Bethesda's next Citibank opening this spring

Another bank is just what downtown Bethesda residents have been asking for, and Citibank is preparing to deliver its second downtown branch this spring. It will be at 8101 Wisconsin Avenue, formerly home to TD Bank. A Bethesda Row branch opened last month in the Flats at Bethesda Avenue apartments. The banking giant's aggressive expansion comes even as Citigroup announces another round of layoffs scheduled for March 2026.

Downtown Bethesda well-plowed while ice hampers residential street snowplowing

Curb ramps still snowed in at Wisconsin Avenue 
crosswalk at Chase Avenue last night 

Roads in downtown Bethesda were generally in good shape by yesterday afternoon, but snow plowing operations in residential neighborhoods have been complicated by the ice that made up a substantial part of the precipitation that fell between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Sunday. I noticed that Montgomery County plows were having a harder time than usual getting down to bare pavement on neighborhood streets, making four passes instead of the typical two, and there being a lot more noise as a lot of the snow and ice were simply getting crushed flatter by the heavy truck. I have also seen smaller pickup truck-size vehicles with plows now being deployed.

One other factor may have played a role where road conditions remained poor. Driving around parts of Bethesda prior to the storm's arrival, I found that much less of the solution used to pre-treat the pavement had been applied to the County streets I traveled, compared to previous years. I don't know if this was a cost-saving decision, a malfunctioning sprayer truck, or a kneebend to environmental organizations. But a couple of stripes in each travel lane certainly meant that the melting function was diminished.

Also, as of last evening, the crosswalk curb ramps on either side of Wisconsin Avenue at Chase Avenue had not yet been shoveled. Property owners are responsible for clearing these ramps, as well as the sidewalks. See the photo at the top of this article. But in general, it's really quite impressive that the County was able to get the downtown streets into the condition you see here, as this snow was very, very nasty to shovel and plow after the ice storm started just before sunrise on Sunday. Despite the recent and frustrating trend of plowing only a single lane on residential side streets (property taxes have not been correspondingly reduced by 66%), we should cut the snowplow drivers a break in this case, because they were really struggling in spots to clear this away.

Montgomery County Council seeks to restrict ICE access, ban face masks for law enforcement

Montgomery County Councilmembers Will Jawando (D - At-Large) and Kristin Mink (D - District 5) have introduced two bills aimed at curbing the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the county. Flanked by community members, educators, and fellow lawmakers at a joint press conference, they vowed that Montgomery County will not be a silent partner in federal immigration enforcement that relies on "fear, intimidation, or abuse." Mink has directly engaged ICE officers in Maryland, posting video of her encounters that earned TV news coverage. 

The County Values Act (Bill 3-26), led by Councilmember Mink, focuses on restricting ICE's access to and use of county-controlled properties. Key provisions include:

• Requiring a judicial warrant for ICE to enter any areas of county facilities not open to the general public.
• Mandating clear signage in those areas explicitly barring ICE access.
• Providing comprehensive staff training on how to handle such encounters.
• Prohibiting immigration enforcement activities in county parking lots, garages, and vacant lots.
• Requiring county staff to report any observed enforcement activities and to restrict or block access where feasible.
• Directing the county to develop and post a signage template that private businesses can voluntarily adopt.

Mink's bill is cosponsored by Councilmembers Kate Stewart (District 4), Will Jawando, Shebra Evans (At-Large), Andrew Friedson (District 1), Laurie-Anne Sayles (At-Large), Evan Glass (At-Large), and Marilyn Balcombe (District 2). "We cannot make ICE agents operate lawfully, but what we can do is employ the strongest possible protocols at every facility the County owns or operates,” Mink said.

Complementing this effort is the Unmask ICE Act (Bill 5-26), sponsored by Councilmember Jawando. It prohibits masking or facial coverings by all law enforcement officers operating in Montgomery County—including federal agents like ICE—with limited exceptions for public health reasons or specific operational necessities. The goal is to ensure transparency and build trust by allowing residents to clearly identify officers. Cosponsors include Councilmembers Mink, Evans, Stewart, Sayles, and Glass.

Jawando, who is running for County Executive, cast masked law enforcement officials as a horror of America's past. "Throughout history, masks have been used in American law enforcement to shield the wearer from accountability, and used for terror, impunity, and anonymity for violence," he said. "We are seeing that play out again before our eyes, and we cannot accept that as our new reality. As our local law enforcement recognizes, safety requires trust, and trust requires transparency. Our community is calling on us to do more, and we must listen, work together, and move forward with courage to protect our community."

Councilmembers sought to make the human cost of ICE enforcement actions the focal point of a joint press conference held after the bill introductions.

Orchid Dargahi, a teacher at Newport Mill Middle School who had a family member arrested by ICE, described the "trauma" rippling through her school: "Before I can do anything else in my classroom, I need to make sure my students feel safe. But I field questions like, ‘Can ICE just come into school?’ before teaching kids how to write an essay for or against zoos."

Gaby Rivera of the Montgomery County Immigrant Rights Collective (MoCo IRC) shared the story of a 19-year-old forced to raise his younger siblings after both parents were detained. Rivera urged the Council to pass these bills alongside the previously introduced Trust Act, arguing that together, they send a clear message that the County refuses to be complicit in "fear, intimidation, or abuse."

Stone Ridge alumna from Chevy Chase is nominee for 45th College Television Awards

Here comes Lauren Harrington, zooming out of the polished corridors of Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda - that bastion of crisp plaid skirts and Catholic values - straight into the electric glare of the University of Miami newsroom, where the lights are hot, the deadlines are hotter, and the future is being cut and pasted right there on the edit bay! Yes! The Television Academy Foundation, guardian of the Emmy flame, has dropped the hammer on the 45th College Television Awards nominations, and there she is, Lauren Harrington, junior broadcast journalism and media management major, Chevy Chase girl turned Coral Gables dynamo, nominated in the News category for NewsVision (March 6, 2025). Not just nominated—co-writer, lead anchor, script curator, package producer, the whole nine yards! Alongside eleven classmates, no less, because this isn't some lone-wolf operation; this is a full-on newsroom, student-style, live Thursdays at 7 p.m. on UMTV. A full half-hour of local-state-national-international-weather-sports fury, all produced by students who still have midterms hanging over their heads.

On the nominated March 6, 2025, broadcast, the air was thick with the Real-Time Drama of the 21st century:

• Medical Alarm: The first measles case hitting Miami like a biological curveball.
• The Weight of History: A campus vigil for murdered Israeli hostages, handled with the delicate, surgical sensitivity of a veteran correspondent.
• Campus Politics: UM’s ranking with the Anti-Defamation League.
• The Jock Factor: A profile of the new men’s basketball coach.

"I became involved from the earliest-editorial meeting through final-show execution," Harrington says of the broadcast that would win her the nomination. "I anchored alongside co-anchor Christopher Perez and worked closely with the producers, reporters, and the control room to keep timing tight and transitions clean." She doesn't just read a teleprompter; she conducts the chaos of the control room. And on the most dramatic topic of the newscast, Harrington recalls, "I curated my own [video] package for this episode, where I interviewed students who organized a campus vigil honoring Israeli hostages, and I focused on telling that story with sensitivity and letting students’ voices lead."

And now—nomination! Out of over 185 entries from colleges coast to coast, judged by Television Academy members, the same crowd that picks the prime-time Emmys, applying those same ruthless standards: excellence, imagination, innovation. The winners get announced March 28, 2026, red carpet rolling out at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, television stars dropping the envelopes like Willy Wonka golden tickets. 

But before that, two days of professional development—rubbing elbows with media titans, industry leaders, screenings for the Academy brass. Doors swinging open. The Foundation itself, dedicated to inspiring tomorrow's Emmy winners today, is running internships, archiving oral histories, championing the next wave. This isn't just an award; it's a launchpad.

Harrington and her 11 Miami compatriots are proving that the line between "student" and "professional" has been obliterated by sheer, relentless competence. She has ascended from the leafy, pious groves of Bethesda and Chevy Chase to the sun-bleached, neon-glare of Coral Gables, and now—zap!—she is hurtling toward the very epicenter of the American Dream: North Hollywood, California! Will she bring home the trophy? The judges, those grizzled veterans of the Television Academy, have already winnowed down 185 entries to find the cream, the crème de la crème, the Harrington set. A win would merely be the icing on the cake. In a world where the news never sleeps and the screens never dim, here is a young woman—anchor, writer, reporter, leader—proving the next generation can play with the big lights and not blink. The future of television just got a jolt. Stay tuned.

