Fun, free things to do this weekend (July 27-28)

Alameda
The Alameda Art & Wine Faire is this weekend. It's on Park Street for several blocks, has a side alley for kid stuff (Alameda Ave), and free bike parking!

Berkelely
It's also the weekend for the Berkeley Kite Festival.

Dixon
Not quite as far as Davis, the Dixon Lambtown should be fun!

Don't forget your libraries!

The local libraries are having lots of fun, free events this summer, too. Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland are all participating in "Get A Clue @ Your Library," as well as hosting several other events.

And... they're all air-conditioned, aren't they? :)

Another source for free movies (for next year)

This is actually the one I was thinking of. Free movies every Tuesday and Wednesday! But it's done for this summer. We should check this link next summer!

http://www.regalcinemas.com/family_film/

Free movies in San Jose area, and elsewhere

The AMC theater in Emeryville did this last summer, and I took the morning off (and took Graham out of summer school) to go to Polar Express. I loved it!

Unfortunately, I'm not finding any theaters closer than San Jose this year. But perhaps some of you can use this link!

http://www.amctheatres.com/smc/

Free Movies in Alameda (7/20/07, 8/17/07)

Alameda's Recreation and Parks Department is once again showing movies "under the stars" on a nicely maintained baseball field on the former Naval Air base. I confirmed by phone that this is open to everyone, not just Alameda residents. Please be sure to register, not only so they have a head count, but so that these movies can continue! Frugal mom tip: don't get their pricey boxed dinner--even Togo's sandwiches would be cheaper.

We went to Nanny McPhee last year in this setting, and it was great!
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/arpd/events.html

Bundle up, it does get chilly in the evening!

Parents Night Out opportunities

I don't know about you, but I pay $6-8/hr to my babysitters, and feel lucky to get that rate. But I also use a local Parents Night Out to cover a significant number of hours as well as the fringe benefits.

The one I use is Head Over Heels Gymnastics in Emeryville, CA (http://www.hohgymnastics.com/). They have PNO every Friday night from 6-11 for $30 ($5 more if you sign up after noon on Friday; 2 or more kids are $25). Dinner is INCLUDED and it is for kids 4 and up. They always have pizza and, later, a movie. My son comes home exhausted, as they get free time in the Gym for quite a while, and they have this terrific pit of soft foam cubes to fall/jump into.

Kids don't have to stay till 11, but that is the movie time, and my kid, whose regular bedtime is 8:30, makes it till 11 every time.

Be sure to study the map on the website, as getting there is rather tricky.

Here are some other options. I haven't used them, but they do seem worthwhile:

JCC East Bay (I believe it is at the Berkeley location)
http://www.jcceastbay.org/jcc/afterschool_olam_yeladim_nightout.htm

Monkey Business Camp (organic meals! but pricier)
http://www.monkeybusinesscamp.com/kidsnight.htm


Berkeley-Albany YMCA Kids' Night out (Berkeley location; you must be a full or Program member)
http://www.baymca.org/index.php/d_classdetails/class/285.html

Color Me Mine, Alameda (pricier by the hour but could be fun and fill a need)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/kid/366486210.html

Studio Naga, Oakland (sounds interesting!)
http://www.studionaga.com/ Click on Kids' Programs, then Kids' Night Out

I also found one on the Peninsula:
Kidscal
http://www.lpfch.org/cgi-bin/calendar/index.cgi?display=detail&detail=203400

Kaiser members: Inexpensive helmets!

I was very early for an appointment at Kaiser Oakland's ENT department recently, and wandered down the hallway to the Health Education Center. A friend had recently noted that helmets "expire" in the same way as carseats, and I realized that mine was easily more than 6 years old. I headed toward the corner where they have bike helmets and was quite pleased to see that a Bell helmet for an adult was only $8.75 plus tax! They also had children's helmets, some with elbow and knee pads, for similarly low prices.

And I'll just murmur that no one asked to see my Kaiser card as I bought mine...

They also have My Brest Friend pillows, lots of books, and an inflatable lumbar-support pillow for the car or to be used in a chair.

Pertinant info from the website:
Provides information to help you stay healthy. You can borrow books, videos, and audio tapes, and purchase self-care products.

Howe Street Building, Ground Floor

Hours:
Monday, Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Information/registration/breast pump rentals: (510) 752-6204

Welcome to Frugal Mom Tips!

The life of a frugal mom can be challenging. With this blog, I hope to provide tips and resources to make all our lives easier.

Sometimes, it can be fun to be frugal!