The Silver Spring Penguin

Ah, I’ve been waiting all winter to hear my two favorite words: Play ball! Screw the cherry blossoms — baseball is the nation’s ultimate sign of spring. It doesn’t matter which team you root for, you know spring and, soon enough, summer are totally on.

The Orioles open their season at home if you’re up to the drive. Otherwise, the Nats get down locally next week.

Not into baseball? Well, then I can’t help you. Hook up with these other activities: 

Monday

All day. Baseball breaks out all over the country. The Nats go fishing in Florida at 4:00 p.m., while Da Boids host the Yankees at home starting at 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday

11:00 a.m. Montgomery College hosts a dance workshop on Middle Eastern debkah. This free event takes place at the college’s Falcon Hall (7600 Takoma Ave) and is open to the public.

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.

Photo of Nats Stadium courtesy of Flickr user wfyurasko.

Update: “Penultimate” has been upgraded to “ultimate”. — JD (Apr 6, 2009)

There’s a lot of stuff kicking in Silver Spring this weekend, including the pollen. Make that Zyrtec dose a double, then check out what’s happening outside your front doorstep:

Thursday

7:00 p.m. The AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) presents the 2007 documentary“The English Surgeon”, with an appearance by director Geoffrey Smith. Tickets are $10 each.

9:30 p.m. The AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Rd) presents the 2005 drama “The Proposition”, with an introduction by University of Maryland professor Torey Liepa. Tickets are $10 each.

Friday

5:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts a screening of the documentary “Briars in the Cotton Patch”, about the birth of Habitat for Humanity. This event is free and open to the public.

6:30 p.m. Kefa Cafe’s Space 7:10 (963 Bonifant St) hosts a reception for photographers with the Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma. This event is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m. The Lumina Studio performs “Revenge of the Surreal Plays” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets cost $15 each.

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

Saturday

9:00 a.m. The Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment removes trash and debris around the Potomac River’s Fenwick Tributary. This free, three-hour event starts at East Beach Drive and North Portal Drive in The District. For more information, email Clif Grandy at clifgmail-fenwick@yahoo.com.

3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The Lumina Studio performs “Revenge of the Surreal Plays” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets cost $15 each.

5:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave) celebrates its fifth anniversary in downtown Silver Spring with light refreshments, edible paper and a special prints sale. There is no admission fee.

8:00 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents performances byMichael Thomas Jackson, Vector Trio, Michelle Webb, and Janel & Anthony with Violet. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave). Admission is $7 per person.

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).

3:00 p.m. The Lumina Studio performs “Revenge of the Surreal Plays” at the Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd). Tickets cost $15 each.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Time Stands Still.

Man, I took a quick look at the Penguin event calendar and thought this would be the week I could finally hit Spring Break in Daytona. No meetings scheduled. No laundry to do. No character testimony on behalf of the guys in the Penguin mailroom.

But as it turns out, there is one gig on Tuesday, and it’s a goody:

Tuesday

1:45 p.m. The county council decides whether the Falkland Chase apartments should be preserved as historic structures, or partially demolished to make way for denser housing. This free event takes place at the county council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville) and is open to the public.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Arjun Mehta.

I try and try and try, and the dirty laundry still refuses to go away! SERENITY NOW!

I’m going to crawl into a box of lavender-scented dryer sheets. Those who still retain some semblance of sanity may partake in the following:

Thursday

4:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts an origami happy hour for the public. A $5 fee includes materials and instruction.

6:00 p.m. Queer Socials for Silver Spring Locals holds its monthly mixer at Jackie’s (8081 Georgia Ave). There is no cover charge for this over-21 event.

Friday

6:00 p.m. Washington Gardener magazine hosts a reception for winners of its annual photography contest. This free event takes place at the Adams Bank (8121 Georgia Ave) and is open to the public.

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School students present the musical “Sweeney Todd” inside the school’s auditorium (51 University Blvd E). Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students and seniors).

10:00 p.m. Event producer 88 hosts “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

1:00 p.m. The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts host baseball and softball demonstrations, a cleat exchange and live music on Silver Plaza (916 Ellsworth Dr). This event is free and open to the public.

6:00 p.m. The Montgomery College Alumni Association holds an art auction to benefit its scholarship program. This event takes place at the college’s Cafritz Arts Center (Georgia Ave at King St). Tickets are $75 each, with all proceeds going towards the scholarship fund.

7:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave) hosts an evening of experimental film and video dealing with landscapes and cityscapes. Featured artists include Chris Lynn and Robert Robertson. This event is free and open to the public.

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School students present the musical “Sweeney Todd” inside the school’s auditorium (51 University Blvd E). Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students and seniors).

8:00 p.m. The Bach Sinfonia performs George Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” at the Woodside United Methodist Church (8900 Georgia Ave). Tickets are $28 each ($25 for seniors, $15 for students).

