Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

Ice Cream and Entertainment

by Beth Hoffman

May 20, 2009

Now that the weather is occasionally warmer, a lot of preschooler energy in my house has been directed to two things: when the neighborhood pool will open, and when we can go out for ice cream.  Really, my daughter prefers the ice cream man to heading out to an ice cream parlor, but the ice cream man who cruises our neighborhood has a truck that plays "La Cucaracha," and I have a hard time buying food from any place that so blatantly advertises cockroaches.  So during the summer, we sometimes venture out to one of the many local ice cream shops.  Now, when I was a kid growing up in Northern Virginia, you had Baskin Robbins and you liked it.  There were none of this Ben and Jerry's, Cold Stone, Milwaukee Frozen Custard, etc., options.  We've tried them all, and we always end up at the same place. 

We go to the Baskin Robbins at North Point in Reston.  Not because if the ice cream, which is fine, always makes the kids happy, whatever, but because of the entertainment.  When the weather is warm, the plaza in front of the store is the frequent haunt of a man with a friendly dog and a bird (I think it is a cockatoo) who wears a cape and a helmet and rides around the shopping center on an RC car.  My daughter is mad for both the dog and the bird and always holds long conversations with both whenever she sees them.  We get to have all sorts of interesting conversations with her, starting with why she should avoid strange animals, of course, but then touching on animal training and positive reinforcement and the sometimes very subtle differences between pets and wild animals.

So the next time you are in the market for a family ice cream outing, stop by Reston and check out the floor show.  And if you see me, be sure to say hello.  I'll be the one with strawberry ice cream in my hair.  (Neither child has mastered the concept of a napkin.)  Read more...

Tuesday List: Bethesda Dinner Time Destinations

by Leticia

May 12, 2009

As I mentioned yesterday, Bethesda has an impressive list of restaurants that can delight foodie parents and are also places where moms and dads can feel comfortable taking their children for a nice meal that won’t break the bank.  After all, sometimes it is nice to use real linens and practice proper table manners while educating your offspring children about why they have two forks.

Bethesda Row has a high concentration of restaurants in a small area that makes it easy to decide where to go when hunger strikes.  I love the abundance of ethnic restaurants and being able to dine al fresco with my family.

Here are some of our favorites:

For American food with a bistro feel, you can’t go wrong with Café Deluxe.* Choose from traditional comfort foods and innovative fare in this bistro style restaurant.  A favorite of ours even before we had children, we now appreciate their kids menu which features classics like spaghetti, mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, buttered penne, and cheese quesadillas.  Don’t forget to order a kid’s ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce for a bargain $2.95.  If you like Café Deluxe, you also might want to try Mon Ami Gabi* and Le Pain Quoitidien.*

For Asian food, right in Bethesda Row you can’t go wrong with local chain Tara Thai for classic dishes like Penang curry and Pad Thai or the variety from Raku* which helps to satisfy a family who wants a little sushi with their   But if you want something a little different, cross Arlington Road where you will find Penang.  Penang serves Malaysian food which I can only describe as being a delicious combination of Chinese, Thai, and Indian.  Pan fried noodles with bean sprouts and spiced with a little curry is what you will find in their Mee Goreng.  Our kids like getting the Roti Canai- a pancake made up of many flaky layers that is served with a mild curry sauce with potato and chicken.  We’ve been eating at Penang for years and have never had a bad meal!  The next Asian restaurant in Bethesda we want to try is Green Papaya for Vietnamese.

We love Indian food but tend to prefer buffet lunches rather than selecting dishes from the menu.  Delhi Dhaba* serves a buffet lunch all week long and rotates the dishes so no trip is ever the same.  Our children love to feast on naan, cubes of paneer (cheese), and enjoy tandoori chicken.  We prefer to eat outside as much as possible so our rice lovers help to feed the hungry birds rather than make a mess on the restaurant’s floor.

We are big fans of Middle Eastern Food.  We frequent Lebanese Taverna’s Cafes and a recent trip to the new Lebanese Taverna* restaurant did not disappoint.  While some of the dishes are the same on both the café and restaurant menus, the restaurant offers an impressive selection of mezze.  A trio of vegetarian, meat, and seafood mezza served as a great substitution for a main dish and provided a tasty variety to my husband’s Ouzi- chunks of stewed lamb on a bed of spiced rice with almonds and pine nuts accompanied by a thick yogurt salad.  I love that the kids’ menu includes the shawarma we love but in the form as a pizza topping on their pita pizzas.  Our kids devoured their chicken shawarma pita pizza and next time we are getting an order of kafta burgers for them too!  If you like Lebanese Taverna, head to the other side of the block to eat at Levante’s.  They have classic entrees like moussaka and pasticcios but I like their Turkish Pides (pizza boats) and the Adana sandwich.

