Black students more likely to be suspended by MCPS than by Texas schools

Everything's bigger in Texas - except racial disparities in public school discipline policies, apparently. A new study by Texas Appleseed helps provide further context to a recent report that showed African-American students in Montgomery County Public Schools are 3 times as likely to be suspended from school as white and Asian students.

In Texas, there are also racial disparities in school discipline. But the Texas Appleseed report, titled "Suspended Childhood", found that black students in that state are less likely to be suspended than black students in Montgomery County. Black students in Texas are more than 2 times as likely to be suspended as whites - not laudable, but lower than in MCPS schools.

Montgomery County should consider this comparison, and some of the recommendations in this report, as it continues to struggle with a growing achievement gap. A 2014 County Office of Legislative Oversight report confirmed that MCPS had declined, and the achievement gap had widened, since 2010.

Now we know that Montgomery County students also fared poorly on this year's PARCC exams, the scores of which determined less than half of MCPS high school students are ready for college-level work.

And that superintendent search? Yeah, that search. They'll get around to it. Maybe some of the WMATA runners-up will give it go. The Montgomery County Council and Board of Education have made slouching a science.

Cars stolen from Westbard Ave., Marinelli Rd., theft at La Madeleine + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on November 2, according to crime data:

Theft. 7700 block Norfolk Avenue.

Theft. La Madeleine (downtown Bethesda location).

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Edgemoor Drive.

Theft. 8300 block Woodmont Avenue.

Drug arrest. Old Georgetown Road at Cedar Lane.

Stolen car. 5300 block Westbard Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. Georgetown Square shopping center.

Drug arrest. 7200 block Thomas Branch Drive.

Stolen car. 5400 block Marinelli Road.

College Nannies and Tutors moving to Landow Building in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

One reader had asked where the tenants of the soon-to-be-demolished office building at 4962 Fairmont Avenue are going. I've found where one is headed. College Nannies and Tutors is moving to the nearby Landow Building.

College Tutors and Nannies offers just what the name implies - child care nannies, and one-on-one tutoring and test preparation.

You can learn more about their staff on their website.

4962 Fairmont is coming down to make room for the 4990 Fairmont luxury condo tower, being developed by Duball, LLC. It's always good to hear that a small business affected by the booming real estate market was able to locate a new space in the same neighborhood.

Hanaro appears to be for sale in Bethesda (Photo)

Hanaro, a popular sushi restaurant and bar at 7820 Norfolk Avenue, appears to be for sale. A Craigslist ad offering a "Japanese Restaurant in Bethesda for sale Turn key operation!!!" shows photos that resemble Hanaro, down to the patio furniture. Sale price? $500,000

The restaurant is still operating.

Theft on River Rd., disorder in downtown Bethesda + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Disorderly conduct. 7900 block Woodmont Avenue.

Assault. Tommy Joe's.

Disorderly conduct. 4900 block Cordell Avenue.

Drug arrest. Connecticut Avenue at Dunlop Street.

Theft. 5100 block River Road.

Lolli and Pops opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Lolli and Pops has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The new candy store is a veritable Willy Wonka factory selling a variety of candies and sweets from around the world, including Japanese soda, Spanish sourbelts, and Madagascar chocolates. Lolli and Pops is located on Level 1.

De Tapas to open in Bethesda (Photos)

The brothers behind Bold Bite Burgers Half Smokes and Salads are venturing into small plates in their newest downtown Bethesda venture. De Tapas will open in one of the new storefronts being created out of the shell of the former BlackFinn Bethesda bar at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue.

Alonso and Alvaro Roche have leased the Greenhill Capital space facing Norfolk Avenue. Local architecture firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. is designing a new street entrance for the restaurant, among other modifications to this and one other future storefront. The construction contractor for the $500,000 project will be Sigal Construction. As the signs suggest, a Spring 2016 opening is planned.

The brothers have only teased the concept by posting signage with the name, so it's too early to speculate if this will be a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant. Perhaps with their Venezuelan heritage, they might provide a new twist on the Spain-oriented concept already well-established at Jaleo and the nearby Guardado's. Stay tuned.

