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Friday, February 28, 2014

Coming Up: Try Hockey for Free Day

Now that the Olympics are over, you and the kids may be inspired to try some of the sports. Well, maybe you're hoping the kids won't be so interested in slope style events, but there are others.

This Saturday, let them try hockey - for free! Sponsored by the USA Hockey Association, your kids can try it out tomorrow, Saturday March 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Yerba Buena ice rink. Kids ages 4-9 (though one hockey mom said 4-12) are welcome, and the skates, sticks and any other equipment will be provided. Just show up, or you can register here.

You can also try it in Redwood City, San Jose and Oakland. Find all participating rinks here.


Monday, February 24, 2014

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:

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

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

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Get 'Yer Tickets: the Pump and Dump

Looking for a night out? This looks like fun! The Pump and Dump is billed as a parentally incorrect comedy show.

Click here view a promo video of the show.

The show involves comedian Shayna Ferm (Comedy Central) and her sidekick MC Doula, who "host a raucous evening of comedy, inappropriate music, prizes, drinking, swearing and parental commiseration."

Songs include  “Eat Your F-ing Food” and “When I Die, I Want to Come Back as a Dad.” Audience participation includes playing “Never Have I Ever – Moms Edition,” and submitting their own “Most F-ed up Thing Your Kid Did This Week.”

What: The Pump and Dump, a Parentally Incorrect Comedy Show and Night Out, For Once
When/Where:
- Wednesday, March 5: Sweetwater Music Hall - Mill Valley - 8 pm (doors open at 7)
- Friday, March 7: The Verdi Club - San Francisco - 8 pm (doors open at 7)
Tickets: $20
Tickets/More info: Here

Monday, February 17, 2014

Tucson: Kitt Peak with Kids Review

There are 26 telescopes at Kitt Peak, but this one, the Mayall, is the best known. You can see Mexico from the observation windows! They study supernovas (when massive stars die) with this scope.

While in Tucson over the winter break, we visited Kitt Peak with the kids. This national observatory was started by the National Science Foundation in 1958 to allow astronomers to do research. Before this, you had to be affiliated with a telescope/institution to get time. With the national observatory, anyone can apply to do research on a telescope, though only 30% who apply get time granted.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

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."
Whiskers!
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

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

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?

Monday, February 10, 2014

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.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

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.



Wednesday, February 5, 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


What: Traditional crafts, displays and performances
WhenSaturday, February 8 - noon to 4

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

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

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.

WhenSaturday, 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.