Between the hair tugging, eye gouging, and mashed potatoes down your shirt, dinnertime with your little pig feels like an unwinnable food fight.
Get your lap (and the peace) back by outfitting the table with Hello Hanna’s Get-Set Place Mats.
The nifty paper mats map the lay of the table land (fork on the left, spoon beside knife). But a closer looks reveals a meal’s worth of contented play. Kiddo can decorate a pop-up figure (jungle animal, robot, or dolly) with removable stickers (faces, pets, gears) and use crayons to doodle inside the activity area.
Instead of waving the white flag, you’ll be encouraging good table manners and creative play.
Ready, Get-Set, go.
Available at Lola of North Beach, 1415 Grant Avenue, between Green and Union Streets (415-781-1817 or lolaofnorthbeach.com); Five Ten, 510 Waverley Street, between University and Hamilton Avenues, Palo Alto (650-322-4510 or fivetengifts.com); Birch, 357 Main Street, between 1st and 2nd Streets, Los Altos (650-948-5800 or birchfinepaper.com); online at hellohanna.com.
CHOO
Golden Gate Express
What: The Garden Railway chugs back into mini San Fran with interactive trains and six new landmarks, including the Castro Theater.
Why: This is no whistle stop.
When: Thurs.-Apr. 18, 2010. Tues.-Sun., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JFK Dr., b/t Conservatory Drs. E. & W., Golden Gate Park (415-831-2090).
WATCH
San Francisco Hip-Hop DanceFest
What: A global posse of dance companies pop, lock, and tap to street-inspired beats.
Why: It’s the new style.
When: Fri.-Sun. Times vary.
Where: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., at Bay St. Tickets online at cityboxoffice.com or by calling 415-392-4400.
EXPERIENCE
The Velveteen Rabbit Family Studio to Stage
What: A double sawbuck buys entry to any Velveteen Rabbit performance plus a special kids’ and grown-ups movement workshop.
Why: Inspiration meet perspiration.
When: Workshop, Thurs., 4-5:30 p.m.; performances thru Dec. 13.
Where: Workshop, ODC School, 351 Shotwell St., b/t 17th & 18th Sts. (415-863-6606); performance, Novellus Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., at 3rd St. (415-978-2787). Tickets online at odcdance.org.
Photo: Courtesy of Hello Hanna
