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June 28, 2007
Weekend Watch: Folklife Festival, Grand Opening in Gaithersburg, & Giveaways at Whole Foods
The family-friendly Folklife Festival is already underway on the National Mall - and looks like temps will cool off this weekend, so you and your little ones can really enjoy it.
Also this weekend... It's the grand opening of the new Apple Seed maternity and baby boutique in Gaithersburg! The doors open on Friday at 414 Main St. (240.683.5446). I love, love, love the Old Town location - and I'm sure the new boutique will be a great success in Montgomery County!
And last but not least... At Whole Foods stores in Bethesda and DC this weekend, a chance to take home a free sample of Mom Made Foods (founded by local mama Heather Stouffer), a line of organic, fresh frozen purees for first foods and beyond. It's also a chance to discuss introducing solid foods, and other baby/toddler eating issues, as well as getting free-giveaways like baby spoons. They'll be at the P St. Whole Foods in DC on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and at the Bethesda Whole Foods on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Posted by Sarah at 9:38 PM
June 27, 2007
Sunset Serenades begin tomorrow
The free "Sunset Serenades" are about to begin at the National Zoo - This Thursday night, June 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Lion & Tiger Hill.
These family-friendly concerts continue every Thursday, same time, same place, through August 9. Bring a picnic or buy eats at the zoo snack bar.
Here's the lineup of musical styles, week by week:
June 28, blues/rock
July 5, soul (tribute to James Brown)
July 12, British blues/rock
July 19, classic rock
July 26, jazz
August 2, Puerto Rican salsa & folk
August 9, rockabilly
Especially when the weather is mild, it can get very crowded... So I recommend arriving early to stake out your spot on the grass. Also a good idea to take metro if at all possible - the parking lots may fill up completely on these evenings, and neighborhood parking is virtually nonexistent.
Posted by Sarah at 11:28 AM
June 26, 2007
Summer fun in Chevy Chase, Bethesda, & Rockville
In Bethesda and Rockville, the fabulous musiKids is offering a Mini-Camp for ages 18 months to four years (attending WITH an adult), with mornings full of art, music, and movement centered around themes like "Winter in July" and "Zoom to the Moon." You can register for as few or as many Mini-Camp mornings as you like between July 23 and August 3. Meets 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. each day.
And, in Chevy Chase, a new Tot Talk Playgroup just got underway. This summer class meets Fridays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and combines their Toddler Art class with Music and Movement - Each week the children are creating art projects, playing their instruments, using their imaginations, jumping in the moonbounce, playing in the ball pit, chasing bubbles, and riding motorcycles. Classes meet at Chevy Chase Baptist Church (5671 Western Ave. NW). For more info or to register, contact Angela Harris at: director-at-tottalkpg-dot-com.
Posted by Sarah at 10:02 AM
June 24, 2007
DC-area playgrounds (& DCB!) in the Washington Post
Don't miss Rina Rapuano's June 24 story in the Washington Post's Sunday Source section: "Playgrounds Get Imaginative: Carousels, Castles, and...Xylophones?" (For which I had the honor of being interviewed.)
Rapuano, herself a local mother, covers highlights of the DC-area playground scene, including Clemyjontri Park, Discovery Park, Friendship Park (a.k.a. Turtle Park), Hadley's Playground, and Watkins Regional Park.
When you read the story online, be sure to comment in the space provided, sharing your favorite DC-area playground with Washington Post readers.
Posted by Sarah at 6:52 PM
June 20, 2007
Heads up for Potomac Mills storytime... & early Weekend Watch
DC BABY is mentally worn out after completing that 44-page pregnancy/birth/postpartum e-book, and she's skipping town with the fam for the next several days. So you're getting Weekend Watch a bit early, and there will be no blog posts until early next week.
