TARGET PRESENTS AFI NIGHT AT THE MOVIES ON THURSDAY, APRIL 24th

Target’s AFI Night at the Movies is a special event for all ages that present fans with a rare chance to see classic films alongside the community’s top filmmakers and stars who made them. Check out the lineup of classics below… sounds like a perfect parents night out! And if you can’t shake the kiddo’s, why not join Mike Meyers for Shrek! Tickets to each individual screening are $30 and include a large popcorn and soda, as well as a Magnum ice cream bar. Tickets are currently on sale through the ArcLight Hollywood website arclightcinemas.com and in person at the ArcLight Hollywood box office at 6360 West Sunset Blvd. 

The films and artists confirmed to participate include:

Kathy Bates presenting MISERY(1990)

Cher presenting MOONSTRUCK (1987)

Sally Field presenting NORMA RAE (1979)

Peter Fonda presenting EASY RIDER (1969)

Harrison Ford presenting BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT

Samuel L. Jackson presenting PULP FICTION (1994)

Shirley MacLaine presenting TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983)

Demi Moore presenting GHOST (1990)

Mike Myers presenting SHREK (2001)

Sidney Poitier presenting IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)

Kurt Russell presenting THE THING (1982)

Kevin Spacey presenting THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)

More info at AFI.com

This summer I am taking a group of families to Costa Rica for a 10 day Spanish immersion tour. All ages are welcome and everything has been designed with little people in mind (nothing too strenuous, shorter car rides, etc). We will see the rain forest, cloud forest, the pacific beaches, caribbean beaches and the capital. We will be immersed in a Spanish language environment and our on-tour Spanish instructors will provide gentle ways for your children to be exposed to the language during our travels through specific activity times on the trip. We will also have a couple of “parents night out” where you can go enjoy dinner or some time in town while our on-tour babysitters keep the kids entertained. We have room for one more family on the tour, so if you are interested in joining us please visit theculturedseed.com/costarica for more information. Feel free to fill out the request form and I will email the full itinerary and trip costs.

Read more about my motivations for planning immersion travel on Spanglishbaby.com.

One of my biggest wishes for my children is that they would know the world and how to navigate themselves in it with grace and confidence. Part of this is teaching them to be comfortable, both in their own skins and in the presence of those that may be different from them. But the other part of the equation entails equipping them with the tools that they need to actually engage with different cultures; like a sense of geography, cultural etiquette and language skills. READ MORE…

 Join The Cultured Seed on Sunday, January 27th at the Zimmer Children’s Museum for Zimmerpalooza!

At the Zimmer, we are in the business of making: making change, making a difference, making the world a better place. This year at Zimmerpalooza Maker Mania, kids of all ages can design build, create and engineer projects of all kinds! With live music, great food, and, of course, tons of hands-on fun.

The even better news is that your participation means that other kids will have access to play at the Zimmer too! Proceeds from the event will go to support our “We All Play” initiative, which allows low-income families to access the museum regardless of their ability to pay. Zimmerpalooza is one party your whole family will not want to miss!

A Letter From Your Chief Cultivator.

2012…what a year!

I know it’s been some time since I’ve sent out a Cultured Seed Newsletter. I have had a lot going on and unfortunately this aspect of the communication chain was the one to “fall off.”

To give you a short recap… In the span of the last twelve months, not only have I been busy cultivating my own babies and maintaining The Cultured Seed, but in my spare time I also completed graduate school at USC, got divorced, helped to start a school, and spent months looking for the perfect job.