If you haven’t already stuffed yourself, don’t forget dessert!  There are many choices on Bethesda Row including:

• Cacao Fine European Chocolates and Pastries- This tiny shop features stunning desserts by a world reknowned pastry chef, Jacques Poulain.  You can’t go wrong with a single artisanal chocolate or sculptural pastry in a to go box.
• Dolcezza Gelato- If your family can’t decide what to get for dessert, Dolcezza Gelato not only serves delectable gelato made in small batches.  I read a rave review about Dolcezza from Georgetown and DC farmer’s markets long before its Bethesda location opened and must say that their hand crafted gelato made with the freshest ingredients is worth every penny!
• Fancy Cakes by Leslie- If you love a good cupcake, you must stop and browse at Fancy Cakes by Leslie.  Moist cupcakes are topped with melt in your mouth buttercream and then decorated with a fondant flower, butterfly, or heart and sprinkled with edible glitter.  A rich and delicious way to end your meal! 
• Gifford’s Ice Cream serves up the classic scoop on a cake or sugar cone and mouth-watering sundaes.  This Montgomery County institution never disappoints!

Bethesda Row is west of Wisconsin Avenue, between Bradley Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.  Click here for directions.

Come back on Friday for a list of the best places to run in Bethesda to work out those pre and post meal wiggles.

Child Friendly Bethesda Row is Fun for the Whole Family

by Leticia

May 11, 2009

Looking for a place that has stylish shopping, great dining options, and boasts child friendly spaces with room to run can be a tall order.  Recently we’ve found that Bethesda Row delivers all of the above.

With an impressive list of restaurants that can delight foodies, Bethesda Row’s restaurants are also places where parents with children can feel comfortable going with their kids for a nice evening out.  Most restaurants, including Austin Grill, Levante’s, Mon Ami Gabi, Café Deluxe, Cosi, Le Pain Quoitdien, Lebanese Taverna, and Raku feature outdoor seating.  We love being able to eat al fresco not only for the fresh air, but also because minimizes parental embarrassment since the birds tend to clean up puddle of rice or pile of crumbs left underneath our kids’ seats.

With no shortage of stroller traffic on Bethesda Row streets, store owners are used to parents who bring their kids in to browse while they shop.  The newly expanded Apple Store has 4 computers on a low table with round seats for children to test outkid friendly software titles while mom and dad browse.  Out of all the large bookstores, I’ve found that the Bethesda Barnes and Noble has the most knowledgeable staff in the children’s section and the most organized collection of books. The enticing window displays of Tugooh Toys/Yiro Children’s Clothing on Bethesda Avenue reveals a children’s paradise upon setting foot inside.

The collection of shops and restaurants may be called Bethesda Row but include an area larger than a city block which allows for plenty of walking and running between stores.  The uneven cobblestone walkway that passes by stores like Lucy, Cacao, Le Creuset and Redwood Restaurant and Bar is a safe place for kids to run since it is protected from traffic.  Just watch the windows at Redwood if they are open since the bottom corners of the many windows stick out and are about the height of a three year old’s forehead!  There’s also a great park kitty-corner from Lebanese Taverna and across the street from the newly renovated Giant Food Store

There are also many other kid-friendly stops along the way.  Barnes and Noble boosts a stage with weekly story times, plentiful floor space for cuddling up with a book, and a train set which is always popular.  The fountain outside the Barnes and Noble is perfect for exploring the properties of water or watching birds dust off their feathers.  Or run to the other side of the block to find a fountain where water runs over cups and plates with a Winnie the Pooh quote encircling it.

Bethesda Row is west of Wisconsin Avenue, between Bradley Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.  Click here for directions.

For a list of child friendly dinner time destinations, come back tomorrow for my Tuesday List which will give a rundown of the many ethnic eateries in Bethesda. Friday’s post will feature the best places to roam in Bethesda to work out those pre and post meal wiggles.

Weekend Getaway: Charlottesville, Virginia

by Leticia

April 13, 2009

If you are craving to get away from the Beltway, politics, and enjoy some different scenery, head a couple hours south to Charlottesville.  Charlottesville is known as the home of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Monroe’s Ash Lawn Highland, and Michie Tavern.   While it best known as a college town that is filled with history, Charlottesville is also a family friendly place with plenty of fabulous food and room to run that makes a wonderful weekend getaway or even a day trip. 

Here’s a quick guide of some things to do when in the Charlottesville area:

Room to Run:

• Right around UVAs Rotunda is a wide expanse of grass perfect for a game of Frisbee, bubble blowing, kite flying, or just plain roaming.  Off to the sides of the grass are some fabulous old trees with low branches that are just right for climbing. 
• At the end of the Downtown Mall by the Visitor’s Center is a large amphitheater with a large stage.  Our kids loved running up and down the aisles, between the chairs, and up the ramp to the stage.
• There are also numerous parks in Charlottesville.  For the locations and details about the city parks, click here. 

