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May 15, 2013 by admin

Family Events Saturday 18^th May

Archikids, City of London.? Come down and join in the activities at this London children?s free architecture festival.? All around the City, different hands-on events and activities bring London?s structures into fascinating lessons of detail, design and function while being fun and free.? Just to name a few of the numerous events: One New Change will be hosting tunnel making, making and 3-D city with sting, making structures with candy and sketching the skyline on the roof terrace windows (if you have not been up here ? GO, it?s amazing) ; Exchange Square will have activities that investigate how architecture interacts with landscapes, building a city with cane, and a scooter trail; Leadenhall Market will have bridge-making and shelter making?. Do check out the rest of the events.? If you can?t make Saturday, head down on Sunday

Chelsea Fringe Festival: World?s End Estate Community Gardens, Green Peas Events.? Head down to Chelsea for a fantastic afternoon of nature crafts for 2-8 year olds as part of the Chelsea Fringe Festival.? Choose between making nature collages, veggie print-making, painting and tactile, messy play with lentils, beans, rice and more.? Free, but booking strongly recommended.? Please contact Anna at info@greenpeasevents.co.uk/ tel: 07949392708, www.greenpeasevents.co.uk (they do fantastic birthday parties and events)

Saatchi Gallery Family Art Workshops.? Take part in an artist-led workshop learning about the current exhibit, this week the focus is Sergei Vasiliev. 1-2:30, ?7

National Portrait Gallery: Storytelling and Family Art Workshop.? Toy?s Wardrobe: all toys have special outfits.? Learn a little bit about some selected portraits and follow up with an art activity. 10:30-11:15 and 1:30-2:15 for ages 3+.?? In addition to this, you can make your own Jumping Jack for children ages 5+ 11:30 ? 1pm and 2:30-4pm.? All free

Don?t forget about Love Swimming Fast Track Swimming:? Book a fast track lesson with Bila and Rui at the end of May and take a ?swimming staycation? read my review of my son?s marked development during his fast-track course.? ?Fast-track is an affordable and highly effective way for beginners (I am not exaggerating, Bila got my son to swim in two lessons) to advanced swimmers who will work on technique.

Saturday Films:

Barbincan Family Film Club:Bugsy Malone ??Tickets are ?2, bring the kids and escape the cold while you chill and watch a movie.? Great price.? 11am, all ages.

Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: The Princess Bride .? That?s right, THE PRINCESS BRIDE ON THE BIG SCREEN: Remember 1987? Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin, Christopher Guest, Robin Wright and so many more in this Rob Reiner classic (that will be me in the front row with two kids and a husband drinking the bloody mary ? unless we are at One New Change at the Archikids) Tickets ?1 with ?4 membership, popcorn and juice ?2.? My husband?s rainy day ace in the hole read the review, fabulous value for Saturday morning family time in a great location.? Also, head down the road to The Gold on Portobello Road and have a fabulous family-friendly meal in a pre-gentrified Notting Hill gem.? Be sure to get one of the balcony tables in the atrium area ? wonderfully food, cool venue and very family-friendly for slightly older kids.

Electric Cinema, Kid?s Club: This week?s feature, Finding Nemo; 10:30am.? Check out the newly refurbished Electric Cinema with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs.? Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning.? Tickets ?8 per person. All ages

Family Events Sunday 12^th May

Camden Arts Centre, Make and Do Sunday.? Come and join artist Adam Walker as he leads the children through an activity designed around Dieter Roth?s new exhibit: Diaries.? 2-4pm, all ages, free.

Royal Academy of Art, Family Studio, Living Art.? Explore the historic artworks in the collection of the Royal Academy and bring them to life through re-enactment.? All ages, free, 11am-2pm.

Baby Rave, The Pirate Castle.? Why not bring the baby to a rave in Camden??? Head over to The Pirate Castle (very near Camden tube) ?Sunday 3:30-5pm.? Changing facilities, music at comfortable levels, older siblings welcome, food and drinks on sale.? Children ?3, adults ?6 (includes free drink) or ?4 for no drink? non-walkers go free!!!

Mwalimu Express, Rich Mix, Bethnal Green: This is a truly London activity ? come join the Saidi JJ Kanda and take the train to Zanzibar as this Sundays destination.? There will be a screening of ?As Old as my Tongue? celebrating the life of Zanzibar?s famous singer Bi Kidude.? Free, all ages ?

And on to the upcoming week:

For Babies and Toddlers:

Classical Babies, Knightsbridge: Come along for a jazz piano concert in the lovely hall at St. Columba?s on Pont Street.? Push chair friendly ( a few steps), good fun, near to Hyde Park and Harrods should you be looking for something to do after.? ?10 per adult, children free.

British Museum, Parent?s View of Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum.? ?12.50 (a bit more than my usual standard of a tenner) but bring the baby and come along to a fascinating tour and discussion of the current exhibit at The British Museum.? This promises to be a fabulous bit of brain candy!!? Tuesday, 21^st May, 10:30-1pm.

Electric Scream: Mondays, 11am.? Come and see Promised Land (Gus Van Sant?s exploration of fracking with juicy Matt Damon) ?Experience the luxury of the newly refurbished Electric Cinema.? This screening is only for carers with infants under 12 months, dim lighting, changing tables, quality food, even wine!!? ?15.50 for an armchair, very pricy but great fun.

Imagination Station, play music and movement for babies 4 months +: Fun and affordable interactive music and movement class for infants and toddlers.? Mondays at the Kensington Library, Wednesdays at the Forge Arts Venue in Camden, Fridays in Marylebone.? See web site for details.

Gate Picturehouse, Big Scream.? Tuesdays at 10:30.? ?Bring your infant under 12 months on for a screening of The Great Gatsby. Tickets are ?8.50.

Pippa?s Poppets:? SW1?s favourite singer and songwriter has a new venue ? GAMBADO!!!.? Bring your kids along to Pippa?s class and get one hour of play in Gambado after!!!? Wednesdays 9:45 for babies and 10:10 for toddlers.? Also, there is now an early morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Saviour, St. George?s Square (just by the Pimlico Tube) from 9:35am for 4 months- 3 years. ?7.50 per class.? Mondays and Wednesdays at St. Gabriel?s Church, Pimlico.? Thursdays in Chelsea at Beaufort House (fabulous London family club) and Tuesdays in Knightsbridge.