ML Interest Tag: abandon

A New Park You Need to Google Now

by Jennifer B Davis

If you’ve been searching the Eastside for a fresh, new place to play, search no longer. A sprawling new spot on the Cross Kirkland Corridor (within Google’s Eastside campus) just opened and is providing families of all ages with new recreational opportunities. Round up your little parkgoers and read on for the deets on this highly anticipated play space.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

A Major Transformation
The Kirkland community has long recognized the importance of its Cross Kirkland Corridor and its potential as a place for families to gather and play. And now with the completion of the $3 million Google project, which transformed a section of the abandoned rail corridor into a public open space, families of all ages as well as Google employees can enjoy a plethora of recreational opportunities.

photo: Sian Wu

Let’s Play!
Located just in front of Google’s 180,000 square-foot building is where you will find the new amenities including a sand volleyball court, basketball court, Crossfit/TRX fitness section, bocce ball court and plenty of lush lawns to play or spread out on. For the Littles, there’s an awesome climbing structure that will keep the tiniest of tots busy. But the best part of this new park? The tot-friendly zip line. Originally intended to be a massive zip line connecting the two office buildings (strangely, ix-nayed by legal), this rockin’ line packs just enough zip for preschoolers and adults alike.

photo: Jennifer B. Davis

Don’t Miss
While you’re at the park, be sure to check out the nod to the Corridor’s original purpose (the railroad) with an old-school caboose parked nearby. And parents, be sure to wear your kicks so you can showcase your skills on the Crossfit apparatus or stylin’ moves on the basketball court.

Good to Know
1. There are no public restrooms or covered tables, so make a pit stop before you arrive.

2. If you mosey north a few hundred yards, you’ll find the Chainline Brewing Company situated right on the Corridor. This kid- and dog-friendly space serves cold ones (and warm goodies from the often-parked food truck outside) and is the perfect pre or post park stop.

3. For closer parking to both the park and the Corridor, follow 5th Pl. S. west of the main Google campus.

4. If you and your crew are well-versed in Morse code, you’ll be able to read the secret message running north/south in the concrete pavers. (Hint: it’s Google Kirkland).

5. This isn’t the only benefit Kirkland residents now have because of Google. In June, the company announced a $200,000 donation to the City of Kirkland for a free WiFi network at Everest Park and Houghton Beach Park — both of which are within one mile of Google’s office.

Google Park at Cross Kirkland Corridor
747 6th Ave S.
Kirkland, Wa 98033
Online: kirklandwa.gov/Residents/Community/Cross_Kirkland_Corridor.htm
Map it

Have you played at this new park? Tell us what your family likes most about it in the Comments below.

— Jennifer B Davis

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E is for Elephant: 5 Storybook Characters We Love

by Amber Guetebier

In honor of World Elephant Day we’ve rounded up our five favorite pachyderms who’ve been gracing the pages of children’s lit for generations. If you haven’t already introduced your kiddos to some of these little elephants, tusk us, they’ll love them. And so will you!

Photo Brendan Adkins via Flickr Creative Commons 

Babar the Elephant

One of the most recognizable storybook elephants, Babar first appeared on the scene in France in 1931. He quickly made his way to the United States where he fast became a staple in children’s book literature. Author and illustration Jean de Brunhoff wrote seven Babar books, and his son Laurent continued the tradition with dozens more.
Photo by Amber Guetebier

Horton

Dr. Suess’ infamous gentle giant most well known as the defender of a tiny world in Horton Hears a Who, he also battles rain, freezing snow and ridicule to protect an abandoned egg in Horton Hatches an Egg. Both books have been animated and in 2008 a CGI movie version of Horton Hears a Who came out, reviving his popularity.

Ella the Elegant Elephant

A relative newcomer to the kid lit scene, this sweet and spirited little elephant has increased in popularity due to an animated series based on the books by Carmela and Steven D’Amico. Ella’s signature piece? A magic hat that can change her into almost anything.

Photo by Amber Guetebier

The Saggy Baggy Elephant

The 1947 Little Golden Book classic written by Kathryn and Byron Jackson tells the story of Sooki the elephant. Truth tell: it’s basically about an elephant being bullied by other animals until she finds her tribe. While the story is a little dated, the art by Gustav Tenggren is beautiful and this classic still remains a childhood staple.

Photo by Amber Guetebier

Elmer the Elephant

Kids will quickly become fans of David McKee’s colorful, patchwork elephant. Elmer has starred in more than 30 original stories and his books have been translated into many languages. You can even find bilingual editions including Italian/English.

Who is your favorite storybook elephant? Let us know in the comments below!

—Amber Guetebier

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Your Before Baby Bucket List: 15 Things to Do Now

by Anna Knoebel

So the life changing news is positive: you’re going to have a baby! But the fact remains, your life is going to change forever. While you go full-throttle nesting, take some time to enjoy your life just as it is today, and savor your freedom in these ways:

 Photo via charamelody on Flickr

1. Go to the movies because it never seems worth it to go when you have to pay a babysitter.

Photo via britta heise on Flickr

2. See a live show, one that starts late because almost nothing will get you to stay out past 10 p.m. again.

 Photo via stefanos papachristou on Flickr

3. Go dancing because pretty soon you realize, the only time you ever get to dance in public is at weddings, and how many of those do you have coming up?.

Photo via John Stritzinger on Flickr

4. Take a stroll that lasts all afternoon because between nap time, lunch time and bed time there’s never time for exploring, and the bonus is, if you’re past your due date, walking can induce labor.

Photo via Christophe LEUNG on Flickr

5. Visit an old friend particularly one who’s moved across the country or overseas, because after the baby, vacation is all about family.

Photo courtesy of Shutterfly

6. Make a photo album of the past year (or years) because your pre-baby life is going to turn into a distant memory the second you hold your little nugget, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth remembering.

Photo via Zlatko Unger on Flickr

7. Eat slow, peaceful dinners at witching hour because before baby, we take it for granted that once you sit down to dinner, you get to stay seated until you’re finished.

Photo via Pedro Ribeiro Simões on Flickr

8. Lay around, doing nothing, with your eyes closed especially in the open air, because it’s going to be a long while before you can, or will want to, take your eyes off your baby.

Photo via jennifer yin on Flickr

9. Do something on a whim, like get away for the weekend because those little babies melt your heart so fast, you won’t want to leave them for an entire weekend any time soon.

 Photo via David Eschmann on Flickr

10. Play golf, or whatever sports you love so you can remember how vital they are to your mental health, so you find a way to keep playing after baby (even if it’s 9 instead of 18 holes).

Photo courtesy of Valley Nail

11. Get manicures and pedicures the full-on spa kind that take forever, and while we’re on grooming, let’s remember nice hair cuts, and long baths.

 Photo via Diego Sevilla Ruiz on Flickr

12. Read whole articles and whole books because any new parent will tell you, she’s got a nightstand piled with unfinished books, and a brain filled with just the headlines.

Photo courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

13. Go shopping and try on clothes with abandon before the Internet becomes your only store.

Photo via Ed Yourdon on Flickr

14. Be nice to parents of young kids because someday it will be your kid screeching at the grocery store or walking too slow up the subway stairs, and your stroller blocking the sidewalk.

Photo via Rolf Venema on Flickr

15. Take a quiet moment to acknowledge your good fortune because in a few months, you’re getting the extraordinary chance to see the world through your baby’s brand new eyes.

How are you taking advantage of those last moments of life before becoming a parent? Tell us in a Comment.

–Anna Knoebel

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Outtasight!: Hidden New York for Kids

by Mimi O'Connor

You know that one of the best things about this city is that no matter how long you’ve lived here, it can still surprise you. Your kids think they’ve seen it all? Try taking them to one of these undercover, out of the way, or hiding-in-plain-sight destinations. Some are old, some are new — but all are super cool in one way or another. Plus: they’re either cheap or just plain free to experience.

Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien

Perfectly acceptable as a destination in and of itself, or a genius lunch option before or after a Midtown excursion, Burger Joint has a lot of things going for it: it’s unexpected and incongruous, it’s literally sort of hidden and it serves delicious grub. Stroll into the lobby of the swank Le Parker Meridien and look for the neon burger. Follow the sign’s red arrow around the corner and you’ll find yourself in an old school, grungy-in-the-best-way (and likely fairly packed) restaurant. The name pretty much says it all, but tasty burgers and fries are the fare here, and you can also get a milkshake or a beer if you’re so moved. Posters for movies and television shows and lots of graffiti from past patrons cover the walls, and the crowds (expect to wait to order at the counter and perhaps for a table) are part of the experience.

119 W. 56th St.
Midtown West
212-708-7414
Online: parkermeridien.com

photo: via Joe Loong on Flickr

The New York Earth Room

Sure, The New York Earth Room might elicit the reaction of, “That was weird”, but it’s also an experience the kids likely won’t forget any time soon, precisely for that reason. Yet another offbeat find secreted away in a tony New York neighborhood (this time, Soho) The New York Earth room is actually an art installation created for the Dia Art Foundation by Minimalist and Land artist Walter De Maria. It is, as the title implies, a room full of earth — AKA dirt. Lots of it. (The raw numbers: 280,000 pounds, covering 3,600 square feet, and measuring 22 inches high.) The good news is, visitors can’t actually touch the dirt, so you don’t need t worry about kids leaving covered in soil. Adding to the impressive nature of the piece is that it is located on the second floor of its Wooster Street home. Wild and wacky, the installation is a great way to show kids that art isn’t necessarily always painted and in a frame, and to pose the question of: what makes something “art” anyway? (Not sold on the idea? There’s no risk to check it out: it’s free.)

141 Wooster St., Bell 2B
Soho
212-989-5566
Online: www.diaart.org

photo: Mark W. via Yelp

The Whispering Gallery at Grand Central Terminal

Don’t ask us to explain the exact physics of it all (parabolics?) we just know it’s cool. Located on the dining concourse level of Grand Central Terminal just outside the famed Oyster Bar & Restaurant, The Whispering Gallery is an architectural feature that would be right a home in a spy novel or romance story, enabling someone to hear a whisper from all the way across the bustling passageway. To experience the phenomenon in action, one person should stand facing one corner of the space, while another stands facing the opposite diagonal corner. When one person speaks in a normal tone, they can be heard by the other with no problem at all. (Of course, this makes The Whispering Gallery a popular place for marriage proposals, but you could also employ it to tell someone they’re going to Disneyland or getting that new scooter they’ve been eyeing.) In the spring, head to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to try out the Osborne Garden “Whispering Benches” which, thanks to similar properties, also support covert conversations.

Grand Central Terminal
89 E. 42nd St.
(212) 340-2583
Online: grandcentralterminal.com

photo: Markus N. via Yelp


The Elevated Acre

Next time you and the family are tooling around the Financial District and feeling overwhelmed by the urban jungle, head to 55 Water Street. Hop on the escalators for a quick ride and emerge in a hidden oasis of greenery and calm among the skyscrapers. The Elevated Acre is a popular spot for the area’s office workers looking for a peaceful spot to lunch, but it’s also a place for picnics, lawn games, and general maxing and relaxing. The cushy AstroTurf ensures the “lawn” is a verdant green at all times, and plantings of hydrangea and annual flowers add color. The out of the way gem also provides great views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and more. Yet another reason to visit this urban park?: You’ll find electrical outlets under some of the benches, so if your phone needs a charge, you can plug in and chill out here.

55 Water St.
Financial District
212-963-7027
Online: 55water.com

photo: via Brian Jin M. on Yelp

The abandoned City Hall subway stop

All it takes is a swipe of a Metrocard to go back in time and see some of the glory of old New York. Originally the starting point of the city’s first subway line, the City Hall station, built in 1904, is considered one of the finest ever created in the system. Its features include stained glass skylights, brass lamps, arches of  colored Guastavino tiles and an elegant curving tunnel, the last of which is responsible for the stop’s closure — it couldn’t accommodate the new, longer trains introduced in 1945. To see the abandoned station, hop on the southbound 6 train and stay on it at the Brooklyn Bridge stop, the “end of the line.” The train will then make a turnaround to head back uptown, and that’s when you can catch a glimpse of the past. If you want to actually walk the platform, the Transit Museum offers tours for members.

Online: web.mta.info

photo: via Salim Virgi on Flickr

58 Joralemon Street

Do we think this merits a trip on its own? Probably not. But it’s a worthy diversion on a day that includes a trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Yet another “hidden” structure from those sneaky folks at the MTA, this nondescript Greek revival townhouse does its best to deflect attention. But the building has a few “tells”, the most noticeable (and suspicious) is that its facade contains no windows — just glass backed by ominous, black rectangles. (The door’s keyhole is not the standard domestic hardware, either.) Surprise: it’s not a house at all, but a disguised subway evacuation tunnel and ventilator.

