If you're into the arts, check out the workshops and art gallery inside the Mansion at Strathmore…read more There's a parking lot near a garden full of sculptures and chairs to enjoy the view. Walk inside to the mansion to find an art gallery throughout. Here, they host afternoon tea, crafts, story time, and more. My nine-year-old daughter loves their gift shop!

(4.15) ~ Very good afternoon tea w. music & speaker for a good cause:)…read more MENU HIGHLIGHTS (see photos): ** Fig & Brie Croissant = (4.35) Our fav! ** Caramelized Onion Quiche Bite = (4.15) Very tasty ** Tomato Canape = (4.15) Very good ** Mini Lemon Cheesecake Bite = (4.15) Very tasty ** Strathmore Tea Blend (Harney & Sons) = (4) very good & I like to squeeze some lemon into it;) ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) ** Everything else on the menu was very good too = (4)

Visarts regularly has Groupon vouchers, and we purchased one to give ourselves a chance at the…read morepotter's wheel. This is located in a building on the third floor in the Rockville Town Center, and there are garages abundant in the area with up to 2 hours of parking free. The class is 2 hours so you'll end up paying $3 for the overage. Class started on time, the session was "full house," and one lady snuck in a child even though class was meant to be 14+ years only. The instructor went over the process and demonstrated how to begin and form the shape of the piece you intend to make (or end up with!). The instructor was helpful, friendly, and upbeat. I think playing some music would have enhanced the experience! You get three shots at creating something out of clay, and whatever you create can be kilned and picked up in 2 weeks. You may want to arrive early if you are in a group and want to sit together. I recommend wearing an apron as you'll get your clothes dirty. The stools aren't comfortable. You are advised to remove rings, watches, and bracelets for optimal experience.

I visited Visarts for a stained glass class this past Saturday (2/22) and it was awesome more or…read moreless from start to finish! The teacher provided us instruction at the start of the class to get us going. We each picked a pattern and glass as we saw fit. From there, we followed the instructions and asked questions of the teacher as we went along. Since I was alone, I was able to work wearing headphones, listening to an audiobook as I cut and grinded glass. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this class and want to have stained glass as a hobby in the future! Definitely recommend the stained glass class at Visarts!

I'm writing this from the perspective of a wedding guest. The gardens themselves, of course, are…read moregorgeous. If the weather is alright, guests can walk around the gardens while they wait for the reception to begin, or after dinner but before dessert begins (which was especially nice since I inevitably eat too much at weddings). The seating during dinner was a bit awkward. Unless your wedding has fewer than 50 guests, folks will be split into 2 different rooms, and the emcee will need to try to straddle the doorway connecting the 2 rooms. It was also a bit weird that the buffet line was set up in the hallway by the kitchen. And there are a bunch of other rooms that you might not really need, although I think the parents really appreciated that the hosts of our wedding allowed children at the wedding and then devoted one of these spare rooms to kids. So although the space was a bit awkward, I'm sure the happy couple will have gorgeous photos from their wedding, and I enjoyed the opportunity to walk through the gardens.

This is an interesting and pretty place to walk and relax, hidden away from the main roads but…read morestill conveniently placed in the middle of Rockville...I believe you can schedule events in the main building which I've never been in but have often seen groups visiting...the lawns are spacious and bordered by woods and a trail system (which I have been on and recommend) and there is a nature center, the Scott Fitzgerald theater, and two old cemeteries nearby...definitely worth a visit if you're in the area...

Fantastic museum tucked away in MD, only a 45 min drive out of DC. Visited two years ago in the…read moresummer and went back this week in the fall. Enjoyed a delicious lunch at the cafe, which was under renovation the last time we went. Highly recommend the chicken sandwich. The coffee was also out of this world--maybe our highlight of the day. Very whimsical to watch all the guests walking around draped in Andrea Bowers protest ribbons (which were also at the NMWA!), and the rainy weather added to the ethereal experience. There are free umbrellas in the arrival hall. They cap the guests per day so it never feels crowded; oftentimes, you're the only visitor in a room. Only downside is the weird cult-ish vibe of the greeters at the arrival hall. Both times they've been aloof and unfriendly. But once you make it into the main area, everyone we spoke to was lovely. Service is pretty spotty unless you're indoors on the guest WiFi! There is ample parking and they have shuttles that can take you back to your car from the main area.

I love coming here and the art installations are always so nice and interesting to see. I love how…read moreminimalistic the design and layout of the museum is and I especially love the outdoor experience of walking around and looking at the outdoor art. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming. It's been becoming hard to get tickets now since it always gets sold out fast! However I was able to get tickets and experience their summer music series for the first time. It was a wonderful time listening to live music outdoor and enjoying lite bites and drinks from their cafe patio.

