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Newsletter
May 30-June 5 Dear Mommy, It's become impossible to hide from today's economic reality. Events cancelled (LA Parks Salute to Recreation), rates increased (Getty), hours trimmed (JANM), and L.A. institutions closing (Jazz Bakery). It's harder to find fun, yet still affordable, family events. (I was saddened to postpone our own Art Adventure this weekend, as well.) Mommy Adventure Club is still committed to finding hidden gems for you to enjoy each week. No list of stale press releases, unedited Google search results, or events that aren't worth the traffic jam you rode in on. And we're still creating unique outings to enjoy with (and without!) your children. But times are tough, and we would like to get your feedback about what direction we should take next. HOW CAN Mommy Adventure Club HELP YOU? Look for a special survey in your inbox this weekend, and tell us what YOU need...more moms only events? Behind the scenes tours and activities? More weekend events? Discounts at your favorite destinations? A Birthday Party Planning Guide? Special events for moms with babies? How can we use our expertise (fun things to do with and without kids in Los Angeles) to help make life a little easier? NATURALLY, by participating in this short survey, you'll have a chance to win some cool prizes that will help you get out and go! Stay tuned...and of course, if you have any questions or comments, you can always email me at carrie@mommyadventureclub.com Wishing you a memory-filled weekend, Carrie Founder...and Mommy Summer Adventure Guide Debuts this weekend! Special articles to plan your summer around and news about our summer adventures. Feature Destination: The Autry National Center The Coolest Indoor Playground You've Never Heard Of About the Autry It's hard to get a sense of how fabulous the Autry is from it's unassuming name. Gene Autry was the first of many "singing cowboys" to capture the hearts of boys and girls across the country in the 1940's and 50's. He's the smooth baritone behind classics like "Back In the Saddle Again" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", and owned the record company that released "Tequila" by The Champs in 1958. His fortune paved the way for a unique foundation that is committed to preserving the artifacts and experience of "The West".  The Autry Center, which bears his name, has become the umbrella organization that cares for the Museum of the American West, housed in Griffith Park across from the zoo, and the Southwest Museum, which lies along the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The Southwest is currently being restored and houses the most important collection of Native American artifacts in the country. In addition to being a landmark institution, it offers outstanding hand's on experiences and programs for children. And the best museum cafeteria in the city! The Autry invited me to come visit their facilities, and tell you about my experience. My daughter Jamie and I visited Wednesday. Family Programs at The Autry We started with a walk through the Sparkle and Twang exhibit, which features costumes and treasured tokens from the founding fathers (and mothers!) of country music in America. I went ga-ga over the gorgeous dress worn by Dolly Parton (my all time favorite musician), and Jamie had a glorious time in their children's corner. She felt quite at home in the sequined play shirts, cowboy hats and boots, and little guitars available for dress up. (I think it must be genetic). Another kid-friendly feature of this exhibit are plaques with costume fabric samples that can be touched. You'll feel the "sparkle and twang" of sequins, tooled leather, and fringe. Currently being built in the exhibit space next to Sparkle and Twang is Granite Frontiers: A Century of Rock Climbing in Yosemite, to debut in June.  From there it was off to the giant plastic horse in the downstairs lobby to practice saddling up, and a quick run through the outdoor Trails West space. Climb in a real stagecoach, peek inside a frontier store exhibit, and listen to the roar of the small waterfall. On weekends, this space provide a free "gold mining" experience for visitors.The real treasure of the Autry (for kids at least) is the unique indoor play space called the Family Discovery Center, where visitor's can experience the life of a Chinese immigrant family of the early 20th century. We stumbled around downstairs with the awkward visitor's map until we finally found our way through the Spirit of the Cowboy gallery into the special space. Featuring a miniature living room, kitchen, antique store, and restaurant, this space lends itself to endless rounds of pretend and hide and seek. Play with retro toys. Read a "Dick and Jane" book. Cook a peach pie (plastic) for visitors at the kitchenette. Call in an order at the store. Dress up in Chinese silks. Cook up some plastic bok choy in the restaurant, after a round of pretend tea. The perfect space in which to slow down and immerse yourself in another time and place.  