GARFIELD PARK

The playground at Garfield (26th and Harrison Streets) is stellar, as you can see. Excellent toddler structure, plenty of trees to climb as well as a bigger jungle gym for the older kids, picnic tables and even bbq grills. There is also a pool, great soccer field, plenty of space to roam and run, but there is also a downside. Immediately next to the playground is a housing project. Thug life hangs out in all its glory within a couple hundred feet of the kiddies which is a big fat drag. Will these pathetic toughies bother you? Of course not, they are interested in their own doings. Will you be worried about thug life spill over (mis-directed beer bottles, stray shots, ugly fighting and shouting)? Depends on your constitutional make-up. We will continue to use this park, but we will also make sure to come in the mornings.

PERFORMANCE ART AND THE TODDLER

Epiphany productions put on their annual Trolley Dances this weekend, which marked Ruth's first adventure in performance art. She was impressed by the cable strapped, yogic statement on sleep, and just a little scared of the drums at Civic Center when the distraction of the piece of cheese she had been gnawing on was gone. She enjoyed the trolley rides, but by the time the F made it to Duboce where we all walked to the back of the Safeway, Ruth called it quits. When somebody lays on the pavement and screams, they really mean it. But enjoying two of four abstract performances on a day that turned out warmer than expected leaving us overdressed in a large crowd riding a packed trolley seems to us like good first timer success rate.

ST. FRANCIS FOUNTAIN

Ruth loves this old-fashioned ice cream parlor and diner for one simple and straightforward reason: she gets to eat as much ice cream as she can. (and it's Mitchel's ice cream at that). Located at 24th and York, they also sell trading cards from the 80's -- Mork and Mindy, Tron, Duran Duran -- and bubble gum cigarettes. The food is very average, and a little expensive for what it is, but who cares. They have ice cream sundaes, malts, and "clowns." And if you find the somewhat hip service reminiscent of something, (hmmm...I've seen that torn teeshirt on that skinny frame somewhere...) the place is owned by the folks at Bugoolos. (which also explains the average food that is a just a little too expensive and despite that fact is strangely crowded). But, we love it anyway.

KALIFLOWER GARDEN

It may not be way up on your list of things to do, but taking Ruth to a commune was the highlight of her afternoon last Saturday. We have noticed this block of high fencing along 23rd Street by Shotwell as it is on our way to Parque Ninos, and one day, lo! we noticed the fence was open.

The garden, which is being opened MWF and Saturday afternoons to the public from 1-3, is maintained by one of the communes of San Francisco's hippie heyday, the Kaliflower Group. They are also associated with The Free Print folks, and have been around since 1967. A visit to the garden doesn't involve any of that creepy, dianetic-esque soliciting. Nobody will ask you to take a personality test, and on Saturday there was incredibly complex, well executed and beautiful music. You wouldn't know it was a commune unless you asked someone or read it here, but now, since you know, as you walk through the gate think to yourself: "A flower will grow out of the ashes of this current age of destruction."

JURY COMMONS

We have been using this tiny walk-through park quite a bit lately, and believe it has undergone a change for the better. It is a couple blocks from the house, is generally very clean with gorgeous flower beds maintained by the friends of Jury Commons. The playground is tiny, only good for tots, not kids. It used to be pretty sketchy, never particularly threatening but sometimes unpleasant with the occasional junkie or creep. Sometimes there still is. Ah, San Francisco.

Big news: Ruth is entirely weaned. The first night, tears. The second night, tears. The third night, no tears. Even with the tears, bedtime each night only took an additional ten minutes. Once again, she has proved that worries about babies are often only in the gulag of her parent's imaginations.

CAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, FREE!

It is free fall days at the California Academy of Sciences . Look up your zip code and save some lunch money while your tot freaks out at the fish. Just for the aquariums alone it is well worth the trip, but upstairs there is also a play area where they can build and smash blocks, take apart puzzles, and, if you are lucky and the Academy has a volunteer that day, they can play in the water. When you have had your fill, go a block down to Yerba Buena gardens, have a picnic, ride the carousel, sit down on the magic bench and watch the skeleton man on top of the world stand and sit for you. You'll know it when you see it.

Big heads up from Ruth: don't sit your precious baby girl on one of the chairs in front of Zeum because the back slats are too high and she will fall right out on her head.