Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 22, 2012, 12:47 pm
Click on over and peruse the new site for things to do this weekend. You'll find our picks listed by age group under This Month. Feel free to poke around the site to check our reviews of interesting new art and culture around town. Then, if your coffee cup is still full, spend a few moments readi...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 10, 2012, 4:51 pm
As a subscriber to Kids Off the Couch, you'll also be subscribed to The Family Savvy, so please be sure your email provider recognizes our address:info@thefamilysavvy.com. We encourage you to use the site as a family resource -- it's a great place to find new ideas, timely exhibits and show reviews...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 4, 2012, 4:57 pm
There's a new website in town called The Family Savvy. I spent the last six months creating a robust calendar-based site for families looking to interact with the city and with each other, and I am excited to share it with you. It's where I'll focus my attention from here forward, so check it out an...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 21, 2011, 1:02 pm
Fill your Days from Now until 2012Ticket Giveaway: Family 4-Pack for OVO on February 15 We've got plenty of "have-fun-with-your-family, counter-program the mall" ideas to get you through to New Year's. And just remember, if the gifting is making you crazy, there is always this time-tested solution ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 7, 2011, 2:41 pm
Hugo - A Holiday Gift for All!Our favorite in this season's varied crop of family films is Hugo, director Martin Scorsese's sumptuous 3D adaptation of Brian Selznick's award-winning, best-selling novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". At first glance, Hugo would seem to hail from Spielberg terri...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 1, 2011, 6:33 pm
'Tis the season to lift our voices in song... or at least to hum along as professional singers ring out the music of the season. We love that in our diverse city we can enjoy the holiday classics in multiple ways - we can sing along with the Messiah, or listen to the LA Master Chorale do it perfec...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 28, 2011, 1:34 pm
It's not easy to explain, or even understand, why bad things happen in the world, but a new show at the Skirball Cultural Center goes a long way towards helping families turn their outrage into action. Women Hold Up Half the Sky, in town through March 2012, was inspired by a book that proclaims the...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 24, 2011, 7:15 pm
A Few More Scares! Endangered Animals, Ed Keinholz Tableau and Teen DriversWe're back with a few more seasonal tidbits, and an update on our latest ticket offer (see below). In thinking ahead to our trick-or-treat plans, we were wondering when Daylight Savings Time kicks in; turns out it's not until...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 24, 2011, 7:07 pm
From Old-Fashioned Fun to Techno Frights Ticket Giveaway for Bring It On: The MusicalOur message for Halloween is that less is more. It's our nod to a simpler time, before the holiday got so ramped up by retailers (just when did those Halloween stores start popping up around town, August!?). We like...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 7, 2011, 1:09 pm
iSad "Death is Very Likely the Single Best Invention of Life" For a simple and elegant statement of how Steve Jobs touched us all, head onto Facebook and witness your friends reactions to the news that Jobs succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. You'll see Apple logos digitally altered to ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 4, 2011, 1:36 pm
... the same kind of passion in kids that rock music inspires in ... the potential to inspire lots of kids, and can give back to ... isn't always able to expose kids to inspiring arts programming, we ... to our current 'Z Generation' of kids. Festival entertainment will include the ... all day ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Oct 1, 2011, 3:59 pm
Return to RoutineDate Night Ticket Giveaway for Poor BehaviorNow that you've survived Back to School and the abrupt shift to homework-filled evenings, we think you should book a babysitter and take an evening off! We've got a ticket giveaway to a new play, an update on the marvelous, ongoing Pacific...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Sep 7, 2011, 3:14 pm
School Daze Ticket Giveaway: IRIS for Tuesday, September 13th at 8:00 PMSo... the endless summer comes to an end. Labor Day caught us off guard this year, so much so that we had to scramble to get a lunchbox packed this morning. Never mind, though. The stone fruit at the farmers' market is still inc...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Aug 17, 2011, 12:19 pm
We were lucky enough to be in Paris this summer (ooh, la la!) and spent an afternoon exploring the cobbled streets of Montmartre, where Picasso once lived and where modern day artists sketch portraits of tourists. Montmartre is home to the most famous cabaret in the world, the windmilled Moulin Roug...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Aug 3, 2011, 12:57 pm
Endless Days of Summer Ticket Giveaway for Fantasia at the Hollywood BowlDid you notice that the city felt empty over the past weekend? While many Angelenos vacation elsewhere, we're enjoying quiet freeways and perfect weather. With blue whales cruising our coastline in record numbers and a bevy of ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jul 26, 2011, 1:42 pm
Music at the L.A. Zoo takes place THIS THURSDAY night Ticket Giveaway for July 28 at 6:00 PMWhen our kids were small, they loved Good Night, Gorillaand imagined the thrill of observing the animals at the zoo after the crowds had gone home. This Thursday, Angelenos have a chance to duck under the ro...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jul 12, 2011, 6:27 pm
Dinosaurs, The Space Shuttle and CarmageddonTicket Giveaway for The Bright Stream For the first time in 823 years, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. That's not exactly an excuse for the Radar Screen arriving later than usual (it's because we were on vacation, actually). But, be assured...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jun 28, 2011, 1:21 pm
