Give the Gift That Warms the Heart, Stirs the Creative Spirit & Brings Our Community Closer Together

Happy Holidays from Silver Spring Town Center Inc.

Dear Friend of SSTCi:

This holiday season, we hope you will give the gift that warms the heart, stirs the creative spirit, and brings our community together.

You may have enjoyed one of the over 70 diverse arts and cultural events the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. presented this past year, including the Silver Spring Blues Festival, Plaza Performances and the "Tribute To America's Veterans" Concert. We were pleased to showcase many community groups like the Greater U Street Jazz Collective, Strings4Joy, Contradiction Dance, and the Titanes Salseros, the champion salsa dance ensemble from Albert Einstein High School. It is our goal in 2012 to continue engaging members of our community in making the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza our "community living room" and community performance space. While we have presented hundreds of visual and performing artists from our community and beyond, we aim to do even more as we continue to grow.


Your tax-deductible contribution today directly helps to support our mission to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. In fact, 100% of your donation goes directly towards showcasing local and international talent from a variety of creative disciplines, while at the same time building community and celebrating our diversity in the heart of Downtown Silver Spring!

Please click here to visit our fundraising page on Razoo, and make a small donation of $10 or more to ensure a successful 2012.

DONATE NOW!

Please help us reach our $10,000 goal by the end of the year so that we may continue to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place-a "community living room"-- that enriches the lives of residents throughout the Greater Silver Spring area. Click here to donate online

DONATE BY CHECK

Alternatively you may mail your contribution to Silver Spring Town Center, Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 with checks payable to "SSTCi."

We thank you in advance for supporting SSTCi and our vision of a creative and vibrant community for all.

Warmest Regards,

LISA MARTIN
Executive Director
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com
www.silverspringtowncenter.com

Emmett Overstreet, Earl Williams & Paul Young on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza - Silver Spring Town Center Video Clip of the Day!

Here's Comes the Sun - Silver Spring Town Center Video Clip of the Day!

Dimensionz of Bluz has been playing together for a year and live up to their name. Each of the members brings his own style of blues to synthesize a unique sound. Mike Baytop has a long history in the Washington area as a Piedmont or country blues musician. Tim Nolte comes from the Midwest and brings a Chicago / rock style of blues. Willie Leebel has long been a student of the delta style of blues. And Marcus Childs-Moore has a strong background in jazz providing an additional element to the group. Plan to hear some blues standards performed in an inimitable way. Here, Tim Nolte plays "Here Comes The Sun."

Poet Laura Shovan presents at the December Silver Spring Arts Salon, Thursday, December 15 at noon. Free

Topic: The Mask

Join poet Laura Shovan in a conversation about how artist of all disciplines use personae in their work. How can taking on “the mask” of a character or voice help us express deeper truths in our art?

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 Center Building; One Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (We’ll meet in the Colesville Room, 2nd floor. The Civic Building is the new building across from the Majestic Movie Theater, near Ellsworth and Fenton.)

Guest Artist: Laura Shovan is editor of the art and literary journal Little Patuxent Review. Her chapbook, Mountain, Log, Salt and Stone, won the inaugural Harriss Poetry Prize in 2010. She is the editor of Life in Me Like Grass on Fire: Love Poems (MWA Books), featuring 50 Maryland poets. Laura is currently co-editing Voices Fly: An Anthology of Exercises and Poems from the MSAC Artist-in-Residence Program for the Maryland State Arts Council, to be published in 2012.

http://www.facebook.com/events/302833086413712/

This 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 Rights of Butterflies

On Monday, December 5, Ghandi Brigade presented the new documentary film "The Rights of Butterflies" which tells the story of an undocumented college student named Katya in Montgomery County and her struggle to fund and continue her college education due to her legal status.

In the documentary, we learn about Katya’s personal sacrifices in coming to the United States, her transition into the Silver Spring Area, where she constructs a sense of home, and her perseverance to achieve her goals and dreams for a better life. The title of the film ponders a world where people could have the same rights as butterflies moving freely across borders with no need for legal status or documentation of any kind.

Over 200 attendees gathered in the Great Hall of the Civic Building for a public screening and post-film discussion. The subject of the film Katya was present along with filmmaker Laura Goya, who is a student of Montgomery College,

This event was co-sponsored by the Gilchrist Center and the Silver Spring Regional Center.

