Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekday Adventures: Peter Pan Club, Samba Baby and Fanciful Heroes

DC Library Kid Events  for the week can be found here. There’s a lot to take advantage of, from storytime, yoga and crafts to movies and readers theaters.

Have a Bambino you need to enroll in a Fall class for interaction with other kids? Check out a few of our favorites here.

Carnival rides, monster trucks, live music, animals and more. Sept. 10-16 you can visit Anne Arundel County Fair.

County-Fair1

Monday-

9:30am: 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’s featured performer is Jessica Smith “Culture Queen”.

[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Free yoga, live music and Labor Day Parades

Monday- Happy Labor Day from the beach! Most of the usual programs are back in session– hooray! Here is a link to DC Kid Library Events for the week. Also, check parade schedules and routes here. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
10:45am: Crawlers & Me (8-15 months)
11:45am: Walkers & Me (12-24 months)
4:00pm: Littles Yoga (3-6 years) Drop-off

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.

10:45am: Once Upon a Fairy Time at PB & Jack
Once Upon a Fairy Time is back with her special fairies and pirates show! Includes stories, wiggling, bubbles and more! Included in your admission! The idea behind PB & Jack is to create a place where both kids and parents can have fun, hang out, and attend activities and classes. PB & Jack opens at 9:00am. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
5:00pm: Kids Yoga (5-10 years) Drop-off

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Wednesday-

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andres 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!

10:30am and 11:15am: Born to Read Storytime at Bethesda Library 
(7400 Arlington Road Bethesda, MD 20814)
Stories, rhymes, songs, chants, sign language and other early literacy activities for babies 0 to 23 months with an adult. Free tickets will be handed out 30 minutes prior to the program. Space is limited so register here. 

Free Demo Week Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
3:15pm: Walkers & Me (12-24 months)
4:15pm: Jumpers & Me (2-4 years)

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.

[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Our favorite places in and around Washington, DC

We’re switching up the Weekday Adventures this week and providing you with a list of some of our favorite and fun places to visit in and around Washington, DC.

See live animal encounters, pet an alpaca and feed the goats at The Leesburg Animal Park.

Rent a paddle boat, go fishing or hop on a pontoon ride on Lake Needwood.

Big_Bus_Company_10-5-07Take a fun ride on the hop on and off bus that tours around DC, your Bambino(s) will love the double decker Big Bus.

Pick your own raspberries and blackberries at Butlers Orchard. Stay and play on the climbing equipment and have a picnic.

Your kids will want to spend all day at Clemyjontri Playground. Designed for children with all abilities, this playground is colorful and has something that will appeal to every child. Arrive early as parking becomes hard. The carousel costs $1.50 to ride.

Your airplane enthusiast will love sitting at a picnic table and watching the airplanes from Reagan fly over their head at Gravelly Point. 220px-Gravelly_Point_airplane_couple

Celebrate Bao Bao’s birthday a few days earlier, beating the crowd at The National Zoo.

Taxi! Grab a water taxi from The National Harbor and relax on a 20 minute ride to Alexandria. The Potomac Riverboat Company charges $10 for children 2-11 and $16 for adults for a roundtrip.

Take a quick and simple trip to a farm at Oxon Hill Farm. Check schedule of events for the week as they offer story time, wagon rides and a chance to feed the chickens. Be sure and check driving directions before leaving since the newly 295 has been finished, my directions took me an old way and I couldn’t find the farm.

Looking for indoor fun on a rainy or hot day?

There’s many splash and water parks in our area to spend the day.

All aboard the choo choo train!

Weekday Adventures: Storytime on the Lake, UkeFest and a Drive-in

Need some more carnival rides and fried twinkles in your life? How about a tractor pull? Head over to the Montgomery County Fair. It is happening through Saturday, August 16. Fair hours are 10am-12midnight and carnival hours are 12:00pm-12:00am and animal exhibits in Old MacDonald’s Barn are open each day beginning at 3 pm. Children 11 and under are FREE while adults cost $10. Check the schedule for daily events. Address is 16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Prince William County Fair is also happening through Saturday, August 16. Adults $10, Children over 5 $5.

