Hill Family Biking on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge
1. Celebrate the new school year with a big group bike ride on Saturday! Hill Family Biking, which organizes monthly family-friendly group bike rides in and around Capitol Hill, is hosting a Back to School Ride. The “progressive bike party” will cruise by DCPS elementary schools in the neighborhood, starting at 10:30am at Maury Elementary (13th & C, NE). Participants can either begin there or join the ride at the school of their choice. Younger bikers and their families are encouraged to join at Peabody Elementary (425 C Street NE), the halfway mark.
The group’s bike rides are usually 4-5 miles at a slow pace and end at a fun activity like ice cream or a splash pad. This one will culminate at the Watkins splash pad and athletic fields to cool off after the ride and play some games. All of the rides are free, and anyone is welcome to join, not just Capitol Hill families. Volunteers will be marshaling to ensure the group stays together, and an MPD bike team will also be participating to connect officers with the community. And if your family’s bikes need some TLC, arrive 30 minutes early to get some assistance — they’ll have bike maintenance tools available, as well as some experienced amateur bike mechanics on hand to assist. And be sure to show your school pride — all alma maters welcome!
2. The National Postal Museum’s final session of their Guest Artist Series is this Wednesday evening. Geared toward families with kids ages 5-10, Mule Mail and Biblioburros: Reaching Communities in Unexpected Ways will highlight how animals have played an important role in helping bring goods to people and the many ways we still rely on animals. The free program will take place on Zoom at 4pm.
3. Feed the kids for free! Through August 31, Emmy Squared Pizza is offering a free kid’s meal with the purchase of two pizzas, burgers, or salads (at participating dine-in locations). And we can vouch for the food — the restaurant is included in the KFDC Pick for KidFriendly DC Restaurants! And on Labor Day weekend, from September 1-4, kids ages 10 and under and teachers will receive a free entree at Rosa Mexicana! Kids must be dining with adults purchasing entrees, and teachers must show a valid school identification for the 2023/2024 school year. There are locations in Pentagon City and at National Harbor.
4. I highlighted Acorns awhile back, and it’s worth mentioning again… It’s an easy way to invest and save money, offering bonuses when you buy certain brands and the option to invest “spare change” from credit card purchases. We’ve been signed up for a few years now, and always designate the fund to something like an upcoming trip or holiday gift shopping. It’s cool to see how fast it grows! (Sharing my referral link that offers a little starter gift.)
.5. Once in a super blue moon (this Wednesday evening)!
The family bike ride sounds amazing! Do you know if there is anything similar in Northern Virginia?
Not that I’m aware of. But the Capitol Hill group was started by a local parent. I could put you in touch if you were interested in trying to get one started near you….