None of these are small things. Needless to say, it has been a challenging year. One of those years that has built a resiliency that I know I will lean into for the rest of my life. There were definitely those moments when it became too much and you, my network, were there to catch me, support me, and lift me up through it all. So I begin this letter with a word of thanks…

Thanks for encouraging me through finals, papers and hours of reading. Thanks for the compliments on my writing; this made me want to keep doing what I am doing. Thanks for all of the article and event tips; as a small team this was invaluable. Thanks for babysitting when I just needed to get a cup of coffee and stare at the wall. Thanks for dinner invites when I was too tired to cook, and for paying my rent when the money ran out. Thanks for believing in me in those moments when it was hard to believe in myself. I am truly grateful, and I know that Arya and Edan have come through it relatively unscarred thanks to the love that our village has shown through the months.

I see great things ahead for 2013. In fact, in the last three weeks alone things have shifted quite dramatically for me. I have heard some folks joke about having made it through the Mayan “end of the world” unscathed. Well, I can tell you that I did not. I am not the Rebecca that you knew last year. My accomplishments are a result of my evolution and shedding what no longer serves me. I see bright horizons ahead and am excited about what my new life will bring. Thank GOD the world ended and we all get a chance to start over again!

Speaking of my new life… I am thrilled to share with you that in the new year I will be taking my work to the next level as an ambassador for one of the coolest kid-focused cultural institutions in LA. In January, I will be joining the Zimmer Children’s Museum as their new Development and Communications Manager. Seriously, I set out for the perfect job and there could not be a better application for what I have been building to date through The Cultured Seed. The museum is designed for children ages 0-8 and their mission is to teach people about the BIG IDEAS of global citizenship, community responsibility, social justice and cultural sensitivity. If that is not my life in a mission statement, I don’t know what is! I invite you all to grab a kid and come down and participate in the fun and transformative work that we do at the Zimmer through play. I am confident that my experiences at the museum will serve to inspire me on a daily basis and help The Cultured Seed continue to evolve as a communications platform and online community.

All in all, we have accomplished so much together this year! As The Cultured Seed we’ve hosted and attended picnics, concerts, performances, arts projects, meet ups, food tastings, holiday parties and more. We have partnered with numerous organizations and raised awareness for good causes like Shot@Life, City School West Adams, iDream for Racial Health Equity, and the March of Dimes. We have taken advantage of the best that this diverse city has to offer and supported our local cultural institutions. Most importantly, we have done it all with our kids right by our side. Many of you attended and helped to facilitate these activities, so thank you for being a part of The Cultured Seed community and for helping this dream to blossom.

Through the joys of the year and the tragedies, the conversations that we have chosen to have with our children and the moments spent creating diverse experiences are what help to generate their reality and formulate their beliefs about the world. I believe that these small experiences add up. That they somehow get magically woven together into a rich tapestry that our kids get to drape over their shoulders and march out into the world with as future adults.

The work that we do with our kids is time sensitive and critical. It can’t wait. Why? Because kids don’t wait. They grow whether we like it or not, and the research shows that by the age of 5 they have already established the foundation for their future belief systems. My two children just hit the 2-year and 4-year mark, so I am realizing how fast this window closes. What we choose for our families every day matters. It is what shapes us and we are all just doing the best that we can.

Looking back I have watched my work expand from my nuclear family, to my Cultured Seed family, and now the greater Los Angeles community. I do know, however, that the most important work that I do starts at home, with my two kids. Parents, we have the biggest and most important job on the planet! I commend you for the work that you do every day with your children. I thank you for considering me a friend and resource on this journey. And I look forward to cultivating an amazing year with you in 2013.

With love and best wishes for the new year,

Rebecca

HOLIDAY TREATS FOR ALL TO ENJOY!

I only make it once a year. Why? Because it’s like butta’. It’s sugary. It’s crunchy. It’s deliciousness. My family wants it. Friends expect it. But they only want it once a year. Why? Because once you pop a piece of this home made goodness, you just can’t stop. I actually thought about calling it “crack” brittle, but thanks to my better judgement decided against it.

This year, you can get some of “Becky’s Butter Brittle” for your yourself or as gifts and the proceeds go to a great cause — opening a bilingual charter school in West Adams. For small individual orders visit westadamsbakes.com, or email me at rebecca@theculturedseed.com for larger (and discounted!) orders. Makes a great gift for friends, clients or office mates!

