Photo Stacey Vaeth

Mirasa Designs is an online store of gorgeous handmade gifts for babies and children. Using the traditional Indian ari and kantha embroidery techniques and bright, happy colors, these are truly unique presents to bestow at the next baby shower or birthday.  All of the stuffed animals, pillows and other products are fair trade, and with each purchase, a donation is made to Room to Read, a foundation dedicated to promoting education in developing countries.

EVENT & 10% OFF

Want to see these beautiful products in person and have a fun family playdate?  Then mark your calendar for next Saturday’s event in Mount Pleasant!  From 4-7pm on Saturday February 27 at the Past Tense Studio 3253 Mount Pleasant Street NW there will be juice for the kids, wine for parents and fun playtime and shopping.  If you attend the event and leave a comment here, you’ll receive 10% off your purchase by bringing a printout of your comment on A Parent in Silver Spring. If you’re planning on attending, you can RSVP to Mirasa owner and artisan Aashumi Shah at aashumi@mirasadesign.com.

Photo Stacey Vaeth

GIVEAWAY & GIFT WITH PURCHASE

To celebrate the launch of her line and show the love to all you readers that live in the  U.S., Mirasa Designs is giving away a lovely Lion Wristband (pictured at right) that babies, toddlers and little kids can all enjoy.  One winner will be drawn from the comments on this post.  Just go to Mirasa Designs and then comment here with the product you like best.  The winner will be randomly drawn on Sunday February 28.

And get this, if you make a purchase at Mirasa, you’ll receive exclusive gifts with purchase: your purchase will arrive in a special 100% cotton handmade gift tote and accompanied by a set of  four handmade notecards featuring the charming Mirasa animals  – a rhino, hippo, monkey and giraffe.  To receive these special gifts, all you have to do is type A Parent in Silver Spring in the comments section at checkout.

No compensation or free products were received for this review, it’s all for the love of the readers and the promotion of a local woman’s wonderful new busness and event!

National Building Museum Discover Engineering Family Day this Saturday

Reminder: Leave a comment, be entered to win $50!  Full details here.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Maple Sugaring Festival at Brookside Gardens, 11am-3pm both days, no registration required. Stop by and see an American tradition, watching the whole maple sugaring process from start to finish.  Everyone gets to sample a tasty treat too!

SATURDAY

Family Fun at The Electric Maid in Takoma Park: Let’s Pretend, 10:30am. Let’s Pretend will include an imaginative adventure with theater games and an interactive performance. Takoma Park’s very own Gretchen Weigel Doughty will lead the “actors” in a warm up, read a story, engage in exercise and experiments based and direct the groups performance. Fun for kids 8 and under! The event  will last approximately 45 minutes. Suggested donation is $5 per child. The Electric Maid is located at 268 Carroll St. NW near the Takoma Metro station.

Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum, 10am-4:30pm. Touch robots, make slime, build a few things, learn a bunch of things. The National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality by participating in this free, hands-on and fun-filled festival.

African American Pioneers in Aviation at the National Air & Space Museum, 10am-3pm. Hands-on activities for kids and the chance to meet some of the original Tuskepee Airmen!

Magical Stories Out of Africa – free performance at The National Theatre, 9:30am & 11am, tickets distributed first-come-first-served 30 minutes prior to each performance, seating limited. Long before children heard Mother Goose rhymes or “Jack and the Beanstalk,” stories were told in Africa about wise lions, wily snakes, and how the world began.  Anna Mwalagho brings alive these tails in a cultural journey.  Helen Hayes Gallery at the National Theatre – 1321 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.

Black History Month Family Celebration at the National Postal Museum, 11am-3pm.  Family activities that celebrate the history of African-Americans in U.S. history and the postal service.

Rocknoceros Family Happy Hour at Jammin’ Java, 7pm. What’s a Rocknoceros Family Happy Hour? It’s a night out for the whole family, where the signature drink special is buy a beer, get a juice box, the kids hear their fave Rockno classic songs and the three guys even play some classic rock cover tunes for the parents.  $10 per person age 1 and older.

SUNDAY

Sixth and I Purim Party, 10am. Make your own costume, decorate Purim cards, assemble mishloach manot baskets and eat delicious hamentaschen. Bring your own king size pillow case for the costume making.  Cost is $8 per person/$18 per family in advance, $10/$20 at the door.

The Great Zucchini Performs Great Kids Village Silver Spring, 10:30am.  The children’s Adam Sandler takes the stage at this great children’s play space.  What could be better?  Melted snow?  Hey, we can’t have everything.

National Zoo’s Wild Side Stage: Lucas Miller Performs, 11am & 1pm.  This hilarious singing zoologist will entertain and educate kids.  Special exhibit tie-in at the Invertebrate Exhibit.  More info here.

Sunday Experiment for Families at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center, 1pm-3pm. Elementary school students and their families are invited to the Goddard Visitor Center on the third Sunday of every month, from September to May for a free afternoon of eye-opening, hands-on activities that will help you experience what it’s like to be a NASA engineer.

Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown, 2pm-5pm. Bring in the year of the tiger with a roar. There will be lion and dragon dances and a five-story high firecracker to be be lit at 3:45 p.m.

I’ve been dating for 20 years.

12 of them have been in The District and bordering Montgomery and Arlington counties.

10 of them have been with my now-husband, Chris, the datiest date night guy you’ll ever find.

Now, I’m not saying he’s The Super Cheese with oppressive cologne, cellophane-wrapped 7-11 roses and secret dealings with waiters to hide jewelry in my dessert.  (True fact:  we got engaged completely unplanned, ringless and while tipsy at a party.)  But the guy reads newspapers and pays attention.  He’s somehow able to tune in to my constant chatter about bands and films and exhibits, and then researches when they’re coming into town.

And Chris is always up on the latest restaurant reviews, not just the super-with-it places on the hot lists, but also the old school and ethnic foodie gems.  Back in 2000 he totally should have set up a blog titled A Boyfriend in Washington or something.

But there’s only one blogger in this family, so I think it’s time I shared with you guys some of the fruits of his labors.

Unfortunately I can’t share with you the super-secret phone numbers of the wonderful teenaged girls that agree to babysit our kids with just a few hours notice on a Saturday night via extremely efficient text message.  But at least I can give you some restaurant recs, right?

APISS-Recommended Restaurants for Dates - Winter Edition

Mannequin Pis – Incredible mussels infused with decadent flavors, Belgian beers, piles of pommes frites and once you’re thoroughly beer-buzzed, crazy rich Belgian chocolate desserts.  The European bistro feel is warm and great for dates.  If you go on a Tues, Wed, or Thurs for dinner before 7:30pm, you’ll receive a glass of wine or dessert on the house. 18064 Georgia Avenue, Olney, MD 301-570-4800.

Black Market Bistro – Modern American dishes that are simple, full of locally grown ingredients and everything I’ve ever ordered here has been excellent.  And although you eat dinner in your own house every night, there is something about eating by candlelight in a restaurant that’s a converted house.  On Mondays, selected wines are half price. 4600 Waverly Ave., Garrett Park, MD 20896 301-933-3000.

Café Atlántico – This is our favorite restaurant in “the city,” hands down.  It has great food (specifically “Nuevo Latino” cuisine – which just means it’s a foodie restaurant with fabulous starters and entrees made with Latin flair) and a special-night-out atmosphere.  We also love to show up reservationless and make a meal out of guacamole and mojitos at the bar. (I’ve never done the minibar thing, though I’ve heard it’s awesome.)   405 8th Street NW 202-393-0812.

Ray’s the Classics – I’m not a big meat eater, but even I can’t resist a petite filet smothered in bleu cheese and mushroom sauces, with a perfect glass of cab and a dish of creamed spinach on the side.  These steaks are better than most of the big name steak houses in the area, and the prices are cut in half. 8606 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 301-588-7297.

Makoto – Go here for a very special occasion or when you start to lament that there are no good sushi or Japanese restaurants in DC.  Guys should wear a jacket, and socks without holes – you’ll be removing your shoes. 4822 MacArthur Boulevard NW, 202-298-6866.

Crystal Thai - I love Nava Thai, really I do, but though delicious, the place doesn’t feel like a date destination (and when you’re in the toddler trenches, ambiance when you’re out all of a sudden does count.) Crystal Thai is beautiful, and the Thai food is, dare I say, even better. Besides, I have to give some Virginian recs. 4819 1st Street North, Arlington, VA 703-522-1311.

Tabard Inn – Great winter date locale with a roaring fire that’s full of history.  Great nostalgia place for couples married at St. Matthew’s.  (Holla!) Don’t skip dessert.  Or bar hopping on 18th Street/Connecticut after. 1739 N Street NW 202-331-8528?.

Evo Bistro – Love lots of little plates of tapas?  At Evo, Spanish, French, Italian and Moroccan style tapas are all paired with perfectly complementary wines.  1313 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 703-288-4422.

Previous Date Destination Reviews

Olazzo

Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill

Quarry House Tavern

Piratz Tavern

Swing Dancing at McGinty’s

The Silver Spring Bar Crawl

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13 FAMILY EVENTS IN WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA

Presidential Family Fun Day at the National Portrait Gallery
11:30am-3pm Annual event celebrating Presidents’ Day with music, storytelling, hands-on art projects, a scavenger hunt and encounters with the Presidents themselves – they’ll be walking around!

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Power of Chocolate Celebration
10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday.  Celebrate one of the world’s most beloved foods and a treasure of the Americas in a colorful festival of culture, music, dance, art, science, and, of course, food. Here’s a coupon for a discount at the yummy museum cafe this weekend.

The RTTs at the Avalon Theatre
10am, The Rhodes Tavern Troubadours are an award-winning rock and roll band from Washington, DC who combine Americana, roots rock, and pop into an infectious blend of musical fun for the whole family. Tickets are $8.50 each.

