Posts Tagged ‘dolores park’

Three sweet ways to enjoy life with the kiddies this weekend.

Strega Nona

Strega Nona tells Big Anthony to lay off her pasta pot. Big Anthony doesn’t listen in this Commedia dell’arte-style adaptation of Tommie DePaola’s classic children’s tale.

When: Sat. & Sun. 9/19-10/4 (the production also runs in San Ramon 10/10-18), check website for times; Age 2+; $18 adults, $14 children.

Where: Julia Morgan Center, 2460 College Avenue (at Claremont Avenue), Berkeley; 510-296-4433; activeartstheatre.org.

International Coastal Cleanup Day

Spend a day cleaning up the coast, and empower a generation of non-litterbugs.

When: Sat., 9/19, Age 2+; Free.

Where: Various coastal sites in the Bay Area, see website for locations including Ocean Beach and Candlestick Point in San Francisco and the Port of Oakland Estuary.

Film Night in the Park: The Dark Knight in Dolores Park

Take advantage of what’s supposed to be a pleasant evening in the warmest part of San Francisco and watch this gripping update of the Batman tale.

When: Sat., 9/19, 8pm; Age 8+; $6 adults, $3 children.

Where: Dolores Park, Dolores Street (at 20th Street), San Francisco, filmnight.org.

The weather hasn’t actually been too horrible of late, which means tomorrow night’s Film Night in the Park in Dolores Park, traditionally one of the city’s warmest parks, might actually be tolerable, weather-wise. And the film’s a crackerjack one for school-age kids and tweens: Goldfinger, the third Bond movie, which stars Sean Connery (the only Bond for me), hot Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, and a chick painted in gold. Outtasight!

The violence is muted by today’s standards, as is the sex-and-smut; a lot of the double-entendres will likely slip over smallish kids’ heads. So bring the little ones if you like, and a blanket and some snacks. Film starts at 8pm at Dolores Park, 18th and Dolores Streets. Film Night in the Park is always fee.

Parade through the streets or put down a blanket at the park: outdoor opportunities are everywhere this weekend.

87th Annual May Fete Parade

Vintage charm abounds in the oldest children’s parade in Northen California. Traffic is halted on University Avenue to allow the passage of hand-pulled floats, and thousands of kids temporarily set free from the need to obey traffic rules gaily skating, cycling, and strolling through the streets in a free-form parade. If your kids want to be in the parade, they should show up by 9:30 ready to be slotted into one of three categories: Kids in Costume, Kids on Wheels or Kids with Pets.

When: Sat., 5/2, 10am; (a fair follows the parade and ends at 1pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Parade begins at 10am at the corner of Emerson Street and University Avenue, Palo Alto; 650-463-4921, cityofpaloalto.org.

Music for Families

The San Francisco’s series of free concerts for families winds up with an exploration of how four creative forces (the composer, the conductor, musicians, and the listening audience) combine to make beautiful music.

When: Sat., 5/2, 2pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), San Francisco; 415-552-8000; sfsymphony.org.

Cinco de Mayo Festival

Celebrate Latin America in this yearly revel set in lush, green Dolores Park. Live music, food, and educational activities for the madding crowds of kids.

When: Sat., 5/2, 10am-6pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Dolores Park, between 18th and 20th Streets and Church and Dolores Streets, San Francisco, sfcincodemayo.com.

Let’s Play Games Day

Play old-fashioned games like hoop-rolling and croquet at the historic Dunsmuir estate. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic lunches to eat on the Great Meadow.

When: Sun., 4/3, 11am-3pm; Age 2+; Free with admission ($5 for adults; Free for children 11 and under).

Where: Dunsmuir House & Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court (at Peralta Oaks Drive), Oakland, 510-562-0328, dunsmuir.org.

It’s festival season again. See you at the tall ships.

Festival of Sail

An exceptional chance to view and tour 32 magnificent historic tall ships hailing from many ports of the world. When looking at the ships pales, cruise down the waterfront for live music, food, and maritime educational activities. Families can also reserve cruises around the bay on certain vessels.

When: Thu.-Sun., 7/27-30, events are at various times but waterfront activities run 11am-5pm Thu.-Sat. and 11am-2pm Sun; All ages; Free-$85 (touring ships is free).
Where: Events take place all over San Francisco’s northeast waterfront, Embarcadero (from Hyde to King Streets), San Francisco; 877-724-5577, festivalofsail.org.

Day Out with Thomas

A longish (about 1.5 hours) drive to the Santa Cruz Mountains is made worth it by the sight of several thousand preschoolers going into Beatlemania-style paroxysms of joy when they see their favorite friendly train pulling in. Take a ride through the trees with Thomas and participate in train-type activities.

