You don’t need a docent to guide you through the Atlanta street art scene, which now boasts over 1000 murals (though you could learn a lot on one of these walking tours). Just hop on a bike, a skateboard, or lace up your sneaks to check out artwork that is as inspiring as it is Insta-worthy. And, to celebrate Atlanta’s growing muralist community, the ATL1000 awareness campaign has big things planned, including a mural painting workshop for kids! Keep reading for our favorite murals around town, below.

This Lela Brunet masterpiece stretches out across several walls of a Buckhead parking deck. If you're looking for a vibrant background with "Atlanta" clearly repeated throughout, this is your spot. One thing to note, however, is that each wall is only about 3-feet high. If you're hoping for a massive backdrop, look elsewhere, but this would be a great backdrop for a younger child or crawler to pose in front of. 

Find It: 3259 Roswell Rd. NE

 

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Tiny Doors ATL is an Atlanta-based art project that installs 7-inch door sculptures by artist Karen Anderson Singer in neighborhoods or at institutions. Door #658 (it's 658 times the size of a traditional tiny door) is located on the Eastside Beltline Trail, and is so big that it will make YOU feel tiny!

Find it: At the Edge OTB (behind the giant bull), 670 DeKalb Ave. SE

 

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Known around town as the #heybrowngirlmural, it's painted on the side of Peters Street Station and is a product of the work done by @nikiaphoenix and @blackgirlbeautifuldotcom, with art by @thepainterbae. It was created to remind us all that brown women all over the world are beautiful, and that representation is important.

Find It: At the corner of Trenholm St. SW and Peters St. SW 

 

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Photo by @sovereignrm

This 70-foot mural of the late Rep. John Lewis is located on the east side of the current Renaissance Walk building. Lewis was a politician and civil rights leader who served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district. Located in an area of downtown with much historical significance, you'll be walking in Lewis' footsteps if you go to pay this mural a visit. The Butler Street YMCA building, where civil rights leaders met in the 1960s, is directly south of this mural, and dozens of historical churches and businesses surround it in the Sweet Auburn Historic District

FInd It: 219 Auburn Ave. NE

 

 

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Moms, grab your coffee and head on over to this mural in Castleberry Hill—an historic neighborhood known for its industrial-to-arts vibe—to snap a picture of yourself in your natural environment: wings up. While you're at it, put the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll (every 2nd Friday) on your agenda. You'll visit fascinating and diverse galleries and get a taste of this little corner of Atlanta!

Find It: 217 Walker St. SW

Painted on the side of Atlanta's famous "Disco Kroger" (it used to be a swinging night club called Limelight Disco, where Andy Warhol purportedly hung out in the 80's), this depiction of the building's former glory days by Yoyo Ferro is actually quite glorious, itself. 

Find It: 3330 Piedmont Rd. NE

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Another Castleberry Hill mural, this one pretty much sums it up. And in the family, there couldn't be a better spot than this one to snap a photo of your kiddos getting along. 

Find It: In the vicinity of 261-263 Peters St. 

 

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This is one of two murals in Decatur painted by  @thekillamari for @livingwallsatl as part of the Laura Patricia Calle Grant, which accepts proposals for a public art project that informs and promotes awareness on social equality, feminism, immigrtants' rights, LGBTQ rights, and cultural diversity.  The colors chosen for this mural are inspired by the Pan-Sexual pride flag. 

Find It: Commerce & E. College Ave.

 

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​Lela Brunet is an Atlanta artisit known for depicting contrast between a female form and colorful patterns. This particular mural joins those in @outerspaceproject—a week-long event of art, murals, live music, action sports in the ATL—along the #path400 trail in Buckhead. 

Find It: Old Ivy to Wieuca Rd. spur of Path 400

 

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We love the merry marigolds of this mural that's painted on the side of a shipping container. Find it near the chicken coop area of the Berea Mennonite farm on Bouldercrest in East Atlanta. The small urban church has multiple acres under cultivation and grows over 70 different organic vegetables on the east edge of Atlanta, and sells its food at local farmers’ markets. It also provides a first fruits tithe to the community, distributed through a free clinic. 

Find It: 1088 Bouldercrest Dr. SE

 

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In Grant Park, you'll find this cheerful mural called "Vaso de Flores" by artist Yoyo Ferro @yoyoferro. Big, bright, and bold (also very near The Beacon, in case you're shopping or dining nearby), we could all use a vase of flowers this year. 

