Eastern Market: Monkeys, Fairies and Whirligigs... Oh My!

A co-worker who was born and raised in Southeast Washington revealed that before she became a teenager, she had never left her neighborhood. She had little reason to; most everything she desired was within a few blocks of her home. I remembered this as we traversed town to spend another great day bargain shopping and exploring the community near Eastern Market at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue SE in Capitol Hill.

We didn't need to venture far from the Eastern Market Metro stop. Just north of the station on the 300 block of 7th Street SE are two places I wanted to visit first, before we wore ourselves out at Eastern Market Farmers Market and Flea Market. Monkeys' Uncle consignment shop and Fairy Godmother children's books and toys store are conveniently located in adjacent row-houses. As we parked our stroller outside beside the front steps and prepared to carry AS inside the cozy little stores (read: not stroller or wheelchair accessible), a 3-year-old passing by with her grandmother said, "I want to go to Fairy Godmother". It was apparently a place she liked enough to know by name.

The two men who operate Monkeys' Uncle, "purveyor of recycled children's clothing" and maternity wear, are DC residents and proud uncles to nieces and nephews. Their mission is to provide affordable clothing for infants to pre-teens by applying the principles of reduce, recycle, reuse and rethink. They greeted us immediately and were overheard offering "The Father's Chair", a comfortable resting place, to an older gentleman shopping with his daughter and her child. Prices are reasonable, more than a thrift store but less than retail. The clothing is gently worn but clean, current and seasonal. It was a relief to browse items presented neatly by size, unlike shopping at large thrift stores. I quickly found dress shirts, tees, and pajamas to fit AS and was offered help when I wanted to see the toddler pants located in bins stacked above the clothing racks. In addition to clothing, there was a shelf of parenting books and some baby gear. Check the store website if you hope to sell your children's outgrown clothing to Monkey's Uncle. They constantly provide "intake" updates to prevent you from schlepping over with bags of stuff unnecessarily.

At Fairy Godmother, an independent book and toy store, we were also immediately offered assistance but chose to simply wander the aisles discovering a wonderful variety of merchandise for infants to teens. I spied Caldecott and Newberry award winning books for younger readers, foreign language titles, and bestsellers like the Twilight series for big kids. The toys ranged from bargain items at the front counter (perfectly priced for a child spending their hard-earned allowance) to moderately priced educational and eco-friendly toys, craft kits and musical instruments to more expensive collectibles. The proprietor was graciously complaisant when our toddler wanted to touch everything and also perfectly happy to ring up our modest purchase, a metal kazoo for $2.50. A community bulletin board near the door advertises upcoming events, and complimentary copies of "Kids' Next" provide book recommendations for kids ages 4 and up from indie booksellers. The shop does not have a website, but reviews and info are available on ParentsConnect.com. It is closed on Sundays.

Eastern Market, on the 200 block of 7th Street SE, is Washington's "oldest and continually operated fresh food public market" and a great outing with kids, especially on sunny weekends when local farmers peddle fresh produce, artists and collectors sell crafts and antiques, the flea market is bustling, and musicians perform outdoors. My son was especially thrilled by the artists painting and drawing as he watched, blues musicians swaying children to dance, vendors displaying hand-crafted toys (like wooden whirligigs whirring in the wind! Wow!), and even flocks of pigeons taking flight from the market rooftop. Parents will love the unique, hand-made baby items such as knitted hats, toys and wall art at the Arts and Crafts fairs on Saturdays and the affordable children's clothing at the flea market on Sundays. Food merchants sell their tasty wares, including deli sandwiches and baked goods, indoors at the South Hall Market, part of a historic building renovated after a fire in 2007. Free food samples are sometimes available, or ask for a taste. The Market is closed Mondays. Hours are posted here. The North Hall is used for community events, including weekly $10 Tango Night classes which are open to the public. See the Events Calendar for details.

