Nesfield Performance sets opening date in Bethesda

Nesfield Performance has set the opening date for its new downtown Bethesda facility. It will open on Saturday, September 27, 2025, according to a sandwich board sign placed outside its storefront. Nesfield Performance is located at 7832-7834 Wisconsin Avenue, in the ground floor of the Fairmont Plaza condominium in Bethesda. It is a fitness, physical therapy, massage, and movement therapy business that has previously been operating in Chevy Chase.

Montgomery Mall to celebrate the arrival of fall with Fall Fest September 20

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is welcoming the fall equinox with a Fall Fest celebration on September 20, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The event will feature a "vibrant" artisan market, craft activities, and dance. There will be dance performances, and attendees can participate in interactive salsa lessons. Over 30 local arts and crafts vendors will be spotlighted in the artisan market. Many mall businesses will offer fall season specials and experiences during the Fall Fest hours. The event is free, and you can RSVP online.

King Arthur Baking Company opening today in Bethesda

King Arthur Baking Company is opening a pop-up store today, August 2, 2025, at 10207 Old Georgetown Road at the Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. It will be open there through the holidays this year, so it will be ready for your summer and fall baking, as well as your gift-buying needs during the holiday shopping season. The store's inventory includes ingredients, mixes, tools, accessories, and kitchen appliances. Their operating hours will be 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, seven days a week. King Arthur Baking Company has been in business since 1790!

Bethesda Lidl store touts grand opening, "Special Guests" (Photos)

Lidl has posted new banners at its downtown Bethesda store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road at Bethesda Place, touting its grand opening on July 30, 2025. New signs have also been posted inside the store, in the bakery department. "SPECIAL GUESTS," they read - but they're not for VIPs attending the grand opening. Rather, they are for the chain's "Special Guests" bakery promotion. The reserved shelves below the sign will display limited-time-only baked goods that are introduced every two weeks, and will be sold for four weeks only.

Bethesda residents to protest Montgomery County Council's rushed upzoning bill Monday

Residents in the River Road and Massachusetts Avenue corridors of Bethesda will protest the effort by the Montgomery County Council to ram through a zoning text amendment (ZTA) to upzone their neighborhoods for multifamily housing tomorrow afternoon, Monday, July 7, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Jamestown Road. The ZTA is a "bill of goods" being disingenuously sold by County Councilmember Andrew Friedson as a solution to the high cost of housing, when in actuality, the higher-density it would allow will be market rate luxury housing sold at $1 million and upward. Part of the highly-controversial "Thrive 2050" scam the Council rammed through during the pandemic, the ZTA is branded as "More Housing N.O.W."

When residents from Bethesda, Wheaton, and other communities that will be damaged and bulldozed by the ZTA turned out in force at the first worksession on the proposal, Friedson took notice. He canceled the second scheduled worksession, and is now rushing the ZTA for a vote before the full Council while many are out of town for summer vacations. 

What the ZTA will do is to upzone neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes only, to allow the construction of multifamily homes. These would include duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and apartment buildings. Street parking and school classrooms would be overwhelmed by a massive influx of new vehicles and children. With all of the new multifamily housing selling at market rates, the ZTA is designed only to line the pockets of the developers who have contributed to the political campaigns of Friedson and other councilmembers, and will not lower the cost of housing whatsoever.

Lidl opening July 30 in Bethesda

Achtung! Lidl's new downtown Bethesda store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road at Bethesda Place has finally been added to the German grocery chain's Grand Openings page. The grand opening is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM. What's in it for you? "Score free samples, Lidl swag and more," the company promises. "Come early—the first 100 customers in line will get Lidl gift cards ranging from $5-$100."

Depending on how fast shipping from the UK to America is, you could be wearing an official Lidl by Lidl jacket when standing in line that morning. A cross-promotion with the Oasis reunion tour, the coat will be available for 30 pounds at 10:00 AM British Standard Time on July 9. The jacket features "drink-cooling pockets, a bottle opener for a zipper, a ‘Lidl By Lidl’ badge and an accompanying tambourine." Croissants sold separately.

Cookie Palooza at Bethesda 7-Eleven revealed!

So, what exactly was Cookie Palooza at the 7-Eleven store at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda yesterday? It turns out it was an official 7-Eleven corporate promotion. A table was set up outside loaded with 7-Eleven cookies. These aren't the factory-produced 7-Eleven brand cookies, but are larger, homestyle cookies baked in the store each day. They clearly have upped their cookie game to compete with growing competitors like Sheetz, whose stores feature a glass case filled with Sheetz Shweetz fresh baked goods with a similar presentation to these.

In addition to special prices on fresh cookies, there was a special deal for Cookie Palooza. 5 chicken wings, 2 cookies, and a Big Gulp for $7.00. Cookie Palooza is like Lollapalooza without the fist fighting. Bethesda will be ready next time!

