I SPY Montreal » Plateau Mont-Royal

Holiday Kids POP Craft Workshops

Jessica Howard — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:52:31 +0000

Photo by Richard Lam

The Plateau is a great place to head for holiday fun with the kids this weekend. The annual Puces POP craft fair is on Dec. 10 and 11, with a free, bilingual activity station set up for kids age 2 to 10. Organizers promise that kids get to craft, parents get to shop. Hey, it’s worth a shot!

Also, right next to the craft fair at the St. Enfant Jésus Church, are the annual Nöel Dans le Parc festivities at Lahaie Park. It’s all set for the holidays, with Christmas trees for sale, woolly sheep to pet, sausages and marshmallows to grill, cider and hot chocolate to drink, plus warm wine for the grownups to ~~glug~~ sip. Here’s a shot from last year:

On Dec. 10 and 11, between 1 and 5 p.m., Nöel Dans le Park entertainment will include live music, a children’s show, a clown and carriage rides. If your kids have a letter to Santa ready to go, they can send it special delivery on Mont Royal Ave., where elves will be patrolling on festive bicycles between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, as part of the Nöel sur l’Avenue activities.

Puces Pop Holiday Craft Fair, with kids crafts
When: Dec. 10 and 11, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: St. Enfant Jésus Church, 5035 St. Dominique St.

Nöel Dans le Parc
When: Dec. 1 to 25
Where: Parc Lahaie, corner St. Dominique et St. Joseph

Kids Pop Montreal 2011

Jessica Howard — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:25:19 +0000

The Pop Montreal indie music festival happens this week, and organizers haven’t forgotten about Montreal kids!

On Sunday, Sept. 25, Pop Montreal hosts an afternoon of funky kids’ workshops, including:

Instrument-making
Body painting
Sculpture making
Dress-up photo booth
Yoga
Sculpture
Sandbox
Sing-alongs with Brie Nielsen

Kids Pop Montreal 2011

When: Sunday, Sept. 25, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Where: Chinese Presbyterian Church, corner St. Viateur and Hutchison Sts.

Montreal Italian Week for families

Jessica Howard — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:17:11 +0000

Ciao! Montreal Italian week welcomes families with several kid-friendly activities happening this weekend.

First, there’s the children’s zone, featuring inflatables, animation and face-painting, open Aug. 12 to 14 from 1 to 7 p.m. on St. Laurent Blvd. between Shamrock and Jean Talon Sts.

Young car enthusiasts may also enjoy the Ferrari parade on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cars vroom around St. Laurent Blvd. and then park for visitors to check out. There will also be Vespa scooters and Fiats.

Foodie parents may want to stick around to find out who wins the canoli contest at 3 p.m.

Check out the full Montreal Italian Week program.

Frigofiesta at Wilfred Laurier Park

Jessica Howard — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:36:59 +0000

Sir Wilfred Laurier Park in the Plateau-Mont Royal hosts a family festival Thursday, July 7 from 3 to 8 p.m.

On the program: a storytelling corner, inflatables, games and food kiosks. There will also be dance performances and a children’s play presented by la Théâtre Magique at 7 p.m.

Wilfred Laurier Park, on Laurier Ave. E near Mentana St., is great for all ages. There’s a range of playground equipment, a pool and soccer field. There are lots of yummy-looking eateries on Laurier Ave., plus a Bilboquet ice cream shop a few blocks away. More information.

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4Cats Arts Studio hits Montreal

Jessica Howard — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:24:22 +0000

“This is one of our splatter rooms,” said Tamsin Horsfall, showing me around the brand new 4Cats Arts Studio on Park Ave. It is a canvas-and-paper-covered child heaven, where kids can splatter every colour of the rainbow – and parents can watch from the other side of a Plexiglas wall.

“It’s great because this is really not something you can do at home,” Horsfall said. Definitely not!

The 4Cats approach

Horsfall opened 4Cats in mid-June, bringing a branch of what is now an international brand of art studios to Montreal. 4Cats was launched in 2005 by Joey Simon, a mother in Victoria, B.C., who wanted art to play a big role in her son Jet’s learning.

His interest in the lives of well-known artists has shaped the studio’s approach to art. In fact, it’s Jet who introduces kids to famous artists in fun video clips like this:

4Cats workshops and classes teach about well-known artists including Andy Warhol, Tamara de Lempicka and Vincent Van Gogh in a child-friendly way, says Horsfall, adding: “We don’t talk about Van Gogh’s ear.”

It’s more of a fun facts approach: Children will learn that Warhol was so into cats that he had 25, and they may notice that the studio’s bathroom has silver walls – a tribute to the artist’s famous New York “Factory”. The kids’ projects take inspiration from these artists’ work, and the class programs are used in all 4Cats studios – which have spread as far as California and Mexico. The teaching method is based on the Montessori approach, targeting age 2 and up.

Horsfall, who has a background in art history, psychology and acting, learned about the concept from friends who operate a 4Cats studio in Vancouver. When she realized there weren’t any Quebec locations, she decided to set one up. “It brings together a lot of different passions for me, and it’s very rewarding to work with kids.”

Pollock parties

Tamsin Horsfall in 4Cats Studio's splatter room.

One of the services that some Montrealers have already discovered are the studio’s Pollock Parties, where children (or adults!) get to take over the splatter rooms and paint with their friends. THEN get their cake and eat it, too. The birthday girl or boy takes home their splattered canvas, guests take home their masterpiece on paper. It’s one of many birthday party themes the studio offers: there are also Georgia O’Keefe and pop art parties. Or pottery parties – the studio has its own kiln!

For more information on 4Cats Studio drop-in workshops, classes or birthday parties, check out the website or call the number below.

Tip: The studio is very close to Laurier Ave., where there are several child-friendly spots for coffee, lunch or brunch.

4Cats Arts Studio
Address: 5026 Park Ave, between St. Joseph and Laurier.
Phone: 514-508-3889
Email: montroyal@4cats.com