The Greatest of Ease
Admission: $49 to $59, ages 6 and up
Navy Yard, Fourth St., SE, and Tingey St., NE
washingtondc.trapezeschool.com
Trapeze training is all about conquering fears, the idea being if you can leap off a platform and onto a swing 23 feet in the air, you can pretty much do anything. At the recently opened Trapeze School New York, Washington, DC, parents can sign up their kids ages 6 and older for single or multiple classes (check website for fall schedule; $49 to $59 for two hours depending on the time of day). Children can expect to fly on the trapeze six to eight times during the initial class, learn how to do a backflip and a knee hang, and even learn to catch (if there’s time). Everyone learns at their own pace—no one is forced to attempt anything—and safety harnesses, nets, and savvy coaches make it less scary. For kids still skittish about the trapeze, there are juggling classes and aerial silk sessions (fabric hung from a single point used for climbing and poses) to ease into things. And if you’re an early adopter, consider a trapeze birthday party—you bring the cake and ice cream, and TSNY Washington, DC, provides the trapeze thrills.
Jump for Joy
Starts: September 3, 7 to 9 PM
Admission: $15 per child, ages 6 and up
5636 Randolph Rd., Rockville; 301-468-9181
marvatotsnteens.com
MarVaTots’n Teens Tumble & Trampoline sessions resume September 3, but the really great news is if you drop off your kids between 7 and 9 pm Monday through Thursday, you can leave them and slip out for a date night with your significant other. Supervised by MarVa coaches, kids bounce on trampolines, navigate balance beams, and careen in the foam pit for two hours, and are more than ready for PJs when you pick them up. ($15 per child, ages 6 and up.) For those interested in formal gymnastics training, MarVa offers ongoing classes for all ages.
En Garde!
Starts: October 1
Admission: $190 for one-hour, eight-week class, ages 12 and under
DC Fencers Club, 9330 Fraser Ave., Silver Spring; 301-562-1990; dcfencing.com
With soccer and lacrosse, we sometimes feel too “been there, done that.” This time, think fencing. It boosts coordination and strategy skills—and, not surprisingly, appeals to cerebral kids who may shy away from other sports. There’s also something pretty cool about wearing a mask and wielding a foil. DC Fencers Club starts a new session of beginner classes for kids up to age 12 on October 1 (check website for days and times; $190 for a one-hour, eight-week class). Ongoing drop-in classes for teens are offered on Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30. There are also ongoing classes focusing on footwork and sabre and épée skills for more experienced fencers.
Brunch Bunch
Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 4
Wednesday, 4 to 8
Admission: free
Jake’s American Grille, 5018 Connecticut Ave. 202-966-5253; jakesdc.com
Saturday and Sunday brunch at Jake’s American Grille is a family affair. The restaurant screens movies and cartoons between 10 and 4—think Monsters vs. Aliens—and has a stash of crafts and board games for kids in its subterranean space known as the Boiler Room. Children can eat downstairs, or have brunch with their families in the dining room or on the patio on the main level if the weather is nice, then head down to the Boiler Room while the parents enjoy a little grown-up mealtime. The service is free with brunch (brunch entrées $10 to $15; kids $4 to $6). Looking for nighttime opportunities? A similar setup runs Wednesday from 4 to 8, giving Mom and Dad a chance to reconnect midweek.
