The Luvaville Blog
The Luvaville.com Blog is ALL about travel and lifestyle for urban parents. Here, we wish to share with you some of our travel experiences as well as tips and various recommendations on fashion, great design, trendy and practical products that go along with life as parents.
Adventure Playgrounds by Tom Luckey
October 1st, 2012 · Anne
· Fun & Culture, Design, New York
Tom Luckey, a Yale-educated architect is well-known for his lofty play structures, which children love. Lately, his playground have been seen at the MOMA Museum in New York for the exhibition Century of the Child. We are fascinated by these playgrounds and wish we had something like this in Scandinavia.
Luckey started designing for children in 1985. He also experimented with sculptural staircases, and toy and carousel design, but made a career of these trademark climbers, which have delighted young visitors to children’s museums and other public spaces across the United States (from Boston and Chicago to Houston and LA) and in Mexico City. The designs are exuberant, even miraculous, incorporating stable platforms suggestive of magic carpets, leaves, or other organic shapes that seem to float in space while encouraging unfettered ascension. With no predetermined path of exploration, smaller children are able to explore the lower levels while advanced amblers can pursue more elevated adventures. Netting surrounds the structures as a safety precaution, allowing parents to watch their offspring emulate mountain goats and also giving kids the satisfaction of a good view.
all images © Luckey LLC
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Malmö Hot Spots from Anna Noise PR
August 12th, 2012 · Anne
· Travel ,
Did you know, that there is a bridge (Øresundsbroen) connecting Denmark & Sweden? On the other side of the water, you have a charming city Malmö which is worthwhile visiting during your stay in Copenhagen. Many Danes and Swedes live, work and cross the bridge everyday. You can go by train, it only takes about 40 minuttes.
We are so lucky to have Anne Lindeblad, head of Noise PR Kids, a Swedish mother of two who lives in Malmö and work in Copenhagen. They also have the French bulldog Buster in the family. She is here sharing all her insider tips for what to do and see, where to eat and shop in Malmö! If someone knows what is hot, interesting and cool - it must be Anna, please follow her blog as well www.kalkdaily.com.
Alex Brandell/Malmö Turism
1. What do you like best about living in malmö. with children?
I like the fact that you find green parks everywhere, and the distance from city center to the ocean is only a 15 min walk!
2. What is it like a typical day in malmö with your children?
On our day offs we spend most of the day outside! My kids are born and raised with a coffee shop loving mummy, so we always start our days at the local coffeeshop, Kungsgatan, and they love it! Reading newspaper, hanging out with friends, doing puzzles, and just relaxing. there is a small playground just outside, so when the kids gets tired of sitting still, they run outside.
3. What is your favorite area in the city and why?
Västra hamnen (West harbour). This is the best area to hang out during summertime! There are a lot of kids activities for older kids such as a skatepark, water towers for jumping, beachvolley etc. But it is also ideal for the small ones! There is always a lot of people, great icecream bars, lounge hangout in the sand with music and great food! A must visit when visiting Malmö on a sunny day.
4. Where do you like to go for lunch or dinner?
For lunch with kids, I love to go to saltimporten. It´s an old warehouse in the middle of nowhere at the harbour industry area. They have crushed stone as floor, old benches and "take self" service at lunchtime. They do clean and honest food made with love in the most rustic surroundings. Love it! If the weather is nice, this place beats is all, located 20 metres from the water you have the most stunning view. And its good for kids running around! But don´t come late, when the prepared food is finished, it´s finished. Saltimporten Canteen - grimsbygatan 24
5. What kind of public transport do you use getting around in the city with your family?
Walking, walking , walking and bus if I have to go public.
6. Your favorite shops for yourself and for your child/children?
Aplace, spirit and lilla svarta for me. Unfortunately there are few good stores for kids in Malmö. I shop in Zara and Åhlens. Do most of my kids shopping online. Oiidesign! If you arr into interior, you have to visit olsson gerthel (www.olssongerthel.se) and svenssons i lamhult (www.svenssons.se) !
7. The best play ground in the city?
Malmö has several really good playgrounds! Malmö city has put a lot of focus and money on kids activites. So the different areas in Malmö has its own theme park; water, forrest, fairytales, fruit, music, adventure. There is 19 themeparks all in all. My kids favourite are the fairytale park, with rainbow slide, mushroom houses, oversized butterfly to climb on and big clouds to jump on!
8. If you have a little diaper incident or need a toilet where do you go?
If in city center, drop by any espresso house Lokgatan 3,storgatan 11, södra förstadsgatan 10, they all have toilets and changing tables.
