Weekend Planner (January 19, 20 + 21)

berkeley playhouse

Clear and sunny days ahead. (Is anyone as relieved as I am?) Soak it in with a nice stroll while meeting other moms. Build and break down an entire city in one outing – Lawrence Hall is kicking off a series called “Open MAKE.” Liven your day with kid-concert choices: Hanna Banana at Studio Grow or [...]

Weekend Planner (January 5 + 6)

chabot

If you’re on break and want some social play, drop in for kindergym for under 3s at Temple Beth Abraham on Thursday morning. Even if school is out, library story times are aplenty! Check in with Oakland and Berkeley Public Library’s web sites for the myriad times to choose from! Enjoy the sun shine and [...]

Weekend Planner (December 8 + 9)

fairyland snow day

Prepare a wreath or centerpiece that you created from scratch at Hackermoms. (RSVP to snag low-cost child care!) Family time at the zoo and a chance to meet Santa on the same day is more than a possibility! Family story times aplenty: Oakland’s Rockridge and Lakeview plus Berkeley’s Central branches. Ditch the shopping and find [...]

Will you join our parent posse?

parent-posse

Do you have all the best ideas for fun places to go near where you live? Are your friends always asking you what’s going on? We want to step our “reader tips” up a notch and identify leaders in different neighborhoods to be our eyes on the ground (kinda like a room parent). Does that [...]

Weekend Planner (September 15 + 16)

petting zoo play cafe

Make Friday night with your family a culinary and even cultural experience: you can do Bites Off Broadways or learn about and celebrate Rosh Hashanah. School has started, but movie nights in the park have not ended! Check out Mr. Popper’s Penguins or Kung Fu Panda 2 with your family, a picnic + blanket and some [...]

Where in the 510?

brokeland-records

Where in the East Bay was this picture taken? Bonus points for WHY this is a unique photo for this location.

Weekend Planner (September 8 + 9)

redwood park

Energize the start of your weekend with some drop-in fitness: check out Stroller Strides or take in a hike with other east bay moms at Redwood Park. Bring your kiddos to La Pena for a musical playdate with Rockin’ Kids Sing-A-Long. If your family loves to dance together, why not drop in at Luna Dance [...]

Free Music Together demo classes

music-together-east-bay

Over the next couple of weeks, East Bay Music Together is offering free demo classes to introduce parents to their program. Music Together is a 510 Family fave; our kids have truly enjoyed it. If you’re not ready to dive in and sign up for a full class, check out a demo class to get [...]

Weekend Planner (August 25 + 26)

Chinatown Streetfest

Drop in for a Rockin’ Kids Sing Along music play group at La Pena for some educational music fun. Savor a summer evening with your kids… literally! A food truck event that is family friendly is where it’s at with Bites Off Broadway. Celebrate the year of the Dragon and take in gobs of cultural [...]

Weekend Planner (June 30 + July 1)

silliman aquatic

A free play date with your Oakland neighbors: Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Play Day on the Plaza? What says summer more than a county fair:  Friday is ‘Super Kids’ day at the Alameda County Fair with a battle of the bands teen rock concert plus other live performances. [...]

Weekend Planner (June 23 + 24)

habitot

Tired of your home video library and out of popcorn? Watch a movie under the stars Friday night: Puss ‘n Boots in Oakland or The Adventures of Tin-Tin in Alameda. Celebrate and support the LGBTQ community through art at Habitot: Friday and Saturday conclude Rainbow Arts Pride Week at the Berkeley children’s museum. Tick, tock, one of [...]

Weekend Planner (June 16 + 17)

pirate festival

Catch some time away from the kids with Parents Night Out at Play Cafe (Friday night) and Habitot (Sunday night). Got Friday off? Join your artistic builders for story time and overall lab time at the Sticky Art Lab. (Dads are free!) Grab your eye patches, pirate booty and practice your “ARRRRs” — it’s Pirate [...]

Local parenting coach releases new book for sports-loving dads

dadsplaybook

El Cerrito dad Tom Limbert, co-founder of Studio Grow, has written a book titled Dad’s Playbook: Wisdom for Fathers from the Greatest Coaches of All Time, and if you order it from Amazon today, you’ll have it in time for Father’s Day. With a foreword by Steve Young and photos of famous coaches in action, [...]

Win a BOB stroller!

tilden

I can’t keep this giveaway quiet, I’m so excited that we’re giving away a BOB Revolution SE on rookiemoms.com that I want all my local peeps to get in on the action. This photo was taken while Sawyer was hiking in Tilden Park earlier this month. Visit the BOB Revolution SE giveaway post on our [...]

Weekend Planner (May 12 + 13)

fentons

Stumped for last-minute Mother’s Day activities and gifts? Fear not – there’s still time, ideas and free craft-making! Check out opening night of Bancroft Middle School’s rendition of ‘Once On This Island.’ It is a modern musical, reminiscent of The Little Mermaid. Get out into the lively atmosphere of the Park Street Spring Fest in Alameda. [...]

Help a Mother Out

katelynscreenshot

Yesterday I hosted a table at a benefit tea for Help A Mother Out where 200 women came together to learn more about diaper need and how we can help. (Disclosure: I sit on the board of this organization, and recently suggested it as a recipient of a Mother’s Day donation in our East Bay [...]

Discount on AMC theater tickets

amc

Goldstar, a discount tickets website, is offering a 4-pack of AMC movie theater tickets for $30. (To access the deal, you have to sign up for Goldstar emails — free of course — which promote Bay Area theatre and other live performances, usually for a deep discount.) I’m wondering if sharing this deal with parents [...]