Restaurants & Bars

Museums, live music in the park, and enough chocolate to have the kids begging to stop tasting.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Weekend

Meet characters from The Clone Wars, build your own models and make movies using stop-motion, test your lightsaber skills, and learn how soundtracks are mixed.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/11-12, 11am-5pm; Age 5+; $8-10.

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

Power to the Peaceful Festival

An old-school groovy San Francisco be-in, with drumming, yoga, live music, healing arts, and lots of colorful people on blankets.

When: Sat., 9/11, 9am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Speedway Meadow, 25th Avenue & Fulton Street (in Golden Gate Park); powertothepeaceful.org.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival

Chocolate chocolate chocolate. And a kid’s area.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/11-12, noon-5pm; Age 2+; Free admission, $20 for 15 tastings of chocolate samples.

Where: Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point (at Polk Street), San Francisco; ghirardellisq.com.

Outdoor shows, Sunday Streets, and sidewalk eats.

They Might Be Giants

Kid favorite plays songs for young and old at the conclusion of the annual Stern Grove Festival series of free outdoor concerts.

When: Sun., 8/18, 2pm; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco; 415-252-6252; sterngrove.org.

San Francisco Street Food Festival

A great big fun party with every cart and truck you’ve ever heard of in town. This year’s space is way bigger than last year’s and organizers say it won’t be nearly as crowded. Live music and kids’ activities too.

When: Sat., 8/21, 11am-7pm; Age 2+; Free admission, food is available for purchase.

Where: Folsom Street (at 25th Street), San Francisco; sfstreetfoodfest.com.

Angel Island Live

This last in a series of live shows on the Cantina Deck overlooking Ayala Bay features traditional South American band Mucho Axe.

When: Sat., 8/21, 2-5pm; All ages; Free (ferry ride to island requires admission).

Where: Angel Island State Park , (in the San Francisco Bay); 415-435-3392; angelisland.com.

Sunday Streets: Penguins to Penguins

The well-attended traffic-free event takes over a swathe of town from the California Academy of Sciences at JFK Drive all the way down Lincoln to Sloat, across from the zoo.

When: Sun. 8/22, 10am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Centered on Great Highway (at Lincoln Way), San Francisco; sundaystreetssf.com.

A decidedly Gallic streak runs through the Bay Area, and thus the French celebration Bastille Day is celebrated with more-than-typical fervor for an American city. A couple of fun options for you and the kiddies:

The best party in town takes place this Friday, as the regular Friday Night at the de Young series takes on a French flavor, with ballet, impressionist art, French-gypsy live music, and children’s art activities. Fri., 7/16, 5pm; de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Drive in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-750-3600, deyoungfamsf.org.

In Healdsburg, the best celebration for miles around happens at Costeaux French Bakery on Bastille Day itself, July 14, where the fun begins early: 7am, with Eiffel tower-shaped cookies for the kids to decorate. At 9am visitors can practice their croissant-rolling with a baker; following that, fencing, magic, petanque, and a visit with Marie Antoinette. Wed., 7/14, 7am-4pm; Costeaux French Bakery, 417 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com.

In Yountville, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon sets itself apart from the zillion other Bay Area restaurants offering special Bastille Day menus and prix fixes with a kid’s party that starts at 3pm in the outdoor courtyard. Decorate cupcakes, participate in a Twister tourney, listen to live music, and eat whole roasted pig, crepes, ice cream sandwiches, and chocolate bouchons. Wed., 7/14, 3-7pm (adults can linger until 10pm); Bouchon, 6534 Washington Street, Yountville, 707-944-8037, bouchonbistro.com.

Go to the bathroom in space, pull crabs on the pier, or watch a feathered dancer let loose.

Living In Space

Learn how astronauts eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, and work in space at the opening weekend for this cool exhibit.

When: Sat., 5/29 (through 8/15), Free with museum admission, Free-$10.

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

Pier Crabbing Demonstrations at Fort Point

Learn how to drop a net and catch crabs off the San Francisco piers at this demo from Fort Point staff. All equipment is provided but (free) reservations are required.

When: Saturdays, March through October (including 5/29), 10am-noon; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Fort Point, Marine Drive (at Old Mason Street), San Francisco; 415-556-1693; nps.gov.

Carnaval San Francisco

The two-day-long party is a bit raucous for some parents, but it’s still a vibrant street festival with food, music, dancing, a parade, and colorful costumes.

When: Sat. & Sun., 5/29-30, 10am-6pm Sat., 9:30am-6pm Sun., Age 4+; Free.

Where: Festival is on Harrison Street (at 24th Street), San Francisco; Parade begins 9:30am Sunday and runs along 24th and Mission Streets; sfcarnaval.com.

CUESA Spring Breakfast

Tuck into a hearty spring breakfast (pancakes with fruit, eggs with spring vegetables, roasted potatoes, and pastries), while sitting with a market seller who explains how the business end of selling produce works at this yearly fundraiser.

When: Sat., 5/29, seatings at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 a.m.; All Ages; $30 adults, $15 kids 3-13; under 3 free.

Where: San Francisco Ferry Building, Embarcadero Street (at Market Street), San Francisco, ferrybuildingmarketplace.com.

The best thing about Christmas: fancy eye-candy, and kids to appreciate it with. Take advantage of the fantastic recent weather and spend an afternoon on a Christmas decor crawl. Start at the Macy’s holiday windows at Stockton and O’Farrell Streets lining Union Square; Christmas tableaus are dog- and cat-sized, all the better to make you go “Aww!” over the adoptable dogs and cats from the SPCA that live in the windows for the season.

Your next stop is the Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell Street (at Geary Street) on the corner of  Union Square for a look at the slowly spinning twelve-foot sugar castle that looks worthy of Cinderella. After you’ve gotten an eyeful of that, walk through Union Square to admire the giant lit-up tree, menorah, and ice skaters. Stop and have a cup of cocoa, and maybe try a few chocolates at See’s (avoid the pumpkin truffle!). Then walk  a few blocks over to jewelry store Shreve and Co., 200 Post Street (at Grant Street). There you’ll see “Christmas at the Opera,” holiday windows featuring San Anselmo artist Kat Soto’s marionettes in scenes from 14 different operas.

Next is the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 345 Stockton Street (between Post and Sutter Streets), to see the Snow Village miniatures. Castro Valley resident Len Connacher started collecting the miniatures back in the ’80s and soon had such a giant collection he donated thousands of them to the hotel. Miniature scenes like children playing on tiny statues of Rudolph and Santa and couples whirling in a scale-model ballroom, are particularly fascinating to very small kids.

Still got energy? The final stop on the tour is a long, steep haul up Powell Street. Wow, look at that hill. Maybe you’d better jump on that cable car, unless your kids are particularly spoiling for a bunch of hills. Hop off at California Street, hang a left to the Fairmont Hotel at 950 Mason Street, and head straight for the gigantic gingerbread house near the front desk. It’s two stories high, beautiful and vast, and makes the entire lobby smell like gingerbread. This year there’s even a room inside for kids to write (and post!) letters to Santa. Have a well-earned cup of cocoa at the Laurel Court Restaurant. Or, if you’re there after 5pm, get a Tiki cocktail and some island-y food at the Tonga Room, where kids are welcome at the tables (just not at the bar) and the indoor thunderstorm goes off hourly.

In just six weeks, the Saturday Morning Rock Out class squishes the coolest parts of being in a band into one mesmerizing class for kids aged four to seven. At the first class the kids mess around with instruments and pick a band name, at the second class they pick what spots they’re to hold in the band, and then they move on to writing a song, practicing, and performing for a live audience of enthusiastic parents at the end-of-class CD release party.

The Rock Out course is taught by members of local bands, Brian, Lynn, and Pace, all of whom have a wonderful rapport with children and are encouraging of everyone’s ideas and energy so that even the smallest and shyest of the kids get comfortable shouting out lyrics and ideas for album cover art. It’s an uplifting and cool experience for kids, but more than that, it’s their first chance to work collaboratively on a project, a skill they’ll need very much in school and beyond.

The Rock Out course is in mid-session right now; there will be more classes in 2010. Special for l’il percussionists: the Sunday Morning Drum Out, a one-hour class focusing on rhythm for kids aged 4 to 8. For more information, see owies.org.

The famous San Francisco tourist neighborhood is crowded, ticky-tacky, and confusing. It’s also a really cool place to take your kids walking around on a free afternoon, crammed with sights and sounds you won’t see many other spots. Start things off with a bang at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, 56 Ross Alley (at Jackson Street); where you can watch patient, used-to-being-photographed ladies bending hot little pancakes around folded fortunes, and buy a bag to eat and walk with for $3. Head down to Grant Street next to poke in around the shops of gifty things. Several have large toy sections, and be sure to save some energy for the Chinatown Kite Shop, 717 Grant Street (at Sacramento Street), where a fantastic and functional souvenir of your trip will run you less than $20. There are dragon and lion heads to gawk at too.

Ready for a snack? Visit one of the fruit stands on Stockton Street, one block above Grant, and get something to nibble on. Test your knowledge of Asian greens; try a durian if you dare. Poke through the selection of dried seafood at Ho Kee Market, 1251 Stockton Street (at Broadway Street), and then pop next door to Wa Li Bakery, 1249 Stockton Street (at Broadway Street) for a delicate almond cookie or a cream puff.

