The Silver Spring Penguin

Nothing says summer like a free concert and baseball. Here’s what’s cooking this weekend.

Thursday

7:00 p.m. Terp professor Jerome Segal explains how he reworks the Old Testament in his book, “Joseph’s Bones.” The free discussion goes down at Borders (8518 Fenton St).

7:00 p.m. The Afro-Bop Alliance whips out Latin jazz to open the Silver Spring Swings concert series. The free show drops at Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Drive, between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street).

Friday

6:30 p.m. Space 7:10 celebrates the art of Ka Lai Lou, Avian Anderson and Sohee Oh, all students at Albert Einstein High School. The reception hits Kefa Cafe (963 Bonifant St).

7:00 p.m. It’s opening day for Ripken collegiate-league baseball at Montgomery Blair baseball stadium (51 E University Blvd). The Silver Spring Thunderbolts defend their championship title and take a whack at the College Park Bombers. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for the kiddies (free if they’re rocking their little-league uniforms).

Saturday

9:00 p.m. Score some veggies at the Ellsworth Drive farmers market until 1:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. The City Place Mall (8661 Colesville Rd) holds its annual summer carnival in the lower-level food court. The clowns, games and moonbounce stick around until 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.

12:00 p.m. South Silver Spring’s Arts Alley (near 8000 Georgia Ave) hosts its monthly artist market. Score some locally made works until 5:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month at the Silver Spring Public Library (8901 Colesville Rd). Art displays, Calypso music, tasty eats and a lecture on Jamaica’s Maroon culture roll through 4:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. The GapBuster Learning Center (8216 Georgia Ave) hosts A Taste of Africa, a sampling of great African eats. The $35 cover supports hospice care for AIDS patients in South Africa.

8:00 p.m. Poets Shyster, Element, Laura Perez, Native and Tiffany Jones unleash lyrical madness at Mayorga Coffee Factory (8040 Georgia Ave). The gig includes live music and bumping DJ beats. Fifteen bucks gets you through the door, and there’s a one-latte minimum.

Sunday

12:00 p.m. The artist market makes its way to downtown Silver Spring. Score some locally produced art at the Wayne Avenue plaza (in front of 8435 Georgia Ave) until 5:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. Get a voyeuristic peek into local artists’ studios during South Silver Spring’s Arts Walk. The free tour starts at the Heliport Gallery (8001 Kennett St).