Day-long ice storm complicates snow removal in Bethesda (Photos)

What started as a light and powdery snow late Saturday night was pummeled all day Sunday into a heavier and harder concentration of windswept white dunes by a relentless ice storm. The hard crystals began falling just before 6:00 AM yesterday, and intensified as the morning progressed, erasing hard-won shoveling progress. By 8:00 PM, the tempest finally moved on, having vastly overstayed its welcome. Wisconsin Avenue was free of automobiles at 9:00 PM Sunday, as rare a sight as an Irish pub in Bethesda these days. Another rare sight: Tastee Diner having to close for the day as the storm blasted the town.

Urban streets were rough, but Montgomery County snow plows began tackling residential neighborhoods today, with the ice-coated snow pack being crushed by the heavy trucks more than being swept aside. More diligent plow drivers made multiple passes on streets to try to get down to bare pavement. As taxes massively increase, however, residential street plowing has decreased from full street to single-lane down the middle. Remember when the plows cleared everything, maneuvering around parked vehicles? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Fossette Focacceria sandwiches coming to Bethesda Thursday, January 29

Fossette Focacceria sandwiches are officially launching at All-Purpose Pizza Shop at 4747-A Bethesda Avenue on Thursday, January 29, 2026. You may have seen these sandwiches in your social media feed from influencers like ADorkAndHerFork at the local chain's Washington, D.C. location. Now all six flavors are coming right to you in Bethesda. If you are a member of their awards program, and you are one of the first 40 in-person customers, you will receive $30 in rewards credit to All-Purpose Pizza Shop. If you're not, sign up now.

Padel Social announces permanent Westbard location in Bethesda

Padel Social, which operated a temporary, pop-up padel facility at Westbard Square in Bethesda last year, has revealed the location of its permanent location. Surprisingly, it is remaining at the Westbard Square site, and the new courts will be just steps away from their pop-up location, at 5455 Westbard Avenue. The temporary spot was a tremendous success, underscoring the tennis-squash hybrid as one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Padel Social's permanent facility will open by late spring.

Blue Bell Salon & Spa moving in Bethesda

Blue Bell Salon & Spa has moved out of its space at 7718 Woodmont Avenue in the Lionsgate condominiums. It is currently operating out of a temporary space at 4964 Fairmont Avenue, in the Amor Studios in the ground floor of the Cheval condo tower, until a new location is ready. Services offered by Blue Bell include designer haircuts and styling, hair highlights, balayage, color, color correction, facial treatments, acne treatments, anti-aging, body waxing, facial waxing & threading, eyelash extension, microblading and "celebrity makeup artistry." The new permanent location has not been announced yet, but is going to be one block away.

Sinners guitar case popcorn bucket available at 2 AMC Theatres in Montgomery County

Sinners, one of the biggest blockbuster movies of 2025, just set a new record in 2026 for the most Oscar nominations of all time. While an anticipated nomination haul had already spurred a return to the big screen for the vampire flick, AMC Theatres has sweetened the even-better-than-fans-expected 16 nominations celebration with a very limited-edition Sinners guitar case popcorn bucket. So limited-edition, that the chain has currently removed the collectible from its website, where some lucky fans have successfully scored one when it has intermittently appeared in the online store.

That leaves buying one the old-fashioned way as your best bet. But the guitar case is not available at every AMC cineplex. Fortunately for Montgomery County moviegoers, two AMC locations here are on the list: AMC Montgomery 16 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and AMC Dine-in Rio Cinemas 18 at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. If they sell out there, or if it's more convenient for you, the bucket is also available at the AMC Columbia 14 in Howard County, the AMC Georgetown 14 in Washington, D.C., and the AMC Tysons Corner 16.

You may want to call ahead to confirm they still have some in stock. Tonight's showing of Sinners is already sold-out at AMC Montgomery 16. You don't have to see the movie to buy the popcorn bucket, though. Tomorrow is likely to be a no-go due to the expected impact of the winter storm that is hitting the area tonight, but tickets are still being sold for Sunday's screening as of this writing.

