Tag Archives: Stories in Art

July 11, 2011 · 3:25 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: July 11-15

Long, lazy summer days sound wonderful in theory, but when you add energetic, curious kids to the mix, they are few and far between. Luckily, there are always plenty of options for weekday recreation around DC or within an easy drive; it’s just a matter of figuring out where they are.

Well, I’m going to do some of the guesswork for you by offering suggestions of what to do with the kids each week. This is an idea inspired by the Go Out & Play blog, which highlights an activity, mostly in northern Virginia, for little ones every weekday. (FYI – Arlington Mama always recommends a great selection of unique outings for young children.)

My Monday to Friday picks will mix up the locales and age groups a bit, but the goal of a good time will be a constant throughout.

Here are my suggestions for this week, July 11-15:

Monday – By the time this post is live, much of the day will be over, but you can still get in some good swim time at an outdoor pool. DC public pools remain open until 8pm, many Alexandria pools until 7pm, and until 8pm in Montgomery County.

Tuesday – The National Gallery of Art is hosting its Stories in Art drop-in program tomorrow. Four hourly time slots are available starting at 10:30am.

Wednesday – Catch a movie with the kids for free, just a buck, or with a baby in tow. There are several special movies series going on that cater to kids or moms who have brand new ones. Read about them all here. (And note that some run on Tuesday as well.)

Thursday – If the forecast holds out, we should have cooler temps by the end of the week, perfect for Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap, where Baba Jamal Koram and SteveSongs are performing this week. Read a KFDC review of the summer theatre series.

Friday – Go check out a new playground. This brand spanking new blog already has a couple of great reviews of local outdoor play spaces. And here’s a bonus recommendation: The Friday Concert series at the Yards Park is great for all ages — fountain play for kids; music, food, and fun for everyone.

Weekend Hits

Turtle spotting at Huntley Meadows Park

Baseball, theatre, and museum programs are heavy hitters in the special events arena this weekend. Indoor play, folklife, and berry picking make a showing too. Here’s the scoop on all of them, plus links to even more ideas for ongoing family recreation. Happy Weekend!

Nationals Baseball Family Day – The National Portrait Gallery is hosting the fifth annual Baseball Family Day with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club from 11:30am – 2pm in the Kogod Courtyard. Guests can get photo ops with ball players from 12-1pm and enjoy activities, crafts, and musical performances throughout the free event.

Nationals Game Days – The Nats are busy guys this weekend! Not only will they be greeting guests at the museum, they’re also hosting the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are still available for both games.

Portrait Story Days – The baseball theme continues at the National Portrait Gallery as they host their ongoing program for kids. Drop in to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. On Saturday and Sunday from 2-5pm, learn about baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

Stories in Art – One of my favorite museum programs for children begins on Sunday. The National Gallery of Art’s summer drop-in program welcomes kids ages 4-7 to explore Dutch art through storytelling, gallery tours, and hands-on projects. Sessions are hourly starting at 11:30am. Sign-up begins at 11am in the West Building Rotunda, and space is limited. For more details on the program and tips on signing up, see this post from earlier in the week.

Come Play on Capitol Hill – The Playseum is coming to DC! Yes, Barracks Row on Capitol Hill is getting another new business that families will love. Doors open on Saturday for a sneak peak (the Grand Opening is July 14), and all are welcome to check out the new space from 9am – 5pm. Admission will be free all day, though there will be small fees for other optional activities and crafts. The new location is at 545 8^th Street SE. While you’re on the corridor, stop by thew new Hello Cupcake or 32 Below for a sweet treat.

Hiking at Huntley Meadows – Our family visited Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria for the first time last weekend and had a fantastic time exploring the woods and wetlands. Wildlife sightings were abundant as we hiked along the paved, dirt, and boardwalk trails. Spotting turtles of all sizes became a game for the kids, and we also saw frogs, great blue herons, cardinals, and a variety of other birds. The entire hike is just over a mile, but we stopped at lookouts and benches to snack along the way to make it a few hours’ outing. A longer review of the park will come soon, but the gist is that I highly recommend it. Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and water, as there’s no shade through the wetlands section of the park. Get directions to the Huntley Meadows here.

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods – If you can’t make it to Wolf Trap’s wonderful summer theatre series during the week, you can catch it Saturdays at 10am. This week Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets and Robbie Schaefer will take the outdoor stage. Tickets are $8/ages 3 and up (free for 2 an under) and include both shows. Read a review of the series posted earlier this week.

Celebrate Folklife – The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is continuing its celebration on the National Mall through July 11. Enjoy exhibits, activities, demos, and workshops that focus on the nature of Colombia, 50 years of the Peace Corps, and Rhythm & Blues music in the United States. Festival hours are 11am – 5:30pm with special performances taking place later most evenings.

Theatre Fun for the Littlest Ones – Imagination Stage hosts Sunday Fun-Days for kids ages 1-5 at 10:30am. The lessons in multi-sensory play are centered around children’s books, this week is “What Makes a Rainbow.” Sessions are $10, register in advance online. The Puppet Co. will also have performances for the youngest audiences (ages 0-4) at their Tiny Tots series this weekend. Penguins Playground is will be performed on Saturday, and Old MacDonald Farm on Sunday. Showtime for both is 10am. Tickets are $5 and available for purchase online or at the box office.

Take Your Pick – Head to a local farm to harvest some summer produce. Berries and peaches are the main crops ready for picking, but other fruits and veggies are available at a few spots. This post lists local farms that welcome visitors to pick their own, and it doesn’t hurt to check websites or call ahead to make sure you’re favorites are ripe.

Family Recreation Staples – Check out these posts for ongoing family fun:
Joys of Summer
The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids
Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)
Family Entertainment

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Filed under All ages, Art, DC, Eats, Educational, Festival, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Museums, Outdoor, Play, Seasonal, Sports, Summer, Theatre, Weekend

Tagged as Family Activities, Huntley Meadows Park, Imagination Stage, Kids Activities, National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Nationals Baseball Family Day, Playseum, Portrait Story Days, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Stories in Art, Sunday Fun-Days, The Puppet Co., Tiny Tots, Washington DC, Washington Nationals, Weekend July 9-10

July 6, 2011 · 3:26 pm

Drop in at the National Gallery for Summer Art Programs

One of my favorite museum programs for children is about to begin! The National Gallery of Art’s summer drop-in series starts this weekend with art sessions for kids that are both educational and fun.

Stories in Art, geared toward ages 4-7, is a fantastic program that introduces kids to art and encourages them to use their imaginations as they discover different works. (Read about our experience at the program last summer.) This summer session will explore the Netherlands, using storytelling, gallery tours, and hands-on projects to teach kids about Dutch art. Workshops are at various times on Sundays, Mondays, and occasional Tuesdays. This is a free series, and there is a limit to the number of children in each class. Sign-in will take place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 10am on weekdays and at 11am on Sundays, and will continue until all spaces are filled. Visit the National Gallery of Art website for more details and the complete schedule.

Artful Conversations is for ages 8-11 and will take place on Sundays and Wednesdays starting July 17. Designed for children and adults to participate in together, the program uses observation and discussion to explore works of art in the collection. Led by museum educators, each session includes looking at one work of art in the galleries, accompanied by a sketching activity. Sign-in will take place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 12:30pm on Sundays and 12pm on Wednesdays, and will continue until all spaces are filled. More details and the full schedule are available on the NGA website.

Note: The sessions fill up quickly, especially on weekends, so plan accordingly. Even if you get there early, you might have to sign up for a later session, so it’s a good idea to have another activity planned or museum exhibit to explore while you wait.