Best of the East Bay 2011 - Kids and Parenting

Editors and Readers agree: these are the people, places and activities that are making the grade for your kids!

*Q&A with Kristi Yamaguchi

 

*Editor Pick: Family Friendly Restaurant

 

*Guide to: Great Kids' Classes

 

*More Reader Picks

Q&A with Kristi Yamaguchi
*Editor Pick: children’s author

Kristi Yamaguchi keeps reinventing herself. The figure skating legend’s résumé includes Olympic gold medalist, Dancing With the Stars champ, active philanthropist, and now, children’s book author. Earlier this year, the Alamo resident’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig!, spent several weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.

Diablo: Did your daughters inspire you to write this book?

Kristi Yamaguchi: Yes, it is something I’ve wanted to do since they were very young, and since I have worked with kids so much. We’ve always had a tradition of reading two or three books like Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar every night at bedtime. It has been fascinating to see the joy they get from books, so I always wanted to write a story for them.

How did they help shape the story?

Writing the story, I used my own experiences from childhood to shape the fictional character of Poppy the pig. When the manuscript was finished, I read it to my daughters without the illustrations, to see if it held their interest. They said, “Good one, Mom!” I thought, that’s a pretty good test audience. I’m already writing a second book about Poppy.

How did you like your book tour?

It was fun, especially because the  young kids really didn’t know who I am: They were there to hear about Poppy. I’ve never signed so many things for unborn babies. I’ve signed a lot of books for an eventual grandson or granddaughter.

For more info about Yamaguchi, go to alwaysdream.org. 
—Peter Crooks

Family-Friendly Restaurant
*Reader Pick: At Rocco’s, kids can be kids.

Every year after the kids marched in the Walnut Festival Parade, we marched them straight over to Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria. We’d order a slew of cheesy pies to feed our hungry little monsters while we ordered wine and beer and took our time perusing the menu for delicious eggplant parmesan and antipasti.

I always volunteered to make the arrangements. It was just so easy. One call to Rocco’s with the number of our party—usually more than 40—and we’d get the back room, and be all set for the perfect after-parade party.

Here’s the thing: The kids can kinda run wild, and the parents can relax and enjoy a nice dinner. Rocco’s doesn’t bat an eye when the baskets of free popcorn and peanuts go flying. (I’m not naming names, and we all know my little angel would never do such a thing. But I have seen popcorn wars, and so have the waitstaff. They just ask if the parents would like another beer. As owner Rocco Biale says, “Spill all the popcorn you want. Ciao.”)

Sometimes the dads ran a little wild, too. Like over to the adjoining bar to watch the ball games on one of the restaurant’s 27 TVs. But generally, we were in that back room—gobbling up pizza and pasta, talking over each other, and having a great time.

2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, (925) 947-6105, roccospizzeria.com. 
—Susan Safipour

Guide to: Great Kids’ Classes
*Useful programs for little ones.

*Reader Pick
Art Classes
The Art Room is like having your own studio. Fashionistas can draw, paint, and collage vintage clothing or today’s fashions. Graphic artists can learn to create cartoon characters and superheroes. With lessons in clay, watercolors, and painting on wood and silk, chances are good that there’s something for the Picasso in your family. 50 Lafayette Cir., Lafayette, (925) 299-1515, theart-room.com.

*Reader Pick
SAT Prep Course
Does Junior need to bump up those SAT scores? The Lafayette Academy offers classes, practice tests, and private tutoring—plus help with reading comprehension, an often-overlooked fundamental to acing the big test. 760 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville, (925) 855-3700; 3400 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 284-1644; 1400 Moraga Way, Moraga, (925) 376-0747, lafayetteacademy.com.

*Reader Pick
Martial Arts Classes
Kids at Kang’s Tae Kwon Do Academy learn more than how to kick and punch. The school’s philosophy is that children’s learning martial arts is more about personal development than fighting—so they’ll develop self-esteem and respect for others. 1251 Arroyo Way, Walnut Creek, (925) 933-6647, kangsacademy.com.

*Reader Pick
Dance Classes
Do your kids have Bieber fever? If so, sign them up for hip-hop classes so they can learn to dance like the teen star. Lori Buffalow’s The Next Step Dance Studio has classes for all ages and styles of dance. The studio’s dance teams compete locally and nationally. 109-A Town & Country Dr., Danville, (925) 831-0777, nextstepdance.com.

*Reader Pick
Music Lessons
Perhaps the best time to start your child’s vocal training is in the summer, when the internationally acclaimed Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir offers classes through Piedmont’s recreation department. This way, the conductor will suggest where your child should be placed in the fall. (510) 547-4441, piedmontchoirs.org. 
—Susan Safipour

*More Reader Picks

*After-School Program
Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School Performing Arts, 1357 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 934-2133, theballetschool.org.

*Baby Shop
Giggle, 1359 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 746-0300, giggle.com.

*Clothes Store
Red Wagon, 2926 Domingo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 848-1450; 3535-A Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 962-1450, redwagonkids.com.

*Family Photographer
Karen Henrich Custom Moments, Alamo, (925) 984-9454, custommoments.com.

*Gymnastics Classes
Encore Gymnastics, 999 Bancroft Rd., Concord, (925) 932-1033, encoregym.com.

*Haircut
Shear Adventures, 320 Hartz Ave., Danville, (925) 820-3697, shearadventures.com.

*Museum
Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 935-1978, wildlife-museum.org.

*Preschool/Day Care
White Pony (The Meher Schools), 999 Leland Dr., Lafayette, (925) 938-9958, meherschools.org.

*Summer Camp
Adventure Day Camp, 3527 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 937-6500, adventuredaycamp.com.

*Swim Lessons
All-Star Academy Swim School, 5800 Camino Tassajara, Pleasanton, (925) 967-0900, allstarswimschool.com.

*Teacher/Mentor/Camp Counselor
Jennifer Perry at Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School Performing Arts, 1357 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, (925) 934-2133, theballetschool.org.