Barry's coming soon to downtown Bethesda

Barry's, the fitness chain formerly known as Barry's Bootcamp, is expanding to downtown Bethesda. It will be in the ground floor of The Elm apartment tower at 4710 Elm Street. Barry's offers high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with 50% treadmill cardio and 50% strength training in their signature red-lit facility. I've heard a lot of positive things about Barry's from people who are members at their Washington, D.C. locations, so this should be a nice addition, especially for residents of The Elm, Hampden House, and The Charles.

Moleskine opening this summer at Bethesda Row

Moleskine will open a store this summer at Bethesda Row. It will be in the former Ladurée space at 4808 Bethesda Avenue, next to Gorjana. You could write in any notebook, or you could write in the legendary notebook used by Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway - the Moleskine. Paper Source across the street carries some Moleskine products, but the new store will have the full product line, higher-end items, exclusive brand collaborations, and niche writing accessories.

Johnnie-O, ALO opening this spring at Bethesda Row

Bethesda Row property owner Federal Realty has announced two new tenants on the heels of the opening of Sephora at the downtown Bethesda development. Arriving this spring will be Johnnie-O and ALO. The trend of California-inspired businesses popping up at the Row continues with Johnnie-O, which Federal Realty describes as "a Southern California lifestyle brand for men, women and boys that combines 'East Coast preppy' with 'West Coast dude' to a create a lifestyle brand referred to as West Coast preppy." 

Headquartered in the Golden State for over 20 years, Johnnie-O carries premium apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women and boys. Collections include polos, button-downs featuring their patented “Tweener Button,” bottoms, swim, outerwear, performance activewear, and licensed gear from the NFL, NHL, MLB, and the NCAA. Sure enough, the Johnnie-O website already has a line of Indiana National Champions apparel.

ALO is also based - where else? - in Los Angeles. It sells "high-performance, fashion-forward clothing" for movement, recovery, and the wellness-focused lifestyle. Nearly as old as Johnnie-O, ALO is centered on a dual foundation of yoga and mindfulness. That will extend beyond apparel and accessories to include free online classes, community events, and wellness-fostering products. Its bricks-and-mortar locations are referred to not as "stores," but as Sanctuaries.

"Bethesda Row continues to showcase a curated blend of dynamic retail, dining, and services that enrich the customer experience and the neighborhood as the shopping destination of choice," Federal Realty Senior Vice-President Deirdre Johnson said in a statement yesterday. "The addition of these three premium retailers highlights the strong demand for Bethesda Row and reinforces its role as a leading destination for sophisticated patrons in Montgomery County and across the Washington Metro region. We are thrilled to add these new retailers," Federal Realty Vice-President Vanessa Mendoza said Wednesday.

Photos courtesy Johnnie-O (top), ALO (bottom)

Panic grocery buying begins ahead of snow in Bethesda (Photos)

Several days of media coverage of the snow storm expected to arrive Saturday night in the Washington, D.C. area has inspired a run on essential items at local grocery stores. Empty shelves were visible in some aisles at Harris Teeter in downtown Bethesda last night. Products being snapped up include the old stalwarts of milk, toilet paper, and paper towels. 

Shoppers are dutifully following new health advice from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and are buying whole milk over the low-fat options. Of course, if power goes out due to ice or falling trees, massive supplies of milk will be of little value. Also going fast under RFK, Jr.'s guidelines: red meat. 

Snow totals were expected to top 13" in initial guesses, but the National Weather Service Winter Storm Watch is now talking about 5-10" of snow accumulation. Given the decline of area government resilience in the face of even a few inches of snow this century, 5-10" could paralyze the region for days. Back in the 90s, Metrobus and Ride On kept going on major routes under reduced frequency, and Metro certainly ran on underground segments if not aboveground with more intense snow plowing operations. In recent years, the entire transit system shuts down during moderate to heavy snowstorms, and governments urge residents to "shelter in place." Heckuva job, Brownie!

Incompetence of government means you're on your own until plows and utility crews belatedly reach your neighborhood. Make sure you have plenty of batteries for flashlights and a transistor radio to receive news and weather updates in the event of a power outage. Warm clothes and blankets are essential, as well. Shelf-stable milk will be a lot more useful than those perishable plastic jugs people are hoarding. And fill your gas tank at least halfway.