Tag Archives: Paper Source

Mid-Winter Weekend

The good news:  We’re about half-way through winter.  The bad news:  We’re about half-way through winter.  It’s been a crazy week for many, with hectic commutes, power outages, and school cancellations. You all deserve some fun and relaxation this weekend.  Here’s where you can find some of the family-friendly variety.  Happy Weekend!

Monster JamTwelve-foot-tall, ten-thousand-pound monster trucks will race on, tear up, soar over, and smash through a specially designed track loaded with obstacles. There are three shows: Tonight at 7:30, tomorrow at 2pm, then in the evening at 7:30pm. Tickets are $60/VIP seats, $25/Gold Circle seats, and Mid-Level are $20/adults, $10/kids 2-12.  Kids under 2 are free.  For more info, see this post from a few weeks ago.

Washington Auto ShowSure, it’s a “grown-up” event, but any kid with a penchant for cars will love seeing the hundreds of wheels on display.  Besides new models from more than 40 manufacturers, guests can check out Star Cars, replicas of some of the most famous cars from the big and small screens and one real Transformer. There will also be children’s activities, appearances by some of kids’ favorite characters as well as local and national celebs (come on, you know you want to meet Snooki!) Taking place at the Washington Convention Center, the show runs from Saturday through Sunday, February 6.  Tickets are $12/adults, $5/kids 6-12, free for children 5 and under.  Hours vary by day, so check the website for specifics.

Free Family Film Screening at DC Shorts REWIND Local favorite film festival, DC Shorts, is getting ready to present REWIND, a re-screening and retrospective look at the biggest hits of the last seven years. Included is a Free Family Film screening on Saturday morning. Recommended for ages 8 and up, the review will feature 90 minutes of kid-friendly films from around the world. See this post from a a couple of weeks ago for more info.

“Be Mine” – Parent-Child Valentine – Tomorrow from 11am – 12pm, Paper Source in Georgetown is hosting a “Be Mine” – Parent-Child Valentine workshop, where participants can create accordion books with Valentine themes using all kinds of neat art supplies provided by Paper Source.  Cost is $25 (add just $10 for a second child), and the class is recommended for ages 5-10.  More details about this and other Valentine-themed events are here.

Pentagon Row Ice Skating Gala – Lace up your skates for the 2nd Annual Pentagon Row Ice Skating Gala.  On Saturday from 5 -7pm, guests can enjoy live music by Fools & Horses, a fun photo booth, free hot and merchant specials, plus strolling family entertainment, including a stilt walker, magician, ice princess, and juggler. A portion of the ice skating proceeds benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Capitol Chapter.  Tickets are $8/adults, $7/children 12 and under, $3/skate rentals.

Michael Taggart: Magician ExtraordinaireThis weekend’s Saturday Monrning at the National performer will amaze and amuse all ages.  This adroit and personable magician does marvels with scarves and balls and wizard’s wands. Audience volunteers help him make the magic! At the conclusion of his performance, he floats up in the air into a mini-snowstorm: a lovely, magical moment not to be missed.  Show times are 9:30am and 11am at the National Theatre.  Tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ikat-Inspired Flower Garden Art – Search the galleries of the Textile Museum for colors and floral designs on a scavenger hunt. Afterward, use markers, colored pencils and paint to create a flower garden inspired by the designs in the Colors of the Oasis exhibition. The free workshop is recommended for ages 4-12. No reservations required, so just show up and have fun.

Puppet Shows for Little Ones – Two Tiny Tots shows will be performed at The Puppet Co. this weekend.  Panda-Monium on Saturday and Old MacDonald’s Farm on Sunday.  Both start at 10am.  Tickets are $5 and available online.   Tiny Tots shows are recommended for ages 0-4.

Portrait Story Days: Georgia O’Keefe – Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. On Sunday, learn about artist Georgia O’Keeffe from 1pm – 4pm.  This is a free program.

Theater Time – Several children’s stage productions are in local theaters, and tickets are still available for some of this weekend’s performances.  Check out this post to see what’s playing and how to reserve your seats.

Stories in Art Alexander Calder will again be the subject for this week’s Stories in Art at the National Gallery. The workshop will start with a reading of “Sophie’s Masterpiece,” a book about a spider and her wondrous creations.  From there, the group will explore Calder’s “Spider” and learn to weave their own wire mobiles.  Hour-long sessions begin at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am that day and will continue until all spaces are filled.  No admission fee required.

