Posts Tagged ‘san francisco zoo’

A train tour, a treasure hunt, and rampaging Fisher-Price Little People.

80th Anniversary Celebration and Little People Musical Show

The San Francisco Zoo is 80, and Fisher-Price Little People are 50. How do these two things go together? Find out at this weekend-long party at the zoo, where the Little People Musical Show entertains with vintage 1920s acts and there are special take-home Little Peopleish crafts. There’s a special Playland-at-the-Beach booth too: beware Laughing Sal.

When: Sun., 6/28; 10am-5pm; performances at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3pm; All ages; Free with admission (Free-$15).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco; 415-753-7201; sfzoo.org.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol Train Tour

Disney prepares for the December release of its update of A Christmas Carol with this train tour, which arrives in Oakland Friday, with cars equipped to show visitors behind-the-scenes look at the technology that made the film.

When: Fri.-Sun., 6/26-28, Fri.-Sat. 9am-7pm; Sun., 9am-4pm, Age 3+; Free.

Where: Oakland Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, 2777 Middle Harbor Road (at Maritime Street), Oakland, disney.go.com.

Fiendish Treats and Scary Vegan Snacks

Here’s your excuse to visit the San Francisco house of kinder-oddities, including vintage and Victorian toys. Vegan chef Pamela Baird prepares ghoulish vegan snacks at this afternoon party.

When: Sat., 6/27, 2-4pm; Age 4+; Free.

Where: Paxton Gate’s Curiosities for Kids, 766 Valencia Street (at 19th Street), San Francisco, 415-824-1872, paxtongate.com.

“Sense of Place” Treasure Hunt for Families

A pair of San Francisco nature lovers have created a map booklet that families can pick up free to lead themselves on a two-hour self-guided adventure around the green spaces of the city. The map-makers will have free yerba buena tea to taste, as well.

When: Sat., 6/27, pick up maps from 10am-noon; Age 5-11; Free.

Where: Moraga Steps, 16th Avenue at Moraga, San Francisco; Contact Damien Raffa, 415-992-8141, email@urbikids.com; urbikids.com.

Spaces are still available in the super-popular San Francisco Zoo day camps, set to run April 6-10 and April 13-17, during Bay Area school vacations, natch. The buzz on the camps is that little campers are led on adventurous walks to meet the different animals; they get a very intimate view and learn about their care and habitat from zookeepers. The springtime camp is particularly sweet, as that’s when the baby animals are born, and kids can marvel over nests and tiny, floppy baby paws. Then there are animal crafts and activities, and vigorous games. Kids seem to go crazy over it all, which is why the camps sell out every season.

For pre-K and kindergarten-aged kids (age 4 and up), the day runs from 9am until noon; kids in first through fourth grades come at 9am and hang around until 4pm. Early drop-offs (8am) are available for both sets of campers; the older group can also be picked up late at 5pm.

If you want to sign your child up, better hurry because once the camps are sold out, that’s it until summertime.

Call 415-753-7073, email zoocamp@sfzoo.org, or visit sfzoo.org.

I feel weird writing about the new baby giraffe at the San Francisco Zoo, because I just wrote about the Zoo’s poor abandoned baby gorilla (doing well with his foster mommy, if you want to see his pictures). But when I clicked through to the zoo pages and saw the pictures of the sweet precious baby giraffe with his long eyelashes and even longer neck, I knew I had to share. Look at this. Just look. Squee!

As you can clearly see, Baby Giraffe clearly exhibits at least two of the official cute characteristics, as laid out by canonical cute site Cute Overload. To wit: Rule #23, “Knobby knees are cute,” and #7, “A thing, accompanied by a smaller version of that thing, is always cute.” The as-yet-unnamed lil giraffe and his mom, Bititi, will be in a special area of the zoo’s African savannah for a time as the herd gets used to its new member. If you are lucky, the tiniest giraffe may be out when you visit, and will peek shyly at you from underneath her beautiful eyelashes.

The San Francisco Zoo is located on the Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco. Call 415-753-8124 or visit sfzoo.org for updates and pictures.

Out at the San Francisco Zoo, an abandoned month-old baby gorilla may be getting some mama-love at last. You may recall this gorilla from December, when his young mother abandoned him soon after birth. Heartbreaking pictures showed the six-pound baby, who is as yet unnamed, wrapped in a blanket and held by humans, not his mom. Now it looks like Bawang, another gorilla at the Zoo, may be stepping in to do the job. Gorilla caretakers have been showing her the baby (through a protective enclosure), and Bawang is intently watching and listening to the baby, showing interest in hanging out with him, and sniffing him. And as we know, ladies, once you smell the baby’s head, it’s all over. Soon caretakers will begin introducing Bawang to such concepts as not stealing her baby’s bottle, and regularly returning the baby to keepers for feedings.

