Update on PAUL Bakery construction in Bethesda (Photos)

More signage is up at the soon-to-open PAUL Bakery on Bethesda Avenue. You'll notice a new little sign that sits out for pedestrians to notice while walking past at 4760 Bethesda Avenue. New secondary signage also gives passersby a sense of what Paul is - in French, of course. And there's a sign in the window for those interested in working at the French bakery and café.

Car broken into at The Promenade, theft at Bloomingdale's + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Vehicle burglary. 3700 block Underwood Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Theft. Bloomingdale's.

Vehicle burglary. The Promenade (Pooks Hill).

Vehicle burglary. 8900 block Bradmoor Drive.

Theft. 5200 block Randolph Road (Pike District).

Modell's expanding in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Sporting goods retailer Modell's is growing on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. That means busting through the wall into the space of the frame store that recently closed next door.

A store employee said the newly-acquired square footage will be used to add a new section of merchandise.

Longtime residents will remember this as Herman's, before that 117-store chain was snapped up by Modell's in 1996 following bankruptcy. Interesting trivia about Herman's: the company actually started as a music store in lower Manhattan in 1916. "Herman" was Herman Steinlauf.

For now, you'll have to
imagine this space filled
with RGIII jerseys

Can you spot the spelling error?

Robbery in Chevy Chase Commons, 4 downtown thefts + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 7200 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. 6900 block Arlington Road.

Theft. Grant Street at Greentree Road.

Robbery. 3800 block Village Park Drive at 10:38 AM (Chevy Chase Commons).

Vehicle burglary. 100 block Quincy Street (Martin's Additions).

Theft. 6200 block Robinwood Road.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Update on downtown Bethesda's newest public art piece (Photos)

The public art piece going on the side wall at 4848 Cordell Avenue is progressing steadily. It is now in color, and you can see the distinct buildings. And yes, that is indeed the Statue of Liberty.

I've been told the mural represents not the actual skyline of the Big Apple, but rather, the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas. Which sounds good to me, as a fan of that hotel. They have one of the most interesting roller coasters in America, too.

If you look closely (click any photo to enlarge), you'll see the artist at work on the scaffolding. The project is designed by Steven J. Karr AIA, Inc., for Greenhill Capital. Sigal Construction is the contractor transforming this former homeless shelter into a restaurant space for Greenhill.

The real thing in Las Vegas,
for purposes of comparison
(Courtesy NY NY Hotel & Casino)

Residents start petition to stop road through Battery Lane Park in Bethesda

Residents upset by a Montgomery County Planning Department plan to run a road through their neighborhood park are taking to the internet to stop it. Save Battery Park has launched a petition on Change.org asking that a road connection between Norfolk Avenue and Battery Lane be dropped from the Bethesda Downtown Plan.

The proposed road would run through Battery Lane Park, which residents say is currently a safe area for children to traverse.

Battery Lane Park, as
seen from Battery Lane

There is a stub of a road at the end of Norfolk now, Glenbrook Road, which leads back to a parking lot. A map in the staff draft of the Bethesda Downtown Plan shows the road running alongside a residential building through the park to Battery Lane.

Right-of-way inside
Battery Lane Park
where a road would
be paved through

Ginger Boutique closing at Bethesda Row

Seven years after opening on Bethesda Lane, Ginger Boutique will close on July 15.

All sales will now be final, and all clothing and accessories are 30% off. But keep checking back in the coming weeks, fashionistas, as new inventory will continue to arrive throughout. They are also selling furniture and fixtures.

It certainly is a challenging time for local, independent businesses in downtown Bethesda. And, of course, the highest-profile new tenants at Bethesda Row we tend to hear about most have been chains like Williams-Sonoma, Calypso St. Barth and Kate Spade - not that fans of those brands are complaining.

But it should be noted that Sabun Home, which recently leased space on Bethesda Lane, is a local independent business.

Fire evacuates The Riviera in Bethesda (Photos)

A trash room fire caused an evacuation of The Riviera condominiums at 4242 East-West Highway just before 8:00 PM tonight. Over 75 Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the scene, according to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer. The fire was extinguished quickly, but smoke has traveled to the upper floors and has to be aired out.

No injuries have been reported, but East-West Highway has been closed temporarily.

Light-colored smoke rises from
a ground-level doorway

Assault on Woodmont Ave., car stolen on Turner La. + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Assault. 7500 block Woodmont Avenue at 2:45 AM.

Theft. 7700 block Norfolk Avenue.

Disorderly conduct. Del Ray Avenue at Norfolk Avenue.

Burglary. 6800 block Fairfax Road at 9:25 AM (Edgemoor).

Burglary. 5600 block McLean Drive at 8:07 PM (Whitehall Manor).

Theft. 4600 block N. Park Avenue.

Liquor arrest. Capital Beltway at Connecticut Avenue.

Theft. 4400 block Willard Avenue.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue.

Stolen car. 3300 block Turner Lane (Chevy Chase Manor).

Theft. 5400 block Tuckerman Lane.

Theft. Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Assault. Outer Loop of Capital Beltway at Connecticut Avenue at 11:08 PM.

