OddBallKidFun

The Chemistry Of Fireworks

2013-07-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

A little class on pyrotechnics before the big show tonight.

Happy Fourth of July.

To: Mr. President - From: Kids - Re: Kids' First Order Of Business After The Inauguration

2013-01-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

"I would take over the world. Then I would destroy Pluto. Then Mercury. Then I would build giant battleships. And then I would build a ladder to the moon."

"I would take the taxes that are used for silly stuff and give it to people who need it. I would also band alcohol and drug use If I saw someone using drugs or drinking I would make them pay a fine.

"I would make everything a thousand dollars, and to get all the money from the store I would make the food free! And the children would have to obey there parents. I would hand out free puppies!"

"I will write a book saying I was president and the title will be Derek. I would make all the kids in America a puppet. I will buy a big bed and flat screen TV. I will go and have a vacation in Hawaii. I will go golfing in a plane. I will get my own store."

"I would not allow war. I would not allow guns. Then people wouldn't get killed."

"I would paint the world pink. I would make sure everyone is treated kindly. I would make sure nobody gets left out. Everyone will treat the animals, plants, & nature good."

"I would make lots of trees. I would make homes for people. I will read books."

"If I were president I would help others when a storm comes. I can help people any time. And i'll help the sick and poor get better and help them find jobs and schools. And I will give them a gift for loving God."

Free puppies, no war, and a ladder to the moon. Oh yeah. Nobody getting left out, a puppet for all the kids in America, and trees- lots of trees. Let's elect some kids!

Zombie Apocalypse For Kids II - The 3 Best Parks For Practicing

2013-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Along with the many questions you face as a parent, I'm sure you've asked yourself, "What's the best park for my kids to practice what to do in case of a Zombie Apocalypse?"

Then you might have thought, "Wait, how do we even practice?"

That part is easy. I covered it in a recent post.

So now onto the three best parks to use for practicing. After some thought and consideration I've come up with a couple of choices. Of course, I had to have some requirements. First, the park can't be too big or too small. We need a Goldilocks park - just the right size.
The park also needs a boundary or fence to keep the players in when they are out of eyesight. The park also should have hills and slopes and places for cover, maybe even some play equipment that can be used to hide in or be chased around.

So now for the three best parks for practicing the Zombie Apocalypse- in no particular order.

1. Atlantis Play Center 13630 Atlantis Way, Garden Grove. (714) 892-6015

The park is a nice size. Perfect for larger groups of kids. It has hills, hiding places, mature landscaping, restrooms, and is fenced in. It costs $2 per child to get in but it has everything you need for a good game of Zombie Tag.

It's best to start at one of the flat grass areas. Maybe the one in the back of the park next to the sea serpents. The park is large enough to have a long game. If any little ones get bored as they practice for the end of the world they can hit the Viking Ship or slide down the long cement dragon slide.While you practice for the zombie apocalypse take a minute to appreciate the unique cement play sculptures created by Benjamin Dominguez & Sons for the park.

The park isn't open all the time. Check out their page for hours and directions. Weekends can get a little too crowded for undead to be running around.

2. Bluebird Canyon Park 798 Blue Bird Canyon Drive, Laguna Beach

This park is a little gem a few blocks from the ocean in Laguna Beach. It was created in the early sixties just like Atlantis Play Center. The play equipment at Bluebird Canyon Park has been updated but still is unique. There's a four story rocketship, climbing stations, a giant side by side metal slide, and a trike trail.

The park is mostly fenced in and has a colorful front gate. Bluebird Canyon Park is a smaller park so the group practicing for the zombie apocalypse should be a little smaller. It's also a popular park with smaller kids and their caregivers in the mornings and is busy some afternoons since it's next to a Boys & Girls Club.
But the park has great hiding places, a small tunnel, a bridge, a clean restroom, and shade.

3. Heritage Park 18600 Bloomfield Ave, Cerritos

A beautiful island park designed and themed around Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride" located in a larger city park.The park is surrounded by water and you must pass through covered bridges to reach to the top of the park where the Old North Church is recreated with a small play structure and slide inside.

There's a small harbor and kid-size colonial village. The park is a work of art created by David Volz Design which is also responsible for other attractive parks in Orange County like Pioneer Road Park in Tustin, Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano, and George Washington Park in Anaheim.

The park has many paths and places to hide. It's a good size for 5-15 kids playing Zombie Tag. The water acts as the boundary. There isn't much flat ground in the Paul Revere play island though, and the restroom is past the water in the surrounding part of the park.

Every tiny colonial building has some type of play structure inside so it can get a little cramped in the buildings with more than a few kids playing inside at once. The park is popular for kids and adults- even wedding parties- so it's best to visit during the week.

The play island also closes at dusk and opens late one day of the week. Check the website for hours.

I hope one of these three oddballkidfun parks will find a place in your family's Zombie Apocalypse preparation plans. You can never be too prepared, right?

Best Car Hill In Orange County

2013-01-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

The best part of going down a hill is not being able to see the bottom for a second when it seems like you might have just jumped off a cliff. About half way down you think you left your stomach at the top. And you know if it's a good drop when at the end you realize you were holding your breath the whole way.

