Spring Break + Keep Staycationers Busy = Kids Off The Couch

...And Movie Ticket Offer from Family Finds!

For those of us who haven't jetted away to a beachy climate, making vacation days feel different from a regular school day takes some extreme parenting acumen. Have no fear! There's plenty to do that will make your time off feel like a break in the routine.

Family Finds: We're friends with the folks at a new LA-based website for families, Family Finds, and they've alerted us to a great offer for movie-loving families. If you click here, you can participate in a special offer from Fandango that is good until next Thursday (3/31). For $9, you receive two tickets to one of three family-friendly films that are in theaters now, or opening in the next few weeks: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules," "Rio," and "Hop." You will need to sign up for future emails, but the site is geared to bring you deals on family products and services that you will find useful.

Do Something for Japan: It's been barely two weeks since the massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, and many parents are facing real challenges when trying to explain to their children what has happened. We think it's key for children to feel that they are reaching out and helping others in their time of need, whether by sending notes or money. Josh Duhamel's has mobilized another fundraising effort, Youth Run for Japan, modeled after his successful Run for Haiti last year. Join Josh on Sunday, March 27, 2011 for a 2-mile run on the beach in Santa Monica to raise funds for the American Red Cross's Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. If you can't run, you can still click through and contribute to this worthy effort. We are also fans of theKamibashi string doll company, which has made a special doll to support relief efforts.

The Last Movie Star: Fans mourn the passing of Elizabeth Taylor this past week. The newspapers are full of lovely tributes to a career that spanned decades, and it's noteworthy that she is remembered as much for her AIDS work as for her spectacular acting career. (And those diamonds!) At KOTC, we have a special place in our hearts for her because of the movie National Velvet. Click here for our Popcorn Adventure about the film that established her as a star. We paired the movie with a visit to the polo fields at Will Rogers State Park. The practice matchesbegin on April 16, and take place on Sunday mornings; they're free, and open to the public (though, you will need to pay to park at Will Rogers). Other notable Taylor films include A Place in the Sun, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff and, of course, Cleopatra. For a more realistic telling of that tale, read Stacy Shiff's excellent (and recent) biography, Cleopatra: A Life.

Explore Downtown: We've always supported the REDCAT International Children's Film Festival which kicks off this weekend downstairs at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Check out this year's schedule, pick a day to stop by (this Sunday is Nick Family Fun Day), and then peel off to explore some of downtown's unique tastes - Wurstkuchefor excellent sausage and Bottega Louie for remarkable desserts.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: The movie we've been waiting for since the start of the year finally arrives in IMAX theaters on April 8. Born To Be Wild 3D tells the story of orphaned orangutans and elephants and people who rescue them. The Boxtales Theater Company returns to The Geffen Playhouse on April 9 with Prince Rama and the Monkey King, part of its Saturday Scene programming. There will be a DinoFair at The Growing Place in Santa Monica on April 9th. We love visiting the Natural History Museum's Pavilion of Wings, which opens this year on April 11th.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: March Madness continues and if you can't get enough of the action, check out Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by sports reporter John Feinstein, about two intrepid teen reporters who solve a mystery at the Final Four basketball tournament. Or, if extreme sports are more your kids' style, get to The Annenberg Space for Photography to catch Extreme Exposure before it closes on April 17th. And don't forget that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is in town for ten performances between April 8th and 17th.

PARENTS: Set your Tivo to record HBO's new miniseries, Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet, which premieres on Sunday (3/27) and is set right here in Glendale. The reviews have been tremendous; we went to school with the indie director Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven) who helmed this masterpiece. Extra credit if you also read James Cain's novel on which the film was based.

Archived Adventures: It's always nice to play tourist in your own city - take the tram to the Getty and let the kids wander the gardens, or get yourself out to Pasadena and explore The Huntington or the Descanso before having lunch on Colorado, or hike around Griffith Park and check out the Observatory. For local coastal action, head to Malibu for a hike and then drop in for lunch at the new Lumber Yard shopping center. If you're searching for great things to do this month, don't forget to page through the KOTC Archives.

