Kaldi's Social House in Silver Spring. Image from Google Street View. Image by Google Street View used with permission.

It's time for the next Greater Greater happy hour! Join us Tuesday, August 15 from 6 to 8 pm at Kaldi's Social House, located at 918 Silver Spring Avenue in downtown Silver Spring.

This happy hour is also a birthday party for Just Up The Pike, a blog I (Dan Reed) started in 2006 as a way to celebrate eastern Montgomery County and talk about the issues facing this evolving, sort-of suburban, sort-of urban place. Since then, it's grown into a community of a couple thousand readers, contributors, and local leaders, and I'm excited for the chance to spend some time with the people who've made this blog (and, by extension, the past eleven of years of my life) what it is.

As one of Silver Spring's fifteen (and counting) coffeeshops, Kaldi's is not only known for its brewing techniques but its rooftop bar overlooking downtown. Kaldi's Social House is an eight-minute walk from the Silver Spring Metro station (Red Line), as well as dozens of Metrobus and Ride On routes (if you're coming from DC, you can take the 70/79 and S2/S4/S9.) There's a Capital Bikeshare stations two blocks away at Ripley and Bonifant streets. If you’re driving, there’s free parking after 7pm on the street and in the public garage in back.

Want to join us? RSVP here!

And since happy hour isn't until next month, make sure to check out these other great events between now and then:

This year, we've held happy hours in Shaw, Edgewood, and Crystal City. Next month, we'll head to Park View for the first time. We’re always looking for new, Metro-accessible locations for future happy hours. Where would you like us to go next?

Today, Monday, July 17: Prince George's County is updating its zoning ordinance. Make sure you voice your opinion on the future of the county at the council's Zoning Rewrite Town Hall Meeting today, Monday, at 7 pm at 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive in Upper Marlboro.

Thursday, July 20: The District Department of Transportation is studying the western part of downtown, Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 17th Street and Washington Circle, and H and I Streets NW between New York Avenue and Pennsylvania. The goal is to improve east-west travel for biking, walking, and taking the bus. Head over to the final public meeting at George Washington University’s Funger Hall (Room 223) at 2201 G Street NW at 6:30 pm to hear and weigh in on the final recommendations.

Sunday, July 23: As part of the Capital Fringe Festival, check out Caveat, a play written by GGWash contributor Ben Lockshin that satirically explores the underground world of DC group houses. The final performance is this Sunday at 12 pm at Gallaudet University's Eastman Studio Theatre (Florida Avenue and 8th Street NE).

Next Monday, July 24: Since 2012, Alexandria has expanded its Capital Bikeshare system from eight to 31 stations. Now, the city wants to add ten more. Alexandria took comments on where to put the stations through July 16. Head to the public meeting at 7:30 pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall (301 King Street) to hear about the final 10 recommended stations and weigh in.

Next Monday, July 24: Add your voice to Voices of the Community (VoicesDMV), a new project by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and become part of the regional conversation on health, education, housing, transportation, crime, and overall community well-being. They want to hear from residents like you! There are meetings in Prince George's, Fairfax, Montgomery County, and DC. The next one is next Monday at 6:30 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Center (1 Veterans Place). Dinner is provided.

Next Monday, July 24: Economic investment, especially in public infrastructure like streets, bridges, and transit, is a big, sometimes contentious issue. Hear from two internationally recognized experts in public finance, Dag Detter and Bruce Katz, on how to unlock social, human, and economic wealth that cities already own to bring financial stability to cities. The talk is at Kramer Books (1517 Connecticut Ave NW) in Dupont Circle at 6:30 pm.

Continue the conversation about urbanism in the Washington region and support GGWash’s news and advocacy when you join the GGWash Neighborhood!

Tagged: events, happy hour, maryland, montgomery county, silver spring

Dan Reed (they/them) is Greater Greater Washington’s regional policy director, focused on housing and land use policy in Maryland and Northern Virginia. For a decade prior, Dan was a transportation planner working with communities all over North America to make their streets safer, enjoyable, and equitable. Their writing has appeared in publications including Washingtonian, CityLab, and Shelterforce, as well as Just Up The Pike, a neighborhood blog founded in 2006. Dan lives in Silver Spring with Drizzy, the goodest boy ever.

Claire Jaffe was born in DC and now lives in the U Street area. She is a University of Michigan graduate and currently works at Coalition for Smarter Growth. On her off time, Claire can be found biking the street of DC or exploring the many green spaces throughout the region.