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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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.
Try Aerial Yoga at Up Yoga and Wellness
Even if you feel like you've taken your yoga practice as far as it can go, there's a final frontier left to conquer: aerial yoga at Up Yoga and Wellness. Unlike traditional mat-based yoga, aerial yoga opens up a full range of motion. Yogis hang a few feet above the ground, suspended by silk hammocks that hang from the ceiling. With the support of these soft hammocks, students can sink deeper into bends and twists, challenging their bodies to take yoga a step further.
Don't worry if you're not quite ready for aerial yoga, however. Up Yoga and Wellness boasts a large roster of traditional classes, too. Newcomers should check out Yoga Fundamentals, where they'll learn basic postures and breathing techniques. Then you can try a faster-paced class such as all-levels Vinyasa. The quick-flowing session gets the blood pumping with a fluid series of moves, all performed with a focus on safety and proper alignment. For something slower, opt for Yoga Hoga, a meditative class that incorporates elements of gentle yoga.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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