Beltway Bambinos

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

Early Childhood Theatre: Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage (ends this weekend)

The My First Imagination Stage theatre series offers intimate, interactive performances designed for the very young in our Reeve Theatre. Learn more below about theatre productions, classes, and weekend workshops at Imagination Stage.

What: Paper Dreams
In a brand-new collaboration with Mons Dansa Dance Company Barcelona, Spain, we bring to life our first DANCE performance based show, perfect for ages 1-5 that explores the many facets of creativity. A fun, interactive production that tells the story of two delightful creatures who live inside a wastepaper basket. Can our greatest mistake actually turn out to be the next greatest innovative idea? Try the Activity Guide! En Español!

When: March 11-April 9, 2017

Where: Imagination Stage: 4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Who: Written and directed by Claudia Moreso, Mons Dansa Dance Company Barcelona, Spain
with the US remount directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer

Tickets: $14.00

Date Night at The National Theatre+Giveaway

Fun Home at The National Theatre is a great date night alternative to your typical routine and you can win a pair of tickets to the grand opening show (see details below).

When: April 18, 2017 – May 13, 2017

Where: The National Theatre: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Details:  Every once in a while a Broadway musical comes along that surprises, moves and excites audiences in ways only a truly landmark musical can. The groundbreaking, life-affirming and exquisite new musical Fun Home was the event of the Broadway season, receiving raves from critics and audiences alike, winning five 2015 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL and making history along the way.

Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, Fun Home introduces us to Alison at three different ages as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood. A refreshingly honest musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, Fun Home is extraordinary, a rare beauty that pumps fresh air into Broadway. (New York Times)

Run time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, no intermission

Tickets: $43.00-$98.00
We’re thrilled to offer you an exclusive discount to the first ten performances of Fun Home at The National Theatre! Use code KEYS to save more than 30% on select seats!

 

What the critics are saying:

“A RARE BEAUTY THAT PUMPS FRESH AIR INTO BROADWAY.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“EXQUISITE. AN EMOTIONAL POWERHOUSE.” –Chicago Tribune

“A LANDMARK PRODUCTION THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN MUSICAL THEATRE.” –The Huffington Post

GIVEAWAY:  For a chance to win tickets to see FUN HOME at the National Theatre on grand opening night, Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30pm, leave a comment below. You can get an extra entry by entering on BeltwayBambinos Facebook page too! This giveaway will run through April 6, 2017, then a winner will be drawn at random and announced.

Ella Enchanted at Adventure Theatre

Ella_DSC_0228

   

What: Ella Enchanted

When: February 3, 2017 – March 19, 2017

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

Why: Based on the Newberry Honor book by Gail Carson Levine. Baby Ella of Frell is given the “gift” of obedience by Lucinda, a misguided fairy, and thus cannot disobey any direct order. Then when tragedy strikes, Ella is reduced to an obedient servant in her new home with Dame Olga. Can Ella find a way to rid herself of the troublesome curse?

This version has it’s own spin on the original but stays pretty true to the beloved book. We particularly took notice of Ella’s ability to overcome the hardships she was dealt through creativity and staying true to herself– an important lesson for our young theatre go-ers. As you can see in the photo above, the creativity of the birds are truly magical.

Details: 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.

GIVEAWAY: Whole Foods Market Family Friendly Valentine’s Day Dinner

WFM

I am at Whole Foods Market shopping at least twice a week. So when I was asked to do a fun promo for Valentine’s Day, I jumped at the opportunity. After all, our family devours their fresh produce, organic dairy and meats and bulk items, so another trip was more than welcome. For the promo, the mission was to create a family-friendly Valentine’s Day dinner for my husband and two children. Mission accomplished!

shrimp fruit

Valentine’s Day is not complete without a bouquet of roses. Whole Foods Market has a holiday special “Double Dozen Premium Roses” for $24.99. I love roses — so having a dozen roses in the dining room and another dozen roses in my bedroom is extra special. Spread the word to the husbands, wives, partners, kids….everyone! It really is a great deal and they have other denominations and colors to choose from.

My family loves surf and turf but I will only splurge when it’s a special occasion…and a Valentine’s celebration certainly qualifies.  I went on Pinterest to find a cute Valentine’s way to present the meal and decided on cutting up a variety of fruit and form them into the shape of a heart as well as connecting two shrimp in the shape of a heart and placing on top of the steak. The kids got a kick out of making the shrimp into hearts (as you can see below) and occasionally they took a break to dip the (already cooked) shrimp in the 365 brand Cocktail Sauce. I served the surf and turf with Sweet Potato Puffs and Super Sweet Bicolor Corn which was loved by all.

shrimpchocolate

 

After dinner, came the big surprise for the kids, a box of Lake Champlain assorted chocolates. My kindergartener read all of the flavors on the back of the box to us and we chose our favorite to eat. Let’s just say they are not picky.

In summary, using Whole Food Market’s 365 products as well as foods made in-house, I prepared a memorable Valentine’s Day meal that was fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Giveaway: “Like and Comment” on Beltway Bambino’s Facebook page to enter to win a $50 gift card for your Valentine’s Day shopping! An extra entry for commenting below on this blog post, however you MUST comment on Facebook to be entered. One random winner will be announced February 13, 2017. 

Did you know you can do your Valentine’s Day shopping online if you can’t get out of the house? Check out the latest Whole Foods Market flier below for Valentine’s Day specials:

FullSizeRender-8FullSizeRender-9

A birthday party at My Gym Bethesda: A rare hands-off affair

We had a chance to celebrate our daughter’s 2nd birthday at My Gym Bethesda this weekend (Spoiler alert: You should book your child’s party there ASAP). Before you hear all about our birthday experience we wanted you to get to know the owner of the gym and learn more about it.

fm

                                                                                                                                              (Photo: Ball pit was a HUGE HIT!!)

Mandy Lemar has owned My Gym Potomac for 11 years and opened My Gym Bethesda 6 years ago. She is a member of the local community and had been taking her kids to My Gym for years and loved it so much she bought it! It has been an intricate part of her kids childhood and she’s so pleased that so many other kids have made My Gym a part of their childhood. Mandy met some of her best mom friends at My Gym and I know other moms have as well.

My Gym is such an amazing part of how kids grow and develop. Their goal is to teach kids how to be strong physically but also teach teamwork, cooperation and taking turns. They model kindness and thoughtfulness to all the families.

My Gym Bethesda and My Gym Potomac is family-owned and is an intrical part of the local community. There are My Gym teachers who have worked at these two gyms for many years. They have seen the My Gym families grow from 1 to 2 to 3 and more kids! And they love that keep coming back because My Gym is such an important part of the children’s and families lives. They make donations to local school auctions and charity events and strive to be an important part of the community and give back when they can.

They offer discounted pricing to members who book parties but non-members can and often do host parties at My Gym!

gym

                                          (Mr. Nick assisting the birthday girl and getting her used to the Gym before her friends arrive)

There are three available party packages, the Grand is the base and the other two packages offer more.

What was included in our Grand Package:

  • Exclusive use of the entire facility
  • 2 party specialists
  • 1.5 hour private party (Additional cost for 2-hour party-must be last party of the day)
  • Up to 20 children (Birthday child is FREE!)
  • Balloon decorations
  • Special My Gym gift for the birthday child
  • Service of cake, food and beverages
  • My Gym Evite invitation
  • One free class for the birthday child (Currently enrolled members receive a complimentary 2nd class per week)

gym-party

My experience:  Scheduling a date and time for the party took less than 5 minutes and the information above was re-iterated to me over the phone. My Gym Bethesda checked in with me 2 weeks prior to find out if I wanted to add anything to our package. A week prior to the party they contacted me again to get a final number and to remind me to arrive 10 minutes ahead of time. You read that right– 1o minutes ahead. I heard that and had some anxiety about not being able to bring in cute decorations and set up like I wanted to. But, we walked in 10 minutes prior to the party and tablecloths already covered the areas the children would eat at and where food would be placed. The 2 employees swiftly stepped in and started helping us plan, unpack, set the table, set up decorations and…voila in less than 10 minutes (with 2 kids in tow) we were set.

Mr. Nick and Mr. George were our My Gym employees and were absolutely amazing. Their energy and enthusiasm really showed how much they loved their job. They were engaging and fun while making sure everyone was safe. They had a plan and I was able to enjoy the party and actually play with our kids and socialize with guests while they ran the entire show. The kids enjoyed a fun stretch, circle games, swings, ball pit, climbing, bubbles, zip line, trampoline, songs and a lot more all to a fun, catchy soundtrack playing! Mr. Nick and Mr. George even put on sanitary gloves and served all of the kids plates and had them ready for when it was time to eat. They knew exactly how long before we should do cake so the kids didn’t grow tired of sitting and waiting. Once the food portion was over they assisted with wiping hands so the kids could get back out and enjoy the gym.

