Hanging with Teddy at Rooselvelt Island

Monday – Get a dose of nature and history in one fell swoop at Roosevelt Island.  Hike the easy trails, look out for wildlife, and explore the Memorial Plaza to learn about the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. The entrance to the park is located right off the GW Parkway, just past the Rooselvelt Bridge.  It’s accessible only from the northbound lanes. If weather doesn’t permit, find an alternative activity here.

Tuesday – Attend Mommy & Me (& Daddy Too!), the Rockville Town Square’s free monthly program  for kids.  Storytime, interactive movement, arts & crafts, and merchant sponsored activities are part of the active learning and creative play. The free program runs from 10am – 12pm on the third Tuesday of every month. UPDATE: This event as been rescehuled to May 22 due to the weather forecast. Again, go here for a huge list of ideas for indoor fun.

Wednesday - Little ones can be a “scientist for a day” at the new, free Science + You exhibit housed in the Foundry Lofts right across from the Yards Park. Find out what to expect there in this post from last week.

Thursday - Take your pick of the many farms now open for the season to gather your own strawberries.  Just about all of the places offering pick-your-own opportunities are now welcoming visitors to their fields.  See this post for a list of them.

Friday – Join the dance party at the Atlas on H Street as the Boogie Babes present Bridgette and Dawn.  Showtime is 10:30am. Admission is $5/child, free for siblings 6 months and under.

Think we picked enough strawberries?

The 2012 strawberry picking season has officially begun!  As of this week, just about all area farms offering pick-your-own opportunities will be open to visitors.  And I keep hearing how the unusually warm winter and early spring made for an extra bountiful crop this year.  Our experience at Schlagel Farms today definitely supported that theory — the berries were just as abundant as they were gorgeous. If you’re planning to hit the fields for some picking of your own, here’s the scoop on the berry season at several local farms (most of it duplicated from last year, but with updated info).  And if you have a favorite farm that isn’t on this list, feel free to mention it in the comments.  Happy Picking!

Schlagel Farms
Less than 20 miles from DC in Waldorf, Md, Schlagel Farms is one of the more popular pick-your-own berry places in the area with their season often beginning before other area farms. Their fields have been open to the public for a couple of weeks, and as of today the pickings are excellent! (We’ve got several large bowlfuls to prove it.)While there, you can also purchase bedded plants grown in their greenhouse. And you no longer have to worry about hitting the ATM before going—they started accepting credit cards (everything but AmEx) last year.  Schlagel’s is open for picking from 8am – 7pm seven days a week.

Homestead Farm
Strawberry season begins here on May 14 with what they call “seek and find” picking, but they expect a rapid increase in ripeness. Along with berry picking, there are animals to visit — goats, pigs, and chickens are some of the farm’s bestial residents. And Homestead scores high on aesthetics — the lovely pastoral setting in Montgomery County makes you feel like you’re way more than 20 miles from the city. The farm is open seven days a week from 9:30am – 6pm, though pick-your-own ends at 5:30.

Great Country Farms
At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley, Great Country offers more than just pick-your-own opportunities. The farm is well known for its big seasonal festivals and fun farm-themed attractions. A hayride takes you out to the picking fields, and kids might spy an emu or goat on the way. Visitors also have access to the barnyard, mazes, a cow train, and jumping pillow. The weekend of May 19-20 is the annual Strawberry Jubilee with live music, pie eating contests, tart tosses, tasty food, and more. Babies four to nine months can compete in the diaper derby, a crawl to the finish line, to compete for great prizes. Admission is $8/child $10/adult on weekdays, and $10/child $12/adult on festival weekends. Open daily 9am- 6pm.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm
The family-owned farm in the Shenandoah Valley opened their strawberry fields to the public this past weekend, and they claim the early and warm spring brought their best crop in years. Plan on lunch while you’re there—along with fruits and veggies, the farm also offers a variety of menu items prepared fresh every day from their own produce. Walk it all off afterward along a new trail that winds through the fields and woods of the farm. Open daily from 8am – 6pm.

Pick-n-eat?

Westmoreland Berry Farm
Their strawberries have been ripe for the picking since this past weekend, and they expect them to be available for another few of weeks. Right now, you can pick your own on Saturdays and Sundays, but check back soon to see if weekdays open, too. On weekends a hay wagon transports visitors to the picking fields. A goat walk is a also fun sight for kids. The farm is open 9am – 5pm Monday – Saturday, and 10am – 5pm Sunday.

Larriland Farm
About an hour’s drive from DC in Howard County, Larriland Farms has gotten really good reviews on Yelp for both it’s produce and beauty. The pick-your-own season begins with strawberries, and it expected to start around May 17-20 — as it gets closer, call or check online to confirm the opening date. Larriland employs Integrated Pest Management, meaning pesticides are a last resort, to keep pests below an acceptable level with minimum harmful impact on the environment. Hours are Tuesdays 9am – 8pm, Wednesday to Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 5pm, closed Mondays (but open Memorial day 9am – 1pm).

