Last Full Week for Star Wars Exhibit at The Tech Museum!

Hi Everyone,

For those of you that have yet to take your kids to the Star Wars Exhibit at The Tech Museum of Innovation, or for those of you that need to go yet again then please make sure that you take a look at this money-saving offer through Goldstar!

The Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination Exhibit has been generating tons of visitors and rightfully so.  

This 10,000-square-foot exhibition explores the futuristic technologies depicted in the Star Wars films: -- the real science behind them, and the research that might someday lead to real-life versions of the technologies seen in the series.

The interactive science and technology exhibition explores two major themes—“Getting Around” and “Robots and People,” as well as 2 minor themes—“Adapting to Environments” and “Robots and Medicine.”

You can see more than 80 authentic costumes, models, and props from all 6 Star Wars films plus interactive exhibits and design labs related to real-world technologies. Topics range from space travel, mechanical prosthetics, robotics, and levitation technology. Defy gravity, manipulate robots, engineer droids, and lots more.

I took my two toddler boys and my father and all of them thoroughly enjoyed the event.  It was an excellent place to not only share some childhood memories with my little ones, but it was also a blast to the past for me and my Dad.

With the final day of the exhibition being Sunday, March 23rd it is better to go sooner rather than later with the expected final crowds.  If you are going through the actual museum, the cost of the event is as follows:

One of the best best options to save money is to go through Goldstar, which you can access the pricing for here (Link).  The only hang-up of using Goldstar is the limited dates and times which it is available for, otherwise you are saving some cash.


- Andrew

Weekend Events - 2014 San Jose Super Toy, Comic and Collectible Show! (March 22nd - 23rd)

Hi Everyone,

If as a parent you like to occasionally reminisce with your kids (or significant other!) about the good old days and the various types of toys that you played with (that are now worth a gajillion dollars), well here is your chance to possibly see or buy those toys again!

Next Saturday and Sunday, The San Jose Super Toy, Comic and Collectible Show will holding it's bi-annual event at The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.  Saturday, March 22nd the show will be open from 11:00 am until 4:30 pm, with early-bird hours being held from 9:00 am until 10:59 am.  Sunday, March 23rd the hours will be from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm.

The show will include over 240 tables of vintage to modern toys, comics and collectibles.  Additionally, there will be various artists, video game memorabilia and dolls.

General admission is $8.00 with kids under 12 costing $3.00.  The early-bird entrance fee is $15.00, for those of you that want to scan the show for the best items to purchase.

Additional to the fun and very eclectic items for purchase, there will be a few blasts from the pasts that will be available for autographs.  The first celeb will be Dee Wallace from E.T. and Cujo Fame.  The second guest is a little more up my alley and it is Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters!  Ernie will only be at the show on Sunday, with Dee being at the show for both days.

I might end up taking my two oldest boys to the show, just to give them a taste of what old-school toys looked like.


- Andrew

Books - Children-Specific Bookstores and Events!

Hi Everyone,

I know that with the advancement of E-Reading Devices, iPads/ iPhones/ iTouches and everything else under the sun, the old-school usage of books is slowly being reduced.  That is, unless you consider the small library that my boys have amassed at home.  With my wife being an educator, she makes sure to enforce our purchasing and usage of actual books.  Not to say that we don't have e-books as well, but we both like to make sure that the boys have access to whatever they would like to read (within reason).

In saying all of that, I wanted to post a few places that we frequent for our books, as well as some of the special events that they offer.  Should any of you have any other establishments that cater to children, then please do your fellow parent a favor and share the details in the comments section below. Thanks!

- Andrew 

Hicklebee's is a great Willow Glen Institution that has a 19 person staff with 8 who have averaged 15 years on-staff at Hicklebee's!  Their combined experience equals more than 200 years of immersion in children's books!  So, they do know their stuff.

Additional to their excellent selection of children's books, they often have store events that include book signings and storytelling times.  I have posted a link of their monthly events here (Hicklebee's Events Link). 

Everybody knows the book powerhouse that is Barnes & Noble, but how many of you know about their children's special events and Kids-focused Club?  Each individual B&N has specific events that are mandated by the corporate headquarters, but they run these children's events on a regular basis.  Below, I have listed a link to not only some upcoming events, but also for details surrounding the B&N Kids's Club Membership and a Kids-focused Book Section.

• March 8th - 15th, Truly Talented You (An American Girl Event) - This event will be celebrating The American Girl of The Year, Isabelle.  They will have fun activities, puzzles and crafts for girls 8 - 12.  Please go to the website for your local B&N Store for exact details. (San Jose) Blossom Hill Store Details 

• March 14th - 23rd, Family Reading Fun with LeapFrog - This event will take the entire family on a LeapReader Interactive Reading Adventure, but be warned that space is limited and check with your local store to register ASAP. (San Jose) Blossom Hill Store Details 

• April 26th, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Hands-On Learning Event: Join B&N as they celebrate the 45th Anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar with a special Hands-On Learning Event. They will have activities and your family can see how Eric Carle's classic story can be fun and educational. (San Jose) Blossom Hill Store Details

• Barnes & Noble @School - This is a comprehensive array of products for teachers, parents, home schoolers, and students.  It offers educators and parents exactly what they need to help students in pre-school through 8th grade in the classroom and at home.

