DailyCandy Kids San Francisco

Take the Playhouse Outside, Kids

2012-02-13T09:45:00Z

Modern Playhouse's Dacha Playhouse Set

Parenthood has introduced you to some unlikely bedfellows. Quiet time and dance parties. Vegetables and dessert.

But the mythical combination of plastic and good design has eluded you until now. Modern Playhouse’s new Dacha Playhouse Set shares the same clean lines, rounded windows, and airy feel as the San Francisco company’s sleek wooden houses. The difference lies in the easy-to-clean, recycled plastic that’s strong enough to withstand rain, sun, mud pies, and poster paint.

Your playhouse arrives flat-packed with a table, two stools, and a window box. After a 15-minute, no-tools-needed assembly, it’s ready to host messy gardening projects, rambunctious games of hide ‘n’ seek, and even al fresco tea parties.

It’s so pretty, you’ll want it stationed in the yard right outside your window. To be enjoyed by all — inside and out.

Available at modern-playhouse.com, $1450. Through February 29, enter code dailycandy20 for twenty percent off your purchase.

Photo: Pamela Palma Photography / Courtesy of Modern Playhouse

GROOVE
Valentine’s Day JAM with Charity Kahn
What: An on-your-feet, love-themed concert for fams with tots 5 and under.
Why: Sing your heart out.
When: Tues., 10:30 a.m.
Where: Noe Valley Public Library, 451 Jersey St., b/t Diamond & Castro Sts. (415-355-5707). Free.

DISCOVER
Animals of Hyde Street Pier
What: Low tide reveals the city’s underside — barnacles, mussels, and sea stars.
Why: The piers are alive.
When: Wed.-Fri., 3-3:30 p.m.
Where: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, 499 Jefferson St., at Hyde St., at the end of the pier (415-447-5000). Free.

WATCH
MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe
What: The SF-based International Museum of Women launches an online exhibit about motherhood around the world.
Why: Click and travel.
When: You have three minutes to spare.
Where: Online at mama.imow.org

A Slippery Slope

2012-02-09T09:45:00Z

Rent Snow Clothes Online

We don’t mean to make a mountain out of a bunny hill, but ski vacations with kids can get steep.

Before the whole thing heads downhill, check out Rent Snow Clothes, a new online shop that leases high-quality kids’ ski apparel for a fraction of what it would cost to buy.

Outfitting your kids from hats to socks runs $100 for eight days. Or fill in the gaps by ordering individual items a la carte. The jackets, ski bibs, base layers, mittens, and toppers are all by The North Face, so your kids won’t look mismatched (or neglected) on the slopes.

Rentals are in four- or eight-day increments, and the company ships to anywhere in the United States. When your vacay is over, drop the gear in the mail and send it back.

All the items are inspected and cleaned between skiers (a little birdie told us the wares are new this season), so you get the goods in peak condition.

Available online at rentsnowclothes.com, $5-$100, plus shipping.

Photo: Jan Greune / Look-foto / Getty Images

Prudent Baby's DIY Crayon Valentines

2012-02-07T07:00:00Z

We Heart Bloggers: DIY Valentines

2012-02-07T07:00:00Z

Game On

2012-02-06T09:45:00Z

The Bored Game

We used to believe that only boring people got bored. Then we had kids.

If your little bundle of energy is claiming nothing to do, introduce him to The Bored Game.

This clever little box is packed with a variety of timeless kids’ games (and a spinner to help yours choose which one to play first). Created by two local moms, Debra Tarrant and Bronwyn Brunner, and their kids, it’s an instant cure for aimless tykes and adults with selective amnesia from their own childhoods.

Inside the box is a small selection of reusable, rainbow-hued toys (jacks, jump rope, pick-up sticks). But these props are just the tip of the iceberg. What really allows you to plumb the depths is an illustrated instruction booklet packed with rules for 42 games — everything from Chinese Jump Rope to Capture the Flag — to play alone or with friends. Most of them, including Hangman and Cat’s Cradle, require only household staples like paper and string.

And a healthy dose of curiosity.

Available online at theboredgamecompany.com, $35.

ROCK
The Fresh Beat Band
What: Shout, Twist, Marina, and Kiki touch down in Oakland on their first concert tour.
Why: Giveaway! Free family four-packs for the first four DailyCandy Kids readers to email.
When: Sun., 1:30 & 4:30 p.m.
Where: Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., b/t 18th & 19th Sts., Oakland (510-302-2277). Tickets online at ticketmaster.com. Adults & kids, $20-$40.

