The Silver Spring Penguin

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called crushed purple velvet.Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

Thursday

4:00 p.m. Kids from the Paul Green School of Rock get nasty at Austin Grill (919 Ellsworth Dr) with a tribute to Prince and the Revolution. The music is free. The purifying waters of Lake Minnetonka will cost you.

7:00 p.m. Silver Plaza gets snooty with a free performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Strathmore brass quintet. Wear your best Brooks Brothers suit.

7:00 p.m. The AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) rolls “Purple Rain.” Each ticket sets you back $9.75 ($8.50 if you’re an AFI member) and automatically enters you in a drawing for cool purple stuff.

9:20 p.m. Stick around AFI (8633 Colesville Rd) to catch “This is Spinal Tap,” a mockumentary on the best metal band that never was. Each ticket costs $9.75 ($8.50 for AFI members).

Friday

Reminisce about the good old days.

Saturday

9:00 a.m. For something different, try the hot dog-stuffed croissants at the Ellsworth Drive farmers market. They drop until 1:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. The B&O rail station (8100 Georgia Ave) busts open its doors for its monthly open house. Get your Silver Spring history on until 3:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. For more Silver Spring history, take the walking tour down Georgia Avenue. The two-hour guided tour starts at the B&O rail station (8100 Georgia Ave) and costs $5 per adult (the kiddies walk for free).

6:30 p.m. Rhythm and blues band On the Edge churns out free Motown grooves at Silver Plaza. Wear your best platform shoes.

Sunday

7:15 p.m. Step out of Silver Spring’s humidity and into Arabia’s arid landscape. The AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) rolls “Lawrence of Arabia” in fully restored ultra-widescreen. Adults pay $9.75. Members slide on $8.50.

Amended Aug 2, 2007, at 10:00 p.m.