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Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco – An unforgettable experience for all ages

Administrator — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:21:02 +0000

If you have ever had the pleasure to watch a Cirque du Soleil performance, you will agree with me that they are one of the most amazing live shows you will ever see. I have watched a number of their performances over the years and, last year, took my young daughter to see one of Cirque’s shows for the first time. My daughter did not stop talking about the performance ever since, she now wants to be an acrobat, was in awe for the duration of the show and could not wait to go again. Toronto is fortunate to have Cirque du Soleil visit us every year with their touring shows (they also have permanent shows in a number of cities around the world) and just today I took my daughter, now 4, to see a Cirque du Soleil performance once again.

The performance tonight was Saltimbanco, ‘a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show’s eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.’ The colours, the music, the acrobatic shows, the setting – you will leave in awe of the imagination of its creators and the ability of its performers. This show is a great event for adults and kids, something of an experience that your kids will probably not forget.

This was the last performance of Saltimbanco in Toronto, but the show continues to Hamilton, ON on August 27th and then goes on to a number of U.S. cities including Buffalo, NY and Trenton, NJ. If you have the chance, I highly recommend that you go see this show…and bring your kids.

Maria

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A great find in Toronto – Evergreen Brick Works

Administrator — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:16:46 +0000

Last weekend, my family and I set out on a bike ride on a lovely sunny Summer morning in Toronto. We ended up at the Evergreen Brick Works, at the site of the old Don Valley Brickworks Factory in the Bayview extension in Toronto. It was a most pleasant surprise – a truly urban oasis right in our city. This ‘thriving environmentally-based community centre that engages visitors in diverse experiences connected to nature’ is sure to appeal to a wide array of Torontonians looking for unique, interesting and stimulating things to do without going too far. The location of the old Brickworks factory, which first opened in 1889, has been preserved and refurbished and is now a great destination for families with children. Entry to the site is free.
We enjoyed great food at the Farmer’s Market (one of my favourites were delicious Surkl organic empanadas) and great hikes through the area. My two young daughters were fascinated by the wild flowers, turtles and fish that they saw pretty much in their own backyard. The site offers lots of great nature walks and events throughout the year that include chef’s workshops, a farmer’s market every Saturday, and the ‘Farm to Folk Festival’, among many others. What’s better is that this great spot right in Toronto is still in its development stage, with lots more great things to come – The Discovery Centre, Demonstration Gardens, Native Plant Nursery, among other great projects.

My family and I will definitely be coming back!

Maria

PerryWinkles Kids – fine smocked girls’ dresses

Great on-the-road snacks for kids

Administrator — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:53:23 +0000

It’s almost the end of August, which means by now I’ve had about 8 weekend trips with my kids and husband up to cottage country. A big challenge for me is always what to pack for the 2-hour car ride. My four-year old daughter, from the minute she sits in the car, needs a snack. She’s not a snacker otherwise, but once she sits in the car for the ride up to cottage country, her brain sends her ’snack signals’….and there is not much I can do to change her mind. Here are my favourite on-the-road snacks for kids (which work well with grown-ups too):

1. Popcorn: Just pop some the night before your road trip and put it in the different containers for each kid. Not only is it a healthy snack for growing children, but it keeps the little ones occupied for a good amount of time.

2. Cut-up pieces of fruit: Our favourites are peaches (specially now that they are in season!) and apples. I stay away from the berries since they tend to create a mess in the car (I say this from experience).

3. A special treat for those moments when nothing will stop them from asking ‘are we there yet’ again: My favourites are lollipops since they can keep kids occupied for a little while. I bring these out only when I really need them, but it’s always nice to have that ‘extra special’ treat.

4. Rice cakes: My little girls like the mini cheese flavour rice cakes. They are a lot healthier than cheesies, but the kids still feel like they are getting a bit of a treat.

Happy Trails!

Maria

PerryWinkles Kids

Great Summer outings with kids in Toronto

Administrator — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:07:54 +0000

As I spend my Summer with my 2- and 4-year old daughters in Toronto, I’ve come to realize how many great outings there are for kids in the city. We’ve spent endless afternoons playing with the hose in our backyard and going to the local parks, but for those days that we need a little more adventure, my 5 favourite spots are:

1. Riverdale Farm. A great (and free!) destination for little kids and located in the heart of Toronto within historic Cabbagetown. Riverdale farm was the site of Toronto’s first zoo. You can tour the Farm’s scenic 7.5 acres along pathways through wooded areas, around ponds, and into butterfly-herb-flower-vegetable gardens. Cows, horses, donkey, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and farm cats may be seen along the way in the barns and outdoor paddocks. There is a great picnic area just outside the farm’s doors that everyone is welcome to use. During the Summer, the farm hosts a Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 3pm to 7pm.

