FROM TOTS TO TEENS AND FAMILIES

• ANAHEIM - Kids Play Day. Families can make their way down to the Center Street Promenade in downtown Anaheim from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on September 9 for a day of good old fashioned play. There will be a variety of activities in the realms of art, sports, literature, science and more. There also will be vendor booths for new toys and food, and a variety of kid-friendly local services. Information: (714) 956-3586 or www.downtownanaheim.com.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

MANY OF THESE HAVE CHANGED AFTER THE PANDEMIC; OTHERS HAVE GONE TO APP-BASED REWARDS. CURRENT MEMBERS MAY HAVE RECEIVED UPDATES ON THE PROGRAMS. UPDATES TO THIS LIST HAVE NOT BEEN MADE SINCE THE PANDEMIC. Having a birthday soon? Why not celebrate? Many organizations offer free food or other goods on your birthday if you give them an e-mail address/join their e-clubs. Examples of some available offers are listed below. Be sure to read all the details/conditions on the company/organization's website before agreeing to any offers. Offers may change periodically without notice.

• BROAD MUSEUM - The Broad is LA's new contemporary art museum. It is located in downtown Los Angeles on Grand Avenue next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The museum is closed on Monday; hours vary on other days of the week. Advanced tickets may be reserved online, or there is an onsite standby line each day for admission on a first-come basis. See website for additional details. Information: (213) 232-6250 or www.thebroad.org

• CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER - There is free admission to all permanent exhibition galleries at the California Science Center (excludes IMAX and special exhibits). The museum address is 700 Exposition Park Drive (Los Angeles Colisum area). Information: (323) 724-3623 or www.californiasciencecenter.org

• CHINO YOUTH MUSEUM - The Chino Youth Museum offers Free First Friday programs from 3 - 5 p.m. Programs include art projects, snacks, time to explore the museum, exhibits and entertainment. Also for July, first 1000 people at Museum get in free. The museum is located at 13191 6th Street in Chino, one block north of the Chino Transit Center. Information: (909) 464-0499.

• FIRE STATION/MUSEUM OPEN HOUSES - Two area historical fire stations offer free tours on Saturdays. In San Pedro, Old Fire Station 36 (located at 638 Beacon Street) is open from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. In Hollywood, Old Fire Station 27 is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Both offer a variety of artifacts and exhibits. Information: (323) 464-2727 or www.lafdmuseum.org.

• THE GETTY CENTER - Free admission; parking is $15, but $10 after 5 p.m. The museum does not require parking reservations. Off the 405 Freeway at Getty Center Drive. There are a variety of art-related and storytelling activities for children and families, free programs, lectures and movies, and more. See the museum's calendar for listing of events and programs. Information: (310) 440-7300 or www.getty.edu

• GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY - There is no admission charge to enter the observatory, but a fee for planetarium shows. Monthly public star parties offer the public a chance to try out telescopes and talk with amateur astronomers from 2 - 9:45 p.m. Check for upcoming star party dates. Information: (213) 473-0800 or www.griffithobservatory.org

• HOMESTEAD MUSEUM - Free admissions and programs like behind-the-Scenes tours and children's storytelling hours. Some programs require reservations. The museum is at 15415 East Don Julian Road in the City of Industry. Information: (626) 968-8492 or www.homesteadmuseum.org.

• HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS - Free admission the first Thursday of every month. Tickets are required and reservations become available on the first date of the month prior to the visit (i.e. reservations for the first Thursday in August become available starting July 1). Reservations for free days fill up quickly. Also, check monthly schedules for free lectures and other presentations. Information: (626) 405-2100 or www.huntington.org

• THE IRVINE MUSEUM OF ART - The Irvine Museum of Art is a small OC museum dedicated to the preservation and display of California art of the Impressionist period (1890 - 1930). 18881 Von Karman Street, Irvine, Ground Level. Admission policy had changed; admission is free now only for seniors, students and children. Information: (714) 476-2565 or http://www.irvinemuseum.org/

• LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART - Admission to the Long Beach Museum of Art is free every Friday. Museum address is 2300 East Ocean Boulevard. Information: (562) 439-2119 or www.lbma.org

• LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) - Check website for current admission policies and program for LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. Information: (323) 857-6000 or www.lacma.org

• MULTIPLE LOCATIONS - BANK OF AMERICA "MUSEUMS ON US" PROGRAM - Over 70 museums nationwide are now offering free admission on the first weekend of every month for anyone showing a Bank of America check, ATM or credit card. Visit website for list of museums. Information: www.bankofamerica.com/museums.

• MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MOCA). Admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Thursdays from 5 - 8 p.m., 250 S. Grand Avenue. Information: www.moca.org.

• THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART - LONG BEACH Check museum website for all current policies and programs. Address is 628 Alamitos Avenue. Information: (562) 437-1689 or www.molaa.org/

• NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM - The Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Boulevard at Exposition Park in the downtown Los Angeles/USC campus vicinity, offers free museum admission every first Tuesday of the month. Information: (213) 763-3466 or www.nhm.org

• NORTON SIMON MUSEUM - The Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, offers free admission from 6 - 9 p.m. on every first Friday of the month. Information: (626) 449-6840 or www.nortonsimon.org

• ONTARIO MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART - The Museum is located in the Historic Old City Hall Building, 225 South Euclid. Hours are noon - 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and admission is free. Also a variety of art and public programs. Information: (909) 983-3198 or www.ci.ontario.ca.us

• ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART - The Orange County Museum of Art offers free admission and is closed on Mondays. The Museum is now located in Costa Mesa at 3333 Avenue of the Arts. Information: (714) 780-2130 or www.ocma.art

• PAGE MUSEUM AT THE LA BREA TAR PITS - The Page Museum allows visitors to watch fossil excavation and assembly and has interactive displays of the Tar Pits and Southern California during the Ice Age. Free admission day is the first Tuesday of the month (except July and August). The museum is located at 5801 Wilshire Blvd. Information: (323) 934-7243 or www.tarpits.org

• SOUTHWEST MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN - The Southwest Museum of the American Indian, part of the Autry Museum system, is open to the public from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m on Saturdays. The Museum is located in the Mt. Washington area at 234 Museum Drive. Information: (323) 667-2000 or www.theautry.org

• UCLA FOWLER MUSEUM - The museum regularly offers free admission and a variety of free music, film and art-related programs. The Fowler Museum is located on the UCLA campus. Information: (310) 825-4361 or http://www.fowler.ucla.edu

• UCLA HAMMER MUSEUM The museum offers a wide selection of lectures, poetry readings, music and other programs and performances. See the event calendar on museum website for a full schedule of events. 10899 Wilshire Boulevard at Westwood. Information: (310) 443-7000 or http://www.hammer.ucla.edu

NATURE CENTERS/PROGRAMS/EVENTS

• CHINO HILLS - ENHANCED TRAILS MAP - Want to discover all 28 trails in Chino Hills? The newly enhanced trails map shows all trailheads, trail connections and quarter-mile markers. New features also include added photos of actual trails and trailhead signs. With even more interactive capabilities, users can pinpoint exact locations of each trail and learn what city parks and facilities are nearby. Previous map attributes still available include distance, difficulty, estimated time, elevation and more. Information: www.chinohills.org/trails

  

• GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY STAR PARTIES (LOS ANGELES) - Remaining summer 2023 dates: August 26 and September 23. All events are from 2 - 9:45 p.m. Admission to the Observatory grounds and building is also always free (with a fee for shows in the Planetarium). Information: (213) 473-0800 or www.griffithobservatory.org

• IRVINE RANCH CONSERVANCY ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS - The Irvine Ranch Conservatory and the City of Irvine offer a variety of free hiking, mountain biking, and interpretive programs as well as wilderness access days in Bommer Canyon, Hicks Canyon, Quail Hill Trail Head and other areas. Though many are free, advance registration is required. Register at website listed. Information: (949) 724-6610 or www.letsgooutside.org/explore/IOSP.

