Beltway Bambinos

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

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  • Home
  • Indoor Fun
    • Theater & musical productions
    • Guide to Indoor Fun for Kids
  • Fall
    • Halloween guide
    • Fall festivals, farms, orchards
    • Fall Foliage Spots and Drives
    • Fall events
    • Fall classes
    • Fall bucket list
    • Survive Daylight Savings
  • Winter
    • Holiday gift guide
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Hanukkah Celebrations
    • Holiday Tea
    • Christmas Trees, Lights & Markets
    • Ski and snowboard
    • Cut-your-own tree
    • Ice rinks and roller rinks
  • Spring
    • Cherry blossoms
    • Easter egg hunts
    • Easter basket & spring gift ideas
    • Spring bucket list
    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day weekend
    • Tax day steals and deals
  • Summer
    • Summer Camps
    • July 4th
    • Ice cream
    • Sunflower Fields
    • Summer bucket list
    • Live outdoor music
    • Outdoor movies
    • Outdoor swimming pools
    • Splash parks
    • Trains!
  • Camps and Classes
    • Fall classes
    • Spring classes
    • Summer camps
    • Mid-winter break camps
    • Winter camps and classes
    • November 2, 4, 5, 11
    • DCPS spring break camps
    • Schools out, camps are in
    • Year-round classes
    • Gymnastics and dance classes
  • Neighborhood Guides
    • Annapolis, MD
    • AU Park, DC
    • Baltimore, MD
    • Bethany Beach, DE
    • Breweries in the DC area
    • Brookland, DC
    • Chevy Chase, DC
    • Georgetown, DC
    • Philadelphia, PA
    • Lancaster County, PA
    • Madison, VA
    • Frederick, MD
    • St. Louis, MO
  • Outdoor Play
    • 15 family friendly hikes
    • Pick your own fruit and vegetables
    • Beaches and state parks
    • Outdoor fun
    • Trails, marshes and gardens
    • 20 classic outdoor games
    • Trains and carousels
  • Beltway Bambinos Concierge
    • Customized itineraries
    • Introducing Beltway Bambinos Concierge
  • About
  • Beltway Travel
    • Introducing Beltway Travel
    • Family Summer Getaways
    • Traveling with Little Ones?
    • Why Now is the Time to Plan
    • Travel Advisors Save You More Than Money
    • Why You Should Work with Me
    • How Do You Make Sure the Trip Has Something for Everyone?
    • DC Hotels with Indoor Pools
  • Itineraries
    • 5 Days in Costa Rica
    • {Winter} Staycation

Pre-screening of the movie Book Club + tea and pampering on Mother’s Day!

May 11, 2018

We have a special movie screening this Sunday for Mother’s Day—  what better way to spend the day than with your Mom or friends at a movie which includes a bit of pampering!?

The screening begins at 2:00pm, but beforehand there will be a Mother’s Day tea in a private room at the movie theater. The pre-party tea will include snacks, tea, complimentary massages, a photobooth, and makeup touchups by the Glam Squad! There are also some prize packs to give away at the screening.

WHEN: Sunday, May 13, 2018

Pre-Party: 1:00pm

Screening begins: 2:00pm

WHERE: AMC Mazza – 5300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015

Click HERE for your FREE tickets

Directed by: Bill Holderman 
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson with Andy Garcia and Don Johnson 
Rated: PG-13

Diane (Diane Keaton) is recently widowed after 40 years of marriage. Vivian (Jane Fonda) enjoys her men with no strings attached. Sharon (Candice Bergen) is still working through a decades-old divorce. Carol’s (Mary Steenburgen) marriage is in a slump after 35 years. 

Four lifelong friends’ lives are turned upside down to hilarious ends when their book club tackles the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey. From discovering new romance to rekindling old flames, they inspire each other to make their next chapter the best chapter. Join the Club May 18, 2018. 

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Filed Under: Giveaway Tagged: Book Club, Giveaway, MAzza, movie

Date Night at The National Theatre to see Waitress + Giveaway

April 18, 2018

Waitress 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).

Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (the film “I Am Sam”), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Waiting for Godot) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin, Finding Neverland).

Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna – a waitress and expert pie maker – who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness. But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.

  • Waitress will be at National Theatre May 15-June 3, 2018.
  • Estimated running time is 150 minutes, including one intermission.
  • Tickets range from $28-$98.
  • Show is recommended for ages 13+.

 

Giveaway: Win 2 tickets to opening night, Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 7:30pm. To enter, comment on Facebook & Instagram with the name of your favorite Broadway show. Winner will be announced May 1, 2018!

Get a preview of the show and learn more about the play from the director, Diane Paulus and musician, Sara Bareilles below.

“WAITRESS is a little slice of heaven!” says Entertainment Weekly

“A monumental contribution to Broadway!” according to Marie Claire.

“THE WOMEN OF WAITRESS ARE CHANGING BROADWAY!” – Time Magazine

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Filed Under: Date Night, Giveaway, Sponsored Post Tagged: broadway, date night, Giveaway, national theatre, Waitress

Arts on the Horizon presents Outside the Lines + GIVEAWAY!

April 3, 2018

Arts on the Horizon presents Outside the Lines

What: Two pen pals, Bud and Vi, brighten each other’s lives from afar. Bud lives in a straight-line world of tall, tall buildings. Vi lives in a curvy-line world of rolly, rolly hills.  Bud and Vi have never met, but they create a world together by exchanging lines…through the mail.

Scored by the lively tango music of QuinTango, and featuring interactive projection design by Helen Hayes nominee Patrick Lord, Outside the Lines is a new nonverbal play for ages 2-5 and their families about one of our earliest and deepest joys: connection.

Created by Tia Shearer Bassett & Directed by Megan Alrutz

Where: Performances take place at The Lab at Convergence
1819 N. Quaker Ln.Alexandria, VA 22302

When: April 12-April 28, 2018 with an April 21st sign interpreted performance

Additional shows will take place May 2-6, 2018 at Atlas Performing Center

Giveaway: Win a 4-pack of tickets to the Friday, April 20th show at 10:30am by commenting on this Facebook post. Winner announced April 10, 2018.

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Filed Under: Giveaway Tagged: Arts on the Horizon, Giveaway, Outside the Lines, theater

q+a with the founders of Baby Ventures + GIVEAWAY

April 2, 2018


There’s something magical and calming about spending time in a library or bookstore. We are fortunate enough to have some great bookstores in our area; Politics & Prose, Walls of Books, Upshur Street Books, Kramerbooks and East City Bookshop to name a few =)  I have a background in literacy and am always buying and checking out new books for my kids, encouraging them to read and have a love of reading. Same goes for seeking out new authors to become familiar with and follow. Books are my go-to gift idea for holidays and birthdays for little ones. Enter The ABC’s of Washington, DC. A great board book for little ones, newbies to DC, friends who may move away from DC or just to provide a picture walk through of DC. The book provides a sightseeing tour of the nation’s capital letter by letter. I have gotten the chance to learn about Baby Ventures, 
a local duo (Lisa Hall and Golzar Kheiltash) who create diversity and adventure-inspired books and art based on their own real-life adventures in diverse locales across six continents. Their inaugural title, the ABCs of Washington, DC, has become a best seller at a number of indie bookstores and specialty shops in DC. They also strongly focus on early literacy, small business/shop local initiatives, and charitable giving. I am excited to share a q+a I conducted with Hall and Kheiltash and introduce you to their newest book. 

 

Q+A with Golzar Kheiltash + Lisa Hall of Baby Ventures

BB: Please introduce yourselves to Beltway Bambinos readers.

Lisa and I met in Washington, DC in 2005, and we’ve been friends and collaborators ever since. We’ve long been avid travelers, with a deep reverence for the diversity of people, cultures, and places that make up our global village. After a decade of friendship, adventure, and ultimately, motherhood, Lisa and I co-founded Baby Ventures in 2016.

Upon returning home from each of her trips abroad, Lisa – a lifelong artist – would paint the rich diversity of people and places she’d witnessed. Our real-life travels across six continents, combined with Lisa’s detailed imagery and bold use of color, forms the creative bedrock of Baby Ventures books.

Shortly after becoming a new mom, I started looking into board books for my daughter. I soon realized that many “baby books” still featured oversimplified topics and graphics. My husband and I didn’t want to wait until our daughter was old enough to read to expand her worldview – we wanted to show her our diverse and wonder-filled world from day one. I was lamenting to Lisa about this one night over cheese pizza, and it just hit us: to combine our respective skill sets and create our own series of children’s board books. Three years and much hard work later, Baby Ventures was founded in 2016. Our mission is simple: to create books that combine themes of diversity and adventure for little ones, brought to life with Lisa’s vibrant artwork.

BB: Are you DC natives?

I am originally from California, and Lisa is from Nebraska. We met each other in 2005 as colleagues at an advocacy nonprofit located in Eastern Market, in Southeast DC. Our initial professional ties soon turned into a lasting personal friendship, sparking many adventures together around Washington, DC and beyond.

