Friday, April 29, 2011

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 4-29

Activities

April 30. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Held in conjunction with the Day of the Child and National Child Abuse Prevention, this open-air street festival is free for everyone. A city block is closed down for the day and filled with music, laughter and color as children and families come together to interact, learn and play. Over 20 activities include: face painting, bubble bonanza, drum-circle, Aztec dancing, climbing wall, crafts for kids, and more. The Echo Center (Formerly the Center for Non Violent Education) provides education and support for all parents and families. For all ages. FREE. Echo Parenting and Education Center, 1226 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles (Echo Park) (Thanks to Family Finds for the idea!)

April 30- May1. (April 30 10am – 6pm, May 1 10am – 5pm). The free annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! This event includes celebrity appearances, live music, cooking demos, author reading, an area especially for kids and much more! It will be at USC this year. To locate USC on Yahoo! Maps or similar mapping software, you may use the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089. Parking at the USC campus will be $10. Find out more at http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

May 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets for March free day for Huntington Gardens. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx.

May 1. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week:Young Musicians Foundation Chamber Ensembles perform works by Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorák, Hindemith, Berkeley, and Adrienne Albert’s New York Gardens. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio


May 3. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

May 3. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. This month make a lego flower. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210. (818) 549-0733.

May 3. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

May 3. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

May 5 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Ongoing Events

Now is the time to register for the free L.A. County Junior Golf Program for the summer. Children 18 and under are welcome. Here’s the link to the form: http://www.lacountyjuniorgolf.com/norsumv1.pdf

Select Wendy’s locations are doing the Frostys keychain promotion again this year. Purchase the keychain for $1 (donated to charity), and get a FREE Junior Frosty (the small kids size). On each returning visit to Wendy’s present the keychain and you’ll get a FREE Junior Frosty with any purchase. Valid at participating Wendy’s for the whole year!

During April, kids eat free at IHOP daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase.

Chipotle is also offering a deal for families in April! On Saturdays and Sundays in April (including Sunday, May 1st) buy a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos; get one kid’s meal free! This offer is good in L.A. and Orange County. (Thanks to my friend Mercy for the deal!)

Upcoming Events

On May 6th, you can get free admission to a garden near you! Descanso Gardens is one of the beautiful gardens nearby, in La Canada. Here’s the link. http://www.bhg.com/gardening/celebrate-national-public-gardens-day/

Click on get coupon. Follow the instructions to sign up, then click on ‘Download Now’ to print your Free Admission voucher! (Thanks to Frugal Girls for the deal!)

May 7. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a project. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project.

May 7. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Every first Saturday of the month). Home Depot's Free Kids Workshop. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

May 7. 2 p.m. The Throne of Fire Release Party and Pharaoh's Quest LEGO Giveaway at Borders in Northridge (other Borders also participating. Call your local store to see if they are holding this event). Put on your favorite pharaoh gear, brush up on your hieroglyphics and get ready to party with Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles and free LEGO's Pharaoh's Quest building set! Space for this event is limited, call the store to RSVP. 818.886.5443. 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324.

May 10. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is giving away free ice blended drinks during their open house! The freebie applies to mocha mint chip, cookies and cream and expresso cream ice blended drink; no substitutions. There’s a limit of one free drink per customer, and it excludes all Ralphs stores, casinos, campus or airport locations.

May 21. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free Lego Club for Kids at The Burbank Central Library. Open to kids from ages 2-14 and their families! Specially sized larger blocks will be available for toddlers. 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, 91502. For more information call (818) 238-5600.

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 4-22

Activities

April 22. Starbucks is offering a free freshly brewed coffee or tea when you bring in your own travel mug at participating locations!

April 22. 6 p.m. Free weekly jazz concerts at LACMA.This week: David Arnay Trio. Internationally renowned pianist and composer David Arnay has performed at clubs and festivals around the globe ranging from The Palladium to Madison Square Garden to the Beacon Theater. A collaborator with such artists as Bennie Maupin, David Torn, Alphonso Johnson, and Phil Upchurch, Arnay also serves on the faculty at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. BP Grand Entrance. No reservations needed.

