What to do for Christmas: Peter Jones Snow Room
Forget the wintery weather outside. It's cold INSIDE this winter at Peter Jones, with a section of the store chilled and frozen with its first Snow Room.
Visitors wrap up in woolies and step into a part of the 6th floor to experience snow flurries and walk amid Christmas trees, the company says. Kids can try target practice with snow balls, have their face "frosted" by a face painter and create their own "ice crown". Santa is also in attendance, giving out eco-friendly presents. Apparently the energy to run the Snow Room will be carbon offset and the snow is "re-usable". (We're not sure if that means it can be melted then refrozen or if it's of the more ersatz/manufactured variety.)
Peter Jones' Snow Room will be open from Monday 1st to Wednesday 10th December between 12 noon and 6pm. Tickets for the Snow Room cost £5 and can be booked in advance by emailing events_peter_jones@johnlewis.co.uk or calling 020 7881 6470. Tickets can also be purchased at the customer services department on the 6th Floor.
Have you been? Let us know what you think by posting your review below.
Er, well, maybe it was Dandelion or Daisy or Bluebell? But don't blame me - blame the farmer!
Seriously though, since it's easy to get these days (here in Seattle at least), I generally buy my meat from a local farmer than from the supermarket (admittedly it costs more). And if I know they are grass-fed animals who have had a healthy outdoor life and were only butchered a week ago, then that's better for me and better for them and better for the environment than buying from the industrial factory farms that most of the American meat industry has become.
Posted by: LM | 12 Dec 2008 17:51:09
The only time I sat on Father Christmas' knee I was about 18 and in severe goth mode. I have the photo and my daughters think it's hilarious. (I do too - all that black eyeliner!)
Where I live each village has their own volunteer fire station, and each year they organise two important events. The first is the St Martin (of Tours) parade on (or around) 11th November. That involves bags of treats for the children, a bonfire and a roman soldier on a horse leading a parade of everyone in the village around the place. The children make lanterns and it's beautiful. It's also the beginning of our run-up to christmas as that's when everyone puts up the outside fairy lights.
Next one of them dresses up as St Nicholas, and visits each house in the village where there are children (even the older ones - it's only a small place). He has his golden book and tells them a bit about his life, and (pretends to) write in the book if the children have been good or not. Then they usually get a few biscuits and bits of fruit.
He's also accompanied by the "Black Peters" who rattle chains and are supposed to give a lump of coal to the bad children - but I've never seen them actually do it.
And: LM... YOU ATE BUTTERCUP????
Posted by: Sho | 11 Dec 2008 08:46:54
I have a lovely memory of going to see Santa as a kid. The DIC (or was it the PDC?) in Palmerston North (NZ) used to have a fantastic Santa's Grotto. It was like going through a snow cave, and was full of 'magical' delights. I would love to find something like that to take son to.
Posted by: Gipsy | 9 Dec 2008 09:01:28
Think I mentioned this on the other thread, but I'm not really into taking the child to see Santa. As a child, we did it a couple of times and it really creeped me out (I should add it to the other thread). St. Nicholas made an appearance in church yesterday though, with cookies & stories of his life for all the children, which (IMO) was far more fun than waiting in line to meet Santa at the department store.
Posted by: LM | 9 Dec 2008 07:37:05
Sometimes I enjoy clothes shopping but I'd be far happier if I could find exact replacements for favourite clothes when they wore out, as Sho & SM said too. I've actually taken to buying some clothes & shoes via the web, when they're a brand that I know fits in a certain way. Does anyone else see a business opportunity here? I guess it would need to be very traditional tailoring, actually.
Was at our Farmers' Market on Saturday; it's now year-round, every weekend (used to close in depths of winter), and was identified in the NY Times as one of the best in the country (US) a few years ago. It is really excellent and I love the community aspect of it all (especially in a land where you don't have a local butcher, greengrocer, etc), chatting to the farmers' & watching each others' families change as they grow. I've been shopping there for over a decade now, it's always nice to talk to the tomato guy in spring & discuss which starts to buy, and to catch up with the shellfish farmer in winter when the mussels are at their best. Recently we've had excellent local organic meat added to the offerings (from farmers who still name their cows things like Buttercup).
This week, the city council was giving away greenery from recent prunings & showing how to make wreaths, and there was even a Christmas Tree seller, along with carollers and eggnog. Marvellous!
Posted by: LM | 9 Dec 2008 07:34:23
We visited the Snow Room this weekend at Peter Jones - it's on until the 10th. It was quite intimate. They have a limited number of slots each hour and then once inside each child get their face painted, decorates a silver crown, has a go at throwing "snowballs" (huge white pompoms) into a cut-out hole in a snowman and gets an audience with Father Christmas. It wasn't cold inside the space - on the contrary, the sunlight through the windows made it decidedly warm. But they did have this pit with a kind of fake snow. It was cool to the touch, and looked like real powder but it wiggled like jelly and felt like gel. (Has anyone ever tried Jelli Baff? a bit like that.) For the cost (£5) it was worth it, plus now we've seen Santa, we can tick that off the Christmas to-do list.
Posted by: Jennifer Howze | 8 Dec 2008 12:38:28
We do what my parents did with us as children: before Christmas we have a clear-out and what we can't sell, if it is in good condition, is given to charity. That way we don't have too much stuff hanging around (I can't abide clutter and mess)
If I could guarantee a supply of the clothes - and particularly shoes, I am the happiest person alive now that high-heeled Mary-Janes are back - It wouldn't bother me if I could shop twice a year to pick up the things I need. As it is I have a well-used sewing machine. These days it doesn't save much on the money side (especially when I calculate in my time) but the frayed nerves are... well, less frayed.
Posted by: Sho | 6 Dec 2008 20:57:10
Perhaps there are more people about than I thought. Women get tarred with this very sexist view held by men and other women that all little women love spending male money and engaging in frivlous shopping expeditions for clothes and makeu pthey don't need when lots of us don't actually like shopping at all.
I would like it more if I knew that every year for the next 30 I could go to one woman's clothes shop and exactly the same clothes would be on the same shelf and I could go into that shop, spend about 10 mins there and come out with exactly what I want but the whole experience is designed to ensure that never happens whereas for men it does genuinely happen like that.
Buying presents for people I love to make them happy? Yes, certainly not against that although I just don't like spending money anyway as it usually ends up being on stuff no one uses. The twins went to a school fair this morning and came back with stuff I bet is never going to be used. And most of us by the time we're adults have everything we want.
I think I'd be happier with someone coming here and taking things I have away than giving me more. I got rid of a bit of stuff to a charity shop this week and that made me feel much better than if I'd bought stuff. Although I'm quite enjoying learning to use my blackberry storm, but even there it was "free" as an upgrade.
I was just talking to my sister about our late mother and my mother really did enjoy shopping. So may be I react against that. She got loads of social interaction by meeting the women she knew in Fenwicks, going to clothes designer sales, getting coats for £100 that cost £500 originally, never minding that it was end of line that no one wanted. When she died I sorted out her clothes. She had rack after rack of hardly used clothes in 3 or 4 bed rooms and the attic, had become almost a compulsion.
Posted by: supermother | 6 Dec 2008 16:24:24
I'm also an anti-shopper, much like SM. For people who hate shops and strip lighting and 'bargains' (as if), then the internet is a godsend. I really only go in a supermarket about three times a year (just to remind myself how much I hate them).
Posted by: mumoftwo | 5 Dec 2008 11:41:42
It's not shopping I like (I loathe it) but buying things for people I love/like that I think they will like.
But I don't always buy presents on account of my skinflint gene and my passion for getting out and playing with my Black&Decker toys.
Posted by: Sho | 5 Dec 2008 08:38:52
I don't like shopping at any time of year and I don't really. Very occasionally I will pop into a shop for a few minutes to buy something essential but I don't like it. I wonder what makes some people like or even love shopping and some not?
Posted by: supermother | 4 Dec 2008 18:57:29
I used to go to the Bath market when I lived there. This weekend I'm off to Lincoln Christmas market, so we'll see how that goes. It's very well known, so it should be good.
I've bought most of my presents - the majority online, though I am doing a trip into town tomorrow. Hopefully then I'll be pretty much done - hurray! The most organised I've ever been!
Posted by: | 3 Dec 2008 19:32:00
I think the Times ran an article this week about Christmas markets - some of which were in UK (some were in France, Germany and Belgium)
Posted by: Sho | 3 Dec 2008 15:00:21
The Christmas market in Bath is lovely, lots of little stalls around the Abbey churchyard, and plenty selling mulled wine and festive foods.
Posted by: Rae | 3 Dec 2008 10:26:44
Does anyone know of good Christmas markets in the UK? We went to some in Germany that were brilliant - didn't buy much but loved the festive atmosphere and hot drinks! SM, good idea re: church. In my hometown you could drive around to all the churches and see outdoor displays of the baby in the manger.
Posted by: | 3 Dec 2008 09:58:31
The idea of the snow room is, frankly, hideous. No matter how lovely snow at christmas and "it's for the children".
Here most of the local towns have little christmas markets and a crib scene in the town square which is enough really for us.
But then we have the advantage that often enough we have enough snow to keep everyone happy.
Posted by: Sho | 3 Dec 2008 09:37:12
Gipsy: Free snow in London? Going on experience most years there's only a very thin layer of snow that rarely lasts longer than a day. Then again, perhaps this year will be different if the temperatures of this morning are anything to go by...
Posted by: Victoria | 3 Dec 2008 08:45:29
i have never seen that before, but it may very interesting. it could bring children more funny when there is no snow in that year.
Posted by: ruby | 3 Dec 2008 02:06:11
we'll be getting the free snow soon enough :) Sounds like a bit of fun though.
SM love your idea, will keep it in mind for when son is a little older. He doesn't quite understand that cribs are for looking at and not playing with at the moment.
Woolworths are keeping costs down for us this year. Sad to say really. Finding it hard to believe still that they are closing down. Tragic that so many people are being made redundant. Keeping a close eye on our closest stores. One not far from us has already cleared out - it sold everything for a pound.
Posted by: Gipsy | 2 Dec 2008 22:47:45
I couldn't agree more with what SM says, and that's something I never thought to write. Bravo, SM. I have dealt with Christmas presents thus: magazine subscriptions for female relatives (done online), Pizza Express vouchers for male ones (bought at the garage up the road), money for children. And you're done, as Amazon says. Can't recommend it highly enough. Plus the (ordered online) Bah Humbug badge for myself. Indispensable.
Posted by: Jean Jones | 2 Dec 2008 22:35:53
And for those who seek to eschew consumerism at Christmas one thing little children really do enjoy is being taken into churches out of church service hours and shown cribs etc. There are some wonderful church buildings in London, all free to enter and often a nicer environment for children to walk around, look at the paintings etc and spend time which costs nothing. Light a candle - children love handling real fire too.
Make a resolution not to go into a shop between now and 25th and I guarantee you'll be happier. Christmas crowds are dire.
Posted by: supermother | 2 Dec 2008 22:20:39