weekend – Page 5

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

February 12, 2021

It is not too late to get some amazing chocolate, even if you don’t like to celebrate Valentine’s Day; you deserve good chocolate!! Plan ahead to President’s Day {before we publish our post} and Monday you can visit Mount Vernon free of charge to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Or check out some great places to ski that only require a day trip.

Friday

4:00pm-4:30pm & 4:30pm-5:00pm: Valentine’s Cupcake Decorating at American Girl Store
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with sweet treats! Your girl will love adding her own special touches to girl- and doll-sized cupcakes with plenty of frosting and sprinkles to make them extra special!

5:00pm-6:00pm: Valentine’s Kids Night In with My Gym
A special one-hour “evening” event where kids will spend time together on Zoom enjoying fun games and activities with their favorite teachers. Sign up online HERE.

Saturday

10:00am: Lunar New Year Virtual Celebration
Ring in the Year of the Ox! Celebrate the Lunar New Year online with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Chinese Cultural Institute, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Enjoy streamed video performances and demonstrations of traditional Chinese crafts and Lunar New Year traditions. Visit our SAAM Family Zone online for crafts, coloring pages, videos and other activities.

11:00am-1:00pm CST: Paper Source Virtual Galentine Hangout
Grab your gals, pals and best buds to join us at the Paper Source Galentine Virtual Hangout! Spend your favorite brunch time learning to make champagne cocktails, long-lasting paper blooms and DIY pressed flower candles with the Bouqs. We recommend crafting along with us with our Big Blooms Paper Flowers Kit and creating bubbly brunch cocktails with our DIY Mimosa Kit (purchased separately). Take 20% off your order when you add the Galentine Virtual Hangout to your cart & use code GALENTINE20 at checkout.

Sunday- Happy Valentine’s Day!

10:00am: Red Panda Valentine’s Day-inspired Workshops!
Spend your Valentine’s Day morning with us as we celebrate all things love! Workshop runs from 10AM to 11AM and includes a collaborative painting project for the whole family! All ages 2+ welcome. All supplies included and delivered to you (local delivery only). $25/family.

10:00am: Virtual concert with Marsha & the Positrons
A 30 min concert; all are welcome! Tune in on Marsha’s Facebook live page.

11:00am: The Sculpture Garden re-opens!!
No Timed Passes Required; Ice Rink is Closed

12:00pm & 5:00pm EST: Laurie Berkner’s Valentine’s Day Party Virtual Concerts for Families
Laurie encourages fans of all ages to decorate their homes for Valentine’s Day and to wear something fun and valentine-y to the show — shades of pink and red are the order of the day, and love-hearts are the shape of the hour! $20 Regular*/$80. Meet & greet add-on package. Group discounts available.

2:00pm: Adventure Theatre presents The Heartcracker Ballet
Adventure Theatre MTC’s Sunday digital productions will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a reading of the new play The Heartcracker Ballet by Margaret Gorman. In this new work, middle-schoolers Zelda and Therese are dear friends who have been dancing around one question for some time now: how do you admit to your friend that you want to go out with them? Adventure Theatre MTC’s digital productions are Sundays at 2PM ET free on Facebook-live.

2:00pm-4:00pm: Card making at The Lane
What’s Valentine’s day without a homemade card covered in paste and construction paper hearts? There will be hot chocolate, card making, masks, social distancing, and someone else (The Lane staff) cleaning up afterward.

2:30pm: Shrek at the Drive-In
Enjoy Valentines as a family, includes admission for the whole car, family size popcorn, a rose for Mom, & a special sweet treat, This special showing is only offered as a package.

Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

February 5, 2021

This weekend calls for warmer weather! We have a list of area trails, marshes and gardens for you to explore as well as other great outdoor activities in and around Washington, DC.

DC Public Library has many events that celebrate the culture and accomplishments of the Black Family.

You still have time to prepare for Valentine’s Day! Celebrate Valentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day Chocolates are sure to get you ready.

A self-guided, socially distanced experience to read the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats will get families outside and moving in Kensington. The Noyes StoryWalk® by the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation will wind through the grounds of Warner Circle, a spacious area adjacent to Noyes Library for Young Children (10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, MD 20895). The Snowy Day StoryWalk®, presented in collaboration with Montgomery Parks, will be available from Feb. 6 – Feb. 28, 2021. While enjoying the StoryWalk®, park patrons are asked to wear masks and observe social distance.

