Bay Area Kids, South Bay edition, Winter 2009

s

Keeping the FaithTwo parents,Two beliefs

To Hold, To love, To FeedLove in the kitchen

also insideCake Wrecks

Ski destinationsSmiley Project

Shorebirds

south BaY EDITION winter 2010Sug ret $3.95

discover winter’shautest

styles

eight-year old Aviva with her catch of the day at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. See more styles on page 30.

2 Bay area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

clientproject

datecolorlivetrimbleedscale

11/6/09

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Gilroy GardensHoliday Lights South BayBay Area Magazine Ad11/6/094/cVisual7.375”w x 4.85”hnone100%

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Present this coupon at any open ticket window at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park during the Holiday Lights special event and receive admission (ages 3+)for 14.99 each, up to six (6) people. Valid for general admission only (does not include the Feast), does includes use of all rides, shows, and attractions in operationon day of use except pay events/concerts and pay-per-play attractions. Coupon is valid Fridaysonly on 12/4/09, 12/11/09, and 12/18/09 during the 2009 Holiday Lights special event only.Not valid on Park company rentals. Not valid with any other offer, discount, coupon orpromotion. Call (408) 840-7100 or visit www.gilroygardens.org to confirm public operatingdates and hours as they are subject to change. PLU 7590669 PEANUTS © UFS, Inc.TM, ® & © 2009 Gilroy Gardens, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Gilroy Gardens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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winter 2010 | Online edition Bay area Kids 3

What’s insideVolume 1, number 1Winter 2010

Publisher/editor/FatherEverard G. [email protected]

SalesGeneral [email protected] Jefferson Schill [email protected] [email protected]

General Editorial [email protected]

[email protected]

PhotographyChristina Fabbri Photography

Contributing WritersKelly Pollard, Patricia Kutza, Elise Cooke, David MacFadden, Emily Farish Brown, Jennifer Yates

SubmissionsSend photos, events, news, and story requests to [email protected]

Product submissionsSend all products to address below. Include return postage.

Doing our PartBay Area Kids magazine is printed on 10 percent recycled paper using only soy based inks. Our printer meets or exceeds all Federal Resource Conservation Act (RCRA) Standards and is a certified member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Small Print2010 Big E Productions (DBA Bay Area Kids magazine). No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Big E Productions assumes no liability or responsibility for any claims made by advertisers in the magazine.

BAY AREA KIDS magazineP.O. Box 30442Walnut Creek, CA 94598www.BAKidsMagazine.com

BayAreaKids

4 small talk introductions

7 play dates comprehensive calendar

11 day trip what the dickens?

15 holiday special ghirardelli square revisited

16 mixed media books, music, video game

18 happiness is where you find it ruth kaiser’s spontaneous smiley project

22 nature calls top billing for shorebirds

24 family matters to love, to hold, to feed

28 interior designs the magic of murals

30 common unity keeping the faith

36 fashion finds stylish discoveries

46 sporting news a family that skis together …

52 cake wrecks the four d’s

South Bay edition

Written by Oliver ChinIllustrated by Justin Roth

Treasure Isle

18

30

469


Welcome to the first issue of the South Bay edition of Bay Area Kids magazine—come right in, give us your coats and jackets, and relax for a bit.

Bay Area Kids magazine was launched to fill a void presented by other local publications. As a father of two (my daughter is 4 and a half, my son is 30 months old), I noticed a lack of any local resources that spoke to families like mine and those of my peers and friends. Most publications were geared toward mothers (“by mothers for mothers”) or parents of older children—or covered the whole age gamut, so that articles about newborn babies were next to articles on which college was best for your 18 year-old.

The definition of what constitutes a family has changed in the last several years. The old “Daddy goes to work while Mommy stays home with the children” stereotype is more of a rarity than the standard. Today it’s not unusual for dads to stay home while Mommy works, or both Mom and Dad to have home-based businesses so they can stay home with their children. Even the core ingredients of a family are being redefined: single parents, interfaith and interracial couples, same-sex parents—each one of these units make up families nowadays, and their numbers are on the rise.

Independent of their background and make-up most parents share a common ground with others—they all want what’s best for their children and families: the best advice, educational experiences, cultural and learning events, fashions, food, travel, and home life.

Bay Area Kids, South Bay edition aims to address these modern families and provide the answers to their questions. Each issue will feature the best stories, products, spotlights, events, advice, and more. Through it all we also want to have fun—that’s what childhood should be, right?

Like all children, we have started out with baby steps, clutching onto nearby furniture, walls, and supportive knees for balance as we get our bearings. If the success of our East Bay edition is any indication, however, we will soon be moving onto walking on our own in no time. (They grow up so fast, don’t they?)

We hope you join us on this journey and share with us your discoveries, tips, tricks, advice, ideas and suggestions. For your hard work, we offer free subscriptions (for a limited time) online at www.southbaykidsmag.com.

Thank you!

Everard G Strong, Publisher, Editor, and [email protected]

p.s. We offer an online version of this magazine that includes ex-panded stories, extra features, recipes, and much more. There is a catch: the online version is available to subscribers only, so sign up today. (Did we mention that it’s free? It’s free.)

4small talk

Behind the scenes

If you’ve never made the trek out to the Bay Area Discovery Museum, located literally at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Baker in Sausalito, you owe it to your kids to set aside an upcoming weekend and head out.

Reconfigured from old army barracks, the Museum offers your children a multi-sensory experience, where they can learn by touching, squeezing, poking, pushing, twirling, and … discovering. Because the science and exhibits tie in directly to the physics, weather, flora, and fauna of to the Bay Area, children can walk away and relate what they’ve learned with their everyday life. Find out more at www.baykidsmuseum.org.

To Jennifer Caleshu and all the wonderful staff at the Museum, a heartfelt thank you for opening your doors to us. Thanks also to assistant Shaun Fenn, stylist Sharon Maloney, studio teacher Christine Bloomingdale, and hair and make up artist nancy Cialdella, and most of all to our wonderful models tova and Aviva e., and Casey K (and thank you to J e Models). We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Your turn

We’re already planning our next shoot. Want your child to be a part of it? Send us a photo (head shot preferable) to [email protected]. No guarantees, but we try.

editor’s letter

introductions

sound checKgueSt DJ

Jenny F., Palo Alto

this issue’s theme:More Money

Money (That’s What I Want)

The Beatles

I Want to Be Rich Calloway

Give Me Some Money Spinal Tap

Opportunities Pet Shop Boys

For the Love of Money Bulletboys

Please Please Let Me Get

What I Want The Smiths

Money for Nothing Dire Straits

Money Pink Floyd

Money Talks AC/DC

If I Had a $1,000,000

Barenaked Ladies

Next issue: songs about getting old. Send your picks to

[email protected]


online only eDiTion

Last Minute Guide to …Bay Area Kids presents a

Special Issue FREE to subscr ibers of Bay Area Kids magazine

The Holiday Season!

Last minute

gIFt IdEaS

REcIpES

aRt pRojEctS

dEcoRatIng tIpS

and moRE!

A free gift from Bay Area Kids

to you

Good things do come to those who wait [until the last minute]

As a special gift to current and new Bay Area Kids magazine subscribers,

we are introducing our online-only Last Minute Guides series. It’s FREE, so sign up

today at www.bakidsmagazine.com

If you’re not a Bay Area Kids subscriber, sign up today! Not only will you get each regular issue of Bay Area Kids in your mailbox, but you will also receive our Last Minute Guides in your e-mail too!

Your information is not made available to any outside or third parties



event calendar compiled by David MacFadden

Winter 2010

gilroy gardens nights of Fire holiday lights Fri-Sun, 4-9pm, Gilroy

Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152), Gilroy, gilroygardens.org/

holidaylights, (408) 840-7100. Admission and feast combo: $42.99 ages

7-64; $32.99 ages 3-6 and over 65, children under 2 are free. Admission

only, all ages: $29.99. Feast only: $15,99 ages 7-64, $10.99 ages 3-6

and over 65. A Holiday tradition since 2004, come to Gilroy Gardens and

witness Coyote Lake come alive with a laser light show and fireworks that

pulse and dance to the beat of an upbeat holiday soundtrack. Just for the

little ones, is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from Knott’s Merry Farm, at the

Lakeside Amphiteater. Purchase a combo ticket and get a private Peanuts

character show during your Holiday feast. The all-you-can-eat feast includes

honey baked ham, roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean

almondine, apple crisp, beverages, and hot dogs. See ad elsewhere in this

issue for special savings.

taking a drive at gilroy gardens

These listings are provided as a free service to our readers. Submit your event to us (include place, date, and description) online at [email protected]

7play

dates

photo courtesy G

ilroy Gardens


December 1-6

Ansel Adams: early Works Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840, www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, children under 6 and members free. Photographer, musician, naturalist, explorer, critic, and teacher Ansel Adams was a giant in the fi eld of landscape photography and a native Californian. This exhibition focuses on the masterful, small-scale prints

made by Adams from the 1920s to the 1950s. During this time, Adams’s printing style evolved from his soft-focus, warm-toned, painterly “Parmelian prints” of the 1920s, through the sharp-focused photography of the f/64 school that he co-founded with Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham in the 1930s, to the cooler, higher-contrast approach he embraced thereafter.

Musical Holiday Cards Tue and Thu, 3:30pm and 4:30pm; Sat 10:30am, 1:45pm, 3:30pm, Intel Museum, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, (408) 765-0503, www.intel.com/museum. Free. This 45-minute class at the Intel Museum teaches children about computer chip science in every day products while they make a musical greeting card. Reservations required at least 48 hours in advance.

It’s a Kid’s Thing! presents Story Time with Santa Fri 4 & Sat 5, 6pm, Camden Community Center 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, (408) 692-5883, www.itsakidsthing.org. $20 per child. Santa Claus will make a special

visit to read a special holiday story. Every child will have a photo taken with Santa (parents are welcome to bring their own cameras too). Children will enjoy ringing in the holidays making crafts and enjoying cookies and milk. Children are welcome to come dressed in their pajamas for this fun holiday event. Call ahead to register.

