Tag Archives: Textile Museum

January 20, 2012 · 10:23 am

The Weekend Round-Up: January 20-22

My favorite six-year-old

I have to start this weekend round-up with a special shout-out. It was six years ago yesterday that my favorite little man arrived, and life became a fantastic adventure I never could have imagined prior to becoming a parent. My tiny baby, who was less than six pounds upon his early arrival and fit snugly in the crook of my arm, now reads, writes, runs fast, jokes around, expresses his dreams. When I take a moment (when I have a moment) to digest it all, it’s pretty darn astounding. And I couldn’t be prouder of the boy he’s become. Happy Birthday, my sweet O.

And with my sentimental moment indulged, let’s talk about the weekend. Museums programs and special events, children’s theatre, a clothing swap, and hoops action are among my recommendations for family fun. And with dreary weather in the forecast, the indoor list makes the round-up, too. Happy Weekend!

Spy Fest 2012 – Is your child the next 007? Find out at the International Spy Museum on Sunday from 11am – 2:30pm. Recommended for ages 7 and up, the event will include mini missions, tradecraft demos, and a chance for guests to try their spy skills. Tickets are $10, and advance registration is required. Go here to sign up!

Celebrate Africa! – Kids of all ages are invited to the Textile Museum’s 3^rd Annual Mid-Winter Festival celebrating the art and culture of Africa. On Saturday from 12-4pm guests can enjoy dress-up, storytelling, dancing, crafts, and more. Try on contemporary clothing and accessories inspired by cultures of Central Africa, then pose for a professional photographer and walk away with your picture. Hand-sew a Kuba-inspired textile. Enjoy snacks of cassava chips and South African red tea while master drummer Joseph Ngwa leads traditional drumming and dance, and master storyteller Baba-C entrances listeners with interactive storytelling. Visitors will also entered to win great prizes. Admission to the event is free.

Happy Lunar New Year! – Usher in the Lunar New Year a little early at Rockville Town Center with a day full of lively festivities, including a parade hosted by VisArts, street performers, live music, martial artists, lion dancers, an 18-person golden dragon, VisArts exhibitions, vendors, crafts, and more! It’s all free and happening on Saturday from 11am – 4pm.

Multi-Prints Family Day – Press, stamp, and rub to make an artistic impression during this printmaking family day at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. On Saturday from 11:30am – 3pm, artists from George Mason University will demonstrate a variety of printing techniques to kids of all ages, who can then visit our workshop tables to create a print of their own to take home! This free event will take place in the Kogod Courtyard of the museum located at 8^th & F Streets, NW.

Farm to Table Family Day – The Kogod Courtyard is going to be a busy place this weekend. Head there on Sunday as the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the arrival of the recently commissioned portrait of chef, author, and restaurant owner Alice Waters by artist Dave Woody. Enjoy live music, learn about the “farm to table” movement, and participate in hands-on activities. The free event takes place from 11:30am – 3pm.

Swap ‘Til You Drop – Or for a few hours, anyway. Saturday is World Swap Day and peace. love. swap. – The Original Maternity, Baby Kid Clothing & Gear Swap is celebrating with a swap event on Saturday at Jonah’s Treehouse in Glover Park. Pass on your old clothes and gear and score some (sorta) new stuff! Item drop-off is from 5-6pm, and the swapping is from 6:30-7:30pm. Admission is $5 if you register in advance, $7 at the door. Go here for more information and to register online

Rubber Ducky, You’re the One – The National Children’s Museum is hosting a joint birthday party for Ernie and his best pal, Rubber Ducky, at the Launch Zone on Saturday. From 11am – 4pm, children can take part in “Percussion Playtime” to celebrate Ernie’s love of playing the drums and make bubble art to celebrate Ernie and Rubber Ducky’s favorite pastime. No R.S.V.P. is required for this party, just drop in for a splish-splashin’ good time!

Wizards vs. Celtics – How about some hoops action on Sunday afternoon? Never mind that it’s not a winning season for the Wizards so far; the games are still exciting and a fun time for all ages. Our family caught the match-up against Toronto a couple of weeks ago – Sasha’s first basketball game, and the Wizard’s first W this season – and we all had a blast. Along with the on-court thrills, kids will love the games, entertainment, and giveaways during time-outs and halftime. Game time on Sunday is 1pm, and tickets start at $10.

