Feliz Navidad in Downtown LA

Cultural & Festive!

Here’s a fun, free and festive thing to do this holiday season: Visit Olvera Plaza in Downtown L.A! I walked over yesterday during my lunch break and the first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful life-sized nativity scene. It takes up the entire bandstand area with hanging aluminum stars that illuminate it at night.

The shopping is simply fantastic with everything and anything Christmas-y that bears a touch of Mexico: There is a Christmas tree standing in front of rows of colorful papel picado (Mexican tissue paper banners). There are shops with varieties of nativity scenes and Mexican-themed ornaments. There are also piñatas, wreaths and streamers to celebrate the holidays, con gusto.

If you visit Olvera Plaza, don’t forget to stop by the oldest house in Los Angeles. The Avila Adobe Home is a free admission museum and even some of its antique furnishings have been decorated with a touch of Christmas Spirit.

And happening nightly at Olvera Plaza through December 24— Posadas! Posadas are like a presentation of the journey Mary and Joseph experienced on their way to Bethlehem. Every night the Posadas feature ballet folklorico presentations, a candlelight procession and the breaking of a piñata, beginning at 7:00pm.

For more information, call (213) 485-8372

Feliz Navidad!

En Español

Aquí les va una idea sobre algo que pueden hacer esta temporada de fiestas: Visitar la Placita Olvera en el centro de Los Ángeles. Ayer fui durante mi hora de almuerzo y la primera cosa que me llamó la atención fue el hermoso nacimiento que ocupa todo el espacio del kiosko. Hay estrellas de aluminio picado que cuelgan e iluminan las estatuas de Jesús, María y José.

El mercado de la placita está divino y surtido con todo tipo de decoraciones y artículos navideños que por supuesto tienen su toque mexicano.

Hay un árbol de Navidad ubicado en frente de hileras colgantes de papel picado y tiendas con una variedad de nacimientos y esferas con temática del folklor Mexicano. También puede encontrar piñatas, serpentinas y se pueden apreciar bellas coronas navideñas.

Si usted visita la Placita Olvera, no se olvide de pasar por la casa más antigua de Los Ángeles. La residencia Avila Adobe es un museo con entrada gratis. Ahí el personal se dio la tarea de decorar algunos de los muebles y accesorios antiguos con un toque navideño.

¿Y que sucederá cada noche en la placita Olvera hasta el 24 de Diciembre? ¡Las Posadas! Habrá ballet folklórico, canto aguinaldos y piñata todas las noches, a partir de las 7:00pm.

!Feliz Navidad!

Para mas informes llame al (213) 485-8372

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Tickets on Sale Now!

Selfie in front of a promotional poster for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at the Walt Disney Concert Hall!

Don't Miss This Classic Ballet!

True Story: The first time I ever watched The Nutcracker, I was sitting inside the "Gran Teatro de La Habana" in Havana, Cuba. The year was 2001 and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba performed El Cascanueces so flawlessly and beautifully that it pretty much satisfied any ballet watching inclinations I may have had for many years thereafter.

Fast forward to 2017 and this busy mom of two rough-and-tumble boys was waiting for an opportunity to dress up, take a comfortable seat inside a nice theater (preferably in my beloved Los Angeles, California) and let a live orchestra joyously calm my senses while a world-class ballet performs this one-of-a-kind classic holiday ballet.

Well, the opportunity has arrived! 

My sisters and I are headed to opening night for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker on December 7. That day is also Benny's birthday which means, my son will have his first taste of a fine stage performance (Miami City Ballet) and a fancy post-show dinner, as a birthday gift...

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker will be showing at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from December 7 through December 10. 

But here's why this show is particularly special:

Performances will include, for the first time, student dancers from two L.A. arts academies — The Colburn School and The Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance! — while the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus will provide live vocals... isn't that awesome!?

A live orchestra will play Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. 

Plus, the show will feature all-new sets and costumes by Cuban-American artist/designer couple
Isabel and Ruben Toledo. 

Friends, Michael Solomon, The Music Center's vice president of presentations and education said: "We wanted to give Los Angeles a Nutcracker beyond proportion."

