YogaSix opening studio at Cabin John Village in Potomac

A new fitness option is coming to the neighborhood around Cabin John Village in Potomac. YogaSix has leased a space in the shopping center at 7951-D Tuckerman Lane. The chain touts its commitment to providing accessible instruction for total beginners. Each of its locations in the region are operated by independent franchisees. The Cabin John studio is anticipated to open this spring; "coming soon" signage has been posted in the windows of its future storefront.

Indigo Octopus to open at Bethesda Row

Indigo Octopus is coming this spring to Bethesda Row. The beach lifestyle apparel boutique has two existing locations: Fenwick Island, and the Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. Indigo Octopus describes itself as a "brand for women who wander with style and demand access to the coolest fashion finds from the best fashion brands." Their shops carry a curated collection of designer women's clothing, denim, jewelry, accessories, and swimwear. 

The Bethesda Row store will be located at 7126 Bethesda Lane. "Coming soon" signage has been posted in the windows of its future storefront. Brands carried by Indigo Octopus include Golden Goose, Byredo, Moussey, Anine Bing, ATM, Re/done, AGoldE, Frankies, Spell, Mother, Adina Reyter, Lack of Color, and LNA.

Bethesda CVS Pharmacy remains closed a week after water main break

The CVS Pharmacy at 7235 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda remained closed yesterday, a week after a water main break across the street from the store on Wisconsin Avenue. Early on the morning of January 7, 2025, water utility WSSC posted on Twitter that it expected water service to be restored to customers impacted at 1:35 AM. WSSC has not posted any further updates about this particular water main break since, but the CVS has not reopened.

Signage installed at Silver and Sons Barbecue in Bethesda

Signage has been installed at Silver and Sons Barbecue, opening soon at 5362 Zenith Overlook at the new Westbard Square development in Bethesda. Inside, the interior fit-out appears complete, and most equipment has been installed. Silver and Sons, which to this point has been a popular food truck in the area, had been expected to open this past fall. 

Founder Jarrad Silver told Bethesda Today last month that permitting issues with Montgomery County had stalled construction temporarily, but with those resolved, he was aiming for a January 2025 opening. Reporter Elia Griffin also wrote that the bricks-and-mortar location will have a larger menu than the food truck.

Armed carjacking in broad daylight in Bethesda

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed carjacking in downtown Bethesda Sunday afternoon, January 12, 2025. The carjacking was reported in a parking lot in the 4700 block of Miller Avenue at 4:40 PM Sunday. @CordellTraffic on Twitter reported that the vehicle stolen was a Chevrolet Camaro. @MoCoMag on Twitter reported that the Black male suspect was wielding an Uzi and wearing a ski mask, and that the Camaro stolen was black.

Police have not released any further description of the suspect, or the model year of the Camaro, as of this writing. If you can identify the suspect, or have any other information about this incident, call police at (301) 279-8000.

The things you see on a Woodmont Avenue sidewalk after a snowstorm (Photos)

A number of odd sightings were made on Woodmont Avenue Saturday, after the overnight snowstorm, between Fairmont and Cordell Avenues. Water pouring onto the sidewalk from a drain in a wall at the 8001 Woodmont apartment building had frozen into a waterfall of ice, and was cordoned off by a pair of JBG SMITH cones for safety purposes. 

Amazon packages had been left on the front step of the vacant former Sir Walter Raleigh restaurant building at 8011 Woodmont. And some of the building's street numbers - the 0 and a 1 - have been pried off. 

Finally, the vacant properties along Woodmont - including 8011 - that are now owned by the developer of the stalled Artena Bethesda project were again forcing their way into the news. The clear sidewalk of the southern portion of the block gave way to a narrow, one-person pathway in front of the Artena lots. That's not wide enough to meet ADA standards, much less for two able-bodied people to pass each other without someone stepping onto the ice and slush.

