February 25, 2026 |  | 🖼️ Merritt Gallery Takes Its Final Bow | | Good morning, Potomacker! I have a friend who's a personal trainer. He said, "Name one exercise you do regularly." I said, "I jump to conclusions." Apparently that didn't count. In today's Potomac Loop, - Merritt Gallery closes after 40 years - Elder Pine Brewing Tasting at Whelan's - Miramar brings new life to boleros at Strathmore Let's Loop. | | 🖼️ Merritt Gallery closes after 40 years. |  Merritt Gallery | After four decades as a fixture in the local art world, Merritt Gallery & Renaissance Fine Arts has announced it is closing all locations, with a final sale now underway. Read the message and browse the closing sale |
| | 🚨 Potomac Riverkeeper lays out five actions ahead of DC Water meeting. Ahead of tonight's Community Meeting with DC Water on the Potomac Interceptor Response, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, citing independent sampling with University of Maryland researchers, confirmed dangerously high levels of E. coli and pathogens in the river and has recommended 5 essential actions local leaders should take. Read the statement | | 💃 Swing and waltz classes start March 3. Capital Ballroom Dance Studio in Bethesda kicks off a 9-class beginner series on March 3, with Viennese Waltz at 7 p.m. and American Swing at 7:45 p.m. for $160 per person. Sign up for classes | | 🚦 Ramp meters hit I-270 this week. New ramp metering goes live on I-270 in Montgomery and Frederick counties starting Tuesday as part of a state congestion management pilot affecting commuters entering the highway. Get the details | | ♻️ County asks what to do with its trash. Montgomery County is hosting three public open houses in March to gather input on whether to close the Dickerson incinerator and overhaul its solid waste system, with decisions that could affect resident fees and environmental outcomes. See the schedule and take the survey | | 🌿 Montgomery Parks needs volunteers for Earth Month cleanups. Montgomery Parks is recruiting individuals and groups to organize park cleanups this April and hosting Weed Warrior workdays this weekend at Sligo Creek, Reddy Branch, and Rock Creek Regional Park. Sign up to volunteer | | 📌 Students compete for limo rides and cash prizes. Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services is running two student contests through March 31, including a Sober Vibes Essay Contest where winning juniors and seniors score a limo ride for 10 friends and a video contest with up to $1,000 in cash prizes. Details |
| | Support the Loop by mentioning it when you attend. | | Bougie Bingo 2pm · Cogir of Potomac Cogir of Potomac dresses up your standard bingo afternoon with a bougie twist, open to the whole community. | Mahjong Night 7pm · Whelan's Beer and Wine Whelan's hosts a weekly mahjong night where you can bring a friend or show up solo and grab a seat. Tickets in link | The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical 7:30pm · Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center Montgomery College brings Rick Riordan's demigod adventure to the stage, with performances running Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets in link |
| | Elder Pine Brewing Tasting 7-9pm · Whelan's Beer and Wine Whelan's Beer and Wine hosts a seated, 26-person tasting with Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co., the MoCo craft brewery known for its small-batch sours and farmhouse ales. Tickets 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 actually move through the system. |
| | A Special Happy Hour Event 4:30pm-6:30pm · Jurisdiction Clothing Jurisdiction Clothing celebrates the launch of the Bridgerton x Kitsch collection at its Cabin John Village shop with complimentary champagne and sweet treats from Carmen's Italian Ice. | Family Night 6pm · My Gym Potomac My Gym Potomac hosts an Olympic-themed family night with games and activities led by the gym's teachers (best for ages 3mo-9yrs). RSVP in link | Alice In Wonderland 7pm · WCHS Arts Theatre Winston Churchill High School's drama department stages Alice in Wonderland, with performances at 7pm Friday & Saturday as well as 2pm Sunday. Tickets 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. |
| | Lens & Legacy 8:30am · Glenview Mansion The City of Rockville is marking Glenview Mansion's 100th anniversary by opening the historic mansion and cottage to professional photographers for one free day of unrestricted interior shooting. Register for your timeslot | Trees In Winter Hike 10am-12pm · Carderock Recreation Area A naturalist-led walk along the C&O Canal teaches you to read winter trees by their bark, buds, and branching patterns, no leaves required. | Scotland Annual Black History Month Event 2pm · Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center The Scotland Community celebrates Black History Month with a museum-style exhibit tracing the neighborhood's own history, alongside guest speakers, storytelling, and arts and crafts for all ages. | Play In A Day 8pm · Imagination Stage Six professional D.C.-area theatre companies each have exactly 24 hours to write, rehearse, and perform an original ten-minute play built around the same surprise themes and the results are as chaotic and genuinely impressive as you'd hope. Tickets in link |
| | Speaker Series: Del. Emily Shetty 11am · Jurisdiction Clothing Maryland Delegate Emily Shetty stops by for an informal briefing on legislation affecting Maryland women, with time carved out for questions and a side of refreshments and coffee. |
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| 👉 See every Potomac event on our full calendar 👈 | | | Wed | Bill Baker Band
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm | Inn House Band
The Irish Inn · 6pm | AIR: Cyrus Mackey - Flamenco Reimagined
Strathmore · 7:30pm · TIX | Rick Whitehead Jazz Trio
Hank Dietles · 8pm | RENT in Concert
Strathmore · 8pm · TIX |
| | Thu | Bert Keith
Hank Dietle's · 5:30pm | Jeff Herbert w/ Lindsay Austin
The Irish Inn · 6pm | Miramar
Strathmore · 7:30pm | The Thrills
Hank Dietles · 8pm |
| | Fri | Dave & Sabrina
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm | The Poor Ellen Smith Band
Hank Dietle's · 5:30pm | Aashay and Matt
Whelans · 7pm | Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Strathmore · 7:30pm · TIX | Kingpin featuring Keith Grimes
Hank Dietles · 9pm |
| | Sat | David Sparrow
Rocklands Farm Winery · 1pm | Jeff Herbert
Old Angler's Inn · 2pm-5pm | Grateful Village
Hunters Bar & Grill · 7:30pm | Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: The Rite of Spring
Strathmore · 8pm · TIX | Sarah Borges Band featuring Eric Ambel w/Ruthie Logsdon & Arch Alcantara
Hank Dietles · 9pm · TIX |
| | Sun | Cathy Ponton King Band
Hank Dietles · 2pm | Jeff Herbert
Old Anglers Inn · 2pm-5pm | Kuok-Wai Lio & Last Stand Quartet with Anthony Manzo
Constellations Music Salon · 3pm · TIX | Annapolis Symphony Orchestra: Echoes of Heritage w/Olga Kern
The Music Center at Strathmore · 3pm | Brooks Tegler
The Irish Inn · 4:30pm | Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys
Hank Dietles · 6pm · TIX |
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| *Dates & times subject to change | Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here |   | Thanks for reading! Colin & Jonathan Your neighbors at the Loop |
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