2. Toronto Zoo. One of my family’s (year round) outings. This a gorgeous zoo, with all the usual attractions with over 5,000 animals, and is set in the beautiful Rouge Valley, with over 10km of walking trails. During Summer months, make sure to visit the Kids’ Zoo, a great interactive area for little kids, and the Splash Island (although this gets quite busy on warm days). The Season’s pass offers a great value if you plan on going at least twice during the year.

3. Centreville Amusement Park on Toronto’s Centre Island. Nestled in over 600 acres of parkland just across the harbour from the city, it offers over 30 rides and attractions for little kids – from antique carousel rides to pony rides to motor boats…and my little girl’s favourite, the mini train that circles around the amusement park. And just the ferry ride over to the island is a great experience on its own for most toddlers and little ones. There is no admission fee for Centreville, but all-day ride passes are available for the attractions.

4. The Toronto Beaches. This is another one of our favourites. We like to spend a few hours on the beach, playing on the sand and relaxing by the water. Once my little girls get bored, we stroll up to the playground at Kew Gardens (in my opinion, one of the best playgrounds I’ve seen in the city) or grab some lunch at Lick’s on Queen Street. Bring lots of beach toys and snacks and just relax on the beach; weekdays are your best bet to avoid the crowds.

5. And on a rainy day….the ROM. I like to visit the ROM during colder months, but on a rainy day in the Summer, this is a great destination for little kids. Once again, the Membership offers a great value if you plan on going more than twice during the year and you won’t feel guilty spending just an hour or two if that’s all your little ones can handle. My 4-year old daughter just loves the new dinosaur exhibit, while my 2-year old can’t get enough of the CIBC Discovery Gallery with lots of interactive activities for kids. Make sure to visit the new cafeteria as well, with great options for little ones (and yummy food for grown-ups!).

Enjoy the warm months while they’re here!

Maria

PerryWinkles Kids

New York with Babies

veronica — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:57:54 +0000

New York and babies aren’t exactly a match made in heaven but having a baby shouldn’t stop you from going to New York City, as you’ll discover a new side of this fantastic city.

My first concern when heading there last week with my 10-month-old was transportation. You would be insane to rent a car in a city that is dominated by aggressive drivers and yellow cabs. Taking the bus proved a little unwieldy, as you are expected to fold up your stroller to get on the bus, but to my surprise cabs were a lot more laid back about taking babies than I had expected. Although we ended up walking most of the time, it was a relief to know we had a viable option if needed.

The highlight of this last trip were not the fantastic dining experiences or wandering aimlessly from shop to gallery through the Village but, rather, the playgrounds in Central Park. I had never noticed this before but there are play grounds every few meters in Central Park. In fact, there are 21 playgrounds in this one park! Also, on the Sound end, right by 5th Ave. is a Children’s Zoo. I just love wandering aimlessly through this park and seeing where I end up after each turn. I’m still amazed that a place can be so serene and be stuck in the middle of Uptown Manhattan. The perfect escape from the crowds and the shopping when traveling with a baby.

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Vancouver with Babies

veronica — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:41:20 +0000

We recently ventured out West to Vancouver for a long weekend with our 8-month-old. These were some of our favourite kid-friendly destinations:

1. Walking the sea wall at Stanley Park. Nothing like getting some fresh air and catching some rays…specially when they’re soft at 6am. Don’t forget the sunscreen if you’ll be out and about when the sun is stronger closer to noon.

2. Vancouver Aquarium at Stanley Park. Check out the kids zone in the lower level where they have story time, games and a pretend animal hospital for kids. They will even arrange a sleepovers for kids who want to see the aquarium after hours. Even at $20 a head it was worth it just to see Clara laugh hysterically at the seals swimming past the viewing window.

3. Granville Island. The public market is always fun and delicious to walk around but if you’re with kids you’ll want to head to the kids market, two floors full of toy stores and activities for kids.

4. Tampopo Sushi on Denman St. by Davie St.. Ok, not necessarily top of the list when thinking of destinations to go with kids but this all you can eat sushi place served the best tuna sushi and it was spacious enough to fit strollers comfortably and service was efficient. You will have to carry the stroller up the stairs as they don’t have an elevator.

