Beltway Bambinos

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

Weekday Adventures February 13-17

In case you missed this weekends post, “Like and Comment” on Beltway Bambino’s Facebook page to enter to win a $50 gift card for your Valentine’s Day shopping from Whole Foods Market! Read all about how I made a low-maintenance, delicious Valentine’s Day dinner from Whole Foods Market. And while you’re there make sure you like our Facebook page for articles, event postings and more.

DC Library has so many wonderful family-friendly events from story times, lego build afternoons to movie nights.

Screenshot2012-02-14at80246AM

Monday-

9:30am-11:00am- Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets
(234 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012)
(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.

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.

10:00am-11:30am: Toddler Art Time at New Community ArtSpace
(614 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Valentine making and story time! We will be closed next week.  $5/child + supply donations are welcome

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.

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.

Tuesday-

10:00am AND 11:30am: Shadow Puppets at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
This shadow puppet stage show will feature a variety of characters and menagerie of traditional and original songs. It explores themes that center around the seasons, the environment, as well as learning components of music.

11:00am AND 1:00pm: Museum ABC’s at The National Museum of American History for Museum
(12th St & Constitution Ave NW 1st Floor, West Wing)
ABCs, a new program for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions! Museum ABCs introduces early learners to the museum collection through a new letter, new object, and new interactive experience every month.

lego2_14:00pm: Lego Playtime and Engineering Challenge at Georgetown Library
(3260 R St. NW Washington,  D.C.  20007)
Do you like to build with Legos and solve puzzles? Join us to work through engineering challenges like, “who can build a paper airplane that carries the most cargo over 10 feet,” or just come to build with Legos and r elax after school. We’ll have a different short challenge each week and Legos all the time. This program is recommended for ages 4 and up.

4:00pm-6:00pm: Two for One at Capitol Riverfront
(200 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003)
Get two ice rink admissions for the price of one at Capitol Riverfront ! Skate rental sold separately.

Wednesday-

10:30am: Mr. Skip at The Miracle Theatre on Barracks Row with Boogie Babes
(535 8th Street SE)
The Boogie Babes program brings interactive musical performances for young children and their caregivers each week to area neighborhoods. The events, typically 45 minutes in length, provide a wonderful way to expose children to different musical instruments and styles while also raising funds for and awareness of DC Diaper Bank’s work and mission. $6 per child (siblings under 6 months free!)

7:00pm: Family Craft Night at Chevy Chase Library
(5625 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington,  D.C.  20015)
Arts and crafts for children of all ages.

Thursday-

10:00am: Story time at Foundry United Methodist Church
(16th St NW and P St NW)
Come and join us for a new 6-week, story time class. Children ages 1-4 years old (although younger babies welcome) and their caretakers are invited to come and sing, hear stories, and play. This is not a drop-off class, caretakers must stay with the children. Sign-up soon – class size is limited. The cost is $30 ($5 per class). Fee waivers available.

10:30am: Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andres at Eastern Market with Boogie Babes
(225 7th Street SE- North Hall)
The Boogie Babes program brings interactive musical performances for young children and their caregivers each week to area neighborhoods. The events, typically 45 minutes in length, provide a wonderful way to expose children to different musical instruments and styles while also raising funds for and awareness of DC Diaper Bank’s work and mission. $6 per child (siblings under 6 months free!)

7:30pm: Dinner in 30: Quick, Easy, and Healthy Dinner Solutions at Edlavitch DCJCC
(529 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036)
In this workshop, health coach and busy mom Jessica Braider will focus on tricks and tips for getting a healthy dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less.  We will discuss the roadblocks to making dinner (kids underfoot, prepping ingredients, clean-up, etc.) and how we can overcome them.  Participants will learn how to make a weekly meal plan and will leave with recipes and approaches that are easy, fun, and healthy. $15 register now.

Friday-

-1

10:30am AND 11:45am: Kitchen Adventures at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with Encore Stage & Studio
(4000 Lorcom Ln Arlington, VA 22207)
Something’s sizzling at Encore! In its newest play series for preschoolers, Encore Stage & Studio presents Kitchen Adventures. Actors bring nutrition balancing acts and colorful foods to life, all the while teaching your little one about healthy choices. With more than a tablespoon of fun, Encore has the recipe for an exciting theatre-going experience for you and your child! $10 tickets

10:30am: Ella Enchanted at Adventure Theatre
(7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD. 20812)
Based on the Newberry Honor book by Gail Carson Levine. Baby Ella of Frell is given the “gift” of obedience by Lucinda, a misguided fairy, and thus cannot disobey any direct order. Then when tragedy strikes, Ella is reduced to an obedient servant in her new home with Dame Olga. Can Ella find a way to rid herself of the troublesome curse?

