Best of the East Bay - Kids & Parenting

A Best of resource for you and your little ones.

► Best After School Class ► Family Portraits   ► Martial Arts Class   ► Clothing Store ► Baby Shop

► Manners   ► Kid Chauffeur   ► Reader Picks

▼ Best After School Class

Reader Pick

One of the longest-running businesses on Walnut Creek’s Main Street (34 years), The Ballet School is an East Bay institution. Founder Lareen Fender turned it over to her granddaughter, Jennifer Perry, but Fender’s influence remains. The school offers a loving and nurturing environment while building self-confidence. Enrollment is open to girls and boys as young as two, and classes include ballet, tap, jazz, theater, and yoga.
1357 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 934-2133, theballetschool.org.  —J.K.

▼ Family Portraits

Reader Pick

Whether it’s capturing your son playing basketball with Dad or your baby girl enjoying bubbles during bath time, Walnut Creek photographer Jennifer Chaney knows the importance of making moments live forever. A former Sunset magazine photo editor and stylist, Chaney left the magazine to start a family. “You just realize that time goes by so fast when you have kids,” she says. “So I started documenting it.”

Then, she decided to start her photography business. Chaney is passionate about what she does; she relishes the opportunity to witness and depict candid, natural family interactions. She also teaches beginner photography classes on techniques for taking better photos (using your iPhone, for example).

As Chaney says, “Pictures aren’t really for today; pictures are for tomorrow.” You’ll remember those words the next time you glance at that
portrait on your wall and smile.
(925) 575-0581, jchaney.com.  —Jennifer Kaufmann

▼ Martial Arts Classes

Voter's Voice

“I am 16 years old, and I have been attending Richard Lee’s East-West Kung Fu since I was seven. I love the school because of the bonds I share there and the satisfaction I get from achieving my goals through hard work. Also, we take pride in the pieces of wisdom and lessons that aid us in all facets of life—not just in martial arts.” -Ethan Silverman, Alamo

▼Clothing Store

Reader Pick

Your little ones will be stylin’ if you shop at Red Wagon. Offering outfits for newborns and girls and boys up to size 16, this boutique is the place to develop your youngster’s fashion sense.  Find distinctive pieces by European designers such as Catimini and Jean Bourget, or have your kid match Mommy in Ella Moss or Splendid. Not only is the selection plentiful and unique (you can also order communion or flower girl dresses), the customer service is exceptional: Employees know that comfort and quality are just as important as super-cute looks.
2926 Domingo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 848-1450; 3535-A Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 962-1450, redwagonkids.com. 
—Jennifer Kaufmann

▼ Baby Shop

Reader Pick

Head to Stork’s Nest to clothe your baby in the latest trends, such as organic onesies made from übersoft bamboo and collections by Trumpette, Coccoli, Toni Tierney, and Little Giraffe. Stork’s Nest also carries maternity wear and offers a baby shower registry (Aden + Anais swaddle blankets, Jamie Rae hats, and Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags make welcome gifts). A new Danville location opened in June.
802 Sycamore Valley Rd. W., Danville, (925) 820-2220; 55 W. Angela St., Ste. 105, Pleasanton, (925) 462-3680, shopstorksnest.com.  —J.K.

▼ Manners

Editor Pick

How many times have you told your kids to put their napkins in their laps? How would you like to have someone else give it a shot? That someone would be Sharyn Kennedy Amoroso, who has been teaching etiquette to East Bay children—and making it fun—for 17 years. After taking four of the hour-long classes, my 11-year-old son, John, still forgets his napkin sometimes, but now he loves to remind me to keep my elbows off the table. To read John’s story on the dining etiquette and party manners classes, CLICK HERE.
(925) 988-9228, sharynkennedy.com.  —Susan Safipour

▼ Way to Drive Your Kid to Soccer

Editor Pick

School. Soccer. Choir. Playdates. If shuttling your kids gets exhausting, put Diablo Kid Chauffeur on your speed dial. This service will get your kids where they need to go while you kick back and relax. Colette Riel started the business after working as a driver for a family in Orinda. A mom herself, Riel understands the hassle of transporting your children—and the worries about handing them off to strangers. Her drivers are Trust-Line-registered, and the company tracks the vehicles door-to-door with remote GPS, and sends you a text message upon their arrival. 
(925) 413-7377, diablokc.com.  —J.K.

▼ More Reader Picks

►Birthday Party Spot
Super Franks, 5341 Owens Ct., Pleasanton, (925) 271-5880, superfranks.com.

►Bookstore
The Storyteller, 30 Lafayette Cir., Lafayette, (925) 284-3480.

►Dance Classes
The Next Step Dance Studio, three Danville locations, (925) 831-0777, nextstepdance.com.

►Family Restaurant
Chow, in Danville and Lafayette, chowfoodbar.com.

►Gymnastics Classes
Encore, 999 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek, (925) 932-1033, encoregym.com.

►Haircut
Cool Tops Cuts for Kids, in Oakland, Pleasant Hill, and San Ramon, coolcutsforkids.com.

►Martial Arts Classes
Richard Lee's East-West Kung Fu, in Alamo and San Ramon, bokfudo.com.

►Music Classes
Music Together, various East Bay locations, (925) 551-7722, musictogether.net.

►Summer Camp
Little Broadway, Walnut Creek, (925) 934-2133, littlebroadway.org.

►Swim Lessons
All-Star Academy of Danville, 5800 Camino Tassajara, Pleasanton, (925) 967-0900, allstarswimschool.com.