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June 30, 2006
Weekend Watch: A Follow-Up for the Weather-Weary
There are rumblings from locals and tourists alike about how ready - or not - DC is for this weekend's festivities and crowds. So I thought I should share the most official version of the buzz. It may all be "much ado about nothing," but if you're hoping to go downtown and/or use metro with your DC baby in the next four days, you ought to know what to expect:
"Metro Tackles Escalator Repairs for Holiday"
"Metro Weekend Work to Impact Service"
"Metro to Operate Special Service on July 4"
"Water Damage Shuts Some DC Museums for July 4"
from the Smithsonian's press office today: URGENT NOTICE for Friday, June 30, 2006: Due to power outages and flooding caused by recent storms, the National Museum of American History is closed to the public. The museum will reopen on July 1. Other Smithsonian museums are open.
from the National Archives website today:
The National Archives Building in Washington, DC is closed. Due to flooding and electrical outages from recent storms, the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, will be closed through Tuesday, July 4. Our traditional outdoor July 4 celebration will take place as scheduled.
Posted by Sarah at 2:41 PM
Weekend Watch: DC Baby-Friendly July 4th
Dare I say it, for fear of bringing back the downpour? I think DC has officially earned pleasant weather for the long holiday weekend. Here are my favorite picks for those with baby/toddler or preschooler in tow:
The annual Folklife Festival is happening down on the National Mall, today through July 4. It's free and open to the public, and you can wander around as the mood strikes you. You can bring a stroller, if needed. There will be several tents with music, dancers, and live entertainment, as well as plenty of yummy food vendors. Metro-accessible, and you can duck into one of the Smithsonian museums if you need an A/C break or a diaper change. The "featured cultures and themes" this year include New Orleans, Alberta, the music of Latino Chicago, and American Indian basket-making.
While you're down at the Mall, you can catch the shuttle between the Folklife Festival and this weekend's Family Festival at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and the National Gallery of Art, where there will be child-friendly music and entertainment. . . plus - my favorite - free ice cream at the G St. entrance. For more info, click here and read the Post coverage.
There are also a couple of parades, which I highly recommend. For most of us, going to a parade is a wise alternative to taking babies and little ones to the noisy, potentially scary, late, and crowded fireworks displays. DC's parade is the morning of the 4th at 11:45 downtown. The only suburban parade I know of this year is in the city of Fairfax on the morning of the 4th at 10 a.m.
Daytime family-oriented festivals are also happening on Tuesday at Buddy Attick Park in Greenbelt, at Baker Park in Frederick, in Vienna, and at Claude Moore Park in Loudon County.
If you'd like to hear the live Capitol Fourth Concert on the night of the 4th, but are wise enough not to take a young child into the madness of the Tuesday night crowd, consider going to the concert dress rehearsal on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. on the West Lawn of the Capitol building It's free and it's the real deal, minus the pushing and shoving.
If you're going down to the Mall on Monday or Tuesday evening, check out these tips in advance.
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Posted by Sarah at 10:01 AM
June 29, 2006
Support for Single Parents
An email I recently received from a single mama made me realize that although I cover single-parenting resources in my book, I've never done so on this blog. Here's what I know:
The bad news is, shortly after I featured them in the DC BABY book, the Single Parents Community Network of Metro Washington went belly-up. In December '05, they disbanded due to lack of active members who could keep things going. (Too bad, because they were a great support to single parents for over five years.)
The good news is, there are other organizations still alive and well:
Check out SPARK (Single Parents Raising Kids), an organization for single parents in Montgomery County, MD and from the District and other nearby suburbs. The group was started by nine local single parents way back in 1987, and they host lots of family activities and outings, educational programs for parents, and adult-only social events. They also have a listserv discussion group, where members keep in touch and share support and information via email. Annual dues are around $25, and newbies attend an "orientation" gathering.
