Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30pm and 4pm through May 26 (the show extended through Memorial Day!), 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda. (Special days: Princess Parade after 4:00 show on April 28, and a Wig Out Dance Party on May 18 after 7:00pm show– Get your wildest wig or wackiest hairstyle and boogie.)
Show your Tangled-loving kids the story of Rapunzel on the live stage, with lots of interesting twists that differ from both the Disney retelling and the Brothers Grimm classic. The Imagination Stage brings to life the book by Friends creators (yup, the Chandler-Monica-Rachel Friends) David Crane and Marta Kauffman, using four accomplished actors who sing and bring the colorful characters to life.
Actor Felicia Curry, a veteran of musicals such as Les Miserables at the Signature Theatre, is receiving glowing reviews for her portayal of Rapunzel. Curry is African American, and she tells The Washington Post, “It’s not what a princess usually looks like. Or sounds like. Or acts like. That’s a really new take on it, and it’s going to be a reminder to the kids that a princess can be anybody . . . whoever your prince may be.”
Tickets are $10-22 and available online. Rapunzel is recommended for children 4 and up.
Here’s a video sneak peek of the show!
International Day of the Book Festival in Kensington
Sunday April 22nd 2012, 11am-4pm, rain or shine
Howard Avenue, Old Town Kensington, Md
This street festival celebrates reading and community. Children’s activities include storytelling, art projects, a kids’ scavenger hunt, nature discoveries, free books and more. For the adults, there is live music, author events, readings….check out the whole lineup.
Visit a National Park for Free
Save a few bucks and visit a nearby national park for free. During National Park Week, April 21-29, 397 national parks offer free admission, all week long!
Trout Fishing in America at Black Rock Center of the Arts
Saturday, April 21 at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM Trout Fishing in America, a beloved folk/rock duo in a concert for children and families, is playing BlackRock Center for the Arts‘ final family matinee concert of it’s 10th Anniversary Season. The eclectic folk/rock duo of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet has won multiple Parents’ Choice and Indie awards and nominated for four Grammy Awards. But don’t let the whimsically-titled songs (“My Hair had a Party Last Night,” and “Hello, My Chicken Thinks He’s a Dog”) fool you: these very talented musicians have been hailed “a sublimely musical band” by the Boston Herald.
The performance is recommended for ages 4 and up.12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD. Tickets are $12. Purchase at the box office 240 -912-1058 or online at www.blackrockcenter.org
You really need your own personally autographed and enscribed copy of this scary good read. Pick up one at the readings, or win one of two copies on my new non-local blog A Parent in America!
The book contains short essays of motherhood full of humor and reality by my friend Jill Smokler of the insanely popular blog Scary Mommy. Whether she is admitting that she wants to “kick your ass hard” in the birthday party wars or considers the community pool “hell on earth”, Jill is a mom to whom all of us can relate and adore. She is hilarious and refreshingly honest about what really is going through mothers’ heads and lives while parenting young children.
But as they said on Reading Rainbow, “you don’t have to take my word for it”:
“Get ready to ditch those Prada shoes (and anything else nice you own) and face reality–you haven’t had a brutal boss until you’ve had a baby. Confessions of a Scary Mommyis hilariously, outrageously truthful about the hardest job I know. Put this book at the top of your diaper bag!” —Lauren Weisberger, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada
“Hilarious, brutal honesty about parenting.” — New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black
“Any mother who doesn’t stifle a million knowing laughs while reading Confessions of a Scary Mommy needs to make sure her funny bone wasn’t accidentally sucked into the diaper genie.” —Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of You Had Me at Woof
The book’s chapters all begin with the most outrageous anonymous confessions from the confessional and message boards populated by Scary Mommy’s followers: real parents like us.
Get more Scary Mommy daily at Jill Smokler’s award-winning blog, Scary Mommy.
If you are the type who rushes to the hospital or house to see your family and friends’ newborns, then you really should rush with your kids to see these newborn kids (of the goat variety). We were able to pet one-day old baby goat triplets, as well as cuddle twin baby lambs. And more babies are being born at Clark’s Elioak Farm daily (check their Facebook page for birth announcements). A trip here is an idyllic spring family activity.
Clark’s Elioak Farm and the Enchanted Forest are Now Open! Open Tuesday-Sunday10 a.m to 4 p.m. through November 4, 2012. Tickets: $5.00 per person, no charge for Infants under 12 months. Show your AAA Card and pay $4.50 for all visitors entering the farm with you. Hayrides, pony rides and the cow train are each $2 extra per person.