To learn more about the film and event, please call Gandhi Brigade at 301.588.1399 or visit their website at www.gandhibrigade.org/content/rights-butterflies

Strings for Joy! perform on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza - Video Clip of the Day

The performers are Alexandre Paintsil, Jepthalyne Senas, Kevin Gopala-Rao, Stephanie Birmingham, Aniza Moore, Breanna Roth, Evonne Baasch, violins and Dr. Ekatrina DiPinto, cello.

Silver Spring Town Center Remembers Our History

Por primera vez en una tarima por cultivar sus raices - Univision

12th Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition - A Great Success!

Congratulations to the After School Dance Fund, Inc. and supporters of the 12 Annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition that was held Monday, November 28, 2011 at Stathmore Hall. Hundreds of MCPS students, teachers, parents, friends and fans gathered to see talented dancers from many of Montgomery County's public high schools. Participating schools included Blake HS, Clarksburg HS, Einstein HS, Gaithersburg HS, Rocville HS, Seneca Valley HS, Walter Johnson HS and Watkins Mill HS. Teams competed in eight divisions: Salsa, Cha-Cha, Bachata, Merengue, Parent/Student, Alumni, Jack-n-Jill, and Best-in-Show.

The After School Dance Fund (ASDF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization created in 2010 in order to offer a meaningful afterschool experience to all Montgomery County Public Schools’ Latin dance club participants. These programs promote cross cultural awareness; bridging the gap between communities, strengthening family values and empower students of all backgrounds, to share their heritage and culture which allows them to communicate better in school and at home, and continue their personal and educational growth in order to become healthy and positive members of our global society. For information about the After School Dance Fund, visit their website at http://afterschooldancefund.org/

Lisa Martin Named Executive Director of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Martin as Executive Director of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

“We are thrilled that Lisa Martin will be joining SSTCi as our Executive Director,” said Alan Bowser, President of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board of Directors. “Lisa Martin shares our vision of celebrating diversity and creating community, and has the professional experience to creatively advance our agenda to promote cultural understanding through community arts & entertainment programming.”

Ms. Martin has over 10 years of experience working with arts and cultural events primarily in the Nation’s Capital, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as well as a wide variety of embassy events. Having worked on numerous arts festivals and other large community-based events, both domestically and abroad, she is skilled in all areas of program development, marketing and promotion, membership development, as well as event management. She also has a strong background in volunteer management having recruited, trained and managed hundreds of volunteers for city-wide events, including the 2004 International VSA Arts Festival, a four-day multi-arts event which brought together over 1000 visual and performing artists with a wide array of mental and physical disabilities from all corners of the globe.

For the last several years, she has managed the DC-Brasilia Partners of the Americas’ Lecture Series at George Washington University, which presents artists, scholars and other experts on Brazilian arts and culture. Previously, she managed the National Peace Corps Association’s Embassies Program, which featured an array of speakers and performing artists representing a variety of cultures and disciplines. In addition to this experience, she has an extensive background doing qualitative research and evaluation for museums, science centers, art galleries, historical sites and other places of learning.

"I am very excited to be working with the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. and helping to create a vibrant and welcoming place where the arts and culture can shine, said Martin." "I look forward to collaborating with local visual and performing artists, area businesses, other non-profits, and members of our community to ensure that the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza serve as a real 'community living room' where everyone is always welcome."

Ms. Martin served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Estonia. She holds a Masters Degree in Performing Arts Management, a B.S. in Cultural Anthropology and a B.A. in Journalism.

The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. has been very active in promoting the arts and humanities in Silver Spring and in greater Montgomery County. It has organized the very successful Silver Spring Blues Festivals at Downtown Silver Spring which have entertained thousands of neighbors and visitors, the annual benefit concerts in support of Montgomery County’s veterans, community dance classes, and its popular Plaza Performances on Veterans Plaza. This year, alone, SSTCi’s Plaza Performances have brought more than 50 free musical acts to the public, featuring jazz, blues, folk, classical, and rock music.