End your trip at Portsmouth Square, Kearny Street (at Clay Street), where there’s a giant playground with separate levels for little ones and bigger ones, and plenty of benches for parents. Push away the strolling pigeons, take in the view, watch the little knots of men betting on games and the shopping-bag-carrying grandmas gossiping. Now that’s a day to remember.

Before you spend all weekend, every weekend making Halloween costumes, get out and enjoy sand castles, movies, maybe even a gigantic cup of beer.

Leap Sandcastle Contest

Teams of architects, designers and elementary school students make the most elaborate sand castles you’ll ever see.

When: Sat., 10/3, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Ocean Beach, Balboa Avenue at Great Highway, San Francisco, leap4kids.org.

Oktoberfest

The kids can’t enjoy the flowing beer, but Mom and Dad can, and it’ll loosen them up enough to try the Chicken Dance with junior.

When: Fri., 10/2, 3pm-midnight; Sat., 10/3, 11am-midnight; Sun., 10/4 11am-6pm; Age 4+; $30-35 (Sunday is two-for-one day).

Where: Pier 48, King Street (at Third Street), San Francisco; oktoberfestbythebay.com.

Scare on the Square

Sit on a blanket, get take-out from one of the nearby restaurants, and watch The Goonies with the kids on a 25-foot inflatable screen.

When: Sat., 10/3, sundown (about 7pm); Age 3+; Free.

Where: Courthouse Square (Broadway Street at Middlefield Road), Redwood City; redwoodcity.org.

Aladdin

When a boy finds a mysterious magic lamp he finally has a chance of winning the princess of his dreams in this adaptation starring young actors.

When: Ongoing through Sun., 10/25, Saturdays 2pm & 4pm; Sundays 2pm; Age 4+; $10-15.

Where: New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Avenue (at Market Street), San Francisco; 415-861-8972, nctcsf.org.

Festivals, movies, and more ways to take up your time.

Old Time Music Convention

All manner of non-electric instruments making old-fashioned music.

When: Ongoing through Sun. 9/13; Check website for times; All ages; Free-$20.

Where: Various venues in Berkeley including Civic Center Park, Center Street (at MLK, Jr. Way), Berkeley; 510-548-3333; berkeleyoldtimemusic.org.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival

Local patisseries and candy-makers bring the goodies, you bring your appetite. There’s a children’s area for when the tykes go sugar-nuts.

When: Sat. & Sun., 9/12-13, noon-5pm; Age 2+; Free admission, $20 for 15 tastings of chocolate samples.

Where: Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point (at Polk Street), San Francisco; ghirardellisq.com.

Movie Day with Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket)

Handler presents his favorite family movie, Young Frankenstein, in this benefit for SF libraries.

When: Sat., 9/13, movie at noon, reception at 11am; Age 4+; movie is free (but reservations required), reception $25 for adults, free for kids under 12.

Where: Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa Street (at 38th Avenue), San Francisco; 415-626-7512, x106 or sara.bassett@friendssfpl.org; friendssfpl.org.

The Plastiki - Mission Control

Use interactive exhibits to learn about a 10,000 nautical mile voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a boat made almost entirely out of reclaimed plastic soda bottles.

When: Wednesdays through Sundays, ongoing through December 31, 11am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Pier 45, Embarcadero (at Taylor Street), San Francisco; plastiki.com.

Summertime fun including movies, music, a paddle in the ocean and a morning jazz show.

Pick Up and Paddle

Learn the basics of kayaking or practice your strokes at this inexpensive UCSF-sponsored family activity. Kayaks are extra-stable sit-on models, and staff are ready to help you navigate Mission Creek’s calm, sheltered waters.

When: Sat., 7/11, 10am-noon; Age 8+; $25-35.

Where: Mission Creek, 401 Berry Street (at Seventh Street), San Francisco; 415-476-2078; campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu.

Early Bird Jazz: Woodwinds & Strings

Introduce the kids to jazz at this concert, which focuses on exploring the use of woodwinds and stringed instruments for young audiences.

When: Sat., 7/11, 10am (Kids 5 and under) and 11am (Kids 6 and over); Free.

When: Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Campus Drive (at Mayfield Avenue), Stanford; stanfordjazz.org. 

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Oswald, the original Mickey Mouse, was the star of a horde of charming black-and-white cartoons, which unspool at this film festival introduced by special guest Leonard Maltin and accompanied by live piano music.

When: Sun., 7/12; 10:30am; Age 4+; $12-14.

Where: The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street (at Market Street), San Francisco; 800-838-3006; silentfilm.org.

Youth Manners & Etiquette Class

Pre-teens learn the basics of polite public dining at a three-course instructive lunch.

When: Sat., 7/11 (and also 10/17), 10am-1pm; Age 9-13; $108.

Where: The Warwick Regis Hotel, 490 Geary Street (at Taylor Street), San Francisco; 415-346-3665; AdvancedEtiquette.com.