Bethesda construction update: Lucky Strike at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

A sneak peek inside the future Lucky Strike Social at Westfield Montgomery Mall shows that there is a long way to go before opening day there. I also find this fascinating, as this space was previously home to the former Montgomery Mall 3 movie theater, which had to first be demolished. This bowling alley will compete with Pinstripes up the road at Pike & Rose.

Theft at Lord & Taylor, theft at Bloomingdale's + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 8, according to crime data:

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Theft. Lord & Taylor (White Flint Mall).

Theft. 11500 block Rockville Pike.

Covered sidewalk in place at Cheval Bethesda construction site (Photos)

Pedestrians will continue to have access to the sidewalk along Old Georgetown Road at the construction site of the Cheval Bethesda condo tower, thanks to this new covered walkway just completed. The access is particularly important to downtown Bethesda residents in the Woodmont Triangle and beyond, because this is a major pedestrian route for many walking to and from the Bethesda Metro station. However, the Fairmont Avenue sidewalk remains blocked off alongside the project.

24-hour Safeway won't be tonight and tomorrow night in Bethesda

The 24-hour Safeway store at 5000 Bradley Boulevard will temporarily close overnight for routine maintenance work. It will close at midnight tonight, and Friday night, August 12. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, August 13.

I can confirm that this is indeed routine maintenance, as the store does this from time to time. A (temporary) cutback in nighttime hours that we can't blame on the votes and failed "nighttime economy" initiative of Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer - now that's rare in Bethesda!

Assault on Norfolk Ave., theft from vehicle at Leland St. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 7, according to crime data:

Assault. 7700 block Norfolk Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. Wisconsin Avenue at Leland Street

Vehicle burglary. 7800 block Custer Road.

Vehicle burglary. 4600 block Roxbury Drive.

Vehicle burglary. 10000 block Parkwood Drive.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 1000 block Seven Locks Road.

Just over the D.C. line:

Assault with deadly weapon. 5300 block Wisconsin Avenue N.W. at 6:17 PM.

How to get a free appetizer at special happy hour Thursday at Carluccio's at Pike & Rose

Escape to the Amalfi coast without leaving Bethesda Thursday, August 11, at Carluccio's at Pike & Rose.

From 4:00-7:00 PM, they'll be hosting a Salute to Summer! happy hour to not only celebrate the season, but to introduce some new Happy Hour seasonal cocktails and menu items.

Here's the best part - there will be an exclusive offer just for you, the readers of this blog, during the happy hour, for the Thursday, August 11 event only.

Mention "Bethesda Row" to receive a free small plate appetizer off the new Aperitivo menu (Sharing boards not included). Drink specials will include $4 Italian imports, $6 cocktails, and $6 Italian wines.

Enjoy happy hour at Carluccio's every weekday, from 4:00-7:00 PM.

Carluccio's is located at 11826 Trade Street in North Bethesda. Parking is available directly across from the restaurant in the Trade Street garage.

Westwood Wednesdays tonight at Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda

Make your own snack mix and try a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich tonight, August 10, at the Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. Food trucks Say Cheese and Kona Ice will be on hand, as will acoustic rock and blues artist Ken Fischer. Tiny Chefs will help your tiny chef create his or her own snack mix and decorate a chef's hat, and Bach to Rock's Bethesda staff will have games and instruments to play.

Tonight's event will run from 5:00-8:00 PM in the upper parking lot near Rite Aid.

Westwood Shopping Center

5400 Westbard Avenue

Public meeting tonight on future of Lynnbrook Park activity building in Bethesda

The Montgomery County Department of Parks is holding a public meeting tonight, Wednesday, August 10, regarding the near-future use of the activity building at Lynnbrook Local Park, at 7:00 PM, at Bethesda Elementary School at 7600 Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda. A 5-year lease of the facility by Chevy Chase Reggio Day Care is nearing its end in early 2017.

At present, the department intends to renew the daycare's lease, but is seeking public input on the matter at tonight's meeting. Presumably, strong community feelings about the use of the building could influence the department's decision.

Lynnbrook Local Park is located at 8008 Newdale Road in Bethesda. The 5-acre park includes a playground, a softball field and two tennis courts.

Cars stolen from Bethesda Row public garage & Thornapple St., theft in Kenwood + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Stolen car. Bethesda-Elm Parking Garage 57.

Theft. 4800 block Bethesda Avenue.

