Coming up: Island City Waterways - Free

credit: Maurice Ramirez

Join in as Rhythmix Cultural Works presents Island City Waterways, a site-specific public art event animating Alameda’s past and present through music, dance, theater, storytelling, and more. It includes a cast of 40 actors, dancers and musicians leading audiences on an easy stroll around Crab Cove, Crown Memorial State Beach in a 75-minute performance that shares the Cove’s rich history and celebrates the sea. You'll see carnies and bathing beauties starting show off with a walk down memory lane, back to the roaring twenties when this was home to Neptune Beach, an amusement park with extravagant public baths. Following a drum corps, audiences visit “Glory of the Seas,” a WWII-era maritime officer training station, where they will join the trainees for drills. Ryujin the Dragon Queen spins a tale of ecological warning on the shores of the first estuary marine reserve in California, established in 1980. And finally, Japanese taiko drummers, Balinese gamelan performers, musicians, and contemporary dancers take to the beach for a dazzling ‘Island to Island’ finale that pays tribute to our shared waters and the global community’s efforts to protect them.

What: Island City Waterways
Where: Crab Cove Visitor Center, Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20 - four performances each day at 10, 11:45, 1:30 and 3:15
Cost: Free
RSVP: Advanced registration is recommended at islandcitywaterways.org

Coming Up: Earth Week at the Presidio

The Presidio has some fun events coming up for Earth Week

Back into the Earth Day

Date: Saturday, April 21

Time: 9-12

Where: Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco

Phone: 415-561-4323

Price: Free, but registration is required.

Spring is here, and that means the archaeological field season is just beginning. Join the team as they get “back into the earth” and kick off the Presidio Archaeology program’s 2018 excavation season! As one of the only volunteer opportunities with the Presidio Archaeology team, this is your chance to get dirty with the archaeologists by removing that sand that covers last year’s discoveries on El Presidio de San Francisco, the Spanish-colonial archaeological site buried just below the ground in front of the Presidio Officers' Club. Don’t worry, we’ll provide the shovels!

Creative Family Fun: Back into the Earth Day

Date: Saturday, April 21

Time: 11-3

Place: Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco

Phone: 415-561-4323

Price: Free

Drop in on Saturdays between 11-3 for fun activities, crafts, and learning based on the Presidio’s natural and cultural heritage—featuring a different theme every week. This week the archaeologists at the Presidio open their site for the season. Visit their site and learn about archaeology with hands-on experiments!

Volunteer at Presidio Earth Day

Date: Saturday, April 21

Time: 9-2

Place: Fort Scott Field

Phone: 415-561-4323

Price: Free, but registration is required.

The Presidio's annual volunteer event devoted to celebrating Earth Day, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Earth Week celebration. As a part of this event, Presidio volunteers are invited to bring friends and family for a morning of stewardship projects (9-12) with a BBQ potluck and lawn games to follow (12-2) at the Fort Scott field. All ages welcome, and there will be a volunteer project activity geared towards families with children 9 years-old and younger. Registration is required for this Earth Day event!

Presidio Nature Challenge 2018

Date: Saturday, April 28

Time: 9- pm

Place: Begin at the Presidio Officer’s Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco

Phone: 415-561-4323

Price: Free

The Presidio Nature Challenge is a chance to discover and record the many wild plants and animals that thrive in the Presidio in what is called a “bioblitz”— pairing volunteers with professional naturalists on a scientific adventure. Just bring your smartphone with the iNaturalist app, your curiosity, and your powers of observation to help catalog the natural wonders of our parks and open spaces. All of the observations recorded during the day will help San Francisco win the 2018 City Nature Challenge - a competition between more than 60 cities worldwide to see who can find the most species, and engage the most people. Help them celebrate and record the rich biodiversity of the Presidio.

Easter Events in the San Francisco Bay Area 2018

If you're looking for some fun things to do to celebrate Easter with the family in the San Francisco Bay Area, here's the place to start.

Please add your favorites in the comments section!

