Beltway Bambinos

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

The Penguin Song will make your Bambinos waddle and shake

Now that winter is upon us, let’s embrace the cold like our black & white feathered friends from Antarctica do! Here’s the World Premiere of “The Penguin Song,” a favorite track from Marsha Goodman-Wood’s 2012 Gravity Vacation album. Marsha was delighted to partner with John Cullimore, fellow kindie musician and frontman of family band, Chibi Kodama, who directed and produced this video.

Marsha reports that she and her band, Marsha and the Positrons, are currently in the studio (finally!) recording a new CD and expect to have their record out by summer!

You can catch Marsha and the Positrons live at:

  • Eastern Market in Capitol Hill, DC for a Boogie Babes show: Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 10:30am
  • The Avalon Theatre in Chevy Chase, DC: Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 10:00am where they will be kicking off the winter family concert series! And who doesn’t love hot coffee and fresh popcorn at 10:00am while cozy in a movie theatre singing and dancing?!
  • Jammin Java in Vienna, VA: Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 10:30am

The Penguin Song video features some adorable kids doing their penguin dances, plus live footage of penguins — and who doesn’t like penguins?! Get some energy out at home tapping your toes and doing your version of the penguin dance. Since this is a lyric video, it’s also a great opportunity for young readers to practice reading (and perhaps singing) along. Enjoy!

Gustafer Yellowgold at Jammin Java + Giveaway!

2018 Grammy nominee, songwriter and cartoonist Morgan Taylor is coming to Jammin Java on Sunday, January 7, 2018 for an all-ages performance of Gustafer Yellowgold. Taylor’s new 8th full-length album Brighter Side was just nominated for a 2018 Grammy in the children’s category and he’s bringing those songs to us.

 

Gustafer Yellowgold mixes alternative music with whimsical songs that are filled with super-catchy narratives explaining the life of a friendly alien from the Sun who now resides in a wildly imaginative version of the woods of Minnesota. Fresh from his appearance at WILCO’s revered Solid Sound festival, Taylor will be featuring material from his new album “Brighter Side” alongside classic fan favorites. Brighter Side thematically expands on the two stories of the series’ protagonist, Gustafer, from his current life in Minnesota back to his years spent growing up on the Sun.

We have a holiday giveaway–

Win the newly Grammy nominated album Brighter Side (autographed) AND a plush doll from the Gustafer Yellowgold collection. Enter to win by commenting with your favorite venue to see a kid’s show in our area on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Winner will be announced on Dec. 26, 2017. 

Snow Day presented by Arts on the Horizon + 4 ticket GIVEAWAY!!!


What: Snow Day presented by Arts on the Horizon

When: December 1-16 2017

Where: The Lab Theatre at Convergence (1819 N. Quaker Ln. Alexandria, VA 22302)

More shows at Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St, NE Washington, DC 20002) December 17-19; 27-30, 2017 For information on tickets, click here.


One cold December morning, a young girl named Skip wakes up to find the entire neighborhood covered in a thick, dazzling blanket of white snow. A playful (if not a little mischievous) winter elf takes her on an adventure – showing her just how magical snow can be! Join Skip as she experiences all the excitement, joy, and wonder of her very first snow day. This nonverbal production features live music and lots of wintertime fun, just in time for the holiday season. Written and Directed by Rex Daugherty. 

Who: Best for children ages 2 – 6 and their families

Tickets are $9 and can be purchased here.

GIVEAWAY– 4 pack tickers to the December 9th at 11:30am showing. Like our Facebook page and Instagram page then comment on both sites with SNOW DAY for your chance to win, tag a friend for another chance to win! Winner announced Monday, Dec. 4.

Frosty the Snow Man at Adventure Theatre

(Photo: Sarah Straub)

What: Frosty the Snow Man

When: November 17, 2017 – December 31, 2017

Where: Adventure Theatre
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. 20812

Why: Do you want to build a snow man? How about watching him spring to life in front of you for one day of adventures before he melts away? In this merry wintertime romp, chock-full of chuckles and comic antics, Frosty dances into the hearts of kids and adults alike- even the heart of one near-sighted cop- through his uproarious antics.

Frosty the Snow Man is unlike any Frosty play you’ve seen, and we mean that in a good way. This show should be on your family’s holiday theatre must-see list. You will enjoy some familiar songs and be wow’ed by the dancing from Frosty. And once again, Adventure Theatre draws you in with a set that makes you feel like it’s your very own snow day. The cast immediately begins to have fun in the snow, acting like the kids you have sitting next to you. They’ll have you dreaming about the snow day you will spend with your Bambinos this winter.

  • Directed by Jason Schlafstein
  • Running time is 60 minutes with no intermission
  • Recommended for all ages
  • Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are $19.50 each with group and field trip rates available. Children under the age of 1 are free

Caravan brings digital art to you for the holidays and special occasions + GIVEAWAY!

