03.23.11 home | north bay bohemian index | news | north bay | Best of the North Bay 2011 ## Family Reader's Picks ### Best Awesome-Sauce Disco Ball Party Anyone with a highly-energetic toddler knows that kids need to play. Is it possible for the little ones to play, and still learn? The Bay Area Discovery Museum says yes. With a Lookout Cove (where the wizard hat supplies can be found), Imagination Playground, art studios and Tot Spot, it's no wonder you voted it for best birthday party place in Marin County. Located on 7.5 acres at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, the children's museum also offers special birthday packages, with kids' very own Rock N'Roll Dance Party in a "magical musical wonderland," complete with red carpet, disco balls, stage lights and a karaoke stage. Awesome sauce!—L.C. ### Best Baby Gift Store Marin Heller's for Children 514 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.456.5533. Napa First Place Tie Freckles 1309 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.1201. Mud Puddles 1443-B Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.5925. Sonoma Cupcake 641 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.2165. Honorable Mention Earth Child 200 S. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.824.0940. ### Best Toy Store Marin A Child's Delight 190 Northgate One Shopping Center, San Rafael. 415.499.0739. Napa ToyBVille 1343 Main St., Napa. 707.253.1024. Sonoma The Toyworks 531 College Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.526.2099. 2724 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.576.8609. 6940 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.2003. Honorable Mention Earth Child 200 S. Main St., Sebastopol. 707.824.0940. ### Best Kids Clothing Store Marin Kidiniki 800 Redwood Hwy., Frontage Road, Mill Valley. 415.383.3110. Napa First Place Tie Mud Puddles 1443-B Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.5925. 4 Kids' Sake 1757 Tanen St., Napa. 707.257.3657. Sonoma Cupcake 641 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.2165. Honorable Mention Wee Three Children's Store 1007 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.525.9333. ### Best Consignment Shop Marin Avant Garde 1328 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.485.4497. Napa Alice's Consignment Shop 1746 Yajome St., Napa. 707.927.3224. Sonoma Sisters 117 W. Napa St., Ste. B, Sonoma. 707.933.8422. Honorable Mention Launch 971 Gravenstein Ave., Sebastopol. 707.829.3312. ### Best Birthday Party Place Marin Bay Area Discovery Museum 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. 415.339.3900. Napa The Little Gourmet 1040 Main St., Napa. 707.257.7700. Sonoma Snoopy's Home Ice 1667 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.546.7147. Honorable Mention Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar 7582 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park. 707.792.1681. 404-A Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.703.4228. ### Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant Marin Easy Street Cafe 882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. 415.453.1984. Napa The Little Gourmet 1040 Main St., Napa. 707.257.7700. Sonoma Velasco's North of the Border 190 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 707.773.0882. Honorable Mention Mary's Pizza Shack 535 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. 707.538.1888. 3084 Marlow Road, Santa Rosa. 707.573.1100. 790 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 707.829.5800. 101 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park. 707.585.3500. ### Best Imagination Center Marin Bay Area Discovery Museum 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. 