Bethesda construction update: The Lauren ultra-luxury condos (Photos)

The Lauren is really taking shape at the corner of Hampden Lane and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Many windows are in place, and there's even a car on the ramp leading down into the garage. This ultra-luxury condo building is aiming to be the most exclusive in Bethesda.

The tower crane at
rival Toll Brothers
Hampden Row project
in the distance

A car coming out of
the garage already?

View toward
Bethesda Metro Center

Bethesda Circulator passing

Some windows going in

Wine event at Bethesda Row today

Bethesda Row is hosting its annual Perfect Pairings wine event today from 1:00-5:00 PM, for those 21 and older. Tickets can be ordered online for $44.00 + fees. Or you can buy them on-site for $49 today.

Ticketholders (who must show I.D.) will be able to sample more than 20 wines from around the world, and paired with food from some of the best restaurants around the Row.

• American Tap Room
• Cork & Fork
• Lebanese Taverna
• Mamma Lucia
• Mon Ami Gabi
• Mussel Bar
• Raku
• Redwood
• Vino Volo

Your Perfect Pairings ticket also entitles you to special savings and offers at many Bethesda Row businesses today:

Roosters Men’s Grooming Center

Enjoy $10 off a Roosters service with your Perfect Pairings passport (no expiration).

Kendra Scott

Take 15% off your Kendra Scott purchase with your passport on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11.

MyEyeDr.

Stop by for a pop-up Sidewalk Sale between Perfect Pairings stops! Buy one pair of eyeglasses, get a second pair free with your passport!

Mamma Lucia

Enjoy half-priced bottles of wine from Mamma Lucia’s wine list when you you dine in with your passport on Saturday, October 10, 5-11pm.

Le Pain Quotidien

All passport holders will receive half-priced wine when dining in at Le Pain Quotidien, plus the first 20 guests will receive an LPQ bowl and complimentary organic Beligan chocolate brownie on Saturday, October 10.

Secolari Olive Oil & Vinegar

Stop in for complimentary Champagne Mimosa Spritzer mocktails paired with bread & cheese boards featuring Secolari mustards, spreads, jams, honeys and dipping oils/vinegars. Plus, take 10% off Champagne Mimosa Vinegar on Saturday, October 10.

Le Creuset

Enjoy 30% off the new Glassware Collection on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, plus enter the Perfect Pairings raffle in-store.

Wear It Well

Stop by on Saturday, October 10 to enjoy “mystery” in-store discounts with your Perfect Pairings passport.

Williams-Sonoma

Samples of Williams-Sonoma treats paired with wine. Get a free set of wine glasses with any qualifying purchase (while supplies last).

Assault in Pike District, theft on Swansea St. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 6, according to crime data:

Theft. 7200 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 6100 block Swansea Street.

Death. Wisconsin Avenue at West Virginia Avenue at 8:33 PM.

Kidnapping. 7700 block Norfolk Avenue at 3:11 PM.

Disorderly conduct. Willard Avenue at Friendship Boulevard at 7:37 PM.

Disorderly conduct. 10200 block Westlake Drive at 6:05 PM.

Drug arrest. 9900 block Derbyshire Lane at 2:45 AM.

Death. 10400 block Grosvenor Place at 5:21 PM.

Assault. 12200 Chase Crossing Circle at 12:24 AM (Pike District).

Marmi boutique coming to Bethesda

Marmi, a specialty boutique offering European-influenced shoes and accessories, is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The St. Louis based-chain was launched in 1986.

One aspect of Marmi's inventory touted by the company is the range of sizes it carries, from 4 to 13, and from slim to wide.

You can check out their website to get an idea of the products they carry.

Williams-Sonoma opening this morning at Bethesda Row (Photos)

We're T-minus two hours away from the Grand Opening of Williams-Sonoma at Bethesda Row this morning. The high-end kitchen, cookware and home decorating store is teaming up with Bethesda Avenue neighbor Georgetown Cupcake all weekend to celebrate.

This is one of the first Williams-Sonoma stores in their chain to sport this particular interior design and layout, which the chain will eventually roll out in other select locations. The first thing you'll notice upon entering is the table setting for pumpkin season straight ahead. That's just one of many fall, pumpkin, and Halloween-themed items you'll find around the store.

But if you stop by this weekend, you'll probably notice the pumpkin aromas wafting out onto Bethesda Avenue before you even go inside. General Manager Travis Montgomery says they'll be baking and preparing pumpkin treats all weekend at the store. On Thursday, a coffee display was set up ready for demonstration as well. The other reason you'll notice the aromas at a distance? Williams-Sonomas' storefront can open like the front of Redwood during nice weather.

