SSTCi Stars; Gloria Bonilla. July 2013

SSTCi Stars

Gloria Bonilla has served on SSTCi's Board of Directors since December 2011. She has been a strong advocate of SSTCi's mission supporting the community through its diversity of arts and entertainment programming. Gloria says, "SSTCi offers all community members  the opportunity to have a place to meet, learn about each other through casual gatherings as well other events to increase awareness on local, regional and national issues, world cultures and affairs."

  

Gloria says she got involved with SSTCi two years ago through her professional involvement in the community. "I learned and became involved with SSTCi because of the community engagement role I have at Montgomery College," she says.

  

Gloria has dedicated most of her adult life to work on community and program development, human rights and immigration issues, access to education, resources and services to underserved communities.

Gloria is currently assigned to the Office of Advancement and Community Engagement at Montgomery College where she is applying her experience and skills developing a program to make information and education accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. Gloria has been responsible for directing, producing and hosting Mi Escuela es su Escuela Radio/TV program since its inception December 2008.

 

For the 2012 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, NBC4  recognized Gloria and other Hispanic leaders for their contribution to the community.

Laughter is the Best Medicine: a Message from our Director. July 2012

Laughter is the Best Medicine

A Message from Our Director

  

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. 

 ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Dear SSTCi Friends,

 

SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin
with Senator Jamie Raskin at
The Silver Spring Blues Festival

What a whirlwind this summer has been so far! Our 5th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival was a huge success measuring by the smiles on folks' faces day and night at both our main stage and at the market stage.  Thousands of attendees gathered on a beautiful summer day to "sing the Blues" with us and 18 performance groups, or approximately 100 of the top blues men and women (and kids) in our area, including Bobby Parker, School of Rock as well as lots of women singin' the blues as well including Skyla Burrell, Ursula Ricks, Gina DeLuca, Stacy Brooks, Gina DeSimone and the Moaners, and the list goes on.  Check out a few of the photos highlighting this very popular annual event in Downtown Silver Spring. We greatly appreciate the participation and support of all our sponsors and partners, the awesome musicians who performed throughout Blues Week, and especially all the hard work and dedication of our Festival Founder and Producer Alan Bowser and his team, including Jazs with the DC Blues Society. We look forward to another amazing event  next year!

 

Even the dogs are
dancing at the
Blues Festival

Aside from the fact that we like singin' the blues in Silver Spring, there is also plenty of laughter going on.  From the tiny tots pounding away at our drum circles to the seniors doing Laughing Yoga with us, we are doing our part to help bring a bit more fun and laughter to Silver Spring.

 

But as the song goes, "We just can't smile without you," so be sure to join us for some of our upcoming events, including our two weekly plaza performance series Twilight Tuesdays and Wednesday Night STARZ featuring an amazing array of talent representing a diversity of music from around the globe all in our own backyard.

 

We look forward to having you join us for much more laughter this summer!

  

 

Warm Regards,

  

                                        LISA MARTIN
                                        ygExecutive Director

Singin' The Blues: a Message from our Director. June 2013

Singin' the Blues

A Message from Our Director

  

Oh yeah, when you smile, you smile

And then the spell was cast.

And here we are in heaven,

For you are mine...at last. 

~ Etta James
  



After an amazing show : The legendary Warner Williams, SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin and Swampcandy's Ruben Dobbs and Joey Mitchell. (foreground).

Dear SSTCi Friends,



     We may be singin' the blues all week in Silver Spring, but we're having lots of fun doing it! We kicked off Blues Week on Monday with a rousing performance by Swampcandy and a classic Piedmont Blues performance by the Blues' community's beloved Warner Williams, who still can rock the house at age 83! We in fact love Warner so much, we're inviting him back to open our Blues Festival Fountain Stage this Saturday at 3pm! An incredible line-up is in store, so gather round early and be sure to catch some of the best acoustic blues in our area on our Market Stage on Veterans Plaza, which is part of the Fenton Street Market 3pm-9pm. While there, you may want to get your "Bluesy" henna tattoos from henna artist Bhavna who will be painting the town "blue" all day and night starting at Fenton Market then moving over to our Festival vendor area on Ellsworth later in the day, where blues lovers are bound to be lined up for a guitar or a blue moon and stars to celebrate this genre of music that just about everyone seems to love!