4:00pm-6:00pm: BINGO at Guy Mason Recreation Center
(3600 Calvert Street, NW)
If you like meeting people, playing games, having fun and winning prizes! Mix and mingle with neighbors and friends while playing BINGO! Win nice prizes, and have fun without having to travel far… So come on out and join us in BINGO at Guy Mason! For more information, please contact Ms. Bell at (202) 727-7703

Weekend Picks January 27-29

Meastro-1.28.16-

(Photo: The Maestro at The National Theatre)

Friday-

6:00pm-9:00pm: Spy Fest: A Kidspy Family Festival! at The Spy Museum
(800 F St NW)
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 are $14/pp. Ticket includes exclusive after-hours admission, SPY snacks, scavenger hunt, prize competitions, and more!
***This event may be sold out, we posted it on the RSVP post so you can plan ahead for other events that sell out quickly.

Saturday-

Blue is playing this weekend at Imagination Stage and is super cute for ages 0-5.

9:30am-4:30pm: The Library of Congress Young Readers
(Jefferson Building  Room G29)
Join us to celebrate new ways of engaging with the Young Readers Center. Come for the ribbon cutting with Dr. Carla Hayden and our Teen Board representatives, story time with award-winning authors Meg Medina and Erica S. Perl, stay for crafts, book accessibility demonstrations, and a very special guest parade. Wear your best book character costume and come have fun! Doors open 9 a.m., special programs 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Space is limited, please arrive early!

9:30am AND 11:00am: The Maestro at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004)
In the tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, an eccentric mute conductor (Mark Jaster) makes musical mayhem with the kids serving as his unwitting orchestra. Young and old will laugh with delight with high art and slapstick comedy intertwined in a musical morning filled with chaos and confusion.

11:00am-2:00pm: Paint, Build, Create! at Fairlington Community Center & Park
(3308 S Stafford St. Arlington, VA. 22206)
A free day of art and creativity: STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts) programming, including go-bots, Indoor snowball fight, Letter/postcard making, Pendulum art, Art exhibits, Cooking project, Special teen lounge with activities for ages 12 & up. See schedule online for times of certain workshops and classes. Local food truck The Farm Effect will be serving up farm-fresh sandwiches and salads.

11:00am-3:00pm: Cocoa and Coloring
(135 West Washington St. Hagerstown, MD 21740)
Join us at the Miller House Museum for a cozy afternoon of family-friendly fun! We’ll provide everything you need to get started: crayons, colored pencils, historical coloring pages for both kids and adults—and a bottomless hot chocolate bar! Top off your cup with treats like whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, marshmallows and sprinkles and keep coming back for more! Full-size coloring books, locally made mugs and other presents will be available for purchase, and the museum will be open for tours. All ages welcome, but parents must accompany children under the age of 12. This is a free event, but space can be limited at certain times of the day. You’re welcome to pre-register by calling (301)-797-8782.

11:30am-3:00pm: Chinese New Year Festival at American Art Museum Renwick Gallery
(800 G St)
Join SAAM as we open our doors to the Chinatown and DC community for the 2017 Lunar New Year and celebrate the Year of the Rooster! Help us “awaken the lion” and ring in the New Year. Enjoy a variety of activities and demonstrations throughout the day including: traditional paper cutting; bristle dolls; dough sculpting; a display of painting the inside of snuff bottles by Beijing Folk Artists; calligraphy demonstrations with the Confucius Institute at George Washington University; mask coloring and New Year card making with the Confucius Institute at George Mason University; an art scavenger hunt; plus red paper lantern making, coloring sheets, and rooster crafts.

DgDba9c6nfFMRyQHT6HtSHe2

Sunday-

2:00pm: DC Chinese New Year’s Parade
(6th & I St)
Come help usher in 4716, the Year of the Rooster. Take METRO to Gallery Place Chinatown. Come early and grab lunch at one of the many dining spots. This year’s spectacle will be the biggest and best yet. With over 50 parade entries don’t miss this one. It’s all free…so bring the whole crew!

