Earth Fest at the Sacramento Zoo

Earth Day isn’t until April 21, but why not make it “Earth Month” and start the celebration with the Sacramento Zoo this weekend? Earth Fest is Saturday, April 2 from 9AM to 4PM you can take part in the following activities and events, along with enjoying the zoo’s inhabitants!

Participants and Exhibitors

Association of Professional Landscape Designers Chipotle Mexican Grill Consumnes River Preserve Friends of the Sacramento Public Library Friends of San Juan de Oriente Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk Gus the Green tree frog, Sacramento Zoo Mascot Heifer International IKEA Mira Loma High School – Arcade Creek Project Organic Gardening Club of Sacramento County Recycled Zoo Banner Bags for Sale! Sacramento County Sierra Club Sacramento New Technology High School Sacramento Regional Sanitation District Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership Solar Cookers International Tranquill Gardens Village Nurseries WormFancy …More participants to come!

All Day Activities

Recycle Rummage Sale in the Kampala Center Interactive Wildlife Wagons Hands-on artifacts in the Discovery Room Face painting Funshop crafts

Timed Activities

Zoo P.I.’s Critter Caper    11:00 am on the amphitheater stage  Wildlife Stage Show    1:30 pm on the amphitheater stage   Keeper Chats — all talks at the exhibit    2:15 pm Giant anteater    2:30 pm Mongoose lemur    2:45 pm Tortoise by the Giraffe exhibit

The Sacramento Zoo is located at 3930 West Land Park Drive and for more information click HERE or call 916.808.5888. Admission is *FREE* for children under 2, $7 for ages 2-11, $10.25 for seniors, and $11 for the general public. Remember, members get in *FREE*.

We’ll see you there!

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April Events at the Crocker Art Museum

Sunday, April 10, 3PM
Classical Concert: William Feasley, Guitar
Inspired by “John Buck: Iconography,” classical guitarist William Feasley will perform works by American composers Peter Madlem, Robert Beaser, Carlos Jobim, and Thelonius Monk along with the world premiere of “Black Tango” (“Tango Negro”) by the Argentine composer Marcelo Ferraris. Purchase tickets HERE, at the admission desk, or by calling 916.808.1182. $6 members, $12 nonmembers.

This would be a great afternoon activity for a parent and teen! Why not grab a dessert at Ginger Elizabeth afterward and discuss the music?

Thursday, April 14, 5-9PM
Art Mix: Lit Fix
Celebrate Literary Arts Month with a night full of poetry, spoken word, live music, tours, and talks. Don’t miss an open mic session and interactive activities. *FREE* with museum admission. Art Mix is part of the program series Thursdays ‘til 9.

Another good parent-teen activity, this would make for a fun “date night”. Grab dinner Tapa the World before you get your art fix.

Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20 & 27, 11AM
Wee Wednesday
Bring your little one and yourself for gallery-based art activities for children ages 3 to 5.  *FREE* with museum admission. This is a family program and space is limited. Signup begins at 10AM on the day of the event at the museum admission desk.

SUCH a fun activity for your toddler! Get them exposed to the arts at an early age.

Saturday, April 9, 1PM
Sunday, April 17, 11AM
Drop, Yak, Splat! A Museum Adventure for Families
Different artworks will provide inspiration for a stimulating gallery experience for families and children of all ages. *FREE* with museum admission.

This would be a great way to start your family Second Saturday fun.

Tuesday, April 12, Noon-2PM
Homeschool Day
Homeschool and family groups are invited to visit the museum regularly for thematic gallery adventures designed to intrigue children ages six and older. Registration is required. For pricing specifics and registration, click HERE or call 916.808.1182.

Sunday, April 17, 1-3PM
Opening Reception: Meaning and Medium – Self-Portraits by Christian Brothers High School Students
See the exhibition “Meaning and Medium,” on view April 7 through July 10, 2011, and meet the artists who have explored portraiture through fresh eyes.

