Munich Kids

Munich’s Botanical Gardens (Botanischer Garten) are a real treasure that you should visit at least once while you are in Munich.  You can visit anytime throughout the year, as the flower beds are replanted seasonally, and there is a series of glassed-in green houses for indoor plants. 

The gardens are on the grounds of the Botanical Insititute and they neighbor the park grounds of the Nymphenburg Castle to the south.  It truly is a beautiful site (and sight!).

There is a  sunken formal garden laid out in front of the Institute buildings.  An attractive waterlily pond divides the formal garden of the Schmuckhof.  Additional collections include a spring garden, ecological and genetic selection, peony and iris beds, Bavarian native plant community, moor and heather garden, and a lovely arboretum that includes trees from around the world.   There is also a very picturesque cafe that opens onto the rose gardens.

The gardens are a very beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon, even with three small boys in tow!  Actually, the kids loved the Botanical Gardens.  The only difficulty is in trying to keep them from straying off the paths.  Importantly, the gardens are wheelchair and stroller accessible. 

There are special collections and exhibitions throughout the year, as well as special programs for children.  Check the website for current information.

Entrance fee is 3,00 EUR for adults.  Children up to age 12 are free. 

Address:  Main entrance at Menzinger Strasse 65

Telephone:  178 61 310

Website: http://www.botmuc.de/index.html

Nearest Public Transportation:  Tram 17 (can be taken from Hauptbahnhof) goes directly to the main entrance - stop is called Botanischer Garten

The Seidlvilla ( a community center in Schwabing) is holding a Summerfest, open to the public, on July 14 (2007).  The festivities start at 3:00 pm in the courtyard of the Seidlvilla.  The schedule is as follows:

From 3:00 onwards:  A children’s program including arts and crafts and t-shirt painting

4:00  Jazz concert with “The Double Greatest Trio”

6:00  Fashion show

7:30  Concert  - Eastern-European folk music mixed with Klezmer

Also available during the Summerfest is a large buffet, Turkish specialites, items from the grill, and drinks.

Address:  Nikolaiplatz 1b, 80802 Munich

Phone:  089/ 333 139

Email: info@seidlvilla.de

Website:  http://www.seidlvilla.de/

Nearest Public Transportation:  U3/U6 Giselastrasse or Muenchner Freiheit

Mulberry Bush English-Speaking Playgroup for Moms and Kids (ages 0-5).
This informal meeting gives native English-speaking moms a chance to chat
and exchange information over a cup of tea while their children play or do crafts.
The session ends with singing the children’s favorite songs.

Meets Thursday afternoons at the Familienzentrum in Trudering (Dompfaffweg 10)
from 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Costs:  10.- per month

Contact info:  Lynne (089/523 88 906) or Wendy (089/651 02 182)

Jogoli’s is running a full-day summer camp, with a very wide range of activities for kids ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 10.  Activities will include the use of the on-site play facilities as well as numerous excursions to interesting places around Munich.

According to the website, the summer camp will include the following:

• Full time care from 9 am - 7 pm (upon request from 8 am) 
• Meals available (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks)
• Various creative attractions
• Exercise games
• Exciting parlor games
• Joyful attractions at the outdoor section
• 2 Excursions including:
  Excursions: Airport, Bakery, Farm, waste incinerator section, newspaper, starnberger lake (also taking a ferry), soccer stadium, hermannsdorfer utility, Bavaria film studios, weihenstephan utility, Fire department, sight seeing tour, joiners workshop

The  summer camp is available on a weekly basis from Monday to Friday at a cost of 220 EUR per week.  This price includes the cost of meals, excursions and taxes.

Jogoli’s is also opening a bilingual kindergarten starting in September 2007.  Details can be found on the web.  From the English version home page, click on “new kids-camp at jogoli’s” (a typo - it doesn’t say kindergarten).

Additional information about Jogoli’s play park can be found on this website.  Search under the link to “play parks” on the left column of the Munich Kids home page.

Address: Friedenstrasse 22b, Munich

Phone: 089/ 99 01 88 5 10 

Website:  http://www.jogolis.de/

Email: md@jogolis.de

Nearest Public Transportation:  S1-S8 to Ostbahnhof

The twice-yearly Tollwood Festival is in full swing.  This year (2007), the  event packed summer festival goes from June 14 to July 8.  It is held near Olympiapark.

Tollwood offers theater, music, cultural peformances, dance, food, art, and shopping.  Top name performers include: ZZ Top, Joan Baez, Foreigner, George Benson, MIA, and Al Jarreau.  The market and food stalls offer items from around the world. There is also an extensive program for children and teens. The kids’ tent is open Monday to Friday from 2:00 - 7:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 7:00.  All of the offerings for kids and teens are free.

According to their website, the philosophy of the Tollwood festival is as follows:

“The Tollwood Festival is a beacon of cultures, ecology and quality of life.  From the beginning, the festival has striven to be the image of a multicultural society, which is why tolerance, internationality and openness are the cornerstones of every festival. This is visible at all levels, whether it be the cultural programs or in the structure of the market and the variety of dining offered.

The Tollwood Festival offers culture for everyone. This means that more than 70 percent of all the cultural events are free of charge, while the big theatre and concert events are offered at far below the usual local price.

From the beginning, Tollwood has been a forum for ecology and environmental consciousness. On the one hand, it provides a platform for important issues in the area and, on the other hand, it provides the impetus for ecological projects. Among these are the organic certification of foods at the festival, the campaign “Bio für Kinder”, commitment toward healthier mobile telephony and exemplary CO2 emissions.”

The festival is open on Monday to Friday from 2:00 pm - 1:00 am and on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am - 1:00 am.

Parking is limited and is at a distance from the grounds of the festival. However, numerous public transportation options exist, many of which stop at the main entrance to the festival.  A listing of public transportation options as well as a map of the area and the grounds itself can be found on the website or in the brochure. 

Parts of the website are translated into English.

Website: http://www.tollwood.de/english/

Phone: 0700 - 38 38 50 24 (12 ct/min)

Email:  info@tollwood.de

A new International Montessori English/German Nursery and Preschool is opening in Bogenhausen this September (2007).

The school offers:
- small classes
- 2 qualified, experienced teachers per class
- opening times 07.00 to 17.00
- Nursery from 1 to 3 years
- Preschool from 3 to 6 years
- our own large enclosed garden
- native English and German speaking teachers

Am-Sternenwinkel-Team
Penny Mantz and Clare D’Amico 

Address:  Possartstrasse  35

Phone: 0178 45 21 089

E-Mail: am-sternenwinkel@gmx.de

Website:  http://www.am-sternenwinkel.de/

The following post was contributed by a reader of Munich Kids:

Note: Bentia Ludwig will be on holiday from  November 10th, 2007 till January 19th , 2008.

No children’s party should be complete without a cake to reflect the child’s
favorite character or interest of the moment.

We will make your child’s birthday the talk of the town by trying to
create a dream cake as individual as he or she is.

All our cakes are made with only fresh ingredients.  Homemade
buttercream icing and careful attention to detail make your cake a
Special Occasion Cake.

Contact Benita Ludwig for more information.

Telephone: 089/ 61440931
E-mail:    t.ludwig@web.de