Cherry Trees in Bloom at Schabarum Park

The cherry trees at Schabarum Park in Rowland Heights are still relatively young, but their blossoms are no less stunning.  The first blooms have already started to appear along both sides of the mile-long walkway in the pristine park.  Pack your kids, your family and a picnic and hurry to the park to take a storybook stroll alongside the iconic beauties.  The cherry trees bloom for just a teeny bit of time, maybe two weeks, each year, and once they are at their peak, only mother nature and her winds and rain will determine how long they will stay.  If luck and nice weather are on your side, you may have until April to enjoy the views.

Schabarum Regional Park

17250 Colima Road Rowland Heights, CA 91748;(626) 810-4229
Hours: October through March 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April through September 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Parking: FREE on weekdays; $6 on weekends

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at local ice rinks

Salchow, lutz, axle and toe loop don’t have to be words firmly entrenched in your vocabulary for you to be inflicted with Olympic fever these past few weeks. One look at the glittery outfits of the ice dance and figure skaters, and my 3 ½ year old has declared her first—of many I’m sure—grown-up professional aspiration. Even without children announcing their fondness for the Olympic ice skating sports, we bet that more than a few parents are also dreamily off in the gold-medal futures of their kids. We talked to some local Ice Skating Rinks to see if Olympic fever has been warming their venues (and pocketbooks) and got the deets on how you can take your kids (and yourselves) for a whirl on the ice.

Iceland

The oldest ice skating rink in the Valley, Iceland boasts a history of old-school Olympic-sized patrons, including Brian Boitano, Christopher Bowman and Sonja Henie. And according to community relations manager Martha Avtandilian, this very skating rink is where legendary Linda Fratianne mastered her triple toe loop and double axle. For those who don’t know, Fratianne was the first woman figure skater to land two triple jumps in a competition. (MORE)

Pickwick Ice

Pickwick Ice in Burbank is no new comer to L.A. as it will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The National Hockey League-sized rink (just a tad narrower than Olympic size) has been serving the community well, including United States Olympian Mirai Nagasu, who assistant manager Sean Bachand says had been practicing at Pickwick Ice for four years until her move last October to Toyota Sports Center with her new coach Frank Carroll. (MORE)

Culver Ice Rink

Olympic-sized Culver Ice Rink in Culver City didn’t name drop any past or present Olympians, but they have been busting at the seams nonetheless this Olympic season. “All of our classes are at capacity,” says Shannon Takahashi, Skating School and Youth Hockey Coordinator. Fifty-five classes that normally enroll 400 students are currently teaching twice as many ice skating fans. Public skating sessions on the weekends are equally twice as busy. (MORE)

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at Culver Ice Rink

Olympic-sized Culver Ice Rink in Culver City didn’t name drop any past or present Olympians, but they have been busting at the seams nonetheless this Olympic season. “All of our classes are at capacity,” says Shannon Takahashi, Skating School and Youth Hockey Coordinator. Fifty-five classes that normally enroll 400 students are currently teaching twice as many ice skating fans. Public skating sessions on the weekends are equally twice as busy.

Both ice skating and hockey classes are available in ten week, one-class/week sessions, with something for the entire family. Lessons are available for kids age 4 all the way up to adults. A hockey dads group gets dad fit while a fun Parent and Me Ice Skating class is available for kids ages 2-3 with one parent. We love the Parent and Me class, which Takahashi says is more like a play class for toddlers on ice with music, games, bubbles and stickers. The parent attending class with the child must be comfortable on the ice. The Parent and Me class is $155 for one 45-minute class for ten weeks.

Sign up early for the spring classes that will begin April 19, 2010. Registration for the spring 10-week session begins March 15, which is when Takahashi suggests interested students enroll to reserve their spot.

Culver Ice Rink

4545 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, 90230; (310) 398-5719
Public skating hours: Monday-Friday 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission – $9 ages 12 and under, $10 ages 13 and up; Skate Rental – $3
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by shutterbc

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at Pickwick Ice

Pickwick Ice in Burbank is no new comer to L.A. as it will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The National Hockey League-sized rink (just a tad narrower than Olympic size) has been serving the community well, including United States Olympian Mirai Nagasu, who assistant manager Sean Bachand says had been practicing at Pickwick Ice for four years until her move last October to Toyota Sports Center with her new coach Frank Carroll.

Bachand says there’s definitely been a surge in attendance at Pickwick Ice the past couple of months, but it’s nothing new to the rink, which plans appropriately for the occasion. “We have a four year plan,” he says. “We know that every four years during the Olympics public interest will peak and we plan for that.” Planning includes offering more classes, and bringing on more coaches and teachers every four years to sustain the demand.

This year is no different, except for one thing. “We don’t see a lot of beginner adults enrolling themselves like they used to,” he says. “Adults are enrolling their kids, perhaps wanting to invest in future generations.” According to Bachand, Pickwick Ice is ideal for parent supervision, with their newly installed seamless glass all around the ice allowing parents an unfettered view of their future Olympians in training. Also ideal at Pickwick is the philosophy, as Bachand points out. “Usually it’s the parents who bring their kids in and push them to try ice skating. But the trick is to create a fun and safe learning environment where the kids connect to the sport and start having their own goals and sharing that with their parents.”

Pickwick Ice offers skating classes for 3 year olds to adults. Their winter 10 week session is almost over, but a new 10-week session begins March 17, 2010. Once-a-week classes for 10 weeks will cost you $130 plus skate rental. Go to the website for a $10 discount on classes.

Pickwick Ice

1001 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, 91506
Public skating hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Wednesday and Sunday evening 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: Admission and Skates – $10 age 12 and up; $9 age 11 and under
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by shutterbc

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic dreams at Iceland Skating Rink

The oldest ice skating rink in the Valley, Iceland boasts a history of old-school Olympic-sized patrons, including Brian Boitano, Christopher Bowman and Sonja Henie. And according to community relations manager Martha Avtandilian, this very skating rink is where legendary Linda Fratianne mastered her triple toe loop and double axle. For those who don’t know, Fratianne was the first woman figure skater to land two triple jumps in a competition.

Avtandilian says Iceland has seen a bit of a spike in attendance since the Olympics, but at this more than 50 year old venue, the winter season is more of a steady indicator that they will be busy. That and this year’s phenomenal Ice Skating lessons special, where 2 classes for 13 weeks will run a mere $162.50, or $6.25 per class! And the deal includes ice skate rentals.

Iceland’s medium-sized ice rink will allow a maximum of 100 people during public skating hours. If it’s your birthday, you get to skate FREE! Lessons are available for children as young as 3 years old to adults. Private lessons are an option, as with hockey lessons of varying levels.

Iceland

14318 Calvert St. Van Nuys, CA. 91401
Public skating hours: Monday Noon – 6 p.m.; Tuesday Noon – 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.; Wednesday Noon – 6 p.m.; Thursday Noon – 5:30 p.m.; Friday Noon – 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: Admission – $7; Skate Rental – $3
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by gowestphoto

Mommy and Me movie matinees

Movie theaters, libraries and churches are probably the few places remaining that can legitimately shush a child from disrupting the masses. Luckily, there are places that not only welcome, but cater to parents with loud, crying babies. So if you want to catch a flick but are discouraged because of your baby’s cries, don’t be at the following theatres where laughs and bellows and all sorts of other baby noises will be welcome. Just be prepared to listen to everyone else’s little bundles of joy as well.

Select Pacific Theatres locations offer Monday morning matinees at 11 a.m. for parents and babies. Here’s a list of participating theatres. For movie titles, call the numbers below or go to the website HERE.

Beach Cities 16 Cinemas
831 S. Nash Street, El Segundo, 90245
Ticket info: (310) 607-0007
Guest Services: (310) 607-9630

Pacific Theatres at the Grove
189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, 90036
Ticketing Info: (323) 692-0829
Guest Services: (323) 692-0103

Paseo 14
336 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 91101
Ticketing Info: (626) 568-8888
Guest Services: (626) 568-9651

Glendale 18
322 Americana Way, Glendale, 91210
Ticketing Info: (866) 722-9790
Guest Services: (818) 551-0566

At the Bridge Cinema in Culver City, every third Thursday of the month is a parent and me noon movie welcoming parents and babies.  To get movie titles of the week, call the number below or go to the website HERE.

The Bridge Cinema de Luxe
The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center
6081 Center Drive, Los Angeles, 90045
(310) 568-9930

At Los Feliz 3 Cinemas in Los Feliz, every Wednesday at 10:30 is a special Mommy and Me movie time.  Choose from three of the most current box office offerings for you and your babe.  To get movie titles of the week, call the number below or go to the website HERE.

Los Feliz 3 Cinemas
1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, 90027
(323) 664-2169

Photo by Meagan

Last Chance to find Hidden Beaches of Malibu with L.A. Urban Rangers

The Los Angeles Urban Rangers are back for the Free Public Beach Safaris that will give you the inside scoop on how to get to those public Malibu beaches that otherwise might not seem so public because of the multi-million dollar houses that are behind them!  But mark  your calendars for The Last-Hurrah Malibu Public Beach Safaris on Saturday, February 27, 2010 because this will wrap up their three-year project that will give you the skills to find, park, walk, picnic, and sunbathe on a Malibu beach legally and safely.  Find and use the other beaches in Malibu–the twenty miles that are lined with private development.  Kids are welcome on the tour and though they might not be taking notes, can still frolic on the sand.

Bring snack, water if you need it, sun protection, and extra layer or two for warmth.  Rain cancels the safaris.  No bathrooms are available at meeting point–Try the fast-food restaurants just upcoast on the PCH.  Dogs are not allowed on the beaches.

The Last Hurrah Malibu Public Beaches Safaris

Malibu
Go to the public beach accessway between 22140-22126 Pacific Coast Highway (~.5 mis west of Carbon Canyon Rd. and ~1 mi. east of Malibu pier). Park on either side of the PCH (cross with caution), and walk through the accessway to the beach. (Or take the 534 PCH bus!–nearest stop is Carbon Canyon Rd.– www.metro.net.)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Please be prompt and arrive on time)
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
Website

A downloadable “Malibu Public Beaches” guide is available on the website.

Indoor Activity and Play Areas with
Wi-Fi for Parents

Whether your kids are going stir-crazy at home because of the rains or it’s too hot outside for a romp at the park, these indoor playgrounds and play areas with free wi-fi may just be the remedy!

Your Friendly, Neighborhood Library

If you can’t be outside exercising your muscles, then you can be inside exercising your your mind. Always one of our favorite indoor places is the local library, where you can share in the communal pursuit of intellect and imagination. Perch yourself and your child in any number of seating areas including the kids section and get lost in the magic of books. Many libaries have free storytimes, arts activities and performances. (MORE)

Peekaboo Playland
2513 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, 90041; (323) 255-1400

Peekaboo Playland’s new location on Colorado Boulevard is perhaps the coolest indoor playground around, both aesthetically and practically. Thirty-foot ceilings and huge windows create an airy feel and provide plenty of natural light that is no doubt the next best thing to being outdoors. (MORE)

Swork Coffee
2160 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, 90041; (323) 258-5600

Swork Coffee’s little corner play area is perfect for intimate play. Kids will gather willingly around the train table in the center and play with the various puzzles and games available for them. (MORE)

Amy’s Playground
1115 Mission Street, South Pasadena, 91030; (626) 799-0304

Located in the historic mission street shopping district of south Pasadena. Amy’s Playground’s mission is to provide a fun and comfortable environment for kids and grown-ups alike. (MORE)

Kidz Playland
1133 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale, 91202; (818) 241-1888

On the smaller side at 1500 square feet, this circus-themed indoor playground nevertheless has 3 slides, a bouncer, baby section, basketball court and other fun indoor activities for your children. (MORE)

The Treehouse Social Club
426 South Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, 90210; (310) 288-3024

A popular place in posh Beverly Hills, the Treehouse Social Club’s showcase piece is a treehouse surrounded by a safe, picket fenced area (MORE)

Tiny Town Indoor Play
16909 Devonshire St., Granada Hills, 91344; (818) 366-0305

Play in a safe place at Skirball Cultural Center Museum (Noah’s Ark)

Skirball Cultural Center’s permanent exhibit Noah’s Ark is not just an award-winning destination for the family, but a safe place where your kids can explore and make believe. Designed for multi-generational play, the 8,000 square foot gallery is an activity and a journey for the entire family. The wooden ark as tall as the ceiling is filled with animals, climbing, arts and crafts and science opportunities. Watch out for impromptu activities or visits from larger than life size animal puppets.

Skirball Cultural Center Museum

2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90049; (310) 440-4515
Days/Hours: Tuesday–Friday, Noon–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: $10 General; $7 Seniors (65 and over) and Full-Time Students;
$5 Children 2-12; FREE to Members and Children under 2; FREE to all visitors on Thursdays
Website

Splash in the water at Annenberg Community Beach House

California’s only public beach club with no membership fees, the Annenberg Community Beach House opened last summer as an answer to many people’s wishes. Currently the pool is closed for the winter, but the splash pad is still open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m and Santa Monica beach is literally just a few steps in the sand away. Bring your family and enjoy the view on the view deck or garden terrace while the kids make a spash in the available waters.

Annenberg Community Beach House

415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, 90402; (310) 458-4904
Days/Hours: Garden, View Deck and Splash Pad open Daily 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE
Website