Casseroles for a Cause is back just in time for the Fall season! From October 11th through the 20th, Silver Spring Cares will partner with Kokua Foods, Shepherds Table, and The Arc Montgomery County. Our goal is to collect 2,000 delicious meals and help keep freezers full for many of our neighbors.
“Did you know that one easy way to support local organizations and families is by preparing casseroles? Volunteering to make a casserole or two helps to keep the freezers full for many of our most vulnerable neighbors. Your effort saves organizations and volunteers time, money and helps to eliminate any immediate food insecurity issues they may be experiencing. And you don’t even have to leave the house!”
Sign-up here to participate in the latest Casseroles for a Cause. Together let’s help make a difference in our community!
Learn more about Silver Spring Cares and how we work to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection. Whether you are looking to donate items, donate funds, or donate time, Silver Spring Cares is your destination for information on our community’s needs and opportunities for service. By engaging the diverse needs and resources of our residents, we can create a community in which all of us may thrive.
Don Bunuan is a native Washingtonian and a 10-year Hyattsville resident. He spends lots of his free time shuttling kids to ballet and soccer but does love checking out local spots too. From Mt. Rainier to Hyattsville to Riverdale, here are a few of Don’s favorites!
Shortcake Bakery
Art Works Now
Maryland Meadworks
What are your go-to family-friendly spots in the area?
Arts Work Now – Fantastic non-profit featuring art classes and activities. Magruder Park – The heart of Hyattsville for families – lots of fields, city soccer league, tennis, playgrounds, baseball, and public pool.
What’s a great place to grab a bite?
Banana Blossom Bistro in Riverdale (Vietnamese) is a great recent addition with really good food. Chez Dior (homestyle Senegalese cooking) and Shagga Coffee (traditional Ethiopian), both on Route 1 in Hyattsville consistently get rave reviews for exceptional ethnic cuisine.
Local Brews/Distilleries. So many to choose from, but if you had to choose one: what’s your favorite go-to spot for a drink?
Maryland Meadworks, a very local neighborhood joint that features exceptional free music on weekends, as well as unique libations. Sangfroid Distillery, offers craft gin, brandy, and rye whiskey. And of course, Franklins!
Sangfroid Distillery
Banana Blossom Bistro
Magruder Park
What’s the best bakery in town?
Shortcake Bakery, another locally owned Hyattsville small business, boasts fantastic baked treats.
What fun weekend activities do you enjoy?
PG Pool– Amazing co-op pool in Mt. Rainier with non-stop summer activities, bands, social gatherings, swim team, and all-around great community pool.
Any other noteworthy places that you want to give a shout-out to?
Town Center Market is the neighborhood social hub in Riverdale Park. Excellent outdoor seating and the best beer and wine selection in the immediate area.
We are proud of the impact Silver Spring Cares continues to make in our community. Their latest effort, the “Not Your Traditional Back to School Drive,” collected specific items to assist families and students as they begin the new school year. The drive benefitted 8 Silver Spring schools.
Read more from Silver Spring Cares in the recap below:
Our Not Your Traditional Back to School Drive was aimed at allowing all children in our community to start the school year with confidence and dignity. Our efforts provided a helping hand by collecting specific items for 25 families (think new shoes, lunch boxes, underwear, clothing, and backpacks) as well as general items to be distributed to teachers, counselors, and students including hygiene products, graphing calculators, water bottles, books, puzzles, art supplies, and more!
Thanks to a partnership with Silver Spring Cares and the YMCA Youth & Family Services/Linkages to Learning, we assisted families in five elementary, two middle schools, and one high school – all right here in Silver Spring!
The drive benefitted students/families in the following local schools:
Montgomery Knolls Elementary
New Hampshire Estates Elementary
Rolling Terrace Elementary
Broad Acres Elementary
Oak View Elementary
Green Castle Elementary
Eastern Middle School
Silver Spring International Middle School
Blair High School
Silver Spring Cares works to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection. In addition to the Not Your Traditional Back to School Drive, Silver Spring Cares has connected over 4,000 donors and volunteers to a robust network of 30 local nonprofits, delivered over 3,000 meals through our Casseroles for a Cause program, and warmed over 350 families through our Warm Clothing Drive.
Photos from the Not Your Traditional Back To School Drive:
Want to participate in the next Silver Spring Cares community event?
Join Go Brent’s Debbie Gerald and Caliber Home Loans’ Branch Manager Ramez Fahmy for this free event.
