summer Archives - Beltway Bambinos

Our favorite family-friendly summer activities in and around Washington, DC

May 2, 2019

Summer is my all-time favorite time in Washington, DC, despite the hot temperatures, there is something always going on. An outdoor festival, fountains to splash around in, an outdoor sports game to watch or live music are a few of our go-to’s. We want to help you kick off your summer the right way so you don’t miss out on some of the great summer events in Washington, DC.

Jazz in the Sculpture Garden: The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 19th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Brazilian Folk Jazz, Alternative Modern, Blues, Reggae, World Steam Punk, Afro Funk, African Fusion Jazz, Cuban Charanga, Django Guitar, New Orleans Jazz, and more—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Bring a picnic, buy a beverage, relax and enjoy the atmosphere, sculptures and music.
Local splash parks
Wolf Trap children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods: June 18- Aug 3, 2019- Across the meadow from the Filene Center, literally tucked in the woods at Wolf Trap National Park, the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has been a summer tradition for generations of children and families. Performances range from music and dance to puppetry and storytelling—interactive, educational, and fun. All shows are about an hour long and are perfect for children ages 4 and up. Event calendar can be found here.
Play in your own yard! Our family loves good old fashioned chalk and bubbles on our front walkway but we also play tons of catch, water play and scootering. This wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have our yard sprayed by Mosquito Squad. The first year we lived in our house we weren’t able to sit on our front porch for more than a minute without being bitten by mosquitos. Mosquito Squad has made an amazing difference and after our treatment the mosquitos are gone! What I love most is that their spray techniques allow for kids and pets to return to playing just 30 minutes after service.
Pirate Adventure on the Chesapeake: Boat + Annapolis + Pirate Adventure = Outdoor Perfection
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is June 29 & 30, 2019 and you will experience living traditions from around the world. The goal is to work with communities to strengthen and preserve their cultures and share them with you on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Strathmore Backyard Theatre: Enrich your little ones’ summer Thursday mornings in July with sunshine, music, and laughter at Strathmore’s Backyard Theater for Kids. This eclectic program is the perfect summer escape for busy families. Pack a picnic and enjoy live performances by highly esteemed and innovative family-friendly entertainers.
Montgomery County Agriculture Fair: The Fair will be August 9-17, 2019 and has animals, rides, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits, and many others for the whole family to enjoy!
11th Annual Ukulele Festival at Strathmore: It’s a celebration of the marvelous musicality of the ukulele on August 21, 2019. UkeFest features ukulele superstars Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Daniel Ho, and Peter Luongo along with a mass strum-along. This fantastically fun concert is the culmination of the 11th annual UkeFest intensive workshop and a highlight of summer at Strathmore!
Kayak, canoe and paddle boating: Ballpark Boathouse, Fletcher’s Boathouse, Mariner Sailing School, The Wharf

Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC is our communities’ leading choice for mosquito, tick, and flea control, as well as other forms of backyard pest control. Their work has made it possible for customers to enjoy their backyards for the first time without fear of bug bites or vector-borne diseases. Their work is backed by a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t like the results, they promise to spray your yard again for free or refund your money. Schedule your mosquito control treatment by calling (571) 364-6956 and find a service that is right for your family here.

This post was written in partnership with D.C. Mosquito Squad who is providing standard barrier treatment for our yard this summer.

Certifikid’s Camp Scholarship Program

March 26, 2019

CertifiKID, the first deal website geared specifically towards families, announced a Camp Scholarship Program last year and when I heard about it I had to get the word out. Summer camp is such an amazing experience that all children should be able to participate in. CertifiKID’s Camp Scholarship Program launched in 2018 and provided 24, $250 camp scholarships to local children in need for the summer of 2018. This year through the program they will provide a minimum of 34, $250 scholarships for 2019! Additional scholarships may be funded through community contributions. I had the chance to do a q+a with CertifiKID Founder and CEO, Jamie Ratner, which I hope will allow you to understand the concept of CertifiKID more as well as be inspired to pass along the information to a family you think could benefit from applying to the camp scholarship program!

How did CertifiKID begin?

