While I very much enjoy the three wonderful off-leash dog parks in Balboa Park, it’s almost as much fun to watch children “off-leash” in a play paradise known as Pepper Grove Discovery Playground. Surrounded by Brazilian and California Pepper trees, this expansive picnic area is located on the Park’s Central Mesa, right on Park Blvd. just south of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

Pepper Grove offers one of the widest assortments of safe, state-of-the-art playground equipment for human pups, from tots to teens, in the area. It also includes a few fun experiments for them to check out and lots of sandboxes for digging and burying.

Thanks to the dozens of well-shaded picnic tables, I don’t mind taking a breather to watch the kids climb, swing, run, and slide throughout the numerous play sets. This is also a great spot for birthday parties, and the rolling grassy hills adjacent to the picnic areas provide ample space for various games and sports.

Restroom facilities, drinking fountains, nearby parking lots, and pretty views of the California Tower give adults their own reasons to love this place. For me, it’s all about the smiles, the laughter, and, of course, picnic food scraps.

Lady Wulf asks: Dear Cosmos, I think my owner would bring me to the Park more often if she knew of some good places to eat where I am welcome too. Do you know of any outdoor eateries in the Park where the scraps are particularly tasty?

I’m so glad you asked about my favorite subject. If you’re in the mood for burgers and dogs (hot dogs, that is) check out the Village Grill. It offers a scrumptious selection of fast-food fare all made on site, including French fries, onion rings, and ice cream.

At Galileo’s Café in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center you and your owner can enjoy mouthwatering pizza slices, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and a wide array of beverages. With outdoor seating right next to the big fountain, this is a great place for people (and dog) watching.

Following your snout down the Prado, you’ll find Water’s Café at SDMA, which has a cozy patio just outside the gates to the Museum of Art’s sculpture court. Now open for dinner, with Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m., its menu of fresh gourmet sandwiches and salads appeals to those of us with a more refined palette.

Last but not least, the Tea Pavilion next to the Japanese Friendship Garden serves a nice assortment of Asian fusion cuisine. Managed by my good friends at the Prado Restaurant, it’s quite vegetarian friendly, but us carnivores will find plenty of meaty scraps to chomp on too.

My two festive friends Babe and Pudge sure love to do it up right at the Twilight in the Park concerts, this one featuring a live mariachi band. I can’t wait to see them in a tutu when City Ballet performs on August 14 or in lederhosen when the El Cajon German Band takes the stage on August 27.

Since I’m not allowed in movie theaters, I always look forward to the annual Screen on the Green outdoor summer film fest, hosted by the San Diego Museum of Art. I got to see the first installment last Thursday, which featured the classic romantic comedy The Shop around the Corner starring James Stewart.

If you haven’t been before, the films are shown on a giant screen in front the Botanical Building, next to the Lily Pond, so even my friend Bubba the Catfish can watch. There is ample seating on the grassy areas, but because this event is free and very popular, it’s best to mark your territory early for the best seats (usually a blanket and lawn chair will suffice).

Over the next four Thursday nights, the Museum will feature some of the funniest and most tail-wagging films from Hollywood’s Golden Era. I’m especially excited about Bye, Bye, Birdie on August 21. Billed as a bark-, er rather, sing-along, it’s a campy musical about a teen rock idol who stages one last kiss for one lucky teen (played by Ann Margaret) before being drafted into the Army. VideoHound’s Golden Movie Retriever, my only source for movie ratings, gave it three bones out of four and that’s plenty to chew on for me!