Outdoors in Rockville!

>This Contributor’s Review is from Rockville Central friend, Amy Ellis.

It’s finally time for the return of the outdoor events that really make it feel like Spring/Summer in Rockville! I enjoy the greening plants and blooming flowers of early Spring very much, but my heart really sings when it’s time to get outside to dine, listen to music, and stroll comfortably around the city- not too cool and not yet hot and humid. There are a number of restaurants downtown with outdoor seating and it’s getting to be one of the prime times of the year to take advantage of that opportunity.

This past Saturday, May 17th, was the opening day for our Rockville Farmer’s Market. The sky was a beautiful blue, a brass band playing in the background lent a particularly festive atmosphere, and many old favorite vendors were back for another season selling local produce, baked goods, plants, meat, cheeses, and toiletries. These folks all grow or produce their own goods, so shopping at the market is a great opportunity to support not only the local food movement, but also hardworking small business people who take great pride in the high quality of the things that they sell. Strawberries are in at many of the farms (and will be coming in soon for others)- YUM!- and I saw lots of wonderful looking salad greens, bedding plants, and cut spring flowers. I satisfied my craving for sweet breads at the Trail Garden (and noted for future expeditions that a new baker- Praline- had some very tempting croissants that will certainly warrent a tasting), picked up some Minty Foot Cream at Bubbles and Bees (a little goes a long way- the big jar lasted me all Winter), snagged fudge at Unger’s, and of course grabbed some strawberries, too!

My whole family has been looking forward to the return of Concerts on the Square. Last Summer, we frequently met friends for the Thursday evening concerts- getting take-out for dinner at one of the restaurants in Town Center (Lebanese Taverna was a big favorite and this year I’m looking forward to Bobby’s Crabcakes) and making a picnic of the occasion. The kids played together in the grass while the adults listened to the music and enjoyed some conversation. We’ve already got plans to go out and hear Seamus Kennedy next week. I’m glad to see that Wednesday night will also be a concert option through July and we are looking forward to attending one of the Movies on the Square events. The Tuesday Kids Day events look like fun, too. Magic, reptiles, Mad Science- what’s not to like about that?!

The Rockville Express Summer Collegiate League baseball games appear to be worth checking out. They will play at Knight’s Field at the Rockville Campus of Montgomery College during June and July. It looks like an excellent chance to take the kids to watch a baseball game that’s close to home with reasonable ticket prices and a small venue where you can see the action up close. Someday you may even have the chance to say about a major league star “I remember seeing him play during the summer in Rockville back when he was in college…”

Finally, the weekend slate of activities for Hometown Holidays looks great and if the current predictions hold up, it looks like the weather will be perfect. I want to check out the VisArts Fine Arts Festival, my older son is excited about participating in the Ride and Stride for Rockville (this year the 2-mile fun walk for a start) and we will all enjoy having a “Taste of Rockville” and listening to/watching the many fine performers scheduled on various stages around town. The Memorial Day Parade will cap off the weekend. Truly something for everybody!

What do you like to do outdoors in Rockville? Share your favorites in the comment box…

Music Review: Patty Reese at Austin Grill

>This review is a collaboration between Rockville Central friend Amy Ellis and myself.

Last Thursday March 13, 2008 we had the pleasure of listening to Patty Reese at the Austin Grill Rockville as part their Songwriters Showcase. Since she was awarded “Best Rock Vocalist” for 2007 from the Washington Area Music Association, we definitely wanted to hear her sing. Patty started strong and then used each song as a building block to reach an even higher level with the next, showcasing a rich and powerful voice capable of doing justice to a variety of music.

Although she was taking requests, which included Tracy Chapman, Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan, her distinctive phrasing made each song her own. As teenagers, we listened to Stevie Nicks’ music, but as adults, we can’t remember the last time we heard Landslide, which really struck a chord in our hearts. Patty’s insightful interpretation of this song had a lovely, but mournful quality. Perhaps some of this change in perspective has to do with being older now and having experienced a lot more of life including motherhood, but it seemed that Patty’s rendition of this song uncovered shades of meaning in the lyrics that were not as evident in the original.

