New downtown Bethesda CVS Pharmacy update (Photos)

The interior fit-out of the new CVS Pharmacy at 7235 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda is finally making some progress. Chandeliers left from the previous bank tenant would make this the classiest CVS ever, but are likely to be removed in favor of typical retail lighting. You can already see the trademark CVS red on one of the walls. My guess is all those boxes are filled with CVS register receipt paper.

Aggravated assault with gun at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall Tuesday night, October 4, 2022, after an aggravated assault with a firearm was reported there. The assault was reported at 8:36 PM. This is the 10th assault reported at the mall since May 18. The police department announced it had opened a "resource room" at the mall in August.

Bethesda construction update: Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road (Photos)

The Solaire 7607 Old Georgetown Road apartment tower is one floor above street level and counting now, on the former La Madeleine restaurant site in downtown Bethesda. It's taller than a typical floor, because this is the future ground level, where lobbies and retail spaces require higher ceilings. Developed by Washington Property Company, the 22-story building will house 198 rental units, 1,500 square feet of retail space (that screams "bank!" to me, but maybe we'll get lucky), and four levels of underground parking. Delivery is anticipated for Q4 2023. 

Respect the van!

Armed robbery at Bethesda convenience store

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a convenience store in Bethesda early yesterday morning, October 5, 2022. The robbery was reported at a store in the 5100 block of River Road at 2:49 AM Wednesday. 7-Eleven is the only convenience store on that block open at that hour.

Smoke Out BBQ Festival this Saturday at Strosniders Hardware in Bethesda

The annual Smoke Out BBQ Festival at Strosniders Hardware in Bethesda is this Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Attendees will enjoy live barbecue demonstrations - and free samples of the results, raffles and giveaways. The festival is also known for being the best time of the year to buy a grill at Strosniders.

Deals on grills will be the best of the year at Strosniders during this Saturday's event. And every qualifying grill purchase will earn you a free goodie bag. The Smoke Out is being held at all three Strosniders locations this Saturday - Bethesda in the Bradley Shopping Center at 6930 Arlington Road, Potomac at 10110 River Road, and Kensington at 10504 Connecticut Avenue.

Bethesda Row Arts Festival 2022 is this weekend, October 8-9

Many people were disappointed with the hurricane-related cancelation of this year's Taste of Bethesda event last weekend. The good news is that this coming weekend will be sunny with temperatures in the low 60s, and the second major downtown Bethesda festival of the year is still on. The Bethesda Row Arts Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, October 8 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and 9 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM), 2022. It will feature 165 juried artists, of which 72 are new to the show, and 42 are local artists. A complete list of artists with sample works and links to their websites is available on the event webpage.

The fine arts festival is a multimedia event, which means you will find everything from paintings to ceramics to wearable fashion. It is free to attend, and all ages are welcome. The festival takes place on streets around Bethesda Row that will be closed down for the event; vehicle access to the two public parking garages at Bethesda Row will remain accessible. 

A jury of prominent local artists will judge and determine a winner in each artistic discipline. Those names - and a best show award winner - will be announced Sunday morning. Partners for the event include Federal Realty, the property owner of Bethesda Row; GW Primary & Specialty Care, a local network of clinics that will soon include one at Bethesda Row; Marriott International, which just relocated its Bethesda headquarters and opened a new hotel at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue; and representatives of the Purple Line light rail project and Maryland Department of Transportation.

Montgomery County Council "reprimands" Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, 2 commissioners in alcohol controversy

The Montgomery County Council met in closed session yesterday, to discuss recent revelations in a Maryland-National Capital Park And Planning Commission's Office of the Inspector General report that Montgomery County Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson had kept a full bar in his government office. A whistleblower told the OIG that Anderson had pressured others to drink in his office after working hours, a charge Anderson strongly denied. The OIG investigation determined that some commissioners on the Planning Board had also consumed alcohol on the premises. This morning, the Council announced it would be taking a light touch in addressing the alleged behavior, which occurred in a department that has terminated rank-and-file employees in the past for alcohol policy offenses.

A Council press release states that it has chosen to reprimand Anderson, and Planning Board commissioners Carol Rubin and Partap Verma. The Council statement vaguely refers to the OIG report, but does not explicitly mention alcohol, or what the officials are being specifically penalized for. Anderson has previously issued an apology for his actions, stating that he has disposed of the alcohol in his office, and that he only drank after business hours.

