Rockville Loop

February 23, 2026

🎨 Rockville's New Performing Arts Hub

Good morning, Rockvillian!

Both the US men's and women's hockey teams beat Canada for the gold medal. In overtime. In the same week. Somebody better check on Canada.

In today's Rockville Loop,

- Ace Hardware opens in Wintergreen Plaza

- El Mercat hosts Flamenco Night

- RENT in concert at Strathmore

Let's Loop.

🗞️ The Local Lowdown

🎭 Young Artists of America plants its flag in Rockville. The Emmy-winning youth performing arts nonprofit is opening a new performing arts hub at Congressional Plaza on East Jefferson Street, backed by an $8 million fundraising campaign. Read the full announcement [DC Theater Arts]

💃 Beginner swing dancing lessons coming to Town Square. GottaSwing launches a seven-week beginner series (no partner needed) starting March 18 at Dawn Crafton Dance Connection, with Wednesday evening classes from Valerie Cox and Miguel Lago. See the details

🔨 Ace Hardware opens in Wintergreen Plaza. The employee-owned chain's newest 11,000-square-foot location is now open on Rockville Pike, stocking paint, grills, and a curated mix of locally made goods. Get the details [The MoCo Show]

🏗️ County Council takes on data centers Tuesday. Two measures hit public hearing February 24 at 1:30 p.m., one creating zoning restrictions on where data centers can go and another launching a task force to study their countywide impact. Details and sign-up here

⛳ Junior golf league tees up for spring. MCG Academy's Spring 2026 Junior League is open for registration, with scramble matches for ages 10-17 on weekday evenings across seven MoCo courses starting May 7. Register now

📋 GWU Med School surveys AANHPI health needs. A health needs survey from George Washington University's School of Medicine is open to any Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander adult (19+) in the DMV. Take the survey

🐸 County Parks wants your help listening for frogs. Montgomery Parks is training volunteer FrogWatch scientists to track breeding calls of 14 local frog and toad species at county wetlands, with a virtual session on February 27 at 7 p.m. Get the details

🎨 Last call for Bethesda Painting Awards entries. Applications close Thursday for downtown Bethesda's annual juried painting competition, which awards $10,000 for Best in Show and a June exhibition at Gallery B for up to eight finalists. Apply now

🗓️ The Social Calendar

Support the Loop by mentioning it when you attend.

Mon · Feb 23

Chamba & Pachanga networking event

4pm · Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse

The Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce marks 40 years with a bilingual networking mixer at Terra Gaucha, built around music and conversation instead of the usual stiff elevator pitches.

Charlemos con Zumba

6:30pm · Rockville Memorial Library

Rockville Memorial Library combines a climate-and-health education chat with a full Zumba class, so you can pick up practical wellness tips and break a sweat in the same visit.

Auditions for 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'

7pm ·

Rockville Little Theatre is casting its production of the Tony-winning Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, with auditions Mon Feb 23 and Tue Feb 26 from 7-10pm. See audition details in link

Tue · Feb 24

Flamenco Night

7pm · El Mercat Bar de Tapas

Héctor, Miguelito, Kevan, and Mariana Gato bring live flamenco guitar, song, and dance to an intimate tapas bar setting.

Try Out Comedy: Rockville open mic night

8pm · The Spot

A show-up-and-sign-up open mic where first-timers and seasoned comics get equal stage time, with $10 soju bottles and happy-hour specials running through 9 PM.

Wed · Feb 25

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

7:30pm · Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center

Montgomery College's stage production brings Rick Riordan's demigod adventure to life, following Percy Jackson as he races across myth and mayhem to stop a war between the gods with performances running Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets in link

Thu · Feb 26

VisAbility Art Lab Artist Talks

11am · VisArts

More than 40 artists from VisArts' VisAbility Art Lab talk about the work on display in their current exhibition, a studio program for adults with autism and other disabilities. RSVP in link

Sitting Judges' Meet & Greet

6pm · VisArts

Four Montgomery County judges hold an informal meet-and-greet at VisArts, taking questions from residents on everything from courtroom procedure to how cases move through the system.

Amateur Radio Hangout

7pm-9pm · Rockville Science Center

Rockville's ham radio operators set up live demos and troubleshooting stations where newcomers can listen in and licensed hams can geek out over gear and technique.

Fri · Feb 27

Protect Yourself: Fraud & Scam Prevention

11am-12:30pm · The Preston of Rockville

Montgomery County Police break down the latest scam tactics and online-shopping traps at a free session with Q&A and light refreshments (they'll also name the three household devices most likely to compromise your security). Register in link

Victorian Lyric Opera Company: "The Elixir of Love"

8pm · F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre

The Victorian Lyric Opera Company performs Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, a comic opera about a lovesick farmer, a traveling quack, and a very suspicious bottle of Bordeaux.

Old Hollywood Mambo: A Mambo Society Social

9pm · Italiamo Kitchen

The Mambo Society brings their signature On2 salsa night to Italiamo Kitchen with a class led by JJ Shaban and DJ Stephen Greene spinning mambo all evening. Tickets in link

👉 See every Rockville event on our full calendar 👈

🎷 Live & Local-ish Music

Mon

Wolf's Every Monday Blues Show & Sit-In Jam
Hank Dietles · 7pm

Tue

Dan Hovey
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm

Swing 5 Jazz
Hank Dietles · 7:15pm

Wed

Bill Baker Band
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm

AIR: Cyrus Mackey - Flamenco Reimagined
The Mansion at Strathmore · 7:30pm · TIX

Rick Whitehead Jazz Trio
Hank Dietles · 8pm

RENT in Concert
The Music Center at Strathmore · 8pm · TIX