A Pop-Up Playground
It’s official – the coolest pop-up has hit our city and people are swarming! HideSeek just got here and has already become the place to snap a pic, play like a kid, and feel completely carefree. Believe the hype, because this place is as advertised. An immersive experience that titillates all of your sensibilities, I ran through each installation with my kids and felt each room was a nostalgic rediscovery.
I got lost in each room – from the bold and playful colour, the graffiti and life-size toys, the pit of balls and massive balloons, the beaded hallway and massive butterflies, slinkies and cereal, swings and fuzzy walls… I mean, the list goes on! So much to see, so much to do, so much to capture. And when I say capture, legit, bring your cameras, because this place is Instagram heaven!
HideSeek arrived in October and is meant to pick up and move on across Canada mid-December, but I got the inside scoop that they are thinking of extending because Montrealers are going bananas. The fantasy-like rooms all recreate different feelings play off different senses. Some have cuddly bears and soft plush pillows, while another room is completely dark and is lit up by a 10,000-star galaxy. There is a ball pit that boasts 30,000 balls (all individually hand-washed religiously), I believe about 2000 slinkies and who knows how many velcro paddles that make up some of the installations.
I brought my kids for a full afternoon of fun, play, pics, and laughs – I have to admit, it was almost impossible to pull them out of there! They really had a good time and watching them have such great fun is always a great time for me as a mom. I knew I would have fun too, but I didn’t think I’d like it this much! When they asked if we could go back, I unhesitatingly said “obviously!”
I thought it would be fun to add an element of fashion into the space – so for each room, I wore a different tee. I’m a major fan of graphic tees. It’s a great way to tell people a simple message, support a designer or band you like. Of course I had to represent with my Montreal t-shirts and then another favourite in my wardrobe right now, Praise Official.
