Posts Tagged ‘habitot’

The best way to ensure a quiet afternoon is to plan an exhausting morning, but sometimes Mama just isn’t up to a long run across the soccer field, or endless chase games on the playground. Tire them out instead at Habitot’s weekly Wednesday dance parties. For a half hour each week, kids aged 0-6 are given the space, the music, and the go-ahead to dance their little hearts out to rock, swing, country, disco, and other musical styles. Parents can bring CDs for kids who have favorite tunes, or they can just enjoy Habitot’s collection.

Bring a lunch (there’s a snack room, but no food on sale), hang around playing after the dance party, and you’ll be bringing home a carful of tired, quiet children by afternoon.

Dance parties happen each Wednesday from 10:45 to 11:15am at Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum, 2065 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley. Call 510-647-1111 or visit habitot.org.

Berkeley children’s museum Habitot is a tiny little place: and that’s not a criticism. Though it has nice facilities, including an art room, a room set up like a supermarket for pretend shopping, a cushioned faux garden for crawlers, a dress up area, and a water-play space, it just can’t compare with bigger museums like the Exploratorium and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. And that’s just fine, because at those places you end up trailing your child like a tick, wearily standing as he zooms from spot to spot, or losing him in the chaos. Habitot is perfect for parents who want a place they can sit down and kibbitz while children amuse themselves with wholesome arty/educational activities, staying within sight no matter where they roam. You can even bring multiple children–more kids than adults? No problem!

What Habitot most resembles is not a children’s museum, but a very well-equipped preschool. You may on first glance think your kid won’t want to go again after checking out the limited offerings, but every activity at Habitot is well-thought-out, deep and mesmerizing; children spend whole afternoons just washing babies at the water table, or navigating through the wiggle wall. In addition, each week there are special activities: a winter fair, say, with cold-weather games and art activities, or a salute to trains, and the staff is so talented and engaging that kids under 7 or so will want to visit, linger, and return.

There’s no cafe on site, but there’s a peanut-free snack room if you want to bring your own food. Parking in the area can be scarce, but there’s a garage right across the street that charges $5 for all-day parking.

Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum is located at 2065 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley. Call 510-647-1111 or visit habitot.org.

Scintillating ways to keep yourself out of trouble this weekend.

Fears Of Your Life

The teen thespians of the Marsh Youth Theater grapple with the nature of fear, expressing what frightens them and how they handle it through poetry, dance, video, painting, and song. Hey, it beats shutting yourself in your room, right?

When: Fri.-Sun. 1/30-2/1; Fri.-Sat. 2/6-7, 8pm Fridays, 2pm and 8pm Saturdays, 2pm Sunday; Age 12+ $6-25.

Where: The Marsh, 1062 Valencia Street (at 22nd Street), San Francisco, 415-826-5750, themarsh.org.

Monster Energy Supercross

Bring your automotive maniacs here, to watch AMA Supercross dirt bike riders daringly battle for gearhead supremacy.

When: Sat., 1/31, 12:30pm; Age 5+, $10-75.

Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (at King Street), San Francisco, 800-225-2277.

Let it Snow Day

Who cares if the almond trees are budding already? Just for the day, Habitot is transformed into a winter paradise. Make igloos out of snow blocks, sprinkle ice with color and salt, and make your own snow. Winter stories are read at 11am, 12:30pm, and 3pm.

When: Fri., 1/30, 9:30am-4:30pm; All ages; Free with museum admission, Free-$8.

Where: Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum, 2065 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, 510-647-1111, habitot.org.

Now that the Halloween candy’s gone, you need dance parties to pick your spirits up.

Pipsqueak A Go Go

A groovier, hipper alternative to the Baby Loves Disco parties, Pipsqueak features kid-friendly dance lessons from cute Devilettes, turned-up lights, turned-down sounds, and juice boxes for all (with cocktails for Mom and Dad).

When: Sun., 11/9, 1-4:30pm; All ages; $10 (babies under age 1 are free).

Where: 330 Ritch Street, 330 Ritch Street (at Townsend Street), San Francisco, 415-541-9574, devilettes.com.

Babes & Babies

Pick up clothing for trendy tinies at this upscale shopping event featuring clothing and accessories from 50 designers. Fashion-conscious aesthetes Karen Appel and Jody Frank put this event together, so you know it’s tip-top.

When: Sun., 11/9, Age 10+; $2 per person in advance, $5 at the door.

Where: Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto (at E. Blithedale Avenue), Mill Valley, 415-383-1370, appelandfrank.com.

Puppet Theater & Storytelling

Watch a puppet show and then make your own puppet and/or storybook in this event intended to amp up young literacy. Storytelling circles begin every hour starting at 10am.

When: Sat., 11/8, 9:30am-4:30pm; Age 0-6; Free with paid admission ($7-8, children 0-1 get in free).

Where: Habitot, 2065 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley, 510-647-1111, habitot.org.

Silent Rave in Union Square

Bring your iPods, Walkmans (Walkmen?), and other personal listening devices and be prepared to turn it up and dance in total silence at this oddball event. Double headphones wouldn’t be a bad idea for those coming with kids.

When: Sat., 11/8, 4:35pm; Age 5+; Free.

Where: Union Square, Sutter and Post Streets in San Francisco, nunupunk@rock.com, marinlocalmusic.com.

Art, indoor camping, hula class, and a whole lot of men and women swanning around in velvet.

Golden Gate Renaissance Faire

Forsooth, young maidens and masters, hie thy heinies to this celebration of all that is Elizabethan for jousting, swordfighting, juggling, country dancing, flowing dresses, and giant turkey legs.

When: Sat., 8/16 ,10am-6pm; Sun. 8/17, 10am-5pm; All ages; Free-$18.

Where: Speedway Meadow, MLK Drive (at Middle Drive West) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, sffaire.com.

The Family Studio: Me, Myself, and I

Explore the way artists portray themselves in self-portraits with a special family gallery tour of the Frida Kahlo exhibit, hands-on activities, and kid-friendly lectures from SFMOMA docents.

When: Sun., 8/17, 11am-3pm; Age 4-11; Free admission for each child and up to four adults per child.

Where: SFMOMA, 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard Streets), San Francisco, 415-947-1292, sfmoma.org.

Camping Out Week

The East Bay children’s museum focuses on the great outdoors with safe indoor activities that help kids practice skills like building a teepee, going fishing, and campfire storytelling.

When: Ongoing through 8/16; 9:30-4:30pm; Age 3+; Free with museum admission, $7-8.

Where: Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley, 510-647-1111, habitot.org.

Prenatal/Postnatal Hula Class

Get those hips loose for baby-dropping or back to shape after you’ve bred with this basic beginner level hula class. Bring your baby in a carrier or have him dance alongside you at the weekly class.

When: Ongoing each Friday morning; 9-10am; All ages; $5 per adult.

Where: Hawaiian Cultural Center, 423 Baden Avenue, South San Francisco, 650-588-1091, info@apop.net.