I decided to have my Chinese rice paper painting framed by Art & Frame Depot, and I'm thrilled with…read morethe result. This painting was a special gift painted by a family member, so it meant a lot to get it framed properly. Michelle has a wonderful artistic eye and selected the perfect frame to complement my dining room furniture and wall color. The craftsmanship is outstanding, and the finished piece is absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend Art & Frame Depot for any framing project.

Art & Frame Depot is my go-to framer! They have framed all sorts of things for me over the last 20+…read moreyears - art prints, needlework, posters, diplomas, etc. They work within my budget, have a great selection of frames and mats, and always have excellent suggestions. The quality of their work is consistently excellent and always on time, and their customer service is top nI highly recommend you visit Art & Frame Depot for all your framing needs.

This is a really nice, bright, well-organized small-yet-large space with a whole lot of selection…read morein looks and media. You can find cool jewelry, ceramics (including chopstick bowls!), paintings, greeting cards, and other things for your body, walls, tables, etc. Great place to come find a gift for a friend, family member, or yourself! The visual appeal of this place enhances the area around it -- even if you don't go in, just the sign is so cool-looking! That -- and, of course, the promise of art inside! -- is what drew me in .... Of course, it's not just the aesthetic that is inviting, but also the people found within. I was greeted warmly and bought my cute card easily. In addition to being a place to see a showcase of locally-made art, there are also classes to be had and things to be learned here! Again, even if you don't attend a class, coming here can -- and mostly likely will! -- inspire you in many ways, including possibly getting you to want to make art of your own, giving you great, accessible ways to enhance your life with more artistry all around! It's a place to peruse when you have the time ... or just 'pop in' and still pick out something really cool when you don't! All-around awesome place! :-D

I noticed that this gallery is now open in Downtown Crown so my wife and I decided to drop by…read more There is a terrific selection of art in a variety of media including paintings, sculptures, pottery, jewelry and small treasures. We were really impressed by the diversity of mediums, including some techniques we have never seen before. Everything is made by local artists, and I feel there is something in this store for every taste. Furthermore the staff were very helpful, and were artists themselves!

More experienced photographers may disagree, but as a beginner, I found WSP's "Focus on…read moreComposition" course super helpful. The class tried to instill a habit of thinking through a checklist before taking a picture (or evaluating it afterwards). The checklist included, among other things: * What's the subject? * Do the direction and quality of light work for your subject? * Does the background distract from the subject? * Check the frame's edges: Is the cropping awkward? * Is there comfortable spacing between the elements of your photograph? Our class was small, so in addition to the lectures and the pithy, informative handouts, we could spend more time going over our homework, getting concrete suggestions for how to improve. For example, the instructor (Joe Yablonsky) would sometimes suggest moving the camera up, down, right, left, closer, or further, to get a cleaner background, a more flattering portrait angle, or more interesting "directionality" in the photo's lines. Other times, the instructor would notice patterns-- that my ISOs tended to be too high, or that there's dust on someone's sensor, or that the focusing was sometimes off. He'd then ask how we took the shot, and suggest new settings or focusing methods (or suggest cleaning the sensor!). Sometimes he'd ask the class to weigh in on the critique, so we could also benefit from our talented (and opinionated!) classmates. One session was a fun field trip to the National Mall. At the National Gallery of Art sculpture garden,we chased photogenic squirrels and captured tourists' hilarious reactions to Joan Miro's Personnage Gothique, Oiseau-Eclair. (Google it if you don't know it). I watched as one classmate got several amazing portraits of strangers, just by walking up and asking. The instructor also gave me a demonstration of how to get my camera to focus with a neutral density filter. (I had been having trouble with that). The course just ended last week, and I still need a lot of practice. But it's made my photos noticeably better. (One of my homework assignments even got published last week, as the page 2 photo in the Washington Post Express!) The downsides: Classes can be expensive! (Luckily I had a gift certificate). Sometimes you can find coupons or Living Social deals, e.g. here's one that's on right now (as of late March 2014): http://conta.cc/1jNpdud Washington School of Photography can be a pain to get to without a car. It's somewhat walkable from Twinbrook Metro, but the commute from DC (especially with weekend red line schedules) took me more than an hour.

Love these guys...they've taught me so much about the technical and functional aspects of…read morephotography, from how my DSLR works to how to better frame and compose my shots. I'll be taking my third class, on composition and design, next month. The 2 teachers I've had, Joe Yablonsky & Cortney Jackson, are instructors that I would recommend to anyone who wants to pursue photography as a hobby or as a profession.

