2009 Children's Day: The Basics

Get ready for our third annual Bernal Heights Children's Day!  This year, the Bernal Heights Parents Club has teamed up with Friends of the San Francisco Public Library to co-sponsor the event.  Thanks to our generous sponsors admission is FREE, but we will gladly accept donations toward the renovation of our neighborhood branch library.

The final schedule of performers will be posted next week.  In the mean time, here's the answers to some FAQs:

When and where is it?

Sunday, July 19, from 10a-2p, at the Bernal Heights recreation center (500 Moultrie).  Fog or shine, the party will happen.

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What's there to do?

The event is geared towards young children and their families, so we've focused on activities for kids ages 1-7 or so.  We'll have awesome musical entertainment and storytelling at the main stage, and a quiet area with tumbling mats and tubes for the pre-walking set.  There will be two jumpy houses, one for the bigger kids and one for toddlers.  This year, we'll also feature movement activities and an animal show.  You can also check out a book at the Bookmobile, say hi to our neighborhood police officers and fire fighters, get your face painted, or go fishing.  Come find a costume in our dress-up area and learn more about the Bernal Heights Branch Library campaign.  Sample some of the recipes in Bernal Eats.  Check out the balloon art by Stephen Hollis, or make a masterpiece in sidewalk chalk.  Or, just say hi to your neighbors and other parents in the Bernal Heights community.

If you're joining us for the first time with an infant, we will have a changing table and a quiet, private area for nursing.

What if I'm hungry?

We'll have TopDog of Berkeley grilling up hot dogs (and veggie dogs too).  Chips, juice, and coffee will also be available; food and drink will be priced from $1-$4.  If that doesn't whet your palate, Good Life Grocery and the many tasty restaurants on Cortland Avenue are just steps away.

How much does it cost?

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, admission is free this year.  We will be accepting donations towards the Bernal Heights Branch Library Neighborhood Campaign.  Jumpy house rides are $2, or $5 for an unlimited ride wrist band.  Our musicians and balloon artist appreciate any tips that come their way, too.

What are the rules?

No alcohol or glass bottles (except infant bottles) on site, please.  All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, without exception.  No tantrums.

2009 Children's Day, Sunday July 19, 10-2

Please join us for the 2nd Annual Bernal Heights Children's Day

Sunday, May 4, 2008
10am-2pm

Bernal Heights Recreation Center

500 Moultrie Street

(behind the library)

A neighborhood celebration for families with young children, featuring:

- A great lineup of musicians and performers, including:

• Musician Jim - 10:00-10:30
• Familia Govea - 10:30 - 11:00
• Orange Sherbet - 11:15 - 12:15
• Jonathan Bayer - 12:30 - 1:15
• Francisco Herrera - 1:15 - 2:00

- 2 jumpy houses (for little ones and big kids)

- A quiet area for crawling, tumbling, and family yoga classes by Bernal Yoga and It's Yoga Kids and a demo from MyGym

- Creative activities, including arts projects, dress-up, and body adornment – with pro photographer Seth Affoumado to document the evidence

- A police car, fire truck, mni-excavator and "racecar" to climb around

- A balloon clown

- A virtual pet contest (bring photos!) with prizes in several categories

- Information tables from local causes and book vendors

- A raffle with great prizes from local businesses

- and, last but not least, catering by Top Dogs of Berkeley, featuring Kosher beef hot dogs, pork Bratwurst, chicken-apple sausage, and vegandogs!

This year, all cash proceeds will benefit the Bernal Heights Branch Library Improvement Project.

We're also collecting healthy snacks for BHNC's after-school programs for youth.

Recommended contribution $5 per family (but no families turned away for lack of funds) … and since we're donating profits to the library, larger donations are welcome

Jumpy rides $2 each, or unlimited jumps $5 per kid

Food will be around $3 per weenie, $1.50 for drinks or chips.

We will need hordes of volunteers the day of the event to set up the festival, keep things running smoothly, and clean up at the end. If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up at: bhpchildrensday@gmail.com. If you have questions or suggestions, please email us there too.

