BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: 7770 NORFOLK LUXURY APARTMENT TOWER

The modern and distinctive exterior facade of the JBG Companies' 7770 Norfolk luxury apartment tower is becoming more evident by the day. JBG is on something of a roll recently, having scored a breakfast-lunch-dinner restaurant called Community as a tenant for 7770, and fully leasing up the retail of their 275 N. Washington Street project. Their nearby 7900 Wisconsin project has been temporarily delayed, but will have Trader Joe's as the anchor tenant.

7770 Norfolk is a 17-story building with 244 apartments, and is expected to deliver this fall.

ASSAULT ON PARKLAWN DR., VEHICLE BREAK-IN ON JAMESTOWN RD + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 5, according to crime data:

Theft. 7200 block Marbury Road.

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Jamestown Road (Westgate).

Assault. 11800 block Parklawn Drive (Pike District).

NOTE TO READERS RE: POST TIMES TODAY

Due to a glitch in the Blogger platform, the 8:00 AM post may not appear until 10:01 AM this morning. I apologize in advance, but the control panel will not currently allow me to set the timer for 8:00 AM - only long before or at 10 AM or later. This has happened on one occasion previously.

MCDONALD'S CHICKEN SELECT TENDERS REVIEW (VIDEO+PHOTOS)

Chicken Selects are back at McDonald's! The premium fried chicken strips are now called McDonald's Chicken Select Tenders, and come only as a 3-piece; the 5-piece has apparently been dropped. They cost $3.49. There are no new sauces debuting with the return of Chicken Selects, so I got the 2 I used to get with these - Creamy Ranch and Honey Mustard. Honey Mustard, as Chicken Selects fans will recall, was created especially for the Chicken Selects when they were first launched about a decade ago.

How do the Chicken Select Tenders compare to the original Chicken Selects (remember, the packaging says these are "improved")? Watch my review to find out!

FIRE AT BETHESDA RESTAURANT

UPDATED: 10:34 AM

Montgomery County firefighters responded to a fire at Chicken on the Run at 4933 St. Elmo Avenue around 9:50 AM this morning. A woodburning stove was the source of a fire that spread via the stove's ductwork, MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

St. Elmo Avenue, and some lanes on Old Georgetown Road, are blocked by fire operations at this time. Firefighters are checking for any extension of the fire beyond the cooking stove's ductwork, Piringer said.

DRUG BUST IN BETHESDA PARKING GARAGE, RAPE, 5 THEFTS - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 4, according to crime data:

Drug arrest. Public Parking Garage 11 (next to Black's Bar & Kitchen).

Theft from vehicle. 4800 block Auburn Avenue.

Rape. Suburban Hospital.

Theft. 5400 block Westbard Avenue.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Wisconsin Circle.

Theft. 9800 block Bristol Square Lane (Pooks Hill).

BETHESDA POOKS HILL MARRIOTT BEING RENOVATED (VIDEO+PHOTOS)

The Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda is getting a makeover, including its guest rooms, meeting space and public areas such as the lobby. Architecturally, the building still looks sharp from the outside; its modern design was ahead of its time, like several other Marriott hotels in the area. But now, it will be the first Marriott property in the market to have the latest guest room design the chain is introducing.

Improvements include 55" TVs
(Photos courtesy Marriott Corporation)

A hotel spokesperson says the renovation should be complete in about 3 weeks. During the work, they aim to keep guests away from rooms near areas where that activity is going on. The renovations and updates will include:

Authentic materials and natural textures

Bathrooms with new showers featuring a sleek, modern design

Modular furniture that moves

New hard surface flooring replace carpets

Natural light, neutral colors and local materials

Workspaces conducive to modern work habits, featuring built-in USB ports and premium connectivity

TVs up to 55-inches

There is a video showing one of the old-design guest rooms beginning the transformation:

ENJOY FREE BOWL AT SHOPHOUSE PIKE & ROSE GRAND OPENING SATURDAY (PHOTOS)

Stop by the grand opening of the new ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda's Pike District this Saturday, and enjoy a free bowl on the (Shop)House!

I personally would recommend the pork-and-chicken meatballs with broccoli on jasmine rice. And the Bruce Cost ginger ale to go with it.

To learn more about ShopHouse, visit their website, and watch my review from their Bethesda Row grand opening.