58 Joralemon St., between Willow and Hicks St.
Online: google.com/maps

photo: via ambient on Flickr 

Do you have a favorite secret spot in NYC? Share it with us in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

 

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Goody Gumdrops! Gingerbread House Happenings Around Town

by Halle Smith

With peppermint-bejeweled rooflines and white icing snowdrifts, gingerbread houses are all about imagination and the stuff of big dreams for little people. Here are a few place to go if you’d like to make the sugary structures without any of the cleanup. We’ve also included an inspiring one made by pros for you to feast your eyes upon.

photo:  Fil.Al via flickr

Gingerbread Jamboree
Families come to this festive event, held by Junior League of Portland at OMSI, to decorate gingerbread houses and meet Santa. All the icing, candy and decorations are provided and laid out, ready for your family’s imagination to take flight. There will be hot beverages and a visit from old Saint Nick, along with a professional photographer to take photos with your children.

Dec. 6
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
$35/family; $20/individual

1945 SE Water Ave.
800-955-6674
Online: omsi.edu

photo: The Merry Kitchen

The Merry Kitchen
Let your kids go wild decorating their own gingerbread houses not in your own kitchen (read: no clean up!). Julie Merry holds these and other small cooking classes in her cute and colorful house, making the experience feel super cozy and homey.

Nov. 29, ages 3-8, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Nov. 30, ages 5-10, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Dec. 6, ages 3-8, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Dec. 7, ages 4-9, 10:30 a.m.-noon; ages 6-11, 3-4:30 p.m.
$25/person

5202 NE 72nd Ave.
503-946-8357
Online: themerrykitchen.com

Holiday Fun Fest  
Your little decorators can construct a graham cracker masterpiece with wild abandon – and none of the clean-up for you – with plenty of goodies glued across every available surface. Enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies while the creative juices flow, followed by a visit from Santa himself who’ll be checking out the craftily constructed confections.

Dec. 17
4 p.m.-6 p.m.
$5/house built

Wilsonville Community Center
7965 SW Wilsonville Rd.
503-682-3727
Online: wilsonvilleparksandrec.com

photo: Benson Hotel

Benson Hotel’s Annual Gingerbread Unveiling
For 43 years, the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland has been delighting Christmas visitors with extravagant gingerbread displays in its main lobby. Chef Dave Diffendorfer, who has crafted these masterpieces the past 20 years, will use over 150 pounds of gingerbread, 15 pounds of white and dark chocolate, 35 pounds of marzipan, bucketsful of royal icing, and untold amounts of melted Jolly Ranchers on this year’s creation. Watch your little sweetie’s eyes light up at the big unveiling, where holiday music, cookies and cider add to the festivities. This free, annual event is a definite kid-pleaser!

Dec. 3
4-5:30 p.m.; unveiling at 4:30 p.m.
Suggested donation of unwrapped toys for the Portland Fire & Rescue Toy & Joy Makers

309 SW Broadway
503-228-2000
Online: bensonhotel.com

Where is your favorite place to build or see gingerbread houses?

–Halle Smith

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Fall Falls: 4 Waterfall Hikes to Enjoy This Season

by Phebe Wahl

Your little sprouts up for some leaf peeping? Make a major splash and take the family to one of these beautiful waterfall trails. They are all short enough for even the littlest legs and will really “wet” their appetite to explore nature’s wonders.

Helton Creek Falls
A great hike for kids, Helton Creek Falls is a trail a little less than half of mile long featuring a double waterfall. Just north of Helen or Dahlonega, this hike is a perfect complement to a quick family day trip. Click here for your guide to a gold mine of family fun in Dahlonega, or here for your guide to a “Bavarian” good time in Helen.

Find It: From Dahlonega, take Highway 129 to Turners Corners and turn left. Continue past Neel’s Gap to Helton Creek Road on the right. Once on Helton Creek Road follow it for just over two miles. The parking lot is on the right. Or, the more scenic route to Helton Creek Falls is from Helen. Take GA. 348 (Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway), and at the town of Hood, go west. Follow this unnamed road. It fords two rivers and becomes Helton Creek Road. Continue down to the parking lot on left.

Amicalola Falls
At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast. The trail is a bit longer at 2.1 miles, and you need to watch the little ones on the steep staircase beside the waterfall. The climb is worth it as at 1 mile you’ll reach a bridge with spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains to the south.  Bring a picnic to enjoy at the end of your hike. There is also a playground to burn any excess energy that the little ones may have left before loading back up for home.

