Brothers Sew and Vac, currently in The Shoppes of Bethesda on Hampden Lane, is moving to 4826 St. Elmo Avenue.
The ground floor space in the Landow Building was formerly an AT&T store. It is the white, empty store pictured below.
Brothers' current location is having a storewide moving sale, so it might be worth stopping by if you have sewing machine or vacuum cleaner needs.
And, no, I don't think Grandma (pictured below) is for sale!
Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be another bumpy night near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane.
Residents of Rosedale Park, 8200 Wisconsin, and surrounding neighborhood are going over their lists:
Earplugs? Check.
White noise machine? Check.
The right southbound lane of MD 355 is closed right before Battery. Only one lane on Battery is open: the right westbound lane.
For motorists, I suggest detouring via Woodmont or Cedar Lane.
Two robberies have been reported in Bethesda since last Friday.
The first robbery occurred at Montgomery Mall on Friday, July 19.
Robbery #2 was reported in the 10100 block of Grosvenor Place on Sunday, July 21.
Watch your step around the crosswalk connecting Veterans Park and the east block of Fairmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda.
Sidewalk repairs were blocking the west side of the crosswalk as of yesterday evening, requiring pedestrians to walk out into unmarked pavement to reach the crosswalk. I crossed there with caution, but for a senior citizen using a walker, this is a dangerous situation. If you have a disability, this crosswalk is essentially closed to you at this time. I suppose the section in front of the crosswalk had to be done at some point, but the situation is less than ideal.
I would suggest taking an extra minute and using the crosswalks by Reddz Trading or the Landow Building to cross Woodmont.
The crosswalk is heavily traveled by people heading to Fairmont Plaza, 7-Eleven and CVS.
Playseum, a children's activity center and bookstore at 7000 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, will close between August 25 and September 6.
The 2-week closure is to facilitate renovations at the 4-year-old Bethesda business.
Playseum is inviting families to buy $10 ceramic tiles they can inscribe, which will be permanently displayed in the revamped facility's countertops. Children will get to decorate a second tile for free, which they can take home with them. Tiles can be purchased through August 20.
Playseum is located at the southern end of the shopping center at Wisconsin and Leland Street, home to Golden City and Royal Cleaners.
I have posted photos of road crews working, and lane closures, on Wisconsin Avenue by Battery Lane the last 2 nights.
But many residents of nearby homes, and apartment buildings Rosedale Park and 8200 Wisconsin, are telling me - and county police - they've had enough of the overnight racket.
The State Highway Administration is referring to the project as road maintenance work. It involves digging in the roadway, and steel plates that are being knocked about by passing cars.
As you can see in the photos, a massive Vermeer saw is utilized in the work.
There is no indication how long the 9 PM - 5 AM cacophony will last, but permits for such work are often issued, and have been in this case. The permits exempt a contractor from nighttime noise restrictions. Alas, little announcements in newspapers rarely come to the attention of affected residents during the comment period for noise waivers.
It's clear from the many unknowns that residents were never directly informed about this project.
Watch out for a misaligned steel plate in the center lane of southbound Wisconsin Avenue near Battery Lane in Bethesda.
The errant plate has exposed a shallow trench in the roadway that could damage tires or vehicles.
Two northbound lanes are closed at the same location.
Bethesda residents who are just bursting with excitement over The Royal Baby will want to attend a special event right here in downtown Bethesda today.
Use this coupon between 4-9 PM tonight at Union Jack's Bethesda, and get a FREE pint of Bass or Strongbow Cider to toast William, Kate and the future king.
Bring all of your royal family and British history knowledge to bear on the British pub's Guess the Baby's Name prize raffle.
And get 25% off all British items on the menu, like Fish and Chips.
There will also be special prices on all British pints, and select British bottles.
Rafaello, we hardly knew ye!
Only a few months after opening, Rafaello Shoes has abruptly vacated its store at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The black curtains have fallen on Rafaello.
Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar has announced it will open its new White Flint/Rockville location on Thursday, August 15.
The opening will begin at 6:00 PM that evening with a ribbon cutting. A dinner featuring some of Paladar's most-popular dishes will follow. The cost of dinner will be $40 per person, not including gratuity. 100% of the dinner's proceeds will go to the Manna Food Center right here in Montgomery County.
Paladar co-president Andy Himmel says this is just the first example of how the restaurant will actively engage with the local community. "Manna Food Center, committed to providing food, food education and advocacy for residents of Montgomery County, is the right match for Paladar," he says.
The 180-seat restaurant will be located in JBG's North Bethesda Market development on Rockville Pike in White Flint. Free parking will be available after 5 PM weekdays, and all day on weekends, in the restaurant lot off of Woodglen Drive.
Inspired by the cuisines of Cuba and Central and South America, Paladar's menu will feature favorites like Grilled Skirt Steak and Fish Tacos. Its Rum Bar will stock over 50 flavored, spiced, white and gold, dark and aged runs. Best of all, you can order rum flights and tasting size pours.
Appetizers will include a chip platter featuring plantain, yucca, malanga and tortilla chips, and 3 kinds of guacamole for dipping purposes.
There will be 2 patios for outdoor dining.