SSTCi is a 501(c)3 organization. The members of the SSTCi Board of Directors are: Alan Bowser, Aurelia Martin, Beth Wong, David Fogel, Don Berkemeyer, Graciela Jaschek, Harriet Weil, Jack Hewitt, Jon Lourie, Jose Dominguez, Mark Kozaki, Mary Ann Zimmerman, Reemberto Rodriguez, Sheryl Chapman, and Wanda Whiteside.

For more information, please visit SSTCi’s website at www.silverspringtowncenter.com, its blog at www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silverspringtowncenter or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sstowncenter

Silver Spring Town Center Arts Salon - October

The featured speaker at the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.'s October Arts Salon was artist Rosana Azar, who discussed "color." For more information about Rosana, check out her website at http://www.rosanaazar.com/rosanas_studio.html

SSTCi's Arts Salon is held monthly in the Silver Spring Civic Building. For more information about the Arts Salon, visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/111769958927685/

Titanes Salseros

At the Tribute to America's Veterans Concert, there was a special performance by Titanes Salseros from the LASU group of Albert Einstein HS, under the direction of Mrs. Paula Pero and Alisa Bernstein.

Silver Spring Town Center Inc. Board Members at the Veterans Tribute Concert

Silver Spring Town Center Board Members at Veterans Day

SSTCi Board Member Jack Hewitt - Veterans Day

2011 Silver Spring Veterans Concert: Tremendous Success!

The 4th Annual Tribute to America's Veterans Concert held in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building was a tremendous success! Over 200 people enjoyed wonderful performances by Piedmont Blues artist, Warner Williams, and the Greater U Street Jazz Collective.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin and Montgomery County Councilmember March Elrich were among the many distinguished guests during the evening program.

County Executive Leggett presented Certificates of Recognition to singer-songwriter Warner Williams, and Hero Dogs, Inc. and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 641--two important veterans-serving organizations in Montgomery County.

We were pleased to welcome many members of our Veterans Concert Host Committee--Alan Friedman, Althea Grey-McKenzie, Bill Gray, Charlotte Coffield, Don Slater, Evan Glass, Gloria Bonilla, Jamie Raskin, Joyce Ettingoff, Karen Goozner, Kathleen Samiy, Lorrie Knight-Major, Michael Gonzales, Naomi Bloch, Norma Wilson, Ricardo Loaiza, Richard Jaeggi, Rickey Payton, Sr., Sandra Fair, Sharon Dooley, Ted & Carol Power, and Woody Brosnan.

We had a record number of SSTCi Board members attend our 4th Annual Veterans Concert--Don Berkemeyer, Alan Bowser, Sheryl Brissett-Chapman, Jose Dominguez, David Fogel, Graciela Jaschek, Mark Kozaki, Aurelia Martin, Harriet Weil, Mary Ann Zimmerman, and Reemberto Rodriguez.

The Veterans Tribute Concert was a benefit program for Montgomery County's veterans-serving organizations--Hero Dogs, Inc, and Vietnam Veterans of America. The public is invited to support these organizations by contributing online at http://www.silverspringtowncenter.com/veterans-concert-2011/

Warner Williams, Greater U Street Jazz Collective to perform at Silver Spring’s Tribute to American Veterans Concert, Friday, November 11, 2011

Please join your neighbors at this year’s “Tribute to America’s Veterans” Concert in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building.

The Concert featuring Warner Williams—this year’s National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow—and the Greater U Street Jazz Collective—will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7 pm in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building. There will be a reception with light refreshments from 6 to 7 pm in the Civic Building Atrium.

Tickets are only $20 and the proceeds will benefit two great Montgomery County veterans-serving organizations: Hero Dogs, Inc. and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 641.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit http://www.silverspringtowncenter.com/veterans-concert-2011/ Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Warner Williams is one of America’s greatest acoustic blues singer/songwriters, recently acknowledged by the National Endowment of the Arts as a national treasure in traditional American music.

The Greater U Street Jazz Collective is a Washington DC based jazz collective that is inspired by the great jazz tradition of the historic Greater U Street section of the city. In the days during segregation, jazz music from the likes of Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane was played in the jazz clubs that lined the streets of U Street.

