Archive for September, 2011

Here are some great ideas for you and your family for this weekend and the week ahead.

In Pretoria- this weekend

Rose Festival Ludwig’s Rose Farm, in Pretoria North  from Oct 1-9. The festival brings you exhibits of garden roses and Drayman’s Beer fresh from the keg. A stand of German food, Leberkaes, Bienenstich and Lebkuchen more will keep the hunger at bay. For rugby lovers we’ve added a big screen in support of the BOKKE! Restaurant is open with the best cakes, coffees and rose delights. Free tractor train rides every hour, jumping castle to keep the kids happy in our huge play area. The Butterfly Garden is back in flight after the winter rest. Thorns ‘n Things, the rose boutique is the perfect place for early Christmas shopping.

2x Shopping Centres in Pretoria have quite a bit on offer this weekend.

Ama Baby Bok Wold Cup Play Area at Wonderpark Shopping Centre  until Oct. 9. There will be a play area with interactive games, winners workshop, magical movie time, colouring in, play dough, LEGO puzzles and much more Bok entertainment.

The Smurfs are coming to Menlyn – Oct 1,2 . Join us for a Smurfalicious event when the Smurfs visit Menlyn Park. The National Roadshow will be hosted at the exhibition court just outside the Nu Metro Cinemas. Expect nothing less than all blue fun and a full day of activities including the following: Blue face painting, colouring in activities, fun blue play dough, Smurf PlayStation gaming, crafts & workshop, modelling, dance competition, meet & greet with the Smurf characters, MC hosted games & competitions & free gifts & prizes.

SHOWS FOR NEXT WEEKEND

The Nutcracker the ballet, State Theatre, Pta Oct 7-9. The Classical Christmas Ballet performed by Student from The Sheron Viljoen School of ballet,

The African Boma National Eco Expo at Botanical gardens, Pretoria, Oct 8-12 . The Expo focuses on nature conservation and the sustainable utilization of natural resources and offers entertainment for the whole family. Activities, shows and displays: A cheetah show; lion cubs (if available); live snakes; birds of prey; quad bikes; 4X4 vehicles; paintball; rock climbing; steam train rides; life entertainment by various artists and talks byfield experts and role players in various fields of expertise are on the menu

Joburg International Motor Show 2011 at Nasrec Expo Centre, Oct 8-16.

UJ Choir & Tygerberg Children’s Choir Rosebank Catholic Church, Rosebank, Oct 8. These highly talented children participated in the world’s flagship choral competition, the 6th World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, where they received two gold medals and were crowned Double World Champions – in the Religions of the World and Folklore categories.

Recipes supplied by  Richard Rust, a fabulous, 5 star trained, gourmet chef. He has cooked for, amongst others, British royalty, Woolworths and written for Taste magazine. His company Gourmet Gurus caters for children’s parties; lunch boxes; private/corporate functions and dinner parties.

MEZZE PLATTER

serves: 8
preparation time: 30 minutes

You will need:
8 slices of parma or similar ham
8 slices salami
50gm blue cheese, cut in wedges
50gm mozzarella, cut in chunks
50gm cheddar cut in wedges
8 slices of melon cut in half
Handful rocket, washed
Strawberries to garnish

Here’s how:

STRAWBERRY AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

serves: 4
preparation time: 10 minutes

You will need:
handful mixed leaves eg rocket and watercress
250gm strawberries, green hull removed
125gm blue cheese
50gm walnuts, crushed
2tbsp honey
2tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Here’s how:

PAPAYA AND FETA SALAD

serves: 4
preparation time: 10minutes

You will need:
handful mixed leaves eg rocket and watercress
1 papaya, deseeded and cut into chunks
125gm feta cheese
50gm pumpkin seeds
1 pack spring onions, finely sliced
2tbsp olive oil
2tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Here’s how:

Schools holidays start for most schools on Friday. If you want to send your child to a sleepover camp or a day program, nows the time to book. For We have a list of at least 10 different  sleepover camps on offer – many start on October 2, 3, or 4th. Here’s a sampling of what you will find.

CAMPS
Camps- Sleepover
Mazz Riding Club pony sleepover camp, Centurion- 5 days.
Jod’s Riding school- 6 days
In the forest  in Eikenhof- 5 days
Kids Fishing sleepover camp, Vaal- 3 days
Flip Flop Basecamp SA, Harbeespoort- 4 days
Sugar Bay, Zinkwazi beach, KZN- 7 days
Esperanza, horse riding Mooiplaats Pta- 5 days
Immaculate Equestrian, Vaal- 4 days
Adventure n Beyond, Krugersdorp- 5 days
Kambi Kids Bush Camp, Muldersdrift- 7 days
Shepherds Fold, Elandsdrift – 3days

Then there are holiday programs which take place during the day that focus on certain disciplines like:

DAY PROGRAMS
Drama
musical theatre workshops – one in Heidelberg and another where the venue is still to be confirmed.