My family and I love this place.
Read my full review, and check out more photos from our trip yesterday below.
Throughout April 2012 are two fabulous Washington DC film festivals with animated international offerings for kids. Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC International Film Festival has a film for kids with two April weekend showings, and Kids World Cinema 2012 showcases animation for kids from around the world at various screenings at throughout DC April 20-28.
“Academy-Award–nominated director Dominique Monféry celebrates the joy of reading in his sumptuously animated movie about a magic library where all the characters from classic children’s books come alive. With the help of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and others, [protagonist child] Nat…learns to read an ancient spell to keep the characters alive for future generations of children. Eleanor’s Secret will win the hearts children and adults alike.” —Seattle International Film Festival
If these films are too international and art house-y for your tastes, A Parent in Silver Spring also gives out free passes to mainstream films from Pixar, Disney and more!
This showcase of international children’s films, which is now in its fourth year, invites Washingtonians to compare the ways in which different cultures approach this compact, yet powerful genre, as well as introduce young audiences to the discovery of foreign cinema. On April 20, the Alliance Française and the Embassy of Senegal present the following film collection tailored to children aged 6-8:
Frère Benoit (Brother Benoit) (8 min, no dialogue) – Brother Benoit is in charge of the cleaning service in an abbey.
Train-Train Medina (7 min, no dialogue) — People start stealing sand from the beach to build their houses with and things start to get messy in the Medina. Living in common disrespect for nature and for each other brings about a time of misery.
Gom (7 min, French with English subtitles) — An awkward rubber boy is unexpectedly enlisted to replace a circus performer’s assistant.
Le Têtu fainéant (The Lazy Jackal) (4min, English ) — The dog-like Jackal does not want to go to school with the other animals on the savannah.
Rumeurs (Rumors) (7min 30sec, no dialogue) — In the silenceof the jungle, an unusual noise scares the animals, causing them to feed off each other’s panic.
OZO (7min 30sec) — A monkey named Ozo chases the bird that stole his egg.
Animation for Children from Japan and Mexico Organized by the Mexican Cultural Institute and the Japan Information and Cultural Center
Saturday Apr. 21 at 2pm at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, Free, register by e-mailing RSVP@instituteofmexicodc.org
Various films in Japanese with English subtitles, Spanish with English subtitles, no dialogue or dubbing in English. Full line-up.
Animation for Children from Korea and Spain Organized by the Korean Cultural Center and the Embassy of Spain
Sunday April 22 at 2:00pm, Spain and Korea at the Korean Cultural Center, 2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 2370 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Free, online registration required.
As part of Kids World Cinema 2012, the Korean Cultural Center is teaming up with the Embassy of Spain to present a collection of short Korean and Spanish films just for kids, followed by a group discussion and cultural activities. Children will learn about Korean and Spanish culture in a fun setting, and see how even though kids in other countries may not speak the same language, they are not so different. Children and parents of all backgrounds are welcome to participate. Intended for children age 6-10, but slightly younger or older children are also welcome.
In order to attend, a parent/guardian must RSVP for each child or group of children by completing this online registration form. One parent/guardian can RSVP for up to 4 children. Adults may accompany children during the event (a separate adult space will be available), or drop children off by 2pm and pick them up by 3:30pm. Children under age 6 cannot be dropped off and must be supervised by an attending adult. Adults who attend must be accompanied by at least one child.
Short fairy tale films from the United States and Québec
Friday April 27 6 – 9pm, Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Free, register at 202.686.5807.
6-9 pm Art activity, tour the Mansion, bring your own picnic to enjoy, children encouraged to wear their own crowns from home
7-8:30 pm Short film screenings
Picnic in the gardens, explore the Mansion on a fairy tale quest, and create and wear your own prince and princess crowns. Enjoy screenings of several short fairy tale films from the United States and Québec, including Sleeping Betty, The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin, and Faerie Tale Theatre. Snacks and light bites available for purchase from the Cafe. Presented in partnership with the Québec Government Office.