Saturday

11:00am: InterAct Story Theatre presents I am Human! Dancing with Change
We all know how to dance with change – we do it with every single step we take. We adapt to the conditions of the ground, momentum, and direction with our every move. So let’s get up on our feet and dance! In this virtual dance workshop inspired by the book “I am Human—A Book of Empathy”, Kelly King, InterAct Story Theatre teaching artist and founder of The Movement Movement, brings us together during this time of change…through books and dance! We’ll dance our way through this heartwarming book and create a dance just for us as we move through the world with empathy and dance with change. This event is sure to get you up and moving to chase away those winter chills! Suitable for ages 5 and up.

12:00pm-5:00pm: Dupont Circle PopUp
This unique Pop-Up event co-locates artists and makers in front of retail shops around Dupont Circle to discover fun and new shopping.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Virtual Lunar New Year 2021
Celebrate the Year of the Ox! Asia Society rings in the New Year with performances and traditional craft activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia. This year, we will celebrate together virtually. Please join us for a day of performances and arts and crafts inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia.

3:00pm: Drive-in movie: Soul
The theatre follows CDC required social distancing guidelines. Guests are asked to stay in their vehicle at all times. There are designated parking spots and no more than 50 cars are admitted.

3:00pm & 3:30pm: Snow Queen virtual show presented by Imagination Stage
In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s winter fairy tale, a powerful friendship is put to the test as four narrators bring to life the story of Gerda and Kai, whose relationship is broken by the unfeeling Snow Queen. Can Gerda save Kai before his heart is frozen solid? Imagination abounds in this magical story of courage, wit, and unshakable resilience! Your ticket purchase includes:A 25-minute live “prequel Zoom performance”, that sets the stage for the play. This interactive experience is exclusive with just 12 families at each performance. A link to view The Snow Queen, a filmed live performance, to be enjoyed within 24 hours of your chosen prequel Zoom performance.

5:30pm: Drive-in movie: The Incredible Hulk
The theatre follows CDC required social distancing guidelines. Guests are asked to stay in their vehicle at all times. There are designated parking spots and no more than 50 cars are admitted.

Super Bowl Sunday

11:00am & 3:00pm: Snow Queen virtual show presented by Imagination Stage
In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s winter fairy tale, a powerful friendship is put to the test as four narrators bring to life the story of Gerda and Kai, whose relationship is broken by the unfeeling Snow Queen. Can Gerda save Kai before his heart is frozen solid? Imagination abounds in this magical story of courage, wit, and unshakable resilience! Your ticket purchase includes:A 25-minute live “prequel Zoom performance”, that sets the stage for the play. This interactive experience is exclusive with just 12 families at each performance. A link to view The Snow Queen, a filmed live performance, to be enjoyed within 24 hours of your chosen prequel Zoom performance.

2:00pm: Drive-in movie: Ratatouille
The theatre follows CDC required social distancing guidelines. Guests are asked to stay in their vehicle at all times. There are designated parking spots and no more than 50 cars are admitted.

2:00pm: InterAct Story Theatre presents I am Human! Dancing with Change
We all know how to dance with change – we do it with every single step we take. We adapt to the conditions of the ground, momentum, and direction with our every move. So let’s get up on our feet and dance! In this virtual dance workshop inspired by the book “I am Human—A Book of Empathy”, Kelly King, InterAct Story Theatre teaching artist and founder of The Movement Movement, brings us together during this time of change…through books and dance! We’ll dance our way through this heartwarming book and create a dance just for us as we move through the world with empathy and dance with change. This event is sure to get you up and moving to chase away those winter chills! Suitable for ages 5 and up.

3:30pm: Adventure’s Mixing It Up virtual show presented by Adventure Theatre
Adventure Theatre MTC continues its Sunday digital presentation “Mixing It Up with Erin Quill” bringing new light to biracial and multi-racial stories. This week, Erin goes international with a conversation with British stars of screen and stage Lucy Sheen and her daughter and fellow actress Sophie Miller-Sheen. Adventure’s Mixing It Up premieres free on Facebook Live.

Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

January 29, 2021

Saturday
9:00am-4:00pm: KTown StoryWalk ends tomorrow!
A stroll through historic Kensington, Maryland, will offer families a self-guided, socially distanced outing to read the book The Mitten by Jan Brett in store windows. A free craft kit tied into The Mitten will be available for pick up in a box outside the Noyes Library for Young Children which is located at 10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, MD. 20895 today and tomorrow from 9am to 4pm.

9:30am: Saturday Morning Live! At The National
The Saturday Morning Live! At The National program is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year and has delighted children for years with performances designed to engage and inspire the young mind. Virtual performances by nationally known educators and artists encourage children to look outside their communities and discover a world of wonder. New episodes premiere every other Saturday at 9:30am via Facebook Premiere. This programming is best suited for children 4-10 years, but siblings and friends of other ages are always welcome to join the fun.

2:00pm: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Head to the movies and stay in your warm car while watching a family-friendly flick.

5:30pm: The Karate Kid
Head to the movies and stay in your warm car while watching a family-friendly flick.

6:15pm: Pajamuary Havdalah
Havdalah starts a new week with a multi-sensory experience, so join us and special guest reader, PJ Poppins, for a fun way to end Shabbat. You can bring a Havdalah candle, spice box and juice (get ideas for these) to join us to say the blessings. Register in advance

Sunday
9:00am-4:00pm: KTown StoryWalk ends today! A stroll through historic Kensington, Maryland, will offer families a self-guided, socially distanced outing to read the book The Mitten by Jan Brett in store windows. A free craft kit tied into The Mitten will be available for pick up in a box outside the Noyes Library for Young Children which is located at 10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, MD. 20895 today from 9am to 4pm.

9:30am: Pajamuary Breakfast and All Star Tu B’Shevat Performance
Stay in your pajamas and join the Kagin Family to make pancakes; then enjoy your breakfast while being entertained. Join the JKids Radio All-Star Tu B’Shevat Concert, featuring Jewish kids music superstars Ellen Allard, Shira Kline, Joanie Leeds, Jason Mesches, Mister G, and Rick Recht. Let’s all plan to make the world a happier, healthier and GREENER place to be in 2021! Registration is required for Zoom link and password.

10:00am & 1:00pm: Virtual Artful Conversations
Join the National Gallery of Art for an upbeat Artful Conversation and learn how one artist’s love of hip hop inspires her art. DC-based DJ and multimedia artist Virtual Chicana connects our discoveries to music. Registration is required and the program is geared towards ages 7-12 year olds.

2:00pm: Toy Story 4 Drive-In
Head to the movies and stay in your warm car while watching a family-friendly flick.

More ideas:
Head to a trail, marsh or garden to explore but bundle up!

Our outdoor post has a bit of everything. Be sure to check individual websites to verify they are open and welcoming guests currently.

Have you gotten to any slopes this winter? There are so many options from DC that are perfect for a day trip of skiing.

Create Valentine’s through Eliana’s Light annual initiative for caregivers and patients; to be sent virtually.

Do you have a 3-5 year old? Don’t forget to register for Books & Baseball program put on by Washington Nationals Youth Baseball and DC Public Library. Families can now register for the Winter 2021 season of the virtual program, with sessions occurring every Monday from January 11 to February 22. Each 35-minute session includes the reading of a children’s book by a DC Public Librarian, followed by a beginner-level baseball clinic led by YBA coaches. Virtual clinic activities are easy to complete at home and focus on enhancing motor skills and learning the fundamentals of baseball.

Support our local restaurants by participating in DC Restaurant Week through February 7.

Plan ahead:
Hirshhorn presents: Respect her Crank!: Creating Sounds of Blackness
Workshops are open to educators on Tuesdays and teens on Thursdays. Do not miss out on this groundbreaking opportunity to learn about Black women’s contribution to music. Select the links below to learn more about each set of workshops, operating from February–June 2021.

Recent posts:
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Where to buy Valentine’s chocolate

Labor Day weekend in and around Washington, DC

September 4, 2020

This weekend definitely doesn’t feel like a typical Labor Day weekend but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the long weekend. Some ideas of things you can do while being outside and keeping a safe distance are below as well as a few events happening.

Day destinations (less than 2 hours away)
Trails, marshes & gardens
Beach & state parks
Outdoor fun
15 ways to get outdoors
Adult Getaways
Family Overnight Trips

All weekend
Park Up DC drive in has movies all weekend long for families as well as adult movies.

