Tag Archives: Agent Spotlight

Go Brent Agent Spotlight: Debbie Gerald

October 21, 2019

Having spent most of her life in and around Silver Spring, Debbie Gerald definitely knows her go-to spots in the community. From local parks and coffee spots to farmers markets, get to know more about Debbie in this latest agent spotlight as she shares her favorite places in and around the area.

About Debbie:

“I grew up in Silver Spring and lived in Gaithersburg for awhile where I renovated and sold our home. I came back to Silver Spring to renovate and sell a home in Woodside Park, and then renovated and sold a home in Sligo Park Hills. I recently renovated and moved into a home in Silver Spring’s Cameron Heights neighborhood. (I’m sensing a pattern here!)

I think four renovations is enough for me, but I also said that after three. I am enjoying meeting my new neighbors and exploring my new neighborhood (even though I am pretty familiar because I grew up not too far away) and look forward to many happy years. I can say I am very happy that I moved back to Silver Spring years ago, always something interesting going on in the community.”

Where is your go-to spot for a nice dinner out with family and friends?

Love to go to Republic in Takoma Park. Great for dinner and they have a nice happy hour!

Do you have any favorite trails in your neighborhood?

My favorite is to take my dog Winston to Sligo Creek Park. My current home and my last home in are/were both walkable to the park.

Happy hour! Where do you recommend a good spot for a drink?

So happy that Locavino finally opened! I also enjoy Mrs. K’s wine cellar and bar.

Coffee is a must. Where is the best coffee in the area?

Kaldi’s hands down. Great vibe. AND…it does not hurt that our office is right next door.

Have a sweet tooth? What’s the best bakery in town?

Woodmoor Pastry. I remember growing up my mother used to take me in. I try to get the parker house and snowflake rolls for holidays. Remember to pre-order!

Favorite Farmers Markets?

DTSS! I always see so many neighbors and clients. I also like Forest Estates Farmers Market. They choose one farmer each year with the market held in Getty Park.

What’s your favorite park to take a stroll in?

My new favorite is Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park, between Georgia and Dennis.

The park was renovated and offers a playing field and open lawn areas along with a playground and paved area for wheeled play. There are tennis courts, basketball courts, and a picnic area. Plus walking trails, natural meadow areas, and shady woodland areas. It was one of the first pilot projects in the nation to be certified under the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) Rating System for sustainable site design, construction and maintenance.

If you haven’t been, go check it out!

Want to know more about Debbie? Check out her bio here.

Go Brent Agent Spotlight: Don Bunuan

September 12, 2019

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!

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!

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.

Go Brent Agent Spotlight: Natalie Thomas

August 5, 2019

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.

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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 – 14^th St or Cathedral Commons (DC)
Mi Rancho, Olazzo (Silver Spring)
Blacks Market (Kensington)
Le Diplomate (14^th 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!

Go Brent Agent Spotlight: Liz Brent

July 24, 2019

photo via source of the spring

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.

What’s the best breakfast or brunch spot in town?

Fenton Cafe for crepes and Italian coffee!

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?

I’ll go with caramels – Velatis.

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.

Favorite Farmer’s Markets?

I’m lucky to be just 3 blocks from the SS Farmer’s Market.

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.