MCS Staff, Author at The MoCo Show

MoCo Spotlight: Solomon Sapiro, Creator of MyMCPS+

Published October 16, 2017 at 10:44PM | Updated September 27, 2019 at 6:31PM

After school last week I noticed my students using an app that I was not familiar with so I asked them what it was. They told me it was called MyMCPS+ (Download here: itunes.apple.com/us/app/mymcps/id1291038640?mt=8) and that they were using it to see what grade they would need on an upcoming test in order to move up a letter grade or maintain the one they had. Then they showed me how it worked and I was amazed at how simple and easy to use it was.

I reached out to the developer, Solomon Sapiro, and found out that he was a recent graduate of Wootton High School (class of 2017). I ended up meeting with Solomon in College Park, where he attends the University of Maryland, and he told me a little more about the app and himself.

Damascus

A Day in Damascus

By MCS Staff

Published October 4, 2017 at 12:19AM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

I stayed for most of the first half of the game against Poolesville. After getting a couple first downs on their opening drive, Poolesville was stifled the rest of the way as Damascus cruised to a shutout victory. The atmosphere was electric.

MoCo History

The Life and Death of Rockville Mall (now Rockville Town Center)

By MCS Staff

Published October 2, 2017 at 2:24AM | Updated March 8, 2023 at 8:30AM

We’ve all heard of Montgomery Mall, Wheaton Plaza, Lakeforest, and even White Flint, but there’s one mall that always seems to be forgotten in these discussions. It was a mall with all the potential in the world that fell flat on its face…Rockville Mall.

Germantown

The Cider Barrel Revival

By MCS Staff

Published September 28, 2017 at 12:10AM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

The link can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/MoCoShow/posts/1213589988744958.

A couple weeks later I interviewed Brandi using questions based on YOUR comments on our original post. With just 10 days left to raise over $75k, it doesn’t look like the Kickstarter campaign will be successful (it’s an all or nothing campaign, which means if the full amount isn’t raised, everyone that donated will be refunded their money), but even it the goal isn’t reached it doesn’t mean that the dream to bring The Cider Barrel back to life ends here.

Potomac

Shake Shack is Coming to MoCo!

By MCS Staff

Published September 15, 2017 at 2:24AM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

Founded just 13 years ago, the New York City based fast casual restaurant chain now has almost 150 locations across the world. They’ve finally made it MoCo. If this goes well I wouldn’t be surprised to see 1 or 2 more locations within the county (maybe Downtown Silver Spring and Crown in Gaithersburg?).

MoCo History

The Town of Poolesville (25th Annual Poolesville Day)

By MCS Staff

Published September 13, 2017 at 12:26PM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

I don’t really get the opportunity to write much about Poolesville, but I don’t want the small town of about 5,000 people to think that it’s because there isn’t much to say…there’s plenty.

What many people outside of Poolesville don’t know is that the legal name of the town was “The Commissioners of Poolesville” until 2010 when it was changed to “The Town of Poolesville.” The town was founded by brothers John and Joseph Poole, who owned a lot of the land within the boundaries of what is now Poolesville (about 160 acres or so). Though the area was settled in 1760, the town was’t incorporated until 1867…Happy 150th Anniversary, Poolesville!

Bethesda

Porky The Litter Eater

By MCS Staff

Published September 10, 2017 at 3:55AM | Updated December 28, 2022 at 6:00PM

If you’ve been to Cabin John Regional Park in the last half century or so you’ve probably seen a bizarre, miniature house-like structure that has a pig face with its mouth wide open on one side. That’s Porky. You can feed him paper and cardboard and soft drink cans, but you can’t feed him bottles or broken glass…glass gives him a tummy ache.

Porky has been there since 1966, making his debut one year after Billy the Litter Eater over at Wheaton Regional Park. “I still have nightmares of my arm getting sucked into this thing” commented Richard Schaffer as he shared a picture of the famous trash dispenser. Creepy Basement, a popular website that is comprised of creepy highlights from across the world, refers to Porky as an “eternally hungry demon pig that commands children to feed him with his creepy 1950s radio voice.”

Gaithersburg

Is The Froyo Bubble Bursting?

By MCS Staff

Published September 9, 2017 at 4:47PM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

With cookie dough, bubble tea, and macarons trending as the new go-to dessert shops, does this signify the end of the froyo boom?

Cupcakes seem to have weathered the storm, so maybe they’re here to stay! I’m an ice cream guy and always found myself settling for frozen yogurt because there were so many places I could get it. I can’t say I’m upset, but I always feel for a business when they’re forced to close their doors.

Bethesda

The 7 Best Places To Buy in MoCo (and a few up and coming spots)

By MCS Staff

Published September 6, 2017 at 4:15PM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

Since I’m a huge fan of lists, I wanted to create an accurate list of the “best” places to buy in MoCo. In order to make this list accurate I asked local realtor, Jonathan Fox, to help me break down the county’s “best” areas and include a few up and coming areas that he thinks are due for a dramatic increase in price over the coming years. Here’s what he had to say:

So as a long time realtor and resident of Montgomery County I am often asked where the “best” opportunities and areas to buy houses are located, and what our future real estate markets in MoCo will ultimately look like. In this piece I will do my best to break it down for you.

Uncategorized

MoCo Hidden Gem: Filippo’s (formerly Marchone’s)

By MCS Staff

Published September 2, 2017 at 5:20PM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

I ordered two items, the cold cut and the panino, based on the recommendation of the young lady that was working behind the counter. As I ordered I spoke with a gentleman that was waiting for his sandwich to be made. He informed me that he lost 42 pounds in 3 months from eating all of his meals at Filippo’s. Not sure what he was eating, but I’d love to get a hold of his diet soon.

I sat at one of the few tables in the small deli/market and enjoyed two of the best tasting sandwiches I’ve ever had. While we were eating, Filippo himself stopped by our table to make sure everything was going well. I’ve heard stories about how nice of a man he is and my first interaction with him proved these stories true. He is one of the kindest people I’ve met; making sure we had everything we needed and thanking us for coming in.

Uncategorized

Rio/Crown…What’s The Deal?

By MCS Staff

Published August 29, 2017 at 4:00PM | Updated September 26, 2019 at 5:34PM

With that said, Rio lost Macaroni Grill a little over 2.5 years ago (it hasn’t been replaced), Cafe Deluxe closed almost 2 years ago (it hasn’t been replaced), and just a couple days ago; Joe’s Crab Shack closed permanently.

Over the course of the last year, possibly 6 months, Crown has lost Smashburger, Voniks, and Yogiberry. Venti Tre, the restaurant that described itself as the “Italian Chipotle,” closed less than a year after opening in Downtown Crown (that makes two different fast casual restaurants that have opened and closed in the same location in Crown in ~3 years).