There are a lot of ways to get that feeling. Maybe Splash Mountain at Disneyland or the Giant Slide at the O.C. Fair. Maybe a ski slope or dropping into a half pipe. But our family's easiest and cheapest option is to hit the best car hill in Orange County.

The hill drops from the top of Laguna Beach along 3rd St. from Park Ave. going north towards Laguna Canyon Road. The drop is just about a block and ends on Mermaid St. There's a lot of traffic on 3rd so try going down during off peak hours so you can slowly inch over the top and have the kids try and see the bottom of the hill over the cars hood. You can accelerate down the hill because the transition to the flat part of 3rd is nice and smooth.

Have some oddballkidfun speeding down our family's favorite car hill in Orange County.

Trick or Treat

2012-10-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

A world-wide-weirdie from Ken Reid via Monster Brains

Happy Halloween

2012-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Do I have to wear that costume?

If you want candy, you do.

But don't take a picture.

Okay. (I lied.)

Hobo Pippi Longstocking: Umm, does that beard itch?

Lumberjack with foam Legoland hatchet: No! Okay! Stop talking about it!

Do I have to wear that costume?

It's the only one that fits you in the dress-up clothes.

But do I have to?

If you want candy you do.

Okay. But don't take a picture.

Okay. (I lied. Again.)

Now smile. One, two, three, cheese

Much better. Have an oddballkidfun Halloween!

Zombie Apocalypse For Kids - How To Practice

2012-10-14T11:30:00.001-07:00

As a concerned parent, I'm sure you've asked yourself, "How can I prepare my kids for the Zombie Apocalypse?"

The answer is, of course, practice, practice, practice. Once every few months, just like a school fire drill, all families should practice how to behave in the Zombie Apocalypse until what to do becomes second nature.

Luckily, the practicing part is fun, painless, and pretty easy. We're going to play a game. Gather up anywhere from 5 to 40 participants and play a zombie version of tag. There are two good games: Zombie Tag and Doctor's Antidote.

Zombie Tag is a lot like a playground tag game with a few small differences. To start playing Zombie Tag an original zombie must be chosen. This person is "it" to start. The original zombie's goal is to tag any other human and turn them into a zombie. Once the original zombie tags someone they are also a zombie and now both zombies will chase the rest of the players until there is only human left. The last human is the winner.

During the game the zombies should identify themselves by saying "Brains,brains, brains" or walking with their arms outstretched or limping. Zombies should walk or jog but they shouldn't run. There is also no safe place for humans to go to during the game. Remember, no one is safe from a zombie apocalypse!

A more involved game is Doctor's Antidote. This one begins with one player called the doctor. The players gather around the doctor before the game starts and close their eyes. The doctor quietly taps about half the players on the shoulder to become zombies. The players keep there eyes closed and stay quiet until the doctor is finished.

Now the game can start. The players are in two groups: humans and zombies. Everyone waits with their eyes closed as the doctor hides. It might take a couple of minutes for the doctor to find a good hiding spot. Once the humans give enough time for the doctor to hide they can open their eyes and start looking for the doctor. The zombies then start their own count to thirty to give humans a head start. Once the zombies finish counting they can open their eyes and start looking for the humans.

Th object of this game is for the humans to find the doctor, who has the zombie antidote and bring him or her to a pre-chosen location- the hospital. If the humans bring the doctor to the hospital then humans win. If the zombies tag all of the humans before they bring the doctor to the hospital then the zombies win.

There are a few rules for Doctor's Antidote. Zombies can only walk in this game- no running. They cannot guard the doctor if they find him before the humans. Zombies aren't that smart! The doctor cannot hide close to the hospital before the start of the zombie attack. Also, tagging the doctor does nothing because with the antidote he or she is immune to the zombies.

Now that we know how to practice for a Zombie Apocalypse, all we need is a good park to play in. I'll cover that in another post.

Good luck and stay safe when the Zombie Apocalypse reaches your town.

Global Cardboard Challenge At Caine's Arcade

2012-10-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday my son and I spent a few hours enjoying the first Global Cardboard Challenge at Caine's Arcade. The event was one of more than 200 events in over 30 countries across the world. The event was created by the team behind the Caine's Arcade films and their Imagination Foundation which was formed to find, foster, and fund creativity and entrepreneurship in kids.

We've visited Caine's Arcade a few times. It's always a treat. This time we created our own cardboard game from a mailing tube, boxes, a Twix cereal box, a pencil, duct tape, and some Gatorade caps. Our goal was to create a small copy of one of my son's favorite ticket redemption games at Chuck E. Cheese - The Smokin' Token.

Here's our cardboard game...

And the original...

While we were there we helped out a group of kids and adults create a cardboard tunnel maze. The ingenious pieces used to connect the cardboard were donated by a company called makedo.

The maze tunnel started off as a small painted cardboard entry and a few boxes but by the end of the day covered as much space as a basketball court. All of the maze was built that day by kids, parents, and volunteers.

