March 19 Saturday Getty Center Family Festival celebrating Asia

Family Festival Celebrating Photography from the New China and Felice Beato: A Photographer on the Eastern Road

Date: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Time: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free; no reservations required.

Discover the richness and beauty of the ancient empires of India, Japan, and China as well as recent explosions in artistic creativity. Put your own spin on a Chinese opera mask, listen to master storytellers recount tales of the once-glorious Silk Road that stretched from one end of Asia to the other, and be dazzled by amazing Indian, Japanese, and Chinese music and dance in the hands-on family festival.

Happy Holidays and here's a New Year family festival on January 2 in Little Tokyo

 Happy Holidays ... and you may like to bring your family to Little Tokyo for this festival on January 2nd, 2011.  Don't miss the listing of the Target Free days.   More details at the website:   http://www.janm.org/events/2011/01/#02

Sunday, Jan 2, 2011

Family Festivals

Oshogatsu Family Festival

FREE ADMISSION ALL DAY!

Ring in the New Year and the Year of the Rabbit with fun arts ‘n crafts, cooking workshops, and exciting performances.

11:00 – 4:00 PM: Craft and other fun activities for the entire family:

Happy New EAR! Make yourself some unique rabbit ears to celebrate the year of the rabbit!

Put a whimsical spin on the new year by creating a fun pinwheel

Toddler Room

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Hop on over to Ruthie’s table and fold an origami rabbit!

11:00 – 1:00 PM: Bunny Petting Party with Lil’ Red’s Buckaroo Ranch
11:00 – 4:00 PM: New Years-inspired papel picado* (perforated paper) with MyPapelPicado.com
11:00 – 4:00 PM: Special fukubukuro (lucky bag) store sale
12:00 & 2:00 PM: Organic/Vegan Asian Inspired Cooking Class with Spork Foods (First come, first serve. RSVPs accepted only on January 2. 20 max for each class)

1:00 PM: A reading of Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat by author Susan Lendroth
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Zaru soba* (buckwheat noodles) with Kidding Around the Kitchen
2:00 & 3:30 PM: Drum circle with Drumtime
2:30 & 4:00 PM: Mochitsuki* demonstration and performance by Kodama Taiko
4:30 PM: Taiko Performance with TaikoProject

***SPECIAL*** 1 – 3:30 PM
MOCA GEFFEN: Sunday Studio
Please visit our neighbors and join them for a guided tour of Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color, and Space and learn about how artist from Latin America where exploring with perception and sensation. Next, all participants will meet and work with Janice Gomez, who will lead you in making a work of art that allows the everyone to experience art in new and extraordinary ways of engagement and participation.

*Papel picado is the Mexican folk art of paper cutting into elaborate designs.
*Zaru soba is a Japanese New Year’s tradition. Soba noodles indicate longevity.
*Mochitsuki is a traditional rice cake pounding ceremony

ABOUT OUR FRIENDS:
LIL' RED'S BUCKAROO RANCH
A unique, simple, and educational way to entertain children at any type of gathering. Our bunnies are gentle and friendly, as they are lovingly handled from the day they are born. Lil’ Red’s Buckaroo Ranch is a non-profit organization. Their proceeds go towards the care, rehabilitation and re-homing of Red’s Ranch Animal Rescue farm animals.  For more information, visit: For more information, visit www.ponyride-pettingfarm.com.

MYPAPELPICADO.COM
Students will enjoy a demonstration of authentic papel picado techniques from Educator / Demonstrator Marcelino Sifuentes. They will learn how to use tools and techniques to make their very own papel picado. This unique folk art is used for many celebrations in Mexico and here in the United States.  For more information, visit: For more information, visit www.mypapelpicado.com.

SPORK FOODS
Spork Foods is a Los Angeles-based gourmet vegan food company owned and operated by sisters Jenny and Heather Goldberg. Their delicious, innovative cuisine emphasizes organic, local, and seasonal ingredients. They offer cooking classes, food consultation, and catering.

The workshop will make the following Food: (Each person will get a generous sample of each dish.)

Wok tossed green beans with pickled vegetables

Asian coleslaw with a creamy black sesame dressing

Crispy rice cakes with azuki beans and scallions

For more information, visit: For more information, visit www.sporkfoods.com.

Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat by Susan Lendroth. Illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi The cat with raised paw beckoning guests is a symbol of good luck and good fortune in many Asian countries, but the origins of the legend of the Maneki Neko are numerous. Here is another telling of the story that involves a samurai and a monk in the legend of this famous cat. Ages 4-6. Hardbound: 32 pp.