Steve Songs at Jammin’ Java
12:30pm and 2:30pm shows still have tickets.  Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs on PBS Kids has been writing/performing award-winning music for families for ten years. A rising star on the national kids music scene, Steve blends smart lyrics, catchy melodies and thoughtful messages into fun participatory songs that kids love.

Valentine’s Tea & Chocolate Workshop at Tudor Place
1:30-3pm, Enjoy a festive Valentine’s Day Tea complete with delicious sweet treats! Join costumed interpreters for a lesson in tea etiquette. Following the tea ceremony children will learn the basics of chocolate making and create their own chocolate flowers and hearts to take home!  Member Children: $20, Nonmember Children: $25, Adults: $10. Register online.

Parent and Child Baking Classes at Just Cakes in Bethesda
Saturday 4-6pm for kids age 7-11 with a parent, $70 per pair for class.
Sweets for Your Sweet dessert class – make Valentine’s sugar cookies, heart shaped brownies, a small single layer cake, and mini cupcakes. Call (301) 718-5111 to enroll.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 – VALENTINE’S DAY FAMILY EVENTS IN WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA

Expressions of a People
1-6pm,  Arts/Harmony Regional Center, 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744.  Expressions of a People, a free Black History Month celebration of performances, children’s activities, workshops and entertainment, has something for everyone. This year’s festival will feature arts & crafts, caricature drawings, a puppet show, a movie room for the kids, and musical performances, including appearances by renowned gospel singer Robert Pearson, the Oxon Hill High School Gospel Chorus, and others.  All ages welcome.

The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Power of Chocolate Celebration
10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Celebrate one of the world’s most beloved foods and a treasure of the Americas in a colorful festival of culture, music, dance, art, science, and, of course, food. Here’s a coupon for a discount at this yummy museum cafe this weekend.

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in NW DC Family Fun Sunday – Art From the Heart for Kids
1-5pm, Decorate a heart-shaped box, inspired by the French gold boxes displayed in the Mansion. Use stickers, ribbons, “gems,” and other materials to make your “heart of gold” sparkle!  Advance reservations can be made by emailing Reservations@HillwoodMuseum.org or calling (202) 686-5807.  This special program is included in the Hillwood suggested donation of $12 Public, $10 Seniors, $7 College Students, $5 Children ages 6-18. No donation is suggested for children under 6.

Parent and Child Baking Classes at Just Cakes in Bethesda
Sunday 1-2:30pm for kids age 3-5 with parent, $70 per pair for class. Sweets for Your Sweet dessert class – make Valentine’s sugar cookies, heart shaped brownies, a small single layer cake, and mini cupcakes. Call (301) 718-5111 to enroll.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 15 – PRESIDENTS’ DAY

Sandy Spring Museum Family Fun Day
11am-3pm, Spend the President’s Day Holiday with your kids at the Museum. Blacksmith demos, crafts, games, story telling, and other fun activities. Food available. Tasker’s Chance Trio will provide live music and dancing at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm; The Little Gym of Olney will provide special active “exploration” programs. Admission just $1.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY

George Washington’s Birthday Celebration at Mount Vernon
9am-4pm all three days for hoecakes and history!  Free admission on Monday!

GET A SITTER SUGGESTIONS THIS WEEKEND

Ten Feet Tall plays Whitlows in Arlington
10pm-1am, 2854 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
This is the bar where I met my husband in 2000 and the band of our friend Larry.  But even if I weren’t personally biased, both elements = a great date night, full of the funk and fun.  Don’t miss!  Facebook event page

Couples Massage and Couples Yoga Classes at Blue Heron Wellness
Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Too tired from shoveling snow to go out at night?  Have a great, tactile day date at Blue Heron.  Saturday there’s a two-hour couples yoga workshop from 1:30-3:30pm, and Sunday there’s a three-hour couples massage class from 1-4pm.  (Better than the standard 5 minute backrub during LOST, right?)

La Ferme in Chevy Chase
Like many restaurants La Ferme has a special menu on the 14th, but what’s unique is that Chef and Owner Alain Roussel is sharing three of his personal favorite recipes from La Ferme’s everyday menu (e.g. Caramel, Apple and Pecan cake) so we can make the fab recipes ourselves at home. 301-986-5255 for reservations.

Chef Scott Ryan Chef Table – Intimate Event
Saturday February 13th, Takoma Park at 8:30 pm. Maximum seating: 6 people.  The theme of this special Valentine’s dining event is “An Evening Tour of France” where we will explore the rich tastes and history of classic cuisine from selection of French culinary regions.  Wine pairings will be provided with each course. $75 per person.

FunFit Just for Kids Party – Drop the Kids Off and Go Out!
Friday night, 6:30-9:30pm, Pizza party, crafts and moonbounce kid gym fun while you go out for a date, $25/child, $22/sibling.  Kids must be 3-10 years old and potty trained.  Register online.