Smoke Island installs storefront mural in Bethesda (Photos)

The newest piece of public art in downtown Bethesda is the front window of Smoke Island at 7913 Norfolk Avenue. A new mural depicting a fantasical scene over the familiar 7900 block of Norfolk shows Smoke Island amidst its neighboring storefronts. Looming in the background on the left is Triangle Towers, but in the crushing grip of a fire-breathing dragon. Equally-mythical characters fly, arm-wrestle, lounge and otherwise populate the Norfolk Avenue Streatery. In addition to not being an abstract work, the mural should also gain points for actually depicting Bethesda, as public art here often has little-to-no local connection in its themes or imagery.