August 5th—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 🤝

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My kids have been really into riding their bikes + scooters this summer and it’s been so fun to watch them gain confidence in themselves. Otis rode his bike without training wheels over the 4th of July (for the first time ever) and I had no idea what that milestone would make me feel. I felt incredibly proud yet completely sad all at once. Watching them do things by themselves is so bittersweet. The part of parenting that trips me up the most. I could write so much about this but if you’re a parent, you know this feeling well.

Since we’ve been on a bike riding kick, I was thinking about how fun it would be to host a community event to get more kids all riding together. LA isn’t the most bike friendly city, so lately we’ve been heading to neighborhood parks where they can ride safely with plenty of open space and they love it. I thought a spot like Platform Culver City might be cool if we made a little bike bath throughout the shops to do a few loops (early morning before opening) and finish it off with a playdate + coffee and all the goodies. Does anyone have a contact there or know of any other spots that might be even better for something like this? Let me know and feel free to send any other ideas my way.

x Carissa

📍 Long Beach
Wednesday 8/6 Boat-loving kids will enjoy Movie Night Market: Ratatouille on the Queen Mary! Watch Ratatouille under the stars on the Verandah Deck, shop local vendors along the Promenade Deck, and enjoy views of Long Beach at sunset. (market opens at 5pm, movie at 8:30p)

📍 Pasadena
Wednesday 8/6 Love good outdoor story time and Pasadena Public Library has a great one this week, Summer Storytime in The Park. Celebrate summer with stories, songs, sun and friends. Bring a picnic blanket to sit on. Kids will listen to seasonal tales and sing songs together. Best for children ages 0-5. (10am)

📍 Santa Monica
Friday 8/8 Check out Santa Monica Public Library’s beachside pop up, SMPL at The Beach hosted at Annenberg Community Beach House. Sign out books from the beach reads collection (no library card required), make nautical crafts, play games, relax and hang out in the Surfside Lounge. Seaside Storytime starts at 10:15am. All ages welcome! (10am - 3pm)

📍 Venice
Friday 8/8 Don’t miss Children’s Health Day at Maxine Waters Health and Dignity Center at York School. This free back-to-school event will have school supplies up for grabs, fun giveaways, immunizations, vision services, health insurance assistance, guided clinic tours, face painting, balloon animals, arts & crafts, and story time! (2pm - 6pm)

📍 Brentwood
Saturday 8/9 & Sunday 8/10 The Getty’s Garden Concerts for Kids is truly a really fun time for the whole family. We’ve always enjoyed our time there so I have to include it again this week! This Saturday and Sunday Kymberly Stewart, children’s singer and songwriter will be performing her songs that blend jazz, gospel, and soulful pop. Family programs are always free, no ticket required but a timed entry reservation is needed. (4pm - 5:30pm)

Virtual Mom Support
A kind mom in our community passed along an invite for any moms who are feeling helpless with all the devastation happening in Gaza and who are seeking support + community. Moms for Gaza is a virtual gathering happening tonight (Tuesday 8/5) after bedtime (starting at 7pm). This will include a community brainstorm and a 15-minute nervous system reset led by Emily Kirkbride offering grounding tools for moms navigating grief and overwhelm. Thank you for providing this space. ❤️ 

*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!