Kenwood Cherry Blossoms 2026 (Photos + Video)

Here's a look at the famous cherry blossoms in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chevy Chase for the year 2026. Why drive and walk for miles downtown when you can see the same thing here for free close to home? You can drive through, or walk through, but don't think about parking on the street! There might be a lemonade stand if the Montgomery County Council hasn't shut it down before you get there. The Capital Crescent Trail passes right through the neighborhood, a relatively easy walk from downtown Bethesda or points south of River Road into Georgetown.

Latest Little Falls Parkway road diet is scene of crash in Bethesda (Photos)

The latest illegal road diet implemented by Montgomery County on Little Falls Parkway was the scene of a car crash last night in Bethesda. Two vehicles somehow wound up in the median of the shrunken roadway. Some of the flex poles that create a visual cacophony that distracts and blocks drivers' views of cyclists and pedestrians were dislodged. The road diet between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road was implemented by the Marxist totalitarian County government, despite opposition by 73% of nearby residents, and of all the neighborhoods that border the impacted stretch of the parkway. So much for "democracy!" Now we see the results. And with the County reducing the road to only one lane in each direction, the accident response and towing operation shut down the parkway in the southbound direction. Let's congratulate our genius County officials for steamrolling over the expressed wishes of their constituents, for destroying a road taxpayers paid for decades ago, and for making us less safe. Heckuva job, Brownie!

MCPD releases details about shocking assault in Kenwood

The Montgomery County Police Department has released a few details on last month's aggravated assault in the exclusive Kenwood neighborhood in Chevy Chase. According to police, two suspects were attempting to steal items from inside a vehicle parked in the 6400 block of Garnett Drive at 3:49 PM on December 17, 2025. The vehicle's adult male owner spotted the suspects and, accompanied by a second individual, confronted them. Both victims were then physically assaulted by the alleged thieves, who fled the scene.

Police describe the suspects only as a Middle Eastern male and a Hispanic male, both of unknown age. They did not indicate whether the suspects fled on foot, or in a getaway car. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Aggravated assault in Kenwood

Montgomery County police responded to a very out-of-character event in the elite Kenwood neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, December 17, 2025. An aggravated assault was reported in the 6400 block of Garnett Drive at 3:49 PM. The incident was reported along the street, which backs up to the Kenwood Golf and Country Club.

When a Kenwood home just isn't enough (Photos)

It's safe to say that a majority of people would consider almost any of the full-size original homes in Kenwood to be a dream house. Few can afford to make the dream come true, however. But recent times have witnessed the unprecedented: some of the first teardowns in the prestigious Chevy Chase neighborhood. Here we see the new construction home being built at 5900 Kennedy Drive by development firm Terra Innovations, in partnership with Bethesda-based GTM Architects, and Castlewood Builders.

Fortunately, the English Tudor architectural style of the new home is one already present in the Kenwood community, as is the use of white brick. In short, if the renderings are accurate, this house is unlikely to stick out like a sore thumb. Very few new construction homes are fitting in with the established architectural styles of their neighborhoods these days, so it's impressive to see the effort being put into ensuring this one blends in with its surroundings. The finished home will have 8 bedrooms, 9 full bathrooms, and 1 half bath. It is being marketed by The Heider Company of Washington, D.C.

Kenwood Club fireworks 2025

We're less than a week away from the best fireworks display in the Washington, D.C. area, the one put on by the Kenwood Golf and Country Club at 5601 River Road in Bethesda. The club and its property are private, so don't trespass on their property. But the fireworks can be seen from nearby church and retail parking lots such as the Fourth Presbyterian Church, which has been the most-popular viewing spot in past years, as it is directly across the street. If you are lucky enough to have a backyard in line-of-sight to the club, or an apartment or condo facing the club's direction, it's also a chance to play Jay Gatsby and have a spectacular fireworks display to cap off your Independence Day party.

This year's Kenwood fireworks are scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Expect the show to start around 9:30 PM. The fireworks will be very loud, so you may want to consider having hearing protection like earplugs on hand. If you are in the vicinity and have a dog, make sure the animal is indoors before the show starts. Should inclement weather occur, Kenwood has scheduled a rain date for July 2, 2025.