Our family is missing in-person Nationals games but luckily we can cheer them on by watching MASN or listening to games on the radio. This long weekend brings a tournament between Nats vs. Braves. You can bring the stadium food to your house by ordering the best ballpark bites.

Sunday
The National Symphony Orchestra returns for their annual Labor Day Concert. Composers” William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, and more! The performance will be livestreamed at the pop-up drive-in Park Up DC (on RFK Stadium’s campus). Up to 350 cars can attend the free show, but if you don’t make it, you can see the concert broadcast on the Kennedy Center’s social media channels on Monday, September 7. The drive-in concert itself is on Sunday, September 6 at 7pm. Please Note: You must reserve a space.

Monday
Herndon Labor Day Festival

Plan ahead
The National Landing BID (née Crystal City BID) is hosting a series of drive-in movies, starting Thursday and running weekly in September. The film series dubbed “Ride in Reels” the venue is the empty lot at 33rd Street S. and Crystal Drive. Gates will open for moviegoers at 7pm. Prior registration is required to attend. Would-be attendees are encouraged to sign up for the National Landing BID newsletter; a link will appear in the Monday newsletter for Thursday’s movie. When registering, participants select their vehicle type or choose one of the non-vehicle spaces for those walking or biking to the movies.
Films scheduled for the drive-in are:
Sept. 10: Finding Nemo
Sept. 17: Just Mercy
Sept. 24: The Goonies

Weekend picks for families and more

July 17, 2020

Friday-
Looking for a free outdoor activity with safe social distancing and sanitization practices? Join Friday nights for fishing from July 17 – August 28! Friday Night Fishing is located at the Diamond Teague Park across from Nationals Stadium.

Saturday-
9:00am-5:00pm: Trash pick-up for a healthy environment
As you may know, every month the Little Falls Watershed Alliance hosts a trash pick-up for the Little Falls Parkway and creek. Given everything that is going on now, litter may not be the biggest thing on people’s minds, but it is one small thing that we can tackle. Our community work days are canceled due to the pandemic, so we are hosting individual trash pick-ups this weekend.There will be bins of plastic bags and gloves available at the corners of Dorset and Little Falls Parkway and Massachusetts Ave and Little Falls Parkway. You are invited to take a bag, put on the gloves and find a spot that needs cleaning. The Parkway is closed from Mass Ave to Arlington Blvd, so you can walk and clean! Other spots to consider are along the Capital Crescent, the Little Falls Creek upstream and downstream from Mass Ave, Westland Middle School fields or the Willett creek behind Bethesda Pool.

10:30am: Mr. Lilo: A Bilingual Music Performance
Sing, jump, and dance with Mr. Lilo and his guitar. Enjoy original music and traditional songs in English and Spanish by watching live on Facebook.

11:00-11:30am: Books in Bloom
Enjoy a reading of The Night Before Election Day by Natasha Wing After the story kids can get crafty by making their own “Future Voter” pins. All the supplies they’ll need are at the Eventbrite link above. Booms in Bloom runs virtually through August 20.

Sunday-
2:00pm: Adventure Theatre MTC continues its Sunday Story Time interviews with local mother and daughter author team, Sophia and Carrie Fox, authors of the book, “Adventures in Kindness.” Visit Adventure Theatre’s Facebook Page.

Ongoing-
“Park Up DC” RFK drive-in is a pop-up experience for the whole family (drive-in style) that will safely bring the community together for affordably priced movies and other entertainment. This drive-in movie series is produced by the minds behind Broccoli City Festival, and hosted by Events DC at historical RFK Campus Lot 5. Park UP DC features a massive 45 ft HD LED digital screen, high quality sound that is tuned directly through your car’s FM stereo, prepaid delivery food from local food trucks and clean portable restrooms

Each month during Summer Challenge, DCPL is selecting a DC Family Read to help you find great books that can help your family reach their goal of reading for 20 minutes each day. Each of the titles for DC Family Reads will include books that a family can enjoy reading, discussing and doing related activities together. This month, the Library has selected One Crazy Summer by New York Times bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia.The Newbery Honor novel tells the story of three sisters who travel to Oakland, California in 1968 to meet the mother who abandoned them. This moving, funny novel also won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and the Coretta Scott King Award and was a National Book Award Finalist. Unlimited eBook copies are available for download on OverDrive now through Aug. 15. Don’t forget to sign up for Summer Challenge and log your reading! This July, readers of all ages can qualify to enter a drawing for gift certificates to Busboys and Poets!

