Children’s Fairyland is America’s first storybook theme park. Ever since we opened in 1950, we’ve been a magical place for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
FAIRY WINTERLAND: YOUR BEST PHOTOS
One of the things we love to do here at Fairyland is to see and listen to your memories. We rounded up the best of your photos from Fairy Winterland. Thanks for sharing and we hope to see you in the park soon!
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
A LETTER TO YOU
Dear Fairyland Friends,
At this time of the year our thoughts naturally turn to family, friends, and gratitude. And so I’m writing to you, friends of the Fairyland family for whom we are very grateful—to ask you to make a year-end donation to Children’s Fairyland.
For thirteen years I have had the privilege of leading this one-of-a kind community resource. It warms my heart to see the extent to which Fairyland remains a beloved treasure for so many. It was especially evident during the celebration of our 65th birthday, when families across generations shared their connection to Fairyland with stories, photos, and gifts.
It’s evident every day Fairyland is open and enjoyed by children and families of all backgrounds. We are stronger today because of the dedication of donors, members, staff, board, and partners. As stewards of Fairyland we can all take pride in the joy we give. It’s a sentiment beautifully expressed by the leader of Brighter Beginning’s parent and baby program:
We can celebrate what we’ve accomplished with your support. Last fiscal year we served:
• 212,065 park visitors, including...
o 16,069 free or subsidized admissions, including...
We can celebrate the “rocks and gems” installed in the Jolly Trolly Tunnel, the restoration of our Carousel, a new barn for our dwarf dairy goats, and the constant and ongoing upgrades our staff and volunteers undertake to keep the magic of Fairyland alive: the gardens, the sets and rides, the new mural in the Japanese Tea Garden, the Happy Dragon’s roving eyes.
We can celebrate innovative partnerships, the expansion of our educational programs, the commitment to affordability, and the 100 families who received free memberships this year. We can celebrate Fairyland’s contribution to early literacy and school readiness, so important for the lifelong success of our youngest kids.
And we can celebrate the opportunity to do more. Join me, please! All contributions will be gratefully received.
Here’s how we can put your donation to good use:
$ 123 helps provide a free Fairyland membership for a family with limited means
$ 260 helps fund one summer camp scholarship
$ 495 helps pay for chartered bus transportation to Fairyland for 80 children and chaperones
$1,250 helps our 24 year-old alpaca receive care at UC Davis when needed
$5,000 helps produce a professional dance performance for 450 OUSD 2nd graders
Your gift is the key that unlocks the magic of Fairyland now and for generations.
Thank you for choosing Fairyland for your charitable support!
Sincerely,
C.J. Hirschfield
Executive Director
P.S. Do you have someone on your gift list who “has it all”? Consider a gift to Fairyland in that person’s name. We’ll send a holiday card acknowledging your donation in their honor.
P.P.S. You can submit your donation in the enclosed envelope or online at www.fairyland.org
At this time of the year our thoughts naturally turn to family, friends, and gratitude. And so I’m writing to you, friends of the Fairyland family for whom we are very grateful—to ask you to make a year-end donation to Children’s Fairyland.
For thirteen years I have had the privilege of leading this one-of-a kind community resource. It warms my heart to see the extent to which Fairyland remains a beloved treasure for so many. It was especially evident during the celebration of our 65th birthday, when families across generations shared their connection to Fairyland with stories, photos, and gifts.
It’s evident every day Fairyland is open and enjoyed by children and families of all backgrounds. We are stronger today because of the dedication of donors, members, staff, board, and partners. As stewards of Fairyland we can all take pride in the joy we give. It’s a sentiment beautifully expressed by the leader of Brighter Beginning’s parent and baby program:
“We would like to thank you for giving our clients a memorable experience. Our clients have gone through many hardships in their lives and visiting such a happy place with their children has given them a sense of hope and optimism. Thanks for putting a smile on their faces.”
We can celebrate what we’ve accomplished with your support. Last fiscal year we served:
• 212,065 park visitors, including...
o 16,069 free or subsidized admissions, including...
- 2,071 guests for 2014 Oakland Head Start day, and an additional
- 1,789 attendees for the local relaunch of the Clinton Foundation’s Talk Read Sing campaign.
We can celebrate the “rocks and gems” installed in the Jolly Trolly Tunnel, the restoration of our Carousel, a new barn for our dwarf dairy goats, and the constant and ongoing upgrades our staff and volunteers undertake to keep the magic of Fairyland alive: the gardens, the sets and rides, the new mural in the Japanese Tea Garden, the Happy Dragon’s roving eyes.