The maze included secret rooms, a fort, and many twisting pathways. Local school kids spent so much time exploring and crawling through the maze that they would come out covered in sweat. Friends played hide and seek once the maze grew.

The event had places to build using only recycled items, cardboard boxes, and imagination. The street was blocked off toward the end of the event to have a kid parade. Kids marched in a row showing off their creations and hand made musical instruments with all the adults standing in a long line giving the kids high fives.

Every time I've visited any Caine's Arcade event I've been impressed. The events are a genuine appreciation and recognition of kid's creativity and sense of fun.

Most places dedicated to engaging kids and families - from kid's museums to Disneyland - try hard to look clean and new with bright colors and shiny surfaces. Caine's Arcade, on the other hand, gets dirty cardboard, tons of paint and packaging tape and tells the kids to have fun. Even great kid-focused art programs at almost every museum will have the kids put on smocks to keep the paint off their clothes. Caine's Arcade events seem to encourage kids to sit on a messy floor and get their hands dirty.

This is my son after the event. His knees are covered in dirt, he's sweaty from crawling through the tunnel maze, and he's proudly displaying a few of the things he put together at the event: a cardboard tube bazooka, a cardboard and packaging tape drum, and a large cardboard tube he squeezed into and rolled around in before the kid's high five parade.

Caine's Arcade inspires kids to create without rules and have fun trying things out. The leaders of the Imagination Foundation behind the Global Cardboard Challenge encourage kids to be kids. This is a place where looking forward to a four square game is commonplace.

The best part of the day for me was during a visit by L.A.'s mayor and a city councilman. Before the speech most of the volunteers were herded behind the podium. A group of kids visiting from local programs were also seated behind the mayor for the cameras. But there were still a few kids running around. And during the mayor's speech, while the audience was quiet, you could hear a handful of kids playing hide and seek in the tunnel maze. They would laugh, then yell, then laugh again and chase each other. I thought that was a great moment. The mayor came to speak at a family event and some kids didn't care, they just wanted to play. That's what Caine's Arcade is about for me- letting kids imagine, play, and create- not because adults tell them to but because they want to. And because it's fun.

Halloween Candy Mashup

2012-10-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

Jerry Seinfeld's routine about candy, kids, and Halloween mashed up with Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony. Created by MysteryLarry. Enjoy the sugar-coated sweetness.

Thirty Minute Stretch-Your-Legs Break At The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia

2012-09-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

On our road trip to the Maker Faire a while ago we stopped and had a great time at the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia in San Mateo County. It's an oddballkidfun kind of museum celebrating the wonderful world of Pez. But it's even more than that. Its small storefront also houses a gift shop, the Classic Toy Museum, and the recently added Banned Toy Museum.

There are thousands of Pez dispensers displayed. Everything from the first dispensers with heads like Casper and Popeye to an unusual 1968 psychedelic eye dispenser to current Disney movie characters. You can listen to a podcast audio tour from your couch if you can't make it to Burlingame for information on all the unique dispensers.

The gift store has a wide variety of dispensers to buy from the most recent to old favorites. It also has the world's largest Pez dispenser. A snowman that's 20x the size of a regular dispenser. Instead of giving candy it dispenses a regular size, new Pez dispenser in a plastic box. Just be careful to not touch it. Read all three signs "Do Not Touch". Got it? Good.

The great thing about the museum though, is that there's always something new. Here's the latest from the museum: 360 degree videos of Pez dispensers. These are awesome. I can watch these for hours. Enjoy a few.

Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia 214 California Dr. Burlingame 94010

Tuesday - Saturday 10-6 (650) 347- 2301 Admission- $3 adult, $1 ages 4-12

Monty Python For The Kiddies

2012-09-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Is it important for kids to get references in entertainment? Is it a parent's job to point out that the SpongeBob SquarePant's Yellow Album is called that not just because SpongeBob is yellow and the cover is yellow but because it's a reference to the look of the Beatle's White Album? Do older kids like the movie Clueless more or less when they know it's based on Jane Austen's novel Emma?

On Phineas and Ferb when Doofenshmirtz pantomimes a force grip while fighting Agent P and says, "Just kidding. But I made you look, didn't I?" are we supposed to mention Darth Vader to our kids and how Vader finds a lack of faith disturbing? Or when you hear the Wicked Witch theme music from Wizard of Oz during chase scenes in shows should we remind our kids why that music is playing?

Are jokes and stories better when you get the references? I don't know. I mean, what kid in the 70's and 80's knew the celebrities caricatured in the Saturday black and white Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons anyway? Porky Pig racing with Greta Garbo, W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, and Clark Gable?

But coming up on Wednesday, September 26 there's a chance to increase your child's pop culture inventory by seeing Monty Python and the Holy Grail at Cinema City Theatre's classic series.

Out of love and concern for your children you'll give them a chance to learn more about killer bunnies...

and the bravery of the Black Knight who will never give up...even after a flesh wound.