As a parent of the birthday child you usually are stressed out before the party begins because you’ve been juggling decorations, a menu, guest list and planning the itinerary of a 1-3 hour party that once the party actually begins you are ready for it to be over with. This party was SO much different. We showed up and My Gym took care of everything. I love you can add-on to each package which again the employees will take care of so you don’t have to. It was a fantastic party and everyone had a blast, including adults. I hadn’t ever been to My Gym so this was a great opportunity. We will be signing up for weekly classes as well as winter camps and parent night outs. Thank you My Gym Bethesda for an unforgettable and stress-free 2nd birthday party.

My Gym Birthday Parties for Children

  • Setup
  • Decorations
  • Service of Refreshments
  • Cleanup
  • & Much More!

Call or book your party online today!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at Imagination Stage

edward


What: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at Imagination Stage

When: October 8, 2016 – October 30, 2016

Where: Imagination Stage  – 4908 Auburn Avenue  Bethesda, MD 20814

Why:
Have you ever loved a special doll or stuffed toy? If you have, this is the story for you! Abilene adores her china rabbit doll, Edward Tulane. But, Edward is spoiled and ungrateful until fate takes him on an emotional roller-coaster of an adventure through the 20th century. He is lost overboard on an ocean liner, fished up by a kindly villager, dumped in a heap of garbage, rescued by a hobo and his dog, turned into a scarecrow, and adopted by a little boy who gives him as a gift to his sickly sister. Little by little, Edward discovers goodness and humility. Inspired by the constellations, he learns to keep an open heart. Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning book translates beautifully to the stage. And, as in all good stories, even our reluctant hero finds a happy ending!

Edward’s journey takes him through a series of misfortunes. I had read Kate DiCamillo’s novel years ago and found it to be a touching and intriguing story. Taking my son to the play however meant he was exposed to some of life’s uglier issues. While some of the tough situations and conversations went over his head, the plays ending brings a smile to everyone’s face. According to the little girl sitting behind us, “every play ends with a happy ending.” I’d advise taking children 6+ as Imagination Stage recommends.

edward2

Details:
Running time is roughly 90 minutes with an intermission.

Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are $15.00-$30.00.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at Adventure Theatre

knuffle-bunny

                                    (Photo credit: Michael Horan)

What: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

When: September 23, 2016 – October 23, 2016

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

Why: Based on the book by Mo Willems. Six time Emmy Award-winner, Mo Willems wrote the script and lyrics while Grammy Award-winning children’s composer Michael Silversher wrote the music. You may recall the debut being in 2010 at The Kennedy Center.

Trixie and her father bustle through the streets of New York City down the block, across the park, past the school, to the Laundromat. But returning home, Knuffle Bunny is gone, and Trixie can’t tell her father what’s wrong.
[Read more…]

Anna Banana brings meaningful arts and crafts to Georgetown

annabanana

Anne Freeman, Owner of Anna Banana Art and Crafts opened her art studio for kids ages 2-8  in January of 2013.  Building on her Art History background, 20 years as an art dealer in D.C., teaching art privately and in preschools, Anna Banana Arts and Crafts is dedicated to teaching and encouraging the artistic process.  Children learn about The Masters such as Picasso, Matisse, van Gogh and Lichtenstein.  Art mediums such as painting, print making, sculpture and photography are presented in a child-friendly manner.  Children explore materials such as charcoal, graphite, pastels, watercolors, paint and markers to encourage creative art making.   Classes are for 2-8 year olds and Summer Camp for 4-8 year olds.

We were lucky enough to attend to a class in which the students were learning about Andy Warhol and creating a painting based on his work. Anne was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, engaging and just plain ole fun! The class began with kids free drawing and coloring, then followed the lesson and project. Once everyone finished at their own pace and cleaned their paintbrushes, Anne was eager to use her glow-in-the-dark paint she had just purchased hours earlier. Based on one little girls comment that she had a glow-in-the-dark rock at home, Anne excitedly found rocks and allowed them to paint their own on a whim. I love that she was so open to a last minute creation.

Classes fill up quickly, especially in the winter and summer camps. There are still spots available in the newest session (and she will prorate them), so check out the options and sign up today! Another perk: easy parking and for the older classes you can drop off at the doorstep! Anna Banana is also nominated for Red Tricycle’s Totally Awesome Award (in case you needed more convincing)!

Address: 3270 S Street, NW in Georgetown

annabanana2

                                                                                                                            (Painting the rock with glow-in-the-dark paint)

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design