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

August GoList: Best Things To Do with LA and OC Kids This Month

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 07/28/2019 - 10:51pm

This month's GoList looks at a summer half over and sees it as half full! There's still time to catch some of the best of LA's summertime fun, including free summer concerts, free summer movies, camping, beaches galore, or just taking one more rollercoaster ride in the sunshine. Read on for the best of August in LA, Ventura, and OC. We'll keep adding to our calendar daily and sending our weekly newsletter in time for each weekend, but here's your chance to plan ahead for these August favorites.

SeaWorld San Diego's New Orca Encounter: How Different Is It?

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 07/19/2019 - 10:49am

Changes are afoot (or is it afin?) at SeaWorld, with much talk about a whole new chapter in the park's sea mammal program. We headed down to San Diego recently to see the new Orca Encounter for ourselves—to find out how big the changes are and whether they are improving life for the marine residents of SeaWorld.

Universal Studios Hollywood: 10 Insider Tips for the Park and Wizarding World

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 06/30/2019 - 2:14pm

Universal Studios Hollywood brings the magic of the movies—plus the magic of Harry Potter—to life. But you may feel like you need a little magic of your own to navigate the park without collapsing from exhaustion. There’s a lot to see and do, especially when visiting the park with kids. Of all the LA-area theme parks, Universal Studios is the one where the rides and activities are easier to separate into what is appropriate for which age group. This makes a game plan easy when visiting with a gaggle of kids who are all the same age, but trickier for family visits with kids of multiple ages. But we’ve got you covered.

Also, Universal is a big park, as your calf muscles will no doubt remind you the day after your visit. While parks like Knott's or SeaWorld can be approached with a devil-may-care, keep-your-stinkin'-map sort of spontaneity, Universal's Jurassic size is better served by a plan. Consider including these ten tips when you form yours.

June GoList: Best Things To Do with LA and OC Kids This Month

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/31/2019 - 2:06pm

School lets out early these days, which means pretty much all the weekends of June count as summer. Summer movie series are already lighting up the Southland night; the beaches are hopping, and the water parks and splash pads are open. If you're ready to kick off summer with the biggest, most once-a-year-ish events happening in June, then read on. We'll continue to send our weekly picks, of course, and we'll keep adding to our Event Calendar daily; but consider yourself on notice for these June favorites—many of which are free!

30 Things To Do in Long Beach with Kids: Day Trip or Weekend

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/17/2019 - 12:53am

Selfie with the Queen! Photo by Mommy Poppins

Like most Angelenos, I've been to Long Beach—but until recently I had never considered taking a weekend getaway there. Without traffic I can make it to Long Beach in roughly half an hour, meaning that a trip to the aquarium or to see the holiday lights at the Queen Mary is no big deal. So why would I commit to a full weekend there? The folks at the Long Beach Visitors Bureau invited me to find the answer to that rhetorical question, and I am so glad they did. What a wonderful surprise it was to discover that Long Beach is much more than just a busy port wrapped around an aquarium! In fact, this gem, hidden in plain sight, is a delightful beach town full of family activities and indulgent recreation.

Mommy Freebies! Free Stuff for Los Angeles Moms on Mother's Day

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 05/03/2019 - 3:40pm

Hopefully someone is making brunch reservations for you this Mother's Day—but what to do with the rest of the day? Well, there's nothing like feeling appreciated, and what says, "We appreciate you, Mom!" better than free admission (or a free meal, free champagne, or free joust)? Check out these places around town where the free carpet is rolled out just for mamas on Mother's Day.

May GoList: Best Things To Do with LA and OC Kids This Month

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 2:56am

The weekends of May are packed with activity; there's Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and that one weekend without a holiday. There are parades, festivals, shows, and people eating bugs. With so much going on, it's easy to miss something. To help you keep track, here's a list of the biggest, most once-a-year-ish events happening this month. We'll keep adding to our Event Calendar daily, and it's a good idea to make sure our weekly recommendations arrive in your inbox, but we figured you'd appreciate some advance notice on these May favorites.

From Parties to Scouts, Why Annenberg PetSpace Is Such a Great Place To Bring Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 04/22/2019 - 1:00pm

We just got word that Annenberg PetSpace's new summer camp is already full for the season—that didn't take long! But even if you missed it, there are still a whole bunch of wonderful reasons to bring kids to explore this unique, critter-focused community space, many of which are free. The center has educational programs and play opportunities that include story hours, classes, scavenger hunts, birthday parties, and more—all created to strengthen the bond between pets and people. If you thought Annenberg PetSpace was just an adoption center, get ready to take a closer look.