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Kiddie Koncierge: Another May Update
What is Kiddie Koncierge?
Kiddie Koncierge is the SF Bay
Area's premier resource for fun,
interesting, unique, and
creative kids activities.
We provide recommendations,
reviews, and resources on all
sorts of fun things to do in San
Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland,
San Jose, Marin, and beyond!
Kiddie Koncierge is the SF Bay
Area's premier resource for fun,
interesting, unique, and
creative kids activities.
We provide recommendations,
reviews, and resources on all
sorts of fun things to do in San
Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland,
San Jose, Marin, and beyond!
Welcome to Another Kiddie
Koncierge May Update!
Summer is almost here and we have updated our Summer
Resources Page with all sorts of activities for your summer
enjoyment: Fairs, 4th of July, Performing Arts, and more. Of
course, check back here from time to time for up to the minute
activities for you and your family.
We have also launched ourselves on Facebook. If you like us, be
our fan! Share us! Pass us around!
Make sure to check out the Resources Pages for a ton of great
ideas. Here are some highlights:
miss be offering free tickets again to our subscribers! Don't miss
out!
Don't miss out!
out!
Activities at a Glance
April 4th – Sept 27th
Sundays, May 3rd through June 7th
Free 3rd Wednesday, May 20th this month
Saturdays and Sundays, April 25th - May 17th
Friday, May 15th - Sunday, May 17th
Saturday, May 16th
Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17
Sunday, May 17th
Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23rd
Saturday, May 23rd
Saturday, May 23 to Monday May 25th
May 23, 24 & 25 (Memorial Day Weekend)
Friday, May 22nd – Monday, May 25th
Saturday, May 23 – Sunday May 24th
Sundays, May 24th - June 21st
Saturday, June 13th
Sunday, May 24th
Monday, May 25th
Saturday and Sunday, May 30th – 31st
Saturday, May 30th
Sunday, May 31st
June 1-15th
Free 1st Tuesday, June 2nd this month
Free 1st Wednesday, June 3rd this month
Free 1st Thursday, June 4th this month
Free 2nd Sunday, June 14th this month
Free 3rd Wednesday, June 17th this month
Friday-Sunday, June 5th - 7th
Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th
Saturday, June 6th
Sunday, June 7th
Friday-Sunday, June 12th - 14th
Saturday, June 13th
Thursay-Sunday, June 19th - 22th
Sunday, June 21st
Sunday, July 17th
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout
the summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of
which will sell out.
The Detes
4-27Saturdays and Sundays April 4 – Sept 27
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Opening Weekend for Train
Operations, California State Railroad Museum, Old
Town Sacramento, $8 adults, $3 kids 6-17, kids under
3 FREE
Every weekend through September, experience the sights, smells,
and sounds of a real, working steam locomotive as it pulls vintage
passenger coaches and converted freight cars along the levees of
the Sacramento River on the California State Railroad Museum's
Sacramento Southern Railroad. Climb aboard for a relaxing 40-
minute, 6-mile roundtrip ride. Of course, the real reason to come
up is to check out the California State Railroad Museum which is
an amazing trip through our State’s history as told through its
railways. Full-sized equipment is cool for all ages and for non-
fanatics. Directions and visiting information at http://www.csrmf.
org/doc.asp?id=286
9-17Sat. & Sun., May 9th-17th
2:00 p.m. Active Arts Theater Presents Wonderland, a
Circus Adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, Front Row
Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Blvd., San Ramon,
$18 adult, $14 children
This is the same show that many families enjoyed in Berkeley last
month at the Julia Morgan Theater. Alice’s adventures in
Wonderland have never before been told like this…with clowns,
acrobats, jugglers, and musicians. When Alice searches for a way
back home, she will meet the caterpillar, the white rabbit, and she
will have to escape from the dreaded Queen of Hearts. You may
think you know this classic story, but hold on to your hats, because
this world premiere created by master clown Jeff Raz of Cirque Du
Soleil for the Advanced Training Program of the Clown
Conservatory and produced by Active Arts will be the wildest,
craziest trip to Wonderland you’ve ever taken!. Ages 6 and up.
Information at http://www.activeartstheatre.org/Wonderland.html,
tickets at http://sabo.seatadvisor.
com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?
eventId=114607&presenter=SANRAMON&venue=&event=
25-17Sat & Sun, April 25th - May 17th
Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30
p.m., Madeline and the Gypsies, Young Performers
Theatre., Fort Mason Center, Building C, San
Francisco, 10:00 adults, $7 children under 13,
Come to this great theater by the Bay for some great kids' theater
with your favorite kid with an oversized beret and her eleven friends
and unhealthily thin chaperone. In this final show of the season,
Madeline joins Pepito and his family for a show with lots of fun and
circus antics. While you are there, check out the Exploratorium
outdoor exhibits sprinkled around Fort Mason.
For tickets, visit http://www.ypt.org/tickets.htm
For directions, visit http://www.ypt.org/map.htm
3-7Sundays, May 3rd through June 7th
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Little Farm Goat Hike, Tilden
Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE
What could be more fun than going on a little walk from the Little
Farm to the lovely Jewel Lake and back accompanied by a herd of
friendly goats? Kids (and their parents, please) can learn all sorts
of cool things about these cool animals. Fun fact, did you know
that goats do not have upper teeth? For your little goat feeders this
is good news because it means that they don’t bite in the usual
sense of the word. A lot more cool than a petting zoo. For
directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/vc/tna
15-17Friday-Sunday, May 15-17
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
San Carlos Hometown Days, Burton Field, 900 Chestnut Street,
San Carlos, FREE (some activities and refreshments have a cost)
Starting with a parade on Saturday and continuing with two stages
of live entertainment, food, games, arts and crafts, rides, petting
zoos, and more all weekend long, this is a great event! For a full
list of events and maps, visit http://www.sancarloshometowndays.
com/docs/HTDProgram09.pdf
16 Saturday, May 16th
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Farm Tour, Deer Hollow Farm,
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Cristo
Rey Drive, Los Altos, Adults $5, Kids $3, Kids under 2
FREE
What better way to usher in the Spring than a trip to a homestead
farm to visit sheep, goats, cows, pigs, rabbits, and all manner of
fowl? This is a working farm and visitors can learn about farming,
tending to the animals, the century-old buildings, and more. The
tours are 45 minutes, but visitors are encouraged to explore the
County park and open space abutting the preserve. For details
and directions, visit http://www.fodhf.org/farm_tour_2009_flyer.
pdf.
If you don't want to travel that far south, don't forget the Little Farm at
Tilden Park which is open every day http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Life is Good Festival, Speedway
Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, FREE!
You know the stuff: cute stick figure doing fun stuff, often with
family and/or a dog. Usually on hats, t-shirts. Positive messages
with a cute vibe. So, they also do the occasional family event! This
Saturday, there will be a ton of activities in Golden Gate Park from
games, a fund-raising 3-mile walk (with entertainment and
interactive surprises along the way), a chill-zone for kids to quiet
down and do some arts and crafts, and lots of music including
performances by the Sippy Cups. The event also is raising funds
for Project Joy, an organization dedicated to helping our most
vulnerable children through play . For more details on the festival
including an opportunity to volunteer, visit http://www.lifeisgood.
com/festivals/2009-festivals-locations/san-francisco-festival.aspx
For info on Project Joy, visit http://www.projectjoy.com/
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sonoma County Wildlife
Rescue Wild Fest, 403 Mecham Road, Petaluma, FREE
Visit the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue's visitor's center for visits
with their animal residents, food, art projects, exhibits, and
education booths. For details, visit their website at http://www.
scwildliferescue.org/Wild%20Fest%20Poster%20Page.pdf or call
(707) 992-0274
16-17Sat. & Sun., May 16th & 17th
Bay Area Storytelling Festival, Kennedy Grove
Regional Recreation Area, San Pablo Dam Road, El
Sobrante, California
Most of these events are geared for kids 9 and older. Sunday
afternoon’s 1:00 p.m. performance is better suited for younger
children. With the disclaimer aside, this is a unique event to
celebrate the spoken word. Outstanding storytellers from around
the world visit the Bay Area each Spring to bring to life tales old and
new: folk tales, family stories, fables, recollections, ghost stories,
tall tales, fairy tales, and classic stories from many many cultures.
Join them for a weekend of outdoor concerts of oral storytelling,
and treat your imagination to the power and elegance of the well-
told story. Featured tellers for 2009 include Judith Black, Doug
Elliott, Jay O'Callahan, Antonio Rocha, and Gayle Ross.
For details and schedule, visit http://www.bayareastorytelling.
org/ For directions, visit http://www.bayareastorytelling.
org/directions.html
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Livermore Scottish Games and
Celtic Celebration 2008, Robertson Park, Livermore,
$15 adults, $10 children (although much of the kid’s
stuff does not require tickets – check it out before
you buy tickets), $5 parking
Before you blip past this one, read on: The Scottish Games are
more than big guys in tiny skirts. This is a cultural fair and athletic
event that is fun for the whole family. It is one of the few on the
West Coast and the only one in California. There will be mock
battles a la “Braveheart”, historical reenactments, sheepdog trials,
the ever-engaging Scottish sports like caber, stone, and hammer
tossing (a lot of throwing, although tossing the big stick – the caber
– is most crowd pleasing), rugby and shinty games,
demonstrations and exhibits, and food (you can probably find
some haggis). They will also feature a “Children’s Glen” with fun
activities that highlight Scottish History and Celtic Lore. Kids can
play scaled down versions of the big peoples’ games (like caber
throws, golf ball races, tug-of-war and much more), do crafts,
bounce themselves silly in a bouncy castle/obstacle course. Our
child dug the armor and games. Bring hats and hydrate as
Livermore can be sunny and hot.