Washington, DC Library events for the week can be found here. 

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Weekday Adventures: Theatre-in-the-Woods, tyke hike and Rainbow Rock

August has arrived….summer is NOT over yet! There’s plenty of time to enjoy with your Bambino(s) before they head back to school. Check out DC Public Library Children’s Events for Spanish story time, yoga, baby lap time and more! 

Keep an eye out for a post tomorrow on local Splash pads and Water parks as the weather this week has a few hot days. 

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. Today’s featured artist is master educator, musician, and storyteller,   Bashea Iya Imana .  “Iya & the Kuumba Kids” is  an interactive, hands-on, fun-filled time. Iya masterfully blends music & movement with storytelling, eco-friendly arts & crafts, and puppetry. This educational program for children fosters a love for learning and promotes literacy, critical thinking, respect for the environment, character development, and creativity.

10:30am-11:15am: Mr. Knick Knack at Reston Town Center (Pavillon)
(11900 Market St, Reston, Va. 20190)
Unique, heart-centered music for kids! Free.

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Weekend Picks: Firehouse Festival, County Fairs and a Postal Family Day

Weather calls for some showers this weekend, so check out our indoor guide for fun around DC. Our theatre guide has some wonderful shows to see as well. 

Also going on for the next week (August 2-9) Howard County Fair. You’ll get your fill of amusement rides, animals, games, food, animal rides and much more! Bonus: Children under 10 are free!

Saturday- 

9:00am-2:00pm: The Annual Friendship Firehouse Festival
(107 South Alfred St., Alexandria, VA)
The popular family event features antique fire apparatus, craft booths, displays by Alexandria merchants, and live music. Food and beverages are available. Children will receive free fire helmets and are treated to a supervised visit inside the City’s fire trucks. In addition to the day’s outdoor events, festival participants will enjoy visiting the Friendship Firehouse Museum, originally built as a firehouse in 1855.

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9:00am-7:00pm: 66th Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Carnival
(2709 West Ox Road Herndon, Virginia 20171)
Carnival rides, carousel and wagon rides, animal shows and entertainment. Check website for schedule.

[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Music at Metro Center, Climate Action Playdate and Summer Movies

We have two mid-week posts coming to your inboxes, keep an eye out! Also, make sure to ‘Like’ us on Facebook to get updates on local events that may not be covered in our blog posts. 

This is Boogie Babes final week until Fall, so catch one or both of their shows. 

Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has several shows this week including Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips and Capitol Tap. Details here.

[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Tim and the Space Cadets, Kids in the Garden and Rocking Tots

Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has several shows this week. Details here.

The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre has a new show this week: Soul in Motion Players: Drum and Dance. Showtimes are Tuesday-Friday at 10:15am and 11:30am.

soul-in-motion-players-drum-amd-dance

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. Today’s featured artist is Marsha Goodman-Wood.

10:30am-11:15am: Mr. Knick Knack at Reston Town Center (Pavillon)
(11900 Market St, Reston, Va. 20190)
Unique, heart-centered music for kids! Free.

Tuesday-  

10:00am-11:00am: Kids in the Garden at Pinstripes
(3222 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007)
Pinstripes’ new chef, Ryan Ross, will host a free “Kids in the Garden” day in which children of all ages are invited to come by Pinstripes and dig in the dirt while learning about gardening, plants and seeds. Chef will do a demonstration in Pinstripes’ outdoor Chef’s Garden on the process of planting to growing to eating, after which the children will have an opportunity to plant their own seed to take home. Children are welcome to stay for Pinstripes’ Mom & Tots program, a Monday-Friday ongoing program in which kids bowl for $5 and parents bowl for FREE from 10am-noon. Reservations for Kids in the Garden Day can be made by calling 202-625-6500.

garden

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: Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Pavilion (2nd floor)
(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.

7:00pm-10:30pm: NoMa Family Film Night
 features The Lego Movie
(Sursum Corda Plaza, L and First Streets, NW)
Now in its fourth year, the NoMa BID is proud to present Family Film Night at Sursum Corda, where families and children gather for free family-centric movies and free food. Family Film Night will take place on four Tuesdays this summer.

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