Beltway Bambinos

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

  • 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
  • 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

Weekend Picks + MLK Jr Day

January 15, 2016

Saturday-

9:00am-4:00pm: Bei Bei the Panda’s Debut at The National Zooth
(3001 Connecticut Ave. NW)
Giant panda cub Bei Bei will go on public exhibit for the first time! The panda house will open at 9am and those interested should enter at the Asia Trail entrance across from the Visitor Center. Please note: Cub viewing is not guaranteed. Animal behavior, weather, and other factors may affect viewing.
[Read more…]

2 Comments
Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: American Art Museum, arcade game, Imagination Stage, indie, Kennedy Center, Martin Luther King, MLK Jr, Montgomery County, national gallery of art, Port Discovery, story, video, zoo

Montgomery Mall….indoor fun?

March 4, 2015

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Westfield, Montgomery Mall. Perhaps, it should be tagged as “Indoor Fun” as we brace ourselves for yet another snow storm.

Having a newborn in the Winter has been so much more difficult than it was when my toddler was born in the Summer. She sleeps much better when on the move and well I haven’t exactly been able to take many stroller walks. So, enter my routine when my toddler has school. Drop him off at 8:50am, drive to Montgomery Mall, bolt to the Starbucks on Level 2 around 9:15am and get a Grande coffee, mall walk and say hello to the regular walkers I’ve come to recognize, make a few phone calls and voila the doors of all the stores slowly open at 10:00am. From there I make returns from purchases I made last week when I was wandering aimlessly because I needed my baby to sleep and I now feel guilty about buying. I use my Godiva Rewards card at some point…that’s right Rewards card at a chocolate shop. Inquire about it, you won’t be sorry. Errr maybe you will, perhaps that’s why I’m having trouble losing some baby weight. After about an hour baby begins to wake up and I have to make my decision to head to the Mother’s Room at Nordstrom or the Family Lounge in the Food Court to change her diaper and feed her. Which was the real reason I’m writing this post. I hadn’t put much thought into decent malls for parents with newborns. Do I want to sit on a couch to nurse her and change her on a pillow top changing table or do I want to walk past the delicious smell of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches that still lingers and change her on large open changing tables where cartoons play and curtains hang from the private feeding areas for privacy? I’ve tried both and when I’m alone with the baby, I head to Nordstrom and sit in silence (with the occasional flush you hear from the restrooms next door) and when I’m with both kids I go to the Family Lounge so my toddler can be kept busy playing with the games or watching cartoons. The Family Lounge also has a microwave in case you need to warm up a bottle as well as family restrooms. So, escape from the cold (or heat in the summer) and head to Montgomery Mall to shop, walk, eat, nurse and be warm.

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Pictures are from the Family Lounge located in the Food Court

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Montgomery Mall has been remodeled and is unrecognizable. They kept the play area which is located on the lower level across from the maternity clothing store. It has a garden theme and insects and logs children can climb on and crawl through. They also have a new movie theater, Arclight, which can be accessed through the Food Court. Met Bethesda, Crave Sushi Bar, Cava Mezze Grill, Chipotle and Jamba Juice are a few places you can grab a bite.

 

Photos of Food Court

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Play area on lower level

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Filed Under: Indoor Play Tagged: indoor, Malls, maryland, Montgomery County, Montgomery Mall

Weekday Adventures: Coyote Mischief, Geocaching and Postal Museum Storytime

November 2, 2014

Brrr– November is here and Fall weather has arrived. I’m ecstatic because that means I’m only 2 weeks away from meeting our second child but I am also fully aware that today was not *that* cold and I still had to run screaming to my car tonight on our way out of Comet Pizza because I was so cold. I’m admittedly a big baby when it comes to cold weather (in my defense I lived in Florida for 6 years). With that being said,  I will keep a few events outdoors but it’s that time of the year where I will search for fun indoor events mostly. The heat is on at DC Libraries and you can find the Children’s Library Events for the week here. Also, our Indoor Fun Guide has plenty of places to check off your list this winter and escape the cold. 

