Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in oakland, CA

Do It This Weekend: February 27, 28, March 1

by VDog

February 26, 2009

Here's some fun activities happening this weekend:

Friday: Get your Crochet on at Sadie Dey's Café! (Formerly known as Tumble & Tea.)

11am-12pm

Learn how to crochet, get help expanding your crochet skills or simply hang out with us!

$15 per person for lessons plus $1.00 off child’s admission to SadieDeys Café

 (Saturday at Sadie Dey's catch Songs on Guitar with Ira from 10:30-11am!)

Saturday: Lawrence Hall of Science

Hit any of the ongoing exhibits or catch this special "Flying High" performance from 1-1:50pm.
From the website: Take an imaginary trip into space. Start the excursion by speeding though a whole day in our planetarium "time machine" and then identifying the Big Dipper. Take off with the launch of a spaceship and learn how things move in space, how astronauts eat food in a weightless environment, and how satellites are put into orbit. Don't worry, you’ll return safe and sound!
Recommended for ages 4-7.

Open 10am-5pm
Adults $11/Seniors & Students $9/Child 3-6 $6/Under 3 FREE

Flying High performance tickets are an extra $3 for Adults over 18 and $2.50 for those under 18. 

Sunday: Lou Donaldson Jazz Matinee at Yoshi's Jack London Square

Get your groove on to Alto Saxophonist Lou Donaldson, guitarist Randy Johnston, drummer Fukushi Tainaka, and organist Akiko Tsuruga.

This is one of my favorite Sunday activities. Grab some Terriyaki and California Rolls before the show or order heavy appetizers and drinks to your table, and enjoy the non-napping activity!

Yoshi's Oakland
2pm
Tickets: $5/Child, $18/Adult with child, $20 General Admission

50 Things to Do Before Your Child Goes to School (Kindergarten, That Is)

by VDog

February 24, 2009

Roughly. A lot of these are great activities for your older kids, too!

This list was compiled over several blog posts by our former Being Savvy Editor, Heather Gibbs Flett. You can still catch her daily at RookieMoms.com! 

1. Children's Fairyland: trippy and bizarre unless you grew up here and remember it fondly from your childhood. Whoa, they even offer a sleepover.

2. East Bay Vivarium: stinky and warm homage to all things reptilian right off Fourth St. in Berkeley.

3. Pumpkin patch (which one's the best? I've heard good things about Clayton Valley?)

4. Little Farm at Tilden Park: wonderful, free working farm. Bring celery or lettuce to feed the animals.

5. Pottery painting at Brushstrokes: work together to make a keepsake gift and have fun getting all painty.

6. Sand castle building contest: play or watch in Alameda in June each year (this year, it's June 7th).

7. Ashkenaz for the kids' music series: we saw Hot Buttered Rum here and my son got hooked on their foot-stomping bluegrass. Plus the venue is a Berkeley institution.

8. The Oakland Museum of Children's Art, MOCHA: free for gallery visits and has an awesome Drop-In Art Studio for kids between ages 18 months and 5 years for $7.

9. Ferry to San Francisco: hop on the ferry at Jack London Square

10. Sketch for ice cream: whether you're pro-sugar or anti-sugar, this place is a real treat. Don't your kids deserve sustainable, organic, deliciousness? Yum.

11. Alameda Flea Market: first Sundays of each month at the former naval air station. Miles of wandering with very little shade, but an amazing trip for a little one. Bring water and a healthy snack or two.

12. Visit the Berkeley Rose Garden: meandering paths, stunning views of SF, and roses of all hue. An antidote to the flea market.

13. BART trip to anywhere: gas prices are so high, you'll want to do this without my suggestion

14. Watch an all ages movie at the Parkway or Cerrito Theaters - snuggle up on couches and enjoy being together as well as watching a show. Check the schedule for weekend all ages shows.

15. Berkeley or Oakland Farmers Market: there are so many good ones, you should pick the closest or most convenient time, then enjoy a snack together.

16. Lawrence Hall of Science: Great little kids area, many hands-on exhibits, and ample outdoor space. Worth a membership. My experiences with the younger scientist on RookieMoms.

17. March (or tricycle) in a Parade. The Pride parade (this weekend) is in SF: join the family fun with a group from the Discovery Museum. Or find a spot to watch from the sidelines. And we'll cover the Solano stroll as it happens. Otherwise, you're just on the receiving end of all those flying candies. Better to be in the action, right?

18. Fireworks: let your kid stay up late to watch the fireworks. We'll be taking our boys to the Berkeley Marina show. In earplugs.

19. Walk around Lake Merritt: Good luck to you! This jewel of Oakland has a 3.4 mile circumference.

20. Go to Berkeley Family Camp: Find a couple days or a weeks to make this tradition your family vacation.

21. Rock out at a Baby Loves Disco Party: You decide far east bay or the big city depending on where you live. I vote SF to relive my glory days and ride the BART.

22. Ride the (real) rails: Amtrak wherever you want or follow my tips for a fun daytrip to Martinez.

23. Circus class at Ha Ha This a way: he'll learn how to juggle and I'll refine my trapeze act, right?

24. Climb Indian Rock: Tucked away in the paths through the hills, reward your little climber with a treat at the top. Follow my tips and mini history lesson or just wing it.

25. Plant a garden: big or small, something edible so they can learn where real food comes from. I'll share my dirty experiences soon!

26. Brunch at Wat Mongkolratanaram, Berkeley's Thai Buddhist temple: At Russell St and Martin Luther King Jr. near the Tool Lending Library, monks invite the public to sit on the lawn and eat delicious and bountiful Thai food. I can't wait to try this! [helpful article in Berkeley Daily Planet]

27. Visit BAM: take your little art critic to Berkeley's Art Museum and ascertain MOMA-readiness.

28. Preschooler yoga class at Yogalayam: Namaste!

29. Wander through the Edible Schoolyard: living history and another great lesson in food!

30. Enjoy story time at N Berkeley Library: N. Berkeley has Whitney's favorite story times. Which one do you like best?

31. Captain's Cottage for High Tea for little princes and princesses in training. Recommended by a fellow preschool mom of 4. Her just-three-year-old enjoyed this place's charms and behaved the whole time.

32. Berkeley Kite Festival (pictured, my husband - photo by me). We loved this festival for our one- and three-year-olds. Responding to the excitement and peer pressure, we bought the Octopus Kite so we'd have something to fly. If at all possible, bike to the festival and avoid the traffic and parking scene.

33. Ice skating in Alameda where the groovy surface is slick without the cold. Cool. Can't wait to try it.

34. Funky sleep over at the Zoo or Fairyland for a change. Good for the over-four set. We'll have to do it next year.

35. Daytrip to SF Giants game and fan lot. Fun for baseball lovers and baseball haters.

36. Visit the USS Hornet for a climbing history lesson. Anyone done this with their kids yet?

37. Bike the Ohlone greenway

38. Pick fruit from neighboring trees and make a tart or pie

39. Visit the fab waterpark swimming pools in Antioch or San Ramon

40. Oakland A's game

41. Boogie through lunch at Cheeseboard Pizza, bring your tipping money

42. Parents' Night Out at Dig's bistro

43. Venture to the Discovery Museum in San Rafael

44. Ride out to Sonoma's Train town

45. Head to Chapel of chimes during a concert

46. Cheer for the Oakland Warriors

46. Go to the pet wash at Telegraph and Alcatraz and watch for sudsing pooches

47. Swing out for a party or take a class at Trapeze Arts

48. Pass the day away at the amazing indoor playspace of Studio Grow

49. Cal Berkeley football game while they're still young enough to dress like a mascot

50. Ardenwood Farm in Fremont -- draft horses pull a train car, kids can help feed the sheep and the chickens, and they offer many seasonal special activities.

Do It This Weekend: January 24 & 25

by VDog

January 21, 2009

Octopretzel Live & In Concert! Super fun kid's music band Octopretzel will be playing a concert at Studio Grow in Berkeley, Saturday the 24th at 10am. Check out their music on their MySpace page . Admission $7. Don't miss it! Songs & Puppets at SadieDey's Cafe Included with admission this Saturday morning are two fun activities -- Songs on Guitar with Ira from 10:30am-11am and  Read more...

Best Indoor Play Places for a Winter's Day

by VDog

January 20, 2009

Sadly the extremely short lived Blue Sky Family Club leaves us one less place to go when it is dreary out. But have no fear! There are still great places to take the tots when the weather outside is frightful. Some of my favorites: Sadiey Dey's Play Cafe (formerly Tumble & Tea): I know some may disagree with me, but Sadie Dey's is at the top of my list  Read more...

