Los Angeles Culture Challenge September 2014

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

Welcome to a new month filled with a wide variety of cultural opportunities. If you weren’t able to travel as far and wide as you would have liked to this summer, then September is your chance to make up for it. There are festivals and fairs, performances and workshops that offer you the chance to explore the cultures of Greece, China, Thailand, Scandinavia, Latin America, and Africa right here in Los Angeles. Where will you venture this month?

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 6 & 7 *

16th Annual L.A. Greek Fest, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Pico & Normandie, Friday to Sunday. The L.A. Greek Fest is your passport to Greece. Each day of festivities is a celebration of food, wine, dance, games, performances, and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences. An added bonus, the festival takes place on the grounds of Saint Sophia Cathedral, a registered historical landmark in the heart of the Byzantine Latino Quarter of Los Angeles.

Big!World!Fun!: Viver Brasil, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood, Saturday, 10am. Viver Brasil’s dance performance “bursts with exhilarating movement, pulsating percussion and passionate vocals. Rooted in the traditional and contemporary dances of Bahia, Brazil, the company’s work embodies this culture’s beautiful and mythic stories, complete with colorful costuming and an energetic troupe of dancers, drummers and singers.”

The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour, Chinatown, Saturday, 10:30am-1pm. (Offered every first Saturday of the month). Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more when guided to the unique treasures—not to mention great bargains—to be found in Chinatown. Wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards to discover the charm of L.A.’s Chinatown.

Pippi Longstocking, Promenade Playhouse, Santa Monica, Saturday & Sunday, 1pm. See famed Swedish author Astrid Lindgren’s rambunctious character Pippi Longstocking come to life in Creating Arts Company’s interactive-cinematic-theatrical experience. “Pippi’s good-natured hijinks cause as much trouble as fun in this bubbly, slapstick show for the whole family!” It is recommended for ages 3 and up and aims to entertain the entire family.

Kids in the Courtyard: Now That’s a Wrap!, Fowler Museum Courtyard, UCLA, Sunday, 12:30pm-2:30pm. Take a look at the stunning cloth in Yards of Style: African-Print Cloths of Ghana, Embroidery as Activism in Post-Apartheid South Africa, and Textiles of Timor, and then learn techniques for weaving and decorating your own fabric to create a take-home textile. This event is part of an afternoon of textiles programs, including an opening day curatorial talk for Textiles of Timor at 3pm with a reception following.

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 13 & 14 *

Mexican Independence Day, Olvera Street Plaza, Downtown LA, Saturday & Sunday, 10am-10pm. Celebrate Mexican Independence from Spain with popular and traditional entertainment, cultural activities, historic displays, food, artisan exhibits, and more. Top Latin stars will perform and there will be games, rides, and family fun.

76th Annual Moon Festival, West and Central Plazas, Chinatown, Saturday, 5pm-12am. Join in the festivities of this harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese dating back over 3,000 years. There will be artisans and an artisan market, music performances, children’s craft workshops, an outdoor kitchen stage, Capuchin Monkey and Trainer, moon viewing with telescopes, and food trucks.

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 20 & 21 *

I AM ELEVEN, Laemmle Royal, West LA; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; AMC Burbank 8, Burbank. Opens Friday the 19th. Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey travelled the world for six years talking with 11-year-olds to compose this insightful, funny, and moving documentary portrait of childhood. From an orphanage in India, to a single-parent household in inner-city Melbourne, to bathing with elephants in Thailand, I AM ELEVEN explores the lives and thoughts of children from 15 countries and explores what it means to sit at this transitional age. There will be “Meet the filmmaker Q&A” sessions after various screenings. See website for more information.

Pasadena GreekFest, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Friday to Sunday. Celebrate Greek culture through its food and entertainment. Try a variety of classic Greek dishes—lamb chops, gyros, souvlaki, fried calamari, and grilled octopus—and wash it down with authentic Greek wines and spirits. Enjoy live music by the Olympians and special guests from Greece. Watch dance presentations from award winning groups or join in and learn to dance. A special Kid’s Fun Zone entertains kids with rides, carnival games, and more.