When: Wednesday, September 18 from 7:00-8:30PM Where: Silver Spring Civic Center in Downtown Silver Spring
We’ll be discussing the ins and outs of purchasing and financing your first home. If your to-do list includes buying a house or condo now or in the future, please join us. This is a great opportunity to learn about the buying process and ask questions.
Please sign-up in advance. There is no cost or obligation, just plenty of information!
As a native Washingtonian, Natalie Thomas has grown up in Silver Spring’s Woodside Park and had even purchased her first home in Woodside Forest. She definitely knows her way around from boutiques to bakeries and everything in between.
Get to know Natalie in this latest agent spotlight as she takes you through her favorite spots in and around the DC-Metro area.
—
Growing up here and having been fortunate enough to travel to various cities, I have really come to appreciate the beauty and diversity of our metropolitan area and just how much it has to offer. There is a little something for everyone here – whether urban, suburban, waterfront, or mountains – our metropolitan area has it all.
While we live in a very transient area, I have come to love this about our area because it brings people from all over the world together! I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
TEMPT YOUR TASTEBUDS: FOOD SPOTS!
More of a foodie? Well, the food scene just keeps getting better. With so many different cultural influences in this city, no cuisine is left unturned.
PassionFish – Bethesda
Barcelona – Cathedral Heights
Buena Vida – Silver Spring
Where do your tastebuds take you for a nice dinner out with family or friends?
Barcelona – 14th St or Cathedral Commons (DC)
Mi Rancho, Olazzo (Silver Spring)
Blacks Market (Kensington)
Le Diplomate (14th St)
What are of your favorite places to order in from?
Amina Thai (Silver Spring) – Grubhub delivers.
Jewel of India (Silver Spring) – Postmates delivers.
Spring Garden (Silver Spring) – Free delivery.
Favorite Happy Hour spots?
Urban Butcher (Silver Spring)
Mrs. Ks (Silver Spring)
Olazzo (Silver Spring)
Ruths Chris (Bethesda)
Blacks (Bethesda)
Gringos & Mariachis (Bethesda)
Jaleos (Bethesda/DC)
PassionFish (Bethesda)
Favorite Mexican Restaurants?
Lauriol Plaza (Adams Morgan)
Gringos & Mariachis (Bethesda)
Mi Rancho (Silver Spring)
Uncle Julios (Bethesda)
What’s the best breakfast or brunch spot in the area?
Buena Vida – Great brunch spot – unlimited small plates (Silver Spring)
La Pain Quotidien (Bethesda)
LET’S TALK SHOPPING!
Wildwood Center
Friendship Heights
Reddz Trading
Where’s the best shopping in the town? Are there any good boutiques?
Friendship Heights (DC) – Great combination of high-end retail mixed with off-price apparel chains like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. My favorite part of shopping in Friendship Heights is having access to all different types of retail while being able to pop in and out of shops and enjoy the outdoors.
Reddz Trading (Bethesda) – Second hand designer clothing store. Unique designer finds at unbeatable prices.
Wildwood Center (Bethesda) – Mix of boutiques and designer stores.
GET ACTIVE!
Love the great outdoors and mountains? Within an hour you can be hiking at the Shenandoah National Park or sipping wine at a vineyard with mountain views. Our nation’s Capital is full of history from the Capitol, to the White House, to the monuments or museums.
Gravelly Point Park
OrangeTheory – Silver Spring
Billy Goat Trail
Are there any good hikes or bike trails?
C&O Canal (DC) – Hiking and biking
Great Falls (MD) – Billy Goat Trail
Rock Creek Pkwy (MD) – Hiking and biking
Harpers Ferry (VA)
Gravelly Point Park (DC) – Great walking/biking trails
Patapsco Valley State Park (MD) – Great hikes
Sugar Loaf Mountain (MD) – Hiking
Theodore Roosevelt Island (DC) – Walking
Are there any recommendations for workout classes in the area?
Yoga: Blue Heron Wellness (Silver Spring)
Pure Barre (Silver Spring)
Orange Theory (Silver Spring)
LOCAL BREWS & SIPS
Denizens Brewing Company
3 Stars Brewing Company
Kaldi’s Social House
So many to choose from. What are some of your favorite local breweries?
Denizens (MD) – I love that you can bring your dog and sit outside.
3 Stars Brewing Company (DC) – love that you can bring in your own food and get a cold beer.
Best coffee spots in the area?
Kaldis (Silver Spring)
Blue Bottle Coffee (DC – Wharf) – AMAZING DRIP COFFEE
HAVE A SWEET TOOTH?