Consider starting the weekend ahead of schedule, by trying out this new-to-me event at Potomac Mills in NoVa. Did you know that they offer a free, interactive storytime for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers on the third Thursday of every month at 10 a.m. in the Grand Court (near the LEGO Outlet and TJ Maxx). They read a few books, do a little singing and movement, and then serve up kid-friendly snacks and giveaways. Best of all, in weather like this... it's air-conditioned!
This Thursday, June 21, it's "Curious George Goes to the Beach."
Also this weekend... Thursday through Monday at Van Dyck Park in Fairfax it's the free "Movies Under the Moon" festival with vendors benefiting Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. Here's the lineup:
Thursday, June 21, Happy Feet
Friday, June 22, Charlotte's Web
Saturday, June 23, Top Gun
Sunday, June 24, Night at the Museum
Monday, June 25, Dream Girls
(Thanks to DCB reader Kristina for the tip.)
This weekend on Capitol Hill... Eileen Ladino, founder of Tiny Fingers, is offering a baby sign language workshop on Saturday at 12 noon at The Family Room. Parents will learn more than 30 signs relative to their baby's everyday life, including mealtime. For details amd tp register, click here.
Until next week...
Posted by Sarah at 11:55 AM
June 18, 2007
Special delivery: Second Edition E-Book on Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum is available for purchase
After major-big updates and additions, the Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum chapter of the DC BABY book's Revised Second Edition is available for purchase as an e-book!
The 44-page e-book is easy to download and save as a PDF to your home/office computer, view on your desktop, and print selected sections or the whole chapter (if you wish). To purchase your copy, just click here.
Topics covered in this resource for expectant and new parents include:
* Support for fertility issues
* Ob/Gyns
* Midwives
* Cesarean awareness
* Local listservs for pregnancy
* Resources for high-risk/complicated pregnancies
* Birth doulas
* Childbirth educators
* Local birth circles & nonprofit programs
* Links to childbirth education programs
* Pregnancy massage
* Physical therapists & chiropractors specializing in pregnancy/postpartum
* Prenatal fitness
* Nutritionists specializing in pregnancy/postpartum
* Prenatal accupuncturists
* Maternity shopping
* Support for perinatal depression/anxiety
* Breastfeeding classes, support groups, & consultants
* Breast pump rentals & sales
* Breastfeeding hotlines & websites
* Postpartum doulas & baby nurses
* Babywearing
* Postpartum fitness
* Infant massage classes
* Support groups for new moms & babies
* "First Outings" for new moms & babies
Now, before you email to ask:
YES, the chapter heavily covers NoVa and the Maryland suburbs, in addition to the District of Columbia.
YES, there is tons of new content since the first edition of the book came out in 2005. This chapter more than any other in the book has undergone major revision and expansion - partly due to the major changes that have happened in the DC area over the past two years, and partly due to extra research on my part since writing the first manuscript in 2005.
YES, there are even more detailed comments/reviews from local moms in this edition!
NO, not a single service provider or business mentioned in this book paid for that honor. None of the content of the book is advertising. Recommendations are based on the personal experiences of local parents, as well as my own first-hand experience.
The full edition of the DCB e-book will be out later this summer, and the paperback edition will be available in fall or early winter 2007. Stay tuned, and as always, thanks for reading!
(Please note: Copyright on this publication will be strictly enforced. An enormous amount of work has gone into producing a second edition of this resource, and it is available for purchase at an affordable price. If you purchase an e-book, the downloaded file may not be shared, redistributed, forwarded, or reproduced in any way without the explicit written permission of the author. Please follow the Golden Rule. No file-sharing.)
Posted by Sarah at 6:50 PM
Free summer kids' movies at DC-area AMC Theaters
Thanks to DCB reader Kristina for sending this tip on a summertime outing in the NoVa and MD suburbs:
Participating AMC Theaters are hosting FREE kids' movies, open to families, summer camps, and schools as part of their MovieCamp program.
The FREE movies are Wednesdays at 10 a.m. from June 27 to August 15 (no movie on July 4). Groups can reserve their tix one week in advance at the box office.