Parents Without Partners has a Fairfax, VA chapter. This is a group of single parents who have children of all ages. They host events such as family picnics, pot-luck dinners and outings, adults-only happy hours, etc. For prospective members, they offer an "orientation" gathering at least once a month. Annual dues are around $40.
There is also an active Parents Without Partners chapter for DC and Montgomery County, MD residents.
It's not a social group per se, but Fairfax County's Parenting Education Center offers a coupla classes, "Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes" and "Single Parenting." For more details, call 703.277.2666 or click here for the summer schedule.
Another class for separated or divorced parents is held at locations in Prince William County, Fairfax County, and Springfield, VA. It's called "Trans-Parenting," and offers "an opportunity for single parents to shift their attention from the personal aspects of divorce or separation to the needs of their children." For more info, call 703.219.2198.
For single mamas in NoVa or the District, check out The Women's Center of Northern Virginia for relevant support groups, classes, and referrals. They also offer counseling (psychological, career, financial, and legal), regardless of your ability to pay. Their NoVa location is in Vienna, 703.281.2657, and their DC location is on 15th St. NW, 202.293.4580.
One of the best places to find a support group or social network of like-minded, single parents is your church or synagogue. If you attend services somewhere, ask if such a group exists. (Or take the lead and start your own!) One of the great things about these groups is that their meetings almost always come with free, on-site childcare.
The national organization DivorceCare for single parents and their children has many groups based in Washington-area religious congregations. Click here to see the list of local groups.
For single parents in need of connection to services and supports in DC or any other community, the PARENT LINE sponsored by the Single Parent Resource Center (based in NYC) provides telephone assistance and referral to support groups and resources in communities throughout the U.S. A computerized database provides information on child care, training, educational and job opportunities while children are cared for: 212.951.7030, ext. 231.
If you know of additional supports for single parents in (or around) Washington, please drop me a line and I will add them to the list: sarah (at) dc-baby (dot) com.
UPDATE: Reader and single mama Elizabeth recommends checking out Single Mothers by Choice, whose DC chapter is very active, friendly, and helpful.
Posted by Sarah at 3:14 PM
June 28, 2006
DC Mamas Doing Business for Babies: Chic Tots & Mom Made Foods
I'm convinced that some of the smartest, most talented and entrepreneurial moms live in (and around) Washington. Here are the two newest small businesses founded by local mamas to serve local babies and families:
Mom Made Foods is a new organic baby food business recommended to me by one of our readers, Kristen, mama of a six-month-old. The prices are competitive, the fresh-made foods get thumbs up from babies, and they are available every Saturday at the Del Ray Farmer's Market in Alexandria, VA. They're also available from eGroceries Delivered, which serves 150 zip codes in the DC and Baltimore areas (including Montgomery County, MD and NoVa).
The business was launched this spring by Heather Stouffer, a local full-time working mother. Mom Made Foods recently got organic certification from the USDA, and was featured on Monday's Fox 5 Morning News, as part of a feature story by reporter Karen Meyers on the growth of organic products.
Now on to the second success story: Local mama Michele Good, who just had her second baby this spring, has partnered with her college roommate to launch Chic Tots. Their vision is to design and market the types products that they themselves use with their babies and young children, both for style and functionality. Their new Chic & Comfy brand slings are currently available at Piccolo Piggies (both the Georgetown and Bethesda boutiques) and Full of Beans in Potomac, MD.
Coming this fall is their second new product, the Chic & Clean Coverall, which is currently being tested by local kiddos and will be available in the fall. Michele says more new products are in the "prototype" stage.
Congrats to all these local mamas who have decided to "go for it" with their own businesses. I hope you'll join me in supporting them, by shopping locally and spreading the good word.
Posted by Sarah at 10:00 AM
June 27, 2006
Follow-Up: City Pools for Summer
Thanks for the tips you sent in, re: good summer pools inside the District for families with babies and young children. Here are the suggestions I received:
From mama Michelle:
"13th St, NW and Arkansas Ave., NW is a great pool. And a lot of folks like Francis Pool in the Dupont Cirlce area. Both are good for folks with infants as well as older kids."
