Beltway Bambinos

Don’t you wish there was a day in between Saturday & Sunday? Not ready for the weekend to be over and so not ready to deal with a rainy Monday with a newborn and toddler. We were spoiled by Saturdays gorgeous day– hope you enjoyed it! Here are a few fun things to do this week, including Earth Day. Keep in mind we have plenty of places to take your Bambinos to that are indoors in case of rain as well as theater shows.

Monday:

9:30am-11:00am: Marsha Goodman-Wood at Rise + Rhyme Busboys and Poets
(5331 Baltimore Ave. Suite 104, Hyattsville, MD 20781)
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. Marsha Goodman-Wood,  a D C-based singer/songwriter and music teacher. Marsha is known for getting kids singing and dancing at her shows, setting little toes to tapping with original melodies that mix generous doses of science and positive social messages into songs that are just plain fun.

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.

Tuesday: 

10:00am: Tudor Tots: Growing Gardeners
(1644 31st Street, NW Washington, DC  20007)
Tudor Place has enchanted young children for almost two centuries. Experience it yourself on family-friendly Tuesday mornings, joining others to read, sing, and play in the picturesque gardens. Each week introduces a new theme, from “adventurous animals” to “growing gardens” and more. Children enjoy interactive read-alouds, songs, and themed movements related to the week’s topic, sharing a green and tranquil setting with the grown-ups who care for them.Parents/caregivers remain with children. $5 for each child.

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.

10:00am: Songs, stories & puppets at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
30 minutes of storytelling, dancing, singing and entertainment just for kids under 5.

Wednesday:

10:00am: Tot Time! Earth Day Celebration at Locust Nature Center
(7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817)
Make art out of recycled materials, sing to our animal and plant friends, plant some wildflowers, and more — all to celebrate this special day. Outdoor activities are included in this program, so please dress for the weather. Registration is required, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. 2-5yrs; $5

10:00am: Samba Baby at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
It’s never too early to learn the infectious dance of the world’s 5th largest country and there’s no better teacher then Zezeh Zax– a dancer, professional performer of Brazilian samba and founder of the ZEZEH BRAZIL Dance Troupe. Get your baby movin and groovin!

10:30am: Boogie Babes presents Mr. Skip at Union Market
(1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC. 20002)
Plenty of space for the kiddies to move and groove at this great venue! Not to mention the delectable treats and coffee, too. Ample parking for strollers and cars alike. Sponsored by the wonderful Boogie Babes of DC $5 per child, siblings 6 months and younger, free. 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!

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.

10:30am-11:30am: Snugglers at US Botanic Garden
(Conservatory Garden Court- 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001)
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 our narrow paths and the nature of this program, we cannot support strollers or older siblings. Free, however preregistration is required.

10:30am: Peter Pan Club at College Park Aviation
(1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park 20740)
Come to the Peter Pan Club for pre-school fun! Ideal for little learners up to five years old, the club includes story-time and hands-on craft activities. Free with museum admission.

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.

Friday:

9:30am and 11:15am: Me & You-kelele Storytime at Kensington Park Library
(4201 Knowles Avenue 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.

10:00am-2:00pm: Celebrate Earth Day! Open House at US Botanic Garden
(100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20001))
Join us as the U.S. Botanic Garden celebrates the 45th anniversary of Earth Day! Come enjoy cooking demonstrations with seasonal produce and meet with representatives of environmental organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways that you can make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the plants that support life on earth. FREE: No pre-registration required.

10:00am: Songs, stories & puppets at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW, Washington, DC. 20010)
30 minutes of storytelling, dancing, singing and entertainment just for kids under 5.

10:30am: Boogie Babes 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.

Tuesday-Thursday:

Garbage to Gardens: An Earth Week Exploration at Discovery Theater
(Haupt Garden, Smithsonian)
Mother Nature loves garbage, and uses ours to make new earth. Meet Smithsonian naturalists from the Green Team in the beautiful Haupt Garden of the Castle for an Earth Week welcome. Then get the inside scoop on how compost becomes dirt and find out how throwing a “seed bomb” can make a bare patch of ground bloom. Plenty of great hands-on activities make this the perfect way to celebrate our planet.