Animation from Brazil and Germany, Organized by the Goethe-Institut and the Embassy of Brazil
Saturday Apr. 28 at 2PM, The Goethe-Institut, 812 7th Street, NW, Washington DC, Free, RSVP & Information: 202-289-1200 & rsvp@washington.goethe.org
Fishtronaut (33 min, dubbed in English) — An enviro-friendly animated mystery series, where our secret agent “Fishtronaut” goes on slimy, furry and gooey adventures with his best friends, gal pal Marina and Zeek, a tween-age monkey. Kids are encouraged to engage interactively by tapping and clapping along with Fishtronaut and friends. Targeting 3 to 6 year-olds, the series explores the world’s many mysteries above and below water in a unique and entertaining way.
Lotte Reiniger: Fairytales and Fables (30 min.,German with English subtitles) — Fairytales and music form an integral part of Lotte Reiniger’s (1899-1981) artistic oeuvre and were driving forces behind her work. Moving between different cultures for inspiration, she created animated films full of graceful, beautiful characters. A selection of her films will be shown.
Donna Stefano is project director at the Cooperative Housing Foundation—known simply as CHF International— which serves more than 20 million people each year around the world. CHF International’s headquarters are based in Silver Spring, Maryland, but staff members worldwide assist low- and moderate-income communities improve their social, economic and environmental conditions. Based in the West Bank, Stefano is a single, American mother with a nine year old son. He was born in Maryland, and when in the States they call Silver Spring home.
A Parent in the West Bank Values Classroom Diversity
How fortunate our children are to live in the greater metropolitan D.C. area, with all its ethnically and culturally diverse populations. Growing up in a diverse area better prepares them for the future of living in an increasingly global community, and I like to think my own experience proves it.
A few short years ago, when my son was five, I enrolled him in kindergarten in our local public school in Silver Spring. The 25 students in that kindergarten class hailed from almost every single continent. The annual celebration of International Day was the school’s pride and joy, with full participation from extended families showing off their beautiful traditional costumes and homemade cooking.
My son and his classmates were talking about the event days ahead of time. I loved how his classmates’ backgrounds, native languages, names and dress were all taken for granted in a way that was never divisive.
Because everybody was different, nobody was different.
I think it was part of this exposure to such diverse backgrounds that eased our transition to life overseas when we moved to the West Bank a year later for my job with CHF International, the Silver Spring-based international development organization. Suddenly, my son found himself in a class of Palestinians who were anxious to put him into a category; he was an American child, with an Arab name, who didn’t speak a word of the Arabic language. His classmates and their parents were very confused by us.
Part of that desire to put an identity on my son was due mostly to long-standing cultural traditions in much of the Middle East. Here, a person’s social status depends on the family lineage, or their religion, or their tribal affiliations. Our social status was limited, I had no links to a “big, good” Palestinian family, nor do I have a husband linked to such a family. And while my son is Muslim, he found himself tongue-tied in the school’s mandated-religious education classes.
The kids perceived him as “different” in a way that I don’t think he could comprehend because of his early schooling in Silver Spring’s diverse classrooms. Halfway through his first school year, an Australian child joined his class. He and my son quickly bonded over their unclassifiable status.
Eventually, I put him in an American international school in Jerusalem geared toward the expatriate crowd. He was back into an environment in which everybody was different, and that feels most comfortable to him now. Once again, the school’s international day is celebrated with full fanfare.
He comes home from his day at school with stories about the different foods in his classmates’ lunchboxes, and that has (thankfully!) opened up his desire to more courageously explore different cuisines. While my son has not had the opportunity to play a good old game of baseball with his classmates in the past four years, he has taken an interest in sports that are national pastimes in several of his classmates’ countries – tennis, skiing and surfing to name a few. He has learned all the different ways that Christmas is celebrated across the world and, in the spirit of inclusion, has requested to celebrate them all!
Most importantly for my son, who now dreams of visiting “every single country in the world!”, he has developed lasting friendships with families who have issued open invitations to their homes across the globe. I can’t wait to share our home in Silver Spring with them one day, showing off our roots made up of a wonderfully diverse community.
Donna Stefano is a project director for CHF International, an international development and humanitarian aid organization based in Silver Spring, MD. She currently resides in Jerusalem with her young son. They both call Silver Spring home. Read more of her writings in the Huffington Post and Role/Reboot.
Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30pm and 4pm through May 26 (the show extended through Memorial Day!), 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda. (Special days: Princess Parade after 4:00 show on April 28, and a Wig Out Dance Party on May 18 after 7:00pm show– Get your wildest wig or wackiest hairstyle and boogie.)