In addition to these continuing exhibits, the Autry offers a host of special workshops for families. This summer, "live the legend" and explore the Autry for an outstanding hot-weather alternative. And keep this museum's cafe, the Golden Spur, in mind as an alternative to the beastly food of the L.A. Zoo (love the zoo...not the food offerings). This Weekend at the Autry Family Workshop At the Autry: Wind Chimes Saturday, May 31, 1-2:30 pm in Griffith Park (free with museum admission) "The Chinese are credited with inventing wind chimes or wind bells (feng-ling) over 3,000 years ago. Buddhists are known to hang hundreds of wind chimes on their temples to charm the spirits. Visit the Family discovery Gallery and make a set of wind chimes to add some charm to your back yard." Look for announcements in our newsletter about future Let's Make History workshops and this summer's perfect date night event (with or without kids!), Sizzling Summer Evenings. Many thanks to Julia Bensfield and the Autry staff for making our visit so relaxing and full of old fashioned fun! In L.A. This Weekend New Family Friendly Rides at the Santa Monica Pier Read the article in the LA Times Guide Back to the Future triple feature Saturday, May 30, 5:00pm Enjoy a showing of all three family-friendly movies this weekend at the outstanding Aero Theatre. ArtWalk Culver City Saturday, May 30, 12noon to 8:00pm "ARTWALK Culver City is a free, self-guided tour of local art galleries and exhibition spaces presented by the City of Culver City and sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment with participation from The MOCA Contemporaries of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). ARTWALK Culver City is intended to introduce a wider audience to the area’s growing art scene which includes spaces in Culver City as well as along its Los Angeles border. This event especially celebrates the Culver City Art District, a cluster of galleries exhibiting emerging and established artists, which has formed where Washington and La Cienega Boulevards intersect." ArtWalk 2009, Miracle Mile Saturday, May 30, 12:00-8:00 pm Four free museums! Twenty participating galleries! "ArtWalk 2009 is happening once again on the Miracle Mile. With the help of the Page Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum, Yelp, and the Miracle Mile ArtWalk, four museums will be offering free general admission, more than twenty galleries will be participating in a self-guided tour, and restaurants throughout the area will offer special discount and offers. Special appearances by a Kogi Truck, Bollywood Step Dance, Angel Lebron, and much more are shaping up this year's ArtWalk to be our best yet. Be sure to check out the schedule of events for more programming information. Oh, and after all that, we're throwing a can't-miss party at the El Rey Theater." Celebrity Baby Yard Sale, Benefit Saturday, May 30, 8:00am -4:00pm Benefitting the Bailey Baio Foundation. Shop from over 25 children's retailers at deep discounts! Find out about the mission of this special charity. Ventura Flea Market Sunday, May 31 The Ventura Flea Market is held near the ocean in Ventura and is a great place to shop. The event features antiques, used and new merchandise sold by over 500 vendors, more than 5,000 buyers visit the Market each time it is held. Swap-O-Rama-Rama at the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMOA) Sunday, May 31, 2:00-5:00pm "How many t-shirts do you have? If you answered ``too many`` then join SMMoA and Lori Pettiti of Swap-o-Rama-Rama for a special workshop to recycle and renew your t-shirt wardrobe. Pettiti and her crew will be there with innovative ideas to embellish, deconstruct and reconstruct, and completely expand the possibilities of t-shirts. Free for members, $10 per person general admission (Recommended for ages 10 to adult) This is a clothing swap. If you bring a bag of old, clean t-shirts to give to the event, you will receive $5 off the price of general admission. If you prepay online, you will receive a $5 reimbursement at the door. Reservations and pre-payment are strongly recommended. Refreshments, snacks, and musical ambience provided. A Victorian Affair, Rancho Los Cerritos Spring Festival May 31, 12:30-4:30 p.m. "Step back 100 years at Rancho Los Cerritos to experience the dynamic Victorian era, complete with live music, dancing, unusual entertainment, and even a May pole dance! Participate in period activities such as ice cream making; butter churning, Victorian-era games and crafts designed especially for the children." Zimmer Children's Museum Sunday Family Programs Sunday, May 31, 2:00-4:00pm "Mixing it Up: Discover science and art at the Zimmer as we create fabulous paintings that explore the interaction between oil, wax and water." Sale at Dinosaur Farm Sunday, May 31-Monday, June 1 One of my favorite toy stores, located in fun-to-visit South Pasadena! Amazing dino-gear plus high quality children's toys. Supergirl Tuesday, June 2, 1:30 p.m. Free! "Meet the beautiful and mighty Girl of Steel in her very first adventure!" Rated PG. Supergirl is presented in conjunction with: "ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938–1950" |
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