Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Salsa on Veterans Plaza! Starting Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7 pm. Free!


The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. invites you to "Salsa on the Plaza," a multi-week Salsa dance class for all. And it's free! Starting Wednesday, September 7th--and continuing into October--Ricardo Loaiza and Elba Garcia will teach you how to dance the Salsa or help you improve you style!

What: Salsa Dancing on the Plaza
Where: Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910
When: Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 7-9 pm.
Experience: No experience needed! Experienced dancers welcome!
Cost: Free!

Want to learn how to dance the Salsa? Want to improve your Salsa dancing? Join Ricardo, Elba and friends on Veterans Plaza for free Salsa classes, every Wednesday in September and on into October!

About Ricardo and Elba. Ricardo Loaiza, a native of Colombia, is the originator the Latin Dance Company DC SALSEROS/LATIN VIBES which was launched in 1996 in Washington, DC. Ricardo has taught, choreographed and performed in more than 500 events in the Washington DC Metropolita, area as well as in over 20 cities in the USA. He has taught and Performed in various major SALSA international events in Holland, England, Germany, Dubai, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Japan, Aruba and Colombia. Currently he teaches Salsa-Aerobics (Dance Aerobics) at various Washington Sports Clubs, as part of a High and Low exercise program, for young and old.

Joining Ricardo, the father of Esperanza Loaiza, in instruction is Elba Garcia, his life-long dance partner, wife and mother of their other 3 children--Ricardo Rey, Leonardo and Lorenza.

Mr. Loaiza has been a pioneer in his field and has facilitated many firsts throughout his career. Ricardo was the first local Latin Dance Instructor to start a Dance Company and to be invited to represent Washington, DC in various National and International events. The first in the DC Metropolitan area to provide students with progressive group and performance classes with a carefully planned syllabus and evaluation process. And the first to open a Latino Owned Latin Dance Studio in Silver Spring, MD in 2000. Ricardo is also a promoter of Salsa, Mambo and other Latin dances through WEPA Productions, who are the organizers for the International Salsa Conventions. Mr. Loaiza has paved the way for the many Dance Instructors and Dance Companies that currently exist in the DC Metropolitan Area. He is well known for his Group classes and ENERGETIC and FUN presence when teaching. Ricardo considers himself "a student of SALSA and Mambo" and takes every opportunity to learn new things everywhere he teaches.

For the last 10 years, he has helped organize and host the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Latin Dance Competition which has had as many as 10 schools participate in the past. As a result of this competition in November of 2010, he co-founded “The After School Latin Dance Fund”(ASDF), a non-profit organization that provides artistic, technical and financial support for the establishment of after school Latin dance programs with the hope of expanding the program to all 25 MCPS.

After School Dance Fund provides artistic, technical and financial support for the establishment After School Latin Dance Programs in all Montgomery County Public Schools (“MCPS”). ASDF offers its programs in an effort to combat the troubling prevalence of preventable social and health issues; particularly in the Latino community, including childhood obesity, teen pregnancy, high rates of high school drop-outs, and the devastating influence of gangs in our communities. The ASDF initiative aims to create a permanent space for participating MCPS students to be involved in a positive group activity with their peers after school. The GOAL is for students to learn to showcase popular Latin dances, as well as the importance of living a healthy mental and physical life style. To this end, dance becomes a vehicle for increased cultural awareness and pride, while fostering exercise and having fun. In addition, participants learn teamwork and gain leadership skills in preparation for competition with individuals dancers and dance teams from other schools. The artistic progress and continuous improvement in dance technique will have a positive impression in each participant's personality, manners and etiquette. Also, by participating in a structures program, students learn to be part of a team, to be responsible, on-time, respectful to their team members, adults and their parents.

As a result of last year MCPS Hih School 11th Annual Latin Dance Competition, which was held at the Strathmore, The ASDF proudly partnered with HIPtv, who produced a Documentary “The Road to Strathmore” which features the lives of (4) students from two different schools and their sponsors. The documentary will be PREMIERE in Silver Spring this Fall 2011 and will be submitted to local, regional, national and international film festivals. The Documentary elaborates on the struggle, success and importance of students to be involved in a positive group activity with their peers.