Scandinavian AutumnFest and Höstmarknad Celebration, Vasa Park, Agoura, Sunday. AutumnFest offers a wide range of activities for the whole family. In addition to enjoying traditional foods of Sweden, you can be a judge in the 6th Annual Swedish Meatball Contest. Besides great foods, you buy beautifully crafted gifts and souvenirs and enjoy Swedish folk dancing and music. There will be many activities for kids including a huge waterslide, an alpine tube slide, swimming, a rock climbing wall, and field games.

22nd Annual Thai Cultural Day, Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood, Sunday. This year the festival celebrates the art of Central Thailand. It will be a day of traditional dance, music, food, and art. Cultural activities will include Thai antiques, arts and crafts, and silk along with a Thai painting exhibit and demonstration. Thai massage and kickboxing will also be featured. There will also be children’s activities.

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 27 & 28 *

Norwegian Heritage Fair, Peer Gynt Hall, Culver City, Saturday, 11am-5pm. Come enjoy homemade Norwegian food and pastries, peruse Scandinavian gifts and imports for sale, watch Scandinavian craft demonstrations (rosemaling, lefse baking, Hardanger embroidery, bobbin lace, and knitting), and receive assistance with genealogy and language needs.

Baja Splash Cultural Festival, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day, the Aquarium will host its thirteenth annual Baja Splash Cultural Festival featuring live entertainment (such as Mariachi music, Mexican folkloric and Aztec dance troupes, Salvadoran dance, and Guatemalan performances), crafts, educational programs, ethnic cuisine, and much more.

Admiring the World’s Largest Rubber Duck at the Tall Ships Festival

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

It was the huge, yellow rubber duck that piqued my interest. I didn’t realize it was part of the Tall Ships Festival LA in San Pedro until it was practically too late. Saturday evening I bought tickets for the family to go the next day, which was the festival’s last day here in Los Angeles.

The rubber duck welcomed us almost immediately upon arrival. It seemed a little deflated and was tilting a bit which was somewhat of a letdown. Upon further inspection, though, we think it was just the wind at that moment that caused it to sag because it looked much better later.

The Rubber Duck is a floating sculpture designed in 2007 by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman. According to the artist’s website, it is an everyday object with which children all over the world are familiar and it “immediately connects people to their childhood”.

Kids and adults of all ages were excited by it. There was something surreal about seeing such an out-of-place object in this busy city port. At one point, a large loaded container ship was entering the port with the help of a tugboat and accompanied by a fireboat. Pleasure craft were also cruising alongside the tall ships. And then there was the large rubber duckie just peacefully hanging out. It was fun to watch all the activity.

(And for those of you who are local and missed your opportunity to see the world’s largest rubber duck, you still have a chance in the next two weeks. LAist tells you how here.)

Of course there was more to the festival than the world’s largest rubber duck. We got to take a look at some beautiful ships and learn a bit of US history as well. Continue reading →

Adventure and Bonding at a Family Overnight

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

How much longer will my 10-year-old want me to join him at such things as a camp overnight? I seized the opportunity. He’d been going to a camp in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains since the beginning of the week. One Thursday at dinner this summer, he asked if I would go with him to the camp’s family overnight the next day.

I went through the pros and cons in my head. It required us to dig out our tent from somewhere and for me to figure out how to set it up by myself (“It’s just like a pack-n-play,” my husband reassured me) and then spend the night in it. Or we could sleep under the stars. The activities they offered did sound fun — horseback riding, go-cart driving, a swim party, and campfire with skits and songs — and would allow me to see what he’d been doing all week and meet some of the counselors. And he wanted me to go with him. That’s what really made it impossible for me to say no, the anticipation and excitement in his eyes as he waited for my reply.

When I joined him at camp the next afternoon, I told him I was up for doing whatever he thought I would enjoy. He had a packed schedule for us, and he expected me to participate in every single activity.

