ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Live music lovers should not miss Strathmore nonprofit arts center—beloved for its Music Center, which welcomes internationally acclaimed performers both classical and contemporary. Strathmore resides on 16 acres and also features the more intimate 100-seat Mansion at Strathmore. Insider tip: Warm up in the Strathmore Tea Room, open Tuesdays and Wednesdays. More in the mood for a punk rock band shirt? The funky Fillmore in Silver Spring books popular rock, hip-hop, and metal bands. The theater got a cool, retro remodel recently, including a refresher of its awesome 1940s J.C. Penney’s façade. If you’re in the market for a movie instead, simply step across the street from the Fillmore to find the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center, a program run by the American Film Institute. AFI screens great stuff, brings influential filmmakers to the stage, and offers educational programming in partnership with the DC Arts and the Humanities Education Collaborative. You can also catch up on your creativity at Glen Echo Park. The riverfront location is home to more than a dozen resident artists and arts organizations, a fabulous social dance program—where you can redeem your bad prom experience any weekend of the year—and art instruction galore (in ceramics, painting, photography, glass, music, dance, and much more). Residents often serve as instructors. Add children’s theaters, free summer concerts, and arts festivals, and you’ll understand why Glen Echo Park has been a favorite for generations. Find even more art to enjoy nearby at the must-see Glenstone Museum in Potomac. Residing on a manicured 230-acre campus, the sprawling museum with its sculpture gardens and more is just as beautiful outside as it is inside. Post-WWII artwork and outdoor sculptures by seasoned artists make for a day well spent—it’s no wonder that Glenstone is often mentioned in the same breath as the Frick and the Phillips Collection. Recently, the museum added an environmental center with exhibits on recycling, composting, and reforestation. Frederick is home to its own Arts & Entertainment District boasting terrific art galleries, public art exhibitions, and regular live performance events. The festive area is wonderfully walkable to boot. Be sure to cross Community Bridge with its renowned trompe l’oeil mural, conceived by artist William Cochran. Volunteers—local, national, and international—contributed symbols that represent for them “the spirit of community,” and Cochran then spent five years painting the amazing mural for the bridge that arcs over Carroll Creek. Photos: (clockwise from top left) Carroll Creek in Frederick (Jon Bilous), Six Flags America in Marlboro (Six Flags America) Sunflower field near Potomac @sharpandsoundstyle 78 / VISITMARYLAND.ORG
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2021 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 78
