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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Coming Up: Trains and Planes

It's on it's way out - so stop by and see the 8th annual Planes & Trains display at Hiller Aviation Museum.

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: through May 1, 2011
Where: Hiller Aviation Museum (601 Skyway Road, San Carlos)
Cost: free with admission

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Baskin Robbins 31 cent scoop night - tonight!

You got your free Ben & Jerrys, now it's time for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins. Take advantage tonight from 5-10 p.m., as the company donates money to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.  Find a Baskin Robbins near you.

Cinco de Mayo in the Bay Area 2011

SAN FRANCISCO
Where: Dolores Park
When: May 7, 10 a.m. on
What: San Francisco Cinco de Mayo festival (dance, kids zone, music)
Cost: Free


SOUTH BAY
Where: Downtown San Jose (parade starts at Santa Clara/Market St). Festival is at Discovery Meadow.
When: Sunday, May 1. Parade starts at 10, festival runs until 7 p.m.
What: Fair and parade
Cost: $2-$5 for the fair


EAST BAY
Where: Habitot in Berkeley (2065 Kittredge)
When: May 5 from 9:30 to 12:30
What: create Mexican paper flowers, decorate pottery, "shop" in the Mexican mercado (for fun, not purchase), story time.
Cost: regular admission ($9)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Coming Up: Queen's Day Dutch Fair and More

Last I heard we didn't have a queen in the United States, but we can celebrate one from another country. How does tulips, Danish cheese, a Dutch fair (where they'll sell herring and cookies, among other items), Dutch kids' games, live music, a beer garden (a beer garden!). Celebrate Queen's Day in Union Square on April 30th. Here are all the details.

Here's the partial schedule:

On the Square

noon – 6: Dutch fair, flea market & beer garden
12:30 – 1: kids soccer demo
1 – 2: kids activities & games
2 – 2:30: opening ceremony


Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter Events in the SF Bay Area - 2011

Easter is coming up this weekend - if you are looking for things to do, don't forget to check our list of Bay Area Easter activities.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Earth Day Activities and Freebies 2011

Happy Earth Day! If you missed the previous posts, I did one on Earth Day activities in the Bay Area, and one on an Earth Day stroll on Saturday, at Chrissy Field.

Starbuck's is offering a free iced or hot brewed coffee or tea if you bring in your own mug on Friday, April 22 (thanks to Cookies and Clogs for the post), and Peet's retail locations is offering a free medium beverage with the purchase of any full priced mug or tumbler on Friday. Every day, though, they give you 10 cents off a drink with your own mug, 25 cents off when you reuse your coffee bag and free coffee grounds for your garden (Starbuck's offers free grounds as well).

Coming Up: Parent-Child Cooking Class

Our friends at A Little Yumminess are hosting a parent-child cooking class - making empanadas, dumplings and mocktails. Yummy!

When: Saturday, May 7 from 3-5 p.m.
Where: 18 Reasons (Guerrero and 18th Street, SF)
Details and tickets: Here
Cost: $40 for one parent/child combo ($10 for each additional child)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Deal of the Day: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom pass

Get an unlimited pass to Six Flags parks for $49.99-$59.99, which includes lots of other freebies. Including:
-unlimited admission to all 13 Six Flags parks
-free tickets for friends on select days
-free admission to Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park events
-a $300 coupon book
-pass is good through 2011

Get a season pass for $49.99 (same price as a one-day admission) if you and three others buy tickets together. Otherwise, pay $59.99 for the pass. Get them here on Travelzoo through May 31. The Bay Area Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is in Vallejo.

Coming Up: Earth Stroll at Crissy Field

Take a stroll for Earth Day at Crissy Field, and meet rescue animals, Tree Frog Trek's traveling reptiles, check worm compost bins, play parachute games, build sandcastles, enter a bike rodeo, build enviro-sculptures, plus more fun games and activities.

For other Bay Area Earth Day activities, see this Frisco Kids' list.

When: Saturday, April 23 from 10-3
Where: Crissy Field Center, 1199 East Beach in the Presidio
Cost: Free

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Coming Up: Big Bunny Spring Fling at SF Zoo

Check out the Big Bunny Spring Fling at the San Francisco Zoo. Explore the world of rabbits. Story time, bunny time close-up, puppet shows, bunny crafts, dancing and more. And meet the Nestle Quick Bunny at 11, 1 and 3.

