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.

I would caution other parents to carefully review Impact Dance's policies before enrolling…read more My experience with their trial and cancellation policies was disappointing and felt misleading. I enrolled my child in two back-to-back classes for $740 under the impression--based on how the trial was advertised--that we could cancel after the first two weeks if it wasn't a good fit. Unfortunately, the instruction during those initial classes was minimal, and my child felt uncomfortable enough that she didn't want to continue. When I requested a refund after the second class, I was told it wasn't possible because I had signed the contract prior to week one, even though I was not informed that payment and signing could be delayed until after the trial period. This key detail was never made clear at the time of enrollment. Instead of a refund, I was offered a store credit. I explained I wouldn't be able to use it until fall 2025, and at the time, they verbally agreed this would be acceptable. However, when I recently tried to register for fall or winter classes, I was told the credit had expired--and I was only being offered half of the original amount. In short, the policies feel overly rigid and not clearly communicated, and the follow-through on verbal agreements has been inconsistent. I hope the studio reconsiders how it handles these situations in the future.

Impact has provided the most incredible experience for my daughters! They have grown so much as…read moredancers and as people from the instructors expertise, leadership and love! It is such a warm and wonderful community that it has become my daughter's second home! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dance studio!

This review is for the show at the Writers Center, Bethesda, MD, which doesn't seem to have a Yelp…read morepage of its own. I recognize that the Magic Duel takes huge pride in 5 star reviews on Yelp, which I deeply respect. But I did wish that we had seen the show in a different venue. I am no stage expert, but lights and sound do matter a lot in delivery of a magic show for a skeptic like me, going because the significant other loves magic shows. With better lighting, things would have been more "magical" (thinking bottles.) I was also surprised that a bubble artist, as good as she was in her profession, was considered a magician. After some quick research, you will end up at Magic Duel in this genre, so please go to Dupont or Georgetown.

The Magic Duel is just that...two Magicians competing to win the title of best of the night. You…read moredo actually vote on your phone at intermission. Mark Phillips and Ryan Phillips were both terrific. The one we voted for did indeed win, but they were both great! The Saturday we were there, there were two performances. We chose the 5pm one. It's a fast-paced show that kept us laughing, intrigued and highly entertained. A very fun, wonderful way to spend entertainment dollars in DC. Not a bad seat in the house! This is downstairs in the historic Mayflower Hotel, nice and close to the Farragut North Metro Stop. Definitely appropriate for all ages. Highly recommend!

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.

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!

Dance recitals are so well-organized. Love this, and you will deeply appreciate this if you have…read morebeen a client at other local dance studios. Yes, that's a bit of shade I dropped;) I love the GIRL POWER, body positivity, dance because you love it and not because you have to be perfect vibes. I appreciate that it's an inclusive and diverse dance studio. Did we find a unicorn? Yes, yes we did. We are so grateful for this bright spot in the DMV. We don't live in Gaithersburg, but it's worth the drive, and it's a long drive! I also love the camps, that are infused with all of the positive vibes mentioned above. My little especially enjoys POMS camp. Sign up, you won't be disappointed.

The warm and welcoming atmosphere sets the tone for the kids. The instructors are enthusiastic and…read moresupportive from the moment the children arrive, throughout their class and then back into the parents hands. These instructors invest in the children, put them at ease and build relationships with them. The results, in addition to the student's amazing progress, is the sense of accomplishment and confidence they inspire in each child, in the class...and then beyond!!

had a good time seeing the new Spider-Man. was happy with the movie quality and sound levels and…read morethe comfortable seats. every worker i interacted with was super nice! good bathroom. decent (if pricey) breakfast burrito. i did get the crayon smell in the hallway but not in the theater itself so that was fine. my only negative: this wasn't my first time going to a theater where they bring you food to your seat, but it was my first time getting distracted during an emotionally charged third-act scene of a movie because someone behind me picked that moment to close out their tab with the server. i don't think that should be allowed lol

Be better Cinepolis! I was excited to try what I thought was a luxury theater. We went for the…read moreTuesday deal - discounted tickets and happy hour until 11pm according to the website. Well they didn't actually have happy hour. But we got a discount on our bottle of wine so not sure what was going on there but they need to fix their website and be transparent with costs. They also tell you to get there 30 minutes early which is ridiculous. You can get there right before your movie and order during the 20 minutes of coming attractions. The trays in theater 4 were broken and sharp. You could actually hurt yourself on them. They all need to be replaced. The bathrooms were not great. Several doors didn't lock and the purse hook was way too small. Overall comfort, sound and the screen were great. Fix those things and I'll come back!

Vick performed as Professor Snape at our twin boys' 8th birthday party. He was amazing to work…read morewith, especially in light of the commute required. We were so lucky he agreed to drive well outside of his usual area to perform. His illusions were mesmerizing, and he expertly handled a room full of inquisitive and skeptical kids by getting most of them involved in his performance. He gave a great message in the end of the performance also, drawing on the themes of inclusion and acceptance from the Harry Potter stories, which the adults present also mentioned as being a highlight. We cannot say enough great things about his professionalism and performance and we would highly recommend him for any event!

We hired Vick for our wedding reception! I was thinking of a simple way to entertain older folks,…read moreyoung children, and everyone in-between -- he was the answer! Vick had a wonderful story line and great tricks that kept everyone's attention! We had some guests that are very skeptical of magic tricks, and he still blew them away! I'm so happy we had him! We ended up starting his show a little late, unfortunately, but he was incredibly patient, set-up, and mingled with a few guests while he waited! He then put on a 45-50 minute show for all of us, and included some guests, my father, and us in the show! I highly recommend him for ANY event -- weddings, birthdays (children AND adult), social events, etc. Thanks, Vick!