Top Teens | Home Prices by Neighborhood | iPic vs. ArcLight bethesdamagazine.com
march/April 2015 $4.95
march/april 2015
City Living
top teens | home prices by neighbohood | ipic vs arclight
More and more people are moving to urban neighborhoods where they can walk to work, dinner or a movie.
BethesdaMagazine.com
chevy chase | gaithersburg | kensington | potomac | rockville | silver spring | upper NW Dc
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Outlet / Warehouse: 701 Dover Road Unit B, Rockville, MD 20850 | Ph: 301.294.8193 Coming Soon: 1000 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036
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J A N E
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SPC Financial, Inc. Would Like To Help You Spruce Up Your Financial Garden With Our Multi-Generational Family Plantings. Are your investment gardens struggling to germinate due to overgrowth of capital gains? Will burdensome new taxes nip your financial flowerbeds in the bud? Now is the time to consider weeding out, refreshing and transplanting your saturated “tax logged” portfolio plantings with a hardy “tax integrated” seeded mix. At SPC Financial, Inc. our a team of CFP® practitioners & CPA* licensed professionals will help you prune and minimize your “tax growth” with a trellis of wealth management & tax efficient products, including SPC’s Spring Mixed Bouquet Collection of legacy & retirement planning, college funding, estate & income tax planning+ portfolio management, asset preservation & risk management / insurance techniques & strategies. If you’re looking for a BARRON’S 2014 / “TOP 1,200 FINANCIAL ADVISOR” with over 40 years of Wisdom, Integrity and Acquired Trust... capable of seeding your financial gardens with an award winning, hybrid perennial mix of tax efficient & wealth management investment opportunities contact *Edward Geoffrey Sella CPA/PFS, CFP® / President & CEO / SPC Financial™ at (301) 770-6800 or www.spcfinancial.com. *BARRON’S 2014 / AMERICA’S “TOP 1,200 FINANCIAL ADVISOR” (among Maryland’s Top 10 Financial Advisors) & BARRON’S 2013/2012/2009 “TOP 100 INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR” in the country. Rankings of distinguished financial advisors was produced by Barron’s after conducting extensive research, surveys and interviews weighing factors such as assets under management, revenues generated for advisor’s firms and overall quality of practice. RJFS and SPC Financial, Inc., do not provide tax or legal advice. +Tax services and analysis are provided by the related firm Sella & Martinic, LLC through a separate engagement letter with clients. Sella & Martinic, LLC is independent of RJFS. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. / Member FINRA/SIPC.
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Helping you create a life and legacy you desire Robert J. Collins
of Collins Investment Group
Among Barron’s Top 1000 Financial Advisors Five Consecutive Years: 2009-20131
Among Financial Times First Annual Rankings for the Top 400 Financial Advisors of 20132
Pictured (L to R): Frank Byskov, CFA®, CFP®, Portfolio Administrator; Stefanie Krzeminski, Client Services Specialist; Fletcher Perkins, CFA,® Portfolio Strategist; Jordan VanOort, CFA®, CFP®, Financial Advisor; David Clark, Financial Advisor; Robert Collins, Managing Director; Steve Cimino, Client Services Specialist; Stephen Clagett, Portfolio Administrator; Sally Mullen, Client Services Specialist; Kristian Price, Chief Operating Officer
We’re focused on providing our clients services that will help them pass down their legacy through future generations.
Services Include: Retirement Planning Estate Planning Services Educational Planning Lending Services3
1
One Democracy Center 6901 Rockledge Drive Suite 730 Bethesda, MD 20817 301.915.9630 collinsinvestmentgroup.com
The rankings are based on data provided by over 4,000, for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and 3,000, for 2009, of the nation’s most productive advisors. Factors included in the rankings: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, and philanthropic work. Institutional assets are given less weight in the scoring. Investment performance isn’t an explicit component, because not all advisors have audited results and because performance figures often are influenced more by clients’ risk tolerance than by an advisor’s investment-picking abilities. 2 Rankings are based on data provided by investment firms. Factors include assets under management, experience, industry certifications and compliance record. Investment performance and financial advisor production are not explicit components. 3 Lending services offered through affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Collins Investment Group and WFAFN do not offer tax or legal advice. Investment and insurance products: NOT FDIC-Insured, NO Bank Guarantee, MAY Lose Value LENDER Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), member SIPC, a broker-dealer affiliated with Wells Fargo & Company. Collins Investment Group is a separate entity from WFAFN. EQUAL HOUSING
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March/April 2015 | volume 12 issue 2
contents On The cover 164 | City Living
More and more people are moving to urban neighborhoods where they can walk to work, dinner or a movie. Plus—tips from local couples who have recently downsized. By David Frey
180 | Walk to Everything
In these five neighborhoods, residents have the best of both worlds: They live in single-family homes on quiet, leafy streets but are steps away from farmers markets, restaurants, shops and more. By David Frey
192 | On the Rise
All over the Bethesda area, luxury apartments, condos and town houses are rising out of the ground. Here’s a guide to residences that have recently opened or are coming soon.
Downtown Bethesda is experiencing a boom of high-end condos, including Lionsgate, which has a marble foyer and doorman.
200 | By the Numbers
Home sales by neighborhood over the last five years
COVER: photo illustration by amanda smallwood
photo by skip brown
By Elizabeth Direnfeld and Cydney Hargis
14 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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F I N E P RO P E RT I E S I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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contents
p. 106
FEATURES As a 58-year-old living with cystic fibrosis, John Sackett has overcome incredible odds. Now, the president of Shady Grove Medical Center wants to make his hospital world class. By Cindy Rich
106 | Top Teens
Meet the winners of our sixth annual Extraordinary Teen Awards—13 of the county’s best and brightest students, chosen from 135 nominees By Brooke Lea Foster and Kathleen Seiler Neary
121 | Enjoy the Show
Remember when stadium seating was a big deal and dinner and a movie meant a bite at a restaurant before or after the show? With three luxury theaters in our area, those moviegoing experiences are looking like aging starlets.
136 | Bethesda Interview
As the writer of “Dear Prudence,” Slate’s advice column, Emily Yoffe considers the problems of hundreds of people every week. She talks about her most memorable letters, her biggest gaffe and more. By Maura Mahoney
By Carole Sugarman
126 | Flying High
In 2013, Marillyn Hewson became the first woman CEO in Lockheed Martin’s history, making her one of the most powerful women in the world. Here’s the story of the Potomac resident’s unlikely rise to power. By Steve Goldstein
photo by michael ventura
92 | Here For A Reason
16 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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TRUSTWORTHY
WYDLER BROTHER S
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contents
p. 333
departments 235
24 | Contributors 30 | From Our Readers
33
good life
health
267
dine
236 | Be Well
268 | Table Talk
Fitness instructor Kristine Oleson is giving other moms of young kids a gift— time to exercise
What’s happening on the local food scene
274 | Dine Review
Art, festivals, day trips, hidden gems
238 | sweet dreams
Met Bethesda and City Perch Kitchen + Bar earn mixed reviews
40 | Best Bets
Sedation dentistry is helping to coax terrified patients back into the dental chair
278 | ‘Order Up!’
11 can’t-miss arts events
246 | Too Good To Be True?
44 | ARTS Calendar
Some doctors are touting the benefits of using patients’ own stem cells to heal injuries and relieve pain. But is the science there to back it up?
Where to go, what to see
53
banter
People, politics, books, columns
256 | wellness Calendar
54 | Figuratively Speaking D evelopment Lot 31 by the numbers
Tastee Diner is a comforting constant in changing downtown Bethesda
286 | Cooking Class How to make a decadent soufflé
288 | Dining Guide
317 etc. 318 | Shop Talk “Athleisure” wear is trending in Bethesda. Plus, a guide to local shops.
58 | Neighborhood NOTES News you may have missed
333 | Pets
64 | Book Report
Baby meet doggy
New books by local authors, literary events and more
334 | Weddings Saying “I do” in the mountains
p. 274
74 | My Life My mother didn’t cook and wasn’t much of a caretaker. But she knew how to sew.
338 | Get Away
78 | Suburbanology
341 | Driving Range
Cheat sheet for a weekend getaway
There’s trouble with my landline
Fly-fishing in the Virginia Piedmont
By April Witt
358 | Flashback
82 | Hometown
A look back at Operation Whitecoat
Real estate executive Jeffrey Abramson sees things differently
360 | Family Portrait Snapshot of local lives
By Steve Roberts
AD SECTions
before & after: outdoor living 86
Real Estate Agent Profiles 143
Long & Foster Ad Section 223
Ask the Medical Experts 259
Ask the Attorneys 305
illustration by goodloe byron; rice bowl by michael ventura
22 | To Our Readers
Summer Camps 346
18 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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contents What’s online @ bethesdamagazine.com ofBethesda
Our daily news briefing features stories about the community, restaurants, Montgomery County politics and more. Get the Bethesda Beat daily newsletter in your inbox by signing up at www.bethesdamagazine.com
digital edition
Subscribers get free access to the digital edition at www.bethesdamagazine.com/ digital. Use your email address as your log-in. To purchase digital issues or a subscription, download the free Bethesda Magazine app on iTunes or Amazon.
archives
Explore past issues and stories using our searchable archives.
The Best of Bethesda results are now online.
See readers’ and editors’ picks in the following categories: Restaurants and Nightlife, Shopping and Weddings, Schools and Kids, Home, Fitness, Health and Beauty, and Politics.
digital edition Exclusive Extraordinary Teen Awards Beginning April 1, you can see more photos of the winners on our digital edition.
social scene
social media
Find us on Facebook and Twitter to learn about community news, special offers and contests. Follow us on Instagram to get the scoop on happenings in the Bethesda area at instagram.com/bethesdamag.
newsletters
Sign up to receive emails from Bethesda Beat and to receive special offers from local businesses. Gmail users: Make sure to add Bethesda Magazine as a contact to ensure you receive our emails.
Browse our
Summer Camp Guide and Private School Guide at bethesdamagazine.com/parenting
teen photo by michael ventura; camp photo is courtesy
Share photos from community events by emailing them to website@bethesdamagazine.com and we’ll post them to our gallery page.
20 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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A Note of Thanks When we started our company, our goal was to become one of the industry’s most distinguished investment firms. We wanted to be different, and we believed there were people who wanted an alternative to institutional money management. We knew we couldn’t be all things to all people. So we specialized in a global research and investment approach informed by careful planning. Along the way, we’ve found the best way to nurture our business is to recruit and retain talented people with diverse backgrounds — and then apply every bit of their knowledge and perspectives to deliver thoughtful strategies and insightful advice. Today, our clients prize our ability to un-complicate the complicated. For their confidence and trust, we are truly grateful. We love doing this work, and we believe it shows in the environment we’ve created. We look forward to growing together in the years to come.
Peter M. Welber PRESIDENT & CEO
INV E ST M E N T MA N AGEMEN T
F I N A N C I A L & E STATE PLAN N I N G
F I DUCI ARY & TRUST
FAM I LY W E ALTH S ERVIC ES
C H E V Y C H A S E T R U S T. C O M
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to our readers
A New look
If you’re a regular reader of Bethesda Magazine and you’ve made it this far in the issue, you probably have a sense that something has changed. In fact, a lot has changed. With this issue, we are excited to introduce a new design and many new editorial features. After publishing the magazine for nearly 11 years, we thought it was time to freshen up the look, organization and content. As you thumb through the pages, you’ll notice new typefaces throughout, and a design that includes more white space, the more prominent use of photos, and more graphic elements. You’ll also see that the front and back sections of the magazine are now organized into “chapters.” Up front, the chapters are “Good Life” (which celebrates the good life we lead in the Bethesda area and offers tips for how to take advantage of it) and “Banter” (short items on people, current events and politics, as well as columns by Steve Roberts and April Witt). In the back of the magazine, you’ll find chapters titled “Health,” “Dine” and “Etc.” In most issues, you’ll also find a “Home” chapter, although in this issue, the home stories are part of the cover package. Finally, you’ll find new editorial features, including “The Hot List” (a guide to what’s hot— or not—in local news), “Figuratively Speaking” (statistics and data that tell a story), “Be Well” (everyday people and experts on health and fitness), “Get Away” (travel tips), “Weddings” (a pictorial account of interesting nuptials) and “Family Portrait” (a snapshot of local lives). We’ve been working on the new design and
editorial lineup for more than a year. The end results reflect the ideas and efforts of many people, especially Design Director Maire McArdle and Managing Editor Mary Clare Glover. With us from the start, Maire has been responsible for the look and feel of every issue we’ve published. The new design showcases her considerable skills and creativity—as well as her understanding of our readers and the magazine’s roots. Mary Clare, who grew up in Bethesda and now lives in Silver Spring, joined our staff last May, well after the planning for the changes had begun. It didn’t take long for Mary Clare to improve on many of the editorial and organizational ideas we were considering—and to suggest ideas of her own. Her fresh perspective and collaborative nature made the process enjoyable and the end product much better. With all the changes, one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to inform our readers about everything our community has to offer, the challenges it faces and the fascinating people who live here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the redesign and the new features. Please email me at steve. hull@bethesdamagazine.com.
Steve Hull Editor-in-Chief & Publisher
22 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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contributors
Steve Goldstein
Lives in: Chevy Chase
2014 Montgomery Serves winners
Registration is required for this FREE event
go to www.montgomeryserves.org
937 Successful Settlements & Counting!
John Pobiak, Broker
301-440-4805
MarylandHomeRealty.com
Cindy Rich
Lives in: Rockville Hometown: Kensington In this issue: Wrote about John Sackett, the head of Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, who has cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease. “When I first met him, I kept thinking, ‘How does he do this? How does he manage this job and this disease?’ ” What she does: Rich joined Bethesda Magazine as a senior editor in August, and oversees the magazine’s health section. Before that, she was director of communications at The National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda and a senior writer for Washingtonian. Last wrote for Bethesda Magazine about: The unique friendship between a cancer survivor and her personal trainer. “I like writing about people who are coping with something difficult,” she says. “Everyone can relate to that.” Most memorable summer job: Interning on the set of General Hospital in Los Angeles. “When I was in college, I thought it might be fun to write soap operas for a living.” What she does in her free time: “I’m usually dressing and redressing American Girl dolls with my daughter, Haley, who’s in kindergarten.”
Kathleen Seiler Neary
Lives in: Kensington
Hometown: Fairfax, Va. In this issue: Wrote half of the Extraordinary Teens profiles, as well as the Be Well column and Family Portrait What surprised her about reporting Extraordinary Teens: “They found their passions at such young ages, even as early as 3 or 5.” What the story taught her: “As a mother of two young boys, I kept picturing them when they are in high school and what they might be pursuing then. It’s a reminder to really let them follow their curiosities.” How she got her start: “I interned in D.C. one summer for Regardie’s Magazine while I was in college, and then my Regardie’s editor hired me when he became an editor at George magazine in New York. Both magazines are no longer around but I learned a ton about reporting. I went on to be an editor for Ladies’ Home Journal. I’ve written for The Washington Post, Parenting magazine, and other publications.” What she does in her free time: “My free time these days is really family time, spent with my husband and kids. We go hiking, play sports, visit museums and spend lots of time playing with Legos.”
cindy rich courtesy photo; steve goldstein photo by skip brown; kathleen seiler neary courtesy photo
Monday, April 27
Imagination Stage, Bethesda
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y. In this issue: Wrote about Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson. “Reporting this story taught me once again that big corporations are far less accountable than government agencies. I was surprised by the resistance I encountered to interviewing Lockheed executives.” How he got his start: “Hanging out in Manhattan bars during journalism school at Columbia, I met a judge who was friendly with a newspaper publisher and who helped me get my first job as a reporter at the Staten Island Advance.” Most impressive person he’s ever interviewed: Mikhail Gorbachev On his nightstand: The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan; Whiskey Tango Foxtrot by David Shafer Why he loves spring: “It’s the reward for enduring faux winters and hellacious summers in D.C.” Last wrote for Bethesda Magazine about: Getting his first tattoo at the age of 65 Next challenge he hopes to undertake: Skydiving
24 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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BETHESDA REAL ESTATE.COM
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editorial Editor-in- Chief
Steve Hull
Design Director
Maire McArdle
managing Editor
Mary Clare Glover senior Editors
Julie Rasicot, Cindy Rich Food Editor
Carole Sugarman Deputy Art Director
Laura F. Goode designer
Emma Gray Bethesda beat editor
Andrew Metcalf
Web producer
Laura Kottlowski Contributing Editors
Eugene L. Meyer, Cindy Murphy-Tofig, Louis Peck
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Sandra Fleishman, Steve Wilder EDITORIAL Interns
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Contributing Writers
Leah Ariniello, Lisa Braun-Kenigsberg, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Jen Chaney, Joshua Cooley, David Elfin, David Frey, Steve Goldstein, Mike Gruss, Christine MacDonald, Maura Mahoney, Nevin Martell, Nigel F. Maynard, Gabriele McCormick, Virginia Myers, Kathleen Seiler Neary, Maria Leonard Olsen, Brian Patterson, Archana Pyati, Amy Reinink, Steve Roberts, Rita Rubin, Charlotte Safavi, Bara Vaida, Mark Walston, Karen A. Watkins, Carolyn Weber, Kathleen Wheaton, April Witt, Sarah Zlotnick Photographers & Illustrators
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26 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Stephanie Bragg, Shawn Heifert, Tony Lewis Jr., Mike Olliver, Hilary Schwab Subscription price: $19.95 To subscribe: Fill out the card between pages 64 and 65 or go to www.BethesdaMagazine.com. For customer service: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 205, or send an email to customerservice@bethesdamagazine.com. For advertising information: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 220; send an email to advertising@bethesdamagazine. com; or go to www.BethesdaMagazine.com. For information on events and reprints: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 207; or send an email to marketing@bethesdamagazine.com. Bethesda Magazine 7768 Woodmont Ave., #204 Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: 301-718-7787 Fax: 301-718-1875 www.BethesdaMagazine.com
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from our readers Missing the Mark
I have a few observations on your article about Andy Raymond (“Meet Andy Raymond,” January/February 2015) based on 40 years of firearm ownership and usage in Montgomery County. I would hazard a guess that the majority of guns purchased in the county are for personal protection, especially over the last few years. Target shooting is difficult to do in the county let alone the state; it is banned on public land and the Izaak Walton League ranges require membership or to be brought as a guest (I am a range officer at BCC IWLA). Many others are purchased for hunting; Mr. Raymond carries few if any firearms for hunting so his knowledge here is limited. Ask the clerks at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Gaithersburg and I am guessing you will get a different opinion. As to hunting on public land in Montgomery County; McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area has 2,000 acres open to hunting. Seneca Creek State Park has an additional 1,000 acres. A little checking with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources would have told you this. Writing that guns here are about “sport shooting” (whatever that is) makes little sense; the
majority of examples given in the article reflect purchases for self defense. It is obvious that Mr. Meyer went into this article with little or no knowledge of firearms or their usage. While it is nice to see an attempt at a positive article on firearms in this area, a little more research was warranted.
Corrections
Due to a production error, a profile of the wedding of Nicole Marriott and Maxwell Avery that appeared in the January/February issue contained incorrect information about their first date and honeymoon.
Jeffrey Adams Germantown
‘What a Disappointment’
I live in downtown Bethesda down the street from where The Lauren is a giant hole in the ground and the The Darcy is an unoccupied shell. Could you please explain how you have allowed their marketing teams to “vote” enough times to make them the “best” and third “best” condominiums in Bethesda in 2014? The simple fact that your team allowed this puts the entire list in question and makes the whole list unreliable. What a disappointment.
Susan Turnbull Bethesda
In the January/February Best of Bethesda section, we included a photo that was not from Kelley and Stephanie Smith’s Instagram feed, @stylesmiths. Here’s a picture of the style blogger sisters, who are from Bethesda. In the January/February Best of Bethesda section, the Potomac gift store Occasions was spelled incorrectly.
30 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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art, festivals, culture, day trips, hidden gems
good life welcome spring You know spring is
photo by lara eichenwald
coming when the yulan magnolia tree at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton begins to bloom. A parent of many of the pink magnolias prevalent around the Washington, D.C., area, the yulan magnolia is an uncommon sight—the only yulan magnolia at Brookside Gardens is located in the azalea garden. “It’s a descendant of a tree in the Beijing Botanical Garden in China,” says Phil Normandy, plant collections manager at Brookside. “It’s rare stock, and quite beautiful.” Early spring can be a nice time to visit the gardens, as the crowds are smaller but many flowers are beginning to bloom. In March and April, Normandy says, visitors might see daffodils, witch hazels, Lenten roses, Japanese flowering apricots, cherry trees, azaleas or early tulips. And of course, magnolias—Normandy says Brookside has more than 20 varieties. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton; 301-962-1400; www.montgomeryparks.org/ brookside. Note: the main parking lot is closed through June 30; the conservatory and nature center lots are open. —Mary Clare Glover
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good life
During the summer, Old Angler’s Inn has one of the prettiest and most well-known outdoor patios in the Bethesda area. And for years, patrons have sought out the historic fieldstone restaurant’s cozy indoor fireplace on cold winter nights. But many don’t know that the restaurant now offers a roaring outdoor fire pit on its patio from October through April. Owner Mark Reges started
building outdoor fires about three years ago, and the attraction has gradually grown in popularity. Strung in white lights, the patio is studded with 10 outdoor heaters in addition to the fire pit, which sits where the fountain is located in warmer months. Reges says the full bar menu is available on the patio, and he has started offering s’mores out there, as well. He starts a fire as often as
possible. “Unless it’s raining, it’ll be on—day or night,” Reges says. With its woodsy perch above the Potomac, the patio is a beautiful spot to warm up after a walk along the C&O Canal—or a destination in its own right. Old Angler’s Inn, 10801 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac; 301-365-2425; www. oldanglersinn.com —Mary Clare Glover
photo by skip brown
have a drink by the fire
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good life
Watch Future Olympians Skate
photo by preston keres
Founded in 2003 by Russian ice dancers Alexei Kiliakov and Elena Novak, the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy specializes in teaching young people the art of competitive ice dancing. Practices, which take place at the Wheaton and Rockville Ice Arenas, are open to the public—families can grab a snack in the cafeteria, and then cuddle up in the stands and watch current and future ice champs run through their routines and sharpen their skills. Novak says most U.S. ice dancing schools only train in individual lessons, but the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy, which has about 45 skaters, incorporates group practices. “There are no other schools like this in the country,” Novak says. “The fact that they are training together, they are progressing much, much faster. They push each other every day.” In January, Lorraine McNamara, 16, of Germantown, and Quinn Carpenter, 19, of Wheaton (shown here) took home the Washington region’s first national championship in junior ice dance at the 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. The pair will be competing in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in March in Tallinn, Estonia, and has set their sights on making the 2022 U.S. Winter Olympics team. For a practice schedule, visit www. wisa.us. —Joi Louviere
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A distinct energy fills The Music Center at Strathmore each time the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) takes the stage. As the lights dim and the audience settles, the excitement and anticipation are replaced by the sound of 80 musicians playing together in one of the world’s preeminent orchestras. When The Music Center at Strathmore opened in 2005, it became the second home of the BSO, a founding partner and the resident orchestra. It was a first for any orchestra in the country to have two major year-round venues (the BSO’s other residence is Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore), and it helped put Strathmore on the map. “It made economic sense for them and it made economic sense for us,” Strathmore CEO Eliot Pfanstiehl says. “And it irrevocably married us.” The orchestra performs more than 40 concerts annually at the music center. For local residents, that means
dozens of opportunities each year to experience the internationally acclaimed ensemble in our own backyard. “It’s a wonderful hall. It’s an intimate hall,” says Paul Meecham, the BSO’s president and CEO. “There’s a real connection to the audience.” As the music center marks its 10th anniversary this spring, a number of events are scheduled in March and April. A standout is the BSO’s April 10 performance of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony led by conductor Marin Alsop. “There was doubt at the beginning,” Pfanstiehl says. “Could you build this? Who would come? But 10 years out, all the arguments are settled. The whole idea was a long shot, but it worked. And this is only the beginning.” The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda; 301-581-5100; www.strathmore.org. —Stephanie Siegel Burke
photo by sam kittner
See a world-class orchestra
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good life
best bets
OUR picks for the best things to see and do iN March and April By Stephanie Siegel Burke
March 8
Not Just About that bass Sure, Meghan Trainor’s “all about that bass.” But she’s also about positive, empowering lyrics, a 1960s girl group-inspired sound, and a fun attitude. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and it’s this fresh combination that makes Trainor’s tunes stand out among the other bubblegum pop filling the airwaves.
March 13
March 5
Montgomery County’s newest music venue, AMP by Strathmore, opens in March at the new Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda. The Loston Harris Trio’s performance on March 13 presents an excellent opportunity to experience the new cabaret-style club. A staple at the famous Carlyle Hotel in New York City, Harris is a piano-jazz standout and a suave vocalist. He’ll be playing a Tribute to Ole Blue Eyes, evoking the musical classics of Frank Sinatra’s era.
In his latest book, Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster), Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry puts his signature absurdist spin on the wisdom he’s gathered over the years. Come to the reading for a laugh, and find out what he hopes to pass on to the next generation.
8 p.m., AMP by Strathmore, $35, www.ampbystrathmore.org
7 p.m., Politics and Prose, free, www.politics-prose.com
Sounds of Sinatra
Life Lessons with A Laugh
March 20 - 21
Bethesda DOcs Documentary Towpath Joe will screen at the Bethesda Film Festival.
Now in its third year, the Bethesda Film Festival has drawn more filmmakers and bigger audiences each year. This year, the festival, which features up to five short documentaries (five to 30 minutes in length) on a variety of topics, has grown to four screenings. Each
will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, all of whom are residents of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. 7 and 9 p.m., Imagination Stage, $15, www.bethesda.org
Epic Records ( Meghan Trainor ); Politics & Prose ( Dave Barry ); Bethesda Film Fest ( Towpath Joe )
7 p.m., The Fillmore Silver Spring, $26.50, www.fillmoresilverspring.com
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The great big community bank.
Large enough to know more. Small enough to know you. We didn’t get to be one of the area’s largest community banks by thinking small. We got here by thinking deeper about your business needs. Thinking of ways to help you succeed that others can’t (or won’t). Because your success is our success. That’s what community is all about. But enough about us. Let’s talk about your business.
Reader’s Pick, Best Local Bank 2013
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good life
best bets April 17 - 19
April 8 - May 3
More than a dozen acclaimed authors will come to Bethesda for book signings, readings and discussions during the 15th annual Bethesda Literary Festival. Standouts include Jonathan Allen, coauthor of HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton, and Gary Krist, who penned Empire of Sin, the history of Storyville, New Orleans’ red light district. American Girl fans will be excited about author Valerie Tripp’s reading of Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit.
An area premiere, Uncle Vanya is a contemporary adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker that uses modern American language to tell Chekhov’s classic tale of unrequited love and regret. Round House Producing Artistic Director Ryan Rilette appears onstage in the role of Astrov.
March 27 - 28
MultiMedia Motion
Various venues, free, www.bethesda.org
Say Uncle
Round House Theatre, $25-$50, www.roundhousetheatre.org
Dancer and choreographer David Neumann is known for blurring the lines between dance, theater and sound. This darling of the New York dance scene premieres his latest work, I Understand Everything Better, at the American Dance Institute in Rockville before taking it to The Big Apple. The performance combines language, movement and sound.
Rattle & Strum
8 p.m., American Dance Institute, $16.25-$31.25, www.american dance.org
4 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $18-$48, www.strathmore.org
April 26
Ukuleles have shown up everywhere over the past few years, from TV commercials to indie rock songs. But The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain takes the instrument’s familiar pluck to a new level. The all-uke group takes on such varied material as Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”
Three Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Dance a Jig
Drop In on the Dropkick Murphys
Show Your Irish Pride
The Chieftains have been playing traditional Irish music for more than 50 years, earning six Grammy awards. Credited with popularizing Irish folk music around the world, the group comes to The Music Center at Strathmore just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
If you’re not already familiar with this Celtic punk band from Massachusetts, you may recognize some of their songs from films such as The Departed, Fever Pitch and Restrepo. Known for mixing punk rock with traditional Irish folk music and spirited live shows, the Dropkick Murphys should set the mood for St. Patrick’s Day revelry.
They say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so come on out to the 15th annual Gaithersburg St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands and dozens of other groups will march through Washingtonian Center. Spectators are encouraged to join in the fun by wearing green.
March 6, 9 p.m., The Fillmore Silver Spring, $37.50, www.fillmoresilverspring.com
March 14, 10 a.m., Washingtonian Center, free, www.gaithersburgmd.gov
March 4, 8 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $35-$78, www.strathmore.org
American Dance Institute ( Neumann ); Round House Theatre ( Uncle Vanya ); The Music Center at Strathmore ( The Ukulele Orchestra of Great britain )
Book Report
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Springtime party. A fresh season brings delicious possibilities. Featuring farm-to-table ingredients and stylish presentations, every party is another chance to create something wonderful. Whether it’s an intimate soirée or an epic gala, we can’t wait to take your next occasion to a new level of elegance.
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good life
arts & entertainment
calendar Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
March 12 Mozart’s Great Mass. The all-Mozart program will include his Violin Concerto No. 5, Don Giovanni Overture and Mass in C Minor. Presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. $40-$100. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. March 15 András Schiff—The Last Sonatas. Pianist András Schiff embarks on a project to perform the last three sonatas of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. Presented by Washington Performing Arts. 4 p.m. $35-$75. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org.
MUSIC March 1 Annapolis Symphony Orchestra with pianist Simone Dinnerstein. The program includes works by Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel and English poet and composer Arthur Bax. 3 p.m. $10-$30. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301581-5100, www.strathmore.org. March 1, 6-8 Haddon Hall. The opera follows the elopement of Dorothy Vernon, daughter of the owner of Haddon Hall, and John Manners, the son of an enemy of Vernon’s father. Presented by Victorian Lyric Opera Company. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sundays. $24; $20 seniors; $16 students. F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville, 240-314-8690, www.rockvillemd.gov. March 6 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards Concert. Finalists for the inaugural award will perform. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000, and a young songwriter, $2,500. The competition, which honors regional musicians, is named for
the late, famed lyricist Fred Ebb and was founded by local philanthropist Cathy Bernard, Ebb’s niece. Produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. 8 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). $10; food and drink available for purchase. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Bethesda, 301-215-6660, www.bethesda.org. March 7 Shakespeare in Love and Simon Trpčeski. The evening will include Tchaikovsky’s fantasy-overtures for The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet by pianist Trpčeski and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. $32-$95. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bso music.org. March 8 Fine Arts String Quartet. The quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mozart. 7:30 p.m. $40; $35 seniors; $30 younger than 40. The Gildenhorn/Speisman Center for the Arts’ Kreeger Auditorium, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Rockville, 301-8810100, www.jccgw.org.
March 22 Haydn and Ravel. The evening includes La Valse and Valses nobles et sentimentales by Ravel and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major. Presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 3 p.m. $32-$95. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. March 26 BSO SuperPops: Singin’ in the Rain. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra accompanies a screening of the classic movie starring Gene Kelly. 8 p.m. $50-$110. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. March 27 Audra McDonald. The six-time Tony Award winner shares stories and songs from her celebrated career. 8 p.m. $35-$85. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org. March 28 Herb Alpert and Lani Hall. Enjoy an evening with the legendary trumpet player and his wife, Grammy-winning singer Lani Hall. 8 p.m. $50; $45 seniors; $25 students. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville, 240-5675301, www.montgomerycollege.edu/pac.
Photo by AuTumn de wilde
Audra McDonald comes to Strathmore on March 27.
March 21 Berta Rojas. The classical guitarist from Paraguay is known for her technique and musicality. Part of the John E. Marlow Guitar Series. 8 p.m. $35. Westmoreland Congregational Church, Bethesda, 301-654-6403, www.marlowguitar.org.
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April 4 Alif Laila. A native of Bangladesh, Alif Laila plays Indian classical music on the sitar. 8 p.m. $25; $12, ages 18 and younger. The Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, 301-258-6394, www.gaithersburgmd.gov. April 10 Off the Cuff—Tchaikovsky: Mad but for Music. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop guides the audience through Tchaikovsky’s passionate Symphony No. 5. 8:15 p.m. $40-$100. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. April 11 Bach’s St. John Passion. The National Philharmonic presents Bach’s riveting work. 8 p.m. Free pre-concert lecture at 6:45 p.m. $28-$84; children ages 7-17 free with the purchase of adult tickets. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-5815100, www.strathmore.org. April 11 Brasil Guitar Duo. The ensemble is known for its range and tonal quality. Part of the John E. Marlow Guitar Series. 8 p.m. $25. Westmoreland Congregational Church, Bethesda, 301-654-6403, www.marlow guitar.org. April 12 Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. The program also features works by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and American composer Kevin Puts. Presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 3 p.m. $32$95. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. April 12 Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee. The married pianists will perform both solo
works and arrangements for four hands. The program will include works by Chopin, Debussy, Ravel and Mendelssohn. 7:30 p.m. $40; $35 seniors; $30 younger than 40. The Gildenhorn/Speisman Center for the Arts’ Kreeger Auditorium, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Rockville, 301881-0100, www.jccgw.org. April 15 Engelbert Humperdinck: Engelbert Calling Tour. The pop legend is known for his hits “After the Lovin’ ” and “There Goes My Everything.” 8 p.m. $38-$88; $34.20-$79.20 for Stars members. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301581-5100, www.strathmore.org. April 17 Rosanne Cash. Cash’s 2014 album, The River and the Thread, draws from country, blues, rock and gospel. 8 p.m. $27-$68. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org. April 18 Pictures at an Exhibition. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs the Mussorgsky work, plus Haydn’s Symphony No. 96 and Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto. 8 p.m. $40-$100. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org. April 18 John O’Conor. The Irish pianist will perform Schubert’s Sonata in B-Flat Major and Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Presented by the Washington Conservatory of Music. 8 p.m. Free; donations accepted. Westmoreland Congregational Church, Bethesda, 301320-2770, www.washingtonconservatory.org. April 22 Evgeny Kissin. The pianist will perform works by Chopin, Liszt, Prokofiev and Beethoven. Presented by Washington Performing Arts. 8 p.m. $40-$95. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-5815100, www.strathmore.org. April 25 AN EVENING WITH JULIE ANDREWS. Legendary singer and actress Julie Andrews headlines Strathmore’s 10th Anniversary Spring Gala. Andrews, who will not sing, shares highlights from her award-winning career in a conversation with Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks. 9 p.m. The
Alif Laila
Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100. www.strathmore.org.
THEATER March 1-14 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Six tweens disclose touching stories from their home life while they spell their way through a competition. 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. $25; $20 seniors and students; $17 Kensington residents and children. Kensington Town Hall/Armory, Kensington, www.kat online.org. March 13-15 Chatroom. Teens who communicate with each other only through the Internet talk about issues affecting their lives. The 2015 Sarah Metzger Memorial Play, the work is produced and performed by local high school students. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $20. Round House Theatre, Bethesda, 240-644-1100, www.roundhousetheatre.org. April 10-26 Next to Normal. The Pulitzer Prize-winning work follows a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder, and the effect her illness has on the family. Produced by Rockville Musical Theatre. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $22. The Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, 301-258-6394, www.gaithers burgmd.gov/leisure/arts/theater-at-the-artsbarn. April 17-May 17 Lettice and Lovage. Lettice, an eccentric tour guide for a dull manor in England, embellishes the home’s history until she’s confronted by someone from the preservation trust. Presented by Quotidian Theatre Com-
Photo Courtesy of the city of gaithersburg
March 28-29 Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. In addition to the Rachmaninoff work, the program will also include pieces by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. Presented by the National Philharmonic. 8 p.m. March 28 and 3 p.m. March 29. Free preconcert lecture at 6:45 p.m. March 28 and 1:45 p.m. March 29. $28-$84; children ages 7-17 free with the purchase of adult tickets. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore. org.
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North Bethany
$2,699,000
North Bethany
$2,250,000
Stunning 5BR oceanfront home with endless views of the shoreline. Classic beach house with outstanding functionality, multiple porches, large sunroom, in-ground pool and den as possible 6th BR.
Only 3 lots off the ocean, this lovely and spacious 7BR coastal home with elevator, window-lined walls and large screen porch is located in a desirable gated community with a pool.
Bethany Beach
$1,295,000
South Bethany
$1,385,000
South Bethany
$1,250,000
North Bethany
$995,000
Ocean View
$925,000
Bethany Beach
$775,000
South Bethany
$645,000
South Bethany
$579,000
Sea Colony West
$339,000
Sea Colony East
$319,900
Inviting 5BR home in the heart of Bethany offering an inverted floorplan, elevator & spacious great room for entertaining. Sited on an oversize corner lot with beautiful view of the ocean.
Beautiful 4BR contemporary coastal home sited on a large lot overlooking the Indian River Bay. Private pier with boat dock & a roof top to deck capture fabulous views. Community marina & tennis.
This 4BR beach home is full of character with a dramatic great room, custom kitchen & additional family room. In a beautiful setting, this open & airy home is within walking distance to the beach.
Beautiful, newly built 5BR canal front home situated on 1.5 lots. Overlooks intersecting waterways. Extraordinary expansive inverted floor plan, elevator and new bulk heading.
Desirable location in the north end of town, this 3BR cottage has tons of potential. Well maintained, less than 2 blocks to the beach, boardwalk and close to downtown shops & restaurants.
Fantastic lakefront views and many upgrades make this 2BR plus loft a property you don’t want to miss! Lovely décor, fireplace, loft with walk in closet and lots of extra storage space.
Sophisticated, downtown gem completely rebuilt, adding contemporary spaces to this timeless residence. Architecturally rich details in this 3BR home with chef’s kitchen & myriad custom touches.
Lovely coastal 5BR home with bright kitchen & large screen porch & deck for entertaining. A prime location in a gated neighborhood only 1 block to the ocean with community pool & tennis.
Attractive water-front home on a corner lot where two canals converge taking full advantage of peaceful views. Bright 4BR house, just a short walk to the beach with a waterfront screened porch & boat dock.
Marvelous 1BR oceanfront condo with renovated kitchen, tile floors & oversize patio. Steps to indoor pool & separate entrance to half-mile promenade accessing pools & beach walkways. Sold In Fee.
Leslie Kopp 302.542.3917 • Wayne Lyons 302.858.7347 • Despina Kaneles 302.236.2428 • Kiki Hargrove 302.569.2959 • Will Makowski 302.542.7768 The Leslie Kopp Group | Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. | 302.541.5207 | 302.539.9040 x207 33298 South Coastal Highway | Bethany Beach, DE 19930
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April 22-25 Servant of Two Masters. Tricky servants, parents and disguised lovers doublecross one another in this comedy set in Venice. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $10; $8 seniors; $5 students. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville, 240-5675301, www.montgomerycollege.edu/pac. April 24-May 3 To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch defends an African-American man accused of assaulting a white woman. Based on the novel by Harper Lee. Presented by Rockville Little Theatre. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $22; $20 seniors and students. F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville, 240-314-8690, www.rockvillemd.gov.
ART Through March 15 Rough Around the Edges: Inspirations in Paper by Ronni Jolles. Jolles uses different kinds of paper to create textured, three-dimensional artwork. Artist reception from 2-4 p.m. March 8. The gallery is open during the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington’s regular hours. Free. Goldman Art Gallery, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Rockville, 301-881-0100, www.jccgw.org.
Through March 15 Stephen Schiff. Schiff’s work includes archival pigment prints and mixed media. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Free. The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5109, www.strathmore.org. March 7-May 31 If the Shoe Fits. The exhibit explores the fun, fantasy, form and function of footwear in stories, art and videos. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Free. The Mansion at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5109, www.strathmore.org. March 13 and April 10 Bethesda Art Walk. Various galleries in downtown Bethesda open their doors on the second Friday of every month. 6 p.m. Free. 301-215-6660, www.bethesda.org. March 27-April 26 Jeffery Cooper. The solo exhibition will feature Cooper’s wood sculptures. Opening reception at 7 p.m. April 3. Free. Noon-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; noon-8 p.m. Fridays. VisArts at Rockville, Rockville, 301-3158200, www.visartsatrockville.org.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Through March 8 Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. The zydeco-infused tale follows a duckling named Petite Rouge and her friend as they try to bring goodies to Grand-mère’s
house. Recommended for ages 4 and older. 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 11 a.m., 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays. $19. Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center, Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Through March 15 Aladdin. The tale incorporates genies, magic caves, princesses and wizards. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $10. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo, 301-6345380, www.thepuppetco.org. March 1, 7-8 Wiley and the Hairy Man. Wiley’s afraid of the Hairy Man who lives in the swamp, and has to think on his feet in order to outwit him. Recommended for ages 6 and older. 1:30 and 4 p.m. March 1; 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. March 7; 1:30 and 4 p.m. March 8. $12-$25. Imagination Stage, Bethesda, 301-280-1660, www.imagination stage.org. March 7 The Rainbow Fish. The musical adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s book about a fish who decides to share his colorful scales. Suitable for ages 4 and older. Presented by ArtsPower. 11 a.m. $7; $6 seniors; $4 students and children. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville, 240-567-5301, www. montgomerycollege.edu/pac. March 14-29 Willy Wonka Jr. The family-friendly musical is based on Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Presented by Kensington Arts Theatre Second Stage. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $20; $12 ages 14 and younger. The Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, 301-258-6394, www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/arts/ theater-at-the-arts-barn. March 19-May 3 Jack and the Beanstalk. Rod puppets bring to life the classic tale of a boy who trades his cow for magic beans, and the beans grow into a huge beanstalk. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $10. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo, 301-6345380, www.thepuppetco.org.
Rita’s Crepes at the Bethesda Central Farm Market
April 3 Egg Hunt. Children can seek eggs, then dye and decorate what they find. The hunt runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register for a session at www.parkpass.org. $8 per child. Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, 301-
photo by amy moore
pany. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $30; $25 seniors; $15 students. The Writer’s Center, Bethesda, 301-8161023, www.quotidiantheatre.org.
48 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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258-4030, www.montgomeryparks.org/ nature_centers/meadow. April 3-May 25 The Wonderful World of Oz. Dorothy and Toto are swept out of Kansas and into Oz, where she embarks on an adventure with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 11 a.m., 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays. $19. Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center, Glen Echo, 301-6342270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. April 11-May 31 Sinbad: The Untold Tale. Sinbad the Sailor tries to keep his daughter safe from a sorceress, but when a cloud makes all of the adults fall asleep, Sinbad’s daughter must enlist the help of a street orphan she despises. Recommended for ages 5-12. 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sundays. $12-$25. Imagination Stage, Bethesda, 301-280-1660, www.imaginationstage.org. April 18 BSO Music Box: On Safari. Enjoy a musical trip featuring elephants, giraffes, lions and zebras. Presented by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Suitable for
ages 6 months to 3 years. 10 and 11:30 a.m. $15. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org.
and preserves. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through March; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning in April. Ellsworth Drive, between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, www.freshfarmmarkets.org.
April 26 Paws in the Park. The annual dog walk and festival includes pet games, demonstrations, a “flealess” market with pet-friendly vendors and a 1-mile walk for dogs and people. Proceeds from the annual dog walk and festival are used to help homeless and abandoned animals in Montgomery County. Noon. Preregistration is $20, $45 for families; on-site registration is $25, $55 for families. Bohrer Park at Summit Hill Farm, Gaithersburg, 240-252-2555, www.mchumane.org.
Main Street Farmers and Artists Market. The year-round market offers meats, fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, honey and eggs, plus jewelry, knitted items, woodworking items and other work by craftspeople. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Main Street Pavilion, Gaithersburg, www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/ markets/farmers-markets. Kensington Farmers Market. Yearround offerings include artisan breads, seafood, prepared foods and produce. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. At the historic Kensington train station, Kensington, www.explore kensington.com/farmers_market.php.
FARMERS MARKETS Bethesda Central Farm Market. The year-round market’s offerings include baked goods, fruits and vegetables, seafood and some meats. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays. Bethesda Elementary School, Bethesda, www.centralfarmmarkets.com.
Pike Central Farm Market. 9 a.m.1:30 p.m. Saturdays beginning April 25. 5992 Executive Blvd., North Bethesda, www.centralfarmmarkets.com. n
FRESHFARM Market. Offerings include produce, eggs, breads and pastries, honey
To submit calendar items, or to see a complete listing, go to BethesdaMagazine.com.
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BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 49
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Special Advertising Section
Culture
Find all these events and more at CultureSpotMC.com
WATCH
Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards Concert Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District Mar. 6, 8pm Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club Enjoy the sounds of live music. Six local finalists will compete for the top prize of $10,000 in this inaugural songwriting competition. Tickets are $10.
Young Artists of America at Strathmore & Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras present
WEST SIDE STORY / ROMEO ET JULIETTE
Bethesda.org
Adult Education Classes Live & Learn Bethesda Live & Learn Bethesda is a non-profit organization that provides adult education classes at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. We are conveniently located in downtown Bethesda adjacent to the Bethesda Metro and the Montgomery County parking garage. Give us a call or visit us online to view our current catalog, register for classes, or request a catalog.
Mar. 8, 4pm The Music Center at Strathmore Shakespeare’s great love story is transported to modern-day New York City and Verona, Italy through the timeless music of Bernstein’s West Side Story and Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. In both tales, two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between opposing factions, the Jets vs. the Sharks and the Capulets vs. the Montagues. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heartwrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time. Tickets from $20.
HEARTWRENCHING AND RELEVANT
MCYO.org or 301-581-5100
LiveAndLearnBethesda.org or 301-740-6150
CAROUSEL Olney Theatre Center 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road Apr. 15 – May 10 After a bank robbery gone wrong, carousel barker Billy Bigelow is given a second chance to make things right for the love-ofhis-life Julie Jordan and the child he never got to meet. Featuring some of the form’s best-loved songs: “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “If I Loved You.” Time Magazine calls this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic tale of love and redemption the “greatest musical of the twentieth century.” Recommended for ages 12 and up. OlneyTheatre.org or 301-924-3400
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Bethesda Film Fest Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District Mar. 20, 7pm & 9pm Mar. 21, 7pm & 9pm The film festival will feature five short documentaries followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers after the screenings. Tickets are $10.
A STORY ABOUT SECOND CHANCES
Bethesda.org
Haddon Hall, by Sullivan & Grundy The Victorian Lyric Opera Company, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre Feb. 26, 27, 28, Mar. 6 & 7, 8pm Mar. 1 & 8, 2pm This orchestra-accompanied operetta includes a special $12 preview (2/26), a free pre-show lecture at 7pm (2/28), and free children’s activities before the Mar. 1st matinee! vloc.org
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Special Advertising Section
Maryland Youth Ballet presents
SLEEPING BEAUTY
THREE UNIQUE BALLETS
Mar. 21 at 1pm & 5pm Mar. 22 at 1pm Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center Montgomery College, Rockville, MD This spring, Maryland Youth Ballet invites you to an exciting concert of classical and contemporary ballet. The program features Aurora’s wedding from The Sleeping Beauty: Act III as well as My Carnaval-a whimsical Eric Hampton piece celebrating fun and fantasy, and Nostalgia-a new work by MYB faculty member Christopher Doyle. Three unique ballets that are sure to entertain, enrich, and engage audiences of all ages! Tickets: In Advance Online-Adults $20; Children $15 At the Door-Adults $25; Children $20
National Philharmonic Mar. 28, 8pm Mar. 29, 3pm Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 Haochen Zhang, piano Piotr Gajewksi, conductor Apr. 11, 8pm Bach’s St. John Passion Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano Victoria Gau, conductor NationalPhilharmonic.org or 301-581-5100
The Studio at The Writer’s Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week The Writer’s Center is proud to offer studio space for writers in its newly renovated Walsh Street building. Please visit us online or call for pricing and more information. Writer.org or 301-654-8664
MarylandYouthBallet.org or 301-608-2232
Tangos and Romance
AN IRISH Coral Cantigas Mar. 14, 7pm CHRISTMAS First Congregational United Church of Christ CELEBRATION 945 G St., NW Washington, DC Cantigas presents an evening of romantic songs by renowned composers Carlos Gardel, Miguel Matamoros, Bobby Capo, and Rafael Hernandez. Repertoire will include spirited zarzuela choruses. Cantigas.org
Bethesda Literary Festival Bethesda Urban Partnership Apr. 17 -19 Celebrate the diversity of literature with novelists, journalists, poets, children’s events, writing contest winners and more at 25 free literary events. Bethesda.org
facebook.com/ CultureSpotMC @CultureSpotMC
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SPRING BREAK & SUMMER CAMPS
SUMMER FUN!
Glen Echo Park Enroll today for 2015 camps! Bring your kids to Glen Echo Park for a summer of fun! Glen Echo Park offers children’s camps in fine arts, clay animation, cartooning, calligraphy, Irish dancing, magic performance, music, musical theater, nature programs, photography, and more (4 and up). Teen camps/workshops include glass art, ceramics, photography, mixed media, and MC.com stone carving (11 and up). Glen Echo Park also offers a Young Artists Camp (ages 11-13; 14-16) in the summer and spring break camps/workshops in visual arts and theater (ages 6-16). GlenEchoPark.org or 301-634-2226
Experience Something Extraordinary!
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CultureSpotMC.com is a service of the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County
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people, politics, current events, books, columns
banter
The Name’s Bond
photo by mike olliver
By Maura Mahoney
James Bond has always had an easy time striking up conversations with strangers. “It’s always a real icebreaker,” he says of his name. “People just seem to love it.” Bond, who lives in Silver Spring, is an assistant director of the Office of Student Conduct at the University of Maryland, College Park. He says his parents weren’t thinking about the dashing 007 when they chose his name. They actually were trying to come up with two names, because James has a twin brother. His parents’ inspiration came from the Bible, rather than from Ian Fleming: James and John were brothers who became disciples of Jesus. “Oh, is he mad that I got that name,” Bond, 37, says of his twin with a laugh.
After attending University of Maryland and Georgetown Law, Bond went to work for his alma mater. He also serves as president of the board of directors of The Dwelling Place, a Montgomery County nonprofit that provides housing and support for homeless families. Though he doesn’t drive an Aston Martin DB5 (he says there’s a lot to be said for a Honda Accord) or fight archvillains such as Goldfinger (he does investigate and adjudicate allegations of student misconduct on campus, so there’s that), he enjoys having such a well-known name. “It’s not like it’s Benedict Arnold or something,” he says. “It’s a good name.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 53
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banter
By David Frey
Figuratively Speaking Lot 31 by the numbers
At the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda avenues, Lot 31 will add 162 apartments, 88 condos and 40,000 square feet of retail space to downtown Bethesda. Here’s a look at the development by the numbers.
DateS:
Lot 31 broke ground: May 2012
Woodmont Avenue was closed for construction: September 2012
Original projected opening for Lot 31: January 2015
Current projected opening for Lot 31: May 2015
On the blasting that began in December 2012:
“I thought something huge like a meteor hit my house.”
Number of surface parking spaces eliminated:
279
Neighbor Asimina Coroneos, to The Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2013
Number of public underground parking spaces added:
940 Net gain:
661
Depth of excavated hole:
Height of The Flats apartments:
55 feet
Total material removed:
+
248,000 cubic yards
35,000
=
dump truck loads
Weight of material removed:
5 stories
793.6 million pounds,
Height of The Darcy condos:
which is equivalent to 1,435 Boeing 787 Dreamliners filled to maximum capacity
9 stories
The following could fit in the excavated volume: Project cost:
$200 million
4
Washington Monuments
OR
5
Lincoln Memorials
OR
200
average single family homes
Source: Stonebridge Associates, Clark Construction, The Washington Post
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banter
‘The Police Clearly overstepped Their Bounds’
On the eve of his re-election last fall, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett was hassled by Park Police as he prepared to place campaign signs at a Silver Spring polling place. Leggett, 69, who grew up in rural Louisiana during the era of segregation, talked with Bethesda Magazine about how we have—and haven’t—changed since that time. BY louis peck
On election eve night, I have this ritual where I go put my signs at 20 polling places. The last place I stopped was the Good Hope Recreation Center [in Silver Spring]. I had a baseball cap, jeans and a sweater on. Just as I drove off Good Hope Road right at the edge of the parking lot, this spotlight hits me and I look back and notice it was a police car. My assumption was that maybe there’s some infraction out on the road. Just as I’m getting out, the police officer—who turns out to be Park Police, a big guy—starts yelling and screaming and cursing about why am I there and that I had no right to be there…in such a harsh, negative unprofessional tone that I was literally stunned for a minute or two. I don’t recall any racial slurs, but there was some very negative four-letter words. Then another police officer, a female officer, started walking toward us. I think as she got closer to me, she recognized who I was. So she immediately starts to apologize, and says that this guy was new, he didn’t know who I was,
and besides—as though it should have mattered—this guy was from Howard County. Had I been a young teenager, grabbed something out of my pocket and decided to run, or gotten fearful and did something that was in some way misinterpreted, who knows what might have happened? The police clearly overstepped their bounds. There wasn’t a question in my mind. What were your reactions as you drove home afterward?
When you come out of the South as I did, out of the civil rights struggle, one part of me felt a sort of anger: ‘Boy, maybe we have not made as much progress as I thought, that the work and efforts we’ve been going through—my efforts to bring people together—were not as successful [as hoped].’ On the other side, part of me was laughing about the comment that ‘He’s from Howard County.’ I was sort of half-mad, half-laughing. Growing up, did you and your family regularly fear for your safety, either from local authorities or others?
I felt very clearly that you were in a different class. But I never went around the community thinking that my life was in danger, or that there was some obvious threat to me. You have to keep in mind that in many places in the South, and especially where I lived, segregation was more psychological than physical because you worked with people of a different race on a day-to-day basis. Oftentimes you played with them. But there was a psychological and emotional segregation that I think has a much more damning impact on you. You have this stigma in your mind about your ability to achieve. I never saw, until I was in the first year at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a person of color—any color—in a professional position. It was a revelation. In 1986, you became the first African-American ever elected to the Montgomery County Council. You recently said that, for much of the first part of the campaign, your literature contained no photograph of you.
One thing I did recognize in the South was that there were different treatments by whites toward African-Americans
photo by michael ventura
On Nov. 4, you won a third term as county executive. What happened the day before?
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whom they were familiar with and they had developed relationships with. And maybe this is the way that people in a superior position justify their attitude toward segregation. You always had some person [about whom you] could say, ‘I have a black friend,’ or, ‘This person is almost like a member of my family.’ I saw examples that, at least on the surface, appeared to be loving and charitable. And so, in the back of my mind, I always had the belief that if people just knew me, knew my experiences, knew what I was about, knew the issues, that they would in fact be more accepting. I [didn’t] want to run the risk that the first thing they see was a picture of color. I think that emanated from my upbringing in the South. You’ve now lived for four decades in the North. What were racial attitudes like when you first got here?
Attitudes in the North that arise around race have been more subtle, not to suggest that they are not as damning: Someone may not get the job, or they may not get a promotion—and the justification for it is subtle, and said with a smile. Whereas in the South, I think that people were probably being a little more honest and oftentimes people would talk about those differences. When initially I came north, you felt it, you sensed it, but it was not as obvious.
photo by amy moore
President Obama has said that this country has come a long way on the issue of race, but still has a significant way to travel. Do you share that view?
I would add that we have come a very long way. I come from the depth of segregation, Jim Crow. But there is still work ahead of us. And that work includes not just looking at the question of race and ethnicity, but this question of poverty. [We need] to overcome the barriers of the stereotypes and whatever prejudice that exists. It presents a very difficult and unique challenge for us going forward.
Stephanie Flack runs the Environmental Film Festival, which shows films at area venues including Silver Spring’s AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (shown here).
How Green Was my Festival By Maura Mahoney
Stephanie Flack had been working in conservation for almost 20 years, first at the World Bank and then The Nature Conservancy, before she realized how persuasive and powerful filmmaking can be. “That’s the bug that bit me,” she says of her experience appearing in a documentary called Potomac: The River Runs Through Us. “You can do a million things, you can toil away on technical science or policy reports, but if people don’t care, it’s not going to get traction,” she says. Flack, 44, decided last summer to leave her job as Potomac River project director for The Nature Conservancy’s Maryland/D.C. chapter and become executive director of the Environmental Film Festival, the largest and longest running event of its kind in the United States. The festival, which began in 1993, features documentaries, narratives, animations and shorts, as well as archival, experimental and children’s films. Last year it presented 200 films over 13 days to 33,000 people in the D.C. area. This year’s festival, which runs from March 17-29, will feature more than 150 films from dozens of countries in multiple venues in Montgomery County, the District and Arlington. More than 200 filmmakers and guest speakers are expected to participate in post-screening discussions. Flack, who lives in Bethesda, says the festival defines the environment very broadly, with films potentially focusing on topics as varied as architecture, politics and toxic chemicals. “I really think films are a great way to capture people’s attention,” Flack says, “get them engaged, get them hooked.” n BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 57
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By andrew J. metcalf
neighborhood notes 270
news you may have missed
gaithersburg
Not everyone thought it was cute when Montgomery County police posted pictures of two childhood holiday toys—the Elf on a Shelf and Mensch on a Bench—on social media. Police scrubbed the photos from their social media accounts after receiving a complaint saying that the toys were offensive, and then tweeted, “No offense intended. We r sorry.”
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North BethesDA Management officials at the Aurora Apartments in North Bethesda announced in December that they have a new way 270 to catch residents who don’t scoop their dog’s poop: They’ve taken DNA samples of the dogs in the building and plan to conduct tests on dog waste found on the building’s grounds.
bethesda
New apartment building 7001 Arlington at Bethesda—the latest in Bethesda’s high-end building boom—opened a leasing office in January. A 623-square-foot studio will go for $2,300 per month while a two-bedroom with about 1,000 square feet will cost more than $3,600 per month.
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The National Institutes of Health is taking a humane approach to solving its campus deer problem. Veterinarians at the research center will surgically sterilize the deer in a state-of-the-art veterinary suite, using the latest medical techniques.
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chevy chase
In January, a team led by an American University science professor announced that it was unable to find any amphipods—endangered shrimp-like creatures that measure 10 millimeters in length— after conducting between 10 to 15 searches for them in Rock Creek. Opponents of the planned Purple Line were hoping to turn up a live specimen to help bolster a lawsuit that alleges the project will harm the amphipods’ habitat. Opponents aren’t giving up yet: The Town of Chevy Chase plans to continue funding a $20,000 study looking for DNA evidence of the tiny creatures in seeps of water trapped in clay layers in the park.
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south moon under 10247 OLD GEORGETOWN RD. | BETHESDA
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Top left: Susan Johnson enjoys a boat ride in Vinh Long, Vietnam. Right: Rick Johnson rides a camel in Wadi Rum in southern Jordan. Bottom left: The couple in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.
Footloose and fancy-Free Susan and Rick Johnson
had lived in the Washington, D.C., area for 40 years, 25 of them in Bethesda, where they raised two daughters. “We were pretty well settled in, and gliding toward our retirement years,” Rick, 62, says. “We imagined ourselves staying in our home.” But that plan changed— a lot—when a colleague of Rick’s accepted a position at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, a fishing village on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, in 2009. Johnson wrote to congratulate him, and to tell his friend that he was
envious of the adventure he was undertaking. “Almost immediately I heard back from him,” Rick says, “saying, ‘If you’re envious, I’d like to talk to you.’ ” Johnson landed his own job at KAUST as the manager of research services, and within six weeks the couple was ready to go. “We sold our house within 24 hours of putting it on the market, sold our cars, got rid of about two-thirds of our possessions, and put the rest in storage,” Rick says. For the next 3½ years, the Johnsons worked (Susan did contract work at KAUST as a business adviser and student recruiter) and traveled around Europe,
the Middle East and Southeast Asia. After they retired in 2013, the Johnsons decided to stay overseas, living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for three months, Bali for a year, and Cuenca, Ecuador, for 2½ months. Next stop? Seville, Spain. In addition to the four countries where they have lived, the Johnsons have visited 22 countries. “It’s not a matter of seeing every sight,” Rick says. “It’s a matter of absorbing the place.” We asked the couple for thoughts on their peripatetic lifestyle, and advice for other travelers.
photos Courtesy of the johnsons
By Maura Mahoney
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Lessons from the road Greatest adventure: “We took a trip to Nepal where we did a lodge-to-lodge trek around the base of Mount Everest,” Rick says. “Just beautiful. [We] trekked around for two weeks with no roads or electricity.” Most livable city: Cuenca, Ecuador. “The entire downtown (El Centro) is a UNESCO World Heritage site,” Susan, 63, says. “The weather is always springlike, with highs in the 70s every day, with plenty of sunshine, and there’s no need for AC or central heating. There are three rivers that run through the city, and each has broad bike paths. There are plenty of beautiful parks that are impeccably maintained. The food is great, with tons of restaurants and cafés, and there is easy access to modern health care at low cost. For hiking, the Cajas National Park is just a half hour out of town. People are friendly, and there are plenty of Americans living there.” Living light: “The big realization is how little you need,” Rick says. “The two of us are currently living out of three carry-on-size suitcases. We started out with much more and have discarded lots of items along the way. Life is so much less complicated with less stuff.” Biggest challenge: It can be difficult to make friends in new cities, especially big cities, so the Johnsons say they can feel a bit isolated. “It helps that we’re traveling as a couple,” Rick says, “but if you don’t have a strong relationship, the togetherness might be dangerous.”
Positano, Italy
Best home base: Kuala Lumpur. “It’s an AirAsia hub,” Rick says, “so you can really use that as a base to travel around Southeast Asia quite easily and inexpensively. We could fly from Kuala Lumpur up to Bangkok for something like $25.” Just like home: Susan says a Kuala Lumpur neighborhood called Bangsar reminded them of Bethesda. “It’s an upscale bedroom community. It has nice shops, a lot of restaurants, lots of boutiques, and yoga. We just looked at each other like, ‘Gee, this looks a lot like Bethesda!’ We thought we could live here, and it would be a fraction of the cost of Bethesda.” Luggage: “For years, we’ve sworn by Patagonia Maximum Legal Carryons,” Rick says. “We take three pieces of carry-on luggage. We’ll check one, and carry two.” Keeping in touch with family and friends: The
Johnsons use Facebook, email and Skype, and recently began using a free mobile messaging app called WhatsApp. Says Rick: “We have a family messaging group set up on WhatsApp that allows us to schedule Skype calls and to share tons of photos of our grandkids among ourselves
without putting off Facebook friends who might find them a bit much.”
Travel tip: “Find places you think you might enjoy exploring for a month or more,” Rick says. Renting accommodations by the month, he says, helps keep costs down and avoid travel burnout. “If you like the place, you can stay longer. If you’re bored after a few weeks, it’s easy to move on.” Fear of the unknown: “Our main concern was whether full-time travel would be practical—financially, logistically, emotionally,” Rick says. “It turns out that, for us, it’s more economical than returning to the States, at least until we’re old enough to start collecting Medicare and Social Security. And it’s a lot more fun and interesting.” What travel has taught them: “We are able to adopt a more
patient attitude, take things slower,” Rick says. “Patience is the only way to survive the frustrations that travel can bring.” They’ve also learned that they are capable of living happily in relatively humble circumstances, which gives them a new feeling of freedom. What they like best is planning the next destination. Says Rick: “We’re always dreaming of the next move.”
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Family Act By Maura Mahoney
Meet the Chiet siblings.
All three grew up in Gaithersburg, loved watching TV, going to the movies and attending concerts. The two oldest graduated from Quince Orchard High School, where the youngest is a junior, and they’re all pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. Erin says they share a common passion: “We all love working with people who are all working toward the same goal, which is telling a story.” Remember the name Chiet— you may see it in the credits of a blockbuster someday. Erin, 24, has built on her love of fashion (her yearbook senior superlative was “best dressed”) while pursuing a career in costumes and wardrobe work. While attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia, she worked as an assistant to the costume designer for the film Better Living Through Chemistry. After graduating in 2013 with a degree in fashion merchandising, she moved to New York City, where she landed a three-month position on the Netflix series House of Cards as an assistant to the show’s costume shopper. “I’d shop for some of the characters at Barneys, and then run to the nearest FedEx office,” she recalls. “It was a lot of fun, and a lot of craziness.” After that, she worked as costume production assistant for HBO’s The Leftovers for several months before taking a position in July with ABC’s Manhattan Love Story. She hopes some day to work as the costume designer for a film or TV show. Justin, 26, founded Chiet Productions after graduating from Towson
University in 2011. The company offers video production, photography and graphic/web design services, as well as online media branding and strategy. Clients have included nonprofits, small and midsize businesses, and musicians. The company produced a short musical film, Warning: Take Only as Directed, which premiered at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring in November. Other recent projects have included a series of Mattress Warehouse commercials for Hot 99.5 and The Kane Show, as well as several promotional videos for the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. Justin is about to begin work as director of photography on a feature-length adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear.
Noah, the youngest, has been acting professionally in the D.C. area since he was 11. Now a junior at Quince Orchard High, where he is active in the theater department, Noah, 17, has performed at several local venues, including Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, the Olney Theatre Center and the Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center’s Theater J. One of his most exciting gigs was meeting and working with actor Ben Stiller in the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty—Noah portrayed the images of a young Stiller in photos. “I don’t remember what I said, I was so starstruck,” says Noah, who is the president of his class and plans to study acting in college.
photos courtesy of the chiet family
Erin Chiet (top left) works as a costume production assistant in New York City; brother Justin (bottom left) founded his own production company and brother Noah acts professionally, including performing at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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hot list
Your guide to Bethesda area happenings — from hot to not. By andrew J. metcalf
Great grades for MCPS: The high school graduation rate increased by nearly three percentage points over the past three years, to 89.7 percent, while dropout rates declined two points to 5.6 percent in 2014.
Our restaurant scene grew more exciting with the opening of Summer House Santa Monica at Pike & Rose and the announcements that Robert Wiedemaier is taking over the Roof Bethesda space and Mike Isabella is bringing his Kapnos Greek concept to Bethesda Row.
Get the app,
get going.
Let the construction begin. Suburban Hospital’s long battle with its neighbors over the hospital’s $230 million expansion is over and construction is about to commence. White Flint Mall is dead! Long live White Flint! The mall, once a retail and dining hub, is shuttered. But the owners have big plans to redevelop the property. The only question is: When?
Seven days after MCPS announced its improved graduation and dropout rates, Superintendent Joshua Starr resigned.
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book Report By Maura Mahoney
DeRionne Pollard, the president of Montgomery College, says she is “obsessed” with The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League (Scribner, 2014) by Jeff Hobbs. Pollard calls the book a “provocative and disturbing” story of the life of Hobbs’ friend Robert Peace, who escaped the slums of Newark, New Jersey, to attend
In his memoir, Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most (Sarah Crichton Books, 2014), Timothy Shriver chronicles his search to discover what is important amid all the distractions of modern life. Shriver, who lives in Chevy Chase, writes about the influence his parents, Sargent and Eunice Shriver, his grandmother, Rose Kennedy, and his uncles, John, Robert and Edward Kennedy, all had on him. He also explores the enormous impact of his aunt Rosemary, who was born with intellectual disabilities. Rosemary was the catalyst for the Special Olympics, which Eunice Shriver founded in 1968 and Timothy Shriver now chairs.
Yale University. After graduation, he eventually became a drug dealer and was murdered at the age of 30. “I often tell our students that life is about the choices one makes or fails to make,” Pollard says, “and this riveting book illuminates the family demons and the societal context that suggest my bifurcation is too simple and too inauthentic.”
Nazila Fathi’s new book, The Lonely War: One Woman’s Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran (Basic Books, 2014), is both a personal story of coming of age in Iran, and a broader narrative about the sociopolitical ramifications of the Iranian revolution on the Iranian people. The book is divided into three parts, tracing Fathi’s life in Iran over three decades. It begins with the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when Fathi was 9, and continues through the IranIraq war in the 1980s to Fathi’s work as a translator for foreign reporters in the 1990s and then as a stringer and finally a correspondent for The New York Times in the early 2000s. Fathi, who now lives in Bethesda, eventually had to flee Iran with her husband and two small children.
Jessica Lidh’s first novel, a book for young adults called The Number 7, was published by Merit Press in December. Lidh, a 30-year-old Rockville resident, teaches English at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring. This historical fiction book tells the tale of 16-year-old Louisa, who begins to uncover family secrets when the unplugged rotary phone in her attic mysteriously begins ringing. Lidh drew on her Swedish heritage to tell the story. While writing the book, Lidh was working at Klaradal, a Swedish antiques store in Olney. “We would have elderly Swedes come into the shop,” she says, “and I’d ask them to share some of their memories of their childhood and World War II.”
Bethesda resident Chris Palmer is the “Distinguished Film Producer in Residence” at American University’s School of Communication, as well as a speaker, author and environmental/wildlife film producer. According to Palmer, his latest book, Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker (Bluefield Publishing, 2015), “exposes the extent of ethical violations in the wildlife filmmaking industry.” A sequel to his first book, Shooting in the Wild: An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom (Sierra Club Books, 2010), Palmer says he takes television executives to task for their mistreatment of animals and lack of transparency. He says he expects the book to be “very controversial.”
Lisa Helfert ( Pollard ); Book covers courtesy of Barnes & Noble; Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker Courtesy of Chris Palmer
W h at’s o n Yo u r b e d s i d e ta b l e?
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What Bethesda’s Reading
Top - selling books as of Jan. 20 at the Barnes & Noble in Bethesda compared with Barnes & Noble stores nationwide and at www.bn.com
lincoln peirce photo by luigi novi
March 17 Lincoln Peirce. Peirce’s latest novel in the Big Nate children’s series is Big Nate Lives It Up (Balzer and Bray, 2015). 7 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, Montrose Crossing shopping plaza, Rockville. April 6 Café Muse. The monthly literary program features open readings and featured readers. April’s featured readers are poets Kim Roberts and Gary Stein. 7 p.m. Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, 301-656-2797, www.wordworksdc.com/ cafe_muse.html.
1. All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr 2. Saint Odd, Dean Koontz 3. Gray Mountain, John Grisham 4. Insatiable Appetites, Stuart Woods 5. The Escape (John Puller Series, #3), David Baldacci 6. The Third Target, Joel C. Rosenberg 7. Hope to Die, James Patterson 8. The Empty Throne, Bernard Cornwell 9. Trust No One, Jayne Ann Krentz 10. No Fortunate Son, Brad Taylor
1. Yes Please, Amy Poehler 2. Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Ina Garten 3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo 4. 41: A Portrait of My Father, George W. Bush 5. The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, Walter Isaacson 6. Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned,” Lena Dunham 7. Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General, Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard 8. Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck, Thug Kitchen 9. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande 10. Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking From London’s Ottolenghi, Yotam Ottolenghi
1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, Marie Kondo 2. Money Master the Game, Tony Robbins 3. Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General, Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard 4. Yes Please, Amy Poehler 5. The 20/20 Diet: Turn Your Weight Loss Vision Into Reality, Phil McGraw 6. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Atul Gawande 7. Not That Kind Of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned,” Lena Dunham 8. StrengthsFinder 2.0, Tom Rath 9. You Can, You Will, Joel Osteen 10. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand
1. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Daniel James Brown 2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand 3. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed 4. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn 5. Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game, Andrew Hodges 6. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline 7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling 8. American Sniper (movie tie-in edition): The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice 9. Sycamore Row, John Grisham 10. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, Reza Aslan
1. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed 2. Wreck this Journal (Duct Tape) Expanded Edition, Keri Smith 3. Dark Places, Gillian Flynn 4. Gone Girl (movie tie-in edition), Gillian Flynn 5. Still Alice, Lisa Genova 6. Sycamore Row, John Grisham 7. Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King 8. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline 9. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes 10. The 100: Count ONLY Sugar Calories and Lose Up to 18 Lbs. in 2 Weeks, Jorge Cruise
Hardcover Fiction
March 2 Café Muse. The monthly literary program features open readings and featured readers. March’s featured readers are poets Le Hinton and Susan Sonde. 7 p.m. Free. Friendship Heights Village Center, Chevy Chase, 301-656-2797, www.wordworksdc.com/ cafe_muse.html.
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr Gray Mountain, John Grisham Redeployment, Phil Klay The Escape (John Puller Series, #3), David Baldacci 5. Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult 6. The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters 7. Family Furnishings: Selected Stories, 1995-2014, Alice Munro 8. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt 9. The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Richard Flanagan 10. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
Hardcover Nonfiction
LITERARY events CALENDAR
Barnes & Noble Nationwide/www.bn.com
Barnes & Noble Bethesda
Paperback (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Author Lincoln Peirce
Data provided by:
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From left to right: Bernice Martin, Malik Carter, Steve Kanstoroom, Donald Awkard and William Rounds
It’s been more than 15 years since the Montgomery County Planning Board approved Dellabrooke, a 43-home upscale development in Sandy Spring. But a fight rages on about a nearby road in a historic African-American community that residents—some of whom are descendants of former slaves—say was blocked when the new houses were built. Farm Road has disappeared and reappeared on official maps over the years. It wasn’t included on the developer’s submissions when the planning board approved the new subdivision in 1999. The board allowed some houses to be built over what residents say was part of the road, and also designated a swath of land for conservation that older maps show was part of the road. Today, there are about a half dozen
By Miranda S. SpivaCk
houses on the gravel road, and several properties have no structures. In some places it appears wide enough to be a road, and elsewhere it’s overgrown, more like a path. At some points along what older maps show to be the road, the lots now belong to Dellabrooke residents, and the road runs through those properties. In order to reach their land, property owners along Farm Road have been using Brooke Road to the south or traveling over other properties. In 2004, when a member of the African-American community sought to develop his land, he learned that he didn’t have an address, and that he couldn’t get one because his lot is on a road that officially no longer existed. An address is crucial for anyone wanting to build or make other improvements on their property. No
address, no building permit. Fast forward to last June, when Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus held a hearing in Sandy Spring. William Rounds, who said his family has owned property along Farm Road since 1904, wept. “Fix the road,” he said. “All I ever dreamed about was having my family on this property from my heritage.” He said he has spent $17,000 of his own money to refurbish the road. The residents of the African-American community have been aided by Steve Kanstoroom, a neighbor who has experience battling government bureaucracies. Kanstoroom has helped generate publicity about the community, and has set up a website called savesandyspring.org. He received a community service award from County Executive Ike Leggett in 2013. >>
photo by michael ventura
finally making inroads?
