CityDance construction to begin at Strathmore Square in Bethesda

Construction is set to begin soon on the CityDance Productions classroom and performance space at the Strathmore Square development, located at the Grosvenor Metro station in North Bethesda. The 5,200-square-foot space is the latest addition to the dance non-profit's locations in the region, joining those at the nearby Music Center at Strathmore, Parklawn Drive in Rockville, and the CityDance Studios at 5207 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. CityDance trains young dancers for professional careers in the field, with an emphasis on making education and performance opportunities accessible to diverse communities in the region. The first residential apartments are anticipated to open this year at the development, which is a partnership between FiveSquares Development, Strathmore, and local transit agency WMATA.

Triangle Art Studios signage appears at the Cheval Bethesda condo tower

The vacant artist spaces in the neon alley behind the new Cheval Bethesda ultra-luxury condo tower at 4960 Fairmont Avenue are finally showing some activity. Triangle Art Studios logos have been stenciled on the doors of the units. The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District had advertised the spaces to local artists with a July 27 deadline earlier this year. Rents start at $855 a month.

2018 Bethesda Row Arts Festival October 13-14

Save the date for the 2018 Bethesda Row Arts Festival, which will be held on October 13-14 on Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda Lane, Elm Street and Woodmont Avenue, which will become art galleries around Bethesda Row. More than 190 artists will participate in this year's festival, displaying ceramics, drawings, fabrics, glass, graphics, jewelry, metalwork, paintings, pastels, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and 2D and 3D mixed media.

The festival will run from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday, October 13, and from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 14. Admission is free. For more information, visit the official festival website.

Bethesda's Round House Theatre preparing for major renovation in early 2019

Downtown Bethesda's popular Round House Theatre is preparing for a major interior renovation next year. The renovation of the 36160 SF playhouse will cost over $6 million, and aims to create a more intimate and flexible performance venue, and a more-dynamic public space in the theatre's lobby.

Round House Theatre will close in January 2019 for the renovations, and the final two shows of the 2018-2019 season will move to the Lansburgh Theatre in the District. The renovations are expected to be complete in time for the launch of the 2019-2020 season in the fall of 2019.

The expansion will coincide with a broadening of the theatre's programs, with an emphasis on boosting the futures of local playwrights and actors. Round House is also implementing a capital plan to put its future on a more solid financial foundation.

Attack of the killer B sculptures in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Aluminum letter-B-shaped sculptures popped up all over downtown Bethesda yesterday. The apparently permanent additions to the streetscape are designed to brand downtown Bethesda as an arts and entertainment district, according to the Bethesda Urban Partnership. They were designed by Mark Kramer of Mark Kramer Architects.

Montgomery County paid $50,000, and many well-known Bethesda names, businesses and organizations contributed a matching amount:

• Bernard Family Foundation
• The Bernstein Companies
• Chevy Chase Land Company
• The Donohoe Companies
• EagleBank
• Fred & Starr Ezra
• Greenhill Realty
• Jane Fairweather Team/Coldwell Banker
• LA and LK Greenberg Charitable Foundation
• Lerch, Early & Brewer
• Linowes and Blocher
• Mark Kramer Architects
• Montgomery County, MD
• Stage 2 A/V Productions
• TD Bank
• Vamoose
• Zachary & Janna Oxman

What's your impression of the new sculptures? Leave your opinions in the comment section below.

Bethesda Urban Partnership seeks entries for 2nd annual $10,000 songwriting contest

$10,000 is up for grabs to an aspiring songwriter again this fall, in the 2nd annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. A second $2500 prize will go to a songwriter under the age of 18.

Contestants will submit three original songs, and each song must have lyrics. All genres are welcomed. Maximum song length is 4:30 minutes for each track. The finalists will each perform two of their original songs for a live audience on Friday, March 4, 2016, at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. Winners will be announced at the close of the performance.

The deadline for entries is November 6, 2015. For full rules and application, visit Bethesda UP's website.

Last year's inaugural winners say that the Bernard/Ebb prize has boosted their careers. Owen Danoff, winner of the $10,000 prize, has won further awards for his current album and is working on a new one. “After college I looked forward to returning home and reintroducing myself to the D.C. music scene,” Danoff says. “But I could not have imagined the opportunities that I have been given, or the outpouring of support for my music.”

Young songwriter award-winner Lexi Peto has used the momentum from her win to relocate to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. In Music City, she has played at Debi Champion’s showcase at the Commodore Grille, Pepsi Studio Gallery at Fontanel and with Buck McCoy at Legends Corner, to name a few. Her first album, Where I Belong, was released last November.

The Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards was founded by Bethesda resident and President of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, Cathy Bernard. It is named for Bernard's uncle, Fred Ebb, famed American songwriter, creator of Broadway hits Cabaret and Chicago and writer of songs including "New York, New York".