Beltway Bambinos

Weekday Adventures: John Henry, the Guitar Playing Man and Squish, Squash, Squirt

Hopefully you still have dishes in the sink and laundry to be cleaned because you relaxed today! Lots to do this week both outside and inside.

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. This week Jessica Smith “Culture Queen” is the entertainment.

10:30am: Songs and stories with Isabel Roth at Politics and Prose Bookstore
(5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008)
The Politics & Prose Children and Teens Department is winding down the spring season of Story Hour! Please join for songs and stories with singer-songwriter Isabel Roth for only a few more weeks. After the show (or before) ake a walk a few doors down to Little Red Fox for an almond croissant, egg sandwich or perhaps an ice cream sandwich. Whichever it is, you’ll leave happy.

Tuesday- Also, Haagen Daz free cone day!

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.

10:00am and 11:00am- Mr. Gabe at Takoma Park Library
(101 Philadelphia Ave. Takoma Park, Md. 20912)
Free event part of children’s story time.

10:00am: Family Fun Day at White Marsh Mall with Wild Life Adventures
(9800 Perry Hall Blvd. Baltimore MD 21236-4901)
Join Wild Life Adventures for FREE family-friendly events featuring storytelling, musical performances and more.

10:00am: Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Pavilion
(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.

10:15am and 11:30am: Discovery Theatre presents Tigers, Dragons, and Other Wise Tails
(1100 Jefferson Drive SW, on the National Mall: Ripley Center, Smithsonian)
This delightful Discovery Theater original reimagines folk tales from Asia with a modern touch and plenty of fresh fun. The Tiger, the Thief, and the Dried Persimmon (Korea) puts a new spin on mistaken identity with a very silly tiger, a babysitting grandma, and dried fruit. The Boy and the Fly (Vietnam) is a sweetly silly slapstick romp with a little lesson thrown in. The Wise Mole (Japan) updates an ancient story of young love, complete with cell phones and iPods. The mythic Four Dragon Rivers of China features beautiful flying dragon puppets. Recommended ages 5-10, Child: $6 , Child under 2: $3 and Adult: $8.

11:00am: Story time at National Air and 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. Featured story is Lisa’s Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman.

1:30pm-2:30pm: Squish, Squash, Squirt: Mud! at Meadowside Nature Center
(5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD)
Spring brings lots of rain showers, and that means mud! From birds to bugs, lots of animals love mud! Discover the fun in mud through stories, activities, and make some mud art. Please register and pay for all attendees. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 3-6, $5.

Wednesday-

10:30am: Little Tots at Rio Atrium at Washingtonian Center
(209 Boardwalk Pl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878)
Join for family entertainment that brings out the kid in everyone! Beowulf Wonderbunny is the entertainment today.

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents The Singing Lizard 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!

12:30pm-1:30pm: Jammin’ Juniors Lunchtime Concert at McLean Central Park Gazebo
(Route 123 and Old Dominion Drive)
Free lunchtime concerts for ages 2-5 with Farmer Jason.

4:00pm-5:30pm: Free Art Wednesdays at Create ART
(Silver Spring Civic Building – 1 Veterans Plaza)
Join Create ART in this wonderful new FREE after school art workshops – improv, sewing, comics, & more! Kindergarten-5th grade students welcome. Register online.

5:30pm: !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.

6:00pm: Evening Little Tots @ The Washingtonian Center
(Washingtonian Center – On the Lakefront Plaza between Uncle Julio’s and Joe’s Crab Shack, Gaithersburg)
Free concert, featuring The Great Zucchini this week!

Thursday-

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 John Henry, the Guitar Playing Man 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 and 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.

6:00pm-7:00pm: Gone Fishin’ at Lake Needwood Boat House
(15700 Needwood Lake Circle, Rockville, MD 2085)
How fun! They’ll supply the fishing poles and you try them out on the shoreline. $3. Register here.

6:00pm: John Henry, the Guitar Playing Man at Broad Branch Market
(5608 Broad Branch Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015)
John Henry has a busy day! He’s back at our favorite summer concert series. Catch him every Thursday at BBM. Grab dinner inside the market and eat it while singing along to his catchy tunes or treat your bambino to an ice cream. A fun way to end the evening and if you’re little one isn’t ready to go home afterwards walk across the street to Lafayette Park and choose between the many playgrounds or fields to play on.

Friday-

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

10:30am- Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
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. Tickets are $5.

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Ukulele Phil 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!

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. Featured story is Sadie the Airmail Pilot by Kellie Strom.

2:00pm-4:00pm: Afternoon Aviators at College Park Aviation Museum
(1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park 20740)
Have an airplane enthusiast? We have the perfect museum for them, off the busy National Mall. Join for a fun, hands-on aviation-themed activities. A weekly series for children ages five and up.

1:00pm-4:00pm: The National Portrait Gallery presents Open Studio Fridays
(Eighth & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 – Education Center, Room E151)
Friday afternoons at the Gallery feature 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.

5:30pm-8:00pm: Family Movie Night at Hillwood
(4155 Linnean Ave, NW, Washington, DC. 20008)
A delightful evening of gardens, art, and cinema awaits your family this May at Hillwood. Featuring eight family-friendly shorts, each film includes fantastic animals from magical monsters to garden critters, barnyard animals to family pets. Before the film screening enjoy a family picnic on the lawn. 5:30-7:30 Mansion and Garden Touring, Picnicking, 5:30-8 Art Project and 7-8 Film Screening. $5 Adult, $5 Child (ages 3-18), free for children under age 3.

6:30-7:30pm: Campfire and Nature Walk at Locust Grove Nature Center
(7777 Democracy Boulevard. Bethesda, Maryland 20817)
Nothing says spring like a campfire! Join us for a picnic by the fire, then enjoy a nature walk under the night sky with one of our naturalists. Please bring your own hotdogs and rolls, and we’ll bring the makings for s’mores. Register online. All attending must register and pay. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children ages 2 and up (all children must be accompanied by an adult). $6.