Discounted Star Trek Exhibit tickets - show ends 4/11/10

I posted here about Star Trek, the Exhibit at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.

The exhibit ends April 11, 2010 and tickets aren't cheap. You can, however, get discounted tickets at 20% off now through the end of the run. Adult tickets are $20 (instead of $25) and kids' tickets are $15 (instead of $19).

Exhibit hours are:
Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm

Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm
Friday- Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00pm

Find out more about how to get discounted tickets through Travelzoo.

Golden State Warrior Tickets $10 - no fees

http://entertainment.travelzoo.com/entertainment/781274?utm_source=top20_us&utm_medium=email_top20Travelzoo has a great deal on end-of-season Golden State Warriors tickets. You can get upper level seats for $10 (regularly $40). Lower level seats are $40 (regularly $65). There are other options as well. You'll also save on ticket fees, as they're being waived for this deal. Normally they run $10 a ticket.

Tickets are good for these games:

Friday, April 2 vs. New York Knicks


Sunday, April 11 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Tuesday, April 13 vs. Utah Jazz
 
You can get discounted Warriors tickets by clicking here and using the code WARRIORS.

Coming Up: Union Street Spring Festival and Easter Parade

This Sunday is San Francisco's 19th annual Spring Celebration and Easter Parade on Union Street. Running from Gough to Fillmore (on Union Street), you'll find kids' activities like bounce houses, a climbing wall, arts/crafts, a petting zoo, pony rides, and musicians.

There's also a wacky Easter parade (which starts at 2:00).

Organizers describe the parade as "not your average Street Fair or formal Parade. It can best be described as wonderful, wacky, elegant and fabulous, with everything from roller-blading cows and creative self-propelled mini-floats to garden areas, sophisticated fashions and beautiful classic and art cars."

Don't miss it! The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coming Up: Michael's Craft Demos and Projects in April

Michael's Arts & Crafts has severeal craft demonstrations in April. Here's what you can do:

April 3 - Free Family Easter Event - make an Easter Pail
April 23 - Crop Night - 5-8:45 p.m. (fee)
April 24 - Free Family Event - Puffy Clay Magnet - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For Michael's crafts event details, click here.

Find a Michael's store near you - look at the top of the page.

Coming Up: Home Depot Kids' Workshop - Butterfly House

Home Depot offers some fun workshops for kids to make their own projects. Coming up? A butterfly house.

When: Saturday, April 3rd, 9 a.m. to noon

Age: kids 5-12
Where: Home Depot
Cost: Free
RSVP: none

Coming Up: SF Zoo Bunny Patch Opens

My daughter can't get enough of bunnies - especially since we won't get her a bunny as a pet. So she will love the San Francisco's Zoo upcoming event - Big Bunny's Spring Fling. Your kids will have fun at Big Bunny's Neighborhood, with "hare tales" at story time, bunny petting at the bunny patch*, crafts, music, puppet shows, photos with the Big Bunny. Plus they can plant and take home their own carrot seeds.

When: March 31-April 4, 2010
Where: SF Zoo - 1 Zoo Road, SF
Cost: free with paid admission. Plus, get one free child's admission (age 4-14) if the child brings a stuffed bunny.
RSVP: none

*Bunny patch is weather-dependent

Get 'Yer Tickets - A Foolish Fairytale

I love taking my kids to youth theater productions. They can see peers on stage - it makes the shows come alive.

Hillbarn Theater in Foster City is presenting A Foolish Fairytale - a new musical. An evil witch puts a kingdom under her spell, and a young girl needs to break it.

Shows are:

Thursday, April 1 at 7:30

Friday, April 2 at 7:30

Saturday, April 3rd at 2

Tickets are $5. To purchase tickets, call (650) 349-6411. You might be able to get tickets online, but you have to create an account first.

Spring Break Ideas for San Francisco

Spring Break is coming up. If you missed it, I did some posts on what to do:

Spring Break in San Francisco - with Kids

Spring Break in Lake Tahoe - with Kids

Spring Break in Arizona - with Kids

Easter Egg Hunts - I updated my post with some great ones listed by Travel is More Fun with Kids.

Spring in San Francisco - what's new???

If you're wondering what's new this spring in the San Francisco Bay Area, here are a few things to look into.

Mirror Maze (Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf): Pier 39’s newest attraction just opened — Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze. I wanted to include a picture of it, but they didn't make any available on their media page. What's up with that? This old-fashioned maze is good for all ages. Find your way through this columned building, making sure not to bump your bodies on the mirrors in between. It costs $5 to go through as many times as you want. Reviews have been positive.

Great America (5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara): If the kids are into theme parks, Great America in Santa Clara opens on March 28. In addition to the roller coasters and other “thrill” rides, they’re debuting the new Planet Snoopy area for the younger set. If staying in San Francisco, you’ll need to rent a car to get there. 

San Francisco Zoo’s Bunny Patch (One Zoo Road): The San Francisco Zoo is fun, even without special exhibits. They have a great train ride, a petting zoo, a carousel, and lots of animals. But from March 31 until April 4, they have a bunny patch where kids can pet the furry creatures and get pictures with a larger (human in a costume) version. Plus, there’s story time, and carrot seed plantings to make and take home. 

Coming Up: Crafts at Michael's - Easter/Spring

Michael's Arts & Crafts has a bunch of craft demonstrations this month as part of National Crafts Month. Here's what you can do:

March 26 - Crop Night (Scrapbooking - $5 fee) - 5-8:45 p.m.
March 27 - Free Family Easter Event - Spring Thing - Presto Dots - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 28 - Wilton Spring Cookie Decorating Demo - from 1-3 p.m.

April 3 - Free Family Easter Event - make an Easter Pail
April 23 - Crop Night - 5-8:45 p.m. (fee)
April 24 - Free Family Event - Puffy Clay Magnet - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For Michael's crafts event details, click here.

Find a Michael's store near you - look at the top of the page.

Coming Up: Debbie Friedman in Concert

If you're Jewish, you've probably heard of Debbie Friedman. You sing her songs even if you don't realize she wrote them.

She'll be in concert at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco (2 Lake Street) this Saturday, March 27th at 8 p.m. The concert starts with Havdallah. The event benefits Shalom Bayit, a wonderful organization working to end domestic violence.

Tickets are $36 (or $18 if you 17 or under). Seating is gneral admission. Get them here or call (510) 451-8874.

Coming Up: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Well, you'll need your automobile to get to Hiller Aviation Museum. Then you can see their 7th annual Planes & Trains display.

You'll see diverse and colorful passenger and freight trains from current and past times, from countries like Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland. Of course their planes will be on display too, including the one you get to walk through.

