On second thought...

Bethesda Row removes new

curbside pickup spaces from

Bethesda Lane driveway

Just 48 hours after striping curbside pickup spaces onto the driveway at the entry to Bethesda Lane, Federal Realty has removed the icons that had been applied to the brick pavers in both spaces. Other curbside pickup spaces remain along the street at Bethesda Row.

Bethesda legend Tommy Curtis has died; famous matchmaker of Yacht Club of Bethesda, movie mogul

I had heard from a couple of sources that Bethesda's legendary Tommy Curtis had passed away, and WTOP has just confirmed he died at his Bethesda home on May 5. Tommy "The Matchmaker" Curtis was best known in our community for his phenomenally-successful Yacht Club of Bethesda singles bar, which was in the lower level of the Holiday Inn on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

Back when there was actually nightlife in downtown Bethesda, crowds would gather on the sidewalk along Woodmont Avenue to get into the Yacht Club. In today's moribund nighttime economy, Curtis' famous lounge space sits vacant in what is today known as The Bethesdan Hotel.

Curtis was also known for his local TV and radio appearances over the decades. But to the nation and the world, Tommy Curtis was also a movie mogul. His production credits included a couple of major 1980s releases with household-name stars: Dreamscape starring Dennis Quaid and Kate Capshaw, and The Seduction featuring Morgan Fairchild.

Plaque above lobby elevator at
The Bethesdan Hotel that still mentions
the Yacht Club of Bethesda, which was
downstairs when it was a Holiday Inn, decades later

I was honored to learn that Tommy Curtis was a regular reader of my blog. He even passed along some tips, and I was able to give readers the benefit of feature stories on some of the many occasions he made news in recent years that he gave me the exclusive first word on. To a lifelong resident of Bethesda in this time period, Curtis was one of the elite celebrities in our area, and I could not have imagined watching the old Yacht Club TV commercials that one day The Matchmaker himself would be following my own creative output.

Tommy Curtis was 75, and his brother told WTOP that he had "a history of heart-related problems." But as recently as a few months ago, he was in good spirits and excited about new projects he was working on both in our area, and in Hollywood. Perhaps some of those will still come to fruition under his associates. And perhaps Curtis is now in a good position to get us some divine intervention to restore nightlife in downtown Bethesda to its former greatness. On that, nobody was a higher authority than Tommy Curtis.

Top photo courtesy of Tommy Curtis

Montgomery County closes part of Arlington Road in Bethesda

No public process or input

precedes latest road takeover

Montgomery County officials have expanded their recent weekend road closures in Bethesda, which they say are designed to create more recreational space for pedestrians and cyclists near the narrower Capital Crescent Trail. The County Department of Transportation abruptly announced it was closing Arlington Road between Little Falls Parkway and Kenwood Forest Lane yesterday beginning at 9:00 AM Fridays through 6:00 PM Sundays.

Little Falls Parkway itself has been closed on that same weekend schedule for two weeks now. That closure was arbitrarily made by the Montgomery Parks department. Neither closure was preceded by any official public process, and no formal public input was sought.

In addition to the legal issues of closing public roads and spending the money needed to do this without an official public process, the closures are creating cut-through traffic in surrounding neighborhoods, and slowing fire and rescue response. Now that the closure is expanding into a commercial area, Safeway cannot be pleased that potential customers in one direction are being blockaded from patronizing their store without a lengthy detour. Of course, Montgomery County is nationally-known for being hostile to business - heckuva job, Brownie!

Bethesda Row adds new spaces for curbside pickup

Local businesses continue to adjust plans for the new abnormal of the coronavirus era. As Maryland begins taking steps to reopen its economy, Federal Realty is adding additional designated curbside pickup spaces for customers who have placed takeout orders with restaurants at Bethesda Row. 

These are in the sloped driveway at the end of Bethesda Lane along Bethesda Avenue. Allowing cars to fully get out of the street while waiting for food to be brought out, these are more like the dedicated pickup spaces increasingly found at fast food restaurants and big box retailers like Walmart and Target.