LEGO Activities Calendar for March!

Parents and Kids,

Here is your LEGO Activity Calendar for March, which includes exclusive giveaways, themed store activities and upcoming LEGO Set Releases (Link).  

A few stand out events for March include:

• Tuesday, March 4 - Free Monthly Model Build: Learn how to build this LEGO Spring Tree model and take it home – for free! Event begins at 5 pm.  Quantities are limited to approximately 250 per store and offer is good while supplies last only. Models are not for sale and cannot be purchased. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6-14 only.

• Saturday, March 22 & 29 - LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Club Meeting: Build a jail to hold Batman’s villains! This exclusive event has limited space and availability varies by store, so sign up early! Registration is $25 per child or just $20 per child for VIP members, and includes a limited-edition LEGO Club T-shirt. Registration begins February 1!

• Starting March 10th - Take Photo with DC Comics Super Heroes!:  visit the LEGO ® Store to take your photo with LEGO ® DC Comics™ Super Heroes! Plus, upload your photo to our LEGO Shop Facebook page to receive a FREE LEGO® DC Comics™ Super Heroes poster. Poster available only while supplies last.
• Monday, March 17th - Find LEGO 4-Leaf Clover: Find the LEGO 4-Leaf Clover hiding in the store and receive a special offer!  Offer only valid March 17, 2014.

- Andrew

LEGO Movie Event - Barnes & Noble, Saturday January 25th (Free!)

Hi Everyone,

With the highly-anticipated Lego Movie coming out in February (02/07/14), various tie-in events are starting to materialize.  Barnes and Noble Event will be holding their joint event at all stores this Saturday, January 25th.  From what I understand, space is very limited and the RSVP Process is different per store, so please click on this info link to find out about the store nearest you (Barnes & Noble Lego Movie Event).

For the San Jose Blossom Hill Store, here is what they provided regarding details on their event:

Lego Movie Hands-On Learning Event

Did you know The Lego Movie is going to be coming out soon? Join us for some Lego activities and giveaways in anticipation of this exciting new movie! Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP with a bookseller!


- Andrew

KFOG Concert For Kids (Pre-Sale Info)

Hi Everyone,

For those of you that love to contribute to a worthy cause (Children!) or for those of you that simply like to listen to music from a beloved 90's band, there is an upcoming concert for you!

Starting tomorrow morning at 10:00 am all the way through Saturday at 10:00 pm, the local radio station KFOG will be pre-selling tickets to their KFOG Concert For Kids.  Santa Barbara's very own Toad the Wet Sprocket, Dawes, Serena Ryder and Brett Denne will be performing.  You can access the link for a ticket purchase on their KFOG Website.

The KFOG Concert For Kids proceeds benefit The Children's Hospital of Oakland and KFOG is asking attendees if they could bring a new, unwrapped book or toy to the show to donate to the Toys For Tots Program.

The concert will be held on Saturday, December 7th at San Francisco's Nob Hill Masonic Theater.  The doors will be opening at 6:00 pm and the music starts at 7:00 pm. The tickets are $25 and $45 each.  Gold Circle Tickets are $100 and include seats in the first 5 rows and a copy of the new KFOG Live From The Archives 20 CD. 

- Andrew

 

Last-Minute Bay Area Halloween Activities!

Hello Readers,

It has been a while since I posted my last blog for Nor Cal Kids, but I'm back!  

Now seems to be as good of a time as ever to return, as the Bay Area is jam-packed with fun Halloween Activities for families.

Haunt The Hollow - Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

The first event that i wanted to report on is the 17th annual "Haunt the Hollow" that is being held tomorrow (October 27th) from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Happy Hollow Park And Zoo in San Jose.  The event will include Trick-or-Treating throughout the Park & Zoo for children, so make sure that your children bring a bag to collect their treats!  Below is a list of mentioned activities:

• Corn Maze
• Two inflatable Fun Houses
• Kiddie Carnival area 
• Fall fun crafts
• Story Time at 11:30am
• Special animal meet & greets
• Special entertainment at 1pm & 3pm
• "The Halloween Spooktacular" show by Liberty Dance Company at 12:30
• Dan Chan the Magic Man Performance @ 2:30pm
• Ruby Studio StoryTime and Craft from 2pm - 4pm

All activities are included with with paid admission and are free for Happy Hollow Members!  There is a $6.00 fee for all reciprocal Members with a $12.95 fee for Non-members / General Admission.

As I run across more of these last minute kid-focused activities, I will make sure to report on them accordingly!

- Andrew