Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san jose, CA

Summer Concerts

by bonggamom

July 21, 2009

One of the best things about summer are the long, long days, making it easy for the whole family to take a walk or kick around a few balls in the back yard after dinner.   With such nice, warm, sunny evenings, it's no wonder that outdoor summer concerts are such a popular family activity. If you haven't already taken your family to a summer concert, now's the time to try.  Pack a picnic dinner, grab a blanket and sweater, and enjoy one of the many outdoor summer concerts around Silicon Valley. There's one for every night of the week!

Monday evenings
Jazz Mondays on Main Street, Redwood City

Tuesday evenings
Campbell Summer Concert Series 
Milpitas Summer Concert Series
Twilight Concert Series, Palo Alto

Wednesday evenings
Menlo Park Summer Concert Series
Jazz on the Plazz, Los Gatos
Summer Music and Market, Sunnyvale

Thursday evenings
Mountain View Summer Concert Series
Metro Music in the Park, San Jose
Sounds of the Row, Santana Row
Movies on the Square, Redwood City

Friday evenings
Music on the Square, Redwood City
Rockin on the Patio, AJ Stumps San Jose
Friday Movie Nights, Los Altos

Saturday evenings
Vasona Vibrations Outdoor Music Series
Jazz and Beyond, Sunnyvale
Summer Family Movie Nights, San Jose

Sunday evenings
Music in the Park, Los Gatos

Does your city have a summer concert series not mentioned here?  Please email me at bonggamom@yahoo.com; I'd love to add it to the list!

Mozart, Moby or Miles: children's musical artists in Silicon Valley

by bonggamom

April 14, 2009

You've been going to music classes all year and your preschooler reeelly wants to dance and sing at his birthday party.  Wouldn't it be great if you could book Laurie Berkner or The Sippy Cups or some other cool musicians that won't send the grownups into another room (ok, I suppose you could, but we're talking about regular people here, not Steve Jobs)? 

Fear not, we've got some pretty good local kids musicians in Silicon Valley.  Their music is definitely for kids, but it's fresh and fun, so you needn't fear popping their cd's into your car stereo and enduring boring renditions of traditional kids' songs all the way to Tahoe.  The know how to keep people  amused with both antics and music, so they're popular fixtures at birthday parties and public events all over Silicon Valley.  Here are three of the best:

Andy Z started performing at farmers' markets; he's now one of the most popular kids' musicians in the Bay Area.  We attended a birthday party where Andy Z performed, and he's even better in a small-audience setting.  I like how draws kids into his performance and sets their imaginations on fire by taking them on a journey through his imaginary world, Andyland.  My kids love his Andyland cd; his gentle voice and low-key style makes him perfect for events with young kids.    

Daffy Dave is best known for his comedy-juggling-magic shows that leave kids and adults alike in stitches.  But he's also got some wonderful cd's of kids' songs that he either wrote or arranged himself, so if he's your guy, make sure you ask him to perform some of them.  Many are delightful takeoffs on traditional tunes (We love to giggle at Happy Burp-day).  Many are clever takes on pop songs (a la Al Yankovic).  And all are very, very funny.

Wiley Rankin isn't exclusively a children's performer-- he also performs at adult venues with nary a child in sight.  He doesn't hide his grownup self in his kids' songs, either; many show strong blues (Splish Splash, Leapfrog) and folk rock (Circle the Earth) influences. I especially love how he transforms "Pop Goes the Weasel" from its usual singsong, Skip-to-My-Lou style into a hip-wiggling, Elvis-inspired rock 'n roll number.  

Don't know which one to pick?  All perform at various public concerts or library events throughout the area, so check out the show calendars on their websites for local appearances.

Park Day: Santana Row, San Jose

by Bonggamom

December 01, 2008

At first glance, it doesn't seem like Santana Row is kid-friendly at all. Posh shops, high-end (read: breakable) home accessories, luxury spas and chic bars dominate this outdoor shopping mall. But look closer and you'll find hints of kid-friendly fun here and there. Like the small, fenced in toddler playstructure at Park Valencia, a small patch of green at the heart of the mall. And the  Read more...

Weekend Outlook: November 7th-9th

by Shawn Burns

November 05, 2008

This Election Week Weekend Outlook is brought to you by ME. You know. As usual. What is there to do with your little one this first weekend in November, the month winter begins to close its frosty grip? This Friday Hidden Villa begins its " Preschoolers on the Farm " series of "working the farm" afternoons. The workshop runs from 3-4pm, and is continued on November 14th and November 21st.  Read more...