Fountains under the night lights of downtown Silver Spring.

Although I’m no authority on Silver Spring, Maryland, or any big city for that matter, it was my good fortune to explore this progressive downtown area for a few days and get a feel for the people and places that make it unique.  Yes, it had the usual national chain restaurants, stores we all know, and people doing the usual city things — waiting in line to cross the street, board buses, get a table, etc.  But Silver Spring is different.

You only have to walk a few blocks to see the concentration of interesting venues undergirding the city’s strength: Silver Spring celebrates diversity in its people and places. . . and welcomes visitors to join in the celebration!

When I checked in at the Marriott Courtyard, this 1963 photo by Owen Duval greeted me as I stepped off the elevator onto my floor.  Titled “Miss Silver Spring at Jesup Blair Park,” the photo of Barbara Chamberlin was a nostalgic reminder of the Silver Spring of yesteryear.

Miss Silver Spring at Jesup Blair Park — 1963

But what I found after tossing my bags into my room and then hitting the pavement was a new, classy, downtown area with international flair!

Discovery

It’s possible that downtown came to life after Discovery Communications moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to Silver Spring, but I have no idea.  What it did do, however, was infuse the area (and now the nation — heck, the world, too) with creativity the likes of which we hadn’t seen before.

The world’s #1 nonfiction media company: Discovery Communications

My behind-the-scenes tour of Discovery uncovered not only the historic acquisitions positioned in the front hall — dinosaur bones, fossilized bambiraptor remains, a triceratops head — but also vestiges of creative genius behind the Discovery Channel and umpteen new series that have grabbed hold of American viewers:  Yukon Men, Shark Week, Deadliest Catch, American Chopper, TLC, Animal Planet, and on and on and on.

No wonder we love ‘em — they’re us on screen!

(Click here for more on Discovery Communications.)

A wall in corporate headquarters of Discovery Communications

When you get off the elevator on the 2nd floor, you can do as Tom Turner did and sit yourself down on the whoopie cushion bench — a fun way to start the tour!

Discovery doesn’t take itself too seriously — whoopee anyone?

Or you can rest a while on the shark couch.  And check out the bite-out table, too.

Shark couch and surfer table at Discovery Communications

Creativity is everywhere — from cubicles decorated with Hello Kitty to life-size replicas of chopper dudes, aliens, chimps from Animal Planet, and a royal seat from TLC.

Discovery’s royal seat!

Shopping

Shopping, too, had that international flair — everything from ordinary to odd and then some. Since I’m from Knoxville and Whole Foods is coming soon, I went there first.  Produce, coffee, even seaweed from around the world filled the waist-high tables.

Whole Trade produce at Whole Foods Market

And long bars boasting pans of prepared dishes catered to people of all ages and backgrounds who just wanted to try something new.

American, Mexican, Lebanese, you name it . . . at Whole Foods

DSW Shoe Warehouse is a shoe mecca.  Filled with ballerina flats, stacked-heel boots, and running shoes, this store could outfit all the feet in Silver Spring and then some.

Boots lined two aisles from front to back at DSW Shoe Warehouse

I couldn’t resist asking this saleslady if I could snap a picture of her butterfly earrings, and she was happy to comply!  After all, she enjoyed being the fashionplate behind the DSW counter.

Workin’ the register in style at DSW!

Other places to shop include Pacers Running Store for activewear and  New York & Company. On its way is H &M which should do well in this fashion-conscious D. C. burb.

Entertainment

I crossed the street at Veterans Plaza mainly because I spotted a crowd of folks stopped at a street vendor’s stand and then others running/gathering/playing in this large open area.  Two men seated at a chess board said it was OK with them if I took their picture, and I tried to capture kids on skateboards whizzing past these guys who can obviously concentrate in the midst of urban hubbub.

One of them looked up at me and said, You know this is an ice skating rink in the winter, don’t you?

And I replied that I didn’t, but it made sense.  This downtown has a lot going for it in terms of bringing people together, and I’d love to come back and see a winter rink filled with skaters of all ages right in the heart of things.

Two chess players enjoy the warm air before this area becomes a downtown ice skating rink.