8:00 p.m. The CityDance Ensemble presents “Carbon”, an exploration in dance of the environment and
humanity, with music created from the seismic data of three volcanoes. This event takes place at Montgomery College’s Black Box Theater (Philadelphia at Chicago Aves). Tickets are $15 each ($10 for students and seniors, $5 for Montgomery College students and faculty).

Sunday

2:00 p.m. The CityDance Ensemble presents “Carbon”, an exploration in dance of the environment and humanity, with music created from the seismic data of three volcanoes. This event takes place at Montgomery College’s Black Box Theater (Philadelphia at Chicago Aves). Tickets are $15 each ($10 for students and seniors, $5 for Montgomery College students and faculty).

7:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave) hosts an evening of experimental film and video dealing with landscapes and cityscapes. Featured artists include Chris Lynn and Robert Robertson. This event is free and open to the public.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Ralph Hockens.

Here’s the good news for Penguin staffers: The pantry, which was declared a federal disaster area last week, is recovering nicely. FEMA funds scored us a lot of bleach and sponges, and the health department is close to calling the cleanup job a success.

On the down side, there’s an assload of laundry to be done. Fetid gym clothes, musty towels and things even I dare not mention need washing (sanitizing, really). While the Penguin crew gets to work on that nasty task, please partake in this week’s other activities:

Monday

2:00 p.m. The county council’s housing committee discusses the Falkland Chase apartment complex, and whether its three parcels should be preserved entirely or partially redeveloped. This event takes place at the council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville), seventh floor. It is free and open to the public.

Tuesday

10:30 a.m. The county’s board of health discusses air quality around major transportation corridors. This free event takes place at the county council’s office building (100 Maryland Ave, Rockville) and is open to the public. 

7:30 p.m. Author Mike Tidwell discusses his book “The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas and the Coming Death of America’s Coastal Cities” at the Silver Spring library (8901 Colesville Rd). This event is free and open to the public.

Wednesday

7:30 p.m. Silver Spring’s transportation and pedestrian safety committee holds its monthly meeting at the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave). This event is free and open to the public.

7:30 p.m. US Senator Ben Cardin (D) discusses Congressional efforts to address the current economic crisis. This free event takes place at the White Oak Middle School (12201 New Hampshire Ave) and is open to the public.

Thursday

Before enlightenment, fluffing and folding. After enlightenment, fluffing and folding.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user caitlinator.

For a week in which most Penguin staffers took their meals outside the office, the Penguin pantry is a goddamned mess. The sink is full of dirty dishes, the trash can is stuffed with Styrofoam boxes (would it kill a Penguin to crush the box before trashing it?), and the finely crafted European linoleum is littered with crumbs.

Seeing that today is the first day of spring, I’m declaring a spring cleaning! All Penguin staffers are to report their dirty, disgusting asses to the pantry ASAP for hard labor. Only upon completion of their scrubbing duties will they be allowed to enjoy these weekend treats:

Friday

2:00 p.m. Space 88 (8211 Mayor Ln) hosts a workshop on creating music and art digitally. Topics include using an iPhone in live performance, digital painting using Corel Painter, and designing flyers. Admission is $5 per person.

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School students present the musical “Sweeney Todd” inside the school’s auditorium (51 University Blvd E). Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students and seniors).

8:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Dracula”, the Steven Dietz play based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel and performed by area high school students. Tickets are $15 each ($12 for students and seniors).

10:00 p.m. Event producer 88 hosts “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

5:00 p.m. The Pyramid Atlantic community-arts store (924 Ellsworth Dr) hosts a showcase of young folk musicians, as well as a poetry open mic to benefit Montgomery Blair High School’s literary arts magazine. This event is free and open to the public.

7:30 p.m. The Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music presents performances by Russian artist Alexei Borisov, Violet, White Suns, 302Acid, The Missus, Les Rhinocéros and Tone Ghosting. This event takes place at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center (8230 Georgia Ave) and costs $8 per person.

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School students present the musical “Sweeney Todd” inside the school’s auditorium (51 University Blvd E). Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students and seniors).

8:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Dracula”, the Steven Dietz play based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel and performed by area high school students. Tickets are $15 each ($12 for students and seniors).

Sunday

2:00 p.m. Space 88 (8211 Mayor Ln) hosts electronic-music performances and live graffiti. The $8 donation for this over-21 event includes food and drinks.

2:00 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School students present the musical “Sweeney Todd” inside the school’s auditorium (51 University Blvd E). Tickets are $8 each ($5 for students and seniors).

3:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Dracula”, the Steven Dietz play based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel and performed by area high school students. Tickets are $15 each ($12 for students and seniors).

Photo courtesy of Flickr user independentman.