Another day, another dinner I have to plan, prep and serve to my three kids and husband. Getting dinner on the table is a struggle for me as I’m sure it is for many parents. I work full time (as the Managing Editor for Red Tricycle/Tinybeans), my schedule is busy and somehow the afternoon always goes by in a flash. The next thing I know, it’s 5 p.m. and my kids are wandering the kitchen looking for snacks. In an attempt to save time in two areas—grocery shopping and meal planning—I gave Jupiter a try. Here’s how it went.
How Jupiter Is Different from Other Grocery Delivery Services
I was familiar with grocery delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. I’d tried pretty much all of them during our days of lockdown. If you’ve ever stared blindly at your phone, wondering what to order, Jupiter is the grocery delivery option for you.
Jupiter is special because it’s the first grocery delivery service that proactively helps you decide what to make each week, recommending recipes and products based on your family’s preferences. While grocery apps just literally “fetch” the items you tell them you need, Jupiter helps you with the earlier stages of figuring out what you need to buy in the first place.
How It Worked for Me
My kids are 10, 12 and 13. This summer, I’m really working on “life skills” with them, especially cooking. Each week, the two older kids pick a meal they cook for the family. In the past, they were using Pinterest and cookbooks to search for recipes and I had to individually add each ingredient to my online cart to order them.
Jupiter makes this whole process so much easier. I set the kids up with the Jupiter app on their phones and they were able to search over 2,000 recipes to find one they liked. My 12-year-old son chose Baked Asian BBQ Salmon. He then just clicked the “add to cart” button and all of the ingredients for the recipe were added to my cart. I took a quick look through the cart before ordering (to remove things like lemons and soy sauce that I knew we had on-hand) and then placed my order. Super easy!
Jupiter gives you a window of a few hours when your order will be delivered. It arrives in reusable bags with ice packs that you leave out the next week to return. You get a text that lets you know your delivery is arriving so that you can grab it off your porch, pronto!
I was super impressed with the quality of the Jupiter produce and meats. They had lots of organic options and even cheese from local shops and farm-fresh eggs. The Baked Asian BBQ Salmon was super easy for my son to cook on his own. The recipe is linked in the Jupiter app so he was able to find it without any issue.
Atlanta’s tree canopy, local music scene, and incredible food options—particularly the mobile food options—all add up to a pretty rock solid festival line-up. And while 2020 may have gotten the better of it, 2021 is looking up. Keep reading to find out the scoop on Atlanta’s Spring and Summer festivals, and be sure to add an event if we missed yours this time around!
Get excited for this annual butterfly festival's return to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, with butterfly exhibits, a native plant sale, arts and crafts vendors, local food, children’s activities and other entertainment. Here are all the details.
Roswell Spring Arts & Crafts Festival, June 12-13 2021
The Roswell Spring Arts and Crafts Festival is a two-day outdoor festival. Find around 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers, and more, in addition to demonstrations, live acoustic music, gourmet food trucks with healthy alternatives and music and dance performances.. Here's the scoop.
Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival, June 18-20 2021
Head downtown to celebrate the correlation between true identity and true freedom at Atlanta's Juneteenth Black History Parade/March/Rally, which starts at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Watch the parade travel down Auburn Ave from the King Center to Centennial Olympic Park. At Centennial Park, there will be kite flying demonstrations, double dutch, multiple stages for live music, and more. Check out the details here.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race will return to the Fourth of July weekend in 2021. The 52nd edition of the annual 10 kilometer race is planned for two days; Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4. Runners and walkers around the world will also have the opportunity to participate in the race virtually. Registration for the virtual event remains open through June 7, 2021. Registration for the in-person event is closed at this time. Here's what you need to know.
Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival, August 14 2021
The Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival is back!!! Get your tickets now and enjoy outdoor live music during the festival's 20th anniversary. You'll find great BBQ, awesome blues and bluegrass music featuring our headliner Grammy nominated G Love & The Juice, and a group of people enjoying being out and about again. More details can be found here.
Family-friendly food halls are a parent’s dream come true. No more arguing over where to go out to eat as a family because San Diego food halls offer an eclectic mix of wide-ranging culinary delights, from tacos and Thai food, to pizza and BBQ to please everyone’s tastebuds…all under one roof. Read on for where to dig in now and for the scoop on several new food halls that are opening soon.
