SSTCi Thanks 2012 Silver Spring Blues Festival Sponsors

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. wishes to express its appreciation to the many sponsors of the 2012 Silver Spring Blues Week and the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival in Downtown Silver Spring.

Abyssinia Restaurant
Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation
Atomic Music
Big Greek Cafe
Bombay Gaylord
Courtyard by Marriott
Dale Music
DC Blues Society
DigiPrint Connection
Downtown Silver Spring
Fenton Street Market
Fire Station 1
Frozenyo
Home Properties
Ledo Pizza
Lesaac Cafe
McGinty's Public House
Montgomery Community Media
Monument Bank
Olazzo's
Peterson Cos.
Piratz Tavern
Planet Cotton
Pyramid Atlantic
Safe Silver Spring
Silver Spring Patch
Silver Spring Regional Center
Silver Spring Voice
Statland & Katz Ltd.
The Quarry House
The Society Lounge
Zed's Cafe
ZPizza

Mary Amato, Ethan Balis, Tebabu Assefa Elected to SSTCi Board of Directors

At its June 21, 2012 meeting, the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board of Directors elected the following individuals as Directors: Mary Amato of Silver Spring, Ethan Balis of Silver Spring, and Tebabu Assefa of Takoma Park.

We look forward to their contributions to our work.

We thank Sheryl Brissett-Chapman and Mary Ann Zimmerman for their service on our Board as Directors, and as executive officers of the organization, and we look forward to their continued contributions as members of our Advisory Committee.

Alan Bowser
President
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

Cooking With Gas serves both fine acoustic and electric music featuring generous portions of blues seasoned with jazz, swing, gospel and folk that spans most of the 20th century.

Formed in the Spring of 2011 by a core group of players from the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation (AKA The Barbershop), the acoustic version of CWG includes David "Takoma Dave" Rothman on vocals & blues harp, Bob Dreher & Adam Oppenheim on guitars and Jim "Gutbucketeer" Bunch on washtub bass & washboard.

Cooking with Gas performed at the 2011 Silver Spring Blues Festival on the Market Stage. They have performed on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza as part of the Plaza Performance Series and regularly at El Golfo Restaurant in Silver Spring. We are proud that they will return to the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival and will perform at Fire Station 1 as part of the first-ever Silver Spring Blues Week!

Cooking with Gas Plays Fire Station 1, June 9 from 9 to midnight - A Featured Performance of Silver Spring Blues Week!

See Cooking with Gas "live" at Fire Station 1, from 9 pm to midnight, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Fire Station 1 is at 8131 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Cooking With Gas serves both fine acoustic and electric music featuring generous portions of blues seasoned with jazz, swing, gospel and folk that spans most of the 20th century.

Formed in the Spring of 2011 by a core group of players from the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation (AKA The Barbershop), the acoustic version of CWG includes David “Takoma Dave” Rothman on vocals & blues harp, Bob Dreher & Adam Oppenheim on guitars and Jim “Gutbucketeer” Bunch on washtub bass & washboard.

Cooking with Gas performed at the 2011 Silver Spring Blues Festival on the Market Stage. They have performed on Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza as part of the Plaza Performance Series and regularly at El Golfo Restaurant in Silver Spring. We are proud that they will return to the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival and will perform at Fire Station 1 as part of the first-ever Silver Spring Blues Week!

Jonny Grave Kicks-Off Silver Spring Blues Week 2012

Silver Spring's own Jonny Grave was the featured artist at the opening reception for the 2012 Silver Spring Blues Week at Pyramid Atlantic.

Nearly 150 people joined Silver Spring Town Center, Inc at Pyramid Atlantic to celebrate the first-ever Silver Spring Blues Week. SSTCi Board members Don Berkemeyer, Wanda Whiteside, Gloria Bonilla, Mary Ann Zimmerman, Graciela Jaschek, Reemberto Rodriguez, Beth Wong, and Alan Bowser welcomed friends, family, community representatives and Blues Festival performers to the packed house. Special thanks to Jose Dominguez and our friends at Pyramid Atlantic for their help and hospitality.

Guests were treated to bluesy cocktails, and delicious food from several of Silver Spring's best restaurants including Lesaac Cafe, Zed's Cafe, Piratz Tavern, Gharab-al Kabob, the Big Greek Cafe, and ZPizza.

