DC/Baltimore area meet up?

[ches]

Alright my lovelies, are we going to do this? Badger's Mom, Freckle, Zeddy... anyone else? I'm back at work on Nov 7th and have to interview nannies next week, so let's get it on the schedule.

I am willing to make DH take the bus to work and commandeer the car. I'm willing to drive reasonable distances if you'll forgive tardiness due to screaming newborn-related delays. Weekday or weekend works for me. I have *NO* qualms taking J out of school for a day. I'm up for a Fall picnic or some sort of museum-type place, pretty much anything except Yummy Mummy coffee shop type thing because My Older Child Won't Sit Still.

[BadgersMommy]

Driving very far would probably be a nightmare for me (Badger tolerates about 20 minutes in the car before things.get.psycho), but I'd be happy to take the MARC or Metro wherever. I'm also happy to host in DC -- I could get us a tour into the Capitol Dome, if that interests anybody.

[ches]

That sounds cool and I think J would enjoy taking MARC or driving and taking METRO into DC. But are you sure you want a rambunctious 4yo loose in the Capitol Dome? (He's very cute putting his hand on his heart when he hears the SSB, especially because he also raises his other fist like the anti-apartheid activists used to when singing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. )

[Freckle]

Hello! Sorry I'm late to this, I don't look in this bit very often. I'm up for a meeting. Mondays & Tuesdays are good for us, or weekends, or I can do Thursday/Friday by myself. I don't mind driving either, or widget would absolutely love the train. Like Ches said, no coffee shops, but anything else is good, esp places to run, climb etc.

[ches]

Absolutely yes to somewhere to run/climb, especially if I bring the large boy. We managed the water taxi/Port Discovery museum/circulator bus to DH's office yesterday, but only because T obliged by staying asleep in the Moby the whole time! Someone pick a location and a day!

[BadgersMommy]

If we do a weekday, the Mall and the museums are a good bet if you all want to come down here (lazy as I am, I certainly wouldn't say no!). I bet the big boys would love the Natural History museum and Badger had a good time there yesterday. On Tuesdays the butterfly exhibit is free but I don't know how into that they'd be. There's live bugs and lots of fossils and random skeletons (and rocks/gems and other stuff that we didn't get to).

Also, if anyone decides to drive in this direction and would like some free kit to haul away, I have a Pack-N-Play, a booster seat, a really nice built-in potty seat, a crock-pot and random bits and bobs (toys and clothes) that we don't want to take back when we move.

ETA: Any weekday is great for me. Badger generally naps between 11:30-1:00ish, but I can probably get her to sleep in the stroller if need be.

[ches]

I've been meaning to go to the museums on the Mall and J would LOVE the fossils in the Natural History museum. Afternoon works for me -- I can drive to Silver Spring and Metro in. Freckle is a bit further north, though, so it becomes a much bigger trek for her, and she's up the duff so should have the casting vote, I think!

[Freckle]

Ok, I'll give it a go. I might need a coffee to keep me going Afternoons are ok for me too, as long as we're there long enough to make it worthwhile IYSWIM. Is it easy to Metro in from Silver Spring Ches?

[ches]

Well, I haven't actually done it myself, but it's a park-and-ride spot. Probably a better one TBH, it's just Silver Spring is where Nando's is so I've been there! Greenbelt may be better.

Greenbelt
All day spaces: 3,399 (Fees collected upon exit, 10:30 a.m. to Metrorail system closing)
Cost/day: $4.25
Payment: SmarTrip® and credit cards

Whatever we do, it has to be next week (Tues - Friday) as our nanny starts on the 2nd (Tuesday after).

[Freckle]

Next Tuesday would be good for me.

[zeddy]

Hello all, thanks for the heads up. I hadn't seen this.
So what date and time is this - next week? Tuesday? in the afternoon? I need to research parking, as the last time I went to my usual parking place during the week it was $22 instead of the usual 10. We've just been to the Natural History last week as Granny was visiting - but I'm pretty sure the kids would be fine with an extra visit Little guy finishes nursery at 12 but I can pick him up at 11:30. It takes about 90 minutes to get to Washington from my house but this is slightly further away... I'll take lunch with us. But, yeah, we should be able to make it

[ches]

So to be clear, are we talking Tuesday 25th October?

Zeddy do you drive into DC or do you park at a Metro station and ride in?

[Freckle]

Ah, I thought you meant the following week. The 25th is fine too though.

[ches]

Actually Tuesday Nov 1st would be fine. For some reason I thought that was the nanny's first day but the 2nd is a Wednesday. Either works for me.

[zeddy]

I usually drive right in and park under the Reagan Building on 14th St. On weekends and holiday's it's a fairly reasonable $10
The 1st would be better for me, as my husband has just come back from being away for 3 and a half weeks... and we're both in attempting to relax mode. I'm exhausted... next week I would have more energy