Holidays and Seasonal

August is when you begin to see people stopped by the side of the road, poking around in the bushes. No, they're not doing anything strange or unseemly; they're picking wild blackberries! Late summer is definitely blackberry season in Northern California. And what's best is that these sweet little fruits can be had for free just about anywhere, if you're willing to risk stained clothing from all that blackberry juice, as well as the occasional wound from the blackberry's thorns.

Friday, May 23

• Circus Osorio/American Crown Circus sets up its big top at St. Vincent's in Marinwood, just south of Novato for 3 days.  This family run, bilingual circus is centered around acrobats, performers, and clowns, with no exotic animals. By all accounts they put on a great show for the whole family! Performances are on Friday, May 23 at 7 pm; Saturday May 24 and 25 at 2, 4:30 and 7 pm; and Sunday, May 26 at 2 pm and 4:30 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, but include two free children's (12 and under) tickets per adult ticket. Call (415) 883-0800 to reserve tickets. Find out more about Novato Sunrise Rotary at www.novatosunriserotary.org.

  
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Marin Mommies is pleased to present a guest article by Vijaya Jhothi, owner of Safronya Retreat spa in San Rafael, which specializes in the ancient healing art of Ayurveda, and Kara Lukowski, CAS (certified Ayurvedic Practitioner). In honor of Mother's Day, they explore the relationship between mothers, the earth, Ayurveda. Check out their Mother's Day specials, too. We'll be listing more Mother's Day specials from spas around Marin and the North Bay.

As mother’s day is approaching, it is timely to reflect on how Ayurveda honors mothers, and how it relates to the elements of nature, particularly the earth element. Intrinsically, all mothers inherit a quality similar to earth, in that they are rooted in stability, a grounded solidity, and from her core mom gives birth to new branches of life which she feeds from her breast, protects with her love, and nourishes with her soul. Just like the earth we see around us, supporting and holding us, mother is the sustainer—the glue that keeps it all together. Sometimes, with our hurried and scattered lives we need reminders to feel our feet on the ground and connect to this rich earth, either by calling home to talk to mom or just going barefoot in the grass.  And that is where Ayurveda is a tremendously generous science that us helps balance these elements (also water, fire, air, and ether) when our bodies and minds need them.
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Friday, April 18

• Breakfast with Enzo! presents a weekly family folk music sing-along for ages 0–5 with two different sets of music at 10 and 11 am at the Presidio Dance Theatre. Enzo will perform with his banjo, accordion, musical saw, guitar, and countless other instruments for a morning of singing and dancing. The cost is $5 a person. The Presidio Dance Theatre is at 1158 Gorgas at Marshall, Presidio of San Francisco. For more info, go to www.enzogarcia.com.

• Bring the kids (ages 2–5) to “Let’s Recycle", this Friday from 10 am to noon at the Crissy Field Center. Help conserve our planet’s natural resources by recycling what we use. Read The Dumpster Diver, and then engage in a fun interactive outdoor game of Recycling Rangers. Return to the Gathering Room to make an art project out of recycled materials or make a mini-recycling bin to take home! To register call (415) 561-7752, or download the form at www.parksconservancy.org. The cost is $10 per child, accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and it’s never too early to start thinking about the perfect gift for the moms in your life (which can include yourself, of course).  I like to get gifts that that involve my children. One of my wish list items this year is a piece of custom photo jewelry by mom-owned tj & co. You send them your favorite photos and they seal them into a sterling silver pendant for a necklace or bracelet.

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The coming of spring ushers in California's all too brief wildflower season. One of the best places to see wildflowers in the Bay Area is the Point Reyes National Seashore in West Marin. Repeat visitors to this site know that Point Reyes is probably our favorite place for a family outdoor outing, and in March and April you can also see some pretty spectacular wildflower displays, especially since we've had a wet winter.

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, March 17, and as we all know, you don't have to be Irish to celebrate. Although many of the St. Patrick's Day activities in the US involve drinking heavily, there are still quite a few things you do with the kids. Parent's Magazine sent a few tips for St. Patrick's Day family fun, including: