ML Interest Tag: highland-park

Where Everyone Knows Your Name: Three Cheers for the Family Corner Bar

by Allison Sutcliffe

There were days long ago. Pre-kid days. Days when we used to go out. At night. And sometimes we’d drink. Where are those days and how do we get them back? And can we bring our kiddos? If you’re longing for those leisurely pre-kid nights, check out the Highland Park Improvement Club’s Corner Bar. It’s Fischer Price Little People and cold beer on tap. Music and dancing, complete with sippy cups and snack traps. Hey, it’s a Friday night where all you have to do is show up. And it’s totally fam-tastic!

What is This Amazing Place?
The Highland Park Improvement Club is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in Seattle. Incorporated in 1919, it’s served the social needs of the Highland Park community for over 90 years. And while some things have changed, the club’s mission remains the same. To build community and have a good time while doing it. And they take this mission seriously, offering classes and events throughout the week. But on the first Friday of each month, the building, that could surely double as an elk or lions or moose lodge, transforms into the Corner Bar. A place where families and community members can gather to eat, drink and be merry together. And by 7:30 pm this place is seriously hoppin’!

Kiddie Korner
What sets this Friday night experience apart is the awesome family-friendly vibe. Wee ones are welcome (yippee!) and the Corner Bar’s got the space to prove it. Divided into two sections, the club’s family area is hard to miss. They’ve got tables full of games and projects for the over 5 crowd. And little play figures that live in plastic houses and foldable barns line the floor, right at toddler eye level. Plus, the added bonus of other kiddos for yours to play with elevates Corner Bar to the next level. It’s twice the parent paradise. Not only do you get to unwindulax, but your littles have built-in playmates. And, guess what? They’re not you. Hooray for community gatherings!

Parent Play
Corner Bar isn’t just for the kidlets. After all, parents deserve a little playtime too! Plan a kid-friendly date night. Trust us, they won’t pay too much attention to you with all the other distractions, so you can enjoy a drink and some conversation that otherwise might be hard at home. Or grab a group and head out together. Minivan caravan anyone? There’s plenty of room to seat you, your besties and your besties’ neighbors around the long tables. And it’s easy to keep an eye on the Littles wherever you’re sitting, so relax and enjoy the night!

Cut a Rug
Each month the Corner Bar features a different theme. Sometimes related to the season, sometimes not, the themes influence food, drinks and entertainment for the night. Last month, DJ Rich spun 70’s vinyl with that irresistible siren call, like YMCA and The Jackson 5’s ABC, that makes everybody want to dance. Who knows what November holds? A salsa band? A karaoke jam? Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to be a G-rated dance scene until 9:00 pm. So bring your dancing shoes and some groovy moves!

Eats and Treats
There are three major ways to play the “dinner thing” at Corner Bar. Families can eat at home, then head over for drinks and playtime with friends when they’re all fueled up. Or plan to pack it in. Bring your dinner, find a table, and enjoy some homemade food right there in the club. Finally, there’s that third, low maintenance option (it’s Friday night, after all). Just bring yourselves and some cash or a credit card and dive into the fare served up at Corner Bar. There’s always pizza from local fave Proletariat, along with a salad. Beyond that, menu options change with each month’s theme. October was brats, sausages and beer for Oktoberfest. Prost! And November’s sure to bring something spicy and delish to match the Day of the Dead theme. We’ve heard rumor of nachos and a hot chili margarita. Sounds like a fiery combo for a chilly fall night! They’ve got drinks for everyone covered, too. You’ll always find draft beers, wine, and juice or soda for the kiddos, available. And prices are on the cheap. Plan to spend between $3-$5 for drinks and the same for food items.

