Weekday Adventures: Ranger talk, Jazz in the garden and Choo Choo Blue

I’m sure you enjoyed a fun weekend and took advantage of the weather. We went to the Nats game, the Greek Festival and enjoyed a tour of Engine House 31. We were walking past the firehouse on our way to the playground and our son was admiring the truck. While we were talking about the truck a firefighter came out and asked us if we wanted a tour. Most firehouses, when not busy of course, would be delighted to walk you around or at least sit your child up in the drivers seat. This house even offers their kitchen for birthday parties!

A fun addition to Monday morning this week. And to end the week you can take a picnic dinner with the family (yes, kids will enjoy it) to Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. One of our family’s favorite summer events.

Monday-

9:30am-10:30am: Stories with Ranger Steph at Oxen Hill Farm
(6411 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745)
Crops to plant, new animals to train, fences to mend… the list goes on and on!  Come find out why spring is a such a busy season on the farm.  Every third Monday of the month, come listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy other activities.  This month, celebrate all the signs of new life at Oxon Hill Farm.  Meet Ranger Steph in the Visitor Barn.

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 Marsha Goodman-Wood 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-

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: 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.

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.

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! Reptiles Alive!  is the entertainment today.

10:30am-11:15am: Tyke Hikes: Nests and Eggs at Meadowside Nature Center
(5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD)
Come and discover the bustling world around the Nature Center. Take a nature mini-hike and make a craft to take home. Please register and pay for all attendees. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $5

10:30am: Toddler Time with Choo Choo Blue at B & O Railroad Museum
(901 West Pratt St. Baltimore, Md. 21223) 
Choo Choo Blue, the museum’s mascot, makes a live appearance. Children listen to a classic railroad story, create a craft, enjoy playtime at Choo Choo Blue Kids Zone and take a ride on the indoor carousel- all included with paid admission.

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Lea 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 Two of a Kind.

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.

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-11:15am: Gardens Alive! at Hillwood Museum 
(4155 Linnean Ave, NW, Washington, DC. 20008)
Experience the wonder of Hillwood with your preschooler! Explore a new garden each week of this three-part series through make believe, art projects, and imaginative play.

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: 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- The Capital Wheel debuts it’s first spin today! 

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 Oh Susannah! 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)
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“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 in DC and Lisa’s Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman in Va.

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-2:00pm: Locust Grove Explorers NEW! Can You Crawl, Hop, Fly, and Slither at Locust Grove Nature Center
(7777 Democracy Boulevard. Bethesda, Maryland 20817)
Calling all three to five year olds! We will investigate springtime habitats, read a story, and make a simple craft while having fun learning outdoors. Just zoom over to Locust Grove and strut your stuff! The Explorers will look for creatures that can do those things and more. We’ll see how many we can find on our hike, then create one when we get back to the nature center. Please register and pay for all attendees. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
(7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW)
It’s back and I couldn’t be more excited! Pack a picnic and head to the garden for an eclectic mix of jazz is performed by top Washington-area artists. Elikeh is this week’s featured artist. Alcohol can be purchased at the garden but you can not bring it in.
Below is a video taken at Jazz in the Garden, although it is a video about people’s style, I thought it showed the concert in a cool lens- enjoy and hope it prompts you to go this week!

6:00pm-9:00pm: Shag at Washingtonian Center for RIO Summertime Concert Series
(209 Boardwalk Pl. Gaithersburg, Md. 20878)
Live music every Friday and Saturday night from 6-9pm on RIO Patio near the paddle boats!