The Silver Spring Freshfarm Market Offers Fresh Produce All Year Round
Silver Spring Freshfarm Market, located in the heart of downtown Silver Spring on Ellsworth Drive and Veterans Plaza, is a bustling, family-friendly market operating every Saturday year-round. The market boasts over 45 farmers and producers, offering everything from organic fruits and vegetables to pasture-raised meats to Maryland-made wines, beers, and ciders. New to this year’s line-up is Call Your Mother serving up wood-fired bagels with local toppings, such as scratch-made cream cheese and smoked whitefish. Another favorite is Baklava Couture, a Greek artisan bakery specializing in sweet and savory pastries. Live musicians scattered throughout the market add to the charming ambiance.
A public garage, accessible from both Georgia and Wayne Avenues, is located adjacent to the market site. Parking is free on Saturdays and is convenient for loading your car with all of your goodies. Make sure you bring along your reusable bags, which come in handy while strolling from vendor to vendor. Silver Spring Freshfarm Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Enjoy Homemade Italian Fare at Olazzo
Abandon your local chain Italian restaurant and enjoy an authentic taste of Italy at Olazzo. This family run restaurant serves the finest ingredients prepared in classic preparations for all of their menu items, and you can taste the difference Enjoy rich pastas, light salads, and a few low-carb specialties for very reasonable prices.
The Chicken Cardinale is a particular crowd favorite, and is served over perfectly cooked penne with a flavorful tomato cream sauce. The service is top notch, and what you would expect from a family operated business that prides itself on being a part of the neighborhood. Visit Olazzo for happy hour and daily specials, like six dollar martini Tuesdays. They also feature a weekend brunch with omelettes, Italian pastries, and a variety of crepes. Go to the restaurant's website to learn more about the brothers behind the restaurant’s success, or to preview the menu. Catering is also available, and making reservations from the website is quick and easy.
Enjoy Authentic Bubble Tea at Kung Fu Tea
The trio of friends who founded Kung Fu Tea nearly a decade ago did so after a disappointing experience at a bubble tea shop in NYC. They'd just come back from a trip to Taiwan, where they enjoyed the authentic treat on a regular basis, and were dismayed by the poor imitation they found at the cafe in Queens. So the buddies decided to do something about it. They opened Kung Fu Tea in New York, and since have expanded to include more than 150 locations across three countires—including a branch that opened three months ago in Bethesda.
Come to Kung Fu Tea to experience what authentic bubble tea really tastes like. The cafe promises a variety of classic iced teas, boba-infused milk teas, and jelly-topped punches and specialty drinks. If you're looking for a light and refreshing sip, order the strawberry lemonade, a frosty ombré concoction flecked with the sweet jelly. If you want something more decadent, order a classic milk tea speckled with tapioca bubbles and crushed Oreos. Kung Fu also offers tea-infused slush and other unique options, so you might want to make repeat visits to experience the different beverages.
Meet Your Favorite Authors at Politics & Prose
Politics & Prose serves as more than just a bookstore. The local business draws crowds for its author signings, writing classes, and other special events. So whether you're a bookworm who wants to meet your favorite author or a budding wordsmith yourself, Politics & Prose has something to tempt you.
The bookstore's schedule is jam-packed with events every day of the week. Coming up this summer, you can meet Michelle Smith, author of The Whole Smiths Good Food Cookbook. She penned a cookbook that specifically accommodates anyone adhering to the Whole30, and she's coming to Politics & Prose to talk about her recipes and writing methods. Want to learn how to design a compelling plot, explore the poetry of W.B. Yeats and other Irish artists, or delve into French culture? These are just a few of the subjects at classes coming up this summer at Politics & Prose.
Find Fresh, Locally Sourced Foods at the Takoma Park Farmers Market
Every farmer at Takoma Park Farmers Market has at least one thing in common: they cultivate their crops and raise their meats within 125 miles of Takoma Park. That's part of the criteria to be included in this market, which is organized by folks who want their local food to actually come from local sources.