One of the most anticipated food hall openings is scheduled to open this spring and as of publication they’re almost ready! Located at an already fun family location at Del Mar Highlands, this will only add to the experience. You’ll soon find ten different dining options (Ambrogio15, Urbana Mexican Gastronomy, Le Parfait Paris, J at Sky Deck, Craft House, Kiin Extraordinary Thai, Marufuku Ramen, Zizikis Street Food, Glass Box, “The Brewers Deck” and Understory Cocktails) each with their own dining area that all surround a central cocktail bar. Not part of this food hall, but just downstairs are Batch & Box fresh baked cookies and Handel’s Ice Cream for a sweet treat.
Insider tip: Walk over to the kids splash pad and built-in trampoline with amphitheater seating so you can sit and eat while the kids play!
Just four blocks away from the pier, Pacific Beach will soon be getting their own food hall by SocialEats in late Spring 2021. This Los Angeles favorite has quickly grown into several spin-offs, each offering free local 2-mile delivery and third-party deliveries for those further away. They make it easy for you to combine items from several restaurants into just one order. Check out these fantastic food offerings: Pop!s Burgers & Shakes, Azule Taqueria, Supertoro, Street Noods, Hollywood Crab Shack.
Good to know: Take out, delivery, inside and outside public seating are available.
Little Italy Food Hall was featured in USA Today‘s top 10 new food halls in the nation! Situated next to the bustling neighborhood’s Piazza della Famiglia, Little Italy Food Hall was designed as a place of community to gather with friends, family and neighbors. The water fountain is the central feature that lights up at night, but you’ll also find community events and celebrations throughout the year on this pedestrian-only street. Sink your teeth into these fantastic food options too: Ambrogio15, Bobboi Natural Gelato, Mein St. Asian Kitchen, Wicked Maine Lobster, Not Not Tacos, Samburgers, Graze by Sam.
Windmill Food Hall opened recently in 2019 and has taken the food hall experience to the next level. Families can lounge and play in a communal indoor/outdoor space complete with custom vintage '30s and '40s-era inspired furniture. Enjoy a room called The Library which features a central fireplace you can relax alongside with a craft cocktail, and family-friendly games, including an interactive green screen, ping pong, skee ball, PAC Man, cornhole, foosball, shuffleboard and Jenga. Families will find 13 different restaurants here including Thai Style, Secret Sauce Wok & Grill, Cross Street Chicken, Notorious BBQ and more.
Good to know: Take out, delivery, inside and outside public seating are available.
Inside this Korean grocery store you’ll find a hidden Asian food hall serving it up since 1979. It’s like a little mini-mall where you’ll also find insurance and travel agents, a hair dresser, jewelry store and other small vendors selling things like blankets and kids toys from Japan, Korea and China. As for food, there are nine different food stalls with options like sushi, poke, hot pot, sashimi salads, bento boxes, tofu, chicken katsu, ramen, boba tea and red bean donuts. Check out a few fabu options: CDD Tofu & Grill, Hong Kong Banjum 0410, Wok Bar Spicy Hot Pot, Poke U, Boba Bar & Frozen Desserts and Paris Baguette Bakery.
Poway families will soon be able to enjoy an expansive new development that will include a 2100 square-foot urban food hall with 15 local artisan food vendors. Construction was halted in 2020, but they are now back on track to open up later this year, with nearby housing and on-site retail to follow. Established faves are slated to be from The Barrel Room, Urge Gastropub, Brothers Provisions, Mason Ale Works and Mason Coffee Works. We can't wait!
America’s fave doll continue to move up in the world and she’s got a new crib to prove it. Mattel has just announced an all new Barbie DreamHouse!
The 2021 DreamHouse is the most customizable to date and continue to be compatible with the wheelchair ramp. So what else is new in Barbie’s digs?
Barbie can now enjoy soft grass and plush blankets in addition to a movable pool and slide. Also, she has her first-ever party room with a light up DJ stand, customizable lighting and sound with eight different colors, three songs, and two soundscape, plus an outdoor BBQ that turns into a dessert buffet!
Want to see the DreamHouse stat? Barbie is sharing a 360-degree interactive tour on the Mattel YouTube channel, where you can use your computer or phone to view the entire house.
Moving house can be stressful, but luckily Barbie has her gal pals Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin from The Home Edit to help. The organization duo have swooped into help Barbie organize her bedroom and kitchen.
Using their signature techniques like rainbow organization and clear storage, Barbie’s space has been completely transformed! Want some tips and tricks from The Home Edit on keeping your Barbie space in order?
Clea and Joanna encourage everyone to label everything (like accessories), use clear, modular storage and to use a rolling cart to make a Barbie play station that can be easily moved. It’s also better to use broad categories, like dolls, accessories and clothes when sorting, so kids can easily maintain their collection.
The all-new Barbie DreamHouse is on sale now! You can find it at Walmart, Target and Amazon for $179.
