Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san francisco, CA

June 18, 2009

Sesame Street Live is awesome! My family had the distinct pleasure of attending Thursday night’s show and it did not disappoint. The two-hour performance had our two-and-a-half year olds rocking, bopping, and snacking the whole way through.

The show started at 7pm, which is pretty darn close to our normal bedtime. We had our worries that the kids weren’t going to last the entire show, so we went prepared, we packed: milk, snacks, jammies, blankets, and sleeping buddies (a frog for Max and a lamb for Julia). We should never have worried. The sight of Elmo and Zoie, on stage together, was a magical treat that couldn’t be beat (see that, it even got me rhyming…).

During the intermission, we stocked up on a $2 kids popcorn (which was plenty big), and Max and Julia got an Elmo and a Zoie, respectively ($15 each). We thought the concession prices were pretty darn good (when was the last time you got $2 popcorn at the movie theater) and the stuffed toy prices were to be expected. The parking was $15 as well, so come prepared with some spending money. But believe me, the money is well spent when you see the endless smiles on your kid’s faces as they dance and sing along to a truly great show.

I really, really thought our kids would zonk out on the car ride home, but once again they surprised us. We put them in their jammies, bundled them up with blankets, and tucked in their new friends. Instead of sleeping though, they laughed and giggled and played for the journey home; they were that amped up. When we did get home, we quickly brushed our teeth, kissed our buddies night-night, and everyone promptly fell asleep. We really could not have asked for more.

There are morning and evening performances throughout the weekend. If you have not purchased your tickets yet, please use the use promo code SESAME to save $3 off per ticket. You can buy your tickets now at any Ticketmaster location.

Sesame Street Live
"Elmo’s Green Thumb"
Oakland, CA; ORACLE Arena

Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21

Ticket prices: $15, $20, $25 & $30 (Gold Circle).
Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

Performance Schedule

Friday, June 19: 10:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 20: 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 21: 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM

Our First Bus Ride, a Mexican Bakery, and Casa Sanchez

June 08, 2009

I’m of the mindset that I do what I say and I say what I do. With that in mind, I take seriously the weekend recommendations that I post every Wednesday (not everything that comes across my laptop is published). Last Wednesday, I wrote about Sunday Streets heading to the Mission. When I heard about this, the first thing I thought was, food: delicious, authentic, home-made Mexican food. How could you possibly go wrong? I’ll tell you this, we didn’t go wrong, and we were well rewarded for visiting the Mission.

We decided to take the bus for our excursion. We never took the kids on the bus before, and let me tell you, that was an experience in itself. Max and Julia (age 2.5 years, yes, they are twins) couldn’t have been more excited about finally getting on board the bus; the big, giant, loud, noisy bus they see rumbling down the street all the time. They finally got a chance to ride one. And ride it they did. The bus ride took about 45 minutes to go from Laurel Village to 24th and York. The kids loved every jolt, jostle, lurch, and screech. They waved goodbye as other passengers disembarked and a lucky few were blown kisses. At each bus stop, they would look at us and say, “More, more?!?” And yes, they got more and more, as like I said, it took close to an hour to get there. It was well worth it to take the bus, as driving defeats the purpose of Sunday Streets, and it was doubtful we’d find parking.

We reached our destination and headed straight for Panaderia La Mexicana (a bakery). My wife is a huge fan of pan dulce, so she got one of those and we got a couple of sweet muffins for the kids. The muffins didn’t last two minutes and I barely got a nibble to sample the sweet, soft, melt-in-your-mouth sensation. It’s a crime to simply call these muffins as there should be a whole other word to describe how good they were. The pan dulce was of the same caliber. I’ve had pan dulce before, and I always thought of it as a dry, crumbly sweet bread; kind of like biscotti or a scone. This pan dulce at Panaderia redefined what pan dulce means to me. This, like the muffins, was soft, super fresh, and was like a moist cake with a crumbly cinnamon top. Can you tell I liked it?

After the treats, we played in Garfield park, exercised with the YMCA-sponsored hula hoops, threw around a few basketballs, and walked the streets of the Mission. Yep, good times indeed and we worked up an appetite. We headed over to Casa Sanchez for lunch. If you’re thinking you’ve heard of Casa Sanchez, but you’re not quite sure where from, you need look no further than the grocery store. Casa Sanchez sells their chips and salsa to local grocery stores, yep, it’s that good.

