Roberta Brown

Roberta to launched Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles in 2011. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which worked out well for her son, who grew up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

Talk Like a Pirate Day: It's Real & Celebrates with FREE stuff in LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 4:47pm

Well shiver me timbers, ahoy there buccaneers, fly the jolly roger, and any other piratical cliché you can think of: September 19 is a national holiday called Talk Like a Pirate Day, and no, we arrrgh not making that up. How could we? This peculiar celebration of all things pirate has grown in popularity each year, until we've finally decided that it merits a post of its own. So hold onto your eye patches, because we know 6 great ways to celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day in LA!

LA County Fair: Fun Beyond the Roller Coasters, Even on a Hot Day

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 09/16/2015 - 4:14pm

Somehow, during all my years in LA County, I had never ventured out to Pomona for the Los Angeles County Fair until this past weekend. The fair always seemed so big that I didn't know where to begin, and generally so hot that I hesitated to try. Thrill ride fans probably already know the vast opportunities the fair offers for hurtling bodies through space in a variety of carnivalesque ways; but truth be told my own thrill ride needs can be satisfied in an hour or two at the Santa Monica Pier. I brought my family to the fair in search of a different experience, something more akin to a spider spinning "Some Pig" above a farmer's prize livestock. And while I didn't find Charlotte, I did find several unexpected ways to enjoy a September day–many of which turned out to be shady, breezy, or even air conditioned. And let's be honest, that pretty much always matters during LA County Fair season.

Our day at the fair was a triple-digit scorcher–the kind that makes my family question my sanity when I head the car east. Here are five unexpectedly fun ways we found to escape the heat while enjoying the LA Fair.

Harry Potter Hamlet: Something Is Silly in the City of Culver

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 08/18/2015 - 1:42pm

One of my favorite things about August in LA is Culver City's annual Shakespeare in the Park, courtesy of the Actors' Gang. Each year the Gang gives an upbeat, modern makeover to a different Shakespeare play aimed at families; recent highlights have included the Superhero Twelfth Night, the Star Wars Romeo and Juliet, and the My Little Pony Midsummer Night's Dream. This summer, Media Park comes alive every Saturday and Sunday morning with the Harry Potter Hamlet; and to go or not to go is hardly a question.

Sunny Day Scoot: Driving Tours of Griffith Park & Parties in Scooter Cars

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 06/21/2015 - 1:55am

I'm feeling pretty smug today. Not only did I take my kid on an outing in his hometown that thrilled him within an inch of his life; I also found an activity that was utterly and completely new to our LA team's native Angeleno, Jackie Stansbury. You may have noticed a recurring theme in Jackie's posts: unlike most LA parents I know, her childhood memories are actually all right here in the Southland. When she talks about a grunion run, she compares it to the one she did 40 years ago. In short, there's nothing new under the LA sun for her. That is, until today, when she and I were invited to do some scootering under the sun in funny little vehicles that feel like a cross between a bumper car and Colonel Klink's motorcycle. We took our kids on LA's newest road adventure: Sunny Day Scoots.

Inside Out at El Capitan: Parent Review of Pixar Movie & Live Light Show

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 06/19/2015 - 8:18am

Pixar's brand-new adventure, Inside Out, hits theaters this weekend, and once again audiences in Los Angeles have the edge on the rest of the country, because we have the option of seeing the film with El Capitan's live stage show. Neither the movie nor the show disappoints; Inside Out harks back to the studio's best work, reminiscent of Toy Story's perfectly balanced blend of wistfulness and whimsy; and the 3D LED light dance spectacle that precedes it is, frankly, out of this world. Ready to laugh, cry, and bathe yourself in a psychedelic glow? More to the point, are your kids ready? The film is rated PG for a reason, so here's what you need to know before taking young children to experience the Disney/Pixar summer blockbuster.

Tomorrowland: Parent Review of Disney's New Action Movie

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 05/23/2015 - 2:39pm

This weekend, Disney rolls out an action-packed sci-fi adventure for older kids that reminds us that there's a whole lot more to the Mouse House than princesses and singing snowmen. Tomorrowland is a glorious thrill ride for tweens, teens, and the adults who take them places. It is not a movie for little ones by any stretch of the imagination—not because of anything inappropriate (the film is rated PG), but because the breakneck pace of both the complicated plot and the relentless threat of peril is likely to leave anyone younger than 10 curled up in a ball begging for explanation. But for older kids? Pure gold. Tomorrowland has all of the action and humor of an Indiana Jones flick, the sci-fi impact of Star Wars or Doctor Who, and the feel-good, inspirational message of vintage Walt Disney—all with some heart-pumping George Clooney charisma and a pair of ass-kicking young girls thrown in. In short, I got to see a film last night that my son and I loved equally. Read on for everything a parent might want to know (no spoilers).

Tomorrowland: Parent Review of Disney's New Action Movie at El Capitan

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 05/23/2015 - 2:08am

This weekend, Disney rolls out an action-packed sci-fi adventure for older kids that reminds us that there's a whole lot more to the Mouse House than princesses and singing snowmen. Tomorrowland is a glorious thrill ride for tweens, teens, and the adults who drive them places. It is not a movie for little ones by any stretch of the imagination—not because of anything inappropriate (the film is rated PG), but because the breakneck pace of both the complicated plot and the relentless threat of peril is likely to leave anyone younger than 10 curled up in a ball begging for explanation. But for older kids? Pure gold. Tomorrowland has all the action and humor of an Indiana Jones flick, the sci-fi impact of Star Wars or Doctor Who, and the feel-good, inspirational message of vintage Walt Disney—all with some heart-pumping George Clooney charisma and a pair of ass-kicking young girls thrown in. In short, I got to see a film last night that my son and I loved equally. Read on for everything a parent might want to know (no spoilers), and what perks you get if you see it at El Capitan.

20 Things To Do with Kids on an Ojai Weekend or Day Trip

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 05/20/2015 - 11:49pm

I'm going to confess—and date myself—right up front: I grew up on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman (how she resisted him was beyond me), and that inspired a fascination with Ojai, CA, birthplace of the super-70s superheroes. And while there isn't really a sign welcoming visitors to the "home of astronaut Steve Austin" as TV once led me to believe, everything else this charming town had going for it 40 years ago still holds true today, from irresistible cafés to horseback rides in the hills. Ojai is SoCal at its best; it's where vegans and cowboys make a chillaxing home together.

Roberta Brown

Latest posts by Roberta

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