The AFI Silver Theatre was a find, for sure.  The American Film Institute (AFI) opened the old Silver Theatre on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring in 2003.  Since then it’s been an attraction for its quality renovation and events such as the Latin American Film Festival which was in full swing while I was there.

AFI Silver Theatre’s opening of Latin American Film Festival

A huge movie theatre, The Majestic, looms large on the corner at Ellsworth Drive near the skateboard park/ice skating rink. The IMAX theatre is bound to be a big hit with residents and visitors, too.

The Regal Majestic 20 and IMAX

But what intrigued me most was The Fillmore Silver Spring on Colesville Road near the Silver Theatre.  It’s a live music venue for up-and-comings as well as already famous groups like Gov’t Mule playing there November 3rd.  With a capacity of 2,000, The Fillmore serves as a cornerstone for entertainment in this community.

Concerts and private events fill the calendar at The Fillmore.

Food

Without a doubt, Silver Spring provides foodies of all ages and all tastes a wide range of choices. International offerings can be found at Asian Bistro, Lebanese Taverna Cafe, Nando’s Peri-Peri, Pho Hiep Hoa, and Thai at Silver Spring.  Thumbnails on my favorites follow below.

Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe can seat you in a wine cellar atmosphere while serving you Mediterranean flatbreads, Adega Fries (sweet potato fries with mango-lime vinaigrette), or my favorite — Arugula, Pears, & Gorgonzola Salad. Gourmet food in a tucked-away atmosphere!

Order at the counter at Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe

Arugula, Pears & Gorgonzola Salad at Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe

Eggspectation won the Best Brunch Award in the 2012 Best of Silver Spring Winners, but you don’t have to go in the morning to load up on three-egg omelettes or the Eggstravaganza with two eggs, two slices of French toast, Canadian bacon, and grilled potatoes!  It’s around-the-clock breakfast food that’s uneggspected!

Enter here for eggs benedict and three-egg omelettes — served any time!

You won’t leave Austin Grill hungry if you order a Texas Brisket Taco Plate with dry rubbed brisket, tomato, fried onion straws and BBQ sauce or The Willie Nelson with four tacos: skirt steak, grilled chicken, carnitas, and picadillo.

Austin Grill in downtown Silver Spring

Texas brisket tacos with fried onion straws at Austin Grill

For fine dining, head to 8407 Kitchen Bar and order the house made charcuterie board with Pastrami, Bison Salami, Chef’s Terrine, Smoked Bluefish, and House-Cured Virginia Ham for starters.  Then add Moulard Duck Breast or Organic Scottish Salmon as an entree topped off with Caramelized Fig & Raspberry Tart for dessert!  Oyster Reef Coffee, anyone?

House-made charcuterie and artisanal cheeses on the menu at 8407.

But if you’re just out strolling, stop in for a cold treat at FroZenYo where you fill a cup with your choice of flavors, add toppings to your heart’s content, and then pay based on weight — of the cup, of course.  Not what you weigh after indulging!

Shannon Gaumer fills her cup to the brim with great frozen yogurt!

Maybe Next Time

If I’m lucky enough to return to Silver Spring on a weekend from April to October, I’ll head to the Fenton Street Market on the corner of Fenton & Ellsworth — a fun, multi-cultural street fair featuring local vendors set up on the sidewalks selling everything from glass beads to straw hats.

Silver Spring, Maryland, pulls people downtown — just for the fun of it!

A resident enjoying one of the many sculptures in the parks of Silver Spring!

Silver Spring, Maryland

http://www.silverspringcenter.com/

My second foray into Knoxville’s Grocery Wars occurred this past weekend when I ventured forth to the West Knox Trader Joe’s in Suburban Plaza Shopping Center!  I had to go there.  After all, I’d heard about Trader Joe’s since I took my mom to California to see the Rose Parade years ago.  In fact, we ate snacks from the TJ’s in Pasadena in our hotel at night.

Not only that, I’ve had more hits on my blog for the post on the new Publix than for any other post to date.  That fact alone tells me something: grocery stores really are destinations, not just places for hunter gatherers like myself to grab whatever I can find for dinner that night (although I’ve been known to do just that)!