Sunday Jazz at Yoshi's

by VDog

December 15, 2008

Most Sunday afternoons, Yoshi's Oakland has a family matinee at 2pm. My husband and I actually went when I was pregnant, and it was loads of fun. Now that it falls squarely during nap time, we have not been able to take the kid. But we hope to someday soon! (Well, actually I hope he naps until he's four, but you know what I'm sayin'.) Yoshi's matinees are a little less loud and more  Read more...

5 fabulous gift ideas

by VDog

December 09, 2008

Here are a few gift ideas for you...not much shopping time left until Hanukkah and Christmas! Sugar Plum Fairy Skirt What girl (or boy?) in her Princess phase WOULDN'T love this combination tutu/ballerina/musical outfit? I know several little girls for whom this would be a perfect gift -- prancing around and taking the music with you is pretty darn convenient! And hey, if you get sick  Read more...

Top 5 Local Holiday Traditions

by VDog

December 02, 2008

If these wonderful activities aren't already a part of your yearly Holiday festivities, I would strongly suggest adding one or two to your repertoire. Kids love doing the same thing year after year, and all of these activities would make great outings for a child to look forward to (and hey, maybe you'll even look forward to it, too!). 1) The Tilden Park Merry Go Round and  Read more...

Octopretzel!

by Whitney Moss

October 29, 2008

I'm excited to spread the word about my friend Melita's band Octopretzel who will be playing a kid's concert at La Pena cultural center at 10.30 am on Saturday, November 1. Adults $5, Kids $4, Families $12 To hear a sample of their music, go to their MySpace page. Naming Pete Seeger, Ella Jenkins, Peter Paul and Mary, and Dan Zanes as their influences, Octopretzel promises to be a fun show  Read more...

Do the hula once for me, ok?

by Heather Gibbs Flett

October 14, 2008

This coming Sunday, October 19th at noon is Hula for Families presented by Patrick Makuakane and Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu . Sounds cool, right? N Lei Hulu I Ka Wkiu is a dynamic Hawaiian dance company based in San Francisco. The company features hula as a full theatrical experience that is visually captivating. Its performances are a rich blend of traditional and contemporary  Read more...

Tots in Tune: low committment music class

by Whitney Moss

September 15, 2008

A friend recently queried my Mom's Group, "Are our kids too old for Music Together?" No matter what you think about Music Together, if you've taken it you know that the babies tend to sit still, transfixed on the other participants in the circle, while at least one older child runs around the room like a maniac. If, like me, you've been on hiatus since from music class for a year, you might not  Read more...

Little Miles and Little Jon Spencer should head down to the MusicFest

by Whitney Moss

August 18, 2008

From Thursday, August 21 to Sunday August 24, the First (Annual!) Downtown Berkeley MusicFest will be offering live music in 15 different venues in Berkeley. The complete schedule can be found at www.downtownberkeleymusicfest.org . I won't even begin to summarize because there are shows at all times of day, from 10 am until 10 pm, many of them at kid-friendly locations like Jupiter, The Berkeley  Read more...

Summer Sing alongs at Pottery Barn Kids

by Whitney Moss

July 23, 2008

The Rookie Moms are strong proponents of getting something for nothing. That is, get your free 5x7 portrait and don't get wrangled into buying the whole package. Or, take a free music class , just because you need an outing for the day. This summer, as Pottery Barn has come up with a promotion to bring us into the store, I promise you that I might get near the store, or even go into the store,  Read more...

Little Miles? Boogie a little at The Cheeseboard

by Whitney Moss

July 11, 2008

The pizza at The Cheeseboard is famous in Berkeley. Located in the heart of the Gourmet Ghetto on the north part of Shattuck Avenue, this little pizza cafe offers one flavor per day of vegetarian pizza. There is no discount on ordering a whole pie instead of a slice, and you can't get them to change it. I wouldn't say the menu is exactly kid friendly, unless your kid loves green vegetables and  Read more...

Summer music of the square dance variety

by Whitney Moss

July 01, 2008

A preschool mom just told us about a daytime family dance/live music opportunity at Ashkenaz this weekend. If you have never been to one of Evie Laden's square dances, you are missing out on a unique Bay Area experience! They are usually held in the evening, so this is a great way to get the younger kids out on that dance floor, and for us older folks to do a little hoofing  Read more...