Firefighters rescue window washers trapped at Marriott HQ in Bethesda (Photos)

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel have rescued two window washers who were trapped on their scaffolding at the Marriott International headquarters in downtown Bethesda. The two workers were washing windows four stories above the ground when the system that raises and lowers their scaffolding broke down. Montgomery County police, Montgomery County Technical Rescue Truck 700-B, and the MCFRS Maryland Task Force One urban search and rescue unit also responded to the scene. 

Power was temporarily cut to a Pepco utility pole during the rescue effort, MCFRS acting spokesperson David Pazos said. Ultimately, the workers were rescued using a ladder truck. Neither worker suffered any injury, Pazos reported. 

Photos 1-3: Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row; 4 by David Pazos/MCFRS

Tacombi Bethesda collaborates with Chef Ashish Alfred on limited-time Chicken Tikka Masala taco

Restaurateur and chef Ashish Alfred has successfully fused Indian flavors with burgers and fries at his new Good Ducking Burger at 7929 Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda. Why not tacos next? Alfred has collaborated with Tacombi chef Carmen Miranda to create a Chicken Tikka Masala taco, which will be available only at the Bethesda Tacombi location at 4749 Bethesda Avenue from the evening of October 26 until Thanksgiving 2023. 

The fusion taco will present a Vista Hermosa corn tortilla loaded with garam masala, ginger, and butter chicken sauce, topped with cotija cheese. "This partnership is an example of how both Tacombi and The Alfred Restaurant Group are committed to the people, neighborhoods, and organizations that have and continue to support them, and are now bringing something new and exciting to the community of Bethesda," Tacombi said in a statement this morning.

Calzedonia opening soon at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Calzedonia is opening soon at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Italian brand specializes in legwear, swimwear and socks. Calzedonia also owns Intimissimi, a lingerie brand that also has a boutique at the mall. When Calzedonia opens, look for it on Level 1, between Talbots and Sunglass Hut.

Bethesda construction update: Sophia Bethesda apartment tower (Photos)

The Sophia Bethesda apartment tower (née the St. Elmo Apartments) appears close to topping out at 4924 St. Elmo Avenue in the Woodmont Triangle. As you can see, the first window glass is now being installed, but there is also some concrete pouring still happening, courtesy of the legendary Rockville Fuel & Feed Co., Inc. and Miller & Long. Developed by Greystar and Duball, LLC, the 22-story Sophia will house 276 luxury apartments, 6000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space, and a 222-space underground parking garage. A September 2024 delivery is anticipated.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Friday afternoon, October 20, 2023. The assault was reported at 3:07 PM Friday. This is the fourth assault reported at the mall this year, and the first since July 19. Despite that, violent crime has trended downward at the mall since police established a "resource room" at the popular retail center, following a string of assaults last year. By comparison, there were 12 assaults reported at the mall in 2022.

The Fix moves at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The Fix has relocated inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Its old space near the food court has been cleared out. Look for the device repair and accessories shop next to AT&T. The Fix opened at the mall in 2017. Their new spot looks a bit bigger.

Yet another Pepco brownout in Westbard area of Bethesda

Some Westbard-area residents briefly lost power once again, in the latest Pepco brownout in that area of Bethesda since 2017. Residents reported a power loss of about 7 seconds early Thursday evening, October 19, 2023 at 6:21 PM. The last incident was a full power outage October 2, 2023 at 1:50 AM, only 17 days earlier. 

There was no inclement weather during either incident. If you were among the customers affected, make sure to make a note of the brownout in your records. Should your appliances or devices that were plugged in fail, Pepco is responsible for the damage.