CertifiKID began in 2010 when my kids were just babies. I had a blog where I wrote about foods and finds in the D.C. area and first discovered this new site called Groupon. I thought it was a super cool concept but did not have anything for me as a new mom. I decided to take the concept and spin it so there would be opportunities for moms to try new things with their kids and find family-friendly businesses and activities in the D.C. area. From day one it just exploded and the rest is history. We now work with thousands of businesses throughout the country and run offers in cities nationwide. However, the D.C. area is still the heart of the business, and at this point, we believe we are a household name in the area for families.

What are some insider tips for readers to get the most from CertifiKID?

1) CertifiKID has a super responsive customer service/sales team and we actually jump on requests from customers. If there is something you are looking for a deal on, email us or send us a message via our Facebook page and we will go after it right away for you!

2) We are on top of the NEW businesses launching, so always be sure to check the website to be the first to find out about them and get great discounts when they first open.

3) We would never rerun an offer that had bad reviews from our customers. If you see a business featured over and over again, this means they are a valued partner with great customer service and glowing reviews from our customers.

4) We do have a limit on some of our offers, so if it is something SUPER exciting you should buy it quickly so you aren’t disappointed.

What services or programs exist now that didn’t when CertifiKID began?

So much has changed over these past 8 years. When we started not everyone even had a smartphone! Also, in the kids’ world, I would say at least 25% of the vendors have gone out of business. When I first started, bounce places would sell amazing, now it has shifted to trampoline places. Also, I remember the first time we ran a LEGO camp it sold INSANE…now everyone does a LEGO camp and it’s not unique anymore.

What was the motivation on creating this summer camp scholarship program?

My husband and I are HUGE camp people. We spent every summer of our childhoods at camp – even coming back over the summers during college to work as counselors. Now our kids attend camp and we see the HUGE impact and benefits it has for them – increasing their confidence, resilience, and independence. We want all kids to have this opportunity, especially children from low income or financially vulnerable families who don’t have the resources to provide them with enriching summer experiences. Camp is most important for these families in order to make sure their kids stay engaged and physically active over the summer months.

For more information on the summer camp scholarship program click here. You can scroll to the bottom of the page to apply to the program or make a contribution.

If selected, children will be able to choose from this great list of summer camps.

11 highlights from summer 2018 in and around Washington, DC

August 1, 2018

It’s hard to believe it is already August!Time certainly flies. In honor of the final month (well three weeks! for DCPS students) of summer, we wanted to make sure you hit some of OUR summer favorites before it’s over. In no particular order, here are our top 11 highlights:

Climbing, flying, running and jumping at ZavaZone
Splashing around at Yards Park
Hiking and biking in Rock Creek Park
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden— (final one is Aug. 24, 2018)
Going to the beach– for an easy day trip (or make it an overnight)
Baseball games at Nats Park
Dutch Wonderland can be a day trip (or make it a fun overnight)
Horseback ride at Rock Creek Horse Center
Outdoor performance at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre in the Woods (final performance Aug. 4, 2018)
Bowling at Pinstripes, ice cream at Baked Bear and playing in the sand at the “beach” at Pike & Rose
Outdoor movies!!

Best ice cream in Washington, DC

June 28, 2018

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream in Washington, DC! It doesn’t have to be summer for me to grab a scoop (or two). But with the weather we are having, all of us need a place to head to for a quick cool off which also involves a treat. There’s nothing like a good scoop of ice cream or an ice cold popsicle.

But first let me introduce you to FrutaPOP. They are a small-batch, hand-crafted ice pop company, specializing in natural fruit and juice ice pops, coffee ice pops and alcohol infused ice pops. FrutaPOP is the first of it’s kind to contain healthy, natural ingredients without any added sugars. All of the alcohol-infused ice pops, also known as “POPTAILS” contain 5% ABV or less. You can order in quantities of 12, 24, 36 & 48. Think Mimosa and Sangria Poptails and Fruit & Juice pops (non-alcoholic) for your next pool party! Use code: BELTWAYBAMBINOS for 15% your order; perfect for a summer bbq or sitting poolside.

Did you know Maryland has nine dairy farms that offer fresh, delicious on-farm ice cream? Together, they make up the “Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail.” Visit each creamery and get a trail passport stamped to be named Maryland’s Ice Cream Trail Blazer! Sounds like a delicious summer bucket-list item.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

THE. BEST. (#notanad) Always a line, definitely worth waiting in, enough said, go and get some scoops, report back.

