Tween Travel to Washington, DC - Top Picks & 3 Perfect Days

Recently a colleague asked about our recommendations for how to best see DC with tweens. So we put some thought to it and created three perfect days in Washington, D.C.  Did we capture your favorite sites? What else would you recommend?

Washington is a great trip to make with kids. Here's a list of places your tweens will love along with where to eat (I don't know about you, but we try to avoid chains and like to have a sense for where the locals eat):

A Perfect Day With Tweens on Capitol Hill:

• Start with breakfast at historic Eastern Market (Penn and 7th St, SE). If you go on a weekend, line up for the famous Market Lunch blueberry pancakes. If it's a weekday, our favorite spot for breakfast on the Hill is the tiny but delicious Le Bon Cafe. Truly French, their food is amazing without the steep price tag - try their pumpkin bread (you'll thank me later) and sip cafe au lait as they do in Paris from charming bowls. (Did you know?: DC was designed by a Frenchman - Pierre L'Enfant)
• Tours of the Capitol begin at the Visitor Center. If you contact your Representative or Senator's office in advance (allow several weeks), they can arrange for you to get passes for the Floor to watch the action in person. The movie "Eagle Eye" took place on the Floor, so that may be fun to watch before you go so that your tweens can recognize where they're going. The Capitol Visitor Center itself is also quite cool to see.
• At the base of the Capitol is the U.S. Botanic Garden - you can't miss the enormous glass structure. It's filled with beautiful plants from around the world and is a great oasis in the heart of the city.
• After the Capitol tour and Botanic Garden, head to lunch at Top Chef's Spike Mendelsohn's burger joint for lunch: Good Stuff Eatery (4th St and Pennsylvania Ave, SE). The Toasted Marshmallow Shake is TDF. Or, if they prefer pizza, Spike's pizza and sub shop, We The Pizza is next door - definitely sample their homemade soda mixers.
• Across the street is the Library of Congress where the second "National Treasure" movie was filmed. There are a ton of historic documents on view (including Presidential papers) and the architecture is stunning - there's a free historic walking tour offered daily. Tweens can flex their knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System and see how the LOC has gone digital.
• A few steps beyond LOC is the Supreme Court, a must-go place for a budding activist or argumentative tween (another famous movie, "The Pelican Brief", has scenes set here).
• If you tweens like Shakespeare or studied his works in school, you might want to check out the Folger Shakespeare Library. They have a vibrant theatre with shows from amazing traveling troupes throughout the year (we saw "Comedy of Errors" there last spring), a unique gallery of objects, and a little gift shop. No food on-site.
• Union Station is a great area to end up at for dinner. Avoid the food court and instead opt for America, a restaurant on the main level. Or, circle back to Pennsylvania Ave SE to the other Spike Mendelsohn spot that you didn't try at lunch time.
• Definitely end the day by driving around the Capitol and other monuments at night - they look amazing when lit. This way the tweens can see the Capitol which they just toured and get a preview of the Mall for your next day's journey.

A Perfect Day With Tweens on the National Mall:

• Have breakfast at Paul, an organic bakery from France that opened its first U.S. outpost by the Archives. 'Not the place for a diet, so splurge on the pastries and coffee. Should you feel so inclined, this is also the best place to pick up sandwiches for a lunchtime picnic. The courtyard outside has a map in stone of the world with pretty fountains at the U.S. Navy Memorial. The Archives houses the Constitution and is a must-see (it was also in the first "National Treasure" movie).
• Buy tickets online in advance for the chance to ride the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. Plan the rest of your day around this time. Same day tickets to this are also available, but folks start queuing up at 7am (the window is at the back of the Visitor Center at the base of the Monument; this Visitor Center has the one of the best selections/gift shops on the Mall).
• The Newseum is next door and one of the few museums in D.C. that isn't free. But through Labor Day, up to 10 kids are free with one paying adult. Kids can make their own news or sports broadcast, see Tim Russert's set (for the political tween), and see daily newspapers from around the world. Their top floor balcony has some of the best views of the DC. Before you leave, grab a cool drink from the basement cafeteria.
• The question is not which Smithsonian to see, but what you have time for. Highlights include: the modern pieces and Calder sculptures in the National Gallery of Art East Wing, the underground walkway between the National Gallery East Wing and West Wing, the outdoor sculpture garden of the Hirshhorn, pretty much all of Air And Space (there's a McDonalds inside and the teens might want to sample astronaut ice cream there), Dorothy's Ruby Slippers at the American History Museum, the ginormous petrified squid and mastadon at Natural History (while there, the Butterfly Exhibit is worth the $2 admission price), and the beautiful Buddhist and Asian pieces in the Sackler and Freer Gallery. In the basement of the American History Museum are 3-D Ride Simulators where, for $7 each, tweens can go under the sea, into outer space, or on a racetrack - very high coolness factor and the best kept secret in town. If you didn't pack a lunch, have lunch in the street level cafe of the American History Museum - avoid the basement food court. Check out our tween's review of the American History Museum's American Girl Doll Addy exhibit. Oh - and the American Indian Museum has truly wonderful family programs. You canNOT go wrong - the Smithsonian has just amazing programs for families.
• Walk along the Mall to take in the scene - you'll see government officials jogging during their lunch breaks, and scenes from the "Transformers 3" movie. Or take a pedi-cab ride to view the entire Mall (tip well on hot days!). You'll see a lot of hotdog vendors, but these are not as good as the NYC ones - but you'll definitely want to grab ice cream or popsicles from the ice cream trucks stationed around the Mall to cool off.
• The Holocaust Museum is just off the Mall, and this is very worthwhile but intense - you have to know your kids.
• You won't be able to do the entire Mall in one day, so I suggest doing the museums above (the eastern part of the Mall) on one day, and the outside monuments another day.
• For dinner, there's pricey but elegant The Source by Wolfgang Puck next to the Newseum, or a ton of fun restaurants in the Penn Quarter/Gallery Place neighborhood. Our tweens like Ella's for pizza, Ping Pong for dim sum, Carmines for insane portions of Old-fashioned Italian, or Jaleo for tapas. You'll have a ton of choices here.

A Perfect Day With Tweens Outdoors In D.C.:

• The entire White House staff seems to eat at Breadline on Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th - best bread in the city, Illy coffee, and great people watching, Washington-style. Everything is good here. Food options this end of the Mall are more limited, so we recommend buying sandwiches or salads from Breadline for lunch now.
• Fuel up, because you and your teens will need energy for the walk down 17th, by the Old Executive Office Building, the White House (these tours are only available by booking in advance; if you go, try to schedule the Rose Garden or Edible Garden tour as well), the Daughters of the American Revolution Hall, and the Organization of American States, and through the Mall. Walk into the World War Two Memorial - it is beautiful and tells the story in a very compelling way. 
• Continue to walk across the Mall to the Tidal Basin and rent a Paddle Boat. Paddle your way around and take in the Jefferson Memorial - it's the best way to see it. Pack sun block and water - it gets hotter on the water - see our review for more tips.
• You can have lunch anywhere on the Mall, but if your legs can still stand it, walk over to Lincoln Memorial and have lunch on the steps. Views of the city are amazing, and it's a great spot to walk around and reflect. The Visitor Center between the Lincoln Memorial and Korean War Memorial is also pretty good and has drinks and frozen treats. If your teen collects patches or pins, each Visitor Center on the Mall offers patches and pins for the Monuments nearby.
• After you rest and re-fuel, walk along the Potomac River and head to the Kennedy Center. It's a nice walk, and the Kennedy Center is a beautiful building. There are free shows at the Millennium Stage everyday (check their website for times and themes), a great bronze bust of JFK, and beautiful river views from the back terrace. Should you feel so inclined, the Cafe on the rooftop isn't too fancy and offers cafeteria-style tea, treats, and snacks - great views from there too - very civilized.
• Continue to walk along the river and enter Thompson Boat House to cross over into Georgetown. You'll be on the Georgetown Waterfront which is a people-watching scene on the weekends and at night. On weekends, folks dock their boats and hold boat parties, and for land-lubbers, the restaurants along it grill and open their patios. Walk along the Waterfront Park all the way down to the end under the overpass to Jack's Boathouse - you can rent canoes or kayaks and take in the Potomac from an unparalleled vantage. Jack's is charming and helpful - a neighbor even had his wedding reception there.
• After this day, you've earned your sugar, so walk up Wisconsin Ave to M Street. This is the heart of Georgetown's shops and dining. Serendipity (yes, the same one from NYC) is here on the corner, and their sundaes and frozen hot chocolate is amazing - check out our review.
• Window shopping and people watching are part of the fun around here. Then walk west down M Street to Georgetown Cupcake at 33rd Street (be warned: there's usually a huge line; you can avoid it if you call-in your order in advance, but I think the minimum is one dozen - which you'll have no trouble eating, believe me).
• Continue along M street until you see a building called "The Car Barn". Just past this are the steep steps from the movie "The Excorist" (personally, I'm not a fan, but every teen I know asks me about these steps). You can walk up these steps, and you'll end up just a few blocks from Georgetown University. A stroll around this picturesque campus is great to get them excited for college.
• For dinner in Georgetown, our faves are Serendipity (usually fine to walk in on a weeknight or you can make reservations for seating before 530pm), Pizzeria Paradiso, J.Pauls, Paolos or  Martin's Tavern (see the booth where JFK proposed to Jackie there).

