megabus.com was able to raise nearly $40,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation!

So very cool! Way to go Megabus.com!

Don’t forget to check out megabus.com!

This Veteran’s Day, megabus.com is donating $1 for every bus ticket sold to the Independence Fund, which helps to provide tools and guidance to those veterans severely injured in service to their country.

megabus.com has serviced the U.S. for the past 10 years and wants to give back to those who have served our country. megabus.com is also hoping to grow the number of veterans who work for them through the great advantages they offer their employees. megabus.com employees have free trainings, flexible schedules and the ability to travel across the U.S.

Self Disclosure: This is an update to a previous post in October. Info was provided.

Shoppers are invited to get in the spirit of Halloween this October with the Kidgits Boo Bash and Halloween Trick-or-Treat at The Shops at Montebello.

On Saturday, October 22, children ages 3 to 10 years old are invited to show off their fun, silly and spooky Halloween costumes at the Kidgits Boo Bash. From 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., children can enjoy face painting and participate in a costume contest for a chance to win the following prizes:
· Most Creative Winner – $150 Gymboree gift card and Halloween gift basket filled with treats.
· Cutest Costume Winner – $100 GAP Kids gift card and Halloween gift basket filled with treats.
· Scariest Costume Winner – $75 H&M gift card and Halloween gift basket filled with treats.

A Hero Meet-N-Greet will be available during the event from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., giving children the opportunity to have their photo taken with Superman or Supergirl. Kidgits members will also receive a Halloween plush toy, while supplies last.

“The Shops at Montebello is the perfect place for families in search of Halloween entertainment in a fun, safe community environment,” said Marida Petitjean, director of marketing and business development at The Shops at Montebello. “We love watching the kids show off their new costumes and make fun memories with friends and family.”

Shortly after, The Shops at Montebello invites the community to participate in some safe, indoor trick-or-treating at participating mall retailers on Monday, October 31.

Trick-or-treating begins at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to children ages 12 and under. Toy weapons are not allowed and masks can only be worn by children under the age of 12. Additionally, costumes may only be worn during event hours and trick-or-treating can only be done at participating retailers. Participating retailers can be identified by pumpkin signs, which will be hanging in store windows.

To add to the fun, kids and families can take treasured Halloween snapshots in their costumes at the Noerr Photo Booth. The photo booth will be located in Center Court from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and special Halloween photo package pricing will be available.

For ongoing updates and upcoming event information, follow The Shops at Montebello on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Credit: The Shops at Montebello.

It is Breast Cancer Awareness month and our friends at Megabus.com has a great deal that you don’t want to miss!  For every bus ticket sold on October 18, Megabus.com is donating $1 to help fight breast cancer.

Visit megabus.com on October 18 for a chance to help the cause and score a ticket as low as $1! Now, how cool does that sound?! It sounds pretty cool to me!

In addition, for every use of the hashtag #megabusGoesPink, megabus.com will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in the month of October! Encourage your readers to tweet for a good cause and for good deals.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post but SoCal City Kids is looking forward to going on a trip in the near future so stay tuned!

MEGATRON and OPTIMUS PRIME Transformers. Bart, Homer, Marge and Maggie Simpson.  Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor dinosaurs.  Gru and the Minions.  Walkers.  Wizards and wands…just a few of the most fun neighbors around sharing one awesome residence:  Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Studios Hollywood, on the heels of its billion dollar-epic transformation, rolls out the welcome wagon with its all-newCalifornia Neighbor Pass, inviting neighbors from across the Golden State to visit The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and experience a completely reimagined theme park. 

Representing Universal Studios Hollywood’s single largest investment ever made, this sweeping makeover has had an astounding effect on the destination.  With over 75 percent of the area completely transformed, residents from Southern to Northern California are invited to visit and experience as if for the very first time with the new California Neighbor Pass.

Chock full of benefits, the new pass enables guests to choose any day for their first visit and return to enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood for more than 200 select days and weekends for only $119.  Discounts on general admission tickets for friends and family to the theme park and popular “Halloween Horror Nights” and at participating CityWalk locations as well as special events and sweepstakes opportunities are also included in the California Neighbor Pass program.

