The Silver Spring Penguin

Kudos to the building engineers at Penguin corporate headquarters! The crew managed to get the air conditioning cranking in time for this week’s unusual heat, AND they were kind enough to leave a little sumpin sumpin in the refrigerator to whet our reporters’ whistles.

Stay cool as you soak up Silver Spring’s offerings:

Monday

9:00 a.m. The county council’s transportation committee considers operating expenses for the county’s parking lot districts, mass transit fund and taxi fares. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), seventh floor, and is open to the public.

Tuesday

7:00 p.m. The Buy Local Silver Spring initiative holds a forum for downtown Silver Spring’s small-business owners to discuss common concerns. This free event takes place at the Mayorga Coffee Factory (8040 Georgia Ave) and is open to small-business owners only.

The Silver Spring Penguin is the official online-media partner of the Buy Local Silver Spring initiative.

Wednesday

12:30 p.m. Montgomery College hosts a screening of the 2001 documentary “Promises”, followed by a discussion with Barbara Petzen, educational director of the Middle East Policy Council. This free event takes place at the college’s health sciences center (7977 Georgia Ave), room 201, and is open to the public.

2:00 p.m. The county council’s planning and economic development committee considers operating expenses for the county’s regional centers and urban districts. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), seventh floor, and is open to the public.

Thursday

Ice cream for everyone! Yay!

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Qfamily.

I need a vacation after compiling this calendar. Intern, get me a donut, STAT!

Thursday

4:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts an arts and crafts happy hour. This event is open to the public. A $5 fee covers materials and brief instruction.

8:00 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents a performance by electronic performers MEM1, Area C and Fast Forty. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $7 per person.

8:00 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

Friday

6:00 p.m. District-based dance troupe DanceAntonini performs a post-modern piece at the Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr). This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Playwright Jennifer Jajeh performs her one-woman dark comedy “I Heart Hamas, and Other Things I’m Afraid to Tell You” at Montgomery College’s student services building (7625 Fenton St). This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. The IFFP Coffee House presents four area youth bands in a fund-raising show to benefit Shepherd’s Table social services and Voice of Haiti. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). The suggested donation is $5 plus non-perishable food items.

7:00 p.m. Students at Montgomery Blair High School (51 University Blvd E) host a fundraising concert to benefit victims of the 2008 Sichuan, China, earthquake. A $5 donation is suggested.

7:10 p.m. Following their performance at the Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (above), members of the dance troupe DanceAntonini discuss their work at Kefa Cafe’s Space 7:10 (963 Bonifant St). This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

10:00 p.m. Events producer 88 presents “Loda”, an electronic music and multimedia party, at Gallery Lounge (1115 East-West Hwy). There is a $10 cover charge for this over-21 event.

Saturday

9:00 a.m. Freshfarms 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.

12:00 p.m. Montgomery County hosts a job expo for people ages 16 to 21. This free event takes place until 4:00 p.m. on Silver Plaza (916 Ellsworth Dr) and is open to the public.

12:00 p.m. Plaza Artist Materials (8209 Georgia Ave) hosts free demonstrations in watercolor painting with South Silver Spring artist Stephen Hanks. This event is open to the public until 4:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. The Veridian apartment complex (1133 East-West Hwy) holds an open house until 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

2:00 p.m. Artist Fleming Jeffries demonstrates intaglio printing techniques at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). This free, two-hour event is open to the public, but space is limited. Contact Landria Shack at (301) 608-9101 to reserve a space.

5:30 p.m. Local rock band Jelly Roll Mortals performs at the Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) until 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

Sunday

10:00 a.m. The AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) hosts “Talk Cinema”, an independently curated sneak preview of previously unreleased movies, followed by discussions with critics and filmmakers. Titles are not announced prior to the screening. Tickets are $20 each (cash or check only).

12:00 p.m. The Veridian apartment complex (1133 East-West Hwy) holds an open house until 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

1:00 p.m. Plaza Artist Materials (8209 Georgia Ave) hosts free demonstrations in acrylic painting with area artist Gwendolyn Aqui. This event is open to the public until 5:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user CarbonNYC.

Blech, rainy Mondays are always a drag at Penguin corporate headquarters. The mailroom guys are still hung over, no one in the newsroom has any interest in doing anything, and our rain-soaked intern smells like, well, wet intern.

Luckily, there are two coffee shops within arm’s reach of our office. And since the intern’s already wet, I suppose there’s no harm in having him make a couple of coffee runs this morning. Caffeine will save the day!

While the barista serves our trusted intern, check out what’s cooking this week in Silver Spring:

Monday

All day. Hide under my desk, and hope no one notices my absence.

Tuesday

11:15 a.m. The county council votes on whether to allow bricks to be used as sidewalk surfaces in areas like downtown Silver Spring. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), third floor, and is open to the public.

Wednesday

10:00 a.m. The Downtown Silver Spring shopping center hosts children’s activities (weather permitting) to mark the official reopening of the Silver Plaza fountain on Ellsworth Drive. This event is free and open to the public.

2:00 p.m. Montgomery College’s Cafritz Arts Center (Georgia Ave at King St) holds an opening reception for its latest exhibit, “A Most Daring Dream: The Photography of Robert Houston and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign“, until 4:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Silver Spring’s citizens advisory board hosts a forum on development plans for Fenton Village. This free event takes place at the Nora School (955 Sligo Ave) and is open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents a performance by folk and blues guitarist Eugene Chadbourne. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $8 per person.