So it was that my husband Bert and I entered the colorful, quirky world of Trader Joe’s. And, first thing, we did what we thought we should, being responsible bloggers, you know.  We headed to the manager’s station in the far left corner and asked David at the desk if we could have permission to take pictures for the blog.  He smiled and kindly replied, We don’t allow inside pictures.  Sorry.

I’m sure he read the telltale signs of real disappointment on my face, but he just shrugged and said Sorry again and added, That’s corporate policy. 

Good thing I asked, I thought, because I really, really wanted to show you, my readers, the inside of a Trader Joe’s, especially this one with its UT Orange-and-White-Go-Vols theme! But I can’t. That corporate policy thing.

So, join us vicariously as we share our impressions and a few pictures of our purchases with you.  We still had fun (and that’s one of the takeaways for Trader Joe’s — you CAN have fun) — we just can’t show you what’s inside.

First impression:  Trader Joe’s is small, but intimacy is part of the charm.  Selected items, many of which are store brands, stack nicely on the waist-high shelves and fill the chest-high frozen food bins.  There are only a couple of aisles, and you can see the whole store over the low displays. We liked that.

Don’t go in expecting to fill your cart for the weekly stock-the-pantry kind of shopping, though.  This is niche marketing at its best.  Fewer items — unusual, too– uniquely packaged.

Second impression: Trader Joe’s really is colorful, funky, and fun!  Ceiling-high murals of Neyland Stadium and UT activities let you know that the owners paid attention to what turns us on in Big Orange country.

Just for fun (and information!), a guy hoisting an 8-foot pole topped with tiki sign on one side, question mark on the other, moved willy nilly through the store helping newbie customers like us. We couldn’t help wanting to chat with that affable fellow, and he wanted to talk to us, too!

Employees were decked out in hybiscus T-shirts or the ubiquitous Hawaiian Trader Joe’s shirt.  I guess there’s one in every store!

Also fun are the store samplings we’ve come to expect with all these grocery store openings! A smiling young lady (who said she’d be a UT student in a couple of weeks) dished out little cups of mac and cheese from the free sample booth in the back of the store.  What’s not to like about that?!

We liked the free samples of Mac ‘n Cheese enough to take home a package. It’s microwaveable!

And third impression:  The food is different!  Way different.  Artsy packaging and  clever names abound. Like Gone Bananas for chocolate covered frozen banana slices!  Varieties of the “same old, same old” in other stores seemed downright enticing at TJ’s — like cereal they call Clusters and an entree called Reduced Guilt Pizza Primavera! We had fun just reading labels and packages!

Some of the Trader Joe’s foods we brought home: Almond Butter — Creamy with Sea Salt, Organic Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Schoolhouse Cookies, and Omega Trek Mix with Omega Fortified Cranberries.

Here’s what else we saw. (Prices accurate as of August 17 , 2012.)

Bread: So many varieties and choices.  Harvest Cranberry Scones (2.99). Brat Buns for your brats, of course. (2.49 for 6). British (not English) muffins (1.99). Tandoori Garlic Naan — we lived for this stuff when we traveled in Nepal! (3.69). And Trader Joe’s brand Whole Grain Bread (2.99).

Frozens: Meals in a bag, desserts, you name it.  Sweet Potato Gnocchi (2.99). Pasta with Sockeye Salmon and Asparagus (5.99). Trader Giotta’s (not Joe’s!) Eggplant Stacked Parmesan (3.49). Trader Jose’s (Mexican Joe, I guess!) Chicken Taquitos (3.99). Palah Paneer — Spinach & Paneer Cheese seasoned with curry and chili (2.99). Trader Joe’s Carbonara Stuffed Cheese Ravioli (3.49). And Trader Joe’s Perline Pasta & Prosciutto (2.99).

A friend of ours, Cecile, who works the evening shift was going on break, stopped to talk to us.  Since she was not technically working at the time, we snapped her picture.  She raved about her favorite frozen meal, an entree that she says keeps flying out the door: Mandarin Orange Chicken (4.99). (We’ve since tried it, but wasn’t as impressed as Cecile was.  May have to give it a go again some time.)

