Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in toronto, CN

What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

June 25, 2009

This weekend looks like it might be hot and maybe sticky in places - not to mention a tad fragrant from the garbage strike. Since the majority of water features & parks are closed, I'm not sure exactly how we are going to stay cool but we will find a way. Our agenda may include a trip for ice cream at Dutch Dreams, or a playdate at Dufferin Grove (I was there today with Mamalooper and No Mother Earth) - because the shade of that park makes for hours of comfortable playing.There are also some other things going on around town (and just outside) that we may check out:

The CN Tower is having a Birthday!

The CN Tower is turning thirty-three -- wow, really? It doesn't look a day over 20 -- and for the special day on Saturday the tower will be red and white (have a look for it before bedtime).

Cobourg Highland Games Festival

Why not escape the city and the garbage and strikes and head to Cobourg to experience over 100 pipers, dancers, and Celtic traditions of all kinds at the Cobourg Highland Festival. There will be games going on all day (every see a man toss a telephone pole or a cannon ball -- IN A KILT? Here's your chance). Everyone can be Scottish for the day, just stay clear of the hagus.

Summer Music In the Garden at Harbourfront Centre

Starting today and every Thursday at 7pm / Sundays at 4pm there will be a free performance of classical music and dance all summer long. The music and dance take place in the garden that was designed by Yo Yo Ma and Julie Moir Messervy. Concert admission is free and all performances are weather-permitting. For more information on the concert series visit Harbourfrontcentre.com

Summer Reading Club Kick-off

At many branches around the city, the TD Summer Reading Club is starting this week and the theme is Agent 009. Check the Toronto Public Library branch nearest you for registration dates to pick up your reading club super sleuth kit.   Gerrad/Ashdale (1432 Gerrad St. E) will be be signing up all day Saturday and Long Branch Library (3500 Lakeshore Blvd W) will be having a kick-off on Saturday between 2 and 3pm.

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What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

June 18, 2009

It's Father's Day this weekend and of course The Bunch Family has something cool going on. This Sunday is Totstock, an outdoor "eco, rock, and literary festival"  (weather gods call for sun and high of 27) and here are the details:

Totstock '09
WHEN: Sunday, June 21, 2-5 PM
WHERE: Sorauren Park
COST: PWYC, proceeds to benefit the High Park Nature Centre

Line-Up includes Claire Jenkins * Andrew Larsen and Irene Luxbacher * I Eat Kids * Don Kerr and the Blue Bin Band * Claudia Dey * Cowboy Ninja Bear * Cirque Dirt * Barbara Klunder * Dave Wall

Also going on around town:

Father's Day Stories and Craft

This Saturday afternoon, Maria A. Shchuka Library (1745 Eglinton W) celebrates Father's day with a dad-centric themed story time and craft. 11 - 12pm. Call 416 393-1000 for more information

Kids Krafts at Mackenzie House

This Saturday, the entire family is invited for an afternoon of crafts at Mackenzie House (82 Bond Street), the home of Toronto's first mayor William Lyon Mackenzie. Children can participate in historically based activities and make a craft between noon and 4:30pm. Call 416 392 6915 for more information.

Teddy's Bear Picnic 2009

Saturday afternoon at The Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main St. S, Newmarket) is hosting the annual Teddy Bear Picnic that will include games, contests, beary fun activities. Pre-registration required. Call 905 953 5314 for more information.

 

 

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What's Going on in Toronto This Weekend

by Katie

May 21, 2009

No better time than this weekend than to get out and do some gardening with the kids. Our local church is having a plant sale and the weather looks great, so I'll lather up the sunscreen on everyone, put a hat over every head, and prepare myself to be scrubbing dirty finger nails at sundown.

If you are looking for some kid-friendly green thumb inspiration that won't break the piggy bank this weekend check these Toronto events out:

Doors Open at the Don Valley Brick Works

Plant seedlings, learn how to create a container garden, buy plants, and all sorts of other environmentally friendly activities will be going on at the Evergreen Brick Works, and see the plans to regenerate these industrial buildings. Local artists and storytellers will be on hand to help inspire creativity at this family-friendly event. Doors open runs both days this weekend May 23rd 10-2pm / May 24th 10-4pm

Celebrate Spring & Grow a Garden at Riverdale Library (370 Broadview Ave)

On Saturday afternoon at the Riverdale Library, children are invited to plant a butterfly garden and take home a plant for their garden. Call for more information 416 393 7720 May 23rd 2-2:30pm.

And not plant related but definitely planet related, this is the last weekend to check out Cosmic Revolutions at the Ontario Science Centre. This is a fascinating photography exhibit that includes photos done by both professional and amateur astronomers, photographers, and artists from across Canada. Show the kids how other Canadians take in the night sky.

