A Parent In Silver Spring

Allan's Trees Holiday Art and Craft Sale on Saturday

2009-12-11T00:25:00.004-05:00

I know you guys love handmade craft fairs...and I know you haven't yet finished your holiday shopping. So here's the 411 on a fun event that will help you cross those loved ones' gifts off your list...and it's for a great cause.

Allan's Trees Holiday Art and Craft Sale
Saturday, Dec. 12th
11a.m.- 4 p.m.
1204 Prospect Street, Takoma Park MD
Map

Handmade items by local artists:
* Jewelry
* Baby toys, slings and nursing covers
* Photography, including nature prints of Sligo and Long Branch Creek
* Homemade chocolates and
* Holiday gifts and ornaments

An exciting raffle will feature local gift certificates for massage or acupuncture (The Still point), eco-friendly foods (The Takoma/SS Co-op), middle-eastern cuisine, gifts (Now and Then), and other great items including a fair-trade soccer ball (Fair Day's Play) and a basket of doggy goodies (Big Bad Woof).
Tickets for the raffle are $2 each or three for $5 and can be purchased at the event or on the Allan's Trees website.

Allan's Trees (ATO) is a foundation dedicated to increasing awareness and funding for stillbirth research and was founded in honor of Allan Frederick Lerner who died at 40 weeks 5 days to stillbirth after a perfectly healthy pregnancy. No reason for his death was ever found.

Stillbirth, the death of an infant in-utero after 30 gestational weeks, is the leading cause of infant death in the U.S., claiming more than 26,000 babies each year. Stillbirth cuts across socio-economic classes, races, religions, body types and maternal age groups. No woman is immune. Research on causes and prevention is desperately needed.

All raffle proceeds from the Holiday Art and Craft Fair and at least 20% of all sales will be donated to First Candle in support of stillbirth research and prevention.

GIVEAWAY: Tickets to ZOOLIGHTS at the National Zoo & "Zootrition" Too

2009-12-10T10:42:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: The winner is Roxanne Y!

You've heard about ZooLights, right, the the National Zoo’s winter celebration that runs through January 2^nd? Well, one lucky reader of A Parent in Silver Spring will win tickets to one of the biggest and best nights of ZooLights - ZOOTRITION this Saturday night December 12 from 6 - 8:30 p.m.!

Leave a comment before midnight TONIGHT December 10 for the chance to win.

Zootrition is a night of hands-on nutrition learning and goodie giveaways, sponsored by Giant Food, and is the highlight of the National Zoo’s ZooLights celebration. Kids will learn fun stuff like how does the daily diet of a gorilla compare to that of human? Why do snakes eat less in winter than in summer?

There will be demonstrations by the Zoo’s commissary staff and Giant nutritionists, animated lights, 500 carolers from Giant stores across the DC area (performing at 8 p.m. at Lemur Island), and other live entertainment. Awesome scavenger hunt stations will be located in the Small Mammal House, the Great Apes Building, the Reptile Discovery Center, and the Mane Restaurant.

And all throughout ZooLights, the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat will be open for extended hours for those who wish to bid farewell to young Tai Shan before he departs for China in early 2010.

Even if you don't win the APISS free family pack of tickets, regular tickets are only $5 for Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) members and $8 for nonmembers AND the first 1,000 guests to check in on Saturday night will receive a free, reusable tote bag! Buy tickets here.

The fun's all going on at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC.

Hours for ZooLights for the entire holiday season:

December 4-13
(Friday through Sunday nights)

December 18-January 2
(Every night except December 24, 25, and 31)

FunFit Winter Open House on Wednesday December 9

2009-12-08T21:03:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 9th is FunFit in Rockville's Holiday Safe Winter Open House. Starting at 9:30am and continuing on well into the evening, this fun fitness and play center for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kids is open all day FREE! And there's going to be firefighters and firetrucks too, as well as big discounts on signing up for winter classes, winter and summer camps, and birthday parties (we've had one here - way before I started this blog - and it was faboo for my son and his pals.) There's even an adult exercise class offered at 7:30pm and Family Yoga in the evening too!

FunFit also has a rocking indoor open gym every Monday from 2-3:30pm, Wednesday 10am-2pm (perfect for little ones and playgroups that like to get out before naptime), and Fridays 1:30pm-5:30pm (except on the 4th Friday of the month, when it's extended to 7:30pm.) Rates for open gym are listed here, and if you sign up for a FunFit class you get FREE unlimited open gym all winter long!

So here's the schedule of activities and class demonstrations at the Winter Open House - no registration is necessary to participate in the fun tomorrow and special needs kids are always welcome to participate in all activities:

9:30am Funfit Tots 6mos-4yrs

10am Bayou Buddies Music 18mos-6yrs.

10:30am FUNdamentals preschool prep (theme of the Day: CARS) 2-4yrs.

10:50am FUNky Monkeys 3-5yrs.

11:20am SMART Kids (sloppy science/messy art) all ages

11:45am FUNfoods (kids make the food themselves...and eat it!) all ages

12:15pm MAZE FUN & Tattoos

1:00pm Making your Holiday SAFE! INSIDE: We'll have a Policeman discussing Family Safet,

OUTSIDE: Visit with our neighborhood firemen, Firetrucks and all!

2:00pm FUNQuests 2.5-6yrs - Firemen & Policeman Theme

2:30pm FUNscapes 18mos-6yrs - Car painting

3:15pm Funfit Tots 1-4yrs.

3:45pm BALLET (2-6yrs) Watch a class in session.

4:30pm FUNky Monkeys 3-6yrs.

5:00pm Family Yoga ages 3-12yrs.

5:30pm Total Body Conditioning with Personal Trainers 5yrs-13yrs
Work it on the Circuit & WiiFit & Sports

6:30pm - FUNfeet Dance 3-7yrs.

