Holiday events in San Francisco!

Snowflakes on Market Street 

Nov. 18, 2010 until mid-January 2011 

More than 140 five-foot-wide energy-saving LED illuminated snowflakes will decorate Market Street’s signature “Path of Gold” light poles this winter from Second to Sixth Street. A lighting ceremony, featuring dancers from the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker, is scheduled for Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. near the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market streets. The event is free.
For information visit www.marketstreetassociation.org.

Embarcadero Center’s Building Lighting
Nov. 19, 2010, 4 p.m. The 24th annual lighting of the Embarcadero Center’s distinctive towers with more than 17,000 lights is prefaced with a Winter Carnival on the street level starting at 4 p.m., 5:30 entertainment, 6 p.m. opening ceremony and Disney on Ice performance followed by the countdown to the building lighting and fireworks display.
Ice rink reopens to the public after 8 p.m.
www.embarcaderocenter.com/ec/attractions.

Home for the Holidays at the Hyatt Regency
Nov. 19-Dec. 31, 2010 The Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Center, is starting a new tradition this season. Complementing thousands of cascading lights and a 45-foot-tree in its dramatic atrium lobby, snow will fall three times a day at 1, 6 and 8 p.m. The hotel will also offer an entire wish list of holiday activities, including the signature tree and interior lobby lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19, breakfast with Santa 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday and Sunday in December through Dec. 19.
 www.sanfranciscohyattregency.com.

Pier 39 Tree Lighting
Nov. 21, 2010, 1-6 p.m. Bay Area groups performing seasonal favorites will participate in Pier 39’s tree lighting celebration. The majestic tree in the entrance plaza will be lit at 5:30 p.m.
www.pier39.com.

Deck the Holidays at Westin St. Francis
Nov. 24, 2010 Ongoing The Westin St. Francis will be transformed into a festive oasis, embellished with more than $60,000 in spectacular holiday decorations created by Joe Vincent Designs.
www.westinstfrancis.com.

Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 26, 2010, 5:30 p.m. Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point, comes alive with colorful performers, music, the arrival of Santa and a 50-foot Christmas tree lighting up the night.
www.ghirardellisq.com.

Macy’s Great Tree Lighting
Nov. 26, 2010, 6-7 p.m. The 21st annual illumination of Macy’s Great Tree includes musical guest Katharine McPhee and a visit from Santa. Also a special cast member from Shrek The Musical will light up the stage as the tree is lit.  More than 1,500 ornaments adorn the tree; sponsor a light on the tree for $5. Proceeds benefit the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. For information visit www.macys.com/believe.

Castro Holiday Tree Lighting
Nov. 29, 2010, 6 p.m. Merchants of Upper Market and Castro present their annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, Bank of America Plaza, 18th and Castro Streets. Enjoy holiday carols from the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Chorus and Metropolitan Community Church Choirs. There will also be special guests, and the arrival of Santa and Ms. Claus and their elves. Merchants in the area will be open late, offering holiday specials and discounts.
www.castromerchants.com.

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec. 1, 2010, 5:30- 7:30 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco’s holiday season begins at twilight when the hotel’s 40-foot holiday tree is illuminated by Santa Claus and his little helper from the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation. This special evening in the porte cochere includes Dickens-era costumed carolers, hot apple cider, roasted chestnuts, holiday confections and visits with Santa after the ceremony.
www.ritzcarlton.com.

Menorah Lighting in Union Square
Dec. 1-9, 2010 A tradition that dates back for several decades, the giant menorah in Union Square will be lit each evening as part of Hannukkah festivities.
For information visit www.chabadsf.org.

Union Street Fantasy of Lights
Dec. 4, 2010, 3 to 7 p.m. On Union between Van Ness and Steiner Street, costumed characters, Santa, merchant open houses and activities for children launch the holiday season along this San Francisco famous street. For information visit www.sresproductions.com orwww.unionstreetsf.com.