When: April 22-24, 10-4
Where: SF Zoo (1 Zoo Road0
Cost: Free with admission

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Coming Up: Kids World Events at Serramonte Center

Come to Serramonte Center for "KidsWorld," a free, fun and educational after school monthly program. 

According to Serramonte, "KidsWorld events include festive, interactive performances with singing, dancing, games, crafts and fun learning opportunities. Each event teaches students a variety of topics including music, culture, art and even etiquette. The after school program also provides a place for kids to come and socialize in a fun, safe and educational environment. Each monthly event is themed and filled with arts and crafts activities, hands-on fun, festive music and more."

Here's the schedule: 
Tuesday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17, at 5:30
Tuesday, June 20, at 5:30
Membership is free, and is good for discounts throughout the shopping center, entry into free monthly events and more. 

The event is at the Serramonte Center, in the JC Penny wing, between Diamonds Forever and For Love 21)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Coming Up: April events at Play Cafe in Oakland


Play Cafe in Oakland has some fun events coming up in April:

Fur, Scales, and Tails Petting Animal Show: 
You'll see a variety of animals, including baby chicks, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles, snakes, ducks, tortoises, lizards, tarantulas, roosters, giant millipedes, frogs, chickens, hairless rats and more! The animals are tame and child-friendly.

After the last animal is presented, the audience will then get additional time to hold and pet some of their favorite animal stars. Additional photos and videos may be taken at this time. 

Note: (pictures and videos may be taken throughout the entire show).


Date: April 19th
Time: 11am
Price: $7 per person 


DAN CHAN THE MAGIC MAN 
His unique combination of talents has made him the only choice for the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan four times and for film legend George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch. He once logged 20 plus shows in one week at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. He's also performed for 187 billionaires in Sun Valley, Idaho. Google put him in front of 10,000 people at its company picnic. Circus Circus, Circus Chimera, and Cirque Du Soleil put him backstage to entertain their cast.

Date: April 20th
Time: 
11 am
Price: $7 per person

Bubble lady
Setting the scene to arrive in Bubble Land, Rebecca introduces her Bubble Family: Spirit Bubbles, Baby Bubbles, Brother & Sister Bubbles, Momma & Poppa Bubbles.

With creative stories woven throughout the show, she selects volunteers to help her in creating a variety of amusing bubble sculptures.

Date: April 21st
Time: 11am
Price: $7 per child 




Andy Z
His story adventure performances feature a full host of Andyland characters, traditional and contemporary music plus original songs from his multiple award-winning "Andyland" CD series and his debut CD "Pockets."

When: April 22nd at 6 p.m.
WherePlay Cafe in Oakland (4400 Keller Ave)
Cost: $7/person

Friday, April 15, 2011

Free Kara's Cupcakes Saturday

I bet that headline got your attention!

On Saturday, Tretorn (the Swedish footwear brand - I used to wear them for tennis) will be sponsoring free Kara's Cupcakes to anyone who can prove they follow Tretorn on Twitter (that would be @TretornSWE). The cupcakes are blue and yellow and have the Tretorn logo. The Tretorn wagon will be parked outside Kara's.

And while you're at it, you can follow Frisco Kids (@friscokids) though you don't get anything other than my undying love for doing it. And even Kara's Cupcakes (@karascupcakes)

Where: Kara's Cupcakes (3249 Scott Street at Chestnut)
When: Saturday, April 16 all day starting at 10 a.m.
Cost: Free! No purchase necessary.



Coming Up: Reading is Freedom Book Drive and Easter Bunny Photos - Free!

This Saturday, Honeys & Heroes in Palo Alto is hosting a book drive. Donate a new or gently used children’s book for “Reading is Freedom” and get your kid's photo taken with the Easter Bunny for FREE.
 
When:  Saturday, April 16 from 11 - 1


Where:  Honeys & Heroes/Gumshoe at Town & Country, 855 El Camino, Palo Alto  



What:  Face painting, treat bags, photos with the Easter Bunny and a raffle. 


