Power outage darkens multiple high-rises in Bethesda (Photos)

Crescent Plaza blacked out

Thousands of downtown Bethesda residents lost power and air conditioning around 8:44 PM tonight after a mysterious power outage darkened multiple high-rises near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Miller Lane. Pepco has been on-scene for a couple of hours now trying to restore power to several properties, including the Solaire Bethesda apartments, the Crescent Plaza condos, and some nearby garden apartments. True Food Kitchen, located in the ground floor of the Solaire, was forced to close early tonight due to the power outage. 

Pepco workers in front of
True Food Kitchen, which was
among those without power tonight

The Pepco website shows power has now been restored to all downtown Bethesda customers affected.

Garden apartments off Woodmont Avenue

True Food Kitchen had to close
early due to the power outage

Pepco employee shines his flashlight
near a manhole that men would soon
descend into to fix the problem

Solaire Bethesda in the dark

True Food Kitchen to open June 14 in Bethesda

The new Bethesda location of True Food Kitchen finally has an opening date. It will open June 14 in the ground floor of the new Solaire Bethesda apartments, located at 7077 Woodmont Avenue. 

True Food Kitchen will occupy 6400 SF with its open-kitchen-centered dining room, but also offer a covered outdoor patio for up to 35 diners. With a health oriented menu based on the anti-inflammatory diet of Dr. Andrew Weil, the restaurant will emphasize fresh and seasonal ingredients and dishes. Garden bases with fresh herbs and spices will be as much a part of the decor as the locally-inspired artworks.

“We think that Solaire Bethesda is the perfect location for True Food Kitchen,” WPC's Senior Vice President of Development and Acquisitions, Daryl South, said in a statement today. “Bethesda is home to the National Institutes of Health and is one of the nation’s most bicycle-friendly communities. We think this exciting restaurant concept will be a magnet for Bethesda’s discerning and health-conscious residents as well as visitors from all over the area.”

True Food Kitchen Bethesda opening pushed back to June

True Food Kitchen's Bethesda restaurant won't make its previously-announced Spring 2017 debut. The company says the grand opening will now be in June 2017. They are currently hiring a sous chef for the restaurant. Serving upscale, healthy cuisine, True Food Kitchen will be located in the Solaire Bethesda apartment building, and its address will be 7100 Wisconsin Avenue.

Sign installed at True Food Kitchen in Bethesda (Photos)

The sign is up at the future True Food Kitchen restaurant, in the Solaire Bethesda luxury apartments at 7077 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda. True Food Kitchen is scheduled to open this Spring.

Bethesda construction update: True Food Kitchen (Photos)

The interior build-out of the future True Food Kitchen in the ground floor of the Solaire Bethesda apartments, at 7077 Woodmont Avenue, continues. A new entry in the recent trend of health-oriented restaurants, True Food Kitchen is scheduled to open this Spring.

Bethesda construction update: True Food Kitchen (Photos)

The build-out of True Food Kitchen, the anchor tenant at the new Solaire Bethesda apartment building at 7077 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda, is underway. A Spring 2017 opening is scheduled for the health-oriented restaurant, which draws its menu inspiration from the dietary principles of Dr. Andrew Weil.

True Food Kitchen posts Coming Soon signage at Solaire Bethesda (Photos)

True Food Kitchen, the restaurant and anchor tenant at the new Solaire Bethesda luxury apartments, has posted Coming Soon banners promoting a Spring 2017 opening on the Wisconsin Avenue side of the building. The chain follows the vanished Rock Creek and new Beefsteak concepts into the Bethesda dining market, with healthy, organic spa cuisine as the primary selling point. You can examine their Fairfax County location's menu for a sense of what they might offer here.

Fresh-pressed juices will be part of the health beverages (such as one called Medicine Man at their Mosaic location featuring black tea, cranberry and pomegranate juices, honey and sea buckthorn) and cocktails served at a large scratch bar inside the restaurant, and a covered patio will provide al fresco dining. The Solaire was just delivered last week by developer Washington Property Company, and is now leasing.

Their website is up, but the chain's email list signup is not yet letting you set Bethesda as your location.

Also new outside the Solaire, are benches that were just installed. They are somewhat homeless-proof, but probably too short to provide a comfortable sleeping spot between armrests, despite lacking the more-blatant mid-seat hobo-repellent armrest you often find in urban areas.

WPC delivers Solaire Bethesda; True Food Kitchen to open in early 2017

Washington Property Company has announced the official delivery of its Solaire Bethesda mixed-use development at 7077 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The Solaire's 139 apartments range from 606 SF studios to three-bedroom units that boast over 1,400 SF of living space. True Food Kitchen, the ground floor restaurant tenant, is now scheduled to open early next year.

Apartment features include stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops, spa-inspired bathrooms with crafted wood vanity cabinets, and plank flooring. Among the amenities are a 24-hour front desk with concierge services, resort-inspired outdoor terrace overlooking the downtown, a pet spa, available onsite storage, modern fitness center, and a fifth-floor resident lounge with entertainment bar, gaming area, and lounge seating.

“Solaire Bethesda sets a new standard for modern urban living in Bethesda,” Daryl South, Senior Vice President of WPC said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide residents with not only an incredible apartment home in a premier location, but also with service and convenience that will make our residents’ lives a little bit less hectic so they can enjoy living in downtown Bethesda.” The Solaire is only 800 feet from the future south entrance of the Bethesda Metro station and Purple Line light rail station.

On a related side note, I have to salute Charles K. Nulsen III, the President of WPC, not only for the completion of the project, but because he has also generously donated $1000 to the effort to pass term limits in Montgomery County. That's really the only way we are going to ever address the many problems I write about on this blog, and which we've heard citizens testifying about at meetings all this week - by "throwing the bums out." It's critical to have leaders like Mr. Nulsen who aren't just contributing to the economy, but to the civic health of our County. Hopefully other business leaders will step up in the remaining 19 days to support voting "Yes" on Question B on November 8.

Bethesda construction update: Solaire Bethesda luxury apartments (Photos)

The lobby doors are installed at the new Solaire Bethesda luxury apartments, complete with branding buzz phrase, "A Flair for Living," stenciled onto the glass. Build-out of the lobby itself is underway, as is construction of the Bethesda-streetscape-standard sidewalk around the new development.

The Solaire Bethesda will have 139 units, and a True Food Kitchen restaurant on the ground floor. Scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks, the Solaire's developer is Washington Property Company.

Although the property was addressed as 7100 Wisconsin Avenue when it was Eastham's Exxon, it's interesting that they have changed the address to 7077 Woodmont Avenue.