DC BABY

Weekend Watch: Get a jumpstart on your kid-friendly Fourth

Sarah — 2009-07-02T16:58:41-05:00

If you've been-there-done-that with the insane crowds on the National Mall, or just want something with less hassle and more for little kids, here's a nice alternative:

The Gaylord Resort at the swanky National Harbor is hosting a family-oriented "July 3rd Celebration" TONIGHT from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.

There will be a Kid Zone with carnival rides, face painting, balloon sculpting, and caricature artists; great food options (including Lefty's BBQ); live rock/country/ and Caribbean music, a wine garden for the adults, and a 15-minute fireworks display over the Potomac after sundown.

Not a bad way to low-key the holiday, while still giving your children their promised fireworks fix.

p.s. I will be offline for the next week, but the blog will return Monday, July 13 through Wednesday, July 29th when I depart for Austin.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Fun summer outing: Backyard Theater @ Strathmore

Sarah — 2009-07-02T13:29:33-05:00

The summer children's program Backyard Theater is underway at the Strathmore in Bethesda, with outdoor shows every Thursday morning at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. during the month of July.

I think the African-fusion dance and drumming performance and the Red Grammer show sound especially appealing.

Little ones under age three get in FREE. Kids age three+ and adults are an affordable $6 each. You can buy online OR at the gate.

Enjoy!

Thursday: FREE mom & preschooler yoga in Alexandria

Sarah — 2009-07-01T10:17:01-05:00

One of our personal favorites, mom-owned Mind the Mat in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, will host a FREE mom-and-preschooler yoga session tomorrow, Thursday the 2nd, at 10:15 a.m.

We're told it'll be a fun yoga session for the children and a mini- yoga boot camp for the mamas. (A caregiver other than mom herself is also welcome.)

No obligation if you attend, but this is a chance to preview the class, which will meet all summer, Thursdays at 10:15 a.m.

After the session, we highly recommend visiting the other family-friendly stops along Mt. Vernon Ave., like St. Elmo's coffee shop, The Dairy Godmother (best frozen custard), Tex-Mex lunch at Los Tios (where the waiters will be SO sweet to your children and will remember them by name the next time you come in), kids' clothes/shoe shopping at The Purple Goose, and the Mt. Vernon School playground (across from Los Tios). The front entrance of the school (on Commonwealth Ave.) also has a vintage red train caboose, beloved by little kids. And a good public library next door.

Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods underway

Sarah — 2009-06-30T16:52:44-05:00

The very positively-reviewed Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods program, held every summer at Wolf Trap in NoVa, just kicked off its '09 season.

While some of the performances are best for kindergarteners+, there are several entertainers on this year's lineup who would be perfect preschoolers! I especially think SteveSongs, Cathy & Marcy, Rocknocerus, and Bob Brown Puppets will appeal to the littlest kids.

The schedule includes 70 performances for young audiences, June through August, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. A lovely introduction to live performance in a natural setting. Bring a picnic.... and your bug spray.

Tix sell out fairly quickly, so buying in advance for the show you'd like to see is advised.

This week: Half-price open play at Monkey Business

Sarah — 2009-06-29T14:12:21-05:00

If you've been meaning to check out Monkey Business in Falls Church, now's the time: They're hosting half-price open play today through Sunday.

Beat the heat for just $4 an hour. Today and Tuesday, 1 to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday 1 to 6:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday (the 4th) from 1 to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This Friday night, they're also hosting a "Parents' Night Out" from 5:30 to 8 p.m. F/ more info or registration, you can reach Monkey Business at 703.241.PLAY.

Weekend Watch: Celebration (& a good sale) on the Hill

Sarah — 2009-06-26T14:35:52-05:00

At long last, Saturday is the big grand re-opening celebration at the historic Eastern Market, with face-painting, magicians, balloon-twisters, live entertainment, tours of the restored market, and of course all the great local food, flowers, arts/crafts/antiques dealers. Some of the streets around the market will be closed to traffic to make extra space for the festivities, so plan accordingly if you'll need parking.

Joining the celebration, Eastern Market neighbor Dawn Price Baby will celebrate with sales that include 50 to 70 percent off select floor models, furniture, bedding, and nursery accessories (Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Their spring and summer infant and toddler clothes and accessories will be 30 percent off all weekend.

Enjoy!

Kid fun @ Glen Echo Park

Sarah — 2009-06-25T14:57:20-05:00

Not only does Glen Echo Park celebrate its Heritage Days this weekend, but its fabulous children's theaters are also staging two great performances for kids. Make a day-trip of it, and be sure to ride the historic 1921 Dentzel carousel, while you're there. (Open 12 noon to 6 p.m.)

At the Puppet Co.'s is the 30-minute-long "Circus," featuring vintage marionettes, or "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" on the Adventure stage. If you do the Adventure show, be sure to arrive early, since their seating tends to fill up quickly when the doors open.

Enjoy!

The Folklife Festival is here!

Sarah — 2009-06-24T12:46:03-05:00

Outing alert: It's opening day at the Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

Free admission for all, but with yummy food and drinks available for purchase, if you like. Loads of live music and dance demos are on the schedule.

Check this link for activities specifically for kids.

Weekend Watch: Dad's Day & the Waterfront Festival

Sarah — 2009-06-19T10:23:03-05:00

Happy Father's Day, DC dads! Hope it's a good one. If you're taking Pop out for a good meal this weekend, check OpenTable's list of who's open and who's doing special menus.

With the weather looking decent for the weekend, our pick is the 28th Annual Waterfront Festival in Alexandria, to benefit the Red Cross. Year after year, this is our daughter's favorite outing of the summer, with loads of kids' carnival rides, good food, and live music by the Potomac.

