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Swamp Monsters: Halloween in Centennial Park, Sydney

October 31, 2016 / Outdoor Play, Seasonal Fun, Sydney, Sydney Life / 2 Comments

Halloween has been taking off slowly over the years in Sydney, with more and more families like ours wanting to mark the occassion with fun activities. This year Cheese was finally old enough to try the Swamp Monsters program at Centennial Park.

Swamp Monsters is a Halloween trail through Centennial Park, starting at the Eduation Centre. The event often sells out far in advance so buying tickets before the event is highly recommended. The day is broken up into time slots to start the activities. Arrive any time during your time slot, sign in at the desk and pick up your trail map, then take as long as you like.

The trail has five activity stations for kids to complete, with each spot spookyily themed and requiring kids to complete a task. The kids loved the (fake) spiders and cobwebs, and screamed with delighted terror at the “zombies” as they darted through a course that included navigating their way thorough a giant spider web, feeding a giant venus fly trap, guessing the ghoulish item in the mystery boxes, shooting zombies with nerf guns and bolting through a swamp infested with creatures from the dead.

After completing the five activities, the last stop is the completion tent where kids get their maps stamped and can choose a treat. While that marks the end of the trail, they are welcome to repeat any part of the course that they like.

At the start and end of the trail, back at the education centre, a pumpkin patch is set up for kids to make their own scarecrows. Our kids didn’t care so much about making the scarecrows – they were more enthused about pretending they were ponies munching on the hay. Great imaginations.

We chose the 11:30 time slot and found a tree to sit under for a picnic lunch at 12:30, thinking we would take a break and then do one of the activities after our lunch break, not realising that the whole course stopped for a lunch break between 12:30 and 2pm. I would highly recommend if you’re planning to do the activities again that you choose an earilier time slow or the one after lunch break.

While the day is recommended for kids aged 5-12 there were definintely some younger kids there. The littlies enjoyed several of the stations but were also scared of a few, so it all depends on the kid.

More info:
Age: 5-12 years
Times: Start times are available every 15 minutes between 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4:30pm
Meeting Point/Venue: Start at The Learning Centre in the Education Precinct, off Dickens Drive, Centennial Park
Price: $17 per child
Online

Special Notes
Show your online ticket on the day to receive your Trail Map. Tickets can be shown on mobile devices or printed out.
Event will go ahead in all weather. No refunds will be given.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults do not require a ticket
One Trail Map per ticket and all participating children require their own trail map.
Coffee, ice cream and small snacks will be available for purchase from food vans.There is plenty of free parking usually available in Centennial Park, or you can take public transport.

KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil

October 30, 2016 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 4 Comments

“We’re going to the circus!” I announce to my five-year-old daughter, wanting to surprise her with a special treat. “Not with animals?” she looks at me somewhat confused. “No, with people!” I explain. “Ahhh, acrobats!” she crows, delighted at her good fortune of being taken on a special date, just the two of us.

“Will there be tightrope walkers? And jugglers?” she asks, her only point of reference for a circus a traditional one from well before the time she was born. “Ummmm,” I reply, not sure how to answer. When you’re going to watch Cirque Du Soleil, all expectations on what you’re actually going to see on stage go out the window. It could be literally any physical feat, and usually more bizarre than your imagination can dream up. “I guess we’ll see,” I finally say, and off we go to the big top in Sydney’s Moore Park, and excitedly take our seats.

Cirque Du Soleil has been wowing audiences with electrifying shows since their humble beginnings as a group of 20 street performers in Baie-Saint-Paul, a small town near Quebec City, in Canada. The band of colourful characters entertained people on the streets with stilt-walking, juggling, dancing, breathing fire, and playing live music. Old-school circus acts, performed with what would become their trademark drama and flair.

The company is still based in Quebec, and now has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from around 50 countries around the world. They’re performed in over 300 cities in over 40 countries on six continents – and tonight, they’re in Sydney, Australia.

KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil — Picture credit : Owen Carey Costume credit : Marie Chantale Vaillancourt © 2010 Cirque du Soleil

Much to my delight, Kooza pays homage to Cirque Du Soleil’s traditional circus roots with a combination of acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The acts my daughter mentioned? They’re all there and she is thrilled. Stilt-walkers, jugglers, dancers, contortionists and tight-rope walkers. Every single circus act we could have possible hoped for was entwined in Kooza’s thrilling story of an Innocent’s discovery of light and dark magic.

