August 4-15. (Hours vary). Ventura County Fair. 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. www.venturacountyfair.org. Adults $10, children 6-12 $7. There are days with discount tickets! August 11, entry to the Fair is $1 'til 3PM!! Check out the website for other deal days!
August 6. Grand opening of renovated Santa Monica Place near third street. They have different activities going on to celebrate. 2-4 pm: The Art of the Beach – interactive beach-inspired art activities invite guests of all ages to create their own colorful spin-art Frisbees and note cards, as well as layered sand-art bracelets (2nd Level). Check out the website for more details. http://santamonicaplace.com/events/event.aspx?eid=16538
August 6. 6 pm. FREE concert at LACMA, no reservations required. BP Grand Entrance. Bassist Henry "The Skipper" Franklin's prolific career began with Willie Bobo and Archie Shepp, and he rose to fame working with Hugh Masakela. Franklin has recorded numerous albums as a bandleader and has also worked closely with Gene Harris and the Three Sounds, Freddie Hubbard, Bobbi Humphrey, and Hampton Hawes.
August 6. 7-9:30 p.m. Keyes Lexus of Valencia has Jazz and Blues concert series every Friday night thru Aug. 27. This week is Reno Jones. Food & Beverages for sale (No outside food or beverages; no pets allowed.) Activities for the kids. Downtown Valencia in the street on Town Center Drive at McBean Parkway in Santa Clarita. www.valenciajazzandblues.com (Thanks, Kristi!)
August 7. Home Depot's FREE Kids Workshop to make a school bus pencil organizer. 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.
August 7. 10 a.m. Big!World!Fun! Family Series at the Ford Theatre. This week features Alfredo Rolando Ortiz. The internationally acclaimed Latin American harpist, composer, and educator relates his adventures of migration, hardship and success: Cuban-born, he traveled to Venezuela, learning the Venezuelan and Paraguayan folk harps, and finally to Colombia, where, thanks to his music, he became a medical doctor. PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES START @ 9AM – arrive early to make instruments – clapper sticks, tambourines, string instruments, and more – craft project led by the Autry! 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, L.A. One hour-long music, dance and theatre aimed for children ages 4 to 10 and families. Children free, adults $5. Parking $1. Reservations required. To avoid handling fees, call the box office at 323-461-3673. This is outdoors and it’s okay to bring food.
August 7. 4 p.m. FREE. Fairy Tales in the Park—“Three Little Pigs.” Rancho Simi Community Park Amphitheater, 1765 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. Bring a blanket or chair.
August 7. 6-10 p.m. Dive in Movie at Rancho Simi Community Pool in Simi Valley. Movie “Monsters vs. Aliens” starts at 8 p.m. $3 per person, bring blankets or chairs. 1765 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley.
August 7. 7-10 p.m. Warner Park: Movies on the Green. Movie begins about ½ hour after sunset. This week’s movie is Mama Mia (PG-13): Outdoor family movies are presented on Saturday evenings through August 28th and are projected on a 30’ screen with digital projection and 7.1 surround sound. 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills.
August 7. 6-8 p.m. Free weekly summer concerts at Simi Valley Town Center. This week: 80's Night - Cover2Cover. 1555 Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley, 93065. (805) 581-1430.
August 7-8. 4-5:30 p.m. Garden Concerts for Kids at the Getty. Free admission; no reservations required. This week features Milkshake. Milkshake is a band on a mission: to create great rock music for kids. Led by alt-pop and rock veterans Lisa Mathews and Mikel Gehl, Milkshake's lively attitude and lyrically lighthearted songs have won fans of all ages and will get you dancing with their authentic rock-and-roll spirit. 1200 Getty Center Dr., L.A., 90049. (310) 440-7300. Parking is $15.
August 8. 12 noon - 4:30 pm. The Hollywood Arts Council is proud to announce their 25th Annual Children’s Festival of the Arts to be held at Paramount Pictures! This is a FREE, non-commercial event featuring live performances and workshops from near and far catering to children and their families from all over Los Angeles! Come play with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, get your face painted, make your own puppet, and much more! Kid Friendly: Family art workshops, visual and musical performances from around the world! Food Services: Mort’s Food Cart will provide food available for purchase. Paramount Pictures: Bronson Gate Entrance 5555 Melrose Ave. , Hollywood , 90038 Cross Streets: Melrose Ave / N. Gower St. (323) 871-2787.
August 8. FREE concert at Levitt Pavilion, MacArthur Park, 2230 W. Sixth St., L.A. 213-384-5701Moona Luna plays bilingual Spanish rock. Open lawn seating. The Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park is located in the northwest corner of the park near the intersection of West 6th Street and S. Park View Street, just west of downtown Los Angeles.
