Opinion study: Social Media - $125 or $150 in Menlo Park

Probe Research is doing an opinion study on January 30th and January 31st. The incentive is $125/$150 the time commitment is 30/130 minutes. The study takes place in Menlo Park and the topic is social media.

If interested, fill out their pre-survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83QZM3P and they'll contact you if you qualify or they want more information.

Coming Up: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Concerts - Free

It's Beethoven time! Bring the kids for one of these free San Francisco Chamber Orchestra concerts. Note, these are not specifically family concerts.

"Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven, even in his earliest works, goes a step beyond them with revolutionary innovations that will usher in 19th-century Romanticism. His first symphony brims with excitement and vitality, while his Piano Concerto No. 1, written to highlight Beethoven’s own formidable pianistic skills, is an early masterpiece. “When you get the feeling that whatever note succeeds the last is the only possible note that can rightly happen at that instant, in that context,” according to Leonard Bernstein, “then chances are you’re listening to Beethoven.”

Seating for members begins one hour before each performance, and non-members can get seats 15 minutes before each concert.

They're performing:
Beethoven: Septet in E-flat major, op. 20
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15 Rin Homma, pianist (2017-18 Debut Artist) Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, op. 21

When:
Saturday, December 30 7:30 pm at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
Sunday, December 31 7:30 pm at Hertz Hall, Berkeley
Monday, January 1 3:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
Venue information here

Coming Up: David Shannon Introduces Bizzy Mizz Lizzie

David Shannon introduces his exuberant new book Bizzy Mizz Lizzie about over-scheduled children (and adults) with good humor, fun and heart. He'll present it at Kepler's Books - get a ticket (they're free). About the book: "Lizzie is the busiest, buzziest bee in Hivetown. Shannon's vivid artwork and Lizzie's endearing efforts to "do it all" will make children laugh aloud at her frantic antics as she juggles school, multiple sports, dance, violin, and art. With charm and determination, she longs to impress the Queen by winning a spelling contest, but she studies to the point of exhaustion. When she dozes off in the middle of the competition, the only solution is rest and her refreshing visit to the local Garden finally teaches Lizzie to stop and smell the flowers "which is exactly what bees are supposed to do."

David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than thirty picture books, including No, David!, a Caldecott Honor Book and his second New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, A Bad Case of Stripes, Duck on a Bike, and Too Many Toys! Don't miss this opportunity to meet the ever popular David Shannon and discover a new favorite read.

When: Saturday November 18 at 2:00
Where: Kepler's Books in Menlo Park

Coming Up: Doctor Noize Concerts - Free!

Check out these two free album release concerts which would be fun for the family.

Doctor Noize (Cory Cullinan) is from Los Altos, and uses electronic music and studio technology to create a fresh, modern pop style for kids. He'll be releasing his new kids' album Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony, which brings orchestra and musical theater to kids. During the concert, he'll debut several songs from the album.

He's a one-man-band playing an armada of instruments, with electronic music looping technology, and he records music live onstage. He sings and plays guitar, keyboard, saxophone, percussion and kazoo. During his shows, he brings kids onstage to solo on keyboard and drums and record their own vocals into loop recordings, using a Mac laptop and technology to build up songs for a big sound.

The album is a "screwball musical comedy" written by Cullinan, His upcoming children's musical, The Ballad of Phineas McBoof, was commissioned by Palo Alto Children's Theatre and will premiere there from November 3 - 13, 2016.

What: Doctor Noize Live! A Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony Album Release Party
Where: Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
When: Noon, Thursday, July 14
Cost: Free with paid museum admission

Where: Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto
When: Sunday, July 16 at 3
Cost: free

Coming Up: Glass Pumpkin Patches in the Bay Area

Glass pumpkin by Upupa4me/Flickr.

I already have a full patch of glass pumpkins in my house (plus a glass-blown apple) but I'm always tempted to add more. Here are several places to get some pumpkins that won't rot!

Palo Alto
What: Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Where: Palo Alto Art Center (1313 Newell Road)
When: Exhibition: September 29-October 2 (10-7 or 10-5), Sales October 3-4 (10-5)
Details: After several days of previews, you can purchase pumpkins! This is the largest glass pumpkin patch in California, with more than 10,000 hand-blown pumpkins for sale by 29 artists.

San Jose
What: Glass Pumpkin Festival at Santana Row
Where: Santana Row Park, across from Left Bank Brasserie
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 10 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and October 11 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Details: Stroll through thousands of hand-blown glass pumpkins crafted by BAGI (Bay Area Glass Institute) artists and renowned glass artisans from around the country. The pumpkins will be available in an assortment of colors, sizes and a range of prices.

