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Thursday, October 27, 2016

More Fall Theater for Families

We recently posted some theater of interest to Bay Area families. We have more to add.

What: Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Where: Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley
More info: "Based on the Oscar-winning animated film, celebrating its 25th anniversary this holiday season... the international smash-hit musical gets the Berkeley Playhouse makeover as Producing Artistic Director Kimberly Dooley helms this all new production featuring a diverse and multi-generational cast of more than thirty actors from across the Bay Area. Featuring some of Disney's most popular songs and characters, audiences young and old won't want to miss this magical musical adventure."
When: November 10 - December 23

What: Nutz Remixed
Where: Hammer Theater Center, San Jose
More info: The Nutcracker for the 21st century. "An exuberant re-staging of the treasured classic, The Nutcracker, this magical madcap retake features more than 30 world-class singers, dancers, and circus artists, ranging from Mexican Folklorico dancers to hip-hoppers, ballroom dancers, and gymnasts in a zany holiday spectacular."
When: November 18 - December 24

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Coming Up: Bay Area Science Festival

10 days - 50 events. You're bound to find something you like! And most events are free.

The Bay Area Science Festival starts tomorrow, October 27, with Explorer Days events all around the San Francisco Bay. Some activities are adults-only, and others welcome kids. Go through the schedule and see what interests you.

Here are two geared at families on Saturday.  Head to Concord for Contra Costa Discovery Day. They'll have 20+ hands-on science booths for kids 5-14, and a STEM mentorship program for high school students. There's also a program at the Sonoma County Fairground, from 10-4 on Saturday. They'll be dissecting a squid and will have a space station museum. They'll have 100+ hands-on exhibits.

The festival concludes on November 5 at AT&T Park with a Discovery Day geared toward families, with kids up to age 14, It's free, no tickets needed. They'll have  for a free science extravaganza from 10-4. They'll have 150 experiments, shows, games and more. It includes robots, STEM programs, life sciences, marine science, and chances to meet scientists and engineers. They expect 30,000 people to attend!

Halloween Fun in the Bay Area This Weekend

Lots of Halloween fun this weekend! If you missed our Bay Area 2016 Halloween round-up, here it is. 

But we have a few more things to add.

Treasure Island Flea
This Saturday and Sunday, head over to Treasure Island for the Treasure Island Flea (in costume) for some Halloween fun and shopping. They'll have trick-or-treating at 400 vendor stalls (bring a bucket!), a costume contest for adults, kids and dogs at 2:00 each day, a pumpkin patch with 1,000 free pumpkins and a free design-your-own workshop. Each day, the first 500 people there can get a pumpkin and join the workshop. The Flea runs from 10-4. Entry is $3/adults - free for kids, pets and cars.

Jack o' Lantern Jamboree
Head over to Children's Fairyland in Oakland this Saturday and Sunday for the usual fun, PLUS goody bags and treat stations, bounce houses, balloon twisters, pirate school, parades, unlimited rides, special performances and more.

Marin Halloween Faire
This annual faire in Strawberry includes a carnival, bounce house, costume parade, candy and prize hunt. It's on Sunday, October 30 from 11-12:30.

Palo Alto's California Avenue Trick-or-Treat Carnival
This 22nd annual event features a ton of activities, including live music from Andy Z, to story time with the library. Get photos, watch dancing, check out the fire and police trucks, and trick-or-treat at the local stores. Plus a costume contest.

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California's Carnival
Celebrate Halloween in San Francisco's Japantown on Friday night. Decorate a spooky rice ball (onigiri), play games and enter the costume contest.

Halloween Hoopla at Yerba Buena Center
Check out the interactive performances and games for kids 10 and under. Lots of live music, ecocrafts, palm reading, pumpkin patch and parade. It's on Sunday from noon - 2.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Books We're Reading: ADHD Nation, Parent Hacks and The Art of Risk

We wanted to share some books we've been reading lately, that you might enjoy.

ADHD Nation: Children, Doctors, Big Pharma, and the Making of an Epidemic by Alan Schwarz

I have to admit that given the title of the book and some brief comments I read from others before reading it, I thought this book would try to discredit the existence of ADHD and make parents feel bad if their kids were diagnosed with it, like they were all suckers. That was not the case at all. Author Alan Schwarz (a colleague from my college newspaper days and a highly respected former New York Times journalist) clearly did a ton of research, interviewing more than 1,000 people for the book, from researchers to doctors to patients. He doesn't dispute that ADHD exists and is treated by the medications on the market.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

2016 Halloween Family-Friendly Events in the Bay Area

In case you weren't aware, Halloween is coming up! I wanted to add some more to this post but realize that I'm running out of time. So I'll add more as it comes in, but I wanted to make sure none of these events passed!

Here are some Halloween 2016 events for families in the Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO
What: Stern Grove's Scaregrove
When: Friday, October 28 from 3-9
What: Haunted house, hay rides, arts and crafts, inflatables, carnival rides
Cost: $8/person - all inclusive (free ages 2 and under)
Who: the whole family