Does your child have a penchant for imagination? Do they "perform" for you all the time?
Movies have always been huge in my family. Musicals especially. We'd sing along and dance the steps to the movie on our television. We'd even act out the movie when we were just hangout in the back yard. Come to think of it...we STILL do sometimes! I can't tell you how many times my cousins and I did the Von Trap children cross weave
Take that imagination and interest in acting and play and take your child to see a theater production this spring!
Nothing is more fun that the SF classic Beach Blanket Babylon with thier wild hats, costumes and antics on stage. They welcome kids at their Sunday performances at 2 & 5 p.m.
Give your kids an experience beyond television and make live performances something they'll want to return to see.
Have you noticed anything new hanging in the Wave Workshop Aquarium? What is this bizarre looking thing? And what is inside it!? Many visitors are surprised to learn that this is actually a live Big Skate Egg. Skates - a relative of rays and sharks - are oviparous, or they lay eggs. Here are some commonly asked questions about our new addition:
Does the viewing pane hurt the baby skates?
The viewing pane does not hurt the baby skates. Aquarium of the Bay cuts the viewing pane when the egg allows fresh water in and waste water out (generally around 3 to 5 months.) A square is carefully cut with small scissors and a piece of plastic is quickly super glued on top.
How many skates are inside the egg?
There are two in our egg. Big Skates can have anywhere from one to six embryos in an egg.
What is the egg made of?
The egg is made of keratinized collagen, like our hair and fingernails. The skate egg is a bit softer when first laid and then stiffens.
When will they hatch?
The baby skate will hatch when all of the yolk has been absorbed, generally around 9 months. These skates will hatch in about 3 or 4 months.
How do they hatch?
As the skate grows, it becomes more active. One side of the egg case becomes thinner and the seams open. Eventually, the skate will squeeze through the opening. Most grow to be around 6 feet in length, but some have been found at 8 feet!
What about its shape?
This egg bears little resemblance to how most people picture an egg, but its unique features help protect the egg in the wild. Did you notice the hook shaped corners? These ...
Our annual gala event, Playdate 2008, and fund-raiser will be held Saturday, May 3rd. In addition to dinner and dancing, we hold a paddle auction of exquisite and exciting items!
Here are some of the featured packages:
The Ultimate Bubble Q: champagne barbeque and grill with tv chef Tyler Florence. We are excited to welcome Tyler and Tolan Florence!
Sea kayak in the San Juan Islands on a Family Multi-sport Vacation.
Our Director, Richard Winefield, was asked recently to testify before a government panel investigating options for funding American museums. He favors a competitive system of petitioning for funds, rather than an entitlement approach of alloted funds via government being distributed to organizations. Read his statement here.
What is your take? Tell us your perspectives if you wish to share them...
We're closed on Easter but don't let that keep you from having a family outing this Easter Weekend. Don't forget the camera!
SF Easter Parade & Spring Festival: A parade, games, ponies, face painting and the Easter Bunny can all be found on Union Street starting at 10 a.m on Sunday.
Easter at the Park Chalet: Egg Hunt, children's music and a delicious Sunday buffet brunch at the edge of Golden Gate Park.
Alice and Wonderland Spring Faire: Falkirk Cultural Center in Downtown San Rafael bring Alice and Wonderland alive, bring a picnic, easter eggs, see puppets shows, meet the characters and have fun this Saturday.
Easter Egg Hunt and Horses: Special needs outreach Miwok Livery Stables opens their doors for an egg hunt at noon in Mill Valley, Sunday.
Breakfast and Egg Hunts: Walnut Creek parks bring hunts and breakfast to families in the East Bay this Saturday.
Ardenwood Historic Farm: Eggs hunt and a parade at this beautiful farm house in Fremont on Saturday.
Also, check out a list of parks in Marin holding egg hunts here.
Give your child a disposable camera and take a walk around the neighborhood, mall or park.
Have them take pictures of different things, buildings and people. (Have your child ask permission before taking pictures of people).
At the end of the walk, talk about what you both saw and what your child took pictures of.
Get them developed and then use the pictures to create a picture book. Tape or glue each photo onto a piece of paper and help your child think up a story to go with all the images.
It's an activity that can be done with your child over the course of a weekend.
Or fish out some old pictures of your own and create a picture book of family memories!
Does your child love using a camera? Or being in front of it? Tell us an anecdote of your child and a camera...
Everyone is going "green" and looking for "organic" products these days. With foreign chemicals being found in everything, contamination being a scare among consumers and environmental concern growing each day, there is a growing interest in organic foods.
All you need is a food processor of any kind, a fork or a potato masher can work as well. Here are some easy tips for making your own organic baby food:
Steam, boil or bake the fruits and veggies to keep as many essential vitamins as possible.
Peel and Pit, take off the skins, seeds, and veins of the food.
No Seasonings, avoid adding salt or spices to the food.
Freeze and Save, use baggies or ice cube trays to portion and freeze foods for later use.
Cook throughly, for meat wash, clean and cook thoroughly before boiling and grinding.
Finding organic foods can be as easy as going to your farmer's markets. Making organic baby food is good for your baby and it's cheaper than buying the little jars of food. If you have a moment to make and freeze some organic baby food, I suggest you give it a try!
Also, here are some companies that sell organic baby food.
www.peasofmind.com - SF company that sells in stores all over the country
One of our most popular elements of the museum is the Willow Sculpture by Patrick Dougherty. His installation was meant to last about three years but the children loved it so much that we try to keep it maintained so that it will last as long as it can. Our staff maintains the maze throughout the year. This week we have closed off access to the Willow Sculpture and have undertaken the upkeep process.
Chip, Adam and Todd have been weaving in new willow into the old willow for the past few days. Though most of the sculpture is made of willow pieces, it is a living sculpture. Some of the willow has rooted to the ground and is growing as it stands.
With passage ways, windows and an open roof..it's easy for children to make believe they are in a whimsical woody secret forest. It's my favorite part of the Museum.