Tuesday, April 19, 10:30AM
Baby Loves Art – Singing in the Rain
Baby Loves Art is an entertaining and interactive way for children ages three and under and their caregivers to experience the educational stimulation that the visual arts can provide. Children sing, move, groove, touch, and play at the Crocker while building key cognitive and motor skills. This program is funded by the First 5 Sacramento Commission.

I can’t WAIT to take my 2 year-old to this new program for babies!

If you attend (or have attended in the past) any of the program or special events at the Crocker, we’d love to hear about it and get your thoughts and insight. Email us at eastsacmom{at}gmail{dot}com.

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street and for more information click HERE or call 916.808.7000.

We’ll see you there!

We’ll see you there!

Author Danika Dinsmore at Art Beast

At ArtBeast on Monday, April 4th, older elementary children can come for an exciting event. Visiting Author and Artist-in-the-Schools Danika Dinsmore will lead her IMAGINARY WORLDS WRITERS WORKSHOP from 4PM to 6PM.

The workshop will be followed by a 7PM book reading of her new novel about a fearless fairy: Brigetta of the White Forest. The reading is *FREE*.

Details about the workshop: You’ve been lost in the imaginary worlds created by authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Wouldn’t it be great to make your own imaginary world? A world with its own rules, history, magic and mysteries? Having an imaginary world of your own gives you a jumping off place for an infinite number of stories and adventures. Whether you’re interested in writing your own book or in simply enjoying the creative process, this workshop will give you worldbuilding exercises to complete in workshop and on your own. Workshop designed for children 9 and older.

About the Author: Danika Dinsmore has been working and playing with children in a variety of settings for 18 years. She co-created Washington State’s first youth poetry slam and developed a curriculum guide for teaching poetry in the schools. She also produced the Seattle Poetry Festival’s Emerging Voice spokenword program for teens. She has worked as an artist-in-the-schools for Learning Through the Arts and taught writing courses at Vancouver Film School, Capilano University, and Creative Writing for Children. Her awards include the Washington State Poets Association award for Performance Poetry and the “Best Fresh Voice” Screenwriting Award from the Female Eye Film Festival.

Registration: $15 per child. Please call Art Beast at 916.441.1233 to register or register online by clicking HERE. We recommend registering early to ensure a spot.

The workshop will be followed by a book reading at 7PM of Danika’s novel, Brigitta of the White Forest. The reading will be *FREE* and may be held at Time Tested Books, two blocks from Art Beast.

About the Book: Brigitta is a young Water Faerie. She’s anxious about going through The Change as she doesn’t see how destiny markings on her wings should determine her life’s path. Before the annual Festival of the Elements, Brigitta is flying with her tag‐a‐long sister when a mysterious curse turns everyone in the White Forest to stone, except for the two of them. They have no idea why they were not cursed, but they do know if they don’t turn everyone back in time, the Hourglass of Protection will run out and so will its protective field around the forest. With no one left to help, they must leave the protected realm to seek an exiled faerie they have only heard about in tales.

More info at: www.thewhiteforest.com

Art Beast is located at 2226 K Street and for more information click HERE or call 916.441.1233.

We’ll see you there!

Week End Wrap Up

Happy Friday, East Sac Moms (and Dads)! What do you have planned for this wet, rainy weekend? Here are a few ideas, should you care to venture out. Remember, you can check out the East Sacramento Mom calendar page to find out what’s going on any day of the week.

• Join Stroller Strides at McKinley
• Take a *FREE* yoga class
• Enjoy the East Portal Park playgroup
• See Pigs In Space (hehe)
• Shop the farmers market
• Visit the Crocker Art Museum
• Take baby to the Central Library
• Sing along with the song circle at McKinley

Are we missing anything? Send us an email letting us know what else is going on in the neighborhood that is *FREE* (or cheap) and family friendly: eastsacmom{at}gmail{dot}com.

We’ll see you there!

Fairytale Town Goes Green

Green matters, if we each do a little, we all do a lot! Join Fairytale Town and several local area organizations and spend the day promoting environmental awareness. The event will feature educational displays on global warming, conservation and pollution. Children will be able to participate in various free recycled hands-on art activities. Local area organizations will also be on hand with booths to discuss green programs they offer, and to provide tips and tools on how to get started.