We can celebrate innovative partnerships, the expansion of our educational programs, the commitment to affordability, and the 100 families who received free memberships this year. We can celebrate Fairyland’s contribution to early literacy and school readiness, so important for the lifelong success of our youngest kids.
And we can celebrate the opportunity to do more. Join me, please! All contributions will be gratefully received.
Here’s how we can put your donation to good use:
$ 123 helps provide a free Fairyland membership for a family with limited means
$ 260 helps fund one summer camp scholarship
$ 495 helps pay for chartered bus transportation to Fairyland for 80 children and chaperones
$1,250 helps our 24 year-old alpaca receive care at UC Davis when needed
$5,000 helps produce a professional dance performance for 450 OUSD 2nd graders
Your gift is the key that unlocks the magic of Fairyland now and for generations.
Thank you for choosing Fairyland for your charitable support!
Sincerely,
C.J. Hirschfield
Executive Director
P.S. Do you have someone on your gift list who “has it all”? Consider a gift to Fairyland in that person’s name. We’ll send a holiday card acknowledging your donation in their honor.
P.P.S. You can submit your donation in the enclosed envelope or online at www.fairyland.org
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
ALL HAIL THE PUPPET!
Last
week, a great injustice was set right. After 17 years, the National Toy Hall of
Fame in Rochester, NY, finally inducted ... the puppet.
The
two other inductees this year were the game Twister and the water-blasting Super
Soaker. Brand-name finalists that didn’t make the cut included American Girl
Dolls, Battleship, Jenga, PLAYMOBIL, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Wiffle
Ball; generic toys that were passed over included the coloring book, the
scooter and the top.
As
Children’s Fairyland prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of
our historic puppet theater—the longest running in the nation—we couldn’t be
happier that puppets were finally honored. But we are scratching our heads as
to why this recognition took so long.
Puppets
have been used for thousands of years and in nearly every culture. From the
telling of folktales to the performance of religious morality plays, from
political satire to vaudeville, puppets made of every type of material have
been ubiquitous. More recently, and closer to home, a teenage Frank Oz was an
apprentice in Fairyland’s puppet theater; his later work with the Muppets and
as Yoda in the “Star Wars” movies helped catapult puppetry to popular culture
on television, in movies and on the stage.
At Fairyland
we have seen firsthand the magical effect puppets have on kids, both as
performing objects and as toys of individual children. Our puppet shows
captivate even the youngest audience members; they’re fascinated by the figures
that are at both real and not real. In kids’ own hands, puppets allow children to
create imaginary voices, plots and purpose.
To me, the
best thing about hand puppets for kids is that the play is open-ended: It helps
children develop coordination and manual dexterity, and the puppets become
snuggly friends as well.
We’re so
lucky to have the makers of the most innovative and engaging specialty puppets in the world
right next door, in Emeryville. Since 1976, Folkmanis’s nature-themed puppets
have won nearly every child-development, kid-tested and industry award. Right
now, in our gift store, we carry the Folkmanis octopus, a little eagle, a baby
sea otter, a zebra, a little porcupine, a honeybee and a screech owl.
Fairyland’s master puppeteer, Randal Metz, has observed the
power of puppets over his 46-year stint at our park. Randal once saw a young
girl who’d been terrified by dogs lose her fear after spending time with one of
our friendly dog puppets. Last month, another girl wanted to come backstage to
see, up close, a puppet that represented death. She and her father talked
quietly about what death means. We’ve also seen many examples of autistic kids
who are inspired by puppets to become more verbal.
Of course Randal is pleased about the puppet’s belated induction
into the Toy Hall of Fame. “They’re toys—but come to life,” he says. There was
only one time Randal adamantly refused to bring puppets to life: when a company
wanted to hire him to do a special puppet show to be recorded and shown to
employees who were being fired. Apparently there are a few places puppets
shouldn’t go.
To
see the complete list of Toy Hall of Fame inductees, including Fairyland
favorites bubbles, blanket, stick, ball and cardboard box, go to www.toyhalloffame.org/toys.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry.
C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions
and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the
Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column
for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty
of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from
Stanford University.
Friday, October 30, 2015
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND SPRINKLES STARDUST OVER LITTLE CHILDREN
Over the 13 years I’ve run Children’s Fairyland, hundreds of adults have said it was their grandparents who brought them to the park when they were young. The tradition continues, and it’s not hard to understand why: We provide a safe, sweet place that invites intergenerational interaction. At Fairyland, the child is the leader of imagination-driven adventures, with no electronics or commercial influences to stand in the way of talking, reading and singing—three activities that have been proven to dramatically improve the chances of success of our kids.