FUN LITTLE WOODEN MONSTERS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAY

Ohh… ode to the day of sticks and stones, where children played in the trees and had to make up games that involved the use of their bodies and other things found in nature. If you have had enough of screen time, apps, gadgets and such this holiday season, why not throw your kids a little imagination building bone, inspired by the Winklebean’s, a fun loving tribe of wooden monsters that love to explore and tell stories!

The story begins on the Isle of Mahn in the early part of the 19th century, Winklebeans were thought to be extinct until a small tribe recently appeared in southern California. According to what information is available, they are curious little monsters who love to explore their surrounding and are quite at home everywhere from Urban loft type settings to Suburban tree houses… The rest of the story is up to you!

Their magnetic interchangeable parts make designing and re-designing fun. You can choose from the original tribe members: BARRA, Caitir, Onchu, NEAS, AODH and Toag, or contact the artist to create your own. Buy your very own Winklebean on Etsy.

BILINGUAL TOOLS THAT ARE GORGEOUS AND INSTRUCTIONAL 

We believe in gifts that keep on giving, especially those that are useful and help to impart some learning. How about teaching your kid numbers in Spanish or French while they eat? With the Bebe Bilingual Spanish Number and Food Chart Placemat, you can do just that!

Bebe Bilingual is a collection of educational products for children around the world. Their beautifully designed artwork, flashcards and other tools like placemats and lunch boxes are available in Spanish and French and make learning practical, beautiful and fun. Click the image below to see the full catalogue of products and visit their ETSY shop to get your own set.

TRY THIS RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS APPLE PIE FOR THANKSGIVING

YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings

COURSE: Desserts, Pies/Pastries

INGREDIENTS:

9 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples such as Idared, Jonagold, Newtown Pippin, or Stayman Winesap (about 2 1/2 lb. total)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie
1 1/3 cups apple juice
1 cinnamon stick (3 in.)
1 strip orange peel (1/2 by 4 in., orange part only)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

PREPARATION:

1. Mix apple slices with 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Taste and, if desired, add more granulated sugar and lemon juice

2. On a lightly floured board, roll half the pastry into a round 1/8 inch thick. Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry. Fill with apple mixture.

3. On a lightly floured board, roll remaining pastry into a 1/8-inch-thick round and lay over apple mixture. Fold edges of top pastry over edges of the bottom one and crimp to seal together. Cut decorative slits in top pastry and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.

4. Bake on the lowest rack in a 375° oven until juices bubble in center of pie, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. If pastry edges brown before pie is done, drape affected areas with foil. Cool pie on a rack at least 2 hours.

5. Meanwhile, in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan, combine apple juice, cinnamon stick, and orange peel. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in brown sugar until it dissolves. Mix remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch smoothly with 3 tablespoons water; stir into juice mixture over high heat until sauce boils. Discard cinnamon stick and orange peel.

6. Cut warm or cool pie into wedges; top each portion with vanilla ice cream and warm or cool cinnamon sauce.

(Recipe courtesy of OakGlen.net. Published in SUNSET September 1997)

Notes: In the Southern California community of Oak Glen, Theres a Law of Law’s Oak Glen Coffee Shop and Steve Gillespie of Los Rios Rancho make similar apple pies. This recipe incorporates the best of both. Adjust sugar and lemon juice according to the sweetness of the apples you use.

Nutritional Information:
Amount per serving
Calories: 476
Calories from fat: 28%
Protein: 3.2g
Fat: 15g
Saturated fat: 3.8g
Carbohydrate: 84g
Fiber: 3.2g
Sodium: 244mg

Did you know that you could romp through apple orchards right here in our own Southern California back yard? I didn’t until a couple of months ago, so of course we had to pack up the troops and head out East to Oak Glen to see for ourselves. What we found was a lovely place with old town charm and good clean family fun! Oak Glen is made up of a series of apple farms where U-pick your own apples and partake in various forms of country-fied pastimes; including hay rides, pig races, pressing your own apple cider or eating some smokey BBQ and a hoe-cake or two!

