StocktonMama | Where to go and what to do for San Joaquin County families

Public Art: 22,000 Hot Wheels Cars

2012-02-29T19:03:00.002-08:00

About a decade ago, the City of Stockton passed an ordinance that requires any building project receiving city money to set aside 2 percent of its budget for the design and installation of a work of public art.

Cities all over the country have similar requirements, and while not everyone agrees, I think it’s a fantastic idea that plants beauty and charm and whimsy where you least expect them.

My favorite example is the mural above the entryway to the Stockton Arena parking garage on Fremont Street.

If you’re driving by in a hurry, or, you know, trying to park, you might not notice.

But the piece is made up of 22,000 Hot Wheels cars.

Really.

They were attached with epoxy and sealed with urethane in 4- by 8-foot sections.

The piece was created by Napa artist Gordon Huether, whose studio specializes in large, site-specific installations that become integrated within their surrounding landscape. (When you have some time, you should check out his public art portfolio. I especially love the Aluminum Yucca in Albuquerque, N.M., and the Gotta Go murals at the Jacksonville International Airport.)

I smile every time I see the parking garage mural. (And I have often wondered whether a scaled-down version could be built for a kid’s room. Or my living room. Sometimes I go so far as to start scouring thrift stores for toy cars.)

The piece is clever and captivating, funny and all-around delightful.

And, let’s face it. Delightful probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think about Stockton. We need as much delightful as we can get.

Kids Books: Powercat, The Pacific Tiger!

2012-02-28T06:50:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite books when I was little was "Jennifer and Josephine" by Bill Peet. Do you know it?

The story is lovely. The illustrations are beautiful. But I suspect what I really, deep-down, loved about it was that one of the main characters had my name (and my grandmother's!).

So vain, right? But I don't think I'm the only one. There's an industry of personalized children's books after all. It just feels special to see yourself reflected in print.

To this day, I still enjoy books set in familiar places, and so it was fun a couple of weeks ago to come across "Powercat, The Pacific Tiger!"

Written by Lynn Beck, Dean of University of the Pacific's Benerd School of Education, and members of the School of Education Student Association, with pictures by Joe Bevill, the book isn't really a story in, say, the bedtime sense. Instead, it's more of an illustrated tour of the campus led by Pacific's mascot.

You can order it from the Pacific Tigers Athletics online store. ($14.95 plus shipping).

I think it could be fun to read just before a walk through campus - or to take along on a visit to the university. Make it a scavenger hunt of Pacific landmarks.

(Mascot Books, the publisher behind "Powercat, The Pacific Tiger!" sells similar books featuring a range of college and professional mascots, if there's another team that interests you.)

This Weekend with Kids

2012-02-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

The pretty weather we’ve had lately – bright but still breezy – has been reminding me of being at college in the Midwest. The first sunny days after a cold, gray winter brought out tank tops and Frisbees all over campus – weeks before it was really warm enough for them.

I have always considered myself a fall person, but I have to say, I kind of love this time of year. I think it’s the excitement of being at the very beginning of something new. Maybe you love the cold. Maybe spring flowers make you sneeze. But doesn’t it feel good to see things start growing again?

It looks like clear skies will hold out, at least through the weekend. Hope you’re able to get out and enjoy some sunshine:

Bye Bye Birdie
Students at Benjamin Holt College Prep Academy will be performing the (super fun) musical, set in 1958, about a rock idol's visit to Sweet Apple, Ohio. Saturday's performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at 3201 E. Morado Lane. General admission tickets are $10. Student tickets are $7. For information, call (209) 955-1477.

KUDOS Children's Theatre Open House
If your kids are more interested in performing in a show than watching one, the KUDOS Children's Theatre Company is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at 1943 W. Lucile Ave. At the free event, visitors can tour the theater, meet the directors and talk with current performers. A short question-and-answer session will be held, and guests can enter a drawing for a scholarship to participate in one of KUDOS' 2012 summer productions (ages 7 to 19). For information, call (209) 507-6996.

Asthmanology
From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., World of Wonders Science Museum (2 N. Sacramento St., in Lodi), will present hands-on activities all about asthma. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $4 for children ages 2 to 17. Children younger than 2 are free. For information, call (209) 368-0969.

