Tag: family

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“Coco” Tops Box Office For 3rd Week

The latest original Disney Pixar film is topping the box office for the third week as people are still flocking to the theaters to see to the movie in despite all the controversy around the Frozen short that caused Disney to pull it from theaters.  It has currently brought in over 135 million domestically since opening Thanksgiving weekend.

Coco starsAnthony Gonzalez as Miguel, a little boy living in Mexico with his family who dreams of being a musician after his all time favorite idol,  Ernesto De La Cruz (Benjamin Bratt).  Miguel has one problem though, his family hates music due in large part to his Great Great Grandfather, Hector (Gael García Bernal) leaving his family to pursue his music.  It’s so extreme that his family got rid of every photo of him to forget he even existed, but one person still remembers her Papa, Mama Coco, though dementia makes her forget.

On the day of the dead, the most solemn event in Mexico history when family is supposed to be able to come visit from the other world, Miguel decides to finally pursue his dream and perform in the talent show in the center of the plaza, but his family destroys his guitar and so he runs away finds himself at the tomb of his idol.  He breaks in and steals his guitar, but that’s when the fun starts because he is now in the land of the dead.

What happens now?  Now Miguel must find his way back before sunrise by getting his family’s blessing, but will he be able to and help put his family back together once he discovers a looming truth about his long lost Great Great Grandfather.

At one hour forty nine minutes, Coco is a story about the meaning of remembering ones family for all times.  It shows how stories keep them alive and once the last person remembers, it is hard to remain after.  The director did an exceptional job researching and displaying a story that anyone even that don’t follow the Day of the Dead will be engulfed in the story and find it hard not to tear up in the end.

Coco is still playing in theaters near you.

 

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The “Guardians” Are Back

The Latest adventure of Peter Quill aka, Star Lord are bringing fans to the theaters as Thursday’s previews well over exceeded expectations bringing in 17 million for that day alone  at the box office and making it possibly the second Disney movie this year to reach the 1 billion dollar mark.

The Film picks up where the first movie leaves off with Star Lord’s “Awesome Mix vol. 2” rocking out in the background as the team of misfits voyage the outskirts of the galaxy looking for new adventures and love along the way.  Reprising their role in the blockbuster film are Chris Pratt as Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax and the voices of Vin Diesel playing Baby Groot as well as the wise cracking Rocket voiced by Bradley Cooper.

At 2 hours and 16 minutes, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, will have you laughing and sitting on the edge of your seat as the Guardians find out the real meaning  of family when Quill’s father (played by Kurt Russell) shows up and threatens the universe in an attempt to convince Quill of his destiny with him.   Now Peter must decide which family is more important, the dad that just showed up or the guardians that have grown into his own form of family.  In addition, Gamora finally realizes, her sister Nebula’s (played by Karen Gillan) problem and the two patch things up and learn the bond of sisterhood.  It is a movie that is stunning in color and imagery, definitely out did themselves in the 3D group, even if one doesn’t see it in 3D, they will definitely feel it without the glasses.

Guardians of The Galaxy came out in theaters May 5 and is playing in a theater near you.

 

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80 Years of Danish Days in Solvang, Calif.

As previously reported, this year marks its 80th year and the little Danish town of Solvang, located just north of Santa Barbara, California is still coming together as a community to celebrate their annual Danish Days over the three day weekend on the third weekend in September from the 18th to the 20th.

Saturday’s festivities concluded with a music concert by a local band called Echoswitch on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage.

Danish concert from Julie White on Vimeo.

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“Dory” On Top

In the latest adventure of Marlin, Nemo and Dory, audiences receive a glance into Dory’s childhood in Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory.  Voiced again by comedian/talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, the forgetful blue fish, Dory suddenly remembers her parents and comes to the realization that she misses them as she goes on an all new adventure to rediscover where she came from.

But she’s not alone.   Marlin the clown fish, voiced by Albert Brooks along with his son, Nemo (Hayden Rolence) team up to help her remember her task as they travel to California to find her family.  Along the way they encounter possessive sea otters as well as a scheming Octopus (Ed O’Neill) whose only mission is to be transferred to an aquarium where he’ll be safe from the ocean, the movie will have audiences of all ages laughing and routing for the little blue tang fish to finally find her mom and dad.