Huber’s Farm
If you want to celebrate strawberry season, head to Huber’s Farm May 19-20 for an Old Fashioned Strawberry Festival. The farm is kicking off the start of the season with a weekend of fun—the Strawberry Express Hayride, a moon bounce, face painting, strawberry shortcake, and more.  The festival will run from 12-5pm both days. The berries will be ready for picking in a couple of weeks along with many other spring veggies. Hours will be from 9am – 6pm seven days a week.

Butler’s Orchard
The farm might be best known for it’s Halloween and Easter extravaganzas, but they have a bounty of great crops, too. Their strawberry season officially starts May 14, and the fields will be open to visitors everyday. During strawberry season their hours are 8am – 6pm during the week, and 8am – 5pm on weekends. 

Hollin Farms
Across the river in Fauquier County, VA, Hollin Farms kicked off strawberry picking this past weekend and expect it to last through mid June. Hours are 9am – 5pm, and they recommend calling ahead to confirm that picking fields are open. And a special P.S. to meat lovers: they pride themselves on their grass-fed beef.

Sprinkles Cupcakes MOM Box is as yummy as it is gorgeous... trust me.

Moms are in for a treat — or a few — this Mother’s Day!  Several businesses have special promos going on in celebration of the big day. Here’s where you can find them…

Sprinkles Cupcakes brought back their glorious MOM Box, which features Dark Chocolate, Red Velvet, Vanilla and Lemon cupcakes. I was lucky enough to be gifted with one by Sprinkles after Sasha and I attended a cupcake decorating session a few days ago (just like this one last year), and we devoured those parcels of deliciousness faster than I should admit. If you want to treat mom to the best cupcakes in DC (imo) you can order the MOM Box here. You can also get a free cupcake on May 13 from 12-2pm by saying “People Like Us” when you’re in the shop. (A bonus tip: If you follow Sprinkles on Facebook or Twitter, you can get secret passwords for free cupcakes!)

Nando’s Peri Peri will celebrate Mother’s Day this year with a special promotion offered at all seven area locations.  On May 13, moms can enjoy a complimentary dessert of their choice with the purchase of any entrée. Nando’s main claim to fame is its Portuguese flame-grilled chicken, but it also serves a variety of delicious desserts. Dessert favorites include: Chocolate Spoon Cake, Raspberry Brulée Cheesecake, Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, Four High Carrot Cake, Naughty Nata (a Portuguese pastry), assorted cupcakes, and bottomless frozen yogurt.

Caribou Coffee will be celebrating the special day with a “Buy One, Get One Free” deal on May 13. Guests who show this coupon — either printed or on their smartphone — and purchase a beverage at participating Caribou coffeehouses will receive a free drink (specific offer details are at the bottom of the coupon).

Chick-fil-A restaurants are hosting a Mother-Son “Date Knight” on Monday, May 14, from 4:30-8:30pm. The evening will include special medieval-themed activities, a muscle car display, a knighting ceremony, and costumed medieval figures such as jesters, queens, and horses. Reservations are required, so go here to reserve a seating time.

Z Burger in Tenleytown and Southwest is giving free meals (regular, cheese or veggie burger plus a side of fries and a drink) to moms who say “ThankZ Mom” when they stop in on May 13 from 10:30am – 10pm.

My favorite Mother's Day presents

With all of the special honorees in mind, this round-up includes pursuits that moms will enjoy just as much as their babes. (For the more kid-focused ventures, let dad take over while mama hits the spa… hint hint, Levi!)  And be sure to have a gander at the outdoor list for ways to take advantage of the weather while you celebrate the day. Happy Weekend!  And a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!

Street Arts in the Park
Where: The Yards Park
When: Saturday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Judging by the performance we caught last weekend and all the great things I’ve been hearing from people who have been lucky enough to catch the festival throughout the week, this is going to be da bomb!  Head to the Yards Park to celebrate the conclusion of Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, the Kennedy Center’s week-long series of free performances around the city. Spend the day with a huge cast of eclectic characters and astounding artists — there will be all kinds of free performances and workshops all day long. Go here for the day’s schedule.

Bike DC
Where: Throughout DC and NoVa
When: Sunday
Admission: Adults start at $30, ages 13 – 19 starts at $15, free for ages 12 and under
Take a Mother’s Day bike ride! Once a year, bicyclists have a special opportunity to explore and enjoy Washington and Arlington on two wheels. Parts of Pennsylvania Avenue and the George Washington Parkway will be closed for this non-competitive ride through the area. Choose the full 24-mile route or the shorter family route (recommended for young children). See the website for specifics.

Mother’s Day at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Admission: —$15/adults, $14/seniors, $7/ages 6-11, free for 5 and under
Join the “Mother of Our Country,” Martha Washington, and her granddaughter “Nelly” as they celebrate this special weekend with visitors. Listen to “Lady Washington’s” reminiscences of motherhood and her sage advice to her youngest granddaughter. While supplies last, Martha Washington will hand out lavender sachets of her own recipe for
mothers.

Garden Fest
Where: Enid E. Haupt Garden
When: Friday 11am – 1:30pm, Saturday 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The beautiful Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle will be buzzing as Garden Fest connects people and plants through educational demonstrations and engaging hands-on fun. This year’s theme, “Gardening for Healthy Living,” will feature live music and a variety of activities for children and families. Kids will dig plant-inspired art activities, plant science at the Curiosity Zone, dancing, and a garden scavenger hunt. Adults can enjoy the same, plus vegetable growing demos, gardening book sales and signings, flora displays, and many other horticultural exhibits.

LEGO® Master in Action
Where: National Building Museum
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Meet and talk with LEGO® Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker as he completes the White House model for the LEGO® Architecture: Towering Ambition exhibit. Adam will lead tours of the exhibition at 2:30pm and 3:30 pm on both days. Along with the LEGO celeb encounter, there willl be LEGO® design challenges for guests — become your own LEGO® master and build with thousands of bricks in the Great Hall.

Shortcut to Europe
Where: EU Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Avoid the steep airfare and jet lag, and explore The Continent from this side of the pond. Passport DC invites you to join European Union embassies and the EU Delegation for a day of international food, dancing, kids entertainment, exhibitions, vacation planning, and more. Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the embassies, some of which are among Washington’s historic and architectural treasures. Free shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day, and some embassies are convenient to Metro for walking. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies will conduct security checks.

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Where: Jammin’ Java
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: $10
Beloved by millions of families for their high-energy music videos on the Nick Jr. channel’s Jack’s Big Music Show, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band returns to the DC area for the first time since 2007, with a show for the whole family at Jammin’ Java. If you’re not familiar with the band, read more about them and sample some tunes on their website.

Last Call for Suprasensorial
Where: Hirshhorn Museum
When: All weekend
Admission: Free
The final days of Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color and Space, are this weekend, and I highly recommend experiencing it if you haven’t yet. It may not have been created with kids in mind, but many of the installations can be appreciated on several levels, including from a child’s perspective. All of the displays are interactive in some way, and a few are exceptionally fascinating — and quite fun. Read more about it in this post. UPDATE: A KFDC reader just let me know that the exhibit has been extended until August 19.  (But I still think it’s a great activity for this weekend.)

Imagination Playground
Where: National Children’s Museum Launch Zone
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
You’re invited to drop in for a play date at the Launch Zone! Children can experience a fantastic day of playing and building with the new Imagination Playground. Their imaginations will guide them as they build castles, pirate ships, and more out of foam blocks and loose parts – the opportunities are endless!

Go Postal for Trains
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Saturday, 12-3:30pm
Admission: Free
Drop in and ride the rails with the Postal Museum to celebrate National Train Day! Sort railway mail, make a transportation-themed stamp collection, learn about Owney the railway mail dog, and watch model trains whiz by courtesy of Rappahannock Model Railroaders.

May Fair
Where: Turtle Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Friendship ‘Turtle’ Park’s annual spring carnival is its largest event of the year. There will be pony rides, games, face painting, food, and more. Entertainment will include Turley the Magician, Mad Science, and a performance by Groovy Nate. For more info, see the Turtle Park website.

Art & Asparagus Mother’s Day Weekend
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $8/child, $10/adult
Forget the flowers for Mother’s Day this year and replace them with a unique – and tasty – bouquet of asparagus, fresh from the farm! The veggies will be at their peak, so Great Country Farms is offering them along with other special treat. The whole family can enjoy a theatrical performance put together just for Mom by Theaterpalooza (Saturday Only). And while the children are challenging themselves in them farm’s five-acre play area, Mom can walk among local artists and admire their talents. On Sunday, there will be a special brunch at the Stables at Bluemont Vineyard, just across the street from GCF. See the website for details.

Horse Around at the Movies
Where: AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center
When: Saturday, 11am (box office opens at 10:30am)
Admission: Free
In recognition of the Preakness Stakes to take place just up the road in Baltimore, the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring are hosting a free screening of the charming 1961 horse classic, MISTY. Be sure to stick around after the screening when movie goers will be able to meet live horses outside the theatre, courtesy of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police! There will be more horse-themed movies throughout the weekend (though not free), several appropriate for children — go here for the schedule.

Super Science Saturday
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am -3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Super Science Saturday at the Dulles arm of the Arm & Space Museum. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration. This month’s program will focus on Astronomy.