For more information about Silver Spring Blues Week or the Silver Spring Blues Festival, visit www.silverspringblues.com

See & hear more Jonny Grave at http://jonnygrave.com/

Silver Spring Town Center Teams with Fenton Street Market for Silver Spring Blues Festival

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. is proud to partner again with Silver Spring's favorite destination, the Fenton Street Market, for the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival.

On Saturday, June 16, 2012, Fenton Street Market will host the Blues Festival's "Market Stage" for an exciting series of performances by the region's leading acoustic blues artists. 

This is the second year that Fenton Street Market has supported metro Washington's fastest growing and most popular grassroots blues festival.

This year, the Market Stage will be produced by Willie Leebel of the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation.

The Market Stage schedule follows:

10 am     Cooking with Gas

11 am     Gina DeSimone & the Moaners

12 pm     The Sheryl Sears Trio

1 pm       Swampcandy

2 pm       The Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble

Silver Spring Blues Week Begins Friday, June 8!

We're pleased to announce the beginning of Silver Spring's first-ever "Silver Spring Blues Week!" 

Check out the list below for Blues Week Musical Performances, Activities, and Blues Week Food & Drink Specials.

Blues Week Musical Performances & Activities

Friday, June 8 - 6 to 9 pm - Starring "Jonny Grave" - Festival Kick-off Party and Fundraiser at Pyramid Atlantic. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.  Contact Lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com for more information.

Saturday, June 9 - 9 pm to 12 am - Starring "Cooking with Gas" - Fire Station 1

Tuesday, June 12 - 7 to 9 pm - Starring "Snakehead Run" - Veterans Plaza

Wednesday, June 13 - 7 to 9 pm - Starring "Harmonica Blu Band" - Veterans Plaza

Wednesday, June 13 - 7 to 9 pm - Blues Trivia Night - Fire Station 1

Thursday, June 14 - 8 to 11 pm - Starring "Patty Reese" - McGinty's Public House

Saturday, June 16 - 10 am to 9 pm - 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring on the Fountain Stage and the Market Stage.

Saturday, June 16 - 10 pm - Starring "Hard Swimmin' Fish" - McGinty's Public House

Saturday, June 16 - 9 pm - Starring "Robert Lighthouse" - Zed's Cafe

Food & Drink Specials - Silver Spring Blues Week.

Ask for Silver Spring Blues Festival Specials at these participating restaurants!

• Abyssinia, 8221 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Austin Grille, 919 Ellsworth Drive  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Bombay Gaylord, 8401 Georgia Avenue # 1  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Copper Canyon Grill, 928 Ellsworth Dr Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Fire Station 1, 8131 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Frozenyo, 935 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20910
• McGinty's Public House, 911 Ellsworth Drive  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Olazzo's, 8235 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Piratz Tavern, 8402 Georgia Avenue  Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Quarry House Tavern, 8401 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• The Society Lounge, 8229 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Zed's Cafe, 8225 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Schedule of Performances - 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival, June 16, 10am to 9pm

The 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring takes place on Saturday, June 16, 2012, from 10 am to 9 pm on two stages!

Schedule of Performances

On the Fountain Stage (2pm to 9pm)

2pm       Warner Williams

230pm   School of Rock Playin’ the Blues

3pm        Nate Foley and FLLD

4pm        Moonshine Society Band

5pm        Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes

6pm        DC Blues Society Band featuring Ayaba Bey

7pm        The Unruly Blues Band

8pm        Clarence “The Blues Man” Turner

On the Market Stage (10am to 3pm)

10am        Cooking with Gas

11am      Gina DeSimone & the Moaners

12pm      The Sheryl Sears Trio

1pm        Swampcandy

2pm        The Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble

10pm      After Party at McGinty's  "Hard Swimmin' Fish

7pm-10pm Acoustic Music at Zed's Cafe

Ida Campbell, Cortney Hicks, Ted Kelly to Host 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival, June 16, 10am - 9 pm

We're very proud to announce our celebrity hosts for the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring:  WPFW-FM's Ida Campbell, Majic 102.3's Cortney Hicks, and andmagazine.com's Ted Kelly.