The movie is rated PG but does include some adult language, gore and innuendo- especially at the castle of the vestal virgins. But you'll be increasing your child's bank of pop culture references so he or she can enjoy this wonderful world more fully, right?

Entertainment and pop culture education all in one movie. Amazing.

Cinema City Theaters - 5635 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim Hills 714-970-0865

Classic Series Wednesday, September 26 - $7 admission - show starts at 7pm

Someday In Cincinnati

2012-09-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

If our family ever gets to Cincinatti, Ohio, we'll make a stop at the American Sign Museum. We'll also catch a Reds game, play Cornhole, share a plate of six-way Cincinatti Chili at family-run Dixie Chili, stop at the Cincinatti Museum Center, educate ourselves at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and shop at Jungle Jim's International Market to check out their 2007 Hall of Fame winning bathroom. Here's hoping for a long road trip in our future!

Here are some photos of the American Sign Museum before their 2012 summer move to a larger location.

Gotta love the neon!

How To Make A Cheap Kid's Size Blow Gun With Giant Pixy Stix And Some Other Stuff

2012-09-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

My son is a big fan of the Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books by John Austin. So I decided to share one of my own school day weapons with him. Growing up I called it the gutter blow gun because I could usually find all the parts I needed in the gutter on my walk home from school.

Since blow guns are illegal in California, (Did you know that?) we made it and played with it for about ten minutes then took it apart.

We started with the supplies we needed: a pencil eraser top, a cigarette butt, a needle or long pushpin, and a long plastic giant Pixy Stix.

Next we took off the metal ferrule and eraser from the pencil. This will be the body of the dart. It works best with cheap pencils. Trusty Dixon Ticonderogas are just too tough.

Once we got the metal ferrule off we pushed a needle through the eraser. It's a little tricky getting the needle straight. We had to insert the needle a few times before we got it right.

Then we unwrapped the cigarette butt to get the filter.

The filter will be the dart's fletch. We twisted the filter as we inserted it into the pencil eraser.

We gently tore the cigarette filter to open it up so it would fly better and fit snugly in our pixie stick.

After loading it into the long plastic pixy stix we were ready.

My son gave it a try. I warned him about not sucking in when the blow gun is loaded. I also let him know the blow gun has the same rules as his BB gun. Shoot only targets, nothing that's alive.

Success! It went right into the fence.

He was able to shoot accurately to about 15 feet after some practice with his new darts.

Here in Orange County we actually had a blow gun expert that lived in Orange in the fifties and was profiled in Modern Mechanix.

Have fun. Be safe. Don't bring it to school for show and tell.

Is It Possible For Flamin' Hot Cheetos To Get Any Better? Yes. Yes it is.

2012-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

We found ourselves in East L.A. So for some oddballkidfun, we decided to follow a recommendation from Charles Phoenix and stop at Original Snow Cones and Funnel Cakes. Home of the world famous big snow cone bucket.

We went for the medium bucket with ice cream. Yes, that's the medium bucket. I know! It was more than enough for our hungry family. The three syrups we chose ended up melting into one super-sweet fruity flavor. Next time we'll get a sour flavor too like lemon or tamarind. If raspados aren't your thing, they also sell deep fried Twinkies and Oreo's, stuffed churros, and funnel cake. Fantastic fair food all year long!

If you want to keep it old school, order the Original Snow Cone- strawberry, pineapple, lemon. They say the original syrups are made the same way they were 70 years ago when the stand first opened. The building sits on the corner of Indiana and 3rd a few minutes from both the 5 and 60 freeways.

The star of the day was my new favorite snack - flamin hot cheetos with chili and cheese. Served right in the bag frito pie style. A little spicy, a little crunchy, and a whole lot of flavor. They've made Flamin Hot Cheetos taste even better! Doesn't it look delicious?

Original Snow Cone and Funnel Cakes - 3557 E. 3rd Street Los Angeles, 90063 (323) 269-0109

I Can't Drive 55 (Unless There's A Big Hill And A Tailwind)

2012-08-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

School's starting but it's not too early to plan for the next break, right? I think I found our Christmas vacation project. Tuna can headlights and all.

Might need to attach a hand brake so we won't get busted at the radar trap at the bottom of our local hill.

via Stork Bites Man via JuJu Made

The Best Back To School Movie Is Matilda. Who (No Matter What Truchbull Thinks) Is Not A Squirming Worm Of Vomit Or A Villainous Sack Of Dog Slime

2012-08-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Back to school is around the corner so it's time to sit down with the kids and watch Matilda directed by Danny DeVito from Roald Dahl's novel - our favorite film to start school with. It's the story of a bright girl from an unloving and inattentive family who longs to go to school. Besides her ability to read early- reading everything in her house by the time she's 4- she develops the ability to make things move with her mind.

Harry Wormwood: Why would you want to read when you got the television set sitting right in front of ya? There's nothin' you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.

With a bullying brother and parents at home more concerned with eating and watching television than with her and a terrifying headmaster at her new school, Matilda finds the most perfect teacher who appreciates her intellect and showers her with affection.

