Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Weekday Adventures: Summer festivals, The Singing Lizard leaps around and movie nights

The Chautauqua Festival is an free, eight-day (June 21-28) family oriented arts and music festival held each year in Elizabeth Brown Park in Downtown Wytheville, VA. Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andres is playing on Wednesday at 10:30am. Road trip anyone?  Smithsonian Folklife Festival is also happening on the National Mall beginning on Wednesday. 

Looking to escape the warmer temperatures this week? There are some new theatre performances in town. Out theatre roundup has the details you need. 

 DC Parks and Rec have turned on all spray parks and pools!  Check them out to cool off. 

Monday-

9:30am: Harambe at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.

9:30am-11:00am- Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets
(5531 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md. 20781)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly Busboys and Poets series for local stay-at-home parents and early rising families of all kinds! Featuring performances and stories for children ages 5 and under.Today’s featured artist is The Singing Lizard. 

Tuesday-  

10:00am: Rocking Tot Tuesdays with The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Grab an instrument, get on stage or practice your moves on the dance floor. This is a perfect spot for your little one to move and groove. Suggested donation $7.

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Weekend Picks: Dance, eat and have a good weekend!

Have a baseball fan but don’t want to take the family to Nats Stadium? Check out Bethesda Big Train, a summer collegiate league.  The stadium is located at  10600 Westlake Drive, Bethesda, MD 20852

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Saturday-

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave. Bethesda, Md. 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience. An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book (Down by the Bay) with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Tickets are $6.

10:30am: Junior Jams present Oh Susannah!
(FNDTN Gallery and Liveroom, 3762 Howard Ave., Kensington, MD)
Weary of the Wiggles? Oh Susannah (Susan McNelis) provides a very welcome alternative. Kids love her music, a tasty blend of familiar favorites and lively originals perfect for singing and dancing along. Parents love her music for the unusual arrangements, clever lyrics and beautiful vocals. $6 in advance/$8 at door.

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Weekend Picks: Mom’s picking this weekend =)

images10:00am-4:00pm: EU Embassies Open House 2014 
(Various locations)
Experience the best of European Culture without the Jet Lag! The European Union Embassies and the EU Delegation to the United States will open their doors to the public for the annual EU Embassies’ Open House: a day of family fun, food, culture and more. The event offers visitors a rare look inside the embassies and provides a unique opportunity for them to experience the cultural heritage and national traditions of the 28 member countries.

10:00am-6:00pm: Bethesda Fine Arts Festival
(Bethesda Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk Ave., between Auburn and Del Ray Aves., Bethesda, Md)
Delight in fine art created by 130 of the nation’s best artists, live entertainment and Bethesda restaurants. Children’s area will be on Auburn Ave.

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Weekend Picks: Fly a kite, take in some art and jam out

Pardon the brevity of this week’s post — as we’re actually posting it remotely from Florida, where we’ve gone to escape the never-ending Winter of DC. While we won’t be able to check out all the fun this weekend, we still gathered our best bets — so let us know how it goes and what we might have missed because of our absence. Have a great weekend everyone!

Saturday-

9:30am and 11:00- Tim Marrone: Clowning Around with Shakespeare at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC  20004)
Laughter reigns supreme when a lowly court jester prepares for his first audience with England’s newly crowned monarch, King James I. Kids help calm our clown’s frazzled nerves by assuming characters in his performance and providing backup with songs and sound effects in an entertaining show filled with comic spontaneity.

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10:00am-4:30pm– Blossom Kite Festival
(Washington Monument grounds – Constitution Avenue & 17th Street, NW)
Spring is in the air – literally! The fourth annual Blossom Kite Festival presented by the National Cherry Blossom Festival showcases the creativity of kite makers and skill of kite fliers from across the US and other countries through a variety of competitions and demonstrations including the popular Hot Tricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle. Bring your own kites or children can make a kite at an activity station (while supplies last) to fly on the Public Field. The Blossom Kite Festival includes 5 areas to enjoy: the Competition & Demonstration Field, Family Field, Kite Club Display Area, Activity Tents, and Public Field. Check out a map of the Festival here.

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Weekend Picks: Cherry Blossoms, Winnie the Pooh and a bite of gelato

It’s officially Cherry Blossom season (aka Spring), so perhaps that snow that is in the forecast on Tuesday will magically disappear? Will you make your way down to The Tidal Basin? Here is the link to the official website to find out all the information you need. Check the forecast, reserve a paddle boat for your family, and row through the basin admiring the blooms. Make sure and read everything, especially one of our final Weekend Picks (hint: it involves fresh churned gelato!)

