Saturday Mornings At The Opera

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In our search for trying to elevate our kids’ minds and souls, some friend and I took the children to the Saturday Mornings at the Opera back in April. Every season, the LA Opera does a couple of presentations at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion that are appropriate and fun for kids. The idea is to introduce them to this genre in a gentle way that would encourage them to see opera in the future.

We all know that opera can sound scary (and boring), so the Saturday Mornings at the Opera are a gentle way of brainwashing the youth into believing opera is just beautiful songs and comedy. You know they are bound to be disappointed the first time they see Wagner, but, hopefully, by that time they will be so addicted to it that they will keep on coming back for more… not minding the stress and tragedy. Aw! The beauty of misleading your children while you still can.

jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids13Beautiful stairs will lead you the way to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. jestcafe.com-opera-for-kidsjestcafe.com-opera-for-kids12 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids32jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids26jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids19The theater opens its door at 10 am. From 10 to 11 there is a lot of action for kids -crafts, playing music, games, etc. We were one of the first people to arrive, so Víctor had the drums section all by himself. He is very musical and run to the drums as soon as he saw them. He sat down and played some improvised duets with some of the staff.
jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids10 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids9 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids6Max is into everything Víctor does. He sat down next to his brother and did his best drumming with his small hands that have zero eye-hand coordination. It was all very cute. My kids are so lucky to have access to all these opportunities and adventures. Hopefully they take advantage of them and make a difference in the world.jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids4 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids3 1/2 hour later, kids were still drumming.jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids5jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids11Crafts time!

There were 4 different tables with crafts. The kids tried them all and had plenty of fun. jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids7 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids31jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids8jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids30This nice woman played with my kids for 10 minutes throwing colorful handkerchiefs at them. Probably my kids’ highlight of the event.jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids2 Look at that happy face!jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids29jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids25Max ends up every activity laying on the floor thinking about who knows what. jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids24Can this guy be any skinnier? I swear I feed him daily. LOVE!jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids23 Now, to that Figaro flag.jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids28jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids22 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids21 jestcafe.com-opera-for-kids20

Finally, at 11am, the show started. It was located on the second floor, with plenty of sitting on the floor and chairs in the back. The production lasted only 1 hour and it touched upon 3 operas from French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799) that have a character named Figaro in them -The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, and The Ghosts Of Versailles-.

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The show was energetic, fun and engaging. Thankfully, it was also in English (including the arias) so the kids could understand what was going on. They sat down for the whole hour paying full attention, including Max, and not one of them was ready to leave when it ended. SCORE!

The next shows are in Season 16/17, with tickets coming out in October. A long waiting time, but so worth it, plus the tickets are only $15! I am definitely taking the kids back, and I can’t recommend it enough for those of you in LA that are looking for  something fun to do with the kids.

Have a great weekend!

 

Also, a post about The Huntington Library and Gardens the Kidspace Children Museum, and, Nexgen Family Sundays at LACMA.

Let Us Connect:

South Coast Botanic Gardens – Nature Connects Exhibition

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I was going to save this post about Nature Connects (Lego Bricks) Exhibition  at the South Coast Botanic Gardens for later, but then I decided I shouldn’t because the exhibit is ending this weekend -the last day is this Sunday, 8th of May – and, if you have young kids and live in LA, you should go!

I always think I know a lot about kids and family activities in Los Angeles, but this city never ceases to amaze me. There are so many fun places to go and so many things to do, that it is impossible to hit all the sweet spots. Luckily, Facebook is a good helper (sometimes) on this topic  and recommended the South Coast Botanic Gardens to me.

I love flowers and gardens – the Huntington Gardens are always on the top of my list of places to take the children – so when I heard that the South Coast Botanic Gardens was having a Lego Brick Exhibit, I decided to take the kids. Excellent choice.

These gardens are beautiful and easy to tackle. You can visit most of it in 2 hours or less, depending on how much you want to see, so it is doable for kids. We were interested in the Nature Connects exhibit, so we went searching for those 27 nature-themed sculptures made out of Legos and found them all. They are cute and the kids got super excited when they found one in the middle of the garden. Victor wanted to know how many bricks were in each sculpture, which is funny, as his 4 years old brain can’t really understand what 20 thousand means – for him, anything above 10 is too many numbers (his teacher asked him how old was his mommy, to which he responded: 5! – so, so cute)

Here are some photos in case you want to see (all of them were taken with my iPhone – I forgot my camera at home, duh!)

jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens19 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens18 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens17 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens15jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens14 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens12jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens13 This sculpture was my favorite.jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens11 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens10jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens9 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens8 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens7 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens5jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens4 jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens3 Max pretending to know how to read – with an upside down map. He insisted on holding the map and telling us where to go. jestcafe.com-South-Coast-Botanic-Gardens2 At least he got the map being upside down part right… after a while.jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-43jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-26jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-41 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-38jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-40jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-36 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-34 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-33 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-31 A shut out to my dear friend Janna, who reads this blog, and carried Max on her shoulders for most of our visit. Her beautiful hair paid the price. Love you, Janna.jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-30 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-39jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-29 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-37jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-28 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-27 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-35jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-25 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-24 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-23 jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-22jestcafe.com---South-Coast-botanic-gardens-21

Tips for your visit:

  • You can’t bring food inside the gardens – so don’t bring snacks.
  • You can’t buy food in the gardens. The gift shop at the entrance sells a couple of basic staples, but that is all, so, your kids should be well fed when coming.
  • The third Tuesday of each month is free, but, if you wait for the next free Tuesday, you will miss the Nature Connects Exhibit.
  • 2 hours is enough to see the exhibit.
  • There is a play area to build Legos at the entrance. You might want to let the kids play there for another while.

General information:

GARDEN HOURS:
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last ticket sale at 4:30 PM)

GIFT SHOP HOURS:
Monday-Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

VISITING DAYS:
The Garden is open to the public 364 days a year and closed Christmas Day.

ADDRESS:
26300 Crenshaw Boulevard

Palos Verdes Peninsula, California 90274

(310) 544-1948

ADMISSION:
Foundation Members: FREE

Adults: $9

Seniors (62 and over): $6

Students (with ID): $6

Children (5 – 12): $4

Children (4 and under): FREE

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Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books

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I took the kids to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books this last Sunday and we loved it!

This festival happens once a year at the USC Jefferson campus. We had been a couple of years before and had fun, but didn’t love it because the kids’ were too little, it got too crowded and it was so hot. This year was different. The kids are at the right age to pay attention to book readings and shows for a long period of time, it rained this weekend so the weather was cooler, and…they placed a tent above the audience on the Children’s Stage that protected us from the hot April sun (I hope they keep on doing this every year).

By now, I know the tricks on how to have comfortable outings with the rascals. My first tip for any event or activity is to be there early! This helps me avoid the crowds and allows for fun without having to fight for space or finding your children.

(BTW, we saw children wearing bracelets with their caregivers’ phone numbers annotated in them in case they got lost. This idea is GENIUS and I will implement it from now on when going to events like this).

jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest9jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest8Brotherly LOVE!jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest7To get there we took the metro. This was an adventure on itself because we don’t ride in public transportation often (sigh!). I know we should, but public transportation in LA can add 30-45 minutes to your commute, depending on where you live and at what time you are traveling.

The kids loved riding in the “choo-choo” train, until they didn’t love it anymore and got restless. You see, in the metro they are not restrained to their car seats and this sense of freedom can give them a false sense of independence that cause them to refuse to ride on your lap or hold your hand, which undoubtedly ends up with a child on the floor when the metro suddenly brakes, which undoubtedly makes everybody around you stare at you silently saying “YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO DIE.” Sometimes I feel like saying to this people: “my child won’t die, but he will get hurt and that will probably stop him from being such a monkey in the future and teach him to hold my darn hand when riding the darn train,” but those kind of common sense lessons for children can’t not happen in public spaces like this because people judge… oh yes, they judge!

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Our first stop at the festival was the children’s stage. It was early in the morning so it was easy to find front row seats. We stayed there for a long time because the shows never stop. The have one after the other, and the kids loved them all – book reading (from book authors), music, and dancing.

jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest38 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest37 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest36 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest35 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest34 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest32 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest31 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest30 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest29jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest28 More love!jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest27 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest26 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest25jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest2An awkward selfie.jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest13 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest12

After that, we needed a break from shows so we went looking for children’s books booths. My favorite one is always the one from La Librería, the best bilingual bookstore in LA. They have the most beautiful books and the owners are so sweet and helpful. We stayed there for a while. The kids browsed through some books, we bought some others and then kept on walking around the USC campus.

jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest22jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest24 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest23jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest20jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest21 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest19We finally made it back to the children’s stage for the “Dinosaur show” from the Natural History Museum, which was very popular with the kids. We managed to sit on the ground in the front and Víctor absolutely loved it. Max got a little bit scared but he is a brave child so he stuck to it (not easy to see a big t-rex moving 5 feet away from you). After the show, we went home. 3 hours of fun went by so fast. It was a wonderful outing.
jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest17jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest15 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest14jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest-1 jestcafe.com--LA-times-book-fest6 Here are some photos riding back in the metro. Reading books and eating popcorn kept the kids busy and well behaved for the 20 minutes it took to get back to the Culver City Station.

Also, Víctor likes wearing mismatched socks. I think it is very, very cute… and convenient, because I can NEVER find matching socks in my household!!!! Can you?
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Here are some tips in case you want to go to next year’s festival with kids:

  • Be there early to avoid crowds
  • Bring your own food and water. There are not many food trucks and the ones that are there have long waiting lines.
  • Take public transportation. It is hard to find parking.
  • The entrance is FREE, so this is an affordable activity.
  • The festival is better for kids 2/3 and older

Thanks for stopping by!

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Life Lately, March 2016

jestcafe.com-lifelately23 We went skiing to Big Bear back in January. It was the first time for Víctor and Max, and they both loved it. How could they not? There was plenty of snow and 60 degrees weather… only in California.

Max just turned 2 in October, so I didn’t think he would be able to go skiing. It was my brother, a ski instructor, the one that recommended taking him, and he was right. George and I are good skiers, so it was easy to carry Max between our legs. He was not able to ski on his own, but he still enjoyed the whole things as much as Víctor did. The best part was that we didn’t need a babysitter! We were able to ski all day together as a family.

From all the ski centers we went to, we liked skiing at Snow Valley the best. It is a smaller mountain, easy to access and with no lift lines. It is perfect when you are skiing with small children that need to go to the bathroom (or take a break) at any moment in time. jestcafe.com-lifelately22 jestcafe.com-lifelately21 jestcafe.com-lifelately20 jestcafe.com-lifelately18jestcafe.com-lifelately11Look at this little one on his mini-skies! People were so surprised to see him going down the mountain with us. He is a tiny creature! He was, without a doubt, the youngest kid on the mountain that weekend. jestcafe.com-lifelately9And here he is in the middle of Snow Summit mountain… totally exhausted. jestcafe.com-lifelately2jestcafe.com-lifelately12A well deserved meal. I have never seen my kids eat so much.jestcafe.com-lifelately19jestcafe.com-lifelately8jestcafe.com-lifelately14 Big Bear Village is a cute little town with nice restaurants and coffee shops. After spending the day skiing, it was fun to go there to have dinner and relax a little bit.
jestcafe.com-lifelately7jestcafe.com-lifelately5jestcafe.com-lifelately3jestcafe.com-lifelately16Max couldn’t make it through dinner. ha!
jestcafe.com-lifelately17jestcafe.com-lifelately13jestcafe.com-lifelately15 jestcafe.com-lifelately1Back in LA,  Max’s favorite hobby is eating ice cream. jestcafe.com--lifelately50 This is a picture of Salt & Straw, one the best creameries on the west side.
jestcafe.com--lifelately49 Hi there, Víctor!jestcafe.com--lifelately44 Did I mention Max can read? Not really, but he looks super smart here.
jestcafe.com--lifelately47I found this picture of George when he was 25 years old, so very cute, and he still has that jacket!!jestcafe.com--lifelately45George and my friend’s son, baby Andrew!
jestcafe.com--lifelately55 As some of you know, I have been obsessed with the Flower Market in DTLA. I have been there almost every weekend for the last 2 months. I know the vendors, the flowers, the smell. I love it so much, I am always finding new excuses to go.
jestcafe.com--lifelately54 jestcafe.com--lifelately53 jestcafe.com--lifelately52 jestcafe.com--lifelately56jestcafe.com--lifelately51jestcafe.com-lifelately36Hey, Max!
jestcafe.com-lifelately35 Victor being very helpful – decorating for Easter.jestcafe.com-lifelately34 jestcafe.com-lifelately33 More ice cream!!!  and filthy children. jestcafe.com-lifelately32There are a lot of hugs and kisses going around in our house.
jestcafe.com-lifelately31 Here is me trying to take a picture for my profile. George thinks is too cold. I kind of agree so I am just posting it here. Also, as you can see, I am not a fan of makeup. jestcafe.com-lifelately30 jestcafe.com-lifelately27 Eating at Maple Block Meat, the best meat restaurant in Culver City. It is just excellent.jestcafe.com-lifelately26 Max and I spending our Tuesdays together.jestcafe.com-lifelately25Having brunch at S + W Country Diner in Culver City. This place is so good it gets crowded 10 minutes after opening. You need to be there early! BONUS: Lots of  toys for kids to play with. Perfect!jestcafe.com-lifelately24 jestcafe.com--lifelately41 My friend Sarah celebrated her birthday at the Commissary in the Line Hotel. We had brunch with friends in this gorgeous place. It was fun! and the only hip thing I have done in the last 3 months, so I am sharing it here. jestcafe.com--lifelately40 Another proof that I am not into makeup. jestcafe.com--lifelately42My favorite part of the Commissary was the mismatch-vintage dinnerware they have. Look at this beautiful coffee cup I got!jestcafe.com--lifelately39Hope you enjoyed the photos! Have a wonderful day!

