music – Page 5

Zoom A Little Zoom: A Ride Through Science

March 17, 2018

Did you know yesterday, March 16, marked the anniversary of Robert Goddard’s rocket ship launch? In honor of this celebration, we introduce to you a fun, science, musical journey.

Grammy-winning duo, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marker have made an educational yet catchy and fun CD all about Science called Zoom A Little Zoom: A Ride Through Science. With 10 new interpretations of tunes from Ballads for the Age of Science, a classic 1961 collection of educational science songs on such subjects as space, nature, weather and energy, and an Activity Guide featuring dozens of ideas for hands-on science fun, the album is intended to excite a new generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.

An added bonus–The new album includes an Activity Guide for each song by Lynn Baum (former head of School Programs at the Museum of Science in Boston), downloadable from the CD. The guide, which features ideas easy to replicate at home or school using household materials, will be available for free download soon which includes vocabulary, facts, questions and activities to complete. In upcoming performances and videos, these activities will come alive – experiments and all and we can’t wait! The activity guide can also serve as a reference for science fair projects and provide answers to some science questions your Bambinos may bring home.

Songs include topics such as Vibration, Gravity, Lightning and Insects. It’s a fun way to build on your child’s knowledge and even more fun to hear your child excitedly say, “I know about this!” while the song plays.

Available March 30!

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

March 2, 2018

Badlands has launched Weekend Programs. Prices include 1 hour of play and a 1 hour workshop. This weekend your child can learn about lava and volcanoes and magnetic slime, age dependent.

The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival is back– February 22 – March 11, 2018 and is about presenting excellent art in all its forms that inspires a community to connect and create a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. Now in its 9th season, INTERSECTIONS is a key layer in DC’s dynamic arts scene. New this year, a workshop series and an expanded Youth Summit – a full day of performances by young people followed by a youth-led summit. Here are a few free family fun days to check out.

Saturday-

9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop: Periscope
Hone your powers of observation in our hands-on workshop. Just like an above-water viewfinder or historical trench optical instrument, you and your child can construct a periscope to expand your view. Once the periscope is built, your child can decorate it with paint and stickers. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron, and pin.

9:00am-11:30am: The Children’s House of Washington Montessori School Open House
Special Guest Patti Harburger, CHOW Founding Director, will speak about the importance of mathematics and language in a Montessori education.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Traveling Lantern: Pinocchio at National Theatre
A little wooden marionette is lovingly created by a master craftsmen…but what a bad little puppet he turns out to be! He’s selfish and greedy, and he lies. He doesn’t listen to the good counsel of anyone: his father Gepetto, a philospher Cricket, or a Blue Fairy. After many hair raising adventures, Pinocchio finally learns what it takes to become human…kindness, compassion, loyalty, hard work, and selflessness. Free

10:00am: Rainbow Rock Live at Avalon Theatre
Are you ready to rock the rainbow? Join the Rainbow Rock Band as they entertain your little dudes with tunes, laughs and more! Winners of a Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for their debut CD, “Meet the Rainbow,” an absolute mix of musical genres from folk, pop rock to rockabilly, all the while being educational and fun. Your child will learn about shapes, colors, movement, and more! The Rainbow Rock Band encourages all rainbow rockers to participate in the show either on the microphone or at their seat. Either way your little one is sure to have fun! $8 / $6.50 (Children under 2 are free)

10:00am-2:00pm: Hirshhorn: Art Pop-Up + Library Program
Check it out! Find our cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art meets reading adventure, with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist 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. Barnyard Dance is the featured story.

Sunday-

9:30am-11:00am AND 2:30pm-4:00pm: Model Airplane Construction at National Building Museum
Are you an aspiring aviator or a pilot with potential? Want to learn what keeps a plane in the air? Construct your own rubber-band-propelled model airplane and learn about aeronautics with the D.C. Maxecuters, then try a test flight in the National Building Museum’s Great Hall. Cost per plane/child: $15 Member | $20 Non-member. Ages 8 and up, adult assistance required. Adults do not need to purchase a separate ticket, unless they would like to make their own plane.