I ordered the carne asada, my wife got chicken tacos, and the kids ate our beans and rice. Max would have eaten the entire dish of guacamole if I didn’t sneak some while he was distracted… All in all, everything was delicious, we sat in the outdoor patio in the back and enjoyed the weather, and everyone had a great time.

If you’re looking for an excuse to visit the Mission, or you just want to try something new (or revisit a forgotten goodie), I can highly recommend Panaderia La Mexicana and Casa Sanchez. Both are located on 24th near York.

Panaderia La Mexicana
2804 24th St
(between Bryant St & York St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-2633

Casa Sanchez
2778 24th Street
(between Hampshire St & York St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-2400

Jazz, Culture, Sunday Streets, and Yo Gabba Gabba

June 03, 2009

There’s plenty of things to do this weekend as Sunday Streets explores new territory, there’s a Jewish community festival in Yerba Buena Gardens, and Yo Gabba Gabba hits the Xbox 360. If you’re looking for something to do tomorrow, there’s jazz at Yerba Buena Gardens.

Yerba Buena Gardens
Mads Tolling Quartet
Thursday, June 4, 12:30–1:30pm
Mads Tolling, two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist with the Turtle Island Quartet and violinist with the acclaimed Stanley Clarke Band, leads his own ensemble in a performance of contemporary lyrical jazz with virtuosity and spontaneity. The Mads Tolling Quartet is Mads Tolling (violin), George Ban-Weiss (bass), Mike Abraham (guitar), Eric Garland (drums).

Israel in the Gardens Festival
Sunday, June 7, 11am–5pm
Celebrate the diversity of the Jewish community! The largest Jewish community family festival in the Bay Area includes a variety of activities for teens, young adults and families featuring the hottest new music, theater, a film festival, resource tables, and freshly prepared ethnic foods. Shop for everything from jewelry to handmade clothing from artisan craft booths!

Sunday Streets
Sunday Streets is taking it’s fun and games to the Mission. All activities take place between 10am and 2pm unless otherwise noted (check the web site). The event’s centerplace is at Garfield Square Park at 26th & Harrison Street. Per usual, there will be kid’s activities, cultural programming, roller skating, dancing, and biking.

Yo Gabba Gabba
Many of you know that I’m a proud owner of an Xbox 360, along with 30 million others. In addition to me, 20 million others also have an Xbox Live subscription, which provides access to TV shows, movies, and other content. Now available on the Xbox Live Video Marketplace are episodes of the popular Yo Gabba Gabba children’s show. If you haven’t seen this before, it comes highly recommended.

For those of you without an Xbox, the DVD’s for the first and second seasons are available on Netflix.
Read more...

The Sippy Cups Rock

May 19, 2009

Beatles. Rolling Stones. Ramones. The Sippy Cups.

You might not know it to think it, but kids do like Rock n Roll. This might be a matter of genetics, taste, and personal preference, but my kids tend to bop, sway, and head nod to classic rock, reggae (Jimmy Cliff in particular), and pop music far more than they ever did to Baby Einstein's classical music. Enter: The Sippy Cups.

I took my own advice (from Wednesday's post) and took the family over to Golden Gate Park last Saturday for the Life is Good festival (full disclosure: full props to my wife for finding the festival and already knowing about The Sippy Cups). It was awesome. The festival was very well sponsored and almost everything was free: from sample granola and Z bars to Project Joy's beach balls. There were plenty of games and face painting. I also want to fully recognize the staff, who were some of the most friendly, happy, and energetic people I've ever met.

But the real topper of the day was The Sippy Cups. When I heard there was going to be a kids band performing, I thought to myself, hear we go with 'Wheels on the Bus;' only louder. I couldn't have been more wrong. They opened with 'Dear Prudence' and had everyone from 6 months and up grooving, shaking, and dancing. And no one, and I mean no one, can beat The Sippy Cups bubble machine. Max and Julia (my two-year olds) stood there with mouths dropped open and stared in wide-eyed wonder at the thousands of bubbles that floated out from the stage. It was magical.

Other covers included the Stones' 'She’s a Rainbow' and the Ramones' 'I Wanna be Sedated' (appropriately changed to 'I Wanna be Related'). The Sippy Cups are by no means a cover band and played several originals, including a song with the lyrics, "7 is the new 14, 14 is the new 21, 35 and you’re barely alive…" Funny. Real funny.