A new musical based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist Ticket Giveaway for Wednesday, July 13 at 8:00 PM It's not often that a new, family-friendly musical comes around, so Angelenos get a treat when TWIST - An American Musical, featuring American Idol's Tamyra Gray, debuts at the Pasadena Playhous...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jun 15, 2011, 2:37 pm
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the iconic film with The LA Phil! Certain films become classics by virtue of their perfect execution, and others pass the test of time because they capture an emotional veracity that rings true with generations of audiences. West Side Story has remained in our he...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jun 11, 2011, 3:27 pm
When the kids were young, we had a beloved babysitter who sang "Castle on a Cloud" as a lullaby and the lilting melody is part of our family lore. Naturally, we took the kids to Les Misérables when it last came to town but they were probably too young to truly appreciate its historical sweep and ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jun 8, 2011, 2:11 pm
The Fourth of July means fireworks, plain and simple. When we were little, we danced the hokey pokey at a bandstand on Cape Cod and then stretched out with our siblings on blankets in the middle of a football field to watch thefireworks. The memory is plenty potent and we've been challenged,...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jun 4, 2011, 1:47 pm
Welcome, Summer!Ballet Nacional De Cuba Ticket Giveaway If school isn't out yet for your kids, at least the end is in sight. Get ready to celebrate the End of Homework by enjoying some of the many family festivals and art events around town this month. We've unearthed so many neat film festivals tha...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - May 29, 2011, 2:59 pm
Summer is Upon Us Good news: it's going to be sunny by Monday, so get your BBQ prep done early (while the kids are studying for exams or finishing up their spring sports). We've had a chance to look at most of the new art shows around town, so you can have the summer's cultural outings planned bef...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - May 20, 2011, 5:27 pm
Thinking About our Beauty ObsessionFor Parents and TeensAt a certain point, young girls pick up fashion magazines and the longing begins. By the time they get to their Senior Prom, they are capable of turning themselves out as the epitome of youth and beauty. High-school girls can flaunt their Faceb...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - May 13, 2011, 4:46 pm
Bringing History to LifeHeritage Days This Weekend at Pierce College May 14-15On the edge of the Boston Common, facing the gold-domed State House, is a bronze frieze that commemorates the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Tourists gazing at the State House inevitably find themselves drawn to Au...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - May 5, 2011, 12:24 pm
Magic and Mystery from an IconThere are figures in history for whom fascination never fades. Houdini sits high atop that list -- albeit, with shackles around his wrists! The famed magician and escape artist is such an icon of popular culture that when we saw photographs of him at Houdini: Art and Ma...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Apr 28, 2011, 7:27 pm
No More Showers, it's Time for FlowersTrain Day Ticket GiveawayMay, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways: Mother's Day, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Cinco de Mayo and a three-day weekend for Memorial Day. As much as we may revel, we know that the end of the month means just one thi...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Apr 20, 2011, 3:33 pm
A Visit to the Winner's Circle Everything changes so fast in Los Angeles that it can be a real treat to experience something that's been around for ages. Our kids loved hearing stories about their grandmother's trips to Santa Anita Park with her friends way back in ancient times (i.e., the 1970s). W...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Apr 15, 2011, 6:36 pm
April's not over yet!Earth Day, Ticket Giveaway, and Movies to RememberJust because you're back from vacation doesn't mean the fun has to stop. Earth Day falls on April 22, but seems to get celebrated all month long, as folks search for ways to "green-up" their lives. In fact, many celebrations take...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Mar 26, 2011, 2:56 pm
...And Movie Ticket Offer from Family Finds! For those of us who haven't jetted away to a beachy climate, making vacation days feel different from a regular school day takes some extreme parenting acumen. Have no fear! There's plenty to do that will make your time off feel like a break in the routin...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Mar 23, 2011, 11:52 am
April 8-17 at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler PavilionFamily 4-Pack Ticket GiveawayYou won't know if your kids love modern dance unless you take them to see a performance, and the very best way to start them off is with the Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater. Mesmerizing from the curtain's fir...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Mar 16, 2011, 5:17 pm
Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World Family Programming on Opening Day, Sunday March 20 Disney's animated film, The Princess and the Frog, is set in jazzy New Orleans, and the combination of a classic fairy tale with that city's rollicking sound track was a big success. Featur...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Mar 10, 2011, 11:46 am
Jennifer Steinkamp only at ACME until Saturday, March 12 If you have walked around the W Hotel in Hollywood, or like to hang out near the Hammer's Cafe, you've probably noticed the arrestingly beautiful imagery of artist Jennifer Steinkamp - large, colorful butterflies along Vine Street, or a gently...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Mar 3, 2011, 3:38 pm