Pumpkin Patches- San Francisco

San Francisco County

• Clancy's Christmas Trees & Pumpkin Patch - pumpkins, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, child-sized haybale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, prepicked produce, gift shop, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  1620-7th Avenue Cross Street : Lawton, San Francisco, CA 94122. Phone: 415-753-2689. Email: clancystrees@sbcglobal.net. Directions: And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in October, November, December. Open: Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 10 pm. Our Pumpkin Patch is open from October 1 through October 31 from 9:00 am until 10:00 pm We re-open for Christmas trees on Thanksgiving Day and will be open from 9:00 am until 11:00 pm through Christmas Eve. Payment: Cash, Visa/MasterCard. Clancy's Christmas Trees and Pumpkins is a three generation, San Francisco company, first opening for business in December 1949. Visiting the patch in October, you will find pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. Gourds, corn stalks, and Indian corn are in abundance. Come see the ghosts in our trees, the scarecrows in our patch, and crawl through our hay maze. You can even take a hay ride in the middle of San Francisco! School groups are invited to attend. (UPDATED: September 29, 2008)
• The Great Pumpkin Patch - pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, wagon rides, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours
  371 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94122. Phone: 415 595-1478. Fax: 415-386-9293. Email: cyrilhackett@yahoo.com. Directions: Corner of 19th Avenue & Sloat Blvd San Francisco (2 blocks north of Stonestown). And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in October, November, December. Open: 9am to 9pm every day until Halloween. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard, AmEx. Enter a beautifully designed pumpkin patch laid out with winding paths of magnificent pumpkins surrounded by huge bins of assorted mini pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and baby bear pumpkins. See the Gothic couple cutout, Mickey, Ma & Pa Pumpkinhead, Barney, etc.(great photo op) The haunted house was created and designed by our beautiful and talented Juliet. Especially for kids: a secure toy area, rocking horses, kids hay maze, a Bouncy Castle & Slide. (ADDED: October 19, 2008) (UPDATED: October 23, 2009)

Baby Steals...

This is my new FAVORITE website... a NEW DEAL everyday!!!

Check it out.......

http://www.babysteals.com/index.php

It's Fair Time too....

Here is a list of upcoming County Fairs :

San Mateo County Fair: In San Mateo, June 12th-20th https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/

Sonoma-Marin Fair: In Petaluma, June 23rd-27th http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/

Solano County Fair: In Vallejo, June 23rd-27th http://www.scfair.com/scfair.html

Alameda County Fair: In Pleasanton June 23rd-July 11th http://www.alamedacountyfair.com

Marin County Fair: In San Rafael, July 1st-5th http://www.marinfair.org/2010/index.php

Napa County Fair: In Napa, July 1st-4th http://www.napacountyfair.org

Sonoma County Fair: In Santa Rosa, July 27th- August 8th http://www.sonomacountyfair.com

Time for the Beach......

This excellent weather definitely calls for the beach!! There are some wonderful beaches in our area that are excellent to explore with kids!

Tomales Bay- Shell Beach in Inverness : http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=470

Muir Beach- This popular Marin County beach lies in a sheltered inlet at the truly small town of Muir Beach. Fishing, hiking and swimming are popular here. During the winter, look for Monarch butterflies resting in pine trees near the beach. There's a protected swimming area, picnic tables, barbecues, paved parking and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. The parking lot is small and can fill up quickly on weekends. Day use only. There are numerous hiking trails, where you can enjoy outstanding views. Or head 1 mile north on Highway 1 to Muir Beach Overlook, where the views are simply spectacular. You'll find picnic tables, wheelchair-accessible restrooms and paved parking, so you can enjoy the view in comfort.

Kirby Cove: Marin Headlands: This is a popular Marin County beach for picnicking and camping. You can enjoy spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. There are picnic facilities among the trees, firepits, and wheelchair accessible restrooms. There's also a wheelchair accessible bridge to the beach. There are 4 sites available for overnight camping. Reservations required. For information call the Marin Headlands Visitor at (415) 331-1540.

