What’s Happening Highlights: April 28-May 2

Viva Los Niños

This weekend, the Día del Niños Festival returns to the Aquarium of the Pacific. This Children’s Day celebration is so big that it needs two days. The fifth annual festival features an array of performances from local youths that reflect a globe-spanning selection of cultures. There will be West African drum and dance, hula and Tahitian dance, Mexican folkloric dance and a youth mariachi, traditional Japanese dance, an international children’s choir and more. Kids also can participate in painting an ocean mural and do other arts & crafts. Aquarium admission is $23.95 for adults and $11.95 children 3-11; however, for this special children’s event, a free kid’s admission coupon (valid with a regular adult admission) can be found on the aquarium’s site.
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun., May 1 and 2
Where: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Contact: 562-590-3100, www.aquariumofpacific.org

Game On

Popular board games will “come to life” at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios on Sunday.  The second annual Game Day will feature giant versions of your favorite board games. It’s a chance to meet Dora or SpongeBob, dance to music, create arts and crafts, decorate cupcakes, mingle with celebrities and more. It’s all to benefit the Lollipop Theater Network, a nonprofit organization that brings movie magic to hospitalized kids across the country through special group and bedside screenings. Adult tickets cost $200 and $75 for children 3-13.
When: noon-4 p.m. Sun., May 2
Where: Nickelodeon Animation Studios, 231 W. Olive Ave., Burbank
Contact: http://lollipopgameday2010.eventbrite.com/

From Pasadena To Pakistan

The Pacific Asia Museum hosts a special afternoon saluting the people and culture of Pakistan. This free family festival features live music, hands-on crafts, dance, demonstrations and more. You can color you own miniature artwork, taste Pakistani cuisine and listen to bhangra music. It’s a terrific, and fun opportunity to learn about Pakistani culture as well as the museum. If you come early enough, you can hear Sunny Stevenson tell tales from Pakistan during the Silk Road Storytime from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
When: noon-4 p.m., Sun. May 2
Where: Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena
Contact: 626-449-2742, pacificasiamuseum.org

Cheap Sweet Treat

This Wednesday night, Baskin-Robbins around the Southland will be serving up ice cream for a charitable cause. The fourth annual 31 Cent Scoop Night raises money and awareness for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization that honors fallen fire fighters and helps their families. The iconic ice cream stores are offering 2.5 oz. scoops of ice creams for only 31 cents (with a three scoop limit), and Baskin-Robbins will donate $100,000 to the charity. You might even meet one of your local firefighters scooping ice cream for you.
When: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday, April 28
Where: All Baskin-Robbins locations
Contact: www.baskinrobbins.com/31cent

On Location: Flip For It

A road trip with kids can mean only one thing: a backseat battle over games, toys or personal space is bound to erupt. Just to be on the safe side, you might want to look into the Pocket Referee, a low-tech but handy little item that could help quell an argument before it escalates into a “don’t make me pull this car over” kind of moment.

The Pocket Referee was designed by frustrated father George Vraney (now a retired physician) who was weary of the arguments between his two very competitive daughters. The resulting product is simple yet effective. One side says, “Get the Choice; Pass the Coin” and the other reads, “Pass the Choice; Keep the Coin.”

The coins come in antique brass ($12.95) and a special edition gold tone (15.95) and are available at select retailers and at Amazon.com.

What’s Happening Highlights: April 14-18

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Enter the (Golden) Dragon

The Golden Dragon Acrobats combine traditional Chinese artistry with modern-day showmanship. The troupe has been impressing American audiences with thrilling stunts and captivating contortions since 1978. Entitled “Cirque D’Or,” the Golden Dragon family-friendly show mixes acrobatics with music, dance, sports and martial arts to create an amazing celebration of Chinese culture and history. Tickets run from $26-$50.
When: 8 p.m. Fri., April 16; 2 and 8 p.m. April 17; 3 p.m. April 18
Where: Cerritos Center For the Performing Arts, 12799 Center Court Dr., Cerritos
Contact: 562-467-8818, www.cerritoscenter.com

Everyone In the Pool

Swim With Mike is a fundraising swim-athon that is also something of a pool party. It started 30 years ago to help All-American collegiate swimmer Mike Nyeholt, who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. So much money was raised at the first swim-athon that a Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund was started at USC. While there is no fee to participate, swimmers can raise money through donations. Also check out the silent auction and an all-day raffle along with live music, a barbecue and a Kids’ Corner. Swimmers of all ages and abilities are invited to dive into this charity event.
When: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., April 17
Where: McDonald’s Swim Stadium, USC, W. 34th and McClintock Ave., L.A.
Contact: www.swimwithmike.org

Earth Day Extra

We included a number of Earth Day activities in our April issue, but one that came in too late for print is the South L.A. Earth Day Festival. The California Greenworks has organized SouthLA EarthFest to help to inform residents (particularly those in South L.A.) about environmentally safe and sustainable products and services that all go with its “Think Green Go Green” motto. There will be an environmental film festival, live music, a healthy lifestyles pavilion, a children eco artwork and storytelling area and more. This year, too, the free festival has teamed up with the Red Cross to help victims in Chile and Haiti, so bring medical supplies, new shoes, clothing or financial contributions to donate.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., April 17
Where: Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr., L.A.
Contact: www.southlaearthfest.org, www.californiagreenworks.org

Check It Out: OCEANS, the Movie

Immerse yourself in OCEANS on Earth Day when the film premieres at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. You’ll be helping the Earth, too, since a portion of all tickets sold for the opening week shows (April 22-28) will be donated to Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, to help establish new marine protected areas in the Bahamas with The Nature Conservancy. The movie runs from April 22-May 23 and will include a presentation of the “Exotic Animals From Around the World,” where moviegoers will get to meet cool critters.

What’s Happening?

“Mom, what are we going to do today?” How often do you hear that question? Or wonder yourself? With a city – and a world, for that matter – ready to reveal its shiny, scenic and artsy corners, this blog will hopefully help guide you on your way.

Have a suggestion? A hot tip? A cool outing or destination to tell people about? Let me know!

– Carolyn Graham, Editor