When we launched Baby Ventures in 2016, we already had the ABCs of Washington, DC vividly in mind as our inaugural title. DC is where our own story started, and we wanted to honor that with our first book. Many of the book’s twenty six pages – including “E” for Eastern Market – are an ode to the adventures we’ve had in our nation’s capital.

BB: What is your favorite children’s classic book that you think each child should have in their collection?

That’s a tough question – there’s too many to choose from! As an avid reading family, some of our favorite titles would be Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak), You are My I Love You (Maryann Cusimano Love, Satomi Ichikawa), The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein), and the adorably educational Yes Yes No No (Leslie Patricelli).

BB: Do you recall having a favorite book as a child?

Yes – The Little Prince (though I didn’t appreciate its poignant ending until I reread it as an adult).

BB: What is your writing or illustrating Kryptonite?

Golzar: A cozy café, a big latte, a fresh notepad, and a great ink pen. And enough time between toddler activities to enjoy the vibe and let the creative juices flow!

Lisa: Meeting Golzar at the cozy café for creative brainstorming! We have a fantastic collaborative work process where we build on each other’s ideas and enthusiasm.

BB: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Lisa and I both come from advocacy and marketing backgrounds, so diligent and accurate research is a must for us. Having first-hand knowledge of our subject matter and subjecting our work to peer review are integral steps in our research process. Some may say children’s board books shouldn’t require much research, but we feel it’s quite the opposite: we’re trying to expand tots’ growing minds with our books and artwork, which means what we depict – whether it be a culture or a locale – has to be accurate, inclusive, and inspiring.

BB: Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Glad you asked…we do! We’re big fans of portraying a local, genuine take on the subject matter or locale we’re depicting. So if you’re a native of DC, for example, you’ll find familiar details that other readers may miss. We also have our Adventure Girls who pop up somewhere in each book!

 BB: Your inaugural title is the ABCs of Washington, DC. Can we find earlier work by either of you?

Writing children’s board books is definitely all new for me! Lisa, on the other hand, is a life-long artist with a knack for children’s art, inspired by her many travels around the world. She served in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa, worked in Australia, backpacked across Latin America, and volunteered at orphanages in India and Bolivia. She has been retailing her children’s artwork for the past decade and is now drawing from her experiences to create the Baby Ventures book series.

 BB: Where can readers find ABC’s of Washington, DC?

First made available in June 2016, the ABCs of Washington, DC is now available at a number of DC’s independent bookshops and specialty stores, including Politics & Prose, Busboys and Poets, East City Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Walls of Books. Lisa and I pride ourselves on being local authors working directly with one of a kind independent stores across DC communities. As part of our community outreach, we love to host interactive story times with our ABCs of Washington, DC at some of our wonderful retailers. A few upcoming events are:  Storybook Magic, Children’s National Hospital – Tuesday, April 24 at 11:00am, First Sunday Arts Festival – Sunday, May 6 (Annapolis), Story time at Busboys and Poets, Takoma Park – Tuesday, May 15 at 9:30am and will be an exhibitor at the Gaithersburg Book Festival – May 19. For those who are not local and wish to purchase our book, the ABCs of Washington, DC is also available on our Baby Ventures website, in local book stores, and can be found on Amazon.

BB: What’s up next?

We have big plans across the US and abroad for 2018! ABCs of Annapolis, Maryland’s Capital City, was released in February and is now available! Little ones will love practicing their ABCs while learning about Maryland’s charming capital city by the Chesapeake Bay. This 26-page board book provides a distinctly native take on Annapolis life and locales. From the annual Tug of War to Main Street and more, Annapolis is brought to life from the distinct perspective of a long-time resident and local enthusiast, Baby Ventures co-founder Lisa Hall. Our next two upcoming titles will explore global locales and languages. Our next book is coming out this Fall with the 4th book in Spring 2019. We also look forward to forging closer ties to our growing DC community, and of course, our littlest bookworms!

Comment and tag your favorite local bookstore for a chance to win a signed ABC’s of Washington, DC book or a Baby Ventures onesie!