During the holiday season, when so many grandparents visit family in the Bay Area, we delight in seeing multiple generations of Fairyland fans.
So due to this we decided to create Grandparents’ Week: the day after Christmas through Dec. 30. By welcoming grandparents with free admission, we hoped to embody the essence of the holiday season—families connecting and making lasting memories.
Grandparents’ Week is an unqualified hit with over 5,000 family members joined us last year.
At Fairyland we see the positive influence of grandparents every day; there are an increasing number of children in our community who live with their grandparents, or being raised by grandparents. But even if grandparents don’t live with their grandchildren, they nonetheless support parents by providing parenting tips, affordable childcare, much-needed breaks and more.
For children who are in high-risk situations caused by poverty or trauma, grandparents can really make a difference in helping form a child’s sense of normal relationships.
Grandparents, we love you. Come grab your grandchild and visit Fairyland. Sprinkle your special brand of stardust …and, while you’re at it, buy the kids some cotton candy and a noisy toy; that’s also part of the gig.
Fairyland’s Grandparents’ Week is Dec. 26 through 30; 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Free for grandparents! During Grandparents Week, in partnership with ScholarShare, go tohttp://www.fairyland.org for the chance to win $500 towards a ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan account!
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
KREEPIE LIVES ON
Next
year, Fairyland’s historic puppet theater will celebrate its 60th anniversary
with a number of wonderful programming firsts. We’ll be presenting a show
created by master puppeteer Frank Oz (famous as the voice of Miss Piggy and
Yoda) that was written when he was a teen. We’ll also debut a new version of “Puff
the Magic Dragon.”
One
first has special significance for us. It’s the first show in our history to
have been created by a puppeteer working outside Fairyland.
The
show’s creator (and narrated voice) is well-known to Bay Area audiences: Nick
Barone, who died last December, at 47, of lung cancer. Nick had performed the
sweet and funny “Tricks & Treats” puppet variety show at our park over the
years during our Halloween Jack o’Lantern Jamboree, and guests of all ages
loved it. The show featured Nick’s signature character: Kreepie the Cat, a
feline who tries to control everything and everybody.
 |
| Nick Barone |
Nick
created eight shows, but this is the only one that will continue to be
performed. “I just can’t see anyone else doing it,” Nick’s widow Rose told me.
The couple used to wander around Fairyland, she said, appreciating its rich history
and lack of cynicism. “And the theater is kind of a puppet temple,” she said.
Nick
designed his first puppet when he was 8. His grandmother stuffed it for him,
and Bob the Dog was born. Over the years Nick earned his living in Hollywood as
a scene painter, but he decided he didn’t much like working for other people.
He and Rose met at a puppet conference in San Diego in 1996, when she was a web
developer interested in using puppets to teach kids about online safety and
security. “It turned out to be a festival of love,” she said.
 |
| Kreepie Cat |
The
two of them eventually moved to San Jose, where Nick earned a great living performing
at libraries, schools, country clubs, parks and private parties. He was even
recognized occasionally on the street by his fans.
Nick
loved hanging out with other puppeteers, which is how he came to meet
Fairyland’s master puppeteer, Randal Metz, at a gathering of the Bay Area
Puppet Guild in the 1990s. “He was Mr. Rogers with a sense of humor,” said
Randal, who added that Nick was always generous in helping his friends out. “He
would share ideas and talk through your problems. He was that type of guy.”
Randal
recognized just how special Nick’s shows were. “Nick had a childlike innocence.
I mean, this is a man who had a whole room of Legos.” Nick’s shows resonated
with kids, Randal observed: The strange-looking creatures were never scary, but
they sure were funny. According to Rose, Nick was inspired by Bugs Bunny’s
ability to entertain both kids and adults—entertainment that can be enjoyed by
the whole family.
It
will definitely feel strange to have someone else perform the show that was
Nick through and through. We’ll hear his original music and his voice – actually
over a dozen voices that he created – on the soundtrack, and see the Muppet-style
puppets and delightful monsters that have given so many people such joy. And,
of course, Kreepie the Cat will live on at Fairyland and delight future
generations of kids.
“Many
puppeteers die, and their work is gone,” said Randal. But Nick influenced a
generation or more of puppeteers through his workshops on building puppets,
creating mouth mechanisms, using fabrics inventively.
Randal
speaks for all of us when he says he feels honored that Nick’s family felt
comfortable enough with Fairyland to entrust us with Nick’s legacy show. We’re
proud to include it as part of our theater’s 60th celebration next
year.
