Children's Gallery at the LACMA

Construct | Boone Children's Gallery

LACMA West | Free | All Ages

In Construct, you, your friends and family will play, build, explore, collaborate, problem-solve, make, dream, imagine, experience, research, design, learn, and create together.

Be your own architect! Work at drafting tables to draw floor plans, build a model using a variety of materials, and display your buildings and designs in the Construct gallery. Or work in creative teams to build cities and structures using wood blocks.

Be inspired by the plans, drawings, and models that architect Renzo Piano developed as he went through the design process for LACMA's Transformation Project.

Construct has activities appropriate for visitors of all ages—from infants to teens and multi-generational families. On Thursdays the gallery opens at 9 am, before the museum opens to the public. Friday Nights from 6 to 9 pm, activities are designed for teens.

Information for groups visiting the Boone Children's Gallery:
The Boone Children's Gallery welcomes groups of all kinds. So that they may be prepared for your group, please call 323 857-6108 three weeks before your planned visit with your name, phone number, date and time of your upcoming visit, the number of people, and the name or description of your group. Please note that while birthday parties and other gatherings are welcome in the Boone Children's Gallery, food is not allowed and museum staff cannot facilitate any celebratory activities.

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Like all of LACMA, the Boone Children's Gallery is open every day except Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Monday	noon–8 pm
Tuesday	noon–8 pm
Wednesday	CLOSED
Thursday	9 am–8 pm
Friday	noon–9 pm
Saturday	11 am–6 pm
Sunday	11 am–6 pm

Last Week for the OC Fair

I can't believe the way time has been flying by this summer. Come Friday, August is already upon us. I found a link to 10 pages of coupons good for the OC Fair with around 40 coupons for various food items. Just reading the coupons makes me hungry. http://www.ocfair.com/2008/08_OCFCouponBook.pdf

USS Midway Museum

I usually don't like to post about a museum that I've yet to visit, however this sounds like such a fantastic place that I want to share what I've read and heard about it, before our visit in two weeks. The USS Midway is longest-serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history--a 47 year odyssey that spanned the end of WWII and the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. It's located in Downtown San Diego at Navy Pier on the Embarcadero.

Although my son is still young, I think he will get a kick out of all the planes and being in such an impressive ship. The museum/ship is massive and is home to over 60 exhibits and displays. Midway is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The ticket booth closes at 4 p.m.

General Admission

$17 Adults
$13 Seniors (62+), Students (with valid ID)
$10 Retired Military (with valid ID)
$9 children (ages 6-17)
Active military (and Reservists) with valid ID and children 5 are free
All ticket prices include a self-guided audio tour. The Midway ticket office accepts cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and travelers' checks. An ATM machine is available on Navy Pier.

From what I've read and heard you will want to spend about 3 to 4 hours. Also if you have a little ones- you cant' really use a stroller- plan accordingly. Port Parking is available at the Navy Pier.
$5 up to 1 hour
$7 for up to 4 hours
$10 for up to 10 hours
$12 for up to 12 hours

For additional information click here

US Open of Surfing

If you're looking to do something out of the ordinary, you might want to take a drive to Huntington Beach for the US Open of Surfing. My son loves watching the surfers at the beach and I figure this might give us something to do this weekend. From what I've read it's a fun and lively event with plenty of waves, surf and entertainment. There will be concerts, fashion shows , skateboarding and BMX competitions. There is limited parking, so plan on arriving early and enjoy the festivities. For directions, schedule and additional information click here. The US Open will run through Sunday July 27th.

Cheesy fun at the OC Fair

The fair is already half over with, can you believe it? Here are some fun things to do there with your family during the remaining days. Slip away for a cheese affair at the 2008 OC Fair. “Say Cheese,” the 2008 OC Fair theme, takes center stage at the OC Cheese A-Fair from July 22-August 3. This farm-to-table exhibit about the California cheese industry offers a glimpse at cheesy family favorites as well as sophisticated delicacies through demonstrations, exhibits, contests and activities.

Visitors can dive right into the cheesy goodness through contests such as the “Who Cut the Cheese?” Amateur Sculpture Event, Cheesy Costume Contest, and the Iron Man Cheese Challenge, where adult contestants attempt to make the best grilled cheese sandwich with a clothes iron. Enter the Easy Cheesy Recipe Contest and Demonstration and if your delicious cheese recipe captures the judges’ attention, you will be given the opportunity to teach other Fairgoers why you are such a big cheese.

For those with a more refined palette, the OC Cheese A-Fair offers cheese tastings and cheese-themed demonstrations. Cheese tastings will be presented by Priscilla Madrid, owner of Frogs Breath Cheese Store in Orange. Additional fees apply. Learn about the varieties of cheese, wine parings, cooking with cheese and more in daily demonstrations presented by Chef Debbi Dubbs, Winchester Cheese, Louise Mellor of The Art of Cuisine, Cacique Cheese, the Orange County Wine Society, Frogs Breath Cheese Store and the OC Fair’s own gourmet chef-in-residence and “cheese whiz” Renee Fontes. Barrie Lynn, ‘The Cheese Impresario,’ will present an interactive demonstration geared for kids with a focus on ‘squeaky’ cheese curds.

Art lovers can observe cheese sculpting by professional food sculptor Jim Victor, who will create a delicious masterpiece from a 640 lb. block of cheddar donated by Land O’Lakes.

A selection of award winning California cheeses will be available to purchase. The 21 year old and over crowd can compliment their cheese purchase with a variety of wines sold by the glass from V.Sattui Winery of St. Helena, located in Napa Valley.