You can’t go see the baby gorilla yet, but you can keep up with his progress through the SF Zoo’s Twitter feed, replete with links to photos that will make you go squeeeee.  And of course, there is this video of the baby gorilla with his potential new mama.

We’re riding, skating, lighting, and drumming our way through the weekend.

Golden Gate Express Model Train Exhibit

Take a miniaturized tour of San Francisco as tiny trains wend their way through San Francisco landmarks like Coit Tower and Chinatown’s dragon gates, set amongst the Conservatory of Flowers.

When: Tue.-Sun. beginning Thu., 11/20 and running through 4/19/09; 9am-4:30pm; Age 2+; Free-$5.

Where: Conservatory of Flowers, JFK Drive (at Conservatory Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco; 415-666-7001, conservatoryofflowers.org.

Reindeer Romp and Ice Skating

A third ice rink opens in San Francisco for the holidays, and at this special skating party kids can meet reindeer and watch animals enjoying holiday treats.

When: Daily beginning Sat., 11/22 through 12/31, 11am-5pm; Age 3+; $12-25 (skate rental is an additional fee).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco, 415-753-8124, sfzoo.org.

Holiday Tree Lighting Party

Watch the big Pier 39 tree come to life at this celebration with Christmas-, Hanukkah- and Kwanzaa-related song and dance. Santa will be around for photos and requests, and kids can get their face painted and make holiday crafts.

When: Sun., 11/23, 1-6pm (tree-lighting is at 5:30pm); All ages; Free.

Where: Pier 39, Beach Street (at Embarcadero), San Francisco, 415-705-5500, pier39.com.

International Taiko Festival

Kids love to hear the thundering drums pound and boom. The Sunday afternoon concert is a good choice for smaller kids.

When: Sat., 11/22, 7pm; Sun., 11/23, 3pm; Age 2+; $38-49.

Where: Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Avenue (at Dana Street) on the UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley, 415-928-2456, tickets.berkeley.edu.

Some fun to amuse yourself with if you’re not up to your ears in pumpkin patches and school carnivals.

World Animal Day

Young photographers aged 3-8 get an instructive workshop on snapping wild fauna with National Geographic photographer Jim Sugar before taking a photography-oriented safari around the zoo. There are take-home craft activities, a movie screening, and prizes for the best photos, too. Registration is required for this free (with admission) event.

When: Sat., 10/11, 10am-4pm; Age 3-8; Free with admission (Free-$15).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco, 415-753-7201, sfzoo.org.

Book Readings at City Lights

It’s an evening of feminist takes on fertility at this double-your-pleasure book readings by Amy Richards, author of Opting In: Having A Child Without Losing Yourself, a treatise on parenting according to your own ideals, and Jennifer Baumgarder, Abortion & Life, a look at the abortion rights movement in the United States that deliberately encompasses controversial and often-overlooked views.

When: Thu., 10/9, 7pm; Age 16+; Free.

Where: City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue (at Broadway Avenue); 415-362-8193; citylights.com.

The Muppet Movie at Dolores Park Movie Night

The last outdoor film event of 2008 is a humdinger for families: a presentation of the Jim Henson’s 1979 classic, starring Kermit, Miss Piggy, and a cavalcade of guest stars Mom and Dad will recognize, including Steve Martin and Orson Welles (!).

When: Thu., 10/9, 7 pm, Age 3+; Free (donations encouraged).

Where: Dolores Park, between Church, Dolores, 18th and 20th Streets, San Francisco, doloresparkmovie.org.

Kids ‘n Trees

The Sippy Cups headline this fundraising event for Friends of the Urban Forest. Help plant a tree, admire unusual ant farms, nibble on eco-friendly snacks, or listen to live music.

When: Sat., 10/11, 11:30am-3:30pm; Age 3+; $40 per family (or other package prices available, see website).

Where: Mission Creek Park, Channel Street (between Fourth and Fifth Streets), San Francisco; kidsntrees.net.

Dancing, camping, making art or watching it: it’s a busy weekend out there.

Wild Nights Family Overnight

Take a tour through the zoo at night, when nocturnal animals are awake and prowling. Attendees will meet with a zookeeper, go on a guided ramble through the park, and then camp indoors (in a heated building, thank God. It’s foggy out there). In the morning, warm drinks and a continental breakfast is available before early-morning tours of the zoo. Those who prefer to sleep in their own beds can take the evening tour and then bug out, for a reduced fee.

When: Sat., 5/24, 6pm-10am (5/25); All ages; $65-85 (pre-registration required).

