Imagination Stage

Weekend Picks

November 20, 2015

Santa’s LEGO Block Party at B&O’s Magical Holiday Express will kick off this weekend. Santa will arrive on the train at 10:30am on Saturday.Check out the schedule, each weekend a new theme and event.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town also begins this weekend at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

Saturday-

9:00am-10:30am or 11:30am-1:00pm: Ele-Fun at The National Zoo
(3001 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008 )
Bring your little animal lover to the Zoo this Sunday morning for “Ele-Fun,” a preschool class for 2-3 year olds! What gentle giant weighs over 10,000 pounds and can use its nose to topple a tree or pick up a blade of grass? An elephant, of course! Learn fascinating facts about the largest living land mammal and try out your own trunk, before visiting the Zoo’s elephant herd. Zoo Classes use crafts, hands-on activities, and the Zoo’s animal collection to help your child learn about environmental conservation and life science while building important developmental and social skills.
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Weekend Picks

November 13, 2015

This weekends post is full of fun on Saturday! Be sure and check out our Indoor Fun post as well as the Theater Roundup post so you have a warm place to escape to as the weather gets cooler.

Friday-

6:00pm: Family Movie Night Inside Out playing at Marie Reed Auditorium
(18^th and Wyoming Sts. NW)
Admission is free, and concessions will be sold. Come join the fun hosted by Marie Reed Elementary School PTA.

6:30pm: The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW)
Shes back in town this weekend. Catch her if you can!
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Weekend Picks are endless!

September 10, 2015

There’s no excuse to stay home this weekend. So much happening, it was hard to pick the best.

The Kensington Train Show is back! Model trains will chug around the tracks at the family-friendly event. Saturday and Sunday your kids can view the trains from 11:00am-5:00pm both days. Admission is $5 for adults/$2 for children/$10 for a family. Kensington Town Hall 3710 Mitchell Street Kensington, Maryland

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be weekends of August 29-October 25. The festival is free to children 6 and under this weekend. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment for you and the kids, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate!
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Weekend Picks: Magic Tree House, MusiKids and Engineers for a day

February 27, 2015

Arts on the Horizon will be featuring Sunny and Licorice at Atlas Performing Arts Intersections Festival this weekend. Check here for the Family Schedule of Events.

Friday & Saturday-

Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark, Kids! at Adventure Theatre featuring ATMTC Academy Students in Grades 2 – 5 Feb. 27 & 28
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812)
While exploring one afternoon, Jack and Annie discover a tree house full of books: Jack looks through a book about dinosaurs and wishes he could see a real one. Suddenly the wind begins to blow and the tree house starts to spin wildly. When it finally stops, Jack and Annie open their eyes to find they have been transported back to the time of the dinosaurs! Tickets are $5.

Saturday-

10:00am: MusiKids at Avalon Theatre
(5612 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC. 20015)
Come join musiKids in a brand new Adventure Day – “Down on the Bayou”! This interactive musical show will have children singing and moving to songs inspired by the colorful creatures from the bayous of Louisiana. Learn how to snap like an alligator or jump like a rabbit! musiKids Adventure Days encourage kids to sing and move along with each and every song. Recommended for children ages 18 months to 6 years old.

10:00am-4:30pm:Engineering Family Day at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 2000)
Every February, the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn ideas into reality. Celebrate Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. Explore thermodynamics, electricity, aerodynamics, and more with engineers at more than 25 activity tables and demonstrations made especially for kids. Discover Engineering Family Day is a FREE, drop-in program. $5 donation suggested. Program and activities are most appropriate for children ages 6 to 12 with adult supervision. Registration is not required.