Weekend Picks January 13-15

img4328.jpg

(Photo: Create DC Arts Festival)

Saturday- 

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
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.

9:30am AND 10:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
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.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.
[Read more…]

Weekday Adventures January 9-13

Escape the cold weather and take the kids bowling at Pinstripes in Georgetown. Every weekday from 10:00am-12:00pm they have Kids Club Bowling. Kids bowl for $3 per hour with a $3 shoe rental and parents bowl free!

professor-wingnut-wants-to-flyWednesday & Thursday Discovery Theatre presents Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly at various times. Join wacky citizen-scientist Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour Seagull as they explore the amazing science of flight! From birds to airplanes, this pair loves all things airborne, and are in pursuit of the secret to just what makes them fly. Songs, science, and a flight-tastic dance party take off right under the planes in the Air and Space Museum. Tour the museum after the show!

 As always, DC Public Library has many great baby, toddler and teenager events all week long at several libraries.

Monday-

9:30am-11:00am: Rise + Rhyme at Busboys & Poets
(235 Carroll St NW  Washington, DC 20012)
A Busboys and Poets in-house series! Rise + Rhyme is a weekly morning storytelling and performance series for children ages 5 and under, stay-at-home parents, and early rising families of all kinds. $5 suggested donations performer are much appreciated.

[Read more…]

2017 Guide to summer camps around Washington, DC

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)

[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: December 9-11

Nationals Winterfest is at the Washington Convention Center Saturday & Sunday from 11:30am-4:00pm. Join for Nats Winterfest, returning December 10 and 11 to the Washington Convention Center. Winterfest will again feature two days of fun! Activities include: Clinics with Nationals players and coaches, watch a Homerun Derby featuring the Nationals mascots, make a snow fort, participate in the steal home challenge and take batting practice, hear a winter or baseball themed story, read by a Nationals player, participate in the Kids Press Conferences, sign up for 2017 season Jr. Nats Kids Club memberships at the Jr. Nationals Kids Club Kiosk, ride down The Slider, a giant slide reminiscent of a sledding hill and a “Video Pitch”, where fans can give virtual batters their best pitch.

2015 Nationals Winterfest
(2015 Nationals Winterfest)

You are sure to find lots to do with our guide for getting outdoors this holiday season.

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is happening at Dulles Expo Center December 9-11. A great festival to find gifts, treats, hear live music, see demos and children’s entertainment.

Great Train and Toy Show at Dulles Expo Center is Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm. Operating model railroads, tables of trains for sale, workshops, door prizes and more. Kids are free.

Friday & Saturday NSO Pops: A Holiday Pops! featuring Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana will play at The Kennedy Center. Warm your spirit with fresh takes on comforting classics and singalong carols in this NSO Pops tradition–this year featuring The Washington Chorus alongside Broadway stars Laura Osnes (Grease) and Santino Fontana (Disney’s Frozen). Most enjoyed by age 9 and up. Approximately 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission.

Saturday-

10:00am: Polar Express Pajama Party at Angelika Mosaic
(2911 District Ave. Fairfax, VA)
No need to dress the kids today. Show up in jammies for a showing of the Polar Express. Concession stand will serve hot cocoa and cookies.

11:00am-3:00pm: EdFest 2016
(DC Armory:2001 East Capitol St SE)
My School DC is excited to bring you EdFEST, DC’s only citywide public school fair! Come to EdFEST and explore the city’s many public school options (PK3-12) for your child. Representatives from DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools will showcase their programs. With the launch of the My School DC common lottery application on December 12, EdFEST is a timely event to help you make informed school selections for the 2017-18 school year common lottery. EdFEST will also feature many free services and fun activities for the whole family:Flu shots for adults, health services for kids and teens, and lots more family fun, games and entertainment brought to you by the DC Department of Health. Sports activities for all brought to you by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, including information about DPR Fun Days, Winter and Spring Break Camps, Cooperative Play, and story time with DC Public Library.

11:30am-3:00pm: Italian Holiday Festival at American Art Museum Renwick Gallery
(8th & F St)
There’s no place like SAAM for the holidays. To celebrate the vibrant culture of Italy, Simona Rodano returns as The Italian Fairy to engage kids with the beauty of her native language. Along with winter-themed crafts and holiday photo ops, she’ll be joined by The Washington School of Ballet and Faction of Fools Theatre Company, for a festival with all the Italian flair you’ll need to get in the spirit of this joyful season.