10:00am-12:00pm: Purim Carnival at DCJCC
When was the last time you dressed up like a queen or king? Now is your chance – the EDCJCC’s Purim Carnival is the perfect time for children and adults to dress up and celebrate this festive annual holiday! Join us for carnival games, arts & crafts, hamantaschen (yummy Purim treats), songs and a Purim play! Don’t forget your costume! Please bring an unexpired, unopened food item in a cardboard box (like macaroni and cheese or couscous) to decorate as a grogger to use during the Purim play. We will then donate them to those in need in our community. Price per family: $23

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. Little Blue Truck is the featured story.

10:30am-11:30am: Sensory-Friendly Purim Celebration at Washington Hebrew Congregation
Does your child cover their ears in a crowd? Do they avoid loud noises? We will minimize the noise and other sensory input but maximize the fun! Join us for crafts, an interactive reading of the Purim story (megillah), a mitzvah (good deed) project and treats to take home. Costumes encouraged but not required.$5 per family, plus bring a canned good to donate. Best for 4-8 year olds. Please pre-register as space is limited. This program is a collaboration of PJ Library in Greater Washington, Washington Hebrew Congregation and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

11:00am-2:00pm: The Rumpus Room: A Family Dance Party at U Street Music Hall
Welcome to the Rumpus Room, a daytime dance party for families, with sounds provided by DC’s top club DJs (who all happen to be parents themselves). Created by DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their kids, the Rumpus Room adapts the club environment (think disco ball, lights, and of course music) into safe family-friendly fun. Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. The soundtrack will be a family-friendly mix of dance hits and classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. We provide the shakers, hula-hoops, beach balls and other props. You come to dance. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome.

1:30pm AND 4:00pm: National Symphony Orchestra Music for Young Audiences: Two Divas and a Bear at The Kennedy Center
What happens when you bring together a concert violinist, an opera singer, and everyone’s favorite stuffed animal? You get Two Divas and a Bear! Join NSO violinist Marissa Regni and soprano Kari Paludan as they explore the human voice. As it turns out, the violin has a voice, too! As you listen to Schubert’s The Trout, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, and Rossini’s Two Cats, you’ll discover that the strings of the violin are very similar to our very own vocal cords. Most enjoyed by age 3 and up. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Come early for a Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo.” Starting one hour before the concert, hands-on activities let children get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on the stage.

2:00pm: Doktor Kaboom by McLean Community Center at the Old Firehouse
Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. Sporting chrome goggles, orange lab coat, motorcycle boots and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with his explosive comedic style of science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain! For ages 7+

Weekend Theatre-

Feb 9 – March 31: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre

Feb 10 – March 18: The Princess & The Pauper: A Bollywood Tale at Imagination Stage

March 2 -24: Circulo/Circle at Encore Stage & Studio

March 3 – 4: Pinkalicious at Blackrock Center

March 3 – 17: VolcanO: Tales from El Salvador at GALA Theater

Chick rental is live at Rocklands Farm! The Chick Rental service is an educational opportunity for families, friends, school groups to take care of a pair adorable chicks for one week. Each rental includes everything you need for the week; their little home, feed, feeding and watering dishes, and care instructions. Link to reserve your chicks here. We are looking forward to seeing everyone out again this year!

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

February 9, 2018

Love is in the air at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s annual Valentine’s Day Card Workshop! Perfect for visitors of all ages, this open-house event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, 2018. The museum provides a bountiful spread of patterned papers, rubber stamps and postage stamps for decoration, gems and other 3-D embellishments, special cut-out scissors, washi tape, stickers, markers of every color (with a surplus of red and pink!) and more! Following their own creative instincts, kids and adults can choose whichever supplies they would like to design one-of-a-kind Valentine greetings.

Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny at Black Rock Center for the Arts is on Feb 10 & 11, 2018. From the creators of the 2014-15 sold-out performances of The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes a new adaptation of a children’s classic. Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown’s sixty-year-old classic, Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both performances feature the endearing animal puppets, stunning scenic effects and evocative music that have earned international recognition for Mermaid Theatre. The hour-long staged adaptation brings a fresh appreciation of the stories and images that have delighted several generations.