10:30am: Saturday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Featured story: The Wheels on the Bus

11:00am and 1:00pm: Human Rights Campaign features “Dancin’ in the Kitchen” concert
(640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036)
Join HRC for a special family concert featuring the Grammy winning duo, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer and songs from their forthcoming CD, “Dancin’ in the Kitchen,” featuring songs that celebrate all kinds of families! Each family will receive an advance copy of “Dancin’ in the Kitchen,” a chance to meet the musicians, and snacks during the show. Seating will be limited, so get your tickets early! Adult General Admission: $10 and Children General Admission: $5

Sunday-

10:00am: Sunday Fun Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3. Featured story: Where the Wild Things Are

2:00pm: The Wacky & Whimsical Tea for THEARC
(1150 22nd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-The Ritz-Carlton of Washington)
Enjoy a fun-filled Sunday afternoon that will include high tea, a silent auction and creative games for kids of all ages and their families, including a treasure trove, special entertainment and other surprises. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC).

Weekend Picks: Intersections Festival, Chinese New Year and Tunes

February 20, 2015

Atlas Intersections Festival kicks off the 6th annual Festival this weekend showcasing over 125 performances in music, theatre, dance, film, spoken word and performance art that offer new ways to see ourselves and to celebrate our community and our world. The festival begins February 20-March 7. There are many family events (too many to choose for our picks), so please check out the schedule for family friendly shows.

Saturday-

10:00am: Avalon Theatre presents The RTT’s
(5612 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20015)
The RTTs (also known as the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours) bring their toe-tapping, award-winning, original roots rock back to the Avalon! The whole family will want to dance along as they play hits like “Snack Time” and “Turn it Up, Mommy.”

10:00am-12:00pm: Open Studio at Little Loft
(511 11th St SE Washington, DC 20003)
Drop in anytime during our open hours to play at our sand and rice tables, play dough station, book corner, and art table. Great for ages 1.5 – 8. $15/child (siblings half price), no preregistration necessary.

10:30am: GIGS and Kindiemusicdc present Junior Jams: John Henry the Guitar Playing Man! at FNDTN Gallery and Liveroom
(3762A Howard Ave. Kensington, MD. 20895)
John Henry is renowned for his ability to connect with his audiences. He brings 20 years of early childhood education, and experience as a dad himself to his interactive program, engaging children of all ages as they dance, sing and imagine.

10:30am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Featured story: Five Little Monkeys

11:00am-4:00pm: Mardi Gras Family Day at Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
(1901 Fort Place SE Washington, DC 20020)
Join in on the fun with this popular annual museum event featuring storytelling, face painting, balloon artist, mask-making, and other hands-on activities including a second line parade through the museum. Attendees can also participate in the popular Art of Adornment workshop with artist and entrepreneur, Januwa Moja-Nelson. Get a complimentary picture of you dressed in Januwa’s individual designs. Those interested in the Adornment workshop should sign up on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. This program is free and open to everyone! Register or call 202.633.4844.

Sunday-

2:00pm-5:00pm: Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
(H Street, NW, between 6th and 7th Streets)
Each year a parade is held in Chinatown to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment. The firecracker will be lit at 3:45 p.m. A good place to view the parade is along 7th St. The closest Metro station is Gallery Place/Chinatown.

2:00pm: McLean Community Center presents “Fly Guy and Other Stories”
(1234 Ingleside Avenue McLean, Virginia 22101)
Fly Guy has met his match, and her name is Fly Girl. Fly Guy is totally impressed and totally smitten. Will Fly Guy and Fly Girl get married and leave Buzz without his dear pet? Other stories by authors such as McMullan, Howe, Henkes and Munsch will be featured. Tickets are $15 for non-members. For ages 5+.

Weekend Picks: Be My Valentine this President’s Day Weekend

February 13, 2015

The Kennedy Center Performances for Young Audiences presents: Jack’s Tale: A Mythic Mountain Musical Adventure. This world premiere Kennedy Center co-commission with Nashville Children’s Theatre uses actors and a live bluegrass band to dive deep into the eclectic music traditions of the Appalachians. The result: a delightfully authentic mountain musical! There are 5 shows throughout the weekend, tickets are $20 for the 60 minute musical, best suited for children ages 8+.

It is George Washington’s Birthday Weekend! Celebrate George Washington’s 283rd birthday this weekend with special activities at Mount Vernon! Enjoy a sample of George Washington’s favorite breakfast on February 14-15 (included in admission). Celebrate the national observance of George Washington’s birthday by attending Mount Vernon’s events free-of-charge on February 16! Admission on Monday is free.

