best cider mills in Michigan

When I grew up in Michigan, it didn't feel like fall until you visited one of the many cider mills and had fresh apple cider and warm donuts!  A few days ago, while visiting Michigan, we went to the Westview Orchards and cider mill of Romeo.  This place is amazing for children with a huge play area, and petting zoo.  Plus, they have cider, donuts, pastries, pies, etc.  According to the Oakland County Moms, the Westview Orchards is the best cider mill for the preschooler set.

Resources:

Westview Orchards and Cider Mill of Romeo
65075 Van Dyke
Washington Twp: MI  48095

Oakland County Mom's Group choices for cider mills
(oaklandcountymoms.com/oakland-county/cider-mills/2336-best-cider-mills-in-metro-detroit)

Indian Villiage Waldorf, Detroit Michigan- classes

The Indian Village Waldorf School is set in the Historic Indian Village Community in Detroit, Michigan.  This community has gorgeous, large, historic homes for reasonable prices.  The Detroit Waldorf School is offering a Parent/Child program at the school for children ages 12 months to 3 years, accompanied by a parent or a caregiver.  Activities include puppet plays, circle time, snack prep, outdoor play, and crafts.

Resources:
Indian Village Waldorf
2555 Burns
Detroit, MI
48214
(313) 822-0300

Historic Indian Village
http://www.historicindianvillage.org/

Holiday Ice Rink, Embarcadero Center, NOW OPEN

The holiday ice rink at the Embarcadero Center is now open!  November 7th was the first opening day and the rink will close on January 6th.

Resources:
Holiday Ice Rink
Embarcadero Center
Nov. 7th-January 6th

Hours:
10:00AM-10:00PM Sun-Thurs.
10:00AM to 11:30PM Friday and Saturday

Phone (415) 837-1931 for more information

Marin On Ice- Ice Skating in San Rafael- OPEN!

Marin On Ice is now open in San Rafael!  They have 5,000 feet of real ice (I hate the plastic ice some places use.)  I haven't been to this ice arena, but am planning on taking my son later today.

Resources:

Marin On Ice
iceskating in San Rafael
2PM- 10PM most days (check website below for exact schedule)
http://www.marinonice.com
(707) 738-8496
skating is $15.00 per person, includes skates
Location-  Northgate Mall, next to Kohl's, San Rafael

Elves Faire, Jamestown,CA, Dec. 8th, Sierra Waldorf

The Sierra Waldorf School in Jamestown, CA is having a Elves Faire on December 8th, 2012 from 10 to 4:00PM.  I love the Waldorf festivals as they are cozy, non-commercial, with fun activities!  I haven't been to this particular Faire, but am planning on going this year.  They are planning to have the following:  healthy and yummy food, music, fun activities for the kids, wreath making, candle dipping, and a dessert auction.  Admission and parking is free!


Resources:

December 8, 2012
Elves Faire
10AM-4:00Pm
Sierra Waldorf School
19234 Rawhide Rd.
Jamestown, CA  95327

To be a vendor at this event, call Tina Walts at 209-984-0454

Holiday Faire, Waldorf School of the Peninsula, 12/1

My son is already missing Halloween.  It seems like every year there are more pumpkin patches, parties, etc. to go to around Halloween time.  Though it is November, my son is still drawing pumpkins and ghosts!  I need some new seasonal activities to look forward to!  The Waldorf School of the Peninsula is hosting a Holiday Faire on December 1, 2012 from 10AM- 4PM.  It will be held at the Los Altos Campus and will have seasonal activities passed down from the generations such as dipping beeswax candles, hand decorating gingerbread cookies, making wreaths, a gnome adventure, and other holiday favorites.  One thing I can promise is that there will be no Disney movie themes, which is refreshing!

There is a wonderful gift store at the school, called Heart's Delight Gift Store.  This store serves teachers, parents, and children of the greater Waldorf community.  There will be wood toys, natural art supplies, puppets, and other toys with integrity.

