Do Your Last-Minute Holiday Shopping at the Craft Market at Denizens Brewing Co. on December 17
Looking for the Perfect Holiday Gift? Visit the Craft Market at Denizens Brewing Co. on Sunday, December 17th from noon to 4 p.m. It's the perfect place to do some last-minute holiday shopping, and it's a great way to support local makers while sipping on craft beer.
The market will feature local artisans selling jewelry, ceramics, candies, children decor, and home accessories. While you're shopping, you'll also have a chance to try Denizens Brewing Co.'s beers in the two-level taproom. Seasonal brews include the Avo Ruby Old Ale and the Third Party Belgian Style Tripel, and you can even grab tasty bites from the full kitchen while you shop.
Read More
Ethiopian and Italian Cuisines Merge at Meleket Restaurant
Delicious, healthy, and affordable come together at Meleket Restaurant, a family-owned Ethiopian-Italian restaurant in Silver Spring. Using only fresh produce, the seasonal menu at this innovative eatery features an array of tasty options.
The Timatim Fitfit takes pieces of injera and mixes it with fresh tomato, onions, green peppers, and homemade dressing. The Meleket’s Special Tibs is a savory option, marinating tender cubed lamb or beef in tomato, jalapeño, and fresh garlic. Steak lovers will want to try the Special Kitfo, an Ethiopian steak tartar seasoned with an herbed butter sauce and hot chili powder.
The bar menu at Meleket features a variety of wine, beer, martinis, and signature cocktails. The Barbados Surprise is one such cocktail — a colorful combination of grenadine, orange juice, rum, and Blue Curacao. Live jazz events are also held in the bar, adding to the relaxing environment of this one-of-a-kind restaurant. Early risers may also want to check out the breakfast menu, which is available from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Read More
Get in the Holiday Spirit at the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade on November 18
There's nothing better than a parade to get you in the holiday spirit, and in the DC area, the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is the one you shouldn't miss. With marching bands, Bolivian dancing groups, floats, giant characters and balloons, and even Santa Claus himself, this parade has something for all ages to enjoy. The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade takes place on Saturday, November 18 from 10 a.m. to noon, but you'll want to arrive early to secure your spot in the crowd. The parade route is from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street south down Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue. This year the parade will also offer something new and exciting: a holiday family photo station! Get your family's portrait taken with backdrops of inflatable turkeys, penguins, Frozen's Elsa, or with Hanukkah or Christmas décor. All parade selfies marked with the hashtag #MoCoThanksParade will be broadcast on the jumbotron at Ellsworth and Fenton along the parade route.
Read More
Kefa Cafe Promises Some of the Best Coffee in Silver Spring
Across the board, customers agree that there's one thing Kefa Cafe really does better than any other spot in Silver Spring, and that's coffee. Although it might not be the most well-rounded cafe when it comes to frills like fancy creamers and syrups or baked goods, Kefa more than makes up for this with its carefully crafted cups of joe.
Come to the coffee shop on the first floor of the Silver Spring Library to meet its always warm and welcoming owner and order a pour-over. Kefa boasts beans from all over the world. Some hail from coffee-growing regions you may know well, like Ethiopia and Colombia, but others travel from unexpected origins such as Korea, China, and Nepal. Order your coffee black or au lait and watch while the shop's owner or one of her staff create your cup with great care.
Read More
Enjoy a French Crepe at Fenton Cafe
Crepes aren't just for breakfast at Fenton Cafe. The French eatery in Silver Spring serves up both sweet and savory crepes for every meal. Along with a small lineup of sandwiches and gourmet coffee drinks, these crepes have garnered more than 200 positive Yelp reviews, speaking to the quality of the cuisine at this otherwise modest restaurant.
If you decide you'd like a sweet crepe, there are more than 30 options at your fingertips. Go with a classic like the Nutella and banana crepe or savor something unexpected, like the chestnut spread and strawberry crepe. On the savory side of the menu, you'll find crepes stuffed with eggs, turkey, and cheese; caramelized onion, spinach, sundried tomato, and feta cheese; and grilled chicken, cheese, tomato, and pesto, to name just a few. Regardless of which crepe you choose, you can wash it down with a cup of Illy Coffee or some tea at Fenton Cafe.
