Museums

Panicking about where you’re going to stash your child for the upcoming spring and summer breaks? You oughtta be. Most of the more popular camps in the Bay Area fill up in March. But this year you have some inside information that you didn’t find on the playground: Sign Up for Camp.

Launched by a team of Bay Area parents who’ve been through the camp process themselves and know how confusing it is, signupforcamp.com is a directory of local camps that’s searchable by ZIP code, date, or age. Need a camp from June 14th to 18th for your Pre-K kid? Sign Up for Camp has 147 of them, each with the camp’s hours, cost, dates, and contact information in a helpful grid that makes it oh-so-easy to compare. So much easier than Googling and making phone calls, particularly since many camps barely have a website, much less dates and rates on them.

Another helpful feature: users can create a free calendar for their children, which can be shared with other users. Wouldn’t your kid like to go to summer camp with some of the kids in her class? I thought so.

Visit signupforcamp.com for more information. The site has also launched in Philadelphia as well as the Bay Area, with more cities set to roll out in 2010.

As the short winter melts into early spring, the opportunities for outdoor fun keep flowering.

Free King Tut Weekend

The de Young Museum’s blockbuster Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit is free all weekend; the lines will be huge when the box office opens at 9 a.m. to distribute the free tickets. The de Young’s permanent collection is also free.

When: Sat. & Sun., 2/20-21, 8:30am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Drive (at Music Concourse Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; 415-750-3600; tutsanfrancisco.org.

Tulipmania

Thousands of tulips in just about every color of the rainbow decorate the pier at this annual event. Free tours are available at 10am daily.

When: Sat.-Sun., 2/20-28, 10am-5pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero Street (at Grant Street), San Francisco; 415-705-5500; pier39.com.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with Chinese lion and folk dancing, seasonal crafts, and a Chinese zodiac tour around the zoo.

When: Sun., 2/21, 10am-3pm; All Ages; Free-$15 (guests born in the year of the tiger get free admission).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco; 415-753-7201; sfzoo.org.

The Olympics, Chinese New Year, old-timey music; there’s a lot going on in town this weekend.

Reach for the Rings Olympic Celebration and Skating Exhibition

Get the little ones stoked for the winter Olympics at this demo of the amazing things that can be done on ice, including figure skating, hockey, and curling. Guests will also get to try out the ice themselves.

When: Sat., 2/13, 6:30-8:30pm; Age 5+; $7.

Where:  Yerba Buena Ice, 750 Folsom Street (at ), San Francisco; 415-820-3521; skatebowl.com.

Chinese New Year Festival

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with New Year’s crafts (red envelopes, paper lanterns, calligraphy), watch lion dancers, make dumplings, and learn about the Chinese zodiac.

When: Mon., 2/15, 9am-4pm; $7-14.

Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito; 415-339-3900; baykidsmuseum.org.

Pet Adoption Day

Get to meet doggies that need a home at this event, where the animal rescue organization Muttville brings their calm, senior dogs to meet potential new families.

When: Sun., 2/14, 11am-3pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Ameoba Music, 1855 Haight Street (at Stanyan Street); 415-831-1200; muttville.org.

The San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival

Ten days of old-time music shows, many at venues friendly to kids. There are two shows pitched specifically at children, both on Saturday at the Randall Museum in San Francisco.

When: Thu.-Sun., 2/12-21; See website for schedule (special children’s shows are at 1pm and 3pm, Sat. 2/13); Age 4+; See website for ticket prices.

Where: Various venues including the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt Way), San Francisco; sfbluegrass.org.

Surprise: Kids weaned on Wii still like pinball. The low-tech thrill of bleeps, bloops, and a couple of flippers lives on at the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda. Ten bucks gets you in the door (a mere $5 for kids), and all-you-can-play pinball in any one of a warren of rooms. Which one you’ll like might depend on when you were born. Did you grow up playing the gentle pinball machines of the ’60s, with just a couple of dingers and no multi-ball challenges? Did you learn how to play on a machine with a buxom broad painted on the back in the ’70s, or did you learn on Indiana Jones in the ’80s? They’re all represented here, and many more.

All the machines are set to free play and kids are free to wander. There’s no alcohol sold on the premises, just sodas and Wright’s pink popcorn for $1. The kitsch value is incredible, and a lot of the games are still surprisingly fun to play. Make sure not to miss the notorious Orbitor 1, which uses magnets to send the ball on unexpected looping trips around the board. Oh, and be sure to leave all your stuff in the car, you don’t want to be dragging the diaper bag when you’re working the flippers. If you come on a Friday or Saturday evening, the Museum opens the “back 40″: an old gaming parlor called Lucky Ju Ju with an additional 40 vintage machines.

