My Sky View

This is a view from one of the windows of my apartment.

Big Box

I've noted in earlier posts that the Kentlands neighborhood in Gaithersburg is filled with small stores and quaint houses.  Another section of the community happens to have several 'big box' stores too.  You could say it's the best of both worlds.

A Giant Place

 Giant is the brand name of a giant regional grocery store chain and this particular Giant is, well, a giant store.

Flag Waving

Mass Transportation

I love to drive but I hate to drive in traffic.  I use the Washington DC area metro rail system quite a bit to avoid the traffic. The closest Metro station to Gaithersburg is Shady Grove and there are many bus route that will get you there.

Snow Shadows

Snow can be a challenging photographic subject but it can also be beautiful.

Snow, But Not Much

 Despite predictions for plenty of snow this winter, we've had very little so far.  It was below freezing when I took this picture yesterday but thanks to snow removal chemicals, the sidewalks were clear.

Confusion

It is somewhat amusing that an organized development like Kentlands can have such disorganized signage.

Train Coaches

White Picket Fences

There are a few streets in the Kentlands and Lakelands communities that resemble the 'old days' by incorporating colors and styles of a bygone era.  In this case: picket fences.

More Repeating Patterns

This pattern in in Kentlands.

Repeating Patterns

I like to shoot repeating patterns.  This one is at the train station/museum in Old Town.

Gaithersburg Park

This very small park is adjacent to the train station in the middle of Old Town.  The day I shot these pictures was the first day I got out of my car to walk around this part of Gaithersburg.  I had driven through it a few times in the past and stopped for a drink at Growlers once, but that was all.  Walking around a town gives you a different perspective and one that represents much more reality than just driving through.  Try it some time.

Growlers Restaurant and Brewery

Leave it to me to find a bar.  I have actually been to this one ... good food and beer and sometimes they have live bands.

Lamp

 

An artsy lamp in Old Towne Gaithersburg.

Train Track View

I love trains.  The commuter train I used to ride once or twice a week a few years ago runs down these tracks and stops at this Gaithersburg station.  Many other trains rumble through this area daily, some at fairly high speeds, including an Amtrak to Chicago and numerous freight trains.  And be VERY CAREFUL if you choose to take a picture like this; the trains can arrive quite suddenly and surprisingly quiet.

Train Station

I finally had a chance to explore another part of Gaithersburg, specifically Old Town.  The platform in this picture is a real train station, serving the Gaithersburg stop of the MARC commuter train from Brunswick MD or Martinsburg WV into DC.  I used to ride that train but this is the first time I walked around this stop.

Music

Hmmm, music lessons.  I might have to check this place out.

Main Street Pavilion

This is the pavilion in the middle of Kentlands.  During warmer months it is the site of various art events and a weekly farmer's market.

Creative Metal

This metal leaf pattern (at least I think that's what it is) repeats along a long beam that parallels a building in the heart of Kentlands.

The Corner Corner

This row of shops in Kentlands is anchored by The Corner Store, a well-stocked beer and wine shop.  I have already been there three times, which would be no surprise to my friends.  In the month I've lived here I have already discovered four different wine stores within walking distance of my place.

Kentlands

I am starting with the Kentlands part of Gaithersburg because I live here and can walk to everything.  I'll go exploring in the older section of Gaithersburg soon.  I'll also start using my Nikon D80 instead of my iPhone, but for now it is still in an unopened U-Haul box.

This is one of the entrances to Kentlands, at the corner of Quince Orchard Road and Kentlands Boulevard.  Welcome to my new home.

Coming Soon

I'm just setting this up tonight, but I'll start with this iPhone shot I took in Kentlands back in May.  Cool stuff coming soon.