Details are at http://www.livermoregames.com/
Directions at http://www.livermoregames.com/directions.html
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 (Sat) and 5:30 p.m. (Sun),
Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave @
Berryman, Berkeley, FREE
This fair highlights the culture, arts, crafts, music, dance, and food
of the Himalayan peoples. Sure, the crunch factor is pretty high,
but it is a lot of fun even if you don’t own a single thing woven out of
hemp. The kids love all of the dancing, colors, and people. The
good thing is that this fair is pretty authentic. The people there are
largely people who grew up there and moved here. Details,
schedule, and directions can be found at http://www.
himalayanfair.net/Default.htm Plan on a healthy walk as parking
will be challenging.
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Kick Off Weekend, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz,
FREE to visit, tickets for the rides and games
It sure feels like summer and for many Bay Area residents, that
means schlepping the family to the Boardwalk. Opening weekend
will have high diving demonstrations, performances by Cirque
Magnifique, an extra special concert right on the beach with The
Tubes featuring Fee Waybill and dare-devil skydivers landing right
on the beach in front of the Boardwalk on Saturday. The full
schedule is online at http://beachboardwalk.com/01_events.
html. And of course, there are the rides and midway. Even if your
kids aren’t up for the big rollercoasters, there is a tamer kid’s area
with gentler rides including Kiddie Speed Boats. It's a great time to
visit the Boardwalk as summer kicks off with an action-packed
weekend of free entertainment!
Details can be found at http://beachboardwalk.com/ Directions
can be found at http://beachboardwalk.com/01_directions.html
17Sunday, May 17th
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Firetruck Day, Ardenwood
Historical Farm, Fremont, $5 adults, $3.50 children (4-
17 years), kids under 3 free
Come out to this great park and climb aboard a bunch of new and
antique fire engines. Get wet with the battle of the fire trucks,
dance to live music, meet Smokey, and, as if that weren’t enough,
there are music, games, crafts, and lots of water to squirt and be
squirted with. For directions, go to http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/ardenwood
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., Valley Nature Ride, Sunol
Regional Wilderness, $25 (non resident $29)
Enjoy an introduction to the cultural and natural history of the Sunol
Wilderness and then take a horseback ride! For kids 6 and older.
Registration required (888) 327-2757, Option 2,3. For details and
directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, The Family Studio:
Jazz It Up, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151 Third
Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA for an exploration of the influence
that music has had on work of many great artists. In this workshop,
you'll create your own artistic composition while musicians play
classic jazz tunes. Don't miss a reading of the book The Jazzy
Alphabet, by Sherry Shahan and illustrated by Mary Thelen.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
22-23Friday & Sat, May 22nd and 23rd
Friday, May 22nd at 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., Saturday,
May 23rd at 11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Peninsula Youth Theatre Stories on Stage presents
STINKY CHEESE MAN, Second Stage at Peninsula
Youth Theater, Mountain View Center for the
Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View,
tickets $6-$8
Find the Gingerbread Man a little too cloying for you? Little too
saccharine? How about an anthropomorphic blob of dairy
products? If you liked the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith,
writers a whole raft of fractured fairy tales, you’ll love this crazy
stage adaptation. Read the book and then see the play! TICKETS
can be purchased by phone at (650) 903-6000. Directions are at
http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/directions.html
22-25Fri, May 22nd – Monday, May 25th
10:00 – 9:00 daily (except for Monday when it closes
at 3:00) The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Old Town
Sacramento, Admission,
The California State Railroad Museum will have a series of kids’
events throughout the Festival. The Railroad Museum is open daily
during the Jubilee, with jazz musicians performing inside the
Museum and complimentary admission offered to Jazz Jubilee
badge holders. There will be a Special Free Children’s Stage and
activity area located on J Street just down from the Eagle Theater
during Jubilee, and several event music venues located in close
proximity to the Railroad Museum. Steam-powered Sacramento
Southern Railroad excursion trains operate Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday only, departing hourly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (regular ticket
prices apply). Jazz musicians perform aboard the trains this
weekend as well! For more details about the Sacramento Jazz
Jubilee, visit www.sacjazz.com. For information about the
Museum, visit http://www.csrmf.org/doc.asp?id=286. Parking
and traffic may be challenging so plan accordingly.
23Saturday, May 23rd
10:00 a.m., Pier Crabbing, Fort Point, San Francisco,
FREE
Come learn about crabbing in the San Francisco Bay. And then try
your hand at it! Come learn about crabbing in the San Francisco
Bay. Docents will teach you how to use the nets, discuss bait and
regulations, and let you try your luck on the Fort Point pier.
Reservations are required; phone (415) 556-1693. Click http:
//www.parksconservancy.org/calendar/index.asp?event=943 for
more details.
23-24Sat, May 23rd – Sunday May 24th
10:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily with a parade at 9:30 on
Sunday, San Francisco Carnaval, Harrison Street
between 16th and 22nd Street in the Mission District,
San Francisco, FREE
Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, San Francisco's Mission
district is transformed by Carnaval, a Latin celebration of life. The
Grand Carnaval Parade at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday features amazingly-
costumed dancers standing on fantastic floats, surrounded by
drummers, roller-skaters, stilt-walkers and thousands of people
out to enjoy the day.
Caribbean contingents showcase the music and dance of the
Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Other parade
groups include Mexican Aztec performers, traditional African
drummers, Polynesian dancers, Japanese drummers, giant
puppets and groups representing Guatemala, Honduras and
Bolivia. Sound systems boom out the latest reggae, hip-hop and
the hottest salsa, samba and soca tunes to create an intoxicating
street party atmosphere. The parade will be run from Harrison and
24th to Mission Street to 17th and Harrison where it ends. For
further details, please visit http://www.carnavalsf.com/ Check
back closer to the date for maps.
23-25Sat, May 23rd to Monday May 25th
9:00 a.m. Saturday to Monday at 2:00 p.m., The 25th
Annual Rattlesnake Rendezvous, Sunol Regional
Wilderness, Fee: $90/Adult (non-res. $102), $45/Child
(non-res. $51)
Travel back in time and join our intrepid band of primitives for a
weekend of Stone Age living skills. Aside from modern sleeping
gear and clothing, we will attempt to experience as closely as
possible the rigors and satisfactions of village life in the
ooooolllldddd ways. Fire-starting, flint-knapping, spears, arrows,
cordage, open-fire cooking, music, tracking, beads, and much
more! For children 9 and older. Registration Required: 1-888-
EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2, 3)
23-25May 23, 24 & 25 (Memorial Day
Weekend)
Civil War Battles, Re-enactments and Train Rides,
Roaring Camp Railroads, Highway 17 at Mt. Hermon
Road, Felton
Visit encampments of Union and Confederate solders and witness
historic battles at one of the longest-running Civil War
reenactments in the West. Be advised that occasional loud cannon
and gunfire may be heard as part of the re-enactment activities
during the day. After seeing the Blue and Greys go at it, take a train
to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz or check out the Redwoods. For
tickets, timetables, and more, visit http://www.roaringcamp.
com/events.html
For directions, visit http://www.roaringcamp.com/maps.html
24-21
Sundays May 24 & 31, June 7, 14 , & 21st Saturday
June 13 only
Pre-Show 11:00 a.m., Performance 1:00 p.m.,
Mountain Play: Man of La Mancha, Cushing
Ampitheater, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin
County, $40 adults, $30 kids 4-21, Kids 3 and under
are FREE
Don’t know why they didn’t just call it Don Quixote. This is the
classic and inspirational story of a man’s quest to right the wrongs
of the world - all set to a memorable score. Saturday June 13 is
the only Saturday show and has special pricing for seniors and
kids where tickets are $5 off. Order online to save $2. http://www.
mountainplay.org/tickets.html
The Mountain Play is special. In good weather (and it frequently
is), the experience is amazing with stunning views of the Pacific.
That being said, make sure to pack layers just in case, watch the
weather reports for heat or rain, leave the lawn chairs at home, and
leave plenty of time to hike in or out as you cannot park up there.
There is a very well organized shuttle service that you can find out
about on the website: http://www.mountainplay.org/directions.
html Food and drink is sold there although people do bring
amazing picnics and awards are given to the most amazing picnic
schlepped up there.
24Sunday, May 24th
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Caledonia Street Fair/ A Taste
of Sausalito, Sausalito, CA, FREE
This event features over 100 fine arts and crafts vendors and food
and entertainment for the entire family. The Fair has a strong focus
on music and dance performances, with three stages of live
entertainment. A special children's area on the lawn at City Hall
provides art and activities for our littlest visitors. There are always
surprises at this event, so don't miss out. The show goes on, rain
or shine.
25Monday, May 25th, MEMORIAL DAY
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Memorial Day Farm Fun Open
House, Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE
The Little Farm is one of the Bay Area’s finest gems. Live goats,
cows, ducks, rabbits, sheep, chickens, geese, pigs, and a great
nature center to boot. To make a day at the Little Farm even better,
they will have corn grinding, ice cream making, potato sack races,
music, and much more. For directions, visit http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., FREE DAY OPEN HOUSE ON
MEMORIAL DAY Memorial Day on the Farm,
Ardenwood Historical Farm, Fremont, FREE
Ardenwood has been mentioned in this space frequently – for
good reason, there is a lot to do revolving around farm life. On this
historic holiday we invite you to the farm for the day. Bring a picnic
and lollygag on the lawn, while your children roll up their sleeves
and help with the morning chores 11am-noon). Ride the horse-
drawn train, tour the Victorian farmhouse and taste some farm
baked cookies from our outdoor country kitchen (11am-1pm). Try
your skills at some oldtime games (noon-1pm). Take a stroll with
an interpreter and learn what life was like long ago. For details
and directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mine Open House, Black
Diamond Mines, Somersville Road in Antioch, $3
For kids 7 and over, take a free self-guided tour to explore 900 feet
of the cool underground workings of the restored 1930s Hazel-
Atlas silica sand mine. Call 1-888-327-2757, option 3, ext 4506 or
visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/black_diamond for details
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Family Fun Memorial Day at the
Crab Cove Visitor Center, 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda,
$5 parking
Crab Cove is a hidden gem. It features an 800-gallon aquarium,
interactive stations, and lots of hands-on activities that teach kids
about marine life in the San Francisco Bay. On Memorial Day, they
will have a bay life 'touch-tank,' nature crafts, snake meet and greet,
nature videos, low tide walk, and more. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Low Tide
Mudflat - Rocky Shore Exploration. 1:30 - 2 p.m.: Worm
Composting Demonstration. 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: 'Catch of the Day'
program. For information, call (510) 521-6887. Details on the
Center and directions can be found at http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/crab_cove
10:30 a.m., Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade, Old Mill
School on Throckmorton Avenue to Tamalpais High
School on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camino
Alto, FREE.