KIDDING AROUND THE KITCHEN
In today’s world, it is common that families rarely get to eat together anymore.

Kidding around the Kitchen shows that families can make and eat food together without a lot of fuss or a huge time commitment. The family food demo helps families with tips on smarter shopping, fun recipe ideas, advice on how to incorporate healthier choices when possible, and advice on how to delegate tasks in an age-appropriate way. This family food demo is a “how to” get everyone involved in the family meal.

Kidding around the Kitchen is for families that have full plates in life as well as wanting a full plate of food to enjoy together. It’s about time well spent. You’ll see your kids get a “we did it” attitude!! This family food demo works on the “try it” premise—all while empowering the kids and family. If we can do it, so can you!!
Kidding around the Kitchen is an adventure in fun, food and family. We are not only making food, we are making memories.  For more information on Kidding around the kitchen visit: www.kiddingaroundthekitchen.com

DRUMTIME
Drumming is a very direct and powerful way to connect mind, body and spirit, invigorating a person with their own life force. And anyone can do it!

The heart beats and the body reacts—we are drumming all the time. Drumming as a group gives the human spirit an opportunity to play with its two deepest desires—to express its uniqueness and to contribute to a greater whole. A Drumtime drum circle is guided with high energy and caring support to ensure that all its participants may access their innate vitality. And a Drumtime drum circle, no matter how large or small, literally transforms a gathering of people—most with no prior musical experience—into a percussion orchestra!

Participants experience the power of having their personal risks transformed into the elation of group success—giving everyone hands-on shared experiences in joy, transformation and success! For more information, visit: For more information, visit www.drumtime.net.

KODAMA TAIKO
Kodama is a group of percussionists from the greater Los Angeles area who are dedicated to performing both traditional and contemporary pieces through the sounds of taiko. The group is primarily composed of working professionals who enjoy spending their “off” time learning and creating entertaining performance pieces.

Kodama is well known for their unique Mochitsuki (rice cake pounding) performance which combines the age-old tradition of hand-pounding mochi (sweet rice) with the sounds of taiko. This energetic custom is typically performed during the Japanese New Year’s, but has lately been expanded to include any celebratory occasion. Makoto Fujii of the Japan-based group Medetaya instructed Kodama in combining the art of taiko and Mochitsuki.

2011 TARGET FAMILY FREE SATURDAY SCHEDULE
February 12:Candy Land

March 12: Construction Zone

May 14 Wild Things

June 11: Take It to the Street

July 09: Once Upon A Time

October 08: Up in the Air

November 12: Planet Power

December 10: That’s a Wrap

free Christmas Eve performance at the Music Center, Dec 24, from 3pm to 6pm

Downtown Los Angeles on Grand Ave is home to Wells Fargo Bank's Museum where you can ride on a Wells Fargo stagecoach with "moving" scenery.  See early banking artifacts and the history of Wells Fargo from the Gold Rush era.  Across the street is California Water Plaza where a water fountain dances upward to a specific pumping pattern and where a cascading pool is enclosed by an outdoor eating area - a wonderful place for a picnic.   So go early by 12noon to get your wristbands and you will have time to explore the LA Cathedral where there are animal sculptures your kids can climb on and a "beehive" you can get inside.  Or camels or tortoises to sit on.   A reasonably priced cafe in LA Cathedral provides lunch fare.  The cathedral has beautiful tapestries on either wall of recognizable and non-famous Catholics in the history of Catholicism ... the tapestry was printed on computer and the patterned threads were put together in Belgium.  These details came from a documentary on PBS on how the tapestry was created.   Don't forget to go down to the crypts or the small exhibits inside the cathedral and the peaceful areas outside the cathedral. 

Take the opportunity to enjoy downtown before coming back to the 3pm show below with your wristbands ensuring you a seat.  Don't forget parking is free for this performance.

For details, see http://lacountyarts.org/holiday.html

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Friday, December 24, 2010, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

See it live at the Music Center | Watch it on KCET-TV
Stream it on KCET.org  | Hear it on KPFK 90.7 FM

An annual tradition, the Emmy-nominated music and dance extravaganza is L.A.'s biggest holiday show - and it's FREE, so bring the whole family! Or, enjoy it from the comfort of your home on KCET-TV, KCET.org or KPFK 90.7 FM, while you finish decorating the tree or steaming tamales!
"Childhood Holiday Memories” is the theme for this year’s Holiday Celebration, broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on KCET-TV. 24 groups and nearly 800 performers will present music and dance of the season from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles.