By
the way, although the cat is named Kreepie, Rose said the puppet’s is far from
creepy: the show is all about characters learning how to care about each other.
As
for the performing troupe of puppets we’ll be welcoming soon, Rose said: “We
know they’ll be in very good hands.”
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television
industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the
California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of
Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J.
writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves
to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film
and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
SEEING THE UNSEEN
Hayok Kay is one of three
people featured in a powerful and surprisingly inspirational new documentary
about an unusual subject: the people who earn their living by recycling trash
and selling it at Alliance Metals in West Oakland.
“Dogtown Redemption” had its
world premiere last week at the Mill Valley Film Festival. For Iranian-born producer
and co-director Amir Soltani, the film’s debut is bittersweet. While he admits
to feeling exuberance and relief after working on the project for eight years,
his elation is tempered by two recent events.
The first is the recent
tragic death of Hayok Kay. The daughter of a prominent Korean-American family,
“Miss Kay” was a feisty drummer in the 1980s post-punk band Polkacide. In the
film, she struggles with mental health issues, but her humanity, heart, and
tenacity come through.
Then, on Aug. 18, she was beaten
to death by an unknown assailant as she slept on a sidewalk in Emeryville. She
was 61.
The second event also
occurred recently. After years of fighting a lawsuit by the Oakland City
Attorney’s office for alleged “nuisance activity,” Alliance Metals has
announced that it will be closing next August.
Amir wonders about the
future of the estimated 500 to 1,000 people who rely on Alliance for their
financial survival. These people are plagued by addiction, mental health
issues, homelessness and poverty. But “Dogtown Redemption” makes you care about
them. It celebrates the strength and smarts of the people we regularly see
pushing and pulling carts through our city.
“The recycling center is also a community center, not a cabal of evil,” says Amir, calling Alliance “an ATM for poor people.”
That’s one perspective. Another
is reflected in a recent press release from Oakland’s city attorney: “Neighbors say Alliance accepts stolen metal, encouraging theft
of fences, construction materials and other items in the area, and that the
thieves use the money they get from Alliance to buy drugs in the park across
the street. Blight and trash have been constant problems.”
Amir, who moved
to Oakland in 2005, says he knows what trauma and displacement are about. “The
truth is, we have a refugee crisis in America—we call it homelessness.” He has
worked in Afghanistan and in other developing nations where poverty is the
norm. “In America, poverty is brutal, and those in poverty are criminalized and
stigmatized.”
The other
recyclers featured in the film are Landon Goodwin, a former minister and addict;
and Jason Witt, who battles drug addiction. By the end of the film, each has
taken steps to re-connect with what he’d lost. For Landon, the lost connection
is God; for Jason, it’s martial arts. I was rooting for both of them as the
film ended.
To make “Dogtown
Redemption,” Amir raised more than $56,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. Now
he’s talking with a distribution company to bring the film to a national
audience. In addition, he’s received a grant to screen the film locally, for
the purpose of outreach and engagement. He remains positive about finding
solutions to the challenge of Oakland’s poorest residents.
“There’s a goodness
in America that’s getting lost,” he says. “We want quick solutions, but a lot
of people are getting crushed and trampled. We have a failure of imagination,
love and leadership.”
Oakland’s unofficial
recyclers block the street with 100 pounds of trash when we’re trying to get
somewhere fast; they make noise at 5 a.m. as they go through our garbage; they
steal shopping carts. Some do drugs; others use our streets as bathrooms. They
may not have jobs (and there are a lot of reasons for that), but they work
incredibly hard. Some city officials are trying to identify another site for a
recycling center; there are sure to be those who will object.
As this issue
plays itself out in our community over the coming months, I hope that as many
people as possible will have the opportunity to see “Dogtown Redemption.” Once
we have the opportunity to see the unseen, we’re changed.
“Dogtown
Redemption” will be screened a second time Oct. 15 as part of the Mill Valley
Film Festival.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television
industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the
California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of
Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J.
writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves
to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film
and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
TIPS FOR RAISING BOOK LOVERS
Does your child like reading the same book over and over?
What can you read besides books?
Don't have a book with you?
- They understand it better each time, including the plot, vocabulary, and humor
- They become more confident and enthusiastic about books and interested in the idea of reading
- Let them fill in parts they know-- Make mistakes on purpose for them to catch or encourage them to say the lines they remember
What can you read besides books?
- Street signs and street names while on the bus
- Boxes or cans of food in the kitchen
- Small signs in the grocery store, like for apples
Don't have a book with you?
