Events and Outings

If you haven't been to the beautiful and picturesque Slide Ranch in Muir Beach, now is your chance. Come to this non-profit teaching farm overlooking the ocean to celebrate food, family, and fun at this year's Spring Fling this Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

This year's Spring Fling includes live kid-friendly music, local organic cuisine, and hands-on farm and craft activities for all ages. Learn where your food comes from by milking goats, feeding chickens, and touring the garden, or making bread, butter, and cheese. See how a sweater is made through sheep shearing, carding and spinning wool, and other wool crafts. Attend an informative bee keeping workshop with Marin Bee Company Family. Come reconnect with the land on a guided coastal hike, or simply relax on a picnic blanket while eating delicious offerings from local farms.

Live performers at Spring Fling include Sofi Rox, Fire and Oak (Marin Academy acoustic band), Tim Cain, and Helen King and the Star King Stompers.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend, including Earth Day celebrations and activities around the Bay Area. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, April 19

• Childrens' Storytime with Judy Buchanan
  Pt. Reyes Library
  Friday, 10:45 am
  Come join West Marin storyteller, Judy Buchanan, for some great children's stories! Location: 11431 State Route One, Pt. Reyes. For more info, call (415) 663-8375 or visit their website.
• Earth Day with the Insect Discovery Lab
  Creekside Room, Mill Valley Public Library
  Friday, 3:30–4:30 pm
  Celebrate Earth Day with amazing rainforest insects, millipedes, walking sticks, and more! Meet and touch live insects and find out why they are so important to our environment. For age 5 and up; no sign-up needed. Location: 375 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. For more info, call (415) 389-4292 x4741 or visit their website.
• Marin Broadway Bound Kids presents Hair Spray the Musical
  Showcase Theater
  Friday, 7:30 pm & Saturday, 1 & 5 pm
  Marin Broadway Bound Kids presents Hair Spray the Musical at the Marin Civic Center’s Showcase Theater in San Rafael. In 1962 Baltimore plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on the Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. Broadway Bound Kids musical theater introduces kids to the magic of theater. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 children and seniors, purchase through the Marin Center box office here. Location: 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. For more info, visit their website.
• Marilyn Izdebski Productions presents: "Singin’ in The Rain"
  The Playhouse, San Anselmo
  Friday, 7:30 pm, Saturday, 1 pm and 7:30 pm & Sunday, 1 pm
  "Singin' in The Rain" performed by young people from throughout Marin County, is directed by Marilyn Izdebski with musical direction by Judy Wiesen. Set in 1920’s Hollywood during the early days of sound film. Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue, and a hit-parade of Hollywood standards make "Singin' in The Rain" the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals. Tickets: $13. Location: 27 Kensington Road, San Anselmo. For reservations and ticket information, call 1-800-838-3006 or visit their website.

Saturday, April 20

• Learn to Salt Water Fish at McNears
  McNears Beach Park, San Rafael
  Saturday, 8–11 am
  Join rangers and learn how to fish on the San Pablo Bay. A limited number of fishing poles and bait will be provided first-come, first-serve to beginner anglers thanks to the California Department of Fish and Game. Fishing license is required when fishing from the shore, not from the pier. Questions: Contact Ranger Dan Sauter at DSauter@marincounty.org. $10 parking fee. Location: 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael. Meet at the fishing pier. For more info, visit their website.
• Earth Day at Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
  Tiburon
  Saturday, 9 am–1 pm
  Celebrate Earth Day by bringing your family and friends for a morning of naturalist led explorations, bird watching, restoration and clean-up. Learn about the Bay and bird conservation and its importance in the Pacific Flyway. Even the wildflowers should be out in full force to brighten the day! Activities are appropriate for all ages, including young children. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Location: 376 Greenwood Beach Road, Tiburon. For more info, call (415) 388-2524 or visit their website.
• Marinwood Community Farmers Market
  Marinwood Plaza, San Rafael
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Marinwood Community Farmers Market is every Saturday. Come have some coffee, listen to some music, and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables to take home. For more info, visit their website.

It’s spring, and that means it's time to go to your local farmers' market and buy fresh and organic produce and other goodies. There are some year-round farmers' markets in Marin, but the majority of them start up again in spring after going on hiatus in the fall. Here is a list of of year-round and opening dates for a variety of local farmer's markets throughtout Marin and the North Bay.

Year-round farmers' markets:

• Civic Center Farmers' Market in San Rafael takes place every Thursday and Sunday morning from 8 am–1 pm. They have lots of organically grown produce, breads, eggs, and fresh cut flowers. The Thursday farmer's market is located next the Civic Center duck pond and the Sunday one is located in the Civic Center parking lot.
• Corte Madera Farmers' Market takes place every Wednesday from noon–5 pm. This farmers' market is located at the Corte Madera Town Center off Highway 101.
• Marin County Mart Farmers Market happens every Saturday from 9 am–2 pm, rain or shine. Pony rides for kids from 10 am–2 pm, live family entertainment, and more. At Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Larkspur Landing Circle.
• Marinwood Community Farmer's Market, at the Marinwood Plaza in San Rafael on Saturday mornings from 9 am–2 pm. Located at Marinwood Plaza 101 Marinwood Avenue San Rafael.,

Speak to Me, Marin's premiere series of intelligent, inspiring speaking events for women, presents "Adapting to An Increasingly Complex World" a discussion with Rebecca Costa, sociobiologist, futurist, nationally syndicated radio host, and author of The Watchman’s Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction,  on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 pm.

We are painfully aware of the increased level of complexity we face in today’s world. There seem to be no easy answers anymore—from which sunscreen or tomato to buy, to how to constrain exploding healthcare costs or fix the debt crises. In her book, The Watchman’s Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction, Costa explains how the principles governing evolution both cause and provide a solution for global gridlock. When asked why this has special significance today, Costa claims, “Every person I know, rich or poor, educated or not, wants to know why our government gets more in debt, our air and water more polluted, our jails more crowded, our security more tenuous and our children more violent. We seem to have lost our ability to solve our problems. The Watchman’s Rattle offers a genetic explanation for our paralysis, and prescribes a way out.”

We're giving away two free tickets to this event to a lucky Marin Mommies reader! Simply send an email to contests@marinmommies.com with "Speak to Me April" in the subject line by 11:59 pm PST on Monday, April 22, 2013. We'll choose a random winner on Tuesday. Many thanks to Speak to Me for sponsoring this giveaway. Read our giveaway rules and conditions here.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, April 12

• Just Between Friends Children's & Maternity Consignment Event
  Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Grace Pavilion
  Friday, 10 am–7 pm, Saturday, 10 am–3 pm, Sunday, 9 am–2 pm
  North Bay's largest children's and maternity consignment sales event, Just Between Friends is held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds' Grace Pavilion—40,500 square feet of shopping awesomeness. Shop huge deals on new and gently-used clothes (0–12 years and maternity), games, toys, furniture, strollers, mommy supplies, etc! Location: 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. For more info, visit their website.
• Movie Screening: My Neighbor Totoro
  Council Chambers, San Anselmo
  Friday, 2–4:30 pm
  In this acclaimed family film from Hayao Miyazaki, two young sisters spend a summer in the Japanese countryside with their father, and their strange new home turns out to be a wonderland filled with creatures and a trio of furry woodland sprites who can only be seen by children. Free. Location: 525 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo. For more info, call (415) 258-4656 or visit their website.
• Spring Break Film Festival: Pixar Short Films, Vol. 2
  Creekside Room, Mill Valley Public Library
  Friday, 2:30–4 pm
  Disney and Pixar present an incredible new collection of 12 short films, featuring multiple Academy Award nominees (best short film, animated: Presto, 2008; Day & Night, 2010; La Luna, 2011) and a host of family favorites. Freshly popped popcorn and pillows provided! All ages; no sign up required. Location: 375 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley. For more info, call 415-389-4292 x4741 or visit their website.