Start off the day with a parade in downtown Mill Valley and finish it
off with an afternoon of music at the Mill Valley Community Center
from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.. Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon.
30-31Sat & Sunday, May 30th – 31st
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. on Sunday), Maker
Faire 2009, San Mateo County Event Center, 2495
South Delaware Street, San Mateo, Admission: Early
Bird (through May 20th): $20/Adult, $10/Student,
$5/Youth; Standard: $25/Adult, $15/Student,
$10/Youth, Two day passes available. Plan ahead:
Parking is $12
This is one of the Bay Area’s coolest events for innovative thinkers
and those who like to see what those creative minds make. The
Maker’s Faire is an entertaining two day family friendly event to
celebrate the Do-It Yourself movement with a bunch of makers,
doers, and thinkers. The Faire is for creative, resourceful people of
all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make
things, including arts, crafts, engineering, food, green products,
music, technology and more. There are all sorts of interactive
displays and demonstrations and even a room called Make Play
Day full of stuff where you can either watch or make something
cool. For details, directions, tickets, and schedules, visit http:
//www.makerfaire.com/
30Saturday, May 30th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 13th Annual Chocolate and
Chalk Art Festival, North Shattuck Ave. (@ Vine –
Gourmet Ghetto), Berkeley, FREE
Like chocolate? Like chalk? Like chocolate and chalk together?
This is your event. OK, don’t eat the chalk. In addition to lots of
food and entertainment, grab some chalk (for free at the
information booths) and join dozens of others in creating your own
sidewalk art. Prizes will be awarded to the best sidewalk chalk art.
For event details, visit http://www.anotherbullwinkelshow.
com/chocolate-chalk-art/chocolate-chalk-art.html
31Sunday, May 31st
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Larkspur Flower and Food
Festival, Magnolia Ave. between Ward and King
Streets, Larkspur, FREE, The City of Larkspur will be
celebrating its Centennial with a day of food, flowers, crafts, live
music and children’s activities. For more information call (415)
924-3808.
1-15June 1st-15th
Dine About Town, San Francisco
We know dining out is a bit of a luxury nowadays, but the San
Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau and dozens of San
Francisco's top restaurants have teamed up to make that bite a lot
less painful. For two weeks restaurants from the ultra pricey Epic
Roadhouse to One Market to the lovely Foreign Cinema will be
offering three course prix-fixe lunches for $21.95 and dinners for
$34.95. You can't beat that. Not all restaurants, like Epic will
participate in dinner, but it might make for a lovely treat at a
reasonable price! Note: yeah, yeah, there is a little of the bait and
switch thing where you are enticed by the inexpensive prix fixe only
to be **really** enticed by the other goodies on the menu. If you
have discipline, however, it is a great deal! www.
onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste/dineabouttown/
5-7Friday-Sunday, June 5-7th
Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents Wonderland,
755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, $20 adults, $10
students (save up to $5 by buying tickets in advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. This show is that
production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that made its
rounds of the East Bay last month. This takes that great story and
tells it as it has never before been told… with clowns,
acrobats, jugglers, and musicians. You may think you know this
classic story, but hold on to your hats, because this fantasy created
by master clown and director Jeff Raz for the Advanced Training
Program of Circus Center’s Clown Conservatory will be the wildest,
craziest trip to Wonderland you’ve ever taken! (Ages 6+) Graduates
of the Circus Center go onto careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling
Brothers, and many other world-renowned circuses. Directions at
http://www.circuscenter.org/about/directions.html. Tickets can
be purchased by telephone at (415) 433-1235 and at www.
tixbayarea.com
6-7Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunset Magazine Celebration
Weekend, Sunset Headquarters, 80 Willow Road,
Menlo Park, Adults, $15, Kids 12 and under, FREE
Once a year, the staff of Sunset Magazine opens their doors for a
weekend of celebrating living in the West. In addition to
demonstrations and exhibits on cooking, gardening, and the like,
there will be lots for the entire family including continuous
entertainment throughout the day. This is far more fun than a day
at Home Depot. For detailed directions, schedules, etc., visit http:
//www.sunset.com/marketplace/celebration-weekend-2009-
00400000038329/
6June 6, 2009
11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m., Crowden School Very First
Concerts: Dance to the Music, 1475 Rose Street.,
Berkeley, FREE
The Crowden Music Center and the San Francisco Chamber
Orchestra team up for these wonderful concerts geared to
children. This makes sense since the Crowden School is your go-
to place for musical education (without Irene Cara dancing on the
roof of your car). Short musical selections, tumbling mats for fidgity
toddlers and hands on musical activities make these concerts a
perfect way to introduce your child (3-7) to the joys of classical
music. Take off your seatbelts and let your youngster wriggle,
squirm, and dance to first-rate classical music. This series is
geared for very young listeners, and to allow parents to escape the
restrictions of a traditional concert hall. Discover-or rediscover-the
joys of live classical music with Crowden adn the SF Chamber
Orchestra. Details are at http://www.crowden.
org/Events/FirstConcerts.htm
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., The Ecology Center Family Fun
Festival at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, Center St. at
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (One block west of the
Berkeley BART station), Berkeley, FREE
Come to the Berkeley Farmer’s Market for a special day of family
fun on top of their great produce and food. On stage entertainment
includes hip hop dancers, lots of kids music including Orange
Sherbet, Asheba (Caribbean music), and lots more music. Other
attractions include bouncy houses, baby goats, crafts, and lots of
other information and activity booths. For more information, check
out http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?
eventID=29013
7Sunday June 7th
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Berkeley Rep Family Series,
“Summer Fun” Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the
Berkeley Rep School of Theater, Nevo Education
Center, 2071 Addison Street, Berkeley, FREE (with a
children’s book donation)
Learn the art of theatre through play the first Sunday each month
with the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre’s Family Series! These
interactive workshops are designed for families of all ages and
levels (although kids should be at least 7). Family Series
programs encourage arts awareness and exploration, nourish
team work and parent/child bonds and sustain a creative family
environment. In lieu of tuition, families attending these workshops
are asked to bring a children’s book to be donated to local
elementary school libraries.
Summer fun—Learn how to turn a day at home into a day of
laughter with family games, puppet making and more. Gain acting
skills, tell stories and make new friends. It’s off-the-cuff fun for
parents and children to replay all summer long! Slip into vacation-
mode with Berkeley Rep. Recommended for ages 4 to adult.
All Sunday workshops are held at the Berkeley Rep School of
Theatre at the Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison Street in
downtown Berkeley. For more information please call Gendell
Hernández at 510 647–2973 or e-mail ghernandez@berkeleyrep.
org.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, The Family Studio:
Land Lovers, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151
Third Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA and discover the landscapes of
artists Max Beckmann, Andre Derain, and Georgia O'Keeffe and
create your own landscape masterpiece. Explore the ways colors
can affect our perception of what is land, what is water, what is
mountain, and what is sky. Last but not least, enjoy a reading of
Through Georgia's Eyes, written by Rachel Rodriguez and
illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
12 noon – 6:00 p.m., Temescal Street Fair, Telegraph
Avenue (between 47th and 51st Streets), Oakland,
FREE
Telegraph Avenue will be closed for the afternoon so that revelers
can enjoy, what else? Live music, food, demonstrations, crafts,
and community booths. All joking aside, this little strip of
Telegraph has some great and quirky shops and restaurants.
Bake Sale Betty’s is one of our faves. http://www.temescaldistrict.
org/events.html
12-14Friday-Sunday, June 12-14th
Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents Pratfalls and
Rising Stars, 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, $25
adults, $15 students (save $5 by buying tickets in
advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. This show features
graduates and alumni of Circus Center’s professional circus
training programs – the Clown Conservatory and the Professional
Aerial Program – in a dazzling two-hour show filled with laughter,
music, dancing, acrobatics, and amazing aerial acts. This is a
unique opportunity to discover, here in San Francisco, the circus
stars of tomorrow! Graduates of the Circus Center go onto
careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers, and many other
world-renowned circuses. Directions at http://www.circuscenter.
org/about/directions.html. Tickets can be purchased by telephone
at (415) 433-1235 and at www.tixbayarea.com
13Saturday, June 13th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., The Family Festival & Bike
Rodeo San Pablo Park and Frances Albrier, 2800 Park
St., Berkeley
The Family Festival and Bike Rodeo is a family celebration of bike
safety and physical activity and is open to everyone! Activities
include an obstacle course, mock city, bicycle tours, face painting,
performers, bike maintenance and fix-a-flat stations, blood
pressure screenings, raffle prizes and lots of other activities and
health resources! Free bicycle helmets for all kids that participate!