From mama Bette:
"There are two in Georgetown. The one at 34th and Q is a lovely facility. There's no kiddie pool, so the really little ones won't be ready for that place. The other pool at N and 25th (I know Mapquest and Google say it doesn't exist, but it does!) has a kiddie pool; however, the facility is older. A great indoor pool in Takoma Park has a kiddie pool with a neat fountain mushroom thing. And last, there is a pool called Upshur Pool on Arkansas. It has a fairly nice facility but no kiddie pool and no chairs!"
Mama Laura also reports:
"I have heard the Hinkley Hilton (a.k.a. Hilton Washington) charges $15 for a day pass, but you can also get a summer membership." FYI, their pool is outdoors and Olympic-style.
Posted by Sarah at 10:38 AM
June 26, 2006
Stirrup Queens, Unite
(And I'm not talkin' about cowgirls, ladies.)
If you read this blog, chances are you already have a DC baby of your own, or one on the way. But you probably also know at least one local couple struggling with infertility, or you may be going through this yourself.
It can be a lonely experience. But fear not. . . A local couple, Melissa and Josh, just launched an infertility blog for Washington women and couples who are riding that roller coaster called "trying to have a baby." They hope to create an interactive, online community where you can share your own voice - a place to both give and receive information and support. Melissa and Josh also plan to write a book about the whole infertility experience, and they are happy to collect anecdotes from couples who have been there, done that.
They have a healthy sense of humor, too. (Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying, right?) "Stirrup Queens & Sperm Palace Jesters" is the latest thing on the local blog scene. Check it out: www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com.
Posted by Sarah at 2:56 PM
June 25, 2006
Summer in the City
I recently got an email from a DC mama, Laura, wondering where all the good public pools are in the District - and, for that matter, the private pools that offer memberships for the summer.
The best answer I had for her, unfortunately, was along the lines of "Good question!" If you'll pardon the pun, this is a hot topic, year after year. And I'm still looking for insider tips. We all seem to be asking, and not many of us telling.
Families with babies and preschoolers who live in downtown apartments have few options for summer swims, and I'd love to get your feedback on where to go. If you know of a great public or private pool for District families, please drop me a line: sarah (at) dc-baby (dot) com. I'll post a compilation on the blog.
To date, here are the possibilities I've already featured on the blog and/or in my book:
The DC Jewish Community Center (on 16th St., NW) offers open swim times, as well as swim classes and groups for babies through adults.
The Lowell School (on Kalmia Rd., NW) offers pool memberships for individuals and families. They also offer classes and swim groups for babies through adults.
The DC Parks & Rec Department also operates neighborhood public pools, with FREE entrance for residents. And their outdoor pools open TODAY, Monday, June 26! For the little ones, I suggest going to one of the District's six "Walk to Learn" outdoor pools, which are smaller and designed specifically for kids under age 12. On the downside, don't count on morning swims - They are generally only open Monday through Friday afternoons, 1 to 5 p.m. And they are CLOSED Saturdays and Sundays. (Bummer.) Click here to see where these smaller, child-friendly public pools are located.
There are also 19 DC Parks & Rec public pools that are outdoors but larger - not specifically designed for the under-12 crowd. Click here to see where these pools are located.
And if you're in the District but want to shield your little one from the sun, consider one of the indoor Parks & Rec pools, which are open year-round. Click here to see where they are located.
But the question remains - is there one DC public pool that really rocks for families with one children? Which would you recommend, and which would you recommend staying away from? Drop me a line with your feedback about these and other pools for city babies! I'd love to pass along the info.
