Weekend to Weekend Pick: Big Saturday Events Galore

A lot is happening this Saturday in Rockville! Come out and experience the big events! A Winter Festival and Lunar New Year Celebration offer an extensive variety of entertainment and activities to enjoy. There’s no reason to stay home!

Rockville Town Square Winter Festival

There will be life-sized ice sculpture characters in Town Square! Are any of these a favorite of the little ones in your life?

• Rapunzel from Tangled
• Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story
• Ariel from The Little Mermaid
• Belle from Beauty and the Beast
• Mickey Mouse

Games will offer the chance for some active play on Gibbs Street:

• Snowboard Simulator
• Mickey Mouse Moonbounce
• Wintery Photo Booth
• Hose Hockey

Throughout the event, live music will add to the atmosphere:

Dan Haas (12-2 PM)
Leven Legs (2-4 PM)

You can register to Win Family 4-packs to Disney On Ice: Princess Wishes at the Verizon Center. I imagine some little girls would love it!

You can get a free gift of Chocolate Covered Oreo with a $20 or more purchase at Town Square during the Winter Festival from 12-4 PM. (Limit one per customer, regardless of purchase amount. Quantities are limited, while supplies last. No rainchecks.)

Lunar New Year Celebration

The Rockville Mayor and Council and the City’s Asian Pacific American Task Force will host a New Year celebration Saturday, February 12, 2011 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. The event is completely free in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Social Hall.

Between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM

Bamboo Buffet at Twinbrook Shopping Center, Asia Taste, Seven Seas, Maria’s Bakery Café, Thai Pavilion and Ba Le Restaurant will be offering delicious samples of a variety of Asian foods.

Between 12:30 and 2:30 PM

Many groups will be offering some very special cultural entertainment:

• East Rising Lion Dance Troupe
• Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe
• Japanese Dance Sakura
• Silver Fashion Group
• Filmi Dance Performance by Shadiyah
• Jinling D.C. Chinese Dancing School
• Ella Wu Piano Studio
• Kicks Karate

Between 2:30 and 3:30 PM

You can try various crafts and activities, such as Chinese character writing, traditional paper folding, and clay sculpting techniques.

The Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Asia Bank, Taiwanese Benevolent Association of Greater Washington and the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington support the celebration.

So much is happening, it will be difficult to decide where to have some fun this Saturday.

Comic Strip: ROCK’burb 12/23/10

Here’s hoping!

This week’s strip is based on “Possible New Grocery Store In Town Square“.

May you have an amusing New Year!

About ROCK’burb: A few months ago we were tossing around ideas for new features on Rockville Central. We thought Saturday morning comics would be fun. Since I’ve always wanted to draw a comic strip, I’ve been imagining them in my head each week. Sometimes an idea pops up in my head and sometimes my whole family thinks up a panel about our lives here in Rockville.

Do you like to draw? We’re hoping we have other cartoonists who would be interested in submitting comic strips. If you have one about life in Rockville, please send it along! We’d love to see it and may even publish it. Remember, be nice! Email us: [email protected].

Comic Strip: ROCK’burb 12-18-10

We’re not getting an ice rink in Rockville Town Square this winter.

About ROCK’burb: A few months ago we were tossing around ideas for new features on Rockville Central. We thought Saturday morning comics would be fun. Since I’ve always wanted to draw a comic strip, I’ve been imagining them in my head each week. Sometimes an idea pops up in my head and sometimes my whole family thinks up a panel about our lives here in Rockville.

Do you like to draw? We’re hoping we have other cartoonists who would be interested in submitting comic strips. If you have one about life in Rockville, please send it along! We’d love to see it and may even publish it. Remember, be nice! Email us: [email protected].

Possible New Grocery Store In Town Square

The lack of a grocery store has not helped Town Square businesses.

Federal Realty shared with the City that they are very close to lease agreement with grocery store for Town Square. However, the agreement will depend on their obtaining a beer and wine license for the store.

At last night’s meeting, Assistant City Manager Jenny Kimball, informed the Mayor and Council that they will be asked to endorse the license request at their next meeting on January 10, 2011. Federal Realty will be providing additional information before that date.

As we know, A&P had signed a 20-year lease for the space but indicated they wanted to end the lease agreement in March 2010 after continuing to pay but failing to open a Superfresh in Town Square. Federal Realty has been seeking a replacement ever since. As a side note, A&P has been in red ink for quite some time and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past Sunday.