- Make up stories FOR your child -- You can change characters or use the same ones every time
- Make up stories WITH your child -- Ask them what happens next or how a character should feel
- Tell your child tales of your life -- "When I was your age..."
Toddler Storytime at Fairyland is Fridays at 10:30am and 3:00pm -
for the before and after nap crowds.
- Books specially selected for toddlers
- Fun and lively songs
- Body movement and finger-play
- Site outside comfortably on our Emerald City Stage
- A focused 20 minutes of literacy complements playing at Fairyland to stimulate your child's development
Want to know more about Toddler Storytime? Ask for Shana, the Education Director!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
FAIRYLAND AND FRANK OZ
I
was out of the country for the Sept. 12 broadcast of one of my favorite shows,
“Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me!”, the syndicated news-quiz show on NPR. But it
didn’t take long for a number of my friends to tell me about it as soon as I
got home.
The
special guest that day was Frank Oz, the movie director and co-founder of the
Muppets. Before he faced a battery of
questions from radio host Peter Sagal, Frank acknowledged that he had gotten
his start as a teenage apprentice at Children’s Fairyland’s puppet theater.
 |
Director/Muppeteer Frank Oz apprenticed at Children’s
Fairyland as a teen; shown here with the park’s longtime puppetmaster Lewis
Mahlmann at the park’s 20th birthday celebration in 1970.
|
It’s
true: The voice of Bert, Miss Piggy and Yoda (and many other characters) does
have a history at our park. And next year we’re presenting one of the shows he
wrote as a teen.
In
his introduction, Peter Sagal said that when he’s in Bay Area he enjoys running
in “this park in Oakland, and passing this little amusement park in Lake
Merritt…”
“Children’s
Fairyland!” Oz interjected. He went on to say that he worked at Fairyland when
he was about 14 years old, apprenticing and doing three shows a day. He created
the Muppets with Jim Henson when he was 19.
We
know the story well.
Frank
was the son of puppeteers Mike and Frances Oznowicz, who married in Belgium and
moved to Oakland in 1950. As a young boy, Frank performed shows with his
parents at Yosemite National Park and all around the Bay Area. Given
Fairyland’s puppet theater’s history as the longest running in America, it was
only a matter of time before the Oznowicz family connected with the park.
Fairyland’s
master puppeteer and resident historian Randal Metz tells us that Mike and
Frances supported the theater on many levels: doing voices, looking over
scripts, and -- in Frances’s case --
designing fabulous costumes for the puppets, many of which are still in use.
While
he was still enrolled at Oakland Tech, Frank made the acquaintance of Jerry
Juhl, who was six years older than he, and together they ran the well-respected
Vagabond Puppets. (It operated under the auspices of Oakland’s Park and Rec
Department and was based in what is now Studio One.) Jim Henson first saw the
two teens perform at a Puppeteers of America meeting in Monterey County. “I
want these guys!” said Henson, according to Randal Metz’s account.
Frank’s
parents insisted he finish high school, but Jerry joined the Muppets in 1963 as
a writer/producer. He played a key role in the success of the Muppets’ television
and film projects.
It
wasn’t long before Frank followed – shortening his last name to “Oz” along the
way -- and the rest is television and film history. But Frank never forgot the
little park that gave him his start: he returned in 1970 for Fairyland’s 20th
birthday—and he brought Cookie Monster and Bert. Thousands of kids turned out
for the reunion.
We
haven’t heard from Frank in more than 20 years. We hope he’ll consider visiting
next year when we produce a show he wrote way back in his Vagabond Puppet days.
It’s the tale of a reluctant dragon, and it’s called “The Dragon Who
Wasn’t.” Randal is reworking the script,
building the puppets and recording the soundtrack. One thing won’t change: the
humor that has always been Frank Oz’s trademark.
We
heard some of that wit on the “Wait Wait” broadcast, when Frank recalled being scolded
for on Cookie Monster’s syntax—“me do this, me do that.” It could be hurt the
kids’ grammar, some people warned.
His
response: “You know, I don't think somebody's going to grow up [to become] a
lawyer and say, ‘Me want to represent you’.”
I
did lift an eyebrow when Frank recalled being “a sick kid ... a puppeteer. I was very weird.”
We
won’t repeat that to young Will, an 11-year-old puppeteer-in-training who’s
been hanging out with Randal at our theater for a few years now, building
puppets and learning other aspects of the craft.
It’s
like Yoda said: Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.
Me
believe that.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has served for 13 years as Executive
Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall
operation the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as
an executive in the cable television industry. C.J. is former president
and current board member of the California Attractions and Parks Association,
and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown
Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column for the Piedmont
Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty of her city and
its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford
University.
