Body Worlds Exhibition at Ontario Science Centre in Toronto

Obviously this is not a children-oriented exhibition but babies don't care and for those in age of understanding the human body I guess it is a good educational way to spend a sunday afternoon and actually I was amazed by how many children were either listening to their parents trying to explain what they know about the human body or watching those lifeless bodies. The exhibition was first in Toronto approximatively 3 years ago and they came back for a few months with the Story of the Heart exhibition. I won't say much about the exhibition itself except one little thing: if you can't stand ER on TV then it might not be for you as it is tough on emotions:) but extremely interesting. The Ontario Science Centre is huge, displaying many exhibitions at the same time for all audiences and I guess you want to purchase a membership if you want to enjoy them all. With a baby your time is probably limited so based on Baby's schedule, you may try it at night as you will get special fares for the Body Worlds Exhibition only. Fee is $27 per person for the day and the museum is stroller friendly. They claim to have an online ticket booking service but it never worked for us so you may want to try to book over the phone as some of the times (I think they let people in every 30 minutes) might be already sold out when you get there. Washrooms on the main floor are well equiped with a changing station and a nursery room. Elevators can take you to the different levels. More info about the Body Worlds at http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/bodyworlds/default.asphttp://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/bodyworlds/default.asp
Just a quick piece of advice: don't eat anything too heavy before you go and see the Body Worlds Exhibition:)
We made the trip to the Ontario Science Centre for the Body Worlds Exhibition but I am sure they have many other really interesting events so please check their calendar at http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/whatson/default.asp

Riverdale Farm in Old Cabbagetown Toronto

Have your kids ever seen cows and sheeps else where than on the shelf of a supermarket? Well here is your chance to show what they look like for real:) The Riverdale Farm in Old Cabbagetown is absolutely baby and kid friendly and it is an amazing place for an "educative" walk. Located 3 blocks east of Parliament Street along Winchester Street and 3 blocks north of Gerrard Street East along Sumach Street, the farm opens daily, 9:00am to 5:00pm year long. Only the lower east gate closes, December 1 st to February 28th.

The farm duties go from egg collection to goat milking or horse grooming and you will be able to enjoy cow milking every day at 10.30am.
They also have a farmer's market (in front of the farm) every Tuesday, rain or shine 3pm to 7pm during the growing season (May to October).
In the summertime come and enjoy a picnic outside the farm's west gate and when you're done with the animals you can walk down along the pathway to the Riverdale Park. Believe me, after 2 hours spent with Mother Nature it's hard to get back to street noises and ambulances:)
And all that right in the city:) For more details about the farm, its programs, the farmer's market or any other info, please go the Friends of Riverdale Farm's website at http://www.friendsofriverdalefarm.com/index.htm or to the city's website at http://www.toronto.ca/parks/riverdalefarm.htm.
Enjoy!

Riverdale Park in Old Cabbagetown Toronto

If you live in the city and have a baby you are probably experiencing the same issue as we are: what to do on weekends that we haven't already done tons of times? You don't want to stay home all day because after half an hour playing Peekaboo you feel like you are getting stupid and you don't want to go shopping either because you were taught that sundays afternoon are a family time:)
So what else? Well you could go for a nice walk in one ot the Toronto' parks and Riverdale Park is one of them. Located in the Old Cabbagetown district it goes from Riverdale farm down to the Don River and then (unfortunately) along the DVP. The path going both north and south is okay and wide enough for strollers even though you will mostly see joggers or bikers. Try not to go by yourself because you will have to go down lots of stairs before reaching the pathway. If you walk north at some point you will distance yourself from the DVP and I believe you could walk for at least 10 kms. If you wanted to go south you would end up at the Distillery district.
FYI that path is part of the Toronto Discovery Walk.
It is an alternative to Queen's Park. However, even if you probably get the lights from the DVP, I would not feel safe to go too late at night or when it gets dark.
In the summertime don't bother going too far, just stop anywhere in the park and enjoy a picnic or a nice afternoon in the sun.
More details on wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverdale_Park_(Toronto)