Other sites your tweens will love include the Gargoyle Tour (see website for days and times) at the National Cathedral, The Spy Museum (not free but worth it), Olde Towne Alexandria, the pandas and baby lions at the National Zoo, and, for true Transformer movie buffs, the Udvar-Hazy Air And Space Museum (you'll need to rent a car to get there though).

Enjoy your trip to our nation's capital, and post your tips here!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also get up-to-the-minute updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. Bookmark this on Delicious Pin It

A Celebration of the Harry Potter Films at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Happy Birthday to Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling! If you're Potter-heads like our tweens, you'll be interested to learn that tickets to a Celebration of Harry Potter Films at the Universal Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter go on sale at noon EST today. This event includes a Private Gala, screening with the cast members, and a Q-and-A with the filmmakers. It's pricey ($699/adult for the 3-day event), but it's an unprecedented event. Tickets are limited and available online only. The package includes four days at a Universal Orlando resort, three-day admission to the Universal theme parks, the set of all eight films, and admission to the cast member Q-and-A and Gala. This Celebration of Harry Potter Films takes place November 11-13, 2011 - start saving that allowance now!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also get up-to-the-minute updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. Bookmark this on Delicious Pin It

The Perfect Summertime Treat For Tweens To Make

Today is officially the first day of summer, and we stumbled upon a new twist on an old-fashioned summertime treat that we thought would be perfect for tweens to make.

Ice with flavorings exist in multiple forms: in Hawaii they're called shaved ice, at state fairs they're known as sno-cones, on the East Coast there are Italian ices, and in New Orleans, they're called Sno-Balls.  A new New York City spot just opened with a fabulous name: Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls, and they make this New Orleans-style icy treat. Sno-Balls are not in the shape of a ball at all - they come as lighter-than-air containers of shaved ice that are drenched in neon-bright flavored syrups. We love how they are served in Chinese takeout boxes with a straw and spoon and come in flavors that range from Root Beer to Pink Bubblegum to Peaches N' Cream.

They're super easy to make at home but do require one piece of special equipment: an ice shaver (not just an ice crusher - you won't get the air ice texture you need). From there, you can add any flavorings you like - we're partial to the all natural line of syrups from Monin (our tweens' favorite is the blue curacao - a non-alcoholic orange/vanilla flavor).  You can mix the syrups with half-and-half to make any flavor a cream-style flavor.

Happy Summer!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also get up-to-the-minute updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. Bookmark this on Delicious

Part One of the First Tweens' Summer: Malia and Sasha Obama Visit Universal Studios, iCarly Set

The First Tweens are officially on summer vacation, and they've kicked it off by accompanying mom, First Lady Michelle Obama, on a trip to California.