Art History 101 – The drop-in program a the National Gallery begins its Artful Conversations series and continues Stories in Art this weekend. On Saturday, kids ages 8-11 and an accompanying adult, can attend the former to learn about a work of art and participate in a related poetry-writing activity. Sessions are at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 10:00 a.m., and will continue until all spaces are filled. On Sunday, kids ages 4-7 can again learn about Henri Matisse through storytelling, discussion, and an art project. Sessions are at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am, and will continue until all spaces are filled. Read a KFDC review of the program here.

Stage Time – There’s a variety of entertainment to be enjoyed in local theatres this weekend. The Snowy Day opens at Adventure Theatre, a rousing tale about the War of 1812 is the free show at Saturday Morning at the National, Peter and the Wolf and Tiny Tots are at The Puppet Co., and Mouse on the Move is at Imagination Stage. Find details on all of these productions in this post about winter entertainment.

The “In” Crowd – Looks like it’s going to be a good weekend to hang indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out of the house. For sheltered adventures around town, check out this list.

Peak Weekend

Sweetest scarecrow I ever saw

Late October is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a combo of the crisp, cool weather, brilliant hues of fall foliage, anticipation of Halloween, and myriad events and activities hailing it all. These next few days are no exception — there are plenty of family pursuits happening that fit right into that formula. Happy Weekend!

Halloween Jump Start – Trick or treat at the Zoo, decorate skulls at the National Museum of Health & Medicine, take a train ride through Maryland woods. If your little monsters are ready for a scream, these are just some of the events happening this weekend to get the Halloween party started. This KFDC post has details on all of them.

Jump Off! – Join the National Children’s Museum at Watkins Regional Park on Saturday from 12-4pm for the 4^th Annual Jump Off! Designed to inspire children to be physically active while having fun, the event will feature free, outdoor exhibition performances by nationally renowned Double Dutch jump rope teams along with numerous family-friendly activities. Highlights will include performances and workshops by Jump Off! Veterans, special guest appearances by The Washington Mystics representatives, music and live entertainment, giveaways and promos; Frisbee decorating (while supplies last), and parachute play with NCM staff. Admission is free.

Go Euro – Performances representing 27 countries in the European Union are part of the four-week festival presented by the French-American Cultural Foundation. See Cool Frogs at the Kennedy Center, Irish dancing at La Maison Française, Czech films at AFI, a puppet show at CHAW, and more cultural productions throughout the weekend. See the Kids Euro Festival schedule for specifics.

Fall at Mount Vernon – Mount Vernon welcomes the autumn season with Fall Harvest Family Days that include wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations, apple-roasting, corn husk dolls demonstrations and early-American games and music. Guests can also get a view of the estate from the water – Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price during this weekend event. Fall Harvest Family Days take place Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 5pm and are included in regular estate admission $15/adults, $7/ages 6-11, free for children 5 and under.

ARTdays at CHAW – The series presenting art and cultural adventures for families has several performances on the line-up on Saturday. Catch a Kids Euro Fest performance at 10:30am and 12:30pm, as puppet performer Juha from Finland takes the all-ages audience to Finnish Lapland with his show “Off to Lapland.” Later in the day, from 4-5:30pm, get your percussion on at “Get Down With Your Rhythm Self,” a community drumming circle that welcomes all beats, experience levels, and ages. All ARTdays events are free.

Show Time – There’s even more live entertainment to enjoy on stages all over the area. Dr. Wonderful and her dog are having some amazing adventures at the Kennedy Center, Alladin is still trying his luck at Imagination Stage (and Certifikid has a deal on tickets for Sunday shows), and marionettes are entertaining Tiny Tots at The Puppet Co. Playhouse. Get time and ticket details on these performances and more in this KFDC post.

Woof Walk – Here’s an event for the whole family, including Fido. To promote dog walking as an easy and enjoyable way to get up, get out, and get moving, THE POWER OF PETS™ by Mars Petcare and the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is hosting a community walking and family fitness event for dogs and their owners on the National Mall (near the Capitol Hill Reflecting Pool) complete with free activities. On Saturday from 10am – 2pm, there will be a 2K community dog walk, a question and answer session with a Banfield Pet Hospital veterinarian, doggie and kiddie obstacle courses, fitness demonstrations, arts & crafts, bounce house and face painting, music and a dance party, and healthy snacks for pets and people. Register online.

Arts for Families: Make an African Mask – The Textile Museum is hosting its monthly program for families on Sunday from 2-4pm. Explore the many cultures of Africa and the rich history of mask-making. Create your own mask using cardboard, paint and raffia, combining elements and features from the human, animal and spirit worlds. Paint clothes are suggested. This free activity is recommended for ages 5–12. No reservations are required.