Science/Tech
Technolab holiday club :Learn about some of the inventions and inventors that changed the world for grade 3-6, robotics for grade 7-12 in Auckland Park.

Sports
You’ll find tennis, horse riding, soccer programs in Joburg and the East rand.

Tuition services
Finally this is a crucial time for anyone writing matric and we have loads of tuition services on our site that are offering holiday matric revision :
Master Maths in Randpark Ridge and Pretoria,
Study Doctor Tutoring has a day workshop on October 1 in Randburg,
KipMcGrath in Rosebank offers a 4 day course.

You’ll find a long list on Jozikids – just visit the tuition section on our holiday activities page.

Remember you can find more ideas of what to do with your family in the Gauteng region on www.Jozikids.co.za on your computer or your cell phone.

Its summer – those wonderful swimming pools are beckoning your kids to splash around.   If they can’t swim, now’s the time to start finding a place where they can learn.

SWIMMING LESSONS AT PUBLIC POOLS

We spent last week finding out which public pools offer free swimming lessons via the government sponsored Learn-to-Swim program and which ones have private teachers who use their pools.

Unfortunately we discovered East Rand public pools still have no phone lines. So we apologise on their behalf and welcome feedback from you about these facilities.

SWIMMING LESSONS AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The  private schools listed  teach babies, toddlers and all ages. Several of these schools have heated indoor pools which teach swimming throughout the year.

NEXT WEEK FOR HERITAGE WEEKEND

On Saturday at Lory Park Zoo in President Park in joburg. They’re doing something about an endangered bird called the GroundHornbill and then at 11am, the owl enclosure will be  opened for children to  feed the owls and learn about their habitat.

National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria has a  weekend program which includes includes storytelling sessions, face painters, jugglers and balloon sculptors while conservationists will demonstrate Komodo Dragon enrichment exercises, horse cart rides, Cape Fur Seal educational demos and more.

Then there are a few shows that might interest you.
The internationally renowned, grammy award winning, Soweto Gospel Choir will be performing with the magnificent South African Lipizzaner’ stallions- in celebration of the 63 years since the Lipizzaners landed on African shores.  That’s at 7pm on Saturday

Also on heritage weekend  the Barnyard theatre in Cresta has a performance of the classic fairytale, The Three Little Pigs a funky version for the whole family with a wolf called Biker Betty.

And finally there’s a wonderful place in Florida Park where your kids can ride on a Miniature Steam Train Its run by a group of volunteers called the Rand Society of Model Engineers. They are hosting a gathering to display and run model Locomotives for all to come and see and enjoy from Sept 23-25.

That’s it from me for today.

Have a memorable heritage weekend with your family.

Remember you can find more ideas of what to do with your family in the Gauteng region on www.Jozikids.co.za on your computer or your cell phone.

If you’re a  rugby fan, I’m sure you’d love to find a great family restaurant with a big screen to watch the rugby with your kids. check our list below to see if you can find something. You can also check out our restaurants page to find more places to go. Booking is essential.

RUGBY VIEWING – FAMILY RESTAURANTS

In Pretoria & Centurion
Jingle Jangle Tea Garden Moreleta Park, Pretoria
Watch the “Bokke”fight it out at our family friendly restaurant/tea garden with a petting zoo for kids. Our facility includes the use of all our jungle gyms, sandpits, trampolines (1 enclosed), plastic scooters, jumping castle, swings and large play area. We also have pony rides. Our menu is extensive ranging from breakfasts to our very popular slow baked lamb shank or finger licking king size prawns served with our special Italian sauce.

Villa San Giovanni traditional Italian food, Wonderboom Airport,Pretoria. Join as at our family friendly restaurant to enjoy delicious traditional Italian food and watch the rugby on one of our screens. Kids are also welcome in our special dedicated play area.

Purple Cow Restaurant Midfield Clubhouse, Midstream,Centurion
Come and watch the World Cup Rugby matches at Purple Cow Restaurant! Ice cold beer, promos, lucky draws and much much more! Kids can play while mom and dad watch the rugby – safe, plenty space to run around and new menu items to die for!

Johannesburg
Alek’s Kitchen Family Restaurant w/ grazing animals, Chartwell
We’ll have 2 normal TV screens available for rugby watching on Sunday ( sorry no plasma ones). Bring the family and enjoy a delicious meal in this unique setting with a relaxed atmosphere. While your meal is being freshly prepared, watch Springbuck and Blesbuck graze. The children can work up an appetite on the swings and jungle gym We have a special kiddies menu for hungry tummies.