About Althea Grey-McKenzie. Assisting Ricardo and Elba for "Salsa on the Plaza" is Althea Grey-McKenzie, the Artistic Director for the White House Studios. Althea is an awarded artist and visiting scholar in dance and cultural event management for her work as a performer, instructor, educator, and grant committee panelist. In addition to her work for The White House Studios in Downtown Silver Spring, she is Choreographer for Caribbean Dance Traditions (CDT), a resident performing group at the studio that performs in the Washington Metro area and has been seen at The Takoma Park Folk Festival, Magical Montgomery, World of Montgomery Festival, Taste of Wheaton and Montgomery County Public Libraries. She currently serves as Chair for the National Caribbean-American Heritage Month Steering Committee for the Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce in the Greater Washington Area and has coordinated several successful programs regarding Caribbean culture which were featured in the Washington Post, ‘Montgomery Extra ‘ section, the Silver Spring Gazette, and the Rockville Patch.

Ms. Grey-McKenzie directed successful programs including: the Caribbean Dance Genre Program for several years at the Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton, Maryland, and co-directed the Caribbean Cultural Youth Association in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Both programs brought folk and traditional dance and cultural workshops representing Caribbean and Latino Heritage to underserved families in the Washington Metro area. She was also instrumental in bringing theatrical arts and workshops to The CaribFest in Richmond, VA, The Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center at Indiana University and the Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University for a wide range of audiences. Ms. Grey-McKenzie continues to bring the awareness of this rich artistic culture to audiences in the Washington Metro area and Baltimore and produced “Caribbean Carnival Experience” for a 750 audience assembly of elementary school and middle school agers in July 2011.

As a professional dancer, member performer and former member of two dance companies, Ms. Grey McKenzie has an extensive background in dance. She was member of La Musicale Dance Works (DC) for eleven years, Soul in Motion Players, Inc. (MD) for five years and currently a member of the Zomema Dance Ensemble in Prince George’s Maryland, and a continuing five-year member of Carivision Community Theatre, a Caribbean theatrical company in College Park, Maryland, Althea has a passion for dance and the arts, as well as celebrating the interrelated aspects of African, Caribbean, Hispanic, European, Asian and African-American dance, musical, and theatrical art forms and traditions.

This program is a production of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Visit their blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

See our Plaza videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre

See our Plaza pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/collections/72157626644003377/

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Jesus House, Bliss & the Eclectiks Perform at Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Sunday, September 4, 2011. Free

Please join us for more exciting Plaza Performances on Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza.

On Sunday, September 4, we welcome the Music & Arts Ministries of Jesus House DC back to the Plaza Stage. The performance is free!

Jesus House DC is a dynamic vibrant non-denominational multicultural church where praise is exuberant, prayer is steadfast and preaching is practical. The church has been based in the DC Metropolitan area for over a decade. The mission of the church is to restore hope and maximize potential. The church has an active community outreach ministry called “True Love Cares (TLC)” whose mandate is to share the love of Jesus Christ by caring for others.



Also on Sunday, September 4, we welcome The Eclectiks back to the Plaza Stage. They are a local electric string band, whose instrumentation includes three violins, one cello, one guitar, a keyboard and flute. The music they play is a blend modern and old. Some of the folk tunes on their play list date to the 18th century.

The Eclectiks are: Mike Cohen, Violin; Regina Koenig, Violin; Charles Tolbert, Violin; Frances Eargle, Cello; Simona Patange, Flute; Pete Stover, Guitar; Steve Soroka, Keyboard; and Gary Daum, Bass Guitar



These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit their blog atwww.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

See our Plaza videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre

See our Plaza pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/collections/72157626644003377/

The Blackjacks Play Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance as we welcome the Blackjacks to Veterans Plaza on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7 pm. The performance is free!

This rock band began as an onstage group for Lumina Studio Theatre, and now can be seen playing in area venues such as McGinty's, where they will be playing Saturday October 15. With Roger Coleman, keys and guitar; Mark Felsenthal, guitar; David LeBow, bass; Stew Hickman, drums; and Amy Freedman & Wendy Lanxner, vocals.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

See our Plaza videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre

See our Plaza pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/collections/72157626644003377/

Wendy & the Lost Boys Perform on Veterans Plaza, Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 7 pm. Free!