Food Finds: We love Sweet Butter, a new cafe on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. And, if you're in Pasadena, check out Beyond the Olive, where you and the kids can conduct taste tests of various olive oils and vinegars. Excellent for a mail order gift!

We'll be back in two weeks for a complete listing of April picks, including Houdini: Art and Magic opening at the Skirball Center at the end of the month. Now, go get some sand between your toes!

Kids Off The Couch

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Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater + Family 4 Pack Ticket Giveaway = Kids Off The Couch

April 8-17 at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Family 4-Pack Ticket Giveaway

You won't know if your kids love modern dance unless you take them to see a performance, and the very best way to start them off is with the Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater. Mesmerizing from the curtain's first parting, the renowned company helped to move modern dance to the forefront of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage. Long time dance lovers and curious newcomers are in for a special treat when the company comes to town for 10 performances in April.

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center has a multi-cultural parade of shows throughout the rest of the spring, including Mark Morris Dance Group, Ballet Nacional de Cuba and American Ballet Theatre. Whether you catch Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (and your kids are clamoring for more) or you are looking for an elegant date night downtown, you'll find something in the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center's varied line-up between now and June.

Where and When: Tickets are still available for all the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater shows, which will take place at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, between April 8 and 17 (including four matinees). The company will present three different programs: "21st Century Ailey" features compelling and exciting works from recent years; "All Ailey" features Ailey's timeless masterpieces; and "20 Years of Jamison" celebrates the phenomenal influence of Judith Jamison in her final season. All programs include the beloved Revelations, which is celebrating 50 years as an enduring classic. Approximate running time is two hours, including intermissions. Appropriate for children age eight and up. Click here for ticketing information.

Enter to Win: Kids Off the Couch subscribers are eligible to win a Family 4-Pack for the Wednesday, April 13 show. Please send us a note if you're able to attend the 7:30 PM show. Winners will be chosen by Tuesday, April 5. Don't forget to include your phone number so we can reach you if you are chosen!

info@kidsoffthecouch.com

info@kidsoffthecouch.com

Kids Off The Couch: Disney's The Princess and the Frog + Free Jazz at the Fowler Museum

Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World

Family Programming on Opening Day, Sunday March 20

Disney's animated film, The Princess and the Frog, is set in jazzy New Orleans, and the combination of a classic fairy tale with that city's rollicking sound track was a big success. Featuring hand-drawn animation, the studio's first African American princess, and a score by Randy Newman, it's a worthy introduction to a unique American art form -- Jazz. On Sunday, one of our favorite LA institutions, The Fowler Museum, opens a brand new show -- Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. The show includes photographs and artifacts from a global concert tour organized by the US government that put jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman in touch with fans around the world. Given the state of the world today, this seems like a particularly cool type of diplomacy! The show, which will run through August, will feature intermittent jazz performances in the galleries and many wonderful family and adult programs to expand on this rich theme. Click here for a free educational guide for your kids that includes activity sheets, in-gallery activities, and photographic references.

Free Family Programming on Sunday, March 20: The Opening Day programming will be pitch perfect for kids of all ages. Kids in the Courtyard: Peanut, Peanut Butter ... and JAZZ is free, and runs from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM this Sunday, March 20. Come join UCLA jazz musicians and make PB&J sandwiches to kick off this wonderful show. Note: The LA Marathon takes place on Sunday; click here to check the route and plan a successful outing!

Panel on Jazz Diplomacy this Sunday: Adults and older kids might want to attend a panel discussion at 2:00 PM on Sunday (3/20) called Fowler Outspoken Conversationsfeaturing Kenny Burrell, John Edward Hasse, and Quincy Jones. The event will be moderated by Tom Schnabel and will likely be crowded, so please read the 'wristband' policy.

The Princess and the Frog: Set in 1920s New Orleans, the tale follows Tiana, a young waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant. Tiana is convinced to kiss a charismatic frog who promises he is a prince, but she transforms into a frog, instead of the frog becoming a prince! Along their journey to love, the two frogs must travel deep into the bayou with a series of silly, colorful characters to meet a voodoo doctor who can restore them to their royal human selves. (2009, G, Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, who also made The Little Mermaid andAladdin). Click here for more details.