Friends Community School Fair – On Sunday from 12 – 4pm, join the FCS community for their annual Fall Fair. There will be a haunted house, an obstacle course, a moon bounce, books and toys for sale, and plenty of good food. Friends Community School is a small Kindergarten through 8th grade Quaker school that welcomes students of all beliefs. The fair will take place at the school – 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, Md.

Last Call for Merriment – It’s the final weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the annual faire that recalls medieval times with a village full of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Partake in it all on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am – 7pm. One-day tickets are $19/adults, $16/seniors, $9/kids ages 7-15, free for children 6, and are available at the Box Office each day. For more info about Ren Fest, see this KFDC post.

Celebrate the Season – Fall festivals are still going strong at area farms and other venues – a friend just let me know that American Plant in Bethesda has a super cute set-up for little ones, including a straw maze, a small haunted house, plus free popcorn and cider. The Cabin John Shopping Center is also hosting a fall shindig from 1-3pm that will include hay rides, scarecrow making, face painting, balloon art, and more. And for a big list of places where you can embrace the autumn spirit, see this KFDC post.

Walk in the Woods – How about hitting the trail to enjoy the autumnal color spectrum? This KFDC post has a bunch of recommendations for good places to hike with kids.

Out & About – If you want to get outside without committing to a long walk, check out some of The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors With the Kids.

Weekend in Washington

Peachy keen on the farm

The title of this post might seem obvious, but the distinction makes sense from my vacationing perspective. I must note that we’re missing out on some fun stuff while we’re out of town. Hope those of you at home enjoy it. Happy Weekend!

Swim in Nature’s Midst – Add some adventure to your next swimming experience by seeking out a natural spot to submerge. The Natural Capital blog has a fantastic list of places where you can take a dip and enjoy the great outdoors in one fell swoop.

The Wizard of Oz x 2 – You can catch two different productions of the classic show this weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the last chances to see the play performed by the talented young cast of the Act III Theatre Company. And The Puppet Co. presents their own fun version through September 4 with several show times over the weekend. Tickets are still available for all of performances. Read the KFDC review of both productions.

Shark Weekend – On Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm, celebrate Shark Weekend at DC’s National Aquarium by getting up-close and personal with several shark species. Learn from leading experts on the history, lives, and habits of one of the world’s most fascinating ocean dwellers. Visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt, touch an actual shark tooth and other artifacts, make arts and crafts, and more. Admission to the Aquarium is $9.95/ages 11 and up, $4.95/ages 3-11, free for children 2 and under. There is no fee beyond that for the event.

Gonna Eat a Lot of Peaches – It’s peach picking time at many local farms; the summer fruits are at their ripest from late July to early August. If you want to get them at their peak, check out this list of local farms that offer pick-your-owns. (Note: the post is about blueberry picking, but many of the same places are harvesting peaches now. But it’s always a good idea to check the website for updates.)

Classic Tennis – See some exciting sports action served up at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. The annual tournament begins on Saturday at 10am , and continues through August 7. Tickets for the first round of matches this weekend are still available ranging from $10-45.

Art for Families: Design a Button Bracelet – Be your own jewelry designer at the Textile Museum on Saturday while recycling grandma’s buttons into something fashionably hip. Participants will create a bracelet with buttons of all sizes, colors and textures and walk away wearing their new work of art. The free activity takes place from 2-4pm.

Family Fest at the Postal Museum – Hop on board for a rail-riding good time with Owney the dog, the subject of one of the Postal Museum’s most popular exhibits. This celebration includes such fun activities as designing an Owney tag, sorting mail in the Railway Post Office, making a stamp collection, and more. Enjoy the free event on Friday and Saturday from 12-3pm.

Livin’ Large Kids Art – On Saturday from 11am – 1pm, children are invited to render their own abstractions influenced by artist Tory Cowles’ work, which is currently on exhibit at the Torpedo Factory. With inspiration her imagery, kids have an opportunity to experience the same thrill from the act of painting that Cowles’ herself does and has portrayed in her own bold canvases.

Jump on the Park Wagon – I’ve recommended Riverbend Park in Fairfax as a great place to spend a day outdoors with the kids, and now there’s one more reason why: Visitors can board a tractor-pulled wagon for a naturalist-led tour of the park. Rides are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Cost is $4/person, children 2 and under ride free. Rides run approximately 30-45 minutes.

Get Up and Go! – On Friday and Saturday at 11am, the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone invites families to discover fun summer activities to make them healthy and strong. Activities like spoon and “egg” relays, freeze dancing, Simon Says, and jumping jack contests will take place throughout the day. And, weather permitting, guests can also enjoy a Hippity Hop Course. This free event runs from 11am – 6pm.