Pacific Women's Basketball: Dads and Daughters Night
Fathers who attend the game (vs. U.C. Davis) with their daughters receive free admission. Players will be signing autographs after the game, and fans will have the chance to receive giveaway items. Tickets cost $6 for general admission adults, $4 for seniors and kids ages 13-17, and $3 for faculty and staff. Admission is free for children 12 and younger. The game starts at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.) at the Alex G. Spanos Center, 1178 Larry Heller Drive in Stockton. For information, call (209) 946-2718.

Fishing With Kids

2012-02-22T22:53:00.002-08:00

Images by Wallace Kirkland, 1950, via the LIFE photo archive

Fishing wasn't a big part of my childhood. My dad took us out a few times on camping trips, though, and while I can't recall ever catching anything, I do remember having fun. It's one of those activities that make you slow down and get a little quiet, don't you think? And that can be a pretty nice thing to share with a parent.

Still, I hadn't thought much about fishing with kids until Record Outdoors columnist Pete Ottesen wrote about it in a recent piece. (Pete is fantastic, by the way. I'm not a hunter. Not an outdoorswoman. But his columns always make me want to go for a hike).

Fishing is a great activity for families, he says, because you can do it without fancy equipment or extraordinary skill. And if you go out now, you stand a good chance of making your first try a successful one:

"When water temperatures hover in the 50- to 52-degree range, trout cruise close to the surface within easy casting distance of boys and girls, who dream of hooking 'the big one,'" Pete writes. "Now is the time to hook kids on fishing. Trout are being liberally planted and simple tactics as easy as tossing out bait under a bobber likely will entice a bite and put a smile on a youngster's face."

He suggests Lake Camanche, Lake Amador, New Melones Lake - even the pond at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton.

"Each of these destinations offer picnic areas and plenty of space to romp, where tossing a plastic saucer or baseball is just as acceptable as casting a line. "In other words, these are places where kids can have fun."

Sounds OK, right? For more advice on where to go, how to get started and what to expect, find Pete's column in The Record.

(And if you manage to catch something, here's a trout omelet recipe from Hank Shaw - another writer with a Record connection.)

What about you? Are your childhood memories full of fishing trips? Is it a tradition you share with your kids now?

Reading with Dad

2012-02-22T05:00:00.001-08:00

Here's one for the StocktonDaddies.

This afternoon, Fathers & Families of San Joaquin is celebrating the power of father-child reading with The Stand Up, Sit Down Literacy Circle, to be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chavez Central Library.

"Real men stand up to violence," according to the nonprofit organization, "and sit down to read to their children."

There's something to it: Of San Joaquin County's roughly 215,500 households, just about 10 percent (21,500) are led by single mamas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And local children growing up without a dad are far likelier than others to grow up in poverty (about 40 percent versus 15 percent).

This evening's event will feature books that include strong father figures.

Can't wait? Here are a few picture books about dads and their kiddos to get you inspired (All are available through the Stockton-San Joaquin Public Library system):

Grizzly Dad
by Joanna Harrison
Copy available at the Chavez Central Library
"Dad woke up in a grizzly mood. All morning he groaned and grizzled and grumped. And then he went back to bed! But when I pulled back the covers to see how he was, it wasn't Dad in bed at all ... It was a GREAT BIG GRIZZLY BEAR!"

Building With Dad
by Carol Nevius
Copies available at the Chavez Central Library, and the Troke, Manteca, Angelou, Escalon, Thornton, Linden and Lathrop branch libraries.
"A father and his young child watch the construction of the new school, from the bulldozing of the earth and mixing of the concrete for the foundation to the hanging of the new sign."

The Day I Swapped my Dad for Two Goldfish
(a personal favorite)
by Neil Gaiman
Copies available at the Chavez Central Library, and the Troke, Tracy, Manteca, Ripon, Thornton, Weston Ranch and Mountain House branch libraries.
"This deluxe edition of a cult classic is a rollicking tale of a boy who trades his dad for his best friend's goldfish."

Papá and Me
by Arthur Dorros
Copies available at the Chavez Central Library, and the Tracy, Manteca and Angelou branch libraries.
"When I'm with my papa, I can fly like an eagle, an aguila. I can climb alto, high, in a tree."