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Cathy Bernard and her uncle Fred Ebb
Come Hear the Music Play, Old Chum By Maura Mahoney
Cathy Bernard has Warm
memories of her uncle Fred Ebb, one of the best known and most popular songwriters in New York theater history. “He would write limericks for family birthdays instead of sending cards,” she says. Ebb, a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, was one-half of a famous songwriting team with composer John Kander. Together they collaborated to write the scores of Cabaret, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Ebb also wrote the lyrics for the song “New York, New York.” Ebb never gave up on pursuing his dreams, and lived with Bernard’s grandmother into his 40s, when he finally found success. Bernard, who lives in Chevy Chase, jokes that while she didn’t inherit her uncle’s musical abilities (“I have no talent at all,” she says), he was an inspiration. The president of HCM, a property
management and investment firm in Hyattsville, Bernard serves on the boards of Signature Theatre, Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage and Strathmore. Last year, Bernard founded the Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards as a way to honor her uncle, who died in 2004, and to find and develop new talent. The awards contest received 258 entries by its December deadline. Finalists will perform two songs each on March 6 at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. The grand prize winner, announced at the end of the show, will receive $10,000. The winner of the 17-and-under category (which received 41 of the 258 entries) will get $2,500. “I don’t think that there are enough outlets for fun and creativity,” Bernard says. “We need to do things that bring out the best in people.”
courtesy photo
In July 2014, Leggett took another crucial step. After several embarrassing news reports, pressure from Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich (D-At Large), and a couple of lawsuits, Leggett told the Montgomery County Planning Department to give addresses to the Farm Road property owners. Problem solved. Well, not quite. The addresses linked the houses to other roads, not to Farm Road, which planning officials maintain is not actually a road. The new addresses still don’t solve the issue of access as some of the landowners would have to share driveways or go over another person’s property to reach the road linked to their address. “They are still landlocked,” Kanstoroom says. Meanwhile, the planning board spent just over $120,000 in 2013 on a report that cleared the department of any wrongdoing in the Dellabrooke approval. Kanstoroom and the neighbors have kept up the pressure. In January, Maryland’s highest court gave the African-American landowners an opening to press a lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court against the planning agency, a surveying company and some property owners. And separately, the Leggett administration has agreed to survey Farm Road to see if it could be considered a real road with all the benefits that confers. Joel Leininger, the surveyor hired by the county, says “the road has been there for decades.” The planning board’s general counsel, Adrian Gardner, declined to discuss the issue. Leggett spokeswoman Esther Bowring said the government is waiting for Leininger’s final report before deciding next steps. Elrich says the planning board’s approval of Dellabrooke back in 1999 was wrong. “They did this to people who did not have the wherewithal to hire the kind of attorney they needed,” he says. “This is just another historic black community that has been treated like crap.”
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The Weed Warrior By Maura Mahoney
NAME
David Brooks WHAT HE DOES
Spends 250 hours a year fighting nonnative invasive plants in Montgomery County’s parks and trails
photo by skip brown
Thousands of people use the Capital Crescent Trail every week, and it’s a safe bet that only a few of them realize they are passing the scene of a battle. For the past seven years, David Brooks of Bethesda, armed only with gloves, a hand pruner and a folding saw, has been defending the local woodlands by waging a valiant and relentless campaign. The enemy? Nonnative invasive plants. Originally planted by homeowners for landscaping or ornamental purposes, these species, which include porcelainberry, English ivy, garlic mustard and honeysuckle, have grown wildly out of control in our area over the past 20 years or so. They threaten local parklands by displacing native plants and disturbing natural ecosystems. >> 70 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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noticed a sign asking for volunteers to spend a day removing invasive species from the park. He enjoyed it so much that he signed up for the Montgomery Parks’ Weed Warrior training program—a two-hour field training class with a forest ecologist, a two-part online course, and a supervised workday. He’s been battling the weeds ever since. Brooks says many of the invasive species, such as porcelainberry and English ivy, are available in plant stores. They have beautiful berries and grow rapidly, making them appealing to homeowners who are looking for a low-maintenance plant for their yards. “What’s easier to put on a hill?” he says. Birds like the plants, too, and they spread the seeds around, helping to facilitate their expansion into surrounding woodlands, where they grow on top of trees, robbing them of water and nutrients. “It’s when they climb the trees that
“I guess there are two kinds of people in the world,” brooks says. “Some like to build. I like to destroy things.”
Weed Warrior David Brooks with fellow volunteers (from left to right) Yukinori Endo, Wakako Endo, Hiroko Endo and Celia Martin
it’s the problem,” he says. Brooks says he gets satisfaction out of doing such tangible, hands-on work. “I enjoy mowing a lawn, enjoy raking leaves, shoveling snow,” he says. He folds in some exercise along the way by biking or walking from his home in Bethesda’s Bannockburn neighborhood to where he plans to attack the nonnative plants. And he appreciates that the work gets him outside. Otherwise, he says, “I go stir-crazy.” Weed Warriors have to watch out for ticks, yellow jackets and, in the summer months, humidity. But seven years into his work, Brooks looks at the Capital Crescent Trail with pride. “I have extended the lifetime of a huge number of trees and have extended the life of the forest,” he says. Though other people in the program do more planting and replacing, he says he enjoys doing the removal. “I guess there are two kinds of people in the world,” he says. “Some like to build. I like to destroy things.” n
photo by skip brown
Carole Bergmann, the forest ecologist/ field botanist for Montgomery Parks, created a volunteer program called Weed Warriors in 1999 to help fight the plants. Over the past 16 years, more than 1,000 people have been trained as Weed Warriors and have amassed more than 70,000 volunteer hours—the equivalent of about 30 years of work. “It’s all kinds of people,” Bergmann says, “from retired botanists to people who just noticed the vines on the trees while jogging by. It’s people loving their parks and working to preserve the habitat.” Brooks, 70, was certified as a Weed Warrior in the spring of 2008. He says he spends about 250 hours a year, half along the Capital Crescent Trail and half along the C&O Canal, combating the plants. Brooks also completed additional training to become a Weed Warrior supervisor. He leads volunteers into the fray on the first Wednesday of the month from October through May and teaches them how to identify and remove problem plants. “He’s a workaholic,” Bergmann says. Given his dedication, you might think that Brooks’ war on weeds is part of a lifelong crusade, but he says the only similar experience he had growing up was cutting brush for his father in Massachusetts. “And of course I hated doing that,” he says. After obtaining a degree in international relations at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Brooks moved to the Washington area to become a manager for Sears, and later worked for an office supply company. He retired in late 2007, and the following spring, while playing tennis at Cabin John Regional Park,
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Family Ties My mother didn’t cook and wasn’t much of a caretaker. But she knew how to sew.
Selby McPhee was married in her grandmother’s wedding dress, which was altered to fit her.
If I could write about my mother, Peggy, in any medium, I would want to write in fabric, with threads making the letters and buttons for punctuation. This is the medium in which Peggy was most like a mother to me. I touch the buttons she kept in a tin box, letting them tumble through my fingers like pebbles—brass and bone and plastic, pink and yellow and sapphire, rhinestone-encrusted, leather, fabric-covered. I run my fingers over the spools of thread, the embroidery floss, and the lengths of lace trim, the cards of snaps and hooks and eyes. I slide my fingers through folded fragments of yellow silk, pink polished cotton with a pattern of pussy willows—and the touch of motherhood is there. My brother and I used to laugh that Peggy didn’t even know how to boil water, and that was really the truth. My mother didn’t envelop us with her mothering love through savory aromas from the kitchen. But she could do needlework. I don’t think anyone ever thought about sending her to college—her brother, Tom, went to Dartmouth, but she really wasn’t a student. At the end of
photo by Lisa Helfert
By Selby McPhee
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care of, and that’s what we did. My father started her car in the morning, I found her glasses, we put away the dishes. Peggy was a bundle of anxiety and suspicion, maybe even diagnosable with some psychiatric term, and my father and I, conflict averse, worked as a team to keep her calm. It was hard for Peggy to go out alone—she needed someone, usually me, to accompany her on errands. She wanted me to wait while she had her hair done. When I resisted, I would “upset” her, sending her cascading into a fit of weeping and headaches that only a washcloth, soaked in steaming hot water and applied to her forehead, would relieve. “If you loved me,” she would say, “you wouldn’t do this to me.” Leaving the house involved a ritual of delays. While she wandered around the house touching surfaces, we filled an ice bag for her to take in the car (the squashy kind with a screw-on lid, the kind Dagwood used for a hangover in the funny papers) in case she got a headache. She wanted whiskey in the glove compartment year-round, for medicinal, survival purposes. It wasn’t that my mother couldn’t function. She taught kindergarten competently to generations of children. Before I was born, in her 40th year, she ran summer camps in the backyard to earn extra money in the Depression, and during World War II she was a Red Cross volunteer. Peggy had cultural aspirations. She wanted my father to read The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly aloud to her. Once, when I was home from school with a cold, she coached me
Peggy dances with her son, Tom, at his wedding in 1950.
with flash cards of artists, so that at age 10 I could tell a Monet from a Manet and I knew a Toulouse-Lautrec at 30 paces. I still have my mother’s collection of novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Peggy was particularly drawn to the story of Zelda Fitzgerald’s madness. In fact, it was the good moments that made us suspicious of the bad ones. Was she faking all that helplessness and hysteria? With Peggy, we all had a loose hold on the truth. At a high point in my childhood, I had not one but two bride dolls, each with an extensive trousseau—silk party dresses, beachwear, hats, sundresses, sweaters, belts, knitted Chanel suits and bridal gowns—all made by my mother. That sewing project must have been her most satisfying experience as the mother of a little girl so much more earnest and serious than she had been as a child. I was obedient, mostly, and a good student, a little subdued. I was probably like my grandmother, another earnest woman who gave birth, at 38 years old, to Peggy, a fierce little material girl who loved ribbons and bows and hated rules. Peggy spent her childhood fighting back at her mother,
Photo Courtesy of Selby Mcphee
10th grade at boarding school, Moravian Seminary for Girls in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Peggy earned final grades of 62 in rhetoric, 67 in literature, 56 in chemistry…and 95 in sewing. She would write home asking for grosgrain ribbon and crepe de chine and organdy and satin for her class sewing projects—no muslin for Peggy. All her life, Peggy loved clothes. When I was young, she found a dressmaker, Jeanie Miller, to whom she would bring beautiful fabrics, and together they would design party dresses for Peggy with swirling skirts and bodices bordered in contrasting piping or velvet ribbon. For my wedding, Peggy resurrected my grandmother’s wedding dress (Peggy herself eloped with my father, defiantly wearing a little black silk dress in 1920s fashion with a black ribbon trailing coquettishly down the back). We took Gramma’s dress to Jeanie to update it for me. The dress cut a Victorian profile, with a puffy bodice like a bird’s breast, muttonchop sleeves, tight banded cuffs, and a pleated hem that just grazed the floor. We added some alençon lace, and I must admit, the effect was stunning. When Peggy had exhausted all the possibilities for education that the Moravians could offer her, my grandmother sent her to Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia to learn how to use a sewing machine. She came to marriage, at 20, and motherhood with a lovely black Singer sewing machine with gold swirls and curlicues decorating its assembly. And with a wonderful sewing basket, woven straw covering the outside, clasped with a little hook fastener, upholstered under the lid with tufted pink silk, studded with straight pins and needles. To me, my mother’s sewing basket was a treasure chest full of riches. Peggy, as it happens, wasn’t much of a caretaker. She really wanted to be taken
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flouncing up the stairs delivering stentorian speeches about “freedom” until my grandmother delivered her into the structured environment of boarding school. I know my mother did not find in me a kindred spirit. I was neither romantically rebellious nor defiant. She loved my friends Gretchen and Baa, both girls who were willing to get into trouble. But mischief frightened me. Peggy once wondered aloud why they were my friends. “They’re so much fun,” she said. My mother told me that in her family, daughters disliked their mothers, that she hated her mother, and that since I hated her, my daughters would hate me. I did not hate my mother, of course—I loved her. But I did find
her hateful sometimes. And though I was mindful always of the probability, raising my children, that they might at times dislike me, I know that we love each other. What is it that we want from our mothers, and what do we have a right to expect? We need to be fed and clothed, kept warm in the winter, educated, taken to the doctor for our shots, comforted when life is too hard. My mother did all that, even, on occasion, the comforting. I remember her holding and soothing me in an old rocking chair. Peggy could be a fierce advocate, doing battle for her children if one of us was overlooked or misunderstood or needed protection. But she was not a calming presence. Except when she taught me to knit
and sew. Using teachers’ language from the 1940s, she said I had good tweezer dexterity. I do needlepoint now, and I have a yen, lately, to knit. I find the rhythm and precision of needlework to be soothing. Touching the texture, appraising the stitches, I think of Peggy leaning over me, watching my earnest attention to her instructions. My sewing projects give me pleasure, a feeling of competence. I suspect they did the same for her. n Selby McPhee (selby.mcphee@gmail. com) is the author of Love Crazy (Martin Sisters Publishing, 2013), a memoir about her parents’ relationship. She lives in Potomac. Send essay submissions for this column to maryclare. glover@bethesdamagazine.com.
Photo Courtesy of Selby Mcphee
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banter | suburbanology
by april witt
‘What Is Your Emergency?’ The home phone of my suburban childhood was big, clunky, had a rotary dial, and was bolted to a kitchen wall. Answering it allowed me to practice phone etiquette with all manner of adults: neighbors, my friends’ parents and my parents’ friends and co-workers. Most importantly, that home phone was an object of safety. I learned to dial 911 before I could recite the alphabet. I knew that if something bad happened, then I could dial those digits, police and firefighters would know I needed help, know where I lived, and rush to save me. I cherished that assumption for decades, long after everybody who knew me dialed my cellphone and most calls to my home landline were nuisances— robocalls, marketers, scammers. I generally picked up my home phone just to dust it. But I’ve paid, year after year, to keep my home landline for one reason: In case of emergency, I might need to dial 911. With the simple faith of a child, I felt sure that a dial tone would always be there—until it wasn’t. I’ve lost track of how often my home phone line has gone dead since late
2013, typically after rain. At least five times my phone service stayed out so many days that I’ve contacted AT&T, my carrier, to complain. Invariably, AT&T customer service representatives say they’ll ask Verizon, which controls the copper telephone wire in Montgomery County, to repair my line. Honestly, I’ve had more reliable service in Third World countries using a satellite phone. Eventually, I started asking why my phone service was less reliable at my Bethesda home, just a few miles from the White House, than when I was hiking the Hindu Kush. Consumer advocates in Maryland and elsewhere have accused Verizon and other carriers of intentionally failing to meet their legal obligation to adequately maintain the nation’s aging copper wire phone network in order to force customers to migrate to newer
technologies that are less regulated and potentially more expensive. A Verizon spokesman said the company is meeting its legal obligations to maintain the copper phone lines under its control, but has found newer, fiber-based options more reliable. “It is no secret to the investment community and the FCC that the companies operating the landline services want to abandon their copper-based services, which continue to provide generally reliable telephone service to millions of consumers,” according to a document that lawyers for the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, an independent state agency, presented to the Legislature last year. The document continues: “Lowell McAdam, the Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications, the parent of Verizon Maryland, has stated that
illustration by claudine hellmuth
There’s trouble with my landline
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his vision is ‘we are going into the copper plant areas, and every place we have FiOS, we are going to kill the copper…that is a pot of gold.’ ” As I write this column, the FCC is accepting public comments on proposed new rules that could impact phone service in my neighborhood and others nationwide. “Essentially, the FCC—like the Sheriff coming round in the middle of the night—wants to know if nefarious activities are going on under the cover of darkness; in this case, if incumbent carriers are simply letting their aging copper facilities deteriorate to the point that it becomes ‘necessary’ to replace the copper with fiber,” according to an analysis that lawyers from the Washington, D.C.-based firm of Sheppard Mullin published on a firm blog. Here’s why consumers should care how this shakes out: Not all types of phone services are equal when it comes to reaching 911 operators reliably in emergencies. Phone technologies and the products offered to consumers are changing so fast that they are outstripping the ability of state and federal regulators to police them and protect consumers. The wide range of home phone offerings, some of them bundled with entertainment services, is confusing enough that some consumers are unwittingly giving up traditionally wired copper landlines—which are regulated by the state—for unregulated services. I enjoy new technology as much as the next iPhone 6-toting Instagram fan. So I asked Montgomery County 911 Emergency Communications Center Deputy Director William Ferretti if it’s reasonable for me to cling to my old copper phone wires as a lifeline. His short answer: yes. Copper phone lines—if properly maintained—remain the best option for calling 911 because they have fewer points of potential failure, Ferretti says.
The copper network carries its own power, so phones wired to it typically keep working even if you lose electrical power. If you have a wired landline, emergency operators instantly know the address your distress call is coming from, even if you are unable to speak. The newer fiber-based landlines are not available on every street of every neighborhood—far from it. So they don’t offer the kind of universal phone services that have been an accepted right in this country since passage of the Communications Act of 1934. The fiber network, unlike copper, is not self-powering. So if your fiber-based landline loses electricity, you’ll wish you had bought the battery backup packs that Verizon offers. One advantage of a fiber-based phone service, where available, is that the fiber cables are new and thus not deteriorating. And since fiber phone landlines are regulated like traditional copper service in Maryland, you have the option of complaining to the Maryland Public Service Commission if service is poor or your bill suddenly quadruples. But not all fiber-based phone services are equal. Rich Young, a Verizon spokesman, says that in areas of Bethesda where fiber is available, “residents have a choice” between a traditional style landline—only fiber, not copper—“or VoIP, also known as FiOS Digital Voice.” The traditional style landline, whether copper or fiber, is subject to state regulation in Maryland. VoIP, which operates across high-speed internet connections, is not. Still, the overwhelming number of Verizon customers today purchase VoIP phone services, typically bundled with FiOS TV and/or FiOS. Advocates are most concerned about consumers in neighborhoods where the copper network is aging or has been damaged by weather, but Verizon is not
installing new fiber-based landlines. That leaves customers choosing from an array of options that might not support their medical alert devices or serve as an ideal interface with 911. In recent years, about 70 percent of calls to 911 in Montgomery County came from cellphones. But cellphones, which have the obvious advantage of portability, also have several points of potential failure in a disaster. Dangerous weather can knock out cell towers, and large numbers of callers dialing 911 simultaneously in an emergency can overwhelm the system. Currently, emergency operators only know the approximate location of a cellphone caller, Ferretti says. They might, for example, be able to see what block you are calling from, but not which house. If you call 911 from a high-rise apartment or office building, operators won’t know what floor you are on unless you are able to speak and tell them. If the Maryland Public Service Commission allows our copper phone network to deteriorate past the point of no return, and other technologies advance to the point where the 911 operator knows precisely where I am if I dial from my cellphone, then I might voluntarily give up my old copper landline—but not yet. I’m not a utilities regulator. I don’t want to be. Neither do I want to wade through FCC filings, as if I’m an $800-an-hour K Street telecommunications lawyer, to understand what’s going on with my home phone. I just want to pick up the phone and hear a dial tone. If I’m dialing 911, I want to know I will get through and that help will speed my way. That’s such a simple concept. Even a small child can understand. n April Witt (aprilwitt@hotmail.com) is a former Washington Post writer who lives in Bethesda.
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by steve roberts
Seeing Things Differently Not all real estate executives meditate. But Jeffrey Abramson has never been one to worry about what others are doing.
Abramson is not a man of small ambitions. He believes that buildings designed “in accord with natural law” can profoundly improve the mood and mindset of their tenants. And he says he wants his firm to “become a catalyst to transform the entire real estate industry.” The example he’s trying to set is clearly evident at company headquarters on Tower Oaks Boulevard in Rockville. The first thing you notice is the parking garage. It’s immaculate, the cleanest I’ve ever seen, with several charging stations for electric cars. Plugged into one is Abramson’s small white Chevy Volt.
On the top floor, sunshine pours in from every direction. “Light is free,” Abramson likes to say, and every office has a view of the surrounding landscape. “It’s like a tree house up here,” he says. Yes, a very well-appointed tree house, with indoor gardens, recycled building materials and a kitchen where a chef cooks vegetarian lunches. The Tower offices have won countless environmental awards, but Abramson says his real goal is to “go beyond green” and enhance the well-being of his employees, the “human capital” that comprises 85 percent of any company’s costs.
photo by Darren higgins
When Jeffrey Abramson
was about 10 years old, he attended Shepherd Elementary School in Northwest Washington. He could see, a few blocks away, looming over the trees, an apartment complex in Silver Spring called The Blairs that was built by his father, Albert “Sonny” Abramson. “That was my beginning of understanding real estate,” he recalls. He’s learned a lot since then. Today, Jeffrey, 62, and his two older brothers, Ronald and Gary, run the Tower Companies, the business created by their father, who died three years ago. And they are renovating the project the young boy could see from his classroom window, a 27-acre “city-within-a-city” that will include apartments and town houses, parks and gardens, stores and restaurants. Multi-Housing News calls The Blairs “the largest redevelopment effort in Montgomery County Downtown history.” But the significance of the project goes beyond size. It’s also about spirit. It’s about how people live, not just where they live.
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A Long & Foster Company
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banter | hometown Every worker—including the boss— wears a motion-sensing pedometer and as our conversation extends over several hours, his flashes a message. “It’s telling me ‘Let’s go,’ I’ve been sitting too much,” he says. In one room, folks can privately record their weight and blood pressure and earn prizes for achieving personal goals. Another space is set aside for meditation—Abramson says many employees like to spend time there before plunging into the region’s hellish traffic. After meditation, “they’re not so tired,” he says, so they “come home richer” and readier to enjoy their families. The Tower Companies get richer too. Wellness works as a business strategy, because healthier employees raise efficiency and lower insurance premiums. “If you do the right thing, you are rewarding the bottom line,” he says. The Abramson family story starts
in this area around 1920, when Abramson’s grandfather moved here from New York and opened a clothing store. His father, Sonny, earned a law degree, became a captain in the Army Air Force during World War II, and came home to a grim future. “He’s a lawyer, he has one client, and the client is dead,” says Abramson. Abramson’s mother, Ruth, had saved $3,000 from her salary as a government worker during the war, the sum total of the family’s assets. One day a friend told Sonny that he had just signed a contract for a new house and put down a $500 deposit. This was postwar Washington and living space was extremely scarce. The elder Abramson offered to buy the contract on the spot and give the man a $500 profit. He wrote out a check for $1,000 and wandered down the street “in a complete daze,” says his son. “What
has he done? He’s spent a third of their money, without telling my mother, on something he never saw.” But the young lawyer was learning fast. He re-sold the contract to another friend for $1,500, pocketing a $500 profit. As Jeffrey tells it, “My father would turn to me and say, ‘That’s when I decided I’m going into real estate.’ ” Good choice. The elder Abramson started building houses. Then he partnered with the Giant grocery chain and constructed shopping centers. Another partnership with the Lerner family, which now owns the Washington Nationals, produced downtown office buildings and suburban shopping malls including White Flint. Meanwhile young Jeffrey was bored with school. Often he’d skip class at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School and take a bus to Capitol Hill. “It was alive,” he says. After graduation he decided to skip
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college and got a job at WETA, the public television station. He was 20 when a friend gave him a small booklet that changed his life. It explained the benefits of transcendental meditation, or TM, a “natural mental technique,” as Abramson describes it, “that allows a person to gain access to the deepest, most quiet, most profound aspects of their life.” The year was 1972, a time of seeking and stirring, change and chaos. “I remember saying to myself, this is what education didn’t give me, this is what I need,” he recalls. A year after learning the technique he became a teacher. Then he joined the staff of the global TM movement headquartered in Switzerland and inspired by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. His worldwide travels included an assignment in Montreal, where he met his wife, Rona, a fellow TM devotee. But as the years passed, the pull of home grew stronger. His father had made all three of his sons equal partners in his real estate empire. When Jeffrey joined the family business in 1993, the transition was far from easy. “It took me awhile to find my place in it,” he says. He’s found his place now. His life combines many different strands that might seem contradictory. He’s a hardheaded business executive who meditates twice a day. A man of vast wealth who drives a small, three-yearold electric car. A child of devout Jews from Eastern Europe who donates heavily to the Maharishi University of Management in rural Iowa, a school based on principles publicized by an Indian mystic. But to Jeffrey Abramson, there are no contradictions, only connections. He’s always been able to look out windows and see things that others miss. n Steve Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University. Send ideas for future columns to sroberts@gwu.edu.
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Here for a Reason As a 58-year-old living with cystic fibrosis, John Sackett has overcome incredible odds. Now, the president of Shady Grove Medical Center wants to make his hospital world class. He may be the right guy to pull it off. By Cindy Rich Photos by michael ventura
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Sackett, who is president of Shady Grove, goes to respiratory therapy while he’s at work, part of his treatment for cystic fibrosis. During breaks, he and his therapist, John Herbert, often chat about baseball or football.
John Sackett is running late. He’s supposed to be downstairs in 20 minutes to talk to a room full of new employees. But before he can do that, before he can give a speech about the Adventist HealthCare mission, he has to sit in a treatment room in the cardiopulmonary department and make himself cough. He walks up to respiratory therapy on the second floor of Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville almost every weekday afternoon. He doesn’t have a choice. He was born with cystic fibrosis (CF)—if he doesn’t clear his airways, it will be difficult for him to breathe. Sackett, who moved to Montgomery County from Louisville, Colorado, two years ago, is president of Shady Grove, and at times also a patient. His assistant tries to schedule his calendar around therapy, which he often fits in between
meetings. He sits down on a hospital bed, and his respiratory therapist, John Herbert, listens to his lungs. Then they start the breathing treatments. At 58, Sackett is older than most people who have CF. Even Herbert was surprised by his age—50 years ago, children diagnosed with the disease often died before they started elementary school. Now the median predicted age of survival is in the early 40s. Sackett’s younger sister Audrey, who also had CF, died when she was 34. Friends have told Sackett they can’t believe he’s still alive. When he arrives for therapy, Sackett puts the tip of his finger into a pulse oximeter to measure his blood oxygen level. Today’s reading is 98 percent. “That’s a good sign,” he says. When his lungs are infected, it can drop to 78 per-
cent, dangerously low, and he has to go on IV antibiotics and supplemental oxygen. During his last few years in Colorado, where the elevation is higher than Maryland, he had to wear oxygen when he slept. By now, he’s used to this routine. Nebulizers. Inhaled medications. Someone tapping on his back with a high-speed handheld device to loosen the secretions in his lungs. The treatment leaves his throat dry, which can make it harder for him to talk, but he won’t miss this afternoon’s orientation. That’s when he gets to tell new employees, in a 90-minute speech that resembles a sermon, that he believes in living life with meaning and purpose, and using your talents to help others. That’s when he talks about the importance of making patients feel valued by sitting
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down next to them and asking about their lives, and tells members of his staff that if they aren’t comfortable doing those things, they shouldn’t be there. For Sackett, it’s simple: He wants to help make Shady Grove a first-rate hospital, and he doesn’t have time to waste.
A high school choir director took Sackett aside one day when he was 14 and told him she’d seen his report card and that it wasn’t acceptable. “I’m sorry you have CF, but the world really doesn’t care,” the woman told him. “I think you’re capable of getting A’s—so buck up.” It was the first time anyone had spoken to him that way. Teachers had never seemed too concerned about his schoolwork because they didn’t expect him to live very long. “I went home, and the more I thought about that, the more excited I got,” Sackett says. “She had greater expectations for my life than I did.” Cystic fibrosis, which currently affects about 30,000 people in the United States, is a life-threatening genetic disease characterized by a buildup of thick mucus and subsequent chronic infection that severely damages the lungs and digestive system. So much progress has been made in treating CF that more adults than children are currently living with the disease. When Sackett was younger, he suffered from cramping and indigestion. So I have a stomachache, he started telling himself after the conversation with the choir director. No excuse. His grades went up that year, and he decided he wouldn’t let CF hold him back. He went on to college and graduate school, then followed his father, Ron, into hospital administration. Before coming to Shady Grove in April 2013, Sackett spent 24 years as president and CEO of Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville, Colorado, just outside of Boulder. Under his leadership, the hospital’s physician and patient satisfaction scores were among the highest in the country. Terry Forde, president and CEO of Adventist HealthCare, the Gaithersburg-
Sackett goes for a run every morning, something he’s been doing since 1976. When he runs, he coughs hard, which helps clear his lungs. “I literally run for my life,” he says. based non-profit organization that operates Shady Grove, had worked with Sackett in Colorado. He called Sackett in early 2013 and asked him to come visit Shady Grove (recently renamed Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center), an acutecare facility with 305 licensed beds. “He said, ‘John, I want you to come to Maryland because we have a world-class community, but the hospital isn’t living up to its potential,’ ” Sackett says. The hospital had struggled with its reputation—Shady Grove was in danger of losing its accreditation in 1999—but made significant improvements. “The hospital was doing fine, but we didn’t want to just be average, the middle of the pack,” says Forde, who joined Adventist HealthCare in 2011. “John’s idea is that we set the bar very high.” Sackett and his wife, Sue, liked the idea
of being near the nation’s capital, and their children, Greg, now 24, and Rena, now 21, were already in college. Sackett had studied political science and spent six years on the Louisville City Council; besides his father, his heroes are former U.S. presidents. He knew he would have to leave Colorado eventually because it was getting harder for him to breathe— he could no longer ski without oxygen. “If you live in Colorado and you can’t go to the mountains, you might as well live in Kansas,” he says. Sackett’s team at Avista shipped his belongings to Shady Grove before he arrived. His new assistant, Lisa Eden, was unpacking boxes when she found a book about CF. She didn’t know much about the disease, so she sat on the floor of Sackett’s office and read every page. She couldn’t believe how far he’d come
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Sackett and his wife, Sue, have two children: Greg, 24, and Rena, 21. As a father, he says, he’s tried to show his kids that life has a lot of joy to offer, no matter what you’re dealing with.
while facing such a serious illness. “Does CF ever affect your job performance?” she later asked him. “It never has,” he said. When Sackett speaks, he sometimes has to cough or clear his throat. Once in a while his doctor, Michael Boyle, the director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, has to tell him to slow down and take time to make his health a priority. In addition to his role at Shady Grove, he is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Adventist HealthCare, which is the largest health care system in Montgomery County. He serves on several boards, including The Universi-
ties at Shady Grove, and plays the cello at his church, Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist in Silver Spring. Sackett, who has diabetes because of the CF, goes for a 1-mile run in his Olney neighborhood every morning at 4:30 to help clear his lungs. He also does a breathing treatment at home before leaving for the office. Last fall, when he caught a bug and needed to go on intravenous medication, he came to work with an IV port in his arm. “We know that’s just part of his life,” says Dr. Kevin Smothers, Shady Grove’s vice president and chief medical officer. “He’s still in his suit with his bow tie, and we go on with business.”
Sacket t’s mother, Eunice,
had a feeling something was wrong with her newborn son when he couldn’t digest breast milk. A healthy 8 pounds when he came home from the hospital in Napa Valley, California, he quickly began losing weight. A doctor suggested that Eunice switch to formula, but that made her baby worse. She decided to try powdered milk, which didn’t have fat, and for a while, that was the only thing he could tolerate. When Sackett was a toddler, Eunice gave him mostly rice, bananas and skim milk while doctors tried to figure out why he couldn’t digest fat. As time went on, Eunice started doing research on her own—she saw nothing
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about CF in the medical journals. “I found it in Dr. Spock’s book,” she says. “It was called pancreatic fibrosis at the time, and when he described the symptoms, I said, ‘My goodness, that’s John.’ ” A doctor gave Sackett a “sweat test,” the gold standard for diagnosing CF, in order to measure the amount of chloride in his sweat. He briefly placed John’s hand in a plastic bag, then asked him to put it on a charcoal plate to see if it left a residue. (Even today, Sackett’s body produces salt when he sweats a lot—after he skis, he can brush the salt off of his pants.) When the doctor saw the excess salt, he told Eunice she’d need to take her son to a hospital in Palo Alto to confirm the diagnosis. He was 6 years old. Although neither of Sackett’s parents has CF, both carry a CF gene mutation, which means that each of their four children had a 1 in 4 chance of having the disease. John’s sister Audrey had the same symptoms he had, and their parents soon learned that she, too, had the illness. His brother, Wally, and sister Ronda did not. At the time, doctors told Eunice that their daughter, who was an infant, would likely die by the age of 6, and their son might live to be 15.
L i s a E d e n i s supposed to help ensure that Sackett gets to his appointments on time. But first she has to find him. He might be chatting with employees in the cafeteria, or pointing to a burned-out lightbulb in a hospital hallway. He could be upstairs on rounds, visiting patients. “He walks out that door, he’s gone,” says Eden, who puts candy bars in Sackett’s office drawer in case his blood sugar gets low. “My mantra is: ‘I don’t know where he is.’ ” On Sackett’s first day at Shady Grove, Eden had arranged for him to meet with some of the hospital’s physicians, but he said he wanted to talk to the housekeepers. He often reminds his staff that every job in a hospital matters. Nobody is just
Sackett started learning the cello when he was 12. ”Some things I couldn’t do, like I couldn’t play the trumpet, so I played a cello.”
a food service worker or just a phlebotomist. At orientation, he tells employees that it takes five seconds for new patients to decide if they think Shady Grove is a good hospital, and they base that decision on cleanliness. Before she met Sackett, Eden didn’t know the name of the housekeeper who cleans the executive offices at Shady Grove. Now she talks to the woman, Connie, every day. Get to know everybody, Sackett’s father, a former hospital CEO, used to
say. Never walk past a housekeeper— stop and say thank you. When he was in high school, Sackett washed dishes in the cafeteria at the hospital his father ran and mopped floors in the obstetrics unit. He also worked as a transporter, pushing patients from their rooms to radiology, and a nurse’s aide, helping with direct care. “If you are bedridden and you need the bedpan, the orderly that brings you the bedpan and treats you with dignity is God’s gift,”
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Sackett says. “I realized how big of an impact you can have on people.” As a leader, Sackett says, it’s his responsibility to create a culture in which patients and employees both feel cared for. “When I first got here—and it’s typical for big hospitals—I watched people walk through the halls and not even look at each other,” he says. At Avista, strangers said hello, so he wasn’t used to the way everybody kept to themselves. Outside the hospital, he noticed how quick drivers were to honk their horns at one another. He asked people at work what was going on. “This is just the way we treat each other,” someone said. “Welcome to the East Coast.” “I think we can change that,” Sackett said. He instituted a “5-and-10” rule. Whenever employees come within 10 feet of somebody else—in the parking lot, a hallway, anywhere on the Shady Grove campus—they have to make eye contact with that person. If they’re 5 feet away, they’re supposed to offer a greeting, a simple “hello” or “good morning.” “It’s hard to put on paper: ‘Here’s how to be nice,’ but that’s basically what it is. Smile when you pass someone in the hall; if you see trash, pick it up,” says Sackett’s former assistant, Tammy Smith, who worked with him at Avista for 22 years. “His goal is to inspire you to care.” When he first came to Shady Grove, Sackett says, some people thought he was Pollyannaish, that his aspirations were unrealistic. “One thing we’re trying to do is get stricter about who we hire,” he says. “I’m trying to make the culture galvanizing—you either love working here or you hate it.” Early on at a meeting with hospital leaders, Sackett pointed to a purple line on a graph—indicating world-class results in quality, safety, employee and patient satisfaction and other performance areas—and told them that they would get there. “They were both excited and terrified,” Sackett says. “You have to be willing to beat the odds. That’s where the CF comes in—I’m not intimidated by the odds.”
Sackett, shown here with patient access representative Elida Pineda, likes to walk around the hospital and talk to employees.
Eunice told her son early in his life that everybody has something challenging they have to deal with: He had cystic fibrosis; his brother, Wally, had to wear eyeglasses. She didn’t talk to John much about his disease—she didn’t want him to feel like he had any limitations. “We just lived a day at a time and made the most of it,” says Eunice, who now lives in Chico, California. “We traveled, we had pets, we did everything.” The family was vegetarian, common among Seventh-day Adventists, and Eunice had to find ways to keep her son from losing weight. Eating was difficult for him—even with the pancreatic enzymes he took, his body had trouble assimilating fats and vitamins. “She’d make homemade bread and fill both sides of the bread with peanut butter, and I would have peanut butter raisin sandwiches,” Sackett says. He still eats those today. “She’d make homemade grape jelly, anything to get calories in my body.” Eunice worked part time as a music teacher at her son’s school, in part because she wanted to get to know his teachers and friends. Privately, she worried about John and Audrey. “I can remember a couple of times when their dad and I just laid on the bed and cried,” Eunice says. “But we couldn’t give in to that.” Music became a big part of Sack-
ett’s life. His family observed the Sabbath every Friday evening, praying and singing together while Eunice played the piano, going through the hymnal page by page. As a child, Sackett didn’t have the respiratory problems he has now—he sang so much that he learned to sight read, and once performed a solo at church. “I remember wanting to be a conductor for the orchestra,” he says. “To this day I think, ‘Oh man, if I didn’t do this, I’d really enjoy that.’ ” One day when Sackett was in fifth or sixth grade, he left his classroom to go to the bathroom, something he had to do more often than the other kids, and his teacher told his classmates that he had CF, and that people who had the disease died by the time they were 12 years old. That day at recess, a young girl walked up to Sackett and told him what the teacher said. “Are you gonna die on your 12th birthday?” she asked. He doesn’t remember if he answered her. “I just remember that after school, ironically, I ran home. I ran down Linden Avenue in Glendale, and then up a very steep hill, Corwin Avenue. And then into our house,” he says. “And mom was in the kitchen and I said, ‘Mom, you gotta tell me the truth—I want to know.’ ” He can still picture the linoleum on the kitchen floor as he waited for her to answer. “No, you’re not gonna die on
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your 12th birthday—you’re doing better than average,” he remembers his mother saying. “You have a very serious illness, so I don’t know how long you’re gonna live, but there’s one thing I want you to know for sure, and that is that God has a special purpose for you.”
Every leadership meeting
at Shady Grove starts with a reflection, prayer or devotion. It’s a faith-based hospital: The gift shop closes early on Fridays in honor of the seventh-day Sabbath. Sackett tells stories from the Bible in orientation. When a nurse recently introduced him to a young father who was dying of cancer, Sackett stood by the man’s hospital bed and asked if it would be OK to pray with him and his family. The man passed away soon after. “Health care is big business, but it’s an intimate business,” Sackett says. “We’re there for the start of life and we’re there for the end of life. And it’s not a job for any of us—it’s a calling.” One new employee at Avista quit after orientation, telling Sackett, “You’re way too religious.” A few months ago, when it was Sackett’s turn to open a leadership meeting, he showed colleagues a picture of his sister Audrey. He thought he would be able to talk about her, but he got choked up. The disease was tougher on Audrey than it has been on him—she was sicker and spent more time in the hospital. “She called me late at night one time and said, ‘John, I just want to tell you that if you ever have to go on a ventilator, it’s not horrible—it’s OK,’ ” Sackett says. His sister married and adopted a son, and was the first female elder in her church. Sackett stayed in close touch with her. He went to see her in Seattle in the spring of 1996, when she was nearing the end of her life. A lung transplant had been her only chance of survival, but now her relatives, who’d gathered at the hospital, had just found out that she was too
sick to receive one. Doctors were keeping her comfortable. The family had spoken with Audrey about what would happen when this time came. “We believe in heaven, and she strongly believed in heaven, and so we decided we needed to go ahead and let her die,” Sackett says. “The biggest issue at the time was: Do we take her off the morphine, wake her up so she can be conscious and tell her that’s what we’re gonna do—or do we just let her die? My dad said, ‘Let’s just let her die—don’t wake her up,’ but her husband said, ‘No, I have to tell her.’ ” Sackett’s brother, Wally, brought his guitar into Audrey’s hospital room and the family sang hymns to her—she lifted her hands to show them she was listening. The next day, they said goodbye. Sackett stood at the head of the bed. The family decided that he, as the oldest brother, should give the nurse permission to start the morphine again and let his sister go. “That’s a very sacred process,” says Sackett, who recently attended the wedding of Audrey’s son. “Happens in our hospital every day.”
used to, he says, but he always got the same answer. Ten years. “I’ve lived my whole life having 10 years,” Sackett says, “but it creates a vibrancy in life that most people don’t have.” Sackett has heard that he’s one of the oldest living survivors of CF but he’s never asked his doctors if that’s true. (It isn’t.) “What happens if they say, ‘Yeah, you’re it, man. You’re the oldest guy,’ ” he says. “It’s like, OK, I’m next in line.” New therapies are aggressively treating mucus buildup and the bacteria that cause infections, and some are targeting the specific protein that causes certain forms of CF, allowing a subset of patients to live longer, more manageable lives. One potential drug therapy, now being reviewed by the FDA, has demonstrated an improvement in lung function among patients with Sackett’s genetic mutation, Delta F508. The most common mutation associated with CF, Delta F508 is known to cause a severe version of the disease. “Our real hope is as we get new therapies, we start them at a younger age and that prevents this progressive scarring and decline in people’s lung function,”
“one thing we’re trying to do is get stricter about who we hire,” sackett says. “I’m trying to make the culture galvanizing —you either love working here or you hate it.” After Audrey died, Eunice worried more about her son. “I think that was the first time that he was really face-toface with his own mortality. To watch her deal with the dying process was very hard on him,” Eunice says. “I know he was seeing himself.”
Sacket t doesn’t ask his doctors how long they think he has left. He
says Michael Boyle, Sackett’s doctor. Boyle, who helped start the adult program at Johns Hopkins in 1999, has a handful of patients who are older than Sackett. But he rarely sees a person with Delta F508 mutations make it to 58. “It turns out the severity of lung disease is about half determined by genes and another half by how good patients are with their medicines, how dedicated they are
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to their routine,” he says. “We always ask, ‘How often do you miss your medicines?’ as a way to assess, because it’s a very complicated regimen—it takes many patients two to three hours a day. …John’s one of the few patients who says with complete honesty: ‘I never miss them.’ ” He never misses a morning run, either. Sackett started running with a friend when he was a freshman in college in 1976. He’d played flag football and other sports, and his doctor said exercise was good for him as long as he didn’t allow himself to lose weight. When he ran, he noticed how hard he coughed and how much better that made him feel later, so he kept doing it. “I used to be able to run without stopping—I can’t do that anymore,” he says. He runs in rain and freezing temperatures. “I tell myself it’s not a
habit unless I do it every day.” Sackett doesn’t listen to music when he runs—he says the earphones would pop out of his ears when he coughs. Instead, he prays, and thinks. In January, he found himself thinking about the holiday party for Shady Grove staff, and how there should have been festive decorations in the room so the evening felt more special for employees. “It dawned on me: That wasn’t world-class,” Sackett says. “I get that on my run.”
A s a t e e n ag e r, Sackett felt like he had a secret life at home, all these enzymes and breathing treatments he couldn’t survive without. He was tired and run-down. He put all the energy he had into classes, the choir and his role as student body president. He coughed
more as he got older. His mother saw him becoming angry and resentful, as if all of a sudden he was accepting his illness, realizing just how difficult his life was. “By the time I got home, I didn’t have anything else to give,” Sackett says. “I took it out on my family.” He decided he wasn’t going to date— his life was too complicated—but when he got to Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist college in Washington state, he fell for someone. One day, his girlfriend asked what would happen if they got married and started a family. Would their kids have CF? “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll find out.” Sackett didn’t have a doctor who handled adult cases of CF so he went to his pediatrician, who told him that 98 percent of men with CF can’t have children.
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“I’m sorry we never talked to you about this,” the doctor said. Nowadays, a growing number of men with CF are fathering children through enhanced in vitro fertilization techniques, but that wasn’t an option then. “That was pretty hard for me to take,” Sackett says. “It made me think: OK, what is my purpose in life again? There’s no extension of my life. This is it.” He and his girlfriend eventually broke up, and he found himself wondering when he should tell a woman he dates that he can’t have his own children. “What are the ethics around that? Do you wait till they’re in love with you?” Sackett says. He realized it wasn’t fair to keep it a secret, just like it wasn’t fair to hide anything about his illness. “I ultimately decided I’m gonna make it com-
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mon knowledge.” He had just moved to Boulder, Colorado, after getting a master’s degree in hospital administration from Loma Linda University in California, when he met his future wife, Sue, on a blind date. She thought he was smart and handsome, always up for doing something fun, like skiing and golfing. He wasn’t the first person she’d met with CF—she had a friend in college who had the disease and became a pediatrician. “I had been in nursing school, so I knew what there was to know about it at the time,” says Sue. “Thirty-ish was the life expectancy. When I met him, he was 26.” They’d been dating for eight months when Sackett decided to write a letter to Sue’s father. In it, Sackett said he was in love with Sue, and he talked about his
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In Sacket t’s kitchen, there’s a drawer filled with supplies for IV antibiotics, including tiny bottles of sterile water that he mixes with a powered medicine. He keeps his CF medications—he takes about 10 pills a day—in a separate cabinet. “It’s really gonna piss me off if I die of cancer,” he often says. When he’s sick and needs to go on an IV, he typically hires a home-care nurse to change the dressing; he doesn’t want Sue to be his caregiver. She watches out for him, though, reminding him that he has to eat something even when he doesn’t
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want to, giving him split pea soup when he’s ill. She’ll tell him if his breathing sounds labored while he’s sleeping, or if she thinks he needs to go to the doctor, something he tries to avoid. “There’s times of worry, like when he has an exacerbation and he’s really ill, but for the most part I think probably it’s a compartmentalization,” Sue says. “I wouldn’t be able to deal with it if I worried about it all the time.” Sackett and his wife, who’ve been married for 30 years, always wanted children and decided to use a sperm bank—Sackett laughs when people say his son or daughter look just like him. Before he had kids, he thought that not being a biological father might become a barrier to love, he says, but he was wrong: “I couldn’t love my children more—it’s not possible.”
The kids found out at an early age that their dad was sick because they heard him coughing all the time. When Sackett had to be hospitalized for an infection four months after his sister died, his children, then 3 and 6, came to visit him. They’ve always known he might not live as long as other dads, Sue says. “I can remember when Greg was in first grade, I thought to myself, I’d really love it if I could be there for his college graduation. He’s not helping me out— he’s in his sixth year of college,” Sackett says with a laugh. When the children were in elementary school, one of Sackett’s colleagues at Avista nominated him to carry the 2002 Winter Olympics torch as it passed through Boulder on its way to Salt Lake City—he still keeps the torch in his
office—and the kids brought their classmates to cheer him on. “I might as well have been a superhero that day,” Sackett says. “They didn’t really know what I did, but that’s the day I arrived in the eyes of my kids, for sure.” Sackett knows from growing up with CF that it affects a whole family. His parents divorced when he was in his late 20s. “A very high percentage of parents who have children that they think are terminal divorce,” he says, “because if they share their biggest fears, it causes their spouse pain.” His own children have witnessed some scary moments, times when he was struggling to breathe or so frail that he could barely make it up the stairs. He used to visit children who have CF and tell them what his mom told him—that everybody has something, and just because they’re
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sick doesn’t mean they shouldn’t work hard. “You can still make a difference,” he would tell the children he met. “Find your niche. Live beyond this.” Eventually, Sackett had to stop his visits because of new recommendations that CF patients shouldn’t come in close contact with one another. One might make the other sicker. Since then, he’s spoken to parents about coping and not losing hope. “They can live a great life,” he’ll say about their children. “Find the best doctor and do whatever the doctor says.”
Sackett asks the same question whenever he talks to new staff: “Do you know what people’s biggest concern is when they come to the hospital?” The wait time, some say. “That we’re gonna treat them like a number, that we’re not
pting Acce ients Pat New end Week ing & nts Also n e v E intme Appo vailable A
gonna recognize the individuality.” He’s spent enough time in hospitals as a patient to know that small gestures make a difference. He remembers the nurses who seemed to understand that every patient with CF is different, the ones who asked him questions: What time do you go to bed? Do you want extra blankets? When do you like to shower? There are certain things Sackett can’t yet change about patient care, but wishes he could. He doesn’t like how some people have to get their blood drawn at 4 a.m. so that the results are back before early-morning rounds. He can’t stand the fact that a third of the patients at Shady Grove have to share rooms—if there’s ever a time you want privacy, it’s when you’re sick, he says—but he needs to raise $120 million for renovations and
N OW
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improvements that would include private rooms for everybody. He also wants the hospital to have more private areas for families that are grieving or need to make difficult decisions, like his family did with his sister. He tells staff that some patients will get angry, especially when they’re in the emergency room, and it’s in that moment that the hospital’s mission—“We demonstrate God’s care by improving the health of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing”—comes to life. That’s when patients really need you, Sackett says. Recognize something unique about them. Ask them what name they like to go by. Put a hand on their shoulder. “Jesus almost always touched the people he healed,” he says in orientation.
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here for a reason
In his two years at Shady Grove, Sackett has seen an improvement in employee morale. “When you walk through those doors, since John has been here, it’s just a different feeling,” says John Herbert, Sackett’s respiratory therapist, who’s worked at Shady Grove since 1993. When Sackett’s daughter, Rena, got sick over Thanksgiving weekend this past fall and he brought her to Shady Grove, he met a traveling nurse named Holly. Traveling nurses move from hospital to hospital for temporary positions, and sometimes make more money than full-time employees. “I just want you to know I’ve decided not to travel anymore,” she told Sackett. “I want to be here.” Patient satisfaction is not easy to measure, but according to data provided by the hospital, since Sackett started in the spring of 2013, emergency department
(ED) patients have been more satisfied with their experience at Shady Grove. Although scores fluctuate monthly, in November 2014, the most recent month for which data was available, 91 percent of patients surveyed said they would be likely to recommend the ED. In March 2013, the month before Sackett started, that figure was 61 percent. For the past two years, Shady Grove has been named a “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures”—in the areas of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care—by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the country. Last November, the hospital received a silver award from the Maryland Performance Excellence Awards program, which recognizes organizations with role model per-
formance. “You usually start with a certificate, and next year go to bronze, but we won the silver the first time,” Sackett says. His goal is to get platinum this year, which would make Shady Grove eligible to apply for the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. When he heard about getting the silver award, Sackett told his staff that they needed to celebrate as a hospital. It’s important to make a big deal out of good things that happen, he says. Sackett’s daughter, Rena, often teases him when their family goes out to eat—no matter what restaurant they’re in, he always makes sure they raise their glasses and somebody gives a toast. n Senior editor Cindy Rich can be reached at cindy.rich@bethesdamagazine.com.
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Top Teens Meet the winners
of our sixth annual Extraordinary Teen Awards—13 of the county’s best and
brightest students, chosen from 135
nominees. From a
photographer who
captures the essence of kids with disabilities to a teen who is helping other Latino students succeed in high school, these students shine both in and out of the classroom. By Kathleen SEILER Neary and Brooke Lea Foster Photography by Michael Ventura 106 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Top Teens Meet the winners
of our sixth annual Extraordinary Teen Awards—13 of the county’s best and
brightest students, chosen from 135
nominees. From a
photographer who
captures the essence of kids with disabilities to a teen who is helping other Latino students succeed in high school, these students shine both in and out of the classroom. By Kathleen SEILER Neary and Brooke Lea Foster
CLICK HERE PHOTOS
VIEW a selection of more Top Teen photos.
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ns Patrick Cha
Senior, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School It took a partial loss of vision for Patrick Cha to see the path to success. Patrick was in middle school when emergency surgery for bleeding in his brain left him with impaired peripheral vision. His doctors said he could no longer play football or soccer. “All I wanted to do was prove the doctors wrong,” he says. He took up tennis—the one sport he was cleared to play— and took out his frustration over his limited vision on the court. “Tennis became a crutch,” he says. “It allowed me to forget that I wasn’t allowed to play other sports. But I came to really enjoy it.” A member of the varsity tennis team since freshman year, the Chevy Chase teen has been ranked as high as No. 16 among Maryland junior players and has been a champion or finalist in 10 U.S. Tennis Association junior tournaments. In 2014, he was named a finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman High School award, which honors seniors who are exceptional scholar-athletes.
After the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013, Cha raised $7,500 by collecting pledges for every hour he practiced or played with the tennis team. He delivered the money to One Fund Boston, which distributed donations to bombing victims. His health scare in middle school also led him to journalism. “I felt so categorized after my surgery—it made me interested in everyone else’s personal story,” says Patrick, 18, who has a 4.0 GPA. He joined the staff of The Tattler, B-CC’s newspaper, and is now co-editor-in-chief. His writing also has been published in The Baltimore Sun and on CNN.com, and in 2014 he won a national journalism award in the Scholastic Art and Writing awards competition. “My favorite part is meeting the people you’re writing about, hearing their amazing stories, listening to their experiences,” he says. “Once you understand the person, writing the story is the easy part.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 107
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Eli Weissler
Senior, The Field School
During Eli Weissler’s sophomore year,
he noticed that a younger teammate on the basketball team lacked self-confidence on the court. Eli, who lives in Chevy Chase and was team captain that year, began staying after practice to help the boy. Two years later, Eli proudly notes that the boy is now one of the team’s top players. “People have helped me along, so I try to return the favor whenever I can,” says Eli, 18, who is captain of the cross-country and basketball teams this school year. Eli, who has a 4.21 GPA (on a 4.3 scale) and scored a perfect 800 on the math SAT, brings that same spirit to everything he does. At his school’s Peer Tutoring Center, which he runs, Eli helps classmates with everything from trigonometry to writing a thesis. “It’s a little weird tutoring people your age at first,” he
says. “But I make jokes and let them know I’m teaching in a different way.” Jordi Rozenman, a college counselor at The Field School, says Eli’s teachers rely on him as a “second teacher in the classroom.” “He packs a double punch: He excels at everything he does, but he’s genuinely kind and puts others at ease,” she says. Eli says some of his classmates think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. He felt that way himself before finding that his English papers improved dramatically after he started asking someone to read them. He was even more reluctant to ask his basketball coach for help when he first began playing, but soon realized he’d never get better without it. “I’m not going to be a Division I [college] athlete, but I work hard and I’m a quiet person—I like to lead by example,” Eli says.
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Samira Okudo
Senior, Thomas S. Wootton High School
Samira Okudo was 10 when she and her family immigrated to the Washington, D.C., area from Nigeria. As she navigated a new culture and Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac, she recalled the advice of relatives in Nigeria: The best inheritance a parent can give to their child isn’t money—it’s a great education. Samira, who lives in Gaithersburg, threw herself into her studies. “It was much easier to transition academically than socially,” says the 17-year-old senior, who has completed 14 honors courses and nine Advanced Placement classes. Last year, Samira won the Wootton Hall of Fame Award for the Class of 2015, which was given in recognition of her creative talents and leadership roles, including 500 hours of community service in the surgical ward at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville—more than six times the 75 hours required by the state to graduate. “Samira has demonstrated leadership beyond what many others have even considered,” says Jay Bass, a school counselor at Wootton. “She’s mature beyond her years.” The self-described “nerd” has an inquisitive nature that goes beyond academics. After seeing Brandon Stanton’s famous blog, Humans of New York, Samira started a Humans of Wootton blog last year. She posts pictures of classmates with a quote about who they are. Students have said it’s helped bring them together. “People are reaching out across social groups and getting to know kids they never talked to before,” she says. Samira’s artistic nature has also emerged in studio art, where she uses acrylic paints to capture people’s faces and hands. “I love to get the coloring of a person down on paper,” says Samira, who hopes to continue exploring art in college and to pursue a career in architecture or industrial design. “Some people might paint a brown face brown, but after you look at the way a light hits it, you’ll see red, blue, purple. I like capturing those subtleties.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 109
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Sarah Bair
Senior, Bulllis School
Sarah Bair has been playing soccer since she was in kindergarten. So when she was challenged to come up with an idea to change her community at an international youth leadership summit in 2012, she pictured the muddy soccer cleats piled in her parents’ Bethesda garage. Sarah decided to put the shoes to use and donate them to at-risk kids who dreamed of playing soccer, but couldn’t afford the proper footwear. “I’d use my cleats for one season—they could easily be reused,” she says. Sarah emailed her idea to DC SCORES, a nonprofit that organizes after-school sports programs for 1,500 low-income students in the District, and two days later they became partners. She held her first drive to collect used cleats soon after, and has since donated more than 200 pairs to at-risk kids. She also founded a nonprofit, Cleats for Peace, so she can raise money to support her mission. “Moms literally hand me their cleats—they’re so happy to get rid of them,” says Sarah, 18. Last year she brought used cleats to a DC SCORES after-school soccer practice at Drew Elementary School in Northeast Washington so kids could choose their own. Some were wearing sneakers with holes, and Sarah got the feeling that some had never shopped for shoes. “One girl started to hug me—she couldn’t stop thanking me,” Sarah says. “Sarah has heart,” says Charly Ryan, director of youth programs at Potomac United Methodist Church, where Sarah volunteers with other kids in a youth group. “She has the unique quality of making everyone feel good—whether they are giving or receiving those cleats.” Sarah, who has an A average and is taking five Advanced Placement classes this school year, says she’s planning to expand her nonprofit work to Zambia, where another nonprofit soccer group has contacted her for donations. “They don’t have the proper equipment there,” she says. “They need my help.”
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Bemnet Zewdie
Senior, Montgomery Blair High School Bemnet Zewdie knows the value of a paycheck. When his parents couldn’t afford an SAT prep class or even the $52 testing fee, Bemnet got a job as a tutor with Montgomery County Recreation during his sophomore and junior years to help pay expenses. Coupled with his earnings as a waiter at a nursing home senior year, he has saved $6,000, which he plans to use for college in the fall. “There were a lot of long nights,” Bemnet, 18, says. “But I wanted to be independent.” Bemnet and his parents immigrated to Silver Spring from Ethiopia when he was 7. He struggled at Highland View Elementary School, where he had to repeat first grade. “The only two words I knew were yes and no,” he says. He had trouble focusing in the classroom and was the target of bullies. His English had improved by sixth grade at Eastern Middle School, and he became determined to improve his grades as well. “I stayed after school nearly every day and got extra help
from my teachers,” he says. Bemnet’s determination paid off—he was moved into seventh grade two months after school began. “My parents brought me to this country in order to succeed—it’s a lot of pressure,” he says. Bemnet plans to be the first in his family to attend college, where he wants to major in international business and political science. He was recently named a Horatio Alger National Scholar for his hard work and determination, winning a $22,000 scholarship and the opportunity to apply to one of the program’s partner colleges and universities. “I have seen the hard work this young man puts forth and I am in awe of his many accomplishments,” says Jose Medrano, an academic coach who works with Bemnet in the Achieving Collegiate Excellence & Success program, a partnership among Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College and The Universities at Shady Grove. “High school is just the beginning for him.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 111
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Peter Millspaugh
Senior, Landon School
Peter Millspaugh looks forward to chatting with middle schoolers as a prefect, one of 14 student leaders chosen by peers and faculty at the boys’ school to mentor younger kids about leadership and teamwork. “They look up to the seniors—I remember looking up to them when I was in middle school,” says Peter, an A student who has taken nine honors and five Advanced Placement classes. The 18-year-old earned cum laude honors this year for his academic work, and also played center on the football team last fall. He worked out often in the weight room, watched game film after school, and brought a positive attitude to practice. “When the seniors are working hard and staying focused, the younger guys take note of that,” he says. Players on the school’s baseball team also noted his unwavering work ethic and chose the Bethesda teen to receive the Hard Hat Award in 10th grade. Associate Headmaster John Botti admires Peter for his “combination of talent, creativity, well-roundedness, passion and compassion,” and for his sense of duty to his peers. “Some high achievers make accomplishment their highest good and ignore the humanity and generosity embedded in all acts of education. Not Peter—he was one of the best classmates that I have seen in 17 years of teaching,” Botti says. Peter partially credits his leadership abilities for helping him complete an 81-mile hiking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in 2013. “It put things in perspective,” he says. “It was so mentally and physically taxing that you’re thinking: If I can do this, I can conquer anything.” Peter paints to relax and plans to continue in college. “It can be really soothing to slow down,” says Peter, who painted the self-portrait below. “Often times, you get lost in this rhythm and you focus on the piece and get in the zone.”
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celine napkil
Senior, Winston Churchill High School As a 5-year- old playing with a cardboard violin her mom made out of a Raisin Bran box, Celine Napkil couldn’t have imagined she’d one day perform with the National Philharmonic at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. But the 17-year-old from Potomac has earned that honor twice by winning the philharmonic’s Concerto Competition in 2012 and 2013. Last year, she competed in five events in Maryland and won or placed in every one, including the Landon Symphonette Young Strings Competition and the Washington Performing Arts Feder Memorial String Competition. “She’s got a really natural music instinct,” says James Stern, Celine’s private teacher and an associate professor of violin at the University of Maryland, College Park. “As a young person, she has trouble taming that wild animal in her. That can be an exciting thing to hear.” Celine, who says her mom’s love of music inspired her own interest, practices the violin for 60 to 90 minutes most days. She’s also a top student, maintaining a 3.5 GPA while squeezing in time for her adrenaline-pumping passions: sailing, scuba diving, skiing and snowboarding. “One of my favorite ways of making music is doing it with other people,” says Celine, who is concertmaster for the Churchill orchestra, and has been concertmaster for four other youth orchestras. “That’s completely enjoyment.” Kristofer Sanz, Churchill’s instrumental music director, relies on her to help rehearse the ensemble when he’s not there and appreciates that she volunteers during lunch to help students work through a difficult piece of music. “She’s one of those kids who stand out,” Sanz says. “I’ll remember her for a long time.” When Celine heads to college this fall, she plans to study engineering or medicine and hopes to continue playing the violin. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 113
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Danny Rivas
Junior, Gaithersburg High School In 2012, English teacher Brett Morales turned to thenfreshman Danny Rivas for help in reducing the alarmingly high number of Latino boys who drop out of Gaithersburg High School. “He was a stellar student, extremely diligent, extremely focused,” Morales says. With Morales’ guidance, Danny and 14 other students formed a club named “Poder,” which translates in English to “power” and “to be able to.” Members hold twice-weekly study halls after school, tutoring each other as needed. During weekly lunchtime meetings, Poder students participate in leadership workshops, team-building exercises and discussions on topics such as stereotypes. Danny, now 16, realized that students need help with decisionmaking before they reach high school, so he helped Poder establish weekly mentoring for middle school students in Gaithersburg. He also designed a Poder T-shirt to unify the group, and created a quarterly newsletter on Poder’s happenings for community business leaders who fund field trips to local colleges and other projects. Danny also tutors and mentors classmates who are studying English
for Speakers of Other Languages. Morales says the Gaithersburg teen has been a consistent leader in the 45-member club. “Danny has a tenacious work ethic, responsibility well beyond what you would expect from his years, and is a leader by example,” Morales says. “He’s the backbone for the group.” It’s difficult to quantify Poder’s success, but Morales says students who’ve stayed with the group through senior year have graduated, and he’s seen positive change among those involved. Danny, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in the 1990s, takes several honors classes and hopes to study business at the University of Maryland, College Park. Through Poder, he’s gained friends, leadership skills and confidence. “When I came into high school, I was really shy,” Danny says. “Poder helped me develop social skills. And I’ve improved my speaking skills. Having the opportunity to go to different presentations and talking in front of people has helped me significantly.”
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kate and maggie howie Seniors, Walter Johnson High School Supportive, extremely close,
and selfless are just a few of the words often used to describe identical twins Kate and Maggie Howie, who have never spent more than 24 hours apart. “It’s like a double joy being around them,” says Lisa Sorensen, their guidance counselor since freshman year. “They have so many great strengths individually, and are an even stronger force collectively.” The Bethesda teens share several interests. They both made the varsity basketball team as freshmen and are team captains. They play lacrosse and participate in the school’s Best Buddies club, which provides social opportunities for students with disabilities. And they are in a leadership class, where students are responsible for planning school events from fundraisers to homecoming. Leadership teacher Rainer Kulenkampff says Maggie took the lead in organizing the school year’s first pep rally. Kate planned a fundraiser that involves selling clothes donated by students. The twins, who are 18, excel academically, achieving nearly identical GPAs: 3.82 for Maggie, 3.85 for Kate. They both make family time a priority. The teens like to share stories at dinner with their parents and older brother and sister, and enjoy holiday gatherings with their large extended family. “They love being with people— little kids, grandparents, Best Buddies,” mom Pam Howie says. After a recent basketball victory, the twins included Maggie’s freshman year Best Buddies pal, Gina Baldini, in a celebration in the team room. Varsity basketball coach Lindsey Zegowitz says the sisters “set a great example on and off the basketball court. The rest of the girls look up to them.” The twins have organized team events, including a gingerbread house-building contest and dinners out, and help younger teammates work through problems. “It would be great to have a team of 13 or 14 of them,” Zegowitz says. Each twin says she’s happy when the other excels. “They are not competitive with each other, but are always building each other up,” says Meryl Gudelsky, a longtime friend of the twins’ parents.
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Ben Scheer
Senior, Walt Whitman High School Ben Scheer noticed two years ago that school pictures failed to capture the essence of his autistic younger brother, Cade. So Ben, who had been taking photography courses at Whitman, decided to aim his own camera at his sibling. “He came out with gorgeous photos of the Cade that we know and love,” says Eva Scheer, the boys’ mother. The Bethesda teen’s success with Cade’s photos inspired him to create Photobilities, a photography project-turned-business aimed at children with special needs. “Everyone wants to have a nice photo of their child, and I think everyone deserves it,” says Ben, now 18. He contacted Listservs for parents with autistic children and offered to take free portraits. Soon he was traveling to families’ homes for photo shoots. Ben liked the project so much that he trademarked Photobilities in 2013 and created a website. He began charging a small fee for the photo sessions—his clients now find him through word of mouth—and he’s completed about 20 photo shoots. “My main idea is to have zero rules—whatever is most enjoyable and comfortable for the family, I am down with it,” Ben says. Photobilities’ client Linda Orleans of North Bethesda says her autistic daughter, Danielle, 12, warmed up to Ben immediately. And the pictures he took were so beautiful that Orleans gave a framed print to her husband for Father’s Day. “That’s the first one that’s been a good photo,” Orleans says. “Danielle was truly happy in the picture.” Eva Scheer says Ben has always been kind to his brother and others with special needs. “He’s a patient, nonjudgmental, compassionate kid. He treats his brother with such respect,” she says. “He never leaves home without saying goodbye to Cade, and he walks in and says, ‘Where’s Cade so I can give him a hug?’ ” Ben plans to attend Vanderbilt University in Tennessee this fall and to continue running Photobilities during school vacations. 116 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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SusanQi Jiang
Senior, Richard Montgomery High School After learning last year that an orphanage in Guatemala needed art supplies, Susanqi Jiang organized bake sales and other events to raise money to buy 10,000 crayons. She gave 3,000 of the crayons to a Washington, D.C., homeless shelter, 2,000 to a local Chinese group that helps children in rural China, and the rest to the orphanage. “For me, my love of art really started with crayons,” Susanqi, 18, says. “All kids should be able to color if they want to.” Susanqi discovered the power of art in kindergarten as she tried to adapt to a new culture after moving to Rockville from China. “Art immediately began to serve as my language,” says Susanqi, who attended Beall Elementary School in Rockville. “It helped me express myself when words couldn’t.” Over the years, art also has helped her make sense of her Chinese and American cultural identity; she paints memories of the
rural farmhouse where she lived in China and the uncle she left behind to connect her to her past. In 2011, Susanqi started teaching art to disadvantaged elementary and middle school kids at the offices of the Housing Opportunities Commission in Rockville through a nonprofit organization she founded called Color a Heart. She designs projects every week to help the youngsters—many of whom can’t afford art supplies—learn how to paint, shape a sculpture, or draw a self-portrait. “Art has helped me in a personal way, so I wanted to find a way to use it to help others,” says Susanqi, a senior with a 4.0 GPA and near-perfect SAT scores. Richard Montgomery art teacher Kelly Posey says Susanqi is one of the most talented young artists she’s ever met. “Susanqi’s work has given these kids the ultimate gift—the gift of imagination and creativity,” Posey says. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 117
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Will Shropshire
Senior, Rockville High School
Seventeen -year- old Will Shropshire of Rockville loves all things music, but he’s especially passionate about Scotland’s national instrument. Will became fascinated by bagpipes at age 3, when he attended a concert during the National Capital Area Scottish Festival at Rockville High School. He began taking lessons at age 11 and has played in dozens of competitions, winning numerous awards. As a sophomore, he earned the highest ranking for amateur bagpipers from the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. He’s now in his second year as the pipe major of the pipe band at Rockville High School, the only Montgomery County public high school to boast such a band. And he plays every spring at the Scottish festival that sparked his interest. “Will has pushed himself beyond where the average kid his age would,” says Maureen Connor, a Schenectady, New York, piping teacher who has judged him in competitions. Will’s love of music extends beyond the bagpipe. He’s played the violin since fourth grade and plays in his school’s orchestra. He joined the marching and pep bands during his freshman year and learned the snare drum. He also composes, including pieces for his school ensembles. Will’s teachers turn to him to fill leadership roles, from marching band percussion captain to teaching beginning pipers. “Playing the bagpipes and wearing a kilt can be a tough hurdle with teenage boys,” says Paula Glendinning, an instructor for Rockville’s pipe band who has also taught Will privately for five years. “But for William, it’s just part of what he does. That takes strength of character.” A student in the International Baccalaureate program with a 3.95 GPA, Will plans to pursue music composition in college and to continue playing bagpipes. “I really like the community that’s attached to competitive bagpiping,” Will says. “I’ve made some of my closest friends. It’s not just within my own age group. It’s a multigenerational thing.” 118 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Adriana Dropulic
Senior, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Adriana Dropulic’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge about the universe led her to make a bold move: She sent her résumé and transcript to the director general of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, asking for an internship in its summer program—even though the position was intended for top college students. She got the internship and spent part of last summer in Switzerland delving into particle physics with about 200 undergraduates. “CERN was definitely the hardest academic challenge I had faced to date,” says Adriana, 17, of North Bethesda. “I was in awe at what these people are doing, what they’re discovering and how they’re discovering it.” During her three weeks at CERN, Adriana spent eight-hour days analyzing data from previous particle collision experiments, teaching herself a complicated computer language and attending lectures. She sorted and graphed 2,000 pieces of data that she used on her last day there to confirm the existence of a specific particle in a collision.
Adriana’s mother, an infectious disease specialist at the National Institutes of Health, and father, a biologist for a biotechnology company that’s developing gene therapeutics, have fostered a love of science since she was young. Adriana’s science fair project in her sophomore year, which used bacteria found in soil to power an LED light, took second place in the environmental sciences category at the D.C. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair and the top award from The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Quillian Haralson, her science fair project adviser and honors chemistry teacher during sophomore year, says Adriana has an eagerness to learn and doesn’t accept everything at face value. “She tries to dive a little deeper and understand,” says Haralson, adding that Adriana often stayed after class to further her understanding of a science topic. Adriana says she plans to focus on science in college, but hasn’t decided on a particular field. “I’m definitely going to take some physics classes wherever I go,” she says. n
Brooke Lea Foster is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post Magazine, Washingtonian, and Psychology Today. Kathleen Seiler Neary of Kensington is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post and Parenting, among other publications. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 119
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Enjoy the Show Remember when stadium seating was a big deal, popcorn with extra butter was a treat, and dinner and a movie meant a bite at a restaurant before or after the show? A new wave of luxury theaters is transforming Saturday night at the movies.
By Carole Sugarman
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enjoy the show With the opening of three new luxury theaters in our area, traditional moviegoing experiences are starting to look like aging starlets. At these places, cushy and plush stadium seats are standard and can be reserved in advance online— and sometimes they’re spacious enough to accommodate two rear ends. Popcorn seems pedestrian when compared with the prosciutto-wrapped dates or ahi tuna poke at ArcLight’s café. As for dinner and a movie, at iPic you can have dinner with the movie, and even opt for a $395 bottle of Cristal Champagne to go with it. Similar to how professional athletic events have become sports entertainment, the luxury cinema comes with lots of added attractions. That shouldn’t be surprising: With the rise of popular cable TV programs, Netflix and streaming movies, the theater industry is looking for ways to entice people off their couches. It’s also not surprising that Bethesda would be a magnet for luxe theaters. “We felt the demographics of the area matched perfectly with the demographics of our iPic customer,” says Jim Lee, vice president of marketing for iPic Entertainment, which chose the new Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda for its first East Coast location. The enhanced movie-going experience is so new that first-time patrons don’t always know the drill. Kiosk hosts at ArcLight, which has no box office, are there to help with computer ticket retrievals, and staff at the recently renovated Landmark Bethesda Row say that customers sometimes don’t realize that they can take their cocktails into the theater. At iPic, our “ninja”—as the black-outfitted food and drink servers are called—was sympathetic to our ignorance. “Everyone is confused,” he said, handing us menus and explaining that he’d be back to take our orders soon. Here’s a guide of what to expect at the new theaters—and a look at which ones are doing what the best.
Saturday Night at the Movies After spending Saturday nights at the movies at the three luxury theaters in our area, I’ve come to the following conclusions:
Carole Sugarman is Bethesda Magazine’s Food Editor.
•
Reserved seating, with tickets purchased in advance online, is fabulous. It removes the stress of dithering with your date over which row is ideal, or scrambling for seats if you’re late. Larger seats, wider aisles and more space between the rows makes for smoother maneuvering in and out of the theater. Greeters are a great idea. At all three venues, these staffers stand at the front of the auditorium before the movie begins, welcoming patrons and reminding everyone to turn off their cellphones. It adds a
• •
SO, how much?
personal touch and seems to make people pay closer attention, cutting down on pre-movie selfies and lastminute texting. Beer, wine and cocktails are a nice addition, but too much of a good thing could lead to disruptive bathroom breaks. The rotating menu screens at the concessions (iPic and Landmark) are annoying—you may not be able to view all the possibilities before you order. Dinner with a movie is distracting. Call me old-fashioned, but I’ll stick with popcorn.