These DC-area theaters are offering MovieCamp:
AMC Hoffman 22, Alexandria
Lowes Fairfax Square 8, Vienna
AMC Tysons Corner 16, Mclean
Magic Johnson Capital Center 12, Largo
Loews St. Charles Town Center 9, Waldorf
AMC Potomac Mills 18, Woodbridge
AMC Columbia 14, Columbia
AMC Security Square 18, Baltimore
Enjoy!
Posted by Sarah at 11:06 AM
June 15, 2007
Weekend Watch: Out & About for Father's Day
As I finish the research for the second edition of the DC BABY book, my daughter and I are visiting some of the new sites for little ones that have opened since the first edition of the book came out in 2005. And this Thursday, on my day off, we headed to the brand-new and much-praised Clemyjontri Park in Mclean. We were not disappointed! As playgrounds go, this is holy ground. And although I'm sure it can get crowded on nice-weather weekends like the one coming up, I have to recommend a Father's Day visit.
Clemy Park is accessible to all ages and abilities, beautifully and thoughtfully designed, love the carousel, and really appreciate the fact that a covered picnic pavilion (as well as several picnic benches under shady trees) and large, clean restrooms are part of the design.
Some of Ava's favorite features were the maze for chasing and hiding in, the low-to-the-ground monkey bars, the plastic "rock climbing wall" with oversized handles for the littlest climbers, the big rainbow-hued arches, the balance beams, the big yellow swings, and the mock fire truck. The soft surface is great for crawlers and early walkers, and is easy to navigate for children in wheelchairs or using special walkers. The soft-surface track circles the entire playground , so you can bring a ride-on toy with you. If you want to ride the (lovely) carousel, be sure to bring quarters or $1 bills.
Also this weekend...I'd be a bad Old Towner indeed if I failed to recommend the kid-friendly event taking place right here in my neighborhood, from mid-morning to late evening both Saturday and Sunday. The Annual Alexandria Waterfront Festival, which benefits the Red Cross, will have children's rides and games, kids' arts and crafts activities, tours of harbor ships, good food, live music, and a nice setting on the riverbank. Fireworks on Saturday night, too! Little ones under age two get in free, and kids two to 12 are $5 each. Adults are $10 each. Avoid the major parking and traffic hassles - There will be free shuttle buses to and from the King St. and Eisenhower metro stops during festival hours. See you there!
Posted by Sarah at 11:08 AM
June 14, 2007
See your name in lights! (or at least in print...)
Would you like to be quoted in the second edition of the DC BABY book - and help new parents and families moving into the Washington area, in the process?
As I finish the manuscript of the new and revised edition of the book, whose first edition was published in fall 2005, I would love to hear from you about your local favorites. Space allowing, as many of your comments as possible will be included in the book's second edition, identified by your first name and city of residence.
To complete the five-minute survey, click here. And thanks in advance!
Posted by Sarah at 9:24 AM
June 13, 2007
Alexandria's "Stories in the Park"
A new-to-me summer program at Fort Ward Park: The Alexandria Public Library will host "Stories in the Park" from 11 to 11:45 a.m. on selected Wednesdays - June 13 and 27; July 11, 18, and 25.
You're encouraged to bring something to sit on - and a picnic, if you'd like to take advantage of one of the nearby tables after the storytime.
In case of rain or extreme heat (not sure how they qualify "extreme"), the storytime will move to the branch library at 4701 Seminary Rd. (To find out about relocation, call 703.838.4555, ext. 217 after 9:30 a.m. on program day.)
General info about this program is available by ringing the Barrett branch library at 703.838.4555, ext. 3.
Posted by Sarah at 11:45 AM
June 12, 2007
Wednesday mornings on the waterfront
I heard from a couple of you last summer that this was a neat weekday outing for toddlers and preschoolers, and apparently it was enough of a success to revive it for 2007:
The Washingtonian Center on the waterfront does a Little Tots Summer Fun Series held every-other Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, starting next week, June 20.
