Best of the East Bay - Kids

Best birthday cake, science camp, swim lessons, party place, theater extravaganza...

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Birthday Party Spot

Reader Pick

→ At Just Your Party in San Ramon, your child and her buddies can take over an entire warehouse-size room—complete with big inflatable slides, jump houses, and a 20-foot climbing wall that let kids freely but safely run, bounce, climb, and play. Employees keep an eye on things so you can kick back and enjoy the kids having fun. After wearing themselves out, the kids move to a separate party room for pizza (provided by Z Pizza in San Ramon) and cake. Parties can be booked Mondays–Thursdays, starting at $275 for 24 children and $10 per additional child. Parties on Fridays–Sundays start at $325.

2411 Old Crow Canyon Rd., Ste. T, San Ramon, (925) 837-2110, www.justyourparty.com. —M.R.
 

Retro Fun For Kids And Kids At Heart

Editor Pick

→ Yes, you can go back in time. Just strap on a pair of roller skates and hit the floor at San Ramon’s Golden Skate. Soon, you’ll be back in junior high—the good part of junior high, that is, when you held hands with your first sweetheart and circled the rink to a prebizarre Michael Jackson crooning, “I Want to Rock With You.” The orange shag carpeting may be gone, and today’s Top 40 hits rule the soundtrack, but Golden Skate is still a disco light–filled roller rink. In fact, the rink offers a discounted retro night on Mondays, along with other events for skaters of all ages: an all-you-can-eat pizza skating session on Sunday evenings, a monthly battle-of-the-bands night, and youth hockey games. It’s also a popular spot for kids’ birthday parties.
2701 Hooper Dr., San Ramon, (925) 820-2525, www.thegoldenskate.com. —Sam Craig

Place To Become A Real Guitar Hero

Editor Pick

→ Wielding a plastic ax and pretending to be Joe Perry might look cool, but it does nothing to develop your rocker’s or rockette’s music skills. Which is why Red House Studios is important. The “gym for musicians”—as owner Raja Singh calls it—is just the place to get your teen rockin’. Whether they’re interested in recording, rehearsing, or meeting other youngsters who aspire to play arena-sized concerts, your kids can hone their skills at Red House. Most importantly, the Walnut Creek studio offers lessons and access to real instruments. No game console can do that … yet.

Because Red House is a live music venue, too, your emerging East Bay idol can build confidence (and a fan base) by playing in shows. Bonus: You won’t have to convert your garage into a practice space.

1667 Botelho Dr., Walnut Creek, (925) 938-6900, www.redhouselive.com. —Jason Jurgens