Back to Birchmere
By Silver Springer • Mar 30th, 2006 • Category: Uncategorized
Continuing the Silver Spring news, the Washington Post has put the spot light on the dialogue surrounding the Birchmere, a music hall catering to those interested in live bands performing country and folk music. A new group called Silver Spring Forward was formed specifically to push the Birchmere into reality. It would occupy the old J.C. Penny site along colesville road in the northern core of downtown.
Commentary: The Birchmere could certainly have positive implications on Silver Spring and would compliment the AFI Theatre but I hope this Bichmere (if it ever becomes reality) doesn’t end up just like the one in Alexandria. Looking at the demographics of Silver Spring this Birchmere should appeal to all genres of music not just country and folk, I would love to see some contemporary music bands as well, inviting the young and old. Also from what I’ve read you’re not aloud to sing along or dance in the Birchmere in Alexandria and that is a big negative for such a venue in my opinion.
Silver Springer is
Email this author | All posts by Silver Springer
I think the biggest concern around this is the fact that the Birchmere, which is a for profit business that apparently makes a bunch of money, is asking for County dollars. While I think the Birchmere would be a great addition to Silver Spring and the Arts and Entertainment District I don’t think the County should be subsidizing a business such as this. Let’s face it, their already putting $10 million into Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center which is a more deservign benefactor and has very similar programming goals.
Something to think about…
I agree.
I don’t, actually
Montgomery College is a bit too plebeian to arouse excitement. If not the Birchmere then a non-profit sister to Strathmore hall or somesuch should be built. MC being a headliner would only reinforce the impression that SS is second-rate (It’s a community college, I mean, really).
I second the concerns about the type of music though; folk and country might be appropriate for Virginia, but we have many residents with more indy sensibility.
-RS
To RS: I don’t think county funds should be used to subsidize this private developer, I’m sure he would be very profitable opening a Birchmere in Silver Spring on his own if he tweaked it to the right audience. On the other hand like you said; you probably won’t find well known artists performing at a Montgomery College theater.
The Birchmere in Alexandria is an excelllent venue to see bands. Granted, the atmosphere tends to be more subdued than many other music venues, but you are guaranteed to see the band you came to see without getting beer spilled on you and straining to see or hear the band. Granted the music leans toward adult tastes, but it is not only folk and country. I do find the coment about folk and country being more appropriate to Virginia. Virginia has more small music venues than the Maryland subs in a smaller area. They tend to specialize more because of that. For Indy you can go to Iota, The Galaxy Hut, The Clarendon Grill\Ballroom, and a number of other clubs.
I think we should wait to criticize the College’s programming, before they’ve put themselves out there. Their putting a lot into a classy building. Have you seen the renderings?
Regardless, if the Birchmere did move here I would think that they’d do some market research appropo to the needs desires of SS residents.
I think the owner of the property (Lee Family?) has a lot to account for in this, too. Presumably, they are being given extra heavy density zoning allowances in exchange for providing a public amenity (such as occurred in the building of the ROundhouse in Bethesday). If the county didn’t bargain for this during this negotiation, they were malfeasant. But if they are are getting special zoning for this, no WAY should the county be spending any public money at all in this development. I think taxpayers should be outraged at being asked to provide $8+ million for something that’s going to make a lot of money for the Birchmere, and that was developed AT MARKET in Virginia! Be aware Montgomery County citizens: your legislators have showered money on AFI ($25+ MILLION) and Roundhouse already (no fund raising or taking a capital stake in it) and it’s all rent free, apparently. I would like it if I could be like AFI or Roundhouse, and didn’t have to pay $25/sq foot for downtown office space like the rest of us non-profit suckers who rent office space in Silver SPring.
Not allowed to sing along at the Alexandria Birchmere? Someone done pulled your leg.
As for dancing, the space isn’t suitable, for sure (seating is at tables, with bad food being served), but I’m not certain that’s the same as “not allowed.”