Book Drive:  Bring a new or gently used book for first to fifth graders and receive a FREE photo taken with the Easter Bunny.


About Reading is Freedom: The organization focuses on helping children in East Palo Alto improve their reading skills and develop a love of reading during their elementary school years. According to recent research conducted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 6.6 million low-income children in the US, ages 8 and below, are at risk of failing to graduate from high school because they won’t be proficient readers by the end of third grade. Reading is Freedom was founded in 2010 to help reverse this trend. The organization matches adult volunteers with students at Brentwood Academy Elementary School. The students and their reading partners spend at least one hour per week during the after school program reading together. Reading is Freedom is recruiting additional volunteers. For more information about Reading is Freedom, contact Maren Christensen at 
marenjc@yahoo.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Girls Night Out - Diva Night at Laurel Street Arts

Get creative with your gal pals at Laurel Street Arts this Friday night. Paint pottery, fuse glass, make silver clay jewelry or make a mosaic.

When: Friday, April 15 from 8 until midnight
Where: Laurel Street Arts, 733 Laurel Street, San Carlos
Cost/RSVP: $15, unless you pay by Thursday (today!) at noon, then it's $10. Call them at 650-591-1005

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Coming Up: Cal Day

This Saturday is Cal Day, a kid-friendly day with demonstrations and activities galore. Check out the links and info on Travel is More fun with Kids.

Coming Up: Healthy Kids Day Carnival at Tenderloin YMCA

Join with the Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA in the Tenderloin for a fun carnival day and Bingo night. It's part of a national YMCA Healthy Kids Day and will feature performers, bounce houses, games, prizes, exercise demonstrations, gardening lessons, nutrition information and asthma screenings. Food will be available for purchase.

At night, the bingo fundraiser is held to support YMCA youth programs for underprivileged at-risk youth in the neighborhood. Programs include tutoring, homework help, music/video technology classes, culinary classes, sports, field trips and more.

What: YMCA Healthy Kids Day
When: Saturday, April 16; carnival is from 2-5, Bingo night is from 6-8
Where: Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA in the Tenderloin (387 Golden Gate Ave in SF)
Cost: Free, but donations are encouraged



Friday, April 8, 2011

Coming Up: Imagination Playground Opens

The Imagination Playground is opening this Saturday, April 9th at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. This is not just a playground, but a play movement. Here's what the museum says about it:

"Imagination Playground is a breakthrough playspace concept conceived and designed by architect David Rockwell to encourage child-directed, unstructured free play, the kind of play that is critical to nurturing children’s creativity. With a focus on loose parts, Imagination Playground offers a changing array of elements that allows children to constantly reconfigure their environment and to design their own course of play. Giant foam blocks, fabric, slides, noodles and balls overflow with creative potential for children to play, dream, build and explore endless possibilities."


The New Yorker did an article on the concept last year - read it here. The Imagination Playground opened in New York City to rave reviews.


Learn more about the concept, and how it's carried out at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. And then go - and post here about what you thought!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Coming Up: Family Health & Fitness Day - Free

The Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC) is hosting their 3rd annual Family Health and Fitness Day this Sunday, April 10th. Open to the entire community, they'll have a Kaiser Permamente educational theater program, hands-on family cooking demonstrations, a kids' fingerprinting station, Foster City fire trucks to tour, a family guy with bounce house, a local farmer's market, and your kids can bring teddy bears to the teddy bear clinic, to get a check-up from a real doctor.

When: Sunday, April 10 from 1-4
Where: PJCC (800 Foster City Blvd)
Cost: Free

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Coming Up: Sunday Streets - Free

Sunday Streets  is coming up on April 10! This one will be along the Great Highway and Golden Gate Park (from Penguins to Penguins). Streets will be closed to auto traffic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

They need volunteers. If you can spare 3 hours (no kids!) you get a t-shirt, lunch and other prizes. Sign up here.