Thursday

8:00 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents a performance by electronic performers MEM1, Area C and Fast Forty. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $7 per person.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user rahim.

The spring rains have stopped in time for Saturday’s farmers market, the first of the season. It’s guaranteed to be chock full o’ essential vitamins and minerals, but the big question is: Who’s rocking the chocolate croissants this year?

Previously, it was some dude from who knows where, and he always packed his clear plastic bins full of fat, tasty pastries. (His apple croissants were also the bomb.) Then things shifted — out went my main dude, in came some frou-frou bakers from Bethesda. Sure their stuff was good, but the vittles were much smaller and much more costly.

Who’s going to deliver the goods this season? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, nosh on this:

Friday

6:30 p.m. Jackie’s Restaurant (8081 Georgia Ave) hosts a reception for artist Alicia Kersting, whose collection of abstract portraits is on display there. This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

10:00 p.m. Events producer 88 hosts “Loda”, a showcase of electronic music and digital art, at Gallery Lounge (1115 East-West Hwy). There is a $10 fee for this over-21 event.

Saturday

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

9:00 a.m. Montgomery County sponsors its annual cleanup of the Long Branch stream, a tributary to the Anacostia River. This free event starts at the Long Branch Community Center (8700 Piney Branch Rd) and is open to the public. For more information, call Cynthia Butler at (240) 777-3652.

8:00 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

Sunday

8:00 a.m. Pacers Running Store (8535 Fenton St) hosts an Earth Day 5K run to benefit The Nature Conservancy. Walk-up registration takes place at the store and costs $30. Click here to view the race course, which starts and ends in downtown Silver Spring.

2:00 p.m. Create Arts Center holds an Earth Day celebration and crafts workshop at the Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr). No admission fee was available at press time.

2:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Happenstance Theater troupe performs the original play “FarFar Oasis” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets are $15 each.

7:00 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents a performance by digital ensemble Brown Wing Overdrive. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $7 per person.

Photo by J. Deseo/SSP.

A working vacation is always a waste of time. First, it’s not a real vacation. There’s definitely no rest or relaxation involved. At the same time, no work gets done because all time and energy are consumed in that raging resentment for having to work while on vacation. It’s a big crock of shit.

Still, I managed to get one thing done: a Twitter feed dedicated to fun stuff in Silver Spring’s arts and entertainment district. Hit it at twitter.com/SilverSpringMD for the full scoop.

When you’re done screwing around on Twitter, check out what else is on this week’s calendar:

Monday

9:30 a.m. The county council’s transportation committee discusses a resolution to replace brick sidewalk pavers in neighborhoods like downtown Silver Spring. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), seventh floor, and is open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Silver Spring’s citizens advisory board holds its monthly meeting at the Silver Spring library (8901 Colesville Rd). This event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday

2:15 p.m. The county council’s economic development committee considers a bill that will allow real-estate developers to defer the costs of building permits for up to one year. This free event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), seventh floor, and is open to the public.

Wednesday

7:00 p.m. Silver Spring’s economic and commercial development committee holds its monthly meeting at the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave). This event is free and open to the public.

Update: This event has been postponed until Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009. For more information, see comment #1 in the “Holler back” section below. — JD (Apr 14, 2009)

Thursday

3:30 p.m. Silver Spring’s urban-district advisory committee holds its monthly meeting at the urban-district office (8110 Georgia Ave, third floor). This event is free and open to the public.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user chiacomo.

It’s been a quiet week in Da Sprang — chalk it up to Christian-Judeo holidays, spring break and a general disinterest in current events. (Trust me, the economy will still suck tomorrow.) So I’ve made the executive decision to give everyone at Penguin corporate HQ the rest of the week off.

We’ll be back next Monday, bright eyed and bushy tailed, with the comprehensive snark that you demand from the crew. Until then, soak up what Silver Spring has to offer:

Wednesday

1:00 p.m. New York artist Ivan Schwartz discusses sculpture and the visual storyteller, with a focus on his new sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. This free event takes place at Montgomery College’s resource center (New York Ave, between Chicago and Takoma Aves), first floor auditorium, and is open to the public.

Thursday

4:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts happy hour with crafts activities. There is a $5 fee that covers materials and brief instruction.

Friday

4:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts a reception for emerging artists with the continuing-education program at Montgomery College’s School of Art and Design. This event is free and open to the public.

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

10:00 p.m. Event producer 88 hosts “Loda”, a music and multimedia dance party, at Gallery Lounge (1115 East-West Hwy). There is a $10 cover charge for this over-21 event.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. Kefa Cafe (963 Bonifant St) hosts a clothing drive to benefit Progress Place, which offers social services to the homeless. This free event is open to the public and goes until 12:00 noon.

12:00 p.m. McGinty’s Public House (911 Ellsworth Dr) hosts an artists’ market until 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. The Synergy in Action theater company conducts a “playback” performance, where audience members recount personal stories and then choose cast members to play individual roles. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $10.

7:30 p.m. The Cavalcade of Schlock film club presents an evening of B movies with a post-apocalyptic theme. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr). (An admission cost was not available at publication.)

8:00 p.m. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) presents the drama “Columbinus”. Tickets are $13 to $18 each.

Sunday

Chow down on some marshmallow Peeps, chocolate gelt or whatever makes you happy.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user brettneilson.