PAUL Bakery construction update at The Flats at Bethesda Ave. (Photos)

The first residents of The Flats at Bethesda Avenue were scheduled to move in yesterday, according to a spokesperson for developer StonebridgeCarras, and the first retailers will move in on June 10 (although, as I reported earlier this morning, neighbor Pottery Barn is actually opening this Friday). One can surmise from these new photos that PAUL Bakery is going to be one of the first.

Their permanent sign is now installed, and you can see that furniture is now in place inside the bakery.

JBG begins renovation at Artery Plaza in Bethesda (Photos)

A renovation project has begun at Artery Plaza, part of an ambitious plan developer The JBG Companies has to reboot and reposition the property at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. In addition to these exterior changes, a lobby revamp and an effort to attract "Bethesda's next great restaurant" to the Bethesda Avenue side of the building are in the cards.

Rendering of the redesign

The changes include a new canopy over the lobby entrance; new lighting, windows and doors; reskinned columns and pavers on the walkway out front. HITT is the contractor for the project.

Like more than one Class A office building downtown, or across Montgomery County for that matter, new efforts are being made here to fill space in what has been described as the worst office market in 30 years. Santander Bank closed its ground floor branch here last month. The county's moribund economy isn't providing much of a boost, failing to attract major employers for more than a decade, and spurring County Executive Ike Leggett to warn of a tax increase next year.

Pottery Barn opening Friday on Bethesda Ave.; free gift with purchase

Pottery Barn will open its new Bethesda store this Friday, June 5, at 4750 Bethesda Avenue. Located in the ground floor of the new Flats at Bethesda Avenue apartments, the store will host a grand opening celebration all weekend.

You will get a free mystery gift with any purchase, while supplies last. There will also be refreshments and decorating demonstrations throughout the weekend.

They've been moving merchandise in over the last week from their recently-closed Mazza Gallerie location.

Theft at Bethesda Metro station, car broken into on Stratford Rd. + more - Bethesda crime update

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

Theft. Bethesda Metro station.

Theft. 7900 block Norfolk Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 7800 block Stratford Road.

Disorderly conduct. Suburban Hospital.

Drug arrest. Connecticut Avenue at East-West Highway.

Vehicle burglary. 5700 block Aberdeen Road.

Theft. 9100 block Ewing Drive.

White Flint 2 Sector Plan process starts June 17 with public meeting @Pike_District

The name may not sound right, but the second phase of redevelopment in the White Flint area is set to launch on Wednesday, June 17, with a public meeting at Luxmanor Elementary School. Luxmanor ES is located at 6201 Tilden Lane in North Bethesda. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM.

Of course, the White Flint area is no longer branded as White Flint, so it is somewhat mystifying as to why the planning process is still using the older terminology. It is now known as the Pike District. 

One can imagine the potential for a Pike & Rose 2 diagonally across from the existing one, for example. Or perhaps an entirely different concept for the redevelopment of that Montrose Crossing shopping center, which Federal Realty owns.

But the area contains much more land than that. The White Flint 2 website suggests some topics that will be debated during the process. I'd suggest you monitor one they don't mention directly - the ongoing attempt to "dumb down" the original Montrose Parkway plan (which, in itself, was a major dumbing down of the Rockville Freeway concept for that right-of-way). That drive may be hidden under the innocuous heading of "What transportation policies should be introduced or amended?" (emphasis mine).

There have been efforts afoot to slowly turn portions of the parkway, originally intended to keep cross-county traffic moving through White Flint and other areas, into an urban street. That appeals to developers of course, but it would be a traffic disaster for those of us who actually live and drive in the county.

A grade-separated Montrose Parkway is essential for the success of the Pike District. The parkway eventually will need to be extended to Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue and out to the ICC near Indian Head Country Club. Dumbing it down would have catastrophic impacts on our countywide transportation system for decades to come. And in fact, the MD 355/Montrose Parkway interchange could be decked over to enable seamless development above it along Rockville Pike, connecting the two phases of White Flint. Dumping pass-through traffic into the local, urban street grid of the Pike District would be a major blunder, and a threat to pedestrian safety.

You can RSVP for the June 17 meeting on the White Flint 2 website.

Not Your Average Joe's opening July 5 in Bethesda

Not Your Average Joe's will open its Bethesda location on July 5, according to a representative of the restaurant. When I stopped by this weekend, little had changed on the exterior yet and there was still quite a bit to be done inside. Of course, much of the transformation is blocked by temporary walls.

NYAJ replaces the venerable Hamburger Hamlet, which closed in December 2013 (although it was technically Du-par's Hamburger Hamlet for its final year of operation).

I have a new takeout menu from their existing area locations, which shows the Top 10 menu items ordered by takeout customers recently. It could be interesting for those who work or live near the Georgetown Square shopping center:

Assault in Pike District, theft from vehicle on Bethesda Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on May 28, according to crime data:

Theft from vehicle. 4800 block Bethesda Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5400 block Tuckerman Lane.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Theft. Macy's at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Drug arrest. 5900 block Montrose Parkway.

Assault. 11500 block Rockville Pike at 3:27 AM (Pike District).