Malia and Sasha Obama were in Los Angeles on Monday. They took a VIP tour of Universal Studios Hollywood and rode on several popular rides including  "King Kong 360 3-D", Jurassic Park, Shrek 4D,  the Simpsons ,and Revenge of the Mummy. Sasha Obama, whose tenth birthday was June 10th, reportedly wanted to ride the Mummy ride twice - and did.

Also on Monday the First Lady visited the set of iCarly to film a segment for the show about the hardships military families face. On the show, Carly is upset that her dad (an Air Force colonel who has been deployed) isn't home for a birthday, so her friends break the rules to set up a web chat with him. "We are big fans of iCarly," Mrs. Obama said. "Well, let’s say I’m the coolest mom on the face of the planet."

The First Lady plays herself in the episode and said this about her role: "The story line is very sweet. iCarly..they have a webcast, and Carly is a military kid, and that's always been a part of the script. That's been a part of their situation. Her father has been deployed, and it's just a way for us to recognize her challenges as well as how her friends are stepping up to support her. So I'm pretty excited about it." Mrs. Obama's appearance is to promote Joining Forces, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and support for military families.

After the taping, iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove tweeted: "Worked with Michelle Obama today. She's one awesome funny lady. We were so nervous and she just made everybody feel so comfortable #honored."

Later that night there was a fundraiser held at the home of the interior designer who decorated the White House for the Obama family (including the First Tweens' rooms), Michael S. Smith. After the fundraiser the Obama women had a late night pizza dinner at Pizzeria Mozza (the same spot they visited the last time they were in L.A.).

Tuesday (today), the First Tweens traveled with their mom to Berkeley, California (MsTwixt is an alumna of U.C. Berkeley - go Bears!). The First Lady spoke at a fundraiser featuring breakfast prepared by Edible Schoolyard founder Chef Alice Waters at the historic Claremont Hotel in the Berkeley Hills. No word on what Malia and Sasha Obama did in Berkeley, but we hope that they toured the beautiful U.C. campus and visited historic Tilden Park (the Tilden Merry-Go-Round is our tweens' favorite).  UPDATE: Malia and Sasha Obama also visited the Alcatraz Island prison complex on Thursday - they went via a private hovercraft and got to take turns driving the boat.

Next week the First Tweens will visit Africa as part of Mrs. Obama's official visits to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and Gaberone, Botswana. That trip focuses on youth leadership, education, health and wellness.

To read about how the First Tweens spent last summer, click here.

Photo credits: Getty Images, AceShowBiz

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also get up-to-the-minute updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. Bookmark this on Delicious

Serendipity Comes to Washington

Manhattan institution Serendipity opened in Washington today, and our tweens were excited to attend the opening. We've been to the New York location several times during the holidays, but I have to admit that the crowds - and the lines - were a bit much.

The Georgetown Serendipity, however, blissfully has no lines and very manageable (read: light) crowds. The charm and kitsch of the New York location is still evident but with some Washingtonian touches: in addition to a giant Exxon Pegasus sign there is a larger than life statue of Abraham Lincoln sipping a signature Frozzen Hot Chocolate.

The new location is still working out a few service kinks (despite reservations there was a wait for our table and a Humble Pie Sundae was missing a few of the ingredients listed on the menu), but the owner, Rodrigo Garcia, was very gracious and apologetic for any troubles. Our tweens loved their Frozzen Hot Chocolates and were excited to have one of their favorite frozen treats closer to home.

The Washington Serendipity seems more like an old fashioned neighborhood ice cream parlor than a tourist destination, and we're hoping it stays that way. Serendipity is in the Georgetown neighborhood of the District in the former Nathan's location at the corner of M and 30th Streets NW. Unlike the NYC outpost, this location accepts reservations via Open Table, and a private party room will be opening soon upstairs.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

The Best Easter Basket Gifts for Tweens: Gummi Bear Ear Phones

More treats to make your tween's Easter basket the best ever: these gummi bear ear phones look good enough to eat! They look like real gummi bears - and smell like real gummi bears - but they're candy for her ears.

