Los Angeles Kids Off The Couch: What's On Our December Radar!

'Tis the season to lift our voices in song... or at least to hum along as professional singers ring out the music of the season. We love that in our diverse city we can enjoy the holiday classics in multiple ways - we can sing along with the Messiah, or listen to the LA Master Chorale do it perfectly. We can watch the Joffrey Ballet dance the Nutcracker, and can also see local kids offer up their rendition at theWestside Ballet Company. We never miss the chance to revisit classics like A Christmas Carol but also like to learn seasonal traditions from other cultures.

Ticket Giveaway: Kids Off the Couch subscribers may enter to win one pair of tickets to the LA Phil's 11:30 AM Holiday Sing-A-Long event on Saturday, December 17th. Tickets are still available for both shows on Saturday, December 17 (11:30 AM & 2:30 PM at Walt Disney Concert Hall), so bring the whole family to celebrate a cherished holiday tradition. Lyric sheets provided to all. Enter to win by writing to us atfamilysavvy@gmail.com. Tickets are available to all the 2011 Deck the Hall concerts so check out the many ways you can get your fill of music this month.

Movie Update: Apparently families spent more of their Thanksgiving together time shopping than film-going -- a trend which could explain why two of our local theaters are shutting down this month (the Crest and the Avco, both in Westwood). The truth is that there is a surfeit of entertaining family movies in the theaters between now and the end of the year. The Muppets are thriving, Puss in Boots 3D is still lapping up box office receipts, and Hugo, which arrived with critical acclaim, gets our Must-See award for the holiday season... at least until Spielberg's two holiday gifts arrive in late December: The Adventures of TinTin andWar Horse. (Hugo, based on the wonderful book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is directed by Martin Scorsese and we thought it was truly magical).

Elementary: Another wonderful World City event takes place on December 3 at the Music Center. Kitka & Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre features an all-female singing group accompanying a marionette show performing stories and skits handed down from the puppeteer's Czech grandfather. Performances take place on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. FREE tickets are distributed on Grand Avenue at 2nd Street. Tickets for the 11:00 AM performance are distributed beginning at 10:00 AM. Tickets for the 12:30 PM show are distributed beginning at 11:00 AM. FREE Art Workshops are available during each World City engagement.

Middle School: A nice thing to do while in-laws are in town is to head on up the coast to the Getty Villa and take in Modern Antiquity: Picasso, de Chirico, Leger and Picabia in the Presence of the Antique - which examines how the artists looked to ancient sculpture to inspire their work. The show will be in town only until mid-January when it travels to the Picasso museum in Antibes, France. And, while you're at the Villa, grandma will adore Tea by the Sea. Get ready for the holidays by purchasing a boxed set of Harry Potter DVDs -- the studio is pulling all of the movies off the shelf at the end of 2011 and will then plan limited releases of the titles (as Disney does with its classic titles).

Teen: Reading a little Shakespeare at school? Let actors help with your homework by heading out to A Noise Within's Twelfth Night, or What You Will from now until mid-December at the company's exciting new stage in Pasadena. And find some cool gifts for your teens by shopping (RED), Bono's line of products that helps fight the spread of AIDS (today is World AIDS Day).

Adults: Possibly the coolest film title sequences of all time were created by Saul Bass -- you know him from the opening credits of countless Hitchcock movies. Come learn more at a lecture titled Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design at the Hammer on Tuesday, December 13, and meet the author of a beautiful new book about his life's work (this book is at the top of our holiday gift list!). Annette Bening and friends will do two readings of It's A Wonderful Life! at the Geffen Theater on December 10.

Ready-Set-Shop: Unique LA will be held December 3-4 downtown at the California Market Center, where you can get hand-made, original gifts for everyone on your list. Kids under 12 get in FREE. The Craft and Folk Art Museum holds a boutique this Saturday, as well, from 10-4. If you haven't gotten your holiday card yet, check out our new fave design shop, Pinhole Press. Also, the gals at Cool Mom Picks put out their 2011 Holiday Gift Guide today and it rocks. Did you know Lego had an Architectural series??

Looking Ahead: Pick up tickets to a family show by They Might Be Giants at UCLA Live on January 28 at Royce Hall. Teens might be into a traveling show from the Discovery series, Mythbusters, coming to town on January 15.

Kids Off The Couch

If you like what we do, please tell a friend to sign up! sarahmbowman@gmail.com

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Los Angeles Kids Off The Couch - ZAM FEST Ticket Giveaway!

Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ticket Giveaway: Two Family 4-packs to ZAM FEST

Paul Kim, an avid fan of the Coachella Festival, set out to create a music and art festival that could inspire the same kind of passion in kids that rock music inspires in young adults. The result is ZAM FEST, a one-day festival that debuts in Long Beach in two weeks. "I would take my daughter to different events with the hopes of inspiring her to find something she's passionate about, but found that most were essentially clones of one another" says Kim. "So I thought, why not create something that has the potential to inspire lots of kids, and can give back to our communities at the same time?" At a time when the public school system isn't always able to expose kids to inspiring arts programming, we applaud Paul's efforts. Join him for the first annual ZAM FEST on October 15.

What: ZAM FEST stands for the Z Arts & Music Festival, where the Z refers to our current 'Z Generation' of kids. Festival entertainment will include the drummers of Taiko Project; the original music of teen rock band The Christopher Brothers; the Indian Bollywood- style dance troupe Beyondancing; the quirky dance music of AJ & The Flip Flops; the athletic hip hop dancing of the Beast Mode Crew and the turntable and beat-making sounds of Knockstudy DJ Scratch. Also making her performing debut singing her hit song "Do My Thang" is Cori B, who follows in the musical footsteps of her father Snoop Dogg. Families can also participate in a hands-on recycled material ReCreate Art project, a EuroZip line above festival grounds, Human Hamster Balls, food trucks and a surprise performance.

Subscriber Giveaway: KOTC subscribers can enter to win one of two Family 4 Packs to ZAM FEST. Write to us at familysavvy@gmail.com -- and please include a cell number.

Where and When: ZAM FEST is a one-day only event, scheduled rain or shine for Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The event takes place in the Marina Green Park in Long Beach. Click here for a map.

Ticketing: Tickets are currently available online and at the festival on the day of the event. Discount early bird tickets are available now with adult all day tickets priced at $12, kids all day tickets priced at $8. Children under three will be admitted for free. After the pre-sale period ends, adult all day tickets will be $15 and kids all day tickets will be $10.

ZAM FEST gives back: A portion of the proceeds from ZAMFEST will go to a local arts mentoring program called Create Now. 

Kids Off The Couch

If you like what we do, please tell a friend to sign up! info@kidsoffthecouch.com

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Ticket Giveaway to Hollywood Bowl Fireworks Finale: A Night at the Moulin Rouge!

We were lucky enough to be in Paris this summer (ooh, la la!) and spent an afternoon exploring the cobbled streets of Montmartre, where Picasso once lived and where modern day artists sketch portraits of tourists. Montmartre is home to the most famous cabaret in the world, the windmilled Moulin Rouge, where the can-can was created by the courtesans of the 19th century, forever memorialized in the paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec. Enjoy an intoxicating adventure through the City of Lights with high-kicking dancers direct from the legendary Moulin Rouge performing the can-can, and the jazzy French cabaret sounds of Paris Combo, accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and ending with a dazzling fireworks display. Put a little Paris into your summer by spending an exciting evening at the Hollywood Bowl.

What: Fireworks Finale: A Night at the Moulin Rouge, Friday & Saturday, September 16-17, 8:30pm; Sunday, September 18, 7:30pm at the Hollywood Bowl. Plenty of seats are still available. Click here for tickets and more information about the show.


Enter to Win: Kids off the Couch subscribers can enter to win a Family Four Pack to Friday night's performance (9/16 at 8:30 PM) by writing to us at familysavvy@gmail.com. Please include your telephone number. Winner will be chosen by August 31.

Kids Off The Couch

If you like what we do, please tell a friend to sign up!info@kidsoffthecouch.com

www.kidsoffthecouch.com

Kids Off The Couch Ticket Giveaway: LA Phil at Hollywood Bowl Fourth Of July Fireworks Spectacular!

The Fourth of July means fireworks, plain and simple. When we were little, we danced the hokey pokey at a bandstand on Cape Cod and then stretched out with our siblings on blankets in the middle of a football field to watch thefireworks. The memory is plenty potent and we've been challenged, as parents, to create the same type of memories here in Southern California. We have watched from thebeach (fun but oh-so-crowded), stayed home to watch fireworks in TV after a backyard party (big mistake, they're best observed in person) and once spent an evening on the101, kids asleep in their car seats after an all-day beach party, watching high-school fireworks celebrations going offin succession across the valley.

