“Make Some Noise” is the theme of the next Target Free Family Saturday, to be held March 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave. (at First Street) in Little Tokyo.
All-day activities:
• Strum super sounds on a cardboard guitar made by you
• Build a wooden harmonica and hum a fun tune
• Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Make an adorable origami rabbit
• Stop by “Patriots & Peacemakers” for drop-in tours
Schedule
11 a.m.: Doors open
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Kidding Around the Kitchen will show you how to make delicious Mediterranean hummus wraps with tzatziki
1 and 2 p.m.: Join in on a drum circle with Drumtime
1:30 p.m.: The Arab American National Museum will give an educational presentation about Arab Americans and its exhibition “Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country,” on view at JANM through April 14.
2:30 p.m.: Watch an exciting Japanese drum performance by TAIKOPROJECT
3:30 p.m.: The Turath Ensemble will perform traditional Middle Eastern music and drumming
4 p.m.: Doors close
Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together.
For more information on the museum, call (213) 625-0414 or visit www.janm.org.
Participating Organizations
• Drumtime: Drumming is a very direct and powerful way to connect mind, body and spirit, invigorating a person with their own life force. And anyone can do it.
The heart beats and the body reacts — we are drumming all the time. Drumming as a group gives the human spirit an opportunity to play with its two deepest desires — to express its uniqueness and to contribute to a greater whole.
A Drumtime drum circle is guided with high energy and caring support to ensure that all its participants may access their innate vitality. And a Drumtime drum circle, no matter how large or small, literally transforms a gathering of people — most with no prior musical experience — into a percussion orchestra.
Participants experience the power of having their personal risks transformed into the elation of group success — giving everyone hands-on shared experiences in joy, transformation and success.
For more information, visit www.drumtime.net.
• TAIKOPROJECT is an ensemble of premier taiko drummers dedicated to promoting and advancing the American art of taiko. Through public performances, education, and outreach activities, TAIKOPROJECT is committed to preserving taiko as a dynamic element of Japanese American culture and heritage.
In addition to maintaining taiko as a community-based tradition, TAIKOPROJECT also incorporates unconventional and innovative concepts to expand artistic boundaries. Through these values, TAIKOPROJECT seeks not only to entertain audiences, but also to inform them about the history and integrity of taiko as an evolving art form.
For more information, visit www.taikoproject.com.
• Kidding Around the Kitchen shows that families can make and eat food together without a lot of fuss or a huge time commitment. The family food demo helps families with tips on smarter shopping, fun recipe ideas, advice on how to incorporate healthier choices when possible, and advice on how to delegate tasks in an age-appropriate way. This family food demo is a “how to” on getting everyone involved in the family meal.
Kidding Around the Kitchen is for families that have full plates in life as well as wanting a full plate of food to enjoy together. It’s about time well spent. You’ll see your kids get a “we did it” attitude. This family food demo works on the “try it” premise — all while empowering the kids and family. If we can do it, so can you.
Kidding Around the Kitchen is an adventure in fun, food and family — not only making food, but also making memories.
For more information, visit www.kiddingaroundthekitchen.com.
• The Turath Ensemble grew out of interest in providing educational material about the musical heritage of the Arab World in the U.S.; the word turath is Arabic for “heritage.” The ensemble performs songs and instrumentals using traditional instruments at colleges, museums and cultural events, and has developed a reputation for energetic performances that engage audiences.
For more information, visit http://turath.org/.