Posts Tagged ‘yerba buena’

It’s going to rain, again. Stay inside and meet superheroes, make shadow puppets, learn how to skate, or create a giant collage.

Shadow Puppet Workshop

Expose your kids to the mystical and somewhat creepy art of shadow puppetry at this workshop, at which kids will make their own puppets before writing and producing a show performed at the end of the three-hour class. A snack is provided.

When: Sun., 3/1, 1-4pm, Age 6-12; $45-85.

Where: Paxton Gate’s Curiosities for Kids, 766 Valencia Street (between 18th and 19th streets ), San Francisco, 415-824-1872, paxtongate.com.

WonderCon 2009

It’s not just for geeks anymore. The comics festival makes a play for kids with the premiere of the new animated Wonder Woman movie, a children’s film festival of cool shorts running throughout the entire WonderCon, and of course, a ginormous vendors’ hall with comics to check out and costumed folk to gawk at. Superhero costumes are encouraged.

When: Fri., 2/27, noon-7pm, Sat., 2/28, 10am-7pm, Sun., 3/1, 11am-5pm; Age 2+; $5-12 daily (children age 11 and under are free and there are multi-day deals).

Where: Moscone Center South, 747 Howard Street (at Fourth Street), San Francisco, comic-con.org.

Give Hockey a Try Day

The San Francisco Sabrecats sponsor this event twice a year during hockey season to let kids try out their mettle on the rink. Both gear and skates are provided free of charge.

When: Sun., 3/1, 9:30-11:30am; Age 5-14; Free.

Where: Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center, 750 Folsom Street (between Third and Fourth streets), San Francisco; 415-820-3523, youthhockey@skatebowl.com, sfsabercats.org.

Berkeley Rep School of Theatre’s Family Series

Each month, parents and children can dip into the art of theater with this workshop series. You may find yourself putting on a play, learning the basics of clowning, or, in this week’s outing, making a giant collage as an alternate form of storytelling.

When: Sun., 3/1 (and each first Sunday of each month), 11am-12:30pm; Age 4+; Free (attending families are asked to bring a children’s book to donate to local libraries).

Where: Berkeley Rep School of Theatre at the Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley; 510-647-2973; berkeleyrep.org.

Can’t let go of that holiday buzz? Even though your Christmas tree is a wet, sodden mess on the sidewalk, and storekeepers all over town are taking down their glittery displays, there’s still wintry fun to be had at the Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, which proved so popular this year that organizers decided to keep it open until Monday, January 19. Take the bus downtown, whirl around a few times (or just order cocoa at the nearby sidewalk cafe and watch), and pretend like Santa’s coming to town. Don’t forget to get free chocolate samples at the Union Square See’s Candy.

The Union Square rink is located at Stockton and Post streets in San Francisco, and is open Sunday through Thursday 10am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 11:30pm. Admission is $4-8.50. Call 415-781-2688 or visit unionsquareicerink.com. Both rinks are in San Francisco.

If you miss the January 19 deadline, there’s year-round ice skating at the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center in San Francisco, the Oakland Ice Center in, um, Oakland, the Ice Oasis in Redwood City, and Dublin Iceland in Dublin.

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.

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.