August 8. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater.
Pianist Petronel Malan performs Griffes: Sonata, Haydn: Sonata in A-flat major, HobVI:46, Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No.19.
August 8. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. FREE weekly concerts in the park. Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills. This week the group is the Swedish group Arrival, playing the music of ABBA. Prior to the concert at 6 PM, join us on the green for more music and a health and wellness expo beginning at 4 PM.
August 9. 10 a.m. FREE Monday Morning Concert for children at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park. Admission is first-come, first-served basis. I usually go around 9:30 and bring coins for parking meters. 21622 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303 – 818-347-9938. This week’s concert is: WOOLEY & GODWIN
Chris & Tim will be playing new songs from John Mayer, Maroon 5 & Dave Matthews. They are not your typical acoustic duo that sing and play the songs you’ve heard too many times. They play the songs that bring a smile to peoples faces and get the reaction of “I love that song!”
August 9. Starts at dusk. FREE. Monday Movie Nights at Simi Valley Town Center mall in food court area, some seating, okay to bring chairs. Movie this week is The Twilight Saga New Moon (PG-13).
August 9 and August 12. 10 a.m. Free showing of Surf’s Up (PG). The Promenade at Westlake presents the Summer Film Festival! Free family movies at Mann Westlake 8 Theatres, Mondays and Thursdays. Plus, receive a KIDS EAT FREE postcard when you see a movie during the Summer Film Festival. Enjoy lunch at one of The Promenade restaurants listed below, where you will receive a free kids meal with purchase of any adult entree and beverage. 180 Promenade Way, Promenade Mall, Westlake Village, 91362. (805) 379-2299.
August 10. Free Day at Autry National Center (across from L.A. Zoo). (323) 667-2000.
August 10. 6 p.m. Free Kids’ Club at The Commons at Calabasas. 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas. Wear clothes appropriate for getting messy for this art workshop.
August 10. 10 a.m. AMC Summer Movie Camp will be offered at 10 a.m. each Tuesday morning this summer at participating theatres, from June 15 through August 10. This week the movie is How To Train Your Dragon (PG). Each ticket is $1 and all admission and concession proceeds will benefit two AMC charities, Variety – The Children’s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. Tickets for each week will be on sale approximately one week prior to the scheduled show date.
August 10-11. 10 a.m. FREE summer movies at select Regal Theatres. Selected G or PG movies start at 10:00am every Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theatre capacity. Tickets for the 2010 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show. Charlotte's Web (G) and Imagine That (PG) are playing at the Civic Center Stadium 16 in Simi Valley. Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G) and Kung Fu Panda (PG) are playing at the Canyon Country Stadium 10 on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Doogal (G) and Night At The Museum II (PG) are playing at the Grand Palace Stadium 6 on 4767 Commons Way in Calabasas.
August 11. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Entry to the Ventura County Fair is $1 'til 3PM!! 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura.
August 11. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free Kids’ Club at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. Come enjoy the Friendly Farm Petting Zoo. 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., T.O.
August 11. 7 p.m. FREE. Children’s Night at Levitt Pavilion. Choo Choo Soul. Diverse duo from Playhouse Disney combines hip-hop, dance, and beat boxing. 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena.
August 12. 6:30-7:30 p.m. FREE parent education meeting at MARS Academy, usually on the 2nd Thursdays of each month. No RSVP required, meeting starts promptly. This month’s topic is Back to School—How to help your child start this new school year with success. 17730 Magnolia Boulevard, Encino. (Thanks Nikki!)
August 12. 8 p.m. Free All-Time Favorite Movies Under The Stars! The Grove Presents Movies in The Park. This week is Twilight: New Moon (PG-13). Bring a blanket (no chairs, please) and have a magical evening at The Grove. The event opens for general grass and bleacher seating at 7:15pm. For early access, and to bypass the line, simply pre-order gourmet picnics from any of The Grove's fine restaurants or purchase gourmet picnics in The Park. Compliment your outdoor movie experience with a delicious meal. Early access begins at 6:30pm. Only The Grove food permitted in The Park, please. 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036. PHONE 323.900.8080.
August 12. 5:30-7 p.m. Jazz at Descanso Gardens. “The Evolution of American Jazz” concert series on Thursday evenings will feature top local talent performing on the new earthen stage on Descanso’s Main Lawn. Bring a blanket to sit on and a picnic supper (normally not allowed inside the Gardens), and settle back to savor music from some of SoCal’s finest jazz artists. Concerts run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. through August 12. Concerts are free with admission to the Gardens and free for members. This week, the concert series concludes with Willie McNeil performing straight-ahead jazz with pop and rock influences.