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Filed Under: Giveaway, Products I Love, Sponsored Post Tagged: ABC's of Washington, Baby Ventures, childrens book, DC, diversity, Giveaway, literacy, local, Maryland’s Capital City, q+a, The ABC's of Annapolis

What to expect at your child’s first dental visit at DC Pediatric Smiles + GIVEAWAY

March 8, 2018

This Guest Post is provided by Dr. Derek Blank who is a father of three young children: Anderson, Brinkley, and Beckett and a board certified pediatric dentist who is the founder of DC Pediatric Smiles in Bethesda, Maryland.  Dr. Blank is strongly committed to helping children have fun at the dental office and develop an early appreciation for the value of healthy teeth and happy smiles.
My Child’s First Dental Visit: What to Expect?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking your child to a pediatric dentist by their first birthday. Often when parents hear “dental visit” and “age 1” their first thought is “no way on earth is my child going to sit still.” The good news is, no one expects them to! The first visit is intended to familiarize a child with feeling comfortable at the dentist and help parents learn how to brush their kids’ teeth.

A young child’s first visit to the dentist is much different than an adult’s typical dental appointment. It is understandable that the dental office can be an intimidating place for kids (it is for many adults too). As a result, much of the first appointment is devoted to introducing various sights and sounds of the dental environment (such as the light, gloves, mask, mirror, dental chair, and suction) in a fun way to help a child feel more relaxed in the new setting. It can often be beneficial to start at a very basic level with young children; for instance, the pediatric dentist might count fingers and explain how this is similar to counting teeth. The overall goal is to ease kids into the routine of coming into the office while keeping the vibe positive and providing much encouragement along the way.

One approach that pediatric dentists find particularly successful with infants and toddlers is the “pillow” exam. This helps the dental team to thoroughly examine a child’s developing teeth and gums while demonstrating the same brushing techniques that they’d recommend parents use at home. The entire process is quick, maybe 1-2 minutes at most, and shortly afterwards, the patient is quickly met with high fives, clapping, and lots of love and support. The pediatric dentist will discuss how many baby teeth have already come in, what to look for in the months ahead, and provide guidance on patient-specific topics of concern (such as fluoride, teething, pacifier use, thumb sucking, x-rays, flossing, tooth injuries, etc).

While the first 2-3 visits to the pediatric dentist may be unpredictable, fortunately, each follow-up visit tends to be a bit easier. Children become more familiar with the staff and learn exactly what to expect during their appointment — the prizes, Netflix, stickers, iPads, and corny dental jokes all help too 🙂 In an ideal world, the dental team loves for those first few visits to occur at younger ages (around 1-2 years old is great); that way, when a child is a bit older (closer to preschool age), they are already quite comfortable and confident in the dental setting, even looking forward to their visit!

Prevention is a huge focus for pediatric dentists. During a child’s first visit, much time and effort is devoted to education and protection against the development of cavities. Some kids may have a certain predisposition to decay. Certain genetic factors may not be changed. However, we can control many environmental factors (such as diet/beverage selection and brushing/flossing habits). The earlier that parents and dental providers team up to put a strong prevention plan in place, the more fun and relaxing each visit to the dentist will tend to be. Bottom line, starting your child’s pediatric dental experience at a young age will help get them on the right track for a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles!

6 Reasons to head to DC Pediatric Smiles–
  1. Board Certified: DC Pediatric Smiles is proud to be the only pediatric dental practice in Bethesda owned and operated by a board certified pediatric dentist.
  2. Free Parking: They offer ample, surface parking just steps away from our door.  And the office is completely stroller accessible, no stairs or elevator.
  3. Convenient Hours: Open select evenings and Saturdays with 24/7 on-call services provided by Dr. Blank for any after-hours emergencies.
  4. Complimentary First Visit: For children ages 2 and under, they offer a free initial appointment.  And for patients of all ages, please stop in for a complimentary office tour!
  5. Latest Technology: The all-digital office is excited to offer the newest high-tech conveniences including iPad check-in, online appointment booking, and Netflix.
  6. Potomac Surf Club: Have you ever surfed the Potomac?  Doubt it.  But a clean check-up will earn your child a spot in the exclusive Potomac “Cavity-Free” Surf Club.

Here is a link to DC Pediatric Smiles insurance and payment plan information.

DC Pediatric Smiles approach is Laugh, Grow, Smile. Get to know Dr. Blank a little:
LAUGH  I’m a Cleveland Browns’ fan.

GROW  Triathlons, skiing, and surfing — each accurately described as “work in progress”.

SMILE  Coming home to my wife and kids.

Location: 5640 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817
Phone: (301) 363-9026

 

 

Giveaway: Win a $100 Whole Foods gift card from DC Pediatric Smiles by commenting on this giveaway post on Beltway Bambinos Facebook page and then liking DC Pediatric Smiles Facebook page. Winner will be announced March 17, 2018.