Since A&P had failed to obtain a special exception from the Maryland State legislature when a bill to sell beer and wine at the store never even made it out of a House of Delegates subcommittee, Councilmember John Britton asked if this request would need to go to the legislature again. If so, he wanted to get it on the agenda with the District 17 State Delegation which visiting the Mayor and Council meeting later in the evening. Specifically, he wanted to know if this would be a second beer and wine license for the store which would require State action.

City Manager Scott Ullery responded that this would be the first grocery store of this company in Maryland and no legislation would be required.

Now, all we can do is speculate as to which new grocery store chain would like to move into Maryland and our Town Square. Will the lease agreement be successful? If it is, please Federal Realty, include a date by which the company must open the grocery store. Let’s not make the same mistake twice!

Giffords Ice Cream Is Closed

Photo by Sean Carr

Rockville Central friend, Sean Carr, sent along this dreary photo of Gifford’s Ice Cream shop in Rockville Town Square. As we mentioned last week, a Baltimore investor bought all the Shops and Gifford’s Wholesale was attempting to regain ownership in court. As they feared, the process would take too long and the landlord would evict the Gifford’s Shop before the situation could be resolved.

Many are noticing the loss of Gifford’s and Bobby’s Crabcakes at the same time on the same street.

Thanks to Sean for sending us this update via photo!

The Trouble With Gifford’s Ice Cream Shops

Many people have been wondering why the Gifford’s Ice Cream Shop in Rockville Town Square is often closed. When we thought it must have gone out of business, the Shop would be open in the evening or on the weekend. What’s been happening?

Today Neal Lieberman of Gifford’s Wholesale informed the Town Center Action Team (TCAT) that they sold all of the Gifford’s stores to a Baltimore investor back in January. He described the situation in an email:

Unfortunately, the Baltimore guy has been a terrible partner to us, to the landlords, to the suppliers, etc. and we are in court with him to try and get the stores back. Due to the length of time it takes in the court system, we are not sure if that is going to happen (legally getting the stores back) before the landlord’s formally evict him from the premises.

Gifford’s Wholesale is actively looking to find new franchisees and present them to the landlord as alternatives.

The shops are located in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Downtown DC, and Downtown Baltimore.

New York Times Chooses Town Square As Illustration Of Consumerism

Photo from Reuters

Well, they say any publicity is good publicity, but we were ambivalent about this particular bit.

In Sunday’s New York Times Book Review, in a review of Robert B. Reich’s new book, Aftershock, the photo editors chose an image of one of the billboards in Town Square in order to illustrate Reich’s main theme: that Americans are not buying enough.

It sounds like a good book by a serious author, so let’s not quibble about whether we want Town Square associated with rampant consumerism or not.

Thanks to Rockville Central friend and erudite reader Bob Drummond for bringing the shot to our attention.

Do You Want A Skating Rink With Real Ice In Town Square?

Town Square Rental Skates

Since late 2008, we’ve had a seasonal fake-ice “skating rink” set up in the courtyard in Town Square each winter. (Here’s editor Cindy Cotte Griffiths review.) I’ve tried it out, and personally don’t find it compelling, though families with younger tots might well enjoy an hour or so of gliding.

There’s a move afoot to consider turning the rink into one with real ice, and a community meeting is coming up this week to learn more about it.

In a letter to local property owners, Town Square developers Federal Realty Investment Trust say they have applied to the City “to allow development of a seasonal ice rink (real ice).” The application number is STP2011-00059. Here’s a pdf of what they are proposing.

They’ve scheduled an “area meeting” at 10am, Saturday, September 25 at the Oro Pomodoro restaurant. (Oro Pomodoro is right on the courtyard in Town Square.)

“At this meeting [we] will make every effort to illustrate how the property will be developed and answer any questions,” says the letter.

Got an opinion on skating in Town Square? Be there on Saturday!

Washington Post Discovers Rockville Neighborhoods

Click for article

Washington Post readers in Our Fair City of Rockville, MD were treated to a nice surprise this morning when they discovered a not-insignificant article all about some of the wonders to be seen around the Rockville and Twinbrook Metro stations.

To be fair, we do know that the Post knows we exist. Lori Aratani, a key local reporter, often links to Rockville Central and has even been to our Rockville Roundtable lunches. But today’s article spends more time on Rockville than the Post typically does.

We urge you to read the whole article by Alex Baldinger, but here’s a snippet:

[W]hen I decided to move to Rockville last year, traffic was something I knew I would find.

A neighborhood, though? A place to walk around, with hidden gems to discover and places to become a regular? I wasn’t optimistic.

But it’s out there. . . . It’s hidden a short walk from the Twinbrook Metro.