Zoo Lake Sports Club Parktown, Jhb
We’ll have several large TV screens up for you to watch while your family enjoys their meal with us. We also have a large secure playground with jungle gyms, slides, swings, a trampoline and more for your kids to enjoy while you get into the business of supporting our team.

TSG 4 Ways Mediterranean Grill Cafe, Fourway
Join the fans to support your favourite team at our family friendly mediterranean grill cafe. A dedicated play area housing playstation and DVD’s to offer comfort and fun for children who can amuse themselves in this space at length

Johannesburg & Pretoria
Primi Piatti with Primi Pods for kids in Jhb & Pta
Come to Primi Piatti -Eastgate, Cresta, Fourways, Irene, Menlyn, Randpark Ridge, Sunninghill and Stoneridge, with the whole family and catch your team LIVE in action during the Rugby World Cup. With Primi PODS for the kids, they’re part of the experience – they can make their own pizzas, play with dough, colouring in and just having fun! A special kiddies menu is available.

Vaal Triangle
Stonehaven on the Vaal garden restaurant, Vaal
We’ll have big plasma screens in our garden restaurant for you to spurr our team on while your kids play. Our children’s play area is designed so that you can enjoy your meal while watching your children thrive on all the kiddies activities including jumping castle trampoline, pool, tree house, jungle gym, sand pit.

JOBURG ZOO & BOKKE MONTH

And then the Joburg  Zoo is celebrating from Friday to Sunday. They’ve called it Bokke Month. Zoo visitors who wear Sringbok jerseys on Fridays and match days stand a chance to win spot prizes. They’ll also be running animal enrichment activities about the zoo’s very own bokkies. On weekends there’ll also be face painting for kids.

KIDS THEATRE STARTING THIS WEEK.

We’ve got 2 new kids theatre productions to tell you about that open on tomorrow September 12th in Joburg.

The Pied Piper and other Tales opens at the National Children’s Theatre in Parktown and runs until October 15th. It’s a fantastic interactive adventure filled with  song, dance, magic, love, laughter and a happy ending. There will be 2 shows a day  from Monday to Saturday at 10.30am & 2.30pm

Fun, Magic and Tales from Africa also starts on September 12th  at the Peoples Theatre in Braamfontein. It runs until October 9th. This is a theatre production of African fairytales. Each tale has a strong moral or social message and the professional cast involve the audience in a fun performance. From Monday to Friday the show will be performed at 9 and 11 am in the morning and on Saturdays at 10.30 and 2.30pm

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful day and I’ll be back next Sunday with ideas of what you can do with your kids.

Sept 1 is spring day and a great time to get out with your family. There are some great open air markets and live  to visit this weekend that we want to tell you about.

FRESH PRODUCE  MARKETS

Blubird Whole Food every Sun, Birnam & Thurs, Killarney
Find fresh produce, seasonal organic fruit, vegetables & raw honey. Bio detergents. Someone who will plant trees on your behalf to offset your carbon footprints called GROWATREE.  For kids, there are earthworms and seeds to grow their own trees plus children chefs selling their own produce

Watch out for their Spring picnic on Sept 18.  Bring your bottles of wine, your blankets, shade and of course yourselves and your children. There will be music and a safe area for your children to play on the jumping castle.

Bryanston Organic Market, every Thurs & Sat morn. Buy delicious freshly made food,  you’ll also find great organic fruit and veggies. And for the kids there’s entertainment,  craft activities including candle dipping, pottery painting and sandart. They sometimes have puppet shows and puppetry making as well.

Hazel Food Market in Menlo Park Pretoria, Describe their market as a a European-style food market which sells all types of food products from fresh fruit and vegetables to ready-to-eat food. There is a jumping castle, jungle gym and kids play area every Saturday during the market.

COMING UP Saturday September 10th

Shared History- The Indian Wellbeing Experience at Zoo Lake, Parkview
Includes lectures on Indian Ayurvedic Practices, Organic& Ayurvedic Food Stalls; display counters for Ayurvedic Products and Literature, Yoga Workshops and Guided meditations,,Sept 10.

Shakespeare Dreaming at Joburg Zoo, Parkview, Sept 10.
Robert Whitehead, Mark Hawkins and Vanessa Cooke have woven a delightful tapestry of Shakespearian text
into an accessible fun-filled program of music, dance and comedy for all ages. Featuring a stellar line-up which includes Timothy Moloi, James Ncgobo, Robert Whitehead, John Vlismas, Leeanda Reddy, Mari-Louise Basson & Craig Arnold and featuring the Johannesburg Youth Ballet.

CHARITY INITIATIVE

Toyful Collection both old and new for charity, Wonderpark Shopping Centre, Karenpark ,  Pretoria North.Aug 20-Dec 11.