That's reason enough to dress up, take a comfortable seat inside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and let Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s timeless score calm my senses while the Miami City Ballet and local dance school excite them! I can't wait to share more about our trip and let you know all about Benny's reaction!

Tickets for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker can be purchased here.

For more information, visit The Music Center.

I hope to see you there!

Xo,

-Anabel M.

"Make Your Mark in the Park" this Sunday!

Photo: RymanArts.com

A Unique Downtown LA Drawing Festival (that's free)

During the last few weeks I've probably been a little way too busy for my own good. There are so many projects I've involved myself with, and most importantly, there are two little boys who need my EXTRA attention right now that this blog has truly been neglected... but I'm baaaack!

I'm back because in between all the madness, I still love to write about fun things and share with my readers (however many of you are still there) about unique events in my dear city of Los Angeles.
One of those unique events (which I attended for the first time last year) is the Big Draw LA's "Make Your Mark in the Park"-- a free drawing festival for families where kids and adults alike can test their artistic abilities through a series of drawing opportunities!

The Big Draw LA is a month-long art celebration that takes place each year. It's hosted by Ryman Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering Southern California teens free art instruction.
The Big Draw LA's flagship event is the "Make your Mark in the Park" festival and here's why you should check it out:
You think you've got skills in making paper airplanes (and decorating them too)? There's gonna be a station for that.
 You want to test your tape drawing talent? Rolls upon rolls of colored tape will be provided.
Curious to see how well you can decorate a bike? It'll be CicLAvia weekend so there will be plenty of opportunity for that!
Plus, there will be booths and tables for other fun projects like Styrofoam print-making and drawing costumed models.
All in all, the Make your Mark in the Park Festival promises to offer guests of all ages a really neat opportunity to delve in the art of drawing through different mediums, all while enjoying music and the LA City Hall Tower as the backdrop.

The Big Draw LA's Make Your Mark in the Park Festival

Sunday, October 8, 2017

11:00am - 4:00pm

Grand Park Block 4

Downtown Los Angeles

I was there last year and I sure don't want to miss it this year. See you there?

Xo,

-Anabel M.

Yummy Pastries!

Breadologie in Granada Hills!

A new bakery in town is making me break my diet...But I'm ok with that #sorrynotsorry

I've been absent from my blog for quite some time now. I've been working on a bigger project that focuses on highlighting other LA moms and not so much my own life and lifestyle (more details if you keep reading). This, while still working full-time and managing a house full of boys!

Anyhow, last year, when Toby was practically still a newborn, we were driving around our neighborhood and came across a bright yellow sign that read: "Breadologie Bakery".

My husband pulled into the parking lot and stopped by the shop to see what the bakery was all about (I was curious too). He came out moments later and said he'd told the owners that I would be interested in writing about this new bakery once it opened to the public...Mind you, he usually stays out of anything blog-related so it was hilarious that he would go and pitch my blog (probably felt embarrassed to walk in during construction)...lol!

Well, as it turns out, one year later, I --did-- stop by Breadologie, met Steffi Gutierrez who owns the bakery with her husband Charles and fell in love with their croissants and artisan bread.

They have such an exquisite selection pastries and such a cool vibe that it almost makes me want to pick up my daily morning coffee and sweet bread there... except, they've been so busy with their wholesale orders, the storefront is not open everyday. Still, it's worth a visit. They have cookies & cream croissants, raspberry almond brioche donuts and even introduced a brand new Rocky Road croissant...OMG...So good!

Now to my project... I just launched www.MommyInLosAngeles.com -- an online magazine for local moms focusing mainly on local moms.

I haven't officially announced my new editorial venture but I'm sharing it here because my last "WOWMOM" profile story is all about Breadologie co-owner Steffi Gutierrez.

Check it out!

In the meantime, make it a point to stop by the bakery if you're ever in the San Fernando Valley.

Here in LA, we're always waiting for the next delicious thing to awaken our senses (and a cup of coffee) and this place is perfect for that...

 More information: Breadologie Bakery

Thanks for reading!

Xo,

-Anabel M.