Gyotaku Fish Printing
Where: National Museum of Natural History
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free
It’s Second Saturday Arts & Sciences at the Natural History Museum. During this month’s session, try your hand at the art of Japanese fish printing. Learn the techniques of this traditional art form as well as the basic anatomy of fish. Then take your “catch” home with you.

Berry Good
Where: Schlagel Farms
When: Daily 8am – 7pm
Admission: Free (but you gotta pay for the berries you pick)
Schlagel Farms in Waldorf, Md, always begins their pick-your-own season ahead of other area farms, and their berries are ripe and ready now. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Greehouse flowers and other bedding plants are also for sale.

Best in Shows
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
Rapunzel at Imagination Stage. Five Little Monkeys at Adventure Theatre. Tiny Tots and Pinocchio on the puppet stage (ticket discount here). Emily Loves to Bounce and an NSO Family Concert at the Kennedy Center. Details on all of them in this post about live entertainment in late spring.

Putting the pieces in place for a healthy body

As if we needed another reason to visit the Yards Park, the Living Classrooms Foundation has given us a good one: Science + You, a fun and engaging free exhibit that gives children the opportunity to be a “scientist for a day.”  Located in the Foundry Lofts, just steps from the riverfront recreational space, the exhibit opens to the public today and will welcome curious visitors through most of the summer.

Sasha and I had a chance to get a sneak peek yesterday along with school groups who were invited to test it out. From the moment we walked in, she was intrigued. Designed for ages 3-8, Science + You is set up like a child-size lab with stations featuring hands-on activities and equipment that emulate processes scientists use in a real lab.

Cooking up healthy soup in the test kitchen

They start by pretending to wash their hands, then roam freely among areas where they can do some healthy cooking, use a glove box to handle equipment, study objects under a microscope, and much more. And along the way, the displays explore scientific concepts and educate about things like germs, disease, and health.

Getting a really good look in the magnifying station

Hosted by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, Science + You was created collaboratively by Kohl Children’s Museum in Chicago and scientists from the global health care company Abbott. It was designed to spark an interest in science among kids through fun, interactive displays and hands-on experiments.

During our visit, I had a chance to chat with Sheridan Turner, CEO and President of Kohl Children’s Museum. She explained one of the aims of the exhibit is to bring more focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education, as research has shown that introducing kids to science at an early age is critical to inspiring future interest in science.

Fighting off antibodies via ball game

All that glitters... the mixing displays are pleasantly sparkly

Watching Sasha and the other kids dart excitedly from station to station, it was evident that the design is successful.  The displays are presented with elements that attract and engage kids — the concept of fighting antibodies is demonstrated through a ball game, glitter swirls and sparkles in the mixing station, puzzle pieces help depict a healthy body. Of course, some explanation from an adult should accompany most of it, but the important part, the initial interest, is sparked by the exhibit alone.

Little scientists at work in the lab

Oh, did I mention that there are little lab coats for kids to wear, too?  Unfortunately, they were all in use by the time we arrived — it seemed that all of the kids wanted to be a “scientist for a day.”

Science + You will be on exhibit May 9 – August 5 at the Foundry Lofts – 301 Tingey Street SE.  Public hours are 12:30-4pm Tuesday – Friday, and 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday.  Admission is free.

The "LOOK OUT! Lunchtime Invasion" at Eastern Market

Monday – Look out for a Lunchtime Invasion of “pop-up” performances at Woodrow Wilson Plaza (1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW) from 11:30am – 1:30pm.  Part of  Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, the Kennedy Center’s week-long series of free performances and events around DC, the spectacle will feature a comedian, a magician, a vaudeville actor, and a juggler (see the schedule for more performances this week).  If you can’t make the daytime show, catch it on the Millennium Stage at 6pm.

Tuesday -  Enjoy Prehistoric Adventures, this week’s Toddler Tuesdays theme at the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone. Drop in from 10:30am – 2:30pm to explore the world of dinosaurs.  The program, designed especially for ages 2 – 4, may include stories, games, art and movement for adults and children to explore together.

Wednesday – Bounce, climb, swing, tumble, and slide at the PG Sports & Learning Complex Gymnastics Center. The hour-long open play session begins at 11:30am, and admission is $6/child. Read all about the what you can expect there in this post.

Thursday – Head to the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital for a free Family Story Time.  DC Public Library staff will read books and lead songs for children ages birth to 5 years old.

Friday – Go for a spin on the antique carousel and/or take a train ride through the woods at Watkins Regional Park.  Both just opened for the season with limited hours in the spring (Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 3pm, Saturdays and Sundays 1-5pm, starting Memorial Day weekend hours will be extended). Get more background on Watkins in this post from awhile back.

Bring me to my (cheer)leader!