Feel free to bring bikes, scooters and/or skateboards. There will be
some bicycles available for use. For more information, contact Amy
Ranger or by phone at 510-981-5326. More info coming soon to:
www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Fireworks Spectacular, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz,
FREE to visit, tickets for the rides and games
So 4th of July got cancelled last year. They had good reason –
kinda bad taste to set off fireworks when much of the hills were on
fire themselves. To make up for it, the Boardwalk will have an
outstanding display over the water. For minimal details, visit http:
//beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html. And of course, there are
the rides and midway. Even if your kids aren’t up for the big
rollercoasters, there is a tamer kid’s area with gentler rides
including Kiddie Speed Boats. Directions can be found at http:
//beachboardwalk.com/01_directions.html
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Heritage Day at Borges Ranch,
1035 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, FREE, Parking
$5
Among the many activities planned are games, crafts, farm
animals, music, demonstrations on ranch life, and more. Other
activities will include storytelling by the Delta Word Weavers,
dancing demonstrations by the Diablo Mountain Cloggers, and the
folk and children’s music of Big Foot will also be featured. The
Pleasant Hill 4-H members will provide demonstrations of the
animals that live at Borges Ranch. Open Space Ranger Bruce
Weidman will demonstrate the art of blacksmithing. Children’s
pony rides will be provided by Castle Rock Arabians. Food will be
available for purchase or bring a picnic basket for a family picnic at
the adjacent Hanna Grove picnic area. Parking will be available at
Northgate High School for $5 per family for a quick shuttle ride up
to Old Borges Ranch.For more information on Heritage Day,
contact Open Space Ranger Dan Bylin at bylin@walnut-creek.org
or by phone at 925/943-5899 ext. 2162
18-21Thursday-Sunday, June 18th-21st
Thursday - Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents The annual
Circus Center Student Showcase, 755 Frederick
Street, San Francisco, $25 adults, $15 students (save
$5 by buying tickets in advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. The 2009 recital reveals
what happens when the circus takes over a person's
otherwise humdrum life: The performers come from amazingly
diverse backgrounds and train hard for inconceivable reasons –
and for a few moments of glory! They are young, old, beginners,
and professionals. Graduates of the Circus Center go onto
careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers, and many other
world-renowned circuses. Directions at http://www.circuscenter.
org/about/directions.html. Tickets can be purchased by telephone
at (415) 433-1235 and at www.tixbayarea.com
21Sunday, June 21st, FATHER'S DAY
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, Target Family Day:
Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams: Inspired by
Nature, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151 Third
Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA to celerate Father's Day at
SFMOMA as we look at the work of Adams and O'Keeffe. Through
hands-on art projects, performances, and special presentations,
you'll discover how artists have been influenced by the natural
world. Enjoy a reading of Through Georgia's Eyes, written by
Rachel Rodriguez and illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
19Sunday, July 19th
Sunday Streets, The Mission, San Francisco, FREE
As part of Mayor Newsom's efforts to get people out of their homes
and out of their cars and into the fresh air, the Embacadero has
been closed down from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park yet again for a
day of fun, entertainment, and family activities including face
painting, slides, games, classes, music and more. For details
visit http://sundaystreetssf.com/?page_id=5
Future Dates
Sunday, August 9th, Great Highway Route
Sunday, September 6th, Great Highway Route
Things to think ahead
about:
The following events sell out almost instantaneously because they
are wildly popular, so if you are interested, you might wish to book
now before the opportunity passes you by.
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout the
summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of which
will sell out.
Great Train Robberies
June 27-28 & September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend)
Witness shootouts of famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from
the 1880s at Bear Mountain. Blazing reenactments demonstrate
why the West was wild.
Starlight Evenings
June 27, July 4 & 18, August 22 & 29
Wonder at the beauty of a redwood forest lit up at night during a
two-hour round-trip railway excursion from the boardwalk in Santa
Cruz. Reservations recommended. For tickets contact Roaring
Camp at 1-831-335-4484.
Twilight Evening Cookout & Hike
July 3, 10, 17, August 7 & 14
Gather family and friends this summer for an outdoor, twilight
evening experience at Roaring Camp. Dine by the campfire on a
hardy Prospector meal prepared in an old-fashion Dutch oven.
After supper, embark on a 45-minute walking tour by flashlight led
by a knowledgeable Eco-Ranger into the Redwood forest of the
Santa Cruz Mountains. Your senses will feel the forest come alive
at night! Meet back at the campfire for stargazing and a cowboy
sing-along with warm peach cobbler, hot coffee and cider for
dessert. It's old-fashioned family fun! Reservations required.
Tickets are $25 per person
4th of July Celebration
July 4
Bop on over to Roaring Camp for a Sock Hop and 50’s family 4th of
July: Hula Hoop contests, games, live music and all-American
barbecue.
July 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st and August 1st and 2nd. Day Out
with Thomas, Roaring Camp, Felton (Santa Cruz Mountains) $18,
If your kid, OK let’s be honest: if your SON loves Thomas and you
know who you are, how about having them enjoy a day with a full-
sized Thomas steam engine that they can take a ride on (well, not
Thomas, exactly, but rail cars attached to) Thomas. The kids can
hang with Sir Topham Hat and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed
activities. Details on the event are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/thomas/dowt_main.html.
You must have reservations and tickets sell out FAST. So, how do
you get them? Call Ticketweb at (866) 468-3399 or go online at
http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?
region=sfbay&query=schedule&venue=roaringcamprr1
Directions to Roaring Camp are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/maps.html If you miss this one and your family might be
anywhere near one of these places, you can look up any one of a
bunch of “Days Out with Thomas” all over North America. http:
//www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html
That's it for now!
Koncierge May Update!
Summer is almost here and we have updated our Summer
Resources Page with all sorts of activities for your summer
enjoyment: Fairs, 4th of July, Performing Arts, and more. Of
course, check back here from time to time for up to the minute
activities for you and your family.
We have also launched ourselves on Facebook. If you like us, be
our fan! Share us! Pass us around!
Make sure to check out the Resources Pages for a ton of great
ideas. Here are some highlights:
- Current Activities - Everything coming up for you and your
family! - Camps If you don't have plans, better get a move on!
miss be offering free tickets again to our subscribers! Don't miss
out!
Don't miss out!
out!
- Museums and Other Attractions The Bay Area is rich with
treasures and cool fun things to do! Our lists are broken
down by region! - Check out the NEW Travel Koncierge Travel Ideas page for
tips on how to better enjoy your vacations with your family! - We just added the Kiddie Koncierge Santa Barbara guide
for your Spring Break planning enjoyment! - We have also added a Family Hiking Page for ideas on
getting those young 'uns out in the fresh air.
Activities at a Glance
April 4th – Sept 27th
- 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Opening Weekend for Train
Operations, California State Railroad Museum, Old Town
Sacramento, Admission
Sundays, May 3rd through June 7th
- 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Little Farm Goat Hike, Tilden
Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE
Free 3rd Wednesday, May 20th this month
- California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org
Saturdays and Sundays, April 25th - May 17th
- Madeline and the Gypsies, Young Performers Theater,
Fort Mason, San Francisco
Friday, May 15th - Sunday, May 17th
- San Carlos Hometown Days, Madsen's Field, Burton Park,
900 Chestnut St., San Carlos
Saturday, May 16th
- 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Life is Good Festival, Golden Gate
Park, San Francisco, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
Wild Fest, 403 Mecham Road, Petaluma, FREE - Farm Tour, Deer Hollow Farm, Rancho San Antonio Open
Space Preserve, Los Altos
Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17
- Bay Area Storytelling Festival, Kennedy Grove Regional
Recreation Area, San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante - 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Livermore Scottish Games and
Celtic Celebration 2008, Robertson Park, - 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 (Sat) and 5:30 p.m. (Sun), Himalayan
Fair, Live Oak Park, Berkeley, FREE, - 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Kick
Off Weekend, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, FREE to visit,
tickets for the rides and games,
Sunday, May 17th
- Jazz It Up, SF MOMA Family Studio, SFMOMA Koret Visitor
Education Center, 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, FREE - 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Firetruck Day, Ardenwood
Historical Farm, Fremont - 10:00 a,m, - 10:45 a.m., Valley Nature Ride, Sunol Regional
Wilderness, $25 (non resident $29)
Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23rd
- Friday at 9:30 & 11:00 a.m., Saturday at 11:30 am & 3 p.
m., Peninsula Youth Theatre Stories on Stage presents
STINKY CHEESE MAN, Second Stage at Peninsula Youth
Theater, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts,
500 Castro Street, Mountain View,
Saturday, May 23rd
- 10:00 a.m., Pier Crabbing, Fort Point, San Francisco, FREE
Saturday, May 23 to Monday May 25th
- 9:00 a.m. Saturday to Monday at 2:00 p.m., The 25th
Annual Rattlesnake Rendezvous, Sunol Regional
Wilderness
May 23, 24 & 25 (Memorial Day Weekend)
- Civil War Battles, Re-enactments and Train Rides,
Roaring Camp Railroads, Highway 17 at Mt. Hermon Road,
Felton
Friday, May 22nd – Monday, May 25th
- 10:00 – 9:00 daily (except for Monday when it closes at 3:
00) The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Old Town Sacramento,
Admission
Saturday, May 23 – Sunday May 24th
- 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily with a parade at 9:30 on Sunday,
San Francisco Carnaval, Harrison Street between 16th
and 22nd Street in the Mission District, San Francisco,
FREE
Sundays, May 24th - June 21st
Saturday, June 13th
- Mountain Play Presents The Man of La Mancha, Mount
Tamalpais State Park Amphitheatre
Sunday, May 24th
- 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Caledonia Street Fair/ A Taste of
Sausalito, Sausalito, FREE
Monday, May 25th
- 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Memorial Day Farm Fun Open
House, Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., FREE DAY OPEN HOUSE ON MEMORIAL
DAY Memorial Day on the Farm, Ardenwood Historical
Farm, Fremont, FREE - 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mine Open House, Black Diamond
Mines, Somersville Road in Antioch - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Family Fun Memorial Day at the Crab
Cove Visitor Center, 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda - 10:30 a.m., Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade, Old Mill
School on Throckmorton Avenue to Tamalpais High
School on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camino Alto,
FREE.
Saturday and Sunday, May 30th – 31st
- 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. on Sunday), Maker Faire
2009, San Mateo County Event Center, 2495 South
Delaware Street, San Mateo, Admission
Saturday, May 30th
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 13th Annual Chocolate and Chalk
Art Festival, North Shattuck Ave. (@ Vine – Gourmet
Ghetto), Berkeley, FREE
Sunday, May 31st
- 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Larkspur Flower and Food Festival,
Magnolia Street, Larkspur
June 1-15th
- Dine About Town, San Francisco
Free 1st Tuesday, June 2nd this month
- Cartoon Art Museum www.cartoonart.org
- De Young www.famsf.org
- Legion of Honor www.famsf.org
- SF MOMA www.sfmoma.org
- Yerba Buena www.ybca.org
Free 1st Wednesday, June 3rd this month
- Exploratorium www.exploratorium.edu
- Coyote Point Museum www.coyoteptmuseum.org
- Bay Area Discovery Museum www.baykidsmuseum.org
Free 1st Thursday, June 4th this month
- Berkeley Art Museum www.bampfa.berkeley.edu
- Burlingame Pez Museum www.spectrumnet.com/pez/
Free 2nd Sunday, June 14th this month
- Oakland Museum www.museumca.org
- Tech Museum of San Jose, www.thetech.org
Free 3rd Wednesday, June 17th this month
- California Academy of Sciences www.calacademy.org
Friday-Sunday, June 5th - 7th
- Circus Center Presents Wonderland, Circus Center, 755
Frederick Street, San Francisco
Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th
- 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunset Magazine Celebration
Weekend, 80 Willow Road, Menlo Park
Saturday, June 6th
- 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m., Crowden School Very First
Concerts: Dance to the Music, 1475 Rose Street.,
Berkeley, FREE - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., The Ecology Center Family Fun
Festival at the Berkeley Farmer's Market, Center Street at
Martin Luther King Way (One Block West of the Berkeley
BART station, Berkeley), FREE
Sunday, June 7th
- 12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m., Temescal Street Fair, Telegraph
Avenue (between 47th and 51st Streets), Oakland, FREE - 11am–12:30pm, Berkeley Repertory Family Series,
Summer Fun, Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison
Street, Berkeley, FREE - Land Lovers, SF MOMA Family Studio, SFMOMA Koret
Visitor Education Center, 151 3rd Street, San Francisco,
FREE
Friday-Sunday, June 12th - 14th
- Circus Center Presents Pratfalls and Rising Stars, Circus
Center, 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco
Saturday, June 13th
- 11:00 – 3:00 The Family Festival & Bike Rodeo San Pablo
Park and Frances Albrier, 2800 Park St., Berkeley - 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Fireworks Spectacular, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz,
FREE to visit, tickets for the rides and games - Heritage Day, Borges Ranch, Walnut Creek
Thursay-Sunday, June 19th - 22th
- Circus Center Presents The Circus Center Annual
Showcase, Circus Center, 755 Frederick Street, San
Francisco
Sunday, June 21st
- Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams: Inspired by Nature, SF
MOMA Family Studio, SFMOMA Koret Visitor Education
Center, 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, FREE
Sunday, July 17th
- Sunday Streets, San Francisco
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout
the summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of
which will sell out.
- June 27-28 & September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend) Great
Train Robberies, Roaring Camp, Felton (Santa Cruz
Mountains) - June 27, July 4 & 18, August 22 & 29 Starlight Evenings,
Roaring Camp, Felton - July 3, 10, 17, August 7 & 14, Twilight Evening Cookout &
Hike, Roaring Camp, Felton - July 4th, 4th of July Celebration, Roaring Camp, Felton
- July 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st and August 1st and 2nd.
Day Out with Thomas, Roaring Camp, Felton
The Detes
4-27Saturdays and Sundays April 4 – Sept 27
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Opening Weekend for Train
Operations, California State Railroad Museum, Old
Town Sacramento, $8 adults, $3 kids 6-17, kids under
3 FREE
Every weekend through September, experience the sights, smells,
and sounds of a real, working steam locomotive as it pulls vintage
passenger coaches and converted freight cars along the levees of
the Sacramento River on the California State Railroad Museum's
Sacramento Southern Railroad. Climb aboard for a relaxing 40-
minute, 6-mile roundtrip ride. Of course, the real reason to come
up is to check out the California State Railroad Museum which is
an amazing trip through our State’s history as told through its
railways. Full-sized equipment is cool for all ages and for non-
fanatics. Directions and visiting information at http://www.csrmf.
org/doc.asp?id=286
9-17Sat. & Sun., May 9th-17th
2:00 p.m. Active Arts Theater Presents Wonderland, a
Circus Adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, Front Row
Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Blvd., San Ramon,
$18 adult, $14 children
This is the same show that many families enjoyed in Berkeley last
month at the Julia Morgan Theater. Alice’s adventures in
Wonderland have never before been told like this…with clowns,
acrobats, jugglers, and musicians. When Alice searches for a way
back home, she will meet the caterpillar, the white rabbit, and she
will have to escape from the dreaded Queen of Hearts. You may
think you know this classic story, but hold on to your hats, because
this world premiere created by master clown Jeff Raz of Cirque Du
Soleil for the Advanced Training Program of the Clown
Conservatory and produced by Active Arts will be the wildest,
craziest trip to Wonderland you’ve ever taken!. Ages 6 and up.
Information at http://www.activeartstheatre.org/Wonderland.html,
tickets at http://sabo.seatadvisor.
com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?
eventId=114607&presenter=SANRAMON&venue=&event=
25-17Sat & Sun, April 25th - May 17th
Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30
p.m., Madeline and the Gypsies, Young Performers
Theatre., Fort Mason Center, Building C, San
Francisco, 10:00 adults, $7 children under 13,
Come to this great theater by the Bay for some great kids' theater
with your favorite kid with an oversized beret and her eleven friends
and unhealthily thin chaperone. In this final show of the season,
Madeline joins Pepito and his family for a show with lots of fun and
circus antics. While you are there, check out the Exploratorium
outdoor exhibits sprinkled around Fort Mason.
For tickets, visit http://www.ypt.org/tickets.htm
For directions, visit http://www.ypt.org/map.htm
3-7Sundays, May 3rd through June 7th
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Little Farm Goat Hike, Tilden
Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE
What could be more fun than going on a little walk from the Little
Farm to the lovely Jewel Lake and back accompanied by a herd of
friendly goats? Kids (and their parents, please) can learn all sorts
of cool things about these cool animals. Fun fact, did you know
that goats do not have upper teeth? For your little goat feeders this
is good news because it means that they don’t bite in the usual
sense of the word. A lot more cool than a petting zoo. For
directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/vc/tna
15-17Friday-Sunday, May 15-17
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
San Carlos Hometown Days, Burton Field, 900 Chestnut Street,
San Carlos, FREE (some activities and refreshments have a cost)
Starting with a parade on Saturday and continuing with two stages
of live entertainment, food, games, arts and crafts, rides, petting
zoos, and more all weekend long, this is a great event! For a full
list of events and maps, visit http://www.sancarloshometowndays.
com/docs/HTDProgram09.pdf
16 Saturday, May 16th
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Farm Tour, Deer Hollow Farm,
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Cristo
Rey Drive, Los Altos, Adults $5, Kids $3, Kids under 2
FREE
What better way to usher in the Spring than a trip to a homestead
farm to visit sheep, goats, cows, pigs, rabbits, and all manner of
fowl? This is a working farm and visitors can learn about farming,
tending to the animals, the century-old buildings, and more. The
tours are 45 minutes, but visitors are encouraged to explore the
County park and open space abutting the preserve. For details
and directions, visit http://www.fodhf.org/farm_tour_2009_flyer.
pdf.
If you don't want to travel that far south, don't forget the Little Farm at
Tilden Park which is open every day http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Life is Good Festival, Speedway
Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, FREE!
You know the stuff: cute stick figure doing fun stuff, often with
family and/or a dog. Usually on hats, t-shirts. Positive messages
with a cute vibe. So, they also do the occasional family event! This
Saturday, there will be a ton of activities in Golden Gate Park from
games, a fund-raising 3-mile walk (with entertainment and
interactive surprises along the way), a chill-zone for kids to quiet
down and do some arts and crafts, and lots of music including
performances by the Sippy Cups. The event also is raising funds
for Project Joy, an organization dedicated to helping our most
vulnerable children through play . For more details on the festival
including an opportunity to volunteer, visit http://www.lifeisgood.
com/festivals/2009-festivals-locations/san-francisco-festival.aspx
For info on Project Joy, visit http://www.projectjoy.com/
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sonoma County Wildlife
Rescue Wild Fest, 403 Mecham Road, Petaluma, FREE
Visit the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue's visitor's center for visits
with their animal residents, food, art projects, exhibits, and
education booths. For details, visit their website at http://www.
scwildliferescue.org/Wild%20Fest%20Poster%20Page.pdf or call
(707) 992-0274
16-17Sat. & Sun., May 16th & 17th
Bay Area Storytelling Festival, Kennedy Grove
Regional Recreation Area, San Pablo Dam Road, El
Sobrante, California
Most of these events are geared for kids 9 and older. Sunday
afternoon’s 1:00 p.m. performance is better suited for younger
children. With the disclaimer aside, this is a unique event to
celebrate the spoken word. Outstanding storytellers from around
the world visit the Bay Area each Spring to bring to life tales old and
new: folk tales, family stories, fables, recollections, ghost stories,
tall tales, fairy tales, and classic stories from many many cultures.
Join them for a weekend of outdoor concerts of oral storytelling,
and treat your imagination to the power and elegance of the well-
told story. Featured tellers for 2009 include Judith Black, Doug
Elliott, Jay O'Callahan, Antonio Rocha, and Gayle Ross.