San Jose Super Toy, Comic, and Record Show Sat Dec 5, 11am-4pm, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose, www.timetunnelnews.

blogspot.com. $5 adults, $2.50 children under 12. There will be no shortage of unique holiday gifts here. Over 200 toy, comic book, and record vendors sell new and vintage items. There will be a huge variety of Hot Wheels, GI Joes, LEGO, Godzilla, dolls, Transformers, Star Wars, Disney, model kits, robots, and records and comics of all genres.

Great dickens Christmas Fair Fri-Sun 1am-7pm, Dec 4-20, Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., San Francisco, (415) 453-4474, www.dickensfair.com. $22 adults, $10 children 5-11, children under 5 are free. Children of all ages will discover the characters of Charles Dickens’ London close-up and personal in a boisterous and authentically recreated victorian atmosphere featuring more than 700 costumed players, colorful characters from literature and history, six stages, and winding lanes fi lled with theaters, shoppes, pubs, and delicious fare. 100,000 square feet of exhibition halls transform into a victorian Christmas card come to life.

NPR’s From The Top Celebrates Tenth Anniversary in Stanford lively Arts Program. Sat 5, 8pm, Dinkelspeil Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Dr., Stanford Univ., http://livelyarts.stanford.edu/, (650) 725-ARTS. $40-$46 adults, $10 Stanford students, under 18 half price. Host and acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley will join some of the Bay Area’s most promising young classical musicians for a taping of the hit radio program From the Top, presented by Stanford Lively Arts on Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m. in Dinkelspiel Auditorium.

Young performers include 13-year-old violinist Stephen Waarts from Los Altos; 16-year-old cellist Nathan Chan from Hillsborough (featured on the 2006 HBO documentary The Music in Me); 16-year-old pianist Jade Huang from Granite Bay who, in addition to being an award-winning pianist, performs oboe and clarinet with Granite Bay High School’s marching band; and the 29-member Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Benjamin Simon. If you can’t make it to the live show, tune in March 1 to hear it on-air.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs Tues-Sun 9am-6:30pm; Fri 9am-8:45pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, www.deyoungmuseum.org, (415) 750-3600. There are several pricing structures and special discounts for the exhibit. Call or go online for more information. Egypt is building a mega museum to house this exhibit on a permanent basis, which means this might be the last chance for your family to see over 130 artifacts that once belonged to the Boy King and other Egyptian Pharaohs.

December 7-13

Ansel Adams: early Works Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840, www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, children under 6 and members free. See Dec 1-6.

Musical Holiday Cards Tue and Thu, 3:30pm and 4:30pm; Sat 10:30am, 1:45pm, 3:30pm, Intel Museum, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, (408) 765-0503, www.intel.com/museum. Free. See Dec 1-6.

It’s a Kid’s Thing! presents Story Time with Santa Fri 12 & Sat 13, 6pm, Camden Community Center 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, (408) 692-5883, www.itsakidsthing.org. $20 per child. See Dec 1-6.

Gilroy Gardens Nights of Fire Holiday lights Fri-Sun, 4-9 pm, Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152), Gilroy, gilroygardens.org/holidaylights, (408) 840-7100. Admission and feast combo: $42.99 ages 7-64; $32.99 ages 3-6 and over 65, children under 2 are free. Admission only, all ages: $29.99. Feast only: $15,99 ages 7-64, $10.99 ages 3-6 and over 65. See Dec 1-6. See ad elsewhere in this issue for special savings.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs Tues-Sun 9am-6:30pm; Fri 9am-8:45pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, www.deyoungmuseum.org, (415) 750-3600. Call or go online for pricing information. See Dec 6.

Great dickens Christmas FairFri-Sun 1am-7pm, Dec 4-20, Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., San Francisco, (415) 453-4474, www.dickensfair.com. $22 adults, $10 children 5-11, children under 5 are free. See December 1-6.

December 14-20

Ansel Adams: early WorksTue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840, www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, children under 6 and members free. See Dec 1-6.

tutankhamun and the golden age of pharaohs Tues-Sun 9am-6:30pm; Fri 9am-8:45pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, www.deyoungmuseum.org, (415) 750-3600. There are several pricing structures and special discounts for the exhibit. Call or go online for more information. Egypt is building a mega museum to house this exhibit on a permanent basis, which means this might be the last chance for your family to see over 130 artifacts that once belonged to the Boy King and other Egyptian Pharaohs.


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playdates

P&T Puppets’ The Night Before Chris Mouse Tue 15, 3pm-3:45pm, Almaden Branch Library, 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, (408) 808-3040, www.sjlibrary.org. Come and enjoy the creative talent of the P&T Puppet Theater troupe. They will be doing the ever popular The Night Before Chris Mouse. A P&T Puppet Theatre original Based on Aesop’s Fable of the belling of the cat. This all mouse (and cat) cast will delight all ages. Set to the music of Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Beethoven.



Gilroy Gardens Nights of Fire Holiday lights Program Sat-Sun, 4-9 pm, Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152), Gilroy, gilroygardens.org/holidaylights, (408) 840-7100. Admission and feast combo: $42.99 ages 7-64; $32.99 ages 3-6 and over 65, children under 2 are free. Admission only, all ages: $29.99. Feast only: $15,99 ages 7-64, $10.99 ages 3-6 and over 65. See Dec 1-6. See ad elsewhere in this issue for special savings.


Great dickens Christmas Fair Fri-Sun, 1am-7pm, Dec 4-20, Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., San Francisco, (415) 453-4474, www.dickensfair.com. $22 adults, $10 children 5-11, children under 5 are free. See Dec. 1-6.

December 21-27

Ansel Adams: early Works Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840, www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. $8 adults, $5 students and seniors,

children under 6 and members free. See Dec 1-6.




Gilroy Gardens Nights of Fire Holiday lights Fri-Sun, 4-9 pm, Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy (Hwy 152), Gilroy, gilroygardens.org/holidaylights, (408) 840-7100. Admission and feast combo: $42.99 ages 7-64; $32.99 ages 3-6 and over 65, children under 2 are free. Admission only, all ages: $29.99. Feast only: $15,99 ages 7-64, $10.99 ages 3-6 and over 65. See Dec 1-6. See ad elsewhere in this issue for special savings.

December 28-January 3


January 4-10


Adventures in Music Classes Sat 9, 9:30 and 10:30, Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, (650) 917-6800, www.arts4all.org. $70 per child for four-week session. Enjoy singing, creative movement, musical games, listening while playing

harlem globetrotters Fri 15, 7:30pm and Sun 17, 2pm, HP Pavilion, San Jose; Sat 16, 2pm and 7:30pm, Oracle Arena, Oakland, www.harlemglobetrotters.com. $20-$157 per person. For 84 tremendous years, the Harlem Globetrotters have thrilled audiences around the world. Today, a new generation of stars carries on this storied tradition with timeless basketball exhibitions.


TICKETSlivelyarts.stanford.edu

650-725-ARTS

stanford

SeaSon

“From the top” with

ChRISTophER o’RIlEy

DECEmbER 5 | 8 pmDinkelspiel AuDitorium

Pianist O’Riley leads a live taping of the popular public radio program, showcasing talented young classical musicians.

Tea wiTh ChaChaji:

mAKIng booKS SIng

FEb 28 | 11 Am & 2 pmDinkelspiel AuDitorium

Innovative children’s-theater company Making Books Sing brings modern literary favorite Chachaji’s Cup to life onstage.

UpComIng ShoWS: morphoses/the wheeldon Co. (1.22), Vusi mahlasela (2.19), Cedar lake Contemporary Ballet (4.21)

AnD mAny moRE!

TWo ShoWS!

yoUTh TICKETS hAlF pRICE!


simple instruments & dancing with

scarves, beanbags, hoops, ribbons

& parachutes. Learn activities

to share at home in this family-

oriented class. Set you child on

the path to a life-long enjoyment of

music. (Parent/caregiver and child

must attend together; intended for

ages 18 mos. to 5 yrs.).

Celebration of el dia de los Tres

Reyes Magos Sat Jan 9, 10am-

7pm, Sun Jan 10 12pm-5pm,

Children’s Discovery Museum,

180 Woz Way, San Jose, (408)

298-5437, www.ccdm.org. $10

adults and children under 18, $9

seniors 60 and over, infants under

1 free. Join us for a traditional

Three Wise Kings party, complete

with Rosca de Reyes bread,

papel picado crafts, community

performers and appearances by

the Three Wise Kings.

disney live Rockin’ Road

Show Sat Jan 9, 3pm; Sun Jan

10, 12pm and 3pm, Event Center

at San Jose State University, 290

S. 7th St., San Jose, www.disney.

go.com/disneylive. $22-$60 per

person. Get ready to dim the

lights and raise the curtain—

Mickey Mouse is in the house and

he’s setting the stage for fun—

just for you! But first he’ll need to

find some amazing acts to put in

his show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy,

and Donald all head off on an

adventure and find some great

friends to help them out!

Gilroy Gardens Nights of Fire

Holiday lights Program Mon-

Wed Dec 26-30, 4-9 pm, Gilroy

Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy

(Hwy 152), Gilroy, gilroygardens.

org/holidaylights, (408) 840-7100.

Admission and feast combo:

$42.99 ages 7-64; $32.99 ages

3-6 and over 65, children under 2

are free. Admission only, all ages:

$29.99. Feast only: $15,99 ages

7-64, $10.99 ages 3-6 and over 65.

See Dec 1-6. See ad elsewhere in

this issue for special savings.