Here are the remaining ones for 2011:
  • May 8: Mission route, including the popular route along 24th and Valencia Streets;
  • June 12: Bayview route, 3rd Street from Mission Bay, Dogpatch to the Bayview Opera House;
  • July 10: Great Highway route #2;
  • August 14: Civic Center/Tenderloin route;
  • September 11: Western Addition route, including North of Panhandle, Alamo Square and Fillmore and Japantown neighborhoods;
  • October TBD; Mission route #2

Coming Up: Dia del NiƱo at Monterey Bay Aquarium - free admission for kids

This Sunday, the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates DĆ­a del NiƱo, with special presentations, activities, performances, and free entrance for kids 12 and under.


The animal feeding shows will be bilingual, including a penguin feeding at 3 p.m., a sea otter feeding and training session at 3:30 p.m., and a kelp forest feeding show at 4 p.m.
 
Aquarium staff will debut a new bilingual presentation, “The Littlest Sea Turtle,”  at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Mariachi Tapatio will perform traditional Mexican melodies  on the Great Tide Pool Deck with 12-year old Gabriela Sepulveda, as featured in the national shows, “SĆ”bado Gigante” (“Giant Saturday”) and “Tengo Talento” (“I’ve Got Talent”).  Visitors will also be able to take in a performance by local children’s glee club, “One Voice.”
 
Children and families can decorate and take home their own ocean guardian in the craft room, located in the Discovery Labs from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.  While the craft room is open, the Arts Council will host an art exhibit in the Discovery Labs.
 
Visitors to DĆ­a del NiƱo can enjoy the aquarium’s special exhibition, “Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea.” Colorful wading birds, playful penguins, and coral reefs help you explore a world with a changing ocean. Adjacent to “Hot Pink Flamingos,” the aquarium’s special exhibition “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” continues to enchant visitors of all ages.
 
Admission for adults and kids 13 and over is the same price as usual ($29.95 for adults). 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Coming Up: Free Family Craft at MOCFA

Join in at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art this Saturday. The exhibit, E is for Everyone: Celebrating Sister Corita. Kids will use specially-designed rubber stamps, ink and paper to make different styles of collage and paper art, like in the exhibit.

WHAT: MAKE IT @ MOCFA Family Saturday
WHEN: Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Museum of Craft and Folk Art (51 Yerba Buena Lane, SF)
COST: $5 for admission for adults, free craft event
AGES: 4 and up

Monday, April 4, 2011

Coming Up: Elmo and Sesame Street Live meet-and-greet at the zoo

Join the San Francisco Zoo for a very special Sesame Street Live meet and greet with two special characters on April 9 & 10. The characters will kick-off on-sale tickets for the upcoming performance of Sesame Street Live “Elmo’s Healthy Heroes!” coming to San Jose and Oakland in June. Zoo guests will have an opportunity to meet and take photos with them and enjoy live entertainment, coloring, music and an adventurous scavenger hunt. Additionally, visitors will have the chance to enter and win tickets to the popular Sesame Street Live performances. 


When: April 9 & 10, 10-4
Where: San Francisco Zoo
Cost: free with admission


For discount admission to the zoo, check out Bay Area on the Cheap.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Earth Day 2011 Celebrations around the San Francisco Bay Area

Some Earth Day events coming up this month:

SAN FRANCISCO
When: April 23, 2011, 10-6
Where: Civic Center Plaza
Details: What DON'T they have is the better question. Okay, they have kids' zone, wellness and holistic zones, hands-on workshops, beer/wine tastings, raw food demos, green film festival, eco fashion show, kids' playground and more. Details here.

When: April 9-10, 2011 (10-7 and 11-6)
Where: SF Concourse Exhibition Center
Details: Well, not Earth Day, but a Green Festival.

When: April 22-23, 2011
Where: California Academy of Sciences, SF
Details: Tons of activities, including story time, crafts, frogs, living roof, and lots of demonstrations/exhibits.

PENINSULA

PALO ALTO
When: Friday, April 15 from 2-4
Where: Gamble Garden
Details: Garden scavenger hunt, art projects, juice and cookies. Free.

REDWOOD CITY
When: April 16, from 8-5
Where: Marine Science Institute
Details: Touch tanks with marine animals, canoe rides in the creek, entertainment, environmental fair. Free admission, fee for 2 hour boat tour.


