Things to Do: July 2009 Archives

Written by guest author and former major leaguer Jack Perconte:

Jack Perconte

Parents of athletes often think that the better players are mentally stronger than weaker players are. My experiences of playing sports for many years and coaching youth for many more have found that this is not necessarily true. The difference comes with the fundamentals. There is absolutely no substitute for the correct fundamentals in sport.

Recently, I wrote an article where I explored the answer to this question, "What is the secret to mental toughness in an athlete?" To make a long story short, I arrived at the conclusion that the secret was that players who could perform the correct fundamentals of a skill were the toughest mentally. Of course, talent and God-given athleticism have a big role but without ever learning the correct fundamentals of a skill, they have little chance to be as good as they can be.

Last night the kids and I went to the circus - first time for me since about age 9, first time EVER for the kids. Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey was sort of like I remember from the 80s, but with a lot more glitz and glam.

As an adult, I was so curious about the circus family lifestyle. Can you imagine living out of a motor home year round? During the day when I visited prior to the show, I could see kids out splashing around a kiddie pool, pretty much like any other kids on summer vacation. (except for the fact that the pool was among a hundred or so motor homes next to an elephant enclosure holding eleven elephants)

But for my kids, the show brought up different questions like, "Does this mean magic is real?" and "OMG! Is that guy going to catch on fire jumping through that burning ring?"

And my favorite of the night: "Why are those guys naked?" (flesh-colored body suits) :)

Simply Cakes, etc...Bakery owner Richard Medina likes baking outside the box. The Riverside business has seen its share of unique cake requests including dual pug-shaped wedding cakes for a dog loving couple and a bleeding heart cake congratulating a surviving heart donor recipient.

On Monday, August 3 at 10 p.m., The Learning Channel will air the premiere episode of its new series, "Ultimate Cake Off," featuring Simply Cakes, etc...Bakery as one of the competitors.

Hosted by chef Michael Schulson, owner of Atlantic City restaurant Izakaya, the episode will feature Medina, co-owner Gregg Zimmerman and two assistants competing against people from two other bakeries.

In the show, competitors have nine hours to create a cake at least five feet tall with moveable parts. Judges include Margaret Braun, a sugar artist based in New York, and Leigh Grode, owner of Cake Divas bakery in Los Angeles. The winning cake design gets a $10,000 cash prize and goes on display at a marquee event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

"The theme for the cakes was sharks - and it had to be in a positive light," Medina said. "Our cake had shark and sting rays coming out of all this corral."

The day of the competitions however, started and ended with technical difficulties for Medina and his crew.

"It was so frustrating," he said. "One thing after another went wrong."

The cake featured a water tube up the center that supplied bubbles. About 2 ½ hours into the competition it broke and a quick repair was attempted. The cake topper was a shark fin that rotated. During the initial photo shoot of the completed cake, the motor rotating the fin burned out. Finally, the motors that made sharks move in and out of the corral stopped working as well.

"We had backup batteries, but we couldn't get it to work," Medina said. "We found out we'd be on the show only six days before shooting. We were a little over our heads."

Despite the difficulties the group experienced, it was still fun to create a true-to-life replica of edible sharks.

"My favorite thing about this business is that I'm creating art that you can eat," Medina said. "People will pick up their cake and say, 'Oh I don't want to eat that!'

"I'll say, 'But that's the best part.'"

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's "Zing Zang Zoom" opens tonight at the Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario. I got to visit with Asia, one of the 11 elephants that will perform tonight while she got a bath.

Who knew elephants were so CUTE?! She loved getting sprayed down and scrubbed, even closing her eyes and sticking her tongue out a bit when the brush felt especially good. She's bathed daily, fed, plays and gets nearly daily pedicures.