If you wish to grab lunch at the Market, picnic tables are available outside and it's often easier to find a seat there than at the cafe indoors. If the tables are full, cross North Carolina Avenue SE and enjoy a little picnic in the grass at the small Turtle Park play area with concrete turtle statues perfectly sized for kids to climb on. The small statues were created by local artist John Giesecke.
Also, don't miss the birdhouses unexpectedly embellishing the park's trees!

At the end of the day, before heading back home on the Metro, consider recharging with a cup of coffee (bring-your-own) and soaking up the air-conditioning and conversation at The Family Room while your children enjoy safe toys, books and art supplies or a climbing structure provided for their amusement. Admission to The Family Room, an indoor play area located a few blocks southeast of Eastern Market on 8th Street SE, is free for children under age one and for adults accompanying a child. An all-day pass (you may come and go with your child, as often as you like) for children ages 1-6 is $10, but the price drops to $5 after 3:00 Sunday to Thursday or after 5:00 Friday and Saturday. The Family Room also hosts family dinner-and-movie nights on Fridays and a babysitting service for couples looking to get away to a near-by restaurant on Barrack's Row. More information is posted on their website.

Whenever we venture into this part of town, my husband and I iterate that it feels like we have entered a different city. In fact, Capitol Hill is one of the oldest and largest residential neighborhoods in Washington, DC. There are many reasons, several within a few blocks of the Eastern Market Metro station, why families love living there. And while they might have less reason to justify bargain shopping in other parts of town, we look forward to returning to the Hill again to discover what more there is to see and do with kids in Washington, DC.

Lions in Winter

There is something especially wonderful about being one of the few people strolling on a quiet city street early on a Sunday morning, or in an empty movie theater watching a weekday kiddie matinee, or at the zoo in the calm chill of January. It is the illusion of feeling as if the world just exists for you and your child.

At the Smithsonian National Zoological Park during less crowded visitation times just after the gates open or before close, especially on a winter's day, AS and I have observed the most remarkable animal behaviors. A drop in temperature seems to invigorate animals native to cooler climates, such as the Andean Spectacled Bears, and at dusk nocturnal animals begin to rouse from their daytime slumber. We have had the fortune of hearing the unmistakable whooping of acrobatic White-cheeked Gibbons and the howling of fox-like Maned Wolves and of seeing a deft Fishing Cat tap a paw into a pool of water to lure and catch its own meal. I watched breathlessly as an orangutan scaled a tower at the Great Ape House and traversed the O-line, the zoo's highwire Orangutan Transport System, directly above our vantage point on the Olmsted Trail, and AS beamed to behold six Asian Small-clawed Otters cavorting along the bank of a stream where they mostly pass their lives basking together in a charming heap.

Indoor exhibits, like the Reptile Discovery Center or the Small Mammal or Bird Houses, provide the perfect place to warm up. These exhibits and the animals that inhabit them tend to be smaller in size, so it is easier for small-fry to observe them more closely. Staff members and knowledgeable volunteers are happy to answer questions and encourage children to touch and interact with curious objects (such as plant seeds or fragments of bone, horn or fur) on display. You may also watch keepers feed the animals throughout the day. The daily schedule of activities and demonstrations on the zoo website lists animal feeding times for the minutest insects to the greatest mammals so you can plan your visit accordingly. Activity sheets, such as scavenger hunts and "Zoo-per Bingo", may be printed from the website ahead of time to help enrich your child's experience. In the Science Gallery adjacent to Amazonia, an exhibit highlighting species from the tropical rainforests of the Amazon River, children may emulate research scientists in the field and lab by viewing specimens through microscopes side-by-side with zoo staff conducting actual scientific research. Strollers are not permitted in some buildings due to space limitations, so pack light and bring your old umbrella stroller (not the fully-equipped SUV model you'll be anxious about leaving outside).

Outdoor exhibits are also built with the youngest zoo-goers in mind. The Great Cats enclosure features kid-size windows for better views of the lions and tigers. The Kids’ Farm provides opportunities to groom animals such as cows and donkeys in the Caring Corral. Small children may play in the Pizza Garden on a giant rubber pizza playground and learn about the origins of food. Watch in surreal delight as your tot crawls through an enormous olive, stacks larger-than-life mushroom slices and clambers up wedges of cheese like an ant at a picnic.

