Entries Tagged 'Activities' ↓

Known for French Laundry in Napa Valley, Thomas Keller is well-versed in the art of the picnic. Enter the new Bouchon Picnic Baskets to Go, which offer a variety of pre-selected delectable dishes. They are perfect to pick up for a night out at the Hollywood Bowl or a day on the beach. These baskets offer a range of sandwiches, salads, and decadent desserts. Choose from two French inspired 3 course picnic baskets for 2 people ($65.00 or $115.00) with add on all a carte options. Located in Beverly Hills, Bouchon is open daily from 11:30am – 12:00pm. – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.

Saturday night my Mom, Richard and I ventured to The Orange County Fair, a perfect way to spend family night on a warm Summer’s eve.  We had our photos taken in the photo booth, our handwriting analyzed, played carnival games and played with baby goats. Not to mention the laundry list of fried food we indulged in: Turkey legs, cheese on a stick, chocolate covered bacon, chili cheese fries, grilled corn, Mexican funnel cake and apple fries! Oy! The Orange County Fair is in town until August 14th. Don’t miss out on all the fun!  Tickets are 11.00 for adults and $6.00 for children. For more information visit: ocfair.com – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.

Adorable little baby goats.

Prize winning goats that kept trying to eat my dress.

Richard with more livestock.

My favorite Hot Dog on a Stick.

Who knew happiness could come on a stick. Cheese on a stick and Lemonade.

Turkey Legs.

Mexican Funnel Cake and Apple Fries.

Carnival Games

Rides! Rides! Rides!

The Ferris Wheel

Los Angeles has a reputation for fantastic weather and an epic spread of land, but rarely do you get to experience the two unadulterated while nursing a cocktail. At the Yamashiro Farmers Market, however, every Thursday atop a  peak in the Hollywood Hills, visitors can take in Los Angeles on a hot night with sweeping views of the sparkling grid, along with a few other California specialties: fresh produce and artisanal prepared foods, plus our greatest export alongside Hollywood — wine.

Set in the parking lot outside Yamashiro, the majestic CalAsian restaurant, patrons can stroll from booth to booth, sampling everything from Nicholas Family Farms’ fresh juices such as mandarin and grapefruit, to buying ripe roses from Eufloria, a sixth-generation flower-farming business. There are also food trucks, Last week was the Cool Haus and Heirloom Catering Trucks. You can purchase your own wine (in moderation, please) from a variety California vineyards (along with some French and Italian pours).

But maybe most popular of all is the Yamashiro Grill stand, which hawks street tacos spilling over with braised short ribs, hoisin duck confit (My Favorite) or miso-sake-marinated black cod, with sides such as wasabi guacamole and ginger salsa.

Yamashiro Farmers Market started back in March 2010 and has been a hit ever since with the locals. So next Thursday evening grab the family and come enjoy the sweeping city views, shop for your weekly produce and grab dinner while enjoying some music! – LA Times

Visit The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles April 11 through September 6, 2011 to see more than 40 different butterflies and an array of plants. They take up residence every summer for our much-anticipated seasonal exhibit, the Pavilion of Wings. Wander through a unique changing and growing ecosystem. Witness wondrous free-flying creatures interacting with plant life and with each other and emerge with a better understanding of the environment needed for the survival of these spectacular animals.

By no means a static exhibit, the pavilion showcases the fascinating dance between butterflies and moths and the plants that surround them. These life forms have refined their impressive interaction over the course of millions of years. You’ll be able to see, up close, how butterflies obtain nectar from flowers. You’ll witness caterpillars as they feed on plant leaves and go through the process of their transformation into adult butterflies. Various butterflies are present at different points during the season and the plants continue growing and changing throughout the process. This means that you can visit the Pavilion of Wings throughout the summer and have a different experience every time.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 763-DINO

www.nhm.org

Staying connected to kids that are in school all day takes some creativity.  Meaningful conversations are all the more important if you are juggling work and family and have limited time for leisurely chatter.  The two savvy women behind ‘kids off the couch’ have discovered a reliable and inspirational way to guarantee some real quality time with their kids.

In between birthday parties and sporting events, they slip their family a little culture.  But the medicine goes down easy because first they show the kids a great movie.  The Kids Off The Couch concept is idea is to show a movie and then get off the couch and go experience something related to the film.  Screening “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” gives context to a planetarium visit and always opens the door to a discussion about how it feels for an alien (or a kindergartener) to be away from home.  You will see how watching “Bend it Like Bechham” is the perfect entree to an Indian meal and a conversation about friends from different cultures.

Each week, ‘Kids off The Couch’ offers a new, family-tested adventure.  Sign up for their free weekly newsletter and cruise through their online archives to find new ideas for bonding time with your family.  It’s like talking to your most resourceful girlfriend.  One less thing to worry about, your weekend planning duties are done.  Right now, the adventures are inspired by Los Angeles events and activities, but New York and National editions are launching in September. – MommyTracked

www.KidsoffTheCouch.Com