9. Your child's/childrens' favorite cultural activity?
Moderna Museet. I have wrote about it in my blog right here - http://www.kalkdaily.com/2012/04/sundays-hangout-at-moderna-museet.html Gasverksgatan 22 i Malmö
Photo: Åsa Lundén/Terje Östling
10. Your own favorite cultural activity?
I love Malmö Konsthall. They have a new exhibition every month, and if I have few hours for my self I love to spend my time there. S:t Johannesgatan 7
Besides that we love to pack the stroller with food and blankets for a whole day and go to pildammsparken and hangout! Both my kids and french bulldog Buster love this activity :-)
Queen's Walk in Colours Southbank
August 3rd, 2012 · Anne
· Fun & Culture, London
As part of the summer festival: Festival of the World from June 1st to September 9th at the Southbank Centre, the Queen’s Walk has been transformed into a rainbow-coloured sand park for children and adults by Polish sculptor Adam Kalinowski. Grey concrete is concealed by thousands of grains of sand dyed in different coulours. Explore the textures, colours and patterns that emerge as you walk barefoot across the park. And even better become as sculptor for the day and build sand shapes and play with the art. We at Luvaville.com really luv' these kind of urban play and art installations, making cities fun for children and their paretns to discover. This is something you have to see if you are London. In the Souhtbank centre, you will find every facilities you need, including many family friendly restaurants like Wagamama, Le Pain Quotidien, Yo! Sushi and Giraffe. Find out more at: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/
All Images from the Southbank Centre Facebook page 
Danish Playgrounds by Monstrum
August 2nd, 2012 · Naomi
· Design,
There are some really lucky kids playing around in the Danish cities, thanks to Monstrum who has a mission: "The world is a truly fantastic, colourfull and dangerous place for kids to grow up in. The playground has to be an equal inspiring alternative where kids can learn to assess risks in a safe invironment. Why only play on a monky frame and a sandbox, when you can play in a moon crater or a submarine or a giant spider or an enormous snail or a Trojans horse or a rocket or an ant or a princess castle. The fantasy is infinite". Check out our selection of playgrounds in Copenhagen - Monstrum is behind a couple of them:)
Wonder Space by Toshiko Horiuchi
June 24th, 2012 · Anne
· Travel ,
Yet another reason why, Japan is on the top of my travel list. Look at this amazing art instalation/ playground made of net. The knitted Wonder Space created by Toshiko Horiuchi.
The pavilion is located at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a unique open musem located in one of the mist visited tourist spots in Japan. The idea is that children learn to explore, handle and play with works of art, rather than just looking at them, which should bring kids closer to art and inspire their creativity. In Japan, apparently many museum and art schools allov children to experience art hands-on, up close and in a personal way. This one, OMG, looks like so much fun and it looks beautiful as well, I would really like to there....
Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects / TIS & PARTNERS, photo by Abel Erazo
David Rockwell Imagination Playground NY
April 13th, 2012 · Anne
· Fun & Culture, New York
The Imagination Playground in NY designed by the famous David Rockwell has everything a kid can wish for. Huge blue blocks to play, build with and glimb on, water, sand, wood, rope climbing structure, a ramp, slide and a listening forest. All the features are designed to inspire children's unstructed and free play. Open Mon-Fri: 10.00 - 18.00 and Sat-Sun: 9.30 - 18.30. Ger more info here!
Remisen, Indoor Playground in Copenhagen
April 2nd, 2012 · Lone
· Fun & Culture, Copenhagen
Last Thursday I took our 11 months old babyboy, Marlon, to Remisen - the one and only indoor playground in Copenhagen and simply the most perfect place to bring your children if they need to run off their energy and have lots of fun!
Not only does Remisen have an enormous play area with a climbing structure, a pirate ship, zipline, a slide, a swing, ride-on toys, balls and lots of mattresses - it also has seperate rooms for crafts, dolls, legos and computers. And it doesn't stop here, even a kitchen where you can put your lunchbags in the refrigerator, warm a bottle of milk for your baby or make yourself a cup of coffee while putting your baby in one of the many highchairs, can be found at Remisen. And in case you have a diaper accident, stay calm, there are good changing facilities as well!
On Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30 and 12.00 the playground is only allowed for babies and toddlers at the age of 0-3, which means that there is plenty of room for your baby or toddler to crawl safely around and meet other babies and toddles or give them a ride in the swing or on one of the many ride-on toys. I guarantee that your baby will not be dissapointed!
In other words there's plenty to explore for the children and it may not come as a surprise that on Tuesdays and Thursdays it's a very popular place for maternity groups, mothers and fathers but also grandparents to bring babies or toddlers, so don't get surprised if you see 50 strollers or more parked outside the building!
Did I mention that it is FREE!? Only one thing that I dislike about Remisen is that it's closed on weekends....