SAN MATEO
When: April 17, 2011 from 11-5.
Where: CuriOdyssey (formerly Coyote Point Museum) in San Mateo
Details: Learn about urban farming, backyard beekeeping, tree planting, composting. Sustainable foods available for purchase.

FOSTER CITY
When: April 16 from 10-3
Where: City Hall
Details: Free paper shredding, free e-waste collection, pharmaceutical waste drop-off, freecycle event (swap/take your unneeded items), music, entertainment, vendors, raffles

CUPERTINO
When: April 9, 2011 from 10-2
Where: City Hall Plaza, Cupertino
Details: Lots of hands-on projects, workshops and more.

SUNNYVALE
When: April 17 from 10-3
Where: Full Circle Farms
Details: kids activities, presentations, entertainment, farm animals, face painting, garden arts and crafts, obstacle course, composting and bee keeping demonstrations. Free.

EAST BAY


BERKELEY
When: April 23, 2011 from noon-5
Where: Civic Center Park - Berkeley


When: April 22, 2011 from 9:30-4:30
Where: Habitot, Berkeley (2065 Kittredge Street)
Details: create your own "litter bug" with recycled goods. Work together to create a giant "green" city. Make paper from recycled paper.

EMERYVILLE
When: April 16, 2011 from 10-4
Where: Doyle-Hollis park, Emeryville


When: April 16, 2011 from 10-3
Where: Crown Beach, Washington Park, Alamdea
Details: Activities, giveaway, demonstrations, food for purchase. Beach cleanup from 8:30-10 for people ages 10+.


Saturday, April 2, 2011

Free Bowling All Summer for the Kids

It's time to sign up for free summer bowling! Sign up at Kids Bowl Free, and your kids can bowl two games a day (per kid) for the summer. Dates depends on the specific bowling alley, as does shoe rental rules (for some it's free, for others you pay). If you think you'll be bowling as well, purchase the family pass starting at $24.95  and you'll get two games per adult per day (up to 4 adults) as well. You can sign up with more than one bowling alley, but you have to reregister using a different email address (this is kosher, according to the website).

The Bay Area locations include Daly City, Albany, Castro Valley, Palo Alto, San Mateo and South San Francisco.

We did this last summer. To sign up, pick your bowling alley and register on that page. After signing up, you'll get an email a week with your bowling coupons (or you can log in and print them). That's it!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Easter Events in the SF Bay Area - 2011

SAN FRANCISCO
What: Spring Eggstravaganza (egg hunt, inflatables, carnival rides, entertainment, carnival rides, food for sale)
Where: Sharon Meadow at Golden Gate Park
When: Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 11-3
Cost: $5/person


What: Union Street Easter Parade (and festival with face painting, climbing wall, activities, characters)
Where: Union Street in Cow Hollow, San Francisco
When: April 24, 2011 from 10-5
Cost: Free


EAST BAY
What: Easter Egg Hunt (plus crafts and photos with the Easter Bunny)
Where: Play Cafe (4400 Keller Avenue, Oakland)
When: Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 11-1
Cost: $7/kid

What: Underwater egg hunt, plus egg dying on the pool deck and shallow area games
Where: King Pool, Berkeley (1700  Hopkins)
When: April 2, 011, from 12-1:30
Cost: $4.50

What: Egg Scramble and Alameda Spring Fling (egg hunt, face painting, crafts, music, beach exploration)
Where:  Crab Cove, Alameda
When: April 9, 2001 from 10-4 (egg hunt at 11:30)
Cost: Free

PENINSULA
What: Children's Easter Party (puppet show and egg hunt)
Where: Gamble Gardens, Palo Alto
When: April 23, 2011, several times available
Cost: $20/child, $10/adult for members, $5 more for nonmembers


What: Easter Bunny arrives by helicopter (plus model trains, face painting
Where: Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos
When: April 23, 2011 at 10:30
Cost: Free with museum admission


SOUTH BAY
What: Egg Citing Spring Celebration (egg hunt, arts and crafts, photos with Easter Bunny)
Where: Camden Community Center, San Jose
When: April 9, 2011, from 10-1
Cost: $5

For more San Francisco Bay Area 2011 egg hunts, see Kid Matters.