The Weekend Round-Up: May 12-14

 

Happy Weekend! And a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms.💜

Go-to posts for all kinds of ongoing local activities:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places

Celebrate Mom
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you’re still in need of plans to celebrate Mother’s Day, there are plenty of last-minute ways to make the occasion special. This round-up has ideas ranging from fairly mellow to very active, totally free to a total splurge – there’s sure to be something to make every mom’s day.

Family ‘Hoppy’ Hour with King Bullfrog!
Where: Hill Center | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 5-7pm
Admission: $10/child, $5/adult
Bring the family out to enjoy a Friday evening filled with live music perfect for all ages! This concert will be outdoors (weather permitting), perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh, and play to the beat of their favorite songs! Beer and wine, plus cheese and pepperoni pizza will be available for purchase.

It’s All Greek to You
Where: Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
Saint Sophia’s annual festival brings the best of Greek food, drink and culture to DC. Festival goers can sample dishes from the Greek Cuzina made fresh and daily across the weekend. A variety of children’s games and activities will delight young guests. A marketplace will showcase wares like jewelry, pottery and home goods ,and more. And every evening under the stars (and 2pm on Sunday), enjoy live Greek music played by local musicians — all are welcome to join in and dance… Opa!  It’s a super fun fest — we’ve been several times! Saint Sophia is located at 2815 36th St & Mass. Ave. NW.

In Focus: Hawaiian Voyaging and Dance
Where: American Indian Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am–5:30pm
Admission: Free
Join a celebration of Hawaiian culture that demonstrates the importance of voyaging and dance for Native Hawaiian communities through hands-on activities and lively performances! Try basic knot-tying techniques used in the construction, operation, and care of a canoe, and learn how these skills preserve Native Hawaiian sailing traditions. Enjoy performances by hālau hula (school of traditional Hawaiian dance) Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima (the Royal ‘Ilima Blossom), who will present a selection of hula kahiko (traditional dance) and hula ‘auana (contemporary dance) under the direction of Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine and Kumu Hula Jeffrey Kānekaiwilani Takamine.  While you’re there, be sure to visit the imagiNATIONS activity center for even more interactive fun.

Off the Beaten Museum Path
Where: Around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by museum
With some rain in the forecast, it’s a good time to explore some museums that are off the well trodden path of the National Mall. If you don’t veer from it now and then, you could miss out on some other amazing exhibits and experiences that aren’t as well known. Check out this round-up of some museums in DC that may not be on your museum radar — but should be.

EU Open House
Where: EU Embassies | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Avoid the hefty airfare and jet lag and explore the Continent from this side of the pond. Join European Union embassies and the EU Delegation for a day of international culture. Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the embassies, some of which are among Washington’s historic and architectural treasures, and savor their cultures while you’re there through art, performances, cuisines, and more! Get an idea of what to expect in  this post about one of our experiences at an Around the World Embassy Tour.

Strawberry Fields…this Weekend
Where: Farms around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Strawberries are ripe and ready for harvest — a few area farms are now welcoming guests to pick their own. It’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat also recommended.

Nats vs. Mets
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary (look for discount)
The Nats host the Mets this weekend with games Friday (7:05pm), Saturday (4:05pm), and Sunday afternoon (1:35pm). Check for special promos here, and plan to stay after on Sunday for Kids Run the Bases. And before you go, get some KFDC tips  on doing Nats game without breaking the bank.

Soar Together: Curious Careers in Air and Space
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Do you like drawing, sewing, and doing arts and crafts? Did you know these skills and others that you may use now are also extremely useful and important in space exploration jobs? During this Soar Together family program, explore the variety of jobs that use craft skills, art, and design to prepare and protect astronauts and spacecraft from the harsh space environment. You’ll get the chance to practice those skills through a variety of special activities and learn directly from experts in the field. Registration requested.

Book Swap and Preschool Open House
Gan Shalom Preschool | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: Free
Tired of reading the same children’s stories every night?  Let’s Trade!  Gan Shalom Cooperative Preschool will be hosting a children’s books swap at 212 East Capitol Street (btw. 2nd and 3rd.) right after Tot Shabbat.  Bring your kids, their old books, and a desire to discover new stories. This is a great opportunity to give your kids’ books a second life and learn about an amazing preschool option for this Fall.  Gan Shalom is a Jewish Early Childhood Education program inspired by Reggio Emilia, and supported by Hill Havurah, for Children aged 24 months through four years old.  Gan Shalom offers both full-day and half-day options.  Enrollment is open to both Jewish and non-Jewish students. Visit the website for more information and to enroll for this fall.

