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

Free WiFi: A Dozen Neat Places Parents Can Connect to the Internet, from LA's Westside to Downtown

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 11/13/2013 - 11:55pm

If connecting to the internet while on the parental go is the glue that holds your world together, then you probably already know plenty of family-friendly places with free WiFi; we won't waste your time mentioning obvious coffee shops and libraries (right?). You've likely also caught on that many places offering kids' classes let parents catch up on email while little athletes take gymnastics or fencing class. You might even know that several ice rinks and bowling alleys have free WiFi for waiting parents. But how about some fun, unexpected places with free WiFi that you might not know about? Parents on the Westside, in Hollywood, or Downtown will want to know about the internet hotspots below.

5 Halloween Events Not To Be Missed – Haunting Los Angeles

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 10/21/2013 - 12:44am

Angeleno families are offered so many options at Halloween time it can become overwhelming; with limited time and funds, what are the real must-spook events? Which ones are worth driving for, and which are just more of the same on the other side of the hill?

We've chosen our top five venues for pumpkins, spooks, and things that go "Boo!"

The Los Angeles Mom Expo: the Trade Show for Moms

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 10/14/2013 - 3:17pm

There's a much-anticipated expo hitting LA, and it's coming a whole lot sooner than the Expo Line. The Los Angeles Mom Expo runs October 25-26, 2013 with a full program of exhibitors catering to the entire gamut of needs of LA mothers - a trade show for those of us in the mom trade. And as one of the show's sponsors, Mommy Poppins is in a position to invite 250 of our readers for free!

6 Cheap & Easy DIY Halloween Decoration Crafts To Do with Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:37pm

Who's ready to spook down the house? If your family loves Halloween, it's time to show the neighbors - all over your lawn, balcony, front steps, or whatever bits of outdoor space you command. We've got a few ideas for Halloween decorations that don't involve a shopping spree at a Halloween store; in fact most of the ideas below are made entirely out of things you're likely to have at home already (and may even be looking to recycle). The best part is a spooky decorating frenzy makes for quality family time - turning a happy home into a haunted one. (Looking for even more ideas? Our Boston site has some way-cool DIY Halloween decorations, too!)

This Week: Labor Day Weekend, Back-to-school Giveaway, Summer's Last Hurrah

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 08/29/2013 - 4:59pm

The beauty of Labor Day is leaving the labor behind—which is exactly what our NYC editor, Raven, has done this week to celebrate the end of summer. Never fear, though: If you're counting on Mommy Poppins to guide you on your own labor-free way this holiday weekend, there are plenty of us left here to shine a light on all that is fun, festive and/or FREE this week, in easy reach of the city. Not only that, we're kicking off back-to-school season with one heck of a bang: $2,000 worth of fabulous prizes in our Back-to-School Swagapalooza! Awesome prizes include two Schwinn kids' bikes, $150 worth of personalized school supplies from My Chronicle Books, a Disney Junior package, a $50 Target gift card, $250 to spend at Sears Optical and oodles more. You enter for each prize separately, so start clicking!

Care to escape the city for, say, Elizabethan England? It's never too late (or at least not until late September); the New York Renaissance Faire is still going strong in Tuxedo Park, including the holiday Monday. Or spend a few corny hours in Sleepy Hollow for Philipsburg Manor's CORNucopia celebration in Westchester. (Speaking of Westchester, our Westchester site is looking to hire a new Events Editor, in case you know just the person.)

If you're headed for the Hamptons this weekend, there's a Pow Wow worth stopping in on, and our New Jersey team has several suggestions for day trips in the Garden State. If you've got a pooch you don't want to leave at home, bring him along for a special doggie day out at the Ocean Oasis Water Park. Connecticut has fairs and festivals popping up all over this holiday weekend, including a life-affirming Labor Day parade in Newtown.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

SoCal Moms Toddler Camp: Traveling Playgroup for Parents & Toddlers

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 08/27/2013 - 3:31pm

For some moms, the toddler years are a golden era in which every outing is a glorious and gleeful first to be experienced together. For others, the toddler years feel like a string of stressful, overwhelming days in which entertaining an 18-month-old seems sooo much more complicated than it was supposed to be. Either way, SoCalMoms offers a great way to get more enjoyment out of the toddler years. The group's Toddler Camp treks around some of LA's most kid-friendly destinations (like the ones on our 100 Things To Do with Kids Bucket List), making all of the arrangements as a sort of traveling playgroup - with SoCal as the playground. (And read on for the Mommy Poppins discount!)

Long Weekend Trips: 8 Family Getaways and Day Trips near LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 08/24/2013 - 3:16pm

Labor Day weekend approaches, and that means that if the kids are not already back to school, they're about to be. Traditionally Labor Day is the last hurrah of summer, but frequently by the time it arrives we moms are all hurrahed out. If you haven't made a plan yet or just can't face hitting the airport with half a million other summer junkies, we can think of a few places close to home that are an easy drive for an overnight, or even a day trip - letting you enjoy the day without the labor!

2013-14 Academic Year Calendars for LA Area Schools

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 08/06/2013 - 9:01pm

The first day of school has been creeping farther and farther back in recent years, cutting deeper and deeper into summer. For many schools, August is part of the school year now, while other districts still cling to the time-honored "never before Labor Day" approach. All of this can make summer camp complicated to maneuver for some families, while others are knee-deep in homework.

From Glendale's August 12 start date to Torrance’s September 6, don't just assume you know when school starts based on last year! Check our list of start and finish dates for the 2013-2014 school year (and all days off in between) in and around LA County...

Roberta Brown

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