Thief rummages through cars in Glen Cove, Westgate neighborhoods of Bethesda

Glen Cove and Westgate were struck by a thief looking for items in cars Tuesday in southwest Bethesda. Items were reported stolen from vehicles parked in the 5000 block of Smallwood Drive and 5200 block of Baltimore Avenue in Glen Cove, and in the 5000 block of Rodman Road in Westgate. According to crime data, the thefts may have occurred over the night between May 4 and May 5; the police were called on the 5th.

During the same timeframe, another car was damaged and burglarized not far away in the 4600 block of Langdrum Lane in Chevy Chase. If you have a car parked in any of these areas, check to see if any valuables were taken, and don't forget to lock your car and hide any visible items in the cabin.

Mamma Lucia closed for remodeling at Bethesda Row

Mamma Lucia has temporarily closed its Bethesda Row location on Elm Street to remodel the space. The project is expected to take about two weeks.

Mamma Lucia says that they will deliver meals to Bethesda residents from their Rockville and Silver Spring locations (my guess would be the latter for downtown and southern Bethesda residents) during the closure. You can place your delivery order online. I have to admit I was concerned to see the signage removed, though!

Car stolen from East Bethesda

A car was reported stolen from East Bethesda yesterday. The vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 8100 block of Kentbury Drive, in the Columbia Forest neighborhood.

Montgomery County not enforcing Maryland social distancing order

Days after Montgomery County Councilmembers openly flouted Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's Stay-at-Home order without consequence, a Cinco de Mayo crowd swarmed outside of Uncle Julio's at Bethesda Row last evening. A long line of cars snaked around the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road, awaiting curbside pickup of their orders. But customers on foot outside the restaurant were not following Hogan's April 15 Physical Distancing order to remain six feet apart, and his earlier order forbidding public gatherings. Some were also not wearing masks.

Hogan's April 15 order declares we are in a "catastrophic health emergency," and therefore prohibits gatherings of crowds and requires the public to stay six feet away from each other outdoors and indoors. In the case of lines, establishments are directed that, "Where any queue is expected to form, designated with signage, tape, or by other means at least six-foot spacing for persons in line."

Enforcement of the order, and the ability to impose penalties, are also clearly laid out in the order:

"a. Each law enforcement officer of the State or a political subdivision shall execute and enforce this Order. b. A person who knowingly and willfully violates this Order is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both." 

Wide shot of crowd along Bethesda Avenue
and Arlington Road

Notably, there was again no enforcement of these orders by Montgomery County officials, even as the public was again put at risk by this sizable gathering. With the horrible example of our elected officials disobeying the Stay-at-Home order, and bragging about it later on social media, we can see that this indeed encouraged more people to also ignore it. A lack of enforcement does not bode well for containing the virus in the coming weeks and months. The only shutdown seen so far was of Flagship Car Wash, which was closed down by the Maryland State Police last month.

Wide shot of crowd along Bethesda Avenue

4702 West Virginia Ave. condo building sketch plan amendment proposed

A sketch plan amendment has been proposed for a condo project seeking approval at 4702 West Virginia Avenue on the edge of downtown Bethesda. Developer Broad Branch is requesting a density increase from 20,000 square feet to 21,500 square feet, including an increase of BOZ density from 14,750 square feet to 16,250 square feet. BOZ density stands for Bethesda Overlay Zone, which is the scheme by which developers can exceed zoning limits in exchange for amenities, payments or by otherwise meeting the criteria laid out in the 2017 Bethesda Downtown sector plan.

Despite the density increase, the building would still contain only 19 units. That is likely because the project was converted from rental apartments to condos at the last minute. Condos need greater square footage to be competitive in the Bethesda market than rental units do.

The amendment and the project's site plan will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board at its May 14, 2020 virtual meeting. Planning staff is recommending approval of both items.

Car stolen in Wildwood area of Bethesda

A car was reported stolen in the Wildwood area of Bethesda just before 8:00 PM Sunday night. The vehicle was taken from a gas station in the 10300 block of Old Georgetown Road, according to crime data.

Golden House Chinese Restaurant reopens with new takeout window

Golden House Chinese Restaurant at 8100 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda is back in business. To maintain social distancing and comply with state regulations during the coronavirus pandemic, they are directing customers to a new point-of-sale at a takeout window in the rear of the historic building. Check out their menu and order online for pickup or delivery.

