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

The Endeavour's Final Journey: Follow That Space Shuttle!

Submitted by Roberta B on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 3:32pm

Imagine driving to the California Science Center at 2 mph. Now imagine doing that in a space shuttle with a 78-foot wing span. If you've got that image in your head, try adding Friday traffic, and we have something much more worthy of Los Angeles traffic lore than a simple Carmageddon weekend. The space shuttle takes to LA's surface streets late Thursday night and - with scheduled visits to landmarks like Randy's Donuts - ambles along on its historic last journey for 48 hours. If you think President Obama's visits present traffic challenges, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Carmageddon II: September 29 - 30, 2012

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 09/25/2012 - 4:29am

There are some movies that really don't need sequels, but in LA even epic traffic jams get the sequel treatment. Yes, we're headed for another weekend without the 405. To call Carmageddon a weekend blockbuster would be to use the term unforgivably literally, and yet we are about to be subjected to Carmageddon II, Return to Mulholland Bridge. Thinking of running away to go camping for the weekend or to hide at a resort? You may be wise to do so. But if you're planning on staying in town, there are a few things you should know about this weekend's closure of the 405 (aka the busiest highway in America).

Looking for Classes? We Can Help with That!

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 09/05/2012 - 2:46pm

Classes! It's September already; are your kids signed up for any classes? It's right there on your "To Do" List: Find a gymnastics class. Arrange some cheap after-school options. Figure out where on earth people take fencing. We live in LA, so you know it's all out there in volumes - you just need to find the time to do some research, right? Allow Mommy Poppins to take care of that for you: introducing our Classes, After School Programs, and Activities Guide.

Back to School Clothes: LA's Best Deals and Styles for School Shopping

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 08/03/2012 - 6:10pm

Most LA school districts are going back earlier than ever this year - in some cases a whole lot earlier; is your child's wardrobe ready? Are the long pants long enough, the shoes closed-toe enough, and the lunch boxes appetizing enough? Most importantly, is there something in the closet exciting and cool enough to lure those little LAUSD recruits off the beach and into the classroom? If the answer to any of these questions is "Eek! Not yet!" then it's time to hit some back-to-school sales. And since finding great deals on all this gear is Mom's priority, we've collected six favorite places - three national chains and three for Angelenos only - where you can find fabulous school fashions at prices that won't make you resent the next growth spurt.

Mary Poppins Give-away: Four Free Tickets To See Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 07/18/2012 - 10:32pm

Kidville, Brentwood's new indoor playspace, wants one lucky Mommy Poppins reader to win four free tickets to see the hit musical Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson! The Broadway show comes back to LA in August for a four week run, and Kidville figures that if anyone deserves a night out with Mary Poppins, it's Mommy Poppins. Read on for details of the give-away and a special Mary Poppins celebration at Kidville.

Shakespeare's As You Like It at the VA's Japanese Garden

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 5:24am

If there's one city in the world that deserves more Shakespeare in the park than any other, surely it's ours. Oh, yes, London may be Shakespeare's 'hood, and New York has that awfully famous park, but we've got something infinitely more important: the weather. No need to suffer for our art here; when Angelenos see theater al fresco on a summer evening it is a pure delight - it is, in fact, As You Like It.

Summer Camp Give-away: $250 Gift Certificate for UCLA Family Commons Camp

Submitted by Roberta B on Sun, 06/10/2012 - 2:56pm

Wait, so you're still looking for summer camp? Evidently "wait" is your mantra. Well, waiting is about to pay off: we have a $250 gift certificate to share with one lucky procrastinator family! UCLA Family Commons in Santa Monica has every kind of summer camp imaginable - boys only, girls only, and little kids, too - and Mommy Poppins is giving away a $250 certificate to be applied to any week of camp. Read on for details - and don't forget to check out our other last minute summer camp deals, too!

The Transit of Venus - Is It Another Solar Eclipse?

Submitted by Roberta B on Wed, 05/30/2012 - 12:24pm

If you invested in a pair of eclipse viewing glasses or welder's glass last week for the solar eclipse, we have great news: you're about to get to use them again! As unlikely as it seems, we are to be treated to yet another once-in-a-lifetime celestial event in the sky over southern California, on the afternoon and evening of June 5, 2012. This time instead of the moon passing between us and the sun, our neighbor planet Venus makes a far rarer shadowy appearance known as the Transit of Venus - viewable in LA for the first time since 1882 (and the last until 2117!).