Many thanks to our 2011 Veterans Tribute Concert Host Committee for their generous support. Alan Friedman–Althea Grey-McKenzie–Bill Gray–Bruce Lee–Busy Graham–Caren Madsen–Carole Barth–Charlotte Coffield–Dale Tibbitts–Don Hague–Don Slater–Honorable Duchy Trachtenberg–Evan Glass–Gloria Bonilla–Gregory Hamilton–Jackie Greenbaum–Honorable Jamie Raskin–Jennifer Chambers–Jim Zepp–Jonathan Bernstein–Joyce Ettingoff–Karen Goozner–Kathleen Samiy–Kathy Stevens–Lorrie Knight-Major–Michael Gonzalez–Mike Diegel–Naomi Bloch–Norma Wilson–Ricardo Loaiza–Richard Jaeggi–Rickey Payton, Sr.–Sandra Fair–Sharon Dooley–Ted & Carol Power–Honorable Tom Hucker–Tony Hausner–Victor Salazar–William Smith, Jr.–Yvette Butler–Woody Brosnan

The Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert 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 http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

Make an Online Contribution to Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to Silver Spring Town Center during the first annual "Give to the Max" Day in metro Washington.

The Silver Spring Town Center was proud to participate in this very successful event.

Thanks to Razoo, 17,839 people gave "to the Max" on November 9th! Their incredible generosity helped raise $1,886,584 and strengthen the nonprofits who make our community a great place to live and work.

You can still make a tax-deductible contribution to Silver Spring Town Center, by click on this link: http://www.razoo.com/story/Silverspring

Your support is welcome, your generosity is appreciated and will strengthen SSTCi's many community-serving programs.

Give to the Max, Support Silver Spring Town Center

On Wednesday, November 9, from 12:01am - 11:59am, residents of Maryland, DC and Virginia will join together online to donate and raise millions of dollars for local nonprofits, as part of the 1st annual Give to the Max Day.

Dear Friend of the Silver Spring Town Center,

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. has joined up with the "Give to the Max" campaign. The goal is to get thousands of local residents to support their favorite regional charity, raising millions of dollars in donations and grants in just 24 hours.

As part of Give to the Max Day, nonprofits can earn a share of $125,000 in cash awards. There are awards for organizations that earn the most donations, as well as awards for organizations receiving the most individual donations within each hour from 2 PM to midnight. There are even awards for 12th and 44th places!

You can check out our page and what your donations could go towards by visiting http://www.razoo.com/story/silverspring. Of course, any donation you make will be appreciated and will help fund a variety of performance and education goals.

Make sure to become a fan on our "Give to the Max" page, and to post our "Give to the Max" link (http://give2max.razoo.com/story/silverspring) on your FaceBook and Twitter pages - and talk it up among your friends and colleagues ... and don't forget to donate!

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Warner Williams, Greater U Street Jazz Collective to perform at Silver Spring’s Tribute to American Veterans Concert, Friday, November 11, 2011

Please join your neighbors at this year’s “Tribute to America’s Veterans” Concert in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building.

The Concert featuring Warner Williams—this year’s National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow—and the Greater U Street Jazz Collective—will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7 pm in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building. There will be a reception with light refreshments from 6 to 7 pm in the Civic Building Atrium.

Tickets are only $20 and the proceeds will benefit two great Montgomery County veterans-serving organizations: Hero Dogs, Inc. and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 641.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit http://www.silverspringtowncenter.com/veterans-concert-2011/ Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Many thanks to our 2011 Veterans Tribute Concert Host Committee for their generous support. Alan Friedman–Althea Grey-McKenzie–Bill Gray–Bruce Lee–Busy Graham–Caren Madsen–Carole Barth–Charlotte Coffield–Dale Tibbitts–Don Hague–Don Slater–Honorable Duchy Trachtenberg–Evan Glass–Gloria Bonilla–Gregory Hamilton–Jackie Greenbaum–Honorable Jamie Raskin–Jennifer Chambers–Jim Zepp–Jonathan Bernstein–Joyce Ettingoff–Karen Goozner–Kathleen Samiy–Kathy Stevens–Lorrie Knight-Major–Michael Gonzalez–Mike Diegel–Naomi Bloch–Norma Wilson–Ricardo Loaiza–Richard Jaeggi–Rickey Payton, Sr.–Sandra Fair–Sharon Dooley–Ted & Carol Power–Honorable Tom Hucker–Tony Hausner–Victor Salazar–William Smith, Jr.–Yvette Butler–Woody Brosnan

The Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert 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 http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

SSTCi Announces the 2011 Veterans Tribute Concert Host Committee

The Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2011 Host Committee for the Fourth Annual "A Tribute to America’s Veterans" Concert.