Wait, There’s More!
Fridays at the HPIC aren’t just about Corner Bar. On the third Fridays, family-friendly movies play on the big screen. For free! Think of it as an outdoor summer movie series, but with less grass and more shelter from the chilly, rainy elements. All you need to bring is a comfy blanket and some munchies, if you’d like. Or the club has chairs if you’d prefer. Plan to spread out your blanket and picnic goodies when the doors open at 6:30 pm. The movie starts at 7:00 pm. And just to be on the safe side, check the movie title before heading over to make sure it’s right for your family. Then lay back and enjoy the show!

Highland Park Improvement Club
1116 SW Holden Street
Seattle, Wa 98106
206-762-9825
Online: hpic1919.org or find them on Facebook

When: First Friday of the month from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: Free

Do you plan on giving Corner Bar a try? Share your experiences with us in a comment below!

–Allison Sutcliffe, words and pictures

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20 Cool Ways to Beat the Heat

by Erin Lem

Sometimes it’s too darn hot to head outside.  Sure, the kids are dying to hit the playground, head to the beach or just run around the back yard.  But now that the cooling cover of June gloom is a mere memory and the dog days of August push the temps to a sweltering 90 plus degrees, you just want to hibernate at home with the AC cranked high and an iced coffee in hand.  Unfortunately, the kids aren’t on board with that plan (unless you let them watch umpteen hours of TV, and you’re not on board with that plan). So go with the flow, embrace the temps and beat the heat with your kids. Here are 20 ideas to combat the rising temps, L.A. mama style.

1. We’ve got two words for you: ice cream. We like it low tech, at Peddler’s Creamery, high tech at Ice Cream Lab, and pretty much any way you churn it.

2. Get back to nature with one of these family-friendly watering holes. Mother Nature keeps the water shockingly cold and refreshing.

3. If you’d rather stick close to home this weekend, here are 10 totally cool (and innovative) ways to beat the heat right in your own backyard.

4. When it’s this hot outside cooking is the last thing you want to do, right? So on your way home from one of these cooling places, pick up dinner without even leaving your car, never mind heating up your house.

5. Hit the beach! These are our favorite spots with kids, and if you’re bringing the family pooch, be sure to check out these pet AND family friendly stretches of sand.

6. Say hello to your best friend: air conditioning. Head indoors to the biggest hands-on science museum on the West Coast.  And did we mention that it’s free?!

7. You’ve hit up Malibu, know Santa Monica like the back of your hand, but have you spent time in Manhattan Beach lately? Head to this idyllic beachside town for some indoor and outdoor family fun.

8. Relax and indulge: get a mommy and me mani/pedi at one of these cool shops.

9. Beat the heat with a trip to a local popsicle shop, which is all the rage when it comes to delicious and healthy treats.

10. Franklin Canyon has shady spots to explore, whether you walk around duck pond, hike down by the lake, or explore indoors at the Nature Center.

11. You want your kids to experience aquatic life but lathering them up with sunscreen and hauling everyone to the coast is just too much. Sound familiar? Spend some time in an indoor marine environment instead at one of these totally awesome aquariums where fish, marine life, and touch tanks abound.

12. Catch a breeze with a spin on a carousel.

13. Cannon ball!  Dive into one of these community pools to cool off.

14. If you really want to ditch the sun, visit an indoor play space where the only sweating you’ll be doing is from all the play.

15. Get crafty with 10 easy DIY crafts that keep you busy at home.

16.  Not the crafty type?  No problem: Make Meaning will serve up any craft you can dream up.  No muss, no fuss, just air-conditioned, busy bee bliss.

17.  Plan a day trip to Anacapa Island.  The breezes from the boat ride will cool you off both coming and going.

18.  Kids are just like us – when it gets too hot to play, they like to sit in the cool, dark movie theater too.  So head to the El Capitan for a showing of Planes in 3D.  Got a tiny tot?  Tuesdays at 10:00 am the movie plays in 2D with the lights on low and the sounds taken down a notch.

19.  Take the kids to the Cube for an indoor LEGO Castle Adventure.

20.  Sick of the same old museums?  Try the Police Historical Society Museum in Highland Park.  You’re little one will love playing cops and robbers in the lock up. And then nearby Galco’s Soda Pop Stop has bubbly cool treats from bygone eras.