Paladar's hours will be:
Sunday-Thursday: 11 AM - 11 PM
Friday-Saturday: 11 AM - 1 AM
Brunch Sat./Sun.: 11 AM - 3 PM
Happy Hour: 4-7 PM every day
Late Night Happy Hour Sun.-Thurs.: 9-11 PM
To make reservations for opening night on August 15, call 301-816-1100 weekdays between 9 AM and 6 PM. Hurry!
Road work is blocking 2 southbound lanes of Wisconsin Avenue at Battery Lane in downtown Bethesda.
#TheNewHeight has #ANewSite.
Luxury apartment tower The Gallery is still under construction, but a new website features more information and floorplans. Among the amenities are a dog run and dog-washing station ("Arf!").
The Gallery is not quite ready to lease yet, as all of those high-end finishes, chef-inspired kitchens, and rooftop pool are going to take time.
Delivery is expected in early 2014.
While we're waiting, here are some new photos of The Gallery at night. (The Night Gallery?). It looks pretty impressive with the current lighting in place. You could almost imagine driving down into the garage entrance. As you can see from this vantage point, as well as from Arlington Road by Bethesda Row, The Gallery has quickly established its place on the Bethesda skyline.
Popular apparel store Express had temporarily moved to an interim location on the first level at Montgomery Mall while its redesigned space was being constructed.
Now it has reopened in that gleaming new space on the upper level, and includes a separate Express Men shop, and The Denim Lab.
Bethesda Restaurant Week is here again! Bethesda-Chevy Chase Summer Restaurant Week is Monday, July 29 to Sunday, August 4, 2013. The official website has the full list of participating restaurants.
Yesterday, Lebanese Taverna hosted a restaurant week kickoff event at Bethesda Row. I always say that the patio outside of Lebanese Taverna is the best-smelling corner in downtown Bethesda. The wonderful aromas drifting out of the restaurant certainly entice you to go in, even if you are a tourist not familiar with the local Lebanese Taverna chain.
As you will see (or just saw) in the video, Chef Jeff Heineman of Grapeseed on Cordell Avenue is the chair of this year's BCC Restaurant Week Committee. And that's been a Herculean task, as the entity behind previous years' events has stepped down.
Fortunately, the Restaurant Association of Maryland has stepped in to produce this year's restaurant week. And reliable local sponsors like EagleBank, Grapeseed and Bethesda Magazine have joined Friends of Restaurant Week BCC Chamber of Commerce, Bethesda Urban Partnership, the NIH and NOAA Recreation and Welfare Association, Metromedia Energy and Congressional Seafood Company to ensure a successful event.
2-course lunches will be $12 or $16, and 3-course dinners $33.
Best of all, a portion of the proceeds will go to wounded service members and their families, through the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
Speaking of ribbons, there was a ribbon cutting yesterday to mark the one-week countdown to BCC Restaurant Week. Delegate Bill Frick (D-District 16), a 2014 candidate for Maryland Attorney General, was on hand to assist, as was Ginanne Italiano, president of the BCC Chamber of Commerce.
Participants around Bethesda Row include Assaggi, Jaleo, Lebanese Taverna, Mon Ami Gabi, Nest Cafe (on the EuroMotorcars block of Bethesda Avenue), Newton's Table, Raku, and Redwood.
Further afield additions include the new-and-already-award-winning Quench in the Traville Gateway area of Rockville, and the fabulous Brio Tuscan Grille in White Flint.
Start planning now, as this is a chance to try many top Bethesda restaurants for far less than the usual prices. Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow as additional restaurants join the Restaurant Week list.
A Tripper Bus traveling from New York City to Bethesda last night broke down en route, according to a passenger.
The intercity bus discharged its passengers at a New Jersey rest stop while awaiting assistance.
"Never again," wrote the disgruntled passenger, who said there were 3 hours to go on the already-delayed trip.
Tripper Bus travels between downtown Bethesda and New York City.
Two assaults have been reported in Bethesda since last Thursday. On that day, an assault was reported on Bradley Boulevard. On Friday, July 19, another assault was reported at White Flint Mall.
Here is a list of notable crimes reported in Bethesda between July 16-19, 2013, according to crime data:
JULY 16:
Burglary. 4700 block Essex Avenue (Town of Somerset).
Theft. 7000 block Strathmore Street (downtown Bethesda).
JULY 17:
Theft. 5500 block Parkston Road.
Vehicle burglary. 5100 block Nahant Street.
Theft. 8100 block Thoreau Drive.
Vehicle burglary. 6200 block Perthshire Court.
Theft. 4600 block Willow Lane (downtown Bethesda).
Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.
Theft. 4900 block Auburn Avenue.
Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Rock Forest Drive.
Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Rock Spring Drive.
JULY 18:
Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Brookes Lane (Sangamore/MacArthur area).
JULY 19:
Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Highland Drive (Kenwood).
Here's a preview of the soon-to-open Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar at JBG's North Bethesda Market development in White Flint (or Rockville, as the Cleveland-based Paladar is referring to it).
The interior is still being completed. Paladar is scheduled to open in August, with a pan-Latin menu of popular dishes from Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