When: March 27-April 11, 2010
Where: Hiller Aviation Museum (601 Skyway Road, San Carlos)
Cost: free with admission

Restaurant.com coupon codes good through 3/31/10

This is the weekly posting with Restaurant.com coupon codes. I use the site frequently to save on meals when we eat out. They normally offer $25 gift certificates for $10, which is a good deal. But they usually run additional specials, like this week's - $25 gift certificates for $2. The sale is good through 11:59 p.m. midnight PST Wednesday, March 31st.

Here's how it works. Go to their website, restaurant.com and search for restauants. Find ones you want and add them to your cart. This week, use the code COOK to get the discount (then hit apply), and it shows up when you check out. Pay with a credit card and print out the certificates (or keep them online and print them out when you want to use them). They say they're good for a year, however one loyal reader pointed out that in California, there's no expiration date.

Small print: The certificates have some restrictions - listed before you purchase (like maybe dining on Sunday to Thursday or buying at least 2 entrees), but if you find a restaurant you like or want to try - it's a great deal. The sale is good through March 31st, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Restaurant.com is a Frisco Kids affiliate, which means if you purchase using my link, I'll theoretically get a small commission. If I earn enough over time to warrant them paying out. At $2 a coupon, that probably won't happen, so I see it as just a service to my readers! I've been using them for over a year myself, so it's something I'm comfortable sharing with you.

Easter Egg Hunts in the San Francisco Bay Area

Easter is coming up. If you celebrate the holiday, it might be fun to do a group egg hunt rather than your own at home (or you can do both). Easter egg hunts are scheduled all over the Bay Area, including Berkeley, Oakland, Capitola, Felton, Folsom, Petaluma, and San Francisco (though the Union Street parade/fair isn't actually an egg hunt, but has other fun stuff).

Travel is More Fun with Kids has an awesome list. Check it out here.

BeachCalifornia.com has some too. The egg hunts are primarily April 3rd and 4th.

Coming Up: Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic - kaleidoscope

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics are a fun way to get your kids making things. And they're free!

Here's what's coming up:

Make a Kaleidoscope

Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 10 a.m.

to sign up, check out the Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic website.

Next month: April 10, 2010 - make a mini baseball game.

Third Night Free at Half Moon Bay Hotels

If you're looking for a staycation deal - 15 Half Moon Bay Hotels are offering the third night free, according to Conde Nast travel. The first hotel they mention is the San Benito House, which holds a special place in my heart, because it's where my now-husband first told me he loved me - on Valentine's Day (awwww....) And we're celebrating our 12th wedding anniverary next week.

The participating hotels are: Beach House Hotel, Cameron’s Inn, Comfort Inn, Goose & Turrets, Half Moon Bay Inn, Half Moon Bay Lodge, Holiday Inn, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn, Mill Rose Inn, Oceano Hotel & Spa, Old Thyme Inn, Pescadero Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast, San Benito House, The Inn at Mavericks, and The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.

Travel is good through April 15th. For details, check out the Conde Nast story or Visit Half Moon Bay website.

Coming Up: Mother-Daughter Event with Queen Bees & Wannabes Author Rosalind Wiseman

Rosalind Wiseman's books are on my reading list, and this opportunity sounds too good to pass up. On Monday, April 26th, from 7-9 p.m., she's doing a book tour with an interactive mother/daughter discusion.

Moms & daughters (ages 8-14) can attend this "fun-filled evening of mother-daughter bonding." The discussion will be about confidence, friendships, sweat-inducing moments and common mother-daughter challenges. A Q&A session and book signing will follow. It's a two-hour event that's sure to get conversation flowing.

Cost: $40 - which includes two tickets, refreshments and two books: Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, for the New Realities of Girl World and Rosalind's debut young adult novel Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials. Daughters also get a free sample of Dove Go Fresh deodorant. Now that last part might be a little embarassing.

Where: Menlo-Atherton High School (555 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park)

When: Monday, April 26th from 7-9 p.m.

RSVP/Tickets: Kepler's books.

Coming Up: San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

If you like gardening, you won't want to miss the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. Check out the highlights page, which shows some of the activities you can expect at the show, like exhibition gardens, bonsai trees, new plants, seminars and gardening technologies.

Lest you think this is just for adults, they have kids' programming too. Sproutopia is the kid stuff, with hands-on demonstrations and activities. Plus there are gardens created by kids on display.

When: March 24-28, 2010
Where: San Mateo Event Center (2495 South Delaware Street). Get directions here.
Cost: If you order tickets online it's supposed to be cheaper: $4/kid ages 5-16. $16/adults age 17+. Free age 4 and under.

Spring Break in Arizona

We usually spend Spring Break in Arizona - since my family lives there. If you're thinking of going, here are a few posts from the past that might help.

Four Kid-Friendly Hotels in Phoenix and Scottsdale - Picking a hotel the whole family will love is key. Since writing this, I learned that the Fairmont Scottsdale is launching a new kids' program this summer. It will be a year-round National Geographic Exploreres program. They'll introduc a small fee with the program (it's currently free), but should add a lot of value.

Tanque Verde Dude Ranch - if you've always wanted to stay at a dude ranch, and have your kids take horseback riding lessons, check out Tanque Verde. There are other dude ranches in Arizona, including Rancho de los Caballeros, which I wrote about for Shape Magazine. They also have a kids' program.

Tucson Children's Museum - we loved this kids' museum in Tucson.

Arizona Science Center - this downtown science museum is a lot of fun. We go almost every time we visit Phoenix.

Backroads and Byways of Arizona - my friend Jackie Dishner wrote this great book, with lots of daytrips and weekend trips that even native Arizonans will enjoy.*

Jackie's latest venture is a blog with two other Arizona travel writers - it looks good! It's called Travel & Adventure in Arizona.

When visiting any city, it's good to look for deals before you go. Here are two good websites from my Cities on the Cheap friends.

Phoenix on the Cheap

Tucson on the Cheap

Don't forget to wear sunscreen and drink lots of water! Let me know your favorite kid-friendly spots.

Coming Up: Crafts at Michael's

Michael's Arts & Crafts has a bunch of craft demonstrations this month as part of National Crafts Month. Here's what you can do:

March 20 - Michael's Birthday Bash (Make it/Take it with purchase) from 1-3 p.m.
March 21 - Easter Egg Event (Make it/Take it with purchase) - from 1-3 p.m.
March 26 - Crop Night (Scrapbooking - $5 fee) - 5-8:45 p.m.
March 27 - Free Family Easter Event - Spring Thing - Presto Dots - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 28 - Wilton Spring Cookie Decorating Demo - from 1-3 p.m.