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Filed under All ages, Art, Charity, Class, DC, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Museums, Weekend, Winter

Love is in the Air

A random bit of trivia about me:  I met my husband on Valentine’s Day.  And if it weren’t for the fact that it was in a bar, it would make for quite the idyllic love story.

I’m not sharing this tidbit of personal information for no reason.  It’s a means to get us on the topic of Valentine’s Day, which, although is still a couple of weeks away, is already popping up on the kids’ activities radar.  Starting as early as this weekend, there are several V-Day-themed events happening around the area that welcome families to celebrate love.

The first is taking place this Saturday at Paper Source in Georgetown.  From 11am – 12pm, the store is hosting a “Be Mine” – Parent-Child Valentine workshop, where participants can create accordion books with Valentine themes using all kinds of neat art supplies provided by Paper Source.  Cost is $25 (add just $10 for a second child), and the class is recommended for ages 5-10.  A Tween Valentine Accordion Collection workshop for ages 9-13 will be offered on February 5, also for $25.  Register for both online or in the store.

Tudor Place is also hosting a cupid-inspired event on February 5.  The Be My Valentine: Valentine’s Day Card Workshop for Children will start with a tour of the historic mansion in search of Valentine’s Day cards from years past.  After the tour, children will design their own Valentine cards to take home.  The event, recommended for ages 5 and up, begins at 10:30am.  Cost is $7/member, $10/non-members, adult chaperons are free.  Register online by February 4.

Home Depot is also hosting a workshop with heart (literally) on Saturday, February 5.  The hardware store’s monthly Kids Workshop will teach guests how to create a heart shelf.  The free session runs from 9am – 12pm at all Home Depot stores. For more information, visit the website or give your local store a call.

For some Valentine fun that will really get hearts racing, head to Pump It Up in Elkridge the evening of February 9.  From 5:30 – 8pm, they are hosting a Valentine’s Day Family Event, offering families two hours of available jump time, two slices of pizza, drinks, and a special treat for the kids. Cost is $8/person for families of up to 3, $8.50/person for families of 4 or more.  Register online for this event.

Art and science will be part of the National Children’s Museum Valentine-themed event on Saturday, February 12, from 11am – 4pm.  Hearts of All Sorts will celebrate happy hearts with fun Valentine crafts and healthy hearts with hands-on activities and demos on how to keep hearts healthy.  This is a free event.

Join the Arlington Arts Center at the Clarendon Market Commons Barnes & Noble on Saturday, February 12, for a Valentine Making Workshop.  Guests of all ages are invited to drop in to make a Valentine for a special someone.  The free event begins at 1pm.

Get literal with your heart-focused activities at the National Museum of Health & Medicine.  On Saturday, February 12 from 10am – 12pm, Exploring the Heart: A Valentine’s Program will offer a look at how a heart begins and grows, as museum staff dissect hearts from a reptile, mammal, and bird to demonstrate similarities and differences between bird and mammal anatomy. Guests can also try making a medical illustration from the dissections or create an anatomically-correct Valentine’s Day card. Supplies will be provided. This free program is open to all ages, but probably not recommended for the faint of heart (har har).

Keep the quease factor down at Hooray 4 Books’ Valentine Workshop with Sharon Hickey. Kids ages 3 and up can join the local author (Card Auntie’s Wonderful Workshop) for a card-making workshop and create Valentines to take home and to send to soldiers overseas. Operation Write Home coloring sheets as well as stickers, markers and crayons will be provided for children to write with and decorate their Valentines. Call 703.548.4092 or send an email to info@hooray4books.com to reserve a spot.

Celebrate V-Day with the Smithsonian at the Freer/Sackler Galleries.  On Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13, the Museums of Asian Art are hosting In Every Language Love, an open house for all ages.  After a slideshow of images representing love in Asian art, guests can use printing blocks inscribed with the word “love” in more than a dozen Asian languages to make valentines. The free program runs from 12 – 4pm.

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Filed under Class, DC, Gradeschoolers, Holidays, Maryland, Play, Preschoolers, Preteens, Tweens, Weekend, Winter