CREATE
MakeArt Workshop: Family Heritage Collages
What: Hear Romare Bearden’s Li’l Dan, the Drummer Boy: a Civil War Story and make your own family collage in honor of Black History Month.
Why: They’ll piece it all together.
When: Sat., 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., at Grove St. R.S.V.P. to 415-773-0303. Adults & children, free.

WATCH
Chinese New Year Parade
What: Celebrate the Lunar New Year with stilt walkers, elaborate floats, firecrackers, and cavorting lions.
Why: Enter the dragon.
When: Sat., 5:15-8 p.m.
Where: Portsmouth Square, 733 Kearny St., b/t Clay & Washington Sts. Free.

Photo: Debra Tarrant / Courtesy of The Bored Game Company

That Can-Do Spirit

2012-02-02T09:45:00Z

Armommy Homemade Accessories and DIYs

Moms who can, do. Moms who can’t, buy things that look like they do.

If you love the idea of homemade but lack the skills to make anything other than a bed, meet the moms of Armommy.

Mother-daughter duo Rae Friis and Jane Kelly started their brand after Rae called up Jane (her mommy) with an idea. She wanted a tank top to go under her shirts to help make breastfeeding in public a less revealing experience — and so the Empire Tank was born.

All of the company’s products have an equally charming, inventive, and whimsical feel. Our favorite is the Bumper, a small pillow you tie around door knobs to eliminate slammed doors and crushed fingers.

For those who want to DIY, a video series launches in April. The first classes will focus on home decorating and entertaining (think: fabric napkins, picnic blankets, and seat cushions). For those who can’t fathom using a needle and thread, the site is packed with customizable valentines for order and printables to download.

C’mon, even you can press print.

Available online at armommy.com, $4-$35.

Photo: lovestudiophoto.com / Courtesy of Armommy

19 New Books for Kids

2012-01-31T09:30:00Z

Creature Comforts

2012-01-30T09:45:00Z

Vivi Kids Tees and Onesies

Your toddler’s on a first-name basis with all the tees in his drawer: There’s Dino the dino, Roar the lion, and Stripey the shirt of last resort.

So he’ll have no problem warming up to Vivi Kids, a local T-shirt upstart whose charismatic creatures with enormous anime eyes brighten every design.

Originally made as baby shower gifts for friends of designers Vivien Choi and Tony Nguyen, the wares proved so popular they’re now in a handful of local boutiques. The creative couple still does all the silk screening in their home, adding new characters as they go.

With more than fifteen fetching animals to rotate through, from the familiar (frogs, elephants) to the less-so (seahorses, octopuses), one thing is certain — laundry day will be a real beast.

Available at Paragraph, 1234 Ninth Avenue, between Lincoln Way and Irving Street (415-759-1234); Perch, 654 Chenery Street, between Diamond and Carrie Streets (415-586-9000 or perchsf.com; Bella Blue Kids Couture, 549 Taraval Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues (415-702-9470 or bellabluekids.com); online at vivi-kids.com, $20.

MAKE
One-of-a-Kind Valentines
What: A card-making extravaganza for fams with tots 3 and up, snacks included.
Why: Handmade is from the heart.
When: Sat., 10 a.m.-noon.
Where: San Francisco Children’s Art Center, Fort Mason Center, Marina Blvd. & Buchanan St., bldg. c (415-771-0292). Register online at prestoregister.com. One adult with two children, $40; one adult with one child, $30; each additional child, $10.

LEARN
Summer Camp Fair
What: A meet-and-greet with more than 60 camps for pre-K kids on up.
Why: The lazy days are anything but.
When: Sat., 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: French American International School Gym, 151 Oak St., at Franklin St. (415-558-2000). Free.

LISTEN
Sunday Story Time
What: A new monthly series featuring the books that inspired Disney flicks, for ages 5-8.
Why: Reveal the magic behind the Magic Kingdom.
When: Sun., 3 p.m.
Where: The Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St., b/t Lincoln Blvd. & Sheridan Ave. (415-345-6800). Free with museum admission. Admission tickets at secure4.gatewayticketing.com. Adults, $20; children 6-17, $12; under 6, free.

Photo: Courtesy of Vivi Kids

What's for Dinner: Baked Chicken with New Potatoes

2012-01-26T09:45:00Z

Kids Who Love to Cook Shares a Dinner Recipe

Gone are the days of fantasizing about a hot young dish firing it up in the kitchen. These days you’d settle for your kids taking on a dinnertime dish of their own.

Which is why the new web series Kids Who Love to Cook has inspired us to invite our littles to the kitchen counter. The videos showcase real kids (not actors) making real meals (no fancy editing or switcheroos). What you see is exactly what they made — all by themselves.

We asked Abby, a KWLTK contributor, why she loves to cook and found her answer to be as satisfying as her baked chicken.

There’s something about cooking for family or friends. You’re feeding the people you care about! And cooking relaxes me. It’s like therapy. I’m just minding my own business in the kitchen. No chatting, emailing, or texting. It’s my alone, quiet time.

Baked Chicken with New Potatoes, Carrots, and Caramelized Shallots
Serves four to six

Ingredients
8 pieces chicken (4 thighs and 4 drumsticks)
4 new potatoes, halved
4 young carrots
4 medium-large shallots, halved
2-3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. parsley, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp. soy sauce (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. Put chicken, potatoes, carrots, and shallots in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and soy sauce (if using); season with salt and pepper.

3. Toss everything in the baking dish and place in the oven.

4. After 20 minutes, turn the chicken pieces and scrape off the shallots clinging to the pan. Spoon juices and shallots over the chicken. Return dish to oven.

5. After another 20 minutes, check if chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Find more dinnertime inspiration online at kidswholovetocook.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kids Who Love to Cook

20 Wall-to-Wall Kids' Room Ideas

2012-01-24T09:44:00Z

Tambino Number Chairs Add Up

2012-01-23T09:45:00Z

Furniture You Can Count On

Say goodbye to the safety strap. Kiddo can now park it at the table for a full seven minutes before the need to run and play overtakes her.

Celebrate her ability to sit still(ish) by giving her a seat of honor: a Tambino number chair. The Menlo Park studio’s inviting creations are scaled down in size (for tots ages 3 to 6, give or take a few inches), but they’re big on fun. Conventional chair legs are replaced with oversize, interlocking 3-D numbers, giving these clever little seats a toylike look.

Tambino’s designer, Jessica Cohen, created the chairs to inspire hands-on number exploration. The chairs are made entirely from sustainably produced plywood with water-based, low-VOC paints and safe, rounded edges. So you’ll feel comfortable adding a new perch to the mix.

And that’s what counts.

Available online at tambino.com, $60 and up.

EXPLORE
Willow Sculpture Grand Opening
What: Artist Patrick Dougherty debuts his new book and a ginormous play sculpture in Lookout Cove.
Why: Bend it at BADM.
When: Fri., 2-4 p.m.
Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, E. Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito (415-339-3900). Free.

HIKE
Oceans Aglow: Family Night Hike and Campfire
What: Enjoy campfire songs, s’mores, and an evening hike on Rodeo Beach.
Why: Bioluminescent plankton.
When: Sat., 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: NatureBridge at Golden Gate, 1033 Fort Cronkhite, nr. Bunker Rd., Sausalito. Registration (required) online at oceanaglowjan28.eventbrite.com. Adults and children, $12; under 3, free.

CREATE
Museum of Craft and Design’s MakeArt Workshop: Painting Experimentation
What: An afternoon of textural, abstract painting for kids 6 to 12 (snacks included).
Why: No cleanup.
When: Sat., 1-3 p.m.
Where: Octavia Art Gallery, Octavia St., at Oak St. Reservations at 415-773-0303. Nonmembers, $10; SFMCD members, free.

Photo: Courtesy of Tambino

A Preconcert Warm Up

2012-01-19T09:45:00Z

The Fresh Beat Band's Playlist

We’ve been stalking Nick Jr. for months, sending anonymous emails to the network begging Kiki, Marina, Twist, and Shout to take the show on the road (our kids kept asking).

So we’re not going to try to hide how excited we are about The Fresh Beat Band going on tour. (Yes, we may have let out a whoop in the grocery store when we found out. No, our children weren’t present.)

And when the foursome agreed to share their personal preconcert iPod playlists with us, it was a great day.

“Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing,” by Stevie Wonder
Who’s listening: Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer)

“Dancing Machine,” by Jackson 5
Who’s listening: Marina (Tara Perry)

“Here I Am (Come and Take Me),” by Al Green
Who’s listening: Twist (Jon Beavers)

“Smooth Criminal,” by Michael Jackson
Who’s listening: Shout (Thomas Hobson)

“Get Rhythm,” by Johnny Cash
Who’s listening: Marina

“Start Me Up,” by The Rolling Stones
Who’s listening: Twist

Plus, on January 31, the Beats are releasing a twenty-track album with music from the show, including “Just like a Rockstar,” “Get Up and Go Go,” and “A Friend like You.”

No need to thank us for sharing the news. After all, friends give friends a hand.