7:30pm - ADULT/Teen HOOPFit
Want more info on the classes being demoed and that you may visit with your kids tomorrow? Click here for class descriptions.

So if you were racking your brain on where to play tomorrow, now you know to head to FunFit for free, fabulous fun.

FunFit

17511 Redland Road
Rockville, Maryland 20855

Directions
Phone (301)975-0099

Be With Me - The Children's Playseum in Bethesda

2009-12-07T21:29:00.007-05:00

Eve having the world's best time in The World Room at Be With Me in Bethesda

Ohhh, guys. You are not going to Be-lieve how adorable and fabulous is Be With Me - The Children's Playseum in Bethesda. It's the area's newest indoor play space and it is jam-packed with learning, fun and creative options for your kids, babies and toddlers.

Located right on Wisconsin Avenue next to Orvis, it's open for drop-in fun every Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 6pm. At just $5 per person, it's a great price for all that your child receives in a visit. He or she can

Create art and make crafts in the art studio
Enjoy song and story times each day catered to specific ages of attendees
Make discoveries in the science lab
Get gorgeous in the beauty salon and dress up lounge
Mix up some cookies in the play bakery
Shop 'til she drops in the mini-play Safeway
Play with REAL LIVE PETS in the pet shop
Hold a jam session in the music room
Look for fairies in the garden
Cuddle up in Grandma's House (the cutest room in the whole place, in my opinion)
Learn about other cultures in the World room (this was Eve's fave place in the joint)

Eve receiving professional art instruction...while mom went and received a free chair massage at the grand opening shin dig

Eve and I attended the Grand Opening Day at Be With Me and we had so much fun, we would have stayed ALL DAY. And the folks there would have let us - when you buy a pass you are free to leave, go have a snack and then return for more play! Only the meters outside and my dearth of quarters limited our fun to two hours of bliss.

Shopping in the mini-Safeway..."just like you Mama!" Because I always buy 8 boxes of cake mix, Palmolive, 12 onions and one lone orange.

After two years of APISS-ing, my kids and I consider ourselves pretty much open play space connoisseurs. But we were just blown away by this place! And not only fun and innovative, the owners are incorporating green practices in their play space and have secured sponsors for many of the awesome rooms. Staples is a sponsor in the art area, Bethesda Pet has sponsored the pet shop, Safeway the grocery store and more creative partnerships. Another cool idea: Be With Me is also coordinating moms and nannies groups and afterschool programs - get the information here.

Channeling Meg White...she already has an adoring younger guy groupie

Be With Me is open throughout Hanukkah, only closing early on the first night, Friday December 11 at 4:30pm. Then for Christmas they will be taking a Holiday Break and closed Dec 23-29. Prior to Holiday Break, Christmas and Hanukkah fun will be going on at the playseum so be sure to stop by.

In short, if you're looking for fun things to do with your kids during the day or on Saturdays, or a neat new place for your playgroup to meet, get thee to Be With Me. Tell them ~~Large Marge~~ APISS sent you!

BE WITH ME PLAYSEUM
1-888-5PLAYSEUM
7000 WISCONSIN AVE
BETHESDA, MARYLAND
HOURS:
M-SAT 9:30AM-6PM
ADMISSION: $5 PER PERSON
HOLIDAY PRICES MAY VARY

Be With Me is a slam dunk!

GIVEAWAYS: Toys & Gifts for Kids on APISS Reviews

2009-12-07T14:23:00.001-05:00

Head on over to APISS Reviews for giveaways of toys, games and gifts for kids all week long. To start the week strong, there's five cool gifts you can enter to win.

GIVEAWAYS: Last Minute Moms Nights Out at the Movies

2009-12-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

I have 30 free advance screening tickets to Leap Year tomorrow night, Tuesday December 8 at 7:30pm at Regal Cinemas Gallery Place, 707 Seventh St. NW in downtown DC near the Verizon Center.

Leap Year synopsis (from IMDB.com) : A woman (Amy Adams) who has an elaborate scheme to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, an Irish tradition which occurs every time the date February 29 rolls around, faces a major setback when bad weather threatens to derail her planned trip to Dublin. With the help of an innkeeper, however, her cross-country odyssey just might result in her getting engaged.

AND

I have 60 free advance screening tickets to It's Complicated with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin on Thursday December 10 at 7:30pm at the Regal Majestic in Silver Spring 900 Ellsworth Dr.

It's Complicated synopsis (from ropeofsilicon.com via IMDB.com): It's Complicated follows a woman dealing with empty-nest syndrome who is torn between her ex-husband (Baldwin) and a male friend (Martin). Kristen Bell plays Baldwins young wife, who is determined to have a child with him."

E-mail me with Leap Year or It's Complicated in the title of your email and I'll zap tickets to you.

Interactions Learn and Play in Kensington: Open Gym & Play Space!

2009-12-05T08:50:00.002-05:00

As the weather freezes and we're all forced to look for indoor places to play, I'm reposting my review of Interactions, and will be posting about new indoor place spaces in the DC area all week long!

The APISS kids and I went to try out Interactions Learn and Play in Kensington, a new open gym and play space that opened in January. Interactions is independently owned by a group of local parent entrepreneurs that sought to create a community space for families with young children to learn together.

The kids and I had A BLAST and we had the entire place to ourselves!

The facility was safe, inviting, extremely clean and packed full of fun and educational toys and equipment. There are separate areas for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, making music and physical play. Each play station or activity is labeled with the skills your child will acquire and exercise in that station. My kids loved the ride on train, kid coaster, ball pits, singing on a kid karaoke machine, the climbing station and every other half-hour the staff inflates the small, non-threatening moonbounce with slide. When my kids got tuckered out on all the physically-stimulating gear, they moved on to more cerebral play like puzzles, word games, practicing writing their letters on dry erase cards, blocks and interactive books.

