Childrens Archives - Susan von Seggern

Since Bringing A Spiritual Dimension to Woodstock 50 Years Ago, Founder Sridhar Brings Bhakti Fest to a New Home for 2019

07/05/2019 by Susan von Seggern

29 Palms, California – 50 years ago this summer Woodstock promoters Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld sought now Bhakti Fest producer Sridhar Silberfein’s advice on the soon to be legendary art and music festival they were producing upstate. Sridhar said to them, “Ya got some of the greatest musical acts in the world but what’s missing is the spiritual component.” With their to-do lists already bursting, they answered, “Ok you deal with that part.”

As can be seen in the documentary film about the event, Woodstock, on August 18, 1969, Sri asked singer/songwriter Richie Havens to introduce Swami Satchidananda. Still reeling from his legendary set, Richie gave him a “that would be a no” look. So, Sri escorted Swami Satchidananda and his entourage onto the Woodstock stage to deliver an invocation. More than half a million American youth were in attendance – the largest peaceful gathering in the West at the time. Swami Satchidananda introduced the power of mantra, inviting the crowd to recite “Hari Om” and “Ramaramarama.” A moment of silence followed. Not even a camera clicked.

While still on stage, Sri whispered to Swami Satchidananda, “Swamiji, wouldn’t it be great to bring this many people together to chant the names of God?” Swami Satchidananda smiled knowingly and said, “Yes, it would be great if you could do that.”

Finally, in 2009, 40 years after receiving his life’s mission, Sridhar founded Bhakti Fest, which has since become Southern California’s largest and most beloved yoga and spiritual music festival. Now after a decade in Joshua Tree, the festival is moving to a new home just up the road in 29 Palms, California.

Taking place September 25 – 30 at Roadrunner Dunes in 29 Palms, Bhakti Fest 2019 will feature amazing conscious music, yoga, spiritual and wellness workshops and more, attracting spiritual seekers far and wide. New features include a lake for swimming, aquatic, and paddleboard yoga, and vast vibrant space for art installations.

Headliners for the event include Deepak Chopra, Krishna Das, Mike Love, Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rea, Radhanath Swami, MC Yogi, Fannah Fi Allah, Saul David Raye, Donna De Lory, Sianna Sherman, Mas Vidal, Girish, Govind Das & Radha, Kia Miller, Dawn Cartwright, Ram Das (via video), and many, many more to be announced in the coming weeks!

The new location will feature three music stages, expanded yoga and workshop villages, a sound temple for sound baths, a healing sanctuary for bodywork, a mantra dome, Bhakti Kids Land with ongoing children’s programming, men’s and women’s sacred spaces, and a Kirtan school.

The City of 29 Palms has rolled out the red carpet for Bhakti Fest, and the producers are thrilled to host the festivals here. 29 Palms, known as the “29”, has become one of the hottest destinations for rock climbers, stargazers, nature lovers, Joshua Tree fanatics, and sunset seekers alike. It is the home of Joshua Tree National Park’s North Entrance, and the official Gateway to the Mojave Trails National Monument. Expect skies painted with color at dawn and dusk, night skies filled with an abundance of stars and the stunning Milky Way.

Expanded housing options include camping, RV Hook-up sites, on-site cabins, Glamping Yurts, Cozy Trailers, and many hotels and rental homes nearby in 29 Palms.

The Bhakti Fest Eco Artisan Village offers the best in vegetarian and vegan food, yoga clothing and gear, jewelry, art and unique collectibles. The organizers pride themselves on running a green event, offering free water and mindful recycling practices.

Early bird festival pricing is available for Bhakti Fest 2019, plus there are discounted tickets available for local residents, veterans, military, seniors, and students. Tickets are available at https://bhaktifest.com/bhakti-fest-tickets/.

DINOSAUR TRAIN LIVE! BUDDY’S BIG ADVENTURE Based on the Hit PBS KIDS Show Comes To Los Angeles

12/24/2014 by Susan von Seggern

The popular Emmy® Award nominated PBS KIDS series Dinosaur Train will come to life on the stage in a big way with Dinosaur Train – Live! Buddy’s Big Adventure at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge on February 7, 2015, at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Buddy the dinosaur’s world will be created for this live “pre-hysterical” experience as only the Jim Henson Company can.

Dinosaur Train – Live! Buddy’s Big Adventure will bring the beloved stars of the hit PBS series to Los Angeles for the first time. Kids can join Buddy, Tiny, King, Don and more in a fun-filled, interactive and immersive live trip back in time to an age when dinosaurs roamed the earth….and rode in trains! They will be brought to life in an exciting, original, musical story created just for the stage where the audience is always a part of the action. Utilizing lush projected backgrounds and vistas, magical special effects that fill the theatre, a full sized replica of the Dinosaur Train, unique hybrid puppeteered costume characters and an engaging live host, our Dinosaur pals and their adventures will truly seem larger than life.… Read More

Alt Comics Teen Heroine Emily the Strange Releases First Single for Halloween, Creator Cosmic Debris Celebrate 20 Years of their Outsider 13 Year Old in 2013

10/29/2013 by Susan von Seggern

The alternative comics scene’s iconic teenage outsider heroine Emily the Strange has formed a band, Emily and the Strangers, who will be releasing their first single and video downloads “Calling All Guitars” in time for Halloween, on October 29, 2013. The song and animation will be downloadable through iTunes, with a limited edition 7” 45rpm single with etched vinyl available at the Emily the Strange online store. The animated clip will also be viewable on Emily the Strange’s YouTube channel. The song and video were enabled by a very successful Kickstarter campaign that raised almost $65,000 from over 700 Emily the Strange fans.