It’s also hidden among the chain stores of Rockville Town Center, which opened in 2007 across from the Rockville Metro. . . . Just like a good scavenger hunt, the gems are hidden among the ordinary.

The piece lists eleven picks. What are they? Read on . . . .

Rockville Town Square Featured By Reuters

Town Square fountain (photo by Eric Jensen)

A number of Rockville Central readers have shared a terrific Reuters piece that takes a close look at Rockville Town Square in the context of the “smart growth” movement:

[S]ome experts in the real estate business believe that in the future, more and more of us will be going back to places like the revamped Rockville — quite happily, in fact. . . .

15 years ago, Rockville convened hearings and forums to discuss its lackluster downtown, deciding in the end to replace it with a town square lined with shops, restaurants and apartments, all steps away from a subway station. . . .

The citizenry wanted vibrant street life both for the fun of it, and to attract business. So far, it’s worked. . . . Rockville’s renaissance over the past four years shows how the shift toward urban-style living has reached the suburbs. And urban planners insist the trend has legs.

Dubbed “smart growth,” the movement favors the development of a mix of housing and businesses in and near existing cities. At the same time, it discourages the Topsy-like growth of peripheral suburbs, known disparagingly as “sprawl.”

Go here to read the whole piece. Whatever your view of smart growth, the article is quite interesting.

Let There Be Light

If you have ever attended a Thursday night concert or other event at the Rockville Town Square stage, you might have found the performers in the dark as sundown neared.

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Gizmo Guys in the dark

This past Tuesday the Gizmo Guys made a big deal about it. They commented about the City’s stage being very different from any other performance stage. It was very unique! For the first time ever, the audience was in more light than they were. Of course they were clowning around but it was difficult to see the ping pong balls and pencils by the end of the night.

Blaggards under the lights

So when I happened to run out to the pharmacy last night and decided to catch a couple of songs by the Blaggards, I couldn’t believe there were colored lights at the front and back of the stage. Although not very big, the different hues added a little bit of rock star quality. I wasn’t sure if the Blaggards had brought the lights or not, but upon inspection this morning, they were still in the pavilion.

If anyone can shed any additional light on the subject, then by all means do! In the meantime, Rockville Town Square is alive for the summer. Here’s our Ultimate Summer Guide for Rockville Town Center.

Why Is There A Penguin In Town Square?

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You can’t help but notice the big white penguin in front of the Rockville Memorial Library. What on earth is it doing there? When I first spotted it, I looked around for a sign or plaque. I checked to see if there were any other penguins stoically perched under trees, then I snapped a picture.

At home I start wondering if anyone knows. I googled “penguin in Rockville Town Square” without really expecting to find an answer but what do you know? On the Senior Artists Alliance website I find an announcement from Irma Spencer:

Two of my outdoor pieces are spending five months leased to the city of Rockville. My “Penguin of Summer” can be seen in the Rockville Town Center plaza, under a tree, surveying his strange warming environment and watching children play in the fountain. He will reside there until November.

The Rockville Park, home of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and the Glenview Mansion, has 6 sculptures on its grounds. My painted yellow round piece, “Happy Daze” is on the grass facing the entrance road.

So the “Penguin of Summer” artist also has a piece in Sculpture on the Grounds. Mystery solved, but the penguin is really Silver Spring’s mascot.

The Ultimate Summer Guide for Rockville Town Center [Updated]

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Here’s the complete listing of everything scheduled in Town Center so you don’t miss any of the fun happenings and specials in the heart of Rockville during the steamy months ahead. Though since some of the series have already started, you might have missed the first ones!

TUESDAYS

Kids Night
Tuesdays, June 15-August 3, 2010
6:30 to 8:30 PM
Live stage shows at 6:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Kids eat free at participating restaurants which are still to be announced. Free face painting with purchase and other specials.

June 15 Gizmo Guys -Comedy jugglers with a rapid-fire, hilarious act
June 22 Unicycle Lady — Interactive unicycle show with juggling, jokes and more!
June 29 Mutts Gone Nuts — Jessie and James and their mischievous mutts present a comedy dog thrill show
July 6 Reptiles Alive -Educational LIVE animal show.
July 13 Airborne -Airborne comedians featuring unicycles, juggling and lots of laughs.
July 20 Bert the Nerd -Bert performs amazing feats of skill, daring stunts and incredible magic.
July 27 Speed & Thro — High energy magic and comedy for kids.
August 3 Rocknoceros -Children’s music with a fun, educational flare.
Activities subject to change without notice.