Matilda adores Miss Honey and Miss Honey adores her. And Miss Honey's classroom becomes Matilda's favorite place. That's my hope for my kids every new school year- to be part of a classroom where they can have fun and learn and have a teacher who appreciates them.

My kids love the movie for two reasons- Trunchbull and Matilda's psychic powers.

The Trunchbull storms through the movie scaring and torturing her students. Trunchbull's dreaded "chokey" is a closet used for discipline and Trunchbull has a knack for shotputting her students out of a second story window. It's rumored Pam Ferris stayed in character on the set to keep the child actors afraid of her for the film. It's great to have a character so bad you root against her every chance you get. My kids cheer every time Bogtrotter burps after finishing the giant chocolate cake that Truchbull makes him eat as a punishment. And they root for the students when they get back at Trunchbull with the help of Matilda.

Agatha Trunchbull: Besides, even if you didn't do it, I'm going to punish you, because I'm big and your small, and I'm right and you're wrong and there's nothing you can do about it.

Oh yes there is, Trunchbull, because Matilda has developed telekinetic powers. Having special abilities lets kids get one up on adults. Every kid wants to be powerful. I still remember trying to develop my Jedi skills and Escape From Witch Mountain powers in my bedroom when I was nine years old. This charming scene when Matilda practices her powers makes me want to try again. (By the way, the doll named Wanda at 0:55 was designed by Mara Wilson when she was 7 for the movie.)

Of course we love to watch the movie for the happy ending. Miss Honey becomes principal, gets her house back thanks to Matilda, and Matilda ends up being adopted by a caring teacher. Sappy, sweet, and silly.

Matilda is the the best movie to start a new school year.

Enjoy it with your family and never spell difficulty wrong again. Mrs. D, Mrs. I, Mrs. FFI, Mrs. C, Mrs. U, Mrs. LTY.

Classic Playground Merry Go Round

2012-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of Orange County's last real-deal-spin-until-you-fall-off-and-get-hurt playground merry go rounds. Also known as a whirl, spin away, or that's how I got this scar or lost my front tooth. Yes, today some playground have imitations of these but they are made to be safer and slower. They have governors, mechanical speed control devices, to keep them from reaching "Hey, slow down, I'm sliding off!" speeds.

This beauty is in a private park on Lido Isle in Newport Beach. Although the park is intended for residents of Lido Isle only it is not gated. The park looks out to Newport Bay from Via Lido Nord. There's a few parking spots along the street. There are no bathrooms - remember, this is a private park.

It's good to see this classic whirl is still being enjoyed. Notice the footprints circling the equipment. Of course the reason you don't see these merry go rounds too much anymore is because the chance of injury or lawsuit when someone decides to let go or walk across the whirl while it's still spinning. I'm glad my kids had a chance to have some oddballkidfun on this one.

Hurray for the back-in-the-day-spin-away by the bay. Remember to have fun and hold on tight!

Drive-In Movie At Mission Tiki

2012-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oddballkidfun can also be old-fashioned family fun. Relive your past and let the kids see what it was like before cable tv, video recorders, DVR's, and Netflix. Take them to Mission Tiki Drive-In Movie Theatre. No need to hide anyone in the trunk or under blankets because it's a reasonable price for adults ($7) and only $1 for kids ten and under.

Some things have changed- you listen to the movie through your car's sound system now- no metal speakers hung on the window. Some things are the same - it's still a double feature and the snack bar is usually a hike. Another thing that's the same is the chance to watch a movie outside and the chance to talk to each other during the movie without disturbing the guy in the seat next to you.

Maybe you can't tell in the fuzzy picture below but most families park their suburbans and minivans with the back of the vehicle facing the screen. Then they open up the rear lift gate and set out chairs facing the movie screen. It's like a tailgate party. Except you don't throw around a football or barbecue or drink beer or wear your team's jersey. So I guess it's more sort of like a picnic on asphalt while you watch a movie on a humongous screen. Except your picnic food can be nachos, carne asada burritos, and popcorn - all available at the snack bar.

The Tiki drive-in is themed very well. There are thatched A-frame roofs on the ticket booths. Each ticket booth is also lined with bamboo and decorated with a fishing float light, tiki mask, and carved wood. Even the pylon is wrapped in rope. The drive in was tiki-fied around 2006 with help from tiki artist Tiki Diablo.

The snack bar is impressively decorated inside and out with carvings, bamboo, and tropical landscaping. The snack bar is missing a swing set like my childhood drive-in but everything else is there. The snacks and drinks are affordable. The snack bar also has a small gift shop, usually open on the weekend, where you can purchase a few tiki things and glow sticks for the kids to wear as they watch the movie.

The signage is fun to look at and the large bold signs are easy to spy at night on your way to the bathroom or to the snack bar for another serving of nachos. By the way, the men's restroom has an old school urinal for the boys. Just a wide open long trough with running water. It might take a little pep talk with a younger one about what to do- or not - depending on how much experience your little guy has in public restrooms.

Before you leave, see if your family can find the tiki holding a box of popcorn during intermission.

One more thing- it get's chilly at night so bring enough blankets and jackets for everyone.

Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre 10798 Ramona Ave. Montclair, Ca 91768

(909) 628-0511. It takes from 30 to 60 minutes to get there from the center of Orange County depending on traffic.

Magic Meltdown

2012-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

As a family with three kids aged 8-13 it's not easy finding new oddballkidfun things to do. We've been to most library events from Fullerton to San Juan Capistrano. We've been to a few dozen different story times over a dozen years. We know the best and have our favorites- (We miss you, Miss Regina from the Anaheim Canyon Hills Library.)

We've been to almost every museum with kid's activities from L.A. to San Diego. (We miss you, mattress room at The New Children's Museum in San Diego.)

We've visited local history and cultural events, we've eaten unusual food, and explored different beaches. Not to mention my fascination with visiting every park, playground, and water fountain when my oldest was a preschooler. So let's just say we are an experienced family. We've enjoyed a lot of what Orange County has to offer and we have some favorites.

But that also makes it difficult to find new things to do with our kids. Well, we found an oddballkidfun activity that's great for families with older kids.

The host of the my youngest daughter's favorite show Cupcake Wars, Justin Willman, is also an accomplished magician. He hosts a magic and variety show about once a month in Los Angeles called Magic Meltdown.

The show is held at the NerdMelt Theater which is actually a room in the back of a comic book store called Meltdown Comics. Justin Willman is the host and performs a couple of illusions or in his words- "miracles"- between acts. The show is intended for adults and older kids. But there are still a few occasional uses of coarse language and innuendo depending on the performers.

We went to the show last month and had a great time.The August show is Tuesday, August 7. It starts at 8pm and lasts almost two hours. It costs $10 a ticket but is a little cheaper if you order in advance at NerdMelt. The other performers are usually local magicians, actors, and comedians.

We had fun at the show. We were able to look around and read some comics as we waited for the show to start. My teenage daughter enjoyed the show. She said, "Like how did he get that note in the box. I was all, no way! How'd he do that?" That's high praise from a thirteen year old.

Go to the show to see the very likable Justin Willman from Cupcake Wars and drive home trying to figure out his miracles and re-telling the jokes you heard from the comedians. Have an oddballkidfun time!

7522 Sunset Blvd. LA 90046 inside Meltdown Comics

Stacks Of Pancakes, Tall Ships And Tide Pools, The Pacific Pocket Mouse, Panoramas, And Richard Henry Dana's White Squirrels

2012-07-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Do you have a few hours on a weekend morning to visit Dana Point Harbor? Need to kill some time before your whale watching trip? Well then, here's the oddballkidfun plan.

Stop for breakfast at Stacks Pancake House on PCH. Get there early to avoid lines and feast on Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Hawaiian Bread French Toast with bananas and coconut syrup. If your kids don't like that perfect goodness from a sweet, tropical heaven then you can order them a plain cheese omelette with fruit off the kid's menu.

After filling your belly it's time to drive down PCH and enter the harbor on Dana Point Harbor Drive. You'll pass the entrance to Doheny State Beach on your left. It's a great beach for a bike ride. It has large grassy areas for picnics and is usually full of beach campers, surf camps, families, and a few people who've set up homes in the parking lot. But we're going to skip Doheny. We only have a few fours, right?

At the end of Dana Point Harbor Drive is the parking lot for the Ocean Institute. It's an education facility focused on teaching the community about the ocean with lessons in oceanography, conservation, and even maritime history. It's open 10-3 on the weekends and there's a charge for admission - $6.50 for adults, kids $4.50. It's not a museum or aquarium but there are a few exhibits and a small touch tank inside. On weekends you can also tour the Tall Ships. The Pilgrim is built to look like the brig Richard Henry Dana wrote about in his book Two Years Before the Mast. There's often another tall ship called the Spirit of Dana Point which is a replica of a privateer from the late 1700's.

For a great experience with nature, walk behind the Ocean Institute past the picnic tables and down the stairs. To the left is the jetty that now blocks the KillerDana swells and to the right is a stretch of beach with tide pools. You'll see everything from sea stars to sea lions depending on the tide and weather.

After seeing ocean life it's a good idea to get a peek at some interesting life on land. Head on over to the Richard Henry Dana statue which is at the end of Island Way. There's a small grass area around the statue and a walking trail along the cove. It's a nice place to watch stand up paddle-boarders and ships leaving the harbor. You'll see a few dog walkers and it's the only place, except for that one pirate convention, I've seen people walking with pet parrots on their shoulders.

Behind the statue you can try to find the white ground squirrels that live there. They aren't shy if you have a scrap of food. And each light colored squirrel has different markings so you can tell them apart.

For the last stop make your way back onto Dana Point Harbor Drive and head back toward the Ocean Institute but make a right turn on Cove Road and drive up the cliff. At the top of the cliff turn left and follow the road to the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, open from 10-4 everyday except Monday. It's the entry spot for the Dana Point Headlands and the Dana Point Preserve. Along with a few displays of local animals and plants they have an informative brochure with a good trail map.

