Museums

Go where you will this weekend; just don’t move your car or the pride people will steal your space.

The Art of William Steig

See the career highlights of the man responsible for Pete’s a Pizza, and the original Shrek at this fascinating exhibit of Steig’s drawings, New Yorker covers, and other doodles.

When: Ongoing daily through 9/7 (museum is closed Wednesday); Age 7+; Free with paid admission (Free-$10).

Where: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth Streets), San Francisco, 415-655-7800, thecjm.org.

38th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration

The big parade starts moving down Market Street at 10:30 a.m. Sunday; hunker down early to get a good spot and once you’ve gotten an eyeful, move on to the afterparty at the Civic Center for food, music, vendor booths, and fun. If the crowd scene gets too hectic, drop in to the Family Garden for gentle kiddie fun: face-painting, games, arts and crafts, and the like.

When: Sun., 6/29, noon-7pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Parade goes from Market and Beale Streets to Market and Eighth Streets; Civic Center party is between Market, Van Ness, Leavenworth, and Turk Streets; (Family Garden is at Larkin and Grove); 415-864-0831; sfpride.org.

Peter & the Pirate

If your child has gotten bitten by the pirate bug, bring him to the San Francisco pier to meet Peter, Captain Bootleg, and Peter’s sea lion pal, Saline D. Ion, in this original maritime musical. Kids are invited to sing and dance with the cast.

When: Ongoing Saturdays and Sundays, 6/28-8/31 with shows at 11:30am and 1pm; All ages; Free-$15.95.

Where: Pier 39, Beach Street (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, 415-433-3939, peterandthepirate.com.

Mrs. Grossman’s Company Store Annual Warehouse Store

Few local parents realize that Mrs. Grossman — she of the long, skinny sticker sheets that are sold in just about every toy store and pharmacy in America — is practically a local, and once a year the Petaluma warehouse sells deeply discounted stickers that make the sale worth the drive. No strollers allowed during the sale so leave very small kids at home and just bring the walking sticker freaks.

When: Fri., 6/27, 9am-5:30pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Mrs. Grossman’s Company Store, 3810 Cypress Drive (at South McDowell Boulevard), Petaluma, 800-429-4549, mrsgrossmans.com.

Puppet shows, county fairs, star shows and a chance to let trained professionals wiggle and strap your car seat into submission.
Zanzibar Puppets present Cinderella

Extraordinary puppets, a classic story, and a swanky venue. Drag out the velvet dresses for this one.

When: Sat., 6/21, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm; Ages 3+; $15-25.

Where: Harry Denton’s Starlight Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell St. (at Sutter St.), San Francisco, 415-391-8619, zanzibarpuppets.com.

Alameda County Fair

Watch the pig races, join the pie-eating contest, and take a chance on the whirling rides — will your kid throw up cotton candy and corn dogs? It’s all part of the fun at this old fashioned fair. Admission is free for kids under 12 on Fridays and always free for kids under 6.

When: Fri. 6/20 to Sun. 7/6, 11am-10pm Mon.-Thu., 10am-10pm Fri.-Sun.; All ages; Free-$10.

Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, 925-426- 7600, alamedacountyfair.com.

Lake Chabot’s 125th Anniversary Free Family Fun Day

The venerable planetarium/science center throws itself an anniversary party with admission, movies, free planetarium shows, and special space games, all free. Design a rocket, play space bingo, and kibbiz with Bill Nye the Science Guy.

When: Sat., 6/21, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Lake Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd. (at Redwood Road), Oakland; 510-336-7300, chabotspace.org.

CPMC BabySteps Kick-Off Event

Oh, you got the carseat in your car — but is it in properly? Professionals give it a check at this launch party for a new California Pacific Medical Center parenting networking site. You can also get toys tested for toxic lead levels, eat a free healthy lunch, and enjoy a storytime and face painting for the kiddies.

When: Sun., 6/22, 12pm-2pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Fisher Family Hall in the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. (at Presidio St.), San Francisco, cpmcbabysteps.org.

San Franciscans with fond memories of Playland at the Beach (or who just get a thrill out of circusy old San Francisco) will no doubt want to make a trek to the brand-spanking-new museum, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach.

