Author: Sonia Gandiaga

Sonia is a teacher and writer who lives near The Golden Gate park. She is originally from Valencia, Spain and loves to explore the beautiful Bay Area with her family. You can reach her at: soniaredtri@gmail.com

6 Kid-Friendly Exhibitions to See NOW

By Sonia Gandiaga
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Spring is in full bloom, and our local museums are bursting with new life. Almost all of our favorite institutions have just debuted incredible, family-friendly exhibitions, from a playdate with Pinocchio to a dizzying display of dresses. Click though to see them all.

Oscar de La Renta: The Retrospective at The De Young

Oscar de la Renta’s designs celebrated the best in us—beauty, optimism, and confidence. Including more than 130 ensembles, this world-premiere retrospective pays tribute to one of the most beloved and influential fashion icons of our time. This amazing exhibit will only be around until May 30<sup>th</sup> so hurry up, you don’t want to miss it! Golden Gate Park 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. San Francisco, Ca Hours: 10 am–5 pm Online: <a target="_blank" href="http://deyoung.famsf.org">deyoung.famsf.org</a&gt; Photo by Sonia Gandiaga fuck

Please let us know which exhibit your are going to check out this weekend in comment section! 

–Sonia Gandiaga

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  • fashion
  • kid friendly
  • world premiere
  • optimism
  • bloom
  • golden gate
  • confidence
  • tea
  • beauty
  • spring
  • garden
  • amaze
  • celebrate

Inside the New SFMOMA: An All-Ages Museum Revealed

By Sonia Gandiaga
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  • education center
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San Francisco is back in the game, big time. The newly renovated San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) opens to the public for free on Saturday, May 14, with a day of festivities that include a neighborhood celebration. San Francisco can now boast that it is home to the largest modern art museum in the US. The building is so beautiful, calm and tasteful, that you will want to move in, and never leave. And we have a full preview right here, including inspired new programs for kids.

sfmoma_bridge

Photo: Erin Feher

The New Addition

SFMOMA worked closely with Snøhetta to design the new museum as an outward-looking and engaging gathering space. The new building enables SFMOMA to be more welcoming and better connected to the city than ever before, with free public access to nearly 45,000 square feet of ground-floor galleries (including Richard Serra’s Sequence shown below).

IMG_2411IMG_2315

7 Floors of Art

The newly expanded SFMOMA offers nearly triple the gallery space, with exhibitions showcasing 260 works from the distinguished Doris and Donald Fisher Collection of postwar and contemporary art, more than 600 artworks promised to the museum through its Campaign for Art, and the debut of the new Pritzker Center for Photography.

sfmomaPhoto: Erin Feher

 IMG_2571Photo: Blanca Garay

Always Free for Kids

SFMOMA’s Department of Education and Public Practice comprises three programs: School Initiatives, Public Dialogue, and Performance and Film.

School Initiatives supports students and teachers in the Bay Area’s K–12 schools through school group visits, curriculum building, teacher professional development and high-school collaborations. Programs are integrated with classroom practice and prioritize public schools through close collaboration with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Now offering free admission to all visitors 18 and under, as well as to classroom teachers on scheduled field trips, the museum invites schools to use the galleries as an extension of the classroom. A new, 4,800-square-foot education center includes a resource library and two classrooms.

IMG_2338Image: Living Wall by Habitat Horticulture

Outdoor Spaces

Every floor has access to the outside world by connecting terraces. Some of them also display art and places to chill and catch some air. It is recommended to go outside at every floor before entering a new gallery in order to see the art with a refreshed set of eyes.

SFMOMA living wall

The SFMOMA is also home to the largest living wall in the US. It’s composed by over 19,000 plants, mostly native to California, that mimic redwood forest undergrowth. It waters itself from the museum’s recycled water.

 sfmoma cafe

Photo: Sightglass Cafe  by Patricia Chang


Where to Eat 

In-Situ
Three star Michelin Chef Corey Lee is opening his restaurant in the museum’s first floor in June. Chef Lee is curating a rotating menu with recipes from his chef friends from all around the world.

Cafe5
Located in the fith floor, Cafe5 offers a lighter fate with a California-fusion slant. Offerings include flatbreads, fresh organic salads and artisanal open-faced sanwiches. There is also a lovely outdoor pavillion and sculpture garden to take your food under the sun.

Sightglass
The third floor-coffee bar offers visitors a selection of artisanal coffee beverages and pastires as well as a calm space to chill in between art.

Take Your Art to Go
The newly renovated Museum store on the first floor features a wide selection of art books, home accessories, furnishings, artist-made jewerly, toys, prints and more. The new Satellite Store on the second floor showcases exclusive SFMOMA-branded items and art-related merchandise.

IMG_2398Image: Viktor the drawing robot by Jürg Lehni. Photo by Sonia Gandiaga

Cool Facts About the New SFMOMA by the Numbers

0 Dollar entrance fee for anyone under 18

1 Robotic chalk-drawing robot machine that your kids will love.

2 Works of art that remained in place during the museum’s expansion: Matthew Barneys’ Drawing Restraint 14 and Richard Serra’s Gutter Corner Splash.

IMG_2570Image: Red Bathroom at the SFMOMA. Photo by Blanca Garay

7 unique paint colors, a different one decorating each floor’s public restroom.

SFMOMAPhoto: Erin Feher 

27 feet of wingspan of the white Alexander Calder mobile that hangs in the atrium.

213 tons of Corten Steel comprising Richard Serra’s sculpture Sequence.

700 custom fiber-reinforced polymer panels crafted for the exterior of the new SFMOMA

1900 works on display at opening in the new SFMOMA

55,000 K-12 school groups visitors expected at the SFMOMA in its first year.