ASSAULT ON SPRING LAKE DR., 5 THEFTS - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 3, according to crime data:

Theft. 7400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 4800 block Bethesda Avenue.

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue.

Theft. Bloomingdale's (Chevy Chase).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Assault. 7500 block Spring Lake Drive at 3:07 AM (Westlake area).

PIKE DISTRICT STREET GRID PROJECT ADVISED TO PUT BIKE, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ABOVE TRAFFIC FLOW

Montgomery County Planning Department staff are recommending approval of a Montgomery County Department of Transportation street grid project in North Bethesda's Pike District (a.k.a. White Flint). But they are suggesting changes that would improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians with disabilities.

The new Executive Boulevard was originally shown to have a 5th turning lane in the MCDOT project plan. Planning staff are recommending that center lane be deleted to make room for a pair of 6' bike lanes. Those lanes would also be separated from traffic by an additional 2' buffer. The on-street bike lanes would also replace the original concept of bikes using a parallel shared-use path.

Proposed design for intersection
of future Executive Boulevard at
Market Street

To improve safety for those with disabilities, planners are advising MCDOT bump out the curb corners at the intersection of Executive and Market Street, and add two additional wheelchair-accessible ramps to those already planned. Those ramp access points would be widened to 10', and relocated as needed to accommodate the new configuration of the intersection.

The curb bumpouts would also make the intersection compliant with the County's recently updated road code for urban areas, which reduced the crossing distance for pedestrians at intersections.

The project is scheduled to be considered by the Montgomery County Planning Board at its March 12 meeting.

Rendering courtesy Montgomery County Planning Department

HOW WOULD YOU RATE #MoCo's SNOWPLOW PERFORMANCE IN YOUR BETHESDA/CHEVY CHASE NEIGHBORHOOD?

Fabulous? Terrible? Plowed down to the pavement? Oops, missed your street all together?

Give Montgomery County's snowplow performance as of rush hour this morning a grade from A+ to F. Feel free to describe the situation in your neighborhood, as well, regarding snow plowing and road conditions. 

BETHESDA SNOW UPDATE/FORECAST #WMATA #DC #DMVSNOW #MCPS

The snow is tapering off, but roads remain treacherous. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue reports that there were over 50 auto accidents in the county today so far. Here is a very partial list of restaurants open for dinner tonight in Bethesda.

Montgomery County Public Schools will be closed Friday, March 6. Many parents were angered by the MCPS decision to delay canceling classes today until this morning. Montgomery County Government will be open Friday.

Metrobus will suspend all service at 9:00 PM tonight.

Ride On remains on the S service reduced schedule. Ride On Bus 23 (Friendship Heights to Sibley Hospital) will bypass Brookmont, staying on Macarthur Boulevard to Sangamore Road in Bethesda.

Many flights are cancelled at local airports; call your air carrier before leaving.

Amtrak is operating on a modified service schedule in the Northeast Corridor tonight and Friday.

Our forecast tonight will be severely cold, with temperatures plummeting to 7°F by sunrise. Light winds and cloudy conditions will give way to a sunny but frigid Friday. Expect a high of 26°, and therefore, little melting beyond what the sun can do.

Friday night, we'll plunge to a low of 11°, before finally rising above freezing Saturday afternoon.

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

RESTAURANTS OPEN IN BETHESDA #DC #DMVSNOW

Here is a partial list of restaurants open tonight in Bethesda:

OPEN:
Brickside Food and Drink
Olazzo
Gringos and Mariachis
Mon Ami Gabi (closing at 8 PM)
Mussel Bar
&pizza (closing at 9 PM)
Harp and Fiddle w/19th Street Band live tonight

CLOSED:
Tía Queta
4935 Bar and Kitchen

If your restaurant is open or closed, and you would like to be added to the list, leave a comment or email me at robert1999 [at] hotmail [dot] com.

THEFT ON RIVER RD.; VEHICLE BREAK-INS ON WISCONSIN, WILLARD + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 2, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7100 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 5200 block River Road.

Vehicle burglary. 4400 block Willard Avenue.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

K&I SALON OPENS AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

K&I Salon has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is located in the former Bubbles Salon space on Level One. They're also hiring stylists and barbers; call 240-522-8345 to apply.

DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUESTED FOR PARKER'S AT BETHESDA ROW

Interior demolition and alteration permits have been requested for Parker's restaurant at 4824 Bethesda Avenue. As reported by Bethesda Magazine, Parker's and Tara Thai will close at the end of March. The permit request refers to "tenant improvement work to two existing spaces," so it could also apply to the Tara Thai space, as well. However, it does not list Tara Thai's address, 4828 Bethesda Avenue.

There is always the potential that one or both could be converted to retail spaces, as happened with Dunkin' Donuts, for example.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSED TODAY, MARCH 5 #MCPS #MOCO

Montgomery County Public Schools, and MCPS offices, are closed today due to the snowstorm.

ASSAULTS ON IPSWICH RD., FLANDERS AVE.; THEFT AT UNION JACK'S + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 1, according to crime data:

Disorderly conduct. 7900 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. Union Jack's.

Theft. 7900 block Norfolk Avenue.

Theft. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Theft. 5100 block Moorland Lane (Edgemoor).

Vehicle burglary. Friendship Boulevard at N. Park Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5500 block Friendship Boulevard.

Assault. 5900 block Ipswich Road at 12:09 PM (Alta Vista Gardens).

Assault. 5300 block Flanders Avenue at 7:05 PM (Garrett Park Estates).

CHECK OUT THE RENOVATED STARBUCKS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The renovation that briefly closed the Norfolk Avenue Starbucks in Bethesda last week is finished, and here are the results. You can compare it to the makeover already completed at the Westwood Shopping Center location.

BETHESDA SNOW UPDATE/FORECAST - #DC #WEATHER

A few days before springing forward to Daylight Savings Time, winter is going out kicking and screaming. Yes, another snowstorm is headed our way tonight. We will be experiencing rain throughout the day today with our relatively warmer temperatures (our high will be 46°F this afternoon), but overnight that will switch to snow. By 5 AM Thursday, we'll be at the freezing mark - just in time for rush hour, of course.

Snow will begin to taper off by 5 PM Thursday, and our total accumulation will be in the 3"-7" range, with some forecasters calling for 10" at the higher end of the spectrum. A frigid Friday means we'll be iced in by whatever has fallen until it begins to melt Saturday. If recent storms are a guide, that initial freeze will slow the melting process even once temperatures have gone above freezing this weekend.

Our current temperature is a downright-balmy 39°, and fog will be a problem early this morning. Take an umbrella. Winds are WSW at 4 MPH.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for updates throughout the storm tonight and tomorrow.

CORE OPENS AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

CORE, a locally-owned apparel retailer, has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It replaces the Burton store.

ASSAULT ON WOODMONT AVE., BURGLARY ON ALLAN RD. + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 28, according to crime data:

Burglary. 5100 block Allan Road (Westgate).

Assault. 7200 block Woodmont Avenue at 1:43 AM.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Liquor arrest. 11800 block Grand Park Avenue (Pike & Rose).

Liquor arrest. 11800 block Grand Park Avenue.

CARLUCCIO'S COMING TO PIKE & ROSE

Carluccio's, an Italian restaurant and market born in the UK but now owned by a Dubai-based firm, is coming to Pike & Rose in North Bethesda's Pike District. The American division of the company is using the DC area as a testing ground for a larger launch across the United States, starting in Alexandria.

The 4,559 SF space being leased by Carluccio's is smaller than the Alexandria outpost, but fits within the target square footage the company said it is seeking in our region.

Started by UK celebrity chef Antonio Carluccio, the rapidly-expanding chain has locations across Britain and the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and, of course, Dubai. Carluccio's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making Italian baked goods as important as the authentic pasta dishes on the menu. Famous Carluccio's fans include Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, photographed leaving one of their UK restaurants together.

Tom Hiddleston (L) and
Benedict Cumberbatch caught by
paparazzi leaving Carluccio's

BETHESDA SNOW UPDATE AND FORECAST #DC #THOR

The DC area will be under a Winter Weather Advisory from noon until 10:00 PM tonight, as snow, sleet and freezing rain associated with Winter Storm Thor are expected to create hazardous road conditions this evening.

Thor is expected to hit at midday. We will be getting up to an inch of snow and sleet, according to the NWS; the Weather Channel is showing slightly higher amounts.

What could be worse for drivers, falling limbs and trees, and power outages, is that we are again facing a coating of ice around a tenth of an inch today.

