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- Hello, I'm Alexis. Welcome to Capitol Momma! I'm always out having fun with my little ones, exploring all that there is to see & do in the DC Metro area for kids. Join us on our adventures!
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Monthly Archives: February 2016
Treasure Island – Encore Stage & Studio
Encore Stage & Studio
125 S Old Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22204
www.encorestageva.org
If you have been following my blog for a while, you’ve probably noticed that we attend several Encore shows each year. They never disappoint and there is something so special about children watching other children perform on stage. My daughter seems to really connect with the characters and she stay’s engaged throughout the show. It’s very unique from most other children’s theaters in the area where the actors are all adults.
We were very excited to see Encore Stage & Studio’s World Premiere of Treasure Island on Saturday:
What starts as a mystery turns into an adventure in a brand new Encore adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. Young Jemma Hawkins escapes a dull life to search for where “X” marks the spot on a mysterious treasure map left behind by an old sea captain. Jemma meets a slew of thrill seeking sea farers as she races to find the treasure before any pirates do.The show was really entertaining and I especially enjoyed the pop culture references that had me laughing out loud. The set was impressive and included a mock ship. The young actors all did an amazing job and I especially loved their catchy sea shanties.
“The crew of pirates hoist sail. Photo by Larry McClemons”
“From left to right: Anne Dieulevent (Miranda Tonsetic), Christina Anne Skyette (Colleen Jackson), Elizabeth Killigrew (Abi Burkholder), Annie Bonney (Cecelia Haislmaier), Grace O’Malley (Isabella Russo), and Jeanne de Clisson (Holly Durham). Photo by Larry McClemons”
“From left to right: Captain Smollett (Annie Wood), Dr. Livesey (Liam Clancy) and Squire Trelawney (Brian Metcalf) board the ship to Treasure Island. Photo by Larry McClemons”
After the performance, we attended the Pirate’s Party and enjoyed food, games, and crafts. The cast of the show mingled with the party guests and posed for photos.
At the “Arggs & Crafts” station, the kids made their own pirate hooks out of cups and foil. They also decorated swords and bandannas.
At the Combat Class, Clara learned all about stage fighting and practiced sword fighting using socks with some of the Treasure Island cast.
The fun continued when a group of pirates taught Clara a sea shanty.
We both really enjoyed the show and Pirate’s Party. Clara has been pretending to be a pirate at home ever since!
Good to Know:
•The show is recommended for ages 6 and older. However, my almost 5 year old absolutely loved the show.
•Ticket prices: $15 adults, $10 children, students, seniors, and military.
•The shows last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
•Concessions can be purchased and enjoyed in the lobby before the show and during intermission.
•There is free and ample parking at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, where all Encore productions are located.
•Encore offers a birthday party package.
•Encore also offers a variety of classes and camps.
The Original Playhouse Museum
The Original Playhouse Museum
4 West Main Street
New Market, MD 21774
originalplayhouse.com
The Original Playhouse is a children’s museum that encourages children to use their imaginations and learn through play. It is designed primarily for children ages 3-10 and offers an opportunity for cognitive and social growth. It is located in a charming 2-story house in the quaint downtown area of New Market, MD. It’s about a 40 minute drive north of Washington, DC but we discovered it is well worth the trip!
The museum has six different rooms, each with a different theme to promote various areas of learning. Here is what you need to know about each room:
Wonders of Water
This is the first area that my girls were immediately drawn to once we arrived at the playhouse. They loved the large water table where they could experiment with various water toys. There are mini nets and fishing poles and an assortment of toys to use with discovering what floats and what sinks.
Also, located in this room is a fun bubble station where the child can create a giant bubble surrounding their whole body. This was a big hit with Clara!
Engineerium Room
This room is full of hands on equipment and toys designed to encourage the children to build, experiment, and solve problems. There are tools, legos, marble ramps, blocks, and magnetic toys all to help children discover how things work. My girls spent a lot of time building their own little city with wooden blocks.
Art Room
Children can use their creativity and make their own masterpiece in the art studio. It is stocked with all kinds of art supplies including feathers, beads, tissue paper, googly eyes, markers, paint, and lots more. Each child receives tokens that are used to “pay” for their crafting materials and supplies. If your kids need a little guidance on where to start, there are ideas of projects to make hanging on the wall. Or they are free to come up with their own design. My girls loved making their craft and were excited to have something to take home with them.
Reader’s Theater
The Reader’s Theater is a fun room where children can act out stories that are provided to them or make up their own. There is a wall full of costume and accessory options for both boys and girls – from princesses, to clowns, to superheroes. And lots of different props are available to help the children tell their story. In the corner of the room is a small stage where the children can perform. Clara and Mae are in the midst of the dress-up and imaginative play stage so we spent a lot of time in this room trying on costumes and acting out various characters.