Kooza cleverly weaves a tale about discovery, fear and power through a jam-packed show filled with acrobatic acts and tension-breaking light humour. The central character, The Innocent, is our guide on a journey of thrills, suspense and moments where our hearts almost stop watching the death-defying feats in front of our eyes.

While the adult in me sees the occasional safety gear go up for some of the more terrifying acts, my daughter is focussed only on the action and is genuinely worried about the well-being of the acrobats. “That doesn’t look very safe,” she whispers in my ear as a man dressed as the devil jumps on top of a spinning “wheel of death” that soars right to the top of the tent roof and proceeds to flip into the air.

She’s right – it’s part of the show’s illusion to make every act look effortless, while tapping into our sub conscious desire to see how far a human body can be pushed before it breaks. Will they fall? In a few spots, they almost do, and a collective gasp goes up in the audience to see a wobble or slight slip. They are fragile human beings and this is real life, not a movie with trick photography at work. If they fall it’s a long way down.

I point out the safety net that springs up when the tightrope walkers get particularly daring, and the hook that is attached to the man who balances with one hand on top 10 chairs to show her there is nothing to fear. “Even if they fall, they’ll be ok,” I whisper back, and she lets out the biggest sigh of relief I’ve heard from her, and spends the rest of the show pointing out the safety equipment to me, so I won’t be scared either.

The show draws to its close and I realise I’ve been holding my breath for much of it, perched on the edge of my seat. For two hours, we’ve been thoroughly immersed in a fantastical dreamscape world where acrobats are able to do the impossible – perform tricks that my mind can’t comprehend as possible for a human body to be able to do.

My daughter, after her first circus experience ever, is forever changed. Her world has expanded and her imagination unlocked. She’s seen with her own eyes the heights and athletic ability that a human body can reach, and the daring that some souls possess to push themselves past limits the rest of us would quite frankly baulk at. She is among many children in the tent, the next generation who are growing up with Cirque Du Soleil being the the only circus they’re likely to experience.

The audience leaves the tent uplifted and with stars in their eyes. We’ve seen great things today and will tell our friends about that time we saw a man leap aboard a spinning wheel of death and survive what looks impossible, or about the lady who spun from a hoop high in the air, saved from plummeting to the ground only by her neck. It’s the kind of stuff you never forget that you’ve seen.

My five-year-old wants to run away and join the circus. Come to think of it, so do I. We’d better start working on our acts.

Tips for seeing Kooza by Cirque Du Soleil

Parking at the Entertainment Quarter is actually quite reasonable. 3-4 hours is only $10.
If you’re taking kids, ask for a booster seat when you enter the seating pavilion.
Bathrooms are outside the pavilion so go beforehand.
Find your seats at least 10 minutes before the show starts so you don’t miss the pre-show entertainment.
The best place to see the show is smack bang right in the middle of the front section as this is where much of the action faces. Don’t fret if you’ve already bought tickets on the side though as the whole show is still visible from the entire ring.
The show is quite long for littles to sit through – an hour and a bit for the first half, followed by a 30 minute interval and then 45 minutes for the 2nd half.
If you are considering taking little ones, be aware that there are loud noises at times and a few scary themes like skeletons.
Water is provided for free near the bar areas so you can take your own water bottle as long as it’s not glass, and refill it.
Snacks and drinks are permitted into the pavilion.

Catch KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil in a city near you:

Sydney – Now playing until November 13 2016, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
Brisbane – From November 24 2016, Skygate Brisbane Airport (near DFO)
Melbourne – From January 20 2017, Flemington Racecourse
Perth – From April 13 2017, Belmont Park Racecourse, Victoria Park Drive (off Farmer Freeway), Burswood
Tickets at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

Thank you Cirque Du Soleil for tickets to see the show. All opinions are my own.

Sydney Day Trips: Palm Beach

October 2, 2016 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

With hundreds of stunning beaches running up and down the NSW coast, it’s hard to choose which one to visit.

On a sparkling Sunday we chose Palm beach, the northernmost suburb of Sydney, for a day trip. It’s an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD, making it the perfect spot to get away from the hustle of the city without an epic drive to get there.