• • •
Here’s the tab for two adults,
including a medium popcorn, a glass of wine and a beer (drink prices were averaged)
ArcLight Cinemas Admission $27.50
Beer $7
Wine $8
Popcorn $6
Total $48.50
Admission $44
Beer $6.50
Wine $11
Popcorn free
Total $61.50
Admission $26
Beer $6.50
Wine $11
Popcorn $7
Total $50.50
Popcorn $6.50
$45.50
iPic Theaters (Premium Plus)
(Premium)
Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Admission $23
($25 for online orders)
Beer $6
Wine $10
Total
($47.50 if you ordered tickets online)
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the Winners Are... Best Ladies’ Restroom: iPic Is this a movie theater or a spa? IPic pulls off a showstopper ladies’ room, with dramatic greenery in the entranceway, and burgundy leather club chairs, tall mirrors and a floral centerpiece in the lounge area. All this before you get to the stunning sinks and stalls.
Best Snack:
ArcLight’s Ahi Tuna Poke It’s hard enough to picture a movie theater café serving raw tuna, let alone doing it well. The Hawaiian poke—cubes of sashimi-grade tuna seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce and chopped green onion, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and served with a few twirls of pickled ginger and crispy wonton chip scoopers—could become ArcLight’s sleeper hit.
Best Popcorn Selection:
photo of ladies room by michael ventura; all others are courtesy photos
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ArcLight
Hopefully, popcorn will always be a movie theater must, and ArcLight expands on the standby by offering it with olive oil, sea salt or real butter. For customers with secure dental fillings, the house-made caramel popcorn is really sticky and really good.
Best Place for True Film Buffs:
Landmark Bethesda Row Like special effects in a movie, the added frills at a theater can’t make up for a lousy film. At Landmark, the least extravagant of the three cinemas, the selection of interesting independent and foreign films remains the draw, and even if the movie isn’t terrific, it’ll almost always be better than Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Best Seats: iPic Hamid Hashemi, president and CEO of iPic Entertainment, personally tested dozens of cushions before settling on one with a mix of comfort, support and style. The recliner for Premium Plus ticket-holders, which comes with a blanket and pillow, is so relaxing you have to be careful not to fall asleep. According to Jim Lee, vice president of marketing for iPic, that “absolutely” happens.
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Luxury Theater Guide | know before you go Theater features
Movie selection Seats
ArcLight Cinemas
Sixteen theaters with a total of 2,405 seats; auditoriums range in size from 85 to 287 seats. The theaters are designed with “black box” simplicity, including black walls, black ceilings, dim lighting and negligible signage. Two auditoriums are equipped with Dolby Atmos, a system that sharpens sound significantly; one of the two also features a wide screen.
Heavier on new releases, but also shows independent, classic and cult films.
iPic Theaters
Eight theaters with a total of 782 seats; auditoriums range in size from 89 to 108 seats.
Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema
Eight theaters ranging in size from 86 to 245 seats; 2013 renovation included 3-D screen and satellite feed to show live performances (and replays) from venues from around the world, including the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe, both in London.
7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda (in the Westfield Montgomery mall), 240-762-4000, www.arclightcinemas.com
11830 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda (in Pike & Rose), 301-231-2300, www.ipictheaters.com
7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-7273, www.landmarktheatres.com
Ticket prices
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Seats in all auditoriums are 25 inches wide with double-wide arm rests. Made from woven polyester, seats are soft, cozy and comfortable.
General admission is $13.75. Membership, which is free to residents of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., until May 1, costs $15 a year and gets you $1 off every online ticket purchase, plus other benefits.
Soaring vestibule designed to look like a train station, with a “departure board” listing the movies and times and a large clock above. Small concession sells movie-themed mugs, totes, lunch boxes and other items.
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Primarily mainstream releases.
Premium and Premium Plus seats are leather and roomy, with 33-inch-wide cushions. Premium Plus seats, which recline at the touch of a button, come with fleecy pillows and blankets, a table for food and drinks, and an iPad for placing orders. Push button on the table also can be used to call the server, or “ninja.”
Premium seats, which occupy the front few rows of each auditorium, cost $13. Premium Plus tickets, which come with free popcorn, are $22. A membership program, which includes four levels of prices, offers a variety of ticket and food and drink discounts.
Elegant, urbane environment with a lobby area and hallways that feel like an upscale hotel. This is not your mother’s movie theater.
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Independent, foreign and alternative films.
Black faux-leather high-back seats range from 19 to 23 inches wide, depending on the auditorium; they’re not luxurious, but perfectly comfortable.
$11.50, plus $1 service fee per ticket for online orders. Aficionado Ticket Books, containing 25 tickets, can be purchased for $200, or $8 per ticket.
Renovation added glistening mobile at base of escalators, plus lounge seating and a semicircular bar. Done in autumnal beige, brown and rust, the lobby and bar look upscale but not glitzy.
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Food
Drinks
Concessions
Highlights
Bloopers
Circular bar and café with seating for 52 offers small plates. Go for the homemade Old Bay-seasoned potato chips, popcorn chicken or the surprisingly good ahi tuna poke; bypass the spring rolls and the prosciutto and brie pizza. Desserts from International Gourmet Foods are so-so.
Short but interesting menu of bottled and draft beers, including DC Brau on tap; pleasant but familiar wines (nine reds, nine whites, available by the glass or bottle); $11 cocktails include the “Matinee Martini,” “Perfect Stormy” and “Miranda’s Cosmo.”
House-made caramel popcorn made daily, plus regular available with olive oil, sea salt or real butter; apple or mango jalapeño chicken sausages served on a baguette with spicy mustard or watermelon barbecue sauce are offbeat additions, as is the passion-mango iced tea.
Unadorned auditoriums don’t really alter moviewatching experience, but the wide-screen theater with Dolby Atmos is a sight and sound experience. Lots of free mall parking as well as valet parking at theater entrance; website is easy to navigate, with links to Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and trailers; FAQ section very comprehensive. No advertisements before previews, which are usually limited to three.
Train station atmosphere during peak times is not conducive to enjoying food and drinks at the café/bar.
IPic Corporate Vice President of Culinary Direction Sherry Yard, a James Beard Award winner and former executive pastry chef in Wolfgang Puck’s empire, came up with a clever (but too lengthy and involved) menu of finger foods that don’t crackle and crunch in the dark. Starchy pickups are scant on the fillings (i.e., empanadas and biscuits). Liked the jazzed-up turkey burger, even though toppings oozed during a suspenseful scene in the movie.
Consulting sommelier/ mixologist Adam Seger devised an innovative cocktail menu (i.e., the “Bearskin,” with Virginia ham-infused whiskey, campfire smoked tea and maple syrup) that also includes top-notch traditional takes such as a lovely, multilayered sangria with pomegranate, spices, blood oranges and other fruit. Nearly 20 wines by the glass, mostly Californian, ranging from $9 to $21, plus about 40 bottles, including a 2006 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne for $395. Eight beers on tap and six bottles, including local and craft brews.
A slightly abridged version of the menu that is served to Premium Plus patrons in the auditoriums is available at the concession stand for Premium ticket holders. Concession sweets and snacks include truffle fries, sticky toffee caramel cake and chocolateand-toffee-covered pistachios.
Elegantly appointed ladies’ restroom worth a pit stop; complimentary 3½-hour parking.
Execution of concept needs polishing; auditorium doors didn’t open until 15 minutes before start of movie, leaving little time to order food and drinks. Awkward pacing with food: appetizers came right away, main course halfway through the movie. Although servers are quiet, their arrival and departure in the aisles is noticeable; also, eating food in the dark requires some attention, which distracts from the movie-watching. Top on sangria shaker not securely fastened, resulting in massive spill. Website could be more informative.
New bar serves cafeteria-quality small bites and sandwiches; stick with the standard concessions and highcaliber selection of alcoholic beverages.
Appealing array of nearly 20 beers, including several microbrews; four red, four white wines available by the (plastic) glass or bottle, plus two sparkling wines by the glass. Cute themed cocktails correspond to current-run movies.
Many of the same items available at the bar (mini-crabcakes, wraps, assorted cheese plate), in addition to specialty pretzels, fancy candy bars, vegan or glutenfree cookies, and usual offerings.
Personable bartenders and charming pre-movie greeter; focus is on tony movies rather than extraneous bells and whistles.
Construction and traffic in downtown Bethesda are a pain, but you knew that already.
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In 2013, Marillyn Hewson became the first woman CEO in Lockheed Martin’s history, making her one of the most powerful women in the world. Here’s the story of the Potomac resident’s unlikely rise to power. By Steve Goldstein
PHOTO by Getty Images
Flying High
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Marillyn Hewson had a problem. A $13 billion problem. Four years earlier, euphoria reigned at Lockheed Martin’s Systems Integration business unit in Owego, New York, a small town in the state’s Southern Tier adjoining Pennsylvania. The division had won the contract to build the next fleet of Marine Ones, the helicopters used by the president of the United States. Apart from the monetary and employment value, the contract conferred a healthy dose of prestige upon the world’s largest defense contractor. Now, in the spring of 2009, prestige, money and employment value were in ashes: The $13 billion contract had abruptly been canceled. As president of the unit, the town’s largest employer, Hewson now faced the biggest crisis of her 26-year tenure at the company. Nearly 1,000 jobs would be lost—about one-quarter of the workforce at Systems Integration. It fell to Hewson to deliver the blow. Midwest-born and Southern-reared, Hewson’s reputation was as a demanding but compassionate boss. But this was fire-walking for a manager: Employees were confused and upset, full of questions, yet frightened by the answers. “Morale was about as low as it could go,” says Jeff Brown, a communications officer who worked there. “But Marillyn was adamant about being transparent.” Hewson’s priority was to ensure that employees remained informed, and she accomplished that by meeting with them face-to-face. According to Brown and published accounts, she held all-staff sessions and other meetings in the auditorium to talk with employees and answer their questions. The news was difficult to deliver and even harder to hear, but employees told Hewson they appreciated how she openly communicated the situation and gave them straight answers, rather than sending out a memorandum or talking to them via email. “We had a lot of challenges to
overcome, but what was important was to also recognize that it wasn’t the end of the business,” Hewson later told The Washington Post. Setbacks are inevitable, she explained. “It’s necessary that a leader assess the situation, take the appropriate action... and then reset and rebuild.” Monitoring from headquarters in Bethesda was Lockheed Chairman and CEO Robert Stevens, who had put Hewson in Owego to run that division. “Marillyn was tireless and fearless in treating the team like adults—not sugarcoating matters, but not yielding to a sense of hopelessness, either,” Stevens says. “She asked anyone who wanted to continue employment to tell her their needs. She reached out to community leaders. I watched her navigate a set of customer, congressional and employee issues in a caring and competent way...going the extra mile to minimize the dislocation and disruption that flows from such a circumstance. It was an impressive performance.” It was a performance that helped pave Hewson’s way to the rarefied air of Lockheed’s executive suite.
In November 2012, Christopher Kubasik, the company’s chief operating officer and designated successor to Stevens, was forced to resign after a personal relationship with a subordinate was revealed. Lockheed’s board convened in emergency session and soon summoned Hewson, then 58, to inform her that she’d been elected president and COO and would succeed Stevens as CEO on Jan. 1, 2013. After 29 years with the company, 19 leadership positions and eight geographical moves with her husband and two sons, Hewson grabbed the lightning bolt. “I’m ready,” she told the magazine Aviation Week. “Her last-minute selection was regarded by Stevens as a gift from God,” says defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, who is a paid
Midwest-born and Southern-reared, Hewson has a reputation as a demanding yet compassionate boss.
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PHOTO Courtesy of Lockheed Martin
consultant for Lockheed and other defense contractors. “Marillyn’s personality and style were a better fit for Lockheed than Kubasik would have been.” Hewson is the first female CEO in Lockheed’s history, an achievement that would have made bigger news if the announcement of her promotion had not occurred on the same day that David Petraeus, a retired Army general, resigned as director of the CIA amid revelations of an extramarital affair. Largely unknown outside the Pentagon’s gravitational pull, Hewson now runs a company with about 115,000 employees worldwide—some 15,000 in Greater Washington, D.C. One-third of those are in Montgomery County, where Lockheed is the third-largest private employer. The company generated $45.3 billion in revenue in 2012 and is responsible for some of the U.S. government’s biggest and most critical weapons programs, including the massive stealth F-35 fighter jet
Lockheed Martin CEO and program, which has been beset by President Marillyn Hewson repeated cost overruns and produchelps other volunteers tion delays. stuff care packages for overseas troops at the When she assumed the top job, 2013 AT&T National PGA Hewson joined Phebe Novakovic of Tournament in Bethesda. Lockheed Martin served as General Dynamics and Linda Hudthe tournament’s official son—now retired—of the U.S. unit military partner. of Britain’s BAE Systems as the only top female executives in what has been a testosterone-heavy industry. Last year, Hewson was rated No. 21 on Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s most powerful women, ahead of the president of Chile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Queen Elizabeth and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. In September 2013, Hewson was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Export Council, the principal
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national advisory committee on international trade. Only 11 women rank in the top 200 best-paid CEOs and Hewson, at $15.7 million, is fifth among women overall and 13th among all executives in the industrial goods sector, according to a compensation analysis by Equilar. In the D.C. area, Hewson’s salary ranks her seventh among all executives, according to Equilar. Hewson has resisted definition by gender. “I don’t think it’s necessarily about being a female in our business. I think it’s about...my track record, my results,” she told The Washington Post. The industry is hardly gender-blind. Hudson, a pioneer, admits that when she started out as a young engineer there was a lot of skepticism regarding women. “I would say the first 15 years of my career were extremely difficult and challenging,” Hudson says. “Every time you walked into a room, people assumed you were incompetent until you proved otherwise.” Attitudes changed when Hudson moved into middle management and beyond. At times, being female was an advantage because she was relatively unique. These days, women are employed in far greater numbers, yet reflections of the glass ceiling remain. “I still think you have to be better [than others] to be accepted,” Hudson says. Hudson has appeared with Hewson on various industry and women-in-business panels. “She got the position the hard way,” Hudson says of Hewson, “working her way up through the organization, doing all the difficult things you have to do.” Hewson took over at a time when government budget sequestration kicked a $500 billion hole in defense spending, and the company was battling the aforementioned F-35 mess and a wobbly rela-
Only 11 women rank in the top 200 best-paid CEOs and Hewson, at $15.7 million, is fifth among women overall. tionship with investors. According to Thompson and others, Hewson has met those challenges. “Lockheed has led the industry in pressing for [defense budget] changes that will permit more flexibility,” Thompson says. “She’s acquitted herself very well in restoring the relationship with the Pentagon customer on the F-35 program. She has maintained the company’s appeal in the investment community.” Bob Trice, Lockheed’s former head of corporate strategy and business development, chuckles when asked what he thinks of Hewson’s first two years as CEO. “When I retired in 2011, the stock price was $97 a share,” he says. “Now it’s something like twice that. Need I say more?” Hewson has also brought her own style to Lockheed’s executive suite. At 61, she exudes youthful passion for the work and favors vivid blouses under conservative dark suits. Her Southern accent masks an exacting boss with high expectations and a low tolerance for mistakes, co-workers say. Hewson exhibits a “civility and humaneness,” as Trice puts it, that underlies her ability to demand high standards of performance. “Marillyn is a good listener; I’ve never seen her lose her temper,” Thompson says. “You have to know her pretty well to know when she’s mad. She’s very analytic and not very emotional. There’s been a tradition in the defense business of management by shouting. Marillyn has made a firm break with that tradition.” Despite her reputation for being gracious and gregarious, Hewson is a real-
ist ready to make tough choices, as she demonstrated in Owego. Stevens says he identified Hewson as a high potential candidate 15 years ago. “You look for people with management and leadership skills, who have empathy and can identify talent and allow people to pursue their aspirational goals,” he says. Hewson had those skills, yet she said it was even more important to understand that the corporate ladder went down as well as up. “You may be the smartest person in the room,” she told Reuters, “but if you can’t get along with others, you will not succeed.” If there is a chink in Hewson’s corporate armor, it’s that she “is very much Lockheed—technically excellent but commercial sensitivity, not so much,” says Richard Aboulafia, a defense analyst at Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia. He says Hewson’s shortsightedness about market conditions puts the company at a disadvantage against other contractors, such as Boeing and General Electric, which better understand how to stimulate demand by keeping costs down. Ironically, he cited the presidential helicopter program as a classic example. “I mean, $13 billion for two dozen helicopters,” Aboulafia says. “That doesn’t make any sense.” That’s why, he explained, the program was scrapped before being restructured years later. Everyone interviewed for this profile mentioned Hewson’s work ethic, which is to outwork everybody else. Through aides, Hewson declined to be interviewed for this story, repeatedly citing a packed schedule as the reason. She appears to exist off the radar in a presidential-like bubble, access to her carefully controlled. She resides in a sprawling, $3.4 million home in a gated Potomac community off Persimmon Tree Road. The two-story house has nearly
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J u n ct i o n C i ty i s a small town in the Flint Hills of Kansas, a company town joined at the hip to the Fort Riley Army base, where Warren Adams met his future wife. Marillyn, who was born on Dec. 27, 1953, the first girl after two boys, was raised in a family and an environment where country and service were bedrock values. Her mother gave up a nursing career to serve in the Women’s Army Corps while her father, a farm boy, worked for the Department of
Hewson’s job takes her all over the world. Top: Hewson visited the USS Freedom, one of the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ships, in Pearl Harbor. Below: She met with leaders of Abu Dhabi at the Dubai Airshow in 2013.
Photos Courtesy of Lockheed Martin
10,000 square feet of living space and sits on just under an acre, six miles from her Bethesda office, or about a 14-minute ride in her BMW. Hewson told CBS This Morning that she rises most days at 4:30 a.m. to exercise, and is usually in her office shortly after 7. She travels often to Lockheed facilities. Neighbors say they sometimes see her, but none of those interviewed said they have spoken to Hewson. When she’s not working, she likes to read and sometimes plays golf—not well, by her own admission, but it’s a sport her husband, James, enjoys. With sons Will, who, like his parents, graduated from the University of Alabama, and David, a graduate of Texas Christian University, the family vacationed in Peru one year, and then in Italy, at Lake Como and Portofino, the next. “Growing up in a meager environment, I didn’t get to travel at all,” Hewson told The Sunday Times of Great Britain. “So it’s been one of my goals to make sure my kids do.” Mostly, Hewson works. A habit acquired not by favor, but by fate. Her story resembles not a smooth glide path through life, but one shaped by early turbulence. “From a very early age, Marillyn was exposed to a set of life circumstances that required her to think of others,” Stevens says, “as well as herself.”
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We want to help local families have sweeter dreams. Each night, many families sleep on floors just miles away from some of our nation’s greatest wealth. These families need beds. That’s why the Wydler Brothers Team created the 1000 Bed Challenge. For every home bought or sold with Wydler Brothers this year, our lead agent will donate a bed to A Wider Circle, a local charity helping thousands of families in need. To help us reach our goal of donating 1000 beds, we have joined with the generous partners listed below who will also donate beds to A Wider Circle. Please help us deliver sweeter dreams to local families in need. TO LEARN MORE OR MAKE A DONATION, VISIT
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the Army during World War II, according to Hewson’s published accounts. A severe injury sustained when he was trampled by a horse ruled Warren out of active duty, but he rose from a mail room job at Fort Riley to civilian personnel officer, the top non-uniformed job at the base, and then was detailed to the Army’s top civilian job in Alaska. His star was rising, but a heart attack killed him at age 41, shortly before he was to be transferred from Alaska to a new assignment at the Pentagon. His widow had five children to raise, ages 5 to 15. Hewson, the middle child and the oldest girl, was 9. Mary Adams had wanted her daughter to be different, so she added the extra “L” to her name. Perhaps teachers would notice the difference when they called the roll, or maybe employers would pause long enough to give her résumé a second look. Hewson immediately assumed responsibility for the care of her younger sisters. In a note she wrote that year, which her mother kept, Hewson asked to be awakened at 6 a.m. because she had a lot to do that day. Soon after her husband’s death, Mary Adams moved the family to Alabama to be closer to relatives, cashed in her war bonds and bought a building with four small apartments that she rented out, and took a second job in the elementary school cafeteria. “We cleaned, painted and did odd jobs in the apartment building,” Hewson recalled in an essay written for Politico. “I was in charge of the family groceries.” As Hewson recounted, her mother would hand her a $5 bill—and a $7 shopping list. “I know you’ll make the right decisions,” she told her daughter. In high school, her older brother went off to serve in Vietnam, and Hewson helped pay the family bills by working at a Dairy Queen, making a new treat—
Hewson’s mother would hand her a $5 bill—and a $7 shopping list. “You’ll make the right decisions,” she told her daughter. banana splits. She worked as a nighttime switchboard operator to put herself through the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Master of Arts degree in economics. At Alabama, she met and married James Hewson and, as graduate students, they bought and remodeled a house next to campus and played on the faculty-student softball team. (Today, James Hewson is selfemployed in nonprofit management.) Her economics background led to a position in Washington, D.C., at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Four years later, the couple decided to return to the South, so in 1983 Hewson found a position as a senior industrial engineer at Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia. She wasn’t trained as an engineer, but she talked her way into the job, convincing her future bosses that a willingness to learn was all she needed to meet any daunting job requirements. In Marietta, she fell in love for a second time—this time with the gleaming new C-130s and C-141 aircraft on the production line in the Lockheed factory. “After that,” she told Aviation Week, “I never really wanted to work anywhere else.” Hewson was placed in Lockheed’s general manager development program in 1985, and soon advanced to an industrial engineering manager. Fol-
lowing a maternity leave after her first son was born, she returned to find herself in a bigger job after her department and another merged. From there it was a steady climb: 19 different leadership positions, working in three of the four Lockheed business areas and six years at the corporate office in Bethesda. Before she became CEO, Hewson was the head of Electronic Systems, the corporation’s largest business area. With the exception of actually running a public company, the job came with all the elements a chief executive would encounter. Trice, who worked with Hewson at various times over 14 years, says Lockheed repeatedly moved her into more challenging jobs to “hone her leadership skills.” Hewson has said she learned quickly never to turn down a promotion, even if it meant another moving van, a new community. “When an opportunity comes along, if it makes sense for you to take it, don’t hold yourself back,” she said on CBS This Morning. Hewson retains strong ties to the University of Alabama and has served on the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration Board of Visitors since 2006. The board is composed of prominent business leaders, mostly male, and Hewson was so understated and deferential to others’ opinions that her colleagues were surprised when she was named CEO, recalls Culverhouse Dean Michael Hardin. Two years ago, Hardin was contemplating a different venue for the annual meeting of the Board of Visitors, and some of the board members pushed back, resisting change. The dean sought out Hewson. “Look, Mike, you’re the leader,” she told him. “You need to make a decision and be confident you’re doing the right thing, regardless of what the
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others say.” Hardin did what she suggested. “It forced me to re-examine my own decision-making,” he says. Hewson is a passionate Crimson Tide football fan and occasionally attends games and visits her mom, now in her mid-90s. Says Hardin: “I wouldn’t want to bet against her on football trivia questions.” Though Hewson has transcended gender, she is acutely aware of being a role model for young women. At Lockheed, she helped found the Women’s Leadership Forum in 2001, an internal career development event that attracts more than 300 participants annually. Hewson also makes time to address women’s groups on the rewards of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Mindful of the gender bias that still reigns in corporate America, she told Reuters that her advice to women is: “Do your best and don’t set limits on what you think you can do. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn to forgive yourself for not knowing all the answers when you’re knee-deep in new territory.” In the Politico essay about her career, Hewson cited her own role model—her mother—to underscore the importance of turning challenges into opportunities. “My mother understood that great leaders are driven by purpose, and the impact they leave must be larger than their own footprints,” she wrote. “To this day, no matter how tough things get, [my mother’s] unflagging optimism is an inspiration to me. Leaders have to see past problems to solutions, and my mother excelled at just that.” Mary Adams wanted her daughter to be different. And so she is. n Steve Goldstein is a freelance writer and editor. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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name Emily Yoffe AGE 59 What SHe does Writes “Dear Prudence,” Slate magazine’s advice column Grew up in Newton, Massachusetts Lives in Chevy Chase
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interview
A conversation with Emily Yoffe
photo by erick gibson
By Maura Mahoney
Emily Yoffe has heard it all. As the writer of the “Dear Prudence” advice column for the online magazine Slate, Yoffe spends a lot of her time considering the problems—big and small, run-of-the-mill and, well, kinky—of hundreds of people every week. And then she tells them how to solve them. Whether it’s a woman who is worried that she’s tempting her husband by employing a too-sexy nanny, or an obnoxious 1-percenter complaining about having to give out Halloween candy to kids who have traveled from less-fortunate neighborhoods (that one went viral), the troubled, the confused, the obtuse, the desperate and the weary all turn to “Dear Prudence” for help— to the tune of 400 to 500 emails a week. According to Lowen Liu, Slate’s
managing editor, the column is the most popular feature on the site. And it keeps Yoffe very busy: She reads the emails, chooses which ones to respond to, writes the weekly column, which appears on the site every Thursday, hosts live chats on Mondays and Tuesdays, shoots a video version of the column for Wednesdays, and also occasionally appears on a Slate podcast called “The Gist.” A veteran journalist, Yoffe began her career at The New Republic and has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Texas Monthly, Esquire and other publications. She occasionally pens longer articles for Slate on everything from politics to health and social issues. Recent topics have included sexual assaults on college campuses
and the gripping mystery of the missing Malaysian airliner. Yoffe, 59, who lives in Chevy Chase with her husband, a private investigator, and her college-age daughter, grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and went to Wellesley College. In person, she radiates the warmth, intelligence, humor, compassion or (sometimes) wry exasperation that inform her “Dear Prudence” responses. “I’m not a therapist, and I’m not approaching it as therapy,” she says. “A lot of people just want a neutral party to weigh in on some sort of life dilemma.” To articulate what she brings to the “Dear Prudence” role, Yoffe offers a paraphrase of a quote from the writer of “Dear Abby,” another famous column: “I have common sense, and I can write it down.”
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interview
RESTAURANT
Faryab
Place to see a movie
Landmark Bethesda Row Place for a drink
Food Wine & Co. Takeout Spots
Don Pollo and Shangri-La book of 2014
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr TV show of 2014
Amazon’s Transparent movies of 2014
Finding Vivian Maier and I Origins
When did you decide that you wanted to become a journalist?
In junior high, I had an English teacher who said, ‘You’re too smart to be such a terrible writer. When you get to high school, take a journalism elective.’ I took it, and I really liked it. The movie Love Story was the movie of the day, so I went to see it, and we had to do a review. I wrote a scathing review, while everyone around me is being washed away [with emotion]. Unbeknownst to me, the teacher passed it off to the school newspaper, which I never even read. They printed it, and all of a sudden all these people started coming up to me, saying, ‘You are SO mean.’ I decided on the spot, this is for me. When did you come to D.C.?
Right after school, I got an internship at The New Republic. My uncle was a subscriber, and he said, ‘Look, I saw this little thing in the back of the magazine that they have internships.’ So I went out and got some copies and was like, ‘Oooh, this is a cool magazine,’ and I applied, and the editor, Michael Kinsley, picked me. And that totally changed the course of my life. And then I was here [in the area], mostly just freelancing for many years. Michael Kinsley founded Slate in 1996. Did you begin Writing for the site when it first launched?
I had just had a baby. I was on a semiyearlong maternity thing, so I wasn’t one of the originals. I came in a couple of years into Slate. How did “Dear Prudence” get started?
Herb Stein, who was the head of Nixon’s Council of Economic Advisers, was a friend of Michael Kinsley’s. He was older, a wonderful guy. He said to Michael, ‘You’ve got this crazy, new-fangled thing here, an online publication, you need an old-fashioned kind of column. An advice column.’ He
named it ‘Dear Prudence’ because it sounded like an old-fashioned-y kind of name. He did it for a while. He was a very good Prudence. Then he was like, ‘OK, I’ve had enough of this.’ Mike was a friend of Margo Howard, who is Ann Landers’ daughter, and I don’t know all the ins and outs of how she got it, but she was the next one. And she did it for several years. And then she left, and there was an opening. So I leaned in and asked for it. That was nine years ago in February. What’s it like doing the live chat?
It’s much more stressful than the column. If there’s a juicy question, I don’t have time to think about it. It is imperative to answer quickly and move it along. You’ve got people at their computers, and if you fall silent, they’re going to go away. And how about the videos? As a writer, how does it feel being on screen?
I never wanted to go into TV. I’m a print person. I beg our producer, who’s very sweet, to Vaseline the lens. I have to memorize everything and do it in a clean take. I find it a little stressful— not stress like I’m a Syrian refugee—but looking into a camera and memorizing, it’s just not my strength. Why do you think the column is so popular?
It’s either, ‘My life is terrific compared to this,’ or ‘I have the same thing.’ I think part of what makes it so much fun is that it’s not like therapy. You don’t get into all the subtleties and the nuances and the history. The majority of people read Slate at work, and you can take a two-minute break and go, ‘Oh my God, this is the craziest thing I’ve ever read.’ It’s fun. Tell me about some of your most memorable letters.
I had a Halloween letter that said, ‘These awful poor kids [come into our
faryab photo by robert dyer; maier documentary pr0motional image
Emily’s Favorites
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DR. RACHEL COHN’S
neighborhood] from other communities, and do I have to get candy for them? I’m not one of the rich billionaires, we’re all doctors and lawyers and business owners.’ That was so much fun, to ream out someone and say, ‘Hey you cheapskate, go to Costco, spend 30 bucks and give these poor kids some candy!’ My daughter called me and told me, ‘Mom, my friends tell me that you’re trending on Facebook.’ It was so unexpected. Another was from a guy who was in his early 60s, a recent widower, been married for over 40 years, never had children. He said, ‘We’re really simple people, we didn’t go to doctors. That was just God’s will. My wife died of cancer horribly, and on her deathbed she confessed to me why we’d never had children. She was on the pill for most of our marriage, but she’d also had two abortions during our marriage.’ He said, ‘I’m having a really hard time with this information. I loved my wife. But now I realize my life isn’t what I thought, and my wife wasn’t who I thought. I went to my priest and told him about this, and my priest said, ‘Oh well, she’s going to burn in hell.’ He said, ‘I’m not sure that’s true, but it didn’t help me, and I don’t know what to do.’ So what’s the answer? There’s no answer. But it was a fascinating, awful, heart-wrenching dilemma, and all I could say is that you need to find another priest, you need to find a therapist, or a safe person. This is just too much of a burden to carry by yourself.
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How do you come up with answers?
I’ve learned a lot from the questions, readers, experts. At this point, I have this well of knowledge to draw from. I’m always looking for a different way to frame recurring issues. It’s been a process of being educated by readers. I hope it’s made me better. I try not to be highly predictable. I really try to look at each individual BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 139
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interview case and read between the lines. Is this narrator reliable or not reliable? Is the problem really the person who’s writing the letter? I don’t have an overarching philosophy that I apply. I generally believe in honesty, but not in every case. If a spouse has cheated and it’s a one-time or short-term thing, it’s thoroughly over, and it’s regretted…I get a lot of those letters, people saying, ‘I’m tortured, there’s this dishonesty in my marriage.’ I really feel that you, by unburdening yourself, you are putting a terrible burden on your partner. Like, ‘Oh, now I feel better, I’m all relieved.’ And the partner’s like, ‘Gee, thanks for telling me that. Now we have to go to therapy and I have to cry, and it’s awful.’ A lot of questions come down to: Do you let it go, or do you do something? Should you tell if you know someone else is cheating? Or your mother-in-law always gives you clothes for Christmas that are 10 sizes too big or 10 sizes too small. Do you say, ‘Thank you,’ or do you say, ‘This is offensive to me’? I don’t have a hard-and-fast rule. I try to keep it fresh. Do you sometimes call on experts?
Yep. You would think the expert I would call on most is a psychologist. It’s not. The experts I call on most are lawyers. When I started, I did not realize the legal ramifications of a lot of things. I’d have these crazy roommate questions. I’d say, ‘Change your locks, put the person who’s menacing you out.’ And people would write, ‘Apparently you don’t understand that you need X amount of notice.’ Do you get more letters from women than men?
Yes. I would say it’s in the 70 percent range. It’s like getting into college. If you’re a guy, you have a better chance of getting into college. If you’re a guy, you have a better chance of having your letter run. But interestingly, the comments I get back from readers are
about 50-50, so I think I have a lot of male readers; they’re just less likely to write that they have a problem. What was the most unusual letter you’ve ever received?
One of my most famous letters was the ‘twincest letter.’ A guy said, ‘I’m not writing to you to ask you for your moral opinion of what’s going on. My twin brother and I are in a long-term romantic relationship.’ The dilemma was, they live in a state that had just legalized gay marriage. So now everyone in the family was like, ‘When are you two going to find some nice [guys] and settle down?’ So the two of them were having a conflict: Should they tell their family, or not tell their family, and that’s why they were writing to me. I knew to call a lawyer, a family law person, because this had an incest component. Was what they were doing illegal? The lawyer said they should consult with a lawyer in their state. But even if there are incest laws, they usually address a power differential: parent/child, older sibling. I sided with the letter writer, who didn’t want to tell. I said the grief it will cause is just not worth it. But I said that you can tell a version of the truth—tell people that you live together: ‘We know our situation seems unorthodox, but it works for us. We couldn’t be happier, and we don’t want to change it.’ And that’s true, and it gets at some level of what’s going on without…I just don’t think that’s something parents could cope with. A few days after that letter ran, I get an email with the subject line ‘Thank you.’ It’s from a young woman who said she’s in her mid-20s, she’s a twin, and she and her sister are in the same relationship. She said, ‘We thought we were the only two people in the world. Now we feel less alone and less freaky. Thank you.’ Are there any questions that you’re sick of?
Cubicle mates who chew, fart, hum. It really makes me happy I work alone.
Do you ever not publish a letter but respond to the writer anyway?
Occasionally. Teenagers, I always try to answer. People in horrible distress, I just say, ‘OK, gotta get social services, you gotta call CPS [Child Protective Services], or get eldercare, or something,’ just try to give them a start. I wrote a longer piece that came out of letters I’d collected over the years called ‘The Debt.’ It was about what do adults who grew up with abusive parents now owe those elderly parents? Now when I hear from those people, I’m able to say, ‘I wrote about this, here it is.’ Do you regret any advice that you’ve given?
One of the ways that my mind works is to wipe out my regrettable answers, of which there are legion, I’m sure. I try not to make grotesque mistakes all the time, but I constantly look back and think, ‘I didn’t get that quite right.’ I answered this letter from a woman in her 40s or 50s. She was going into the hospital for surgery. Turned out her middle school or high school bully was a nurse there, and she was really freaking out: What if this woman was her nurse? I said, ‘If you’ve gotten married, you haven’t spoken to her in all these years, she probably won’t even know you. Forget it.’ When your sister posts on your Facebook page, ‘That’s the worst answer I’ve ever seen,’ you know you’ve really given a bad answer. And a lot of medical people said, ‘You absolutely can call. This happens all the time, whether you’re in a relationship with someone or you don’t want this person treating you, for whatever reason. It doesn’t have to be something bad, and you should not go into surgery anxious about it.’ I wrote an update and said, ‘Totally blew that one.’ And I wrote
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back to the woman and said, ‘Don’t listen to me.’ She was very nice, and wrote back to me after the surgery. She had said, ‘I just don’t, for personal reasons, want to deal with this nurse,’ and she didn’t, and it all worked out.
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What have you learned about human nature from being an advice columnist?
You couldn’t be more cynical than I naturally am. But the column has made me more sympathetic to the endless, myriad ways we manage to get ourselves in fixes. People write in with the most amazing, intimate, darkest things. I hear from people every day of the week, people are telling me stuff they’ve never told anyone, and they want me to solve it. It’s a blast. You’ve lived in Chevy Chase for 10 years. What do you like about living here?
In some ways it reminds me of where I grew up, which of course I was desperate to get out of at the time. It’s a beautiful neighborhood, there are so many trees. We can walk to the Metro, we don’t need our car very often, we walk into Bethesda all the time, we walk to movies, walk to restaurants. I just feel very lucky and privileged that I live in such a lovely place. It’s safe, it’s beautiful, there are a lot of great facilities, what’s not to like? What are some of your favorite places to go?
One of our favorite restaurants is Faryab. We walk up to this Japanese place, Yuzo. Shangri-La for Indian food. We go to the Landmark theater all the time. I am so parochial. We met a couple of friends for dinner Saturday, and they said, ‘Oh, there’s this place in Georgetown.’ My husband and I were like, ‘Georgetown! I mean, Timbuktu!’ We’re pathetic. n
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Special Advertising Section
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Profiles
To Wes Foster, founder of The Long & Foster Companies, real estate is a lifelong passion. Since founding his business in the D.C. area over 46 years ago, Wes has grown Long & Foster into the No. 1 family-owned residential real estate company in the United States. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 143
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
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Ned Rich
McEnearney Associates, Inc 4315 50th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 202-552-5610 | nrich@mcenearney.com www.nedsrich.com | www.mcenearney.com
Ned is Managing Broker of McEnearney Associates’ Washington, D.C. and Kensington offices, Executive Vice President of the company and the Principal Broker for the firm in D.C.
10 things to know about Ned Rich: 1. Ned is a fifth-generation Washingtonian. 2. Ned’s goal is to help McEnearney Associates expand its footprint by opening new offices in the Maryland and D.C. areas. 3. He is a devoted fan of the Washington football team and the Washington Nationals. 4. He enjoys spending time on the water and is an avid water skier.
7. One of Ned’s favorite places to visit is Cape Cod—he tries to go every summer. 8. He’s all about giving back to the community—Manna and A Wider Circle are two of his favorite local charities. 9. If Ned wasn’t managing a real estate office, he would be a lawyer. 10. Ned’s best advice is that communication is key and that you set the tone for the transaction.
Eli Turner
5. His first job was working at his family’s business, “Rich’s Shoes.”
6. He loves all chocolate – and his favorite is peanut M&Ms.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
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The Jane Fairweather Team Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 4709 Maple Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 Direct 301-530-HOME | Office 301-718-0010 jane@janefairweather.com | www.janefairweather.com
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10 things to know about Jane Fairweather: 1. She was born in Alexandria, Va. and grew up in Silver Spring and Richmond, Va. 2. She is a graduate of the L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda and uses her French cooking skills on “Grandparent Sundays” cooking for her grandkids and family. 3. She is an avid reader and belongs to two book clubs, and reads about 30 books a year. 4. You will always find her at Landmark Theatre in Bethesda Row on Friday evenings.
hilary schwab
5. If she wasn’t doing real estate she would be a film critic or country-western singer. 6. In her early 20s, Jane became a partner in a management consulting firm working in the D.C. area.
7. She started her real estate career with her husband after they began buying properties as investments in the 1980s. She quickly realized she had a knack for real estate sales. 8. She has over $1 billion in career sales and is consistently among the Top 10 Coldwell Banker agents in the nation. Many times she has been voted the “Best Realtor” by Bethesda Magazine readers. 9. She is often the source that CNBC, the Washington Post, Fortune and Bethesda Magazine go to when they want the latest trends on the local real estate market. 10. She still hangs out with her friends from her Silver Spring days at Montgomery Hills Junior High School.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
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Yasmin Abadian
Long & Foster, Potomac Village 10200 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 301-983-1212 | Yasmin@LNF.com www.TeamPotomac.com
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar
10 things to know about Yasmin Abadian:
2. I attended UCLA as pre-med and graduated with a BSc in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. I worked in cardiac rehab and exercise physiology when I graduated. 3. I have 28-year old identical twin girls. One graduated from Winston Churchill High and the other from Walt Whitman High. Both competed on their tennis teams but never played against each other.
6. Besides real estate investments, I believe in investing in people and local businesses. Along with my husband, Jimmy, I’ve invested in DC Brau Brewery, Brookland Pint, Fruitive and &Pizza. Just recently we took over River Falls Market in Potomac. 7. Jimmy and I believe in giving back – not just money, but of ourselves. Involved in numerous causes, we volunteer monthly at Miriam’s Kitchen where, along with our daughter Anna, we serve breakfast to the homeless. 8. I’m certified as an Integrative Coach as well as in Positive Psychology.
4. An exercise enthusiast, I go from yoga (all kinds) to Tabata classes to Zumba.
9. I led the Top Real Estate Team in the Potomac Village office of Long & Foster in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
5. I love to travel and have been to 19 countries in addition to the United States. I’d like to add a few more to the list!
10. I led the Top Real Estate Listing Team in Montgomery County for Long & Foster in 2013.
hilary schwab
1. I grew up in Bethesda in Carderock Springs and was in the very first class at Carderock Springs Elementary. I went on to Cabin John Jr. High and Winston Churchill High School.
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Marc Fleisher
Long & Foster Realtors 5101 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20016-4120 202-364-5200 | Cell: 202-438-4880 Marc@thefleishergroup.com www.thefleishergroup.com
Widely recognized as the premiere real estate professional in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Marc is a seasoned industry leader and top Realtor with over 33 years of incomparable experience and service.
10 things to know about Marc Fleisher: 1. I started an underground radio station in Washington, D.C. 2. I use only chopsticks. I haven’t had a fork in my mouth in 45 years. 3. Before getting into real estate, I had a job renting roller skates. 4. My first job in real estate was with Shannon & Luchs. In my rookie year in 1980, I was the #1 agent and I have maintained that ranking now for 35 years. 5. I have closed $3 billion in sales over my career.
7. I am deeply committed and always put my client’s interests first – and this is in an industry that’s usually perceived as self-serving. 8. I’m more proud of my strict ethics and integrity than I am of my financial successes. This is my greatest satisfaction in the real estate industry. 9. I have the finest real estate team in the entire United States supporting me. 10. I enjoy my job today - 35 years later – just as much as I did when I began.
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6. No matter how busy and successful in all my years, I have always prioritized family and friends in my life.
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Cheryl Kurss Long & Foster
20 Chevy Chase Circle Washington, D.C. 20015 301-346-6615 cheryl.kurss@lnf.com www.cherylkurss.com
Cheryl Kurss is a longtime D.C.-area resident who is determined to make your experience buying or selling a home stress-free and a total success.
10 things to know about Cheryl Kurss: 1. I was a comparative literature major at Smith College in Massachusetts where I studied French, Italian and English literature. 2. I graduated from law school and practiced law for almost 15 years before becoming a Realtor with Long & Foster’s Chevy Chase Office. 3. I’ve raised three kids and many rescue dogs in the Chevy Chase area. 4. I was born in New York and have lived in Massachusetts, Paris and Washington, D.C. 5. In my spare time, I enjoy dancing and I take ballet classes at Maryland Youth Ballet. 6. I am a member of two local book clubs, one of which has been meeting for over 20 years. 7. My favorite place to visit in D.C. is the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art. 8. I’ve been a vegetarian most of my life and I enjoy grocery shopping at local farmer’s markets.
10. I have been the top agent in the Chevy Chase office for most of my career, including this year!
hilary schwab
9. My partner is a 75 lb. brown rescue dog named Moose who appears in all of my marketing pieces. She’s a working dog and comes with me on photo shoots. We have a Moose of the Month postcard with new listings, and now she has a calendar out for my clients.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Special Advertising Section
Creig Northrop, President & Chief Executive Officer The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate 11620 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 301-770-0760 | cnorthrop@northropteam.com www.northropteam.com
The leader of Maryland’s #1 Real Estate Team, Creig Northrop specializes in residential real estate throughout Maryland and the D.C. metro area. Integrity and unquenchable drive are touchstones that have made Northrop’s Team one of the most productive and successful in real estate history.
10 things to know about Creig Northrop and his team: 1. Creig is a University of Maryland alumnus and an avid Terps fan. 2. His favorite number is 7. 3. Creig’s team sold 1,090 units in 2014. 4. The Northrop Team has five office locations throughout Maryland and also serves the Washington, D.C. metro area. 5. The Creig Northrop Team has been the #1 Real Estate Team in Maryland since 2010 as reported by The Wall Street Journal and Real Trends.
8. Creig is the youngest agent ever to be inducted into Luxury Real Estate’s Billionaire’s Club, which honors agents who have personally sold over $1 billion in real estate during their careers. 9. The Creig Northrop Team is the official real estate team of University of Maryland Basketball. 10. Philanthropy is inherent to Creig’s philosophy. He says, “Giving back to the communities where we live and work is crucial to us.”
James Kim
6. He starts each day by proclaiming it to be, “The BEST day in real estate.”
7. Northrop’s Team has been the top producing Long & Foster Real Estate team in the nation for more than 10 years.
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Special Advertising Section
5 things to know about Vicki L. Porter:
Vicki L. Porter, SRES
1. She is an alumni of the University of Maryland in College Park with a degree in Housing and Urban Design.
4701 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 20816 301-325-2965 | Office: 301-229-4000 vicki.porter@longandfoster.com www.VickiPorter.net
2. Vicki grew up and raised her family in Bethesda. They all attended Walt Whitman High School and she and her husband still reside in Bethesda.
Miller Realtors, A Long & Foster Co.
4. Vicki has her SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) designation and is a pro at helping people downsize. 5. Her favorite things to do in her spare time are travel, watch movies, stay fit and frequent new local restaurants. TONY LEWIS JR
Vicki Porter is dedicated to helping her buyers and sellers transition to their next phase in life after selling their home and finding their new dream home!
3. She owned her own Travel Agency before finding her calling as a real estate agent.
5 things to know about Meg Moran: Meredith Fine Properties Lacaze Meredith Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, A Long & Foster Company 101 North West St. Easton, MD 21601 410-822-2001 | Cell: 410-310-2209 megmoran@mris.com www.megmoran.com
Meg can help you find that perfect spot on Maryland’s bucolic eastern shore where the living is easy and time slows down!
1. Meg is an alum of Penn State, LSU and UNC. 2. Meg is married to an international airline pilot. 3. She is a member of the Gold Team with Long & Foster. Prior to her real estate career, she was a special education teacher in public, private and Department of Defense schools. 4. She is an advocate for mental health and is a board member for the Mental Health Association of Talbot County. 5. Meg loves dogs, biking, boating and fishing and she has a great sense of humor!
COURTESY PHOTO
Meg Moran, Realtor, GRI
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Margie Halem
Long & Foster Gateway 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-775-4196 margiehalem@longandfoster.com margiehalem@lnf.com www.margiehalemrealtor.com
Margie is in the Top 1 percent of agents nationwide and was “A Top Vote Getter” for “Best Real Estate Agent” in 2010-2015 in the Bethesda Magazine Readers’ Poll.
10 things to know about Margie Halem: 1. Margie has consistently been among the top vote getters in the Bethesda Magazine “Best of Bethesda” Readers’ Poll for “Best Real Estate Agent.” She is ranked in The Wall Street Journal’s Top Realtors list. 2. Margie is a Penn State alum and a huge Pittsburgh Steeler fan. 3. She’s one of five girls and an identical twin. She loved growing up in Pittsburgh even though she spent three years in Overland Park, Kansas.
Courtesy Photo
4. She started her successful real estate career in 1984 in Georgetown and has been making families happy ever since. 5. She is an active member of her sisterhood at Temple Beth Ami and actively supports numerous charities.
6. Outside the office, she is a gourmet cook and enjoys entertaining and spending time with her family. 7. Her best advice for being a successful businesswoman is to treat others the way you want to be treated. 8. If she wasn’t working in real estate, Margie would love to continue her role full time as an advocate for Autism Speaks. 9. Margie’s husband Mitch, her three sons and daughter in-law are her guiding force. (The Halem’s puppy Ella has her well trained!) 10. Margie is inspired by her parent’s love and devotion. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary!
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Special Advertising Section
Trent Heminger & Mary Noone
Trent & Co. Team at Beasley Real Estate LLC 4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 215, Bethesda, MD 20814 Office: 240-800-4400 Trent Cell: 202-210-6448 | THeminger@BeasleyRE.com Mary Cell: 240-461-3928 | MNoone@BeasleyRE.com www.BeasleyRE.com
This duo leads the successful Trent & Co. Bethesda office, with the highest level of customer service for buying, selling, staging and marketing.
10 things to know about the Trent & Co. Team:
2. Trent Heminger, who manages the team, is named one of "America's Best Real Estate Agents" by both Real Trends and The Wall Street Journal in 2014. 3. Trent and Mary, the lead Bethesda agents, both live in Bethesda's South Bradley Hills neighborhood with active six-year old kindergarteners at Bradley Hills Elementary School. 4. They are backed by a team with 50+ years of collective real estate experience. Their knowledge of the housing inventory schools, and neighborhoods is unparalleled and includes the Team’s own Walt Whitman grad, Kevin Gray. 5. Most often working with clients who are simultaneously selling their current home while purchasing their next one, these two manage this stressful process with a strategic and well-executed plan, tackling any obstacle that comes their way.
6. Preparing your home for market is one of their favorite tasks that involves staging, re-organizing, managing contractors as needed, and thorough photography and marketing. This ultimately gets the highest value with as little intrusion to the seller as possible. 7. Trent and Mary leverage their years of corporate experience to help clients solve problems in unique ways. Mary started as a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue and Trent in sales and marketing for the Kellogg Company. 8. Excellent customer service is a bedrock principle, with 11 p.m. or 6 a.m. conference calls a common occurrence. These two truly put their clients’ schedules first. 9. Trent & Co. clients become family. Clients are more than transactions: they’re lifelong friends. 10. Fun and energetic, these two love what they do, and are supported by a smart group of people who invest in their clients well beyond closing.
TONY LEWIS JR
1. Trent & Co sold close to $100 million in real estate in 2014.
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Special Advertising Section
10 THINGS TO KNOW about Andy Alderdice: 1. A fifth-generation Washingtonian. 2. Top 1 percent of Long & Foster agents nationally and top W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtor listing team in 2013. 3. 21 years in the real estate business. 4. Obsessed with communicating with clients. 5. Never did quite learn to play the saxophone. 6. Hands-on personal service with clients – what you see is what you get. 7. Will always tell you if it’s not the right time to sell your home or buy. 8. Does not turn clients over to a junior agent. 9. Takes on a limited number of clients to ensure heavy focus on each one. 10. Never really wanted to play the saxophone anyway.
Andy Alderdice, GRI, CRS W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Company
hilary schwab
4701 Sangamore Road, LL1, Bethesda, MD 20816 Cell: 301-466-5898 | Office: 301-229-4000 | andy4homes@gmail.com www.andy4homes.com
When not working her real estate magic in D.C., MD and VA, Andy serves on multiple boards and committees of local charitable and civic associations. She is a past recipient of the Business Person of the Year award from the Potomac Chamber of Commerce.
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Special Advertising Section
Ted Duncan
WC & AN Miller Realtors, A Long & Foster Company 4701 Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 301-785-7966 | Ted@LNF.com www.TedDuncan.lnf.com
“Well beyond expectations” – the sentiment from every one of Ted’s clients. Ted makes the sale or purchase of your home a terrific experience.
10 things to know about Ted Duncan: 1. A native Washingtonian and youngest of five siblings. 2. Ted attended St. Lawrence University in Upstate New York where he earned a B.S. in Physics and was a member of the male a cappella group.
5. He has tutored physics, chemistry, biology and calculus to middle and high schoolers. 6. For their honeymoon, Ted and his wife climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro – the highest peak in Africa.
3. He began selling real estate in 1992, has been on the Board of the River Falls Civic Association for the past seven years, and is a big volunteer with his time and knowledge from kayaking with wounded warriors to assisting in the elementary school to advocating for the community on political fronts.
7. It is clear Ted loves his job. If he was not a Realtor, he would be a high school science teacher. He enjoys writing children’s stories and is working on a novel.
4. Ted was a film, TV and stage actor for about 10 years in D.C., N.Y. and L.A. He was also a professional ballroom dancer.
9. His approach to real estate and particularly pricing is unique and worth exploring.
8. He has never met someone with whom he does not have a connection.
hilary schwab
10. Ted has three amazing children and a wonderful wife.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Lynda O’Dea*
Long & Foster Bethesda Gateway 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-988-4400 | Lynda@BethesdaRealEstate.com www.BethesdaRealEstate.com
Lynda is considered one of the top real estate agents in the D.C. area and a luxury market specialist.
10 things to know about Lynda O'Dea: 1. Lynda is the #1 top producing individual agent at Long & Foster’s highest producing office. 2. She is a 2015 “Best of Bethesda” top five vote-getter for “Best Realtor” in Bethesda Magazine’s Readers Poll. 3. Lynda is proud to be a lifelong resident of Bethesda and Chevy Chase. She has deep knowledge of the communities and serves the D.C. metro area, from Bethesda to Chevy Chase, Potomac, Northwest D.C., Arlington and McLean.
James Kim
4. She offers a multi-generational perspective by working with her daughter Christina O’Dea, a certified stager who loves working with first-time-homebuyers. 5. Lynda's unique combination of expertise includes online and traditional marketing, business, technology and interior design.
6. Considered one of the leading web marketing experts in the D.C. real estate market, Lynda maximizes online exposure for all of her listings. 7. Lynda’s business and technology background provide clients with strong negotiation skills, as well as highly efficient processes and constant communication. 8. She provides complimentary staging services for sellers as well as impeccable design advice for buyers using her extensive background in interior design. 9. A favorite challenge of Lynda's is working with downsizers moving in-town from the suburbs. 10. Lynda is committed to making every client’s experience with buying and selling their home a positive one that exceeds their expectations. * DBA Lynda O'Dea Teubher BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 155
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Special Advertising Section
Betty Batty, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 7272 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 Office: 301-718-0010 | Direct: 301-832-7609 battyrealestate@gmail.com
An expert in metro area real estate, and especially in Southern Montgomery County, Betty is well equipped to help you buy or sell your home.
10 things to know about Betty Batty:
2. She has sold nearly 70 homes in the past two years. 3. A lifetime member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association, she is an avid Terp fan. 4. Prior to embarking on a career in real estate, Betty spent more than 13 years fund raising, event planning and managing budgets for a national non-profit. 5. Betty has traveled to 10 different countries and also owns a home in Bethany Beach. 6. Betty is committed to philanthropy throughout the year. She coordinates “Warming Communities Coat Drive” each Fall and, in 2014, collected over 350 coats, hats and mittens for the less privileged. She also serves as an ambassador for the DC Diaper Bank and is active with her children’s school.
7. Betty is a Certified Negotiation Expert, a certification that a small percentage hold in the area and has also completed the National Association of Realtor’s Green Designation. 8. Betty has earned the coveted Coldwell Banker "International President’s Circle" award, among many others. 9. She continuously ranks as a Top Producer in the Bethesda office! 10. Betty works hard to balance a busy work schedule while still enjoying time with her husband, daughter and son.
Mike Olliver
1. Betty is a Maryland native.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Gretchen Koitz, Principal
The Koitz Group @ Keller Williams Capital Properties 7801 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 Office: 240-383-1350 | Cell: 301-442-8122 gk@koitzgroup.com | www.koitzgroup.com
As the Principal Partner of The Koitz Group, Gretchen and her team were “Top Vote Getters” in this year’s Bethesda Magazine Reader's Poll. They have also been recognized by DC City Paper readers.
10 things to know about Gretchen Koitz: 1. She considers herself a local, having moved here from Montana as a child. 2. She worked on Capitol Hill before beginning her real estate career. 3. In client relationships, she is uncompromisingly hands-on and education-driven. 4. Her “happy place” is Telluride, Colorado, but she also enjoys living and working in “wonderful, walkable” Bethesda.
7. One of her favorite vacations was a weeklong yoga retreat in Italy. 8. Kevin Koitz, her son/business partner, is encouraging her to meditate. 9. Jason Koitz, another son/business partner, is encouraging her to be a foodie. 10. David Koitz, her husband/life partner, is encouraging her to drink more wine.
hilary schwab
5. She treasures childhood memories of attending Harry Belafonte concerts at Carter Barron Amphitheatre with her dad.
6. Her guilty pleasure is Baskin & Robbins Chocolate Chip and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream (a scoop of each!).
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Special Advertising Section
Barrie Kydd
Long & Foster Real Estate 7700 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 120 Bethesda, MD 20814 240-497-1700, ext. 1744 | Direct: 301-325-4040 Bkydd@Bkydd.com | www.BarrieKydd.LNF.com
Barrie Kydd loves living in downtown Bethesda, which is where she has served the majority of her clients. Her expertise is in Montgomery County and the surrounding D.C. metro area.
10 things to know about Barrie Kydd:
2. Barrie has over 30 years of experience in marketing, sales and customer service, working with residential, commercial and government entities. 3. Her clients include sellers and buyers from all walks of life, from experienced homeowners to first-time homebuyers. 4. With special expertise in listing condominiums in Bethesda, Barrie attributes her success to selling homes and townhomes in the surrounding Metro area as well. 5. Always putting her clients first, Barrie’s integrity has gained the trust and gratitude of her sellers and buyers.
6. Barrie is coming off a fantastic year, having made the prestigious Long & Foster Gold Team and Chairman’s Club for 2014. 7. She is a Council Member of Suburban Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC). 8. Barrie has a long history of local philanthropy, including the Montgomery Hospice Foundation, Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue Squad, Montgomery County Humane Society, Children’s Inn at NIH and JSSA. 9. With a long list of happy clients who would love to share their experience, Barrie invites you to read more at www.BarrieKydd.LNF.com. 10. When not working with her clients, Barrie loves to cook. She makes a mean apple pie and says her husband, David, is a great “sous chef!”
hilary schwab
1. A native Washingtonian who was born in D.C., Barrie has lived in Montgomery County all of her life.
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Left to Right: Ilene Gordon, Paula Nesbitt, Shelley Green, Wendy Banner, Michelle Teichberg, Julia Fortin Dalton
Wendy Banner & The Banner Team
The Wendy Banner Team, Long & Foster 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-365-9090 | 301-907-7600 | wendy@bannerteam.com www.BannerTeam.com
10 things to know about the Banner Team: 1. The Banner Team has a combined 129 years of experience in the real estate industry.
7. Shelley Green is an avid scuba diver and a top rated agent on Angie’s List.
2. We are licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Florida.
8. Julia Fortin Dalton was trained in the financial sector and grew up in Brazil and speaks fluent Portuguese.
3. We sold and settled over $100 million worth of real estate in 2013 and 2014.
9. Ilene Gordon serves on numerous charitable organizations and in her spare time loves to ski, hike, bike and spend time with her family.
4. Our group is ranked in the Top 100 Teams in 2012 and 2013 in sales volume by The Wall Street Journal.
Courtesy Photo
5. The Banner Team was the Top Team in the #1 office of Long & Foster in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
10. Paula Nesbitt brings over 25 years of corporate business experience to her clients. She enjoys working with all of her clients and is well versed with investment properties. Paula enjoys golf and reading.
6. Along with her strong sales and negotiating background, Michelle Teichberg is also a classically trained opera singer who can serenade our clients while house hunting!
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Paul E. Biciocchi
Principal Broker/Owner Forum Properties, Inc. Pinnacle Office Center 10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20817 301-518-6999 paulbiciocchi@hotmail.com www.forumpropertiesinc.com
"The real estate market is constantly changing. An experienced broker is invaluable. I lead clients through successful transactions – not push them through."
Special Advertising Section
5 things to know about Paul Biciocchi: 1. I was born and raised in Bethesda, and I’m a graduate of the University of Maryland. 2. I’ve been licensed for 36 years, with a total volume of $825,000,000 in career residential sales. 3. Experience, integrity and personal service are my calling card. 4. My referral business and repeat client business is extraordinarily high due to the abovementioned #3. 5. Spending time with my wife and three lovely daughters at our Bethany Beach home is my favorite form of relaxation. hilary schwab
Real estate Agent | Profiles
5 things to know about Shiva Zargham:
Shiva Zargham
Senior Partner @ Real Living | At Home A Residential Real Estate Brokerage Firm 4600 N. Park Ave., Suite 100 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 240-893-4195 shiva@shiva-re.com www.shivazargham.com
2. I am a former CPA with nine years of public and private accounting experience, and I ran a family owned fashion boutique in Bethesda. 3. I am a mother of a teenager and familiar with all the schools in D.C. and MD. 4. I am a design enthusiast, food lover and love to travel the globe. 5. I am a senior partner and Realtor at one of the fastest-growing real estate brokerage firms in the D.C. area. James Kim
Whether you’re buying, selling, investing or relocating, my intention is to make your experience the best it can be.
1. I was born and raised on three continents – Asia, Europe and North America. I’ve lived in the D.C. metro area for 30 years and know its many neighborhoods and communities.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Zelda Heller, Senior Vice President TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-257-1226 zelda.heller@sothebysrealty.com zeldaheller.com
Zelda’s knowledge of real estate and focus on client relationships make her a top choice to buy or sell in the Washington region.
10 things to know about Zelda Heller: 1. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, she maintains her ties to Africa by sponsoring children from elementary school through high school graduation.
6. In 2000, Zelda became the first woman on the Board of Directors of National Capital Bank in their 125-year history.
2. Zelda was recently featured in the Washington Post for having the third highest sale in the region for 2014 ($8.65 million).
7. She has been the TTR Sotheby’s company-wide leader in sales volume since 2011.
3. She makes a mean lentil soup. 4. If Zelda wasn’t in real estate, she’d be a children’s theater director.
9. This year, she celebrated her 57th wedding anniversary with her husband, Izzy. 10. Zelda’s office is next door to the site of Heller Jewelry, a business she ran with her husband for 20 years.
hilary schwab
5. Her best business advice is to keep it personal. Clients that become friends—some of whom go back 25 years—are one of the keys to her success.
8. Zelda loves to knit!
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Special Advertising Section
5 things to know about Greystone Realty: 1. Our size fits a buyer or seller looking for personalized service with substantial volume to showcase our expertise. Our listings sell on average for 98 percent of the list price. 2. The grass grows beautifully on the front lawn of our residential homes, but it doesn’t grow under our feet. We move our listings!
Greystone Realty
3833 Farragut Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 Jacqueline: 301-928-4669 | jolinger@greystonerealty.net Jill: 301-233-5596 | jbalow@greystonerealty.net Office: 301-244-4705 | www.greystonerealty.net
Greystone Realty is your neighborhood real estate company, a boutique agency to provide the highest level of service to meet all your needs.
4. You may not win a blue ribbon, like our alma mater Churchill, but the victory of landing in the perfect home is priceless. We value matching buyers and sellers that fit, and won’t stop until the pieces fit perfectly. 5. We don’t carry a clipboard or whistle but we consider ourselves life coaches. Anyone can sell properties, but we leave no stone unturned in everything we do.
TONY LEWIS JR
Jacqueline Band-Olinger & Jill Balow
3. You’d never know it, looking at us sprinting through your process, but we’re old. With a combined century of living in the Maryland suburbs, we’ve got contacts to leverage on your behalf.
5 things to know about Barbara Skardis: 1. She was born in New York, grew up in Athens, Greece, and has been a resident of Montgomery County for over 32 years. 2. She enjoys family time with her husband, two daughters, son and son-in-law and loves to cook and entertain family and friends.
Barbara A. Skardis, CRS, GRI, SFR, Associate Broker
4. Barbara’s hobbies include interior design, photography, swimming and dancing, and she is fluent in Greek.
10200 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854 Direct: 240-481-0700 | Office: 301-299-6000 www.bskardis.com | Barbara@bskardis.com
5. A people person, she is caring and active in her community. She is a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church, St. George’s Ladies Philoptochos Society, Daughters of Penelope, American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
W.C. & A. N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Company
Barbara is celebrating 25 years of success as an award-winning, top-producing real estate consultant, specializing in fine properties in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Supplied Photo
3. Prior to real estate, Barbara worked in public relations for a corporation and law firms and then found her niche as a Realtor.
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Real estate Agent | Profiles
Kris Feldman
Long & Foster Bethesda Gateway 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 Cell: 301-806-8240 | Office: 301-907-7600 Kris.Feldman@LNF.com www.KrisFeldman.lnf.com
Nobody knows Bethesda and Potomac home values better, or works harder and smarter for her clients, than Kris.
10 things to know about Kris Feldman: 1. A mid-westerner with an Ohio State University degree, “Go Buckeyes” and high energy are in her DNA. 2. Over the past 25 years she’s represented hundreds of buyers and sellers with nearly $500 million in volume. 3. With all her industry recognition, her greatest achievements are still her daughter, her son and her cockapoo.
TONY LEWIS JR
4. Kris believes there are three things key to finding the right home: a) location b) knowing the neighborhoods, and c) choosing an agent who is knowledgeable and compatible with you. 5. Three things she advises home buyers: be prepared, be patient and understand your marketplace.
6. The one favor friends and family never stop asking of her? Another batch of her “killer brownies.” 7. Kris believes that sellers have a better chance of getting a higher sales price with a realistic list price. 8. One of the biggest mistakes buyers make: not trusting their instincts. Sometimes their dream house is the first house they see. 9. Kris believes that singing in the shower will eventually make her voice sound like Barbra Streisand. 10. What she loves about real estate: Meeting people, making friends and helping buyers and sellers with the investment of a lifetime.
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City
Maire/Emma: I’d like to wait to write a hed and deck until we know what the cover and opening spread here will be. Hed: Deck: By David Frey
High-rises dominate the landscape in downtown Bethesda, which has morphed from a traditional suburb into a city in its own right.
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Living More and more people are moving to urban neighborhoods where they can walk to work, dinner or a movie. photo by michael ventura
BY DAVID FREY
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city living
Baby boomers and millennials are attracted to downtown Bethesda’s walkability and Pike and Rose’s proximity to restaurants and shops.
18 years ago, Leslie and Bruce McNair found everything they wanted from a home in the suburbs. The spacious colonial was close enough to D.C. for Bruce to drive to work, and to downtown Bethesda for Leslie to volunteer. Over the next two decades, the family room would fill during kids’ sleepovers. The big backyard would play host to lacrosse practices and, eventually, a nephew’s wedding rehearsal dinner. When their two sons attended the nearby Landon School, friends would come over to shower after soccer games. The boys are grown now. Their bedrooms are empty. The backyard games are over. So, in addition to the American flag waving over the front porch, a “Sold” sign hangs next to the front walk of the white brick home as the couple prepares to embark on what they call their “next adventure.” The McNairs bought a luxury town house under construction in downtown Bethesda, a place where they can walk for coffee, dinner, a movie or groceries. They’ve already started using the corner dry cleaner nearby. They’ve mapped out the Bethesda Circulator routes. The
Chippendale sofa, the Louis XV parlor chairs and the antique dining room table are heading for storage. “We’re kind of at a stage in life where the suburban life—the large lot, the room to spread out—is less important,” Bruce, 60, says as he sits in the couple’s living room, where built-in shelves are lined with hardcover books, china plates and ceramic vases, all looking so tidy that it’s hard to imagine them packed away in boxes and moved to a new home. The McNairs are part of a demographic shift that is remaking Montgomery County. Driven largely by millennials on one end and baby boomers on the other, the change has morphed downtown Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring— areas that once were seen primarily as suburbs of Washington, D.C.—into cities in their own right. Meanwhile, areas that were largely car-centric suburbia a decade ago—think White Flint, Rockville and Gaithersburg—are seeing strip malls, shopping centers and suburban landscapes being reimagined as urbanstyle, mixed-use neighborhoods with the rise of such developments as Pike & Rose
and Downtown Crown. “Montgomery County is not the bedroom community it once was,” says Bonnie Casper, a real estate agent in Bethesda and president-elect of the Maryland Association of Realtors. “People are working here, not just living here. There are big industries here. It’s becoming much more urban. I tend to think it’s a good thing.” Not everyone agrees. Some bristle at the high-rises blocking out the sky, and worry about increased traffic and congestion. Others are concerned that an urban sameness will leave these communities looking like Any City, USA—overpriced places with more wine bars than parks and grocery stores. But boosters say the changes are good for the communities, for their residents and for the planet. They’re creating towns that are walkable and lively, where neighbors meet, shop down the street and leave the car at home. The changes are rising out of the ground all over Montgomery County. But it isn’t just happening here. It’s part of a national transformation that some say signals a whole new way of life.
Bethesda photo by skip brown; ipic/city perch courtesy photo
When they moved to Rayburn Road
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“It’s the end of a certain kind
of suburb, and it’s definitely the end of the suburb as the end-all, be-all pillar of the American Dream and of American culture,” says Leigh Gallagher. An assistant managing editor at Fortune magazine, Gallagher wrote the 2013 book The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream is Moving, which chronicles the nation’s shift from suburbia to the city. Many car-centric suburbs are emptying across the country, Gallagher says. Meanwhile, small cities from Greenville, South Carolina, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are thriving, as are urbanized suburbs such as White Plains, New York, and Bethesda, as baby boomers downsize and millennials shun the traditional burbs. “Moving to a small city is the new moving to the suburbs,” Gallagher says. “You get a nicer quality of life. You can often get a house and a yard if you want one. You can have all the urban accoutrements that you want, but you don’t have the prohibitive price of Washington, D.C., or San Francisco.” That’s partly because many small cities have seen their quality of life rise and crime rates fall in recent decades, Gallagher says, and partly because, as commute times have risen, the appeal of the traditional suburb is fading. “We engineered all this livelihood out of our communities,” she says. The shift comes at a time when the two biggest population bulges of the past century are converging on the same city streets. “We’re in a substantial transformation period all over the country,” says Bruce Leonard, a managing principal at Streetsense, a Bethesda-based branding, marketing and design firm that often works with developers. “It’s dramatic. You’re seeing a lot of reinvention of public space responding to what I think the market forces are: boomers and millennials.”
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photo by skip brown
“Montgomery County is not the bedroom community it once was,” says real estate agent Bonnie Casper. “People are working here, not just living here. It’s becoming much more urban.”
Millennials, people born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, constitute one-third of the population, making them the largest generation in the country. With the oldest millennials in their 30s now, they’re on the ascendancy in the workforce, Leonard says. At his firm, about 85 percent of the 110 or so employees are millennials, he says, and most live in urban places like downtown Bethesda or downtown Silver Spring. Most millennials, he says, would
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rather walk or take the Metro to work than sit in traffic. They’d rather hang out at the corner café than over a backyard barbecue. They’re having families later or not at all. “They don’t really buy into the suburban dream,” Leonard says. “They want to live in the urban core.” That’s true for Toby Rowell, 38, and Megan Ivankovich, 34, huddled over steaming mugs at Kaldi’s Coffee Bar in Silver Spring. Their suburban dream
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is affordable, diverse, dog-friendly and close to the Metro. They like living in walking distance of this popular hangout and other neighborhood coffee shops, bars and farmers markets. “It’s funny because we often debated whether this is suburbia or not,” Rowell says. “It’s like we’re in the city but we’re not in the city.” Meanwhile, millennials’ parents and grandparents, baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 who once headed to the suburbs to raise families, are becoming empty nesters and retiring. Many, like the McNairs, are fleeing the traditional suburbs in search of active lifestyles they can enjoy without getting behind the wheel. “I want more of a New York life,” says Leslie, 57. The McNairs grew up here—she in Bethesda, he in Chevy Chase—but they became enthralled by the idea of city life while visiting their older son when he was working in Manhattan. It wasn’t just the idea of shops and restaurants within walking distance. It was the liveliness that came with sidewalks bustling with ordinary people doing everyday things on foot. “We just fell in love,” Leslie says.
A s s u b u r b a n i t e s like the
McNairs move to urbanized areas, new high-rises are rising up to greet them. According to Delta Associates, the real estate research firm, 2,058 apartments are scheduled to come on line in Bethesda in the next three years in 10 mid-rise and high-rise buildings. In addition, 432 condominium units are in the works at eight new projects. Many of these buildings boast high-end amenities: There will be an outdoor television with a fire pit at 7001 Arlington Road, a rooftop pool at Gallery Bethesda, and 24-hour concierge service at The Darcy. Silver Spring is seeing new residential projects, too, at places such as the 21-story luxury apartment complex
Sell the Lawnmower
Downsizing can be exhilarating. It’s a time to start over and live life differently. But it’s not always easy. Here are some tips from local homeowners who have made the transition. By David Frey
Plan ahead: Leslie and Bruce McNair started thinking about their move from the suburbs to a downtown Bethesda town house years before they signed the papers. “We’ve been ready to move for four years,” Bruce says. They took that time to see what was available, what was coming on the market, and what they wanted. They had admired the work of Sandy Spring Builders for years, but the company was best known for big suburban homes and country estates. When it designed its first urban project—four town houses on Montgomery Lane in Bethesda—the couple jumped on board. “It’s going to be a beautiful project,” Bruce says. Try it out: Real estate agent Jane Fairweather wasn’t sure how she’d adapt to leaving her 5,000-square-foot home for a 2,700-square-foot condo in the Edgemoor building in downtown Bethesda. So she lived in both at the same time. “For a year, I actually owned my home, moved out every weekend, went out to live in my condo and went back home,” she says, laughing. “It took me awhile to mentally adjust to the move.” After a few months, she found herself enjoying the urban lifestyle and not missing the extra space. She didn’t sit in traffic as much anymore. She didn’t worry about overgrown lawns or flooded basements. She could walk to get a manicure.
“I’m thrilled,” she says. “It just completely freed up my life.”
Think about how you live now: “What I always say to people is think about your house and tell me what rooms you live in,” Fairweather says. For most people, it’s the kitchen, the family room and their bedroom. They’re already living in a smaller space, they just don’t know it yet, she says. “When you are thinking about space, you need to be thinking about the new lifestyle you’re going to,” she says. “That’s very hard, because when you think about your house and all those rooms you lived in, you think you need a lot of space.” But you probably don’t, Fairweather says, adding, “Who uses the living room, really?”
Imagine your urban lifestyle: The McNairs have room for their formal living room set in their new town house. They just don’t have space for it in their lives anymore. “The Chippendale sofa is not going to follow us there,” Leslie says. Neither are the Louis XV chairs. Instead, they’re thinking less formal, more modern, more natural fibers, and, Leslie says, “a lot less clutter.” The antiques worked well in their suburban home, they say, but they don’t fit in with the lifestyle they have in mind in an urban condo. “Everything’s going to be comfortable,” Leslie says.
Measure: It’s not just about lifestyle, though. Condos often are laid out differently
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“You have enormous time because you don’t spend it in the car. You don’t spend it mowing the yard.” —jane fairweather
from homes, and even if the square footage seems comparable, the room configuration may not be. “Look very closely at the depth of each of your pieces,” Leslie says. “The big fat sofas aren’t going to work.”
photo by erick gibson
Hire a designer: Of course you can do it yourself, but an interior designer may pay attention to details you overlook. When Peggy and Tommy Fleury made the move from a five-bedroom home in Bethesda’s Sumner neighborhood to a three-bedroom Kenwood Forest town house in Chevy Chase that’s less than half the size, they hired an interior designer to help them figure out what they could keep, and what had to go. “When we were signing the lease, she was measuring like crazy,” Peggy says of Rachel Humphreys, the designer they hired. It paid off, Peggy says. “She sent us a choice of three blueprints of what could fit and what couldn’t.” Get rid of it: The longer you stay in a house, the more you’re bound to accumulate. Those kids’ trophies and stacks of phone bills add up. “This is the biggest problem people have when they downsize,” Fairweather says. Moving is a good time to sell the old textbooks and pass on the
heirlooms to other family members.