Play Date: Micke Grove Regional Park (playgrounds)

2012-02-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

Play Date is a series of little guides to the areas parks and play areas.
This week: Micke Grove Regional Park (the playgrounds)

The Basics | Micke Grove Regional Park
Location: At 11793 N. Micke Grove Road in Lodi
Type: San Joaquin County Regional Park
Size: 258 acres
Amenities: The sprawling park has a handful of playgrounds (including one water play area) with equipment that'd be fun for toddlers on up through school-age kids. It's home to the Micke Grove Zoo, The Japanese Garden, The San Joaquin County Historical Museum and Fun Town at Micke Grove. Other amenities include softball fields, rental facilities, picnic areas and horseshoe pits. Originally an oak grove, the park also has lots of open space and shade.
A little history: The park was a gift to the county from Lodi farmer and philanthropist William G. Micke. It now draws as many as 700,000 visitors a year.
Play date: Sure, there are plenty of picnic tables, but for this park, bring a blanket, pick up a pizza on the way over and enjoy lunch under the lovely Valley Oaks. See who spots the most squirrels.
Special notes: The Park is open daily (except for Christmas Day) from 8 a.m. until sunset. Parking is $5. Pets cost an extra $1 and must be leashed.
(Source: County of San Joaquin)

While the park's size seems a little overwhelming for a weekend afternoon out, it's also what makes Micke Grove a really great community resource: You can carve out the space you need, whether it's a big, open expanse for a family reunion, or a low-key spot for the kids to burn off some energy before naptime.

This week, we'll focus on the latter.

The playgrounds at Micke Grove are sort of scattered throughout the park which helps make a rather enormous place feel like a more familiar and manageable one. And I like that my daughter can run around pretty freely without me worrying about her getting accidentally trampled by bigger, faster kids.

After a recent visit to the zoo with a couple of 2-year-old girls, we parked in front of the play area nearest Wortley Lake, a 3-acre water feature that was built a few years ago as part of an expansion project. The equipment looked new and seemed the most toddler friendly: there are both regular and bucket-style swings, and the slides have stairs rather than ladder-syle bars to climb.

There was also a little rock-climbing feature that the kids enjoyed more than I thought they would, and some lazy Canada Geese that they had a good time quacking at.

If you time things right, you might be able to wave at an Amtrak train roaring by on the tracks just outside the park.

Gordon Toy Co. & Party Store

2012-02-20T08:45:00.002-08:00

Have you ever been to Gordon Toy Company and Party Store? It's in a quonset hut on Cherokee Road in Stockton, and I'd driven by it, oh, hundreds of times, thinking, "Hm. I should see what that's all about."

I finally stopped for the first time a few weeks ago to pick up some things for my daughter's birthday party.

Jim, the owner, said hello when I walked in.

"Are you cash only?" I asked. (I had forgotten to visit an ATM on the way over).

He said cash or check, so I told him I would be right back.

"Just pay me next time," he said.

"Oh, yeah. Ha ha."

"No. I'm serious. Pay me next time. I trust you. I don't think you woke up this morning and decided to rip off the toy guy. Just pay me next time."

So it's that kind of place.

The store is full of the kind of little trinkets you've picked up in gumball machines, on your way out of the dentist's office, or at carnival stands (in fact, Gordon's also rents carnival games). I'd say, go with some time - it's a bit of a treasure hunt - and an open mind: If you're looking for something specific, you might be disappointed. I wanted a few fun things to fill a piñata and stuff into goody bags, and did just fine. I even had enough cash in my wallet to cover the bill without having to rely on Jim's generous "pay when you're back in the neighborhood" policy.

Most of the merchandise is small and stocked on shelves in cardboard boxes. Shopping there was reminding me a little of trips to Pic 'N' Save (It's Big Lots now) with my grandmother. When my cousins and I were young, she used to give us each about $3, take us to the store and let us buy whatever we wanted. It was a good way to practice addition and learn about sales tax. It was also just a lot of fun: Carrying your own shopping basket and handing over your own money in the checkout line feels very grown up and exciting.

I think you could manage the same kind of outing at Gordon Toy Co. if you had a few dollars and some restless kids.

This Weekend With Kids

2012-02-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

My husband and I high-fived each other as we were walking out the door this morning: Just one more day to get through before the long weekend. Don't you feel like you could really use one?

After we pick up the house, we're planning to get together with friends and check out a hockey game. (It'll be our first with a kiddo. Wish us luck).