April 3 - Free Family Easter Event - make an Easter Pail
April 23 - Crop Night - 5-8:45 p.m. (fee)
April 24 - Free Family Event - Puffy Clay Magnet - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For Michael's crafts event details, click here.

Find a Michael's store near you - look at the top of the page.

Review: Jumpin Jac Travel Pouch

I pride myself on being an organized person, but in reality, I’m not organized at all. When it comes to taking trips, I have my airplane itineraries scattered throughout my email inbox, along with the car rental reservations. Trip specific information I keep in random paper folders on my desk and filing cabinet. I do keep an Excel spreadsheet template with a generic packing list (including one for camping and one for Mexico), but it would be nice to keep everything in one place.

While I was at the New York Times Travel Show this spring, I stopped by the booth of Jumpin Jac Travel Organizers. This is a product that is so simple and obvious I kicked myself for not inventing it first. I kept thinking about it when I got home, and they were kind enough to send me a sample to test out for the blog.

The Jumpin Jac is a low-tech folder, and you use one for each trip. On one side, there’s space for you to write all your travel arrangements, including flight information, car rental confirmation numbers, reservations, hotel, limo/taxi etc. On the other side there are printed spots for your packing list, pre-departure “to do” list, major airline, car rental and hotel phone numbers and more. You can put all your travel information into the folder (sealed on three sides), like your boarding passes, maps, invitations, etc. If you’re using the folder for business, you can also store your expense receipts in there (and write them on the folder).

They run slightly less than $2 a folder, and you can get them in packs of 3, 10, 100 or 450 (good for businesses or travel agents). I’ve already started filling one for an upcoming spring break trip. I think it will help make me a more organized person. For real!

Restaurant.com coupon codes good through 3/22/10

This is the weekly posting with Restaurant.com coupon codes. I use the site frequently to save on meals when we eat out. They normally offer $25 gift certificates for $10, which is a good deal. But they usually run additional specials, like this week's - $25 gift certificates for $3. The sale is good until Monday, March 22nd.

Here's how it works. Go to their website, restaurant.com and search for restauants. Find ones you want and add them to your cart. This week, use the code LUCKY to get the discount (then hit apply), and it shows up when you check out. Pay with a credit card and print out the certificates (or keep them online and print them out when you want to use them). They say they're good for a year, however one loyal reader pointed out that in California, there's no expiration date.

Small print: The certificates have some restrictions - listed before you purchase (like maybe dining on Sunday to Thursday or buying at least 2 entrees), but if you find a restaurant you like or want to try - it's a great deal. The sale is good through March 22, 2010 at midnight PST. Restaurant.com is a Frisco Kids affiliate, which means if you purchase using my link, I'll theoretically get a small commission. If I earn enough over time to warrant them paying out. At $3 a coupon, that probably won't happen, so I see it as just a service to my readers! I've been using them for over a year myself, so it's something I'm comfortable sharing with you.

New York City with Kids

I realize this is a blog about San Francisco, however many of you travel to other places as well. And before you travel to New York (with or without kids), you'll want to read my story for Private Clubs Magazine on 12 things you can do with kids in New York.

Deal of the Day: Bay Area Discovery Museum - Half Off Membership

Last time I published about half price tickets for the Bay Area Discovery Museum, it was quite a popular post. So I'm doing it again. This time, it's half off a membership to the museum. Through tomorrow, the deal is $49 (normally $105). They say it's the first time memberships there have been discounted.

As you might recall, the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is one of my favorite kid museums in the Bay Area. The membership is good for a year, and includes four family members. You cannot buy the membership for another family - it's nontransferable. You must activate it by September 12, 2010. For all the details, or to get the membership, click here.

The deal is through a site that's new to me, called Savvy Source. A portion of your purchase goes toward a scholarship program.

Kid-Friendly Sweet Shops in San Francisco

“Like a kid in a candy store…” — It’s a cliche, but such an apt one. San Francisco has plenty of candy stores -here are three that will make your kids really smile.

The Candy Barrel (333 Jefferson Street, Fisherman’s Wharf): Every time we go to Fisherman’s Wharf we pass by this store. Like its name, candy flows out of barrels — lots of salt water taffy in flavors like buttered popcorn, banana cream, caramel green apple, chocolate chip, and coconut. If you’re not into taffy (which I'm not - it's better in theory), there are plenty of other treats to woo you.

The Candy Store (1507 Vallejo Street, Russian Hill): The glass containers lining the walls bring back memories of candy from your youth (even if you're youthful). Choose from gumballs in bright colors, swirled lollypops, and gummies. Or go straight for the chocolate.

Fiona’s Sweet Shoppe (214 Sutter Street, Union Square): I love their logo - a girl holding a stuffed bear in one hand, and a lollipop-like balloon in the other. Fiona’s specializes in English treats, from toffees to cheweys. With pink walls and shelves filled with jars of sweets, you’ll have a hard time choosing between the chocolate limes, the gobstopping gingers, and coconut mushrooms. What the heck — try them all!



Photo by HBuzzacott/Flickr

A Change at Frisco Kids

There's an exciting change at Frisco Kids! Those of you who stop by regularly probably noticed something different - you may not have even recognized the look of the new blog page. We changed the Blogger "theme" to make it look cleaner and easier to read. And we added a header photo to make it more identifiable as a San Francisco site. The photo was taken by yours truly. Do you like it?

We also took advantages of Blogger's new "page" features - allowing us to move some of the info from the sidebar to other pages, reducing clutter on the main page. For those of you who get Frisco Kids updates by email, stop by and take a look. You'll find us at the same address, FriscoKids.net, with great new info added all the time. As usual, if you have any tips for upcoming events or info to include, please email me with it, at blog@friscokids.net.

Ovo - Cirque du Soleil discount tickets - final weekend

This weekend's performances of Cirque du Soleil's 'Ovo' are the last ones for its San Jose run.

If you haven't yet gone, there's time to get tickets - at a discount! 'Ovo' is about insects teeming with life who work, eat,crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stopriot of energy and movement and is a show for all ages.

Discounted shows are Wednesday, March 17th (8 p.m.), Friday, March 19th (4 and 8 p.m.), Saturday, March 20th (4 and 8 p.m.) and Sunday, March 21st (1 and 5 p.m.)

Ticket prices are:
Level 3 ... $39 (reg. $60)
Level 2 ... $54 (reg. $85)
Level 1 ... $60 (reg. $95)
Unfortunately there's also a $13-$15 fee per ticket (apparently full price ticket purchasers are stuck wtih the same fees).

