Bethesda Magazine: May-June 2022 Digital Edition by MoCo360

PICKLEBALL PASSION CLIMATE CHANGE IN MOCO STUDYING PSYCHEDELICS ●

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MAY/JUNE 2022 $4.95

Local Bakeries A Guided Tour

Sweet & Savory Treats Globe-Trotting Delights Cravings, Confessed

- Jack Fitzgerald Chairman and Founder Fitzgerald AutoMalls

Readers’ Pick, Best Dealership for Pre-Owned Cars

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It’s good to know the

Wydler Brothers.

Steve Wydler voted Best Real Estate Agent

Hans Wydler voted Best Real Estate Agent

Wydler Brothers voted Best Real Estate Team

2020

2021

Steve and Hans declared a truce... Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 1313 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 | 202.386.6330

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THE POWER OF POSITIVE ENERGY

Cancer-defeating precision at Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center Positive energy is a powerful force. Especially when it’s harnessed by world leaders in cancer care. Here physicians and scientists join forces to give you a broader range of perspectives and options, while providing the greatest possible precision. We harness the positive energy, channeling it to move cancer care forward — for you and for all of us. Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C. hopkinsproton.org

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TURN IT UP Peace Out, boring dental visits! Welcome to the bright, clean, coastal vibe of DC Pediatric Smiles – now offering orthodontic services, including braces and Invisalign®. Kids love our fun, upbeat approach to dentistry. Parents appreciate our strict safety precautions including curbside check-in and contactless reception. Bethesda Magazine, Readers’ Pick, Best Pediatric Dentist, 2021 Washingtonian, Top Dentist, 2021

Dr Robin Choi

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Pediatric Dentist DC Pediatric Smiles

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the face of

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“Montgomery College is at the nexus of education and technology, workforce development, and innovation.’’ —Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, Montgomery College President

Welcome, Dr. Jermaine F. Williams ontgomery College is proud to welcome our new president, Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, a national leader in educational access, equity, and achievement. For 75 years, Montgomery College has provided quality higher education that empowers students to change their lives.

Montgomery College Is Ready For You At Half the Cost of Four-Year Public Institutions Several new facilities on three campuses and other locations Award-winning faculty and a 17:1 student/teacher ratio Competitive honors programs Personalized support Seamless transfer pathways to University of Maryland and other prestigious schools In-demand programs with shortened tracks to start or change your career

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NEXT-LEVEL CARE RIGHT NEXT DOOR American Stroke Association Elite Gold Recognition. We administer life-saving tPA in under 30 minutes almost 100% of the time—far exceeding the Maryland average of 20%. Our stroke patients recover without disability at a rate more than double the state’s average.

The Washington Post Top Workplace for 2021.

A cancer center with integrative therapies, wellness programs, support and cutting-edge research.

Maryland Patient Safety Center Awards for innovation in COVID-19 care.

We treat 91,000+ emergency patients each year.

National Gold Recognition from the American Heart Association for one of only two nationally accredited Chest Pain Centers in the county.

Pioneering robotic joint surgery technologies in the region.

Mental health care for all ages and pioneering mental health research for children.

An awardwinning Level III NICU and high tech, secure maternity unit with private birthing suites and a personalized experience.

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TRIPLENEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10% to 20% of all breast cancer cases.

Triple-negative breast cancers can be challenging to treat, but treatment can manage them in many cases. Bonnie Sun, M.D., a Johns Hopkins surgeon specializing in breast cancer treatment, explains triple-negative breast cancer, the outlook for patients and reasons for hope.

EVERY CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS UNIQUE, but in general, triple-negative breast cancer is a more aggressive type of tumor with a faster growth rate, higher risk of metastasis and recurrence risk. Therefore, it often requires chemotherapy as part of the treatment. Surgery is also an important part of treatment, but if a tumor is small and localized, mastectomy may not be necessary. Chemotherapy can shrink triple-negative breast tumors, and patients can become candidates for less-extensive surgery. Triple-negative cancers are more common in patients with hereditary genetic mutations, and genetic counseling and testing should be considered.

WHAT DOES “TRIPLE NEGATIVE” MEAN IN TERMS OF BREAST CANCER? Normal breast cells have receptors that respond to hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which allow them to grow and regress in response to the

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hormone level. Hormone receptors may or may not be present in breast cancer. About two-thirds of breast cancers are “positive” and contain these receptors like normal breast cells do. These are less aggressive cancers that are less likely to need chemo and are often treated with hormone therapy and surgery. Radiation may or may not be needed. HER2/neu (hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein molecule that has a role in cell proliferation in normal cells. In some breast cancers, this protein is overly produced or “positive.” For HER2-positive tumors, there is a specific medication that targets this protein.

‘

r m

Triple-negative breast cancers are not positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or HER2 protein. “Since these targets (hormone receptors and HER2) are absent in triple-negative breast cancer,

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chemotherapy is needed,” Sun says. “Triple-negative breast cancer is often very sensitive to chemotherapy, which, despite the side effects, is an effective Bonnie Sun, M.D. treatment that can save lives. Because this is an aggressive cancer, treatment is aggressive also. But there are several ways we can address it.”

WHAT IS THE RISK FOR TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER? The disease can affect anyone but is more likely to show up in those who are:

• Younger than age 50 (most receptor-positive breast

cancers show up in people age 60 and older). Black or Latinx. • • Living with a genetic condition called BRCA mutation that increases the risk for breast cancer and other forms of cancer. Most cancers diagnosed in people with the BRCA1 mutation are triple negative.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER?

“Chemotherapy is almost always called for,” Sun says. “Chemo can downstage tumors (shrink them or make them less aggressive).” While Sun says chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer can be intense, she adds, the regimen can be tailored to the individual and adjusted for older or frailer patients.

‘‘

In those cases where we get complete response, we know we gave you the right medicine and your prognosis is good.” “Surgery for triple-negative breast cancer does not always have to be a mastectomy,” Sun says. “Effective chemotherapy done first opens the possibility of less-invasive surgical options that are less of an ordeal for the patient. If the tumor is small enough after chemo, outpatient procedures or a lumpectomy may be possible.”

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Surgical samples of the cancerous tissues taken during surgery can provide more information on the cancer and how it is behaving so chemotherapy can be tailored accordingly. Radiation therapy involves beams of radiation to destroy cancer cells, using various techniques to prevent damage to healthy surrounding tissue. Medical treatments are being tested on triple-negative breast tumors in clinical trials. Newer medicines called poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors can destroy cancer cells and are now FDA-approved to treat triple-negative breast cancer. Immunotherapy helps your body see the malignant cells as harmful invaders so your immune system can fight the cancer. Though not usually a first-line treatment for this type of cancer, immunotherapy can help certain patients in very specific situations, Sun notes.

‘‘

Immunotherapy and PARP inhibitors are very exciting, and there’s lots of research going on, including here at Johns Hopkins.” WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS FOR TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER? A good treatment result depends on several factors. “Chemotherapy is what can really make a difference in the outcome. The size of the invasive part of the tumor and the number of involved lymph nodes can also greatly influence your prognosis,” Sun says but adds that, if the cancer has spread (metastasized), the prognosis is less certain. “There is hope, even with this serious diagnosis, and staying optimistic is essential. It can be stressful and scary to go through chemo, but positive thinking can make a difference.

‘‘

You have to believe that it’s doing you good, and for most people, it does.”

hopkinscancerdc.org

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May/June 2022 | Volume 19 Issue 3

contents THE FOOD ISSUE 114 OUR GUIDE TO LOCAL BAKERIES

The cakes have been baked, the dough proofed and the custard tarts set. Our restaurant critic sampled treats and peeked behind the scenes at bakeries around the county. Here are some of his favorite finds. BY DAVID HAGEDORN

128 HOLDING ON

Family recipes can be cherished objects—but the digital age is changing our ways in the kitchen

Croissants at Sunday Morning Bakehouse

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

BY CAROLE SUGARMAN

COVER: A look inside a custom cake from Classic Bakery. Photo by Deb Lindsey 12

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NOW

IS THE TIME TO SELL!

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contents

P. 150

Willy Maldonado (left) and Bona Lee at Bauer Drive Local Park’s pickleball courts in Rockville

FEATURES 134

142

150

158

A study involving psychedelic mushrooms at the Aquilino Cancer Center in Rockville takes patients on a journey into the mind in order to beat depression

Once a child actor and athlete, Georgetown Prep’s Connor Berry suffered a lifechanging health crisis. Now he’s fighting for each step he takes.

As players flock to local pickleball courts, Montgomery County aims to meet the demand

Montgomery County is already feeling the impact of climate change. Experts say the worst is yet to come.

BY AMY HALPERN

BY LOUIS PECK

BY JULIE RASICOT

BY AMY HALPERN

166

174

His Second Act

‘Nothing Else Matters’

Bethesda Interview

A devastating accident nearly cost Grant Bonavia his life. But it only proved the strength of his bonds.

Silver Spring novelist and TV producer George Pelecanos talks about writing, police and the Baltimore-set HBO series We Own This City

BY MIKE UNGER

BY STEVE ROBERTS

A Smash HiT

180

Ready to Ride Our guide to bike shops in the Bethesda area BY JEFFREY YEATES

Danger Ahead

FROM TOP: PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES; PHOTO BY EDGAR ARTIGA; PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Healing Visions

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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> PRINCIPLED > PROGRESSIVE > EFFECTIVE EARLY PRIMARY VOTE

GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION DAY

2022

JULY 7–14

JULY 19

Since taking office in 2018, I have worked hard to move our county toward being more equitable and environmentally conscious, more responsive to residents, and more focused on economic development. Montgomery County is a great place to live, and with your help we can make it even better. —Marc

MARC DISPLAYED TRUE LEADERSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC: MoCo earned the HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE of any large U.S. jurisdiction

MARC HAS KEPT HIS 2018 CAMPAIGN PROMISES: : Expanded EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION and funded MCPS and Montgomery College : ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: • Electrifying the county fleet • Solar for low-income residents

KEPT RESIDENTS SAFE by following science Prioritized EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION to vulnerable communities

• Co-op buying clubs for EVs • New energy efficiency standards

: Moving ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT forward through increased private investment, growth in life science companies and record construction of lab space : STREAMLINED GOVERNMENT PROCESSES for construction permits and approvals

• Preservation of tree cover

: Repurposing County Property to build truly AFFORDABLE HOUSING

: Maintained AAA BOND RATING, keeping borrowing costs low, fully-funded pensions and achieved our 10% reserve goal

: EXPANDING AND IMPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE with Flash service and advanced Bus Rapid Transit lines

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P. 192

contents

Kate and Thomas Pratt added two ponds and two waterfalls to their backyard in Bethesda.

P. 32 “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert” at Strathmore

DEPARTMENTS 22 | CONTRIBUTORS

29 good

life

32 | BEST BETS Can’t-miss arts events

banter

46 | BOOK REPORT New books by local authors, and more

189

home

190 | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS Items to up your bar cart game

213

health

214 | BE WELL

265

etc.

266 | SHOP TALK

A geriatric psychiatrist helps patients and their families cope with dementia

Orange items, plus a new bridal boutique

216 | INCLUSIVE MOVEMENT

Your cheat sheet for a weekend away

Instructor Adina Crawford aims to make fitness activities and spaces welcoming to all

241

dine

242 | TABLE TALK What’s happening on the local food scene

247 | DINING GUIDE

192 | BACKYARD OASIS

P. 284

Pet care in the pandemic

270 | GET AWAY

272 | DRIVING RANGE Six places to go glamping

280 | WEDDINGS A Rockville couple that met in high school hosted a 50-person wedding at a Laytonsville farm with flowers at every turn

284 | PETS Caring for pets during a pandemic

286 | FLASHBACK

Create a soothing outdoor retreat by adding a pond and even a waterfall

For Montgomery County’s Black communities, sandlot baseball was a big hit

200 | HOME SALES BY THE NUMBERS

288 | OUTTAKES

AD SECTIONS PROFILES: FACES 49

LONG & FOSTER AD SECTION 186

SHOWCASE: BUILDERS & ARCHITECTS 208

ASK THE EXPERTS: SENIORS & AGING 221

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY OF THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; PHOTO BY KATE PRATT; ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES

20 | TO OUR READERS

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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What’s online

@ BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

The attorneys of Selzer Gurvitch can provide you with an integrated, tax-efficient approach for all your real estate law needs. • Private/Public Partnerships • Joint Ventures • Mergers and Acquisitions • Financing (traditional bank financing and mezzanine debt financing) • Purchase and Sale Transactions • Land Use and Zoning • Condominium and Residential/Commercial Development

• Property Tax Appeals • Construction Contracts and Litigation • Condominium and Homeowners Associations • Private Utility Companies • Related Income and Estate Tax Planning • Bankruptcy and Creditors’/ Debtors’ Rights

❱❱ ONLINE ARCHIVES

Explore past issues and stories using our searchable archives.

Bethesda Beat is Bethesda Magazine’s online news briefing, covering local politics and government, development, crime, schools and restaurants. Read Bethesda Beat at BethesdaMagazine.com.

❱❱ EDUCATION NEWSLETTER Senior reporter Caitlynn Peetz goes behind the headlines and answers your questions. Sign up at BethesdaMagazine.com.

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Readers’ Pick, Best Dental Group Practice

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MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Severe arthritis in Lisa Emenheiser’s thumb nearly derailed her career as a concert pianist. She was hesitant to get surgery, but her hand surgeon, Michael Kessler, MD, had an approach and attention to detail that eased her worries. He studied her performances to learn the force and precision she’d need to continue playing piano with passion and without pain. At MedStar Health, we give all our patients the best of our hearts and the best of our minds. Photo credit: Scott Suchman

MedStar Health stories to inspire. Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera to watch the full story.

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Our patients’ success is music to our ears.

to our readers

A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES WELCOME! WITH THIS EDITION and its guide to the area’s baked treats, we present a feast for the eyes. I’d like to pull back the curtain to show you the collaboration, and cravings, behind this particular flavor of food journalism. This delectable tour was an all-hands effort for the staff of Bethesda Magazine. Our editorial team began plotting late last year with restaurant critic David Hagedorn, who spent months consuming a mountain of carbs to determine the very best. Once we knew the content we wanted to present, we talked it through with new Creative Director Kelly Martin and Designer Olivia Sadka to determine a visual approach. That’s when the real group logistics kicked in. We each deployed to collect the goods that would be delivered to photographer Deb Lindsey for “A Rainbow of Treats” (page 120). (That’s in addition to all the driving Deb did to many other bakeries.) We gave ourselves a day to collect all the items at the office so they could be photographed at peak freshness. The boxes and packages of treats were emblazoned with sticky notes to ward off any would-be eaters—specifically, hungry members of the Bethesda Beat reporting staff. “What’s with all the boxes that say, ‘Do Not Eat?’ ” Beat reporter and foodie Dan Schere lamented to colleagues. That sort of frustration is what prompted Leigh McDonald, director of audience development & digital products, to create one of Bethesda Magazine’s first Instagram Reels, documenting the assemblage of forbidden temptations. Kelly managed to safely spirit all the goodies out of the building. He camped out for hours at Deb’s studio as she arranged and then took photos of breads, cookies, cakes, pies, tarts and more. The last item to be procured was the matcha red bean towel crepe cake, which David had warned us about; its whipped cream filling would quickly deflate, so the cake needed to be procured immediately before it was to be photographed. Olivia special-ordered it from Kyoto Matcha, and Kelly was tasked with leaving the shoot and picking it up. The moment it was ready, he carefully placed it in a cooler and sped to Deb’s (“like transporting a lung,” he says). 20

It was a long day of shooting, and Kelly and the freshly photographed goods didn’t return to the office until after 7 p.m. Beat reporter Steve Bohnel and Managing Editor Andy Schotz, along with Dan, were still there, lying in wait and ready to bite into ube pie, red velvet Bundt cake and blueberry cheesecake cupcakes. The vigor with which those treats were gobbled up that evening, and in ensuing days, is a testament to David’s good taste—and the talents of our many local bakers. Aided by Deb’s photos, I’m confident you’ll enjoy this visual promenade of treats and discover some you’ll want to try for yourself.

IF YOU NOTICE SOME changes to this edition of Bethesda Magazine, your eyes do not deceive you. I’ve already mentioned Kelly Martin, and this is the first issue under his creative direction. Kelly has a rich history in visual journalism and branding, running his own graphic design studio, providing art direction for Atlantic Media, and designing for clients such as AARP and the Investigative Reporting Workshop. Since coming aboard, Kelly has proved to be a sharpeyed photo editor and an evangelist for informationdriven design. He’s a proponent of layering in additional elements—such as data visualizations, maps, lists, howto boxes and recipes—to ensure that we’re presenting readers with the most useful information. In future months we’re planning a magazine redesign that will update our content and design to better meet readers’ needs and interests. WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION looming, we’re amping up our politics coverage. Our primary Voters Guide on BethesdaMagazine.com is chock-full of FAQs, maps, candidate Q&As and more. Please mark your calendar for May 11, when Bethesda Beat will be hosting a virtual forum for County Council candidates. Register at BethesdaMagazine.com. Thanks, as always, for reading.

ANNE TALLENT Executive Editor

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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PRE-SALES HAVE BEGUN AT BETHESDA’S PREMIER BOUTIQUE COMMUNITY The brand new, uniquely sophisticated community

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Photography, renderings and maps are an artist’s illustration only. Prices and terms are provided by homebuilders. Dues, fees, and assessments may be imposed for the use of some amenities. This material shall not constitute an offer or solicitation in any state where prior registration is required. Toll Brothers MHBR No. 678. Tri Pointe Homes MHBR No. 57.

4/12/22 8:30 AM

contributors JEFFREY YEATES

JULIA BECK

LIVES IN: Arlington, Virginia

LIVES IN: Chevy Chase

WHAT HE DOES: He’s a government lawyer and freelance writer. HIS RIDE: He currently owns two bicycles, and a third one—a titanium frame from Firefly—will arrive sometime this year. FAVORITE BIKE RIDE: “Skyline Drive is a nearby favorite—it’s always a beautiful place to ride—but my single most memorable ride might be ascending 5,500 feet through multiple climate zones on Mount Lemmon in Tucson, Arizona. And then swooping back down.” TOP SCENIC PLACES VISITED: The Big Island of Hawaii, Iceland and Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. “There’s beautiful scenery all over the world, but these three places all packed an amazing amount of beauty and variety into a relatively small area.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Wrote the “Shop Talk” column, which includes stories on orange-hued trends for spring and a new bridal boutique. “I was amazed by Anya, [Vivien Agbakoba’s] dreamy [Westfield] Montgomery mall boutique. What a journey from her career as a highly educated information sciences and technology professional to a much-coveted and adored designer.” WHAT SHE DOES: She’s a strategist and the founder of the It’s Working Project, an organization striving to create synergistic strategies for families and their workplace or campus. Her writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, InStyle, Time magazine, Slate, Bloomberg and other outlets, with a focus on the state of working parenthood and, in particular, the Panini generation. She is on the board of organizations focused on better outcomes for women and children. AT HOME: Her blended family includes her husband, four children and a loyal golden retriever named Addie. “I am a newly minted empty nester happily searching for the perfect shower scrub and a great read.”

BEN RECTOR THE JOY OF MUSIC

JP SAXE

JORDY SEARCY & STEPHEN DAY

JUN 8

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

VOODOO THREAUXDOWN

TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE

TANK AND THE BANGAS, BIG FREEDIA GEORGE PORTER JR. & DUMPSTAPHUNK, CYRIL NEVILLE, THE SOUL REBELS

JUN 18

KOOL & THE GANG

THE BLACK CROWES

JUN 3

JUN 23

MORRIS DAY & THE TIME

PRESENT: SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER

GIPSY KINGS

PINK MARTINI

JUN 5

JUL 8

FEATURING NICOLAS REYES

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN JAPANESE BREAKFAST

YACHT ROCK REVUE

JUN 15

…and many more!

LOS BITCHOS

COURTESY PHOTOS

IN THIS ISSUE: Wrote about bike shops in the Bethesda area. “One of the world’s great inventions—bicycles get you places while giving you freedom, fitness and fun. You see a lot of people smiling on bikes.”

JUL 10

WOLFTRAP.ORG 22

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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4/7/22 4:04 PM

FINE CULINARY ARTISTRY f ro m P A R I S T O D . C .

CHÂTEAU The crown jewel of La Cornue has arrived in North Bethesda. Made to order exclusively in the Saint-Ouen l’Aumône workshop outside Paris, each range in La Cornue’s Château Series is made by hand, numbered by the craftsmen; the embodiment of a specific owner’s vision. Immerse yourself in the culinary artistry of the Château when you visit the DC metro area’s first live display within ABW Appliances’ North Bethesda showroom. Schedule your private appointment or contact an ABW La Cornue Specialist.

www.ABWappliances.com | (301) 770-8579 5526 Nicholson Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852

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EDITORIAL

Readers’ Pick, A Top Vote Getter Best Dentist 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 Readers’ Pick, Best Dentist 2011

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Anne Tallent ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kathleen Seiler Neary CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kelly Martin ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Fischer DESIGNER

Olivia Sadka BETHESDA BEAT MANAGING EDITOR

Andrew Schotz BETHESDA BEAT SENIOR REPORTER

Caitlynn Peetz BETHESDA BEAT REPORTERS

Steve Bohnel, Dan Schere RESTAURANT CRITIC

David Hagedorn CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Eugene L. Meyer, Louis Peck, Julie Rasicot, Carole Sugarman COPY EDITORS

Elisabeth Herschbach, Steve Wilder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caralee Adams, Jennifer Barger, Rachel Pomerance Berl, Stephanie Siegel Burke, Amanda Cherrin, Dina ElBoghdady, Margaret Engel, Christine Koubek Flynn, Dana Gerber, Michael S. Gerber, Amy Halpern, Melanie D.G. Kaplan, Andrea K. McDaniels, Amy Reinink, Steve Roberts, Mike Unger, Mark Walston, Carolyn Weber PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Edgar Artiga, Skip Brown, Goodloe Byron, Laura Chase de Formigny, Erick Gibson, Stacy Zarin Goldberg, Lisa Helfert, James Kegley, Alice Kresse, Deb Lindsey, Liz Lynch, Lindsey Max, Mary Ann Smith, Louis Tinsley, Joseph Tran, Michael Ventura Bethesda Magazine is published six times a year by Z-Pop Media, LLC © 2021-2022 Letters to the editor: Please send letters (with your name, the town you live in and your daytime phone number) to letters@bethesdamagazine.com. Story ideas: Please send ideas for stories to editorial@bethesdamagazine.com. Bethesda Magazine 6116 Executive Blvd., #740 North Bethesda, MD 20852 Phone: 301-718-7787 BethesdaMagazine.com

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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WINNER

READERS’ PICK • BEST BUILDER

YOUR BUILDER FOR LIFE • S A N D Y S P R I N G B U I L D E R S . C O M IMAGES: MICHAEL KRESS PHOTOGRAPHY, C. GAUTHIER PHOTOGRAPHY

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art. festivals. culture. day trips. hidden gems.

good life

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYLAND ZOO

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS IT’S SWIMMING TIME AT the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore—at least for the river otters. The whiskered, web-footed creatures glide past onlookers watching them through the glass of their enclosure, which includes a clear tunnel that offers underwater views. At the 135-acre zoo—one of the country’s oldest—you can find species native to the state, such as the otters, bobcats and bald eagles, as well as animals from around the world: African elephants, white rhinos, penguins and chimpanzees to name a few. The zoo offers experiences for people to interact closely with some of its 130 species. The fun includes a giraffe feeding station where guests can hand-feed the animals acacia branches, sessions where visitors can watch zookeepers train the river otters, rhinos or penguins, and events such as Breakfast with the Animals, overnight campouts, and beer and wine festivals.

A new exhibit running through November features 20 animatronic dinosaurs—some as large as 35 feet tall and 40 feet long. The exhibit highlights the importance of caring for animals and their habitats today so they don’t confront the same fate as their reptilian ancestors. The zoo is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (limited hours in January and February). Admission at the gate is $26, $23 for ages 65 and older, $22 for ages 2-11, free for children younger than 2; save $2 by reserving tickets in advance online. Special events and animal experiences have separate prices and tickets. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Place, 410-396-7102, marylandzoo.org —Stephanie Siegel Burke BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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PHOTO COURTESY OF WSSC WATER

good life

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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IN BLOOM WANDER THE DIRT PATHS and gravel trails that wind through the Brighton Dam Azalea Garden in Brookeville when the flowers are blooming and you may feel like you’ve stepped into an impressionist’s painting. Each May, pink, lavender, crimson, orange and white blossoms from 15 species of azaleas bloom on the 5-acre wooded hillside overlooking the Triadelphia Reservoir. The garden was established in 1959 by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which owns and manages the land and nearby Brighton Dam, in an effort to beautify the Patuxent River watershed. The informal garden is also home to birds, ducks

and geese, along with dogwood trees and Montgomery County’s largest fringe tree, all of which usually bloom in May or June. Wooden benches along the paths offer spots to enjoy the views and rest from walking the hilly terrain. Food and dogs are not permitted in the garden. Brighton Dam Azalea Garden is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Parking is available at the Brighton Dam Visitor Center, 2 Brighton Dam Road, Brookeville, 301-206-4386, wsscwater.com/azaleas n —Stephanie Siegel Burke

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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good life

BEST BETS

Our picks for things to see and do in May and June BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

May 12

SHOW OF FORCE

8 p.m., $44-$94, The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, strathmore.org

May 21

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

Get your art fix in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle during the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, handcrafted jewelry and other original works of art and crafts by more than 100 artists will be on display and for sale. The free outdoor festival features live music from local bands and food for sale from Bethesda restaurants.