The El Cerrito museum pulls together artifacts from many private collections including that of proprietor Richard Tuck, who rescued many curios from the garages of original Playland neighbors. Highlights include fascinating historical photographs, exhibits spotlighting circus sideshow acts like the Fiji Mermaid, vintage movies of Playland and the Sutro baths, sculptures of Playland’s coasters, and other weird and wonderful stuff, like a miniature circus diorama that took 50 years to carve. Playland also has a room full of creaky old pinball/arcade machines, all free with the price of admission so you needn’t play quarter-dispensing machine for your children.

One more thing Playland-Not-at-the-Beach has — its very own Laughing Sal. But wait (you may be asking yourself, as I did)–isn’t Laughing Sal currently terrifying children at the Musee Mechanique? Ah, it turns out that Playland at the Beach’s Laughing Sal was only one of many. There’s another one at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Who cares about authenticity, anyway? Laughing Sal laughs and stares at you with her dead soulless eyes as your frightened children cling to you. What more could you want?

Like a preview? SFGate has a nice video of the place.

Playland-Not-at-the-Beach is located at 10979 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, and is open by appointment only, Saturdays from 10am-5pm, and some Sundays. Admission is $5. To make a reservation for a visit, call 510- 232-4264 ext. #25 or visit playland-not-at-the-beach.org.

Get your art on with a culture-vulture weekend, or brave BART for a Berkeley fest.

Lines Ballet Family Day

In celebration of Long River High Sky, the dance collaboration between Lines Ballet and Chinese Shaolin Monks, this free outdoor festival plays host to ballet lessons, kung fu demos, and arts/crafts activities. Snacks and drinks are also provided free.

When: Sat., 5/31, 2pm (a matinee performance of the show follows at 3pm); Age 8+; Free (Ballet performance is $15-65).

Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. (at Fourth St.), San Francisco, 415-978-2787, linesballet.org.

Wild in the City

Nature isn’t just found in the wilderness–and this new Randall Museum exhibit explores the wild animals who make their homes right here in San Francisco. Kids will find out how to identify animal tracks, how animals hunt, and where to look for natural ecosystems.

When: Ongoing, opening Sat., 5/31 and continuing through 11/1; 10am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt), San Francisco, 415-554-9600, randallmuseum.org.

Chocolate & Chalk Art Festival

Instill in your child the joy of (legally) defacing city surfaces with this powdery romp over the sidewalks of Berkeley. Participants are assigned a square of sidewalk; onlookers chow down on chocolate samples or check out the arts and crafts booths. The best drawing wins $250; runners-up get $50 gift certificates from the Elephant Pharmacy. Bring your own chalk or buy it at the festival.

When: Sat, 5/31, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto (North Shattuck Ave. around Rose St.), Berkeley, 510-548-5335, northshattuck.org.

Animal Extravaganza

The seriously knowledgeable (and approachably fun) naturalists of Tree Frog Treks haul out their reptile and amphibian friends for kids to marvel over and touch. Activities teach kids about biology and nature.

When: Fri., 5/30, 4pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Glen Park Branch Library, 2825 Diamond St. (at Bosworth St.), San Francisco, sfpl.org.

Are you enjoying San Francisco in the springtime as much as we are?

Film Night in the Park: The Wizard of Oz

Watch the children’s classic on a blanket under the stars. Dress warmly and watch for flying monkeys in the trees.

When: Sat., 5/17, 8pm; All ages; Free ($3-6 donation encouraged).
Where: Dolores Park, 18th St. (at Dolores St.), San Francisco, 415-453-4333, filmnight.org.

Lollipop Family Fun Run

Make the whole family sweat at this kid-friendly 1-mile or 5K run. There’s a party at the finish line featuring a DJ, scavenger hunt and face-painting, and all participants get a T-shirt and goodie bag. Strollers are welcome, and all proceeds benefit Girls on the Run running club.

When: Sat., 4/17, Registration begins at 9am, runs begin at 10am; All ages; $15-30.

Where: Meet in front of the De Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive (at JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco, 415-831-2700 or 415-863-8942, gotrbayarea.org.
Young at Art: SFUSD Art Festival Family Day

Celebrate budding young artists at this annual festival where thousands of K-12 kids display their visual or performance art. Admission to the de Young is free today, with performances from young dancers and actors at noon and 1pm.

When: Sat., 5/17, 9:30am-5pm (festival continues through May 25); All ages; Free.

Where: De Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive (at JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco, 415-863-3330, youngatartsf.com.

Zany Patterns: Quilting With a Twist

A teenage quilter shows kids aged 6-12 how to make paper quilts, a great way to experiment with color, form, and design.

When: Sat., 4/17, 2pm; Age 6-12; Free with museum admission, free-$8.