It feels like the perfect balance of relaxing time at home and fun time out and about. But I'm tempted to squeeze in a couple of these too:

Second Annual Cupcake War Competition
Christian Worship Center, in Manteca, is hosting this competition, open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 786 Button Ave. Contestants in two divisions - Youthful Baker (ages 9 to 16) and Baking Enthusiast (non-professional bakers, ages 17 and older) - will enter their cupcakes to be judged based on design creativity, presentation, texture and flavor. It's too late to enter a cupcake, but for a $1 donation, members of the audience can help judge each baker's decorating skills in the "people's choice" phase of competition. There also will be a food court, raffles, a cupcake-eating contest and other activities.

Chess Club
My dad taught my brothers and I to play chess when we were pretty young. He never let us win. And although I never got really good at it, I enjoyed the time we spent playing together. Locally, the Tracy Branch Library is launching a chess club for visitors of all ages and experience levels. Starting this Saturday, the club will meet weekly from noon to 2 p.m. at the library, 20 E. Eaton Ave., in Tracy. Feel free to bring friends or chess boards. From time to time, there will be free chess lectures at the start of each meeting.

Mural Project
On Sunday, from 4-6 p.m, Stockton's Teen Impact Center, 725 N. El Dorado Street, kicks off a 10-week series of workshops designed to help youths explore the arts through a mural project. The workshops are free and open to all teens and pre-teens in Stockton. For more information, or to register, e-mail Precious Fortes at pfortes@frrcsj.org.

"Back to Mississippi" with Geraldine Hollis
In Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961, Stockton resident Geraldine Hollis, was part of a group of students - called the Tougaloo Nine -- who staged a sit-in at a whites-only library. She has written a book about her childhood, the Civil Rights movement and her career in teaching - and she's a really wonderful person to talk to, if you've never had the chance. You can find her giving a presentation at 1 p.m. Monday at Stockton's Barnes & Noble store, 4950 Pacific Avenue.

Play Date: Victory Park

2012-02-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

A friend once sent me a text message: “Do you know if any of the parks around here have bucket swings?” I could think of one. Maybe two. But that was it – and not because there aren’t more bucket swings in Stockton.

It’s just that, short of going and hoping the best, there isn’t a really easy way to find out which of Stockton’s more than 60 parks has exactly what you’re looking for, be it a slide or a soccer field. So here’s Play Date, a series of little guides to the area’s parks and play areas.

This week: Victory Park

Sorry, guys. No bucket swings.

The Basics | Victory Park
Location: At Pershing and Argonne in Stockton
Type: Community
Size: About 27.5 acres
Amenities: Home to the Haggin Museum, the park features a playground (for big kids) and tot lot (for the littler ones) with slides, bars, and – this is cool – a mini climbing wall. There are ponds with ducks and turtles; group picnic areas and barbecue pits; lots of benches with plenty of shade; two lighted softball fields; Two lighted tennis courts; a swimming pool and restrooms. All along the park’s perimeter is a sidewalk that’s perfect (and popular) for walking and jogging.
A little history: The Victory Park site was gifted to the City in 1924. In 2009, when the park’s ponds were drained for maintenance, ducks – almost 100 of them - were relocated to Swenson Park. (Some fish and turtles were moved too). They seem to have found their way back.
Play Date: Haul out the jogging stroller for a Saturday-morning run. When you’re finished, find a raspado cart ($1 per cone) and an empty bench.
(Source: City of Stockton)

This one reminds you that you live in a city.

Where I grew up, in Southern California, there were annual field trips to the Natural History Museum, followed by picnics in the park where pigeons convened to tussle over our scraps of sandwich bread and potato chips.

Victory Park reminds me of that a little bit.

This isn’t a park in the sense of a refuge or a hideaway. It’s park as community center and civic hub. It is a fantastic place to be - but maybe not if you’re looking for a quiet afternoon on a lazy weekend.

You’ll be sharing space with far more people than you would at, say, a neighborhood park: Joggers running up and down the Haggin Museum steps, walkers who invite you to pet their dogs, families gathering for weddings in the lovely rose garden.

There might be a political rally, a pageant, a festival.

There will definitely be a bounce house.

It’s chaotic – but the good kind, the kind that makes me really happy.

And I happen to think that feeding ducks in a public park is an essential formative experience. I’ll let you in on something, though: They’re not interested in your leftover Goldfish crackers. Don’t even bother.

Last-minute valentines

2012-02-12T21:48:00.000-08:00

You finally made it to the store, and the Valentine's Day shelves were completely picked over?

