Hey Kids! is a weekly feature looking at what’s coming up for families and kids of all ages.
May in the Mission: is there any sweeter time of year, in any more electric place?
Hopefully, this will be the month the rain stops, the month we can ride our bikes again (it’s Bicycle month), the month we can enjoy the strawberries, and REALLY stop to smell the flowers (yes, it’s flower month), and oh yeah, celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
KICKING THINGS OFF
Cajon, Henna and Capoeira at Cinco de Mayo Annual Open House. Unfortunately it’s during many a baby’s nap (including mine!) but bigger kids of all ages can start Cinco de Mayo early at the library. Saturday, May 1, 1p.m. to 4 p.m.. Free. Mission Branch, 300 Bartlett @ 24th Street.
MORE DANCING AND MERRYMAKING
… at Dance Mission Theater but this time in celebration of the Caribbean Diaspora. “The theme of the Sixth Annual CubaCaribe Festival of Dance and Music: From Katrina to Port‐au‐ Prince pays homage to the concept of evolution through displacement. The forces of colonialism, slavery, extreme poverty and most recently, environmental devastation have shaped the Caribbean Diaspora and its cultural outlets. “ As the conclusion of the festival, The Alayo Dance Company performs this weekend. April 30-May 2; Fri & Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 7 pm. $12-22.50. Dance Mission Theater. 3316 24th Street @ Mission Street.
DANCING ON THE MAGIC STREET
Shotwell is one of the older and more preserved streets in the Mission. Not filled with once-and-future fancy mansions (Folsom, South Van Ness), but rather, home to modernist interpretations, displaced farm houses, and this year, a re-appearing creek. Shotwell is also the address for ODC—next stop on our Dance Tour. In honor of National Dance Week, ODC is offering free classes through May 2. ODC, 351 Shotwell Street (at 18th).
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
Since we are on a roll, why not step out to learn a step or two in a creative movement class? My favorite ever was “shaping myself into how a snail moves”. Sat, May 1, 10-10:45am. Ages 2-5 with an adult. Free; registration required, call (415) 575-3000. Sports Basement, 1590 Bryant Street (at 16th).
MORE MOVEMENT, MORE CULTURE
Two great neighborhood walking tours this weekend from SF City Guides: Mission Murals and the history of the Mission Dolores neighborhood (including the Lake that was once here). Our neighborhood is relatively flat, and the tours relatively condensed, so kids can totally walk them, although the Ergo is a nice back up.
Mission Murals: May 1, 11 am. Free. All Ages. Meet at Meet at Precita and Harrison, behind Flynn Elementary School.
Misison Dolores: May 2, 11 am. Free. All Ages. Meet at the gold-painted fire hydrant SE corner of Church and 20th Sts.
AND MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE
18 Reasons hosts a really innovative take on the definition of craft: Cooking. This past spring, a group of CCA students joined up with 5 La Cocina Entrepreneurs to explore how stories, culture, memories, are contained and expressed through food. Art for the eyes and Soup for the mouth will be on offer for one night only. Soup: Art & Community, Sat, May 1, 7pm – 9pm. $5-10. 18 Reasons. 593 Guerrero Street (at 18th).
NOT HERE, BUT OF HERE
A long walk or an easy bus ride away, the theme this week for Randall Museum’s “Saturdays are Special” program is Mexican Jewelry. Sat, May 1, 1pm-4pm. $6-10, all ages. Randall Museum. 199 Museum Way.
TRICKLING DOWN TO KIDS
Not immediately for kids, but they’ll be glad you took this class. Lynn Hazen’s “Make and Take” workshop covers techniques for making pop-up books, accordion books, collaborative books, theme books, dictation stories, file folder books, teeny-tiny books, memory books, social stories, and more. ADULTS ONLY. Click HERE for registration. Sat, May 1, 9.30-2.30pm. $70-75. St. Francis Lutheran Church, 152 Church St (at 14th).
THE TRIFECTA
In case you hadn’t noticed, this column loves 1) Kids, 2) Community events/happening/institutions, 3) Giving back. Precita Eyes has all on offer with their Movie Night Fundraiser in support of the 14th Annual Urban Youth Arts Festival. Movies to be shown include Honey Rockbell B-girl Video, Video Graf, Scratch, and Freshest Kids. Fri, April 30, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM, $10. Contact Eli Lippert for more information at urbanyoutharts@gmail.com or 415-285-2287.
GIVING BACK
This one isn’t near by, but it is near and dear to many a mother’s heart. Help a Mother Out (HAMO) focuses on a basic many of us take for granted: diapers. They help families “one diaper at a time”, raising funds to buy in bulk and distributing the diapers to storefront organizations like Homeless Prenatal, family support centers, etc. It’s easy to help: take Bart to the Embarcadero, hop a streetcar to Ghiradelli Square, munch on some yummy Bi-Rite and Aidell’s treats, watch your kids play, collect a goody bag, enter a raffle. Who knew changing a diaper could be so enjoyable? Or rewarding? Join Playdate For A Cause! Sun, May 2, 3-6pm $35. Click HERE for registration (or to donate! much faster than the Sunday outing!) Peekadoodle Kid’s Club, 900 North Point Street.
GIVING BACK #2
Daniel Webster School’s Annual Plant Sale this weekend will be joined by a bake sale—think homemade almond granola and meyer lemon jam made from Hill trees. The plants are all grown by Daniel Webster families, too: think veggies, strawberries, tomatos, and herbs, herbs, herbs. The sale benefits the preshool and elementary school garden programs—and there’ll be a lot of space for little ones to run around (BIG playground) while picking out plants or enjoying a snack … and all this is followed by a Hawaiian Dance performance. Sat, May 1, 9-1 pm. Free. Daniel Webster School, 20th and Missouri.
AT HOME
Since most of our listings are for this weekend, here’s a quick and fun thing to do at home, on another day:
Grab some jars or cans with lids—make a hole in each lid. In the container put a piece of peppermint gum, a lemon wedge, a cinnamon stick—a different distinct smell in each container. Wear a blindfold, or containers up with paper. Guess the scents, and make up new names.
What is the scent of the Mission in May? Of Renewal? Of no more Rain? Of Cinco de Mayo?
