Guardado's Spooky Halloween tonight in Bethesda

Guardado's at 4918 Del Ray Avenue in downtown Bethesda will be hosting a Spooky Halloween late-night happy hour tonight, October 31, 2025, from 10:00 PM to close. They'll be serving 2-for-1 draft beers, $2 off bottled beers, $2 off select cocktails, and $5 shots. Enjoy music and their late night tapas menu.

Assault at Bethesda Metro station

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at the Bethesda Metro station yesterday afternoon, October 30, 2025. The assault was reported at the station at 2:46 PM Thursday. 

Resurfacing on St. Elmo Avenue in Bethesda

Resurfacing work is underway on part of St. Elmo Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Milling has been performed between Old Georgetown Road and Norfolk Avenue. Watch for lane closures, especially at night. If you have a new car, you may want to take an alternative route at the moment.

Woodmont Grill "signs" off in Bethesda - what's next?

Woodmont Grill abruptly closed permanently at the close of business Tuesday night at 7715 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Yesterday, the sign you see in the photo above was posted on the front door. Seating was also removed from the outdoor patio area on Wednesday. What can we expect to happen next at the site of what by most accounts was downtown Bethesda's most-popular restaurant?

The restaurant's parent company owns the building and the land. This gives them a number of options the typical restaurateur doesn't always have. They could introduce a new dining concept here, and remodel the building.

Second, they could lease or sell the building to another restaurant tenant.

Third, they could sell the property to a developer, or partner with a developer, to redevelop the site.

That's going to be far less lucrative for them now, compared to the opportunity they passed up in 2017. Marriott International wanted to buy the Woodmont Grill and Tastee Diner that year, to expand the footprint of its relocated Bethesda headquarters all the way to the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues. As I exclusively reported that year, Marriott made offers to both restaurants in early 2017.

Marriott offered Tastee Diner $5 million, but was unsuccessful in acquiring either restaurant. Two months later, Marriott sweetened the Tastee offer to $7 million. Tastee was prepared to agree to this offer. Alas, Woodmont Grill refused Marriott's final offer, rendering the Tastee Diner site useless to Marriott and scuppering the whole deal.

Today, Marriott has zero use for either of these properties. Due to worldwide events since 2017, they are probably glad their HQ isn't any bigger than it wound up being. It is oversized as it is, with many employees working from home. So many, that Marriott leased back the public parking garage across the street to Montgomery County during the business hours it was to have had exclusive use of it. I wouldn't be surprised if Marriott were to ultimately lease out part of their building, or sell it altogether and relocate again to smaller quarters. They would save a ton of money - and even more if they moved to Virginia.

The best bet for redevelopment will be to assemble the Woodmont Grill with the Tastee Diner property. Height would have to be emphasized over width and depth to maximize the number of residential units in the prospective building. It would likely be exempt from having to include parking, with the Woodmont Corner Garage being diagonally across the street. With inflation, both landowners will likely be able to command at least as much as they were offered in 2017. Of course, those dollars are worth much less than they were eight years ago.

Woodmont Grill closes in Bethesda

Woodmont Grill has closed at 7715 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda. A message on their website states that "Woodmont Grill is now closed. Thank you for choosing us as a dining destination and allowing us to be a part of your lives with many fond memories of good food and cheer. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again at one of our other restaurants." While the message was on the website last evening, there were people dining inside the restaurant at the very same time. However, the entrance was closed, and no one was answering the phone. A source indicated that at least some employees were not informed of the closure until last night, and that it was the restaurant's last evening of operation.

As recently as the last decade, Woodmont Grill was said by some in the local hospitality business to enjoy the highest volume of sales of any restaurant in downtown Bethesda. When a fixture like Woodmont Grill calls it quits, and Bethesda resident and celebrity chef José Andrés gives up on downtown Bethesda, these are just more warning lights on the dashboard of the moribund Montgomery County economy. The lobbying organization for Maryland restaurants warned the County Council not to raise the minimum wage and other taxes and fees, but the Council paid no heed and raised them anyway. Now the chicken tenders have come home to roost, courtesy of the same Council that drove Bethesda stalwart Flanagan's out of business earlier this decade.

If you wonder why I say chicken tenders, it's because the closure of Woodmont Grill is really the end of not one, but two, eras. Woodmont Grill used to be Houston's, where the chicken tenders were a popular menu item. Houston's in Bethesda and Rockville were massively successful dining destinations in the 1990s. But the Rockville Pike location closed, and the Bethesda Houston's was inexplicably renamed Woodmont Grill. The new brand kept the Houston's chicken tenders as a secret menu selection for those in the know.