Friday, October 2, 2015
WORKING TO LIVE
Earlier
this year, Fairyland – and all of Oakland – lost one of our brightest lights.
Susie Elkind had worked tirelessly and cheerfully to make her community a
better place, and her life was cut much too short. She didn’t ask for attention
or credit, so her name may be unfamiliar to you. But her life just may inspire
you.
I knew many of Susie’s family members decades
before I ever met Susie herself. My ex-husband studied drama with her father at San Francisco State in the 1960s. I
worked for Susie’s aunt on a community newspaper in the 1980s. I met Susie’s sister
and nieces and nephews in the 1990s through a mothers’ group organized by a mutual
friend.
I finally met Susie at Oakland Rotary. I’m a
member; Susie ran the office. Every Thursday I looked forward to seeing Susie’s
warm smile and viewing new photos of her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. And for years, every Tuesday morning Susie volunteered
in Fairyland’s gardens, where she was the uncontested queen of deadheading roses.
But here’s the thing: Susie knew a million people
from a million different worlds, so it had been only a matter of time before we
connected. Sadly, it was much too short a time before we
disconnected: On May 22 of this year, Susie died, peacefully, at her home.
In August, Fairyland was honored to host a
celebration of Susie’s life. The service was sweet, loving and often humorous,
and it gave legions of friends and family members a chance to learn more about
this unassuming lady who truly worked to live, and not the other way around.
Susie held a variety of interesting part-time jobs—among
her many skills, she was a stellar copyeditor—so that she could seek out
adventures both locally and abroad. Here at home, I frequently ran into Susie
at the Berkeley Rep and the Aurora, where she was a volunteer usher. She regularly
attended jazz, opera and dance performances. Trips to New York and London for
arts events, and jaunts to more exotic destinations, seemed to charge her
batteries. She was a tap dancer and a diehard Giants fan.
Susie’s obituary observed that she had “stitched together a life full of ‘small-world’
stories,” and many of them were shared that night. Susie’s sister, local writer Risa Nye, shared
“Susie moments,” suggesting that if we experience them, we should take notice
and remember Susie. I
agree, and pass along some favorites.
You’re
experiencing a “Susie moment...”
When you have the opportunity to dance, and you dance.
When you describe what you had for lunch or dinner – using your
hands.
When you pack more events into a weekend than seems possible,
especially if you urge your friends to come along.
When you are the first to arrive at the party and the last to
leave -- after helping with both setup and cleanup,
When you step up and cut the wedding cake, because no one else
knows how to.
When you root for the home team, no matter what, year after year.
When you send a birthday card via snail mail.
When you come to stay as a house guest and take over the kitchen
to make several meals that are enjoyed by all.
When Fairyland horticulturalist Jackie Salas and I visited Susie
shortly before she died, we told her that we wanted to plant a special rose for
her at Fairyland. She thought a while about which rose was her favorite, and
finally chose “Double Delight,” a fragrant and showy award winner. As soon as
the weather cools down, we’ll plant a “Double Delight” in the middle of our bed
in front of our Chapel of Peace.
Appreciating the beauty of a rose and taking the time to smell
it—that’s definitely a Susie moment.
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry.
C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions
and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the
Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column
for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty
of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from
Stanford University.
Friday, September 18, 2015
HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY TO US!
Originally Published September 9, 2015 in the Piedmont Post
Once upon a time, a group of kind villagers bestowed a magical gift on the children of their community. They called it Children’s Fairyland.
Now, on the occasion of our 65th birthday, please allow me to share with you – our special fairy godmothers and godfathers over the years – some of my musings, based on my 13 years at the helm of this very special place.
• On origins
World War II had ended. Baby Boomers were being born. Oakland was thriving. Members of the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club recognized the need in Oakland for a safe, imagination-driven environment where children could create, imagine, play and learn.
The nation’s very first storybook theme park opened on September 2, 1950.
• On longevity
After Fairyland’s successful debut, hundreds of copycat parks opened. But only a handful remain. Over the years, Fairyland itself experienced hard times. The City of Oakland ran the park until the early 1990s, when it no longer could afford to do so.
Again, it was the community that came up with the idea of creating a dynamic public/private partnership that would be run by a nonprofit organization.
Thanks to this partnership, we have benefited from bond measures and received funding from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. The new funding enabled massive restoration, renovations, and the creation of new park features that build on our traditions.
In short, the park returned to its former glory – and beyond – thanks to you!