Palm Beach is often called the “jewel” of the Northern Beaches. Situated on a peninsula it has a gorgeous combination of lush evergreen bushland, beaches with soft golden sand and surrounded by the bright blue Pacific Ocean on one side, and calm Pittwater waterway on the other.

The beach might look very familiar if you watch a lot of soap TV – in particular Home & Away. The show has been filmed on location here since its beginnings in 1988. As a result the beach has been a popular tourist attraction, particular for Brits.

There’s plenty to do at Palm Beach to spend a gorgeous day outside. The main beach is soft and inviting – be sure to swim between the flags, or take kids to the south end to paddle where the water is most shallow.

If swimming in the waves isn’t your cup of tea, try a dip in the 35m ocean pool. It’s perfectly designed for both lap swimmers and also paddling with children in the shallow end.

For more exploring, follow the path around the pool where there are rock pools to be found. Be careful with the timing of your rock pool walk, however, as it can be unsafe when the tide comes back in.

When it’s time for lunch there are a few cafes to try. We enjoyed a late breakfast at 2108 Espresso, with an Aussie standard dish of toasted sourdough, avocado, fresh tomato and feta for $14 (eggs an additional $3). For the kids there is a grilled cheese toastie and babyccino with a cute blue marshmallow.

For dessert, we decided to give the cafe next door that serves scooped ice cream a miss and go old school with Gaytimes.

To walk off the ice cream there are a few options for the afternoon. Nearby is a large grassy park with a sprawling playground. While there were picnic tables in the park we didn’t spot any bathroom amenities, and the playground equipment didn’t have much shade.

The more athletic option for the whole family is to take the scenic 1.2km walk from the beach to Barrenjoey Head to visit the historic lighthouse that sits on Sydney’s most northerly point. It’s a 25 minute walk each way so take water and go to the bathroom before hand (no bathrooms at the top!). From the top you’ll have a great view of Broken Bay, the Central Coast and the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Get Directions to Palm Beach

Sydney’s Best Eateries: The Tramsheds, Harold Park

October 1, 2016 / Forest Lodge, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

The sleepy inner west suburb of Forest Lodge has been undergoing a massive development over the past several years, with apartment blocks going up in droves. The old Rozelle Tramway Depot, originally built in 1904, has been beautifully refurbished to create the Tramsheds, a place for locals in this growing area a place to meet, eat and fulfil other vital day-to-day needs.

The Tramsheds, Harold Park

While the Tramsheds was obviously built to satisfy the need for services in this area (where previously there has been none), it’s also a gorgeous destination for people all over Sydney to drive to and enjoy as an outing.

The building is home to a variety of businesses, the majority being food-related, but also including a medical centre, nail bar, hair salon and supermarket. There are grab-and-go type of outlets and seating areas that look a bit like an upmarket food court, as well as table service cafes and fancier restaurants. Something, really, for everyone.

Tramsheds has free parking for under two hours onsite. We usually drive into their undercover parking area, particularly in summer. There is also street parking across the street – free for two hours.

Inside the Tramsheds you’ll notice a full-size restored tram as the centrepiece to the building. If you want to go inside, enter through the door for the Butcher and the Farmer cafe that is on the outside, next to the main entrance.

Butcher & The Farmer

If your kid is particularly enamoured with the tram you can eat inside it on the tiny tables. We found the tram to be fantastic entertainment for our daughter while we waited the 20 minutes for our table in the cafe.

We chose to dine at the Butcher & The Farmer mainly because it was next to the tram. The waitstaff seemed a bit overwhelmed at the large amount of people who had come to dine, but were friendly and helpful during our stay.

The breakfast menu we ordered from was on the small side, but had all the types of food we would regularly want to order – wholesome food with enough vegetarian options for me to choose from, and something plain for the fussy five-year-old.

My husband and I both ordered the Avocado, Tomato & Meredith Sheep’s Feta (with basil on farmer’s toast, $16), plus a coffee for the hubby ($3.5).

We ordered the little one the Poached Eggs (on farmer’s toast, $12) which they obligingly scrambled for her when we asked, plus a Blueberry, Strawberry & Raspberry Smoothie (with yoghurt and milk, $8).

The avocado on toast dishes hit the spot. Fresh soft bread, creamy avocado, tomatoes bursting with flavour. The coffee, according to my java-addicted spouse, was excellent, and he was thrilled with how large it was. Our daughter’s smoothie was similarly massive, so best shared between two. Her scrambled eggs were absolutely delicious – so good it’s a shame they’re not on the menu.