These would be perfect for a tween's Easter basket (see our list from last year for more ideas) or tucked inside a golden egg.

From Sakar Industries, $9.99

More ideas for your gummi bear fan: giant gummi bears, a gummi bear night light, or a gummi bear chandelier.

Note: While we do prefer the over-the-ear style of headphone especially for everyday use by tweens, these gummi bear ones are perfect for tweens on-the-go because they're so lightweight and compact.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Harry Potter Exhibition Last Stop: New York City

A very special exhibit has been making stops at museums across the country since 2009: the Harry Potter Exhibition. It features pieces used to make the films and is the single largest collection of Harry Potter "artifacts". This tour is making its last stop in the U.S. in New York City - it opens today for a sneak peek weekend and has its Grand Opening at Discovery Times Square on April 5th.

We visited the collection when it was at the Museum of Science in Boston last winter, and our tween's review of it is below:

"'Harry Potter, the Exhibition' was one of the most exciting exhibitions I have ever been to. My mom, my sister and I went to the Museum of Science in Boston to see 'The Harry Potter Exhibition'.  I thought it would be a room with a bunch of props in it - boy was I wrong. We paid for the audio tour so we got these things that looked like walkie talkie, and the person who was handing them out told me I could listen to the introduction while I waited. After listening to the introduction, I knew that what I had first thought about the exhibition was completely wrong. First, the tour guide led us to a room with the Sorting Hat in it, and my sister and I got sorted (I am in Gryffindor!). Then we were led into the Exhibition…….If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be WOW! They had everything from the movies that I had wanted to see. There was a section for each character, in the section they had their clothes, their wands, their most important props, and, in other words, they had everything!!! When they were done with the characters they had the most important rooms and everything in them, it was AWESOME!!! At the end, they had a gift shop which had so many things I had a hard time choosing what I wanted. It was so cool!!! I was about to write FIVE STARS FROM ME but that is not enough so SIX STARS FROM ME!!!"

As you can tell, our tweens LOVED this collection, and as a mom who is a bit of a Potter-head, I was also quite impressed by the staff working the exhibition. They are in character as Hogwarts students and were very into their roles. Little bits like that, how they "sorted" museum attendees, how they treated us in the gift shop - they all added up to make truly wonderful experience. I understand that the exhibition in New York contains new items from the last film, so we'll plan a road trip to see it again. We definitely got our money's worth out of the tickets - we stayed for five hours in the galleries in Boston and took in every detail (My favorites? The shop window exhibit from Honeydukes and the Great Hall set from the Yule Ball.).

The exhibit will run until September 5th, 2011 at the Discovery museum (located at 226 West 44th Street (between Broadway & 8th Ave)). Tickets are $19.50 for tweens, $25.00 for adults.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

The National Cherry Blossom Festival With Tweens

One of our tweens' favorite annual events in Washington is the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This year it runs from March 26 to April 10, and it will be especially poignant given the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan (the Festival highlights our historic friendship with the Japanese people). There will be a Stand With Japan Walk planned for 630pm on March 24, and all donations will benefit the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

Here are our tweens' picks for the best activities to do during this event:

• View the cherry blossoms from a unique vantage point: by paddle boat in the Tidal Basin. During this busy season, you can reserve a paddle boat in advance online, and some of the best photos are those taken from the water. Tip: bring sunscreen, sunglasses and water - it can get really hot out on the water on a sunny day.
• Visit the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery for a unique day of art on March 27th. The gallery will host a special ImaginAsia workshop geared for tweens (ages 8-14) that explores how spring flowers are used in Japanese design. Tweens will complete a project painting paper parasols based upon their study of the galleries. (Our tweens took part in two ImaginAsia camp programs last summer and are clamoring to return - they love the staff and galleries.)

