The Polka Dot Park is a fun, bright community space in historic Hyattsville. It's in a former…read moreparking lot. The space is large with blue picnic tables and murals decorated the walls. It's a great space for community events!

Polka Dot Park is awesome. There was a fairly desolate looking lot in Hyattsville that now has a…read morelot of tastefully done art that consistently provides backdrops for many many photos. The space is gently sloped and there are a number of picnic tables, umbrellas and lights that, along with the colors, make for a whimsical community space. During warmer months, bands will play on the loading dock that can be repurposed as a stage. While driving by on most days, you can see people taking selfies with the large "Handmade in Hyattsville" painting, or with one of the colorfully painted garage doors as the backdrop. According to their facebook page, it is made possible by Urban Investment Partners.

Silver Plaza is the at the heart of Downtown Silver Spring. The plaza, as its name suggests, is an…read moreopen space where the public can sit, stand, play, or simply hang out. The atmosphere here is almost always energetic and anyone looking to explore downtown Silver Spring should start here before venturing out towards the various shops, theaters, and restaurants in the area. The restaurants in the area (in between Georgia Ave. and Fenton St.) range from the expensive to the moderately priced. Just about anyone can grab a bite to eat here. From pho to fries, the choices in cuisine are expansive. Looking to do some shopping? City Place mall can be accessed from the plaza, as well as shops such as DSW, Borders, and the Ann Taylor Loft which are located outside of the mall. Feeling like seeing a movie? Check out the Majestic where there are always a large number of movies playing at any given time. Don't like the new stuff? Well there's always the AFI Silver Theater where you can catch Hitchcock classics and the like. The most stunning thing about the Plaza is the fountain. Symbolizing the actual silver spring that was discovered in the area (thus giving Silver Spring its name), the fountain is a place where parents bring their children to cool off during the summer, and provides everyone else with a soothing sensation only flowing water could give you. The only down side to the plaza is the amount of obnoxious high schoolers that can situate themselves throughout the plaza at any given time (mostly at night). But then again, that's anywhere and it's not too bad unless you're trying to watch a movie at the Majestic. The food is great, the shops are plentiful, the parking is ample, and the Metro is close. Don't miss out on such a wonderful public space to spend a day or an evening. P.S. The Downtown Silver Spring Summer Concert Series and the Farmer's Market are also situated in this wonderful Plaza.

This is a great new development in Silver Spring. Perfect for outdoor events and a true centerpiece…read moreof the neighborhood. Thanks to the County!

Sometimes I just want to walk to Silver Spring without having to deal with the bus. If not because…read moreof the stress of waiting on a system whose willingness to get me from point A to point B is hampered by its unreliable schedule, then it's certainly because The Silver Pass provides this proactive pedestrian with a straight shot to the downtown area. Situated between a fire station and Mayorga, the The Silver Pass gives walking folk a means to travel safely underneath railroad tracks and alongside heavy traffic. The walls flow with dark colored, horizontal lines, appropriately giving you the impression that you are venturing forward. Also, on either end of the Pass, you'll find tiled mosaics depicting the colorful inspiration of its artists. Although The Silver Pass is not much to marvel at, it is enough to appreciate. Without it's convenient pedestrian walkway I'd have to add another 5 minutes to my trip. Sure, sometimes it smells funny and I question whether it's car exhaust or piss (I try to avoid touching the walls), but The Silver Pass serves its purpose as a convenient walkway, and I'm fine with that.

Trattoria Da Lina has become our family's "special occasion" restaurant in Takoma Park, though it's…read morejust as wonderful for an ordinary weeknight when you want outstanding Italian food. It's family-owned and operated, and you feel that warmth the moment you walk through the door. The staff are genuinely welcoming, happily accommodate substitutions and dietary restrictions, and often recite the nightly specials with a delightful mix of English and Italian--usually accompanied by a compliment about your outfit or your dinner companion that makes everyone smile. We had Christmas Eve dinner there this year, and it was every bit as memorable as we'd hoped. The portions are generous enough to share or take half home for lunch the next day. I especially recommend the Chicken Marsala, Chicken Piccata, and the classic mussels, all prepared beautifully. Don't overlook their neighboring pizzeria either--it's our go-to for both takeout and casual dining. Trattoria Da Lina is the kind of neighborhood restaurant every community wishes it had.

Overall value is 3.5 - it's a bit of a splurge for a regular dinner but we were craving Italian and…read morethis was the closest. We do really like the Tacoma Park area. It's on the same block as a really nice Thai place and a nice Mediterranean spot as well. There weren't many people on a weekday night so we just walked in. Street parking is free after 7 PM. The star was the margharita pizza. And we also got a calzone, which was also really good. The texture of the crust and the little slight crunch and the sauce was really great. I wish there was more basil on the margarita pizza. There were three pieces of basil on the entire pie the pasta we got was the seafood pasta and it was a bit salty and portions are a bit small, but maybe that's the norm now? And we also got this other mushroom ravioli thing that is also pretty good but just really small. I think it was like five or six pieces of ravioli for $24. Service was fine. It was standard. The restaurant was a little bit hot during the heat wave. I wish it was a little cooler so with the four dishes altogether it was over $80 before tip for two people and we just had a little bit left over which is why I thought the value was more 3.5 than a four. That said, I'd still come back and get the margarita pizza and calzone - they're really quite good.

If you're looking for authentic Italian food with heart, Vicinos Italian Restaurant is an absolute…read moregem! We were in town for my son's swim meet and wanted a great Italian spot where he could carb up before his races and I'm so happy we found this beautiful, family-oriented restaurant. The moment we walked in, the smell of fresh, delicious food filled the air and instantly made us feel at home. From the very beginning, the owners were incredibly kind, warm, and welcoming. We were greeted with genuine smiles and treated like family, which made the entire experience even more special. The customer service here is truly top-tier attentive, friendly, and full of heart. The food was absolutely delicious! Everything tasted fresh, authentic, and made with love. We were even treated to complimentary bread and pizza, which was such a thoughtful and generous touch. And the dessert? AMAZING the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal. One thing that really stood out was how the owners greeted so many guests by name. You could tell there are many loyal regulars, and seeing that kind of connection between a restaurant and its customers is rare and beautiful. It created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere that made us feel like part of the community. We loved everything about this place and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Vicinos to anyone looking for incredible Italian food, outstanding service, and a true family-style dining experience!

the food is so consistent! Most everything is quite delicious. Vicino is not afraid of garlic, and…read moreneither am I. John is a great guy and quite the chef. Really great pasta y fagioli, and the Veal Francese is truly wonderful. This quaint long time Silver Spring restaurant has more than fair pricing.

Walked in as a tourist and everything was perfect , from our host all the way to the environment ;…read moreAs soon as you take a bite of the Food , we get to feel how it's truly a scratch kitchen. Really isn't as bad like these other reviews say so, Truly satisfied with my experience here .

*adding more pictures from my latest visit - still a solid 4-star restaurant in my opinion.read more

I knew Norman Lane from when I worked in Silver Spring. A funny story about Norman, one day the…read morefire dept. went on a call to see about a person down by the railroad tracks, they found another Silver Spring bum, he was Dead. When Norman was told this news, he said, that guy was just a bum. Norman pretty much kept to himself, but when police wanted to know about some crime in town, they would check with Norman.