When: July 25-27 and Aug 1-3, various times through the day, Age 2+; $18.
Where: Roaring Camp, Graham Hill Road (at Mt. Hermon Road), Felton, 1-866-468-3399 roaringcamprr.com.

The Breakfast Club in Dolores Park

Lie back on a blanket and show your kids what teenage angst was like back in the day as this classic ’80s film unspools for free. The film is mostly clean, but given the pot-smoking scene and some pretty frank talk about Ally Sheedy’s therapist “nailing” her and Judd Nelson’s dad abusing him, you may want to limit this activity to older teens.

When: Sat., 7/26, 8pm, Age 14+; Free.
Where: Dolores Park, 18th St. (at Dolores St.), San Francisco, 415.465.FILM, sfneighborhoodtheater.org.

Berkeley Kite Festival

It’s fun on a string with Japanese kite battles, Taiko drummers, kite ballet, and more high-flying fun. Fledgling flyers can take lessons and learn how to make their own kites.

When: Sat.-Sun., 7/26-27, 11am-5pm; All ages; Free (Parking $10).510.235.5483
Where: Cesar Chavez Park, 11 Spinnaker Way (at Virginia Street), Berkeley; 510-235-5483; highlinekites.com.

Ways to play, if you can brave the fog.

San Francisco Symphony in Dolores Park

Bring a picnic and a blanket and listen to Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, and Haydn numbers at this free performance.

When: Sun., 7/20, 2-5pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Dolores Park, 18th Street (at Dolores Street), 415-552-8000, sfsymphony.org.

Thumbelina

See a show about the old-school predecessor to Polly Pockets as the New Conservatory Theatre Center Teen Summer Stock company performs a play based on the Hans Christian Anderson story.

When: Thu.-Sat., 7/17-19; 11am; Age 3+; $10-15.
Where: New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Avenue (at Oak Street), 415-861-8972; nctcsf.org.

Sun, Wind, & Water Day

Explore the elements with hands-on events at this free annual festival. Make solar s’mores, create your own paddleboat, or join the water balloon-tossing contest.

When: Sat., 7/19, 10am-2pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way (at Roosevelt), San Francisco, 415-554-9600, randallmuseum.org.

Run the Bases at AT&T Park

Kids aged 14 and under can linger after each San Francisco Giants home game to dash around the big league bases. Participants get a free See’s candy as they leave.

When: Sun., 7/20, game starts at 1:05pm, kids run the bases after the game is over; Age 3-14; Free with admission to game, $17-72.
Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (King and Fourth Streets), 877-JR-GIANTS, sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com.

Outdoor festivals abound, but if you’re not at the Maker Faire, you’re so square.

Maker Faire

There’s one event this weekend that should have been red-circled on your calendar for months: Make magazine’s Maker Faire. The family-friendly weekend-long San Mateo conference is intended for creative weirdo types: sculptors, knitters, robot makers, and the like. Ideally you’ll be there all weekend enjoying the exhibitions, workshops, and vendor booths, but particularly appealing to kids will be the the Life-Size Mousetrap, the Bike Rodeo and Power Tool Drag Racing, while parents should make sure to attend Saturday’s lunchtime lecture, Five Dangerous Things Your Kids Should Do. In between, make sure to get a good viewing spot for the Diet-Coke-and-Mentos Fountain (going off at 4pm daily), listen to live music, stroll around the Expo Red kids area, and bring some discarded wearables for the Swap-o-Rama-Rama (plus a bag to carry the new clothes you scoop up).

When: Sat., 5/3, 10am-10pm; Sun., 5/4, 11am-6pm; All ages; Free-$25 daily.

Where: San Mateo Event Center & Expo Address, 2495 South Delaware St. (at Concar), San Mateo, makerfaire.com.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Everybody’s Mexican today at the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Dolores Park. Bring a blanket, spread on some sunscreen, and watch performances from Latin music and dance troupes.

When: Sat., 5/3, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Dolores Park, 18th St. (at Dolores), San Francisco, 415-647-1533, sfcincodemayo.com.

“See Me” Let’s Go!

This free city-sponsored party is gentle fun for the little ones: bounce houses, face-painting, puppet shows, storytelling, live music. UCSF doctors and dentists will also be there to do on-the-spot health and developmental screenings.

When: Sat., 5/3, 11am-3pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall, Polk (between McAllister and Grove), San Francisco, 415-934-4849, first5sf.org.

Stay Tooned, Kids!

Offbeat animated offerings for sophisticated cinephile kids. Short films screened during this San Francisco International Film Festival event include “When I Grow Up,” illustrated conversations with children about their dreams.

When: Sun, 5/4, 10:15am; Age 7+; $10-12.50.

Where: Sundance Kabuki Cinema, 181 Post (at Fillmore), San Francisco, 925-866-9559, fest08.sffs.org.