Posts Tagged ‘sfmoma’

Just in case you’re not out frantically gift-buying.

Roaring Camp’s Holiday Lights Train

A bit of a hike from the Bay Area is worth it for this festive train ride that ferries riders through lighted-up Santa Cruz Victorians and back, with a visit from Santa, sing-along Christmas carols, and cocoa.

When: Fri.-Sun., 12/18-21, 8pm; Mon.-Tue, 12/22 & 12/23, 5pm; All Ages; $17-22.

Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street (at Riverside Avenue), Santa Cruz; roaringcamp.com.

SFMOMA Family Studio and Tour: Winter Whites

This artsy event is a refreshing alternative to all-Christmas, all-the-time, with a special family tour at 1pm of mono-color works, followed by an art project in which participants create all-white works.

When: Sun., 12/20; 11:00am-3:00pm (tour starts at 1, art starts at 2); Age 4-11; Free activities and admission for families with kids age 4-11.

Where: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard), San Francisco, 415-357-4000, sfmoma.org.

Dickens Christmas Fair

A chance to don your finest velvets and silk and walk around doffing your hat at this annual extravaganza of music, food, spectacle, and shopping.

When: Sat. & Sun., 12/19 & 12/20; 11am-7pm; Age 4+; $10-22 (Parking $10).

Where: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Avenue (at Castillo Street), San Francisco; 800-510-1558; dickensfair.com.

It feels like springtime out there: Don’t forget the sunscreen.

National Acrobats of China

Warning: watching this show may inspire plate-spinning.

When: Sat., 1/17 2pm and 8pm, Sun., 1/18 3pm; Age 3+; $24-36 (children under 16 half-price).

Where: Zellerbach Hall A, Bancroft Avenue (between Dana and Telegraph Avenues) on the UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, calperfs.berkeley.edu.

Shake It Up, Stretch It Out, Movement in Art

Part of SFMOMA’s ongoing The Family Studio series on the first and third Sunday of each month, this workshop uses music and movement to explore the art of Jackson Pollack, Alexander Calder, and other SFMOMA artists. Admission and the program are free for families.

When: Sun., 1/18, 11am-4pm (family tour at 1pm, movement workshops begin at 2pm), Age 1+; Free.

Where: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard), San Francisco, 415-357-4000, sfmoma.org.

Pee Wee Planet Bowling

With bowling alleys closing right and left in the Bay Area, this is one of the last places around that turns on the uptempo music and fog machine, while kids bowl by the disco lights.

When: Ongoing each Saturday, including 1/17/09, 4-6pm, Age 5-12, $10 (includes shoes and unlimited lane usage).

Where: Palo Alto Bowl, 4239 El Camino Real (at), Palo Alto, 650-948-1031, fun2spare.2gobowl.com.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Day: A King and an Emperor

Celebrate a righteous guy (even if you don’t get a day off to do it), with music, dance, words, and art activities.

When: Sun., 1/18, 12-4pm; Age 5+, Free with museum admission,

Where: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street (at 10th Street,) Oakland, 510-238-2200, museumca.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.

Halloween and other fun at Harvest Moon time.

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

This giant fall festival ties up traffic on Highways 1 and 92 all weekend for a good reason: it’s a lot of fun. It’s not for those with very small children, unless you can heft them in a sling or carrier as the throngs make stroller-pushing no fun. Ambulatory kids, however, will thrill to the Great Pumpkin Parade (Saturday at noon), giant costume contest (contestants are grouped into age divisions; starts Saturday at 10am), bounce houses galore, the pie-eating contest, and pumpkin carving by the very talented Farmer Mike. A note for adults: if you want to miss most of the traffic, arrive in time for Saturday’s pancake breakfast (Saturday, 7-11am), and bring cash, because you will no doubt see art you want to purchase.

When: Sat. & Sun., 10/18-19, 9am-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Main Street between Miramonte and Spruce Streets, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-9652, miramarevents.com.

Red Bull Soapbox Race

If it’s wacky and wheeled, it’s probably racing down Dolores Street this weekend during this celebration of human-powered vehicles, where a soapbox isn’t a winner unless it makes you laugh as it goes by. Come early to check out the entrants; they’ll be lined up in rows on 20th Street (between Dolores and Church Streets) before lining up at the start line around noon. Parking in the neighborhood will be murder; ride the bus or train instead.

When: Sat., 10/18, first race begins at 1pm (event begins at 11am); All ages; Free to view and to enter.

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

Target Family Day

Five major SF downtown museums throw open their doors today, with free admission to Zeum, SFMOMA, the Museum of the African Diaspora, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum. There’s live music at Yerba Buena Gardens too, so you can rest on the lawn between excursions.

When: Sun., 10/19, 11am-4pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: The festival’s center is at Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street (between 3rd and 4th Streets), San Francisco, 415-543-1718, ygbf.org.

Goblin Jamboree

Work that Halloween high at the Bay Area’s best children’s museum, which offers a special party with spooky decorations, train and pony rides, live performers, Halloween games and art activities. Costumes are encouraged.

When: Sat. & Sun., 10/18-19, 10am-4pm; All ages; $12-14 (Free for kids under 1).

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

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.