Posted by Sarah at 7:34 PM
June 24, 2006
Weekend Watch: Better Late Than Never
Forgive me for the late posting, but we're just back from a week in New York and I'm playing catch-up on the blog! Here are a coupla picks for today and Sunday with baby/toddler or preschooler in tow:
At the Clarendon Barnes & Noble in Arlington TODAY (Saturday, June 24) between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., it's a Street-Side Storytime, and it's FREE! A new children's storytime begins every half-hour, plus other fun activities for various age groups. Freebies will include books, event passes, and gift cards. Heads up: If you park in the garage, you can get your ticket validated at Barnes & Noble. For more info, call the store at 703.248.8244.
Also going on today until 4 p.m. is the fabulous Second Annual Summer KidFest in historic Clifton, VA. Tons of children's entertainers, food, rides, games, and fun. Cost is $5 per person, and it benefits the Clifton Betterment Association playground fund. This year's Kidfest is a tribute to Bryce Anderson, a 2-and-a-half-year-old Clifton resident who recently passed away after a long and heroic battle with leukemia.
Sunday in Maryland, it's gotta be the free Summer Concert Series at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Come and go as the weather and your baby's bedtime allow. Bring or buy a picnic dinner! Music this time is by Gye Nyame, the African Cultural Dance Company. The event is hosted by PG County Parks & Rec.
Posted by Sarah at 11:33 AM
June 20, 2006
DP Baby Sale & 15% Off at NEW Apple Seed Boutique
Two bits of shopping news for ya:
First, Dawn Price Baby in the District is having their Summer Sale. It works like this: The discounts get deeper as the available merchandise gets thinner. Here's what you can expect, when:
June 23 - June 30: 15% off
July 1 - July 7: 25% off
July 8 - July 14: 35% off
July 15 - July 23: 40% - 75% off
Sale applies to all spring and summer infant and toddler clothing and accessories.
DPB store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They're a coupla doors down from Eastern Market on Capitol Hill - 325 7th St., SE.
Also, as of yesterday, the fabulous new Apple Seed maternity, baby, and toddler boutique is officially open in Old Town Alexandria! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek last week, and it's really going to be lovely. They've done great things with their space on Columbus St. (just a block off King, one block above Washington), and - joy of joys - they have (NICE) dressing rooms for the expectant mamas, and they are carrying way cool maternity swimsuits!
Stop by to check it out and welcome the Apple Seed gals to the neighborhood - a new maternity shopping venue is sorely needed in this neck of the woods and they are here at last! You can also print out a coupon postcard for 15 percent off your purchase, just by clicking here.
Happy shopping!
Posted by Sarah at 9:31 PM
June 18, 2006
Day Camp for Toddlers & Preschoolers, with a Twist
Grazie to local mama Allison Priebe Brooks (of Queen Bee Designs fame) for sharing this info about summer day camp programs at Parlez Vous in Old Town Alexandria. There are options for ages one to six:
Around the World in 5 Days!
Kids age three to six will travel 'round the world in five days - to Spain, Germany, Italy, China, and France. First session: July 10-14 from 10:30 a .m. to 12:30 p.m. Second session: July 31-August 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost for the week-long journey is $125.
Tiny Tot Theatre: French or SpanishCalling all mini-actors and actresses! Parlez Vous also offers Tiny Tot Theatre summer camps in French or Spanish for children ages one to five, accompanied by an adult. Tiny Tot Theatre: French meets July 10-14 with the production at noon on July 15. Tiny Tot Theatre: Spanish meets July 31-August 4 with the production at noon on August 5. The cost of Tiny Tot Theatre is $90 per week.
Before Care and Lunch Bunch
Parlez Vous also offers the option of Before Care (from 9:30 to 10:30am, $10/morning) and Lunch Bunch (from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., $12/afternoon).
Check their website for more info. To register, you can call them at 703.838.9683 or send email to: info (at) parlezvous (dot) org.
They're located at 1407 King St., which is just two blocks below the King St. metro station and across from A Likely Story children's bookstore!