For younger tweens, the National Park Service will offer a special "Blooming Junior Ranger" program, and if your tweens collect Silly Bandz, this year you can purchase special cherry blossom festival-themed Silly Bandz from the gift shop at the base of the Washington Monument.

If you can't make it to Washington for the festivities, your crafty tween will enjoy this project at home: cherry blossom treat cards. This idea is from Family Fun magazine and while they recommend it for Valentine's Day, we thought it would be perfect for use for a spring holiday too. Here are the instructions:

1. Gather your materials: scissors, solid and printed cardstock/scrapbook paper, and some lollipops
2. Cut 2 petal shapes from the solid cardstock or scrapbook paper (to see what real cherry blossoms look like, check out the National Park Services live "blossom cam", or the petal shapes in the Flower Shapes kit from the Paper-Source would work too (and be faster). These form the outer petals of your blossom.
3. Cut out a smaller petal shape from the printed cardstock/scrapbook paper. This forms the inner petal.
4. Cut out two leaves that are long enough to be seen when beneath the outer petal shapes. You'll write messages on these later.
5. Stack the paper in this order: 2 leaves, 2 outer petals, 1 inner petal.
6. Using the lollipop stick, pierce through the center of the stack starting at the center of the inner petal.
7. Fan out the petals and leaves and write a message to the card's recipient on one or both of the leaves.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama in Brazil

Malia and Sasha Obama have accompanied their parents on their trip to Latin America. First stop: Brazil.

The First Tweens met with a Brazilian kids' soccer team, addressed a gathering of Youth Ambassadors, watched a "capoeira" performance (a Brazilian martial arts/dance form that is very athletic and acrobatic), and met with the Brazilian President and First Lady at the Palacio do Alvorada. So far they've been to Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, and the rest of the tour includes Chile and El Salvador. The girls won't miss any school because they are on Spring Break until the 28th.

Photo credits: The Huffington Post/AP

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

First Tweens Ski Vail This President's Day Weekend

First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama are skiing in Vail, Colorado, over the Presidents' Day weekend. They are with their mother, First Lady Michelle Obama, and family friends. This is a "private family vacation" according to the First Lady's spokeswoman. They are reportedly staying at the Sebastian hotel in Vail.

President Obama did not join his family for this outing (he is not a skier) but instead filled in to coach Sasha Obama's basketball team when their regular coach had a conflict. The younger Ms. Obama usually plays at a local community center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. This is not the first time the Obama women have vacationed without the President: Mrs. Obama took the girls to Los Angeles this fall, and in the summer, the First Lady and Sasha visited Spain on their own.

The First Tweens have only recently tried skiing - they took their first ski trip last Presidents' weekend to a local resort about a hour from Washington at Ski Liberty in Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania. According to Liberty Mountain's Marketing Director, the First Lady says about skiing: “We discovered skiing. My girls had never been skiing. With a couple hours, you’re skiing.”

Do your tweens ski? Was it easy for them to learn?

Photo credit: AP from just after the Ski Liberty trip in 2010

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

A Floating Dance Club for Tweens

Whoa! We just came across this video showcasing the new dance club for tweens only aboard Disney's Cruise Ships. It's called "Edge" and features a dance floor, Wii hangout area, and an 18-foot long green screen on which tweens can superimpose themselves onto postcards and video karaoke. Have you seen this? We've not been on this cruise, but a fun lounge area just for tweens sounds very, very cool.



Edge seems like Disney's answer to the new Club Rush at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Like Edge, Club Rush offers a tweens only hangout space with gaming, dance floors, a live DJ, and its own concert series.

Both tween clubs feature technology heavily, including computers to post Facebook updates and resort-only chat networks. To be honest, I'm not sure I'm crazy about the idea of our tweens being plugged in while on vacation, but the dance and music parts of the clubs do sound age-appropriate and like tween heaven. And if hanging out for a bit at such clubs on vacation makes it easier for our tweens to make friends with other kids their age, well, that's even better.

Both Edge and Club Rush are brand new - we hope we can check them out before our tweens get too old for them! Have you visited? What did you think? Was it cool, or are they trying too hard?

Bonus question: Does your community/city/town have a dance-club-venue for tweens (think: an under-21 club like in "StarStruck")? If so, what does your tween think about them? It got us thinking: tweens love to dance, but aside from Wii/Xbox and the occasional school event, there really doesn't seem to be anywhere for them have dance parties. We love that they have their pajama-themed karaoke/dance party thing at sleepovers every now and then, but we wondered if there wasn't something else out there.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Very Cool New Play for Tweens by Lemony Snicket

Yours truly went to Cal undergrad, and the good ol' Berkeley Rep is staging the world premiere musical production of Lemony Snicket's "The Composer is Dead". Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Mr. Snicket, lives in or around Berkeley will be on hand to sign copies of his book at the January 15th show.  Tweens will especially love Snicket's characteristic satire and deadpan delivery:

"There's dreadful news from the symphony hall—the composer is dead!

If you have ever heard an orchestra play, then you know that musicians are most certainly guilty of something. Where exactly were the violins on the night in question? Did anyone see the harp? Is the trumpet protesting a bit too boisterously?
In this perplexing murder mystery, everyone seems to have a motive, everyone has an alibi, and nearly everyone is a musical instrument. But the composer is still dead.
Perhaps you can solve the crime yourself. Join the Inspector as he interrogates all the unusual suspects. Then listen to the accompanying audio recording featuring Lemony Snicket and the music of Nathaniel Stookey performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Hear for yourself exactly what took place on that fateful, well-orchestrated evening."

"The Composer is Dead" runs until January 16th at the Berkeley Rep. If you can't make it to California for the show, you can check out a podcast of the author reading from this book here.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. You can also stay up-to-the-minute on updates on tween lifestyle by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Tween New Year's Eve Countdown: PEEPS Fest!!

OMG! The 2nd Annual PEEPS Fest is happening on New Year's Eve in Bethlehem, PA! (Makes sense, given that the company that makes PEEPS is headquartered there.) We may need to make a New Year's Eve roadtrip with the tweens.

PEEPS Fest begins December 29, goes through New Year's Eve, and culminates in a PEEPS Chick Drop at midnight. The 3-day extravaganza includes a Peeps diorama contest, Peeps crafts, Peeps s'mores making, a local dessert contest, and a 5-K run (to burn off all that sugar!). Sounds like heaven for us marshmallow fans!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Best Places to Be a Kid on Christmas

Did you see this? The University of Toronto has compiled a list of the top cities in the U.S. to be a kid on Christmas morning. The listing is based on four criteria:

1. the number of children under age 14
2. toy and game stores per capita
3. candy stores per capita
4. the probability of having snow on Christmas Day

Our tweens agree that these are great criteria. Did your town make the list?

Top 20 Best Places to be a Kid on Christmas
1. Logan, Utah
2. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
3. Fairbanks, Alaska
4. Billings, Montana
5. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
6. Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan
7. St. George, Utah
8. Pocatello, Idaho
9. Denver, Aurora-Broomfield, Colorado
10. Anchorage, Alaska
11. Colorado Springs, Colorado
12. Rapid City, South Dakota
13. Salt Lake City, Utah
14. Appleton, Wisconsin
15. Flagstaff, Arizona
16. Reno-Sparks, Nevada
17. Provo-Orem, Utah
18. Bend, Oregon
19. Joplin, Montana
20. Spokane, Washington

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Update: First Tweens Summer Vacation Schedule

We report regularly on First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama's travels, and we just got their full summer vacation schedule today:

• Memorial Day Weekend: their hometown of Chicago, Illinois (family vacation)
• mid-June: NBA Finals and foodie tour of Los Angeles, California (girls-only trip)
• late June: Toronto for the G-20 Summit and a tour of Niagara Falls (accompanying dad during a work trip)
• mid-July: Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine (family vacation)
• early August: Malia Obama is off to sleep-away camp in Maine (eldest tween only)
• August 4th: First Lady Michelle Obama and Sasha Obama will spend four days on the Costa del Sol of Spain with family friends (it looks like they'll stay at the Villa Padierna Hotel in Marbella, Spain) (mother-daughter trip)
• August 14th: visiting beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida (family vacation with some work touring the Gulf Coast in the wake of the BP oil spill)
• August 19-29: returning to Martha's Vineyard for a family holiday (family vacation)

You can read about how the girls spent last summer here.