Emily the Strange creator and Cosmic Debris founder Rob Reger notes, “It has been a lifelong dream and vision to make Emily and the Strangers into a real band and to share her empowering message of ‘Be Yourself, Think for Yourself, Do it Yourself’ through animation, music, and a voice that rocks!” Adding, “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 20 years of our favorite 13 year old in 2013 than with her first music release.”… Read More

Everclear’s Art Alexakis Joins Hands with NBC’s Veronica De La Cruz and her Non-profit “And Then There Were Two” to push for RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD

07/03/2013 by Susan von Seggern

http://youtu.be/kkcbxjWG9Mc

Art Alexakis, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated band Everclear, known for hit songs such as “Father of Mine” and “Santa Monica,” has joined forces with TV news journalist Veronica De La Cruz’s non-profit organization And Then There Were Two in an effort to stem the tide of fatherless homes. Today, 1 out of every 3 children grow up without a father in the home. 29 million American children are growing up fatherless.

And Then There Were Two and Alexakis have partnered up to push a petition entitled “Stand Up, Man Up!” which calls for fathers to step up the plate and be present in their children’s lives. The Change.org petition, posted on Father’s Day, calls not only for responsible parenting, but also for tougher enforcement of child support laws and financial accountability during a woman’s pregnancy. Current legislation in most states leaves expectant mothers shouldering the financial responsibility on their own until after their baby is born.

Alexakis, who was raised by a single mother in a Los Angeles housing project, wants to send the message that fathers are not irrelevant and should step up to the plate in honor of their kids. In an exclusive interview he gave to De La Cruz for Huffington Post, he said “Be a man. Act like a man. I’m not talking about the old school caveman way, I’m talking about like a grown up, being responsible for the consequences of your own actions. If you have children, pay for them. Work with them. Learn how to handle relationships for your children’s sake. Be there, even if you don’t have a lot of money. Pay what you can and work hard. But more importantly, be there for them.” … Read More

It’s a Boy for NBC Early Today Host and Humanitarian Veronica De La Cruz

04/04/2013 by Susan von Seggern

Photography by: Adele Godfrey, http://www.adelegodfrey.com
Makeup by: Alisa Jurnari
Hair by: Mary Wood

The popular host of NBC’s Early Today Show, MSNBC anchor and founder of the Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation, Veronica De La Cruz, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The television journalist’s 8 pound, 4 ounce bundle of joy was born with dark hair and green eyes and has been named Hartley Eric, after the journalist’s brother who died in 2009.

“Before my brother died, I started an online campaign to raise money for a life-saving heart transplant,” noted De La Cruz. “Thousands of compassionate Twitter followers came out to support the effort and we lovingly referred to them as Eric’s Twitter Army. They all displayed banners on their online avatars that read, ‘<3 Eric,’ which is where my son’s name comes from. If you look at my own social media profile, you will see still see a heart followed by the name Eric. That is what inspired my son’s name.”

De La Cruz and her mother Rose have been over the moon at little Hartley’s arrival, with the new mom noting, “After the pain and devastation of losing Eric almost four years ago, having a healthy baby feels like an incredible miracle. Of course, he couldn’t be any more beautiful. I think I can safely say I have finally met the love of my life.”… Read More

Puppet State Theater Company Performs The Man Who Planted Trees at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz October 23

10/01/2012 by Susan von Seggern

The performance space at Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz is pleased to bring the Puppet State Theater Company to Los Angeles as part of its public performing arts series for a performance of their acclaimed show, The Man Who Planted Trees. The show will take place at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90064 on Tuesday October 23 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students. Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/cMAzTT.

Acclaimed by The Guardian as “Laughs, heartbreak, war, regeneration, scented breezes, sparkling wit and the best dog puppet ever. Perfect for children and grown-ups. Terrific,” The Man Who Planted Trees is a multi-sensory theatrical adaptation of French author Jean Giono’s environmental classic that tells the inspiring story of a shepherd who plants a forest, acorn by acorn, transforming a barren wasteland. As much a touching tale as it is a hilarious puppet show, The Man Who Planted Trees shows the difference one man, and his faithful dog, can make to the world. This show is suitable for adults and encouraged for children over seven. It is presented in English with a little French. The company has performed in French at the 2011 Charleville-Mézières World Puppetry Festival and in Montreal in 2012.

The Man Who Planted Trees by the Puppet State Theater Company Comes to Theatre Raymond Kabbaz October 23