» Chabot’s Tenth Annual Balloon

drop Wed 31, 10:45 AM (ages

6 and under in the Rotunda);

12:45 and 3:45 PM (ages 5 and

under in the Discover Lab, ages

6 and up in the Rotunda) Chabot

Space and Science Center, 10000

Skyline Blvd., Oakland, (510)

336-7373, www.chabotspace.

org. $4 per child for members,

$4 plus admission to Chabot for

guests. Start or continue a family

tradition—celebrate New Year’s

Eve with your kids during the

daytime. Kids will have a blast

ringing in 2010 without staying up

past their bedtime! Two locations

available for kids of all ages to

enjoy. Don’t miss the celebration!

(Event co-sponsored by Bay Area

Kids and www.MomsLikeMe.com)

Tutankhamun and the Golden

Age of Pharaohs Tues-Sun 9am-

6:30pm; Fri 9am-8:45pm. Golden

Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea

Garden Dr., San Francisco, www.

deyoungmuseum.org, (415) 750-

3600. Call or go online for pricing

information. See Dec 6.

January 11-17

Ansel Adams: early Works

Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose

Museum of Art, 110 South Market

St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,

www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org.

$8 adults, $5 students and seniors,

children under 6 and members

free. See Dec 1-6.

Adventures in Music Classes Sat

16, 9:30 and 10:30, Finn Center,

230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain

View, (650) 917-6800, www.

arts4all.org. $70 per child for four-

week session. See Jan 4.

Harlem Globetrotters Fri Jan

15, 7:30pm and Sun Jan 17,

2pm, HP Pavilion, San Jose,

www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

$20-$157 per person. For 84

tremendous years, the Harlem

Globetrotters have thrilled

audiences around the world.

Today, a new generation of stars

carries on this storied tradition with

timeless basketball exhibitions.

San Carlos Children’s

Theater presents Guys and

Dolls Junior Wed-Fri 7pm; Sat

1pm and 7pm; Sun 1pm, Jan

13-17, Central MIddle School

Auditorium, 828 Chestnut St., San

Carlos, (650) 594-2730, www.

sancarloschildrenstheater.com.

$10 per person in advance, $12 at

the door. A youth cast takes on the

classic musical about a gambler

trying to make good. Includes

the songs “Luck Be a Lady” and

“Fugue for Tinhorns.”









January 18-24




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.




View, (650) 917-6800, www.











disney live Rockin’ Road Show Sat Jan 9, 3pm; Sun Jan 10, 12pm and 3pm, Event Center at San Jose State University, 290 S. 7th St., San Jose, www.disney.go.com/disneylive. $22-$60 per person. Get ready to dim the lights and raise the curtain—Mickey Mouse is in the house and he’s setting the stage for fun—just for you! But first he’ll need to find some amazing acts to put in his show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald all head off on an adventure and find some great friends to help them out!

playdates


KEvIN PATTERSON, who along with his wife produces the Great Dickens Christmas Fair (through December 21 in San Francisco’s Cow Palace), calls the fair an “improvisational participation event.”

Kevin should know about these things—his parents staged the first Renaissance Pleasure Faire, back in 1963; he’s been part of that world ever since (Kevin was born in 1960). In 1970, his family decided to branch off from the original idea and create something for the winter months—and the Great Dickens Christmas Fair was born.

“I was one of Fagan’s boys in the first festivals, literally going through the crowd picking pockets [Fagan is a scheming con artist in Charles Dickens’ classic book Oliver Twist]. He (Fagan) had a stage where he pontificated about proper behavior and morals—meanwhile we were picking pockets of the unsuspecting guests. We would then bring our loot on stage for Fagan, much to the astonishment of the audience.”

Be assured that the days of picking pockets are over, but the overall experience has grown since then—the Fair had to move out of its original haunts ion Pier 49 to its present location in the Cow Palace.

GReAT exPeCTATIoNSCelebrating 30 years of immersive theater, the Dickens Fair is a faithful recreation of victorian London as seen through the eyes of the author Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfiled). For four weekends from November through December, guests can stroll down lamplit streets and encounter characters from Dickens’ books alongside everyday residents of London—with everyone

bedecked in authentic era costumes. Look close and you might spy Tiny Tim running down an alley, Ebenezer Scrooge being escorted by one of his three ghosts, or maybe … wait … Is that? … it is! … It’s Father Christmas!

A TAle oF TWo CITIeSPlanning for the event begins almost as soon as the last one’s over “It takes roughly three weeks to build all the sets,” explains Kevin. Populating this stage is a logistical challenge in and of itself. Over 600 performers—some professionally paid but most volunteers—must attend workshops where they learn the proper etiquette, dialect, and social mores of victorian London. “Authenticity is key,” says Kevin. Many of these cast members have been part of the fair for a very long time and have made their involvement in the fair their main Holiday tradition: “We’ve had people meet at the Fair, get married at the Fair, have children who attended the fair; and now their children’s children are attending the fair. We are a big family here.”

A CHIld’S HISToRy oF eNGlANdThough just attending the Fair might be enough excitement for many children, there are several child-centric activities and attractions available: children can go on a special tour of London; frolic in the Sugar Plum Playhouse, catch a Punch and Judy puppet show (performed by Kevin’s brother Brian, a world-renowned Punch and Judy puppeteer), or learn how to dance at Fezziwig’s Warehouse. Several games and craft booths are present too, where curious children can make orna-ments or try their hand at creating authen-tic brass rubbings. And be sure to pencil in time for Father Christmas’ lap—he’s very eager to hear what children hope to find under the Christmas tree.

All of this excitement is sure to create an appetite—a good thing as you can dine on what many visitors consider the best fish and chips this side of the Atlantic. There are also meat pies and other authentic recipes to salivate over and choose from.

event spotlight

What the dickens?

iF You go

great dickens christmas FairNovember 27 through December 20,11am–7pm.Cow Palace Exhibition Hall, San Francisco.DickensFair.com

pricing

General admission: $19/gate for adults, $10/children 5-11; children under 5 get in free. Group rates available. Discount advance tickets available online. Cow Palace parking: $10

11daytrip


January 25-31




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.




View, (650) 917-6800, www.



Cow Wow! Sun Jan 31, 8:30am-

10:30am, Hidden Villa, 26870

Moody Rd., Los Altos Hills, (650)

949-8650, www.hiddenvilla.org.

$20 per person. Rise early and

milk the cow, learn fun cow facts,

proper milking techniques, and

how to make butter. While you’re

there, visit their two new calves

they are so cute! Dress warm

and register early. (For ages five

and up.)









February 1-7




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.

Harry the dirty dog Sun Feb 7,

1pm, Carriage Theatre, 15400

Montalvo Rd., Saratoga, (408)

961-5858, www.montalvoarts.org.

$20 adults, $10 children. Harry has

everything a little white dog with

black spots could want. There’s

just one problem: he hates taking

baths. He hates them so much,

in fact, that one morning he runs

away. ArtsPower’s new musical,

based on the classic book by Gene

Zion with illustrations by Margaret

Bloy Graham, captures both the

whimsical humor and touching

dedication to family found in

Harry’s story.









February 8-14




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.









February 15-21




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.









February 22-28




St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840,




free. See Dec 1-6.

Children’s Musical Theater San

Jose presents Once Upon a

Mattress Thu Feb 25 Sun 28,

Montgomery Theater, 271 S.

Market St., San Jose, (408) 288-

5437, www.cmtsj.org. $24 adults,

$16 children under 13. Check

Web site one month in advance for

exact showtimes. If you thought

you knew the story of The Princess

and The Pea, you may be in for a

walloping surprise! Did you know,

for instance, that it wasn’t the

pea that caused the princess a

sleepless night? Carried on a wave

of hilarious, raucous, and romantic

music, this rollicking spin on the

familiar classic of royal courtship

and comeuppance provides for

some side-splitting shenanigans.

Chances are you’ll never look at

fairy tales quite the same way

again.








information. See Dec 6. BAK

Ansel Adams: early Works Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, San Jose Museum of Art, 110 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 271-6840, www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. $8 adults, $5 students and seniors, children under 6 and members free. Photographer, musician, naturalist, explorer, critic, and teacher Ansel Adams was a giant in the field of landscape photography and a native Californian. This exhibition focuses on the masterful, small-scale prints made by Adams from the 1920s to the 1950s. During this time, Adams’s printing style evolved from his soft-focus, warm-toned, painterly “Parmelian prints” of the 1920s, through the sharp-focused photography of the f/64 school that he co-founded with Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham in the 1930s, to the cooler, higher-contrast approach he embraced thereafter.

playdates


San Francisco’s ghirardelli Square

by everard g Strong

I FIRST ExPERIENCED Ghirardelli Square almost ten years ago, when I had recently moved to the East Bay area. A young single lad in the big city, I used to drive or take the BART into town and end up at the north end of North Beach. Meandering my way across the waterfront stores and bars, I ended most nights in Ana Mandera’s cozy upstairs lounge and bar, where a friend of a friend used to play as part of a jazz trio (if you haven’t experienced Ana Mandera, with its fusion of French and vietnamese cuisine, you are missing on what is probably one of San Francisco’s best culinary secrets). I remember grabbing my cocktail and walking outside to their patio, which was part of the larger Ghirardelli Square. Most nights presented me with an amazing panorama of twinkling night skies, gently rolling waves, and the far off lights across the bay from Sausalito and beyond. On the lucky chance that I might be accompanied by a lady friend, the view provided instant romance.

Time passed, and romance led to marriage which led to babies which led to less and less opportunities to just head out to one of my favorite San Francisco haunts. That all changed, however, the day I brought my daughter (now walking) with me during the holiday season about two years ago. There was a huge Christmas tree, hot chocolate, free chocolate samples (peppermint bark), and carolers, all against the same backdrop that helped define my East Bay experience. My daughter now provided a built-in excuse for me to come back. Unfortunately, with the birth of my son, we didn’t get to make the trip last year.

return of a classic

For those who haven’t been down to Ghirardelli Square ever (or in a while), it has received an update. Many of the art galleries are still present (as is Ana Mandera, thank goodness), but there are some new additions worth the trip this holiday, especially if you have children in tow. One of their newest additions is Peekadoodle Kid’s Club – a membership-based kid’s club that includes classes for children, a kid salon, and an indoor playground. Parents can shop at the boutique, enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee and some tasty tidbits, or just relax in the lounge. It’s also a great place to host your next birthday party!