The Sippy Cups have upcoming shows in Berkeley and Walnut Creek. I also noticed they played at Bimbo's 365 in North Beach (the doors opened at 3pm). If I remember correctly, the last show I saw at Bimbo's was Alex Chilton (the doors did not open at 3pm for that one…). Their gig list shows a few dates in DC and New York, so it looks like they travel.

They do have a mailing list (I just signed up), are on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace…in their words, "The Sippy Cups are like, totally Web 2.0 Join us in the interwebsphere and we can make you special offers and also make you feel welcome in our world at all times."

It was a great show, it was a great day, and we look forward to next year's Life is Good festival.

There's still time to enter the contest to win tickets to see Sesame Street Live in June at the Oakland ORACLE Arena (details).

Life is Good

May 13, 2009

This Saturday there are first-time festivals at Golden Gate Park, sing alongs, street festivals, and carnivals. On Sunday, you can rest (speaking as the Dad of two-year old twins, comments like that are meant as sarcasm…there's no such thing as "resting" when you have two-year olds...).

Life is Good Festival
The first Life is Good festival is a free, family-friendly day in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park at Speedway Meadow on May 16, 2009 from 11am to 5 pm. The outdoor bash features great live music from ALO, Martin Sexton, and The Sippy Cups, classic backyard food, and a colorful mix of good-time games and activities for all ages. From seed spitting and badminton to soccer kicks, tug-o'-wars and football flings, they promise a day of big smiles and healthy play.

Dream Circle Spring Sing (Bay Area Discovery Museum)
Saturday, May 16, performances at 11am & 12:30 pm
Members $8; General $10
Tim Cain, Cindy Cohen, Miss Kitty and Cristopher Smith – all under one roof! Join BADM for a delightful sing-along concert with Marin’s best loved children’s entertainers. Kids of all ages will be delighted to raise their voices and sing some favorite songs with this incredibly talented foursome. Ballerinas will have a chance to pirouette and doggies will be called upon to hop up and down. There will be lots of dancing, clapping and tapping fun.

Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 11am to 6pm. Two stages of music, arts and crafts, food, prizes, karaoke, traditional and pop culture J cars, Thai kickboxing, carnival rides and games. Free admission.

Splish Splash Peabody Bash
Time to celebrate the arrival of Spring! Please join the Peabody school for a whale of a good time at their Carnival this Saturday from 11am to 3pm. They will have carnival games for children of all ages, a silent auction, a jumpy house, a rock climbing wall and a raffle for the adults with food and fun for all! The carnival takes place on the school yard at 250 7th Avenue, between California and Clement Streets. Don't want to mess with parking? No worries, take the 2 Clement, 1 California, 44 O'Shaugnessy or the 38 Geary bus lines.

If you missed it yesterday, there's still time to enter the contest to win tickets to see Sesame Street Live in June at the Oakland ORACLE Arena (details).

Win Tickets to See Elmo Live

May 12, 2009

Elmo Elmo is coming to the Oakland ORACLE Arena and BeingSavvy San Francisco has a family 4-pack of tickets as a giveaway.

A little about the show
When Elmo's sunflower, Sunny, outgrows his flower pot, Big Bird's garden seems to be the perfect place for Sunny to flourish. An excited Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street's fairy-in-training, casts a spell to make Sunny grow faster. The spell does just the opposite and, instead of growing, Elmo and his friends shrink! As Abby tries to reverse the spell, Elmo, Zoe, Telly and friends explore Big Bird's garden from a smaller perspective and learn some big lessons about patience, overcoming fears and appreciation of nature. From dancing ladybugs to grouchy beetles, get ready for a fresh, original Sesame Street Live on a whole new scale!

Enter the contest
To enter the contest, simply leave a comment (only one comment per family; multiple comments disqualifies you), and make sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. The ticket vouchers are good for any performance at any time and you can redeem them at the box office.

This contest is open to U.S. residents only and ends at midnight PST on May 24, 2009. I will draw a winner at random and announce the winner's name on May 25, 2009.

Discount code available
For those who don't win, but would still like to attend, use the use promo code SESAME to save $3 off per ticket. You can buy your tickets now at any Ticketmaster location.

