California Science Center by Rail

Yesterday M, Baby S and I rode the Los Angeles Metro from La Cienega / Jefferson to the California Science Center.  Up until now our trips on the metro have always been more about the novelty of riding the train and less about transportation but that all changed with the opening of the new Expo line on April 28th, 2012.  Yes, we still need to drive about 15 minutes from our home to the metro stop, but once at the station it is an easy trip to the museum.  Easier, in fact, than driving up the 10 freeway, paying $9 to park and then trekking across the giant Exposition Park parking lot.  The metro stop has free covered parking and the train dropped us off right in front of the Rose Garden, just a short, pleasant walk to the museum entrance. I didn't even bring the stroller!  Trains run every 10 minutes and at 10:30am on Friday my kids and I had our pick of seats.   The 20 minute ride was just the right amount of time to entertain the kids.  We spent about 2 hours at the museum, had lunch and came back home in time for Baby S's nap.

I am actually not a huge fan of the CA Science Center (it's always a madhouse and too many broken exhibits) but I am a big fan of budget friendly outings and this one was hard to beat.  There is no charge for the CA Science Center and kids ride the metro for free so our only expenses were $3 for my metro ticket ($1.50 each way) and the 51 cents we spent for a pressed penny at the museum.   Not bad for a morning full of activity.

The Old LA Zoo

We love going to Griffith Park and though it is a huge park with tons to do we tend to go to the same places over and over. Weekdays we usually head over to Travel Town for train rides and on the weekends we typically have brunch at Trails Cafe followed by a hike up to the observatory.  We never manage to make it to the carousel, the pony rides, the bat cave,  Shane's Inspiration , etc.  So a few weekends ago we decided to mix it up.  We still had brunch at the Trails Cafe (I cannot pass up their granola and coffee) and then we took a short drive to the other side of the park to check out the Old LA Zoo.

The original LA zoo was built in 1912 and closed in 1965 when the new zoo, also in Griffith Park, opened . The cages and enclosures from the old zoo are still in place and it's fun to hike around and let your kids pretend to be zoo animals.  They can growl in the bear enclosure and rattle the bars of the old iron cages animals were kept in before we knew better.  Although many people talk about the area being secluded and hard to find, it's actually just a short walk from the parking lot and right next to a big grassy picnic area.  In fact, in an inspired bit of party planning, there was an animal themed birthday party going on with a bunch of 3 year olds with painted faces running around in the cages.  I'm sure the parents ended up with some very cute pictures.  And further up the path, in some creepier looking abandoned cages we found a local band taking some promotional photos.

The Old LA Zoo is near Shane's Inspiration Playground.  Drive past the playground so that it is on your left.  A parking lot will be on your right. Keep following the road until it dead ends.  You can park for free at the end of the road and then off to your left (facing the barricade) are the stairs to where the old zoo is.

ReDiscover Roller Coaster

Last Saturday our family visited ReDiscover in Culver City.  ReDiscover is a non-profit that recycles discarded materials to use in hands-on art and learning projects for children.  Every Saturday from 10am to 1pm their warehouse has drop-in art hours where your kid can go crazy with glue, wire, tile, fabric, wood scraps, etc.  The cost is $5 per project, and you can use as many materials as you'd like.

Our visit to ReDiscover was actually prompted by the fact that I finally convinced my husband that we no longer needed his AYSO soccer trophies from 1982.  After calling around I found that ReDiscover would accept the box of trophies as a donation.  So, after lovingly photographing all of the trophies, on Saturday morning we headed over to ReDiscover to drop them off and decided to stay and make some art.

The amount of materials in the warehouse was a bit overwhelming.  Bins and bins of fabric samples, plastic do-dads, wall-paper, ribbon, ceramic tile, wires, buttons, etc.  The staff person gave us a quick tour and while pointing out the boxes of wood scraps suggested to Baby M that they might be good for making a roller coaster.  From that point on Baby M was set on constructing a roller coaster.  And not just any roller coaster, a "very scary roller coaster."  So we helped him glue pieces of wood together and decorate it with stickers, fabric, beads, etc.  Ultimately we only took home a small section of the roller coaster, because we just couldn't manage taking home all 6 feet of his masterpiece.  We were there for a little under 2 hours and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  While we were working, several adult artists came in to pick up materials for their professional projects as well as a few other preschoolers and a 10 year old who was building an X-ray machine for a school project.  The mood was festive and cooperative and we never felt crowded.