• On relevancy
To remain a vital part of our community, we’ve also had to break some traditions. Many families in our community – the ones who would most benefit from a language-rich environment – could not afford even our modest admission cost. So we actively sought, and found, ways to subsidize their visits. Now we welcome over 16,000 family members each year at no or low cost. We also partner with150+ community groups to support our youngest and most vulnerable kids and to nurture their imaginations and their love of books and learning.
Head Start and Transitional Kindergarten Days, a Junior Animal Caregiver Program for foster kids, horticultural therapy for autistic kids – these are just some of the ways we connect with our community. Many of our school programs are now expanded, with content aligned to science standards.
• On what will never change
Over the last 65 years, we have never lost sight of who we are. We remain a non-commercial, low-tech, child-centered place of simple pleasures and beauty for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn: a place where families can engage and bond.
Of course, our renowned puppet theatre and children’s-theatre program will always be part of the fabric of Fairyland, welcoming new generations to the joys of live performance!
• On the next 65 years…
We are enthusiastic about Fairyland’s future. We want to expand on existing partnerships and develop new ones. We want to maintain and increase contributed revenue in order to stay affordable and free for those in need. And because we’re showing our age a bit, we want to accomplish some much-needed facility improvements with lasting impact.
What a joy it’s been for me to wear the big wings at Fairyland, and how proud I am to have had the pleasure of working with you – our staunchest supporters – over the years. Thank you for caring so much about our youngest kids. Our mission is in good hands because of you!.
Before we blow out the candles on our 65th, consider what you wish for Fairyland, and please, give a birthday gift that will help it come true. You’re the reason we’ve never lost hope of a happily ever after.
To make a donation, please visit fairyland.org. We appreciate every contribution, and we have some wonderful ways to acknowledge our thanks!
P.S. We appreciate donations of any amount!
Donor gifts of $65+ will be acknowledged on the giant birthday cake on display in the center of Fairyland during the month of September.
Donors of $650+ will receive one of our limited-edition, handmade sapphire metal commemorative keys, numbered 2 through 65 (while supplies last). Note: because of an extra coating they do not activate our Storybook Boxes.
The first donor of $6,500 or more will receive commemorative key number ONE!
Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland, America’s first storybook theme park, will celebrate its 65th birthday this month.
Happy 65th Birthday to Us!
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Once upon a time, a group of kind villagers bestowed a magical gift on the children of their community. They called it Children’s Fairyland.
Now, on the occasion of our 65th birthday, please allow me to share with you – our special fairy godmothers and godfathers over the years – some of my musings, based on my 13 years at the helm of this very special place.
• On origins
World War II had ended. Baby Boomers were being born. Oakland was thriving. Members of the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club recognized the need in Oakland for a safe, imagination-driven environment where children could create, imagine, play and learn.
The nation’s very first storybook theme park opened on September 2, 1950.
• On longevity
After Fairyland’s successful debut, hundreds of copycat parks opened. But only a handful remain. Over the years, Fairyland itself experienced hard times. The City of Oakland ran the park until the early 1990s, when it no longer could afford to do so.
Again, it was the community that came up with the idea of creating a dynamic public/private partnership that would be run by a nonprofit organization.
Thanks to this partnership, we have benefited from bond measures and received funding from foundations, corporations, and individual donors. The new funding enabled massive restoration, renovations, and the creation of new park features that build on our traditions.
In short, the park returned to its former glory – and beyond – thanks to you!
• On relevancy
To remain a vital part of our community, we’ve also had to break some traditions. Many families in our community – the ones who would most benefit from a language-rich environment – could not afford even our modest admission cost. So we actively sought, and found, ways to subsidize their visits. Now we welcome over 16,000 family members each year at no or low cost. We also partner with150+ community groups to support our youngest and most vulnerable kids and to nurture their imaginations and their love of books and learning.
Head Start and Transitional Kindergarten Days, a Junior Animal Caregiver Program for foster kids, horticultural therapy for autistic kids – these are just some of the ways we connect with our community. Many of our school programs are now expanded, with content aligned to science standards.
• On what will never change
Over the last 65 years, we have never lost sight of who we are. We remain a non-commercial, low-tech, child-centered place of simple pleasures and beauty for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn: a place where families can engage and bond.
Of course, our renowned puppet theatre and children’s-theatre program will always be part of the fabric of Fairyland, welcoming new generations to the joys of live performance!
• On the next 65 years…
We are enthusiastic about Fairyland’s future. We want to expand on existing partnerships and develop new ones. We want to maintain and increase contributed revenue in order to stay affordable and free for those in need. And because we’re showing our age a bit, we want to accomplish some much-needed facility improvements with lasting impact.