This morning's press release states that "the Council has issued reprimands that will result in Chair Anderson losing four weeks of his salary and Vice Chair Verma and Commissioner Rubin each losing one day of their respective salaries. The three commissioners also must attend Employee Assistance Program counseling which is consistent with the Commission’s protocol.”

The press release goes on to say that the “Council is extremely disappointed in the violations of Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) policy by Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson, as detailed in an advisory memorandum from M-NCPPC’s inspector general. The memorandum also found violations of Commission policy by Vice Chair Partap Verma and Planning Board Commissioner Carol Rubin."

Anderson is one of the most powerful public figures in the county, and serves at the pleasure of the Council. Extraordinary legislative steps were taken to allow Anderson to serve an unprecedented third term as chair, at a record salary for the position. Planning Board commissioners also are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the County Council. 

The Council has stated that it will not say anything publicly about the case because it is a personnel matter. That assertion is patently false, because the individuals involved are political appointees holding public offices, not career employees. 

Ensemble adds pizzas with toppings from Federalist Pig, Honeymoon Chicken in Bethesda

Ensemble, the Bethesda ghost kitchen that features several popular D.C. area restaurant menus at 4856 Cordell Avenue, has recently expanded its offerings to include Pizza TBD Roman-style pizza. Today, it announced it is going to offer two new pizzas with toppings from the menus of Federalist Pig and Honeymoon Chicken. 

The Fedpizza features pork belly, Carolina BBQ sauce, jalapeño relish, pickled red onion, and cilantro. For the fried chicken fan who also loves pizza, the Honeymoon Pizza is topped with crispy chicken bites, pickled Fresno peppers, hot honey drizzle, and fresh chives.

Both pizzas are available starting today for a limited time only. Order online, and you can either pick them up at Ensemble, or have them delivered to your door.

Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition to rally at Maryland Court of Appeals October 6

Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition will hold a rally outside the Maryland Court of Appeals at 361 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis this Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 8:00 AM. The state's highest court will be hearing an appeal by the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission of the decision by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Karla Smith that blocked the agency's sale of the Westwood Tower property to development firm Charger Ventures. Smith issued the injunction after agreeing that HOC had failed to properly notify descendants of those buried in the Moses African Cemetery, which is hidden under the Westwood Tower property after being desecrated by construction workers in the late 1960s, of the sale.

"Black bodies are not for sale," BACC said in a press release announcing the rally. It said the appeals court will "decide whether black bodies can sold to developers without permission from families." The case is Dr. Abiose Adebayo v. Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.

Armed carjacking reported in downtown Bethesda (Video + Photos)

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed carjacking in the 4900 block of Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda at 7:33 PM on September 29, 2022. Multiple units were dispatched to an apartment building, and to the Huntington Learning Center, on Hampden. Radio communications indicated two black males in hoodies were last seen heading toward Wisconsin Avenue. Officers spent quite a bit of time carefully collecting evidence from an SUV parked in front of the Hampden Row condominiums.

EV charging spaces installation underway at Garage 40 in Bethesda (Photos)

The Cordell-St. Elmo Public Parking Garage 40 in downtown Bethesda is staying up-to-date with the times. New electric vehicle charging spaces are being installed at the Montgomery County-owned parking deck, which is located at 4935 St. Elmo Avenue. The garage remains open during the project.

Bethesda construction update: 8011 Old Georgetown Road apartments (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress so far at the 8011 Old Georgetown Road construction site, where an apartment building is going to replace the now-razed Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda. You can see that the site is being graded for excavation. Developer JLB Partners is constructing a 297-unit apartment building. Delivery is anticipated for April 2024.

Art displayed in windows at La Catrina Bar & Lounge in Bethesda (Photos)

Artwork has appeared in the upper windows of the future La Catrina Bar & Lounge at 4935 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. There has clearly been at least one very talented artist who has been generating promotional images for the Mexican restaurant and bar from the first announcement onward. 

A number of the pieces being worked on by hand right now for the interior have been shown on their social media accounts, and they are extremely high quality. Many people are waiting to see if this establishment can at least begin to restore some semblance of nightlife to the currently-moribund nighttime economy of downtown Bethesda.

Farrow & Ball "opening soon" at Bethesda Row

Farrow & Ball has posted "opening soon" signage at its future store at 7118 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. The UK paint and wallpaper chain will join several other new home decor-themed businesses at the Federal Realty property. Farrow & Ball is anticipated to open in December 2022.