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
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Thanks for this useful list, Jennie! Just thought I'd let you know that the Craig's List link for Color Me Mine has expired. Here's their permanent website: http://www.alameda.colormemine.com/ (we've done pottery there -- it's a fun place!)
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