{510} Family Faves with Dave Room of “Pacha’s Pajamas”

This week, we meet local dad Dave Room, a Stanford-educated engineer who is also the co-creator (with Aaron Ableman) of an award-winning children’s pop musical and album called Pacha’s Pajamas. Dave is the father of 11-year-old Melia.

The 12 songs on the album tell a story about a little girl named Pacha, who panics the night before the biggest dance performance of the year and fears she won’t be able to participate. So her parents calm her down with a gift of magical pajamas, which take Pacha on an epic dream adventure to save the world. The album features guest stars such as Cheech Marin, Mos Def, Les Nubians and Talib Kweli.

What is your favorite Saturday morning destination?
The Grand Lake Farmer’s Market. Whether it is sampling nectarines, buying avocados and arugula, eating from one of the food stands or trucks, or just watching people and listening to music, there is no shortage of things to do.

What is your favorite place for one-on-one time with your kid?
My favorite time with Melia is outdoors in nature, whether a day at the beach, hanging out at Indian Rock, or tossing the Aerobie at the park.  We also like to play cards in our living room.

What is your favorite family dinner out?  
It’s a tie between Cafe Colucci in North Oakland for ingera (Ethiopian) and Cha-Am in Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto for Thai. At Cafe Colucci, I tend to get the vegetarian combo (with no buticha) and a side order of azifa. If you enjoy shrimp, you will love the shrimp tibs.  At Cha-Am, hippos and other animal-shaped carrot slices swim are often swimming in the Tom Yum soup.

What is your favorite date night?
Early dinner with sparks-flying conversation, dancing that involves spins and twirls, and hot tubbing under the stars.

What’s a favorite kid birthday party you’ve been to?  
I love throwing surprise parties for Melia. One of the bennies of a family apart is that it is much easier to surprise her when her mother is doing her party. I’ve surprised Melia three out of the last five years including this past year — score!

Want to learn more about Dave Room’s project, Pacha’s Pajamas? Listen to songs and find local events online.