ohhai Chompie
July 16th, 2010
Shark Week at Discovery HQ is at the beginning of August this year, so the giant inflatable predator known as Chompie is up! He has a few weeks to spend on the building (through the building?) overlooking the Silver Spring metro entrances until he comes back down. Until then, it’s funny to watch the reactions of passersby when they realize there is a giant killer floating overhead. Also until then, there are probably a few Discovery employees missing sunlight in their office windows…
“The Hand of Noah”
June 30th, 2010
Every now and then I like to post a picture from Silver Spring, friendly neighbor to the north of DC. This particular one is a real oldie, taken in, whoa!, 2006. It’s the sculpture in front of NOAA’s building on East-West Highway. “The Hand of Noah” was sculpted by Raymond Kaskey in 1991, and is supposed to represent NOAA’s stewardship of the environment.
Here’s another image of the sculpture and a link to Kaskey’s Studio.
Lightswept
January 5th, 2010
This shot is a closeup of “Lightswept,” a neon light sculpture by artist Craig Kraft , that sits outside HR-57 on 14th Street. I wasn’t a huge fan of this piece at first, but in reading more about his process through his website, I can at least appreciate his craftsmanship, as well as some of his other public installations, much more now. I never put it together that this would be the same artist who created a similar neon sculpture, Lightweb, in Downtown Silver Spring, a piece I see nearly every day. I guess I like the Silver Spring sculpture a great deal more because it is integrated with the elevator shaft and seems to sweep around the existing structure. The one in front of HR-57 seems much more arbitrary, like it is sitting out in the open as an afterthought. Nonetheless, public art is a great thing that we shouldn’t take for granted, and I’m sure I will come around to this piece more in the future — maybe it will require another visit to HR-57 for an evening of jazz very soon.
happy t-giving
November 25th, 2009
hey look it’s Gobbles the Turkey from the Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade. Happy Thanksgiving from Juxtaexposed!
Please, do not try to pay…
October 20th, 2009
…or you will be ticketed/towed, courtesy of Silver Spring, Maryland.
penguin metro mural
August 26th, 2009
This mural was always one of my favorite things about the Silver Spring metro station. You couldn’t look at it on your way to work without seeing the irony of the situation, people/penguins rushing around in their suits, somewhere to be. Sadly, it’s been down for over a year now, waiting somewhere in WMATA storage until the new transit center is complete in 2010 . The wood panels were originally painted by artist Sally Callmer and were only supposed to stay up for a year, but thankfully the piece was purchased for permanency by WMATA. Definitely looking forward to seeing it back up next year… assuming the construction stays on target.
creepin’
August 4th, 2009
One of my job perks is location: glorious downtown Silver Spring (DTSS)! and though I say that with just a slight hint of sarcasm, I will say with a straight face that having an office just above a Whole Foods is pretty awesome. Not only do I have an excuse for “going out” for lunch all the time, but also the ability, thanks to glass-lined overlooking hallways, to spy on people from above while they grocery shop. And sneak bites from the salad bar. And double dip in the sampling trays, flirt with the deli lady, and decide on which loaf of identical breads to buy. It’s amazing how people will act when they think no one is watching.
MPG
March 10th, 2009
Spotted in Silver Spring… the jacket says it all.
Parking for Crisfield’s
September 30th, 2008
We’ve written about it before, because Crisfield’s in Silver Spring is one of our favorite seafood places. And now here’s a photo of the signage in their parking lot (which they share with a car tire place). I think more things in life should be as witty and concise as this. It’s perfectly fitting for the type of no-nonsense restaurant that it is.
Glorious Crisfields
February 16th, 2008
If a posh ambiance and uber hip environment is important to you in your selection of dining establishment please heed my advice and do not go to Crisfield’s. If damn good seafood and old school Silver Spring character (whatever that means) is then it is a place for you. Crisfield’s has been a Silver Spring institution since 1945 and serves wholesome, down to earth seafood with love and a little bit of grit. Located just south of the WMATA tracks overpass on Georgia Ave, Crisfield’s will leave you fat and happy without doing too much damage to the wallet. For dinner I’d recommend the Crisfield Special, it is a crabby buttery dish of goodness served in an aluminum pan shaped like it’s aforementioned crustacean. Delish.
Also, they serve beer in little tiny glasses and have a signed picture of Jon Voight on the wall.
