Rockville Loop

February 18, 2026

🦋 Butterfly Effect at Brookside Gardens

Good morning, Rockvillian!

It's nearly 60 degrees and somehow the parking lot snow pile is still there: grey, defiant, and taking up two spots like it pays rent.

In today's Rockville Loop,

- Restaurant week arrives

- Business Expo networking

- Jazz at Hank Dietles

Let's Loop.

🗞️ The Local Lowdown

🍽️ Restaurant week hits Bethesda with killer deals. 36 spots just across the Pike are offering $10, $20, and $35 prix fixe menus from February 19 through March 1, including neighborhood favorites like Mon Ami Gabi, Gringos & Mariachis, and Dog Haus—perfect for a quick drive when you're tired of the usual dinner rotation. See all the participants

🦋 Tropical butterflies take over Brookside Gardens. Step into a living kaleidoscope as hundreds of butterflies flutter through the conservatory's tropical paradise, featuring exotic species from Central and South America. Tickets on sale now

🌸 Pickleball players, your spring tournament awaits. The Blossom Bash Pickleball tournament hits Mattie Stepanek Park on Saturday, April 4th from 8:30am-4pm, with registration open now through the city's rec portal. Register

🌮 Guacado Mexican Grill opening first MoCo location on Pike. The Mexican restaurant chain is bringing its first Montgomery County location to 1060 Rockville Pike, though opening dates haven't been announced. See the menu

❤️ Suburban Hospital hosts women's heart health symposium today. Breaking the Silence: How Women Can Advocate for Their Heart Health runs virtually Feb. 18, featuring Johns Hopkins doctors discussing cardiovascular wellness during American Heart Month. Register for the event

🗓️ The Social Calendar

Support the Loop by mentioning it when you attend.

Wed · Feb 18

Business & Community Expo

9am-12pm · Lakewood Country Club

Meet face-to-face with 30+ local business owners, discover community resources, and score vendor giveaways while networking with fellow residents.

Cozy Creatures Crafts and Stories

10am-11am · Croydon Creek Nature Center

Interactive winter stories and simple nature-themed crafts designed for toddlers and caregivers celebrating seasonal wonders. Registration required

Winter Walks

1pm-2pm · Agricultural History Farm Park

Friendly guides lead you through the quiet beauty of winter-transformed fields and natural trails, exploring areas you may not have discovered on your own.

Dedication of Past to Promise, a mural by LaToya Peoples

1pm-3pm · Twinbrook Community Recreational Center

Mayor and City Council join the community to dedicate LaToya Peoples' mural celebrating Twinbrook's rich history from Piscataway stewardship through post-WWII development.

Free Workshop: The Art of Entertainment

7:30pm · The Mansion at Strathmore

Trumpeter Cyrus Mackey teaches performers how to connect with audiences beyond technical skills, covering microphone confidence, smooth transitions, and compelling setlists that turn concerts into experiences.

Thu · Feb 19

Green Energy Careers & Tech Conference

9am · 21 Church St, Rockville, MD 20850, USA

Montgomery County Green Bank and partners showcase sustainable building tech, funding opportunities, and career pathways for property managers and aspiring clean energy workers. Register in link

ignITe Hub Tech Lunch & Learn Series

12pm · ignITe Hub

Industry experts explore emerging tech from biotech to entertainment, sharing career pathways and community solutions monthly. Register in link

Seller Seminar: What to do with all my Stuff?

1pm-2pm · The Tower Building Long and Foster

Estate sale expert Don Alcorn from Red Clover walks through the process of turning a houseful of belongings into cash, covering trust factors and post-sale cleanup strategies.

Writing in Times of Conflict: Interior/Exterior with Maya Marshall

7pm · Virtual

Cave Canem fellow and MacDowell alum Maya Marshall guides writers through crafting protest and witness poems that bridge personal experience with political action.

Creative Writing Workshops

7pm · Strathmore

Learn how writers serve as activists by studying political poets, then craft your own poem addressing personal or social conflict in this 90-minute generative workshop

Fri · Feb 20

Go for the Gold

12pm · 7301 Calhoun Pl, Derwood

Winter Olympics closing celebration featuring gold medal rewards for every liter of award-winning Glass Castle Pilsner ordered at this Derwood brewery from Friday thru Sunday.

Montgomery Energy Connection

5pm · 7 Locks Brewing

Montgomery Energy Connection hosts a light bulb swap where you can trade old incandescent bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs while enjoying craft beer and learning home energy tips.

Sat · Feb 21

Jack and Jill Spelling Bee & Oratorical Competition

10am · Montgomery College 51 Mannakee Street Rockville

Montgomery County's Jack and Jill chapter hosts its 15th annual competition for students grades 1-12 to showcase spelling and speaking skills. Register in link

Free Tax Filing Help

11:30am-2:30pm · Rockville Memorial Library

IRS-certified volunteers from Community Tax Aid prepare and e-file basic returns for qualifying residents.

Asian Lantern Festival

1pm · F Scott Fitzgerald Theatre

Rockville Sister Cities Corporation presents lantern crafting, lion dancing, calligraphy, and mom-and-kid hip-hop performances celebrating the lunar new year.

Lunar New Year Celebration

1pm-3:30pm · Richard Montgomery High School

The City of Rockville and Asian Pacific American Task Force present performances, crafts, and snack boxes celebrating Asian cultures.

Sun · Feb 22

Pottery Workshop at 7 Locks Brewing

12:30pm-2:30pm · 7 Locks Brewing

Learn hand-building basics while sipping craft beer, then take home your creation to be fired and glazed. Tickets in link

Totally Turtles

1:30pm-2:30pm · Croydon Creek Nature Center

Meet the Nature Center's Ambassador turtles up close and learn what makes each species unique, then create a turtle craft. Ages 6-12. Register in link

Tango After Dark

8pm · Strathmore

World Tango Champions Germán Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi lead eight world-class dancers, two vocalists, and a live band through authentic Argentinian tango in its most passionate form.

👉 See every Rockville event on our full calendar 👈

🎷 Live & Local-ish Music

Wed

CGT Jazz Collective
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm · TIX

Songwriters Association of Washington (SAW) Showcase
Hank Dietles · 8pm

Thu

No Stoplight
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm

Josh Bayer Trio
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm

Greg Harrison Trio Jazz
That's Amore Restaurant · 6:30pm

Nargiz "Purpur Live Show"
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre · 8pm · TIX

Terry Hanck CD Release Party w/ Charlie Owen and Pocket Change
Hank Dietles · 8pm · TIX

Fri