The area around the center has a few critters that are unusual. The star is the Pacific Pocket Mouse, a protected animal living in the Headlands. Mr. Pocket Mouse was thought to be extinct until it was discovered in 1993 right there in the Headlands. It's a nocturnal animal so although it's cute, your family will only get a chance to see pictures of it. There's a 1/2 mile hilly up and back trail in the preserve or a longer trail around the neighborhood.

For the final stop and a great view of the harbor drive from the nature center a short way along Green Lantern. Pass the Chart House restaurant and right across from Cannon's Seafood Grill there are stairs leading to a viewing spot. Park along the road and hit the stairs, It's a workout- we counted 112 steps going up and 102 going down- maybe you'll get the correct number.

At the top of the stairs there's a terrific panorama of Dana Point harbor. There's another small trail that will take you to the top of the hill for a great 360 degree view of Dana Point.

Stacks Pancake House 34255 Pacific Coast Highway Ste 110, Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 429-2222
Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr. Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 496-2274
Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center 34588 Scenic Dr. Dana Point, CA 92629

Super Soaker And The Toy Hall Of Fame

2012-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, is home to the Toy Hall of Fame. Every year they induct two or three new toys into the pantheon.

They have a few requirements for a toy or childhood play item to get in. They toy needs to be widely recognized, respected, and remembered. It also needs to show longevity by being more than a passing fad and enjoying popularity over multiple generations. The toy should also promote discovery, foster learning, creativity or discovery through play. And a toy can also be chosen if it was innovative and profoundly changed play or toy design.

There are over forty toys already in the Hall. You can see them here. They include favorites like LEGO, Barbie, a cardboard box, jump rope, jacks, marbles, Easy-Bake Oven, and Etch A Sketch. It's a fun list to go over and reminisce.

The purpose of a hall of fame is to honor the best in a field but it also leads to discussions about who or what should be included.

But do we need to argue about toys and the Toy Hall of Fame? Yes. Yes we do. I mean how does the Game of Life get into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2010? Just because Hasbro keeps on making it doesn't mean it's good. I know it's historical and is in the Smithsonian. But that's where it can stay. I can't remember playing an entire game when I was a kid and now my kids don't like it. It's not fun and we lost the tiny blue and pink people pegs within an hour. All I liked was the game board and the spinner. But the game- no.

I know everyone has their opinion. And someone played Life with their grandparents and parents at their cabin around a fire while it was snowing outside and the entire night is like the perfect family memory but that's only because the game cupboard was missing Yahtzee or Sorry and the deck of cards was missing the kings. The Game of Life is never a kid's first choice.

I'm done ranting.

How about my picks for the next toy that should be included, okay? I have a few.

The way it works is the museum puts together some nominations at the end of summer then a month before Christmas they whittle it down to two or three inductees. Last year for instance, some of the nominees included Star Wars action figures, Jenga, the pogo stick, puppets, Transformers, Rubik's Cube, and Twister. These didn't make the cut but the Game of Life did? What?! Now I'm done ranting, for real.

My online write-in nominations this year include Colorforms, Lite Brite, bubbles, and sand toys. Pretty vanilla, right? Those are the safe ones. My favorite choice is the Super Soaker.

Let me break it down. Super soakers have been around now for more than 20 years. It was launched in 1989 as the Power Drencher after being bounced around in development in a few different companies. The idea for the Super Soaker was hatched in 1982 at home in a bathroom sink by nuclear engineer, Lonnie Johnson, while researching heat pumps for NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Before Lonnie's invention squirt guns had a traditional trigger pump, were plastic, and not very powerful. In 1985 battery powered squirt guns were on the market and were faster and more powerful than traditional squirt guns because they had an electric motor pulling water and pushing it through a nozzle.

The Super Soaker has a chamber that uses air pressure to shoot a stream of water with more power than any other squirt gun. Super Soakers changed the way all kids use water guns. My kids have grown up not knowing how much of a bummer it was to drop a cheap plastic squirt gun and have it crack or standing five feet from someone and not being able to shoot them because your gun squirts only four feet.

The Super Soaker should definitely make the cut at the Toy Hall of Fame just based on its innovation not to mention the fact that it's been a toy that's been enjoyed for over twenty years by everyone from kids to Michael Jackson to our current Vice President.

But the only way to get it there is to nominate it by July 31. I've nominated it the last three years with no luck. Maybe Hasbro can get behind this instead of Transformers.

You can nominate a toy for the Hall of Fame at their website. The deadline is the the end of July- so hurry!

Gags and Giggles

2012-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Behind the counter of House of Humor in Costa Mesa is a collection of things any 10 year-old kid can appreciate and enjoy. Items like a fart alarm, three different types of fart spray, and a Fart-O-Matic that can cause "a real fart attack" to name just a few.

This oddballkidfun spot is a magic, costume, and novelty store. When you visit, make a beeline for the gag and novelty section in the back of this small shop. You'll find two large racks of S. S. Adams items- the king of novelties.

Picking your pranks and gags is a complicated thing. You have to consider who you might use it on, where to use it and when. It's like designing a perfect tasting menu for a chef.