Sesame Street Live
"Elmo’s Green Thumb"
Oakland, CA; ORACLE Arena
Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21

Ticket prices: $15, $20, $25 & $30 (Gold Circle).
Opening Night (Thursday, June 18, 7 pm)—All seats $15 (excluding Gold Circle seating).
Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

Performance Schedule

Thursday, June 18: 7:00 PM
Friday, June 19: 10:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 20: 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 21: 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM

Leave your comment now for your family's chance to win! Read more...

Mother's Day 2009

May 06, 2009

I have to give Sunday Streets continual props. The first one of the year was a blast. We went down to AT&T Park, ran the bases, played ball in the Fan Lot, and then walked over to the playground and a grassy field, which is about a block away. Sponsors had hula hoops and catch-and-throw toys spread out. It was hilarious to see my little two-year old trying to hula. She had no trouble getting inside the hoop and picking it up, but it was far too big for her to start swinging her hips. Gotta hand it to her for trying though!

I bring Sunday Streets up because on May 10 they will be back at it again along the Waterfront route in the Southeast Sector of the city. The route highlights the San Francisco Bay Trail, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The route starts at AT&T Park, stretches to the Bayview Opera House, and then finishes at India Basin (details).

If you’re still looking for something to do today, don’t forget that the Bay Area Discovery Museum offers free admission on the first Wednesday of every month (yep, that’s today).

Koret Museum Days
BADM is participating in Koret Museum Days, which means on Sunday May 10, admission is free of charge. Seventeen other museums and varied locations are participating, including the Exploratorium, the SF Museum of Modern Art, and the SF Zoo (full list of locations).

That’s all good for Mom Day, but what about Saturday? Don't worry, there’s stuff to do then as well:

Richmond District Family Fun Days
The Richmond Village Beacon is presenting a carnival event with resource booths, food, and games for every member of the family! This event is free and open to the public (details).

Baby Loves Disco (in my wife's words, "geez, this is expensive!")
If your baby/toddler/kid loves to dance the afternoon away, and you don't mind dropping $18/per person at the door (that's $72 for a family of four), then Baby Loves Disco is where you need to be heading on Saturday.

Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, and More all in SF

April 29, 2009

There’s no shortage of things to do this weekend. Events range from the Bay Area Discovery Museum's fundraiser to a Hawaiian dance program at Yerba Buena Gardens and much, much more.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
On Saturday from 1PM to 2:30PM, Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu, Patrick Makuakane's dynamic Hawaiian dance company, presents a program of visually captivating hula. In its only full-length San Francisco performance this year, the company will feature a rich blend of traditional and contemporary forms of hula, showcasing a delightful combination of signature pieces and audience favorites in the hula kahiko, hula 'auana, and hula mua styles. Performances are given in a "talk-story" format, incorporating narration and dance to provide a rich cultural context.

San Francisco Cinco De Mayo Festival
Visit Mission Dolores Park on Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. This is a free, kid-friendly, and alcohol-free event. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy all-day music, kid's activities, entertainment, food, arts and crafts and more.

Kristi Yamaguchi's Children's Day Festival in Japantown
From 11AM to 4PM on Saturday, visit the Japantown Peace Plaza (Post and Buchanan Street). In recognition of Japan's National holiday to celebrate children, the Japanese Cultural Community Center of Northern California invites you to bring your family and enjoy the fun. This free event will have plenty of kids craft booths, entertainment and great food.

Bay Area Discovery Museum's Fundraiser
BADM encourages you to join them on Saturday at 6PM for Playdate—an evening of grown-up play at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge to benefit the museum. The evening begins with wine tasting and cocktails while you enjoy the beautiful view of San Francisco. Browse and bid on Silent Auction packages, then sit down to a fabulous dinner and a Live Auction—all at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge!

Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum is located at 200 Larkin Street and offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month, which does include family programs. Free admission to "Target First Free Sundays" is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed.

San Francisco Birth and Baby Fair
If you're new to parenting or expecting a baby, Maternity Xchange, sponsored by Natural Resources, brings together representatives from pregnancy, birth, parenting and baby related resources for a day of information, education and shopping. Baby experts—from midwives and educators to baby photographers—will be on hand to address your questions and interests. The Birth and Baby Fair also offers free workshops, refreshments, and goody bags. Check out baby and maternity clothing, including items from local designers, most discounted from regular retail price. The event takes place at Fort Mason on Sunday from 10AM to 3PM. Tickets are $5 but you can find free and discounted passes at Natural Resources locations and AAA.