Consider donating: “That was one of the hardest things about moving: the stuff,” Peggy Fleury says. She considered having an estate sale, but after 30 years and three kids, lots of household items weren’t exactly estate-like anymore. They ended up giving away much of the furniture that didn’t fit in the new town house. Nonprofits including Silver Spring-based A Wider Circle (www.awidercircle.org) accept tax-deductible donations of quality furniture and household items and give them to Washington, D.C.-area families in need, including those transitioning out of homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters. Rent a storage unit: The McNairs imagine their antique dining room table going to one of their sons. But at 27 and 23, they aren’t ready for it yet. So a storage unit is being rented until the kids want the keepsakes that no longer fit in their parents’ lives. “Most condos come with storage,” Fairweather says, “but if you have more than that, just get an inexpensive storage unit.” The Fleurys rented a small storage space for things, such as bicycles, that didn’t fit
inside their new home. “That’s our garage,” Peggy says.
Entertain out: A condo’s living room may be too tight for a big cocktail party. The dining room may be too small to have the extended family over for dinner. For people who like to entertain, this may be one of the toughest adjustments when downsizing. Many new apartments and condos have party rooms and conference rooms where residents can host events. That’s where Fairweather hosts her parties now. “It’s just unbelievable what public spaces are in these buildings,” she says. But when friends come over, they won’t just be able to pull into the driveway or park by the mailbox. “I think that was the biggest adjustment for me,” she says. “If you have six or seven couples over, you have to figure out where they’re going to park.” Still, living downtown also means many more options, she says. Restaurants and cafés are nearby for visits with friends you used to entertain at home. Just do it: “Don’t be afraid,” Leslie McNair says. “We’re doing it while we’re young, before the fear sets in.”
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“The reason I come back to bikes is not because I like to ride my bike around, but because it’s a good test to see if a place is healthy, safe and attractive to people. A place that’s good for bicycles is almost by definition a good place for people.”
Eleven55 Ripley, which boasts a fitness center and swimming pool. Manuel Majano, property manager at the 235-unit luxury apartment complex Gallery Bethesda, says his building was 93 percent full 10 months after opening last year. “You have empty nesters, you have millennials, you have young professionals,” Majano says. There aren’t a lot of families, he says, but there are a lot of dogs. At Gallery Bethesda, 80 percent of the residents have pets. It’s one thing they have in common, Majano says. Another thing is where they come from. Most, especially the empty nesters who fill all but one of the penthouse units, moved there from within a 5-mile radius. “I have people selling their $4 million houses to come live here,” he says. “We were getting people who lived in their home for 15 years in Chevy Chase who wanted to come live here.” For would-be urbanites who aren’t
moving to the city, the city is coming to them, with tall, mixed-use developments moving deeper into the suburbs. Follow the Red Line to White Flint, where the $500 million Pike & Rose project is bringing luxury apartments, condos and retail. Continue on to the Twinbrook stop, where developers including Federal Realty, The JBG Companies and B.F. Saul Co. are bringing a similar transformation. Downtown Rockville has reimagined itself as a denser, taller urban center with projects such as the Palladian and Fenestra apartments at Rockville Town
Square. And on to Shady Grove, the last stop on the Red Line, where the six-story Bainbridge Shady Grove apartment complex is rising. Most urban projects are centered around Metro stops, where it’s easy for residents to hop a train to work, to a Nats game or to dinner. But some are taking shape off the Metro line. Near Gaithersburg’s Washingtonian Center, Downtown Crown is emerging as a high-end, mixed-use development of more than 2,200 homes and apartments. Off North Frederick Road in Gaithersburg, Para-
photo by amy moore
—Casey Anderson
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mount is opening with luxury apartments above and retail below. Welcome to Montgomery County’s future. “It’s going to be a series of emerald cities popping above the tree canopy of 20-, 30-, maybe 40-story buildings at each of the Metro stations, and then a spine of high-density housing up and down the Rockville Pike,” says land use strategist Christopher Leinberger, a George Washington University professor and president of Locus, a national network of developers and investors interested in creating sustainable, walkable communities. Locus members include such local developers as Federal Realty, JBG and The Meridian Group. That trend will only increase if the proposed Purple Line connecting Bethesda to New Carrollton goes through, Leinberger says. The $2.45 billion light-rail line would have 21 stops in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, including well-heeled locales such as downtown Bethesda and Chevy Chase, and less affluent neighborhoods in Silver Spring and Long Branch. A proposed bus rapid transit system throughout the county could help, too, he says, although bus routes haven’t delivered the same impact on development as rail lines. Is this the end of the suburbs for Montgomery County? Not quite, Leinberger says. Winding streets lined with tidy homes won’t vanish from most of the county. But for about 10 percent of the land along major corridors, he says, change is coming. And not everybody is thrilled about it.
“It could be good, but it’s probably going to be bad,” says Pat Baptiste. A lifelong Chevy Chase resident and vice chair of the village’s board of managers, Baptiste has been an outspoken critic of urbanizing Montgomery County, prompting Rollin Stanley, the county’s former planning director, to dub her and like-minded critics “rich, white women…
“The way to reduce consumption is to go back to what worked through most of human histories, and that is walkable, mixed-use communities,” says Parris Glendening. spreading fear” in a story in the March/ April 2012 issue of Bethesda Magazine. Stanley later apologized, and Baptiste started wearing an “RWW” badge, a gift from her son, to make light of it. Baptiste chooses to meet at Le Pain Quotidien in downtown Bethesda, the kind of place urban-style developers look to as a model. She likes Chevy Chase because shops are in easy walking distance. And she loves cities like Washington, New York and Paris for the walkability that planners are trying to replicate in new developments in the Montgomery County suburbs. But she also loves them for their less tangible qualities, she says: parks, museums and beautiful architecture that make them not just dense, mixed-use developments, but some of the world’s greatest cities. In contrast, she says, the new developments in Montgomery County feel artificial. “Just because you can walk to a restaurant and have a really nice meal doesn’t mean you’re having an urban experience,” she says. Where are the parks in Montgomery County’s new developments, she asks? Wine bars are fine if you’re young and single, but will you be able to find a grocery store? Who can afford to live in these places, anyway? And who says Montgomery County needs to keep growing in the first place? “I don’t have all the answers,” she says. “Just a lot of questions.” Baptiste calls the urbanizing movement “a planning fad.” If it’s a fad, supporters of the concept say, it’s one that isn’t going away anytime soon. “What we must do is reduce consumption,” says former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening. “The way to reduce
consumption is to go back to what worked through most of human histories, and that is walkable, mixed-use communities.” As president of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute, an anti-sprawl organization, Glendening works with state and local governments to plan for this type of growth. Dense developments eat up less land, he says, use less energy and cause less damage to fragile waterways such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They also can make for nicer places to live, supporters say. Places like Kaldi’s are part of the resurgence of Silver Spring, Casey Anderson says as he takes a seat in the coffee shop, surrounded by a 30-something studying for a French test, another working remotely on her laptop, and retirees chatting with friends. Better planning, he says, is making the city a friendlier, more walkable place. The new head of the Montgomery County Planning Board, Anderson has gained attention as a cycling advocate, but bike riding was secondary, he says. “The reason I come back to bikes is not because I like to ride my bike around,” he says, “but because it’s a good test to see if a place is healthy, safe and attractive to people. A place that’s good for bicycles is almost by definition a good place for people.” For Anderson, that means a place where cars share the road with pedestrians and cyclists, where shops and restaurants are close enough to reach by pedalpower, and where public transit is nearby. When he moved to Silver Spring in 2001, that wasn’t the case, he says. But it’s changing. “It’s about giving people more options,” he says. “The fact that housing prices go up in places convenient to tran-
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sit, in some cases dramatically, shows that there’s a demand for it.”
Real estate agents have seen the change, as well. “There’s probably not a better time to buy a home in Potomac,” says agent Marc Fleisher. Lots of homes are going on the market as empty nesters leave Potomac for urban areas, Fleisher says, creating “an inventory glut” that’s keeping prices low. Homes that once sold for $3 million may go for $2 million now, he says, or they may linger on the market for months in a staring contest between sellers who won’t budge and buyers demanding deals. From January through November in 2014, the median home price in Bethesda’s 20814 ZIP code was up 2.21 percent over the same time period in 2013. Compare those two periods in Potomac’s 20854 ZIP code and you see that the median sales price was down 1.77 percent. Meanwhile, the average downtown Bethesda home sat on the market 42 days; in Potomac, the average time on the market was 65 days, more than 50 percent longer. Those numbers don’t include wouldbe sellers who gave up and pulled their home off the market, says Bethesda real estate agent Jane Fairweather. Young families that used to move upward and outward to Potomac addresses for the “panache” are choosing to move upward and inward in places like Bethesda, she says. “They care about their environmental footprint and they don’t want to spend a lot of time in their car guzzling gas.” At the same time, a simpler life in the city is attracting baby boomers like her. Fairweather downsized a decade ago from a five-bedroom home near Suburban Hospital to an Edgemoor condominium with about half the square footage. “It’s just so easy to live your life once you’re living urban,” she says. “You have enormous time because you don’t spend it in the car. You don’t spend it parking. You don’t spend it mowing the yard.” Royce Hanson is about to experience that firsthand. When he looks out the window of
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his colonial on a Montgomery Village cul-desac, he sees a classic suburban development, one that he helped plan when he was head of the Montgomery County Planning Board from 1972 to 1980. Then he left for teaching positions in Minnesota and Texas. When he and his wife returned in 1998, they were drawn to this subdivision, a place where they could walk and ride bikes along the concrete paths that wind through it. “I have an affection for the place,” says Hanson, 83. Hanson says he wishes planners had thought more about walkability back then, not just paths for strolling, but ensuring that shops and restaurants could be reached easily on foot. Still, he’s proud of things they did think about. The socalled “wedges and corridors” plan set the stage for today’s Montgomery County as a place of towns linked by corridors and surrounded by land preserved as farms and parks. About a quarter of the county remains off-limits to development. Hanson headed up the planning board again from 2006 to 2010 in a vastly changed place. Montgomery County had nearly doubled in size and become much more diverse. “I had kind of a Rip Van Winkle experience,” he says. In his second stint on the planning board, Hanson helped set the stage for urbanizing Montgomery County. Now he plans to enjoy it. Widowed, he doesn’t need the big house, he says, and one day he’ll have to stop driving. So he’s looking to sell his home in the suburbs and move to an urban enclave along the Red Line. His own story reads much like the county he lives in and loves. “I grew up on a farm,” Hanson says. “I’ve lived in a small town. I’ve lived in the suburbs. I’ve enjoyed all those experiences. Now it’s time for me to move to a more urban place.” n David Frey lives in Gaithersburg and has written for Sunset magazine and other publications. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesda magazine.com. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 177
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Rockville Town Square has restaurants, shops and green space.
Shoppers can find fresh flowers and more at farmers markets in downtown Silver Spring.
Stately homes line streets in the Kentlands in Gaithersburg.
The Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists.
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walk
to everything In these neighborhoods, residents have the best of both worlds: They live in single-family homes on quiet, leafy streets but are steps away from farmers markets, restaurants, shops and more.
By David Frey photos by skip brown
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East Bethesda Christine and Rob Grant live in a cute yellow Cape Cod with blue shutters and white columns. The living room is painted rosy red. The kitchen has shiny new appliances. The backyard is big enough for summer cookouts. “When we first came to this house, we thought, ooh, we can definitely live here,” says Rob, managing partner with the law firm of Furey, Doolan & Abell, LLP, in Chevy Chase. It wasn’t just the house they loved. It was also the community feel. “You see neighbors out all the time,” Rob says. They’re raising their three children in the home: Timmy, 5, Molly, 3, and Nora, 1. And though the house is a bit of a squeeze for five, they love the convenience of downtown living. “The more you’re here, the more you discover the walkability,” says Christine, a senior communications manager at Marriott International in Bethesda. The house, which was built in 1948, sits in East Bethesda, a neighborhood east of Wisconsin Avenue and north of East West Highway with quiet streets and an eclectic mix of architectural styles: unassuming postwar ranch homes, glassy modernist affairs, contemporary homes with two-car garages. Houses typically list between $780,000 and $1.5 million. “I have memories of what Bethesda used to be like,” says Christine, who grew up in Bethesda’s Springfield neighborhood, between Massachusetts Avenue and River Road, at a time when the town was quieter and felt more suburban. “As it continues to grow and parking is ever scarcer, I think being able to walk downtown and walk to the Metro is even more important.” And frankly, the couple says, it’s good for home values. That’s part of what attracted them to the house. The Bethesda and Medical Center Metro stops are each about a mile away. Neighborhood parks, schools, the library and the grocery store are just blocks from their home. The Grants walk to breakfast at Bethesda Bagels, walk for coffee at Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, and walk to get dinner with the kids at Uncle Julio’s. “I like the quesadillas,” Timmy says.
“The more you’re here, the more you discover the walkability,” says Christine Grant, shown walking with husband Rob, son Timmy, 5, and daughters Molly, 3, and Nora, 1.
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The Grants often walk to the shops and restaurants along Bethesda Avenue.
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The Cullens from left to right: Tara, Christopher, Tatum, dad Collin, son Collin, mom Brenda, and Carrick.
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Chevy Chase, D.C. Lots of people fall in love with Chevy Chase, D.C., for its tree-lined streets of historic homes. But for Brenda and Collin Cullen, it’s all about family history. “I grew up here,” says Collin, a doctor in Bethesda, whose mother and nine of his 10 siblings still live within a few blocks of his home. With six kids, ages 9 to 19, the Cullens rely on Chevy Chase’s walkability. The kids walk to school, and to soccer and basketball practices. Their friends’ houses are a few blocks away. Broad Branch Market, a charming, high-end corner store that’s become a neighborhood gathering spot, is just up the road. “They can ride their bikes, their scooters, and they still feel very safe,” Brenda says. Adult hangouts are nearby, too. The Cullens can grab dinner at Clyde’s, or go to a movie at the Avalon Theatre. Friendship Heights, with its Metro station and high-end shops, is less than 1½ miles away. In the upper northwest corner of the District, tucked between Rock Creek Park and Montgomery County, Chevy Chase, D.C., was built for transit. Its stately homes were laid out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along broad streets that surrounded the streetcar line that stretched to downtown D.C. Those elegant homes—from colonials to turn-of-thecentury foursquares and bungalows—still give Chevy Chase its pricey appeal. Home prices average around $1.2 million. Even with five bedrooms, the Cullens’ three-story stucco home, built in 1926, is a little tight for a family of eight. “It’s a working house, not a show house,” Collin says, laughing. But the Cullens say there’s always room for friends or family who stop in after walking past the white picket fence. “We have an open-door policy,” Brenda says.
“They can ride their bikes, their scooters, and they still feel very safe,” says Brenda Cullen of the family’s neighborhood (top). Restaurants, such as Macon Bistro & Larder on Connecticut Avenue, are nearby (bottom).
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East Silver Spring
East Silver Spring is “a perfect place to raise our family,� says Tucker McDonald, shown here with son Wilkie, wife Meghan and daughter Margot.
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Meghan and Tucker McDonald
Weekend farmers markets attract crowds in downtown Silver Spring (top). Nearby playgrounds include Bullis Park on Houston Street (bottom).
lived on Capitol Hill when they were single. But after they got married and started thinking about buying a home, they knew they couldn’t afford to stay there. They wanted a little more space. They wanted a yard. They also wanted to be close to the District, where Tucker is director of field mobilization at the American Federation of Government Employees, and to Rockville, where Meghan is a counselor at Julius West Middle School. They found all those things in East Silver Spring. “It’s a perfect place to raise our family,” Tucker says. The couple has two children, Margot, 3, and Wilkie, 1. East Silver Spring is a neighborhood of small colonials, American foursquares, Sears bungalows with broad front porches, and brick kit homes from the 1920s and 1930s. Prices for single-family homes range from about $300,000 for a house in need of work to $750,000 for a home that’s been gutted and renovated; many sell for $400,000 to $500,000. “We looked at, like, 30 or 40 houses,” Meghan says. “There was just something about the bones of this house and the feeling of this street. It felt safer. It felt like it had good potential. The neighborhood had big trees. It had a nice eclectic feel. We have neighbors from all over the world and different walks of life.” The McDonalds are equidistant from downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park, making it easy to duck into restaurants such as 8407 Kitchen Bar, Jackie’s Sidebar or Republic for dinner or drinks. New places often pop up nearby, with recent arrivals including a coffee shop/record store hybrid called Bump ’n Grind and Denizens Brewing Co., a hipster favorite. They’re close to the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and to Kaldi’s Coffee Bar, a popular Silver Spring hangout. Two farmers markets and two Metro stations—Silver Spring and Takoma—are within a mile. Often, free time for them means hanging out with neighbors—watching football or going for walks. Their neighborhood even hosts a fall soup party. “People are easygoing,” Tucker says. “It felt like a good place to start out.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 187
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Rockville’s West End Monique LaRocque Ashton and her husband, George Ashton, moved to their home in Rockville’s West End in 2009, after living in Friendship Heights and, later, East Rockville. Like many parents, they were looking for good schools for their children, Andrew, now 8, and Sydney, 5. But they also wanted to be within walking distance of down-
town Rockville and the new shops and restaurants that were moving in. “We saw the area was changing and becoming a really cool community,” Monique says. Washington, D.C., lawyer Henry Copp built the neighborhood of Victorian homes in the 1890s for District workers hopping the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad after the Rockville
depot opened in 1873. Many of those homes remain, with turrets, towers and characteristic bay windows, and are protected by the West Montgomery Avenue Historic District. They’ve been joined by homes that came along in later decades: turn-of-thecentury bungalows, postwar Cape Cods, ranch-style homes from the 1950s, split-levels from the 1970s and
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Monique and George Ashton walk with son, Andrew, and daughter, Sydney, in their West End neighborhood in Rockville. Inset: In nearby downtown Rockville, children play on the square.
homes like the Ashtons’, which was built in 2006 with Victorian touches. Home prices range from $300,000 to more than $1 million. Monique says houses are still affordable compared to lots of parts of the Washington area. “I’m seeing lots of families moving here,” she says. “It’s the first time in my life where I feel like I know my neighbors. It makes
such a difference to be able to come home and talk across the fence.” Rockville Town Square’s shops and restaurants, including Dawson’s Market and Bar Louie, as well as its movie theater and Saturday farmers market, are within walking distance. The Ashtons walk to the swim center and library, too. At home, they have a yard for the kids, quiet streets and friendly neighbors.
Both Asthons work in the District. George is CFO for Sol Systems, a solar energy finance and investment firm. Monique is senior vice president for Feinstein Kean Healthcare. Both take the Metro, a 15-minute walk from home, every day. Says Monique: “We basically plan our lives around closeness to the Metro.”
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The Kentlands You might spot Karen Norris at an outdoor concert, playing guitar for the Kentlands Acoustic Jam band, or see her name in the community newspaper, the Town Crier, where she sings the praises of the neighborhood she moved to last summer. Her town house provides more space than she needs, she says, but it’s perfect for when grandchildren visit. “They can ride their bikes on the sidewalks,” Norris says. “They can play on the village green and in parks.” Norris came to the Kentlands in Gaithersburg from Old Town Alexandria when her job as managing editor at Thompson Information Services moved from Washington, D.C., to Bethesda. She also wanted to be close to her daughter, who lives just 1½ miles away. And she wanted a community as walkable as the one she was leaving. Her home fronts the village green, which is the site of concerts and other events, and she’s two blocks away from the shops, restaurants and farmers market on Main Street. “I think everyone I have met, without exception, feels lucky to live here,” she says. “That’s pretty remarkable.” Built in the early 1990s, the Kentlands was one of the country’s first neighborhoods designed on “New Urbanism” principles, a movement that harkens back to American towns of old, with narrow streets, closer houses and shops and restaurants in easy walking distance. The Kentlands’ historic mansion hosts events. The carriage house provides meeting space. The old barn has been reconfigured into an arts center. Summer concerts take place downtown, and the village green is the site of a giant Oktoberfest every year. In addition to sidewalks that lead to Main
Colonial houses line a street in the Kentlands in Gaithersburg.
Neighborhood sidewalks lead to Main Street’s shops, restaurants and farmers market.
Street, there are bike paths along lakes and wooded trails that encourage exploring off the beaten path. Kentlands homes could fit in Georgetown: cozy colonial town houses, condos and single-family homes made of brick or wood, with yards enclosed by black iron or white picket fences. Prices start around $300,000 for condominiums, and can exceed $1 million for single-family
homes. Most garages are detached and face a network of alleyways, or “mews.” “It’s more than a pretty design,” Norris says. “It’s a design that encourages neighbors to get to know each other.” n David Frey lives in Gaithersburg and has written for Sunset magazine and other publications. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesda magazine.com.
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Karen Norris, shown here in her home, plays guitar for the Kentlands Acoustic Jam band.
A converted barn at the historic Kentlands Mansion now serves as an arts center (shown here).
Karen Norris Photo By Erick Gibson
The neighborhood’s sidewalks attract kids on skateboards and bikes (right).
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On the Rise
All over the Bethesda area, new condos, apartments and town houses are rising out of the ground. Here’s a guide to residences that have recently opened or are coming soon. By Elizabeth Direnfeld and Cydney Hargis
Condominiums Bethesda
A rendering of The Darcy on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda
4990 Fairmont Address: 4990 Fairmont Ave. Developer: Duball, LLC Details: Tentatively set to open in 2017, this 17-story luxury condo building will have 72 units. In addition to retail space, the ground floor will have four studios dedicated to artists. The condos will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units; the building will have a rooftop garden and fitness center. At press time, prices were not available.
Hampden Row Address: 4915 Hampden Lane Developer: Toll Brothers City Living
elevator. Ten-foot ceilings and kitchens outfitted with marble countertops and appliances by Sub-Zero and Wolf will be featured, and every unit will have a 600- to 1,300-squarefoot walkout terrace. The residents’ clubhouse will have a fitness center, his-and-hers steam room and sauna, library, lounge with a catering kitchen, and an outdoor pool. The gated community also will offer concierge services and valet parking. Prices range from $1.8 million to $4.8 million.
Quarry Springs Estate Condominiums
Stonehall
Address: 8101 River Road
Address: 8302 Woodmont Ave.
Developer: 1788 Holdings
Developer: Duball, LLC
Details: Slated to open this fall on the former site of a quarry, this condo community will have 50 units ranging in size from 2,200 to 4,500 square feet, and all will feature either two or three bedrooms. Each condo will have a gas fireplace with a stone hearth, and each will offer direct access to an
Details: The developer of Lionsgate condominium will break ground this spring on Stonehall, a nine-story condominium, with an opening date scheduled for the end of 2016. In addition to 46 two-bedroom units, the building will feature underground parking, a concierge, fitness center, penthouse lounge
and game room, and a rooftop terrace. Units will average 1,150 square feet and will have high-end finishes and hardwood floors. Prices are not yet available.
The Darcy Address: 7171 Woodmont Ave. Developer: PN Hoffman and StonebridgeCarras Details: This nine-story building across from Barnes & Noble will have 88 condos ranging in size from 835 to 2,395 square feet. The units will feature 9-foot ceilings, and some will have private balconies. The building will offer access to a 24-hour concierge service that can help residents with such tasks as tracking packages and picking up prescriptions. There will also be a guest suite that residents will be able to rent for out-oftowners. Scheduled to open late this spring; prices range from more than $600,000 to about $1.7 million.
Courtesy of PN Hoffman
Details: This 55-unit condo building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016, but units are for sale now. Homes will range in size from one to three bedrooms, feature 9-foot ceilings, and have an open kitchen with quartz countertops and custom cabinetry. Most units will have a private terrace or balcony, and the building will have a rooftop fitness center, a residents’ lounge and a rooftop terrace. On-site parking and a 24-hour concierge will also be available. Prices will range from $400,000 to $4 million.
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The Lauren Residences Address: 4802 Montgomery Lane
St. Elmo Apartments Address: St. Elmo Avenue
Developer: 1788 Holdings
Element 28
Developer: Lenkin Company
Details: Expected to be completed late this year, The Lauren Residences will have 28 condominiums on seven levels. Prices for most units range from $1.5 to $4.8 million; the penthouse is on the market for $10 million. Condos will feature 9- and 10-foot ceilings, gas fireplaces and direct elevator access. Kitchens will be outfitted with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, and each unit will be controlled by a home automation system. Some will have private rooftop terraces. All residents will have access to private storage in the basement wine cellar. Building amenities will include a concierge, fitness center and parking garage with valet service.
Address: 7535 Old Georgetown Road
Details: Lenkin Company is years away from developing this site, but has proposed a 16-story, 210-unit apartment complex. The building would have luxury studios, one- and two-bedroom residences, and buildingwide amenities that would include a fitness center, rooftop pool and lounge area, a business center and a social room. Underground parking and ground-floor retail would also be included in the complex. A formal hearing on the project was planned for February.
Developer: Kettler Details: Slated to open in early 2016, this 15-story building on the former site of United Bank will offer 101 apartments ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. Units will have wood flooring and stainless steel appliances. Buildingwide amenities will include a rooftop green area with indoor and outdoor seating, a fitness center and a wine cellar. At press time, rents were not available.
Developer: Associated Estates
Silver Spring The Octave
Details: Under construction and set to open in November, this nine-story, 359-unit apartment building at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane is scheduled to begin leasing early in the fall. Units will have engineered hardwood flooring in the kitchen and living spaces, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a movable kitchen island. Some units will have balconies. The pet-friendly building will feature a rooftop deck with a demonstration kitchen, fireside lounge and pool. Inside: a coffee bar, pet spa and a fitness center. The courtyard outside and building’s exterior will spotlight works by artists Kent Bloomer and Barton Rubenstein. The mixed-use project will include a Harris Teeter grocery store with a Starbucks, as well as underground parking for residents. At press time, rents were not available.
Developer: ProMark Real Estate Services Details: Formerly an office building, The Octave is scheduled to open this fall as an eight-story, 102-unit condominium with oneand two-bedroom residences. Most units will have Juliet balconies and 9-foot ceilings, and every unit will feature engineered hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances and floorto-ceiling windows. A planned penthouse club room with 20-foot ceilings will open to a rooftop terrace and lounge that offers views of both the Bethesda and D.C. skylines. At press time, prices were not available.
Apartments Bethesda Bainbridge Bethesda Address: 4918 Elmo Ave. Developer: The Bainbridge Companies Details: This 17-story, pet-friendly apartment building opened last year in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. Apartments, which average roughly 850 square feet in size, range from $1,400 to $4,400 per month. Features include granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and, in some units, walk-in closets and floor-to-ceiling windows. The 200-unit building has a two-story lobby, a parking garage with bike storage, a cyber
7001 Arlington Road Address: 7001 Arlington Road
Flats 8300 Address: 8300 Wisconsin Ave.
Address: 1320 Fenwick Lane
Courtesy of PN Hoffman
café and a fitness center. There is also a rooftop terrace with a fire pit and swimming pool.
Developer: StonebridgeCarras
Gallery Bethesda Address: 4800 Auburn Ave. Developer: Donohoe Development Company Details: Completed in May 2014, this apartment building has 234 units, with rents ranging from $1,759 to $4,098 per month. All apartments have hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and 9-foot ceilings—except for the penthouse, which has 10-foot ceilings. The 18-story building includes cyber and coffee lounges, a business center, a fitness center and a rooftop pool. The building has 10 parking spots specifically for hybrid and electric cars with a charging port. The building also has a dog-washing station.
Details: Scheduled to open this March, this building will have 140 apartments, all of them studios, one-bedroom or two-bedroom units. The apartments will have either 9-foot or 10-foot ceilings, a walk-in closet and a patio or balcony. The pet-friendly building, on the former site of a U.S. Post Office, will have a fitness center and an outdoor television area with a fire pit. Social networking events will be available for residents. Units range in size from 690 to 1,345 square feet, and monthly rent ranges from $2,365 to $4,605.
7340 Wisconsin Ave. Address: 7340 Wisconsin Ave. Developer: The Bainbridge Companies Details: On the former site of an Exxon gas station, this 14-story building is in the early stages of the approval process with the county planning board. The Bainbridge Companies hopes to build a 225-unit apartment building with a penthouse, swimming pool and green roof. Prices and square footages have not been announced, and no construction timeline has been set.
7770 Norfolk Avenue Address: 7770 Norfolk Ave. Developer: The JBG Companies, Ross Development & Investment, CIM Details: Scheduled to open late this year at the corner of Norfolk and Fairmont avenues in Woodmont Triangle, this apartment building will have 244 units. Amenities will include a rooftop pool, fitness center, concierge and club room. Units, which will range from 450 to 1,900 square feet, will feature
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on the rise hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. At press time, rents were not available.
Solaire Bethesda Address: 7100 Wisconsin Ave. Developer: Washington Property Company
The Flats Address: 7170 Woodmont Ave. Developer: PN Hoffman and StonebridgeCarras Details: Across the street from The Darcy condominium, The Flats is set to open in May. The five-story, 162-unit apartment building will sit atop a Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, and will have a rooftop deck and private underground parking. Each residence will feature hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and a washer/ dryer. Some units will have balconies. Rents will start at $2,500 per month for studios and $5,000 for two-bedroom units.
The Rugby Address: 4850 Rugby Ave. Developer: Donohoe Development Company Details: The sister apartment to Gallery Bethesda, The Rugby will include 221 units with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts. The 16-story structure will have three levels of below-ground parking, 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and will feature a rooftop clubhouse for residents. Most apartments will have either a balcony or a terrace, and every unit will have 9- or 10-foot ceilings, smart home features, and luxury finishes. Donohoe Development Company expects to break ground on this project in 2016.
Residents of Aurora in Rockville can enjoy the pool, a club room and a game room.
Gaithersburg Cadence at Crown Address: 113 Ellington Blvd. Developer: The Bozzuto Group Details: This apartment building opened in 2014 and is part of the Downtown Crown community. The building has 538 units, the largest at 1,443 square feet. Renters have a choice of two kitchen color schemes—warm or cool—and all kitchens have stainless steel fixtures and quartz countertops. Buildingwide amenities include a library and 24hour fitness center with a yoga studio and group classes. The building is pet-friendly, with complimentary dog biscuits at the front desk and a “Pet-of-the-Month” club. Monthly rents range from $1,578 to $2,808.
North Bethesda Pallas Address: 11580 Old Georgetown Road
area with a demonstration kitchen. Rooftop garden plots will be available to residents for an additional fee. Underground parking is available for every unit, and the building is pet-friendly. At press time, rents were not available.
Potomac The Perry at Park Potomac Address: 12430 Park Potomac Ave. Developer: Foulger-Pratt Details: Opening in June in the Park Potomac community, this apartment building will have 297 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The building will have a pool, game room, and fitness and yoga studios. There also will be a dog-washing station and a dog park. As of press time, rents were not available.
Rockville Aurora
Developer: Federal Realty Investment Trust
Address: 5401 McGrath Blvd.
Details: This 19-story, 319-unit complex will open this spring, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans, including 24 two-level penthouse residences. Units range from 646 to 2,007 square feet. Buildingwide amenities include a 24-hour concierge, library, club room, fitness center with a yoga studio, and a terrace-level pool and lounge
D eta il s: This 341-unit apartment building sits next to a Starbucks and a Harris Teeter grocery store. The building, which opened last summer, has a pool, club room and game room with shuffleboard, table tennis and foosball. There is also a bike repair center, parking garage and fitness
Developer: LCOR
Courtesy of LCOR
Details: Construction on this 12-floor, 139unit building began last June, with a planned opening scheduled for spring 2016. The apartments—studios, along with one-, two-, and three-bedroom units—will range in size from 610 to 1,442 square feet and feature 9-foot ceilings, walk-in closets, wood laminate flooring, and kitchens outfitted with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The property will have a 24-hour concierge, a fitness center, and a social lounge with billiards, games and a bar. True Food Kitchen, a restaurant serving locally sourced food, will occupy the 6,400-square-foot retail space on the ground floor. Monthly rents are not yet available; the leasing center will open next March.
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center. Rents range from $1,403 to $4,000 per month.
Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro Address: 15955 Frederick Road Developer: The Bainbridge Companies
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Details: Scheduled to open this spring, this apartment building will have 417 units, each with wood-like, vinyl plank floors and granite countertops in the kitchen. Some units feature a Juliet balcony. The building will be pet-friendly and will have a fitness center and yoga studio, gaming center, and a pool and fire pit. Rents range from $1,618 to $2,782.
Galvan at Twinbrook Address: 1800 Rockville Pike Developer: The JBG Companies Details: This apartment building, scheduled to open in late 2015, will have 356 one- and two-bedroom units. Residences will come with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors, and some floor plans will include a den. Building amenities will include a pool, fitness center with an outdoor area for yoga, and four landscaped courtyards.
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Address: 15251 Siesta Key Way Developer: The Bozzuto Group Details: Slated to open this March, these Rockville apartments will have one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 535 to 1,404 square feet. Every unit features iPod docking stations, washers and dryers, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Buildingwide amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, pet spa, roof deck pool and outdoor movie theater. Rents range from $1,420 to $2,395 per month.
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PerSei at Pike & Rose Address: 900 PerSei Place
Courtesy of LCOR
Developer: Federal Realty Investment Trust Details: Open since last June, this apartment building has 174 one- and two-bedroom units with rents that range from $1,700 to $3,000 per month. Seven penthouse units feature 15-foot ceilings, and all units have stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and hardwood floors. The building has an outdoor pool, a gym with access to a
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on the rise personal trainer, monthly networking events and laundry and dry-cleaning services. The building is pet-friendly.
The Alaire at Twinbrook Station Address: 1101 Higgins Place Developer: The JBG Companies Details: This six-story apartment building opened adjacent to Rockville’s Twinbrook Metro station in 2010 and features one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 640 to 1,255 square feet. Every residence has 9-foot ceilings, and some feature a two-story loft design with a 17-foot ceiling. Buildingwide amenities include a 24-hour concierge, a club room with billiards and lounge space, and an outdoor saline pool. The fitness center has an on-site personal trainer and hosts classes for residents. Rents range from $1,640 to $2,200 per month.
The Crest at Congressional Plaza Address: 1620 E. Jefferson St. Developer: Federal Realty Investment Trust Details: This apartment building has 146 units ranging in size from 650 to 1,400 square feet. Monthly rents range from $1,530 to $2,286. The units feature quartz countertops, walk-in closets and mosaic tiling in the bathroom. Some apartments also have 9-foot
ceilings, bay windows, a fireplace and a private balcony. The building has valet and drycleaning services, garden pathways and a reflecting pool. Other amenities include a residents’ lounge, fitness center and media room.
The Stories at Congressional Plaza Address: 1626 E. Jefferson St. Developer: Federal Realty Investment Trust, Smart Living 360 Details: Currently under construction and slated to open in the fall, this apartment building is geared toward baby boomers. Fortyeight units with one-, two-, and three-bedroom models will range from 750 to 1,430 square feet. Each residence will feature an open floor plan, slip-resistant tiles on the bathroom floor, a bench seat in the shower, and bright undercounter and task lighting in the kitchen. Wood vinyl flooring, in-unit high-speed Wi-Fi and walk-in closets will be found throughout each space. All units will have 9-foot ceilings, and most include a balcony. Buildingwide amenities include a concierge, fitness center, club room with a catering kitchen and outdoor gardens with patios and grill stations. Rents range from $2,500 to $4,000 per month.
The Terano
Details: Slated to open this spring, this apartment building will have 214 units, including studios and one- and two-bedroom residences. Some of the two-bedroom units have a two-story, loft-style design. Each unit features hardwood flooring and granite countertops. A game room will include a poker table, foosball table, shuffleboard, flat-screen television and a glass door that can be removed when the weather is warm. There will also be an outdoor pool and fireplace. Rents range from $1,585 to $2,870 per month.
The Upton Address: 44 Maryland Ave. Developer: Duball, LLC Manager: The Bozzuto Group Details: Scheduled to open this March, this 15-floor, 263-unit apartment building will offer a fitness center and a pool on the ninth floor. The rooftop sundeck will have a club room and terrace, along with outdoor fire pits, a lounge and a grilling area. Select units will have 9-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, and the building is pet-friendly. Rents range from $1,718 to $2,700 per month.
Silver Spring
Address: 5700 Fisher Lane
Citron Apartments
Developer: The JBG Companies
Address: 815 Pershing Drive Developer: Foulger-Pratt
Eleven55 Ripley Address: 1155 Ripley St. Developer: Home Properties
Eleven55 Ripley residents can enjoy a rooftop deck.
Details: This new apartment complex consists of two buildings, one that opened in December 2013 and one that opened in January. Eleven55 Ripley has 379 residences, including studio, one-, and two-bedroom floor plans. Other amenities include a fitness center, yoga
Courtesy of Home Properties
Details: Next to Whole Foods Market in downtown Silver Spring, Citron Apartments was built in 2013 and offers studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. Nine- or 10foot ceilings can be found throughout, and kitchens have granite countertops. Select units have private patios and balconies. Amenities for this pet-friendly apartment building include on-site storage and parking, a rooftop pool and sundeck, recycling centers on each floor, and concierge services. Rents range from $1,513 to $3,115 per month.
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studio and rooftop deck with a pool. The building is smoke-free and pet-friendly. Units range from 434 to 1,297 square feet, with rents ranging from $1,530 to $3,025 per month.
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Developer: The Bozzuto Group Details: This apartment building, which opened last July, features 310 units, each with 9- or 10-foot ceilings and wood plank floors. Certain apartments have movable kitchen islands and private balconies. The building has a fitness center, library, rooftop terrace, and a courtyard lounge with a fire pit. Units range in size from 495 to 1,258 square feet, and rent ranges from $1,487 to $2,951 per month.
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Address: 8711 Georgia Ave. Developer: Guardian Realty Investors Details: This smoke-free, pet-friendly apartment building opened early in 2013 and has 160 residences, with studio, oneand two-bedroom units ranging in size from 458 to 1,032 square feet. Apartments feature hardwood floors in the living room, ceramic tiles in the bathroom, stainless steel appliances and keyless entries. There’s also a clubhouse and butterfly garden. Rents range from $1,500 to $2,575 per month.
Upper Northwest 5333 Connecticut Address: 5333 Connecticut Ave. NW Developer: Calvin Cafritz Enterprises Details: Currently under construction and slated to open this August, this ninestory apartment building south of Chevy Chase Circle will have 261 units with studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans ranging from 435 to 1,076 square feet. In-unit features will include hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and Caesarstone countertops. Underground parking, a 24-hour concierge, a business center and a yoga room will be available for residents. The rooftop deck will feature an outdoor lounge and grilling area, a dog park and a pool. At press time, rents were not available. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 197
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on the rise
Town homes Bethesda Brookes Ridge
outfitted with Thermador and Sub-Zero appliances. Private rooftop terraces overlook the Capital Crescent Trail and include an outdoor kitchen and fireplace. Prices range from $1.5 million to $1.7 million.
Address: 6450 Brookes Lane
Montgomery Row at Rock Spring
Developer: Halco Homes
Address: 10403 Fernwood Road
Details: Designed around a private cul-desac and surrounded by protected woodlands, this 11-town house community, scheduled to open in early 2016, is within walking distance of both the C&O Canal and the Shops at Sumner Place. Each four-story, 4,600-squarefoot home will have a private two-car garage, an in-unit elevator and a rooftop terrace with the option of a fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Inside, oak hardwood floors will anchor a choice of contemporary or traditional design, and kitchens will be outfitted with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The posterior of each home will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, some of which will offer river views. The project broke ground last year and includes the restoration of a 1910 manor house that was built by the Hutchins family—the founders of The Washington Post. Prices start at $1.9 million.
Developer: EYA
Grosvenor Heights Address: 5430 Grosvenor Lane Developer: EYA Builder: Michael Harris Homes Details: Ninety-nine luxury three-level town homes will range from 2,497 to 3,396 square feet and are slated to open in November. Each residence features a two-car garage, an in-unit elevator, and a private rooftop terrace that overlooks 33 acres of wooded nature preserves. Kitchens will be outfitted with Thermador and Sub-Zero appliances, and living rooms will have a gas fireplace. On-site visitor parking will be available. Prices start at $1.1 million.
Little Falls Place Address: 5113 Willet Bridge Road
Details: The sales center for this community of 168 town homes is slated to open in May, with an anticipated move-in date of spring 2016. Each four-level residence will have a private two-car garage, 9-foot ceilings and a rooftop terrace. Inside, luxury features include Corian and granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, with each unit ranging from 1,700 to 2,500 square feet. Prices range from $775,000 to $1.15 million.
Gaithersburg Crown Central Address: 10000 Fields Road Developer: Westbrook Development Partners Details: Part of the larger Crown community, Crown Central will feature approximately 365 multi-family homes, as well as additional retail space. Planning for the development is underway.
Crown East Address: 10000 Fields Road Developer: Westbrook Development Partners Details: Part of the larger Crown community, Crown East will feature 350 residences, some of which will be town houses. Planning for this neighborhood is underway, but neither plans nor a timetable are firm.
crown West Address: 10000 Fields Road
Developer: EYA
Developer: Pulte Homes; M/I Homes; KB Home
Details: Located off Little Falls Parkway near River Road, the 25 three-level luxury town homes at Little Falls Place opened in 2012 and feature 9-foot ceilings, a private two-car garage per unit, and in-unit elevators. Each three-bedroom unit ranges from 2,430 to 2,635 square feet and has a kitchen
Details: Modeled after an urban village, Crown West features a range of three- and four-bedroom town homes and single-family homes by Wormald Homes set along treelined streets and within walking distance from the shops and restaurants of Downtown Crown. The town homes range from
1,849 to 2,899 square feet and feature open living spaces. Some models have a two-car garage, two-story decks and rooftop terraces; others can be built with an optional fourth-level loft. Residents will have access to The Retreat, Crown’s amenity center which offers a fitness center, climbing wall, outdoor grill area, hard surface court, pool with lap lanes and a toddler pool. Prices start at $561,490.
Downtown Crown Address: 10000 Fields Road Developer: Ryland Homes Details: Downtown Crown is a city-inspired neighborhood featuring 537 rental apartments (see Cadence at Crown) and 70 town home condominiums by Ryland Homes surrounded by shopping, dining and park space. Downtown Crown is anchored by a Harris Teeter and also houses Crown Park, a large gathering area that will host a farmers market, concerts and community celebrations. Within the community, town houses developed by Ryland Homes have three bedrooms, 2½ baths and a garage. Residents can also purchase a membership to The Retreat, Crown’s amenity center which has a fitness center, climbing wall, outdoor grill area, hard surface court, pool with lap lanes and a toddler pool. Prices for Ryland’s town home condominiums start at $503,990. Later this year, Downtown Crown will introduce new condominium homes along Diamondback Drive.
North Bethesda Symphony Park at Strathmore Address: 10846 Symphony Park Drive Developer: Michael Harris Homes Detail s: This community of 112 luxury town homes opened in 2012. Located steps from The Music Center at Strathmore, these four-story, brownstone-style residences range from 3,200 to 4,200 square feet, and each features a two-car garage, an in-unit elevator, and two terraces—one on the roof and another on the kitchen level. Kitchens are outfitted with Viking appliances and granite countertops, and the master bath has Waterworks fixtures. The remaining units cost from $1.3 million to $1.8 million, and new residents get three years of special member benefits at Strathmore. n
198 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_features_condos list.indd 198
2/13/15 11:09 AM
MERRICK Design and Build Inc. ADDITIONS
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Dreaming of a new bathroom? Let Merrick’s Kitchen and Bath team turn your remodeling dreams into reality! An award winning design build firm, Merrick listens to their customers and is known for their attention to detail and customer satisfaction. Since 1989, Merrick has specialized in total home renovation, handyman services and everything in between.
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2/6/15 4:01 PM
by the numbers
Data provided by MRIS. Statistics generated Jan. 19, 2015. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
Home Sales Trends in Nearly 500 Neighborhoods
Are housing prices continuing to rise? In what neighborhoods are homes selling the fastest? The following chart answers these questions and more, including: the number of sales for single-family homes, average prices and average number of days on the market in nearly 500 Bethesda-area neighborhoods from 2010 to 2014. The neighborhoods included had at least five total sales during the last five years and at least one sale in the past year. The totals for each ZIP code
reflect all sales in that ZIP code, not just the totals for the selected neighborhoods. Also, real estate agents entering sales data into MRIS are not required to follow a standard nomenclature; where possible, we combined subdivision names to account for misspellings and inconsistencies. Real estate agents may also enter sales into the MRIS database retroactively. As a result, some of the historical data may vary from that published in previous years.
2012
2013
2014
$653,500
$659,400
$1,111,667
133 74
43
74
51
$570,000
$653,500
$659,400
$1,111,667
133 74
43
74
51
42
2011
$570,000
$513,500
2010
$513,500
6
2014
6
5
2013
5
7
2012
2014
7
3
2011
2013
3
4
2010
2012
average DoM
4
2010
subdivision
average close price
2011
no. of homes sold
Glen Echo 20812 Glen Echo 20812 Total
Bethesda 20814 Alta Vista
6
8
18
9
7
$827,667
$675,625
$842,495
$925,278
$925,429
13
27
63
37
Alta Vista Gardens
5
6
10
8
4
$728,050
$852,313
$856,240
$837,875
$1,035,000
107 83
66
103 62
Battery Park
4
8
4
7
10
$1,007,500
$717,741
$824,750
$981,929
$1,013,380
73
34
17
16
20
Bradley Hills
9
8
7
11
5
$1,239,111
$1,642,875
$1,535,714
$1,320,591
$1,394,400
133 56
38
69
58
Bradley Village
1
3
1
6
1
$740,000
$1,377,183
$985,000
$1,772,917
$1,080,000
45
53
8
19
17
Cedarcrest
1
1
1
1
3
$732,250
$670,000
$555,000
$750,000
$770,000
9
31
33
7
4
Columbia Forest
8
5
8
8
3
$1,226,313
$1,058,000
$1,296,500
$1,232,174
$1,218,333
100 54
119 21
69
Edgemoor
9
16
3
11
7
$1,738,722
$2,359,438
$2,190,000
$2,470,364
$3,209,286
40
61
109
61
53
English Village
6
5
3
8
3
$1,169,417
$853,400
$1,449,833
$1,099,875
$958,333
96
177 95
83
4
Glenbrook Knolls
4
1
1
5
3
$643,250
$625,000
$865,000
$784,800
$780,142
26
17
8
18
5
Glenbrook Village
9
12
15
9
15
$1,012,811
$799,657
$739,234
$792,278
$965,233
46
49
33
17
28
Glenwood
7
6
5
6
5
$769,271
$887,833
$664,000
$928,700
$940,400
8
25
15
18
32 33
Greenwich Forest
3
6
9
6
4
$1,097,800
$875,483
$1,409,667
$765,333
$1,104,625
10
41
52
53
Grosvenor Woods
3
6
4
3
4
$940,000
$947,833
$951,500
$983,333
$1,021,250
159 47
33
108 60
Ligon Knolls
0
3
0
2
1
NA
$767,500
NA
$972,625
$799,000
NA 49
NA 57
Locust Hill Estates
3
9
1
2
5
$631,667
$770,556
$855,000
$1,040,000
$731,950
229 62
303 124 18
8
Lone Oak
1
2
2
3
2
$506,000
$1,020,000
$978,500
$938,667
$1,327,500
91
19
16
35
96
Maplewood
8
6
3
5
3
$738,375
$732,346
$654,833
$712,900
$919,967
20
25
14
17
26
35
Maplewood Estates
3
3
5
3
1
$673,333
$640,000
$662,200
$701,300
$839,000
101 41
Maplewood Manor
1
0
2
3
1
$685,000
NA
$597,500
$777,000
$734,900
35
NA 95
4
83
25
7
Meadowbrook Village
4
3
1
1
2
$705,000
$821,333
$857,000
$755,000
$1,160,000
4
6
91
9
5
North Bethesda
4
3
6
2
3
$959,250
$883,333
$887,167
$657,007
$886,667
47
14
45
66
73
North Bethesda Grove
8
11
7
11
8
$657,938
$577,000
$804,343
$873,036
$780,375
48
51
55
54
68
200 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 200
2/9/15 2:57 PM
The Fleisher Group Long & FosTer reaL esTaTe, Inc.
Exciting and UnparallEd nEw constrUction
Bethesda. Two exceptional builders have combined their award-winning talents to create Artisan Builders and present this spectacular new home on a gorgeous lot in very close-in Bethesda. This fabulous home offers a distinct stone and painted brick elevation and features a dramatic floor plan including stunning gourmet kitchen, sensational adjoining family room, private library, deluxe master bedroom suite with designer luxury bath, secondary bedrooms all en suite with beautiful baths and incredible walk- out finished lower level with custom full service bar, recreation room, game room and guest suite. Exacting workmanship, tremendous design and top-of-the-line materials include beamed and coffered ceilings, imported marbles and granites, custom-milled woodwork and exotic hardwood floors. Enhancing the home’s appeal is a covered rear porch. Be sure not to miss this special opportunity to own one of Bethesda’s finest residences. Offered at $2,595,000.
thef leishergroup Marc Fleisher
www.thefleishergroup.com 202.364.5200 x 2927 (O) 202.438.4880 (C)
Untitled-4 1
2/9/15 4:24 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
average DoM
2013
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Page Hill
1
0
3
2
1
$679,500
NA
$858,167
$655,000
$1,500,000
100 NA 109 4
4
Parkview
5
1
5
4
5
$598,800
$600,000
$580,200
$658,500
$686,800
111 179 65
19
13
Parkwood
15
14
17
7
21
$775,707
$719,393
$749,165
$768,429
$809,286
58
26
58
59
32
Rosedale Park
14
10
13
11
6
$827,321
$941,780
$882,000
$853,864
$916,500
26
86
13
87
42
West Chevy Chase Heights 2
6
5
4
2
$660,000
$1,130,833
$987,675
$1,177,818
$1,193,000
8
33
56
102 55
Westboro
4
8
6
7
4
$767,000
$738,813
$822,317
$1,112,699
$1,311,250
28
23
15
12
13
Whitehall Manor
6
4
3
6
2
$1,085,583
$1,570,000
$1,074,667
$1,816,667
$1,050,500
46
11
166 50
18
Wildwood Knolls
2
1
1
1
2
$724,450
$650,000
$759,000
$729,000
$710,000
14
15
3
9
4
Wildwood Manor
17
9
12
15
10
$672,312
$657,222
$709,750
$907,393
$754,200
62
41
20
21
39
187 195 193 197 164 $879,730
$979,884
$911,864
$1,062,399
$1,042,980
59
48
51
44
37
23
20814 Total
Chevy Chase 20815 Bradley Hills
4
3
4
1
1
$1,463,750
$1,256,500
$1,164,125
$1,649,000
$1,525,000
127 53
Brookdale
1
1
1
3
2
$945,000
$815,000
$925,000
$968,067
$950,000
2
120 33
26
21
8
23
Chevy Chase*
79
90
79
75
26
$1,300,899
$1,321,469
$1,436,383
$1,396,733
$1,281,281
73
55
63
39
99
Chevy Chase Gardens
4
9
1
2
6
$874,313
$1,215,778
$1,500,000
$1,045,000
$1,194,167
101 78
90
17
29
Chevy Chase Manor
3
0
6
5
4
$1,183,333
NA
$1,040,833
$1,217,400
$834,375
106 NA 50
49
12
Chevy Chase Park
2
1
3
2
4
$1,216,588
$1,050,000
$1,118,333
$964,663
$999,500
32
8
3
59
39
Chevy Chase Section 3
2
0
0
2
11
$759,000
NA
NA
$1,007,500
$1,128,450
56
NA NA 5
24
Chevy Chase Section 5
2
0
1
4
17
$1,331,000
NA
$2,350,000
$1,595,000
$1,159,853
24
NA 24
32
27
Chevy Chase Terrace
7
3
5
5
7
$947,857
$845,000
$1,424,600
$1,417,300
$1,316,071
65
28
42
92
Donnybrook Estates
9
0
0
3
2
$570,961
NA
NA
$557,000
$625,500
87
NA NA 20
46
50
Dunlop Hills
4
5
4
2
6
$818,750
$892,564
$809,125
$968,000
$912,417
20
Kenwood
8
10
13
12
16
$2,166,813
$2,178,350
$2,514,615
$2,427,634
$2,145,406
293 34
58
124 13
26
82
90
70
Martins Addition
7
6
12
17
14
$816,143
$1,013,750
$1,335,677
$1,269,094
$1,109,264
42
49
73
45
37
North Chevy Chase
2
7
9
13
5
$666,100
$780,000
$736,878
$863,154
$758,500
17
42
42
74
30
Norwood Heights
1
3
2
5
5
$2,339,200
$756,167
$1,313,750
$1,307,500
$1,607,800
188 82
160 57
16
6
Orchardale
6
1
2
5
3
$867,333
$740,000
$774,500
$880,400
$901,667
21
34
Park View Estates
1
3
1
1
4
$470,000
$751,667
$695,000
$845,000
$933,750
73
107 12
10
10
3
84
Pinehurst Village
7
5
1
7
5
$873,143
$910,500
$680,000
$956,714
$1,001,400
92
61
29
16
83
Pt Bethesda Out Res 2
5
7
5
14
4
$845,900
$659,286
$848,730
$842,593
$722,231
27
45
85
46
76
Ridgewood Village
1
3
3
3
5
$720,000
$1,203,898
$1,025,000
$1,290,833
$1,168,400
297 209 43
13
42
Rock Creek Forest
19
22
22
14
20
$767,258
$633,151
$601,496
$664,571
$811,860
45
71
49
16
20
57
Rock Creek Knolls
7
3
3
6
6
$666,843
$530,000
$745,000
$740,333
$638,500
42
169 65
28
Rolling Hills
1
0
1
1
2
$640,000
NA
$693,000
$629,000
$762,500
222 NA 197 54
42 32
Rollingwood
12
7
12
7
12
$935,917
$1,118,214
$1,026,467
$1,083,750
$1,307,688
40
46
Sacks
3
0
1
0
1
$1,082,950
NA
$855,000
NA
$900,000
50
NA 19
74
81
NA 18
Somerset
9
10
16
12
11
$1,170,444
$1,402,350
$1,295,094
$1,276,058
$2,206,364
62
34
31
25
49
Springhill
7
2
1
4
4
$791,817
$871,000
$665,000
$723,750
$694,125
43
40
81
94
21
86
116 24
Town of Chevy Chase
4
2
2
7
19
$1,311,075
$969,500
$881,250
$1,231,029
$1,311,523
12
Village of Chevy Chase
9
6
3
4
24
$1,637,222
$1,705,833
$1,627,000
$1,099,250
$1,894,619
119 228 76
31
49
West Chevy Chase
2
7
6
2
3
$975,300
$1,086,714
$943,083
$1,942,500
$1,809,000
19
47
71
2
63
$1,161,880
$1,243,502
$1,228,546
$1,288,414
72
61
64
39
47
20815 Total
239 227 229 253 258 $1,120,926
42
Bethesda 20816 Brookdale
4
1
3
4
4
$913,500
$1,095,000
$915,667
$895,750
$896,250
66
99
20
13
21
Crestview
15
7
8
3
5
$653,700
$729,000
$685,738
$733,083
$843,900
42
48
17
17
7
Fairway Hills
4
7
5
10
2
$692,925
$721,643
$692,000
$742,900
$759,335
13
28
30
22
3
Fort Sumner
5
4
2
3
6
$1,000,500
$862,500
$990,000
$1,156,667
$1,215,833
102 27
49
73
49
202 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 202
2/13/15 11:01 AM
Deb Levy and Lisa Bennett
Thank you, Readers of Bethesda Magazine, for selecting us to serve your mortgage loan needs. Your repeat business, kind referrals and votes have made us the Reader’s Choice for Best Mortgage Broker for the past three years. Thank you for making this recognition possible. With appreciation, Deb and Lisa
MD | DC | VA | www.debbielevy.com
Untitled-1 1
2/6/15 4:06 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2014
2010
2013
2012
1
4
0
4
$941,000
$535,000
$855,000
NA
$1,094,000
87
5
26
NA 23
29
28
35
29
$926,921
$1,130,741
$1,029,496
$1,164,902
$1,239,910
58
55
58
78
39
Glen Mar Park
10
7
8
10
11
$722,100
$899,651
$754,250
$919,095
$1,123,364
52
66
43
33
82
2014
4 22
2013
2011
average DoM
Glen Cove
2011
2010
2012
average Close Price
Glen Echo Heights
subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Greenacres
6
8
11
5
3
$622,033
$950,375
$769,091
$763,800
$655,500
31
54
70
74
17
High Point
1
5
2
3
2
$870,500
$974,800
$917,500
$761,667
$923,500
8
37
5
56
19
7
0
15
Mass. Ave. Hills
3
3
4
2
7
$1,276,667
$996,272
$1,041,675
$892,500
$890,786
148 47
Pt Bethesda Out Res 2
1
1
1
5
4
$899,000
$1,087,500
$1,095,000
$1,468,355
$1,051,750
7
100 342 132 27
Springfield
11
9
13
16
20
$1,098,045
$964,333
$945,077
$958,000
$969,600
47
18
29
21
24
Sumner
18
15
19
16
17
$1,089,928
$1,050,033
$1,031,689
$1,094,063
$1,138,588
38
26
67
45
21
36
32
9
Westgate
5
5
4
6
12
$881,200
$849,000
$886,250
$791,667
$947,333
47
Westhaven
0
0
1
1
3
NA
NA
$709,000
$775,000
$1,031,667
NA NA 119 43
31 7
Westmoreland Hills
22
21
18
25
17
$1,209,023
$1,196,272
$1,191,750
$1,262,780
$1,309,118
89
75
77
42
47
Westwood
2
4
2
6
4
$902,500
$926,000
$986,250
$1,070,667
$1,093,875
30
53
47
38
14
44
Woodacres
19
13
14
25
12
$862,132
$875,954
$849,857
$865,788
$961,180
33
28
17
Yorktown Village
2
2
0
3
2
$962,500
$918,250
NA
$1,011,700
$915,554
19
50
NA 18
6
$1,021,094
$957,463
$1,030,859
$1,092,490
55
50
56
32
20816 Total
168 155 165 202 172 $950,740
50
16
Bethesda 20817 Al Marah
2
2
2
7
5
$1,235,000
$1,060,000
$1,081,250
$1,004,143
$1,170,840
14
198 175 42
39
Alta Vista
3
1
0
4
6
$740,000
$655,000
NA
$802,577
$956,250
53
7
18
109 31
NA 14
Alta Vista Terrace
9
7
6
10
9
$943,944
$966,107
$856,500
$984,350
$833,889
42
20
73
Arrowood
2
0
1
2
1
$1,209,500
NA
$1,300,000
$1,252,500
$1,055,000
205 NA 204 39
93
Ashburton
11
22
28
14
24
$647,273
$617,727
$654,550
$662,093
$690,250
50
40
34
Avenel
8
8
10
12
11
$1,666,550
$1,329,988
$1,293,000
$1,291,417
$1,566,727
200 128 189 65
94
33
82
Ayrlawn
12
6
9
10
11
$895,051
$854,333
$998,564
$918,270
$1,046,071
56
30
30
25
34
Bannockburn
5
6
5
12
6
$900,000
$1,032,500
$1,166,300
$1,138,250
$1,166,650
136 51
83
89
55
Bannockburn Coop
7
5
6
7
6
$607,443
$583,900
$1,036,917
$1,148,000
$775,903
10
28
47
106 35
Bannockburn Estates
4
7
3
6
4
$1,090,625
$1,109,714
$1,233,333
$1,043,333
$1,301,250
93
74
43
40
62
Bannockburn Heights
2
1
3
6
1
$1,065,500
$2,100,000
$1,129,333
$1,378,583
$901,000
119 52
25
57
75
4
39
178
Bradley Hills
7
5
2
9
3
$1,507,000
$1,021,980
$864,500
$936,889
$1,511,333
294 29
Bradley Hills Grove
10
15
10
6
10
$1,534,395
$2,317,667
$1,666,420
$2,141,728
$2,637,697
53
199 29
Bradley Manor
2
2
2
2
3
$827,000
$1,030,000
$1,177,000
$797,500
$1,121,733
17
10
Bradley Park
5
0
5
4
4
$768,600
NA
$1,020,800
$836,250
$1,094,563
16
NA 83
25
202 85 85
27
3
75
Bradley Woods
7
3
3
3
3
$1,233,057
$665,000
$1,328,333
$1,314,667
$1,770,000
121 40
50
Bradmoor
13
15
13
27
18
$848,731
$873,767
$829,654
$1,054,015
$970,583
32
107 36
Burning Tree
3
1
1
5
2
$2,418,333
$2,010,000
$1,595,000
$1,977,000
$1,912,500
215 190 320 162 167
30
125 55 26
Burning Tree Estates
4
5
6
15
7
$989,250
$817,800
$882,667
$979,020
$1,146,143
31
99
35
63
64
Burning Tree Manor
6
2
1
1
1
$944,833
$772,500
$720,000
$797,500
$858,000
90
135 71
10
5
77
45
29
Burning Tree Valley
7
7
10
4
4
$849,871
$1,504,286
$1,056,410
$1,925,000
$1,289,513
53
Burning Tree View
2
0
2
0
1
$1,834,000
NA
$1,562,500
NA
$1,406,000
163 NA 53
56 51
NA 31
Carderock Springs
26
17
20
19
21
$903,237
$788,880
$809,370
$839,011
$852,095
48
66
Charred Oak Estates
4
7
8
4
5
$706,072
$891,265
$828,459
$1,074,975
$935,800
73
106 66
29
41
3
81
Cohasset
3
6
8
11
4
$695,333
$767,917
$756,750
$900,864
$1,029,250
72
60
16
21
15
Cong. Country Club Estates 0
4
5
7
4
NA
$904,250
$876,500
$1,001,643
$1,495,875
NA 34
58
29
55
Cong. Forest Estates
3
2
0
2
3
$1,088,333
$1,535,000
NA
$753,500
$1,403,750
146 238 NA 126 88
Country Club Forest
4
0
0
0
3
$755,025
NA
NA
NA
$783,333
126 NA NA NA 80
Country Club Village
2
2
1
4
3
$922,500
$720,000
$1,155,000
$1,043,125
$1,050,333
56
11
15
112 129
Courts of Wyngate
1
1
5
6
4
$799,000
$840,000
$763,900
$822,333
$847,625
11
60
68
25
19
204 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 204
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SellinG
The
area’S FineST properTieS
deSiGn & STyle
old World Grandeur
draMaTic & luxuriouS
Town of Chevy Chase. Stunning new home by Chase Builders. Exceptional prime lot on a peaceful lane close-in to downtown Bethesda. Grand floorplan, impressive craftsmanship throughout and walk to Metro! $2,700,000 Eric Murtagh- 301-652-8971 Karen Kuchins- 301-275-2255
Chevy Chase. Brand new home with grand old style features classic stucco exterior finish, grand interior proportions and highend finishes. 6 BR, 5.5 BA. Shopping, dining & parks just minutes away. $2,650,000 Marina Krapiva- 301-792-5681 Eric Murtagh- 301-652-8971
Bethesda. Beautiful new European style home in picturesque Greenwich Forest offers a gourmet kitchen, high-end designer finishes, spacious rooms throughout, 5 BR and 4.5 BA, and a large private back yard. $2,295,000 Eric Murtagh- 301-652-8971 Karen Kuchins- 301-275-2255
Modern eleGance
divine deSiGn
Fine TradiTionS
Town of Chevy Chase. Gorgeous 2014 renovation of 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath custom home with 5400 sf of beautiful living spaces, including designer kitchen and luxurious MBR suite with marble bath. $1,949,000 Beverly Nadel- 202-236-7313 Melissa Brown- 202-469-2662
Town of Chevy Chase. Beautifully built 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath home has inviting gourmet kitchen, designer MBR suite, custom moldings and built-ins, luxury features throughout- all a short stroll to downtown Bethesda. $1,860,000 Eric Murtagh- 301-652-8971 Karen Kuchins- 301-275-2255
Kenwood. On a quiet street backing to the Kenwood Club golf course, this gracious home offers superior entertaining spaces, a renovated kitchen, 6 bedrooms and 4 levels of living space. $1,695,000 Ted Beverley- 301-728-4338 Patricia Lore- 301-908-1242
eSTaTe SeTTinG/coMinG Soon
SpaciouS & Serene
GreaT ouTdoorS/coMinG Soon
Somerset. Gracious period home on nearly a half acre of landscaped grounds, has a through center hall, large rooms and a circular flow perfect for entertaining. 5 BR, 3.5 BA. Enjoy the expansive deck overlooking the back yard. $2,295,000 Ted Beverley- 301-728-4338 Patricia Lore- 301-908-1242
Cabin John. Inviting, expanded Sears bungalow surrounded by mature trees on almost half an acre, offers quiet charm in a pastoral setting. 3BR, 2.5 BA. Walking distance to shopping, restaurants & the C & O Canal Towpath. $799,000 Martha Williams- 202-271-8138 Rachel Burns- 202-384-5140
Bethesda. Renovated & expanded Colonial on a large lot has 5 BR & 3.5 BA including a sumptuous master suite with cathedral ceilings. All bathed in sunshine. Walk to Metro, trails, downtown Bethesda & park. Marcie Sandalow- 301-758-4894 Cati Bannier- 202-487-7177
UPTOWN 202.364.1700 DOWNTOWN 202.464.8400 BETHESDA/CHEVY CHASE 301.656.1800 VIRGINIA 540.554.8600
Untitled-1 1
2/6/15 4:08 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
Average DOM
2013
2012
2011
2010
Average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Devonshire
1
3
3
3
2
$1,075,000
$704,833
$647,000
$1,036,333
$1,314,950
182 26
52
6
26
Edgewood
1
2
4
2
1
$842,000
$783,500
$831,250
$1,212,500
$837,000
7
7
3
47
30
English Village
6
5
8
7
7
$882,917
$1,176,950
$1,062,063
$1,294,143
$1,276,786
47
31
29
114 66
Fernwood
7
6
11
13
4
$630,429
$628,750
$726,395
$743,569
$714,650
17
28
50
17
23
Foggys Pasture
1
1
2
1
1
$785,000
$759,000
$923,500
$1,100,000
$1,160,000
12
0
7
0
68
Georgetown Village
5
9
14
12
14
$466,200
$448,189
$562,929
$594,450
$603,071
120 21
54
12
29
Green Tree Manor
5
8
10
5
6
$651,400
$709,238
$710,440
$757,980
$769,917
42
49
32
22
18
Greenwich Forest
2
3
5
5
4
$660,000
$730,833
$1,124,080
$937,700
$1,084,569
24
9
65
5
11
Hendry Estates
8
5
5
6
5
$925,238
$812,120
$864,800
$924,292
$652,415
43
25
50
50
13
Hillmead
14
8
10
13
12
$917,293
$842,500
$1,030,400
$925,500
$895,625
142 31
61
49
38
Huntington Terrace
15
13
17
9
12
$949,133
$1,028,615
$1,005,294
$1,088,111
$928,758
84
36
79
65
38
Kafauver Tract
1
1
2
3
2
$1,100,000
$910,000
$1,819,500
$1,451,000
$2,662,500
189 28
487 467 128
Kenwood Park
26
9
16
13
14
$942,500
$925,778
$1,048,875
$1,108,846
$1,286,061
32
30
32
26
51
Landon Woods
3
7
11
7
3
$1,094,167
$1,012,714
$1,389,615
$1,189,286
$1,495,885
66
39
108 21
75
Locust Ridge
1
0
0
0
4
$999,000
NA
NA
NA
$1,347,500
5
NA NA NA 49
Longwood
0
1
5
3
1
NA
$885,000
$1,567,100
$1,126,333
$1,025,000
NA 952 98
Lybrook
2
2
3
1
5
$814,500
$863,750
$1,583,333
$1,830,000
$1,404,363
26
81
122 6
185 161 48
Mary Knolls
2
4
5
0
2
$860,000
$830,625
$784,500
NA
$1,300,500
11
28
5
Mass. Ave. Forest
1
5
4
3
4
$780,000
$892,500
$1,010,000
$1,255,000
$951,500
20
79
135 35
11
Merrimack Park
4
6
7
7
4
$778,675
$792,917
$797,357
$1,155,000
$752,250
31
74
28
14
Your dreams Your success Your life
NA 116 57
Real estate counselors for exceptional properties. 888.907.6643 (Direct) 240.497.1707 (Office) ColeyReed@gmail.com www.ColeyReed.com ColeyReedHomes on
206 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL LIVING Single Family Homes from the upper $400’s Townhomes from the mid $300’s
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• Just minutes to I-270
• Easy access to I-270 and I-70
(240) 477-7029 22828 Broadway Avenue, Clarksburg, MD 20871 Open Daily From: 11am to 6pm
(443) 510-2000 4422 Ed McClain Road, Monrovia, MD 21770 Open: Mon 1pm to 6pm, Tues–Sun 11am to 6pm
YourHomeYourWay.com/Naturally ©2015 Winchester Homes Inc. Prices, offers and financing subject to change without notice. Please see a Community Sales Manager for details. All discounts and seller contributions are conditioned upon the use of seller’s designated mortgage and title companies. Winchester is a registered trademark and is used with permission. MHBR #57
12817_WCH_Bethesda-Mag-Ad_RV_i5.indd 1 Untitled-2 1
2/6/15 2:35 PM 2/12/15 2:58 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
average DoM
2013
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Oakmont
3
4
1
2
3
$1,098,333
$746,250
$589,500
$837,500
$1,013,333
42
22
15
85
57
Oakwood Knolls
11
3
9
8
5
$946,136
$1,004,667
$874,222
$1,149,406
$1,233,842
49
54
82
16
58
36
50
Persimmon Tree
5
3
4
4
2
$1,800,500
$2,013,333
$1,544,975
$1,737,500
$1,735,622
61
32
Potomac Outside
10
7
10
13
15
$1,170,823
$962,000
$1,147,700
$1,183,221
$1,476,167
37
212 153 64
Pt Bethesda Out Res 1
4
2
3
9
9
$942,250
$1,262,500
$704,000
$1,277,622
$1,543,412
133 144 83
River Quarry
4
0
0
7
4
$2,082,138
NA
NA
$1,492,470
$1,541,494
0
20
NA NA 87
117 53 149 79
Smithfield
0
3
4
1
1
NA
$1,137,667
$1,246,250
$1,075,000
$1,195,000
NA 127 105 6
3
Sonoma
3
4
3
5
4
$618,333
$1,048,638
$822,967
$955,400
$971,588
98
19
32
3
49
4
18
Stratton Woods
8
4
2
6
5
$631,238
$671,000
$657,000
$673,167
$763,780
35
9
21
The Palisades
1
9
2
3
2
$1,715,000
$1,298,889
$1,155,000
$1,726,333
$1,357,500
165 107 64
62
16
Wilson Knolls
0
4
3
5
2
NA
$904,125
$745,450
$845,400
$2,042,500
NA 43
8
43
25
Woodburn
1
3
1
4
3
$684,500
$1,023,723
$1,382,000
$793,000
$687,667
126 4
140 23
38
Woodhaven
10
9
3
10
6
$853,110
$962,667
$1,126,667
$881,200
$1,057,417
41
60
82
22
89
Wyngate
13
29
27
28
26
$718,962
$709,772
$834,617
$926,429
$875,342
33
57
30
34
42
373 356 408 460 391 $986,673
$967,630
$961,648
$1,041,063
$1,108,354
68
71
61
49
52
20817 Total
Cabin John 20818 Cabin John *
1
0
3
1
1
$1,400,000
NA
$1,221,667
$720,500
$985,000
37
NA 98
6
7
Cabin John Gardens
1
2
2
4
1
$517,000
$403,750
$602,400
$577,500
$525,000
16
0
19
3
34
Cabin John Gardens Coop 0
0
0
0
7
NA
NA
NA
NA
$585,843
NA NA NA NA 14
Cabin John Park
4
8
14
16
25
$814,250
$916,156
$1,305,357
$1,068,369
$1,077,896
51
Pt Bethesda Out Res 2
0
1
1
1
2
NA
$750,000
$1,500,000
$540,000
$961,500
NA 9
61
6
13
24
26
37
$862,333
$878,178
$1,241,543
$899,477
$954,224
43
48
110 65
20
20818 Total
76
148 62
52
307 9 38
Rockville 20850 Burgundy Hills
3
2
5
0
1
$264,667
$326,500
$296,520
NA
$290,000
79
38
Burgundy Knolls
5
2
3
4
6
$276,315
$270,124
$301,667
$343,238
$352,417
68
131 56
25
NA 2 24
College Gardens
7
5
9
15
10
$588,786
$555,400
$578,402
$611,467
$563,550
19
83
23
29
45
Croyden Park
7
3
6
4
3
$270,743
$281,200
$359,400
$310,500
$441,500
45
36
13
16
31
Darnestown Outside
3
3
2
0
1
$841,633
$632,000
$585,000
NA
$435,000
173 159 298 NA 7
Falls Grove
0
0
0
0
5
NA
NA
NA
NA
$1,000,000
NA NA NA NA 16
Fallsgrove
7
4
14
9
6
$904,214
$933,375
$942,893
$992,278
$977,833
192 2
61
19
70
Fallsmead
3
1
4
1
3
$740,000
$790,000
$713,000
$750,000
$776,333
35
36
26
0
15
100 93
88
105
Glen Hills
9
10
5
6
11
$850,403
$761,030
$895,000
$954,000
$862,000
61
Glen Park
1
5
3
3
4
$525,000
$597,000
$634,167
$658,333
$736,250
109 67
63
106 106
Glenora Hills
0
3
2
1
3
NA
$589,667
$521,000
$525,000
$618,333
NA 15
2
26
4
Harriett Park
6
1
2
6
4
$306,250
$252,800
$211,750
$339,667
$303,994
57
22
7
77
33
10
56
NA 25
Hunting Hills Woods
1
3
4
0
2
$711,000
$836,333
$780,625
NA
$762,500
38
Janeta
1
0
0
2
2
$259,000
NA
NA
$512,500
$665,000
151 NA NA 49
71
King Farm
4
5
5
2
3
$744,000
$776,600
$745,700
$551,882
$571,430
34
31
127 58
190
King Farm Watkins Pond
9
9
2
9
6
$825,000
$785,100
$817,500
$830,211
$840,000
46
65
49
18
67
22
Lakewood Estates
4
4
2
3
6
$992,000
$975,000
$1,022,250
$949,667
$1,011,333
80
21
41
103
Lakewood Glen
1
0
3
1
1
$746,000
NA
$973,333
$790,000
$905,500
139 NA 14
64
30
Lincoln Park
8
8
4
10
6
$195,375
$234,375
$299,250
$266,484
$233,833
52
110 99
27
8
Maryvale
22
11
7
10
11
$203,394
$200,818
$227,571
$254,337
$262,364
46
69
23
54 43
33
New Mark Commons
3
4
4
7
4
$624,667
$532,500
$598,625
$625,721
$594,500
33
110 24
23
Potomac Highlands
1
1
2
0
8
$633,775
$1,250,000
$835,000
NA
$781,974
43
18
67
NA 31
101 58
Potomac Oaks
3
2
3
4
4
$880,000
$872,500
$856,333
$870,625
$924,375
32
47
Pt Rockville Twn Res 1
8
10
7
9
14
$526,250
$576,380
$590,896
$656,389
$581,041
27
108 49
36
23 82
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Untitled-1 1
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by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
average DoM
2013
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Rockshire
12
14
9
19
13
$600,433
$629,335
$618,444
$637,945
$665,915
16
30
19
41
32
Rockville Estates
9
2
10
10
8
$597,556
$540,000
$562,968
$618,450
$609,188
21
15
31
13
67
Rockville Heights
2
1
2
3
2
$774,500
$480,000
$538,750
$817,333
$553,750
514 65
42
44
11
Rockville Park
4
2
2
5
4
$375,750
$332,375
$400,250
$374,500
$427,990
80
55
10
20
110 63
32
Rose Hill
4
2
2
6
4
$738,600
$896,500
$905,000
$935,083
$904,625
24
12
22
Roxboro
7
5
2
3
6
$430,429
$430,580
$382,500
$624,167
$471,333
86
38
184 108 71
West End Park
14
16
14
15
19
$521,821
$553,831
$548,800
$563,567
$541,642
73
101 91
28
45
Willows of Potomac
11
10
10
8
13
$1,018,909
$1,007,600
$1,010,400
$1,143,125
$1,053,808
32
44
58
27
27
Woodley Gardens
2
3
6
10
8
$506,325
$548,333
$551,667
$600,550
$599,113
12
38
39
20
19
217 181 186 212 218 $575,902
$659,560
$624,511
$639,062
$656,678
74
68
54
38
49
64
86
20850 Total
NORTH BETHESDA/ROCKVILLE 20852 Franklin Park
3
7
6
5
9
$360,833
$327,257
$360,533
$364,040
$393,267
35
Heritage Walk
1
0
1
3
2
$875,000
NA
$909,485
$986,766
$1,155,750
120 NA 25
114 33 112 0
Hollyoak
0
1
1
2
2
NA
$1,020,000
$970,000
$962,500
$1,030,010
NA 5
8
61
16
Hungerford
11
21
13
22
33
$442,309
$415,471
$461,415
$442,455
$466,978
18
35
37
28
48
Luxmanor
11
10
16
14
13
$1,051,318
$1,277,108
$944,938
$1,122,000
$1,151,077
102 68
92
62
33
Montrose
7
3
5
6
4
$525,857
$580,000
$554,400
$600,000
$594,000
134 65
43
21
30
Montrose Park
0
0
1
1
5
NA
NA
$400,000
$405,000
$434,580
NA NA 7
19
26
Montrose Woods
2
4
7
6
7
$684,000
$675,500
$688,429
$720,185
$755,571
5
15
18
39
51
Neilwood
1
0
3
2
2
$872,000
NA
$793,333
$830,000
$764,500
69
NA 48
53
11
North Farm
3
4
4
5
3
$754,000
$776,000
$749,750
$837,800
$804,333
24
8
15
14
29
Oaks at North Bethesda
4
0
2
1
1
$1,236,497
NA
$1,220,000
$1,575,000
$1,424,000
117 NA 72
0
15
Old Farm
13
15
19
24
16
$678,846
$716,980
$735,753
$786,953
$767,697
43
22
52
16
18
Old Georgetown Estates
6
2
4
1
3
$843,667
$1,238,750
$872,500
$735,000
$875,000
55
147 33
5
25
Randolph Farms
3
1
3
3
4
$328,667
$298,000
$345,667
$373,000
$379,350
21
162 21
31
37
Randolph Hills
33
29
43
37
35
$326,282
$308,744
$343,544
$363,473
$374,553
41
61
30
33
46
Tilden Woods
10
7
13
13
9
$651,400
$651,929
$662,454
$714,118
$720,222
75
22
35
19
14
Timberlawn
2
5
2
2
2
$927,500
$844,000
$1,102,500
$1,004,500
$1,038,750
72
38
25
14
74
Wickford
0
3
0
2
1
NA
$918,333
NA
$839,450
$900,000
NA 72
NA 86
13
Windermere
2
2
6
4
1
$918,750
$920,000
$956,250
$1,005,600
$1,150,000
15
6
10
56
18
118 122 153 162 154 $612,907
$599,266
$609,829
$636,577
$614,844
56
47
44
36
30
20852 Total
Potomac 20854 Avenel
20
14
17
25
19
$1,289,929
$1,309,390
$1,341,523
$1,665,452
$1,402,316
120 77
Beallmount
3
1
1
1
2
$1,013,333
$975,000
$1,200,000
$1,095,000
$1,149,500
340 185 107 149 26
163 108 93
Bedfordshire
12
8
11
14
12
$823,283
$796,813
$777,164
$813,000
$942,242
30
87
80
Bells Mill Estates
3
3
0
5
3
$1,118,333
$1,123,333
NA
$1,189,100
$1,244,167
51
33
NA 5
36
Bells Mill Village
5
3
1
3
2
$771,400
$743,000
$881,000
$750,387
$822,500
20
137 51
19
303 75
41 52 6
Beverly Farms
2
2
3
4
4
$622,450
$607,500
$705,000
$757,250
$821,250
16
29
Blenheim
1
1
1
0
2
$880,000
$1,350,000
$1,000,000
NA
$1,375,000
6
349 36
38
330 147 723 248
NA 72
Bradley Farms
1
2
4
3
3
$1,250,000
$3,100,000
$2,042,500
$4,050,000
$1,650,000
3
Camotop
5
1
4
2
3
$1,538,000
$1,850,000
$2,293,750
$2,100,000
$2,900,000
241 488 399 243 301
Clagett Farm
2
4
5
4
5
$1,217,500
$1,200,000
$1,216,000
$1,325,500
$1,325,400
8
Concord
0
2
3
2
2
NA
$1,345,411
$861,667
$1,280,000
$858,500
NA 235 344 72
84
66 70
16
48 102
Copenhaver
15
7
13
8
11
$791,633
$875,254
$816,346
$861,875
$804,436
63
62
17
38
Darnestown Outside
11
5
6
7
8
$1,002,873
$1,297,800
$665,583
$1,127,187
$1,424,559
73
219 167 93
97
71
East Gate of Potomac
18
13
4
12
6
$812,883
$835,081
$898,250
$924,333
$994,833
62
Esworthy Park
2
2
3
1
3
$975,000
$1,042,500
$1,052,500
$1,275,000
$1,066,296
142 147 112 0
98
12
27 60
210 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 210
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A real estate agent who says they usually get 100% of the asking price
probably isn’t asking for enough.