Our best advice for families with young children is to arrive as close to opening time as possible (10 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday), before it gets too crowded...and in time for the kids' music acts: This year featuring two of the favorites I've blogged about. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo performs Saturday from 11:30 to 12:30, and Rocknoceros on Sunday from 12 noon to 12:50. Kids can also tour a tall ship, learn about the life of pirates with authentically-attired "pirate guides," and make Father's Day cards and get their little faces painted in the arts & crafts tent. If your children are old enough to stay up late, there will be fireworks Saturday night!

Advance tix online are just $10 per adult - and two children get in free with each paying adult. All kids under age three get in for free.

NoVa's all-ages faves

Sarah — 2009-06-18T09:33:02-05:00

The June issue of Northern Virginia Magazine spotlights readers' picks for all-ages services and shopping. Several of the chosen ones have also been featured in the two editions of my book!

Here's how the magazine's votes shake out:

Kids' Birthday Cake: Edibles Incredible (with multiple NoVa locations)

Children's Clothes: Doodlehopper in Falls Church & Springfield

Children's Furniture: Baby 2 Teen in Manassas and Fredericksburg

Toddler Class: "Music with Maddy" (Music Together) in Falls Church & Ashburn

Activity Center: Jumping Jack Sports in Ashburn

Arts & Crafts: Maverick Mosaics in Vienna

Museum: UdvarHazy Air & Space Museum in Chantilly

Check out the magazine for complete reviews!

And feel free to share your own NoVa favorites here, in the "comments."

Summer book love

Sarah — 2009-06-16T14:44:01-05:00

When I was a kid growing up in extra-sweaty Texas, summer meant extra-many trips to the (air-conditioned) library with my grandmother and my cousin, where we piled stacks so high we could barely carry them home. Hot afternoons were for snuggling under a cotton quilt on the day-bed and escaping into a good book.

While it's not quite as miserably sweaty here in Washington, summer's still a great time to luxuriate in books with your little one(s). Unfortunately some (though not all) of the DC area's public libraries are cutting back on their hours and storytime offerings due to budget woes - but you can still check out books to your heart's content.

Here are some of my other local faves for falling in love with new books this summer:

Politics & Prose storytime: Mondays @ 10:30 a.m. They also offer a discount on a "signed book of the week." Check out the current selection in the store or on their website.

Hooray for Books storytimes: Saturdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. (for ages two and under) and from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon (for ages three to five). Also, they've added Tuesday storytimes for all ages in Japanese - from 10:30 to 11 a.m. And check out a day-long anniversary party at the store this Saturday, the 20th, with balloons, face painting, raffles, and special visits from local children's authors.

The Pajama Squid summer storytimes: Fridays at 10:30 a.m. until August 28th, with fabulous reader Karen Payne and occasional guest-reader Jessica from the "A Parent in Silver Spring" blog. Geared toward ages three to six years, but all ages are welcome. The store also stocks a brilliantly select offering of books - a mix of classics and will-be-classics. Check out owner Tiffany King's video book reviews on their homepage.

Aladdin's Lamp storytimes: This Saturday the 20th, local author Laura Melmed will celebrate Father's Day by reading her new book, "My Love Will be With You," @ 11 a.m. (suggested for ages three+).

Kinder Haus storytimes: Every Monday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. with "Ms. Laura" - and they have a nice book section in the store, too.

Feel free to post your own favorite storytime or book-related events in the "comments."

Thumbs up for "Dinosaur Pop"

Sarah — 2009-06-15T09:10:49-05:00

An outtake from our recent newsletter that's well worth sharing again on the blog:

DC-area dad and musician Paul Legrady, inspired by his young son's dinosaur mania, is the dominant talent behind a new kids' CD, "Dinosaur Pop." We recently had the opportunity to test-drive the music with the most discerning critics we know... our very own five-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. It was a hit!

Think pop-rock composition and instrumentation reminiscent of early R.E.M., with dinosaur-themed lyrics that hook the younger set. A welcome antidote to the much of the tired, uninspired "children's music" on the market. Check out their website, sample the tunes, and buy your CD at www.dinosaurpop.com.

Weekend Watch: Pirate cruising on the Potomac

Sarah — 2009-06-12T14:00:42-05:00

Have a pirate-obsessed youngster in your family? The Potomac Riverboat Company's "Pirate Cruises" for kids are now running...Setting sail Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. through September 7.

It's a 40-minute cruise with pirate-themed music and entertainment, departing from Old Town's historic riverfront. Tix are $15 per adult, $9 per child (ages 2-11), and little ones under age two cruise for free.

Enjoy!

Free outdoor concerts in MoCo

Sarah — 2009-06-11T10:11:18-05:00

Those of you who live in Montgomery County have a built-in supply of free, kid-friendly outings to choose from this summer. Check out the Post's extensive compilation of these events, running now through August in Bethesda, Germantown, Rockville, Wheaton, Gaithersburg, and Montgomery Village.

Anyone who knows of free outdoor concerts in other parts of the DC area should post them here in the "comments" section. Enjoy!

Kids (& moms) eat free tomorrow @ California Tortilla

Sarah — 2009-06-09T13:51:00-05:00

We really like locally-owned California Tortilla for yummy affordable meals out with our children... So we were happy to hear that tomorrow - Wednesday, June 10 - is "Kids Eat Free Day" at all California Tortilla locations. One child eats for free with each adult purchase. And all stores will be collecting donations for Make a Wish, rewarding donors with a $1-off coupon for their next visit.

At the Cleveland Park location only (Connecticut Ave. next to the metro entrance), tomorrow is "Moms AND Kids Eat Free" from 1 to 2 p.m. Just say "Mama Mia" to get your free meal(s). They'll also have some extra goodies on hand for families.