The target age range for Interactions Learn and Play is 0-4 years. I brought my not-yet-in-kindergarten 5 year old with me and he had as much fun as his almost 3 year old sister. However, kids much older are discouraged to preserve a safe environment for younger attendees, unless an older child is there to help his or her younger siblings.

Interactions is open for families to drop in and play with their children Monday-Friday from 10am-7pm, no reservations required. They're also open on Saturdays from 10am-1:30pm, but those Saturday hours are subject to change so call 301.946.1010 before coming by on a Saturday. They also host interactive birthday parties for kids age 1-4, and you can host your playgroup or moms' group here too! Parents stay and play and learn with their kids, you do not drop-off.

The cost is $12 for the first child, $6 for additional siblings. Right now they take cash only, so hit the ATM before arriving. If you fall in love with the place, you can purchase discounted family passes for 6 visits/$60 for 1 child, 6 visits/$90 for a two-child family and 6 visits/$120 for a three-child family and so forth.

Families are welcome to bring lunch and snacks to eat in the lobby area, but unfortunately are not allowed to go out and come back in again later that day after grabbing lunch or a nap. So pack some fruit and cheese - our grumbling tummies (and bad mommy's snack-less bag) cut short our play time to my kids' dismay. There is a large, clean, super-well equipped family restroom right in the heart of the play area, making it easy for kids to take potty breaks without missing too much of the action. You can safely step away with one child and still hear if your other kid needs your help. Since I'm in the thick of potty-training my almost 3 year old, having the restroom nearby and accessible was key. There's a changing table, mini-potty for little ones, diaper pail and various anti-bacterial supplies.

In summation, I believe Interactions Learn and Play is a great indoor play and learn option for babies up to prekindergarten kids. Located in the heart of Kensington and right off the Connecticut Avenue/Kensington exit on the Beltway, it's conveniently located for many Montgomery County and DC-area families. I liked that the place wasn't crowded, but I hope that APISS readers check it out and more families attend. Supporting a new, independently- owned local business is so important, especially one that offers the much-needed resource of drop-in indoor play options during the week.

Interactions Learn and Play
Open Gym and Play Space for Kids 0-4 years
3809 Farragut Avenue
Kensington, MD 20895 MAP
Phone: 301.946.1010
Hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturdays 10am-1:30pm (call first, Saturday hours subject to change)
Closed Sundays & Holidays
$12 per child, $6 per sibling, cash only

GIVEAWAY: Breakfast with Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe Washington DC

2009-12-04T08:43:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: The Winner is Trish Atkins of Two Little Men!

Next Saturday December 12 you can get your Jingle Bell Rock on by attending the Hard Rock Cafe DC's Annual Breakfast with Santa!

From 9:45am - 11:15am on Saturday December 12, you and your little rockers can enjoy a buffet style breakfast, meet Santa (and remind him of those items on the letter you sent,) take photos with him and receive goodie bags with some pre-Christmas loot. Tickets are just $13.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids (these prices include tax & gratuity) and kids age 2 and under are free with a paid adult. To reserve your spot, just e-mail Jordan_Rosenblatt@hardrock.com. I hope you will join us!

My family and I will be attending, and we are almost as excited as all those visiting-DC-for-the-first-time eighth graders waiting in a line to purchase the obligatory Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt. My kids love checking out all the cool rock paraphenalia on the walls of the restaurant, and my husband and I love the burgers, the music, the reasonable kids' meals and relaxed atmosphere when we eat here with our family. We find it's basically a temper-tantrum free location to grab a bite when we're in downtown DC because of all the cool items to engage the kids (and since there's no singing electronic rat and there is the ability to purchase a quality draft beer, this mommy is able to refrain from temper tantrums too.)

And one lucky APISS-reading family will receive a Family Pack of 4 Free Tickets! Want to enter? Just leave a comment here on this post with your child's numero uno Santa request. The winner will be drawn on Monday night December 7 at 9pm.

Holiday Shop-N-Stroll on Saturday December 5

2009-12-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

This Saturday is Holiday Shop-N-Stroll in Downtown Silver Spring. The hot new kid on the block, the Handmade Mart, will be taking over the entire block of Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring. Teaming up with the crafters are the artists of Pyramid Atlantic and the foodies of FRESHFARM Markets and they'll all be out for your shopping pleasure from 10am - 3 pm. There will be 50+ independent crafters, local farmers selling fresh seasonal produce, ornament making, workshops, carolers, a tree lighting, and much more to get everyone into the holiday swing of things. Oh and FREE HOT COCOA for all, huzzah!

And while you probably know that Santa Claus is in residence at City Place Mall and available for photos, guess who can also get a pic with the man in the red suit? YOUR PET. Thanks to Living Ruff, you can bring your pet on Saturday to take a photo with Santa on Fenton Street between the Washington Spors Club and the Marriott (not at City Place) from 11am-5pm. Details here.

And when you need to come in from the cold, Pyramid Atlantic's ArtSprung store will have events all day:

12-4 pm Free ornament making workshop for all led by artist Eunah Kim
12 - 1:30 pm Music by Tori Heller
2 - 4 pm Music by Icarus
4 pm Free movie screening Between the Folds
6 pm Meet printer, bookbinder, and artist John M. Carrera, creator of Pictorial Webster's.
7 pm Meet printmaker Julio Valdez

Hope to see you shopping and strolling on Saturday .

TICKETS ALL GONE to The Princess and the Frog Next Saturday December 5

2009-11-29T13:24:00.006-05:00

In the APISS household, Princess Tiana's arrival has been more highly anticipated than Santa's

UPDATE: In an APISS record, all the tickets were handed out in just one afternoon. But you can see the film when it opens in theaters on December 11!