Posted by Sarah at 1:40 PM
June 16, 2006
Weekend Watch: Father's Day Fun in the Sun
Happy Father's Day, DC daddies! Here are my weekend picks for celebrating with baby, toddler, or preschooler in tow:
In my neighborhood it's the annual Alexandria Waterfront Festival, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Old Town's Oronoco State Park (northern end of Union St. along the waterfront). Live music both days, and the visiting ships will be docked at Robinson's Pier, with ship tours included in the price of festival admission. The fireworks are Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. Special activities just for kids are a highlight - Check out the "Children's Harbor Tent" for games, crafts, etc. Lots of great food and drink vendors. The event benefits the local Red Cross, and kiddos under age two get in free.
On Saturday in the District, little ones might get a thrill out of watching the big kids (ages 8-13) compete at the Annual Soapbox Derby, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Constitution Ave. The racers go right down Capitol Hill and it's quite a spectacle.
On Sunday in Maryland, take the Father's Day Train Ride on the Walkersville Southern Railroad. The train leaves the station at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. All dads ride for half price and receive a small gift.
Enjoy a stellar weekend, daddy-os!
Posted by Sarah at 10:08 AM
June 15, 2006
Summertime Tunes
A couple of the favorite local kids' entertainers have announced their summer schedules. Take a look!
The Banjo Man (a.k.a. Frank Cassel) will play the Second Annual NoVa KidFest at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 24. Visit him on the Court Stage. (Admission charge to the festival.)
Also catch The Banjo Man every Thursday at 10:30 a.m., at Sangha in Takoma Park, MD. (Entry is $5 for one child, $7 for two, and $10 for three. Groups are $3 per child to attend, and adults get in free.) Coffee and light snacks available.
The Banjo Man is back to playing twice a month at the Silver Diner in Rockville, on the first and third Tuesday (this month, June 6 and 20) from 6 to 8 p.m. for the restaurant's "Kids' Night." Free face-painting for children between 5 and 8 p.m.
The Banjo Man also plays every Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. (Admission is $5 per child, $7 for two, or $10 for three kids). And he performs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Takoma Park Farmers' Market in Maryland, weather permitting.
One of my personal faves, Oh Susannah! plays every Monday from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA.
She'll also be at the Nova Kidfest from 11 to 11:45 a.m. on June 24 in Clifton. (Admission charge to festival.) And at the Marley Station Family Fun Day at 12 noon, on June 30 in Glen Burnie, MD.
On July 10, catch Oh Susannah! from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the Gaithersburg City Hall Pavilion in Maryland. And at the Fair Oaks Mall Pottery Barn Kids store in Fairfax on July 13 at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. On August 1, she performs from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. at the Black Rock Center for the Performing Arts in Germantown, MD.
Local kids' band Rocknocerus will play the Nova Kidfest on June 24 in Clifton, VA. And they continue to perform every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Jammin' Java in Vienna. (Admission fees apply.)
p.s. On a national note, the fabulous Dan Zanes has a new CD out, and it's KILLER! (In a good way.) We bought it for a recent road trip to NYC with our two-year-old. It worked its magic in the car, and we still haven't grown weary of it!
Posted by Sarah at 10:25 AM
June 14, 2006
Dateline Covers Tragic Death at Sibley Maternity Ward
There's major buzz inside the Beltway about last week's Dateline NBC story on DC's Sibley Memorial Hospital and the tragic death of a local mama. If you are a pregnant Washingtonian or planning to become pregnant, it's a difficult story that you need to hear.
While I personally suspect that the death of Julie LeMoult had as much to do with her individual physicians and nurses as with Sibley Hospital itself, everything about the situation is frightening. It's a stark reminder that while the public debates the safety of freestanding birth centers, midwife-assisted home births, etc., hospitals come with their own risks. As do elective medical interventions like epidurals, which most of us go into childbirth believing are harmless. Like all decisions about mothering, we just have to make the most informed, best choices we can for ourselves and our babies. The more we know, the more we read and discuss and investigate for ourselves, the better equipped we are to be our own best advocates.
