Jacqueline Stansbury

A native Angeleno, Jackie enjoys revisiting her childhood as a mom and writer for Mommy Poppins. She did a lot of cool stuff as a kid and has newfound respect for her own mom who made that happen without the internet! Today in Los Angeles, some things are gone, some have changed and some, like the grunion, remain exactly the same. In her former life, Jackie was a development executive on the Fox Studios lot where she rounded up writer/director lists and covered screenplays. Mommy Poppins is much more fun. Jackie's kids, Benjamin and Juliet, agree.

Latest posts by Jacqueline

Neon Retro Arcade: Pasadena's New Spot for Old Video Games & Pinball

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Tue, 02/03/2015 - 8:00am

Sometimes that which is old becomes new again. While our kids certainly have their own video games, there does seem to be a certain fascination with the games that started it all: Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger, and - my favorite - the super old school pinball. Books like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline riff on the quaintness of 80s gaming. In Pasadena, it is now possible to do a little time travel and experience the arcade of yesteryear at Neon Retro Arcade. We went to check it out on opening weekend.

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Planetary Pursuits, QE2, & Free Fro-Yo, February 2-6

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Mon, 02/02/2015 - 1:52am

Start and end this week in contemplation of the universe. Monday it’s Family Astronomy night at the Memorial Branch Public Library, and on Friday Jupiter gets as close to Earth as it’s going to get. Meanwhile the people in the frozen yogurt business must have a case of brain freeze, because National Frozen Yogurt Day is apparently celebrated twice this week - and when we say celebrate, we mean free fro-yo!

25 (plus one) Things To Do in Studio City with Kids

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Mon, 01/26/2015 - 3:19pm

There truly are hundreds of things to do in the L.A. Basin, and many of our neighborhoods have at least 25 reasons to visit. Studio City, named for the business that makes our locale a world renowned destination, is one of those places. This particular section of the San Fernando Valley, still technically part of the City of Los Angeles, was created by the Central Motion Picture District in 1927 - and has a lot more kid entertainment than you might think.

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Dinosaurs and Magic, January 26 - 30

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sun, 01/25/2015 - 9:15am

Heading to the library on a Monday morning is a gentle way to begin the week, and the Central Library in Glendale has a drop-in play day. Stay, play, browse, and definitely bring home some reading material for the rest of the week. I love libraries when a holiday approaches; there are bound to be plenty of books about Valentine’s Day to distract little ones from the candy by focusing on the spirit of the day and its origins.

Teen thespians can do their drama thing at the Miles Playhouse. Connoisseurs of magic and performance might enjoy The Odyssey Theater's production of Smoke and Mirrors, and prehistoric beasts take the stage at the Natural History Museum. Or why not plan an outing to DTLA's Flower Mart? The fun doesn't stop there, of course; there are always more ideas on our daily event calendar.

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Batmobile, & Peacocks January 19 – 23

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sun, 01/18/2015 - 10:00pm

This week starts with a national holiday honoring our nation’s most important civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Schools are closed; the kids are home, but that’s okay because there are lots of things to do. The National Parks are open for free on Monday, and who doesn’t love a Parade?

The Kingdom Day Parade in South Los Angeles actually has more floats (though probably fewer flowers) than that other parade in Pasadena. Why not take a moment and get the kids to tell you what they know about this great American? Trust me, it’s been covered in school. Enjoy the three day weekend, and if you don’t see something in the picks that suits your fancy, check out our event calendar. There are many more possibilities…

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Pajama Time, King Arthur, & Star Gazing, January 12-16

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sun, 01/11/2015 - 8:00pm

I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but in Camelot, that’s how conditions are. As the rest of the country braces for winter storms, our little Angelenos are ice skating on the beach and continue to enjoy plenty of outdoor fun at places like the South Coast Botanical Gardens.

Still. It is winter, and that’s a good time to snuggle up in your jammies at the Torrance Library’s Pajama-Rama. In Thousand Oaks, Theater League presents Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot. This is a great way to introduce girls and boys to the joys of musical theater.

Read on for our weekday picks this week, which are just a sample of what's on our full calendar.

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Easing into 2015 January 5-9

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sun, 01/04/2015 - 6:00pm

After weeks of chaotic festivities, it’s time to move back into the familiar routine. The kids have mostly returned to school. It’s the first week of a new month, so lots of museums are free. Brick lovers were likely gifted plenty of LEGOs during the holidays, but it is still nice to collect the First Tuesday freebie.

In fact, after the excesses of December spending, it’s a good idea to find those activities around town that don’t require payment. Start this New Year contemplating the night sky stargazing from your own back yard, or, if you want an organized event, head to the Abbott Kinney Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library in Venice. It may be worth spending on one last treat, though, if you still haven't seen Pompeii: The Exhibition at the California Science Center, because this week is your last chance!

Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Everything's Coming Up Roses December 29 - January 2

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Mon, 12/29/2014 - 8:01am

Happy New Year! As 2014 turns into 2015, the best place to be is Pasadena and its environs. There is a unique way to celebrate the historic 126^th annual Tournament of Roses Parade each day this week.

Of course every family should try to get to the parade at least once, but if you’ve already done it, or crowds aren’t your thing, there are multiple opportunities before and after to see the floats, meet the horses, and enjoy the marching bands. Though perhaps more of a grown up holiday, we also have lots of ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve with the kids; and of course there are many non-parade activities on our event calendar, including a holiday opportunity to check out the Bunny Museum - which also happens to be in Pasadena.

Jacqueline Stansbury

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