Oh yes, it's true. I have 80 tickets (40 Admit 2 passes) for you guys to attend a free advance screening to see Disney's The Princess and the Frog. The fun goes down next Saturday December 5th at 10:30am at the Majestic in Downtown Silver Spring.

This highly-anticipated animated feature film is the biggest offering from Disney in ages and is crazy special because

it features the very first black Disney heroine - Tiana is an African American girl at the turn of the century in New Orleans
the film's from the creative team that brought us "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin", so its chances of awesome are very high
"Dreamgirls" actor Anika Noni Rose voices Tiana and none other than Oprah Winfrey provides the voice for Tiana's mom
speaking of Tiana's mom, check this out - she has TWO living, loving parents! That my friends is rare in the Disney lexicon
Randy Newman composed the music and lyrics for the soundtrack

Because of the popularity of The Princess and the Frog and the limited number of tickets available, I'm going to be a real stickler for rule-abiding in my giving out of these tickets. Here's what you need to do:

Limit 4 tickets per family. Seriously. When a family emails me with two different email addresses and identities, I can totally tell. I let it slide when I have an abundance of tickets but this time I just can't. (If you have more than 4 people in your family that really want to go, I'm sorry. The movie will open in theaters on December 11.)
Email me at jessica*dot mcfadden *at *gmail*dot*com with the number of tickets you need AND your mailing address. The first people to contact me will with their mailing address provided will receive hard copy tickets mailed to their home.
Yup, you will have to receive mail, no exceptions. I cannot meet you in person to deliver them.
Please don't leave a comment here with your mailing address, or email me without your mailing address.
Duplications/photo copies of tickets will NOT be accepted at the door. Don't try it.
Be sure to be there EARLY on Saturday morning. Often these events are overbooked and even if you have a ticket and arrive a teensy bit before 10:30am, there's a good chance you won't be admitted. It's happened to me at these events before, even though I'm sometimes considered "media."
If you receive tickets, please make sure you attend. No bailing, flaking, or sleeping in. Since these tickets are highly coveted by others, tickets will be numbered and bailers will be tracked and noted. If your child becomes ill, I would appreciate your gifting the tickets to another family with a young child.

Whew, I hope that was enough sassiness and attitude for you! But you know, I hear that Princess Tiana is by far the sassiest, most confident and headstrong heroine Disney Princess ever created, so I'm just following her example.

Best of luck to you guys and I hope to see you at the show!

Washington Post: Leonardo da Vinci, National Philharmonic and more fine arts for kids

2009-11-27T00:04:00.000-05:00

I had the sheer pleasure of providing a good deal of the content for today's Washington Post Weekend section's focus on fine arts for kids in the DC area.

From the cover story on the Maryland Science Center's Da Vinci: The Genius exhibit, to a piece on the free tickets for kids to the National Philharmonic in residence at Strathmore, I had a ball researching these awesome activities for kids. (And I'm sure my editors had a ball editing my filings into submission - thank you all!)

Moira E. McLaughlin also provided great pieces on the workshops for kids at the Corcoran and an upcoming live introduction to Beethoven at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

I hope you enjoy...and can use the info this winter for cool cultural activities to share with your kids.

On Washington Times Communities

2009-11-25T14:44:00.002-05:00

The Washington Times has recently revamped their online edition and has recruited teams of writers for their Communities section. I was honored to be asked to head up the Family Today section on parenting and family topics, and I will be writing on WT several times a week.

Joining me are parenting writers whose work constantly engages and amazes: Leticia Barr (also of Tech Savvy Mama), Beth Greer (also of Super Natural Mom), Kristen Hammond (also of Mommy Needs a Cocktail), Jessica Claire Haney (also of Crunchy-Chewy Mama), Linda Kerr and Cara Fox (also of Baby Bunching), Kimberly Petro (also of Petroville) and some more awesome writers soon to be announced.

Today I'm over on the Washington Times Communities at Family Today with a suggestion of reaching out to single mom friends on holidays:

It's the time of year when we volunteer at food banks or soup kitchens, write checks to charities and call those old people in our family that possibly don't remember our names.

Maybe we hear that sappy Chistmas Shoes song on the local all-Christmas-all-the-time radio station and are inspired to pick up a second bacon egg and cheese bagel for the guy standing outside our coffee place. Or we pick up a Private Benjamin Special Edition Barbie on mega clearance for a Toys for Tots drive.

Or at least we think about doing these things, right?

I have a simpler, cheaper and equally important holiday kindness activity to suggest: Invite that single mom you know over for your holiday dinner.

Read the full article here

Photo courtesy mescon on Flickr via a Creative Commons license.

Giveaways on APISS Reviews

2009-11-25T08:46:00.001-05:00

Come on over to APISS Reviews to win holiday gifts for your kids now and all the way until the week before Christmas. Every day (or so) until USPS stops shipping Priority Mail for delivery by Christmas Eve, I'll be posting reviews of toys, books, CDs and DVDs of new kids' Christmas movies for your information and possible winning.

In particular, I've got four Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs of Santa Buddies, The Legend of Santa Paws that I need to give away NOW so my kids don't become even more buddy-obsessed!

To make sure you don't miss a chance at these freebies (all you'll have to do is leave a comment to throw your hat in the ring,) be sure to subscribe to APISS Reviews via RSS or email newsletter. Per usual, you'll only hear from me via automated email with new posts (once per day at most) or to tell you you've won free @#$%. I have no idea how to spam you.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Weekend Volunteer Opportunities in the DC Area

2009-11-24T14:00:00.001-05:00

Would you like to show your thankfulness this weekend by volunteering with your children? Here are some events and organizations that could use your help!