Let Us Connect:

Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena

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The Kidspace Children’s Museum is the best museum in LA for children 1 to 8 years old. It is a small museum with an incredible amount of hand-on activities for kids. This place is so much fun that every time we go there we spend the whole day easily.

The beauty of this museum is its simplicity. There are no large exhibitions, no huge spaces, just simple, fun exhibitions where children can explore at their leisure with no fear of being messy, or getting dirty and wet. Each little activity is so well thought out, it is amazing.

In this museum you will find story times, music playing, experiments, water games, outdoor installations,  insects, bicycles to ride, a beehive  and a lot of other simple activities that can engage small children for hours. That is what I love about it! For example, in a corner of the museum they have this small water situation where children fill small buckets with water and fill up tubes with it so the water flows through this small structure. It is nothing special, just a simple water game, but Max played in there for 2 hours all by himself. Score!

TIPS: If you want to spend the day here, there is a restaurant with healthy options, so no need to bring food. Also,  bring a change of cloths for your kids because they will be filthy and wet by the end (or middle) of the day.

jestcafe.com--kids-space28jestcafe.com--kids-space30 jestcafe.com--kids-space27 The entrance to the museum is in itself a wonderful exhibition full of colors, and interactive activities:jestcafe.com--kids-space25jestcafe.com--kids-space26 In the big pavilion there are a lot of hand-on activities like this paint water canvas where kids are free to paint and be messy without an adult freaking out about their white couches getting stained with red paint…jestcafe.com--kids-space22jestcafe.com--kids-space11 And this beehive. Mesmerizing!jestcafe.com--kids-space20jestcafe.com--kids-space21And this kid (my nephew), so darn cute!jestcafe.com--kids-space24 Here is Víctor and Agustín experimenting with electricity. The idea was to move a little engine by transporting energy from the batteries, through the cables and play doh, to the engine. They loved doing this, and learned so much in the process. jestcafe.com--kids-space17jestcafe.com--kids-space19 jestcafe.com--kids-space18 jestcafe.com--kids-space16Here is my beautiful dad helping to take care of the rascal, or at least limiting his escaping possibilities.jestcafe.com--kids-space23The museum has a new outdoor area with lots of games for children that make learning very fun. Also, they are doing new installations that will open in April or May this year. jestcafe.com--kids-space4jestcafe.com--kids-space3jestcafe.com--kids-space2jestcafe.com--kids-space-1jestcafe.com--kids-space15 This place to ride bicycles is always a big hit. How happy and proud is Max of getting a ride from his big brother? I love how these two are best friends. jestcafe.com--kids-space14 jestcafe.com--kids-space13 jestcafe.com--kids-space12My daddy spending the day with grandkids. He is 83:jestcafe.com--kids-space10 jestcafe.com--kids-space9 jestcafe.com--kids-space8 In the garden, the museum has this little green huts with a lot of books. It is a magic place for children to sit down and read a little. Also, as you can see, by the end of the day Max was in diapers and mismatched shoes because I run out of clothes. For me, this is a sign of epic fun.
jestcafe.com--kids-space5jestcafe.com--kids-space7 jestcafe.com--kids-space6At the end of the day, we spent 10 hours at the museum, and the kids still wanted more. If you are in LA, take your children to the Kidspace Children’s Museum. You won’t regret it. Just remember, this is not a museum for older kids. It doesn’t have big exhibitions, just small fun, hands-on fun.

Kidspace Children’s Museum

480 North Arroyo Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91103
Telephone: (626) 449-9144
Fax: (626) 449-9985
Email[email protected]

Operating Hours

Weekdays
Tuesday – Friday, 9:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. (Open Mondays March 14 – September 5, 2016)

Weekends
Saturday & Sunday, 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

*Closed Mondays during Fall & Winter after Labor Day unless otherwise promoted for special events

Admission

  • Adults & Children: $11.00
  • Infants (under age 1): FREE
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