Frank Pepe's at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda to offer Paul Giamatti Pie on Oscars Sunday

Actor Paul Giamatti gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the White Clam with Bacon pizza from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana recently on television. The pizza chain will return the favor tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, 2024 - the day of the Academy Awards - by renaming that pizza the Paul Giamatti Pie for 24 hours. A medium Paul Giamatti Pie will cost $25 on March 10 only, at the Frank Pepe's locations at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda and at the Alexandria Commons mall in Alexandria.

Sixty Vines opening in Bethesda

Sixty Vines, "the winemaker's restaurant," is coming to downtown Bethesda. The Texas-based chain will open at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, in the former Ruth's Chris Steak House space, later this year. Construction is getting started inside the former steakhouse. Plans include replacing the existing exterior glass with multi-pane windows, for a facade style that is more contemporary-restaurant than downtown-office-building.

Sixty wines served from a "sustainable tap system" will be supported by wine country-inspired cuisine. That translates into steak, fish, chicken, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salumi and cheese boards, small plates, and a four-item dessert menu. 

The vintages on tap are selected from the major wine regions around the world. In addition to lunch and dinner menus, brunch will be served on weekends. Sixty Vines has an existing location in Reston, and another planned for Foggy Bottom in Washington, D.C.

Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe to open at Sophia Bethesda apartment tower

The new Sophia Bethesda mixed-use development at 4924 St. Elmo Avenue has signed the first tenant for its ground floor retail space. Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe will be located in a 3000-square-foot corner space fronting onto Fairmont Avenue and the pedestrian paseo between the Sophia and the Bainbridge Bethesda apartment tower. Sophia development partner Duball, LLC believes the cafe will help to activate the paseo, which has previously struggled to realize its potential. The paseo has now been widened, and will have an improved design once construction is completed. Two retail spaces, measuring 930 SF and 950 SF, remain available for lease.

Water main break spawns sinkhole in Bethesda

A major water main break turned into a major sinkhole on Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, directly in front of Wood Acres Elementary School, on Tuesday. The sinkhole formed in the 5800 block of Cromwell, between Newington Road and Wiltshire Drive. In addition to causing a prolonged shutdown of the street in that area while a WSSC crew attempted to make repairs, the sinkhole blocked some residents into their driveways. This is, by far, the worst water main damage seen in the Springfield neighborhood in some time. It's fortunate no one was hurt or caught in their vehicle when this collapsed.

NCPC schedules "public scoping meeting" on Little Falls Parkway road diet

The Montgomery Parks and Montgomery County Planning departments have been in violation of the Capper-Cramton Act of 1930 for eight years, implementing a road diet on Little Falls Parkway in Bethesda without receiving permission from the National Capital Planning Commission, which has authority over all alterations to the parkway. Eight years after multiple versions of the road diet began disrupting travel on the primary route between the growing Westbard and downtown Bethesda areas, the County will now go before the NCPC to seek belated permission. "Ask for forgiveness, not permission," is just one of the guiding mantras of the Montgomery County cartel, it appears. "Betrayed by the County Council" remains the mantra of residents, as councilmembers are - as I predicted last May - continuing to back a road diet for the parkway.

A virtual "public scoping meeting" has been scheduled for March 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM. To join the meeting online, or to leave comments on the road diet proposal, visit the NCPC website page for the agenda item. While the County Council tried to sell the public on the idea that it was stopping the road diet that is opposed by the vast majority of residents, it actually only directed Montgomery Parks to come back to the Council with a new plan. Parks did so, and the Council hastily approved the new plan with no notice to residents.

The new Montgomery Parks/County Council plan would maintain the road diet between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. It would convert the existing configuration back to the one implemented right before it - one lane in each direction, but on each side of the existing grassy median, rather than right next to each other. What this means is that there would be a slight safety improvement, as the restoration of a median will reduce the danger of head-on collisions.

However, the Parks department and County Council would remain victorious over the residents who pay their salaries, and whom they presumably serve. They get to keep the road diet they wanted, with a long-term eye still on eventually closing the parkway entirely. They keep the rush hour traffic jams and cut-through traffic into Kenwood, Somerset and Hillandale Road. Montgomery Parks continues to illegally use funds allocated to other projects and purposes for its road diet adventures; the Montgomery County Council has yet to make a capital budget allocation for a Little Falls Parkway road diet. And Montgomery Parks is once again moving ahead despite a pending court decision on the lawsuit by Kenwood residents to overturn the road diet between Hillandale Road and Dorset Avenue. Laws for thee, but not for me!

