Our fav theater is Bethesda Row theater. Almost always has more interesting, substantial movies…read moreincluding indie and art house. And yes, the blockbusters are here too. We love it here.

Nice lobby with seating, clean restrooms, good concessions. Theater was clean, sound was good,…read moreminimal ambient noise from other theaters. Staff was friendly and efficient. They filled the side-to-side aisles with chairs during the last renovation, so be prepared to be climbed over if you sit mid-theater--there's no way to get from left to right or the reverse without going through seats now. Chairs are also airline-style close together; watch your knees and be prepared for almost no legroom. 30+ minutes of ads and previews before a movie this week. Sorry--that's ridiculous. Pick your favorite two and move on. It's cheaper than the AMC at the mall but you get what you pay for in the in-theater experience. Streaming in your own home remains the best option for comfort.

The seminary (or "castle" as I called it in high school, for apparently no reason, because castle…read moreis maybe the one type of building that the campus doesn't have) lived rent free in my mind when I was younger. It's just a crazy place, especially tucked right by Silver Spring, right by 16th and Georgia, and yet few people know it exists. Starting out as an inn and then a finishing school for girls, there's a Japanese pagoda, a Dutch windmill, a Parthenon looking building, and so many beautiful statues. After WWII it got taken over by the army. And then it slowly decayed. Save the Seminary, the organization whose mission is to restore the seminary, did a pretty damn good job at restoring the buildings, the ballroom, and the statutes. They do free walk tours, and most insane, the structures are now homes, where actual human beings live. I can't quite wrap my head around it, but if you have an extra mil lying around one of these places could be yours (if any of them happen to be up for sale).

Forest Glen, Maryland: Do you know where Forest Glen Maryland is?…read more Take a look at this map (This is the point of the presentation where I wish I could embed a map into my review) Well, imagine an isosceles triangle. Those are the ones that have a corner with 70 degrees- another corner with 70 degrees- and the third corner with 40 degrees. But make it stand straight up... like a pyramid. Ok, just think of a pyramid... but just one side, not like an actual 3D Pyramid. Ok... ya know what, think of a Yield Sign. There we go, just think of a Yield sign. The bottom left corner is Bethesda, the bottom right corner is Silver Spring and the top of the Yield sign is Forest Glen. See, that was so much easier than just showing you a map. In that time, I hope that you've just googled Forest Glen and seen exactly where it is. So in Forest Glen there is an enormous building on Linden Lane and you'll see a Japanese Pagoda right in front of it. Yes, a true to form, authentic color paint, bamboo what not Japanese Freakin' Pagoda. That'll make you say something like "This Is the FR*&*in' Catalina Wine Mixer!".. of buildings. And then you'll say, "Why have I never seen this before." Here's some real short history. I did the research for you. The building was built as a Hotel/ Vacation Resort in 1887 for DC vacationers: Ye Old Forest Inn. But that didn't work out. Apparently the people who ran it were less than savvy. Then in 1894 it became an all girls school. And it remained that way until 1942. But, as you remember, we were dragged into WW2 in 1942 after Pearl Harbor happened December 7th 1941 "A Day Which Will Live In Infamy". Quick side note. In addition to Pearl Harbor the Japanese on that day also attacked the following: American ships the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu, Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands,Wake Island. And the next morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Something I didn't know because everything is really ethnocentric here in America. And now back to National Park Seminary So the building in 1942 became sort of an Annex for Walter Reed and was controlled by the army. But in 1977 most of the buildings were left abandoned. Which essentially became a playground ( a very expensive and beautiful playground) for vandals. After years of neglect and vandalism a company called The Alexander Company helped in it's rehabilitation for the purpose of preserving this listing on the "National Register of Historic Places." For a very long time an organization called SOS (Save Our Seminary) has been working to raise money to preserve and repair so many of the historic buildings, structures, and intricate details that make this place so G-D Da*n Magical! The building used to face railroad tracks where people would travel off the railroad and right onto the campus. Now, that railroad is 495 so the front faces a non accessible point. Coming up from Linden, you're actually coming from the back and don't get to see the entire majesty of what the Seminary is. Quick info: National Park Seminary- the name After Ye Old Forest Inn the school took notice of Rock Creek Park which was constructed and opened during that time ( an attraction that many people were coming to see), the spot was named "National Park" in reference to being so close to that site. The Seminary comes from the older meaning of seminary which is: "a school of secondary or higher level for young women." So the campus is big 23 acres. And on that campus lives several sorority houses done in an international theme ( I KNOW! Awesome!) Which explains the Japanese Pagoda- some of the others include a : "Dutch windmill, a Swiss chalet, an Italian villa, An American Bungalow and an English castle" Quick note- In 1936 the National Park Seminary was renamed National Park College and served as a very prestigious woman's college for a while. The name was changed back to National Park Seminary after it was reacquired from the army. The campus is brilliant and beautiful. Large sculptures decorate the beautiful buildings at almost every turn. A mix of styles inside the buildings. Especially the wonderful ballroom. The site is just something to behold. They do tours on Every 4th Saturday at 1PM Here are the rest for 2014 - They start at 1PM and are 5 bucks per person Saturday, June 28 Saturday, July 26 Sunday, August 3 Saturday, August 23 Saturday, September 27 Saturday, October 25 Saturday, November 22

These are just lovely gardens to walk around, even without any special events. Brookside is…read morespacious, well maintained, clean, and safe. The visitor center is comfortable. They host countless events tailored to all ages, from reading time to butterfly exhibits. Parking has never really been an issue for us, and it is a very easy drive. Glad that it is Close to Home!