McDonald's gutted in surprise renovation at Cabin John Mall (Photos)

The venerable McDonald's at 11301 Seven Locks Road inside the Cabin John Mall in Potomac has been gutted inside. According to signage posted at the restaurant, it is temporarily closed for renovations. No reopening date has been posted, but one of the signs says that the remodeling will take a few weeks to complete. A second, more optimistic sign says "a few days," but that's a bit too optimistic from what you can see here. But overall, the renovation sends a very positive message to customers that the ownership wants to provide a brand new dining room experience for them.

This McDonald's almost closed a couple of years ago, but agreed to stay at the mall after outcry from its many loyal customers. It looks like they are now updating the store for the long haul, with a sneak peek at the new interior visible in the photo above. Customers are being directed to the Montgomery Mall McDonald's while the renovations take place. Yes, Cabin John Village has Shake Shack - but Shake Shack doesn't have the Big Mac! Or America's favorite fries.

Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Montgomery Mall Lunar New Year events in Bethesda

The last 12 months may have been the quickest in history, and the Lunar New Year is already almost upon us again. For 2025, Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will host a Lunar New Year celebration in partnership with the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) on January 25th and February 8th, from 10:40 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Attendees will join in celebrating the Year of the Snake with a range of family-friendly activities. As you can see in the photos here, decorations are already in place. The following events will be held in the Nordstrom wing of the mall on Level 1:

January 25:

• Dragon Parade: A dragon parade will kick off the festivities at 10:40 AM.
• Opening Remarks: Meet the Dragon at Center Court for opening remarks from CCACC, Westfield Montgomery, and local dignitaries.
• Cultural Performances: Enjoy a diverse array of performances, including lion and dragon dances, musical performances, singing, folk dancing, opera, kung-fu & martial arts, Tai-chi, folk sports, Guzheng, and harmonica.
• Interactive Activities: Participate in hands-on crafts like traditional Chinese painting & calligraphy, flour doll making, paper cutting, origami, henna tattoos, and more.
•  Clothing Drive: Bring gently-used or new clothing to donate to Interfaith Works. In return, receive a "hongbao" (lucky money) to redeem at participating retailers within Westfield Montgomery.

February 8 - Lantern and Riddle Festival:

• Dragon Parade: Another exciting dragon parade will commence at 10:40 AM.
• Cultural Performances: More captivating live performances.
• Crafts and Riddles: Engage in creative activities, and test your wits by solving riddles written on colorful lanterns. Successful riddle-solvers will receive a special "hongbao."

All events are free to attend, but you are asked to RSVP online, so Westfield can get a sense of how many people will be participating in the activities, to know what quantity of materials will be needed, for example.

Maryland Democrats propose vehicle excise tax increase

Four Democratic legislators in the Maryland House of Delegates are sponsoring a bill that would increase the vehicle excise tax. If House Bill HB-167 were to pass and be signed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), the state's vehicle excise tax would increase from 6% to 6.75% of the fair market value of the vehicle. The higher tax rate would take effect on July 1, 2025. Delegates Lorig Charkoudian (D - Montgomery), Kris Fair (D - Frederick), Andrew C. Pruski (D - Anne Arundel), and Sheila Ruth (D - Baltimore County) are the sponsors of the House bill.

Aéropostale closing at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Aéropostale is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. A closing sale is underway, and as of last evening, everything in the store is 70% off, "while supplies last." Aéropostale is the latest victim of the moribund Montgomery County economy. "Everything must go!" and "Closing sale" signs are ubiquitous these days in store windows across the county.

Aéropostale filed for bankruptcy way back in 2016, and closed over 100 stores as part of its reorganization at that time. However, I do not see any news reports online of Aéropostale stores closing elsewhere in the country in recent times. Thus, this appears to be a Montgomery County-specific problem. In Montgomery County, profit margins continue to shrink as taxes, fees, and high energy costs expand. The heavy anchor of a Montgomery County Council that knows nothing about business has dragged another enterprise down to Davy Jones' locker.