Kenwood Cherry Blossoms 2025 Photo Gallery (Video + Photos)

More and more people discover the cherry blossoms of the Kenwood community in Chevy Chase each year. Much like the spectacular Kenwood Golf & Country Club fireworks in the summer, many local residents are increasingly content to settle for the superior product closer to home, without the long trip to the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Of course, this puts a strain on the Kenwood residents, as the masses stagger through the neighborhood, and lines of cars snake around the community's streets under police supervision. The diabolical Montgomery County Council even stopped by to post one of their new "Lemonade Tax Now" signs, recalling when the Council fined kids $500 for operating a lemonade stand in Bethesda in 2011. They cannot, and they will not, give up this fight!

A special video:

Kenwood Club golf course reopens after storm cleanup

The golf course at the Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda reopened yesterday, after damage and debris caused by a thunderstorm Monday night required it to temporarily close. Fallen trees and branches had to be sawed and removed. Regularly-scheduled maintenance that couldn't be performed until the course was cleared also had to be completed once the cleanup was finished. The storm caused many trees to fall across the area, including not far from the club on Whittier Boulevard, and many power outages.

Photos courtesy Kenwood Golf & Country Club

Kenwood Club fireworks 2024 + other Bethesda-Chevy Chase-area fireworks display dates

We're just days away from the best fireworks display in the Washington, D.C. area, the one put on by the Kenwood Golf and Country Club at 5601 River Road in Bethesda. The club and its property are private, so don't trespass on their property. But the fireworks can be seen from nearby church and retail parking lots such as the Fourth Presbyterian Church, which has been the most-popular viewing spot in past years, as it is directly across the street. If you are lucky enough to have a backyard in line-of-sight to the club, or an apartment or condo facing the club's direction, it's also a chance to play Jay Gatsby and have a spectacular fireworks display to cap off your Independence Day party.

This year's Kenwood fireworks are scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Expect the show to start sometime between 9:15 and 9:30 PM. The fireworks will be very loud, so you may want to consider having hearing protection like earplugs on hand. If you are in the vicinity and have a dog, make sure the animal is indoors before the show starts. Should inclement weather occur, Kenwood has scheduled a rain date for July 3, 2024.

Here are the scheduled dates for other fireworks displays in the Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac area, whether you wish to view them from public property or your own home, or want to be prepared for the noise. Print out this article and stick it to the refrigerator if you want to be prepared in advance, or just want to know exactly where those booms are coming from on any given night:

June 30 - 9:00 PM: Bethesda Country Club (rain date: July 1)

July 2 - 9:00 PM: Columbia Country Club (rain date: July 3)

July 3 - 9:30 PM: Chevy Chase Club (rain date: September 2)

July 4 - 9:30 PM: Congressional Country Club (rain date: July 5)

Kenwood Sunoco reopens in Bethesda

Kenwood Sunoco has reopened at 5201 River Road in Bethesda. The gas station has been closed for fuel customers since April for maintenance work on the gas pumps and undergound fuel tank. During that time, the business remained open for auto repairs and convenience store customers.

Gas pumps fenced off at Kenwood Sunoco station in Bethesda

The gas pumps at the Kenwood Sunoco service station at 5201 River Road in Bethesda have been fenced off. It appears an underground fuel tank maintenance or replacement project is getting underway. The station's Ultra Service Center repair shop, and the convenience store, are open and operating during the project. If you are a loyal Sunoco customer, the nearest station is 2450 Wisconsin Avenue NW, in the Glover Park area.

Super-bright lights installed at Kenwood Station in Bethesda

A spotlight is being shone on the parking lot at the Kenwood Station shopping center in Bethesda - literally. Ultra-bright light towers have just been installed around the lot of the shopping center, which is anchored by the popular Whole Foods Market grocery store. Photos can't do the intensity level of the lights justice, which may shine into windows of the adjacent homes in Kenwood. 