11:00am-4:00pm: Holiday Card Workshop at National Postal Museum
(2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. Washington, DC 20002)
Kick off the holiday season by creating heartfelt handmade cards at the National Postal Museum’s annual Holiday Card Workshop! We’ll have pretty papers, vintage stamps from around the world and lots of other supplies to inspire your creativity as you create one-of-a-kind holiday greetings. After making your cards, visit the museum’s stamp store to send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. This fun program offers something for all ages who love arts & crafts activities.

11:00am (doors open at 10:30am): Rockin In A Rainbow Wonderland Holiday Show and Toy Drive! at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave Vienna, VA, 22180)
Are you ready to rock around the rainbow tree? Join the Rainbow Rock Band and ring in the holiday season by singing along to many of your holiday favorites!! Winners of a Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for their debut CD, “Meet the Rainbow,” an absolute mix of musical genres from folk, to 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 of the 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!

12:00pm (Also a concert Sunday at 4:00pm): Cathedral Choral Society: Family Joy at National Cathedral
(3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20016)
Bring the whole family and get swept up in the sounds of the season! This one-hour program has something for all ages, including a kids-only sing-along. Purchase tickets here.

4:00pm-7:00pm: Winter’s Eve at Glen Echo
(7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD 20812)
Celebrate the holiday season at the Park’s annual Winter’s Eve event. Enjoy FREE activities including holiday crafts, sing-alongs, story-telling, open studios, and a hot chocolate bar. Browse and buy fine artworks at the Holiday Art Show and artist studios.

6:00pm: Target Family Night: Michael Hearst presents Songs for Unusual Creatures
(2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566)
Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer Michael Hearst presents a special music program featuring some of Earth’s strangest animals and interesting, uncommon instruments.

Sunday-

9:30am-3:30pm: Eastern Market Holiday Celebrations
(225 Seventh Street, SE Washington, DC 20003)
See schedule for juggler, crafts, tree decorating and more event and activity times.

 

Many theatre productions you can see this weekend!

Weekend Picks November 4-6

Babycircus
(Photot: Babycircus Finland part of KidsEuro Festival)

Costumes are put away, the candy bags are slowly emptying (or in our house the Switch Witch arrived last night and the candy is gone!) and the weather is still fantastic with beautiful colors on the trees. Plenty to do outdoors but also some fun events that will take you inside this weekend. 

KidsEuro Festival wraps up this weekend. Check out all of the wonderful events, including but not limited to storytelling, games, musicians, puppets and a lot more.

Saturday-

9:30am AND 11:00am: Jon Sands- Slam Poetry for Kids at National Theatre
The National Theatre is excited to welcome Jon Sands, an author and poet known for electric readings. His work has been featured in The New York Times, published widely, and anthologized in The Best American Poetry. He is a Youth Mentor with Urban Word-NYC, and teaches creative writing for both adults and youth at Bailey House in East Harlem (an HIV/AIDS service center). He is the Program Director of the Dialogue Arts Project, and has represented New York City multiple times at the National Poetry Slam.Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am the Friday a week prior to the performance. Click on the link to reserve tickets, and review our ticketing policies. Walk up tickets are always available, if prior registration is not completed. Please arrive to the theatre 30 minute before the show to collect a walk up ticket.
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks October 28-30

Boo!!! Halloween is almost here and looks like the weather is in our favor, especially for all of these fun weekend events. Weekend Picks are mostly Halloween celebrations but we added a few extra events worth checking out. DC Public Library has many festive events happening this weekend.

Saturday, Sunday & Monday Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon from 3:30pm-6:30pm. Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. Come and see wool carding, spinning, and fish net making in the historic area before greeting “Martha Washington” on the piazza of the Mansion. In order to burn off all the extra excitement, try 18th-century dancing in the upper garden. Historic chocolate-making demonstrations and chocolate tastings will take place. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon takes place rain or shine.

dsc_1577

Friday-

5:30pm-7:30pm- Hilloween at Eastern Market
Capitol Hill celebrates Halloween as a community each year in front of Eastern Market on 7th St. Count on moon bounces, hay rides, treats, face painting and many, many costumes.
[Read more…]

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design