DC Winter 2014 | KidFriendly DC

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January 26, 2014 · 7:16 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 27-31

Not only are Open Studio Fridays at the Portrait Gallery fun (and free!), you get to have your artwork displayed (even if only briefly in the studio) in a Smithsonian museum!

Monday – Head to the library for story time, special activities, or just to check out books. See this early KFDC post for background and links to local public libraries.

Tuesday – Bounce on over to Joyful Jumps in Bowie, Md. The indoor play center offers Open Play everyday, just drop in for a two-hour session of amusement on their bouncing inflatables, slides, and obstacle courses. Admission is $8.50/ages 17 mos. – 16 years, $6.50/12-16 mos. and on a first come, first served basis. Hours are 10am – 1pm and 4-7pm Monday – Thursday. (10am – 1pm & 4-8pm Fridays).

Wednesday – Enjoy a show for little ones at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Aquarium, the delightful production from Imagination Stage, will be at the H Street venue January 28 – February 2. Showtimes vary by day. Tickets are $8.

Thursday – Let the kids take the wheel at the Washington Auto Show. The annual event showcasing the newest models of cars and trucks will be at the Washington Convention Center through the weekend. Kids (and adults) can sit in the driver’s seat, pretend to cruise around, check out dashboard details, and more. Hours are 12-9pm Monday – Thursday (12-10pm on Friday). Admission is $12/adult, $5/ages 6-12, free for 5 and under. Read more about what to expect in this post from a couple of years ago.

Friday – Get creative at a National Portrait Gallery Open Studio Friday session. All ages are welcome to explore a different art medium each week with all kinds of fun projects. Drop in anytime from 1-4pm. Admission is FREE.

Ice Slidin’ Away at St. Elizabeths East

Ready to ride, or make that, slide

My friend, Torey, gets the credit for finding this one. I completely missed the DCist post about the ice slide at St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion. But, thankfully, my peops look out for me (and KFDC), so I was able to get the scoop on this temporary winter gem.

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Here’s the deal: For the next few weekends, through mid-February, you can enjoy inner tube rides down an ice slide set up at the gateway pavilion. It’s not a huge slide, but a spin down it is massively fun (tip: request the “special” to get your tube turning). You go fast, maybe bounce off the walls a bit, and can’t help but let out a whoop — or a few. They even have double tubes, so you can partner up to whiz down.

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Really little ones have to ride on an adult’s lap, but children about 4 and up can go on their own. Cost is $5 for adults, and FREE for kids 18 and under.

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Even more, there’s a room in the pavilion with games and crafts to hang out in when you’re done sliding or want to warm up. There’s also a cafe, so you can take a snack break, though it closed before we could check it out, so I can’t tell you what they serve. But you’ll probably be too busy sliding to care.

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St. Elizabeths East is located at 2700 Martin Luther King Avenue SE. Free parking is available on site. The ice slide will be open Friday-Sunday 12-5pm through February 15 17, plus MLK Day, Monday January 20, 11am – 5pm.