5. Whistler/Blackcomb. If you want to get some skiing in whlie you’re out West, driving to Whistler/Blackcomb only takes about two hours. If your baby is over 6 months and is comfortable with strangers, you can use their day care services for $100/day. Be sure to book ahead as this service is popular. Also check with your hotel for what they offer for older kids. Babisitting Whistler also offers babysitting services and baby gear rental. They will deliver to your hotel rental baby gear, including carriers if you decide to go for a hike or snowshoe and didn’t bring a baby carrier along, for example.

6. Elixir Restaurant. We found this French style bistro walking around Yaletown and the first thing that caught our attention was that they had breakfast starting at 6am! We knew it would be our list of places to hit. Although the food was nothing to rave about and the prices a little steep, we loved being able to sit down at a real restaurant with a full brunch menu at 6am. We were the only ones there so our little one didn’t disturb anyone and the server was happy to provide a high chair for her and even gave her a piece of toast to munch on.

7. Easter Brunch at The Westin Hotel in Whistler. The Westin served a tasty buffet brunch on Easter Sunday. The highlights for the little ones: the kids buffet table (only a few inches off the ground, kids could help themselves to chicken fingers, jello and many other kids favourites), the chocolate fountain and the Easter egg hunt in the hotel lobby. The highlight for the adults (other than all-you-can-eat incredibly fresh smoked salmon!) was the kid-friendly environment, high-chairs included. (The lowlight would have to be the $45 a head!)

PerryWinkles Kids – Fine Smocked Children’s Clothing

Traveling across Time-Zones with Babies

veronica — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:20:54 +0000

Ever since my husband and I started talking about having kids, we decided we would not let this new phase change our adventurous spirits and our urge to travel and see the world. At 8 months, Clara has already been to South America twice (once in my tummy at 2 months pregnant, and once after 5 months of being born), roadtripped along the California, Oregon and Washington coast (babymoon at 5 months pregnant), visited Saskatchewan in the winter at 4 and a half months of age (visiting family at Christmas) and ventured West again to Vancouver this past Easter long weekend.

I have to admit, up to now I haven’t shaken my head and wondered if what I was doing was smart until this last trip to Vancouver. Clara is a baby that is full of energy and life and all day long she wants to be exploring new things and moving, jumping if possible. Her excitement is contagious and makes me very happy, except for when it translates into her jumping on my lap for five hours on the plane from Toronto to Vancouver! I was lucky to be sitting next to a very patient man who I am sure by now has vowed never to have kids or at least never to travel with them! This may have something to do with Clara accidentally spilling all her food on top of his laptop and shoes (which, shockingly, none of the flight attendants at Air Canada had any inclination to help me clean), or with the fact that Clara just wanted to babble while he was trying to sleep, or with Clara’s insistence on playing on his keyboard while the man decided to try to get some work done. Thank goodness this man was so patient he didn’t even give me a bad look the whole time.

We had already prepared ourselves for early mornings but adults’ circadian rhythms surely adjust a lot quicker than those of babies because Clara’s wake up calls at 2am and 3am felt like it was the middle of the night (which it was!) instead of it feeling like we were waking up at the usual time at home. Todd and I both groaned and moaned and looked at each other to see which one of us would jump out of bed when Clara announced it was time to get up while it was still pitch dark outside. It did feel a little insance to be playing and singing songs in the middle of the night. By 6am when we would leave the hotel Clara had already had her first nap of the day and only two hours later it was time for lunch! We would walk for hours waiting for the first Starbucks to open (Vancouverites are not early risers, we found out!). Then we would try to jam in as much site seeing as we could get done by 3pm when it was bedtime for the baby.

In spite of the travails with the time difference and flying with an active baby, we did enjoy having a weekend in true Spring weather, seeing the cherry blossoms in bloom and visiting and tasting some of what Vancouver has to offer. I came home after our short West Coast stint feeling more relaxed and like we’d had a little adventure. Alas, the flight back is one hour shorter and I learned my lesson and only fed Clara while on firm land on the return. I would suggest if you go somewhere that is a few time-zones behind your home town with a baby to get to bed early, as baby’s schedules are unforgiving! But, certainly, keep on exploring your favourite places with your new bundle of joy.

PerryWinkles Kids – Fine Smocked Children’s Clothing