Clarksburg Farmers’ Market – One of Many in Montgomery County

May 3, 2010 at 11:07 am

One of the many great things about living in Montgomery County is the abundance of agricultural land that is preserved by the county – about one quarter of our total space!  And where there are farmers, there are farmers’ markets – check out the locations and schedule for Montgomery County Farmers’ Markets.

Clarksburg Farmers’ Market in Clarksburg Town Center

The Clarksburg Town Center Farmers’ Market opens its third season on Sunday, June 6, 2010 from 10 am-1 pm at the intersection of Clarksburg Road & Public House Road.  Opening Day festivities include live music, children’s gardening project, moon bounce, PTA fundraisers, cotton candy, Carmen’s Italian Ice, Montgomery County Recycling, John Deere tractor, Artisan Showcase, and all our weekly farmers and food vendors.

Every Sunday from June through October when you visit the Clarksburg Town Center Farmers’ Market you will experience the finest and freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, meat, poultry, baked goods, fruit preserves & fresh cut flowers from local farmers, bakers and vendors.

Farmers Market August 2009 29 300x225 Clarksburg Farmers’ Market – One of Many in Montgomery County

Clarksburg Farmers' Market

This is a gathering place for the Clarksburg community to support their local farmers and community.  Open Sundays from 10:00-1:00 from June through October.  Visit Clarksburg Farmers’ Market online or email them at ClarksburgFarmersMarket@yahoo.com to get on the mailing list.

About the Author:  Elizabeth Garofalo serves on the Steering Committee of the Clarksburg Town Center Farmers’ Market.
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Filed Under: Featured, Fun & Recreation Tagged With: Clarksburg Farmers' Market, Clarksburg MD, Clarksburg Town Center

Kentlands – Your One Stop Shopping and Entertainment Destination

April 14, 2010 at 5:03 pm

A mile away from our Potomac Grove neighborhood up Quince Orchard Road is an area called the Kentlands, which includes every kind of shop and entertainment, from supermarkets to hair salons to spa services, a fitness center, movie theatre, restaurants -- some chains, some new and eclectic ventures.  You can also find medical supplies, furniture, clothing, party supplies and repair shops.  We also love that Whole Foods supermarket is there, right next to Michael’s.  Virtually all your errands can be accomplished within one mile of your home!

Another thing we love about the Kentlands is the farmer’s market with fresh locally grown produce.  In the spring and summer they close off some of the streets every Sunday for a few hours.

There is a city bus stop right by the Quince Orchard library that goes to/from the Kentlands, so teenagers have easy access to entertainment and jobs.

Every weekend in the summer a band plays during the evening, and families sit outside on the square eating dinner, having ice cream, biking, roller blading and dancing.  It is a really popular weekend activity that is a great way to meet your neighbors.

Kentlands is a wonderful destination, whether it’s ice cream with the kids, date night with the spouse, or girls lunch out.  You can find out more on the Kentlands website.

About the Author:  Lauren is a North Potomac MD home owner since 2005.

Take a look at homes near and in the Kentlands in zip code 20878 -- Call Bob Myers for a private showing:

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 200. See more 20878 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 2/6/2012)

  1. 3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
    Home size: 1,812 sq ft
  2. 2 beds, 2 full baths
    Home size: 1,412 sq ft
  3. 4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
    Lot size: 25,686 sq ft
  4. 2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
    Home size: 1,795 sq ft
  5. 4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
    Lot size: 2,029 sq ft
  6. 4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
    Lot size: 17,395 sq ft
  7. 3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
    Lot size: 1,500 sq ft
  8. 3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
  9. 3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
    Lot size: 1,790 sq ft
  10. 3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
    Home size: 2,040 sq ft
    Lot size: 2,226 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
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Filed Under: Featured, Fun & Recreation, Kentlands Tagged With: Kentlands, Kentlands Gaithersburg MD, Kentlands Maryland

49 Ways to Eat, Drink and Be Merry at Rio Washingtonian Center

March 11, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Resized 300x225 49 Ways to Eat, Drink and Be Merry at Rio Washingtonian Center

Rio & Washingtonian Center

The Washingtonian and Rio Centers are contiguous retail, dining, hotel and entertainment complexes built around a lake, conveniently located near Gaithersburg, Rockville and North Potomac.

Our family loves going to Rio, there are so many ways to entertain yourself.  Here are 49 ways to have fun at the Rio Washingtonian Centers:

#1 – Walk the boardwalk and paved path around the man made lake, enjoy the ducks and in-lake fountains and people watch from the benches

#2 to #11 – Dine inside or outside with a lake view at a variety of restaurants, from Mexican to Italian to Thai and more

#12 to #20 – Grab a quick bite, pick up fancy chocolates or have a bagel at the smaller eateries and specialty food stores.

