A cold front with high winds is hitting Bethesda this morning, with frigid temperatures most people would not consider dining outdoors in. This winter will be a severe test for restaurants, and some are putting hope in outdoor tents, bubbles and space heaters. A large tent was erected at the Woodmont Avenue Bethesda Streetery at Bethesda Row this weekend, outside Mussel Bar. Outdoor heating units also appeared at the other Streetery location on Norfolk Avenue.
Will these options be enough? We're about to find out. At some point, if you are going to dine in an enclosed space, you might as well just go inside where it's warm. I'm not sure what the difference is in terms of Covid-19 risk in one enclosed space versus another, but I would defer to the medical experts if they can explain it. I can understand the smaller bubbles might be advantageous for single diners, couples or two or three family members or friends who have otherwise avoided exposure.
These tents are effectively COVID-spread hotboxes. What a monumentally stupid idea to put people in a tent, which has less air circulation than an indoor restaurant with a proper ventilation system. People should eat in the open air with portable heaters, or at most have sides and no ceilings to ensure fresh air circulation.
ReplyDeleteConsidering this area is full of "smart people" with NIH just up the road, I can't believe how dumb this is. Wow. MoCo, you never let me down.
Modern problems require modern solutions
ReplyDeleteJust order a nice take out meal, and eat at home where it is safe. I don’t get why people undertake additional risk just to be served the same meal as you can get carry out. Except for someone seeking a Benihana cooking/dining experience, just order a great meal from one of nearly 200 restaurants in downtown Bethesda, pick it up wearing a mask to protect you and the restaurant workers, and eat enjoy it at home. Restaurants stay in business, and everybody stays alive.
ReplyDeleteAn enclosed tent does seem awfully similar to just eating indoors, but perhaps there’s more opportunity for fresh air circulation, IDK.
ReplyDeleteOf course there are a lot of smart/educated people in moco but there not necessarily running restaurants or making local pandemic policy.
Why not just order takeout? Notwithstanding the pandemic, people like to be out/seen and they like to be served. If you’re single and dating, takeout may not be an option.
There was issued guidance on this. I think you need to have at least one side (and if it's a rectangle, then the longer side) fully open to ensure airflow.
ReplyDeleteI looked into it because we're doing Thanksgiving outside on our porch.
Thought the Mormon temple crash landed on Woodmont
ReplyDeleteOn election eve-eve, Bethesda decides to leave portable heaters lying around.
ReplyDeleteWhat could possibly go wrong?
I agree with doing takeout. Hopefully I've done my part to keep the "Fish Taco" in business! It's the same food in the comfort and safety of home.
ReplyDeleteI'm stunned that anyone associated with the county/city could sign off on the COVID-spreader hotbox tents. They either need to have no roof or open side(s) for people to sit in them. It just shows you how incompetent and out of touch these folks are.
@8:06 PM: Are you concerned the portable heaters will fall in the hands of Trump supporters?
ReplyDeleteIt's feel-good and wishful thinking, two things Bethesda and MoCo excels at.
ReplyDeleteBethesda Streetery was simply wishful thinking that restaurants could stay in business in these high rent low-traffic areas. The restaurant biz is perilous at the best of times, reducing seating capacity to 25% is basically hopeless.
Now as the weather turns, the hotzone boxes are a sign of degenerating groupthink. The only restaurants that survive the winter will be the ones who shift to a takeout model with fewer employees... and paying absurdly high rent to the moronic Bethesda landlords is a bad idea.