Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 3-25

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.

March 26. 2 p.m. LEGO fun at Borders bookstore! LEGO Racers is the ultimate LEGO experience for kids who love to build and play with cars. Receive a free LEGO racer and have some LEGO-building fun! Space is limited, call the store for details. First come, first served. Borders at the Northridge Mall, 9301 Tampa Ave.,Northridge, CA 91324. (Call to see if your local store is participating).

March 26. 2 p.m. Free Magic Show at the Granada Hills Library. Magic Workshop to follow at 3 p.m. for ages 8 and older. Limited space for workshop. Sign-up at the Reference Desk. 10640 Petit Avenue, Granada Hills. 818-368-5687.

March 26. 2 p.m. Dave Kinnoin: Gorilla Feet. A popular local performer will present rain forest-themed music. Free. Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles. 213-228-7250.

March 27. 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: Pianist Joel Fan performs Ernesto Nazaret: Vem CÁ, Branquinha, Tango for Piano; Heitor Villa-Lobos: Alma Brasiliera; Margaret Bonds: Troubled Water; Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op.110. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio

March 29. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

March 31 (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 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.

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 3-18

Activities

March 17-20. Give and Get is here! Get 30% off your purchase at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society gets 5% of what you spend! (Not valid online). Here’s the link to the coupon: http://gap.p.delivery.net/m/p/gap/gcan/gpjump.asp?p=bp/lls.html

If you don’t make it shopping this weekend, this coupon is good for Old Navy for 30% off your entire purchase through March 24^th. http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/info.do?cid=62414

March 19. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Huge used book sale at Mid Valley Regional Library. Children’s books are generally 25 cents each! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

March 19. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Family Festival at the Getty Center.1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles. Free admission, parking is $15. The whole family can discover the richness and beauty of the ancient empires of India, Japan, and China as well as the recent explosions in artistic creativity. Experience traditional Chinese opera, listen to Chinese folktales told by a master storyteller, and be dazzled by the amazing music and dance of these vibrant cultures. Includes hands-on activities for the kids. Here’s a link to check the schedule: http://www.getty.edu/education/kids_families/programs/center_family_festival.html

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.

March 20. 6 p.m. Marrieds Meeting at The Church on the Way. Come enjoy fellowship with other married couples. Childcare is available!

March 20. 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: Pianist Andrew Brownell performs Clementi: Toccata, Opus 11 and Sonata in B-flat, Opus 24, No.2; Mozart: Variations on a Theme of Paisiello, K.398; Beethoven: Sonata in B-flat, Opus 22. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio

March 22. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall.

March 24 (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.

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.

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 3-11

Activities

March 11-12. 2-5 p.m. Free Starbucks Petites dessert when you buy any handcrafted drink.

March 12. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Large garage sale at 7953 Aldea Ave., Van Nuys, 91406.

March 12. 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.

March 12. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission to Japanese American National Museum. 369 E. First Street, Los Angeles. 213-625-0414. This month’s theme is building and architecture.

March 13. 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: UCLA Philharmonia performs Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta and Miraculous Mandarin Suite. Neal Stulberg, conductor.

March 15. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. This week learn about St. Patrick’s Day.

March 17 (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.

Upcoming Events

March 19. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Huge used book sale at Mid Valley Regional Library. Children’s books are generally 25 cents each! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

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.

Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 3-4

Activities

March 4- March 6. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. L.A. Kids Consignment Sale. This twice-yearly consignment sale is the largest in L.A. with over 50,000 items. You probably want to leave the kids at home for this one if you can. 50% off most things left on Sunday. 157 W. Providencia Ave., Burbank.

March 5. 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.

March 5. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free 15^th Anniversary Celebration at the Mid Valley Regional Branch Library. Includes music by Monroe jazz band, bubble mania and Zumba! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

March 5. 2 p.m. Read Across America. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with storytime, games and crafts at your local Borders book store (I would call and confirm your store is participating).

March 6. 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: The United States Army Chorus, under the direction of Major Dwayne Milburn, performs works by Gounod, Wagner, and Foster, together with popular standards and traditional favorites.

March 8. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. This week will be about time.

March 9. Free single serving of Panda Express Golden Treasure Shrimp! Here’s the coupon: http://www.pandaexpress.com/PX/Facebook/Images/GTS_Coupon_030911.html

March 10 (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.

Upcoming Events

March 19. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Huge used book sale at Mid Valley Regional Library. Children’s books are generally 25 cents each! 16244 Nordoff Street, North Hills. 818-895-3650.

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.