For details and schedule, visit http://www.bayareastorytelling.
org/ For directions, visit http://www.bayareastorytelling.
org/directions.html
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Livermore Scottish Games and
Celtic Celebration 2008, Robertson Park, Livermore,
$15 adults, $10 children (although much of the kid’s
stuff does not require tickets – check it out before
you buy tickets), $5 parking
Before you blip past this one, read on: The Scottish Games are
more than big guys in tiny skirts. This is a cultural fair and athletic
event that is fun for the whole family. It is one of the few on the
West Coast and the only one in California. There will be mock
battles a la “Braveheart”, historical reenactments, sheepdog trials,
the ever-engaging Scottish sports like caber, stone, and hammer
tossing (a lot of throwing, although tossing the big stick – the caber
– is most crowd pleasing), rugby and shinty games,
demonstrations and exhibits, and food (you can probably find
some haggis). They will also feature a “Children’s Glen” with fun
activities that highlight Scottish History and Celtic Lore. Kids can
play scaled down versions of the big peoples’ games (like caber
throws, golf ball races, tug-of-war and much more), do crafts,
bounce themselves silly in a bouncy castle/obstacle course. Our
child dug the armor and games. Bring hats and hydrate as
Livermore can be sunny and hot.
Details are at http://www.livermoregames.com/
Directions at http://www.livermoregames.com/directions.html
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 (Sat) and 5:30 p.m. (Sun),
Himalayan Fair, Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave @
Berryman, Berkeley, FREE
This fair highlights the culture, arts, crafts, music, dance, and food
of the Himalayan peoples. Sure, the crunch factor is pretty high,
but it is a lot of fun even if you don’t own a single thing woven out of
hemp. The kids love all of the dancing, colors, and people. The
good thing is that this fair is pretty authentic. The people there are
largely people who grew up there and moved here. Details,
schedule, and directions can be found at http://www.
himalayanfair.net/Default.htm Plan on a healthy walk as parking
will be challenging.
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Kick Off Weekend, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz,
FREE to visit, tickets for the rides and games
It sure feels like summer and for many Bay Area residents, that
means schlepping the family to the Boardwalk. Opening weekend
will have high diving demonstrations, performances by Cirque
Magnifique, an extra special concert right on the beach with The
Tubes featuring Fee Waybill and dare-devil skydivers landing right
on the beach in front of the Boardwalk on Saturday. The full
schedule is online at http://beachboardwalk.com/01_events.
html. And of course, there are the rides and midway. Even if your
kids aren’t up for the big rollercoasters, there is a tamer kid’s area
with gentler rides including Kiddie Speed Boats. It's a great time to
visit the Boardwalk as summer kicks off with an action-packed
weekend of free entertainment!
Details can be found at http://beachboardwalk.com/ Directions
can be found at http://beachboardwalk.com/01_directions.html
17Sunday, May 17th
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Firetruck Day, Ardenwood
Historical Farm, Fremont, $5 adults, $3.50 children (4-
17 years), kids under 3 free
Come out to this great park and climb aboard a bunch of new and
antique fire engines. Get wet with the battle of the fire trucks,
dance to live music, meet Smokey, and, as if that weren’t enough,
there are music, games, crafts, and lots of water to squirt and be
squirted with. For directions, go to http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/ardenwood
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., Valley Nature Ride, Sunol
Regional Wilderness, $25 (non resident $29)
Enjoy an introduction to the cultural and natural history of the Sunol
Wilderness and then take a horseback ride! For kids 6 and older.
Registration required (888) 327-2757, Option 2,3. For details and
directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, The Family Studio:
Jazz It Up, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151 Third
Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA for an exploration of the influence
that music has had on work of many great artists. In this workshop,
you'll create your own artistic composition while musicians play
classic jazz tunes. Don't miss a reading of the book The Jazzy
Alphabet, by Sherry Shahan and illustrated by Mary Thelen.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
22-23Friday & Sat, May 22nd and 23rd
Friday, May 22nd at 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., Saturday,
May 23rd at 11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Peninsula Youth Theatre Stories on Stage presents
STINKY CHEESE MAN, Second Stage at Peninsula
Youth Theater, Mountain View Center for the
Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View,
tickets $6-$8
Find the Gingerbread Man a little too cloying for you? Little too
saccharine? How about an anthropomorphic blob of dairy
products? If you liked the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith,
writers a whole raft of fractured fairy tales, you’ll love this crazy
stage adaptation. Read the book and then see the play! TICKETS
can be purchased by phone at (650) 903-6000. Directions are at
http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/directions.html
22-25Fri, May 22nd – Monday, May 25th
10:00 – 9:00 daily (except for Monday when it closes
at 3:00) The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Old Town
Sacramento, Admission,
The California State Railroad Museum will have a series of kids’
events throughout the Festival. The Railroad Museum is open daily
during the Jubilee, with jazz musicians performing inside the
Museum and complimentary admission offered to Jazz Jubilee
badge holders. There will be a Special Free Children’s Stage and
activity area located on J Street just down from the Eagle Theater
during Jubilee, and several event music venues located in close
proximity to the Railroad Museum. Steam-powered Sacramento
Southern Railroad excursion trains operate Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday only, departing hourly 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (regular ticket
prices apply). Jazz musicians perform aboard the trains this
weekend as well! For more details about the Sacramento Jazz
Jubilee, visit www.sacjazz.com. For information about the
Museum, visit http://www.csrmf.org/doc.asp?id=286. Parking
and traffic may be challenging so plan accordingly.
23Saturday, May 23rd
10:00 a.m., Pier Crabbing, Fort Point, San Francisco,
FREE
Come learn about crabbing in the San Francisco Bay. And then try
your hand at it! Come learn about crabbing in the San Francisco
Bay. Docents will teach you how to use the nets, discuss bait and
regulations, and let you try your luck on the Fort Point pier.
Reservations are required; phone (415) 556-1693. Click http:
//www.parksconservancy.org/calendar/index.asp?event=943 for
more details.
23-24Sat, May 23rd – Sunday May 24th
10:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily with a parade at 9:30 on
Sunday, San Francisco Carnaval, Harrison Street
between 16th and 22nd Street in the Mission District,
San Francisco, FREE
Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, San Francisco's Mission
district is transformed by Carnaval, a Latin celebration of life. The
Grand Carnaval Parade at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday features amazingly-
costumed dancers standing on fantastic floats, surrounded by
drummers, roller-skaters, stilt-walkers and thousands of people
out to enjoy the day.
Caribbean contingents showcase the music and dance of the
Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. Other parade
groups include Mexican Aztec performers, traditional African
drummers, Polynesian dancers, Japanese drummers, giant
puppets and groups representing Guatemala, Honduras and
Bolivia. Sound systems boom out the latest reggae, hip-hop and
the hottest salsa, samba and soca tunes to create an intoxicating
street party atmosphere. The parade will be run from Harrison and
24th to Mission Street to 17th and Harrison where it ends. For
further details, please visit http://www.carnavalsf.com/ Check
back closer to the date for maps.
23-25Sat, May 23rd to Monday May 25th
9:00 a.m. Saturday to Monday at 2:00 p.m., The 25th
Annual Rattlesnake Rendezvous, Sunol Regional
Wilderness, Fee: $90/Adult (non-res. $102), $45/Child
(non-res. $51)
Travel back in time and join our intrepid band of primitives for a
weekend of Stone Age living skills. Aside from modern sleeping
gear and clothing, we will attempt to experience as closely as
possible the rigors and satisfactions of village life in the
ooooolllldddd ways. Fire-starting, flint-knapping, spears, arrows,
cordage, open-fire cooking, music, tracking, beads, and much
more! For children 9 and older. Registration Required: 1-888-
EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2, 3)
23-25May 23, 24 & 25 (Memorial Day
Weekend)
Civil War Battles, Re-enactments and Train Rides,
Roaring Camp Railroads, Highway 17 at Mt. Hermon
Road, Felton
Visit encampments of Union and Confederate solders and witness
historic battles at one of the longest-running Civil War
reenactments in the West. Be advised that occasional loud cannon
and gunfire may be heard as part of the re-enactment activities
during the day. After seeing the Blue and Greys go at it, take a train
to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz or check out the Redwoods. For
tickets, timetables, and more, visit http://www.roaringcamp.
com/events.html
For directions, visit http://www.roaringcamp.com/maps.html
24-21
Sundays May 24 & 31, June 7, 14 , & 21st Saturday
June 13 only
Pre-Show 11:00 a.m., Performance 1:00 p.m.,
Mountain Play: Man of La Mancha, Cushing
Ampitheater, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin
County, $40 adults, $30 kids 4-21, Kids 3 and under
are FREE
Don’t know why they didn’t just call it Don Quixote. This is the
classic and inspirational story of a man’s quest to right the wrongs
of the world - all set to a memorable score. Saturday June 13 is
the only Saturday show and has special pricing for seniors and
kids where tickets are $5 off. Order online to save $2. http://www.
mountainplay.org/tickets.html
The Mountain Play is special. In good weather (and it frequently
is), the experience is amazing with stunning views of the Pacific.
That being said, make sure to pack layers just in case, watch the
weather reports for heat or rain, leave the lawn chairs at home, and
leave plenty of time to hike in or out as you cannot park up there.
There is a very well organized shuttle service that you can find out
about on the website: http://www.mountainplay.org/directions.
html Food and drink is sold there although people do bring
amazing picnics and awards are given to the most amazing picnic
schlepped up there.
24Sunday, May 24th
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Caledonia Street Fair/ A Taste
of Sausalito, Sausalito, CA, FREE
This event features over 100 fine arts and crafts vendors and food
and entertainment for the entire family. The Fair has a strong focus
on music and dance performances, with three stages of live
entertainment. A special children's area on the lawn at City Hall
provides art and activities for our littlest visitors. There are always
surprises at this event, so don't miss out. The show goes on, rain
or shine.
