FREE Crafts at Lakeshore Learning Center - January 2012

When:  Every Saturday from 11am - 3pm


Where:  your local Lakeshore Learning Center


Price:  FREE


For more information  click here

FREE Huntington Library

FOR FEBRUARY THEY WILL BE OUT ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY @ 9AM!!!

It's time to set your calendar! On every 1st of the month @ 9am the Huntington Library you can make reservations for the following month FREE first Thursday.

All you have to do is click here at exactly 9am...you don't want to be late cause they "sell" out within 5 minutes. You can get up to 5 tickets and they will mail them to you for free.

The gardens are beautiful! And your kids will love the Children's Garden where they have water fountains for the kids to play in. Bring bathing suits and they have to wear shoes.


Where:  1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA

 Children's Garden Map

Japanese Garden Map

For more information click here



Oshogatsu Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum

When:  Sunday, January 8th 11am - 5pm


Where:  Japanese American National Museum


Price:  FREE


Ring in the New Year and the Year of the Dragon with fun arts ‘n crafts, food, and exciting cultural activities and performances.

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Craft and other fun activities for the entire family:

It’s the Year of the Dragon! Celebrate 2012 in style by constructing a dragon hat to wear.

Color and decorate a festive dragon streamer to wave in the New Year.

We need a hand! Help us build a dragon by adding a cutout of your hand to our wall. Throughout the day our dragon will grow and by the end we’ll have a fun and colorful creature made by all our JANM friends who came to help us celebrate Oshogatsu!

Toddler Room

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Learn how to fold an origami dragon.

11 AM - 3 PM: Learn how to make onigiri rice balls and enter the Onigiri contest. Sponsored by Common Grains

11 AM – 5 PM: Special fukubukuro (lucky bag) store sale

11 – 5 PM: Calling all kids, slay the dragon and jump in our dragon jumper!

12 – 5 PM: Watch world-renowned candy artist Shaun Ichiyanagi make a dragon sculpture candy! (For children only. Candy Dragons will be raffled off at 4 PM)

1 – 2 PM: Try osechi-ryori (Traditional Japanese New Year foods) (While supplies last. 1st come, 1st serve)

1 – 4 PM: Have a balloon artist make a special pet dragon or dragon hat for you!

1 – 5 PM: Zaru soba (buckwheat noodles) with Kidding Around the Kitchen.

2 - 4 PM: Bring your camera and meet a real (costumed) dragon!

4 PM: Three onigiri design winners will be announced. 100 of the top best entries will be on display after the selection is made.

2:30 & 4 PM: Mochitsuki (traditional rice cake pounding ceremony) demonstration and performance by Kodama Taiko

4:30 PM: Shi shi mai (traditional lion dance) and taiko performance by Kinnara Taiko

For more information  click here

Professional Bull Riders coming to the Honda Center

When:  Saturday, January 14th at 7pm and Sunday, January 15th at 2pm


Where:  Honda Center

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is thrilled to introduce to you the explosive sport of bull riding and the action-packed production that is our organization’s trademark.

A typical PBR event is not easy to describe because there is nothing ordinary about our sport or our athletes, however the next few pages should serve as a crash course in PBR 101, so hang on tight for at least eight seconds …

What is the PBR?

More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, NBC Sports Network, YouTube, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400 hours of primetime programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air. PBR attracts nearly two million live attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure, which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders compete in more than 300 PBR-sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

In 1992, 20 marquee bull riding athletes joined together and took a business risk to incorporate the PBR. Their goal was to make bull riding -- the most popular part of a traditional rodeo -- a stand-alone sport with purse money commensurate with the risks the riders were taking. 

            The nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series will make 28 stops in 23 states in 2012, including a new four-week stadium tour with first-time visits to Ford Field in Detroit and Reliant Stadium in Houston, as well as return engagements at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The season opens each year at world-famous Madison Square Garden, and concludes in Las Vegas with the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals. The World Finals are the richest bull riding event with a total purse of more than $2 million, including a $1 million bonus to the 2011 PBR World Champion, who also receives the coveted World Champion buckle. 