Buzzworthy novelists, children’s authors, poets and journalists are all on the schedule of this year’s Gaithersburg Book Festival. After two years of virtual programming, the event is back in person with author talks, Q&As, book signings, writing workshops and children’s activities. Highlights include fiction writers Jabari Asim (Yonder) and Katherine Heiny (Early Morning Riser); memoirists Kathryn Schulz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and Fiona Hill, a foreign affairs specialist; and children’s authors Angela Dominguez (Stella Diaz series) and Carole Lindstrom (We Are Water Protectors).

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, free, Norfolk, Del Ray and Auburn avenues, Bethesda, bethesda.org

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, gaithersburgbookfestival.org

May 14-15

ART MART

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; MIDDLE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BETHESDA URBAN PARTNERSHIP; BOTTOM PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

As television series like The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett continue to expand the epic world of the Star Wars saga, sometimes it’s nice going back to where it all started a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. At Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert, fans of the space adventure can see the third of the classic Star Wars movies on the big screen in the Music Center at Strathmore, accompanied by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ legendary Oscar-nominated score.

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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HOORAY FOR NOLLYWOOD Set in the 1990s in the early days of Nigeria’s booming movie industry, the romantic comedy Nollywood Dreams follows main character Ayamma, who works at her family’s Lagos travel agency but fantasizes about becoming a movie star. She hopes to get her chance when she lands an audition with a big-time director. The play by Jocelyn Bioh, who also wrote School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play, is a send-up of Nigeria’s film industry and the allure of celebrity and American culture. $41-$78, Round House Theatre, Bethesda, roundhousetheatre.org

June 11-12

STRAWBERRY FESTS FOREVER Forty years ago, a group of Sandy Spring neighbors decided to organize the first Strawberry Festival as a fundraiser for a museum to preserve the community’s history. Today, the Sandy Spring Museum sits on 7 acres and serves as a community arts and cultural center. The festival became a tradition, and this year will mark its 40th anniversary with musical performances, pony rides, games, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and allyou-can-eat strawberry shortcake.

April 1

June 25

June 25-26

NO WONDER

LIVING HISTORY

Acclaimed composer and pianist Mark G. Meadows honors a musical legend in his Tribute to Stevie Wonder concert. Expect to hear Stevie Wonder favorites, including “Superstition,” “Higher Ground” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You” at this outdoor lawn concert by Meadows, a Strathmore Artist in Residence alumnus, and his band. The concert is part of Strathmore’s Bloom Community Events series, which is designed to expand access to the arts by providing free and low-cost events. Guests are welcome to bring picnics and chairs or blankets. RSVP online.

Discover how Montgomery County residents lived through different periods in history during Heritage Days. Parks and historic sites around the region will host special events, demonstrations, musical performances and kids activities during the two-day festival. Learn about pre-Civil War-era farming, historic African American communities and stops on the Underground Railroad at some of the 40-plus heritage sites in the county, including farms, schoolhouses and museums. Visit the event website for details on venues and activities.

5 p.m., free, Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, Silver Spring, strathmore.org 34

Various times and locations, heritagemontgomery.org n

LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF STRATHMORE; RIGHT PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; $5 per person, $20 per family, $15 unlimited play wristband; Sandy Spring Museum, sandyspringmuseum.org

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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people. politics. current events. books.

banter

SHOOTING STAR

Sidwell Friends basketball phenom Kiki Rice hopes to raise the women’s game at UCLA

PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

BY RACHEL POMERANCE BERL

WHEN KIKI RICE WAS in sixth grade, the basketball prodigy and her dad watched a nail-biter between St. John’s College High School of Washington, D.C., and St. Paul VI Catholic High School of Chantilly, Virginia. PVI’s Ashley Owusu, who has been a star point guard at the University of Maryland, dominated the game. Going to Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) games was a father-daughter tradition, and watching up-and-coming players in the powerhouse basketball league helped propel Kiki to hone her game. “I could envision myself

Bethesda’s Kiki Rice at Sidwell Friends

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playing on this stage,” recalls Kiki, now a high school hoops star from Bethesda and ESPN’s No. 2 women’s basketball recruit in the Class of 2022. But Kiki didn’t choose to attend a high school in the WCAC. Instead, she stayed for the academics at Sidwell Friends in Northwest Washington, which she’s attended since fourth grade. In March, the 5-foot-11-inch guard helped Sidwell’s girls basketball team claim its first D.C. State Athletic Association Class AA girls’ basketball championship. Now, the 18-year-old senior has made what some consider another surprising choice by deciding to enroll at 38

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UCLA, whose women’s basketball program ranks far below the top 25 and has yet to win an NCAA championship. “For those of us who know her really well, it was [true to] Kiki,” says Aggie McCormick, founder and executive director of the Fairfax Stars, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team that Kiki played on during summers in high school. “This child decided to go where she felt comfortable, where it was academically comfortable for her…where everything felt right for her.” Sidwell had “an OK team” when Kiki joined in her freshman year, McCormick says. A year later, Tamika Dudley became Sidwell’s coach after leading

Virginia’s Woodbridge High School to its first state championship. By January of Kiki’s senior year, ESPN had ranked Sidwell’s undefeated team as No. 1 in the country, and the Quakers finished the season 26-0. “It’s gonna happen at UCLA, too,” says McCormick, stressing Kiki’s unusual acumen on the court. “I think that a lot of young women want to go and build something somewhere else, and she’s leading the way. She did that at Sidwell.” Kiki, who hopes to make it to the WNBA, says playing for UCLA gives her “the best opportunity to learn from great coaches and teammates, and also be able to have an impact early on.”

PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

Kiki Rice has earned many honors, including being named Gatorade’s 2021-2022 National Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

4/7/22 3:47 PM

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIKI RICE

The basketball star, whose team was undefeated during her senior year, is heading to UCLA and hopes to make it to the WNBA.

Kiki began playing basketball when she was 5, eager to keep up with her brother, Mateo, now 20 and a point guard at Yale, and her father, John, now 55, who also played point guard at Yale. While she displayed athletic coordination and a zeal for competition as a young child, her prowess is the result of intense dedication. Her mother, Andrea Rice, says Kiki trains at 5:30 a.m. three days a week, judiciously manages her diet and focuses on her goals. Already, she has achieved several of them and earned other accolades. In March, she became Gatorade’s 20212022 National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. That month, she also was

named the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Girls Player of the Year while Dudley earned a Naismith Coach of the Year award. Kiki was chosen as a McDonald’s All-American in January and has earned gold medals playing with USA Basketball’s U18 Junior National 3X3 Team and U16 National Team. “Her work ethic is unmatched,” says Dudley, adding that Kiki practices during free time at school. But despite being a “big personality on the court,” Dudley says Kiki is quite shy and modest. Andrea Rice says Kiki stays grounded because their family is “kind of good at bringing people back to earth if it seems like they’re feeling excessively proud of their own accomplishments.” A consultant for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a company founded by her husband to help organizations recruit and retain diverse staff, Rice says the family often talks about the responsibility that comes with privilege. “There are a lot of people in this area, in her orbit, both in the family and in the Sidwell community and in D.C. who are very accomplished in a whole range of things,

and I think being around those people and seeing how they carry themselves is really helpful,” Rice says. Among those in Kiki’s orbit are Allan Houston, a cousin who played for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks, and her aunt Susan Rice, President Joe Biden’s domestic policy adviser. Rice also served as President Barack Obama’s national security adviser and is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Kiki is blazing her own trail—and takes her role seriously. “Wanting to be, like, part of the next group of female athletes that kind of expands and grows the game for younger and up-and-coming people is something that motivates me,” she says. After her final home game in late February, a swarm of Sidwell students approached Kiki, seeking her autograph, according to her mom. Among them was a second-grade boy who handed her a note that read: “I will miss you when you graduate, [but] when you do I hope [that] the other players step up and hope you do too,” the note said. It was signed, “your biggest fan.” n

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MUSIC MAN NPR host Bob Boilen’s Tiny Desk is the world’s stage BY MARGARET ENGEL

NEARLY 1,000 BANDS and solo performers have played over the years for Bob Boilen, the host of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, but the performance that meant the most occurred in December 2014, when Yusuf Islam sang for him. Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, dedicated his song “Father and Son” to Boilen before singing it with Islam’s own 27-year-old son standing beside Boilen in his office at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Boilen had learned to play the tune in 1971 on his first guitar, which he bought for $50 with money he earned as a camp counselor. 40

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The performance brought him to tears. “I was really captivated by his voice and intimacy,” recalls Boilen, who also has a son. A Silver Spring resident and indie musician, Boilen, 68, helps determine the music that millions of Americans listen to. As creator of the Tiny Desk Concerts and the NPR show All Songs Considered, Boilen invites musicians of all genres to perform behind his desk— from the obscure Tank and the Bangas to Mumford & Sons, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Yo-Yo Ma and T-Pain. The concerts are recorded, and some 55 million listeners each month access them on YouTube and NPR’s websites. A Brooklyn native whose family moved to Bethesda in the late 1960s, Boilen was a music-mad kid, spinning 45s on a record player in his bedroom. After graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1970, he began his career in music by working as a clerk at a Waxie Maxie’s record shop while attending Montgomery College and then the

University of Maryland. “I wasn’t finding my path in college and dropped out,” he says. “I thought I couldn’t possibly be a musician unless I was really, really good.” A loaned synthesizer from the local band Urban Verbs changed his life, he says, opening up new avenues to create music. After spending $2,000 to buy his own synthesizer in 1979, Boilen was invited by a friend to start the new-wave band called Tiny Desk Unit. The band was the first to perform when the legendary 9:30 Club opened in 1980 at 930 F St. NW in Washington, D.C., and the last before the club moved to its current location at 815 V St. NW in 1996, according to Boilen. In 1985, the Washington City Paper named Boilen “Performance Artist of the Year,” based on his work in 1984. Although his band broke up in 1981, it reunited in 1990 and 1995. Boilen still plays with his “soulmate,” original band member Michael Barron, in their group Danger Painters, which has produced 17 albums since 1990, despite Boilen’s

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Bob Boilen at an NPR Tiny Desk Concert during the 2019 SXSW Conference & Festivals in Austin

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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self-described “mediocre” keyboard and guitar skills. Boilen began working at NPR after wheedling a production assistant’s job in 1988 by repeatedly showing up to volunteer. He was directing All Things Considered within a year and did so for 18 years. He composed the theme music for the Talk of the Nation radio show. “I’m one of the luckiest souls,” he says. “I fell into a fortunate path because of the faith others had in me.” The Tiny Desk Concerts began with a joking invitation in 2008 from Boilen and Stephen Thompson, a co-producer, to singer-songwriter Laura Gibson after a loud crowd kept them from hearing her perform in a bar in Austin, Texas. They suggested that the Portland, Oregon, artist come sing in Boilen’s NPR office. Three weeks later, she did—and a cult venue was born. The program’s title is derived from the moniker of Boilen’s first D.C. band, Tiny Desk Unit, which was named after a friend’s wooden drawer organizer that he called his tiny movable desk, Boilen says. With tall bookshelves, file cabinets and an acoustical tile ceiling, Boilen’s office setting is low-key, but he says few artists seem bothered by the lack of studio aids, such as amplifiers. “It’s just their music, stripped down to basics,” Boilen says. The size of the small office does surprise some performers. “The 10 of us were a bit shocked upon arrival at the tight space. But you could tell what immense music fans he and his staff were,” says Nora Kirkpatrick, a singer and accordionist with the folk-rock band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, which 42

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performed at NPR in November 2009. Boilen says that band’s size was eclipsed by Mucca Pazza, a marching band from Chicago whose 22 members played behind, around and on top of his white particleboard desk in 2015. That desk is a replacement for Boilen’s original desk, which he moved to his apartment when NPR relocated its offices within D.C. in 2013. Boilen listens constantly to some of the 500 music links he receives daily from artists and publicists. “The amount of music that comes out in a day equals [what] used to come out in a year,” he says, pinning 2008 as when the volume began to increase because of social media. He spends hours compiling weekly NPR playlists of songs he likes, and also organizes a Tiny Desk Contest for unsigned artists, now in its eighth year. Music has brought him cultural fame—in 2016, he voiced a radio host character based on himself on The Simpsons. Also in 2016, he wrote a book, Your Song Changed My Life, in which he asked 35 artists to describe a song that changed them. Boilen continues to compose electronic music, while also making bagels that he shares with colleagues and pursuing his interests in macro and infrared photography and in photographing concert artists. Before the pandemic, he attended hundreds of concerts annually, posting the images on his Tinydesk Instagram account. “I’m going to keep finding music and making music,” he says. “I’m called a tastemaker, but really, I’ll take suggestions from anyone.” n

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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THE WEDDING PARTY An online Buy Nothing Group helps a bride find a community and resources for the big day

Alexander and Jennifer Salinas at their wedding in January

SINCE MOVING TO North Kensington a couple of years ago, Jennifer Salinas has posted often in her local “Buy Nothing Project” Facebook group, primarily swapping toys and clothes for her daughter, Rose, now 1. Salinas once found a fence for her garden through the group, which is part of a worldwide movement to create hyperlocal gift economies that focus on building community. Founded in 2013, the Buy Nothing concept of neighbors helping neighbors took off during the pandemic. Last year, Salinas’ North Kensington group, now well over 500 members, split off from a Kensington chapter when it topped 1,000 members. So when Salinas posted this past Jan. 4 that she was seeking an officiant for her fast-approaching wedding, she tapped into a thriving community, hungry to take part in a joyful occasion. Salinas was looking for an officiant because her planned Jan. 26 civil ceremony at a local courthouse had been postponed due to the coronavirus, and she still hoped to marry on that date—when she would turn 25. Almost immediately after posting her request, Tara Reid, 48, who lives in the Kensington Parkwood neighborhood, offered 44

to marry her and her fiancé, Alexander Salinas, now 30. Reid, a midwife and doula, was looking for the opportunity to return a favor. She had received plenty from the Buy Nothing Group, including bottles, breast pumps and toys for her clients. Acts of service are “my love language,” she says. “It’s dramatic to say that this group saved my sanity during the pandemic because it’s not wholly true… but it afforded human interaction at a time that, in my life in particular, it was extremely isolating.” Salinas’ request snowballed into a community rallying cry by Karen Vincent, the group’s co-administrator, who posted: “BNG WEDDING!” A stage actor and singer, Vincent, 39, proposed that she and a neighbor serenade the couple. Salinas didn’t take her up on the duet, but she did agree to the group’s help, posting photos and a list of items she sought. Among them, she requested a casually elegant dress or suit for the ceremony (she already had a gown for the reception on the following day), a tuxedo for her husband, and a frilly flower girl ensemble for Rose. The community sprang into action.

Several members offered their wedding dresses. “I have a wedding dress you can borrow. Very Carrie Bradshaw. Never worn, but was a floor sample,” one neighbor posted, offering a strapless bra to go with it. Ultimately, Salinas accepted the gift of a white jumpsuit with a plunging neckline that seemed meant for her. “I’m obsessed with that jumpsuit,” she says. “I remember seeing the tag, and I was like, $450...this cost more than my wedding dress!” She also accepted offers of an ornate lace tablecloth, battery-powered candles for her reception centerpieces and beaded lace fabric that she fashioned into sleeves for her wedding gown and another neighbor used to make custom masks for Reid and others to wear. Four neighbors also offered to officiate should a client of Reid’s have her baby when the wedding was scheduled. But Reid was able to make it. Her client delivered four hours before the ceremony, giving Reid “just enough time to, like, shower, semi-straighten my hair and throw on enough makeup to not look like I was dying,” she says. The couple was married on Salinas’ birthday at the North Bethesda

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNIFER SALINAS

BY RACHEL POMERANCE BERL

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Bride Jennifer Salinas, center, minister Tara Reid, left, and Salinas’ mother-in-law, Vitelia Ventura, wear masks made for Salinas' wedding.

apartment where her husband’s grandmother lived and where her new in-laws married 35 years earlier, a tradition she was delighted to continue. “They’re definitely our example,” she says of her husband’s parents. “They take care of us, and we take care of them.” Salinas grew up in the U Street area of Northwest Washington, D.C., and moved into the home of her future inlaws when she became pregnant. The newlyweds plan to expand the home to accommodate the multiple generations and raise their family there—especially now that the Buy Nothing Group has helped connect them so deeply to their neighbors. “My big wish was completely granted!” Salinas said in a Jan. 27 post,

thanking individual neighbors for their many gifts. “I could probably tag every member in this group and write an essay of how thankful I am for all of you. I’m truly in awe with all the love and support.” But the boost went both ways. Whether members “talked about the idea or actually gave something, we all just felt like we were part of it,” Vincent says. Helping with the wedding exemplified what members say is the ideal of the Buy Nothing Group. For example, someone could easily go to the store to get eggs, but asking a neighbor paves the way for neighborliness, Vincent explains. “It ends in the same getting of eggs,” she says, “but one gives you an opportunity to talk with your neighbor and make a connection, whereas the other just gets you stuff.” n

Maria Chavez, Salinas’ grandmother, sews sleeves of donated beaded lace fabric onto Salinas’ wedding gown.

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BOOK REPORT

While Fred Bowen’s latest book is geared toward kids ages 8-12, the Silver Spring author says Hardcourt: Stories From 75 Years of the National Basketball Association (Margaret K. McElderry Books, January 2022) has a broader appeal. “I’m hoping parents will get the book for their kid, but also read the book with their kid and say, ‘I remember seeing Michael Jordan play.’ Then they can go on YouTube and watch him,” says Bowen, who reviewed many games online to confirm much of the material he documented. The 112page book, illustrated by James Ransome, traces the “humble beginnings” of the league, Bowen says. He tells how the NBA responded to the times by racially integrating in 1950, introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954 to speed up play, and added the 3-point field goal in 1979.

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Five years after 9/11, a plot to kill thousands of people by destroying passenger aircrafts with liquid bombs was averted. It was an intelligence success that few people know about, explains Chevy Chase’s Aki Peritz in Disruption: Inside the Largest Counterterrorism Investigation in History (Potomac Books, December 2021). The book chronicles the hard work and lucky breaks behind the collaborative intelligence operation, along with a look at how regular people decide to go down dark paths of destruction, he says. The episode “shows that the system generally works,” says Peritz, a former counterterrorism analyst who now works at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security at the University of Maryland. “This happened several years ago and nothing’s happened since.”

Laura Gehl was so fascinated by the science of how trees can communicate with other trees that she was inspired to write a children’s book about it. The Chevy Chase author’s latest picture book, Apple and Magnolia (Flyaway Books, February 2022), illustrated by Patricia Metola, tells the story of a little girl who believes the trees in her yard are friends and can help each other. “I have some theme or message in every book that I hope kids will carry with them, and long after they’ve finished the book will spark conversations with grown-ups in their lives,” Gehl says. Before publishing more than two dozen children’s books, she worked as a researcher in a neurobiology lab, taught high school biology and was a science writer.

Too often, people don’t understand there is a diversity and depth of Black male experiences, says Will Jawando. The atlarge Montgomery County councilmember says his new book, My Seven Black Fathers: A Young Activist’s Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Him Whole (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, May 2022), dispels stereotypes about what Black boys can be and shows the impact of caring Black men in his life. “[Mentoring] has the power to dramatically change the outcomes for Black men and boys,” says Jawando, who grew up in Montgomery County and now lives in Sandy Spring. “We must enable those relationships—either have them ourselves or hire teachers. There is a role for everybody. If you know someone, connect them with someone.”

ALL BOOK COVERS FILE PHOTOS

BY CARALEE ADAMS

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4/7/22 3:48 PM

Your Next Move Starts Now Looking for a strategic partner in your next move? Get Dana Rice Group on your side. With savvy and smart agents, an on-staff designer, not to mention complimentary staging for all our sellers, you have a full-service team dedicated to you from search to settlement. Dana Rice Group has the real estate chops that makes a difference to their clients. Featured on CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and more, why not tap into the expertise of Dana Rice Group for yourself. Go ahead and give us a call. We’d love to partner with you. Dana Rice Group of Compass Realtors® DC/MD 202.669.6908 Dana Rice, Executive Vice President, Compass Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 5471 Wisconsin Ave Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 | 301.298.1001

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READING LIST

DATA PROVIDED BY

Here are the top-selling books in our area. Data is based on books sold at Politics and Prose’s Connecticut Avenue location in Upper Northwest D.C. and online from March 2 to 16, 2022.

HARDCOVER FICTION

PAPERBACK

1. Our Country Friends, Gary Shteyngart

1. Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro

2. The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles

2. Anomaly, Hervé Le Tellier

3. Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr

3. When We Cease to Understand the World, Benjamin Labatut

4. Black Cake, Charmaine Wilkerson

4. The Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles

5. The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

5. No One Is Talking About This, Patricia Lockwood

6. Still Life, Sarah Winman

6. The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club Series, No. 1), Richard Osman

7. Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead 8. Silverview, John le Carré 9. Mercy Street, Jennifer Haigh 10. To Paradise, Hanya Yanagihara

7. How Beautiful We Were, Imbolo Mbue 8. The Searcher, Tana French 9. Transient Desires, Donna Leon 10. The Promise, Damon Galgut

1. Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces, 2004 to 2021, Margaret Atwood

1. Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution, De Nichols

2. Watergate: A New History, Garrett M. Graff

2. Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist, Terry Catasús Jennings, Rosita Stevens-Holsey

3. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, Nikole Hannah-Jones 4. Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner 5. Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy, Jamie Raskin 6. Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, Elie Mystal

3. Call Us What We Carry, Amanda Gorman 4. Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time (Max and the Midknights Series, No. 3), Lincoln Peirce 5. All My Rage, Sabaa Tahir 6. Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown

7. Never Get Their Coffee: Empowering Fearless Leadership, Lakisha Ann Woods

7. The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, Lenore Appelhans

8. There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century, Fiona Hill

8. InvestiGators: Braver and Boulder (InvestiGators Series, No. 5), John Patrick Green

9. The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, Meghan O’Rourke

9. Gibberish, Young Vo

10. From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, Arthur C. Brooks

CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT

10. Ablaze With Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, Jeanne Walker Harvey

ALL BOOK COVERS FILE PHOTOS

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

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2022 FACES On the following pages, meet more than 62 business people and professionals who are the faces of leadership in our community. A.B.E. Networks

109

Georgetown Hill Early School

104

ACE Contstruction

Greystone Realty

Alman & Alman, LLC

Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

Illuminos

Andres S. Morejon

102

Andy & Jessie Alderdice

ImplantsDC

The Banner Team

Ingleside at King Farm

Barbara Nalls

Jason A. Cohen, DDS

JDKatz, PC

BCC Pediatric Dentistry

113

Bella Bethesda Salon

Jeffrey N. Greenblatt

Benson & Mangold

Law Office of T. Ryan Wilson

Law Offices of Sandra Guzman-Salvado

Margie Halem Group

Bethesda Spine & Posture Bullis School

106 94

Capital Harvest Wealth Partners

105

Natalie Ramirez

Casaday Allison Group

101

Nazareth Bonifacino Law

Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry

Olde Towne Pet Resort

Chris Rhodes

Potomac Audiology

Cosmetic Surgery Associates

Redfin

Dana Rice Group

112

Danziger Design

103

RLG Law RTR Potomac Pilates

David Bulitt

110

Sandbox Financial Partners

111

David B. Hurwitz

107

Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

61 108

Deb Levy | Chase Bank

Selzer Gurvitch

Donna Kerr Group

Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield

Donoso & Partners, LLC

The Siena School

Douglas Construction Group

Silver New American Brasserie

Elie Ben Architecture

Smiles of Chevy Chase

Family Formation Law Office

STRUCTURE.

Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

Trent & Co.