Find It: 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road, Dawsonville

Desoto Falls Trail
Bring a sack lunch (there are even grills) and enjoy this double water fall hike at Desoto Falls in the Chattahoochee National Forest. This trail is a great hike for the little ones at an easy 2 miles long. Teach the tots a history lesson along the way as it was here that archeologists found a plate of armor that was thought to be from an explorer from the 1500s.  The kiddos will love Desoto Falls Trail one of Georgia’s most popular waterfall hikes.

Find It: From Dahlonega travel north on US 19 for 13.5 miles to Turners Corner. At this intersection, turn left and proceed on US 129 for 4.2 miles. Shortly after the Walasi-yi Center is a left turn for the park.

Marble Mine Trail
The Marble Mine waterfall hike is only 1.7 miles long roundtrip and is full of fascinating sights to delight budding naturalists. The trail leads to a large abandoned mine entrance in Floyd State Park where the wee ones will enjoy peering into the undeveloped mine. Scattered white marble figments line the trail, which are fragments of the old mine. Don’t forget to catch the reflections of the surrounding forest and fall colors in the water of the park’s lake—a picture perfect moment. If you are looking for more fun in the area, check out the Etowah Indian Mounds.

Find It: From Rome, take I-75 exit 306 (GA 140) west for 16.0 miles. Turn left at Sloppy Floyd Lake Road. Travel 3.4 miles, past the lake and the park office to the Marble Mine Trail entrance on the left. Park and return to the trailhead to begin the hike.

Looking for other tot-friendly hikes? Click here for our list of the best natural walks in and around Atlanta, or here for even more hikes suited for little legs.

—Jessica Obenschain

Photos courtesy of Georgia State Parks, jeffgunn, LLoydnc and FlossieJane on Creative Commons via Flickr

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Hidden Gems: Explore a Neighborhood Pocket Park

by Natalia Dotto

You know the moment in Seattle, the one when the sun actually peeks out from behind a grey cloud, or the pattering of rain on the windows stops just long enough for everyone to quickly run outside and enjoy the fresh air. Well that is the time many Seattle-area moms and dads take their kiddos by the hands and take them outside for a quick run around at the park. Fortunately for those plucky parents, there are quite literally hundreds of parks to choose from. And while Seattle is home to many well-known parks, it is the neighborhood pocket park that is the jewel in the crown of Seattle’s regal parks system.

Bhy Kracke Park
This oddly named park is nestled into the hillside on Northeast Queen Anne. If you start at the top of the park you and the kiddos will be treated to a majestic view of the Seattle skyline. Then wind your way down a sloping, ivy-bordered pathway to a play structure, a grassy lawn and a wooden pergola, the perfect place for a picnic. Oh, and if you are curious the park is named after Werner H. Kracke whose nickname was “Bhy”.

Bhy Kracke Park
1215 5th Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98109
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=304

Soundview Terrace (aka Rachel’s Park)
Skip across to the other side of Queen Anne Hill and you get another stunning view. This time of Puget Sound, and another sweet little pocket park where the kiddos can slide, run and climb and you can relax on a bench with a warm cup of joe. There are also two small tables and a narrow lawn that leads up to 11th Ave. W.

Soundview Terrace
Address: 2500 11th Ave. W.
Seattle, Wa 98119
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=3987

Parsons Gardens
In the spring and summer this little gem of a park is often used for wedding ceremonies. In between the “I do’s” parents can pack a picnic and settle down on the lawn while the kiddos play hide and seek among the hydrangeas.

Parsons Gardens
7th Ave. W. & W. Highland Dr.
Seattle, Wa 98119
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=324

Ballard Corners Park
Visit this neighborhood park and it’s almost like relaxing in your own living room. That’s because this little park boasts a couple of cement couches. Okay, so cement is a little hard to relax on, but hey, no need to yell at the kids to stop jumping on the furniture. Plus the Littles will have fun clambering all over the climbing feature. There are also historical markers that can give the kiddos some ideas about corner stores and just where Ballard Corners park got its name.

Ballard Corners Park
17th Ave. N.W. & N.W. 62nd St.
Seattle, Wa 98107
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=4428

Ella Bailey Park
This park sits behind an abandoned elementary school in Magnolia, and at one point was part of the school’s playgrounds. Now the park has a spectacular panoramic view of downtown Seattle. Kiddos can run on the large grassy space or play on the swings and climbers. Psst! This park is a great place for viewing fireworks on the Fourth of July, along with dozens of your closest friends.