On Sundays from January to March, bring your family to National Zoo's Visitor Center Auditorium at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the Wild Side Stage performance series for children. These winter performances include "entertaining and educational shows by acclaimed, award-winning musicians, dancers, storytellers, and puppeteers from around the country" followed by special visits to animal houses to meet keepers and animals. Tickets are $7 for adults and children age two and older. Wee ones under age two are admitted free!

Enjoy Halloween by safely Trick-or-Treating together at Boo at the Zoo. Or celebrate the winter holiday season at the annual ZooLights event, an occasion to amble through the zoo after dark to experience dozens of colorful flashing light displays, animal exhibits and live entertainment.
Children especially love to see baby animals at the zoo. A highlight for us this past year was getting to know, Kibibi, the Western Lowland Gorilla born at the Great Ape House on January 10, 2009. The public was even invited to vote on her name. Information regarding animal arrivals, births and hatchings is updated on the website monthly. Some new arrivals to the zoo's animal family are raised at the Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia, but photographs by the zoo's professional photographers and webcams trained on the babies are a welcome representative until the animals are ready for their big debut at the zoo.

I was dismayed to read a recent newspaper article in which parents residing outside the beltway resolved never to return to Washington, DC for their children's entertainment after spending $100 at the zoo in one day. What was intended to be a cheap daytrip for the cost-conscious parents became increasing expensive as they found themselves paying for parking, treating their family of four to lunch then ice cream and coffee at a restaurant, and lured to the call of the gift shop.

It is possible to spend $20 or less for a family of four if you plan ahead. Admission to the animal exhibits is always free, and public transportation to the zoo is cheaper than parking there and more convenient. The Woodley Park-Zoo metro station is a short walk to the main entrance on Connecticut Avenue. Pack a bag lunch; there are plenty of shaded picnic tables or sunny, grassy areas to spread out a blanket in the warmer months. During winter, benches indoors are a convenient spot for enjoying a PB&J sandwich and slurping a juice box with your child.

Joining Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) is an initial investment of $60 for a Household (two or more people living at the same address) Membership but worthwhile if you plan to visit the zoo often and are eager to take advantage of free parking, 10% discounts in National Zoo stores, a complementary subscription to Smithsonian Zoogoer magazine and discounted tickets for special events. These include annual member events, previews of new exhibits, summer camps, classes and workshops, and Snore and Roar overnights. Snore and Roar overnights? Yes, from June to September you and your Mini-me can camp out under the stars listening to the roars of lions and tigers nearby! FONZ members also enjoy free or discounted admission to other zoos and aquariums nationwide.

Check out the online calendar and website to see when special events are scheduled. The zoo is open every day of the year, except December 25th. Animal exhibits are open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November to March and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April to October.

Arts in Infancy Part 1: Music

Other than the demoralizing year of sixth grade band (I was third clarinet, using an instrument I inherited from my older sister) and a brief stint learning to play the electronic keyboard during the 80's (when my romantic teenage fantasies included running away to London to start a New Wave group) I have little formal training in music. Unlike my husband who can pick out most anything on an acoustic guitar and who hears notes I never realized were in songs, I am a little tone deaf. But since our artful son (AS) was born, I sing more (albeit ballads for children) than I ever have in my life and I know what I like. It isn't the bubblegum melodies of Raffi and Barney.

In the beginning, I left it to my artful husband to search out baby-friendly tunes that aren't cringe-inducing for parents who smoothly transitioned from vinyl to CD to MP3. He discovered the web-based children's television program "Pancake Mountain" which features DC faves The Evens performing their very catchy original "Vowel Movement". You're bound to get the chorus of this hip song stuck in your head for days, and if your neighbors are likely to overhear you rocking out with your child at least you won't lose face here. The Buzzcocks, Shonen Knife, Steel Pulse, and The Flaming Lips have also appeared on PM.

Looking for something a little more mellow for nap time? Give a listen to one of the many recordings in the "Rockabye Baby!" series, including lullaby renditions by U2, The Beach Boys, No Doubt, Radiohead, even Metallica.

Of course there is plenty of music that wasn't written with children in mind that will still get baby jumpin' and give the somewhat discerning parent auditory relief. Among our family-friendly faves are oldies but goodies like "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day and "Alley-Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles and the retro-styling of The Puppini Sisters. But it was ska music that motivated AS to dance for the first time, starting with a bobbing of the head that worked its way down to his tapping toes as he heard the rock-steady beats of Madness, The English Beat and local idols The Pietasters. When The Pietasters play in town you can expect a full house at the 9:30 Club, "Washington's premiere live music venue", but their outdoor performances are just as energized and probably a more comfortable way to introduce ska music to its youngest fans. A MySpace Friend of The Pietasters once posted, "I've been listening to you since I was born."

One of the most memorable early experiences we had with AS was when he first joined in on an unplugged music session at home in our living room by shaking his rattle while his father strummed guitar and I tried my best to keep rhythm by clapping. We have since improvised various percussion instruments which AS especially likes, including cymbals out of pot lids and bongo drums out of recycled 32 ounce yogurt tubs. I also made shakers out of smaller plastic containers with something too large to choke on (like a wooden block) hidden inside that AS could not fit in his mouth when he inevitably discovered he could pry open the lid himself.

If you are looking for a good excuse to get out of the house with your little one, there are oodles of free or cheap live entertainment for families in Washington, DC. Sticky Fingers Bakery in Columbia Heights hosts a Kiddie Happy Hour on some Wednesday mornings. Toddlers can practice their new dancing moves while grownups enjoy discounts on cafe drinks. Become a Facebook Fan of Sticky Fingers to get more info about upcoming acts, dates and times.

Local singer and musician Liz DeRoche, aka "The Singing Lizard", gave a great solo performance on keyboards at Sticky Fingers recently but invited kids to accompany her on toy drums, rattles and microphones. She was very encouraging to the impressionable young musicians, "Good drumming!". Her website features the internet pre-release of her debut album "Alphabeat" (Hurray!). If you are pinching pennies and can't spring for the whole album all at once, download an individual track to play before bed time. Babies are comforted by repetitive sounds and routines. BTW, Liz will also personalize a song or album cover for your child. See her website for details and prices.

Rock-n-Romp! concert series came to our area in 2002 with great bands and inflatable guitars for your little burgeoning air guitarist. "Born in a DC Metro backyard to music-loving parents who wanted to share the live music experience with their kid, Rock-n-Romp continues to bring excellent local music to families in a kid-friendly setting." Thanks for your efforts, Debbie Lee!

There are also affordable music lessons to be had for the artful child. Sitar Arts Center in Adams Morgan has group Early Childhood Music classes available for children ages zero (yes, prenatal) to five and their caregivers. The multi-disciplinary center also offers classes in visual and digital arts, drama and dance, and creative writing for kids, teens and adults. Sitar largely relies on volunteer artists and arts organizations to provide art education to neighborhood children and adults at its state-of-the-art facility. Tuition is subsidized and based on a family's income, so no family is ever turned away due to inability to pay. AS attends classes at Sitar, so I can attest to how wonderful and affordable this place is!

Of course there are opportunities to catch free live music with your kids at local parks and museums, too. We occasionally check out the legendary drum circle at Meridian Hill Park after 3pm on Sunday afternoons in the upper park. There are also great impromptu people-watching opportunities to be had there on sunny days such as Tai Chi or yoga practitioners, dogs catching Frisbees, pick-up soccer games, fathers and sons tossing footballs, college students hula-hooping, and families picnicking on the grass.

Another artful parent recommended the free music classes for young children at First Baptist Church of Washington, DC on 16th Street, NW on Friday mornings. I haven't checked it out myself yet but would love to learn more. Please leave a comment below, if you know anything about this.

Once children are old enough to express a preference for a certain style of music I feel parents should just get out of their way -or join in- even if it is Raffi. Until then, we'll expose AS to a wide enough variety of kid and adult-friendly music that we won't feel remiss in our obligations as artful parents.