Features & Columns

Intro | Family Fun | Date Night | Zoom Together | Gotta Go | Early Bird | Party of One

MOBILE MATINEE: The Monterey County Youth Museum will host a drive-in movie at the Monterey County Fairgrounds at noon on Dec. 31. Some of the biggest names in nerdom are slated to converge on the San Jose Convention Center this weekend.

Who could blame any parent for being a little unprepared for New Year's Eve after spending the last nine months juggling working from home—or tracking down a babysitter when work is open—while making sure little Bobby and Suzie aren't skipping class right before your very eyes? The traditional fireworks, kid-friendly dinner parties and sleepovers are off, but all hope for a fun end to the worst year ever is not lost.

Noon Year's Eve
Start the day with a little "Noon Year's Eve" celebration with the Children's Museum of San Jose. Yes, it's another virtual event, but it comes with a "party pack" for the kids to make their own dolls, hats and kazoos. If the latter is a dealbreaker, it's O.K. to pass.

Instead, maybe the day calls for a little road trip—sans the noisemakers. The Monterey County Youth Museum is hosting a drive-in movie, Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds at noon. The gate opens at 11am, and the movie will fill today's youngsters with the same glee the rest of us felt watching spoiled Violet be rolled away by the Oompa Loompas—even if the old Willy Wonka was better.

Steal away
Grab some takeout dinner on the way home, or break out the board games once you wrangle the kazoos away from the kids. And remember: while every parent's love runs deep for their little ones, there's no shame in finding a way to steal back a few hours on New Year's Eve. That's where Code Ninjas comes in. The organization, which has a location in North San Jose, typically teaches kids how to make their own video games, but on New Year's Eve it's hosting a virtual "Parents Night Out" for video game-loving kids (read: all of them). The kids can join a Roblox or Minecraft server and play with others online from 6 to 8pm.

That's just enough time to give the grown-ups a chance to head to Camino Brewing Co. on First Street in San Jose and pick up some locally made brews, or pick from a list of other brewers, distilleries and restaurants in Metro's New Year's Eve drinks guide.

Toast to you
End the kids' night with the ball drop and a sparking grape juice toast. It's OK to be tricky and stream the countdown early—we won't tell.

Once your children are snug in their beds, tune into the Crazy Funny Asians comedy show, hosted by Funcheap and featuring several big Bay Area comedy names, to ring in the new year with a few well-earned laughs and your favorite libation.