Digital Cartooning Workshops in San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–Digital Cartooning Workshops on Saturday, December 4th and 11th, a partnership between Zeum & Launchpad Toys, an educational media startup, will include an afternoon of high-tech storytelling with Toontastic.

During the workshop, our young visitors can create their very own cartoons featuring the soon-to-be released software for the iPad. The workshops will be facilitated by the creators of Toontastic, who will lead youth and families through digital animation, storytelling, and the magic behind game development.

Toontastic Blends Digital Puppetry with Storytelling to Encourage Creative Learning through Play

Toontastic inspires the artist and writer in every child while teaching key storytelling principles that help to promote Creativity at a young age. Toontastic’s drawing tools help to bring kids’ wildest ideas to life alongside virtual playsets chock full of pirates, princesses, far away galaxies, and many other characters and settings that spark the imagination. Cartoons can even be shared online via ToonTube, Toontastic’s Global Storytelling Network for Kids, by Kids.

Time: One-hour long workshops on Sat., Dec. 4th (12pm-4pm) and Sat., Dec. 11th (12pm-4pm)
Age: 5 and Up. Sign-up: Space is limited, so please RSVP at jwdaniels@zeum.org

San Francisco Beer with Food – Perfect Baseball Fan Meal

San Francisco, CA—San Francisco Giants fans are purchasing more brews than wine, and though they don’t need tips on how to drink, here’s some beer news & advice from San Francisco beer experts.

According to the Brewer’s Association, for beer tasting, the glass style is important to tasting beer – certain CO2 levels would be enhanced by the shape of the glass, which encourages a thick, creamy foam and accentuates a beer’s aroma. It also helps the taste if the glass is spotlessly clean and served in small portions.

As far as beer as an ingredient to foods – it’s strictly added for flavor, not as a binding agent. It’s not a new concept  — Julia Child recommended adding beer to her recipe for French Onion soup. Gordon Biersch adds it to their barbeque sauce and salad dressing. The Brewers Association advises that in general, low-bitterness beers are best for cooking. It recommends the following:
· Beer makes a great quick sauce for sautéed or roasted items (but take care in not reducing the beer since it will become excessively bitter).
·  Although mussels steamed in wheat beer is a classic, other steaming suggestions include steaming or poaching meat, poultry or shellfish in other delicate, lightly-hopped brews.
· Strong, rich beers may be substituted for other liquids in cakes or other pastries.

San Francisco is home to several breweries where visitors can sample fresh ales and lagers from an extensive variety. And after the baseball games have ended and football is in full swing, the Brewers Guild hosts San Francisco Beer Week in February with special tastings and events. sfbeerweek.org

Some local San Francisco breweries include:

21st Amendment Brewery Café
563 Second St.
415-369-0900
21st-amendment.com

Anchor Brewing Company
1705 Mariposa St.
415-863-8350
anchorbrewing.com
(Public tours are available)

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Two Harrison St.
415-243-8246
gordonbiersch.com

ThirstyBear Brewing Company and Spanish Cuisine
661 Howard St.
415-974-0905
thirstybear.com