Thanksgiving-Palooza Nov. 23 at Amazon Fresh in Friendship Heights

Save the date for Thanksgiving-Palooza at the Amazon Fresh grocery store at 5463 Wisconsin Avenue at the Collection at Chevy Chase on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Attendees will receive a free "pie server," while supplies last. There will also be free tastings of Thanksgiving side dishes and pies, and activities for children. When they gave it a big name like "palooza," I was thinking Jeff Bezos himself might be there carving the turkey.

Fairfax County beats Montgomery County again, winning CMC Electronics facility

Montgomery County has suffered another loss to Northern Virginia in the competition to win a new research and development facility from CMC Electronics. The avionics manufacturer chose Reston, Virginia for its new office and R&D facility, which will bring 89 high-wage jobs to Fairfax County at the start, with more to be added in the future. Virginia Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra confirmed that the finalists in the race were Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, and Florida. On a positive note, at least Maryland was engaged in this contest - and in the running until the end - rather than being asleep at the switch.

It's hard not to notice the proximity of CMC's future facility site in Reston to Dulles International Airport. Dulles is the only airport in our region with the flight frequency and international destinations that meet the demands of international businesspeople. Montgomery County and Maryland continue to cut off their ideological nose to spite their economic development face, by blocking construction of a new Potomac River crossing from the I-270 corridor to Dulles.

Pierre Rossignol, President, CMC Electronics

"We are thrilled to be joining the vibrant Reston community and are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings—for our team, our partners, and our customers," CMC Electronics President Pierre Rossignol said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our mission of pushing the boundaries of avionics excellence." The Montreal-based firm has an existing American facility in Sugar Grove, Illinois. CMC stands for Canadian Marconi Company; the company's founder was someone you might have heard of:  Guglielmo Marconi. The brilliant Italian inventor founded the firm in 1903.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin

“CMC Electronics' decision to invest $5 million and establish its new facilities in Fairfax County underscores Virginia's position as a leader in aerospace innovation,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement from his office. “This creation of new high-tech jobs demonstrates the strength of our Commonwealth's talent pipeline and our commitment to fostering cutting-edge industries. Virginia's pro-business climate and strategic location continue to attract global companies like CMC Electronics, further solidifying our role in shaping the future of aviation technology.”

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay

“I am thrilled that CMC Electronics has chosen Reston as the location for their U.S. expansion and continued global growth,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay said. “CMC Electronics choosing Fairfax County is yet another testament to how business-friendly policies, a robust talent pipeline that supports innovation, and our unmatched quality of life is a winning combination for maintaining our status as the premiere destination for starting, locating, and growing your business.” 

Bethesda construction update: Beth's Cafe & Bar (Photos)

Progress is visible on the exterior remodeling of the space that will soon become Beth's Cafe & Bar in Bethesda. The facade has been repainted and detailed with wood accents to distinguish it from ala, the restaurant with which its shares the same building at 4948 Fairmont Avenue. Signage with the restaurant's logo has also been installed on the building. Beth's Cafe & Bar is anticipated to open in mid-November.

On St. Elmo opening November 14 in Bethesda + menu preview (Photos)

On St. Elmo, a new restaurant and lounge at 4915 St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda, will open on Thursday, November 14, 2024. A grand opening celebration will extend from the 14th through Saturday the 16th. The menu has now been revealed; see the photos below for a preview. On St. Elmo is the latest tenant in this storied space, which has previously been home to TAPP'D Bethesda, Union Jack's, and most-famously, The Shark Club.

Who is artifying the utility boxes of Bethesda? (Photos)

Utility boxes in downtown Bethesda have begun taking on a new appearance over the last few days. It started near the TD Bank at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue, with bright flowers and polka dots. Like a contagion, it began to spread further through the Central Business District. More flowers, and even some scary bees. Finally, the people responsible were caught in the act: CSI, a printing company whose output includes graphic wraps for vehicles...and utility boxes.

Signage installed at 4909 Auburn Apartments in Bethesda

Signage has been installed at the new 4909 Auburn apartments on Auburn Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The logo signage lights up at night. On the retail front, two ground floor retail spaces remain available for lease. The first residents are expected to move in about ten days from now.

Dunkin' Donuts "coming soon" at Chevy Chase Lake

Dunkin' Donuts is "coming soon" to the Giant gas station at 8500 Connecticut Avenue, in front of the Crescent at Chevy Chase apartments at Chevy Chase Lake. That's what the new banner placed out front promises. Permanent signage has also been installed on the building. In addition to a picture of a refreshing iced coffee, the banner also notes that they are hiring for all positions.

Häcker Kitchen German Design Studio opening in Bethesda

Häcker Kitchen German Design Studio is coming to downtown Bethesda. The high-end kitchen showroom will be located at 8218 Wisconsin Avenue. Construction is just getting underway inside the space. The family-owned company was founded by Hermann Häcker in 1898. Their modern-design kitchens are considered among the finest in the world, which is what you would expect from any German-engineered product.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Bethesda Row lived out the October 31/November 1 holiday transition meme in real time Friday, as the giant Christmas tree and holiday lights were quickly installed around the property. More decorations are forthcoming, but by nightfall, hundreds - if not thousands - of bulbs were already lit. They included some new ones for 2024, including those on the plaza canopy. Earlier in the day, elves were caught in action on Bethesda Lane, as you will see in the photos below.

Terrain Cafe space is being gutted at Bethesda Row

The interior of the space vacated by Terrain Cafe at 7728 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row last year is now being demolished. Terrain Cafe closed in December 2023. How Anthropologie & Co. intends to use the space going forward has not been publicly announced. The timing suggests it could become more retail display space for the holiday shopping season, but that is merely speculation.

Allbirds closes at Bethesda Row

Allbirds has closed at 4852 Bethesda Avenue at Bethesda Row. The interior has been cleared out, and paper has been placed over the windows. We can partly blame Montgomery County's moribund economy for this closure, as the footwear chain had said earlier this year it would close 10 to 15 "underperforming stores" out of its 60 nationwide locations. However, the company is facing financial difficulties that led to that decision, and the replacement of its CEO.

Nighttime break-in at Bethesda smoke shop

Downtown Bethesda's smoke shops continue to be a prime target for criminals in both the daytime and the nighttime. The nighttime was the right time for one burglar who rolled up on Smoke Island at 7913 Norfolk Avenue with an entourage in a white SUV at 2:30 AM Saturday, September 14, 2024. This wasn't the first appearance by the suspect that morning, however. The ski-masked suspect first cased the store seven minutes earlier, before returning in the vehicle with passengers who remained inside the SUV.

Using an unspecified object, Montgomery County police say, the male suspect smashed the front door to gain entry to the store. Stealing unspecified property from inside the store, the suspect fled in the SUV. Detectives have released surveillance video of the incident, and are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect. 

One of the Woodmont Triangle's new rat-resistant trash cans makes a cameo appearance, and the suspect slows the getaway driver's escape when part of his haul gets caught in the rear passenger door of the SUV, and is dragged scraping along the pavement alongside the vehicle as it turns onto Cordell Avenue heading east.

Police describe the suspect as a male of unknown race, wearing a black ski mask, a black sweater, gray pants and black shoes. He was carrying a green "sling bag." If you have any information about this incident, or can identify the suspect, you are asked to call police at 1-866-411-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous.