Babies and Beer in Golden Gate Park

March 18, 2007
For my first-ever inaugural Marin Daddy blog post, I though I'd write about subject that's near and dear to the hearts of most dads—beer, and of course, spending quality time with the wee ones. At a recent after-work function I was with some colleagues at the Park Chalet in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The Park Chalet is the slightly less touristy, downstairs sibling to the popular Beach Chalet brewery and restaurant in the historic building of the same name, located on the Great Highway at John F. Kennedy Drive, across from Ocean Beach.
So I'm here on a Monday afternoon, and I couldn't help but notice a steady stream of parents with small children entering the place. Most of them were headed toward the expansive lawn area in back, where they lounged in adirondack chairs, ate appetizers, drank beer, and watched their kids go nuts running around on the lawn. Did I also mention that it was $1 draft night? The Park/Beach Chalet makes a variety of tasty brews, all named after San Francisco landmarks past and present, such as Presidio IPA, Playland Pale Ale, and Fleischhacker Stout, all (or at least what I've sampled) quite tasty. They even make their own root beer, since you're bringing your kids and all. And they have food, too, including your standard pub-grub like sandwiches, burgers, pizza, etc.
Does life get any better than $1 beer and a place where you don't have to worry about the kids tearing around like crazy? Not if you're just one of those idle people who can go hang out at a brewpub on Monday afternoons and evenings, or if you can swing a Monday off, ("Hello, boss? Yeah, I'm feeling pretty awful today, I don't think I'm gonna make it in...").

Great place for kids, especially with the rains coming!

I've been taking my daughter Kai to "Studio Grow" in Berkeley for nearly 2 years now. She loves it, she loves taking part in Music Time and Parachute time and playing in the gym room the best. She also loves the performers that come on Saturday's. Tom & Tim (owners) are great, friendly, encouraging and really nice to be around. It's clean, safe, fun and definitely the best place in the Bay Area I've found to play with my daughter. It's like a great preschool on steroids ;b.

Check it out: http://www.studiogrow.com/ - 1235 10th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.