Weekday Picks: Holiday Lights, the Great Outdoors, A Love Letter to Paris, November 16-20

11/16/15 - By Jacqueline Stansbury

In the mood for a movie? The Peanut Movie is getting parents and kids in the holiday spirit; Disney Screen at the Century in Huntington Beach is screening four Pixar movies for the price of one admission; and the beloved Little Mermaid is back at El Capitan. But if you've been trying to find the words to answer your kids' questions about what's happened in Paris, you might try hunkering down for a movie at home one day this week to share a beautiful portrait of Paris as it was and will be again, in the classic film The Red Balloon. This brief film (available at many libraries and Amazon) is about a boy, the balloon that becomes his friend, the bullies that torment him, and the boy’s liberation from cruelty when all of the balloons in Paris join forces to raise him up above the city.

Heading back outdoors, this week brings free days at Descanso and the Arboretum, a Chaparral themed evening in Temescal Gateway Park, curbside stargazing in Burbank and Sylmar, and holiday celebrations in Glendale, Burbank, and Manhattan Beach. For parents of very little ones, the Family Room in San Marino offers two classes for parents struggling with the topic of food: Baby Led Weaning: The Mush Stops Here and Stress-free Toddler Feeding. Sometimes it is nice to get a little help before they find out about fro-yo, ice cream, and pizza.

Though not always easy, there is nothing quite like a childhood in the city. Los Angeles has much to offer and Mommy Poppins has lots of ideas for things to do on our Daily Events Calendar.

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1. Stargazing with the Sidewalk Astronomers – Monday
The moon is still a sliver on Monday night, which makes for some fine stargazing. Let Sylmar's experts with big telescopes show your kids where everything is up there.
See all Monday events

2. History, Mystery, Material Culture of the Chaparral –Tuesday
An interactive evening in Temescal Gateway Park’s Woodland Hall in Pacific Palisades explores all facets of the canyon's indigenous plant.
See all Tuesday events

3. Manhattan Beach Pier Lighting & Open House – Wednesday
Holiday lights season has begun, and Manhattan Beach Pier is the place to enjoy the glow on Wednesday night. Businesses stay open late for strolling, and the aquarium lights up its rooftop tree for 2015.
See all Wednesday events

4. Free Day at the JANM – Thursday
No excuse is required, but a trip to the Japanese American National Museum is a great excuse to go to Little Tokyo. And it still leaves plenty of time to get back to Glendale in time for the evening's tree lighting with fireworks at the Americana.
See all Thursday events

5. Holiday in the Park – Friday
Once a year, Burbank's Magnolia Park neighborhood pours out onto the street to celebrate together, with Christmas carols, toy donation collections, in-store celebrations, meet-ups with Santa, faux snow, and photo ops with everyone from Elsa & Olaf to Krampus (the Austrian boogie man who hands out lumps of coal).
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!