Tower crane erected at 7000 Wisconsin construction site in Bethesda (Photos)

The tower crane is up at the construction site of the future 7000 Wisconsin apartment building in downtown Bethesda. Work on the crane assembly began before dawn this morning, requiring lane closures on Wisconsin Avenue. Some side streets were temporarily blocked off as well, as large trucks and a crane-to-build-the-crane were brought in to assist.

Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda demolished (Photos)

Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda at 8011 Old Georgetown Road has been completely razed. The site is now being graded in preparation for excavation, shoring and sheeting. An apartment building will take the place of the church. Worship services have moved to Imagination Stage.

Under Armour relocates inside Montgomery Mall in Bethesda (Photos)

Sports apparel and footwear retailer Under Armour has moved at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store has relocated from Level 1 to a space across from 7-Eleven on Level 2. Merchandise racks and displays are visible inside the new location, which doesn't have the custom storefront and interior design of the original space.

Crane operations close lanes on Wisconsin Avenue near Leland St. in Bethesda (Photos)

Crane operations at a construction site on Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) is closing lanes near Leland Street at this hour. Southbound lanes are entirely blocked. Traffic headed south is being directed into part of the northbound lanes at this time. The operations appear to be for a tower crane assembly at the 7000 Wisconsin apartment building project site.

De Clichy menswear shop to open at Montgomery Mall

De Clichy menswear shop is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store will specialize in men's slim fit, modern fit, casual and formal suits; blazers, tuxedos, shirts, pants, shoes, and other men's fashion accessories. De Clichy has an existing store in Hyattsville. When it opens, look for De Clichy on Level 2 of the mall, next to Chocolate Moonshine.

Veterans Park fountain activated for summer (Video + Photos)

The fountain in Bethesda's Veterans Park has been activated for summer by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. Part of the memorial in the park to Bethesda-Chevy Chase residents who died in the major military conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries, it is activated every April. The park used to host a summer concert series, but that has been moved a few yards over to the Norfolk Avenue Streetery. Concerts will begin Friday, May 20, 2022 at 6:00 PM with singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd.

Water features are slowly disappearing from downtown Bethesda, so it's good to still have this one around. Fountains are an important urban amenity. Like trees, they can lower stress and blood pressure, and their negative ions are a natural mood booster. Fountains of a size large enough also produce a noise-canceling effect that can provide an escape from the traffic and construction noises downtown. Located at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues, Veterans Park is a great place to take a coffee or lunch break in the Woodmont Triangle.

Signage installed at South Block at Pike & Rose

The sign is up at the future location of South Block at 11803 Grand Park Avenue, at Pike & Rose. A local, DC-area chain, South Block specializes in smoothies, acai bowls, fresh-pressed juices, and avocado or banana toast. This will be their first Maryland location when it opens.

Big Al's Subs and Soups closes at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Big Al, we hardly knew ye. It was only last December that Big Al's Subs and Soups opened in the Dining Terrace food court at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Al was big, but apparently wasn't "too big to fail." The Big Al's stall in the food court has been stripped of signage, and was dark and deserted Wednesday.

FYE's Alex Baby & Toys opens at Montgomery Mall (Photos)

Alex Baby & Toys, a new toy store concept from FYE, is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. By golly, it's a real toy store, not one of those "smart, educational" toy pop-ups, nor aisle upon aisle of toddler toys and strollers, despite the name. G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, Lego, Marvel, Star Wars...everything the mainstream, corporate toy consumer could want is here. 

This is the first of this new concept store to open anywhere in the country; a second is scheduled to open in Massachusetts later this year. It's nice to be the first and get respect from FYE! Look for Alex Baby & Toys on Level 1, in the Old Navy wing.

The Sill to open store at Bethesda Row

The Sill will open its first Mid-Atlantic U.S. retail location at Bethesda Row. Founded in New York City in 2012 by CEO Eliza Blank, The Sill sells houseplants, planters, grow lighting and other accessories for the green thumb-sporting apartment dweller or homeowner. Holiday-themed plants and floral arrangements can also be ordered, just as you might from any florist. You'll also find home decor and gift items, including candles, shelving, and art.

As more and more trees are lost in Bethesda to steel and concrete, The Sill may be arriving at just the right time. Blank founded the business after having difficulty adjusting to her move from rural Massachusetts to the Big Apple, due to the sudden absence of greenery in her surroundings. With Montgomery County government now poised to aggressively urbanize green suburban neighborhoods, her solution may be one residents are forced to turn to in the coming years for the good of their physical and mental health: houseplants. Studies increasingly show the benefits of trees and greenery on health in urban areas, and the negative impacts when they are scarce.

Arrival of The Sill also reflects property owner Federal Realty's recent focus on home goods and lifestyle retailers. Pet parents may become plant parents; yes, The Sill even sells a Plant Mom Duo of a Begonia Black Sky and a Philodendron Birkin. It's certainly cheaper and more convenient than care of an animal. Stay tuned for an estimated opening date, and location of the shop at Bethesda Row.

Photo courtesy The Sill

John Astin, the original Gomez Addams, grew up in Bethesda

John Astin, the original Gomez Addams on TV's The Addams Family, grew up in Bethesda. He lived with his family in a house on Battery Lane. His father, Allen V. Astin, was the Director of the National Bureau of Standards. Known as NIST today, the bureau was located in the District at that time, and Allen Astin played a major role in the planning and development of its future Gaithersburg campus.

John Astin married actress Patty Duke in the backyard of the Battery Lane home in 1972, according to an Associated Press account at the time. His soon-to-be-adopted son, actor Sean Astin, was an 18-month-old guest at the ceremony. Sean Astin would go on to star in The Goonies, Rudy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and visited his grandparents on Battery Lane during his childhood. Allen Astin would live in Bethesda until his death in 1984, according to The New York Times.

Alas, the Astin home at 5008 Battery Lane was later demolished to make way for condos near the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. But John Astin is still a Maryland resident today. He lives in Baltimore, and is the Director of the Theater Arts and Studies Department and Homewood Professor of the Arts at Johns Hopkins University. Astin graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1952.

Photo courtesy ABC

Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery opens in Friendship Heights

Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery is now open at 5471 Wisconsin Avenue in the Collection at Chevy Chase in Friendship Heights. Specialty coffees include Nitro Vanilla Oat, Peanut Butter Cup Latte 👍, and Junction Fog Latte. The all-day menu features dishes like Pot Roast, Shrimp & Grits, Thai Street Noodle, Tofu Stir Fry and General Tso's Cauliflower. 

If you're looking for weird baked goods like cronuts, Junction has a Cruffin. Or step up to the bar for one of their signature cocktails or a draft or can from a local brewery. Operating hours are Sunday - Thursday  8:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and Friday & Saturday 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM. All transactions are cashless.

The full Honeymoon Chicken menu is now available from Ensemble in Bethesda

Bethesda residents were the first to sample Honeymoon Chicken before the actual restaurant opened in the District, because select Honeymoon menu items were available through the Ensemble ghost kitchen for pickup and delivery at 4856 Cordell Avenue. Starting now, the entire Honeymoon Chicken menu can now be ordered from through the Ensemble website or app. That's along with the many menu items they offer from Ted's Bulletin, Federalist Pig and Sidekick Bakery. Ensemble says the additional Honeymoon menu items include new sandwiches, salads, and Honeymoon's version of chicken and waffles.

Photo courtesy Ensemble

Assault reported at Bethesda nursing home

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a Bethesda nursing home Monday morning. The assault was reported at a facility in the 5700 block of Grosvenor Lane at 10:00 AM, according to crime data.