Frugal Family: End of Summer Events for Kids

Music Workshop: Here's a rare and really fantastic opportunity for musicians aged 15-21: The Young Songwriters Workshop & Jam Session Concert is soliciting applications for a free all-day songwriting workshop with local professional musicians (including Preston Turner of Pure Ecstasy and drummer D.C. Carter of Project 7). The workshop is on Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After, students will jam with the musicians from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Center Court at . Applicants need to submit original lyrics (PG 13) and demos, plus be able to read music. Applications due Aug. 19; go to the South Shore Center website for all the relevant details. 

Do Gooder Opportunity: That concert is free, but frugal folks who want a chance to do Something Good could contribute to the 's School Supply Drive, which is soliciting donations for backpacks filled with school materials for 900 homeless students in the Alameda Unified School District. AEF will be there that night. For just $4 (!) you can provide one backpack to a student; $15 will fill it with supplies. Bring your check to the concert, or mail it to AEF "School Supply Drive”, PO Box 1363, Alameda, CA 94501. Or drop off school supplies — e.g., pencils, erasers, scissors, binder notebooks, binder paper, and glue sticks -- at the concert or a number of locations in town. AEF is also kicking off their Instrument Drive on the 27; used (but working) instruments can be dropped off at the concert to be donated to middle and high school music programs.

Summer Sanity Saver: Your 'tween or teen is so bored it's making you tear your hair out? Grab a copy of Scorpia Rising at , make him read the whole thing (448 pages — that'll keep him busy) before Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., then have him go to the Books, Inc "Our Parents Made Us Do It" book club at the store. Ages 10-14.

Nature Movies: Continuing on with the Things to Do With Your Kids in These Last Few Weeks of Summer theme, did you know the Chabot Space and Science Center has a Summer Movie Nights series? This Friday's film is Coral Sea Dreaming-Awaken, described as a "vivid, in depth exploration of one of the planet's great natural wonders — coral reefs — which harbor the greatest biodiversity of any ecosystem on earth." Special attraction: It's shown in the MegaDome. 6 and 8 p.m. Free with museum admission of $14.95 adult, $11.95 student, $10.95 ages 3-13.

Craft Night: DIY-type kids might enjoy working on their projects (think beading, knitting, making collages and whittling) at Julie's Tea House on Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Julie's serves excellent teas, coffees and other drinks, plus the good food. The whole cafe is filled with funky artwork, too, so it's an inspiring place to work on projects.