TIrO8wZvQXrmImage: The new SFMOMA. Photo by Henrik Kam, Courtesy of SFMOMA

Getting There

We highly recommend taking public transit, as SFMOMA is in the heart of downtown. It’s just a few blocks from Montgomery BART and Muni Metro; many streetcars and buses stop at Market and 3rd.

There are also numerous parking garages nearby and semi-protected (within view of a security guard) bicycle parking on-site. Visitors can enter on Third Street or the new entrance on Howard Street.

151 Third St.
San Francisco, Ca
Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. every day (extended hours till 9 p.m. on Thursdays); free public spaces open at 9 a.m. daily
Cost: $25/Adults; $22/Seniors; $19/ages 19-24; FREE for everyone under 18
Online: https://www.sfmoma.org/

Please tell us what did you and your kids love most from the new SFMOMA in the comments below! 

–Sonia Gandiaga

All photos by the author unless otherwise noted. 

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  • high school
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  • floor
  • art
  • museum
  • classroom
  • school
  • cafe

Ride the Wave: Surf Lessons for Locals

By Sonia Gandiaga
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Let’s go surfing now, everybody’s learning how, surfing in the Bay Area with kids! OK, so The Beach Boy’s song didn’t quite go that way, but we are betting they probably knew about these awesome surf spots in NorCal. The late summer is the best time of year in the Bay Area for beginners since waves are much smaller, the currents less dangerous, and water is warmer. Here are a few of our favorite surf spots and lessons for kids so they can shred away the last days of summer.

Kid_surfing

Photo: Maui SUP via Flickr

Bolinas Bay

Bolinas is located in Marin county, at the southern end of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Because of Bolinas’ unique coastal position, the surf is protected from the winds and huge swells which make Bolinas one of the safests surfing beaches for beginners.

Bolinas Surf Lessons at 2 Mile surf Shop
At Bolinas Surf they will teach you and your kids the basic surfing fundamentals, as well as ocean awareness, water safety, wave riding skills, and the all-important surf etiquette.

Where: 22 Brighton Ave, Bolinas, Ca
Cost: Weekend Group classes at $50 each. Kids 1 hour Private lessons $80 for first child and $30 for each additional child.

Phone: 415-868-0264
Online: surfbolinas.com
Tip: You can schedule a lesson online

girl_surfboardPhoto: Lena Smith via Flickr

Linda Mar in Pacifica

This is most well-loved and well-used beach in Pacifica. Just fifteen minutes from San Francisco, this gorgeous beach offers some of the best surfing for beginners in the region. After you and your kids are done riding the waves hit the local food stands to restore your energy!

University of Surfing
University of Surfing is one of the best known surfing institutions in the Bay. They offer Surf 101 beginner group lessons and promise that they will get you surfing in under an hour, and riding waves within your first two lessons. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Where: Linda Mar in Pacifica State Beach, 1416 9th St, Ca
Cost: $100 for 2 hours
Phone: 650-556-6515
Online: universityofsurfing.com
Tip: Schedule your lessons Online

kids_surfingPhoto: Vince Alongi via Flickr

Homebreak Surf Lessons
Formerly known as WB Surf, they took home the prize for best surf lessons in SF Weekly’s Best of San Francisco 2012. Instructors at Homebreak ensure that each student will not only learn to stand during their first lesson but will also learn surf etiquette, wave selection, ocean safety, beach hazards and best practices. They provide lessons for kids of all ages.

Where: Linda Mar Beach, 1416 9th St, Ca
Cost:  $75 for one hour or $110 for two hours private lesson.
Phone: 415-797-7873
Online: wbsurflessons.com
Tip: Surfboard and wetsuit included in lesson price.

IMG_1483

Image via Homebreak (WB) Surf Website

Cowell’s in Santa Cruz

This is a lovely beach just north of the Santa Cruz Wharf, and a little quieter and smaller than the Main Santa Cruz Beach. It’s great for beginner surfers but it can get a little busy in the water at times.

Cowell’s Surf Shop
This is the place to go if you want to learn how to surf in Cowell’s beach. They state that if your child feels comfortable in the ocean away from the shore, he/she is old enough to surf! They book all lessons around low tides, swell and surf conditions. Tide times change daily and they usually have 4 surfers per instructor in their group lessons.

Where: 30 Front St., Santa Cruz, Ca
Cost:  $90 for two hours
Phone: 831-427-2355
Online: cowellssurfshop.com
Tip: The price includes a board and wetsuit for the day.

sea

Image via Sea, Surf and Fun Yelp

The Jetty in Half Moon Bay

This wide sandy  beach in Half Moon Bay is located beneath the seawall along Highway 1. The Jetty is also called “Surfers Beach” and it’s for good reason. This popular surf spot doesn’t get as crowded as other beaches, so it’s a great place to ride your first wave.

Sea, Surf and Fun!
This Half Moon Bay surf school offers regular private and group surf classes, but also Girls Session (yoga+surf), team building and summer surf camps. They promise that you will never notice the chill of the water as you paddle around with seals and dolphins summon all of your energy to face the power of the ocean.

Where: 531 Obispo Road, El Granada Ca
Cost: $60 for 2 hour group lesson and $100 for 2 hours of private lesson.
Phone: 415-410-1102
Online: seasurffun.com
Tip: Wetsuits and equipment included in the price.

Are you ready to paddle out? Let us know if you or your kids are planning to ride the waves this summer and where you go to get your surf fix!

–Sonia Gandiaga

 

 

Search more like this
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  • first child
  • how to
  • team building
  • yoga
  • surf
  • beach
  • phone
  • ocean
  • bay area
  • summer
  • beginner
  • learn
  • university

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