First on his agenda was the ropes course, so we trekked over to the adventure area and donned our gear. I successfully reached the top, failure was not an option, and proudly rang the bell. When Sonny had his turn, I could tell he had done this before. He was up in no time. Cali Camp Ropes Course Next up was off-road go-cart driving. I was hoping Sonny would start first so I wouldn’t feel any pressure to go too fast, but the counselor had me go first. Luckily, all went well and I was able to maintain my speed and not slow Sonny down. The go-cart track was near the horses so we went horseback riding next. That was followed by archery. We were the only ones there so we got to do as many rounds as we pleased. We decided to end on a high note after Sonny had hit the very inner circle of the bull’s eye and I had actually gotten all five of my arrows on the target area. I was a proud mama, especially since all three of the counselors there were following along and had seen my various mis-hits. Then it was time to return to the main camp area. It turned out most groups had already set up their tents or laid out their tarps so our location choices were limited. Sonny directed us to an area near the bathrooms. I didn’t think that was the best choice, but he thought otherwise. “Easy access,” he declared. I couldn’t argue with that. We set up our tent without much problem, and yes, knowing how to set up a pack-n-play helped. After a pizza, pasta, and salad dinner, it was pool time. A lot of parents didn’t go in, but I wasn’t going to stop participating now and jumped right in with the rest of them. There were slides and lots of toys to play with. It was pretty crazy and crowded in the pool. The day began to wind down after that with the campfire. After some planning and practicing of a skit, we made our way with flashlights in hand to the fire pit. The campers’ skits were interspersed with counselor songs and made for a varied and entertaining evening. Once back at the campground area, it was movie time. Toy Story started right away and s’mores were served soon thereafter. Sonny made himself comfortable at the front of the crowd, but I was ready to rest and retreated to our tent to read. The movie was over about 11:30pm and by midnight it was quiet all around… Until the rooster awakened us, or at least the adults who weren’t already awake, at 5:45am. For me, the rooster was a welcomed sound because I had been waking up every hour or so since midnight and was happy that the day was finally beginning. Sonny slept right through the rooster and had to be woken up so we could start taking the tent down. Breakfast wasn’t served until all the tents were down. Adults were relieved to discover there was coffee served along with breakfast.After breakfast, Sonny had places and activities he still wanted to show me. We played Gaga, explored the Bamboo Forest, and visited the aerial arts and gymnastics areas. At this point, I had become more of an observer and just watched him get in the last moments of fun before our departure. At 10 o’clock, we packed up the car and headed home.

It was a fun-filled, busy 18-hours, one that I would gladly do again. All our attention was on each other. Sonny thrived being in charge of our time. He seemed proud to have me there, a mom who gladly (and successfully!) participated in the activities.

Besides spending this one-on-one time with Sonny, what I enjoyed most was seeing so many adults totally unplugged and actively engaged with their kids. There was no cell phone reception nor wifi access so parents had no choice but to put their devices away. Everyone was busy being in the moment. You rarely see that anymore.

What I’ve Read: Min Kamp (My Struggle, Book 1) by Karl Ove Knausgård

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

Min Kamp Knausgård In my desire to read a Norwegian book once in a while to maintain my language skills, I recently read the first book in the six-book autobiographical series, Min kamp (My Struggle) by Karl Ove Knausgård. Interestingly, it wasn’t my choice, but the pick for my book club here in Los Angeles. I don’t even know if the woman who suggested it knew that I was Norwegian. Knausgård and his work had been in the book news a lot recently in conjunction with his US tour for the release of the English translation of his third book. Knausgård’s first book was suggested in hopes that it would be a little more serious and discussion-worthy than some of our more recent reads.

The timing worked out perfectly because I was right in the middle of trying to decide what Norwegian book to read next in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Norway. Last year I read the first of the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbø. This year I was looking for something new. A cousin in Norway had suggested Knausgård’s Min kamp last year when I put out a request for suggestions for my next Norwegian read so it was on my list, but I didn’t know if I was ready to read it yet. I had the impression it would be a long, heavy read about someon’s life I wasn’t necessarily very interested in.