Remisen, Blegdamsvej 132, 2100 København Ø , phone: +45 35263141
Skydebanen Playground Copenhagen
April 2nd, 2012 · Anne
· Fun & Culture, Copenhagen
Last weekend, we visited the Skydebanen Playground, which is a large staffed playground. It's one of Vesterbro's secret treassures for families, a green oasis well hidden behind a brute fortress-resembling gate in Istedgade. When walking on Istedgade, you will wonder what's behind those walls....so make it like a treassure hunt for the kids and they will be thrilled! Skydebanehaven (the shooting range park) used to be the shooting range for the Copenhagen Shooting Society. In the middle of the playground, you have this big and colorful parrot made by the Danish company Monstrum with multiple levels inside. You can run and climb on the outside of the parrot and slide down on the other side. You will also find a large sandbox, bikes, a pitch, a pool table, ping-pong, a climbing frame, a play house, a campfire, many swings and a cableway. In the middle of the garden you will find a paddling pool - very popular during warm summer days. This is a popular spot during weekends both for young and older children. During the week, you will find supervised staff on the playground and different activities.
All Images from Monstrum
A warm Welcome to Chef and Food Writer Louisa Lorang
December 14th, 2011 · Naomi
· Copenhagen
We are soooo happy to introduce to you the sweest Chef and Food writer, Louisa Lorang. Louisa has written several Cookbooks, writes for the Danish Magasin Femina and is from time to time to be seen very early in the Danish Morning Tv Show Go'morgen Danmark. We love the fact that Louisa's Kitchen is both traditional and untraditonal at the same time, that her Recipes are very easy to follow and that her Books are filled with beautiful pictures; but most of all we love her unpretentious and humorous tone. Louisa will regularly share her fabulous Recipes with us, so stay tuned!
Louisa lives in Copenhagen with her boyfriend and their two Children, Ester 5 years old and little Isak who is almost 2 years old. They love living in the area Christianshavn, from where you kan reach almost every sights on foot. The Family love the green areas and the diversity but they wouldn't mind having less trafic, an ice cream shop and better Take away places - Yes a Chef also gets tired and hungry!
Photo : Anders Schønnemann
1. What do you like best about living in Copenhagen with children? I like the convenience and choices the City gives me. Living in Copenhagen we are close to nature; parks, woods and beaches, and still have easy acces to movies, playgrounds, cafees, restaurants, theaters, museums and much more.
Photo: Tuala Hjarnø
2. What is it like a typical day in Copenhagen with your family? My job is very versatile. And luckily I am often able to pick my kids up pretty early from kindergarden. In summertime, we usually go back to our really big and great courtyard. Here they play and we sometimes eat with other children families. During the winter I like to make tea, fruit or maybe chai when we get home. And we usually play or read together. Or watch a movie or cartoons. We also cook together all 4 of us several times a week. When the kids are asleep, I usually work again. That way, I have more time with them.
3. What is your favourite area in the city and why? We live very close to Holmen and Christiania. Both very unique places in Copenhagen. We use both places a lot. Christiania is beautiful during summer and has a great playground. Holmen is fab when we go boat-watching or want to catch a “Havnebus”.
Photo: Ty Stange
4. Where do you like to go for lunch or dinner? If we are eating out with the kids, we like to have lunch at Morgenstedet at Christiania. It is vegetarian and they have a small courtyard, so the kids can play. My daughter likes Wagamama and Sticks N Sushi – or if we need caks, we go to Nikolaus Strangas at Åboulevard.
5. What kind of public transport do you use getting around in the city with your family? We often walk, take the metro or the “havnebus” when getting around in the city.
6. Your favourite shops for your self and for your children? I must admit that I am quite busy and don´t spend to much time shopping. I usually get all shopping done in very short time in Magasin at Kgs. Nytorv. It is easy, warm and they have a good return policy.
Photo: Morten Jerichau
7. The best play ground in the city? 2 favorites: Voldens legeplads at Christianshavns Vold and the playground behind Nikolaj Kirke.
8. If you have a little diaper incident where do you go? Magasin – I always end up there…..
9. Your Childrens' favourite cultural activity? My daughter likes museums. Especially art museums, where they have installations. She likes Arken a lot. And we often go to my inlaws farm. They have a small “besøgsbondegård” Barresøgård, were you can pet the animals and milk the cow. She loves to spend time there.
10. Your own favourite cultural activity? Eating! And I love to go to the theatre, but it has been far too long. I don´t have enough time.
Photo. Ty Stange
11. What is your favorite food? I loooove fod. Practically everything; from old style to Vietnamese. And always with both chesse and dessert.
12. What is your Children's favoite food? Ester is crazy about Dahl (Indian lens dish). Super cool I think, even though it might be because of the unlimited Mango Chutney we serve when we have Dahl. Also both Spring rolls, lasagna, pasta, beef in oyster sauce and pizza are always a big hit for both of the kids; even though Isak mostly eat meat!
