Coming Up: Whiskers - Musical Adaptation of the Velveteen Rabbit

If you like the Velveteen Rabbit, you'll want to see Whiskers, an adaptation where the rabbit tries to become "real."

When: now through March 2, 2014

Saturday 11 & 2

Sundays 1 & 3

Wednesday school matinee field trips also available at 9:30 and 11 a.m. in February 

Where: Creativity Theater at the Children's Creativity Museum (221 Fourth Street, SF)

Cost: $15/adults, $10/kids 14 and under

Tickets: here

Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

Valentine's Day is one of the easiest for craft ideas. So here's a list to keep you and the kids busy:

Check out my Pinterest page for Valentine's Day craft ideas.
Sweet treats for Valentine's Day
Make peppermint/pop rocks chocolate bark


Tinkerlab has a bunch of cute ideas including:
40 handmade cards for kids to make (not all of them Valentine's Day)
deconstructed Valentine's Day crafts
Valentine's Day bookmarks
Valentine's Day activities for preschoolers
30 Valentines's Day activities with kids

Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons has great food ideas including:
Rice Krispie treat pops
Valentine marshmallow pops
Valentine's Day s'mores pops
Valentine's Day conversation pie pops
Valentine love mix

Check out the Valentine's Day pasta we found at Costco:

Minted makes these cute heart-shaped pictures.

What are your favorite Valentine's Crafts?

Upcoming SHN Broadway Show Season 2014-15

SHN recently announced its Broadway series for 2014-15.

There are a lot of kid-friendly shows, including:
Newsies (read my Broadway review here)
Kinky Boots (oddly, I've heard it's child friendly)
Matilda the Musical (read my Broadway review here - I LOVED this show)
Motown the Musical
Phantom of the Opera

If you're not already an SHN subscriber you can get a season membership starting March 7 starting at 10 a.m. Otherwise, individual tickets will be available later.

Get your Candlestick Park seats

Candlestick Park seats are on sale, as the 49ers closed out the last season there. Sales benefit the San Francisco Recreation and Parks department youth programs. You can buy seats in pairs - $749 a pair, with a maximum purchase of eight seats (four pairs).

Purchase via Ticketmaster - not sure what fees they have on top of that. Use promo code GO49ERS. You'll get the seats in late 2014.

Chinese New Year Celebrations Bay Area 2014

Lots of Chinese New Year celebrations coming up - welcome to the year of the horse! Here are a few:

Asian Art Museum - SF
Lunar New Year Celebration
What: Traditional crafts, displays and performances
When: Sunday, February 9 - 11 to 4
Schedule:
11-11:30 a.m. - Pre-K stories
12-12:45 - lion dance
1-1:45 - lunar new year stories
11:30-4 - hands-on activities
Free with museum admission

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

What: Traditional crafts, displays and performances

When: Saturday, February 8 - noon to 4

San Francisco Zoo

What: Chinese acrobatic performances, traditional Chinese lion and folk dancing, Chinese yo-yo tricks, horse crafts, Zodiac scavenger hunt,
When: Sunday, February 9 from 11-3
Schedule of Performances:
• 11:00 - 11:30 – Red Panda Acrobat
• 11:45 - 12:15 – Chung Ngai Dance Troupe
• 1:00 - 1:30 – Red Panda Acrobat
• 1:45 -2:15 – Chung Ngai Dance Troupe
• 2:30 - 3:00 – Red Panda Acrobat
Extra: free admission that day to those born in the year of the horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 and 2014. Celebration for everyone else is free with paid admission

Playland Not at the Beach - El Cerrito
What: Animals of the Lunar Zodiac Personality quiz - and decorate your own lion mask
When: Sat/Sun - February 8-9

Chinese New Year Parade - SF
When: Saturday, February 15, 5:15 to 8 p.m.

What: The Chinese New Year Community Street Fair
When: Saturday, February 15 from 10 to 4:30, and Sunday, February 16 from 9-5:30

Chinese New Year Celebration - San Jose
What: dragon and lion dances, martial arts, other live performances
Where: Santana Row, San Jose
When: Saturday, February 22 from 1 to 4

Here are some other celebrations/activities:
Bay Area Chinese New Year celebrations on Red Tricycle
Chinese New Year celebrations in San Francisco from San Francisco Chinatown


Minnie and Lovie Recreation Center CNY Celebration - SF
What: Face painting, jump house, arts/crafts, refreshments, entertainment
When: February 8 from 11:30 to 3
Where: 650 Capitol Ave/Montana Street - SF
Cost: free

Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center - SF
What: Chinese New Year Tot Celebration; Chinese cultural dance group performances and prizes
When: Wednesday, February 12 from 9 to 10 a.m.
Where: 1199 Mason Street, SF
Cost: free

Upcoming Discounted Events: Magician, Pirates of Penzance, Classic Music in Disney Movies

Goldstar has some upcoming events that look great for kids and families. As usual with Goldstar, they are 50% off the retail price. Unfortunately to look at the events you have to log in, but I'll give prices/dates here.

San Francisco Magic Show with Timothy Noonan
This show is at the Aquarium of the Bay, and it's a 75 minute show with slight of hand illusions and comedy. Noonan has been doing magic shows since 1988, and did more than 3,000 performances of Wizard's Secrets at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel.

When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through March 30. Fridays are at 7 p.m., and Sat/Sun are at 2 p.m.
Price: $12.50 (retail $25) plus ticket fee
Tickets: here

Classical Music in Walt Disney's Early Movies
Disney historian Ross Care gives an introduction to the use of classical movies in Walt Disney's early films. The kids will learn about opera from the Merola Opera Program executive director and includes screenings of animated shorts, plus a live performance. The show is at the Walt Disney Family Museum in SF's Presidio.

When: Saturday, February 8 at 3:00
Price: $10 (retail $20) plus ticket fee
Tickets: here


Musical Comedy - the Pirates of Penzance: Children's Production of Delightful Adventure
This show, in San Jose, is a Gilbert and Sullivan show with famed songs and fun costumes.

When: Thursday, February 27 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 1 at noon. The other show already sold out!
Price: $9 (retail $18) plus ticket fee
Tickets: here

Coming Up: Singalong with the East Bay Children's Choir - Free

This weekend, February 8-9, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is offering free family-friendly concerts for its Family Concert series, in San Francisco, San Mateo and Oakland. The concerts last 45 minutes. This one is a singalong with the East Bay Children's Choir, their fourth collaboration, featuring songs about animals.

When: Saturday, February 8 (2 and 3:30)

Where: 199 Museum Way, San Francisco (the Randall Museum)

When: Sunday, February 9 (noon)
Where: 388 9th Street, Oakland (Oakland Asian Cultural Center) 

When: Sunday, February 9 (3:30)
Where: (College of San Mateo Theater) directions here

The concerts are free, and doors open 30 minutes before the performance.