#21 to #39 – Shop til you drop at the wide variety of stores.  There are large chains like Kohls, Target, Barnes and Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Pier 1; plus small boutiques like Ecco, South Moon Under and LOFT.

#40  -- See a movie at AMC/Loews

#41 and #42 – Get fit at Clubgolf Performance Center and the Sport and Health Club.

#43 to #45 – Have fun at Bach to Rock with music lessons and band jam sessions; paint pottery or do a mosaic at the Amazing Art Studio; and there’s The Little Gym for tots

#46 – Visit the upscale hair salon Cahra

#47 – Paddleboats in the summer will keep you busy chasing geese and enjoying the view

#48 – Concerts, parades and other special events year round give you yet another reason to enjoy Rio

#49 – A playground and a scavenger hunt with statues makes it easy to entertain your young children when they get bored with shopping.

A Great Place to Play -- And Easy to Get To

Rio is a great family and date destination.  It is easy to get to, right off of Routes 270 and 370, so it is minutes from anywhere on the I-270 corridor.  Parking is free and easy with several covered and outdoor parking areas.  Our family recently held a reunion, and many folks stayed at the hotels situated there.  They not only enjoyed themselves with all the amenities available, but found it conveniently located as well.  If you are considering moving to Montgomery County MD, this is one of the entertainment destinations you should check out.

Living in the Rio Area at Washingtonian Center

Just across the street from Rio is the Washingtonian Center development.  Highly desirable because it is in the prestigious Wootton High School district, there is a high rise condo building, townhomes and single family homes.  They tend to sell quickly not only because of the high school, but also the excellent commuting location and proximity to Rio.  Grocery shopping is very close by at the Muddy Branch center, and you are mere  minutes from Kentlands shops and restaurants.

What’s your favorite thing to do at Rio Washingtonian Center -- leave your comments below!
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Filed Under: Featured, Fun & Recreation Tagged With: Gaithersburg, Gaithersburg MD, Rio Center, Rio Washingtonian Center, Washingtonian Center

Montgomery County Diversity in Action – Germantown’s Amish Market

March 11, 2010 at 1:44 pm

As the flurries started falling at the start of our February two-foot snowstorm, I made my way to the Lancaster County Dutch Market in Germantown.  I knew better than to go within a mile of a grocery store, but I thought the Amish market, as it’s commonly called, might not be so insanely crowded.

Dutch Market new3 300x162 Montgomery County Diversity in Action – Germantown’s Amish Market

Diversity in Montgomery County MD

The Lancaster County Dutch Market is an experience.  Made up of individual markets housed in the same building, it has great food and a great atmosphere. Each section is run by a different family or group and items are paid for in that section, rather than at the end at checkout lines.

I went there to buy some delicious fried chicken for dinner, but I can’t walk in without exploring all areas of the store. It’s laid out in a square, with various markets lining both sides of the main aisle.  First you come upon the dried goods where they have all kinds of spices and extracts in addition to staples of sugar and flour. Then you arrive at the cold cuts and prepared salads. But I can never pass up my favorite section—the candy. The nonpareils are my downfall, but they have all kinds of other goodies too, many bringing back fond childhood memories–licorice, Boston beans and candy necklaces among others. They even have candy cigarettes, which I didn’t think existed anymore. I’ve resisted buying them on principle so far, but I might have to get a pack next time, just for old time’s sake.  A friendly young woman with a dress, apron and sheer white head-covering rang up my purchase. Just the nonpareils….this time.

As I continued on, I perused the fresh produce, fresh cut flowers, large selections of meats, and prepared chicken and ribs.  I stopped to buy the fried chicken that had brought me to the store in the first place. The chicken is delicious, there are large pieces and it’s cheaper than chicken in a bucket.  The people behind the counter are friendly and incredibly efficient. I got through what I thought was a long line in just a minute or so.

Amish1 300x199 Montgomery County Diversity in Action – Germantown’s Amish Market

Lancaster Dutch Market in Germantown MD - just one example of Montgomery County's incredible diversity

The Amish market also has beautifully crafted wooden furniture.  I can’t walk by without running my hand over the smooth wood. It’s not cheap, but it’s not cheaply made either.

Rounding the last corner, I stopped to taste some of the cheeses. And while I passed by the bakery area, looking longingly at all the delicious looking desserts, but not buying them, I did notice that they still had plenty of bread and milk. This is important with 2 feet of snow on the way, so they say. But is it really more important than being stocked up on nonpareils?

