Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Blogging Away in Silver Spring

The comment I've heard lately that there are more blogs in Silver Spring than there are people is slightly exaggerated. If my count is accurate, there are "only" 10 or so active blogs that speak to issues relevant to fermenting and improving this thriving community. (There are many many many other issue and/or subject specific blogs in Silver spring - and many of them are really excellent... But here we are focusing on blogs that folks active in civic life find interesting.)

Running the risk of trying an impossible task, here is my list - a list - of these blogs with an attempt at a descriptive statement (or two) for each. If I misspeak, please correct me - I know you will :-)

(Also, they appear in no particular order.)

SILVER SPRING SPEAKS

http://silverspringspeaks.blogspot.com/
The blog you are reading now. Moderated by Reemberto Rodriguez, Director of the Silver Spring Regional Center on topics relevant to the Center's mission - i.e.: connecting to community.

THE DIRECTOR'S BLOG
http://montgomeryplanning.org/blog-director/
Moderated by Rollin Stanley, Director of Park & Planning. Excellent source for better understanding of development issues.

SILVER SPRING SINGULAR
http://www.silverspringsingular.com/
Going strong for 4+ years. "News 'N Notes" feature provides succinct, one sentence blips with intentional, well placed links.

SILVER SPRING: THEN AND AGAIN
http://silverspringthenagain.blogspot.com/
Moderated by Jerry A. McCoy, professional-level writings and great photographs that puts our community in its proper historical context.

JUST UP THE PIKE
http://www.justupthepike.com/
Great reporting on not only Silver Spring, but meaningful stuff going on in our neighboring communities.

SILVER SPRING PHOTO
http://silverspringdailyphoto.com/
For those of us that are somewhat photographically challenged, this is a must-visit blog. Great panoramic pictures of many of our everyday spots.


SILVER SPRING SKATEBOARDING

http://silverspringskateboarding.blogspot.com/
"Promoting skateboarding and its benefits to youth..." Really cool pictures too.

THAYER AVE
http://www.thayeravenue.com/
"...this one was inspired both by those that have come before and the overwhelming sense of community on our beloved street." [For those that don't know, Thayer Ave in near Downtown Silver Spring.]

SOCO EATS
http://socoeats.blogspot.com/
Got to love the name! Very neat reviews of eateries in the "South County" area. The 'people-interest' angle of the reviews give great insight into our community.

SILVER SPRING SPRINKLES
http://silverspringsprinkles.blogspot.com/
"A sprinkling of Silver Spring, MD. Sum Random assortment of news, photos, and trivia." Postings are not as regular as others, but the brief postings are worth checking out.

THE SILVER BEE
http://www.thesilverbee.com/
A private residential real estate venture, but with very good 'community angle' stories. Also has relevant local 'real estate' news.

A PARENT IN SILVER SPRING
http://aparentinsilverspring.com/Even the colors of this blog say what it is :-) Certainly not limited to Silver Spring proper, but a 'must-visit' blog if you have little ones. [Check out their Calendar Feature - easy to use, highly informative, and up to date.]

SILVER SPRING TOWN CENTER
http://www.silverspringtowncenter.blogspot.com/
Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., (SSTCi) maintains this blog. This is the organization responsible for - among other things - providing advice to the Regional Center to ensure community-serving events happen at the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza.

SILVER SPRING NEIGHBORHOODS
http://silverspringneighborhoods.blogspot.com/
"Periodic news", well written and detailed description of projects and events. Neat pictures of community gatherings.

SOUTH SILVER SPRING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
http://www.southsilverspring.org/
Devoted to the folks on East West Highway, on the West side of Georgia. Issue oriented articles are thorough and professionally written.

MONTGOMERY SIDEWAYS
http://montgomerysideways.blogspot.com/
"A pedestrian in Montgomery County."... GREAT pictures of what impedes pedestrian movement in our community.

THE NEIGHBORS CAMPAIGN
http://neighborscampaign.wordpress.com/
IMPACT Silver Spring's herculean attempt to knock on 10,000 doors in our community to connect with those not typically engaged in traditional civic life.

THE STRAIGHT LINE

http://montgomeryplanning.org/blog-design/
Design oriented, moderated by the best of our local planners at the Montgomery County Planning Department.

SILVER SPRING TRAILS

http://www.silverspringtrails.org/

About building a network of trails in lower Montgomery County.

SILVER SPRING BLOG
http://silverspringblog.wordpress.com/
Newest blog around. Moderated by recent new homeowner. Cool observations and refreshing views.

SILVER SPRING TRAILS
http://www.silverspringtrails.org/
All about the bike trails throughout the County - current and future.