Downtown Bethesda 7-Eleven to host Cookie-Palooza June 27

The 7-Eleven store at 7820 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda will host "Cookie-Palooza" this Friday, June 27, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. What is "Cookie-Palooza?" I have no idea. The event is advertised on papers posted in the front windows of the store. With a homemade aesthetic, they do not look like slick advertisements produced by 7-Eleven corporate headquarters.

Flip Circus comes to town tonight through June 24 in Bethesda

The circus is coming to town tonight. Flip Circus has set up its tent in the parking lot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and promises to "keep the amazing American circus tradition alive." Family friendly shows are scheduled daily through June 24, 2025. The legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus folded up like a card table in 2017, under pressure from radical blowhards like the Montgomery County Council, who banned circus animals from performing in the County that same year. Infamously, Discovery Communications was stolen away from Silver Spring by New York City and Knoxville through secret negotiations that took place the very week the Council spent debating circus animals. Heckuva job, Brownie! But the struggle sessions in MoCo and elsewhere that brought down Ringling Bros. created a vacuum that was filled by troupes like Flip Circus.

Flip Circus is more intimate in scale than Ringling Bros. The County Council will be delighted to know that there are no elephants, tigers, or other exotic beasts in the Flip Circus show. Acrobatics, magic tricks, aerialists, clowns, and other traditional hallmarks of a circus remain, however. Tickets are available online - or at the box office, if they haven't sold out - and the air-conditioned tent includes a concessions stand. Beware that if a clown car pulls up at the mall, and 11 jokers emerge, that's just the County Council and not part of the show.

WorldPride D.C. special at Sala Thai in Bethesda, June 5-8, 2025

Sala Thai at 4828 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda is offering a WorldPride D.C. special today, Thursday, June 5, through Sunday, June 8, 2025. From 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM each of those days, if you order at least $15-worth of food per person, you will qualify for the Bottomless Blast promotion. $24 per person will get you 2 hours of unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. Make reservations online, or by calling 301-654-4676.

Westbard Square adds new mural, padel pop-up court in Bethesda (Photos)

There are two new additions to Westbard Square in Bethesda this weekend, as the new development at 5400 Westbard Avenue holds an official Grand Opening event from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM today and Sunday. One is a mural painted onto the side of the Giant building above the loading docks. It features what appears to be a streetcar. Is this predictive programming for the not-so-secretly-planned extension of the Purple Line to Westbard? Or is it just a random image? Well, let's consider a third theory, that could make property owner Regency Centers look pretty smart, making another effort - as with the quarry stone facades at the development - to draw on local history and aesthetics.

The mural could be referring to the original 1891 streetcar that ran from Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights, down roughly along the route of present-day Willard Avenue, through Green Acres, across what is now Little Falls Parkway and the parallel Willett Branch stream, up what is today Massachusetts Avenue extended - passing what is now Westbard Avenue and Little Falls Library, onto Walhonding Road (you can see remnants of the sharp angles established by the streetcar to the left of the Parkway crossing, and on the divergence of Walhonding from Massachusetts behind the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department firehouse), and down to MacArthur Boulevard. 

Once down the steep Walhonding drop to what is now MacArthur, passengers would disembark from the streetcar, and be taken to the Glen Echo Chautauqua by horse-drawn carriage. The Chautauqua was the forerunner of the Glen Echo Park amusement park that would be built later. This earlier streetcar is not to be confused with the more-famous Washington, D.C. to Glen Echo Park trolley line that operated during the mid-20th-century through Georgetown, the Palisades, and Brookmont. The original 1891 streetcar line was developed by the Baltzley brothers, who lived in the landmark Baltzley Castle they constructed at 5415 Mohican Road in Mohican Hills.

If that's not enough educational material for a Saturday morning, get ready to learn the Mexican sport of padel. It conquered Spain in reverse, and is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Padel Social has just erected a pop-up padel court at Westbard Square. The company will operate three courts there through this fall. It is also in the process of constructing a permanent padel facility "nearby." You can learn the basics here, and starting next month, you can book a time at the pop-up courts. There will be private lessons, clinics, and equipment rentals.

Lululemon reopens at Bethesda Row

Lululemon is reopening at 4838 Bethesda Avenue at Bethesda Row. The activewear boutique has been temporarily closed for major renovations. Stop by to see the new interior design. There are only a few tickets left for a special yoga event on Sunday, June 1, 2025, followed by refreshments and exclusive shopping access. Hurry!

UNIQLO grand opening today at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

UNIQLO will hold its grand opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda this morning, May 23, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM, and continuing through Sunday. Here's what the Japanese apparel retailer has in store for you each day, and enjoy a sneak peek in the photos below:

• Friday, May 23 - Taiko Drum Performances at 10AM, 1PM and 3PM
• Free breakfast for first 200 customers in line each day - May 23, 24 & 25
• Free knot bag with branded tissue box & pocky snack for first 200 customers in line each day - May 23, 24 & 25

Look for UNIQLO on Level 2, in the former Sears wing of the mall. It is in the spaces vacated by Express and Express Men.