Share the love! What’s your go-to activity for staying cool in the stifling Los Angeles heat? Let us know below.

Photos credit: Sommy Rhee, Meghan Rose, Jolie Loeb, and Jennifer Wolfe

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One Slammin’ Slammer: A Visit to the Police Museum

by Meghan Rose

This is one of the many reasons Angelenos love LA: our hidden treasures.  Your average tourist drives right by the mini mall that hides a 4 star sushi experience or the glow in the dark golf adventure that looks like an empty warehouse.  And in a city this vast, you can live here for years and still be discovering cool things.  Like the Los Angeles Police Museum. This historical society is tucked away in an unassuming stretch of Highland Park, and takes up all three floors of a beautiful old Police Station (built in 1925).  For kids who love cops (and/or just playing pretend) there are four fabulous areas to explore: jail, uniform exhibit, retired vehicles and the store.  What are you waiting for, backup?

Book ‘Em Danno
You’re greeted with a badge instead of a ticket (of the sticker variety, so no pesky pins).  Which they’ll need, because you’ll want to head through the pictures lining the wall and through the first gallery straight to the jail, where your little Jack Webb will delight in throwing you in the clinker.

Bring your camera.  This is the room you’ll spend the most time in, posing for pictures, and playing police.  Pay special attention to the inmate rules, the mug shot station and the area to place your one phone call.  (Do kids today even recognize a pay phone as the ancient cousin of a cell?)

Calling All Cars (and Motorcycles)
Next you’ll want to head upstairs, where kids can hop on the police motorcycle.  It’s in the main room at the top of the stairs, sharing space with some pretty cool bomb disarming robots. They’ll also be fascinated by the police uniforms (like the one worn by the first woman police officer in Los Angeles, who just happens to also be the first woman police officer in America!) and badges throughout time.

Car 54, Where Are You?
After your trip upstairs, it’s time for the car show.  Rather, the vehicle show, as they have a range of police vehicles outside that boasts everything from a helicopter (which kids can climb in and pretend to fly) to a car that was really in a shootout (bullet holes and all).

There are old cars, battering rams, police horse transport vans and very cool giant bomb trucks.  Kids can play pretend out here for ages.  (If you remember to bring some kid plastic cuffs or a notepad for ticket writing, you’re good for even longer.)

Last Stop: Shop!
One way to get them to leave the bullet ridden cars and bomb trucks and other assorted things that go is to remind them that the gift shop is still waiting for you.  With memorabilia, t-shirts and mugs mixed in with police themed toys, they’ll browse while you find a few unique gifts for those hard-to-shop for people in the family.

Inside Tips
Get the kids excited for their visit by watching this short movie about what you’ll find here.

Speaking of what you’ll find here: there are two adult exhibits upstairs.  Both are fascinating for grown-ups, potentially scary for kids.  One is the Symbionese Liberation Army exhibit.  This one is easy to avoid, as it’s tucked in the back rooms, behind the uniform exhibit.  The other is a fascinating look at an event that first provoked the California firearm legislation discussion: the North Hollywood bank robbery and shootout of 1997.  There’s a video of the shoot out that may be playing and is kind of intense for little ones.  The problem is, it’s on TV and it’s good guys vs. bad guys – they’ll want to watch it.  So our advice is skip the stairs for little frys – or at least scope it out first to make sure the video isn’t playing.

Fees & Hours
Kids 12 and under are free, adults are $8 and seniors are $7.  It’s open Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and every third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Be sure to call before you go as they may close for filming (and they don’t post it on the website – we’ve experienced this, so you don’t have to!).

Potty & Parking
Bathrooms are on the first floor and parking is free in the adjacent lot.

Los Angeles Police Museum
6045 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca 90042
Phone: 323-344-9445
Online: laphs.org

What are your favorite hidden museums in the city? 

–Meghan Rose

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