The Princess & The Pauper: A Bollywood Tale at Imagination Stage premieres Feb 10 through March 18, 2018.
Set in long ago India, this Bollywood-inspired adaptation of the classic Mark Twain novel shows how the common people work long hours to support the luxurious lifestyle of those in the palace. As a corrupt Wazir plots to steal the throne from the Sultan’s heirs, a spoiled Princess Razia forces a shy dressmaker’s daughter, Zainab, to exchange places with her. Razia gradually discovers how unfairly the people are treated, and resolves to become a just leader. But, can she expose the Wazir’s villainy before he is crowned? In a madcap finale, Razia, Zainab, and all of the people of Dehli rise up to crash the coronation. Recommended ages 5+.

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.

Saturday and Sunday head to the National Gallery of Art and join us for a cozy winter weekend of animated shorts from Weston Woods Studios, where books come to life through film. This program includes Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon, Ed Young’s Seven Blind Mice, Mac Barnett’sExtra Yarn, and Peter H. Reynolds’s The North Star. (Weston Woods Studios, USA, 50 minutes)

Saturday-

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes. Stick around for Harambe afterwards, beginning at 9:30am AND 10:30am.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Gemini Children’s Theatre: Little Mermaid’s Pollution Solution at National Theatre
The Little Mermaid has come back under the sea to visit her father, but the Sea Witch is up to her old tricks. She has polluted the water to drive out all the sea life in order to take over the underwater kingdom. It’s up to the Little Mermaid and her sea creature friends to save the day.

10:00am-3:00pm: African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space
Join us as we celebrate African American History Month by revealing past pioneers and giving families the opportunity to inspire the next generation of innovators in aviation and space. African Americans have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to flight and space exploration despite the overwhelming obstacles they had to overcome. Enjoy guest speakers as they share their personal tales of triumph, participate in hands-on activities that will challenge families to be pioneers in space and aviation, and hear inspiring stories of African Americans who have overcome challenges and refused to be hidden figures.

10:00am: Avalon Theatre Family Weekend Family Matinee: Wonder
Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. Rated PG.

10:00am-12:00pm: Boogie Babes Gear Drive & Free Concert
Come to Eastern Market and donate baby gear you no longer need to a family in need and stay to boogie down with us! Our friends at The Residences at Eastern Marketare sponsoring a FREE Boogie Babes show with the amazing Rainbow Rock Band at 10:30am.

11:00am-4:00pm: The Arctic Melt at The National Academy of Sciences
Join Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) for a day of family fun discovering the Arctic landscape and its inhabitants. Through hands-on activities, children and families will explore Diane Tuft’s stunning photography exhibit, The Arctic Melt: Images of a Disappearing Landscape, and make connections to the Arctic environment, climate change, and conservation. Participants are encouraged to bring an old t-shirt to make a reusable shopping bag. This program is geared for families with children ages 3-8. Registration is recommended.

11:30am-3:00pm: Chinese New Year Festival at Smithsonian American Art Museum
Celebrate the Lunar New Year at SAAM to begin the Year of the Dog! Enjoy a variety of activities and demonstrations including traditional paper cutting, an art scavenger hunt, red paper-lantern making, and panda crafts. There will also be performances by special guest artists from Chengdu, China, including traditional music, Sichuan Opera, and acrobatics. Help us “awaken the lion” and ring in the New Year!

Sunday-

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
You are invited with your child to 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.Featured story: Pout, Pout Fish

11:00am-5:00pm: Lunar New Year Celebration at Freer|Sackler
Join us for our fourth annual Lunar New Year celebration to ring in the Year of the Dog. Discover the richness of arts and culture in Sichuan Province, home to China’s beloved giant pandas. Experience interactive food and art demonstrations, live acrobatic and puppetry performances, and creations by local and international artists. And enjoy the six reimagined Chinese art exhibitions in the Freer and the innovative Resound: Ancient Bells of Chinain the Sackler. The celebration features lively performances of opera, folk music, and dance. Be prepared to sample some spicy dishes featuring Sichuan’s mouth-numbing peppers. Plus, write a Lunar New Year greeting card.