April 22 - April 24. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo. This event features bunny related crafts and activities including the Be-A-Bunny Ear Craft and Funny Bunny Face Painting. Children can also pet bunnies and plant their own carrot seeds to take home. In addition (for a nominal fee), Big Bunny will be available for souvenir photos. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 644-4200.

April 23. Lowe’s wants to help you pay it forward this Earth Day! They are giving away 1 million trees! Contact your local Lowe’s store for more details.

April 24. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Members of the Capitol Ensemble, Phillip Levy (violin), Julie Gigante (violin), Victoria Miskolczy (viola), Andrew Duckles (viola), and David Low (cello) perform Schubert: String Trio in B-flat major D. 581 and Mozart: String Quintet in G minor K. 516.. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio


April 26. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

April 27. 5-10 p.m. 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins! Baskin-Robbins will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents and create an opportunity for customers to donate to local fire charities. You can get up to 3 scoops. Yummy!

April 28 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Ongoing Events

Enjoy a Baja Bowl from Baja Fresh for just $2! (The restaurant near me was accepting them only as $2 off). Here’s the coupon good until April 24: http://www.bajafresh.com/baja-fresh-undercover-boss/pdf/Baja_Coupon_Promotion_Print.pdf

Freebie at Panda Express. Get a free single serving entree when you buy a two or three serving entree. One per person. Expires Apr. 26, 2011. Here’s the link to the coupon: http://www.pandaexpress.com/PX/Facebook/Images/GTS_Survey_Coupon_041111.html

Select Wendy’s locations are doing the Frostys keychain promotion again this year. Purchase the keychain for $1 (donated to charity), and get a FREE Junior Frosty (the small kids size). On each returning visit to Wendy’s present the keychain and you’ll get a FREE Junior Frosty with any purchase. Valid at participating Wendy’s for the whole year!

During April, kids eat free at IHOP daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase.

Chipotle is also offering a deal for families in April! On Saturdays and Sundays in April (including Sunday, May 1st) buy a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos; get one kid’s meal free! This offer is good in L.A. and Orange County. (Thanks to my friend Mercy for the deal!)

Now through December 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Da Vinci Museum Exhibit. This looks amazing! It has more than 60 full-size machines to look at, along with reproductions of his famous artwork. There is also an activities zone with games and crafts. It’s a bit pricey, $18 for adults, $13 for students and $11 for children. Hollywood and Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. http://leonardodavincimuseumexhibit.com

I found a coupon for the Da Vinci Museum Exhibit! Here’s a link for $3 off admission. http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/details.html?offerid=853

Spring Break Ideas

Looking for things to do with your kiddos? Here are some ideas…

--Los Angeles Arboretum. Free parking. Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month

--California Science Center. Free admission. Open from 10 to 5. Parking is $8.

--Ronald Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Open 10-5, parking is free. Adults are $12, children 10 and under are free. Includes touring interior of Air Force One.

--Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Open daily from 9 to 5. Adults $8, Children 5 to 12 $3, under 5 free. Parking is free. They also have musical events, some of which are free with admission.

--Getty Museum in Brentwood and Getty Villa near Malibu. Admission is free. Villa requires reservations. Parking is $15. (Closed on Mondays).

--Miniature golfing at Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. Weekend Early Birds $3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids 4 and under free with paid adult.

--Griffith Observatory. Open Tues.-Friday 12 noon to 10, Sat. and Sun. 10-10. Free admission.

Upcoming Events

April 30- May1. (April 30 10am – 6pm, May 1 10am – 5pm). The free annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! This event includes celebrity appearances, live music, cooking demos, author reading, an area especially for kids and much more! It will be at USC this year. To locate USC on Yahoo! Maps or similar mapping software, you may use the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089. Parking at the USC campus will be $10. Find out more at http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/


On May 6th, you can get free admission to a garden near you! Descanso Gardens is one of the beautiful gardens nearby, in La Canada. Here’s the link. http://www.bhg.com/gardening/celebrate-national-public-gardens-day/

Click on get coupon. Follow the instructions to sign up, then click on ‘Download Now’ to print your Free Admission voucher! (Thanks to Frugal Girls for the deal!)