Halloween pumpkin and candy flavors at Dolcezza at Bethesda Row

Stop by Dolcezza Gelato and Coffee at 7111 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row this week to try limited time flavors for the Halloween and fall seasons. Why just have a fun size Butterfinger bar out of your Halloween candy bag, when you can have chopped Butterfinger bars and rich melted chocolate swirled into premium Dolcezza vanilla bean gelato? Indulge before it ghosts the menu on November 3.

Special pumpkin flavors will stick around through the end of November. Dolcezza's fall menu utilizes a pumpkin spice syrup made from 1,800 lbs of heirloom crookneck pumpkins grown at Beiler’s Heritage Acres Farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The pumpkins were oven-blistered in-house with dark brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and clove to create the syrup featured in the following limited-time-only treats:

Pumpkin Spice Gelato

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Chai Latte

Honeycrisp Apple Sorbet, made with apples grown by Toigo Orchards in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Trick or Treat at Bethesda Row October 30, 2025

Get ready for a spooktacular evening, because the Annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat Event is returning to Bethesda Row! It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween with family-friendly fun, all while supporting a fantastic local cause. Mark your calendars, because the trick-or-treating happens this Thursday, October 30, from 5:00–7:00 PM.

Bring the kids in their best costumes for an amazing evening of treats and festivities. Stroll through the Row and collect treats from participating shops and restaurants. It's a safe and fun way to get a head start on filling up those candy bags, with treats from the local businesses you know and trust.

Every registered child will get a special Bethesda Row glow stick to light up the night—great for safety and fun while trick-or-treating. Keep an eye out for fun and festive costume characters roaming the Row. Be sure to stop and snap a spooky selfie! And just by registering your child, you'll be entered to win a $100 gift card to a Bethesda Row brand.

Tickets are required per child (adults are free) and cost $5. All proceeds go directly to Manna Food Center, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger in our community. Tickets must be purchased in advance online here.

A gift card isn't the only prize up for grabs Thursday. Post your favorite Halloween pics from the event on social media and tag @bethesdarowfrt for a chance to win a frightfully fantastic mystery prize.

Bethesda construction site burglarized

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a construction site in Bethesda on October 14, 2025. Officers arriving at the scene in the 10400 block of Fernwood Road found evidence of forced entry. They determined property had been taken.

Police believe the break-in occurred between 3:30 PM on October 13, and 6:40 AM on October 14. They say they have no descriptions of the suspect(s) involved. Police identified Telligent Masonry as the victim. Telligent Masonry is a subcontractor for Whiting-Turner on the Grandview senior living project that is being built on the site of the former Marriott International headquarters. If you have any information about this incident that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at (301) 279-8000.

Zara relocating at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Zara will soon be relocating inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The fashion boutique is currently located on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing. It will be staying in the Nordstrom wing, but moving up to Level 2. Their new space was previously home to GAP and GAP Kids. The new location is scheduled to open before the end of fall.

See's Candies to return to Montgomery Mall for the holidays

If you needed another sign that the holidays are almost upon us, here it is. See's Candies is now confirmed to be returning to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for the 2025 season. This year, it will be located on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing of the mall, between Anya by Vivien and Everything But Water. See's Candies are super high quality, making them a gift you can give with confidence.

Kako Claw arcade to open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The claw machine craze is coming to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Kako Claw, a claw machine arcade located in several other malls in the region, will be opening soon here. It will be on Level 1 of the mall in the Old Navy/Cheesecake Factory wing, appropriately next to GameStop. One selling point of Kako Claw is that the company and some customer reviews note that the machines are on a fair setting, increasing odds of winning a prize in relative terms.

More signs of Dave's Hot Chicken in White Flint

Dave's Hot Chicken still hasn't served any hot chicken at its future Rockville Pike location, but it continues to serve up plenty of "coming soon" signage. The latest is a large banner with the chicken logo. Inside, construction continues at a glacial pace, and is far from completion. Located at 11564 Rockville Pike in the White Flint area, the building was formerly a McDonald's.

BabyCat Brewery soft opening draws a crowd in Bethesda

BabyCat Brewery has soft-opened its new Bethesda taproom at 4850 Rugby Avenue, in the ground floor of the Gallery Bethesda II apartment tower. There was a good-size crowd on hand indoors, and out. Such activity on the plaza between the Gallery towers has been a long time coming, and let's hope it continues. The official hours of the new Bethesda taproom still show it as "closed" every day, so I recommend calling ahead unless you are already in the neighborhood, at 301-686-8211. An official grand opening is scheduled for October 31.