Pool parties, BBQ’s, reunions, oh my! There are plenty of gatherings that hopefully await us all this summer.
To celebrate, Lay’s is releasing three new limited edition flavors that will be available this week. Get ready for Chile Mango, Wavy Jerk Chicken and Summer BLT!
photo: Courtesy of Lay’s
When it comes to flavors, Lay’s has outdone itself this time. The Chile Mango contains mango and chili peppers, the Wavy Jerk Chicken is made with traditional spicy, sweet and smoky jerk flavor and Summer BLT tastes like sinking your teeth into lettuce, tomato and bacon.
To jump start the warm weather fun, you can join in on Frito-Lay’s “Let’s Summer” campaign. Head to chipsnsips.com for the chance to win summer-themed prizes that include a telescope, outdoor pop-up cinema screen, theater projector and more.
Shop these limited edition flavors at retailers nationwide for $3.79 until supplies last.
Summer is almost here—and Sam’s Club has the perfect sweet treat for the season! If you’re a fan of the fab foodie fare you’d find at a summer-time carnival, the Fun Sweets Summer Cotton Candy Assortment is a must-have.
Forget about the typical cotton candy flavors you’ve enjoyed for decades. The Fun Sweets Summer Cotton Candy Assortment has all-new tastes you won’t expect from the spun sugary goodie.
photo courtesy of Sam’s Club
With flavors such as watermelon, orange cream and pink lemonade, this cotton candy 12-pack pairs perfectly with your summer picnic or BBQ meal. Not only does this wispy treat come in creative mix of tastes, it’s also free of gluten, GMOs, fat, peanuts and tree nuts.
Between family get-togethers, summer-time outdoor playdates and everything else you’ll do in the warm weather season, you need sweet snacks to quickly divvy up between the kiddos. The 12 individual tubs of cotton candy won’t keep you in the kitchen splitting treats into tiny pieces or force you to spend time making individual goody bags. Instead, give each child their fave flavor in their own tub.
Find this 12-pack assortment in Sam’s Club stores nationwide or online for $9.98.
Dreaming of the day your kiddies are old enough to take them travelling internationally? The good news is that the Bay Area has one of the most diverse food scenes anywhere, and it’s constantly growing and branching out. You don’t have to settle for takeout Chinese or plain spaghetti and meatballs when there’s so many restaurants eager to introduce you to the specialties of their country’s cuisine. Here are some of our favorite restaurants that let you take a culinary world tour and also welcome the kids as well.
Aurum Indian Bistro | Los Altos
Hardy Wilson
Families looking for Indian food with a modern flair should order up some delivery from Aurum Indian Bistro in downtown Los Altos. The restaurant is a joint project from Chef Manish Tyagi, formerly the Executive Chef of August (1) Five in San Francisco, and Anupam Bhatia, owner of Broadway Masala in Redwood City. You'll find the menu includes favorites like saag paneer, lamb biryani and naan, along with unique fusion options like the pulled pork thepla taco. Our kid tasters loved the RaGa Kofta, the Chorizo & Bacon Kulcha and of course, the Butter Chicken (it was everyone's favorite). Don't skip out on dessert as the Heaven Can Wait Toffee Pudding was our favorite.
Din Tai Fung, one of the most famous restaurant franchises in Asia, is known for their eastern Chinese cuisine and especially their soup dumplings, called xiaolongbao. The good news is along with the dumplings, much of their menu is kid-friendly, including a wide selection of fried rice and noodles. The tough news is Din Tai Fung’s first Bay Area outpost in Valley Fair is super popular; they accept limited reservations for parties of up to four people, or arrive early before the lines get too long.
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. #1259 (in the Valley Fair Mall) Santa Clara, CA Online: dintaifungusa.com
Wursthall
Anita Chu
A bierhaus may not sound like the most family friendly place, but Wursthall’s modern take on a beer hall welcomes kids with their own menu that features kinderwurst (hot dog) and grilled cheese with apple juice or milk. The adult menu offers updated German cuisine, some with a Korean twist; this really is a beer hall Bay Area-style. Parents, enjoy the excellent beer and bratwurst selection and don’t overlook the chicken schnitzel or the crispy fried potatoes.
310 Baldwin Ave. San Mateo, CA Online: wursthall.com
If you’re a barbecue lover and you haven’t been to a Korean BBQ restaurant, you’re in for a treat at Goku. You can choose from all kinds of prepared meats from short ribs to chicken wings to pork belly to salmon, many of them marinated Korean-style, and cook them yourself over the grill at your table. It’s great fun and kids love picking out what to cook. Goku is an all-you-can-eat style BBQ, so bring your appetite. Kids under four eat free.