Puppet Art Theater will be performing The Three Little Pigs, with a conservation twist, in the Children’s Theater. Puppet show tickets are $1 for members, $2 for nonmembers, and children 1 and under are *FREE*. Puppet show times are 12:30PM, 1:30PM and 2:30PM. Fairytale Town Goes Green will take place from 11AM to 3PM on Saturday, March 26th.

Fairytale Town is located at 3901 Land Park Drive and admission is $4.50 for ages 2 and up and *FREE* for ages 1 and younger. For more information click HERE or call 916.808.5233.

We’ll see you there!

Where to “Park”?

Hello Fellow East Sac Moms! I’m excited to be a guest contributor here at East Sac Mom, and I look forward to sharing current ideas, trends, tips and advice as they relate to real estate in wonderful East Sacramento.

Why do we love East Sac so much? If you’re like me, you were probably drawn to the family-oriented and active lifestyle, all centered around three beautiful and popular parks:  McKinley, East Portal and Bertha Henschel. As local parents, you likely know each park’s highlights—awesome playgrounds, hosting events like “Pops in the Park” and “Screen on the Green”, and the recreation they provide with their tennis courts, jogging trails and playing fields. 

What many people don’t think about, though, is the role these parks play in the decision to buy or sell a home. Given that most East Sac homes have smaller yards, being right on the park gives many families that extra room to “stretch.” Personally, I love the idea of looking out my front window, seeing my son playing at the park, and calling him back home when it’s dinnertime. Just a hop across the street? Perfect.

But as I’ve learned during several Open Houses I’ve held right across from neighborhood parks, not everyone agrees. Many people see the park as a deterrent—they’re concerned about noise, crime and parking.  And should they purchase that home “on” the park, those things also make them question re-salability.  Ultimately they like the idea of being near the park—but they don’t want to be directly on it.

In East Sac, no definite market statistics exist that show whether homes on the park sell higher or lower, faster or slower.  This is easily contributed to a lack of one common opinion on the subject. It’s sort of like swimming pools—some people love them, some people don’t.

So I pose the question to you—the East Sac Mom reader. Where is your ideal place to “park”?  Would you pay $10,000 more for a home directly on or across from the park, or would you see the park as a drawback and therefore want to pay less for a home that you loved nonetheless?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Runaway Stage presents

We LOVE theater– especially if it involves kids. The 24th Street Theater is the home of the Runaway Stage, a theater company performing plays and musicals by kids and for kids (and for adults too). With super reasonable tickets, a show at the Runaway Stage might be just the thing to beat the cabin fever that is setting in due to all the rain this week.

You have a choice of two productions this month. The first is Pigs In Space which runs Saturdays March 19th and 26th at both 12pm and 2pm. Shows are just $8 for general admission and $6 for kids 12 and under!

The second, a musical, Seussical Jr. plays March 22-24 at 7pm and admission is just $10. Here is a little more about Seussical Jr.:

Do you like Green Eggs and Ham and pretty much all the other Dr. Seuss books? Well, from there to here and here to there, funny things are everywhere during this staging of Seussical Jr. Kids and teens from Runaway Stage Productions’ youth workshops will perform this one-act version of the Broadway musical, which still features beloved characters such as Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat and Gertrude McFuzz, and songs like “Oh the Thinks You Can Think”.

The Runaway Stage is located inside the 24th Street Theater at 2791 24th Street and for more information click HERE or call 916.207.1226.

We’ll see you there!

Week End Wrap Up + a WINNER

Thank goodness it’s Friday. Is anyone else ready for summer? I guess moving our clocks ahead this weekend will put us an hour closer– won’t it? Besides losing an hour of sleep, what are you and your families doing this weekend? Here are a few suggestions for *FREE* or cheap family friendly activities happening in the East Sacramento area:

• Teach your teen to be a safe driver
• Break out the stroller and get outside
• Get centered
• Let the kids play
• Fun at the Crocker!
• Second Saturday
• Shop locally
• Take baby to the library

If your name is Lea, you might also be spending this weekend shopping online at CSN! Lea, who spent last weekend attending a birthday party, is the winner of this month’s giveaway and will receive a $35 CSN gift certificate good for over 200 online stores. Congratulations, Lea, and thanks for entering the giveaway!