Like many retail properties, Kenwood Station is responding to the increase in crime in Montgomery County, seeking to improve safety and security. While the shopping center is not known as a crime hot spot, police did fatally shoot a burglar behind the grocery store thirty years ago, in April of 1994. At the time, the store was a Fresh Fields supermarket.

Kenwood wants street name of new Brookside Drive block in Bethesda changed

Montgomery County recently designated the new extension segment of Westbard Avenue to River Road in Bethesda as the 5600 block of "Brookside Drive." As I anticipated, the Kenwood neighborhood across River is not happy about this. Not only is there concern about confusion for drivers, as Brookside Drive is officially in Chevy Chase as opposed to Bethesda, but Brookside Drive is an elite street address strongly associated with Kenwood. Kenwood's citizens association has asked Montgomery County to change it. According to the Springfield Civic Association, the County renamed the new block Brookside Drive "because our neighbors on the 5500 Block of Westbard have decided to keep their addresses on Westbard and so a different name is needed for that stretch of newly realigned road."

Montgomery County's Planning Department will make the final decision whether to change the name, and what the replacement name will be. It is soliciting a list of suggestions from both the Springfield and Kenwood neighborhoods, which members of their respective civic associations will begin voting on between today and December 8. Names cannot be similar to existing street names within Montgomery County.

Write-in votes are allowed. It's unclear if the Planning Department will consider additional names at a later point in the process. 

Might I suggest writing in a few names that are actually related to the location? Petey Greene was the pioneering African-American broadcaster whose program was recorded a short walk from this street at the WDCA-20 television studios. His colleague, Dick Dyzsel, is well-known locally, and recognized among horror fans nationally for his Count Gore de Vol persona. Andy Russo was a president of the Springfield Civic Association who tragically passed away at an early age. The late Carlos Bonds was the longtime owner of the Citgo station on Westbard Avenue. Peter Posey owned the farm that the Springfield neighborhood later was developed on. 

This is a unique opportunity to help create a "sense of place" unique to the Westbard area, but it could end up being yet another missed opportunity if a generic name is chosen. 

Westbard Avenue access restored from River Road/Brookside Drive intersection in Bethesda (Photos)

The realigned segment of Westbard Avenue was reopened to automobile traffic at the intersection of River Road and Brookside Drive in Bethesda yesterday. Formerly the lowest block of Ridgefield Road, the heavily-traveled artery had been closed since early summer 2022. Drivers can once again reach the Westwood Shopping Center and other businesses on Westbard Avenue from River Road without detouring a roundabout way. Still barricaded is the new segment of Westbard between what is being called Brookside Drive and Ridgefield Road. That portion of the new street grid will open to the public on December 1, 2023.

New traffic signals now activated

Westbard Avenue looking toward its
intersection with Ridgefield Road - this
segment will open to the public on December 1

Residents to hold silent protest vigil on Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda on November 16

Residents from 18 communities around Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda and Chevy Chase will participate in a silent vigil on the closed lanes of the road the morning and evening of Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The vigil is being held to protest Montgomery Parks' plan to permanently reduce the parkway to one lane in each direction. There is currently a temporary road diet in place between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue, which would become permanent under the park department's plan. The Neighborhood Coalition, which represents more than 20,000 residents surrounding the parkway, is asking Montgomery County to restore the road to four lanes between Hillandale Road and Dorset Avenue with the existing 17' grass median.

The proposed permanent 2-lane road diet was opposed by 71% of speakers who testified at a Montgomery County Planning Board hearing on March 30, 2023. Over 5000 residents signed a petition opposing the road diet.

Despite the overwhelming community opposition, the Board voted to approve the plan, a vote that was illegal because the commissioners did not receive the required approval of the National Capital Planning Commission. Any changes to the parkway's use, design or configuration must be approved by the NCPC, under the Capper-Cramton Act of 1930. Such approval also requires the NCPC to hold a public hearing, at which residents would be allowed to testify for or against whatever is proposed. 

In July, it came to light that Montgomery Parks was seeking to win an award from a non-profit organization for the road diet, and had submitted an application riddled with false statements. A decision in a lawsuit filed by residents over the road diet is also pending.

