Scott Ramminger & the Crawstickers jam near the public art at the Palladium Civic Place Green Saturday. Photo by Reena Singh.
Peace, love and rock ‘n roll meet at the corner of Laughlin and Lowell avenues once a week.
One of McLean’s best kept secrets is the free Saturday morning tai chi session followed by an evening of music from local talent.
“We were at the McLean Hardware store when we heard the music,” said resident Elizabeth Davis. “Two summers ago, we went to a bunch of them. They aren’t well advertised.”
Davis brought her son to watch the DC-area blues band Scott Ramminger & the CrawStickers jam in the fountain area of the Palladium Civic Place Green, where metal pipes and sheets spiral and bend to create public art.
Like clockwork nearly every week this summer until Sept. 20, Maria Spearman will teach tai chi and balance from 8 to 9 a.m. and free live music will entertain from 5 to 7 p.m. Those in the know or who happened to be in the area brought lawn chairs, a picnic dinner or just relaxed in the sunshine as the music played.
People trickled in and out, bringing children or dogs, but plenty of space on the benches or in the grass was available throughout the free event.
McLean resident Jennifer Lipsey brought her family after hearing about the event online. She said she went to a past event years ago.
“We thought blues sounded appealing,” she said. “It’s a nice day, and we have two young kids who want to be outside.”
Some residents have been coming to the weekly summer concerts for years, like Rebecca Horahan. She and her husband brought folding chairs to enjoy the music from under a shady tree.
“It’s a nice setting and the music is always good,” she said. “We go to a few of the events every year.
To find out whether the Saturday morning tai chi session will take place or which band is playing in the evening, visit http://members.mcleanchamber.org/events.