Extra, Extra–

Surprise your littles with Disney on Ice presents Frozen tickets!

Date Night Giveaway to Spoiled Rotten! at National Theatre is coming to a close soon, enter here!! Use discount code: BARD for seating starting at $39 each.

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic at Eagle Bank Arena
February 25, 2018

Paw Patrol Live!: The Great Pirate Adventure at The Hippodrome
May 12 & 13, 2018

Bubble Guppies Live at National Theatre
May 8, 2018

The Wild Kratts Live!
April 15, 2018- The Modell Lyric
April 21, 2018- DAR Constitution Hall

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

February 2, 2018

From dinosaur bones to hidden memories, the world is filled with buried treasures just waiting to be uncovered at Digging up Dessa at The Kennedy Center. One 21st-century girl sets out to dig up some super-sized discoveries with help from a remarkable friend—the pioneering English paleontologist Mary Anning. Age 10+. Showing Feb. 3-18, 2018.

The Chocolate Lovers Festival, an annual two-day festival held on the first full weekend of February, features activities for all to enjoy. In 2018, the festival will be held Friday, February 2 for Liquid Chocolate only from 6pm-8pm, Saturday, February 3 from 10am to 7pm (see schedule of events for times and locations) and Sunday, February 4 from 12noon to 4pm. Join us for the Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Challenge, the ever-popular Kiwanis Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast, open houses at historic buildings and much more.

It’s bedtime! But instead of getting ready, two children use their imaginations to turn their room into a wonderland of mess! While playing dress-up, a glove becomes a dancing fish, a shirt becomes a fantastic creature, and a sock dance rocks the closet. In this interactive show, discover the joy of turning things inside out! Catch the show, Inside Out at Imagination Stage aimed for the smallest audience members- best for ages 1-5.

Applause Unlimited of Richmond, VA is back at the Glen Echo Playhouse for the next two 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.

Saturday-

9:00am-12:00pm: Kids Workshop at Home Depot: Valentine’s bean bag toss
Score points with your loved ones and build a Valentine bean bag toss in this hands-on workshop. You and your child can construct a fun bean bag toss game for the whole family to love. Following the bean bag toss game board construction, your child can decorate it with paint and stickers. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron, and pin. The first Saturday of every month, register for this free workshop.

9:30am AND 11:00am: ¡Uno, Dos, Tres, con Andrés! at National Theatre
What would you do if you received a mysterious letter? Join Andrés as he travels Latin America in search of Juana la Rana. You will sing and dance to new and classic Spanish songs and even learn español along the way! Don’t miss this unique and interactive performance. FREE show

10:00am: Marsha and the Positrons at The Avalon Theatre Family Series
Both playful and educational, Marsha and the Positrons shows get audiences singing along and dancing to songs that will inspire curiosity about science. The group also plays kid-appropriate pop covers, parodies, and traditional favorites. Marsha and the Positrons feature skilled and smooth bass player Wardell Howell; gifted and instinctive djembe drummer and vocalist, Kristen Arant; wonderful multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Ayanna Gallant; and supremely talented guitar player, Ford Combs. Whether playing as a duo, trio, or full band, Marsha and the Positrons always bring their positive energy and playfulness to the stage! They will be kicking off the winter family concert series! And who doesn’t love hot coffee and fresh popcorn at 10:00am while cozy in a movie theatre singing and dancing?! Check out The Penguin Song music video here.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio: An Art Exploration for 3-5 Year Olds at Kreeger Museum
Children and an adult companion are invited to use their imagination as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each program includes a gallery tour, analysis of works of art, a story and a hands-on art-making experience.Workshop fee $10/child. Pre-registration is required and payment due at time of registration. An adult must remain with the child throughout the program. Read our review of the program here.