Baby Trunk Show at the Distillery in Toronto

I know this is a past event (Nov, 6-7th) but because it occurs every year I thought it might be good to say a few words about this baby show. First of all I liked that it took place at the Distillery district and that it was not too too big. There were probaby no more than 50 exhibitors but they claim to sell what you cannot find in stores and I must say that they had nice stuff, including a hairdresser that could come right to your place (haircuts on wheels) for your little one and your husband, clothing, toys, photographs and jewellery. Entrance was $7 which was getting you a 10% discount at the Cafe Uno right across the show, samples, coupons, a participation to a contest for baby products and last but not least a donation to Sick Kids Hospitals. No need to say that they had a changing station in the women's washrooms with wipes and diapers. They also had set up a few tables for parents to relax or feed their babies and a child care service from Kids & Company was available for free.
And because you don't need the full day to go through the exhibition, what a nice opportunity to (re) visit the Distillery and have a bite in one of the restaurants or little cafes there.
Having said that, you may want to bookmark their website for next year http://www.childrenstrunkshow.com/home/

Vanity Fair Portraits at the ROM in Toronto

Vanity Fair Portraits brings together a star-studded array of almost 150 iconic photographs from both its vintage period and modern periods. The exhibition is divided into two parts, 1913-36, the magazine’s early period, and 1983 to the present. This glamorous photographic history of portraiture features such legends as Madonna, Tom Cruise, Bette Davis, Ernest Hemingway, Louis Armstrong and Cary Grant.
That's for the exhibition, it's really worth the $22 at the entrance and it's on until January 3, 2010. Now as for the baby stuff the ROM is a baby friendly museum. They have strollers that you can borrow (not recommended for infants I would say as they almost are like carts), you can keep your stroller and/or baby carrier all the way and they have elevators to every floor. Washrooms downstairs are equiped with changing stations (not sure they have washrooms on each floor). The cafeteria in the basement is spacious and quiet and Baby can be fed in a peaceful environement.
I would, I guess, recommend weekdays vs weekends. I went there over lunchtime on a Thursday and it was really not busy.
For more info on the exhibition, please go to the ROM website at http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibitions/special/vanityfair/exhibition.php

Rosehill Reservoir Park in Toronto

How nice it would be to escape the city sometimes:) Well, last Sunday we haven't quite left the city, however we went for a long walk in the middle of the trees and Mother Nature. If you live downtown and don't want to get stuck in the traffic to High Park you might be intersted to know about Rosehill Reservoir. The Rosehill Reservoir overlooks Rosedale and goes all the way down to St Clair Avenue west of Mount Pleasant.
The huge, flat grass plateau is a good place for families and children with a playground and four swings. We spent a little bit of time there and really enjoyed the sun going down. If you are in the mood for hiking you may go down on the trails from the plateau but be aware that there might be some stairs at some point so might not be a bad idea to take your baby carrier that day. The scenery is quite nice and peaceful up there and if it's time for feeding you can always head back to a cafe or coffee shop on Yonge Street. I am not good at directions so if you want to find out more about that "discovery walk" you can rely on that route from Toronto Heritage at http://www.heritagetoronto.org/discover-toronto/map/walk/town-park-avenue-road-rosehill-reservoir.
Definitely a good spot for a family day and get some fresh air.

Movies at Strollers and Stars

I posted about Movies for Mommies but Toronto has another movie program from Cineplex for parents ; The theatre in Toronto is Silvercity located at Yonge and Eglinton. Same as Movies for Mommies with complimentary baby food, a changing table outside the theatre and lower sound. No strollers allowed in the theatre but you can leave it downstairs by the ticket office, they have the kids dedicated room with lot of space for many many strollers:) Movies are played every wednesday at Sylvercity. For the program and other participating theatres in the GTA, you can check their website at http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/StarsAndStrollers.aspx#whatsPlaying.
If you are interested in the Yonge/Eglinton location, you want to allow yourself plenty of time as it is not that easy to access. If you have a stroller, make sure you will enter the building on Eglinton West, there's an elevator to the 2nd floor. If you enter on Yonge Street, you are going to be stuck with escalators not wide enough for strollers:)
Big theatre for the moms program, big screen. In other words, everything you need to have a great time and if you want to reward your baby after a quiet and peaceful show you can always go to Toys'r Us on the same floor:)
Enjoy the show!