Where: Taylor Street Bridge - San Jose
Tickets: Get them here.

Best Ice Cream Shops in San Francisco

Rice-A-Roni may be the San Francisco treat, but you won’t find people licking cones of it in the City by the Bay. For a sweet treat, go to one of San Francisco’s locally-owned ice cream shops.

Mitchell’s Ice Cream (688 San Jose Avenue): You’ll find plain vanilla at this Noe Valley ice cream institution, around since 1953, but it would be a shame to pass up Mitchell’s unique flavors, like grasshopper pie, Mexican chocolate, tropical fruit, halo halo, Kahlua mocha cream, ube (purple yam), sweet coconut, avocado, and lychee. They specialize in Asian flavors. Prepare to take a number and wait. And wait. The store is small. The line is long. But it’s worth it. It's a bit tricky finding parking near there.

Swensen’s Ice Cream (1999 Hyde Street): This is the original Swensen’s, opened in 1948. There’s no seating at this store (unlike the huge Swensen's where I grew up), but you can try the coffee milkshake or go for toasted almond or classic flavors like mint chip and pecan praline. It isn't far away, near another favorite ice cream shop, Ghirardelli. You can burn a few of those calories off while you walk back.

Bi-Rite Creamery (3619 18th Street): Admittedly this is not the best name for an ice cream shop. But they use Straus Family organic dairy to make their ice cream, mixing the cream with locally-sourced organic fruits and flavorings. Plus, the ice cream is really, really good. Try the roasted banana, orange cardamom, earl gray, ginger, honey lavender, or salted caramel varieties.

Photo by Laughing Squid/Flickr

Spring Break with the Kids in Tahoe

If you're taking the kids to Tahoe for spring break, here are a few resources:

Bay Area on the Cheap has Tahoe has the scoop on lift ticket discounts.

Tahoe Kids Guide has the details on Easter Egg Hunts in Tahoe. Unfortunately the page doesn't load very well for me, so it's hard to read. Hopefully it will work for you. I'm using Explorer. That might explain things.

What it says: There's an extensive list. Highlights include that Incline Village Parks has an Easter Egg hunt on March 27th, plus an underwater egg hunt in their pool! Alpine Meadows hosts an egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Lucky eggs have free ski passes! At Homewood, look for Easter eggs on the mountain (hopefully you won't ski over them). Squaw Valley will also have eggs hidden on the mountain (in the beginner lift area).

Tahoe Kids Guide has a calendar of events, as well.

Travel Savvy Mom has a post on five family favorites at Squaw Valley.

Do you have toddlers? Check out this Frisco Kids post on taking toddlers to Tahoe. Lots of non-skiing options, plus a list of day care sites on the slopes.

Coming Up: Michael's Craft Demos and Projects

Michael's Arts & Crafts has a bunch of craft demonstrations this month as part of National Crafts Month. Here's what you can do:

March 13 - Fun with Beads (Make it/Take it) - from 1-5 p.m.
March 14 - Lady Bug Clay Pot (Make it/Take it with purchase) from 1-3 p.m.
March 20 - Michael's Birthday Bash (Make it/Take it with purchase) from 1-3 p.m.
March 21 - Easter Egg Event (Make it/Take it with purchase) - from 1-3 p.m.
March 26 - Crop Night (Scrapbooking - $5 fee) - 5-8:45 p.m.
March 27 - Free Family Easter Event - Spring Thing - Presto Dots - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 28 - Wilton Spring Cookie Decorating Demo - from 1-3 p.m.

April 3 - Free Family Easter Event - make an Easter Pail
April 23 - Crop Night - 5-8:45 p.m. (fee)
April 24 - Free Family Event - Puffy Clay Magnet - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For Michael's crafts event details, click here.

Find a Michael's store near you - look at the top of the page.

Things to do with Kids on Spring Break in San Francisco

It's almost time for spring break! If you're looking for ideas - you'll find them here - especially if you're doing the staycation this year.

Check out the newly opened Walt Disney Family Museum. Read a review of the Walt Disney Family Museum here.

Plan some theme days, like 3 architecturally interesting churches, 3 local places to see sea creatures or find the best kid-friendly burger joint in San Francisco.

Beam me up, Scotty! See the Star Trek exhibit at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose through April 11th.

Check out the Bunny Patch at the SF Zoo, March 31-April 4th.

Play tourist and find some cheap things to do at Fisherman's Wharf. Don't forget to stop at Musee Mechanique, where for merely quarters, you can watch ancient toy machines do their thing.

Spend a few hours at the Japantown Center, where you can get funky pictures taken at Pika Pika, eat sushi from boats, get yummy crepes, explore Japanese home-goods and clothing, and pick out Japanese erasers and Hello Kitty stuff too.

Play tourist and take a fire engine tour or go to Alcatraz.

Check out the Planes & Trains exhibit at Hiller Aviation Museum, in San Carlos. It runs March 27-April 11th.

Go on a treasure hunt throughout San Francisco, looking for fabulous public art.

Take a day trip to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Make it more fun by taking the train there.

Indulge your sticker fantasies by touring Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory in Petaluma.

Go to a museum you’ve never been to (see my list on the right). Try a smaller one that’s less known, like the Randall Museum or Palo Alto Junior Museum. Check out San Francisco museums with family programming.

See the model trains at Golden Gate Park’s Conservatory of Flowers. It's only here til April 10th.
Go to a theme park. Great America in Santa Clara opens for the 2010 season on March 28th. It's open Easter weekend, April 2-4. They have a new Planet Snoopy area.

It’s crowded, but head to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. See the 3-D bug movie, the planetarium, the aquarium, and albino alligators Bonnie and Claude.

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve has great tide pools! Spot the sea anemones, sea stars, hermit crabs and more.

Splash around at the indoor swimming pool/play structure at the Silliman Family Aquatic Center in Newark.

Come up with some creative things to do at home or in the neighborhood, with this list of 60 things to do with your kids.

Have a culinary day – tasting gourmet cupcakes, finding the best cakes and taiyaki or exploring San Francisco’s Ferry Building (kids love Taylor's Refresher and the Ciao Bella gelateria).

Take a day trip to Monterey. Here is Travel Savvy Mom's 5 family favorite things to do in Monterey.

Spend the day at Fisherman’s Wharf, eating Ghirardelli ice cream, riding the carousel at Pier 39, and looking at all the arts along the street.

Movie Day! Get some Netflix, library movies or a Redbox $1 rental and cozy up to the kids and popcorn.

Lastly, if you're heading to Disneyland, don't miss my post on Disneyland Spring Break Deals.

