Colleen Kraft, M.D., pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES  Family vacations are one of the best ways to bond and make lifelong memories. But we all know that the change in schedule and adjusting to sleeping and eating in new places can be challenging, especially for kids. We reached out to Colleen Kraft, M.D., a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for some tips on how to incorporate wellness into your next adventure. How important is staying hydrated when traveling, whether by car or plane? It’s important to stay hyd ..read more

Plenty of enterprises tell tales of humble beginnings, but Evan Fox, founder of Yeastie Boys, is looking to stay humble forever.  At Yeastie Boys, you can customize with your own fillings or try unique items like the PB&J bagel, lox stuffed with hashbrowns or the “Birdman” bagel. PHOTOS COURTESY YEASTIE BOYS In 2014, he was making bagels in his L.A. apartment, arranging them into logo-adorned pink boxes and delivering them to friends and local tastemakers. He served hungry festival goers at the Coachella campgrounds the following spring and took the wheel of his first food truck ..read more

When I was a kid, my family didn’t get to travel, so I’d spread one of my grandmother’s patchwork quilts under the fig trees in our backyard, lie down and stare at the sky. I envisioned myself on adventures in New York City, Barcelona, Paris, Greece, Morocco — places I read about in my mother’s romance novels and in the National Geographic magazines she bought from our local newsstand. A dreamer herself, my mother would carefully tear out the magazine’s maps and tape them to the fading floral wallpaperin her bedroom, inviting us to explore these paper depictions o ..read more

With the anticipation of rain looming over us in a cloud-covered sky, families poured into Azusa’s Outdoor Recreation & Eco-Fair in Memorial Park this spring to learn about ways we can help care for our planet. Activities included ax throwing, a snow area, rock climbing, face painting, petting rare animal species and eco-friendly arts and crafts. And after all of that: free food! As families perused, The Silverados band provided the soundtrack, belting out familiar tunes from the Beatles and The Chicks. Getting up close and personal with a central bearded dragon at Azusa’s Outdoor Recreati ..read more

When L.A.-based postpartum doula and lactation educator Maria Pasquarelli heard comedian and actor Molly Hawkey’s podcast “SpermCast,” she realized how many people in her own orbit had unique stories on how they formed their families. And so, she turned to her longtime friend, Ann-Sophie Morrissette, an L.A. native and communications consultant, to co-host a podcast of their own.  “Our Families Ourselves” launched in January with Hawkey as their first guest. The podcasters discussed the highs and lows of navigating sperm donors, miscarriages and solo parenting. Morrissette, who lives ..read more

Of the many things we can gleam from a world with the pandemic in our rear-view mirror, perhaps what is at the top of most lists is the necessity of mental health care. Since 2022, the World Health Organization reports, there has been a 25% increase in anxiety and depression globally. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in the vein of championing our wellness care, Nogales High School students in La Puente recently hosted a health and wellness fair. I laced up my HOKA sneakers and took a stroll to my alma mater.  A librarian at Nogales High School shares self-hel ..read more

Nestled squarely in the heart of East Los Angeles is a nonprofit proudly serving three of the oldest neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Hollenbeck PAL is an organization on a mission to heal its community by providing a safe environment during non-school hours for kids ages 10-17. Donald Levier of Hollenbeck PAL (center) poses with graduates. PHOTO BY OFFICER EUGENE OLEA Founded in 1992 by the Hollenbeck division of the Los Angeles Police Department and community residents in response to the increase in juvenile crimes, Hollenbeck PAL offers several programs: career development (PAL-UP ..read more

Zip lining over the South African protea flowers at Highline Adventures. PHOTO COURTESY HIGHLINE ADVENTURES Whenever I travel, near or far, I like to bring home a little taste of the place I will inevitably leave behind.  This morning, I opened a small glass jar of tea I purchased during a quick zip to Santa Ynez Valley a few weeks ago. I inhaled deeply, wistfully. The flavors — sweet and earthy mixed with a peppery bite that some might consider a bit risky — carried me back to the memories my husband, teen son, mother-in-law and I created in just a day-and-a-half visit to Santa Barbara C ..read more

David Rocklin is author of the new novel “The Electric Love Song of Fleischl Berger.” PHOTO COURTESY DAVID ROCKLIN On Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, there’s a little storefront you’d miss if you weren’t looking for it. Its sign reads “The Echo Park Time Travel Mart,” and while it does stock UFO stickers, levitating moon lamps and rocket ship patches, it’s actually the eastside home of 826 L.A., a non-profit writing and tutoring organization. 826 L.A. has served local youth since 2005, but adult writers gather here, too, and David Rocklin is among them.  Though he grew up in ..read more

PHOTO COURTESY SUSIECAKES Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May since it was established in 1908. This year, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 12. Mother’s Day is a chance to celebrate and honor all the moms and mother figures in our lives– and that includes you! Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat for yourself, a festive brunch with your family or thoughtful gift for your own mom, we have several roundups to help you celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. From mini getaways and retreats to special brunches and sweet treats, we’ve rounded up some ways to celebrate Mother’s Day ..read more