Bark is now open in the Kentlands Square Shopping Center while Image Ace has moved from its Kentlands location to a storefront office in a shopping Center along Darnestown Road and Quince Orchard Road.

KDP Meeting Canceled

The Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) meeting was canceled on July 13 because several board members were out of town and a quorum could not be obtained. President Paula Ross said the meeting would be rescheduled, and she reminded members to enjoy the free Main Street Music Festival Concerts on Wednesday nights. The August KDP meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 10.

Latin Dance Party

Two Left Feet Dance Studio, located at 217 Market Street West, is hosting a Latin Dance Party from 7 – 11 p.m. on July 24. It is beginner friendly and will get you moving and grooving. Admission is $20 per person before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m. For more information, call 240.632.2345 or e-mail dance@twoleftfeetdance.com.

Kentlands 5K Registration

Now is the time to register for the 17th Annual Kentlands/ Lakelands 5K Run, Walk and Kids’ Fun Runs, which will be held on Saturday, September 4.
The event is traditionally the largest 5K Race event in Montgomery County.

For more Kentlands Downtown events and information, www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

Joe Aflalo of Salon Red leads the vocals for Platform Soul outside the Star Diner.

Music Notes

Live music has been plentiful in downtown Kentlands with bands booked every Friday and Saturday nights on the plaza adjacent to the Star Diner. There’s also the new Main Street Music Festival every Wednesday night on the city green, which is attracting lots of attention. City Councilman Michael Sesma had a front row seat in July. “Delightful evening. Excellent music, good crowd that grew until 8:30 p.m.,” he said. “We sat outside Main Street Cafe and had a great view while dining.”

The Main Street Music Festival is attracting crowds to downtown Kentlands every Wednesday night.

Latin Dance Party

Two Left Feet Dance Studio, located at 217 Market Street West, is hosting a Latin Dance Party from 7 – 11 p.m. on July 24. It is beginner friendly and will get you moving and grooving. Admission is $20 per person before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m. For more information, call 240.632.2345 or e-mail dance@twoleftfeetdance.com.

Changes at the Square

There are lots of storefront changes at the Kentlands Square Shopping Center. Blockbuster and Chicken Out are two of the latest businesses packing up and moving out. Still no word on who may be filling the former Score retail space either. Giant Food Store recently installed new signs on the outside of its building, and Bark, a natural pet store, is planning to open later this summer.

Kentlands 5K Registration

Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Run, Walk and Kids’ Fun Runs, scheduled for Saturday, September 4. The event, which has grown to be the largest 5K race event in Montgomery County, is hosted by the nonprofit Kentlands Community Foundation in partnership with the city of Gaithersburg.

The 5K race has grown in size consistently each year, raising concerns from the race committee about the race outgrowing the course. This has forced the committee to limit registration. “Our number one concern is to create a safe race for all involved, and with the nature of our ‘looped,’ narrow course, we felt strongly that too many people on the course at once could compromise our participant’s safety. We registered over 100 5K participants in the first few days of open registration, so it will be interesting to see if we sell out this year,” said Steve Solbeck, race director for the event.  

Business Sponsors Sought

The Kentlands Community Foundation’s 5K Race Committee is now seeking sponsorship donations from local businesses who would like to participate in this fall’s Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race. All race proceeds go to charity, and the race is the Foundation’s largest fundraising event each year, with half of the proceeds donated to several other local charities (yet to be named). There are several sponsorship levels. Local businesses in particular are encouraged to support the 5K race by participating as sponsors. Both the kids’ fun runs and the 5K race start and finish on Main Street behind Market Square Plaza. All sponsors are given promotional value for sponsoring the race, including targeted mail campaigns, promotion in the participant’s goody bags, signage opportunities depending on level of sponsorship and the chance to be a part of the post-Race Expo in Market Square Plaza. Businesses can register to be a sponsor by going to www.kentlands.org/5K.

Volunteers Needed

The Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race requires nearly 200 volunteers to make it a success. All volunteers receive t-shirts, students earn SSL hours, and every volunteer is invited to a “5K Volunteer Thank You” Party each fall. To volunteer, go to www.kentlands.org/5K.

KDP Meeting

The next Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) meeting is scheduled for July 13. President Paula Ross reports that memberships continue to increase. For more information, www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

Fountain Out of Order Gaithersburg’s neighborhood Services Director Kevin Roman said repairs are needed before the water will be flowing at the art in public places fountain located at 106 Main Street in Lakelands. According to Roman, city officials have learned from the fountain’s property manager that the water meter needs to be replaced.