Baby M is 32 months old and I don't think I would take a child much younger than this to the drop-in art at ReDiscover.  The area is not child proofed-- there are lots of potential choking hazards, a hot glue gun within easy reach and many of the materials requires the use of wood glue or wires.  This is not a place you go for your basic crayons, glue and poster paint art project.   But for preschoolers and older kids ReDiscover is a great chance for them to explore new materials, express their creativity and learn about recycling.

Underwood Family Farms

So, it's been awhile since my last blog post.  I got into a tussle with an avocado and a chef's knife and I lost.  I cut my hand, severed a nerve,  ended up in surgery and have been recuperating ever since.  I'm still typing with one hand, but hopefully I will get full motion back in a few weeks, although I was told to expect the numbness to persist for a few months.

After surgery I went and stayed with my in-laws for a few days so that they could help out with Baby M.  While we were there we had a chance to go to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.  What a great place for kids!  The farm has animals to feed, mini tractors to ride on and fields where you can pick your own produce (not certified organic, but pesticide free).  It's beautifully landscaped and not nearly as dusty as you'd expect a farm to be.  We went on a Tuesday afternoon and the farm was not crowded at all.

Tickets are $3 to get in (under 2 is free) and you can purchase tickets to ride ponies, pan for gold or ride the little train.    We skipped the rides, but did spend a dollar to buy food to feed the goats, alpacas and chickens.  We brought a picnic lunch which we ate in the grassy play area while Baby M enjoyed digging in the sand and riding the tiny toy tractors.  Then we took a walk around the animal pens, stopping to feed a few animals and to watch the biggest pig I have ever seen have a bath.  We also stopped to play on the big wooden train across from the pig pen.

Finally, we headed out to the fields to pick some strawberries.  It was a bit of a trek to the strawberry fields and luckily we had the foresight to grab one of the wagons provided by the farm.  Baby M was happy riding in the wagon, but I don't think he would have made it if he had to walk the whole way.  The vegetables (beans, lettuce, broccoli) were much closer to the entrance.  Fresh picked strawberries are delicious and these were no exception.  They were big, bright red and juicy.  Baby M really loved looking for the berries and helping his Lola find the biggest ones.  We paid $1.99 a pound for a nice big basket.  If you don't want to pick your own, you can buy the farm's produce from their stand near the entrance, for a slightly higher price.  But why miss out on the fun of running around the fields?

We spent 2 hours at the farm, a good length of time for Baby M.  Moorpark is about an hour's drive from West LA, so I can't see us going back often, but I will definitely try to incorporate a trip to the farm the next time we visit my in-laws.  Underwood Farms also does birthday parties which I would totally consider if we lived a little closer.  If you're looking for a fun, educational experience I definitely recommend Underwood Farms.

Fire Truck Museum

Today we went to the LAFD Historical Society museum in Hollywood, aka The Fire Truck Museum. If your kid is into fire trucks, this is a great place to visit. The museum is located in Old Fire Station 27 which was built in the 1930’s and for many years was the largest fire station west of the Mississippi. Inside you’ll find antique fire trucks, ambulances, hoses, etc. They even had some of those big nets for catching people with the red bull’s-eye in the middle; apparently they don’t only exist in cartoons.

