Week 4 June, 2010
This week’s highlighted local treasure is Children’s Fairyland at Oakland’s Lake Merritt. From their website: Just imagine: a ten-acre park on the shores of Oakland’s Lake Merritt where children’s literature comes to life and kids can be kids. Since 1950, Children’s Fairyland has been delighting children and their parents with whimsical storybook sets, gentle rides, friendly animals, wonder-filled puppet shows, and inspired live entertainment. One modest admission fee covers a whole day of imaginative fun. And we’re available for birthday parties, summer sleepovers, summer camp, field trips, and special events as well.
I’ve had the unique pleasure of dropping-off and picking-up a seven-year-old who has been attending the summer camp at Fairyland this week. And considering the little girl’s mother, aunt and grandmother all visited Fairyland as children themselves, it seemed to me that the depth of this treasure trove was actually extraordinarily deep. And evidently, in addition to inspiring legions of young boys and girls for sixty years, this park is one that was visited by the one and only Walt Disney when he was developing his idea for the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim. In fact, Mr. Disney hired Fairyland’s first executive director, Dorothy Manes, to help launch the Magic Kingdom. Pretty awesome stuff! Right here in Oakland! Check it out!
So, let’s find some fun ’round the bay…
Free Swabacher Summer Concert in Yerba Buena Gardens: Sunday in San Francisco. From the Chronicle: Is there anything better than great opera performed outdoors in the sunshine? What about if it was FREE! Bring a picnic and your sunscreen to experience this free community presentation on Sunday, July 25th, at Yerba Buena Gardens. The Schwabacher Summer Concert is perfect for the seasoned opera lover or the novice, so invite your friends and family to join you!
Four Paws Society Paw-A-Thon: Saturday at San Leandro Marina Park. Fundraiser for San Leandro Dog Park includes talent show for best dog trick, dog costume contest, petting zoo, pets available for adoption, low cost vaccinations, animal licensing in San Leandro, free pet spaying and neutering for qualified applicants, learn pet cpr and first aid, and more!
Hapa: Academy of Hawaiian Arts: Free concert at Stern Grove San Francisco. From the website: Hapa is one of Hawaii’s most popular recording groups, incorporating oli, or traditional chant, with virtuoso slack key guitar and modern sounds. The Academy of Hawaiian Arts, based in Oakland, keeps the culture of the Islands alive with beautiful hula performances. Check out the beautiful Stern Grove for this free show of Hawaiian music!
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Pic of the Week:
A sun-seeking Peruvian Lily in the back yard