Nature Nook
This room is filled with animal-centered activities. There are lots of stuffed animals and a veterinarian station where children can role play. In one corner of the room is a pet hamster that the kids enjoy observing.
Village Market and Home
Children are transported to a foreign land in the Village Market and Home. The exhibits change regularly and are designed to teach children about different areas of our world. My girls loved shopping at the market and taking the food back to the village home next door to cook and eat.
Backyard Garden
The last area to explore is the backyard garden. Children will enjoy the castle where they can continue their imaginary play. There is also a small bridge they can walk over and stop to look for the Koi fish in the pond below. There are a few other fun things to do in the backyard area: go down the slide next to the bridge, play in the sand box, explore the fairy garden, and try walking across the tight rope.
Good to Know:
• Admission: Adult $5, Toddlers 18 months – 2 years $5, Children ages 3 and up $10
• Hours: Sunday 11am-5pm, Closed Monday, Tuesday-Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm* (Wednesdays they close at 3:30), Saturday Open Only for Birthday Parties
• There is limited street parking in front of the museum. Additional parking is located behind the playhouse in the neighboring restaurant’s (Vintage) lot.
• It is a shoes-off playhouse, so bring your socks.
• Food and drinks are not allowed in the building.
• The playhouse strongly encourages a maximum ratio of 3 children per 1 adult.
• There is no reentry once you exit the playhouse, so save the backyard garden play area for last.
Massage Envy of Rockville Review

Getting a massage is one of my favorite ways to pamper myself but I definitely don’t get them very often. I usually only schedule them on special occasions like my birthday, mother’s day, or while we are on vacation. So when the folks at Massage Envy reached out to me to offer a customized massage to review on my blog, it was an immediate YES without hesitation! My days have been incredibly busy lately and I rarely slow down. But I am starting to realize that I need to take care of myself in order to be able to provide the best care to my family.
When I arrived at Massage Envy in Rockville, I was immediately greeted by the manager, Cyril. He led me into his office and went over the paperwork and questions that are relevant for the massage therapist. If you’ve never had a massage, they need a short health history before your service. They also ask general lifestyle questions and what you are hoping to gain from the experience. Cyril also explained to me the many health benefits of getting massages. I could tell that he is very passionate about helping people feel better.
My therapist Leon, was great! He made me feel very comfortable and asked me questions to determine how to customize my massage. I had gone skiing the day before, so I was pretty sore all over and was having some upper back pain. He focused on my problematic areas and I felt less tension and pain in my back immediately after. It not only made my muscles feel better but it was amazing to just relax for a whole hour. That rarely happens these days with two energetic little girls!
After my massage, Cyril reviewed my personalized massage wellness plan that indicated what the therapist did and his recommendations for future visits. He also explained to me how their membership program works. I would love to get a massage weekly if I could, but they are expensive. I’m sure more people feel the same way, so that is where Massage Envy comes in. They offer massages and facials at the accessible introductory prices of $59.99 for a one-hour massage, and $69.99 for a one-hour facial if you sign up for the Massage Envy personal wellness plan. More details and membership benefits can be found on their website.
I would definitely recommend keeping Massage Envy Rockville in mind when you need a little relaxation and rejuvenation. They have a team of experienced therapists who can customize a massage specifically for your needs. A happy momma means a happy family, right?
Location: Massage Envy Rockville, Federal Plaza, 12266-Q Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday
Website: www.massageenvy.com
Disclosure: I received a complimentary massage in exchange for my honest review. No additional compensation received.
Monster Jam at Royal Farms Arena + Giveaway!
Monster Jam featuring the AMSOIL Series Returning to Royal Farms Arena
I am giving away a family 4 pack of tickets for the opening night show on Friday, February 26th at 7:30pm. Leave a comment below to enter. Winner will be chosen by random on 2/16/16 and notified by email. Must be 18 or older to enter.
Official show blurb:
Baltimore, MD (January 27, 2015) – The widely popular Monster Jam featuring the AMSOIL Series tour is returning to Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD on February 26-28 with the tantalizing points-paying endurance showdown, featuring more of what the Monster Jam® fans have been asking to see Monster Jam featuring the AMSOIL Series!
Experience the energy and excitement with this exclusive showcase of endurance featuring the best lineup of Monster Jam trucks highlighted by more racing, more freestyle, more donuts, more wheelies and more action. Fans will once again be treated to competition vehicles such as the Monster Jam Speedsters and Monster Jam ATVs as they rip through the arenas during combative head-to-head racing action.
Headlining the tour this year will be eight more of Monster Jam’s fiercest athletes, which will represent each Monster Jam race team of Monster Jam trucks, Monster Jam Speedsters, and Monster Jam ATV’s, competing against one another to earn valuable points during each new event discipline. These athletes will be competing for a bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals® held at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on March 17-19.