Other stores include Elizabeth W, Helpers Bazaar, Richter’s Glassworks and Music Boxes, Yap Wraps (for you four-legged best friend), One of A Kind (featuring unique woodwork), and Lola of North Beach, which boasts an impressive array of chic stationery and greeting cards.

To complete your shopping spree (or to take a mid-spree break and relax), head on over to Ghirardelli and splurge on a steaming cup of hot chocolate, an ice cream sundae, or handmade fudge. After your energy boost, take a stroll outside and soak in the view. Breathe it all in, and then, reenergized and refreshed, go back about your merry way.

iF You go

ghirardelli squareis located at 900 at 900 North Point Street, on the West side of Fisherman’s Wharf, two blocks east of van Ness Av-enue and one block west of the Cable Car turnaround at Beach and Hyde Streets.

parKing

validated parking is available onsite.

connect

Ghirardelli Square offers free wireless Internet service. Use wireless connection “Ghirardelli Square.”

15holidayspecial


AS PARENTS, we are inundated with advice from friends, family members, doctors, medical experts, magazine articles (gulp), online sources, and our own consciousness. Muddling through all of this information can sometimes feel daunting and very isolating—you’re not sure what, or how, these choices apply to your own unique circumstances, and what the ramifications might be if you make the wrong choice.

For the holidays, we have compiled a list of books that we believe cut through the information clutter to provide engaging, enlightening, and even entertaining perspec-tives on being a parent in the modern age. Treat yourself to one or more of these titles, or surprise someone on your shopping list.

holidaY Fun

Holiday Jukebox

Five classic Christmas songs you’ve probably never heard.

1. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Originally released in 1953, this charming song (sung by 10 year old Gayla Peevey), will have your child singing along in no time.

2. don’t Shoot Me Santa. Las vegas’ the Killers serve up a South-of-the-Border plea to the Man with the Bag.

3. The 12 days of Christmas. Bob Rivers’ irreverent—and hi-lariously spot-on—summary of the holiday season.

4. Honky the Christmas Goose. Just saying the title makes you laugh. Funnier still, this 1965 ditty is sung by Johnny Bower, who used to play hockey for the Toronto Maple Leaves

5. dominick the Christmas don-key. “Hey! Chingedy ching,hee haw hee haw. It’s Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey.” We kid you not.

Bonus tracK:6. Father Christmas (Give Me

your Money). The Kings sing about a Santa Claus bell-ringer getting mugged outside a gen-eral store by a bunch of kids.

For your listening pleasure. If you like your holiday music on the eccentric side, tune in your virtual radio to San Francisco-based SomaFM.com, and click on their “xmas in Frisko” station.

dIRTy lITTle SeCReTS FRoM oTHeRWISe PeRFeCT MoMSTrisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile“My seven-year-old-son walked in on us having sex. We told him we were doing karate in bed.” Acting as a confessional, the two local moms (both hail from Marin) include quotes from mothers she compiled while researching material for their first book, I Was a Really Good Mom … (Chronicle Books)

THe Poo BoMB: TRue TAleS oF PAReNTAl TeRRoRJeff VogelAn anti-parenting parenting book, vogel offers a no-holds-barred, butt-naked, week-by-week glimpse into the first year of his daughter Cordelia’s life. In the process he voices what many parents are afraid to express: having a baby isn’t all it’s painted out to be. it’s not always pretty, but it is pretty funny. (Andrews McMeel)

THe THRee-MARTINI FAMIly vACATIoNby Christie MellorMellor, who brought us the irreverently funny Three Martini Playdate, returns to push the parenting envelope one step further, this time tackling (literally) the family vacation. With a warmth that seeps through her sometimes acerbic humor, Mellor continues on her quest to help parents recapture their rightful place at the head of the family. (Chronicle Books)

the happiest BaBY on the BlocK (DVD)Harvey Karp. MDDr. Karp’s 5 “S’s” are true lifesavers for parents who have suffered through sleepless nights and countless panicky moments wondering why their baby is cry-ing so much. His so-lutions are instant in their effectiveness.

holiday reading list


Books

4-8 years

BalthaZar and the FlYing piratesWritten by Oliver Chin, illustrated by Justin Roth(Immedium, 2009)San Francisco-based book publisher Immedium specializes in beautifully illustrated children’s books, and the devotion they have to the craft shows in each new release. Artwork is simply stunning, and kids of all ages are immediately engaged in worlds of bright colors, funny creatures, and page-turning prose.

Their latest, Balthazar and the Flying Pirates, keeps their mission alive. Though the story idea might seem revisited—a boy who dreams of being a pirate is visited at night by a sky-sailing bunch of skallywags who are looking for a buried treasure that the boy is somehow linked to—Roth’s illustrations give the story a big-screen treatment, and you feel like you’re fl ipping through stills of some big budget, yet-to-be released animated movie. Keep a space on your kids’ book shelf reserved for Immedium releases, though chances are they won’t stay there too long. – Everard Strong

video game

4-8 years

itZaBitZa Sabi GamesAt its most basic—ideal for younger artistes—ItzaBitza is a free-form doodle board with a mission. For the older Picassos, ItzaBitza provides an interactive storytelling utility where children can literally set the scene and direct the action.

Choosing to be a boy or a girl, users are presented with a scenic background of some sort: prairie, mountain, alien planet; and are then asked by their character to help build: a home, tractor, mailbox, or a spaceship. Drawing is a simple hold-and-click with the mouse as they outline the frame of a house, its roof, door, windows, and so on.

It’s at this point the magic of ItzaBitza comes into play, as the program automatically fi lls in the form to represent its true function. So no matter how shaky your child’s hands are, she can still draw a masterpiece—straight lines are not required or even encouraged. Characters then interact with their new structures, and the fun builds from there.

Available for direct download from their Web site, getting the program up and running is painless, and young children quickly pick up which icon does what and are fully engaged in minutes. With extra scenarios available for download and more on the way, you are assured a variety of stimulations for your child as they continue in their play ($19.99 from www.itzabitza.com). – Everard Strong

Music

a Family christmas Various Artists(Putumayo, 2009)You might think you’ve heard every possible interpretation of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” or “Let it Snow” … and you probably have. But your children haven’t and after all, Christmas is about them anyway. Which is why it’s still fun to hear my two kids gustfully belt out their own versions along with the album.

And, as much as I’ve listened to the whole album oh, about ninety times by now, I still fi nd myself getting caught up in their excitement each time they start singing along. Though the whole album is listenable, highlights include Deana Carter’s humorous “Winter Wonderland,” Martin Sexton’s around-the-campfi re approach to “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and Kate Rusby’s haunting “Here We Come A-Wassailing.” – Everard Strong

Written by Oliver ChinIllustrated by Justin Roth

Treasure Isle

17mixedmedia


18neighbors

Do you have a friend, family member,

neighbor or “other” doing something

worthwhile for our children and the Bay

Area? Send us a note about them to [email protected]

all photos courtesy sp

ontaneous smiley project


Happiness is Where You Find ItRuth Kaiser’s Spontaneous Smiley Project

By Kelly Pollard

A simple smile has the power to shift a mood from cranky to happy in an instant. Orinda artist Ruth Kaiser, mother of three and owner of the popular Tot Drop

daycare service, is a big believer in this. With her keen eye, she has always noticed “smileys”: the way a crack in the sidewalk looks strangely like a smiley face. She sees them everywhere—in car doors and spilled cereal, in clouds, and a scattering of rocks.

A year and a half ago, she took her passion for smileys to Facebook, creating a group that has grown to over 2,500 members.

“I noticed smileys all my life,” Kaiser says. “But it was the advent of the digital camera, with its ability to create art without the cost of printing, that gave me a cheaper way to share art. Someone gave me the idea to go to Facebook [with the idea]. I shared my photos with kids, families, and friends. And then people started sending in their own found smileys.”

Based on this mounting enthusiasm from others for finding smileys, Kaiser launched the Spontaneous Smiley Project and created its own Web presence, www.spontaneoussmiley.com. Through the website, users can upload their own captured smileys. Partnering with the charity Operation Smile—an organization that provides surgeries to children with a cleft lips or palates—Kaiser began donating a dollar for every smiley upload to her Web site.

“My hope is that more businesses and individuals will come forward to take over and donate for a fixed period of time,” Kaiser says.

She foresees the Spontaneous Smiley Project expanding into local schools as well.

“High schools and junior colleges have incorporated smileys into their photography classes.”

Smileys seem a natural fit for a school environment.


Kaiser has talked to schools about using the Smiley Project as a fundraiser, somewhat akin to a walkathon, where kids take pledges for how many smiley images they can collect in a two week window.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Kaiser says. “Kids earn money for schools. They learn computer skills by uploading pictures and using software to crop and enhance their images. As each smiley arrives, more donations go toward Operation Smile.”

Parents also have a lot to learn from the art of capturing smileys in their surroundings. Kaiser tells of one mother who recounted how looking for smileys while waiting in her car between shuttling her children from various activities shifted her mood from irritation to creating a peaceful interlude, where that moment became just as important as the millions of to-dos she needed to cross off her list at home. Some of Kaiser’s most eager contributors to Spontaneous Smiley are children. “Kids are often the ones that say ‘Mom! Pull over, I see a smiley in that fence.’ Or, ‘Look, Grandpa’s car is smiling at me!’”

“It makes me so happy that the project makes people change their outlook,” Kaiser says. “Smileys force you to pay attention and take some time to notice the beauty around you.”

This mindset carries over into the sometimes monotonous task of parenting.