March for Babies and Sunday Streets

April 22, 2009

Hope you have good walking shoes because this weekend is for getting out and about. Saturday is the March for Babies, if you've been reading this blog lately you might be getting tired of reading about it, but I promise this is the last mention (until next year).

The walk takes place at the Great Meadow at Fort Mason and is 6.25 miles long. Registration begins at 8AM and the walk starts at 9AM. If you need more information, please call 415.788.2202.

If 6.25 miles isn't enough walking for you, then head over to the Embarcadero and AT&T Park areas for Sunday Streets. If my feet aren't too blistered up, I'm sure my family will be back at the ballpark. Last year was tons of fun and we'd love to have a repeat performance. The waterfront route runs along the Embarcadero from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park. Activities begin at 9AM. The Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District's Fitness, Health and Safety Fair is at Aquatic Park from 10AM to 4PM. Pier 39 will have live music from 1PM to 3PM at the main entrance.

If you do happen to miss the first Sunday Streets of 2009, there will be additional dates throughout the summer.

Cherry Blossoms, Easter Egg Hunts, and the Union Street Spring Celebration

April 08, 2009

The San Francisco weather has turned wet again, but the forecast calls for somewhat sunny skies this weekend, so go ahead and make some outdoor plans!

Over in Japantown, the 2009 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is taking place near Post and Buchanan. On the weekends of April 11 and April 18 the festival will celebrate Japanese Americans with music, dance, martial arts, tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, and (of course) food!

If your little one is anything like my daughter, who wore her Hello Kitty rain boots and jacket today, I'm sure they will go nuts-o for the Hello Kitty Land at the Children's Village on April 11 and 12. The next weekend, Hello Kitty and her entourage will perform live at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas from 11AM to 1PM.

Over in India Basin, friends and neighbors are holding their 9th Annual Spring Egg Hunt. Families are encouraged to gather around 10AM on Saturday and the hunt starts at 11AM. The event includes prizes and (of course) food and takes place at Hunters Point Boulevard between Evans and Innes.

Last, but not least, the 18th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade takes place on Sunday from 10AM to 5PM on Union Street from Gough to Fillmore. The event features Union Street's best restaurants dishing it up in an outdoor bistro setting (what's a San Francisco event without food?).

Activities include large inflatable bounces, kids' rides and games, a climbing wall, a hands-on children's activities area, costumed characters, a petting zoo, a pony ride and music.

So there are three events that sound pretty fun. My best bets would be the Hello Kitty party on Saturday and the Union Street festival on Sunday.

AT&T Park and the Return of Sunday Streets

April 07, 2009

SF Giants Play Ball! The San Francisco Giants opened their season today by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park. The day began with wet weather and it was starting to look hit-and-miss if the game was going to take place at all. Luckily, the rain lifted and the tarp was removed from the field about an hour before the first pitch was thrown. It's always fun to attend a baseball game, but there's something magical about attending opening day.

AT&T Park is an excellent place to take your little ones. Not only is the allure of baseball present, but there's the Coca-Cola Fan Lot and Lou Seal is always good for a sighting. The Fan Lot consists of a huge slide and an area where the kids can hit balls and run the bases. It's always jam-packed in there, so it's best to arrive early when things are still quiet.

In related news, Sunday Streets returns to San Francisco on April 26 (one day after the March for Babies walk). Sunday Streets made its SF debut last year and we happily participated in the activities. If you're not sure what Sunday Streets is, here's a bit of info taken from their email announcement, "Over ten thousand people turned out on each of two Sundays [last year] to enjoy the car free open space. We walked, skated, danced, biked and hula hooped along the 4.5 mile waterfront route with friends and neighbors, supporting local businesses along the way. We heard from many people who loved it and want to see it continue."

This year, Sunday Streets has dates scheduled throughout the summer. Their web site is still lacking any details on the activities, but if they open up the ballpark again and allow us to run the bases, then we are definitely there! We did that last year and it was one of the most surreal experiences being on the field, running the bases, and looking up into the stands. It's something that you simply cannot miss. Plus, they had the Fan Lot open, and because we got there early we practically had the place to ourselves, which was another surreal experience.