One of the most relaxing ways to spend the Fourth in LA is to cap off a concert at the Hollywood Bowl with their spectacular fireworks. The explosions are timed to the 1812 Overture, and the kids can simply gaze upwards and watch a terrific display. This year, the LA Phil has invited Darryl Hall and John Oates to headline three shows with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The pop-duo, who are members of members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, will play their own hits as well as plenty of good-old fashioned American music.

What: LA Phil Presents July 4th Fireworks Spectacular (Saturday, Sunday & Monday, July 2-4, 7:30 PM) with special guests Daryl Hall & John Oates. Plenty of seats are still available. Click here for tickets and more information about the show.

Enter to Win: Kids Off the Couch has a Family Four-Pack to give away. Click here to be in the drawing - and please include your telephone number.

Hits from Hall and Oates Remember these classics: "Sara Smile", "Rich Girl", "Kiss on My List", "Private Eyes", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", "Maneater", and "Out of Touch".The duo had 34 singles chart hits make the Billboard Top 100.

Kids Off The Couch

If you like what we do, please tell a friend to sign up! info@kidsoffthecouch.com

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Kids Off The Couch: Circus INcognitus at the Kirk Douglas Theatre - Ticket Giveaway!

Ticket Giveaway for January 15, 2010

Now that the holidays are winding down, it's time to think about keeping everyone entertained in the New Year. Young kids will love Circus INcognitus, featuring Jamie Adkins - known as a one-man circus. A veteran of both Cirque du Soleil and Montréal's Cirque Éloize, Adkins fuses clowning, juggling, balancing and acrobats into what the New York Times calls "infinitesimal acts of imperceptible genius." We have a family four pack of tickets to give away to the opening performance on Saturday morning, January 15 at 11:00 AM. Running for six performances only at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Circus INcognitus is pure fun and wonder - a perfect show for young audiences.

Enter to Win: Please send us a note if you're able to attend the Saturday, January 15 performance at 11:00 AM. Winner will be notified by January 10, so be sure to include your phone number so we can reach you if you are the winner.

Purchase Tickets: The show runs for six performances -- January 15 and 22 at 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM and January 16 and 23 at 3:00 PM -- tickets are only $20. Great for kids from 6-12. Click here or call 213.628.2772

Parking: The Kirk Douglas Theatre (9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City) offers FREE covered parking at Culver City's City Hall, after 6pm on weeknights and all day on weekends. (Enter on Duquesne Avenue.)

Where to Eat in Culver City: It's fun to explore Culver City, where plenty of restaurants abound. Click here for deals set up through the theater including a deal for the excellent pizza at LaRocco's.

info@kidsoffthecouch.com

Kids Off The Couch - Art and Movies Worth Your Family's Time

Three Don't-Miss Art Exhibits and KOTC Movie Picks

$50 Gift Certificate from Goldstar

How we spend our time defines who we are. As the year draws to a close, we know your time is especially precious. We've scoured the cultural landscape and foundwonderful art exhibits that your kids will be able to relate to, and offer our picks of new movies and DVDs for everyone to enjoy. We also extend an invitation to join Goldstar, a discounted ticketing community that will help you plan family time and save money in the New Year.

Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) at the Skirball Cultural Center: Walking through this jewel-like exhibit reminds us of visiting a favorite, creative aunt. You know... the type who sends the absolute best birthday gifts and has good treats in the frig. The exhibit not only examines the creative process of the artist, who is an ongoing fixture of NY's cultural landscape (she designs many New Yorker covers), but shows her work over many years. Kalman's highly personal, diary-like art inspired us to reflect back on 2010, as it slips into the rear-view mirror. So, we thought it was cool that we could create our own diary page in an adjoining exhibit called The 1,000 Journals Project. Take a few moments at Noah's Ark, an inspirational, educational and environmental family experience that visiting relatives always appreciate. Click here for more on the show and the Skirball Cultural Center.

Extreme Exposure at the Annenberg Center for Photography: One good image is all it takes to deliver a potent message. Think of the polar bear on a shrinking ice-cap or the boy with his hand up to the tank in Tiananmen Square. Viewers don't always realize what takes place behind the camera to produce such powerful images. In concise fashion, the latest documentary show at the Annenberg demonstrates how five photographers push the envelope of safety (and maybe sanity) to capture images that demonstrate how our planet is changing. Don't miss the video that tells about each photographer which plays in a loop at the center of the small gallery space - it really helps kids focus on the images. It's easy to drop by the Annenberg during a shopping excursion in Century City. Click here for more details on the photographers and gallery.