For more on where to go and what to do when traveling with tweens, check out our Tween Travel page.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Part Three of the First Tweens Summer: Malia and Sasha Obama Visit Maine and Florida

First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama continue their summer vacation plans in Maine and Florida (they began their summer break in Los Angeles and then went to Toronto, Canada in June).

The First Family spent a weekend exploring Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine two weeks ago, and Malia Obama will go to summer camp in Maine later in August. Acadia National Park is on Mount Desert Island, and the First Family stayed at the Bar Harbor Regency. They spent some spa time at the Bar Harbor Club and then had lunch at The Claremont Inn. After lunch, the tweens toured the Bass Harbor Lighthouse with the Coast Guard Station Chief in the National Park and hiked the Ship Harbor Trail along the rocky shore.

On August 14th the Obama family will travel to the Gulf Coast of Florida for another weekend trip and may return to Martha's Vineyard for a week at the beach later in August - stay tuned for more details!

Unlike last summer when the First Family took longer European trips, this year the Obamas are staying closer to home and taking weekend trips together.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

First Tween Malia Obama Will Go to Sleep Away Camp in Maine

Is your tween going to sleep away camp this summer? Malia Obama will be this summer for the first time - she's going to a month-long sleep away camp in Maine in August (the President himself spilled the beans during a recent speech). The First Family leave today for vacation on Mount Desert Island in Maine where they will explore another National Park, Acadia National Park (they had previously toured Yellowstone National Park last summer).

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

Part Two of the First Tweens' Summer: Malia and Sasha Obama Visit Niagara Falls

First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama have accompanied their parents to Canada for the G-20 Summit in Toronto this week. On Monday, the girls visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls - check out our coverage of this trip and all of their summer travel on our newspaper column.

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama on Foodie Tour of L.A.

Check out our report on what First Tweens Malia and Sasha Obama are doing during their first week of summer vacation. They're in L.A. and on a mini-foodie tour. We recommend that they also check out Sprinkles cupcakes!

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt

First Tweens Malia & Sasha Obama Tour NYC on Spring Break

Malia and Sasha Obama spent some of their Spring Break from Sidwell Friends School touring New York City last week with their mother, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their maternal grandmother, Marian Robinson. Their experiences in the Big Apple was heavy on musicals, food, and culture - so cool!

They began their tour of Big Apple like any tween would at Dylan's Candy Bar (see our tween's review of Dylan's here) and then took in a show, The Blue Man Group on Saturday.

Sunday was a big day: it included brunch at Iron Chef's Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and then another show, Memphis (a story about an inter-racial couple in segregation-era Tennessee; word has it that the First Family was dancing in the aisles by the end of the show). After the matinee, the family toured the Empire State Building, got cupcakes for snack at Magnolia Bakery (although our favorite cupcakes are still right here in DC at Georgetown Cupcake), and the had a late lunch at the Russian Tea Room with friends (definitely a high-brow invitation).

Monday saw them at a preview of The Addams Family musical (it opens this week and stars Broadway heavyweights Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth), and Tuesday was spent touring the neighborhood of Harlem and having BBQ at Dino-B-B-Q.

Wednesday was by far our favorite day on their itinerary: the First Tweens toured the set of Sesame Street in Brooklyn! Then they visited Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and had pizza at the famous Grimaldi's. Their vacation ended with a tour of the Statue of Liberty.

Phew - quite the tour! How did you spend your Spring Break? Ms Twixt and tweens enjoyed a stay-cation in DC during Week 1 and then got away for a last minute trip to the Outer Banks, NC during Week 2 (stay tuned for our review!).

If you liked this post, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Please also follow our updates or Re-Tweet our posts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsTwixt and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MsTwixt