Here's an average weekly shopping list for the total of 54 elephants cared for by Ringling Bros.:

• 4,000 pounds or 30 cases of red apples


• 3,000 pounds or 60 bags of carrots


• 700 pounds or 18 cases of bananas


• 38,000 pounds or 700 bales of hay


• 2,500 pounds of sweet feed


• 700 loaves of whole wheat bread

Asia, a female elephant weighs about 8,000 pounds. Females average 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. The mail Asian elephants (all Ringling Bros. elephants are Asian), weigh in at 10,000 to 12,000 pounds when full grown.

Despite their size, they are very agile and graceful when they move.

I was driving home after picking up the kids from day camp the other evening and for the four hundredth time my daughter asked me to tell her everything I know about volcanoes. Then the boy wanted to know all about that deep part of the ocean with the weird creatures where divers can't reach.

Do everyone's kids LOVE hearing about geology, storms, space and stuff like that? I swear they are riveted whenever I dig deep for the 10th grade earth science knowledge. Thank God for the Discovery and Learning channels. It seriously got us through our recent road trip to the Texas hill country.

The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids, Volume 3 just hit book stores and it looks like it's got a ton of fun facts (and they are probably a lot more accurate than my hazy memory). Here's an excerpt:

Many Moons

• A week is roughly the length of a phase of the Moon--7 days, 9 hours. (See "Why the Week Has Seven Days" on page 14.)

• Years ago, Native Americans kept track of the seasons by observing the Moon. The tribes gave each full Moon a name to describe conditions related to weather or activities of daily life, such as planting, harvesting, hunting, and fishing. These include January's full Moon, the "Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw Moon" (Algonquin); June's full Moon, the "Fish Spoils Easily Moon" (Wishram); July's full Moon, the "Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit" (Zuni); and December's full Moon, the "Moon When the Wolves Run Together" (Cheyenne). (See "Many Moons" on page 10.)

Fun Activity: The second Monday in October is Native Americans' Day. Find out about the Native Americans who once made their home in your area. Maybe they still do. Write facts about them on strips of paper 1 inch wide and 5 inches long. Glue or tape the strips together to form a chain. Use it as a decoration for a Native Americans' Day party.

• Myths and legends about eclipses abound. During a lunar eclipse, for example, ancient Egyptians believed that a mythical pig had swallowed the Moon. According to Mayan folklore, a jaguar had swallowed the Moon. In China, people believed that a three-leg toad had devoured the Moon. (See "Something Is Eating the Moon and the Sun!" on page 28.)

Fun Activity: During a lunar eclipse, Earth blocks light from the Sun, forming a shadow in space. The darkest part of the shadow, where all of the Sun's light is blocked, is the umbra. The lighter part, where blockage is only partial, is the penumbra. Observe a partial lunar eclipse and make sketches of where the umbra and penumbra fall. If you have a video camera, you may be able to record the Moon's movements through the umbra and penumbra.

For more projects and tips for kids, visit Almanac4kids.com and download our free 13-chapter Activity Guide chock-full of entertaining and educational projects that correspond to or complement the articles in the Almanac for Kids.

San Bernardino County Museum's Curator of Paleontology Eric Scott will talk about the Rancho La Brea "tar pits" in a lecture, "Rancho La Brea: Old Pits, New Finds." The lecture, free with museum admission, will be on Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m. at the museum. The following weekend Scott will lead a field trip to the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries on Saturday, August 22.

2002/The Associated Press

The famous pits are one of the richest concentrations of land-based animal fossils from the Pleistocene Epoch - the Ice Ages - anywhere on Earth. Scott, former chief excavator at Rancho La Brea's Pit 91 dig and a researcher for three decades, will include never-before-seen photos and information from the newest discoveries.

"These fossils, dating between twelve thousand and nearly forty thousand years in age, have given us an amazingly complete and detailed snapshot of ancient life during the final peak of the last Ice Age," Scott said. "Now, brand-new discoveries from previously unrecognized deposits are yielding fascinating new fossils that are changing many long-held perceptions of the site, while cutting-edge analytic tools are gleaning exciting new information from old bones."