Monster Jam Teams
Grave Digger®
Max-D®
ZombieSM
Monster Mutt® Dalmatian
El Toro Loco®
Scooby-DooTM
Monster Mutt® Rottweiler
New Earth AuthoritySM
Show Time
- Friday, February 26 @ 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 27 @ 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 28 @ 2:00 p.m.
Where
Royal Farms Arena
201 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Tickets are available now at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster Retail Locations or by purchasing them at the arena’s box office. All seats are reserved. Tickets start at $20. For Group Sales, call 800-745-3000.
For more information on Monster Jam, please log onto www.MonsterJam.com. To follow Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram log on to www.facebook.com/MJOnline
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. Official Monster Truck Series only at Monster Jam. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.
Disney on Ice presents Treasure Trove Review
Last night I took my family down to the Verizon Center to see Disney on Ice presents Treasure Trove. My girls could hardly contain their excitement on the way there. We have taken them to two other Disney on Ice shows in the past but it had been a year since the last show. My oldest daughter Clara, remembered the previous two shows but it was almost like a new experience for Mae since she was only 1 the last time she saw Disney on Ice.
My girls were captivated right from the beginning with the opening Toy Story set. Disney never misses a detail and the shows vary from year to year, so it’s always very exciting to see what is coming next.
The next set was Alice in Wonderland. Clara is a big fan, so she was super excited! Disney’s costumes are always so amazing, especially the cards in this set. At first glance it was hard to tell which way the skaters were really facing!
The final set before intermission was Peter Pan. We enjoyed the songs, especially The Lost Boys rendition of “We’re Following the Leader”. My girls were amazed when Tinkerbell made her entrance suspended in the air.
After intermission, the second act opened with Lion King, which was visually stunning. My girls were mesmerized with the animal costumes and of course the music that everyone loves. This set was a big hit since my girls have been watching the new Lion Guard television series on Disney Jr.
Next, there was a brief appearance by Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Mae was super excited to see the clubhouse crew. Then it was on to Snow White and the seven dwarfs, followed by Aladdin. Abu the elephant was the showstopper in this set. Jasmine and Aladdin also soared through the air on a magic carpet.
After the Aladdin set, Ariel and Sebastian made their appearance and performed “Under the Sea”. Based on the crowd reaction, this seemed to be a favorite for many people!
Rapunzel and Tiana also had small performances at the end. Then came the grand finale when all the Disney princess came out on the ice! There were some pretty fireworks to conclude the show.
The show was absolutely fabulous! It will appeal to both boys and girls since it isn’t heavily princess-y until the end. It was a late night for my girls who are usually in bed by 7pm but well worth it! Neither of them complained of being tired and were completely enthralled throughout the entire performance.
There are several more performances through Monday, February 15th. It’s going to be cold this weekend, so it would be a perfect time to catch a show and stay warm inside!
- Friday, February 12th @ 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 13th @ 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 14th @ 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Monday, February 15th @ 12:30 p.m.
Tickets start at:
To order tickets by phone: 1-800-745-3000
To order tickets online: www.ticketmaster.com
*Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.
Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending this show and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment provided me with complimentary tickets to the show. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
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POSTED IN: Disney On Ice, Disney on Ice Presents Treasure Trove, Feld Entertainment, Verizon Center
POSTED IN: Disney On Ice, Disney on Ice Presents Treasure Trove, Feld Entertainment, Verizon Center
Annie is Coming to The National Theatre + Giveaway!
Annie is playing at the National Theatre March 15-20th.
I am thrilled to announce that I am giving away a set of 2 tickets for the opening night show on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:30pm. Leave a comment below to enter. Winner will be chosen by random on 3/1/16. Must be 18 or older to enter.
Official show blurb:
WASHINGTON, DC (January 12, 2016) Leapin’ lizards! With more than 400 performances under her belt, the new U.S. National Tour of Annie will play the National Theatre for one week only, March 15 – 20, 2016. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of Annie is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic 1977 Tony Award®-winning original.
Tickets are on sale now and start at $48 plus applicable service charges. Tickets are available at the National Theatre box office, online at TheNationalDC.com, or by calling (800) 514-3849. A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of best available tickets at $25 each – cash only – will be held at the theater two hours before each performance. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling (202) 628-6161 ext. 227. For more information, call (202) 628-6161 or visit TheNationalDC.com.
After touring the production to 41 cities across the nation, Troika Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce select new lead cast members for the 2016 leg of the tour.
The new production features a 25-member company: newly cast in the title role of Annie is Heidi Gray, an 11-year-old actress from the Augusta, GA area, making her tour debut. Also new to the Orphanage are Sage Bentley as Tessie, Bridget Carly Marsh as July, Annabelle Wachtel as Molly, and Casey Watkins as Duffy. They join Molly Rose Meredith as Pepper, and Emily Moreland as Kate. Chloe Tiso joins the company as Grace Farrell.
