Silver Spring Blue’s Festival ‘s Market Stage Artist: Ayaba Bey

Ayaba Bey is a storyteller. That is to say, she has mastered the art of blending theatre with jazz, blues, and African music to create tales of history and wisdom.  A noted community activist, and educator she has toured the nation spreading her art through universities, high schools, elementary schools, workshops, and multiple art forums. Ayaba has performed in, and helped found, numerous bands and solo acts including: the Future Reggae Band, the Weldon Irvine Big Band, Trio and Quintet, and The New Blues Review.

We are honored to have such an avid community leader and artist join us on our Silver Spring Blue’s Festival Market Stage on June 18^th @ 12pm.

Link to Artist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3WLclL497U&feature=youtu.be

At Asparagus!, you’ll find everything from colorful hand-painted picture frames to hand-sewn zipper pouches.  The gals of Asparagus! specialize in unique, boutique-quality gifts for yourself or someone special.

Visit them at the FSM THIS Saturday from 9AM – 3PM.

Oldies  & Goodies Books hearts books. It’s that simple. Being an online used book shop, owner, Ali Kagawa’s office sits atop a large warehouse full of large crates, which are full of many used books. The newer books in good condition are sorted, priced and listed online.

Ali spends her lunch breaks rifling through the recycling, trying to salvage every line of literature she can before they’re turned to mush. She adopts them and brings them home where they are loved and live happily on her shelf. She is a true book rescuer.

Rescue your own book from Ali at the FSM this Saturday, June 11th.

When Michele returned to the United States after several years of European adventures, she and Matt met through their love of photography. Together they discovered their shared enthusiasm for handmade creations, exploring many new materials and techniques along the way.

Michele has been sewing and making jewelry since she was young. She makes beaded and button jewelry, while Matt makes para-cord survival gear. Together they ae Dreaming StarDust.

Michele & Matt display at the FSM this Saturday, June 11th.

Saturday, June 18th, is shaping up to be an incredible day in downtown Silver Spring! Join us for an all-day, family-friendly Blues Block Party stretching from the Fenton Street Market on Veterans Plaza to the fountain on Ellsworth Drive. Two stages will feature a total of 13 live acts, including a noon-time Blues storytime with Ayaba Bey. A musical instrument petting zoo, harmonica workshops, and 50 exhibitors round out the offerings from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  An afternoon Margarita Garden and late-night after-parties rock the ‘hood for grown-ups!  

The event is the result of an unprecedented partnership between the Fenton Street Market, Downtown Silver Spring, and Blues Festival organizers D.C. Blues Society and Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Previously occupying half the time and half the area of this year’s festival, the Third Annual Blues Festival in Downtown Silver Spring expands this year to offer morning programs for families, the “Market Stage” for acoustic acts, and local craftspeople thanks to the sponsorship of the Fenton Street Market, which is donating proceeds from booth fees to the Blues Festival. Fenton Street Market entertainment coordinator Chantelle Stewart helped book the local acts performing on the Market Stage: Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble (10 a.m.); Ayaba Bey (12 noon); Cooking with Gas (2:30 p.m.); and Social Ramble (3:30 p.m.). Also on Veterans Plaza, the Dale Music Musical Instrument Petting Zoo will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Choo Choo Charlie will lead all-ages harmonica workshops at 11 am. and 1 p.m. Fenton Street Market on-site manager Mike O’Brien created the festival map/flyer shown above.

Complete info on the Third Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival, including the Fountain Stage’s line-up, available here.

Artist, Brendan L. Smith uses found objects, recycled consumer goods and historical mementos to create unconventional paintings, collage and sculpture. He combines torn fragments and forgotten remnants of our disjointed society to create work that reflects hidden truths.

His work expresses his own hopes and fears about this world we live in. Check out Brendan’s brilliant and original artwork in person at the FSM this Saturday.

In Hindi, the word mirasa means heritage. Taking its cue from the heritage of textile designer and mirasa founder, Aashumi Shah, mirasa products incorporate the colors of the Indian landscape and traditional kantha and ari style embroidery.

Modern concepts with an ethnic flair. Responsible eco-friendly construction. Original work hand-crafted by artisans. This is mirasa design.

Mirasa design will be at the FSM this Saturday, June 11th.

Robots and flowers.

What more do you need for your home decor? Perfect for kid’s rooms (or adult rooms that appreciate cool cartoon art!) Flowers for Sophie will be exhibiting their creative and colorful art at the Fenton Street Market TOMORROW, at the June 4th market.

This Saturday at the Fenton Street Market, join us for a Community Roundtable with Maryland State Delegate Tom Hucker. Come join an informal conversation on “Energy Problems and Solutions: Pepco reliability and Maryland’s clean energy future.” Hucker is thinking big–beyond Pepco: offshore wind, solar photovoltaic, solar hot water, etc. Share your thoughts and questions with Hucker and the community. Everyone’s invited and everyone’s included in the conversation. 11 a.m. at the Community Roundtable at the Fenton Street Market.

Locally based in Maryland, Jewels By Joan II sells handcrafted jewelry with an ethnic flare and Afrocentric clothing. The company previous belonged to artist, Cecilia Penn’s  grandmother (Joan Savoy Penn) who passed in 2005.

In 2010 Cecilia found herself starting back up her old company and continuing her grandmother’s legacy. Cecilia says it has been a great experience continuing the business her grandmother cherished and loved so dearly.

Catch Jewels By Joan II and her stunning designs THIS Saturday, June 4th at the Fenton Street Market.