Beso del Cielo - Live Latin Music
Tuesdays, 5 to 10:30 PM The Rooftop At Rockville Town Square
“Salsa, Bachata, Regaton. Come to The Rooftop for the hottest live Latin music in the region. Every Tuesday night Beso del Cielo will sweep you off your feet with its soft elegance and hot latin music. Hosted by La Tasca, guests will enjoy dancing, great drink specials and more!”

WEDNESDAYS

Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays, June 2 to October 27, 2010
11 AM to 2 PM
East Montgomery Avenue in Rockville Town Center (in front of the Rio Theater Row)

Out to Lunch Wednesdays
Wednesdays, June 2 – October 27, 2010
11 AM to 2 PM
June 2 Rags – rock
June 9 Bobbe Shore and First Call – Jazz/Standards/Blues
June 16 Backroads Band - Retro Country
June 23 Robert Redd Trio – Jazz
June 30 Janine Wilson – Rock/Blues
July 7 Squeez Bayou – Swing
July 14 Project Natale – Classic/Latin Jazz
July 21 Martinez and Guthrie – Folk
July 28 Rock and Roll Revue - Oldies
August 4 Kevin James – Classic rock
August 11 Night & Day – Swing/Big Band
August 18 Bad influence band – Blues
August 25 Rita Clarke and the Naturals – Bayou Rythms
September 1 ilyAIMY – Acoustic rock
September 8 Keegan Corbey – Indie
September 15 Joshua Bayer – Jazz
September 22 Rick Whitehead Trio – Jazz
September 29 Dave Chappell – Roots Rock/Blues

Sunset Jazz at The Rooftop [Added since original post]
Select Wednesdays at 6 PM
“Experience Live Jazz from a Diverse Selection of Extraordinary Artists”
June 16: Smooth Jazz : Marcus Johnson Project (Keyboardist / Smooth Jazz)
July 14 : Contemporary Jazz: Jonathan Davis Project (Keyboardist)
July 21: Inspirational Jazz:Rob Maletick Group (Saxophonist)
August 18: Traditional Jazz:Project NATALE (Keyboardist,Saxophonist, Bass, Drums)
September 1: Double Feature/Contemporary and Gypsy Jazz Eddie Botts and Company (Keyboardist) and Hot Club of DC (Guitar,Violin,Bass)
September 8: Urban Jazz Art Sherrod Jr (Saxophonist)
To Reserve Your Seat, Reserve a Table, and For More Information, Contact Steve Hines at 301.509.7811

Movies on the Square
Rockville Town Square
Wednesdays, June 16-August 4, 2010
8:45 PM
June 16 Julie & Julia
June 23 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
June 30 Sherlock Holmes
July 7 Valentine’s Day
July 14 Where the Wild things Are
July 21 The Blind Side
July 28 Aliens in the Attic
August 4 New Moon
Movies subject to change without notice.

THURSDAYS

Concert in the Square on the Rockville Town Square stage.
Thursdays, June 3 – August 5, 2010
6 to 8 PM
For comfortable seating, bring a folding chair or blanket. Parking in the Town Square garages is $1 for the entire evening after 6 PM.
June 3 The Nighthawks – acoustic blues
June 10 Second Wind Bandits – roots/rock
June 17 Blaggards – country rock
June 24 Joker’s Wild – swing
July 1 Navy Band Brass Quartet – chamber music
July 8 Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun – roots/rock
July 15 Lil’ Cliff and the Cliffhangers – blues
July 22 Fools and Horses – rock and roll/new British pop
July 29 Gonzo’s Nose – 80’s and 90’s cover band
August 5 The Justin Trawick Group – urban folk rock

SkyAtFive Weekly Happy Hour
Thursdays, 5 to 11 PM
The Rooftop At Rockville Town Square
“With the vogue feel of a South Beach club, the only open air rooftop event space in Montgomery County opens its doors on April 29th again to launch our second season of SkyAtFive, our weekly happy hour and party, which has been coined by some as the “the hippest weekly party in town.” SkyAtFive entertains over 600 guests weekly with sleek furnishings, the finest in food and drink and a hot weekly DJ.
The SkyAtFive is open to guests age 21 and up. Event sponsors include Absolut Vodka, Lindy Promotions, Malibu, Miller, Oro Pomodoro, Peroni, Real Maryland, Red Bull, and others.”

FRIDAYS

Breeze 2010
Fridays, 6 PM to 1 AM
The Rooftop At Rockville Town Square
“Brought to you by 2K Lifestyle Entertainment, Breeze has already rocked the town. Hosted most Friday’s starting at 6, come early. The line stretches around the corner. Dancing with music brought to you by DJ Twinspin, spinning the hottest HipHop, Top 40s and house. Food catered by Taste of Saigon. 21+. Cover charge at the door.”