SAN FRANCISCO 
What: Spring Eggstravaganza (egg hunt, inflatables, carnival rides, entertainment, carnival rides, food for sale, rib cook-off)
Where: Sharon Meadow at Golden Gate Park
When: Saturday, March 31, 2018 from 11-3 Cost: $10/person (free 2 and under). Get them in advance by calling 415-831-6800 or at the Maclaren Lodge Annex

What: Union Street Easter Parade (and festival with face painting, climbing wall, activities, characters)
Where: Union Street in Cow Hollow, San Francisco
When: April 11, 2018 from 10-5, parade at 2
Cost: Free

Coming Up: Sunday Streets

This Sunday is the season's first Sunday Streets. Valencia Street becomes car-free. There are two activity hubs at 24th and 16th Streets. Pick up an Activity Guide at their info booths or at the new Intersection Jamborees. Bring bikes or blades - or just walk.

When: March 11 from 11-4
Where: Duboce Ave to 26th Street

Aero Design Challenge at Hiller - Free Program

There are a few spots left for the final public session of the Aero Design Challenge. This is an annual event providing middle school students with opportunities to experience the engineering process with hands-on. They'll be challenged to design, build, test and improve a catapult-launched glider in an attempt to set a new distance record.

The challenges starts with a series of experiences on the theme of gliding flight, including wind tunnel tests, observations of real gliders and sailplanes, and flight simulation. Participants then work in small teams to construct and test a glider before competing their design against other teams. Aero Design Challenge is available at no charge to participants, thanks to sponsors Peaxy and SAP.

It's a 3-hour program open to grades 5-12. Engineers Week is a 1.5-hour experience for Grades 4-8. During each program, students will explore various stations throughout the Hiller Aviation Museum with their teachers, parents or chaperones while completing a design challenge. A parent, teacher or adult chaperone must accompany participants at all times while visiting the museum.

Registration is required.  Individuals or small groups can register through this link. If you have a group of 12 or more, reaching out to Hiller directly.

Hiller Aviation Museum is in San Carlos.

Free Zoo Entrance Through January 31

Okay, so it's really just free kids' admission to the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens, but that is something! They're letting in all kids ages 14 and younger in at no cost through January 31, 2018, as part of the zoo's “Happy Zoo Year” promotion.

Coming Up: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra Concerts - Free

It's Beethoven time! Bring the kids for one of these free San Francisco Chamber Orchestra concerts. Note, these are not specifically family concerts.

"Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven, even in his earliest works, goes a step beyond them with revolutionary innovations that will usher in 19th-century Romanticism. His first symphony brims with excitement and vitality, while his Piano Concerto No. 1, written to highlight Beethoven’s own formidable pianistic skills, is an early masterpiece. “When you get the feeling that whatever note succeeds the last is the only possible note that can rightly happen at that instant, in that context,” according to Leonard Bernstein, “then chances are you’re listening to Beethoven.”

Seating for members begins one hour before each performance, and non-members can get seats 15 minutes before each concert.

They're performing:
Beethoven: Septet in E-flat major, op. 20
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15 Rin Homma, pianist (2017-18 Debut Artist) Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, op. 21

When:
Saturday, December 30 7:30 pm at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
Sunday, December 31 7:30 pm at Hertz Hall, Berkeley
Monday, January 1 3:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
Venue information here

2017 Christmas Traditions at the Westin

When looking for holiday things to do this year, check out the Westin in Union Square. They'll have the 12-feet tall Medieval Sugar Castle and the St. Francis Enchanted Castle. Plus, their popular St. Francis Sweet Boutique will be filled with tasty treats, plus holiday décor in both lobbies.

CASTLES
On November 22 at 11 a.m., their executive pastry chef Jean-Francois Houdré and his team will unveil two unique handcrafted castles in the Landmark Lobby. They'll reveal their 12-ft. Medieval sugar castle, originally created in 2005. It resembles a French chateau inspired by Chef Houdre’s travels, and features grand circular towers, individual rooms and colorful illuminated windows.

Coming Up: Patchwork Modern Makers Show

This weekend, check out the Patchwork Show in Oakland. It's a modern makers festival with 150 local makers, crafters, designers and food artisans. They'll also have DIY craft workshops, food trucks and indie music.. It's free and dog friendly too.