10:00am-5:00pm: La Chandeleur Day at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
La Chandeleur, also known as Crêpe Day, marks the halfway point between winter and spring. In France, families celebrate by eating crêpes, which are round and golden like the springtime sun. Snack on a tasty treat of sweet crêpes. Hear classic French tales inspired by scenes from La Fontaine fables that are pictured on tapestries covering chairs from France displayed in the mansion. Explore Hillwood’s French treasures through interactive, docent-led, family-friendly gallery talks and a printed activity guide. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French Sèvres porcelain.

1:30pm-3:30pm: Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb at Maryland Ensemble Theatre
Come see a FUN Company play – Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb! Afterwards we’ll have snacks and make art around the themes of the play, and play theatre games–all for free! Recommended for ages 3-7.

Sunday-

10:00am-11:30am: Lion Lessons preschool class at The National Zoo
Do you have what it takes to be part of the pride? Learn what it’s like to be a lion and test your skills with us and our wild role models! FONZ preschool classes are designed for children ages 2 to 3 to discover a whole new view of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. Member cost: $28.00, Non-member cost:$35.00

11:00am-1:00pm: Tween Valentine Card Making Workshop at Paper Source
Grab your BFF and some glitter for a workshop that will give you heart eyes! Make 5 – 6 Valentines for your classmates, friends and family using your favorite stickers, stamps, washi and more! In this class, you will: Stamp, Heat Emboss, Doodle, Paint and Use Washi. This class is intended for ages 8 – 14

Looking Ahead:

Plan a Date Night to see Something Rotten playing at National Theatre Feb. 6-18, 2018

Indoor Picnic & Movie at The National Cathedral– Feb. 9, 2018

Shows at Imagination Stage & Adventure Theatre are beginning next weekend, grab tickets!

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??

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

January 19, 2018

This is one of those weekends that I wish I could be in more than one place at a time. There are so many great events going on. In addition to the weekend events there are new performances starting so be sure and grab some tickets and support our local theatre while instilling a love of theatre in your Bambinos.

Have you entered to win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice presents Frozen yet? Winner will be announced February 6, 2018!

Saturday-

9:30am AND 11:00am: Rocknoceros at National Theatre
Get ready to twist, shake, rattle, and roll as Rocknoceros gets the family on their feet dancing to upbeat tunes. Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005. Not only are they one of DC’s most well-loved bands, but they have also gained recognition in Austin and Chicago. FREE

10:00am: Toddler Trailblazers: Up, Up and Away
Our workshops offer a variety of hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in engaging ways. Each class includes playful activities that are intentionally chosen to support your child’s development. Our learning extends beyond the classroom and into the museum and community where children and parents are encouraged to wonder and explore together as a family. Come take a pretend hot air balloon ride with us! The class will imagine floating up, up, and away before visiting the National Air and Space Museum to further explore hot air balloons.

10:00am-12:00pm: Kids Club at Michaels: Pony Bead Snowflakes
They make, you shop! Kids 3 and up and can enjoy making snowflakes with chenille stems and pony beads. All supplies provided. Parent or guardian must remain on the premises. $2 fee

10:00am: Twos Travelers: Yellow Submarine
Our workshops offer a variety of hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in engaging ways. Each class includes playful activities that are intentionally chosen to support your child’s development. Our learning extends beyond the classroom and into the museum and community where children and parents are encouraged to wonder and explore together as a family. Dive deep into the Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History and learn about the type of transportation we would need to travel below the surface of the water. Along the way we will explore the different ocean zones and the creatures that inhabit them.

10:30am-2:30pm: A Library + Art Pop-Up At Hirshhorn
Check it out! Find our cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art meets reading adventure, with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.

10:30am: Mr. Jon & Friends at Jammin Java
Mr. Jon & Friends is Parents’ Choice Award winning music for kids and their families. This energetic family music is all about fun, movement, and laughter!

11:00am-2:00pm: Family Afternoon: Pop Up Tents at National Building Museum
Construct an awe-inspiring fort from newspapers. Find out how a triangle’s strong shape can brace your structure and keep your fort standing longer. Create tetrahedral caverns small enough for one or big enough for your entire clan. Little ones can explore how to build forts all year round, even in the cold winter months, during a story time with local Megan Wagner Lloyd. Enjoy a reading of her children’s book, Fort Building Time, and then pick up your very own copy in the Museum Shop.

