Coming Up: Charity Concert and Bake Sale - Benefits Japan

If you're free Friday night, please consider attending a special concert to benefit the recent victims of the
Japanese tsunami and earthquake.

The two concerts feature Koto (Japanese harp), played by Ikuta-Ryu Seiha Hogakukai, Hiroe Utasue Yamauchi and Kayo Masakazu Toriya. Also, the Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) will be played by Michael Connelly.

The concerts are free, but donations are welcome. All proceeds will go to the Japanese Community Cultural Center of Northern California to fund local, nonprofit and community service organizations in Japan for citizen-to-citizen relief efforts. They set up a special fund called the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund

Here are details:
Where: St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Sea Breeze School (900 Edgewater Blvd., Foster City)
When: April 1 at 6:30 and 7:30
Cost: Free, but donations are welcome. Bake sale goodies available for purchase as well.
Who: Everybody is welcome, including kids
Information: for more information, email hi_aroe@yahoo.com.jp or call Mrs. Hiroe Yamauchi at 650-302-5405.

Coming Up: Andy Z concert and special needs fair at HIllsdale Mall

If you're an Andy Z fan (and really, who isn't?), come to his free concert at Hillsdale Mall this Sunday. It's part of a monthly kids' club event for special needs families. Local vendors catering to special education will be there, along with entertainers like Andy Z, storytelling, puppets etc.

When: Sunday, April 2 from 11 -2 (Andy Z comes on at 11:30)
Where: Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo, near Macy's

Coming Up: Home Depot Planter Workshop - Free

Home Depot offers some fun workshops for kids to make their own projects. Coming up? A planter/basket. Plus your kid will get a free Home Depot apron and pin.

When: Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. to noon

Age: kids 5-12

Where: Home Depot

Cost: Free

RSVP: none

Focus Groups: online products/activities, shopping, digital gaming and technology

Plaza Research is recruiting for some focus groups:

~Online Products~
Tuesday, April 5, or Thursday, April 7 or Tuesday, April 12, a 45-minute interview taking place in downtown San Francisco  

Requirement: Males and Females at least 18 years old 

Incentive: $75.00 

If you are interested in the Online Products study, please click on this link and fill out the survey.

~Usability Lab~
Monday, April 4, 2.5-hour focus group discussion in downtown San Francisco  

Requirement: Males and Females at least 18 years old 

Incentive: $75.00 

If you are interested in the Usability Lab study, please click on the link and fill out this survey: 

~Household Shopping~
Wednesday, April 6- Friday, April 8, 1-hour in-home interview followed by a 1-hour shop-along, plus homework  

Requirement: Females ages 25-64 who live in Oakland 

Incentive: $200.00 

If you are interested in the Household Shopping study, please click on this link  and fill out this survey: 

~April Online Activities~
Wednesday, April 6- Friday, April 8, 90-minute individual interview in Mountain View 

Requirement: Males and females at least 18 years old 

Incentive: $100.00 

If you are interested in the April Online Activities study, please click on this link and fill out the survey. 

~Digital Technology ­ Gamers & Video Savvy~
Tuesday, March 29- Thursday, March 31, 2.5-hour focus group discussion in downtown San Francisco  

Requirement: People who own a smartphone and/or an iPad who play games and/or upload videos to social networking sites, ages 20-39 

Incentive: $150.00 

If you are interested in the Digital Technology study, please click on this link  and fill out the survey.

Coming Up: A Year with Frog and Toad

If you love the Frog and Toad books, you'll want to check out A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, produced by Bay Area Children’s Theatre in Berkeley.        

In the show, you'll welcome spring with outgoing Frog and his reserved pal, Toad, as they awaken from a long winter’s sleep, plant a garden, discover that “toad looks funny in a bathing suit,” rake crunchy autumn leaves, and take a scary winter sled ride—all the while singing up a storm, launching their own version of “snail mail,” and learning what it means to have patience, compassion, loyalty, and love.


The show is based on the classic children’s Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by Willie Reale. It made its debut in children’s theatre before moving to Broadway and being nominated for three 2003 Tony awards, including Best Musical.

WHO:  Bay Area Children’s Theatre (formerly Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences)

WHAT:  A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

BERKELEY PERFORMANCES:   Weekends, March 26 – April 17 at 2 p.m., with additional performances on Sunday, April 10, and Sunday, April 17, at 11 a.m.; Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley  

SAN RAMON PERFORMANCES: Weekends April 30 – May 8, at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., with an evening performance on Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m.; the Front Row Theatre, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon  

TICKETS:  Children $14-15, Seniors $16-$17, Adults $18-20, Groups $12-13

BOX OFFICE:  http://www.bactheatre.org/  and (510) 296-4433  

XANADU extended - take your kid for free

Earlier I blogged about Xanadu, the live musical in San Jose. The show has been extended to May 8th, and added new deals to the ones they already have.

1. Take your child for free to matinees, using the code FREECHILD when ordering your tickets online.

2. Double date night - book 4 tickets for $120. They're normally $44/each. Use code 4PACK when ordering online.

Coming Up: Marin Camp Fair

Marin Summer Camp Fair is coming up! See a list of camps represented, both day and overnight - more than 70 so far. Find camps for kids ages preschool through high school.

When: Thursday, March 31 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Dominican University of California, Conlan Center Gymnasium, 1475 Grand Avenue, San Rafael,
Who: Children welcome. Pizza and snacks served. Bounce house, storyteller etc.