It’s easy to sell underpriced property. My goal is to get you top dollar. Andy Alderdice Direct: 301-466-5898 | 301-229-4000 www.andy4homes.com Licensed in MD, DC and VA
AndyAlderdice_BethesdaMag_7x4.625_Ad_02.6.15_F.indd 1
2/6/15 3:13 PM
A lot. For less. 2 blocks from the Silver Spring Metro. Condominiums star ting from the low $200’s with deliver y in 2015 .
Octave1320.com 301.320.8484 Sales by:
Marketing by:
DHCA
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD
Octave_BethesdaMag_7x4.625_Ad_02.05.15_v3.indd 1
Untitled-1 1
2/5/15 2:36 PM
2/6/15 4:19 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
Average DOM
2013
2012
2011
2010
Average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Falconhurst
8
7
5
4
2
$2,455,625
$3,007,143
$2,151,000
$2,737,500
$2,660,000
144 210 216 250 492
Falls Bend
0
0
4
0
1
NA
NA
$736,000
NA
$825,000
NA NA 13
NA 6
Falls Farm
0
1
1
3
1
NA
$904,777
$972,500
$934,167
$940,000
NA 30
127 21
17
Falls Orchard
4
1
2
2
3
$674,000
$675,000
$645,000
$645,000
$722,333
36
5
86
92
15
Fallsmead
3
4
7
6
4
$750,333
$725,750
$719,986
$726,250
$815,125
2
57
34
12
12 39
Fallsreach
6
4
5
6
10
$898,167
$853,750
$911,684
$924,583
$873,025
17
141 96
24
Fallswood
1
4
2
0
2
$468,000
$702,500
$672,500
NA
$653,500
57
43
NA 85
56
Fawcett Farms
2
3
5
6
2
$577,500
$1,187,667
$1,176,000
$1,004,168
$2,484,000
496 78
90
66
94
Fox Hills
11
20
17
21
16
$823,000
$791,448
$816,779
$819,774
$799,725
19
30
29
23
40
Fox Hills West
9
7
3
7
5
$788,250
$760,143
$829,667
$791,529
$792,600
32
82
74
33
48
Glen Meadows
3
2
1
2
3
$1,358,333
$1,265,000
$1,425,000
$1,361,500
$1,247,500
59
73
28
47
27
Glen Mill Knolls
3
1
2
4
1
$1,289,967
$1,100,000
$860,000
$1,187,250
$1,378,100
147 148 63
Glen Mill Village
2
2
0
2
2
$1,105,000
$1,188,500
NA
$955,000
$1,078,750
42
158 NA 21
47
Glen Oaks
9
3
7
5
7
$884,222
$898,667
$879,429
$978,000
$927,571
30
52
31
56
Glen Park
3
4
3
4
5
$672,000
$630,750
$570,000
$700,000
$698,755
39
168 166 43
19
Great Falls Estates
2
1
3
4
5
$2,437,500
$1,872,500
$1,393,333
$2,736,250
$2,387,000
102 18
Heritage Farm
3
0
2
3
3
$920,000
NA
$1,103,500
$980,000
$968,333
14
63
106 112
18
54
87
NA 15
57
117
Highland Stone
14
14
13
15
16
$632,018
$646,429
$663,577
$704,400
$696,969
34
54
13
46
Hollinridge
2
0
0
4
1
$685,000
NA
NA
$872,725
$710,000
98
NA NA 88
28
10
Horizon Hill
12
10
11
13
10
$753,028
$665,119
$671,727
$679,454
$693,573
79
53
48
52
40
Inverness Forest
4
6
10
7
8
$714,500
$740,667
$749,310
$840,214
$820,188
91
108 35
29
32
Kentsdale Estates
4
4
1
12
4
$1,398,750
$1,566,250
$1,200,000
$1,884,575
$1,610,625
304 134 51
116 248
Lake Normandy Estates
10
11
3
9
7
$850,400
$837,627
$775,667
$958,972
$860,057
39
86
21
52
Lake Potomac
0
6
3
5
6
NA
$1,365,833
$1,220,000
$1,200,000
$1,618,000
NA 155 85
90
52
Marwood
1
2
5
5
3
$20,000,000 $1,900,000
$2,133,000
$1,760,000
$2,060,000
0
121 139 127 262
Mass. Ave. Highlands
6
0
0
3
2
$1,160,833
NA
NA
$1,116,667
$1,102,450
20
NA NA 8
Mazza Woods
1
0
1
1
2
$980,000
NA
$1,600,000
$2,021,000
$1,550,000
132 NA 77
517 285 29
68
40
Mcauley Park
6
2
12
11
5
$1,177,667
$1,475,000
$1,283,333
$1,394,364
$1,292,753
97
Merry Go Round Farm
1
4
2
2
3
$1,925,000
$1,792,500
$1,857,500
$1,550,000
$1,776,667
1091 266 269 51
100
Montgomery Square
8
3
10
11
11
$649,500
$642,167
$633,250
$632,436
$637,355
25
61
78 65
93 36
51
72
Oldfield
4
2
4
9
3
$730,500
$647,500
$779,875
$872,828
$857,333
19
128 26
47
8
Orchard Ridge
3
5
8
2
4
$669,167
$724,850
$731,125
$740,000
$794,755
98
19
21
11
83
Palatine
5
8
3
5
1
$1,563,600
$2,159,199
$1,900,000
$2,030,578
$1,680,000
247 166 154 27
Pine Knolls
2
4
5
2
4
$1,227,500
$1,141,875
$958,400
$954,875
$1,026,063
605 94
97
Piney Glen Farms
3
5
3
4
3
$1,236,667
$1,220,000
$990,000
$1,448,750
$1,570,333
52
108 64
Piney Glen Village
7
15
2
4
9
$985,429
$1,020,073
$957,953
$1,079,697
$1,040,311
36
37
Potomac*
2
1
0
4
3
$1,057,500
$1,650,000
NA
$1,721,250
$811,667
100 42
Potomac Commons
10
8
9
13
12
$802,750
$736,125
$753,200
$796,608
$799,243
49
Potomac Crest
0
3
1
3
3
NA
$1,142,333
$1,020,000
$1,286,000
$1,136,667
NA 94
12
358
171 56 289 336
115 34
56
NA 383 67 35
21
189 26
23 150
Potomac Falls
4
2
4
9
5
$2,102,090
$1,845,000
$2,251,250
$2,103,056
$2,099,000
427 167 179 83
157
Potomac Glen
1
1
0
1
3
$1,249,000
$1,250,000
NA
$1,220,000
$1,071,667
6
101
103 NA 21
Potomac Hills
0
4
2
5
2
NA
$944,750
$717,500
$1,413,400
$1,840,000
NA 179 53
120 135
Potomac Manor
0
1
5
3
4
NA
$1,955,000
$1,945,600
$1,373,333
$1,666,250
NA 88
350 178
88
Potomac Outside
16
29
18
29
23
$1,211,594
$1,386,641
$1,171,178
$1,419,962
$1,439,870
110 114 103 101 110
Potomac Ranch
2
1
1
3
5
$1,189,898
$1,200,000
$2,190,000
$1,555,000
$1,143,500
233 123 127 133 72
Potomac View Estates
4
3
3
3
6
$1,195,205
$1,391,667
$1,308,333
$1,424,667
$1,780,833
298 55
14
49
202
Potomac Village
10
5
12
7
10
$1,030,950
$1,114,000
$1,109,667
$1,066,143
$1,265,400
160 88
53
74
85
Potomac Woods
18
10
11
12
14
$651,694
$626,090
$714,909
$662,875
$680,064
60
64
72
25
69
212 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 212
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POTOMAC, MD $5,200,000
BETHESDA, MD $3,395,000
BETHESDA, MD$3,250,000
MAURA SHANNON +1 301 346 4183 ZELDA HELLER +1 202 257 1226
DAVID DeSANTIS +1 202 438 1542
COREY BURR +1 301 346 3345
7BR mini-estate overlooking Congressional Country Club, built in 2000. Main home and guest cottage sited on 2 acres. Soaring ceilings, custom moldings, hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen and entertaining rooms. Landscaped yard, pool, spa and outdoor lanai.
6BR, 5.5BA home with hardwood and marble floors, luxurious formal rooms, paneled library, gourmet kitchen with island and stainless steel appliances, 2 wine coolers, and 4 fireplaces. Complete with finished basement, pool, and 3-car garage.
5BR, 4FBA, 2HBA stone colonial on private 2-acres. Exquisite features include Viking appliances, 4 fireplaces, hardwood flooring, marble flooring, crown molding, and French doors that open to view of the rear terrace, gardens, heated pool, and parkland.
FOREST HILLS, DC $3,150,000
POTOMAC, MD $2,695,000
KENT, DC $1,995,000
MICHAEL RANKIN +1 202 271 3344
JAYNE EHRENS +1 240 401 7025 EMILY EHRENS HAINLINE +1 202 380 8125
MICHAEL RANKIN +1 202 271 3344
PALISADES, DC $1,950,000
BETHESDA, MD from $1.8M QuarrySprings.com
KIRSTEN WILLIAMS +1 202 657 2022 FRANK SNODGRASS +1 202 257 0978
CHRISTINE BASSO +1 202 302 2508
This 1929 Colonial stone residence offers over 7,000 sq ft on an expansive lot with mature plantings, manicured gardens, and a pool. Renovated kitchen with custom cabinetry, chefgrade appliances, butler’s pantry and adjacent breakfast room with walls of windows.
Beautifully appointed 4 bedroom Colonial with its unique location as one of only 14 homes situated on a bluff directly overlooking the Potomac River, this home features virtually unobstructed views of the river and Virginia.
BETHESDA, MD from $1.5M The Lauren offers floor plans ranging from 1,4446,000+ sq ft. Direct access elevators, 9’ - 10’ ceilings, private roof top terraces, Home Automation System with iPad control, high-end fixtures and appliances, fireplaces, and private wine storage. DAVID DeSANTIS +1 202 438 1542
GEORGETOWN BROKERAGE | +1 202 333 1212 DOWNTOWN BROKERAGE | +1 202 234 3344 McLEAN, VA BROKERAGE | +1 703 319 3344 ALEXANDRIA, VA BROKERAGE | +1 703 310 6800 CHEVY CHASE, MD BROKERAGE | +1 301 967 3344
ttrsir.com
Untitled-1 1
Recently remodeled by Sandy Spring Builders, this Avenel home features an exquisite chef’s kitchen, gracious entertaining spaces, large screen porch, 5BR and 6.5BA and is sited on 2 acres with pool and spa.
The Estate Condominium Residences at Quarry Springs offer ease-of-living with 2,200-4,500 sq ft one-level floor plans, sprawling wrap terraces, designer finishes. Fitness center, pool, steam, sauna, library, concierge, valet parking and 24hour security gate.
Located on one of the most sought-after streets in Kent, this residence offers a renovated kitchen adjacent to a light-filled family room and breakfast area. There are 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3 fireplaces and an attached garage.
BETHESDA, MD $1,695,000
This 5 bedroom home on a 1/2 acre landscaped lot features wide-plank pegged oak floors, crown molding, recessed lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows. 4 finished levels. Breakfast room, expansive brick entertaining patio, 6 fireplaces.
ZELDA HELLER +1 202 257 1226
TALBOT COUNTY, MD $1,030,000
WESLEY HEIGHTS, DC $630,000
KIM SPEED +1 410 507 3773 CHARLES OLIVER +1 410 280 3822
KIRSTEN WILLIAMS +1 202 657 2022
Custom Georgian designed by award winning Atelier 11 Architecture sited on 24 acres. Features many historical reclaimed materials. 4BA, 2FB, 2HB. 1850’s schoolhouse converted into separate guest house.
Expansive condominium offering 24/7 front desk, tennis, swimming, garage parking, and a layout designed for entertaining. 2-story living room opens to patio. Master suite with large walk-in closet and second bedroom with access to rear patio.
©MMXV TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Equal housing opportunity. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Price and availability subject to change. Date Source: MRIS (Sales, 12/1/12+, Legal Subdivision: Georgetown)
2/6/15 4:21 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
average DoM
2013
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Regency Estates
29
17
19
27
29
$588,555
$599,824
$600,474
$646,007
$652,507
54
56
51
19
26
Regent Park
2
4
5
7
4
$633,000
$627,500
$672,854
$743,286
$631,250
20
44
4
23
18
River Falls
12
9
17
21
21
$1,197,542
$1,179,333
$1,120,588
$1,191,286
$1,162,976
94
98
42
65
43
Rivers Edge
4
1
3
3
3
$1,114,375
$1,200,000
$1,055,000
$1,190,215
$1,734,167
465 46
62
62
36
18
149 78
Roberts Glen
2
2
6
1
4
$742,500
$870,000
$749,500
$605,000
$776,875
14
Saddle Ridge
0
2
2
4
2
NA
$1,126,000
$1,416,500
$1,151,750
$1,550,000
NA 133 164 41
24
72
Stoney Creek Estates
4
4
1
8
4
$1,270,025
$1,227,750
$1,350,000
$1,280,600
$1,304,250
28
47
55
36
68
Stoney Creek Farm
1
2
1
2
2
$1,520,000
$1,495,000
$1,675,000
$1,732,500
$2,133,750
14
39
157 22
116
Timberwood of Potomac
1
2
0
1
1
$680,000
$652,500
NA
$790,000
$715,000
12
91
NA 7
124
Travilah Meadows
4
1
0
4
3
$1,276,250
$830,000
NA
$1,450,000
$1,016,667
127 15
Willerburn Acres
3
9
7
3
9
$780,000
$856,833
$768,000
$1,035,384
$949,000
60
NA 13
109 109 8
181 70
Williamsburg Gardens
3
3
2
2
2
$1,129,167
$850,000
$1,044,000
$993,700
$845,000
280 227 310 46
74
Willowbrook
2
3
3
4
5
$794,500
$703,333
$723,333
$825,750
$806,600
23
55
73
73
21
Windsor Hills
3
3
10
3
5
$1,120,000
$851,667
$934,650
$961,667
$921,800
13
58
59
31
24
Winterset
7
1
5
3
3
$1,040,714
$1,400,000
$1,043,000
$1,224,333
$980,000
77
3
77
26
31
436 394 418 500 468 $1,038,127
$1,067,313
$1,016,328
$1,142,067
$1,093,763
95
96
85
69
71
20854 Total
NORTH POTOMAC/GAITHERSBURG 20878 Ancient Oak
11
16
13
13
9
$603,364
$618,163
$570,912
$557,762
$595,722
54
84
101 101 80
Big Pines Village
3
2
1
3
1
$989,167
$820,000
$868,000
$1,050,667
$980,000
51
65
43
9
22
Bondbrook
0
1
3
2
1
NA
$562,500
$816,000
$612,500
$445,000
NA 164 62
5
177
83
Darnestown Hills
4
3
2
4
1
$684,750
$598,333
$797,500
$717,250
$725,000
70
Darnestown Outside
10
9
8
9
9
$499,270
$821,278
$630,750
$708,233
$795,278
101 127 150 88
190 49
14 190
Diamond Courts
5
0
4
3
2
$420,266
NA
$428,000
$465,867
$421,389
53
NA 65
103 107
Dufief
17
9
11
13
15
$545,634
$581,033
$517,773
$622,578
$616,200
40
70
62
60
39
Dufief Mill
10
13
13
22
17
$685,375
$683,000
$682,769
$712,750
$728,824
11
26
37
53
27
Dufief Mill Estates
6
2
6
10
6
$682,483
$657,500
$698,333
$677,700
$672,150
13
17
64
43
37
40
Fernshire Farms
2
5
3
7
4
$356,450
$482,400
$507,300
$495,643
$507,000
7
31
48
44
Gaithersburg Town
0
0
1
2
2
NA
NA
$525,000
$471,250
$445,000
NA NA 12
91
24
Haddonfield
1
4
1
4
2
$740,000
$838,700
$850,000
$902,500
$844,750
54
Highlands of Darnestown 1
6
5
6
3
$600,000
$729,167
$632,100
$644,583
$696,667
164 82
79
52
121
Kentlands
12
11
13
13
$764,136
$741,408
$729,164
$718,077
$857,592
118 68
63
33
20
14
30
232 100 22
Kentlands Gatehouse
3
4
5
4
9
$902,500
$877,000
$722,900
$858,750
$819,222
22
53
58
56
70
Kentlands Hill District
7
6
8
6
7
$671,400
$726,750
$735,550
$750,250
$746,429
27
62
86
54
21
12
Kentlands Midtown
2
2
1
3
1
$531,000
$615,500
$550,000
$763,333
$610,000
67
14
5
Kentlands Upper
1
3
2
5
3
$615,000
$908,000
$750,000
$944,000
$911,667
52
14
120 1
17 43
Lakelands
20
23
29
31
24
$739,383
$770,450
$733,248
$755,029
$852,625
59
50
85
26
31
Lakelands Great Seneca
0
2
2
2
3
NA
$584,750
$565,000
$609,950
$625,000
NA 21
19
15
54 76
Mills Farm
2
5
5
6
10
$493,250
$496,800
$567,600
$547,706
$572,290
28
80
20
99
Mission Hills
0
1
2
0
2
NA
$611,000
$626,975
NA
$585,000
NA 55
60
NA 9
Mountain View Estates
2
3
7
5
1
$825,000
$580,000
$575,355
$651,478
$850,000
76
212 101 87
15
Natalie Estates
1
0
3
1
1
$870,000
NA
$790,000
$807,500
$1,008,000
20
NA 60
4
6
Orchard Hills
2
4
3
5
4
$572,500
$591,475
$562,667
$581,801
$590,000
65
15
Owens Glen
3
1
3
2
2
$676,000
$650,000
$606,667
$739,500
$692,000
60
170 179 3
165 40
38 55
Parklands
0
0
0
3
3
NA
NA
NA
$525,472
$633,333
NA NA NA 26
100
Parkridge
2
2
4
1
1
$464,500
$489,000
$493,500
$570,000
$525,000
9
48
109 150 37
Pheasant Run
8
5
4
6
9
$438,250
$439,880
$451,700
$510,167
$491,556
69
30
58
58
80
Potomac Chase
13
12
23
14
20
$645,031
$650,900
$627,235
$683,885
$646,653
51
85
78
34
51
214 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders, a nationally recognized, award-winning homebuilder, brings thirty-five years of innovative home design and building experience to Bethesda real estate. We offer a variety of home plans, customized to fit your needs, ready to build on your lot or ours. Visit our website to learn more about us and to see our inventory of move-in-ready homes. Quality Craftsmanship | Design & Innovation | Spa Baths & Gourmet Kitchens Energy$mart® Program | Peace of Mind For more information, contact Mike Rubinfeld at (301) 231-0009 ext. 235 or mrubinfeld@midatlanticbuilders.com MidAtlanticCustomHomes.com
Untitled-1 1
MHBR # 7029, 6062
2/6/15 4:11 PM
by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
average DoM
2013
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
Subdivision
2011
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Potomac Grove
3
4
3
4
3
$793,967
$766,625
$733,900
$712,250
$739,333
53
64
94
72
104
Potomac Ridge
16
14
8
2
8
$537,294
$520,893
$522,875
$614,500
$615,250
16
27
54
16
26
Quail Run
2
6
2
5
6
$847,000
$860,833
$739,500
$685,760
$837,500
115 61
56
87
50
Quince Haven
3
3
4
5
1
$603,333
$668,000
$606,500
$673,120
$694,500
25
57
10
21
7
6
Quince Orchard Estates
4
3
2
1
2
$529,875
$580,167
$552,500
$635,000
$586,000
66
19
63
Quince Orchard Knolls
15
12
20
15
14
$560,600
$592,449
$564,895
$561,633
$589,529
47
65
105 43
53 45
Quince Orchard Manor
15
11
7
11
10
$409,833
$438,545
$443,857
$454,155
$478,900
73
80
123 42
13
Quince Orchard Park
11
8
6
10
7
$540,136
$513,388
$568,650
$569,550
$547,714
32
79
33
32
75
43
Quince Orchard Valley
13
11
12
8
7
$417,392
$499,400
$480,982
$453,463
$447,514
49
37
61
Relda Square
3
1
0
4
2
$321,667
$400,000
NA
$324,775
$328,950
43
52
NA 16
44 118
Rollinmead
1
0
2
4
2
$900,000
NA
$800,000
$897,000
$977,500
322 NA 284 199 58
Seneca Highlands
1
0
1
3
4
$665,000
NA
$735,000
$1,150,000
$662,500
22
NA 27
107 112
Stonebridge
7
12
8
13
22
$752,321
$702,650
$747,750
$826,184
$801,864
14
39
47
22
24
Washingtonian Village
3
4
1
3
1
$498,000
$447,500
$480,000
$533,333
$535,000
24
128 93
16
66
Washingtonian Woods
17
6
3
8
11
$624,618
$679,483
$692,330
$644,925
$671,127
33
93
52
40
38
West Riding
3
5
10
4
5
$426,967
$443,000
$428,530
$474,000
$453,300
28
31
41
43
129
Westleigh
15
15
16
17
18
$594,133
$572,067
$629,703
$645,824
$658,667
30
68
44
40
28
92
49
Willow Ridge
2
4
1
8
2
$744,000
$723,625
$620,000
$784,738
$727,500
160 80
17
Woodlands
2
3
1
0
1
$903,500
$955,984
$860,000
NA
$900,000
96
48
142 NA 4
310 296 318 379 325 $617,819
$649,616
$643,965
$681,540
$683,731
50
70
82
20878 Total
58
51
RESPONSIVE | TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | 24 x 7 HELPDESK SUPPORT
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE NETWORK ASSESSMENT!
1(877) 365-TECH Readers’ Pick
www.hilltopconsultants.com/bmag 216 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 216
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Let 2015 Let The Souza Group Move You in 2015 5225 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda Bethesda Unit 729N The fabulous Promenade! Promenade!Updated Updated The ultimate in turnkey living at the fabulous 2BR/2FBA windows && panoramic panoramicviews views 2BR/2FBA corner unit full of light-filled windows of included. Offered Offered at at $325,000 $325,000 of downtown Bethesda. Parking included.
14516 14516 Orangewood Orangewood Street, Silver Spring Well-maintained five five bedroom bedroom split foyer on a quiet cul-de-sac with Well-maintained largerear rearyard yard and and attached attached garage. Hardwoods on main level & aalarge newcarpet carpetin in the the bedrooms; bedrooms; cozy cozy fireplace in the Family Room. new Justminutes minutesoff off the the ICC! ICC! Offered Offered at $400,000 Just
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9715 The The Corral Corral Drive, Drive, Potomac Potomac 9715 Youwill willlove lovethe the idyllic idyllic setting setting of of this this gorgeous gorgeous 6 6 bedroom You bedroom home home perfectly situated on a 2+ acre corner lot in the heart of Potomac. perfectly situated on a 2+ acre corner lot in the heart of Potomac. cargarage garageplus plus pool pool && patios patios to to enjoy! enjoy! Offered Offered at 33car at $1,875,000 $1,875,000
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Untitled-1 1
2/9/15 10:17 AM
by the numbers 2012
4
6
5
6
$712,500
$636,125
$697,500
$773,600
$696,576
66
78
157 23
9
17
12
20
$845,923
$788,667
$834,471
$882,583
$966,441
221 124 73
2014
2011
2013
2010
2014
2013
2012
4 13
2014
2011
Average DOM
Byeforde
2013
2010
2012
Average Close Price
Chevy Chase View
subdivision
2011
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Kensington 20895 53
33 40
Garrett Park Estates
12
27
15
19
13
$496,175
$507,619
$525,073
$569,492
$582,231
20
60
18
22
18
Homewood
10
11
12
23
14
$422,480
$427,682
$408,188
$444,809
$499,177
46
53
78
33
55
135 NA 80
Ken Gar
3
1
0
2
7
$222,667
$290,000
NA
$301,000
$371,143
98
Kensington*
19
20
20
25
22
$703,831
$649,825
$726,875
$757,670
$649,745
101 44
110 59
51
86 53
Kensington Estates
9
10
11
13
11
$694,556
$737,300
$726,182
$709,154
$764,909
57
40
86
33
Kensington Heights
21
17
27
26
17
$376,471
$418,647
$461,615
$469,377
$479,582
120 141 67
63
53
29
7
Kensington Knolls
3
2
3
6
1
$386,000
$435,730
$330,367
$409,083
$580,000
53
85
82
Kensington Orchids
2
1
0
0
3
$713,750
$629,900
NA
NA
$777,333
93
43
NA NA 61
Kensington Terrace
2
2
3
3
4
$440,000
$476,500
$564,167
$461,000
$506,500
87
58
66
Kensington View
9
6
2
3
10
$337,044
$362,250
$607,500
$355,000
$503,365
62
54
218 60
35
Larchmont Knolls
0
1
1
2
1
NA
$725,000
$860,000
$750,000
$780,000
NA 95
23
25
23
72
156 35
65
14
6
Newport Hills
8
7
9
4
8
$399,688
$406,071
$372,478
$402,375
$409,506
58
North Kensington
11
12
6
11
13
$387,900
$362,688
$367,000
$385,400
$395,445
100 129 202 28
63
Oakland Terrace
4
4
4
3
5
$291,250
$460,250
$368,500
$330,333
$415,181
46
31
21
12
4
Parkwood
16
20
19
17
19
$622,656
$631,670
$685,068
$680,647
$759,754
45
37
25
16
35
Rock Creek Highlands
1
4
4
7
6
$865,000
$733,000
$839,775
$827,857
$765,408
47
97
45
48
23
THE GATES AT AVENEL $1,100,000 Stately 4BR/4.5BA all-brick colonial on premium oversized lot with pool backing to parkland and siding to tree-lined common area. Largest courtyard home model with over 4800 sq. ft. on 3 levels. Great sense of light and spaciousness from dramatic two-story and 10-ft ceilings on main level. NEW custom paint, elaborate mouldings, and NEWLY refinished hardwood floors throughout. Executive-sized entertaining rooms and three fireplaces. Gourmet granite and stainless center island kitchen opens to family room. MBR suite and sitting room with wet bar and fireplace. All other bedrooms en suite as well. Walk-out lower level recreation room with fullsize wet bar, exercise room/den, and bedroom suite. Deck and flagstone patio overlooking wrought-iron fenced yard.
Ilia Speaks Your Language Whether Spanish, French, English, or the latest trends in real estate or interior design, Ilia speaks your language. She knows the Washington area–from DC’s vibrant emerging neighborhoods to the Maryland suburbs. Ilia brings knowledge, warmth and enthusiasm to all that she does, and she’d love to help you sell or buy your next home.
SOLD
2135 Tunlaw Rd, Washington, DC
301-340-8700 ext. 103 (office) ~ 301-814-3200 (cell)
THE GATES AT A $1,100,000 Stately 4BR/4.5BA all-b on premium oversized backing to parkland a tree-lined common ar courtyard home mode 4800 sq. ft. on 3 le sense of light and s from dramatic two-sto ceilings on main level. NEW cu elaborate mouldings, and NEWLY hardwood floors throughout. Exe entertaining rooms and three fireplace granite and stainless center island kitch family room. MBR suite and sitting ro bar and fireplace. All other bedrooms well. Walk-out lower level recreation ro size wet bar, exercise room/den, an suite. Deck and flagstone patio Long & Foster Bethesda Gateway wrought-iron fenced yard.
301-907-7600
SOLD
6024 Chatsworth Lane, Bethesda
ILIA MENOCAL, Realtor® Licensed in Maryland & Washington, D.C. Fluent in Spanish, French & English 301-340-8700 ext. 103 (office) 202-297-2422 • Ilia@LNF.com
~ 301-814-3200
218 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_HOME_BTNexpanded.indd 218
2/13/15 11:04 AM
2014
2012
2013
2011
2010
2014
2013
2012
18
18
21
17
19
$779,606
$736,069
$832,086
$846,991
$875,100
81
68
67
20
31
23
23
31
29
31
$403,843
$364,570
$396,397
$439,282
$450,694
65
116 49
46
39
2014
2011
average DoM
Rock Creek Hills
2013
2010
2012
average close price
Rock Creek Palisades
subdivision
2011
2010
no. of homes sold
Warners/Kensington
2
4
2
3
4
$447,500
$493,150
$314,500
$504,667
$690,350
6
6
34
95
61
White Flint Park
3
2
4
3
4
$641,667
$572,750
$510,500
$641,867
$573,722
10
55
26
18
14
196 207 218 235 242 $536,627
$537,844
$581,912
$591,315
$621,928
82
76
66
44
42
14
16
6
16
14
$608,964
$710,950
$607,067
$924,031
$803,464
40
59
22
59
36
14
16
6
16
14
$608,964
$710,950
$607,067
$924,031
$803,464
40
59
22
59
36
32
98
48
20895 Total
Garrett Park 20896 Garrett Park 20896 Total
SILVER SPRING 20902 Arcola
8
4
6
12
8
$341,938
$414,625
$372,083
$403,125
$424,875
87
Arville
2
2
1
2
1
$352,500
$334,500
$350,000
$406,000
$285,000
142 24
169 7
70 41
Blueridge Manor
3
0
2
1
1
$359,667
NA
$353,000
$390,000
$301,000
152 NA 162 2
61
Cameron Heights
4
4
7
7
6
$202,013
$315,500
$311,771
$294,857
$373,567
132 66
53
35
20
Carroll Knolls
27
27
36
28
23
$302,204
$296,310
$314,524
$369,830
$369,426
59
32
32
21
31
Chestnut Hills
3
4
6
9
7
$279,000
$270,000
$283,317
$266,944
$288,986
42
50
72
32
68
68
6
Chestnut Ridge Manor
6
3
6
10
12
$326,583
$291,667
$334,400
$352,340
$383,924
41
38
17
College View
4
2
3
7
2
$374,681
$457,000
$503,283
$402,461
$408,750
207 28
226 46
29
Conn. Ave. Estates
17
14
10
13
17
$248,324
$239,307
$250,150
$264,908
$276,082
76
62
45
51
14
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BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 219
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by the numbers 2012
2014 $355,960
75
224 25
2014
$367,000
2013
$305,153
2011
$254,419
2010
$262,450
average DoM
2013
5
2012
5
2011
5
2010
2014
5
2013
2
average Close Price
2012
Conn. Ave. Hills
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
24
65
Connecticut Gardens
6
4
10
13
8
$262,750
$307,750
$294,040
$320,577
$328,006
68
185 77
49
67
Evans Parkway
4
3
3
1
6
$432,625
$365,000
$396,325
$440,000
$421,083
43
124 50
5
63
Forest Estates
8
11
15
25
19
$435,313
$430,636
$402,033
$431,562
$461,989
33
72
39
23
28
Forest Glen Homes
1
3
3
2
1
$355,000
$354,333
$404,333
$428,750
$375,000
7
46
61
21
5
Forest Grove
3
2
3
1
5
$441,333
$460,000
$458,333
$525,000
$659,300
82
14
64
6
22
Forestvale
6
4
5
5
5
$411,400
$404,375
$433,100
$422,100
$465,800
51
30
58
27
75
Glen Allen
3
3
3
0
4
$381,667
$446,000
$438,333
NA
$526,000
27
90
41
NA 23
Glen Haven
2
1
4
5
6
$296,000
$305,000
$322,250
$346,950
$338,083
14
85
19
23
64
Glenfield Manor
4
5
6
9
12
$367,250
$386,500
$398,333
$364,444
$423,150
112 50
18
13
39
112 47
Glenmont Forest
11
15
3
6
2
$220,727
$217,550
$260,000
$268,167
$342,250
34
77
Glenmont Village
1
0
4
1
7
$178,500
NA
$216,375
$200,000
$262,633
20
NA 35
3
13
42 38
Glenview
11
1
4
5
4
$395,886
$318,000
$378,850
$423,000
$488,750
39
104 107 31
Hammond Woods
3
3
6
0
2
$438,000
$432,000
$354,417
NA
$393,550
45
55
54
NA 8
70
25
Highland Woods
5
3
2
6
2
$264,300
$254,967
$228,750
$289,667
$310,000
54
65
Kemp Mill
1
0
3
5
1
$525,000
NA
$506,667
$534,700
$537,000
0
NA 154 75
240 47
93
56
12
Kemp Mill Estates
32
40
45
40
31
$381,619
$370,710
$358,434
$398,469
$440,669
66
81
Kemp Mill Farms
1
2
0
2
2
$385,000
$437,250
NA
$589,425
$495,000
12
255 NA 138 9
Kemp Mill Forest
3
2
2
3
3
$507,500
$480,000
$522,500
$514,347
$507,300
59
206 44
151 153
Kemp Mill Hills
1
0
2
1
3
$395,000
NA
$352,500
$410,000
$395,467
8
NA 74
8
46
Kensington Heights
1
3
2
2
2
$462,000
$235,667
$344,500
$405,000
$375,950
33
28
108 5
11
Kingswell
9
5
6
3
6
$222,989
$259,800
$242,875
$282,000
$332,063
49
53
23
52
23
McKenny Hills
8
8
11
4
6
$415,125
$360,063
$393,318
$377,750
$466,833
40
57
60
8
41
Montgomery Highland Estates 2
2
0
2
2
$287,100
$307,500
NA
$277,450
$292,500
120 33
NA 38
134
Northbrook Estates
6
1
7
7
$334,133
$307,667
$417,000
$372,786
$453,000
63
14
16
40 46
3
56
Oakland Terrace
3
1
4
3
3
$439,217
$327,500
$378,250
$405,333
$425,333
179 139 145 69
Parkway
3
1
3
0
5
$383,167
$370,000
$372,667
NA
$391,600
100 71
81
NA 56
22
NA 39
Plyers Mill Estates
1
1
3
0
4
$350,000
$355,000
$385,000
NA
$405,875
78
Pt Wheaton Out Res 2
0
0
0
1
6
NA
NA
NA
$390,000
$362,258
NA NA NA 7
13
19
Regnid
1
1
2
3
2
$259,900
$360,000
$330,000
$404,333
$320,000
8
52
180 96
11
Rock Creek Palisades
4
2
0
3
2
$504,500
$522,000
NA
$580,668
$620,000
9
113 NA 5
Springbrook Forest
5
3
5
4
2
$517,580
$473,333
$567,700
$536,225
$486,750
35
108 81
6
114 123
Stephen Knolls
3
4
2
7
1
$335,733
$336,332
$312,450
$355,714
$331,500
20
56
37
35
14
Weismans
8
8
7
3
7
$194,694
$231,584
$219,143
$201,675
$289,357
40
97
82
9
44
Westchester
2
2
3
1
2
$490,000
$382,750
$362,167
$420,000
$387,500
22
84
74
8
48
Wheaton Crest
12
14
6
6
9
$268,854
$242,279
$306,400
$347,833
$344,767
51
74
65
38
40
Wheaton Forest
6
6
5
7
5
$306,433
$271,900
$260,600
$316,929
$397,300
102 59
74
11
29
Wheaton Hills
43
33
33
28
29
$274,593
$285,822
$284,324
$302,768
$315,587
67
102 66
61
37
Wheaton View
2
4
4
1
6
$407,500
$323,000
$394,750
$315,000
$393,184
44
103 82
85
64
312 292 314 321 320 $325,941
$319,865
$339,982
$367,572
$387,795
62
74
66
37
44
20902 Total
Silver Spring 20910 Blair
14
12
13
14
22
$393,634
$462,958
$448,346
$444,055
$466,723
75
47
51
13
49
Capitol View Park
16
11
7
17
16
$386,750
$522,955
$422,714
$440,351
$484,756
61
77
110 79
40
5
8
Carroll Springs
1
1
1
4
2
$400,000
$337,000
$520,000
$522,975
$467,500
16
Dilles / Linden
0
0
3
2
1
NA
NA
$356,667
$337,450
$805,000
NA NA 65
106 22 99
8
Downtown Silver Spring
0
1
4
0
1
NA
$619,000
$534,264
NA
$425,000
NA 140 34
NA 60
Forest Glen
3
5
6
8
2
$583,000
$457,200
$524,917
$548,633
$560,750
22
57
26
52
Forest Glen Knolls
2
1
2
0
2
$352,950
$360,000
$427,500
NA
$427,500
10
11
37
NA 12
9
220 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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by the numbers 2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2014
2013
average DoM
2012
2011
2010
average Close Price
2014
2013
2012
2011
Subdivision
2010
No. of Homes Sold
Forest Glen Park
6
7
4
4
2
$500,833
$405,129
$412,225
$517,500
$475,000
89
68
27
59
9
McNeills
5
2
1
5
3
$621,400
$672,500
$449,000
$506,400
$612,333
9
30
3
21
16
Montgomery Hills
2
4
5
6
6
$407,000
$399,248
$481,000
$531,167
$619,300
53
120 81
60
64
North Woodside
2
8
4
4
4
$550,000
$505,363
$466,000
$556,000
$572,250
17
93
81
44
19
120 34
38
64
Northmont
2
5
5
2
4
$409,250
$419,800
$430,980
$456,250
$409,975
8
P & B / Linden
0
0
2
2
1
NA
NA
$315,000
$305,000
$420,000
NA NA 219 108 147
Rock Creek Forest
5
3
6
4
5
$490,700
$431,667
$522,917
$538,275
$529,700
52
39
7
7
33
Rosemary Hills
8
8
12
2
9
$467,375
$524,563
$506,208
$577,500
$573,778
31
66
40
6
12
Saratoga Village
1
2
1
3
2
$245,000
$265,500
$485,000
$561,667
$462,500
0
3
57
11
34
Seven Oaks
1
6
3
4
10
$650,000
$595,750
$678,833
$494,250
$633,500
9
98
14
19
14
66
17
Silver Spring*
14
9
12
13
15
$468,821
$493,022
$456,583
$564,500
$507,817
92
56
Sixteenth St. Village
2
0
0
1
3
$310,000
NA
NA
$450,000
$432,833
21
NA NA 81
29 9
Sligo Park Hills
15
18
23
24
24
$487,300
$465,500
$469,374
$544,571
$558,896
69
74
80
44
31
South Woodside Park
4
5
6
3
5
$686,250
$472,200
$629,417
$621,000
$588,380
20
141 29
11
36
Takoma Park
7
3
9
8
7
$425,543
$425,000
$459,333
$460,100
$512,629
90
32
38
15
27
Woodside
13
15
15
13
14
$610,262
$570,502
$600,720
$594,565
$609,006
67
37
48
52
54
Woodside Forest
4
12
13
8
8
$562,500
$595,750
$602,523
$540,263
$624,581
58
50
48
90
54
Woodside Knolls
2
0
3
0
2
$305,300
NA
$438,306
NA
$540,000
31
NA 42
NA 5
Woodside Park
17
22
26
22
24
$636,882
$658,518
$642,654
$762,136
$716,371
63
108 60
44
60
161 186 212 202 203 $487,761
$508,326
$508,840
$536,385
$559,221
59
72
56
44
39
20910 Total
NORTHWEST D.C. 20015 Chevy Chase
137 123 135 153 133 $859,917
$884,146
$977,073
$987,273
$1,065,001
36
41
42
29
26
Hawthorne
8
$737,688
$899,500
$738,083
$970,500
$1,001,917
63
63
115 41
44
148 125 144 162 139 $850,670
$884,392
$963,471
$986,425
$1,062,278
37
41
47
26
20015 Total
2
6
6
6
29
Northwest D.C. 20016 American University Park 72
69
61
66
65
$855,001
$885,631
$903,819
$962,521
$1,001,393
32
44
38
12
14
Chevy Chase
9
10
7
12
$830,203
$991,667
$895,220
$1,033,257
$1,105,054
28
13
28
35
9
10
Spring Valley
27
35
31
30
51
$1,834,752
$1,545,318
$1,512,763
$1,468,217
$1,753,267
127 75
84
32
63
Wakefield
5
2
3
1
2
$740,900
$734,250
$740,000
$740,000
$1,002,500
28
25
5
6
Wesley Heights
12
16
16
10
19
$1,531,250
$1,684,688
$1,559,683
$1,456,719
$1,586,911
116 47
131 131 49
207 210 199 189 221 $1,174,961
$1,220,520
$1,281,776
$1,258,420
$1,440,027
60
64
20016 Total
10 56
45
34
*Subdivision name reflects listing information as entered into MRIS by real estate agents.
About MRISHOMES.COM Data for this section were provided by MRIShomes.com, the only home search website in the Mid-Atlantic region powered by MRIS— your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Directly connected to the same database that real estate agents use to manage their listings, MRIShomes.com provides immediate access to up-to-date information about each property for sale or rent in your area. The site is updated continuously to include information about price changes, open-house times and more.
To narrow your search, MRIShomes.com offers more than 20 lifestyle filters that allow users to find homes based on walkability, highly rated schools, family friendliness, nearby stores and other criteria. Commuters can search for homes based on drive time to and from their offices. Through the mobile app, nearby homes, rentals and open houses can be found using MRIS’s patented GPS search technology. Register for a free account and your preferences will be saved for future use. You may also opt to be notified immediately when a new listing that meets your criteria hits the market. Once you’ve
found homes that you are interested in, you can save the listings, or contact the listing agent directly for more information. With MRIShomes, you’re always just a click (or tap) away from a local real estate expert who can help you navigate through the purchase or sales process. Visit www.MRIShomes.com or download the MRIShomes mobile app to your phone or tablet by texting “MRIShomes” to 87778. Or, search for MRIShomes in your app store.
222 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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to Long & Foster® Real Estate’s exclusive “Showcase of Homes” As the home of the best-trained, best-equipped agents in the industry, we are positioned to provide unsurpassed service and expertise to today’s real estate clients from contract to closing and beyond. No matter what your real estate goals are, Long & Foster agents can help you take advantage of historic real estate opportunities. Enjoy browsing the following pages, and when you’re ready to take the next step, we welcome you to contact one of our sales offices or expert sales associates. Readers’ Pick— Best Real Estate Agency
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By Jeff Detwiler, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Long & Foster Companies
Homeowners who have experienced the benefits of recent price appreciation may be considering expanding their real estate holdings and purchasing a vacation home or investment property. While real estate values change over time, prices rose about 5.5 percent in 20141. The industry also predicts home prices will grow another 4 to 5 percent in 20152, which makes housing look like a good bet right now. It’s important to remember, though, that real estate investing is highly local and requires professional guidance to make wise decisions about which property to buy, how to finance the purchase and how to manage tenants or shortterm rentals. While both real estate and stock market investing are impacted by the economy, an investment in real estate may bring steady cash flow from rental income and tax benefits. Real estate investments also offer a tangible asset for individuals—an actual home in which they could live, if necessary. Additionally, would-be investors can use leverage through mortgage financing, allowing them to spend less of their own money upfront and position themselves for an increased return. While those returns may vary depending on the market, residential real estate has, from 1978 to 2004, shown an 8.6 percent annualized return.3
Financing a real estate investment property According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2014 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, vacation-home sales accounted for 13 percent of all transactions in 2013, their highest market share since 2006. Investment purchases, which were extremely high during the foreclosure crisis, dropped from 24 percent in 2012 to 20 percent in 2013. Whether you’re contemplating a vacation property or an investment home, you need to consider how you’ll pay for it. Mortgage financing for a second home typically requires a higher down payment than a first-home purchase, so you’ll need funds to make a down payment of at least 20 percent or more. According to NAR’s survey, 46 percent of investment buyers paid all cash for their properties in 2013 along with 38 percent of vacation-home purchasers. Buyers who financed their investment homes typically made a down payment of 26 percent and vacation-home buyers put 30 percent down. In addition, you’ll need the funds for the related taxes and insurance, as well as to maintain and repair the property over the long-term. If you plan to rent your vacation home or investment property to offset the cost, your lender may be willing to include some of the potential rent as part of your loan qualifications depending on whether the home has a history of steady tenants. Be sure you allocate funds to pay the mortgage yourself during months when your property is vacant, as well as to cover your ongoing taxes and insurance fees.
Vacation home or investment property – which works for you? According to NAR’s survey, lifestyle factors remain the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, while rental income is the main factor in investment purchases. If you’re looking for a vacation home you’ll need to decide how often you intend to use the property and whether you want to rent it to other vacationers to generate income. If you opt to rent, you may want to look into hiring a property management company to vet tenants, take care of maintenance and handle payment issues. The same goes for investment properties.
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Buy and hold or buy and flip If you’re focused on buying an investment property, you’ll need to decide whether you’re interested in making some quick money or want long-term rental income. NAR’s survey showed that most investors last year were looking for income, but some still prefer to find a low-priced or distressed property, make improvements and then sell it for a profit. Now that there are fewer distressed properties, it can be tough to find a house that you can buy at a low price and sell high, but if you work with a professional Realtor who knows your market well, it’s a possibility. You’ll need a good idea of the cost of home improvements and how fast homes are selling in your area to evaluate a potential deal. If you’re looking for rental income, you’ll still need to search for a property with a reasonable price and then compare it with market rents for similar properties. When you’re searching for a rental property that will generate a good return on your investment, look for features that appeal to typical renters in your area such as access to public transportation, recreational amenities or nightlife for a condo or small home that will attract young people. If you’re investing in an area that attracts families, check out the school district, too. Evaluate demand for rentals in the area to be sure you’ll be able to keep the property occupied as much as possible. Some investors choose to work with a property management company to do a background and credit check on potential tenants, help maintain the property and make sure the rent and utilities are paid. Fees for a property
management company’s services depend on how many properties you own and are negotiable, but an article in Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Update magazine reported they typically range from 6 percent to 10 percent of the monthly rent.
Insurance considerations for your investment property When you buy a second home, you should also consider home insurance costs, which vary according to numerous factors, from the property location and to how often it’s occupied. Tax treatment for second homes depends on whether you’re using the home yourself or renting it occasionally or constantly. Consult a tax advisor to understand the implications of the purchase. If you’ve made the decision to expand your real estate investment portfolio, Long & Foster Real Estate offers multiple divisions that can help you find, finance and insure your home, as well as a property management division that can help you find tenants and maintain your property. Representatives of Prosperity Home Mortgage and Long & Foster Insurance are available in most Long & Foster offices in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions to assist prospective buyers with financing. Working with experienced professionals can make your real estate purchase a worthwhile investment. 1. Based on November sales figures for 2014 and 2013, CoreLogic: “CoreLogic Reports Home Prices Rose by 5.5 Percent Year Over Year in November 2014,” Jan. 6, 2015 2. Realtor.com® 2015 Housing Forecast 3. Report: Contrasting Real Estate with Comparable Investments, 1978 to 2004
About the author Jeffrey S. Detwiler is president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster® Companies, parent company to Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., the largest independent real estate company in the United States, and Prosperity Home Mortgage. From extensive, neighborhood-level market information to Long & Foster’s core services companies — providing mortgage, settlement, insurance and property management services in a streamlined manner — Long & Foster offers the services necessary to make today’s real estate transactions manageable for owners and investors.
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Creig Northrop Realtor®
11620 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 office: 301.770.0760 | northropteam.com ® ®
direct: 301-761-5997
Spencerville $2,500,000
Fulton $1,900,000
Rockville $1,800,000
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Gaithersburg $1,400,000
Clarksburg $1,200,000
Columbia $1,150,000
Davidsonville $1,150,000
Columbia $1,075,000
16110DraytonFarmDrive.com
11819ShepardsCrossing.com
9315MellenbrookRoad.com
Untitled-2 1
7031PindellSchoolRoad.com
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Bethesda All Points MarApr 2015_fin.indd 1 Untitled-2 1
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Wendy Banner 2015MarApr_v1.indd 1 Untitled-2 1
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Chevy Chase, Maryland
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Classic 1923 remodeled Colonial in the Town of Chevy Chase. Spacious, open layout with five bedrooms, three and a half baths, spectacular family room, kitchen and exquisite master bedroom. Finished basement with Au Pair suite. Large corner lot with multi layered decks. Mary Zitello 202.549.7515 Shelley Gold 202-271-5885
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Chevy Chase, Maryland
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Beautiful three bedroom, three and a half bath Colonial on a quiet cul-de-sac. Large kitchen opens to wonderful family room. Spacious master suite with gas fireplace, two large walk-in closets and Jacuzzi tub. Finished lower level rec room with movie size screen and surround sound. Simone Velvel 703.507.7614
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for viewing Long & Foster Real Estate’s exclusive “Showcase of Homes” No matter what your buying, selling or investment goals are, our agents can help you take advantage of real estate opportunities. When you’re ready to take the next step, we welcome you to contact one of our sales offices or expert sales associates.
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Bethesda THANK YOU PAGE JanFeb 2015_v1.indd 1 Untitled-2 1
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fitness, wellness, medicine
health
Photo by stacy zarin-goldberg
Read about fitness instructor Kristine Oleson’s Mommy Bootie Camp on page 236.
what’s inside BE WELL: p. 236
sedation dentistry: p. 238 The stem cell debate: p. 246 BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 235
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health | be well
By Kathleen Seiler Neary
Just Keep Moving You might not expect to find
a group of moms stretching, planking and kickboxing in a temple’s multipurpose room, with their kids playing in the back, but that’s what happens three mornings a week at Mommy Bootie Camp in Kensington. The fitness class, led by Kristine Oleson, is designed to help busy moms get in shape—without having to find baby sitters. Oleson started the class on a tennis court at Kensington Cabin Park eight years ago, after she had her second child, because she had friends who were struggling to lose baby weight and couldn’t find time to work out. She
grew enrollment through word of mouth, moving Mommy Bootie Camp indoors to Temple Emanuel in 2008 after members of the class encouraged her to expand. “Occasionally, moms have to stop and get someone a snack or help put a toy back together,” says Oleson, a stayat-home mom whose children are 8 and 11. “Sometimes there are kids that are potty training, so the mom takes the child two or three times during class to the bathroom. But I always tell them, ‘Just keep moving.’ ” Oleson, 40, took ballet, tap and jazz dance lessons while growing up, and
was a member of American University’s dance team. She became a personal trainer in 2000 and later received her certification in group exercise instruction. To make Mommy Bootie Camp accessible, Oleson set the price low— $10 per class, discounts for a two-month session—and has never increased it. During her hourlong classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, which usually draw between 25 and 35 women, moms alternate between strength training and cardio bursts. Plyometrics, weights and mat work are all in the mix.
Photo by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg
Fitness instructor Kristine Oleson is giving other moms of young kids a gift—time to exercise.
236 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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True commitment “I see moms holding a plank with a baby on their back. One woman had her newborn in a BabyBjorn and she would walk with the baby in there during cardio songs.” Why she works out “There’s something really therapeutic about sweating—you sweat away the stress. If there’s a day I haven’t exercised, I feel a little scrambled and not as strong. The days I exercise, I’m more focused and more patient with my children. I gave myself something, and I feel better about giving them everything for the rest of the day.”
“
Staying focused
You have to clear your mind. You have to get rid of those outside noises of the grocery store and the laundry and all those things. When you’re in here, be in the moment.
“
On dancing in her pajamas
Photo by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg
“My kids eat breakfast and if I hear a new song, I get up and I’m on the hardwood floors trying out a routine. My older son has texted me songs and said, ‘Hey, Mom, here’s something you’d like to use for class.’”
Every minute helps “If you can get 45 minutes to an hour a day, that’s amazing. And if that means 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes at lunch, 20 minutes in the evening, you can break it up. I believe an interval workout is the most effective as far as getting the heart rate up, recovering with some muscular structure work, and then getting the heart rate up again. Even within the cardio, it’s varied—there’s kickboxing, there’s dancing. We’re never doing the same thing for more than three to five minutes.”
Readers’ Pick, Best Podiatrist
Mixing things up “Do something different every day. I think we tend to eat and drink more on the weekend, so on Mondays I do a long cardio and a lot of stretching. I call it my ‘detox day.’ I don’t believe in weighing yourself constantly. Once a week. Friday is your lightest day, so weigh yourself Friday morning.”
Why she’s stayed put “There have been 150 or more women rotating through my class, and some of my best friends are now in the Mommy Bootie Class family. It’s a tight group. I know when somebody else’s kid has strep throat or someone’s grandfather died. If I were to get my own studio and hire instructors, that connection would be lost.” n Kathleen Seiler Neary of Kensington is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post and Parenting, among other publications.
Dr. Paul Ross
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
Bethesda Medical Building 8218 Wisconsin Avenue Suite P-14 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301.656.6055
www.paulrossdpm.com
BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 237
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Sweet Dreams
Sedation dentistry is helping to coax terrified patients back into the dental chair. By Rita Rubin Illustration by Jimmy Holder
BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 239
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But for Daniel Rourke, it felt more like torture. By the end of his dental appointment, he had sweat through his shirt and tie, necessitating a trip to a clothing store before he returned to work. “I don’t know if he was a sadist or what,” Rourke says of the dentist, “but I had never experienced pain like that in my life.” So for a quarter of a century, Rourke, now 72, never went back to a dentist. He brushed and flossed regularly but ignored the recommended twice-a-year professional cleanings. Finally, a toothache last summer drove him back to a dental office. “It hurt too much to ignore,” says Rourke, who lives in Rockville and works as a statistical consultant for law firms. He happened to have heard a radio commercial for Bethesda Sedation Dentistry and decided to make an appointment. The word “sedation” caught his attention, as did a patient’s testimonial that Dr. Robert Schlossberg and his wife, Dr. Deborah Klotz, who run the practice, don’t judge patients for postponing their dental care. Rourke met with Schlossberg and learned that the pain stemmed from an infected wisdom tooth that needed to be pulled. Schlossberg explained that his practice offers several sedation methods, including oral sedation, IV sedation,
and nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, which can be combined with one of the other methods. Rourke opted for IV sedation. Klotz says she and her husband tend to use oral sedation with less fearful patients because the effects might begin to wear off before the procedure is complete. An IV gives the dentist better control over the level of sedation. “I can make sure that no matter what I’m doing, I can always add more or perfectly tweak it so you’re comfortable,” she says. Unlike general anesthesia, IV sedation doesn’t render patients unconscious, Klotz says, although sometimes it relaxes them so much that they fall asleep. If they feel pain, they’ll wake up, or the dentist will notice an increase in their heart rate. Klotz and Schlossberg use oral or IV sedation hundreds of times a year, they say, often just to put nervous patients at ease during routine cleanings. Because Rourke has an irregular heartbeat, Schlossberg consulted with his patient’s cardiologist to make sure it was safe for him to be sedated. A few days after his initial evaluation, Rourke was hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor while Schlossberg pulled the infected tooth. Rourke wore a device that monitored his blood oxygen level. He says he doesn’t remember the procedure, a welcome effect of the drug.
photos by barbara salisbury
It was supposed to be a routine teeth cleaning.
240 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Top: The patient is prepped to receive sedation. Bottom: A sedated patient receives treatment at Bethesda Sedation Dentistry.
BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 241
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health
Many people feel anxious
about getting their teeth cleaned or cavities filled, but they force themselves to go to the dentist. Others, like Rourke, are phobic about visiting a dental office, a condition called “odontophobia.” According to scientific literature, 4 percent to 20 percent of people in industrialized countries avoid dental care because they are scared. To coax fearful patients back into the chair, some dentists offer sedation dentistry, also called “sleep dentistry,” which includes a number of methods to help patients relax. Sedation dentistry also enables patients with busy schedules to cram more treatments into a single appointment. “When we look at sedation, we’re looking at a continuum from minimum to moderate to deep sedation to general anesthesia,” says Dr. Guy Shampaine, an American Dental Association (ADA) spokesperson who helped write that organization’s guidelines on anesthesiology and sedation. Dentists safely sedate millions of patients every year, according to the ADA. The first public demonstration of general anesthesia in dentistry took place in 1846, when a dentist named William Morton administered ether to a young male patient in what is now called the “Ether Dome” at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. While the patient was unconscious, Morton removed a jaw tumor. More than a century passed before Dr. Niels Bjorn Jorgensen, a dental fac-
ulty member at Loma Linda University in California, pioneered the use of IV sedation for dentistry in the 1960s. “Being the kindest and gentlest of men, Niels started worrying, from his first entry into dentistry, as to how the pain and discomfort which seemed inseparable from many procedures could best be overcome,” Dr. S.L. Drummond-Jackson, regarded as another sedation dentistry pioneer, said at a 1969 tribute to Jorgensen. Most dentists who offer sedation dentistry provide inhaled nitrous oxide or tranquilizers by mouth, not general anesthesia, Shampaine says. Mildly sedated patients have control of their own breathing, says North Bethesda dentist Mary Ziomek. “They can respond to questions, and they can follow some directions,” she says. “If I tell them to take a deep breath, they can take a deep breath.” Laurie Sheffield-James, executive director of the state Board of Dental Examiners, says about 300 of the approximately 5,000 licensed dentists in Maryland hold a permit allowing them to administer drugs to achieve moderate sedation. And only about two-thirds of those 300 dentists—including Schlossberg and Klotz—are permitted to sedate patients with drugs that are injected or given intravenously. “The board takes giving a permit to dentists very seriously,” Sheffield-James says. Dentists seeking the permit must complete special training and pass an
inspection of their office by the Board of Dental Examiners. Certification requires that dentists complete at least 24 hours of classroom training in administering and managing sedation and 20 supervised or simulated experiences with sedated patients. “It’s always in the patient’s best interest to investigate the credentials, training and certifications of their dentist,” Schlossberg says. Most Maryland dentists who offer sedation dentistry don’t need to obtain a state permit, according to the regulations, because they use only nitrous oxide through a mask or anti-anxiety pills such as benzodiazepine tranquilizers—Valium, for example—that are swallowed. Dentists have used nitrous oxide since the mid-19th century—it’s safe and wears off shortly after the mask is removed, according to the ADA. “It makes you feel like you drank a little bit of wine,” says Rockville dentist Dmitriy Itskovich. That’s fine with 72-year-old Marian Goldbrenner, one of Itskovich’s patients, who has asked for nitrous oxide at all of her dental appointments for the past 35 years. “I am incredibly sensitive, and he cannot even clean my teeth without my using nitrous oxide,” says Goldbrenner, who lives in Potomac. “He checks my teeth and then says, ‘Let’s put the nitrous on.’ For me, it’s just disappearing from the present. I breathe it in, and I am no longer really aware of what’s going on. I’m floating a little bit.”
Klotz has sedated moms who simply never took the time to care for their teeth. “Their kids were young, and they were busy. Next thing you know, it’s been 20 years since they went to the dentist.” 242 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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A patient’s apprehension about using nitrous oxide can counteract the effects of the gas, says Chevy Chase dentist Stanley Mayer. With very nervous patients, he’ll suggest making an appointment just to test how nitrous oxide makes them feel. They then make a follow-up appointment to get their dental work done. Dentists need at least a “Class II” permit—there are three classes—if they want to sedate patients with IV medication, often a benzodiazepine such as Versed, which is also commonly given to patients undergoing an endoscopic procedure, such as a colonoscopy. One benefit of benzodiazepines for fearful patients is that the drugs produce a loss of memory of events that occur right around the time they are administered. Deeper sedation accomplished with benzodiazepine pills enables patients to stay in the dental chair for two or three hours, a real advantage if it’s been decades since their last visit, Itskovich says. Even with sedation, though, patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years usually need more than one appointment. “These people don’t have simple dental problems,” he says.
Considering how long it had
been since he’d seen a dentist, Rourke got off pretty easy—no root canals, no teeth pulled due to neglect—although catching up on what he calls “25 years of dental roulette” required four appointments. At the second session, Klotz pulled another wisdom tooth. Again, Rourke has no memory of the experience. At a third appointment, Schlossberg pulled the two wisdom teeth on the other side of Rourke’s mouth. The dentist also was supposed to fill two cavities, but Rourke’s arrhythmia showed up on the heart monitor, so Schlossberg ended the appointment and scheduled another one. Rourke, who still calls himself a “dental wimp,” is now using teeth whitening
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trays to try to erase the effects of drinking coffee and red wine for years. And he’s moved past requiring sedation. “I’m over that part,” Rourke says. He needed only a shot of a local anesthetic to numb his mouth when he got the two fillings. Dentists hope that patients who request sedation in the beginning of their treatment process will, like Rourke, eventually feel comfortable enough to go without it. “My goal for you is to create as many positive experiences as you need, so that eventually you don’t need to be sedated anymore,” Ziomek tells patients. Sometimes, she says, that is accomplished in only one or two visits. “A lot of what we do is establishing trust,” Klotz says. That means assuring patients that they are in control and can tell the dentist to stop if they need a brief break. Fear of the dentist isn’t the only reason patients want to be sedated, Klotz says. She and her husband occasionally treat busy professionals who want to get as much work done in one visit as possible, and sedation enables them to sit in the chair longer. With IV sedation, Klotz says, she and Schlossberg have treated patients for as long as five hours. “Think about the amount of separate visits that might be for someone,” she says. Klotz has sedated moms who simply never took the time to care for their teeth. “Their kids were young, and they were busy. Next thing you know, it’s been 20 years since they went to the dentist. All of their back teeth are broken down. They’re just so ashamed,” she says. “They can’t see a regular dentist because they’re afraid they’ll be judged.” She’s also seen patients who avoid the dentist because of a history of trauma to the head, neck or mouth. They become extremely anxious if someone wants to work on their teeth, she says. Bethesda Sedation Dentistry patient Teresa Rispoli fell off a table in the school cafeteria when she was 12. She broke her jaw
and two top front teeth, punctured her lip and split open her chin. “I literally broke my face,” she says. She underwent plastic surgery to put her chin and lip back together, then had her jaw wired shut. Decades of failed attempts to fix her smile followed. The best any dentist could do was glue in temporary false teeth, leaving her unable to take a bite out of an apple or eat corn on the cob. Every dental appointment brought more pain and disappointment. “For several years I didn’t even go to the dentist because it was such an awful, awful thing,” says Rispoli, 52. “I only went for a cleaning at random times.” A dentist once lanced an abscess in her gum without even numbing it, let alone sedating her. “The worst thing for me about the dentist is the needle,” Rispoli says. “It’s excruciatingly painful.” Rispoli heard a commercial for Bethesda Sedation Dentistry late in 2013 and made an appointment, even though she lives in Frederick County, more than an hour away. Like Rourke, she was drawn in by the idea of being sedated. Schlossberg agreed with Rispoli’s previous dentists that she was not a candidate for implants. But Rispoli says Schlossberg told her, “I can make you something, and I can promise you that no one is going to be able to tell it’s not your real teeth.” She’s had several cleanings at the practice without any sedation and one marathon four-hour appointment with IV sedation. She has no memory of that session, during which Schlossberg prepared her mouth for a permanent bridge of porcelain teeth and made and placed temporary teeth. She got her bridge in January. “For the first time in 40 years,” Rispoli says, “I’m smiling.” n Bethesda resident Rita Rubin is a longtime newspaper and magazine journalist. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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Dr. Mayo Friedlis, shown here in his Chevy Chase office, administers stem cells injections to restore function to deteriorating joints.
Some doctors are touting the benefits of using patients’ own stem cells to heal injuries and relieve pain. But is the science there to back it up? By Rita Rubin
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“Medicine’s always evolving. That was my thing—to buy more time if possible.” —Dr. Kevin Griffiths
Depending on your point
of view, a nondescript white building on Friendship Boulevard in Chevy Chase, just up the street from Whole Foods Market and Bloomingdale’s, houses a doctor’s office that serves up cuttingedge, life-changing medical therapy— or a treatment that’s too good to be true. One evening this past fall, a couple dozen people—prospective patients, family members and friends—gathered in Friedlis’ first-floor suite to nibble on
crudités, sip bottled water and listen to him describe how he can help restore function to deteriorating joints without surgery. Perhaps they’d learned about Friedlis because ads for his monthly “educational seminars” kept popping up in their Facebook news feeds. More than 1 million knee and hip replacement operations are performed in the U.S. each year, making them two of the most common types of inpatient procedures, according to the Centers for
photo by lisa helfert
Dr. Kevin Griffiths had just celebrated his 38th birthday in the fall of 2013 when an orthopedist told him he’d probably need hip replacement surgery by the time he turned 40. Griffiths, a kidney specialist who lives in Rockville, has always been a jock, and by his mid-30s he had developed severe osteoarthritis in his right hip from years of playing football and basketball. He limped and was in constant pain. But he balked at the prospect of exchanging the hip he’d been born with for an artificial joint. He didn’t want to go on short-term disability while recovering from hip replacement surgery. Plus, he says, he didn’t want to face the prospect of needing the same operation two or three more times down the road when the artificial joint wore out. Periodic steroid injections temporarily reduced the inflammation in Griffiths’ hip and relieved the pain, but he knew that repeated injections could lead to adverse side effects such as weakened bones and muscles. “Being a physician, you don’t let someone inject you with steroids continually,” Griffiths says. And he didn’t want to take narcotic painkillers, which carry their own set of baggage. A pain specialist suggested an alternative treatment: injections of Griffiths’ own stem cells into his bad hip. That physician referred him to Dr. Mayo Friedlis, who had just started seeing patients a few days a week in Chevy Chase. Although scientific evidence supporting the use of stem cell injections was scant, Griffiths says, he concluded that the treatment was a viable option after discussing it with colleagues. Perhaps the treatment would at least tide him over until researchers developed better alternatives to hip replacement surgery. “Medicine’s always evolving,” Griffiths says. “That was my thing—to buy more time if possible.”
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Friedlis answers questions about stem cell injection therapy during a January seminar for prospective patients.