Extras: PBS produced a kids website about jazz in conjunction with Ken Burns' JAZZ documentary. Click here for the kids site, and here to learn more about JAZZ, A Film by Ken Burns.

Kids Off The Couch

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Marie Curie + Jennifer Steinkamp = LA Kids Off The Couch

Jennifer Steinkamp only at ACME until Saturday, March 12

If you have walked around the W Hotel in Hollywood, or like to hang out near the Hammer's Cafe, you've probably noticed the arrestingly beautiful imagery of artist Jennifer Steinkamp - large, colorful butterflies along Vine Street, or a gently waving tree in the Hammer's courtyard. When we heard that Jennifer had named a recent piece of work after Marie Curie (our favorite female scientist), we popped intoACME gallery, located on Wilshire just west of Fairfax.

The Artist's Work: A pulsating, colorful wall of flowers that is Steinkamp's "Madame Curie" greeted us as we entered the gallery. With lights dimmed to best offset the computer's projections, we were quickly captivated by the rhythmic undulations of stems and petals that seemed to wave in an unseen breeze. The artist recently became interested in Radium and so studied up on Marie Curie, who received theNobel Prize for Physics in 1903, for discovering the element Radium. Steinkamp learned that Marie Curie was a avid gardener, and her work depicts flowers that Curie cultivated in her own yard.

The show, which is only up until this Saturday (3/12), is perfect for kids. They sidle right up to the wall, playing with the image as it beams on their hands and casting shadows on the wall itself. Up close, what was a cascade of posies from the gallery door becomes a needlepoint canvas of form and color. One of Steimkamp's lyrical, waving trees is on view in another room of the gallery.

Learn Online: The cool thing about computer generated art is that you can view it online -- if you can't get to ACME by Saturday, or if you're just curious about this cool artist, here is Jennifer's website with links to all her installations. If you click on one, you can read all about it, but be sure to click on "quicktime movie" to see the pieces in motion. Another version of "Madame Curie", listed first, is installed in the San Diego through June, if you are inclined to take a little road trip south.

A Getty Connection: Jennifer Steinkamp is the FY11 Getty Artists Program's artist-in-residence and has selected college students as the primary focus for her project. Stay tuned for updates this project.

Madame Curie: Getting your kids to watch a classic title is not easy but we promise that Madame Curie is worth the effort -- that is, for kids over the age of 8. (1943, 124 minutes, directed by Mervyn LeRoy). Curie was married to fellow scientist Pierre Curie with whom she toiled in rudimentary laboratories to unlock the secrets of radioactivity. The film, which starred Greer Garson, was nominated for 7 Academy Awards and made the AFI's Top 100 Inspirational Movies list; it is both highly romantic and remarkably good at showcasing the couple's scientific method -- something that our kids study in school, and appreciated seeing in action in the film. We loved that Marie kept at her experimentation, believing in herself and her work, and ultimately triumphing as the first female Nobel Prize winner. Seems that her persistent intelligence ran in the family: her daughter Irene won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935. Curie also received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for recognition of her work in radioactivity.

Kids Off The Couch

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Kids Off The Couch March Radar: From A Dan Zanes Ticket Giveaway to Daylight Savings Time

Yesterday's New York Times Science section had a cool article about Academy Award winner, Natalie Portman. Turns out Oscar's black swan was a finalist in a national Intel high school science contest, and then went onto Harvard. The article quotes one of her professors as saying that, despite Natalie's active movie career, she never missed a deadline at school. We knew we liked that girl! Next week, we're writing about girls and science, so stay tuned.

PRE-SCHOOL and ELEMENTARY -- Caterpillar Adoption Days: Observation is the core of the scientific process, and we have a great way to start good science habits in your kids. Each March, Kidspace Museum in Pasadena hostsCaterpillar Adoption Days, allowing children to bring home a larva that will hatch into a butterfly under their eyes. Caterpillar adoptions begin on Saturday, March 19 and continue through the weekend of April 14 and 15, when the Grand Butterfly Release will take place. Click here to read our Popcorn Adventure about this great LA tradition.

