The Silver Spring Penguin

A nasty blast of Arctic air put Silver Spring in a deep freeze Friday night, but that didn’t stop the hood from jump starting the extended inaugural weekend.

Nearly 36 hours before The District’s “We Are One” musical extravaganza, blues artist Jonny Grave tore shit up at an intimate performance inside the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center.

The twenty-something Silver Springer told listeners he learned all his dirrrrrty-ass ghee-tahr licks from Daddy. But his narrative vocal style had hues of Bob Dylan and Tom Wait. (Daddy performed one tune during the gig [below left], and his voice was definitely more Johnny Cash than Jonny Grave. For real.)

Many of Grave’s old timey songs were chock full o’ train imagery, but he also tipped his hat at Fenton Village’s Bonifant Street. (That street may have a train of its own before too long.) Grave described the narrow street as a model urban thoroughfare, with its small restaurants and gun shop. His new album, “Gone Everywhere But Home”, includes a technically tricky tune called “Bonifant Street Rag”.

He even gave a shout out to the Quarry House Tavern, home of the fried pickle and birthplace of Grave’s blues career. The basement bar on Bonifant and Georgia Avenue inspired another song on the new album.

That same evening, things got thumping at Gallery Lounge in South Silver Spring. At the door, a twenty-something couple surprised the bouncer when they flashed convincing ID from Barack Obama’s Aloha State. The two were in town for the Inauguration, and wouldn’t let the biting cold keep them from partying, they told the bouncer.

Illinois had equal representation at the lounge, which hosted the Loda dance party that night. According to one witness, Chi-Town deejay Stacy Kidd tore shit up while revellers got down on the dance floor.

Lead photo from a previous Loda event courtesy of Flickr user SexyFitsum. Photos of Jonny Grave performance by J. Deseo/SSP.

There’s plenty of action rocking The District this week and next, but some of downtown Silver Spring’s businesses have their own party plans in place.

Late last week, a cabal of big and small businesses (above, including The Penguin) pulled together gift packets full o’ special deals for Inauguration visitors holed up in Silver Spring. Coupons are required to score some discounts. (The speedy and stealthy can horde those coupons from downtown’s roving information kiosk.) Other discounts fly to anyone and everyone.

Here’s what local businesses are doing to hook people up:

• Kefa Cafe (963 Bonifant St) — Hit it on Jan 17 or Jan 20 wearing some slick Obama, USA or Silver Spring gear, and the sister baristas will cook up a 16-oz cup of joe and a muffin for $4.44. If you prefer their cocoa over coffee, score a 44-cent break. Your patriotism is your coupon.
• CakeLove (935 Ellsworth Dr) — Buy three cupcakes, get the fourth one free until Jan 31, 2009. The people behind the counter will even spare you the “wait 15 minutes before you eat it” speech. Cake lovers might need to flash a coupon (keyword: might).
• Across The Street Cafe (8622 Colesville Rd) — Management hits you with a free glass of house wine and hors d’oeuvres when you buy an entree between Jan 16 to Jan 20, 2009. Check out the kitchen’s Obama Steak or the Biden Burger.
• Fuddruckers (819 Ellsworth Dr) — The burger joint cuts 10 percent off your entire check, but this deal drops only at the Silver Spring location. Don’t try to pull this crap in Rockville. And you might (keyword: might) need a coupon.
• Metamorphosis (811 Wayne Ave) — For those getting dolled up for an inaugural ball, this women’s fashion shop cuts you a $44 discount off any one regularly priced item of $150 or more until Jan 31, 2009. You might need a coupon (keyword: might), and the deal can’t be combined with other discounts, or used on stuff you bought yesterday or on layaway. Furthermore, the sweet discount means that sale is final.
• Sabroso Grill (8624 Colesville Rd) — Score a quarter grilled chicken with two sides and a fountain soda for $4.44, or catch a break of 44 percent off any dessert or drink worth at least $4. Mmm … pollo y platanos! A coupon might be required (keyword: might).
• Whole Foods Market (833 Wayne Ave) — Get $2 off a $20 purchase. Easy enough. However, you’ll need the actual coupon, which works only at Whole Foods’ Silver Spring location. Don’t try to pull this shit in The District.
• Caribou Coffee (1316 East-West Hwy) — Coupon holders get a free drink — any size (read: extra large), any kind (read: with whipped cream, a double shot of hazelnut syrup, and whatever other frou-frou will fit in the cup). But you must have that coupon.
• Chaubara Fashion Studio (8711 First Ave) — Score a $44 break in this slick sari shop when you buy any one thing worth at least $100. You’ll need a coupon, and all sales are final.
• Auntie Anne’s (City Place Mall) — Two tasty pretzels ring up at $4.44 when you flash the required coupon.
• Subway (City Place Mall) — Get a free value meal with any footlong sub you buy, or a free 21-oz fountain soda when you order a 6-inch sub. The coupon might be necessary (keyword: might), and this deal works only at the City Place location. Don’t try to pull this crap on Colesville Road, Wayne Avenue or on 13th Street.
• Piratz Tavern (8402 Georgia Ave) — The house wench serves dinner for two for $44. That’s one app, two entrees and two desserts. The bar also pours day-long happy hour specials starting this Friday.
• Langano Ethiopian Restaurant (8305 Georgia Ave) — The kitchen cooks up specials under $7, including a carnivore’s kitfo sandwich for $4.35, and a vegetarian combo for $6.95. Just ask for the inaugural menu.
• Nicaro (8229 Georgia Ave) — The bar kicks out day-long happy hour specials on Jan 20, and a three-course tasting menu at dinner for $35. Hit it. It’s good eats.
• Jackie’s (8081 Georgia Ave) — This Thursday, the bar slings $4.40 Obamatinis, and the kitchen does a $44 two-course dinner for two. Save your appetite for Jan 20, when the house throws an inaugural luau party, complete with a roasted pig.
• Quarry House (8401 Georgia Ave) — Downtown’s venerated dive hosts an assload of music, plus the “inaugural brawl” on Jan 20. As always, the burgers are half priced on Mondays.
• Ceviche (921 Ellsworth Dr) — Starting Sunday, the kitchen kicks out a four-course dinner with wine pairings for $44 per person. That deal rolls until next Thursday.
• Gallery Lounge (1115 East-West Hwy) — The South Silver Spring nightclub remixes things with Loda, a music and multimedia gig, on the lower and upper floors. The rump shaking goes down on Friday nights, with a $5 early-bird cover.

And if you’re wondering what’s up with the number 44 in all these deals, it’s a tip of the hat to prez-elect Barack Obama, who will be the 44th president.

Photo: Silver Spring’s Inaugural cabal stuffed coupons into plastic bags last Thursday at the Georgia Avenue regional center. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.