I hope that sharing Julie LeMoult's heartbreaking story, rathering than contributing to alarmism about local hospitals or spreading fear, will lead to something good and true. (For starters, I think it's fair to say that after this negative, national publicity, Sibley is likely to now become one of the safest DC-area hospitals for labor and delivery! The incident has, no doubt, prompted hefty quality control checks.) As consumers of local health care for ourselves and our children, information can be a source of empowerment. When we talk about what happened to Julie, I hope we can do it in that spirit.
To see the video or read the transcripted story at the Dateline NBC site, "A Routine Epidural Turns Deadly: Julie and Chris LeMoult Were Excited Parents-to-Be. Did a Hospital Infection Turn the Happiest Day of Their Lives into a Nightmare?," click here.
Posted by Sarah at 12:47 PM
June 13, 2006
Summer Classes for DC Babies (& toddlers, & preschoolers)
Three stellar summertime opportunities:
To make your wonky off-season schedule a little more manageable, MusiKids in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Rockville, MD will offer a four-week July session (July 3-28), a four-week August session (August 7 to September 1), and a mini-camp sandwiched in between (from July 31 to August 4). Classes are available for babies as young as six months (with a parent, natch) up to four-year-olds, and are divided into age-appropriate groupings. To register or get more details, click here.
Tiny Fingers, which offers sign language classes, workshops, and products for hearing babies and their parents, has just updated their schedule for June, July, and August. These summer classes are being offered at local coffee shops in Alexandria, VA and Rockville and Gaithersburg, MD. They are also looking for a host for a DC class! If you're interested in being that host or have questions about any of the summer classes, contact Eileen Ladino at: classes (at) tinyfingers (dot) com.
Last but not least. . .In Glover Park/Upper Georgetown, NW DC, Jonah's Treehouse is offering a fun respite from the summer heat that you can take advantage of even if you're not currently enrolled in their classes. Jonah's Treehouse is hosting Open Play sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons this summer, at a cost of $15 an hour for unenrolled children and $7 an hour for kids who are currently in a JT class. For times and more details, click here.
Posted by Sarah at 10:01 AM
June 12, 2006
Dishing About Super Baby Food
Two enterprising local mamas of infants, Ellen and Marya, have started an email discussion list for DC-area parents who are using Ruth Yaron's super book, Super Baby Food.
This group, which currently has about 25 members, is a place for parents to ask questions, get support, and share ideas and experiences about feeding and nutrition for babies/toddlers. The members are sharing recipes, quick tips, ingenious ideas, questions, and personal knowledge, with a special emphasis on feeding babies homemade, organic baby foods as an alternative to store-bought, pre-packaged foods.
Whether you're using Yaron's Super Baby Food book or are just interested in feeding your baby homemade food, you are invited to join this Yahoo! Group. Click here and then on the "Join this Group" button to sign up.
Questions? Send email to superbabydc (at) yahoo (dot) com.
If you're interested in reading a basic, research-based primer on the importance of organic foods for young children... One of my consulting clients, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, has a good publication for parents, and it's accessible online: Fast Facts for Families: What You Need to Know About Organic Foods & Nutrition. Click here to check it out.
Posted by Sarah at 10:44 AM
Heads Up for Sesame Place, August 5
A mama from the Maryland suburbs has had a brilliant idea - Why not pool resources for a low-stress road trip to Sesame Place (located in Langhorne, PA, about 30 minutes north of Philly) this summer? Let someone else do the driving and the parking. Maybe even make a few new friends along the way.
DC-area families with young children are invited to join the chartered-bus trip to Sesame Place on Saturday, August 5. Pickup/dropoff locations will be in both Montgomery and PG Counties in Maryland, with specific locations to be determined based on demand.