Admission to the museum costs $8 for adults, $6 for students or seniors and $4 for children ages 5 to 12. For more information call 909-307-2669 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

Brand Model and Talent Agency is holding its 2009 Model Search August 1 at The District at Tustin Legacy. Unsigned guys and girls ages 15-25 are invited to participate in the event and finalists will compete for a one-year contract with the full-service agency.

The judging panel will include Greer Wylder of Greer's OC, Mona Shah of Moxxe PR, Don Bartolo of 944 Magazine, Patty Brand and Linda Robirds of Brand Model and Talent Agency, and travel and fashion photographer Joe Regan.

Where: The District Stage (in front of Borders), The District at Tustin Legacy, 2437 Park Ave., Tustin

Timeline
Open call event, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 - Contestants turn in applications, judges snap photos and review applications from 10 a.m.-2p.m. Finalists will be announced at 3:30 p.m.
Runway exercise, Wednesday, Aug. 5 - Finalists can take part in a runway exercise at Brand Model and Talent Agency.
Fashion show, 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 - Finalists will participate in a live fashion show featuring clothes and accessories from Tilly's, Madison Bleu and Angelic Boutique. Makeup and hair will be done by ULTA's cosmetics. The winning models will be announced at 7 p.m.

For more information visit www.brandmodelsearch.com.

Lake Elsinore Outlets just updated their LEO Kids Club activities for the month of August. Here's what's going on:

Wednesday, August 5: STORY TIME & COLORING with the Lake Elsinore Library.
Friday, August 7: ANNIE BANNANIE - Through the magic of balloons and audience participation, children learn the value of persistence while helping Annie create silly fun.
Friday, August 14: TROPICAL WIND CHIME CRAFT - Color a wood wind chime in bright sunny colors.
Wednesday, August 19: STORY TIME & COLORING with the Lake Elsinore Library.
Friday, August 21: UNDER THE SEA - Create an underwater-themed 3-D mobile.
Friday, August 28: FISH PINWHEELS - Design a fish pinwheel craft project.

Activities are every Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and every other Wednesday from 11 a.m.-noon.

For more information call 951-245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com.

About 25 children and their parents stood barefoot in the Redlands Community Center on Saturday morning following the instructions of Afro-Brazilian dancer Linda Yudin of the Viver Brasil Dance Company.

Eric Reed/The Press-Enterprise

Kids and their parents participate in dance with Los Angeles based Viver Brasil at the Redlands Community Center Saturday.

After a few directions, the conga drum players began to beat a steady tattoo and the group tested their newly learned Samba Reggae moves seen during the annual Carnaval.

"We're making a positive vibration," Yudin told her students. "We'll push into the world all of this beautiful, positive energy."

The Viver Brasil Dance Company hosted the third workshop in the Redlands Music Association's yearly Redlands Bowl Children's Summer Festival workshops. The series continues on Tuesdays and Saturdays through Aug. 11.

Think your gym or park has the best pickup basketball in the Inland area?

Let us know!

Contact Aaron Burgin at 951-375-3733 or aburgin@PE.com with the name and address of the community center or park where you play and the days and time of best games.

--The Press-Enterprise

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society have teamed up to provide Sensory Friendly Film showings of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and G-Force at AMC Ontario Mills 30.

Autism often comes with sensory challenges such as hypersensitivity to light or sound. In order to provide a comfortable setting for children with autism, the movie auditorium will have lights brought up and the sound turned down.

Families will be able to bring their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Audience members are also welcome to walk, dance, shout or sing.

Where: AMC Ontario Mills 30, 4549 Mills Circle, Ontario
Contact: 909-476-1234

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
When: 10 a.m., July 25
G-force
When: 10 a.m., August 1

Students of a city-sponsored weeklong youth opera camp and adult master class will perform Saturday at 2p.m. at the Cesar Chavez Community Center in Riverside.

The concert is free and open to the public. The 30 participating youth and adults will be performing selections from "Hansel and Gretel" and "Barber of Seville."