Dillion Beach: The sandy beach is long and flat, with a gentle slope into the sea. Kids love to play, where the ocean meets the sand, and roll down the sand dunes. At one time claming was a daily event at Dillon Beach. Look for the historical photos hanging in the General Store depicting some of these sizable prize winning clams. Surfers of all abilities will find a place to enjoy their sport. Get the scoop on surf spots at the surf shop. http://www.dillonbeachresort.com/beach.html

California Academy of Sciences...

We had a wonderful day at the San Francisco California Academy of Sciences. It truly lived up to all our expectations. There are certainly things to be aware of though, if you want to plan a visit here. I would HIGHLY recommend a weekday visit. We were there on a Monday and it was packed, I can't even imagine what a Saturday and Sunday must be like. The other great thing about being there on a weekday is that the restaurant and cafes were not too crowded. There were plenty of places to sit and the wait for food was not long. We decided to try the Moss Room, which is more of a fine dining experience downstairs from the cafe. This was a great choice! The food was excellent and the location is like a little sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of upstairs. You can grab a glass of wine and enjoy a relaxing meal. It was very kid friendly, but does have a quieter setting for adults. The other positive thing about a weekday visit to the Academy is that there is ample room to let your toddler down to run around and walk beside you. On a busy day I am sure small children must stay in their strollers because they would be easily lost in the crowds. Our favorite exhibits were the Steinhart Aquarium downstairs and the African Hall(where the Penguins are!!) on the main level. The only exhibit that we were not able to visit was the Planetarium as children younger than 7yrs old are not allowed in. We highly recommend this location for your next day trip! It is set in a beautiful location in Golden Gate Park, so after the Academy you can wonder around its beautiful surroundings as well. Also, parking was easy, well at least on a weekday it was. You park underground and take an elevator right upstairs to the Academy's entrance. You can also park outside in the street free for 4 hours, but spots are hard to find and will require a little walking. I hope you enjoy your trip to the Academy as much as we did!!!

MyGym --- Santa Rosa

We just started attending MyGym last week with our friends, and so far its been a great success. We attend a Wednesday morning class called Waddlers (Ages 14-22months). Its a fun stimulating one hour program that introduces tumbling, hanging and agility skills. It is also a great way for toddlers to socialize with others and work on taking their turns and sharing. G loves the activities and the music. She is usually wiped out after one hour. Every week the room is rearranged and the activities change so each visit is a new experience. You can sign up for a weekly class or come in just for "free play." Each MyGym has its own schedule, and the classes range in ages 6 weeks to 3 years old.

Check one out in your area!!!

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Sausalito

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is set in a beautiful location (Fort Baker) and boasts a wonderful environment for children. We met up with a friend and her daughter there on Friday and loved our experience. We spent the majority of our time in the Tot Spot, which was ideal for our 18 month olds. The Tot Spot offers a safe area for toddlers under 42" to explore and play. They have two great rooms (the wetlands and woodlands) for indoor fun and a very cool water stream outside for them to play in. They even provide aprons for them to wear so their clothes don't get too wet!! Then we explored the, Art Studios. Art Studio 5, is perfect for Toddlers. There, they can paint, make sand art, do rubber stamps, or play with soft blocks. And the best part is that YOU don't have to clean it up!! :) So they can make a mess without worry. Lastly we checked out Lookout Cove, which is a 2.5 acre playground area. They have a Golden Gate Bridge under construction for them to work on, and a shipwreck to explore among many other things. It was the perfect end to our adventure. We loved our time at the Discovery Museum and plan to make many more return visits!! We stayed for about 2.5 hours which was perfect for G's age. She was exhausted after that. They do have food there that you can purchase with lots of outdoor seating next to Lookout Cove. We brought our lunches and that worked perfectly. Remember to dress warmly with layers; the museum is located right on the water under the GG Bridge so it can be windy and cold outside. Also, make sure that you (parent and child) dress comfortably, there is lots climbing and crawling around which requires comfortable clothing. This adventure is a MUST. It was our favorite one yet!!!

Coming Soon...