11:00am-1:00pm: Children’s Workshop: Will It Be a Bonsai or a Big Tree? at National Arboretum
Every tree seedling has its fate, and in this workshop, you can learn how that fate is determined. One adult and one child will have a special day together as they work as lab partners, using their “scientist eyes” to observe details and make comparisons. We’ll learn about plant physiology, ecosystems and bonsai history, too. At the close of class, each research team will receive a seedling whose fate they will decide. Will your tree go through the rigorous training to become a bonsai or will you plant it outdoors in spring to grow up wild, big and free? Be sure to bring warm coats since we will be in an open exhibit area for part of the workshop. This activity is not recommended for participants under the age of 8, and is geared to children in the third and fourth grades. Due to limited classroom space, strollers can’t be accommodated. Fee: $25 per child-adult pair ($22 FONA/NBF) Registration required.

1:00pm-3:00pm: KidzJam
Kids ages 2-4 are in an exciting stage of life where their imaginations are dynamic and almost anything can be a game. During KIDZJAM, they get structured play time with other kiddos, which is an opportunity for them to develop social skills. Books, toys, puzzles, dolls, trucks, art, and games will keep them busy and entertained. Through interactive stations, energetic team games, and silly GoNoodle songs, kids in grades K-5 will develop their teamwork skills. Most kids love a challenge, especially when they are cheered on and encouraged by our friendly leaders. We want your kids to walk away from this experience knowing how to respectfully cooperate with others, even when they have different ideas or opinions. $10 per session (dates in February, March and April also)

Sunday-

11:00am AND 3:00pm: Laurie Berkner at The Gordon Center for Performing Arts
Children’s music icon Laurie Berkner brings her signature blend of whimsical lyrics and indie folk pop melodies to the Gordon Center in a solo show. Laurie’s hit songs like “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “Victor Vito” are featured on children’s networks Nick Jr. and Sprout, in Off-Broadway children’s musicals, and in children’s books. Be sure to catch the artist People magazine calls “the queen of children’s music” and the New York Times has dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd.”

3:00pm-5:00pm: Jumpin’ January Dance Party at Kensington Town Hall
The event will include crafts, a reading room, and dancing led by A-Squad Entertainment. Admission is $5 per person ($20 max per family). Please RSVP above.

5:00pm: Step Afrika! Step Xplosion at Strathmore
Step Afrika!’s fourth annual showcase at Strathmore is going to be big! Percussive dance styles historically practiced by African American fraternities and sororities plus African traditional dance and art forms from around the world come together as Step Afrika! integrates songs, storytelling, and humor into a highly entertaining, interactive show. Watch as the top step teams from across the country showcase the kind of technique and agility that inspires audiences everywhere, and see how Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, promoting teamwork, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

January 12, 2018

Art Investigators at National Gallery of Art is back! How do you investigate a work of art? This program helps children make careful observations, analyze artists’ choices, ask questions, and use their imagination while exploring works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.

These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance registration and space is limited, so please plan accordingly. We will only accept sign-in for children in the age range for which the program is tailored. Groups cannot be accommodated in the program.

Saturday, January 13th AND Monday, January 15th at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 as well as Sunday, January 14th at 11:30, 12:30 and 1:30. Children will study Joan Mitchell this weekend.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

9:30am AND 11:30am: Sound Health: Second Saturdays at Kennedy Center
This new series of free workshops designed for families with children under the age of 8* explores the power of the arts to promote wellness of the mind and body. Every second Saturday of the month, local arts organizations offer two 45-minute workshops in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer. YoKid: Enjoy a morning of family fun! The sessions will integrate yoga postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness exercises with stories, games, and songs. The YoKid yoga experience empowers participants to become self-aware, resilient youth who mindfully navigate life. Participants will learn and practice strategies to cultivate calm and focus through mindful play. No prior experience necessary. Learn more about YoKid.

