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Chamonix Apres Ski Report: 15th February 2012

Best DJs & live music and how to keep the kids entertained

featured in Nightlife reviews Author Alison Shayler, Chamonix Reporter Updated

Mid-February means one thing in Chamonix... BUSY!!! All of a sudden the population has exploded; streets are bustling, pistes are swarming, bars are booming – some full-time residents have been known to grumble about it but I love it. As long as you don't need to get anywhere in a hurry you can just enjoy the buzz that is in the air. It feels like being on holiday but with the advantage of being on home turf and knowing where to go and what to do.

We started out last Wednesday night with drinks at the Jekyll where Daisy B was belting out some fine songs; she sings a mix of covers and original material and has a beautiful bluesy voice. You can catch her there every Wednesday at 10pm. By around 11ish our dancing feet were getting restless so we popped in at South Bar to check out their new Wednesday residency with G-Stylez. G is a regular feature on the Chamonix scene and always gets the dancefloor bouncing to his blend of hip-hop, funk and dubstep; this is set to be a regular Wednesday night party with the additional scratching skills of Pop & Skred on alternate weeks – could this be the answer to the sad demise of the Cantina...?

Clear sunny skies and crisp cold weather has kept the snow in mint condition, so for once I have been dedicating more time to the “ski” than to the “apres”. One benefit of this is that not only does it give you a mighty appetite but also a clear conscience in devouring everything that comes your way. With this in mind we were raring for a big feed after a day on the hill on Sunday so we opted for roast dinner at the Vert. The main event for my carniverous friends was the roast beef, while I had a deliciously chunky nut roast with redcurrant dressing; both were served with carrots, green beans, roasted parsnips (yum) and lovely crispy roast spuds. There is also the option to have a starter and dessert but I didn't feel hungry enough to take on the full 3 course challenge; my friend did though, which meant that I was able to have a taste of his mushroom soup starter (with crunchy little parsnip thingies scattered on top) and his apple crumble dessert. Both were simple but satisfyingly tasty and I don't think he wanted to share them but I insisted, sorry mate.

I have friends visiting at the moment with their children and it's easy to forget sometimes that there is more to Chamonix than spending all day on the hill and all night on the town. Apparently that isn't a 7 year old's idea of fun, so alternative entertainment had to be found, preferably for free. Baltic temperatures mean that it is vital to keep little feet on the move to prevent them from freezing to the spot, so we went for a stroll along the riverside to the sledging slope; the path starts in the centre of town opposite the Place du Mont Blanc bus stop and is flat/wide enough to gets prams and pushchairs along. It is a pleasant walk past the sports complex and tennis courts until you get to a bridge where you can cross over and continue along the river, or stay on the same side and head towards the ski de fond trails. The sledging hill is just a little further on towards the start of the ski de fond trails, it is free to play on and open to all ages. Plastic sledges can be bought cheaply from most sports shops and will provide hours of fun (take a flask of something hot, you'll be there a while...)

There is plenty of entertainment laid on for families this week, much of it free. On Thursday evening there will be two torchlit parades taking place, one at the Planards slope in the centre of Chamonix (7:30pm) and one at the Tourchet slope in Les Houches (5:30pm), with children invited to take part. There is also a fun day at the Tourchet piste this Saturday from 2pm, when there will be games and competitions to take part in on sledges, snow skates and other toys. See the What's On Calendar for details of all weekly entertainments.

There are also a few special treats to be had for kids who love animals – how about husky sledding or ski joering? Husky sledding takes place every Wednesday and is organised by Evolution 2, make sure you book in advance as it is very popular. Ski joering is a bizarre sport where you are pulled along on skis behind a horse; it is not as extreme as it sounds and the horses are slow gentle creatures! This can be booked at the Les Houches tourist office and also takes place every Wednesday.

Sunday night sees the Chamonix Chamois take to the ice for another match in the Magnus League Ice Hockey tournament; the game starts at 8:30pm and tickets cost 11€ adult / 8€ child. There is rink-side seating for those who want to be close to the action or you can watch from the warmth of the snack bar.

There is plenty more going on this week to keep you out of the cold. Les Houches dwellers can test their wits at the regular Wednesday night pub quiz at the Hotel Slalom. Thursday night is a good night to be down the Rue des Moulins with DJ R.I.A. playing chunky funky house at Mix Bar. On Saturday you should head for burgers at MBC while the Pistey Boys get everyone dancing at 9:30pm before legging it over to catch The Juggernaut of Rock at the Terrace from 11pm. There is plenty of live music lined up all through the weekend and on into next week, so keep an eye on the What's On Calendar for more information.