August 12. 6-9 p.m. Thursday night summer concerts at the Autry Museum (across from L.A. Zoo). See top Latin bands in a fun, casual, energetic setting on the Autry plaza. The taco and drink bar open at 6:00 p.m., and the museum and museum store close at 8:00 p.m. Complimentary dance lessons and a separate dance floor for kids guarantee fun for all! Free for Autry members / $7 for nonmembers. This week: Orquesta Son Mayor. Voted “Best Salsa Band” by LA Weekly, Son Mayor continues August Sizzling Summer Nights with its high-energy sounds, playing a mixture of vintage Latin and contemporary Cuban styles. From humble beginnings, this musical family has made Son Mayor one of L.A.’s most sought-after salsa bands. Son Mayor has opened for and played alongside such greats as Chucho Valdez at the Hollywood Bowl, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Los Van Van, Sonora Ponceña, Oscar D’León, El Canario, Ozomatli, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.
Ongoing DealsThere are a lot of back to school sales for school supplies right now. Check out this link Janet sent me for a great chart of sales at various stores. http://www.saveathomemommy.com/2010/08/school-supply-deals-81-87/
Albertsons has coupons available in the store that allow you to pair it with a manufacturer’s coupon up to $1 and double it! So a $1 off cereal becomes $2 off! The double coupons are good through August 10th.
Picaboo is offering a FREE classic photo book during August. Just design your own photo book at Picaboo. Get it FREE with code FREEBK until 8/31. To design your book you will need to download Picaboo’s free software Make sure to design a large Classic, Classic Leather, or Classic Custom book by August 31. The total cost of your book (up to 20 pages) will be deducted from your order total. This is a $39 value and you just pay the shipping of $8.99 This offer is available to new Picaboo members only. The website is www.picaboo.com
Here’s another photo deal. Through 9/1, you can order 3 Free 5×7 Folded Photo Cards from Shutterfly (just pay shipping, just over $1). www.shutterfly.com I took advantage of this deal earlier in the year and made great Father’s Day cards for my hubby and dad. At checkout, enter code: SUMMERCARDS. Here’s how to order the cards:
· Create or Login to your account.
· Click on ‘Cards & Stationery’, then ‘5×7 Folded Greeting Cards’, then select other card style and upload photos
· Order
· Select ‘Send them Back to Me’ to avoid postage costs
· Change Quantity to total 3 cards, then ‘Add to Cart’
· {or you can order 1 each of 3 different styles!}
· When you’re in your shopping cart, click on the blue words at the top “Enter promo code”
· Enter & apply code: SUMMERCARDS
Maggiano’s Little Italy now has a new option on their menu. For $12.95, you get a pasta dish to eat and another one to take home. Add a dessert for just $2 with the coupon available at the following address through 9/3/2010
http://maggianos.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=36507231545&storecode=165
You can also sign up online to receive $10 off your next meal, and discounts on your birthday, anniversary, and occasionally throughout the year. http://www.maggianos.com/
Here’s a deal at Wendy’s. Each store got 1,000 keychain cards to sell for a $1 each. Purchase the keychain and get a Junior Frosty (the small kids size) for free. On each returning visit to Wendy's present the card and you'll get a free Junior Frosty (when you purchase something). You can use it as many times as you would like through December. Limit one free Frosty per transaction.
Every day in August, from 4-10 p.m., kids eat free at IHOP. Buy an adult entrée, get a kids’ meal free.
September 25th is museum day! You can request a ticket for free admission for two people by going to this link. http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html?2010
Zazzle is offering 100 FREE business/contact/mommy cards (whatever you want to use them for) for FREE. This is a $16.95 value and the discount is applied automatically at checkout when you complete your purchase. Choose economical shipping to pay only $3.99 for the order. www.zazzle.com Thanks to commonsensewithmoney.com!
Upcoming EventsAugust 13. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. I’ve heard great things about Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine (Thanks, Linda!) I found a coupon for 2 for the price of 1 for Pretend City on the second Friday of the month (Way to Play Days). 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618. (949) 428-3900 Here's the link for the coupon. http://www.pretendcity.org/IMAGES/2-For-1-Promo.jpg
August 14 & 15, and 21 & 22. 4–5:30 p.m. Garden Concerts for Kids at the Getty, Saturdays and Sundays. Free admission; no reservations required. The summertime tradition returns with another great lineup of kids' music! Don't miss this free concert series in the Central Garden for kids and their families, featuring some of the best children's musicians from across the nation. 1200 Getty Center Dr., L.A., 90049.
August 15. 12-1 p.m. FREE Kids Cupcake Decorating Party at Whole Foods in Tarzana. They get to decorate and then eat their cupcake! To RSVP, please email SPTRZ-marketing@wholefoods.com. 18700 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana, 91356. 818-578-7840.