No problem. Here is a homemade, candy-free Valentine's Day card and rainbow-heart crayon you can make tonight with stuff you either already have - or can get your hands on pretty easily.

You'll need: Crayons, a knife, silicone baking molds (or just a cupcake tin), card stock, scissors, and double-stick tabs or rubber cement

Step 1: Peel the paper off your crayons, then cut them up with a knife - I went for about pea-sized. For me, it took 20 full-sized, regular crayons to make each batch of 14 heart-shaped rainbow crayons. Rose Art was easier to cut than Crayola.

Step 2: Mix up the crayon pieces and drop them into your molds. Fill to the top, without letting any pieces hang over the edges.

Step 3: Bake. You can find lots of instructions online, but here's what worked for me. Since I was pretty sure the molds I bought weren't intended for baking - and certainly not for melting crayons - I wanted to be on the safe side. Once filled, I placed the molds into a cake pan with a water bath, then baked at 200 degrees, checking every 5 minutes until the crayons were thoroughly melted. Fifteen minutes wasn't quite enough, and 20 was just a hair too long.

Step 4: Remove the molds from the oven, and let the crayons cool and set. While you're waiting, print and cut out your cards. In case you don't have time to design your own, here's a simple little template:

Step 5: Pop the rainbow crayons out of the molds and affix them to your cards with double-stick mounting tabs or rubber cement. (Ask your kid's teacher to remind children not to eat the hearts- they come out looking a little like candy.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Weekend With Kids

2012-02-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

For someone who hasn't had more than a mouthful of tea in her life, my daughter throws some pretty lavish tea parties. And I think, if she was a little bit older, she would really love the Fancy Nancy Dress-Up Tea Party at Mountain House Branch Library this weekend. (10 a.m. on Saturday, 579 Wicklund Crossing. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Call 866.805.7323). The invitation calls for feather boas, hats, jewelry and favorite dresses. Fancy!

Instead, we'll be spending some relaxing time with family. But if we were feeling more ambitious (and, again, if she were a little bit older), I'd also consider checking out:

Second Saturdays for Families at the Haggin Museum
On the second Saturday of every month, the Haggin invites families with kids, ages 5 to 12, to participate in art-related activities planned to complement the museum's temporary exhibits. This month, guests can take part in collaborative art projects - painting a mural and designing greeting cards - with the children from Pixie Woods. (From 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. No reservations are required, and activities and materials are free with the price of admission. For information, call 209.940.6315 or email education@hagginmuseum.org)

Adventures of a Comic Book Artist
KUDOS Children's Theatre Company presents a musical spoof. Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz is a janitor at Wonder Comics who dreams of becoming a coming book artist himself. When a set of magical pens bring the Wonder Comics drawings to life, it falls on Stanley to save the day. (7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the KUDOS website. For information, call 209.507.6996). Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero.

Winter Benefit Powwow
Now in its 11th year, the annual Powwow is hosted by Stockton Unified School District/Native American Culture Center and the Stockton Community Powwow Committee. The alcohol- and drug-free event features craft and food vendors, music and dancing. (Noon to 10 p.m. at Edison High School's Taggert Gym, 1425 S. Center Street. Free and open to the public.)

Hope it's fun!

The Afternaps

2012-02-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

You know it's a good party when they clear away the tables so there's more room to dance.

That's my baby, deep into a freeze dance at Empresso Coffeehouse on the Miracle Mile, where every Tuesday around 5:30, The Afternaps have a show.

The Stockton-based kids band plays songs you want to sway and sing along with - "Baby Beluga," "The Cat Came Back," "Down by the Bay." Only folkier. Bluesier. Definitely hipper. But still really warm and friendly.

(There's a mandolin. And a ukulele. Did I mention the kazoo?)

I happen to think that kids music for grownups (a genre that is well-represented locally) can be pretty fantastic stuff. It's not the same thing as grown-up music for kids; I have a heard some lullaby arrangements of Cure songs, and I'm just not crazy about them. Nor is it grownup music that kids might also happen to like - for months, I sang Alice to sleep with "Thunder Road." That's cool. But I wouldn't call it kids music.

Bands like The Afternaps are playing for kids. But they aren't trying to get your kid's attention with a lot of flash - just an essential respect for fun and wonder. And that's super appealing.