The Concert featuring Warner Williams, NEA National Heritage Fellow, and the Greater U Street Jazz Collective will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7 pm in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit http://www.silverspringtowncenter.com/veterans-concert-2011/

The 2011 Veterans Tribute Concert Host Committee.

Alan Friedman
Althea Grey-McKenzie
Bill Gray
Bruce Lee
Busy Graham
Caren Madsen
Carole Barth
Charlotte Coffield
Dale Tibbitts
Don Hague
Don Slater
Honorable Duchy Trachtenberg
Evan Glass
Gloria Bonilla
Gregory Hamilton
Jackie Greenbaum
Honorable Jamie Raskin
Jennifer Chambers
Jim Zepp
Jonathan Bernstein
Joyce Ettingoff
Karen Goozner
Kathleen Samiy
Kathy Stevens
Lorrie Knight-Major
Michael Gonzalez
Mike Diegel
Naomi Bloch
Norma Wilson
Ricardo Loaiza
Richard Jaeggi
Rickey Payton, Sr.
Sandra Fair
Sharon Dooley
Ted & Carol Power
Honorable Tom Hucker
Tony Hausner
Victor Salazar
Williams Smith, Jr.
Yvette Butler
Woody Brosnan

The Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert 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 http://www.facebook.com/groups/8305814081/

The Plaza Performances - Thank You!

Thank you!

During the 2011 season, the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. was pleased to bring exciting community-based arts & entertainment programming to Veterans Plaza. We hosted over 50 performances, with more than 200 performers for thousands of Silver Spring residents & visitors. We brought jazz, blues, rock, folk, country & western, rhythm & blues, reggae, hip-hop and classical music, along with modern dance, to our "community living room."

We also produced over 300 videos of these Plaza Performances which are available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTownCentre

Plaza Performances was 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/

Thanks to all of our performers and thanks to Silver Spring for being such a great audience.

2nd Story Band—Meagan Lane,Geoff de Mers

Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble—Chris Anderson, Mike Baytop, Eleanor Ellis, Jeff Hawkins, Willie Leebel, Adam Oppenheim

BanjerDan—Dan Manzur

Blues Ramblers—Slim Fellows, Anton Hannsman, Gary Venable, Alan Gramley

Boomerang—John Brown, Cap Pendleton, Hank Burnett, Gary Garvin

CaShandra J.—CaShandra J., Aaron Myers, Percy White, Warren "Trae" Crudup

Cloud 9—Michael "TK" Akinlosotu, Adam Dunbar, Jason Zamora, Jonathan Livas, Timm Cruz, Jordan McRae

Club 209—Felix Contreras,David Schulman

Contradiction Dance—Eleni Grove, Carlos Bustamante, Ben Drexler, Alison Waldman, Shelley Alinas, Makeyda Hilliard, Erica Chamblee, Lyndsey Pressley, Matina Phillips, Anneliese Parisi, Dani Quirion

Cooking with Gas—Jim Bunch, Marcus Childs Moore, David Oziel, David Rothman, Bob Sherman

Dimensionz of Bluz—Mike Baytop, Willie Leebel, Marcus Childs-Moore

Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes—Larry Younkins, Charles Solomon, Scott Chadwick, Ed Crowley

Gina DeSimone & the Moaners—Gina DeSimone, Pat Quinn

Groove Jet—Don Berkemeyer ,Garrett Green,Mark Frawley,Greg Brown, Bruce Krohmer

Harmonica Blu Xpress—Howard Hernstadt, Dave Myre, Randy Pittman, James Cooke

Jazz Stimulus Project—Chip Smoley, Guy Stevens, Alan Kirschenbaum, Franklin Wade, Dayton Eckerson