Pie Sisters
JennyCakes Bakery
Dolcezza
What’s the best bakery in town?
Nothing Bundt Cakes (Silver Spring)
Jenny Cakes Bakery (Kensington)
Baked & Wired (Georgetown)
Pie Sisters (Georgetown)
Tout de Sweet Shop (Bethesda)
Velatis (Silver Spring)
Dolcezza (DC)
District Donut (DC)
FUN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!
The best part about our city is that most of these activities are free and can be enjoyed through so many means of transportation – kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, scootering, or even a Segway tour!
Great Falls
Eastern Market
Union Market
What are fun weekend activities to do in the neighborhood?
Farmer’s Market
Kayak/Paddle Board (DC)
Yoga Class/Barre Class
Union Market (DC)
Museums (DC)
Vineyards/Breweries
Hikes/Biking
Favorite Farmers Markets?
Silver Spring
Capitol Hill – Eastern Market
Are there any cool historical spots worth visiting?
Pretty much anything downtown! White House / Capitol / Museums / Monuments, etc.
What’s your favorite park to take the kids and / or pet to or just take a scroll in?
Great Falls – It’s by far my favorite walk in the area…gorgeous/scenic views.
Interested in keeping up with Natalie? Follow her on instagram!
With the new school year right around the corner, Silver Spring Cares is bringing another wonderful community drive to our area. Take part in the Not Your Traditional Back To School Drive, providing bulk school supplies for 7 schools in Silver Spring.
Not Your Tradition Back To School Drive will take place from August 5th – 23rd.
Read more about the drive from Silver Spring Cares below:
—
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Back to School!
Yet, for many families in our community, this is a time of stress and shame as they already struggle to make ends meet. Many collections are being held for basic school supplies like crayons and glue and Silver Spring Cares is ready to help families by going one step further to meet the growing demands of today’s modern students.
Thanks to a partnership with YMCA Youth & Family Services/Linkages to Learning we hope to ease this burden for families in five elementary and two middle schools in Silver Spring! From individual family requests to providing bulk items for distribution to teachers and students, we hope to allow all children in our community to start the school year with confidence and dignity.
After living in the Seven Oaks neighborhood for over 23 years and working in many local neighborhoods, Liz Brent knows Silver Spring inside and out. From parks to coffee shops, Liz shares some of her favorite go-to spots in the community. If you want to keep up with Liz, follow her on Facebook or Instagram.
Get active! Are there any good hikes or bike trails in the area?
Sligo Creek is the best; I really love living close to it. Walking, jogging, and biking – I do it all. I’ve also started walking several days a week to the Go Brent office too.
Caffeine Rush: What’s your favorite coffee spot?
We are lucky to have great options for independent coffee shops but Kaldi’s is right next door to our office, so that’s my go-to!
Have a sweet tooth? What’s the best bakery in town?
What are fun weekend activities to do in the neighborhood?
Ice skating in the fall and winter! Walk to Ertters for a popsicle! An Ertters popsicle run was a regular after-dinner thing when my 3 kids were young. It got them out of the house, we saw friends and neighbors along the way and there was an inexpensive treat at the end.
Are there any cool historical spots worth visiting?
Many! One that’s less well known is the tiny Battleground National Cemetery on Georgia Avenue in Brightwood. It was commissioned by President Lincoln for Union soldiers who fought at Fort Stevens. I’m an old cemetery fan.
What’s your favorite park to take the kids and/or pets to or just take a stroll in?
My Ridgeback Tess is a regular at Ellsworth Urban Dog Park or we head over and walk at Sligo Creek. When my kids were young, we hung out at either “The Sunny Park”, on Ellsworth or “The Shady Park” by the creek on Bennington.
Go Brent is local, small and mighty! We are excited to have five agents recognized in Washingtonian’s Top Agents List which hit newsstands this month. Liz Brent, Cari Jordan, Debbie Gerald, and The Thomas Group – Tammy Thomas & Natalie Thomas were all listed among Washington’s Top-Producing Agents.
Washingtonian magazine annually recognizes agents and teams producing the highest sales volume in the area.
We’re proud of our agents’ good work and thrilled to work with such amazing clients.
Headed downtown for the Independence Day parade, A Capitol Fourth Concert, and the amazing fireworks display? If you’re planning on spending Independence Day on the National Mall, you can find a schedule of events, best firework viewing areas, and lots of other details on the National Park Service site.