They do animal shows at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., give out coupons and goodie bags to the parents, and the Montgomery Co. police are there with some valuable info and resources on child safety. There's a strolling magician, an arts-and-crafts area, and the California Pizza Kitchen on the waterfront offers 50 percent off children's meals at lunchtime on the day of the event.
Posted by Sarah at 12:40 PM
June 11, 2007
Crawl, Walk, Run Sale at DPB
I just got word: The fabulous, upscale Dawn Price Baby boutique is having its Annual Crawl, Walk, Run Sale at BOTH locations - Capitol Hill (7th St. SE at Penn Ave., near Eastern Market) and Georgetown (M St. at 31st St. NW) - starting this Friday and extending all the way to August.
Spring and summer baby and toddler clothing (and accessories) will be offered at bargain prices, with the discounts getting greater as the selection gets lower. Here's how it works:
June 15 - July 6 - 30% off
July 7 - July 20 - 40% off
July 21 - August 10 - 50 to 75% off
The Capitol Hill location is open Tuesday through Sunday, and the Georgetown store is open seven days a week. Check their website for more details.
Posted by Sarah at 12:18 PM
June 8, 2007
Weekend Watch: DC opens select pools until 7 p.m. tonight, & South American Festival on Sunday in Alexandria
The District has announced that they are opening selected city pools this afternoon and evening, in an effort to help kids and families beat the extreme heat and humidity. The following District of Columbia pools are open until 7 p.m. tonight (as well as from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday):
East Potomac Park, 202.727.6523
Randall, 202.727.1420
Upshur 202.576.8661
Kenilworth-Parkside, 202.727.0635
Francis, 202.727.3285
Georgetown, 202.282.0381
Oxon Run, 202.645.5042
These additional DC pools will be open ONLY Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m.:
Fort Lincoln, 202.576.6389
Fort Stanton, 202.645.5047
Harry Thomas, 202.576.6349
Rosedale, 202.727.1502
Douglass, 202.645.5045
If you don't live in the District, check your city's website to find out if there are extra and/or extended city pool hours in today's miserable heat! Many cities' rec centers and/or libraries are staying open until 9 p.m. (or later) tonight, to give residents who have no A/C or inadequate A/C a free place to be.
Also this weekend, when the temps should have eased up...the chance to celebrate your Central- or South American heritage...or just enjoy a new culture for an afternoon! The City of Alexandria will host its FREE Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival this Sunday, June 10, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Village Shopping Center (3700-3800 block of Mt. Vernon Ave., near Del Ray).
The international live music lineup sounds really neat - with performances by Amistad Garifuna from Honduras, La Maquina from El Salvador, Domenic Marte, and the reggae group Mafu Crew. The event will also have children's activities, a communtiy service and health fair, and displays featuring traditional arts and crafts from South America, Bolivia, Peru, and Central America. Yummy Central- and South American foods for purchase will include empanadas, nuegados, tamales, popusas, tacos, enchiladas, and homemade beverages like horchata, tamarindo, maranon, and cebada.
Posted by Sarah at 2:33 PM
June 6, 2007
Sibling stuff in Alexandria, VA
Two sibling-related opportunities coming soon in Alexandria - One a sibs prep class for children expecting a new baby brother or sister, and the other a free parenting workshop on promoting happy, healthy sib relationships.
1) Parenting Playgroups will offer a FREE parent lecture, "Birth Order & Sibling Relationships," next Wednesday, June 13 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Here's a description from presenter Dr. Rene Hackney:
"We will discuss the research on birth order and sibling rivalry. We will cover the guidelines for parenting language, including competition, fairness, comparisons and roles. We will include tips for managing tattling, bickering, fighting and aggression. A reservation is required and space is limited to 18 participants. To reserve a seat, email rene-at-parentingplaygruops-dot-com or call 703.922.0044."
