Family Fun: Dance Downtown

If you are looking for a fun summer evening out with your family (or your spouse), check out Dance Downtown at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. It is free, open to all ages, and all dance abilities. Each night has a different theme. At the beginning, and sprinkled throughout the evening, there are a dance lessons. On disco night, we learned some classic disco steps, the hustle, and a crazy assemblage of 60s dances (taught by CSULB's own Andrew Vacain, who is awesome, in preparation for the next week's 60s night). Many people dressed in era appropriate attire/costumes (myself included), but it is not necessary.

One of my favorite things about this event is that everyone - all ages, walks of life, ethnicities and dance abilities - are having a genuinely good time, out celebrating life together in the middle of the city. You can lose yourself in the moment.

Coming up:
June 1: Argentine Tango
June 15: Line Dance & Two-Step
June 29: Bollywood & Bhangra
July 13: Cumbia
July 27: Disco
August 10: 60s Night
August 24: Ondo/Bon Dance - a special celebration of Japanese festival dancing
September 7: Samba

6:30pm-10pm in the Music Center Plaza in downtown Los Angeles.
Beginner dance lessons at 6:30pm, 7:45pm and PREVIEW lesson at 8:50pm.

9 Kinds of Smart, Parenting Your Brilliant Kid!

My sister and I are grateful for the ways our parents nurtured creativity and rich experiences in our young lives. I work to celebrate those qualities in the portraits I create, my sister doreen celebrates them by spreading the word about how to foster them. She is offering a jam packed parenting seminar on February 26 in Portland, lecturing about multiple intelligences. Lots of examples of each form of "smart" will be given (with performances by, and exposure to, folks of each kind of smart) as well of ideas regarding how to foster them in your children. This lecture is being presented as a fund raiser with all proceeds going to Do Jump physical theater company. Do Jump will use the proceeds to reach out to children in Portland who cannot normally afford to experience learning in new and creative ways.

Mention Dodgen Photography when reserving your tickets by phone and receive $5 off the $25 suggested donation.

9 Kinds of Smart, Parenting Your Brilliant Kid!
Saturday, February 26th, 3:30 - 6:30pm
The Echo Theatre
1515 SE 37th Avenue
Portland, OR
503-231-1232
dojump@dojump.org

Shop of Awesomeness!

If you have ever been to the Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse, you know that they are all about encouraging, inspiring and promoting fun ways to reuse items and materials "too good to throw away." Encourage and inspire they do. With product labels like "Circles with Possibilities!!!", "Orange Ya Glad We Have These Containers?" and "Box of Awesomeness!" how can you not get inspired. If you are not sure where to begin, there are a myriad of items created by local artists and patrons to spark your creativity, or to purchase if you are more of a patron of the arts than artist.

While it is a great place to get creative inspiration, it also is a great place for kids to learn about other things. My first grader is learning about money in school. At The Depot he is able to apply his new knowledge, calculating and budgeting his $1.00 in coins to buy innumerable treasures (is there any other shop where you can still buy something for 1¢?). There are also opportunities for learning about conservation, recycling, donating, and community.

If you spend any time talking with owner, Lisa Hernandez, you know that she is more than an advocate for creative reuse, she is an advocate for small business, artists, and community. To that end, last year The Depot applied for, and was awarded, a Pepsi Refresh grant. To celebrate, they are hosting the Pepsi Refresh Creative Reuse Day on Sunday, February 27 from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. There will be creative reuse crafting, instrument making/playing, a bike rodeo, rock climbing wall, a free bike valet and more, including all of the boxes of awesomeness and possibilities! Instead of providing refreshments, they are encouraging attendees to support the many local coffee shops, restaurants, markets and other small businesses in the area. As a small business owner, I think that is inspiring!

Pepsi Refresh Creative Reuse Day Celebration
Sunday, February 27, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse
320 Elm Street, Long Beach, CA
Regular store hours Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 6:00 pm


The Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse window, ready for the Pepsi Refresh Creative Reuse Day Celebration