Greenbelt Green Man Festival
Where: Roosevelt Center | Historic Greenbelt, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm, Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This annual weekend outdoor festival is celebrating its 18th year. Enjoy two days of live music, local artists, and activities for guests of all ages. Create your own faerie garden, take part in a community drum circle, Walk with Freya the Fire Dragon in a community parade, and learn skills related to gardening, composting, camping, and more. On Sunday morning, there is a local farmers’ market as well. Plenty of local parking, too.

Books in Bloom Festival
Where: Colorburst Park | Columbia, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy all day all about books at this annual festival. Free and open to the public, it’s full of author readings, children’s activities, a pop-up bookstore by Busboys & Poets, and more. This year, Books in Bloom will be headlined by two incredible authors — teacher and LGBTQ+ rights advocate, Chasten Buttigieg, and Nikki Giovanni, a world-renowned poet who uses her work to raise awareness on important social issues. Through their works, both headliners highlight this year’s theme of “Building Community – Through Empathy and Understanding Each Other”.

Wizard of Oz Free Screening
Where: Old Greenbelt Theater | Greenbelt, MD
When: Saturday, 1pm
Admission: Free
Join Old Greenbelt Theatre in partnership with Greenbelt Recreation for a free screening of the classic film! The movie theater in Greenbelt presents free flicks for all ages from time to time, and this weekend is one of those times. Check the calendar to see when others are coming up — or plan to catch a paid flick anytime.

DC United vs Nashville FC
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: Tickets start at $29 (look for discount)
DC United is playing at home on Saturday evening, hosting Nashville. As always, I recommend taking public transportation or parking in the Navy Yard neighborhood and walking to Audi Field from there. Plan for a pre-match bite — El Bebe, All Purpose Pizza, The Salt Line, and Dacha are conveniently located and my top recs for family-friendly spots to eat there.

Jack & the Beanstalk
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Friday, 10:30am | Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Admission: $15
In the Puppet Co.’s version of Sleeping Beauty, a funny frog storyteller ribbits the tale of offended fairies, silly royalty, and magic spells. Relive this classic fairy tale in this lovely Legacy rod-puppet show. Directed by Elizabeth Dapo. Recommended ages 4+. Run time approximately 55 minutes.

Weekend Workshops
Where: National Portrait Gallery | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery to do some art making! All ages are welcome to get creative at Weekend Workshops. Learn about artists and changemakers, then create art inspired by their stories. Of course, explore the whole museum while you’re there. See more about the National Portrait Gallery here.

Charm City Fun, Hon!
Where: Around Baltimore, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Not only is it nice to get a change of metro area scenery sometimes, Baltimore, our sister city just a 45-minute drive away, is full of fantastic, family-friendly things to do. This post has info about all of them, including big attractions, suggestions for places to eat, and neighborhoods to explore.

empowerHER Luminaria
Where: Lincoln Memorial | National Mall, DC
When: Sunday, 6-9pm
Admission: Free
empowerHER is on a mission to support, connect + empower girls who’ve lost their mothers. This Mother’s Day, empowerHER LUMINARIA will illuminate the night with a whimsical display of personalized luminaries (purchased for $25 from donors across the globe) and uniquely displayed on the beachfront at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool  in honor of and in memory of loved ones. Proceeds  benefit empowerHER programs. Join empowerHER at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on Mother’s Day – Sunday at sunset.

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* On select dates this summer, kids can experience some of the Smithsonian museums after hours at Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures and Smithsonian Sleepovers.
* Looking for family getaway ideas for the summer?  Here are some good ones!
* If you’re into pickleball, you’ll be interested to know about this place.
*  New advice for mammograms at 40.
* A great sale going on…treat yourselves, mamas. 🙂
* For Succession fans, this podcast has a great recap of the latest episode (including that epic argument).
* Just ordered a few of these… great colors and reasonable price.
* The 20 best movies for kids on Netflix right now, according to Vulture.
* A Guide to Eurovision 2023.
* 11 Mother’s Day recipes to serve mom breakfast in bed. 💕