s January and about as chilly as it’s going to get here in L.A., I’ll focus on the cold. Hank, who’s 4, has always been more curious about the weather than willing to be out in it. “Tell me more about these […]
Searching for a New Holiday Tradition
December is upon us once again, and the holidays have got me reflecting on the meaning of tradition in a millennial’s life. Maybe, when you were growing up, your family’s holiday traditions were über-traditional: You went out caroling or the like. Or, maybe, you just went shopping all season and watched a ton of movies. […]
Does L.A. Have Small Towns? A Search Within the City Limits
Here’s a common complaint (mostly from newbies): L.A. is a sprawling and isolating place. We natives will take the jab, for who among us hasn’t fantasized about our city of times past? Like when it was the size of Dubuque and there was nothing but oil fields west of Vermont Avenue. Or when red streetcars […]
A Literary Resurgence: The Fall – and Rise – of Indie Bookstores
About a week ago, I was driving in my Prius listening to NPR (because you know: West L.A.), and as I passed a couple of boarded-up frozen yogurt stands and poké spots in Santa Monica, I heard a story on the unlikely resurgence of independent bookstores. Apparently, 27 percent more libro vendors exist in the […]
Any Given Sunday: A One-Act about Brunch in Los Angeles
On Sunday, Kate and Isaac Parfrey are awakened by Leo, whose cry pierces through their Westside bungalow. Kate retrieves the 1-year-old and the squeal stops immediately. Silence. Beautiful silence. 6 a.m.: Kate: “Oh no you don’t. You’re getting up, too.” Isaac’s attempt to sleep in is thwarted. He rises and prepares two pots of coffee, […]
In L.A., All is Gravy on Turkey Day
Millennials, or at least the coastal-elite version I cavort with, have a complicated relationship with that American holiday referred to as Thanksgiving. That’s probably because a more enlightened reading of American history has scrambled our feelings about the fourth Thursday in November. First, there’s the genesis of the holiday, which children were once taught celebrated […]
Help! My Son Loves Football
In many places, September is the month that welcomes fall, bringing a dramatic shift in weather and mood. In Los Angeles, however, it’s just another summer month – sometimes even the hottest of the year. September also brings the start of football season, but for more than 20 years I had no reason to think […]