Events

The only outdoorsy thing you've been doing lately seems to be mad dashes from your car to mall entrances. The kids are on constant buzz mode which only seems to be growing in intensity with each passing day drawing you closer to winter break. The insane holiday kookiness is surly pounding you something wicked. Right now you could use a little break to center yourself and recharge before the main event pummels you into next year.

If you're like me you've been desperately wanting to stroll the grounds of the Getty Villa in Malibu exploring the Greek antiquities and such yet have hesitated since it's reopening over two years ago because you just can't shake the image of the havoc your tiny tikes are sure to wreck if cut lose on the villa's beautiful grounds.

Just in time to get us all revved up about the fast-approaching Thanksgiving holiday the Music Center in Los Angeles presents another wonderful morning for families to enjoy high quality, free performing arts as part of their popular World City series in their W.M. Keck Foundation Children's Amphitheatre.

This Saturday, November 8th from 11am to 4pm families can enjoy a free day dedicated to the art of drumming at the Japanese American National Museum. Sponsored by Target the event will include special performances by traditional drumming ensembles Progressive Taiko, an artistic group focused on sharing and educating communities about Japanese culture through the use of music in traditional and cutting edge ways, and UCLA's Poongmul group, an ensemble of traditional Korean drummers.

Our household is abuzz with election talk today. For the first time our 9 year old son has taken a fairly large interest in the voting process and we're actually having some pretty intense discussions about the candidates, propositions, historical significance, voting and even the electoral college. It's been very entertaining the last couple weeks listening to him conduct backseat debates with his close buddies over this election spouting regurgitated information they've no doubt picked up listening to us adult folk.

With Halloween falling on a Friday this year your family can continue the holiday fun throughout the weekend. One event that's totally family friendly and free and looks really cool is the Pumpkin Launch 2008 being held on November 1st at the Cal State University of Fullerton's Titan Stadium from 9am to 2pm.

And this is why I love living in LA. It doesn't get much better than a free Yo Gabba Gabba! show at Amoeba Records in Hollywood. Come out November 1st at 12pm and prepare to "jump, shake, shimmy" them sillies out between aisles of delicious vinyl while watching your best TV buddies pump up the jams. Oh so cool to the extreme. It's like the H.R.

It's a "dead man's party" this weekend. Is your family ready to raise the dead? Self Help Graphics & Art in Los Angeles whose mission is to educate young and emerging artists of the culture, history and beauty of Latino arts just might have two perfect family events to help you gear up for Dia De Los Muertos.

Looking for something wonderful to do with your family this weekend? Does it help that it's free and full of major entertainment and educational value?

Remember wayyyyy back when E3 meant your "industry" hook-ups would hit up their co-workers with unisex names for badges to get your sorry "non-industry" butt in on some of the sweet gaming action? Back when you smuggly fanned yourself with your borrowed "Tony" name badge as you passed all the wanna-be hopefuls crowding the LA Convention Center doors? Back when Tony Hawk and friends showed off on indoor half pipes while sexy vikings and Everquest fairies mingled and posed for pictures with Pikachus and Katamari princes.