After public outcry over the steamroller tactics by Montgomery Parks and the Planning Board - the latter's staff recommended approval of the road diet without reviewing the testimony and exhibits submitted by residents less than 24 hours earlier - the Montgomery County Council pretended to block the plan, but did not require Parks to remove the temporary road diet. Now a Council committee is slated to vote on two different versions of the road diet plan November 27. 

New Westbard Avenue street lamps activated (Photos)

The new street lamps along the realigned Westbard Avenue and "Brookside Drive" in Bethesda have been activated. Finally, there is some light for pedestrians walking in this area between Westbard, Ridgefield Road and River Road after dark. New traffic signals and pedestrian crossing signals are still dark, and the new street segments are not yet open to vehicular traffic. Pedestrian crossing controls are still boxed up, as you can see here. Intriguing thought: Was the bizarre decision to name the last segment of the realigned Westbard Avenue "Brookside Drive" where it meets River Road a forward-thinking move to allow future developments on that block to market themselves with that coveted Kenwood street address?

Westbard Avenue realignment project update (Photos)

The deadline for the reopening of the road network in the Westbard area of Bethesda is only 11 days away. Contractors have installed the new street lamps along the sidewalks. Most are still wrapped in plastic to protect them prior to activation. It appears that utilities have indeed been undergrounded along this stretch of the former Ridgefield Road between Westbard Avenue and River Road. The utility poles that ran along the Westwood Center II side of that block of Ridgefield are gone, an interesting development given that the Montgomery County Council did not require utilities to be buried in the 2016 Westbard sector plan.

There are now traffic signal arms erected in all directions at the future T intersection of the realigned Westbard Avenue and the residential block of Westbard between Ridgefield and River. Hopefully this means there will be signal control at this intersection, which would solve what would be highly-dangerous vehicle turns across oncoming traffic for drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrian signals have been installed at the intersection, also still mostly bagged for protection.

New signage, and a road grid realignment that really wasn't fully thought through when recommended in the 2016 plan, are going to continue to be a source of confusion for non-residents. For example, a short stub of lopped-off Westbard between the "new" Westbard Avenue and Ridgefield Road has been turned at an angle, creating an odd and tiny island of land that didn't appear in the 2016 sector plan. That is County property in the former Westbard right-of-way, but also sits alongside a private home. What is going to be on it? It wasn't part of any public plan or discussion, and was never shown on maps at public meetings, but...here it is. The angled road also cuts down on the buildable area for the EYA townhomes planned for the former nursing home property.

To add to the intrigue and disorientation, the street signage facing drivers turning from the residential block of Westbard onto the commercial Westbard Avenue now says "Brookside Dr 5600," with an arrow pointing left, and "Westbard Avenue," with an arrow pointing right. 

New streetlamps

No official announcement has been made about any of these matters, but some are asking if this means Montgomery County is going to redesignate the former block of Ridgefield between Westbard and River - which was always meant to be an extension of Westbard Avenue to River via this realignment project - as a new block of Brookside Drive. That doesn't seem smart - - but it appears to be true, as the new arrow sign refers to "5600" Brookside Drive, and first block of the long-existing Brookside Drive across River in Kenwood is 5700 Brookside.

I can't think that Kenwood or Westbard developer Regency Centers would be pleased by this development. Brookside has always been a Kenwood-exclusive address, and the new designation creates a new relationship between the heavy commercial traffic coming down from Westbard and the "next block of Brookside" in Kenwood, exactly the opposite of discouraging cut-through traffic from using Kenwood as a short-cut. A new Brookside-River-Brookside intersection would be a bummer for Regency Centers, too, in losing the prominent "Westbard" connection and signage at the heavily-traveled River Road intersection, when their development is branded as Westbard Square.

What is this new island of land? Who controls it?
What will it be used for?

Again, were all of these issues really thought through to their logical outcomes? It's not like there weren't years of delay between 2016 and 2022, during which all of this could have been hashed out with thoughtful common sense. Perhaps if the after-sector-plan deliberations and decisions had been made in a public process, rather than behind closed doors, these issues could have been pointed out and avoided.

New street lamp at the base of
Ridgefield Road at Westbard Avenue