Jimmy Obomsawin's blog

Shared to us by Ken at Eastern Village:

Anyone who shopped at the GIANT grocery store just off East West Highway in Silver Spring, Maryland will remember Robert Anthony Fields, particularly customers who visited the store late at night. Fields was usually one of the late night cashiers, some times the only one.

He was always helpful and friendly. If there was no one else in line behind me we would talk and I found out that there was a lot going on in his life. I believe he wanted to record some hip/hop poetry type stuff-- sadly we will never get to hear that.

Fields passed away July 17 of this year. RIP Robert Anthony Fields, Jr.

UrbanTurf has a great article about the history of Silver Spring's urbanization. They interviewed several residents covering topics from walkability to dining and nightlife to real estate investment.

Of course, we know what a fantastic city Silver Spring is. But I'm glad that UrbanTurf is sharing this secret with the greater DC area.

From the article:

The renaissance that started in downtown Silver Spring nearly a decade ago continues apace with a surge of new housing, restaurants, shops and entertainment. Considered an unsuccessful example of urban renewal in the 1980s, the area now attracts street festivals, concerts, and farmers and craft markets, while great schools, convenient transportation and relatively affordable housing are bringing in people that did not expect to find themselves buying here.

Here at last! Also is included a copy of the experimental live video broadcast. Since it was a last-minute idea we didn't have time to get a proper setup, so the only equipment I had was my iPhone. You may need to turn the sound way up to hear everything. Also, we are missing the last few minutes from the video. Several people logged in to watch online, so it was obviously a great idea that we need to execute better next time.

1. Intros
2. Block party and SSS socials
   1. 4th annual, starting with location, sponsors, etc.
   2. Block Party date - Saturday, September 25th
   3. Social – June 2nd, Jackie’s Sidebar, 7 pm
3. Progress Place, Warren Hansen (Interfaith Works)
   1. IFW – provide services to needy
   2. Progress Place is a facility on Colonial Ln off Georgia Ave – IFW runs Community Vision (day program for homeless to get meals, laundry, vocational training, therapy)
   3. Faced with possibility of closure because of budget cuts
   4. Formed coalition to reduce proposed 70% cuts to only 7%
   5. Contact councilmembers to voice support of center
   6. UPDATE since meeting: Montgomery County decided to restore funding.
4. Don Hague, Home Properties (1200 EW Highway)
   1. 44% leased, 108 signed leases
   2. 247 units, 270 parking spaces
   3. 50 move-ins
   4. $1600-$3000/mo
   5. No pool
   6. LEED certification in process (gold) – if approved, will be 1st gold LEED high rise residential building
   7. Letter of intent under consideration for one of the commercial spaces (expressed interest - dentist, food (space for 4 kitchens))
   8. Didn’t get control of retail space to lease until February
   9. Public parking as well as resident, operated by contractor
   10. Resident spaces rent around $100/month
5. Barry Soorenko, owner of Mayorga/Gallery spaces
   1. Last 6 months – Mayorga closed, Gallery was evicted
   2. 2 large retail/restaurant spaces available
   3. important to him to have public support
   4. hopes to have 1 or both spaces leased within 60 days
   5. Gallery space
      1. Meets with 3 or 4 ppl/week
      2. 2 directions: sports bar/irish pub/music venue (would require lot of construction) or restaurant
      3. encourages people to contact people directly – if there is a place you want to see here, email them and email Barry
      4. has contacted: Tryst, Busboys & Poets, Green Turtle, Buffalo Wild Wings
   6. Mayorga space – wants to get something similar
      1. Poor service and limited food menu were problems
      2. Talking to certain community, coffee-oriented place – more food (crepes!) and jazz
      3. Trying to maintain café-type tenant

Washington City Paper tells us about DC mixologist Tiffany Short, who will be working at Sidebar this Wednesday through Saturday before moving back home to Austin. Tiffany's resumé includes such places as Inn at Little Washington, PS7's and The Gibson.

From the article:

Short plans to go out in style. Jackie Greenbaum has lured Short to her new Sidebar project for one final blowout. Short will be mixing drinks at the Silver Spring lounge on Wednesday through Saturday before leaving for Austin next week. She plans to create some special cocktails for the occasion and promises to leave her stamp on Sidebar with a few drinks to put on the bar’s permanent menu. Read more...

A south Silver Spring restaurant has been evicted by its property owner for violating its lease by operating as a night club and missing rent payments, a move that has relieved residents who blamed late-night disturbances on the restaurant's patrons.

The Gallery restaurant and night club, formerly at 1115 East West Highway in Silver Spring, was evicted April 5 by its property owner Barry Soorenko, who claims management of the restaurant violated the lease and didn't pay thousands of dollars in rent over the past few months.

Read the rest of the article here.