Marking Presidents Day in Mar Vista

All but critical government agencies will be closed today, thanks to Presidents Day. Police and firefighters will be on the job, but all other government offices will be closed for the holiday, originally George Washington's birthday. Schools also will be closed.

Although commonly known as Presidents Day, the federal government still recognizes it legally as Washington's Birthday.

The holiday was shifted from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February 1971 under the terms of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill of 1968. Because the holiday falls between Feb. 15 and 21, it can never fall on the actual anniversary of Washington's birth in 1732.

The term Presidents Day began being popularized in the 1980s, when retailers combined sales formerly held in conjunction with Washington and Lincoln's birthdays. Here are a few ways to celebrate the holiday in Mar Vista:

Buy a cherry pie at Whole Foods, or get creative and bake your own.

Watch a movie about George Washington. Hit the Netflix queue or head to and rent  the 1984 miniseries George Washington, or the 1968 President George Washington Biography Film (30 mins).

Head to the park with your children and take some time to play on the swings, lace up your skates for the hockey rink, play a game of tennis or use the new exercise equipment.

Place a few $1 bills with old George's image in the piggy bank for safe keeping. Grab all of your $5 bills with the 16th President Abraham Lincoln's mug front and center, and add them to the rainy day fund.