For even more ideas for fun with the kids, check out these popular KFDC posts:

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)

Stay Entertained Through Summer

1 Comment

Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Farm, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Sports, Summer, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

Tagged as Art for Families: Design a Button Bracelet, Get Up and Go!, Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Livin' Large Kids Art, National Aquarium Washington, National Children's Museum, National Postal Museum, Owney, Peach Picking, Riverbend Park, Shark Weekend, Swimming Spots, Textile Museum, The Torpedo Factory Arts Center, The Wizard of Oz, Things to do with Kids in DC, Tory Cowles, WAgon Rides, Washington DC, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Weekend July 30-31

June 3, 2011 · 6:19 am

This Weekend: Museums, a Folk Fest, and Tons of Seasonal Fun

Playing in the fountains at the U.S. Botanic Garden

As this post goes live, the forecast is calling for both sun and showers this weekend. Luckily, there are options for family fun to suit all weather possibilities — museum family days, the Washington Folk Festival, a community children’s fair, theatre performances, strawberry picking, and much more summer recreation. Here’s where it’s all happening. Happy Weekend!

Celebration of Textiles – This free, annual two-day festival at the Textile Museum offers something for everyone. Venture outside to the spectacular garden to participate in hands-on textile activities, watch live sheep being shorn (weather permitting), and learn from embroidery, weaving, and lace-making guilds of the region as they demonstrate their skills. Explore the exhibitions Green: the Color and the Cause and Second Lives: The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles. Also on view will be DC Public School student’s textile art projects inspired by this year’s theme of recycling and created in part of the 2011 Museum-School Partnership. The celebration will take place on Saturday from 10am – 4pm and Sunday from 1-5pm. All ages are welcome.

Washington Folk Festival – Get folksy at Glen Echo Park this weekend. In its 31st year, the Washington Folk Festival will showcase the diversity of traditional music in Washington. All of the artists hail from the DC area, but cultures from around the nation, as well as the world, will be represented through music, dance, crafts, and stories. The public is invited to enjoy the festival that is renown in the folk community Saturday and Sunday from 12-7pm both days. Admission is free.

Imagination Bethesda – On Saturday from 11am – 4pm, join the Bethesda Urban Partnership to celebrate children, art, and all things fun at the 17th annual Imagination Bethesda. Where Woodmont Avenue meets Elm Street, activity tents will line the streets, face painters will bring butterflies and pirates to life, and a stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing. Activity details and the entertainment line-up are available on the Imagination Bethesda website.

Summer in the City – Outdoor concerts, a children’s garden and more ongoing seasonal fun has begun in DC. From Jazz in the Garden on Friday evenings to open swim at local pools to play time at the Botanic Garden, this post has the scoop on where and when you can experience the joys of summer.

Bear Awareness Days – The National Zoo is hosting two days of fun, family programming all about bears. Enjoy special keeper talks and animal demos, learn about the bears of the world, and find out how to stay safe around local bears. Kids of all ages can help bear-proof a campsite, share what they love about bears, sneak a peek at our bamboo shed, and even bring their own teddy bear for a check-up. This free program will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 2pm. View a schedule of activities on the National Zoo website.

The Time is Still Ripe – Strawberry fields may not be forever on DC area farms, but they’re still yielding fruit for now. This may be the last weekend to harvest your own — if you plan to go, this list includes farms offering pick-your-own opportunities.

Family Night Out at the Theatre – 1^st Stage Theatre at Tysons Corner presents a special family performance of “Jack and the Bean-Stalk” on Saturday at 6pm. The brand new adaptation of the classic fairytale just opened last weekend and will run through June 19. Tickets are $15 and available for purchase online.

National Trails Day – The first Saturday of every June is National Trails Day. Celebrate it this weekend by taking a family hike. For some ideas on where to go, see this post about good walks in the woods with the kids.

History in the Making Family Day – The Smithsonian American Art Museum is celebrating History in the Making: The Renwick Craft Invitational 2011 with a day of activities for the family. Guests are invited to take a family-oriented tour of the exhibition galleries, then make arts and crafts inspired by the work of the four artists on view. There will also be live music and a scavenger hunt. The free event runs from 11am – 2pm on Saturday.

Click, Clack, Moo – On Sunday at 3pm, the Alden Theatre in McLean presents a new musical based on the Caldecott Award-winning book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. All day long Farmer Brown hears “click clack moo, clickety clackety moo…” The cows are typing and protesting their working conditions! When his granddaughter Jenny comes to visit, Farmer Brown declares the farm a “tech-free zone.” The hilarious musical is all about negotiation and compromise. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets are $12, $8/McLean residents.