Attending this free lecture could be a great introduction to the many other parenting and children's programs offered by Parenting Playgroups.
2) Annie Harold, a local Bradley Method childbirth educator, is offering a special Sibling Preparation Class that is open to the public and will be held at BirthCare & Women's Health in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Aimed at kids age three to nine and their families. You don't have to be a Bradley student or a BirthCare client to take part! The class will be appropriate for all families, including those who plan to give birth at a hospital, a birth center, or at home with midwives. Here's what Annie will cover with kids in the class:
PREGNANCY:
What is our baby doing now?
What is important for Mom now?
BIRTH:
How will our baby likely come out?
What will Mom and the birth team need to do?
NEW LIFE:
What will our new baby do in the first weeks?
How will Mom/Dad care for our new baby?
How can I help our new baby?
An optional segment at the end of the class will cover "Including Children at Birth." The adults will talk about considerations when including older children in the birth of a sibling, while the kids themselves take part in a craft activity.
To register or get more info, contact Annie at 703.486.0879 or by email: ampharold-at-comcast-dot-net.
Posted by Sarah at 11:03 AM
June 4, 2007
Evening workshop on kids, parents, & anger
An evening parenting workshop coming up soon in Friendship Heights/Tenleytown: "What to Do When Kids Get Angry," aimed at parents and caregivers of children ages three to 14, led by Jen Kogan, LICSW, LCSW-C.
The workshop meets two consecutive Fridays, June 29 and July 6, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 5247 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 2.
Here's a description of the workshop from Jen:
"All people get angry. What can we do for ourselves and for our children as we grapple with this challenging emotion? This upcoming workshop will help parents begin to identify their own feelings about anger and learn skills to help children express themselves in a safe and loving environment.
This workshop will help you to:
Identify what makes you angry
Handle conflict in a constructive manner
Teach your children how to identify emotions
Express anger safely
Improve family communication
Forge stronger relationships."
For more information or to register, contact Jen Kogan at 202.215.2790 or jenniferkogan-at-verizon-dot-net.
Posted by Sarah at 8:47 PM
June 3, 2007
Last-minute lowdown on several new classes
Here are few quick announcements on classes that are starting...well, NOW! If any of them suit your fancy, follow the contact instructions to register ASAP, as I'm just the messenger:
Megan Brown is starting a new Prenatal Pilates session starting tomorrow, Monday, June 4 through August 20 at Evolution Pilates in Alexandria. Taught by a physical therapist, this class is for all fitness levels and stages of pregnancy. For more info or to sign up, contact Megan: megan-at-evolutionpilates-dot-net or703.751.1733.
Jennifer Moore of Moore Than Yoga in Arlington is offering a fun-filled Pajama Party Family Yoga session on Saturday, June 16 - and you need to pre-register by June 12. Appropriate for parents/grandparents/caregivers and their children, babies to age 17. And yes, you really get to wear pajamas. For more info or to register, contact Jennifer: info-at-moore-than-yoga-dot-com.
New Capitol Hill hot spot The Family Room now offers both open enrollment and drop-in attendance (space permitting) in their many weekly sessions for early childhood enrichment - including French for 1s and 2s, French for 3s/4s/5s, Spanish for 1s and 2s, Spanish for 3s/4s/5s, "Not Your Mommy's Yoga," Music for 1s and 2s, French storytime, and an adults-only Pilates mat class. To see the complete schedule and register, click here.
Tiny Fingers is hosting a one-day Saturday workshop for parents and babies on June 9 at 10 a.m. in the Landmark neighborhood of Alexandria (205 Yoakum Pkwy, Suite 1803). Taught by Eileen Ladino, who has a master's degree in deaf education from Gallaudet University and is a former sign language interpreter. The Tiny Fingers workshop is designed for hearing babies, toddlers, and their parents. For more info or to register, click here.
Posted by Sarah at 8:04 PM