www.maketheconnection.org
order a free (not even shipping and handling!) bracelet kit to support cervical cancer awareness. for each kit that is ordered, merck pharmaceuticals will donate $1 towards awareness, outreach and screening for medically underserved women.
[jan. 17, 2007 update: i signed up to receive a kit over six months ago and i still haven't received anything ... i don't want to post this as a flaky campaign, so if you received yours please leave a comment saying so. thank you.]
[april 17, 2007 update :: i finally received my bracelet! so, it took 10 months instead of 6~8 weeks. oh well. i actually like the bracelet with just the make the connection charm on it; i'm saving the beads for another project.]
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
star eco station
review by yucaree
if you're looking to see some wild animals locally (in a safe environment), the eco station may be a fun excursion for your little one. hidden in a warehouse-y building on jefferson boulevard, the eco station takes care of rescued wild animals and strives to educate children and parents on the proper way to treat animals and the environment, and the improrieties of keeping wild animals as pets and the dangers posed by humans on endangered animals.
the animals are only viewable by guided tour, which leaves the lobby every half hour. the tour lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. the guide will take you around to see the fish, wild cats, reptiles and birds, and the kids are allowed to touch some of the reptiles while being supervised by the guide.
Cost: $7 adult, $5 children, infants in strollers free
Strollers: there is ample room to manuever your stroller through the facility. you may also consider taking your baby in a carrier so he/she can see the animals.
Diaper changing: to be honest i didn't check the bathrooms to see if there was a changing table. i'm sure if you call they can tell you. there are conference/party rooms throughout the tour that you could stop to change your baby's diaper either on the floor or in their stroller.
Breastfeeding: because it's a tour there's really no place to stop and breastfeed. the lobby is tiny and has no adult-size chairs where you can breastfeed inconspicuously.
Parking: the lot behind the building has very limited parking. many of the spots are for nearby businesses and they specifically say not to park there if you're visiting the eco station. there are two metered spots on jefferson in front of the building (the entrance to the building is in the back). we parked two blocks away at culver city park for free.
some things i noticed: it's quite warm inside the building (i don't know if it's for the animals but it seems there is no a/c) so you may want to dress down your children. also, the last room is the bird room and it is loud! the birds' squawking is extremely loud, especially if more than one bird is "talking." please cover your baby's ears. my personal opinion is that, although interesting, this may be the kind of place that you visit once or twice. unlike a zoo, where you can watch the animals at your own pace, the guided tour (which, at times, can feel like being lectured at, to be honest) would be repetitive and restrictive if you visited often.
lastly, if you're interested in getting a turtle, they adopt out red-eared slider turtles that have been left at the eco station. (and here's something i learned: it's illegal to get a red-eared slider turtle that's less than four inches long.)
STAR ECO STATION
10101 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
310-842-8060
if you're looking to see some wild animals locally (in a safe environment), the eco station may be a fun excursion for your little one. hidden in a warehouse-y building on jefferson boulevard, the eco station takes care of rescued wild animals and strives to educate children and parents on the proper way to treat animals and the environment, and the improrieties of keeping wild animals as pets and the dangers posed by humans on endangered animals.
the animals are only viewable by guided tour, which leaves the lobby every half hour. the tour lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. the guide will take you around to see the fish, wild cats, reptiles and birds, and the kids are allowed to touch some of the reptiles while being supervised by the guide.
Cost: $7 adult, $5 children, infants in strollers free
Strollers: there is ample room to manuever your stroller through the facility. you may also consider taking your baby in a carrier so he/she can see the animals.
Diaper changing: to be honest i didn't check the bathrooms to see if there was a changing table. i'm sure if you call they can tell you. there are conference/party rooms throughout the tour that you could stop to change your baby's diaper either on the floor or in their stroller.
Breastfeeding: because it's a tour there's really no place to stop and breastfeed. the lobby is tiny and has no adult-size chairs where you can breastfeed inconspicuously.
Parking: the lot behind the building has very limited parking. many of the spots are for nearby businesses and they specifically say not to park there if you're visiting the eco station. there are two metered spots on jefferson in front of the building (the entrance to the building is in the back). we parked two blocks away at culver city park for free.
some things i noticed: it's quite warm inside the building (i don't know if it's for the animals but it seems there is no a/c) so you may want to dress down your children. also, the last room is the bird room and it is loud! the birds' squawking is extremely loud, especially if more than one bird is "talking." please cover your baby's ears. my personal opinion is that, although interesting, this may be the kind of place that you visit once or twice. unlike a zoo, where you can watch the animals at your own pace, the guided tour (which, at times, can feel like being lectured at, to be honest) would be repetitive and restrictive if you visited often.
lastly, if you're interested in getting a turtle, they adopt out red-eared slider turtles that have been left at the eco station. (and here's something i learned: it's illegal to get a red-eared slider turtle that's less than four inches long.)