I did think the dishes were a tad bit expensive for what they were, however. Similar dishes cost a few dollars less in other up-market cafes in the inner west.

Bekya

We absolutely love this Middle Eastern restaurant inside the Tramsheds. There is a little dedicated kids menu featuring meat and falafel dishes with either Egyptian rice and noodles or chips, and a large regular menu that features lots of vegetarian options.

The dishes at Bekya are designed for sharing. We ordered Lady Fingers (haloumi in filo pastry, $13), the Grazing Plate (haloumi, roast cauliflower, beetroot, sweet potato with red cabbage salad, $25), Flatbread ($1 per piece), a side of chips ($10) and the kids’ Egyptian Falafel and Rice ($10).

The food is brought out when its ready rather than all at once, but it came pretty much one after the other very quickly. It was all piping hot, generous in its serves, and absolutely delicious.

Heritage Bakery and Pizzeria

We also dined on another occasion at Heritage Bakery & Pizzeria. The restaurant, tucked away at the back of the Tramsheds, serves up a brekkie menu plus an all-day menu featuring pizza, pasta, salads and antipasto. All bread, pizza and pastries are made with their own stone-milled BOK flour.

We ordered a Kids Margherita pizza ($8), Margherita San Marzano pizza (with tomato, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil, $15) and a Margherita San Marzano pizza with added mushrooms.

The pizzas were delicious and reasonably priced. We will happily dine here again.

Garcon

Our fave spot thus far to dine at the Tramsheds! Garçon is a coffee centric espresso and wine bar with incredible French-influenced food and even a little kids’ menu. We ordered Wagyu Beef Burger (with American Melted Cheese, Fresh Tomato, Pickled Cucumber & Fries $22.5), Soft Eggs (with avocado, sprinkled fetta) and kids’ Eggs and Soldiers.

It was an incredibly busy day when we visited and staff were run off their feet. They let us know the food would be a wait before we sat down and we said we didn’t mind, yet they still apologised repeatedly for the wait and gave us complementary wine. Champion customer service.

Redline Kitchen & Taphouse

This addition to the Tramsheds is on the far side near the park. It has an outdoor seating area that is pet-friendly and an indoor area. They serve breakfast from 9am-3pm weekends as well as a lunch and dinner menu.

The menu has a New Orleans influence, with hush puppies, jambalaya, burritos and tacos on offer. The kids’ menu has plenty of options and most are vegetarian.

Tramsheds Businesses

We strolled around the rest of the Tramsheds to check it out and were impressed with the various businesses we saw. At the moment, they include:

Bekya
Middle Eastern spiced grilled meats, vegetables and exotic salads.

Belle’s Hot Chicken
Famous fiery chicken and natural wines from Australia and abroad.

Bodega 1904
Serving up simple and delicious Latin American and Spanish inspired tapas.

Boxing Works (gym)

Butcher and the Farmer
A paddock to plate restaurant, retail butchery and takeaway.

Chambers Cellars (bottle shop)

Fish and Co.
Connecting diners to the ocean, with a food story showcasing sustainable and local seafood.

Flour Eggs Pasta
Fresh authentic pasta made the original Italian way.

Garçon
By The Little Marionette, the perfect place for your morning coffee or afternoon pick me up.

Gelato Messina
My fave gelato of all time. Choose from 35 flavours on their regular menu, plus 5 daily specials.

Heritage Bakery & Pizzeria
An all-day menu featuring, pizza, pasta, salads and a range of delicious antipastos.

Harold Park Medical Centre
A family medical practice open 7 days a week for appointments or walk-in consultations.

Mama’s Buoi
An authentic Vietnamese restaurant.

Moe & Co. (hair salon)

Naked Foods
Organic bulk foods, nuts, seeds and spices.

Osaka Trading Co.
A modern Japanese menu with a seafood focus.

Redline Kitchen & Taphouse
Soul food, home-brewed and local craft beer and quality bourbon.

Sir Chapel
An Old World England-themed bistro and brewery.

Supamarket
Local, market and farm fresh produce, a delicatessen and daily supermarket staples.