Photo: Anders Schønemann
A warm Welcome to Swedish Katrin - living in Paris
November 8th, 2011 · Naomi
· Interviews,
Meet our new insider Parent the beautiful Katrin Bento Connault! Born and raised in Sweden Katrin now lives in Paris with her French husband and their two gorgeous children, Nils and Sven. Katrin is the proud owner of the fabulous webshop Dino Deluxe where she has gathered all the best of Scandinavian fashion brands for children. We are very very happy to welcome Katrin and we can't wait to introduce her to you! Here Katrin shares with us all her favorite addresses to Stockholm. Enjoy!
1). What do you like best about visiting Stockholm with your family?
The best things living in Stockholm with children are the beautiful nature and surroundings close to the center and of course all parks with their playgrounds where you often can borrow tricycles and toys. There are plenty of great beaches, outdoor pools and free paddling pools in parks perfect for young children. Almost all museums in Stockholm also have a part especially made for children and there are often activities organized for children. In wintertime you can have great nature experiences with your kids while skiing, ice skating on the ice or just playing in the snow. I also appreciate that the
transport system is designed to accommodate children, prams and strollers and that you can easily order a cab with a car seat for babies and kids. Many shops and restaurants in the town are also very child-friendly.
2). What is it like a typical day when you are in Stockholm with your family?
When we spend time in Stockholm on vacation (usually twice a year), we love to spend time with family and friends. Our family goes out together with friends and their children to have a nice brunch somewhere or we have a pick-nick and hang out in one of the green parks. One favorite is Rålambshovsparken with its paddling pool, green grass and lush vegetation, beach, playground and Skate Park. In the afternoon we enjoy a “fika”, that means a Swedish coffee break usually accompanied by something sweet and delicious, and visit a museum, an exhibition, a park theater or just walk along the seaside to admire the town.
3). What is your favorite area in the City and why?
This is a really difficult question, as I think that all parts of Stockholm have their own charm. But if I have to choose one, I would say Södermalm and more specifically the SOFO (blocks South of Folkungagatan) area. I like it for its laid-back yet trendy atmosphere, for all nice restaurants, bars and coffee places, the creative shops specialized in vintage clothing, design, music and much more..
4). Where do you like to go for lunch or dinner?
I love to have lunch in the greenhouse at Rosendals café & Trädgård at Djurgården for the food and the beautiful environments. Another place where I would go for a lunch with my family is to Herman’s restaurant and garden café to eat their fantastic vegetarian and ecological buffet. With its large variety of hot foods, bread, salad and desserts everyone in the family is sure to find something they will like. The view of Stockholm from this restaurant is also quite stunning! A great place for dinner (if the kids can stay at home in with their grandmother) is the restaurant Gondolen. I like to go there to enjoy the classy Swedish and international food and good wines and the breathtaking view of Stockholm.
5). What kind of transport do you use getting around in the city with your family?
All kind of public transport: Bus, metro, ferry.. The public transport system in Stockholm is extensive, well organized and safe and is designed to accommodate children and prams and strollers. A good thing with the buses is that you do not need to pay when you have a stroller or a pram and that children under seven always ride free when accompanied by an adult.
6). Your favorite shops for your self and your children?
I love to shop when I go to Stockholm! Some of my favorite stores when I go shopping for me are Beyond Retro, Cheap Monday, Ahléns, Vagabond, Tjallamalla, Plagg, GrandPa SoFo, Nudie Jeans Co, Filippa K… I can continue the list like forever! When it comes to shopping for my kids, I mostly give them clothing from my own webshop Dino Deluxe. But before I created the shop I often went shopping in kids’ stores like Mini Rodini, Ahléns, Baby Shop and Milla Milano.
7). Where is the best playground in the City?
There are basically great playgrounds in all areas in Stockholm. As we stay close to Kungsholmen when we are in town we often go to the playground in Rålambshovsparken to enjoy the paddling pool, the tricycles and toys you can borrow and the swings and slides.
8). If you have a little diaper incident where do you go?
If I need to change my baby’s diaper in town I go to one of the big department stores that all have a nursery room. Otherwise I go to a café and kindly ask them if it is possible to use their toilet and if it is summertime I just go to a park to change.
9). What is your children's favorite cultural activity?
My son Nils who is 4 years old just love to visit the out-door museum Skansen at Djurgården. He likes to watch the demonstrations of handicrafts such as glasswork and see all Nordic wild animals, especially the bears. My youngest son Sven, who is seven months old, seemed quite interested in some contemporary graphical paintings at The Modern Museum, but I guess he is a bit too young to really appreciate any cultural activity.
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10). What is your own favorite cultural activity?
Fotografiska (centre for contemporary photography) and The Modern Museum, which also works just fine to visit with kids as they have a kids’ reading corner and workshop. And of course all great concerts organized at the club Debaser!
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