SUPERSTORM SANDY ROUGHS UP MARYLAND, DC; FLOODING STILL AHEAD; NYC, NJ, BREEZY, ROCKAWAY DEVASTATED

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

SANDY UPDATE

Today will be a day of damage assessment in Bethesda, and the DC area.  We've taken damage for sure, and it's too early to know just how much.  But we can also be thankful that we clearly did not take the beating that New York City and New Jersey did.

Over the night, winds in Bethesda significantly decreased after 1:00 AM.  Some forecasters are saying we could still have occasional gusts up to 50 MPH through the evening.  In general, though, expect winds to peak in the high 20s today.  We could get 4-5" more rain before Sandy moves on.  And a crest is moving down the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry.  That will cause flooding down here eventually, particularly tomorrow into Thursday.  Other streams are likely to flood, and Little Falls Parkway remains closed between River Road and Massachusetts Avenue.

So far, Pepco has done a pretty good job.  The primary outages reported were mostly in North Bethesda and the River Road/Wilson Lane area.  Obviously, the risk of outages remains as trees can still fall.

Strosniders received a new shipment last night, including flashlights, lanterns, window covers, chainsaws, and the ever-elusive D batteries.

Scott Graham of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue service said that MCFRS responded to 324 calls Monday, and another 47 calls since midnight.

The top wind gust reported in Montgomery County was 76 MPH in Laytonsville.  By comparison, the top wind speed recorded anywhere in the U.S. last night was 120 MPH, in Mount Washington, NH.

Sandy was perhaps the best forecast storm in history.  It followed the Euro model track almost exactly.  It made landfall 5 miles south of Atlantic City.  It also produced the predicted snow west of us:  17" so far in Davis, WV!

West Virginia and Western Maryland highways experienced whiteout conditions last night.  Not surprising, given that Sandy was centered near Lancaster, PA at one point.  According to the National Hurricane Center, Sandy remains "next door" in Pennsylvania this morning.

Finally, we have a lot to be thankful for here.  In flooded Breezy Point/Rockaway Beach in NYC, over 50 structures burnt down when flooding prevented firefighters from reaching the area in great numbers.  One resident said on Twitter that he and 100 other families are now homeless.  At least part of the Rockaway Boardwalk was also destroyed.  Once home to a famous amusement park, Rockaway remains home to several of Robert Moses' significant infrastructure projects.  So it is definitely sad to hear of this tragedy in a great American community.

We're not done with Sandy yet, but the news from states north of us reminds us it could have been far worse.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for updates!

LATEST FORECAST: HURRICANE SANDY WILL HIT MARYLAND, DC HARD BUT EVEN WORSE IN BALTIMORE, DELMARVA, PHILADELPHIA, NJ, NYC, LONG ISLAND

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

SANDY UPDATE

The latest predicted track for Hurricane Sandy is only slightly better news for Maryland and the DC area.  Rather than the very-worst-case scenario of a landfall between Norfolk and Delaware, Sandy is now expected to slam directly into the New Jersey coast.

What does this mean?  We will still have wind damage, falling trees, power outages, and transportation disruptions.  Don't be fooled; this is still potentially one of the worst storms in Mid-Atlantic history.

The difference is that many forecasters - and remember, these are just forecasts! - have trimmed our threat levels a notch.  We are now expected to get 4-8" of rain, with some saying 4-6", in the DC area.  And some are predicting wind gusts of 60 MPH, rather than the 70 MPH we were hearing on Saturday.

In contrast, the same models are showing 8" of rain, with 12" in hard-hit areas, and wind gusts of 70+ MPH for the Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, and possibly Baltimore.  Charm City is on the southern edge of the new track, but all we know for sure is that Baltimore will have slightly worse conditions than the DC area, should this track hold.

60 MPH is still enough to blow window panes out, and knock over trees and power lines.

Another change, is that the worst peak of the storm for us has moved later into Monday evening, and into the late night hours.  Conditions will begin to deteriorate today in the DC and Maryland area.  I'm sure you can hear the winds starting to pick up intermittently, even as you read this.

Monday morning rush hour will be unpleasant, but the evening will be the one to cause the most concern.  I noticed that Sandy has slowed by 3 MPH just since 5:00 AM, so you have to factor those kinds of speed variables into the timing.

Tropical wind and rain conditions will continue in the DC area and Maryland suburbs into Thursday.  This could have a potential impact on Halloween.

Here is the latest data on Sandy:

LOCATION:  395 miles E of Charleston, SC

WINDS:  75 MPH

MOVING:  NE at 10 MPH

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AROMA ESPRESSO BAR - ISRAEL'S BIGGEST COFFEE CHAIN - TO OPEN BETHESDA LOCATION IN DECEMBER

UNIQUE MENU ITEMS

COMING TO

WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY

LOCATION

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Big news for Bethesda caffeine fiends:  The Israeli version of Starbucks, Aroma Espresso Bar, will open a Bethesda location in December 2012.

Aroma has chosen to expand in some interesting and underrated locales, such as Romania, Ukraine and Poland.  Their US expansion has been largest in New York City.

I've never been to an Aroma cafe, so I have to turn to my NYC sources, who have been to the Upper West Side location.  Their consensus was that the coffee was no better or worse than Starbucks, and the food was what gave Aroma an advantage over competitors.

Well, I'm looking forward to giving Aroma a try, and coming to my own conclusions.

Examining their menu, I notice they have some unique items:  Alfajor South American cookies, Rugalach, Pancake Bites, and Bulgarian pastries called Bureka.  But they are savory pastries, rather than sweet.

There is a Mediterranean influence on the sandwich, salad and breakfast menus, and a pudding called Sachlav, with coconut, pistachio and cinnamon.

I'd like to have more international chains like this open here.  Vapiano and Kraze Burger were two of the most interesting restaurants to open in recent years, and their origins overseas brought new variety to their menus.

Look forward to taking a caffeine break during holiday shopping this December, at Aroma in Westfield Montgomery Mall!

THE FRONT ROW AT BETHESDA ROW COUNTDOWN:

T-MINUS 48 HOURS

URBAN CHIC'S ULTIMATE

FRONT ROW GIVEAWAY

There will be no shortage of fashion events and trunk shows around Bethesda Row during The Front Row event, Thursday to Saturday this week.

And, of course, die-hard fashionistas will hit them all.  But what about those ladies who don't have time to get to every store?  That's why you are here, as Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row picks the best of the best of The Front Row, as we count down to the DC area's biggest fashion event.

Yesterday, I told you about Redwood's Urban Country Runway Lounge, and after-party Friday night.

Today, I'm bringing you what is arguably the best of the individual boutique events, the Urban Chic Rebecca Minkoff and Shoshanna Trunk Show.

Why should you make sure to hit this show, which runs Thursday-Saturday?

Well, sure, you're getting 15% off the Minkoff and Shoshanna merchandise.  And FREE champagne and "treats."  As well as FREE mini-makeovers from 5-7 PM Friday evening.

But the biggest deal is the contest:

Buy $100+ of Rebecca Minkoff merchandise, and you'll be eligible to win tickets to the Rebecca Minkoff fall runway show and after-party in New York City.  Or a consolation prize of a mini MAC bag.

So make plans to stop by Urban Chic during The Front Row at Bethesda Row!

Urban Chic, 7126 Bethesda Lane.  301-657-0290.