What a joy it’s been for me to wear the big wings at Fairyland, and how proud I am to have had the pleasure of working with you – our staunchest supporters – over the years. Thank you for caring so much about our youngest kids. Our mission is in good hands because of you!.
Before we blow out the candles on our 65th, consider what you wish for Fairyland, and please, give a birthday gift that will help it come true. You’re the reason we’ve never lost hope of a happily ever after.
To make a donation, please visit fairyland.org. We appreciate every contribution, and we have some wonderful ways to acknowledge our thanks!
P.S. We appreciate donations of any amount!
Donor gifts of $65+ will be acknowledged on the giant birthday cake on display in the center of Fairyland during the month of September.
Donors of $650+ will receive one of our limited-edition, handmade sapphire metal commemorative keys, numbered 2 through 65 (while supplies last). Note: because of an extra coating they do not activate our Storybook Boxes.
The first donor of $6,500 or more will receive commemorative key number ONE!
Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland, America’s first storybook theme park, will celebrate its 65th birthday this month.
Happy 65th Birthday to Us!
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J. writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
DRAWING TOGETHER
At Children’s Fairyland, we
fire up the imaginations of little ones every day. Occasionally, though, we’re
reminded that we can serve as a muse for adults as well.
Last week, after hours, we
opened our fairy gates to half a dozen delightful members of the Urban
Sketchers San Francisco Bay Area. They’re part of the global Urban Sketchers
organization, whose mission is: “We aim to show the world, one drawing at a
time.”
Here’s
what one of our visitors, Susan Ford, wrote on the group’s blog:
“When I saw The Lucky Dragon framed by that wacky wall and
doorway, I had to sit right down and make a sketch. I always struggle with
perspective accuracy and this colorful, off-kilter entrance was so much more
fun to draw! Lucky Dragon's eyes rotated left and right, left and right. Only
in a quiet Fairyland devoid of children are you aware of how loudly Dragon eyes
squeak as they move.”
And
from Carrie McClish:
“Everything
was, of course, smaller but I can remember how happy a place it is. Especially
for someone about three feet tall. There was Lucky the dragon with his fearless
smile, Willie the whale, the little boot that kids still walk through to enter
this whimsical place. When I came upon a castle, I had to sketch it!”
Other local institutions that
have opened their doors to these local artists include the Oakland Zoo, the Ruth
Bancroft Garden, Berkeley’s Edible Schoolyard and Oakland’s Champions of
Humanity sculpture.
Urban Sketchers Bay Area is part
of a global nonprofit organization that aims to “raise the artistic,
storytelling and educational value of location drawing, promoting its practice
and connecting people around the world who draw on location where they live and
travel.”
The
rules of their game:
- Our drawings tell the story of
our surroundings, the places we live and where we travel.
- Our drawings are a record of
time and place.
- We are truthful to the scenes
we witness.
- We use any kind of media and
cherish our individual styles.
- We support each other and draw
together.
- We share our drawings online.
- We show the world, one drawing
at a time.
Fairyland supports these
wonderful goals, and believes that art can help create community. That’s why
we’ll be holding our third annual “Drawn Together” event on Sept. 25—an
adults-only event where attendees can watch more than 50 of our local artists creating
site-specific artworks. Later in the evening, all of the art will be sold at a single
flat rate, with proceeds going to help keep Fairyland affordable for all, and
free for those most in need.
What we love about the event is
the interaction between the artists and our guests, who roam the park at night,
with food, drinks and music. A spirited contest occurs when more than one guest
fancies a particular piece of art, but the mood is friendly and fun.
Here’s what a Swedish sketcher,
Nina Johansson, said about creating this kind of art:
“Drawing a city isn't
just capturing it on paper, it's really about getting to know it, to feel it,
to make it your own."
For information on how you can
join our local urban sketchers—who welcome beginners with no artistic
background—go to urbansketchers-bayarea.blogspot.com. The group usually gathers
on the first Thursday of each month for a sketch night that’s open to the
public.
To learn more about Fairyland’s
Drawn Together event, and to buy tickets, visit fairyland.org.
-C.J. Hirschfield
-C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield has
served for 13 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is
charged with the overall operation the nation’s first storybook theme park.
Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television
industry. C.J. is former president and current board member of the
California Attractions and Parks Association, and also serves on the boards of
Visit Oakland and the Lake Merritt/Uptown Business Improvement District. C.J.
writes a weekly column for the Piedmont Post and OaklandLocal, where she loves
to showcase the beauty of her city and its people. She holds a degree in Film
and Broadcasting from Stanford University.