Best in Shows – Along with the above-mentioned plays, there are several more performances to see around the area, including A Year with Frog and Toad, which is in its final weekend at Adventure Theatre. Find out what else is on stages this weekend — see this post for live entertainment options for the family.

Sunny Days – The weather forecast is looking good for at least part of the weekend. Bask in the sunshine and have a good time with help of this list of great places to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors with the kids.

Rainy Days – Let’s hope you won’t have to use this, but if the skies should open up this weekend, these ideas for rainy day recreation will come in handy.

1 Comment

Filed under All ages, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Farm, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Seasonal, Summer, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

Tagged as A Year with Frog and Toad, Adventure Theater, Alden Theatre, American A, Celebration of Textiles, Click Clack Moo, Glen Echo Park, Green: the Color and the Caus, History in the Making Family Day, History in the Making: The Renwick Craft Invitational 2011, Imagination Bethesda, National Trails Day, Second Lives: The Age-Old Art of Recycling Textile, Textile Museum, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Washington DC Strawberry picking, Washington Folk Festival, Weekend June 4-5

April 13, 2011 · 8:21 am

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)

The Building Zone at the National Building Museum is a great rainy day play option for little ones

Note: This list has been updated. Find a bigger, better version here.

Looking for activities for the kids on a foul-weather day? Here are some ideas…

1. Let them burn some energy at an indoor gym. This is a good list to get you started.

2. Take in a show at Glen Echo Park — see what’s currently on stages at The Puppet Co. and Adventure Theatre.

3. Head to the National Building Museum for some play time in the Building Zone or other activities in the Great Hall. (Note: linked post contains info about past events, as well as a description of what’s currently there).

4. Check out your local library.

5. Catch an IMAX like Born to Be Wild 3D or one of several other great films currently playing at the Smithsonian IMAX Theaters. See the Smithsonian website for details.

6. Visit a Smithsonian museum on the National Mall (or elsewhere in the city). They are free, fantastic places to stay dry.

7. Take a tour of Tudor Place, and be sure to check the calendar for special events.

8. See an exhibit or a few at the National Geographic Museum.

9. Go ice skating at the Kettler Iceplex, in College Park, or at Cabin John Ice Rink.

10. Shake your thang with the Boogie Babes. They bring children’s musicians to Eastern Market every Thursday morning and to the Atlas Performing Arts Center on Fridays.

11. Let imaginations run wild with pretend play at the Playseum. Locations are in Capitol Hill and Bethesda.

12. Explore space at a planetarium. The Albert Einstein Planetarium at the Air & Space is open every day. The Rock Creek Park Planetarium has free shows on weekends and Wednesdays at 4pm. And the David M. Brown Planetarium is in Arlington, though open only during the school year.

13. Jump in at an indoor pool. (Note: DC DPR closes aquatic centers if there is thunder).

14. Romp in the play area and ride the Express Train at Tysons Corner Center.

15. Wing it at the College Park Aviation Museum.

16. Paint some pottery at Color Me Mine, All Fired Up, or Clay Cafe.

17. Rock out at a Jammin’ Java kids show.

18. Get in touch with nature at the U.S. Botanic Garden, where many of the plant collections make you feel like you’re not just outdoors, but in a whole other region altogether.

19. Nuture the next 007 at the International Spy Museum. (Best for about ages 6 and up.)

20. Go below the surface, literally and figuratively, at the National Aquarium in DC, located in the lower level of the Department of Commerce Building.

21. Have a blast at Port Discovery in Baltimore.

22. And speaking of Baltimore and aquariums, the National Aquarium in Fells Point gets its own spot on this list.

23. As does the Maryland Science Center, also on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Visit the new traveling bug exhibit along with a host of cool permanent collections.

24. Deliver on fun at the National Postal Museum, where lots of interactive exhibits and an easy-to-explore space make it a perfect outing for little ones.

25. Watch a movie screening especially for kids or parents with brand new ones. Read about special movie series in the area.

26. Explore imagiNATIONS, the family activity center at that National Museum of the American Indian.

27. Enjoy Theatre for the Very Young, the new program for little audiences at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

28. Get your game on at Labyrinth, the Capitol Hill shop specializing in games and puzzles for all ages. Demo a few at tables set up in back for just that purpose.

29. Experience the outdoors inside at a nature center. Find one near you with the help of The Natural Capital blog.

30. Frolic in the new 1,200-square-foot play area at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, Va. (And while you’re there, do a little outlet shopping, too!)