SATURDAYS

Farmer’s Market
Saturdays, May 15 – November 20, 2010
9 AM to 1 PM
Juror’s Lot at the Corner of Route 28 and Monroe Street

MONDAYS

Cheap Date Nights
Mondays 5pm to close
Rockville Town Square.
Participating merchants include:

*Austin Grill: Fajitas and craft beer for 2 for $30. Includes fajitas for 2, a sampler of micro brews from the Flyer Dog Brewery and key lime pie for dessert.

*Bobby’s Crabcakes: Dinner for 2 for $45. Includes: Caesar salad to share, 2 jumbo crabcake platters and key lime to share.

*Cosi: Buy one flatbread pizza, get one for free!

*Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy Co: $3 sundaes ALL DAY!

*Gordon Biersch: Dinner for 2 for $39.95. Choose one appetizer (southwest eggroll, garlic fries or soup of the day), two entrées (linguini marinara, fish and chips, burger of the day or chop salad), two mini taster desserts (strawberry cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, berry trifle or peanut butter pie), and 4.4L glasses of house made beer (2 per guest).

*Jouvence Aveda: $25 off any service over $50 when you bring a friend.

*La Canela: 3-course meal and a glass of wine for $35 per person. Meal will be ordered from a special “Date Night” menu.

*La Tasca: Choose 1 pitcher of sangria or wine, 4 tapas and 1 dessert for $45. Items will be ordered from a special date night menu.

*Lebanese Taverna: 25% off sandwiches and sandwich platters.

*Oro Pomodoro: Dinner for 2 for $35. Two Caesar salads, two spaghetti and meatballs and dessert (for 2) and a bottle of house wine.

*Pomegranate & Co.: Purchase one chair or sofa and get a second upholstered item at 50% off. Call 301-251-8577 for details.

*Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats: Buy one smoothie, juice or frozen yogurt and get one free!

*Spice Xing: Dinner for 2 for $39.95. Choose one appetizer, two entrées, one dessert and two glasses of wine.

*Sushi Damo: Dinner for 2 for $49. Includes 2 glasses of house wine, 2 miso soups, 1 damo creation sushi roll or vegetarian entrée, 1 entrée from select menu and 1 dessert.

*Taste of Saigon: 3 course menu for $20.09 per person.

Valid at Rockville Town Square location only. Some restrictions may apply, see store for details.

Contributor Opinion by Trapper Martin: Town Square Parking Changes

>An open letter from Town Center Action Team (TCAT) president Trapper Martin:

Madam Mayor and Council Members,

Last week, it was brought to my attention that changes were made to the fees and hours for parking in Town Center. Specifically, I understand that the Mayor and Council implemented a charge of $1 for unlimitted parking in the garages on Saturday and increased the fine for all parking violation to $40. It appears that these changes were done as part of the budgeting process without any public input.

As you are well aware the merchants and last Mayor/Council spent a considerable amount of time discussing and coming up with a plan that we all felt would increase revenue for the City without putting undue burden on or hampering the still fragile businesses in Town Center. We have seen parking usage continually rise since these changes were implemented.

The changes to the parking policy were discussed at the TCAT meeting held on May 18. While the members of TCAT did not object to implementation of $1 parking fee and would in fact support such a nominal fee, we believe the Mayor and Council must stop changing the parking fees so that visitors to town center can get used whatever fee is being charged. Otherwise visitors will start to become frustrated and avoid Town Center.

The members of TCAT did object the $40 penalty for parking violations. People who have received $40 tickets have sworn that they would not return to Town Center. There have been multiple stories this year about other jurisdictions raising parking ticket prices yet seeing a decline in actual revenue from this as people increasingly contest or just don’t pay their parking tickets. Therefore, TCAT voted last week to urge the Mayor and Council to reduce the parking fees throughout the City to $25.

Please continue to know that all the support that the City can provide to this area while it is still in its infancy is greatly appreciated.

Trapper Martin, TCAT President

This is a Contributor Opinion. Rockville Central encourages readers to submit such pieces for consideration — the more voices the better. Simply send them to [email protected]. We ask that all such contributions be civil and we reserve the right to edit (in consultation with the author) or reject. Contributor opinions should not be seen as reflecting opinions held by Rockville Central editors, as they are just as frequently at odds with our own views. That’s the whole point!

POTD: Town Square

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This was the scene in late afternoon the other day. I thought it was quite idyllic.