Happy New Year 2013
2012 is over. I had my ups and downs last year, as you did too I'd guess. I learned a few tings, and hope I'm a better person now than I was a year ago. I hope to continue to grow in 2013 as well.
What lessons or memories are you taking away from 2012?
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Sunday, December 2, 2012
More Christmas Fun for Families Around the Bay
More Christmas Fun for Families Around the Bay 2012
Friends have told me about some of their favorite places to take their kids in December:
The Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in Oakland - For three weekends, Dec 1st and 2nd, 8th and 9th, and the 15th and 16th, the Dunsmuir Hellman house in Oakland holds their Christmas event. The Estate is decorated in traditional turn of the century Christmas style, and offers special Teas for both adults and children. There is also a breakfast with Santa, carriage rides and a kids area. They are open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, but the teas and Santa Breakfast have special times and additional costs. Follow the link above for schedule specifics.
A Christmas Carol at the Lesher Theater in Walnut Creek - This great live stage production of A Christmas Carol runs from Dec 6th thru the 16th 21012. We saw this last year and the kids really enjoyed it. Tickets can be a little pricey - we were fortunate enough to get to go with a homeschool group that got group pricing, and we attended on an afternoon when there were only other school groups there. This led to a more rowdy audience, but much more affordable I'm not sure what it involved in setting up a group rate, but if you have enough friends interested, it would be worth a call the the Lesher Theater to find out. There is a reasonably price parking garage very close, and the theater is lovely.
Christmas Parade and Holiday Market in Benicia - On Sat, December 8th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in downtown Benicia. The parade begins at 10:00 am, and there will also be arts and crafts, and food booths. I've never been to Benicia's Holiday event, but our family has enjoyed ever other event we've attended in downtown Benicia.
Friends have told me about some of their favorite places to take their kids in December:
The Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in Oakland - For three weekends, Dec 1st and 2nd, 8th and 9th, and the 15th and 16th, the Dunsmuir Hellman house in Oakland holds their Christmas event. The Estate is decorated in traditional turn of the century Christmas style, and offers special Teas for both adults and children. There is also a breakfast with Santa, carriage rides and a kids area. They are open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, but the teas and Santa Breakfast have special times and additional costs. Follow the link above for schedule specifics.
A Christmas Carol at the Lesher Theater in Walnut Creek - This great live stage production of A Christmas Carol runs from Dec 6th thru the 16th 21012. We saw this last year and the kids really enjoyed it. Tickets can be a little pricey - we were fortunate enough to get to go with a homeschool group that got group pricing, and we attended on an afternoon when there were only other school groups there. This led to a more rowdy audience, but much more affordable I'm not sure what it involved in setting up a group rate, but if you have enough friends interested, it would be worth a call the the Lesher Theater to find out. There is a reasonably price parking garage very close, and the theater is lovely.
Christmas Parade and Holiday Market in Benicia - On Sat, December 8th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in downtown Benicia. The parade begins at 10:00 am, and there will also be arts and crafts, and food booths. I've never been to Benicia's Holiday event, but our family has enjoyed ever other event we've attended in downtown Benicia.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Some Fun Christmas Events Around the Bay, December 2012
Some Fun Christmas Events Around the Bay, December 2012
Christmas at
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont – Anytime is a great time to visit
Ardenwood Historic Farms if you have not done so already, but during their
Christmas celebration is one of our favorite times to go.
They celebrate a Victorian style Christmas at Ardenwood,
with Victorian inspired crafts, volunteers in Victorian costumes, music, and
the historic Patterson House decorated in traditional Victorian Christmas
style. Father Christmas always has a special spot in the gazebo where kids can
find him to share their wishes. The farm’s huge draft horses also usually make
the rounds too, either taking folks for a wagon ride, or pulling a horse drawn
train instead, depending on the year. Both are fun.
They also have all the regular Ardenwood Historic Farm
attractions, the farm animals, and the Patterson house (although it is fancier
with its decorations than usual, and the blacksmith shop.
Christmas at Ardenwood this year runs on December 1st
and 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm. Bundle up, it’s usually pretty chilly.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
in San Francisco – This is a bigger and more famous Victorian Christmas
celebration in the Bay Area. It takes place this year over 5 weekends from
November 23rd to December 23rd from 10 am to 7 pm.
We have never personally been to this Christmas fair, mainly
because it is so much more expensive than Ardenwood, but it looks just
wonderful, and I would love to go one of these years. It looks huge and fun and
beautiful. I recommend you check out their website at the link above to see
everything they have to offer.
