Good Times on The Dinky Line
On Saturday, April 20th from 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm we invite you to walk the former route of the Dinky Line Trolley for sales, drink specials and to play Detective Dinky. Find hidden toy trolleys along the route to get your ticket stamped and enter to win a Shop Takoma Gift Card!
This is a self-guided walk (not a tour) along the former trolley route which ran through the majority of the Takoma commercial district (see Map tab). We are using this event to encourage you to visit local businesses along the route for shopping (check out the deals!), drinks or a scavenger hunt. You choose!
The Dinky Line was a trolley line that ran in the early 20th century and carried Washingtonians to the country getaway of Takoma Park. The Dinky is a nickname used to describe a short railroad line. The Takoma segment ran south on 4th St NW, left on Aspen St, NW to cross under B&O Railroad, to Laurel St, NW to Laurel Ave to Carroll Ave, and finally a right onto Ethan Allen Avenue, Takoma Park. For more info about The Dinky Line and its colorful history, read this Takoma Voice article from May 2000.
Find sales from 12pm-5pm at participating businesses – check back for more:
Amano, 7034 Carroll Ave – 10% off all non-sale merchandise
Bespoke Not Broke, 7042 Carroll Ave- 50% off all clothing and shoes
The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW – $10 off purchase of $50 or more
Busboys and Poets Books, 235 Carroll St, NW – 15% off to anyone who comes through with a Dinky Line map to be stamped. Plus join in on the “Read Outside the Box” event and get stamps on your B&P Books bingo card for every prompt they fill. If they get 5 in a row by April 27th, they get a free membership to the bookstore! Get a stamp if you find the hidden trolley!
The Covered Market , 7000 Carroll Ave – 10% off storewide for the event plus up to 60% off sale on select items!
CYCLED, 6960 Maple St, NW, 20% off class packages
Fair Days Play, 7050 Carroll Ave, 10% off storewide
Fullfillery, 7006 Carroll Ave, 2nd floor – 10% off storewide
HouseMouse Books and Vintage, 7006 Carroll Ave- 20% off storewide
House of Musical Traditions, 7010 Westmoreland Ave – 10% off storewide, consignments excluded
indigro plant design -7000 MD-195 Suite 200F – 20% off all plants & planters & a Dinky Line themed DIY plant bar!
Kittner Studio, 7056 Carroll Ave # 200 – 10% off storewide
Lost Sock Roasters, 6833 4th St, NW – $1 off drinks and special Jasmine Blossom Latte!
Magic Carpet, 6925 Laurel Ave – 10% off purchases over $10
Muoi Tieu, 7006 Carroll Ave – 10% off Banh Mi
Old Takoma Ace , 7001 Carroll Ave – 20% off storewide all weekend, Garden Party from 10:00am -2:00pm, and more! Read here
Park Florist, 6921 Laurel Ave – pick up a special Dinky Line bouquet – on sale
People’s Book, 7014-A Westmoreland Ave – 10% off storewide
soko, 7306 Carroll Ave – try The Dinky Line special sandwich!
Spring Mill Bread Company, 7300 Carroll Ave –
Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats, 314 Carroll St, NW – Grab a Dinky Line cookie and receive a surprise treat with every Dinky Line cookie purchase!
The Still Point, 6 Grant Ave, 15% off all boutique products
TPSS Co-op, 210 Ethan Allen Avenue -Chugga-Chug A-Choo choo- Get 10% off Denizen’s South Side IPA and Field Day Tissues
Find drink specials from 12:00pm -5:00 pm at participating Businesses – check back for more:
Cielo Rojo, 7211 Carroll Ave – Austin Healy $15, El Jardinero $12, and $2 off house margaritas
Lost Sock Roasters, 6833 4th St, NW – $1 off drinks and special Jasmine Blossom Latte!
Motorkat, 6939 Laurel Ave – $5 pints on select drafts. Also enjoy a Green Machine (a tart, refreshing vodka sour with lime and mint) with all proceeds going to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network for Earth Day!
Muoi Tieu, 7006 Carroll Ave – 10% off Muoi Tieu Mimosas
The Olive Lounge, 7006 Carroll Ave – Grab a Dinkarita for $8
Takoma Beverage Company, 6917 Laurel Ave – $5 pints on select drafts. Also enjoy a Green Machine (a tart, refreshing vodka sour with lime and mint) with all proceeds going to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network for Earth Day!
Play Detective Dinky! Find miniature trolleys hidden in local businesses. When you spot the trolley, get your ticket stamped and look for more! Pick up a ticket at any participating business to get started.
Get 10 stamps on Saturday, April 20th from 12-5pm and enter your stamped ticket in a drawing for a Shop Takoma eGift Card. You may complete more than one ticket by visiting more than 10 businesses. Place completed tickets with your name, cell number in one of the collection boxes by Sunday, April 21st at 5pm to be included in the drawing.
Stamped Ticket Collection Sites (collection 4/20/24-4/21/24, 5pm):
Tabletop, 6927 Laurel Ave
Cielo Rojo, 7211 Carroll Ave
Find trolleys at (draft list below- final list will be posted by 4/20/24):
- Amano, 7034 Carroll Ave
- Bespoke Not Broke, 7042 Carroll Ave
- The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW
- Busboys and Poets Books, 235 Carroll St, NW
- Cielo Rojo, 7211 Carroll Ave
- The Covered Market , 7000 Carroll Ave
- CYCLED, 6960 Maple St, NW
- Fair Days Play, 7050 Carroll Ave
- Fullfillery, 7006 Carroll Ave, 2nd floor
- House of Musical Traditions, 7010 Westmoreland Ave
- HouseMouse Books and Vintage, 7006 Carroll Ave
- indigro plant design , 7000 MD-195 Suite 200F
- Kittner Studio, 7056 Carroll Ave # 200
- Lost Sock Roasters, 6833 4th St, NW
- Magic Carpet, 6925 Laurel Ave
- Motorkat, 6939 Laurel Ave
- Muoi Tieu, 7006 Carroll Ave
- Old Takoma Ace , 7001 Carroll Ave
- Olive Lounge, 7006 Carroll Ave
- Park Florist, 6921 Laurel Ave
- People’s Book, 7014-A Westmoreland Ave
- soko, 7306 Carroll Ave
- Spring Mill Bread Company, 7300 Carroll Ave
- Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats, 314 Carroll St, NW
- The Still Point, 6 Grant Ave
- Tabletop, 6927 Laurel Ave
- Takoma Beverage Company, 6917 Laurel Ave
- Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op, 210 Ethan Allen Ave