You can custom order one of
these French stoves, entirely
hand-made, for around
$23,000

Also up front is a hand-made stove from France. Like everything but the walls, floor and cash registers, it is for sale. That's right - if you see a table, a chair, or anything else you like in the store, it's for sale.

At the same time, there
are many affordable items
available, like these
$6 plates in their
Open Kitchen line

 The new store at 4824 Bethesda Avenue will replace the one at Mazza Gallerie, and also features many new proprietary products, such as.... Montgomery said Williams-Sonoma is expanding its proprietary product offerings, which are being sold alongside the top brands you're used to finding at their stores.

One of many new
Williams-Sonoma brand
products for sale

In fact, there's one display dedicated to a brand Williams-Sonoma has been associated with from its earliest days, Vitamix.

Vitamix

The stove in the center of the store is gas, and is brand new. Employees were testing out the burners Thursday when I stopped by.

Employees fire up the
gas burners

Demonstration kitchen

The stove is the
centerpiece

If you stop by today, Saturday or Sunday, you'll be in for a treat - literally.

They'll be giving away Georgetown Cupcakes. Get a Williams-Sonoma Open Kitchen tote bag with any $25 purchase.

On Saturday at 12:00 PM, there will be a Georgetown Cupcake technique class for all of you cupcake fanatics. These types of classes will be a regular weekend event at the store.

Gifts for the ghoul
in your life

Lots of Halloween food
products and decorations

Stick around, because from 1-4 PM, the store will participate in the Bethesda Row Perfect Pairings event. Enjoy Williams-Sonoma treats specially paired with appropriate wine selections. Make a purchase, and you'll get a free set of wine glasses (while supplies last).

Come back Sunday for a bake sale with Georgetown Cupcake, with all proceeds going to the worthy charity No Kid Hungry.

Store hours will be 10 AM to 8 PM Monday to Saturday, and 12 PM to 6 PM. However, they will take appointments for wedding registries and other personalized services in advance for 11:00 AM Sundays. Montgomery said you can even have store employees come to your home as a free service, to advise you on kitchen makeovers and interior decorating.

This store will feature some Bethesda-based companies' products, including Gordy's Pickle Jar and Dear Cocoa Chocolate.

Finally, make sure to pick up some of the seasonal catalogs. You'll find interesting ideas for Halloween, like this impressive ghost cake - and the molded pan you need to bake it.

These aren't just
standard display
shelves... 

...look closer and find
they are vintage French
baking pans 

Sex offense on East-West Hwy., burglary on Battery La. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 5, according to crime data:

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 7100 block Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row).

Burglary. 4800 block Battery Lane at 4:19 PM.

Other sexual offense. 4300 block East-West Highway at 4:05 PM.

Vehicle burglary. 7000 block Exfair Road (Edgemoor).

Theft. 5600 block Oak Place.

Theft from vehicle. Giant (Westwood Shopping Center) at 6:03 PM.

Theft. Panera Bread (Friendship Heights).

Vehicle burglary. 3100 block Leland Street.

Death. 8100 block Connecticut Avenue at 11:43 PM (Chevy Chase Lake).

Montgomery County's low unemployment rate doesn't mean jobs were created in the county

Montgomery County is again touting its low unemployment rate, reported by the Maryland DLLR as 3.8% in August, according to an official County press release. While it's always good news that residents are employed, and it would be fine if the press release stopped there, unfortunately it goes further.

The release proceeds to give credit for the increase to the County's "Six-Point Economic Plan designed to make the County even more competitive in business attraction and job growth."

Whoops. Unemployment rate has absolutely nothing to do with the county's job creation rate, which was far behind Northern Virginia counties and the District of Columbia during the same period. Add the qualifier of high-wage jobs, and MoCo's share plunges even further. And speaking of "business attraction," the County hasn't "attracted" a single major corporate headquarters to relocate here in over a decade.

Montgomery County's low unemployment is due to the many jobs being created outside of its borders in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties and the District, which its residents travel to each morning on the congested roads of our unfinished highway system.

In fact, Montgomery County's 3.8% unemployment rate itself isn't special in the region at all. Arlington County (2.7%), the City of Alexandria (3.2%) and Loudoun County (3.4%) all beat MoCo in August, while cleaning our clocks in job creation. Those numbers come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as of September 30, 2015.

Another "Four Pinocchios"/"Pants on Fire" fact check rating for Montgomery County's political machine. We may have low unemployment, but our County's economic development remains moribund.