William Eggleston: Democratic Camera -- Photographs and Video 1961-2008 at LACMA: Color photography was not considered a true art form until Eggleston turned his camera onto the Southern landscape of his youth. You haven't seen color images until you're up close and personal with Eggleston's sumptuous dye-transfer prints, and his black and white documentary work from the 60s signals a talent in the making. Some might recognize photos from album covers of yesteryear alongside retro shots of his study of Elvis' Graceland. But head to BCAM (LACMA's big red building along Wilshire) soon; this show is up only until January 8, 2011. Click here for more information.

Movie Picks: For the Youngest -- Tangled turns out to be pretty great. We saw it overThanksgiving (with our cool 3D glasses) and everyone from 8-80 adored it. With a super-mean stepmother and a ruffian male lead, Disney's 50th animated feature has freshness without being too trendy. New on DVD: Don't forget to load up on these stocking stuffers -- Despicable Me, The Secret of Kells and How To Train Your Dragon.

For Tweens and Teens --Fans have most likely already seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at least once. Twilight fans will want to flock to Black Swan, a Natalie Portman starrer about a NYC ballerina who turns into an enchanted swan at night. But, beware the R rating before you say yes! New on DVD: Snap up one of the year's best titles, Toy Story 3.

For Adults -- The King's Speech, Winter's Bone and The Social Network are all must-sees if you want to be able to discuss the Oscar race at holiday parties. New on DVD:Inception, The Kids are All Right, and another version of Avatar with new footage for avid fans.

KOTC Invitation: Our friends at Goldstar invite KOTC subscribers to become members of their community, which offers up-to-the-minute show information and significant ticket discounts. Like KOTC, a Goldstar membership is free. Subscribers will receive a weekly roundup of what's in town, along with significant discounts on tickets to theater, sports and other activities. Many KOTC subscribers are already Goldstar members -- we know, because parents tell us that having both memberships helps them manage their finances and enjoy their time together. Click here to become a member of Goldstar. One you're a member, you can click here and be eligible to win a $50 Gift Certificate. (Only members of KOTC and Goldstar will be eligible to win the Gift Certificate).

One more Thing: NBC's The Sing-Off pits a cappella singing groups across the country against each other. Diverse groups, ranging from a talented group of high-school students, to old-timers from Oakland, CA to gospel singers from Alabama, sing without back up instrumentation. Two groups get voted off each night by celebrity judges (including Ben Folds) in a contest that runs for the next few weeks. If your family loves Glee, they'll love the rollicking, musical fun of The Sing-Off!

Our best wishes for a happy holiday season.

Illlustration by Maira Kalman, Dog Reads Book, 1999

Kids Off The Couch Ticket Giveaway for November 27 at Walt Disney Concert Hall

LA Presents Salonen Conducts Hindemith and Wagner

We're lucky to be working with the LA Phil this holiday season. We have two pairs of two tickets to see Salonen Conducts Hindemith and Wagner for Saturday night of this Thanksgiving weekend to giveaway. The former LA Phil musical director returns to Walt Disney Hall to conduct the second program in his homecoming concert series, Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Weberand selected scenes from Wagner, with the remarkable singer Bryn Terfel. If your relatives are still in town, why not ask them to babysit so you can grab a night downtown?

Enter to Win: Please send us a note if you're able to attend Saturday night's 8:00 PM performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall (11/27). Winner will be notified first thing Wednesday morning (11/24) so please give us your phone number so we can call you if you are the winner.

Buy Your Own Tickets: This concert will be performed on Friday night and Sunday afternoon as well (2:00 PM) andtickets are still available. Esa-Pekka Salonen signs CDs at the LA Phil store following Saturday's performance!

More on Esa-Pekka: We got a kick of learning what the conductor has been doing since leaving LA. Turns out he keeps a house here and travels back and forth to London, where he is currently working. Learn more in a recent LA Times article.

Holiday Programming: While you're on the LA Phil's website, check out their varied Deck the Hall - Holiday Concerts programming, including a Holiday Sing-A-Long andNew Year's Eve with Kristin Chenoweth.