Luisa & Her Imaginary Orchestra—Luisa Rose, Ken Sleeman

Machines on Vacation—Ethan Balis, Melanie Miller, Theresa Schlafly, Kellie MacDonald, Amanda Melara, Rochelle Carpenter, Jodi Balis

Mary Amato & Bill Williams—Bill Williams, Mary Amato

Midnight Sun—Nathan Foley, Miles Lieder, Jonathan Lieder, Fred Lieder

Red Line Quintet—Peter Leonard, Noah Maruyama, Grayson Flood, Matt Volk

Second String Bluegrass Band,Emmett Overstreet, Earl Williams,Paul Young

Snakehead Run—Denny Buck, Mark Casale, Jim Bunch

Stealing Liberty—Jeff Snyder, Tracy Beer, Trevor Specht, Leah DeLano, Bill Cahill, Todd Newell, Jeff DLB

Strings for Joy—Alexandre Paintsil, Jepthalyne Senas, Kevin Gopala-Rao, Stephanie Birmingham, Aniza Moore, Breanna Roth, Evonne Baasch, Dr. Ekatrina DiPinto

SwagFunk—Deirdra Harris, Daryl Braxton, "Funk Master" Mike Sutton,"Smokin" Al Warren, "The Funk Doctor" Scott Eister, Brian A.C. Williams

The Eclectiks—Mike Cohen, Regina Koenig, Charles Tolbert, Frances Eargle, Simona Patange, Pete Stover, Steve Soroka, Gary Daum

The Greater U Street Jazz Collective—Art Cobb, Cashandra Bacon, Thomas View, Peter Frassrand, Russell Carter, Carl Macintyre

The Newports—Blaine Smith, Cal Linley, Mike Henley, Mike DeGraba, Rob Dyer, Debbie Halvorsen, Arlene Jaye, Becky Briggs

The Social Ramble—David Byrd, Jim Lande, Howard Moss

Time2Go—Joey Barnet, Jeremy Gordon, Doug Kahn, Ian Schwenke

Traveling Bluejays—Arlene Jaye, George Hardman, Karen Hardman, Rick Kanton, Michelle Murray, Joyce Ettingoff

Unruly Blues Band—Saskia Van Oot, Lance Nuckolls, Dale Hayman, Robert Gullace, Tony Byrd

Warner Williams—Warner Williams, Joyce Ettingoff

Wendy and The Lost Boys—Wendy Lanxner, Rob Smith, David Uffelman, Steve Wilmarth

Wharf Rats—Robert Gersten, Lenny Dinerman, Eric "Dawg" Metzman, Eric "Huck" Huckleberry, "Cosmic" Carl Baer Schwartzman

Many thanks also to Don Muller, Chris Richardson, Mike Nicholas, Rickey Payton, Reemberto Rodriguez, Jewru Bandeh, Hannah McCann, Chantelle Stewart, Howard Hernstadt, Kelly Mayfield, Carlos Garcia, Capital Accord Chorus, the Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts, the Next Level Band Camp, Jazs, and the Arts & Music Ministries of Jesus House.

And very special thanks to Alan Bowser, Don Berkemeyer and Joyce Ettingoff for their efforts in making the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Plaza Performances an enormous success!

Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes Play Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza

Felix Contreras and David Schulman on Veterans Plaza!

Enjoy the Felix Contreras Latin Jazz Trio on Veterans Plaza, Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 3 pm, Free!

Please join us for another exciting Plaza Performance as we welcome the Felix Contreras Latin Jazz Trio to Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza. The performance, Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 3 pm is free!

Felix Contreras (drums/percussion) has shared the stage with many of the top names in Latin jazz, particularly during his days in California. More recently, he's recorded with Poncho Sanchez and Dave Samuels (Caribbean Jazz Project).

Eddie Eatmon (bass) has toured with the Clovers, and performed jazz around the Washington DC area for many years. A student of the late Keter Betts, he performs most weekends at 701 on Pennsylvania Avenue.

David Schulman (violin/percussion) began performing professionally as a teenager, and has performed solo and as a member of jazz, tango, klezmer, cowpunk, classical, Western Swing, charanga and Cuban son groups, and is a former board member of \the Latin American Folk Institute.

Check them out on the web at http://www.reverbnation.com/felixcontreras

This 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/

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

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