The Performance

Each night you will see an international roster of the Top 40 bull riders in the world challenging the rankest bulls in the industry as they attempt to make a qualified 8-second ride and achieve a top score. Each rider competes in the preliminary go rounds with the hope that his cumulative score will earn a spot among the 10 highest to make him eligible to compete in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round at the conclusion of the event. You’ll see 150-pound cowboys securing their riding hand in the single hand hold of a “bull rope,” which in turn is strapped to the massive back of each 2,000-pound opponent. Add pulsating music, explosive pyrotechnics, and screaming fans teetering on the edge of their seats and you've got a hit on your hands.

For a two-day event, the Top 10 riders following Round 1 will advance to compete with one more bull. Following Round 2, the riders with the 10 highest scores will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round where they will compete with one more bull. For a three-day event, the Top 10 riders following Round 2 will advance to compete with one more bull. Following Round 3, the riders with the Top 10 highest scores will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round where they will compete with one more bull. The overall event winner is the rider with the highest combined score on four bulls for a two-day event and on five bulls for a three-day event.

            An intermission of approximately 15 minutes takes place midway through the show. Entertainment during section breaks and intermission is provided by none other than Flint Rasmussen, barrel man and entertainer extraordinaire.

For more information  click here

FREE LEGO Build a Minifigure - Cobra

When:  Tuesday, January 3rd begins at 5pm until supplies last


Where:  local Lego Store - Ontario Mills


Price:  FREE


For more information  click here

Make a Savings Shed - FREE Home Depot Kids Workshop

When:  Saturday, January 7th 9am - noon


Where:  Local Home Depot Store

• FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 - 12 offered the 1st Saturday of every month at all The Home Depot stores between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.
• All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. 

For more information  click here

7th Annual Museums FREE FOR ALL

In a joint effort to present the arts and culture to the diverse and myriad communities in Southern California, the Museum Marketing Roundtable announces the seventh annual ‘Museums Free-For-All’ Saturday-Sunday, January 28th and 29th, 2012. The museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science—will open their doors wide and invite visitors free of charge.*

Participating Museums:

• The Annenberg Space for Photography - Both Days
• The Autry National Center - Both Days
• California African American Museum - Both Days
• California Science Center - Both Days
• Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles - Both Days
• Fowler Museum at UCLA - Both Days
• The Hammer Museum - Both Days
• The Getty Center - Both Days
• The Getty Villa**- Both Days
• Laguna Art Museum- Both Days
• Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial (Both Hollywood & San Pedro Locations)- Saturday, January 28th Only
• The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) - Saturday, January 28th Only
• Museum of Tolerance - Sunday, January 29th Only
• Museum of Latin American Art - Both Days
• Pasadena Museum of California Art - Both Days
• Santa Monica Museum of Art - Saturday, January 28th Only
• Skirball Cultural Center*** - Saturday, January 28th Only
• Zimmer Children's Museum - Sunday, January 29th Only

*Regular parking fees apply. General museum admission only. May not apply to ticketed exhibitions.
**Timed tickets are required. Visit http://www.getty.edu.
***Timed entry to the Noah’s Ark exhibition will be on a walk-up, first-come, first-serve basis on this date.

For more information  click here 

Miffy to Appear at Zimmer Children's Museum

When:  Sunday, January 22nd 2pm - 4:30pm....Zimmer Museums Hours are Sunday 12:30pm-5pm

Where:  Zimmer Children's Museum

Price:  FREE with paid admission - $8 for Adults, 2 and over $5

Miffy, the smart little bunny and star of KLCS’ Miffy and Friends will be appearing at the Zimmer Children’s Museum. Attendees will enjoy an afternoon screening of Miffy and Friends, Miffy story time, have the opportunity to meet Miffy, and much more.