Read More
Revamp Your Fitness Routine at NinaKshi Dance Studio in Silver Spring
Pieces of Bollywood choreography double as up-tempo dance routines at NinaKshi Dance Studio. Owner and artistic director Nina Kottakuzhiyil grew up learning the art of Bharatanatyam in Maryland — in fact, she got started at age four. This classical style of South Indian dancing is one of the modalities that the instructors teach at NinaKshi. Sign up for a weekly Bharatanatyam class every Thursday night to master the fundamental techniques. You'll hone your sense of rhythm and hand-eye coordination as you nail down the simple steps. Toddlers, kids, and teens can all come to special beginner sessions just for them to learn the dances, too. Adults should check out BollyBits, which takes traditional Bollywood dance moves and music and transforms them into a fun, upbeat fitness routine. As you learn the moves and have fun with new friends, you'll also build strength and burn calories.
Read More
The Society Lounge: Rum Punch and Jerk Chicken Wings
You can't beat the pairing of rum punch and jerk wings during happy hour at The Society Lounge. Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., people who live, work, and play in Silver Spring kick back at the eatery after a long day. On Mondays, the standard happy hour specials are joined by $6 martinis. Tuesdays offer $25 beer buckets, Wednesdays call for 50% off select wines, and Thursdays promise $5 glasses of that popular rum punch. You don't have to come during happy hour to appreciate the Caribbean cuisine and creative cocktails at The Society Lounge. Sit down for dinner and order a round of Caribbean rolls stuffed with jerk chicken or fried macaroni and cheese balls over rosa sauce. Just make sure that you have enough room for an entree, such as J's jerk chicken, deep-fried red snapper, or Cajun pasta.
Read More
The National Museum of Health and Medicine Displays the Bullet that Killed Abe Lincoln and Other Medical Artifacts
When John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, army surgeon Charles Leale—who happened to be attending the same play—leapt into action. One of his first medical moves? To "administer" brandy and water. Despite the general lack of medical knowledge at the time, Leale and a team of DC doctors managed to keep the president alive overnight and provide comfort until he inevitably passed away. It was one of the greatest tragedies in American history, and you can relive every heart-wrenching moment at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The museum devotes an entire exhibit to the night that Abraham Lincoln died, complete with artifacts from the evening—including the bullet responsible for his death. This is just one of the current exhibits at the museum, which showcases pieces of medical history from wars, widespread medical epidemics, and other periods of interest. Come to the National Museum of Health and Medicine to explore the ways that medicine has evolved in the last few centuries.
Read More
Pair Fried Chicken with Southern-Style Cocktails at Hen Quarter
You can see the influence of the South as soon as you step into Hen Quarter. The dining room is comfortable and homey, while still being upscale enough for a special meal or occasion. Southern staples like chicken and waffles and fried catfish are menu standouts for lunch or dinner, or you can stop by Hen Quarter every weekend for an unforgettable brunch. Busy folks will appreciate their speedy lunch service — get your order within 10 minutes or it is on the house. Happy hour at Hen Quarter is also a great time to stop in to enjoy $5 appetizers and deals on beer and cocktails. The Fried Chicken Crackling with Rooster Hot Honey is a crowd favorite, especially when paired with a classic Old Fashioned.
Read More
Make Your Weekend Brunch Plans at Scion
Located just down the road from the Metro station, Silver Spring’s Scion is well known to local commuters. Owned by a local family with decades in the restaurant business, Scion is known for its laid-back atmosphere, classic American comfort food, and appealing happy hour specials.
If you’ve never visited before, stop by during happy hour to get a taste of what makes this place so popular. Every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m., you can get draft beers for half price, $4 bao buns, and a sampler platter of sliders for $9. If you enjoy that, come by on the weekend for brunch, too. The menu includes all of the kitchen’s classic salads and sandwiches as well as an array of popular breakfast dishes — some favorites include the crawfish hash, huevos rancheros, and the cinnamon-banana French toast. If those meals don’t strike your fancy, then you can build your own omelet or scramble, using your choice of protein, cheese, and up to three veggies.
Read More