This week’s adventures: Portrait Gallery, Flights of Fancy & Andrés

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We hope everyone had a weekend full of adventures and laughs. We attended El Tamarindo for the first-ever DC Family Fiesta which featured some of DC kids favorite music artists. Keep an eye out in the upcoming Weekend Picks for more details on this Saturday morning fiesta. We found an overwhelming amount of children’s activities this week, it was hard to narrow it down to our favorites below. We hope you enjoy them and can get to a lot of them as we chosen places throughout DC, MD and VA. Have a great week with your bambino(s)!

Monday, Jan. 27

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.

10:00am-12:00pm- Takoma Park Community Playtime at Heffner Community Center
(42 Oswego Ave. Takoma Park, MD. 20910)
This free event is sponsored by the Takoma Park Recreation Department and is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to enjoy open playtime, read stories, sing songs, work on craft projects, enjoy a wonderful outdoor playground, and socialize.

12:00pm-7:00pm- Color Me Mine
(4209 Fairfax Corner Avenue East, Fairfax Corner, 22030)
Offers Mommy/Daddy and Me– parent & child paint pottery free and siblings $5

Tuesday, Jan. 28– We’ve noticed a trend over the past few weeks; not many planned activities for Tuesdays, not sure why! Any of these great venues and sponsors want to step up and add something exciting? Anyone? Anyone?

11:00am-9:00pm- Color Me Mine Paint your own pottery
(823 Ellsworth Dr. Silver Spring, MD. 20910)
Two for Tuesday: 2 people paint pottery for just one studio fee

Again, since Tuesdays are strangely thin– maybe go see Frozen at the movies. Love Disney movies or not, there’s a reason this one is still in theaters and sitting near the top of the box office charts. We’ve been twice — and I definitely know every word to the soundtrack. Not, of course, by choice. 🙂

Wednesday, Jan. 29

9:30am & 10:15am- Noyes Library for Young Children presents “Sing with Spice”
(10237 Carroll Pl, Kensington, MD 20895)
Register here as it’s sure to fill up. Preschool music educator, Deborah “Spice” Kleinmann is coming to sing with us! Appropriate for all ages.

10:00am- Samba Baby at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
It’s never too early to learn the infectious dance of the world’s 5th largest country. And there’s no better teacher then Zezeh Zax, a dancer, professional performer of Brazilian samba and founder of the ZEZEH BRAZIL Dance Troupe.

10:30am-Boogie Babes presents !Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! at Union Market
(1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC. 20002)
Access the free market parking lot from 6th Street NE or travel via metro to NoMA-Gallaudet. Come early for coffee and stay for lunch!

11:00am- National Air & Space Museum (the other one)
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“Flights of Fancy” story time will feature Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon by Oliver Corwin. Of course, checking out a space shuttle can’t hurt either.

2:00pm- Maryland Science Center
(601 Light St, Baltimore, MD. 21230)
Join the Kids Room staff for storybook science at the Maryland Science Center. They’ll read a book suited to the exhibit in which you are located and then dive into some hands on investigations.

5:30pm & 6:30pm- !Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! at BloomBars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
!Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! is a sure bet every time. Children of various ages enjoy this interactive show that teaches Spanish language and Latin American culture.

Thursday, Jan. 30

10:00am- 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- Boogie Babes presents The Singing Lizard at Eastern Market
(225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003)
Our most popular show of the week! Join us at Historic Eastern Market’s North Hall (closest to South Carolina) for a lively concert, grab lunch and shop for dinner. Access to the North Hall via the market for Boogie Babes. Eastern Market Metro is two short blocks away.

10:30am- The Great Zucchini at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Get tickets here for The Great Zucchini, Washington’s funniest and most magical PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN entertainer, performs a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh! Experience the excitement of the children when they get to learn a magic trick at the end of show!

11:00am- Puppet Show at Maryland Science Center
(601 Light St, Baltimore, MD. 21230)
Join Gadget and Gizmo in the Learning Lab as they explore and discover a variety of science concepts at the Maryland Science Center. Enjoy music, dancing, movement activities, and more in this interactive puppet show. At the end of the show, make a project based on what you’ve learned. Designed for children 5 and younger with their adult caregiver.

11:00am- Story time at National Air & Space Museum
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“Flights of Fancy” story time will feature Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon by Oliver Corwin. This museum is typically very empty with great spaces for your kids to roam around and see amazing airplanes and even The Discovery.

11:00am-  Story time at National Air & Space Museum
(601 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20597)
“Flights of Fancy” staff will read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity.

5:00pm-9:00pm- Color Me Mine Paint your own pottery
(823 Ellsworth Dr. Silver Spring, MD. 20910)
Friends & Family Night $16 Studio fee per table up to 4 people.

Friday, Jan. 31

10:00am- Songs, stories & puppets at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Join us for 30 minutes of storytelling, dancing, singing and entertainment just for kids under 5!

10:00am & 11:30am- Tales of Beatrix Potter at Glen Echo The Puppet Co.
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD. 20812)
Tales of Beatrix Potter playing through Feb. 9

10:30am-Boogie Babes presents Mariana Iranzi at Atlas Performing Arts
(1333 H Street NE Washington, DC. 20002)
Join us at the ATLAS Performing Arts Center along the H Street Corridor. Snack bar and bathrooms are easily accessible. Lots of good and kid-friendly lunch options within one to three blocks!

10:30- !Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! at Kingstown Library
(6500 Landsdowne Centre Dr, Alexandria, VA 22315)

10:30am- Story time at Barstons Child’s Play  Story time
(4510 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207)
Your child will have fun listening to stories and browsing the awesome toy selection (and may even convince you to buy something new).

10:30am- Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Get tickets here for Rocknoceros– As every family with youngsters in the DC area already knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie, who make wildly popular, award-winning music for the whole family.

11:00am- Story time at National Air & Space Museum
(601 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20597)
“Flights of Fancy” staff will read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity.

11:00am- Story time at National Air & Space Museum
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“Flights of Fancy” story time will feature Sally’s Great Balloon Adventure by Stephen Huneck.

1:00pm-4:00pm- The National Portrait Gallery presents Open Studio Fridays
(Eighth & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 – Education Center, Room E151)
Join us on Friday afternoons for some creative and free fun! Check out a Portrait Discovery Kit to explore the museum and try a different selection of art material each week.

Also-

Aquarium has moved to ATLAS Jan. 29-Feb. 2 Buy your tickets here, it was very successful and sold out most performances the last few weeks when it was being shown at Imagination Stage.
Description: Enter a world where giant jellyfish fly through the air, sheep graze in the grass, and lemons create the sun in a “let’s pretend” sky. With gentle music, beautiful puppets, and imaginative props, Jack and Calypso lead children and caregivers to a magical, interactive world. Imagination Stage, an international leader in family theater, is a proud presenter of “serious fun for the very young” in their innovative live performance experiences.

Miss Nelson is Missing is at Glen Echo’s Adventure Theatre through March 9. The play is recommended for kids age five and up. My 2 1/2 year old son can sit through a movie and had the attention span to sit and enjoy this show.