Tomorrow morning I'll be on a plane to Texas with my children. Between now and then we have the dreaded, inevitably tearful goodbyes with our our dear friends, their son (our daughter's best pal and pseudo-sibling), and the beloved caregiver who has been part of our family for the past four+ years. Ava and I were already in tears this morning. It's that kind of day.

I hate goodbyes more than the average person, I think. Maybe it's because I'm a child of divorce, but they just kill me. But I need to formally, finally thank you all for reading this blog, for buying my books, for lending your tips and input over the years. I will miss this work, and I wish all the very best to you and your families. I appreciate the way you helped make DC BABY a success.

As for DC itself. This has been my second stint calling it home, and I still say this city is a knockout. It's like no other on earth. I'll miss the thrill of driving across the Memorial Bridge toward the white columns of the Lincoln, with the sun bouncing off the Potomac and the breeze blowing through my open windows. I'll miss Eastern Market on a Saturday morning, and cheering on the bagpipers on the streets of Old Town at Christmas. I'll miss riding the metro and showing off our museums to out-of-towners. I'll miss the politicos and their politics. I'll miss knowing Ben's Chili Bowl is 15 minutes away. I'll miss spring's big blooms and winter's whiteness, and the reds and oranges of fall. I will miss calling it "mine."

Take care of this fabulous city, and take care of each other.

While it's genuinely gratifying to know that what I've spent the past four+ years working on has been useful and well-liked... and while I will miss you, too... I just want to let you know that there's no shortage of other web-based resources for parents in the DC metro area. Each has its own style. Browse around and find some that suit you. Here are some of our favorite online parenting resources with a local focus - several of which are also featured in my book:

Our-Kids.com
The champion, gold-star resource. Can't say enough good things. Love the free website and love the weekly subscription e-newsletter even more. Worth EVERY penny, and then some. Local mom-owned and mom-staffed.

Daily Candy DC-Kids
Hip, concise, and stylishly select. We've always loved Daily Candy as a decadent treat, and the DC-Kids edition is no exception.

Washington Parent magazine's website
The online supplement to the local print magazine. Nice features and columns, and some calendar listings.

Washington Family magazine's website
The online supplement to the local print magazine. Access to features, etc. - but also some blogs penned by DC-area mamas.

Washington Post's Going Out Guide, Kid-Friendly section
Subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter, or just check out their web page when you're looking for coming events and ideas for seasonal outings.

Washington Post's KidsPost
Great for young school-age children.

A Parent in Silver Spring blog
Nice local blog penned by a Silver Spring, MD mom.

DC Urban Moms & Dads (DCUM)
The original big-ass Mother of All DC Parents' Listservs... but it now also has its own standalone site, topic-specific message boards, sub-listservs, and a blog.

DC Metro Moms
A blog penned by a talented, interesting gaggle of Beltway mamas.

GoCityKids - Washington, DC edition
A relative newcomer, but getting better all the time. The site has potential as a go-to resource.

Feel free to post info about your own favorite online resource for DC-area parents in the "comments." And I challenge and encourage any of you who are toying w/ the idea of starting your own blog, or establishing your own listserv, to fill the info gaps: You can do it! All it takes is one mama (or daddy) with a good idea, who is willing to follow through and be patient while it grows. If you start it, they will come. They really will.

Last time Zucchini performed at the Avalon, it sold out in advance, so be sure to get your tickets well ahead of time if you'd like to catch the show.

And, especially if you're among the yet uninitiated, check out this fun Great Zucchini video with your kids. Believe it or not, preschoolers and kindergarteners go wild with laughter at this stuff in a live, group setting! It's infectious.

Tonight's lineup hosts indie rock bands playing a family-oriented gig that encourages kids get into the groove on the dance floor. You can also plan to bring a picnic dinner, or grab food from any of a number of takeout restaurants on the plaza.

Enjoy! And p.s.: For those of you who live in or near Silver Spring, be sure to check out their Wednesday morning summer program for tots, also on the plaza downtown.

As for me and mine, our last weekend in DC will be spent furiously packing (and all that goes along with it), with our move to Austin looming the end of next week. (Sob. We miss you already, Washington.)

You can catch this exhibit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, through September 20. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for ages three to 12, and babies/toddlers under age three get in free. You can call their "butterfly hotline" for more info: 301.962.1453.

Greenberries carries maternity and newborn through size 8, as well as baby accessories. They also stock a selected lineup of brand-new, eco-friendly and organic gifts, such as wooden toys, cards, bags for mom, safe bottles and baby gear. And the store has a small play area for children, to make your shopping experience a little easier.

p.s. Muchas gracias for all the Amazon.com love!