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Laurel Avenue, these farmers line up behind booths stocked with their seasonal fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, eggs and gourmet cheese, and fresh baked goods. This year, the market hosts two pop-up guests each week, such as local breweries or distilleries. Check out the specialty vendors and explore the rest of the Takoma Park Farmers Market this Sunday. It runs year-round, so you have ample opportunities to visit.
Catch an Alt Rock Show at The Fillmore
If you're a fan of indie artists who haven't hit the mainstream radio stations yet, The Fillmore in Silver Spring can introduce you to a few new ones. This intimate music venue can hold a couple thousand fans, but it feels like less given the setup of the space, a mix of standing room, high-top tables and stools, and traditional theater seating—depending on the vibe of the show.
Check out the upcoming schedule for a show that suits your tastes. On Saturday, April 28th, The Wildflowers headline BIG100's Throwback Bash, a tribute band that pays homage to the tunes of Tom Petty. On Tuesday, May 22nd, early-2000s rockers New Found Glory hit the stage with Bayside, The Movielife, and William Ryan Key. You'll also see a handful of bigger names on the upcoming itinerary, like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on Sunday, June 17th.
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Savor Steak Aged for Two Months Urban Butcher
You've probably heard of farm-to-table restaurants, but have you ever been to a nose-to-tail eatery? If the answer is no, then you're past due to check out Urban Butcher. It boasts an in-house butchery team that meticulously prepares all of the meat, including the signature rib steak. They dry-age the steaks for at least 60 days (sometimes more) and then grill them over a crackling fire to bring out their innate flavors.
Come by for happy hour to taste what the butcher and chef team can do at Urban Butcher. The happy hour Meat Cellar board is only $12, but it'll take your taste buds on a tour of the larger menu. It comes with two cured meats, two types of salami, one pate, and one cheese. Beef empanadas, Butcher's meatballs, and the Butcher's burger present a few other options if you want to taste the artfully prepared meats. Add a $6 cocktail, like a lavender margarita or a draft beer, for the full happy hour experience. Happy hour runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and all day Sunday.
Big Escape Room: Crack the Case, Win Your Freedom
A scary clown. A lethal epidemic. A creepy spirit. These are the opponents you'll have to outsmart at the Big Escape Room. If you don't, you won't escape the room and earn bragging rights. Of course, the experience will strengthen bonds between friends, family, and coworkers, so it's really a win-win either way.
Big Escape Room in Silver Spring boasts three distinct experiences, none of them for the faint of heart. The most difficult to escape is "Outbreak." In this room, you're plunged into a post-apocalyptic Silver Spring where you'll have to solve riddles and crack clues in order to save the human race from extinction. The second-most difficult scenario, "Pharoah," tasks you with clearing a vengeful ghost out of a museum before it debuts a new exhibit showing off her crown jewels. Then the "Clown" room brings the creepy vibes with a clown in an abandoned circus.
Enjoy Central’s Three Outdoor Terraces This Spring
Spring weather is right around the corner — finally! When the cold weather breaks, make sure to plan your next get-together at one of our three outdoor terraces, including our sky lounge with views of the city. The perfect space for a get-together, a quiet afternoon, or just to get some vitamin D. Say goodbye to the winter blues and hello to a summer glow by taking advantage of some of Central's most popular amenities!
Calling All Budding Artists! Do Some Good for the ONEHOPE Foundation at Wine By Design on 3/22
Raise money for a good cause while also having fun and unleashing your creativity at Wine by Design's wine glass painting event on March 22. This event will be held in partnership with the ONEHOPE Foundation, an organization that aims to find new and creative ways to raise funds for various nonprofits.
The wine glass painting event invites you to paint your own keepsake wine glass while also enjoying a glass of red or white at the same time. The cost is $15 per person to participate, and 10% of the profits will go towards a TBD local charity. We hope to see you there!