Continuing to star in the company are Gilgamesh Taggett as Oliver Warbucks, Lynn Andrews as Miss Hannigan, Garrett Deagon as Rooster, Lucy Werner as Lily, and Jeffrey B. Duncan as FDR. Sunny and Macy, rescue terrier mixes, star as Sandy.
The featured ensemble includes Chelsey Lynn Alfredo, Jonathan Cobrda, Ruby Day, Todd Fenstermaker, Madisen Johnson, Brianne Kennedy, Tyler Lenhart, Brendan Malafronte, Theresa Rowley, Kelsey Shaw, Connor Simpson, and Daniel Forest Sullivan.
Annie has a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. All three authors received 1977 Tony Awards® for their work. Choreography is by Liza Gennaro, who incorporates selections from her father Peter Gennaro’s 1977 Tony Award®-winning choreography.
The original production of Annie opened April 21, 1977 at the Alvin Theatre and went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Cast Show Album, and seven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). The first national touring company of Annie played National Theatre for 18 weeks in 1978. The show remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. It ran for 2,377 performances after it first opened, has been performed in 28 languages, and has been running somewhere around the world for 38 years.
The beloved score for Annie includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
The celebrated design team includes scenic design by Tony Award® winner Beowulf Boritt (Act One, The Scottsboro Boys, Rock of Ages), costume design by Costume Designer’s Guild Award winner Suzy Benzinger (Blue Jasmine, Movin’ Out, Miss Saigon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, Annie, White Christmas), and sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski (Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Motown). The lovable mutt “Sandy” is once again trained by Tony Award® Honoree William Berloni (Annie, A Christmas Story, Legally Blonde). Musical supervision and additional orchestrations are by Keith Levenson (Annie, She Loves Me, Dreamgirls). Casting is by Joy Dewing CSA and Holly Buczek CSA, Joy Dewing Casting (Soul Doctor, Wonderland, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). The tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC.
January 2016 – Monthly Roundup
January is usually a pretty boring month and I start to feel the effects of cabin fever. So every year we take a trip down to Florida to visit my parents. It’s a nice break from cold, dreary DC and it feels so great to be able to play outside with my girls. This year we timed it just right and missed the blizzard! My girls were happy that the snow stuck around and they were still able to play in it when we got home.
Since we spent 10 days in Florida, our list of adventures and activities in DC is short this month. But we did make some time for a few fun outings in the area before and after our trip. At the beginning of the month we visited the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. It is one of the best hidden gems in the DC area for small children. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t been yet. And last week we visited the Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. I had been wanting to see this exhibit for quite a while and when it was announced that we were having yet another snow day on Friday, I decided it was a great time to take my girls. I was a little unsure if it was appropriate for small children (especially questioning it for my 2-year old). But I ended up being surprised at how kid-friendly it is and how much my girls enjoyed the experience.
Places we visited:
• Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum – Blog post here
• Lake Needwood – Blog post on nearby Lake Frank here
• MagicGround
• Bowlmor Bethesda
• Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery
• Sky Zone Gaithersburg
• Rockin’ Jump Gaithersburg
Events we attended:
• Snow White at Encore Stage & Studio – Blog post here
• A Year with Frog and Toad at Imagination Stage – no longer showing but “Jack and Phil, Slayers of Giants-INC” is playing Feb 3- Mar 13
Classes and camps we attended:
• Georgetown Prep Tennis Club
• Ballet Petite
• My Gym Potomac
• Funfit Tots
I hope you found some new and fun ideas for your family in this month’s roundup! I am looking forward to all the hearts this month! Kids make the holidays so much more fun and special. And lets hope the groundhog is right and we really will have an early spring!
Also, I use instagram as my everyday blog and share a lot of photos from our adventures in my gallery. I’d love to have you follow along!
Instagram: capitol.momma
And I share more information and photos from our field trips and outings on facebook.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/capitolmommablog
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POSTED IN: Ballet Petite, Bowlmor Bethesda, Encore Stage & Studio, Funfit Tots, Georgetown Prep Tennis Club, Imagination Stage, Lake Needwood, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, MagicGround, My Gym, Rockin' Jump Gaithersburg, Sky Zone, Wonder exibit at the Renwick Gallery
POSTED IN: Ballet Petite, Bowlmor Bethesda, Encore Stage & Studio, Funfit Tots, Georgetown Prep Tennis Club, Imagination Stage, Lake Needwood, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, MagicGround, My Gym, Rockin' Jump Gaithersburg, Sky Zone, Wonder exibit at the Renwick Gallery