So to make it easier I've set up a little menu for gags and novelties at House of Humor.

We're starting with a classic- the hand buzzer. It's fun and surprising but won't hurt the person being pranked. A little bland but everyone can enjoy it. Just a note - don't overwind or the fun will be over and tears from an eight year old won't fix the buzzer.

Now this one is fairly new. It might take a while for the payoff and if your prankee doesn't live in an area with regular gunfire it's a little hard to pull off. Good prank for our second course.

Oooh penetrating wit! What an appetizing entree. This is one that can be used over and over. Of course, you might be asked why the nurse who bandaged your wound didn't take out the nail. This one works well on parents after school on the car ride home looking at the back seat prankster in the rear view mirror. Trust me.

For dessert we have a newer prank. The spider that comes out of the creamer container. Brilliant! It says it can be used over and over but I'm not sure coffee drinkers grab already opened creamers again and again.

Don't forget to pick up other classics like itching or sneezing powder, snake in a can, black soap, cockroach gum, and all of your other favorites from childhood. If you want to buy stink bombs (and you do, right?), ask the owner; they're behind the counter and must be bought by a parent.

1215 West Baker, Unit C Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Super Secret Slides

2012-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't always like to give away my family's secret oddballkidfun spots but I think it's time to let this one out. In Santa Ana, in a hidden corner next to a river trail and built into a hillside, there are two beautiful steel slides. What makes these slides special is their size. Each one is at least 20 feet long.

Let me start with directions. East of the Main Place Mall and behind the Mother's Market center there is a walking and biking trail. Drive on Memory Lane which runs parallel to the trail and turn right into the small driveway for the Santiago Creek Wildlife and Watershed Center.

You'll see the recently built nature center to the right. Park in the dirt along the riverbed.

Follow the road a few feet to find the slides under the shade of a few large eucalyptus trees. There are two slides. The one to the right is the smaller of the two.

The large slide on the left is a beauty - just waiting for a family to slide down. Don't forget to bring wax paper or a piece of cardboard to sit on. You want to go faster don't you? Some daredevils try to go down the slides on bikes, skateboards, and even Tonka trucks. You'll even notice a few dings and dents on the slides.

Here's a view from the top of the larger slide. Looks pretty fun, right? See the bottom? It's past the last bit of shade- probably more than 25 feet down. Of course, many first-timers use the old-fashioned extended leg foot brake method the entire way down.

We've been coming to the slides for years. The slide steps and platform used to be in pretty bad shape and the park wasn't maintained as well as it is now. So I started telling a spooky little story about an overcast, cloudy day at the park and a girl who disappeared on the slide and whose voice can still be heard if you...

Sorry, time's up.

Story or no story the super secret slides are some of the best slides still around in Orange County. Just try to keep it sort of a secret, okay? And make it there before Santa Ana's insurance company or law firm suggests knocking it down.

Pint-Sized Art At The Brea Art Gallery

2012-07-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

Kids like small things, right? Small erasers, small toys, tiny dollhouse furniture and miniature origami. Some kids like to sharpen a pencil down to the nib and make it as puny as possible. For those kids, here's a place to go.

There are quite a few artists displayed and many types of art - everything from glass, mixed media, ceramic, painting, pen and pencil drawing, to felt, jewelry, tilt-shifted video, and sculpture. Although every piece is smaller scaled not every piece was pint-sized enough for my kids. We were looking for real pipsqueak pieces. And there are a few gems that are truly tiny. You might even need a magnifying glass to get a closer look. (And the gallery has a few on hand to lend out.)

There are some fanciful fish cars along with colorful depictions of cryptids like Loch Ness, Chupacabra, and Yeti.

My daughter liked the miniature robots with zipper mouths and the miniature robots coloring book that was about the size of a postage stamp when closed.

The pencil sculptures were really interesting. I wanted to touch and hold the black sea urchin. It was like a school supply tidal pool.

This tiny ice cream in the park sculpture caught my daughter's eye. She mentioned how real and alive it looked. Like a moment frozen in time. She noticed under the fake grass there's a layer of hidden soil that you can only see if you look close with your magnifying glass.

My favorite was a set of matchbooks with tiny, detailed drawings on the inside of the covers. It reminded me of trying to draw tiny passengers, luggage, and pilots on the inside fold of my small paper airplanes when I was a kid. .

Before we left we noticed the Styrofoam cup art work. Also known as bored at the party art.

Head over to the gallery before the end of this week, The exhibition only runs until July 13th. By the way, much of the work is for sale at reasonable prices. So grab a Miniature Robots Coloring Book for $5 or splurge and take home this Styrofoam cup art for just over $1,000.

Brea Art Gallery 1 Civic Center Circle Brea, CA 92821 714-990-7731. Open Wed-Sun 12-5 during exhibitions. $2 admission fee or free for Brea residents and kids 12 and under.

Happy Fourth of July

2012-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

History time. Take a look at some heroes from our country's past courtesy of the 1976 bicentennial edition of Pez dispensers.