Take the kids, or leave them at home. Our picks for May 11–13, 2018.

Spring is here, the weather is (finally) what we feel entitled to in NorCal, and there’s no shortage of things to do on the Peninsula. You just have to know where to look.

Pick of the Week: Sneak into Jasper Ridge

At the top of our list this week is a rare open house (as in—first in a decade) at Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. There’s a sizable list of events and activities for the whole family, including some great hikes along the nearly 1,200-acre nature preserve that’s typically off limits and that many don’t even know about. Highlights of this private paradise: Native American archaeological sites and breathtaking view from atop a dam (but watch out for poison oak).

Check here for our interview with Jasper Ridge Executive Director for info and history on the preserve, as well as info about his event. Also, check out our list of other local permit-only hikes.

Keep the kids busy

Younger kids will dig, literally, the Gamble Garden’s short-and-sweet Nature Hunt this Saturday (11a.m.) and you’ll still have time to check out Open Cockpit Day at the Hiller Aviation Museum (10–2).

For kids of all ages The Stanford Powwow is a wonderfully unique event, it’s free and runs throughout the weekend. The Japantown Immersive—in San Jose on Saturday—will also showcase a dynamic cross section of music, dance and culture.

And don’t forget the “Almost” Mother’s Day Kids Concert in downtown Redwood City on Saturday afternoon.

Get a sitter

Sure, the Sharks are done, but you can still get your fight club fix at SAP this weekend with a big card of matches at Bellator MMA on Saturday, including local boy Matt Aragoni out of Moss Beach! On an extremely-less-violent side of things is Stars on Ice—same venue, next night —featuring some of the best stars of U.S. figure skating.

Los Altos is hosting their Downtown Mother’s Day Wine Walk on Friday evening, beginning at 5p.m., with shopping and vino for you and mom.

Theater. Art. Music. Film.

Don’t sleep on Silicon Valley Open Studios, now in its second week. This weekend’s list of artists is long, eclectic and worthwhile (check out the politically-charged work of the 13 artists featured at Transport Art Studios in Palo Alto). As long as you’re making the rounds, stop in to check out Youth Art, featuring the work of the local students from Palo Alto Unified.

Taylor Swift brings a giant (and likely noise curfew-breaking) stadium show to Levi’s for two nights this weekend; while Northern California indie buzz band Hot Flash Heat Wave plays at Bing Concert Hall on Friday; catch them now before they blow up at Outside Lands in August.

The Computer History Museum is screening California Typewriter, a new documentary about the classic contraption and its many aficionados (including Tom Hanks), with a talk afterwards with director Jeremy Mayer.

And the Hitchcock classics continue at the Stanford Theater (an awesome venue if there ever was one) this weekend with Strangers on a Train and Shadow of a Doubt.

Get outside

The Filipino Food Run at Coyote Point in San Mateo will bring together a few of our favorites things—the outdoors, running and food. The 5K course will feature tasting stations along the way and a Filipino food festival at the finish line. We’ve never thought about pairing silog with jogging, but now it kinda makes sense to us. Speaking of food outdoors … the Downtown Palo Alto Farmer’s Market kicks off for the season on Saturday morning, a perfect chance to take a walk, support local farmers and enjoy some live music.

Learn something new

Looking for a new hobby? Break out of your shell this weekend with Dragon Theatre’s Saturday morning improv classes. In case you didn’t know, knitting is pretty hip these days, and the Woodside Public Library has classes on Saturday for beginning and intermediate-level knitting enthusiasts. If you’re aiming to have a truly unique learning experience this weekend, then hey — why do regular yoga when you can do Yoga with Goats at Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay?

Help your neighbors

Enjoy some fresh air, live music and drinks in the name of a good cause (funds help run the farm’s animal-assisted therapeutic programs) at Jasper Ridge Farm’s 9th Annual Barn Bash this Saturday in Portola Valley. Speaking of drinks in the name of a good cause, Dragon Theatre in Redwood City will host a Casino Club Fundraiser (live music, card games, wine and an auction) at Domenico Winery in San Carlos to support their local theatre productions.

The Museum of American Heritage is hosting Repair Café, a volunteer based workshop with a simple mission: you break it, they’ll fix it (for only the cost of parts, if need be). Volunteer (sign up here) or bring your broken belongings and do your part to minimize your contribution to landfills. Finally, in the name of doing good, Pet Food Express is holding a sled dog adoption fair. If you’ve been considering rescuing a furry friend (or want to learn more) you can check it out here.