Coming Up: Sunday Streets

The popular San Francisco Sunday Streets begins this Sunday, March 14th! Get out and walk, run, bike, skate - all without cars on the road.

Lots to do, with a 3.3 mile route. Enjoy yoga, free salsa lessons, a family fitness fair, bike programs (including free rentals!), rock climbing walls, juggling, roller skating (free rentals!), dance workouts and more. Check out the extensive schedule here.

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: the Embarcadero (China Basin to Fisherman's Wharf)

Cost: free

Future Sunday Streets:

April 11 - Great Highway

April 18 - Bayview

May 23 - Bayview

June 20 - Mission

July 11 - Mission

August 22 - Great Highway, Golden Gate Park

September 19 - Western Addition

October 24 - Civic Center, Tenderloin

Coming Up: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Special Deal

I really enjoy the shows at Broadway by the Bay - so much so that I ushered there for a few years. The new show is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Here's a description: "Let the fun begin as we travel to the French Riviera with the riotously funny, Tony-nominated musical comedy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Based on the popular film, this is the story of two very funny con men who try to out-con each other. The battle between them will take you on a hilarious adventure filled with twists, turns and great big laughs!"

The movie version featured Steve Martin and Michael Caine.

Frisco Kids readers can get $10 off when ordering tickets. Use the code word "FREDDY" and tell them Alyson sent you.

Or go to the family matinee on Saturday April 10th at 2 pm and tickets are just $15/adults, $5/kids.

When: Thursdays-Sundays, April 1-18th

Cost: $13.50-$48

Where: San Mateo Performing Arts Center (600 N. Delaware St., San Mateo)

Tickets: Buy online or call the box office at (650) 579-5565

Free Stuff

Finney's Friday Free Stuff has good stuff this week! Get a free ticket to San Jose's Retrodome theater. If that sounds familiar, it's because you've read about the Retrodome on Frisco Kids. You can also get a free walking tour through San Francisco City Guides. Finney neglects to mention that the tours are usually free anyway, but...

To find out how to get your free Retrodome ticket, check out Finney's Friday Free Stuff page.

Restaurant.com coupon codes good through 3/16/10

This is the weekly posting with Restaurant.com coupon codes. I use the site frequently to save on meals when we eat out. They normally offer $25 gift certificates for $10, which is a good deal. But they usually run additional specials, like this week's - $25 gift certificates for $2. It's good until Tuesday, March 16th.

Here's how it works. Go to their website, restaurant.com and search for restauants. Find ones you want and add them to your cart. This week, use the code BITE to get the discount (then hit apply), and it shows up when you check out. Pay with a credit card and print out the certificates (or keep them online and print them out when you want to use them). They say they're good for a year, however one loyal reader pointed out that in California, there's no expiration date.

Small print: The certificates have some restrictions - listed before you purchase (like maybe dining on Sunday to Thursday or buying at least 2 entrees), but if you find a restaurant you like or want to try - it's a great deal. The sale is good through March 16, 2010 at midnight PST.

Restaurant.com is a Frisco Kids affiliate, which means if you purchase using my link, I'll theoretically get a small commission. If I earn enough over time to warrant them paying out. At $2 a coupon, that probably won't happen, so I see it as just a service to my readers! I've been using them for over a year myself, so it's something I'm comfortable sharing with you.

Coming Up: Movie Night, Clowns and Gaming Night in Half Moon Bay

Coming up this month at the Half Moon Bay library - some fun events!

BOSWICK THE CLOWN Saturday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. A fun way to introduce kids to reading.

MOVIE NIGHT - Saturday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. - This month's feature CARS. Doors close at 6:30 p.m.

GAMING NIGHT - Saturday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. - Test your electronic gaming skills.

Coming Up: Book Exchange, Up Screening, Star Trek, Cat Adoption

The Atherton library has some fun events coming up:

Cat/Kitten Adoption Fair - Saturday, March 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Homeless Cat Network of San Mateo. All cats/kittens are fostered. Foster parents will be available for questions. A home safety visit is required for all adoptions.

Movie Night: Star Trek - Friday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. Rated PG-13.

(Don't forget about the Star Trek exhibit at the Tech Museum in San Jose)

Ice Cream Social and Book Exchange - Saturday, March 20 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Bring a book, take a book, and enjoy some ice cream.

Friday Flicks: Up - Friday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Up is an animated comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. Rated PG

Disneyland Spring Break Deals

It's tough to get deals at Disneyland, but here's one to consider if you're going over spring break: get a three day park hopper ticket for $149. Individual day-tickets cost $79, and a park hopper ticket usually costs $204 a person.

If you're a AAA member, you'll also want to check with them. They offer discount tickets too(though I'm not sure the current rates). AAA (and Disney) has a special right now - buy a three night hotel/five day ticket package and get two extra hotel nights free.

I was going to recommend Disney's Give a Day, Get a Disney Day volunteer program, where you volunteer through one of Disney's designated charity programs, and earn a free ticket to a Disney park this year. However, they've already reached their goal of one million tickets - and it's only March! You can still volunteer, but they won't reward you with a free themepark ticket.

It's worth it to stay in the park - Disney has three hotels on property. Stop by your local AAA office and ask for the Jan/Feb issue of AAA Traveler (it's free). I wrote an article in that issue about the benefits of staying on the Disneyland property. If you decide to stay nearby, here's my review of the Doubletree Anaheim.

Finally, for some fun, read the top 12 things I learned at Disneyland. You won't want to go to the park until you've read this!
Photo copyright: Deborah Abrams Kaplan - all rights reserved

Coming Up: Crafts & Juggling in Millbrae

Coming up at the Millbrae Library:

Drop-In Crafts - Saturday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. A new crafting project every second and fourth Saturday of the month. This month there's a special St. Patrick’s Day project. For ages 7 and up – if younger, parent help required.

Jeremy the Juggler - Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss this evening of juggling, comedy, and just plain craziness! Bring the entire family for this event.

Unconventional Museums for an Unconventional City

San Francisco has an alternative kind of vibe. So why not check out some of San Francisco's alternative attractions? No, nothing on the dark side. I'm talking about museums.

The Beat Museum (540 Broadway): You probably know that North Beach is the home to City Lights Bookstore, founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. History remembers him for standing trial for obscenity, after publishing Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” You can see a signed first edition of the book he published at the Beat Museum, also in North Beach. Along with it, you’ll find a wacky collection of memorabilia from Beatniks like Jack Kerouac, including Kerouac bobble heads, old issues of Playboy that feature Kerouac, and a 1961 check Kerouac wrote to a liquor store. Plus, you have to love a museum with a phone number like this: 800-KER-OUAC.




