The Silver Spring Penguin

My piss-poor math skills tell me that the United States is celebrating its 233rd birthday this Saturday. But what gift does one give the country that seems to have everything?

We’ve already got shameless wealth, the gift of bounty, and more cars than we really need. We’ve got the tired, poor, hungry, and those yearning to breathe free. And we’ve got Nintendo Wii.

Some of us have given pricy gifts in the past: blood, sweat, tears. Others have been more of the taking type. (I’m looking at you, Penguin mailroom guys.) A lot of us are square with cutting a check every April 15.

Whatever.

I think one of the coolest things we can give is a shit. That is, we should give a shit about something, anything — politics, economics, some personal cause. It’s about exercising our rights as Americans to some semblance of a life, a few drunken liberties, and the pursuit of happiness.

This holiday weekend, give a shit! Happy birthday, America!

Thursday

7:00 p.m. Doo-wop band The Fabuluous Bel Airs performs a free outdoor concert in Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Dr near Georgia Ave). The concert is part of the Silver Spring Swings concert series, sponsored by the Silver Spring Regional Center.

Friday

2:00 p.m. The Gesneriad Society holds a plant show and sale until 5:00 p.m. as part of its annual convention. This free event takes place at the Hilton Washington DC/Silver Spring (8727 Colesville Rd) and is open to the public.

6:30 p.m. Dual Rhythms performs Latin jazz on Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Dr near Georgia Ave). This free event is part of Downtown Silver Spring’s Friday Night Spotlight concert series.

Saturday

9:00 a.m. Freshfarm Markets holds its weekly farmers market on Ellsworth Drive, between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street, until 1:00 p.m. There is no admission fee.

9:00 a.m. The Gesneriad Society holds a plant show and sale until 3:00 p.m. as part of its annual convention. This free event takes place at the Hilton Washington DC/Silver Spring (8727 Colesville Rd) and is open to the public.

10:00 a.m. The city of Takoma Park holds its annual Fourth of July parade. The parade starts on Carroll at Ethan Allen Avenues and travels south on Carroll to Maple Avenue. It then turns right on Maple to Ritchie Avenue, bending back towards the starting point. Click here to view a map of the parade route.

1:00 p.m. Members of the Silver Spring Historical Society host an open house at the B&O rail station (8100 Georgia Ave) until 4:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

6:30 p.m. Rhythm and blues band Doctors Orders performs a free outdoor concert on Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Dr near Georgia Ave). This free event is part of Downtown Silver Spring’s Saturday night concert series.

7:00 p.m. Takoma Park’s holiday celebration continues with live music from Violet Says Five, Positive Vibrations, and the Takoma Park Community Band. This free event takes place at the Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Rd, Takoma Park) and is open to the public.

9:30 p.m. Takoma Park’s holiday celebration concludes with a fireworks display outside the Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Rd, Takoma Park). This event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the event will take place on the next clear evening.

Sunday

12:30 p.m. The Washington Humane Society offers dogs and cats for adoption at an event on Silver Plaza (Ellsworth Dr near Georgia Ave) until 3:00 p.m.

Updated Jul 2, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. to include Sunday’s pet adoption event. — JD