The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Garden Concerts for Kids this August, a free annual outdoor music series for kids and their families in the Getty Center’s Central Garden featuring some of the best children’s musical artists from across the nation.

Garden Concerts for Kids kicks off this summer with LA-based Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band on August 6 and 7.  One of the brightest new artists on the kids’ music scene, this Silver Lake trio was named the best new kids’ artist of 2010 by USA Today. Their fresh rockabilly, retro tunes, and indie goodness open the concert series, with songs from their brand new album, Oh Lucky Day!

The following weekend, August 13 and 14, Grammy nominated Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could will get every family up and dancing with their energetic beats. They are a rollicking back-porch rock ‘n’ roll band with a feel-good R & B foundation. According to National Public Radio, they “might just be the best-sounding band in children’s music.” 

Closing out the season on August 20 and 21 singer-guitarist Frances England will bring her warm, indie-folk melodies and alt-rock rhythms to the Getty.  Performing from her brand new Parent’s Choice Gold Award-winning album, Mind Of My Own, England will sing about bicycles, ladybugs, and Jacques Cousteau.  England’s incredibly creative and slightly off-beat take on family life has inspired a world of fans since her 2007 breakout album, Fascinating Creatures.

The Garden Concerts for Kids are held in the Central Garden at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, from 4:00-5:30 p.m.   Admission is free, and no reservations are required. 

Parking is $15.  For more information visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Skirball center has a exhibit that will be enjoyed by kids of all ages.

Houdini: Art and Magic

April 28 through September 4, 2011

ADMISSION

Included with Museum admission:

• $10 General
• $7 Seniors and Full-Time Students
• $5 Children 2–12
• FREE to Members and Children under 2
• FREE to all on Thursdays

Skirball had this to say about the exhibition:

Magician, escape artist, and showman extraordinaire Harry Houdini (1874–1926) has remained an object of fascination for generations. Combining biographical and historical artifacts with contemporary art inspired by his physical audacity and celebrity, Houdini: Art and Magic explores Houdini as an individual and an enduring cultural phenomenon, documenting the period in American history when the young Jewish immigrant helped shape the cultural landscape and became an acknowledged mass-market star.

Tuesday, March 1: Twinkle Time
Twinkle and her colorful cast of friends will teach children valuable lessons to catchy tunes.

Tuesday, March 8: Melissa Green
Listen, dance, clap, and play to interactive folk music by Melissa!

Tuesday, March 15: Rhythm Child
Rhythm Child introduces your child to creative expression and cultural exploration through interactive music.

Tuesday, March 22: The SqueeGees
The SqueeGees provide an irresistibly playful musical adventure for the entire family! Their songs deliver important messages like living healthy, animal rescue and environmental awareness.

Tuesday, March 29: The Hollow Trees
This week, enjoy bluegrass, country and folk music for kids with The Hollow Trees!

Magical, Mysterious, Musical Fun: Absolutely Halloween
Santa Monica Playhouse

October 16 through October 31
Saturdays and Sundays only
12:30pm and 3pm

This original holiday-themed musical Absolutely Halloween, is a heartwarming tale of the aptly named “Candy,” a sweet, young girl who learns some surprising lessons about life, love, laughter and sugar, from a delightful array of characters who take her on a magical All Hallow’s Eve adventure, enlisting the audience’s aid to help save Halloween for one more year. A delightful holiday tradition, back by popular demand for the sixth year in a row.

Admission: $10.50 for children 12 and under; $12.50 for adults.

Halloween Special: Go in costume and get two-for-one tickets for any future Family Theatre show.

Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage
1211 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA

For more information: 310-394-9779 x2

Sunday, September 12, 5:30 – 6:30pm

A great opportunity to get together with a grandparent! Together, you’ll enjoy a delicious meal, plus a commemorative photo and keepsakes to take home as a reminder of the memories made during your special day.

