Keep It Local: Strathmore Backyard Theater for Children + GIVEAWAY!!!

Honestly, I feel as though we drafted a bum Summer Bucket List this year. Because some of the coolest new things we've done aren't even on there (and you know that deprives mom of the satisfaction of crossing things off that list!), including Strathmore's Backyard Theater for Children. Each summer, Strathmore puts on a set of fabulous theater, music and dancing for kids right in its own backyard, under a comfortable tent, complete with free snowcones! I mean, you know we would have gone just for the snowcones, but we loved the Mister G: ABC Fiesta show Strathmore kindly gave us tickets to see.

Now we both like to play it cool. I told mom "I'm really not into doing hand motions, clapping, participating .... you know," but by the end of the show, we were both flapping our pretend insect wings and buzzing along to the music (we were still too cool to get up on stage, though. thank goodness they gave away sunglasses to perpetuate the cool). Mister (and Mrs.) G did a great job of getting everyone participating in their bilingual tunes and we insisted mom buy some CDs at the end. And a kind person fudged the "one snowcone per person" rule for us and we finagled our way into each getting a cherry and a raspberry ice.

But you have no excuse not to go. First, because we're telling you. And, second, because we're giving away a family four-pack of tickets to see one of the remaining three shows of the season! Check out the schedule right here and then follow Rafflecopter link at the end of the post and enter to win. You can earn points to win by two ways:

(1) liking the Not-So-SAHM Facebook page (earns you 2 points); and/or
(2) commenting on this post (earns you 1 point)

BUT all entries must be made through the Rafflecopter to count (otherwise it makes randomly picking a winner difficult)!

You have until 12 pm on Monday, July 14th to get your entries in. Don't miss out!

THE CONTEST IS OVER -- CONGRATS LIZ R. FOR THE WIN! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There's A Drumming Noise Inside My Head: Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park Drum Circle

We are semi-regulars at the Sunday afternoon drum circle at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, which usually runs between 3 and 9 p.m.  When it's in full swing, as it frequently is in the summer months, it's quite a sight -- African dancers, yogis, tight-rope walkers, and all kinds of random, unusual things.  But we've always found everyone to be friendly and inclusive and we JAM OUT.  Sometimes we bring a picnic and set up on the lawn with friends, sometimes we bring Vegas, sometimes we bring instruments, and sometimes we just do a quick walkthrough.  It's pretty much always a good time and a different side of D.C. than you normally see.  

Friday I'm in Love: Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series

So we've been to the Yards Park for its hit splashground before, but a few weeks ago we went for our first time to the Park's FREE Friday Night Concert Series (which is currently scheduled to run until August 19th, although mom kind of swears that she heard the announcer say it was going to be extended to September). AWESOME.  It was a beautiful night along the river, the music was rockin, Kane and I were boogeyin down, mom and dad were lovin the beer garden, and we got din and dessert from some foodtrucks/stands that posted up at the Concert, including Fry Captain (um, duck fat fries and sriracha mayo? yes and yes) and Orange Cow (basic, but delish chocolate ice cream).  The Park was full of kids and families and its nice to see SE lookin up.

Also keep in mind that once a month, June through October, Truckeroo is held just next door (at Half and M Street, next to the Navy Yard metro), which showcases foodtrucks from the D.C. area and also has live music -- the next one is scheduled for August 12th.  So if you don't like the trucks that sidle up to the Park itself, you can always stop by Truckeroo for some din.  And the Nats stadium is also a hop, skip, and a jump away, so if you have tix to one of the Friday night games left, you can always hit up the Yards first (concerts are scheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m.)

We are basically all booked up every Friday night to August 19th, so we are REALLY hoping mom didn't just have one too many Stellas and that they are actually going to extend the concert series.

Park It: Walter Pierce Park

It has been so hot and sticky in DC that we decided to head to the Shore earlier than planned for the holiday weekend.  We are hittin' the road this morning sans daddy and we'll see how far we make it.  It's very possible we'll be placing a call from Maryland House after mom takes off and Kane and I spend all our dough at Bob's Big Boy - so keep your phones on.  Because mom still had to finish up the laundry from our last week away before we could pack for the Shore, we stayed pretty local yesterday.  We hit up one of our of favorite playgrounds -- Walter Pierce Park.  We hadn't been in a while -- it's all wood chips which didn't work out so well when I was still getting my walking legs.  But its one of Kane's favorites because it has a play fire truck.  While Kane and some local kids chased fires, fought off dragons, and fixed sirens, I showed off my slide skillz.  I can now climb up the stairs, walk to the slide, SIT DOWN on my bottom (a key step that I have been developing) and go right on down.  I do prefer to climb up the slide, but apparently that's not kosher playground behavior.  I'm still learning.  Walter Pierce is also one of mommy's faves because it's pretty close to a Starbucks (which is now also one of my favorites since I learned to use a straw and mommy let me have vanilla milk).  Here's to a smooth(ish) ride and cooler temps!

Some of our other favorites in the area of WP, include: Tryst (which we've blogged about as we are getting to be regulars on Sat/Sun mornings), The Diner (which is always open -- really it's open 24/7 -- and always loud), and there are a few nights left in Adam's Morgan free summer concert series that we are hoping to make.

(We know the Hipstamatic prints aren't always the best.  Mom was successful in getting a new battery charger for her camera, but has now broken and lost the battery door.  We're workin' on it!)