Resources:

27th Annual Holday Faire
December 1, 2012, Saturday
Waldorf School of the Peninsula
10AM-4PM
Los Altos Campus
11311 Mora Drive
Los Altos, CA
www.Waldorfpeninsula.org

Heart's Delight Gift Store
Waldorf School of the Peninsula
11311 Mora Drive
Los Altos, CA
www.waldorfpeninsula.org

Sienna Ranch, Lafayette, class open, Thurs, AM

The Sienna Ranch, in Lafayette is an amazing place I recently discovered in Lafayette, CA.  My son is taking a mommy and me class for preschoolers on Thursdays from 10:45AM to 12:00.  There are some extra spots open in the class so please join us!  This past week we spent some time grinding acorns (on a future session we are going to make acorn pancakes just like original native americans of the area!)  My son got to hold a chicken, collect eggs, and visit the other ranch animals.  My son loved it!

Resources:

Sienna Ranch
www.siennaranch.net
925-283-6311
3232 Deer Hill Rd.
Lafayette, CA

The Little Ice Rink, coming to Alameda Nov. 16th!

The Little Ice Rink is coming back to Alameda on November 16th!  We enjoyed this place so much last year, and went back several times!  There is even a cafe with crepes and hot chocolate!  I love this place!

Resources:

The Little Ice Rink
Nov. 16-Jan. 21
www.thelittleicerink.com

The Lion King, Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco

This Disney story is told anew with beautiful costumes at the Orpheum theater in San Francisco.

Resources:

The Lion King
Orpheum Theatre
Various Dates
2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
$32.50-$180.
1192 Market Street
San Francisco, CA
888-746-1799
www.shnsf.com

More Enchanted Evening 2012 Pictures

More pictures from the Enchanted Evening at the Berkeley Rose School.

The entrance to the "Fairy Queen's Room":

  Crafts table:

 Dinner in the auditorium:

Crafts:

The dinner line:

Crafts for sale:

 And more beautiful fairy treehouses:

Enchanted Evening 2012 Pictures

Here are some pictures of the fairy treehouses from the Enchanted Evening 2012 at the Berkeley Rose School.

Enchanted Evening--Tonight, Berkeley, CA

Tonight is the Enchanted evening at the Berkeley Rose School, in Berkeley, CA.  I took my son last year and there were fairy houses, puppet shows, healthy food, crafts, music, etc.  Whenever I go to a Waldorf event I feel like a child again as they are always somewhat magical and whimsical.  The saying, "It is never too late to have a happy childhood,"  certainly applies when parents take their children to an event such as "Enchanted Evening!"

The following are some of the offerings at this year's Enchanted Evening:

*fairy walk
*musical guests
*stories and puppet shows
*children's crafts
*dinner and snacks

Location:
2138 Cedar Street
Berkeley, CA

Time:
4PM-7:30PM, Saturday, November 3, 2012

Parking:  On street or paid parking is available at 1536 Shattuck.

Buy Back candy event today in Alameda, 4-6:00PM

Today, the Alameda Pediatric dentistry is hosting a buy-back candy event at their office in Alameda.  The office will buy back candy and will also have cards that the children can write cards to the troops overseas.  The office will also cover the shipping costs for the candy and cards.  I think this is such a wonderful philanthropic event for the office to do, I want to start taking my son there!

Resources:  Alameda Pediatric Dentistry
Halloween Buy Back event
2125 Whitehall Place
Alameda, CA  94501
4-6PM
(candy shipped in care packages to cheer troops overseas)

Bentley School open house, Sat. Nov. 3rd, 11:30

This Saturday, Bentley School will have an open house at their elementary school campus.  I posted this because I've learned so much about different school philosophies from going to the open houses!  Even if you are planning on sending your child to a public schools it still helps to find out what the private schools are doing.

Resources:

Bentley School Open House
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012
11:30-1:30PM
1 Hiller Drive
Oakland, CA  94618
(510) 843-2512

Myths About Waldorf Education- Nov. 4th, 7-9PM

This Sunday there will be a talk by Eugene Schwartz at the San Francisco Waldorf School regarding myths of Waldorf education.  I love so many parts of the Waldorf curriculum, so want to learn more about their philosophy of education.

Resources:

Myths About Waldorf Education
Speaker- Eugene Schwartz
Sunday, November 4th, 2012
7-9PM
Dakin Hall
San Francisco Waldorf
2938 Washington Street
San Francisco, CA