Disease Control and Prevention. And it’s a sure bet that many other Americans would do anything to avoid surgery to replace their arthritic knees or hips with an artificial joint. Friedlis’ seminar attracted a sampling of them. The trim, bald 61-year-old Potomac resident is associated with one of about 25 independent medical practices in the “Regenexx Network,” created in 2012 by Regenexx, a suburban Denver company, to make its treatments available around the country. Friedlis, a physiatrist—a doctor who specializes in treating diseases and injuries of the nerves, muscles and bones that can affect mobility—says he has been administering stem cell injections for more than five years at his offices in Reston and Fairfax, Virginia, where he has two associates who are also Regenexxtrained physicians. They are the only ones in the Washington, D.C., area, although a few local doctors who aren’t affiliated with Regenexx also offer stem cell injections to treat musculoskeletal problems. The night of the educational seminar, Friedlis wore a button-down shirt
embroidered with “StemCell ARTS,” the name of his practice. He used slides and a video to explain how he culls stem cells from bone marrow sucked out of patients’ hips and then injects them into the site of their pain—typically shoulders, elbows, knees and hips. He numbs the back of the hip and then inserts a needle to remove a small amount of bone marrow. Some blood is also taken from the patient’s arm. Stem cells are isolated from the samples and processed, and then, within a few hours, injected into the patient’s problem area along with what Friedlis says are growth factors found in blood platelets. “It’s out of you, into you, with minimal processing,” Friedlis told his audience. No one seemed to blink when he noted that the treatment, which can cost as much as $7,500, was not covered by insurance. “Everybody wants to know if it’s safe,” he told the crowd, which included people who appeared to be in their 30s up to one man who mentioned that he was 85. “It’s about as safe as a cortisone injection in
A d u lt s t e m c e l l s —not to be confused with embryonic stem cells—are thought to maintain and repair the various tissues in which they reside. Bone marrow contains two types of stem cells, first identified more than 50 years ago. One type, called hematopoietic cells, can generate blood cells, while the other, called stromal cells, can generate bone, cartilage and fat. Only a small number of stem cells exist in bone marrow and other tissues, and once they are removed from the body, they have a limited capacity to divide. While regenerating bone is one potential use of adult stem cells, scientists haven’t figured out how to sift them out of the bone marrow and grow them in the large quantities that would be needed to treat people. Regenexx says it has developed a way to culture, or grow, patients’ stem cells in a lab, but the company stopped doing that in 2010 after being sued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA considers cultured stem cells to be a drug whose safety and effectiveness must be demonstrated in well-designed patient studies. “There are a huge number of clinical trials, but there has been next to no published information” about the use of stem cell injections to treat problems like Griffiths’, says scientist Pamela Robey, a Bethesda resident who serves as co-coordinator of the National Institutes of Health’s Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Transplantation Center. “The bottom line is there’s no real rigorous data showing it is actually repairing the joint.” Generally, scientists consider “rigorous data” to be information collected in randomized controlled trials—the gold
photo by liz lynch
your doctor’s office. We’re not growing eyeballs out of knees.” The problem, some scientists say, is that research supporting the safety and effectiveness of stem cell injections is lacking, even though many patients swear by the procedure.
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standard of medical research. To test bone marrow stem cell injections, patients in this type of study would be randomly assigned to receive either shots of their own cells or of a placebo, an inactive substance such as saltwater. The patients and researchers usually don’t know who is in which group until the end of the study. This minimizes the chance that any benefits seen in the treatment group are connected to something other than the therapy itself, namely some characteristic of the patients or to the placebo effect, which can have a powerful impact on pain. “The rigorous data that’s out there shows that the cells disappear very rapidly. They don’t really become a part of the tissue, don’t really repair damaged tissue,” Robey says. While the stem cell injections appear to be safe, she says, “We don’t know how many adverse events have happened that have not been reported.” Doctors who inject patients’ joints with cells extracted from their bone marrow “are telling people who need help that they can help them, but what they have to offer them is, in general, unproven,” says scientist Larry Goldstein, director of the University of California, San Diego Stem Cell Program. “It’s telling a fairytale to make people happy.” Goldstein serves on the Ethics and Public Policy Committee of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), a nonprofit based in suburban Chicago. ISSCR has created a website, www.closer lookatstemcells.org, that’s aimed at consumers. Among the website’s “Top 10 Things to Know About Stem Cell Treatments” is this: “Currently, there are very few widely accepted stem cell therapies.”
About five months after being injected with his own stem cells in July, Griffiths says he’s happy with the results. He has spent about $6,000 on treatments from Friedlis, which included a shot in early November of “platelet-rich plasma,” or PRP, promoted by Friedlis and other physicians who offer it as a
way to speed the healing of injured tissues and used by professional athletes, including Tiger Woods. While the risks of PRP are minimal, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, research studies to back up its effectiveness are lacking. The range of motion in his hip is a little bit better, Griffiths says. “The pain’s improved, and I’m on less medicine.” He’s not limping anymore. “Is my joint ever going to go back to normal? Probably not. I’ve come to accept that.” He’s still a jock, but instead of playing basketball, he swims and bikes and plans to take up yoga, all activities that are easier on the hips. Griffiths’ doctor has also been on the other side of the needle. Friedlis, who earned his medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, received stem cell treatments last summer at Regenexx headquarters for a rotator cuff injury. “I believe in it,” he says. “I’m a very active person. I would not be without Regenexx treatments.” An avid climber—he says he has trekked the Himalayas in India and climbed to a base camp on Mount Everest—Friedlis says he still needs surgery for the removal of a bone spur in his shoulder. He agrees that many questions remain about the stem cell injections. “It’s not proven,” he says. “It’s totally experimental. The state of the science right now is weak.” Friedlis says he makes that clear to prospective patients, telling them, “You may respond great, or you may not respond at all.” The majority do feel better by three months after treatment, he says. Most of the published research, mainly case studies or “outcomes studies,” in which researchers report how patients are faring months or years after receiving stem cell injections, has appeared in relatively obscure scientific journals that don’t have the impact of, say, The New England Journal of Medicine. “There’s been a lot of skepticism in major journals that have not wanted to publish this data,” says Dr. Victor Ibrahim, a physiatrist who treats patients
with injections of their own stem cells at offices in Silver Spring and Rockville. “Mainstream publications don’t want to be perceived as too ideological or cutting edge.” Born in Cairo, Egypt, Ibrahim, 35, spent his high school summers working in the lab of a Case Western Reserve University neuroscientist who was trying to regrow spinal cords in rats. “That’s where my interest in stem cells started,” he says. It wasn’t until he completed medical school at Case Western that he began focusing on the use of stem cells to treat orthopedic problems. Ibrahim, who is not affiliated with Regenexx, says his patients now include players from the Washington Redskins and D.C. United. While Goldstein argues that it is unethical to provide treatment that is not supported by rigorous randomized trials, Friedlis believes it would be unethical not to. “We have tons and tons of people coming through our doors who are getting improvements in their quality of life,” he says. Patients shouldn’t have to wait “until the scientists at Mayo Clinic and UCLA and blah, blah, blah actually prove that it works. In a perfect world, everybody likes to see more evidence. But we are where we are right now.” Ibrahim says he has referred only about 5 percent of his patients to joint replacement surgery because their condition was too advanced for treatment with stem cell injections. “Our goal is joint preservation,” he says. “Our ultimate goal is functional improvement.”
Ina Blumberg, a patient of Ibrahim’s, uses words such as “saint” and “miracle worker” to describe him. Blumberg, a Potomac resident who will turn 80 in May, is more active than many people decades younger. A speech pathologist, she worked for Montgomery County Public Schools until her retirement last July. While her husband, who’s also pushing 80, continues to work full time as an architect at the National Institutes of
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Health, Blumberg says she retired so she could spend more time at the couple’s second home in Jackson, Wyoming. “We do a lot of biking and play a lot of tennis,” she says. “My knee kept bothering me and bothering me.” In 2012, Ibrahim treated her with injections of peripheral blood stem cells, found in the bloodstream, and PRP injections. Afterward, she was able to return to her active ways. She says she has referred many people to Ibrahim, including a son who does a lot of climbing and has problems with his knees. Blumberg says he’s also doing better. Aren’t patients such as Kevin Griffiths and Ina Blumberg evidence enough that the injections work? Robey says that while patients might say they feel better after treatment, there’s no evidence that the shots deserve the credit. “It’s like science fiction,” Robey says.
“One, there’s a huge placebo effect.” Patients regard stem cell therapy as cutting-edge medicine, so they think it must work, she says. Griffiths counters that the placebo effect can’t explain why he feels better five months after treatment. “At some point,” he says, “the placebo effect goes away, and that has not happened.” But, Robey says, the intensity of osteoarthritis fluctuates over time: “I have it myself in my hands. I’ve got good days and I’ve got bad days.” Plus, most people who seek stem cell injections also try a variety of other treatments, any of which might make them feel better, Goldstein says. Griffiths, for example, is undergoing physical therapy and taking a dietary supplement that contains turmeric—a plant best known as the main spice in curry—which is thought to
have anti-inflammatory properties. Besides, Robey says, sometimes people are simply reluctant to admit that an expensive treatment didn’t work.
Norman Nicholson, who has also been treated by Friedlis, isn’t sure why his knee pain went away after getting stem cell injections. “I fully understand why insurance doesn’t cover it,” says the 77-year-old Nicholson, a Silver Spring resident. “I’m well aware, as [Friedlis] is, that there is no clear clinical evidence in humans about A, whether this works reliably, and B, whether the specific techniques that are being used are the correct way to do it. The question is: Have they got it right? My case doesn’t prove that.” Four years ago, a surgeon recommended knee replacement surgery for
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Fall In Love With Your Reflection Nicholson. “I had developed quite a bit of pain in my left knee,” he says. “It was getting increasingly difficult for me to keep up with my exercise routine and do the sports things I wanted to do.” A retired university professor and former USAID employee, Nicholson skis, figure skates, hikes and works out. Like many of Friedlis’ patients, he worried about the risks of surgery and how an artificial knee might prevent him from participating in some of his favorite activities. He’d heard good things about Friedlis from one of his wife’s physicians, and made an appointment with him in the spring of 2012. He first tried three PRP injections, which he says led to a great improvement, but he still wasn’t where he wanted to be. So he and Friedlis decided to proceed with a stem cell injection that fall. The lack of scientific evidence concerns him, Nicholson says, but he believes the procedure is relatively low risk: “The scariest thing he does is when he puts the needle in your hip to withdraw bone marrow,” Nicholson says. He figures the stem cell injection has bought him at least two more years of skiing that he might not have had if he’d gone right to knee replacement surgery. He went cross-country skiing Presidents’ Day weekend in 2013, and a year later he skied downhill, although he stuck with cross-country skis to take the turns slower and subject his knees to less twisting. By early last fall, however, Nicholson began to feel a little tenderness in his knee and received another PRP injection. “I’m doing a substantial amount of what I want to do, and I’m not in pain,” he says. “Something’s better, and if it’s all in my head, it’s cheaper than a shrink.” n A former medical writer for USA Today, Rita Rubin lives in Bethesda and frequently writes for the magazine. To comment on this story, email comments@ bethesdamagazine.com.
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wellness
calendar Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
SUPPORT GROUPS Support groups are free unless otherwise noted. March 11 Stroke Support Group. For patients and their families. Meetings can include speakers on issues such as safe driving and occupational therapy techniques. 7 p.m. Adventist Healthcare Physical Health & Rehabilitation, Rockville, 240-864-6000, www. adventisthealthcare.com. March 16 and April 20 Prostate Cancer Support Group. For patients, family members and friends. 7 p.m. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda. For information, call Susan Jacobstein, 301-8966837, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/.
RUNNING/WALKING EVENTS March 7 Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon and 50K. 7 a.m. $35; $25 for members of Montgomery County Road Runners Club. Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, www.senecacreekgreenwayrace. com. March 22 Piece of Cake 10K. Celebrate the Montgomery County Road Runners Club’s birthday with a run through the park. Afterward, stay for birthday cake. 9 a.m. $10 for nonmembers 18 and older; $5 for nonmembers younger than 18; free for members of Montgomery County Road Runners Club. A quarter-mile and half-mile young run will begin at 8:45 a.m. A 5K will begin at 9:10 a.m. Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, 301-525-7984, mcrrc.org. April 19 Holy Child Tiger Trot 5K. Proceeds from the race benefit the Connelly School of the Holy Child’s health and wellness programs and the Cabin John Park Volunteer
Fire Department. 8:30 a.m. $30 by April 10, $25 for students 19 and younger; $35, $30 for students after April 10. Connelly School of the Holy Child, Potomac, www.holychild .org/tigertrot. April 25 Ben’s Run. Register for a 5-mile, 5K or 1-mile run. Proceeds from the race benefit Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. The races will begin at 8:30 a.m. $25 through March 7; $30 March 8-April 15; $35 April 16 through race day. Fees cap at $100 per family. Stonegate Elementary School, Silver Spring, www.bensrun.org. April 26 Pike’s Peek 10K. 7:50 a.m. $42 through March 31; $47 from April 1-22. The race starts on Redland Road, near the Shady Grove Metro station. A 50-meter toddler trot will begin at 9:30 a.m. and a 1K run will begin at 9:45. $15 for toddler trot and 1K. www.pikespeek10k.org. Ongoing Rise and Shine Walking Program. 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Free. Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg, 301-896-3100, www.hopkins medicine.org/suburban_hospital/.
March 19 Better Breathers Club. Support for people with chronic lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 6:30 p.m. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 301-896-3100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/. March 19 and April 16 Parents with a Cancer Diagnosis Support Group. A support group for parents searching for ways to discuss their diagnosis with their children. 6:30 p.m. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, Bethesda, 301-634-7500, www.hopeconnectionsfor cancer.org. March 24 Healthy Heart and Mind Support Group. The group is for individuals who have had heart disease or experienced a stroke or cardiac event. 11 a.m. Gaithersburg Senior Center, Gaithersburg, 301-896-3100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/. March 24-April 28 Afternoon Grief Support Group. The six-week group is for anyone who has lost a loved one. Meets weekly at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays. $25. Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, 301-921-4400, www. montgomeryhospice.org. March 24-April 28 Parent Loss Support Group. The six-week group is for adults who have lost
Photo Courtesy of Ken Trombatore ( MCRRC )
The Piece of Cake 10K takes place in Seneca Creek State Park.
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one or both parents. Meets weekly at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. $25. Woodside United Methodist Church, Silver Spring, 301-921-4400, www.montgomeryhospice.org. March 25 Healthy Heart and Mind Support Group. The group is for individuals who have had heart disease, or have experienced a stroke or cardiac event. 12:45 p.m. Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, Silver Spring, 301-896-3100, www.hopkins medicine.org/suburban_hospital/. March 25-April 29 Child, Adolescent and Teenager Grief Support Group. The six-week group is for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. $25. Meets weekly at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Montgomery Hospice, Rockville, 301-9214400, www.montgomeryhospice.org. April 8-May 27 Bereavement Support Group. The eight-week group is for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Meets weekly at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Holy Cross Resource Center, Silver Spring, 301-754-7742, www.holycross health.org.
Photo Courtesy of Parent Encouragement Program
Photo Courtesy of Ken Trombatore ( MCRRC )
Ongoing Caregiver Support Group. The weekly group helps caregivers cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and learn how to enhance their own well-being. 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, Bethesda, 301-634-7500, www. hopeconnectionsforcancer.org.
SCREENINGS/CLASSES/ WORKSHOPS March 4 Teaching Self -Regulation Through Emotion Coaching. Help your child learn how to calm down and handle stress. For parents of children ages 1-7. 7:30 p.m. $33; $29.70 for PEP members. Parent Encouragement Program, Kensington, 301-929-8824, pepparent.org. March 4, 11 and 18 Managing Anger: A Parent’s Guide. The three-class workshop focuses on how to change words and actions in order to get more positive outcomes. 7:30 p.m. $95;
$85.50 for PEP members. Parent Encouragement Program, Kensington, 301-9298824, pepparent.org. March 5 Power Tools for Power Struggles. Learn what causes power struggles and how to develop a plan for gaining a child’s cooperation. For parents of children ages 5-12. 7 p.m. $30; $27 for PEP members. Temple Micah, Washington, D.C., 301929-8824, pepparent.org. March 7-April 11 Postnatal Yoga/Pilates for Moms and Babies. The six-session class incorporates mom-baby postures and massage designed to tone, strengthen and stretch both mother and baby. Women should bring a pouch-type baby carrier to class. A note from the OB care provider is required to participate. 11:15 a.m. Saturdays. $50. Destination Maternity at Westfield Montgomery mall, Bethesda, 301-754-8800, www.holycrosshealth.org. March 10 Residential Care for Caregivers. Get help in sorting out whether a family member may need assisted living, dementia care or long-term care in a residential facility. 10:30 a.m. Free. Holy Cross Resource Center, Silver Spring, 301-754-7152, www. holycrosshealth.org. March 11 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Hospital professionals will provide information and resources on colorectal cancer. 11 a.m. Free. Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, 301-7548800, www.holycrosshealth.org. March 12 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Program. Gastroenterologist Ekta Gupta will discuss environmental risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers. 6 p.m. Free. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 301896-3100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ suburban_hospital/. March 12 Transition to Wellness. The workshop is designed to help breast cancer patients transition from cancer treatments to life after breast cancer. 6 p.m. Free. Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center, Silver Spring, 301-7547278, www.holycrosshealth.org.
The Can Do Kids Fair is March 14.
March 12 Look Good, Feel Better. Female cancer patients receive tips on skin care, hair/ wig techniques and makeup application. 7 p.m. Free. Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center, Silver Spring, 301-754-8800, www.holycross health.org. March 14 Can Do Kids Fair. Children practice skills such as sewing on a button, making a snack, vacuuming and hammering nails. For children ages 3-10 and their parents. 1:30 p.m. $15 per person, $50 maximum per family; $13.50 per person, $45 per family for PEP members. Advanced registration required. Parent Encouragement Program, Kensington, 301-929-8824, pepparent.org. March 14 and 21 Safe Sitter. The daylong class teaches 11- to 13-year-olds first aid and child care skills. 9 a.m. $95. Suburban Hospital Lambert Building, Bethesda, 301-896-3100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/. March 18 Let’s Beat Procrastination! Recognize the signs of procrastination and learn techniques to get things done. 7 p.m. $20. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 301-8963100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/. March 20 What’s the “Right” Consequence? Learn how to devise good consequences for bad behavior. For parents of children ages
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health 4-12. 7:30 p.m. $33; $29.70 for PEP members. Parent Encouragement Program, Kensington, 301-929-8824, pepparent.org. March 21 Diversity in Action Conference. Holy Cross Hospital’s eighth annual Multicultural Health Disparities Forum will address the disproportionate rates of cancer and other diseases in different ethnic communities. The event will include exhibits and information about support groups. Spanish interpretation will be provided. 9 a.m. Free. Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center, Silver Spring, 301-7548800, www.holycrosshealth.org. March 21 Home Alone. The class helps prepare children ages 8 to 11 and their parents for brief times when the children will be home alone. 10 a.m. $15 per child. Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Rockville, 1-800542-5096, www.adventisthealthcare.com. March 21 AARP Smart Driver Course. Learn defensive driving techniques and new traf-
April 9-May 14 Postnatal Yoga/Pilates for Moms and Babies. The six-session class incorporates mom-baby postures and massage designed to tone, strengthen and stretch both mother and baby. Women should bring a pouch-type baby carrier to class. A note from the OB care provider is required to participate. 11 a.m. Thursdays. $50. Destination Maternity at Westfield Montgomery mall, Bethesda, 301-754-8800, www.holycrosshealth.org.
fic laws. For drivers 50 and older. $20, payable by check the first day of the class; $15 for AARP members. 1 p.m. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 301-896-3939, www.hopkins medicine.org/suburban_hospital/. March 25 Simplify Your Life. Learn techniques to de-clutter and de-stress. 7 p.m. $20. Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 301-896-3100, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/suburban_ hospital/. March 26 and April 23 Relaxation & Tranquility. Learn techniques to reduce stress and manage pain. 10:30 a.m. Free. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, Bethesda, 301-634-7500, www.hopeconnectionsforcancer.org. April 7-May 12 Moms on the Move. The six-week class combines yoga and Pilates. Women participate in the class without babies, and must be at least six weeks post-delivery. 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. $50. Destination Maternity at Westfield Montgomery mall, Bethesda, 301754-8800, www.holycrosshealth.org.
PRESENTED BY
April 10-May 15 Postnatal Yoga/Pilates for Moms and Babies. The six-session class incorporates mom-baby postures and massage designed to tone, strengthen and stretch both mother and baby. Women should bring a pouch-type baby carrier to class. A note from an OB care provider is required to participate. 11 a.m. Fridays. $50. Holy Cross Resource Center, Silver Spring, 301-754-8800, www.holy crosshealth.org. n To submit calendar items, go to www.Bethesda Magazine.com.
5th Annual
5K Run/Walk
SUNDAY, T APRIL 19
HOLY CHILD
TIGER
TR
Register NOW at www.holychild.org/TigerTrot PROCEEDS BENEFIT HOLY CHILD AND CABIN JOHN PARK VFD 258 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Special Advertising Section
Ask the
Medical Experts
Paul McNeill, MD, FACS Courtesy Photo
Capitol Vein & Laser Centers See Profile page 265
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Ask The Medical Experts
Potomac Audiology 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105, Rockville, MD 20852 240-477-1010 | gail@potomacaudiology.com www.potomacaudiology.com
I’ve heard there is a relationship between hearing loss and dementia. Is that true? Yes, Dr. Frank Lin, an otologist and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, released the results of a longitudinal study that supports that relationship. You can find great information on the Internet by searching “Frank Lin hearing loss and dementia.” Hearing loss is troublesome for more than 26 million people over 50, and it also may increase the risk of cognitive problems and dementia. Hearing loss may play a more important role in brain health than previously thought. This raises the possibility that treating hearing loss more aggressively may help delay or stop cognitive decline and dementia. As always, we highly recommend getting your hearing checked.
“
Hearing loss may play a more important role in brain health than previously thought.”
Is there anything you can do to prevent hearing loss? There are a number of things that can be done to prevent loss of hearing. The most important is to not expose yourself to loud sounds such as the shooting of a gun, loud music or concerts, or lawn mowers. People should always use hearing protection. If you have diabetes, you need to keep it under control because we know there is a relationship between hearing loss and diabetes. Recent research indicates heart and vascular problems can have an effect on hearing and hearing loss, too. Anyone with these types of health problems need to seek medical help for either medications or exercise programs to keep the heart and vascular system as healthy as possible.
TONY LEWIS JR
Gail Linn, Au.D.
Special Advertising Section
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Special Advertising Section
Casey Health Institute 800 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-664-6464 www.caseyhealth.org
What is the Casey Health Institute? Casey Health is an integrative primary care and wellness center with internal medicine, chiropractic, health coaching, acupuncture, wellness, naturopathy, yoga therapy, Reiki, behavioral health and mindfulness, nutrition and massage therapy.
“In our new, state-of-the-art primary care and wellness facility, we’ve created a true healing environment for our patients and community. We’ve built a culture of collaboration that puts patients at the center of their health,” says Co-Founder and CEO David Fogel, MD.
Integrated primary care physicians, practitioners, therapists and coaches coordinate care and collaborate with patients to help them get healthy – and keep them that way.
What does being ‘patient-centered’ really mean to Casey Health?
“We provide care across the entire healing continuum. We use lifestyle medicine as a way to help people work towards their optimal health,” says Laurie Williams, MA, Director of Wellness. “Our wellness mantra is: Be Active, Eat Well, Stress Less, and Connect Deeply.” hilary schwab
“
We’ve created a true healing environment for our patients and community.”
In addition to yoga therapy and classes (open to the public), Casey offers clinical weight loss programs and wellness workshops, including The Physicians’ Kitchen, Mindfulness Meditation, Chakra Balancing, and Beating Fatigue, all aimed at chronic conditions such as diabetes, digestive issues, depression, anxiety, back pain and fatigue.
At Casey Health, the patient experience is at the center of everything we do. We actively ask patients for input as we make decisions about care. Every decision is based on what’s best for the patient. “We engage our patients, connect with them, and help enhance their lives,” says Nicole Farmer, MD, integrative primary care physician. Nicole is one of Casey’s healers who partners with patients, families, and the surrounding community to provide high quality, cost effective services. The provider team leverages their collective knowledge and skills to improve the mind, body and spirit of patients. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 261
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Special Advertising Section
Rachel Cohn, Optometrist Wink Eyecare Boutique 1095 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, MD 20854 301-545-1111 | www.wink.net drcohn@wink.net
I can never seem to find glasses that are quite right for things like night driving. Can you help?
The bottom line is you see better at twilight and night, recognizing pedestrians and your surroundings. One study showed that a driver wearing customized lenses like i.Scription under nighttime conditions saw a person in the road 25 feet sooner than the driver wearing traditional lenses. This innovation allows us at Wink to provide an even higher standard of care.
Courtesy photo
We’re offering i.Scription technology by Zeiss, which provides higher quality of vision in glasses. Using special high-tech mapping, i.Scription lenses are customized for you. Every eye is as individual as a fingerprint. An exam analyzes “higher order aberrations” that are complex refractive errors that are unique to each human eye. So in addition to correcting near- or far-sightedness and astigmatism, lenses made with i.Scription go further, providing additional corrections for each eye profile.
Paul Ross, DPM The Podiatry Center 8218 Wisconsin Ave., Suite P-14, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-6055 www.paulrossdpm.com
What podiatric innovations are you now providing to your patients? Chronic heel pain is a serious problem in feet, and very often heel pain is due to an inflamed plantar fascia, which is the structure that supports the arch of the foot.
Now, with the advent of stem cell therapy, we can inject the site of damaged plantar fascia with stem cells, which aids to heal the injured area. We are also exploring the use of stem cells in the treatment of painful arthritic joints in the foot, as well. It’s been very effective for many people, and we’re happy to be able to offer this service to our patients.
tony lewis jr
Eighty-five to 90 percent of the time it’s successfully treated with a regimen of conservative care. For those other people for whom this doesn’t work, we used to have to use more aggressive surgical procedures.
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Ask The Medical Experts
Special Advertising Section
Roberta Palestine, MD
Why should I have a yearly skin exam?
“
Head to toe skin exams are easy, painless, do not require any uncomfortable or messy prep – and yet could save your life!
What are the options for treating acne?
The Dermatology Center & Rockledge MedSpa 6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 201, Bethesda, MD 20817 Three locations: Bethesda, Germantown, Northwest D.C. 301-530-8300 | info@dermskin.com www.dermskin.com
hilary schwab
Since the skin is on the outside of the body, this gives us the opportunity to detect skin cancer at an early and usually curable stage. Many skin cancers occur in areas of sun exposure and sun damage, but not all. Some skin cancers lurk in completely hidden areas that have never seen the light of day. In between yearly exams by a dermatologist, you should look yourself over from time to time, getting help with areas that you can’t see, such as the scalp and back. Even if you have lots of spots, it’s important not to get discouraged about being able to find a cancer among them. If you look regularly, you’ll likely notice changes, and you’ll certainly notice if one spot looks out of place from the rest – the old Sesame Street saying, “Which one doesn’t belong?”
Many skin cancers occur in areas of sun exposure and sun damage, but not all. Some skin cancers lurk in completely hidden areas that have never seen the light of day.”
Contrary to popular myth, acne is not confined to teenage years. Sometimes acne can linger for decades into adulthood, and other times it starts long after acne-free teenage years. Fortunately, these days there are many treatments for acne, and a dermatologist can customize the best treatment program for each person. Individualizing treatment is important, since not everyone with acne has oily skin. A dermatologist will put together a regimen to help unclog the pores and fight bacteria. The options include prescription and over-the-counter topical products, pills, procedures to unclog pores, lasers, and special skincare products and makeup that are acne-friendly. Males and females benefit from customized regimens to help their acne. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 263
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Special Advertising Section
Richard Castiello, MD 5530 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1418 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-986-1880 | richardcastiello@gmail.com www.drcastiello.com
What's involved in a thorough skin exam? A great deal of what I do is routine skin cancer checks as it is so important to catch cancers early. Early diagnosis is predicated on careful expert examination. I perform my examinations compulsively, starting with the scalp first and working downward. I perform these examinations fairly quickly, as I know what I am looking for. But we have to be thorough, as we know, more mistakes are made by not looking than not knowing.
Mike Olliver
You never waste my time with false alarms, either. If something looks wrong or strange, please get it checked as soon as possible. When melanoma is caught in the early stages, the cure rate approaches 100 percent.
Aimee Seidman, MD, FACP, CMD & Marcia Goldmark, MD Rockville Concierge Doctors 9420 Key West Ave. Suite 104, Rockville, MD 20850 301-545-1811 | info@rockvilleconciergedocs.com www.rockvilleconciergedocs.com
We are very proud of the ease with which our patients can see us and the time we have to spend together. Our population includes professionals, such as lawyers, accountants and physicians, as well as busy people in all occupations. We understand how valuable everyone’s time is. We are able to see people on the same or next day for appointments and stay on schedule to avoid long waits. We are also very flexible with coming in early or staying late to accommodate our patients’ schedules.
We have a smaller, more intimate practice, which allows availability and lengthier appointments. This gives us the time to concentrate on maintaining patient health as well as treating disease. We discuss recommendations (pros and cons) for screening tests, immunizations and wellness. We advocate for our patients in the health care system. We get timely appointments with subspecialists when necessary, review new medications prescribed by other physicians and gather relevant reports.
Tony Lewis JR
What makes your practice different?
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Special Advertising Section
Ask The Medical Experts
Paul McNeill, MD, FACS Capitol Vein & Laser Centers The Champlain Building 6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20817 301-760-3027 | 866-695-8346 www.mycvl.com www.BetterLegsBethesda.com
How did you become known in the D.C. metro area as the “Vein Expert”? I’m a graduate of Georgetown School of Medicine and board certified in Vascular Surgery and Phlebology, and I’ve been practicing vascular surgery and vein care since 1990. We began focusing exclusively on modern techniques in vein care in 2000. I was one of the original surgeons to perform vein ablation in the U.S., and I’ve been involved in the FDA clinical trials for today’s preferred treatments such as Venefit, Varithena and Clarivein. I’ve taught over 1,000 physicians in the country safe and modern approaches to vein treatments and am an invited speaker and faculty member at several national medical conferences every year. I have a lot of experience and knowledge when it comes to vein treatments, and I think our patients appreciate my knowledge and bedside manner.
Courtesy Photo
What kind of treatment can Capitol Vein & Laser Centers provide?
“
Dr. McNeill has taught over 1,000 physicians in the country safe and modern approaches to vein treatments and is an invited speaker and faculty member at several national medical conferences every year.”
Care provided by us includes treatments and management of both medical and cosmetic concerns such as varicose veins, spider veins, swollen legs, restless leg syndrome, skin color changes on the legs and unsightly veins of the face, chest or hands. Basically, I am able to assess a wide variety of venous conditions and discuss an effective approach to safely meet your needs and expectations. Our office is conveniently located in Bethesda, less than one mile from I-270. All major medical insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, are accepted. For more information and to schedule a consultation, please call 866-6958346 or visit www.mycvl.com.
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Special Advertising Section
Daniel El-Bogdadi, MD FACR & Nicole Saddic Thomas, MD, FACR Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates, PC 2730 University Blvd., Suite 310, Wheaton 14995 Shady Grove Road, Suite 250, Rockville Barlow Building, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600, Chevy Chase 2021 K St. NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC Central Call Center: 301-942-7600 www.washingtonarthritis.com
Can arthritis cause fatigue? Dr. El-Bogdadi: Yes. If you have arthritis due to autoimmune disease, your own immune system attacks your joints, which causes inflammation. The inflammation that results from an active immune system causes chemicals called cytokines to be produced, which may lead a person to feel symptoms of fatigue and malaise. Some people may even feel like they have depression because of loss of interest in or lack of motivation for their usual activities. Loss of appetite or fever may also occur, as well. For example in lupus, levels of a substance called interferons are high. Interferons are also present when a person has the flu and in both cases cause a person to have symptoms of body aches and fatigue. Autoimmune disease should be part of the evaluation of anyone presenting unresolved chronic fatigue. Treatment of autoimmune diseases is typically with medications that modulate the immune response.
Dr. Saddic Thomas: Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. OA can occur at any age but is most common in people over 65. It is characterized by “wear and tear” and breakdown of the cartilage that overlies the bone. OA is usually treated with oral anti-inflammatory medications but sometimes an injection or surgery is required. Unlike OA, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition. The immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissue called synovium that lines joints. This can lead to joint damage without treatment. The age of onset is usually earlier than osteoarthritis, generally between 30 and 60 years, but it can begin at any age. There is no single blood test to diagnose RA and diagnosis often requires a careful physical exam and history, blood tests and radiographs. RA is treated with immune modulating medications.
“
Autoimmune disease should be part of the evaluation of anyone presenting unresolving, chronic fatigue.”
hilary schwab
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
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restaurants, cooking, food, drinks
dine
The orange cream puff brulée at City Perch; to read our review, turn to page 274.
what’s inside photo by michael ventura
TABLE TALK: p. 268 DINE REVIEW: p. 274 TASTEE DINER In Photos: p. 278 COOKING CLASS: p. 286 DINING GUIDE: p. 288 BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 267
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dine
table talk BY CAROLE SUGARMAN
At Chef Geoff’s restaurants (including Lia’s in Chevy Chase), fresh fruit juice, citrus peels and sugar steep overnight before being strained the next day and mixed with club soda for a house-made blood orange, grapefruit or ginger-lime drink.
savvy sodas Frankly…Pizza!
&Pizza
Owner Frank Linn’s seasonal drinks, made from fresh fruit and sweeteners other than white sugar, have included pineapple lemongrass, blueberry pie and tangerine; he even makes his own seltzer water. 10417 Armory Ave., Kensington, www.frankly-pizza.com
The hip, growing pizza chain pours some unusual pops such as a Pear and Fig Elixir and a Burdock and Anise Root Beer. 7614 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, www. andpizza.com
MoCo’s Founding Farmers
Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s fast-casual spot in the Chevy Chase Pavilion offers a revolving array of seasonal “soda jerk” refreshers. 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., Suite 018, www.voltlunchbox.com
The restaurant’s award-winning beverage menu sports a “farmacy” section with seven from-scratch sodas, as well as other drinks made with them. 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, www.wearefoundingfarmers.com
Lunchbox
photo by stacy zarin-goldberg
Homemade sodas keep popping up at area restaurants, and for people who want the fizz without the fake ingredients, they’re a fun, healthier alternative. Try the sodas at Chef Geoff’s local restaurants and these other eateries:
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1
Family
192
Restaurants
365
going out with the gips Family
Days
Many local residents dine out frequently, but the Gips family of Bethesda took grabbing a bite to the next level: At the start of 2014, the family resolved to eat at all 192 restaurants, delis, sandwich chains and coffee shops in downtown Bethesda over the coming year. Mike, head of publishing for a security magazine; Michelle, a school learning specialist; and their two children, Lauren, 13, and Ellie, 10, had a fulfilling time, to say the least. Here, Mike Gips reflects on the family’s culinary tour. How often did you eat out during 2014?
About four times a week. Some days we had all three meals out. A few places we went to multiple times. How did you decide what to order?
It had to be something substantial, and made on the premises. We couldn’t buy a bag of Doritos and call it a day. But one kid is gluten free and my wife restricts carbohydrates. So Ellie and I would eat the bread. How much money did you spend?
I sort of don’t want to know. The rest of my hair will fall out.
understand why it’s packed all the time. It also seems annoyingly busy and not worth waiting in line for what you get. Rio Grande is similar to that.
What surprised you the most?
How many little delis are hidden in office buildings that are probably known only to the people who work there.
Any hidden treasures?
What about service?
Shangri-La, it’s really good. All the Indian restaurants are pretty good, like Bethesda Curry House. Saphire Café was a really good neighborhood bar. Rice Paddies and Kabob Bazaar are overlooked. I like Heckman’s [Delicatessen & Bar], too, they have a chicken in a pot; and the kid who runs it, you kind of root for him to make it. Guardado’s is also good.
The small business owners are exceedingly friendly. There were very few places where the service was poor. Any insider tips?
Happy hour. You get by far the best deal. Any resolutions for 2015?
We should try every gym in Bethesda.
Did anyone gain weight?
I have a fairly active family, but I had to adjust my belt in and out a few times. And when I put on my tuxedo, I could swear I had the wrong pants.
photo by stacy zarin-goldberg
What were your favorite restaurants?
Le Vieux Logis, we loved it. I had the duck leg—it was fantastic. My wife had the steak frites—she raved about it. Other standouts: Chef Tony’s, Gringos & Mariachis, Olazzo. In the next tier, I’d put Black’s and Persimmon. Did you think any restaurants were overrated?
They’ll be mad at me, but I think Woodmont Grill is overrated. I don’t
From left to right: Lauren, Mike, Michelle and Ellie Gips share baked Alaska at Le Vieux Logis in Bethesda, a family favorite.
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dine | TabLe Talk
first taste
Food Editor Carole Sugarman checks out new eateries
granddaughter of invention Leave it to a candy- loving kid to think of adding Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to pancakes. And leave it to Jeff Bulman, franchise owner of The Original Pancake House in Bethesda, Rockville and Falls Church, Virginia, to execute his 9-year-old granddaughter Jordyn’s sweet idea, now offered at all three restaurants. The Rockville third-grader was inspired while talking to her grandparents about the family’s upcoming trip to New York City, and a planned visit to Dylan’s Candy Bar, the three-level shop on the Upper East Side. That conversation made her think of candy, which led to thoughts of candy pancakes made with one of her favorite treats. “Peanut butter and chocolate. Is that going to be good in a pancake? Well… probably,” Jordyn says. Aside from candy, Jordyn says she enjoys “a lot of bizarre foods,” such as escargot, sardines and anchovies. But don’t worry, she’s not planning on asking her grandpa to add them to pancakes. Served with confectioners’ sugar and whipped cream, the pancakes taste more like a decadent dessert than breakfast; candy bits are in the batter, and chunks scattered on top almost form a frosting as they melt on the warm pancakes. They’re available at the Original Pancake House at 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 12224 Rockville Pike (Town Plaza), Rockville; and 7395 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Va. A six-pancake serving costs $9.10 and totals 890 calories.
Del Frisco’s Grille: The Texasbased steakhouse chain at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda is best for a drink and some starters—head for the ahi tacos and Byrd Mill Grit Cakes. Takeaway: Pricey for just OK cooking. 11800 Grand Park Ave. , North Bethesda, 301-881-0308, www.delfriscosgrille.com
Del Frisco’s
Indigo House: Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, owners of Bethesda’s venerable Persimmon restaurant and Wild Tomato in Cabin John, branch out from their American bistro roots with a hip Pan-Asian eatery. The appealing menu features Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, with a menu conducive to everyday eating. Takeaway: Early kinks in the cooking will hopefully have been ironed out by now. 7945 MacArthur Blvd. (in MacArthur Plaza), Cabin John, 301-312-6737
photo of jordyn by stacy zarin-goldberg; photo of del frisco’s by andrew metcalf
Jeff Bulman’s granddaughter Jordyn digs into pancakes made with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Lobster ME: One of the standout stalls in the new dining terrace at Bethesda’s Westfield Montgomery mall; go for lobster bisque or the Original Maine Lobster Roll and bypass gimmicks like the Banh ME, a misguided Vietnamese riff on the roll. The eatery’s Lobsicle, a grilled or batterfried lobster tail speared on a wooden rod, is awkward to eat, and can be over-salted. Thick, homemade potato chips are addictive. Takeaway: Stick with traditional dishes. 7101 Democracy Blvd. , Bethesda, 301-3651837, www.lobsterme.com
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Owner-head brewmaster Paul Rinehart opened Baying Hound Aleworks in 2010 in Rockville.
brews with a bite
photo by skip brown
By nevin martell
You could walk your dog by Rockville’s Baying Hound Aleworks a few times before one of you sniffs it out. Tucked away in a nondescript industrial park off East Gude Drive, the tiny nanobrewery produces craft beers with dog-inspired names. Owner-head brewmaster Paul Rinehart always has a half-dozen freshly brewed options on tap, including Taj Mahound brown IPA and toasty Long Snout Stout. However, it’s the highly experimental, limited-edition beers made with unorthodox ingredients that inspire the most devotion from their regulars: S’more Stout incorporates graham crackers, marshmallows and cocoa; while another stout features beans from nearby Mayorga Coffee. Guided tours of the tiny operation are available from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays. “I believe in educating people,” Rinehart says, “so they know what goes into making a craft beer. It really is a craft.” Although tours are advertised as free, guests are required to buy a beer ($6.50 on average) or a flight of six smaller samples ($8.75). Taking home a growler costs $15.75 or more. If you can’t stop by, you can find Baying Hound beers at Gilly’s Craft Beer & Fine Wine, Belby Discount Beer & Wine and The Bottle Shop, all in Rockville. Baying Hound Aleworks, 1108 Taft St., Rockville; 301-637-9322; bayinghoundales.com BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 271
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&
Big news for the former Roof Bethesda, the area’s short-lived rooftop bar and restaurant at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell avenues. Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group is taking over the two-story space this spring with a substantial renovation. The restaurant group also operates Mussel Bar & Grille and Wildwood Kitchen in Bethesda, Brasserie Beck in Gaithersburg, and other successful local eateries.
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It’s official: Mike Isabella, the former Top Chef and Top Chef All-Star contestant and owner of several restaurants in the District and Virginia, is opening Kapnos Kouzina at the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Hampden Lane in Bethesda this summer. Isabella told Andrew Metcalf of Bethesda Beat, Bethesda Magazine’s daily online news briefing, that the restaurant will feature Greek comfort food—including braised and slowcooked dishes, like “what you grow up with when you live in Greece as a kid.” Isabella expects diners at the 160-seat, earth-toned eatery to spend about $40 each.
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Meanwhile, at 4733 Elm St., Gusto Italian Grill will take over the former Kraze Burgers space, likely in May. The fast-casual concept, another ethnic twist on the Chipotle format, will feature Italian burritos, salads and pasta that diners customize. ...Also expected in May is the opening of the second location of The Grilled Oyster Co., the popular Potomac restaurant owned by Valerie and Rick Dugan. The restaurant will be at the corner of Wisconsin and Newark avenues in Northwest Washington, D.C. …More imminent is the March opening of Barrel & Crow, featuring mid-Atlantic regional cuisine in the former Freddy’s Lobster + Clams space on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda.
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Also in Bethesda, Boloco, the Boston-based burrito chain, closed its Bethesda Row location Jan. 1. P.F. Chang’s, at the nearly empty White Flint Mall, shuttered a few days later. And No. 82 Steak Out in Rockville Town Square closed Jan. 16, and Bethesda’s PizzaPass closed in early Feburary.
Silver Spring’s Puja Satiani gave up a law career to make fine chocolates.
food find Attention lawyers who love the kitchen: Sooner or later, pursuing your passion may win out against billable hours. Take Puja Satiani of Silver Spring, a 36-year-old attorney who worked for 10 years at an international law firm and now makes fine chocolates. “I loved the folks I worked with, and while I put a lot into it, I didn’t get the emotional rewards,” Satiani says of her former career. “It’s just a different feeling having someone taste something you make.” What Satiani makes are distinctive chocolate bars, toffee, brittle, caramels, truffles, drinking chocolate—and even a cacao mask skin cream. A mixture of traditional and unusual flavor combinations, her products include a dark chocolate bar with Hawaiian Kona coffee and bing cherries and another with almonds, black and white sesame seeds and cayenne pepper. In 2011, while working at the Washington office of Crowell & Moring, Satiani enrolled in the evening pastry program at L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, and later trained at L’Ecole du Grand Chocolat in southeastern France and the Chocolate Academy in Chicago. In 2013, she left law to pursue making chocolate full time. But her legal connections have kept her in good stead: Aside from retail sales, weddings and other catered events, she’s also sold her chocolates to corporate clients, including her old law firm. Puja Satiani Artisanal Confections are sold in Silver Spring at Bump ’n Grind Coffee Shop, 1200 East West Highway, and Adega Wine Cellars & Café, 8519 Fenton St., and at Capital Beer & Wine, 7903 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda. The full line is also available online at www.pujasatiani.com.
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comings goings
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2/9/15 10:22 AM
dine | review
Not Quite Show Stoppers Met Bethesda, City Perch Kitchen + Bar earn mixed reviews BY Carole Sugarman | photos by michael ventura
Dinner and a movie just got easier.
Within steps of two new luxury theaters are two new restaurants. Stylish spaces with ambitious menus and bar offerings, Met Bethesda (next to ArcLight Cinemas at Westfield Montgomery mall) and City Perch Kitchen + Bar (next to iPic Theaters in North Bethesda) are even similarly situated on second stories, allowing for panoramic views (albeit of the surrounding suburbs). But there are differences: Met Bethesda has no connection to its neighboring theater, while City Perch is owned and operated by iPic Entertainment. And while neither restaurant puts on a stellar performance, one offers a better show.
At Met Bethesda’s martini bar, patrons can choose from 16 flavorings to customize their cocktails.
Overall Rating: B-
met bethesda
7101 Democracy Blvd., Unit 3200 (in Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-767-1900, metbarandgrill.com
Favorite dishes: New England clam chowder, buttermilk biscuits, tuna and salmon tartare, rice bowl with salmon, Togarashi tuna Beer, wine and cocktails: 30 beers, including drafts, craft cans and bottles, from $4.50 to $7;
more than 40 wines, from $30 to $98; about 20 wines by the glass, from $7 to $13. Extensive cocktail menu features 18 craft cocktails ($11 to $13), plus the Met Martini Bar, offering 16 flavorings to devise your own cocktail ($12) or
non-alcoholic beverage ($2). Sangria and spiked grapefruit lemonade available in pitchers. Prices: Appetizers, $5 to $16; sandwiches and burgers, $10 to $15; entrĂŠes, $14 to $36
Service: Same waiter during two visits was honest, efficient and personable; at another dinner, new waitress was slow and ill-informed (for example, oysters aren’t harvested in Pennsylvania), but a manager interceded.
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A riff on Korean bibimbap, the rice bowl is a sizzling mix of sticky rice, vegetables and a protein.
Met Bethesda Located two escalator rides above the new dining terrace at Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda, Met Bethesda is a respite from the busyness below. With high ceilings, blond wood, pendant lamps and a soothing color scheme, it’s a handsome spot. What makes it even more appealing are acoustics that allow for quiet conversation, and a comfortable, private bar area, with elevated booths and sweeping windows. Mall rats might prefer the seating near the entranceway, which faces the dining terrace and movie theater. As for the cooking, it’s sometimes good, other times overly embellished, like a pretty girl with too much makeup. With a little restraint, more of the food could be striking. The website for the Boston-based Met Bar & Grill chainlet founded by restaurateur Kathy Sidell describes the fare as “classic American,” which in this case means America’s melting pot. Aside from steaks, burgers and New England specialties, the menu sports several Asian options, Italian dishes, a Greek mezze plate, even French onion soup. While there’s certainly something for everyone, it comes across as a bit of a mishmash, which is only complicated by the two menus—a bar menu and a somewhat longer one with entrées. No matter where you sit, you get both, even though many items overlap. I’d be happy just ordering buttermilk biscuits and a bowl of the New England clam chowder, thick with clams and potatoes, and sprinkled with chives and bits of bacon. A clover-green swirl of basil, chive and parsley oil creates a colorful finish, and adds flavor and interest to the creamy base. Asian dishes shine here, such as a terrific rice bowl, a riff on Korean bibimbap, served in a sizzling granite bowl, with sticky rice, sautéed greens,
Togarashi Tuna offers contrasting textures and assertive flavors.
The New England clam chowder is thick with clams and potatoes.
Head chef Andrew Kern
shredded carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini and a fried egg, plus tofu, chicken, salmon or sirloin—I loved the silky salmon. Similarly, the Togarashi Tuna, rare tuna fanned atop a rectangle of crisp-edged, griddled sushi rice, offers contrasting textures and assertive flavors, as does the Duo of Tuna and Salmon Tartare, with its cubes of just-right spiced raw fish and crunchy taro chips. Other dishes suffered from too many ingredients. The avocado toast with burrata had potential, with its avocado spread and creamy cheese sitting atop rugged seven-grain bread. But the whole thing was covered by an avalanche of shaved and grated Parmesan, making it a cheesy mess. Or take the Bethesda Burger, an overcooked patty plopped on a pretzel bun with Old Bay mayonnaise, lettuce, bacon, pepper jack cheese, and a substantial wedge of avocado filled with crabmeat. Not only was the sum not as
great as its many parts, but the behemoth’s height made it difficult to eat. The “signature favorite” dish, Chicken Parmigiana, sounded intriguing, but turned out to be another gargantuan oddity. A two-pound flattened double chicken breast covered with tomato sauce and cheese and cut into slices, it’s a pizza impersonator. The novelty wears off after a couple bites, however, and then it’s just boring. Ditto for the prime skirt steak that lacked a compelling char. Conversely, Met Bethesda’s bar menu is far from dull—among the many offerings, you can create your own martini, Bellini, mojito, iced tea, lemonade or spritzer with a choice of 16 flavorings. The three drinks I tried were well balanced, not too sweet and just boozy enough. Despite shortcomings, Met Bethesda is a relaxing place to grab a bite. After a lychee martini, you’ll be ready to tackle the mall.
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dine | review
City Perch feels like an exclusive lodge, with its rustic wood, autumnal colors and an inviting lounge with cork wall coverings that resemble tree bark.
Overall Rating: C
city perch kitchen + bar
11830 Grand Park Ave. (in Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-231-2310, www.cityperch.com Favorite dishes: bread board, roast chicken, short ribs, bison rib eye, orange cream puff brulĂŠe, baked Alaska pie Beer, wine and cocktails: 19 beers by the bottle and on tap, $4 to $8, plus three Bel-
gian-style shareable dinner beers, served in wineglasses ($24); 92 wines from $36 to $250, 17 of which are by the glass, priced $7 to $17. Specialty cocktails, from $9 to $13, are listed under Fruit, Fizz, Whiskey, Brunch and Sweet; in addition,
three shareable punches, which serve four, cost $20 each. Prices: Appetizers and small plates, $5 to $18; entrees, $16 to $38
Service: Very friendly, which could be construed as either refreshing or overbearing. Our waitress one night offered some bum steer recommendations, and TMI about what she liked to eat.
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The free-range roasted Amish chicken boasts super-crisp skin and moist meat.
city perch kitchen + bar IPic Entertainment tapped some top food folks for its City Perch restaurant in North Bethesda: Sherry Yard, a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef who most recently worked with Wolfgang Puck, spearheaded the seasonal American menu. Matt Baker, whose impressive résumé includes positions at Occidental Grill, Minibar and Brasserie Beck, serves as the onsite executive chef. And Chicago-based mixologist and sommelier Adam Seger, alumnus of several renowned restaurants, including Napa Valley’s The French Laundry, devised the bar menu. I have no doubt the trio is talented, but unfortunately, the restaurant’s execution doesn’t keep up with the hype. It’s like a disappointing movie with a great cast. Starting with cocktails, our waitress one night recommended the Montgomery Blues, and indeed, it was one sadtasting drink. Made with West Virginia’s Greenbrier small batch gin and Jack Rudy tonic, and served with a skewer of fresh blueberries (so much for the restaurant’s emphasis on locally sourced ingredients; this was the dead of winter), it tasted neither of gin nor blueberry. On another evening, the Norma Jean (strawberry, vodka and lemonade) and the apple-flavored Forbidden Fruit Margarita came off more like watery fruit drinks, producing nary a buzz. Using Yard’s pastry background as a bellwether, the best parts of the meal are the beginning and the end. Start by filling up with the bread board, $10 for four items. My two favorites were the cayenne and Parmesan popover, its airy texture perfect for spreading the smoky sundried tomato butter; and the definitively sage biscuit served with a subtle maple bourbon pecan butter. The array also comes with not-too-sweet cornbread (I’d nix the icing of goat cheese)
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A wall of wine bottles adds a sophisticated touch to the dining room. Bread board stars: the sage biscuit and cayenne and Parmesan popover
and Chinese butter buns. Up-front carb loading also means you can skip the small-plate starters; none of the three I tried were worth ordering again. They would be the super-salty scallops; mini briochecrusted crab cakes that were a lot of money for little flavor (three for $18); and house-made ricotta cheese served with honey-glazed acorn squash, a sweet and mushy mismatch. As for entrées, three of the six I sampled were commendable. The freerange roasted Amish chicken wore a super crisp skin and arrived with a universally moist interior (even the white meat). I’d also give a thumbs-up to the short ribs, a spot-on comforting execution with its deep, rich brown sauce; and to the bison rib eye, a hefty hunk of cooked-to-order meat. By contrast, the porchetta (rolled and stuffed pork) was roasted to grandmotherly dryness, the black sea bass came unevenly cooked and insufficiently seasoned, and the citrus shrimp tasted mealy. A sauce can be ordered to accompany the main courses, but the ones I tried lacked character them-
selves, providing little rescue. Desserts make for a surprisingly upbeat ending. Try the baked Alaska pie, with its treasure of pumpkin gelato hidden underneath torched tufts of meringue. Kudos for the combination of toasty meringue, silky gelato and gingerbread crust. The dramatic orange cream puff brulée looks like a symbol of good and evil; the dessert comes with a knife stabbed through the middle of the pastry, and a delicate nest of spun sugar on top. Refreshing and totally addictive, it tastes like a glamorous and super-rich Creamsicle. The banana soufflé, which had an appealing-enough flavor, was unfortunately undercooked. No doubt about it, this is one stunning restaurant. With rustic wood, autumnal colors and an inviting lounge with cork wall coverings made to look like tree bark, City Perch resembles an exclusive lodge. Perhaps in time, the bar and kitchen will catch up to the décor. n Carole Sugarman is the magazine’s food editor. To comment on this review, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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‘Order Up!’ With its weathered bar stools, wooden booths and friendly service, Tastee Diner is a comforting constant in changing downtown Bethesda. The landmark eatery celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. By Archana Pyati Photos by Skip Brown BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 279
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dine
The Tastee Diner’s walls are decorated with autographed head shots of local politicians, newspaper stories chronicling its history, and notes and cards from generations of customers. But nothing epitomizes the diner’s lack of pretension and irreverence more than a sign that reads: “Latte is French for ‘You paid too much for that coffee.’ ” When local restaurateur Eddie Warner opened the diner on Wisconsin Avenue in 1935, eating out was rare. In 1958, the classic railroad car eatery moved to its current spot at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk avenues. Gene Wilkes became its third owner in 1971, and owns the other two remaining branches—one in Silver Spring, which dates to 1946, and another in Laurel, which opened in 1951. Today, the Tastee Diner looks out of place against the high-rises in downtown Bethesda. Inside, it retains the look and feel of its heyday: Orders are called out by servers, the tabletop jukeboxes only take change, and the check is always hand-written. The same specials have been served on the same days of the week for years: meatloaf on Wednesdays and Saturdays, fried chicken on Tuesdays, and the popular cream of crab soup on Mondays. Open 24-hours-a-day, seven-daysa-week, the diner has a rotating cast of characters. During the day, cops might be sitting next to bankers; a real estate tycoon next to a mom with her children. At night, college kids, famished from partying, descend. Recently, a disabled veteran was quietly wheeled into a booth for breakfast. “We represent America,” Wilkes says. Here’s a look at some of the people who have helped make Tastee Diner a local institution. 280 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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▲ Allen Snowden, grill cook For the better part of 30 years, Allen Snowden hated the fact that he made his living as a grill cook at the Tastee Diner. The job, he says, was a daily reminder of his limited aspirations and educational attainment. “I used to be embarrassed by it,” he says. Snowden, now 52, dropped out of school at age 12 to work at a racetrack in Charlestown, West Virginia. In 1978, he found his way to the diner, where his mother waited tables. He considered joining the military, but when his girlfriend got pregnant, he stayed put. The couple had four children together, but eventually parted ways. After gaining sole custody of his children, Snowden became a single dad, keeping his
head down and working 16-hour shifts. It wasn’t until Snowden left in 2007 for a brief stint in construction that he began to look at life—and his work—differently. He says he realized what a special place Tastee is and the role he has played in its success. “Now, I like what I do and who I am,” he says. Snowden is now the lead grill cook, preparing up to 15 orders at a time on the diner’s flat-top stove—one of the first images that greets customers as they walk through the front door. The call-out system means there’s no checking on customer requests: just Snowden and his assistant memorizing what’s been shouted out and cooking each order as it comes in. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 281
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dine The comfort food menu includes biscuits and stuffed baked potatoes.
▲ Gene Wilkes, owner Last year, a back injury hospitalized Wilkes, forcing him to take several months off to recuperate. It was the first time in 44 years that he had spent time away from his restaurants. What he missed most, he says, were the regulars. “They’re your customers, but they become your friends,” says Wilkes, who is 71. “Really, they become your life.” A North Carolina native, Wilkes has been known to drive around town for ingredients when his daily food delivery falls short. Or pick up employees in snowstorms because the diner only closes for 42 hours each year: from noon on Christmas Eve to 6 a.m. the day after Christmas. On Christmas morning, Wilkes gets up in the wee hours and drives to each location to make sure everything is OK. After all, 42 hours of stillness in a 24/7 restaurant can feel like forever. All around Tastee Diner, development booms.
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David LeMar, waiter On the day of a recent play-off game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, David LeMar was in full Packers regalia, complete with a Styrofoam hat that resembled Wisconsin cheese. He first started dressing up for work at the diner in outrageous costumes in 2004, and has since done shifts as a clown, a leprechaun, the Easter Bunny and Frankenstein’s monster. At first, Tastee owner Wilkes was wary of LeMar’s shtick. But then he saw that customers liked it, so he let the waiter entertain them. LeMar, 56, says it’s his way of connecting with people, and he knows when to tone it down and be serious. “You either love him or you hate him,” manager Beth Cox says. LeMar majored in math at the University of Maryland, but says he couldn’t find a job in his field after graduation. He liked waiting tables and found that he made a decent living. He now works part time at the diner and part time as a tax preparer at H&R Block. LeMar tries to put his orders in to the cooks quickly and get his customers’ food as fast as possible. “I can’t afford to make a mistake,” he says. “If I screw up, they’ll say I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t told so many jokes.” BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 283
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▲ Beth Cox, manager Beth Cox, 56, says that she remembers criticism more than compliments. Take the woman who called to complain about a BLT she had ordered. Her servers had always asked her what type of bread she prefers, but this time nobody did. Consistency, Cox says, is what keeps regulars returning. Yet when weighed against the “thank-yous” and the holiday cards lining the walls, the complaints seem trivial, she says: “It’s so much more than a restaurant. It’s family.” Cox, who was hired as a cashier by Wilkes when she was 20, has seen the diner through good times and low points, including a devas-
tating fire that closed the restaurant for nearly 100 days in 2002. She laments the upscaling of Bethesda and the regulations— minimum-wage hikes, the Affordable Care Act—that she believes will eventually put the diner out of business. She is proud to say that she raised her daughter as a single mom on diner wages, and that her child is now a physician. Cox describes the food as “phenomenal,” all cooked and served with lightning speed. Yet she also believes that the diner is a dying breed of restaurant that many feel is more novelty than necessity. “It feels out of place,” she says.
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Cindy and Tony Crane, customers When Cindy Crane was a child, her father would take her to eat breakfast in one of the booths in the smoke-filled diner. Later, she hung out there with high school friends. After she became a mom, she would stop in with her son and daughter after school. Now, her college-age children hang out at the diner on their breaks. “It has the same vibe as it’s always had,” Crane, now 51, said recently over breakfast with her husband, Tony, 53. “Over the years, we have developed a special relationship with this place. What’s obvious is how much everybody cares about each other.” Crane, a psychotherapist, says the diner was the place where she and her husband, who owns a home energyefficiency consulting business, met to discuss their financial future during the recession. Both small-business owners, the Cranes talked over breakfast about what lay ahead for their family. They usually order the same thing each visit. Tony: two eggs over easy with a sausage patty, and buttered wheat toast. Cindy: two eggs over easy with crispy turkey bacon and dry rye toast. “I’ve never had an overcooked egg here,” Tony says. n
Tastee is popular with kids such as Christopher and Lily Brown of Cabin John.
Archana Pyati is a writer living in Silver Spring. To comment on this story, email comments@ bethesdamagazine.com. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 285
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dine CookinG CLASS
By Brian Patterson L’Academie de Cuisine | www.lacademie.com
Simply Soufflé Looking for a light, elegant ending to an Easter brunch or a springtime gathering? With just a few steps, you can whip up a dessert that’s sure to win rave reviews.
Difficulty Level
On the Clock
45 min
Individual Servings
5
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How to Make the Chocolate Soufflé
photos by stacy zarin-goldberg
Ingredients 1 to 2 tablespoons soft butter 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 1 cup cold milk 6 tablespoons sugar 1½ tablespoons cocoa powder 5 yolks (room temperature) 5 whites (room temperature) Pinch of salt Powdered sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush five 8-ounce ramekins with the soft butter and coat with sugar. 2. Melt the 3 tablespoons of butter in a pot on the stove. Stir in the flour. Add cold milk all at once and stir. Bring to a boil, remove from heat. 3. Add the 6 tablespoons of sugar and the cocoa powder and stir with a whisk until mixed. 4. Add the five egg yolks and stir until mixed. 5. Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt. Whip the whites to a soft peak. 6. Add a large rubber spatula full of whites into the milk mixture. Then fold all of the milk mixture into the egg whites. 7. Pour batter into the ramekins, filling to just below the rim. Place ramekins on an oven rack, about 1∕³ of the way from the bottom of the oven. Cook at least 15 to 25 minutes. Do not open oven during the first 15 minutes. The soufflé is done when it has risen about 2 inches above the rim of the ramekin, and has a firm jiggle to it. 8. Remove from the oven and sprinkle powdered sugar on the top. Serve immediately. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 287
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dine
Dining Guide
Check out the online version of the DINING GUIDE at BethesdaMagazine.com.
Bethesda 100 Montaditos
4922 Elm St., Bethesda, 240-396-6897, us.100montaditos.com/home. As its name proclaims, the Spanish-founded chain features 100 varieties of montaditos—mini sandwiches served on rolls. Ranging in price from $1 to $2.50, the sandwiches sport fillings from authentic (Serrano ham, manchego cheese, chorizo) to American (Philly cheesesteak, hot dogs and burgers). ❂LD$
4935 Bar and Kitchen
4935 Cordell Ave., 301-830-8086, www.4935bar andkitchen.com. Former Tragara Ristorante space gets a major redo, with a sleek, modern interior and a young chef-owner serving French and Indian fusion dishes such as spicy chicken confit and Tandoori pork chops. The popular upstairs private party room is now called “The Loft at 4935.” L D $$$
Aji-Nippon
6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons sushi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. L D $$
American Tap Room
7278 Woodmont Ave., 301- 656-1366, www.americantaproom.com. Classic grill menu featuring sliders and wings, from Thompson Hospitality, the owners of Austin Grill. ❂ R L D $$
&pizza
7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, www.andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of three crusts, three cheeses and eight sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to falafel crumbles, fig marsala and pineapple salsa. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $
Bacchus of Lebanon
7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-657-1722, www.bacchus oflebanon.com. This friendly and elegant Lebanese staple has a large, sunny patio that beckons lunch and dinner patrons outside when the weather is good to try garlicky hummus, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabobs, veal chops and dozens of small-plate dishes. ❂ L D $$
Bangkok Garden
4906 St. Elmo Ave., 301-951-0670, www.bkk garden.com. This real-deal, family-run Thai restaurant turns out authentic cuisine in a dining room decorated with traditional statues of the gods. L D $
Bel Piatto Pizza
7812 Old Georgetown Road, 301-986-8085, bel piatto-pizzeria.com. Entrées, calzones, strombolis and salads, along with a large selection of pizzas. LD$
Benihana
7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, www. benihana.com. Experience dinner-as-theater as the chef chops and cooks beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood tableside on the hibachi. This popular national chain serves sushi, too. J L D $$
Bethesda Barbecue Company (New)
4917 Elm St., 301-718-0550, bethesdabbq.com. Chef Dennis Friedman turns his upscale Newton’s Table into a down-home barbecue spot, with bacon pops, biscuits and sandwiches, plus platters with smoked pulled pork, chicken, sliced brisket and ribs. Hot smoked salmon, grilled fish and salads for those who don’t fancy finger-lickin’ fare. JLD$
Bethesda Crab House
4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382, www.bethesda crabhouse.net. In the same location since 1961, this casual, family-owned dining spot features jumbo lump crabcakes, oysters on the half shell and jumbo spiced shrimp. Extra large and jumbosized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve them. ❂ L D $$
Bethesda Curry Kitchen
4860 Cordell Ave., 301-656-0062, www.bethesda currykitchen.com. Former Saveur India chef-owner Anil Kumar moves across town with a new lunch buffet and Southern Indian vegan specialties, served in a spare and casual setting. There are plenty of choices from the tandoor oven, as well as vegetarian, seafood and meat curries. LD$
Bistro LaZeez
8009 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-8222, www.bistro lazeez.com. Terrific Mediterranean grilled dishes from local Arabic teacher Reda Asaad. ❂JLD$
Bistro Provence (Editors’ Pick)
4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, www.bistro provence.org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. ❂ L D $$$
Black’s Bar & Kitchen (Editors’ Pick)
7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, www. blacksbarandkitchen.com. Bethesda Magazine readers voted Black’s “Best MoCo Restaurant” and “Best Happy Hour” in 2014. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients. ❂ R L D $$$
Blaze Pizza
7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery Mall), 240-630-8236, www.blazepizza.com. One of the new breed of fast-casual pizza concepts, Blaze features build-your-own pies with a choice of nearly 30 toppings and six sauces. Pizzas are “fast-fire’d” for 180 seconds, resulting in thin, super-crisp crusts. Wash them down with the bloodorange lemonade. L D $
Key Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol. $ $$ $$$ $$$$
b B R L D
up to $50 $51-$100 $101-$150 $150+ Outdoor Dining Children’s Menu Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner
Bold Bite
4901-B Fairmont Ave., 301-951-2653, www.bold bite.net. Designer hot dogs from the Venezuelan Roche brothers, with a menu that won “Best Menu Design” from the magazine’s editors in 2013. JLD$
Brasserie Monte Carlo
7929 Norfolk Ave., 301-656-9225, www.brasserie montecarlo.com. French-Mediterranean dishes and a mural of a Monte Carlo landscape transport diners to Monaco. ❂ R L D $$
Brickside Food & Drink
4866 Cordell Ave., 301-312-6160, www.brickside bethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian bar bites and entrées. ❂ R D $$
Caddies on Cordell
4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, www.caddies oncordell.com. Twenty-somethings gather at this golf-themed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. Bethesda Magazine readers voted Caddies “Best Place for a Guys’ Night Out” in 2015. ❂ J R L D $
Café Deluxe
4910 Elm St., 301-656-3131, www.cafedeluxe.com. This local chain serves bistro-style American comfort food in a fun and noisy setting with wood fans and colorful, oversized European liquor posters. ❂ J R L D $$
Cava Mezze Grill
4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-1772, www.cava grill.com. The guys from Cava restaurant have created a Greek version of Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. J L D $
Cesco Osteria
7401 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-8333, www. cesco-osteria.com. Longtime chef Francesco Ricchi relocates from Cordell Avenue, turning out his Tuscan specialties in a bigger, jazzier space. ❂ L D $$
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dine Chef Tony’s
4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, www.chef tonysbethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean seafood tapas in what was formerly called Visions Restaurant. J R L D $$
City Burger
7015 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0010, www.city burgeronline.com. Simple and inexpensive quarter-pound burgers made from all-natural, antibiotic-free beef from the owners of Food Wine & Co., Beer Wine & Co., Don Pollo and Fish Taco. Hot dogs, half-smokes and fries, plus homemade milkshakes and ice cream also served. White-tiled space seats about 15, but geared for takeout. L D $
City Lights of China
4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, www.bethesda citylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery relocates to a different stretch of Bethesda Avenue, serving the same menu of familiar Szechuan and Beijing dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a darker, sharper look. L D $$
CRAVE (New)
7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 1530 (in Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-469-9600, cravebethes da.com. Minnesota-based chainlet offers something for everyone, with its eclectic melting pot of American dishes, including bison burgers, duck confit flatbread and kogi beef tacos. Decorated in yellow, gold and wood tones, the restaurant is also known for its extensive selection of wine and sushi.J L D $$
Daily Grill
One Bethesda Metro Center, 301-656-6100, www.dailygrill.com. Everyone from families to expense-account lunchers can find something to like about the big portions of fresh American fare, including chicken pot pie and jumbo lump crabcakes. ❂ J B R L D $$
Don Pollo
7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001. www.don pollogroup.com. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery a go-to place any night of the week. Locations in Rockville and Hyattsville, too. L D $
Faryab Restaurant (Editors’ Pick)
4917 Cordell Ave., 301-951-3484, farandaway cycling.com/Faryab/. Faryab serves well-prepared Afghani country food, including Afghanistan’s answer to Middle Eastern kabobs, vegetarian stews and unique sautéed pumpkin dishes, in a whitewashed dining room with native art on the walls and attentive service. D $$
Flanagan’s Harp & Fiddle
4844 Cordell Ave., 301-951-0115, www.flanagans harpandfiddle.com. This stylish pub features live music several days a week and Tuesday night poker and Monday quiz nights. In addition to traditional stews and fried fish, Flanagan’s offers smoked ribs, salmon and traditional Irish breakfast on weekends. ❂ J B L D $$
Food Wine & Co. (Editors’ Pick)
7272 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-8008, www.food wineandco.com. American fare at a stunning bistro in the old Uno Chicago Grill space. L D $$
Garden Grille & Bar
(in the Hilton Garden Inn), 7301 Waverly St., 301654-8111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from
burgers and other sandwiches to crabcakes, short ribs and pasta dishes. J B D $$
Geppetto
10257 Old Georgetown Road, 301-493-9230, www.geppettorestaurant.com. Sicilian-style pizza served in a casual atmosphere inside bustling Wildwood Shopping Center, plus classic Italian sandwiches and red-sauce dinners. ❂ J L D $$
Geste Wine & Food
4801 Edgemoor Lane, 301-718-1675, www.geste beerwine.com. Pizza, panini, subs and salads, plus a small retail area with reasonably priced bottles of wine. L D $
Grapeseed American Bistro + Wine Bar (Editors’ Pick)
4865 Cordell Ave., 301-986-9592, www.grape seedbistro.com. Chef-owner Jeff Heineman, who develops each dish on the frequently updated menu to pair with a specific wine, also offers small plates and a 10-seat wine-room table. L (Tuesday-Friday) D $$$
Gringos & Mariachis (Editors’ Pick)
4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, www.gringos andmariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurants in Bethesda and Silver Spring trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals, dark booths and plenty of tequila. Starters include duck nachos and bacon-wrapped jalapenos, and the taco selection nears 15 different choices. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by the magazine’s readers in 2015. L D $
Guapo’s Restaurant
8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-0888, www.guapos restaurant.com. This outpost of a local chain has everything you’d expect: margaritas and chips galore, as well as a handful of daily specials served in festive Mexican surroundings. Perfect for families and dates. J R L D $
Guardado’s
4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, www.guardados nico.com. Chef-owner Nicolas Guardado, who trained at Jaleo, opened this hidden gem devoted to Latin-Spanish cooking in 2007 and has developed a following with tapas specialties like shrimp and sausage, stuffed red peppers and paella. J L D $
Hanaro Restaurant & Lounge
7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, www.hanaro bethesda.com. Modern dark woods and lots of light brighten the corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses. The bar offers a daily happy hour and is open on Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m. ❂ L D $$
Hard Times Café
4920 Del Ray Ave., 301-951-3300, www.hardtimes .com. Good American beer selections, hearty chili styles ranging from Cincinnati (cinnamon and tomato) to Texas (beef and hot peppers), and hefty salads and wings bring families to this Wild Weststyle saloon for lunch and dinner. Owner Greg Hourigan is a fixture in the community. ❂ J L D $
Heckman’s Delicatessen
4914 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4879. www.heckman sdeli.com. The latest attempt at bringing corned beef to Bethesda features all the deli staples, plus a dinner menu with chicken-in-a-pot and stuffed cabbage. Menu offers long lists of ingredients to build your own salads, sandwiches and eggs. Sweets include rugelach, black-and-white cookies and homemade cheesecake, and on a sour
note, deli owners are relatives of the founder of the old Heckman’s Pickles firm in the District. ❂
JBLD$
Himalayan Heritage (Editors’ Pick)
4925 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1858, www. himalayanheritagedc.com. Indian, Nepalese and Indo-Chinese fare, featuring momos (Nepalese dumplings) and Indian takes on Chinese chow mein. L D $
House of Foong Lin
4613 Willow Lane, 301-656-3427. www.foong lin.com. With a (slightly) new name but the same Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, Bethesda’s longtime Foong Lin restaurant has relocated to the old Moon Gate space. L D $$
House of Milae
4932 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-1997. The Kang family, who own Milae Cleaners in Bethesda, bring simple Korean dishes to their first food foray in the old Plaza del Sol space. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap; also look for the Korean-style sushi known as kimbab. The kids’ menu has one item: spaghetti, made from the recipe of owner Thomas Kang’s former college roommate’s mother. L D $
Jaleo (Editors’ Pick)
7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-913-0003, www.jaleo. com. The restaurant that launched the American career of chef José Andrés and popularized Spanish tapas for a Washington, D.C., audience offers hot, cold, spicy and creative small plates served with outstanding Spanish wines. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014 and 2015. ❂ R L D $$
Jetties
4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-951-3663, www.jetties dc.com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucket-inspired sandwich shop, which has four restaurants in Northwest Washington, D.C. Aside from the signature Nobadeer sandwich (roasted turkey and stuffing with cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on sourdough), look for large salads, a soup bar and an innovative children’s menu. ❂ J L D $
Kabob Bazaar
7710 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5814, www.kabob bazaar.com. The younger sister of a popular Arlington restaurant with the same name offers kabobs in every protein possible, plus lots of vegetarian side dishes. Music on Saturdays and Sundays. ❂ JL D $
Kadhai (Editors’ Pick)
7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-718-0121, www.kadhai .com. The popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi has relocated to the old Uptown Deli space. L D $$
La Panetteria
4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, www.la panetteria.com. For more than 25 years, La Panetteria has transported diners into a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving such classic dishes as homemade spaghetti and veal scaloppine. L D $$
Le Vieux Logis
7925 Old Georgetown Road, 301-652-6816, www. levieuxlogisrestaurantmd.com. The colorful exterior will draw you into this Bethesda institution, but classic French dishes such as Dover sole meunière will keep you coming back. D $$
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Lebanese Taverna 7141 Arlington Road, 301-951-8681, www.lebanese taverna.com. The latest branch of this long-lived local chain is an elegant spot for dipping puffy pita bread into hummus and baba ghanoush. The rest of the traditional Lebanese mezze are worth a try, too, as are the slow-cooked lamb dishes. Voted “Best Mediterranean Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. J L D $$
Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar 4907 Cordell Ave., 301-652-6945, www.louisiana bethesda.com. Former Louisiana Express chef José Blanco and veteran waiter Carlos Arana continue the tradition of the popular Bethesda institution in a larger, spiffier setting. The prices and Cajunand Creole-style menu are pretty much the same, the fried items are still divine and the pain perdou and beignets remain a great way to start a Sunday morning. B R L D $
Luke’s Lobster 7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, www.lukes lobster.com. An upscale carryout with authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped direct from Maine. ❂ L D $
Mamma Lucia 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, www.mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. ❂ J L D $$
Markham’s Bar and Grill
7141 Wisconsin Ave., 240-800-4700, www. markhamsbar.com. A brick-and-mortar eatery from the owner of the former One3Five Cuisine food trailer, Markham’s is a neighborhood spot offering many of the popular sandwiches and salads from the mobile operation. Look for Pakistani tacos, banh mi and a marinated flank steak sandwich, plus nightly comfort-food specials. The beige-andblack interior sports a handsome wine cabinet and photographs of old Bethesda. An outdoor patio includes a pergola and a 5½-foot waterfall. ❂ L D $$
Matuba Japanese Restaurant
4918 Cordell Ave., 301-652-7449, www.matuba-sushi.com. Detail-oriented sushi chefs and attentive service perk up this otherwise plain white-and-blond-wood Japanese restaurant that has been doing a steady business in downtown Bethesda for 30 years. L D $$
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
7263 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-8305, www.max brenner.com. It’s sweets-only at the newest location of this international chain. Chocoholics and dessert lovers will have a field day with the restaurant’s milkshakes, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, crêpes, waffles, fondue, ice cream and chocolate pizza. There are also “Fast Max” items to go, and a retail section offers fashionably packaged bonbons, praline wafers and caramelized nuts rolled in hazelnut cream and cocoa powder. $
Met Bethesda
7101 Democracy Blvd., Unit 3200 (in Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-767-1900. www.met bethesdamd.com. Boston-based restaurateur Kathy Sidell’s fifth restaurant—and first outside of Boston—offers seasonal American cuisine cooked over a wood-burning grill. Look for oak-fired prime rib-eye steak, grilled avocados stuffed with Maryland crab and an extensive martini selection, served in snazzy surroundings with stone floors, an open kitchen and roomy booths. Review, page 274. L D $$
Mia’s Pizzas (Editors’ Pick)
4926 Cordell Ave., 301-718-6427, www.miaspizzas bethesda.com. Mia’s wood-burning oven turns out Naples-style pies with a variety of toppings; homemade soups and cupcakes in a cheery dining room with yellow, green and orange accents. ❂ J L D $$
Moby Dick House of Kabob
7027 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, www.mobys online.com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. L D $
MOMO Chicken + Jazz
4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, www. momofc.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space. Framed record albums grace the walls, and glass shelves are
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dine stacked with yesteryear radios, fans, typewriters, movie projectors and Coke bottles. ❂ J L D $$
Mon Ami Gabi
7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, www.mon amigabi.com. Waiters serve bistro classics such as escargot, steak frites and profiteroles in a dark and boisterous spot that doesn’t feel like a chain. Voted “Best Place for a Couple’s Night Out” by the magazine’s readers in 2015. Live jazz Tuesday and Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$
Morton’s, The Steakhouse
7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, www.mortons .com. An ultra-sophisticated steak house serving pricey, large portions of prime-aged beef and drinks. The restaurant is known for a top-notch dinner experience but also offers lunch and a bar menu. D $$$
Mussel Bar & Grille
7262 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-7817, www.mussel bar.com. Kensington resident and big-name chef Robert Wiedmaier serves his signature mussels, plus wood-fired tarts, salads and sandwiches. Wash them all down with a choice of 40 Belgian beers, which won “Best Craft Beer Selection” by the magazine’s readers in 2013 and 2015. ❂ R L D $$
Nest Cafe
4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-6378, www.nestwine barcafe.com. Nest offers simple salads, pasta and pizzas. Among the best eats, however, are the crispy calamari and artichokes appetizer and the mussels and fries entrée. ❂ J R L (Wednesday-Saturday) D $$
Oakville Grille & Wine Bar (Editors’ Pick) 10257 Old Georgetown Road, 301-897-9100, www.oakvillewinebar.com. Fresh California food paired with a thoughtful wine list in an elegant, spare setting may not sound unique, but Oakville was one of the first in the area to do so, and it does it well. ❂ J L D $$
Olazzo (Editors’ Pick)
7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-9496, www.olazzo. com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable prices. Voted “Best Italian Restaurant” and “Best Fried Calamari” by our readers in 2014. ❂ L D $$
Original Pancake House
7700 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, www.ophrestaurants.com. Dozens of pancake dishes, as well as eggs and waffles galore. Named “Best Breakfast” by the magazine’s readers in 2014. ❂ J B L $
Panas Gourmet Empanadas
4731 Elm St., 301-657-7371, www.panasgourmet. com. Baked, not fried, empanadas with a modern twist—think chicken pesto, smoked eggplant and chipotle steak. L D $
Parker’s American Bistro
4824 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-6366, www.parkers bistro.com. An all-American menu with vintage local sports posters, Parker’s offers a wide-ranging food and wine list, upbeat soundtrack and servers who take an interest in your happiness. ❂ J R L D $$
Parva Cocina & Tequila Bar
7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-312-6488, www.the parva.com. With more than 70 tequilas and an extensive menu of Tex-Mex dishes, the eatery formerly called The Parva has re-branded itself from
its Latin fusion days. All three varieties of the ceviche are lively, and so is the bar scene. R D $$
Passage to India (Editors’ Pick)
4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, www.passage toindia.info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chefowner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. Elegant ivory screens shield diners from street noise. Voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. ❂ R L D $$
Penang Malaysian Cuisine
4933 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-2878, www.penang maryland.com. At this Malaysian spot decorated with exotic dark woods and a thatched roof, spices run the gamut of Near and Far Eastern influence, and flavors include coconut, lemongrass, sesame and chili sauce. L D $$
Persimmon (Editors’ Pick)
7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, www.persimmonrestaurant.com. Chef-owner Damian Salvatore’s popular restaurant has reopened, with more casual décor, lower prices and less formal fare. ❂ L D $$
Pitzze Table
7137 Wisconsin Ave., 301-664-9412, www.pitzze. com. Haven Pizzeria Napoletana changed names in 2014. Tiger Mullen, who opened Haven in 2012 before being bought out by his partners, is back and overseeing the reinvigorated restaurant, which offers an expanded menu with more salads and small plates, plus morning coffee service with freshly squeezed juices and a toast bar. B L D $
Pines of Rome
4709 Hampden Lane, 301-657-8775. Local celebrities and families gather at this down-home Italian spot for traditional food at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. L D $
Pizza Tempo
8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0003, www.pizza tempo.us. Pizza with a twist, which includes toppings such as sujuk (Mediterranean beef sausage), pistachio mortadella and spicy beef franks, plus a wide selection of pides (boat-shaped pizzas). Salads, wraps, panini and entrées also available. Limited seating; delivery within about a 3-mile radius. L D $
Pizzeria da Marco (Editors’ Pick)
8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, www.pizzeria damarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a $15,000 Italian brick oven. ❂ L D $
Positano Ristorante Italiano
4940-48 Fairmont Ave., 301-654-1717, www. epositano.com. An authentic Italian, family-run restaurant popular for private events, large and small. Colorful rooms are decorated with Italian landscapes, copper pots and hanging plants, and the outdoor patio is one of the most beautiful in the county. ❂ L D $
Praline Bakery & Bistro
4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, www. praline-bakery.com. Two former White House pastry chefs opened this sunny restaurant with a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken pot pie and pralines, is French with an American accent. The magazine’s editors voted its desserts the prettiest around in 2013. ❂ J B R L D $$
Raku (Editors’ Pick)
7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, www.raku asiandining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by the magazine’s readers in 2014 and “Best Bethesda Restaurant” in 2013, this casual restaurant has bamboo walls that do little to dampen the noise, but the menu satisfies with everything from sushi to kung pao chicken. ❂ L D $$
Redwood Restaurant & Bar
7121 Bethesda Lane, 301-656-5515, www.redwood bethesda.com. An upscale wine bar featuring fresh, local food and California-centric wines in the heart of Bethesda Lane. Voted “Best Private Dining Room” by the magazine’s readers in 2013 (in a tie), Redwood features a frequently changing menu and in-season farmers market dinners. The interior décor makes the most of recycled redwood and “green” materials. ❂ JRL D $$
Rice Paddies Grill & Pho
4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddies grill.com. This cute copper-and-green eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites like pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $
Rock Bottom Brewery
7900 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1311, www.rock bottom.com. The award-winning beers are crafted in-house and the menu is vast at this cavernous yet welcoming chain. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
7315 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7877, www.ruths chris.com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happy-hour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices. D $$$
Sala Thai
4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, www.salathai dc.com. This Thai mainstay cooks the classics and offers diners a nearly panoramic view of Woodmont Avenue through huge, curved windows. Live jazz Friday and Saturday evenings. L D $$
Saphire Café
7940 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-9708. A relaxing spot for tasting everything from Maryland-style crab soup to Argentine skirt steak, Saphire pumps it up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights with drink specials and DJs. Tiki bar open Wednesdays through Saturdays. ❂ J L D $
Satsuma
8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400. satsumajp.com. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut—short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue—and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$
Shanghai Village
4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-7788. Owner Kwok Chueng prides himself on personal attention and recognizing regulars who have been stopping in for his classic Chinese cooking for more than 25 years. Order the secret recipe Mai Tai. L D $
Shangri -La Nepalese and Indian Cuisine
7345-A Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-4444, www.shangri labethesda.com. Northern Indian and Nepali
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specialties such as butter chicken and fresh flatbreads known as naan shine here. J L D $
Share Wine Lounge & Small Plate Bistro 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (in the Doubletree Hotel), 301-652-2000, www.doubletreebethesda.com/ dining.aspx. Share some buffalo chicken sliders or avocado bruschetta, or go for main courses ranging from Yankee pot roast to cedar plank-roasted salmon. B L D $$
Smoke BBQ Bethesda 4858 Cordell Ave., 301-656-2011, www.smoke bbqbethesda.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s, plus starters including smoked tomato soup, fried pickles and brisket chili, served in a friendly, casual space. Delivery available for orders over $15. J L D $
South Street Steaks 4856 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7972, www.south streetsteaks.com. Even transplanted Philadelphians will admire the cheesesteaks at this local chain’s third location. The shop also offers chicken cheesesteaks, hoagies (that’s Philly-talk for cold subs) and sandwiches called “Phillinis,” a cross between “Philly” and “panini.” J L D $
Steamers Seafood House 4820 Auburn Ave., 301-718-0661, www.steamers seafoodhouse.com. Steamers brings Bethany Beach to Bethesda, especially if diners sit on the wraparound porch in warm weather with a bucket of crabs and some beer.❂ J L D $$
Stromboli Family Restaurant
7023 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-1980, www.strombolis restaurant.com. In addition to a large selection of delectable hot Italian sandwiches called stromboli, this proud family restaurant/carryout features pizzas, subs and pastas at reasonable prices. LD$
sweetgreen
4831 Bethesda Ave.301-654-7336, sweetgreen. com. Founded in 2007 in Washington, D.C., by three newly graduated Georgetown students, the sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients—has expanded rapidly. The menu concentrates on salads (devise your own, or pick from a list) and soups, plus tart frozen yogurt. Look for eco-friendly décor, a healthy sensibility and a hip buzz. ❂ L D $
Tandoori Nights
7236 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-4002, www.tandoori nightsbethesda.com. Indian cuisine returns to the former Delhi Dhaba space. ❂ L D $$
Tara Thai
4828 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-0488, www.tarathai. com. Thai goes high style at Bethesda Magazine readers’ pick for “Best Thai Restaurant” in 2014. With colorful murals of ocean creatures looking on, diners can try dishes ranging from mild to adventurous. ❂ L D $$
Tastee Diner
7731 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-3970, www.tastee diner.com. For 80 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything
from breakfast to burgers to blue-plate specials like steak and crabcakes. Open 24 hours. J B L D$
Taylor Gourmet
7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-951-9001, www.taylor gourmet.com. Upscale takes on Philadelphia hoagies and sandwiches. Italian flavors and top-notch ingredients. L D $
The Barking Dog
4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, www.thebarkingdog online.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Salsa dancing on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesdays, karaoke on Thursdays and a DJ and dancing Fridays and Saturdays. L D $
The Burger Joint
4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, www.bgrthe burgerjoint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great at this frequently packed eatery next to Veterans Park. The non-beef burgers are good, too. ❂ J L D $
The Corner Slice
7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, www.the cornerslice.net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. ❂ L D $
Tia Queta
4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, www.tiaqueta. com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers authentic Mexican food like moles and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. ❂ J L D $$
$10 OFF your bill of $30+
1 per table, per visit. Cannot be combined. Dine-in only. Exp. 12/31/15
Classic French in Chevy Chase.