Bethesda Pool opening this weekend

The public Bethesda Pool at 6300 Hillandale Road in Bethesda will open for the Summer 2025 season this weekend, May 24, at 12:00 PM. Initial operating hours of the pool from May 24 through June 13 will be 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekends, and 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 3:00 - 6:00 PM on Memorial Day. From June 14 through August 15, the pool will be open 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM on weekdays, and 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM on weekends. 

Daily admission is $5 for Montgomery County residents under age 18, $7 for adults, and $6 for seniors 55 and older. A driver’s license or other proof of residency is required at the admission counter. General admission for non-residents is $20. Summer pool passes are available if you want to skip the line at the pool.

The VI-Kings live today at Tommy Joe's in Bethesda

Local band The VI-Kings will perform live today, "May the Fourth," from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Tommy Joe's at 7940 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Playing "the 60s/70s soundtrack of your life," the group features at least two famous faces Bethesda residents may recognize: Matthew Maury, a Bethesda real estate expert and broker with Stuart & Maury, Inc., and Sean Chyun, a musician and vocalist of frequent appearances in Bethesda's gradually-dwindling venues for live music over the last decade-and-a-half.

Anti-drug carnival at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda May 2-11, 2025

A carnival with an anti-drug message for children has set up in the parking lot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. L.E.A.D Fest, an initiative produced by the organization Law Enforcement Against Drugs, will be at the mall tonight through Sunday May 11, 2025. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 18, some rides require a parent to also ride along, only clear bags will be allowed into the carnival area, and no face coverings are allowed, unless required for a medical reason. 

Tickets can be purchased online. It's intriguing to have an anti-drug event in a county and state whose leadership are strongly pro-drug, both legal and illegal. Worth contemplating, is why your elected officials want you to be zonked out on mind-altering drugs. Just say no!

May Day anti-Trump protest planned for Friendship Heights

Opponents of President Donald Trump are planning a May Day protest tomorrow, May 1, 2025, in Friendship Heights. According to an event announcement, participants will gather to demonstrate at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Western Avenue from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own homemade signs. A larger protest is scheduled for 11:30 AM at Franklin Park in Washington, D.C. 

Woman's Club of Chevy Chase Community Art Show & Sale this weekend, April 4-6

The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase is gearing up to host its 49th Annual Community Art Show and Sale, a three-day event celebrating local artistic talent, this weekend, April 4-6, 2025 at the clubhouse, which is located at 7931 Connecticut Avenue. Free parking is ample, and located behind the club, off of Dunlop Street. The show will feature over 450 pieces of artwork from more than 130 community artists.

This weekend's exhibition will showcase a diverse range of mediums, with judged categories including Oil, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Prints & Drawings, Photography, Smalls, and Other Media, which encompasses 2-D works in materials like glass, wood, metal, and paper. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase artwork using cash, check, or credit card.

The annual event not only provides a platform for local artists but also supports scholarships for aspiring art school students.

The art show will be open to the public, free of charge, during the following hours:

April 4: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

April 5: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

April 6: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For more information, visit wcccmaryland.org/art-show.

Washington Capitals pop-up event March 19 at Bethesda Row

Get ready to drop the [winter] gloves at Bethesda Row on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, as the Washington Capitals and the Federal Realty property host a "Shop for the Cause with Caps Care" pop-up event. From 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Bethesda Lane, attendees can enjoy a festive atmosphere complete with music by DJ Chris Styles, a meet and greet with Capitals alumnus and TV NHL analyst Alan May and Monumental Sports Network host Alexa Landestoy from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and a photo opportunity with Capitals mascot Slapshot.

Alexa Landestoy

The afternoon will also feature a sweepstakes for Capitals tickets, prize giveaways, and the unveiling of an original mural by artist Hiba Alyawer. Adding a unique touch, Lucy Blossoms will create a special Capitals hockey display just for this event.

Alan May

Beyond the entertainment, the event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Capitals’ Capital Impact Fund, which aims to increase access to hockey by reducing financial obstacles. From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, select Bethesda Row stores will donate 10% of their sales to the fund.

E Street Cinema closes in Washington, D.C. (Photos)

The Landmark E Street Cinema has closed at 555 11th Street NW in Washington, D.C. While the permanent closure had been announced by the struggling cinema chain a few weeks ago, the theater closed sooner than expected, prior to some final screenings for which tickets had been sold in advance. The Prince of Petworth reports that Landmark did issue refunds to those ticketholders, who had hoped to catch the very last showings. However, as of this writing, it appears that the Polish Film Festival screenings scheduled for March 4-6 are still on, so you could still get that last E Street experience in (the March 7-9 screenings will be held at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.).

Inside the lobby Monday night, ticket machines bore blank screens or repair messages, and their front compartment doors hung open, internal wires spilling forth. Print-out paper rolls lay on the beige and brown tiles in front of them. Customers were being directed by signs to the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema, and the Atlantic Plumbing Cinema on V Street NW. E Street patrons should also check out the monthly Cinema Art Bethesda screenings of foreign and independent films at the Bethesda Row location.