The OC Cheese A-Fair also includes hands-on activities for children including ‘Cheesy Riders’ miniature toy tractors for the 4 and under crowd, while adults can enjoy the Hal & Ted Segerstrom Tractor Exhibit.

OC FAIR WELCOMES ANGELS FOR FANFAIR DAY

The OC Fair is looking to hit a home run with the first-ever Angels FanFair Day on Tues., July 22, at 12:30 p.m. in Fair Square.

Hosted inside the Fair’s gates, Angels FanFair Day will feature an autograph session with current and former Angels’ baseball players and a charity contest between the players. Tuesdays are Kids Days and children 12 and under are free all day.

Former Angels’ player and current Angels’ baseball analyst Rex Hudler will compete with other popular Angels in the “Say Cheese” Ball Toss on behalf of their favorite charities. The winning charity receives an OC Fair prize package. Scheduled to appear are Joe Saunders, Reggie Willits, Darren O’Day and Clyde Wright. Appearances subject to change.

The first 50 fairgoers through the Main Gate wearing an Angels’ shirt will be moved to the front of the line for autographs, as well as receive two free tickets to a regular season Angels’ game. The Fair’s Main Gate is off Fair Drive.

Everyone in line for FanFair will receive a free Angels’ promotional item to commemorate their day at the Fair with the Angels.

The 2008 OC Fair, themed “Say Cheese!” is July 11-Aug. 3 in Costa Mesa. The Fair will be closed on Mondays (July 21, and 28).

Conveniently located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in the heart of Costa Mesa, the 150-acre OC Fair & Event Center is a popular Southern California destination, hosting over 150 events and shows a year. It is the home of the annual OC Fair, Youth Expo, Centennial Farm, The Ranch and Pacific Amphitheatre.

For more information, visit ocfair.com.

Hollywood Bowl- Summer Sounds for kids 3-10

Summer Sounds is a music and art festival at the famous Hollywood Bowl. It's specifically geared for children 3-10 and features concerts created especially for kids in this age group and a Fine Arts Outdoor Studio where they can let their imaginations soar! . The concerts are held Monday through Friday at 10am and 11:15am on the SummerSounds stage, located in the Museum Patio. A different program will be featured every 2 weeks for 6 weeks and are performed twice daily. Professional artists guide children in creating detailed original works of art based on the week's theme. Kids choose a project they want to try — whether it's drawing, painting, sculpture or other fine art — and learn about art, artists, and different cultures while they have fun! Sessions begin at 10am and 11:15am Admission to the concerts is $6.00 per person, regardless of age and admission to the art studio workshop is $4 per child; children must be 3 years of age or older to participate. Only participants need tickets. Tickets are limited to both the concerts and the art studio. Make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time. For additional information click here

Bowers Museum - Free Admission Friday Nights

I'm always looking for something fun , inexpensive and educational to do with the kids and this definitely hits the mark. The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana with a sponsorship from the PIMCO foundation will extend its evening hours and cover the cost of admission on Friday evenings during the exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor. To make the museum more accessible, PIMCO’s Free Friday Nights offers free admission to the exhibition for up to 100 visitors per hour at 4, 5, 6, and 7 pm, and the museum will stay open until 8 pm. In addition to seeing the famed terra cotta warriors, visitors can roam around the museum, and explore other special exhibitions and collections on view in the galleries, see a film in the auditorium, or purchase specialty drinks and dinner at Tangata Restaurant. Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor runs through October 12th, 2008

FREE OC FAIR ADMISSION - tomorrow!

Don't forget the Orange County Fair will be offering free admission and parking on Opening Day, Friday July 11th from noon to 1pm! See you there!

Summer Safety Tips

Keep your family safe this summer by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Babies under 6 months:

• Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck are still the top recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For Young Children:

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.

For Older Children:

• The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

HEAT STRESS IN EXERCISING CHILDREN

• The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels.

• At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat.
• Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced, for example, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored sports drink for a child weighing 90 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 130 lbs, even if the child does not feel thirsty.
• Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated garments should be replaced by dry garments.
• Practices and games played in the heat should be shortened and more frequent water/hydration breaks should be instituted.

POOL SAFETY

Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

• Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
• Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.
• Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
• Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd's hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
• Children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.
• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."

Sea Life Stroll at the Aquarium of the Pacific

If you have tiny tots and are looking for something fun and educational , you have to give the sea life stroll at the Aquarium of the Pacific a try. It's a one-hour tour designed to bring your child in a stroller up close to exhibits before the Aquarium opens. During your personalized tour time, you will get a chance to touch animals in the Aquarium classrooms, check out the galleries without a crowd and make a fun keepsake book to take with you. Tours are from 8:30 am to 9:30am. There is an upcoming stroll on Thursday July 10th. For additional information click here.

Free admission to the 2008 Orange County Fair

The Orange County fair will be offering free admission and parking on Opening Day, Friday July 11th from noon to 1pm. The Fair will also offer free admission on Opening Day for all active duty military, law enforcement and firefighters plus one guest from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. The Orange County Fair will also offer free admission to children 12 and under on Tuesday July 15 ,22 and 29. On Wednesday July 23rd , The Orange County Fair will offer Free admission with donation of five (5) canned or dry food items. Noon-6 p.m. Benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. On Wednesday July 30th, the OC Fair will offer Free admission plus one carnival ride with donation of one (1) new or three (3) gently used children's books. Noon-6 p.m. Benefiting Orange County public elementary schools.