BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 24, according to crime data:

Theft. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. 4200 block East-West Highway.

Vehicle burglary. 4100 block Blackthorn Street.

Vehicle burglary. 7900 block Connecticut Avenue.

Theft from vehicle. 3500 block Woodbine Street.

Burglary. 5000 block Worthington Drive.

Burglary. 6300 block Marywood Road.

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block White Flint Drive.

Theft from vehicle. 4700 block Coachway Drive (Randolph Hills).

CRAVE RESTAURANT OPENING AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA

Westfield Montgomery Mall is adding another upscale restaurant to its rapidly-expanding dining options. This one comes with an ALL-CAPS attitude. CRAVE Restaurant combines popular American dishes with fresh sushi. In that respect, it reminds me a bit of Jackson's Mighty Fine Food, a popular member of the Great American Restaurant family across the Potomac.

CRAVE also sounds like it will be one of several great pre-theater dining options for patrons of the mall's future ArcLight Cinemas. Ingredients will be locally and regionally-sourced. Looking at the wine and beer list another one of their mall-based locations, I'm glad to see a Michelob that isn't Michelob Ultra, and a good selection of sake. And a sake sampler. Of course, you never know what you'll end up with through our county-controlled liquor regime here in Montgomery County.

The full sushi bar at CRAVE with feature backlit onyx, and a wine tower. CRAVE will be located near The Cheesecake Factory and Bobby's Burger Palace on the lower level.

Other new dining additions will include the MET Bethesda, with a wood-burning grill, and a 40-seat bar that offers on-tap martinis; Blaze Pizza; Cava Grill and Chipotle, all of which I've previously written about.

Here is a video preview of what to expect from the sushi bar at CRAVE:

TUTTI FRUITTI/PIKE AND ROSE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Work is progressing on the pad site area at Pike & Rose, near the corner of Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road. The existing retail structure is being renovated, and expanded. This will give the entire Federal Realty property a more consistent and unified appearance, despite the relative age of the older structures.

Tutti Fruitti, Chipotle and
others will be located in
this area on the Pike & Rose
site

New tenant Tutti Fruitti's frozen yogurt shop is being constructed, and the new Bank of America branch is now taking final shape at the site. First move-ins at the PerSei luxury apartments at Pike & Rose are currently scheduled to take place tomorrow.

A new look for the
Pike & Rose branch of
Bank of America

THEFT, VEHICLE BREAK-IN AT BETHESDA METRO CENTER, 2 DOWNTOWN BURGLARIES - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 23, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7700 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Bethesda Metro Station.

Vehicle burglary. Bethesda Metro Center.

Burglary. 4700 block Montgomery Lane.

Burglary. 4700 block Bradley Boulevard.

Theft. 6100 block Connecticut Avenue (Chevy Chase).

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Allan Road.

Theft. 5100 block Strathmore Avenue.

CALYPSO ST. BARTH POSTS COMING SOON SIGNS AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

It's no secret that Calypso St. Barth is replacing Dunkin' Donuts on Bethesda Avenue, but the company has now posted Coming Soon signage in the former donut shop's windows. Bethesda Row's newest upscale boutique, Calypso St. Barth will bring its upscale travel and leisure apparel and accessories, but not the chain's furnishings and housewares.

Dunkin' Donuts will reopen in a new Elm Street location this fall.

ST. ELMO AVENUE SIDEWALK/STREETSCAPE UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Work continues on the streetscape along St. Elmo Avenue, related to both the Bainbridge Bethesda condo project, and to planned sidewalk upgrades that conform to the Bethesda Streetscape Plan. What most likely will get people's attention are these new street lamps installed outside of the Bainbridge:

The sidewalk work has moved further down St. Elmo towards Norfolk, after work in front of the Bainbridge, Chef Tony's, Pizza Pass, BCC Automotive and the Red Tomato Cafe. Part of the Norfolk Avenue sidewalk is closed, as well. Remember, all of the affected businesses are still open, and are eagerly awaiting customers to stop in.

THEFT AT YMCA + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 22, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. Woodmont Avenue at St. Elmo Avenue.

Burglary. 4300 block Montgomery Avenue.

Theft. YMCA, 9401 Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

ROOSTERS OPENS AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTO)

Roosters Mens Grooming Center has officially opened at 7135 Arlington Road at Bethesda Row. Located between Lebanese Taverna and the Upstairs at Bethesda Row entrance, Roosters is offering upscale barber and shave services, with a nod to the old school barbershop. Their services come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Roosters is the second male-centric business to open at Bethesda Row, following the opening of men's apparel store Bonobos on Bethesda Avenue.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT FORMER RI-RA SPACE FOR SOUL CYCLE, NOODLES & COMPANY (PHOTOS)

The disappointment that the sizable Ri-Ra space in the Shoppes of Bethesda didn't draw a major restaurant or nightclub tenant still stings. But the two future tenants, who have divided the vacant Irish pub in two, are laying the groundwork to move in.

Spinning gym Soul Cycle and fast-casual chain Noodles & Company are the tenants, but general contractor Urban Built is the first on the scene to make it happen. They started work on the Elm Street space Monday.