Students from Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation will emulate toy soldiers in a Dixieland-style tap dance performance, Mr. Vallenato will play Columbian Folk Accordion music, Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy will perform “One Drum Dance,” traditional holiday songs will be sung by current and former LAUSD music teachers in the LACESMA Women’s Chorale, Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers will draw attention to the work of African-American composers, Halau O Lilinoe will perform an ancient style of hula, and a range of seasonal stylings from traditional to contemporary will be presented by the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Elliot Deutsch Big Band, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Loch and Key, Santa Monica Chorus and Young Angels Choir, and many more.

Attendance & Parking are FREE | Doors open at 2:30 PM

Wristbands required for entry 

Although no tickets or reservations are necessary, wristbands are required for entry. Wristbands will be handed out, one per person, starting at 11:30 a.m. Seating is first come, first served. Once a wristband is obtained, attendees will not have to wait in line. When all wristbands have been distributed, standbys will be tracked in order of arrival and admitted if seats are vacated.

View the Total Lunar Eclipse at NASA website on Monday, December 20 or at Griffith Observatory

Eclipse rained out? You have alternatives!

http://www.altadenablog.com/2010/12/eclipse-rained-out-you-have-alternatives.html

This is a triple astronomical header tonight: the winter solstice, a full moon, AND a total eclipse of that moon, all happening today and tomorrow.  Surely a cosmic portent of something.
And pity we'll miss it because of the rain.

However, Robert Klomburg tells us that this NASA website will host chats and will show live video of the eclipse from Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, so you can enjoy the eclipse in the warmth and dryness of your own home.

*******

However, if you wish to brave the rain, there are special events at Griffith Observatory from 8pm tonight.  Here are details:

http://www.griffithobservatory.org/exhibits/special/Special_Event_Lunar_Eclipse.html

How High the Moon:
Total Lunar Eclipse!

A public event to view the total lunar eclipse Monday, December 20, 2010 8:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. ADMISSION IS FREE

On December 20, 2010, Griffith Observatory celebrates the last total lunar eclipse of the decade by opening its doors to the public from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Los Angeles is perfectly situated for viewing this lunar eclipse. The eclipse occurs on the longest night of the year, and its maximum is only about fifteen hours before winter begins. It is also the highest in the sky that a totally eclipsed Moon has appeared from Los Angeles in 1,591 years and it will not be this high again for at least another millennium.

Events and special programs include Building and exhibits are open 8:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. Samuel Oschin Planetarium shows (8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m., and 10:50 p.m. There is a nominal charge for planetarium show tickets.) Special free lectures about the lunar eclipse in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon (8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10:45 p.m.) Telescope viewing Stellar Emporium gift store open Cafe at the End of the Universe open Presentations during key eclipse moments by Griffith Observatory Director, Dr. E.C. Krupp, and Councilmember Tom LaBonge

This Sunday, December 12, from 1 to 4pm, ART and Kids in the Courtyard at UCLA's Fowler Museum

UCLA's Fowler Museum has wonderful art workshops every month for families.

On December 12, come and decorate a jar and try some kimchi after seeing a demonstration on how it is made!  Enjoy the exhibits or just roll down the hill outside the museum.  Explore UCLA campus with its inverted fountain, Sculpture Garden and Botanical Garden.

Admission to Fowler Museum is free, but UCLA parking on campus is $10 and you may wish to consider the public transportation options.

Kids in the Courtyard: Kimchi for You, Kimchi for Me

At this hands-on workshop, learn how to prepare Korean pickled vegetables, then decorate jars to store your kimchi. A perfect gift for the holiday season!

image by Emily Barney via flickr creative commons

EVENT DETAILS

Kids in the Courtyard: Kimchi for You, Kimchi for Me
Sunday, December 12, 2010
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Fowler Museum Courtyard

Dec 12, 2010 (1 to 4pm) UCLA FOWLER Museum's KIDS IN THE COURTYARD

UCLA's Fowler Museum has wonderful art workshops every month.

This is their offering for December.. come and decorate a jar and try some kimchi after seeing a demonstration on how it is made!

UCLA parking on campus is $10 and also consider the public transportation options.

KF

Kids in the Courtyard: Kimchi for You, Kimchi for Me

At this hands-on workshop, learn how to prepare Korean pickled vegetables, then decorate jars to store your kimchi. A perfect gift for the holiday season!

image by Emily Barney via flickr creative commons

EVENT DETAILS

Kids in the Courtyard: Kimchi for You, Kimchi for Me
Sunday, December 12, 2010
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Fowler Museum Courtyard

This Sunday - two free events at Getty Villa and Hammer Museum to enjoy with your family!

