Music: Hitting the Gym

With a fresh CD just released, Justin Roberts is hitting the road with his indie family-music. Following several stops throughout the U.S., he’ll land at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 18. Tickets are $10 ($9 if you’re part of a family of five or more).

Check out this review of Roberts’ Jungle Gym album by L.A. Parent’s Calendar Editor, Michael Berick:

Justin Roberts
Jungle Gym
$15.98, www,justinrobertsmusic.com

***

Justin Roberts ranks among the top songwriters in the kids music scene today. Along with the likes of Ralph Covert and Peter Himmelman, Roberts pens little pop gems that really relate to what it’s like to be a kid.

His latest CD is entitled Jungle Gym, and, naturally, there’s a very playful vibe to the tunes. There’s a dozen delightful ditties dealing with various childhood thrills: playing duck, duck goose, getting a new haircut, having a fire drill and being “obsessed by trucks.” In “Cardboard Box,” he inventively captures how a cardboard box can fire up a child’s imagination. Although this is a summer release, Roberts’ tunes here covers the whole calendar, as he includes a song about Halloween as well as one about a wintry snow day.

While there is plenty of fun and games in his music, he also is quite effective on songs that take a bit more serious look at childhood. “Sign My Cast” tells the story of an active boy who has to slow down after an injury, while “Never Getting Lost” is about a child apologizing to his mom for wandering off at a mall.
Roberts has fashioned another wonderful album that will entertain both adults and kids.

What’s Happening Highlights: June 30-July 4

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The Rockets’ Red Glare

The Discovery Science Center blasts off the Fourth of July weekend with the opening of the new, permanent exhibit, Rocket Lab. Offering a historical and scientific look at rocket travel, this lab contains interactive learning zones about space, rockets, and engineering. Young astronauts should go nuts over it. To celebrate this lab’s launch, the Cube will be giving away Boeing Delta Legacy trading cards at the grand opening on Friday. Admission is $12.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 3-17.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri. July 2.
Where: Discovery Science Center, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana.
Contact: 714-542-2823, www.discoverycube.org

Happy Mummy Day

There will be a little bit of Halloween this Independence Day weekend as the California Science Center unveils “Mummies of the World.” The exhibit is a unique, and undoubtedly a bit eerie, look at human and animals mummies from around the globe, along with multimedia 3D animations, hands-on science activities and other artifacts. You can also explore the Lost Egypt exhibit. Mummies of the World admission is $19.50 for adults, $16.50 for youths and $12.50 for children 4-12, although admission to the rest of the museum is free.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 1-Nov. 28.
Where: California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Dr., L.A.
Contact: 323-724-3623, www.californiasciencecenter.org

Have a Presidential Fourth!

Meet the “presidents” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during its day-long patriotic celebration. “President Lincoln” and “President Washington” will be among the historical portrayals at this family-friendly, outdoor event. You can also enjoy musical acts, picnic games, storytelling, crafts, Fourth of July Bingo and more. The museum will be open, too, so you can check out the “White House In Miniature” exhibit and the Air Force One Pavilion. Museum admission is $12 for adults and $6 for youths 11-17.
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun., July 4
Where: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley
Contact: 800-410-8354, www.reaganfoundation.org

What’s Happening Highlights: June 23-27

Animal Fun At Farmers Market

The Summer Family Fun series at the Original Farmers Market continues this Sunday with an animal theme. Birdie’s Playhouse will be putting on a musical wildlife show, while Art 2 Go hosts an animal craft workshop. The Farmers Market features these free fun family events twice a month in the summer. July has Gwendolyn and the Goodtime Gang on the 11th and Radio Disney Road Crew on the 25th, and August’s dates are the 8th (with Masanga Marimba) and the 22nd (the Groovy Davy Show).
When: noon, Sun. June 27
Where: Farmers Market, Third & Fairfax, L.A.
Contact: www.farmersmarketla.com

