PEPCO PROBLEMS SHUT DOWN FAIRMONT AVENUE

A utility pole malfunction wreaked minor havoc on Fairmont Avenue last night.

Spectators gather after police shut down Fairmont Avenue

Yellow police tape blocks Fairmont, as authorities await arrival of
Pepco crew to fix transformer on pole at upper-left corner of photo

The first floor of popular bar BlackFinn was dark after a partial power outage occurred.  Bethesda Urban Partnership and Montgomery County Police officers arrived quickly to block off the area around two utility poles.  A Bethesda UP SUV was parked as a temporary roadblock, while officers rushed to rope off the street in front of Bold Bite, and the vacant Fresh Grill, with police tape.

Officers told approaching drivers and pedestrians they could not go down Fairmont.  Crowds began to gather, and BlackFinn employees assessed the situation from in front of their main entrance.

Speculation was cleared up when a Pepco truck arrived.  Police helped the truck enter the taped-off area, and a Pepco lineman rose into the air to a pole on the north side of Fairmont Avenue.

Apparently, that wasn't the problem.  Then he moved to the pole on the opposite side of the street.

Finally, the problem was diagnosed so repairs could be made.

Unfortunately, that required turning off power to the Foong Lin restaurant.

The Pepco employee explained to a Foong Lin staff member that he would need to turn off their power for about 10 minutes.  Now, that's actually reasonable in most circumstances, but as you can imagine, it's a nightmare for a restaurant.  Diners are dining in an AC-cooled dining room.  Meals are in the middle of being cooked.  Potential customers will go elsewhere if they walk up to a dark restaurant.

"Are you ready?" asked the Pepco worker.

"I'm ready, and I'm not ready," replied the Foong Lin gentleman, who then turned back into the restaurant and called out instructions to employees.  With the restaurant having taken exterior damage from the storm of two weeks ago, this was probably the last problem they wanted to deal with.  A tarp covers the portion of the sign that was torn off by an 80 MPH wind shear; the sign now reads, "Lin Restaurant."

With some irony, Foong Lin has been offering a special cocktail since reopening:  the Dark and Stormy.  I suggest you stop by and try one.

Pepco went into action, and soon power was restored.

Have you heard of Christmas in July?  This was Black Friday in July.  Friday the 13th.  Hmm...