The book turned out to be much more engaging than I expected. Continue reading →

Los Angeles Culture Challenge Summer 2014

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

There’s no need to travel to far away places during the summer to experience a new culture. Opportunities abound for families to discover and enjoy cultures from every corner of the world right here in Los Angeles. Whether you want to expose your family to something new or deepen their appreciation for their own heritage, there’s sure to be something of interest to you. Take a look and mark your calendar. Seize the opportunity before school and sports are back in session.

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 7 & 8 *

Pacific Islander Festival, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday. Discover the rich and diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands through traditional craft demonstrations, ethnic cuisine, educational programs, storytelling, and an ocean of entertainment, including music and dance performances. The festival will feature various cultures, including Hawaiian, Fijian, Marshallese, Chamoru, Tahitian, Samoan, Tokelau, Tongan, and Maori.

Silk Road Story Time: Calligraphy, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, Saturday, 10:30am. Also July 12: Ramadan and August 2: China. Gather in the travelers’ tent for fabulous tales from along the Silk Road, plus a fun hands-on craft, Asian snack, and balloon. Free admission for kids ages 11 and under.

Andell Family Sundays—Dig It: Egyptian Art, LACMA, Sundays in June, 12:30pm-3:30pm. Also June 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Check out LACMA’s collection of Egyptian art—some of it is over 2,000 years old! After exploring artifacts of all kinds, make your own Egypt-inspired art in workshops.

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 14 & 15 *

Chinatown Summer Nights, Chinatown, Saturday, 5pm. Also July 12 and August 9. Chinatown Summer Nights presents an exciting spot for families this summer. Dine at one of the many local restaurants or enjoy LA’s gourmet food trucks. Shop the neighborhood’s wares and peruse an artist and flea market. Chinese chefs will perform cooking demonstrations and there will be large-scale, outdoor video projections. Enjoy family-friendly cultural workshops and music and dancing with DJs and local bands.

21st Annual Brazilian Summer Festival: Celebrating the World Cup!, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood, Sunday, 5pm. The theme of this year’s festival is World Cup soccer in celebration of the 2014 FIFA World Cup taking place in Brazil this summer. The festival will feature all-star Brazilian bands and non-stop music and dancing. In addition to the internationally acclaimed bands, the festival will include one of LA’s top DJ’s spinning Brazilian dance hits, as well as elite samba drummers and elaborately costumed samba dancers.

The Big Irish Fair & Music Fest, El Dorado Park, Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday. This festival features 16 areas of music, song, and dance; sports such as Irish football and hurling; a walk through the legends and lore of ancient Ireland at Tara Village; a Children’s Leprechaun Kingdom; Irish Art Show; a marketplace with Irish import and gift shop vendors; and special events such as a Grand Parade of the Irish, a sheep herding show, and an Irish dog show.

18th Annual Día de San Juan Festival, Queen Mary Events Park, Long Beach, Sunday, 10am-7pm. This family-friendly festival celebrating Puerto Rican culture will have entertainment artists from Puerto Rico and local bands, food, merchandise vendors, and lots of dancing.

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 21 & 22 *

28th Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival, Rainbow Lagoon Park, Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday. Experience the Bayou with this two-day family festival featuring authentic Cajun and Creole food, cultural music, dance lessons, crawfish eating contests, a children’s corner with arts and crafts and other activities, and a Mardi Gras parade. There will also be live performances at the Zydeco Stage, Blues Stage, and Children’s Stage.

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 28 & 29 *

Family Evening in the Chinese Garden, The Huntington, Pasadena, Saturday. Explore the Chinese Garden during a special evening of cultural discovery including music, art activities, a lion dance, and more. Register online.

* WEEKEND OF JULY 5 & 6 *

Andell Family Sundays—Korean Treasures, LACMA, Sundays in July, 12:30pm-3:30pm. Also July 13th, 20th, and 27th. Explore the special exhibition Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910 and see how respect for the king, family, and faith inspired artists during the time. Then make your own treasure in art workshops.

* SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS *

JUNE 21 – AUGUST 31, Family Amphitheater Performances, Skirball Cultural Center. The Skirball offers a diverse program of performances for families on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer. Clap and drum along to the rich Afro-Cuban beats of one of LA’s top marimba groups, experience a groovy and melodic take on Japanese taiko drumming, enjoy colorful storytelling told through traditional Korean dance, listen to a master storyteller present enchanting stories from around the world, enjoy traditional Filipino music and dance, experience the music and dance of the Pacific Islands, watch an acclaimed local dance troupe perform in celebration of African-American history, move to the beats of West African drumming and dance, just to name some of the many special performances. See website for full schedule.

JULY 5 – SEPTEMBER 6, Big!World!Fun! Family Series, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood. Big!World!Fun! is a series of performances that will enchant and delight families (with children ages 4 to 12) with music and dance from as far away as West Africa, China, and Cambodia. The hour-long performances take place on Saturday mornings at 10am. There are also pre-show nature activities prior to each performance in the Ford’s entryway gardens. See website for schedule of performances and ticket information.

JULY 7 – AUGUST 1, SummerSounds: World Music for Kids, Hollywood Bowl. SummerSounds is a four-week series of lively concerts combined with art workshops that takes place on weekday mornings. Dynamic hosts lead you on a journey to discover music, dance, and art from cultures around the world. This year’s program includes traditional Irish music with Chicago Reel, classical Indian Bollywood music with MKM Bollystars, West African music with Babá Ken & the Nigerian Brothers, and finally, Salsa and Latin jazz with Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Ensemble. See website for schedule and ticket information.

Have you attended any events on this list that you would recommend? What events do you have your eyes on this summer that you’d like to attend?

CicLAvia: Iconic Wilshire Boulevard (2014)

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

A City Adventure on Wheels

About a year ago I rode in my first CicLAvia event. We had planned for it to be a whole family excursion, but instead it became just a Doobie and Mommy outing. Since then I’ve looked forward to the whole family participating in the next one. Our next opportunity came around not long ago, Iconic Wilshire Boulevard on April 6.

But due to various circumstances, I ended up going solo. After the initial disappointment of having to go alone, I actually looked forward to it since I would only have to worry about myself and I could do exactly what I wanted and spend as much time doing it as I pleased. I was going to make this a city adventure like I’d never had before!

The first part of my adventure was using the Metro Rail line near our neighborhood for the first time. The Expo Line’s last stop was only a few minutes’ bike ride from our home, and the line went directly to the start of the route Downtown. It was a no-brainer to ride the Metro, but I had no idea about the logistics of using it, especially with a bike. However, I’ve used public transportation in other major cities and felt confident that I could figure it out here, too. It turns out there was no need to worry. At the station, there were extra attendants on duty to help us newbies with buying TAP cards and figuring out fares. I didn’t even have a chance to wonder where to start.

When I surfaced from the underground station Downtown, I was immediately surrounded by cyclists. Continue reading →

Celebrating the Norwegian Constitution’s 200th Anniversary

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

We pretty much overdosed on Norwegian culture this past weekend when we celebrated Norway’s Constitution Day. Maybe that’s par for the course since it was the 200th anniversary of the constitution. (A fact we learned, it’s the oldest constitution in Europe and the second oldest in the world after USA’s!) Every year there are two main events in the Los Angeles area to celebrate the Norwegian holiday. The first one is always on the actual day of May 17th at the Norwegian Church in San Pedro, and the other one is on the closest Sunday at Nansen Field in Rolling Hills Estates. We’ve never attended both in one year, but this year we did, and they were one right after the other!

