Beltway Bambinos

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

Monday-

9:30am-11:00am- Rise and Rhyme at Busboys and Poets
(5531 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md. 20781)
Rise + Rhyme is a weekly Busboys and Poets series for local stay-at-home parents and early rising families of all kinds! Featuring performances and stories for children ages 5 and under. This week The Singing Lizard is performing.

9:30am: Harambe at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.

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

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

Tuesday-

10:00am-10:45am: Tudor Place: Fall Frolic
(1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC 20007)
Tudor Place has enchanted young children for 200 years. Experience it yourself Tuesday mornings, as we meet to read, sing, and play in the gardens and historic spaces. This family-friendly program offers a new theme each week, from “adventurous animals” to “growing gardens” and more. Children will participate in interactive read-alouds, songs, and themed movements related to the week’s topic, sharing a tranquil setting with the grown-ups who care for them. For ages 2-4. $5/session, adults free.

10:00am: Rocking Tot Tuesdays with The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
Grab an instrument, get on stage or practice your moves on the dance floor. This is a perfect spot for your little one to move and groove. Suggested donation $7.

10:00am: Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Pavilion 
(10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW)
Every Tuesday at 10:00am you can get into the magnificent butterfly pavilion for free! Make sure and get a free ticket by the entrance. We visited this last month and were amazed by how many butterflies were flying around, some even landing on a shoulder. Look closely and you could spot a frog under some trees.

10:30am-11:30am: Snugglers at the United States Botanic Garden
(100 Maryland Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20001- Conservatory Garden Court)
Do you have a tiny treasure in a snuggly? Looking for ways to get out of the house, and learn? Join us each Thursday for a 45-minute guided tour of the Conservatory. Each week will be a different exploration. This program is designed for parents and care providers who have a tiny one in a snuggly. Please note: Due to narrow paths and the nature of this program, they cannot support strollers or older siblings.

11:00am: Storytime at National Air and Space Museum 
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“Flights of Fancy” staff will read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity. Featured story is If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty.

3:00pm-5:00pm: Family Geocaching at Meadowside Nature Center
(5100 Meadowside Ln., Rockville)
Modern-day treasure hunting happens right here in our parks! Geocaches are hidden containers filled with interesting stuff that you track down using GPS units. Learn how to use a GPS unit, and spend the day on a geocaching adventure in search of local caches. Bring a snack, water, and be prepared to hike (long pants and sturdy shoes strongly recommended). If you don’t have a GPS unit, we’ll have units for families to share.

Wednesday-

10:15am and 11:30am: Coyote Mischief Tales at Discovery Theater
(Ripley Center, Smithsonian)
Coyote Mischief Tales introduces the culture and legends of Native Americans in a show featuring the famous trickster Coyote, his friend Hastali, and his loving wife Mole, in a trio of tribal stories that will entertain, inspire and teach.  Walk the Medicine Wheel in four directions, each with a different lesson—alternately funny, warm and wise.  “Coyote Gets his Name” teaches us that the most important lesson is to be true to ourselves; “Coyote and his Pups” reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously and to always value others; “Coyote’s Big Giveaway” is a story about friendship and true giving; and the message in “Coyote Visits the Land of the Spirits” is that true love is the strongest medicine of all. Recommended for ages 5-10.

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andres at Union Market 
(1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC. 20002)
Access the free market parking lot from 6th Street NE or travel via metro to NoMA-Gallaudet. Come early for coffee and stay for lunch!

10:30am: Shazam Magic at Washingtonian Center
(209 Boardwalk Pl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878)
Bring your Bambino(s) to an unforgettable magic show.

11:00am-12:00pm: Baby and Me Yoga Fit at Lil Omm
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC. 20016)
Yoga Fit is a blend of yoga and strength training where you bring your baby along for the fun! Get ready for a workout that blends cardio, yoga, strength, and resistance training using free weights, bands, and blocks to leave you feeling like one hot mama! Recommended for babies 6 weeks-pre-crawling.

11:00am: Storytime at National Air and Space Museum
(14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA 20151)
“Flights of Fancy” staff will read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity. Featured story is If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty.

4:00pm-5:30pm: Free Art Wednesdays at Create ART
(Silver Spring Civic Building – 1 Veterans Plaza)
Join Create ART in this wonderful new FREE after school art workshops – improv, sewing, comics, & more! Kindergarten-5th grade students welcome. Register online.

4:15pm-5:00pm: Jumpers and Me yoga at Lil Omm 
(4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016)
Jumpers & Me yoga is a class for toddlers ages 2-4. In this class we learn developmentally appropriate poses for this active and playful age. We do this with poses, games and songs to teach the basics principles of yoga to our children. This is a magical age to practice with your child and introduce them to the benefits of yoga.

5:30pm: !Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! at BloomBars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
!Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! is a sure bet every time. Children of various ages enjoy this interactive show that teaches Spanish language and Latin American culture.

Thursday-

10:00am: 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.

10:15am and 11:30am: Coyote Mischief Tales at Discovery Theater
(Ripley Center, Smithsonian)
Coyote Mischief Tales introduces the culture and legends of Native Americans in a show featuring the famous trickster Coyote, his friend Hastali, and his loving wife Mole, in a trio of tribal stories that will entertain, inspire and teach.  Walk the Medicine Wheel in four directions, each with a different lesson—alternately funny, warm and wise.  “Coyote Gets his Name” teaches us that the most important lesson is to be true to ourselves; “Coyote and his Pups” reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously and to always value others; “Coyote’s Big Giveaway” is a story about friendship and true giving; and the message in “Coyote Visits the Land of the Spirits” is that true love is the strongest medicine of all. Recommended for ages 5-10.

10:30am: The Great Zucchini at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
Get tickets here for The Great Zucchini, Washington’s funniest and most magical preschool and kindergarten entertainer, performs a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh. Experience the excitement of the children when they get to learn a magic trick at the end of show.

10:30am:Boogie Babes presents Mr. Skip at Eastern Market
(225 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003)
Our most popular show of the week! Join us at Historic Eastern Market’s North Hall (closest to South Carolina) for a lively concert, grab lunch and shop for dinner. Access to the North Hall via the market for Boogie Babes. Eastern Market Metro is two short blocks away.

11:00am: Storytime at National Air and Space Museum 
(601 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20597)
“Flights of Fancy” staff will read stories about famous aviators, hot-air balloon flights, trips to Mars, characters visible in the night sky, or creatures that have their own wings. Each session includes one story and a hands-on activity. Featured story is The Great Round-the-World Balloon Race by Sue Scullard.

Friday- 

9:30am and 10:15am: Storytime at Noyes Library
(10237 Carroll Pl, Kensington, MD 20895)
Come Sing, Read, and Rhyme With Us! Music is a fun way to learn about sounds, rhythm, rhyme and is a natural support for your child’s early learning. Appropriate for all ages.

10:30am: Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
As every family with youngsters in the DC area already knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie, who make wildly popular, award-winning music for the whole family. Tickets are $5.

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Kidsinger Jim at Atlas Performing Arts
(1333 H Street NE Washington, DC. 20002)
Join us at the ATLAS Performing Arts Center along the H Street Corridor. Snack bar and bathrooms are easily accessible. Lots of good and kid-friendly lunch options within one to three blocks!

1:00pm-4:00pm: The National Portrait Gallery presents Open Studio Fridays
(Eighth & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 – Education Center, Room E151)
Friday afternoons at the Gallery feature some creative and free fun! Check out a Portrait Discovery Kit to explore the museum and try a different selection of art material each week.