Manual Aybar, artistic director for the Riverside Lyric Opera, is directing the camp. Mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman of the Los Angeles Opera is working with the youth and adults.

"Singing is our first instrument, and one that rewires the way we face the day," Guzman said. "When kids and adults reach inside and sing from the bottom of their hearts, they tap a well of emotions that is liberating and courageous."

During the week of camp, students have been involved in high-energy classes in vocal instruction, acting and movement.

Where: 2060 University Ave., Riverside
When: 2 p.m., July 18
Cost: Free

Forty years ago this month, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the surface of the moon. In honor of Apollo 11, the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center is hosting a day of celebration with activities that could inspire the next generation of space explorers.

Visitors to the Science Center Monday July 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will launch seltzer rockets, watch a special short 3D features from teh 2008 animated film, "Fly Me to the Moon" and explore the exhibit dedicated to Aldrin.

Aldrin's new book children's, "Look to the Stars," will be read during story times throughout the day.

Parents and educators are also invited to learn about the starting a Future Scientists and Engineers of America club at their school or organization.

Where: 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 20
Admission: $12.95, adults; $9.95, children ages 3-17
Information: 714-542-2823, www.discoverycube.org

Potter is back for another round and we want to know what you think "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

Submit your own "instant" review here.

The circus is coming to town - and it's not your Mom and Dad's circus. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Zing Zang Zoom" will be at Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 2.

In addition to all the traditional acts you probably remember from childhood, there are magic and illusion scenes. At one point an 8,000 lb. elephant disappears and later a clown is transformed into a tiger.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

The Romashov and Skokov Troupes

"Zing, zang, zoom are the new magic words - not abracadabra," said Andy Perez of Feld Entertainment, the show's producer. "It's a really good description of how this show moves."

In addition to the quick pace and flashy illusions, this year's circus has an all-access pre-show. Visitors can bring their cameras and try on costumes, meet the performers and get up close and personal with the elephants.

"In these days of posting photos on Facebook, it's a great place to create memories," Perez said. "The circus is one of those rare places these days where you can take the entire family and they'll all have a great time."

This is the first time "Zing Zang Zoom" has been at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.

It's such an intimate setting, I think you'll feel the breeze of the trapeze people as they go by," he said.

Where: 4075 Concours, Ontario
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday (doors open one hour prior for each show); 7:30 p.m., Thursday; 7:30 Friday; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $15-$65
Parking: $8
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

After listening to our kids' whining all day long, isn't it time we moms took a break? For a much more relaxing kind of wine, check out the Winery at Canyon Crest in Riverside. If you've met the owners, Kevin and Carolyn Craig, you know that you're in for a treat. The ambiance is classy and relaxed and the prices are reasonable.

By Erica Shen
The Press-Enterprise

Local youth will show off their abilities to sing, act and dance at a talent show Saturday. Teen Talent Challenge is set for 2 p.m. in the community room of the Murrieta Public Library.

"People can expect local talents to be performing," librarian Joyce Brown said by phone. "It's an opportunity for the kids to show off their creativity."

The competition, open to students in sixth through 12th grades, will include categories such as singing, dancing, acting, juggling and instrumental performances.

Brown said this is the library's first time hosting a talent show. The event is meant to coincide with the theme of the library's summer reading program for children and teens, "Be Creative."

Brown said the event is getting a good turnout with a number of students already signed up. The top three finishers will receive $100, $75 and $50 prizes.

Applications to participate in the show may be picked up and filled out at the library through Thursday(7/16). Performances can include up to seven people. Each performance will be allowed five minutes. There should be no profanity, excessive violence or offensive material.

Teen Talent Challenge
When: 2 p.m. Saturday (7/18)
Where: Murrieta Public Library, 24700 Adams Ave.
Info: 951-304-2665cq
To perform: Register at the library by Thursday

Reach Erica Shen at 951-763-3466, or eshen@PE.com

Disney HD has an upcoming made-for-TV movie, "Skyrunners" that needs some kid actors and auditions are coming up in the Inland region.