Zoo Lights at the
Oakland Zoo in Oakland – After regular zoo hours, the zoo is filled
with holiday lights. Some even make a little almost animated show with the way
they blink on and off. Some are just there, and pretty.
Zoo lights run from Nov 30th to Dec 31st
every night except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm.
The animals have access to their night houses, so most of
them are not viewable during Zoo Lights, although we have seen one or two
wander out into their exhibits and look around. Generally, though, they have
gone off to have dinner and sleep and Zoo Lights is not a good time to see
animals. What we have done in the past that was fun, was to visit the zoo
during the day to see the animals. Leave at closing to get some dinner, then
return for the lights at night.
Santa visits Oakland’s Zoo lights each night as well, and it
can be a nice time to say “Hi” to him without a long line.
City
of Martinez Children’s Light Parade and Snow Park in Martinez – We stumbled
upon this even sort of by accident one year, but the kids had so much fun we
may try to make it back there if we can. This year it happens on Friday Nov. 30th
starting at 6:30 pm.
The downtown area is all blocked off for this holiday
celebration that includes a parade where kids can join in carrying lights. My
kids had never gotten to be in a parade before so they really loved this. Then
there is a lot of holiday events, including an area with a snow machine
creating a little snowy play area for the snow-deprived California kids. The
downtown shops are open, and always fun to browse through.
And Many, Many More.
. .
These are only the events we have been to in the past of I’ve
heard a lot about from friends. I know most towns around the Bay Area must have
their own wonderful Christmas and Holiday events beginning very soon. If you
know of one I didn’t mention, please tell us about it in the comment section. I’d
love to find out about more.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Summer Reading Programs 2012
As the school year begins to draw to a close, libraries, and bookstores begin their summer reading programs. Your kids can earn free books, and other prizes, and keep up their reading skills over the summer. Win, win!
The first place to check out, for summer reading programs, is your local library. They always have a summer program, and in addition to prizes for reading, they usually offer other fun summer programs, like special guests or show, or storytimes.
In Contra Costa County Library, the summer reading program begins June 9th.
Alameda County Library's program begins June 11th.
San Francisco Library's program begins June 1st.
San Mateo County's Library Program runs June thru August.
Marin County Library has many Summer Reading Program launch parities scheduled for this and next week.
Solano County Library's runs from June 11th to Aug. 11th.
The bookstores are sponsoring their usual summer reading programs as well:
At Barnes and Noble, kids can earn a free book (from a pre-selected list) for reading 8 books over the summer.
Half-Priced Books is offering kids a $5.oo gift certificate to kids who read for 300 minutes.
The first place to check out, for summer reading programs, is your local library. They always have a summer program, and in addition to prizes for reading, they usually offer other fun summer programs, like special guests or show, or storytimes.
In Contra Costa County Library, the summer reading program begins June 9th.
Alameda County Library's program begins June 11th.
San Francisco Library's program begins June 1st.
San Mateo County's Library Program runs June thru August.
Marin County Library has many Summer Reading Program launch parities scheduled for this and next week.
Solano County Library's runs from June 11th to Aug. 11th.
The bookstores are sponsoring their usual summer reading programs as well:
At Barnes and Noble, kids can earn a free book (from a pre-selected list) for reading 8 books over the summer.
Half-Priced Books is offering kids a $5.oo gift certificate to kids who read for 300 minutes.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Low Cost Summer Movies 2012
It's almost time again for the great second-run summer
movies. The information I've tracked down so far for theaters in the Bay Area
include:
Century Theaters Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse, including the theaters in Danville, Pleasant Hill, San Jose, Woodland, Napa,
Walnut Creek and many more - 10 weeks of movies, that vary slightly from
theater to theater. They cost $1.00 each, or you can pre-pay for a 10-movie
pass for only $5.00. Each of the individual theater links I clicked on also had
a coupon for a discounted child concession pack. Check the link for your local
theaters to see which movies are offered which days. It looks to me as though
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the most common days offered, with some theaters
offering two discount days, and some theaters offering one. The movies start at
10:00 am
The other theaters that have offered free or low cost summer movies in the past so far do not have any mention of a 2012 program on their websites, but I will keep checking, and update this post if more option appear. Most theaters don't start their summer movies until mid June, so there is still time.
UPDATE -
Regal theaters have released their list of participating theaters and movies. You can see if the theater near you is hosting $1.00 summer movies at their website, here.
Also Rave theaters are offering FREE summer movies. Their online schedule is harder to follow, and it looks like Brentwood is the only bay area theater participating, but you can check it out at the link above.
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