TICKET GIVEAWAY - Dan Zanes: UCLA Live presents Dan Zanes & Friends at Royce Hall on Saturday, March 19 at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. UCLA Live favorite Dan Zanes and his band perform exuberant, handmade music for enthusiastic crowds of kids and kids at heart. The audience is invited to sing along with gusto before things heat up and ultimately evolve into an all-ages dance party. Click here if you'd like to be entered to win a Family Four Pack to the 2:00 show.

ELEMENTARY - Build a Better World: As part of the Build a Better World component of Noah's Ark at the Skirball, local charities participate in activities at the museum. From March 15-20, Habitat for Humanity will be on site, so drop by and learn how building houses can change the world.

ELEMENTARY - World Culture Watch: We're planning a summer vacation so thinking of exotic foreign locales is right up our alley. The Music Center hosts a varied series of free concerts throughout the year, and next up is A Gaelic Gathering and the Tinkers on March 19th at 11:00 AM at theWalt Disney Concert Hall. Experience the world in your kitchen by clicking here for a slide show of global soup recipes from our fave new cooking site, Fine Cooking. Or, to explore the world's museums from the comfort of your chair, check out Google's new Art Project. (Careful, you could get lost in here).

ELEMENTARY -- The Bard Still Rules the Box Office: Gnomeo and Juliet surprised everyone by beating out Hall Pass last weekend, so if your kids are tuned into the Shakespearean storyline, have them check out A Noise Within's latest production of The Comedy of Errors, playing now through mid-May.

MIDDLE SCHOOL - Jazz at the Fowler: The Fowler debuts a stellar collection of photographs and documents in Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassador's Embrace the World, an exhibit that will include several live jazz sessions over the course of the five-month show. We'll keep you updated on the ongoing family programming, which starts March 20 with Kids in the Courtyard: Peanut, Peanut Butter... and JAZZ.

MIDDLE SCHOOL - Monopoly Goes Digital: We loved the media kerfuffle last month when Milton Bradley announced a new version of its most famous board game. Monopoly Live will be available in the fall for $50, and pundits caution that making monopoly digital will eliminate the human element -- all that cheating, dealing and rule bending that kids learn to deal with during hours spent playing unsupervised games. For another humorous take our rapidly changing landscape check out this hilarious article, 8 Skills Our Parents Had that We Don't on a cool site called Matador and consider teaching some of these essential skills to your kids. (Or let the grandparents do it for you!).

TEENS -- Open Mike and College Night: We're obsessed with NBC's show,Parenthood, and love the storyline about Amber, a teenager who loves to play guitar. If your teens have the hankering, have them come out to a Teen Open-Mic Night at the Skirball Cultural Center, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 23. If you're ramping up to the college process, our friends at Team Tutors have a special evening for you with a NYC-based admissions expert on March 23. Click here for details.

TEENS - Design Driven: Family Flicks at the Hammer is showcasing the Films of Charles and Ray Eames on Sunday, March 20 at 11:00 AM (free). Teens intrigued with design will also like the new exhibit at the A & D Architecture and Design Museum on Wilshire, Soupergreen.

DATE NIGHT -- Liz Taylor in Iran: Both Liz and the turbulent state of Iran have been in the news lately, so it's an interesting time to check out a series of photographs of Elizabeth Taylor taken by a young Firooz Zahedi on a 1976 trip to Iran. At LACMAthrough mid-June.

Outtakes: Our new obsession? The new blood orange flavor at Pinkberry. If you loved last week's Popcorn Adventure on LA's food trucks, check out TruckIt Fest this Sunday, March 6 from 11:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. There's still time to register for the LA Marathon. Consider walking the fabulous new route from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier on March 20. And finally -- Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 13. Don't forget to push those clocks forward!