One of my favorite places to come for a walk. The trails are beautiful and I loved the Butterfly…read moreExperience! They didn't have it this year, maybe 2026 will be different :) It's the perfect place to admire beauty, relax, and get some fresh air. Highly recommend making this part of a date, there's nothing like walking hand in hand while admiring the gorgeous views. Best part: it's FREE! No picnics or drinks, just nature and good vibes. Enjoy :D

A little piece of Silver Spring History: This 1945 beloved landmark was rescued and restored by…read moreMontgomery Preservation Inc. It is the only building in downtown Silver Spring listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The original train station manager from its 1945 start was here today to greet residents. It is known that President Harry S. Truman often used this station to avoid crowds at Union Station. Inside the building you'll find mementos from bygone days and little bits of nostalgia of long gone Silver Spring businesses. Up until fairly recently, the MARC train used this station. Now the station is open to the public once a month. It may also be rented for meetings and special events.

Held my son's second birthday here and it was fantastic. This is a great space for a party in…read moregeneral, and it comes with many train toys! The staff were very helpful and had great suggestions for where to set up food, when to bring the kids into the back room and turn on the model train, and when to bust out the Thomas Power Wheel (which was quite the hit.) I also got the impression that they appreciate the rental fee and use of space, as it goes toward the ability to continue maintaining the site. This is a gem in Silver Spring.

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.

Came here for a free advanced screening of the movie Christy. I love all the nostalgia feelings in…read morethe theater. Different equipment associated with film making from decades ago and the information about them displayed through out. They have a rewards program that I signed up for while there awaiting the movie to start and the manager was not then happy to tell me about. They seek adult beverages as well which is nice and I was able to get my unsalted popcorn which was awesome but it did come in a smaller portion size than what I'm used to. The movie was a lot better than I had expected and I loved they had Christy and the screen writers there. What an awesome opportunity this was.

As a film nerd, I'm so beyond happy to have the AFI Silver!! They have great programming, including…read morea lot of older movies that are awesome on the big screen. The theater is so easy to access from the red line metro. The theater itself is very clean, and the seats are comfy. I haven't bought concessions, but they seem reasonably priced. The tickets are also reasonably priced. All the employees have been friendly and helpful. Thank you!

The National Museum of Health and Medicine was a bit small, but it still made for a fun pitstop…read moresince we were already in the area. Parking was free and no tickets were required. We visited on a rainy day, and many guests left their umbrellas and coats in the entry room where there were hangers available. Volunteers greeted us at the front and pointed us toward a stand of pamphlets. We were able to see the entire museum in about 30 minutes. At one point, the staff brought out a cart of organs for hands on interaction. Based on some of the flyers, they also host additional demonstrations once a month. There was a modest anatomical collection with a focus on the nervous system and bones. I found the displays of brains after injuries and strokes especially interesting. There were also several examples of bone infections and exhibits highlighting medical developments over time. I appreciated the historical context behind each advancement, particularly how it connected to warfare. One of the most striking sections for me was the wall of organs affected by different diseases and infections. It felt especially rare compared to what I have seen in other museums. I was also fascinated by the less common presentations of parasites, which are not typically featured elsewhere. There was also a room dedicated to surgical advancements, and I found myself quiet while looking at the stories of soldiers who sustained injuries and underwent reconstruction. There was no gift shop and it seemed like a quick stop for most visitors. There was an upcoming veterinary focused day that looked interesting and would be worth checking out if I were still in the area. Overall, the museum is not as elaborate as others, but I still enjoyed the visit while staying nearby.

This museum may be the most unique museum in the D.C. area. If you are into history and medicine,…read morestop by. Or if you want a very interesting museum experience, visit. Opened in 1862 during the Civil War, the museum preserves over 25 million objects about medicine, public health, and anatomy. Nowhere else can you see skull fragments of Abraham Lincoln, President Garfield's vertebrae, and President Grant's tumor slides. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm with free admission and parking in Silver Spring, Maryland. Walk inside and find all the exhibits on the main floor in a brutalist building. One exhibit talks about public health and the others focus on history of military medicine and anatomy. Here, you'll find lots of bones and organs preserved in medical jars. If you have a weak stomach, be warned. Eat BEFORE visiting. The museum is well kept with clean restrooms and lots of space to enjoy the museum. I highly recommend it for adults and older kids with an interest in the medical field.