Caravan has been featured on The Today Show for their artistic, creative and accessible designs. No doubt, going forward your holidays will include place mats, posters, coloring table cloths and more from Caravan. There’s still time to order something festive and fun for Halloween and Thanksgiving and if you don’t want to even think about that because you still have to determine where you are spending the holidays, consider checking out the elaborate Christmas or Birthday sections. They offer holiday tablecloths to be colored, holiday coloring posters to keep Bambinos busy and happy and Halloween activity packs including memory game and pin the spider on the web to name a few fun printables worth checking out. Make sure to read the entire blog post for your chance to win a generous giveaway from Caravan!!!

draw-together-thankful-tree

Caravan is the best kind of small. We are composed of just two young families and one big idea. And we think that is just enough.
 
We believe that art can invoke change for the better. Everyone, no matter their age or income, deserves to be surrounded by beautiful and affordable pieces of art. Well designed environments inspire cheer and happiness. And we want everyone to be happy! Children should be taught and inspired by the games they play and adults need to be reminded that there is value in the colorful and playful. Caravan was created to remind each of us that that we deserve lives of bright inspiration and creative exploration.
 
We specialize in digital downloads for home, family, and fun. Pay once for your artwork, print your downloaded piece of art as often as you like, and create beauty for yourself, your home, your children, and loved ones!

We want to make great art and design accessible to YOU, so we keep your wallets in mind. The average price to download a piece of Caravan artwork is just $5. Printing costs stay between $0.50 and $6. Our printing tips and all-around know-how are plentiful and free.

Caravan is giving away a gift card worth $20.00 – good for anything on their website to one lucky Beltway Bambinos reader. Tag a friend on Beltway Bambinos Facebook page for your chance to win! Winner will be announced November 10, 2017 so you have plenty of time to choose some holiday decor. 

caravan2

See The Star movie first– Giveaway!

In Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.

Pre-Screening Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017
Time: 11:00am
Place: Mazza Gallerie AMC
Run-Time: 86 minutes

***Movie ticket giveaway, to a PG rated movie, The Star ⭐️Comment below and on Facebook or Instagram with what activity you’re most excited about doing this winter with your Bambinos. 15 winners announced November 5, 2017 and will be given 2 passes.

How I Became a Pirate now playing at Adventure Theatre

(Photo: Michael Horan)

What: How I Became a Pirate

When: September 22, 2017 – October 22, 2017

Where: Adventure Theatre
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. 20812

Why: Argh matey! It’s pirate’s life for me on the high seas! One day as Jeremy builds a sand castle on the beach, a pirate ship rows ashore in search of a place to bury the pirate’s treasure. Taken aboard as an honorary pirate, Jeremy learns the ropes of what it really means to be a swashbuckling (but smelly) pirate, and the pirates just might learn how to play soccer too.

Based on the favorite story, your kids will love seeing the real life Jeremy Jacob reenact their favorite scenes from the book and may even announce this is better than the bestseller in their room. The set includes an interactive pirate ship which is unbelievably realistic and inviting (like most playgrounds we see in DC nowadays)– we wanted to climb aboard the ship and pretend we were  pirates too. Kids will laugh at the sound of hearing pirates talk about the poop deck and adults will find humor from the actor’s playful pirate banter and tunes. The performers have amazing voices and each own makes the play dynamic–Blimey! This is yet another can’t miss show put on by Adventure Theatre, one in which I have told everyone we know to “avast ye” (stop and check this out) before it’s too late.

  • Based upon the book by Melinda Long and Illustrated by David Shannon
  • Directed by Jenny Male
  • Running time is 60 minutes with no intermission
  • Recommended for all ages.
  • Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are $19.50 each with group and field trip rates available. Children under the age of 1 are free.

CozyPhones: Headband Headphones

CozyPhones is a Veteran owned family business specializing in headband headphones for children, adults, sleep and relaxation as well as an active line.  CozyPhones may be the perfect solution for your Bambinos (or yourself!). With CozyPhones there is no more struggling with headphones falling off, or the pain of wearing hard, oversized earbuds. These are comfortable and are actually nice to wear as they stay on so well. Bonus: some are lined with fleece while others are made of Contour, Lycra and mesh.

Our CozyPhones arrived and my kids were instantly attracted to the soft material with cute animal design. The earphone is built inside of the fleece band. Once your child puts them on their head  you can adjust where the speakers sit in the headband. They are built tough with a flexible and durable 36 inch braided cord and sturdy 3.5 mm stereo plug. The cord is made to last under normal wear and tear of everyday living with your child.

You can use with all of your favorite devices such as Android, Samsung Galaxy, Blackberry, Nokia, LG, HTC, Google Nexus, Lenovo, Asus, Sony, Dell, Toshiba, Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod, HG, MP3, MP4, and all of your other audio devices.

Pros:

  • Prices start at $14.97, they offer free shipping and a 100% money back guarantee.
  • Headbands are washable. 
  • Kids’ headphones are volume limited to 85 decibels.

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