Checking out Sunday Streets and AT&T Park are two San Francisco experiences that can't be beat.

Multiples of Fun for Parents of Multiples

April 01, 2009

SFPOM Despite the title, this post has little to do (really, nothing to do) with multiplication. Instead, it's more about having fun at the park. To be more specific, the West Portal park with the San Francisco Parents of Multiples group. Yes, that's right folks, there's a group designed specifically for parents of multiples. Actually, there are several similar groups, but we belong to the SFPOM (I call it 'The Pom' for short, not really sure if anyone else does). Despite being members for over two years, we've never attended an SFPOM social event. It's either this, that, or the other thing that keeps getting in the way. We did attend a consignment sale last year and found lots of great deals on shoes that still looked brand new, but other than that, we haven't been socializing with our social group. My wife does read the multitude of emails that the group sends out, which is chock full of very interesting and useful information, but that's been the extent of our participation. That is, until now.

This weekend, members of 'The Pom' are gathering at the West Portal park at Ulloa to celebrate spring and April Fools. They will have clowing, animal balloons, crafts, good food, and of course, family fun. Silly hats and attire are encouraged. I have no idea how we're going to dress the kids for this one. Perhaps put their clothes on backwards???

The event is for SFPOM members. If you are a parent of multiples, or are an expectant parent of multiples, then why not join in on the fun? Check out the SFPOM site for more information.

Here are a few other events taking place around town this weekend:

Flowers and Trains Model Trains at the Conservatory of Flowers
Through April 19th, Model trains zip through a mini San Francisco in the Conservatory of Flowers' first garden railway exhibition.

Chalk up the Playground and Lori Carsillo
Friends of Dolores Park Playground is pleased to resume their annual social events at Dolores Park Playground. Come one and all to the park on Saturday, April 4th, from 11 to noon to "chalk up" the playground blacktop while listening to the wonderful jazz melodies of the Lori Carsillo Trio. Friends of Dolores Park Playground will provide the chalk. All you and your kids need to bring are inspiration and creativity.

2nd Annual Richardson Bay Mudflat Festival
On April 4th, 2009 from 10am to 2pm come celebrate the education and science of Richardson Bay at the 2nd annual Mudflat Festival! Explore the season's wildflowers, mudflats, and tidepools. Delve into watersheds, bay science, compost, and the research happening in and around our Bay.

What's on Tap?

March 18, 2009

From March 22nd through the 28th, many San Francisco restaurants are participating in the Tap project. Select restaurants will ask patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free. All funds raised will support UNICEF's efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world. Participating restaurants include, Pasta Pomodoro, Bon Appetit, Sapoten, Perry’s, Osha Thai, and many, many more. You can find a complete listing on the Tap Project web site.

Over at the Presidio Sports Basement store, Family Teams are gathering on Saturday for a kick off event to gear up for the March for Babies. It's not too late to sign up, participate, or make donations for the March of Dimes. My family has teamed up with the Ambassador of the event and we are looking forward to the walk!

Hasbro Family Game Night According to Yahoo! weather, it is forecasted to rain this weekend, which means indoor activities. I realize that coloring, arts and crafts, and reading books are always great go-to's for indoor fun, but if your family has succumbed to video games and watching TV, then you might want to know about the Hasbro Family Game Night. Classic games such as Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, Connect Four, Scrabble, and Sorry! are now available for purchase on Xbox Live. You must have an Xbox Live Gold or Silver membership to download the games.

99 Things to Do in San Francisco Before Kindergarten: The Full List

January 02, 2009

One of my great accomplishments last year was to finish this enormous list of things I think every San Francisco kid should do before the age of 6 or so. The range is vast and yet I'm sure I'm leaving quite a bit off, all the same. Since we originally posted in ten parts, I'm going to reprise the entire list here, complete with check boxes so you can keep track of your progress. (There's Read more...

Tea and Stories: Two Intriguing Holiday Events for Kids

December 09, 2008

Sorting through the dozens of holiday events coming up, two stand out to me as particularly interesting. First, the Mark Hopkins has a special children's holiday tea that sounds a treat, if a bit pricey. I've always liked to take my 2-year old Fern to tea, although Cafe Flore is more our usual speed -- the idea of getting all gussied up in our holiday best? Well, we'll just see. The Read more...