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (between Sloat and Skyline), San Francisco, 415-753-8124 sfzoo.org.

Break Out Dance Project

The Center’s noted KidSpace classes make a return with this free six-week series of dance classes for kids aged 5-6. Kids will dance to world music and incorporate movements from a variety of cultures; the class ends with a performance.

When: Saturdays, 5/24-6/29 (no class May 31), 10-11am; Age 5-6; Free.

Where: The Center, 1800 Market St. (at Octavia), San Francisco, 415-865-5553, sfcenter.org.

Photo Workshop

Learn how to coax natural expressions and poses from your infants or young ones in this free photo class for parents. Our tip: set your camera on the fast-capture “sports” setting to freeze that perpetual motion. Free snacks and beverages are provides, and kids are welcome to attend with parents.

When: Fri., 5/23, 11am; All ages; Free.

Where: Fima Photography, 1414 Castro (at 25th St.), San Francisco, 415-641-1010, fimaphotography.com.

And If We Shadows

Performers as young as 14 enliven the thrilling urban-themed “hip hop circus,” which features breakdancers, aerialists, contortionists and other folks who can do crazy things with their bodies. This is the show’s final weekend.

When: Fri.-Sun., 5/23-25, 8pm (Fri.), 3pm and 8pm (Sat.) and 3pm (Sun.), Age 4+; $12.50-$25.

Where: Brava Theater Center, 2780 24th St. (at Portrero St.), San Francisco, 415-665-2276, citycircus.org.

Red Poppy Art House Family Art

Wander past the Outer Mission classroom and studio any Saturday afternoon to find that the art has taken over the sidewalk, and passers-by are free to take part in projects utilizing glitter, glue, paper, paint, clay and all other manner of supplies.

When: Saturdays, 1-4pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Red Poppy Art House Family Art 2698 Folsom St. (at 22nd St.), San Francisco, 415-826-2402, redpoppyarthouse.org.

May breakfast in bed be coming your way.

SFC Double Dutch Classes

Double dutch bus walking down the street, classes at Cellspace will help you learn to work your feet. Boys and girls aged 7-18 learn the fast-paced jump rope dance for fitness and fun. An adult class follows the kids’ class, for mamas and papas who want to stay and learn some new tricks.

When: Ongoing Sundays starting 5/11, 12-1:30pm; Age 7-18; $25 drop-in, 5 classes $95.
Where: Cellspace, 2050 Bryant (at 18th St.), San Francisco, 415-939-2225, Cellspace.org.

KFOG KaBoom!

More than 30,000 people are supposed to show up at this annual live music-and-fireworks show, which this year features the strains of Los Lobos and Collective Soul. The music and crowds are too much for very little ones, but spunky kids age 6 and up can handle it. And all ages will enjoy the fireworks that cap off the show at 9pm, synchronized to KFOG’s broadcast on 104.5 FM. If your kid’s too little to appreciate a humanity-strewn band show, drive over to the piers, put KFOG on the radio, and get ready to ooh and aah.

When: Sat., 5/10, 4pm; All ages; $15-20.
Where: Pier 30/32 - Embarcadero and Brannan (south of the Bay Bridge), San Francisco, Kfog.com.

Mothers’ Day BikeAbout

You can teach a kid to bike in the city, but where are they going to ride? All through the San Francisco Zoo, where cyclists take an early ramble through the grounds before walking patrons are let in. Maybe you’ll catch the animals yawning and stretching in the fresh morning air.

When: Sun., 5/11, 8:30-10:o0am; All ages; $25-30 for bicyclists, $7 for kids on parents’ bikes.
Where: San Francisco Zoo, Sloat Blvd. (at Great Highway), 415-753-7073, sfzoo.org.

SFC Double Dutch Classes

Double dutch bus walking down the street, classes at Cellspace will help you learn to work your feet. Boys and girls aged 7-18 learn the fast-paced jump rope dance for fitness and fun. An adult class follows the kids’ class, for mamas and papas who want to stay and learn some new tricks.

When: Ongoing Sundays starting 5/11, 12-1:30pm; Age 7-18; $25 drop-in, 5 classes $95.
Where: Cellspace, 2050 Bryant (at 18th St.), San Francisco, 415-939-2225, Cellspace.org.

Patrick Carman reading

Meet the bestselling author of the “Land of Elyon” series at the spiffy Laurel Village outpost of Books Inc. as Carman reads from River of Fire, the second book in his “Atherton” series.

When: Fri, 5/9, 6:30pm; Age 5+; Free.
Where: Books Inc., 3515 California (at Locust), San Francisco,415-221-3666, Booksinc.net.