Cartoon Art Museum (655 Mission Street): While many people might not view cartoons as “high art,” drawing them takes a special talent and some attract a cult-like following. Whether or not you’re following the plotlines of Batman or know the difference between Japanese Manga and Anime, you’ll enjoy the range of styles found at the Cartoon Museum. Kids will get a kick out of seeing cartoons hanging on the wall (and sometimes they have cartoon drawing classes for kids). And, by the way, the museum’s phone number is 800-CAR-TOON.

Photo by Wallyg/Flickr

Tech Talk - Science & Technology Museums in the Bay Area

Given the Bay Area's hold on science and technology, it's not shocking that there are so many related museums in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most are outside the City, but if you’re a fan, you’ll get in your car and get there.

Lawrence Hall of Science (Centennial Drive, Berkeley): This monument to science sits atop the Berkeley Hills. You’ll drive through University of California at Berkeley’s campus and the football stadium, snaking uphill until you get to the top. Just try and keep the kids from climbing on the giant strand of DNA sculpture outside the museum, or off the slippery stone whale. Let them have their fun, though, so you can ogle the view of San Francisco (and check out the campus below). When you get inside, you'll find a hands-on biology lab, plus fun and interactive exhibits on planets, math, forces shaping the Bay, Kapla blocks, and more.

The Tech Museum of Innovation (201 South Market Street, San Jose): This downtown San Jose museum is a family favorite. Plus they have one day a month when you can get in for free! Whether watching the IMAX movie, riding a simulated bobsled, or creating your own robot movements, the adults will have just as much fun as the kids. The multi-story museum has plenty of up-to-date interactive exhibits that teach science and technology without boring anyone. Plus, their Star Trek exhibit runs through April 11th.

The Computer History Museum (1401 North Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View): This is a museum for die-hard computer fans (of which I am not). It was a little sad to see a version of the Merlin electronic game from youth in a glassed-in case (along with other fond memories like Atari Pong and a TRS-80 computer), but I guess that’s history. Look for them in the giant room full of displayed computer equipment. For non-computer enthusiasts, watch the film on computer chess games and how IBM’s Deep Blue beat chess-champion Gary Kasparov.

The Exploratorium (3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco): You can’t mention science museum without mentioning the Exploratorium. This warehouse structure at the Palace of Fine Arts makes up for what it lacks in ambiance with intriguing and entertaining exhibits on psychology, biology, sight, sound and more.

Photo: copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan - all rights reserved. Photo taken at the Exploratorium.

Free Alice in Wonderland audiobook download

You probably have seen all the advertisements for the new Alice in Wonderland movie by Tim Burton. Given that it looks a little scary, I probably won't be taking my kids.

However I'm embarassed to admit I've never actually read the book (even being an English minor in college). Audiofile is offering a free download of the Alice in Wonderland audiobook, until March 16th. Now I can listen to it on my iPod after walking the kids to school!

All you have to do is give them your email address, and you can download it right away. Look for the free download link on the top right part of the page.

Daytrip: San Francisco from the Bay - by Ferry

There’s a reason the Bay features so prominently in the region’s moniker. This San Francisco body of water connects the City to the East, South and North Bays. See it all from a boat!

Sausalito Ferry: The Golden Gate Ferry can shuttle you to Marin, including quaint Sausalito. It’s such a good time that the prestigious Society of American Travel Writers voted it the second most exciting ferry ride in the world. From the water, you'll see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Berkeley Hills, Alcatraz, and San Francisco. Feeling adventurous? Rent a bike from Bike and Roll in North Beach or Fisherman’s Wharf, and cycle over to the Ferry Plaza to catch your water taxi. Some people take the ferry one way and then bike the other, to experience the Golden Gate Bridge from above and below.

Tiburon: Several ferries can take you to Tiburon, an upscale town on the Marin coast. Popular with locals, take the boat to Sam’s in Tiburon for Sunday Brunch. A dining spot since 1920, this bay-side restaurant is a favorite for its views and its menu. Try the crab cake benedict or mussels in garlic.

Angel Island: This island, near Alcatraz, is the largest in the Bay Area. It was used as a military base and immigration stop throughout the years. After ferrying over, join a naturalist-led kayak tour, hike, mountain bike, or explore the military sites. Several ferries can take you there.

Photo: copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan - all rights reserved.

Star Trek: The Exhibit

You have to love a museum exhibit that encourages you to come in costume, but won't let you bring weapons, shields or phasers. I'm talking about the Star Trek exhibit at the Tech Museum in San Jose.

The exhibit features more than 200 Star Trek artifacts. While there, you'll see:

--a replica of the bridge from the U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701 as featured in the original Star Trek television series --Iconic gadgets from the Star Trek universe (a tricorder; a phaser, and a communicator - all from the original series)
--The actual shooting model for the Borg Cube, as seen on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager and in the movie Star Trek: First Contact
--ride on a Star Trek flight simulator

Plus, on certain days, you can watch Star Trek in the IMAX theater. It's shown most days, usually around 4:00 or 5:00, and sometimes later too.

It's not cheap. The exhibit costs $25 for adults (IMAX and simulator are extra fees) and $19 for kids. It does include museum admission. You can save by going in a group of 10 or more, or by being a member.

If you go, download the activity guide and educational guides - they're free and on the bottom of the Star Trek exhibit page.

The exhibit runs through April 11, 2010.

Get 'Yer Tickets - Sleeping Beauty's Wedding

It's every little girl's dream: a princess AND a wedding.

The Peninsula Ballet is performing Sleeping Beauty's Wedding on March 27th & 28th at the Mountain Veiw Center for Performing Arts. It's performed along with Indefinable, a world premeire.

Enjoy the ballet and Mozart concert for $31/adults, $27/senior & youth, $23/kids.

Get 20% off tickets by ordering before March 8th online. If you want to order (full price) by phone, call 800-595-4849.

Coming Up: Baby Yoga and more in Woodside

Coming Up at the Woodside Library:

Babies & Books Musical Storytime - Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Newborn to 24 months. Rhymes, songs and lap-sit activities for parents and infants!

Baby Yoga - Tuesdays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 from 10 AM to 10:30 a.m. For babies aged 0-18 months; come with an adult and a comfortable pillow and stretch in a relaxing setting! 20 spaces only so prior sign-up is required.

Saturday Spring Storytime Series - Saturday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Fun for all ages! This pilot program is shared with Portola Valley so a series of 4 Family Storytimes is scheduled before school’s out. Join us at Woodside for the beginning event.