9th Annual Thanksgiving Feast at the Washington Convention Center on Wednesday November 25. Volunteers are needed to help serve, set up, and manage the lines, along with many other activities. If you are looking for a heart-warming opportunity this Thanksgiving,please call or email Faith Williams at (202) 422-8968, feastofsharing@hotmail.com.

Washington Center for Aging Services is looking for volunteers to come in and assist with our annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon. Volunteers will assist with the transport of the residents to and from their units, assist with the serving of the meal, and interact with resident that do not have family there.

Deliver Thanksgiving Meals with IONA! on Thanksgiving, November 26th
This Thanksgiving you can make a world of difference to an isolated senior by delivering them a holiday meal. On Thursday, November 26th from 10am-12pm, IONA will expand expanded their weekend meal delivery program to provide a delicious holiday meal for a larger number of home bound seniors. They need 10 teams of volunteers. A team consists of 1 driver w/ a car and 1+ helpers. To sign up, please contact Lylie Fisher at (202)-895-9425 or lfisher@iona.org.

SOME Thanks giving Trot for Hunger could not be a success without the help of volunteers. Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the race on Thanksgiving at West Potomac Park, DC. Volunteers are needed from 5:30am until 11:30am for set up and clean up, monitoring the course, directing participants from parking and metro locations, setting up and distributing food, checking in participants who have not already picked up their race packets, and helping with various other activities. They also need First Aid, CPR and AED certified volunteers to staff the first aid tents on race day. If you would like to help, please email Tracy Monson at trotforhunger@some.org with your name, email address, daytime phone number, and when you would like to help.

The Potoma c Center Nursing and Rehabilitation Home for Seniors needs volunteers to help serve the Thanksgiving meal from 10:30am-12:30pm. Kids and pets are welcome to cheer up the residents! The center is located at 1785 S. Hayes Street in Arlington with free parking. Contact Robin at Robingwiley@yahoo.com or 703-548-3606.

YMCA Bethesda- Chevy Chase (BCC) is hosting its 27th Annual Turkey Chase on Thanksgiving morning, November 26th, 2009, beginning at 8:30am. On the day of this exciting event volunteers are needed in these positions: Course Marshall's, Water Station Helpers, Registration Assistants and Race PacketDistributors, and other positions. To register to volunteer log on to: www.turkeychase.com and click on the volunteer link to sign up to volunteer. For more information please contact the staff members at YMCA Bethesda Chevy- Chase at (301) 530- 3725. The proceeds from the race help provide scholarships and financial assistance for disadvantaged youth, individuals and families who participate at YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and YMCA youth.

Arlington Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk, November 26th
On Thanksgiving Day, Christ Church of Arlington is hosting its 4th annual Arlington Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk. Put on your running shoes, or your walking shoes, or even grab your dog, kids, or a stroller. The mission of the Arlington Turkey Trot is to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a fun, healthy Thanksgiving activity together, and to raise support for three local charities: Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH), Doorways for Women & Families, and Arlington Food Assistance Center. If you'd like to volunteer at this event - please contact arlingtonturkeytrot@gmail.com.

AND IF YOU'RE BUSY COOKING ON THANKSGIVING DAY, HELP LATER IN THE WEEKEND!

The Washington Home needs volunteers for their Christmas events! November 27th-29th
On November 27th, 28th, and 29th , 10:00am-3:00pm, come join the staff of the Washington Home, a non-profit organization which provides long-term residential, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s and hospice cared to residents of the metropolitan area, to decorate their Christmas tree. Please contact Scott Barrington, bscott@thewashingtonhome.org, for more information. Lunch is provided at this project.

And Amy Miller of Our-Kids has a fabulous article, Top 10 List of Holiday Volunteer Opportunities, packed with ideas on how families can help others.

Thanks also to Volunteer Match and Greater DC CARES for helping me with the research for this list.

Do you know of another hands-on volunteer opportunity this holiday weekend? Send it to me and I'll add it immediately!

Second Sundays at Let's Dish! are for Families

2009-11-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

After all that Thanksgiving cooking you're doing today and tomorrow (my latest perfume? why it's eau de nutmeg and raw gizzards), wouldn't it be nice during the crazy time between Turkey Day and Christmas to have a bunch of meals pre-made? And bond with your kids while you make them?

Then sign up for a Second Sunday session at a Let's Dish! location in Maryland or Northern Virginia. On these special days, parents and kids make meals together. Times vary by store, so be sure to check the calendar and look for sessions marked “Parent/Kid(8+)”. Managing Director Jeremy Kugel says that there are still spots open in the DC metro locations for the Sunday December 13 sessions.

However, kids are always welcome at any Let's Dish! food making session, provided they are mature, older than 8 years and that the ratio is one child to one parent. The Let's Dish! folks say that dishing (aka cooking and compiling meals to be fridged or frozen for later) is a great way for kids to learn about the things they eat and feel more involved in dinner time. It may also help those picky eaters to try new things, since kids can help choose dinners from the monthly menu.

So if your kid really gets into pouring that pumpkin pie tomorrow, maybe give it a whirl...oh, and drop a lasagne by the APISS place on your way back from the Columbia store, 'k?

Not a sponsored post - just received the deets from Mr. Kugel on this family-friendly activity and thought it sounded cool.

ICE at the Gaylord National and more holiday fun at National Harbor

2009-11-23T17:50:00.008-05:00

On the ice bridge

ICE! at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center

ICE! at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on the Potomac (in National Harbor) is fabulous. My family and I were generously given a chance to preview this winter wonderland the day before it opened and we were awed. And you can experience it too through January 10th! Here's what to expect.

ICE! is kept at a frigid 9° Fahrenheit (-13° Celsius) so be sure to bring gloves and hats for your family. Closed-toe shoes and long pants are required. Then you'll be fitted with heavy bright blue winter parkas (that you wear on top of the coat you arrive in.)

