Kristin's Kickbacks List Week of 7-8

Activities

July 8. 5-10 p.m. Burbank’s Birthday. Free event. The city turns 100 and is celebrating with an air parade, a Mascot parade, live performances, children’s entertainment, fireworks and a huge cupcake display. Downtown Burbank. www.downtown-burbank.org

July 8. 7-9:30 p.m. Keyes Lexus of Valencia has free Jazz and Blues concert series every Friday night thru Aug. 27. This week: Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps. 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!)

July 8. 6 p.m. Free weekly jazz concerts at LACMA. This week: Clayton Cameron Sextet. BP Grand Entrance. No reservations needed.

July 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.

July 9. 10 a.m. Big!Fun!World! Family Series: AXIS Dance Company. This dance troupe is known for integrating the audience into the dance experience. Reservations required. Tickets $5 for adults, free for children. Ford Theatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood. www.fordtheatres.org.

July 9. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Target Free Family Saturday: Once Upon a Time. Do crafts, watch vintage anime, listen to We Tell Stories and take part in a “storytelling tea party.” Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St., L.A. 213-625-0414.

July 9. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Latin Sounds in Hancock Park. (Free event every Saturday 5 pm–7 pm, May through September). This week: Bobby Rodriguez Latin Jazz at LACMA, in Hancock Park north of the museum.

July 10. 4 p.m. Free event at Levitt Pavilion. Hudson Vagabond Puppets. The troupe uses over-size puppets and maskes to tell the story on Jemima Puddle Duck. Levitt Pavilion, MacArthur Park, W. 6^th St. and S. Park View St., L.A. www.levittla.org

July 10. 6 p.m. FREE weekly concerts at LACMA. (Los Angles County Museum of Art). This week: Pianist Bernadene Blaha and violinist Livia Sohn. These one-hour concerts are presented free to the public on Sundays in the Leo S. Bing Theater. If you don’t make it there, you can also listen online for free at: http://www.lacma.org/programs/SundaysLive.aspx#audio

July 11. Get a free 7.11 oz slurpee at 7-11 (Thanks, Janice!)

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

July 12. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Summer Family Series at Descanso Gardens. For six Tuesday evenings, enjoy family-friendly music, theater and fairies. Bring a picnic (normally not allowed in the Gardens) and get ready for fun. Concert included with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children 5-12, free for children 4 and younger. No reciprocal gardens admissions. Free parking. This week: Aaron Nigel Trio, reggae-flavored music. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. (818) 949-4200.

July 12-13. 10 a.m. $1 summer movies at select Regal Theatres. Selected G or PG movies start at 10 am every Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theatre capacity. TALE OF DESPEREAUX & YOGI BEAR are playing at the Civic Center Stadium 16 in Simi Valley at 2751 Tapo Cyn Road. CLOUDY W/ MEATBALLS & GULLIVERS TRAVEL are playing at the Canyon Country Stadium 10 at 18800 Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. MARMADUKE & MEGAMIND are playing at the Grand Palace Stadium 6 at 4767 Commons Way in Calabasas. Here’s the link for the full summer schedule: http://www.regmovies.com/summermovieexpress/default.aspx

July 13. 11 a.m. Puppet Show at Porter Ranch Library. 11371 Tampa Avenue
Porter Ranch, 91326. (Thanks, Janice!)

July 13. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Kids Club: Reptilian Adventures. The Reptile Family will let you look at snakes and lizards! Free event. The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 805-497-9861.

July 13. 7 p.m. Theatre 360 at Levitt Pavilion. Enjoy a free evening of family-friendly theater from this award-winning local children’s theater company. 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena. www.levittpavilionpasadena.org

July 14. 5:30 p.m. Music on the Main jazz series at Descanso Gardens.This week: Drummer Sammy Miller, a rising star on the jazz scene, headlines a concert of smooth jazz. Bring a picnic (usually not allowed in the Gardens.) Concert included with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children 5-12, free for children 4 and younger. No reciprocal gardens admissions. Free parking. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. (818) 949-4200.

July 14. 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 bar opens 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! Adults: $10 / Students and Seniors: $6 / Children (3–12): $4 / Children under 3: Free. Purchase membership on-site and enjoy all nine Sizzling Summer Nights for free. This week: Johnny Planceo y su Conjunto Amistad

Back to School Supplies

Stores already have back to school sales! Here’s one for school supplies from Staples, good until 7-9-11. (Thanks, Nikki!)

· Staples Paper Clips, 50 ct – $0.50

· Staples 12″ Ruler – $0.50

· Avery Insertable 5 Tab Dividers – $0.50

· Staples Steel 1 Hole Punch – $0.50

· Staples Magnetic Bulldog Clip, 3 pk – $0.50

· Staples Main Composition Book, 80 sheets, 2 pk – $0.50

· Staples Pencil Box – $0.50

· Staples Pencil Sharpener – $0.50

· Staples Clipboard, 5.5″ x 9″ – $0.50

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 10-15

Activities

October 1-31. Kids, ages 3-9, get free admission to San Diego Zoo (with purchase of adult ticket). If you were planning a trip, this would be a good time to go.