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Saturday-

9:30am and 11:00am- Bright Star Theatre: Jack’s Adventure at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC  20004)
Join Jack as he crams for his upcoming history test. When his history book magically bursts, Jack meets some of the most exciting people in our nation’s history! George Washington, Betsy Ross, Henry Ford and Neil Armstrong are just some of the 22 characters that come to life in this high energy adventure. Audience volunteers help write the Constitution, work on Ford’s assembly line and even demand the right to vote. Best for grades 2-5– Free.

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Weekday Adventures: Georgia O’Keeffe, Amelia Earhart and Date Night(s)!

Hope everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful weather on Saturday. We spent all of Saturday at the playground, not sure if our son was more excited or if we were. We are looking forward to the days staying brighter, longer.

We created a post on exploring DC, VA and MD indoors. You can find at the top of the homepage “Indoor Fun” as well as here. Whether it’s to escape the cold or beat  the heat, we hope you find it useful. Have a great week and hopefully your kids will be back on a regular sleeping routine in no time!

Monday, March 10:

9:30am-11:00am- Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets
(5531 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md. 20781)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly Busboys and Poets series for local stay-at-home parents and early rising families of all kinds! Featuring performances and stories for children ages 5 and under. This week The Singing Lizard will be there to rock out.

10:00am-11:30am- Open Studio for Toddlers at Art Space
(614 S St NW, Washington, DC. 20001)
Toddlers and their accompanying adult are encouraged to come and create age-appropriate art projects. Rachel Dickerson Brunswick and her 2 year old daughter, Ona, will set up materials for safe, fun, and creative projects. Children will learn the art or cleaning up as well! Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in. Siblings are welcome. $5 drop in fee.

10:30am-11:30am- Young Portrait Explorers: Georgia O’Keeffe at National Portrait purple-petunia.jpg!BlogGallery
(8th and F St Washington, DC.)
Become a Young Portrait Explorer and discover the National Portrait Gallery through history and art. Activities include looking at a portrait by American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), listening to a story about her, and participating in a hands-on activity. TOddlers up to age 5, registration is required.

 

Tuesday, March 11:

10:00am- Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Pavilion (2nd floor)
(10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW)
Every Tuesday at 10:00am you can get into the magnificent butterfly pavilion for free! Make sure and get a free ticket by the entrance. We visited this last month and were amazed by how many butterflies were flying around, some even landing on a shoulder. Look closely and you could spot a frog under some trees.

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Weekend Picks: NPR, Persian New Year and a teddy bear concert

The weekend we’ve been looking forward to for months: Daylight Savings! Also, known as a time parents dread because they have to get their child back on a sleep schedule, adapting to the time change. The weather should be warm and sunny on Saturday. A perfect time to take advantage of the free admission to Dumbarton Oaks 1703 32nd St NW, Washington, DC 20007. Between 2:00pm-5:00pm (Sunday as well) you can roam the gardens and run the long lawns. MehQcBs5qeckHhfNPKw6YwO1okpH7U9HCWzgTA3lCjKAybpB-oz_WYRgMOwtlfZTlVDoTQ=s114
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Saturday:

9:30am-4:00pm- Explore, Invent and Experiment with STEMosphere at George Washington University
(Charles E. Smith Center at GWU 600 22nd St NW, Washington, DC. 20052)
STEMosphere is a FREE one-day event where students, parents, educators and lifelong learners of all ages can join us for a public exhibition of fun, interactive, STEM-inspired activities. Learn anatomy by layering clay on realistic models. Experiment with the world’s first interactive projector. Get your hands dirty with an environmental service-learning project.

10:00am-3:00pm- Family Day: The Great Escape at The Corcoran Gallery of Art
(500 17th St., NW, Washington, D.C.)
Escape to Paris, New York, and the Wild West without leaving DC! Families will experience these destinations through live performances, in-gallery activities, and hands on art workshops. Featuring special performances of My Grandfather’s Circuis by Zany Umbrella Circrus and a masquarde salon by Project Enlightenment, this celebration will higlight some of the D.C. area’s best art, dance, and music. This FREE, amazing adventure is inspired by the exhibition American Journeys: Visions of Place. All ages are welcome.

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Weekday Adventures: Clowning around, beat-boxing, and ukulele fun

Hopefully you got outside and enjoyed the weather this weekend. Since we hear more cold (and snow?!) are in the weekday forecast, we are working on an Indoor Activity Guide so you have some new places to escape indoors with your children. For some more fun options, check out the rundown below.

Monday, Feb. 24

9:30am-11:00am- Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets 
(5531 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md. 20781)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly Busboys and Poets series for local stay-at-home parents and early rising families of all kinds! Featuring performances and stories for children ages 5 and under.

9:30am- Harambe at BloomBars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.

10:30am- Story and music at Politics and Prose
(5015 Connecticut Ave NW, DC. 20015)
Meet downstairs in the children’s department for thirty minutes of songs and stories. Grab a treat in the cafe before or afterwards or swing by Little Red Fox down the street for a coffee, lunch or treat.

  [Read more…]

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