Maryland brings in oversight contractor to police Purple Line boondoggle

Maryland's horrifically-behind-schedule-and-overbudget Purple Line light rail project may be getting some adult supervision. Egis, a global engineering and consulting firm, has been selected to serve as the Independent Engineer for the project. In this role, Egis will act as an impartial reviewer, ensuring the project meets standards of quality and safety. The firm will provide independent assessments for both the Concessionaire, Purple Line Transit Partners, and the owner, the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration.

Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line
station platform under construction

The 16-mile Purple Line will connect Prince George's and Montgomery counties. "We are thrilled to contribute to this vital infrastructure project, which will transform the daily commutes of thousands of riders," Yann Jaouan, Chief Commercial Officer, Egis in the U.S. said in a statement this morning. "This appointment underscores the trust placed in Egis by the Maryland DOT, MTA, and Purple Line Transit Partners."

Stairs leading up to rider platform at
Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line station

Egis' responsibilities will encompass a range of tasks, including:

• Reviewing technical submissions and drawings
• Conducting on-site inspections
• Supporting the commissioning of the Purple Line LRT

Purple Line station rider platform

A dedicated team of LRT and P3 experts from the U.S., Canada, and Europe will execute the 4-year contract, the cost of which was not announced. Egis has an extensive history of involvement in complex rail projects across the United States, including some that have faced setbacks and troubles like the Purple Line. The firm's experience includes:

• Asset condition assessment of rolling stock for Amtrak
• Implementation of a fully automatic train control system on two New York City subway lines
• Current support for the delivery of the California High-Speed Rail program

View from Chevy Chase Lake Purple Line
station rider platform

The appointment of Egis as Independent Engineer for the Purple Line marks a significant development, as costs continue to spiral out of control, and the launch of the rail line keeps being pushed further into the future. It has become the state-level version of Montgomery County's infamous Silver Spring Transit Center on steroids. 

Bethesda construction update: Hampden House apartments (Photos)

Here's a look at the construction progress on the Hampden House apartment tower at 7316 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. On either side of the building, you can see 7272 Wisconsin Avenue to the left, and the under-construction Charles apartment tower on the right. The ugly white bunker next to it is a temporary enclosure for the astronomically-behind-schedule Purple Line project. So far behind schedule, that some kids in Bethesda have never known an Elm Street that was open to Wisconsin Avenue.

Hampden House will provide 366 residential units, and 10110-square-feet of restaurant and retail space. The latter currently includes designer lighting retailer Visual Comfort & Co., and restaurant The Food Market. One retail space remains available for lease. Developer Saul Centers anticipates a late-2025 delivery.

New public art in Friendship Heights

Three new murals have been installed in Friendship Heights. The public art additions were funded and managed by the Friendship Heights Alliance, a non-profit community-building organization focused on the commercial corridor between Oliver Street in Montgomery County to Fessenden Street NW in Washington, D.C. "Creating beautiful pockets of delight in large-scale form is one of the many ways our placemaking program helps to beautify and elevate the neighborhood as it experiences new growth and exciting changes," Friendship Heights Alliance Executive Director Natalie Avery said in a statement this morning.

"Splitting Light" has been installed in the arches on the front of the former Lord & Taylor department store at 5255 Western Avenue NW. The piece was painted onto plywood panels in Baltimore, and then fitted into place at the vacant store, to avoid disturbing the facade of this arguably-historic building.

Two murals have also been added at 2 Wisconsin Circle, an office building above the Friendship Heights Metro station. The untitled panels "evoke a feeling of wonder and contemplation while providing a memorable experience for the viewer," Miami-based artist Cecilia Lueza said.

"These vibrant murals reflect our commitment to fostering creativity and enhancing the sense of community in Friendship Heights," John Ziegenhein, CEO of The Chevy Chase Land Company - which owns 2 Wisconsin Circle - said in a statement today. "By transforming our spaces with compelling art, we aim to inspire connection and create a welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and businesses alike."

Photos courtesy Friendship Heights Alliance