Happy Valentine’s Week Westside!

If your house currently looks like a pink glitter factory exploded and someone is aggressively cutting out paper hearts at 9:47pm… you’re doing great.

Whether you're planning a kid “date,” coordinating class valentines, or just hoping no one remembers the themed snack sign-up you forgot…this week is a lot. Sending love to all of us.

And while we’re in full planning mode… the LAUSD late Choices application for 2026–2027 is officially open. Late applications are added to the waitlist in the order they’re received, so if this has been living in the “I’ll do it later” tab of your brain… consider this your nudge.

The Zones of Choice application (for both 2025–2026 and 2026–2027) will stay open through September 30, 2026.

➬ Apply here: https://apply.lausd.net/?lang=en

And on the topic of schools, we recently visited Marina del Rey Middle School and left genuinely inspired. What’s happening there right now feels like a community love story. Parents are showing up. The campus energy is shifting. There’s real pride and momentum building.

If you haven’t read it yet, don’t miss our piece: The Marina Middle Comeback: Why This Local Gem Is the Westside’s Best-Kept Secret

Wednesday, Feb 11 | 4:30–6:30pm
Carlson Park

Sweet tunes, sweet treats, and family time. Live jazz, kids crafts, and special Valentine drinks + desserts.
More info: https://windsorhillspizza.com/family-night

Friday, Feb 13
Bananas! Venice

Full-day camp option for kids during the February breaks.
Details: https://www.bananasforever.com/day-camp

Saturday, Feb 14 | 9:00am–1:00pm
Club Joyful

A relaxed garden-style morning with tea + brunch, Valentine crafts for kids, and intentional rest time for parents.

Early Bird $30 (before 2/10)
$35 per person (13 months+)

Monday, Feb 16 | 12–3pm
West LA

Ages 8–12. One-day block coding workshop where kids build and program a virtual robot. Perfect for future engineers.

https://www.rollingrobots.com

Sunday, Feb 15 | 2:30–3:30pm
Eco Atelier, Los Angeles

Kids meet live reptiles in an engaging, educational setting.
Sign up: https://bumo.com/eco-reptile

Monday, Feb 16 | 2:30–3:30pm
Peggy’s Camp

Special Guest "SUGAR" Is a Juliana Pig! (smaller than Pot Bellies).
Sugar, a Popular Camp Guest, is Friendly, Curious, and a Good Sport!
Camp will be held at a local Indoor / Outdoor location due to pending RAIN (that causes our Field trip to Animal Sanctuary to be postponed)

Questions and to Enroll
Peggy Fisher (310) 463-0098

https://events.venicerising.com/events/pig-day-mon-feb-16-peggys-camp/

Saturday, Feb 21 | 5:00pm
The Crow – Bergamot Station, Santa Monica

Interactive improv comedy for families. High-energy, silly fun.
Best for ages 4–11.

✔ Doors open 30 min early
✔ Free parking
✔ No drink minimum
✔ Metro accessible (26th St / Bergamot)

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pull-my-finger-family-friendly-comedy-show-tickets-1957048297139

Tucked near Costco in the Marina, Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts is one of those places you drive past a hundred times without realizing you’re next to living martial arts history.

Founded by Dan Inosanto, the academy is deeply rooted in Filipino martial arts (Kali / Eskrima) and other traditional systems. Inosanto was a close friend and training partner of Bruce Lee 🤯 and played a meaningful role in preserving and expanding Lee’s martial legacy. He introduced Lee to Filipino weapons training, including nunchaku and Kali, and later became one of the principal historians and authorities carrying forward that body of knowledge.

But what makes this place special isn’t just the history, it’s the heart. Dan Inosanto is still actively teaching, including kids classes, and the academy feels more like a community teaching school than a flashy fight gym. It’s welcoming, disciplined, and grounded — a thoughtful, confidence-building introduction to martial arts for kids.

If you’ve been looking for a first step into martial arts that’s rooted in tradition but feels warm and accessible, this is it.

Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts
13348 Beach Ave, Marina del Rey, CA
https://inosanto.com/

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