Posts Tagged ‘exploratorium’

Big kids are locked up in school and it’s time for parents to roam freely with the littles (and the homeschooled). Now is the time to visit the places that are unthinkably crowded in summertime.

California Academy of Sciences: Go now, now, now, in between the summertime season (when tickets to the planetarium sold out most days) and the Great Time of School Field Trips, which starts soon. The planetarium show, Journey to the Stars, is really cool, and you can linger for a long time in the rainforest without feeling like other visitors are prodding you in the back. 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000; calacademy.org.

Exploratorium: Absorbing exhibits you can finally let your child investigate to her heart’s content include the spinning sand wheels, the giant bubble-maker, the beach balls blown up into the air, and the two faraway posts where you can hear each other talking. The spinning striped tent is also a lot better for small kids when the big ones aren’t roughhousing in it. 3601 Lyon Street (at Presidio Avenue)., 415-561-0360, exploratorium.edu.

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Fearlessly let your kids play with the train in the room with the great big boat or paint and squeegee windows for endless moments. There’s always a table at the cafe during lunchtime on fall weekdays, and plenty of parking in the lot. 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito, 415-339-3900, baykidsmuseum.org.

Children’s Fairyland: The weather is still great in September and October, and Fairyland’s schedule reflects this, open Wednesday through Sunday until Halloween, though you might want to stick to the weekdays for the lightest crowds. The Jolly Trolley is all yours! Toot toot! 699 Bellevue Avenue (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, 510-452-2259, fairyland.org.

Party Playhouse: You sit on the couch and read a magazine, the kids climb (and climb, and climb), with no big kids to freak them out in a nook or cranny you can’t see. 56 Hill Street (at Washington Street), Daly City, 650-756-7529, mypartyplayhouse.com.

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Spring is in full swing, and there’s plenty to do with all this good weather.

Bay to Breakers

The riotous race is a hoot to watch with your family. Particularly good watch-spots: Alamo Square Park at Fell and Steiner, where you can watch runners struggle up the steep Hayes Hill, and the Panhandle Park, where the runners are nearly all drunk by the time they pass by.

When: Sun., 5/16, 8pm-2pm (approximately); Age 4+; Free (to watch, runners pay a registration fee).

Where: Race route runs from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach; ingbaytobreakers.com.

Lemonade Day

A free event that encourages saving and entrepreneurship, with kids opening up lemonade stands, and hopefully putting what they earn into a savings account.

When: Sat., 5/15, variable times (stand operating hours are set by the individual young vendor; Age 6+; Free.

Where: Registered participants can pick up free helpful materials at any Wells Fargo branch this Saturday; lemonade stands can then be set up anywhere from schools to individual homes; 713-400-9335; sanfranciscolemonadeday.

Precita Valley Arts Festival

A party celebrating the vibrant Outer Mission mural scene, with live music, food, live mural painting, and maps available from Precita Eyes for those who’d like to tour the neighborhood’s works.

When: Sat., 5/15, 1-5pm; All Ages; Free.

Where: Precita Park, Precita Avenue (at Folsom Avenue), San Francisco; 415-285-2287; precitaeyes.org

Biology of Toys: Natural Curiosities

The yearly event turns towards plants and the natural world as kids make maple-seed helicopters, color carnations, and DIY Chia pets.

When: Sat., 5/16, 11am-3pm; Ages 6+; Free with admission, Free-$15.

Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon Street (at Presidio Avenue)., 415-561-0360, www.exploratorium.edu.

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.

Spring has sprung, and the bright sun outside means it’s time to get out of the house.

Spring Fling at Fioli

The garden center throws a springtime party with costumed characters, arts and crafts for kids, a puppet show and a magician. There’s a dog show, alpacas to pet, garden tours, plantings, and other nature-y goodness.

When: Sat. 4/28, 10am-3:30pm; Age 3+; $20 Adult, $5 Age 5-17, 4 and under free.

Where: Filoli, 86 Canada Road, (at Edgewood Road), Woodside, 650-364-8300, Ext. 508, fioli.org.