It is currently a frigid 22°F. The good news is that, beginning around 7:00 PM tonight, we will be rising above freezing, and continue to heat up overnight. That will turn the precipitation into rain.

Prepare to enjoy a rainy but comparatively toasty 47° high on Wednesday.

ASSAULT AT WHITMAN HS, BURGLARY ON CORDELL AVE. + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 27, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7500 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Burglary. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 7200 block Connecticut Avenue.

Drug arrest. Cedar Lane at Elmhirst Parkway.

Vehicle burglary. Friendship Boulevard at S. Park Avenue.

Assault. Walt Whitman High School.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. 10200 block Westlake Drive.

CHLOE'S NY STYLE DELI PLANS MID-MARCH OPENING IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

Get ready to enjoy classic deli fare without leaving the mall. Chloe's NY Style Deli has now set a mid-March opening date in the Dining Terrace at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

DEF LEPPARD DRUMMER RICK ALLEN TO APPEAR IN BETHESDA MARCH 21

Buddha of Inspiration: A Study in Orange
by Rick Allen

Rick Allen, drummer for the legendary Def Leppard, will appear Saturday, March 21 from noon to 3:00 PM at Wentworth Gallery in Westfield Montgomery Mall. He will be exhibiting a collection of his fine art at the Bethesda gallery entitled, "Rick Allen: Angels and Icons."

Allen's art creation process is as innovative as his drumming technique. Working in the mediums of photography, light art and painting, he sometimes creates abstract works by filming his playing while using LED lights on the drumstick tip. Using long exposures, the lights create patterns that are also unique to the music that was being performed. 

His dramatic life story has brought him to the DC area before. As you may know - and as my falling-apart copy of Def Leppard: Animal Instinct recounts - Allen lost an arm in a car wreck at the height of the band's Pyromania-era success. Allen says a visit with wounded veterans at Walter Reed helped him "come to terms" with that traumatic event more than 20 years later. Rather than retire, he redefined what could be done on the drums with new techniques and technology.

Now he is expanding his palette to the worlds of art and philanthropy, helping to raise money for Project Resiliency’s Warrior Resiliency Program, sponsored by the Raven Drum Foundation.

Here's a chance to meet a real rock star - RSVP online, or call 301.365.3270.

Wentworth Gallery is on the second level of the mall, just outside of Nordstrom.

Photo courtesy Wentworth Gallery

HUNGRY-MAN SPICY FRIED CHICKEN REVIEW (VIDEO)

What better day to test out a hot and spicy fried chicken dinner than this? Here are 3 large pieces of dark meat fried chicken with a spicy coating in the Hungry-Man Spicy Classic Fried Chicken dinner. That means the classic Swanson/Hungry Man fried chicken with cayenne pepper added.

The classic Swanson mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables (carrots, green beans and corn) and an "apple dessert" round out the meal.

How does it taste? Watch my review to find out!

ROBBERY IN WHITLEY PARK, DRUG ARREST ON OLD GTOWN RD. + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on February 26, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7500 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 5300 block Western Avenue.

Robbery. 9700 block Whitley Park Place (Whitley Park).

Drug arrest. 11600 block Old Georgetown Road (Pike District).

BETHESDA SNOW UPDATE, FORECAST - WINTER STORM #SPARTA #DC #WEATHER

Bethesda will be under a Winter Weather Advisory from 7:00 AM this morning until 3:00 AM Monday morning. According to the National Weather Service, snow will begin to fall sometime between 7:00 and 10:00 AM this morning. At some point between noon and 3:00 PM, it will change to sleet, and then freezing rain. All told, the NWS forecasts 1-2" of accumulation of snow and sleet, and a tenth of an inch of ice.

This will make for hazardous driving through tonight on area roads.

The current temperature in Bethesda is 23°F, and we'll hit the low-mid 30s by afternoon, before dropping back to the low 30s tonight. Winds will be South, 10-15 MPH today.

Here are some of the current temperatures around Bethesda:

Woodmont Triangle 25.4°

Chevy Chase 25°

Greenwich Forest 25.2°

Brookdale 24.7°

Nahant Street 26.2°

Falmouth Road (Spring Hill) 26.1°

Fort Sumner 24.5°

Burning Tree 24.4°

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