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!

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 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.

Great framing shop, with good customer service, a good selection of frames and framing options,…read moregreat turnaround times, and competitive pricing. Thanks!

Steve offers his expert advice with each frame I've purchased. The selection is large, the price…read morecompetitive and the finished work is always impeccable. Terry R.

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...

Beautiful old historic building in Rockville. They host events (and I believe rent space out for…read moreevents) in various sections of this large structure that has the feel and sound of decades and decades of time. The grounds are lovely as well. And it is adjacent to the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater where community plays and many events are also hosted.

Artisans is a fantastic place to shop for the women in your life, especially moms, aunts, grandmas…read moreand teachers. Yes, they have gifts for men too, but it's mostly an afterthought. Great selection of Vera Bradley, Scout, and Spartina bags, Maryland-themed items, housewares, and unique jewelry at lots of price points. Friendly staff are always available to give suggestions, and hands down the best thing ever - free gift wrap when you purchase full price items! (Sale items can also be wrapped for a nominal fee.) It's a store that contains all the cutest items that you don't need, but that you definitely want to take home. Whenever I get a gift that's wrapped by Artisans, I know there's something fun inside!

This gift store has something for everyone on your gift list. There is a whole Maryland section…read morewith products showcasing the state of Maryland. There is also a section of gifts created by artists that reside in Maryland. I fell in love with the beach candle. It really smells like the beach. There is a children's section with both toys and clothes. They had some really cute toys. And, there was a section devoted to people who love pasta. They also had jewelry and clothing for women too. I was warmly greeted when I walked in the door. I really liked their selection of gifts. So, much so that I joined their mailing list. Prices are a bit higher, but you are paying for the unique items and the one of a kind gifts. Thanks Amy for sharing your thoughts on gifts and the selection. It was a pleasure meeting you. I will definitely be back to see you soon.

Went to Blackrock for the first time this past Sunday for a birthday party. Great venue space for…read moreanything really. The theme was Alice in wonderland so the decor was very colorful and worked out beautifully. The food vendors were wonderful too. We had fresh oysters and a variety of sandwiches and dessert pastries.

I came here for a memorial celebration of Prince's birthday, and it was a really good time. Parking…read morewas surprisingly easy, especially with so many other guests in attendance. I was able to park directly in front of the entrance and walk right in. The setup was really nice--plenty of tables and a huge area for dancing. The DJ was spinning not only the hits but also deep cuts and some previously unreleased versions of his songs. Behind her, a projector played clips from Prince's past performances, which added a great visual vibe to the night. There was a small cash bar offering Prince-themed cocktails, plus beer and wine. The staff were fantastic and even popped in a few times to dance and celebrate with us. The venue itself was absolutely gorgeous--cool and comfortable despite all the dancing. I never imagined this would be such a great place to host or attend a party, but I'd definitely come to another event here.

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.

Took a class with my disabled sister in which the instructor was very patient and helpful and we…read morewere excited to have matching pieces. Unfortunately they never returned my creation to me and after multiple phone calls and in person out of the way visits because someone claimed they had it(for it not to be found when i arrived) i was told via phone today after calling because i didn't get the phone i was promised again that sometimes pieces get destroyed in the process they have to finish it. I'm very disappointed that this was not even a phone call or email that was made so that I wouldn't waste my time and gas on the piece we were both looking forward to having. We were told to return in two weeks for the piece and in that two weeks it was destroyed and I wasn't notified so that I didn't waste time calling or visiting. Otherwise the staff is pleasant and the class was pleasant and that's why they got the stars they got.

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.

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.