I knew it was going to be happening. I’d read (and posted) about Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, a week-long series of free pop-up performances and events taking place around DC today through next weekend. I just didn’t know exactly what to expect.

And it was probably better that way. Because the mini-extravaganza that we caught at Eastern Market earlier today was one of the wackiest, most wonderful things I have ever seen in the many, many years I’ve been going there.

It was a performance by Mucca Pazza, described as “a collection of shameless band nerds wielding instruments of incongruous traditions, sometimes in competition, often in cooperation.”  (You really have to see it to understand it.) The show they put on right out on the sidewalk in front of Port City Java was fantastic — eccentric, energetic, and downright hilarious. The crowd, young and old, was captivated. And when I looked around, every face held some kind of amused expression, from tickled surprise to full-on laughter.

Mucca Pazza, the circus-punk marching band

It's like the geek version of "Fame"!

This show was just one of a few roaming spectacles at the Market today as part of LOOK OUT! Lunchtime Invasion, the bigger series’ daily showcase of street performances.  They will be taking place in a couple of locations around the city this week, so check the schedule to see where you can catch one, and I strongly recommend you do. Besides the acts being entertaining and unique, their seeming spontaneous emergence in everyday situations makes viewing one feel auspicious, like you were in just the right place at the right time to be part of the impromptu party.

A really high-five

Along with the Lunchtime Invasions, there will be “Street to Stage” performances every evening at 6pm on the Millennium Stage (including tonight), LOOK UP! Night Street Fair on Friday from 8-10pm, and “Street Arts in the Park” on Saturday from 12-6pm.

We may just go for an encore tonight.

]]> http://kidfriendlydc.com/2012/05/06/look-both-ways-for-an-invasion-of-street-art-this-week/feed/ 0 http://kidfriendlydc.com/2012/05/04/weekend-roundup-may-4-6/ http://kidfriendlydc.com/2012/05/04/weekend-roundup-may-4-6/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 11:57:27 +0000 Linda @ KidFriendly DC http://kidfriendlydc.com/?p=6287 Continue reading →]]>

Big fun on a big rig at Cheverly's Truck Touch last year

Explore the world right here in DC, get up close and personal with some of the coolest rides on the road, celebrate la dia, root for the hometeam, walk among butterflies, catch a live show… These are just some of the ways to enjoy family time over the next few days. And along with the list of ideas for weekend fun with the kiddos, here’s one more suggestion just for the grown-ups: Margaritas under the Supermoon. Happy Weekend!

Truck Touch
Where: Cheverly Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5/ages 1-12, free for adults
Over 20 vehicles will be on display for young motorists-in-the-making to explore at Cheverly Weekday Nursery’s annual fundraiser. Children can sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck, honk the horn of a dump truck, run around inside the trailer of an 18-wheeler, check out the inside of a police car, stand on the back of a garbage truck, and get behind the wheel of many more cool rides. And the fun doesn’t end there—games geared toward little ones, concessions, balloons, and more will also be available. The event will be held in the Cheverly United Methodist Church parking lot. All proceeds benefit the nursery school and Mother’s Day Out.

Around the World Embassy Tour
Where: More than 40 Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Sample Australia’s famous vegemite, experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, play classic Venezuelan games — all in one day! Passport DC invites the public to an open house of more than 40 embassies from six continents. The free event will showcase art, music, children’s activities, culinary delights, and more. It’s also your chance to check out the interiors of those huge mansions along Mass Ave that you usually just admire from the street. Free shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day (see route on the website), and many embassies are convenient to Metro for walking. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies will conduct security checks. For more tips on making the most of your day, go here.

Flower Mart
Where: National Cathedral
When: Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The annual spring festival, in its 74th year, at the National Cathedral will take place today and tomorrow. While plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, and boutique booths will be of more interest to grown-ups, there will also be tasty foods, music and entertainment, games and rides, the All Hallows Guild antique carousel, and other fun activities to delight kids as well. Admission is free, though concessions and some activities will cost a fee. Proceeds from other sales benefit the Cathedral’s gardens, grounds and woodlands. See the website for the entertainment schedule.

Music by the River
Where: The Yards Park
When: Friday, 6:30-8:30pm (weekly through Sept. 14)
Admission: Free
The Yards Park annual Friday Evening Concert series begins tonight! From now through the summer, wind down every week with free music in the fantastic riverside setting. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner (or purchase food there) to sit in the lovely tiered grassy area and watch bands play on the boardwalk stretching along the Anacostia River. And don’t forget about the fountains that welcome kids to play (swimsuits and change of clothes recommended).