On August September 1, 2011, please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza when we welcome Wendy & the Lost Boys to the Plaza Stage!

"Wendy and the The Lost Boys" make their debut this Thursday from 7-9pm playing covers from Gaga to Zeppelin with a few originals in between. The band features Wendy Lanxner on bass, Rob Smith on drums, David Uffelman on lead vocals, and Steve Wilmarth on guitar.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

See our Plaza videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre

See our Plaza pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/collections/72157626644003377/

Monday, August 29, 2011

CaShandra J. Plays Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, August 30th at 7 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza. On August 30, 2011, we welcome jazz vocalist CaShandra J. back to the Plaza Stage!

A singer’s singer, CaShandra J. exudes her love of music in every note that she sings. Born and raised in rural Texas, she had every opportunity to be immersed in and around music. CaShandra J. picked up her first instrument at the age of 7. Her mother and father purchased an upright piano and started her on lessons. “I can remember always wanting to play a musical instrument and when my parents offered me the chance to take piano lessons, I was thrilled!” It was only a few years later that she was also taking lessons for violin and clarinet and playing in school ensembles. “I must be honest, I never was the best musician in class but I loved music so much, I didn’t really care. Music was my escape from the daily rigors of my school life and the people I was around. I just wanted to be next to it.” By the time she was in high school, CaShandra J. longed to leave her hometown in hopes of finding some place where she could just be herself. “I managed to maintain my sanity by taking art classes, photography and choir. I enjoyed it so much that I knew my happiness lied in creating.”

After finishing high school in only 3 years, Cashandra J. took off to college in a small community near Dallas, TX to study fashion design. After two years, she quit to find other avenues of education and self-fulfillment. “That was such a rough time for me. I had no direction and it was as if the music left my life!”CaShandra J. pick up and move again. This time she moved to Austin, TX, which was known for it’s live music. “Austin livened up my spirits again. This city had such a diverse music culture and I was always being exposed to new forms of music.” It was in Austin that she decided to start dancing in an ethnic cultural dance company. The company’s house band let her sit in from time to time to do covers of soul music. It was those experiences that ignited her love of singing and refueled her passion for music.

After receiving her Bachelors in music at Howard University and performing at a host of venues, CaShandra J. is taking her love of music to a new level. Look forward to hearing her new project, Life in Techni-Color, which is wholly injected with jazzy licks and soulful lyrics, due out in 2011.

Visit her website at http://cashandraj.com/index.html

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Phonic Riot, Pilesar At Pyramid Atlantic, Thursday, August 25, 2011, 7 pm. Free!

N.B. Phonic Riot, Pilesar performance moved to Pyramid Atlantic, Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 7 pm, due to weather.

Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance as we welcome Phonic Riot and Pilesar to the Veterans Plaza Stage, Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 7 pm. The performance is free.

Phonic Riot is the brainchild of wailing banshee Angela Morrish creating a din described as "Psychodramaticgaragerock." For more information, check out www.phonicriot.bandcamp.com

Pilesar (pronounced pie-LEE-zur) is a one man band who specializes in idiosyncratic pop ditties, rhythmically dense compositions and wildly eclectic live shows. Instrumentation may include drums, vocals, live loops, broken effects pedals, thrift store finds, borrowed instruments and various environmental factors. He has released albums on Public Eyesore, zeromoon and his own DIY netlabel, Chameleon Dish Archives. For this performance, Pilesar will be joined by Daniel Euphrat on guitar.
For more information, check out www.pilesarmusic.com or www.pilesar.bandcamp.com

See their website for more info about Sonic Circuits and this event at http://dc-soniccircuits.org/calendar/show/97/2011-08-25-phonic-riot-pilesar-veterans-plaza/

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Veterans Plaza Performance Canceled - Tuesday, August 23, 2011

We are canceling this evening's Plaza Performance on Veterans Plaza, due to this afternoon's earthquake.

SwagFunk Plays Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, August 23,2011 at 7 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance as we welcome SwagFunk back to the Plaza Stage. The performance will take place on August 23, 2011 at 7 pm on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza.