Majic 102.3's Cortney Hicks.  Born and raised in Motown, Cortney "BabyGirl" Hicks knew early on in life that her love of music would lead to a career in the entertainment industry. While attending Michigan State University she took an internship at a local radio station in 1994. Cortney's natural delivery and ability to connect with listeners quickly provided an opportunity for her to join the full-time on air staff. Upon graduation in 1995, she relocated to Chicago and joined the WEJM staff as the new Midday Host.

After a very successful three year run in Chicago, she was invited to return home to Detroit and serve as a part of the Morning Show team on WJLB from 1997-2000. Cortney's love for Chicago took her back in 2001 to serve as Midday Host and to assist in launching WPWX. Through hard work and dedication, Cortney was soon promoted to the coveted Morning Show Host position in 2005 making her the first female in Chicago radio history to headline a Morning Show.

As the radio industry continued to change, Cortney identified the need to be in radio management as a means to further her career. In 2007 she relocated to Mobile, AL and joined the WBLX team as Assistant Program Director and Midday Host. Recently, Cortney expanded her media career to include TV as the entertainment reporter for the NBC affiliate in Mobile, AL.

Throughout the years Cortney has and continues to mentor many who have gone on to attain major success in the media industry. Known for her great celebrity interviews, community involvement and youth advocacy efforts, she is excited about serving as Midday Host on MAJIC 102.3.

WPFW-FM's Ida Campbell.  Ida Campbell, born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and raised in Washington, DC, has been singing all her life. Ida’s Blues Nation Band was formed in 2008 to bring a distinctive blues and R&B sound like no one else’s. Ida’s finds her musical inspiration in artists like B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, and ZZ Hill among others. In addition to the blues guitar masters, she also emulates the spirit and energy of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, KoKo Taylor, Barbara Carr, Denise LaSalle, Tina Turner and Betty Wright.

Ida brings a spirited, invigorating, soul shaking presence and masters the kind of sound of blues that will affect you to the bone. Blues Nation is comprised of professional musicians from the District, Maryland and Virginia that have played with Grammy and Grammy-nominated artists and international acts.

We are pleased to welcome Ida Campbell back to her 4th Silver Spiring Blues Festival.  She has been our celebrity host since the beginning of the Festival.  In 2010, she performed with her fantastic blues band, "Ida Campbell & the Blues Nation."  She also has served as Montgomery Community Media's on-air host for interviews of our Silver Spring Blues Festival performers.

Ted Kelly.  Ted Kelly, an internationally recognized digital media pioneer, brings his unique interview style, commentary and proven ear for new talent to AND Magazine. Ted Kelly’s over two decades at the forefront of music and media ranges from major market, national and international morning radio personality to executive management for some of the world’s largest media companies in New York, Washington DC and globally.

As Program Director of the world's first and only global pop music channel, WorldSpace Satellite Radio’s “UPop”, heard in 134 countries around the world and in America on XM, AOL and DirecTV, Ted Kelly assembled an international air staff with radio stars broadcasting live 24/7 from studios in Johannesburg, LA, Washington DC, London, Singapore, India and Dubai.

As Senior Vice President of Global Content Promotions and Events for WorldSpace Global and US XM Channels, Ted Kelly was personally responsible for dozens of satellite radio firsts, including the first global concert broadcasts live from Europe, NYC, South Africa, India and Singapore, and daily broadcasts to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. His live backstage coverage of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, America's Virgin Mobile Music Festival, the global radio hosting of The Annual Brit Awards, Mandela's 90th Birthday 46664, The Concert For Diana, We are The Future in Rome, as well as Live 8 and Live Earth are all considered broadcasting benchmarks.

Ted Kelly is a Senior Music Editor at andmagazine.com.

Update - 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring!

The 4^th Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring is less than a month away.  Here’s an update.

We kick off the Festival and first-ever “Silver Spring Blues Week” with a fundraising/ticketed event at Pyramid Atlantic.  Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Executive Director, Lisa Martin, has arranged an exciting three-hour program that includes food, drink and live music performed by Jonny Grave.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.  Get advance tickets for this event on PayPal

Our first-ever “Silver Spring Blues Week” includes live blues performances, and food and drink specials throughout downtown Silver Spring.  As of today, the venues include Fire Station 1, Zev’s Café, McGinty’s,  and more.  SSTCi has plans to present blues bands on Veterans Plaza during that week, and we expect to present popular singer/songwriter Patty Reece & David Chappelle at McGinty’s on Thursday night.