May 7. 2 p.m. The Throne of Fire Release Party and Pharaoh's Quest LEGO Giveaway at Borders in Northridge (other Borders also participating. Call your local store to see if they are holding this event). Put on your favorite pharaoh gear, brush up on your hieroglyphics and get ready to party with Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles and free LEGO's Pharaoh's Quest building set! Space for this event is limited, call the store to RSVP. 818.886.5443. 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324.

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Free Rental from Blockbuster Express

Blockbuster Express is offering a FREE rental this weekend!
Use the code THANKYOU to get a FREE movie rental. This is good April 23-24th only. You can find where the closest Blockbuster Express is to you here.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 4-15

Activities

April 15-16. 2 p.m. on the 15th, 10 a.m. on the 16th. Used Book Sale at Granada Hills Branch Library. 10640 Petit Avenue, Granada Hills, 91344. For information, call 818-368-5687.


April 15-17. 9am-5pm. L.A. Kids Consignment Sale. This is a semi-annual children's consignment sale featuring amazing bargains on all types of products for infants through pre-teens, including toys, clothes, furniture and much more! 25300 Rye Canyon Rd., Valencia, CA 91355.

April 16. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Earth Day Festival at Descanso Gardens. General $8. Senior/Students $6. Children (5 to 12 years) $3. Guild members and children under 5 free. Enjoy a day filled with educational activities, music and entertainment for all ages. Activities for kids include Ladybug Land, which features ladybugs in all stages of their life cycle, ladybug puzzles, ladybug parachute games and a make-and-take ladybug craft. Children’s activities will be on the Main Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, the Moo Doo Puppets will perform “Earth Day Safari” at 11 a.m. on the Main Lawn. The Mobile Homeboys will return to Descanso to perform their distinctive blend of country, rock, roots and bluegrass music. Showtime is 1 p.m. in the Under the Oaks Theater. Also on the Main Lawn: Patina will offer a barbecue menu for purchase with locally grown food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Main Lawn. There is ample free parking.

April 16. 1pm to 4 pm. Springtime Festival at The Leonis Adobe Museum. This is a place where you can experience California ranch life of the late 1800s, visit a Victorian-style early Los Angeles home and see what a jail was like in the Wild West. At the festival they also feature crafts, games, tortilla making, blacksmith & wool spinning demonstrations, live music and of course (it being the weekend before Easter and all) an Egg Hunt! For all ages. The Egg Hunt begins at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for kids. (Free for members of the Museum.) The Leonis Adobe Museum, 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (Thanks to Family Finds for the deal!)

April 16. 2 p.m. Free Annual Springtacular Kids Event at Borders in Northridge (other Borders also participating. Call your local store to see if they are holding this event). Easter and the start of Spring is a time of new beginnings and opportunities. Bring the whole family to celebrate the season with a special kids event. Celebrate with stories, crafts, games and more! Best for ages 3 to 8. 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324.

April 16-17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the 16th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the 17th. Scandanavian Festival. Kids can enjoy crafts, storytelling and explore Viking and Sami villages. $7 adults; free for children 11 and younger. www.callutheran.edu/scanfest. Kingsmen Park, California Lutheran University, 60 West Olsen Rd., Thousand Oaks.

April 16-17. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on the 16th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the 17th. Free Downtown Burbank Art Festival. Browse art pieces, enjoy workshops, performances and demonstrations. San Fernando Blvd., between Magnolia Blvd and Olive Ave., Burbank. 818-238-5180.

April 16-17. 7-10 p.m. on the 16th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on the 17th. Free Santa Monica Mountains Science Festival. This festival offers nature walks, hands-on demonstrations, live animals displays and other outdoor activities for the whole family. www.nps.gov/samo/sciencefestival.htm. Paramount Ranch, 2813 Cornell Rd., Agoura Hills.

April 16-17. 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on the 16th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the 17th. Free event. A traditional Powwow is a time to meet together to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and making new ones. The Chumash people were the first settlers of this area, thousands of years ago. Celebrate with native foods, Native American arts and crafts, storytelling, children’s activities and more. Parking and shuttles are on Malibu Canyon Rd. For all ages. Malibu Bluffs Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (Thanks to Family Finds for this deal!)