While the blog will fall quiet, the four years of archives will remain here for your reference. And my book will still be available for sale at local stores and online (including here at dc-baby.com). But I have to admit that, considering how nicely the books have been selling since the Revised Second Edition came out last year, I feel a little dejected saying farewell with no reader reviews on Amazon.com. It's a trifling thing, sure... But it sure would feel nice to have some of the many kind comments about the book you've emailed to me shared on Amazon in support of my work.

So here's my offer. If any of you who have read my book, DC BABY, and found it useful are willing to post a reader review on the book's Amazon page - I will gladly send you a (free) e-book copy as a "thank you." Just send me an email (sarah-at-dc-baby-dot-com) after posting your review and I'll reply with a nifty PDF copy attached.

I'll be blogging through next Wednesday the 29th. Stay tuned. And thanks again for your 4+ years of support and friendship!

Apple Seed maternity and baby/toddler boutique is offering 25% off ALL summer children's clothing.

Nina's Closet (1017 King St., @ Henry St.) is celebrating an anniversary with a range of markdowns on their sweet, traditional clothing and accessories. (Don't know if they're marked down, but our favorite purchase here was a pair of the Pipsqueeks shoes for our daughter when she was a new walker.)

And, Pink & Brown's summer sale runs now through July 31st, with 25 percent off ALL summer clothing.

If you're needing something boutique-y special, now's the time to find it at a reasonable price. Happy shopping!

You can also expect: mini-carnival, petting zoo, face painting, balloons, crafts and games, food, and lots of vendors. This event was a HUGE success last year, and I expect will be even better the second time around.

If by chance you can't make it to the festival... you have one more chance to take your kids to a Recess Monkey live show, Saturday at 11 a.m. at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. We caught them there on last summer's tour and have been listening to their CDs... including the rockin' newest one... ever since. Get your tix advance tix on Jammin' Java's website.

The independent, locally-owned and operated At Play Cafe is an indoor play area for young children, coffee shop for parents, and preschool classroom all in one. Best of all, if you ask me, is the fact that the play area is supervised by qualified staff, so parents can meet to enjoy a cup of coffee, conversation with a friend, or just a few minutes of well-deserved off-duty time.

Be sure to check out Our Kids' recent review of At Play Cafe.

Dawn Price Baby Concierge Services allows you to sign up for a baby registry through DPB, and then add on select items from Great Beginnings, including pack 'n plays, mattresses, Diaper Genies, and more. Dawn Price Baby has put together a comprehensive catalogue covering essentials that are both in the store and available at Great Beginnings. Expectant parents can flip through the sections, read up on specific products, and choose what's right for you. (If they don't have a specific item you want in the catalog, they'll check to see if they can get it!)

There are no fees associated with the new service - You pay retail at the time of purchase, just like usual. But it does streamline the process for you and your family/friends/baby shower planners.

How do you take part? Call DPB to book a consult and they'll go over the baby registry items with you. Or drop by to look around the store on your own and browse the catalog on your own. If you can't make it in person, they'll work with you over the phone or by email to identify the items you need and set up your registry.

p.s. FINAL DAY! Please vote for DC BABY!

Monday, July 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. @ the Alexandria location (6161 Fuller Ct.)
OR
Friday, August 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. @ the new Falls Church location (246A W. Broad St., Arlington).

These events are geared toward age 15 months through preschoolers.

You MUST rsvp that you will attend a specific event by directly emailing Dr. Rene Hackney, Parenting Playgroups founder, at: drrene (at) parentingplaygroups (dot) com. Max capacity is 25 participants with their children, first registered first served.

Thanks to Rene and her team for offering this to my readers.

p.s. LAST CHANCE! PLEASE VOTE FOR US TODAY!

However, their Bastille Day party is still ON for this evening. Enjoy!

Apologies for the confusion.... And another new post coming later today, with a free opportunity to sample Parenting Playgroups.

Did you know? Jabberu's Bethesda and Gaithersburg locations host FREE storytime and sing-along sessions - And you don't need to be enrolled in their programs to take part.

At the Gaithersburg location, Tuesday mornings from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., stop by for stories and songs in Spanish and English, for babies and toddlers up to age three with a parent. For more details, call the Kentlands location (1.888.951.1119 (press 2)).

Tuesday mornings at the Bethesda location from 11:35 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., stories and songs are presented in French and English, for babies and toddlers up to age three with a parent.Call the Bethesda location (1.888.951.1119 (press 4)) for more details.

Also, THIS TUESDAY, July 14th: Jabberu hosts a free Bastille Day celebration for preschoolers and school-age kids 4 to 10. Stop by the Bethesda location tomorrow evening from 6 to 7 p.m. for a celebratin of French culture. Space is limited, so RSVP at 888.951.1119. Vive la France!

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!