Find It: In the vicinity of 1039 Grant St. SE

Located in Buckhead, this mural by Thomas Turner is called "Moon Seeker." It's dedicated to Henry Aaron, legendary MLB right fielder and current SVP of the Atlanta Braves. He was also known as the man boxing legend Muhammad Ali called “The only man I idolize more than myself."

Find It: Just north of 3279 Roswell Rd. NE

 

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Sway, spin and definitely sing along at one of these celebrations of summer! Music festivals all over the Bay are just ramping up so now is a great time to get some of your favorites on the calendar. Bring some bites or buy them on-site, pack the blankets and sunscreen and head out. Let the good vibrations carry you through the warm summer days.

photo: Kidchella/Joel Wade Photography

San Francisco

Union Square Live
Entice the kids to go shopping and then the whole family can boogie down to salsa, swing and more. The people-watching is at its best here, where tourists (wearing shorts) and locals (wearing sweaters) mix. Top off the day with a huge slice of cheesecake.

Date: now through Sept. 26
Time: 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays
Cost: Free

333 Post St.
San Francisco, CA
Onlineunionsquarelive.org

Flower Piano at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
For twelve days this summer, visitors to the SF Botanical Garden have the opportunity to interact with pianos out in nature. Now in its fifth year, this year’s Flower Piano offers new opportunities for the public to play, more performances by professional musicians, special events for families including the new evening-time Flower Piano at Sunset, a community sing-along, free piano lessons and three evenings of Flower Piano at Night, a special after dark event with food trucks and outdoor bars.

Dates: July 11-22, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

1199 9th Ave.
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
Online: sfbg.org/flowerpiano

photo: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
This festival’s green and spacious area just begs for a downtown picnic, whether from your own kitchen or one of the foodie take-out options along the way. Entertainment includes classical and Latin music as well as dance, theater and more. Kids shouldn’t favorites like Caterpillar Puppets, Pi Clowns, Red Panda Acrobats, Circus Bella’s display of trapeze, juggling, contortion and clowning.

Date: Now through Oct. 27
Time: Weekend and weekday lunchtime events
Cost: Free

Mission St, between 3rd and 4th
San Francisco, CA
Onlineybgfestival.org

photo: Stern Grove Festival

Stern Grove Festival
Bundle the kiddos up against the foggy chill, and let their dancing legs loose on perennial favorites like the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet. Moms and dads will love groovin’ to bands like Ziggy Marley and The Revolution. Bop on over early to Stern Grove from noon-1:30 p.m. each Sunday for a special KidStage performance and activity before the main event. Stern Grove also offers “Kid Days” which are free interactive arts education programs for children ages 4-11 at Sigmund Stern Grove (pre-registration is required).

Date: Sundays, June 16-Aug. 18
Time: 2 p.m.
Cost: Free

19th Ave. at Sloat Blvd.
San Francisco, CA
Onlinesterngrove.org

photo: Charity and the JAMBand

JAMBand Family Festival
Unleash your tiny dancers in the mosh pit of free, outdoor family concerts on the lawn at the Park Chalet. Charity and the JamBAND will have everyone—even dads—on their feet. Park Chalet food and beverages are available for a fee or bring your own eats from home.

Date: June 9, Sep. 22, Oct. 27
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Cost: Free

The Park Chalet
1000 Great Hwy
San Francisco, CA
Onlinejamjamjam.com

photo: Point Richmond Music Festival

East Bay

Point Richmond Music Festival
Rock the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue with musicians that’ll get those little legs shaking to blues, samba and more. These family-friendly events each feature two bands as well as other activities, such as face-painting. Good, wholesome family fun!

Date: June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13
Time: 5:30-7:45 p.m.
Cost: Free

Park Place and Washington Ave.
Point Richmond, CA
Onlinepointrichmondmusic.org

Kaiser Center’s Lakeside Roof Garden Series
A hidden musical gem in downtown Oakland, the Kaiser Center’s Lakeside Roof Garden Concerts enliven the Lake Merritt greenspace with lunch hour concerts. The program has a wide variety of artists – enjoy dance hits from The Party Crashers and funk from Kenya B Band, among others.