25Monday, May 25th, MEMORIAL DAY
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Memorial Day Farm Fun Open
House, Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley, FREE
The Little Farm is one of the Bay Area’s finest gems. Live goats,
cows, ducks, rabbits, sheep, chickens, geese, pigs, and a great
nature center to boot. To make a day at the Little Farm even better,
they will have corn grinding, ice cream making, potato sack races,
music, and much more. For directions, visit http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/tna
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., FREE DAY OPEN HOUSE ON
MEMORIAL DAY Memorial Day on the Farm,
Ardenwood Historical Farm, Fremont, FREE
Ardenwood has been mentioned in this space frequently – for
good reason, there is a lot to do revolving around farm life. On this
historic holiday we invite you to the farm for the day. Bring a picnic
and lollygag on the lawn, while your children roll up their sleeves
and help with the morning chores 11am-noon). Ride the horse-
drawn train, tour the Victorian farmhouse and taste some farm
baked cookies from our outdoor country kitchen (11am-1pm). Try
your skills at some oldtime games (noon-1pm). Take a stroll with
an interpreter and learn what life was like long ago. For details
and directions, visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mine Open House, Black
Diamond Mines, Somersville Road in Antioch, $3
For kids 7 and over, take a free self-guided tour to explore 900 feet
of the cool underground workings of the restored 1930s Hazel-
Atlas silica sand mine. Call 1-888-327-2757, option 3, ext 4506 or
visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/black_diamond for details
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Family Fun Memorial Day at the
Crab Cove Visitor Center, 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda,
$5 parking
Crab Cove is a hidden gem. It features an 800-gallon aquarium,
interactive stations, and lots of hands-on activities that teach kids
about marine life in the San Francisco Bay. On Memorial Day, they
will have a bay life 'touch-tank,' nature crafts, snake meet and greet,
nature videos, low tide walk, and more. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Low Tide
Mudflat - Rocky Shore Exploration. 1:30 - 2 p.m.: Worm
Composting Demonstration. 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: 'Catch of the Day'
program. For information, call (510) 521-6887. Details on the
Center and directions can be found at http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/vc/crab_cove
10:30 a.m., Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade, Old Mill
School on Throckmorton Avenue to Tamalpais High
School on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camino
Alto, FREE.
Start off the day with a parade in downtown Mill Valley and finish it
off with an afternoon of music at the Mill Valley Community Center
from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.. Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon.
30-31Sat & Sunday, May 30th – 31st
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. on Sunday), Maker
Faire 2009, San Mateo County Event Center, 2495
South Delaware Street, San Mateo, Admission: Early
Bird (through May 20th): $20/Adult, $10/Student,
$5/Youth; Standard: $25/Adult, $15/Student,
$10/Youth, Two day passes available. Plan ahead:
Parking is $12
This is one of the Bay Area’s coolest events for innovative thinkers
and those who like to see what those creative minds make. The
Maker’s Faire is an entertaining two day family friendly event to
celebrate the Do-It Yourself movement with a bunch of makers,
doers, and thinkers. The Faire is for creative, resourceful people of
all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make
things, including arts, crafts, engineering, food, green products,
music, technology and more. There are all sorts of interactive
displays and demonstrations and even a room called Make Play
Day full of stuff where you can either watch or make something
cool. For details, directions, tickets, and schedules, visit http:
//www.makerfaire.com/
30Saturday, May 30th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 13th Annual Chocolate and
Chalk Art Festival, North Shattuck Ave. (@ Vine –
Gourmet Ghetto), Berkeley, FREE
Like chocolate? Like chalk? Like chocolate and chalk together?
This is your event. OK, don’t eat the chalk. In addition to lots of
food and entertainment, grab some chalk (for free at the
information booths) and join dozens of others in creating your own
sidewalk art. Prizes will be awarded to the best sidewalk chalk art.
For event details, visit http://www.anotherbullwinkelshow.
com/chocolate-chalk-art/chocolate-chalk-art.html
31Sunday, May 31st
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Larkspur Flower and Food
Festival, Magnolia Ave. between Ward and King
Streets, Larkspur, FREE, The City of Larkspur will be
celebrating its Centennial with a day of food, flowers, crafts, live
music and children’s activities. For more information call (415)
924-3808.
1-15June 1st-15th
Dine About Town, San Francisco
We know dining out is a bit of a luxury nowadays, but the San
Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau and dozens of San
Francisco's top restaurants have teamed up to make that bite a lot
less painful. For two weeks restaurants from the ultra pricey Epic
Roadhouse to One Market to the lovely Foreign Cinema will be
offering three course prix-fixe lunches for $21.95 and dinners for
$34.95. You can't beat that. Not all restaurants, like Epic will
participate in dinner, but it might make for a lovely treat at a
reasonable price! Note: yeah, yeah, there is a little of the bait and
switch thing where you are enticed by the inexpensive prix fixe only
to be **really** enticed by the other goodies on the menu. If you
have discipline, however, it is a great deal! www.
onlyinsanfrancisco.com/taste/dineabouttown/
5-7Friday-Sunday, June 5-7th
Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents Wonderland,
755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, $20 adults, $10
students (save up to $5 by buying tickets in advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. This show is that
production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that made its
rounds of the East Bay last month. This takes that great story and
tells it as it has never before been told… with clowns,
acrobats, jugglers, and musicians. You may think you know this
classic story, but hold on to your hats, because this fantasy created
by master clown and director Jeff Raz for the Advanced Training
Program of Circus Center’s Clown Conservatory will be the wildest,
craziest trip to Wonderland you’ve ever taken! (Ages 6+) Graduates
of the Circus Center go onto careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling
Brothers, and many other world-renowned circuses. Directions at
http://www.circuscenter.org/about/directions.html. Tickets can
be purchased by telephone at (415) 433-1235 and at www.
tixbayarea.com
6-7Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunset Magazine Celebration
Weekend, Sunset Headquarters, 80 Willow Road,
Menlo Park, Adults, $15, Kids 12 and under, FREE
Once a year, the staff of Sunset Magazine opens their doors for a
weekend of celebrating living in the West. In addition to
demonstrations and exhibits on cooking, gardening, and the like,
there will be lots for the entire family including continuous
entertainment throughout the day. This is far more fun than a day
at Home Depot. For detailed directions, schedules, etc., visit http:
//www.sunset.com/marketplace/celebration-weekend-2009-
00400000038329/
6June 6, 2009
11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m., Crowden School Very First
Concerts: Dance to the Music, 1475 Rose Street.,
Berkeley, FREE
The Crowden Music Center and the San Francisco Chamber
Orchestra team up for these wonderful concerts geared to
children. This makes sense since the Crowden School is your go-
to place for musical education (without Irene Cara dancing on the
roof of your car). Short musical selections, tumbling mats for fidgity
toddlers and hands on musical activities make these concerts a
perfect way to introduce your child (3-7) to the joys of classical
music. Take off your seatbelts and let your youngster wriggle,
squirm, and dance to first-rate classical music. This series is
geared for very young listeners, and to allow parents to escape the
restrictions of a traditional concert hall. Discover-or rediscover-the
joys of live classical music with Crowden adn the SF Chamber
Orchestra. Details are at http://www.crowden.
org/Events/FirstConcerts.htm
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., The Ecology Center Family Fun
Festival at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, Center St. at
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (One block west of the
Berkeley BART station), Berkeley, FREE
Come to the Berkeley Farmer’s Market for a special day of family
fun on top of their great produce and food. On stage entertainment
includes hip hop dancers, lots of kids music including Orange
Sherbet, Asheba (Caribbean music), and lots more music. Other
attractions include bouncy houses, baby goats, crafts, and lots of
other information and activity booths. For more information, check
out http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?
eventID=29013
7Sunday June 7th
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Berkeley Rep Family Series,
“Summer Fun” Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the
Berkeley Rep School of Theater, Nevo Education
Center, 2071 Addison Street, Berkeley, FREE (with a
children’s book donation)
Learn the art of theatre through play the first Sunday each month
with the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre’s Family Series! These
interactive workshops are designed for families of all ages and
levels (although kids should be at least 7). Family Series
programs encourage arts awareness and exploration, nourish
team work and parent/child bonds and sustain a creative family
environment. In lieu of tuition, families attending these workshops
are asked to bring a children’s book to be donated to local
elementary school libraries.
Summer fun—Learn how to turn a day at home into a day of
laughter with family games, puppet making and more. Gain acting
skills, tell stories and make new friends. It’s off-the-cuff fun for
parents and children to replay all summer long! Slip into vacation-
mode with Berkeley Rep. Recommended for ages 4 to adult.
All Sunday workshops are held at the Berkeley Rep School of
Theatre at the Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison Street in
downtown Berkeley. For more information please call Gendell
Hernández at 510 647–2973 or e-mail ghernandez@berkeleyrep.
org.
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, The Family Studio:
Land Lovers, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151
Third Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA and discover the landscapes of
artists Max Beckmann, Andre Derain, and Georgia O'Keeffe and
create your own landscape masterpiece. Explore the ways colors
can affect our perception of what is land, what is water, what is
mountain, and what is sky. Last but not least, enjoy a reading of
Through Georgia's Eyes, written by Rachel Rodriguez and
illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
12 noon – 6:00 p.m., Temescal Street Fair, Telegraph
Avenue (between 47th and 51st Streets), Oakland,
FREE
Telegraph Avenue will be closed for the afternoon so that revelers
can enjoy, what else? Live music, food, demonstrations, crafts,
and community booths. All joking aside, this little strip of
Telegraph has some great and quirky shops and restaurants.
