April 29th—here's where I'm taking my kids this week

Our free weekly email keeps you in the loop of local kid-friendly events and things to do 🤝

I’ve been thinking a lot about how Playdate started - as a way to help families feel connected to each other and to Los Angeles in a new way. Because becoming a parent changes everything. Starting now, I’m sharing a little more behind the scenes each week. Tiny moments, real life, what’s inspiring me. Hope it makes you feel a little more connected too!

This past week, my family and I went camping (glamping 🤪) and it was the reset we all desperately needed. Our first camping trip as a family of 4. Their ages (3 & 5) feel kind of perfect right now. We stayed at El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara - first time with kids and it was surprisingly manageable. Would do it again and plan to this summer! Thinking of doing a little summer getaway guide with day and weekend trip ideas, would you all be into that? Let me know :)

x Carissa

📍 Frogtown
Friday 5/2 Don’t miss Frogtown First Fridays All About The Animals happening this Friday. An evening of art, music, animal focused activations, and community-driven activities at over 15 venues along the Los Angeles River! Featuring art exhibits, music, crafts, food pop ups, animal rescues, meet adoptable pets, get creative at free crafting stations and win prizes from local businesses during “Find the Frog” Treasure Hunt at participating venues. Please note, this is a car-free, low impact community event. (5pm - 10pm)

📍 Little Tokyo
Saturday 5/3 Check out the 4th annual Kibō Nobori Children’s Day Festival this Saturday. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the Japanese holiday ‘Kokomo No Hi’ (Children’s Day) and AANHPI Heritage Month. Kibō Nobori means ‘Hope Flags’ in Japanese, and the goal is to spread hope in our community. Hope is needed more than ever this year. Music and dance performances, art installations, children’s art & activities, AAPI marketplace, games, sports, snacks & more! (11am - 4pm)

📍Hancock Park
Saturday 5/3 Don’t miss Monchhichi Meet & Greet at JapanLA! Snap cute pics with Monchhichi and shop themed items! Omg, my 3 year old is Monchhichi obsessed and takes her everywhere, I might have to surprise her with this one so she can meet one of her idols. (11am - 2pm)

📍 Mid City
Saturday 5/3 Those will teens interested in cars will love Teen Auto Workshop 102: Fuel Spark & Air at Petersen Auto Museum. The half-day class will cover specific topics led by trained mechanics. The hands-on workshop will allow participants to choose from two classes. Each session is designed to provide an in-depth look into the inner workings of a car. The Fuel, Spark, and Air class includes learning how to identify systems in conjunction with electrical components. (10am - 2pm)

📍 Pasadena
Sunday 5/4 Museums of The Arroyo Day is this Sunday! 6 local museums in LA, Pasadena and South Pasadena open their doors to the public for a free admission along with cultural events, kid’s activities and family fun. Free shuttles connect: The Gamble House, Heritage Square, Los Angeles Police Museum, Lummis Home, Pasadena Museum of History, South Pasadena Historical Museum (12pm - 4pm)

*These aren’t ALL the family-friendly events happening this week in and around LA, just the best (IMO). We keep it short and curated—follow on IG + TT for more!

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See you next week!