The Dirt: September 2015

Booyah! Mid-September and I’m submitting this month’s The Dirt! Look how psyched I am to be on time and praising myself for doing something everyone else does every day of their lives. Blam!

This month, we have quite a few developments. I do take some solace in knowing that some of these items have not been covered by Bethesda Magazine. In addition, there was a very interesting article interviewing ex-Moco superintendant, Joshua Starr, in which he stated blogs drive mainstream media news coverage. This wasn’t a good thing to him, but an interesting idea, none the less.

Besides that, I’ve seen buzz of people commenting on Bethesda Magazine’s coverage of Silver Spring. One person commented, “Bethesda magazine appears totally preoccupied with silver spring” on Just Up The Pike’s Facebook page. Some appreciate that for filling the gap in media coverage in Silver Spring. At the end of the day, a gap exists, and that gap exists in news coverage, as well as advertising dollars. That being said, the standard line about news coverage in Silver Spring is that there aren’t advertising dollars to support it. Perhaps the developing businesses will change all that.

Anyone have any ideas of a model that could allow for better media coverage in Silver Spring?

With that, here is The Dirt:

Mathnasium (1133 East-West Hwy) – 2 + 2 = 4. 4 + 4 = 8. I know math. I don’t need this place.

Sports Town (8634 Colesville Rd) – Apparently Sports Town used to be inside City Place Mall. Do I have that right? Now, their Silver Spring location is across Colesville Road. Their website updates regularly with the newest releases to up your shoe game, which is great, because I’ve been needing some new Birkenstocks.

Fatty’s Tattoo – Fatty’s is actually a throw back. They used to be on Bonifant in the location that is now Ambrotos tattoo. In 1996, guess who used their janky Georgetown-made fake ID to get their eyebrow pierced?

Island Flavors (9324 Georgia Ave) – Speaking of throw-backs, Island Flavors has opened up in the spot that was previously Tropical Ice Cream Cafe, and York Castle prior. I find this fairly confusing, but if you can get sour sop ice cream, I’m alright with confusion.

Squires Rock Creek Chop House (2405 Price Avenue) – Classics is getting some competition up the street in Wheaton. Their menu can be found on the site. Expect some standard steak house stand-bys like creamed spinach.

Unplugged Wheaton (11305-C Georgia Avenue) – Continuing the wave of development in Wheaton comes a new sports bar. Permits have been pulled, but we have no further details. I don’t know sports.

Zene’s Market & Deli (8113 Fenton St) – Currently in build-out, Zene’s is the latest in potential places opening up in south Fenton Village, along with Sheger Cafe and whatever is going into the old Bell Flowers building.

Spirit Halloween (8501 Georgia Ave) – Taking over the old Office Depot, the Halloween pop up spot serves all your Halloween costume needs. I think they used to fill part of what is now H&M once Borders closed. Go quickly, because weeks out from Halloween, their shelves get fairly empty and depressing.

Pete Tan

Silver Spring Inc

A DC Native, people say I'm rude and abrasive; I say I'm passionate. I've been working in marketing since 2005. My brothers and I paid Geppi's rent through the 80s and 90s. My relief at an indoor wavepool never materializing in Silver Spring is balanced by my disappointment that City Place has dozens of shuttered storefronts. I love what you've done with your hair.