by Micaela Williamson We were honored to be featured as a great family resource by Laura Evans on Fox 5 Washington DC. Watch the clip. Our favorite part was when she mentioned our book is a great gift for baby showers, grandparents, and new families.
Disney Jr.’s Choo Choo Soul at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltmore
Saturday, October 11, 2014 SHOWTIMES: 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. TICKETS ON SALE NOW For more information, click here. For one day only the B&O Railroad Museum presents two performances by Disney Jr.’s Choo Choo Soul. Follow the musical adventures of the hip-hop singer, train station manager, Genevieve Goings, and her dancing, beatboxing engineer, DC, as they entertain kids while performing soulful and current renditions of the ABC’s and 1-2-3’s. Kid Trips Northern Virginia is giving away a family 4 pack of coach tickets to the 11 a.m. show. To enter, just leave a comment below. Be sure to use a valid email address (email address will be kept private.) Winner will be chosen on Friday, August 15, 2014 and notified via email. The Griffin Academy is located in facilities at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Annandale, Virginia. While the preschool is currently housed at St. Alban’s, there is no affiliation between the preschool and the church. The Griffin Academy welcomes students from all races, religions, and national origins. The preschool program accepts 3- and 4-year-old students, and has recently started a new enrollment initiative—2nd semester rolling admissions for 3-year olds (beginning in January of each school year)!
The Griffin Academy believes in encouraging children to use good manners, to be kind, to be respectful of one another, to be creative, to learn how to socialize with others, and to be interested in learning. The school day is built around routine. During the day, the children explore academics (letters, sounds, numbers, science found in nature, our community, art-based projects, and music) as well as social learning. The children also participate in weekly enrichment classes, which include music and movement, science, art, Fit Kids, and French. The academic program for the three-year-old classes introduces children to letters and their sounds, numbers, science through nature, social studies through community, music, art, French, drama and free-play. The children experience indoor and outdoor play, structured and non-structured time, quiet and active times during the day. The academic program for the four-year-old classes helps to prepare the children for kindergarten. Older four-year-olds (those who are five by December 31), are placed in the junior kindergarten class. Both classes are exposed to a phonics-based pre-reading/reading program that helps to prepare them for the joys and adventures found in books. Story-time is part of the daily routine and children are exposed to classic children’s literature, nursery rhymes, and poetry. BrickFair is America’s LEGO fan festival! This awesome event will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday August 2nd – 3rd 2014 from 11:00am - 4:00pm. All creations are built using LEGO bricks! Displays range from the cutest tiny little thing to towering cityscapes. There will be an incredible 900 exhibitors, 30 vendors offering all things LEGO, and and an estimated 15,000 public visitors. Guests should allow around 90 minutes minimum to browse the show. Families will also love the Stay-n-Play area, which offers a ton of bricks for kids to free play and get creative. BrickFair LEGO Convention
Aug 2nd & Aug 3rd, 2014 Dulles Expo Center Chantilly, VA 11:00am - 4:00pmBuy Tickets Online here: http://www.brickfair.com/tickets/ $12 per ticket, 3 and under are free *Strollers are NOT permitted. Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. We sent a local mom and her four year old daughter to review the show, and here is what they had to say: The musical is a must see for any Pinkalicious book fan out there. The songs were wonderfully entertaining. The set and lighting were so magical that my daughter let out an audible gasp when we walked in. When the show started and Pinkalicious came out, my daughter turned to me and said "this is amazing!" The musical stayed very true to the book (with a few minor additions) which kept my Pinkalicious fan very happy and engaged. The overall running time of the show is about an hour long. If you haven't been to Adventure Theatre before, please know that it is on the smaller side and seats are first come, first serve. We highly recommend attending this gorgeous, family-friendly show this summer! Other things to know: * They had princess wands and tiaras for sale $3 each. Pinkalicious books were also available for $7 each, as well as some really cool light up fairy wings. * Kids have the opportunity to play dress up ( with pink clothes!) before the show. * Pink cupcakes, pink cookies and pink lemonade are for sale ($3 each) before and after the show. (We got the pink lemonade and cupcake and had a little treat after the show which made our day just a little bit more special!) * While at Glen Echo park, be sure to ride on the historical carousel! PINKALICIOUS
Adventure Theatre MTC 7300 Macarthur Blvd Glen Echo, Maryland 20812 Showing from June 20 – August 31, 2014 Based on the book Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann Music by John Gregor Lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann & Victoria Kann Directed by Carl Menninger Starring Carolyn Agan Recommended for All Ages Buy tickets online here. We frequently get emails from fans on a budget asking what are the best FREE things to do with kids in the Northern Virginia area this summer. We channeled our inner David Letterman and created this exclusive top ten list. Enjoy!
by Micaela and Jay WilliamsonSkyland Resort Skyline Drive Luray, VA 22835 http://www.goshenandoah.com/ I want a show. Can I have the iPad, please? I want to see another video clip. You’re unlikely to hear this at the Skyland Resort at mile 42.5 in Shenandoah National Park. Okay, so wireless service is delightfully spotty, but we recently stayed in one of their newly renovated rooms featuring large screen TVs, new bedding, and updated bathrooms and are happy to report our kids were too tired from adventuring to even try to wear us down with their badgering. Skyland Resort started out as a summer retreat in 1888 and continues to offer visitors respite from the heat, congestion, and noise. The resort is situated within Shenandoah National Park on Skyline Drive and offers amazing views toward the West. The Resort opens in March and has a variety of accommodations ranging from small, rustic cabins to more traditional rooms. We stayed in a traditional room and enjoyed our mountain views and quick walk to the Pollock Dining Room. Skyland has three dining options, the Pollack Dining Room, the Mountain Taproom, and a Grab and Go option. The menus are available on-line but the biggest highlights are the incredible view from the Pollack Dining Room and the mountain-sized “Mile High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie.” Finishing it may have been the hardest climb of the day! During the summer there is also live entertainment in the Taproom, usually starting at 9:00 PM.