I seem to find myself in the Kentlands area a lot lately but my 1st time visiting the Art Barn…read more My Cousin was debuting his new Independent Film and, of course, I am going to support. The building used to be a stable that has beautifully renovated. It definitely has farmhouse touches with the wood, faux pocket doors and rustic touches. There is a reception area on the main floor where there was coffee(I love it already!) and refreshments. There is accessible parking out front and an elevator for those who may need it to get to the theater upstairs. The theater is small and intimate with 99 seats. I wanted to take pictures of the theater, but they were doing panel discussions and I just didn't feel comfortable snapping pictures during such a thoughtful process. As I understand it, they also provide services to the community around art in the form Of classes, discussions and even camps for the kids. So yes. . . Gaithersburg has begun to grow on me even though I live in Southern Maryland. I live over an hour away but I didn't mind the drive. I would definitely come back again.

Rather ironic I'm getting around to reviewing Gaithersburg Arts Barn on September 24, 2026, the…read morefirst day of the Manhattan Shorts Film Festival. Representing the 4th quarter of 2021 in my scrapbook series is Gaithersburg Art Barn. The only times I was ever here was for the Manhattan Shorts Film Fest. I first attended on Friday, October 1, 2021. Then, Wednesday, September 28, 2022. And finally, Friday, October 4, 2024. I attended the Manhattan Shorts Film Fest on Friday, October 3, 2025, but Arts Barn was being remodeled so was in a temporary location. My friend invited a group to the Manhattan Shorts in October 2021, and wow I was impressed with all the short films. The venue itself is nice, historic looking building. The theater is relatively small that goes back fairly deep. Manhattan shorts is popular and does sell out. In September 2022, I went on a date here. I had met her months back, but coordinated a date for this. Date was alright, films were great again, and it was a 1st & only date situation. I'm not sure why I didn't go in 2023. Maybe it was off my radar or had other things going on. In October 2024, my girlfriend & I attended on the Friday night. We both really enjoyed the movies. In October 2025, it was in the temporary venue, which had worse vantage points for seeing the movie screen, which made me appreciate the Arts Barn. 2026 scenario has been much worse in general. I had considered going tomorrow Friday, 9/25/26, but the tickets were sold out. Thursday was not convenient as I am going to be in Rockville for something on Friday and have other plans on Saturday. My friend had texted me about trading for a different days tickets; I mentioned to her how I was concerned about my dad was in the hospital but had interest in general. By the time, I looked into it Friday was sold out. So, I figured this year wasn't meant to be. Hopefully, I'll go again in 2027, and my health (cancer) situation is much better (along with my dad's health) and better year next year in general.

A few years ago, I took a series of classes at The Clay Coop and had an amazing experience. Last…read moreyear, I decided I wanted to return to the studio and really commit to growing as a ceramic artist, and coming back here was one of the best decisions I've made. Through Chris's guidance and support as both the owner and instructor, I have truly flourished. I've been a member and student at The Clay Coop for over a year now, and I continue to grow, learn, and challenge myself through clay. Beyond the technical skills, I've been welcomed into an incredibly supportive and inspiring community of artists that I'm so grateful to be part of. Chris has created a safe space that encourages creativity, learning, and genuine connection. This studio and community have played a huge role in my development as an artist, and I honestly wouldn't be where I am without them. I can't recommend The Clay Coop enough, whether you're a complete beginner or an established ceramic artist looking to grow.

I started taking classes at the Clay CoOp three years ago. (I was a total beginner and had never…read moretaken a pottery class before. ) Chris Landers, the director of the Clay CoOp, is an excellent and patient teacher for students at all skill levels, and very knowledgeable about the science (chemistry,geology) and economics of the pottery business. He is also a very kind and thoughtful person. The Clay CoOp studio is well organized, clean and brightly lit and I have found the other students of all different abilities and backgrounds to be very supportive and helpful.

If you live in a faux colonial home and decorate with reproduction antiques, then quit reading…read moreright now. If you are still here, then wandering in to this gallery may be inspiration and resolution for your progressive art habit. The stark space keeps the focus on the goods, the last couple shows were on-the-wall classy displays though sculpture plays its role as well. I've been looking in for a while and I think I know their winding way. A theme of sticking with local or local connected artists made some of the fall openings pop with the artist (and family) on hand for remarks and context. That the selections are for the mature humor might tell even more - the "food theme" satire of the mundane as essential being particularly wry, in a California sparkling way... Some of last year's exhibits were definitely date barometer material, and yet provide something off the Washington taboo topic list for dates in Bethesda proper.