As the world’s largest movie and television production studio, theme park and behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, guests can escape the everyday to play hooky with some of Hollywood’s giant stars and take a spin on the park’s compelling thrill rides and immersive lands, including “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™,” “Transformers:  The Ride 3D,“ “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” Super Silly Fun Land, The Simpsons Ride, Springfield and “Fast & Furious: Supercharged” on the world famousStudio Tour. 

To learn more about this new 9-month pass and other Annual Pass options, please visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/tickets.  Additional information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood onFacebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter. 

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue. World-class rides and attractions include the renowned, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour featuring the intense “King Kong 360 3-D” attraction and the all-new “Fast & Furious—Supercharged” thrill ride as the Studio Tour’s grand finale.  Other popular rides include the 3D-HD adventure, “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and immersive “Super Silly Fun Land,” the critically-acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™:  The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the MummySM—The Ride,” “Jurassic Park® —The Ride” and “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons RideTM” and the “Nighttime Studio Tour” which runs on select evenings.

Credit: Universal Studios Hollywood.

Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO Dr. Jerry Schubel and San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) Board Chair Frank Colonna announced plans for new Aquarium exhibits and programming that highlight the importance of watershed health and water conservation for sustainable communities and native wildlife habitats. California is entering the fifth consecutive year of a prolonged drought, and a drier climate coupled with reduced water imports and growing demand place increasing pressure on our water system. The Aquarium will be creating new watershed exhibits and programs to provide vital information for guests of all ages to help deal with California’s ongoing water crisis thanks to grant funding from the RMC.

“Because of the leadership and support of the RMC we were able to construct the original platform for this exhibit area, and because of their recent support we are now able to redesign the platform, update the story, enhance existing elements, and add new ones. Telling the story of Southern California’s water in a scientifically accurate way is important, and having the platform to deliver that story in ways that engage, educate, and empower is critical to telling the story,” Schubel said.

RMC originally funded the construction of the Aquarium’s Watershed Exhibit and Classroom in 2003 and 2007. Enhancing the entire watershed area at the Aquarium will include updating information, redesigning signage and the methods of information delivery to include digital displays, enriching the aesthetic qualities of the area, making connections to the new Butterfly Garden and Steelhead Exhibit, and upgrading and expanding the capacity of the Watershed Classroom, Long Beach’s first LEED Platinum building.

“The RMC’s mission is to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements. The RMC fulfills its mission and supports premier educational facilities such as the Aquarium of the Pacific for their leading role in engaging and educating the public about our watersheds by funding watershed improvement projects such as this, the Aquarium’s Outdoor Education Classroom Improvements,” said Mark Stanley, RMC executive officer.

Design for the upgrades and additional exhibit components will begin in summer 2016 with installation completed by spring 2017. The newly enhanced exhibit will provide a comprehensive platform where visitors can gain a greater understanding of the importance of watershed health and the impacts of water use on local people and native species. The project will update existing signage and add new signage and exhibit components at the Watershed Exhibit; enhance and expand the capacity of the Watershed Classroom; and enhance the aesthetics of the surrounding Watershed area.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 11,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the new Vanishing Animals and Horses and Dragons exhibitions. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. For more information, visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call 562-590-3100.

The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy was created by the California legislature in 1999. We’re one of ten conservancies within the California Resources Agency. Our mission is to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements within our jurisdiction.

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific. Photo: Courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific.

 In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, The Shops at Montebello is hosting special events throughout the month in recognition of the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Notable components of the celebration include:

• Saturday, September 24 at 12 p.m. in Center Court – The Mariachi Kids will be performing a special, musical expression traditional to Hispanic culture, including sounds from guitars, violins and trumpets.
• Saturday, October 1 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Center Court – The Steps of Gold Dance Studio Inc. of the Paso de Oro Dance Company will be performing a traditional Mexican folkloric dance. Their unique and outstanding costume designs are sure to delight.
• Thursday, October 6, at 4 p.m. in Center Court – The Shops at Montebello will share complimentary churros with shoppers (while supplies last).
• Thursday, October 13 at 4 p.m. in Center Court – The Shops at Montebello will share complimentary pan dulce with guests (while supplies last).

           Thursday, September 15 – Saturday, October 15

WHERE:          The Shops at Montebello

2134 Montebello Town Center

Montebello, CA 90640

Credit: The Shops at Montebello.