Coming Up: Toddler Dance, Family Games & Paws for Tales in Brisbane

Coming up at the Brisbane Library this month:

Toddler Dance Program with Andrew Gomez - Saturday, March 6 at 11:30 a.m.
Andrew Gomez makes his Brisbane debut with a set of rollicking songs sure to get your feet in motion. Fun for the whole family!

Family Game Night - Friday, March 19 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Wii, board games and puzzle fun.

Paws for Tales - Wednesday, March 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Children ages 5 and up are invited to read to some very smart and book-friendly dogs. Advance sign-ups are strongly recommended and a parent or guardian must sign a release form prior to the child reading.

Birthday freebies

Unforuntately, there's no free ticket to Disneyland on your birthday this year, but there are still plenty of birthday freebies you can score.

The Suddenly Frugal blog listed 14 of them this week, including free ice cream from Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and a BOGO free Blizzard from Dairy Queen. But there's more. Join some store clubs and get free goodies from Toys 'R Us, Sephora, Red Robin, California Pizza Kitchen, Denny's, Buca di Beppo, Boston Market, etc. Read the full post for details on birthday freebies.

If you like those, check out the new book, same as the blog name. Read the review of Suddenly Frugal here.

I ran a post on the birthday freebie topic last year, and include a few other birthday freebies, like free photos from Olan Mills, food from Sonic Burgers & Old Spaghetti Factory, invitations from Diddams and a few others. Check those birthday freebies out here.

And for those looking for Bay Area birthday locations, I have a post dedicated to that too. Happy birthday bargain hunting and party planning!

Coming Up: SFUSD community budget meetings

Thanks to my friends at SF CityMommy for alerting us to these important San Francisco Unified School District community budget meetings. The district thinks it will need to CUT $113 million from its budget over the next two years.

If you're concerned about this, please consider going to a community budget meeting run by the district. Upcoming meetings are below:

"YOU ARE INVITED:
Learn about the largest cuts to education funding in California history and discuss ways our district can address these cuts.

March 10, 2010; 6-8pm Thurgood Marshall High School; 45 Conkling St. (near Silver Ave.)
March 11, 2010; 6-8pm Francisco Middle School; 2190 Powell St. (at Francisco St.)

Free Childcare and Spanish and Chinese interpretation will be available at all events - please call (415) 249-9293 to reserve.

See Oscar Movies in the San Francisco Bay Area

It's a little silly that there are 10 movies competing in the Academy Awards best film category this year. For those of us with kids, it's quite difficult to get out to see that many movies!

Two theater companies are trying to make our lives easier.

Select AMC theaters will show five movies each on Saturday, March 6th. movies, usually starting at 10:30 a.m.

Cinemark/Century Theaters will also show five. Read on for details!

AMC
Below is the schedule for these San Francisco AMC theaters:

--SF's Bay Street 16
--SF's Mercado 20
--SF's Van Ness 14

10:30AM: Up (2-D)
12:45 PM: A Serious Man
2:45 PM: The Hurt Locker
6:00 PM: An Education
8:00 PM: District 9

Below is the schedule for the AMC Cupertino 16:

10:30 AM: An Education
12:45 PM: The Hurt Locker
3:15 PM: Up in the Air
6:00 PM: The Blind Side
8:30 PM: Inglourious Basterds

You can order tickets ahead of time (online) for a five-movie pass. You should be able to see individual movies as well, though you may have to purchase the tickets that day. To order tickets, scroll down to the theater you want and click on that link.

A one day pass will run you $25-30. No outside food is allowed, but they'll give you a large popcorn and unlimited drink refills.

CINEMARK/CENTURY

On March 6th, Cinemark presents present the “Best Picture & Best Director Festival.”

Films:
12:00 -Precious
2:00 - Inglourious Basterds
4:45 - The Hurt Locker
7:00 - Avatar (2D)
10:05 - Up in the Air

Participating theaters:
Century Folsom 14
Hayward - Century at Hayward
Mountain View - Century Cinemas 16
Pleasant Hill, Century 16 - Downtown Pleasant Hill
Redwood City, Century 20 Downtown
Sacramento, Century 16 Greenback Lane
San Bruno, Century at Tanforan
San Francisco, CinéArts @ Empire
San Jose, CinéArts @ Santana Row
San Rafael, Century Regency 6
Union City, Century 25 Union Landing and XD

Purchase one $25 ticket and see five “Best Picture” and “Best Director” nominated films. No passes or Supersavers.

Free: Screening of Disney movie Earth

This Friday, take the kids to a free screening of the Disney movie "Earth" at Serramonte Center. This "Go Green Movie Night" also will be be carbon-offset by Terra Pass, and you might win giveaways like SamTrans and BART transit passes to encourage public transportation.

When: Friday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Serramonte Center (Serramonte and Gellert Blvd., off Hwy 280, Daly City)

Cost: Free

Coming Up: Home Depot Kids' Workshop - Rain Gauge

Home Depot offers some fun workshops for kids to make their own projects. Coming up? A rain gauge.

When: Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. to noon

Where: Home Depot

Cost: Free

RSVP: none

Coming Up: Day of Action for California Schools

I don't need to tell you that budget cuts and the economy aren't helping California's public schools.

Tomorrow, March 4th, is a Day of Action, where you can make your voice heard.

If you want to participate, here are some ideas:

There are San Francisco Regional Rallys
• 1:30 Rally @ San Francisco Civic Center
• 5 pm Rally @ San Francisco Civic Center

-San Francisco preK-12 educators & families
• 3 pm SF preK-12 educators & families and City College of San Francisco – Mission Campus march from 24th St. & Mission to Civic Center
• 3:30 pm SF preK-12 educators & families from northeast area schools meet at Van Ness & Broadway
• 3:45 pm March from Van Ness & Broadway to the State Building at Van Ness and McAllister
• 4:00 pm Rally with UESF at the State Building (505 Van Ness), march to Civic Center

-San Francisco Latino Students & Community
• 3 pm SF Latino Student & Community Rally @ 24th St. & Mission, then march to 16th St. for Rally, followed by march form 16th St. & Mission to Civic Center

East Bay/Oakland Regional Rally
• 12 pm-4 pm Rally @ Frank Ogawa Plaza (in front of Oakland City Hall, 14th & Broadway)
• March to the Ogawa Plaza Rally from:
-UC Berkeley: 12 pm Rally @ Bancroft & Telegraph, followed by march
-Laney College: 11 am Rally, followed by march
-Fruitvale BART: Assemble @ 11 am, march @ 11:30 am
• Travel to San Francisco Regional Rally (See regional listing above)

My friend Cynthia teaches ESL at the Adult School in San Mateo. She wrote a very basic primer (for ESL students) on what's happening here.