About the Author: Claire S., Montgomery County resident since 1989, has lived in Kensington, Montgomery Village, Flower Hill in Gaithersburg and for many years in the Milestone neighborhood of Germantown.
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Filed Under: Fun & Recreation, Germantown Tagged With: Germantown MD, Germantown MD Shopping

Cabin John Ice Rink

March 11, 2010 at 1:13 pm

Skates 150x150 Cabin John Ice RinkOne of the great things about living in Montgomery County is the amazing amount of activities that are available for the family at any given time.  Rarely is there a time when we can’t find something interesting to do.  One of our favorite destinations is the Cabin John Ice Rink in North Bethesda.

Cabin John Ice Rink Pro Shop 225x300 Cabin John Ice Rink

The Pro Shop at Cabin John Ice Rink

They’ve got open skate hours for people who just want to have some fun – including watching the Zamboni machine come clear the ice.  They also offer skating lessons, hockey lessons and both recreational and competitive team leagues for all ages.  Kids can even attend hockey camp in the summer.  If you own your own skates, it’s fine to bring them with no extra charge.  However, if you need to rent skates, the prices are reasonable and you can pick up any accessories you want at their in-house shop.  You’ll want to remember to dress warm as is can get chilly while your inside the rinks – make sure you bring gloves in case you fall!  During the breaks or afterward, you can head to the lobby café for a snack or a drink to warm you up.

If skating isn’t your thing, don’t think you won’t find yourself at Cabin John in the near future.  They’ve got lots of other activities available in the surrounding Cabin John Park.  We’ve taken preschool classes down to the park for picnics and to ride on the miniature train…and sometimes watch a show in the amphitheatre.  Many sports camps are hosted there each summer, including one of our family favorites – tennis.  And of course, what would a beautiful Maryland park be without a nature center. The Locust Grove nature center is a fantastic place to visit on a day off of school or for a birthday party.  The tours they give are exciting for children or adults…or anyone in between.

After a long day of activities at the Cabin John Park or at the Ice Rink, it’s easy to drive a couple minutes down the road to Montgomery Mall.  With an extensive food court and plenty of larger, sit-down chain restaurants – it’s a great way to relax and get out of cooking dinner!

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Germantown – Convenient Shopping at Milestone’s Neelsville Village

March 11, 2010 at 1:12 pm

As a product of suburbia, one of my criteria for purchasing a home has always been close proximity to convenient shopping.  Moving to Montgomery County and living in the Milestone community in Germantown has been amazing in that respect due to having the wonderful Neelsville Shopping Center just across the street.  Neelsville is hailed as one of the country’s largest outdoor plazas.  It has 10 separate buildings which house restaurants, grocery stores, electronics stores, mass retail stores, and various specialty stores.  There is almost nothing we need that we can’t get from Neelsville in Germantown.

Neelsville Rev 300x110 Germantown – Convenient Shopping at Milestone’s Neelsville Village

Neelsville Village Center at Milestone in Germantown

Years ago, there was an unprecedented snow storm which left roads unplowed for six days.  The snow hit us unexpectedly and hit us hard and fast.  How wonderful that my husband could walk across the street to purchase some extra shovels and salt so we could clear our driveway?!  Not to mention the milk and cereal and various other home needs to tide us over until the plows came through.  Just try to find me a 40 acre plot in Kansas where you can do that!

Of course, variety is the spice of any community shopping mecca and Neelsville has tons of variety.  I’ve definitely been known to start in the section that Target anchors for groceries (did I mention our Target is being remodeled into a Super Target with groceries this year?) and household goods, mosey into TJ Maxx for a gift, stop at Staples for ink cartridges, haunt the Halloween seasonal store for a couple plastic shrunken heads and then pop over to Michael’s for decorative baskets — and then haul it all back to my car at Target.  Who knew that shopping at Milestone’s Neelsville could double as a weight-lifting work-out?

There are so many different businesses (which have stayed consistent for many years, by the way) that I couldn’t possibly name them all in this blog. But I will mention that there’s a huge advantage to living in the Milestone community where you can leave your house when a commercial break starts, run to pick up and pay for your curbside dining, and be back in your favorite easy chair before the next segment of the show begins.  Now that’s service!

About the Author: T. Diamond has lived in Montgomery County, MD since 1995.
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Filed Under: Fun & Recreation, Germantown, Milestone Tagged With: Germantown MD, Germantown MD Shopping, Milestone, Move to Montgomery County, Neelsville Village
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