Silver Spring may have gotten its name from a small spring discovered in the 1800s, but today it’s better known as one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. And with nearly 30 Ethiopian restaurants—not to mention Senegalese, Nepali, Creole, Thai and other dining experiences—located in or just outside its compact downtown district, Silver Spring also boasts one of the country’s most diverse food scenes.
Pair a new cuisine with a concert, theatrical performance, movie or poetry reading and make a day or an evening of it. Arts and entertainment venues The Fillmore, Silver Spring Black Box Theatre, and AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center all sit on the same block of Colesville Road in the heart of town—and if a jolt of caffeine is needed, nearly two dozen locally owned coffee and tea shops are within walking distance, too, many owned by folks from across the African diaspora.
Play
Home to three pools, a gymnasium, a seniors lounge and the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center is the county’s newest and most state-of-the-art recreation complex. Opened in February, the 120,000-square-foot, $72 million facility offers free or low-cost programming to county residents—everything from water aerobics, fitness and art classes to pickleball, basketball and badminton. 1319 Apple Ave.; montgomerycountymd.gov
Sip
Sleek, upscale Citizens & Culture is a recent entry into the downtown Silver Spring scene. Head upstairs for a bar with a retractable roof and a wall of plants. 8113 Georgia Ave.; citizensculture.com
Party
With its festive decor and Cuban vibe, El Sapo Cuban Social Club is the place to enjoy some ropa vieja and a lavender margarita any day of the week. But if you can catch one of El Sapo’s drag brunches, held every other month, all the better. Host Brian Rivera—known as Ashley when in drag—sews his own outfits, makes five costume changes per performance, and “keeps it classy,” he says, so the whole family can partake. 8455 Fenton St.; elsaporestaurant.com
Drink
Now open in the space formerly occupied by Astro Lab Brewing, Third Hill Brewing Co. has quickly established a loyal clientele who come for its curated assortment of microbrewed IPAs, pale ales and lagers. Plus, there’s Capital Trivia night every Thursday. 8216 Georgia Ave.; thirdhillbrewing.com
Shop
For one of the best selections of bras for large cup-size women—and a personalized bra-fitting by a pro—stop by Dor-Ne Corset Shoppe. The small but well-stocked retailer has been around since 1932 and carries bras up to size 52 O. 8126 Georgia Ave.; dornecorset.com
Splurge
Treat yourself to either “sugary” or “chewy” (or both) at The Original Velatis, which began selling its handcrafted Italian-style caramels back in 1866 at its long-shuttered D.C. location. A fixture of Silver Spring since 2009, the enticing little shop sells them by the piece and in boxes themed for nearly every holiday and occasion. 8408 Georgia Ave.; velatis.com
Browse
Just blocks from the town center, the new Analog Market serves coffee from its sister company, local purveyor Bump ‘n Grind, as well as vintage clothing and crafts by Silver Spring-based artisans—from hand-painted lamps to Goth-themed scented candles. Named “Best Luddite Shopping Experience” by Washington City Paper last year, the old-school shop has DJs who spin vinyl on weekends. Upstairs is the Silver Spring outpost of Loyalty Books, with a large selection of titles by Black, Latino and queer authors and other marginalized groups. The market and bookshop are only open Thursdays through Sundays. 923 Gist Ave.; bumpngrind.co
Eat
The reputation of Ethiopian restaurant Beteseb carries all the way home to Africa. That’s according to celebrity chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson, who showcased the family-run eatery in No Passport Required, his award-winning PBS series. The 2018 episode featured chef/co-owner Darmyalesh Alemu teaching the famous chef how to make kitfo, a spiced raw beef delicacy. But the most popular dish at Beteseb these days is its veggie combo: traditional vegan stews served with injera, the spongy pancake that’s a staple of Ethiopian cuisine. 8201 Georgia Ave.; betesebrestaurant.com
Coming Up
Events at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, silverspringdowntown.com
Silver Spring’s 2024 Summer Concert Series kicks off June 20 and runs from 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday evening through Aug. 1, except July 4. Bring the whole family and groove to a mix of crowd favorites and new musical offerings while the kids enjoy lawn games and more.
Montgomery County Pride in the Plaza comes to town from noon to 8 p.m. on June 30, featuring a drag story hour, LGBTQ+ entertainers, activities and a concert during the day, and a Pride ball in the evening.
This story appears in the May/June edition of Bethesda Magazine.