April 16-17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Kidspace Children’s Museum Butterfly Release Festival. Each day at 2 pm over 500 butterflies are simultaneously released back to nature. Other butterfly activities throughout the day include: face painting, eat like a butterfly, story time (featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar, of course), antenna and wing making, butterfly art and butterfly cookie decorating. You can raise a butterfly yourself (caterpillar adoption kits are available at the museum) and take part in the release, or just watch the spectacle! For all ages. The festival is from10:00 am – 5:00 pm. All activities are included with general admission: $10 for everyone over 1 year old. 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, 91103.

April 17. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Chamber Ensembles from the Colburn School (Emerging Artists Series). Works to be announced. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio


April 19. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

April 21 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

April 22. Starbucks is offering a free freshly brewed coffee or tea when you bring in your own travel mug at participating locations.

Ongoing Events

Enjoy a Baja Bowl from Baja Fresh for just $2! Here’s the coupon good until April 24: http://www.bajafresh.com/baja-fresh-undercover-boss/pdf/Baja_Coupon_Promotion_Print.pdf

Freebie at Panda Express. Get a free single serving entree when you buy a two or three serving entree. One per person. Expires Apr. 26, 2011. Here’s the link to the coupon: http://www.pandaexpress.com/PX/Facebook/Images/GTS_Survey_Coupon_041111.html

Select Wendy’s locations are doing the Frostys keychain promotion again this year. Purchase the keychain for $1 (donated to charity), and get a FREE Junior Frosty (the small kids size). On each returning visit to Wendy’s present the keychain and you’ll get a FREE Junior Frosty with any purchase. Valid at participating Wendy’s for the whole year!

During April, kids eat free at IHOP daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase.

Chipotle is also offering a deal for families in April! On Saturdays and Sundays in April, buy a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos; get one kid’s meal free! This offer is good in L.A. and Orange County. (Thanks to my friend Mercy for the deal!)

Now through December 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Da Vinci Museum Exhibit. This looks amazing! It has more than 60 full-size machines to look at, along with reproductions of his famous artwork. There is also an activities zone with games and crafts. It’s a bit pricey, $18 for adults, $13 for students and $11 for children. Hollywood and Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. http://leonardodavincimuseumexhibit.com

I found a coupon for the Da Vinci Museum Exhibit! Here’s a link for $3 off admission. http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/details.html?offerid=853


Spring Break Ideas

Looking for things to do with your kiddos? Here are some ideas…

--Los Angeles Arboretum. Free parking. Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month

--California Science Center. Free admission. Open from 10 to 5. Parking is $8.

--Ronald Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Open 10-5, parking is free. Adults are $12, children 10 and under are free. Includes touring interior of Air Force One.

--Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Open daily from 9 to 5. Adults $8, Children 5 to 12 $3, under 5 free. Parking is free. They also have musical events, some of which are free with admission.

--Getty Museum in Brentwood and Getty Villa near Malibu. Admission is free. Villa requires reservations. Parking is $15. (Closed on Mondays).

--Miniature golfing at Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. Weekend Early Birds $3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids 4 and under free with paid adult.

--Griffith Observatory. Open Tues.-Friday 12 noon to 10, Sat. and Sun. 10-10. Free admission.

Upcoming Events

April 22 - April 24. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo. This event features bunny related crafts and activities including the Be-A-Bunny Ear Craft and Funny Bunny Face Painting. Children can also pet bunnies and plant their own carrot seeds to take home. In addition (for a nominal fee), Big Bunny will be available for souvenir photos. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 644-4200.

April 27. 5-10 p.m. On Wednesday, April 27th, 2011, Baskin-Robbins stores across the country will hold 31 Cent Scoop Night from 5-10 pm to honor America's firefighters. Baskin-Robbins will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents and create an opportunity for customers to donate to local fire charities. You can get up to 3 scoops. Yummy!