MomCafe Toronto inaugural session

I attended this morning the inaugural event of MomCafe in Toronto. MomCafe provides a forum to connect women through meetings, seminars and internet-based communication tools and they had their 1st meeting this morning at One Up, 130 Dundas Street West. The purpose of this group, dedicated to working moms or stay-home moms, is either to share experiences or network with other moms or just get out of the house doing something good to your brain:) This morning we had the chance to listen to 2 speakers or I'd rather say 2 wonder women: Caroline Connell, Editor-in-chief for Today's Parent Magazine and Sarah Morgenstern, co-founder and publisher for SavvyMom Media. They basically do it all and that was good to hear in person that it's possible:)
It is also encouraging to see that even though you are a mom you can still participate in good conversation:)
Event ran from 9.30 to 11.30am, for non-members cost was $35 + tax and child care was provided for an additional $10 from Kids & Company. Breakfast complimentary.
Annual membership to MomCafe is $99 and you get access to online tools, valuable resources, new connections and discounts on upcoming events.
Not sure when the next event is scheduled for in Toronto but they look pretty active in Calgary and Vancouver where they first launched.
More details about MomCafe at: http://www.momcafe.net/home

Swimming Class at Trinity Recreation Centre

We made it, we took our 1st swimming lesson last monday at the recreation centre by the Trinity Bellwoods park (Queen Street West, west of Barthust) and we both enjoyed it.
The class is 30 minutes long in a small pool where you can easily sit down on steps or get on your knees while holding your baby. The group is fairly small with I would say 7 or 8 couples parents/baby. The class starts off with a song and then you get to learn how to hold your baby in the water. After that it's your time to play with your baby and get him/her comfortable in the water, you can walk around the pool, pick toys for your little one to play with or just chat with other parents. If you just did you hair you may not want to do it but otherwise you can soak your baby into the water, I was a little bit scared at first but it looks like Achille liked it so who cares about my hair?! Babies in the group are a few months to 2 years old.
I take the lessons from 10.15 to 10.45am on Mondays but they also have the Guardian class (that's how they call the class for babies) from 10.15 to 10.45am on Fridays and from 7.00 to 7.30pm on Mondays.
Price is affordable because part of the city kids program. It's only $30 for 9 sessions.
It was lot of fun, Achille loved it and the instructor is really nice . However I didn't find the water was really warm and when you get out of the water changing rooms are not warm either... My sessions go through the fall so at that point I am a little bit concerned...
FYI Little Swimmers and a bathing suit are fine.

Movies for Mommies

It looks like it is becoming a real phenomenon. First launched in Canada a few years back Movies for Mommies programs are now popular among parents from all over the world including France (ok for now it is just in Paris but we're getting there:)
The concept is based on recent movies (I just saw Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston yesterday and next week they will be playing Fame) that are being played one afternoon every week and you can go with your baby.
Sound is lower than usual, changing tables and wipes are available and tickets are $8.50 with complimentary baby food. And if you are a movie addict, make sure you get the fidelity card: one movie free for 6 movies purchased.
Downtown Toronto has 2 locations: one at the Beaches and one in front of the St Lawrence Market.
The Rainbow Cinema at 80 Front Street is a good place to go, they have an elevator for your stroller but, considering the success, the theatre might be a little bit small. Lot of space to park your stroller though.
The Fox Cinema at 2235 Queen Street East is an old theater with no elevator and stairs from the sidewalk up to the theater and down to the washrooms... So you might want to get a baby carrier or ask for extra help from other moms but I thought you should be aware of that little detail:). However they will let you bring your stroller in so that Baby can take a nap and Mommy can enjoy the movie.
Now that summer is over it might get really busy but it is a good way to stay connected to the world and the every-day life. When about the TIFF for Mommies??

YMCA Metro Central - fitness club and child minding service

For those of you who have read this blog before you might remember the post about the YMCA Family Development Centre. This time I want to tell you about the fitness centre and the child minding service. I went last Monday to try out the spinning class and I had to leave my little Achille to the baby sitting service.
The 45 minute spinning class was not long and intense enough for me, I wanna really sweat when I go to the gym but I also get my workout carrying Achille around... and as for the child minding service, it's a pretty good deal. $4.26 an hour or $28 for 7 hours and kids get to play or get some sleep in a big playroom with toys, activities and cribs for the little ones. No TV which I really liked:)

Child minding is open 7 days a week. However it is open 5-8pm mondays, wednesdays and fridays only.
Staff and volunteer are friendly and reassuring, with experience and they will make you feel relaxed and cool the 1st time you drop off your baby. If necessary they can change diapers, warm up a bottle and they always want to know where you gonna be in the building in case of a problem. Time is limited to 2 hours but would you exercise for more than 2 hours anyways?
I want to try out other classes and the pool before joigning the club as it is quite of a budget (around $60 per month + child minding) but a good gym with child care downtown, what other options do I have? They also packages with special prices for the whole family.