ASSAULTS IN POOKS HILL, SCOTLAND, FRIENDSHIP HTS. + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 21, according to crime data:

Assault. 4700 block Willard Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Greenway Drive (Green Acres).

Theft. Friendship Heights Metro Station.

Assault. Pooks Hill Road at Rockville Pike.

Theft. 10400 block Grosvenor Place.

Assault/"other sexual offense." 5100 block Crossfield Court.

Assault. 7800 block Scotland Drive.

VAPOR LOUNGE OPENING SOON IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The vaping phenomenon continues to grow in Montgomery County. About two months after Vape Ink opened in Rockville, Bethesda is about to get its own vapor lounge. Bethesda Vapor Company will open soon at 4823 Fairmont Avenue, Suite B. The second floor space is above Bethesda Scooters and Boards, overlooking Veterans Park in the Woodmont Triangle.

Bethesda Vapor Company will sell E-cigarettes, vaping "juice" and accessories, tanks, batteries, and apparel.

ARCLIGHT CINEMAS/WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

The future ArcLight Cinemas and dining terrace are really starting to take shape at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. In my last update, you could start making out the basic design as seen in the early renderings. Now the overall design is beginning to match what we've only seen in computer simulations thus far. In particular, the glass panels in place now help project the modern feel the finished addition will have. The new wing will house the 16-screen ArcLight Cinemas multiplex, and several new restaurants, including MET Bethesda and Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria.

Indoors, work is starting on the existing food court area. What has been a barren floor for months now has a new surface, and work is also beginning to the previously-exposed ceiling and ductwork.

New food court floor

Ceiling, skylight and ductwork

Frame in place for new ceiling

THEFT AT REGAL CINEMAS, 2 AUTO BREAK-INS IN WOODMONT TRIANGLE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 20, according to crime data:

Theft. 7600 block Arlington Road.

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Cordell Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 4800 block Rugby Avenue.

Theft. Regal Cinemas Bethesda 10.

Vehicle burglary. 8400 block Connecticut Avenue (Chevy Chase Lake area).

Theft from vehicle. 3600 block Chevy Chase Lake Drive.

Theft. 10100 block Grosvenor Place.

Theft. 5900 block Lone Oak Drive.

Theft. 6700 block Rockledge Drive.

STAPLES CLOSES IN WHITE FLINT (PHOTOS)

Staples has closed its White Flint location at 11503 Rockville Pike. The shopping center's other tenant, Casual Male XL, remains open - for now. Saul Centers, Inc., owner of the retail center, plans to demolish the building for a mixed-use development. A sign is directing customers to the Staples at 1531 Rockville Pike. The building itself actually looks new and modern; it would have been a good space to put an upscale restaurant, or large retailer. Oh, well.

Casual Male XL is still open

BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 19, according to crime data:

Drug arrest. Bethesda 2nd District Police Station.

Theft. 4600 block Montgomery Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. Bethesda Row Giant.

Theft. 8100 block Glenbrook Road.

Theft. 7700 block Meadow Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 3900 block Aspen Street.

Theft. Connecticut Avenue at Raymond Street (Chevy Chase Section 3).

Theft. 5600 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 4400 block S. Park Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5200 block Baltimore Avenue.

Theft. 5300 block Westbard Avenue.

Theft. Unit block of Wynkoop Court (Merrimack Park).

Vehicle burglary. 5800 block Nicholson Lane.

Theft. Sears at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

THIS UNUSUAL PARTY BUS APPEARED IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA LAST NIGHT (PHOTOS)

A party bus of many colors was parked on Woodmont Avenue near Veterans Park last night. What might appear to be inebriated passengers on the roof are actually a couple of dummies. No "Nighttime Economy" jokes, please!

Stay classy, Bethesda!

The things people will do to
avoid taking Metro on weekends...

HOME CARE ASSISTANCE MAKES DOWNTOWN BETHESDA MOVE OFFICIAL (PHOTOS)

The somewhat-obvious move of Home Care Assistance down Norfolk Avenue to the former O'Rourke Jewelers space is now official. Their old office is closed, and that space is now for lease. Home Care Assistance provides in-home care for seniors, as well as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients. The new HCA address is 7950 Norfolk Avenue.

2 ASSAULTS IN GROSVENOR AREA, 3 DRUG ARRESTS + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 18, according to crime data:

Theft. 5700 block Surrey Street (Somerset).

Burglary. 5400 block Alta Vista Road.

Vehicle burglary. 5300 block Wapakoneta Road.

Assault. 5700 block Grosvenor Lane.

Assault. 5700 block Rossmore Drive (Grosvenor area).

Drug arrest. 10000 block Sinnott Drive.

Theft from vehicle. 10900 block Rockville Pike (Georgetown Prep area).

Drug arrest. 5600 block Edson Lane.

Drug arrest. Loehmanns Plaza, 5200 Randolph Road.

Theft from vehicle. Randolph Road at Parklawn Drive.

DORITOS JACKED TEST FLAVOR 404 REVIEW (VIDEO)

It's time to try out the second of 3 mystery Doritos Jacked "test flavors." This time, it's the yellow-label Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404. The ingredients include molasses, brown sugar, onion, garlic, and two kinds of citrus. What does that add up to?

Watch my review and find out! Plus our expert tells us what he's doing to get ready for the World Cup games.