Fun With Kids in the Oakland and Berkeley
Thanks to KidAdmit for sponsoring {510} Families this month. Preschool enrollment can feel like a part-time job for parents. Parents need to research their options, keep track of application dates, fill out forms, go on tours, and maybe even take the child to the school for a “playdate”, an age appropriate interview. When San Francisco […]
This free evening concert series at Albany’s Memorial Park is a superfun outing for young families. Bring a blanket, picnic dinner, and some friends to make the most of the witching hour. When? 6:30 to 8pm Wednesdays September 3-24 Where? The big grassy field in Memorial Park along Portland Ave where Ramona hits it. Pretty […]
As promised at the beginning of our Summer Semester of Music Together, I am back to report on my experience with the entire program. [Full disclaimer; I did not attend 2 of the 6 classes as I had an appendectomy in late July. Fortunately Henry’s dad, John, was able to attend those sessions I missed and […]
Each Sunday between Memorial Day and the end of September, the Golden Gate Live Steamers open their tracks to the public for rides. It’s super fun.
The view from the front desk to the back corner loft. Studio Grow, a wonderful indoor play space for toddlers and preschoolers, opened a new location in June 1024 at Alameda’s South Shore Center. I spent some time searching for a big building similar to the Berkeley original, but it’s a mini by comparison. To […]
We’ve partnered with Mommybites, an organizer of short, one-session parenting classes on topics ranging from potty training to picky eating. The classes are free of charge, and require registration to get the call-in or log-on information. Some are via conference call – just listen in while an expert gives tips – and some are a […]
Thanks to Felicity at Encore Hand-me-down Baby Registry for urging us all to check out the improvements at Emeryville Market. Not that you need an excuse to let someone else make you dinner, but it sounds like a terrific solution for busy families with little ones. The Public Market in Emeryville has been somewhat recently remodeled. They […]
Last month I wrote about why IKEA is so family-friendly on Rookie Moms, and readers were in serious agreement. One thing people like about the giant furniture retailer is the store’s cafe where kids eat FREE on Tuesdays. The cafe is a cafeteria-style layout, and preschoolers will love selecting a metal tray pusher to move […]
Families with little ones, have you heard of Music Together? The answer is probably “yes,” although, if you are like me, you may not have gotten around to taking a class yet despite all the parent hype. Henry and I finally took the plunge, meaning that mama finally got her act together to register, and […]
The Berkeley Kite Festival, the most gigantic non-concert outdoor event I’ve ever been to, takes place in the Berkeley Marina every July. This year, the dates are Jul 26 and 27th. The largest kites, about the size of a full-sized school bus, can be seen from the top of the Berkeley Hills. The festival is […]
Splash! We want to thank Becky Grigsby for scouting out Rankin Aquatic Center in Martinez. Becky is the Oakland mom to two, designer, crafter, runner, and blogger among other talents. Oh, and she made my Christmas ornaments this year. She gave us this report and pictures of her afternoon before and after the big bucket […]
Thanks to Leslie Harvey from Trips with Tykes for being our guest blogger today. Alameda is one of the East Bay’s best kept secrets. My neighbors often joke that “we like it that way!” But I love Alameda too much not to share the fun it has to offer with friends who live nearby. In […]
After months of construction on the sewage lines and other un-fun but necessary improvements, we are thrilled to share the news that Little Farm and Indian Camp parking lot are fully open again! Probably our favorite family-friendly facility upgrade is the new bathroom building, but you will also notice a fully resurfaced ADA-accessible parking lot […]
Parents Night Out events are fantastic excuses for a drop-off kid party hosted by a local venue in which children eat pizza, have dessert (gasp!), watch movies, and play with other kids of a similar age until way past their bedtimes. The formula varies depending on which organization is playing host. In some cases, your […]
After about two years of delay, I am so pleased to see another fantastic restaurant in SW Berkeley. Paisan is a high-end pizzeria with the welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood joint.
In search of indoor activities for my baby, Henry, we went to check out two different Gymboree* classes. Henry and I had previously completed the entire Touch Blue Sky Baby Sign Language program and now my cruiser needed a space where he could move his entire body. The first class we sampled was “Family Gymboree […]
Do you (or your small child) have an attention span to short for the zoo? Are you prone to tantrums and meltdowns? The LIttle Farm welcomes all. And for $0.