The first floor has all of the big trucks and equipment, along with a display of miniature fire trucks behind glass. Sadly, the kids are not allowed to climb on the trucks. Upstairs there are more exhibits and a large room with toy fire trucks and dress up uniforms for the kids to play with. Baby M and his good friend Baby F killed about 2 hours running around the museum and playing with the toys. It’s worth noting that there were only 3 or 4 trucks in the play area, possibly a problem if more than a few kids show up. Today it was just us and one other child, and, oddly enough, the Daughters of the American Revolution, who were using the upstairs meeting room. The museum staff, mostly made up of retired firemen, was very friendly and gave the kids free plastic fire hats to take home with them. And as a bonus for us moms, there are also active firemen hanging around which is nice if you get tired of looking at trucks and ladders.

The museum is open Saturdays only from 10am – 4pm and is free, although a $5 donation per adult is requested. I found free street parking less than a block away without too much trouble and there were plenty of metered spots available as well.

Star Eco Station

I'd been hearing about something called the Star Eco Station in Culver City for about a year, but I never quite understood what it was. I knew it had tours and reptiles and was somewhere along Jefferson Blvd, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. So today Baby M and I decided to find out what the Star Eco Station is all about. (One of Baby M's catchphrases lately is "What's this all about?" It is applied to everything from books to breakfast cereal.)

The Star Eco Station provides rescue and rehabilitation for illegal, abandoned or abused exotic wildlife. You know when you hear about a trucker who kept a bobcat in his cab for years, feeding it nothing but bologna and hot dogs? That cheetah ends up at Star Eco Station, along with abandoned cockatoos, iguanas, boa constrictors, etc. Visitors can tour the center learn about the animals and view them up close. The Star Eco Station also works with the community and local schools to do environmental outreach and education.

Baby M and I showed up for the 11:30am tour on Sunday and were the only ones there, although there were a few people ahead of us on the 11:00 tour. Our tour guide, Eden, was friendly and knowledgeable and did a good job of tailoring the tour to Baby M's level. We started off looking at fish and turtles, and then moved on to the big cats (bobcats, servals, etc), but the real highlight of the tour was the reptile room. Here Baby M was able to see geckos, iguanas, pythons, chameleons and giant dragon lizards that he mistook for dinosaurs. But even more exciting than mini dinosaurs was the fact that Eden took many of the reptiles out of the cages and allowed Baby M to pet and hold them. I never expected to see my two year old holding a boa constrictor and if I did, I certainly didn't think I'd be telling him to smile so I could snap a photo, but I did just that. Finally we moved on to the exotic bird room which was loud and smelly, though the birds were colorful and Baby M enjoyed watching volunteers feed them nuts.

Our tour lasted about 30 minutes, but I know Eden skipped or shortened stops at a few of the exhibits due to Baby M's age, which was appropriate. I could see the tour lasting about an hour for an older, engaged child. That being said, I do think it was worth taking Baby M. He was very interested in the animals, loved seeing them up close and I got some very cool pictures. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for kids (infants in strollers are free). I can see us coming back for the tour again in a few years and will definitely check out some of the annual Star Eco Station community events like the DinoFaire and the Creepy Crawly Creature Feature.

Rhythm Child

Earlier this week Baby M and I went to Rhythm Child at the Santa Monica Library's Fairview branch. The Rhythm Child network has a variety of products and programs, but at the library, founder Norm Jones led the kids in a drum workshop. Baby M loves drumming and had a blast at the workshop. Norm had a ton of energy, but perhaps even more importantly, he had a ton of instruments. Every kid could get the exact type of drum he or she wanted so there were no fights or tears. Somewhere along the way Baby M lost his bongo drum and we just grabbed another one out of one of the large bins. No problem.

Norm led the kids in playing loud and soft, fast and slow, taught them some simple rhythms and told them a story about Pirates. The kids had plenty of time to drum, dance, sing and just be themselves. I've seen a fair number of child entertainers by this point and one thing that made Norm stand out was how well he responded to some of the more unexpected actions of the kids. When one child explained that he didn't have a drum but he did have a "pee pee potty" Norm was impressed. When another child came up to the front to show Norm his pirate shirt, Norm just lifted him up and said, "Look everybody, he has pirates on his shirt." In both cases he incorporated their comments into the performance and made everyone feel comfortable and part of the group. It's easy for entertainers in these situations to play to the parents or older kids with jokes or eye rolls that leave the younger kid feel confused or embarrassed. I've been to other events where a disruptive child asked to sit down or he is indulged while a disapproving glance is directed towards the parent. In this case nothing felt disruptive or inapproriate. It didn't matter if you had a shy kid, a loud kid or a kid who just wanted to bang on a drum, everyone felt accepted and everyone had fun. It was one of the most joyful afternoons we've ever spent at the library.