Brilliant Twists on American Cuisine
90+ Beers on Tap
301.986.5255 lafermerestaurant.com
For reservations call 301.963.6281 or visit oldtownpourhouse.com 212 Ellington Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD 20878
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dine Tommy Joe’s Restaurant
4714 Montgomery Lane, 301-654-3801, www. tommyjoes.com. Hot wings and drink specials abound at this friendly restaurant/bar/nightclub featuring 20 big-screen TVs for game time. ❂ J L D $$
Trattoria Sorrento (Editors’ Pick)
4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, www.trattoria sorrento.com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Opera dinners at 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month feature a four-course meal and a performance for $50 per person. D $$
Tyber Bierhaus
7528 Old Georgetown Road, 240-821-6830, www. tyberbierhausmd.com. Czech, German and Belgian brews served in an authentic beer-hall setting, furnished with the same benches as those used in the Hofbrau brewhouse in Munich. Pub menu features mussels, hearty sandwiches, familiar entrées, and some schnitzel and goulash, too. R L D $$
Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Café
4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, www.uncle julios.com. Loud and large, this Tex-Mex eatery packs in families and revelers fueling up on fajitas, tacos and more. Kids love to watch the tortilla machine. Voted “Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by the magazine’s readers in 2015. ❂ J R L D $$
Union Jack’s
4915 St. Elmo Ave., 301-652-2561, www.union jacksbethesda.com. This authentically decorated British-style pub is partially below street level. English dishes such as Welsh rarebit cozy up to burgers, salads and crabcakes. DJ and dancing weekends until 2:30 a.m. ❂ J L D $$
Vino Volo
7247 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-0916, www.vino volobethesdarow.com. First non-airport location for the wine bar and shop that also features a rustic café serving small plates, salads, sandwiches, pizza and a few entrées. ❂ L D $$
Wildwood Kitchen (Editors’ Pick)
10223 Old Georgetown Road (in the Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-571-1700, www.wildwood kitchenrw.com. Attractive neighborhood bistro serving fresh and light modern cuisine from wellknown chef Robert Wiedmaier. L D $$
Woodmont Grill (Editors’ Pick)
7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, www.hillstone.com. Part of the Houston’s chain, offering such classics as spinach and artichoke dip and the famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. ❂ J L D $$$
Yamas Mediterranean Grill
4806 Rugby Ave., 301-312-8384, www.yamasgrill. com. Gyros, souvlaki, lemon chicken and other Greek specialties at this friendly and sunny café. ❂JLD$
Yuzu
7345-B Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-5234, yuzu bethesda.com. Authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi and cooked tofu, vegetable, tempura, meat and fish dishes, prepared by sushi chef and owner Yoshihisa Ota. L D $$
CABIN JOHN Fish Taco
7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, www.fish tacoonline.com. This counter-service taqueria from the owners of Bethesda’s Food Wine & Co. features a full roster of seafood as well as nonaquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. The eco-chic décor is casual and attractive, and there are rolls of paper towels on every table to sop up sauce-stained fingers. Don’t miss the bread pudding. ❂ J L D $
Indigo House (New)
7945 MacArthur Blvd. (in MacArthur Plaza), 301312-6737. Sake-steamed clams, tamarind pork buns and tea-smoked duck breast are among the choices at this hip Pan-Asian eatery from Persimmon and Wild Tomato restaurateurs Damian and Stephanie Salvatore. Narrow space features striking mural and long bar that’s inviting for drinks and sushi. ❂ L D $$
Wild Tomato (Editors’ Pick)
7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, www.wild tomatorestaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted “Best Fish Tacos” by our readers in 2014. ❂ J L D $
CHEVY CHASE Alfio’s La Trattoria
4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, www.alfios.com. This Northern Italian classic located on the first floor of The Willoughby of Chevy Chase Condominium has been feeding families and casual diners for more than 30 years. Look for traditional pasta, veal and chicken dishes (plus pizza), all served in an Old World environment. J L D $$
Capital Grille
5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, www.capital grille.com. The upscale steak-house chain, known for its he-man-sized portions and extensive wine list, is located in The Shops at Wisconsin Place. L D $$$$
Clyde’s
5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, www.clydes. com. Features a frequently changing menu of American favorites and a collection of vintage airplanes and cars, as well as a model train running on a track around the ceiling. ❂ J R L D $$
La Ferme (Editors’ Pick)
7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, www.la fermerestaurant.com. This warm and charming Provence-style restaurant is a popular choice for an intimate dinner or a celebration in one of several private rooms or on the heated patio terrace. Perhaps that’s why the magazine’s readers voted it the “Most Romantic Restaurant” in 2014 and editors named it “Best Restaurant for Ambience” in 2013. Classic French cuisine from onion soup to sweetbreads. ❂ R L D $$$
Lia’s (Editors’ Pick)
4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, www.chefgeoff. com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on high-quality, low-fuss modern Italian-American fare at this funky and modern space with a wine room. Pizzas,
house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. The magazine’s readers chose it as “Best Chevy Chase Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ J R L D $
Manoli Canoli Restaurant
8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, www. manolicanoli.com. Italian and Greek specialties at a fun family eatery that features a large prepared foods section, dishes made with olive oil from owner Stavros Manolakos’ family farm in Greece and homemade mozzarella on pizza and subs. ❂ JLD$
Meiwah Restaurant
4457 Willard Ave., 301-652-9882, www.meiwah restaurant.com. This modern restaurant on the second floor of a Friendship Heights office building offers top-quality Chinese dishes that are hard to beat. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio. Sushi bar. ❂ L D $$
Potomac Pizza
19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, www.potomac pizza.com. This cheery, casual dining room provides a break from the ultra-posh shopping surrounding it. In addition to pizza, subs and pastas are popular. Beer and wine available. ❂ J L D $
Sushiko (Editors’ Pick)
5455 Wisconsin Ave., 301-961-1644, www.sushiko restaurants.com. Washington, D.C.’s oldest and most respected sushi restaurant, opened in Glover Park in 1976, continues its tradition in a bigger, sleeker suburban outpost. ❂ L D $$
Tavira
8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, www.tavira restaurant.com. Fish stews and several versions of bacalhau (salted cod) figure prominently on the menu of this intriguing Portuguese restaurant, which manages to be charming and attractive despite its location in an office building basement. L (except Saturday and Sunday) D $$
GARRETT PARK Black Market Bistro (Editors’ Pick)
4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, www.black marketrestaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. ❂ J R L D $$
GLEN ECHO Irish Inn at Glen Echo
6119 Tulane Ave., 301-229-6600, www.irishinn glenecho.com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been bringing smiles to faces and hearty food to bellies since 2003. Traditional Irish music on Monday nights and The 19th Street Band on every other Wednesday night. ❂ J R L D $$
KENSINGTON Frankly…Pizza!
10417 Armory Ave., 301-832-1065, www. frankly-pizza.com. Frank Linn turns his mobile
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pizza kitchen into a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant, featuring Amish-crafted tables, salvaged wood and an old church pew. The menu offers the same high-quality, wood-fired pies topped with home-cured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-year-old family recipe. Homemade sodas and wines served on tap, too. ❂ L D $
K Town Bistro 3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, www.ktown bistro.com. Beef Wellington, duck breast à l’orange and other classic continental dishes from this eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$
NORTH POTOMAC/ GAITHERSBURG
such as beef carbonnade and braised pork shank. Spacious, blue-accented interior and outdoor patio are conducive for drinking European beers, too. ❂ L D $$$
Buca di Beppo
Athens Grill
9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, www.athens grill.com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant in Goshen Plaza specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties like rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked behind the counter on a hardwood grill. L D $
Bonefish Grill
Savannah’s American Grill 10700 Connecticut Ave., 301-946-7917. A casual sports bar serving American bar food, including wraps, burgers, salads and ribs, and brunch on weekends, which spills out onto a 50-seat patio. ❂JRLD$
Sub*Urban Trading Co. 10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, www. suburbantrading.com. Earthy, neighborhood bistro and market in a small strip shopping center features creative seasonal dishes. Think cured duck leg sandwich with shaved onions and fig preserves, roasted sausage and rice-stuffed shallots, vegetable pot-au-feu, plus homemade sweets. Coffeehouse atmosphere in the front area; back dining room offers rustic vibe. R L D $$
82 Market St., 240-631-2401, www.bonefishgrill. com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks, crabcakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites. Bethesda Magazine readers selected it as the “Best Gaithersburg Restaurant” in 2013. R L (only on Sundays) D $$
Brasserie Beck Kentlands
311 Kentlands Blvd., 301-569-4247, brasserie beck.com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier and his RW Restaurant Group have opened the first suburban locale of their highly successful downtown restaurant. Like its District sister, the Belgian-inspired brasserie focuses on raw oysters, mussels, artisan cheeses and charcuterie, plus hearty main courses
122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, www.bucadi beppo.com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties amid a sea of Italian kitsch. J L D $$
Burma Road
617 S. Frederick Ave., 301-963-1429, www.burma road.biz. A good place to sample pickled tea leaf salad and other Burmese specialties. L D $
Coal Fire
Kentlands Square, 116 Main St., 301-519-2625, www.coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by anthracite coal and topped with your choice of three different sauces, plus toppings. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available. Full bar. ❂ L D $
Copper Canyon Grill
100 Boardwalk Place, 240-631-0003, www.ccgrill. com. Large portions of American classics like salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious chain restaurant. J L D $$
Coastal Flats
135 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-8698800, www.greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfax-based chain that owns about a dozen res-
Sponsorships
Companies Caring Breakfast Don’t miss our 18th Annual Companies Caring Breakfast, which fills the room with 300 corporate and government leaders, foundation representatives, and community partners who gather to celebrate our partnership to combat poverty and hunger in Montgomery County. At the breakfast, we will present the new Corporate Partnership Award, the Legacy of Leadership Award and the Humanitarian of the Year Award. Interfaith Works CEO Shane Rock will present “The State of the Safety Net.”
Sponsorship, ticket and awards fund information available:
http://www.iworksmc.org/event/ccb15
Champion: $25,000 Benefactor: $10,000 Patron: $5,000 Sponsor: $3,000 Partner: $1,500 Tables: $1,250 Individual Seats: $125
Tu e s d a y , March 24 7:30-9:30 am Be th e sd a N o r t h M a r r io tt Hot e l & Co n f e r e n ce C e n t e r M a r in e lli Ro a d , No r th Be th e s d a
Contact Nichole Land for more information: nland@iworksmc.org | 301.315.1096 www.iworksmc.org | 114 W. Montgomery Ave. Rockville, MD 20850 | 301.762.8682
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dine taurants in Northern Virginia, including Sweetwater Tavern, Artie’s, Jackson’s, and two other Coastal Flats. Seaside-inspired décor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served.❂ J L D $$
Dogfish Head Alehouse 800 W. Diamond Ave., 301-963-4847, www.dogfish alehouse.com. The first Maryland outpost of the popular Rehoboth Beach brewpub, the restaurant is packed with revelers and families clamoring for the Dogfish Head brews, burgers, pizzas and ribs. ❂ J L D $$
Growler’s 227 E. Diamond Ave., 301-519-9400, www.growlers restaurant.com. This turn-of-the-century building in downtown Gaithersburg is now a brewpub with regular and seasonal house brews and a full menu including pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and entrées such as Cajun rigatoni and steak frites. Live music Wednesday through Saturday. ❂ R L D $
Guapo’s Restaurant 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17, 301-977-5655, www.guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JRLD$
HaKuBa Restaurant 706 Center Point Way, 301-947-1283, hakuba kentlands.com. An elegant, modern Japanese sushi spot that also serves fresh fish and teriyaki and tempura dishes. Wood stools and a silver bar elevate the décor. Dollar-sushi happy hours Mon-
day through Thursday; sake bottles half-price on Mondays. L D $$
Il Porto Restaurant
245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, www.il portorestaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thincrust pizza at a friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. L D $
Joe’s Crab Shack
221 Rio Blvd., 301-947-4377, www.joescrabshack. com. This is one of three Maryland locations of the chain, which offers blue crabs from April through August and other varieties year-round, as well as chicken and burgers for landlubbers. Popular with families and young couples. ❂ J L D $$
Le Palais
304 Main St., Suite 1, 301-947-4051, www. restaurantlepalais.com. Chef-owner Joseph Zaka trips lightly through the dishes of Brittany and Burgundy, adding a modern twist here and there. D $$$
Not Your Average Joe’s
245 Kentlands Blvd. (in Kentlands Square Shopping Center), 240-477-1040, www.notyouraverage joes.com. Massachusetts-based chain serving creative casual cuisine. ❂ J L D $$
Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar
11333 Woodglen Drive, 301-816-1100, www. paladarlatinkitchen.com. This small Clevelandbased chain covers the spectrum of Latin cuisine, with dishes from Cuba, the Caribbean and Central
and South America. From Brazil, there’s feijoada stew; from Cuba, ropa vieja; and from Jamaica, curry shrimp and jerk chicken. The extensive bar selection includes 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos, plus sangria, margaritas and specialty cocktails.❂ J R L D $$
Potomac Pizza
625 Center Point Way, 301-977-9777, www.potomac pizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $
Quincy’s Bar & Grille
616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200, quincys bar.com. Energetic neighborhood pub with a sports bar atmosphere, Quincy’s also has an extensive menu with wings, pizza, build-your-own burgers and chicken sandwiches, plus entrées including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $
Red Hot & Blue
16811 Crabbs Branch Way, 301-948-7333, www. redhotandblue.com. Hickory-smoked barbecue and a Southern attitude at a chain popular for its office party takeout and its family-friendly, kitschy roadhouse décor. J L D $
Rio Grande Café
231 Rio Blvd., 240-632-2150, www.unclejulios. com. See Bethesda listing under Uncle Julio’s. ❂ J R L D $$
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
211 Rio Blvd., 301-963-5003, www.macaronigrill. com. Standard Italian-American fare served in a lively, family-friendly setting. Pastas, pizzas and house-label wine. ❂ J L D $$
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
LIVE WITHOUT REGRET. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LAUGHTER. ENJOY YOUR STEAK ON A 500º SIZZLING PLATE.
106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, www.ruthschris.com. With more than 9,000 square feet, this location of the world’s largest upscale steak house chain offers the same prime steaks, barbecued shrimp, specialty cocktails and dark elegance offered at the company’s other 130plus restaurants. Same “Sizzle, Swizzle and Swirl” Happy Hour, too, this one served in a larger bar and lounge. D $$$
Sardi’s Pollo a La Brasa
430 N. Frederick Ave., 301-977-3222, www.sardis chicken.com. Yes, there’s chicken, but don’t miss the other Peruvian specialties, especially the ceviche. LD$
Tandoori Nights
Announcing a new Ruth’s Chris nearby!
106 Market St., 301-947-4007, www.tandoori nightsmd.com. Downtown martini lounge meets modern curry palace in the Kentlands. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, Tandoori Nights specializes in marinated meats baked in the eponymous clay oven. ❂ L D $
Tara Thai
9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9, 301-947-8330, www.tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$
Thai Tanium
657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, www.thai taniumrestaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. ❂JLD$
The Melting Pot Gaithersburg | 301.990.1926 | 106 Crown Park Ave. Bethesda | Washington DC (2) | Arlington | Tyson’s Corner | Fairfax
9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, www.the meltingpot.com. There’s nothing like dipping bits of bread, vegetables and apples into a communal pot of hot cheese to get a date or a party started. The Melting Pot chain also offers wine, oil or
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broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$
The Wine Harvest, The Kentlands 114 Market St., 301-869-4008, www.thewine harvest.com. Popular Cheers-like wine bar locally owned by the Meyrowitz family, with salads, sandwiches and cheese plates. It also has a Potomac location. ❂ L D $
Vasilis Mediterranean Grill 353 Main St., 301-977-1011, www.vasilisgrill.com. With soaring white pillars and a spate of inviting outdoor tables, the Greek restaurant serves the usual souvlaki and gyros as well as more interesting dishes such as grilled branzini (sea bass) and lamb chops. ❂ J L D $
Yoyogi Sushi 328 Main St., 301-963-0001. A no-nonsense neighborhood sushi place with bright fish tanks, offering the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura and green tea or red bean ice cream. L D $
Ziki Japanese Steak House 10009 Fields Road, 301-330-3868, www.zikisteak house.com. This large steak house on a busy corner charms patrons with its fountains, stone Buddhas and geisha mannequins. Food offerings include sushi, as well as meats cooked on a tableside hibachi. J L D $$
POTOMAC Amici Miei 1093 Seven Locks Road, 301-545-0966, www.amici mieiristorante.com. Chef Davide Megna and manager/partner Roberto Deias have created an upscale Italian neighborhood gathering place, with wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and creative salads. Happy Hour held Monday through Friday. ❂ R L D $$
Attman’s Delicatessen 7913 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-765-3354, attmansdeli. com. After getting its start on Baltimore’s Corned Beef Row in 1915, the landmark Attman’s Deli made an historic move and opened a second location in Potomac in July 2013. The menu at the nearly century-younger sibling offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Third-generation owner Marc Attman is at the helm. J L $
Benny’s Bar & Grill 7747 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-299-3377. www.ben nysbargrill.com. Familiar American favorites and old-time cocktails served amidst 1940s-era décor. L D $$
Brooklyn’s Deli & Catering 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, www. brooklynsdelimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. ❂ J B L D $
Elevation Burger 12525-D Park Potomac Ave., 301-838-4010, www. elevationburger.com. Fast-food burgers go organic and grass-fed at this Northern Virginia-founded chain. Veggie burgers, salads and grilled cheese available, too. ❂ L D $
Gregorio’s Trattoria
7745 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center), 301-296-6168, www.gregorios trattoria.com. “Our food is like a warm hug with spaghetti sauce” is the slogan for this familyowned restaurant, where proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home. The extensive menu reads like a hit parade of traditional Italian favorites, with all the familiar pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa spaghetti and penne. J L D $$
Mix Bar and Grille
9812 Falls Road, Potomac, 301-299-3000, www. mixbarandgrille.com. The former Bezu restaurant has been transformed into a more casual concept, serving charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads and other light fare. The space was gutted and renovated into a modern, hip and totally different-looking dining room, with Plexiglas chairs, tall white banquettes, oak walls made from old whiskey barrels, five big screen TVs, cobalt blue light fixtures and a 20-seat bar. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. L D $$
KOREAN DINING COVERED PATIO SITTING AREA
KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN
AND DRINKS
HAPPY HOUR & LATE NITE SPECIALS EVERYDAY
MoCo’s Founding Farmers
12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, www.we arefoundingfarmers.com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown Founding Farmers. Bethesda Magazine readers chose it as “Best Restaurant in Montgomery County” and for “Most Inventive Cocktails” in 2015 and as “Best Potomac Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ B R L D $$
4862 Cordell Ave Bethesda MD 20814 (240)483-0801 www.momofc.com www.facebook.com/momomanias
Normandie Farm Restaurant
10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, www.popovers. com. A fine-dining French restaurant, open since 1931, that strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. It offers quick service and crayons for children, a casual café option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$
Old Angler’s Inn
10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-299-9097, www.old anglersinn.com. Open since 1860 and known for its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. ❂ R L D $$$
the
grilled oyster co.
Potomac Pizza
9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, www.potomac pizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $
Renato’s at River Falls
10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, www.riverfalls market.com. The classic Italian restaurant has added more wine and greatly improved fish dishes to its menu of pastas and classics such as osso bucco and linguini with clams and eggplant parmigiana. ❂ J L D $$
Sugo Osteria & Pizzeria
12505 Park Potomac Ave., 240-386-8080, www. eatsugo.com. The Greek guys who own Cava Mezze and Cava Mezze Grills partner with Mamma Lucia restaurants to serve Italian small plates, meatballs, sliders, pizza and pasta. Bethesda Magazine readers chose Sugo as the “Best New Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ R (only on Sundays) L D $$
Tally-Ho Restaurant
9923 Falls Road, 301-299-6825, www.tallyho restaurant.com. A local fixture since 1968 serving a diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. ❂ J B L D $
The Grilled Oyster Company is a regionally inspired fresh seafood & raw bar 7943 Tuckerman Ln. Potomac, Md 20854 TheGrilledOysterCompany.com
301-299-9888
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etc.
Bethesda Row’s Calypso St. Barth is a luxury resort-wear boutique.
shopping guide
Where to find locally-owned clothing and gift boutiques By Cynthia Hacinli
American Classic Clothes If you can’t find what you’re looking for in this traditional children’s clothing shop, they can make it for you. Among the treasures here: classic smocked cotton rompers and party dresses, hand-knit sweaters and booties, delicate blouses and fun pj’s, and hand-sewn vests and dress pants. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-365-7740, www.americanclassicclothes.com Amethyst A lavender-walled, jewel box of a shop, Amethyst offers classic and modern fine jewelry created by new and emerging designers, including Bethesda native Mauri Pioppo, Karina Salum, and the store’s owner, Amy Hugo. A goldsmith provides custom work and repairs. Bethesda Row, 4808 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-907-6871, www.shopamethyst.com Belina Boutique Owners Betty Barati and Sherri Hatam dress women of all ages in designers such
as Splendid, Ecru, Joie, Ella Moss and SW3 Bespoke. Finish the look with accessories by Margaret Elizabeth and Gorjana. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-2929, www.belinaboutique.com Beyda’s Lad & Lassie This shop offers classic, upscale dressy and everyday clothing for infants, girls and boys by labels such as Kissy Kissy, Bella Bliss and Florence Eiseman, as well as uniforms for local schools. There are also pajamas, swimwear and accessories. 5444 Westbard Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-2026 Blanca Flor This small shop lures in customers with glass cases full of sterling silver jewelry that owner Rigel Garcia collects from Mexico, Greece, Poland and the United States. Pieces include a changing selection of offbeat bracelets, earrings and necklaces at a wide range of prices. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10231 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-6313, www.blancaflorofbethesda.com
Calypso St. Barth Launched in St. Barth in 1992 as a luxury resort-wear boutique, Calypso St. Barth now sells its feminine, boho-chic fashions in Bethesda Row. The store carries its namesake collection as well as a carefully curated selection of pieces from international designers—you’ll find dip-dyed caftans, luxe cashmere sweaters and fun animal prints. The shop also sells fragrances as well as rugs, pillows and throws. Bethesda Row, 4810 Bethesda Row, 301-652-1219, www.calypsostbarth.com Claire Dratch Locally owned since 1946, Claire Dratch is where women go when they want to say yes to the dress. Proms, bat mitzvahs, and weddings are all covered here. The store prides itself on personal service, alterations and customized clothing. 7615 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-8000, www.clairedratch.net Current Boutique Designer labels abound at this local consignment boutique that sells online as well as at its brick-and-mortar shops in Bethes-
Photo Courtesy of Calypso st. Barth
BETHESDA
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TAVIRA Il Pizzico
15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, www.il pizzico.com. Setting aside the strip mall location and lack of pizza (il pizzico means “the pinch” in Italian), chef-owner Enzo Livia’s house-made pasta dishes, gracious service and extensive wine list make even a weeknight meal feel special. L D $$
Joe’s Noodle House
1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, www.joes noodlehouse.com. Despite the bare-bones service and dingy interior, Chinese ex-pats and many other customers consider the Szechuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $
La Brasa Latin Cuisine
12401 Parklawn Drive, 301-468-8850, www.labrasa rockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa. Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and Tres Leches. ❂ L D $
La Canela (Editors’ Pick)
141-D Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301251-1550, www.lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy black ironwork. ❂LD$
La Limeña Restaurant
765 Rockville Pike, 301-424-8066. Diners can choose dishes such as beef hearts, tripe and homemade pastries in this tiny but well-appointed eatery. And of course, there’s rotisserie chicken to go. L D $
La Tasca
141 Gibbs St., Suite 305, Rockville Town Square, 301-279-7011, www.latascausa.com. The Rockville location of this regional chain strives to keep things interesting with 45 tapas dishes and six kinds of paella. ❂ J L D $$
Lebanese Taverna Café
1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086; 115 Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301-309-8681; www. lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner after shopping at Congressional Plaza or Rockville Town Square, Lebanese Taverna Café is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. J L D $
Lighthouse Tofu & BBQ
12710 Twinbrook Parkway, 301-881-1178. In addition to numerous tofu dishes, diners at this Korean stalwart can try barbecue, stir-fried specialties and kimchee, the national dish of pickled cabbage. L D $
Mamma Lucia
12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; www.mamma luciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$
Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro
(Editors’ Pick) 1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, www.match boxrockville.com. Mini-burgers and thin-crusted pizza in a super-cool space in Congressional Plaza. ❂ J R L D $
MemSahib
4840 Boiling Brook Parkway, 301-468-0098, www. memsahibrestaurant.com. Patrons eat the Indian
country way, with their hands. MemSahib offers a buffet lunch and a six-course prix fixe dinner while belly dancers entertain customers. L D $$
Michael’s Noodles
10038 Darnestown Road, 301-738-0370, www. michaelsnoodles.com. Extensive Taiwanese menu at this popular strip mall eatery includes dim sum, mixed noodle dishes, noodle soup and unusual specialties. L D $
Mi Rancho
1488 Rockville Pike, 240-221-2636, www.mi ranchotexmexrestaurant.com. A boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place serving standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. ❂ J L D $
Portugese & Mediterranean Cuisine Prefix Menu*
3 Course Meal $25 Dinner $15 Lunch Sunday-Thursday
Tasting of Portugal *
3 Course Meal $33 Dinner $20 Lunch 7 Days a Week • Open Table Diners' Choice Winner 2014 •
Fine Dining •
Moa
Private Dining
12300 Wilkins Ave., 301-881-8880. moakore anrestaurant.weebly.com. A welcoming Korean restaurant in the midst of an industrial stretch. Try the seafood pancake appetizer—a satisfying, crispy frittata bursting with squid, clams, shrimp and scallions. L D $
• Parties & Events • Live Entertainment
Mosaic Cuisine & Café
186 Halpine Road, 301-468-0682, www.mosaic cuisine.com. A diner with a soft European accent. Try the fresh Belgian waffles for breakfast. For those with hefty appetites, the waffle sandwiches are worth the trip, but don’t overlook the homemade soups or light dinner entrées. J B R L D$
Conveniently located with free parking Call for reservations 301-652-8684 8401 Connecticut Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 * Restrictions Apply
Mykonos Grill
121 Congressional Lane, 301-770-5999, www. mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ J L D $$
Nagoya Sushi Japanese Restaurant
402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm. L D $$
Nantucket’s Reef
9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301-2797333, www.nantucketsreef.com. Located in the former Stella’s restaurant, this casual New England-style eatery offers a wide range of reasonably priced seafood dishes, including raw and baked oysters, stuffed cod, fried Ipswitch clams, fish and shrimp tacos, tuna and salmon salads, and several lobster items. The décor is bright and nautical. Signature cocktails are made with Nantucket Nectars juices. ❂ J L D $$
Good Comfort Food at our Friendly Neighborhood Restaurant A Place to Relax and Enjoy with Friends and Family Business Meetings • Social Events • Private Event Rooms • Daily Specials • Free Parking Established in 1978 10123 River Road, Potomac 301.299.9300 www.thehuntersinn.com
Nick’s Chophouse
700 King Farm Blvd., 301-926-8869, www.nicks chophouserockville.com. Aged Angus beef cooked over an open fire is the specialty at this upscale spot, but seafood lovers can get their fill from big crabcakes. Separate bar menu. ❂ J L D $$
Niwano Hana Japanese Restaurant
887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, www.niwano hana.com. Clean Asian décor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. Niwano Hana serves the usual sushi rolls, plus more creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori, as well as a special crêpe for dessert. L D $$
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dine Old Kimura Sushi
785 Rockville Pike, Unit D, 301-251-1922, www. oldkimura.com. A small restaurant serving an extensive sushi menu, along with noodle soups, rice dishes and tempura. L D $$
Original Pancake House
12224 Rockville Pike, 301-468-0886, www.oph restaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. J R L $
Pho 75
771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. One of the Washington area’s favorite spots for the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as pho. Soup can be customized with bean sprouts, Thai basil, chilies, lime, and hot and hoisin sauces. L D $
Pho 95
785-H Rockville Pike, 301-294-9391. Pho, the Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is king here. Other offerings include fat rice-paper rolls of shrimp, noodles and herbs with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. L D $
Pho Hoa Binh
11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576. www.pho hoa.com. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrées. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $
dotting the Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes. ❂ JLD$
Sam’s Café & Market
844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, www.samcafe market.com. After filling up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats, have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ J L D $
Seasons 52 (Editors’ Pick)
11414 Rockville Pike, 301-984-5252, www.seasons 52.com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Nightly piano music. Voted “Best Rockville Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ L D $$
Seven Seas Chinese Restaurant
1776 East Jefferson St., 301-770-5020, www.seven seasrestaurant.com. An elegant restaurant popular with politicians and local chefs and known for its fresh seafood and impeccable service. Specials include the paper hot pot, meals using ancient Chinese herbs and afternoon tea. Sushi, too. J L D $
Sheba Restaurant
5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-8882, www.sheba rockville.com. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. L D $
Taipei Tokyo 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301-881-8388; www.taipei-tokyo.net. These sister restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. Opened in 2003, the Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993 across from White Flint Mall, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$
Tara Asia 199-D E. Montgomery Ave., 301-315-8008. www. taraasiarestaurantrockville.com. A pan-Asian offshoot of the Tara Thai family, dominated by a floor-to-ceiling mosaic and an 82-item menu that spans the cuisine from Japan to Thailand and the tiny islands in between. ❂ J L D $$
Tara Thai 12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, www.tarathai. com.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$
Ted’s 355 Diner 895 Rockville Pike, 301-340-0088, www.teds355. com. The former Broadway and Hollywood diners get reincarnated again, this time by Virginia pizza restaurateur Ted Thedorou. J B R L D $$
Pho Nom Nom
Sichuan Jin River
Temari Café
Pizza CS
Silver Diner
Thai Farm
842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, www.phonom nom.net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. L D $ 1596-B Rockville Pike, 240-833-8090, www.pizza cs.com. Authentic Neapolitan pies offered in a sub-shop atmosphere. ❂ J L D $
Potomac Pizza
9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, www. potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. ❂ JLD$
Quench
9712 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-424-8650, www. quenchnation.com. Urban bar scene in the suburbs, with unique cocktails and contemporary American cuisine. ❂ J R L D $$
Quincy’s South Bar & Grille
11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincys bar.com. See North Potomac/Gaithersburg listing. ❂LD$
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company
891-A Rockville Pike, 240-268-1120, www. rocklands.com. John Snedden has perfected the art of barbecue since he first opened Rocklands in Washington, D.C., in 1990. This location serves allAmerican pork ribs, smoked chicken, brisket and lamb cooked exclusively over red oak and hickory. ❂ JLD$
Rolls ‘N Rice
1701 Rockville Pike (Shops at Congressional Village), 301-770-4030, www.rollsnrice.com. This Asian café serves more than 25 varieties of rolls, from a volcano roll (spicy tuna, white fish, salmon, tomato, jalapeno, fish eggs and vegetables) to a Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado). J L D $
Sadaf Halal Restaurant
1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places
410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, www.scjin river.com. Terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a nofrills setting. Take the plunge with the authentic Chinese menu. L D $ 12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, www.silver diner.com. Shiny new digs replace the local chain’s first location a few traffic lights away. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. JBRLD$
Spice Xing
100-B Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301-6100303, www.spicexing.com. Started by Sudhir Seth, chef and owner of Bethesda’s Passage to India, this location offers lower prices, smaller plates and dishes reflecting the history of culinary influences on India. ❂ J R L D $$
Super Bowl Noodle
785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086. www.super bowlnoodlehouse.com. Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions. ❂ L D $
Sushi Damo
36-G Maryland Ave., Rockville Town Square, 301340-8010, www.sushidamo.com. A slice of New York sophistication, this elegant restaurant offers sushi à la carte or omakase, chef’s choice, plus beef and seafood entrées and an impressive sake list. L D $$
Sushi House Japanese Restaurant
1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043. A tiny, plain restaurant serving fresh sushi. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$
Sushi Oishii
9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-251-1177, www. sushioishii.com. Charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offering friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items. ❂ L D $$
1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$ 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, www.thai farmrestaurant.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$
Thai Pavilion 29 Maryland Ave., Unit 308, Rockville Town Square, 301-545-0244, www.thaipavilionrestaurant.com. The soaring ceilings decorated with red chandeliers shaped like giant, stationary spinning tops give the feel of a modern museum. When the menu says spicy, believe it. ❂ J L D $$
That’s Amore 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, www. thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on family-style portions of classic Neapolitan dishes like lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$
The Dough Roller 403 Redland Blvd., #3160, (in the King Farm Village Center), 301-869-4584, www.doughroller restaurants.com. Grab a pizza slice and dream of boardwalk breezes at the first inland outpost of Ocean City’s popular pizza and pancake chainlet. In addition to pizza, this locale features most of the sandwiches, burgers and other items, including pancakes served all day, on the menus at the four Ocean City locations. J B R L D $
The Original Ambrosia Restaurant 12015 Rockville Pike, 301-881-3636, www.theo riginalambrosia.com. When Ambrosia Restaurant lost its lease after 30 years, the original employees opened this location, which features an eclectic menu of breakfast, gyros, pizza, crabcakes and soups. J B L D $
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The Potomac Grill
1093 Rockville Pike, 301-738-8181, www.the potomacgrill.com. A spacious, nautical-themed restaurant with a fireplace, Potomac Grill specializes in seafood but also features serious steaks, burgers and salads. Look for daily specials featuring a catch of the day and several desserts of the day. J R L D $$
Timpano Italian Chophouse
12021 Rockville Pike, 301-881-6939, www.timpano chophouse.net. A chain steak house with an Italian accent, Timpano is a favorite of wheeler-dealer business lunchers and nighttime diners looking for a high-quality steak or well-prepared pasta. ❂ J R L D $$$
Tower Oaks Lodge
2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, www.clydes. com/tower. The Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish. J R L D $$
Trapezaria
11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, thetrapezaria. com. Down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/Mediterranean restaurant dishes out top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrées. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages, simple broiled items, and more-involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$
Urban Bar-B -Que Company
2007 Chapman Ave., 240-290-4827, www.ilove ubq.com. Urban Bar-B-Que Company, a tiny joint run by a couple of local friends with a winning formula, features finger-licking ribs, burgers and wings and a friendly staff. J L D $
Urban Burger Company
5566 Norbeck Road, 301-460-0050, www.ilove ubq.com. Urban Bar-B-Que’s Black Angus burgers were so popular, its owners decided to open another location in 2007. The full-service restaurant also offers killer fries, salads and wings. ❂ J L D $
Villa Maya
5532 Norbeck Road (in the Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247, www.villamayarestaurant. com. Traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex food for the whole family. ❂ J R L D $$
Woodside Deli
4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, www.the woodsidedeli.com. A second location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that has been dishing up matzo ball soup since 1947. This one has a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $
Yekta
1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-0005, www.yekta. com. Persian cuisine served in a beautiful dining room. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kebab. L D $$
Yuan Fu Vegetarian
798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, www.yuanfu vegetarian.com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese vegetable products. L D $
Silver Spring 8407 Kitchen Bar
8407 Ramsey Ave., 301-587-8407, 8407kb.com. This sleek space across from the Silver Spring
Metro prides itself on stellar service and fromscratch preparations, such as house-smoked salmon and home-cured charcuterie. It tied for “Best Silver Spring Restaurant” in 2013. J R L D $$
Addis Ababa 8233 Fenton St., 301-589-1400 or 301-589-1999. Authentic Ethiopian-style vegetables and fiery meats served atop spongy bread in communal bowls. Traditional woven tables and a roof deck add to the ambience. ❂ R L D $
Adega Wine Cellars & Café 8519 Fenton St., 301-608-2200, www.adegawine cellars.com. This light and bright blond wood dining room serves creative sandwiches and allows customers to choose from a small selection of wines by the bottle to take home. A fine place to stop for lunch, if only to try the eggplant fries. ❂ LD$
Asian Bistro Café 8537 Georgia Ave., 301-589-0123, www.asian bistrocafe.com. A bevy of choices, from Japanese sushi to Chinese noodles and vegetarian dishes. LD$
Austin Grill 919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, www.austin grill.com. Fun and friendly service welcomes families and couples to this noisy, colorful Tex-Mex favorite. ❂ J R L D $$
Azúcar Restaurant Bar & Grill 14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucar restaurantmd.com. The name means sugar, and it fits. A colorful Salvadoran spot decorated in bright purple and orange with Cubist-style paintings. The pork-stuffed corn pupusas are stars. Also look for more elegant dinners, including fried whole trout. L D $$
TAKO GRILL
WILL BE MOVING!! Tako Grill will be open for it's last day on February 21, 2015. We will be moving to a new location in Bethesda and reopen in March. Our address for the new location is 4914 Hampden Ln. Bethesda MD, 20814. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we hope to see everyone at our brand new space! 7756 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814-3522 (301) 652-7030
www.takogrill.com
Blair Mansion Inn 7711 Eastern Ave., 301-588-1688, www.blair mansion.com. The graciously restored, 19th-century mansion (formerly the residence of Abigail and Charles Newman) is best known for its participatory mystery dinner theater shows, but it also serves dinner à la carte for private events. J L D $$
Bombay Gaylord 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-565-2528, www.bombay gaylordsilverspring.com. A neighborhood favorite serving respectable Indian fare for years. Lunch buffet. ❂ L D $
Copper Canyon Grill 928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-589-1330, www.ccgrill. com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$
Crisfield Seafood Restaurant 8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306. www.cris fieldseafood.com. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oyster-plate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. J L D $$
Cubano’s 1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, www.cubanos restaurant.com. The brightly colored tropical dining room of greens, blues and reds and the authentic Cuban cooking evident in dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains keep customers coming back. ❂ J L D $$
Normandie Farm Prix Fixe 3 Course Menu $28.00
Sunday –Thursday Evenings 301.983.8838 popovers.com
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dine Da Marco Ristorante Italiano
8662 Colesville Road, 301-588-6999, www.damarco restaurant.com. This full-service restaurant has been a fixture in Silver Spring for years, with an intimate ambience for classic Italian pasta suppers. J L D $$
Denizen’s Brewing Co.
1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizens brewingco.com. The bright-orange building on East West Highway houses Montgomery County’s largest brewery, featuring core beers and seasonal offerings, along with drafts from other regional breweries. As for the grub, the former BBQ Bus food truck goes brick-and-mortar, with sandwiches, picnic plates, chili and four sauces. Large outdoor beer garden and indoor seating that overlooks the brewery is conducive for celebrations and private events. ❂ D $
Eggspectation
923 Ellsworth Drive, 301-585-1700, www. eggspectations.com. This Canadian import features fresh and creative egg plates in an elegant yet casual dining room complete with a fireplace and colorful Harlequin-themed art. It also serves great salads and dinners. ❂ J B L D $$
El Aguila Restaurant
8649 16th St., 301-588-9063, www.elaguila restaurant.com. A cheery bar and generous plates of Tex-Mex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this popular with families and others looking for a lively night out. ❂ JL$
El Gavilan
8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197. gavilanrestau rant.com. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or porkfilled pupusas. Live music on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. J L D $
El Golfo
Langano Ethiopian Restaurant
8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841. An out-of-theway crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. B L D $
Fire Station 1 Restaurant & Brewing Co.
8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, www.fire station1.com. A historic firehouse has been given a makeover as an eatery serving 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. J R L D $
Jackie’s Restaurant (Editors’ Pick)
8081 Georgia Ave., 301-565-9700, www.jackies restaurant.com. This lovable eatery serves modern American cuisine in a former-auto-repair-shopgone-1960s-hot-pink. The Sidebar is a cocktail lounge; Jackie’s Back Room has live music and private parties. The restaurant tied for “Best Silver Spring Restaurant” in 2013. R D $$
Jewel of India
10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, www. jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant décor and top-notch northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find. ❂ L D $$
Kao Thai
8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, www.kaothai restaurant.com. This recently expanded restaurant turns out top-notch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce. ❂ L D $$
La Casita Pupuseria & Market
8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, www.la casitapupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $
LacoMelza Ethiopian Cafe
7912 Georgia Ave., 301-326-2435. Traditional Ethiopian cuisine served in a modern and attractive setting. J R L D $
La Malinche
8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, www.la malinchetapas.com. Interesting selection of Spanish and Mexican tapas, plus a full Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring huevos rancheros, variations of tortillas Espanola and more. R L D $$
m a r ke tp l ac e
8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolfo restaurant.com. Friendly, home-style Latin service is the hallmark, as attested to by the many Salvadorans who stop in for lunch and dinner. Pupusas, soups and beef dishes such as carne asada as well as more adventurous choices can be found in the charming, raspberry-colored dining room. ❂ JRLD$
Fenton Café
8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700. Named for the popular Ethiopian vacation spot, Lake Langano, this longtime restaurant offers fine Ethiopian cuisine such as doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and tibs (stewed meat) in a cozy white- and red-accented dining room. Lunch specials on weekdays. LD$
Lebanese Taverna Café
933 Ellsworth Drive, 301-588-1192, www.lebanese taverna.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ J L D $
Mamma Lucia
1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, www. mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $$
Mandalay Restaurant & Café
930 Bonifant St., 301-585-0500, www.mandalay restaurantcafe.com. The modest dining room is packed most evenings with families and large groups who come for the Burmese food, a cross between Indian and Thai. L D $
McGinty’s Public House
911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, www.mcgintys publichouse.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. Early-bird special, three-course menu for $15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Happy Hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. ❂ J R L D $$
Mi Rancho
8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, www.mirancho texmexrestaurant.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ JLD$
Mrs. K’s Restaurant
9201 Colesville Road, 301-589-3500, www.mrsks. com. An elegant, antique-filled option for special occasions and sublime Sunday brunch. This historic restaurant beckons a younger crowd with the Wine Press, a European-style wine bar downstairs, which has its own more casual menu. ❂ J R L D $$$
Nainai’s Noodle & Dumpling Bar
1200 East West Highway, 301-585-6678, www. nainaisnoodles.com. Sisters Joanne and Julie Liu serve homemade noodles and dumplings in this lovable fast-casual eatery that shares kitchen space with their Scion restaurant next door. Focus on the noodles, and bring a picture of your “Nainai” (grandmother in Chinese) to tack on the bulletin board. L D $
Veterinary Holistic Care Offering Holistic and Conventional Care including: Full range diagnostics Routine Wellness Visits Illness Care • Acupuncture Reiki • Homeopathy • Massage Chiropractic • Herbs Vaccination and Nutritional Counseling Routine surgery and dentistry 4820 Moorland Lane, Bethesda MD 301.656.2882 | www.vhcdoc.com
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Bacchus of Lebanon Olazzo
8235 Georgia Ave., 301-588-2540, www.olazzo. com. The Silver Spring location of the Bethesda restaurant draws crowds to its dark and intimate space with classic Italian-American fare and Tuesday martini specials. ❂ J L D $
Oriental East Restaurant
1312 East West Highway, 301-608-0030, www. orientaleast.com. Be prepared to wait for a table and maneuver around carts filled with dumplings, noodles and spare ribs at this popular dim sum restaurant that caters to families and groups on weekends. Chinese standards for dinner, plus tripe and jellyfish. L D $
Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria (Editors’ Pick) 8113 Georgia Ave., 301-588-1011, www.paccis pizzeria.com. This stylish eatery turns out topnotch pizzas from a wood-burning oven. ❂ J (upon request) L D $
Pacci’s Trattoria & Pasticceria
6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccistrat toria. com. Classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage, from the owner of Pacci’s Pizzeria, also in Silver Spring. L D $$
Parkway Deli & Restaurant
8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, www.theparkway deli.com. Voted “Best Deli” for 2014 by Bethesda Magazine readers, Parkway features a bustling back dining room, around for decades, that makes this popular spot so much more than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. Allyou-can-eat pickle bar. ❂ B L D $
Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza
962 Wayne Ave., 301-588-7383, www.petesa pizza.com. Sporting more stylish décor than its other locations (see Upper NW D.C.), Pete’s fourth and latest restaurant offers the same crunchycrusted New Haven-style pizzas, plus pasta, panini and salads. This branch is the only one so far to offer fried calamari. J L D $
Pho Hiep Hoa
921-G Ellsworth Drive, 301-588-5808, phohiep hoa.com. Seventeen kinds of Vietnamese soup called pho can be customized to taste in this upbeat restaurant overlooking the action in the downtown area. L D $
Piratz Tavern
8402 Georgia Ave., 301-588-9001, www.piratz tavern.com. Decorated to the hilt with scabbards, skeletons and booty, this pirate-themed tavern opened by husband-and-wife graphic artists offers frequent live entertainment and a secluded back terrace. ❂ J L D $
Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia Ave., 301-587-8350, www.quarry housetavern.com. A great dive that serves organic burgers and dozens of beers; frequent live music. D$
Samantha’s
631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, saman thasrestaurante.com. This white-tablecloth, LatinSalvadoran spot in an industrial neighborhood is popular because of its welcoming attitude toward families with young children. The steak and fish specialties are good. L D $$
Scion
1200 East West Highway, 301-585-8878, www. scionrestaurant.com. A contemporary American eatery from sisters Joanne and Julie Liu, who also
own a popular Dupont Circle restaurant with the same name and Nainai’s Noodle & Dumpling Bar in Silver Spring. Look for everything from wasabi Caesar salad to lobster reuben to spicy yogurt chicken. R L D $$
Sergio’s Ristorante Italiano
8727 Colesville Road, 301-585-1040. A classic red-sauce Italian restaurant that manages to feel special, with soothing wall murals and high-quality service, despite a basement location inside the Double Tree Hotel. Ravioli with asparagus and cheese in a tarragon sauce is popular. L D $$
WINTER SPECIAL $20 two course meal Sunday to Thursday Until April 30 7945 Norfolk Avenue Bethesda, MD 301.657.1722 www.bacchusoflebanon.com
Sushi Jin NEXT DOOR
8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, www.sushijin nextdoor.com. Spare, clean and modern, with terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. L D $$
sweetgreen
8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, www.sweet green.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $
Tastee Diner
8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, www.tastee diner.com. A 1930s-era lowbrow classic open 24 hours and featuring friendly service and typical diner food. ❂ J B L D $
Thai at Silver Spring
921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-650-0666, www.thai atsilverspring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. ❂ L D $$
4865 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda 301-986-9592
www.grapeseedbistro.com
Unrivaled Italian Tradition and Authenticity
Sorrento trattoria
4930 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda 301-718-0344 www.trattoriasorrento.com
Thai Derm
939 Bonifant St., 301-589-5341, www.thaiderm usa.com. This local favorite serves home-style Thai food in a pleasantly modest dining room off a quiet street near downtown. The large menu includes noodle dishes like pad Thai and savorysweet salads. Lunch specials daily. ❂ L D $
The Big Greek Café
8223 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, www.biggreek cafe.com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, whose family operated the decades-old Golden Flame restaurant, the café serves a hit parade of Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. ❂ J L D $
The Classics (Editors’ Pick)
8606 Colesville Road, 301-588-7297, www.the classicsdc.com. The restaurant features great steaks and seafood served without the pomp in a basic white dining room. Serious drinks and fresh seasonal American fare. D $$$
The Daily Dish
8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, www.thedaily dishrestaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food. Full-service catering, too. ❂ J R L D $$
The Greek Place
8417 Georgia Ave., 301-495-2912, www.thegreek place.net. Big portions of better-than-average food at reasonable prices. The bifteki pita sandwich, a seasoned ground lamb and beef patty with tzatziki, tomatoes and red onions, is especially good. ❂ J L D $
The Society Lounge
8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, www.societyss. com. Former collegiate and professional basketball player Jason Miskiri opened this restaurant and lounge with a Caribbean accent. ❂ L D $$
Upscale Casual Dining 4935 Cordell Avenue | Bethesda, Maryland 301-951-4935 | www.4935barandkitchen.com
#DrinkDineDance
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dine Urban Bar- B- Que Company
10163 New Hampshire Ave., 301-434-7427, www. iloveubq.com. A fast and friendly spot to meet for smoked meats, especially the ribs. See Rockville listing. J L D $
Urban Butcher (Editors’ Pick)
8226 Georgia Ave., 301-585-5800, www.urban butcher.com. Hip, eclectic setting provides the backdrop for this New Age steak house, with its home-cured salamis, sausages and other charcuterie, plus imaginative meat dishes made from local animals of yesteryear breeds. Space includes a lounge, bar, meat curing room, retail counter and dining area. B D $$
Vegetable Garden
3830 International Drive (in Leisure World Plaza), 301-598-6868, vegetablegarden.co. The popular vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic Asian restaurant features a wide variety of eggplant and asparagus dishes, plus vegetarian “beef,” and “chicken” dishes often made with soy and wheat gluten. L D $$
Vicino Ristorante Italiano
959 Sligo Ave., 301-588-3372, vicinoitaliano.com. A favorite neighborhood red-sauce joint that hasn’t changed in decades, featuring some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families welcome. ❂ L D $
Woodside Deli & Restaurant
9329 Georgia Ave., 301-589-7055, www.the woodsidedeli.com. Famous for its matzo ball soup, terrific clubs and Reuben sandwiches since 1947. JBLD$
Upper NW D.C. Aggio
5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW (in the Chevy Chase Pavilion), 202-803-8020, www.volt-aggio.com. Located in the former private party room at Range, this formal and sophisticated space is celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio’s “restaurant within a restaurant.” Look for modern takes on Italian standbys like steak Florentine, prawns with polenta and pasta carbonara, and inventive combinations such as lentils with charred octopus and sprouted wheat berries or beef cheek with farro and bone marrow. D $$$
American City Diner
5532 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-1949, www. americancitydiner.com. Retro diner complete with blue-plate specials such as Salisbury steak and stuffed peppers; malts and egg creams. Classic movies free with dinner. ❂ J B L D $
Arucola
5534 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-1555, www. arucola.com. Authentic Italian in a casual setting, with a changing menu that includes creative treatment of traditional dishes, homemade pasta and pizza from the wood-burning oven. ❂ J L D $
Blue 44
5507 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-362-2583, www. blue44dc.com. Classic American favorites in the old Senor Pepper space. ❂ J R L D $$
Buck’s Fishing and Camping
5031 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0777, www. bucksfishingandcamping.com. Hip takes on comfort food such as roast chicken (locally raised) and “camp” steak, with fun twists that include grilled
chorizo and tempura squash blossoms, in an artsy-chic setting. D $$$
Café of India
909 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-1395, www.cafe ofindiadc.com. Cute corner café with two levels of dining. Features an extensive menu, including vegetarian and Tandoori entrées, dosas, samosas, tikkas, curries and kabobs. ❂ L D $$
Chads Friendship Heights
5247 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-8040, chadsdc. com. Neighborhood hangout sometimes compared to Cheers, but with a full menu beyond bar food, including salads, steaks, seafood and sandwiches. ❂ J R L D $$
Comet Ping Pong (Editors’ Pick)
5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0404, www. cometpingpong.com. Landmark fun spot where you can play ping-pong or admire local art while you wait for your wood-fired pizza. ❂ R L (weekends only) D $
DeCarlo’s Restaurant
4822 Yuma St. NW. 202-363-4220, www.decarlos restaurant.com. Family-owned neighborhood staple, with traditional Italian menu and upscale/ casual atmosphere. Signature dishes include agnolotti, veal Bolognese, broiled salmon and handmade pasta. ❂ L D $$
Eurasian Hotpot
4445 Wisconsin Ave., 202-966-7088, www.eurasian hotpot.com. The extensive Vietnamese menu features pho, egg and rice noodle soups, vermicelli dishes, entrée salads, broken and fried rice entrées and choices for vegetarians. You can also devise your own soup by choosing among broths, meat, vegetables and starches. Then you do the cooking in hotpots brought to the table. ❂ L D $
Guapo’s Fine Mexican Cuisine
4515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-3588, www. guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $$
Jake’s American Grille
5018 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-5253, www. jakesdc.com. Burgers, steaks and sandwiches in a restaurant named after the owner’s grandfather, an accomplished Navy test engineer. J R L D $$
Jetties
5632 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-2465. www. jettiesdc.com. See Bethesda listing. JL D $
Le Chat Noir
4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-2044, www.le chatnoirrestaurant.com. Cute, cozy neighborhood bistro run by French restaurateurs, with traditional fare like steak frites, bouillabaisse and braised lamb cheeks. R L D $$
LUNCH BOX
5535 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 018, 202-2443470, www.voltlunchbox.com. A Washington remake of the defunct sandwich and salad restaurant in Frederick from chef Bryan Voltaggio. Specialties include the Southern Bahn Mi (crispy chicken, pickled vegetables, liver mousse and cilantro mint on a baguette) and B’More (peppercrusted pit beef, scallion-bacon jam and Tiger sauce). The rustic setting is Voltaggio’s third spot in the Chevy Chase Pavilion, which also houses his Range and Aggio restaurants.
Macon Bistro & Larder (Editors’ Pick)
5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-248-7807, macon bistro.com. Southern and French cuisine converge
at this airy, charming restaurant in the historic Chevy Chase Arcade. Raclette and fried green tomatoes share space on the appetizer menu, and steak frites is offered alongside short ribs with grits for main courses. ❂ R D $$
Maggiano’s
5333 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-5500, www. maggianos.com. Old-style Italian fare that’s a favorite for large groups and private celebrations. J L D $$
Masala Art (Editors’ Pick)
4441-B Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-4441, www. masalaartdc.com. Fine Indian dining featuring tandoor-oven specialties and masterful Indian spicing. L D $$
Murasaki Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar
4620 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-0023, www. murasakidc.com. Wide variety of specialty sushi rolls plus full menu, including teriyaki, tempura, noodle soup and other authentic Japanese dishes in tastefully understated décor. ❂ L D $$
Parthenon Restaurant
5510 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-7600, www. parthenon-restaurant.com. Neighborhood eatery taken up a couple notches, with an extensive menu full of authentic selections familiar and exotic, including avgolemono (egg/lemon soup), tzatziki, moussaka, dolmades and souvlaki. ❂ J L D $$
Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza
4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-237-7383, www. petesapizza.com. New Haven-inspired pizza with crusts that are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. Salads, pasta and panini also served. ❂ JLD$
Range (Editors’ Pick)
5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 201, 202-8038020, www.voltrange.com. Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio’s extravaganza, featuring multiple open kitchens, 300 seats and an enormous wine list. The restaurant was chosen for “Best Cocktail” in 2014 by the magazine’s editors. L D $$$
Rosa Mexicano
5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-777-9959, www.rosa mexicano.com. Upscale Mexican chain known for its tableside-prepared guacamole and stylish decor. J R L D $$
Satay Club Asian Restaurant and Bar
4654 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-8888, www. asiansatayclub.com. Comfortable/casual with a menu that spans Japanese sushi, Chinese moo-shi vegetables, Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls. L D $
Tanad Thai
4912 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-0616, www. tanadthaicuisine.com. Extensive menu includes noodles, rice, curries and vegetarian entrées, and even a Thai lemonade cocktail. ❂ L D $$
Tara Thai
849 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-363-4141, www. tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $
Terasol (Editors’ Pick)
5010 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-237-5555, www. terasolartisans.com. Charming French café offering soups, salads, quiches and a few entrées, along with jewelry and pottery from local artisans. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays. ❂ JBLD$ n
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Attorneys
hilary schwab
Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP See Profile page 311
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The McKeon Law Firm 17 B Firstfield Road, Suite 101, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-417-9222 www.mckeonlawfirm.com
What assets am I entitled to in a divorce? It’s often surprising to those facing divorce that when it comes to finances, the law views many assets as “theirs,” not “his” or “hers.” A bank account, business, pension plan or retirement account in one party’s name is not necessarily given in full to the owner-in-name, if the other party can show a marital interest to the asset. It’s also important to know that when a case goes to court, there is full financial disclosure required on both sides, helping to more fairly divide assets. By working with a skilled family law attorney, you will be able to secure the assets you are entitled to or receive compensation for your marital share.
Once a divorce is finalized, is there a way to later make modifications?
A boutique firm with offices in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, The McKeon Law Firm dedicates 100 percent of its time to family law, including high asset divorce, child custody, child support and alimony. The firm offers a personal approach and customized solutions for each client. Shelly D. McKeon has been recognized as a top lawyer by Washingtonian, has been included in Maryland Super Lawyers and has received the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
courtesy photo
While a divorce signals the end of a marriage, it’s not always the final word on how the parties will continue on. Life changes. Kids get older. The other person isn’t following what was agreed to or court ordered. One of you might get a new job, become disabled or move away. While some aspects of divorce aren’t changeable, there are often ways to negotiate a solution or pursue a modification with the court when these changes happen. An experienced family law attorney can guide you to a resolution that addresses your current concerns.
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Special Advertising Section
Lerch, Early & Brewer Family Law Attorneys
Courtesy Photo
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 460, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-986-1300 | www.lerchearly.com
When should I go to court for a divorce?
When should I see a divorce lawyer?
In the vast majority of family law cases, settlement is preferable to litigation for many reasons: it’s less expensive, less emotionally draining, there are more options for resolution and the couple decides rather than the court. That said, you may not be able to reach an agreement, so make sure you work with an attorney who’s skilled both in negotiation and litigation so you can draw upon his or her bargaining and trial experience as needed.
The time to see a divorce lawyer is when you first are thinking about a divorce or you suspect your spouse may be considering separation. It’s important that you are aware of your rights and responsibilities, and how separation or divorce could affect your children, your finances and your standard of living. In addition, there are things a person considering divorce definitely should and shouldn’t do, so you should contact an attorney early in the process to position yourself properly and avoid missteps.
The Family Law group at Lerch, Early & Brewer is respected as one of the best in Maryland and the District of Columbia. U.S. News named them “Top Tier for Family Law” in the Washington, D.C. area. Their experience in all areas of divorce law—litigation, mediation and collaborative processes; plus prenuptial, adoption and domestic partnership agreements—makes them a top tier choice for you, too.
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Patrick M. Regan, Esq. and Salvatore J. Zambri, Esq. Regan Zambri Long, PLLC 1919 M St. NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20036 202-822-1880 | www.ReganFirm.com
The practice of law has become as specialized as medicine. It’s important that your lawyer specializes in personal injury and wrongful death claims and has the qualifications and experience to handle your claims. Check on qualifications by going to the lawyer’s website. Board certification is important and indicates that the lawyer not only has the experience but also has passed a specialized examination. Ask questions: Has the lawyer handled similar claims before? Does the lawyer have the financial resources to properly prepare your case? If possible, investigate the lawyer’s reputation with judges and other lawyers. Our practice has been representing clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases for more than 35 years. We were the lead counsel for the passengers in the June 2009 Metro subway
crash and represented the family of slain New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum in their suit against the District of Columbia and Howard University Hospital. We are also representing the estate of Carol Glover, who died on a Metro train in a smoke-filled tunnel in January 2015.
Will it cost me money to meet with a lawyer? Lawyers who specialize in personal injury claims should be willing to accept your case on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you will not pay a fee to the lawyer unless you receive funds through a settlement or verdict. The initial consultation should be free. Patrick M. Regan and Salvatore J. Zambri are partners of the firm. They limit their practice to representing seriously injured clients in medical malpractice, product liability and other serious personal injury and wrongful death claims.
hilary schwab
I’ve never hired a lawyer before, what do I need to know in order to hire a lawyer for an injury or death case?
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Monica Garcia Harms, Family Law Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC 25 W. Middle Lane, Rockville, MD 20850 301-838-3230 | www.steinsperling.com
How does a family law attorney handle divorce cases involving business interests or complex financial issues without hiring expensive outside experts? Our firm is uniquely positioned to address this issue, and I give much of the credit to the connection among our attorneys. When a client hires me to counsel them through a difficult divorce or custody matter, I can confidently assure them that I am leading a team of bright attorneys who can address every aspect of their case, from financial and tax issues to business interests, the titling of assets and other estate planning considerations. Family law cases are rarely simple, just as the relationships and issues involved are rarely simple. Our firm embraces those intricacies. I quarterback each of my clients’ cases with valuable input from other lawyers in relevant practice areas, helping clients make complex day-to-day and long-term decisions that are in their personal best interest, and in the best interest of their children or businesses.
TONY LEWIS JR
I’m proud to be connected to a team of attorneys who can readily serve the diverse needs of my clients without the time and expense of consulting outside experts. To have those resources at my fingertips really enhances what I have to offer as a family lawyer. Monica Garcia Harms co-chairs the family law department at Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC. She handles divorce, alimony, child support, child custody, property division, guardianships and domestic violence, as well as pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Renowned for her experience in complex divorce and custody matters, she regularly consults principals Steve Widdes, David De Jong, and Karen Shapiro, and others, when a client’s case will benefit from insights from the business, tax and estate planning disciplines. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 309
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Hostetter Strent LLC 7201 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 675, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-0010 | www.hostetterstrent.com
What should I look for when hiring a family law lawyer?
Our practice is domestic relations law—divorce, property distribution, alimony, custody and child support. We can assist at any stage in relationships—a prenuptial or a domestic partnership agreement, a postnuptial agreement or divorce settlement. We are well versed in all methods of dispute resolution and prepared to engage in any of these to help you achieve your goals.
darren higgins
Look for someone who listens. You want an attorney who is knowledgeable about Maryland law, appears regularly in court, is known by judges and has worked well with other firms. Your attorney should have the skills to litigate the case if necessary, but also the judgment and discretion to know when other dispute resolution methods would be more effective. You should feel like your attorney cares about you. You want to feel like you and your lawyer would be a good team.