Montgomery County Councilman called out for violating MD Stay at Home order

Largely-Republican protesters rallying to defy their states' Stay-at-Home orders across the nation this weekend had an unlikely Democratic ally in Montgomery County. County Councilmember Evan Glass ventured far from his Silver Spring neighborhood to join a gathering of hundreds outside Suburban Hospital Saturday morning. The crowd was there to see a flyover by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds that was actually meant to thank frontline medical personnel at the hospital, who watched from a hospital rooftop.

The gathering was not only in violation of Maryland's Stay at Home order, but the Pentagon had explicitly directed the public to watch the jets from their homes, and not to travel to the hospitals where pilots would fly over to thank healthcare professionals - not elected officials from Montgomery County. Councilmember Andrew Friedson was also in attendance, but said in a Facebook post that he remained on the other side of the hospital away from the crowd.

The Pentagon's official announcement explicitly told
the public to stay home, and "refrain from traveling
to see the flyover." (Photo: Chip Py/Facebook)

One constituent took Glass to task over his violation of the Stay at Home order on Facebook. "Council Members are putting others at risk by attending this non essential event that wasn’t supposed to be attended. Great example y’all," wrote Chip Py. "Guilty," Glass wrote in reply.

According to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's March 30 Stay at Home order, "no Maryland resident should leave their home unless it is for an essential job or for an essential reason, such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes." In issuing his order, Hogan said, "This is a deadly public health crisis—we are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home, we are directing them to do so. No Maryland resident should be leaving their home unless it is for an essential job or for an essential reason such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention, or for other necessary purposes."

The Pentagon's own statement directed the public to "observe the flyover from the safety of their home quarantine...refrain from traveling to see the flyover. Stay home!"

Oops.

The Councilmen put the health and lives of their constituents at risk by illegally traveling for starters, and then joining in an illegal gathering, despite being warned by Maryland and federal officials not to do so. Had police on the scene enforced Hogan's directive, Glass and Friedson could have faced "imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both," according to the text of the Stay-at-Home order.

Beyond the serious health and safety implications, there was the attempt to hijack a moment recognizing health heroes at Suburban Hospital for political gain by the Council. This was the doctors' and nurses' moment, not the Council's.

Interestingly but predictably, no local media reports pointed out the councilmen had broken the law by traveling to and attending the flyover gathering. The Montgomery County cartel's control of the local press again proves beneficial to elected officials convinced our laws don't apply to them. I must admit, the flyover wasn't anywhere close to as exciting for those of us who obeyed state and federal orders to watch from home as it was for our wayfaring County politicians.

Elected officials have to be held to a higher standard. Councilmembers breaking the Stay-at-Home order not only put themselves, Suburban's staff, and all of us at risk, but undermine the spirit of the public to continue to follow Stay-at-Home and social distancing guidelines. Covid-19 cases continued to rise steadily, a number of negative records were set, and Montgomery County went to Blue Alert with critical care beds "mostly filled" on the same weekend the Council crashed the Suburban flyover.

It turns out that having a bursting bag of developer campaign cash, and local media allies eager to amplify your imagined exploits in office, don't necessarily translate into possessing common sense or basic leadership skills.

Heckuva job, Brownie!

Coronavirus patient surge at hospitals puts Montgomery County on Blue Alert

Critical care beds

"mostly full" at all

County hospitals tonight

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed by the Maryland Health Department has continued on an upward track recently. Tonight, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer confirmed that critical care beds at all county hospitals are "mostly full" this evening. This triggers a Blue Alert for MCFRS crews. County EMS supervisors are actively managing patient distribution countywide at this hour.

"All area hospitals are busy," Piringer said. As a result, patients may be transported to a hospital further away from their home until beds free up.

Norfolk Avenue Starbucks reopening Monday for takeout/delivery with new social distancing rules

Downtown Bethesda residents' Starbucks sabbatical will end tomorrow morning, Monday, May 4, 2020. Just about exactly when the coffee chain's CEO had predicted stores would begin to reopen nationwide, their 7700 Norfolk Avenue location will indeed reopen Monday for takeout and Uber Eats orders. New social distancing rules will also be in effect.