When: November 4 from 11-5
Where: Jack London Square 
Cost: free

Coming Up: David Shannon Introduces Bizzy Mizz Lizzie

David Shannon introduces his exuberant new book Bizzy Mizz Lizzie about over-scheduled children (and adults) with good humor, fun and heart. He'll present it at Kepler's Books - get a ticket (they're free). About the book: "Lizzie is the busiest, buzziest bee in Hivetown. Shannon's vivid artwork and Lizzie's endearing efforts to "do it all" will make children laugh aloud at her frantic antics as she juggles school, multiple sports, dance, violin, and art. With charm and determination, she longs to impress the Queen by winning a spelling contest, but she studies to the point of exhaustion. When she dozes off in the middle of the competition, the only solution is rest and her refreshing visit to the local Garden finally teaches Lizzie to stop and smell the flowers "which is exactly what bees are supposed to do."

David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than thirty picture books, including No, David!, a Caldecott Honor Book and his second New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, A Bad Case of Stripes, Duck on a Bike, and Too Many Toys! Don't miss this opportunity to meet the ever popular David Shannon and discover a new favorite read.

When: Saturday November 18 at 2:00
Where: Kepler's Books in Menlo Park

Coming Up: Conservatory of Flowers Photosynthesis Exhibit Continued

Cue to popular demand, the Photosynthesis continues through November 26th at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

This landmark became the canvas for Photosynthesis, an elegant public art installation to honor San Francisco’s citywide celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love. Photosynthesis is a special project presented by Illuminate, the nonprofit arts group behind the Bay Lights, in partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, and Obscura Digital, a world-renowned creative studio specializing in large-scale light-based art. The installation at Conservatory of Flowers represents the world's most sophisticated use of gobo projectors to transform the all-white 138-year-old structure with a series of exquisitely illuminated scenes inspired by the rare tropical flowers within and the legacy of San Francisco’s flower children.

Coming Up: Open House for the San Mateo Country Crime Lab

Have you ever wanted to check out a crime lab? The San Mateo County Crime Lab opens for tours for two days! They decorate for Halloween and in costumes. You'll see different parts of the labs and talk with criminologists. This is a great opportunity to meet them and ask them questions about their jobs and how they got there.

WHAT: San Mateo County Crime Lab Open House

WHEN: Thursday, October 26th and Friday, October 27th from 2 - 6
Tours start every 10 minutes. No sign-up necessary.

WHERE: 50 Tower Road San Mateo

Info: Robin Foucrault at (650) 312-5307 or ​RKFoucrault@smcgov.org

Coming Up: Bay Area Science Festival

The Bay Area Science Festival runs October 26 through November 11, with Discovery Days events all around the San Francisco Bay, like in the North Bay at the Sonoma County Fairground on October 28, at Cal State East Bay on the same day, and at AT and T Park on November 11. With more than 200 hands-on activities plus exhibits and performances, it's a lot of fun. The Discovery Days are aimed at kids 0-14.

Explorer Days include more than 20 tours, like hikes to see the San Andreas fault, with a geologist, or seeing a deep ocean exploration manufacturing center. All are hosted by scientists or engineers. As for performances, look for Radiolab and the Food Network's Alton Brown.

Some activities are adults-only, and others welcome kids. Some are free, some have a fee. Go through the schedule and see what interests you.

Coming Up: Sandcastle Classic - San Francisco

This weekend, get outside for the 35th annual Sandcastle Classic, Northern California's biggest sandcastle competition. The building gets started at 11, and you can wander around watching them build while listening to live music performances. Food trucks will be on hand to feed you. The event benefits arts education for SF youth. Volunteer spots are open for some of the teams, and everyone can help build the community castle.

When: Saturday, October 14 from 11-3:30
Where: Ocean Beach at Balboa Street

Coming Up: Girls Who Code Founder and Author Reshma Saujani Speaks

Kids have a chance to meet Reshma Saujani , the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization championed by Sheryl Sandberg, Malala Yousafzai and John Legend. She is a former Deputy Public Advocate of New York City who galvanized industry leaders to close the gender gap in STEM education and empower girls to pursue careers in technology and engineering. In 2010, she became the first South Asian woman to run for Congress. Since 2012, Girls Who Code has taught computing skills to and inspired over 10,000 girls across America.