Although many equate Peru with a land of adventure, their food is amazingly accessible and appealing, like roast chicken, lomo saltado (stir fried beef with fries and rice), and ceviche. Limon provides a great overview of Peruvian cuisine and kids will be as big a fan of their signature rotisserie chicken as you. Everything is served family style, so it’s a great place for a casual family meal.
There’s more to Japanese noodles than ramen; don’t forget about udon, which features thicker, chewier wheat noodles in a dashi broth. Marugame Udon’s sleek assembly line-style noodle shop specializes in udon and lets you customize your bowl just how you like it. Start with the base bowl, then add toppings and side appetizers like tempura or onigiri. The beef udon is an easy and filling favorite for kids.
1919 Shattuck Ave. Ste 103 Berkeley, CA
3251 20th Ave. (in the Stonestown Galleria mall) San Francisco, CA
The gorgeous, colorful interiors of Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine will transport you to Thailand. Their signature dish is panang neua, a whole slow roasted short rib that’s fall-off-the-bone tender. The kid’s menu includes fried chicken and rice noodles with egg and broccoli (highly recommended), and many of the dishes on the main menu are kid-friendly as well, including the crab fried rice, pad thai and chicken noodle soup.
Dim sum houses can seem noisy and overwhelming to the uninitiated, but once you’ve got the ordering process down and you know your favorite dishes it’s a fantastic way to experience Cantonese cuisine. Dragon Beaux has friendly service and all the dim sum classics, plus creative versions of them like the five color xialongbao (soup dumplings), sea bass dumplings and egg yolk “lava” buns. They also offer hot pot at dinner time, another fun Chinese restaurant experience.
Achilles offers delicious Mediterranean food customized to your taste. The menu has endless options: choose your protein, then choose if you want it on a plate, in a wrap, or a pita pocket. Then you can get crazy with the sides, which include sauces like tahini and tzatziki, veggies, hummus, etc. Everything is super fresh and the workers are very helpful in explaining everything. Kids will love the beef gyro or chicken shawarma, and watching the workers carve them off the vertical rotisseries.
This longtime beloved San Francisco pop-up has made a permanent home in Oakland, so now you can more easily get to their version of homey Filipino cuisine. The Shanghai lumpia (pork spring rolls), lechon (pork belly) and adobo fried rice are big favorites, while the homemade spam with rice and fried egg will be a hit with the kiddies. Don’t skip the macapono (young coconut) ice cream for dessert if it’s on the menu! FOB Kitchen is open for brunch on weekends only, the best time to take the family.
Scandinavian cuisine is particularly family-friendly and we love the homey atmosphere that you find at Pläj. Located within walking distance of the Civic Center, Pläj is a great spot for your pre- or post-theater meal when everyone's all dressed up. We love the smoked fish croquettes and chicken liver more, while kids will definitely want to dig in to the Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam. On Sundays in December you can enjoy their traditional julbord meal. If you head up to Petaluma, don't miss their more casual sister restaurant, Stockhome (their Swedish candy selection is epic!).
Named for Francis Coppola's venerable production company, American Zoetrope, Cafe Zoetrope is located in the majestic Sentinel Building, a San Francisco historic landmark in the heart of North Beach. We love it for it's quirky decor, small tables and totally kid-friendly dining. You can't go wrong with the Pizza Sofia (topped with arugula, prosciutto and shaved parmesan) and the spaghetti and meatballs will make any kid (or adult) both full and happy.
Your kids will be so excited when you come back from your next ALDI run with fun new toys to keep them entertained and active. Outfit your playroom now or save them as gifts for the holidays. These assorted options from Bee Happy will be available at your local ALDI beginning the week of Sept. 16.
Bee Happy Pop Up Playhouses
Choose from five different styles:
Confetti
Camo
Starry Night
Spaceship
Princess
Each playhouse assembles in minutes without tools; folds back down into its carry bag for storage and portability. The door can be flapped closed by Velcro and opened by tying the strings on top.Each playhouse also comes with ground stakes for outdoor use.
The Bee Happy Pop Up Playhouses each retail for $14.99.
Bee Happy Wooden Food Sets
Sandwich Set
This set includes a knife, bread slices, a burger bun, side of fries and a large variety of sliced sandwich foods.
Salad Set
This set includes lettuce and spinach leaves, avocado, a variety of vegetables, salad dressing, bowl and more.
Ice Cream Set
This set includes ice cream in 4 different flavors, a scoop and accessories to cool off and enjoy the ice cream role play.
BBQ Set
This set includes typical BBQ foods such as chicken, sausages, vegetables and more.
Each of these wooden food sets retail for $9.99.