The Festival takes place on Saturday, June 16, from 10 am to 9 pm on two stages—the Fountain Stage on Ellsworth Drive, and the Market State on Veterans Plaza at the Fenton Street Market.  Like last year, we’ll have acoustic blues music on the Market Stage, with some incredible performers including Eleanor Ellis, Ruben Dobbs of Swampcandy, Sheryl Sears, Gina DeSimone, and the Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble.  Our thanks go to the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation for producing the Market Stage program.  Performances on the Market Stage go from 10 am to 3 pm.

On the Fountain Stage, we’ll have a dizzyingly array of acoustic & electric blues performances from 2 pm to 9 pm.  Starting at 2 pm, we have a solo guitar performance from NEA honoree Warner Williams, followed by the School of Rock, Nate Foley & FLLD, the Moonshine Society, Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes, The Unruly Blues Band, the DC Blues Society Band featuring Ayaba Bey, and, for the finale, Clarence “The Blues Man” Turner.  Our celebrity hosts for the 4th Annual Blues Festival are Ida Campbell of WPFW-FM, returning for her 4th Festival, Majic 102.3 radio personality Cortney Hicks, and Ted Kelly of andmagazine.com.

There will be an after-party at McGinty’s featuring the popular group “Hard Swimmin’ Fish” starting at 10 pm.

For more information, visit www.silverspringblues.com

Kick Off Silver Spring Blues Week with a Party at Pyramid Atlantic, Friday, June 8, 6-9pm

Silver Spring Town Center Inc invites you to our Blues Week Kick-off Party at Pyramid Atlantic  Friday, June 8th, 6pm-9pm!

SSTCi IS PAINTING THE TOWN BLUE!

Join us for a festive evening celebrating the Blues as we kick-off Silver Spring Blues Week at Pyramid Atlantic. Mix and mingle with other Blues aficionados, sip Bluesy cocktails, savor an array of h'ors d'ouevres, do some Blues-themed art activities and of course enjoy some live Blues music featuring Silver Spring's own Johnny Grave!

Your $10 ticket includes a Blues-themed cocktail, h'ors d'ouevres, hands-on art activities and live Blues music! During the party, you can also get adorned in a Blues-themed henna tattoo from Bhava's Henna.

Feel free to come dressed in blue jeans and other blue attire. Also consider getting a blue manicure or pedicure at Spa Mesu in celebration of Blues Week!

Space is very limited for this event, so order your tix today at no extra cost!

WHAT: Blues Festival Week Kick-Off Party

WHERE: Pyramid Atlantic,8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring

WHEN: Friday, June 8, 6pm-9pm

RSVP/INFO:  lisa@silverspringtowncenter.com

TIX: Only $10 in advance through www.paypal.com. Make payment to silverspringtowncenter.com; $15 at the door. Space is very limited for this event, so order today through our Paypal page by clicking here:

SSTCi Thanks Our Sponsors for the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. thanks the sponsors for the 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring!

Silver Spring Blues Festival 2012 - The Line Up

Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. presents The 4th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring Saturday, June 16, 2012 

On the Fountain Stage

Warner Williams
School of Rock
Nate Foley & FLLD
Moonshine Society
Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes
DC Blues Society Band featuring Ayaba Bey 
The Unruly Blues Band 
Silver Spring Jams 

Mistress of Ceremonies 
Ida Campbell 
WPFW-FM Radio Personality Host, Don't Forget the Blues  
On the Market Stage

Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble 
Sheryl Sears Trio 
Gina DeSimone & the Moaners 
Cooking with Gas 
Swampcandy  

Sponsored by Downtown Silver Spring ▪ DC Blues Society ▪ Statland & Katz Ltd ▪ Monument Bank ▪ Home Properties ▪ Montgomery Community Media▪ Prudential Foundation ▪ Courtyard by Marriott ▪ Fenton Street Market ▪ Pyramid Atlantic ▪ McGinty's Public House Atomic Music ▪ Silver Spring Voice ▪ Silver Spring Patch ▪ Safe Silver Spring ▪ Dale Music Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation ▪ Silver Spring Regional Services Center ▪ Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.