Grains, Oats, & Stuff: Lots of granola like Pecan Praline Granola (2.49). Trader Joe’s Just the Clusters (cereal) with great combinations: Maple Pecan Granola Cereal, Banana Nut, Vanilla Almond, Raisin Bran, etc.

Soups in boxes: Butternut Squash, Creamed Corn & Roasted Peppers, Carrot Ginger, Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper — most were around $2.79 a box.

Ice Cream & Frozen Delights: Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones (2.99), Soy Creamy Mini Chocolate Sandwiches (2.99 for 8), The Best (Bar None) Ice Cream Bars (2.99 for 4), and Fruit Frenzy Bars in Rasperry, Lemon, and Strawberry (1.99 for 4).

And other stuff:  Dried fruits like mangoes, Turkish figs, pineapple rings, flattened bananas, and bing cherries.  Lots of yogurts — some you’ve heard of and some I’ll bet you haven’t.  Coffees from around the world: Ethiopian, Kona, Costa Rican and Joe’s brands — Dark, House Blend, Bay Blend and more. Cookies like Vanilla Meringue and Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies.  Whoopie Pies, too!

More purchases from Trader Joe’s: Traditional French Brie, Trader Joe’s Vanana Organic Lowfat Yogurt, and Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter.

When we got home, we checked out Trader Joe’s website.  As you would expect, it’s just as creative as this new West Knox store!  Lots of moving pictures, clever drawings, photos with captions, and a great little newsletter, Fearless Flyer.

Found out it all began in 1958 under the name of Pronto Markets, but in ’67, the original Trader Joe (yep, that was his name), changed the store name and opened the first Trader Joe’s in Pasadena.  And that Pasadena store is the same today —  same spot, same parking lot — but probably with newer foods and more organic offerings.

We also read that, in 2002, the first bottles of Two Buck Chuck were sold. Maybe you’ve heard of these Charles Shaw wines that cost only two dollars a bottle.  We, of course, don’t have ‘em in Knoxville, since we don’t sell wine in grocery stores, but, as you travel, look for the famous brand in other Trader Joe’s.

Bert said he’d try a beer he hadn’t heard of — just for the sake of the blog, of course!

I love the Trader Joe’s website if for nothing else the great recipes.  Click here for my favorite (well, so far): Peanut Butter Brownies! Yum!

So, would we go back to Trader Joe’s?  Sure.  But not for our routine grocery list, of course.  We’d go back for something unusual. Something different. The stuff you just can’t get anywhere else.

And prices aren’t bad.  At least we didn’t think so, for the amount and variety of the offerings.

Are we glad to have Trader Joe’s in Knoxville?  Of course.  It’s all about choices, variety, and a taste of the world — and that’s what TJ’s has brought us!

We’re still apologizing, however, for no pics.  You’ll just have to go see Trader Joe’s for yourself!

Trader Joe’s

8001 Kingston Pike

Knoxville, TN 37919

865.670.4088

Monday to Sunday: 8AM to 9PM

Got a comment?  Let us know what your favorite purchase at Trader Joe’s has been.  We just might want to try something new the next time around!

This week, the much-anticipated Publix (people-oriented, upscale, classy) exploded onto the scene at Northshore Town Center complete with signature green balloons, free samples, and employees bending over backwards to make good on their slogan: Where shopping is a pleasure!

Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida, Publix is one of the fastest-growing, employee-owned supermarket chains in the U.S. The corporate offices are now in Lakeland, Florida, and, according to the website, Publix has 1,055 stores in the nation with 31 of them in Tennessee. One of the employees, however, proudly told me, We’re about to explode in Tennessee! 

The Publix at Northshore Town Center is a hybrid store:  more organic foods and natural products.  It even has a cafe, hot food bar, salad bar, coffee shop, and (something I loved) a gelato and sorbet section!

In keeping with their regular hours, Publix opened at 7:00 AM to lines of people spinning a wheel to win prizes or waiting patiently for a free carnation.

Shoppers were then directed to stations offering free samples and tiny tastings. I headed straight for the loaves, rolls, flatbreads, etc., (one of my many weaknesses) and found Valhalla!  Purchased a round of Shicaccia Bread with onion, olive and parmesan cheese — supper, for sure!

