LIQUOR ARREST AT THE METROPOLITAN, WEAPON ARREST AT TILDEN MS - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 25, according to crime data:

Liquor arrest. The Metropolitan.

Theft. 7800 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Burglary. 3800 block Woodbine Street (Chevy Chase Section 5).

Assault. Cedar Lane at Beach Drive.

Burglary. 5400 block Whitley Park Terrace (Whitley Park).

Theft. DSW Warehouse.

Weapon arrest. Tilden Middle School.

"Other sexual offense." 5800 block Nicholson Lane (Pike District).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: HOMELESS SHELTER TO RESTAURANT CONVERSION (PHOTOS)

Here is the latest progress at 4848 Cordell Avenue, formerly home to Catholic Charities' Bethesda House men's shelter, which has relocated to the Pike District (a.k.a. White Flint). The building is being converted into a future restaurant space, based on architectural designs by local firm Steven J. Karr, AIA, Inc. Sigal Construction is the contractor.

For a sense of the timeline, here is how it looked last month, work began in October, and it was only 13 months ago that the initial design was revealed.

Click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail:

AVALON ON THE MOVE AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

Avalon Nail Salon has moved - and it will move again. The Westfield Montgomery Mall tenant has temporarily relocated to a nearby space in the mall. But then it will move back to its original location, which is currently being renovated.

2 ASSAULTS ON SAME NIGHT, THEFT IN POOKS HILL + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 23-24, according to crime data:

February 23

Theft. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Assault. 7100 block Arlington Road at 11:37 AM.

Assault. 3900 block Virgilia Street at 8:17 PM.

Theft. 5100 block Pooks Hill Road.



February 24

Theft. 7600 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 10800 block Mazwood Place.

Theft. 11500 block Rockville Pike.

URBAN HEIGHTS STAFFING UP IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Future Bethesda rooftop restaurant Urban Heights is hiring staff, as this sign instructing interviewees indicates. The space atop the Norfolk-Cordell II building at that Woodmont Triangle crossroads has been taken over by DC-area restauranteur and chef Robert Wiedmaier (Mussel Bar, Marcel's, Brasserie Beck).

GALLERY ST. ELMO IS MOVING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Will it be called Gallery Cordell? Gallery St. Elmo is pulling up stakes and moving a block over to Cordell Avenue. It will fill the space just vacated by Freed Photography at 4931 Cordell Avenue (Freed moved upstairs to a bigger, expanded studio). The home furnishing consignment showroom has been featured in Southern Living magazine. Their new location will open in mid-March.

Their new location

BETHESDA BOXING & KICKBOXING ACADEMY INSTALLS SIGN (PHOTOS)

The martial arts/kickboxing studio coming to 4940 St. Elmo Avenue I reported on yesterday now has a name - and a sign: Bethesda Boxing & Kickboxing Academy.

SCHLITZ MALT LIQUOR REVIEW (VIDEO)

My latest beer review on the Robert Dyer Channel is an American classic - Schlitz Malt Liquor. This is a 24 ounce can found in the Beer Cave at Sheetz in Virginia. Is the 5.9% alcohol content really the only selling point of this beverage, as some elitists would claim? Would I recommend you try this? Watch my review to find out!

SMOOTHIE KING GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION MARCH 27-29

The new Bethesda Avenue Smoothie King, which opened last month, will officially celebrate its Grand Opening on March 27, 28, and 29. 

On all three days, kids can get a free Kids' Cup smoothie with the purchase of one Kids' Cup smoothie, all merchandise in the store will be 20% off, they'll be giving away balloons and t-shirts, and there will be raffles to win prizes from local businesses.

On the 27th only, there will be a $5 medium smoothie special to kick off the weekend.

NEW MARTIAL ARTS/KICKBOXING GYM OPENING IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Once a shoe store, and then promised to be a crab shack, 4940 St. Elmo Avenue has now been leased by a new martial arts gym offering kickboxing, jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and personal training. The gym will also offer a "morning boot camp," according to signage that appeared suddenly on the shop's windows. This space has been vacant for about 2 years.