You'll be at the Sesame Place park from approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost is $60 per person and children under age two are $35 - This cost includes admission to Sesame Place, the bus and driver, gratuities, breakfast, and an afternoon snack. An initial deposit of $30 per person is due by Friday, June 30. The balance is due by Thursday, July 20. (You may pay by cash, money order, or PayPal, but no personal checks.)
For more info or to sign up, contact Jeanine Arnett: jeaninearnett (at) gmail (dot) com. (If you need Jeanine's phone number, please email me privately and I will send it along.)
p.s. New at Sesame Place, as of May 6, 2006: Elmo's World!
Posted by Sarah at 9:55 AM
June 9, 2006
Weekend Watch: Hilary Duff Downtown, Swingin' in Reston, & Red Beans with Rice
Although "me and mine" are out-of-state on a li'l family vacation, I understand there's plenty of summer fun happening in DC this weekend. Here are my picks for families with babies, toddlers, and/or preschoolers:
For starters, the FREE Third Annual Kids' Extravalooza music event is set for Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. on 10th St., SW DC at L'Enfant Plaza. This outdoor concert is specifically tailored to children and will feauture headliner Hilary Duff, plus KOL's DJ Rick Adams and the Urban Nation Hip-Hop Choir. The event will support the National Children's Museum (which is currently undergoing a huge renovation/expansion, to be completed in 2009). You can come and go as your schedule and your energy level allow!
Also, the FREE Saturday-night outdoor concerts at Reston Town Center have started (and will continue each weekend through August). They begin at 7:30 p.m., so you can catch a few tunes without completely screwing up your kiddo's bedtime. Tomorrow night's band is perfect for young kids, with swing music by King Teddy. For the full summer schedule, directions, and contact info for more details, click here.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Red Beans & Rice Children's Boutique in NW DC (4710 14th St.) will host free family fun with a musical performance by Miss Lucy Lion at noon, face painting, refreshments, and an art project led by an Abrakadoodle instructor.
Enjoy!
Posted by Sarah at 10:14 PM
June 6, 2006
Mini Om
Two yoga-fun opportunities for little ones and their parents:
Georgetown Yoga will host its Summer Kids' Yoga Workshop this Sunday, June 11 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Mini-yogis age two+ (with a parent) are welcome, and no prior yoga experience is required. Cost is $15 per child, plus a free class pass for mom or dad. For more info or to register, click here.
Also, Spiral Flight Yoga in Upper Georgetown/Glover Park, NW DC continues to host one of the area's favorite postpartum yoga programs for new mamas and their babies. Their Tummy Time Yoga for babies age six weeks to walking (and their mamas) meets Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 p.m. And their Itsy-Bitsy Yoga for Tots (almost crawling to 14 mos.) continues on Mondays from 11:15 a.m. to noon. Itsy-Bitsy Yoga for Babies (newborn to "almost crawling") meets Mondays from 12:15 to 1 p.m. For more info or to register, click here.
Posted by Sarah at 12:01 PM
June 5, 2006
Eight Weeks to Positive Discipline
Those of you who have ever taken a parenting plass from local mama and developmental psychologist Dr. Rene Hackney, founder of Parenting Playgroups in Alexandria, will join me in jumping for joy at this news:
Rene has just published "Eight Weeks to Positive Discipline." The book is a guide to the language of "positive discipline," teaching parents about the role of emotions, "I messages" and empathy in parenting, offerng choices, and logical and natural consequences.
Topics range from managing tantrums and whining to coping with back-talk, picky eaters, sleep issues, and the use of techniques like time-out and "1-2-3 magic." It also addresses alternatives to "no," parenting styles, "catching children being good," and avoiding power struggles.
Much like Rene's popular Positive Parenting class, the workbook is divided into eight sections and makes for an easy read. There are practice items, lists of possible answers, and weekly "homework" to help you make the techniques your own.