10:00am-2:00pm: Michael’s Kids Club
They make, you shop! Kids 3 and up and can enjoy making a Snowman Page Marker. All supplies provided. Parent or guardian must remain on the premises. $2.00

10:30am: Jason Didner and The Jungle Gym Jam at Jammin Java
Jason and Amy’s performance for kids and their grown-ups is more interactive than ever! Act out the parts of a fire engine, shake an egg shaker, twirl a colorful dance ribbon, and catch the rock-n-roll spirit. This is a musical experience for the whole family to cherish together. This is the New Jersey-based duo’s 4th trip to Virginia to perform at Jammin’ Java.

11:30am-3:00pm: Tamayo Family Day at Smithsonian American Art Museum
SAAM celebrates renowned Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo and the exhibition Tamayo: The New York Years! Bring the entire family for a day of Mexican cultural performances, crafts, and art! Take a trip through Tamayo’s New York with a scavenger hunt, make your own cityscapes with vivid colors and geometric shapes, and use your imagination to create animals inspired by Oaxacan woodcarvings.

2:00pm and 5:30pm: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at Warner Theatre

6:00pm-9:00pm: Kid’s Night at the Museum at Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum
Drop of your children for a night of educational play in our hands-on exhibits. We will provide dinner, dessert, crafts, an educational component and supervised playtime in our interactive gallery. KN@M is scheduled for the second Saturday of every month. Registration and prepayment REQUIRED. Children must be potty trained to attend. (Ages 3 – 10)

Sunday, January 14, 2018

10:00am-11:00am: Nous Bloomons
The Alliance Francaise is very proud to continue its partnership with BloomBars, bringing back a weekly music program for children. Nous Bloomons is a celebration of French language and culture through song and dance, led by Achille Ango. Achille grew up in Cameroon (Central West Africa). After graduating from High School, he went to France where he lived for seven years studying and playing music. He has taught French to children, and played music with various bands in the Washington area for more than 20 years. He now teaches French in an immersion school using music as a vehicle. If you want to have fun, dance, jump and sing “à tue-tête”, join us at BloomBars! $7 suggested donation per child. $3 per adult.

1:30pm AND 4:00pm: Charlotte’s Web at Imagination Stage (FINAL WEEKEND, also showtimes on Saturday)
In this beloved classic (now infused with live music!), Fern, a soft-hearted farm girl, forms an unlikely bond with Wilbur, a charismatic pig. At the Zuckerman Farm, Wilbur meets a silly goose, a moody sheep, a selfish rat, and Charlotte, a clever spider. In an effort to save her friend, Charlotte weaves flattering messages about him into her web that cause a sensation in the small town. Fall in love with your favorite characters all over again as they bring this “radiant” tale from page to stage this holiday season! Recommended ages 5+.

Monday, January 15, 2018

MLK Day Post with many ideas and events

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

January 5, 2018

Many programs rev back up next week, like Songs at Imagination Stage, Saturday Mornings at National Theatre, Art Investigators at NGA and Saturdays at Hirshhorn (to name a few!). This weekend you may need to visit the Indoor fun Guide for ideas. There are also fun suggestions on our Surviving Daylight Savings post, even though the days are getting longer now!

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) has classes this weekend for Infant Investigators (Saturday, January 6 at 10am and Sunday, January 7 at 10am). The class is called “CAN Touch This”: Infants love touching and exploring different textures! We will utilize this universal truth while going on a tactile tour in the National Museum of Natural History’s Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, & Minerals. Twos Travelers also has a class this weekend (Saturday, January 6 at 10am and Sunday, January 7 at 10am). “Yellow Submarine”: Dive deep into the Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History and learn about the type of transportation we would need to travel below the surface of the water. Along the way we will explore the different ocean zones and the creatures that inhabit them. See our review of the program here.

NSO In Your Neighborhood is an initiative that provides free performances and educational activities by the National Symphony Orchestra in neighborhoods throughout the Washington DC area. Over the course of one week, events include full orchestra concerts, in-school visits, chamber performances, artistic exchange, instrument petting zoos, and a range of classes, presented in schools, churches, community centers, night clubs and performing arts venues that reflect the makeup of a participating neighborhood. Through this community engagement program, the NSO strives to build deeper connections with audiences of all ages, to inspire learning, and to create excitement and foster appreciation for live classical music. See schedule and don’t miss this opportunity– lasts through Monday.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop
The first Saturday of each month. Kids workshops provide a lively environment mixing skill-building, creativity, and safety for future DIYers. Get organized for 2018 in our hands-on Workshop where you and your child can assemble a wooden block calendar to kick off the new year. Useful year-round, the block calendar is perfect for a tabletop display.