Half Moon Bay
What: Hand blown art glass pumpkin patch
Where: La Nebbia Winery, 12341 San Mateo Road on Highway 92
When: October 10-11 (10-5)
Details: Hundreds of hand blown pumpkins by artist Douglass C. Brown

What to do in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend

A few fun activities for the upcoming weekend:

-For the football and Stanford fans out there, head to Stanford for Cardinal Kids Day at Stanford Football, a day of family fun on September 12. Enjoy interactive and educational activities, the chance to meet Stanford student-athletes, and then get ready for the Stanford Football home opener against Central Florida at 7:30 p.m. All kids 8th grade and under receive free admission with advance registration - use the promotional code CDM-STANFORD when getting tickets here. More info on Cardinal Kids Day at Stanford Football here.

-Combine a farmer's market with country dancing this Saturday, September 12 at Bay Street in the East Bay. Along with the farmer's market you can take free dance lessons, which they're calling the Country Dance Hoe Down. Professional Dance Instructor Tytus Bergtrom provides country dance lessons from 11-1, while the market goes from 10-2.The farmer's market offers produce, fish, baked goods, flowers, cheese, organics and oils. It's at Bay Street Emeryville, 5616 Bay Street.

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: Carnival of the Animals - Concert, Ballet, Crafts

The Palo Alto JCC is putting on a concert great for kids and adults, Camille Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals.” Each movement represents different beasts of land, sea, and sky, and will be accompanied by a lively ballet performance. In addition to a concert, there will be animal mask making and instrument "petting zoo" for the kids.

Symphony Napa Valley Assistant Conductor Derek Tam conducts the two performances featuring a string ensemble and two grand pianos (read more about the work at the bottom). Bay Pointe Ballet is a professional ballet company serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

When: Sunday March 1 at 10 a.m. and noon (2 concerts)
Where: Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto (3921 Fabian Way)
Tickets: $15-20 online or by calling (650) 223-8664. $15 is for members and kids ages 3-12. $18 general admission in advance. $20 tickets at the door.

From the JCC: "One of Camille Saint-Saens’ best-known works, “Carnival of the Animals” was first written in the wake of a failed concert tour of Germany. Embarrassed by his failure, Saint-Saens turned his sights on something more lighthearted and became immersed in writing this charming musical suite, declaring “mais c’est si amusant!” (“but this is such fun!”). The choruses of wild creatures are infused with comedic allusions to more serious fare, running the gamut from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld to Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust. “Carnival of the Animals” premiered in 1886 at a private concert in Paris and has since become a favorite in children’s repertoire for both small ensembles and full string orchestras."

Coming Up: Musical Journeys with Frank Levy: Animals, Seasons and other Musical Fantasies

The Palo Alto JCC is presenting "Musical Journeys With Frank Levy: Animals, Seasons and other Musical Fantasies." This musical voyage will take young listeners on a journey inspired by animals, stars, the moon etc, through music by Copeland, Ibert, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov and Debussy.

This program is the second of three Musical Journeys with Frank Lévy to be presented by the Oshman Family JCC; the next is on April 19, “Children’s Corner and Some of Our Favorite Things.”

What: Musical Journeys With Frank Levy: Animals, Seasons and Other Musical Fantasies
When: Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 3
Where: Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto (Schultz Cultural Arts Hall), 3921 Fabian Way
Tickets: Tickets are $20 each in advance ($25/door)

Get 'Yer Tickets - Discounted Shows for the Holidays

If you're starting to look into holiday shows and holiday gifts, look at the offerings on Goldstar. You'll save 50% on most tickets. (I do get a small commission on bookings through here with my code, but I wouldn't offer them if they weren't a good deal).

Peter and the Starcatcher - in Palo Alto
Peter and the Starcatcher, the multiple Tony Award-winning show that The New York Times called "the most exhilarating storytelling on Broadway in decades," is the swashbuckling, madcap prequel to Peter Pan. Inventive stagecraft and an imaginative story combine to reveal the origins of "the boy who wouldn't grow up" in this madcap music-filled adventure. A hilarious romp through the Neverland you never knew, join in on an action-packed adventure that brings pirates, orphans and secret agents of the Queen together on the high seas. Based on the bestselling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, and written by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), Peter and the Starcatcher boasts an all-star creative team and weaves an enchanting tale that appeals to both adults and kids.

This link will take you to all the Bay Area Nutcracker offerings.

The MeshugaNutcracker! in Campbell
This show (which I'm featuring later in the season) combines Tchaikovsky's score and Chanukah lore. It's good for the family. Their description:

Coming Up: Pet Palooza

This weekend, bring your dog/s to Pet Palooza at Palo Alto at Town and Country Village.
The pet-centric activities include a pet psychic, doggie sundae bar, pet sketch artist, pet photos, CPR demos, adoptable rescue dogs, a doggy red carpet, Stutt Your Mutt Spring Fashion Show Contest, Palo Alto PD K-9 Unit agility demos, pet resources and more.