Give them a listen. Then put on your dancing shoes.

(Video by YouTube user bambinajade).

Papel Picado: A Valentine's Day Tutorial

2012-02-07T22:55:00.005-08:00

The Mexican folk art of papel picado usually is associated with Day of the Dead. But cut-paper banners are strung in celebration of all sorts of holidays and special occasions. (For inspiration, check out the work of San Francisco-based artist Herminia Albarrán Romero.) Bright and fluttery, they seem especially well-suited for Valentine's Day.

Traditionally, papel picado is made, 50 or more sheets at a time, with small chisels. And like most of the folk arts, it takes years and years to master. But with a simple design and an approach that's scaled way back, you can make a plenty-festive string of cut-paper banners in an hour or two.

You'll need: A piece of card stock; a pen or pencil; 10 or more sheets of colored tissue paper, cut to 8.5" by 11"; paper clips, a cutting mat; an X-Acto knife or some other tool with a precise blade; scissors; clear glue; and string or twine.

Step 1: Start with a piece of card stock (Typing paper will work in a pinch, but heavier is better - you might even try an old paper grocery bag), fold it in half and draw your design along the fold. Give yourself a few inches of border along the top, bottom and sides, and keep in mind that shaded spaces are going to be removed - make sure your blank areas all connect somehow. When you're finished, cut the card stock in half on the fold. This is your cutting guide.

Step 2: Fold each sheet of tissue paper in half horizontally (I used 10 sheets per batch) and sandwich them neatly between the two pieces of your cutting guide (The piece with your design should be face-up on top). Make extra sure that the folds line up with the center of your design. For stability, bind the stack together with paper clips on all four sides.

Step 3: Cutting - use as sharp a blade as you can. But know that the tissue paper is going to want to snag and tear anyway, so be slow, don't force it and apply pressure with your free hand to help keep the paper still. Start with the smaller pieces - shortest cuts first. Don't worry too much about any rough spots. You can clean them up later with scissors, and after your banners are strung together, small mistakes will hardly be noticeable anyway. Cut out the heart shape last. When you do, you'll be left with a pile of giant heart confetti. Pretty! Remove your paper clips.

Step 4: The magic is in the unfolding. Enjoy and admire.

Step 5: Gently fold the top of one of your banners down a quarter inch. Open, and apply a thin layer of glue above the crease. Lay your twine in the crease and press the fold back down. Continue with the rest of your banners, leaving a few inches of space between them.

Step 6: Let the glue dry. Hang your banners and invite over a bunch of people who've known and loved you since kindergarten.

It's kind of fun to sketch out designs and surprise yourself with the results, but here's a printable template for a little head start.

If you have kiddos who'd like to help with this project, try it with construction paper and a design that you can cut out with just scissors.

Play Date: Caldwell Park

2012-02-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Once, a few months ago, a friend sent me a text message: “Do you know if any of the parks around here have bucket swings?” I could think of one. Maybe two. But that was it – and not because there aren’t more bucket swings in Stockton.

It’s just that, short of going and hoping for the best, there isn’t a really easy way to find out which of Stockton’s more than 60 parks has exactly what you’re looking for, be it a slide or a soccer field.

So this is Play Date, a series of little guides to the area’s parks and play areas.

First up is Caldwell Park.

P.S. It has bucket swings.

The Basics | Caldwell Park

Location: Just south of Alpine Ave., between Pacific Ave. and Allston

Type: Neighborhood

Size: About 3.5 acres

Amenities: The park has a tot lot with two slides (one spiral, one wavy), bucket swings, bars, and other things to climb and crawl on. The ground inside the play area is covered with woodchips. There are barbecue pits, picnic tables, benches and bathrooms. The park is outfitted for half-court basketball and has a half-acre of multi-use space to run around on.

A little history: The Caldwell Park site was donated to the City in 1939 on the condition it be used for recreation.

Play Date: Buy some snacks at the adjacent S-Mart Foods grocery store and make it a picnic.
(Source: City of Stockton)

Kids seem hardwired with a sense of playground etiquette that always surprises and impresses me. Once in a while, when other parents are in earshot, we might remind our kiddos to take turns or to look out for the littler ones. But they mostly don’t need us to. They’re pretty self-governing that way.

At 2-years-old, my daughter is still the smallest child in lots of crowds, but when we go to Caldwell Park – whether on a party-packed Saturday afternoon or a low-key weekday evening – she’s at ease. It’s one of our favorites.