Date: Fridays, June 14–Sept. 13
Time: noon–1 p.m.
Cost: Free

Kaiser Center Roof Garden (Take any elevator located in the Kaiser garage to the ‘RG’ level to access the Roof Garden)
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA
Online: kaisercenterroofgarden.com

photo: Kidchella

Peninsula

Music is Everywhere in Redwood City
From their rockin’ Music on the Square (Friday nights, featuring pros playing tribute to Journey, The Eagles and more) to the killer kids music fest Kidchella (Sunday afternoons) to waterside concerts at Marlin Park, Redwood City will have everyone up and dancing all summer. The only groove-buster will be the encroaching bedtime hour.

Kidchella
Date: Sundays, June 23, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 9
Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway

Music on the Square
Date: Fridays, through Aug. 30
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway

Sounds of the Shores
Date: Sundays, June 23, July 21 and Aug. 18
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Marlin Park, Corner of Neptune and Cringle

Music in the Park
Date: Wednesdays, June 12-Aug. 14
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Stafford Park, Corner of King St. & Hopkins Ave

Classical Series
Date: June 22, July 21, Sept. 8
Time: varies
Cost: Free
Where: Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway

Onlineredwoodcity.org

CuriOdyssey’s Summer Music Festival
This summer, relax and have fun as a family at CuriOdyssey’s Summer Music Festival. On June 7, dance to the rhythms of New Orleans with Medicine Ball Music. On July 5, sway to the infectious rhythms of Calypso, Reggae, Zouk and Soca with Shabang. On August 2, rock to rhythm and blues with Sunny & the Black Pack. Enjoy a cash bar and hot dinner for purchase while the kids play with seriously fun, hands-on science exhibits and meet CuriOdyssey’s animals.

Dates: June 7, July 5  and August 2
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Cost: included with admission

CuriOdyssey
1651 Coyote Point Dr.
San Mateo

Online: curiodyssey.org

Music is Magic
This playground that welcomes kids of all abilities just got even cooler by hosting a slew of family-friendly music performances on Fridays this summer. Enjoy the sounds of Andy Z, Tim Cain, Noise Lab and more at the community theater in the park. Then swing over the playground for some fun in the sun.

Date: Fridays, through Aug. 30
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Mitchell Park
600 East Meadow Road
Palo Alto, CA
Onlinemagicalbridge.org/palo-alto

photo: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

South Bay

San Jose Jazz Summerfest
This festival brings artists with chops—more than 120 Grammy winners, powerhouse jazz players and acclaimed folk drummers—to the Plaza de Cesar Chavez, fronting the Fairmont. In addition to 10 stages (!!) kids can scat-a-tat-tat over to the family fun zone while listening to traditional jazz, funk, Bombay jazz and more. Check out the “Big Easy Parade” on Saturday.

Date: Aug. 9-11
Cost: Varies by package; click below.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park
170 S. Market St.
San Jose, CA
Onlinesanjosejazz.org

Santana Row Summer Music Series
Every Tuesday in July you can set up your blanket or chair in Santana Row’s Park Valencia and enjoy the tunes under the palm trees. Cover bands bring the generations together. Grab some fresh eats at Poke Bar and then line up for some made-to-order ice cream from Smitten to complete the summer dream.

Date: Tuesdays in July
Time:
6-8 p.m.
Cost: Free

Santana Row – Park Valencia, San Jose
Onlinesantanarow.com

photo: Vasona Vibrations

Vasona Vibrations
It’s the 16th year of this music festival that takes place during June and July in Vasona Lake County Park. Bring your blanket and some dinner or purchase some tasty eats from one of the food trucks on-site. Parking is free on nearby University Ave. or pay $6 to grab a spot inside the park. There’s a playground nearby if the kids get antsy.

Date: Saturdays in June and July
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Cost: Free, $6 to park inside Vasona

Vasona Lake County Park
333 Blossom Hill Road
Los Gatos, CA
Onlinevasonavibrations.org

Jazz on the Plazz
Every Wednesday evening Jazz on the Plazz presents free concerts on the Los Gatos Town Plaza. This series focusing mostly on vocal talent, giving the plaza the feel of an intimate night club. Singers such as Paula West and The Funky Godfather will croon to the moon.

Date: Wednesdays, June 19–Aug. 21
Time:
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free, but there is the option to reserve prime seating for a cost

Los Gatos Town Plaza
Onlinejazzontheplazz.com

Friday Night Bands on the Beach
What could be better than sunset, surf and song? The Santa Cruz Boardwalk continues its annual classic beach concerts with shows from Taylor Dayne, Smash Mouth and 10,000 Maniacs and so many more. Stretch out your blanket and watch the kiddos rave. Your tiny dancers are guaranteed to sleep during the car ride home.