After suiting up, you and your family walk through ten life-sized holiday scenes sculpted from two million pounds of ice. There's a real ice bridge over a river of ice, a Christmas castle made entirely of um, frozen water, and lots of fun Christmas characters.

Waddle of the penguins

The biggest hits for my kids were an icy Santa's Toyland and four super fun ice slides. Oh, and those slides are not just for kids. Grownups all over the place were taking rides too. Just be warned - two slides are faster than the other two. The nice young ski-instructor looking dudes at the top will advise you on which is which.

Tickets to ICE are not cheap, but you can save cash by attending at certain times. Here are the rates:


Adults (13 and up)	WEEKDAY Mon-Thurs (before 4pm) $19.99	WEEKDAY Mon-Thurs (after 4pm) $24.50	WEEKEND Fri-Sun (all day) $24.50
Seniors (62+)	$18.00	$18.00	$18.00
Kids (4-12)	$13.00	$13.00	$13.00
Kids (0-3)	Free	Free	Free
Groups of 10 or more	$18.00	$18.00	$18.00
Military Adults (13 and up)	$18.00	$18.00	$18.00
Military Kids (4-12)	$10.00	$10.00	$10.00

As you can see, going on a weekday before 4pm or getting a group together like your moms' club or playgroup could result in the best rates. And kids 3 and younger are always free. You can simply walk up, but to avoid any lines (especially on weekends,) you are encouraged to purchase your tickets in advance here.

Additionally, there's a special Toys for Tots Discount: if you bring a new, unwrapped toy on December 1, 8 or 15 you'll receive one adult ticket for only $20 - giving you about 15% off. (And helps make a kids' Christmas brighter, of course.)

More Holiday Fun at Gaylord National Harbor

After you see ICE! there's still lots more fun stuff to do. (And if you're short on cash, you can still have a fun field trip at the resort with their free or less expensive activities.)

Peeps Pursuit: Peeps yellow chicks (giant versions) are hiding all over the Gaylord National's atrium. Families grab a scavenger hunt brochure in the lobby and then hunt them all down! When you're done, take your finished hunt page to the Peeps & Company store for a free candy sample.

Tree of Light: In the atrium of the resort is a 60 foot tall glass lit tree. Every night at 6pm the tree is ceremoniously lit with music, synchronized lights and a dancing fountain that shoots 60 feet high.

Brightest Star Fountain Show: Every night at 8pm and 9pm, there's a narration of the Chrsitmas story choreographed by dancing water and special effects.

Indoor Snowfall: Snow falls nightly inside the atrium at 6:15pm and 9:15pm.

Musical Performances: A 75-voice choir sings Christmas music for a 40 minute free concert at 7pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays now through December 20. And various local vocalists and musicians perform from Nov. 20-Dec. 20, every Monday through Thursday night at 7pm; from Dec. 21-Jan. 3 7pm performances daily.

Ice Skating: At an outdoor rink right next to the ICE! exhibit. Open weather permitting, $8 per person. Skate rental available on-site or you can bring your own.

Miniature Holiday Train Display: All season, all the time. In the atrium lower level.

We sprung for yummy hot cocoa and cookies from the Java Coast cafe in the Gaylord atrium to enjoy while watching all the light displays and listening to the holiday musical performances. It was a very Christmas-y special event on it's own.

AND if you really want to go for the holiday experience, you can stay overnight at the resort with even more options (most of which include your tickets to ICE!) Check out the resort packages here.

National Children's Museum Launch Zone Holiday Activities

You know I recommend a visit to the Launch Zone for some free learning play any time with your kids. But the staff of the future National Children's Museum will also be on hand around National Harbor all season helping our kids have holiday fun.

Holiday Crafts, Tree Lighting & Fireworks Celebration: On November 27 from 5-7pm, kids can make holiday crafts at the Holiday Market at National Harbor Plaza! And they'll also watch National Harbor’s 65-foot tree sparkle to life while enjoying special musical performances, holiday goodies, and a grand fireworks finale. The whole family can enjoy this winter celebration! (This is outdoors, so dress warmly and FYI, the Launch Zone will be closed at this time.)

Science Saturdays at Gaylord by the National Children's Museum: Get a sneak peek at the science behind ICE! with interactive demonstrations of dry ice with the staff. (My son LOVED LOVED doing this.) It's totally FREE and the walk-up sessions are held at 1:15pm and 3:15pm on December 5, 12 and 19 in the Lower Atrium of the Gaylord.

Gingerbread Family Experience: Construct a yummy house for $30 (includes all materials and candy) and a portion of the proceeds benefits the construction of the upcoming Museum. The fun's happening on December 6, 13 and 20 at two times on all days, 11:30am AND 1:30pm, in the Belvedere lobby bar at Gaylord.

Charlie amazed by the dry ice experience

Whew! That's a lot of info. But I hope you found it useful. My family had a great night previewing most of these events (we saw and did everything except the Gingerbread house, ice skating and of course the fireworks that will be coming up.) We loved loved ICE! But even if we had skipped it, we still would have had very Christmas-y evening doing all of the other activities offered by Gaylord and the National Children's Museum.

GIVEAWAY: Tickets to Everybody's Fine with Robert De Niro & Drew Barrymore

2009-11-22T21:59:00.004-05:00

I have 100 tickets for you guys to see an advanced screening of Everybody's Fine, starring Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell, at AMC Mazza Gallerie on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30pm. It's rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language.

The movie opens nationwide on December 4th and for you international film devotees, is a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore’s “Stanno Tutti Bene." The story follows a widower (De Niro) who takes a random road trip to reconnect with each of his grown children and discovers that they all have issues and struggles. This sounds like a middle-aged Away We Go, or a more upbeat About Schmidt. I'm hoping it will be upbeat since it's written and directed by Kirk Jones, who wrote and directed the funny Waking Ned Devine.