October 3-31. Pumpkin Festival at Lombardi Ranch. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission, $4 train ride, $4 corn maze, $3 petting zoo, $4.50 for either wagon ride or pony ride. 29527 Bouquet Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita. www.lombardiranch.com.

October 9-November 7. Weekends 9am - 5pm,Weekdays 2pm - 5pm. Forneris Farms Festival and Corn Maze. Free admission and parking. $4 train ticket, $7 corn maze (3 and younger free with paid adult), kids play area $3. 15200 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills. www.fornerisfarms.com.

October 15. 6-8 pm. FREE weekly jazz concerts at LACMA, no reservations required. LA Times Central Court. This week: Peter Erskine Quartet.

October 16-17. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Autumn Air at Descanso Gardens.
Wander under the oaks and meet local artists who will set up easels among the trees. Artists will have works for sale. Free with admission. General $8. Senior/Students $6. Children (5 to 12 years) $3. Guild members and children under 5 free.

October 16-17. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Calabasas Pumpkin Festival. $5 admission, kids under 2 free. Entry Pass Includes: Inflatable Rides, Contests, Carnival Games & Business District Fun Zone, Car Show, Live Bands, Reptiles & Nature Programs. Food and drinks available for purchase. Juan Bautista de Anza Park. 3701 Lost Hills Rd., Calabasas. Free parking. Shuttles at festival entrance at the corner of Lost Hills Rd & Agoura Rd.

October 17. 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: Soprano Jacqueline Fontaine performs Robert Schumann: Frauenlieben und Leben.

October 19. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. Toddler story time at Borders at the Northridge Mall. Theme this week is Knuffle Bunny stories and other books by author Mo Willems.

October 19. 6 p.m. FREE. Kids Club at The Commons at Calabasas. This week: Juggling and Comedy. 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas.

October 20. 11 a.m. Kids Club at The Lakes in Thousand Oaks. This week: Musical Fun with Claire. Claire is a trained singer/songwriter who has focused her energy on developing interactive music and storytelling for children. 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., T. Oaks, 91362.

Restaurants

Wendy's is selling their Jr. Frosty booklets. You buy them for one dollar and get five coupons for a free Jr. Frosty between November 1st and February 1st.

McDonald’s also has coupon books right now! You pay about $1 (some stores may charge a little more) and you get a coupon book that includes 12 FREEBIE Coupons! Coupons are valid for use 11/1/10 – 12/31/10. Redeemable by children 12 and under. Please comment on my blog if you find these at a McDonalds near you. Apparently they are not being sold at every McDonalds.

Paid Focus Groups

Have you ever been to a focus group? Companies will pay you to tell them what you think about their products. They are generally 1-2 hours and vary in pay, about $75-$100 dollars for your time. Some places even feed you! Here is a list of some local groups. If you sign up for several different groups, you have a better chance of getting called. You are eligible every 3 months or so, depending on the group.

Adept Consumer Testing http://www.adeptconsumer.com/home.php

Trotta http://www.trotta.net/join.htm

Qualitative Insights http://www.q-insights.com/respondent.html

Adler Weiner Research http://www.awr-la.com/participants.htm

Facts ‘N Figures Inc. http://www.factsnfiguresinc.com/

Inspired Opinions (formerly called Schlesinger Associates) https://inspiredopinions.com/registration.php?rc=MTg%3D

Matrix Research http://www.matrix-r.com/

Savitz Research Companies http://www.savitzpanel.com/

Plaza Research http://www.plazaresearch.com/

Check out this link if you live somewhere besides Los Angeles: http://hubpages.com/hub/Paid_Focus_Groups


Upcoming Events

October 22-24. 9 a.m.-5 p.m LA Kids Consignment sale in Santa Clarita. This is a one-weekend only children's consignment sale where you can find 50,000+ gently-used and new kids items from cribs to toys to bikes and clothing for newborns through pre-teens. 24901 Avenue Stanford, Valencia, 91355. http://www.lakidsconsignment.com/

October 23. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Healthy Neighborhood Festival. Music and dance workshops and performances. Cooking workshops. Admission, parking and health screenings are free. The California Endowment. 1000 N. Alameda Street, L.A., 90012.
www.calendow.org/healthyneighborhoodfest

October 29. IHOP is offering Scary Face Pancakes free of charge for children 12 and under (one per child). The Scary Face Pancake includes an oversized signature buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini OREO® cookies and candy corn on the side to allow kids to create their own pancake.