There are some great free things to do locally this weekend, with a range of choice things from bracing walks to storytelling for all ages. But first of all we’re pleased to say that our lovely colleague Mina is out of hospital after being taken ill in the launderette last Thursday. She’s resting and being fussed over at home, and she’ll be off for a little while but we want her 100% well before she comes back to work. So, on that bit of good news on with the free stuff…
The Museum of Childhood has a weekend of activities, starting on Saturday 28th January with Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day. Clara Button likes drawing, making things and dressing up. When her Granny Elsie’s hat is torn, Clara sets off to the V&A to find out how to mend it. Enjoy a reading of Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day, then join illustrator Emily Sutton for a ‘design a hat’ workshop. Storytelling 12.00-12.30 Drop in / All ages. (There are also Illustration Workshops for children aged 5+ from 1-1.45pm and 2.15-3.00pm, £3 per child. Booking line opened Monday 16 January at 09.00, priority given to phone calls. To book call 020 8983 5205 / email mocbookings@vam.ac.uk)
On Sunday 29 January, between 4.00 and 4.30pm, Laura Veirs Sings from Tumble Bee. Join American folk singer Laura Veirs as she performs songs from Tumble Bee, her recently released children’s album featuring early 20th century work songs and the ballads of Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Peggy Seeger and Harry Belafonte. Her album is described as “a perfect Sunday afternoon record” by The Oxford American and “sweet and irresistible” by Rolling Stone. Drop-in / All ages.
On Saturday and Sunday from 2.00 until 4.00pm you can join the team from Okido magazine for an arts and crafts workshop to launch their new issue on Habitat and Houses. Little interior designers can make a 3D pop-up card of their dream bedroom, and budding reporters can create a news-sheet about the fabulous dolls’ houses in the Museum. Drop-in / All ages.
For full details on all these events and more besides, visit the Museum of Childhood website.
Rich Mix has a whole host of good things going on this weekend. It plays host to Our Brick Lane, until Thursday 2nd February. This is a superb exhibition and oral history project that recorded, documented and preserved the diverse and unique heritage of Brick Lane – a traditional host for global diasporas entering the metropolis. Concentrating on the former Jewish Community and current Bengali and Somali communities, the project recorded and archived the cultural life of this important East London Street from 1960 onwards. During 2007 the project collected some valuable oral history video interviews and worked with local schools, youth groups and community centres in Brick Lane, this exhibition tells this powerful story in the words of past and present communities of living and working in the lane.
On Sunday 29th January, Rich Mix hosts part 7 of Snapshots – a bite-sized festival in 13 parts celebrating East London in its Olympic year. East London Jewish Culture: Bagels, Bar Mitzvah and Babkas. This event that reflects on the rich Jewish heritage in the East End of London with an exhibition, archive films, a theatre premiere, a guided walk, live music, market stalls, family workshops, food, drink, and much more besides. This is a unique event for people of all ages and interests.
Also on Sunday from 1pm until 3pm is a Free Family Workshop: Tall Tales and Patchwork Puppets. Hear traditional Yiddish folktales about some extremely ‘wise’ men and an old lady who shares her house with an interesting collection of animals… Can these tales really be true? Afterwards choose a character from one of the stories and have fun creating a puppet so you can retell the tales to your own audience of family and friends. Suitable for children aged 5 to 12 and their parents/carers. Although this is free you need to BOOK call the Box Office on 0207 613 7498.
For more information on all these events visit the Rich Mix website
This weekend is Walk London’s Winter Wanders Weekend. There are a whole range of walks, from gentle city strolls to long-distance hikes around the wilder parts of the metropolis on Saturday and Sunday. This is a great opportunity to find out more about London and to get a bit of exercise with free guided walks. For full details of all the walks available visit the Walk London Website.