Theft. 5800 block Hillburne Way (Kenwood).

Stolen car. 3600 block Thornapple Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Vehicle burglary. 6000 block Conway Road.

Moby Dick House of Kabob coming to Potomac

Moby Dick House of Kabob, a local Persian restaurant chain that already has a downtown Bethesda location, is expanding to Potomac. Their latest outpost will be in a 1291 SF space in the Potomac Promenade shopping center at 9812 Falls Road in Potomac Village.

Swoosh installed at future Nike Factory Store at Pike & Rose (Photos)

The famous Nike Swoosh logo is now affixed over the front doors of the future Nike Factory Store at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. Construction continues inside the space, which was vacated late last year by City Sports.

At a high-profile entrance to the Federal Realty development, the iconic logo should get the attention of pedestrians and drivers passing on Old Georgetown Road. The store is scheduled to open on August 18.

Modern Market opens at Bethesda Row

Be one of the first to try Modern Market, which is celebrating its grand opening today at 4930 Elm Street. The newest dining option at Bethesda Row goes beyond the standard farm-sourced hype to tell you which farms the ingredients on your plate came from.

Modern Market is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

2 burglaries along Western Ave. corridor, assault in Randolph Hills + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Theft. 8200 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Burglary. 4600 block Harrison Street.

Burglary. 4700 block Crescent Street.

Drug arrest. I-270 at Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 11400 block Rockville Pike.

Assault. 4900 block Boiling Brook Parkway (Randolph Hills).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 12000 block Rockville Pike at 9:29 PM.

Theft. 1500 block Kimblewick Road.

AT&T Store reopens in larger space in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The AT&T "Authorized Retailer" store has moved down into the old Domino's Pizza space at 4957 Elm Street. They now have a showroom nearly twice the size of their old location, but more minimalist signage.

New!

Old!

R. Riveter opens at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)

R. Riveter is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The boutique offers handbags and accessories hand-made by military spouses. Buy American.

Drug arrest at Chevy Chase ES, vehicle burglary on Exfair Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 4, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. 7200 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 7100 block Exfair Road.

Drug arrest. Chevy Chase Elementary School.

Drug arrest. Glendale Road at East-West Highway.

Drug arrest. 5400 block Westbard Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 6600 block Bradley Boulevard.

Peripoint Building seeking tenant in Bethesda (Photos)

The Peripoint Building at 5001 Wilson Lane has a vacant ground floor space after the closure of Soup Up. Now they are soliciting potential tenants with a new sign. That 1800 SF space has been used for retail as well; prior to Soup Up, the tenant was Bang + Olufsen.

Accident on Goldsboro Road at River Road in Bethesda (Photos)

An accident involving a single vehicle around 1:00 AM this morning required a huge response at the intersection of Goldsboro Road and River Road in Bethesda. One eastbound lane of River was blocked by emergency vehicles.

The vehicle was overturned in a grassy area off of the northbound lane of Goldsboro as it approaches River. A firetruck's ladder was extended over the scene.

Very little information was available, and there was no ongoing information via scanner communications. Two stretchers were ready to receive patients at the scene. A short time later, a radio update that did not confirm it was related to this incident reported that two victims were transported to local hospitals; one was a trauma patient. One of the hospitals was Suburban Hospital; the other was not identified.

Assault on Wehawken Rd., burglary on Kerry Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on August 3, according to crime data:

Burglary. 8300 block Kerry Road at 12:42 PM.

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Assault. 5100 block Wehawken Road.

Theft. 10200 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 11300 block Rockville Pike.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Savor the flavors at Westfield Montgomery Mall on weekends this month

The flavors of summer are free to sample on weekends this month at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through August 27, enjoy samples and giveaways at the pop-up Sampling Center on Level 2 near Godiva.

This afternoon, stop by for samples from these restaurants:

Rumi Tea & Spice 1pm – 3pm

California Pizza Kitchen 1pm – 3pm

Yogi Castle 3pm – 5pm

Mirch Masala 5pm – 7pm  

The demolition of Steamers is nigh in Bethesda (Photos)

These are the final days of the former Steamers seafood restaurant and bar at 4820 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda. Debris inside the vacant, condemned building has been removed. With no tarp covering the collapsed roof, the removal of this mosquito magnet will reduce the chance of Woodmont Triangle residents contracting Zika. Replacing it will be The Clairborne luxury condominium building.