For more information, visit www.silverspringblues.com

Dimitri Reeves Performs at Taste the World in Fenton Village

The Taste the World in Fenton Village stage, produced by SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin, featured a wide array of music from around the globe, including Latin, jazz, reggae, Persian percussion, rock, blues as well as Eastern Standard Time headlining! For more information about Taste the World, visit the website at www.tastetheworldfentonvillage.org 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/

Taste the World in Fenton Village - A Huge Success!

The 2nd Annual Taste the World in Fenton Village was held Sunday, May 6, 2012. Sponsored by the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, with assistance from the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., the Taste the World event brought scores of Silver Spring residents and visitors to the many restaurants of the Fenton Village area of Silver Spring. Two dozen restaurants featuring cuisine from around the globe were showcased. Unlike other tasting events assembled on sidewalks or public lots, Taste the World welcomes participants into restaurants to sample not just their specialties but their special atmosphere. Restaurants offer appetizers or small tasting plates at a minimal cost of $2 to $5 apiece. The Taste the World in Fenton Village stage, produced by SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin, featured a wide array of music from around the globe, including Latin, jazz, reggae, Persian percussion, rock, blues as well as Eastern Standard Time headlining! For more information about this program, visit the website at www.tastetheworldfentonvillage.org

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Take a Trip Around the World ... in Silver Spring at the 2nd Annual Taste the World in Fenton Village!

Sample foods from 24 international restaurants – all within a few blocks! Come to Taste the World in Fenton Village, Sunday, May 6, from 1pm to 5pm. Call 240-832-3078 or go to www.tastetheworldfentonvillage.org. Event attendees will pick up their special Taste the World “passports” at Parking Lot 3 on Fenton Street between Thayer and Silver Spring avenues beginning at 1pm. Restaurants will offer appetizers and small tasting plates at $2 to $5 a piece. Hosted by the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, with help from Silver Spring Town Center Inc., the Taste the World in Fenton Village stage will feature a wide array of music from around the globe, including jazz, rock, and blues as well as Eastern Standard Time headlining with a festive Caribbean beat!

Fenton Street Market Returns to Veterans Plaza, Saturday, April 28, 2012!

FSM has been out measuring and re-measuring the plaza, getting ready for the sold out Opening Day market on April 28th! To kick off in style, they will have more than 60 vendors selling everything from unique artwork to bonsai trees to handmade jewelry and everything in between.

They are looking forward to starting a new tradition this year: ringing in the start of the market. Stop by right at 10:00am to help ring the new market bell! Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will be there to ring in the new market season and make the first purchase of the year. Please join us in this celebration of local entrepreneurship!

Then, stay at the market to see local talent perform: Israel Dempsey will play her guitar from 10:00am – noon and FSM favorites Snakehead Run go on at 2:00pm. And our friends at Pyramid Atlantic will be teaching us how to do screen printing from noon – 2:00 pm.

SSTCi Events Helping to Boost Business in Downtown Silver Spring!

"The Twilight Tuesdays concert series is a great idea---and great for area business! I have seen an increase of inside sales from last year, including a 10% increase on the first night of the Twilight Tuesdays performance series. Hopefully with the nicer weather, we will see an even stronger turn-out." - Eric Rose, General Manager

About ZPizza: zpizza was founded in the art colony of Laguna Beach, California, where creativity and craftsmanship have flourished for almost a century. So it comes as no surprise that our critically acclaimed pizza is a true Laguna original. A passion for great food is why we start with dough made from 100% organic wheat flour prepared fresh every day, hand-thrown and fire-baked until uniquely crisp. Our zest for quality continues when the toppings go on. We combine select ingredients using award-winning skim mozzarella from Wisconsin, certified organic tomato sauce, MSG-free pepperoni, additive-free sausage, and fresh produce. Our gourmet salads and sandwiches are just as delicious. We hope you enjoy our authentic and unique recipes as much as we enjoy making them for you.

ZPizza is located in Downtown Silver Spring on Fenton just across from Veterans Plaza. For more info: www.zpizza.com.

TWILIGHT TUESDAYS: Alternative rock band SHOCK HOLIDAY Tuesday, April 17, 7p-9p!