Friday:

11:30am-7:00pm- SweetARTS and Valentines at American Art Museum
(8th and F Streets, NW)
Need something special for your sweetie? Looking for a snarky card to send to your BFF? Tired of the same ol’ Valentine’s Day options? Look no further; American Art has what you need. Come on by to make the perfect, personalized card—we supply all the necessary materials at no cost. If you are feeling fancy, horticulturists from Smithsonian Gardens can help you make an orchid corsage for a $10 materials fee, while supplies last.

Saturday:

10:00am- Baby Loves Disco DMV presents Brunch Box at H St Country Club
(1335 H Street, NE, Washington DC 20002)
From the host who brought the DC area Baby Loves Disco since 2008 and owner of Hex9 Productions – we present “Brunch Box” – a pop up Brunch event for families in the DC area debuting at the wildly popular H Street Country Club in the Atlas Arts District of Washington, DC. Your ticket also includes the entertainment: a balloon twister, The Face Paint Lady! and other activities. Mini golf and the two shuffle board tables are available for exclusive use for the two hours. Tickets are $23 pp and children 8 and under are FREE. Get your tickets here.

10:00am- Avalon Theatre presents The Great Zucchini
(5612 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20015)
It’s time for The Great Zucchini to take over The Avalon once again! And he’s bringing in New York’s Charlie & Checkers for their first DC appearance ever! Don’t miss this very special performance from some of the biggest children’s entertainers on the east coast.

10:30am- Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Featured story: Skidamarink

10:30am-11:30am or 1:30pm-2:30pm- Be My Valentine Tour & Workshop for Children at Tudor Place
(1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007)
Tour the historic mansion in search of Valentine’s Day greetings from long ago. Children then design their own Valentines to take home, drawing artistic inspiration from historic cards in the Tudor Place Archive.

10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm- Steve Songs at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs has been writing and performing his award-winning music for kids and families for the past fifteen years. Steve blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies to create what the Boston Globe called “not just a musical journey but an entertaining, interactive and educational one.”

1:30pm-3:00pm- The French Academy presents Saint Valentin Workshop
(Baptist Church of Chevy Chase)
On Valentine’s Day we will talk about LOVE, of course: our best friends, our pets and family. We will prepare cards for our loved ones. Songs, games and treats await you too! Price for our students: $25 for one child/ $20 per child if you sign up two or more. Price for non students: $30 for one child/ $25 per child if you sign up two or more. For children ages 3-12 years old. Register

Sunday:

10:00am- Sunday Fun Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3. Featured story: My Heart is Like a Zoo

11:30am-3:00pm- Presidential Family Fun Day at The National Portrait Gallery
(8th and F St NW)
Celebrate President’s Day weekend during a patriotic family day at the National Portrait Gallery. Enjoy a variety of crafts and performances dedicated to our nation’s famous past-leaders.
Meet Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in person and enjoy several art activities like Presidential Polaroid’s and making picture frames. See performances by the local a capella group, “Snowday,” get your picture taken with the Washington Nationals Racing Presidents, and more.

Monday:

9:30am-11:00am- Presidents Day Family Storytime Yoga at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016)
Storytime Family Yoga with Arts and Crafts with Julia Colton. Storytime Yoga is the perfect family workshop for budding bookworms and reluctant readers alike. Drawing on her experience working at Politics & Prose in the Children’s department and as “the best bed-time story reader ever” (according to several moms), teacher Julia Colton was inspired to combine two of her favorite things: books and yoga. Start with “Ish” by Peter H. Reynolds and then play our way through a few classics of children’s literature with time at the end for crafts based on our favorite stories (Ish drawings & butterfly masks). The workshop costs $30. Children ages 2-3 must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver.Drop-off optional for ages 4-5 years. Sign up here.

10:30am- Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Spend Presidents Day rocking out with a DC favorite. As every family with youngsters in the DC area knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005.

