Review: Synonyms the Game

We’re always looking for new games to play, so I was excited when a game publisher contacted me to review their word game. It’s called Synonyms, which should give you a decent idea what it’s about. I’ll give you a hint – maybe you can think of three other words to substitute for the game title.

The game in a nutshell:  When it’s your turn, you pick a card with a word on it and you have to name a certain number of synonyms within one minute (the synonyms are on the back of the card). If you succeed, you get one of the letters that makes up the word SYNONYMS. When you get all the letters, you win.

Coming Up: Sunday Streets - Free

Sunday Streets  is coming up on May 8! This one will be in the Mission, including the popular 24th and Valencia Streets. 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:

• 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: Annual Sheep Shearing at SF Zoo

Come watch the animals get a haircut at the San Francisco Zoo. From the zoo:  


The Zoo’s Jacob and Navajo Churro sheep and two alpacas will go from wooly to bare. It will be shear fun for everyone!

Children and guests will see the Zoo’s Chief Sheep Shearer, David Melcon, in action, as he shaves each sheep from head to toe. David has sheared sheep at the San Francisco Zoo for more than a decade and is a master at his craft.

Friends of the barnyard will demonstrate the wonders of working with wool through spindle spinning demonstrations, needle felting, and scarf weaving. Visitors will also have a chance to spin the wool and enjoy a variety of other activities taking place at the Zoo’s Family Farm.

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The San Francisco Zoo will send the wool to a Native American Reservation where it will be used for traditional weavings. This helps ensure the culture and rituals of weavings among the Native American tribes continues.

Zoo Members will have an exclusive Members’ only preview event on Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Meet the Chief Sheep Shearer and enjoy a fun interactive art activity – make your own sheep using real wool.

Where: Children's Zoo Family Farm (at the SF Zoo)
When: Saturday, May 7 from 10:30-1
Cost: free with admission

Link love - what I've been reading

Thought I’d share with you some of the sites I was visiting yesterday (when I should have been doing my medical writing assignments).

Ice Cream – what’s your favorite in the Bay Area? I wrote about 3 great ice cream places in San Francisco,  but Red Tricycle wrote about more than a dozen throughout the bay area. Read Red Tricycle’s list here. 

Best Travel/Family Bloggers – I was excited to see some of our Frisco Kids’ friends listed on the Babble list of Top 25 Travel Family Blogs/Family Bloggers. Those included Travel Savvy Mom, and Ciao Bambino .

California Academy of Science – Red Tricycle posted an insider’s guide to the Academy of Sciences. Read it here: Frisco Kids reviewed it awhile back – you can read our review here.  The Academy also offers birthday party packages – at $75 a child. Read more about that here, along with scores of other birthday party ideas.

Marin - I’m trying to increase my coverage of Marin, and was excited to discover the Marinhood blog, with great lists of things to do in the Bay Area, as well as Marin.

T&L Magazine - Last, if you love traveling (with or without kids), you can’t pass up this deal for a $5 one year subscription to Travel & Leisure, good through May 14. 

Mother's Day in the San Francisco Bay Area - 2011

Here's a list from Celebrate-Family.

Is it just me, or does Mother's Day seem REALLY early this year? Here are some ideas for you and/or the kids/spouse/partner:

Mamma Mia Singalong - at the Retrodome.

Saturday, May 7 at 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 8 at 4:30

The Retrodome is in San Jose.

May Fete Children's Parade in Palo Alto

Saturday, May 7 starting at 10

Very wholesome. It's on University Ave.

Museums on Us - Bank of America

If you're a B of A customer, use your bank card to get in free to museums like the Tech Museum in San Jose, the DeYoung Museum in SF, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Zeum, the Chabot Space Center and more. When I did one of these free days, my bank card covered me only (my husband's card covered him). You might have to pay for the kids.

Spring Fling at the Asian Art Museum

Sunday, May 8 from 10:30-4:30

Performances, tours, hands-on activities, etc. Free with admission.

Mother's Day Brunch at Chabot Space Center

Have some yummy food and then look at exhibits!

Sunday, May 8 from 11-2

Free TCBY Yogurt 

Mom gets a free cup or cone on Mother's Day

Sunday, May 8

Mother's Day Yacht Cruise and Brunch

Sunday, May 8 from 12:30-4, leaving from Alameda

Cost is about $90 for adults, half that for kids ages 3-11, about $10/kid under 3.

Mother's Day Brunch Cruise from Sausalito

Sunday, May 8 from 11-2, leaving from Sausalito

Cost is $95/adult (or two for $180), kids under 10 are half price.