The celebration at the Norwegian Church has traditionally been hard for us to attend since it means driving to San Pedro, about 30 miles away, on a weekday after school for a 5 o’clock event. After-school activities, sports, homework, and traffic have made that close to impossible. But this year, the seventeenth of May fell on a Saturday so many of the factors prohibiting us from going in the past were a non-issue this year. I seized the opportunity. As did over 500 other people! It was the biggest gathering ever. Continue reading →

Los Angeles Culture Challenge for May 2014

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

The opportunities to get up close and personal with cultures of other places and times continues in May. A big weekend for Norwegians is fast approaching as well! May 17th marks the 200th anniversary of Norway’s constitution and Norwegians in Los Angeles will certainly have the chance to celebrate. Many cultures are represented this month. Which events will you be attending?

* WEEKEND OF MAY 3 & 4 *

REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall Complex, Saturday and Sunday until May 11. The 9th annual festival returns with a program full of acclaimed, international short-film programs. Festival highlights include the latest in both live action and animated shorts from Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Russia, Taiwan, Mozambique, Korea, The Netherlands, and Ukraine. See website for full schedule and ticket information.

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturday and Sunday until May 18. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, Downtown, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 11am-10pm. El Pueblo hosts traditional Mexican dance and music, in honor of Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862. The party has been going on at this site every Cinco de Mayo for 140 years.

Family Festival: Japan, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, Sunday, 12pm-4pm. They’re celebrating Japan and the art of printmaking with traditional performances, hands-on printmaking, demonstrations, plus open galleries, including A New Way Forward: Japanese Hanga of the 20th Century.

* WEEKEND OF MAY 10 & 11 *

Kids in the Courtyard: A Mother’s Day of Earthly Delights, Fowler Museum, UCLA, Sunday, 1pm-4pm. A special Mother’s Day program! The traditional trappings of Mother’s Day get an earthly spin at this special event inspired by the exhibition Earth Matters. From 1pm to 3pm, visit activity stations to make and enjoy Mother’s Day treats, and then at 3 o’clock, enjoy an outdoor concert featuring the lively music and dance of West Africa.

REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall Complex, Saturday and Sunday until May 11. See description above.

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturday and Sunday until May 18. See description above.

* WEEKEND OF MAY 17 & 18 *

Norway’s National Day Celebration, Norway’s Church Abroad, San Pedro, Saturday, 5pm. The Church hosts a traditional Norwegian “17. mai” celebration. Typical Norwegian foods will be served—pølser, rundstykker, bløtkaker, marsipankaker, brus, and coffee. There will also be games for kids of all ages and ice cream prizes for all. And of course, it wouldn’t be a typical 17. mai celebration without speeches and a parade around the neighborhood.

Norwegian Constitution Day Parade and Festivities at Nansen Field, Rolling Hills Estates, Sunday, 11am. This is a relaxing, laid-back event on a huge open field. The festivities kick off with a marching band led parade and continues with the sale of foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, Solo, waffles, and ice cream. There are also vendor stalls with Norwegian goods and plenty of games for the kids. Read about my latest outing to the Nansen Field festivities here.

Celebrate Israel Festival, Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, West Los Angeles, Sunday, 11am-7pm. Celebrate Israel’s 66th Independence Day. This year’s theme is Tour of Israel and attendees will have the opportunity to “visit” various areas of Israel. The day’s activities and events include musical performances (main event is The Idan Raichel Project on the main stage at 5pm and Rinat Gabay on the kids stage at 2pm); an artists pavilion showcasing local Jewish and Israeli artists with their creative jewelry, crafts, gifts, and home decor; a kids zone and a teen area; an amusement park with rides; and Mini Israel, a community project where schools and organizations have built a mini model of Israel.

* MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 24 & 25 *

Scottish Fest, Orange County Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm. Enjoy a festival of Celtic entertainment and food.

41th Annual Valley Greek Festival, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Northridge, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, 1pm-9pm. Enjoy a cultural experience for all ages with live music, dancing, gourmet food, homemade pastries, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, a Greek market, and a variety of shopping boutiques.

Century Park and Annenberg Space for Photography, worth a visit!