KDP Meets with City Leaders

Members of the Kentlands Downtown Partnership (KDP) met with City Manager Angel Jones, Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello and Planning and Code Administration Director Greg Ossont on June 7 at City Hall to discuss the status of funds and partnership opportunities. City Manager Angel Jones said the two-hour meeting went very well, and she assured the downtown group that the remaining $35,000 in city funds will be available no later than July 1 for charrette implementation initiatives.

Main Street Music

The first Main Street Music Festival was canceled on June 9 because of rainy weather. Look for the event to resume every Wednesday (weather permitting) at 6 p.m. at the Kentlands Main Street Pavilion Green. For more information about the lineup, go to www.kentlandsdowntown.com.

Manna Food Drive

Members of the Rockville Express were at the Kentlands Giant on June 12 collecting food for Manna Food as part of a baseball food drive challenge at six Montgomery County Giant Food stores.

Kentlands Mansion Departure

If you have ever rented the Kentlands Mansion, chances are you have met Ann Choate, the facility director. Choate has just announced she will be retiring from her post at the Kentlands Mansion effective June 30 after 21 years working for the city of Gaithersburg.

Art and Photo Reception

The Mayor and City Council and City Manager Angel Jones turned out for an art and photography reception at both the Kentlands Mansion and Gaithersburg Arts Barn on June 8,
and it may have been one of the biggest turnouts ever. One reason for all the hubbub was that City Council member Ryan Spiegel’s wife, Rachael, had some of her travel photography on exhibit.

NLC Committee Tours Kentlands

City Council member Michael Sesma hosted a visit of the National League of Cities (NLC) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EENR) on June 8 – 10, which included stops at the Kentlands Mansion, Arts Barn and O’Donnell’s Seafood Grill.

Matching Grant Program

Neighborhood associations and community leaders have until July 15 to apply for funds from the city’s neighborhood matching grant program. An e-mail went out from City Hall on June 10 to local leaders with deadline and application information. The city has included $60,000 in the 2011 budget for the popular program.

Send us your business news at news@towncourier.com.

Chef Steve Santos places one of his signature pizza’s in the oven at Coal Fire restaurant.

Hot Spot

There have been long lines out the door at Coal Fire Pizza, which just opened last month next to Party City and Blockbuster. The menu includes pizzas, pastas, salads and baked wings, and everything thing on the menu is homemade including the sauces and dressings.

City Tour through Kentlands

The National League of Cities’ Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EENR) will meet in the Gaithersburg area on June 8 – 10, and city leaders are planning to give the visiting committee members a driving tour of Kentlands and treat them to dinner for two nights in Gaithersburg. The itinerary includes a stop at an art reception at the Kentlands Mansion and Gaithersburg Arts Barn on June 8 and dinner at O’Donnell’s restaurant where an entrée of chicken, crabcakes or salmon is on the pre-selected menu. Council member Michael Sesma is a member of the EENR committee and will be attending the event. All of the city’s elected officials and their spouses have been invited to attend as well. The itinerary was organized by Parks and Recreation and Culture Director Michele Potter, and the tour includes stops at the Washingtonian Center and visits at both youth centers and dinner the following night at Growlers restaurant in Olde Towne. The city is also providing the transportation for the committee members.

Farmer’s Market

Gaithersburg’s Main Street Tailgate Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays through November 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  You’ll find it in the Main Street Pavilion at 301 Main Street, one block off of Kentlands Boulevard in the Kentlands.  A variety of local artists and craftspeople join the farmers at this location each Saturday with unique handcrafted items.  For information visit the city’s website at www.gaithersburgmd.gov or call 301.258.6350.

Kentlands Community Garden Video

The Kentlands Go Green garden group has produced a video about the new organic community next to the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. You can check it out on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5__rarrLRiU.

Fleet Feet Running Programs

June is a busy month at Fleet Feet where several running programs and seminars are planned. In addition to the Thurday and Saturday morning run/walks, the store is hosting a running clinic on June 14 and kicking off its No Boundaries program on June 21. For more information, call the store at 301.926.6442 or e-mail Jenn Gill at jenn@fleetfeetgaithersburg.com.

Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape

The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control approved a beer and wine license application for Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape on May 20. The new restaurant plans to open in mid-July at 223 Kentlands Boulevard between the Hallmark and Payless shoe store.

Send us your business news at news@towncourier.com.