One more piece of ESM business before we let you start your weekend: a new East Sacramento Mom contributor! Let me introduce you to local mom and realtor, Courtney Way…

Having grown up in Curtis Park and lived in various neighborhoods throughout the Sacramento region, Courtney always knew she wanted to settle down in East Sacramento. The neighborhood’s classic home styles, character and charm is what drew her here, but it is the strong sense of “community” that has kept her here. As an active volunteer at Theodore Judah Elementary, and Team Parent for East Sac Little League and East Sac Youth Soccer Club, she enjoys spending time with her kindergartener, practicing yoga, jogging around McKinley Park in the summer, riding cruiser bikes around town with her family.

Professionally, Courtney has served the Sacramento area in Real Estate for more than 10 years. In college she studied Interior Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. It was there where she found her other passion– marketing. After college, Courtney eventually moved back to Sacramento and combined those two passions to fulfill her ultimate career choice as a Realtor. She loves working with individuals, couples and families and helping them through all of their real estate choices.

We look forward to having Courtney guest post monthly and sharing current East Sacramento market statistics, tips for improving the value of your home, remodeling advice, and answering all of our burning market questions! Welcome to the East Sacramento Mom team, Courtney, we are so excited to have you! Check back next Wednesday for Courtney’s first guest post. In the mean time, you can find her blogging over at A Better “Way” to Real Estate.

We’ll see you there!

Week End Wrap Up

Happy Friday! What do you and your families have planned for the weekend? If shopping is on your agenda, you’ll want to read below to and find out how to enter a $35 CSN gift certificate. Here are some other activities to consider:

• A mom and baby workout
• Yoga for *FREE*! (And just for mom)
• Play group
• The farmers market
• Baby lap-sit
• Song circle

Remember you can check out the East Sacramento Mom calendar page any day of the week to find local family-friendly activities that are cheap or *FREE*!

If you’ll allow me one more suggestion for something to do on Saturday, I’ll leave you with these five words: Cupcake Day at Ginger Elizabeth. Meyer Lemon Meringue. Enough said.

Now, to enter the giveaway for a $35 gift certificate to CSN’s family of online stores, simply leave a comment below telling us what you’re doing this weekend. The gift certificate can be used at any of CSN’s stores but will not apply to shipping. The contest will be open until midnight on Thursday, March 10th and the winner will be announced next Friday, the 11th. Good luck and enjoy the weekend with your families!

We’ll see you there!

FREE Toyota Safe Driving Program

Program Demonstrates Dangers of Distracted Driving in Hopes of Battling 1.6 Million Crashes Caused Annually by Cell Phone Usage and Texting While Driving

Read enough? If you are the parent of one of our East Sacramento teens, please consider registering them for this awesome *FREE* safe driving program offered at Cal Expo next weekend by Toyota.

The program’s curriculum is designed for teens and parents alike to:

• Learn defensive driving skills and accident avoidance techniques
• Identify the dangerous driving situations that they encounter daily
• Experience firsthand the dangers of distracted driving and understand the relationship between distraction and reaction time
• Understand vehicle dynamics and safety features

In an effort to foster an open dialogue between teens and parents about safe driving habits, a parent or guardian is required to attend the Toyota Driving Expectations program. As a result, parents learn the best practices to promote safe driving habits with their teen drivers, providing them with tips about how to continue improving driving skills at home.

The Toyota Safe Driving Program is open to teens aged 15-19 with a valid learners permit or drivers license and takes place at Cal Expo on March 12th and 13th.

Cal Expo is located at 1600 Exposition Boulevard and for more information or to register, click HERE.

We’ll see you there!