May 7. 2 p.m. The Throne of Fire Release Party and Pharaoh's Quest LEGO Giveaway at Borders in Northridge (other Borders also participating. Call your local store to see if they are holding this event). Put on your favorite pharaoh gear, brush up on your hieroglyphics and get ready to party with Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles and free LEGO's Pharaoh's Quest building set! Space for this event is limited, call the store to RSVP. 818.886.5443. 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324.

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 4-8

Activities

March 19-April 17 (while supplies last). Visit the Busy Bee Learning Store at Kidspace to purchase live caterpillars for $5. Then raise your caterpillars from pupa to chrysalis, and finally into beautiful butterflies by following the directions included with your butterfly adoption kit. We did this last year and it was a lot of fun! Kidspace Museum, 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91103.

April 9. 10 a.m. FREE Build and Grow Clinic at Lowes. Bring your child to Lowe's and they can build a project. The kids get goggles and an apron and a kit to build an item. They use hammers their size and get a patch afterward for completing the project.

April 9-10. 10am-4pm. Earth Day at the L.A. Zoo! Join the Los Angeles Zoo and K-EARTH101 FM for two-days of festivities that will include recycled crafts, information booths, and K-EARTH DJs. All activities are free to GLAZA members and with paid Zoo admission.

April 10. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Children’s Earth Day at STAR ECO Station. Join the celebration at L.A.'s largest Earth Day event. The eco-extravaganza features eco-friendly giveaways, games, prizes, crafts, fun foods, rescued exotic wildlife, green shopping, environmental heroes & experts, celebrities, and live entertainment. Additionally, STAR ECO Station tours will run throughout the day at a special discounted rate of $5. For all ages. STAR ECO Station. 10101 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City. (Thanks to Family Finds for the idea!)

April 10. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Members of Musica-Angelica Baroque Orchestra perform music of the Italian Baroque. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio


April 12. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

April 14 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Ongoing Events

It appears that select Wendy’s locations are doing the Frostys keychain promotion again this year. Purchase the keychain for $1 (donated to charity), and get a FREE Junior Frosty (the small kids size). On each returning visit to Wendy’s present the keychain and you’ll get a FREE Junior Frosty with any purchase. Valid at participating Wendy’s for the whole year!

During April, kids eat free at IHOP daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase.

Chipotle is also offering a deal for families in April! On Saturdays and Sundays in April, buy a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos; get one kid’s meal free! This offer is good in L.A. and Orange County. (Thanks to my friend Mercy for the deal!)

Now through December 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Da Vinci Museum Exhibit. This looks amazing! It has more than 60 full-size machines to look at, along with reproductions of his famous artwork. There is also an activities zone with games and crafts. It’s a bit pricey, $18 for adults, $13 for students and $11 for children. Hollywood and Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. http://leonardodavincimuseumexhibit.com

I found a coupon for the Da Vinci Museum Exhibit! Here’s a link for $3 off admission. http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/details.html?offerid=853


Spring Break Ideas

Looking for things to do with your kiddos? Here are some ideas…

--Los Angeles Arboretum. Free parking. Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month

--California Science Center. Free admission. Open from 10 to 5. Parking is $8.

--Ronald Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Open 10-5, parking is free. Adults are $12, children 10 and under are free. Includes touring interior of Air Force One.

--Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Open daily from 9 to 5. Adults $8, Children 5 to 12 $3, under 5 free. Parking is free. They also have musical events, some of which are free with admission.

--Getty Museum in Brentwood and Getty Villa near Malibu. Admission is free. Villa requires reservations. Parking is $15. (Closed on Mondays).

--Miniature golfing at Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. Weekend Early Birds $3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids 4 and under free with paid adult.

--Griffith Observatory. Open Tues.-Friday 12 noon to 10, Sat. and Sun. 10-10. Free admission.

Upcoming Events

April 16. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Earth Day Festival at Descanso Gardens. General $8. Senior/Students $6. Children (5 to 12 years) $3. Guild members and children under 5 free. Enjoy a day filled with educational activities, music and entertainment for all ages. Activities for kids include Ladybug Land, which features ladybugs in all stages of their life cycle, ladybug puzzles, ladybug parachute games and a make-and-take ladybug craft. Children’s activities will be on the Main Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, the Moo Doo Puppets will perform “Earth Day Safari” at 11 a.m. on the Main Lawn.The Mobile Homeboys will return to Descanso to perform their distinctive blend of country, rock, roots and bluegrass music. Showtime is 1 p.m. in the Under the Oaks Theater. Also on the Main Lawn: Patina will offer a barbecue menu for purchase with locally grown food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Main Lawn. There is ample free parking.

