Grandpa Ron and I really had a great time working the stands and greeting lots of people at the Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach this last weekend. As volunteers and members of the Committee of 300, we stamped people’s tickets and hands as they entered Grandstand 30 – the grandstand at the start/finish line. We were so busy helping people get to their seats we missed the transition from driver intros to the actual race!
On Saturday, Grandpa Ron’s favorite story was about a 9 year old boy who wanted to see the race cars up close because he painted them and he loves the race cars. So Grandpa Ron directed him to where he could go see them up close in the convention center at the Lifestyle Expo. A couple hours later the family came back and the Dad with a BIG smile gave Grandpa Ron the thumbs up. So they had clearly found the race cars!
Here’s a description of the Lifestyle Expo from the Visit Long Beach Calendar:
“Those looking to take a pit stop between races over Grand Prix weekend can check out the Lifestyle Expo for a variety of family-friendly activities. The expo, which runs April 16-18, features 270,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 150 displays with the latest in automotive, home, recreation and travel products. At the Expo Arena, action sports fans can get an up-close encounter with race cars and motorcycles, operate remote control drift cars and see high-speed bikes and skateboarding demonstrations. Children can check out the Family Fun Zone for interactive games, race car simulators, a video arcade and more. Music lovers might enjoy a new addition to this year’s festivities. The Arena Jamm, a three-day music fest, will kick off inside the Long Beach Arena with about 20 Southern California bands. Each day will feature eight 30-minute concerts. …. The Green Power Prix View will feature weekend-long displays of the latest alternative energy vehicles including the Toyota Prius, Smart car, K1 Electric go-karts and the Novakinetics Electronic Performance Motorcycle. From a tankless water heater to energy efficient windows, those interested in green technology can see dozens of examples of renewable energy sources. The Lifestyle Expo is free to all Grand Prix ticket holders.”
Here are some fun Facebook photos from the Committee of 300 page.
Whew! What a day at the track! It was great fun checking it all out. Tomorrow will be harder because we’ll be actually working in the grandstands for half a day – actually for both Saturday and Sunday. We escaped the warm weather and cooled down a bit by going through the Lifestyle Expo in the convention center. Then we were back in the sun for the rest of the day. Watching the cars is great but noisy! Here is a great video of what it’s like from inside a car going around the track!
If you are in the area and want to check it out, here is the schedule (although it is noted that it is subject to change). PDF version is here.
Saturday from 8:55 – 9:20 a.m. Team Drifting Demonstration will be held. Grandpa Ron and I like to watch the drifting because we met some of the drivers two years ago. The Celebrity Race is also tomorrow from 11:40-12:40.
Ticket info is here. Almost all (if not all) the special value-added tickets have been sold out except for the Paddock Club, which is operated by the Committee of 300. Once fans are inside the circuit, they can get day tickets for the Paddock Club.
It’s time to get to sleep in preparation for the rest of the weekend! What fun!
Today’s Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival parade did go on as planned, thanks to the terse last-minute budget agreements made last night. Other sources said it would have gone on anyway. Here is a list of family activities for the festival – which is officially over tomorrow, but the trees don’t know that! They are so gorgeous in full bloom! The family activities can happen any time, too! Next year will be the centennial celebration of the festival in Washington DC. Plans are already in the making for the extra special 2012 event.
There are cherry blossom festivals all over the world, of course, and here is a selection of photos of beautiful photos.
Ten places every kid should see – a list put together by Budget Travel for 2011 – I think it’s a great list, too! Check it out here. The yahoo website has a lot of other “Best of” lists for family dreaming and doing!
The bright yellow of the feeder and the chests of the finches are a perfect match! They are feeding during a snowstorm in Reno, NV yesterday, 3/19/11. All the birds are gathering at the feeders! Yes! More picture opportunities! 🙂
It’s the first day of Spring! Yesterday’s snow was gone by the end of yesterday! This morning we woke up to as much snow and it kept coming down! Here are a few of today’s pictures. Today’s snow was wetter and heavier.
We woke up to more snow this morning than we anticipated when we got to town last Thursday night! Weather forecast obviously changed!! Have had several periods of time where we couldn’t see beyond the neighbor’s house across the street! Had a little over 3 inches, but most of it is already melted away!
At the Maidu Museum and Historic Site in Roseville, CA, the last days (until the end of March) of the exhibit Empowering Our People, Artistic Expressions of Native American Children are fast approaching. The exhibit showcases the colorful artwork of Native American Children ages 5-18 from the American Education Program of the Sacramento City Unified School District.
Show Dates: September 20, 2010 – March 31, 2011.
Maidu Museum & Historic Site
1970 Johnson Ranch Drive
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 774-5934
(916) 772-6161 [Fax]
maidumuseum@roseville.ca.us
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday:
9 am – 4 pm
Third Saturday evening:
6:30pm-8:30pm
Weekend Tours
Saturday 10 am & 1pm
Fees
$4.50/ Adult
$4.00/ Child & Senior
$16/ Family of Four
The 27th Annual Bouquets to Art 2011 will be exhibited at the de Young Museum in San Francisco from March 15–19.
San Francisco Bay Area designers and garden clubs will display 150 floral arrangements to interpret and complement the museum’s permanent collection.
Bouquets to Art is the largest fundraiser held to benefit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and one of the country’s premier floral events. Organized and produced by the volunteer members of the Fine Arts Museums Auxiliary, Bouquets to Art raises funds to support acquisitions, special exhibitions and education programs.
Bouquets to Art Hours
* Tuesday through Saturday, March 15–19, from 9:30 am–5:15 pm
* Extended hours on Friday, March 18, until 8:45 pm
* Museum members-only night on Wednesday, March 16, from 6–8 pm
The Grandparents.com website has a great article called A River Runs Through Us that I have to share with you. It also has some of the feelings that I tried to depict in my picture book.
Posted by mygrandmasue 
MyGrandmaSue 