‘Always Fun, Always Educational’

MARNEY’S Continues Educational Programming, Finds New Home in the Heart of the Palisades

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

When Marney Sobel started a book club in the midst of a pandemic, she was not sure what to expect.

Now, just a couple of years later, MARNEY’S continues to offer a wide variety of programming to local students and has found a new location in the “heart of Pacific Palisades.”

Ever since she and her family moved to the Palisades from Canada back in 2019, Sobel has put her 15 years of experience as a teacher to good use.

“Kids are obsessed with screens,” Sobel shared, “so it’s about getting them off the screens and offering them something unique.”

The new location for MARNEY’S programming is a house, “which the students can truly call their second home,” Sobel said.

“Although it’s an educational space, it’s cozy, fun and inviting, and inspires kids to learn,” she added.

In late 2022 MARNEY’S aimed to give back to the community by hosting a holiday-time cookie bake, which she described as a success. Students from area schools, including Palisades Charter Elementary, Marquez Charter Elementary, Canyon Charter Elementary, Paul Revere Charter Middle and Palisades Charter High schools, were all involved.

“It was truly extra special,” Sobel described, “for we prepared close to 100 meals with the generous contributions from the parents. It takes an incredible community to do this. The kids were keen and empathetic, decorating bags with positive messages for those in need and ensuring that each bag was filled up with all sorts of treats.”

Following the assembly of the bags, participants then made and decorated Christmas and Hanukkah cookies.

The book club, which has children from local schools such as Marquez, Pali Elementary, St. Matthew’s, St. Martin’s, Crossroads, Calvary Christian and Paul Revere, continues to grow.

“The book clubs run for six weeks and follow an extracurricular activity or art, yoga and/or swim,” Sobel shared.

MARNEY’S Garden, which is run by Miss Penny Milne, “continues to be a big success as well,” Sobel added, with the children ages 4 and 5 meeting weekly for story time and learning through play.

Last year, Sobel brought on board Milne, an “amazing educator” who moved to the area recently from Sydney, Australia, with her family.

“She also has three similarly aged children like me, and our two boys have become like brothers,” Sobel explained. “They’re living in the Palisades, and two of her boys go to Pali High and her youngest is at Paul Revere with my daughter.”

Sobel and Milne first met socially, which Sobel-Abadian described as an “instant connection in so many ways,” including their shared love and passion for education and children.

“As we know, kids are reading less and less, and I’ve always believed that if we expose them at a young age, they’ll have a love for books, which isn’t so common in our digital world, sadly,” Sobel shared at the time. “This nurturing program will set them up and help prepare them on their educational journey.”

Upcoming sessions of MARNEY’S Garden include July 24 to 28 and July 31 to August 4.

“Like all programs at MARNEY’S, it will be educational and lots of fun,” Sobel shared. “It will also act as a school-readiness program as they enter kindergarten.”

MARNEY’S will also offer camp sessions June 12 to 16; June 19 to 23; and June 26 to 30 for children ages 8 to 12. Camp will include a variety of activities, snacks and meals—designed to be “hassle free for parents and memorable for kids.”

Sobel also offers weekly beginner French class. She shared that it has been “amazing” to see fifth-grade students absorb the language, with plans to expand offerings to include Spanish in fall.

“Due to high demand, and in order to maintain the personalized and quality service,” Sobel shared, “I have expanded my tutoring company and am proud to have hired some brilliant and highly qualified tutors that are really helping many students.”

Sobel shared plans to expand MARNEY’S again in the future to offer programming like MARNEY’S Babysitter Club, as well as a mommy and me yoga for moms and their newborns.

Sobel’s husband, Max, is a fashion and celebrity photographer. They reside in Marquez Knolls with their three teenage children: sons Lucca and Val, and daughter Roya.

“Education is different for every child,” Sobel shared, “but I want every child who comes through my door to be heard and seen. They may think they ‘hate school,’ ‘can’t read,’ are ‘bad at math,’ but my goal is to help every child fulfill their full potential and have a positive outlook on learning.”

For more information or to get in touch with Sobel, find her on Instagram via @marney__s or call 310-592-6676.