Home burglarized in Sumner area of Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a burglary at a home in the Sumner community of Bethesda this past Tuesday night, October 21, 2025. The burglary was reported at a house in the 5900 block of Carlton Lane at 10:10 PM Tuesday. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the home. It is not yet known if residents were home at the time of the burglary, which would make it a home invasion.

Cheltenham Drive Bikeway plans advancing in Bethesda

Plans for the Cheltenham Drive Bikeway in downtown Bethesda are now scheduled to be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board at their December 11, 2025 public meeting. The County Department of Transportation has filed a Mandatory Referral application with the Planning Department for one-way, separated bike lanes on both sides of Cheltenham, between Woodmont Avenue and Tilbury Street. Mandatory Referral means that commissioners cannot stop or reject the project, but only make recommendations and suggestions based upon public comment, staff advice, and their own expertise. This is standard procedure for government projects. Residents or other stakeholders with questions regarding this project may call Eli Glazier at the Planning Department at 301-495-4548.

Total Wine opens in Friendship Heights (Photos)

Total Wine has opened at 5401 44th Street NW in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase, D.C. The beer, wine, and spirits superstore is located in the basement of what's left of poor Mazza Gallerie. There is a coupon online to receive $10-off a purchase of $50 or more, in celebration of the opening. It's a mighty strong shot down the hatch to realize that Total Wine is headquartered in Montgomery County, but cannot open a store in Montgomery County due to the County monopoly control of liquor sales. Heckuva job, Brownie!

Boll & Branch opens at Bethesda Row

Boll & Branch has opened at 7270 Woodmont Avenue at Bethesda Row. The upscale bedding retailer is hosting several events to celebrate its grand opening. This Saturday, October 25, will be Free Monogramming Day, providing complimentary customization of your purchases where applicable. On October 30, they will participate in the Bethesda Row event, Trick-or-Treat on the Row. October 30 through November 6 will be The Hosting Event, where staff will assist you in creating the most-welcoming holiday home on your block. 

November 1 is the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. The store will host a Holiday Family Fun event that day, with kid-friendly activities and treats from neighbor Eat Sprout. Finally, bring home fresh florals with any qualifying purchase on November 8, at the Bespoke Bouquet Keepsake event.

Koons Lincoln puts Corvette, Hellcat up front in Bethesda (Photos)

Koons Lincoln of Bethesda has turned to some non-Lincoln-badged vehicles to turn heads along Wisconsin Avenue. The luxury dealership at 7315 Wisconsin currently has a late model red Chevrolet Corvette, and a 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in stock. They have been parked on the sidewalk in recent days. Talking heads from America's auto industry have recently begun openly boasting that new cars are now just for the elites, as a novel way to explain why they are jacking up the price of used cars to such outrageous levels. The used Hellcat on display here is selling for essentially the same price as it did new in 2020, according to a Google Gemini search. It's no surprise that Detroit is blocking $8000 Chinese EVs from being sold in America.

Signage installed at iCRYO in Bethesda

The sign is up at iCRYO at 7161 Woodmont Avenue, in the ground floor of The Darcy condo building. iCRYO offers whole-body cryotherapy, infrared and red-light therapy, compression therapy, "zerobody dry float," intravenous infusion and injections, body sculpting, facial Neveskin shaping and toning, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Darcy has seen a turnover of its ground-level retail spaces in recent years, with the pending arrival of iCRYO, and the replacement of PassionFish by One Medical. iCRYO has been under construction since July.

New digital screen at Windsor Bethesda apartments (Photos)

A digital screen has been installed at the lobby entrance to the Windsor Bethesda apartments at 7770 Norfolk Avenue. It is currently showing promotional images for the apartment tower. The building opened as "7770 Norfolk" (the logo for which remains on the glass lobby doors) in 2016. After developer JBG Smith sold the property, it was rebranded as Windsor Bethesda in 2021.

BabyCat Brewery setting up outdoor seating ahead of opening in Bethesda (Photos)

We've previously seen some furniture and fencing outside the future BabyCat Brewery at 4850 Rugby Avenue in the Gallery Bethesda II apartments. Now that, and some additional tables and seating, are being set up for use. BabyCat Brewery hopes to open this new Bethesda Taproom before the end of the month.