ML Interest Tag: race

Just Re-Opened: Race To The Petersen Museum

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Developing a car obsession is a rite of passage when you grow up in LA. Well worth the year long wait, the newly renovated and reopened in December Petersen Automotive Museum is the perfect place to go to feed that pint-sized need for speed. Hop in the family ride and cruise on over because you won’t want to miss the hottest new wheels in town, and the stunning architecture alone is worth braving the 405.  Read on for our scoop on what kids will want to race to see first.

photo: The Petersen Automotive Museum

It looks like a space ship has landed on Wilshire, but it’s actually a shrine to a different mode of transport. So take in the stunning facade before heading inside.  Then you could spend a good long visit to just the Grand Concourse lobby, where your tiny car aficionados will go gaga over some the most impressive vehicles in the collection, before you even pay the price of admission.

But admission paid, scoot them past the gift shop and jump in the elevator and for a ride up to the third floor, where you’ll start your visit learning about the history of cars. Make your way around the wide-open gallery, with ample room for wiggly tots and strollers, featuring cars and motorcycles from every era.

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

Your kids will definitely want to stop at the Southern California: A Region In Motion exhibit where they can swipe and tap on the tablet displays to learn about how LA’s intricate roadways developed. Next pop over to the Cars of Film and Television where your superhero-fans can get a glimpse of the Batman Car. Don’t leave without snapping a shot of your kiddos pretending to drive the Ford Model T.

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

Race down the central spiral staircase to the second floor where it’s all about Pixar. This is where you can park yourself for the majority of the day.  Head straight for the Cars Mechanical Institute at the center of the gallery, where you can snap another photo-op with a life-size Lightening McQueen, before you unleash your crew into the Discovery Center. Little ones will love racing toy cars around the racetrack play table, while the older kids can use light tables and tablets to draw and decorate cars from the Pixar films.

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

When they’re played out there, head to the center kiosk to check out the CARSpad Experience. Your little car enthusiasts will receive bright orange covered iPads that they will use to navigate their way around the gallery, featuring exhibits on Vehicle Manufacturing Production and Custom Cars, as Mater guides them in designing their own virtual race care.  It’s where little tech fans and young gear heads alike will thrill with the “how things work” learning adventure.

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

If your pack includes kids in the tween and teen set (or just a video-game loving Dad), lead them over to the Forza Motorsport Racing Experience, where they can race against the clock on the popular arcade-style game for a chance to get their names on the Lap Time scoreboard. Wait times can be up to 30 minutes and drivers must be approximately 5 feet tall in order to reach the pedals. First thing in the morning or late afternoon are the best times to go to beat the line.

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

Finally, make your way back to first floor Grand Salon, where you can ogle some of the most artistic vehicles in the collection. This is the perfect time to remind your little explorers about the no-touch museum rule, because these shiny beauties are just screaming to be touched. Don’t miss the Art and the Automobile exhibit as you make your way to the exit. Point out the paint-speckled BMW and the accompanying video that shows how the car was used to create a massive painting. Make a mental note to try the Pinterest version of this art project at home using Matchbox cars…

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

Your visit will come full circle as you arrive back in the lobby where a giant screen displays The Petersen Instagram feed. Pick your cutest kid shot and post it with the hashtag #ThePetersen for a chance to spot yourselves on the board. No visit would be complete without your mini museum-goers herding you over to the gift shop, which is brimming with Cars toys and die cast cars of every make and model you can imagine.

Food: A restaurant will be opening sometime in 2016, until then you can take a short walk down Wilshire Blvd. to the food trucks that are usually parked along museum row, or pop back in your car and drive over to the Original Farmer’s Market.

Hours: Open every day from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Tickets: Adult admission is $15, child admission is $7 and kids 3 and under are free. Timed entrance tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Parking: For a $12 flat rate, the massive museum lot offers ample parking, but there are no elevators so if you are planning to bring your stroller (which is allowed in the museum), try to find a spot on the ground floor.

The Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Miracle Mile
Online: petersen.org

Have you checked out the newly re-opened Petersen Museum yet? What was your favorite part?

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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8 Clever Ideas for Plastic Cup Play

by Gabby Cullen

Plastic cups. They’ve have been known hold your adult beverage at a BBQ but they’re also one of the best (and cheapest!) ingredients to add to play time. Save your sanity on sweltering summer days by getting the scoop on clever indoor cup play. From stacking as high as little arms can reach to making a fantastic fishing game, there’s no end to the entertainment a sleeve of cups can provide. Scroll down for 8 of our favorite.

Photo: Laura Marschel via LalyMom

1. Racing Around
Laura of LalyMom offers up three cool cup games and this racing version is our favorite! Your speed racer will get a kick out of twisting a clear cup with roads and vehicles already drawn on it. You’ll get to smile about the fine motor skills workout she’s getting at the same time. Head over to LalyMom to find out how to match the car to the road and to check out her other fab ideas.

Photo: Handmade Charlotte

2. Reel Fun Fishing 
When you can’t get to the beach to cool off, this adorable handmade fishing game will do the trick. Making the game is half the fun and when everyone’s had their fill, save it for another indoor day! Grab paint, paper cups and head straight for Handmade Charlotte. You’ll get all the details and even find out why LEGOs may come in handy.

Photo: Allison Waken via All For the Boys

3. Super Stacking Cups
It’s a castle! It’s a skyscraper! It’s totally awesome take on stacking cups! With stiff paper wedged in between each level, all of a sudden, those plastic cups become so much more. We love this clever idea from Allison over at All For the Boys.

Photo: Maureen Wagner via StrongStart

4. Perfect Pendulum Painting
A messy but oh-so-fab way to introduce pendulums to the tiny set. They’ll get a dose of art and science summer school in one indoor afternoon. Wondering how to construct your own? StrongStart has the how-to. Psst! Those frames are easier to find than you think!

Photo: Gabby Cullen

5. Bowling Cups
A classic to complete our list. Every parent looking to pass the time has enjoyed this game with their baby bowlers. You can change it up when it comes to cups, but the plastic ones work best.  Arrange em’, stack em’, knock em’ down! Set up teams or just let them roll the ball to their hearts content.

Photo: Rebecca Dunn via Sturdy for Common Things

6. Fire Up the Cup
We’ve seen our fair share of cup animals—this dragon is delightful! Not only will it keep your wild animals busy, it’s the perfect way to blow off steam. Head over to Sturdy for Common Things to find out exactly how it’s done.

Photo: Bern Grbic via Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

7. Shake your Cup
As if the sound of your kids running up and down the halls wasn’t enough for a day of indoor fun. Perfect for an impromptu jam session, these simple instruments are a blast for the creative types at home. Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas will show you what you need.

Photo: Amy Christie via This Heart of Mine

8. Sweet Shooters
Talk about a clever way to rid your house of stale marshmallows! Make it a launching contest and it’s also a sweet way to spend an afternoon. We love the version Amy came up with over at This Heart of Mine, pop on over to get the list of supplies you’ll need.

 

What kind of indoor fun will you have when it’s too hot outside? Share with us in the comments! 

— Gabby Cullen

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7 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know A Slinky Could Do

by Amber Guetebier

What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound? It’s the Slinky of course! And while racing your Slinky down the stairs is always a popular choice, a Slinky can do so much more. Read on to discover seven fun things you can do with America’s favorite spring.

photo: fishhawk via flickr

1. Make a birdfeeder. All it takes is a wire hanger, a metal Slinky and a bag of peanuts. Check out this tutorial on how to do it.