415.339.3900. Napa Scientopia Discovery Center 1785 Tanen St., Ste. B, Napa. 707.259.1559. Sonoma Children's Museum of Sonoma County www.cmosc.org Honorable Mention Environmental Discovery Center Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa. 707.539.2865. ### Best Kids Sports Venue Marin Practical Martial Arts 5768 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera. 415.927.0899. Napa Rockzilla 849 Jackson St., Napa. 707.255.1500. Sonoma Sports City 921 Piner Road, Santa Rosa. 707.526.2884. Honorable Mention Scandia Family Center 5301 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park. 707.584.7298. ### Best Private School Marin Marin Catholic High School 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield. 415.464.3800. Napa Blue Oak School 1436 Polk St., Napa. 707.261.4500. Sonoma Summerfield Waldorf 655 Willowside Road, Santa Rosa. 707.575.7194. Honorable Mention Sonoma Academy 2500 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.545.1770. ### Best Summer Day Camp Marin Dance Palace 503 B St., Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1075. Napa Oxbow Summer Art Camp 530 Third St., Napa. 707.255.6000. Sonoma Camp Wa Tam at Howarth Park 630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa. 707.543.3292. Honorable Mention Camp Chai 1301 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.528.4222. ### Best Pediatrician Marin Dr. Fernando Ulloa 711 D St., San Rafael. 415.454.4100. Napa Dr. Victoria C. Morgese, Loffler-Barry & Morgese 2160 Jefferson St., Napa. 707.259.0700. Sonoma Dr. Mark Sloan, Kaiser Permanente 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa. 707.571.4000. Honorable Mention Dr. Sunjya K. Schweig 616 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707.778.3171. ### Best Dog Obedience School Marin Marin Humane Society 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato. 415.506.6263. Napa Napa Valley Dog Training Club 68 Coombs St., Napa. 707.253.8666. Sonoma Olivet Kennel & Dog Training Resort 2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066. Honorable Mention County-Wide Dog Training Club 887 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 707.544.7479. ### Best Doggie Daycare Marin Alpha Dog 254 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley. 415.383.2111. Napa First Place Tie Camp Rawhide 1452 Silverado Trail, Napa. 707.226.6010. Ruff Dog Daycare & Hotel 49 Enterprise Court, Napa. 707.258.2020. Sonoma Camp Bow Wow 2120 Bluebell Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.546.2267. Honorable Mention Fit 'n' Furry 860 Lindberg Lane, Petaluma. 707.769.7387. ### Best Groomer Marin Canine Design 1435 Fourth St., Ste. C, San Rafael. 415.456.4112. Napa Scoobi-Doo's Pet Wash 2742 Jefferson St., Napa. 707.226.2727. Sonoma Fit 'n' Furry 860 Lindberg Lane, Petaluma. 707.769.7387. Honorable Mention Scissorhands 6553 Front St., Forestville. 707.887.0190. ### Best Pet Boutique Marin Pet Cottage 218 Greenfield Ave., San Anselmo. 415.485.1158. Napa Fideaux 1312 Main St., St. Helena. 707.967.9935. Sonoma Give Your Dog a Bone 170 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 707.762.0364. Honorable Mention Debbie's Pet Boutique 10333 Old Redwood Hwy., Windsor. 707.838.1896. ### Best Animal Shelter Marin Marin Humane Society 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato. 415.506.6263. Napa Napa County Animal Shelter 942 Hartle Court, Napa. 707.253.4382. Sonoma Sonoma Humane Society 5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa. 707.542.0882. Honorable Mention Pets Lifeline Animal Shelter 19686 Eighth St., Sonoma. 707.996.4577. ### Best Kennel Marin Bed & Biscuits 4240 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael. 415.499.0199. Napa Wine Country Pet Resort 1199 Cuttings Wharf Road, Napa. 707.252.7877. Sonoma Olivet Kennel 2404 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa. 707.542.2066. Honorable Mention Anderson Acres 531 Hunter Lane, Santa Rosa. 707.588.8494. ### Best Feed Store Marin First Place Tie Marin Tack & Feed 1599 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax. 415.456.2929. Toby's Feed Barn 11250 Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station, 415.663.1223. Napa Wilson's Feed & Supply 1700 Yajome St., Napa. 707.252.0316. Sonoma Western Farm Center 21 W. Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.545.0721. Honorable Mention Rivertown Feed 200 First St., Petaluma. 707.762.4505. ### Best Veterinarian Marin Dr. George Walters, Northbay Animal Hospital 4140 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael. 415.499.8387. Napa First Place Tie Dr. Glenn G. Baker, Twin Oaks Veterinary Clinic 1195 Mee Lane, St. Helena. 707.963.4843. Dr. Larry Miller, Alley Cat Small Animal Hospital 1041 Wine Country Ave., Napa. 707.224.2525. Sonoma Dr. Matthew Carter, Central Animal Hospital 203 D St., Petaluma. 707.762.2693. Honorable Mention Animal Hospital of Sebastopol 1010 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. 707.823.3250. 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