Kenwood Club fireworks 2016 this Thursday night

via GIPHY
The best fireworks display in the D.C. area will once again be held by the Kenwood Golf and Country Club on River Road in Bethesda tomorrow night, Thursday, June 30, 2016 after dark (usually around 9:15 PM or thereafter, but it wouldn't hurt to be ready as early as 8:45, even though they've never gone off that soon). As always, the club and the event are private and not open to the general public. But for those who live nearby or in a high-rise facing the club's direction, or who scout out a nearby parking lot, one can still enjoy the spectacle for free.

Smart residents know the drill: Plan a backyard party modest or grand, and then gain the cachet of The Great Gatsby himself when an expensive fireworks display suddenly erupts in the sky above, and caps off the evening.

Savvy Bethesdans (a.k.a. readers of this blog) who aren't part of the landed class can still partake of the fireworks - if they know where to go. The smart spot is in the church parking lot across River Road from the club, where those-in-the-know converge on foot or by car.

I haven't bothered to go into D.C. or out to Rockville for fireworks since Kenwood began their fireworks displays over a decade ago. The Kenwood display is superior, and gets better each year.

Impress your friends, avoid getting your pocket picked or purse snatched downtown, and take in the best fireworks in the D.C. area. Gracious toast and "I'm Gatsby" line are optional.

Bethesda Row revamps The Front Row event for 2016

Bethesda Row is changing things up for its annual fashion event, The Front Row at Bethesda Row. Instead of a 3-day spread of events Thursday to Saturday, The Front Row 2016 moves to an entirely new day - Sunday, June 5 - and time - 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

Instead of a big national or international star VIP guest, a strategy that peaked in 2013 with the squarely-A-list Jessica Alba, Federal Realty is inviting stars closer to home. Anchors and reporters who have organized to fight breast cancer under the DC Newsbash breast cancer charity organization (formerly known as DC Newsbabes until last year) will serve as VIP hosts this year. A portion of the event proceeds will go to the charity.

VIPs expected to appear include Laura Evans, Autria Godfrey, Angie Goff, Alexandra Limon, Jummy Olabanji, Lauryn Ricketts, Andrea Roane and Shawn Yancy.

Your $25 ticket will get you two mimosas to pre-game with at 11:00 AM, when you'll check in and pick up a swag bag. You'll also receive a Fashion Bingo Card that you can get stamped at boutiques around the Row. Three $250 gift certificates to boutiques of your choice will be given away.

The main event, the runway fashion show on Bethesda Lane, will begin at 12:30 PM.

After the show at 1:30, enjoy shopping and exclusive VIP parties at the boutiques, where there will also be giveaways, while supplies last.

Order your tickets now online, and save the date for The Front Row 2016.

Kenwood cherry blossoms photo gallery 2016

Save the trip into DC, and enjoy the world's best cherry blossoms right here in Bethesda in the Kenwood neighborhood.

Easter specials in Bethesda 2016

Unlike Thanksgiving and Christmas, there's no shortage of restaurants serving Easter Brunch, and in some cases, Easter Dinner in Bethesda. Here are just some of the options:

Del Frisco's Grille

For $51, go for a high-end Easter brunch at Del Frisco's Grille, featuring a 16 oz. prime rib and signature lemon cake jar for dessert.

11800 North Park Avenue

Pike & Rose

(301) 881-0308

Naples Ristorante

Dine at the one place you could actually run into the Easter Bunny himself - Westfield Montgomery Mall. At Naples Ristorante, you can be one of the first to try their new Spring dishes.

7101 Democracy Boulevard

301-365-8300 

Positano

One of the longest-operating restaurants in downtown Bethesda, Positano is open every day of the year, and doesn't charge you higher prices on holidays.

4948-4940 Fairmont Avenue

301-654-1717

Brio Tuscan Grille

20 Paseo Drive

1-240-221-2691

Black's Bar and Kitchen

Have Easter brunch at one of the top restaurants in Bethesda. $74 gets you brunch with unlimited champagne cocktails, raw bar and a special dessert buffet.

7750 Woodmont Avenue

301-652-5525

PassionFish

Enjoy one of the best brunches in Bethesda at a very reasonable price. A two-course brunch for $19, including Seafood Crepes, Fried Chicken & Waffles, Skinny Omelette, Smoked Great Lakes Whitefish Hash.

7187 Woodmont Avenue

301-358-6116

Happy Easter

from

Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row!

7900 WISCONSIN AVENUE JBG APARTMENT BUILDING DESIGN BREAKS THE TIRED BETHESDA MOLD (PHOTOS)

Maybe the architects are finally listening.

A recession-related construction pause, and a recent flurry of bland new condo projects, have now been interrupted by a relatively bold project proposed by development firm JBG.

7900 Wisconsin Avenue has been a topic of discussion among county officials and downtown Bethesda residents since JBG first outlined the project at two December meetings.

What we knew at that point was that 7900 would be a 17-story, luxury apartment building with 475 units, ground floor retail, underground parking, rooftop pool, and a bikeshare station.

Now fast forward to February 14, 2013, when Montgomery County Planning Board staff will recommend approval of this project.

Having reviewed the latest renderings for the project, so will I.

7900 Wisconsin Avenue isn't quite the Bitexco Tower, or even the equivalent of JBG's other intriguing project, the "Ziggurat" planned for the White Flint area.

But it is a potentially iconic building for downtown Bethesda, and we haven't been able to say that since the construction of the Capital One building, the Newlands building, and Bethesda Row.  Sure, you could go higher than 17 stories there, and it could have been more tower-like. At the same time, it is within the zone where walking to Metro is for many people a choice more than the no-brainer it is if you're across the street from the Metro Center. And there is also an existing condo building, the Nathan Landow resort-style Fairmont Plaza.  As it is, permanent vacationers on the Fairmont's north side are going to have a rude awakening with construction noise, dust, and the eventual loss of balcony views.

Under the circumstances, the design is probably as tall and as radical as could be expected.

The most interesting feature is the north side of the proposed building. There, a horizontal building section appears to be suspended from the main structure. Below is a village green of sorts, that would provide a public-use space for all nearby Woodmont Triangle residents and workers.  The most intriguing element is the reflective underside of the suspended section, which serves as an entrance to the village green from Wisconsin Avenue. Pedestrians will be able to look upward and see themselves as they pass underneath.  The village green area will also serve as a welcoming passageway between Wisconsin and Woodmont, as well as activate a lonely stretch of Woodmont Avenue.

Another nice design touch is the way the building presents a dynamic front facade on three sides, and a more subdued side to the Fairmont Plaza. This allows the structure to engage people and motorists from many angles, while keeping a residential aesthetic for Fairmont Plaza residents. That's not to say all issues have been magically resolved for Fairmont residents. If you are one, please feel free to comment below so I and readers can get your side of the story, and put 7900 Wisconsin into the context of those concerns. This is not a "done deal" yet, so I encourage anyone with concerns to testify before the Planning Board on February 14.

But from a design standpoint, I have to applaud JBG for taking a few risks here, and presenting a building that will help define Bethesda. As opposed to the Town Center USA motif most projects underway now radiate.  The curved facade that "holds" the suspended section reminds me of several buildings, most recently the impressive Bloomberg Children's Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

JBG says demolition and construction activity would begin in 2014, and the building would open in 2016.

Here for your review and comment are the JBG renderings of 7900 Wisconsin Avenue from all angles: