County, District Officials Kick Off 16th Street Upgrade Project

Officials from the District of Columbia were joined by Councilmembers Tom Hucker (D-District 5) and Evan Glass (D-At Large) on Saturday to kick off the 16th Street, NW Circle Traffic Signalization Upgrade Project. The project will be led by the District Department of Transportation and is designed to improve safety for all pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

Upcoming Events, Jan. 31–Feb. 7

Upcoming Events

Takoma Park’s Mid-Winter Folk Fest highlights the upcoming weekend. There are opening receptions this week for art exhibits at CREATE Arts Center and Locavino Café, as well as several events marking the beginning of Black History Month.

El Sapo Owner Corrects the Record

El Sapo Cuban Social Club

The company behind El Sapo Cuban Social Club filed a counter claim against an area design-build firm in a contract dispute, according to court documents. 8455CSC LLC, whose managing partner is chef Raynold Mendizábal, is claiming about $400,000 in costs related to the build out of the restaurant by Virginia-based JSV LLC.

Timebank Members Hold Skill Share Event Downtown

The Silver Spring Timebank hosted its 4th annual Skill Share event on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Veterans Plaza. The event ran from 1–3 p.m. and attracted a crowd of curious individuals looking to learn something new for 2020.

Upcoming Events, Jan. 24–31

Upcoming Events

Kicking off the last week of January is the Friday blues happy hour at the American Legion, which will then host comedy on Saturday. Also on Saturday, poetry fans can attend a dinner and reading of Robert Burns’ work at Silver Branch Brewing Co. The Takoma VFW will feature gypsy jazz on Monday night. Close out January with a chamber music concert at Seekers Church next Friday night.

El Sapo Owner Sued by Contractor

El Sapo Cuban Social Club

The chef/owner of El Sapo Cuban Social Club has been sued for nearly $150,000 in a contract case, according to documents filed in the Montgomery County Circuit Court. As first reported Friday by Washington City Paper, JSV LLC, a Virginia-based design/build contractor, sued Raynold Mendizábal for $147,408 last March.

Upcoming Events, Jan. 17–24

Upcoming Events

MoComCon returns for the fourth year at the Silver Spring Library on Saturday. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday is Monday, with a day of service event at the civic building and other opportunities to serve around the area. That evening, there’s a bluegrass jam at the Takoma Park VFW. The county’s transportation department is holding a meeting Tuesday night to discuss plans to improve the Fenton Village experience for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Upcoming Events, Jan. 10–17

Upcoming Events

Carroll Café features a performance by Victoria Fox Friday night, while on Saturday, six local bands will play at the American Legion hall. Earlier that day, there will be a Chinese Near Year celebration at the Silver Spring Library, and Fenwick Beer & Wine celebrates its 10th anniversary all day. For the civic minded, there will be an MCPS boundary study meeting Saturday at Blair High School, the Silver Spring Civic Advisory Board meets Monday and the Silver Spring Urban District Advisory Committee meets next Thursday.