Pooch owners are invited to gussy up their pets in the latest spring “pet” attire and walk the red carpet. All entrants will receive a doggy swag bag and prizes will be awarded to the top dogs! Pet owners can register their pets to participate online at www.TandCVillage.com or in person. The fee is $20 and all funds raised go to the Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

When: Saturday, May 31 from 12-4; fashion show is at 1
Where: Town and Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto                                                                        

Bay Area Neighborhood Guide: Palo Alto

I realize Palo Alto is a city, not a neighborhood. But for those who don’t live there, visiting Palo Alto for some of its kid-friendly highlights may involve more than just parking and walking. Here's the guide I wrote for Mommy Nearest, a helpful, free app with location-based restaurants, activities and shopping (with parent comments).

Here are some of our family-friendly favorites.

Play: Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo 

We’ve spent many hours at this small hands-on indoor museum and outdoor mini-zoo. Inside you’ll find changing exhibits that kids can touch, climb on and play with. Outside there are around 50 animal species, including hedgehogs, owls, ferrets and turtles (look for them in the pond while you’re crossing the little bridge). When you’re done with the museum, head outside to the adjacent park for a picnic or play time.

Eat: Oren’s Hummus Shop

Hungry? Head to downtown Palo Alto on University Avenue, where you’ll find the popular Oren’s Hummus Shop. Kids love to dip the pita in the hummus, and there’s lots of other Mediterranean food (meat and vegetarian), even for picky eaters.

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop

Treat: Rocket FizzSoda Pop and Candy Shop

Also on University Avenue is the retro candy and soda shop, Rocket Fizz, which might even please the adults more the kids. You’ll find taffy by the pound, in flavors like chili mango and rootbeer float, as well as international favorite candies like Australian Malteasers. Just as fun are the novelty toys and animal masks, and snacks like bacon and cheese flavored crickets. Yes, crickets. Don’t worry, they’re dead. And packaged.

Appreciate: Cantor Arts Center/Stanford campus

Expose your kids to art at the Cantor Arts Center on Stanford’s campus. University founder Leland Stanford had his own personal art collection with 5,000 works, some of which are  on display here, along with others. The museum was founded at the same time as the university. You’ll find everything from modern art to Native American Art, works from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Plus one of the largest outdoor Rodin sculpture gardens in the world. Admission is free, which makes it easier to go to a museum and not worry about whether you and the kids are getting your money’s worth. But they’re only open Wednesday to Sunday, so plan accordingly!

Play: Mitchell Park

When it’s hot out, locals take their toddlers to Mitchell Park, with its fun water features, sand pits and climbing structures. Plus there are bathrooms which are very convenient for changing clothes or for potty training little ones (there’s a toddler size toilet!). Lots of trees and shade as well.

Review: Boost by Mercendes-Benz After-School Transportation

Recently we posted about a new after-school van service called Boost by Mercedes-Benz. You can read more about it here. The company is sponsoring this review, however all opinions are our own.

I asked two locals (a friend, and a friend-of-a-friend) who live in the serviced zip codes to test it out. Both live in Menlo Park. “This is a great resource,” said one reviewer, after her daughter experienced her first ride. We’ll get to the ride part later.

Boost by Mercedes-Benz - a New After-School Transportation Service

--This post is brought to you by Boost by Mercedes-Benz—

When I saw Boost by Mercedes-Benz in the subject line of an email to me, I got excited. Mercedes wants to give me a car! Alas, that was not the case. They wanted to tell me about their new after-school transportation service being tested in parts of the Bay Area. My next thought was, “they’re rolling out Mercedes car service so school kids can get to soccer practice and piano lessons?”

This piqued my interest, and I read on further, eventually talking with the people behind it. After some initial skepticism, I realized that this is a great service for families who need help with after school transportation. It’s not quite an on-call car service (they might get there at some point, but currently require booking 48 hours in advance). Commitment can be as low as one ride, or you can schedule them on a regular basis. Customers can call with less than 48 hours notice, and Boost by Mercedes-Benz will try to accommodate them if possible.

Summer Camp 2014 - Edventure More's Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech

--This is the first in our summer camp 2014 series. Thank you to Edventure More for sponsoring this post.--

Photo courtesy of Edventure More

We want our kids to have fun at camp, burning off energy, making friends, and maybe even learning something! It’s easy to do those things at a camp that partners with the California Academy of Sciences and the Children’s Creativity Museum. Experts there help plan fun and educational activities that make the kids excited to return to camp each day. Read more about how they do that here, and read at the bottom about getting $20/week off if you enroll in Edventure More’s enriching camps, Camp Edmo and Camp EdTech, by February 28!

Edventure More’s award-winning camps are for kids entering kindergarten through eighth grade, split up by age, of course. They’re also offered all around the Bay Area.

Here are some of the fun things your kids can do at each camp:

Coming Up: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra's The Soldier's Tale - Free

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is presenting a main stage concert that sounds like a lot of fun! Joel ben Izzy (a fabulous storyteller) will narrate two tales of adventure and sorcery. The story of The Soldier's Tale is a Russian folklore of a soldier returning home from war, tricked by a devilish stranger into trading away his violin. It's accompanied by Stravinsky's music and puppetry of Lewish Mahlmann Lilliputian Players (puppetmaster Randal Metz).

The second is Luck or Wisdom?, where two gods argue over who is the strongest, leaving the fate of a young man waiting. The music for it was written by Oakland composer Stephen Saxon.

The shows are FREE. Nonmembers can enter 45 minutes before the concert, while supporting members get priority seating and can enter 60 minutes early.

When:
Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m. at Nourse Theater, SF
Saturday, February 22 at 8 p.m. at First Palo Alto United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
Sunday, February 23 at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Coming Up: New Year's Concerts - free

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra will make your new year's resolution for more culture come true. They're offering three FREE concerts around the new year. 

These star Jon Nakamatsu (Van Cliburn gold medalist) on piano, and this season's debut artist, 17-year old double bassist Jared Pabilona in:   

     Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro 

     Giovanni Bottesini: Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor 

     Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor 

According to the SFCO, "Mozart, Bottesini and Saint-Saëns were great virtuosi, writing themselves solo works to promote their double careers as composers and performing artists. Bottesini was considered the Paganini of the double bass, bringing that unwieldy instrument a measure of respect."

Concert dates: 

Dec 29 • Sunday at 3:00 • Nourse Theater, San Francisco

Dec 31 • Tueday at 8:00 • First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Jan 1 • Wedmesday at 3:00 • First Palo Alto United Methodist Church

Santa for Kids with Special Needs - Sunday 12/7

Sorry to get this out so late, but here's a call-out to families with kids who have special needs. Stanford Shopping Center's Caring Santa program is tomorrow (Sunday 12/7) from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Center Pavilion. They host the event when the mall is closed to provide a more sensory friendly environment.

Caring Santa provides a more subdued environment to visit Santa and get photos taken. In addition to the mall being closed, they turn off in-mall music, dim the lights and shut down the fountains during the events. They use a numbering system to avoid queue lines. While you wait, there are special activities and stories geared toward the kids, to help them understand what will occur during the visit.

Please RSVP if you can at http://community.abilitypath.org. Learn more about the event on this YouTube video.

To learn more about the event you can also watch this short YouTube video: 

Coming Up: American Girl and Container Stores open in Palo Alto

Normally I don't announce big store openings, but these are family favorites.

American Girl Store
The San Francisco Bay Area gets its first American Girl store on November 16, opening at Palo Alto's Stanford Shopping Center. The only other California location is Los Angeles.

If you're familiar with these stores, you'll know they're much more than just a place to buy dolls, clothing and accessories. They're enormous, sensory overload places where you can also dine (lunch, dinner, tea or dessert in their bistro), treat the doll to a new hair-do in the salon, or host a birthday party or special event. The kids can design their own t-shirts for themselves and their dolls at the "Creativi-tees" boutique. And they have anything American Girl you could ever want.

This store will be two level and 15,000 square feet. I've been in the New York City store - take my advice and don't go there on a Saturday afternoon in December!

My daughter had a good collection of American Girl things. She's no longer a doll kid, and we managed to sell everything on eBay last winter. Advice: keep the doll boxes and any boxes - and if you want to sell, do it around Christmas. We did quite well. The stuff holds its value, especially if the hair and doll are in good shape. And especially if the items you're selling are on back-order from American Girl!

The Container Store
You'll need somewhere to store all the American Girl things that will take over your house. Fortunately for you, the Container Store is opening up, also at Stanford Shopping Center. Kaching for the mall! Opening weekend is October 26-27. They'll be donating 10% of sales that weekend to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. The store does have a lot of great organizing solutions. I got a closet system there for my son's room years ago, and they have some great products you didn't know you needed until you saw them.

Coming Up: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Concerts - Free

This weekend, October 25-27, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is offering its mainstay concert #1 - the Masters. They'll perform Kernis Dreamsongs for Cello & Orchestra (a Bay Area premiere), with Joshua Roman as cello soloist, and Haydn Symphony #100. Admission is FREE. These are not specifically family concerts, so you be the judge whether your child/children can sit through it. Family concerts are November 23-24. Stay tuned to Frisco Kids for more info.

When: Friday, October 25 at 8
Where: 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco (Nourse Theater)

When: Saturday, October 26 at 8
Where: 625 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto (United Methodist Church of Palo Alto) When: Sunday, October 27 at 3
Where: 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley (First Congregational Church)