The book (Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World) shows what a huge role computer science plays in our lives and how much fun it can be. It's part how-to and part girl-empowerment.

Tickets are free, but they ask for an RSVP.
When: August 25 at 7.00 p.m.
RSVP: here
Where: Kepler's Books in Menlo Park (1010 El Camino Real)

Coming Up: Sunday Streets in the Mission

This Sunday is Sunday Streets! It's in the Mission district neighborhood. Look for activity hubs will be located between 14th and 16th and 24th and 26th, with dozens of free activities in between offered by local merchants. Combined with the always festive atmosphere of the Valencia Corridor, July 16th will be a special day to explore old and new.

When:  July 16 from 11-4
Where: Duboce to 26th Street on Valencia

Coming Up: Stern Grove 2017

The Stern Grove festival started last Sunday. That's one down, with plenty of free summer concerts to go! This is Stern Grove's 80th season. Here's what's happening there this summer:

July 2 - Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers plus FantasticAMADOU & MARIAM Ibibio Sound Machine Negrito
July 9 - San Francisco Symphony (Mozart and More)
July 16 - Eric Burden and the Animals, plus the Stone Foxes
July 23 - Los Angeles Azules
July 30 - the San Francisco Ballet
August 6 - Amadou and Mariam plus Ibibio Sound Machine
August 13 - War plus Malo
August 20 - Brazilian Girls plus Moon Hooch
August 27 - Mavis Staples plus Key Choice Ensemble

Here's a guide to Stern Grove with kids. Of course the dates have changed, but it will give you an idea of other things going on there, like kids days, kids stage and kids camp.

Kid-Friendly SF Symphony Concerts in July

If you're symphony fans and want to take your kids to a family-friendly concert with the symphony, here are a few summer options:

Stern Grove
The SF Symphony performs yearly at Stern Grove, in a free concert in this gorgeous outdoor location. While you'll be packed in with your picnic blanket, you'll still be comfortable (and able to leave if the kids need to go). They're performing on July 9 at 2 p.m. The program is still TBA.

John Williams Music
Listen to the Symphony perform John Williams music, ranging from Star Wars to Jurassic Park to Harry Potter and Indiana Jones movies. Note that there will be no film clips playing. Plus a special 40th anniversary celebration of Star Wars. Tickets are $20-85. This is at Davies Symphony Hall on July 6 and July 7 at 7:30.

It's Jaws! Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan

Jaws - Feature Film with Live Orchestra
Probably not for the young ones! Enjoy a screening of Jaws with the live orchestra. Did you know the shark used in the film is named Bruce, after Steven Spielberg's lawyer? You can see Bruce at Universal Studios Hollywood (look for our review!). Jaws will be on July 13 and July 14 at 7:30. Tickets are $39-139.

Pixar in Concert
Enjoy a musical celebration of the entire canon of Pixar’s feature length films, including selections from Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars and Inside Out. It's on Saturday, July 15 at 7:00 and Sunday, July 16 at 2. Tickets are $35-139, with half-price tickets for kids.

Waterfront Free Symphony Concert
Listen to the Symphony in the great outdoors, at James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27. The concert is free (program TBA) on July 23 at 12 noon. No tickets required.

For concerts requiring tickets, you can get them at San Francisco Symphony's website or box office.

Coming Up: USA Football Protection Tour - Free Half-Day Camp

USA Football has a Protection Tour to make football safer for players. They're hosting a free half-day football camp to get youth players on an NFL field to learn the fundamentals, get their helmet fitted and more.

Where: Santa Clara
When: July 18, 2017 from 9-12
Who: ages 7-14
Register: begins June 15, 2017
Register here.

Free Peet's coffee today

Free Peet's coffee today between 1-3! Stop by any participating Peet's retail or Capital One Cafe locations on Friday, May 12. You can get one non-bottled beverage, any size, for free! No coupon needed. One free drink per transaction. You're welcome!