Cinco De Mayo Festival
Where: National Mall
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Celebrate the day with the Maru Montero Dance Company as they host the 20th annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival to celebrate Latin American dance, music and crafts. Live performances will include salsa, Mexican folk dancing, mariachis, and other dance and music. The children’s pavilion will host arts and crafts activities where young people can make piñatas, braid hair, build dancing puppets, and enjoy a day of fun activities. For more info, see the festival website.

Space Day
Where: National Air & Space Museum, National Mall & Dulles
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, parking is $15 at Udvar-Hazy
Have some out-of-this-world fun at the Air & Space Museum on the National Mall and in Dulles as they celebrate the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery to the Museum’s collection. In DC, guests can learn about some of Discovery’s accomplishments, including its most significant payload-Hubble Space Telescope; find out from Astronaut Patrick Forrester what it is like to live and work in space; and meet the shuttle’s most famous passenger-Buzz Lightyear. There will also be opportunities to learn how space suits are made, do hands-on activities, and listen to stories about space. At the Udvar-Hazy Center, visitors can see the shuttle in its new home in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, learn about some of the shuttle’s most significant missions, and meet astronauts Pam Melroy, Stephen Bowen and Tom Jones. Guests can also check out Space Shuttle Lego kits, enjoy show-and-tell demos of amateur radio satellites and storytime, try simulated space shuttle landings, and do more hands-on activities.

Family Day
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Saturday, 12-3:30pm
Admission: Free
You may know the story of the Hindenburg disaster, but did you know it was a flying post office? Learn about the luxurious life on board the Hindenburg, the postal clerks who processed mail in transit, the mail that survived the crash, and more in hands-on activities and a fascinating tour with curator Cheryl Ganz. This event is presented in connection with the Museum’s exhibit Fire & Ice: Hindenburg & Titanic.

Nats vs. Phillies
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 1:05pm, Sunday 8:05pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Phillies this weekend, and there are promos that families in particular will enjoy for the afternoon games. Harris Teeter Family Fun Packs are available for for both games, kids ages 4-12 can run the bases after the final out on Saturday.

Wings of Fancy
Where: Brookside Gardens
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm (runs through September 12)
Admission: $4/ages 3-12, $6/adults
It’s opening day of Brookside’s yearly live butterfly exhibit. See butterfly species from around the world in the park’s South Conservatory. Of course, the butterflies aren’t the only reason to visit gardens in Wheaton; its 50+ acres are gorgeous, with an amazing variety of flora, all kinds of plant collections, a cute little children’s garden, a Nature Center on premises, and open grassy spaces. Go here to see what’s in bloom now.

Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America
Where: Kennedy Center & other DC venues
When: May 6-12
Admission: Free
The Kennedy Center presents this week-long series of free performances and events at the Kennedy Center as well as locations around Washington. The program includes large-scale spectacles, street musicians, parade culture, puppetry, circus arts, chalk drawings, clowning, and more . From a circus-punk marching band and political puppet theater to jugglers, contortionists, and stunt dogs, the electric energy of live interactive performance invades the streets of Washington. On Sunday at 6pm, Happenstance Theatre, a Chicago-based circus-punk marching band Mucca Pazza, will brings its sweet sounds indoors, using trombones, marching drums, accordions, and more to get the audience moving.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Rapunzel at Imagination Stage. Five Little Monkeys at Adventure Theatre. Pinocchio and Tiny Tots on the puppet stage. A Kinderkonzert at the Kennedy Center. This new post about live entertainment in late spring. This brand new post about live entertainment in late spring has details on all of these shows and more.

International Children’s Festival
Where: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Here’s another opportunity from Passport DC to go global this weekend. In it’s 6th year, the International Children’s Festival lets children of all ages travel the world in a single day. More than 20 embassies will be represented at the Meridian International Center with fun entertainment and hands-on activities to help introduce kids to different world cultures.

Happy Birthday, Launch Zone!
Where: National Children’s Museum
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The National Children’s Museum is celebrating three years of the Launch Zone, and you’re invited to join in the fun. Be a part of the festive birthday celebration, complete with hands-on art projects, special guests, giveaways, and more. As a special reverse birthday present from the NCM to you, see the unveiling their new Imagination Playground, a breakthrough playspace that encourages child-directed, unstructured free play!

Hike And Yoga Adventure
Where: Meet at Rock Creek Nature Center
When: Sunday, 10-11am
Admission: Free
lil omm students and their families are invited to join a hike and outdoor yoga adventure! Hayley (and her friendly dog Lulu) will guide families through wooded trails in Rock Creek Park and pause along the way to align bodies like the surrounding nature-inspired findings. Meet outside the Nature Center at 5200 Glover Road NW at 9:45. Pre-registration is required. Participants should wear comfy walking shoes and bring water. No mat needed.

And don’t forget to check out the indoor and outdoor lists for even more ideas!