99 Things to Do In San Francisco Before Kindergarten, Part 7: How to Remember You're a Local

November 24, 2008

Sometimes having kids can make you forget what a truly unique place we live in, so for this week's installment I present ten things to do with your preschoolers and toddlers that make you feel authentically San Franciscan. 61. Visit Mission Dolores -- don't miss the cemetery -- and then head up Valencia for tapas. 62. Hike San Francisco's last wild stream - Islais Creek -- at Glen Canyon Read more...

San Francisco Stories: Where to Listen in The City

November 11, 2008

Listening to stories read aloud is such a ubiquitous part of childhood that it's easy to forget it's happening. Sure, we read to our 2-year old daughter Fern at naptime and bedtime, and probably at least once or twice a day besides, but it's like brushing her teeth: it fades into the background of our parenting tasks. Which is why it's nice to get out into the world and attend a public reading Read more...

Spooky and Not Scary? Halloween Parties for Kids in San Francisco

October 21, 2008

The Halloweens of my youth were authentically scary. Haunted houses even at child-friendly venues were filled with the truly spooky -- people jumping out from every dark corner, grabbing and not letting go. One memorable college frat house display from when I was about ten featured zombie terrorists with bandoleers and grenades, an over-the-top display that, at the time, was considered "all Read more...

Aki Matsuri! Fall Festival at Japantown this Weekend

October 02, 2008

San Francisco festival season is in full swing, and none is so colorful as the Fall Festival held in and around Japantown every year. I'm all for introducing our two-year old daughter to the karaoke competition, but my wife thinks she'll be more interested in the costumes, games, bounce houses, and the taiko drumming. Japantown is a great destination in any event -- Fern (and I) can spend Read more...

Saturday is for Sou Boereg: The Armenian Festival is Here!

September 17, 2008

Last year, my wife, daughter, and I stumbled upon the 50th Anniversary of the Armenian Food Festival , held at St. Gregory's down on Brotherhood Way, and we plan to go for the next 50 years at least. The event had everything a cultural gathering should: an old guy wearing World War II ribbons expounding on how Armenia founded world culture, his wife pointing out the Armenian features of Read more...

Sing Along With Bare-Chested Mermen

August 22, 2008

Want to introduce your pint-sized mermaid to a 6' 4" bear of one? Drop by the Castro Theatre sometime in the next week for a special version of The Little Mermaid that has been captioned so you, too, can sing with the animated fish. My daughter Fern's first "audience participation" show was a dance-along Nutcracker at 18 months, and she went nuts for it. The concept of sitting still Read more...

Savvy music: Breakfast with Enzo

August 01, 2008

I haven't yet been to what promises to be the best musical show in the city for kids, but all my friends with kids swear by Breakfast with Enzo -- a musical sing-along for everyone. Well, today is the day. Enzo Garcia hosts shows every Friday through August at Fort Mason (and also every Saturday in Bernal Heights). More information can be found here . And a really good video of what you'll find Read more...

Savvy Insider: Tykes on Bikes Parade Sunday!

June 25, 2008

If you're looking to join the Pride parade this weekend, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is hosting a Tykes on Bikes ride that is sure to be a perfect introduction to a great San Francisco event. Jennifer Caleshu, a spokeswoman for the museum, says kids and their parents will meet up by 10 a.m. on Spear Street between Mission and Howard and will be a part of the family friendly contingent that Read more...

Top 5 Extra-Preschool Activities

June 17, 2008

If you've got a little explorer on your hands who loves all the classes and activities found in preschool -- and really, who doesn't? -- these classes may be perfect if you're looking for a little extra enrichment ... or maybe just a little break for yourself. At the Yoga Loft on Divis, on the third Tuesday of every month, babies get a chance to take their parents dancing! At least that's the Read more...

Cheap Treats: Exploratorium Free Days

June 04, 2008

My friend Peter over at The Poop let everyone know about the free days on the first Wednesday of the month at the Exploratorium. Bad, bad move. That place is a zoo on free days! And yet ... it's still worth it. The Exploratorium is a gem. Even on the most crowded days when every hands-on exhibit is teeming with toddlers, you just know simply being there is educational enough for any child. From Read more...

Top 5 Rainy (or Foggy) Day Activities