🌟Local Kiddo

Your weekend plans, handled.

Author

Jasmine Alves
March 14, 2025

📆Issue No. 8 - March 15-21, 2025

Welcome to the weekend, parade-goers and music lovers! This week’s issue brings Irish celebrations (pairs perfectly with Salt & Straw's "Pots of Gold and Rainbows" ice cream), library music jams, and a chance for the grown-ups to explore women-made wines. There's something refreshingly inclusive about a weekend that combines kid-friendly cultural events with adult beverages. Here's how to hit all the high notes.

⚡ TLDR: Weekend Gameplan

For the kids (allegedly):

  • St. Patrick's Day Parade (Saturday, Market Street)

  • Music Is First! Band at West Portal Library (Saturday, 11am)

  • So much more!

For the adults (because you matter too):

  • Women in Wine tasting tour (Thursday evening)

  • Nightscapes: Nowruz (Thursday evening)

🎯The Main Event 

The 174th St. Patrick's Day Parade transforms Market Street into a celebration of all things Irish that somehow works for every age group. Whether your interest is cultural heritage or simply watching tiny Irish dancers attempt complicated choreography, this parade delivers.

Worth Knowing: 

  • Saturday, March 15

  • Parade starts at 11:30am

  • Market Street from 2nd to Civic Center

  • Free viewing along entire route

  • Allow extra travel time (crowded transit)

🚌 Getting There: BART to Montgomery or Powell (ideal), F-Market streetcar to any parade route stop, Multiple Muni routes crossing Market

Pro move: Position yourself near Market and McAllister street. You'll catch the parade as it heads to Civic Center. Bring a small step stool for little ones to stand on - the difference between seeing dancing leprechauns and staring at strangers' backs is significant.

Other St. Patrick’s Day Events

🎨Cultural Queue 

Music Is First! Band brings genuinely engaging music education to West Portal Library, proving that kid-friendly performances don't have to sound like animated soundtracks on repeat.

Worth knowing:

  • Saturday, March 15

  • 11:00-11:45am

  • West Portal SFPL branch

  • Perfect for ages 4-12

  • Interactive elements

  • Professional musicians

Pro move: Start your morning at Noe Valley Bakery's West Portal location for a proper pastry and coffee - their pastries are worth the detour, and the fuel will help everyone enjoy the music more.

🚌 Getting There: L-Taraval, M-Ocean View, KT-Ingleside -Third

🌙After Hours (Adult Only) 

When you finally secure that sitter:

Women in Wine: A Tasting Tour: Embarc Wines celebrates Women's History Month with a curated tasting experience that's worth arranging a sitter for. This isn't your typical wine tasting - it's a journey through Northern California's female-led vineyards with stories as rich as the wines themselves.

Worth knowing:

  • Thursday, March 20

  • Focus on barrier-breaking female vintners

  • Small bites paired with each pour

  • Wine educator sharing vineyard stories

  • Perfect date night or friend gathering

Pro move: Book a rideshare in advance - these tastings are generous, and you'll appreciate not navigating public transit afterward. The small bites are thoughtful but not dinner-substantial, so consider an early reservation nearby before or a late-night spot after if you need more sustenance.

Nightscapes: Nowruz at the Asian Art Museum: A festive celebration of Persian New Year filled with flowers, music, and dancing that channels the rebirth of spring. Technically, this event is open to all ages, but it's a school night — so consider it your excuse for an adults-only cultural immersion. The combination of traditional music, dancing, and celebration makes for a sophisticated evening that's worth arranging a sitter for.

Worth knowing:

  • Thursday, March 20

  • Traditional Persian music

  • Dance performances

  • Festive atmosphere

  • Cultural experience beyond the usual

  • Perfect midweek reset

✨ What Else Is Good This Week

Saturday, 3/15:

Sunday, 3/16:

🔭 On Our Radar

SFJAZZ Family Matinee: Mark your calendar, circling March 22nd for a rare family music experience that doesn't involve animated characters or endless repetition. Saxophonist Kasey Knudsen brings her ensemble to SFJAZZ for a performance that respects both young ears and adult musical taste.

Gabby's Dollhouse Takes Over: For the Gabby fans in your household (we know they exist), the Creativity Museum hosts the colorful cat on March 28-29. While firmly in the "for the kids" category, these character events typically offer enough interactive elements to keep parents moderately entertained too.

Word for Word PLAY Pajama Fam Jam: Mark your calendar for April 6th at Z Space. This free (with reservation) event combines storytelling and theater in a format that works for both wiggly kids and culture-seeking parents. The pajama dress code means everyone stays comfortable while experiencing professional-level performances.

Drinks, Bites & Zoo Insights: On March 22 SF Zoo members get exclusive access to "A day in the life of an animal welfare scientist" - a fascinating look at how 3D printing, magic, and observation improve animal wellbeing. The adult libations and hors d'oeuvres make this as much a grown-up event as a kid one.

Teen Night at SF Symphony: Teenagers and classical music don't have to be mutually exclusive. On March 22, the symphony's teen-focused evening creates the perfect introduction to live orchestral music without the pressure of formal concert etiquette. Perfect for those hard-to-please older kids.

Found a spot that works for both you and the kiddos? Tell us – we read everything.

Until next week,

Local Kiddo — Because good taste doesn’t end at parenthood.

P.S. Forward this to that parent friend who still remembers what uninterrupted coffee tastes like. We've got spots for both of you.

P.P.S. Want to partner with us? Have an event we should highlight? We work with brands that parents actually want in their lives (you know, the ones that don't make us choose between "kid-friendly" and "still cool"). Email us at [email protected] if that sounds like you.

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