“Don’t be upset that your kid spilled the Cheerios on the floor,” Kaiser says. “Look for a smiley with your child. One parent did and uploaded it to the web site.” By finding this, a frustrating occurrence became a bonding moment, a moment of noticing the surprising image in daily life.

“I receive uploads from all over the world. It’s surreal, how I can wake up one day and find a smiley from New Zealand in my inbox.”

This winter, Kaiser is taking her own smiley images to a show at Eclectix Gallery in El Cerrito (eclectix.com), from December 11 to January 23. Kaiser’s smileys are also on display at Photolab Gallery in Berkeley through January 2 (www.photolaboratory.com), 2010 as well. There, the smileys will step out of the virtual world and sit fixed on gallery walls, some themed ones (potato smileys, car door smileys) grouped in frames together.

Kaiser hopes the publicity from the gallery shows will encourage more budding photographers to upload to her website and generate more donations for Operation Smile.

“The Spontaneous Smiley Project is a mindset that is not so much about being open to finding the Smileys 24/7 as is it about being open to finding the Joy 24/7.”

For more information about The Spontaneous Smiley Project, upcoming gallery shows or to upload your smiley, visit www.spontaneoussmiley.com.



22naturecalls

Bay Area Kids has partnered with Bay Nature magazine to bring some unique

stories about the natural side of the Bay Area. Find out more at

www.baynature.org

Top Billing for Shorebirds

winter is a great season to take the kids bird watching

by Alan Kaplan

Illustration: Tim Gunther, www.gunthergraphics.biz


From the richmond shoreline to the richardson Bay, Heron’s Head Park, or the Palo Alto Baylands, there are good shorebird watching spots all around the Bay. these parks invite family-friendly bird-watching, and you can always count on seeing birds in winter. (Download a helpful “Birding the Bay trail” brochure at baytrail.org.)

You can also attend a guided event at one of the region’s many nature centers, such as the Don edwards national wildlife refuge’s Alviso en-vironmental education Center ((408) 262-5513) or the richardson Bay Audubon Center in Marin ((415) 388-2524). if your biggest challenge is get-ting the kids to take out their earbuds, go with the flow and download the wetlands podcasts from www.your-wetlands.org. these audio shows cov-er great birding areas in the South Bay salt ponds and along Highway 37 in the north Bay. – Dan rademacher

A s summer turns to fall, thousands of shorebirds return to the shoreline and mudflats of San

Francisco Bay, either for a pit stop on their way south or to stay for the winter. Sometimes many different kinds gather in one place. How can you tell them apart? Watch for a little while and you can begin to sort them out by size and shape, by where they stand and, most of all, by their bills and how they use them.

Those bills have something else to teach us: There are a lot of critters hiding along the shore, and each bird has a bill fit to catch some of them for lunch.

As the tide goes out, long-legged marbled godwits, with upturned, mostly pinkish bills, will be in the water, so impatient to feed that they sometimes plunge their entire bill and head underwater as they probe the mud for worms, shrimp, and other creatures. The godwits probe, take two or three strides, and probe again. They use their long, sensitive bills to grab anything that feels like food. They’ve been seen grabbing fifty food items in a minute, but they drop about twenty percent of what they catch.

Another long-legged shallow-water feeder is the American avocet, whose trademark behavior is a sweeping motion of its upcurved bill as it walks forward, filtering tiny shrimp and even small fish. The bill—more curved on females, less on males—cuts like a scythe through water easier than a straight bill would, and can shut faster on its prey.

As the ebbing tide uncovers more of the mudflat, dowitchers and willets arrive. Dowitchers have long, straight, sturdy bills that they use to probe deeply in a “stitching” rhythm as they step across the wet mud. The sensitive tip of their upper bill is movable, to grasp food. Being able to move just the tip to grab a worm or mole crab makes it easier to feed in mud: Imagine trying to open that entire bill against the pressure of thick mud! This sensitive, movable tip is particularly noticeable on the extremely long bill of the well-named long-billed curlew, the largest of our shorebirds. Its downcurved tool can be almost as long as the bird’s body (nearly nine inches in the female). Why would it have such a long bill? For reaching deep into the mud to catch food other birds can’t

reach. The curlew feeds alone probably because it needs more “elbow room” for its big, bent bill.

Dunlins, with their much shorter, slightly downcurved black bills, are usually seen in groups and in winter can sometimes be the most abundant shorebird in view. During the day, they hunt by sight, picking up small invertebrates from the surface of wet mud. They also probe, with a rapid stitching motion (several times per second). Such a “switch-hitting” strategy comes in handy at night.

San Francisco Bay is one of the most important wintering area for shorebirds in the western United States, with so many places to spot them. Because shorebirds are faithful to their wintering grounds, you could be seeing the same birds at your favorite (and their favorite) spots, year after year. Notice where the birds take a stand, observe their style, and always check the bill.

Alan Kaplan retired in 2005 after a thirty-three year career with the East Bay Regional Park District. He contributed to the Encyclopedia of Insects, second edition (Academic Press, 2009), and the Encyclopedia of Islands (UC Press, 2009).


To Love, To Hold, To Feed

A Bay Area couple look for common ground in their love for each other, their kids, and for food

24family

matters

Do you have a friend, family member,

neighbor or “other” doing something

worthwhile for our children and the Bay

Area? Send us a note about them to [email protected]



There’s a certain glamour that enshrouds modern-day chefs, and in many circles they are considered rock stars. Foodies follow their every move, and can quote the last five menu changes for their favorite restaurant, along with the last accolades lauded on its head chef by Hearty Appetite magazine.

As Hollywood is home to musicians chasing their million-dollar record deal dreams, the Bay Area hosts as many restaurants led by chefs looking to be the next Alice Waters (owner and chef of the world-famous Chez Panisse). Keeping track of the openings and closings of the next trendy restaurant is akin to looking at a Billboard Magazine monthly top ten list, (and sometimes these new restaurants last just as long). Chefs either fade into the Bay’s culinary backwaters, or, as many musicians do, they continue producing new material that pleases earnest followers while coaxing in new fans.

Chefs Gayle Pirie and John Clark—head chefs for San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema restaurant—fall into the latter. Taking over the kitchen in 2001, the duo implemented a daily-changing Mediterranean influenced menu and a full oyster bar. At the time, the restaurant sat on one of those “Trendy” lists, and was well known more for the concept—foreign cinema while eating—then for the actual menu choices.

“It’s no longer trendy,” says Gayle. “It’s just a good restaurant.”

The two know something about food, having been a part of the local—and international—restaurant business for over two decades. Tenures at Zuni Cafe and Chez Panisse, and a globe-trotting consulting business (John and Gayle spent two years in Hong Kong developing two new restaurants there) have earned them critical praise from critics and foodies alike. Since taking over Foreign Cinema, the destination has won them three stars from the San Francisco Chronicle and nine consecutive Top 100 rankings. Not busy enough, they also published two cookbooks, Country Egg, City Egg (2000), and Bride and Groom (2006), and have just finished up their third.

This story, however, is not about the restaurant itself, it’s about Gayle and John’s life outside of the restaurant, a life that includes a home in Berkeley, and a boy (Magnus, 9) and a girl (Pearl, 3). It’s a story about finding balance within and without a family; it’s a story about love.

The two met at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. “John was the pizza chef, I was the salad girl. I was 21, he was 25.” It was love at first sight. Since then they have literally been inseparable, working alongside each other in kitchens and in their consulting business.

Then came Magnus.“It was hard to find balance with him,

figure out how to adapt to a child in our lives,” says Gayle. “Pearl, our second, was much harder to adjust to. We had to make a huge change at the restaurant.”

They’ve adapted to their roles by playing as a tag team, with one of them staying home with the children while the other one manages the restaurant. In essence, though together, they also adopt the role of being a single parent.

“A single parent with two children is far tougher than being at a restaurant,” confided Gayle. “The difference is staff. At home you’re constantly doing something—cleaning, bathing, always occupied.”

Within this hectic lifestyle, both John and Gayle try to keep things as normal as possible for Magnus and Pearl while looking for common ground in their


relationship—and their individual lives—when and where they can. For Gayle, this regrouping involves trips to the gym, acupuncture, and serving as a teacher to her staff at the restaurant and focus on planning its daily menu. As a couple, they set date nights, two or (if they’re lucky) three times a month.

As a family, both of them try to keep their children’s creativity and participation involved, whether it’s playing Monopoly, taking a family trip to Rome, or introducing them to the world of culinary exploration.

“One of our basics is fresh Parmesan Regianno with noodles and butter—what kid doesn’t like that? Just make sure to use real cheese, it’s worth the price and the effort.”

Cooking at home, even for two renowned chefs, can be a chore. “Sometimes I come home and don’t want to touch the kitchen,” says Gayle. “I’m exhausted when I come home. Sometimes disgruntled and exhausted. Usually I like to get them involved in cooking, but sometimes it just slows things down, especially with homework and preschool to plan for.”

So Gayle keeps it simple in the home kitchen. “We eat a lot of fish, pickles, rice. Organic foods.

Magnus likes making his own garlic bread. Pearl likes anything.”

They try to introduce new f lavors to their children, like Japanese crab rolls, and seaweed, and tacos, but she doesn’t push it. What they do try is imbue a sense of respect for food into their children. Pearl is too young to really grasp the notion yet, but Magnus is catching on. Whether it’s not wasting food or learning to respect the life of a crab before cooking it.

“Keep cooking user-friendly,” advises Gayle. “For children, food should look like what it is.” (Foreign Cinema has a children’s menu that includes finger foods like a dish of pears and cheese.) “If it get’s too complicated, then they don’t like it as much. When you have sophisticated layers they don’t taste it so much. Keep it simple and real.” Good advice in the kitchen and in life. BAK

we ask Chef gayle Pirie,

What’s on your nightstand?

