When you think of the Mink Mile on a weekend, “a fun place to bring the kids” is probably the furthest thing from your mind. And given what the area’s known for, who’d blame you?

But in and among the high-end shopping, dining & entertainment in the area, you’ll find a few hidden gems guaranteed to entertain you and the kinder.

Williams-Sonoma – Junior Chef Classes (100 Bloor Street West)

Free and suitable for kids ages 5–13, these 45- to 60-minute classes teach new cooking skills and recipes each week, from mains to desserts to snacks between meals.

The instructors genuinely love cooking and it comes through in the instruction. Your little ones will learn how to use kitchen appliances safely. They’ll have the opportunity to work on their culinary creativity. And they’ll come to appreciate that, despite what the local pizzeria has behind the counter, there’s nothing like a home-cooked meal.

The best part of these classes: they’re seasonally themed. That means you’ll have your very own sous-chefs for summer barbecues and holiday dinners when all-hands-on-deck is a must for pulling it off in style.

To see what’s on the course menu this week, call the store.

Indigo Books, Gifts and Toys – Story Time (55 Bloor Street West)

If you have young kids, you know how helpful it can be to have someone else entertain them for a few minutes. That was the idea behind Story Time, and now it’s a Saturday tradition.

At 11 am, the Kids section turns into a stage for 15–30 minutes depending on attendance. The floor staff choose different books every week, and sometimes they even mix it up with special guests and puppet shows. What makes it so special is how committed the “performers” are. They genuinely love to make the kids smile and it’s easy to see.

Indigo runs a host of other children’s activities throughout the year as well. Check their event listings to see what’s happening.

Varsity Theatre (55 Bloor Street West)

Even though we can stream practically anything now, there’s still nothing like the big screen and big sound of the theatre — especially for a kid. There are normally at least a few kid-friendly films on the Varsity lineup at any given time, and there are always kid-friendly concessions at the snack bar.

The ROM (100 Queens Park)

With tons of Saturday events and programs offered year-round for both kids and parents, the ROM is always a great place to spend some family time. Want some you-time instead? Drop them off at the Saturday Morning Club between 9 am and 12 pm, park here at Manulife Centre and treat yourself to a mani-pedi at Haartek Salon or a latte and good read at Indigo.

Pro Parking Tips

Manulife Centre offers two-hour validated parking on any combination of purchases over $25. And the Varsity Theatre will give you four hours for $3.00.

Next time you’re looking to peel your kids away from their own technology on a Saturday (and maybe do a little shopping for yourself), keep the corner of Bloor & Better in mind.