Date: Friday nights, June 14-Aug. 30
Time: Two shows: 6:30 and 8:30p.m.
Cost: Free

400 Beach St.
Santa Cruz, CA
Onlinebeachboardwalk.com

Marin and Further North

Napa City Nights
Kids can run the promenade while parents enjoy the river view in this multi-sensual experience. Concerts feature surf rock, blues, funk, classical and more. Families can share cheesesticks, pretzels and yogurt squeezes on their blankets, or dine upscale at the walkable, amazing restaurants with breakable glasses. There’s public transportation via Napa Vine.

Dates: Friday nights, through Aug. 23
Time: 6:30-10 p.m.
Cost: Free

Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater
Main Street, Napa, CA
Onlinenapacitynights.com

Cotati Accordion Festival
This festival gives many kids their first glimpse of the beloved squeezebox. The dancing is not just for grandparents, either. Little polka-ers can work up a sweat in the mayhem of dance sessions from Squeezy Peezy, The Wild Catahoulas, and MotorDude Zydeco to name a few.

Date: Aug. 17-18
Time: 9:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

La Plaza Park
Cotati, CA
Onlinecotatifest.com

Photo: Funky Fridays

Funky Fridays
Dance the night away with Sonoma’s Funky Friday outdoor concert series on the lawn of the historic Hood Mansion. This being Sonoma, you can expect plenty of great food and drink from vendors including Henhouse Brewing Company, Kenwood Vinyards, TIPS Tri Tip Trolley and much more. With a new group playing each week you’ll need to swing by more than once this summer.

Date: Every Friday through Aug. 30
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $10/adult; free for kids 18 and under

Hood Mansion
N Pythian Road off Hwy 12
Santa Rosa, CA
Onlinefunkyfridays.info

—Kate Loweth, Erin Feher, Shelly Hausman and Christal Yuen

Featured photo: Joel Wade Photography

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Looking for date night options in San Francisco? Take a night off and feel like a million bucks! This Saturday, June 18th, get a sitter and go mingle with celebs while sipping on an “eco” cocktail or wine, all while supporting a good cause at Club Roe.

Empowered By Light, a nonprofit organization which helps distribute solar-powered lights to rural families in Zambia, is throwing a party/fundraiser at Club Roe on 651 Howard St, this Saturday, June 18.

So take out the little black dress and shake your booty on the dance floor. Your fun will bring light to children in schools and clinics in Zambia.

PS –  Don’t forget to snap a picture with HBO show Entourage’s Adrian Grenier before you hit the dance floor. All the other moms on the playground will be jealous on Sunday.

Light Up The Night
Club Roe, 651 Howard St
Saturday, June 18
$50 for general admission
$150 for VIP tickets.

For tickets, click here.

If you’ve caught a live show by local “kindie” band The Not-Its!, you know just how high-energy their shows are, but you may not have known that most of them have young kids just like us. The rockin’ parents who make up four of the five members of Seattle band The Not-Its! have 7 little ones between them plus one more on the way (bass player Nori Hoeft has been sporting a baby bump all summer and is due with number two very soon). In addition to rocking out with the kiddie-set at the parks & libraries all summer to promote their second album, Time Out To Rock, they manage to juggle parenthood, day jobs, and good deeds for the community. Band members Sarah Shannon (Lead singer and current SAHM), Danny Adamson (rhythm guitarist, singer and realtor), and Nori Hoeft (bass player, backup singer, grant-writer, and volunteer for a local Girls Rock Camp) took some time to chat with Red Tricycle about life with their own kids in Seattle and rocking the kindie music scene.

How did The Not-Its! come about?

Sarah: The Not-Its! came about from us just getting together as friends with our families, sitting around Danny’s kitchen table and talking about how we really wanted to hear a full on rock band for kids. Something with a little edge that our kids could really rock out to.

Night Club Scene or Playground Scene?

Danny: Playground scene for sure! I have been to some shows lately and realize that 35 is not the new 21….My show watching stamina is pathetic these days. I want to sit down after about 20 minutes at a club. We also have tons of awesome playgrounds near us (Carkeek Park, Salmon Bay Park, etc).

Do your kids think it’s cool that you’re in a band?

Nori: Ha, that’s a tough one. They don’t realize that it’s not the norm to have parents who play in a rock band. The older ones are kind of over going to all the shows. The younger ones think it’s cool, but then again most little kids think that what their parents do is really cool, whether it’s working on the computer or driving a forklift. I’m sure they will all be embarrassed of us by the time they’re tweens.