Reopened-
National Gallery of Art (West Building opens July 20)
DC Public Library (14 branches)
Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
International Spy Museum
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
DC’s Museum of the Bible
U.S. National Arboretum
Glenstone Museum
The Carlyle House
The Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
The Cold War Museum
The Fauquier History Museum at the Old Jail
B&O Railroad Museum
The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Boathouses

Looking ahead-
Virtual Artful Conversations: Memory Objects and their Stories
Many museum visitors spend only a few seconds looking at a work of art. Find out what you can discover when you spend an hour exploring one work of art! Bring your observation skills, imagination, curiosity, and creativity to these virtual guided discussions that delve deep into masterpieces from the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Each conversation, led by museum educators, is approximately 60 minutes. Sessions: Thursday, July 23, 4:00-5:00pm, Friday, July 24, 2:00-3:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 10:00-11:00am and Sunday, July 26, 10:00-11:00am.

Wolf Trap drive-in presents five nights of movies featuring great music from August 5-9 in the East Lot at Wolf Trap National Park.

Legendary children’s musician Laurie Berkner invites everyone to join her for a special “Dinosaur Beach Party” Virtual Family Concert. This LIVE interactive performance for the whole family will take place on Sunday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Laurie’s website: HERE.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

February 21, 2020

This weekend kicks off Atlas Performing Arts INTERSECTIONS Festival. The Festival showcases performances in music, theatre, dance, film, spoken word and performance art that offer new ways to see ourselves and to celebrate our community and our world. The festival begins February 19-March 1. There are many family events (too many to choose for our picks), so please check out the schedule.

National Symphony Orchestra Music for Young Audiences presents a Mozart Mash-Up. Share the magic and music of Mozart in a special family concert when members of the National Symphony Orchestra play favorites from the prolific composer. Best for ages 7+.

It is the inaugural Washington Justice weekend at the Anthem! They play on both Saturday & Sunday. You can expect a packed arena full of dedicated fans, performances by local favorites including DJ Kool and more.

Friday

5:30pm-8:00pm: Nerf Night at Badlands
Kids ages 7+ are invited to join for Nerf Night by Badlands! Come enjoy a fun new theme each Nerf Night.

Saturday

9:00am-4:00pm: George Washington’s 288th Birthday at Mount Vernon
Celebrate with General Washington in honor of his 288th birthday! Admission is free and no advanced tickets are required.

9:15am: Building Better People Productions: Friendlier Fables
This show is part of the INTERSECTIONS Festival. Here are some of your favorite kid stories, told with kinder twists. Cheer on friends like our not-so-ugly duckling and a boy who cries wolf for reasons you might not expect, as they learn to respect themselves and others in a funny, touching, engaging show for all ages! Best for ages 0-8.

9:30am AND 10:30am: Harambe at Bloombars
Ten years and more than 1,600 shows later, Harambe at BloomBars has become a Washington DC institution and a cultural/moral compass for thousands of parents and youth. In Swahili, Harambe means “All pull together.” At BloomBars, Harambe is the practice of hope, possibility and compassion – basically, all the things that happen when we all come together. 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.

10:00am: Saturday Morning Tunes “Frozen” live in concert at Miracle Theater
All your favorite “Frozen” songs, performed live by classically trained opera singers, with a few inside jokes for us parents too. Kids can meet and greet the princesses afterwards. Doors open at 9:30am.

10:00am: Imagination Stage: Down by the Station
Take an imaginary train adventure in this interactive musical experience with Imagination Stage at Avalon Theatre! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist accompanied by a live percussionist guides you through a musical exploration of the classic children’s tale.

1:00pm-2:30pm: Mr. Jon & Friends Concert
Mr. Jon performs energetic music for the entire family that is all about fun, dancing, and laughter! He has won a Parents’ Choice Award for his music and attracted loyal audiences across the D.C. area. The concert is free with a $10 suggested donation for adults and $5 for kids. No tickets or reservations are required.

4:00pm-7:00pm: Mardi Gras at the Wharf
New Orleans is coming to DC! Celebrate Mardi Gras with a free community-wide extravaganza featuring a lively parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music on District Pier, and a special fireworks finale.

