Beltway Bambinos

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

Holiday tea for families in and around Washington, DC

Holidays are a time for creating memories, whether it be continuing a family tradition or beginning new ones. I’ve been lucky enough to go to a few high teas; my favorite was at The Plaza Hotel in New York City with my best friend followed by a Holiday Tea at the Willard Intercontinental with family. For those of you looking to take your Bambinos {or go without kids} here’s a list of some venues in our area where you can enjoy tea and crumpets; most with a holiday theme and following covid guidelines.

Photo: Pentagon City Ritz Carlton Kids Tea at Fyve

The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City is now offering Afternoon Tea, bringing a time-honored tradition at an affordable price – all with safety and the health of guests in mind. Offered in their fyve restaurant, the hotel’s Afternoon Tea service is available at three price points, including a Teddy Bear Tea for children. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or for those just looking for a weekend respite from the day-to-day. The selection includes:   

  • Teddy Bear Tea
    • Selection of Children’s Tea Sandwiches
    • Chef’s Sweet Plate
    • Hot Chocolate or Tea

Afternoon Tea is currently available Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Starting November 12, tea will be offered Thursday- Sunday, 12:00pm – 3:00pm. Come December 3, tea will be served every day from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. guests can make a reservation at (703) 412-2762. 

Served Saturday & Sunday, 12:00pm to 4:00pm, as part of the regularly served Afternoon Tea. Enjoy the Ritz-Carlton Tea experience with your young ones with a menu especially designed for guests ages 12 and under.

They offer a Kids Dessert Tea Tour as well as high tea and various other kids events.

The Willard’s Holiday Afternoon Tea is one of the hotel’s most cherished holiday traditions. Seated in the grandeur of Peacock Alley, among the festive decor and elegant sounds of the harp, guests can enjoy a tantalizing array of festive teas, sandwiches and seasonally inspired pastries. Holiday Afternoon Tea is offered Seating Time: 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (90-minute dining restriction) Offered:  Friday – Sunday, December 4-20, 26th.

The soothing sounds of local musicians fill the room, as you enjoy Afternoon Tea in the cozy atmosphere of The Shapiro Music Room at Strathmore. They do hold special events around various holidays so check their schedule to plan ahead. Charles Dickens’ Tea and Mrs. Claus Tea are a few of the popular holiday teas.

Not holiday specific. Seating is limited, so reservations are encouraged. $28.50 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity.All tea sandwiches and pastries are served family-style. 

Creativity is called for every Christmas season.  This year it is especially important to create good times and fun memories for all. Joyfully, in the past years, Mrs. B and St. Nick often sat together for a private tea party to review the ‘naughty and nice’ list of little children. Now Mrs. B invites little ones to join her and Santa for a special event. This is the 9th year for them getting together for tea and you are invited! Please join in what promises to be a merry and memorable time for you and your children.  It will be a festive party as only Mrs. B can create with her team of hard working little elves who love Christmas time.  All ages are welcome but children under 4 years old are required to have a parent in attendance. Tickets are limited to children only. Each and every child will have professional photos available for downloading to share with family and friends, far and near, the week following. This holiday season will be so special by starting it with Mrs. B, Santa Claus and her merry team of elves.

Enjoy a special dining experience with a variety of dainty tea sandwiches and assorted sweet treats. Several dates for Holiday Tea and Santa events. Situated within Tyson Corner Mall with access to Santa, an ice skating rink, Pottery Barn Kids, the Disney Store and over-the-top holiday decorations! See a guest review on an afternoon at Tysons.

Other establishments that offer tea service, not all with a holiday focus but some with children in mind:
The Tavern at the Henley Park Holiday Tea
Children’s Holiday Tea at The Mandarin Oriental
The Jefferson
Tea Cellar in the Park Hyatt Washington
The St. Regis

Weekend Picks: November 18-20

the-pop-ups

Saturday-

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.

9:30am-10:30am AND 10:30am-11:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
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.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Rainbow Puppets: The Really Big Dinosaur Show at National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
Imagine that rare dinosaur fossils could talk . . . what amazing stories they could tell! Well there’s no need to imagine as Rainbow Puppets presents a musical romp through prehistoric times including a dinosaur beauty pageant, a dancing T-Rex and a long-necked dinosaur who measures sixteen feet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. It’s not called “The Really Big Dinosaur Show” for nothing!

10:00am: 19th Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade
Parade units will consist of eight marching bands; glittering Thanksgiving and Christmas floats; a 12-foot inflatable turkey and penguin; the Montgomery County Recreation “T-Recs” 12-foot dinosaur; beauty queens; fire engines; and performing dog and rescue animal groups.  As always, the Parade will culminate with Santa’s float playing holiday music and featuring the smiling, rosy-cheeked elf, sharing his candy canes.

10:00am-2:00pm: Children’s Maker Faire at Oyster Bilingual
(2020 19th St., NW Washington, D.C. 20009)
There will be over 60 builders signed up to exhibit their projects. Admission is free.

2:00pm: The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at The National Gallery of Art
(Enter at 6th and Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20565)
Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Be prepared to track down a powerful sorceress, a Snape-like potions master, flying owls and dragons, Hagrid-like giants, centaurs and unicorns like those you’d see in the Forbidden Forest, strange mermaids and sharks that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, fierce knights in armor, and cloaked and masked figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor. Wizards and muggles alike can play and enjoy this hunt. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. It’s a great way to discover—or rediscover—the museum. Ages 10+ Sign up online

Sunday-

5:30pm-7:30pm: Mommy Nearest Playdate at Strathmore
(11810 Grand Park Ave. Bethesda, MD 20852)
See a live music show featuring The Pop Ups

5:30pm-7:30pm: DC Nibble & Squeak at Blue Duck Tavern
(1201 24th Street Northwest Washington, DC, 20037)
Join for a special #Tykesgiving DC Nibble+squeak celebration at Blue Duck Tavern! Blue Duck Tavern is a casually-chic West End tavern, serving up the freshest seasonal foods of the Mid Atlantic.We will have an exclusive seating at the renowned Chef’s Table where we will enjoy a 3-course family style meal customized by the Chef based on regionally sources, fresh and seasonal and ingredients.

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