Lots of monkeying around in Adventure Theatre's latest production

Looking for live entertainment for the kiddos? Here’s a go-to list of shows currently on stages around the area or coming to theatres soon. (Most descriptions pulled straight from the websites.)

Rapunzel
Where: Imagination Stage
When: April 4 – May 20
Tickets: $11-22
Rapunzel is a typical 16-year-old girl, with a couple small exceptions: she was stolen from her real parents by a wicked witch who pretends to be her mother, and her home is a high-security tower in the middle of nowhere. She’s content, and as far as she knows, hers is a great life…if a little boring. Excitement finds Rapunzel when the charming and handsome Prince Brian stumbles upon her remote abode, and she realizes how much she has been missing! Brian dodges the witch to visit his new friend regularly, and the two plot an escape. But the witch is crafty and casts a spell that sets the young couple on a difficult journey to happily ever after. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Pinocchio
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: April 12 – June 3
Tickets: $10 (Find a discount here)
Half life-size rod puppets, performed in the Italian “Comedia del Arte” style, tell Carlo Collodi’s story of what it means to be “real”. Share the trials and tribulations of the little live puppet as he finds in one adventure after another that the “easy way” isn’t always the right way. Pinocchio sets out for school with the best of intentions, but somehow something more interesting leads him off the straight and narrow path. A Fox and Cat, a puppet show, a coach ride to a land too good to be true, all distract little Pinocchio from his quest to become a real boy. Recommended for K- Grade 6.

Five Little Monkeys
Where: Adventure Theatre
When: April 27 – June 3
Tickets: $18
Going shopping…baking cakes…sitting in trees…JUMPING ON BEDS!!! In this zany play, all in cumulative verse, five silly simian siblings insist on doing things their own way and, heedless of admonitions, much more monkey mayhem ensues. And maybe a call from a doctor. Recommended for all ages.

NSO Kinderkonzert: Brass of Peace
Where: Kennedy Center
When: May 5
Admission: $18
Brass instruments make a BIG sound. When Brass of Peace takes the stage, kids might be surprised to see musicians not too much bigger than they are behind this powerful playing. But seeing is believing, as this brass group comprised of 13 DC-area high school students perform pieces that just might blow the roof off the Family Theater. NSO hornist Sylvia Alimena conducts these concerts that bring together the city’s finest young brass musicians to teach all about the instruments of the brass family and how they make music out of metal and wind. Go early for the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo.” Starting one hour before the Kinderkonzert, children can get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on stage, from violins and trumpets to oboes and flutes, in the Kennedy Center atrium. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America
Where: Kennedy Center & Other Venues
When: May 6-12
Admission: Free
The Kennedy Center presents this weeklong series of free performances and events at the Kennedy Center as well as locations around Washington, including large-scale spectacles, street musicians, parade culture, puppetry, circus arts, chalk drawings, clowning, and more. From a circus-punk marching band and political puppet theater to jugglers, contortionists, and stunt dogs, the electric energy of live interactive performance invades the streets of Washington.

Boogie Babes
Where: Eastern Market & Atlas Performing Arts Center
When: Thursdays & Fridays, 10:30am
Tickets: $5/child, free for siblings 6 months and under
Little ones can boogie along with their favorite local musicians in Eastern Market’s North Hall every Thursday morning AND at The Atlas Performing Arts Center on Fridays. Go for the show, then grab lunch in the Market and stay to play, or hit one of the many eateries on the H Street Corridor. Check the schedule to find out who’s playing when.

Tiny Tots
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Most Wednesdays, Saturdays, & Sundays at 10am
Tickets: $5
The series presents puppet shows designed for the youngest theater patrons (ages 0-4). They are shorter, the lights stay on, and the doors stay open. They have an arsenal of shows that they switch up every performance, so be sure to check the schedule to see what’s playing when you go.

Tot Rock
Where: Jammin’ Java
When: Ongoing
Tickets: $5/weekdays, $10/weekends
Tot Rock is Jammin’ Java’s super-popular kids music concert series, providing wholesome family entertainment at one of the DC Metro area’s finest music clubs. Local groups perform every Monday through Friday and touring performers drop by on many weekends. Check the calendar often to see when your favorite act is performing, and for other venue updates.

Emily Loves to Bounce
Where: Kennedy Center
When: May 12-13
Admission: $18
The outer limit of imagination is at the heart of Emily Loves to Bounce, an off-the-wall, over-the-wall, through-the-wall work from Australia’s Patch Theatre Company. Inspired by the books of Stephen Michael King, Emily Loves to Bounce fuses mime, music, sound, imagery, and illusion to create a whimsical world full of bouncing balls and magical moving boxes. The story of the spontaneous Henry and the practical Amy meeting in the middle unfolds among flying shadows, children, and the sounds of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Recommended for ages 4 and up.