Outdoor Exploratorium

The famous children’s science museum heads outside in this set of 14 cool interactive exhibits at Fort Mason. Find out how to use the Golden Gate Bridge as a thermometer, decode the light patterns that bring in ships from the water, and see a mirage. Maps of the exhibit are available at the Fort Mason Office in Building A.

When: Ongoing daily (exhibit is permanent), open during daylight hours; Age 2+; Free.

Where: Fort Mason, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), San Francisco; 415-561-0360; exploratorium.edu.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

The Young Performers Theatre takes on the classic story of Aladdin in this light, non-scary comedy with teen and tween actors.

When: Sat., 4/28 1pm and Sun., 4/29, 1 and 3:30 pm; $10 Adults; $7 13 and under.

Where: Fort Mason Center, Building C, Marina Boulevard (at Buchanan Street), ypt.org.

Musical Mysteries: The Composer Is Dead
Author Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events) narrates as the San Francisco Symphony performs The Composer is Dead, a musical murder mystery in which the audience has to help find clues to nab the culprit.

When: Sun., 3/29, 2pm; Age 7+; $15-55 Adults; $7.50-27.50 Children.

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

 Now that the holidays are over, you can have some real fun.

Family Appreciation Day

Dozens of San Francisco museums and attractions throw open their doors for this city-sponsored shindig, offering free admission for families with children up to age 18. All you need to participate is some type of proof that you’re an SF resident, like a driver’s license or utility bill, and you’re in. Given that admission to the Academy of Sciences is so pricey, and the place is still so new, it’s going to be a huge draw for families. Escape the crowds there (and the runoff crowd at the nearby deYoung, also free), by hitting SFMOMA, the Exploratorium, taking a tour of Chinatown, or exploring the fascinating old ships at the Hyde Street Pier.

When: Sun. 1/11, time varies by location; All ages (at least one adult must accompany children); Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco, visit dcyf.org for details.

River of Words: The Natural World

This year’s iteration of the annual River of Words contest asked children to consider the natural surroundings in the place where they live, everywhere from California to the Ivory Coast. The resulting artworks and poems provide a moving picture of a child’s world.

When: Ongoing daily through 1/31/09; 9am-5pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Crissy Field Center, Building 603 in the Presidio, Mason Street (at Halleck Street) 415-561-7752, crissyfield.org.

Playhouse Disney Live

Peek in on the Mickey House Clubhouse at this sing-along show, where Mickey is planning a musical party for his friends: Pooh, Tigger, Darby, Hanny Manny, the Little Einsteins, and other faves.

When: Fri., 1/9, 3:30 and 7pm; Age 2+; $20-47.

Where: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway Avenue (at Grand Avenue), Oakland; 510-465-6400, paramounttheatre.com.

Earthcapades

It’s like Cirque du Soleil, but instead of being menaced by angry French clowns, you learn stuff about the planet.

When: Sat., 1/10, 10:30am; Age 3+; $4-5.

Where: La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue (at Ashby Avenue), Berkeley, 510-849-2568, lapena.org.

Strap on those costumes and build yourself a Day of the Dead altar–this is a big, big weekend for Bay Area kids.

Phantasmagorium

Blow off the big candy grab–eh, they added vegetable oil to all the cheap chocolate, anyway–in favor of a spooky party at the Exploratorium, which digs into the science of death, Halloween, and Dia de Los Muertos. View a decomposing snake, learn about leeches and their role in medicine, or watch sugar skulls being made.

When: Fri., 10/31, 6-9pm; Age 4+; Free with admission (Free-$14).
Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St., 415-563-7337, exploratorium.edu.

Paxton Gate’s Menacingly Morbid Macabre Museum of Unnatural Wonders

The purveyors of odd flora and preserved fauna (think: venus flytraps and taxidermied mice) celebrates the opening of its new children’s section of the store with the Museum of Unnatural Wonders, spooky displays demonstrating concepts in zoologiy, biology, botany, and other natural sciences.

When: Fri. & Sat. 10/31 & 11/1, 5-8pm; Age 4+; Free.
Where: Old New College Building, 766 Valencia Street (at 18th Street), San Francisco, 415-824-1872, paxtongate.com.