Feldman Jackson

Webb Soypher McGrath, LLC

Felsen & Sargent, LLC

Westmoreland’s Children’s Center

Geneva Day School

Wink Eyecare Boutique

100

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2022 FACES

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The Face of

DMV Real Estate

HILARY SCHWAB

Natalie Ramirez, Realtor at Compass Natalie Ramirez is a Realtor at COMPASS, serving Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. She began her career in Real Estate in 2003, working on every side of the industry and has gone on to distinguish herself as a top producing agent in various markets, including the luxury market. Natalie has built a loyal clientele that values her many years of expertise and strong work ethic. Among her clientele are her international clients who have trusted her with “virtual”

transactions in the “DMV” while they have been located overseas. Natalie attributes her success to treating every deal and every client like a million-dollar deal, no matter what the price point “One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is gaining friends, not just clients, at the end of transactions,” she says. 240-485-7351 www.compass.com/agents/natalieramirez

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The Face of

Engaged Living

TONY J. LEWIS

Ingleside at King Farm Ingleside at King Farm believes in promoting an engaged life. This modern, dynamic community offers the full continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, memory support assisted living and skilled nursing. Through personcentered programs with health and safety being a top priority, Ingleside at King Farm provides an environment that supports active lifestyles both on campus and beyond. The community’s

Center for Healthy Living engages the body, mind and spirit with a creative arts center and exceptional amenities. An art studio, coffee bar, cultural arts center, yoga studio, day spa and saltwater pool are just some of the features to enjoy. The unique location in a walkable Rockville neighborhood offers easy access to parks, shopping, restaurants and the Nation’s Capital. 240-455-4559 | www.ikfmd.org

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The Face of

Academic & Executive Function Coaching Wendy Weinberger is co-founder and president of Illuminos, a premier academic coaching and tutoring company supporting students struggling with executive functioning skills. In her words, “We don’t just teach students what to learn–we teach them how to learn.” A mom of five, Georgetown Law graduate, and former General Counsel & COO, Wendy grew up with close family members managing learning differences. She left her thriving legal career to expand her cousin’s successful, Texasbased Academic Coaching & Executive Function Program to

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

the D.C. Metro region. Wendy’s intellect, empathy and nurturing spirit are woven into the fabric of Illuminos. Illuminos’ approach is unique, individualized and holistic. Their expert coaches work one-on-one with students, teaching critical foundational skills such as organization, time management and communication while supporting subject-matter needs. 571-313-5163 www.illuminos.co

COURTESY PHOTO

Wendy Weinberger, President & Co-Founder, Illuminos

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The Face of

Advanced General & Implant Dentistry

COURTESY PHOTO

Despina M. Markogiannakis, DDS, Smiles of Chevy Chase Dr. Markogiannakis and Smiles of Chevy Chase are known to be the most innovative practice in the area providing Advanced General and Implant Dentistry. They take ordinary people and make extraordinary smiles. In as little as two weeks, the years of hiding your smile because of misalignment, discoloration and decay could be taken away and the confidence you deserve regained. From technology guided dental procedures for crowns and fillings, to sophisticated implant and cosmetic treatments,

the Smiles of Chevy Chase experience is unmatched. Just as technology is always changing, so are they; always pushing to think outside the box and lead the way. Follow @smilesofchevychase to see how Dr. Markogiannakis inspires patients to change the world with their smile, every day! 301-652-0656 www.SmilesOfChevyChase.com

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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The Face of

Advocacy in Divorce & Family Law The attorneys at Alman & Alman, LLC have over 50 years of experience in the fields of divorce, alimony, custody, child support and domestic violence in Maryland. They understand that along with determined legal work, family law matters require honest, dedicated and empathetic counsel. And because every case is unique, they take extra time to learn the details of their clients’ issues so that they can zealously advocate for them. As a boutique firm, Alman & Alman, LLC ensures that

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

their clients are knowledgeable partners and understand their rights, best options and likely outcomes. Together, they work closely to resolve matters by negotiation, mediation or trial. Elliott Alman is a past Family Law Chair at the American Association for Justice and has been named in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. “Super Lawyers” list. 301-330-0010 | www.almanlaw.com

LISA HELFERT

Matthew D. Alman, Esq. & Elliott A. Alman, Esq. | Alman & Alman, LLC

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The Face of

Architecture

HILARY SCHWAB

Elie Ben Architecture, LLC Elie Ben Architecture is an award-winning architectural firm in Bethesda, designing custom and speculative homes. The firm provides services to homeowners and contractors, planning to build or renovate stunning homes. Maryam Tabrizchi, AIA, NCARB is the principal Architect at Elie Ben Architecture. With more than 16 years of experience, she is dedicated to contributing to neighborhood reinvigoration by designing innovative yet practical and cost-effective custom homes. She believes

that each custom house should be unique, representing the owner’s lifestyle. Her goal is to design projects that are welcoming from outside and functional and loving inside. Elie Ben Architecture values client’s expectations and is committed to a seamless client experience. With the client’s vision in mind, the firm designs a living space that is both inspiring and timeless. 202-860-7050 | www.eliebenarch.com

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The Face of

Audiology Experience Dr. Gail Linn not only offers highly experienced services like real ear measures through her practice, Potomac Audiology has an important presence among other medical professionals and audiology organizations. They participate in important research with NIH, and the latest study focuses on how to educate patients to use hearing aids more effectively. Dr. Linn is regularly called upon to speak and present at industry events, and was invited to speak at the Institute of Medicine. Audiology

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

students from area schools train under her tutelage, as well as other students from around the country. For the past 14 years, Dr. Linn has served on the Maryland Academy of Audiology Board of Directors. The family practice includes Dr. Linn’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Terlep and Tricia’s husband Vince, who is Director of Operations. 240-477-1010 | www.potomacaudiology.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Gail Linn, Au.D. | Potomac Audiology

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The Face of an

Award-Winning Real Estate Team

COURTESY PHOTO

The Banner Team As one of the most successful, award-winning teams specializing in luxury properties, The Banner Team agents pride themselves on their unsurpassed commitment to clients. Recognized locally and nationally, they provide a “team behind every transaction,” striving to meet all their clients’ needs while making buying and selling real estate both enjoyable and rewarding. Beyond their love for real estate, The Banner Team is driven by a love of community. Through their Pay it

Forward program, they volunteer throughout the area and host community events. A portion of every commission is donated to charity. This dynamic, hard-working team is committed to excellence in all they do. Whether you want to buy, sell or custom build, they have the expertise to guide you – with success in any market. 301-365-9090 | www.BannerTeam.com

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The Face of

The Best Interior Designer Wendy Danziger, Interior Designer and owner of Danziger Design for over 25 years, has proven to be a creative designer who makes her clients her number one priority. Wendy believes the best designs are achieved through collaboration with her clients. Her well-honed listening skills help her to take client concepts and turn them into tangible living spaces that exceed expectations. She makes her clients feel comfortable throughout the design process by

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keeping them well informed and by problem-solving whenever needed. Wendy works with the best tradespeople and vendors in the industry whose commitment to customer service emulate her own. She manages her projects from start to finish to ensure the best quality outcomes. She has been voted The Best of Bethesda for the past four years. 301-365-3300 | www.danzigerdesign.com

HILARY SCHWAB

Wendy Danziger & Mary Biletnikoff, Danziger Design LLC

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The Face of

Bethesda’s Best Builder Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

MICHAEL KRESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Bennett, Ray Sobrino, Mimi Brodsky Kress, Phil Leibovitz, Tyler Abrams Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the Washington, D.C. area. For over 40 years, Phil Leibovitz and Mimi Brodsky Kress have been building new and doing large-scale renovations of award-winning homes and bringing their client’s vision to life. Sandy Spring Builders has won the Best of Bethesda Magazine award for “Best Builder” every year since its inception. Their incredible team, who are among the most talented and passionate in the industry, have built a portfolio of

spectacular homes for their clients. They are full-service custom builders, and their expertise is unmatched in the industry. Their clients, including friends and family, are the biggest testament to an enduring theme that everyone at Sandy Spring Builders goes by, “We are your builder for life.” 301-913-5995 www.sandyspringbuilders.com

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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The Face of

Bethesda’s Best-Kept Secret Redfin Real Estate

With over $425M in sales volume in 2021, Redfin’s Bethesda team brings a fresh, modern approach to real estate. Buy or sell a home on your terms using industryleading technology on Redfin.com, the number one brokerage website. They can help maximize your home’s value with Redfin Concierge services or show your luxury home to buyers around the globe with Premier Listings.

If you’re looking to buy, you’ll get instant access to new listings on the Redfin app, as well as honest, no-nonsense advice from Bethesda agents who know this market by heart. Plus, they’ll never pressure you to buy or sell before you’re ready. They’re on your side—from day one to closing day and beyond. 301-685-0420 | Redfin.com

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HILARY SCHWAB

Antonia Ketabchi, Lupe Rohrer, Leigh Yates, Amanda Lasko, Kris Paolini, Litsa Laddbush, & Mandy Kaur (Not Pictured: Long Ngo, Ruby Styslinger & Charles Gilroy)

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The Face of

Bethesda’s Best Salon

HEATHER FUENTES

Demetrios Bafitis, Owner, Bella Bethesda Salon “I just want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support throughout these past two years,” says Demetrios. “We are very honored and grateful to Bethesda for voting us Best Salon. I’d also like to thank my staff for their amazing dedication to their craft.” Bella Bethesda Salon is thriving today with the advantages of a loyal clientele, longtime stylists and a sincere dedication to the latest fashion trends, techniques, business practices and customer service. Bella emphasizes

advanced training and continuing education, and it shows in their work and the passion of the people who employ their craft and talents there. “Our people are rock stars,” says Demetrios. “We couldn’t be so successful without their passion, talent and creativity.” 301-718-9111 www.bellabethesda.com

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The Face of

Boarding There’s no place like home—but with the love and attention the Olde Towne Pet Resort team devotes to pets in its care, a stay there is as close as it gets. “Your pets are part of your family, and our family too,” says Olde Towne Pet Resort owner Leah Fried Sedwick. “We designed our resorts with your pet’s well-being in mind. That care includes 24/7 staffing, premier spacious suites and features such as webcams, sound proofing, filtered auto-fill water dishes and hospital-grade air system. We offer a choice of activities such as day camp, swimming and cardio to help keep them engaged and fit.” From thoughtful creature comforts to extra cuddle time, every stay at Olde Towne Pet Resort is just like being at home…maybe even better. 888-475-3580 | www.otpets.com

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HEATHER FUENTES

Old Towne Pet Resort

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The Face of

Business Law

LISA HELFERT

Natasha M. Nazareth, Esq. & Ginny Cascio Bonifacino, Esq. Nazareth Bonifacino Law LLC A boutique firm offering business, intellectual property and education legal services, Nazareth Bonifacino Law counsels companies, schools and non-profits with legal advice to protect their business, create opportunities and deepen relationships that matter. Working with all kinds of businesses as trusted advisors and strategic partners, they deliver practical, business-minded advice to help you grow and thrive. Natasha and Ginny offer deep experience in corporate

and business law, general counsel, executive contracts, trademarks, leasing and conflict resolution. Both believe that honoring values is good business and think that your work should give you joy, satisfaction, and pride. They find joy in untangling problems, aligning strategy to vision and knowing that when you choose them to tackle your legal needs, you can focus on what makes you happy. 240-202-4302 | www.dmvbusinesslawyers.com

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The Face of

Buyer & Seller Success in a Competitive Market Trent Heminger & Mary Noone, Trent & Co at Compass

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

a well-priced home,” says Mary. For those asking, “I want to sell, but where will I go?” “We’ve had great success helping people find their ‘upsize’ home and getting the job done flawlessly. Experienced agents know exactly how to help.” O: 301-298-1001 M: 240-461-3928 www.TrentandCo.com

LISA HELFERT

“It’s the Wild West for buyers,” says Mary Noone. “But there are ways to succeed.” There are a surprising number of factors that can put their offer ahead of other bids. The sooner your experienced agent can help you find those ways to win, the better. There are important strategies for sellers; price fairly, price strategically and reach the right buyers. “The market determines the price, and this market will tell you exactly what your home is worth, often with buyers bidding up a on

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The Face of

Civil Litigation JDKatz PC, Attorneys at Law

MICHAEL VENTURA

From Top Left: Dottie Gottfried, Jared Stape, Niall McMillan, Ayda Panosyan From Bottom Left: Jeffrey D. Katz, Elizabeth McInturff, Isabella Demougeot Jeffrey Katz launched his solo practice in 2000, planning to focus on complex tax and estate planning. Within weeks, he was investigating circus spy missions for a Potomac author and managing a construction firm as court-appointed receiver. Two decades later, an expanded JDKatz, PC handles civil and commercial litigation, business planning and dispute resolution, adult guardianship matters and estate and trust litigation, as well as tax and estate planning.

The team delivers individualized attention with big firm results. “We take the time to get to know our clients,” Katz says. “Our reputation consistently earns praise from media, clients near and far and global nonprofit groups.” The firm actively supports Bike to the Beach, Rock & Roll for Children and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 301-913-2948 | www.jdkatz.com

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The Face of

Collaborative Pediatric Dental Care Drs. Sholander & Goodman | Harmony Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

recommending early orthodontic treatment to redirect growth. Drs. Goodman and Sholander are board-certified specialists who’ve created a patient-centered practice with an integrative and efficient style. The practice offers comprehensive dental care for children and orthodontics for the entire family. 301-664-4220 www.harmonybethesda.com

LISA HELFERT

Harmony takes a functional approach to treatment by looking at dental health as it relates to the whole body. A child’s growth and development is influenced by many factors, including genetics and lifestyle habits. The way a child’s mouth develops will affect not only their teeth but also how well they breathe and even sleep! Collaborative care involves family education such as discussing lifestyle habits like food choices or bedtime routines. Other times it means helping kids kick thumb and pacifier habits, or

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The Face of

Community

MICHAEL VENTURA

Jacqueline Band-Olinger & Jill Balow, Realtors with the Balow Band Olinger Group of Greystone Realty Jacqueline and Jill are creative, passionate real estate professionals committed to finding their clients the perfect home, but even more importantly, the perfect community. They take a holistic approach to meeting your goals and needs and appreciate that your next home is not just about bricks and mortar. They know it is about creating a sense of community, about finding a home where their clients will be content, feel connected and thrive today and long into the future. Both natives to the DC metropolitian area, your community is their community. They are deeply involved members who have experienced the DC Metro area as

children, young adults and now as parents. Their vast network, comprehensive knowledge, and keen sense of the subtleties across neighborhoods, schools, shopping areas, restaurants and more is unparalleled. Coupled with their uniquely personalized approach, they ensure every client is a happy client. The team of Jackie, Jill, Jen and Janine... where home and community are one. 301-244-4705 | www.greystonerealty.net Jacqueline: 301-928-4669 | Jill: 301-233-5596

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Complex Family Law Feldman Jackson

At Feldman Jackson, the entire practice concentrates on family law. Routinely, cases involve complex issues relating to financial assets, valuation and business interests, as well as issues regarding custody of children. While a negotiated settlement is almost always preferable, we strategically pursue litigation if that will best achieve our client’s goals or protect their interests. Firm attorneys are ranked among the top national and local family law professionals and frequently teach CLEs,

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including trial advocacy, to other family law attorneys. With this experience comes acumen and ability to creatively solve complex family law issues. With a reputation for integrity, judgment and skill, we offer our clients compassion, guidance and a sense of control. Feldman Jackson helps our clients manage change with integrity. 301-715-8110 | FeldmanJackson.com

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Front Row: Anne Marie Jackson, Darryl Feldman Back Row: Rachel De Rose, Rebecca Shankman, John S. Dame

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The Face of

Construction & Development

HEATHER FUENTES

Fernando Guedes, Jr., ACE Construction DMV ACE Construction DMV is the premier general contracting and development company in the DMV area. Specializing in multi-family and single-family construction, Fernando Guedes, Jr. and his team at Ace have become the premier go-to general contractor. This year looks to be their biggest year ever, with roughly 100,000 ft. under construction and coming soon in the DMV market as well as the opening of South Florida, Tampa, NYC and Hampton divisions. ACE offers a full-ser-

vice approach to development. Besides general contracting and construction management, Fernando Guedes Jr. has developed the “ACE LIST”! — the most exclusive real estate development program in the DMV. Contact Ace Construction DMV today and ask for Fernando Guedes, Jr. and start investing. 240-388-1123 www.ACEConstructionDMV.com

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Cosmetic & Dental Implants Dr. Jason Cohen’s patients embrace the artistry that goes into his dentistry. His practice offers a caring and gentle atmosphere, and aims to preserve, protect and enhance their patients’ dental health, while treating your family like family. This integral philosophy allows patients to receive the most optimal care for their individual needs and desires. Ranging from simple aesthetic bonding to complex implant dentistry, Dr. Cohen’s office utilizes digital radiography and photography to ensure the most ideal

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aesthetic results. In addition, Dr. Cohen and his team’s commitment to continuing education enables them to provide the most current, state-of-the-art, comprehensive care for his patients. Practicing in the area since 2002, Dr. Cohen lives in Bethesda with his wife Stacy and sons Corey and Blake. 301-656-1201 www.cosmeticdds.com

HEATHER FUENTES

Jason A. Cohen, DDS

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Criminal Law

MICHAEL VENTURA

David Felsen, Felsen & Sargent, LLC Voted a Bethesda Magazine Top Attorney for Criminal Law since 2019, David Felsen brings experience, knowledge and zeal to his representation of those charged with crimes. David was also voted a Super Lawyer and awarded the highest (AV) Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubble for legal ability and ethical standards. A professor at the Washington College of Law–American University, he brings his passion for law to educating future lawyers. With over 34 years of trial experience throughout

Maryland, David is well-known in the Circuit and District Courts in Montgomery County. Emphasizing individualized services, he offers close client contact, ensuring each client knows all facets of the case, so each can make informed decisions. Mr. Felsen zealously represents clients charged with traffic, criminal and juvenile offenses throughout Maryland. 301-241-4010 | www.mdlawyers.com

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Custom Homes 20-plus years ago, Doug Monsein blended his passion for building, deep knowledge of construction and fanatical eye for detail with his business acumen and created DCG. Since then, he’s built over 195 homes in the Bethesda area, and many happy clients became his best ambassadors. The DCG custom home build process includes: 1. Extraordinary communication before, during and after construction, encouraged by the client’s vision of their new custom home.

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2. A keenly organized and stress-free fixture and finish selection process, allowing clients to thoroughly enjoy their homebuilding experience. 3. Expert trades and vendors dedicated to DCG’s high standards and expectations. 4. Deep commitment to green building practices from “Bethesda’s Best Green Builder.” DCG is the only builder to receive this recognition as voted by Bethesda Magazine readers. 301-983-6947 | dcghomes.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Doug Monsein, Founder | Douglas Construction Group (DCG)

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Dental Implants

COURTESY PHOTO

Israel Puterman, DMD MSD & Alan M. Levine, DDS | ImplantsDC When you need specialized care, you deserve doctors and a team with the highest level of care and compassion. Whether you need implants or have gum recession, gum disease, a gummy smile or simply want our opinion, Drs. Puterman and Levine are happy to help in any way. With the latest technology, including 3D microscopes, digital guided surgery, laser periodontics and minimally invasive techniques, we strive to provide the highest level of care

anywhere. Dr. Puterman also provides IV sedation, so you can take a comfortable nap during any procedure. Repeatedly voted by our peers as a Washingtonian ‘Top Dentist,’ our goal is to provide world-class periodontics and implant dentistry in the most relaxing of atmospheres. Read our rave reviews online and see what our patients say. 301-652-0939 | www.implantsdc.com

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Dentistry for Kids Come experience the magic behind Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry! The office design is inviting with serene calmness transitioning to pops of color. The kids’ nook, interactive wall-toys, costume sunglasses, ample flavors, toy-wall and movies bring your little ones closer to comfort. “These decisions help kids gain confidence that the entire experience involves them,” says Dr. Benitez. “The practice implements research-supported dentistry, providing conservative and predicable outcomes—all while having fun.” Services include SDF, Hall Technique, White Zirconia

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Crowns and Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair (LSRT). Tethered tissues and airway management are critical to your child’s health, so the practice provides CO2 laser releases and airway-centric philosophies to properly guide development. “Our energy is palpable, personal and loving because we cannot help but feel you are family!” 301-272-1246 www.chevychasekids.dentist

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Dr. Karen Benitez & Her Family, Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry

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Divorce & Child Custody Advocates Law Offices of Sandra Guzman Salvado

HILARY SCHWAB

Sandra Guzman Salvado Esq., Magdalena D’Aiuto, Esq., Margarita Ortiz, Esq. Sandra has been practicing exclusively in family law and passionate about this area since she was first licensed in Maryland. Her clients may be going through the most painful and darkest time of their lives. With over a decade of experience, she offers the legal advice, hope and perspective needed at a time when nothing is clear and everything is hard to do or see. Sandra believes that everyone’s life experiences teach them to better understand and help others. She hosts a

podcast and frequently posts on her blog and social media, because everyone cannot afford legal representation and turn to free sources of information to cope. If anyone gains new perspective, hope or strategy to manage their difficulties, from listening, reading or consultation with her, she is satisfied. 240-620-9437 www.guzmansalvadolaw.com

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Dyslexia Education The Siena School Siena’s model employs the latest research on how students with dyslexia think and learn. Students receive personalized instruction in small classes with highly trained, experienced teachers. Its multisensory curriculum integrates technology seamlessly and enables students to explore their strengths and creativity. Siena also provides virtual tutoring and a summer program. 301-244-3600 | www.thesienaschool.org

HEATHER FUENTES

The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences. Siena opened a second campus in Oakton, VA, in 2021. Siena Silver Spring serves grades four through 12, and Siena Northern Virginia serves grades three through 10. As a long-time area psychologist who specializes in diagnosing dyslexia shared, “To have Siena open in Oakton is incredibly exciting. It’s a great resource for families, and we can definitely get students the education they need.”

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Eastern Shore Real Estate COURTESY PHOTO

Chuck Mangold, Benson & Mangold A leading agent in all price ranges for over 20 years, Chuck joined Benson & Mangold in 2001. He prides himself on being in all things Eastern Shore Real Estate, including inland, waterfront and commercial properties in Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester Counties. He brings unmatched knowledge, experience and customer service to the table for every client’s need in a

seamless purchase or sale. No matter what stage of the homebuying or selling process you are in, Chuck and his team have the resources and expertise to assist. Armed with a dedicated, full-time staff, he is free to market your home or find you your dream home. 410-822-6665 | www.chuckmangold.com

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Elder Law Ryan Wilson, Law Office of T. Ryan Wilson

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and serves on the Montgomery County Commission on Aging and co-chairs the Public Policy Committee. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the nonprofit organization Arts for the Aging since 2009. He is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. 240-638-2721 www.ryanwilsonlaw.com

TONY J. LEWIS

Are you caring for an older loved one? You may already dealing with elder law issues, like long term care planning or cognitive impairment. Ryan Wilson offers practical advice to help you arrive at the best solutions and strategies for you and your needs. A policy and legal professional with over 20 years of experience, he enjoys helping clients protect what matters most to them. Ryan is actively involved in his Silver Spring community

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Experience & Integrity in Real Estate

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Andy & Jessie Alderdice, Realtors Long & Foster | Christie’s International Real Estate Raised in Bethesda, Andy and Jessie bring a native Washingtonian’s knowledge of the D.C. metro area to their real estate business. Driven by a strong work ethic and unwavering integrity, they work hard to deliver the best results for clients while cultivating lasting relationships with clients and colleagues. Andy has been recognized multiple years as one of Long & Foster’s top producers and was voted one of the area’s Best Realtors in 2019 by readers of Bethesda Magazine. Her sales and expertise in the luxury

market have also earned her membership in Long & Foster’s prestigious Luxury Alliance. Andy and Jessie are committed to giving back to the community that has contributed so much to their success. Past president of the Kiwanis Club, Andy is also an active member of the Potomac Chamber of Commerce. C: 301-466-5898 | O: 301-229-4000 Andy4homes.com

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Experienced Divorce Attorneys The lawyers of Webb Soypher McGrath are highly experienced and widely respected leaders in the practice of family law. Their primary goal is to help clients reach a fair settlement, but their experience as trial attorneys serves clients well when settlement appears unlikely and a trial is necessary. These four attorneys and their team routinely handle cases involving complex marital estates and valuations, as well high conflict and challenging family dynamics. All are recognized as top family law lawyers by their

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peers and numerous publications. Family lawyers must expertly guide clients through an incredibly challenging period, helping them make informed and goal-oriented decisions. Your choice of the right attorney is often the first such critical step. Trust Webb Soypher McGrath to help you protect what matters most. 301-298-8401 www.WSMFamily.com

HEATHER FUENTES

Webb Soypher McGrath, LLC Deborah L. Webb, Howard B. Soypher, Rhian McGrath & Lisa Fishberg, Attorneys At Law

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Eyecare & Fashion Eyewear

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Rachel Cohn, Wink Eyecare Boutique There’s a lot of stress on eyes these days, with Zoom calls, screen time and dryness, and now we can add spring sunshine to the mix, too. For answers, turn to Wink Eyecare in Potomac. Dr. Rachel Cohn helps hundreds of patients and customers with better lenses and fashionable looks to make an impression even when you’re behind a mask. As an optometrist, she knows eye issues. But she founded Wink to offer something more—quality eyecare with fashionable eyewear, too. Wink

blends the latest technologies and comprehensive eye exams with a boutique where you can find frames perfectly fitted to your face and prescription. “It’s spring. We’re coming out from social distancing. Let’s have some fun and make a statement with your eyewear,” says Dr. Cohn. 301-545-1111 www.wink.net

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Facelifts Cosmetic Surgery Associates offers the latest in face-lift, neck-lift, eyelid surgery and facial rejuvenation procedures in a safe, caring environment. The doctors are boardcertified, fully trained plastic surgeons specializing in this unique art and science. The practice strives to ensure patients are well informed and feel confident in their choices. Their comfort and wellbeing are priorities – before, during and after procedures. Communication is open, direct and honest.