Things to See:

• If you want to integrate a little history lesson into your visit to Charlottesville, head to Monticello.  Home to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello boasts many amenities that make it family friendly.  Skilled guides tell you everything you need to know about President Jefferson’s home in 30 minutes, which is the perfect length for those 6 and under.   Make sure to allocate plenty of time for roaming the grounds and gardens.  Monticello also boasts a brand new visitor’s center complete with a café, hands-on Griffin Discovery Room for children, and family restrooms.  For a list of family friendly activities at Monticello, come back tomorrow when I cover it as a Tuesday List topic.
• The Virginia Discovery Museum is the perfect place for the 10 and under set.  With plenty of hands on exhibits to delight kids, wallet friendly admission ($4 per person), and in and out privileges, this is a must do.  For rates and hours, click here.  Also know that the first Sunday of the month is pay-as-you-wish day! 
• Right in front of the Discovery Museum is a great chalk wall for channeling your inner artist and a 1920 push carousel.  The scaled down carousel is more like a merry go round because parents have to push their kids but it is a fun free ride that our kids didn’t want to leave!

Cheap Must Eats:

• On the Downtown Mall, stop at Christian’s Pizza whose tasty flavor combinations on the most crisp crust remind me of true New York pizza. 
• On the back side of the Downtown Mall is The Flat (closed Sundays and Mondays) which serves huge sweet and savory crepes.  My pick is the ham, brie, and apples but you can choose one of their flavor combinations or create your own. 
• Located in the shopping area known as the Corner (across the street from the Rotunda) Arch’s frozen yogurt serves up delicious flavor combinations.   
• For snacks and other restaurants, stop anywhere on 29 which you took into Charlottesville to find Whole Foods, Kroger’s Grocery, Giant, and lots of restaurants.

99 Things To Do in DC

by Leticia

February 24, 2009

In no particular order, here’s a list of 99 things to do in the DC Metro Area with a child before they grow up:

1. Head out the night before and brave the elements to obtain coveted tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll
2. Witness the beauty of the cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial at their peak 
3. Go kayaking at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia since it is a great place to spot a bald eagle 
4. Step back in time and go on a canal boat ride in Great Falls or Georgetown 
5. After dinner and a bath, take your PJ-clad child on a tour of the Monuments at night
6. Appreciate the grandeur of the interior space of the National Building Museum then head to the Building Zone to satisfy your child’s inner Bob the Builder 
7. Play at Turtle Park and don’t miss Turtle Park Day  
8. Attend a performance at Glen Echo Puppet Theater 
9. Catch a show at Glen Echo Adventure Theater, DC’s longest running children’s theater 
10. Take a spin on the Glen Echo Carousel and witness the amazing Wurlitzer band organ 
11. Witness air acrobatics at Bealeton Airport Flying Circus 
12. Choose a local farm, bring your own containers, and an appetite to spend a couple hours berry picking
13. Introduce your child to the wonders of live performances at Wolf Trap Theater in the Woods 
14. Attend afternoon high tea at Strathmore Mansion 
15. Witness the power of water at Great Falls
16. Take a seat at the end of the runway at National Airport’s Gravelly Point and watch airplanes zoom overhead 
17. Explore all areas of the National Zoo, including the naked mole rats
18. Feed the koi at the National Arboretum
19. Ponder what George Washington used to think about while sitting on his back porch on Mount Vernon high above the Potomac River 
20. Ride the train and feed the trash pig (a trash can that talks when you throw garbage in it) at Cabin John Park 
21. Throw rocks in Rock Creek
22. Hike part of the Billy Goat Trail 
23. Spend time in the woods just exploring
24. Go camping at a local campground for the weekend
25. Bike the Monuments and the sights of The Mall
26. Go to Sky Meadows State Park for Astronomy Day or a Saturday Star Party
27. Let a butterfly land on you at the Wings of Fancy exhibit at Brookside Gardens 
28. Attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to witness sheep shearing, partake in the fabulous lamb sold at the concession stands, and be dazzled by all the beautiful hand knit items for sale by vendors 
29. Experience the plethora of fried goods, carnival rides, and animals at a County fair
30. Have a hands on learning day at Port Discovery 
31. Go train crazy at the B&O Railroad Museum 
32. Go plane crazy at the College Park Aviation Museum 
33. Have a cultural experience at an Embassy
34. Ride a restored DC trolley car at the National Capital Trolley Museum 
35. Hunt for shark teeth at Calvert Cliffs State Park 
36. Hum The Star Spangled Banner while paying tribute to the inspiration for our National Anthem during a visit to Fort McHenry 
37. Step back in time to 1771 at Claude Moore Historical Farm 
38. Attend Claude Moore Historical Farm’s Market Fair offered three weekends a year 
39. Engage in hands on science at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum 
40. Enjoy more hands on science fun at the Maryland Science Center 
41. Stare in awe at the most amazing stained glass rosettes at the National Cathedral 
42. Stare in awe at sheets of uncut money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
43. Stare in awe as you take in the scenery from the top of the Washington Monument 
44. Explore every corner of the 2 acre Clemyjontri Park 
45. Procure tickets to an afternoon performance of Cirque du Soleil and witness acrobatics like you’ve never seen before 
46. Cruise the Potomac
47. Attend Art-o-Matic, the free art festival featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, music, theater, poetry, dance and workshops 
48. Visit Cunningham Falls
49. Attend the lighting of the National Christmas Tree
50. Visit the bonfire on the Ellipse during the holidays
51. Catch Vienna based kid rock band, Rocknoceros, in concert for music the whole family will enjoy
52. Join up with Stroller Strides for a great workout and fun scenery and songs for your kiddo
53. Attend the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
54. Marvel at Jim Henson’s creations, First Ladies gowns, and the ruby slippers at the Museum of American History
55. Give your child unrestricted access to the hose one hot humid summer afternoon
56. Go swimming at an indoor pool in the middle of winter
57. Cool off at an ice skating rink during the summer
58. Be a pirate for a day 
59. Visit Meadowlark Gardens 
60. Begin to culture a love of art with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery or National Gallery 
61. Catch a summer movie outside under the stars at the Strathmore Film Fest or Screen on the Green
62. Practice using chop sticks at dim sum 
63. Go fishing 
64. Root for the home team at an O’s or Nat’s game
65. Pretend to be a rocket scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
66. Go apple picking
67. Take advantage of Free for All Fridays classes at the Roundhouse Theater 
68. See the sights in the snow
69. Visit rescued owls and experience the cave slide at Meadowside Nature Center
70. Enjoy the spectacle of a Chinese New Year’s parade
71. Root for the Ravens or the Redskins either live or on TV
72. Have a SmartTrip card and know how to swipe it to ride the Metro
73. Know which Metro station is closest to home
74. Marvel at the sculptures in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden
75. Seen the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner at the Museum of American History
76. Witnessed the grandeur of the space shuttle at Udvar Hazy
77. Indulge in a hot dog at Ben’s Chili Bowl
78. Visit all the monuments on the National Mall
79. Write a letter and mail it from the National Postal Museum
80. Visit Roosevelt Island 
81. Walk among the dinosaurs or visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
82. Visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
83. Have an ice cream themed birthday party and create your own flavor of ice cream at Moorenko’s
84. Go spelunking at Luray Caverns 
85. Rock out with your kids while sipping coffee at Jammin’ Java 
86. Go on a tour of the White House with tickets from your local Member of Congress
87. Visit an aquarium- either in Baltimore or the one right here in DC!
88. Cool off at Deep Creek Lake
89. Test furniture at IKEA until you get a craving for meatballs and lingonberry sauce
90. Visit a lighthouse
91. Practice espionage at the International Spy Museum
92. Go fly a kite at the Smithsonian Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds 
93. Gaze at the stars at the Rock Creek Planetarium 
94. Enjoy a free summer concert at Carter Barron Amphitheater 
95. Watch the tennis pros practice for free before competing in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic
96. Become one with nature at the Audobon Nature Fair 
97. Ogle at sailboats at the United States Sailboat and Powerboat Shows in Annapolis
98. Walk in the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure 
99. Watch 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall
100. Spend a whole day doing what your child wants to do!

Coffee with the Kids

by Beth Hoffman

February 04, 2009

The (sick) baby woke up at 4:00 yesterday morning, and I am working with a massive sleep debt as it is, so I decided to take the opportunity to drink my first (half) cup of coffee in over five years. Coffee is good. In honor of my return to the loving embrace of caffeine, here are some good coffee shops to hit with the kids in Northern Virginia. Borders - most of these  Read more...

Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City

by Beth Hoffman

December 04, 2008

Last week, I went with my three-year-old, my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and my niece to tea at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City. And it was lovely. The kids got kid-friendly finger sandwiches and pots of hot chocolate, the adults could choose sandwiches and sweets or scones (I went with the scones, but the sandwiches and sweets tray looked yummy) and got their own pots of tea.  Read more...

Eat like a Grownup: Great American Restaurants

by Beth Hoffman

October 16, 2008

We don't do it often now that we have two kids to wrangle, but my husband and I both like to eat out. However, we don't usually care for the standard "kid-friendly" places. (Also, I would like to formally inform restaurateurs that offering crayons and a paper menu is nice and all, but they entertain your average three year old for roughly ninety seconds.) There are some grown-up  Read more...