Pack a Picnic

I happen to think that Los Angeles is the greatest city for raising in the world, but there are occasions, I must admit, when I do feel a soupçon of jealousy. One of these times was last summer, when my family and I did an apartment swap with a very nice lady in Berlin, the city where my youngest sibling lives, and discovered that not only is there a playground on every other block, there’s a cute little cafe or restaurant next to every other playground.

The LA city planners may have been less beneficently Germanic in their intention, but with a little bit of effort I’ve found that we can replicate the park + playground experience Angelino style. I’ve rounded up some of our family’s favorite places for a meal and playdate, and created a shared Google map where you can add your own!

Miopane x Memorial Park

You’ve seen the lines at Miopane—I’m here, unfortunately, to tell you it’s worth the wait. Grab a couple of bagels (we loved the roasted tomato with herbs and cheddar at our house, which tastes exactly like an elevated pizza bagel) then sip a fancy matcha while your little ones play at the train themed playground at Memorial Park across the street.

Aurora LA x Pan Pacific Park

Aurora LA is famous for creating what some people say are the most beautiful desserts in the city. Everything they create is dreamlike and slightly surreal, hyper colorful, coated in mirror glaze, sweets that looks too beautiful to eat until the moment you sink your teeth into them. Around the corner is Pan Pacific Park, where you can find basketball hoops, a decent playground and, praise the lord, bathrooms.

Myung In Dumplings x Seoul International Playground

Myung In Dumplings serves up Anthony Bourdain approved dumplings the size of baseballs and cozy soups, the perfect place to carbo load before you hit the playground. Seoul International Playground is just a few blocks away, a tiny-but-mighty pocket sized greenspace with a shaded play area and benches.

Heavy Handed Hamburgers x South Beach Park Playground

Truly, is there anything better than a burger on the beach? Something about it so primal, so purely joyful and frivolous that it seems like an obligatory childhood memory. Savory short rib patties and the plastic pull and melt of American cheese for less than ten bucks, beef tallow fries for less than five. The sunset over the Pacific, over the playground. The sand between your toes. Yes please.

Lido Pizza x Sepulveda Wildlife Basin

The east coast gets all the love, but LA has some shockingly solid old-school Italian options. The valley is particularly rich in these gastronomic treasures. Lido Pizza is one of them. It’s a drive-not-walk situation to the nearby Sepulveda Wildlife Basin, but once you’ve arrived there are trails, a lake, and wildlife galore. Head over to the dam area for the best outdoor skating rink this side of Venice Beach—the perfect way to use up all that carbo loaded energy.

Hawkin’s House of Burgers x Magic Johnson Park

More burgers? Yes, obviously more burgers, but not just any burgers: the legendary burgers from Hawkin’s House of Burgers. This place is an LA classic, known for their Whipper, an insane meat-sweats inducing amalgam of burger patty, hot link, and pastrami. Magic Johnson park is the perfect pairing, with a shaded playground, lake, and walking trails for very slow, gentle post gigantic burger stroll.

Ho Kee Cafe x Live Oak Park

Breakfast might be the ultimate meal out with kids. It’s early enough in the day that everyone is still in a good mood, and the vibes are laid back. This is especially true at Ho Kee Cafe, where the menu is loaded with savory porridges and fried noodles sure to satisfy even the pickiest eater. The spectacular space themed playground in Live Oak Park is a short drive away, where you can sit in the shade and watch the little ones clamber over a Mars Rover. Protip: the local Savers just happens to have an incredible selection of used toys.

Endless Color x Topanga State Park

There’s something magical about Topanga State Park. Those red stone cliffs and scrubby sagebrush always makes me feel like I’m on a Southwestern road trip without all the driving, and the views from the ridgetop are just spectacular. I love grabbing a post hike-glass of wine and slice of pizza at Endless Color, where you can bask in the glow of the disco ball as the sun sinks behind the hills.

Spoke x Lewis McAdams Riverfront Park and the LA River Bike Path

Whether my toddler is up high on his dad’s bike or scooting along on his pushbike, going for a ride is a favorite weekend activity at our house. Step up your game with a ride along the LA river bike path, stopping off at Spoke for some truly spectacular waffle fries. There’s often live music further along the river on weekends, and their watermelon juice with champagne is the best mimosa variant in the city.

Sinaloa Express x Lynwood Mega Playground

The second space-themed playground on our list, the Lynwood Mega Playground is the kind of outdoor space any kid would be happy to spend all day exploring. Just up the street is

Sinaloa Express, where you can share a gut busting plate of machacha with the creamiest beans and a big glass of agua fresca to cool down.

Got a family favorite park + restaurant to share? Sound off in the comments, or add it to the map!

What’s Happening This Weekend:

Tonight!

Is Thursday the weekend now? It is when there’s this much fun stuff going on. The gang at Grand Performances starts us off strong with a Women on Vinyl themed downtown LA art night from 6-9. Grab dinner on the go, take in sets from legendary female DJs and soak up the vibes.

Over at the Wende Museum they’re hosting an improvised dance workshop series called Movement Playground from 5:30-7, an excellent chance to tap into your little wigglers inner creativity.

Friday, June 5th

Every Friday from 5-10, food trucks take over the valley for the Granada Hills Grubfest. Everyone in the family can choose their favorite cuisine, then gather together for an eclectic global picnic.

Saturday, June 6th

You know it’s KCRW Summer Nights season, and this Saturday we’re gathering at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium with sets from DJs SiLVA and Raul Campos. Come on over and boogie down with free aquarium access and groovy tunes for all.

This weekend is WeHo Pride, which means live music, art, and LGBTQ+ excellence. Drop in any time from today-Sunday—there’s always something going on at Pride.

For our outdoor kids, the Clock Shop is hosting a special hydrology bike tour through the Glendale Narrows from 9-2. Artist Rosten Woo will guide participants along the pathways of water in Los Angeles, culminating with a lunchtime talk.

Or for sunshine with a more serene pace, our pals over at Living Earth are hosting Movida: a Day Party at El Sereno Community Garden to support PLURI’s food and land justice work.

Sunday, June 7th

There’s another family festival happening up at The Getty, this time celebrating their exhibition on the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Expect live Egyptian music and hands-on workshops on everything from hieroglyphic writing to a chance to weigh your (cardboard) heart on the cosmic scales.

The Hammer Museum and 826 LA are collaborating on a live collective storytelling journey for kids. Participants will work together to plan and explore a collective adventure tale—I’m personally picturing a pint sized improvised take on Sleep No More.

This one’s a bit of a late night/intense vibe for the littles, but for bigger kids the always interesting Philosophical Research Society is hosting a rare screening of Night on the Galactic Railroad, a movie they describe as a “celestial anime masterpiece.” Sign me up.

Monday, June 8th and beyond!

OK Monday is DEFINITELY NOT a weekend, but when you can start out the week with a dang baby opera I figured it was worth a mention. We took my little guy to see the baby opera BambinO at the library when he was six monthsish, and while he was mostly confused there was something so delightful at seeing a room full of babies google eyed at the antics of opera singers dressed like birds. I’d definitely say it’s worth a drive.

More sign up news—Barnsdall class signup is June 9th. Ultra cheap and taught by working artists, these classes are some of the best creative value the city has to offer for grownups and little ones alike.