Parenting Playgroups is accepting pre-order discounts through July 6, and the first books will be shipped on July 7. You can order a copy by sending email to: rene (at) parentingplaygroups (dot) com or by calling Parenting Playgroups at 703.922.0044.
Posted by Sarah at 11:23 PM
June 2, 2006
Weekend Watch, Part 2: Just for Mamas
Thanks to Grace Paik - local mama and owner of the uber-fabulous, DC-based Sam & Bellie - for letting me know that they're doing a home show TONIGHT, Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. Prices will be at almost wholesale on everything they have. And you're invited!
The event takes place at 109 E. Windsor Ave. in Alexandria, 22301. Drinks and appetizers will be served. NO children, por favor! For more info, send email to: grace (at) samandbellie (dot) com.
Posted by Sarah at 10:35 AM
Weekend Watch: Outdoorsy Types, & "Staying Fit During Pregnancy & Postpartum"
If the weather man knows what he's talking about, the heat and humidity will clear out for a beautiful weekend with temps in the 70s! In anticipation of this, my weekend picks are the outdoorsy type - Both events would be ideal for a family that has a baby/toddler AND an older preschooler, since they offer a nice mix of activities and entertainment, with the freedom to "come and go":
The 12th Annual Imagination Bethesda children's street festival is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Woodmont Ave. and Elm St. Free and open to the public! It's geared for the under-12 crowd, with a variety of activities for various ages. There will be live music, face painters, balloonists, roving street performers, children's theater, dance troupes, and arts/crafts projects.
Also on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., check out the Second Annual Peaceful Hollow Music & Food Fest in Westminster, MD. The event, which has a "world cultures" theme, is held at the outdoor amphitheatre on the campus of Carroll Community College. All proceeds benefit the Helen Kutt Scholarship Fund at the Oneness-Family School (located at Bradley & Wisconsin Ave. in Chevy Chase.) Advance tix purchased online: Kids age five and under get in FREE. Ages 6-12 are $5, and ages 12+ are $10. A $1.75 processing fee also applies to online ticket purchases. If you purchase at the gate, ages 6-12 are $7 and ages 12+ are $15. Local bands = Marshall Crenshaw, The Kennedys, and eight others! Over 40 food vendors, FREE games for kids, face painting, children's entertainer Peaceful Pirates from the Caribbean, and a gypsy storyteller.
p.s. For the expectant mamas among us, it's the monthly meeting of the Takoma Park Birthing Circle on Sunday, June 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They meet at Sangha in Takoma Park(7014 Westmoreland Ave.) Newcomers are always welcome, and it's FREE. This month's topic: "Staying Active During Pregnancy & Postpartum." Speakers will provide movement ideas for labor and give ideas on how to make getting back into shape enjoyable after giving birth. There will be a belly-dance demonstration, a prenatal yoga and baby yoga demonstration, and information about body-mind centering techniques. For more info, send email to Larissa: larissa (at) northstarbirth (dot) com. To join their listserv, go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/takomabirthingcircle.
Posted by Sarah at 9:52 AM
June 1, 2006
Mom's Night Out Shopping Spree at DPB
The eternally-hip Dawn Price Baby on Capitol Hill/Eastern Market is hosting its first Mom's Night Out Shopping Spree. A week from today, Thursday, June 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. You will receive 15 percent off your purchases during the event.
Just imagine. A night off without the kids, a chance to shop undistracted, and a special discount to boot. There will be snacks, beverages, atmosphere, and a chance to chat and shop with other local mamas.
Dawn Price Baby is one block from Eastern Market at 325 7th St., SE, DC. And if you've never been there before, you are in for a treat. (DPB was my pick for favorite Capitol Hill shopping in the DC BABY book.)
Dawn and her staff ask that you RSVP via email (dawn (at) dawnpricebaby (dot) com) or by calling the store at 202.543.2920 if you plan to attend. This will help them provide enough food and drink for all!
Posted by Sarah at 10:10 AM