Check out our photograph slideshow and get the details on how to plan your next apple picking adventure below!

MORE DETAILS:

When: Apple picking season runs from Labor Day to Thanksgiving Weekend. You still have time to enjoy some apple-licious Thanksgiving fun! Don’t miss the Apple Butter Festival, November 23-25th.

Where: Start by finding Oak Tree Village, then you can make your way to any of the nearby U-pick farms on the main road. We tried Riley’s Apple Farm, which had 14 different variety of apples for picking and a myriad of activities for the kids; like a Tomahawk throw, hay rides, and a hand churned cider press.

Don’t miss: Apple flavored donuts, hot apple cider and Oak Glen Pie from the Bakery in Oak Tree Village. BEST PIE I’VE EVER TASTED. If you are feeling Betty Crocker-ish, you can even try and make one yourself using their recipe. It is massive, and fresh, and not too sweet–perfect served with a hunkin’ scoop of vanilla ice cream.

NO STRANGERS IS A MUST SEE EXHIBIT FOR ALL GLOBAL CITIZENS 

Opening November 17th, at the Annenberg Space for Photography

I walked in to the Annenberg Space for Photography yesterday and almost died and went to heaven. Let me begin by saying that I am always impressed by the caliber of photographs that they display. I am always blown away by the curatorial genius that fuels each show. But this exhibit… well, it by far has won my heart above any other. It was like the curatorial team sat around a big table and said, “Come on guys, what would Rebecca really go nuts for?” And someone else responded “I know! How about a show dedicated to capturing some of the planets most extraordinary moments. Moments that few get to actually experience first hand. Moments that blur the line between modern and ancient times. Moments that capture humanity and remind us of how “same” we are, while accentuating our exquisite differences.” Ok, maybe I’m being far too self absorbed, but this new exhibit, no strangers: ancient wisdom in a modern world, is all of this and more.

no strangers highlights the wonder of culture and the plight of indigenous people throughout the world. It has been guest curated by esteemed anthropologist, author and photographer Wade Davis. According to Davis, no strangers poses a fundamental question: What does it mean to be human and alive? When the people of the world answer this question, they do so in 7,000 unique voices. Tragically, half of these may be silenced within a generation or two. At risk is our human legacy, a vast archive of knowledge and expertise. Rediscovering a new appreciation for the diversity of culture is a crucial challenge that should be faced. These photographs are serve to capture poignant visual memories, some of which have already disappeared into past time.

The exhibit features the work of Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher, Wade Davis, Chris Johns, Lynn Johnson, Steve McCurry, Randy Olson, Chris Rainier and Hamid Sardar-Afkhami. Also included are Timothy Allen, Caroline Bennett, James P. Blair, Edward Burtynsky, David Hiser, Aaron Huey, Thomas Kelly, Mauricio Lima, William Fernando Martinez, James Stanfield, Brent Stirton, Amy Toensing, Jeroen Toirkens, A Yin and Gordon Wiltsie. It also features an original short documentary produced by Arclight Productions for the Annenberg Space for Photography.The film examines indigenous cultures through photography’s lens and encourages viewers to consider ancient traditions in a new context. Learn more about the photographers and their amazing images during the Iris Nights lecture series, happening on Thursday’s from 6:30-8:30pm.

More Details…

Dates: November 17, 2012 through February 24, 2013

Location: Annenberg Space for Photography, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067  www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org

Hours: Wednesday through Friday:  11 am – 6 pm; Saturday: 11 am – 7:30 pm; Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm; Closed Monday and Tuesday

Admission is free. Parking is validated at a reduced rate.