Before she began to play Tom Petty’s Breakdown, Patty said that it would be even better with a second guitar. Regardless, we enjoyed hearing her “unplugged” version of this song and thought the solo guitar work was excellent. The acoustic set was a very nice showcase for her considerable talent as a guitarist in addition to her fine voice.

We suspect that her flawless ability to play requests for the crowd is the reason that she does so many cover songs, but anyone who has listened to her recorded music would rather have had the chance to hear her originals. Our solution was to buy two of her cds, Here and Now and Patty Reese ep. Next time, we’ll know what to request and it will be written by her!

Patty Reese will be playing at Austin Grill Rockville regularly, the second Thursday of each month starting at around 8:30 PM. As always, there is never a cover charge at Austin Grill just food, drink, and live music.

Saturday Farmers' Market Still in Season

Thanks to >Rockville Central friend, Amy Ellis, for this review.

When Saturday morning rolls around, you will find me at the Rockville Growers Only Farmers’ Market. My weekly trip during the Market’s open season (mid May-October), has become a much loved ritual over my past 7 years in Rockville. One of the pleasures of coming to the market is buying things directly from the people who grow them. Along with delicious produce, baked goods, etc., you get friendly smiles and warm greetings. I think most folks who come to shop here have favorite vendors and I’m no different.

My usual first stop is Unger’s Fruit Farm and I grab whatever is in season. This past Saturday I got some of the last of their peaches (and I will miss them desperately until next year), but there are lots of apples coming in and some tomato varieties are still here, too. Earlier this year we enjoyed cherries, blueberries, blackberries, green beans and onions. The stand is run by Jim and Freida Unger of Hampstead, MD. They also make apple butter and fresh cider in season (coming up!) and occasionally, if we are very lucky and if Jim has time, he makes chocolate fudge- a treat much beloved by my young sons.

Another great place for a treat is Trail Garden (http://www.trailgarden.com/). Eva (a marvelous baker and a very nice lady) uses fresh ingredients and seasonal fruits to create bread and rolls (both sweet and savory), pies, scones, and cookies. Many of these use recipes from her native Sweden and they are all worth sampling. My favorites are Vanilla Cinnamon Sweet Bread (a fantastic part of Sunday morning breakfast), Cardamom Buns, Almond Giffel, and the Cuts (in either Chocolate, Caramel, or Chai flavors- all excellent with a cup of tea or coffee). The Classic Brownies and Triple Chocolate Cookies are what chocoholics dream about… Stop by early for the best selection or use the website to place an order. Eva and her assistants are always friendly and ready to help.

Scenic View has a wide variety of seasonal produce- corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, peppers of various colors (sweet or hot), eggplant, sweet melons (cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons), berries, pears, apples, and more. They also have honey and cut flowers. I’m looking forward to their pear cider this Fall.

The sweet smelling soaps and lotions at Bubbles ‘n Bees (http://www.bnbsoaps.com/) are a nonedible pleasure. There’s a scent for everyone (the lilac smells just like Springtime to me) and the Minty Foot Cream moisturizer is soothing and a great way to pamper yourself a little. Tammy Taylor can answer any questions you might have about the products and help you find the scent you are looking for.

The location for the Farmer’s Market this year is the Jury Parking Lot at the corner of Monroe and Jefferson not far from the Courthouse and Council Office Building. One small downside to the Market is the tight parking situation when it’s crowded. I wish that people would be more considerate of each other by adhering to the one-way convention (counterclockwise) in the parking lot, and both pedestrians and drivers could do a better job watching out for one another. I usually park in an adjacent lot and walk a short distance to the Market to avoid some of the difficulty. Hopefully the anticipated move to Rockville Town Center will alleviate some of the parking woes.

There are lots of other vendors at the Market that I haven’t mentioned. You can see most of them listed at the City’s Market website (www.rockvillemd.gov/events/farmers.htm). A number of other growers sell fresh produce (some organic), herbs, heirloom tomatoes, cut flowers, potted plants. This year a group of Amish farmers has been selling meat and cheeses. Please share your favorite vendors and your experiences at the Farmer’s Market in the Comments section below.