2. Similarly, make a door wreath. Stretch the Slinky out, fill with colored paper or lightweight objects that won’t slip through the wires, like autumn leaves, fresh greens, red and green felt balls or even small toys. Attach the ends with wire or sturdy twist tie (you can make a loop to hang it on with the same wire). It’s easy to add a bow or weave ribbon through the wire. Check out a DIY Slinky wreath we love for a fun variation on the wreath.

3. Create a custom desk set in less than 5 minutes. Use metal Slinkys of varying sizes as a pen or pencil holder and a photo holder. You can even use one to display business cards.

4. Spray paint one orange to make a pumpkin centerpiece.

5. A plastic Slinky makes a great tunnel for pet mice or a little love nest for the birds.

6. Teach the kids some physics with a favorite teacher hack that uses a Slinky to demonstrate Transverse and Longitudinal Waves. Click here for an easy-to-follow instructions.

7. Make a prison for enemy toys (and Peeps!).

What’s your favorite Slinky hack? Share it with us in the comments below.

—Amber Guetebier

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Start Your Engines! What to See and Do at America’s Car Museum

by Helen Walker Green

Think your tyke’s Hot Wheels habit is out of hand? Wait ’til you see this record-breaking collection of cars, trucks, motorcycles and more at Tacoma’s LeMay Museum. With vehicles of all shapes and sizes filling the nine-acre, four-story museum and plenty of hands-on activities to keep the tiniest car-crazy kid happy, America’s Car Museum is your one stop shop for fuel-injected fun.

photo: LeMay Museum

Life is a Highway
You can’t miss this museum from the freeway – the building looks like a chrome air-intake on a hot rod (or maybe it’s a muffler). Right across the street from the T-Dome, America’s Car Museum is a big draw for car aficionados – you may even spot some classics in the parking lot. The Grand Prix race car mounted on the wall grabs your attention as soon as you enter, and there’s an ever-changing display of lovingly-restored vehicles in the lobby.

 photo: Helen Walker Green

Pedal to the Metal
ACM is full of amazing vehicles from the 19th century right up to the 21st. Can you find the cherry red Deusenberg or the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost? What about the tiny Crosley Fire Engine or the Messerschmitt? It’s a great place for kids to get an eye-opening look into the history of the automobile – bet they didn’t know early motorists had to turn a hand crank to start their engine. It’s a good thing we don’t have to do that now!

 photo: Helen Walker Green

Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Head west on Route 66  – and show your kids the road and the automobiles that inspired the movie Cars. These are the kind of cars that cruise “low and slow” through Radiator Springs – sporting fins, shiny grilles, and whitewall tires. You’ll also see the rarest Corvette ever made. The art deco gasoline pumps and tin signs make you feel like you’re cruising down the “Mother Road.” Psst… If your kids are Cars fanatics, be on the lookout for a ’56 Hudson Hornet, several Model T Fords, and a car raced by Richard “The King” Petty.

 photo: Helen Walker Green

Back to the Future?
If you’re starting to feel like a time-traveler – ACM has two DeLoreans on hand (although we’re not sure if they’re equipped with flux-capacitors). Also, keep an eye out for the Flintmobile, built especially for the Flintstones movie.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Spoiler Alert
Feeling the need for speed? The NASCAR Legends of Motorsport exhibit is full of fast cars, from early stock cars that raced on dirt tracks to cars driven by current stars. Learn about the famous cars and their equally famous drivers and see how NASCAR cars are designed to keep drivers safe in 200 mph crashes.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Speed Zone
Could you drive as fast as Jimmie Johnson or Danica Patrick? Big kids and grownups can test their driving skills on three racing simulators – the same kind used to train professional drivers! You may find yourself negotiating hairpin turns at Brands Hatch or racing on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kids are good to go once their feet can touch the pedals and they feel ready to handle the controls. Staff and docents are very helpful and they even have cushions to help young racers get properly positioned in the driving seat.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Next door to the racing simulators you can take a spin on a fantastic hand-built slot car circuit. There’s a great assortment of cars to choose from, and four tracks, so the whole family can join in (watch out, Grandma just might lap you on that bend!).