To find out if The Fresh Beat Band is coming to your town, go to freshbeatbandlive.com. Tickets, $15-$119.50.

Photo: Randee St. Nicholas / Courtesy of Nickelodeon

17 Toys for Small Playrooms

2012-01-17T09:15:00Z

Quilt It, Mom

2012-01-16T09:45:00Z

Baby Bedding from Birch Fabrics

Look, Mom. I know Dr. What’s-Her-Name says we have to do tummy time, but can you please get rid of that minky-dotty thing you plunked me down on? News flash: It’s polyester.

I was thinking we could try one of Cynthia Mann’s new Birch Fabrics play quilts. So many customers at her Paso Robles store (you’ve been there, right?) wanted to use the prints she carries for baby bedding that she launched a line. And get this: Her materials are 100 percent organic cotton — from the batting on out.

She’s got florals and feathers, bicycles and fishing boats, whales and waves — so many California-dreaming options to choose from. You could even get a matching bumper pad and build a whole nursery around the blanket.

Now that’s something we can both flip over.

Available online at fabricworm.com, $110.

INSPIRE
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
What: A tot-scaled intro to his legacy through art projects, story time, and SoVoSó’s a cappella.
Why: Pay freedom forward.
When: Today, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Music at 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Where: Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Rd., Fort Baker, Sausalito (415-339-3900). Tickets online at baykidsmuseum.org. Members, $7; general, $16 (includes museum admission).

GAPE
Peking Acrobats
What: Stunning feats of athleticism from the visiting troupe.
Why: Half-price tickets on Sun. for the 5-and-up set.
When: Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.
Where: Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, at Telegraph Ave. & Bancroft Way, Berkeley (510-642-9988). Tickets online at commerce.cpsma.berkeley.edu. Adults, $20-$48; ages 16 and under, $10-$24.

SING ALONG
Keller Williams in Concert
What: The folk-song writer and bluegrass artist shares faves from his album Kids.
Why: An all-ages matinee.
When: Jan. 21. Sat., 2:30 p.m.
Where: Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St. (415-885-0750). Tickets online at tickets.gamh.com. General, $19.

Photo: Courtesy of Birch Fabrics

4moms Origami Power-Folding Stroller Launches

2012-01-12T09:45:00Z

It's Ready to Roll

We’re all charged up around here. Why? The stroller from Tomorrowland has arrived. And it’s out of this world.

The inventive team at 4moms teased us with the Origami stroller for months; the futuristic ride is finally ready to roll. Believe the hype, people. It power-folds with just one touch of a button by way of a built-in generator that charges while you walk. Yes, we said power-folds, as in you don’t have to do anything but watch.

An LCD screen serves as command central, tracking how far you’ve gone and indicating battery power. Sensors in the seat ensure it will never close while baby’s on board, daytime running lights keep you in other people’s sights, and four cup holders mean two parental lattes and two sippies are welcome to ride.

But our favorite add-on is the USB port and cable that lets you charge your phone.

Beam us up, Scotty.

Available online at shop4moms.com, $850; handle bar bag and phone charger, $40. For more information, go to 4moms.com.

Photo: Courtesy of 4moms

4 New Web Shops We Love

2012-01-10T09:45:00Z

Thumbeline, Shop Belle, Little Choux, and Darling Clementine

Four new shops to help feed your Pinterest habit. New board: cutest things for kids.

Thumbeline
This Cali-based clothing boutique is our curatorial dream. Sophisticated design, quirky details, and boatloads of personality pop from every page. Load up on hard-to-find European lines (Bangbang Copenhagen, Mini Rodini, Le Toit de la Lune) without the spendy shipping fees.

Shop Belle
A mix of classic good looks and on-trend finds from designers like Velvet & Tweed, Anais & I, Tom & Drew, and Blu Pony Vintage. Owner Maria Nagy promises small boutique attention with big store perks (flat-rate shipping, free gift wrap, free returns).

Little Choux
A collection of indie and lesser-known designers of home decor, toys, and wearable accessories for kids (everything from towels to headbands). It’s like the love child of Etsy and your favorite neighborhood boutique. In other words, it’s got a lot of heart.

Darling Clementine
The Brooklyn-based shop feels like the best-of recommendations you get from a close friend. Tightly curated selections mean there aren’t five sleep sacks to choose from, just owner (and mom) Lindsay Meyer-Harley’s favorites.


	Shop the stores! Check out our editor favorites at all four shops.

Photo: Jordan Siemens / Getty Images

4 New Kids' Shops We Love

2012-01-10T07:00:00Z

Belly Up to the Table

2012-01-09T09:45:00Z

Eating Right Tips for New Moms

Sure, you could try to survive on all the sushi, lattes, and stinky cheese you had to forsake these past ten months.