Family Festivals at Getty Villa and Getty Center are really good events ... the only cost involved is the $15 per vehicle parking.  However, because of the small size of the Getty Villa in Malibu, you need to obtain admission tickets via phone or online.  No tickets are needed for the Getty Center.  You may get up to 8 tickets per person, so share your tickets with another family. 

See http://www.getty.edu/visit/hours/faq.html#v5  for the frequently asked questions if this is your first visit to Getty Villa.

There are always amazing artwork to be done at Getty's family Festivals as well as dramatic or musical performances -- all free and all in one day!  Kids will enjoy getting the ART DETECTIVE pamphlets to do their art scavenger hunt!

Family Festival Celebrating The Art of Ancient Greek T

Date: Sunday, December 5, 2010
Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission: Free; a ticket is required. Call (310) 440-7300 or use the "Get Tickets" button below.

Bring your family's entire cast of characters along to celebrate The Art of Ancient Greek Theater during this daylong festival of learning, crafts, and performance. Children and adults can fashion their own Greek theater masks, costume themselves as ancient actors, and applaud or join in pint-sized versions of classical Greek comedies onstage.

	Paint sets for the Cyclops with Liz Glynn. Photo: Aaron Paley

Planned activities and events include:

Casting Call—Greek-Theatre Clay Masks, Led by Marni Gittleman
Make authentic expressions by shaping, styling, forming, and exaggerating facial features from forehead to chin! Create palm-sized terracotta masks inspired by the traditional styles of ancient Greek theatre masks. Work with air-dry clay and use press molds and clay tools to create your own unique cast of a mask form.

Dramatic Drapery, Led by Marcus Kuiland Nazario
Create your own costume fit for the stage! Choose among Grecian prints and patterns and make your very own custom textile, which can be fashioned into a headdress, cape, or tunic. The world is your personal amphitheater.

	Meet Herakles at the Getty Villa! (Presented by Carl Weintraub, of We Tell Stories.) Photo: Aaron Paley

Building a Classical Greek Chorus, Led by Professor Michael Hackett and Students of UCLA's Department of Theater
The Greek chorus was central to ancient theater and provided the audience with insight into the dramatic action. Speaking or singing in unison, the chorus commented on the characters and themes being portrayed onstage. Watch (or even participate!) as a Greek chorus is created and performed before your eyes.

Reinventing Ancient Greek Theater, Led by Liz Glynn and Sam Robinson
Delve into the makings of Greek theater from the inside out in this ongoing, interactive workshop! Using Euripides' fantastical satyr play the Cyclops for inspiration, festival goers throughout the day can build props, paint sets, rehearse as actors, or perform a scene onstage. The Cyclops is Euripides' parody of a famous episode in Homer's The Odyssey, in which the hero Odysseus is trapped in the cave of a giant, one-eyed, man-eating monster and must outwit the Cyclops to save himself and his companions.

Special Appearance by the Famous Greek Demigod Herakles
Walk right up and meet Herakles (or Hercules, as he was called by the Romans). Zeus's son travels to the Getty Villa to share fabulous tales of his 12 labors and other mythic adventures. Presented by Carl Weintraub, of We Tell Stories.






+++++   Hammer Museum +++++++

ONCE a month at the Hammer Museum, there is a family movie that is free for all.   For 20 days in December, Hammer Museum also has free admission.   For details on the family movie event, please click on:   http://hammer.ucla.edu/calendar/detail/type/program/id/673

SUNDAY DEC 5th at 11:00am at Hammer Museum on Westwood and Wilshire

Hammer Kids

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Family Flicks: Azur and Asmar

Dir. Michel Ocelot Azur and Asmar (Azur et Asmar) 2008 35 mm, color, 99 min.

Dir. Michel Ocelot Azur and Asmar (Azur et Asmar) 2008 35 mm, color, 99 min.

Family Flicks: Azur and Asmar

Renowned French animator Michel Ocelot brings his signature silhouette style of animation into the digital realm with his first all-CG feature. Dazzling colors and stunning visuals inspired by Middle Eastern mosaic art bring to life the fairy tale of two rival princes. Appropriate for ages 6+. (2008 France/Belgium/Spain/Italy 35mm, color, 99 min. DIR/SCR: Michel Ocelot)

ENJOY!