Our friends over at Sparky’s Toys (6 Clement Street) were once again generous to us this year, and provided us with a jam-packed gift bag to give away to readers.

For a chance to win, fill out this online form. We’ll pick two winners at random. One will receive a gift certificate for 2 dozen balloons, the other will win the gift bag pictured above – both from Sparky’s Toys.

This is a neighborhood only contest, so you must live within the 94118 or 94121 zip codes in order to win!

Limit one entry per household, and entries are due by 5pm on Thursday, December 20. Good luck and happy holidays from the Richmond Blog and Sparky’s Toys!

Sarah B.

12/21/12: Congratulations to readers Melissa W. and Kira S., the two winners in the contest!

The Richmond District branch library has some interesting workshops coming up this month:

Travel Photography | Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 6pm
Have you ever wondered how the professional photographer gets those amazing National Geographic looking photographs of sunrises and sunsets? Pulitzer Prize-finalist Frederic Larson will discuss the unique techniques he uses to capture award-winning images from around the world, free. Larson has been a photographer for the SF Chronicle for 30 years.

Write Your Will Seminar | Thursday, Aug. 30 at 6pm
Stuart Bronstein, an estate planning and probate lawyer in San Francisco for more than 30 years, will help participants create fully-functional wills. Advanced registration is required so please call 355-5600 to sign up.

Origami | Friday, Aug. 31 at 4pm
Learn the Japanese art of paper folding with Geri Handa, for ages 8 and up.

All workshops are free and take place at the Richmond District branch of the San Francisco Public Library at 351 9th Avenue.

Sarah B.

Hi everyone,

‘Tis the season for giving so we reached into our Richmond District Blog treasure chest to put together some fun items for this year’s giveaway. Like last year, Kookle Toys on Clement contributed a nice gift bag as well.

Here’s what’s in store for our lucky winners:

• A Kookle Toys gift pack including a Blacksmith’s Puzzle, a bag of entertaining squeeze rockets (annoy your relatives!), and other assorted fun toys.
• $50 Amazon gift certificate (our prize for being a CBS Most Valuable Blogger thanks to your votes!)
• A copy of the book “Carville-By-The-Sea”, a great 144-page photo essay on the bohemian settlement that lived in old transit cars out by Ocean Beach in the early 1900s. We’ve got two to give away.
• A Richmond District messenger bag, available from the Western Neighborhoods Project store.

And every winner also receives a Richmond District Blog t-shirt and snazzy, eco-friendly logo pen.

How to enter you ask? Just fill out this form by 5pm on Wednesday, Dec. 21 and we’ll pick five winners at random.

Good luck and Merry Christmas. And as always, thanks for reading the blog!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Louise S., Melissa B., Sharon S., Jamie O. and Jimmy L. for winning one of the prizes!

Sarah B.

Registration begins December 1 for the free weekend winter art workshops at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center for kids age 5 to 12 years. This winter’s courses include:

Saturdays in January with Donna Ozawa
Every Saturday from 1-3pm, artist Donna Ozawa will show students how to create fun artwork using a variety of mediums. Students will learn how to make marble mazes, scribble monsters, portable landscapes and cardboard automata (simple machines).

Saturdays in February with Lyall Harris
Artist Lyall Harris will lead art projects in book making, valentine’s day cards, map making and printmaking. Every Saturday in February from 10am until 12noon.

Fun with Photography Scavenger Hunt | January 15 & February 12
Photographer Jan Nicholas is back with more inventive photo challenges for young shutterbugs. Each day from 1pm until 2:30pm, kids will explore the neighborhood around the RDNC, as well as Mountain Lake Park, as they participate in a photo scavenger hunt.

To register for the free RDNC winter art workshops, download and complete the Multicultural Arts Program application and turn it in at the RDNC offices at 741 30th Avenue, or fax it to 751-5606. You can also register by phone at 751-6600.

There is a limit of two workshops per child, who must be between the ages of 5 and 12 and reside in San Francisco. Registration opens December 1 but spaces fill up fast so get your application in as quickly as you can.

Sarah B.

A tree frog at the Academy of Sciences. Photo by tibchris

This Friday through Sunday, residents living in the 94115, 94118, 94121, and 94129 can get free admission to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

Details on how to get in:

Each visiting adult must show a valid photo ID with proof of residency. The following items or combinations are acceptable: A driver’s license or state ID card; Photo ID plus postmarked envelope, postcard, or magazine label with name and date; Photo ID plus utility bill (gas/electric/cable), bank statement, or letter from a government agency with name and home address (not a P.O. Box). Only residents from the zip codes invited on the designated dates will be admitted free of charge.

Each visiting adult is limited to six children for free entry.

The Academy is open from 9:30am until 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 11am until 5pm on Sunday. If you’ve got an iPhone, don’t forget to download the free Academy Insider app to enhance your visit.

Sarah B.

If you’re looking for some fun activities this weekend, stroll over to Golden Gate Park to check out these events:

Zine Fest | Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 6pm | SF County Fair Building (9th & Lincoln)
It’s the 10th anniversary of this free festival which celebrates small-press publishing, from zines and comics to art books and beyond. The Zine Fest serves as a vital showcase of the diversity, creativity, and ongoing exuberance of the small-press movement. They’ve got exhibitors, workshops (DIY Gadget Cases!), panels – plenty to keep you amused and inspired.

Doin’ It In The Park 2011 | Sunday, 12noon – 6pm | Marx Meadow
Drop in to this free, all ages event to enjoy music from some fly DJ’s, as well as some free BBQ. “Leave the negativity at home. This is a time to celebrate life, love and music with your closest friends and a chance to make new ones.” OK! Marx Meadow is located on John F. Kennedy Drive off Fulton Street between 25th and 30th Avenues.

Sarah B.

This Wednesday, July 20th is National Lollipop Day and See’s is going all out to celebrate.

See’s will give away a gourmet lollipop to every customer who visits any of its 200 stores, which includes our neighborhood store on the corner of Clement Street and 9th Avenue. They’re also offering boxes of their lollipops at reduced prices.

See’s lollipop flavors are cafe latte, butterscotch, chocolate and vanilla. They are also offering a special summer flavor: root beer.

The foodies over at the Sacramento Bee had good things to say about the limited edition lolly: “Not too sweet, but the flavor could be bolder… Very nice, not cloyingly sweet, good root beer flavor, with a touch of creaminess.”

Which flavor will you ask for when you stop in for your free lolly? See’s at 754 Clement is open from 10am until 6pm.

Special thanks to RichmondSFBlog reader Jean for the tip.

Sarah B.

• We caught Gavin Newsom skateboarding at Rochambeau; The Bay Citizen caught him wiping out
• Namu dropped from the latest 38 Essential San Francisco Restaurants list. Halu and Aziza are still on the list.
• Louis’ Restaurant announces that they will reopen on Wednesday, August 3, with plans to be open daily from 6:30am until 9pm. They also have a new website but no new menu posted yet.
• Cuteness in your pocket: Penguins in Your Pocket iPhone app released yesterday from the California Academy of Sciences. The app features live webcams in the Penguin habitat so you can tune into cute no matter where you are.
• A bison in Golden Gate Park is laid to rest. R.I.P Tenny. 6 more are coming to the paddock this year.
• Brain freeze! Free slurpee day at 7-11, next Monday July 11. Get it – free slurpees on 7/11 at 7-11! Ours is on the corner of Geary and 15th Avenue.
• Surf shop owner Bob Wise talks about the surfing legacy of Ocean Beach

A sign at Green Apple Books. Photo by _lmc