Pacific Pinball Museum, 1510 Webster Street (at Santa Clara Avenue), Alameda; 510-769-1349; pacificpinball.org.

Hey! Welcome back from the holidays!

Mochitsuki: Mochi Pounding Ceremony

Ring in the Japanese New Year with the traditional pounding ceremony for the sticky rice paste, loud and beloved by kids.

When: Sat., 1/9, noon-1pm (art activities take place until 4pm); Age 4-12; Free with adult admission, $7-12 (free admission for children under 12).

Where: Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street (at Grove Street), San Francisco; 415-581-3500; asianart.org.

Marsh Youth Theater Family Fun Day

Kids aged 4-18 can get free samples of classes like drama, hip-hop dance, trapeze, and the visual arts at this vibrant local theater.

When: Sun., 1/10, 1-4pm; Age 4-18; Free.

Where: Marsh Youth Theater, 1062 Valencia Street (at 22nd Street); 415-828-5750; themarsh.org.

Sunday Sampler

Kids and grownups can sample the slate of classes offered at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, from stage combat and improv to clowning.

When: Sun., 1/10, 1pm (sample classes begin at 1:20, 2, and 2:30pm); Family; Free.

Where: Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, 2071 Addison Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley, 510-647-2972; berkeleyrep.org.

Endangered Species Big Year Kick-off

See the many endangered flora and fauna in the Golden Gate National Park system with a walk and bike ride around the parks, as well as concrete information on what you can do to save them under the Big Year conservation program.

When: Sat., 1/9, bike ride at 9:30am, kickoff party 1pm-3pm; Family; Free.

Where: Party and walk leaves from Sports Basement; 610 Mason Street (at Halleck Street); Bike ride begins in front of the Bazaar Cafe, California Street (at 21st Avenue); both locations are in San Francisco, wildequity.org.

Just in case you’re not out frantically gift-buying.

Roaring Camp’s Holiday Lights Train

A bit of a hike from the Bay Area is worth it for this festive train ride that ferries riders through lighted-up Santa Cruz Victorians and back, with a visit from Santa, sing-along Christmas carols, and cocoa.

When: Fri.-Sun., 12/18-21, 8pm; Mon.-Tue, 12/22 & 12/23, 5pm; All Ages; $17-22.

Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street (at Riverside Avenue), Santa Cruz; roaringcamp.com.

SFMOMA Family Studio and Tour: Winter Whites

This artsy event is a refreshing alternative to all-Christmas, all-the-time, with a special family tour at 1pm of mono-color works, followed by an art project in which participants create all-white works.

When: Sun., 12/20; 11:00am-3:00pm (tour starts at 1, art starts at 2); Age 4-11; Free activities and admission for families with kids age 4-11.

Where: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard), San Francisco, 415-357-4000, sfmoma.org.

Dickens Christmas Fair

A chance to don your finest velvets and silk and walk around doffing your hat at this annual extravaganza of music, food, spectacle, and shopping.

When: Sat. & Sun., 12/19 & 12/20; 11am-7pm; Age 4+; $10-22 (Parking $10).

Where: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Avenue (at Castillo Street), San Francisco; 800-510-1558; dickensfair.com.

Dance, sing, listen, or tinker, the holiday season is upon us.

11th Annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest

A grand total of 22 hip hop dance companies to blow your mind.

When: Program A, Fri., 11/20, 8pm & Sun., 11/22, 2pm; Program B, Sat., 11/21, 8pm & Sun, 11/22, 7pm; Age 8+; $35 for one program; $62 for both.

Where: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon Street (at Bay Street), San Francisco; 415-392-4400; sfhiphopdancefest.com.

Pier 39 Tree Lighting Celebration

Costumes characters from Disney and live entertainers caper from 2 to 4pm, and at 5:30 the giant Christmas tree blazes to life.

When: Sun., 11/22, 2-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Embarcadero (at Grant Street), San Francisco; pier39.com.

Tinkering

Every invention, Coyote Point reminds us, came to be due to tinkering. This newest exhibit shows viewers how an innovation springs from a good idea and lots of tries. of innovation.

When: Exhibit opens Sat., 11/21, 10am; Age 3+; Free-$7.

Where: Coyote Point Museum, 1651 Coyote Point Drive (at Airport Boulevard), San Mateo; 650-342-7755; coyoteptmuseum.org.