If you don’t want to venture downtown, here are some terrific July 4th events you can take in closer to home:
Montgomery County Mid-County Sparkles
Where: Albert Einstein High School Address: 11135 Newport Mill Road Website: montgomerycountymd.gov
Live music will begin at 7:30 PM, featuring Bobbie and the Believers with fireworks at 9:15 PM. The viewing areas will be at the front of the school on the ball field and at the Newport Mill Middle School, 11311 Newport Mill Road. No on-site parking at either school or at adjacent properties, except for handicapped parking. Shuttle buses will pick up passengers, beginning at 6 PM, at Westfield Wheaton Plaza in the parking lot in between the North Building and the CVS store and at the Wheaton Metro Station Georgia Avenue side.
Low lawn chairs and coolers are welcome. Food vendors will be on site. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. To receive the most up-to-date information, register for text alerts by text the keyword MOCOJULY4 to 888777. (Rain date for the fireworks only is July 5th. No shuttle service will be available on the 5th.)
Parade: Carroll & Ethan Allen Avenues Fireworks: Takoma Park Middle School Address: 7611 Piney Branch Road Website: takomapark4th.org
The parade begins at 10 AM and lasts until about noon. Parade is held rain or shine and begins at the intersection of Carroll & Ethan Allen Avenues. It will travel south on Carroll Avenue, turn right on Maple Avenue, and continue to Ritchie Avenue. The evening celebration will begin at 7 PM. Due to construction, there are no fireworks this year, instead, they’re bringing the 4th of July to the streets of Takoma Park! With a stage of LIVE MUSIC, food trucks, children’s activities, vendors and more. Party in the Streets of Takoma Park, right in front of the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Ave)! The Takoma Park Community Band performs a patriotic selection of classical, popular and show tunes and then MO’Fire performs!
Parade: St. Paul Park Address: Plyers Mill Road and St. Paul Street Website: tok.md.gov
The annual bike parade kicks off at 10 AM at St. Paul Park. Those wishing to participate should begin lining up along St. Paul Street between Plyers Mill Road and Oberon Street by 9:45 am. This event is open to all kids, and those young at heart, that wish to decorate their bike, scooter, wagon or stroller and follow a Kensington Volunteer Fire Department truck through the streets of Kensington.
City of College Park & The University of Maryland Concert & Fireworks
Where: University of Maryland Address: Lot 1 adjacent to Campus Drive Website: eventbrite.com
NightLife will entertain from 7 PM until 9 PM. followed by a 30-minute Fireworks Extravaganza at dusk! Fun for all ages with concessions open at 5 PM offering hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, snow cones, soda and bottled water. Grass seating is limited, so bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Personal coolers are also allowed, but alcohol is not permitted. Rain date for fireworks only is July 5th.
This custom 4-bedroom Dutch colonial is designed and built specifically for the lot and neighborhood.
Property Details:
Address: 1917 Grace Church Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Bed / Bath: 5 Bedrooms / 5 Baths
Price: Offered at $1.238M
Square Footage: 4,288 Square Feet
The main level features a formal living room, formal dining room and open concept kitchen with center island seating area and family room with fireplace and breakfast nook. A main level den or guest room is serviced by a private full bath. The second floor has a master suite with large bath and walk in closet. The second bedroom has an en-suite bath as well. Bedrooms 3 and 4 share a bath. The laundry room is centrally located on the upper level. The lower level offers a bedroom and full bath along with large family/playroom.
Hardie Plank siding and Boral trim provide low maintenance long lasting exterior. There will also be a thermal slate front walkway and stone foundation accents. The home will feature custom cabinets, high-end appliances, wide plank hardwood flooring, and upgraded trim/doors/finishes. Bathrooms with custom tile design, heated floors, glass enclosures, upgraded finishes and fixtures. No builder grade materials anywhere in the house.
1917 Grace Church Road is conveniently located inside the Beltway near local shops including Snider’s Grocery, Woodside Deli, ALDI, Goldberg’s Bagels, and CVS. Montgomery Hills Park offers a playground , basketball court, and tennis court; hike/bike local trails in Sligo Creek Park, Capital Crescent Trail, or Rock Creek Park. The local public elementary school is located in the neighborhood. It’s an easy walk or drive to downtown Silver Spring’s restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and year-round farmers market. Commuters have quick access to local bus routes, Forest Glen and Silver Spring Metros, and the future Purple Line as well as Georgia Avenue, 16th Street, and the Beltway. An active neighborhood association keeps the community connected.
