Ballard-based retailer Little Orange Room has introduced a line of neighborhood t-shirts for children. The Beacon Hill shirt features the Korean pagoda from Daejeon Park in North Beacon Hill, and says “b is for beacon hill.”
The shirts are available in children’s sizes, onesies through kids’ size 10, for $22 each. To find out more, visit the Little Orange Room website.
Think your hoop skills are supreme? Get your friends together and form a team to prove it next week in a 3 on 3 half-court basketball tournament at Van Asselt Community Center.
The tournament will include two age groups: 8-17, and 18 and older. Tournament hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 12, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. The registration cost is $50 per team. Teams are limited to four players, with three players on the court at all times, and games are played until 10 minutes or 15 points. Both boys and girls are welcome to play. The games will be played on the outside courts, so be prepared for warm weather.
Van Asselt Community Center is located at 2820 S. Myrtle St.
All photos by Wendi.
The Piñata Party that was rained out last weekend is rescheduled for this Saturday (July 23) from 3- 6 p.m.
Tamara Dyer writes,
There will be piñatas, live music, food, and a watermelon seed spitting contest for kids. We could use some volunteers… can you or your fabulous teenager help out before, during, or after the party? If so, please email.
The party is at Stevens Place Park (often called Triangle Park) on Beacon Avenue between Stevens and Forest. Everyone is welcome!
Jefferson Community Center is hosting another Bouncefest this Friday, July 22, from 6-8 p.m. The family fun event will feature bouncy toys, jump ropes, and more! Admission is $2 per child.
Jefferson Community Center is located at 3801 Beacon Ave S.
(Correction: We have been told that Lushy is not performing at this year’s event after all. — Ed.)
Music, food, piñatas, and other neighborly fun activities are coming to Stevens Place Park on Beacon Avenue this Saturday for the annual Beacon Hill Piñata Party. The party is free, and all neighbors are invited.
Performers at the event will include Suntonio Bandanaz, La Banda Gazona, and Lushy. There will also be a community potluck, and, of course, piñatas for the kids.
The party is Saturday, July 16, from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Stevens Place Park (often called Triangle Park), located on Beacon Ave. S. between S. Forest St. and S. Stevens St.
Here’s a video of part of Lushy’s performance at last year’s Piñata Party:
ROCKiT Space is hosting Hi-Chair Happy Hour, a “Bring Your Own Baby” social for new parents and their children, this evening (May 17) from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave S.
Parents should bring a “happy hour” snack to share. There will be indoor and outdoor play space available. A suggested $5 donation helps cover rent.
This month everyone is preparing for Father’s Day, so there will be art supplies for making homemade Father’s Day cards.
For more information, contact melissajonas@yahoo.com.
The springtime festivities start tonight with two teens-only free Flashlight Egg Hunts at Jefferson and Van Asselt Community Centers. Bring your own flashlight and goodie bag to hunt for prize eggs that contain candy and games. The hunts are rain-or-shine, so dress appropriately if it rains.
The event at Jefferson starts at 8 p.m., and is open to ages 11-17. The event at Van Asselt starts slightly earlier, at 7:45, and is open to ages 12-17. (If you are going to the Van Asselt Flashlight hunt, meet on the Van Asselt Playground, 7200 Beacon Ave. S.)
Tomorrow, everyone is invited to Jefferson Community Center for the Spring Egg Hunt and Pancake Social, from 9 a.m. until noon. Children 10 and under should bring a basket or a bag to collect treats at the egg hunt. Pancakes are available for all ages before the egg hunt, so be there early. The egg hunt is free. The cost for pancakes is $3, pancakes and sausage are $4, and the whole shebang—pancakes, sausage, and eggs—is $5.
Jefferson Community Center is located at 3801 Beacon Ave. S.
Beacon Hill is a great place for people of all ages and features many opportunities for entire families to have a great time. Here are a few ideas to get you started—please share your favorite places/activities in the comments!
ROCKiT Space is thriving after the relaunch in January. Headquarters are now in the Garden House at 2336 15th Ave. S. (directly behind Baja Bistro; parking in the alley, on street or just walk there) and events are happening there and all over Beacon Hill.
High Chair Happy Hour happens every third Tuesday (the next ones are on April 19 and May 16) from 3:30-6:30 p.m. BYOB (baby/bigger kid). It’s good, cheap fun on Beacon Hill: $5, or free for ROCKiT members. No alcohol sold, but you’re welcome to bring your own (as well as other food/drink) to share. Â Must be accompanied by a minor to attend.
Tots Jam, a ROCKiT Space favorite, is held at El Centro every Wednesday at 9 a.m. Bring your toddler and $5 (free for members) and rock with Suzanne.
The Beacon Hill library has story times for toddlers, preschoolers, and the whole family. Toddler story time, Spanish story time, and Bilingual Kaleidoscope are only a few of the choices.
Thanks to our neighbors’ successful efforts to improve the parks on Beacon Hill, we have three (3!) awesome new playgrounds on Beacon Hill.
The play area at Jefferson Park has been open for several months. Don’t let the fences surrounding the future Beacon Mountain deter you—head over and check out the many ways your kids (and you) can climb, swing, hang and rock. Several refreshment options are available in the south end of our business district, including the Jefferson Park Field House, Victrola 3 and El Quetzal (now serving beer; just sayin’).
Jefferson Park also boasts a fantastic indoor playground on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Inflatables, riding toys, push toys, balls, and tons of other ways for toddlers to tire themselves are available for only $2!
Santos Rodriguez Memorial Park at El Centro de La Raza is now open to the public (closed during posted hours to protect the safety of the children enrolled in programs on site) and features new playground equipment for a variety of ages. Amenities such as benches for parents and a permanent chess board are in the works. I highly recommend a visit to The Station (directly across the street) before or after your park visit.
Beacon Hill Playground has new play structures, too! Swings, slides, a secure tunnel, and other fun await at our northernmost playground.
I’m sure I”m missing something—please share your ideas/events in the comments!
Parents of toddlers on South Beacon Hill, this one’s for you. Van Asselt Community Center is hosting new classes for toddlers and their parents.
In the Parent/Toddler Movement class (18 months – 3 years old), parents/caregivers and their toddlers will explore space through creative movement using props and fun music. The class is Tuesdays, March 1 – March 29, from 11:00 – 11:45 am. Cost is $25.
The Creative Movement class (3 – 5 years old) works to establish body awareness, flexibility, coordination, basic motor skills, and a positive self-image, using age-appropriate music and props while exploring dance concepts such as pathways, rhythms, space, and shapes. Students will also be introduced to basic ballet terminology and steps. This class is Tuesdays, March 1 – March 29, from Noon – 1:00 pm. Cost is $30.
Lastly, Toddler Play Time (for ages up to 5 years old) provides a gym full of children’s toys. Parental supervision is required. Play Time is on Wednesdays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm; Fridays, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, and on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, also from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Cost for Toddler Play Time is $2 per child.
Van Asselt Community Center is located at 2820 South Myrtle Street. To register for classes, please call the center directly at 206-386-1921, or register online via the SPARC system.