Fresh Trade Agreement

A good choice for hipper middle and high schoolers, this party includes live music, DJs, b-boy battles, custom-built bikes, and vendors of streetwear and accessories.

When: Sat., 11/21, 11am-5pm; Age 7+; $10 ($7 with two canned goods).

Where: CellSpace/Crucible Steel Gallery, 2050 Bryant Street (at 18th Street), San Francisco; fresh-trade.org.

It’s possible to make a perfectly good gingerbread house out of a foil-covered milk carton, some frosting, some candy, and some well-positioned graham crackers. But sometimes you want a gingerbread extravaganza that draws a “Wow!” from every kid who sees it.

The Bay Area Discovery Museum’s extremely popular Gingerbread Architecture parties will give you the candy house of your dreams. For $25 per gingerbread house kit, the Discovery Museum hands out real gingerbread (not graham crackers!), frosting, a rainbow of candy, and a space to craft your masterpiece in. The room smells of frosting and sugar, and rings with the happy laughter of children alternately eating and glueing on candy onto their house. While it’s drying, kids and parents play at the museum; by the time they’re ready to head home, their masterpiece is ready.

Gingerbread Architecture sells out early every year; make your reservations early by visiting baykidsmuseum.org. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is located at 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito; call 415-339-3900.

Next weekend it’s going to be all turkey sandwiches all the time. Enjoy your family-free hours this weekend.

Pixar Party at the Cartoon Art Museum

A very rare chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at what Pixar does, with artists and insiders displaying cels and discussing how the studio made movies like Up and Toy Story. All proceeds benefit the museum.

When: Sat., 11/14, 1-4 p.m.; Age 6+; $100 per family of four (no tickets sold at the door; all families must have a reservation).

Where: Cartoon Art Museum Benefit, 655 Mission Street (at New Montgomery Street), San Francisco; 415-227-8666 Ext: 300; cartoonartlivejournal.com.

San Francisco Green Festival

Three days of organic food, recycling, eco-consciousness, and random acts of urban renewal at this festival. Tree Frog Treks brings its reptiles to the party each day of the festival from noon to 2 p.m. and kids will get a lot out of the hands-on off-site greening activities.

When: Fri., 11/13, noon-7 p.m., Sat., 11/14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun., 11/15, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Age 3+; Free-$15

Where: Various locations including the Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth Street (at Brannan Street), San Francisco; greenfestivals.org.

The Sippy Cups

The popular kids’ band plays at a snazzy, retrolicious venue with the most important ingredient for parental enjoyment: a full bar.

When: Sun., 11/15, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Age 4+; $17.

Where: Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Avenue (at Chestnut Street), San Francisco; 415-474-0365; bimbos365club.com.

Gobble Gobble Turkey Dance Party

Exuberant kids’ band Candy and the Sweet Tooths gets the kids up and moving at this family dance.

When: Sat., 11/15, 3 p.m.; All Ages;$18.

Where: Fort Mason Officer’s Club, Upper Fort Mason (at Franklin Street), San Francisco; candyandthesweettooths.com.

Halloween is on a Saturday this year! Get your costume on and go go go!

Dia de los Muertos Procession and Festival of the Altars

The parade is too spooky for little kids, but older ones will enjoy the rattling bones, creepy makeup, and the thrill of being out with adults at night; the colorful altars celebrating the lives of those passed on are great cultural eye-candy.

When: Mon., 11/2, 7pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Parade starts at 7pm from 24th and Bryant Streets in San Francisco and continues to 26th and Bryant Streets, where the Festival of the Altars starts at 8:30 p.m.; 415-722-8911; dayofthedeadsf.org.

Potrero Hill Halloween Parade and Costume Contest

An early-evening Halloween party with a movie, prizes for best costume, and a parade down to 18th Street.

When: Sat., 10/31, 4-7pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Axis Cafe, 1201 Eighth Street (at Irwin Street), San Francisco; 415-279-1899; axis-cafe.com.

Exploratorium Halloween

A grand Halloween party with a visit from the Neverwas, a Victorian mansion on wheels, and creature features like giant insects and hissing cockroaches.

When: Sat., 10/31, 3-8pm; Free-$14.

Where: Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street (at Jefferson Street), San Francisco; 415-561-0360; exploratorium.edu.

Dia de los Muertos Family Concert

A special concert for families with classical music from Latino conductors and pre-concert festivities like sugar skull-decorating and a display of family altars.

When: Sun., 11/1, 1pm; Age 4+; $15-65.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.