Nov 17th: 'Jump n Bounce' & 'Comforts' in San Anselmo, Tree Lighting events in Marin & San Francisco

Plenty of festive events happening this weekend to get you in the mood for the holidays with tree lighting ceremonies in Marin and San Francisco, be sure to check out the Disney characters appearing at Pier 39 and the opening of the Ice rink at the Embarcadero Center this weekend. 

This week I suggest a great place to release your kid’s bounding energy in San Anselmo and then enjoy a bite to eat further down the road. Also a reader shares her secret pasta sauce and fruit smoothie in ‘Eat Your Veggies’.

Weekend Events

Friday November 19^th

‘2^nd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony’ at 6.30 – 8.30 pm, Northgate Mall, Oak Plaza (behind Kohls), free: www.shopatnorthgate.com

See Santa arrive at the Northgate Mall in style in an antique cable car, and then watch him light up the Oak Tree for the holidays at 6.45 pm. The crowd can help by waving their magic wands, and there will be fun entertainment including balloons artists, jugglers, face painting and even snow! The Mistletones take center stage for a dance and sing along to traditional popular songs. Also shoppers can jump on the cable car to take people on various stops round the mall to start early gift shopping!

‘Visit Santa at Northgate Mall’ from 11.00 – 8.00 pm, Sunday 11 – 6.00 pm until Dec 24^th, Northgate Mall, Los Ranchitos Rd & Las Gallinas Avenue: www.shopatnorthgate.com

Visit Santa at the Magical “Wishes” display in the Macy’s wing of Northgate Mall, sit on his lap and have your picture taken with the man himself and receive a free gift!

‘Embarcadero Center Building Lighting Ceremony’, 1,2,3 7 4 Center, San Francisco, free: http://www.embarcaderocenter.com/ec/Holidays/index.html

‘Winter Carnival’ is 4.00 – 6.00 pm & ‘Building Lightning Ceremony’ is 6.00 – 7.00 pm

A free festive events for children and adults that begins with a Winter Carnival full of games, crafts, cookie decorating, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. Entertainment provided by the performers of the Great Dickens fair & Holiday  Party including holiday carolers, an organ grinder and his monkey and characters such as Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the red Nose Reindeer and more.

The Holiday Building Lighting performance is a segment by Disney on Ice at 6.00 pm with Toy Story characters Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear along with Tinkerbell!

The Countdown to the Holiday Building Lighting will be led by Captain Chesley B.”Sully” Sullenberger followed by the lighting of all four centers and a fabulous fireworks display. The Holiday Ice Rink will be open after the ceremony until 11.30 pm. Regular hours through to Jan 2^nd 2011 will be Sun – Thu from 10 – 10 pm and Friday – Sat from 10-11.30 pm.

Saturday November 20^th

‘The Christmas House’ at West End Nursery, 1938 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, Mon – Sat 8 – 5 pm & Sun 9 – 4 pm: www.westendnursery.com

The Victorian home of the founder, Richard Lohrmann comes alive in the lead up to Christmas and features over 50 elaborately decorated trees each with a different theme. The house is brimming with holiday goodies from all over the world such as ornaments, centerpieces, cookie cutters, wall décor, gifts and much more! A beautiful site to see, so go and support this local business!

‘Visit Santa a The Village Corte Madera’, from 11.00 – 7.00 pm & until 6.00 pm on Sundays, The Village Corte Madera, Highway 101 & Paradise Drive; www.villageatcortemadera.com

Visit Santa near Macy’s and let him know what you want for Christmas, take your photo with him and receive a free gift.

Sunday November 21^st

‘Pier 39 Tree Lighting Ceremony’ from noon – 6.00 pm, Pier 39, Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, free; www.pier39.com

From noon – 3.00pm come and meet some of the Disney characters while enjoying the Cantabile Youth Singers, followed by the Contra Costa Children’s Chorus from 2 – 3.00pm and then the tree lighting celebration at 5.30 pm.

‘Performance by Enzo’ (ongoing) from 10.00 am – noon, at Mill valley Golf Course Clubhouse, 280 Buena Vista, Mill Valley, $5 per person & siblings under 7 months are free.

