Down time: Hip, hipster, hooray . . .

31 August 2016 - 09:47 By Yolisa Mkele

As a parent it is a tricky challenge to find entertainment to suit both addled adults and children. You could try going to a movie but chances are you want to watch that new Scarlett Johansson flick featuring the occasional nip slip, while your kids want to watch something about an animated cat.You could try having everyone over for a braai but cleaning up afterward isn't worth it - and getting everyone out of your house at a reasonable hour is an exercise in futility.Pic Nic New Town could be the answer. Started earlier this year, this family-friendly event manages to conjure a wholesome atmosphere with none of the admin.Splayed languorously behind the Potato Shed restaurant, the event space is like a rainbow that's decided to lie down for a bit. Luminous yellow, green and pink crates provide an alternative to sitting on the comfy astroturf - and if you're feeling bourgeois you can even hire neon beach chairs. All of this colour gives everything an air of a live action cartoon, except without the double entendres uttered by dogs.For the kids there are jumping castles, swings and giant blocks to play with, which allows them to remember that making real friends can be fun, while giving their parents a touch of breathing space.Pic Nic New Town combines all of this with live music and not that fluffy radio friendly stuff either. Have your kids listening to enough off-the-wall hipster-approved bands and they are guaranteed to grow up cool enough to wear Warby Parker glasses without irony.The next Pic Nic Newtown takes place on September 24 and will have braaiing facilities. For more information visit the Pic Nic New Town Facebook page..

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