1. Notes on a Life, by Eleanor Copolla

2. Musician Magazine, circa 1990, with Jimmy Page on the cover. “I love Led Zeppelin.”

3. Screamfree Parenting by Hal E Runkel (WaterBrook Press, 2007)

FOREIGN CINEMA’S

PASTA CARBoNARARecipe by Chef Gayle Pirie

ingreDientS1 lb (or just under) long noodles (spaghettini, fedelini or linguine) 6 thick slices smoky bacon2 Tbsp pure olive oil 4 eggs Chunk of Parmesan cheese, freshly gratedFreshly ground black pepper to taste Salt to taste

MetHOD1 Bring slightly salted water to a boil in a large pot. Cook the

noodles until tender but fi rm. 2 While the noodles cook, dice the bacon and cook it in the olive

oil until just lightly crisped in a medium sauté pan. Pour off the excess fat, reserving 4 tablespoons in the pan.

3 In a bowl, beat the eggs and season with a little salt.4 Drain the noodles, saving about 2 tablespoons of water for

later. If the pan has cooled down, warm it up again right before adding the noodles.

5 Add the noodles to the warm bacon in the pan; thoroughly toss with the oil and bacon, and season with salt. Work fast and pour the beaten eggs onto the warm noodles and mix well to coat the noodles.

6 Add the reserved pasta water if the noodles look dry. The heat of the noodles and the pan will thicken and set the eggs. If there is not enough heat, turn the burner on very low, just to warm the noodles, then turn it off. Too much heat can scramble the eggs.

7 Once the noodles, egg and bacon are well mixed, add freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and stir. Freshly ground black pepper is an essential addition. Serve in warm pasta bowls. Serves 4


28indoorliving

Do you have a cool kids bedroom,

playroom, outdoor area, or tree house? Send us photos and

a bit about the project and you could be considered for an upcoming article!

E-mail info to [email protected]

Room with A ViewMurals bring the great outdoors in

by Emily Farish Brown

design strategies Here are some basic guidelines to follow as you develop your mural. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, keep the following in mind to ensure a successful result:color Keep it on the softer side. You’ll create more distance with a lighter palette.horizon line Lower it a bit for smaller children. Add a few sailboats in the bay or an airplane

in the sky—or ever a blimp!

do it YourselF or hire a proFessional?To paint a mural yourself, start by griding off one of your photos (an 8x10 works best). Using a pencil, grid the wall the same way and sketch the landscape section by section. Use water-based house paints or artist paints on a flat, primed wall. In high-traffic areas, clear coat with a low-sheen, water-based polyurathane. Want some help with the mural? Find a skilled muralist by calling children’s furniture stores and asking the store owner for a referral.


y ou’ve invited the in-laws for the holidays—the whole clan—and the weatherman is predicting rain. Visions of a house full of kids wired on holiday candy start to

dance in your head. what you need is more space—and fast. if adding a few more rooms to the house in the next few

weeks isn’t a possibility, try adding the illusion of more space with a landscape mural. when you add a landscape mural to a room, the walls dissapear and the whole room feels bigger.

Play rooms, bedrooms, even family rooms can be transformed into seemingly wide, open spaces. whether you paint one wall or the whole room, a room with a view is a room that will become a window to the world beyond... rain or shine.

need help choosing the best scene for a mural? Ask your kids: the Bay Area offers some of the most inspiring views in the world. Visit some of the surrounding vistas and let your child take photos of the views that inspire them the most.

A few places to consider:giants stadium the next time you’re

in the sta dium, take photos from the top bleacher looking out at the water. Sports fans and nature enthusiasts alike will appreciate this view.

golden gate Bridge Does anyone ever tire of this symbol of grace and beauty? try taking photos from both sides of the bridge to see which views you like the best.

Briones state park want a mural that is a little less thematic? go for a hike and take photos from valleys and hilltops—a combination of views can make very dramatic landscapes.

Mt. diablo this scene is guaranteed to lift the spirits of anyone who walks into the room. with its majestic peak visible from so many angels, photograph it from different places to find the most rewarding view.

Emily Farish Brown is the owner of Emilly Farish Designs, www.emilyfarish.com.


30common

unity

What are your thoughts on this

story? How is religion handled in your

household? Send us a note at editor@

bakidsmagazine.com



Christmas cheer: caroling, eggnog all around, everyone gathering around the tree and ogling their presents. Is this a familiar, comfortable scene for you? If you feel that something’s not quite right

with this picture, know that you are hardly alone. Your sentiments are shared by a growing number of families whose holiday experiences may include a blend of Christmas and such attendant holidays like Hannukah, Hijra, Ashura, Solstice, and Kwanzaa.

Interfaith families—family members who practice different faiths (or no faith at all)—are very common in the Bay Area. Some of these families eagerly look forward to the December holidays, when they enjoy sharing the rituals and practices of their own religions. Others, dreading this time because it triggers such stress with conflicting allegiances, can’t wait for the New Year to arrive.

Bay Area Kids magazine talked to three Bay Area interfaith couples who generously shared their perspectives about how they navigate through this emotionally-charged period. We also asked a minister to gives some insight into how families can better deal with the issues that may emerge when their individual beliefs and collide.

Mixed Blessings: The Insdorf-Petricevic family Like many Bay Area families, Oakland residents Jason Insdorf and wife Tania Petricevic consider the December holidays an extended family affair. Tania, from a large Latin family, was raised a Christian while living in several cities across the world. While her family lived in Guatemala, they made Christmas Eve

the big focus. “My family is very Americanized. We lived similar lives like other embassy kids in South America—on Christmas Eve we would have a nice dinner, share gifts and somewhere you might find an image of Jesus in his cradle, but it was not a big focus.”

“I met my husband Jason in a Jewish religion class at a Florida college we both attended. I actually got a better grade than Jason in that class, although he was raised Jewish.” Meeting a Jewish person was a bit of a curiosity to her, she says, since she never met one in Bolivia during the years she lived there.

Honoring their ancestry. Jason’s religious upbringing was limited mostly to practicing such high holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Since Tania feels more of an affinity for Judaism then Christianity, she and Jason experiment with going to temple. “It requires motivation,” he explains. “I like the music but both of us feel uncomfortable because we are not yet totally committed to going regularly.”

“One of the reasons we started going back to the temple, after an extended absence, was to honor our ancestral traditions,” Tania explains. “Our fifteen month-old boy, Isaac, is named after Jason’s grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. On my husband’s side of the family, only he and his brother are left to carry the family name.” Jason adds: “It’s important for a child to feel rooted in order to understand his place in the world.”

More into Santa than Hannukah. To show respect for Jason’s religious upbringing, Tania wraps her husband’s Christmas gifts in Hannukah colors, blue and white. For Jason, it’s a special treat since his family didn’t exchange holiday gifts he was growing up. “We say a Hebrew children’s prayer and display

Three East Bay families work to keep holiday cheer from turning sour | by Patricia Kutza

Keeping the Faith


both a menorah and mezuzah, the latter which we hang between two door frames.” When asked if they will introduce the concept of Santa into Isaac’s life, Jason laughs. “The holidays are fun and I want to him experience it,” he says. “I don’t mind if he is more into Santa than Hanukkah.”

Celebrating the December holidays for the Insdorf-Petricevic family is less about expressing any religious beliefs than about honoring their ancestry and coming together with their extended families. “Holidays are just a time to get together,” says Jason. “We buy a tree but that’s about the extent of it. No elaborate decorations,” says Tania. “We typically rent a place at Lake Tahoe, go skiing, and just enjoy being with our families.”

Doing Christmas to the Hilt: Ro and Parisa LoBiancoRo LoBianco has had an enduring love affair with everything Christmas. “It’s always been a big deal in my family” says Ro. And he had no qualms about bringing his traditions (and by his admission, too many boxes of decorations) into the blended family created when

he married his wife, Parisa, who has three now-grown girls, ages sixteen, eighteen, and twenty.

“The girls kid me about it and have put up with my over-the-top decorations, even pitching in to help decorate,” says Ro. He appreciates their cooperation since the girls, like their mother, are practitioners of the Baha’i faith, a religion that doesn’t emphasize Christian holidays. “My children have grown up appreciating the diverse faith traditions that exist around us” says Parisa. “When Baha’i children reach the age of fifteen (the age of maturity according to the Baha’i faith), they can then decide if the Baha’i faith is something they want to officially commit themselves to.”

A helping hand. “I think we’ve done very well to honor each other’s faith traditions” Ro says. “Parisa and the girls, previous to our marriage, didn’t observe Christmas. They have all been quite supportive of me and the festivities: Helping decorate the house, getting a Christmas tree together, gathering to observe religious reflection and exchanging presents.”

The very nature of the Baha’i faith is inclusive, says Parisa. This flexibility helps blend Baha’i and

SAnDeeP SAHAi and JOSee MAYette with baby SOPHie

photo C

arolyn C

arcione


surviving holidaY stressCaring ministers, such as rabbi goldblatt of Danville-based Beth-Chaim Congregation, grapple with ways to help embattled interfaith couples survive holiday stress. “there is no one-size fits all answer,” he says. But being respectful of what feels right for you and your family can go a long way towards repairing feelings

“we live in an unprecedented period in history,” says goldblatt. “it’s a time when people have so many different choices for worship. Yet at the same time, there are no road maps or even many models to guide and support couples of different faiths. Also many people have conflicting ideas about what it means to be spiritual. this issue alone creates lots of potential areas for uncertainty and stress.”

while not an easy task, goldblatt says that it is essential that families really think about what their faith means to them and how it fits into their relationship to their community. when you really come down to it, he explains, parents need to decide what really matters to them as adults, what it means to be spiritual and find a way to communicate these concepts to each other and to their children.

Ro’s Catholic/Lutheran faiths into a workable family relationship. “Baha’i followers believe in the oneness of all religions, and are very happy to participate in the celebrations of any religious holidays. I have tried to encourage that spirit in my children since they were very young, even taking them to holiday services such as Christmas and Easter so that they would learn the spiritual significance more than the commercial aspect of these holidays. Although we try to focus our emphasis on Baha’i holy days to strengthen our children’s identity, Baha’is do not have any traditions per se. It is left up to each individual family to create their own traditions for their home. Service toward others and fellowship with others has always been a major part of every Baha’i holy day.”

A five-carol singing Santa. Parisa is gratified that Ro has a genuine interest in learning more about the Baha’i faith and appreciates his willingness to attend many gatherings, workshops, retreats and celebrations with her. “During important Baha’i holy days, like the Declaration of the Bab, Birth of Baha’ullah or the Martyrdom of the Bab, I try to attend these community services.” Ro says. Ro, in turn, appreciates that Parisa and their daughters want to share his faith rituals that include attending both Catholic and Lutheran services: “Parisa has always been such a loving partner to join me at Christmas mass. In fact, she attends church with me whenever she is able and the girls occasionally attend too.”

It’s clear that these Danville residents are looking forward to the holiday season as a time to celebrate their own committed diversity. Says Parisa: “We’re no different than any other family. Out interfaith marriage and family works simply because we have mutual respect for each other’s beliefs. We keep an open mind, and a healthy curiosity, about world religions. When it comes down to it, we all believe in the same things: love of God and each other. So the only thing we have to explain to the girls is why their stepdad can’t part with the Santa head that plays five carols when visitors come to our door!”

The Power of Thoughtful Gestures: Sandeep Sahai and Josee MayetteA thoughtful gesture can go a long way toward bridging a possible divide triggered by the expectations of different cultures and traditions. Josee Mayette experienced its power when she and Sandeep, her husband, traveled to Sandeep’s parents home in India. It was Christmastime and Josee’s first visit to India. “When we arrived, Sandeep’s parents had set up a Christmas tree in their house. I felt it was such a kind gesture,” she recalls. Growing up in India, Christmas was not a big deal around Sandeep’s home. “We exchanged cards, but were more inclined to celebrate the Hindu Diwali New Year.”

Deck the halls. Sandeep knew, however, that this was not the case for Josee. “For me, Christmas was huge,” she explains. “Having a beautifully-decorated tree, lots of food, caroling, and lots of snow … the whole works.” Growing up Catholic, Josee’s family, like many others of that faith, considered Christmas Eve Midnight Mass attendance an intrinsic part of the Christmas ritual. To Josee, the event was also a conflicting ritual.

“My family was poor,” Josee recalls. Her mother taught her not to compare herself to others, but Josee felt uncomfortable that her family could not dress as opulently as others. While this ended up being only a passing concern, what left a much


happy holidays?

ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, we’re in a downturn economy in the Bay Area. Gone are the days of opulent carefree spending. Most everyone feels the pinch—job loss, reduction in pay, coping with their spouse or partner unexpectedly loosing a steady paycheck. On top of that the price of living keeps rising, so not only do some of us have less money to spend, the dollar we have has to stretch farther than it used to.

How do we manage to have a wonderful, fun, meaningful holiday season when there is less financial holiday cheer to go around? Here are a few ideas which will enable you to make you holiday season as joy filled as possible without dipping your stress levels along with your wallet.

1 Take any group you are a part of—your child’s school class, your church or synagogue, your neighborhood mom or dad

group—and host an “item exchange” party. Everyone brings a “gently used” toy, item of clothing, or a household item (read: wedding gifts or baby shower items that were never opened, or once opened, sat on the shelf). All items are placed on display and people take what they know they will be able to “re-gift.” It’s like having a holiday garage sale while you spring clean at the same time.

2 This has almost become cliche, but it still holds true: volunteer some time at a shelter or halfway house and you

will receive back in multiples what you have given. When you share your good energy and thoughtfulness with others who are less fortunate, you feel better about yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable at a food line, volunteer a couple of hours a week at your local animal shelter. Take a dog out for a walk or outdoor play, and your problems will literally melt away with every wag of their tail, guaranteed.

3 Simplify your holiday decorating and planning. It’s very easy to get carried away and feel pressured to create a

holiday that exceeds both your budget and energy. For your family dinner, sacrifice some of the more expensive (and somewhat frivolous) food items and instead focus on creating a meal that helps celebrate the family being together.

The best thing you can do is to give yourself a moment to breathe. When you are feeling less stressed there is more time to experience the joy of the season and appreciate the little blessings life brings to us with each day. – Carol Laurie, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

Find out more about Carol Laurie and her services at www.CenterforNaturalHealthCare.com

more lasting impact on Josee was the apparent disconnect between her church’s physical wealth, as evidenced in the gold tabernacle and ornate vestments, and its message. “I didn’t feel that their message of brotherhood jived with the poverty and other social problems happening in our community,” she explains. Josee also couldn’t reconcile how women were treated in her church—that they were given second-class status in its hierarchy.

Weaving new rituals. Now, married almost ten years, this Bay Area couple believe it’s possible to take the best from both of their religious backgrounds and weave them into a new belief system with rituals that celebrate both their cultural upbringings and their individual ancestral heritage.

The part of Midnight Mass that Josee loves is the shaking of hands with your pew neighbors. “This is my favorite part,” she confesses. “Greeting them encourages a feeling of community.” In that spirit, they chose to have a blend of Hindu, Catholic, and legal marriage ceremonies. While one of the reasons they married in triplicate was to “please their parents,” doing it that way also served a deeper need for both of them to show respect for their elders. In the same vein, the couple says that when their almost five-month-old daughter, Sophie, is old enough, they will have her baptized, a Catholic ritual.

The end-of-year holidays will be another opportunity for the Sahai/Mayette family to strengthen their commitments to each other and their community. Both Sandeep and Josee feel that supporting each others’ beliefs is a strategy that works best for them. “We’d rather explore each other’s point of view than deny them,” he adds. BAK


Stylish DiscoveriesLook at these haute finds we uncovered at the Bay Area Discovery Museum

Photography Christina Fabbri

CAST ANd CReWAssistant Shaun FennStylist Sharon MaloneyStudio teacher Christine BloomingdaleHair and make up nancy CialdellaModels: tova e., Aviva e., and Casey K., courtesy J e Models, inc.

Shot on location at Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito. www.baykidsmuseum.org, in October, 2009.


Her wool dress by Nicole Miller, $108, and Burberry argyle cardigan, $130, both available Bloomingdale’s. Polka dot tights, $12.95 for 2 pack, by H&M. Red and black gingham hat, $12, and silver shimmer ballet flats, $39.95, Nordstrom. Watch, $9.50, Gap Kid’s (www.gap.com).

Him Wool peacoat by Ben Sherman, $129, Neiman Marcus (www.neimanmarcus.com). Plaid button down, $36.50 and wool herringbone vest, $69.50, J.Crew. Ralph lauren Jeans, $65, Macy’s. Reversible belt with rivets, $24, Nordstrom. Adidas Sambas, $31.95, www.zappos.com.


Puffer vest by Juicy Couture $158, Bloomingdale’s (www.bloomingdales.com). Cotton Henley with ruffle, $50, corduroy shorts, $50, plaid button down, $40, all by Ralph lauren available at Bloomingdale’s. Navy cable knit knee-highs, $4.50, Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com). Pocket watch necklace, $15, by Aldo Accessories, San Francisco (www.aldoshoes.com). velvet bow clip, 2 pack, $2.95, by H&M (www.hm.com). Hunter wellies, $61, www.Zappos.com.


Her Fair Isle Cotton Dress, $150, and riding pant Leggings, $42.50, both by Ralph lauren at Macy’s (www.macys.com). Denim shirt, $22.90, boy’s department at Zara Kid’s (www.zara.com). Necklace, $14.50 and flower ring, $28.50, J. Crew. Taffeta ballet flats, 45, (www.jcrew.com).

Him Wool peacoat by Ben Sherman, $129, Neiman Marcus (www.neimanmarcus.com). Plaid button down, $36.50 and wool herringbone vest, $69.50, J.Crew. Ralph lauren Jeans, $65, Macy’s. Reversible belt with rivets, $24, Nordstrom. Adidas Sambas, $31.95, www.zappos.com.


Him Chinos with suspenders, $35.90, gingham button down, $22.90, and scarf, $12.90, Zara Kid’s. Corduroy vest, $80 and blazer, $175, both by Ralph lauren at Bloomingdale’s. Suede bucks, $40, by School Issue at www.Zappos.com.

Her Cotton cardigan with ruffle, $49.50, J.Crew. Skinny jeans by Ralph lauren, $59, Macy’s. Foot Mates Cheer Shoes, $44.95, www.Zappos.com. Gund monkey, $20, Neiman Marcus.


Her Striped cardigan by Burberry, $140, boy’s department at Neiman Marcus. Embroidered skirt by Halabaloo, $72, Neiman Marcus. White button down with ruffle, $29.50, J.Crew. Tortoise ballet flats, $108, www.jcrew.com. Wool beret, $24, Janie and Jack. Pirate necklace, $15, Aldo Accessories.

Him Army jacket, $75, J.Crew. Thermal hoodie by Ralph lauren, $75. Plaid flannel button down, $44, Red Wagon. Super skinny jeans by levi’s, $29.99, Macy’s.



Her Floral dress, $68, wool/cashmere cardigan, $68, and bracelet, $10.50, J.Crew. Ivory grosgrain ribbon headband, Gap Kid’s, $16.50 for 3 pack. Grey cable knee highs, $6.90, Zara Kid’s.



Her Left Wool, plaid blazer by Ralph lauren, $375, boy’s department, Bloomingdale’s. Wool and cashmere sweater, $59.50, J.Crew. Distressed skinny jean by Roxy, $46, Macy’s. Army watch by Captain, $14, Nordstrom. Robot necklace, $15, Aldo Accessories. Suede bucks by School Issue, $40, at www.Zappos.com.

