1. The Royal Mile Pub
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (301) 946-4511
Address: 2407 Price Avenue
Description: This attractive and comfortable oasis in downtown Wheaton features live Celtic music and jazz four to five times a month. Every third Sunday, a traditional Irish session is led by well-known local musician Dennis Botzer. Most Saturdays also feature traditional Irish or Scottish music. Rarely is there a cover charge. The pub is open seven nights a week and has a surprisingly interesting menu. Berry salad on wild greens with goat’s cheese isn’t your usual pub fare. The owner’s son is a culinary school graduate and has helped shape the menu.
2. Wheaton Regional Park
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (301) 680-3803
Address: 2000 Shorefield Road
Description: This Montgomery County favorite bustles with activity, particularly on weekends, when families and large groups flock to the park. The park boasts numerous attractions and programs for children (see our Kidstuff chapter for more on those) as well as hiking and biking trails, a five-acre stocked lake for fishing, an ice-skating rink (301-649-3640), and sports courts and fields. You can walk or drive to the peaceful Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallen Avenue (301-949-8231), offering 50 acres of various flowers and other plants and a new visitor center for educational programs.
3. Suporn’S
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (301) 946-7613
Address: 2302 Price Avenue
Description: You’ve probably gathered by now that Wheaton and Rockville are meccas for Asian restaurants, and there are many Thai offerings among them. Suporn’s is a bargain-priced eatery that offers some interesting dishes and a great deal of range. Start with one of Suporn’s many salads, some flavored with lime, cilantro, anise, chilis, peanuts, or in most cases, a combination of several harmonious seasonings. Go on to hot, spicy soup or skip to a main course that features noodles, curries, or stir-fry. The prices here are so low, you can try it all. Suporn’s is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and it’s closed Monday.
4. Senior’S Interfaith Resource Center, Inc. (Sirc)
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (301) 962-0820
Address: 3950 Ferrara Drive
Description: This nonprofit, volunteer-run organization offers information and assistance to elderly residents of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Kensington. SIRC’s Hands of Shared Time (HOST) program trains volunteers ages 15 and older willing to provide two hours of weekly service to frail or lonely seniors. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
5. Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton Plaza Shopping Center
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (301) 946-3200
Address: 11160 Viers Mill Road
Description: This mall houses more than 120 stores, including anchors Macy’s, JCPenney, and Target. It features the usual mall specialty stores, as well as cinemas and several restaurants. Wheaton Plaza underwent remodeling in 2000.
6. Wheaton Regional Park
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (301) 680-3803
Address: 2000 Shorefield Road
Description: Line up at the beautiful train depot for a ride on the miniature locomotive. It’s just one of many kid-friendly attractions at this popular Montgomery County park. You’ll also find a snack bar and carousel (open, along with the train, throughout the summer), a huge playground, and an ice-skating rink (open October through March). Walk or drive to the adjacent nature center and Brookside Gardens, both of which offer bountiful children’s programs, including a delightful butterfly garden. Wherever you go in the park, expect crowds on weekends. (Look for more on this park in the Parks and Recreation chapter.)
7. Christian Church Capital Area (Disciples Of Christ)
City: Wheaton, MD
Category: Worship
Telephone: (301) 942-8266
Address: 11501 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400
Description: This regional office oversees about 50 congregations in the Washington area, Delaware, and West Virginia.