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

Recently, I discovered a hidden gem only a few minutes away from home. I drive through Century City on a regular basis, but I had no idea what was among the tall buildings along the streets. I had never given it much thought. What I discovered was not only a surprisingly peaceful four-acre open space but also a fun cultural destination. I think it’s going to become a new favorite open space to escape to and a featured attraction to bring out-of-town guests to. Continue reading →

Los Angeles Culture Challenge for April 2014

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Patricia Zanuck

April 2014 Culture Challenge In April there are ample opportunities to not only immerse yourself in the traditions of other cultures and times, but also to get a close-up look at Los Angeles both past and present. The Scandinavian Festival and CicLAvia are high on my list, but unfortunately, due to the kids’ sports schedules and the fact that the events take place on the same weekend, they will be hard for me to attend this year. Hopefully, some of you can enjoy them instead. Here’s a rundown of some special events happening in Los Angeles this month. Which will you try to attend?

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 5 & 6 *

Scandinavian Festival, Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Saturday & Sunday. This is the 40th year of the annual festival featuring Nordic cultures. Both days of the festival will be filled with music, dancing, food, vendors, food and craft demonstrations, lectures, and activities for young and old alike. The Viking Encampment and Sami Village will be there once again. Children’s activities include making head wreaths with real flowers, carving wooden butter knives, raising the Maypole and dancing around it while singing traditional songs, learning the ancient Viking game Kubb, and playing Croquet. This year the festival will also have a Children’s Theater with performances by community children’s groups and a puppet show of the Hans Christian Andersen story “The Nightingale”.

International Children’s Day, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Saturday & Sunday. The Aquarium’s annual festival celebrates the talents of children of all cultures. The festival will feature West African, Mexican, Pacific Islander, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Persian traditional dance performances. Kids of all ages can enjoy martial arts demonstrations and participate in an international percussion circle, face painting, mural painting, and Native American and Pacific Islander children’s games and crafts. Even the Aquarium’s café has specials for the day. See website for a schedule of performances and events.

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturdays and Sundays, April 5 – May 18. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

CicLAvia – Iconic Wilshire Boulevard, Downtown to Miracle Mile, Sunday, 9am-4pm. Explore a legendary thoroughfare via bike or on foot as you travel along a 6.3 mile car-free stretch on Wilshire Boulevard between Downtown and Fairfax Avenue. There are hubs along the route with a variety of activities for participants of all ages, including music, performances, food trucks, and more. The hubs for the April event are One Wilshire, MacArthur Park, Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, and Miracle Mile. Doobie and I participated in a CicLAvia last April (you can read about it here) and it was an experience unlike any other we’d had in LA and I’d love to do it again.

Kids in the Courtyard: Magic Tricks for April Fools, Fowler Museum, UCLA, Sunday, 1-4pm. Tricksters serve important roles across cultures. Whether named Prometheus, Coyote, or Esu, these rule breakers are bound to stir things up! Watch a magic performance by Wacko and explore your inner trickster, then learn riddles, tricks, and pranks to get your loved ones to giggle. The event is inspired by the exhibit Sinful Saints and Saintly Sinners at the Margins of the Americas at the Fowler Museum.

Haute Couture with Hatitude!, California African American Museum, Exposition Park, Sunday, 1pm. CAAM’s spring celebration highlights “haute couture” with a unique fashion showcase of a local designer. There will also be music and dance performances. Remember to bring your special hat for the “Hatitude” competition. Men, women, girls, and boys can compete in various categories and win prizes. You can also design your own hat at a workshop before the competition.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 12 & 13 *

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, USC Campus, Saturday & Sunday. Enjoy two days of not only books and authors, but also live music, poetry readings, comedy performances, photography exhibits, film screenings followed by Q&A’s, artists creating work on-site, and chef demonstrations. There are open-air stages with performances and readings by entertainers and authors (free for all, schedule here) and indoor discussions on a variety of topics (ticket info here). We’ve attended as a family and enjoyed wandering the grounds, listening to children’s authors read their stories (in 2012, the kids were excited to hear David Shannon and Jeff Kinney), and eating from the food trucks.