    SSTCi has also been busy with an array of other music with our Twilight Tuesdays and Wednesday Night STARZ ambient performances on Veterans Plaza as well as some special events like the annual Taste the World in Fenton Village earlier this month. SSTCi managed the music for this eventand has gotten a lot of queries about the various bands (see their contact info   with their photos below) such as Tahuantinsuyo, a Peruvian folkloric group and

Rose Moraes and Soul Brazil who headlined with lively Brazilian Bossa Nova. A special shout out to my new friend and favorite 70's cover band musician Roger Coleman of The Blackjacks who sang some special songs from my own early childhood like America's Ventura Highway and Horse with No Name. One of the many perks of working with musicians!



SSTCi Board President gave welcome remarks
just before Swampcandy's
 swamp-stompin' performance!

 

 

  

We look forward to singin' the blues with you at our Festival as, well
as singing many more songs of all kinds throughout the summer!

  

  

Warm Regards,

  

LISA MARTIN
Executive Director

Change The World: A Message from Our Director. May 2013

Change the World

A Message from Our Director

June 2013

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Anthropologist Margaret Mead



Following her presentation Community Building Through the Arts in Public Spaces , SSTCi Executive Director Lisa Martin with Brazilian artists and arts administrators at the Temple of Goodwill in Brasilia. Lisa gave talks about SSTCi while on a Partners of the Americas exchange visit to Brazil last month.


Dear SSTCi Friends,

     Last month, I was in Brazil on a 10-day Partners of the Americas visit made possible by a travel grant from the State Department's Office of Education and Culture. Serving as the president of the DC Chapter of Partners, I did a required president's visit to our counterpart chapter in Brasilia, the
                                                 capital and new Sister City of our own Nation's Capital.
Templo da Boa Vontade /
The Temple of Good Will

     In addition to visiting people and places related to our partnership's three shared programs: Arts & Social Action, NGO/Government Relations and Ambassadors of Hope, I also wanted to share with people in Brazil what we do here in Silver Spring. Meeting with many who work in Brasilia's arts and non-profit world., I presented a talk about SSTCi's challenges, opportunities and successes in a presentation entitled Community Building Through the Arts in Public Spaces at four different events. Two were in downtown Brasilia: one at CAIXA Economica's Cultural Department and another at the Temple of Good Will, as well as two others at arts centers in Gama and São Sebastião, which are satellite cities of Brasilia.

My presentation highllighed how virtually anything is possible if you have the help of others in your community. I told about how with very limited funds, SSTCi is able to produce over 80 free arts and entertainment programs year-round thanks a great deal in part to the vast array of talented individuals, literally thousands, who come together to make it all happen. This includes many musicians, expert presenters, partner organizations, sponsors, County officials, volunteers, and other participants. Many of the Gandhi Brigade Brazilian artists and arts administrators who attended my talks were enthusiastic about and inspired by what SSTCi is doing, and said they hoped to replicate some of the community-based programming and community engagement that we do in Silver Spring.

     I also told them about the many other non-profit arts and cultural organizations here in our area who collaborate with us, and do their own magic for the community, like Gandhi Brigade, which just held its annual Youth Media Festival. Gandhi Brigade does an awesome job training young people in video arts, while also raising awareness of social issues and instilling passion and confidence in Blues Festival Logo kids that will remain with them for a lifetime. (As a side note, I had a great time serving as a judge and seeing all the media projects the kids have done. )

    The quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead sums up the fact that we should "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." It is committed citizens, like members of the Silver Spring Citizens' Advisory Board who actively serve our community and "change the world" for the better one day at a time. SSTCi is proud to be partnering for the second year in a row on their 3rd Annual Taste the World in Fenton Village event. Every year this group of people come together to make the event happen helping to bring about positive change for the struggling restaurants and other business owners in Fenton Village, which in turn benefits the overall community. I hope you will join us for this worthwhile event Sunday, June 2nd. Also mark your calendars for our Silver Spring Blues Festival happening Saturday, June 15th. We will kick-off Blues Week at our Blues Week Kick-Off Party Monday, June 10th---this is not to be missed!

Warm Regards,

LISA MARTIN
Executive Director

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!