Ella Bailey Park
2601 W. Smith St.
Seattle, Wa 98199
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=318

Wallingford Steps
It’s not so much a park as a place to sit, take in yet another gorgeous Seattle view and let the kiddos blow off a little steam. The Wallingford Steps make their way down from the end of Wallingford Ave. N. to the Burke-Gilman Trail and then Gas Works Park. What’s fun about these steps is the brightly colored mosaic at the bottom of the steps. Kiddos can run around and around (and around!) this circular mosaic, looking at the metal mosaic images that were drawn for the art piece by nearby elementary school kids.

Wallingford Steps
Wallingford Ave. N. St. End at N. 34th St.
Seattle, Wa 98103
Online: seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=1000004

To be sure this is not nearly a comprehensive list of the many pocket parks around Seattle. For a full listing of the more than 400 parks and open spaces in Seattle, visit the Seattle Parks and Rec website.

What’s your favorite neighborhood pocket park? Share it with us in a comment below. 

Natalia Dotto

Photo credit: Natalia Dotto Photography & Seattle Parks and Recreation

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Parks and Playgrounds that Rule in the Rain

by stephanie booth

True, most Stumptown parents boast an impressively high tolerance to precipitation, but on some dreary, drizzly winter days we all need a bit more motivation than usual to put on our boots and head outside. Here, some of our fave parks and playgrounds to visit with your offspring during the rainy season.

Grant Park, NE 33rd and Grant Place
You know Grant Park for its Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden, playground, off-leash dog park (or all of the above), but follow the path behind Beverly Cleary’s Hollyrood campus and you’ll find a group of towering pine trees that serve as a near-perfect shelter during any downpour. Smaller kids can bring buckets and shovels and dig in the dirt. And it’ll stoke the imagination of older kids who can pretend they’re setting up house/on the run/hiding from parents, etc.

photo credit: John G. via Yelp

Gabriel Park, SW 45th and Vermont St.
What we love about this lush 90-acre park? No matter the weather, you won’t be the only family here. Maybe it’s the draw of the 10,000 sq-foot skatepark. Or the easy trails that wind through a sweet patch of woods. Personally, we think it’s the crazy cool hills that kids love to run up and down, over and over (and over) again.

photo credit: Rafael G via Yelp

Irvington Elementary School Playground, 1320 NE Brazee
Rain or shine, the playground behind this public school is the place to play on weekends. Bike, scoot, and run under the covered area or venture out onto the blacktop where a brightly painted map allows kiddos to jump from one country to another.

Macleay Park, NW 29th Ave. and Upshur St.
This gorgeous, 140-acre park is so dense with Doug firs and western red Cedars that even on the rainiest day, you won’t get drenched, and kids will love hiking into the deep ravines. Park in the Upper Macleay parking lot and it’s only a half-mile trek to the abandoned Stone House, the  oddly enchanting remains of a former public restroom. (We know. That sounds weird, but check it out and you’ll see what we mean.)

photo credit: Sean G. via Yelp

Chimney Park, 9360 N. Columbia Blvd.
Okay, so there aren’t a tremendous amount of trees here. (Translation: you might get soaked.) What Chimney Park does have: Dogs, and lots of ‘em. This 18-acre area is an off-leash, completely fenced-in dog park. You and your little ones can hit the small trail loop while cockers and Labs happily chase and fetch balls beside you. If you’ve got a little pet lover, we guarantee they’ll be too distracted by the canine company to complain about the rain.

photo credit: Josh H via Yelp

Laurelhurst Park, SE Cesar E. Chavez and Stark St.
Paths to run on. Hills to run down. Steps to race up. But perhaps the most important thing you need to know about this lovely tree-filled park is that they have ducks. You can’t feed them, but you can watch them bobbing through the water and quacking importantly, completely nonplussed by the rain. Once you’ve had enough, head over to one of the cafes on nearby Belmont and warm up with some hot chocolate.

photo credit: Crystal D. via Yelp

What’s your favorite rainy day playground? Tell us in the comment section below!

–Stephanie Booth

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10 Must Have Apps for LA Parents

by Meghan Rose

Most moms today have their smart phones glued to the palm of their hand. Its uses range from texting (darling hubby:  please pick up pizza for dinner, stat) to game playing (level 70 of Candy Crush is crazy). But while out and about with kiddos in the concrete jungle, it’s nice to rely on the smart phone for other things – like finding new ways to entertain the kids or the perfect spot for a family lunch. Check out these super helpful smart phone apps that will make your life navigating the city a little easier.   You’ll wonder how you lived without them.