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Toronto-centric kids books

by Katie

November 25, 2008

What better way to learn about Toronto than to read some kid-friendly books dedicated to the city. Toronto is a massive city, full of interesting places, natural wonders, and of course: hockey. Here are my top five picks for Toronto-centric kid books: The Lobster Kids' Guide to Exploring Toronto (Kids' City Explorer Series) is a Toronto Guide written for kids (okay,okay - parents are allowed  Read more...

Top Five: Storytime in Toronto

by Katie

November 11, 2008

In my research for Toronto Savvy Source, this is probably one of the more difficult top five lists to pull together. Deciding which story times are the best in the city is pretty much impossible.  So I decided the easiest thing to do is to list the first five that I can think of off the top of my head.  Cop out? You bet, and without further ado here it goes (drumroll please): Mabel's Fables  Read more...

Playdateless in north toronto

by Katie

September 09, 2008

When I discovered I was pregnant, I also realized I had no friends in the city that had kids. What was I going to do when the baby came along? I had no clue where I was going to get some mommy friends in Toronto - they weren't going to be found in some nice boutique on Queen West or in the line-up for my TIFF tickets. My friends were all single, footless and fancy yadda, yadda, yadda and I knew  Read more...

One fish, two (thousand) fish

by Katie

August 19, 2008

I'm pretty sure the first time my daughter saw a live fish, it was one of those tanks in the grocery store - you know, the DOOMED fish. She thought they were cool and got a huge kick out of how they were swimming in the same direction. I don't have the heart to tell her why they are there but she will figure it out. We are full-on in the "WHY?" phase of questions and I know it's coming soon. Oh  Read more...

Mermaids: Mythical Inspiration

by Katie

August 14, 2008

When I was a child, I was fascinated with mythical creatures and all things magical. My family and friends gave me many beautiful books around the myths and legends of various cultures. One creature that competed heavily with the unicorns and Big Foot (he was really popular when I was a kid), was the legend of mermaids. Maybe it was because growing up next to the ocean, it seemed easy to believe  Read more...

Listen to your books!

by Katie

July 15, 2008

When we travel as a family, 99% of the time it's because we're on a roadtrip. And what makes a roadtrip more tolerable (other than a chauffeur and stretch limo) is audio entertainment. Pre-Gigi, we used to blast the tunes or an occasional stand-up comic to pass the hours, but once Gigi entered the scene and (gasp) started voicing her opinions, our musical selections suddenly were being vetoed  Read more...

Vive La France

by Katie

July 14, 2008

Happy Bastille Day! Does anyone feel like leading a revolution? Gigi does on a daily basis, but today we'll do it with a French flair which, for some reason, seems more stylish. Since we can't go to the France of Canada aka, La belle province du Quebec we'll find something to do en Francais right here in Toronto. Thankfully, it's fairly easy to find French programs for kids that are both fun  Read more...

by Katie

June 25, 2008

Gigi and I live in the North York neighborhood, which I find very different from my old stomping grounds of the Annex. There are more high-rise condos around than I can handle but the amenities and local schools are very good. Within walking distance of our apartment are a number of free and fun activities that can be done any day of the week it just depends on what the weather gives us. Lately,  Read more...

Our neighbourhood

by Katie

June 24, 2008

Gigi and I live in the North York neighborhood, which I find very different from my old stomping grounds of the Annex. There are more high-rise condos around than I can handle but the amenities and local schools are very good. Within walking distance of our apartment are a number of free and fun activities that can be done any day of the week it just depends on what the weather gives us. Lately,  Read more...

Five awesome reasons to raise your kid in Toronto

by Katie

June 23, 2008

When I moved to Toronto eight years ago, I never expected to find myself getting married and raising a child in the big. Pre-baby, I was an IT consultant for a huge corporation which meant I worked strange hours and traveled near and far to different work sites, sometimes for months at a time. I can say with confidence that the best thing I got out of my job was my husband SB. And cheap tickets  Read more...

The Rainy Day List

by Katie

June 10, 2008

Rainy days with a preschooler can be a special kind of hell for parents. Especially when your preschooler has boundless energy that the confines of a small apartment cannot exhaust. Oh wait; I guess we can assume that all preschoolers contain the same bottomless resource of fuel a fuel that if the world powers could harness, we would probably be able to solve the energy crisis. This week had a  Read more...

Hanging out at the library

by Katie

June 04, 2008

If I was to assess my parenting skills, there a more than a few things I can think of that need work. Off the top of my head, I fail miserably on the no-tv before three idea, the never raising my voice pledge-to-self, and the no swearing pipe dream. Thankfully the reading to my child dream isn't on that list. My daughter's entire family has read to her from the get-go. During the early months,  Read more...

Top Toronto spots to play when it's cold outside

by Katie

January 20, 2008

Holy crow the weather has been nasty lately. Between that Arctic freeze last week and the never-ending snow on the weekend, Winter is here and it's not going anywhere fast. Weather like this calls for indoor play and sometimes those much needed playdates are no where to be found, so I'm going to share our top five indoor spots to hit when there is preschooler energy to be burned, cabin-fever to  Read more...