BETHESDA SNOW UPDATE: WINTER STORM REMUS HITS BETHESDA, FORECAST

Bethesda will get slammed by Winter Storm Remus during this morning's rush hour - not so much in snow accumulation, but in terms of deteriorating road conditions. The National Weather Service is forecasting the heaviest snowfall to drop between 4:00 and 8:00 this morning.

We are under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon, and snowfall is expected to stick and be in the 1-2" range. Winds will be 10-15 MPH, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 20s.

It is currently just below 30°F in Bethesda - that will drop in the hours ahead, and then rise to a high of 33° by 4:00 PM. Skies will then be partly cloudy tonight and on Friday.

Currently, the federal government will open on a 2-hour delay this morning.

Stay tuned here and at @BethesdaRow on Twitter for updates during the storm.

BONOBOS OPENS AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The second Bethesda location of Bonobos is now open, inside Westfield Montgomery Mall. Bonobos specializes in men's trousers, with the selling point of providing a better fit than the typical khakis, corduroys and Dockers you pull off the racks at department stores. But they also have everything from suits to sweaters to belts and other accessories. You can try their apparel on to get the right fit, but your order will ship to your home after it is placed at the store.

CITY PERCH ADDS LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR AT PIKE & ROSE

City Perch Kitchen + Bar, the restaurant above the iPic Theaters at Pike & Rose, is adding two new promotions to its schedule. They now have a second Social Hour (their version of Happy Hour) at night, every night from 10:00 PM until closing. Pricing of drinks and small plates are similar to the earlier Social Hour after work: $3-6. There will also be a live DJ during the Social Hour on Friday and Saturday nights.

For those in the service industry, City Perch has a second new promotion - 30% off every Monday night after 9:00 PM. Just bring proof of your employment to qualify for the discount.

City Perch

11830 Grand Park Avenue 

North Bethesda, MD 20852

(301) 231-2310

PUBLIC MEETING MARCH 2 FOR BRADLEY BLVD. BIKE LANE/SIDEWALK PROJECT IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has scheduled a public workshop this coming Monday evening, March 2, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, regarding the proposed bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Bradley Boulevard. It will be held in the cafeteria of Pyle Middle School at 6311 Wilson Lane.

This project proposes to add an 8' shared use path (on the north side of the road), a 5' sidewalk (south side) and 2 5' bike lanes to the existing road. These additions will shrink the size of the roadway available to automobiles. The project is in Phase II, which determines cost, impacts and scheduling. 

The section of the road in question is between Little Falls Parkway and Wilson Lane. There are 85 homes, and 54 trees measuring 24" or greater in diameter, along this stretch of Bradley.

Among the concerns expressed by residents are the loss of street parking and trees, aesthetics of drainage swales, and pedestrian safety for those crossing Bradley. According to county statistics, there were no fatal collisions during the study period of 2003-2007 along this stretch of Bradley. There were 62 collisions during that time, and 3 of those involved bicycles.

PHOTOS OF BETHESDA STARBUCKS RENOVATION

The Starbucks at 7700 Norfolk Avenue was closed yesterday, as contractors began a major renovation of the popular store's interior similar to that already completed at the chain's Westwood Shopping Center location in 2013.

This Starbucks will close early at 5:00 PM today and on Wednesday as work continues.

Here's a look at what was being done last evening during the renovations (click on any photo to enlarge for greater detail):

PEET'S COFFEE & TEA CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

Construction has begun on the future Peet's Coffee & Tea at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It replaces the already-closed Caribou Coffee, and will be a kiosk. The chain took over several Caribou locations in the area, including downtown Bethesda's.
Peet's will face well-established competition in the mall's Starbucks and Aroma coffee shops. It is located near The Art of Shaving, Talbots and Forever 21 on the lower level.

NEW BETHESDA POLICE STATION PROPOSAL (PHOTOS)

The latest proposal for a new 2nd District downtown Bethesda Montgomery County Police station was introduced yesterday by developer StonebridgeCarras. A new 4-story station would be built on the currently empty lot at 4823 Rugby Avenue. In exchange, StonebridgeCarras would be able to redevelop the site of the current aging police station at 7359 Wisconsin Avenue, a prime piece of property near the Bethesda Metro station.

These images are not final renderings of the architecture or facades, but just a preliminary design. They were created by the architecture firm Michael Baker International.

Renderings courtesy Michael Baker International, Architect
All rights reserved