If you'd like 2-4 tickets, just send me an email at jessica *dot* mcfadden *at* g mail. I'll give them out via e-mailed pass 'til they're gone.

Then just get to the AMC Mazza Gallerie at about 6:30pm, since at these advance screening free events even if you have a ticket your seat is not guaranteed and sometimes they're overbooked. Early birds get the (gummy) worms!

The theater is located on the DC/Chevy Chase border at 5300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015.

Hope you all have a great night at the show!

Annual Thanksgiving Parade in Downtown Silver Spring

2009-11-20T17:24:00.000-05:00

We love this parade! We've attended every year since Silver Spring sprung and we've never been disappointed.

It's happening Saturday at 9:30am - Noon. We usually grab a seat half an hour before the start.

The route's in downtown Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue from Sligo to Silver Plaza on Ellsworth Drive to Fenton Street.

More info here!

Photo shamelessly stolen from the Silver Spring Downtown website.

National Children's Museum Family Volunteer Day Events This Weekend

2009-11-20T17:04:00.002-05:00

This Saturday you and your kids will have two opportunities to help others and help yourselves have a good time, thanks to the National Children's Museum's Family Volunteer Day activities.

FVD is an annual day of service (started by the HandsOn Network) with the goal of starting kids on the room to public service.

This Saturday November 21 (and next Saturday too November 28,) come on down to the Launch Zone in National Harbor and lend a hand crafting gifts and holiday decorations to benefit sick children of The Children's Inn at National Institutes of Health. Stay and play with all the interactive learning stations at the Launch Zone too. Times for these events are 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at 112 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745.

Or this Saturday November 21, get those helping hands dirty and bring the kids to help clear historic National Park trails at Oxon Hill Farm. This work will help keep the trails neat and safe for all to enjoy, and children can discover plants and animals in nature along the way.

Afterwards, celebrate your hard work with wagon rides (weather permitting) and light refreshments. Times for this event is 10-11:30 a.m. at 6411 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745.

This event is recommended for families with children ages 6 and up. Reservations requested. Please contact NCM at 202-675-4120 or RSVP@ncm.museum. Wear warm clothes that can get dirty and sturdy shoes, as we will be outside. Rain plan: a volunteer opportunity will be held in a sheltered environment.

Washington DC Area School Open House Calendar

2009-11-18T09:31:00.001-05:00

'Tis the season...for preschool and private school open houses!

There's so many for us all to keep track of, so I hope this feature will help you guys out:

The APISS School Open House Calendar

This calendar is dedicated to all of the area's open houses that I find through my research or receive notice of via email, and it will be located on the left-hand sidebar of A Parent in Silver Spring, directly below the daily events calendar.

It's not completely inclusive of EVERY school open house (this is a one woman operation after all,) but if you send me your school's open house or have a sign posted outside your facility and I drive past it, your event will appear here.

Most public schools offer their open houses in the later spring and I'll try and post info on those too once they start. Those elusive language immersion programs? Special ed parent support and info sessions? Financial aid information nights for privates? I'll try and post those too. I'll also post camp fairs and other events that provide resources on places to corral kids sans parents in this separate calendar as well.

And every week or so, I'll also post a round-up on the blog of the open houses that are coming up.

Happy hunting (and remember, try not to stress.)

The Great Zucchini & Rocknoceros Play Family Show at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue

2009-11-17T20:03:00.005-05:00

Interior view of the dome of the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.

This Sunday in DC The Great Zucchini and Rocknoceros are teaming up for a fantasticly funny family show at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue.

At the APISS homestead, we're stoked. Our favorite wacked-out-to-the-max kids' comedian (his show this past weekend at the St. John the Evangelist Christmas Bazaar? Phenomenal!), our ultimate family rock band and the most beautiful concert venue in the area are all together in one event. And tickets to this Sunday's show are only $8 if you buy them in advance. They're not sold out yet.

Doors open at 10am, The GZ takes the stage at 10:30 and Coach Cotton, Willebob and Boogie Woogie Bennie start the rock at 11. Hope to see you all there!

Pics from The Great Zucchini's show this past weekend at St. John the Evangelist:

Giveaway: Tickets to The Enchanted Forest

2009-11-16T00:53:00.007-05:00

This coming weekend on November 21 and 22, the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) will host The 9th Annual Enchanted Forest at the Reston Sheraton. And this event for families is truly enchanted - it's a fantasyland of decorated trees and special activities for kids.

But best of all, the proceeds from the event go to help kids in Northern Virginia that need a hand in school through education programs and community partnerships.

Fun things you can experience with your kids with a General Admission ticket to the Enchanted Forest include:

a Museum Without Walls room filled with hands-on science projects

a model train room by the National Capital Trackers, including a Polar Express train

a kids healthy kitchen room where kids can play with play dough, play kitchens, and even make real (healthy) smoothies. And Chef Spike will be doing a cooking demo on the main stage on Saturday 11am-noon, and then cooking with the kids too

children's performers like pirates, magicians, dancers from Conservatory Ballet, local music groups, face painters and more

a forest filled with holiday trees adorned with items for silent auction

vendors to assist you with your holiday shopping

Daily general admission to The Enchanted Forest event is $10 per person. There are also premium events like Breakfast with Santa, a gingerbread house workshop, cocoa and cupcakes with the Snow Princess and more. Click here for prices and times, and you can purchase advance tickets for all events here. General admission tickets are available at the door on both days of the event.

And leave a comment below for a chance to win one of two 3 packs of free general admission tickets! Winners will be announced on Wednesday evening after 8pm.

Not only is this event fun for all ages, but by attending this event, participants greatly assist the JLNV's efforts to help Northern Virginia children achieve their full potential. Special thanks to JavaMom of Caffeine and a Prayer, a fabulous blog with the world's best title, for offering these tickets on behalf of the JLNV for giveaway!