Saturday, April 13

• U-Pick at Bloomfield Farms
  Bloomfield (near Petaluma)
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–2 pm
  U-pick is back! Take a scenic drive out to Bloomfield Farms in western Sonoma County where you and your family can pick your own certified organic produce, including dinosaur kale (our favorite!), lettuce, cabbage, collards, herbs, and more! $30 for large box of produce; cash only. Bring your own wagon (they have some available on a first-come, first-served basis) and a knife to cut produce with. This weekend's special guest will be chef John Lyle who will offer a "pay what you can" Farm Fun Brunch. RSVP to upick@bloomfieldfarmsorganics.com. Location: 12550 Valley Ford Road, Petaluma. For more information, visit their website.
• Marinwood Community Farmers Market
  Marinwood Plaza, Marinwood Avenue at Miller Creek Road, San Rafael
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Marinwood Community Farmers Market is every Saturday. Come have some coffee, listen to some music, and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables to take home. For more info, visit their website.
• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy the best local and organic produce, flowers, pastured meats, seafood, organic cheeses, yogurt and milk, breads, baked goods, pasta, confections, olive oil, and brunch and lunch offerings! Kids can take a pony ride and visit the petting zoo (10 am–2 pm), try out some arts and crafts (9 am–2 pm) and listen to family music (9:30–10:30 am). For more info, visit their website.
• Cherry Blossom Festival
  Japantown, San Francisco
  Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
  Join hundreds of performers from both Japan and California to get a taste of the Japanese and Japanese American culture. Bring the family and for a day of celebration. Enjoy delicious Japanese and Japanese American food, dance and music performances, and a parade. The parade begins at the Civic Center at 1 pm, proceeding up Polk to Post Street, and ending in Japantown at Post and Fillmore streets. Location: Post and Buchanan Streets. For more info, visit their website.
• Public Season at Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Martin Griffin Preserve
  Stinson Beach
  Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Martin Griffin Preserve (formerly called Bolinas Lagoon Preserve) hosts one of the most studied Great Egret nesting sites on the West Coast. Each year visitors can enjoy viewing approximately 100 active nests in a grove of redwoods on the property. Martin Griffin Preserve includes bird and wildlife viewing platforms outfitted with spotting scopes and binoculars, eight miles of hiking trails, picnic tables, and an environmental education-focused bookstore and natural history exhibit. Open Saturday, Sundays and Holidays from March to July, 2013. For more info, call (415) 868-9244 or visit their website.

Looking for a fun and educational day trip? Why not explore California's railroading past at Sacramento's California State Railroad Museum? Located in the historic Old Sacramento neighborhood, it's an easy day trip from the Bay Area or a convenient stop on the way home from Tahoe. Either way, it's perfect for a family outing at any time of the year.

If you like trains—and really, who doesn't?—the California State Railroad Museum is the place to go. Chronicling the history of California's railroads from the first transcontinental railroad in the 1860s to the modern day, there's really something here for the whole family. Not only can you view two centuries worth of historic locomotives and rolling stock, but you can actually go on board four different railroad cars, one of which is equipped to simulate movement at night.

Also on view in the museum are a huge array of toy trains and model railroad equipment. It's also one of the most family-friendly museums you can visit, full of big machines and fun things for kids to see and do.

What are you doing on your week off from school? Here are a few of our picks for fun things to do with the family around Marin, the Bay Area, and Northern California during Spring Break:

• See the cherry trees in bloom at the Japanese Tea Garden.
• Have some nature fun at Martin Griffin Preserve near Bolinas.
• Explore Point Reyes' Limantour Beach.
• Look for wildflowers and wildlife on Ring Mountain.
• Visit Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring at the de Young Museum.
• Head up to Lake Tahoe for some spring skiing.
• Tour the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield for a sweet treat.
• Take a trip to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.
• Ice skate at Snoopy's Home Ice in Santa Rosa.
• Take advantage of this week's expected warm weather and have a family picnic!

San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden is a favorite spot for tourists in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, but it's also a great spot for local families. I've been visiting since I was a small child, and I've made sure that I introduced it to my children, too. Before I took them there, I had forgotten how magical this place is.

We just went this week one day after school, since at this time of year the sakura, or flowering cherry trees, and azaleas are in full bloom. It's a magnificent and colorful spring sight that's really worth the effort to see. The kids love to explore the grounds and get some tea and a Japanese snack at the tea room.

The Japanese Tea Garden is lush and tranquil with all its spring flowers blossoming, and even with the many tourists roaming around it still had the feeling of being a peaceful retreat from the bustle outside. We always try to make it a point to visit every time we're in Golden Gate Park, no matter what the time of year.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and throughout the Bay Area in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, April 5

• Breakfast with Enzo
  Sports Basement, San Francisco
  Friday, 2 shows: 10 am & 11 am
  Enzo Garcia plays guitar, banjo, accordion, musical saw, Jew's harp, enzotar, appalachian dulcimer, slide flute, percussion and more. Enzo has been performing his family music show, "Breakfast with Enzo," weekly in San Francisco for the past 8 years, Recommended for children 7 and under. Drop in any time. Cost: $5 per person; siblings under 7 months free. For more info, call (415) 652-2474 or visit his website.
• Sing-Along with Sara Sonnet
  San Rafael Public Library
  Friday, 10:30–11 am
  Come for a delightful selection of books, motion songs, toys, finger plays, lullabies and rhymes for children aged birth to 4 years old. Location: 1100 E Street, San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 485-3322 or visit their website.
• Childrens' Storytime with Judy Buchanan
  Point Reyes Station Library
  Friday, 10:45–11:45 am
  Come join West Marin storyteller Judy Buchanan for some great children's stories! Location: 11431 State Route One, Point Reyes. For more info, call (415) 663-8375 or visit their website.

Saturday, April 6

• Marin Country Mart Farmers Market
  Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
  Saturday, 9 am–2 pm
  Enjoy the best local and organic produce, flowers, pastured meats, seafood, organic cheeses, yogurt and milk, breads, baked goods, pasta, confections, olive oil, and brunch and lunch offerings! Kids can take a pony ride and visit the petting zoo (10 am–2 pm), try out some arts and crafts (9 am–2 pm) and kid's storytelling, 9:30-10:30 am. For more info, visit their website.
• Marin Horse Council’s Day of the Horse—Ride to the Rescue
  Showcase Theater, San Rafael
  Saturday, 9 am–5 pm
  Horse lovers can attend equine seminars, lectures and demonstrations, plus see a competition that transforms rescued horses into valued members of the equestrian community. See the finals of this competition, talk to the contestants, and meet the horses. Come and meet the California Mission Riders as they share their journey on horseback connecting all 21 California missions. Tickets: $25, $10 children 13–17, children 12 and under free. For more info, visit their website.
• Super Seas: Golden Gate Playdate
  NatureBridge, Fort Cronkhite
  Saturday, 9:30–11:30 am
  Children ages 3–5 will celebrate seals, sea stars, and whales as our Sea-lebrities in the spotlight. Lots of hands-on activities designed to engage preschooler's sense of wonder and imagination through story, song, movement, and inquiry. Take a walk inside a whale skeleton, meet a live sea star from the marine lab, and explore size, texture, and shape all while enjoying the great outdoors. Cost: $15 per child per session, one adult admission free with purchase of child ticket. Pre-registration required. Snack provided. For more info, (415) 331-1548 or visit their website.
• Museums on Us
  Various locations
  Saturday & Sunday
  Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders get free general admission on the first full weekend of every month. Present your card and a photo ID for admission (one free general admission per cardholder). Get full details here. Participating museums include the de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Chabot Space & Science Center. For more info, visit their website.
• Public Season at Martin Griffin Preserve
  Stinson Beach
  Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
  Martin Griffin Preserve (formerly called Bolinas Lagoon Preserve) hosts one of the most studied Great Egret nesting sites on the West Coast. Each year visitors can enjoy viewing approximately 100 active nests in a grove of redwoods on the property. Martin Griffin Preserve includes bird and wildlife viewing platforms outfitted with spotting scopes and binoculars, eight miles of hiking trails, picnic tables, and an environmental education-focused bookstore and natural history exhibit. Open Saturday, Sundays and holidays from March to July, 2013. For more info, call (415) 868-9244 or visit their website.