I SPY Montreal » Laval

Guided Tour: Putting Edge Indoor Mini Golf St. Laurent

Jessica Howard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:36:27 +0000

Here’s an activity to save for a sub-zero day: Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf. You know those days where it’s just too cold (or rainy) to brave sledding, skiing or skating? Mini golf at Putting Edge, which has two Montreal locations, offers a fluourescent refuge for families with children age 3.5 and up.

At Putting Edge St. Laurent, you walk through a small arcade-ish area with video games and air hockey tables to the golfing area. At around $40 for a family of four, it’s not a cheap outing, but the Kool-Aid colours on the course grab the kids right away, and parents get a brightly coloured break from winter blahs. Look for scenes of underwater life, jungle animals and knights in armour.

Each equipped with a fluourescent ball and wrist band, we started swinging. The course has a few fun tricks, traps and surprises along the way, making it fun even for a four-year-old who approaches the ball more like a hockey goon than a golfer. With young children, it’s best not to keep score, and to allow for lots of re-shoots.

Mini-golf also puts a few important lessons in sportsmanship into practise: Try again! Wait for your turn! Keep your eye on the ball! We were all cheering each other on, and a few holes-in-one were scored. By grownups, too!

The only damper on our game was an encroaching birthday party group. These kids started wandering onto our green, getting in our way and rushing us along, unchecked by their accompanying adults. By the 18th hole, they had gotten the better of us and we were ready to leave, finishing the course in under an hour. Had they been better sports, we probably would have gotten more out of our entrance fee and played another round.

Tips:

Playing mini golf requires a level of technique and patience, making it best for at least age 3.5 and up.
Offer lots of encouragement, and don’t expect a first-time player to make it through 18 holes.
For those with children under age 5, it’s best to play indoor mini golf early in the day, when there aren’t big groups to contend with.
Explain to children that if there are groups ahead, they will need to wait their turn, and not run onto the playing areas while others are still taking shots.
If you don’t want to empty your wallet into the on-site video games, pre-emptively explain that you’re just there for the golf.
There is no on-site restaurant, so bring your own water and snacks.

Putting Edge Glow in the dark indoor mini golf
Putting Edge St. Laurent: 3500 Côte Vertu Blvd., #140. 514-439-3310.
*The St. Laurent location is close to a strip mall with a Chez Cora, and a few other chain restaurants.
Putting Edge Laval, 105 Promenade du Centropolis. 450-681-3334.

Laval Offers Cloth Diaper Subsidies

Jessica Howard — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:48:57 +0000

Laval recently joined a growing number of Montreal-area municipalities that offer incentives to parents who choose cloth diapers. The city is starting a pilot project this year that offers a $100 subsidy to Laval families who use cloth diapers.

The list of municipalities that offer similar programs includes Longueuil, Vaudreuil and Verdun. There are many more municipalities that offer subsidies, but most are outside the city. The website www.subventioncoucheslavables.com has a helpful map of the regions that offer subsidies, and ideas for proposing cloth diaper subsidies in your own municipality.

Photo courtesy of MissMessie.

Big Chills for Little Kids Fundraiser 2011

Jessica Howard — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:02:56 +0000

You know how, every year, there’s one house in the neighbourhood that goes all out for Halloween? Well, those houses have nothing on Tom Jonas, whose whose eyeball-popping Big Chills for Little Kids display raises money for the Montreal Children’s Hospital. This year, the Laval resident’s the goal is to raise $6,000 to buy 10 new wheelchairs for the hospital’s ER.

Jonas starts working on his Halloween “scare tactics” six months in advance, turning his garage into a ghoulish lab. He tries to make the special effects as realistic as possible – so they might be a little scary for very young children. But, he says, those who brave the visit – even from the other side of the street – on Halloween night can pick up some candy, Crayola-sponsored gift packs and other treats.

Visitors from around Montreal are welcome to come and make a donation to support the fundraising effort. If you can’t make it to Laval, donations can also be made online.

Big Chills for Little Kids 2011
When: The house can be viewed from the evening of Friday, Oct. 28 through Monday, Oct. 31. *Treats and gift packs will be given out on Halloween night only, while supplies last.
Where: 1750 du Portage St., Laval. View map

Fête de la famille de Laval

Jessica Howard — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:07:50 +0000

Knights on horseback, clown shows and corn on the cob – it’s all part of Laval’s annual family festival on Sunday, Sept. 4 at the Laval Nature Centre. If you’ve never visited this park – which has a beautiful pond, mini farm and super playground – this is a good reason to check it out.

On the Fête de la famille de Laval program, there are activities for every age group. For little ones, there’s a dedicated children’s village with arts-and-crafts workshops, costumes, puppets, plus clown shows, inflatables and other entertainment.

For older adrenaline junkies, there will be a zip line, skateboard contest and demonstration, and mechanical surfing. Medieval tournament activities will be held throughout the day.

Hungry? There will be a corn roast, and refreshments are sold at the on-site restaurant.

La Fête de la Famille de Laval
When: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Laval Nature Centre, 901 Park Ave., Laval
Parking: On-site parking lot.
See full schedule

Ste. Rose en Blanc Winter Festival in Laval

Jessica Howard — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:41:03 +0000

The downtown area has La Fête des Neiges, but Laval has its own winter blowout called Ste. Rose en Blanc.

Starting Feb. 4, the event is being held this weekend and next, offering everything from dog sledding to artistic workshops to fireworks.

Here are some of the activities on the agenda:

Outdoor activities include (see schedule to find out times for each activity):

Horse-drawn sleigh rides
Dog sledding
Ice skating on a 1-km route
Two ice labyrinths
Sledding tracks
Ice sculpting
Karting
Trampolines (with harness)
There also children’s shows scheduled throughout the event.

Fireworks will happen on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., followed by musical performances.

Indoors, there are several family workshops, with activities including kite-making, glass painting and various dance styles. To find out more and sign up, click here.

Ste. Rose en Blanc
Where: Take Highway 15 to exit 16; take Ste. Rose Blvd. to the east
When: Feb. 4 to 6, Feb. 12 and 13, 2011. Some activities start at 9:30 a.m. Check full schedule.
Cost: Free