Free Family Flicks Screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Based on a children’s book by Ian Fleming and adapted by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) with director Ken Hughes (1968, 35mm, color, 144 min.)

WHERE: Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum, Westwood

WHEN: Sunday, August 15 at 11:00 AM

CORRECTED INFORMATION

GETTY OFFERS SUMMER SCHEDULE OF DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

Getty Center and Getty Villa increase daily opportunities

for free family fun over the summer

LOS ANGELES—The whole family can enjoy an artistic summer at the Getty, with stepped-up schedules of free family-focused activities from mid-June to September.

Getty  Center

At the Getty Center, start the summer early with a Family Festival celebrating Leonardo DaVinci on Saturday, June 5, 10am-6pm.  Enter the world of Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Italy in this full-day celebration with music, dance, storytelling and interactive workshops.

Throughout the summer, join Family Art Stops and get up close and personal with a single work of art in a half-hour gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up.  All summer long, Family Art Stops is offered Tuesday-Friday at 2pm and again at 2:30.  Sign up at the Museum Information Desk 30 minutes before the program begins.  Art Adventures for Families is a one-hour, fun- and activity-filled gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up, offered Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.   Sign up at the Museum Information Desk at 1:30pm.  The Center also offers Family Art Lab every weekend from 11am-3:30pm, a drop-in art workshop designed to exercise the imagination.  Don’t miss the Family Room, open all day long for drop-in hands-on activities highlighting the Getty Center’s collection.

In August, the Getty Center’s Central Garden fills with music every weekend from 4-5pm, with the Garden Concerts for Kids, free performances by some of the best children’s music performers around.

Getty Villa

At the Getty Villa, embark on an Art Odyssey for Families Thursdays and Fridays at 12pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.  The Art Odyssey is a 45-minute activity-filled journey through the galleries for families with children ages 5 and older.  Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place 15 minutes before the tour begins.  The Art Odyssey is also offered in Spanish.

The Villa also offers ArtQuest!, a family drop-in program, weekends from 11am-4pm.   Parents and children can play the Mysteries of Ancient Art game in the galleries and do fun art-making activities in the Outer Peristyle, such as mosaic-making and painting in the style of fresco.  The Family Forum is also open all day for drop-in hands-on play and engagement for young and old.

Admission to the Getty Center and Getty Villa is always free.  Parking is $15.  Advance, timed tickets are required for the Getty Villa.  For tickets, and for more information about free family activities at the Getty this summer call (310) 440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.

Sometimes its really difficult to find things to do with your little bean. However, its not all about the big plan and the big adventure. Sometimes, its just enough to get up early, go to a mall, sit down by an open space and watch your little one find life interesting. It was rainy today in Los Angeles so we decided to head out to one of our favorite malls, Century City. Well formerly known as Century City now I believe its Westfield. Its an outside mall, so you would think that its NOT a good idea in the rain. However, if you park yourself at the BreadBar you get a great covered view of a fairly wide open space where you can let your bean roam free. The beauty of today was really that it rained and no one was out. So our little girl got to run around in the puddles while we ate croissants and bread from the BreadBar. It was a blast.

The pool will be open
Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 2, 3, 4 from 11am-3pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 8, 9, 10 from 11am-3pm

The Annenberg Community Beach House is a new community destination open to all, no membership required. It is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California. Visit online at http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com for more information.

Admission prices:

$10 for Adults
$5 for Seniors, aged 60+
$4 for Youth age 1-17
$24 Family Pass (two Adults and two Youths)

The Pasadena Symphony Association’s Musical Circus at The Americana at Brand in Glendale is great for children 3-8 years of age.

The Circus begins with the instrument “petting zoo” where youngsters can toot flutes, blow trumpets, pluck violins and cellos and bang on percussion instrument.

The Musical Circus is free, so bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun music making!

To view the full schedule, please visit Pasadena Symphony website.

The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210-1555 ( View Map )
2 pm-3:30 pm