STAR ECO STATION
10101 Jefferson Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
310-842-8060
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
the bridge: cinema de lux
review by yucaree
tuesday morning at 11am is baby pictures at the bridge: cinema de lux in culver city. they run recent releases for parents with babies and toddlers. of course, you can watch the movie without children, too. the movie changes weekly so check out the website to see what's playing.
Cost: $8.00 adult, $1.00 children 13 months~3 years, babies under 12 months free
Strollers: the website says that you are not allowed to bring strollers into the auditorium, but almost every parent we saw had a stroller in there (my friend and i brought in our carseats). there is plenty of space to park your stroller at the very front of the theater (right in front of the screen) or after the third row, which is a walkway across the theater. i believe this area is usually used for people in wheelchairs, so there is ample space to park your stroller in front of your seat, and in some cases, right next to your seat. again, i must emphasize that officially i don't think strollers are allowed.
Diaper changing: there is a diaper changing table right at the end of the ramp into the auditorium. i didn't use it, but it had a disposable liner and a garbage can. the website says to use the restrooms, which are equipped with changing tables, but at least in this auditorium (theater 15) there was a changing table right there so you could watch the movie while changing your baby.
Other amenities: the lights are dimmed but you can still see what's going on around you; the volume is lowered, which is great unless your baby is crying in your ear! the theater is accessible by elevator from the parking garage or by escalator.
Parking: there is a large parking structure, which costs $2 for four hours. the movie theater does not validate.
i enjoyed the experience of finally going to see a "grown-up" movie and not having to worry about getting a babysitter. i also didn't worry about maya crying because other babies fussed and cried, too. she was pretty good, surprisingly, but my friend had to walk her baby a little bit and no one cared that she was walking around. plus, the theater is not full so you can move around pretty freely or stand in the aisle if your baby likes to be rocked or walked. we also breastfed without any problems. i usually use a cape when i'm in public, but because we were in a dimly lit theater and because we were surrounded by other mothers i didn't bother using it. (just be aware that there are non-parents who are also watching the movie.) the seats are wide, spacious, and comfortable enough to hold your baby across your body while feeding, and they can also hold a carseat and/or diaper bag. there is plenty of leg room in front of you in the non-stroller parking rows to put your stuff (and the floor looked fairly clean, compared to other theaters).
THE BRIDGE: CINEMA DE LUX
6081 Center Drive
The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center
Los Angeles, CA 90045
24-Hour Phone 310-568-3375
tuesday morning at 11am is baby pictures at the bridge: cinema de lux in culver city. they run recent releases for parents with babies and toddlers. of course, you can watch the movie without children, too. the movie changes weekly so check out the website to see what's playing.
Cost: $8.00 adult, $1.00 children 13 months~3 years, babies under 12 months free
Strollers: the website says that you are not allowed to bring strollers into the auditorium, but almost every parent we saw had a stroller in there (my friend and i brought in our carseats). there is plenty of space to park your stroller at the very front of the theater (right in front of the screen) or after the third row, which is a walkway across the theater. i believe this area is usually used for people in wheelchairs, so there is ample space to park your stroller in front of your seat, and in some cases, right next to your seat. again, i must emphasize that officially i don't think strollers are allowed.
Diaper changing: there is a diaper changing table right at the end of the ramp into the auditorium. i didn't use it, but it had a disposable liner and a garbage can. the website says to use the restrooms, which are equipped with changing tables, but at least in this auditorium (theater 15) there was a changing table right there so you could watch the movie while changing your baby.
Other amenities: the lights are dimmed but you can still see what's going on around you; the volume is lowered, which is great unless your baby is crying in your ear! the theater is accessible by elevator from the parking garage or by escalator.
Parking: there is a large parking structure, which costs $2 for four hours. the movie theater does not validate.
i enjoyed the experience of finally going to see a "grown-up" movie and not having to worry about getting a babysitter. i also didn't worry about maya crying because other babies fussed and cried, too. she was pretty good, surprisingly, but my friend had to walk her baby a little bit and no one cared that she was walking around. plus, the theater is not full so you can move around pretty freely or stand in the aisle if your baby likes to be rocked or walked. we also breastfed without any problems. i usually use a cape when i'm in public, but because we were in a dimly lit theater and because we were surrounded by other mothers i didn't bother using it. (just be aware that there are non-parents who are also watching the movie.) the seats are wide, spacious, and comfortable enough to hold your baby across your body while feeding, and they can also hold a carseat and/or diaper bag. there is plenty of leg room in front of you in the non-stroller parking rows to put your stuff (and the floor looked fairly clean, compared to other theaters).
THE BRIDGE: CINEMA DE LUX
6081 Center Drive
The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center
Los Angeles, CA 90045
24-Hour Phone 310-568-3375
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