Shock Holiday is an ultra modern progressive rock band out of suburban Maryland. Originality is the only musical formula, staying true to influences, with a fresh hard rock sound like no other. The end result is a modern rock story that can take you to the darkest corner of your imagination and paint a beautiful melodic picture on the way.

Shock Holiday's debut album is mixed with great radio hits, dark ballads and in-your-face dirty rock. Founding members Chris (vocals) and Steve (guitars) have worked hard for many years to craft and perfect this project in hopes of sharing it with new fans. The current lineup was completed in early 2011, with the addition of Zo on bass and Alli on drums. Members came from previous bands such as Project 13, Krazy 8s, and Luvrayzr, bringing many different musical backgrounds and influences.

Check out Shock Holiday's groundbreaking self-titled debut album as well as the epic music video for "A Stranger Among Us." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bEY7r5CZRk

For more info, visit: http://www.reverbnation.com/shockholiday#

TWILIGHT TUESDAYS: 13 year-old Electric Guitarist Isaiah "Izzy" Lemons Tuesday, April 17, 7p-9p!

An astoundingly gifted 13-year-old prodigy, Isaiah "Izzy" Lemons is a self-taught electric guitarist who plays Blues, Rock and R&B. Inspired by Slash, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Orianthi, BB King and Ozzy Osbourne, Izzy has been described as "an old soul who plays like an aged guitarist."

Although Izzy has only just recently started performing, he has already wowed a variety of crowds throughout the area. On April 18, 2010 he first debuted playing "I Love Rock n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" at the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, MD. In the past year, he has performed on The National Mall at the World Child Festival where he won 2nd place! He performed at the International Festival and the Afro-Caribbean Festival in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Isaiah gave a standing ovation performance at the Baltimore Apollo where the audience voted him to the finale and on September 24, 2011, he walked away with the title of "King of Guitar" and the 2011 Baltimore Apollo winner! On October 28, 2011, Isaiah had the honor of performing live, the "Redemption Song," with Junior Marvin & some of the Original Wailers at A Taste of New Orleans in DC during a benefit concert fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research & Homeless Veterans. Isaiah performed at the Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon on March 16th & 17th in Washington, DC for a crowd of over 20,000! On May 5th, Isaiah will be the show opener for Chuck Brown, "Godfather of Go-Go" at the Harlem Renaissance Festival in Landover, Md. Later this year, the unveiling of "Izzy Wear by Front Page Gear," will be revealed, which will include a variety of shirts, hoodies and T-shirts.

Check him out playing Jimi Hendrix' Purple Haze:

For more info about Izzy, visit: http://isaiahplaysguitar.webs.com/

SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin Provides Testimony to County Council at Budget Hearings

Testimony of
Lisa Martin, Executive Director
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
On the Montgomery County Executive’s
Proposed FY13 Operating Budget
April 12, 2012

Council President Berliner and Members of the Montgomery County Council, Good Evening.

My name is Lisa Martin. I am the Executive Director of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., a community based non-profit organization in Silver Spring, which provides innovative arts, entertainment and educational programming for the community in the Silver Spring Civic Building and on Veterans Plaza.

On behalf of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening.

The mission of Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. is to provide a vibrant, inclusive and engaging community gathering place that enriches the lives of residents of the Greater Silver Spring area. Embracing the racial and cultural diversity of the region, the organization seeks to educate, entertain, inspire and involve people while encouraging and supporting the building of a creative, compassionate and caring community.

The Silver Spring Town Center Inc. (SSTCi) is the result of a long process of community involvement and engagement to support the development of downtown Silver Spring. Established in 2004, SSTCi was created to infuse community spirit and involvement in the new Silver Spring Civic Building and on Veterans Plaza.

And we are pleased to report that this engagement has been very successful and very well received by our neighbors, our visitors, our partners in the County Government, and our friends throughout the business community.

SSTCi is proud to be part of the rich tapestry of cultural diversity in Silver Spring, and we have had the honor to present scores of artistic performances of music, dance, spoken word and other creative forms of expression to the County’s residents and visitors throughout the year.

I know that some of you have enjoyed many of our programs and activities—including our popular Silver Spring Blues Festival, our Tribute to America’s Veterans Concert, our Plaza Performances on the Veterans Plaza, our Evening with the Stars, as well as our monthly Arts Salon and the Jefferson Café, a collaboration with the Paul Peck Institute at Montgomery College.