The Council is about to bend their knees to their developer sugar daddies once again with a "minor master plan amendment" allowing more development in downtown Bethesda than the 2017 master plan allowed - and before delivering a single new amenity out of that plan for Bethesda residents! That steroid shot to the thousands of new housing units delivered or under construction in downtown Bethesda since 2017 means more cars on the road. Nearly a thousand new residents will be moving into new homes in the Westbard area over the next few years, Westbard Sector Plan Phase II (River Road) is coming down the pike with a Purple Line extension, and the Council is working hard on converting the churches along River Road into luxury housing developments under the guise of "affordable housing." Yet the Council believes that reducing vehicle capacity by 50% on the main conduit between the two areas is a sensible plan.

Is the NCPC any better at math - or in representing the interests of residents - than the County Council? We will find out this year.

Suspect arrested at second break-in at vacant Chevy Chase school

The former Rollingwood Elementary School at 3200 Woodbine Street in Chevy Chase was broken into on the evening of February 25, 2024. Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect in relation to an earlier break-in at the campus, on February 18. Around 3:24 PM that afternoon, a suspect allegedly forced his way into the school and stole property. Antonio Perry, 37, of Owings Mills has been arrested in that burglary. Perry's mugshot has not been released.

Public meeting scheduled for new Westbard townhome development in Bethesda

A required pre-submittal public meeting has been scheduled for the new Brownstones at Westbard Square townhome development proposed for 5501 Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. The virtual meeting will be on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM. To join the meeting, go to https://shorturl.at/hAWZ2, or via telephone, dial into the meeting at 1-301-715-8592. The initial site plan is proposing 32 townhouses; more are planned for the future at Westbard Square, and on the former nursing home property. EYA is the developer of the project.

Rendering courtesy EYA

Pandora opens temporary store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Pandora has opened a temporary store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, while its current location is remodeled. The jeweler is now down on Level 1, between T-Mobile and Windsor, in the Old Navy wing of the mall. Renovations of its permanent spot on Level 2 next to Banana Republic are expected to be completed before the end of spring. Pandora is also currently hiring additional staff.

J.Crew preps for move at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

J.Crew is making a short move at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The popular fashion brand will move across the hall to a new space between Intimissimi and Arhaus on Level 1. It appears to be smaller than the existing location. That's still a better deal than J.Crew's employees got at their Westfield San Francisco Centre location, which has permanently closed in recent weeks. At Montgomery Mall, J.Crew will open in the new space this summer, according to the signage posted across it.

Trendy Man Italia opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Can we keep track of all of the new Italian boutiques opening at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda? It's becoming a challenge. Trendy Man Italia is the latest entry. Dress with spezzatura with the latest men's fashions and accessories from Italy. Trendy Man appears to have existing locations at numerous Maryland malls, including Mondawmin Mall and White Marsh Mall in Baltimore, Towson Town Center, St. Charles Towne Center in Waldorf, and The Mall in Columbia, as well as stores in Brooklyn, New York and Newark, Delaware. Look for its newest location in Bethesda right outside of Macy's Home Store on Level 2 of the mall.

Donutchew bites promotion at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Donutchew has managed to survive for three months in a kiosk where multiple tenants have failed in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. As a result, it is getting promoted to a larger, legitimate food court space. "Coming soon" signage has been posted at the new corner location. The mochi donut chain has found similar success with its Rio Lakefront location in Gaithersburg.

Calzedonia opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Calzedonia has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The Italian brand specializes in legwear, swimwear and socks. Calzedonia also owns Intimissimi, a lingerie brand that also has a boutique at the mall, so that established relationship and success may have played a role in the decision to double down on its investment here. Look for Calzedonia on Level 1, between Talbots and Sunglass Hut.

Lidl construction site fenced off in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

Construction fencing has been erected around the future Lidl store in downtown Bethesda. This is the latest sign of work finally getting underway on the German supermarket's newest Montgomery County location, at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in the Bethesda Place apartments. It's unusual for fencing to be placed around a storefront during interior fit-out of an urban retail space. Perhaps there will be significant work on exterior design details, or simply a desire to utilize the outdoor space for materials and equipment storage.