Almost Mother's Day Kids Concert

Nothing says Mother's Day like Andy Z in concert! Plus crafts and inflatables.

Saturday, May 7 from 11-1

Concert is free, at Courthouse Square in Redwood City

Mother's Day Beginning Bird Watching

Sunday, May 8 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Learn about birdwatching

Alviso, CA

Blossom Birth's Pampering Celebration

Saturday, May 7 starting at 9 a.m. - goes all day. Palo Alto

Sessions on yoga, meditation, getting your passion back, posture, nutrition. Evening music performance. And massage.

Cost: $15-40

Mother's Day Marina Green 5K

Take a run on Marina Green. Kids are welcome for their own run.

Sunday, May 8 starting at 9

Cost: $3-5 (kids' 1/2 mile run is free)

Mother's Day Bunch Cooking Class at Ferry Plaza

Sunday, May 8 from 10:30-1

Leave the kids behind and take a cooking class, where you'll make a delicious brunch and enjoy champagne.

Cost: $75

Mother's Day Celebration at Hidden Villa

Sunday, May 8 from 3-5

Concert with Chelle & Friends. Los Altos Hills

Cost: $15/person

Coming Up: Babes and Babies Event in Marin

If you're a new or expecting mom (or know one who is), check out the Appel & Frank "Babes and Babies" event coming up in Mill Valley.

The event includes 50+ designers and companies offering merchandise including baby and toddler clothing, accessories, gear, resources and more, at a discount. The first 200 in the door will get a complimentary gift bag (look for a special item from Frisco Kids!). A photographer will be on-site, offering mini photo shoots, and you can bring the kids to play in their own play space. Plus there's a raffle with excellent items. See the full invitation below.

Where: Mill Valley Community Center (180 Camino Alto)
When: Saturday, May 14, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free if you RSVP on the website, or $5 at the door.
RSVP: Here

Coming Up: Gustafer Yellowgold's SF Performances and Workshops - Free

Coming up - a small, yellow, cone-headed fellow from the sun will be doing a bunch of performances/workshops in San Francisco.


Gustafer Yellowgold’s show is reportedly unlike anything in family entertainment. Morgan Taylor’s story-songs about Gustafer and his pals is performed against a backdrop of large-screen animations done up with karaoke-style subtitles, and creates a world as deep and original as it is beautiful. It’s equal parts pop rock concert and minimally animated movie, but mellow. 


All performances are free.


WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Park Branch Library, 1950 Page Street, San Francisco
WHEN:             Thursday, May 12.   11:00 a.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-5656  
 
WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Bernal Heights Branch Library, 500 Cortland Ave., San Francisco
WHEN:             Thursday, May 12.   3:30 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-5663   
 
WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Main Library,100 Larkin Street., San Francisco
WHEN:             Saturday, May 14.   11:00 a.m.
INFO:                (415) 557-4554  
This show will feature a Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a copy of the Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock DVD/CD set, a Gustafer Yellowgold t-shirt, and a limited edition, signed, numbered, screen-printed Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock poster. 
 
WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Potrero Branch Library, 1616 20th Street, San Francisco
WHEN:             Sunday, May 22.   3:00 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-2822
This show will feature a Gustafer Yellowgold “Trilogy” giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive copies of the Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World, Gustafer Yellowgold’s Have You Never Been Yellow? and Gustafer Yellowgold’s Mellow Fever DVD/CD sets.
 
WHAT:              Cartooning Workshop for Children with Morgan Taylor
WHERE:           Visitation Valley Branch Library, 45 Leland Ave., San Francisco
WHEN:             Tuesday, May 24.   1:00 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-2848   

WHAT:              Cartooning Workshop for Children & Teens with Morgan Taylor
WHERE:           Glen Park Branch Library, 2825 Diamond Street, San Francisco
WHEN:             Tuesday, May 24.   4:00 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-2858  
 
WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Portola Branch Library, 380 Bacon Street, San Francisco
WHEN:             Wednesday, May 25.   4:00 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-5660
 
WHAT:              Cartooning Workshop for Teens with Morgan Taylor
WHERE:           Richmond Branch Library, 351 9th Ave., San Francisco
WHEN:             Thursday, May 26.   4:00 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-5610
 
WHAT:              Family Show!  GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD’S INFINITY SOCK 
WHERE:           Marina Branch Library, 1890 Chestnut Street, San Francisco
WHEN:             Thursday, May 26.   6:30 p.m.
INFO:                (415) 355-2823