Will Jawando ends campaign for Maryland U.S. Senate seat

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D - At-Large) announced this morning that he is ending his campaign for the Maryland U.S. Senate seat of Ben Cardin (D), who will retire in January 2025. In a statement released by his campaign, Jawando said that "after a lot of thought and prayer and late nights with my wife Michele, I’ve decided that it’s time to take a step back from the race. Not because we believe any less in the cause that started it. The fights we talked about in this campaign are and always will be the fights of my life. But after thinking long and hard about this race in particular, I frankly no longer see a path for myself to victory. And because I have so much respect for my loyal supporters, my constituents in Montgomery County, and my loving wife and children, I cannot remain in a race I do not believe I can win."

Jawando's exit is disappointing for progressive voters who supported his campaign. "I am sorry for those who will find this news disappointing – believe me, I am also disappointed," Jawando said. To his supporters, and the local and state-level elected officials who endorsed him, the councilman said, "I am so proud to have earned your support. I look forward to fighting alongside you each and every day. Thank you again to every supporter of my campaign, it truly means the world to me that you believed in me, my message, and our vision."

Barring a late entry by Congressman Jamie Raskin or another established progressive candidate, Jawando's exit is most likely to benefit Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. While many - including a few journalists - have questioned Alsobrooks' progressive bonafides based on her law enforcement record, she is still considered to stand to the left of her biggest rival, Congressman David Trone (D - 6th District). Police reform and transparency were niche issues for Jawando in the race, and those will likely fade into the background now that neither Trone nor Alsobrooks are likely to raise them going forward. 

While Jawando is folding his Senate campaign, he assured supporters he won't be stepping away from politics. "I am not going anywhere!" he said. "I will continue serving the people of Maryland no matter what." Some observers have theorized that, should a referendum barring Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) from seeking a third term appear on the 2024 ballot and pass, Jawando might be a candidate for that top County office in 2026. An open executive seat is likely to be pursued by Jawando, Councilmember Evan Glass (D - At-Large), and Councilmember Andrew Friedson (D - District 1), among other notable Democrats. As Jawando signed off in his statement today, "This is not the end – it is only the beginning."

Bethesda bikeway on Montgomery Lane nears finish line (Photos)

The leg of the Bethesda bikeway connecting Woodmont Avenue with Montgomery Avenue, via Montgomery Lane, appears to be nearing the finish line. In fact, some cyclists were using the new bike crosswalk on Wisconsin Avenue to reach Montgomery Avenue last night. Bike crossing signals appeared to be operational at the Montgomery Lane-Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) intersection. However, the covers over some of the signals had not yet been removed. 

Chip City sets opening date in Bethesda

We finally know when the cage match of New York City's best cookies will begin in downtown Bethesda. Chip City has announced it will open at 4939 Elm Street at the Shoppes of Bethesda on November 3, 2023. It will be about a block-and-a-half away from another Big Apple cookie shop, Levain Bakery at Bethesda Row. Chip City is in the process of expanding to 40 stores nationwide by the end of 2023. Regency Centers should make this a battle royale, by signing Crumbl Cookies at Westbard Square.

Pixel portraits featured at Gallery B in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

"Living in Bethesda," a new art exhibit, has opened at Gallery B at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Running through November 5, 2023, the exhibit by Bethesda resident and UK native Anna Rose Soevik features pixel portraits of famous figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIH in Bethesda, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Queen Elizabeth II. You can also commission a pixel portrait of yourself or a favorite person. Gallery B's hours are Friday - Saturday, 12:00 - 5:00 PM; and Sunday, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Signage installed at expanded Bone Jour in Bethesda (Photos)

Signage has been installed outside the new storefront of the expanded Bone Jour at 4923 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The doggie daycare and boarding facility is in the process of doubling in size. Its front reception desk will switch from the existing 4922 Del Ray Avenue side of the business over to this side. The awning signage includes the Bone Jour website address, but - so far - no lighted signage like the Del Ray side has.

PacSun closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

One of the longest-tenured tenants at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will soon close its doors forever. PacSun is now winding down operations. Everything in the store is on sale, and many shelves are already bare as a result.