Bethesda apartment building for sale (Photos)

A small, four-unit apartment building at 4535 Avondale Street in Bethesda is for sale. The asking price is $3,500,000. Located just off of Wisconsin Avenue, city views from the units include the former Chevy Chase Bank building at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, The Whitney, and the historic Wilson Store and Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home. Exterior views of the 1950 brick quadplex are deceptive, as the interiors of the apartment units have been tremendously upgraded, as you can see in the online listing.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an assault at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda late Friday morning, March 1, 2024. The assault was reported at the mall at 11:20 AM. At least one person was also accused of shoplifting in the incident. This is the second assault reported at the mall in 2024; the first in February also involved shoplifting from a business inside the mall. Another accused mall shoplifter allegedly was in possession of a synthetic narcotic a week before Friday's assault.

La Nina closes in Bethesda

La Nina by Toche has closed at 7809-1B Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The space has been completely cleared out. La Nina sold Italian made leather goods, including shoes for men, women and children. It opened here exactly two years ago.

Ala opens to rave reviews in Bethesda

Ala, the new restaurant featuring flavors of the Levant, is now open at 4948 Fairmont Avenue in Bethesda. It has officially been open for two days, and already has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Google reviews. Nine diners on Resy - where reservations for Ala can be made online - gave the restaurant a perfect 5 stars out of 5. On Yelp, Ala currently has 3.5 out of 5 stars based on only two reviews, one a 5-star rave describing "a wonderful experience from start to finish," and a dessert "to die for," while the second reviewer cited the kinks one might expect a new staff to be working out on the first night of operations. 

Ala's initial opening hours are Tuesday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Note that the restaurant does not accept cash payment. Seating limits are two hours for dinner, and 90 minutes for brunch.

11 Maryland sheriffs endorse MDGOP crime agenda

Harford County, Maryland
Sheriff Jeff Gahler

Sheriffs from 11 counties across Maryland have endorsed an anti-crime agenda proposed by the Joint Republican Caucus in the Maryland General Assembly, and are calling on Democrats in Annapolis to back the five-point plan. The agenda would increase penalties for violent criminals and extend their prison sentences, deny bail for repeat offenders, make the theft of a firearm a felony, reverse the ban on traffic stop searches when officers smell marijuana in the vehicle, and "correct recent misguided laws" to restore accountability for juvenile offenders who commit serious crimes. Passage of the plan was endorsed yesterday by the elected sheriffs of Allegheny County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Frederick County, Harford County, Queen Anne's County, Talbot County, Washington County, Wicomico County and Worcester County.

"Maryland is in a crime crisis," Maryland Republican Party Chair Nicole Beus Harris said in a statement.  "While Governor Wes Moore and the rest of the Democrat Leadership deny this fact, pass laws that make the problem worse, or propose modest changes that won’t make a difference, the Republican lawmakers in Annapolis have a comprehensive plan to make Maryland safer. No one understands this crime crisis or the need for statutory changes better than our state’s law enforcement, and that is reflected in the support these top Sheriffs have given to the GOP Public Safety Agenda."

"Whether misinformed or willfully ignorant to the consequences legislated over the last few years, law-abiding citizens, the overwhelming majority of Marylanders, do not support the cruelty they have had to endure due to our elected officials granting clemency to the guilty," Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said Friday. "Their political correctness does not make us safer; it only generates intolerance and hatred. Those legislators seeking to delegitimize the rule of law, and tear down law enforcement, have recklessly and deliberately caused avoidable harm to all Maryland citizens. Now is the time to shield and protect our communities from the very few among us who seek to cause us harm."

Traffic, pedestrian shift next month on Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase

The Purple Line may have just suffered another postponement of its delivery date, but work isn't slowing down on the light rail project. That work will again require changes in traffic and pedestrian travel patterns on Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase next month. Automotive traffic will be shifted to the just-completed eastern half of Jones Mill Road between Jones Bridge Road and Coquelin Terrace. A new work zone will then be established for approximately one year on the western side of the roadway, to complete a Purple Line underpass. A newly constructed sidewalk established along the northbound travel lanes will now be available for pedestrians. Please follow signage and directions from flagmen when traveling on this section of Jones Mill.

One Medical "coming soon" to Pike & Rose

One Medical will open its first Rockville location soon at 915 Meeting Street, at the Pike & Rose development. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in the future clinic's windows. One Medical is a primary care clinic offering same-day appointments, and 24/7 telehealth services. It covers everything from basic health checkups to management of chronic illnesses. 

Construction of the clinic is underway. One Medical has existing locations in downtown Bethesda and at Chevy Chase Lake. Its partners include Amazon, where Prime members get special pricing, and MedStar Health.