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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Coming Up: Screen Free Week

Have you heard of Screen Free Week? It's been around since 1995 and admittedly I haven't participated. This might be a good year to get my kids involved though, since they are most definitely spending too much time on various screens. If you want to learn more about Screen Free Week, the website has an organizer's kit available and lots of free resources on the site.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Coming Up: Bank of America's Museums on Us - free

Bank of America's Museums on Us program runs this weekend, May 2-3 (some museums are only one day), giving B of A cardholders and Merrill Lynch card holders (credit or debit) one free admission per card at participating museums. We've used this program and love it! The website won't let me give you an individual list of cities to click, so just check the main website and look for California in the pull-down menu.

Participating museums in San Francisco and San Jose area:
· The Tech Museum of Innovation
· The San Jose Museum of Art
· Chabot Space and Science Center
· Contemporary Jewish Museum
· de Young Museum
· Legion of Honor

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Fun Products to Try: Caramels, Brioche and Rubber Shoes

Occasionally, companies send us their products to try and if we're interested we say yes. Here are three we tried recently that we thought we'd share with you.

Brioche Pasquier - yummy!
Brioche Pasquier sent over five varieties of their brioche. If you're not familiar with it, brioche is a sweet milk bread, and it is so soft and easy to eat (easy to eat more than one piece at a sitting!). So far we've eaten through all the rolls (called Pitch), which came with either chocolate chips or chocolate inside. The kids loved taking these on the go as their breakfast (not much nutritional content but they have no preservatives or transfats). We'll start next on the loaves, which would also make great French toast - though I'm not sure I want to cook it up. This French bakery has baking facilities in Richmond, CA and sells their products at Mollie Stone's, Draeger's, Lunardi's and Oliver's Market.  



Mox shoes sent us a pair of their all-rubber shoes.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Coming up: Accessible Park Opens in Palo Alto


Perhaps the nation's most accessible park opens this Saturday in Palo Alto - the Magical Bridge Playground. Built so that people of all abilities can play side-by-side and use every piece of equipment, the park is easy for those in wheelchairs to access, with thought given to how kids with other disabilities (autism and others) could benefit. The park includes what you'd expect - but amplified, including slides, several types of swings, a 2-story wheelchair accessible playhouse, spinning apparatuses, climbing nets, a stage, interactive music experiences and retreat areas.


When: Grand opening is Saturday, April 16 - all day; park is open daily otherwise
Where: Mitchell Park in Palo Alto - 600 East Meadow Road

Coming Up: Hello Kitty Cafe Truck comes to San Jose


In case you missed it at San Francisco's Cherry Blossom Festival, you can catch the pink Hello Kitty Cafe truck at Santana Row this Sunday, April 19 from 10-7. They'll be by Park Valencia, or just follow the crowd and long line.

The truck is selling Hello Kitty themed treats, like petit fours, doughnuts, macaroons and some non-food items as well. You can see some of the cute offerings on their Instagram account. They're on tour to promote the first mainland Hello Kitty Cafe opening this summer in Orange County. If you go, post a picture on Twitter and tag us @friscokids!
Photo courtesy of Porcupiny/Flickr

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Coming Up: Creativity Day at Children's Creativity Museum in SF - free

This Saturday, the Children's Creativity Museum is having their 3rd annual creativity day. The theme is “S.T.E.A.M. Powered Creativity” and they'll feature innovative programs to promote creative thinking in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. You and the kids can meet Bay Area innovators and community partners, and enjoy a variety of activities that nurture creativity through hands-on learning experiences and play.

Who will be there?
-Toca Boca - with an immersive camping experience, Toca Boca will have teepees, Toca Boca characters and iPads with their games to play.
-Direct a stop-motion LEGO® movie with Pley
-Create a video game with Tynker, a company that helps kids learn to program
-Code robots with Wonder Workshop
-Participate in the Egg Drop Challenge with University Games
-Plus a live music concert by Early Childhood Education Specialist Emmy Brockman

What: Creativity Day at Children's Creativity Museum
Where: 221 Fourth Street, San Francisco
Cost: free for everyone

Monday, April 13, 2015

Coming Up: Focus Group on Financial Services

Probe Market is doing an opinion research study this Thursday, April 16th from 4-5:30 or 6-7:30. The topic is financial services and it's in downtown San Francisco. They're paying $150 by Amazon.com gift card (personal rant - just pay cash! Don't make people jump through hoops to claim their payment benefit). Rant over.

If you're interested, here's the pre-survey.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Food, Glorious Food!