Two sing along sets by Enzo beginning at 10.00 am and 11.00 am.

Play Date & Restaurant of the week

‘Jump n Bounce’, 718 San Anselmo Avenue, open every day from 10.00 am – 12.30 pm until Sunday December 19^th, $5 per jump session, tel for info: (415) 459 8978.

‘Comforts’, 335 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo; http://www.comfortscafe.com/

If you are looking for a fun activity play date followed by a hearty lunch then San Anselmo Avenue offers both!

‘Jump n Bounce’ is a small indoor space with giant inflatables that opened just over 6 months ago, and is available for kids under 10 years old. The sessions are for children age 2 – 6 yrs at 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, and for older kids 7 – 12 yrs from 4.00 – 6.00 pm, there is a limit of 8 children per session so everyone gets to have fun without overcrowding, just remember to bring your socks.

Jump n Bounce is also available for private parties, so check website at weekends before visit. It offers other special events like a “Mommy/Daddy and Me” session for little ones under 2 years old on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9.30 am. Also call for information about their care nights when adults can get the chance to enjoy a date night while the kids stay and jump around, another option which I found genius was the chance to get a manicure while the kids bounce!

After working up an appetite head further down San Anselmo Avenue (5 minute walk) to Comforts which is a popular neighborhood eatery that offers sit down table service or counter service. It is buzzing with families and locals tucking into healthy, delicious "home comfort food" that can be enjoyed inside or out in the sidewalk patio.

Our family got cozy in a small booth and took a look at the menu which apparently changes weekly, full of fresh sandwiches, salads, pasta, breakfast and brunch specials. My husband ordered the tuna melt sandwich with dressed greens. The sandwich was deliciously moist on really tasty wheat bread, but the dressing on the greens was a little heavy and probably should have been ordered on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the smoked salmon scramble eggs and bagel with cream cheese and sliced tomato. I was also pleased that the scramble eggs were not overcooked as I sometimes find that they can be plastic and capable of bouncing off the walls!  We ordered the kid’s scramble egg with rice (or potatoes) and toast for our son which he liked but enjoyed my salmon scramble eggs much more. Both eggs came with fresh pineapple, melon and orange slices which was enough to take some home too. Unfortunately my son didn’t get a look in on the strawberry jam that came with his toast, as I hadn’t had jam in a long time and devoured it while he was still sucking on his oranges.

The service was friendly and speedy which impressed us considering how busy they were during a Sunday lunchtime rush, we were pleased we opted for table service as the line next door at the counter was extremely long.

We were very tempted by the array of wonderful looking pastries, muffins, cookies and homemade cakes on display but just couldn’t eat another bite so rolled ourselves home after a very satisfying lunch!

Eat Your Veggies

Readers to this blog are asked to share their recipes and tips on how yo get their children to eat their vegetables in a creative and maybe less obvious way. Danielle shares her secrets to help her daughter eat her vegetables in a homemade pasta sauce and fruit smoothie: 

Danielle’s Homemade Pasta Sauce

“We eat this sauce with pasta and my daughter also uses it instead of ketchup with chicken strips and hot dogs.”

Ingredients:

One can of tomato sauce (unsweetened)
2 medium sized tomatoes chopped
1/2 an onion
A meat of your choice (optional)
Three cups of cooked veggies (I use carrots, zucchini, spinach and collard greens because those are our particular battles)
One tablespoon of brown sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Add the first four ingredients into a slow cooker (you can also do it on the stove) on low heat. Puree the three cups of veggies and add to the slow cooker. Cook on a low heat for four to five hours. Add brown sugar and seasoning and serve. 


Danielle’s Banana, Blueberry & Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients:

One banana (frozen)
One cup of frozen or fresh blueberries
One cup of frozen chopped spinach
Yogurt or soy milk 
Ice Cubes

Blend ingredients together and add a straw because she will drink ANYTHING out of a straw!

Please email me at sophialdavies@gmail.com or tweet me your recipes and tips to get featured in this section! 

Weekly Calendar of Ongoing Toddler Activities in Marin

Monday

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

10.00 -10.40 am - Toddler class, Studio 4 Art, 1133 Grant Avenue, Novato (until Dec17th)

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

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle', 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


Wednesday

9.30 - 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

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (Under 1 yr),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, Corte Madera


Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center

9.30 - 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 - 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



Friday

10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sarah Bonnet, 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

Nov 13th: "Taki' Japanese Restaurant, 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' Book & Events

The sun is still shining but there is a chill in the air, perfect weather for warming up with a bowl of soup and a warm muffin after a nature hike. There is a great cheddar & Squash muffin recipe in “Eat Your Veggies” section that allows parents to offer their recipes and advice on how to creatively get your kids to eat their vegetables in a less obvious way. Talking of food, I review a great little Japanese restaurant in Novato, and we go on a Bear Hunt in ‘Book of the Week’.

Photo: China State Camp by Adam Davies

Weekend Events

Saturday November 13th

‘Manor School Winter Faire’ from 10.00 – 5.00 pm, 150 Oak Manor Drive, Fairfax, free entry; www.winterfaire.com

Go sledding on a giant sled created with hay bales and trucked –in snow! Bounce house, big slide, a take home what you made craft table, book sale, silent auction, bake sale and chili cook off. There is food available from ‘Sol Food’ and ‘Strauss Family Creamery’. Also live music with various bands starting at noon. Proceeds from the faire benefit the Yes! Ross Valley School Foundation & the Manor PTA.

‘Family Hike & campfire’ from 5.00 – 7.30 pm, Headlands Institute, 1033 Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, $10 per person; www.novemberfamilycampfire.eventbrite.com

All members of the family are invited to explore the great outdoors for a family friendly hike and then sing songs round the campfire as you roast some S’mores. Baby carriers suggested for kids under 4 years old and pre-registration required 24 hours before the hike.

Sunday November 14^th

‘Preschool Gallery Hour: By George, You’ve Arrived!’ from 10.00 – 11.30 am, Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street, San Francisco; www.cjm.org

The opening day of ‘Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A Rey’. Tour the exhibition, listen to some Curious George stories, make a Worldly Travel Tag and monkey around with the all-women clown troupe; Circus Finelli

Restaurant of the Week

‘Taki’ Japanese & Sushi Bar, 452 Ignacio Boulevard, Novato (no website)

Taki Japanese restaurant is located in the Ignacio Plaza by Paradise Foods, it is a cute place with booths, normal height or low tables, a sushi rolling bar and some outdoor seating in the front patio. It also has great Koi fish pond in the middle of the restaurant that kids love, especially as the fish are so friendly and bob up to say hello!

I initially went on a little dinner date with my young son and we shared the ‘Combination Dinner’. We started off by sharing a bowl of miso soup, my son couldn’t get enough of it and especially loved the small pieces of Tofu in it. We also ordered the Gyoza appetizer, which is 8 pieces of Japanese style potstickers, and almost ordered a second potion as they were that good!

Next came our Chicken Katsu and Chicken Teriyaki with a bowl of rice, delicious cabbage salad and tsukemono. The Chicken Katsu was absolutely wonderful, so was the Chicken Teriyaki, we have also enjoyed the Lemon Chicken on another visit which was fresh and zesty. The combination dinner proved a good choice to share with a little one, as there are a good variety of things for them to try, and the Japanese tray is perfect for kids to eat off of. You can also order the combo dinner with Sukiyaki, Tempura, California or Tempura Rolls, Saba shoyaki and Tonkatsu. Alternatively there are children’s potions of the combo dinner if you would rather enjoy the wide selection of sushi and sashimi. The service is efficient and polite, and it a great place to go for lunch too, as there are various specials; sushi, sashimi, cooked lunch or combination bento lunches. 

We ordered the Tonkatsu; fried breaded pork cutlet, for my husband to take home and he absolutely loved it, so much so that he wanted to go back and eat in just a couple of days later!

Eat Your Veggies!

Last week I asked parents answer the question: “How do you creatively get your kids to eat vegetables?”

Ashling’s Cheddar Squash Muffins Recipe

2 eggs

1/2 cup of water

1 cup of roasted squash (mashed)

1 1lb box of oatmeal muffin mix

1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup of chopped scallions

Roast the butternut squash by cutting in half, lengthwise and scoop out seeds, then roast at 400 for an hour. Add mashed squash to the rest of the ingredients and bake the muffins at 400 for 15 – 20 minutes.

My daughter ate her muffins by dipping them in her tomato soup, and she loved the roasted pumpkin and butternut squash seeds, too.  The next day I toasted the muffins and put avocado on them and she ate them up for lunch!

Melissa’s Tip of the Week

“I can get my daughter to eat her carrots by mashing them into her mac n cheese. I also add spinach or shredded zucchini to her scrambled eggs. We also make zucchini bread, a little less nutritional value but she still gets the vegetables!”

If you have any great tips or recipes please email or tweet them to me!

Book of the Week

‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen, illustrations by Helen Oxenbury

My sister introduced this book to us when my son was just 5 months, and he enjoys the story more and more now that he can join in with the story.

The story features a father, four children and their dog going on an exciting bear hunt through the great outdoors. It has a repetitive verse that the first few pages begin with:” We’re going on a bear hunt, we’re going to catch a big one, what a beautiful day! We’re not scared”.

Along the way they come across various obstacles in their path such as a deep cold river, thick oozy mud, a big dark forest, and a snowstorm. At each obstacle there is a repetitively sequence that reads; “we can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, oh no, we’ve got to go through it!” You can then make the sounds together whether it is splash splosh through the river, or squelch squelch through the mud or hooo hoo through the snowstorm. The family finally get to a narrow gloomy cave that they tip toe into only to come face to face with “one shiny wet nose, two big furry ears and goggly eyes, it’s a bear!” They then have to run back through all the obstacles they faced on the way with the bear following them, until they get back to their house, and jump into bed, get under the covers and declare: ”We’re not going on a bear hunt again!’

English author Michael Rosen’s repetitive rhymes turn this book into a sing along story and the funny sounds you make along the journey make it an animated read for your little one. The wonderful illustrations in water colors by Helen Oxenbury also make this book a modern classic, which celebrated with an anniversary edition last year. I hope you enjoy going on a bear hunt soon!

Weekly Calendar of Toddler Appropriate Activities in Marin

Monday

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

10.00 -10.40 am - Toddler class at Studio 4 Art, 1133 Grant Avenue, Novato (until Dec17th)

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 Storytime – 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

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle', 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


Wednesday

9.30 - 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

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ at The Parents Center, Heller’s store, 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 Storytime, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

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

4.00 – 8.00 pm - Farmer’s Market, Bolinas Park, Bolinas Road, Fairfax

Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center

9.30 - 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 Storytime, San Rafael Library, 1100 E St, San Rafael

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

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

3.00 – 7.00 pm – Farmers Market, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross

6.00 – 9.00 pm - Farmers Market, 4th St, between Lincoln and B St, San Rafael


Friday

10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sarah Bonnet, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.30 - 11.30 am - Tot's Club, City Hall Parks & Recreation, 420 Litho Street, Exercise Room, Sausalito

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

9.00 – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Alto Shopping Center, Mill Valley

9.00 am – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Bank of America parking lot, Downtown Sausalito

'No Matter What' Book Review & 'Fresh Choice' in Novato Review

As November arrives we should embrace this week’s warm weather and get out and about to festivals, parks and other outdoor spaces before the sunshine disappears! You can take a look at my past play date ideas such as Tilden Park, Schoonmaker Beach, Marinwood and Terra Linda Park under the archive or popular posts sections.

This week I review a wonderful book that teaches children about unconditional love, and suggest somewhere to fill your kids up on healthy hot and cold food for a great price! Giving our kids nutritional food is so important and some parents have asked; “how can we get their kids to eat vegetables in a less obvious way?” I will start a forum for readers next week to offer tips and recipes, so please participate by emailing me recipes and advice at sophialdavies@gmail.com or leave tips in the comments box at the end.

Weekend Events

Friday November 5^th

‘Craft Fair’ from 11.00 – 8.00 pm, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael, free, call 415 485 3348.

Crafts for sale from over 60 vendors that will make great holiday gifts including jewelry, ornaments, gift baskets, holiday decorations, ceramics, and if you or a friend are expecting a baby over the winter there are great baby blankets and quilts. There is a café and bakery goods available too.