For more information  click here

Cable Air Show 2012

When:  January 7th - 8th, Gates open at 8am

Where:  Cable Airport, Upland

Price:  Adults $7, Kids 5 - 12 $5, Kids 5 and under FREE, FREE Parking

Schedule: 
     Airshow 10am - 11:45am and 2pm - 3:45pm
     Classic Car Show Drive By 12:30pm
     Skydiving Extravaganza 2pm
     
For more information  click here

Where to see Christmas Lights in Southern California

Mission Inn - Riverside  click here
  I went last Saturday....avoid the traffic on the 91.  Take Market off the the 60 FWY and make a left on 3rd street then go right on Orange.


Alta Loma click here
  I went last week.  Go Carnelian North to Thoroughbred make a left then go right on Cameo - turns into Jennet...park anywhere there and then go down Sapphire


Christmas in Chino  click here


Altadena Christmas Tree Lane  click here

Travel Town  click here

Newport Harbor  click here

Brea  click here

Metrolink  click here

Heartland Players presents Little Shop Around the Corner

When:  December 9th - 18th
             Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, Sundays at 2pm

Where:  Heartland Players Theatre

Price:  $10 General, Child $8, Family $30

For more information  click here 

52nd Annual FREE LA County Holiday Celebration

When:  Saturday, December 24th from 3pm to 6pm


Where:  Dorothy Chandler Pavilion


Price:  FREE, FREE parking in the Music Center parking garage




Highlights of this year’s show include:

• Liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song from ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble
• Traditional dance from the Mexican state of Durango from the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company
• The Jazz Tap Ensemble with a holiday-inspired tap dance and an ensemble of live jazz musicians
• A modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance from Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company
• Classic Hanukkah songs – Klezmer style – with The Shpil
• Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male Filipino choir singing in English and Tagalog
• GRAMMY® nominated Lisa Haley and the Zydekats celebrate the holidays Americana/Cajun/Zydeco style
• Current Latin GRAMMY®award nominee La Santa Cecilia with a holiday hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music
• Mandrill, one of Funk and R&B’s most progressive bands and an important pioneer on the world music scene, will perform their signature 1970 hit “Peace and Love”
• Holiday hip hop from Versa-Style Dance Company
• Pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix returns as HC’s holiday reporter, hosting five videos featuring holiday traditions celebrated in L.A. County 

For more information  click here

Knotts Merry Farm

We went this past Saturday to Knotts Merry Farm and loved it!!!!

My son is a huge Snoopy Fan (he says that he is silly) and was excited to see the Snoopy on Ice show.

First we saw the "The Gift of the Magi" play in the world famous Birdcage Theatre.  It was a great play that we all enjoyed.  My sons favorite part was when they were singing the Twelve Days of Christmas song and the man kept wanting to walk away.  He thought it was hilarious!

Show is running now through January 1st.

Then of course my son needed to visit the man in jail in Ghost Town.

Then of course my son the train lover that he is had to take a trip on Calico Railroad.  He covered his ears when we were "robbed". 

We watched a performance that was really cute!

My son went crazy seeing his first Christmas Parade with Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder, Snoopy and of course SANTA!!!!

A Peanuts' Holiday Parade is running Nov. 24-27, Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17-23, 26-30 & Jan 1

Later we headed out to Camp Snoopy when the dusk came to check out the "Snoopy's Christmas Light Spectacular" where hundreds of thousands of lights light up with the sound of music.  We had a blast dancing from light to light!

We had a great day....we missed some great stuff and will head back to finish.

It's Christmas Snoopy - Ice Performance Nov. 24- 27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16 – 20, 22 – 24, 26 & 27, 29 – 31 & Jan. 1

Last but not least as tradition we had dinner at Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant!  Such great food!

Knott's is currently having FREE admission with a $20 purchase at Knott's for Toys for Tots admission....for more information  click here

For more information on Knott's Merry Farm  click here