9:45am-12:45pm: Summer camp sampler at Imagination Stage
Try a sample camp on us! Get an up-close-and-personal taste of what camp is like at Imagination Stage for children ages 4-Grade 12. We promise you’ll have a blast! Parents are encouraged to join the sample classes for children in grade 2 or younger. Parents of campers in grade 3 or older are welcome to observe the sampler, but not required. Parents are required to stay in the building while their child is attending a sampler. Register for a spot online.

10:00am-1:00pm: Carnival of Animals hosted by Montgomery Blair High School
The festival’s main event will be a performance of Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saëns. We will also feature an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” a marching band, instrument making, face painting, raffle prizes, and more. Member of Blair Bands and Orchestras will be on hand with their instruments so kids can see them, learn a bit about them and can try them out. We expect to have a full compliment of band and orchestra instruments, as well as pianos on hand. This is something the National Symphony Orchestra does, but it costs way more and is all the way downtown!

2:00pm: NSO in your Neighborhood Family Concert at National Portrait Gallery
This NSO Family Concert, titled “Bernstein, Inside the Music,” is part of a year-long celebration of Leonard Bernstein. The program honors the creator of Young People’s Concerts by featuring his music and the idea that orchestral music can be accessible to everyone. The performance will take place in the Kogod Courtyard. A musical instrument “petting zoo” will take place before and after the performance in the McEvoy Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

Sunday, January 7, 2018

11:00am: Sunday Singalong with Bear Song at Upshur Street Books
Join us for a singalong with Bearsong – D.C.’s leading children’s entertainer. John Ray is a traveling songmaster, bringing music and joy to young children all over Washington, D.C. Join us for this session of classic children’s songs. And look for other dates with John at Upshur Street Books. He sings with us four times each month – every Sunday at 11am. The session is FREE and perfect for young children. All children’s books are discounted 10% during the singalong.

1:30pm: Gustafer Yellowgold at Jammin Java
Taylor’s funny and touching multimedia presentation about a little guy from the Sun who landed in the Minnesota woods has loads of adult crossover appeal, making Gustafer Yellowgold’s show a truly all-ages experience. Fresh from his appearance at WILCO’s revered Solid Sound festival, Taylor will be featuring material from his new album “Brighter Side” alongside classic fan favorites.

3:00pm: NSO in your Neighborhood at The International Spy Museum
This family-friendly event features an NSO string quartet — Marissa Regni and Glenn Donnellan violins; Eric deWaardt, viola; and Eugena Chang, cello — performing espionage-themed music. Free for museum attendees. Audiences for this performance will receive $5 discounts to visit the Museum.

Theatre:

Encore Stage and Studio presents Sherlock Holmes, running shows Friday-Sunday and then again next weekend. Join the mystery, action and laughter in this thrilling adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective story. Moriarty is after a set of mysterious letters and so is Sherlock Holmes. The game’s afoot! Before long, Moriarty’s minions have London in a dangerous grip. Sherlock is willing to put his life on the line to stop it. Recommended for ages 6 and older.

Charlotte’s Web is sticking around for two more weekends at Imagination Stage. In this beloved classic (now infused with live music!), Fern, a soft-hearted farm girl, forms an unlikely bond with Wilbur, a charismatic pig. At the Zuckerman Farm, Wilbur meets a silly goose, a moody sheep, a selfish rat, and Charlotte, a clever spider. In an effort to save her friend, Charlotte weaves flattering messages about him into her web that cause a sensation in the small town. Fall in love with your favorite characters all over again as they bring this “radiant” tale from page to stage this holiday season! Recommended ages 5 and older.

Plan ahead for some events for this winter here.

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