CHIKO, Chef Tony's Promenade location open in Bethesda

There are two new restaurants to try this week in Bethesda. Chinese-Korean fusion CHIKO is now open at 7820 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. They are open daily from 5:00-9:00 PM for takeout and delivery orders.

Over at the Promenade at Pooks Hill, Chef Tony Marciante's newest location of Chef Tony's is now open, as well.  The Promenade is located at 5225 Pooks Hill Road, north of downtown Bethesda off MD 355. Drive through the front gate, take a right, and then take the first left for parking. Of course, Promenade residents only have to go downstairs. Now, yet another reason to live at the Promenade, which is like a luxury cruise ship on land.

Downtown Bethesda Chef Tony's fans also have something new to try at the original 4926 St. Elmo Avenue location. Three new varieties of cheesecake are on the dessert menu at the St. Elmo location only.

The Promenade goes smoke-free in Bethesda

The resort atmosphere at The Promenade will now come with fresher air. Shareholders at the flagship of developer Nathan Landow's portfolio of luxury buildings in Bethesda voted by a 9-1 margin Monday night to make the gated high-rise officially smoke-free.

More than 80% of shareholders cast votes at the meeting. One person familiar with the history of the issue at The Promenade said that less than ten years ago, the matter did not even have sufficient support to be put up for a vote. The question of going smoke-free is one that is more and more frequently discussed at building board meetings in downtown Bethesda. Post-recession luxury towers that have opened advertising their smoke-free status seem to have added momentum to the discussion.

Cell towers to get taller atop The Promenade in Bethesda

Existing cell towers atop The Promenade are about to get taller. AT&T is proposing to increase the towers to a tip height of 213'.

Promenade fire displaces over 1000 residents, sends 17 people to hospital

Living in the flagship of developer Nathan Landow's Bethesda residential buildings, The Promenade, is usually like being aboard a luxury cruise ship. On Saturday morning, it was more like The Poseidon Adventure, as Montgomery County firefighters fought a stubborn fire in close quarters in the building's electrical room, and residents struggled down smoke-filled stairwells. One firefighter and six residents were injured - mostly due to smoke inhalation - and eleven other residents were treated for complications from their pre-existing medical conditions. The firefighter was suffering from heat exhaustion, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

More than 500 units at the luxury coop at 5225 Pooks Hill Road were evacuated, after smoke from the electrical fire below rose into the upper floors of the building. Many more in Pooks Hill lost power during the several hours it took to extinguish the blaze, which was started by a transformer. It should be noted that smoke from electrical fires can be particularly hazardous to health, depending on the material used to shield the wiring.

The North Tower of the complex was left without power, meaning that residents in those units will be displaced possibly more than 24 hours, as repairs are made to restore electricity. Red Cross officials, mass casualty units, and the Montgomery County Department of Emergency Management were on-scene to assist residents in securing temporary housing. Because the issue is mainly the lack of power, those residents were allowed to retrieve any belongings they needed from their units last night.

Damage is estimated by MCFRS at around $1 million.

Bottom photo: MCFRS

AT&T wants to place cell towers atop DoubleTree Bethesda hotel, modify Promenade towers

DoubleTree Bethesda hotel

AT&T is proposing to place at least two cell towers on top of the DoubleTree Bethesda hotel, located at 8120 Wisconsin Avenue. The towers would be 159' tall. Meanwhile, the wireless company is also proposing to modify existing tower facilities atop The Promenade at 5225 Pooks Hill Road. The new tower tip height proposed for the Nathan Landow-developed condominium buiding is 113'.

Assault at The Promenade, theft from vehicle in Green Acres + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on May 19, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 5400 block Bradley Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 5000 block Smallwood Drive (Green Acres).

Assault. The Promenade (Pooks Hill).

Assault. 5700 block Grosvenor Lane.

Assault. 9900 block Montauk Avenue at 1:27 PM.

Car broken into at The Promenade, theft at Bloomingdale's + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 1, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 3700 block Underwood Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Vehicle burglary. The Promenade (Pooks Hill).

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Bradmoor Drive.

Theft. 5200 block Randolph Road (Pike District).