Top Picks For Families: Jan 10th-15th
Monday, Jan. 10
Food, Football & Fun
Giggles N' Hugs
11701 Wilshire Blvd. #11
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 478-4847
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Daddies – and mommies – can catch up on their weekly pigskin rivalries, as tykes entertain themselves in the Giggles N' Hugs playroom. Families can also dig into fun snacks while leaving the cooking to the children's restaurant staff. The only thing that's missing? A Los Angeles-based football team.
Date: Mondays during football season
Time: 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Admission: $9 per child; $5 per child with food purchase
Tuesday, Jan. 11
Twinkle Time
The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way
Glendale, CA 91210
(818) 637-8982
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With her bright-orange pigtails, Twinkle will surely capture kids' attention and imagination, along with her friends in their energetic and bilingual show "Twinkle Time." The gang sets valuable lessons for children to fun, catchy music, and should be a great entry at the Americana's weekly Kids Club.
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 11
Time: 11 a.m. and Noon
Admission: Free
Wednesday, Jan. 12
"O" is for Otter
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-3100
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Preschool kids ages 4 and 5 will delight in a truly hands-on experience at this special class offered at the Aquarium of the Pacific focusing on the awesome otter. Not only will children be able to touch the marine mammals in special touch pools, but they also will be able to make puppets and find out how to eat like a sea otter. And parents, this event is for kids only, so you'll be able to explore the facilities on your own.
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 12
Time: 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: $24 per child; $19 for members (aquarium admission not included)
Thursday, Jan. 13
Stargazing with the Sidewalk Astronomers
Sylmar Branch Public Library
14561 Polk St. (at Glenoaks Blvd.)
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 367-6102
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On clear nights, visitors gather at this branch of the Los Angeles Public Library to gaze at stars and planets alike through large telescopes. Bring your mini astronomer, and see if you can find The Big Dipper or maybe Orion. Just be sure to call to confirm weather conditions.
Date: Thursday, Jan. 13
Time: 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Admission: Free; call 818-367-6102 to confirm weather conditions (ask for Dana)
Friday, Jan. 14
Saxophobia
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Dr.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 781-7150
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While the name would seem to imply a fear of saxophones, the opposite happens to be true. Music lovers of all ages can see and hear the smallest saxophone in the world (aka a sopranino) as well as a 6 ½-foot contrabass saxophone at this concert celebrating the famed jazz instrument. The show will highlight such popular tunes as "The Pink Panther Theme" and "The Girl from Ipanema."
Date: Friday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 15
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $32.50 (general admission)
Saturday, Jan. 15
Disney Pipes and Pops
El Capitan Theatre
6838 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(800) DISNEY-6
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El Capitan organist Rob Richards will take the stage alongside the theater's Wurlitzer pipe organ to accompany silent Mickey Mouse cartoons "Plane Crazy" and "Galloping Gaucho." Accompanying him will be gospel pianist Alex-Zsolt. The duo will give audiences a taste of how silent movies were experienced so many years ago.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 15
Time: 10 a.m.
Admission: $20
Sunday, Jan. 16
Jam with the Western Music Association
The Autry Museum in Griffith Park
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 667-2000
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Listen as musicians and cowboy poets perform at the Autry as part of Family Sunday. Songs will celebrate the Old West, modern music of the American West as well as the American Cowboy and Cowgirl.
Date: Every third Sunday of the month
Time: 12 p.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: Free with paid admission
Laura Clark is the founder and editor of L.A. Story.
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