6:00pm-9:00pm: Dynamite 2 Gym Parents Night Out
Drop off the kids for an evening of free play, fun, friends, and a movie, too! One hour of open gym followed by popcorn and a movie in the gym.

Sunday

10:00am-12:00pm and 12:00pm-2:30pm: Family Gras at Capitol Cider House
Join the 2nd annual Family Gras, a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration!!!! Kids will enjoy complimentary face painting, balloon animals, festive crafts and beads (gently) thrown from a cider house float.

11:00am-12:00pm: CUENTA-CUENTOS: STORYTIME at Hirshhorn
Your voice is powerful! Join for a close look at artworks on view in Manifesto: Art x Agency and a reading of Mi Voz by Jose Fragoso. Stay to create an artwork that amplifies your own voice! CUENTA-CUENTOS: STORYTIME in Spanish explores contemporary art through stories and movement. Each week STORYTIME features a fresh and fun theme. Bring your littlest art lover for an introduction to an artist on view, interactive read aloud, and a hands-on activity.

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
You and your child will bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books.

Weekend Theatre:
The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats at Adventure Theatre through April 5
Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth at Imagination Stage through March 22
Thumbelina at Imagination Stage through April 5
Hear Me Say My Name at Discovery Theater
Beauty & The Beast at The Puppet Co through March 29
Baby Bear’s Birthday at The Puppet Co Tiny Tots

ARTECHOUSE: Future Sketches
Imagine different possible futures – for the intersection of computation and design, for the interaction between humans and computers, and for an expressive augmented reality. Future Sketches is a collaboration with one of the most dynamic pioneers in the field of coding and interactive media. Zach Lieberman creates digital poetry through code, technology and theory. He writes his own software to create his artwork, and is a co-creator of openFrameworks, an open source C++ toolkit for creative coding.

A frozen concert that appeals to children AND adults alike + giveaway

February 11, 2020

This post is written by Sam Sessa. You may have caught wind earlier this week of the upcoming concert he is bringing to the Miracle Theatre. Sessa is a former stay at home dad to 2 boys and lives in Baltimore. He works at NPR music station 89.7 WTMD as the station’s Baltimore music and community engagement manager. A couple years ago, he started producing a series of concerts for kids called Saturday Morning Tunes. The idea is to put on concerts that adults want to see, at times when they can bring their kids. He is debuting a “Frozen” live show, featuring classically trained opera singers The Outcalls in Washington, DC on February 22 at the Miracle Theatre. They normally perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra but Sam somehow convinced them to dress up like Princesses Anna and Elsa and learn these songs! Sam is going to be sharing some music-related posts with us over the next few months and hopefully he will bring DC more of his shows this year!

When we were kids, children’s music was pretty bad. Not that we knew it back then — at the time, Barney and Raffi seemed just fine.

Now that we’re adults, we know better, and want better for our own little ones. That’s why, in the past 10 years, a whole new genre of cool music for kids has appeared. It’s called “kindie” (a mash-up of “kid-friendly” and “indie”), and there are tons of bands making children’s music that parents can not only tolerate but enjoy.

You might recognize some of the more popular kindie artists, because they’re bands we loved in the ’90s who are now writing songs for their own kids: Barenaked Ladies, Presidents of the United States of America (remember “Lump” and “Peaches?”) and Lisa Loeb. That’s not to mention the dozens of talented bilingual kindie artists, with albums in Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi and other languages.

Here are five of the top kindie albums from the past few years.

“Arriba Abajo” by 123 Andres (2016)

One of the best kindie artists is right here in our backyard: D.C.-based 123 Andres won a Latin Grammy for this album, which has several songs in Spanish, followed by many of the same songs in English. The songs are bright and sunny, and it’s a fun way to teach your kids a new language.

“Foreverywhere” by STEVENSTEVEN (2017)

What do you get when you a member of the experimental indie rock band the Flaming Lips teams up with the host of Nickelodeon’s “Blues Clues” to make a children’s album? The answer: “Foreverywhere,” a gorgeous psychedelic record with tunes like “A Fact is a Gift That You Give Your Brain.” Imagine Pink Floyd if they wrote songs about unicorns.