The Baked Bear

Homemade cookies from original recipes and hand-scooped on site, cookies are made with the highest quality ingredients and baked fresh from scratch every day. Baked Bear craft ice cream is made with the highest quality ingredients around and is a step above the traditional, using an all-natural mix made only with rBGH-free cream, pure cane sugar and natural stabilizers.

Trickling Springs Creamery

An old-fashioned dairy store serving ice cream, milk shakes, milk and cookies at Eastern Market. Do you want to take some ice cream home with you after hanging out at Union Market? No problem. They have 3 full freezer doors stocked with Trickling Springs FarmFriend ice creams, Trickling Springs Organic ice creams, and Little Baby’s ice cream.

Ice Cream Jubilee

I found out about ICJ because of the mouth-watering Instagram photos everyone posts and then I realized you can order from UberEats! The best flavors come from the best ingredients. They use only all-natural cream and milk from a local creamery, just 50 miles from our scoop shop in Washington, DC. and are proud about the small-batch technique – just a few gallons at a time – allows to create the highest-quality product and the freshest flavors.

Millie’s

Brought to you by the owners of Surfside, Jetties, etc. Walk up to an outdoor ice-cream stand (attached to the take-out hut) and grab delicious scoops.

Class 520

The very first Thai-inspired ice cream establishment opening in the state of Maryland. Handcrafted rolls made with no preservatives or stabilizers, so you know it’s fresh.

Broad Branch Market

A market that has most everything you need at a higher price but you feel like you live in Mayfield when you walk in. They have a freezer of about 8 flavors to get a scoop and a freezer of novelties.

Nicecream Factory

Handcrafted ice cream is their passion. They start our process by combining fresh milk and local ingredients from nearby farms. Using a freezing agent, liquid nitrogen, then freeze the ice cream on the spot in front of guests, creating the freshest handcrafted cup of ice cream you can get.

Larry’s Ice Cream

This family business, open since 1985, is well-known for the owner’s surly demeanor and delicious, homemade ice cream. With classic flavors like cookie dough and unique flavors like Key West chocolate, there’s something for everyone here.

Thomas Sweet

This extensive sweets shop is complete with homemade fudge and chocolates, freshly baked pastries and paninis—in addition to ice cream. The specialty here is the one-of-a-kind ‘blend ins’ with homemade ice cream. It’s not a place for the indecisive as they have a chalkboard full of flavors like peanut butter chip, vanilla cherry and our favorite, coffee Oreo. Keep in mind that the kiddie-sized cup is very large—about 2 scoops of ice cream.

The Dairy Godmother

This summer, you’ll find some exciting new additions at this custard shop. Stick with what you know and get Wisconsin-style frozen custard in vanilla or chocolate every day, or try the flavor of the day. Tollhouse cookie and toasted almond are both on the schedule; see all the upcoming flavors of the day here. They’ll also be offering Exotic Ice Pops this summer along with Frozen Custard Cake and Puppy Pops—a treat for your dog!

Moorenko’s Ice Cream

This ice cream brand, which is sold around the NE corridor, is made right here in D.C.! They even have a small shop where you can go for freshly made, hand-crafted ice cream. They’ve got the classic flavors as well as some unique flavors like Guinness, Rice Pudding and Cotton Candy Gummy Bear.

Captain Cookie and the Milkman

What started as a food truck serving milk and cookies and ice cream sandwiches, now has 3 food trucks you can see schedule locations here. For those of us who can’t make it to a truck stop, there is an actual location. They also deliver!

Jetties

Serving Gifford’s ice cream, Jetties is not just an ice cream shop, but also well-known for delicious sandwiches and salads. It’s the perfect place to grab lunch and a scoop for dessert, with the option of adding toppings like sprinkles and crushed Oreos to your cone.

Sfoglina

Italian Soft Serve Gelato: Your Choice of Tahitian Vanilla & or Strawberry Sorbetto. Sounds boring but I promise you will want to go back the next day for another!

Oldies but Goodies:

(Photo: Pleasant Pops)

And for those who enjoy a nice, cold popsicle we didn’t forget you–

Pleasant Pops

All original recipes made with fresh ingredients. Flavors rotate constantly as they run out. To name a few; Can also be found at various Farmer’s Markets and Food Trucks, check site.

Whim Pop

Whim Pop integrates flavors of the world on a healthy, fresh and cool environment by creating unique delicacies in a variety of exotic flavors and presentations. Whim Pop is your answer for that unexplained desired of something unique and guilt free! Can also be found at various Farmer’s Markets, check site.