Social distancing markers were laid out Saturday outside the store, with only one customer allowed to enter at a time to retrieve their mobile order, or pick up for a delivery. Customers behind that person will be spaced six feet apart on the sidewalk (which of course makes it quite difficult for pedestrians walking past to stay six feet away from those folks, it should be noted). Masks are mandatory to enter the store, and the six-foot rule applies inside, as well.

Masks are required to enter

Social distancing markers have been
placed on the sidewalk

Georgetown Bagelry reopens in Bethesda

Georgetown Bagelry reopened this morning at 5227 River Road, in the Kenwood Station shopping center in Bethesda. The store closed April 3 for a renovation, including installation of a new oven. That project ran into more snags than anticipated, and the closure lasted the rest of the month.

They will be open 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily, and are offering online ordering and pickup only at this time, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Two cars stolen in Potomac

Two cars were reported stolen from homes in normally-low-crime Potomac. According to crime data, one or more burglars entered the garage of a house in the 8600 block of Camille Drive yesterday morning, not far from Churchill High School. A vehicle was taken, but police say it was no forced entry into the garage.

The second vehicle was taken from the driveway of a home in the 8400 block of Fox Run Road around 10:00 PM the night before. This was only three blocks away from the home where the first car was stolen early the next morning, May 1. It appears both vehicles were stolen during the same overnight period from Thursday to Friday.

Items were taken from at least one other vehicle, which was parked on the street in the 8500 block of Fox Run Road. This theft was not reported to police until Friday afternoon.

Montgomery County Council hands taxpayers $54 million bill for CCT tunnel in Bethesda

Council declined to

force developers to

pay for it in 2014

The Montgomery County Council yesterday took a preliminary step toward funding a $54 million tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda for the Capital Crescent Trail. While the tunnel is vital and widely supported in the community, it's critical to remember that you - the taxpayer - should never have had to pick up the tab for it. The Council had the choice and authority - and the moral obligation and fiduciary responsibility - to require in the 2014 Apex Building Minor Master Plan Amendment that the future developer of 7272 Wisconsin Avenue fund and construct the CCT tunnel in exchange for the added height and density they would receive via the amendment. Not surprisingly for a Council that received over 80% of its campaign contributions from developers, it declined to make its developer sugar daddies do so.

While the Council tried to frame yesterday's straw vote as a humanitarian good work on their part, it was instead a reminder of their corruption, and their endless dodging of their fundamental responsibility to work for the People who elected them. If the Council had stipulated construction of the tunnel as a condition in that 2014 amendment, imagine what else we could be putting that $54 million in capital funds toward in the coming years. At this point, only delusional optimists like our Councilmembers can even be confident that such funds will be there in the mid-2020s, following the coronavirus-fueled Depression we are now entering.

Instead of opening the tunnel simultaneously with the rest of the project, completion of the CCT under Wisconsin Avenue will take years after the Purple Line begins operation. That will send pedestrians and cyclists across Wisconsin Avenue at a busy intersection for that many years longer. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Where the bicycle tire rubber meets the trail pavement, our "transit-only" Council transportation geniuses just happen to have a horrible record on infrastructure and transit. Damascus doesn't even have bus service at all on weekends and holidays anymore. Hard truth: the CCT tunnel, and trail users' safety, absolutely was not a priority for the County Council in 2014, when they gave developers a free pass. Neither was fiscal responsibility - and we know this complicated engineering project will end up costing far more than $54 million by its years-late completion.

The Council action yesterday was the equivalent of crashing a rental car, robbing a bank to steal the money to pay for it, and then expecting to receive the key to the city and a gold watch for your humanitarian works. It's outrageous.

Barlow Building sold in Friendship Heights

It may have one of the most frustrating parking facilities outside of the Bethesda Trader Joe's, but the Barlow Building in Chevy Chase changed hands for a premium price about a week ago. The 1966 office tower still looks fresh on the outside, and even more upscale inside, with a total remodeling and swanky lobby upgrade in recent years under the management of Carr Properties. In fact, the building won a Toby award in 2015.

A major medical office destination for patients in the DC area, and steps away from the Friendship Heights Metro station, the building was able to command a $160 million price according to Maryland real estate records. The buyer is listed as SREIT Barlow, LLC, a shell company established in Miami Beach, Florida.