What should I look for in an estate planning attorney? Estate planning is personal and should fit your unique situation. Seek an attorney who will ask questions, listen and get to know you, your family and your goals. The best attorneys probe, explain, question and solve problems. They understand family dynamics. They turn your goals into an actionable plan for when you are unable to speak for yourself. They are compassionate and provide peace of mind. At Paley Rothman, we use our knowledge of the estate tax laws and experience in administering estates and trusts to craft the right plan for you. We emphasize comprehensiveness and attention to detail, which allows us to assist you in meeting your individualized goals. 4800 Hampden Lane, 6th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-7603 www.paleyrothman.com
Paley Rothman attorneys Jeffrey A. Kolender, Deborah A. Cohn and Michelle J. Chapin provide sophisticated and personalized legal services in estate and tax planning and estate and trust administration.
James Kim
Paley Rothman
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Special Advertising Section
Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP 4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 202-466-8960 www.feldesmantucker.com
What advice would you give a person facing divorce?
hilary schwab
There is a lot at stake when facing a divorce. Here are four suggestions to help you obtain a good result: •
Gather the right people to advise you. You’ll need expert guidance and assistance during the divorce process. Find an experienced family law attorney to help you understand your rights and achieve your goals. Do online research or talk to friends and colleagues who have divorced. Meet with your top choices to see which lawyer is the best fit. It also may be helpful to speak with a mental health professional about the emotional aspects of divorce.
•
Maintain your integrity. It can be tempting to try to get an “edge” by badmouthing your spouse or hiding assets. But there is a lot at stake in how you treat your spouse. Consider what you want your children to remember about how their parents behaved during the divorce, and what you want to remember about yourself. Oftentimes, taking the high road will set the tone for how your spouse will treat you in response.
•
Collect information. It’s important to understand your overall financial situation. The first step is collecting documents, such as tax returns and bank statements. Your lawyers will advise you on the specific documents that are most essential and help you obtain them.
•
Focus on the future. Divorce is a transition. With the right focus and assistance, it can offer the promise of being a transition to a better place – both financially and emotionally.
For more than 40 years the Family Law Group of Feldesman Tucker has been helping clients secure their futures after divorce. Widely recognized as top divorce lawyers in the D.C. area, our attorneys have been repeatedly honored by Washingtonian magazine, Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.
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Altman & Associates 11300 Rockville Pike, #708, Rockville, MD 20852 301-468-3220 | www.altmanassociates.net
What is the biggest misconception about estate planning?
TONY LEWIS JR
One of the most dangerous misconceptions is that it doesn’t require an actual estate-planning attorney. Some people, attempting to save money, opt for a “do-it-yourself” approach via online templates or hand-written declarations. Others solicit help from someone familiar, such as a financial planner or a family attorney who dabbles in estate planning. Both ideas are very risky! Mistakes can lead to irreparable damage, causing severe financial and emotional stress to loved ones. These are arguably the most important documents in your life. They should be prepared by an experienced estate-planning attorney who knows the laws and can customize an estate plan for your situation. At Altman & Associates, estate planning is not a side offering. Estate planning is all we do. Altman & Associates is committed to providing outstanding legal expertise on estate planning while earning each client’s trust and providing the utmost in personal service.
Kuder, Smollar, Friedman & Mihalik, PC 1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036 202-331-7522 | www.ksfmlaw.com
What is important in selecting a lawyer to handle divorce, custody or other family problems?
(L-R): Marcia B. F. Kuntz, Rebekah J. H. Sullivan, Paul R. Smollar, Armin U. Kuder, Christopher M. Locey, Susan M. Friedman, Michelle L. Locey, and Theresa M. Mihalik
The attorneys of Kuder, Smollar, Friedman & Mihalik, PC have been recognized as leading family lawyers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., for client representation, mediation, arbitration and Collaborative Law.
TONY LEWIS JR
Most people seeking a lawyer for family matters are unfamiliar with the relevant law and how it would apply to their circumstances. Our experience is that people want an attorney who will listen with compassion, understand the emotional complexity and not prejudge, and then help set realistic goals for moving forward. They want someone who understands how to manage what seems an overwhelming and impossible situation. This requires more than a comprehensive knowledge of the law. A good family lawyer knows how to try cases skillfully and best utilize possible court-directed solutions, while promoting the client’s interest through informal and formal negotiations and other dispute resolution methods, including mediation, arbitration and the Collaborative Law process.
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Special Advertising Section
Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, PA
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12505 Park Potomac Ave., 6th Floor, Potomac, MD 20854 301-231-0924 | www.shulmanrogers.com
What creative strategies do you employ in family law?
Are there advantages to dispute resolution options?
Rather than being only technically proficient, we think tactically and recognize that every family is different, which means every domestic case is unique. There is no single approach to a divorce, property or custody case. Our proficiency lies in developing a specific tactical game plan to accomplish particular objectives for each client. That might involve pre-divorce planning, the use of an investigator or an outside-the-box approach unanticipated by an opponent. We have strategies for every issue, including those designed to make a custody case stronger, a client present better in court and to select expert witnesses adept in particular issues.
While litigation is sometimes a necessary means of resolving domestic relations cases, turning to the courts should most often be a last resort. This is not simply because litigation is expensive and emotionally destructive. Courts are limited in the types of relief that can be awarded, while creative counsel can often work together to mutual benefit. For example, when settling outside of court, it is possible to take advantage of the tax code when structuring alimony and child support, enabling each party to end up with more money, or distribute the value of a business or real estate in tax-advantageous ways. Likewise, settlements make it possible to include provisions for children that the court lacks the authority to address, including the funding of college education, care for a child’s special needs or maintenance of life insurance.
The Shulman Rogers Family Law and Fiduciary Litigation Practice Group has been selected by U.S. News & World Report as a “First Tier� family law firm. In its November/December 2013 issue, Bethesda Magazine selected Scott M. Strickler, Geoffrey S. Platnick and Hadrian N. Hatfield among the top area divorce lawyers. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 313
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Special Advertising Section
Wallace Law, LLC 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 405 North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-468-0603 | www.wallacelawllc.com
Why do young families need an estate plan? Think about what might happen if you pass away. Who would care for your kids? What would happen to your house, accounts and other assets? An estate plan is parents’ best opportunity to control where money goes and to take care of their children after death. While “estate” sounds grandiose, many families find that their accounts and valuables add up to more than expected. If one parent dies and there’s no will, most of the deceased’s assets will be divided evenly between the surviving spouse and a custodial account for children to access when they turn 18. Not having an estate plan also means that a judge will select a guardian for children.
Wallace Law, LLC, is a small firm providing personalized service in estate planning in MD, D.C. and VA. Megan Wallace holds the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
James Kim
Estate planning lawyers help families decide where assets go, establish tax saving opportunities and name a guardian, an assets trustee and an executor.
The Law Firm of Andrea Hirsch 1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20009 202-480-2160 | andrea@andreahirschlaw.com www.andreahirschlaw.com
How can children of divorcing parents benefit from the collaborative process? Families facing divorce are concerned about their children’s future. When parents want to work together, the collaborative process is a way for them to find shared solutions. With guidance from experienced family law attorneys, families collaborate with mental health professionals to form parenting plans serving children’s best interests. Rather than kids feeling caught in the middle, the process typically shields them from conflict. And parents acquire skills to successfully co-parent for the rest of their lives.
The Law Firm of Andrea Hirsch is a full-service family law firm. Hirsch, with nearly 20 years of experience, has been a leader in collaborative practice locally and is co-founder and principal of the Collaborative Practice Center of Greater Washington.
hilary schwab
Family law attorneys with experience in all forms of dispute resolution are best able to help families decide if a collaborative divorce is the way to set their children’s future in a positive direction.
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Ask the Attorneys
Special Advertising Section
Jeffrey N. Greenblatt Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 975, Rockville, MD 20850 240-399-7894 | www.jnglaw.net | www.jgllaw.com
How do I protect myself financially when facing divorce? Make sure you hire an experienced family law attorney who knows the system and can assertively represent you. Gather as much information on your family’s finances as possible. Your attorney may be able to track down hard-to-find information with leads, but cost can be mitigated by your knowledge of your family’s finances. Once there is a full picture of your family’s assets, liabilities and monthly expenses, you’ll be better able to make informed decisions for your future and reach a positive financial outcome.
James Kim
As a parent who hasn’t been the main caregiver, am I able to have custodial rights? Whether seeking full or joint custody, you’ll want to make a strong argument for why you deserve a hands-on role in raising your children. A family law attorney with extensive experience handling custody cases can guide you in a way that puts your best
foot forward to maximize your chances of obtaining (or retaining) the custodial arrangement you seek. If a custody agreement is not reached through settlement or mediation and a judge is deciding the case, past parenting will be only one consideration. Other factors include the child’s preference, parents’ ability to communicate, the child’s relationship with each parent and the location of each parent’s home. An experienced family law attorney can assist with everything from how to appropriately communicate with the other parent to how to handle social media, finding the best way to present your parenting strengths and minimize past issues. You’ll be positioned in the most advantageous manner to achieve your goals. With more than 40 years of experience, Jeffrey N. Greenblatt heads a specialized five-attorney team with Anne E. Grover, Darin L. Rumer and Allison M. McFadden, handling high-profile, high-stakes family law matters at Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA.
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Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District presents the
BERNARD/EBB SONGWRITING AWARDS
LIVE CONCERT
“It’s about the words and music”
Friday, March 6, 8pm Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club 7719 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD *Doors open at 6pm, dinner menu available.
Songwriting Awards Finalists
Young Songwriter Finalists
Laura Baron Ginny Carr Ellen Cherry Trina Coleman Owen Danoff Darius Smith
Caitlin Deerin Eli Pafumi Lexi Peto
Finalists will perform their original songs. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy live music by talented, regional songwriters. $12,500 in prize money will be awarded at the close of the show. $10 admission Purchase tickets at www.bethesda.org. Remaining tickets will also be sold at the door.
*This award was created by Cathy Bernard. It is named in honor of Fred Ebb, her uncle and renowned American songwriter. Ebb is the creator of Broadway hits such as Cabaret and Chicago and iconic songs including New York, New York.
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shopping, beauty, weddings, pets, travel, history
etc.
MZ Wallace Metro Floral Quilted Nylon Tote, $215 at Nordstrom in Westfield Montgomery mall and nordstrom.com
There are now more options than ever for stylish workout wear—from blousy tanks and flattering yoga pants to patterned totes.
what’s inside Shop Talk: p. 318 Pets: p. 333
courtesy photo of tote bag
Weddings: p. 334 Get Away: p. 338 Driving Range: p. 341 Flashback: p. 358 Family Portrait: p. 360
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Goodbye jeans, He
By sarah Zlotnick
Hip to Be Free Bag, $68 at Lululemon in downtown Bethesda and Westfield Montgomery mall and lululemon.com
It snuck uP ON US
THe O.G. Overnight & Gym Bag, $295 at loandsons.com
REI Balance Gym Bag, $59.50 at REI in Rockville and rei.com
Kim Michie Yoga & Pilates Bag, $115 at Core72 in Chevy Chase, D.C., and core72dc.com
all tote bag photos are courtesy
SoulCycle Gym Bag, $58 at SoulCycle in downtown Bethesda
at first. Moms wearing Lululemon Athletica leggings in the carpool line; 20-somethings meeting for brunch in Nike halfzips and Day-Glo sneakers. But now, as more boutique fitness studios open across Montgomery County, denim and other traditional casual wear may be phasing out in favor of something else: spandex. “Athleisure� wear (the trending term for athletic clothes that can be worn outside the gym) is on the rise across the country, and it fits right in with the hustle of Bethesda life. We asked Ferrall Dietrich, owner of Core72, an activewear boutique in Chevy Chase, D.C., and personal trainer Ingrid Nelson, who teaches group fitness classes at Equinox and spin classes at PureRyde, both in downtown Bethesda, how to master the look in and outside of the gym.
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where to Find It
ns, Hello spandex
For many local women, Lululemon is the spot for quality, stylish athleisure wear. Here are six more stores to add to your shopping list.
Core72
This boutique’s constantly rotating mix of indoor, outdoor and leisure wear has a stylish West Coast slant—MPG, Oiselle and Sundry are three popular brands. 5502 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-686-4258, www.core72dc.com
Nordstrom
“Prints are distracting, which can be flattering,” says Ferrall Dietrich, owner of Core72, an activewear boutique in Chevy Chase, D.C.
Acing the Look Know what fits
core 72 photo by sean scheidt
Clothing should be snug, but it shouldn’t restrict movement. Dietrich recommends that clients stretch in clothes while they are shopping. It’s also important to think about how you plan to use the clothes. Leggings without zippers that fit higher on the waist are ideal for yoga, as are fitted shirts that run long (Dietrich likes the brand Oiselle). Flowy tanks breathe easier and work well for cardio workouts such as spinning, but you’ll want to pair them with a high-cut bra to cover up cleavage when bending over on the bike.
Be strategic about color and pattern
“Prints are distracting, which can be flattering,” says Dietrich, who directs first-time clients toward patterned pants and solid-colored tops. If a style feels too loud to wear out and about, Dietrich suggests a legging that transitions from a darker shade to a lighter pattern below the knee.
Stellar customer service and a variety of familiar and niche brands make this our favorite department store to shop for workout gear. Bonus: sleek house brand Zella feels similar to Lululemon, and also comes in kid and plus sizes. 7111 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-3654111, shop.nordstrom.com
DJ Bennett Nelson relies on a wardrobe of black basics mixed with neon accents. Her go-to bottom is a pair of Nike Sculpt Training Tights.
Highlight your hard work
“If your calves are awesome, go with cropped leggings,” says Nelson. “If you love your abs, show them off with a crop top.”
Layer your look
Work up a sweat in a blousy tank, then cover up for errands with a cropped sweatshirt or long sweater. “After class, I add wedge sneakers and a long sweater,” Nelson says. “Or, if it’s cold, leg warmers and Hunter boots. You’d never know they’re sportswear.” Another layering look both Nelson and Dietrich love? Bright bras peeking out from underneath a darker tank.
Accessorize intelligently
Nelson opts for simple rings and earrings instead of necklaces. “I go for easy jewelry that won’t interfere with my workout.”
Safari in Africa? Fly-fishing in British Columbia? This appointment-only boutique will help you take an outdoor adventure in style. 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-524-4488, www. djbennett.com
lucy
If you like the performance quality of Lululemon but aren’t sold on some of the skimpier cuts, give lucy a try. Tops provide more coverage and patterns are less prominent overall, but everything is just as smartly tailored. 7112 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-656-3106; 1613 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-816-3115, www.lucy.com
Icebreaker TouchLab
Icebreaker’s all-natural merino performance wear is ideal for hiking, snow sports and other outdoor activities. The New Zealand company’s versatile skirts, dresses and zip-ups are also great for travel. 4821 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-913-0379, us.icebreaker.com
Ivivva
Lululemon Athletica offshoot Ivivva offers colorful, age-appropriate athletic clothes for girls ages 6 to 15. The small Chevy Chase Arcade showroom has limited hours, but makes up for it by hosting mother-daughter fitness events throughout the community. 5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-0950, facebook.com/ivivvabethesda
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Owner Lauren Dunne offers chemical-free products and waterless services at Varnish Lane in Chevy Chase, D.C.
Ever find yourself wishing that getting a
manicure was more like getting a blowout? Twentyfour-year-old Lauren Dunne certainly has. “Drybar does one thing and they do it well,” says Dunne, a longtime Chevy Chase resident and University of Maryland graduate. Opened in late January, Dunne’s Varnish Lane hopes to offer Bethesda-area women a similar experience for manis and pedis. At Varnish Lane, Jonathan Adler light fixtures hang above oversize American Leather armchairs, each of which is equipped with an iPad and an outlet for charging your phone. Services are simple, streamlined and can be booked online. A “fast lane” manicure ($20) is a 15-minute polish change; the “main lane” ($25 for manicure, $40 for pedicure) includes cuticle care and a massage; 40-minute “luxe lane” ($40 for manicure, $55 for pedicure) treatments add paraffin wax and a sugar scrub. Polish options are high-end and on-trend—think Deborah Lippmann, Chanel and Smith & Cult—and Potomac-based skin
care company Sans created a custom line of chemical-free products that are used in all services. The most unique feature of Varnish Lane is the waterless services. According to Dunne, soaking hands and feet can lead to infection; it also prolongs the treatment time and causes lacquer to chip more easily. “When your nails soak in water, they expand,” Dunne says. “After your nails are painted, they shrink back down, and that causes the polish to break off.” Dunne partnered with her mother, Carrie Dunne, and California-based family friend Chad Stebbins to launch Varnish Lane. “The goal is to have many locations,” says Dunne, who is already eyeing Georgetown, 14th Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., and Old Town Alexandria. n Varnish Lane, 5236 44th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-506-5308, varnishlane.com. Can be reserved for private parties and group events.
photo by sean scheidt
A new kind of nail salon
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shopping guide
Where to find locally-owned clothing and gift boutiques By Cynthia Hacinli
BETHESDA American Classic Clothes If you can’t find what you’re looking for in this traditional children’s clothing shop, they can make it for you. Among the treasures here: classic smocked cotton rompers and party dresses, hand-knit sweaters and booties, delicate blouses and fun pj’s, and hand-sewn vests and dress pants. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-365-7740, www.americanclassicclothes.com
Bethesda Row, 4808 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-907-6871, www.shopamethyst.com Belina Boutique Owners Betty Barati and Sherri Hatam dress women of all ages in designers such as Splendid, Ecru, Joie, Ella Moss and SW3 Bespoke. Finish the look with accessories by Margaret Elizabeth and Gorjana. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-2929, www.belinaboutique.com Beyda’s Lad & Lassie This shop offers classic, upscale dressy and everyday clothing for infants, girls and boys by labels such as Kissy Kissy, Bella Bliss and Florence Eiseman, as well as uniforms for local schools. There are also pajamas, swimwear and accessories. 5444 Westbard Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-2026 Blanca Flor This small shop lures in customers with glass cases full of sterling silver jewelry that owner Rigel Garcia collects from Mexico, Greece, Poland and the United States. Pieces include a
At Ginger, you’ll find casual women’s clothing from contemporary designers.
changing selection of offbeat bracelets, earrings and necklaces at a wide range of prices. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10231 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-6313, www.blancaflorofbethesda.com Bluemercury Bluemercury founders Marla and Barry Beck have more than 60 cosmetics stores and spas nationwide, and two in their hometown of Bethesda. Marla Beck, a self-proclaimed products junkie, stocks her shops with upscale cosmetics and skin care brands including NARS, SkinCeuticals, M-61 and Laura Mercier. The Bethesda Row location features a full-service spa. The shop also offers one-on-one makeup tutorials, as well as complimentary drop-in consultations. In February, Macy’s announced that it would buy the spa chain for $210 million. Bethesda Row, 7105 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-986-0070; Wildwood Shopping Center, 10231 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-0006, www.bluemercury.com Calypso St. Barth Launched in St. Barth in 1992 as a luxury resort-wear boutique, Calypso St. Barth now sells its feminine, boho-chic fashions in
Bethesda Row. The store carries its namesake collection as well as a carefully curated selection of pieces from international designers—you’ll find dip-dyed caftans, luxe cashmere sweaters and fun animal prints. The shop also sells fragrances as well as rugs, pillows and throws. Bethesda Row, 4810 Bethesda Row, 301-6521219, www.calypsostbarth.com Claire Dratch Locally owned since 1946, Claire Dratch is where women go when they want to say yes to the dress. Proms, bat mitzvahs, and weddings are all covered here. The store prides itself on personal service, alterations and customized clothing. 7615 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-6568000, www.clairedratch.net Current Boutique Designer labels abound at this local consignment boutique that sells online as well as at its brick-and-mortar shops in Bethesda, Logan Circle, Arlington and Alexandria. You’ll find in-demand names like Roberto Cavalli, Alexander Wang, Prada, Chanel and Christian Louboutin. 7220 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-2221114, www.currentboutique.com
photo by james mertz
Amethyst A lavender-walled, jewel box of a shop, Amethyst offers classic and modern fine jewelry created by new and emerging designers, including Bethesda native Mauri Pioppo, Karina Salum, and the store’s owner, Amy Hugo. A goldsmith provides custom work and repairs.
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Daisy Baby & Kids Owner Dana Evans specializes in helping parents and parents-to-be design their kids’ rooms and nurseries. Daisy Baby & Kids offers an array of designer and upscale furniture and baby linens, including Maddie Boo and Oilo, as well as accessories, gear and gifts. 4912-A Del Ray Ave., Bethesda, 301-6547477, www.shopdaisybaby.com Etcetera This visit-by-appointment showroom is devoted to Etcetera, the fashion-forward, less pricey line of Carlisle, a luxury clothing brand typically sold at trunk shows. It’s the only Etcetera showroom in the country, and the experience is much like having a personal stylist to help you navigate the mixand-match classics-gone-trendy pieces. 4709 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, 301-215-8363, www.etcetera.com Furs by Gartenhaus You can buy a new fur here—or get an old one restyled, repaired and appraised. Coats, jackets, vests, capes and hats are all options, and sheared mink is a specialty—as a lining or as a soft, light coat or jacket. The store also stocks exotic furs such as chinchilla and fox. Fur storage is also available. 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-6562800, www.fursbygartenhaus.com Ginger When former Capitol Hill press secretary Gretchen Hitchner opened her boutique on Bethesda Row in 2008, she created an ecofriendly space to sell fashions by Splendid, Joie, Ella Moss, Elizabeth and James, and White + Warren. There are also handbags, shoes, and fine jewelry by artist Suzanne Somersall, as well as fun costume jewelry and home accessories.
Trina Turk. The store also carries shoes, jewelry and accessories by Alexis Bittar and Orla Kiely. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10301 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-2574, www.irresistibles.com Konplot t Miranda Konstantinidou designs this shop’s whimsical costume jewelry sold all over the world. Born in Greece and raised in Germany, Konstantinidou gets her inspiration from all over and fashions her pieces from metals, crystals and fabric. Her various lines have names like Back to the Future, Gordian Knot and Moulin Rouge. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7107 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 240-8887478, www.konplott.com Lou Lou This jam-packed accessories boutique— located in the former Urban Chic space— carries loads of costume jewelry, scarves, belts, small gifts and handbags from pleather to leather. 7126 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-6520048, www.loulouboutiques.com
8 Out of 10 Women Wear the Wrong Bra.
Luna This Bethesda Row boutique is known for its collection of designer duds by the likes of J Brand, Autumn Cashmere, Velvet and Vince, and for its extensive collection of fun, costume jewelry. There are also handbags, shapewear and hats. Bethesda Row, 7232 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-1111, www.shopluna.com Mustard Seed Appealing to a wide swath of customers— savvy middle schoolers to 70-somethings among them—this second-hand store owned by Derek Kennedy and Gayle Herrmann specializes in items that are fewer than two years old. Think names like Elie Tahari, Nine West, Nicole Miller, Old Navy, American Apparel, Gap and H&M. There are some vintage offerings from the ’50s to ’70s as well. 7349 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-9074699, www.mustardseedshop.com Petra Owner Petra Winkler hails from Germany and focuses on upscale European fashion lines, including Cambio and the Munich-
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Bethesda Row, 7114 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-664-9242, www.gingerstyle.com Hoamgar This Bethesda outpost of a Singapore-based shop is known for its Taiwanese tailoring, Japanese and European fabrics, and feminine styling. Clothing is produced in limited quantities, and handbags are one of a kind. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-767-9479, www.hoamgar.com Irresistibles The clothing in the Bethesda location of this East Coast chain is an eclectic mix of names such as Nic + Zoe, Three Dots, Autumn Cashmere, Christopher Blue and
Lingerie and Swimwear Where Fit Meets Fashion
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4407 South Park Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 654-4200 | sylenedc.com Complimentary Rooftop Parking
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based Bogner. The store, on Bethesda Row since 2009, features sportswear, party dresses and accessories for women. Bethesda Row, 4803 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-215-9080 REDDz Trading This resale shop stocks high-end to less pricey designers such as Gucci, Céline, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, J.Crew and All Saints. Unlike a consignment shop that gives you a percentage of what you sell, Reddz pays you a flat fee of 30 percent for items they want, or 45 percent to be used toward in-store purchases. 7801 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-6567333, www.reddztrading.com
Wildwood Shopping Center, 10253 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-571-7333, www.redorchard.com Rita G’s Chapter Two Fine Consign Named for owner Rita Gendelman, this stylish consignment shop sells pre-owned designer handbags, jewelry, scarves, shoes and clothes at a fraction of their original prices. Designers include Dior, Bottega Veneta, Hermes and Chanel, as well as less pricey names such as Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs. 4931 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 301-718-7200, www.ritagfineconsign.com RnJ Sports ASICS, Brooks and Saucony are some of the names you’ll find in this family-owned business that’s been selling running and tennis gear since 1976. RnJ prides itself on a knowledgeable staff that’s trained in foot biomechanics to help customers find the right shoe. There is also discounted apparel, socks and gear. The Rockville location (see Rockville section) has a self-serve clearance room. 4945 Elm St., Bethesda, 301-986-0558, www.rnjsports.com Sassanova Sarah “Sassy” Jacobs and Sarah Cannova opened this women’s shoe store in Bethesda in 2009. The boutique stocks high-end designer footwear by Loeffler
Accessories boutique Sassanova stocks high-end designer footwear.
Randall, Butter, French Soles and Jack Rogers. Totes, wallets, jewelry and a selection of clothing by designers including MILLY, Trina Turk and Diane von Furstenberg round out the offerings. Bethesda Row, 7134 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-654-7403, www.sassanova.com Secrète Fine Jewelry Custom fine jewelry, including bridal sets, earrings and necklaces, is the specialty in this family-owned store. Designs range from modern and contemporary to vintage. You also can choose a watch from established names such as Rolex, and get jewelry repaired and restored. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10227 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-7892, www.secretejewelry.com Sequel This women’s boutique features an eclectic mix of upscale contemporary names, including Michael Stars, Clover Canyon, and Bailey 44. The store also carries jewelry and accessories. Its two sister stores, Wear it Well in Bethesda and Corby Collection in Chevy Chase, D.C., carry some similar merchandise, but each has unique items, as well. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10255 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-4423, www.sequelbethesda.com
South Moon Under Originally a surf shop in Ocean City, Md., this boho boutique for women and men is especially popular with teens and 20-somethings. But there’s way more than swimsuits and beachwear. Look for casual to dressy clothing from labels such as MINKPINK, Marc Jacobs and Trina Turk, along with quirky home goods, gifts, jewelry and shoes (think Steve Madden, Frye and Seychelles). Wildwood Shopping Center, 10247 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-564-0995, www.southmoonunder.com The Blue House Owner Connie Cissel travels to markets around the country to choose the whimsical items in this jam-packed shop. In addition to fun things like glassware and pillows representing each state, the store has more practical items, including cookbooks by local authors and unique baby clothes. 7770 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-6566088, www.thebluehousebethesda.com The Goldsmiths: Dealers in Dreams This store has been serving celebrities and regulars from its location at Bethesda Place since 1990 and before that was at White Flint since 1972. Most of the fine jewelry sold here is one of a kind. Owner Irwin Gross can help clients create their
photo by james mertz
Red Orchard Owners John Helm and Caroline Liberty enjoy scouting local art shows for many of the crafty items at Red Orchard. You can find everything here from John Derian decoupage trays and Company C rugs to home accents and fine jewelry made by local artisans. Whimsical Czechoslovakian glass “petal” rings are big sellers.
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SOUTHMOONUNDER.COM
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own unique piece and remount and restore heirloom items. Bethesda Place Shops, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite N, Bethesda, 301-907-6787, www.goldsmithdealersindreams.com The Pink Palm This Bethesda outpost of a small chain known as The Pink Palm carries on the Lilly Pulitzer tradition on Bethesda Row. Coowner Lizanne Jeveret stocks a full line of the iconic print dresses, tops, accessories and shoes for women and children. Look for menswear by Barbour and Southern Proper. Bethesda Row, 4867 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-913-9191, www.thepinkpalm.net Tugooh Toys and Yiro This store sells environmentally friendly toys for eco-conscious kids and their parents. There is a large selection of wooden toys, and even shelving is made of natural woods. Look for brands such as Alex, FisherPrice, Radio Flyer and Kid Galaxy. There’s also a small selection of organic baby clothing for 9 months and under. Bethesda Row, 4823 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-2412
The Shoppes of Bethesda, 4928 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, 301-656-4900 Wear it Well Wear it Well brings funky, fashion-forward sensibility to Bethesda Row. The store carries accessories and a number of different clothing lines, including Ella Moss, White + Warren and Majestic Paris. The shop has two sister stores with similar, but not identical merchandise: Sequel at the Wildwood Shopping Center, and Corby Collection in Chevy Chase, D.C., which has more evening wear than the other two. Bethesda Row, 4816 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-3713, www.justperfect collection.com
CHEVY CHASE Boone & Sons Jewelers Started in 1966 by family patriarch French Boone, this fine jewelry store has everything from loose diamonds to fashion and estate
jewelry. Boone’s son, Darryl Boone, runs the Chevy Chase store. 5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase, 301-6572144, www.booneandsons.com Gals on and off the Green Just because you’re playing sports doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. That’s the philosophy of this women’s shop that sells resort, sports and golf wear that covers all the bases from country club to edgy chic. Brands include Ralph Lauren, Nike, Lilly Pulitzer, Adidas, Puma and Greg Norman. Chevy Chase Center, 5449 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-800-4670, www.gals onandoffthegreen.com Miller’s Furs This third-generation, family-owned furrier has been in Chevy Chase for more than 20 years. Find new and vintage fur coats, outerwear and fur-trimmed cashmere scarves. The salon also offers restoration services, repairs, appraisals and custom work. 4620 Leland St., Chevy Chase, 301-6563877, www.millersfurs.com Nina McLemore Boutique The sedate yet stylish clothes seem tailormade for the professional woman. Look for work-ready dresses, separates, casual and
evening wear in wool, stretch cotton and silk at this eponymously named Georgetown-based designer’s shop, one of several across the country. 5310 B Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-9511111, www.ninamclemore.com Saks Jandel This family-owned department store has been a Chevy Chase destination for highend fashion for more than 40 years. Inside you’ll find clothing and accessories from European and American designers such as Saint Laurent, Valentino, Michael Kors, Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld. The bridal salon carries equally posh labels, including Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang. 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-652-2250 Sylene For nearly 40 years, sisters Helen Kestler and Cyla Weiner have been finding the right bras for local women, including former first lady Nancy Reagan. The lingerie boutique is known for its extensive swimwear collection, and also offers in-store bridal showers and lingerie parties. 4407 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-6544200, www.sylenedc.com
photo by james mertz
Underwraps Underwraps sells more than bras, panties, pantyhose and nightgowns—you’ll find denim by NYDJ and tops, too. Find familiar lingerie names such as Olga and Maidenform, as well as the upscale Natori, Cosabella and Wacoal brands.
Wear It Well is a good place to find sophisticated separates.
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Introducing JPC’s Newest Store
HADLEE
featuring Joseph Ribkoff, Elana Kattan, Renuar and Niche.
Opening Spring 2015
CORBY
HADLEE
SEQUEL
WEAR IT WELL
Mazza Gallerie 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20015 202.686.5363
Wildwood Shopping Center 10303 Old Georgetown Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 301.530.2643
Wildwood Shopping Center 10255 Old Georgetown Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814 301.530.4423
Bethesda Row 4816 Bethesda Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 301.652.3713
justperfectcollection.com
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the Lemon Twist shop The Lemon Twist Shop has been a Chevy Chase neighborhood staple since 1977. Regulars like owner Sally Prince’s eclectic mix of women’s clothing and accessories from known names such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines. The store also sells handbags and jewelry.
silk scarves, Monet-inspired umbrellas, kids’ books and jewelry. The Mansion Shop at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301581-5175, www.strathmore.org/shop
GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC
Chevy Chase Plaza, 8541 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-986-0044, www.lemontwist.net Town Jewelers Town Jewelers owner and master goldsmith Saro Abrahamian has been designing fine jewelry for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community for 30 years. In addition to custom pieces, the store sells Novobeads and Citizen watches. The shop also does repairs, restorations and appraisals. 7017 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-6568867, www.townjewelerschevychase.com
KENSINGTON/ NORTH BETHESDA Catch Can This Kensington shop is stocked with everything from quality women’s apparel and shoes to baby and children’s clothes and unique home accessories. If you’re in search of a gift, chances are you’ll find it here. And there’s a bargain basement clearance corner, too.
Looking for boho and contemporary styles? Check out Imagine Boutique in Gaithersburg.
10505 Metropolitan Ave., Kensington, 301933-7862, www.catchcan.com Masica Diamonds Owner and master diamond cutter David Masica carries an array of diamonds, engagement rings and custom-made jewelry. There are also pieces featuring natural, coffee-colored diamonds. 11763 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301255-0000, www.masicadiamonds.com The Mansion Shop at Strathmore A turntable kitchen timer, and wood spoons that double as drumsticks are the kind of offbeat, music-related items that can be found at this gift shop at the Strathmore mansion. There are also DVDs, hand-painted
Class Act Located inside Gaithersburg’s Lakeforest Mall, Class Act provides lots of options for women and girls looking for a party, prom or bat mitzvah dress. The store features a variety of price points and has some wedding gowns, too. Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, 301-869-2244
Chic to Chic This consignment store has clothing, handbags, accessories and shoes by high-end designers both familiar and obscure. Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Chloé, Roberto Cavalli, Richard Tyler, Mulberry, Hermes, Chanel, Theory and BCBG are just some of the names you’ll find here. You can also sell your own gently worn togs. 15900 Luanne Drive, Gaithersburg, 301926-7700, www.chictochic.com Clover Locals Michon Frick and Jenn O’Brien wanted to bring an urban chic sensibility to Gaithersburg and opened Clover in 2004. Inside are jeans by AG and Citizens of Humanity, clothing by Cynthia Steffe, Joie, James Perse and Velvet, as well as accessories, jewelry and handbags. The Kentlands, 502 Main St., Gaithersburg, 301-869-4544, www.shopclover.com Fleet Feet Sports Opened by runners and former CPAs Chris and Robyn Gault in 2005, the Gaithersburg outpost of the nationwide franchise is known for its running shoes and moisturewicking apparel. The store also offers running clinics, training programs and weekly group runs.
Flora’s Feathered Nest offers an eclectic mix of decorative items— from mirrors to garden décor.
Imagine Boutique Named for owner Nancy Strauss’ favorite song, Imagine offers boho and contemporary styles from Bailey44, SOLD Design Lab, Bobi, Silver Jeans and Sanctuary. In addition
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255 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, 301-9266442, www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com
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to handbags, shoes and accessories, you’ll also find jewelry. Men will appreciate the edited choices from Robert Graham. 26-A Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg, 301527-1694, www.shopimagineclothing.com South Moon Under See Bethesda listing.
team Robin Greger and Ilana Kashdin in 2002. In addition to an entire wall devoted to jeans, you’ll find stacks of fashion-forward tees, accessories, handbags and dressy tops. Some select lines for kids can be found here, as well. Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-299-0194
Washingtonian Center, 15 Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg, 301-948-0971, www.southmoonunder.com The Surrey Looking for place mats, a gift or a saddle? You’ll find it all here. Originally started in 1953 as a tack shop for English-style riders, The Surrey also sells an array of riding clothes, jewelry and hostess gifts. 14120 Darnestown Road, Darnestown, 301299-8225, www.thesurreysaddlery.com
POTOMAC B Scene One of the first denim stores in the area, B Scene was opened by mother-daughter
16th Annual
Emily Grace Women of all ages visit this airy shop at Park Potomac to peruse the latest in contemporary tops, bottoms and dresses from Rebecca Taylor, Vince, Joie and Alice + Olivia, as well as premium denim. Finish off the look with handbags from Rebecca Minkoff and Lauren Merkin. Park Potomac, 12525 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, 301-251-4184, www.shop emilygrace.com Flora’s Feathered Nest Though most of the items are new, owner Marcia Copenhaver hunts down weatheredlooking merchandise at shows and sales. Find an array of unique decorative birdcages,
upscale scented candles, mirrors, gifts and garden décor. 12211 River Road, Potomac, 301-765-0003, www.florasfeatherednest.com Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels Owner Deb Shalom searches out offbeat artisanal items for this shop, which sells a wide range of gifts. Among the finds: ceramics, decorative wine accessories, Judaica, and jewelry made of glass, crystals, copper, pearls, gemstones and silver. Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 7737 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, 301-299-5675, www.leilajewels.com Shoe Train During the back-to-school season, more than 100 kids per day will visit this classic children’s shoe store for footwear from Ugg Australia, Clarks, Stride Rite and Nike, among others. The kid-friendly staff also specializes in fitting children with orthotics and orthopedic footwear. Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-299-9662, www.shoetrainpotomac.com
April 17-19, 2015 The Bethesda Urban Partnership invites you to celebrate the diversity of literature with novelists, journalists, poets, children’s events and writing contest winners. All events take place throughout downtown Bethesda and are FREE!
Jonathan Allen, Kirstin Downey, Mark Leibovich, David Greene, Brando Skyhorse and more!
For a complete schedule, call 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 329
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Toy Castle Brian Mack, formerly of Toys Etc., and Carlos Aulestia, who also owns Toy Kingdom in Rockville, opened Toy Castle in Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall in 2010. The store features high-quality educational toys, books and games for children of all ages, and a very knowledgeable staff.
ROCKVILLE Appalachian Spring This store carries everything from artisan glassware, pottery and wooden items to quirky baby goods and birdhouses. Don’t miss the fine collection of kaleidoscopes and the glass cases of designer jewelry. Congressional Plaza, 1641 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-230-1380, www.appalachianspring.com As Kindred Spirits Women love to shop here for the unique jewelry made by local and international artists who regularly make appearances in the store. You’ll also find natural fiber clothing, Judaica, whimsical home décor and gifts. Congressional Plaza, 1611 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-984-0102, www.askindred spirits.com Child’s Play The Rockville location of this toy store is one of four in this family-owned chain that’s known for its hands-on service. Inside are children’s books and a wealth of toys, puzzles, games, art supplies and costumes.
On Cloud 9 specializes in clothing for teens.
Congressional Plaza, 1661 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-230-9040, www.barstons childsplay.com Cloud 9 Clothing Rockville Town Square’s Cloud 9 Clothing offers contemporary style for the young and the young at heart. Brand names for women include BB Dakota, Free People and Angie. Rockville Town Square, 130-B Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-340-1061, www.cloud9clothing.us Hudson Trail Outfitters, ltd. This locally-owned chainlet of five stores has been selling outdoor gear and apparel for men and women since 1971. All the bases are covered: snow sports, paddling, running, camping, hiking, cycling and swimming. Fans rave about the knowledgeable customer service. 12085 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-8814955, www.hudsontrail.com Mervis Diamond Importers This family-owned fine jewelry store specializes in loose diamonds and creations from designers including Tacori, Sasha Primak and Benchmark. All the standards are here: cuff links, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, engagement rings and wedding sets. 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-2310030, www.mervisdiamond.com
The Cottage Monet is a good place to find a gift.
Na Ohana Jewelry This family-owned shop in Federal Plaza on Rockville Pike specializes in customdesigned fine jewelry. One entire wall is devoted to pieces made with pearls of different colors and sizes. The store also does repairs. Federal Plaza, 12268-C Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-881-0141 On Cloud 9 Carol Gowling brought her four daughters on buying trips when this “tween-age” store first opened, allowing them to help choose the teen-and junior-targeted styles. You’ll
find casual wear as well as a unique selection of party dresses for bat mitzvahs. Potomac Woods Shopping Center, 1085 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-251-1331 RnJ Sports See Bethesda listing. 11910-R Parklawn Drive, Rockville, 301-8810021, www.rnjsports.com TennisTopia TennisTopia carries everything for the courts, including rackets, apparel, shoes and bags by tennis standards including Tail, Nike, Fila, Kaelin and ASICS. Owners Darrell and Amy Haines also provide team uniforms and racket re-stringing and demos. Congressional Village Shopping Center, 1701 Rockville Pike B10, Rockville, 301-230-9195, www.tennistopia.com Silver moon jewelry & Accessories Formerly Tiara Galleries & Gifts, this store has been in business since 1960 and prides itself on classic, established brands. Inside you’ll find women’s accessories by Alex and Ani and Pandora jewelry, Vera Bradley bags and Brighton accessories. Congressional Plaza, 1659 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-468-1122, www.tiara galleries.com The Cottage Monet Inside this bright and colorful shop is everything from thick Italian ceramic dishes to fun costume jewelry to placemats and glassware. Some of the many established lines featured here include Vietri, Vera Bradley, Mariposa, Thymes and Heartstrings. Rockville Town Square, 36 Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-279-2422, www.cottagemonet.com Toy Kingdom European toys abound in this store, which has been operating since 2007 in Rockville Town Square. You’ll find dolls, toys
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Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-299-0680, www.toycastlepotomac.com
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5502 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-686-4258, www.core72dc.com
and games for boys and girls from names such as Corolle, Lego, Ravensburger and Creativity for Kids. Carlos Aulestia, co-owner of Toy Village in Potomac, owns this store as well.
Full of Beans Unusual clothes and toys for infants and children fill this wonderland of a shop. Owner Mary Hutchens stocks fun things to wear (some of them handmade) from designers including Oeuf, Little Joule, Mimi & Maggie, Morgan & Milo, and the locally designed line by Petite Lucette. There are also artful toys by Maileg and others.
Uptown Cheapskate Nancy Kline and Emily Schramm, who are mother and daughter as well as business partners, offer cash on the spot or 25 percent more in store credit at this fashion resale shop. Brands include Ugg, J.Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Michael Kors. Kline, the former COO for South Moon Under, and Schramm go for items that are current—shirts, dresses, denim, jackets, handbags and accessories. 1032 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-7621089, www.uptowncheapskate.com
SILVER SPRING Dor- ne Corset Shoppe Hard-to-fit women will feel like they’ve found nirvana at this shop for ladies’ undergarments. But traditional-size women also are catered to, with bras, lacy corsets, colorful garters and body slimmers. There is a $5 fitting fee if you don’t buy anything (fittings are free if you do). 8126 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 301-5895151, www.dornecorset.com Footlights It’s everything ballet at this boutique for dancers, from girly tutus and stylish leotards to leg warmers and wraparound sweaters. There are also dancing shoes (jazz, ballroom, ballet slippers and pointe shoes), plus pointe cushions and other footgear. Balletthemed totes, pj’s and shirts round out the offerings. 938 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 301-3264351, www.dancefootlights.com Rostas This two-level boutique in the heart of downtown Silver Spring carries a broad range of classic and unique apparel from names such as Terani Couture, Alberto Makali and Samuel Dong. Find colorful scarves to silk gowns, along with casual wear, handbags and jewelry at prices 30 percent to 70 percent off retail. 8618 Fenton St., Silver Spring, 301-5887554, www.rostasboutique.com
Children’s store Full of Beans stocks unusual toys and clothes.
UPPER NW, Washington, D.C. Child’s Play See Rockville listing. 5536 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-244-3602, www.barstonschildsplay.com Catch Can See Kensington/North Bethesda listing. 5516 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-686-5316, www.catchcan.com Charles Schwartz & Son Jewelers Offerings at this posh jewelry shop range from contemporary pieces to Victorian, art deco and art nouveau estate designs. If you’re searching for a cuff dripping with diamonds or a statement South Sea pearl necklace, this is the place you’ll find it. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-363-5432, www. charlesschwartz.com Corby Collection Part of Chevy Chase’s Mazza Gallerie since 1992, this women’s boutique features a mix of dress, casual and career clothing. Sister stores, Wear it Well and Sequel, both in Bethesda, have some overlap in merchandise, but each has unique items, as well. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-686-5363, www.just perfectcollection.com Core 72 Whether you’re into running, cycling, yoga, Pilates, tennis, skiing or swimming, this store has the goods to outfit you. The colorful activewear and accessories come from boutique designers such as Hard Tail Forever, Letarte, Oiselle, Carve Designs and Balega. And many of the items are cool enough to wear on the street.
3813 Livingston St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-362-8566 Julia Farr This beautiful little shop is part boutique, part style salon, with owner Julia Farr ready to help customers redo their look or their entire closet. Find a well-edited selection of sportswear and dresses and accessories from designers including Raoul, Susana Monaco, JOE’S Jeans, Sachin & Babi, Halston Heritage and Number 35. The Julia Farr Collection is also carried here. 5232 44th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-3277, www.juliafarrdc.com Pampillonia Jewelers Classic design, a large selection of engagement rings and wedding bands, and handcrafted statement rings are what this sixthgeneration, family-owned jewelry store is known for. Pampillonia also has an extensive collection of art deco, Victorian and belle epoque estate and antique pieces from names like Tiffany and Cartier. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-363-6305, www.pampillonia.com Periwinkle The dazzling windows alone (especially around Halloween and Christmas) are worth a visit to this charming shop of gifts, chocolates, cards, stationary and holiday décor. Brands include Stonewall Kitchen gourmet goods, Thymes bath products, and Seda France candles. 3815 Livingston St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-3076, www.periwinklegiftsdc.com Tabandeh Owner Tabandeh Sizdahkhani fills her store with bold, edgy apparel and jewelry from more than 200 designers including Samira 13, Janis Savitt, Alexis Bittar and Iradj Moini. Find fashions from avant-garde designers such as Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-244-0777, www.tabandehjewelry.com n
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Rockville Town Square, 36-C Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-251-0220
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BY JOI LOUVIERE
Two Peas in a Pod
illustration by goodloe byron
With a little preparation, dogs and babies can become fast friends
For many people, a dog can be like a first child: the potty training, the endless hours together, the conclusion that no one’s pup is as cute as theirs. But when a real baby enters the mix, the hours of playtime lessen. And in its sadness, the dog might start looking for ways to regain its owners’ attention. Mary Huntsberry, an animal behaviorist in Gaithersburg, says it’s not uncommon for a dog to act out after a baby comes home from the hospital. “If they haven’t been socialized with babies, young children, they’re probably going to be pretty stressed out by it,” she says. Experts say dogs can get anxious when their routines are changed or they are introduced to new smells or sounds. One way to minimize that anxiety is to get the dog used to changes in advance—if you think you might need a dog-walker during the baby’s first few weeks, hire one a few months before the baby arrives so the dog doesn’t have to experience too many changes at once. Trainer Michelle Mange of Your Dog’s Friend in Rockville is often hired by families to come into their home and assess their dog’s behavior before the arrival of a baby. Mange says many
people use lifelike dolls to get dogs used to the sight of their owner feeding, holding or rocking a baby. She says others play a recording of realistic baby noises such as crying, squealing or laughing (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends Terry Ryan’s Sounds Good CD: Babies). Until you know how your dog will behave around a baby, make sure to watch over any interactions. Elise Geldon, a veterinarian at Liberty Falls Veterinary Clinic in Potomac, says, “I would never let a dog and a baby interact without supervision.” Geldon says it’s important that dog owners continue to give their pet personalized attention after a baby arrives. That’s what Brinsley and Samantha Lawrence of Silver Spring did with Saydee, their 3-year-old bichon Havanese, and Eliana, their 6-monthold daughter. “We showed Saydee the same amount of love and affection as before,” Samantha says. The couple also never prohibited Saydee from getting close to Eliana. “We made her feel like [the baby] was her sister,” Brinsley says.
Mange worked with one couple who said they planned to take their two dogs and baby for walks together, so she took the expecting parents outside to practice walking the dogs while pushing an empty stroller. While they were walking, one of the owners tripped and the dogs broke free, running down the street. Instinctively, the owners ran after the dogs and the stroller began to roll down the hill. Erin and Brian Murphy of Rockville bought their black lab, Wilber, on the same day they learned that they were expecting their son, Daniel, now 22 months. Erin says Wilber put his paw on Daniel’s car seat the first day Daniel was home, which made the couple uneasy. They reached out to their pediatrician and friends for advice, and eventually sent Wilber away for a week to Canine Obedience Unlimited in Frederick. Wilber learned to “come” and behaved much better on a leash. Erin now cherishes the bond between her two babies. “Wilber was the first thing Daniel laughed at,” she says. n Joi Louviere is a former editorial intern.
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Mountain Magic
Beautiful weather and the lush backdrop of Maryland’s Catoctin Mountain provided the perfect setting for the June wedding of Eric Jan and Esther Lee. The couple: Eric Jan, 31, is an optometrist who grew up in Rockville and attended Thomas S. Wootton High School. Esther Lee, 24, who grew up in Howard County, attends pharmacy school in Washington, D.C. The couple lives in Rockville. The wedding: The wedding and reception were held June 22 at the Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, Maryland. Where they met: A birthday party in Washington, D.C., which the couple attended with mutual friends. First date: A cooking class during which they prepared a modern version of Thanksgiving dinner. The proposal: Eric took Esther horseback-riding in Marriottsville, Maryland, where she grew up, and then to a restaurant they used to frequent at the beginning of their relationship. Later, Eric took Esther to get a massage and then to his parents’ house, where their immediate family members were waiting around a lighted gazebo and a bonfire. Esther’s dad, Jun Lee, gave a short speech and gave Eric permission to propose. Wedding theme: Mint with coral accents 334 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Number of guests: 300 What made the event so special: Eric and Esther wanted the day to reflect them as a couple. They decided to have a moment to themselves for a first look, and to skip a first dance. “We got to spend a lot of time with all our guests even before the wedding and took pictures with them,” Esther says. “Our fathers both blessed our marriage through prayer and words of encouragement.” Favorite moment: Their first look. “When you see each other for the first time in all the wedding gear,” Esther says, “it really starts to sink in that you’re going to be spending the rest of your life with that person.” Favorite details: The coral and mint tones that artfully tied everything together, and the natural light from the windows that filled the reception room. Cost- cutting tips: Esther says to make as many items as you can yourself, especially things that guests might throw away, such as programs, invitations and party favors. “When you buy a wedding dress, make sure they order it in the correct waist size,” Esther says. “Sometimes they order too large and charge you more for the alterations. You can always rent veils and other accessories, so don’t waste money on something you’ll only wear once.” Gown: Esther wore a traditional white wedding dress with layers of tulle. The honeymoon: A two-week trip to Oahu and Maui, Hawaii The details: Invitations were by the bride; hair and makeup, flowers and the cake by Jennifer Chung of Annandale, Virginia; music by Scorpion Rose; and photography by Elizabeth Fogarty. n 336 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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Left to right: Norya Benachenhou, Carla Goycochea, Julie Nguyen, Ivetta Karapetian, Erika Argueta, Tiany Galante.
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Take the Kids In Baltimore, The Maryland Zoo’s Penguin Coast is home to one of North America’s largest African penguin colonies and a successful breeding program for this endangered species. This new permanent exhibit, which opened last September, offers numerous vantage points to watch more than 60 penguins swim, climb and waddle in a re-creation
of their natural habitat along South Africa’s coast. You can see the birds above the water from pathways and piers that surround the exhibit, or spy them from underwater viewing posts as they zip through an 8-foot swim channel and bob in tidal pools. Learn more about their habits during the African penguin keeper chats (1
p.m. daily and included with regular admission price of $18 for adults, $13 for children 2-11, free for children under 2). For an extra $45 (per adult and child age 2 and up), a program called Penguin Encounters allows you to meet the animals “beak to cheek” during a guided tour. For more information, visit www.marylandzoo.org.
Courtesy of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; Courtesy of The Maryland zoo; Courtesy of Keswick Hall; Map by FreeVectorMaps.com
By Christine Koubek
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Go Now! The Philadelphia Flower Show is the
FLY AWAY
Planning a spring break trip? Island and Mexican getaways are now within closer reach thanks to Southwest Airlines’ expanded roster of flights direct from Baltimore/Washington International Airport. When it was added in April 2013, San Juan, Puerto Rico, was Southwest’s first destination beyond the contiguous states. Since then, the airline has debuted direct flights to Aruba, Jamaica, Nassau (Bahamas), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Cancun, Mexico. Service to San Jose, Costa Rica, is scheduled to begin in June.
world’s largest indoor horticulture event. Held almost every year since 1829, this weeklong show is a 10-acre floral fantasyland. Each year, world-renowned landscape designers transform the Pennsylvania Convention Center according to a theme. This year’s show, which runs from Feb. 28 to March 8, is called “Celebrate the Movies” and will include an art deco theater marquee of flowers and lights in blazing colors, and a garden that reimagines 1920s movie palaces with columns of Italian cypress and palm trees, grand chandeliers of blossoms and jewels, and hundreds of elegant calla lilies. And that’s just the grand entrance. In addition to the displays, the flower show hosts competitions (akin to the Olympics of horticulture), early-morning VIP tours, gardening lectures, and after-dark theme nights (such as a Girls’ Night Out and an LGBT party) with entertainment, food and drinks. Throughout the convention center, you’ll find small restaurants inspired by the movies— think the Old West and a 50s malt shop. Tickets for the show, special events within the show, and hotel package information, are all available at www.theflowershow.com.
HIT THE LINKS Luxury resort Keswick Hall’s new Pete Dye-designed golf course near Charlottesville, Virginia, opened in September and was named to Golf Digest’s prestigious 2014 Best New Courses list. Set within the resort’s 600-acre property, the course has a 16th hole modeled after the famous 15th hole at North Berwick in Scotland, and the 18th hole offers a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the inn. Keswick Hall offers a stay-and-play package that starts at $299 (superior room, single occupancy for one night) and includes one round of golf with a cart. Additional guest charge: $80. For more information, visit www.keswick.com. BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 339
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Let it
Photo by Douglas Dear
Fly
Following in her father’s footsteps, a writer discovers the peaceful finesse of fly-fishing in the Virginia Piedmont By Amy Brecount White
The Rose River in Madison County, Virginia
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Rose River is popular with “Western-style” fly fishermen because it’s easy to wade into its freestone bottom without muddying the waters and spooking fish.
A brown trout
I’ve never been one for baitand-tackle fishing—casting your lure, sitting on your duff and waiting for the orange bobber to dunk. Fly-fishing, on the other hand, has always seemed like more of an art. Aficionados of fly-fishing (mostly men) speak of its pristine settings and even the fish themselves with a kind of reverence. Books and movies— from Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It to David James Duncan’s The River Why—have romanticized the
sport, intimating that there’s something mystical about the connection between man, rod, water and fish. The fact that my father, brother, husband and son all count among the faithful only made me more curious over the years. Which is what ultimately compelled me last spring to book a guided flyfishing outing at Rose River Farm in Madison County, Virginia. I love those verdant hills and valleys within viewing range of Old Rag Mountain, whose craggy top I’ve climbed a dozen times.
On an April afternoon, my husband, Pete, and I head west in traffic during a downpour. But the next morning dawns clear and cool, with mist curling through the valley below our cozy hilltop yurt. As the primary accommodation at Rose River Farm, the yurt is far more luxurious than its name suggests, featuring 17-foot ceilings and leather furniture. I want to savor my coffee and the gorgeous view from our porch, but my guide awaits. I make a mental note to book the place on another occasion for a writing retreat. With its pastoral setting and stocked stream, the 200-acre farm—which also produces grass-fed Angus beef and
Photos by Ed Felker
Thereabouts, cellphones are blessedly useless, and the air has a cool and tangy sweetness almost year-round.
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Photo by Amy Brecount White
Photos by Ed Felker
peaches—is an ideal place to cast your first line. The Rose River springs up just south of Hawksbill Mountain, the highest point in Shenandoah National Park, and winds for nearly 9 miles (roughly a mile and a half through the farm). Doug Dear, a former investment banker from Northern Virginia and now a private investor who owns the farm, describes the main attraction as “Western-style” fly-fishing, meaning it’s easy to wade into the river’s freestone bottom without muddying the waters and spooking the fish. As a bonus, the stream is also more open than others in the area, so beginners have plenty of room to cast without getting their lines tangled in overhanging trees. Before I can begin, I have a few knots to master, including the clinch knot, the double clinch and the surgeon’s knot, which my guide, Gary Burwell, demonstrates with ease. We spend a leisurely 20 minutes practicing tying in a gazebo that overlooks the water. By the end, my fly is knotted to my tippet (a light, nearly invisible piece of line to fool the fish), which is then knotted to my leader (a heavier transitional line), which is knotted to my weighted and colored line. Fly-fishing is named for the unweighted, manmade lures that—if all goes well—land on the water as lightly as a fly. (Except that the flies in this case are decoys made of feathers, animal hair and beads.) Casting depends on a rhythmic coordination of hand, rod and line. Although the April air still has a wintry nip, it’s warm in the sun. “There’s a bunch of fish rising right here in front of us,” Burwell motions to Pete, eyeing the signs of an active insect “hatch.” Ninety percent of the time trout feed underwater, he explains, but during a hatch, the fish feed on the surface, leaving telltale circles. Pete picks a Black Caddis fly that resembles the bug that’s hatching this morning and casts nearby, while Burwell
Fly-fishing is named for the unweighted, manmade lures that land on the water as lightly as a fly. Casting depends on a rhythmic coordination of hand, rod and line. steers me toward a farm pond where I can practice. “The casting motion is like picking up an old-time phone,” he explains. “You want to bend the elbow and try to keep the wrist straight.” To achieve this stance, I’m wearing a wrist brace that attaches my right hand to the rod, so I can’t bend it even if I try. I cast with my right, noting how the rod “loads” with energy as it flexes back and stops, then releases that energy down the line as I move the rod forward. After an hour of casting practice, I move to a stand of birch trees on the riverbank to try my luck.
Seasoned anglers will tell you there’s a sixth sense to knowing where the trout are hiding. In the lingo of the sport, a fly fisherman graciously “presents” his fly to the fish, which then decides whether or not to strike. I venture into the clear water in borrowed waders and cast across to a deeper spot. With a small amount of weight added to my line, my particular fly—a “wet” fly type known
Lures, such as these Little Black Stoneflies, are made of feathers, hair and beads.
as a Woolly Bugger—is designed to sink and imitate the crayfish below the water. (Dry flies stay on the surface.) “Keep your rod tip low,” Burwell says, “so when that fish hits and you pull back, you have a good chance of setting the hook. You gotta be really quick.” Apparently, I’m not half bad, because my strike indicator soon dips below the surface. Almost instinctively, my finger clamps down on the line, and I pull the rod back to my ear. A moment later, I feel the satisfying tug of a 15-inch rainbow trout tight on my line. Following Burwell’s instructions, I reel the fish in slow and steady, allowing it to tire itself out from thrashing, and soon it’s in my net. Burwell expertly removes the hook and tells me to wet my hands so I don’t harm the fish. The river is catch-and-release, so I bend to submerge my prize, taking a moment to admire the trout’s patterned scales and pinkish streak before setting it free. Holding the fish firmly, I rock it from side to side in the water until it knows up from down. Then there’s a press of raw muscle against my hands, a splash, and it’s gone.
Four types of trout reside in these waters, according to the Rose
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River Farm website: wild Rose rainbows, wild brook trout, wild brown trout and stocked jumbo rainbows. Dear stocks the stream in season, from September to mid-June, to keep the levels high, though he inevitably loses some fish to predators, including great blue herons and less-adept fishermen. One of the strategic challenges of flyfishing is choosing a fly that will prove convincing to the fish. Serious fly fishermen often tie their own flies (my dad had his own lap desk for it). Burwell sells his own creations at the farm for about $2 each, including the “Rose River Special”—a Woolly Bugger made with “a gold bead head, light olive body, grizzly hackle and black marabou tail.” Other flies have equally exotic names, like the Zebra Midge, the Royal Coachman and the Klinkhammer.
For all the colorful flies that exist, I soon realize there are just as many metaphors for fly-fishing itself. “It’s kind of like playing chess,” says Beau Beasley, a Fairfax County firefighter and author of Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic. He’s also the director of the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival, which takes place in April (see page 345). “You gotta think a couple steps ahead and try to cast above [the fish] or beside him and get his attention.” I have my own analogy. Vinyasa flow yoga, which I practice regularly, is known as “meditation in motion,” and I find that there’s something similarly meditative about the mechanics of fly-fishing. First you cast—backward, forward, backward, forward—so that your line loads and sails. Next, you “mend the line” to get any “belly” (a swell in the wrong
direction) out. Then you “strip the line,” gently pulling on it with your free hand so the fly moves through the water, tantalizing your target. When it’s clear that no self-respecting trout is buying this one, you reel your line in, load your rod, and cast again. And again. Casey Peltier has found a similar tranquility in the rhythms of fly-fishing. “It requires complete concentration and sucks you into it,” says the Falls Church resident, who serves as secretary of the Chesapeake Women Anglers (www.ches apeakewomenanglers.org), an area group that promotes the sport to women. “For several hours,” she says, “all of those cares and concerns are just gone.” Fly-fishing has even been touted for its healing qualities. Dear is the founding chairman of the board of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a program that
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The cabins at Rose River Farm were built in the style of modern Mongolian yurts.
advocates fly-fishing as a therapeutic activity for veterans and wounded warriors. The annual “2-Fly Tournament” he’s hosted for the past eight years at Rose River Farm has raised well over $1 million for the cause.
B y t h e e n d o f the day I’ve caught and released 10 fish, including one “brookie” (the rarer native trout), a feat that warrants bragging rights. Already setting my sights on my next outing, I’m happy to learn that fly-fishing opportunities are available year-round. Kaitlin Groundwater, who heads the fishing department at the Orvis store in Woodbridge, says she fishes for brookies in the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area (located in Madison and Greene counties) in fall and winter. Come summer, she heads to Pohick Bay and Pohick Creek near Lorton to fish for bass and panfish. Closer to home, Peltier recommends Fletcher’s Cove in Georgetown during the spring shad run, and Riverbend Park in Great Falls for smallmouth bass in August. (Dear closes his farm in the summer, so the fish don’t get stressed by the warmer conditions.) I’m not sure where my next flyfishing endeavor will take me, but as the saying goes: Trout don’t live in ugly places. I suspect my new hobby will lead me to many sparkling waters. n Amy Brecount White hopes the presentation of her fly will be acceptable to many trout this spring.
photo by ed felker
More Fishing
Resources
Orvis sporting goods stores in Arlington and Bethesda (www. orvis.com) offer free “Fly Fishing 101” classes. Call stores for details.
If You Go Rose River Farm (www.rose riverfarm.com) offers fly-fishing for trout at $95 per rod, per day, with groups limited to five rods per day. (Preference is given to those who are also renting a yurt.) Check the farm’s Facebook page for updates on availability, as it tends to book up months in advance. Reserve Gary Burwell or another guide at the farm (rod price not included) for $80 for a half-day or $180 for a full day (a second person is $130). This includes equipment and ties. The Orvis store in Woodbridge (www.orvis.com/woodbridge) offers day classes ($200 per person) at the farm on April 17 and May 15. Virginia requires a valid fishing license (www.dgif. virginia.gov/licenses). Other nearby activities include horseback riding, hiking, kayaking and vineyard tours. For more information, visit www.madison-va.com and www.virginiawine.org. ›› where to Stay Rose River Farm maintains three cabins (yurts) on 20 acres across the road from the farm. Surprisingly roomy, each yurt sleeps eight, offering four double beds, a full kitchen, two full baths, a fly-tying desk and use of the pond and surrounding land. Yurt rentals are $250 per night or $1,500 per week. Graves Mountain Lodge (www. gravesmountain.com), located less than 2
Great Feathers Fly Shop (www.great feathers.com), roughly 20 miles north of Baltimore in Sparks, Maryland, offers classes and guided trips to the Gunpowder River in Maryland. A half-day is $225 per angler or $295 for two. A full day is $295 for one person ($350 for two) and
miles from Rose River Farm, offers both motel and cabin lodging, starting at $78 a day per person (double occupancy). Many rates include three hearty country meals, which are served family style in the rustic dining room. Belle Meade Bed and Breakfast (www.bellemeade.net), roughly 12 miles away in Sperryville, offers rooms and a cabin starting at $160 per night. The B&B has a pool and 138 acres to explore. ›› where to Eat Thornton River Grille (www. thorntonrivergrille.com), located about 20 minutes away in Sperryville, offers fine dining in a casual setting with entrées ranging from beef tenderloin with tarragon butter to pan-seared scallops. It’s About Thyme (www.thymeinfo. com), about 20 minutes away in charming Culpeper, serves dishes ranging from duck paté to pot roast. Its sister restaurant, The Copper Fish, shares the same building and specializes in seafood, including a raw bar. The Mountaineer Café (540-9486815, no website) in Madison is ideal for breakfast or a quick bite. Pie in the Sky (www.pieintheskypizza. com) in Madison offers 36 beers on tap, pizza, pastas and desserts.
includes lunch. The Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival (www.vaflyfishing festival.com) is April 11-12 on the South River in Waynesboro, Virginia. Admission is $20 per day per adult (kids under 16 are free with an adult) and includes free casting lessons with gear provided.
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Special Advertising Section
summer camps Camp
Type
Gender
Ages
Location
S
American Volleyball Camp
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Special Advertising Section
Field Trips
Horses
Water sports
Essential information on 29 summer camps Specialties Website
Phone
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bigtrain.org/summercamp
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headfirstcamps.com
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GP Camps offers the following sports: Basketball, golf, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, wrestling, baseball, football Daily, on-site swimming instruction; Create your own path in science & Technology, Sports, Music and Art. Day Camps, Sports Camps, Specialty Camps; 3 premium locations; character and confidence building programming in an organized and positively charged environment.
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Fun foreign language for kids in Spanish, French, Mandarin, German and Arabic, taught by nativespeaking teachers. Special anniversary pricing. Horsemanship program, Outdoor Adventures program, Onsite swimming pool, Amazing Race DC teen program, and extended programs into August including an Aquatics camp
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lowellschool.org
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onenessfamily.org
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Inspire creativity, exercise imaginations, promote artistic risk-taking and explore ways to tell stories through theater.
roundhousetheatre.org
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Spy Camp is filled with top secret briefings & activities that put spy skills to the test. Recruits will hone their tradecraft, learn from real spies, and run training missions.
spymuseum.org/spycamp
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summeratnorwood.org
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valleymill.com
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summer Camps
Counting Down the Days to
Camp Open House Sunday March 15, 1pm Visit barrie.org/camp for more information Ages four to fourteen 13500 Layhill Rd, Silver Spring
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summer Camps
Valley Mill Day Camp www.valleymill.com Spring & Summer Call 301-948-0220 Kayaking Swimming Rock Climbing Horseback Riding and more..
Transportation Provided
Camp Strawderman Established 1929
Visit us for a Camp Tour 3 /22, 4/19 and 5/3 From 11am to 4pm
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YMCA Bethesda Chevy Chase
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More than just a Day Camp, our programs allows campers to step outside their comfort zones and try new and exciting things. See where their next adventure will take them. DON’T WAIT. REIGSTER TODAY!
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summer Camps
summer camp for boys and girls Pre-K - Grade 8
9 Weeklong SeSSionS June 8 - August 7, 2015
Awesome adventures include archery, robotics, cooking, hip-hop, and more. There’s something for everyone. Day camp located in the heart of Bethesda on the Washington Episcopal School campus – open rain, shine, or heat wave! Before Care and After Care available. Check out the Sleepaway Camp for children entering Grades 3 - 8. Starting March 1, private tours of campus facilities available. Please call 301-652-7878 to schedule a tour.
Register online at www.w-e-s.org/summer today!
WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 5600 Little Falls Parkway, Bethesda, MD 20816 | www.w-e-s.org | 301-652-7878
301-652-7878
Join us for our open house! Saturd ay, March 7th, 2015 10 AM - 1 PM
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summer Camps
AMERICAN
VOLLEYBALL CAMPS Hosted in Bender Arena on the campus of
American University
ADV. HITTER/BLOCKER July 20-22 MIDDLE SCHOOL July 20-22 July 23-24 YOUTH July 20-22 PROSPECT July 23-26
Express Yourself Summer Programs at
SERVING July 31 LIBERO SETTER HITTER July 25-26 Aug 1-2 ALL-SKILLS August 4-7
Grades K - 6 in Silver Spring
Grades 7 - 12 in Bethesda
Head Coach Barry Goldberg
5 time Patriot League Coach of the Year 2013 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year 14 NCAA tournament appearances - Sweet 16 in 2013 26 seasons at American University
www.americanvolleyballcamps.com
Register Today!
For registration form, call 301.585.1225 or visit www.roundhousetheatre.org
Washington International School
Junior Camp:
June 22 - July 31
Senior Camp:
June 22 – July 10 July 13 – July 31
(One flex week also available) Daily On-Site Swim instruction Bus Transportation & Extended Day Available
PASSPORT TO SUMMER
2015
Specialty Camps | August Camps
Language Immersion: French, Spanish, Chinese & ESOL Ages 3 to 16 | June 22–August 7 www.wis.edu/15wiscamp | 202.243.1791 Open House Dates: March 14 & May 9 352 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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summer Camps
HALF & FULL DAY OPTIONS
2015
AGE S 3–1 1
SUMMER PROGRAM Featuring our Fantastic Playground and New Pool!
Create Adventures and Lasting Memories. Swimming, Outdoor Adventures, Gymnastics, Languages, Music, Drama, Cooking, Science, Field Trips and MUCH, MUCH more. For more information visit www.beauvoirschool.org/summer 3500 Woodley Road, NW • Washington, DC 20016
Friends Make It Fun ONLINE RATION REGIST G BE INS RY 1 JANUA
Session 1: June 22–July 10 Session 2: July 13–31 Last Call!: August 3–7
Ages 2 3/4–14 8:00 am–3:15 pm Aftercare Available
Lowell's “Eight Acres in the City” offers an expansive, relaxed camp with experienced teachers and caring counselors who understand child development and love to have fun. Highlights include: “Friendship” theme • Pen Pal program Summer Film Festival New Black Box Theater Expanded Theater Program STEM offerings • Horseback Riding • Go-Karts End of summer “Festival of Friends”
SUMMER IN THE CITY SPEND THE SUMMER AT BURKE! SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Edmund Burke School’s “Summer in the City” programs are fun and educational in a relaxed and convenient location two blocks from the Van Ness Metro in Northwest DC. For more information please visit:
www.burkeschool.org/summer
Summer Programs Open House Sunday, March 15, 2015 1:00 pm–3:00 pm 1640 Kalmia Road, NW Washington, DC 20012 (202) 577-2006
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4920 Strathmore Ave. • Kensington, MD 20895 BethesdaMagazine.com | March/April 2015 355
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etc. f l a s h b ac k
BY MARK WALSTON
Operation Whitecoat
The Cold War elicited a range of American responses, from carefully planned, advanced technology defenses to primal paranoia. Washington, D.C., was regarded as the primary target for a communist incursion. Residents of Montgomery County waited in trepidation for the wail of the air-raid siren; children practiced ducking under their desks in school; and a ring of Nike missile bases stretched across the county and around the city, ready to defend D.C. from aerial bombardment. Chief among the fears of attack was the specter of what then was called “germ warfare,” in which biological agents would be released into the air, water and food supplies, sickening huge swaths of the population. During World War II and the Korean War, Army scientists sought to better understand the effects of biological agents on the human body by testing them on animals, but those experiments brought uncertain results. Consequently, the Army created a program that would use volunteers to test the effects of a variety of weaponized diseases. That program, which began in 1954, became known as Operation Whitecoat. Three sites in the Washington, D.C.,
area were selected to participate in the experiments: a main facility at Camp Detrick in Frederick; the Walter Reed hospital in D.C.; and what was known as the Annex at Forest Glen, a rambling installation in the woods north of Silver Spring that was a women’s college before being taken over by the government in 1942 under the War Powers Act. The property, which included dormitories and classrooms, was first used by the government as a convalescence and rehabilitation facility for soldiers. After the end of the Korean War, and as the Cold War began to escalate, the site became involved in germ warfare experiments. Operation Whitecoat volunteers were found in the followers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Although they willingly served their country when drafted, their faith prohibited them from bearing arms. As a result, many became medics. Now the Army was offering the recruits the opportunity to serve in an entirely different way: as volunteers in biological testing. The Seventh-day Adventist soldiers, who came from all over the country, proved perfect subjects for the study: most were in excellent health, and none of them drank, smoked or used caffeine.
A volunteer, left, participates in an experiment at the Annex at Forest Glen in Silver Spring conducted by the U.S. Army’s Operation Whitecoat, which ran from 1954 to 1972.
Subjects were exposed to a variety of diseases in a contraption at Camp Detrick nicknamed “the Eight Ball,” a large spherical room where the subjects strapped on face masks and inhaled whatever was pumped in—sometimes just air, other times aerosols that contained pathogens that caused diseases such as Q fever and the plague. Treatments were then devised and tested; important new vaccines were discovered. About 2,300 soldiers participated in the program, and although illnesses occurred, sometimes severe, official figures attribute no deaths to the experiments. The program ended in 1972, after the signing of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, which banned the “development, production and stockpiling of microbes or their poisonous products.” The Eight Ball was dismantled, and the old women’s college buildings at the Annex at Forest Glen were recently redeveloped into an upscale housing community called National Park Seminary. n Mark Walston is an author and historian raised in Bethesda and now living in Olney. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
Photo illustration by alice kresse
A former women’s college in Silver Spring was once a test site for biological weapons
358 March/April 2015 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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WHEN BUSINESSES DO GOOD, THE COMMUNITY PROFITS. As members of Community Profits Montgomery, the following businesses have committed to give at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings back to the community or $100,000 to nonprofits serving Montgomery County. To learn more, or to join in our pledge, visit CommunityProfitsMontgomery.org
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etc.
By Kathleen Seiler Neary
f a m i ly p o rt ra i t
family portrait Kiran Ghia and Rahul Rajkumar moved to Montgomery County in 2012 from Brookline, Massachusetts, and in August 2014, bought a home in Bethesda’s Wyngate neighborhood. They have two children: son, Zaki, 3, and daughter, Rumi, 21 months. What they do: Kiran is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and Rahul is trained as an internist and now works at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. What Surprises Them About Montgomery County: “We’re struck by how international Bethesda is,” Rahul says. “Our children attend day care and their class has people from every part of the world.” They were pleased to stumble onto the India School, a South Asian cultural center close to their house. “It just warmed our hearts that this community offers things like that,” Kiran says.
Rahul Rajkumar with daughter, Rumi; wife, Kiran Ghia; and son, Zaki.
What They Wish They’d Known Before They Moved Here: “The summers here are really hot,” Rahul says. “We stayed inside a lot more.” But they’ve found a flip side to the heat. Says Kiran: “We don’t need to walk outside in our sleeping bags in the wintertime like we did in Boston!”
photo by skip brown
Where They Went on Their Last Date: The couple booked a baby sitter and sneaked away for an afternoon date at Wildwood Kitchen in Bethesda while the kids were napping. “It was a perfect lunch,” Kiran says. “We enjoyed the ambiance, and the food was delicious.”
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