Finally, we'd like to sincerely thank the many local businesses that signed up as early event sponsors/ volunteers; without their generosity, it wouldn't happen. Please join us in thanking and patronizing:

@Signs & Graphics

Architect Mason Kirby

Barefoot Books

Bernal Beast

Bernal Hill Realty

Bernal Yoga

Beth Zonderman Design

Chloe's Closet

Chuck's

Cole Hardware

Dan's Cleaners

Discount Club Liquors

Floorcraft

The Good Life Grocery

Heartfelt

Home Realty

It's Yoga Kids

James Maxwell@Coldwell Banker

Jessica Branson@Pacific Union

Leslie Bauer@Paragon Realty

Little Green Star

Maggie Mudd

Mark Garrison Construction

Mark Lindsell Architecture

Moonlight Cafe

MyGym

Nilda's Filipino Catering @Bernal Heights Produce

Progressive Grounds

Red Hill Books

Safeway

The Shagley Team

Stray Bar

Sundius Family

Sunset Scavenger

Tinderbox

Visual Presentation

Save the Date!

Sunday, May 4

10am-2pm

Bernal Heights Recreation Center

500 Moultrie

We are busy coordinating this year's event, open to suggestions and donations, and looking for volunteers!

We were pleasantly surprised by the success of our first Children's Day last summer that included approximately 200 families and more than $700 raised for the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center's youth programs. This year, we anticipate even greater attendance and plan to again have musical entertainment, arts & crafts, games tables, a couple of jumpy houses, and local Cortland Street merchant participation. New this year, we'll have food vendor Top Dog, a dress up corner, and a pet photo contest. We plan to have a number of vehicles for the kids to check out, e.g. fire truck, police cruiser, digger, forklift as well as the Bernal Dads "Race Car". Lastly, proceeds from the event will be donated to the Bernal Heights Library restoration via Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

We hope that you will join us!

Announcing Our Fabulous Lineup!

Without any further ado, here's our final entertainment lineup for tomorrow's big event!

ON THE BIG STAGE:
10 am - Musician Jim
10:15 - Jonathan Bayer
10:55 - Charity Kahn, Jam!Jam!Jam!
11:35 - Orange Sherbet
12:15 - Back 40 Bluegrass Band

IN THE QUIET NOOK:
10:15 - Red Hill Books lapsit reading
11:15 - Bernal Yoga sponsors Julie Russell, yoga for children
12:30 - Ellen Klages, local author

OUT AND ABOUT:
2!2!2! Jumpy houses, one for little ones and one for bigger kids
Grow-a-Garden table, sponsored by Flowercraft
Body Art table, sponsored by Heartfelt
Crafts table, sponsored by Precita Eyes
Face Painting table, sponsored by Plum Organics and Heather Forbes
Giant Bubbles
Beanbag Toss with art by David House
Silly faces photo stand with art by David House
Balloon Art by Stephen Hollis
SFPD Squad Car
SFFD Fire Truck
Child safety ID kits by the Masons
Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center
Friends of the Public Library

TO FILL THE BELLY
Potluck! With compostable flatware and plated sponsored by Chloe's Closet
Donation Barrels for the SF Food Bank

We can't wait to see you there! Remember, admission is $5 for the family, jumpy rides are $2, bring a dish to share and some food to donate, and something to drin k. No glass or booze -- this is a family-safe event! Any questions or are you dying to volunteer? email us at bhppchildrensday(at)gmail(dot)com.

Your kid oughta be in pictures!

Today, we'd like to highlight a few sponsors who are helping out in creative ways, centered around food.

Our face-painting booth will be sponsored and staffed by Plum Organics, a mom-created company that sells frozen organic baby food (red lentil veggie, anyone?). They'll be painting little fruits and veggies (and perhaps a tiger or two), and local photographer extraordinaire Heather Forbes will be on hand to document the spectacle. This is an amazing opportunity to have a portrait by a noted photographer, so we hope you'll stop by the face-painting table for a closer look.

Speaking of food, one of our favorite merchants on Cortland Street, Chloe's Closet, will be supporting our potluck by providing compostable GMO-free corn based utensils and biodegradable plates! We'll collect compost on site as a way of ensuring that our gathering has a minimal environmental impact. We're also minimizing waste by not selling drinks and recycling drink containers. Please remember to bring drinks in plastic or metal bottles (no glass), and remember that alcohol is not welcome at this event, no matter how badly you need that Bloody Mary 'cause your kid was teething all night long.

In case your urban baby wonders where food comes from, the amazing staff at Flowercraft on Bayshore are donating seeds and planting supplies for a grow-a-seed table. It's a mess-free way to experience the textures, colors, and wonder of gardening.

As you can see, we've gathered together a group of fabulous businesses to help this event happen. Please keep them in mind the next time you're buying baby food, or kid's books/clothes, or garden supplies, or professional photography services.

Check this space often to find out about the neighbors and businesses working together to make Children's Day a success.