SwagFunk is Deirdra Harris, Vocals; Daryl Braxton, Vocals & Keys; "Funk Master" Mike Sutton, Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Back Vocals; "Smokin" Al Warren, Drums & Percussion; "The Funk Doctor" Scott Eister, Bass & Percussion; and Brian A.C. Williams, Guitar.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Friday, August 19, 2011

Inaugural Silver Spring Town Center Arts Salon Debuts Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. is pleased to announce the inaugural meeting of the Silver Spring Town Center Arts Salon on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 12 noon!

What is a salon: An Italian invention of the 16th century, a salon is a gathering of people who are invited by a host to enjoy the exchange of creative energy. The goal of the SSTC Arts Salon is to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas and inspiration among artists of all disciplines, to promote networking, and to alleviate artistic isolation.

The Silver Spring Town Center Arts Salon will be hosted by Silver Spring resident Mary Amato, an author, poet, songwriter, musician, and playwright. http://www.maryamato.com/

Who’s invited: Fine artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, photographers, graphic designers, playwrights, poets, and anyone interested in the creative process.

What to bring: Ideas, questions, stories, business cards for networking, and a brown bag lunch and/or drink, if desired.

Where to show up: Silver Spring Civic Building; One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (We’ll meet in the Interior Courtyard.)

Each salon will have a different topic and will feature a guest artist who will begin the conversation. For August 25, our guest artist is Franklin Taggart, a musician, songwriter, music producer, fledgling designer and serial blogger in Silver Spring. He also is a professional coach specializing in helping people successfully transition into self-created, nontraditional careers. Check him out at http://franklintaggart.com. His topic--Wrestling Fear: How/when does fear appear? Can fear ever serve us? Understanding and using fear as a powerful ally.

Space is limited to twenty participants. To reserve a space, please RSVP via email to Mary Amato (info@maryamato.com).

These program is a production of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

The Fabulous Newports Play Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 2 pm. Free!

One of D.C.’s most active bands in the 1960s, the Newports reorganized in 2001, and have been active again since playing for clubs and private affairs. The current lineup includes two original members plus six other veteran performers. The Newports play vintage rock ‘n’ roll at its very best, with great heart and authenticity, and feature numerous classic hits of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

The Newports will present a free outdoor concert in Silver Spring this Sunday afternoon, August 21! It takes place from 2:00 - 4:00, on the Veterans Plaza Stage of the Silver Spring Civic Building . And all three of the Filterettes will be singing--Becky Briggs too-- so look forward to a great afternoon!

Veterans Plaza features some bistro tables and seats, plus a wall where you can sit. But feel free to bring a lawn chair if you wish, and picnic food; there are also many restaurants within easy walking distance. We hope you can join us, and we’d love to see you!

Check out the Newports online at http://www.fabulousnewports.com/

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Rocksteady Kid DJs on Veterans Plaza, Thursday, August 18, 2011, at 7 pm. Free!


Get ready for the Rocksteady Kid, who will be serving up a healthy platter of classic Jamaican rocksteady, early reggae and dub stylings – 50 tunes that might change your life. Music begins at 7:00 pm this Thursday, August 18th on the Veterans Plaza outside the Silver Spring Civic Center.

Rocksteady Kid - Chris Richardson, as his mother knows him - has previously invaded the radio airwaves in Annapolis (WRNR), College Park (WMUC) and Chestertown (WKHS).

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

"One" - A Performance by the Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts


Performing on the Veterans Plaza Stage, Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts students presented a musical review of Broadway show tunes, coupled with exciting hip-hop songs and dance.

The Broadway Meets Hip-Hop musical review is produced and directed by Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., assisted by Artistic Director, Sherion Cosby, Acting Coach Lyndsay Rini, Music Director Glenn Pearson, Choreographer Shawn Cosby, Assistant Choreographer Roslyn Ramseur and Children's Coordinator Tomasena Allen. The performance band includes Glenn Pearson and Rickey Payton on keyboards, Kush El-Amin on bass and Michael Nicholas on percussion.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Broadway Meets Hip Hop - The Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts - Photos

















Performing on the Veterans Plaza Stage, Urban Nation Academy students presented a musical review of Broadway show tunes, coupled with exciting hip-hop tunes and dances.

The Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts is both a music and dance performing arts school located in the heart of the Arts District in Downtown Silver Spring, Md. They are dedicated to providing quality music and dance lessons to children and adults alike in a professional, nurturing, and student oriented environment. For information, check out their website at http://www.urbannationacademy.com

The Broadway Meets Hip-Hop musical review was produced and directed by Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., assisted by Artistic Director, Sherion Cosby, Acting Coach Lyndsay Rini, Music Director Glenn Pearson, Choreographer Shawn Cosby, Assistant Choreographer Roslyn Ramseur and Children's Coordinator Tomasena Allen. The performance band includes Glenn Pearson and Rickey Payton on keyboards, Kush El-Amin on bass and Michael Nicholas on percussion.

See more pics at

Slide Show http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/sets/72157627299204307/show/

Detail http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/sets/72157627299204307/detail/

Thumbnails http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanbowser/sets/72157627299204307/

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Mike Nicholas DJs on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, August 11, 2011 from 7 to 9 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance as we welcome DJ Mike Nicholas to the Plaza Stage on Thursday, August 11, 2011 from 7 to 9 pm.

Enjoy the quality entertainment of DJ Mike's extensive collection of oldies and current day hits.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

The Red Line Quintet Plays Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 7 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 when we welcome "The Red Line Quintet" to the Plaza Stage. The program is free.

Pulling from students from different sides of the Red Line, the Red Line Quintet is a self-sufficient jazz combo with members between 17 and 18 years old. The quintet plays a range of styles including swing, funk, Afro-Cuban, and contemporary, and features original arrangements and songs by its members. Past performances include Ike Leggett's Birthday Celebration, the Arts and Humanities Awards at Strathmore Hall, and the 2010 and 2011 Telluride Jazz Festivals in Colorado.

The Red Line Quintet is: Peter Leonard-Alto Saxophone; Kathryn Waychoff-Trumpet; Noah Maruyama-Keyboard; Grayson Flood-Bass Guitar; and Matt Volk-Drumset.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist Gina DeSimone & the Moaners on Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, August 9 at 7 pm. Free



Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza. On Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7pm, we welcome Gina DeSimone to the Plaza Stage.

Born and raised in the Silver Spring area, Gina picked up the guitar at age 9 and began taking lessons at a local music store. “I wanted drums,” she explains, “but my parents gave me a guitar instead. Turns out I love playing guitar, but I think my songs are so rhythmically oriented because there’s a bit of drummer in me.” As a teenager, Gina broke the stereotype of the female folk guitarist by playing lead guitar in rock bands. Today she backs up many of the area’s finest songwriters and bands. She began a lifetime of guitar teaching when the same local music store where she learned guitar called to ask if she was interested in teaching. In addition, to running a studio of dedicated students, she continues honing her skills by taking lessons from master guitarists like Al Petteway, Del Rey, Steve James and Mary Flower.

This year, Gina DeSimone was the featured acoustic blues player at the 3rd Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival. She also joined the Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble at the Festival's Market Stage.

Check her out online at http://www.myspace.com/ginadandthemoaners or at http://mysite.verizon.net/gina.d/gina/index.htm


Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Broadway Meets Hip-Hop! On Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza, August 10-12, 2011




Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 7 pm, when we welcome students from the Urban Nation Academy For the Performing Arts Summer Camp to Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza.

Performing on the Plaza Stage, the Urban Nation Academy students will present a musical review of Broadway show tunes, coupled with exciting hip-hop tunes and dances.

The Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts is both a music and dance performing arts school located in the heart of the newly refurbished Arts District in Downtown Silver Spring, Md. They are dedicated to providing quality music and dance lessons to children and adults alike in a professional, nurturing, and student oriented environment. For information, check out their website at http://www.urbannationacademy.com/

The program will also be presented at 12 noon on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Thursday, August 11, and Friday, August 12.