Bee Happy Mag Tiles
The set includes 12 Squares, 8 equilateral triangles, 4 right triangles, 2 squares with arch, 4 squares with square cut out, 4 squares with 4 square cutouts, 4 isosceles triangles and 2 square with rectangle cut outs in assorted colors.
Bee Happy Mag Tiles retail for $17.99.
Bee Happy Hoppers
Unicorn
Planet
Horse
Dog
Dinosaur
Giraffe
The kid-powered, bounce along action encourages physical activity by combining fitness and fun to develops balance, coordination, and core strength. These Hoppers are perfect for both indoor and outdoor use and an air pump is included.
Editor’s note: Call ahead to see whether the restaurant you’d like to visit for BBQ is currently offering indoor dining, patio dining, take-out or delivery––and plan accordingly.
Got a craving for a messy BBQ meal with all the amazing sides like gooey mac ‘n’ cheese and creamy cole slaw? We know where you can get the best BBQ at the best BBQ restaurants in San Diego. From fall-off-the-bone deliciousness and the most tender brisket to kids meals and secret sauce, we’ve found a BBQ joint that’s right for you. Scroll down and check out our round-up of 7 BBQ hot spots in San Diego to enjoy with your family.
A trip to Phil's BBQ is an iconic San Diego family tradition. Messy but worth it, try the mesquite grilled baby back ribs, beef ribs, or chicken made with Phil’s secret sauce. There are plenty of sides to choose from: fresh-cut fries and potato salad to corn on the cob and steamed veggies. For littles, the "Ticklers" menu offers a smaller portion of BBQ chicken or ribs.
Whether it’s the pulled pork sandwich, tri-tip or pork ribs, you’ll find tasty BBQ at Park 101. Kids can roam around or plop down on the astroturf, play the giant Connect Four game or bean bag toss, plus dogs are allowed too! There's open-air seating, cozy fire pits and a kids menu with choices like BBQ pork sliders. Bonus: kids get free cotton candy once they finish their meal.
If you enjoy hickory-smoked BBQ, then this is your spot. Meats are smoked up to 13 hours, and the BBQ is served piping hot, tender, and delicious. From Iowa baby back ribs to the mouth-watering pulled pork sandwiches, you’ll have plenty of sweet-tasting options. Further, add-in house-made sides like the signature coleslaw, potato salad or ranch beans for a finishing touch. Even more, there's a menu for half-pints from which littles can order BBQ ribs, a grilled cheese sandwich and more. Kid entrees come with french fries or fresh fruit.
This cute neighborhood spot serves up local faves like BBQ burnt pork belly ends with mac n’ cheese or perfectly cooked brisket. Also, from the kids menu, the mini porker with waffle fries is a winner. You’ll find great service and family fun.
8622 Lake Murray Blvd. San Diego, CA 92119 Online: thepioneerbbq.com
Craft brew and BBQ? Grab a seat at Iron Pig Alehouse. We recommend the pulled pork sammie served on a brioche bun with slaw––or the baby back ribs entree comes with two sides like seasoned fries and southern greens and Texas toast. Even more, littles have their own menu with choices like buttered noodles or 1/2 BBQ sandwich.
This Cohn Restaurant serves up baby back ribs with a choice of two sides. We love the onion rings, collard greens, creamed corn, and, who can resist the mac n' cheese? There's a cool kid play area (for ages 10 and younger) that keeps the littles busy. Also, you can sit and have your pick of over 36 beers on tap while your sidekick plays nearby. Plus, free soft serve anyone?
Hankering for a basket of warm cornbread? Then, head over to Felix’s BBQ. Whether it’s the baby back ribs, brisket, tri-tip or pulled pork, it all tastes good. Also, it’s sides options galore with braised cabbage, black-eyed peas, mac n’ cheese, and more. The meat is tender and the sauce is sweet and smoky. What’s more, the kids menu has a range of choices from spare ribs and catfish nuggets to peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese. Fries included, dig in!
3613 Ocean Ranch Blvd. Oceanside, CA Online: felixsbbq.com
There’s nothing like a side of warm cornbread. Pillsbury has just released the first-of-its-kind, ready to bake cornbread that is ready to serve in less than 20 minutes. It’s the perfect compliment to your backyard barbecue or chili night.
These easy to bake cornbread swirls are the perfect shortcut to home baked cornbread and it is a less messy alternative to typical cornbread mixes. You can even use it in a tasty recipe your whole family will devour, such as corn dogs or BBQ beef and cornbread casserole.
Ready in just 20 minutes, Pillsbury Cornbread Swirls come with 6 individual swirls in each package. Each tube retails for $2.69 and is available in grocery stores nationwide.