In his proposed FY13 Recommended Budget, County Executive Leggett has included modest grant funds for SSTCi and its community-based programming. With these funds, we could leverage private sector resources, and continue to support programs for youth and people of all ages, as well as engage the diverse communities in our area and to showcase the array of artistic talent of Montgomery County residents.

We hope the County Council will agree that SSTCi deserves the support the County Executive has recommended for the FY13 Budget, and, in doing so, support our good works in this vibrant, exciting and important part of Montgomery County.

Our website is www.silverspringtowncenter.com

Thank you very much, and we hope to see you in our “community living room” in Downtown Silver Spring!

TWILIGHT TUESDAYS: Chakavak Persian Classical Music Ensemble, Tuesday, April 10th, 7p-9p on Veterans Plaza!

Chakavak Persian Classical Music Ensemble was formed in 1998 and has been showcased in various concerts and festivals throughout the region. It is part of the Center for for Persian Classical Music, which is managed and run by Nader Majd.

Born in Iran in 1944, Nader is an Iranian musician and scholar. He has been studying and performing music since his childhood. He learned music, both theory and practice, from his father and uncles who were dedicated musicians. Nader specializes in playing and teaching the Tar, Setar, Santur, Violin, and Vocal. He has participated in many concerts and TV shows in Iran and abroad, produced a number of audio and video tapes, and taught music in the USA for the past ten years.

How Our Date Night Turned Into a Big Oscars Win Night. By Mike Northridge

My wife Sara had actually won tickets to the event at a charity fundraiser a few weeks earlier. She was excited when she won 'cuz she & I always love to watch the Oscar telecast together and, with our busy schedules, we rarely get to have "date nights." In our 'younger days', we used to hurry each year as the telecast approached in order to see as many of the Best Picture nominees as we could before the awards show aired. I think there were two or three years when we managed to see all of the Best Picture nominees (and that was when there were only five!). But that must have been before the kids came along, LOL!

We checked the tix for the location of the event and which organizations were sponsoring it, and saw that it was Silver Spring Town Center (which was good karma 'cuz we used to live a block away from there back when we first got married and we hadn't been back to downtown Silver Spring much over the years) and the National Center for Children and Families. We've long admired NCCF's work and value their causes, e.g., helping the homeless (I volunteer with SOME downtown in cooking breakfast for the homeless) and with foster care and adoption services.

As Oscar night approached, we saw the website's suggestion to consider dressing as a movie character. Well, as it happens, last fall I had gone shopping for a Hawaiian shirt and the salesman told me that the shirt I was eyeing was the same print as the one that George Clooney wore in a movie called The Descendants that was opening the next day. So I bought it (and Sara & I later went to see the film, which we absolutely loved). Anyway, after seeing the website's suggestion to consider dressing as a movie character, it was a no-brainer that I should wear my "George Clooney" shirt.

Finally, Oscar night arrived. As we arrived in our old Silver Spring neighborhood, we were impressed with all the changes and busy nightlife downtown. We didn't know anyone else at the party, but everyone was friendly, and we had a great time. We were thrilled when our raffle ticket proved to be the winner of the grand prize. We have great memories of our newlywed days living in downtown Silver Spring, and now, many years later, we're really looking forward to returning and enjoying a romantic weekend there.

I admit I'm no George Clooney, but maybe my wife won't mind so long as I wear his Hawaiian shirt, LOL.

Cantaloupe Island by Groove Jet on Veterans Plaza

"Groove Jet" is a 5 piece "Funky Jazz Fusion" band. The band has been playing private parties and small clubs in the greater Washington area for the better part of the last 10 years. All band members are alum of numerous musical groups and genres that have been performing in the area for the last 40 years. The band leader and founder is keyboardist Garrett Green. The rest of the members in order of joining are Mark Frawley on Trumpet, Mattias Rucht on Drums and Silver Spring residents Don Berkemeyer on Bass, and Willard Morris on Violin. They cover a wide variety tunes from the Monk to Motown. .

Groove Jet Kicks off 2012 Twilight Tuesdays on Silver Spring's Veterans Plaza