I lived in downtown Silver Spring for 10 years in the '90s, back when it was a dump, okay, actually just seedy, tawdry, and run-down.
These days, its been re-invented as a destination, and has become one of my my favorite places to hang-out, with cool places like the AFI Silver theater, the Austin Grill, Borders books, Whole Foods, and free garage parking on evenings and weekends. Also decent Ethiopian food (Lagano) and bland but decent Caribbean food (Negril's) nearby, along with Panera's, Macaroni Grill, Asian Bistro, Starbucks, Great Eggspectations, the Majestic Twenty stadium seating movie theater, and the incomparable Roadhouse Oldies. Supposed to be free wi-fi throughout downtown, but I haven't vetted it yet.