The California-inspired casualwear store is also offering a Buy One, Get One Free promotion. We can't blame this particular closure on Montgomery County's moribund economy, or on the County Council. PacSun has been struggling as a chain for most of this century. Despite filing for, and successfully emerging from, bankruptcy nearly a decade ago, PacSun is repositioning itself in the market with a new women's activewear store concept.

Target limits self-checkout to 10 items or less

Target is the latest retailer to address the shoplifting epidemic by making life more difficult for its law-abiding customers. The big box chain is now introducing a new limit of 10 items for self-checkout. Giant supermarkets recently limited their self-checkout machines to 20 items or less. Amusingly, Target is telling media outlets that it has implemented the new policy to speed up lines at the self-checkout machines, rather than to stem the loss of merchandise. At least Giant was honest, in stating that "a significant increase in crime" was the reason for its new limit on items at self-checkout.

Longtime businesses say farewell to customers at Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda (Photos)

Several small businesses that have been fixtures at the Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda for decades are saying goodbye to their longtime customers, as they prepare to permanently close in late November. Anglo Dutch Pools & Toys, Fashion Craft Cleaners, and Relaxed Nails & Spa have posted farewell messages on their storefronts at the strip mall, which will be demolished this winter. None of the three businesses will make the transition to the Westbard Square development that is replacing the 1959 shopping center. 

Anglo Dutch will close November 30, 2023, after 38 years in business at the shopping center. Fashion Craft will shut down a couple of weeks before that, on November 15, after 33 years there. The last day to drop off clothes will be November 5. And Relaxed Nails & Spa will close forever on November 27. Giant, the Westwood Barber Shop, Starbucks, Voorthuis Opticians and the Montgomery County liquor store will move across the parking lot into the new Westbard Square development over the next few months.

First signage installed at new Westbard Square development in Bethesda (Photos)

The first business signage to appear at the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda is now in place, and it's at a business making the transition from decades of operation at the Westwood Shopping Center to the new Giant-anchored retail building at 5400 Westbard Avenue. A logo and operating hours for the Westwood Barber Shop have been applied to the windows of their future storefront at 5360 Westbard Avenue. Judging from the progress inside, it looks like the venerable barbershop could also be the first business to open at the mixed-use Regency Centers development, which will add an apartment building with ground floor retail, a small Chesapeake & Ohio Canal-inspired retail/restaurant building, a town square, a small neighborhood park, and dozens of EYA townhomes in the next phases of construction between now and 2027.

Prenuvo opening soon in downtown Bethesda

Prenuvo is opening soon at 7106 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The Vancouver, B.C.-based medical imaging start-up's clinic will be located in a former auto dealership showroom. Co-founded by radiologist Dr. Raj Attariwala, and named for a childhood friend who died from stage 4 metastatic colon cancer, Prenuvo's concept is that the imaging center should be your first - not second - stop in healthcare. Instead of being the place you are sent for tests by your doctor after an initial physical, Prenuvo offers a $2499 full-body MRI scan designed to detect tumors, abscesses, aneurysms, herniated disks, skeletal abnormalities, evidence of past or imminent strokes, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments that might otherwise be missed in a routine physical exam.

The Prenuvo MRI technology is designed to be faster than a traditional MRI machine. Prenuvo also claims its proprietary MRI software creates more accurate and complete imaging than a regular MRI scanner. The company is also making intensive use of artificial intelligence in its studies of health and medical conditions, and suggests AI may replace some radiologists in the future.

Maria Menounos at Bethesda Row
in 2014

Prenuvo has attracted attention via celebrity patients like Kim Kardashian and Maria Menounos. While many Prenuvo scanning sessions have wound up as yet another photo op for celebrity influencers on Instagram, the Prenuvo scan did detect Menounos' pancreatic cancer at an early stage, which she has credited for a successful treatment. Critics of the company have countered that most people, unlike celebrities, cannot afford the Prenuvo tests. Health insurance does not cover the Prenuvo scans, but the company says it offers financing, and notes that the cost of the scans is "typically tax-deductible."