ED Doctor Near Rockville, MD

8:00pm • $20 Tickets on and at the door, if still available

• Mark Wenner

McKinley James is equal parts old soul and modern man. Armed with an electric guitar and sharp songwriting chops, he breathes new life into classic sounds with Working Class Blues, a debut album that introduces his mix of American rock & roll, amplified soul, and raw rhythm & blues.

It's a sound powered by groove and guitar. A sound that's been sharpened by countless shows — from dive bar residences in Nashville to headlining gigs across Europe — and rooted in the shared bloodline of McKinley and his longtime bandmate: father Jason Smay. Together, they rewrite the rulebook for blues-inspired rock duos, creating a lean, honest version of American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie.

"We're not trying to sound old-school," says McKinley, who grew up watching his father play drums for acts like Los Straitjackets and JD McPherson. "We love traditional blues and soul, but this isn't a retro act. The topics, themes, and songs are always fresh."

To capture those songs as genuinely as possible, McKinley and Jason spent a three-day weekend in the home studio they'd constructed inside their family barn, recording a series of live performances with analog gear and minimal microphones. Jason played a vintage Ludwig drum set from 1970. McKinley played a vintage '54 Stratocaster through a Peavey Pacer. Without headphones or any studio gimmicks, the two performed together in real time, locking into the swaggering shuffle of songs like "Movin'" and "Call Me Lonesome," the singalong melodies of "Always On My Mind," and the bare-boned blues of "Get To My Baby."

"We'd already been playing those songs live," McKinley explains, "so it felt easy to just hit record and do what we always do at our shows. When your band is only two people, there's no hiding. It keeps you honest, and that was the goal with this album, too — to be as honest as possible about who we are and what we do."

That goal began taking shape in upstate New York, where McKinley was raised in a household filled with music. Inspired by everything from Stax to disco to '80s R&B, he became a guitar prodigy at a young age. "I showed him an old video of Booker T. & the M.G.'s playing Norway in 1967," Jason remembers, "and McKinley saw Steve Cropper totally ripping it and thought, 'Ok, that's what I want to do, too.' He must've been 10 years old." McKinley quickly learned not only to play guitar, but to sing and write his own material, too. Along the way, Jason pushed him to expand his horizons.

"Dad always said, 'If you play guitar but don't sing, it will limit you,'" McKinley says. "Learning to sing helped me get into songwriting, and Dad pushed me there, too. He thought it was cool that I liked this older style of music, but I needed to make it my own. You've gotta write songs about who you are. You've gotta live it; otherwise, it just becomes an act."

By the time McKinley relocated to Nashville as a teenager in 2017, he'd already appeared on the cover of Eric Church's platinum-selling album Mr. Misunderstood and kickstarted his performance career. He even missed his own high-school graduation for a gig. During the years that followed, he introduced himself to international audiences by hitting the road — where he initially performed as a trio, backed by Jason and a Hammond organist — and releasing a handful of recordings. 2021's critically-acclaimed Still Standing By found him working alongside producer Dan Auerbach of the Grammy-winning band The Black Keys, while 2022's LIVE! captured McKinley and company onstage, tearing their way through songs like "Love Can Make a Fool" for a full house. When the band's B3 player left the lineup in November 2022, McKinley and Jason moved ahead as a duo — a move that highlights the family chemistry and charisma at the beating heart of Working Class Blues.

This isn't a boxed-in version of the blues. It's an eclectic mix of American music, featuring songs co-written with Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin, and Dylan Altman. McKinley sings about universal struggles — heartbreak, frustration, love, infatuation — with the voice of a 20something adult who's been cutting his teeth onstage since childhood. Like its creator, Working Class Blues exists somewhere out of time, blending the contemporary with the classic, erasing the lines between genre and generation. It's something fresh, created out of something familiar. And for McKinley James, it's just the beginning.

A Child's Christmas in Wales is a piece by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas It's a collection of Welsh Christmas memories from the viewpoint of a young boy. It is one of Thomas's most popular works and is loads of fun. Read by some of your favorite actors: Brigid Cleary, Edward Gero, Nancy Robinette, Michael Willis, and Harry Winter, with Ella Gatlin and Becker Spear. Followed by the perennial favorite: A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Moore. One night only! See you there!

This event is pay-what-you-want with no minimum (i.e. you can enter $0). Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item (scroll down for a list of what's needed) or a gift card for a food store.

All food items, money raised, and/or gift cards will be donated to OlneyHelp.

Thank you for not having too much on your plate to care about those who have too little on theirs.

Items to DonateWe aim to provide our neighbors with the healthiest food possible. Here is an list of healthy non-perishable foods you can donate.

Food items we need most at this time:Instant mashed potatoes - pouches and boxesPasta sides (Knorr/Roni)Boxed white spaghetti noodlesCanned meats, such as tuna, chicken, turkey, corned beef, spam, salmon, Vienna sausage, etc.Sloppy joe sauceCanned chiliCanned pasta (adult types)Plain spaghetti sauce1 lb. bags of rice and rice sides (Knorr/Roni)​Baked beansCanned green beans, corn, peas (low/no salt)Canned fruit in juiceJelly - all sizes, all flavors except grapeJuice boxes - 100% juiceShelf stable bottled juice​Gift cards to Harris Teeter, Safeway, and Giant are welcome donations as well.

What not to donate:Unlabeled cans or packagesFood from other food banks/pantriesExpired foodBulk foods that need to be repackagedHomemade food itemsAlcoholic beveragesPerishable, frozen, or refrigerated items

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Value City Furniture’s parent company, American Signature, Inc. (ASI), has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the company announced this week. As part of the restructuring, the Value City Furniture location at 12055 Rockville Pike, located in the Montrose Crossing Shopping Center, is slated to close, according to USA Today.

Despite the Chapter 11 filing, ASI says Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture stores and websites will remain open for now and continue fulfilling customer orders. The Rockville location is among several stores that had already begun store-closing sales prior to the filing and is offering “deep discounts” while inventory remains.

At this time, nearby Value City Furniture stores in Falls Church, VA, and Frederick, MD, are not slated to close, according to the company’s current store-closure listings.

ASI, which operates both Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture, said it has initiated a court-supervised sale process under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The company expects to enter into a stalking-horse agreement with ASI Purchaser LLC to acquire most of the company’s assets, subject to court approval and a competitive auction expected within approximately 45 days.

“For nearly 75 years, American Signature has served as a family-owned furniture destination that communities could rely on to provide style, quality, and value,” said Rudy Morando, Co-Chief Restructuring Officer for ASI. “In the face of the ongoing macroeconomic headwinds that have impacted the entire home furnishing industry, the Company has carefully evaluated its options to assess the best path forward in the current operating environment. Entering a court-supervised process will provide the best opportunity to maximize value.”

Morando added that the company is committed to serving customers, employees, and partners throughout the restructuring. Additional updates on store closures and the sale process are expected as ASI continues through the court-supervised proceedings.

RVFD and Santa are busy planning the 2025 Santa Run schedule. Santa and other fire trucks will visit various neighborhoods in the Rockville area to welcome the Christmas season beginning in early December.

Rockville VFD began the Santa Run tradition over 70 years ago by bringing Santa to our member’s homes at Christmas time. This tradition evolved into us bringing our “Santa Runs” to many Rockville Neighborhoods. In the early 2000s RVFD joined with several local synagogues starting the annual Rockville/Potomac Chanukah Fire Truck Parade.

Check back here or the RVFD Facebook page for the neighborhood visit schedule when it’s posted.

Unsure what your neighborhood is? Many of the neighborhood names used in our routes derive from The City of Rockville GIS information on neighborhood associations. Check the map to find your neighborhood.

As Santa and RVFD plan the schedule, note that his fire truck escort cannot visit houses where the streets (especially cul-de-sacs) are blocked by vehicles! Santa also cannot visit streets without a turn-around (i.e. dead end streets). Watch for Santa in the evenings between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. We are also not able to visit every street in every neighborhood. The schedule is subject to change based on weather or emergency call volume.

RVFD is one of the busiest volunteer fire department’s in the nation. Furthermore, Station 3 is consistently one of the busiest fire stations in Montgomery County. Our members are proud to be a part of our community and to share in the holiday spirit with our family, friends, & neighbors.

The RVFD functions largely on the support of our community. Please consider making a charitable tax-deductible donation to the RVFD by visiting RVFD.org/donate – Your donations purchase firefighting & EMS Equipment (including Santa’s Sleigh) as well as provide our members with valuable advanced training.

California Fish Grill, an eatery specializing in responsibly sourced seafood, opens its first Maryland location in Rockville on Nov. 10.

ROCKVILLE, MD — California Fish Grill — the fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in responsibly-sourced seafood which is opening three restaurants in the DMV — will hold a grand opening for its second East Coast location in Rockville on Monday, Nov. 10.

Located at 12238 Rockville Pike, this opening follows the debut of the brand’s Fairfax City, Virginia, restaurant earlier this fall. An opening is planned in Alexandria, too, this winter, the company said.

The company's website lists the Rockville location at 12238 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda.

“We’re thrilled to continue growing California Fish Grill in the DC area,” said Bob Holden, CEO of California Fish Grill. “Delivering high-quality, sustainable seafood in a fast-casual atmosphere allows more people to enjoy healthy, flavorful meals every day. We look forward to expanding further with upcoming openings in Alexandria and beyond," CEO Bob Holden said.

The Rockville menu includes Atlantic salmon, Mediterranean branzino, and wild-caught rockfish, served in bowls, tacos, salads, and grilled plates, according to the company.

Exclusive to East Coast locations are new items including a lobster roll and wild crispy cod sandwich. Guests can customize their meals with signature sauces like garlic butter or Cajun style, with entrées offering between 20 and 67 grams of protein per plate.

As part of every new restaurant opening, California Fish Grill donates to No Kid Hungry, to support efforts to end childhood hunger. The company also provides local nonprofits with an easy way to fundraise through its partnership with GroupRaise.

The Rockville location features a kid-friendly menu and catering options, including grilled fish plates, sandwiches, and taco packages — all available for pre-order through the company’s catering website.

California Fish Grill is open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

About California Fish Grill

With over 60 locations across California, Nevada, Arizona and new expansion underway in the Mid-Atlantic, California Fish Grill offers a crave-worthy menu featuring responsibly sourced seafood such as Atlantic salmon, Branzino, wild-caught rockfish, and classics like battered fish and chips.

Signature dishes include fish and shrimp tacos, entrée salads, and high-protein bowls, all made to order with premium ingredients and bold flavors.

Since its founding in 1998, the brand has grown steadily, proudly supporting responsible fishing and farming practices that contribute to a healthier ocean and better dining experiences. For more information about California Fish Grill, visit CaFishGrill.com.