The Depot Nail Bar

Harold Park & Playground

Right outside the front of the Tramsheds is the3.8-hectare Harold Park, which has been built on the site of a former paceway. The park features a custom-built playground, picnic and barbeque areas and lots of grass for running around.

Bathrooms

One final note about the Tramsheds: they have the fanciest parents’ bathroom I’ve ever seen. It’s massive, clean and, dare I say it, almost elegant! An absolute winner for all the families.

The Tramsheds
1 Dalgal Way
Forest Lodge, NSW 2037
Hours: Daily, 7am-late
Phone: 02 8398 5695
Online: tramshedsharoldpark.com.au
Get Directions

Access: The building is fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The path leading to the Tramsheds, however, has some steps on the footpath, so strollers and wheelchairs will need to go up the main road instead. The cafes we dined in had tables that were very close together so not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. The rest of the Tramsheds, however, had wide spaces and seating that looked much more suitable.

Cathy Freeman Park + Olympic Cauldron, Olympic Park, Homebush

October 1, 2016 / Outdoor Play, Playgrounds, Sydney, Sydney Life / 2 Comments

Have you ever wondered where the famous caldron from the 2000 Sydney Olympics ended up once the games were over? The answer is it didn’t go very far at all.

After the magical opening and closing ceremonies (who can forget Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron and it rising through the air simultaneously dripping with fire and water?) the cauldron was taken down and moved just a few hundred metres to its permanent home – in the appropriately named Cathy Freeman Park.

Located very conveniently next to the Allphones Arena, Cathy Freeman Park has 2 playgrounds – one for young kids and one for older – huge shady trees and easy access to bathrooms and cafes.

We often end up in the park when attending a show at the Allphones Arena – it’s great to burn off energy after a long drive before needing to sit still for a long time while watching a show.

The cauldron is a popular feature for tourists and kids, who particularly love running underneath it in the puddles, and trying to judge when the fountain is about to turn on. There’s always one kid who times it poorly and gets absolutely soaked. Bring extra clothes in case this is your kid!

Also in the area:

Check out nearby Brickpit Ring Walk, Wentworth Common, nearby Bicentennial Park, Blaxland Riverside Playground and the Olympic Cauldron in Cathy Freeman Park. Or, take a dip in the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Cathy Freeman Park
Online: sydneyolympicpark.com.au
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
Get Directions

The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Sydney Opera House

September 30, 2016 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 7 Comments

A special guest post today by Melissa Pym.

We were very fortunate to receive tickets to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Sydney Opera House.

We arrived with time to spare and given that the Opera House is such a special venue, my kids had a little treat before the show. Some Very Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes. A little steep at $5 each however both kids devoured the whole cupcake (they normally just eat the top!) and sadly, I did not get a chance for a pic or a taste. For the sugar conscious there was not too much icing on the top.

I really had no expectations for the show and did not get a chance to watch the promo video. The book by Eric Carle is a favourite at home and we have read it many times over the years. I was also a bit apprehensive to attend the show on my own with Miss 5 and Mr 2.8 year old. However, the moment the show started my kids along with everyone else were captivated. They enjoyed every part, interacting and participating with the actors and the charming puppets.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was an amazing production where everything was created with kids in mind. The stories were beautifully presented through the stage, the music and the puppets. It exceeded my expectations as I had no idea that the production would cover three more of Eric Carles’ books: ‘The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse’, ‘Mister Seahorse’ and ‘The Very Lonely Firefly’. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse and Mister Seahorse were my little man’s favourite in terms of the puppets and stage props. He kept pointing out and repeating the names of all the animals and the fish. Clapping with excitement after each one left the stage.

And of course the final story ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ had most of the kids and adults reciting the lines from the book with the actors. Naturally, the ending was Miss 5’s favourite part.

My only very minor negative was with my 2.8 year old getting restless in the last 10 minutes of the show. However, the puppets and I managed to contain him.

Overall, I highly recommend anyone with children aged 2 to 5 years to go and see this wonderful production. It is my favourite kids show so far and I would take my youngest to see it when it comes back again.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is playing at the Sydney Opera House until October 9, 2016.

More information and tickets: sydneyoperahouse.com

Thank you so much to the Sydney Opera House for tickets for reviewing purposes. The show is absolutely magical and all opinions are the writer’s own. Additional show images courtesy of the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney’s Best Shows For Kids: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo

September 28, 2016 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

Take a walk on the wild side with a show 65 million years in the making. Dinosaurs once again roam the world thanks to the magic that is Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo.

