Roberta Brown

Editor-in-Chief

Years spent at Nickelodeon prepared Roberta to launch Mommy Poppins' Los Angeles branch in 2011, eventually becoming Mommy Poppins Editor-in-Chief in 2013. Previously she served as LA Editor for GoCityKids, National Editor for ParentsConnect, and Editor for NickMom—all of which works out well for her son, who has grown up serving as Chief Guinea Pig for all things fun in LA and beyond.

Latest posts by Roberta

Top Summer Activities in LA: 50 Things To Do with Kids around Los Angeles Summer 2020

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 07/03/2020 - 6:45pm

Summer 2020 may not be what most LA families had planned, but once we make our peace with staying close to home, it can be a different kind of fun. It can be staycation, love where we live, totally Southern California kind of fun. It can be old-fashioned, making popsicles and sipping homemade cocktails while the kids play backyard water games kind of fun. And we can take a break from stressing about what school will look like in the fall by picking a few of the wonderful things to do that we can still indulge in this summer around Los Angeles. The photos from summer vacation 2020 may all have masks in them, but we can be making wonderful childhood memories all the same! Here are 50 places open now to get you started.

Orange County's Best Kept Secret Is a Water Park Right on the Beach

Submitted by Roberta B on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 4:44am

Apologies, but I am about to blow a well kept secret wide open: Newport Beach has a cove hidden in plain sight that may be the best family beach day in the Southland. Of course the definition of "best family beach day" may not be the same for everyone; only continue reading if your ideal beach day would include kayaks, SUP boards, paddle boats, and an inflatable water park in a warm surf-free lagoon surrounded by clean sand, fire rings for s'mores, easy parking, and clean bathrooms. Only head to Newport Dunes if you're prepared for that level of nirvana.

Registration for Apple Camp at Home, Apple's FREE Virtual Summer Camp, is Open Now!

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 4:05am

Like most things this summer, Apple Camp will look a little different in 2020.

Apple Camp takes place entirely online this year, but with live orientation sessions to kick off each project, and drop-in Q & A sessions to get help. Like the in-store version, Apple Camp at Home will focus on a project from start to finish. These projects traditionally have taken two days at in-store sessions, with a third day to showcase campers' work. The virtual camp allows kids to create at their own pace, with support available during the week that the project is live.

If you've got an 8-12-year-old interested in STEM or movie-making, you'll want to act fast; Apple has just opened registration, and space is limited. These special annual camps are 100% free—and they traditionally fill up quickly!

For more camp information and ideas, check out our Camp Guide and Directory.

15 Road Trips You Can Take from Los Angeles this Weekend: California Summer Travel 2020

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 06/23/2020 - 12:48pm

Yosemite National Park, photo by Regan Buker/Flickr

Most of us had summer vacation plans for 2020, and most of us have faced by now that those plans aren't happening. While we adjust daily to the new normal, we also look at an uncertain summer that really needs some bright spots, preferably including a couple of getaways. California has begun cautiously opening up, and that gives us some options: from glamping to deserts to not-so-far islands, we've checked to see which weekend destinations we can drive to now, in pursuit of that vacation we all definitely deserve.

California Reopening Phase 2: What's Open and What's Closed in Los Angeles Now

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 05/12/2020 - 5:30am

If Coronavirus quarantine has got you down, help is on the way. Governor Newsom and Mayor Garcetti have begun rolling out their reopening plans, offering gradual relief to families and businesses exhausted by months of Stay-at-Home orders. Going outside has never sounded so thrilling. After two months of lockdown, only seeing each other in car parades and 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts and virtual birthday parties, we finally have the beginnings of a plan to get out and enjoy the beaches, hiking trails, and more of LA's natural beauty. If we do it responsibly, we should be able to enjoy some fresh air without putting people's lives at risk.

The plan to reopen California has four phases, and we are in the early stages of Phase 2. Read on to find out what that means for schools and businesses, as well as trails, beaches, farms, and more that we can now visit—as long as we adhere to social distancing protocol and cover up with face masks.

Support LA! Toy and Book Stores Offering Curbside Pick-up & Delivery in Lockdown

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 05/04/2020 - 10:54am

Like so many things we took for granted before the COVID-19 pandemic, toy stores and book stores have had to close their doors to visitors for now. We may understand the logic, and yet there are moments when a new toy or book really does feel essential. In those moments, we'd like to encourage you to support your local businesses—the toy stores we want to find when doors open again, and the book shops that host all of those wonderful storytimes and author visits. While you're getting creative about connecting with your community, don't forget to include your friendly neighborhood toy and book vendors.

We've rounded up a list of wonderful local book stores and toy shops that are offering curbside pick-up or delivery options during the #StayatHome days. These small businesses offer a combination of contactless pick-up, free local delivery, and online shipping. Several can text you photos of options, or hop on a call and make suggestions. Every one of them would be VERY happy to hear from you.

Let's make sure The Last Bookstore doesn't live up to its name.

And while you're showing your support for the businesses you love, we hope you'll count Mommy Poppins and our small business partners among them. You can support Mommy Poppins by sharing articles you find useful with friends or on your social media channels, checking out our directory of virtual classes, camps and birthday parties and telling businesses you found them through Mommy Poppins. Also, as part of our effort to keep our local parent writers and this website afloat and support some of our favorite family businesses, we've created Poppins@Home, a platform for small businesses to share free and low-cost online classes and birthday parties with kids all over the country. Please consider trying a few of these fun, affordable, and creative classes—and spreading the word among your friends—as yet another way to support, uplift, and get through these challenging times together!

Underwood Family Farm Re-Opens for Pick-Your-Own Visits!

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/01/2020 - 2:11pm

Photo courtesy of Underwood Family Farms

Update: The Pick-Your-Own fields will open again on May 9, 2020, at both the Moorpark and Somis locations.

Underwood Family Farms shares some much needed good news today: Moorpark's popular pick-your-own farm is opening up its fields to allow families to get some fresh air and pick some fruit and vegetables in the spring sunshine—starting today! It's the outing we all desperately need, and just in time as the weather starts to change. So while we're missing our beach days, let's go to the farm, ride the tractor, pick some berries, and bring home fresh dinner. There are rules to make it all safe, of course, so read on for all the details.

Is LA Going Back to School in July? Is that What Governor Newsom Just Said?

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 04/28/2020 - 11:50pm

This post has been updated to reflect new information from LAUSD on May 4, 2020.

Governor Gavin Newsom turns out not to be a fan of the anthem School's Out for Summer. He may have won kids' hearts when he announced his support for ending the school year back on April 1, but he lost them again today, when he took to the podium in support of going back to school in July. Is this for real? Will we be jumping right back into a new school year only a few weeks after breaking for summer? What would that look like? And who decides? We've collected some key answers to the questions lots of students and parents are asking.