The Broadway Meets Hip-Hop musical review is produced and directed by Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., assisted by Artistic Director, Sherion Cosby, Acting Coach Lyndsay Rini, Music Director Glenn Pearson, Choreographer Shawn Cosby, Assistant Choreographer Roslyn Ramseur and Children's Coordinator Tomasena Allen. The performance band includes Glenn Pearson and Rickey Payton on keyboards, Kush El-Amin on bass and Michael Nicholson on percussion.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Visit the Silver Spring Town Center's YouTube page


Visit the Silver Spring Town Center's YouTube page. Vote for your favorite Plaza Performance.

Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Warner Williams & Joyce Ettingoff Play Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza


Guitarist and songster Warner Williams is one of the greatest unsung heroes of the Piedmont blues—an Eastern seaboard style that incorporates fiddle tunes, ballads, country and popular songs, ragtime, and gospel. With a jaunty rhythmic finger-picked guitar style and an eclectic repertoire that ranges from blues to honky-tonk, jazz crooning to children's songs, Warner Williams is an old-style community entertainer of national significance. Joining Warner Williams on the Plaza is harmonica player Joyce Ettingoff from Silver Spring.

In this clip, Warner and Joyce play Take It Slow, Danny Boy, Honeysuckle Rose, and One Day at a Time.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. See more Plaza Performances at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre#grid/user/54B3D9F47094BE13

Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

The Blues Ramblers Play Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Sunday, August 7, 2011, at 6 pm. Free!


Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza. On Sunday, August 7, 2001 at 6 pm, we welcome The Blues Ramblers to the Plaza Stage.

The Blues Ramblers are Slim Fellows on Keyboards and vocals; Anton (Ace the Bass) Hannsman on Bass and vocals; Gary Venable on Drums; and Alan Gramley on Guitar and vocals.

They play an eclectic group of tunes consisting of jazz and blues standards, funk, some rockin' types of blues, reggae, ballads, etc.


Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Warner Williams, Jonny Grave, Joyce Ettingoff on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Thursday, August 4, 2011, 7 pm. Free!


Enjoy the acoustic blues guitar magic of Warner Williams & Jonny Grave on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 7 pm. The performance is free.

The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. is proud to present two guitar masters for your listening pleasure: Jonny Grave & Warner Williams.

Guitarist and songster Warner Williams is one of the greatest unsung heroes of the Piedmont blues—an Eastern seaboard style that incorporates fiddle tunes, ballads, country and popular songs, ragtime, and gospel. With a jaunty rhythmic finger-picked guitar style and an eclectic repertoire that ranges from blues to honky-tonk, jazz crooning to children’s songs, Warner Williams is an old-style community entertainer of national significance.

Jonny Grave's music is true acoustic blues from the Heartland, steeped in the traditions of R.L. Burnside, Fred McDowell and others. Unlike the more common Delta variety, Grave’s blues hails from the North Mississippi hill country, like the music of Bukka White and Junior Kimbrough. As a solo acoustic bluesman, Grave maintains a traditional grip on the genre while seamlessly adding a modern twist, incorporating the singer-songwriter, bluegrass, and Americana genres into the recipe.

Both six and twelve-string guitar, Dobro, and Appalachian fretless banjo (made by Grave himself) make up his repertoire of sound. Grave began playing guitar in his early adolescence, and quickly picked up the slide guitar technique from watching Washington DC bluesman Robert Lighthouse perform. Grave performs fingerstyle guitar (without flat picks) and emulates the styles of Leo Kottke, John Fahey and Chris Smither.

Joing Warner Williams & Jonny Grave will be Joyce Ettingoff of Silver Spring-- a wonderful harmonica player who plays throughout the metro Washington region, often with the band The Traveling BlueJayes.

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook.

Don Muller performs on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza, Tuesday, August 2, 2011, 7 pm. Free!


Please join us tonight for another exciting Plaza Performance on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza. On August 2, 2011, we welcome local singer/songwriter Don Muller to the Plaza Stage. The performance is free!

Don Muller's music is folk rock, indie, and progressive, influenced by the Beatles, Yes, Jethro Tull, Eddie from Ohio, Les Paul, and the Smithereens. Learn more about Don, hear his music by visiting his website at https://sites.google.com/site/mullsmusicsite/home or checking out Don Muller on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/donmuller

Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza is located at the intersection of Fenton Street & Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring.

These performances are productions of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Visit our blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter or on Facebook.