Where: Zeum, 221 Fourth St. (at Howard), San Francisco, 415-820-3320, zeum.org.

Holy moley, it’s already the end of April. Did you plan to let your kid hang around the house all summer, starting fires and eating handfuls of Cap’n Crunch? No? Then you’re going to have to figure out what to do with the little darlings, and your best friend in this endeavor is the monthly Bay Area Parent magazine, which publishes a mammoth, essential Summer Survival Guide each springtime. Every blessed page of it is online, so you don’t have to go scouting for it at libraries or grocery stores. Just about every article is clip-and-save worthy: primers on local ballparks, beaches and pools, calendars of local outdoor concerts, spotlights on unusual summer camps. Fire up your printer, drag out your calendar, and schedule yourself an unforgettable summer.

Leaping dancers, creeping bugs, reading kids and sippy cups: get out of the house this weekend.

Bug Day

The cutest, most-child-friendly museum in the city is even better today at its annual Bug Day, with special exhibits and activities to teach kids about all that creep and crawl. Kids can participate in maggot races, touch silkworms, walking sticks and millipedes, create insect art, and play amongst the Randall’s other cool regular toys, including the model train station open only on Saturdays.

When: Sat., 4/26, 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt), 415-554-9600, randallmuseum.org.

Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros

This San Francisco version of the Latin American holiday celebrating children has morphed into a storytelling festival, with on-stage reading of kids’ books, music, dance performances, and a visit from the Bookmobile.

When: Sun., 4/27, 1-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Dolores Park, between 18th and 20th Streets and Church and Dolores Streets, sfkids.org.

Young Choreographer’s Festival

Bring budding dancers to this National Dance Week celebration, which stages shorts works from Bay Area choreographers aged 16 to 21. Following the hour-long festival, 30 dance companies and solo artists will perform until 5pm. The Bandshell stage is open-air; dress accordingly.

When: Sat., 4/26, 12pm-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: The Golden Gate Park Bandshell at the Music Concourse between De Young Museum and Steinhart Aquarium (at Martin Luther King Jr Way), San Francisco, 415-640-2784, mfdpsf.org.

The Sippy Cups: A Rock & Roll Circus

Kids go absolutely apesh*t for this band, a bunch of cheerful adults who do kid-friendly versions of songs parents will recognize, such as The Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves the Sun” or Kool & The Gang’s “Jungle Boogie,” accompanied by puppets, juggling, acrobatics and the like. Parents will be thrilled with the venue, sleek Bimbo’s 365 Club. Alternadad author Neal Pollack emcees the show and will sign copies of his book.

When: Sun., 4/27, 1pm & 4pm; Ages 0-8; $17.

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

The weather is beautiful. Don’t even bother reading this email because where you should be is the park.

See 

Project Bandaloop: Interiors

The aerial dance troupe’s website says Interiors “reframes movement, relationships and values in the context of the interior of a house.” Whatever. All the kids will care about is that the dancers are flying through the air and all over the room.

When: Fri., Sat., 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7pm; Age 5+; $15-28.

Where: Cowell Theater at Fort Mason, Marina Blvd. (at Buchanan), San Francisco, 415-345-7575, www.fortmason.org.

Go

PartyKidz

Music to set the tots’ toes tapping, kiddie snacks, a dance floor, and a whole lot of parents elated they can drink at a kids’ party.

When: Sat. 4/19, 1-5pm; All ages; Free-$10.

Where: Club NV, 525 Howard St., San Francisco, 888-638-9983, www.partykidzllc.com.

Go

Physics of Toys: Our All-Time Favorites

Visiting the often murderously crowded Exploratorium is worth it today, with demonstrations and hands-on projects parsing scientific principles behind playthings like kaleidoscopes, slime, and magnets. Kids will make a project to take home.

When: Sat., 4/19, 11am; Ages 10+; Free with admission.

Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St., 415-563-7337, www.exploratorium.edu.

Do

Earth Stroll

Celebrate Earth Day with live animals, toddler activities, and an educational walk around Crissy Field.

When: Sat., 4/19, 11am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Crissy Field Center, 608 Mason St., San Francisco, 415-561-5418, www.presidio.gov.

Do

Earth Day Celebration on Stinson Beach

Artists and passers-by create sculptures using beach flotsam. Do I smell sand globes?

When: Sat., 4/19; 11am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: South end of Stinson Beach, www.naturesculpture.com.