Nearby, pretty cakes called for a closer examination. Because I frequently cook for two, the site of smaller versions made me smile: Tiny, made-for-two sweet treats sat beside the larger versions carefully piped with frilly icing and topped with crushed nuts, swirls of chocolate, or raspberry dollops!

Boar’s Head had a powerful presence — their own section in the store and a sampling stand offering tidy rolls of ham and cheese. During the opening, if you buy a pound of anything Boar’s Head, you’ll get a trio of mustards.  Free. While supplies last.

I’ll have to come back.  Lots of folks lined up for that one! (Click here for great Boar’s Head recipes on their website!) 

Nearby, a young man presented me with a couldn’t-resist platter of tasty hors d’oeuvres.  They were made with three simple ingredients: thin rounds of 34° Sesame Crispbread topped with a slice of Spanish Manchego cheese (on special), drizzled with Savannah Bee Company Cheese Honey. Delicious! Bought all three. 

Meat selections were overwhelming. And all were well-packaged.  As you would expect, there were the usual roasts, ground beef, chicken, pork, sausage, cold cuts, etc.  Nicely arranged. But Publix offers prepared entrees, too, ready for cooking at home.  (Opening special on shish-ka-bobs: $5.99!)

The seafood counter was a mini Pike Place: fresh fish, shrimp, and other creatures of the sea laid out ready for purchase. One offering amazed me:  already veined shrimp with easy-to-remove shells. What a boon that will be when I’m getting ready for a family gathering! (And if you’re a sushi fan, you’ll be happy to know there’s a whole section waiting for you!)

Colorful, carefully-lined-up produce enticed shoppers and kept the man replenishing the displays busy all morning!  Look also for the organic section at Publix — Greenwise Market. It’s clean, fresh, inviting and BIG!

New to me (well, everything about Publix is new to me — this is my first!) was a section called Apron’s Simple Meals. Two days a week, you’ll be treated cooking demos showcasing recipes anyone can prepare.  Free recipes are available along with three-ring binders ($4.99) for safe keeping.  Picked up Praline French Toast today.  Will be back for more!

And Publix has flowers.  From orchids to mums, you should be able to find the right bouquet for anyone. Or maybe yourself.

Store brands shared shelves with commercial brands.  Nicely packaged. Nicely displayed. Publix labels are understated and tasteful, but still keep nutrition info out front.  It’s a look that’s modern yet classic.

So, Publix is a grocery store complete with meat, canned goods, dairy, and produce. But many things set it apart from others:

• Displays are clean, neat, and full. Most of all, they’re interesting — products not usually found in Knoxville.
• Offerings are in tune with what people are eating today from organic produce to gluten-free selections. Publix Greenwise Market offers appealing, healthy foods we need.
• Publix puts an emphasis on wellness from the website to the in-store pharmacy and the extra services they offer. (Like shingles vaccine for us over-50 folks!)
• Special events draw people in: cooking demos, brand sampling, Coffee and Dessert Night, and Kid’s Fest Day.
• Announcements can be found via Social Media.  Check out their Facebook page for more info! Heck, you may even want to be their friend!

Something else stood out for me.  Every aisle I visited had helpful, knowledgeable employees.  Yeah, yeah, I know they’ve been trained for the opening. 

But something special — possibly pride — set these folks apart from so many other store employees.  I think you’ll notice it, too.  The best thing about this store just may be the people of Publix!

From the employees who took the time to help a family find the right section . . .

 to the helpful man at check-out. . .

to Elizabeth, a West High 11th grader who carried my free tote bag (Yes, I was one of the first 1,000!), to the car and chatted with me about AP English, no less!

It’s the people who are going to make the difference in your experience at Publix!

Welcome to Knoxville, Publix!

Publix

Northshore Town Center

2012 Town Center Blvd.

Knoxville, TN 37922

865.470.0720

Store Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, 7 days a week

http://www.publix.com/

Have you been to Publix?  Or any of the other new West Knoxville stores? Post a comment. Would love to know what you think.