Empyre Casting is looking for kids ages 9-15 who can read short scripts on camera (provided at the audition). It's a non-union job and kids who are selected to work will be compensated $150.

Auditions are Sunday, July 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the All That Dance Performing Arts Center at 15320 Central Ave., Chino. Participants must be available for potential call-backs on Thursday 7/16, as well as the shoot dates of 7/20-22.

For more information call 966-774-9994.

Get a dose of the creepy crawlies at Taco Bell Discovery Science Center's "Bugs Alive Weekend" July 25 and 26. As part of the summer exhibition, "Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home," the science center is teaming with community partners for bug education, as well as tips for improving the environment.

Here's what's going down over the weekend:

• Entomologist and educator Dr. Sue Van Vorhis Key will show her "Traveling Insect & Arthropod Zoo."


• Orange County Watersheds will give kids a hands-on demonstration of small steps that can make big improvements in the quality of our water supply.


• A Girl Scout camp trainer will offer tips and interactive demonstrations.


• The Santa Ana Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority will offer info on fire prevention.

Parents Magazine has tips for moms and dads hearing, "I'm bored," over and over now that we're at the mid-summer vacation lull. Here are 24 tips for cheap fun that'll give the kids something to do:

1. Bike parade - Have the kids decorate their rides with streamers, stickers, flags and more and they can cruise up and down the street while parents applaud.
2. Local heroes - Tour your local police or fire station.

The Auto Club says more and more people are staying home during this holiday weekend. That means more grilled burgers and back-yard gatherings...and fewer trips to far-off destinations.

How is your family spending your holiday weekend? If you've got clever ideas, post a comment to share with other momarama-watchers.

If you're stuck for ideas, have a peek at this list of Inland SoCal events.

Or search for local events in your area here.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY
NORCO
Fourth of July Country Jamboree, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Community Center Park, 3900 Acacia, Norco, free, 951-270-5632.
RIVERSIDE
Fourth of July Spectacular, 7 p.m., Riverside Sports Complex. Live concert, fireworks at 9 p.m. 1000 Blaine St. $4. 951-826-2000, 951-826-2000, www.riversideca.gov
La Sierra Park Aerial Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. 5215 la Sierra Ave. Free. www.riversideca.gov

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

Bam, pow, etc.

Mt. Rubidoux Aerial Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. Saturday, 4706 Mt. Rubidoux St. View from surrounding streets. 951-826-2000, www.riversideca.gov
July 4th Patriots Concert, July 4, 7 p.m. Saturday, White Park in downtown Riverside, near Ninth and Market Streets. Fireworks. Free, VIP tickets, $25, 951-781-0251. www.thephilharmonic.org
TEMECULA
Star Spangled Fourth of July Parade, 10 a.m., Old Town Front Street, traveling north from Second Street to Moreno Road.
Fun in the Park and Fireworks Show, July 4, 2-10 p.m., Ronald Reagan Sports Park, 30875 Rancho Vista Road, http://ci.temecula.ca.us
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
BIG BEAR LAKE
Fireworks Show, July 4, 8:45-9:15 p.m. on the lake. 909-866-4607
FONTANA
Red, White and Cruise, 2 p.m. Auto Club Speedway, 9300 Cherry Ave., Fontana.
REDLANDS
Fourth of July Concert, 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Fox Event Center, 123 Cajon St., Redlands, $15, 877-264-4950.
Redlands Community Fourth of July, 11 a.m. Sylvan Park, corner of Colton and North University. Parade at 3:30 p.m. Fireworks show, 6 p.m. University of Redlands Stadium. Neil Diamond and Donna Summer impersonators. $7-$10. 909-748-0637
SAN BERNARDINO
Fourth Of July Glow Foam, 9 p.m. Asu Fox Theatre, 399 N. D St., San Bernardino, $15.