“Falu’s Bazaar” by Falu (2018)

A native of Bombay, India, Falu has collaborated with a who’s-who of the music industry, including Yo-Yo Ma, Wyclef Jean and Ricky Martin. After having her own son, Falu set out to create “Falu’s Bazaar,” a musical journey through South Asian culture. The songs weave in and out of English and Hindi, and “Falu’s Bazaar” is a great starting point for exploring the world of Hindi music with your children.

“I’m From the Sun” by Gustafer Yellowgold (2019)

The New York Times has called Gustafer Yellowgold “a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss,” and for good reason. The project of singer/songwriter Morgan Taylor, Gustafer Yellowgold reaches back to the golden harmonies and power pop of the 1960s and 1970s and comes up with an irresistible mix of melodies on this new album.

“We Dream in 3d” by SaulPaul (2017)

Family friendly rapper SaulPaul was named Austinite of the Year in 2017, and his song “Rise (Remix)” — from this album — became one of the top songs on SiriusXM radio. SaulPaul enlists a cast of children singers to help with the lyrics, and the result is a mix of charming and tasteful rap tunes.

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a family-four pack of tickets to the Frozen concert on February 22 at the Miracle Theatre. Make sure you are following Saturday Morning Tunes and then comment on our Instagram telling us you’d like to attend the concert. Winner will be announced on Friday.

Spring in the Valley is back!

April 29, 2019

Returning this year to Spring in the Valley is the amazing team from Safe Kids DC. Safe Kids of District of Columbia is led by Children’s National Medical Center, which provides dedicated and caring staff, operation support and other resources to assist in achieving a common goal: keeping your kids safe. They will be providing complimentary car seat checks for kids of all ages. Sadly most car seats are installed incorrectly. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. So come out and have them check your car seats!

Kids will have a great time at this event as there will be so many fun activities for all. Bounce houses by Astrojump are generously donated by the Washington Fine Properties;Morrell Roth Group, Dr. Roya Pilcher, pediatric dentist and The Reishman Group. Don’t miss Fire Engine 29, Truck 5 which will be giving firetruck tours.

This year Capitol Crab Co. & Rocklands BBQ food trucks serving lunch. Compass Coffee will be providing their amazing cold brew for the entire crowd to enjoy. Squeaky Pops and Praline Bakery will also be serving samples to hungry attendees. Galley Foods is coming with samples of their home delivery meal service.

Local vendors to include:
–Beautycounter & Beltway Bambinos will be together with sun screen samples, bubbles and family focused giveaways! We are so excited to join in the fun this year! Please come by and say hi!

–Eliana’s Light will have a self care arts and craft booth to help you relax.

-Fun from Little Grace’s Playroom and the Workroom.

-Favorite medical offices, Bloom OB/GYN and Spring Valley Pediatrics will be present to answer questions about their practices.

-Dr. Perez, founder of Metropolitan Pediatric Dentistry has donated balloon art by Marsha Gallagher for all of the kids.

-For those of you expecting or who have small kids, while your car seat is being inspected you can chat with the Nanny Network, Hush Hush Little Baby, Metropolitan Breastfeeding, and Baby Joy 3D/4D.

-The team at Headfirst Camps will be coming to share their children’s programs.

–Cord Blood Registry and Abbott are there with raffles, information and snacks.

–Spring Valley Life Magazine, The Scout Guide and Spring Valley Neighborhood Association are joining to mingle with their hood.

-Talented photographer, Lenzy Ruffin will attend and share his work and family photo services.

–Humane Rescue Alliance is coming with animals to play with!

–Two Birds just opened in Tenleytown, offer co-working and daycare. They will be on hand to answer any questions.

There will be $1 raffle tickets with all proceeds going to the non-profit Eliana’s Light. Eliana’s Light supports families with children who have complex medical conditions by providing a community-based collaborative approach to care that’s focused on whole health and well-being. Raffle items include Millie’s gift certificates, Georgetown Massage and Body Works gift card for a 45 minute massage, gift cards to Pizza Paradiso, free physical therapy evaluation for an adult or child from ITR Physical Therapy and so much more.

Come spend the day with us in Spring Valley! Goody bags are being handed out for the first 100 attendees. All are welcome to join and we hope to see you there!

Address: 4900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
(Upper and lower parking lots off of 49th & 50th Streets NW)

Date: May 11, 2019 from 11:00am-2:00pm