 photo: Helen Walker Green

Road Trip!
When it’s time to shift gears, there’s hands-on fun in the Family Zone, where you can race pinewood derby cars down a super-speedy track – kids can add and remove weighted blocks from the chassis and experiment to see what combination makes their car go fastest. Find out how cars work and get an up-close look inside. Trace and color classic cars and take a pretend road trip across the country in a display that puts kids right inside the map. You can also “drive” an antique Dodge. (Psst! Make sure you turn the hand crank to make it go).

photo: LeMay Museum

Shaken, not Stirred
Think the British Invasion was just about pop music? Cars came across the pond in the swinging 60s too, including the Mini, MGB, Jaguar, and James Bond’s car of choice – the Aston Martin. Enjoy the music of the era as you look at the cool designs, from the racing green Lotus to the Morris Minor van.

photo: Helen Walker Green

The Age of Steam?
Did you know electric cars were being made back in the early 1900s? Car makers experimented with all kinds of propulsion back then, including steam. When your future driver gets behind the wheel, he or she may not be driving a gasoline-powered car. Get them ready for the future by checking out cars powered by alternative means (although steam cars are not likely to be that big in the 21st Century).

photo: Helen Walker Green

Get Your Motor Running…
If you think ACM is filled with just cars, think again. There’s no shortage of motorcycles at ACM including classic Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs and Yamahas. There’s also an awesome collection of vintage scooters, featuring Lambrettas, Vespas and more. If your family is really into motorcycles, be sure to check out ACM’s roaring Vintage Motorcycle Weekend held each summer (keep an eye on their website for more deets).

photo: Helen Walker Green

Pit Stop
After seeing all the museum has to offer, you’ll probably be “exhaust”ed (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves there). Fuel up at the Classics Café by Pacific Grill. It offers tasty fare for a pit stop, including salads, juicy burgers, bbq chicken sandwiches, chili brats and root beer floats. Then hit the ACM Store – packed with every car-related souvenir you can think of from VW bags and Mustang t-shirts to build-your-own internal combustion engine kits.

photo: Helen Walker Green

Good to Know
ACM hosts a STEM Family Day on the third Saturday of every month, where families can explore the world of cars and its relation to science, technology, engineering and math. Check out the details online. Summer camps are also offered for ages 8-15 and can be found online.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum
2702 E. D. St.
Tacoma, Wa 98421
253-779-8490
Online: lemaymuseum.org

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $16/adults; $14/seniors (65+) & military; $12/students; $8/kids (6-12); children 5 & under and members free. Racing simulator $8; slot car track $3/driver.
Parking: $5. (Psst! Remember your parking spot number and pay inside when you buy your ticket).

The LeMay Collection is so huge, only about a quarter of it can fit in America’s Car Museum. The collection is rotated through, but If you want to see ALL THE CARS, you can. The rest of the vehicles are housed in the LeMay Family Collection, also located in Tacoma. More information can be found here. 

Have you taken your kids to LeMay – America’s Car Museum? What was their favorite part? Tell us in a comment below!

— Helen Walker Green

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New & Cool: Kiwi Crate Debuts Exclusive Line at Target

by Erin Lem

You didn’t think you could love Target more that you already do. It turns out you can. This week Kiwi Crate and Target announced they’re teaming up to sell an exclusive line of craft crates in 250 of their stores nationwide. Read on to get the lowdown on the goods, which package everything you need to make an original, kid-friendly craft. Then beeline it to the store (as if you needed another excuse).

What’s in the crates
The four single-project crates (look for them in the toy section’s green aisle) are most appropriate for little builders and crafters ages four through eight. Each features a specific project, with themes including Pom Pom Pets, Racing Wind Cars, Modern Art and Flying Kites. They come in pretty, gift-worthy boxes and are fully loaded. For example, inside the Pom Pom Pet crate you’ll find three colorful skeins of yarn, a special wooden winder, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, noses, feet and an adoption certificate.

