Beltway Bambinos

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

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.

Is your child ready for Montessori? The Children’s House of Washington welcomes you to find out on Sept. 30

Where:
The Children’s House of Washington (C.H.O.W.)
3133 Dumbarton Street NW., Washington, DC 20007
Who:
The Children’s House of Washington opened in September of 1981 by Patti Harburger who retired from C.H.O.W. in 2012.

This school is a place where children love learning and a place where they challenge themselves day-to-day.

Through a traditional Montessori education they are a community committed to establishing the intellectual, emotional, and physical foundation that will develop the skills for your child to become a self-directed learner, flexible thinker, creative problem solver, and support their ever-increasing curiosity about the world in which they live.

The Children’s House is child-centered within a nurturing environment where exceptional and experienced teachers support and guide each student with warmth and respect. The school’s single minded focus is to teach children the necessary skills they will need to succeed in each school they attend as well as in the larger context of their adult lives.

What:
Parents and children are invited to an open house on September 30th, 2017 from 9:00am – 11:30am.
If you can’t make this open house the school welcomes you to contact the school director to set up an appointment that works for you!

Why:
They have rolling enrollment and accommodate children age 2-5.
The children enrolled at C.H.O.W. get incredible personalized attention and leave the school with a great start to their academic careers.
Need a little more affirmation that you should check out CHOW? See the reviews on Facebook— all 5 stars from parents!!

My Gym Bethesda & Potomac Open House, Fall Enrollment + Giveaway!

My Gym has developed an extraordinary program and facility devised to help children 6 weeks thru 10 years of age develop physically, cognitively and emotionally. They offer structured, age-appropriate, weekly classes that incorporate music, dance, relays, games, special rides, gymnastics, sports and more. Children have loads of fun as they gain strength, balance, coordination, agility and flexibility while developing social skills, confidence and self-esteem. My Gym has earned the reputation as the best early learning program of its kind.

Fall Open House at both Bethesda and Potomac My Gym will be on Friday, September 15th from 4:00pm-7:00pm. Visit My Gym for FREE! Meet some teachers, play in the space and learn about new classes and programs!

Fall Schedule for My Gym Potomac HERE
11325 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Fall Schedule for My Gym Bethesda HERE
5110 Ridgefield Rd #201, Bethesda, MD 20816

Fall classes start September 5th – Reserve your class TODAY! Popular classes and times will book up fast. Try a NEW class like Ninja Training or Pre-Ballet. Don’t forget that all enrolled members get Open Gym (which they call Practice and Play) for free! This fall they are including MORE Open Gym times to accommodate members.

Not only does My Gym Bethesda and Potomac make having a child’s birthday party so easy but they offer very generous perks and policies. My daughter has taken classes at My Gym for a year now. This summer if you were enrolled in a class you received unlimited classes at either gym location! And you always get unlimited Practice and Play (Open Gym) in both locations when you are enrolled at either location.  PLUS you can always do make-up classes in ether gym if there is a class that better fits your schedule. It doesn’t get much better than My Gym and trust me, I’ve been to many kid gyms!

****My Gym is offering 1 lucky Bambino a month of free classes at either Bethesda or Potomac location. Comment below with what class you’d be interested in signing up for and earn extra entries by commenting on Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter. Winner will be announced on September 14, 2017****

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure at Imagination Stage

What: Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure at Imagination Stage

When: June 21-August 13, 2017

Where: 4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814


Why: Alice follows the White Rabbit into Wonderland where all of the familiar characters have been transformed into live guitar-toting Rock ‘n’ Roll musicians! She takes advice from a Zen Caterpillar and a wise Cheshire Cat. She has tea with the unwelcoming Mad Hatter, and argues with the childish Tweedledee and Tweedledum. When the vicious diva Red Queen tries to destroy her, Alice fights back only to find herself in a battle of the bands with the Jabberwocky, a many-headed monster who embodies all her fears and insecurities. Alice ultimately outperforms him on keyboard and drums; she is crowned at last, and returns home, a stronger and happier girl. The writers have successfully translated Carroll’s irrational Wonderland to our own times and added lyrics and a beat that will make you want to twist and shout!

You won’t stop smiling and tapping your feet while you follow Alice through the rabbit hole that is quite literally a rock and roll stage. The characters are amazing and so talented when it comes to acting and being musicians. Each one plays multiple instruments while also having a speaking part in the play– at times it feels like we were at a concert. It’s truly an avant-garde twist on the classic everyone adores. The costumes of the characters are creative and captivating with a bit of edge. Our favorite part which left us laughing out loud was when the Red Queen makes her appearance. The instruments used in this rock and roll musical were endless. Best for Ages 5+. 90 minutes with no intermission.

Book and lyrics by Rachel Rockwell. Music and lyrics by Michael Mahler. Based on the classics by Lewis Carroll. Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer.

Tickets: $20-$35

Learn more about theatre productions, classes, and weekend workshops at Imagination Stage.

Art + Tech + House = Artechouse

At the crossroads of art, science and technology ARTECHOUSE brings a true 21st century art experience to the nation’s capital as Washington, D.C.’s first interactive digital art gallery. Opened in June 2017 in Washington, D.C., ARTECHOUSE is a first-of-its kind innovative art space dedicated to showcasing experiential and immersive large scale installations by artists who are forerunners of the new age in arts and technology. The exhibit currently displayed is,  XYZT: Abstract Landscapes  and is on view until September 3, 2017.

Step into imaginary territory of lines, dots, and letters, and immerse yourself into this virtual playground of four dimensions: X(horizontal), Y (vertical), Z (depth), and T (time). XYZT: Abstract Landscapes is a world-travelled installation by internationally acclaimed French contemporary digital artists and multimedia choreographers Adrien M & Claire B. The interactive show offers an exploratory physical experience through ten digital landscapes. You are able to touch, clap, jump, twirl, snap, observe with all of the installations. They give you a quick introduction before you go into the space and let you know how each piece works. There is also a security guard who was helpful in reminding us how a piece worked when we forgot.

The installation is a variety of sensory experiences and unprecedented interactions that are created by exploiting ancient techniques of illusion and endless possibilities of modern technology. Visiting this exhibit is like taking a stroll through another form of nature a digital one, being able to touch algorithms and sense matter of light. Each installation stems patterns of physical behavior and borrows its evoking power from reality, like walking on a grass or touching the sand and transposes it into an abstract world composed of lines, points and letters.

The general policy on the age admission for XYZT exhibit is 6 and up. However, they do make exceptions on a case by case basis and request a much higher supervision from parents/adults coming in with children under the age of 6. Though the exhibit is very interactive, not all installations are meant to be touched, rather moved with and interacted at a distance. They can be more fragile than they seem. No running, no poking and no touching of the fabric screens and hardware. The space was a bit chilly, be sure to bring a jacket. Also, it took our smallest a little while to be comfortable in the space as she wasn’t sure why it was so dark whereas our 6-year old was very intrigued and had a blast interacting with the exhibit. Tickets are timed on a 45 minute basis, which is enough time to observe and connect with the art.

Purchase tickets here.

Daytime Admission Daily: 10:00am-4:00pm

Evening Admission Daily (Ages 21+): 5:30pm-9:30pm

Location: 1238 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC 20024
There is garage next door, however we went on a Sunday and found street parking to be plentiful. It is also very close to Smithsonian so you can visit both in one day.

(Most of the above information is directly from Artechouse’s website and they have even more if you want to read more.)

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design