FrutaPop

A small-batch, hand-crafted ice pop company, specializing in natural fruit and juice ice pops, coffee ice pops and alcohol infused ice pops. FrutaPOP is the first of it’s kind to contain healthy, natural ingredients without any added sugars. All of the alcohol-infused ice pops, also known as “POPTAILS” contain 5% ABV or less. You can order in quantities of 12, 24, 36 & 48. Order online and use code: BELTWAYBAMBINOS for 15% your order!!!

Live outdoor summer music in and around Washington, DC

June 7, 2018

One of my favorite parts about summer in Washington, DC are the (mostly) free, outdoor concerts you can find. A few summers ago we took a sporadic drive to the Mall, walked around, played some ball by the reflecting pool with our then three year old and walked towards the Capitol where the U.S. Air Force Band was performing a free concert. A huge crowd was gathered on the steps and in chairs taking in the gorgeous evening and patriotic tunes. I had no idea they performed for free and for the public on random evenings. This post will help you take advantage of some great music that will help you relax after a long day and see a bit of our city while doing so. Also, included are family focused shows at some favorite venues. Get out and enjoy the lighter evenings, let your kids stay up a little longer and enjoy the music our city offers.

The Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 8th Season. Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a few minutes walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike. Also check out Kids in Canal: Making its second appearance in Capitol Riverfront, Kids in Canal is a 12-week series of kid-friendly entertainment every Wednesday 10:30 am – 11:30 am beginning June 6th! Bring your little ones to the middle block of Canal Park to enjoy magic shows, kids tunes, science demonstrations, and puppet shows. Top off your day with a refreshing splash in the Canal Park dancing water fountains.

Strathmore’s Backyard Theatre for Children
Enrich your little ones’ summer mornings with sunshine, music, and laughter at Strathmore’s Backyard Theater for Kids. This eclectic program is the perfect summer escape for busy families. Pack a picnic and enjoy live performances by highly esteemed and innovative family-friendly entertainers. From folk and jazz to the amazing sounds of the steelpan, Backyard Theater makes it easy to engage kids at every stage. We promise to keep both kids and parents entertained, so bring your family for a morning of inspiration and celebration!

LITTLE MISS ANN Thu, July 5
JOJO & THE PINECONES Thu, July 12
POSITIVE VIBRATIONS Thu, July 19
LUCKY DIAZ & THE FAMILY JAM BAND Thu, July 26

Also for kids!
ARTS ON THE HORIZON: TO THE CLOUDS Sat, July 28

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CertifiKID announces Summer Camp Scholarship Program for 20+ children

March 7, 2018

CertifiKID, the first deal website geared specifically towards families, announced a Camp Scholarship Program and when I heard about it I had to get the word out. Summer camp is such an amazing experience that all children should be able to participate in. CertifiKID’s Camp Scholarship Program will provide a minimum of 20, $250 camp scholarships for summer 2018. Additional scholarships may be funded through community contributions. I had the chance to do a q+a with CertifiKID Founder and CEO, Jamie Ratner, which I hope will allow you to understand the concept of CertifiKID more as well as be inspired to pass along the information to a family you think could benefit from applying to the camp scholarship program!

How did CertifiKID begin?

What are some insider tips for readers to get the most from CertifiKID?

2) We are on top of the NEW businesses launching, so always be sure to check the website to be the first to find out about them and get great discounts when they first open.

4) We do have a limit on some of our offers, so if it is something SUPER exciting you should buy it quickly so you aren’t disappointed.

What services or programs exist now that didn’t when CertifiKID began?

What was the motivation on creating this summer camp scholarship program?

You can also learn more about the summer camp scholarship program and see the announcement made by Jamie and her family here.

For more information on the summer camp scholarship program click here. You can scroll to the bottom of the page to apply to the program or make a contribution.

If selected, children will be able to choose from this great list of summer camps.

Outdoor movies this summer in Washington, DC

May 24, 2017

Bring your blankets or chairs (check websites for what they prefer), some snacks and cozy up to a summer movie outside. Disclaimer: This is a list of child friendly and adult friendly movies. As you will see some of these don’t begin until sunset so perhaps it’s a late summer evening for some kids or a date night for parents. Have fun watching some free movies this summer.

Bethesda Outdoor Movies
(Woodmont Triangle, Corner of Norfolk & Auburn Avenues)

Enjoy five nights of blockbuster hits at downtown Bethesda’s 14^th annual outdoor movie series! Show times begin at 9pm at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues. A limited number of chairs will be provided and attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs. Admission is FREE! Spend an enjoyable evening in Woodmont Triangle and have dinner at one of the neighborhood’s delicious and diverse restaurants before the show!

July 24: Remember the Titans
July 25: Casablanca
July 26: The Big Sick
July 27: Mean Girls
July 28: The Post

Union Market Drive-In
(1309 5th Street NE Washington, District of Columbia 20002)

$10 parking fee per car. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Free for walk-ups. Excited for the drive-in but don’t have a car?

Friday June 1 | Clueless
A rich high school student tries to boost a new pupil’s popularity, but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way. 1h 37 min, rated PG-13
Lot opens at 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:30, Film begins 8:45; Film ends at 10:20

Friday July 6 | Like Water for Chocolate
When tradition prevents her from marrying the man she loves, a young woman discovers she has a unique talent for cooking. In Spanish with English subtitles. 1 h 45min, rated R
Lot opens at 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:30, Film begins 8:55; Film ends at 10:20

Friday August 3 | Black Panther
T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, rises to the throne in the isolated, technologically advanced African nation, but his claim is challenged by a vengeful outsider who was a childhood victim of T’Challa’s father’s mistake.
2h 15 min, rated PG-13
Lot opens 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:15, Film begins 8:45, Film ends at 11:00

Friday September 7 | The Lion King
A Lion cub crown prince is tricked by a treacherous uncle into thinking he caused his father’s death and flees into exile in despair, only to learn in adulthood his identity and his responsibilities. 1h 28 min, rated G
Lot opens 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 7:30, Film begins 8:00, Film ends at 9:30

Friday October 5 | Cool Runnings
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team. 1h 38 min, rated PG
Lot opens 5:30, Lot closes promptly at 7:45, Film begins 8:15, Film ends at 9:55

Friday November 2 | Hocus Pocus
After three centuries, three witch sisters are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all. 1 h 36 min, rated PG
Lot opens 5:30, Lot closes promptly at 7:45, Film begins 8:00, Film ends at 9:50

NoMa Family Film Night 
(The Lot @ 1st & Pierce 1005 First Street, NE)

Bring your friends, family and neighbors for music, giveaways, food trucks, picnicking, and of course, great films under the stars. Movies start at sunset and are screened with subtitles. We encourage moviegoers to bring chairs, because the site is covered in asphalt. Bring blankets, frisbees, dogs on leases and picnic coolers when the doors open at 7:00 PM. Every movie is subtitled. NoMa Summer Screen has been ranked one of the Top 10 Best Outdoor Movie Theatres in America by Travel and Leisure Magazine and one of the top five outdoor movie series in the country by Travel Pulse.

6/6 — 10 Things I Hate About You (PG-13) | 8:40 p.m.
6/13 — Mulan (G) | 8:44 p.m.
6/20 — Chicago (PG-13) | 8:46 p.m.
6/27 — Mad Max: Fury Road (R) | 8:47 p.m.
7/4 — no movie on account of Independence Day!
7/11 — Matilda (PG) | 8:44 p.m.
7/18 — A League of Their Own (PG) | 8:40 p.m.
7/25 — Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (PG-13) | 8:35 p.m.
8/1 — Pitch Perfect (PG-13) | 8:29 p.m.
8/8 — Moana (PG) | 8:21 p.m.
8/15 — Thelma & Louise (R) | 8:12 p.m.
8/22 — Ghostbusters (2016) (PG-13) | 8:03 p.m.
8/29 — Wonder Woman (PG-13) | 7:52 p.m.
9/5 — rain date | 7:42 p.m.

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2017 Guide to summer camps around Washington, DC

January 4, 2017

Once again I publish the annual summer camp guide and there is snow in the forecast. But alas, it’s time to start thinking about your summer plans…in January, as registration has started for some. We’ve highlighted some camps with detailed information and included links to other notable camps at the bottom of the post. As always, add to this post by commenting with your own suggestion– first or second hand. Here’s to a fun and busy summer!

p_hero_int_soccer_17 (Photo: Headfirst Summer Camp)

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