Saturday November 6^th

‘Marinwood Farmer’s Market’, Marinwood Plaza, corner of Miller Creek Road & Marinwood Avenue.

A small farmers market with local musicians playing most weeks, grab a delicious chocolate & pumpkin muffin from the bakery and a coffee from “Maddie’s Mud’ and watch the kids bouncing in the jumpy house.

‘Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy with the Brian Waite Band’ at 11.00 am, Bay Area Discovery Musuem, Fort Baker, Sausalito, child $10, adult $12, members $5; www.baykidsmuseum.org

A concert for age 1 & up in the Madison Square KinderGarten filled with funny props, antics and appearances by the Rocktopus, Harlin the wizard and reggae musician Skankin’ Ja Toddeh.

‘Prenatal Yoga’ every Saturday at 10.45 – 12.00 pm (until Jul 2^nd 2011), The Yoga Source, 1570 Fourth Street (at F St), San Rafael; www.theyogasource.net

Wendy Heneghan teaches women of all levels of yoga experience and stages of pregnancy. Your first class can be a drop in at $17, and then you can sign up for a five week class card ($75) to use throughout your pregnancy.

‘Marin County Parks K-9 Carnival’ from 11.00 – 1.00 pm, McInnis Park, 310 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael

Take your family dog along to the first Marin County Parks K-9 carnival!

‘Ivy & Bean Celebration Day’, at 4.00 pm, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera: www.bookpassage.com

Author Annie Barrows will host an Ivy & Bean celebration at the store and read from the latest book; “What’s the Big Idea?”

‘Big Turkey’ Marin Food Bank from 9.00 – 9.00 pm til Dec 31^st, Town Center Corte Madera; www.shoptowncenter.com 
Every year children can enjoy feeding the giant turkey and donating canned, non-perishable food items and toiletries that will be distributed by the Marin Food Bank.

Sunday November 7^th

‘Children’s Garden – Haunted Harvest Fall Festival’ from 12.00 – 4.00 pm, Edna Maguire School, 80 Lomita Drive, Mill Valley; www.ednamaguire.org

Featured last week but rescheduled for this Sunday due to weather forecast, featuring a wicked tea party, witches brew stew-off, potion making, recycled sculpture contest and games such as barrel apple bobbing and wrap the mummy.

‘Family Sundays’ from 11.00 – 3.00 pm, 1^st & 3^rd Sunday of every month, SF MOMA, address, San Francisco

Explore art and create your own by getting hands-on with Mod-erators guide participatory art activities, book readings and movie screenings.

‘3^rd Annual Harvest Crafts Fair’ from 10.00 – 6.00 pm, Los Robles Community Clubhouse, 100 Roblar Drive, Novato; www.irnovato.com

Stock up on holiday gifts from over 30 vendors including toys, bath & body products, hand crafted ornaments, holiday wreaths and baked goods available.

                                                                                                                                             

Restaurant of the Week

Fresh Choice, 124 Vintage Way, Novato; www.freshchoice.com

Less of a restaurant review this week and more of a recommendation for a great place to fill the kids and yourself up on a budget, with a wide choice of healthy hot and cold food that is mostly local and organic!

Fresh Choice is located by the entrance of Vintage Oaks Shopping Center at the Rowland Way, Novato exit off Highway 101 so a great place to stop off for food on your way home from ‘Power Play’ at Cal Star in Ignacio, or if you are heading home from ‘Jack and Jill' in Petaluma, or even from a big shop at Target or Costco!

For under $9.00 you can purchase an adult or kid’s meal which will include as many trips to the various food bars as you wish and a cup to fill up at the water or soda machine. There is a wide choice at the cold salad bar such as various tossed green and pasta salads that I was very impressed with, some are also gluten free and low sodium, accompanied by various salad dressings. There are fresh tomatoes, cucumber, egg salad, humus, and endless vegetables like baby beets, peas, peppers, corn, olives and potatoes and mixes like their ‘Broccoli Obsession’ that has carrots, red onion, raisins, sunflower seeds, mayo and white vinegar. Unlike some salad bars they are regularly restocked so they don’t have that sad, wilted look about the food that you sometimes find at other places. It also has an allergen and health guide on the displays.

There is also a potato bar with either baked potatoes or yams that can be topped with sour cream, various butters, chives and cheese. There is a soup bar with five or six choices of soup or chili with crusty or garlic bread. My son’s favorite is the pasta bar with mac n’ cheese, spaghetti and other types of pasta or herbed rice with a marinara, meat or vegetable sauces. A great bakery and pizza bar with a minimum of four choices of pizza, slices of harvest bread, baguette, carrot or zucchini bread, lemon shortcake, and cornbread. If you still have room for desert you can fill your plate with a selection of fruit salad, fruit cobbler, peaches and cream pudding, bread pudding, sugar-free Jell-O or ice cream with sprinkles. I personally loved the amazing ‘Triple Decadent Chocolate Brownies’ that I couldn’t resist eating one…ok three!

This style of self-service makes it easier for the parents to control what their kids eat for lunch or dinner, and allows them to have a wider choice of food that they can pick and choose depending on what they are in the mood for that day. If they don’t want to eat the salad greens that you chose for them, then you can get pasta alternative without wasting any money that sometimes happens in a regular restaurant. The price is great value for money and will make you feel better about that big shopping spree you just did at Target!

Children’s Book of the Week

‘No Matter What’ by Debbi Gliori

I have a real soft spot for this children’s book, as it is a sweet and touching story about a child’s fear and confusion about a parent’s temporary absence. It is a good book to get if a parent in the household goes away on business trips or works late preventing them from being home every night for bedtime. As the author says…’it is a little book about big worries”.

It is a warm story about a little one trying to understand what unconditional love is, and features two foxes named ‘Small’, the child, and ‘Large’, the parent. It begins with Small feeling upset because Large is speaking on the phone while doing housework, so he sits in the corner with a bucket on his head to get attention. Large asks “what is the matter?” to which Small replies; “I’m grim and grumpy, and I don’t think you love me at all”. And so begins a series of questions like; “what if I was a grizzly bear, would you still care?”, or “if I turned into a squishy bug, would you give me a hug?” To which Large reassures that Small will always be loved and cared for no matter what; “I’d still hold you close and snug and tight, and tuck you up in bed each night.”

Small tries to understand scenarios such as; what do you do when love wears out or breaks, and can you can fix it like a toy? Finally Small asks where love goes when Large is far away; “Does your love go too or does it stay?” Large tells Small to look up at the moon and stars which are far, far away; “But their light reaches us at the end of each day.” As they cuddle at the window looking up at the sky Large tells Small; “It’s like that with love - we may be close, we may be far, but our love still surrounds us…wherever we are”.

I will admit that this book especially the ending has moved me to tears a few times, as not only is it a touching story but the illustrations are beautiful. They complement the story so well, and the both of you will also discover new little details in the pictures each time you read it together. I hope you enjoy it, and maybe your child will enjoy pointing and counting the twinkly stars on the last page before bedtime too.

Weekly Calendar of Toddler Appropriate Activities in Marin

Monday

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

10.00 -10.40 am - Toddler class at Studio 4 Art, 1133 Grant Avenue, Novato (until Dec17th)

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 Storytime – 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

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle', 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

Wednesday

9.30 - 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

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ at The Parents Center, Heller’s store, 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 Storytime, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

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

4.00 – 8.00 pm - Farmer’s Market, Bolinas Park, Bolinas Road, Fairfax


Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center (Puppet Show, balloon lady, Jumpy Houses & music)

9.30 - 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 Storytime, San Rafael Library, 1100 E St, San Rafael

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

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

3.00 – 7.00 pm – Farmers Market, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross

6.00 – 9.00 pm - Farmers Market, 4th St, between Lincoln and B St, San Rafael


Friday

10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sarah Bonnet, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.30 - 11.30 am - Tot's Club, City Hall Parks & Recreation, 420 Litho Street, Exercise Room, Sausalito

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

9.00 – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Alto Shopping Center, Mill Valley

9.00 am – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Bank of America parking lot, Downtown Sausalito