During this educational and entertaining show, kids have the opportunity to get up close to prehistoric creatures that have been discovered in Australia such as the Australovenator, AKA the cute baby dinos that make the crowd go “Awwwww” and the Meganeura, an insect from the Carboniferous period (approximately 300 million years ago), which looked like a mammoth dragonfly.

Scientific facts fly hard and fast during the show, and the audience has to think fast to keep up. Dinosaur devotees will be thrilled to learn about these lesser-known Aussie dinos, in the most entertaining way possible – through first-hand experience.

The real genius of Erth’s Dinosaur is creative way in which they blend fun and fact. Give a kid a lecture on dinosaur history and they’ll probably doze off. Give them a dinosaur to pat on the head, and they’ll be entranced for hours.

And it’s not just the kids who can’t take their eyes off the dinosaurs. Watching these incredibly realistic creatures walk around the stage is an entertaining experience for the adults, too.

With its mix of kid jokes and adult humour, audience participation and a deliciously scary moment or two, it’s hard to tell who enjoyed the show more – the kids or their parents. It’s easy to see why Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is a hit of sauropod proportions.

More Information:

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is recommend for ages 5 and up. I would heartily agree with this recommendation due to language (lots of big words that littlies won’t understand) and also a truly terrifying carnivore.

Stick around after the show to enjoy the free activities for kids offered by The Seymour Centre, including The Owls Apprentice by Little Wings Puppets, a beautiful show combining shadow puppetry, hand puppetry and storytelling, Polyglot Theatre’s Forest Feast, where children will create a feast of food from craft items, and Ants, an interactive roving performance where human-sized ants and children work together in a gentle and unusual landscaping project.

Catch Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo at the Seymour Centre
Dates: 27, 28, 29, 30 Sept and 1 Oct, two shows a day: 10.30am and 12.30pm
Prices: All tickets $22 available via Box Office (02) 9351 7940 or http://www.seymourcentre.com
Address: The Seymour Centre – Corner of City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale
Full School Holidays Program: http://www.seymourcentre.com.au

I received tickets to Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo for reviewing purposes. I absolutely loved the show and all opinions written here are my honest feedback.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

The Owl’s Apprentice: Spot On Children’s Festival at the Riverside Theatre

September 27, 2016 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

There is a fantastic arts festival for kids running over the current school holidays at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta. Called the “Spot On Children’s Festival”, it’s the fifth year that the Riverside Theatre has played host to a program of award-winning shows, relaxed performances and free activities.

It was our first time at Spot On, and we highly enjoyed the performance we came to see: The Owl’s Apprentice.

The show is a gorgeous mix of shadow and hand puppetry with physical comedy by the Little Wings Puppets company.

The recommended age for the show is 4-8 which I think is spot on. The kids laughed hard at jokes that included the word “bottom”, or related to wombats pooping squares, but I’m also sure that they absorbed the message at the heart of the show – that wisdom isn’t something that can be taught, but is the culmination of many life experiences.

Outside the theatre, in the courtyard of the theatre, a large variety of free activities have been set up for the duration of the festival, including Kinderling Radio, balloon-twisting, face painting, craft activities, a play gym, a photo booth, a chalk wall and more.

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a day during the school holidays, I highly recommend checking out a show at the festival that is running until Oct 2 (so get in quick!).

More information:

The 2016 Spot On Children’s Festival program is available via the Riverside Theatres website at: riversideparramatta.com.au/spoton16

What: Spot On Children’s Festival
Dates: 27 September to 2 October 2016
Tickets: Free to $20. From the Box Office (02) 8839 3399 or http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au
Venue: Riverside Theatres – Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Ages: Children aged 1-12 years

Full Program:
· The Listies 6D – 10.30am on 27 and 28 Sept; 1pm on 28 Sept

· The Owl’s Apprentice – 10am and 12.30pm on 27 and 28 Sept. Relaxed performance at 12.30pm on 27 Sept

· Curious Jac – 10am and 12.30pm on 29 and 30 Sept. Relaxed performance 12.30pm on 29 Sept

· Play Along with Sam – 11am and 2pm on 29 Sept

· The Young King – 10.30 am and 1pm on 29 Sept to 1 Oct

· Maya the Bee Movie – 2.15pm on 29 Sept

· In a Deep Dark Forest –12pm and 3pm on 30 Sept, 9:30am, 12pm and 3pm on 1 and 2 Oct

· Blinky Bill the Movie – 2.15pm on 30 Sept

· The Iron Giant: Signature Edition – 2.15pm on 1 Oct

· Kubo and the Two Strings – 2.15pm on 2 Oct

Thank you to the Spot On Children’s Festival for inviting us to check out The Owl’s Apprentice. We absolutely loved the show.