Halloween thieves steal 2 cars; assault at Nordstrom + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 31, according to crime data:

Disorderly conduct. 7900 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. 7900 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Stolen car. 8100 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Drug arrest. Glenbrook Parkway at Jones Bridge Road.

Drug arrest. Rockville Pike at Wilson Drive.

Stolen car. 6100 block Nevada Avenue (Chevy Chase Village).

Drug arrest. 5400 block Tuckerman Lane.

Theft. 4700 block Wilwyn Way (Randolph Hills).

Vehicle burglary. Tilden Middle School.

Assault. Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Congressional Country Club.

City Sports clears out at Pike & Rose (Photos)

As expected, City Sports vacated its space at Pike & Rose this weekend. The athletic apparel chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and its year-old store at the Federal Realty development ended up being one of the casualties.

Given the prominence of the corner space at the current main entrance to Pike & Rose, you can be sure Federal Realty does not want this sitting empty for long. Particularly with the holiday shopping season rapidly approaching.

Knits, Etc. closes on Bethesda Avenue (Photos)

An apparent pop-up shop went poof Monday at Bethesda Row. Knits, Etc., which had just returned to the Row in late September, has cleared out its space at 4808 Bethesda Avenue.

Previously home to jewelry boutique Amethyst, the space was hosting Knits Etc. in its second stint at Bethesda Row. Knits had previously closed its original Bethesda Avenue store in 2012.

Theft at Apple Store, drug bust on Rosedale Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 30, according to crime data:

Theft. Apple Store at 5:58 PM (Bethesda Row).

Theft from vehicle. 4800 block Battery Lane.

Drug arrest. 4700 block Rosedale Avenue at 10:27 PM.

Vehicle burglary. 6900 block Nevis Road.

Vehicle burglary. White Flint Mall.

Drug arrest. 7100 block Laverock Lane at 10:06 PM.

Disorderly conduct. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard at 10:28 AM.

Drug arrest. 5200 block Crossfield Court at 2:04 AM.

Bethesda construction update: Community restaurant (Photos)

Who will win the diner face-off across Veteran's Park in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle? Well, first they have to build Community before it can challenge the venerable Tastee Diner. And that's exactly what they're doing right now, in the ground floor of the future 7770 Norfolk luxury condo tower on Norfolk Avenue.

Paisano's Pizza to open today in Bethesda (Photos)

Paisano's Pizza, which has been named the best pizza in the DC area by listeners of WTOP, plans to open today in downtown Bethesda. The restaurant is located at 4914 Del Ray Avenue.

As you can see in the photo, the Coca-Cola beverage cooler is already stocked. If you want to check out their menu before heading over, get a preview on my post from Saturday. 

Of course, you can also have them bring it to you, by calling 301-215-9200. I'm looking forward to trying their pizza.

In other downtown Bethesda pizza news, the future Domino's on St. Elmo Avenue is now hiring:

Car stolen in Pike District, drug arrest at Suburban Hospital + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on October 29, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 4500 block West Virginia Avenue.

Drug arrest. Suburban Hospital.

Burglary. 3600 block Shepherd Street.

Burglary. 3600 block Shepherd Street.

Stolen car. 5400 block McGrath Street (Pike District).

Bethesda construction update: Element 28 luxury apartments (Photos)

The Element 28 luxury apartment tower is throwing us an architectural curve along Commerce Lane in downtown Bethesda. Check out how that facade is taking shape, and more of the details on this Kettler project across from the Bethesda Metro station at 7535 Old Georgetown Road.

Element 28 will include 101 apartments and 3500 SF of retail. According to the updated website, the 15-story project is expected to deliver in Fall 2016. But - the banner along the construction site says Spring 2016.

Place your bets.

Curved facade along
Commerce Lane 

Future ramp down into
the parking garage 

Wendy's now under construction at Naval Support Activity Bethesda

The new Wendy's that is replacing the McDonald's at Naval Support Activity Bethesda on the Walter Reed campus is now under construction. Workers are converting the Golden Arches restaurant into a Wendy's. Unfortunately, the finished restaurant will only be accessible to those who have the credentials to get onto the base.

Photo courtesy Wendy's