Weekend Picks: Groundhog Day, Spy Fest and Avalon Theater

January 30, 2015

Friday:

10:30am: Groundhog Day at Meadowside Nature Center
(5100 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20853)
Will the groundhog see his shadow? Will spring be early or late? Find out how the groundhog became a weather forecaster, and make a craft to take home. Ages 3-5; $5

6:00pm: Spy Fest at The International Spy Museum
(between 9th and 8th Streets at 800 F Street, NW)
Could you be a spy? Now’s your chance to find out! The International Spy Museum’s Spy Fest 2015 provides kids and parents a rare opportunity to get an inside glimpse into the secret world of espionage. Through interactive, spy-related activities and booths, attendees will learn how to think like real secret agents as they assume new identities, decipher coded messages, analyze hand-written and satellite images, and detect liars by polygraph — all directly from experts in the field. 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). Ticket includes exclusive after-hours admission, SPY snacks, scavenger hunt, prize competitions, and more!

Saturday:

10:00am: Avalon Theater presents Marsha Goodman-Wood
(5612 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20015)
DC-based singer/songwriter Marsha Goodman-Wood sets little toes to tapping with original melodies that mix generous doses of science and positive social messages into songs that are just plain fun. Her quirky, smart compositions take on topics from astronomy (answering the age-old question “Why Can’t You Dance on Jupiter?”) to nonconformity (“Sheep Don’t Wear Shoes”) to biology (“The Penguin Song”).

Monday:
7:30am: Groundhog Day in DuPont Circle Park
Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. Phil will let us know whether to expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Live accordion music, polka dancers, puppet show, VIP celebrities and more. Top Hats are strongly encouraged.

Want to get away for the weekend? Or just the day? Head to Baltimore! It’s a quick car trip and there’s endless fun to be had.

Weekend Picks are back!

January 9, 2015

TGIF!! Here’s a quick Weekend Picks post as I’m able to write a few words while my 7 week old naps and 3 1/2 year old is at school. Thanks for sticking with Beltway Bambinos as I’ve had to take some time off with my newborn. Hoping to be able to publish more posts very soon as our routine is starting to form. Have a great weekend! As always let me know if you know of any fun we should add to our posts.

There are many great live productions to see this weekend, including the final show of 101 Dalmations as well as The Addams Family. Check our Theater Roundup page!

Saturday-

10:00am-10:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session you leave with a completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3. Featured story: Goodnight Gorilla.

10:30am: GIGS & Kindiemusicdc present The Grandsons Jr at FNDTN Liveroom
(3762 Howard Ave – Kensington, MD)
The Grandsons, Jr., is the kids band version of DC-area roots rock superstars, The Grandsons. Kids and their parents will dig the upbeat mix of rock, swing, New Orleans R&B, country, latin music we call Americana. Over the past 25 years performing asThe Grandsons, the band has noticed that many of their songs resonate with the younger crowd. As the grandsons, Jr., they combine new material learned especially for the younger set, with Grandsons tunes that have always been popular with the kids. Jiggle to the “Juicebox Rhythm” and get your little “Potato Chip” on the dance floor with the grandson’s Jr.—Wild Music for Wild Kids! $6 advance/$8 at door.

11:30am-3:00pm: Winter Festival at American Art Museum
(Kogod Courtyard)
Don’t fly south for the winter, flock to the museum! Join us for feathery fun as the whole family enjoys crafting for the birds to celebrate The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art, including a printmaking workshop with Lily Press, origami with Smithsonian Gardens, “Take-out Library” with DC Public Libraries, music by Magpie, and live birds on site courtesy of Virginia Raptor Conservancy!

Saturday & Sunday-

NSO in your Neighborhood
This year’s NSO In Your Neighborhood program heads to the vibrant Brookland and NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) areas of Washington, D.C.—bringing a week’s worth of free chamber music, orchestral concerts, educational events for the entire family, and much more!

Want some more ways to spend time inside with your Bambino? Check out the Indoor Guide to fun in the DC area.