With winter storms, we've been spending time indoors - yes, watching TV. We should be exercising, but we've been watching shows about FOOD! Here are some to watch on Netflix:

Cupcake Wars: Do you have a baker/decorator in the house? This show's 25 episodes include competitions where they bake themed treats for Weird Al, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Blue Man Group, the Country Music Awards and more.

Chopped: Chefs make creation using regular items.

Man v. Food Collection: There's nothing grosser than seeing how much and what Adam Richman can eat. The kids are glued! There's even an episode from San Jose.

Ramsay's Best Restaurant: This show looks at UK restaurant chefs in different cuisines.

Kitchen Nightmares: One more Ramsay special, this one helps restaurants get back on their feet.




I am a Netflix Stream Team member.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Coming Up: Chronicle Books Warehouse Sale

Chronicle Books is having a warehouse sale, where everything in the store will be 65% off. This is a great time to get teacher and kids' gifts, and stock up on other presents for yourself and others!

They'll have cookbooks, kids' books, lifestyle and home, art/craft/design, photography, travel, pop culture and music titles. And journals and stationery.

Where: Chronicle Books Corporate Headquarters - 680 Second Street, San Francisco
When:
Wednesday, April 8, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 9, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, April 10, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Coming Up: Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show

The 2015 Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show comes to Jack London Square for all things sailing for the only all-sailboat show on the West Coast. You'll find sailboats of every size and cost, in and out of the water, including sleek racers, family cruisers and luxury yachts. This four-day event features hundreds of the latest boats, gear, accessories, more than 100 free seminars, interactive activities for all ages and sailing levels. They also have some free sailboat rides!

When: Thursday, April 9, 10-6; Friday, April 10, 10-6; Saturday, April 11, 10-7; Sunday, April 12 , 10-5.
Where: Jack London Square 70 Washington Street (foot of Broadway at Embarcadero) Oakland
Tickets: Tickets are $15 one-day adult, children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult, $25 two-day adult pass and $45 four-day pass. Advance tickets are available here.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Coming up: Science Saturdays at Heron's Head Park - SF

If you like spending time in nature with the kids, check out these Science Saturday afternoon events at the EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park. Each Saturday from 12:30-3:30 pm, their trained naturalists and partners offer an engaging, hands-on and fun event perfect for young kids to adults. Each week is a different topic or theme.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

April 4: Oil Pollution and SF Bay - from 12-2
Learn with staff from the Bayview Opera House and SF-Environment about oil pollution in San Francisco Bay, how it gets there, and the problems it causes.

April 11: Get down and dirty with our native plant garden - from 9-12
Join EcoCenter and SF Recreation and Parks staff for this hands-on Science Saturday caring for the native plants that call Heron's Head Park home. Come dressed in comfortable clothes and get ready to get dirty as we learn to identify local plants and help to remove invasive species.

April 18: EcoCenter Tour and Native Plant Walk from 11-2
Gear up for a day of science, music, dancing and more with the first ever Bayview Shines, a free eco-festival at the EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park!. Bayview Shines has something for the whole family, including a free lunch, rock climbing, learning Zumba, playing disc golf, making art and chances to win fun prizes!

April 25: Heron's Head Park Trail Walk from 10-12:30
In collaboration with SF Recreation and Parks and the Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative, join professional guides on an interpretive walk to admire the San Francisco waterfront as we follow a short section of the Bay Trail. The walk will begin in the mini-park next to the Heron's Head Park parking lot at 10:00 am. Don't forget to bring water, hats, and sunscreen!

Where: Heron Head's Park, 32 Jennings Street, at the end of Cargo Way.
Age: young kids to adults
More info: here

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Coming Up: Bank of America Museums on Us - free

Bank of America's Museums on Us program runs this weekend, April 4-5 (some museums are only one day), giving B of A cardholders and Merrill Lynch card holders (credit or debit) one free admission per card at participating museums. We've used this program and love it! The website won't let me give you an individual list of cities to click, so just check the main website and look for California in the pull-down menu.

Participating museums in San Francisco and San Jose area:
· The Tech Museum of Innovation
· The San Jose Museum of Art
· Chabot Space and Science Center
· Contemporary Jewish Museum
· de Young Museum
· Legion of Honor

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Focus Group: Web/App study

Probe Market Research is recruiting for a $125 and $175 opinion study in San Francisco now through April 10th. It's a 75 minute study for $125 or 2.5-3 hours for $175. All spots are daytime hours. The study is on websites/apps. If interested, take the pre-survey here.