School Open House Roundup

2009-11-16T00:29:00.003-05:00

Saint Bernadette's K-8 Catholic School in Silver Spring is hosting an Open House for prospective parents and students on Sunday, November 22, from 1pm-3pm. The school is located at 80 University Blvd, East, Silver Spring, MD 20901, for more info call 301-593-5611.

Little Flower School in Bethesda, a PreK-8 Catholic school, is hosting their Open House on November 18 from 9-11am. Located at 5601 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Call 301-320-3273.

Shaare Torah Nursery School is hosting several open houses this school year. Monday, November 30th @ 9:30 am, Tuesday, December 1st @ 8:00 pm. The school offers programs for 2’s, 3’s and 4’s, a transitional 2’s program and Mommy and Me classes. All Open Houses are at Shaare Torah in the Lakelands at 1409 Main Street, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878. Children are welcome at Open Houses. Individual tours are also available. Contact Pam Gorin, the Shaare Torah Nursery School Director at 301.869.9842 ext. 113 or email to pgorin@shaaretorah.org.

Ganon Gil Preschool at the JCC of Greater Washington is hosting an Open House on Thursday December 3 from 10-11am. Located at 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 and offers programs for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Contact 301-348-3839 or preschool@jccgw.org for more information.

Sandy Spring Friends School at 16923 Norwood Road in Sandy Spring is hosting an admissions open house for Pre-Kindergarten (age 4) through Grade 12 on Saturday, December 5, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. No reservations are necessary and prospective students welcome to attend. For more information, visit the web site at or call Linda Cooper at 301-774-7455, ext. 115.

St. Luke's Christian Day School in Silver Spring is hosting an Open House January 15 at 10 a.m. for new families. The school has programs for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, with various day and time options. It's located at 9100 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Visit the link for more info.

St. John the Evangelist School in Silver Spring - a Catholic preschool and K-8 elementary located right off of Georgia Avenue 10201 Woodland Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902 - is hosting two open house events this winter. The dates are January 14th & February 11th and both occur from 8:30am-11:30am. There are openings in the 3 year old and 4 year old programs, and in all grades K-8 for next year. For more information, please visit the website.

Does your school have an upcoming Open House? Send me an email with the deets and I will list!

APISS Reviews: 50% Off Holiday Photo Card Orders at Vista Print

2009-11-15T18:50:00.002-05:00

Come on over to APISS Reviews for a link to 50% off your 2009 holiday photo card orders from Vista Print. Last year I reviewed lots of different sites' cards and deals, and determined that Vista Print had the best prices and options. So this year they're thanking me with a special discount for you! They're also offering free sticky notes, personalized note pads, return address stamps, photo calendars and more.

And thus, the holiday shopping begins. At least you'll avoid the big week before Christmas scramble and extra shipping if you order now....

The front of our holiday card this year from Vista Print. Photo by Kristin Callahan of Adelaide Photography.

Note: I have not been compensated by Vista Print for this or last years' endorsements.

Free Family Fun - Santa's Workshop in Silver Spring on Saturday with The Great Zucchini!

2009-11-11T11:35:00.006-05:00

What are you doing this Saturday November 14th from 9am-4pm? Ready to get your holiday season started with some FREE FAMILY FUN?

Because I'm heading up the kid-tastic Santa's Workshop of the St. John the Evangelist Christmas Bazaar in Silver Spring and I really, really hope you guys will come join me.

Oh, did I mention it's totally free? And The Great Zucchini is performing?

Here's all the coolness we'll have for your kiddos to enjoy:

HILARIOUS magic show by The Great Zucchini, the best kids' entertainer in the Washington area, at 11:15am sharp - don't miss it!
Crafts your kids can make for the tree or to give grandparents for gifts
Games and prizes
Face painting
Kids Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs
Tween game room

Babysitting: You can drop off your kids age 4 and up in Santa's Workshop while you shop at the marvelous St. John's Christmas Bazaar, and there's babysitting for little ones under 4 by St. John's own amazing Girl Scouts (and troop leaders.)

The St. John's Christmas Bazaar is where I get tons of my holiday shopping done for beautiful gifts that don't cost me a bundle. It's frugal-finds heaven! There are loads of vendors selling handmade handbags, hair bows, kids' gifts, jewelry, candles, infused olive oils, stitchery, creative Christmas decorations priced waaaaay less than Smith and Hawken, and more. Other favorite areas of the bazaar are the Treasure Trove - antiques goods for thrift store prices - and the used book sale is chock full of finds for your family library.

Come hungry, because there's breakfast, lunch, drinks, baked goods and treats!

The Bazaar starts on Friday night November 13 when its Adults Only Night (babysitting provided by wonderful volunteers that bring coloring pages, Veggie Tales on DVD, free play with toys) from 6-9pm. There'll be delicious Italian food and adult bevvies for purchase, as well as the first look at all the goods for sale. And then Saturday of course is all about Family Fun!

Have I convinced you? You're going to come by, right? I mean, THE GREAT ZUCCHINI, babysitting while you shop, FREE FAMILY FUN. Look for the big inflatable Santa in the airplane with the propellers that really turn. I'm pulling out all the stops, and I really hope you stop by!

St. John's Christmas Bazaar
Friday November 13 and Saturday November 14
Adult Night (Babysitting Provided) Friday 6-9pm
Santa's Workshop for Kids and Family Fun on Saturday 9am-4pm
10201 Woodland Avenue (in the School Auditorium)
Located right behind St. John the Evangelist Church
at 10103 Georgia Avenue at the intersection of August Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902 blocks from the Forest Glen Metro

Great Zucchini photos courtesy his website. Wreath photo courtesy Carolyn Will on Flickr via a Creative Commons license. All others by APISS.