Along the Takoma-Brightwood border in Northwest DC is one of the country's smallest national…read morecemeteries on one acre of land. It was created and dedicated by Abraham Lincoln himself after the Battle at Fort Stevens. It was there that the Union stopped the attack on Washington, DC and the only time Lincoln came under direct fire from the Confederacy. 41 Union soldiers gave their lives that day and this cemetery honors them. The cemetery is easy to miss, but once you're through the gate, you won't soon forget it. Take time to read the signs about its history and walk through the grass remembering the soldiers who defended Washington, DC at Fort Stevens nearby. The cemetery is run by the National Park Service so entry is free.

One of America's smallest national cemeteries, specially commissioned by President Lincoln for…read moreUnion soldiers who fought at the Battle of Fort Stevens - the battle that saved Washington. 41 soldiers were eventually buried here; the last veteran was interred in 1936. The cemetery really is tiny; you'd never know it was here unless you happened to see it while driving on Georgia Ave. It's well maintained, although picnicking is discouraged. Fort Stevens - one of 68 Civil War forts that once surrounded the District - is only a short drive away, and worth a visit as well. In July 1864, these soldiers held the fort against a surprise attack from Jubal Early, who was hoping to scare General Grant enough to abandon the Union siege of Petersburg and rush to defend Washington. Early's plan didn't work, in no small part to their sacrifice. What's poignant about the casualties is some of them weren't 'combat' soldiers; Grant pulled most of Washington's garrison away from 'easy duty' guarding the forts into the Army of the Potomac, which was suffering heavy casualties. All that were left to defend the city were trainees, semi-invalids, and a small number of veterans, augmented at the last minute with reinforcements sent by Grant. Despite that, they fought off a larger enemy force. Had Early even temporarily captured Washington, it potentially could have caused Grant to end his siege, scared the northern public enough to sue for peace, and ended Lincoln's hopes for reelection. US history would have been different. So...respect.

I visited this museum a couple months ago and it was an excellent experience more than I expected…read more Small yet so impactful on what Josiah Henson's history means to the state of Maryland and the country. Tickets were $12 a piece and you have to park a 1/2 a mile away across the street at a park then cross a busy street. My only suggestion for this part of the visit is to let visitors park at the daycare next door or the commercial building lot where there was no one on the weekend. (Saturday in particular no 1 was at either business) Both are on the same side as the museum and much safer to walk. Once I was at the museum, you watch a video of Josiah Hensons' history which was about 10-12 minutes. Then Ginger, the friendly front desk receptionist, takes you outside to the grounds of where Josiah and his family were enslaved. There's signage at each ground site and then you walk into the original house where everything felt surreal. Our tour guide Jessie had so much wealth of knowledge and was able to answer every question we had. We actually had the house to ourselves so it felt more personable as she guided us until the next group came in. You can take pictures of most inside. While I don't want to go into the particulars of what you see (nothing graphic), some things you just have to experience in person. I would highly recommend this hidden treasure to any local of Maryland. I would pass this place all the time and glad I finally carved time out to visit. What I thought in the beginning would be less then an hour turned into 2 1/2 hours of a phenomenal, educational visit. Thank you Ginger & Jessie! (We even bought a couple books after)

Josiah Henson Museum & Park tells the story about the challenges and triumphs of Reverend Josiah…read moreHenson, enslaved in Maryland. This is one of the best museums in the DMV area that gives you an actual depiction of Josiah Henson's life from start to finish. Henson achievements have gone almost unnoticed due to being overshadowed by the popular novel, inspired by his life, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The visitor's center offers a 12-minute film. I recommend watching this movie 1st before moving into the plantation house and walking down the trail. The visitor's center has lots of information and touring guides to historical sites all over Maryland and they are FREE. And did I mention admission to the museum is free, however you are welcome to donate online or at the visitor's center. Things I learned: 1. Henson led approximately 120 people to freedom in Canada as a conductor on the Underground Railroad 2. Henson established a community for former slaves in Canada called the Dawn Settlement 3. Henson has his own autobiography, "The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada" written in 1849. 4. Henson successfully escaped from slavery with his wife and children in 1830. 5. Henson was a very handsome man, several high-resolution photos are on display at the museum, which counteract the not-so-kind propaganda that mockingly depicted him as old and feeble. What really makes this museum unique is the comic strip animation (that looks like the animation from The Boondocks), used to creatively tell his story from one room to the next. On the backside of the plantation home there is a well preserved out-house kitchen, where the meals were prepared, and there was a loft area where the kitchen staff could sleep and keep warm. Other interesting landmarks was a plot which was believed to be where he lived as the grounds manager of the property. Other artifacts and tools located inside the house. Maryland truly has a historical gem that does not get as much attention as other historical figures from this period. I truly encourage you to make this trip and discover the amazing life and legacy of Reverend Josiah Henson.