Monday-

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 The Singing Lizard is performing.

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.

10:30am: Storytime at The National Postal Museum
(2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002)
The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum invites adults and young children (ages 2-3) to discover the world around them together at our monthly StoryTime. Children will build important developmental and social skills through books, activities, songs and self-guided gallery exploration. Explore themes, such as shapes, colors, and sizes, in a relaxed setting at your neighborhood museum. Feel free to bring snacks and enjoy the space after the program! Free- no reservation required. Featured story is Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats.

10:30am-11:00am: Songs and stories at Politics and Prose
(5015 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008)
Come sing-along to your favorite songs. Grab a treat in the cafe afterwards or hang out reading books.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: art, bloombars, Boogie Babes, Jammin Java, library, Montgomery County, music, National Air and Space Museum, national postal museum, nature, singing lizard, story time, Tudor Place

Weekend Picks: Chickasaw Festival, Brady Rymer and America’s Favorite Pastime

August 15, 2014

Montgomery County Fair wraps up this weekend.  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.

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Saturday-

10:00am-6:00pm: Indian Palette for Families
(2716 Ordway St NW., Apt 2, Washington, D.C. 20008)
Experience and celebrate the vibrancy of India at a fun-filled event. An exhibition where you’re sure to leave with hand made clothing and gifts. You can preview the collection here. Bring your loved ones, friends and children. To contact Anu directly you may email her for more information.
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: animals, art, baseball, DC, decor, fair, festival, Indian, lake, Lessburg, Montgomery County, shop, va, Washington

Weekday Adventures: Salamanders, Kings, Queens and Barefoot Puppets

June 1, 2014

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. 

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: bloombars, Boogie Babes, Hike, imaginative, Montgomery County, music, outdoor, portrait gallery, theatre

Weekend Picks: Bait a hook, Choo-Choo biketrain and carousels

May 29, 2014

After the rain we will welcome a sunny weekend. Lots to do outdoors, enjoy a festival or two, a bike ride or a fishing excursion and top the weekend off at the Nats game or watching Finding Nemo. 

Saturday-

8:30am-10:30am: Black Hill Boats hosts Kids Fishing Day at Little Seneca Lake
(20920 Lake Ridge Drive Boyds, MD 20841)
Participants will learn to bait a hook with worms, put their line in the water and pull in fish. Prizes for kids who catch the biggest, smallest and greatest number of fish. Ages 3-15, $8. Register online for Montgomery ParkPASS #268199.

9:30am: Choo choo! Take the Kidical Mass Biketrain to Tour de Fat
(2801 8th St NE, Washington, DC 20017)
Tour de Fat is a wacky, whimsical and family friendly festival and celebration of bicycling. Tour de Fat is FREE and open to the public. The day is jam-packed with live music and entertainment, local vendors, interactive bicycle activities, and of course beer! And what more fun for the kids; costumes are strongly encouraged–they’ll be bringing bike decorating supplies to help you make a statement with your bike!

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10:00am-11:00pm: Herndon Festival
(777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170)
Carnival, vendors, fireworks and a 5/10K race. There is also a Children’s area with hands-on activities including a model train display and live entertainment.

[Read more…]

7 Comments
Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: baseball, bike, boat, campfire, carousel, fair, festival, fish, folk, Montgomery County, movie, music, Nationals, play, symphony

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

May 11, 2014

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.
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: bloombars, Boogie Babes, Jammin Java, library, Montgomery County, music, National Air and Space Museum, nature, story time, theatre

Weekday Adventures: Wise tails, rocking tots and Rosie Revere

May 4, 2014

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…]

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Filed Under: Weekday Adventures Tagged: birds, bloombars, Boogie Babes, Family friendly, Jammin Java, kreeger, magic, Montgomery County, music, National Air and Space Museum, nature, orchard, singing lizard, theatre

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