Local nonprofit Silver Spring Cares has teamed up with a group of Silver Spring/Takoma Park restaurants to provide meals to needy area residents. To fund the effort and help to support the restaurants’ employees, SSC last week launched a Community Connection Go Fund Me page, according to Heather Foley, SSC’s executive director.
The Silver Spring Arts & Entertainment District and the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce are building lists of local restaurants and other businesses open to serve customers during the COVID-19 emergency. The SSAED list includes 53 restaurants, while the GSSCC includes operating information about, in addition to restaurants, fitness studios and centers, hotels, theaters, pet services, florists, auto services and “other retail.”
Residents of the Seven Oaks/Evanswood neighborhood this week crowd sourced a list of local restaurants still serving customers during the COVID-19 emergency. The Google Docs spreadsheet is online for reference and open to edits and additions from others, who have since expanded the original list.
On a normal Thursday, the Source posts a curated list of upcoming events gathered from various places, including our own calendar of community events. This is not a normal Thursday.
The county’s Department of Transportation has designated six temporary “No Parking” zones in downtown Silver Spring to make curbside pickup of takeout orders easier for local residents. In addition, the county has temporarily established free parking for residents in the Bonifant/Dixon garage at 1101 Bonifant St.
Abol Ethiopian Restaurant closed last week after an unsuccessful attempt to rebrand the location, then returning to the original concept. The location at 8626 Colesville Rd. was rebranded as Blu Nile Restaurant and Lounge with a launch shortly before the holidays.
El Sapo Cuban Social Club and Urban Butcher have begun providing free meals to senior citizens, according to chef/owner Raynold Mendizábal. “We went to The Bonifant building and we’re going to be taking care of them for the time being,” he said.
Update: The state Department of Health now confirms 15 cases in Montgomery County.
Most county facilities are now closed to the public, and other changes are either in effect or expected in an effort to combat COVID-19. As of Sunday afternoon, there were 12 confirmed cases of the disease, according to information from the state, county officials announced yesterday.
The Sligo Creek Golf Course and a renovated Sligo Pit BBQ have reopened for the season and live music will return this year, according to team leader Laura Russell. The Friday night free concerts will kick off June 5 with The Loose Ends and a special appearance by County Executive Marc Elrich.