Free Comic Book Day!

Saturday, May 2nd
Check store hours
Free

Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores.

Participating stores in LB:

PULP FICTION
4501 E CARSON STREET #104
LONG BEACH, CA
(562) 496-3343

AMAZING COMICS & CARDS
EMAIL: AMAZINGCOMICS@ATT.NET
5555 STEARNS STREET SUITE 103
LONG BEACH, CA
(562) 493-4427

METROPOLIS
16509 BELLFLOWER BLVD.
BELLFLOWER, CA
(562) 263-0277

http://www.freecomicbookday.com

Cinco de Mayo - MOLAA

Sunday, May 3rd
Noon - 5pm
Free

Museum of Latin American Art
628 Alamitos Avenue
Long Beach
562-216-4108

Join MOLAA as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with

Free Art Workshops for the entire family!
Storytelling throughout the day!
Performances by: Alina Mendez Dance Academy, Wilson High School Ballet Folklorico, Mariachi Relampago, Nueva Antequena, Paso de Oro Dance Company, Mariachi Divas

And a special performance by Lorenzo Negrete!

For more info education@molaa.org

http://www.molaa.org

Children's Cultural Festival

Sunday, May 3rd
Noon - 4pm

Long Beach Museum of Art
2300 E. Ocean Blvd.
562-439-2119

FREE gallery admission, music, storytelling, and craft-making booths from around the world. Live performances from artists representing a variety of cultures.

Metered parking available in the beach access lot on Junipero St, off Ocean Blvd, below the Museum.

Family-friendly food available for purchase from Claire's Café.

http://www.lbma.org

JPL Open House - Pasadena

Saturday and Sunday
May 2nd and 3rd
9am-5pm both days
Free

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove, Pasadena
818-354-0112

This popular event celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab's scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.

The Open House is a fun and educational experience for children too, with special hands-on activities designed for kids.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena, off the 210 (Foothill) Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit. Parking is available near the Oak Grove main gate and the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

31 Cent Scoop Night - Baskin Robbins

Wednesday, April 29
5pm-10pm

Join us for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins®
and help us honor America’s firefighters with a $100,000
donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
National Junior Firefighter Program.

Participating stores will reduce prices of small ice cream
scoops to 31 cents*. At some locations, you may also have
an opportunity to make a donation to local fire charities.

http://www.baskinrobbins.com

Kaleidoscope - CSULB

Saturday, April 25
11am-5pm
Free

CSULB
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach
562-985-2288

The Kaleidoscope Festival, one of Southern California's most popular family-oriented celebrations since 1985, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Admission and parking are free.

This colorful and diverse annual event attracts more than 30,000 individuals throughout the day with activities taking place from one end of the campus to the other. More than 120 student clubs and vendor booths are scheduled to participate.

"Kaleidoscope 2009 will be as exciting as ever," said Lee Vail, the event's director. "We are pleased that Engineering Day is back in full swing. The ASI Fun Zone, push cart races, sports clinics, Greek Row, Children's Day, and the Anachranistic Society (our own Medieval Village) combined with over 100 vendors and cultural booths make this a day you will not want to miss."

Among this year's scheduled events are four stages with live entertainment; Engineering Day, where visitors can learn about engineering science with hands-on demonstrations; a Health and Safety Awareness Fair; Children's Day, a celebration of children all around the world as they join together in multicultural dance, music, song and acrobatics; Greek Row, where campus fraternities and sororities provide fun activities such as making candy leis, face painting and drawings; and the ASI Fun Zone, where individuals will have a chance to climb a rock wall, challenge friends in the obstacle course or bungee run challenge, show skills at the hoop shot and dunk tank or just enjoy the giant slide.

There will also be a Multicultural Village and International Marketplace, boasting a wide variety of foods, arts and crafts, handmade and costume jewelry. The CSULB Alumni Pavilion will also be displaying CSULB historic memorabilia.

Making its return to Kaleidoscope will be the Push Cart Grand Prix. This year's race is sponsored by the Division of Student Services, Red Bull Soapbox Derby and Frog's Fitness at CSULB. Participants will compete for fastest time, best theme and best team spirit. All participants are from student clubs and organizations from various CSULB departments.

http://www.csulb.edu

LA Times Festival of Books - UCLA

Saturday, April 25, 10am-6pm
Sunday, April 26, 10am-5pm

Our family enjoys attending this event every year. Humongous festival for book lovers and lots of entertainment for the kids. You only have to pay for parking($9).

