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Weekday Event Picks for LA Kids: Week of Firsts & National Night Out, Aug 3-7

8/3/15 - By Jacqueline Stansbury

As astute Mommy Poppins readers will have noted, a new month usually means lots of free “firsts.” In case you missed it last month, the LEGO Store monthly model build is now on the first Tuesday and Wednesday. That’s right, two opportunities to pick up a free LEGO. The “little old lady in Pasadena” has lots of free stuff to do the fist week of the month, too: The Huntington, Kidspace, and Pasadena Museum of California Art all have a day that is gratis (grandmas, start your engines!). Debbie Allen Dance Studios has free hip hop classes, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s Free First Wednesdays program continues.

A first I often forget about (much to my daughter’s chagrin) is First Friday on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, a festive evening of food trucks, crafts, and Venetians. While my kid is drawn to hipsters, others (preschoolers especially) are fascinated by the firemen and other community service members. Finally, this week the communities of Burbank, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica host a “National Night Out.”

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar for more free and discounted activities.

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1. Minecraft Mondays – Monday
A kind of video game version of LEGO, and therefore awesome, Minecraft is one on line game I don’t mind my kids playing. The Beverly Hills Public Library includes PlayStation 3 gaming time, crafts, activities, and a treasure hunt.
See all Monday events

2. National Night Out – Tuesday
The Burbank, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica police departments host this annual community building event. Law-enforcement officers, including horses and K-9s, come out to meet kids and their parents on a summer eve. Also, did I mention free LEGO?
See all Tuesday events

3. The Tempest at Los Encinos State Park – Wednesday
Counterintuitive, but the Shakespeare by the Sea Theater Company heads inland to Encino for this performance of The Tempest. Bring a picnic.
See all Wednesday events

4. Free Hip-Hop Classes – Thursday
The Debbie Allen Dance Studio in Baldwin Hills hosts hip-hop classes at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Center Court every Thursday in August.
See all Thursday events

5. Summer Nights in the Garden – Friday
An evening of multiple activities is on offer at the Natural History Museum. Do check the web site; while everything is free, certain events (like potting succulents) require ticketed reservations.
See all Friday events

There are always plenty more activities on our daily events calendar and in our monthly GoList. And if you don’t receive our newsletters full of suggestions for family fun, you really should subscribe…it’s free!