Do your kids help write the songs?

Sarah: Our kids definitely serve as inspiration for subject matter. The biggest influence they have is acting as a sounding board as to whether or not the songs are interesting or engaging.

Favorite local venue to play so far?

Sarah: We played lots of shows at parks this year that were really fun—Silver Lake in Everett, Marina Park in Kirkland, Hamlin Park in Shoreline.

Danny: I really liked our CD release show at Magnuson Park this summer. The amphitheater is an amazing setting.

Nori: Cupcake Royale. I like a yummy venue.

With kids as your audience, anything can happen…any particularly funny moments?

Danny: It’s always hilarious when we get the kids involved on stage. Sometimes they’ll say things in the microphone that are amazing. They’ll tell jokes that make absolutely NO sense, but those are often the funniest ones. On the “not funny” end of the spectrum—we seem to have about 4 shows per year where a kid gets separated from their parent, but we stop the show to find the child and so far we have 100% happy, reunited families!

How do you rally yourselves to rock the morning stage when you’ve had a late night with your own kids?

Nori: Rallying to play a show is really different than rallying to go to work at an office. Putting on glitter makeup and a giant pink tutu and telling myself “it’s just for 45 minutes” (the average length of a set) works pretty well, and once I’m on stage it’s all adrenalin. Once I’m off stage, then I remember how drained I am, but then there are all those smiling little faces that make it worth it.

Nori, how has it been touring all summer while pregnant?

It’s been awesome to get up in front of people with a big bump and prove beyond all doubt that being pregnant is not an illness. I take pride in being able to rock out, and I’ve had so many moms approach me after shows saying how great it is for them to see me up there. I feel that part of The Not-Its “message” is that life does not end when you have kids—you can still do the things you love and have fun, and in fact lots of things that lose their luster in young adulthood (Christmas, board games, and learning new things, to name but a few) suddenly become magical again when you have kids. It’s not all about selfless sacrifice and loss of freedom. I also got my good friend Holly to fill in for me at a few shows this summer (mainly on the days where we had multiple shows on the same day), which helped prevent total exhaustion.

When you have a night off from the kids, what’s your perfect local date night or spot to meet up with friends?

Sarah: We love to get sushi at Kisaku in the Green Lake neighborhood and take a stroll around sculpture park downtown.

Danny: We love to go to the movies. Only the theaters that offer the huge bucket of popcorn with free refills! That’s right, the Mrs. and I can take down two of those!

Nori: Fort St. George in the ID. They serve Tokyo-style comfort food (spaghetti with enoki mushrooms and teriyaki burgers with grated daikon radish). It’s the next best thing to being in Japan.

Favorite local spots to hang with your own kids?

Sarah: Woodland Park Zoo, Children’s Museum

Danny: We like to ride bikes all over Ballard. My kids are just old enough where they can ride decent lengths w/o too much complaining. We also like to hit the libraries to pick out books, cds and movies.

Nori: Full Tilt Ice Cream in Columbia City. We can walk there from our house, and they make ube ice cream, which for me is like the Philippines in a cone. AND they have beer and pinball. As soon as I’m not pregnant anymore I’m going to try and get them to make me a Guinness float.

Your favorite thing about raising kids in Seattle?

Sarah: I love that there are a ton of free, fun & family oriented activities. It’s also great to be in a major city with everything we need at our disposal (parks, museums, etc) and we can drive a half hour out and go on a beautiful hike.

Why your neighborhood rocks:

Sarah: In Wallingford I can walk to everything and can also take a 10 minute ride to anywhere I could possibly want to go.

Danny: Ballard has tons of great restaurants, very walkable and is overall pretty safe. We see people we know wherever we go.

Nori: I can’t imagine living anywhere in Seattle but Columbia City. I love that my kid goes to this incredibly diverse school whose most notable feature is the huge, kid-run organic garden. And where else can you find the Refugee Women’s Alliance down the street from the wine bar? Or, for that matter, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker (ok, it’s a florist, but I swear they sell candles) all next door to each other, which is next door to the toy store, which is around the corner from the weekly farmer’s market, which is right next to the library, which is across the street from three playgrounds, a cinema, a live theater, and a kids’ clothing consignment store, and all within walking distance of the light rail. Only in Seattle, and only in Columbia City. And don’t even get me started on the restaurants.

-Angie J. Ballas