Kids Off The Couch

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LA Zoo Searching Safari + Born To Be Wild 3D = Kids Off The Couch

When the kids were little, we read them Good Night, Gorillanearly as often as Good Night, Moon and loved imagining what happened at the Zoo once everyone went home at night. Watching an early trailer for The Zookeeper reminded us of the beloved childhood book, and its thrilling behind-the-scenes premise. The film won't be in theaters until July 8, but because the animals actually talk (conspiring together to help Kevin James get a date) and because James is the perfect foil in this type of romantic comedy, we will put our heads between a lion's jaw if it isn't one of the summer's big hits.

Kids Off the Couch was invited back stage at the L.A. Zoo a few weeks ago as part of a private event put on by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA is a non-profit that supports the L.A. Zoo). The chance to explore the environs and animals up-close, without crowds of people and with dedicated activities designed for kids, was pretty neat. We were let into the grounds before the general public and enjoyed a quick breakfast with GLAZA's Safari Club patrons. We explored on our own, chatting with some animal handlers, before participating in a fun, park-wide Scavenger Hunt. We really loved having a private introduction to the elephants in the Zoo's newest exhibit, the Elephants of Asia. One junior reporter was delighted to find an elephant that had the same name as she did, and got a kick out of the way Billy the elephant looked around for food even though he had a bundle of hay in his trunk.

We think it's important to support local institutions, so if your family loves animals, consider a membership to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, both to save money and encourage more regular visits. A Family membership costs $89 annually, includes transferable guest passes, and allows for two adults and their children to come to the Zoo throughout the year. Safari Club donors, who support the Zoo at the highest levels ($1500 annually), have the opportunity to experience behind-the-scenes events that offer up-close experiences with wildlife, demonstrate wildlife practices, and share the latest developments in zoo research and conservation efforts. The Searching Safari experience that we participated in is one of the many perks to being a Safari Club member, which also includes a Sunset Safari (a festive behind-the-scenes party at the Zoo) and the Zoo Director's Series (intimate gatherings with wildlife experts hosted in private homes). Click here to find a membership level that is right for your family.

Another film we are excited about is Born to Be Wild. The IMAX project hits theaters on April 8 and documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them. Narrated by Morgan Freeman and shot in Borneo and Kenya, the film stars renowned animal experts who are saving endangered species one life at a time. Zoos do more than trot animals out for visitors these days - most big institutions are involved in animal conservation projects of some kind. Click here to read how the L.A. Zoo uses its conservation dollars.

Speaking of Talking to the Animals... Who can forget Rex Harrison's version of Dr. Dolittle? Sorry Eddie Murphy, but there's nothing better than that silly classic, "Talk to the Animals". We also love Madagascar and Born Free -- click here for other good animal films. There are a plethora of great animal books that live alongside Good Night, Gorilla on our shelves. Click here for more kid titles.

Kids Off The Couch

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LA Food Truck Adventure + Iron Chef America = Kids Off The Couch

We have to smile secretly when we see our kids getting all excited about Iron Chef America and other cooking shows on TV. First, because we remember our own childhood when we typically wouldn't have been caught dead in the kitchen (and when foods like mangoes, sweet onions and goat cheese would not have been found in our local supermarkets). And second, because seeing the kids excited about cooking can only be a step away from them learning to cook -- right? In a world where fast food is abundant and the microwave can sometimes seem too slow, there's nothing like watching your kids develop skills like baking, basting and marinating. Sampling the foods of different cultures is one of the bonuses of living in Southern California, so we spent an afternoon chasing the best of L.A.'s Food Trucks - those trendy versions of the old school taco trucks commonly seen at construction sites. From comfort foods like grilled cheese and fried chicken, to ethnic goodies like Korean BBQ and Israeli Couscous, to fabulous desserts galore, the food trucks have something for everyone. Our kids tried new tastes (chocolate/chili ice cream, anyone?) and stepped out of their culinary comfort zones. The best of all? We didn't pay “sit down” dinner prices for some of the best food our city has to offer!

Click here for more tasty bits of wisdom including our favorite LA Food Trucks and staging your own Iron Chef competition!