16th Annual Chumash Day Powwow and Inter-Tribal Gathering, Malibu Bluffs Park, Saturday & Sunday. Experience native foods, children’s activities, story telling, Native American arts and crafts, tribal ceremonies, and dances. Grand Entry or Opening Ceremonies will take place at 1pm on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday.

Family Jam: Nigerian Talking Drums with Francis Awe, Fowler Museum, UCLA, Sunday, 2pm-4pm. Feel the beat with your whole body in this interactive dance class and performance. Presented in conjunction with Fiftieth Anniversary Gifts, II, featuring recently donated works of art from across the African continent.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 19 & 20 *

World City Series: Khukh Tenger & Huun-Huur-Tu, W.M. Keck Children’s Amphitheatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Saturday, 11am and 12:30pm. Experience the dance traditions, customs, and rituals of a nomadic people from Mongolia, and learn about the traditional art of “throat-singing” from a group originating from the Siberian/Mongolian border called Tuva. Along with the musical performance, a visual art workshop will be offered to give children the opportunity to explore the featured culture through unique art-making projects.

Día de los Niños, Grand Park, Downtown, Saturday, 11am-4pm. Enjoy a fun-filled day of health, wellness, and cultural activities for all. Begin at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (11am-1pm) with storytelling and children’s film screenings in the galleries, interactive storytelling and a mariachi performance onstage, and various hands-on activities in the patio and garden. At 1 o’clock, join in a fun walk with music to Grand Park for more events and activities on the lawn and onstage. See website for schedule of activities.

TAIKOPROJECT and Ryutaro Kaneko: LifeRhythm, Bing Theater at LACMA, Saturday, 7:30 pm. “LifeRhythm seamlessly blends the sublime virtuosity of renowned percussionist Ryutaro Kaneko with the undeniable energy of TAIKOPROJECT, an ensemble of premiere taiko drummers committed to preserving and advancing the Japanese art of taiko in the U.S.” See website for ticket information.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 26 & 27 *

World Music for Kids – The Music of Veracruz, The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College of Performing Arts Center, Saturday, 11am and 1pm. Enjoy the vibrant rhythms of Son Jarocho music from Veracruz. Master musician, singer, and craftsman, Cesar Castro is joined by instrumentalists Xochi Flores, Juan Perez, and Chuy Sandoval to share their culture, love, and knowledge of this blend of indigenous Mexican, African, and Arabic sounds that has become the signature of Latin music today. Stay after the show to meet and greet the artists while enjoying milk and cookies.

Annual L.A. Heritage Day, El Pueblo Historical Monument, Downtown, Sunday, 11am-4pm. Learn about Los Angeles and Southern California’s history through tours, museums, children’s activities, presentations, giveaways, food, and other activities. Special tours of Olvera Street, Avila Adobe, Museum of Social Justice, Sepulveda House Museum, the Chinese American Museum, and Plaza Firehouse Museum will be available, as well as the América Tropical Interpretive Center. The entire event and all activities will take place at the birthplace of Los Angeles and adjacent to world-famous Olvera Street, making for a full day of free history, fun, and entertainment.

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 6 & 7 *

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 13 & 14 *

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 20 & 21 *

* WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 27 & 28 *

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* WEEKEND OF JUNE 7 & 8 *

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 14 & 15 *

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 21 & 22 *

* WEEKEND OF JUNE 28 & 29 *

* WEEKEND OF JULY 5 & 6 *

* SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS *

Have you attended any events on this list that you would recommend? What events do you have your eyes on this summer that you’d like to attend?

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A City Adventure on Wheels

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* WEEKEND OF MAY 3 & 4 *

* WEEKEND OF MAY 10 & 11 *

* WEEKEND OF MAY 17 & 18 *

* MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 24 & 25 *

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* WEEKEND OF APRIL 5 & 6 *

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 12 & 13 *

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 19 & 20 *

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 26 & 27 *

What event stands out to you that you might like to attend this month?

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