Yesterday's New York Times Science section had a cool article about Academy Award winner, Natalie Portman. Turns out Oscar's black swan was a finalist in a national Intel high school science contest, and then went onto Harvard. The article quotes one of her professors as saying that, despite Natalie...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 25, 2011, 1:50 pm
When the kids were little, we read them Good Night, Gorillanearly as often as Good Night, Moon and loved imagining what happened at the Zoo once everyone went home at night. Watching an early trailer for The Zookeeper reminded us of the beloved childhood book, and its thrilling behind-the-scenes pre...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 18, 2011, 4:01 pm
We have to smile secretly when we see our kids getting all excited about Iron Chef America and other cooking shows on TV. First, because we remember our own childhood when we typically wouldn't have been caught dead in the kitchen (and when foods like mangoes, sweet onions and goat cheese would not ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 11, 2011, 1:54 pm
Please, pretty please, would you be willing to show us some love this Valentine's Day by filling out a survey? We can't promise chocolate or rainbows, but do vow to listen to everything you say and use your suggestions to do a better job for you in 2011. Don't you wish your significant other would p...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 8, 2011, 1:04 pm
February 19 & 26 at 11:00am at Walt Disney Concert Hall Family Four Pack Ticket GiveawayGetting kids to love music is as easy as switching on your iPod and sharing your favorite play list. Teaching them how music is created could take a lifetime, so get started with an excellent series of concerts...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 4, 2011, 3:27 pm
Celebrate China With the White House putting on a full-blown State Dinner for the Chinese president a few weeks back, it's an exciting time to celebrate all things Chinese - something that is particularly easy to do in Southern California. The main attraction of the weekend is the Golden Dragon para...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Feb 2, 2011, 1:07 pm
KOTC Subscriber Discount and Ticket Giveaway to TRACES Punxsutawney Phil predicted, earlier today, that we're in for an early spring! (Click here for a silly video of the official Groundhog Day proceedings). As the worst storm in decades hits the US, that's good news for snow-weary Midwestern and No...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 25, 2011, 5:38 pm
Films that are Family Friendly Plan a Party, Get Ready to Vote! The Oscar nominations were announced this morning! It's time to do your homework to get ready for the 83rd Academy Awards, which will air live at 5:00 PM February 27 on ABC from the Kodak Theatre. Lead actor nominee James Franco and Ann...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 18, 2011, 3:57 pm
New Year's Resolutions The Latest Mommy Wars played out in the Wall Street Journal It's been hard not to get caught up in the latest parenting debate, sparked by a Wall Street Journal article "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior," author Amy Chau's provocative piece based on her new book, Battle Hymn ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Jan 13, 2011, 3:47 pm
True Grit & Newbery Award Winner "Moon Over Manifest" We're full of New Year's Resolutions about leading a more intentional life in 2011, and have already been inspired by two new fictional heroines. Mattie Ross is the fourteen year-old heroine of Joel and Ethan Coen's True Grit, which is in the hu...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 30, 2010, 10:29 am
Ticket Giveaway for January 15, 2010 Now that the holidays are winding down, it's time to think about keeping everyone entertained in...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 16, 2010, 10:52 pm
Ticket Giveaway for Holiday Sing-Along at Disney Hall and Great Expectationsat A Noise Within It wasn't so easy to deck the halls while the temperature was in the 80s last week, but with our sweaters and boots back in rotation, we're feeling merry as we scramble about getting holiday tasks done. Onc...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 15, 2010, 12:33 pm
Ticket Giveaway for Wednesday, December 22 Take a break from the holiday madness on a date night getaway to the Mark Taper Forum. Two lucky subscribers will see the breezy musical adventure, Randy Newman's Harps and Angels, Wednesday, December 22 at 8:00 PM. Relax and enjoy yourselves on the last ni...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 10, 2010, 3:30 pm
Pottery and Perspective Driving around Los Angeles can be like taking a trip around the world, with signs in different languages, and even different alphabets. We love traveling around the world -- and back in time as well -- by reading books set in different cultures and time periods. Linda Sue Par...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 8, 2010, 5:29 pm
Three Don't-Miss Art Exhibits and KOTC Movie Picks$50 Gift Certificate from GoldstarHow we spend our time defines who we are. As the year draws to a close, we know your time is especially precious. We've scoured the cultural landscape and foundwonderful art exhibits that your kids will be able to re...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Dec 2, 2010, 4:18 pm
DIY Gifts and Timeless Classics We survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday but are pretty sure that a home made gift trumps all. Avoid the mall crush and get off the computer -- just put on some holiday music and muck up the kitchen table with crafts. What's better for putting everyone in a festive ...
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Pamela S. posted an article on Kids Off The Couch Blog - Nov 30, 2010, 1:57 pm
New Kids Play Area and Debut of Giggles N Hugs RestaurantFamily Four Pack to AMC Theaters with $200 purchase Does holiday shopping stress you out? Get ready to cross a few items off your gift list when Westfield Century City hosts a weekend-long celebration for kids and families for the launch of th...
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