Don’t let Ayren’s laid back, nonchalant attitude fool you. This local mama of little man, Trey is on the pulse of family-friendly activities, eateries, new openings, and events in the D.C. metro area. Ask her what should be on a DC parent’s summer bucket list and Ayren delivers a slew of in-depth, articulate answers before you can say, Red Tricycle Washington D.C. Ayren’s impressive media experience (she’s edited and written for Glamour, Real Simple, and The New York Times, to name a few) coupled with her love of everything DC has to offer to families, makes her the ideal first ever Red Tricycle D.C. Editor and we couldn’t be more thrilled that she chose to join our team. Read on to learn more about Ayren and her fam.
What’s your idea of an awesome day with the fam?
We all get up late (but not too late), just in time to walk to brunch. Our neighborhood go-to is Rustico in Alexandria, Va. They have a yummy Croque Madame Pizza topped with eggs, ham, and broccoli. My son usually hates broccoli, but on this pizza he can’t resist it. Then, we stroll to Oronoco Bay Park to watch boats pass on the Potomac River and planes fly in and out of Ronald Reagan International Airport. Next up? Naps, of course! When we wake up, we scope out a farmer’s market that’s still open (there are so many in the DMV area, but my favorites are Eastern Market in DC, West End Market in Alexandria, Va, and Takoma Park Market in Takoma Park, Md) to pick up ingredients for dinner—dinner that my husband so graciously volunteers to cook…*wink-wink*.
What’s your favorite DC area neighborhood?
I’m loving what’s going on in the Union Market area. There was a time when it was just a sea of vacant industrial spaces, now it glistens with a huge artisan market that sells everything from homemade pickles to hand-poured soaps. Not to mention all of the fun family events that happen in the area (drive-in movies, free festivals, and kids concerts).
What do you love most about being a DC parent?
I love the culture. The international community is rich (there’s something like 176 foreign embassies in DC!) and active—they host family events, open houses, and meet and greets regularly. Plus, DC is a unique mix of American southern and northern cultures; it’s no sweat to find a restaurant that serves Carolina-style barbecue right down the street from one that serves Maine-style lobster rolls. They say that New York City is the one true “melting pot,” but sometimes I wonder.
What do you love least about being a DC parent?
The traffic. Ugh. I don’t even want to talk about it.
Essential can’t-live-without mom product?
Squeeze pouch snacks. I buy them in bulk! They’re portable and mess-free, they taste good (yep, I eat–drink?–them too), and since they’re basically blended fruits and veggies, they’re an easy way to sneak peas, spinach and broccoli into my son’s diet.
What are you looking forward to doing with your son this year?
He is now in the curious stage of toddler-hood, so I’d like to start hitting up some of the kid-friendly museums that are a little off the beaten path. I’m thinking he would love exploring the Trolley Museum in Colesville, Md or the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (aka the place where the space shuttle Enterprise is housed) in Chantilly, Va.
As Red Tricycle’s first ever DC Metro editor, what are you most excited about?
Helping parents step outside of the box when it comes to finding awesome things to do with their kids in the DC Metro area. I’m also pretty stoked about swapping ideas—where to explore, eat, and play—with other moms, dads and kids who, like me and my little family, just want to have fun!
Want to get in touch with Ayren? Drop her a line at ayren (at) tinybeans.go-vip.net.
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