But to make the New Year as healthy and delicious as your newborn, we asked local nutritionist (and trained-in-France foodie) Virginia Watkins for tips on eating right.

Starters
Protein is the breakfast of champion nurturers. Try one to two pastured or organic eggs with steamed spinach or arugula; organic or hormone-free sausage with baked sweet potato and coconut oil; or organic whole milk plain yogurt with blueberries and toasted almond slivers.

Nibbles
Plan to eat every three hours. Pack nuts and fruit to go.

Sips
Drink fluids all day. Keep water at your nursing station, desk, and in your car. Use a water bottle with a straw so you can sip while nursing. Increase plain water’s appeal by drinking it at room temperature or adding a splash of juice. If that gets old, try sparkling water or herbal tea with nettles.

Drinks
Caffeine and alcohol can spike blood sugar levels and inhibit nutrient absorption, but if you can’t nix the urge, have them alongside good fats or protein. Go ahead and put cream or whole milk in your coffee, or drink it with breakfast. Choose wine with dinner rather than a cocktail before it.

Calcium
To replenish the calcium your baby is taking from your body, try almond butter, broccoli, and dark leafy greens. Or cook chicken soup in a slow cooker using the bones.

Meat
Eat meat. Meat is rich in B vitamins and iron, which will put the wind in your sails. If you’re vegetarian, make a contract with yourself to go back to it once your baby has weaned.

Until then, bon appétit.

For more information about Virginia Watkins, go to vwnutrition.com; private nutritional coaching starts at $65.

LEARN
Moms in Transition
What: Life coach Linda Lesem’s five-week workshop for moms re-entering the world of paid work.
Why: It’s time.
When: Thru Feb. 6. Tues., 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Bay Area Career Center, 57 Post St., b/t Kearny & Montgomery Sts., ste. 804. To register, call 415-307-9465 or email lindalesem@gmail.com. Cost is $240.

SEE 
My Son Pinocchio
What: Berkeley Playhouse Conservatory students perform a musical about the puppet who became a boy.
Why: Everyone nose it will be good.
When: Sat.-Mon.
Where: Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., at Derby St., Berkeley. Tickets at 510-845-8542 ext. 397 or online at ticketturtle.com. Adults, $20; children, $15.

Photo: Megan Fizell / Getty Images

Mix-and-Match Nursery Design

2012-01-05T09:45:00Z

My Tiny Nest's Design in a Box Service

A nursery is the tabula rasa of interior design: four blank walls; nothing but possibility.

But the combination of white space and raging hormones leaves you seeing Disney princesses.

My Tiny Nest’s e-design service for expectant moms will set your vision straight.

The custom Design in a Box offering starts with an extensive questionnaire that gathers your likes and dislikes, budget, and essential room information. Next, designer Alessia Corpino and architect Julie Frank assemble a tool kit of around 100 four-by-six note cards that feature color images of everything from rugs and cribs to wall art and lighting — all of which could work together in your nursery.

On the back of each card they include product name, specs, price, purchase information, plus notes they’ve written during their research. Essentially they’ve done the busy work, so all you have to do is mix and match to create your dream.

Admittedly, services like this aren’t new, but the presentation and selection of products in our box had us at hello.

Because when it comes to baby’s room, it’s nurture over nature.

Available online at mytinynest.com, $750.

Photo: Niki Dankner for DailyCandy


	Need design inspiration? We’ve picked more than 60 cribs, rockers, bedding, and more to spruce up any nursery.

Get into a Sample Size

2012-01-03T09:45:00Z

Bluum Product Samples for Mom and Baby

You never met a resolution you could keep for more than a day. (Ahem, we can smell your coffee breath from here.)

We’re turning over our promise to try something new to Bluum, a subscription service that sends monthly packages of sample-size goodies for expectant and new moms (and their offspring) right to your home.

The most recent box was packed with testers from Plum Organics baby food, Dr. Sears baby wash and shampoo, Spiffies cleaning and teething tooth wipes, Dapple all-natural bottle and dish soap, and Wysi Wipes reusable cleaning wipes.

Haven’t heard of some of the brands? That’s the point. Trial-size products give you just enough to get familiar with the goods. Want more? Of course, you do. So log on to the Bluum website to buy full-size items (shipping is always free). While you’re there, write reviews of the products you tried and earn credits toward future purchases.

No willpower required.

Available online at bluum.com, from $9 a month.

Photo: Courtesy of Bluum