Grumpy Donuts Store Opening

September 22, 2016 / Camperdown, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Do you love donuts? Then get thee to the brand new Grumpy Donut store in Camperdown, opening 9am Saturday September 24th.

Grumpy Donuts Store Opening, Camperdown, via christineknight.me — Owner Elise

Grumpy’s began when husband wife, Scott and Elise Honeybrook, decided to launch a business together to bring quality, hand made donuts to Australia. The result has been a smash hit, with Sydney-siders clamoring for their massive yeast-raised donuts with fancy toppings.

I was invited to the grand opening of the store to check out the new place and try the donuts. While the Buttered Toast and Smores are favourites with Grumpy’s fans, I really loved the Pink Lemonade and whatever the pink one with sprinkles is called.

Light and fluffy with the perfect amount of sweet glaze, these donuts are just delicious.

Please note that the store is quite small and has very little seating. Your best bet is to get the donuts to go and eat them nearby.

Grumpy Donuts
72 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown
grumpydonuts.com
Get Directions

Sydney Kids: The Art Gallery of NSW for Families

September 18, 2016 / Indoor Play, Museums, Sydney, Sydney Life / 6 Comments

Sydney’s Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) was established in 1871, a home to international and Australian permanent art collections, temporary exhibitions, programs and research. The gallery has a particularly beautiful collection of colonial and 19th-century Australian works and European old masters, as well as galleries dedicated to the arts of Asia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

I’ve been visiting the art gallery since I was a teenager. First on school excursions, and then later with friends and my now husband. I’ve loved art all my life and introduced my daughter to art as a baby, hoping that she will grow up to similarly appreciate the arts.

We love visiting the gallery during their family programs as they makes art so much more accessible to young people. The AGNSW has a busy schedule for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens, and, best of all, the majority of them are free!

Our favourite program is the twice-monthly “drop in and make” art activity. Held in the entrance court of the gallery, the activity is free and suitable for kids of all ages plus their carers/families. The activities are always designed so that little kids can enjoy scribbling if they like, and older kids can create something really beautiful that is themed to a current exhibition.

This month the art-making activity was crafty kimono cards, taking inspiration from the Japanese art of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. We were provided with materials and instructions on how to make a kimono card with a special hidden pocket to store secrets.

There is no time limit on making the activities, which was lucky for us as we sat there making our card for over an hour. The drop in activities are very popular, particularly on rainy days. We were told we should come back a few hours later (not sure what we were meant do with a kid until then?) but decided to wait until a table freed up, which was only about 5 minutes luckily. About half an hour later the majority of tables were empty, so I advise waiting for a table rather than taking the staff’s advice to leave.

On the lower level of the gallery we discovered another free family activity area free with a different activity: “make your own zine”.

This space is also home to rotating activities for kids or adults to enjoy. At the moment, you can create your own self-published booklet filled with ideas, words and images. The activity is inspired by Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho whose exhibition is currently on display in the gallery.

This area of the gallery is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 4pm during the school holidays (26-30 September, 2-7 October), as well as every weekend. During the school holidays, gallery staff will be on-hand to provide instruction, inspiration and additional collage materials.

The AGNSW also has age-specific programs running throughout the year. “Kids Club” for ages 5-8 and”Art Club” for ages 9-13 both run on weekends with “tour for tots”, ages 2-5, on week days. For kids with special needs and their carers, “children’s access workshops” runs once a month on week days, and during the school holidays there are special workshops for kids and teens such as calligraphy and “clay club”.

Get more information on family programs at the AGNSW.

Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm (Wednesdays open until 10pm)
Prices: FREE
Online: artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Get Directions
Getting there: get the train to Circular Quay and walk, or park at the Domain parking station which is right next door to the art gallery. Weekend parking is $10 all day.