To learn more about the Day of Action, probably the easiest thing is to google the topic. I tried "San Francisco Day of Action March 4" and came up with almost 2 million results.

Coming Up: Family Sundays at SFMOMA

Coming up this month - free Sunday family tours and hands-on activities at SFMOMA. Kids 12 and under get in free (adults don't). Family tour (aimed at ages 4-11) starts at 1:00, with special programs starting at 2:00. Generally, the day (which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) includes the tour, hands-on art creation and other programming like movies, book readings and more. You need to RSVP since space is limited.

Here's what's coming up:

March 7 & 21 - Might as well JUMP
According to SFMOMA: "Art is active! Dance through space and time. Groove to the beat. Be the star of your own kinetic art show as you investigate the media of visual freestylers like Pipilotti Rist, Christian Marclay, and Bruce Nauman"

April 4 & 18 - Less is Best
According to SFMOMA: "Appreciate the choice of a small gesture, the art of taking away. Minimalism aptly demonstrates that less can be more. The short list? Sol LeWitt, Ed Ruscha, and Robert Ryman."

May 2 - The Joy of Junk
According to SFMOMA: "Any artist knows that someone's junk is another's treasure. Collect all you can. Spiff it up. Anything can be art, according to junk connoisseur Robert Rauschenberg."

June 6 & 20 - Focus on BLUR
According to SFMOMA: "What is it? It's playing with focus and light. It's using photography tricks to alter perception. It's the artist's visual truth. That's what. Picture Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, and Sigmar Polke, for a start."

Restaurant.com coupon codes good through March 4, 2010

This is the weekly posting with Restaurant.com coupon codes. I use the site frequently to save on meals when we eat out. They normally offer $25 gift certificates for $10, which is a good deal. But they usually run additional specials, like this week's - $25 gift certificates for $5. It's only good for a few days though.

Here's how it works. Go to their website, restaurant.com and search for restauants. Find ones you want and add them to your cart. This week, use the code DINE to get the discount (then hit apply), and it shows up when you check out. Pay with a credit card and print out the certificates (or keep them online and print them out when you want to use them). They're good for a year. This week they're also offering a $10 restaurant.com gift certificate with purchase. There are some restrictions on that, which were too confusing for me to process when reading the email a 6 a.m.

Small print: The certificates have some restrictions - listed before you purchase (like maybe dining on Sunday to Thursday or buying at least 2 entrees), but if you find a restaurant you like or want to try - it's a great deal. The sale is good through March 4, 2010 at midnight PST. Restaurant.com is a Frisco Kids affiliate, which means if you purchase using my link, I'll theoretically get a small commission. If I earn enough over time to warrant them paying out. At $5 a coupon, that probably won't happen, so I see it as just a service to my readers! I've been using them for over a year myself, so it's something I'm comfortable sharing with you.

Free Movie Monday at Redbox - get code here

It's time for Free Movie Monday at Redbox! This code should be good for EVERYONE through the end of the day today (midnight Central time).

The code is: RBXLUV4U

Find a Redbox near you.

Parenting Workshops at Peninsula Libraries in March

This month, the San Mateo County Libraries are offering topical parenting workshops from the Parents Place. They give good workshops - I went to many when my kids were in preschool.

Here's what's happening:

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF BULLYING: Creating a Caring School and Involved Community

"Bullying is not about typical childhood behaviors such as sibling rivalry or one-on-one fighting between siblings and peers. It is not about impulsive, spontaneous aggression with an intended target. Bullying can have a powerful and lasting effect on the bully, the bullied, and the bystander. In this workshop parents will learn to identify what bullying is, how and when to intervene, and how you and your child can create a safe school community."

When: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 7:00 PM – Brisbane Library. Adults only.

TURNING NO INTO YES-Encouraging Cooperative Behavior in Children

"Young children are expected to test, but hearing "no" can be frustrating and exhausting. Turning 'no' into 'yes' requires patience, consistency, and creativity. Learn strategies for positive redirection and limit-setting that maintains a positive relationship."

When: Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM ( in Spanish) – East Palo Alto Library

Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM – East Palo Alto Library

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:00 PM – Belmont Library

HELP! I'M STRESSED

"This workshop explores the impact of stress on our families, and ourselves and offers practical ideas to help build resiliency during difficult times. Explores many parental coping strategies for dealing with and managing stress."

When: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:00 PM – Pacifica-Sharp Park Library

RAISING RESILIAN CHILDREN

"Something about raising children has changed in today’s fast-paced world. Parents are under continuous pressure to plan, enrich, and do this important job the one, precisely right way. This can create stress on today’s families. This workshop will focus on the challenges of raising children in today’s “hurry up” world. We will discuss strategies for raising resilient and healthy children, and how parents can establish healthy family schedules and find the right balance for their families."

When: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 PM – Pacifica-Sanchez Library

NETIQUETTE - TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO BEHAVE POSITIVELY IN CYBERSPACE

"Cyberspace is a very real locale without the rules of civilization as expected in "real space." On the internet, children and teens feel that anything goes, what they say online stays online, and that rude language is ok because everyone does it. Learn how children and teens communicate online and gain strategies to help them develop ethical and kind online behavior."

When: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:00 PM – Belmont Library

BEYOND SIBLING RIVALRY: Keeping the Peace

"In this workshop parents will discover the reasons for sibling quarrels and learn techniques to help children learn to minimize and resolve conflicts. Learn when and how to become a successful mediator and help your children develop the skills they need to become cooperative, caring, and compassionate."

When: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7:00 PM – San Carlos Library

And don't forget - Mary Sheedy Kurcinka (author of Raising Your Spirited Child and many more) is speaking in various places around the Bay Area March 22-25. Here's more information on Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's Bay Area appearances.

Coming Up: Family Crafts at Museum of Craft & Folk Art

Coming up this Saturday - Folksy Family Saturday at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art.

It's in conjunction with the museum's exhibit - Rhythm and Hues: Cloth and Culture of Mali. Award-winning children's book author, illustrator and storyteller, Baba Wagué Diakité joins the museum for a booksigning, storytelling, and snacks.

His books received a Coretta Scott King Honor, an Ana ALA Notable Children's Book award, and Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon. His best-sellers include I Lost my Tooth in Africa, The Magic Gourd, The Hatseller and the Monkeys, The Hunterman and the Crocodile.

When: Saturday, March 6 from noon - 5 p.m.
Where: Museum of Crafts & Folk Art - 51 Yerba Buena Lane
Cost: free with admission ($5/adult - kids under 18 are free)
RSVP: Betsy at (415) 227-4888 x 10