Alo sets opening date at Bethesda Row

Alo has scheduled an opening date for its eagerly-awaited boutique at 7236 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. Its doors are now set to open on Friday, May 22, 2026. Alongside Beyond Yoga's recent arrival at Westfield Montgomery Mall, Alo has generated a lot of excitement about its impending arrival among readers in its target audience.

Los Angeles-based Alo sells "high-performance, fashion-forward clothing" for movement, recovery, and the wellness-focused lifestyle. The company has anchored its business model and mission on a dual foundation of yoga and mindfulness. In Bethesda, that will extend beyond apparel and accessories to include free online classes, community events, and wellness-fostering products. Underscoring the company's wellness aesthetic, its bricks-and-mortar locations are referred to not as "stores," but as Sanctuaries.

Police investigate threatening Pyle Middle School text message

Montgomery County police were contacted last night, May 10, 2026, about an unspecified threat allegedly made in a student group text. The participants in the texting group were students at Thomas W. Pyle Middle School in Bethesda, police said. According to police, the threat was made in a text sent last evening, and they were then contacted by a concerned individual at 11:55 PM last night. 

Police did not state the outcome of their investigation beyond the above information. This leaves the public to assume and speculate that the absence of public action or further comment by police and Montgomery County Public Schools today suggests it was determined there was no immediate danger. One would like to think more information would be available in this day and age regarding such threats.

Squishable moving at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Squishable is relocating inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The plush toy retailer won't be going far, though. It is going to be across from its current location. That location has temporarily closed because it takes time and some doing to corral these creatures and herd them across the corridor. 

Indecent exposure in Friendship Heights

Montgomery County police responded to a report of indecent exposure in the Village of Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase yesterday afternoon, May 9, 2026. The incident was reported at a park in the 5400 block of Friendship Boulevard at 2:45 PM Saturday. That appears to be Willoughby Park at the corner of Friendship and Willard Avenue. It's quite disturbing that this took place during daylight hours on a busy Saturday afternoon.

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2026

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival has returned to the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood of downtown Bethesda for 2026. Featured are the works of over 120 national artists, in a variety of mediums. There is also live music, and food is available from several vendors on-site. Admission is free. The festival is winding down for today, but there is another whole day tomorrow, Sunday, May 10 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore visits Max's Best Ice Cream in Bethesda

Maryland Governor Wes Moore was in Montgomery County Thursday for a Purple Line ceremony, but made time for an extended visit to Max's Best Ice Cream at 7770 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. He presented the ice cream parlor with a Governor's Citation recognizing the work the business is doing, in conjunction with Best Buddies and the Walt Whitman High School Learning for Independence program, to provide employment opportunities for members of the community with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Moore also joined the staff to learn a thing or two himself about how the treats are made in the kitchen at Max's.

The staff had a final surprise for the governor, when they presented him with the limited-edition Give Me Moore Old Bay Sundae. With the iconic Tastee Diner in the background, Moore handed out spoons so the staff could share in the enjoyment of his namesake dessert. The sundae features a warm, house-made brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, Old Bay caramel sauce, Old Bay-coated honey roasted peanuts, Fisher's (of course!) Old Bay Caramel Popcorn, whipped cream, and a handmade chocolate crab.

Photos courtesy Max's Best Ice Cream 

Cubano's pauses alcohol sales in Bethesda

Cubano's at 4907 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda has temporarily paused liquor sales. The restaurant is applying for a new liquor license from Montgomery County. Until it is successful in obtaining one, no beer, wine, or alcoholic cocktails can be served. Cubano's previously held a Class B liquor license from the County. It's unclear how the restaurant lost that license.

Francesca's closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Francesca's has permanently closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. They had one of the longest closing sales I've seen outside of some of those rug shops. Then again, the demise of the fashion boutique chain was also a long one. Francesca's filed for bankruptcy over five years ago. Westfield is probably not losing sleep over this closure, as it has recently agreed to leases with a number of tenants that would be considered an upgrade from Francesca's.

Johnnie-O opens at Bethesda Row (Photos)

Johnnie-O is now open at 7243 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. The "West Coast Prep" apparel boutique carries the label's signature golf shirts, and casual performance wear for men, women, and children. This is the first Johnnie-O location in the state of Maryland. Operating hours are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sundays.

HEYTEA "coming soon" to Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Eight months after I first reported that HEYTEA was looking into opening its second Montgomery County location at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, the chain has posted coming-soon signage at its future space on Level 1. It will be in the former Luggage Plus space, between L'Occitane en Provence and Vydration. Where is Luggage Plus? It has moved upstairs in the same wing, to a space right outside of Macy's Home.

Now, you may be saying, do we need another tea shop in Montgomery County, or even at the mall? Yes, you do, because HEYTEA is one of the most innovative and popular tea chains in the world. When they opened their first Maryland location in Rockville, the line was out the door.

What is the secret of HEYTEA's success? In 2012, in a small alleyway called Jiangbianli in Jiangmen, China, its young founder invented cheese tea, the product that would become the company's signature beverage. The brand's other signature is its worldwide popularity on social media, stimulated by the company's effort in creating Instagram-ready store interiors and packaging, and drinks that have as much appeal to the camera eye as to the taste buds.