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Filed Under: Giveaway, Guest Post Tagged: bethesda, DC Pediatric Smiles, Dr. Derek Blank, Giveaway, maryland, pediatric dentist

Tot Rock at Discovery Theater + GIVEAWAY

February 22, 2018

Discovery Theater at the Ripley Center, Smithsonian has been presenting DC-area children with live educational performances for more than 30 years. As a program of the Smithsonian Associates, Discovery Theater serves as a child’s gateway to the exhibitions, collections, and cultures contained in the museums on the National Mall and beyond.  There’s so much to explore at the Smithsonian! Tot Rock performances are geared for 2-6 year olds. Tot Rock gets kids moving to great bands—and adults love to join in the fun, too. Below are some great upcoming shows. 

Tot Rock: The Not-Its: Thurs.- Fri., Mar. 1-2 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

In their signature pink ties (on the guys) and pink-and-black tutus (on the girls), the Not-Its! rock kids and families with their up-tempo albums and performances that give children their first “rock show” experience. The Seattle-based quintet delivers on-your-feet, action-oriented songs like “Green Light Go” and “Skateboard,” and uses music to empower kids to be innovators, protect the environment and wildlife, and be proud of who they are—even if, as they sing about in “Participation Trophy,” they get third or fourth place at something. Recommended for Ages 2-6 / Pre-K to Grade 1

Tot Rock: Alex & the Kaleidoscope: Thurs.- Fri., Apr. 19-20 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Take a new look at our beautiful world through the kaleidoscope of Emmy Award-winning children’s arts educator Alex Mitnick, your musical guide for an Earth Day celebration of the treasures of the planet. Clap along, sing, dance, and improvise with Alex in this delightful interactive concert of original songs about nature and all its creatures—including us. Recommended for Ages 2-6 / Pre-K to Grade 1

See schedule of other shows at Discovery Theater here, including a show called Crazy Colors of Chemistry and Mother Earth and Me.

  • Giveaway: Win a pair of tickets to The Not-Its show by commenting on Facebook with your preferred show–  Thursday, March 1 or Friday March 2 with the desired time 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Winner will be announced Monday, Feb. 26

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Filed Under: Giveaway, Indoor Play Tagged: Discovery Theater, Giveaway, Ripley Center, smithsonian

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

January 26, 2018

KID Museum is an AWESOME hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math learning experience with an exploration of world cultures and global citizenship. It offers unique, maker experiences for elementary and middle school-aged children. See events calendar here to pick a day that is perfect for your Bambino. You won’t be disappointed. KID Museum’s current site at Davis Library in Bethesda, Maryland provides the community with programs and workshops on weekends and after school.

There is no Food Like My Food is part of the National Gallery of Art Winter Film Program, showing this weekend. This delicious collection of short documentary films features food from around the world. Hear firsthand from child narrators how they and their families prepare traditional dishes. This program features food from France, Argentina, Trinidad, Thailand, and Kazakhstan. Learn that how food is gathered, prepared, and eaten reflects the unique culture and history of a particular location.(New Dimension Media, USA, 60 minutes). Best for ages 6+. 

Did you know the Washington Monument weighs more than 5,000 Apatosauruses? Yes, really! Ready for another one? About 41 Spinosauruses could stand nose-to-tail in the reflecting pool outside the Lincoln Memorial! Come learn more fun dinosaur facts when our dinosaur exhibit stomps into the DC Armory January 26-28! Since the Fossil Hall at the Smithsonian is closed for another year, you have to get your dinosaur fix in somewhere! Get your tickets for our to Discover Dinosaurs at DC Armory DC today and get ready for family fun of Jurassic proportions!

Monster Jam is at Capital One Arena this weekend. Featuring the eight most intense athletes of Monster Jam, Washington, DC fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and the famous Monster Jam trucks. 

Applause Unlimited of Richmond, VA is back at the Glen Echo Playhouse for the next three weekends, presenting three of Beatrix Potter’s favorite tales: “Two Bad Mice,” “Jemima Puddle-Duck,” and “Jeremy Fisher.” Christopher Hudert brings these stories to life through the everyday activities of a young girl as she dreams and plays alone in her room. BEst for ages 3-9, a 45 minute performance. 

Friday-

6:00pm-9:00pm: Spy Fest: Tradecraft Try-Its Ticket at International Spy Museum
Could you be a spy? Now’s your chance to find out! Sitting in your comfy chair watching James Bond makes spy tradecraft look easy-now’s your chance to find out if you could be the next 007. Do you have the savvy to beat a lie-detector? The smarts to break a top secret coded message? The wits to create secret writing? The moves of a Ninja? Families are invited to find out how they measure up at the Museum’s annual Spy Fest. Mini-missions, tradecraft demonstrations by the experts, and the chance to try spy skill challenges will give KidSpy agents and their handlers an insider’s peek into the shadow world of spying-and who knows, there just may be a spy or two in your midst…Ages: 5 and up* (one adult required for every five KidSpy agents)
Tickets: $14 per person*, Members of The Inner Circle: $12 *Includes exclusive after-hours admission, SPY snacks, scavenger hunt, prize competitions, and more! Complementary frozen custard generously donated by Shake Shack!

Saturday-

9:30am AND 11:00am: Beech Tree Puppets: Hollow Stump at National Theatre
Adapted from the popular tale, The Mitten, The Hollow Stumpcelebrates community, as the animals learn to share one space. Seven very different animals seek shelter from the winter cold and snow in a large hollow stump. The characteristics of each animal are revealed through a unique and descriptive poem and song. When the animals let newcomers enter and the space inside the stump grows tighter, their songs interweave. FREE

11:00am-12:30pm AND 1:30pm-3:00pm: Musical Innovations at Sackler Gallery
What kind of music did people listen to thousands of years ago? Visit the exhibition Resound: Ancient Bells of China and learn about the technologies that led to innovations in early Chinese music. Then, return to the studio to create your own cutting-edge music makers using twenty-first-century technologies with teaching artists from FutureMakers. This program is designed for children aged six to twelve and adults to enjoy together. Free registration required. Email AsiaWorkshops@si.edu with the following information: name, session andnumber of registrants (include youth and caretakers). We will respond with your registration status within forty-eight hours.

11:00am: Clementine: The Musical at Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center
Clementine is not having a good day, but she’s not letting a trip to the principal’s office get her down! Whether she’s cutting the glue out of her best friend Margaret’s hair, concocting a scheme to prevent her teacher Mr. D’Matz from moving to Egypt, or riding the service elevator with Mitchell, who is N-O-T not her boyfriend, Clementine’s antics are sure to make you laugh. Join America’s favorite curly-haired carrot-top as she navigates the waters of friendship, family, school, and mischief on a hilariously epic third-grade adventure you’ll never forget. Don’t miss this fun new musical based on the series of books by Sara Pennypacker! Recommended for ages 5+.

1:00pm: Culture Queen at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Black History Live! with Culture Queen is a modern-day Josephine Baker-inspired performance for children that uses original and interactive music, movement and storytelling to teach them to celebrate their history and love themselves. With a spoonful of magic and ancient wisdom, Culture Queen’s soulful alto voice dances across a fusion of festive calypso, Afrobeat, jazz and hip-hop rhythms that celebrate the Kings and Queens of African American history. Free, with reservation. Tickets may be reserved HERE.

Sunday-

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Featured story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

 

Date Night Giveaway to Spoiled Rotten! at National Theatre is coming to a close soon, enter here!!

Have you entered to win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice for opening show??

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: Culture Queen, dinosuars, film, Giveaway, Monster Jam, music, Spy Fest, theatre

Date Night at The National Theatre to see Something Rotten! + Giveaway

January 21, 2018

Something Rotten! 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: February 6-18, 2018

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

Details: With 10 Tony® nominations including Best Musical, SOMETHING ROTTEN! is a “big, fat hit!” (New York Post). Set in the ‘90s – the 1590s – this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom (Tony® nominee Rob McClure and Broadway’s Josh Grisetti), two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the “rock star” Shakespeare (Tony® nominee Adam Pascal) keeps getting all the hits. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, SOMETHING ROTTEN! is “The Producers + Spamalot + The Book of Mormon. Squared!” (New York Magazine).

The completely original new musical is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (the director of the world premiere musical Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe Award and Tony Award nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Tony Award nominees Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O’Farrell.

Run time: Estimated running time is 150 minutes, including one intermission

Tickets: $48.00-$108.00
 

GIVEAWAY:  For a chance to win 2 tickets to see Something Rotten! at the National Theatre on grand opening night, Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 7:30pm, leave a comment below. You can get an extra entry by leaving a comment on BeltwayBambinos Facebook page too! This giveaway will run through February 1, 2018, then a winner will be drawn at random and announced.

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Filed Under: Giveaway Tagged: broadway, date night, Giveaway, show, something rotten, the national theatre, theatre

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