Dia de los Muertos Procession & Altar Exhibit

Take part in this traditional Latino holiday that commemorates those who have passed on with a solemn parade that ends at Garfield Park, which is liberally festooned with altars built by the families of the deceased. The parade and altars may be too spooky for younger children, as celebrants often wear skeleton masks and rattle bones.

When: Fri., 11/2, 6:30-10:30pm; Age 6+; Free.
Where: Parade begins at 24th Street (at Bryant Street) in the Mission and continues to Garfield Park, 26th Street (at Harrison Street); dayofthedeadsf.org.

Dia de los Muertos Family Concert

If the kids are too young to drag them on an altar tour of the Mission, soak up the culture at this Day of the Dead concert, featuring Latin music, Aztec dancer, traditional sweets, face painting, and altars displayed throughout Davies Symphony Hall.

When: Sun., 11/3, Age 3+; $7.50-15.
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue (at Hayes Street), 415-864-6000; sfsymphony.org.

Parents magazine has compiled a list of the country’s best science museums, and San Francisco’s Exploratorium is second on the list.

It’s no surprise, really. The influential museum stands head and shoulders above most science centers. It was, in fact, one of the very first hands-on science museums, founed in 1969 by the physicist Frank Oppenheimer (J. Robert’s brother), who hoped to make abstract scientific concepts palpable. The Exploratorium wildly succeeds at its goal, with witty hands-on exhibits that mesmerize as they teach lessons about physics, mechanics, perception, and electricity. There are exhibits that fascinate the little ones: just try dragging a four-year-old away from the sand wheels, where children can grab wooden sticks and make intricate patterns in sand whirling around on a pottery wheel. And there’s plenty to grab the attention of older kids too, like giant interactive computer games, a bubble station, and magnetized particles to sculpt into towers and fanciful shapes.

School starts in a week, so this is the week to go; without student field-trip groups thronging its halls the Exploratorium is less packed than usual. Bring some money for the stellar gift shop, and a sandwich to eat on the lawn if you don’t feel like shelling out $14 for a PBJ, an apple and a lemonade.

The Exploratorium is located at 3601 Lyon Street (at Baker Street), at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Visit exploratorium.edu or call 415-EXP-LORE.

Soccer players, science teachers, skating and Sunday music for your San Francisco summertime.

42nd Annual International Children’s Games

If you have a budding sports star in your home, this unofficial children’s auxiliary event is probably already on your radar. If not, don’t pass up this chance to see the cream of the youth sports crop from over 50 countries, hosted this year only in our own fair city. Attend golf, swimming, tennis, table tennis, track and field, soccer, basketball and volleyball match-ups, according to your own athlete’s taste.

When: Thu.-Tue., 7/10-15; various times; Age 3+; $5-$55 for individual events or multi-day passes.
Where: Various venues around San Francisco including Kezar Stadium, the Harding Park Golf Course, and the Koret Swimming Pool, 415-989-0070, sficg3008.com.

Iron Science Teacher Competition

The Exploratorium parodies popular TV cooking competition Iron Chef with a competition between Bay Area science teachers. Teachers will be given an ingredient, which they will have to use in a demonstration.

When: Fri., 7/11, 12pm; Age 7+; Free with admission, Free-$14.
Where: Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St., 415-563-7337, exploratorium.edu.

Dancing on Ice

The Yerba Buena ice rink turns 10, and the Skating Club of San Francisco is a venerable 75. The commemorative celebration features duo and solo skating performances from U.S. Olympic bronze medalists Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre in what the Skating Club calls “a magical night of lights, music, dazzle, and entertainment.”

When: Sat., 7/12, 7:45pm; Age 3+; $20-$40.
Where: Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center, 750 Folsom Street (at 3rd Street), San Francisco, 415-823-3532, scsf.org.

Country Sundays

Each week the small, friendly Portreo Hill bar Thee Parkside has an all-ages show with local acts playing rockabilly, country, americana and bluegrass music. Free admission and a small-but-nice menu of food (french fries and green papaya salad!) make this a great regular bet for weekend fun. Plus, parents can have a beer!

When: Ongoing, Sundays at 4pm; All ages; Free.
Where: Thee Parkside, 1600 17th Street (at Wisconsin Street), San Francisco, 415-503-0393, theeparkside.com.