My Los Angeles 311

Abandon couch really messing with your curb appeal? Notice some street lights out? Need a new trash can? Use this app to deal with City issues first hand for everything from graffiti removal to more mundane things like who to call when your power goes out. You'll get a handy list of citywide services along with helpful tips on who to call when. News and twitter updates round out the mix.

Cost: Free
Download for the Android and the iPhone.

-Christina Fielder

What apps can’t your live without in LA?  Let us know – we’re always looking for the latest!

Photo credit for featured image: tinkerbrad via Creative Commons

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Calling All LEGO Lovers: See the Art of the Brick

by rtjenniferwolfe

Let’s face it. We live in a LEGO world.  They are piled high in multi-colored mountains around the kids’ rooms, slowly but surely encroaching on every living space in our homes: hidden plastic pellets, laying in wait for hapless feet. Brick by brick our budding builders have erected interlocking worlds inhabited by space ships, robots, pirates, castles, cars n’ creatures –only to destroy and rebuild, destroy and rebuild.  We’ve spent a small fortune feeding the dragon but still they WANT. MORE. LEGO.

Before heading back to the LEGO store (where you inevitably will drop beaucoup bucks), detour over to The Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale which is currently hosting The Art of the Brick®, an exhibition featuring more than 30 astonishing sculptures crafted solely from LEGO bricks and rated by CNN as “one of the top twelve must-see exhibitions in the world.”  We’re talking life-size LEGO-people, towering crayons, and heady creations  that will blow minds and drop jaws, young and old.  This is LEGO art that will amaze you as much as your kiddo (and required neither the drive nor the money that a trip to Carlsbad will run you…).

The Ultimate Brick Master
The artist, New York based Nathan Sawaya, started out just like your little brickmaster, spending endless childhood hours in the LEGO land of his own room. Today he uses nearly one million standard LEGO bricks to construct his plastic masterpieces (try fitting that in the toy box at home) and spends six figures annually on supplies.

Interlocking Ingenuity
We love that Sawaya has abandoned the old LEGO stand-bys. You won’t find Starfighter vehicles or Hogwarts Castles here. (Although there is a castle of another sort…) These whimsical brick creations will no doubt inspire your kiddos to think outside the cardboard box they came in.

One of  Sawaya’s best-known sculpures, Yellow, features a, well, yellow man ripping open his torso as yellow plastic bricks tumble out.

Another one, Green, is a life-size man lifting his head off of his body. Gray (anyone else noticing a theme here?) depicts a man pulling aside curtains for a peek at the world.

Along with mind-bending pieces of an avant-garde flavor, there are also more familiar images that will stun and surprise with their precision. Check out a national monument….

…or imagine a world, like, more peaceful, man.

Kiddos thinking of trying this at home? Clear their schedules and a large room: they’ll need about a month and nearly 25,000 bricks for just one of these life-size LEGO-fellas.

But here’s a little secret: plans are in the works to bring your little brick artists their own mini-Yellows to build at home. Click here for more information.

Wanna make a day of it? 
The Art of Brick exhibit will only take a short time to walk through. But while you’re at the museum, check out the permanent displays, and enjoy the sweeping views and serenity from the gorgeous terraces outside.  You won’t find this at the LEGO store.

Forest Lawn is also a hop, skip and jump away from Travel Town and LA Live Steamers (should you happen to visit on a Sunday), so couple your LEGO adventure with a train adventure and you’ll have one happy little kiddo.  (Just remember to pack snacks, as none of those places have choice comestibles!  And nothing but nothing ruins an outing faster than starving kiddos.)

Nuts n’ Bolts
The Art of the Brick is on view now at the Forest Lawn Museum through July 21st, 2013. The museum is open every day except Monday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission and parking are always free.

Forest Lawn Museum
1712 S. Glendale Avenue,
Glendale, Ca 91205
323-340-4921
online: forestlawn.com  
 

Do you have any LEGO hot spots that we don’t know about? Tell us about it here! 

–Jennifer Wolfe

Art of Brick photos (in order of appearance): Think, Erica Ann, Yellow, Gray, Rushmore, Peace By Pieces, Xray by artist Nathan Sawaya, courtesy of www.brickartist.com; additional photos by Jennifer Wolfe and floodllama via Creative Commons

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