Rhythm Child has events throughout Los Angeles, and many of them are free. Check out their calendar to find out where they'll be next.

Griffith Park, The Trails & the Observatory

Last Sunday was beautiful in Los Angeles. Sunny, blue sky, warm weather, a perfect day for a hike. So we headed over to Griffith Park to check out The Trails Cafe and do a little hiking. The Trails is a great place for brunch with a little one. It's very simple-- a walk up counter and some picnic tables off to the side. There are a few games piled next to the eating area for guests to play; Baby M was particularly fond of Connect Four. The menu is healthy, plenty of organic and even vegan options. My husband and I had homemade granola with a generous portion of fresh berries. Baby M had a waffle with real maple syrup. We also picked up a couple of their infamous lavender shortbread cookies, which were amazing. Really, the best shortbread cookies I've had in my life. At 9:30am the cafe wasn't very crowded, but by the time we left the park around 1pm there was a line of people down the road.

After finishing up our breakfast we walked across the street where there were some hiking trails and a small playground. Baby M was in heaven. Piles of giant Sycamore leaves, interesting sticks, foot bridges, rocks to climb on... He was so enthralled with nature's playground that he didn't even notice the man-made plastic one a few yards away. The hiking paths are wide and flat, perfect for walking with toddlers and probably fine for most strollers too. Feeling extra ambitious we decided to walk up the hill to the observatory. The walk took about an hour and Baby M made it half way before asking my husband to carry him the rest of the way. The view from the observatory was amazing-- from snow capped mountains to Catalina Island and the city stretching out in every direction. After admiring the view, we went into the observatory. Surprisingly, Baby M really enjoyed looking at the exhibits and we even considered taking him to see the show in the planetarium. Unfortunately, kids under 5 are only admitted to the first show of the day (10:45am on weekends, 12:45pm during the week) and we had already missed it.

After thoroughly exploring the observatory we walked back down the hill and headed home. Baby M fell asleep in the car and took an unheard of two and a half hour nap. I guess we tired him out.

Summer Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl

Summertime in Los Angeles wouldn't be complete without an evening at the Hollywood Bowl. Sitting out under the stars in the warm night air, with great music, good wine and good friends is the perfect way to spend a summer night. It turns out, the Bowl is also a great place to spend a summer morning.

Today Baby M and I attended one of the SummerSounds concerts for kids at the Bowl and had a wonderful time. Every summer the Bowl puts on a music festival and fine arts workshop specifically geared for kids ages 3 to 9. This year the series is organized around "Ethnic Los Angleles" and highlights the music and art from 3 different neighborhoods-- Brazil on the Westside, Mexico in East Los Angeles, and Little India in Artesia. Tickets are only $7 for the music perfomance and $5 for the art workshop. Parking is free. The concerts are held on the shaded patio next to the Hollywood Bowl museum.

Today's program was "Brazil on the Westside." It followed the adventures of Hip Hop Loving Shammy Dee as he ventured out of his neighborhood and learned about Brazilian music, dance and Carnaval from his new friends. There was lots of dancing, drumming and singing. The performers really tried to engage the kids: asking them to shout out "Peace", teaching them to pop and lock and a little bit of the Samba. My favorite part of the performance was when the drum line came parading through the crowd, mallets thumping and whistles blowing. For a moment I felt like I was at an Ozomatli concert.

Baby M is not quite 2, but he still really enjoyed the music performance. He's not one of those kids who claps and dances, but he watched everything with this focused intensity. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually did learn to Samba! We skipped the art project, which has a minimum age of 3. We are looking forward to attending another SummerSounds concert soon.