All’s Well At the Alive & Well Expo

The Alive & Well Expo is alive and well again at the LA Convention Center this weekend. The NBC4-sponsored event offers a wide range of health-ful and helpful demonstrations involving fitness, healthy cooking and other family-related activities. There will be wellness experts, athletic events (like a rock climbing wall and a soccer challenge booth), a fitness challenge and live entertainment from Izett Barnett & Xtreme Step Performance Troupe and the energetic young performers, The Jumpitz.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. June 26-27
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., L.A.
Contact: www.nbclosangeles.com

It’s Easy As 1-2-3

It’ll be one “thriller” of an evening at Disney Hall’s W.M. Keck Amphitheatre on Friday night. The night’s Sing-Along will spotlight the music of the Jackson 5 as well as Michael and Janet Jackson. These Friday Night Sing-Alongs are like participating in your own Glee concert, except that it’s open to all levels of singing skills. Future sing-alongs include Disco Night on July 23 and Broadway show tunes on Aug. 20. Although this is a free event, space is limited so tickets are distributed starting a half hour before sing-along time.
When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. and 8-9 p.m. Fri. June 25
Where: Keck Amphitheatre, Disney Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A.
Contact: 213-972-3660, www.musiccenter.org

Keep Your Mathlete In Shape

With school out, it’s hard to keep you child’s math skills shape. If you can’t remember to do use those flashcards, you might want to remember that Cyberchase returns this weekend. The acclaimed PBS program concentrates on working in math and science lessons into their entertaining stories. The show also is launching an outreach initiative to spotlight the significance of science, technology, engineering and math.
When: 4 p.m. Sat. June 26
Where: KCET-TV
Contact: www.PBSKIDSGO.org or www.kcet.org

What’s Happening Highlights: June 16-20

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Pops, Twists And Kabooms

The Pasadena POPS kicks off its summer concert series in a grand way on Saturday night. The symphony will be performing at its new home, the lawn next to the Rose Bowl. The POPS’s program will include selections from Carmen, the “Firebird Suite,” the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The night will also feature a performance by the acclaimed acrobatic troupe Cirque de la Symphonie as well as a fireworks display, plus the Kidspace Children’s Museum will be doing some family fun activities before the show. Tickets range from $25-$90.
When: 7:30 p.m. (concert starts) Sat., June 19
Where: Lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Contact: 626-793-7172, www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org

Is Your Dad a Chaplin or a Bond?

Sunday is Father’s Day (hopefully, this isn’t coming as a surprise). The June issue of L.A. Parent listed a number of things to do to salute Dad. One old-school Hollywood way to celebrate would be by heading to the Aero Theatre. The American Cinematheque is offering an afternoon show and a nighttime program that should cover the day whether your dad is a Charlie Chaplin or a James Bond. It’s comedy in the afternoon with Charlie Chaplin’s classic The Kid, along with 1918 film A Dog’s Life. The evening offers more action with James Bond double-bill Goldfinger and Thunderball. Tickets cost $11 for adults and $9 for students.
When: 3 p.m. (Chaplin) and 7:30 p.m. (Bond), Sun. June 20
Where: Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Contact: 323-466-FILM,  www.americancinematheque.com

A World of Music In Pasadena

The streets of Pasadena will be filled with music June 19 as the Make Music Pasadena returns to celebrate World Music Day. Over 300 cities around the globe will be participating in this “Fête de la Musique” event. This local daylong free festival features musical sounds that cover an international range of styles. Stages set up around Pasadena including spots in Old Pasadena, the Playhouse District and at the Levitt Pavilion (whose own summer series kicks of June 23). Besides music, Pasadena streets (at the Paseo Colorado) will be filled with chalk as the annual Chalk Festival happens this weekend too.
When: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. June 19
Where: Various places, Pasadena
Contact: www.makemusicpasadena.org