• TEMECULA - Park Adventures. The Around & About Temecula Park Adventure Series takes you on a virtual tour of all the parks located in the City of Temecula (over 40). Visit every park online, experience the amenities and learn some history or interesting facts along the way. View episodes at the website listed. Information: www.temeculaca.gov/parkadventures

• TORRANCE/MADRONA MARSH PROGRAMS - Nature Walks are every fourth weekend of the month on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. - noon. Explore the preserve with a trained docent. Also Audobon Bird Walks every 4th Saturday of the month at 8:30 a.m., plus special lectures, classes, habitat restoration opportunities and more. The Madrona Marsh Nature Center is located at 3201 Plaza Del Amo. Information: (310) 782-3989, www.torraceca.gov or www.friendsofmadronamarsh.com

• VARIOUS LOCATIONS - NATIONAL PARKS - A free or discounted passes are available from the National Parks System to all active duty military personnel with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173). The pass admits owners and accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to three additional adults at sites that charge per person. Also, all National Parks will have free admission to the public for the anniversary of the Great American Outdoor Act on August 4 and for National Public Lands Day on September 23. Information: www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm, or go to "Stores" at www.store.usgs.gov.

SENIORS

• CYPRESS. Cypress Senior Center Cinema. Free movies at the Senior Center are shown every Wednesday. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 12:45 p.m. Please call for weekly movie titles. The Cypress Senior Center is located at 9031 Grindlay Street. Information: (714) 229-2005.

SHAKESPEARE/THEATER/PERFORMING ARTS/MUSIC

• LA OPERA SIMULCAST. The LA Opera kicks off a brand new season in September with Mozart's Don Giovanni, and the public is invited for a special opening night, broadcast live from the stage to locations at the Santa Monica Pier (Opera at the Beach) and La Mirada Regional Park (Opera in the Park). Bring blankets and chairs and enjoy Mozart's masterpiece. The program will take place at both locations at 6 p.m. on September 23. Information: (213) 972-8001 or www.laopera.org.

• LONG BEACH - KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND (TURN)TABLE. Knights of the Round (Turn)Table is a monthly event modeled after a book club. Each month a different historically significant album is chosen, and participants listen to both sides and discuss it. Back in the day, people used to listen to the records while staring at the album artwork and liner notes. The programs seek to recreate this experience in the company of other music lovers. Next date/details TBA. Information: (562) 595-0081 or www.bixbyknollsinfo.com, go to "events."

• LONG BEACH - VIRTUAL SHAKESPEARE AND FRIENDS ALOUD. "Shakespeare and Friends Aloud." This season of Shakespeare Aloud hosts readings of Shakespeare's plays and covers works of friends and contemporaries like Christopher Marlow, John Fletcher, Thomas Kyd and others. Community members are invited to participate as readers or audience members. Events will take place on Thursdays at 4 p.m. on Zoom. Register via the links on the Carpenter Arts/Arts for Life website. Upcoming readings: August 31 - No Reading, September 7 - Henry VI, Part 1 (continued, Act IV, Scene III), September 14 - A Comedy of Errors, September 21 - A Comedy of Errors (continued), September 28 - No reading. For an extra touch, participants can add Shakespeare-themed background images to their Zoom experience. Information: (562) 985-7000 or www.carpenterarts.org/artsforlife.

• WEST HOLLYWOOD FREE THEATRE IN THE PARK. The City of West Hollywood and the Pacific Opera Project will present an operatic take on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel." Brought to life with a magical score by Englebert Humperdinck, the production is great for all ages and will be sung in English. Performances will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, September 9 through September 24, at Kings Road Park, 1000 N. Kings Road. The performance is outdoors and seating will be provided. Parking is available on the street or in the Kings Road parking garage at 8383 Santa Monica Boulevard. Information: www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/theatre or https://hanselandgretel-weho2023.eventbrite.com.