Bake Sale Betty’s is one of our faves. http://www.temescaldistrict.
org/events.html
12-14Friday-Sunday, June 12-14th
Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents Pratfalls and
Rising Stars, 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco, $25
adults, $15 students (save $5 by buying tickets in
advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. This show features
graduates and alumni of Circus Center’s professional circus
training programs – the Clown Conservatory and the Professional
Aerial Program – in a dazzling two-hour show filled with laughter,
music, dancing, acrobatics, and amazing aerial acts. This is a
unique opportunity to discover, here in San Francisco, the circus
stars of tomorrow! Graduates of the Circus Center go onto
careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers, and many other
world-renowned circuses. Directions at http://www.circuscenter.
org/about/directions.html. Tickets can be purchased by telephone
at (415) 433-1235 and at www.tixbayarea.com
13Saturday, June 13th
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., The Family Festival & Bike
Rodeo San Pablo Park and Frances Albrier, 2800 Park
St., Berkeley
The Family Festival and Bike Rodeo is a family celebration of bike
safety and physical activity and is open to everyone! Activities
include an obstacle course, mock city, bicycle tours, face painting,
performers, bike maintenance and fix-a-flat stations, blood
pressure screenings, raffle prizes and lots of other activities and
health resources! Free bicycle helmets for all kids that participate!
Feel free to bring bikes, scooters and/or skateboards. There will be
some bicycles available for use. For more information, contact Amy
Ranger or by phone at 510-981-5326. More info coming soon to:
www.cityofberkeley.info/publichealth
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Fireworks Spectacular, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz,
FREE to visit, tickets for the rides and games
So 4th of July got cancelled last year. They had good reason –
kinda bad taste to set off fireworks when much of the hills were on
fire themselves. To make up for it, the Boardwalk will have an
outstanding display over the water. For minimal details, visit http:
//beachboardwalk.com/01_events.html. And of course, there are
the rides and midway. Even if your kids aren’t up for the big
rollercoasters, there is a tamer kid’s area with gentler rides
including Kiddie Speed Boats. Directions can be found at http:
//beachboardwalk.com/01_directions.html
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Heritage Day at Borges Ranch,
1035 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, FREE, Parking
$5
Among the many activities planned are games, crafts, farm
animals, music, demonstrations on ranch life, and more. Other
activities will include storytelling by the Delta Word Weavers,
dancing demonstrations by the Diablo Mountain Cloggers, and the
folk and children’s music of Big Foot will also be featured. The
Pleasant Hill 4-H members will provide demonstrations of the
animals that live at Borges Ranch. Open Space Ranger Bruce
Weidman will demonstrate the art of blacksmithing. Children’s
pony rides will be provided by Castle Rock Arabians. Food will be
available for purchase or bring a picnic basket for a family picnic at
the adjacent Hanna Grove picnic area. Parking will be available at
Northgate High School for $5 per family for a quick shuttle ride up
to Old Borges Ranch.For more information on Heritage Day,
contact Open Space Ranger Dan Bylin at bylin@walnut-creek.org
or by phone at 925/943-5899 ext. 2162
18-21Thursday-Sunday, June 18th-21st
Thursday - Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday matinee 2:00
Sunday 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Circus Center, San Francisco Presents The annual
Circus Center Student Showcase, 755 Frederick
Street, San Francisco, $25 adults, $15 students (save
$5 by buying tickets in advance)
A couple of times a year, the renowned Circus Center, a school of
the Circus Arts in San Francisco showcases its students and
recent graduates in a wonderful recital. The 2009 recital reveals
what happens when the circus takes over a person's
otherwise humdrum life: The performers come from amazingly
diverse backgrounds and train hard for inconceivable reasons –
and for a few moments of glory! They are young, old, beginners,
and professionals. Graduates of the Circus Center go onto
careers at Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers, and many other
world-renowned circuses. Directions at http://www.circuscenter.
org/about/directions.html. Tickets can be purchased by telephone
at (415) 433-1235 and at www.tixbayarea.com
21Sunday, June 21st, FATHER'S DAY
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. , SF MOMA, Target Family Day:
Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams: Inspired by
Nature, Koret Visitor Education Center, 151 Third
Street, San Francisco, FREE
If you haven't been to one of these family events, it is well worth it.
Not only do you have a chance to engage in a great art activity in the
awesome Koret Center on the 2nd floor (even if you don't come on
the Family Studio days, you should stop by the Educational Center
as there is always something for the kids to do and explore), you
also get to explore the wonderful Museum of Modern Art for FREE.
This weekend, join the SF MOMA to celerate Father's Day at
SFMOMA as we look at the work of Adams and O'Keeffe. Through
hands-on art projects, performances, and special presentations,
you'll discover how artists have been influenced by the natural
world. Enjoy a reading of Through Georgia's Eyes, written by
Rachel Rodriguez and illustrated by Julie Paschkis.
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
on family program days. Please note: The Family Studio capacity is
limited. Families will be served as space is available.
For details, visit http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1387
Museum and program admission are free for families with children
12 and under. Capacity is limited; families will be served as space
is available.
19Sunday, July 19th
Sunday Streets, The Mission, San Francisco, FREE
As part of Mayor Newsom's efforts to get people out of their homes
and out of their cars and into the fresh air, the Embacadero has
been closed down from AT&T Park to Aquatic Park yet again for a
day of fun, entertainment, and family activities including face
painting, slides, games, classes, music and more. For details
visit http://sundaystreetssf.com/?page_id=5
Future Dates
Sunday, August 9th, Great Highway Route
Sunday, September 6th, Great Highway Route
Things to think ahead
about:
The following events sell out almost instantaneously because they
are wildly popular, so if you are interested, you might wish to book
now before the opportunity passes you by.
Roaring Camp Upcoming Events
The Roaring Camp Railroad at the top of the 17 in Felton on your
way to Santa Cruz is worth checking out anyway. Throughout the
summer, there are some cool events coming up. Many of which
will sell out.
Great Train Robberies
June 27-28 & September 5-6 (Labor Day Weekend)
Witness shootouts of famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from
the 1880s at Bear Mountain. Blazing reenactments demonstrate
why the West was wild.
Starlight Evenings
June 27, July 4 & 18, August 22 & 29
Wonder at the beauty of a redwood forest lit up at night during a
two-hour round-trip railway excursion from the boardwalk in Santa
Cruz. Reservations recommended. For tickets contact Roaring
Camp at 1-831-335-4484.
Twilight Evening Cookout & Hike
July 3, 10, 17, August 7 & 14
Gather family and friends this summer for an outdoor, twilight
evening experience at Roaring Camp. Dine by the campfire on a
hardy Prospector meal prepared in an old-fashion Dutch oven.
After supper, embark on a 45-minute walking tour by flashlight led
by a knowledgeable Eco-Ranger into the Redwood forest of the
Santa Cruz Mountains. Your senses will feel the forest come alive
at night! Meet back at the campfire for stargazing and a cowboy
sing-along with warm peach cobbler, hot coffee and cider for
dessert. It's old-fashioned family fun! Reservations required.
Tickets are $25 per person
4th of July Celebration
July 4
Bop on over to Roaring Camp for a Sock Hop and 50’s family 4th of
July: Hula Hoop contests, games, live music and all-American
barbecue.
July 24th, 25th, 26th, and 31st and August 1st and 2nd. Day Out
with Thomas, Roaring Camp, Felton (Santa Cruz Mountains) $18,
If your kid, OK let’s be honest: if your SON loves Thomas and you
know who you are, how about having them enjoy a day with a full-
sized Thomas steam engine that they can take a ride on (well, not
Thomas, exactly, but rail cars attached to) Thomas. The kids can
hang with Sir Topham Hat and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed
activities. Details on the event are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/thomas/dowt_main.html.
You must have reservations and tickets sell out FAST. So, how do
you get them? Call Ticketweb at (866) 468-3399 or go online at
http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?
region=sfbay&query=schedule&venue=roaringcamprr1
Directions to Roaring Camp are at http://www.roaringcamp.
com/maps.html If you miss this one and your family might be
anywhere near one of these places, you can look up any one of a
bunch of “Days Out with Thomas” all over North America. http:
//www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html
That's it for now!
Kiddie Koncierge
A seedling of ImuaPartners, LLC
Copyright 2006-2009 Kiddie Koncierge™, all rights reserved.
A seedling of ImuaPartners, LLC
Copyright 2006-2009 Kiddie Koncierge™, all rights reserved.
| Other Events From Past Kiddie Koncierges Bank of America FREE Museum Weekend, FREE Admission to Museums for Bank of America Cardholders (ATM, Check, Credit Card) The first weekend of every month through early 2010 is FREE admission to selected Bay Area Museums for Bank of American card holders. Bay Area Museums include:
and FREE dates, visit http://promotions. bankofamerica.com/museums/ From Now until December 1st East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge (Click here for details) |
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| On Going It’s the weekend and your kids are climbing the walls. At a loss for something to do? The following are events that are happening every week. Saturdays
Sundays
Cool Way to Spend a Sunday: Why not make a day of it in Jack London Square?
A note on seats: you CAN go for the café tables near the stage but they can be uncomfortable and the volume can be loud. There are a bunch of booths just behind the café tables – a lot more comfortable and roomy. If you can’t quite get it together to go grab a bite and come back, they DO have table service with a decent menu. There is a one drink minimum – even the kids. For a complete listing of acts and to buy tickets (you can buy tickets at the door), visit http://yoshis.inticketing.com/evlist. php. NOTE: if you live in San Francisco, the SF Yoshi’s has a similar arrangement for Sunday matinees. For a listing of SF matinees, check out: http://sfyoshis2.inticketing.com/evlist. php For directions to Oakland, visit: http://www.yoshis. com/oakland/directions For directions to San Francisco, visit http://www.yoshis. com/sanfrancisco/directions Note: Parking at Oakland is pretty easy, There is a validated garage right next to Yoshi’s where it will cost you about $5.75 for lunch and the show. On a Sunday, you can also do street parking. San Francisco’s Yoshi’s has parking under the club. You can try your luck on the streets, but that could be challenging. |