What’s Happening Highlights: June 9-13

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Flip Your Wig – Twice

The Grammy-nominated group Beethoven’s Wig comes through town for a pair of shows this weekend. Saturday, they will play at Kidspace, while Sunday’s show is at McCabe’s. Fronted by lyricist/singer/producer Richard Perlmutter, Beethoven’s Wig has been giving kids a fun – and educational – way to learn about classical music for almost a decade by putting lyrics to classic pieces. The Kidspace show is free with the museum’s $10 admission while tickets for McCabe’s cost $8. Kid music fans should also know that the Grammy Museum (800 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A., www.grammymuseum.org) will salute the new Putumayo CD Rock & Roll Playground with a performance by popular local musician Melissa Green on Sat. at 10 a.m.
When: 1 p.m. Sat. June 12 (Kidspace); 11 a.m. Sun. June 13 (McCabe’s)
Where: Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena; McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica
Contact: www.kidspacemuseum.org, www.mccabes.com

A Day Fit To a (Model) T

Car buffs will have a boffo day at the Heritage Square Museum. The museum annual Vintage Automobile and Classic Car Show will showcase a bevy of beautiful vehicles, from the historic Model T to Fifties’ hot rods. Car Clubs from around the Southland will be participating too. You have the chance to get a close-up look at cars like the 1935 Peugeot 302 and a rare 1941 Tatra T87. It’s an opportunity to give Dad an early Father’s Day treat. The auto show is included in the museum’s admission, which is  $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-12.
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., June 12
Where: Heritage Square, 3800 Homer St., L.A.
Contact: 323-225-2700, www.heritagesquare.org

Pie To the Pi, Nearly

The Beverly Hills’ Sunday Farmers’ Market transforms into a house of pies this Sunday. It’s the annual Pie Bake & Piesta a’la Beverly Hills. The event includes a judged pie contest, a pieathelon and a pie-eating contest. Kids can create real pies at the “half pint pantry” or just make play dough pies. There will also be entertainment, pony rides and a petting zoo, along with the regular farmers’ market, of course.
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun. June 13
Where: 9300 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills
Contact: www.beverlyhills.org/farmersmarket

We’re Not On Sesame Street Anymore

This Saturday the Devil’s Night Drive-In will have a family night screening of Jim Henson’s 1986 feature film Labyrinth. This fantasy movie involves a young Jennifer Connelly trying to save her half-brother by solving the Goblin King’s (David Bowie) dangerous labyrinth. The rooftop drive-in features a DJ playing music before the screening and car hops to bring you food and popcorn. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.
When: 7:30 p.m. (gates open); 9 p.m. (movie) Sat. June 12
Where: Second Floor Parking Lot, 240 W. Fourth St., L.A.
Contact: www.devilsnight.com

What’s Happening Highlights: June 2-6

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Fun On a String

It will be a puppet-palooza at the McGroarty Arts Center on Saturday with the annual Celebrate Puppetry Festival. Scheduled performers include Bob Baker’s Marionettes, Mr. Fabulous, Nancy Mitchell’s Miniken Puppet Productions and Johanna Smith’s Oh So Silly Animal Stories. At this free festival, you can also learn how to operate different types of puppets, make our own puppet and check out other marionette merriment.
When: 4-9 p.m. Sat., June 5
Where: McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga
Contact: 818-352-5285, www.balibeyond.com/cp.html

Veni, Vidi, da Vinci

The Getty’s exhibit “Leonardo da Vinci and the Art of Sculpture” is closing later this month (June 20, to be precise). If you have been meaning to see it, this Saturday would be a fine time to make your way to the Getty, which will be throwing a Family Festival that day. This daylong event features Italian opera, folk music and folk tales as well as interactive workshops. It promises to be an entertaining glimpse into Renaissance Italy. While admission to the Getty is free, the parking costs $15.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat., June 5
Where: Getty Museum, 1200 Getty Center Dr., L.A.
Contact: 310-440-7300, www.getty.edu

Tahiti Via Santa Ana

Experience the Pacific Island at the Bowers Museum on Sunday. This Target First Free Sunday celebration will be transporting visitors to the Pacific Rim. Enjoy Tahitian drums and dance by Nonosina, the unique sounds of the didgeridoo by L.A. Outback and the dances of the Marianna Islands by Kutturan Chamoru. Please note that due to the safety concerns and space limitations, the museum is only allowing the first 1,500 people entrance into the “Secrets of the Silk Road” exhibit.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun., June 6
Where: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Contact: 714-550-0906, www.bowers.org