THE SILVER SPRING PENGUIN
http://silverspringpenguin.com/
No longer active, but wonderful 'recent history' account of our community... (We miss it!)

-----
NEARBY BLOGS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO SILVER SPRING


BEYOND DC
http://beyonddc.com/
All about our neighbors to the south.


UNSUCK DC METRO
http://unsuckdcmetro.blogspot.com/2010/11/metro-knew-of-escalator-brake-issues.html
Advocate's take on DC Metro

GREATER WASHINGTON
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/
Exceptionally well written blog on broader "growth" issues, but with occasional specific pieces as well (like the one on our own Civic Building!)

MARYLAND POLITICS
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/
The name speaks for itself :-)

SOCIABLE SUSAN
http://sociablesusan.blogspot.com/
Moderated by Susan Majek, a freelance journalist. Interesting tid-bits in the general DC entertainment area.

Did I forget your favorite? Please comment and add it!... Become a 'follower' of this blog so you will get future postings.

11 comments:

tony hausner said...

you can add iscaonline.com our web site, we are also on facebook. indian spring citizens association.

Unknown said...

A bike site is http://www.silverspringtrails.org/
This speaks to the frustration of biking in Silver Spring and gives updates to new trails, paths, lanes.

Dave said...

You can add http://noraheadlines.blogspot.com/, which comes from The Nora School on Sligo Ave.

JKS said...

Thanks for the listing!

What disturbs me, however, is that there is not a single active blog that discusses the current Herculean budgets struggles in the County, with impending severe cuts in libraries, recreation, etc., not to speak about massive energy taxes.

Do we live in some kind of Lala Land where we worry mostly about restaurant menus and parking meters?

We used to have Penguin, who went to meetings and kept us up to date. But now?

This is serious. If we do not have good, independent public interest blogs, we are at the mercy of the Post and the Gazette, i.e., the for-profit media.

Of course, your blog cannot fill these shoes because you are the Executive's. But we need someone.

Jessica McFadden said...

Thanks for this listing!

Reemberto Rodriguez, Sr. said...

-Tony, we’ll create a separate list for the web-sites… (That is next week’s blog!)
-B, we’ll add the trails blog – thanks!
-Dave, the Nora School blog seems pretty much focused on general school stuff, not necessarily Silver Spring, right?... Should we begin a separate list for these type blogs (i.e.: Issue Blogs of Interest to Silver Spring Residents and Institutions?)

Anonymous said...

How'd you miss this one?

http://silverspringblog.wordpress.com/

Reemberto Rodriguez, Sr. said...

Silver Spring Blog is now added to the list! Any others out there?

Pyramid Atlantic said...

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center will celebrate its 30th birthday with an Open House on April 9th from 2-5 pm. The festivities will include artist demonstrations, studio tours, exhibits, live music, hands on arts activities, door prizes, art raffles AND, of course, cake & ice cream!

Open House at Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD

“Artists from all over the world, youth from our area schools, families from the Greater DC Metro Area, thousands of people come through our doors each year,” said Executive Director, Jose Dominguez. ”We are grateful to be here and to serve so many, in such different ways.”

“We are so excited that artists -- teachers, residents, and interns -- who have been involved with the organization over the years, will be joining us again on this special day,” said Artistic Director Gretchen Schermerhorn.

Long known as an art gallery and papermaking, printmaking, and book arts studios, Pyramid Atlantic serves emerging and mid-career artists from around the world. Our Arts Education Programs bring low-cost and no-cost arts education to people of all ages, regardless of financial barriers. Community Engagement programs create opportunities for the public to engage with the art of papermaking, and print-making, as well as experience the best in the books arts through our Book Arts Fair. In addition, we encourage the diverse talents of our community via live performance in the gallery and at our retail store, ArtSpring.

For more information, visit: http://www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org/

Anonymous said...

Event Name: JustUs Youth! Media Festival for Change
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2011
Time: 11 am - 8 pm
Price: Free
Contact: 301-588-1399

Details: The JustUs Youth! Media Festival for Change will feature official screenings and open galleries, a youth fashion show, a four-hour film competition, hands-on social justice media workshops, along with live outdoor performances starting at 5:30 pm. www.gandhibrigade.org/festival

RECYCLEMAC said...

Please add: http://recyclemac.wordpress.com/ - a blog I write for MacRecycleClinic in Silver Spring - Four Corners. MRC refurbishes donated Macs back into our community. We are a 501(c)3 non profit volunteer service organization. http://www.macrecycleclinic.org

Post a Comment