March 16th: New Play Area at Northgate Mall & Purim Carnivals in Marin & Sonoma this Weekend

The Northgate Mall has come to our rescue during this rainy month with a new and improved indoor play area opening next weekend! There is a performance by the Chinese ‘Lion Dance Team’ in Corte Madera on Saturday and a couple of ‘Purim Carnivals’ happening in San Rafael and Cotati this Sunday. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day for tomorrow!

Weekend Events

Saturday March 19^th

‘Lion Dance Team’ from 11.00 – 12.00 pm, Corte Madera Library, 707 Meadowsweet, Corte Madera, free; http://marinlibrary.org/news-and-events/calendar-of-events/index.php?trumbaEmbed=filter1%3DCorte%20Madera

The Lion Dance team celebrates the year of the rabbit with a wonderful performance at the library.

‘Kenny Blacklock and Friends’ from 11.00 – 12.00 pm, Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Fort Baker, Sausalito, members $5, child $10 & adult $12; http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/programs-and-events/calendar/

Kenny Blacklock and friends perform bluegrass and American folk songs popular with children on the fiddle, mandolin, banjo, standup bass, guitar and musical saw.

Sunday March 20^th

Purim Palooza, A Family Carnival’, from 9.30 – 11.30 am for under 3 yr olds & 11.30 – 2.30 pm for all ages, free admission, The Osher Marin JCC, address;  http://www.marinjcc.org/clientuploads/directory/Purim11_scrimban_v3.pdf

The morning ‘Family Connections’ session is a Purim costume party full of music, art, cooking and parent education. The late morning ‘Purum Palooza’ session is a family carnival for all ages that will have a costume parade, games, Purim quiz, food and a jazz band at 2 pm in the outside courtyard. In the Kurland Lounge there will be quiet activities for younger children, holiday stories with the PJ Library and Purim cartoons. In the Hoytt Theater there is be face painting, balloon animals, bounce house and decorating groggers, masks and more. Also there will be a free chair message in the gallery if it all gets a bit too much.(It is encouraged to bring food for the tzedakah charity).

‘Purim Carnival’ from 11.00 – 2.00 pm, Congregation Ner Shalom, 85 La plaza, Cotati, $10 per child, free for adults, admission includes all game booths and bouncy house; www.jccsoco.org

There will be fun for all the family with a bouncy house, cupcake walk, face painting, arts and crafts activities, games and prizes, music and food.

‘Family Sunday’ from 11.00 – 3.00 pm, SFMOMA, Galleries and Koret Visitors Education Center, address; http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1845

Kids get in free on the first and third Sunday of every month; the family programs are suitable for children 4 to 11 years old. This week celebrate artists who use pieces of everyday life from paper clips to comic strips and use them to make real art.

Play Date of the Week

New Play Area at Northgate Mall, 5800 Northgate mall, San Rafael; http://www.shopatnorthgate.com/

It is turning out to be a wet month in Marin and indoor activities that are free can be hard to find, but there is good news! The indoor play area at the Northgate Mall will be relocating to the East Concourse near Guest Services (between H & M and Victoria’s Secret) in time for next weekend (Sat March 26th).

The new play area will be much bigger (750 square feet) than the existing one by the movie theater, with more play elements to keep your little ones entertained.

If you are wanting to grab a drink or a bite to eat for breakfast or lunch at the Northgate Mall, my favorite option is ‘Panera Bread’ (by Kohls), there is also ‘Tomatina’ which offers great pizzas (see my review in the ‘Local Restaurants Reviews’ section above) both with outdoor dining, or there is always the indoor food court with ‘Subway’ and ‘Shogun Fresh Japanese Grill’.

The new play area will also be a great place to leave the husbands sipping their Gloria Jean’s coffee while you get some shopping done at weekends!

Mommy’s Treats

Movies of the Week

Opening at the box office;

‘Limitless’ starring Bradley Cooper as an author whose life changes when he takes a revolutionary new drug that allows him to use all areas of his brain, which he decides to use by taking Wall Street by storm. This catches the eye of a mega-mogul played by Robert De Niro.

‘Paul’ a comedy starring British actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shawn of the Dead & Hot Fuzz) reunite as two sci-fi geeks who take a road trip to America’s UFO’s heartland and meet an alien (Seth Rogen) named Paul.

Out on DVD this week;

‘The Fighter’ a look at the early years of boxer Micky Ward and his brother who helped him train before going pro in the mid ‘80s, starring Mark Wahlberg, and Oscar winners Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.

‘The Switch’ a funny comedy starring Jennifer Anniston as an unmarried woman who finds an alternative way to get pregnant, but only finds out the full story seven years later when she is reunited with her best friend, played by Jason Bateman.

Book of the Week

If you are a fan of the TV show “Bethenny Ever After” you will be pleased to know that Bethenny Frankel’s new book comes out on Tuesday and you can pre-order it on Amazon.com.

‘A Place of Yes’ is a no-nonsense account of how she overcame obstacles such as a difficult childhood, failed relationships and entrepreneurial efforts, to achieve great success while discovering how to approach life from ‘A Place of Yes.”

Weekly Calendar of Ongoing 

Toddler Activities in Marin

Monday

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato (ADDITIONAL NEW DAY)

10.00 - 10.30 am - Kid's Story Time Club, Pharmaca, 7514 Redwood Blvd, Novato

10.00 – 10.30 am – Book Babies, San Anselmo Library, 110 Tunstead Ave Town Council chamber

10.30 – 11.15 am – ‘Music Together of Marin’, The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael

3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista Blvd

9.00 - 1.00 pm - 'Jack and Jill' indoor play space, 217 Western Avenue, Petaluma (every day)

10.00 - 6.00 pm - 'Jump n Bounce’, 718 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo (every day)


Tuesday

9.30 – 10.45 am – Baby Bounce Story time – Larkspur Library, 400 Magnolia Ave, 1^st Floor

10.00 – 10.30 am - ‘Baby Bounce’ Story time at Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael 

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.00 – 11.30 am - ‘Play date for 2 and under’ at The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael

10. 00 – 11.00 am – ‘Little Soccer Club’ (3 – 5yrs) until Apr 5th, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle' (walkers up to 3 1/2), at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael

11.00 - 11.30 am – ‘Book Club Story Time’ at ‘Pottery Barns Kids’ store, Corte Madera Village

3.30 – 4.15 pm – ‘Doodler’s Craft Time, Terra Linda Clubroom, 670 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael

Wednesday

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Suite 3, Novato

10.00 -10.30 am – Music Together, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11^th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (walkers up to 3 1/2), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael 

11.30 - 11.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (infant to walkers), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael 

10.00 - 10.45 am - Fun & Funky (age 2 - 4), Fairfax Community Center, 

10.30 - 11.30 am – Adventure Club Drop in Play, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito

11.00 - 11.30 am – Story Time at Giggle Store, Corte Madera Village

11.00 -11.30 am – Preschool Story Time, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera


Thursday
9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11^th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax

9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11^th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax

11.00 am & 12.00 pm – Bookmobile presents Story Time at the Farmers Market, The Civic Center, 3501 Civic center Drive, San Rafael

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato

9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael 

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.15 -10.45 am – Toddler Story time (2-3 yrs), Mill Valley Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley

10.30 – 11.00 am – Story Time at San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael

11. 00 – 12.00pm – ‘Mommy & Me- In the Garden’ (1 – 4 yrs until June 9^th), Landmarks Art & Garden center, 841 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon

11.00 - 11.30 am - Story Time at Barnes & Noble, 313 Corte Madera Center

3.30 - 4.00 pm - 'Stories with Phil Sheridan', Sausalito Library, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito


Friday

9.30 - 11.00 am - Art for You and Me, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

9.30 – 12.30 pm – Playgroup Drop in (until June 11^th) Fairfax Pavilion, 142 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax

9.30 – 10.15 am – Doodlers Craft Time, Terra Linda Club Room, 670 Del Ganado Road, Terra Linda

10.00 – 10.30 am – Intro to Ballet, Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax (until July 6^th)

10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sara Sonnet, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael 

10.30 – 12.00 pm – Jumping Jacks, Strawberry Recreation District, 118 Strawberry Drive, 2^nd floor gym

10.30 – 12.00 pm – Free Playgroup (Under 5), Marin Head Start, 610 Drake Ave, Marin City