There are alot of author panels that are free, but you need to get a ticket through ticketmaster.com.

Children entertainers this year: Yo Gabba, Gabba with DJ Lance, Choo-Choo Soul, Justin Roberts, & the International Children's Choir of Long Beach.

Free Cone Day - Ben & Jerry's

Tuesday, April 21
Noon - 8pm


Local shop:
Long Beach Towne Center
7559 Carson Street
(at the 605 fwy)
562-627-0051

As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 31 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!

Maybe it’s time for you to try a new flavor that you’ve been wondering about without commiting your hard earned dollars or it’s time for you to enjoy an old favorite and savor in the deliciousness that is free ice cream? Hey, either way it’s time for you to come on in!

Around the world, Scoop Shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor. Please check with your local Scoop Shop for more info!

Grab a pal and come on down to have some good, ’scream fun on us!

http://www.benandjerrys.com

Baby & Tween Celebration - Free passes

Hello all!

I have a pass for two free tickets to the Baby & Tween Celebration at the Los Angeles Convention on April 25 and 26th. I can't use them, so let me know if you want to go. Just post a comment with your email -- Rachel will pick the winner randomly. :-)

Baby & Tween Celebration - Los Angeles
April 25 10am-6pm
April 26 11am-5pm

LA Convention Center, South Hall, Hall K
Parking $12

A fun, fresh day for hip, new moms, trendy tots, and totally cool tweens!

Tween Lounge powered by Radio Disney AM 1110
Whimsical Partyscapes
Enriching Entertainment
Spectacular Speakers
Opulent Giveaways
Exquisite Exhibitors

http://www.seascapeproductions.com

Free day at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach!

Thursday, April 16
Admission is free to Thursday events - no ticket required

11am: Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame Induction (Pine Ave. at Convention Center)
3pm: Lifestyle Expo opens (Convention Center)
3-4pm: American Le Mans Series (ALMS) practice
3-10pm: RaceMania at Shoreline Village. Live music, go-karting, and driver competitions.
5pm-5:45pm: ALMS practice
6pm: Lifestyle Expo closes
6-9pm: Free admission to Shark Lagoon - Aquarium of the Pacific
6:30pm: Tecate "Thursday Thunder on Pine" (Pine Ave. between Broadway and 4th). Features freestyle motocross, BMX, live music, and the Miss Toyota Grand Prix Pageant.
6:30pm: Tuner Thursday at the Pike features a pit stop contest, as well as cars and drivers of the Formula Drift Championship.

Day Out with Thomas - Fillmore

April 17-19 and April 24-26

Fillmore & Western Railway Company
250 Central Avenue
Fillmore

Trains leave almost every hour.
Please note the time chosen when you purchase your tickets.

Tickets are $18 for ages 2 & up
Use code EMB to get $2 off!

Day Out With Thomas™ offers an opportunity for children and their grownups to take a 25 minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine™ and to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, the Controller of the Railway. Every event includes Thomas & Friends™ storytelling, a viewing station for Thomas & Friends videos, temporary tattoos, and Build with LEGO® DUPLO® Bricks in the Imagination Station. The activities on site at Day Out With Thomas™ are for you and your children to enjoy for several hours or more. Please plan your arrival times accordingly. You should arrive no later than one hour before your scheduled train departure. Activities, concessions, and Gift Shop are open from 9:30AM to 4:00PM on the dates of the events.

http://www.fwry.com

Easter Egg Hunt - Los Alamitos

The city of Long Beach will not be having egg hunts this year, but this one is in nearby Los Al.




Saturday, April 11
9am - noon
FREE

Laurel Park
10862 Bloomfield Ave.
Los Alamitos
(corner of Katella)

The City of Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department and Revolution Church invite you to an Egg-citing adventure at the annual Spring Carnival and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Laurel Park, 10862 Bloomfield Ave. from 9:00am to 12:00pm. This year's annual event is sponsored by Revolution Church and is FREE to the community and is themed "Scrambled - one mixed up Egg Hunt and Spring Carnival." The event is for the entire family! "Scrambled" will feature a free pancake breakfast from 9am to 10am, inflatables, carnival games, family fun games, the Easter Bunny and three different egg hunt areas for children ages 1-12 years old. Bring your camera and the entire family to Laurel Park for a great community event! For additional information, please contact the Los Alamitos Recreation & Community Services Dept. at 562-430-1073.