Him Left Nylon deck jacket, $78, www.jcrew.com. Rolling Stones tee, $36, Bloomingdale’s. Chinos, $24.50 and leather belt, 16.50, both available at Gap Kid’s.


Author Elise Cooke tries not to look when one of her kids goes over a ski jump. visit

her online at www.simpletonsolutions.com

46sporting

news


the Family that skis together …

tahoe’s kid-friendly ski resorts

by Elise Cooke



You’ve been talking about it the last couple of winters, but this season, actually go through with it. Yes, we’re talking about taking your kids skiing (or snowboarding) for their first time. To ease your mind and make the

decision easier, many ski resorts have wonderful kid-friendly amenities in place just for such occasions; taking your kids to shush down the slopes really isn’t as onerous as you might think.

The greater Lake Tahoe area—specifically on the California side of the lake (near the North Shore, though the South Shore offers some nice areas too)— offers Bay Area families ideal skiing conditions. We’ve provided some specifics about these ski resorts and what they have to offer young family members.

North Shore Resorts Alpine Meadows www.skialpine.com

Make your reservations on-line for your skiers 3 and up and snowboarders from age 5. This resort does not run a daycare facility. If you want to give your older kids a little more freedom on the slopes, Alpine Meadows offers GPS tracking devices.

Boreal www.rideboreal.comBoreal’s Kids Club welcomes skiers from the age of 4 and

boarders 7 and up. They insist on registration at least 48 hours in advance for full-day programs, which you can do on-line. Childcare isn’t provided, but parents can share a lift ticket with their young ones. Ask for that option at the counter.

Diamond Peak www.diamondpeak.comGroup lessons and all-day lessons are available for kids 4-7

years old, and kids as young as 3 can enroll in private lessons. Book on-line or call (775) 832-1130 for reservations. Childcare isn’t provided; parents can purchase an interchangeable ticket to take turns on the slopes.

Mt. Rose www.mtrose.comReservations for skiers 4-10 and boarders 7-10 can’t be made in

advance, so it’s first-come, first-served. 3 year-olds can sign up for private lessons. Childcare isn’t provided, no parent’s-dilemma passes, and half-day passes are almost as expensive as full-day. Hmm…

Northstar-at-Tahoe www.northstarattahoe.comBeware: the trip from the drop-off to the gondola that takes

you to the slopes is a lo-o-o-ng one, as you have to walk through the entire village, carrying all your equipment (and sometimes your kids). Helpful carts are few and far between. Other than that, lesson programs abound for skiers 3 and up and boarders from age 7. You can even buy a Kids Klub Frequency Card to save on multiple lessons. Make your reservations on-line. The licensed Child Care Minor’s Camp is for 2-6 year-olds and there’re even weekend Parents Nights Out for 4-12 year-olds.

Homewood www.skihomewood.comRegister your skier or snowboarder, age 4 and up on-line or call

(530) 525-1265. There’s no childcare, and no transferable lift ticket.


What’s your family’s favorite ski destination?

Let us know at [email protected]

Soda Springs www.skisodasprings.comThis resort bills itself as “Tahoe’s Best Snow Park for Kids.” This

is a good resort to enjoy with your children, but you won’t be doing much skiing on your own. Formal lessons begin for age 7, and they only last about two hours. Daycare’s not available, and parents can’t share a ticket.

Squaw Valley www.squaw.com3 year-olds on up can take lessons to ski. Snowboard lessons

are for ages 7 and up. Make your reservations at (530) 452-7166. Childcare is not provided, and no lift pass is available to share.

Sugar Bowl www.sugarbowl.comPrograms are available for skiers ages 4 and up, snowboarders

from age 7. Call (530) 426-6700 to reserve spots. There’s no child care, and no breaks for tag-teaming parents, either.

Tahoe Donner www.skitahoedonner.comA two-and-a-half hour program is available for little skiers 3-6

years of age. To reserve a spot, call (530) 587-9444 and then press “0.” Older skiers and boarders can sign up for 90 minute group or one-hour private lessons. Childcare isn’t provided, but come on Tuesdays with a kid under 13 and get a free adult lift ticket.

South Shore ResortsHeavenly www.skiheavenly.com

One of the largest resorts in Tahoe, with slopes spanning California and Nevada, Heavenly strives to have something for everyone. Their Ski and Ride Schools offer ski lessons for ages 4 and up; snowboard lessons start at age 5. All-day sessions include lunch and equipment rental. Spaces fill up quickly, so reserve spots for your children online as soon as possible.

Heavenly also offers licensed childcare for ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. Again, make those reservations early.

Kirkwood www.kirkwood.comThe village and lodging located right at the slopes make a trip

here an easy, breezy vacation. Little skiers as young as 4 years old and snowboarders from age 5 can enjoy either full or half-day lessons to improve their skills. Registration is on-site.

Licensed childcare is also available, for ages 2-6. Call for reservations and information: (209) 258-7274.

Sierra-at-Tahoe www.sierraattahoe.comKids as young as 3 can learn to ski, and snowboard classes start

at age 5. Call (530) 543-3150 for reservations, preferably at least 48 hours in advance. If you’ll be there a few days, or you have a lot of kids, they offer discounts for three or more classes. Licensed childcare can take kids from 18 months to 5 years old. Download your paperwork from their Web site, and call (530) 543-3150 to reserve your spot. BaK

TIPS FoR BRAvING THe MouNTAINSA few tips, from a parent who’s taken her kids

skiing every single year for the last decade,

and loves it:

Rental equipment includes skis, poles,

boots and helmets, or snowboards, helmets

and boots. It doesn’t generally include gog-

gles, gloves, jackets, etc.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. That thin moun-

tain air and bright snow can bounce a sunburn

onto little faces before you know it. Chapstick

is good to have on hand, too.

If your children are brand-new to sliding

around on snow, get them in all-day lessons.

Chances are good that they will cooperate

more with strangers, in the presence of other

kids, than they will for you. Once they’re more

comfortable with their skills, you’ll all enjoy

yourselves as a family together.

Good, warm, water-resistant clothing is

essential. Nobody likes to be cold and wet.

Buy them ski bibs, which cover like overalls.

At least make sure the snaps are working on

those ski pants/jacket sets. Gloves develop

holes quickly, so check them often.

Pack a few snacks. It’s nice to ski when the

lift lines thin out while everyone’s having lunch,

and then to eat after the crowd heads back

to the slopes. Alternatively, eat lunch around

11:00 a.m.

The mountains are notorious for lousy cell

phone reception. Bring walkie-talkies.


BayAreaKids For advertising opportunities, call (510) 325-1689 or e-mail [email protected]

Family Matters


everyone knows that kids

can be honest to a fault.

it’s part of their charm.

So when the time comes to serve

your child’s birthday cake, be

prepared to have it assessed

with the kind of brutal disdain

normally associated with reality

show judges and the French. And

don’t think your tot needs vocal

abilities, either. Ooh no. Kids

begin honing their skills at birth,

resulting in a veritable arsenal of

facial expressions. i call these

“the four Ds.”

caKe WrecKs by Jen Yates

the four “ds” of cake design

52cake ‘n’

bake

Jen Yates is the author of Cake Wrecks: When

Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong

(Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009), and

also the mastermind behind cakewrecks.

blogspot.com. Her column is exclusive

to Bay Area Kids magazine.

all photos courtesy Jen Yates/C

ake Wrecks

disgustViolet here is clearly appalled by her big sister Ruby’s pack o’ Princesses cake, and as you can see, her nonverbal tirade speaks volumes.

Here’s a rough translation: “Oh, how original! A pastel-prolific pack of princesses. Obviously my sister has succumbed to the brainwashing efforts of the blatant over-commercialization running rampant in our society. And just look at those gloppy roses and airbrushing—it’s disgusting! Outrageous!

“Well ... I suppose I could have a little piece. You know, just to be polite.”

despondencySome Wreckage is so bafflingly bad that it can send an unprepared viewer into a coma-like state. Here little Caleb stares blankly at his cupcake cake, his young mind struggling to grasp how a baker could inflict such Wreckage upon an innocent like himself.



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Drugs are not your only option. Our highly trained medical staff of neurologists, audiologists and psychologists specializes in comprehensive, evidence-based assessment and medication-free, scientifically validated methods. We custom design a program to meet your child’s needs to improve their underlying deficits, rather than masking their daily symptoms.

11398_AAC

It doesn’thave

tobe

hard.this

11398_AAC_Dec_BC_BAK_Ad.indd 1 11/23/09 5:22 PM

dispairRyan here was supposed to get a super spiffy Superman cake for his mall birthday party. Instead, the bakery made a purple-flowered tragedy with red swirly bits so amazingly UNspiffy that all of his friends had to flee the scene lest their coolness quotient drop from mere proximity. (“It had cooties.”)

And so Ryan sits alone, poignantly communicating his feelings of deep disappointment in his family’s utter lack of Superman-cake-acquiring skills.

Excellent work, Ryan! Good range, and that’s an effective use of the “wistful side gaze” if I ever saw one.

disbeliefDaniel may lack the words to express his outrage, but it’s not hard to read this expression:

“Are you frickin’ KIDDING me?!? I ask for a fire truck cake, and you get me this?”

“It’s melting—is it supposed to be melting? Is this some kind of character-building irony thing? ‘Cuz I’m four now, and I am totally not falling for that anymore!”

Daniel stuck to his guns, spending the next year telling anyone who would listen about his “broke-ed” fire truck cake. I sense a kindred spirit! Soon, Daniel-san, I shall introduce you to the wonders of “the Internet,” groom your griping skills, instill a fondness for puns, and set you on the path of sarcasm and mockery for fun and profit! Mwahahahaha! … Ahem

To sum things up: Cake Wrecks are a fact of life, children can have surprisingly long memories, and French reality shows must be off. the. hook. Seriously. Can I get a “oui oui”?


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Bay Area Kids, South Bay edition, Winter 2009