Beyond the craft project, the crate also features a fun magazine so your kids can dive into additional puzzles, hands-on activities and lessons that relate to the theme of the crate. So in the Racing Wind Cars crate your kiddo will get a magazine all about wind power.

Crates at your fingertips
Kiwi Crates is known for its subscription service, which delivers craft boxes to your door each month. This exclusive partnership makes its products available anytime — perfect for that last-minute birthday present, afternoon craft project or surprise gift for your kiddos when you’re strolling the aisles of Target. And, apparently there’s more cooking between these two companies; Kiwi Crate hopes to offer more products in Target stores later this year, so stay tuned.

Each kit costs $14.99 and is available at these Target stores nationwide.

What do you think of this new partnership? Are these crates something that you’ll be seeking out during your next trip to Target?

— Erin Lem

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Street Style: 3 Must-See Fashion Picks

by Erin Lem

While New Yorkers are supposedly the ones with great fashion sense, San Franciscans are giving them a run for their money. And, no we’re not talking about us grown-ups. We’re referring to our kiddos who seem to take our finicky summer weather (seriously, how is there this much fog in the summer?!) in stride, while looking totally fab. We recently hit the streets of San Francisco to uncover some of the city’s most stylin’ tots and boy were we surprised how cool (and adorable) some of these kids are. From cowboy boots to cute GAP dresses and fun patterns, it’s clear that San Francisco kids (and their parents) know how to dress. Click through for three of our favorite summer street styles. If you have a stylin’ tot at home, we’d love to see him or her — simply, send a photo into our Editor (erin@tinybeans.go-vip.net) and who knows, maybe your kiddo will be featured on our next installment of Street Style.

Where: Dolores Park, Mission District in San Francisco
Name: Tanner
Age: 3

What he’s wearing:
Boots – Cavendars
Shirt – Original Penguin
Pants – J. Crew
Tie – Daddy’s (aka J. Crew)

While out scouting for the trendiest kids in the Bay Area, a flash of red boots racing out of Dolores Park caught our eye. We were delighted when this fashionable tot settled in front of the camera like a pro.

Styling doesn’t have to be all about the runway looks and high-end designer clothes. When we asked who dressed little Tanner this morning, his mom told us that Tanner brings his clothing requests to her. His fashion inspiration is to “dress like daddy at work,” it’s really as simple as that!

We love the clashing patterns on the checkered blue tie and detailed shirt: somehow it all works together — we think it’s all thanks to stunning red cowboy boots.

Click here for Must-See Kids Street Style #2

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Recaro Child Seats Speedware Motorsports

by Jacqui Boland

Watch any racecar driver, and you can’t help but wonder what kind of safety standards they use when it comes to their car seats. Seems like whatever it is, the same would be great in a child car seat. This crossed the minds of the folks at Redmond-based Speedware Motorsports , which carries anything you would need for auto racing, from drivers’ gear to roll cages to five-point harnesses and of course auto seats. As a result, they developed a partnership as the original US distributor of Recaro, a German company known for its impeccable auto racing and child car seat design.

At RecaroChildSeats.com, a division of Speedware Motorsports, you can find five models of the Recaro child seat, all of which include features like ergonomic seating, integrated armrests, adjustable headrests and side impact protection. The seats range from $99 to $349 and shipping is free. What’s more, if you go to Speedware Motorsports, you can try out the Recaro seat before purchasing. The sales staff at Speedware is also certified as a Child Passenger Safety fitting station, so your seat will be properly installed at no extra charge. “We only carry the best in auto racing,” says Jennifer Reiss, director of marketing. “So when a large part of our staff became parents, we realized we needed to expand our inventory with Recaro child seats to include safety for our children.”

Recaro Child Seats
Redmond
425-869-5680
www.recarochildseats.com

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