by Jay WilliamsonIf you have a toddler, you understand the reference. They may sit through their daily commute in a gray minivan affectionately renamed Gordon, and visit their grandparents on a plane, but no mode of transportation captures children’s attention the way trains can. Maybe it is the scale and power, or astute marketing, however if you have a young child you’ll eventually:
This post compiles a list of train museums and train-related events within driving distance of the DC metro area. I admit that I haven’t been to all of them, and the list is not comprehensive, so feel free to include tips and suggestions in the comments below. Main Stations: The Train Museums B&O Railroad Museum 901 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD http://www.borail.org/default.aspx Just a short drive away, the B&O Railroad Museum features an impressive collection of locomotives and rolling stock. The museum bills itself as “the oldest, most comprehensive American railroad collection in the world” and it delivers on that promise. Its collection includes a number of cars – including a caboose – which you can go inside of. It also features many locomotives from earlier eras that enable children to encounter history and see how trains have changed over time. Many of the trains are housed in a roundhouse that fascinates kids with its gigantic scale and a turntable that is just like (!!!) the one they play with. Train rides are also available (extra charge), however the view is, on occasion, closer to The Wire than to the Island of Sodor. Regardless, the museum a great day trip and easily combined with an early dinner at the Inner Harbor. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
300 Gap Road Ronks, PA 17572 http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/index.shtml Strasburg Rail Road 301 Gap Road Ronks, PA 17572 http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/ While the Railroad Museum and Strasburg Rail Road are separate institutions, they are directly across the street from one another, and offer a train-filled day in an idyllic countryside setting. Imagine Sodor without the accidents. Or, more specifically, train accidents. The Strasburg Rail Road offers multiple trains throughout the day that bring visitors on a 45 minute journey through Lancaster PA farmland. The engine and car types vary and enable you to tailor your experience to your family’s budget and interest level. The Rail Road also offers a variety of special events, such as an Easter Train, Days out with Thomas, Wine & Cheese Trains, and Christmas themed trains that are sure to be a hit. The Railroad Museum displays a diverse collection of over 100 locomotives and rail cars in its exhibit hall and restoration yard. The locomotives and rail cars are well displayed and visitors are permitted inside several of them, including a beautifully restored caboose. Ronks is approximately 3 hours from Washington D.C. While the trip can be done in a day, consider staying overnight at the Fulton Steamboat Inn, a wonderfully fun hotel that looks like a steamboat inside and out and lets you borrow a pet goldfish for the night. Equally important, the hotel has a great playground and pool. If you’re interesting in sticking with the train theme, consider The Red Caboose Motel. We're not kidding when we say this is one of our FAVORITE festivals of the year. Come take a "vacation in your backyard" and start your summer here. The Celebrate Fairfax! Festival is Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide event. Presented by Celebrate Fairfax, Inc, the annual festival hosts tens of thousands of visitors during the three-day run. Enjoy features such as:
Event: The 33rd Annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival Dates: June 6th – 8th, 2014 Location: Fairfax County Government Center Tickets: At the gate: $15 adult (13 & Older); $5 youth (3-12); 2 & Under Free; $10 Seniors & Active and Retired Military with ID. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at www.CelebrateFairfax.com Performances on the Bud Light Main Stage include: Friday, June 6th at 8:00pm – The All-American Rejects Saturday, June 7th at 8:00pm – Cheap Trick Sunday, June 8th at 4:30pm – The Hunts We received free tickets for sharing this information. No other compensation was received. All opinions are our own.
There’s a mystery afoot in King Alfred and Queen Lillian’s kingdom. Uncover the mystery in Encore Stage & Studio – Theatre By Kids, For Kids! production of The 12 Dancing Princesses, a fun fairytale that will keep you on your toes—literally! Every night the King sends his twelve princesses, each more beautiful than the last, off to bed with brand new shoes in a secure chamber in the castle. However, every morning the King awakes to find the shoes worn as if the girls had been dancing all night. Since no one will confess to what has happened, the King promises his kingdom to anyone who can discover his daughters’ secret within three days. Join one hero who is determined to uncover the mystery of the shoes and win his shot at a kingdom and a princess. “It’s a world of adventure, love, dancing, sword fights, and comedy; a world where you can become part of the story and connect with the characters on stage. Be ready to laugh, maybe cry, smile, and enjoy yourself!” says Sarah Conrad, Director. Click here to read full press release. Performance Dates and Showtimes: Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at 3 p.m. Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. Location: Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre 125 S. Old Glebe Road Arlington, VA 22204 Encore is delighted to announce their first special Accessible Matinee performance on May 31, 11 a.m. This matinee performance will provide accommodations for children and families with special needs and disabilities. There will be a special pre-performance music by Prelude Youth Orchestra on June 7 & 8 at the 3 p.m. shows. Tickets: $12 Adults, $10 Children, Students, Military and Seniors. Tickets are available online at www.encorestage.org or calling our box office (703)548-1154. Enter to win a 4 pack of tickets to your choice of show below: |
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