With a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, Finding Dory is a heart warming sequel about what it truly means to be a family especially when one can’t always remember.  The film definitely has Disney on top bringing in over 136-million and making it the 11th Disney movie to claim the number one spot at the box office.

In addition, the added short, Piper, about a little seagull learning to feed for itself on the tough sandy beaches had kids and adults fully engaged in the little bird’s struggle and proves once again, pictures are just as important as verbal words to get the point across on the big screen.

Finding Dory opened in theaters Father’s Day Weekend June 17 and is currently playing in one near you.  See it, it’s just as good as the original Finding Nemo, which came out in Summer of 2003.

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An Annual Thanksgiving Tradition in Burbank, Calif.

Every year on Thanksgiving day, residents in cities across the United States gather to participate in an activity that has become an American Tradition to promote health and family togetherness.

Burbank, Calif. is no exception as the Burbank YMCA hosts a 10K, 5K and 1K kiddie run at 7 A.M on Thanksgiving day.  For just 40 dollars, residents can preregister to run for that turkey, before partaking on the feast in the evening hours.  The registration includes, a customized T-Shirt and medal, time tracker, finish line photo and more.

Watch below to see more of why residents make this turkey trot an annual tradition in the city of Burbank.

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“Max” Melts Hearts

The family drama about a war dog who comes home after his owner/handler dies in combat is pulling the heartstrings of its audience. Though it was no match for the three blockbusters including Jurassic World, Inside Out and Ted 2, that dominated the box office with nearly 150 million combined total, it still had a fair amount flooding in to rank number 4 with over 12 million.

Max stars Josh Wiggins as Justin Wincott, the brother of the Marine, who dies in combat and was handler to Max.  After the death, it is clear the dog recognizes Justin at the funeral of the soldier, though Justin wants nothing to do with Max.  His mother, played by Lauren Graham and his father, played by Thomas Haden Church, insist that the dog is now his and Justin and Max begin to form a bond that is stronger than one can imagine.

But when a rumor about what happened to the brother starts circulating around the family and Church doesn’t want to have a dangerous animal threatening the life of his other son, it’s up to Justin to do some investigating to save Max’s life as well as his father’s.

Max, with a run time of 111 minutes, is a family adventure that will bring tears to your eyes.  As good as Old Yeller with an even  better ending.

Max is currently in a theater near you.

 

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Celebrating the 44th Annual Festival of Whales in Dana Point

For the first two weekends in March, residents celebrate the annual migration of the grey whale with a variety of fun events for all ages.

There were also various high school marching bands and as well as Dana Point’s 5th Marine Regiment, who came all the way down from San Clemente to march for the whales.

 

There was also a street fair that further kept crowds entertained with a variety of different booths.

Down by Dana Point Wharf, local artists had their latest creations on display for the Art Show and sale.

And as the sun set at Lantern Park and crowds took in the beauty of the coast, the festival concluded its first day with a fitting movie overlooking the ocean.

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Oshogatsu Family Festival Celebrates 2015 Year of the Sheep in Los Angeles

On the first Sunday of 2015, residents of Little Tokyo came out to the Japanese American National Museum for a day of family time while they brought in the new year with the year of the sheep.

The festivities went from 11 to 5 and allowed all to experience the museum for free while remembering all that Japanese Americans endured over 70 years ago.  There was also the World of Hello Kitty which one could experience for an additional fee.

Outside the museum, there was still more fun with Lucky Soba noodles, which one could sample as a sign of good luck for the new year.

Kids had a variety of different crafts to experience including making their own Daruma Doll, learning the art of origami and even creating their own sheep out of colorful yarn, while they had a blow up sheep balloon that they could take home for the new year.

The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 11-5 for just nine dollars.  For more information visit the website here.

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Winter Family Festival

On Sunday December 2, 2012, Families in Studio City gathered at Beeman Park near the CBS studios to enjoy a day of musical entertainment hosted by Radio Disney as well as face painting, arts and crafts and other fun winter activities to prepare for the Christmas season.

Residents could also take the opportunity to donate items like food, clothing, and toys to help out needy families.

The following shows the festivities and how people celebrated the holiday season at the festival.