April 22 - April 24. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo. This event features bunny related crafts and activities including the Be-A-Bunny Ear Craft and Funny Bunny Face Painting. Children can also pet bunnies and plant their own carrot seeds to take home. In addition (for a nominal fee), Big Bunny will be available for souvenir photos. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 644-4200.

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 4-1

Activities

March 19-April 17 (while supplies last). Visit the Busy Bee Learning Store at Kidspace to purchase live caterpillars for $5. Then raise your caterpillars from pupa to chrysalis, and finally into beautiful butterflies by following the directions included with your butterfly adoption kit. We did this last year and it was a lot of fun! Kidspace Museum, 480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91103.

April 1. 9 a.m. Get tickets for May free day for Huntington Gardens. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx.

April 2. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Every first Saturday of the month). Home Depot's Free Kids Workshop. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

April 2. 9 a.m. (Light breakfast at 8 a.m.) Women N’ Sync at The Church on the Way, East Campus, Living Room. Monthly gathering for the women at TCOTW. Guests welcome! Childcare available.

April 2. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Annual Colonial America experience at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. All regular events related to the reenactment are free; regular admission applies to enter the museum. The American Revolutionary era comes to life in an authentic 18th century encampment in one of the most authentic living history events on the West Coast. There are lots of interactive games and crafts for the children. Please call 800-410-8354 for more information. 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065. (Thanks to Syrilda for the information!)

April 3. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. This week: Chamber Ensembles from the Colburn Conservatory (Emerging Artists Series). Works to be announced. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio

April 5. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

April 5. Free day for La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum.

April 5. 5 p.m. FREE LEGO® mini model build at the Glendale Galleria LEGO store, the first Tuesday of each month. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. (I brought my 5 year old and he was able to complete the build without a problem). I attended this with my boys and it was a lot of fun! Make sure to get there early (we arrived around 4:30) and bring snacks and things to do while you wait in line. 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, 91210.
(818) 549-0733.

April 5. 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free evening at Kidspace Museum. This museum in Pasadena is a lot of fun for children and normally $10 a person, so this is a great deal! (It offers free admission the first Tuesday of the month from 4-8 p.m.) 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144. www.kidspacemuseum.org.

April 7 (and subsequent Thursdays). 9:30-11:30 a.m. Free Mommy and Me Class at The Church on The Way for children under 5 years of age. Please bring a snack for your child. King’s Kid’s Building, West Campus, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, 91405. Call 818-779-8000 for more information.

Ongoing Events

During April, kids eat free at IHOP daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase.

Chipotle is also offering a deal for families in April! On Saturdays and Sundays in April, buy a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos; get one kid’s meal free! This offer is good in L.A. and Orange County. (Thanks to my friend Mercy for the deal!)

Now through December 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Da Vinci Museum Exhibit. This looks amazing! It has more than 60 full-size machines to look at, along with reproductions of his famous artwork. There is also an activities zone with games and crafts. It’s a bit pricy, $18 for adults, $13 for students and $11 for children. I’m keeping my eye out for a deal on this! If you find one, please let me know. Hollywood and Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. http://leonardodavincimuseumexhibit.com

Upcoming Events

April 22 - April 24. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo. This event features bunny related crafts and activities including the Be-A-Bunny Ear Craft and Funny Bunny Face Painting. Children can also pet bunnies and plant their own carrot seeds to take home. In addition (for a nominal fee), Big Bunny will be available for souvenir photos. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. (323) 644-4200.

June 11. 3-5 p.m. Christian Performing Arts Center’s Dance Production. $15 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets on sale now 818-921-4430. www.cpacstudio.com Birmingham High School Theatre. 17000 Haynes Street, Lake Balboa.