NSO Family Concert: Carnival of the Animals
Where: Kennedy Center
When: May 12-13
Admission: $18
Beloved children’s author and America’s first children’s poet laureate Jack Prelutsky takes the stage with the NSO for a musical and lyrical program built around Camille Saint-Saëns’ classic Carnival of the Animals. With narrated poetry and an IMAG projected picture parade of the musical suite’s 14 fantastic animals as illustrated by Mary GrandPré, this Carnival roars to life before kids’ eyes. Get there early for the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo.” An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with instruments in the Kennedy Center Atrium. Stay after the 3pm concert for a Kids’ Chat, where young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Tot Rock: Jammin’ at the Smithsonian
Where: Smithsonian Ripley Center
When: May 24
Admission: $3-6
Discovery Theater’s Tot Rock Series features rockin’ dance party concerts for children ages 2-6, with a complimentary cup of Jammin’ Java coffee and snacks on the side for grown-ups. Performing this time is Shine and the Moonbeams, singer-songwriter Shawana Kemp and guitarist John Heagle, two New York musicians who have collectively performed in every musical genre from Musical Theatre to the circus! They have teamed up to create a new genre that speaks to kids’ hearts – soulful, groove-happy R&B musical extravaganza in a rock and roll package.

Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band
Where: Alden Theatre
When: May 12
Admission: $15, $10/McLean residents
With numerous national awards for excellence in children’s entertainment, Alex and the Kaleidescope Band engage audiences of all ages with their lively, interactive and world-music infused performances. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Goldilocks
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: June 8 – July 15
Tickets: $10
Goldilocks is on trial, and it’s up to the audience to decide whether or not it was breaking-and-entering or an innocent mistake. This musical romp illustrates that there are two sides to every story, with the same circumstances seen from very different points of view. Told with rod puppets and giant hand puppets, this production keeps the audience guessing while including all the favorite elements of the classic children’s fairytale.

Beauty and the Beast
Where: National Theatre
When: June 12 – 24
Admission: $56 – $150
The romantic Broadway musical for all generations, is coming to Washington, D.C.! Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
Where: Wolf Trap
When: June 28 – August 13
Tickets: $8 (children under 2 are free)
With 70 performances from late June through early August, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods presents family-friendly shows Tuesdays through Saturdays. Amidst 117 rolling wooded acres and nestled in a shady grove, the stage is set for lively adventures in music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and theater. All performances are recommended for children between Kindergarten and 6th grade. The full schedule of shows in available of the Wolf Trap website. Read a KFDC review of the series from last summer.

All geared up with walking sticks for the 300-meter "trek" to the park's Nature Center

It’s a small blogging world around here.  And I experienced it firsthand on a visit to Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington a couple of weeks ago.  I got the idea to go there from No Monsters in My Bed when a friend and I were looking for a new place to take our little ones to play outside on a nice day.  Then, upon our arrival at the playground right next to the small parking area, I saw some familiar faces, adorable little ones that I recognized from Not-So-SAHM. It turned out their mom, Rebecca, and I both ended up at the park on the recommendation of Darcy (who write No Monsters).  What can I say… great minds think alike.

Not only was it neat to run into one of my blogging compadres, it was also helpful — she had been there a while and gave me the lowdown on what to see and do at the park (read her review here), which included trail hikes and the Nature Center.  Since the kids were already immersed in playground action, we hung out there before venturing further.

The playground is pretty simple — a small area containing a log tree house with a small climbing wall, a steep and fast slide, and a double slide; picnic tables; and a couple of random exercise apparatus — but it kept the kids entertained for quite awhile.

Wheee!

We finally convinced the kids to move on by asking them if they wanted to see some animals; we knew from talking to Rebecca that there were live (and alive-looking) creatures on exhibit at the Nature Center, just a 300-meter walk down the road from the playground.

Once inside, the kids immediately stopped to ogle an exhibit (not live) near the entrance. From there, we headed downstairs to see the turtles and snakes in terrariums before entering the Kids Cave, a small room full of hands-on nature-related activities.

Owl and hawk and bear... oh my!

Hello, Mr. Snake

Kids in the Cave

When we left the Nature Center, we saw a sign for the live bird exhibit, so we walked up a short path to see a couple of owls and a hawk.  A park ranger explained they had been rescued, but their injuries prevented them from being released back into the wild, so they’re now permanent residents of the park.

He totally won the staring contest

Wishing for Italian Store? (Actually, that was me.)

By that time, we were all hungry and decided to head to nearby Italian Store and save a hike for another visit.

There definitely will be one, as Potomac Overlook  is one to put on the go-to list for a easy and free outing, both outdoors and in.

Potomac Overlook Regional Park is located at 2845 N. Marcey Road in Arlington (directions here). Hours are 10am – 5pm Tuesday – Saturday, and 1–5pm Sunday, closed on Monday.