Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekday Adventures: Ukuleles, splish-splash and The Wizard of Oz

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 Jessica Smith “Culture Queen” Jessica Smith a.k.a Culture Queen  is the founder and director of Culture Kingdom Kids™, a creative arts company that produces educational children’s programs that celebrate African-American cultures.

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.

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Weekend Picks: Trains, trucks, music and art

Beginning Friday is Celebrate Fairfax! Children’s stage, art stage, beer garden, carnival and many stages that have a great line-up for. Uno Dos Tres Con Andres and The Great Zucchini are just a few of the kids favorites who will be on the Children’s Stage. Check the schedule so you don’t miss them.

Beauty and the Beast is also playing at Wolf Trap Friday-Sunday. Get a seat or bring a blanket for the lawn. Daytime and evening performances. 

The curtain will be drawn for a few performances this weekend. See them before they are gone. See our Theatre Roundup page for details. 

 

Saturday-

9:00am-2:00pm: 7th Annual “Truck Touch” at RFK Stadium  (Lot 7)
(2400 East Capitol Street, NE)
Summer’s most popular free family festival allows citizens to  get hands-on with city’s infrastructure and emergency vehicles. The DC Department of Public Works invites the public to attend a free, citywide “Truck Touch”. Come climb on packer, sweeper and boom trucks; sit atop MPD’s Mounted Unit’s police horse and maneuver the levers of a police chopper; ride Segways, and test drive electric sedan vehicles. Residents also will learn how potholes are repaired, sewers are vacuumed and received information about vital city services. DC’s Citywide Truck Touch features vehicles from the DC Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Health, Employment Services, Parks and Recreation, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the DC Water and Sewer Authority.

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Weekday Adventures: Flights of Fancy, free yoga and the premiere of Sunny and Licorice

Can’t we have more 3 day weekends? Especially when the weather is as beautiful as it was in DC this weekend. Parades, tributes, festivals, bbq’s and road trips were many of the things readers did this weekend. Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all those who serve our country. 

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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.

[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: Dragon boats, jazz with java and a birthday party

Fun things to do this weekend outdoors. Last weekend, our family climbed some rocks and searched for animals hiding at the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River. You can strap that baby on your back and your toddler will have a blast climbing the rocks, pretending he is a billy goat. The Mets are also in town trying to beat our Nationals both on Saturday and Sunday. Grab your tickers here and on Saturday you can admire all of the Pups that are invited to the ballpark or on Sunday your children ages 4-12 can run the bases.
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Saturday

8:30am-5:00pm: 13th Annual Dragon Boat Festival at Thompsons Boat Center
(2900 Virginia Ave NW Washington, DC 20007- near the Georgetown Waterfront)
The Washington DC Dragon Boat Festival, now in it’s 13th year, is a two day festival held along the Potomac River complete with cultural exhibitions, craft demonstrations, and of course… dragon boat racing made to look just like dragons. The event is sponsored by the Chinese Women’s League (CWL) and serves to promote Chinese culture to the Washington DC area through the sport of dragon boat racing. Schedule of events here. The kids will enjoy watching the races as well as brushing painting, calligraphy and paper cutting.

10:00am-6:00pm: Gaithersburg Book Festival
(Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877)
Since its inception in 2010, the Festival has quickly become one of the nation’s top literary events, attracting hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets and songwriters from across the country to its quaint, park-like setting in the heart of Olde Towne Gaithersburg. In the Children’s Village you will also find a literary sea of activities, workshops and performances brought to us by multiple sponsors. They are designed to engage and stimulate your child’s book curiosity and interest in reading and writing.

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Weekday Adventures: John Henry, the Guitar Playing Man and Squish, Squash, Squirt

Hopefully you still have dishes in the sink and laundry to be cleaned because you relaxed today! Lots to do this week both outside and inside.

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. This week Jessica Smith “Culture Queen” is the entertainment.

10:30am: Songs and stories with Isabel Roth at Politics and Prose Bookstore 
(5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008)
The Politics & Prose Children and Teens Department is winding down the spring season of Story Hour! Please join for songs and stories with singer-songwriter Isabel Roth for only a few more weeks. After the show (or before) ake a walk a few doors down to Little Red Fox for an almond croissant, egg sandwich or perhaps an ice cream sandwich. Whichever it is, you’ll leave happy.
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Weekday Adventures: Wise tails, rocking tots and Rosie Revere

We spent our weekend entirely outdoors in the company of other families at area festivals we featured in the Weekend Picks.

Butler’s Orchard is open and berry season is here.  They are open daily from 10-5 so if nothing below strikes your attention go berry picking with your bambino! Don’t forget to check out our Ongoing Events page for theatre showtimes.

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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. This week “Iya & the Kuumba Kids” will be there to rock out.

[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures: Tyke hike, a Japanese Journey and The Yards Park

What a beautiful weekend! Hope you were able to enjoy the weather! Some of your children are off school on Friday, remember to check our post that outlines some places that will entertain your kids for the day! Also, remember the great theatre programs in our area. Get out and see a show performed at one of the many wonderful local stages. 

Rain, rain go away!!!! Visit this DC Library link to see all of the children’s events going on this week that wll keep you dry and indoors.

Word around the playground is that The Yards Park will be turning on their water for kids to splash in come the beginning of May. A sure sign summer is on its way! This peaceful green space is just south of Capitol Hill and east of Nationals Park. There is a waterfall and canal-like water feature, an elevated overlook, an iconic bridge and light sculpture, terraced performance venue, and a riverfront boardwalk. Pack a picnic, some balls to throw around and bubbles when you go as your kids will have a blast. 

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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.

[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: The disco is back, rock out at the Kingman Island Festival and puppeteers in action

We’ve highlighted some exciting events going on in our area this weekend. A weekend sure to please everyone and keep you busy. In case you want to get indoors and see a show check out our ongoing events page for showtimes. Also, it’s the last weekend The Natural History Museum will have the dinosaurs on display. Go see them before they are gone for a few years for renovations and updates. 

Saturday-

8:30am-6:00pm: A Day out with Thomas at B & O Railroad 14DOWT_Verticall-120
(901 W Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21223)
Little Engineers won’t believe their eyes–or their ears! For the first time ever at Day Out With Thomas™, Thomas the Tank Engine™ will be able to talk to his fans when he returns to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore! Take a 25 minute train ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy a full day of live entertainment, activities, and family fun! Tickets are $20 each for ages 2 and up available. Get tickets here.

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