There's plenty of fitness classes to choose from as well as fitness equipment and a large variety of sports, including squash, swimming or badminton. For info on the activities and schedule go to http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/files/PDF/hfr_program_schedules/metro_program_fall09.pdf

Meetup.com

As dynamic moms we are all looking for something to do in the city or someone to talk to (beside our little one) and when we live downtown it is not that easy. I guess many families live outside Toronto so when it comes to meeting downtown moms they are rare:) I have been trying to meet new people through different activities and I found out that the meetup.com website has more than 40 moms groups in the GTA but only a very few downtown. I just joined a group in the West End and I should be meeting with the group later on this week but based on your location, hobbies and lifestyle there might be a group for you. The website is easy to use, you enter your interests (such as "moms"), country and postal code and the system will populate a list of groups for you. Then just pick the one you want and because many of those groups are private, you need to apply and answer a couple of questions about yourself. It's free. Once you are approved you can review the activities and other members' profile. If you are interested in one of the activities just say YES... As simple as that, that might be a good way to meet new people and if you forget about activities you will be emailed reminders. When I first came to Toronto, I met some really good friends through a meetup group so why not again this time?

Start now, go to http://www.meetup.com/topics/

Baby Salsa

You want to know how to have fun with your baby and work out at the same time?
Baby salsa is the answer....
I am not a big fan of the caribbean music and rythms but when you learn how to salsa with your baby it is a lot of fun. It is a 45 minutes class, you need a baby carrier such as a Baby Bjorn, a lot of energy and you're good to go. When I first attended the class I had my jeans and a pair of sneakers on but you would be more comfortable with your workout outfit as you might be sweating:) The class starts with a warmup (and believe me squats with your baby pulling your shoulders down are worse than a body pump class), then goes on to the dancing and finishes up with a cooldown. The older and bigger your baby the better the workout:)
First class is free and then you can buy a package of 6 sessions for $110. Many locations in Toronto. For information about the fall schedule and locations, please go to http://www.torontosalsababies.com/schedule.php
FYI the location on Bloor Street is in the United Church but there is lot of space for strollers, feeding or diaper changing.

YMCA Family Development Centre

You may know about the YMCA or I should probaby say the "Y"... Anyways I didn't know about them until I have my little Achille and I am glad I found out about them as they have great activities for kids - from newborn to pre-schoolers.
The Y I'm talking about is called the Metro-Central YMCA and is located at 15 Breadalbane Street downtown Toronto (Yonge and South of Wellesley) but if you are looking for one around the GTA, you can go to their website at http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/find-ymca/toronto/index.html.
When I joined, Achille was only 6 weeks old and we both enjoyed getting out of the house even though he was sleeping 20 hours a day:) We started with the baby circle class, a combination of soft lullabies singing and storytelling, at 10am on Fridays and we then joined the lively "singing class" at 10am on Wednesdays. This one-hour class is about the instructor, parents and kids singing lullabies while playing the guitar (I like to think the teacher could be Phoebe in Friends, the tv show!!). After a few weeks of me experiencing those lullabies at home I was amazed to see a smile on Achille's little face when I would pronounce even just a few words of those songs.
We recently joined the 10.30am Monday class even more lively and active but still based on music, songs and instruments. This class might not be for infants as you have to move around but definitely from a few months old.

The Y Family Development Centre has lot of activities that I haven't been able to try out yet, from gardening to cooking classes, from swimming to gym classes and lots of others.
And compared to any other activities for parents and babies it is quite affordable: $180 a year per family with unlimited access to classes and playrooms.
When I am in Toronto, I try not to miss the class as it is a good way for Achille to be educated to music and sounds and a good way for me to connect with other parents or care givers.

Anything I should add to convince you? Staff is really friendly and it is open 7 days a week. For more info on prices and location, you can go to their webpage at http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/families/child-care-programs/family-dev-center/index.html

Shall I meet you there next week?