The playground equipment is toddler-friendly, but still seems entertaining for kids as old as 6 or 7. There are lots of places for parents to sit and a fair amount of shade.

The picnic tables are pretty grimy, though, so you might think about packing a blanket if you plan to eat. And since it’s next to the grocery store and a bus stop, there tend to be a lot of people coming and going.

But I’ve never felt unsafe there. The opposite. It’s a friendly place.

Find us on the slide next time.

Birthday cookies

2012-02-01T19:11:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Alice, turned 2 recently, and on the recommendation of a friend, I ordered cookies from M&W Dutch American Bakery to share with the kids in her day care classroom.

Located in Stockton's University Square shopping center, the bakery was founded about a decade ago by Wolf and Malou Dalichau. I've bought their cinnamon bread at farmers markets before, but until a couple of weeks ago, hadn't been inside their shop.

Oh, my gosh, you guys. Its display cases are filled with some super gorgeous treats. For Alice's birthday, we picked iced ladybug cookies. It was a tough call, though: The bumblebees are really adorable, and for Valentine's Day, there are pretty pastel hearts.

I ordered on a Friday and picked up on Monday. The cookies came wrapped individually, tied off with red ribbon.

At a bit more than a dollar a cookie, the order was pricier than, say, your typical grocery-store cupcakes. But also a lot more fun, I think.

Meyer lemons

2012-01-31T22:57:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, we planted a Meyer lemon tree, and I’m happy to say that, with fairly little intervention from us, it seems to be thriving.

Meyer lemons are named for Frank N. Meyer of the USDA who, on a trip to China in 1908, found them being grown ornamentally. It’s kind of romantic, don’t you think? An agricultural explorer! A plant hunter!

I grew up with sort of a lemon orchard in the backyard and took for granted that citrus would just appear without any special effort. Loads of it. All the time, it seemed like.

But I've since married a Midwesterner whose mother used to tuck oranges into his Christmas stocking every year, carrying forward a custom with roots in a time and a place where citrus in winter was precious and rare. A sweet tradition. One that makes me appreciate our fruit a bit more.

Meyer lemons are sweeter and rounder than other varieties. They have a thinner skin and a flowery perfume. Only a few are left on our tree anymore: They’ve gone into salad dressings and baked goods and glasses of water.

My favorite thing to do, though, with all that fruit is make lemon curd. So bright and refreshing – especially when it’s gray outside, it really feels like an indulgence.

I like the recipe featured on Food in Jars. It’s simple, and the three or four times I’ve tried it, it’s worked out beautifully.

We’ve eaten lemon curd spread on corn muffins and stirred into yogurt. My daughter likes it right off the spoon. And I think, with only a little more ambition, it would make a really great cake filling. It tastes like sunshine. No kidding.

Want to plant your own Meyer lemon tree? The folks at Port Stockton Nursery told me it's best to wait until after the threat of frost has passed - so maybe hold off a little while longer.

It is so nice to meet you.

2012-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

County Fair, 2011

The first time I visited Stockton was almost 10 years ago. My husband – who was not my husband yet – had a job interview here, and we drove together, straight up I-5 from Los Angeles County.

I dropped him off Downtown and looked for someplace to sit.

There was a farmer’s market – which is how I know it must have been a Friday.

But by the time I got there, most of the vendors were packing up – which is how I know it must have been late afternoon.

After finishing a cup of coffee, I got back in the car.

For me, on that day, all of Stockton existed in those few square miles between Market and Harding, El Dorado and Wilson. There were no paychecks or play dates, dinner parties or doctor appointments in that universe. I couldn’t even find a public restroom.

It feels a little dangerous to think back on times like that, when it could have gone either way – memory tricks you into believing everything that happened next was inevitable. But the truth is, he might not have gotten the job. I might not have followed him.

And yet again, the truth is, he did take the job. I followed him six months later. We got married. We bought a house. We had a child.

I’m not for papering over the cracks: Our community’s challenges are critical. Its problems demand our care and consideration.

At the same time, this isn’t a place I shake my head over from a safe distance. This is where I’m raising a family – and everything that means.

You too?

Well then.

Let’s be in it together.

Let’s lift all boats.

Let’s hope for the best.

Let's swing for the fences.

We live here. We’re home now.