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All surgery is performed in their accredited outpatient surgical operating suites. There are many options available depending upon the goal of the patient. The doctors carefully explain the procedures they recommend to help you reach your individual goals. They have thousands of happy patients. Come for a free consult to explore your options. 301-493-4334 | www.cosmeticplastics.com

HEATHER FUENTES

Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS & Keshav Magge, MD, FACS Cosmetic Surgery Associates

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Family Formation Law STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Jennifer Fairfax, Esq., Family Formation Law Office Building your family through Adoption or Assisted Reproductive Technology is a deeply personal decision that you come to after considering many paths to parenthood. When you choose your path, Jennifer is here to assist you. Jennifer limits her practice to family formation and has decades of experience helping her clients grow their families through Adoption and ART, including surrogacy and the use of donors. She guides clients through the legal complexities

with compassion and expertise locally, nationally and across the globe. Jennifer is recognized nationwide by her peers as a thought leader in the field and is the author of “The Adoption Law Handbook,” published by the American Bar Association. She is licensed in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. 240-863-2441 | www.jenniferfairfax.com

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Family Law FTLF Family Law Group

The Family Law Group of Feldesman Tucker delivers sophisticated, client-centered representation enabling individuals to move forward with a sense of well-being and confidence. Our lawyers know from deep experience the importance of protecting children, safeguarding financial assets and preserving dignity at every stage of separation, divorce and relationship transitions. Using negotiation, Collaborative Law, mediation and litigation, they develop successful strategies for meeting any clients’ needs.

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Serving clients throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia, FTLF’s team of lawyers consistently are recognized by Bethesda Magazine, Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. For the past 12 years, FTLF has been ranked as a Tier 1 Family Law firm by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” 202-466-8960 ftlf.com

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Front Row (left to right): Marina Barannik, Sarah Zimmerman, and Jonathan Dana Back Row (left to right): Katherine O’Rourke, Cierra Vaughn, Olivia Scott, Divani Nadaraja, Emily Baker, and Jennifer Davison; Not Pictured: Elizabeth Selmo

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Fitness

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Reina Offutt, RTR Pilates The past two years have wreaked havoc on fitness routines and community hot spots. Stiff bodies and social deprivation showed us how vitally important it is to take care of ourselves and each other. RTR Pilates supports both. RTR is a community built to create optimal performance for each individual body. Our team of highly trained instructors use the proprietary, science-based RTR Method combined with the Allegro II reformer to empower clients to embody the healthiest version of themselves quickly and

with ease. Tailored classes provide challenging workouts no matter where you are in your fitness journey, alongside creative instructors who provide a new experience every time. With five convenient locations in the D.C. Metropolitan area, RTR is open and ready to help you get back on your A-game. 301-983-3745 RTRPilates.com

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Gratitude in Real Estate Chris Rhodes, Roads to Home Real Estate, Long & Foster Gateway Office

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A native of both Bethesda and Falls Church City, Chris knows all metro area markets and neighborhoods. His father was a builder and developer and mother an interior designer. “I’m thankful to have been born into this business and I just love it,” he says. 571-438-0111 www.RoadsToHome.com

HILARY SCHWAB

“We help buyers and sellers from the Beltway to the beach,” says Chris. “We listen to your needs and come up with win-win strategies. We aren’t about our numbers or transactions; we just want to provide solutions.” Chris was Rookie of the Year for Long & Foster more than 20 years ago and today is a top producer and top Realtor nationwide. He and his team work around the metro area and Delaware serving client needs.

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Happy Clients Barbara Nalls, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

MICHAEL VENTURA

Left: Evelyn & Ben Schwartz & family Right: Teresa Abraham & Neil Bjorkman & family For Barbara, working with clients is a true partnership, and she counts many of the families she’s worked with as friends. She’s watched their kids grow up, helped their parents downsize and stayed in touch after a cross-country job relocation. It’s one of the perks of the job. Nothing means more than when clients who have become friends refer their own friends to Barbara, “I can’t think of a higher compliment,” she says.

She’s been recognized as a top agent for over 25 years, and the top individual agent for TTR’s Bethesda office for four years running. Her secret? Market experience and strong strategic thinking that wins for her clients, even in this lopsided market, plus persistence, good humor and genuine warmth that shows. 240-602-9035 | www.barbaranalls.com

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High-Stakes Divorce Cases Experience matters in complex divorce situations, and Jeff Greenblatt brings more than 40 years of handling complex divorce, custody, visitation, alimony, domestic violence and division of assets cases. Selected as a Super Lawyer every year since 2007, Bethesda Magazine features him in the category of one of the top attorneys, “you want to represent you when the stakes are high.” Realistic, practical and honest, he works to make each client feel comfortable with

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the legal process, guiding him or her through a difficult legal and emotional maze. As one of the largest and most trusted firms serving the metro area, Joseph Greenwald and Laake PA offers more than 200 years of combined experience in representing clients in domestic matters in Maryland. 240-399-7894 | www.jgllaw.com

TONY J. LEWIS

Jeffrey N. Greenblatt, Joseph Greenwald & Laake PA

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Home Lending Deb Levy, Lisa Bennett, and Griff, “Bone Officer”

MICHAEL VENTURA

Chase

“After 37 years in mortgage lending I can safely say that purchasing a home is like hopping on the fastest roller coaster ride at the amusement park,” says Deb. “It’s vital to feel a sense of education and knowledge in the process. That’s why we like to focus on clients as individuals and take a truly consultative approach to determine all options for financing and help the client to identify what makes the most sense.” This approach has earned Deb Levy’s team lifelong clients as well as the adult children of those clients. As a full-service national bank, the benefit of being a part of the One Chase Team is that Deb Levy’s group will work with bank partners to help all clients with their banking and investing needs. 202-702-3262 | deb.levy@chase.com homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy Deb Levy NMLS ID 481255

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Home Renovations Omar Shawqi & Matt Covell, STRUCTURE.

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undeniable style. Thanks to this reputation, STRUCTURE. was among the top vote getters for Best Remodeling Firm in Bethesda Magazine’s 2022 Best of Bethesda Readers Poll. With more and more STRUCTURE. signs appearing in yards across the area, home envy is becoming more prevalent with Covell and Shawqi working next door! 240-994-1520 StructureCustomHomes.com

TONY J. LEWIS

One of the most exciting young building and remodeling firms in the area, STRUCTURE. is leading a new generation in home construction. At the core of the team are Matt Covell and Omar Shawqi, renovation specialists who bring a fresh take on home aesthetics and a soulful, creative approach to how home improvement is experienced. Established talent in the local building scene, they have built a reputation for high quality and highly customized projects that shine with

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Immigration Law

COURTESY PHOTO

Ignacio Donoso, Managing Partner, Donoso & Partners, LLC Ignacio Donoso has been recognized among the Top 25 attorneys for entrepreneur visas since 2015. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on immigration law and is published on specific issues related to business immigration and investment visas. He has been interviewed on national media including Fox Business and the New York Times on immigration issues. Donoso & Partners provides visa services for the U.S. and Canada. Expertise covers technology professional

and researcher visas, as well as investor, start-up and family-sponsored visas. “This is an exciting time for people interested in immigrating,” says Donoso. “As we enter post-Covid-19 recovery, we’re witnessing an overhaul of immigration laws. Our clients need personalized guidance, and we design the most suitable pathway to navigate the visa process.” 301-276-0656 | www.donosolaw.com

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Independent School Located on 102 acres in Potomac, Maryland, Bullis provides a rich intellectual experience that inspires students to be critical thinkers, lifelong learners and impactful global citizens. Our student-centered community embraces diversity, honors integrity and fosters belonging. Meaningful opportunities in academics, arts, athletics and service stimulate student growth while enhancing joy. We believe the best education is achieved through meaningful academic engagement and exposure to a broad

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range of academic offerings and educational experiences. In our K-12 program, we blend traditional content knowledge with modern learning to offer classes like entrepreneurship, robotics, making for social good and design thinking. In the Upper School, students may pursue personalized pathways, culminating in a year-long intensive study through our Signature Programs. 301-299-8500 | www.bullis.org

TONY J. LEWIS

Bullis School

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Lifelong Love of Learning

HILARY SCHWAB

Geneva Day School How to write a letter? Pronounce it? Use words that begin with it? These questions and more are answered by Teacher Ms. Maria Franzetti who introduces the “Learning without Tears” literacy methodology. As her three-yearold students practice tracing essential letters, they lift their faces to a lifelong love of learning. Such a lesson is characteristic of the exceptional classes and programs the school brings children aged two through kindergarten. In a nurturing setting, they learn preacademics and embrace STEAM-powered specials which

include Art, Environmental Education, Mindfulness and Physical Education. Geneva’s Maryland Green School campus provides nature’s classroom, when weather allows, and invites discovery of its nearby creek. Again awarded “Best Preschool” by Bethesda Magazine, Geneva revels in early literacy; successful scholarship and exploration are authored for years to come. 301-340-7704 | www.genevadayschool.org

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Luxury Real Estate One of the most distinguished agents in the area, Margie is among the Top One Percent of all agents nationwide and the #1 Agent in her Compass Bethesda office, among many other honors. Margie is part of The Private Client Team at Compass, an elite group with sales of $3 billion in luxury real estate 2021, so their influence is unrivaled. Client-driven and results-oriented, they work with a very select clientele. Margie personally negotiates every transaction, and coordinates all staging, decorating, repairs and photography.

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“I am very involved in all aspects of transactions, which is unique for a top-producing agent,” says Margie. Her team of highly regarded agents includes Harrison Halem, Courtney Halem, Amy Gordon, Matt Gloger, Elizabeth Meltzer, Lori Silverman and Ashley Townsend who create a true luxury experience, and they are relied upon by VIPs and owners of notable properties for discretion, knowledge and the utmost integrity. 301-775-4196 | www.MargieHalemGroup.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Margie Halem Group, Compass, The Private Client Team

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Magical Home Transformations Donna Kerr Group - Real Estate Brokerage

HEATHER FUENTES

Jim Holland, Susan Kirn, Natalie Perez, Maura Fitzgerald, Robin Goelman The secret ingredient in Donna Kerr Group’s magical home transformations is their Signature Listing Process, featuring two expert agents per home and a team of in-house designers, stylists, photographers and project managers who add value to the sale. At Donna Kerr Group, estimates, sourcing, staging and any project management are complimentary, with their seamless approach described as not only “stress free,” but “exceeding expectations.” Customizing strategies to fit any budget and timeframe, each

space is thoughtfully curated from updated lighting fixtures to cabinet refacing or modern flooring. It is then styled, drawing from Donna Kerr Group’s impressive inventory of fine furniture, linens, artwork, floor coverings and decor. The end result is a home that sparkles, bringing a greater return on their clients’ valuable asset. 301-918-5352 www.donnakerrgroup.com

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Making a Difference, One Child at a Time Libby absolutely loves her job. Bringing a sense of wonder to a child is magical for her. “I’m a strong believer in early childhood education and I’m truly committed to our children, families and the community.” “Children learn best by direct hands-on experience. The need to actively explore and manipulate materials and toys, discovering answers, relationships, skills and concepts for themselves. We lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning in every child that comes through WCC. Children

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are naturally playful, and that play builds strong selfconfidence.” WCC programs inspire children to learn through play and the thrill of discovery. Classrooms are warm, nurturing and exciting, which makes learning fun. At both locations along Massachusetts Ave., preschoolers develop a love of play, exploring and lifelong friendships. 301-229-7161 | www.wccbethesda.com

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Libby Dubner King, Executive Director | Westmoreland Children’s Center

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Modern Family Law Firm

TONY J. LEWIS

Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield, P.C. Families evolve, as do laws governing disputes. So why work with a law firm that does things the same old ways? We call ourselves “The Modern Family Law Firm” because our attorneys are on the cutting edge of family law. We work with clients in all family configurations, and remain current with new developments. Besides being experienced and effective litigators, we are trained in mediation, collaborative law and other alternative dispute resolution methods.

The attorneys you entrust with your family law matter will have a profound impact upon your life. We know that our thoughtful actions make a world of difference for our clients’ lives, children, assets, resources and emotional well-being. Allow us to help guide you with the courage, capabilities and compassion you deserve. 240-617-0404 www.modernfamilylawfirm.com

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New American Brasserie Ype Von Hengst, Co-founder & Executive Chef of Silver New American Brasserie

100

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healthier menu using locally sourced ingredients. At Silver Diner, he revolutionized the diner industry by providing healthy alternatives and won numerous awards for his innovative healthy kid’s menus. An avid competitor, he won a national TV cooking show, donating the $10,000 prize to Doctors Without Borders. Bethesda: 301-652-9780 Cathedral Heights: 202-851-3199 www.EatAtSilver.com

MICHAEL VENTURA

After 30 years of success with American Café and Silver Diner, chef Von Hengst co-founded Silver in Bethesda and Cathedral Heights. “With Silver we wanted to create a restaurant that provided an ‘elevated’ casual dining experience,” says Von Hengst. Silver offers contemporary versions of American favorites combined with healthier options and a creative bar program. Von Hengst will be opening a new location this summer, Silver Social, in D.C. next to Nationals Ball Park. He’s received many accolades for his highly creative,

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North Chevy Chase, Kensington, & East Bethesda Real Estate

LISA HELFERT

Elysia Casaday & Brittany Allison, The Casaday Allison Group, Compass The Casaday Allison Group is built on relationships, and driven by results. The team takes a fresh approach to real estate, combining innovative technology and best-in-class service to all their clients, no matter the price range or location. As an award-winning Realtor, Elysia is dedicated to her clients and built a business that is referral-based, guiding many of her clients through some of the biggest milestones of their lives. She is currently a resident of Kensington and

a licensed Realtor since 2004. As a native Washingtonian and Realtor currently living in East Bethesda, Brittany offers insight into the DMV’s most desirable neighborhoods, as well. By harnessing a distinct blend of marketing prowess, local expertise and the right touch of humor, she creates positive experiences for her clients. 301-787-4147 | 301-461-0084 | casadayallison.com

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One-of-a-Kind Realtor Experience Andres is an expert Realtor: trusted Seller’s Agent and recognized Buyer’s Agent. His expertise spans working with sellers across Maryland, D.C. and Virginia and buyers at all stages of their homebuying experience, including purchasing a home for relocation and working with veteran first-time home buyers. Fluent in English and Spanish, Andres is excellent at delivering a one-of-a-kind experience to his clients. He is

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a native of the DMV region and a University of Maryland graduate in computer technologies. His breadth of local knowledge, as well as his technical background, lends him a unique eye for detail to the benefit of his clients. Andres is a great reflection of our region’s diverse real estate market and an ideal agent to have by your side. 202-297-0026 | www.andresmorejon.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Andres S. Morejon Compass Realtor | MD, D.C. & VA

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Persistence & Success RLG Law

COURTESY PHOTOS

From Top Left: Donna K. Rismiller, Andrew R. Italia, Maura L. Lynch, From Bottom Left: Zhia L. Shepardson, Mary C. Lombardo, Elizabeth Danquah-Brobby & Gloria H. Lee RLG Law offers deep expertise in family law, employment law, business planning and formation, trusts and estates and civil and criminal litigation. Firm attorneys blend their experience and compassion with legal smarts to provide effective representation with integrity, professionalism and unrivaled commitment to their clients’ best interest. Many firms offer aggressive litigators or collaborative peacemakers, but RLG handles all resolution methods—mediation, alternative dispute models, collaborative

methods, litigation and everything in between. Working in partnership with clients, they don’t just tell clients what to do. They carefully explain all possible options and likely outcomes, with a goal-centric approach. RLG attorneys map out a plan custom-tailored to each client’s goals, to create an effective strategy to achieve the desired outcomes. Through RLG Law’s persistence, success is attainable. 301-340-1616 | www.RLG-Lawyers.com

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Play-Based Learning Love Where They Learn... Georgetown Hill opened its doors in the heart of downtown Bethesda this past fall. Their preschool program and before/after care programs have led the childcare industry with a play-based, joyful approach to learning. The school’s P.L.A.N. curriculum is researchbased and time-tested, all revolving around a child- and family-first environment. As a non-profit organization, they believe in giving back to families and the community

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and have been doing so for 42 years! Their whole-child approach to learning is evident as happy teachers create happy children, and in return, happy parents. Call today to learn about all 13 campuses located across Montgomery, Prince Georges and Frederick Counties. Come discover why the school is a “family and not a franchise!” 301-525-1105 | www.georgetownhill.com

LISA HELFERT

Karolina Medina, Pre-K Teacher, Georgetown Hill Early School

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Portfolio Management

TONY J. LEWIS

Capital Harvest Wealth Partners Whether you’re starting out in life or near retirement, the right financial plan can help you move forward with confidence. With over 100 years of industry experience, Capital Harvest Wealth Partners is prepared to help you grow the life or business you want, guiding you every step of the way. Each Capital Harvest financial advisor begins by getting to know every client they serve, listening carefully to their individual goals and needs. Then, using a collaborative approach, the advisor works with experienced colleagues to

design a financial plan to help reach those goals. Capital Harvest Wealth Partners assists their clients with investing, money management, retirement, college savings plans and more. Their skilled advisors can help you create a brighter financial future – for generations to come. 301-471-1576 | www.capharvest.com 4350 East West Highway, Suite 510, Bethesda, MD 20814 Securities and investment advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. (WFS), member FINRA/SIPC. WFS is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of WFS.

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Posture Correction & Pain Relief Dr. Daniel Kraus, DC and Dr. Rosell Belmont Monell, DC Poor posture leads to a wide variety of musculoskeletal and pain issues, and Drs. Kraus and Monell are experts in fixing them. Utilizing less-invasive treatments first and only then graduating to more invasive therapies if needed, they tailor posture correction programs to fit each patient’s needs and goals. They may use biophysics adjustments, mirror image exercises, Active Isolated Stretches, physical therapies, deep tissue laser and many forms of traction—all of which can improve mobility, decrease pain and restore proper function.

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“Our best patients are looking to make long-lasting posture improvements for overall health and wellness,” says Dr. Kraus. “We don’t turn away people looking for pain management, but we want our patients to truly understand the relationship between proper posture and proper function,” says Dr. Monell. 301-656-2435 www.bethesdaspineandposture.com

HEATHER FUENTES

Bethesda Spine & Posture

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Retirement Planning

HILARY SCHWAB

David B. Hurwitz, CFP, CRPC, CRPS, RICP, APMA, BFA Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC (AFS) The alphabet soup after my name is evidence of my commitment to the specific needs around retirement planning strategies. I hold the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Retirement Income Chartered Professional (RICP), and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) designations, on top of being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner (CFP) and Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFATM).

I help clients not only plan for how to make their money last throughout retirement, but also all the other challenges, like planning for kids and grandkids, dealing with volatile markets, and often coaching people on how to spend and enjoy their money. When it comes to retirement planning strategies, I can help with saving, growing, preserving or gifting your nest egg. 301-263-8509 | www.davidbhurwitz.com

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Specialized Real Estate Law Selzer Gurvitch

From Left: Brian Bichy, Jessica Lieberman, Matthew Gordon, Robert Park (Not pictured: Robert Dalrymple, Thomas Lynch)

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drafting of condominium and homeowner’s association documents, pursuing tax assessment appeals or litigating construction disputes. These attorneys pride themselves on providing clients a wide knowledge base along with legal creativity, efficiency and practicality for their projects. Should you need legal help for your project or matter, this team delivers it all. 301-986-9600 selzergurvitch.com

TONY J. LEWIS

In addition to Selzer Gurvitch’s traditional real estate practice, this talented, specialized team assists builders and developers, owners, investors, lenders and construction companies with any issue that might arise in a commercial and residential development project. This group has specific strengths with zoning, tax appeals, tax planning, document drafting, construction law and more. They offer extensive experience representing developers, owners and investors throughout the life of a residential, mixed-use or commercial project, including, land use and zoning,

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Technology in Design A.B.E. Networks

TONY J. LEWIS

Avi Benaim, President and Allie Hayzlett, Lighting & Shading Manager A.B.E. Networks is the metro area’s premier provider for residential and commercial technology design and custom integration and has been for over 30 years. The award-winning firm takes a holistic approach to projects by utilizing the design phase to focus on collaboration and the space’s aesthetics, and to propose a system that emphasizes both current and future use cases. Avi Benaim, founder and president, has built his reputation on exemplary customer service from project inception to continuing care because

the client bond doesn’t end when the project does. Their services and offerings include automated lighting control, motorized window treatments, audio/video systems, custom automation solutions, wireless and wired enterprise-grade data networks, security cameras and integrated security systems, access control, energy monitoring, structured wiring, consulting and more. 301-495-0964 | www.abenetworks.com

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Top Divorce Lawyer & Author Married to a family therapist and a father of four daughters, David Bulitt brings unique perspective to every client’s case. A skilled mediator and litigator, he maintains the highest rankings on national, regional and local top divorce lawyer lists. Much of his work involves direct discussions and negotiations with opposing counsel, both with regard to children and finances. “People should take the opportunity to make their own decisions—before leaving their family’s future up to a judge,” he says.

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Blending their professional practices with personal experiences, in 2020 David and Julie published the award winning book, “The Five Core Conversations for Couples.” The couple spends much of their spare time speaking to companies, groups and organizations on the much neglected connection between satisfaction at home and success at work. 240-399-7888 | dbulitt@jgllaw.com

HILARY SCHWAB

David Bulitt, Attorney at Law, Joseph Greenwald & Laake, P.A.

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Wealth Management Brian Salcetti, AIF, CIMA CEO, Managing Partner

HILARY SCHWAB

Sandbox Financial Partners Featured as the Face of Wealth Management for the second year in a row, Brian Salcetti leads Sandbox Financial, an independent financial planning and investment management firm. Recognized by peers and clients, he has guided Sandbox to continuously evolve as technology, regulation and generational client needs require increased vision, transparency and trust. The financial advice industry is dominated by banks, brokerage and insurance firms who all have conflicts of interest. Brian and Sandbox stand

apart, operating as an independent firm and providing advice as a Fiduciary, meaning they are required to work in your best interest—all the time. Sandbox boasts a highly credentialed team of experienced subject matter experts, a proven track record of success and, most importantly, happy clients. 301-214-4190 www.sandboxfp.com

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Westbrook Neighborhood Homes Specializing in the unique collection of “Westbrook” neighborhoods (Westmoreland Hills, Westgate, Brookdale, Green Acres, Crestview among others), Dana Rice is a familiar and trusted resource in Bethesda and Chevy Chase real estate. “Homes in these neighborhoods are well-built and extremely desirable for their proximity to Friendship Heights and D.C.,” says Rice. “My team lives and works here, which makes a huge difference as we serve our clients.” From small bungalows to expansive custom new homes, through

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Bethesda, Chevy Chase and D.C., Dana Rice brings a depth of community knowledge that makes a difference for sellers and buyers alike. With unmatched marketing insight, an on-staff stager, an interior designer and a roster of go-to experts, Dana Rice Group brings concierge service to each client. 301-298-1001 | Direct: 202-669-6908 www.compass.com/agents/dc/dana-rice

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Dana Rice Group of Compass

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Your Child’s Caring & Gentle Dentist

LISA HELFERT

Elizabeth Andie Shin, DDS | BCC PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Dr. Andie Shin is well known to her patients as a very kind, patient and fun dentist. With more than 20 years in pediatric dentistry, she has many academic accolades and awards, but she considers her biggest accomplishment to have helped her young patients develop and maintain healthy oral habits. Known for her continuous studies in pediatric dental advances, her office offers the best in technology and equipment and tailored dental approaches for each child,

along with organic dental cleaning and biocompatible materials. Leading in the infection control protocols offer peace of mind through the pandemic. These include the highest level of PPE, with air purifiers and UV light sanitation in every room, along with hospital grade sterilization. The practice leads the way in pediatric dentistry. 301-941-7374 | www.bccpediatricdentstry.com

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MY BAKERY CRAVING Nycci Nellis, publisher, TheListAreYouOnIt.com: lemon tart at Tout de Sweet, Bethesda | Pati Jinich, cookbook author and TV personality: chocolate chip cookies at Levain Bakery, Bethesda | Michael Sokolove, author and New York

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Apricot almond tart at Praline Bakery & Bistro in Bethesda (see page 120)

Times Magazine contributor: lemon bundt cake at Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bethesda |

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The Anatomy and Cost of a Custom Cake SOUREN MOVSESSIAN AND HIS son Rubic use butter and cream from local farms, not

opened Classic Bakery in Gaithersburg in 1991. Now Rubic and his son, Areen, own it, along with a second location, which opened in Tysons, Virginia, in 2016. In 2017, they moved their original location to another space in Gaithersburg that’s more than three times larger. The Movsessian family, originally from Armenia, settled in Tehran, Iran, 400 years ago. Their experience in the baking business dates back 100 years, when Areen’s greatgreat-grandfather started working in bakeries. The family opened their own bakery in the 1960s, then immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s and early ’80s to flee the Iranian revolution. “People looking for a special cake have often done the research on design, but not price,” Areen Movsessian says. “You can find a Samsung TV for one price somewhere and another price somewhere else, but cakes are unique. Can you trust that the person making your cake is artistically capable and has the experience to bring your vision to life? Are they using high-quality ingredients? We

Crisco, margarine or hydrogenated oils. Our price is higher, but you can taste the difference when you take a bite.” We gave Classic Bakery a budget of $300 and asked for a cake with lots of bells and whistles reflecting current trends. This cake, which is 6 inches tall and 7 inches wide, serves 12 to 15 people and costs $296.80 ($280 plus 6% sales tax). l

Labor: Sixty percent of the cost of a cake is labor. Classic Bakery has about 40 employees, including seven full-time cake decorators. An expert decorator makes $25 to $35 an hour, and it can take an hour to craft a sculpted edible item, such as a cute animal or the Tiffany-like gift box on the bottom of this cake. verhead: Ten percent of the cost of a O cake is rent. Other overhead expenses include machinery; decorating supplies and equipment; insurance, maintenance and repairs; utilities; uniforms; advertising and marketing; merchant processing fees; delivery vehicles; and product waste (dyed fondant can’t be reused, for example).

The gift box: A mixture of puffed rice, butter and marshmallow (think Rice Krispies Treat) is the sculpting medium for this and other edible items. A thin layer of buttercream is applied, followed by a thin layer of fondant. Fondant decorations are added.

ottom line: Classic Bakery’s overall profit B margin is 8% to 10%. They will make $25 to $30 from this $280 cake.

Classic Bakery, 9204 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, 301-948-0449, classicbakery.com

MY BAKERY CRAVING Allison Aubrey, NPR correspondent, CBS Sunday Morning contributor: Linzer cookie at Potomac Sweets, Kensington | Jennifer Meltzer, co-owner of All Set Restaurant & Bar: cherry Danish at Woodmoor Pastry Shop, Silver Spring | Darcey Thomson,

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The flourishes: Raffaello coconut-almond truffles, macarons and molded triangles of Belgian Callebaut white chocolate dyed in shades of blue

What’s inside: This cake has alternating layers of sponge cake and devil’s food, and three different fillings, all made with 40% butterfat whipped cream sourced from a Pennsylvania farm.

More flourishes: Piped dollops of buttercream, white chocolate drip icing, airbrushed candy bars, gold leaf, and gold baroque molding around the bottom of the cake

What’s outside: The top and sides of the cake are coated with a thin layer of white buttercream frosting, then covered with a thin armor of fondant.

Top filling: Madagascar vanilla bean Middle filling: dulce de leche Bottom filling: Nutella and chopped strawberry

real estate agent at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty: glazed doughnuts at Breads Unlimited, Bethesda | Tony Conte, chef and owner of Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana: matcha white chocolate croissant at Sunday Morning Bakehouse, North Bethesda |

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Rise & Shine

What it takes to make a superlative croissant BEHOLD THE GLORIOUS traditional butter croissant ($3.95) at Sunday Morning Bakehouse, which Caroline Yi opened in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development in October 2019: its height, its glistening goldenbrown exterior that shatters into buttery flakes when you tear it apart, its airy, honeycomblike interior. It’s a thing of beauty and a labor of love. Make that three days of labor—that’s how long it takes to make them.

of a quarter-sheet pan between the two halves. She rolls out the dough into a long rectangle using a machine called a sheeter, then folds the dough in such a way to create a smaller rectangle comprised of multiple layers of butter trapped between layers of dough. (The precise way she does this is proprietary information.) She repeats the folding process twice over a period of two hours, growing the number of butter and dough layers exponentially each time. (She refrigerates the dough between folds to keep the butter from getting too soft.) The folded dough is refrigerated for two hours, then rolled, cut and shaped into croissants, which are covered and placed in a special refrigerated unit timed to switch to proof mode (80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit) at 2 a.m.

DAY 1: At 5:30 a.m., Yi (or another baker) makes a poolish, a starter made from flour, water and yeast. After eight to 10 hours, when it’s jiggly and has plenty of visible air bubbles on it, she adds Isigny Ste. Mère butter imported from France, sugar, salt, more flour, water and yeast, and forms a dough. She relaxes the dough for 10 to 15 minutes, rolls it into a half-sheet pan (filling it completely) and covers and refrigerates it for about 18 hours. DAY 2: Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Yi halves the dough and then sandwiches a preformed 2-pound butter rectangle the size

Sunday Morning Bakehouse’s Caroline Yi making butter croissants

DAY 3: At 5:30 a.m., a baker brushes the risen croissants with egg wash (egg yolks beaten with milk) to create a shiny glaze and then bakes for 24 to 27 minutes until golden brown. By the time the bakery’s doors open at 8 a.m., cooled, freshly baked croissants are stacked at the counter.

Other notable croissants:

Chocolate croissant ($2.50) at La Bohemia Bakery 5540 Wilkins Court Rockville 240-360-3697 labohemiabakery.com

Pistachio raspberry croissant ($5.50) at Lavande Patisserie 275 N. Washington St. Unit B, Rockville 301-424-6100 lavande-patisserie.com

Cream cheese croissant ($3.50) at Ooh La La Bakery 2600 University Blvd. W. Silver Spring 240-669-8218 oohlalabakerymd.com

Sunday Morning Bakehouse, 11869 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda, 240-669-8202, sundaymorningbakehouse.com

MY BAKERY CRAVING Sally Swift, co-creator/managing producer of The Splendid Table: melomakarona (honey walnut cookies) at Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery, Kensington | Mike Friedman, chef/owner of Aventino and AP Pizza Shop (both coming soon): matcha crepe layer cake at Kyoto Matcha, North Bethesda |

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Apricot Almond Tart at Praline Bakery & Bistro

Red Velvet Bundt Cake at Nothing Bundt Cakes

Verelyn Gibbs Watson, who independently owns and operates two locations of the Las Vegas-founded franchise Nothing Bundt Cakes (Gaithersburg and Bethesda), calls their red velvet Bundt cake “the chocolate cake for people who think they don’t like chocolate” because they have snuck a little bit of cocoa powder and a handful of mini chocolate chips into its reddened vanilla-based batter. Buttery cream cheese frosting is piped onto the ultramoist cake in a starburst pattern so the icing-to-cake ratio is just right. (8-inch cake: $28; 10-inch: $38) Nothing Bundt Cakes, 8209 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-297-1976; 12133 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg, 240224-7440; see website for additional locations; nothingbundtcakes.com

This 7-by-7-inch square of super-flaky puff pastry made with European butter (which has a higher butterfat content than American butter), slathered with frangipane (almond cream), topped with overlapping halves of bright orange poached apricots, and glazed with apricot jam takes a lot of time and care to make, and the work pays off in every bite. Extra brownie points to the dinner guest who shows up with one of these in hand. ($32) Praline Bakery & Bistro, 4611-O Sangamore Road, Bethesda, 301-229-8180, praline-bakery.com

Mango Mousse Cake at Passion Bakery Café

The European training that brothers and Passion Bakery Café owners Huber and Melvin Mendoza received early in their baking careers is evident in the technique involved in their resplendent mango mousse cake. First, they line the bottom half of the inside of a springform cake pan with half-moon slices of raspberry jam-filled jelly roll and the top half with a thin layer of mango mousse. Once the mousse sets, they fill the cake-and-mousse-lined pan with layers of sponge cake and mango mousse, topping the cake with mango glaze and glazed fresh fruit, such as mango slices, grapes and strawberries. (6-inch cake: $24; 8-inch: $36) Passion Bakery Café, 2277 Bel Pre Road, Suite 205 (Plaza Del Mercado), Silver Spring, 301-460-0600; 816 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, 301-570-4583; thepassionbakerycafe.com

A Rainbow of Treats

MY BAKERY CRAVING Lori Gardner, restaurant blogger: kouign amann at Sunday Morning Bakehouse, North Bethesda | K.N. Vinod, chef and co-owner of Bombay Bistro: cranberry, walnut and pumpkin quick bread at Spring Mill Bread Co., Gaithersburg | Lissa Muscatine, co-owner of

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Matcha Red Bean Towel Crepe Cake at Kyoto Matcha

The desserts at this international chain are visually stunning and often cunning, like the matcha towel cake. To make it, a very large, ultrathin crepe, green from matcha tea powder, is spread with matcha whipped cream and dotted with red adzuki beans. Then the crepe is carefully folded and formed like a burrito to resemble a rolled-up towel. It’s topped with matcha powder, then wrapped with a strip of brown paper in the center and tied with a jute bow. Tip: Eat it on-site or get it home fast so the cream doesn’t deflate. ($12) Kyoto Matcha, 33 Maryland Ave., Unit A, Rockville, 301-417-4856; 967 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, kyotomatcha.us

Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcake at Lilly Magilly’s

At Lilly Magilly’s in Gaithersburg, baker and co-owner Kristen Kendell makes everything from scratch and changes the offerings daily. Her blueberry cheesecake cupcake makes frequent appearances in late spring and early summer. The batter is white cake flavored with clear blueberry extract and chopped fresh blueberries. The toppings are cream cheese icing, blueberry buttercream frosting, graham cracker crumble and fresh blueberries. ($3.75 each; six for $19.50; 12 for $39) Lilly Magilly’s, 220 Boardwalk Place (rio), Gaithersburg, 301-208-2828, lillymagillys.com

We rounded up six eye-catching desserts that are big on color— and taste great too

Ube Pie at Gwenie’s Pastries

Ube (purple yam), a staple of Filipino cooking, has a creamy texture, a subtle sweetness and a vibrant deep purple color when cooked, which makes it a favorite ingredient in desserts. For her ube pie, Gwenie’s Pastries owner Stella Fernandez makes ube halaya (ube jam) by slowly cooking peeled, boiled and grated ube with sugar, condensed milk and evaporated milk. The cooled mixture, smooth and creamy, is spread into a graham cracker crust and topped with lavender-hued rosettes of whipped cream blended with ube extract. (9-inch pie: $38) Gwenie’s Pastries, 12113 Nebel St., Rockville, 301-770-4647, gweniespastries.com

Politics and Prose: baguette at Fresh Baguette, Bethesda; Ann Gerhart, Washington Post senior editor for digital enterprise: chocolate truffle cake at Stella’s Bakery, Rockville | Sarah Bonner, co-owner of Hank Dietle’s Tavern: napoleons at Stella’s Bakery, Rockville |

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From Around the World

Assorted Cookies at Yasaman Bakery

Cross the threshold of Yasaman Bakery, a Rockville mainstay since 1984, and behold display cases filled with Persian treats, including many variations of baklava and a stunning assortment of cookies. Among the goodies: thin and buttery nan-e keshmeshi (raisin cookies); nan-e nokhodchi (small cloverleaf-shaped, cardamom-laced chickpea cookies); bamieh (small doughnuts, some spherical, others diamond-shaped, soaked with rose and saffron syrup); and zoolbia (round deep-fried squiggles of dough—like funnel cake or Indian jalebi—soaked in rose and saffron syrup). ($17 a pound) Yasaman Bakery, 785 Rockville Pike (Ritchie Center), Rockville, 301-762-5416, yasamanbakery.com

White Lotus Seed Paste Double Yolk Moon Cake at Asian Bakery Cafe

In Rockville, Asian Bakery Cafe serves Cantonese favorites such as pineapple buns, red bean bread and Swiss roll cakes, plus a wide variety of yue bing (moon cakes), filled round pastries baked in decorative molds. Though the delicacies are typically eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (this year it’s Sept. 10), Asian Bakery Cafe sells them year-round with such fillings as winter melon paste, red bean paste and green tea paste. But the one that intrigues us most has two cured hard-boiled egg yolks surrounded by caramel-like white lotus seed paste. The combination of sweetness, saltiness and richness is irresistible. ($6.80)

Fig Baklava at Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery

Laid off from a design job in 2009, Katerina Georgallas looked to her Greek heritage for a side hustle and created Baklava Couture, selling reimagined versions of the classic Greek pastry of phyllo dough, chopped nuts and honey syrup at farmers markets. That blossomed into a full-time business. In 2018, she expanded the product line, rebranded as Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery (mastiha is the sap from the skinos tree, which grows on the Greek island of Chios), and moved into a tiny pickup-only kitchen in Kensington. We love Georgallas’ chewy, crunchy fig baklava: chopped dried figs, almonds and walnuts spread onto buttery sheets of phyllo, rolled into 3-by-1-inch logs, baked and drizzled with honey lemon syrup. Note: Mastiha is moving to a larger facility in Rockville this summer. ($15 for six rolls) Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery, 10560 Metropolitan Ave., Rear Unit, Kensington, 301-332-6215, mastihabakery.com

Japanese Cheesecake at Japong Bakery

The No. 1 seller at Japong Bakery, which baker and owner Hung Su opened in Rockville’s Ritchie Center in 2018, is Japanese cheesecake. Su says the shop goes through

200 to 250 of them in a typical week. Baking soda added to the batter gives this cake more rise and a lighter, fluffier texture than American cheesecake, as does steam—a pan of water placed under the cakes in the oven is removed after 30 minutes, and the cakes are then baked 20 minutes longer. Out of the oven, they are branded with the Japong logo, wrapped in thin fabric and placed in a cake box with two steam holes. “It’s so soft and creamy when it’s still warm. Many people prefer it that way,” Su says. “Once it’s refrigerated for a day, the cheese flavor really comes out.” ($13.99 for a 7-inch cake) Japong Bakery, 785 Rockville Pike (Ritchie Center), Rockville, 301-762-2853, japongbakery.com

Nido de Piña at Melissa’s Bakery

Just inside the giant Asian supermarket H Mart in Gaithersburg, next to its produce section, is something unexpected: an independently operated Salvadoran panadería (bakery) called Melissa’s Bakery. It opened in 2010, but current co-owners and baking brothers Juan and Franklin Reyes took it over in January. The delicious nido de piña looks like a Danish; it’s a round of golden brown, egg-enriched, coconut-flecked dough with chunky, bright yellow pineapple filling in the center. ($.99) Melissa’s Bakery (inside H Mart in Montgomery Village Crossing), 9639 Lost Knife Road, Gaithersburg, 301-926-3116, melissas-bakery-inc.negocio.site (The website is in Spanish.)

Asian Bakery Cafe, 763 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, 301-838-3189, facebook.com/ asianbakerycafe

MY BAKERY CRAVING Mindy Lam, artist and creative director of Mindy Lam Jewelry: kouign amann at Fresh Baguette, Rockville | Jackie DeCarlo, CEO of Manna Food Center: chocolate brownies at Sunflower Bakery, Rockville | Barbara Johnson,

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So You Want to Be a Star

Baker Randi Brecher on Fox 5 in December

FROM TOP: PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDI BRECHER; YOUTUBE

Randi Brecher, Creative Cakes

Since 2008, 59-year-old Gaithersburg resident Randi Brecher has been the baker-owner of Creative Cakes, which has been operating in Silver Spring since 1981. The master cake-maker has appeared several times on NBC4 and Fox 5 news segments featuring her specialty, gingerbread and gingerbread houses. In 2018, she appeared on the Cooking Channel’s Cake Hunters, a competition in which an engaged couple chooses one of three baker contestants to make their wedding cake. “We all drew up designs and made a miniversion. When I saw the bride’s reaction [to mine], I knew she was going to pick us,” Brecher says. The top tier of the ornate cake, which took 100 hours to decorate, revolved and featured a replica of the bride and groom on horseback. In 2021, the Food Network emailed Brecher and asked if she liked gingerbread. “Are you kidding?” she responded. “I’m obsessed!” She auditioned virtually for the network’s Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown with her pal of 25 years, fellow baker Leslie Poyourow, who owned Fancy Cakes by Leslie in Bethesda and is now retired. The two were flown to Knoxville, Tennessee, in May 2021 to film the show, which aired in November. The theme was “lights,” and they had to use cream puff dough in their design. She and Poyourow made an elaborate multiroom gingerbread house with gingerbread Christmas trees and cream puff light bulbs. “We didn’t win, but I made the biggest mess,” Brecher says.

Beth Yohannes, Lemon Slice Cafe

In any of the 11 episodes (as of late March) of Chef Beth Makes, the YouTube cooking series that Beth Yohannes, the chef and owner of Silver Spring’s Lemon Slice Cafe, launched in November, her charisma and passion are apparent. In one episode, she is showing a young person how to make a sunburst-shaped tart. “I say, ‘Follow your instinct,’ ” she says brightly as her student tentatively tops a puff pastry circle with berbere (an Ethiopian spice mix), brown sugar and melted butter. “Don’t worry about it! Come on, loosen up!” With that, her guest applies berbere and butter with abandon. Episodes, most with Yohannes appearing solo, range between nine and 27 minutes. Some feature baked items, such as a phyllo dough dessert called lemon crinkle and a yeast bread, one version with pesto, another with Ethiopian awaze spice. Others highlight savory dishes from her native Ethiopia. Yohannes, 55, attended cooking school in London and opened an Ethiopian restaurant there. In 1999, she and her husband immigrated to the U.S., first to Houston and then to Beltsville, Maryland, in 2013. After a 2014 to 2019 stint as the lunch chef at her daughter’s school, St. John’s Episcopal in Olney, Yohannes opened breakfast-and-lunch-only Lemon Slice Cafe in September 2019 in downtown Silver Spring. Yohannes sees the YouTube series as a way to drum up business and pass her knowledge to her children, now 20 and 24. Two videographers film, edit and post the episodes, taping four at a time one day a month at Yohannes’ cafe. “Everything is done in one take with no script and no corrections,” she says. “I tell my husband I stutter a lot, but I’ll get better with time.” We haven’t noticed any stuttering. Just a star in the making. Lemon Slice Cafe, 8737 Colesville Road, LL103, Silver Spring, 240-756-1700, lemonslicecafe.com

Creative Cakes, 8814 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, 301-587-1599, creativecakes.com

founder and executive director of Art Works Now: mini eclairs at Woodmoor Pastry Shop, Silver Spring | Ruth Gresser, chef and owner of Pizzeria Paradiso: custard cream croissant at Ooh La La Bakery, Silver Spring |

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Five Breads We Love Challah at Great Harvest Bread Co.

Montana-based Great Harvest Bread Co. calls its stores freedom franchises, meaning the owners run them as autonomous mom and pop operations but have access to resources (such as business or recipe advice) from the mothership. Soon after Dan and Heather Gottfredson opened their Great Harvest in Rockville in 1996, they made challah, per the company’s suggestion, with half rye and half wheat flour. Their Jewish customers quickly set them straight, telling them, no, it must be white bread with a yellowish hue from egg yolks, not food coloring. They nailed the recipe, sweetened slightly with honey, and now sell 250 to 300 plain challahs—by far their bestseller—on a typical Friday. Plain challah: $7.85; golden raisin, cinnamon chip or butterscotch chip: $8.75; honey whole wheat: $7.45.

Coconut Raisin Bread at Bread Corner

Slicing this round loaf in half reveals a tender dough dotted with raisins and rife with swirls of coconut flakes. “It’s a typical Asian-style dough,” says Neil Li, who co-owns the Rockville bakery with master baker Danny Song, “which means it’s sweeter and moister than European-style bread.” The dough is made with high-gluten flour, sugar, honey and butter. It’s delicious as is or toasted, but otherworldly as French toast. ($8.50) Bread Corner 591 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, 240-328-6547, bread-corner.com

Great Harvest Bread Co. 12268 Rockville Pike, #A, Rockville, 301-770-8544, greatharvestrockville.com

Russian Pumpernickel at Breads Unlimited

“Bread is like meat. You have to marinate it,” says Jose Molina, who worked for 26 years as a baker at Breads Unlimited in Bethesda, which opened in 1981, before buying the bakery two years ago. For his Russian pumpernickel bread, Molina refrigerates the dough— made with rye flakes, white rye flour, caraway seeds, dried onion flakes, caramel coloring and 60-year-old sourdough starter—overnight so the flavors of the tall sandwich loaves mature and intensify before baking. This bread is a perfect foil for Reuben sandwiches. ($5.95) Breads Unlimited 6914 Arlington Road, Bethesda 301-656-2340, breadsunlimited.com

Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Bread at The Red Bandana Bakery

This lightly dense loaf is loaded with three coarsely ground ancient grains (millet, amaranth and sorghum) that imbue the bread with nuttiness and whole-grain texture. “The dough also contains garbanzo and fava bean flour and is totally vegan—no eggs, milk or butter—which is unique for a gluten-free bread, which often relies on eggs,” owner Jamie Mertz says. It’s a great sandwich bread and gives avocado toast a definite upgrade. ($12)

Traditional Baguette at Fresh Baguette

Soon after Florent de Felcourt opened Fresh Baguette in Bethesda in 2013 (he opened his fourth location in February in Alexandria, Virginia), his baguettes gained a reputation as among the best in the area. He makes four kinds (pictured on opposite page, from left: super seed, traditional, sesame and another loaf of traditional; not pictured: rustic), all with organic flour. They are leavened with sourdough starter instead of yeast and then fermented slowly in the refrigerator for 24 hours before being formed, proofed and baked on stone. The slow fermentation is what gives these loaves—crunchy on the outside, slightly dense on the inside—the edge, flavor-wise. ($3.70 to $4.50) Fresh Baguette 4919 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 804 Hungerford Drive, Rockville; 888-648-0009, freshbaguette.net

The Red Bandana Bakery 8218 Wisconsin Ave., #101, Bethesda 240-284-6523, theredbandanabakery.com

MY BAKERY CRAVING Cheryl Kane Heimlich, publisher of local retail and restaurant news site Store Reporter: chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons at Sunflower Bakery, Rockville; Jeffrey Slavin, mayor of Somerset and philanthropist: black and white cookies at Breads Unlimited, Bethesda

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Impulse Buys

Items we couldn’t resist on our tour of 30-plus bakeries

“In Belgium, we are the country of waffles,” says Gerard Partoens, the Belgian baker and owner of Potomac Sweets in Kensington. “In the cookie jars of typical Belgian households, you find vanilla waffles. In an airtight container, they have a long shelf life. They’re an everyday snack with coffee or chocolate milk.” Partoens uses a vanilla pound cakelike batter and a waffle maker to turn out his deeply grooved cake waffles, which he sells plain or completely enrobed in chocolate. ($8 for a five-pack of plain or a four-pack of chocolate waffles) Potomac Sweets, 10419 Armory Ave., Kensington, 240-669-7625, potomacsweets.com

Lava Cheese Tart or Spam Danish at Teamania

Neil Li and master baker Danny Song opened Rockville’s Teamania, an Asian-European bakery and charming sit-down cafe, in 2019. The place is vast and the choices are difficult, but don’t miss the bright yellow lava cheese tart with its ultrabuttery, crispy cookie crust and rich filling of custard made with cream cheese, heavy cream, eggs and sugar. Tip for people who love sweet and savory combinations: The tasty Spam Danish with sweet ketchup drizzle will satisfy that urge. (Lava tart: $2.35; Spam Danish: $2.95) Teamania, 130 Rollins Ave., Suite B, Rockville, 240-669-9198, weteamania.com

Assorted Macarons at Tout de Sweet Pastry Shop

At Bethesda’s chic Tout de Sweet bakery, pastry chef and co-owner Jerome Colin offers some of the finest macarons—those elegant, chewy-yet-crispy meringue cookie sandwiches—in the Washington, D.C., area. He rotates flavors often, but there is always a colorful assortment. (Classics, like chocolate filled with chocolate ganache, are always available.) Examples of spring flavors are lime basil filled with white chocolate ganache; coconut with coconut buttercream; strawberry with raspberry ganache (colorful sprinkles on the shell make them look like little birthday cakes); and pistachio with white chocolate ganache and pistachio paste. ($2.05 each) Tout de Sweet Pastry Shop, 7831 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-951-0474, toutdesweetshop.com

Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie at Levain Bakery

The pickiest chocoholic would gush over the dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery, the New York City-based chain with a location in Bethesda. They mound 6 ounces of dough made with extra-dark French cocoa powder and tons of semisweet chips to make each cookie, which, thanks to its thickness, has the soft texture of a gooey brownie. It’s heaven on its own, but topping one (two?) at home with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce is next-level choco-mania. ($4.50) Levain Bakery, 4844 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 240-258-6222, levainbakery.com

Maple Apple Walnut Coffee Cake at Woodmoor Pastry Shop

Woodmoor Pastry Shop, the beloved Silver Spring bakery opened by Lee and Shirley Mower in 1954, has remained in the family for three generations. Grandson Jamie Gray now runs the shop, which sells a mighty fine maple apple walnut coffee cake. Danish dough from a secret family recipe is fit into a cake pan, then filled with apples, walnut halves and maple syrup mixed with confectioners’ sugar. “Proofing is the most important part,” Gray says. “Overproof, it deflates. Underproof, it’s chewy.” The cinnamon and allspice-laced cake is so filled with baked apples that it would make a terrific Thanksgiving dessert. ($8.79 for an 8-inch cake) Woodmoor Pastry Shop, 10127 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-593-7667, woodmoorpastry.com

David Hagedorn is the restaurant critic for Bethesda Magazine.

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Cake Waffles at Potomac Sweets

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Holding On Family recipes can be cherished objects—but the digital age is changing our ways in the kitchen BY CAROLE SUGARMAN 128 MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Without written recipes to rely on, Natalie Nandram learned to cook her mother’s Jamaican dishes, including brown stew chicken, ackee, salt fish and plantains, by watching her make them and asking questions.

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

y daughter, Anna, and I are looking through my mother’s recipe collection, and it’s a mess. Packed in the small binder are clippings torn from magazine and newspaper food sections, handwritten recipes jotted down on fragile pieces of paper, plus a hodgepodge of notes tucked in between—to-do lists, witticisms she liked, even a letter she wrote to my dad postmarked 1950. With entries such as Roz’s Broccoli Salad, Margie’s Swedish Meatballs, and dishes made with Minute Rice or Bisquick, it’s far from cutting-edge cuisine. It’s a lot more. Reflecting decades of the publications she read, the people she knew, the family dishes she cooked and the random stuff she loved to accumulate, it’s a time capsule, a historic trove of my mother’s life.

She passed away four years ago, and every time I thumb through this chaotic chronicle—with her personal comments and food stains in the margins—I feel a warm instant connection to her and the past. I, too, have my own paper recipe collection—admittedly better organized— but I worry that future generations will not be handing down these tactile treasures. It’s not unlike what’s happened to family photo albums. Anna, 26, and her friends find and file recipes online and cook with their phones beside their frying pans. The modes and means of documenting recipes have changed over time. We’ve come a long way from Wikipedia’s description of the earliest known recipes—recorded on cuneiform tablets in Mesopotamia in 1730 B.C. Jump ahead a few thousand years to the era of New

World settlements and “many of the early recipe collections were not published books but handwritten household journals, passed from mother to daughter…,” according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. Kind of like my mother’s jumbled journal. So maybe we’re at a turning point. And it’s certainly not just millennials who are bypassing paper. My friend Georgia Guhin, 68, is a devotee of Paprika, one of several recipe apps that enable users to upload and file recipes into categories, as well as compile grocery lists and meal plans. Georgia, who lives in Chevy Chase and up until about two years ago had gone the paper recipe route, now has uploaded nearly 600 recipes—including re-creations of the dishes her grandmother, who was born in the country of Georgia, and her mother prepared—and

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From left: Walkiria Torrealba, Carmen D’elia Alvial, Rivka Alvial and Rikva’s niece Galit Alvial—four generations of their family—make the chicken avocado arepa recipe that has been passed down.

MAKES 4 AREPAS This recipe comes from Rivka Alvial’s grandmother, Walkiria Torrealba, who taught Rivka’s mother, Carmen D’elia Alvial, how to make it. In turn, Carmen has shared it with Rivka and her siblings, and the family prepares it often, usually at least once a week. The recipe is slightly adjusted from the original.

Ingredients

Directions

FOR THE POACHED CHICKEN: 1 quart water 2 chicken breasts 2 bay leaves 1½ teaspoons black peppercorns 1 tablespoon kosher salt ½ yellow onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed

1. To make the chicken, combine all

FOR THE REINA PEPIADA FILLING:

Shredded chicken (from the above poached chicken) 2 ripe avocados, mashed ½ cup mayonnaise ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 lime, juiced 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (optional)

FOR THE AREPA: 2 cups water ½ teaspoon salt 1½ cups P.A.N. brand harina de maíz

blanco (white cornmeal) 2 tablespoons flaxseed or wheat germ (optional)

ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 20 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. With 2 forks, shred the chicken. (Rotisserie or other cooked chicken can be substituted.)

2. To prepare the filling, combine

all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well.

3. To make the arepas, place water

and salt in a big bowl and gently combine with a wooden spoon. Slowly add the P.A.N. harina and optional flaxseed or wheat germ little by little, working out any lumps. Once the dough is combined, let sit for about 5 minutes. Separate into four equally sized balls and then gently flatten in the palms of your hands to create a disk about ½- to ¾-inch thick. In a lightly greased skillet, cook the arepas over medium to medium-high heat for 6 minutes. Flip and let cook on the other side for about 5 to 6 minutes until lightly golden.

4. Cut the arepa horizontally and fill with the reina pepiada filling.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH ALVIAL

Rivka Alvial’s Family’s Venezuelan Chicken Avocado Arepa

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PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

Tenay Graham (right) reproduces her family’s Jamaican recipes by remembering their taste, aroma and appearance. She’s pictured with family member Tessie Jones.

says the Paprika app makes it “much easier to search, easier to share and easier to follow a recipe than from a stained piece of paper.” This seems to confirm Anna’s perspective—that in the digital era, family recipes aren’t being lost; they’re just changing format. The most meaningful part of a passed-down recipe is that it’s a cherished dish that a loved one once made and ate, she tells me. In fact, she would be afraid to damage the handwritten recipe for Great-Grandma Fanny’s cabbage soup. There’s only one of it, she says as we find the recipe written in my mother’s distinctive penmanship, but technology affords infinite copies. Great-Grandma Fanny was my mother’s grandmother, a Romanian immigrant and fabulous cook who lived with my mother and her family in Mount Vernon, New York, and would prepare steaming plates of her Old World dishes for relatives who might drop by for Sunday supper. She never learned to read or write English, and cooked by memory. My mother grew up watching her, and at some point jotted down the cabbage soup recipe from her recollections. Of course, learning how to cook a special dish from a relative is the way many family recipes have endured, and still do. Vastine Nandram, 86, of Rockville, a Jamaican who immigrated to the Washington, D.C., area in 1981, brought with her the knowledge of how to make sweet potato pudding, sorrel, cornmeal porridge, ackee, rice and peas, and other dishes she learned from her grandmother back in Redwood, a town about 20 miles northwest of

Kingston. “We don’t use recipes. We just cook,” she says about her culinary practices, then and now. Same goes for her daughter, who immigrated to Maryland when she was 15, and now lives in Silver Spring. When it comes to the Jamaican dishes she grew up on, Natalie Nandram, 54, learned to re-create them from watching her mother and asking questions. By memory, she prepares Jamaican dishes daily now, using the internet to look up recipes that aren’t part of her culture, such as lasagna or dishes made in a slow cooker. Her own two daughters have grown up watching her, their grandmother, and their Jamaican father cook. Natalie Nandram’s daughter Tenay Graham, 24, says “a lot of people who had a hand in raising me were Jamaican.” As she got older, they would let her help in the kitchen. Now she reproduces her family’s dishes by remembering their taste, aroma and appearance. But the part that really draws her to the kitchen is knowing how food brings people together. “We love to host. I want to keep that same tradition,” Graham says. Like my mother’s grandmother, the roles of maternal gatekeepers in passing down recipes can’t be underestimated. In her Introduction to Nutrition class at Montgomery College, Sara Ducey, collegewide chair for Integrative Studies and director of the Paul Peck Humanities Institute, asks students to write a food memory essay that “tells the story of this one special food and your relationship with it.” Students are asked to describe the food, the basics of its prepaBETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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ration, and the story of how it contributes to their identity and place in their family’s culture. Students from more than 150 countries attend the college.preparation, and the story of how it contributes to their identity and place in their family’s culture. Students from more than 150 countries attend the college.

to me,” Ducey says they tell her. Some of the reasons family recipes are so important are described by Valerie J. Frey in her book Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions. Frey notes that aside from illustrating stories, personalities and what life was like for

In a world saturated with technology, there’s value and meaning in the physical thing, at least for me. And maybe for future generations. In the essays, the role of grandmothers is discussed most frequently. Afterward, students often tell Ducey that they are so grateful for the assignment because they had to describe the preparation of a special dish. “What if my grandma died, and I didn’t know how to make this? This food is so important

ancestors we never met, family recipes prevent the legacies of loved ones from fading. “And finally, we want to see our own lives in a kinship context, sharing experiences and knowledge with family members now and also creating a personal legacy as a gift for generations to come,” she writes.

Nellie Thompson of Silver Spring and her husband, Brian, whose mother is from Grenada and father is from Jamaica, are currently creating a legacy for their children. They are experimenting in the kitchen to re-create his family’s recipes, as there are no records. The couple hopes to pass down a written collection to each of their four kids, now ages 14 to 20. Similarly, Gaithersburg resident Rivka Alvial intends to photocopy and distribute her grandmother’s recipe collection to her siblings someday. The oldest of nine children, Alvial, 31, has strong connections to her family’s food cultures and the celebrations around them. Her mother is from Venezuela, her father from Chile, and both are Jewish. While Alvial has memorized the preparation of many family dishes, her maternal grandmother kept track of them in written form. “To rewrite them or type them wouldn’t do them justice,” she says, adding that her grandmother passed down the habit

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

From left: Tessie Jones, Vastine Nandram, Toni Graham, Natalie Nandram and Tenay Graham with some of their family’s Jamaican dishes

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLE SUGARMAN

of writing recipes on paper. “I always have a notebook out in front of me,” says Alvial, a pastry chef who has worked in numerous area restaurants and now runs the beverage program at miXt Food Hall in Brentwood in Prince George’s County. Lisa Auerbach understands the power of the handwritten word, although she doesn’t practice it herself. Auerbach usually copies a recipe from a website, puts it in a Word document and then saves it to a file on her computer. If she finds a recipe in a magazine or cookbook, she’ll take a photo of it with her phone and save it to the file. Her iPad is on her kitchen counter in North Bethesda, and she reads from it as she cooks. However, Auerbach writes via email, “None of these ways compare to pulling out one of my mother’s recipes and trying to see what is written underneath a stain from one of the ingredients. Does that say butter or bitter? Is it 1 ounce or pound? I don’t know because what might be chocolate that by now is over 50 years old, is staining the print. While I use modern ways of saving recipes, I get a sweet feeling of nostalgia when I pull out an old written and stained recipe from my mother... .” While it’s hard to generalize about how certain age groups hold on to family recipes, an example of the transition from spoken to written word to digital archiving comes from Timothy Yu, a third-generation member of a Montgomery County restaurant family. Yu, 29, is one of the sons of Janet Yu, the owner of Hollywood East Cafe in Wheaton; he lives with his mom in Olney. He tells me that at China Royal, the Silver Spring restaurant his maternal grandparents owned, they cooked dishes by memory. His mother, who worked at the restaurant as a teenager, re-created the recipes on paper. “She carried two notepads, one for taking orders, one for writing down recipes,” Timothy Yu says, adding that she eventually tested the recipes, too. And now he has converted all the ingredient measurements to the metric system and filed the recipes in documents on his computer. As for me, I don’t see going digital with my recipe collection. Anna will have to weed through my bulging accordion file folder to find the recipe for the ice cream cake I used to make every year for her birthday and my Thanksgiving squash casserole or corn pudding. Thankfully, the best way to make a grilled cheese sandwich, a technique I learned from Francois Dionot, the owner of the former L’Academie de Cuisine cooking schools in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, is in her head. As for my mother’s collection, the fact is that aside from the cabbage soup recipe, I never use it. I just love having it. In a world saturated with technology, there’s value and meaning in the physical thing, at least for me. And maybe for future generations. When I ask Anna whether someday she will want her grandmother’s and my paper recipe collections, she doesn’t hesitate. “Without question,” she answers. n

Preserving Family Recipes My Great-Grandma Fanny’s cabbage soup is such a memorable (and delicious) family dish that my brother had the recipe printed on a wooden cutting board and gave it to me as a birthday gift a few years ago. He ordered it online from Etsy, whose craftspeople offer numerous vehicles for memorializing family recipes— on plates, tea towels, coffee mugs, casserole dishes, serving platters and more. For those who still like the written word, Amazon and other online sites offer unique and interesting recipe files, folders and special keepsake collection notebooks. A tip from the Culinary Historians of Washington, D.C., steered me to Constance Carter, the retired head of the science and reference section at the Library of Congress, and a font of knowledge on historic cookbooks. When it comes to family recipe collecting, two of her recommendations are Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions by Valerie J. Frey, and The Keepsake Cookbook: Gathering Delicious Memories One Recipe at a Time by Belinda Hulin. —Carole Sugarman

Carole Sugarman, a longtime food writer who lives in Chevy Chase, has also saved the handwritten letters her mother wrote to her. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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Healing Visions

A study involving psychedelic mushrooms at the Aquilino Cancer Center in Rockville takes patients on a journey into the mind in order to beat depression BY JULIE RASICOT | ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF EVAN CRAIG

ying on a sofa bed with his eyes closed behind thick black eyeshades, Evan Craig envisioned a large greenish creature with a woman’s torso, the bulging eyes and pincers of an insect, and a serpent’s tail. As if a movie were unfolding in his mind, the 31-year-old storm-door sales representative watched as the winged “insect lady” grabbed him and ripped his body in half. Then the creature “kind of helped me up and said that I could live with everything from my lungs up. I didn’t need anything from my waist down,” Craig recalls. The vision appeared to Craig, who has been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, after he took a dose of a synthetic version of psilocybin while participating in a clinical study at the Shady Grove Adventist Aquilino Cancer Center in Rockville. Now closed, the study examined the

safety and feasibility of using the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms in a group setting to help treat cancer patients suffering from depression. Weeks of preparation—including undergoing sessions with a therapist and stopping the antidepressants Craig

“ My entrails on giant metal spikes inside of a coliseum.”

had taken for years—led to that day in late June of 2021. Diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2018, Craig had been riding a roller coaster of emotional turmoil ever since. He divorced, remarried and had his third child. In August 2020, the Carroll County resident learned that his cancer had advanced to stage 4 and required more treatment. Though he had been taking antidepressants for depression and anxiety since before his original diagnosis in 2018, he says they weren’t helping his mood and made him feel like “a zombie.” On the day of the psilocybin dosing, Craig and three other participants arrived at the facility’s Bill Richards Center for Healing in the morning, met together with their therapists and then settled into separate treatment rooms where they were each given five pills totaling 25 milligrams. Donning eyeshades and

Evan Craig created the artwork throughout this story after receiving treatment with a synthetic version of psilocybin at the Aquilino Cancer Center in Rockville. The artwork shows what he saw while hallucinating, and the quotes printed with the images are descriptions from Craig.

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“ A lot of what I saw had to do with water. At one point I was watching whales swim as I was under water with them.”

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headphones, Craig began listening to a pond were fireflies, and there were other after two separate doses of psilocybin curated playlist of music from different white moths observing the funeral. It was along with psychotherapy. Four weeks genres, including Eastern and classical, actually really peaceful. If that was the after taking the substance, more than 50% that was part of the treatment. Soon, the way I was gonna die, I’d be completely of participants no longer qualified as sufOK with it,” he says. fering from depression, according to the drug began to take effect. What followed was several hours of study. A follow-up study of those partic“lucid dreaming,” during which he con- AS RESEARCH INTO THE use of psyche- ipants found that “the substantial antifronted his fears and anxiety with the delics has developed in recent years, depressant effects of psilocybin-assisted help of his therapist, who was with him in medical institutions, including Shady therapy, given with supportive psychothe treatment room. “Nothing is avoid- Grove Adventist, have been studying therapy, may last at least a year for some able when you’re dealing with the sub- whether psilocybin can help patients patients,” according to results released by conscious,” Craig says. with mental health disorders. Studies Hopkins researchers in February. The Aquilino Center’s psilocyAs he hallucinated, he saw himself as a mouse moving through “ A being that I met turned us from bin study was the first approved by Gre ek archite cture while an 2D to 3D with the bass in his voice the Food and Drug Administration to be administered in a cancer ceneagle with “really sharp claws” every time he spoke. The diagram chased him. “I remember screamter—most studies involving psiloshowing this is below.” ing repeatedly for probcybin have occurred in ably like 10 minutes, ‘Not mental health centers, today, Death!’ ” Craig says. according to oncologist He also climbed to the top Manish Agrawal, the of a Japanese-style building medical director of the and looked down at a beauAquilino Cancer Centiful vista. At one point, he ter and the study’s lead was a sound beam traveling investigator. between the gongs of two The study was open massive bells. At another, to a d u l t s d i a g n o s e d he was in the presence of with all stages of cana being that he thought cer and major depresrepresented God. “He told sion as rated on a medme I did not need to worry ical scale. Thirty people about my spirituality, but participated, ranging in age from early 30s to late that I needed to focus on 70s. Participants were my friends and my family followed for eight weeks and those that supported me to be my guidance and to monitor changes in my strength to be able to their depression symptoms, Agrawal says. get through things,” Craig says. Other beings advised While most psilocybin him on breathing exercises studies have focused on for handling stressful situations. released in 2016 by Johns Hopkins Medi- terminally ill cancer patients, Agrawal As the visions unfolded, Craig says, cine in Baltimore and New York Univer- chose to include those who had been he watched himself die in a variety of sity Langone Medical Center each found diagnosed with early stages of the disways. Experiencing terror, sadness and that a single dose of psilocybin adminis- ease. “As an oncologist, I’ve seen so many joy over the six-hour period, he found his tered in a controlled setting significantly people with cancer that are quote ‘cured,’ way through to a sense of peace that has relieved anxiety and depression in cancer but they really continue to suffer from greatly eased his depression and anxiety. patients for up to six months. the effects of treatment or having a cri“I washed up on the beach as trash A 2020 study conducted by Hopkins’ sis of having a cancer diagnosis, whether a handful of times. I washed up on the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness it affects their sexuality, their physical beach as a whale carcass. I was a big Research found that of 24 adult partici- appearance,” or causes them to queswhite moth being laid to rest on a pond pants suffering major depression, a major- tion the meaning of life, he says. “So I at night. The only light illuminating this ity showed an improvement in symptoms felt that’s like another population of can136 MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

“ Psychedelics sort of merged both my medical practice and this larger interest around how to take care of the whole person,” says Dr. Manish Agrawal, medical director of the Aquilino Cancer Center.

cer patients that needs this kind of help.” Though the study data hasn’t been published, Agrawal says results have been “profound,” with 82% of participants registering a more than 50% reduction in their depression scores. Half of all participants no longer suffered from clinical depression eight weeks after taking psilocybin and participating in group therapy. Some participants continue to see changes more than a year after taking psilocybin. “This really does impact the patient’s psychological health in a way that I don’t have tools for,” Agrawal says. That was the case for “Sally,” another study participant and a Montgomery County resident in her mid-60s who didn’t want to be identified because her family doesn’t know she underwent psilocybin treatment. A survivor of child abuse, she later experienced the death of her husband and then was successfully treated for breast cancer while raising their two children. After a bout of colon cancer, she’s been in remission since 2017. She says she took antidepressants before participating in the study but still

felt “very anxious and depressed” much of the time. “Cancer really carves a big hole in your psyche and leaves a very dark place,” she says. “I was always worried about recurrence…because the treatments are pretty brutal. It’s just not a very happy way to live, going through cancer treatment and then always looking over your shoulder waiting for it to recur.” Taking psilocybin helped her to “get beyond” her experiences, she says. “Psilocybin felt like it opened my brain and my mind up to fully living and being open to all of the possibilities that are out there instead of being so guarded,” she says. AGRAWAL, 52, BEGAN LOOKING into

psychedelic therapy after growing dissatisfied with the traditional approach

to cancer care that focused mainly on treating patients’ physical symptoms. “You close a door and you talk about the side effects, you talk about the treatment and the scans, but there’s so much that they’re going through that you haven’t really addressed,” he says. Agrawal completed his residency at Georgetown University Medical Center and trained at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. The doctor, who also holds a master’s degree in philosophy from Georgetown University, says he has long been interested in a holistic approach to treating his patients. When he gives medical talks, he shows a slide depicting an iceberg: Above the waterline are the traditional treatments of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Below the water are the emotional and psychospiritual issues that patients may be experiencing as they deal with a diagnosis that can fundamentally change their lives. “My belief is that cancer care is taking care of the entire iceberg, not just what’s above the water. When I saw all of the research coming around psychedelics, I almost couldn’t believe it that they were

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“ Myself as a white moth being laid to rest on a tranquil pond at night.”

purporting to address this directly,” says Agrawal, who spoke with psychologist and pioneering psychedelics researcher Bill Richards and researchers at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore. He also spent a year achieving certification in psychedelics from the California Institute of Integral Studies, traveling regularly to that state to learn from experts in the field. “Psychedelics sort of merged both my medical practice and this larger interest around how to take care of the whole person,” he says. In 2021, Agrawal co-founded Sunstone Therapies, a company dedicated to incorporating psychedelic therapy into cancer centers. The Bill Richards Center for Healing, on the third floor of the Aquilino Cancer Center, is Sunstone Therapies’ flagship site. Named after Richards, the psilocybin study’s lead therapist, the healing center also provides services to help patients and their families deal with the psychological effects of cancer. A new clinical trial that Agrawal was expecting to start at the center this spring would involve administering one or two separate doses of psilocybin to as many as 60 participants. Based on continuing positive results from his studies and others, Agrawal anticipates that the Food and Drug Administration could approve psilocybin for medical use within four years. It’s currently illegal and classified as a drug that has “a high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use” in the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Those who visit the healing center, which opened in June 2020, won’t find a typical sterile medical office. Instead, there are curved walls with pale blond paneling, furnishings in muted blue and gray, and large windows that open to the vista of a “healing” garden—all designed to create a sense of comfort and home, according to Kim Roddy, chief operations officer of Sunstone Therapies. A

large room provides space for group therapy, meditation and yoga classes. Each of the four treatment rooms is furnished with blackout shades and a gray couch that unfolds into a bed, which is made up for participants with comfortable pillows and sheets that have higher thread counts than typical hospital bedding, Roddy says. Agrawal says the healing center was purposefully located within the cancer center to ease access for patients. In the cancer center, “we have a place where you can get chemotherapy, we have a place where you can get radiation, but we also wanted a place where you can go to get emotional and psychological healing. You shouldn’t have to leave and go to some other facility,” he says.

ONCE CRAIG WAS ACCEPTED into the

psilocybin study, he says he was determined to keep an open mind. “I didn’t want to go in with an expectation that I was going to meet God or something,” he says. “I really tried to go into it with the expectation that whatever happens, if it’s a good trip or a bad trip, it’s a necessary trip and whatever was going on in my head [during the treatment] was necessary.” As part of the study protocol, each participant met individually with a therapist assigned to guide them through the experience. Therapist Betsy Jenkins, a licensed clinical counselor, has worked for the past eight years with cancer patients and their families. Jenkins, 66, now provides individual counseling and

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develops support groups and wellness programs at the cancer center. She got involved with the study after learning about the potential benefits of psilocybin treatment from Dr. Brian Richards, the son of Bill Richards and a member of the healing center staff. “My passion is the change it makes in people’s [lives] and the life of their family as they go through the cancer experience,” she says. “It’s really miraculous to see the power of that one experience. Even a year later it continues to bear fruit—insight and empathy and connection—and that perspective trickles down through the whole family.” Jenkins says she and her fellow therapists try to develop a bond with participants while talking about what to expect during the treatment, advising them to “trust, let go and be open” to anything that comes up. With the guidance of a therapist, the experience provides an opportunity to “shine a flashlight into the basement of your mind to really be able to look in those corners and not shy away from it,” Jenkins says. “You can’t be in a more supportive environment to do that.” On the dosing day, Craig and the other three participants in his group and their therapists gathered to talk before each pair headed to a treatment room. Sally, who took psilocybin the same day as Craig, says she felt well prepared for the moment after meeting with her therapist and the other participants who were also dealing with cancer. “I felt really lifted up and supported from the very beginning,” she says. “Beth,” a 57-year-old teacher from Bethesda who didn’t want to be identified by her real name because people she knows don’t know that she underwent psilocybin treatment, was also part of the group. Her longstanding depression and anxiety were compounded by her breast cancer diagnosis in June 2020. Aware of the research about the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin before she was diagnosed, she applied to be part of the study,

hoping that taking the drug would ease her low-level chronic depression. After taking the psilocybin, the study participants each embarked on a journey through their subconscious mind. In addition to all of the visions Craig experienced, he recalls that he laughed sometimes and also cried “hysterically.” He felt hot and then cold. At some points he was tucked into the bed. Other times he

of sand drifting away. My soul was being sucked out of my body up into this white light,” she says. “And then in a moment I died and went up into this light and there was just pure joy. It went from a terrifying and a horrible experience into this just pure bliss and feeling like this is the essence of life. I felt really, really happy. I felt like I was surrounded by angels.” At one point, Sally saw her deceased

“ In a moment I died and went up into this light and there was just pure joy. It went from a terrifying and a horrible experience into this just pure bliss and feeling like this is the essence of life. I felt really, really happy. I felt like I was surrounded by angels,” says one of the study participants of what she experienced after taking psilocybin. threw the sheets across the room. As he hallucinated, Craig says, he explained to Jenkins what he was seeing and she asked him what he thought each vision meant. She had given Craig, who has a background in graphic design, a sketch pad and colored pencils, and later he drew several pictures of what he had seen. Sally’s journey started pleasantly with visions of swirling, brightly colored gems, she says. Soon she found herself in a tunnel with an archway full of mouths with “sharp, sharp teeth” and she started seeing visions of traumatic experiences from her childhood. Though she’d spent years in intensive therapy, she says it didn’t affect her the way her experience with psilocybin did. “I was a viewer watching the abuse happen and understanding that [it] was no longer part of me,” she says. “I feel like at that moment I was healed, that I didn’t really need to continue to relive it and have it affect my life, so I felt comforted.” Then she started to feel like she was dying. “There was a bright light above that was sucking the life out of me, and I was terrified. I don’t know that I’ve been that scared since I was a kid. My body was just fading away like particles, grains

husband, which also made her “really happy.” At another point, she “felt a big cloud of depression and anxiety just fade away.” The rest of her journey has gone fuzzy over time, but she says she came out of the “very, very difficult” experience with a profound sense of well-being. Before taking the psilocybin, Beth, who sees herself as a caretaker, says she was worried about the other participants in her group. But once the drug kicked in, she entered her own world. At first, frogs with umbrellas rained down around her. Then Ganesh, the Hindu god who is known as the remover of obstacles and is usually portrayed with the head of an elephant, came to her and stayed with her through her journey. “I knew about Ganesh, but I couldn’t remember what Ganesh meant. It was outstanding that Ganesh would come to me at such a time,” Beth says. She soon found that she was unable to lie down and had to remove her headphones and listen to the music through the speakers in the room. “It was too much stimulation for me,” she recalls. Throughout the experience, “nothing happened that I couldn’t handle,” Beth says. Though she hated the curated

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“ Myself as sound bouncing around giant metal gongs.”

healing visions

acoustical music at the time, she understands how the choice of music, whether it was peaceful or soaring, allowed her subconscious to create visions that helped her explore family trauma that she believes caused her to develop cancer. “I remember I kept saying, ‘When is this going to be over?’ ” she says. “I felt like it was a stomach virus that wouldn’t end. I was just so exhausted from the whole experience.” THE DAY AFTER THE DOSING, the partic-

ipants gathered again with their therapists at the healing center to talk about what they had seen and felt. “We do a lot of work with integrating that experience,” says Jenkins, who runs monthly Zoom group sessions for participants. Sharing their journeys immediately with each other and then continuing to meet after the study concluded is what makes the experience “so powerful,” she says. “Otherwise, it’s just like partying, right? That doesn’t help.” Sally attends the Zoom meetings with other study participants and has met in person with Beth. Getting together with Beth took Sally “straight back to that wonderful blissful” feeling that she had after taking psilocybin. “The connection with another participant was just awesome. I could feel the love emanating from her and from me from the shared experience,” she says. “It’s a different kind of connection than I have with anybody else in the whole world. It’s very healing in so many ways.” Agrawal says he chose to study the administration of psilocybin in a group setting because previous research had shown that it could be more helpful to patients than providing individual therapy. If the method ultimately proves to be beneficial, it could be a way to efficiently provide the treatment to more people while also reducing the cost, he says. “What’s been remarkable is that even though the study is finished, many of the participants continue to meet once a month. They want to be together,” he

says. Having the opportunity to share difficult emotions with others also dealing with cancer is “very healing for an individual person,” he says. More than seven months after taking the psilocybin, Craig was facing more surgery to treat his cancer, but says he no longer feels sad about his diagnosis and has stayed off antidepressants. While the clarity of thought that he experienced after taking psilocybin has dissipated, he continues to process what he went through by attending the Zoom sessions with other participants and listening to the music from the psilocybin treatment. “I feel like taking psilocybin was kind of the start of things and it’s kind of opened a door for bettering myself mentally,” he says. Sally says she feels like “something had

physically changed” in her brain after she took the psilocybin. She also has stayed off medication and says her anxiety is “completely gone.” She’s more focused on taking care of herself and eating better. The emotional journey she took that June day helped her understand that she needed to establish boundaries with others so she doesn’t take on their problems like she used to, she says. “I was hoping and expecting to feel calmer, but I never expected to feel…as happy as I’ve been,” she says. “I feel so much richer, my life has been enriched by this. I’m better able to enjoy the things I really, really love, like my family.” n Contributing editor Julie Rasicot lives in Silver Spring.

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His Second Act Once a child actor and athlete, Georgetown Prep’s Connor Berry suffered a life-changing health crisis. Now he’s fighting for each step he takes. BY AMY HALPERN | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

t’s 6 o’clock on a windy evening in January, and 19-year-old Connor Berry is shuffling through the main level of the Burtonsville home he shares with his mom. Starting in the kitchen, he lumbers through the dining room, then the family room and back to the kitchen, an improvised track of about 70 feet. It’s a short distance but a slow process: He has to stop a few times to regain control when his body veers off course, and he occasionally grabs ahold of a countertop to take a break. Though muscular, his body often jolts to the right or left. Sometimes his shoulder accidently slams against a wall and his legs take steps on their own volition that throw him off balance. It’s a condition called ataxia, his doctors say: a lack of coordination of voluntary movements.

His personal trainer, Peter Francis, is walking two steps behind him, timing Connor’s speed and watching his movements. After every third lap, Connor sits to rest. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and takes a long swig of water. “How did I do?” Connor calls over to Francis before starting the next round. “Two minutes, 45 seconds,” Francis answers, and Connor smiles. It’s a big improvement over the five-plus minutes it took him when the two started working together a year and a half ago. Connor works with Francis three days a week; the other two weekdays Connor goes for physical therapy in Rockville. Neither Connor nor Francis mentions that Connor ran the 100-meter sprint in 11.9 seconds when he was in eighth grade. Or that less than four years ago he was a safety on the junior varsity football

team at Georgetown Preparatory School. Or that he was an actor who appeared in television shows and commercials when he was younger—even the 2014 feature film The Little Rascals Save the Day. Connor tries not to think about his past life. He focuses on the future. After all, three years ago his doctors weren’t sure if he’d spend his life in a wheelchair, he says. And once he gave up the wheelchair, his doctors weren’t sure he’d ever walk without a walker. But he advanced from a walker to a rollator in only a few months. (A rollator, or rolling walker, takes much more agility to use, he says.) This evening, while he’s doing his laps, his royal blue rollator is perched in a corner and Connor is walking on his own—awkwardly, but walking nonetheless. It’s frustrating, he says, when he asks his doctors how far they think his recov-

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Connor and his personal trainer, Peter Francis, working out at Connor’s home

ery can go and they tell him they don’t know. But he understands that they don’t have all the answers, just as those around Connor understand that he’ll chart his own path with remarkable patience, optimism and determination. “DO YOU KNOW THAT your right eye

is moving funny?” Connor’s friend CJ Arce asked him as the boys walked from indoor track practice to the weight room at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda in late December 2018. No, Connor replied; he felt perfectly fine. Later that afternoon, his mom, Elva BowdenBerry (who divorced Connor’s father in 2017 but uses a surname that combines her maiden and married names) came to pick up the two sophomores. CJ told her what he had witnessed: Connor’s right pupil was bouncing around rap-

idly, something he hadn’t seen before in the eight or nine years he’d known him. Weeks later, Connor’s aunt noticed the same thing, so BowdenBerry brought her son to an optometrist, who sent him to an ophthalmologist, who referred him to a neuro-ophthalmologist. That third doctor ordered an MRI of Connor’s brain. In late February 2019, BowdenBerry, a senior attorney with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), picked up Connor after school, gave him dinner to eat in the car and drove him to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., for the MRI. They didn’t go home that evening. In fact, they didn’t go home for good for seven months. Uncontrollable rapid eye movement is known as “nystagmus,” and it’s a sign of a brain problem—not an eye problem, says

Dr. Eugene Hwang, a neuro-oncologist at Children’s National. He has been one of the doctors on Connor’s team since shortly after Connor’s scan was read at the hospital that night. It was Hwang who had to break the news to Connor and his mom: A tumor was lodged close to the 16-year-old’s brain stem, near the “fiber optics” that control facial movements, vision and balance. That means, Hwang says, “that any tumor in that area or any direct surgical intervention in that area runs a higher risk of potential complications,” compared with other areas of the brain. The MRI also showed a buildup of fluid exerting dangerously high pressure on Connor’s brain. If the mass wasn’t removed right away, the pressure would likely cause permanent brain damage. And the triggering event might come on

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Connor steps on a pad and attempts to keep his balance as part of the physical therapy he does twice a week at the Medstar National Rehabilitation Center in Rockville. With him is student physical therapist Lauralyn Heon.

suddenly—possibly in days or even hours. “These are the kinds of surgeries that have to happen in the middle of the night or the weekend sometimes,” Hwang says. The doctors recommended immediate surgery and ran through the list of possible complications. Connor wasn’t thinking that any of them might actually happen, he says. “I was 16…it wasn’t on my mind that brain surgery was going to change my life.” His mom felt the weight of the situation more than he did. “When the surgeon started telling us the risks of the surgery and everything…I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having brain surgery.’ What happens if he wakes up and he can’t remember stuff?” she says. She told him to give her the password to his phone in case he was having trouble with recall afterward. Connor underwent surgery the next morning, and the operation was declared a success. The tumor was benign, and the doctors were able to remove it completely so it’s unlikely to grow back. But it was clear early in the recovery that Connor’s brain had been affected. He lost sensation along the right side of his

body; the left side of his face was paralyzed. He couldn’t control his balance or even stand, meaning he had to use a wheelchair. Double vision had set in, making it hard for Connor to focus. What happened to Connor was rare, Hwang says. Many young brain tumor patients go home from the hospital after only a few days. Others have complications that can take weeks to resolve. A few, like Connor, have more serious issues. “You are taking a bunch of knives to an area where all the fiber optics [run through] that tell your body how to move,” Hwang says. “It’s extremely difficult to take that tumor out without also taking out some of those fiber optics.” Connor spent nearly a month in the hospital and was then moved to MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington for intensive in-patient rehabilitation. His mom used the vacation time and sick leave she’d accrued over her 35-year career at the NRC to stay by her son’s side night and day at Children’s. Once he was transferred to the rehab facility, she worked remotely from his room, sleeping on the couch next to his bed.

Weeks into Connor’s stay at the rehab hospital more complications arose, and he was rushed back to Children’s in late March 2019. He’d contracted meningitis, which led to hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of fluid deep within the brain that can lead to brain damage, even death, if left untreated. Surgeons implanted a shunt, or tube, into his brain that connects to a flexible tube that runs down his neck and into his abdomen. A permanent device, the shunt allows excess fluid from Connor’s brain to drain naturally as he urinates. Connor doesn’t have a lot of memories of being rushed back to Children’s. “I was in pretty bad shape,” he says. His mom was petrified. “I’m not a crier,” she says, but she was scared for his life. Eight weeks and two more surgeries later, Connor was transferred back to the rehab hospital for four more months. He came home some weekends, but it wasn’t until September 2019, seven months after his first surgery, that BowdenBerry finally wheeled her son home to stay. “It felt good to sleep in my own bed,” he says, but it didn’t feel the same as before the surgery. Even now, with the sensation on his right side still limited, he can barely feel the pillow under his head. CONNOR HAD HOPED TO be walking by

the time he returned to school in the fall of 2019, but he’d come to realize that the timeline for recovery was going to be slower than he wanted. “A minor setback to a major comeback,” his brother, Michael, now 26, had said when he visited Connor in the hospital after his first surgery, words that stuck with him. When Connor showed up at Georgetown Prep in his motorized wheelchair 10 days after being released from the rehab hospital, he got a standing ovation from the whole school. “#Connor Strong” banners covered the fence along Rockville Pike and hung in the school’s George Center, where students gathered to cheer him on. The school had added power-assist doors in two locations that previously didn’t have them and moved his classes so that every place Connor needed to be

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Connor at home with his mother, Elva, a senior attorney with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

was elevator accessible. His friends and the staff helped him get around. “I didn’t want my friends and my teachers to see me the way I was,” he says, “but it felt good to be back on campus.” It wasn’t until the pandemic began that he transitioned out of his wheelchair. With classes being held remotely, he had more time to practice walking— first with a walker, then with his rollator. He’s tried to adapt what he calls his “football mindset”—focusing on his recovery and what he needs to do to get back to normal. “I try and not think about, like, all the things I’m missing out on,” like sports and acting, he says, “and I try to think about what’s to come.” At the start of school last fall, he arrived on campus with his rollator. Now he has to be mindful of divots in the sidewalk and fast-moving people. His double vision compounds the challenge during the five minutes between classes, as students run from building to building. When he’s rolling between classes and it starts to rain, students and teachers often ask if he needs an umbrella, or perhaps some help. No, he tells them with a smile. He’s just happy to be moving on his own and feeling the rain on his head. Connor fell a few times early in the school year. It’s only by going down that he learns to get up better, he says. After years of playing football, he knows how

to fall without getting hurt, but it can be embarrassing, he says. One time, his rollator hit a gap in a concrete path and he went down into the grass—rollator, backpack and all. A teacher came rushing over and made him wait until she could flag down another student to carry his books to his next destination, a meeting of the school’s Black Student Association, held a couple of buildings away. If he must take a spill, Connor much prefers the kind he took a month later, in a school bathroom. He was able to get up and back to class before anyone saw him, but admits it’s sometimes still disheartening when it happens. “It’s like, dang, if I’m still falling at [this] point…does that mean I won’t get better?” Connor stays in touch with his friends, but these days it’s mostly by text since they’re no longer at school with him. He redid his sophomore year, and they graduated a year ago. He intends to walk across the stage without his rollator to accept his diploma at Georgetown Prep’s graduation ceremony in May. “It’s definitely a goal that’s obtainable. The stage is only going

to be like 10 to 20 feet,” he says. “I’m working on the endurance aspect.” Now, during most of his free periods at school, Connor goes to the weight room. Trainers there—some who remember him from his football and track days— work with him. A couple of days a week, Francis, his personal trainer, meets him there to improve balance and strength. Most of Francis’ other clients are in their 80s, but Connor’s physical issues are similar to those faced by older stroke or Parkinson’s disease patients, Francis says. Two afternoons a week , BowdenBerr y drives her son to MedStar National Rehabilitation Center in Rockv ille, an outp atient clinic where he’s been getting physical therapy since he left the inpatient facility. Connor exercises on his own, too, rising most mornings at 5:30 to do an hour of push-ups, hip bridges, step-ups and eye drills before school. The eye regimen came from a specialist he sees in Chicago once or twice a year to help with his double vision. At night, after he finishes his homework, Connor goes through another

“ I try and not think about... the things I’m missing out on, and I try to think about what’s to come,” Connor Berry says.

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his second act politically, unable to go vote and politically voiceless due to the political leanings of their state,” he wrote at the bottom of page two. “Special, special kid,” Furnary says, thinking back. Memories of Connor from years past didn’t make Furnary less concerned when he saw Connor’s name on his junior year history class roster in the fall of 2020. He’d seen Connor around camConnor, right, with friends in the Georgetown Preparatory High School Class of 2021, at what would also have pus in his wheelchair the previbeen his graduation. Connor will graduate in May of this year and hopes to walk across the stage unassisted ous winter, before the pandemic to accept his diploma. hit, and knew that his speech had exercise regimen. Insurance covers some always on the small side (now he’s 5 feet, been impacted along with his motor of his treatments and therapies, but not 5 inches tall), but he would race in to skills. Would Connor be able to keep up all. Connor’s uncle, Michael Bowden, set tackle guys twice his size, Furnary says. in class? What accommodations would he need? School would now be remote, up a GoFundMe page for him that is now “And he usually won the play.” more than halfway to its goal of raising The teacher and student first met at a but with his double vision, would Connor $50,000. Georgetown Prep open house when Con- be able to spend hours staring at a screen? When he first got home from the nor was a Gaithersburg Middle School Furnary’s first assignment of the year rehab hospital, Connor couldn’t play eighth grader. Connor had overheard was an essay on the founding of the 13 video games—he lacked the muscle Furnary and another teacher discussing American colonies, and Connor’s was control and hand-eye coordination. whether voting in presidential elections polished and researched at a depth well He spent his free time should be mandatory. beyond the high school level, the teacher reading books, holding Connor introduced says. “Everything he turned in was, like, novels up to a spot in himself and offered his unbelievably above and beyond what all front of his face where opinion. “I’m an extro- his classmates would turn in… . He’d his double vision didn’t vert…I like talking to start the class with a set of questions all set in. But he kept people,” he says. ready—to get deeper into U.S. history… going back to his Sony Furnary gave Con- he just elevated the game.” The other students would feed off PlayStation 5 and now nor his contact inforplays a bit every night mation and said he’d Connor’s enthusiasm, Furnary says. “If for fun and for therapy. be happy to read any- another kid thought they could have an He and CJ sometimes thing Connor wanted excuse as to why they didn’t have their to write on the subject, homework…they knew Connor would play his favorite game figuring that would be have it done to perfection…it would kind together over Facethe last he’d hear from of, like, take the other kid’s excuse away… Time: Madden NFL him. But on Christmas like, if Connor’s doing it like this, what’s 22. Connor ’s video game progress typifies Eve, a few months after your excuse?” his philosophy about they met, Furnary got an email from Connor SOMEDAY, CONNOR WANTS TO write a his whole recovery. “Just don’t stop,” he says. “If you stop, with a two-page essay attached. Connor film about his experiences. He thinks you can guarantee it’s not going to get had even included voting statistics he’d it’s unlikely he’ll be an actor again, but better; but if you stick with it, things will researched. he wants to be a director. He’s applied improve.” “It is disappointing to know that in our to 14 colleges around the country, many country where people do have the right with strong film departments, and he’s “HE WAS A BEAST,” says Josh Furnary, to vote, merely half of them do so,” he already made a short documentary about a social studies teacher at Prep who wrote in the first paragraph. But “crimi- himself. The film, he says, “starts a little coached Connor when he was on the nalizing people for not voting is punish- bit with my friends at my school talking freshman football team. Connor was ing innocent people who are uninformed about me before the surgery, and it tran-

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNOR BERRY

“ If you stop, you can guarantee it’s not going to get better; but if you stick with it, things will improve,” Connor says.

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sitions to a couple of friends hearing the news and visiting me at the hospital. It doesn’t capture everything.” He’s also writing down the thoughts he’s had at different points along his path to recovery so he doesn’t forget them—like how he felt when he was at the rehab hospital and saw kids who were admitted after him make progress more quickly. “I was putting in a lot of work, [and I] started to see people getting discharged sooner than I was getting discharged. I wasn’t, like, jealous or anything, but if you are seeing that kind of thing, it’s going to have an effect on you.” Connor already knows how he’d capture his emotions about that in a movie. “I could keep one character in place and have everything else moving around the character…like everything moving around the camera, but I’m not moving.” His friend CJ recalls first meeting Connor nearly a decade ago, when the two were playing with the Maplewood Youth Football Program in Bethesda. Their team was undefeated that season until Connor had to fly to California for an acting gig. The team lost the next game, and the players were dispirited. When Connor returned, he set out to motivate them again, CJ says. “We aren’t going to let this loss define us,” CJ recalls Connor saying, and he remembers Connor pushing himself and the team even harder to overcome the loss and win the championship. CJ sees the same motivation in his friend today. “There’s this ambition about him—he wants to keep pushing forward.” For Connor, it’s all about setting goals. He likes to set them high, he says, like working toward a full recovery in six months. “Even if I’m not fully recovered, I will have made a significant amount of progress because I was working toward a higher goal,” he says. “So far, so good.” n

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A Smash Hit BY AMY HALPERN

As players flock to local pickleball courts, Montgomery County aims to meet the demand

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The pickleball courts are fully booked on a fall day at Bauer Drive Local Park in Rockville.

PHOTO BY EDGAR ARTIGA

HE SMALL PLASTIC PICKLEBALL flies through

the air, dropping close to the net in front of Alex Walsh and Julia Kae as they scramble unsuccessfully to smack it back at their opponents during an outdoor game in Rockville on a chilly weeknight in March. “Nice dink!” says Walsh, 27, of Rockville, as he tosses the perforated ball over the net to opponents Michele Kenno and John Crooke. “You popped that one good,” adds Kae, 57, of Silver Spring, who was Walsh’s doubles partner that night. Kenno of Rockville and Crooke of Silver Spring—both in their 50s—chuckle modestly at the praise. Kenno gets ready to serve again, using the underhand motion that

pickleball players say is easier to master than the traditional overhand serve of tennis. “I never played a sport in my life until 18 months ago,” Kenno says as she fires off a fastball. It’s 9 p.m. and about two dozen people are spread across four of the six courts at Bauer Drive Local Park— one of the newest spots to play pickleball in the county. Some nights, regulars say, all six courts are packed with players and many more are waiting on the sidelines to compete against the winners in the next round. Scott Nilsen, 53, who is playing two courts over from Walsh, recalls an impromptu holiday gathering at the courts in December. Just before Christmas, he says, a player in one of his WhatsApp pickleball chat groups BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT NILSEN

hit its stride only after the coronavirus pandemic began. Now, county planners and local jurisdictions can’t add pickleball courts fast enough to keep up with demand. It’s been an “absolutely huge explosion,” says Gaithersburg resident Emer Daly, 48, a certified instructor with the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association. Daly started the MoCo Pickleball Facebook group in 2017 and has watched its membership grow from about 100 to more than 1,500 people in less than five years. About 1,000 of the online group’s members joined in the Revelers at an impromptu holiday pickleball tournament and party at Bauer Drive Local Park in December past two years alone, she says. “The panfloated the idea of a last-minute tournament. Within hours, doz- demic may have helped kick-start the growth [of pickleball], but ens of aficionados, ranging in age from teenagers to retirees, honestly it’s not the pandemic, it’s just the game itself.” Today, more than 150 indoor and outdoor pickleball courts signed up to bring everything from chocolate-covered strawberries to crab dip to pinwheel sandwiches. People showed up are open to the public in Montgomery County, according to wearing Santa costumes and ugly Christmas sweaters, he says. MoCo Pickleball, a website Daly founded in 2019 and now coNilsen, who lives in Olney, brought a folding table—and 50 owns with Rob Campbell, the USA Pickleball Association’s disbananas. “I had to work all day,” he says. “I didn’t have time to trict ambassador for Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. About 90% of the pickleball courts in Montgomery County make anything.” Kenno brought pumpkin cheesecake squares to the holiday are tennis courts with pickleball striping to make them dual party. She says she comes to the Bauer Drive courts every night purpose, Daly says. But more dedicated pickleball courts, like and plays so often that she’s worn out her sneakers. Kenno esti- those at Bauer Drive, are in the works, according to Montgommates that she’s spent a few hundred dollars online buying pick- ery Parks planner Chuck Kines. By summer, the parks departleball supplies—including a net, sneakers, balls and her paddle. ment is expected to add more pickleball striping—and upgraded “It’s worth it,” she says. “It’s cheaper than a gym…and I’m not lighting—to the dual-purpose courts at Colesville’s Meadowood Local Park and Good Hope Local Park in Silver Spring. Lighthome consuming calories.” ing is important because “the highest demand is for evening A COMBINATION OF TENNIS, squash, badminton and ping- play,” Kines says. Even private clubs are getting into the game. In 2021, Bethesda pong, pickleball has been gaining traction around the country for decades, including among celebrities such as Leonardo Country Club in Bethesda and Manor Country Club in Rockville DiCaprio and George and Amal Clooney, who built courts at each added dedicated outdoor pickleball courts to their racket sports offerings. “We’ve had a lot of people who are interested in their Los Angeles homes, according to Vanity Fair magazine. The game’s name is a reference to the sport of rowing, accord- pickleball,” says Frank Hatten, Bethesda Country Club’s director ing to Pickleball Magazine. The magazine says that in 1965, a of tennis, “and it’s our job to respond.” Leisure World, a commucouple of successful businessmen and their families were vaca- nity for people aged 55 and over in Silver Spring, opened deditioning at the summer home of then-U.S. Rep. Joel Pritchard on cated pickleball courts in 2020. In pickleball, players use a special paddle—usually made of Bainbridge Island in the state of Washington. To ease their children’s boredom, they grabbed table tennis paddles and whiffle wood, graphite or composite material—to volley a ball back and balls, brought their kids to a badminton court on the property, forth over a net. The paddles are bigger than those used for and created a game that they all could play together. Pritchard’s pingpong and smaller than a tennis or racquetball racket. Pickwife named the game pickleball because it reminded her of the leball courts—for both singles and doubles play—are about half “pickle boats” in crew that are made up of oarsmen chosen from the size of doubles tennis courts, so there’s less running and more socializing during games. The rules and techniques can the leftovers of other boats, according to the magazine. Over the last two years, pickleball has become the fastest be learned in one or two lessons, which makes the game accesgrowing sport in the U.S.—participation has grown nearly 40% sible to those without a background in racket sports, accordsince 2019, according to the Silver Spring-based Sports & Fit- ing to players. A game is played to 11 points and generally lasts up to 20 ness Industry Association. But in Montgomery County, it really 152 MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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How to Get Started Thinking about giving pickleball a try? Here are five tips from local experts. 1. Check your fitness level. If you are fit and active and have no balance issues, you shouldn’t have trouble adjusting to the physical demands of pickleball, USA Pickleball Association District Ambassador Rob Campbell says. But if you are older or in poor health, or haven’t exercised in years, talk to your doctor first. Remember to warm up before play, and be sure you are comfortable with side-to-side shuffling movements, he says.

PHOTO BY ERICK GIBSON

2. Take a lesson or two before playing. Campbell recommends private lessons (generally $50 to $100 an hour) if possible. Group lessons can be cheaper, and most clinics run $20 to $30 for a two-hour session, says MoCo Pickleball founder Emer Daly. The International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (iptpa.com) and the Professional Pickleball Registry (pprpickleball.org) list certified instructors on their websites.

3. Start with a decent paddle. If you can’t borrow a paddle made of graphite, fiberglass or composite material, consider taking advantage of the loaner program at TennisTopia in Rockville, Campbell advises. Most instructors will have paddles available for lessons, but confirm with them in advance, he says. “All rec centers have a box of wooden paddles to borrow,” adds Daly, but she says those paddles are far heavier than newer models. 4. Wear the right shoes. You don’t need shoes specifically designed for pickleball, Campbell says, but you should wear shoes made for tennis or other court sports. 5. Don’t show up to a drop-in site as a total novice. The pickleball community is an inclusive one, but some experienced players won’t be as welcoming for a newbie who doesn’t know the rules and can’t serve or volley, Campbell says. Play with peers of similar skill levels until you have the basics down, he advises.

Hunter Wyatt and Lisa Venable (foreground) play Scott Nilsen and Lisa Babcock at Bauer Drive Local Park.

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nearby at the time. Wiley says he pestered the parks department so much that they sent a crew to add pickleball boundary lines to an existing tennis court. The crew painted lines down the middle, assuming pickleballers would use the same net as tennis players, though pickleball nets are shorter in length and height. Wiley, now 65 and living in Annapolis, says he read about the sport in

BACK IN 2016, when Daly started playing, she and her fellow

“There [are] always people on the courts. ... You just say, ‘Hey, I want to play. Can I get in?’ ” Perry Brown says.

enthusiasts went to indoor recreation centers where badminton lines had been painted on the gym floor—the footprints of pickleball and badminton courts are the same. In the summer, when camps were in session and the rec centers weren’t available to them, they chalked their own lines on outdoor tennis courts and competed with tennis players for court time. “Backbreaking,” she says, “and if rain came, all your hard work washed away.” The first outdoor court to be striped for pickleball in Montgomery County was at Meadowood Local Park in Colesville. That happened about 12 years ago, says Bill Wiley, who lived

Lisa Venable, next to Hunter Wyatt, spends most evenings playing until 11 p.m.

the newspaper at the time and then built a court on his driveway. He liked the game so much that he thought the county should provide a place to play. It wasn’t until 2018, according to Daly, that the city of Gaithersburg added pickleball stripes to its outdoor tennis courts at Diamond Farms Park so that players could set up nets designed for the sport. Once Gaithersburg started the trend, other local jurisdictions followed, she says. That same year, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), an umbrella agency that includes Montgomery Parks, painted its first pickleball stripes across six tennis courts at Olney Mill Neighborhood Park in Olney. Almost immediately, players from all over the county showed up in droves with their nets, paddles and balls. Neighbors began complaining to the park commission about the constant “ping” of the ball hitting pickleball paddles, the overflowing parking lot, and the parked cars that blocked nearby roads and driveways, according to Kines. “It was our first test case,” he says. “We learned a lot from Olney Mill.” It took another year before pickleball enthusiasts succeeded in getting designated outdoor courts—not just tennis courts with pickleball lines. In May 2019, about 50 pickleball fans including Daly brought their paddles to Rockville City Hall to petition the mayor and city council for courts designed specifically for the sport. They demanded lighting for nighttime play and permanent nets so they wouldn’t have to bring their own, Daly says. Three months later, the city of Rockville redesigned some mini-basketball courts and in September 2019 inaugurated the first designated public pickleball courts in the county—at Rockville’s Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park near the

PHOTO BY ERICK GIBSON

minutes, so those who lose a round can get back in the queue and into another game fairly quickly, especially at sites with multiple courts in play, according to Daly. “There’s something addictive about it,” she says. “If you are sporty and in your 60s, you can have a great game with someone in their 20s. You can’t say that about a lot of sports.”

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King Farm neighborhood, according to the city of Rockville. The King Farm site, with its four lighted courts, is still one of the area’s top gathering spots for players from around the county. On a sunny afternoon last fall, all four courts were in use, and six more players had hung their paddles on the fence, signifying who was next in line to play. Several folks sat in folding chairs along the sidelines, sipping lemonade and iced tea. They doubled as a welcoming committee to anyone who was new to the sport. “You ready to try your hand at it?” an older man in a red folding chair asked a reporter who had come to check out the action. Since the site opened, other local jurisdictions have added dedicated courts, including those at North Creek Lake Park in Montgomery Village and at L.M. Stevens Park in Poolesville. “King Farm was actually like the first domino,” Daly says. “Once [King Farm] went in, it just kick-started everything else.” With pickleball, “there [are] always people on the courts that you find, and you just say, ‘Hey, I want to play. Can I jump on?’ ” adds pickleball enthusiast Perry Brown, 35, who grew up playing tennis and squash. “You go to tennis courts and there’s nobody there, or it’s the two people that chose to play together.” Brown, a Gaithersburg mother of three young children, has been playing pickleball for about a year. In the spring of 2021, she signed up for a beginner clinic that meshed with her newborn baby’s nursing schedule and was hooked from the start. She began meeting some experienced players at a park near her house, and they welcomed her into their group immediately. “The greatest thing about pickleball is that it’s…coached by the people around you,” Brown says. Now, when her husband gets home from work and can watch the kids, she grabs her racket and heads to the Bauer Drive courts; even on the coldest nights, dozens of players are already gathered. Throughout last winter, someone inevitably brought a portable heater for those waiting their turn on the sidelines, she says. And even though she didn’t know anyone when she first picked up a paddle, she now considers those in the pickleball community to be close friends. “None of us have anything in common except our love for pickleball. …It’s a lovely sport; it’s lovely people,” she says.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PPA TOUR

SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, Lisa Venable, 62, has been work-

ing from her home in Rockville. When she signs off for the day, she grabs a quick dinner, heads to the pickleball courts, and plays until the lights shut off at 11 p.m. She’s been playing pickleball for three years, ever since her brothers became fans. They took her to Diamond Farms Park in Gaithersburg with their pickleball net, paddles and balls, and showed her how to play. Venable, a federal government employee, used to play every evening at King Farm, but now her favorite site is Bauer Drive. “Everyone wants to go to the newest spot,” she says. On weekends, she checks the posts on her WhatsApp pickleball chat groups to find out who’s playing there and when. She once tried to get in some games during her lunch hour as well,

Laytonsville’s Ben Johns wins the Foot Solutions Arizona Grand Slam Men’s Singles Champion in February. He is ranked the men’s No. 1 player in the world by the Professional Pickleball Association.

but she found it too hard to break away. “Once you get on the court, you can’t stop,” she says. Bauer Drive’s pickleball courts are the first dedicated courts in the county built and maintained by the M-NCPPC, according to Kines. With ample parking, high-quality lighting and permanent pickleball nets in place, Bauer Drive’s six courts are packed with pickleballers most hours of the day and evening, according to regulars. Even Ben Johns, 22, who is ranked the men’s No. 1 Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) player in the world, showed up for the grand opening last October. The same month, the county also opened two dedicated courts at Seven Locks Local Park in Cabin John. Johns grew up in Laytonsville and is expected to graduate in May from the University of Maryland, College Park. He and his six siblings were homeschooled, and the family spent winters in Florida. That’s where he picked up the sport when he was about 16. He competed in his first PPA tournament less than a year later. Now living in Austin, Texas, with his older brother, Collin, who is also a professional pickleball player, Johns has an endorsement deal with Franklin Sports and a paddle named after him, the Ben Johns Signature Pickleball Paddle, which sells for $100 in sporting goods stores and online. Insiders say he’s expected to earn more than $500,000 from the sport in 2022. Johns says the best women’s singles player is 15 and the oldest player (ranked No. 2 for men’s doubles) is 44. “It’s a wide range, generally averBETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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a smash hit aging late 20s,” he says. Johns’ parents built a pickleball court on their driveway in Laytonsville when he took up the sport, but there weren’t any public courts near his home until the last year or so. “It’s not just Maryland; basically all of the Northeast is definitely more behind,” he says. “It usually has required snowbirds to find it down in the Southern states and bring [pickleball] back up. … If it’s not present, nobody knows about it, but as soon as people do start knowing about it, it catches [on] very rapidly.” More young people than ever are playing, Daly says, thanks in part to the sport’s growing media presence. In 2020, ESPN3 became the first large-scale media outlet to offer live coverage and re-airings of PPA Tour events, according to Hannah Johns, Ben Johns’ sister and the PPA’s head of content. Other networks such as CBS Sports, FOX Sports and the Tennis Channel have also started broadcasting PPA Tour events. When people watch the pros play, they “realize, oh, this is a hugely competitive, fast game…this is not my grandmother’s game of pickleball,” Daly says. ON A CLOUDY SATURDAY afternoon in February, 18 pickleball

newcomers—bundled in ski caps, down vests and sneakers—are gathered on the outdoor courts at Westleigh Recreation Club in

North Potomac. Daly runs a beginners clinic at the private club whenever the weather forecast looks decent, and her inbox is filled with requests. “I just advertised one [class] yesterday and it’s already full,” she says. A few minutes into the two-hour lesson, Daly is going over the rules of the serve. “There are only three rules,” she tells the group. “The paddle must be going low to high—that’s rule No. 1. Rule No. 2: I must hit the ball below my waist. Rule No. 3: The top edge of the paddle cannot be above my wrist.” In 2021, she says, the USA Pickleball Association added an additional serve—the drop serve—that players can use if they find the traditional pickleball serve too challenging. “There are no rules for the drop serve,” she tells the group, “except I just drop the ball.” Daly spreads the students across the courts in groups of four to practice volleying. In less than an hour, most have grasped the basics. “All I care about is that they have a good time,” she says. “They can learn the finer points later.” Then Daly moves on to one of the most complicated parts of the game: calling the score. “The server must call the score fully before she’s allowed to swing at the ball,” Daly tells her students. “It’s three numbers—our score, their score, and then” the number of the server, who is labeled either “one” or “two,” depending

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on the player’s position on the court. First-timer Karen Tsarev, 38, and her husband, Sasha, 37, wave to their daughters, ages 4 and 6, who are watching just outside the fence under their grandparents’ supervision. Karen says lots of young families from their North Potomac neighborhood have started playing together. A deaf couple in their 60s are in the group, too—lip-reading Daly’s words and bantering in American Sign Language. Most of those who’ve signed up for Daly’s adult class are in their 40s or older, but Daly says she’s had groups with 20-somethings, and teenagers who come with their parents. Some of the county’s public middle schools have added pickleball striping to their tennis courts too, she says. Once thought of as a sport for retirees, Daly says, now “it’s all ages, all demographics.” “LIVE. LOVE. PICKLEBALL.” That’s the message embossed on

a T-shirt at TennisTopia on Rockville Pike in Rockville. The 3,500-square-foot shop has been catering to the local tennis community for more than 15 years. In 2019, it started carrying pickleball merchandise, too. “We didn’t bring in a lot,” owner Darrell Haines says. “We wanted to take the temperature of the area.” Today, Haines says about 15% of the store’s floor space is

devoted to pickleball, including a wall of paddles that are part of its pickleball loaner program. For a small fee, folks can choose from an assortment of more than 100 loaner paddles to try for up to a week before making a purchase. Less than a year ago, about 20 paddles were available in the loaner program, but now “we have a lot more paddles, we have pickleball shoes, pickleball bags [and] balls,” Haines says. Venable used TennisTopia’s demo program to select her $190 paddle. Before she got it, she’d been playing with her brothers’ hand-me-down paddles, but found that they were too heavy for her, especially as she played more and more. “I was getting pickleball elbow,” she says. Hunter Wyatt, 31, has been working at TennisTopia since the summer of 2021. He says he’s seen kids as young as high schoolers shopping for paddles, including a teenage girl who came in recently to check out some loaners for a get-together she was having with some friends. “She picked out a couple [of paddles] just to play for the night,” he says. “The game can be what you make of it. Anybody can have fun with it in a way that works for them.” Amy Halpern is a journalist who has worked in print and television news. She lives in Potomac. n

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Montgomery County is already feeling the impact of climate change. Experts say the worst is yet to come. BY LOUIS PECK PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY MARTIN

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1,400%: Expected

increase in 95-plus degree days in Montgomery County between the historical (1) baseline and 2100 5.1 degrees: Expected increase in average annual temperatures in the Northeast by 2050 as (2) compared with 1975-2005 1 inch: Monthly precipitation increase projected for December through April by 2100 (3) in the Northeast (1) PROJECTION BASED ON RCP 8.5 (HIGH EMISSIONS SCENARIO); SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, PUBLISHED 2021. (2 AND 3) PROJECTIONS BASED ON RCP 8.5 (HIGH EMISSIONS SCENARIO); SOURCE: 2018 NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT.

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Hurricane Ida had already ravaged Louisiana and much of the South as its remnants barreled northeast last summer. In the overnight hours leading into Sept. 1, the storm deposited 3.3 inches of rain in barely an hour in the Rockville/Twinbrook area. First responders arriving with boats and a dive team at the Rock Creek Woods apartments on Twinbrook Parkway in Rockville found a “significant number of residents…outside screaming that people were trapped in these buildings,” according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) reports. Rescue personnel also encountered language barriers among the immigrants who accounted for a significant number of residents in the complex. Inside, first responders discovered two ground-level apartments “completely under water.” They broke a sliding glass door to find barely 6 inches of air between the water and the ceiling in one unit, while managing to rescue a woman holding a baby. “Interior stairs were completely full of water to the point you could not see the hallway doors or door jambs,” one report says. Melkin “Melky” Daniel Cedillo, a Richard Montgomery High School alumnus and a busser at Iron Age restaurant in Rockville, was one of the residents. The 19-year-old Honduran immigrant escaped a flooded apartment but went back for his mother. Rescuers saved six people from those two ground-level units, and a total of 16 from two buildings in the Rock Creek Woods complex. They could not save Cedillo. “I never imagined that my son was drowning there,” his mother, Daisy, told Telemundo 44 in Spanish last September as she sobbed into a tissue. “My God, this pain is too much for me.” Four people were taken to hospitals, and 150 residents were displaced. The tragic episode serves as testament to the face of climate change in Montgomery County—and what’s increasingly fore-

casted for its residents in the coming decades, with the heaviest impacts likely falling on those with the fewest resources. Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan, published three months before the flooding at Rock Creek Woods, is hauntingly prophetic, reading: “Urban flooding disproportionately affects low-income residents and communities of color because the majority live in neighborhoods with little or no green spaces to absorb water, and in areas that have historically received less flood protection investment. In addition, these communities tend to live in basement or ground-floor apartments, which are hit hardest by urban flooding.” Ida, which slammed New Orleans with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, was one of 21 named storms last year, considered the third-most active year for hurricanes on record. Climate change is intensifying hurricanes, boosting shortterm rainfall amounts and increasing storm surge, according to experts and data. Montgomery County is largely protected from rising sea levels. Yet forecasts indicate that the impacts of climate change, particularly on temperature and precipitation, will be seen in multiple ways across the county, now and in coming years. The Climate Action Plan, which describes predicted impacts of climate change and lays out a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says extreme heat may pose the most severe local threat to health and the environment. If ambitious efforts in Montgomery County and elsewhere to curb greenhouse gas emissions fall short, the county is slated to experience a 1,400% increase in 95-plus degree days between now and 2100, according to the plan.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S RISK AND READINESS Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan, issued in 2021, examined different sectors of the county, such as critical and community resources (schools, hospitals, police stations and shelters), and studied how much these areas could be exposed to climate change; how sensitive they likely would be to impacts; and how well they could potentially adapt. The county determined that precipitation, temperature (mostly heat), drought and wind would reflect the biggest shifts between current conditions and 2100. VARIABLE HIGH

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SOME

LOW

How exposed could these sectors be to the impacts of climate change? EXPOSURE

Precipitation

Temperature

Drought

High Winds

Transportation Critical & Community Resources Utilities People & Homes

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Sligo Creek flooded its banks last August, and the water rushed into Sligo Creek Parkway at New Hampshire Avenue, pushing cars off the road and prompting at least one water rescue from a car.

And when it comes to the threat of intense precipitation, “the future is already here,” says William Musico, floodplain administrator at the county’s Department of Permitting Services.

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

ON SEPT. 10, 2020, almost a year before the Twinbrook inun-

dation, a high-quality rain gauge near Kensington’s town hall— part of a nationwide volunteer monitoring network—measured 4.69 inches of precipitation in five hours, most of it falling in two hours. MCFRS responded to 50 reports of vehicles trapped in high water in Kensington and surrounding areas. At his home in the northern portion of the adjacent municipality of Chevy Chase View, energy consultant David Goldwyn—later named to chair a stormwater management committee for the town of Chevy Chase View—witnessed water migrating from higher ground rise to a height of nearly 3 feet in his backyard as he mopped and bailed in the lower level of his residence. In nearby Kensington Estates that day, rising waters flooded vehicles and moved many from their parking spots.

As Goldwyn notes, “This Sept. 10 storm was really not a one-off occurrence. [It] was one of three such events [over] five years.” In response to damage sustained by his home during a May 2016 storm, he contracted for construction work to protect against future flooding—only to see those efforts overwhelmed by the intensity and volume of precipitation during the September 2020 event. A survey commissioned by the town council following that storm found that in Chevy Chase View—with its population of about 1,000—at least 20% of property owners suffered flooding of homes or other adverse effects. “We were lucky no one was harmed in this storm, but the health and safety risk is real,” Goldwyn told the Chevy Chase View council in late July 2021, weeks before Cedillo lost his life in the Twinbrook flooding. The episodes are becoming more common across the region. “The recent dominant trend in precipitation throughout the Northeast has been towards increases in rainfall intensity…exceeding those in other regions in the contiguous United

How much could these areas be affected by climate change?

How well could these sectors adapt to withstand climate change? ADAPTIVE C A PAC I T Y

SENSITIVITY

Precipitation

Temperature

Drought

High Winds

Precipitation

Transportation

Critical & Community Resources

Utilities

People & Homes

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IN THE AG RESERVE MONTGOMERY COUNTY has experienced intense development in recent decades, but much of its northern section has been protected following the creation in 1980 of the Agricultural Reserve, which encompasses almost onethird of the county’s total acreage. Climate change has created challenges there, with changing weather patterns affecting the growing season. In 2020 and 2021, “March and April have gotten together and agreed to switch: March decided to be warm and April decided to be cold,” observes Jeremy Criss, director of the county’s Office of Agricultural Services. “That is the worst thing for blossoms that come out on fruit trees that are real tender. If they are subjected to frost, the blossom’s dead.” About 15% of nearly 560 farms in the county engage in fruit production, according to statistics kept by Criss’ office. “[We] are concerned about the future of fruit production in the county, given some of these weather cycles,” he says. 162

Gene Kingsbury, who has been growing peaches for a half-century at his orchard near Dickerson, experienced extensive spring frost damage in 2020 and 2021. “In the 1970s and 1980s, we typically looked for peaches to bloom during the second week of April. For the past 10 years, we have been lucky to make it to the first of April. … Every day makes a difference when the threshold for frost damage is 29 degrees.” Robert Butz says a May 2020 freeze was “hugely damaging” to the grape harvest at his Darnestown farm. To deal with it, he brought in a helicopter to hover over his orchards in the predawn hours one morning to combat a so-called “thermal inversion,” when cold air from the upper atmosphere descended to the ground, displacing warm air. Flying just 500 feet above, the prop wash from the helicopter pushed the warm air back down, enabling Butz to save the crop of one of his three vineyards. The helicopter rental cost him nearly $7,000. “Frost damage...doesn’t usually

their remnants—hit Maryland, scientists say climate change has increased their impact. “With hurricanes, we’re seeing slower-moving storms around the U.S.,” causing them to linger overhead for a longer period, says Kelly Halimeda Kilbourne, an associate research professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). “We also see…stronger winds, and with the intensity of the winds and the actual motion of the storm you end up with really intense bands [of precipitation] that cause those intense rain events within the storm.” At one point during the Twinbrook storm, 2.4 inches of rain fell within just a half hour, according to the National Weather Service. “The most intense portion of the storm was characterized as a 300-year storm for that half-hour time period,” officials at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation told Hochberg. Terms such as “100-year storm” and “300-year storm” are popular parlance for what is known in professional circles as the “return period.” For example, in the case of a 100-year storm, the chances of an event of that magnitude occurring in a given year is considered to be 1%. The problem is that such assessments are lagging behind present-day reality. They are based on a National Oceanic and A cover crop, which promotes soil health and conservation, in the Agricultural Reserve PHOTO BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE

States,” according to the latest National Climate Assessment, published by several federal agencies in 2018. A prior version of the National Climate Assessment, published in 2014, shows a 71% increase in heavy precipitation events in the Northeast from 1958-2012—almost twice the next highest increase among regions of the United States. In Montgomery County, urban flooding has spiked from two to four episodes annually before 2010 to an annual range of 11 to 39 occurrences, according to an analysis last year by the County Council’s Office of Legislative Oversight. The difficulty in forecasting where and when such extreme events will occur adds to their threat. “One of the challenges of climate change is that it throws our normal weather and climate patterns out of whack,” says Adriana Hochberg, Montgomery County’s climate change officer. “Things become much more unpredictable, and there are these swings—various levels of extremes—so that you can’t really plan ahead.” Alluding to the Twinbrook storm, Hochberg underscores that no section of the county is immune from the prospect of such catastrophic events in the near future. “If that weather pattern had moved just 3 miles north, it could have happened in Olney, versus Twinbrook,” she says. While it is not a new occurrence to have hurricanes—or

occur until the sun rises,” Butz says. “It’s the combination of the photosynthetic energy on the frozen tissue that causes it to burst, rupture and die.” There has been a silver lining for some farmers here. “The warmer and wetter conditions… should generally be viewed as positive by row-crop farmers. And on my farm, at least, yields over the last few years have been above our long-term trend,” says Butz, an owner of Windridge Vineyards, a diversified family farm that also grows row crops such as corn and soybeans. At the same time, drought looms as a leading threat to the Ag Reserve as well as the county at large, according to the county’s Climate Action Plan released last year. “Are we ever going to have

Western-style massive droughts? Probably not,” says Kelly Halimeda Kilbourne, an associate research professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “The issue here is...agricultural drought, where you have two or three weeks with reduced or little rain, and that can cause serious problems for agriculture.” Butz first planted grapes on his farm 11 years ago “to try to prepare for and adapt to climate change,” amid predictions of “warmer but drier”conditions. He adds: “Responding and adapting to climate change is something we take seriously... and give a lot of thought to. ...Our farm’s approach has been to diversify our crops to hedge against an unknown climate future.” —Louis Peck

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Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) document utilizing rainfall data that has not been updated in more than 20 years. Rainfall data for the region including Maryland is now being redone, with completion of the project about three years away, according to Musico and Kilbourne. In Ellicott City in Howard County— barely 20 miles north of the Montgomery County border—6.6 inches of rain fell in a three-hour period on July 30, 2016, according to NOAA. The rainfall earned that event the rating of a 1,000-year storm, meaning that there was a one-tenth of 1% chance of it happening in a given year. But an identical event occurred in exactly the same location less than two years later, on May 27, 2018, when 6.56 inches of rain fell, also within a three-hour period, according to NOAA. “The basic nomenclature of the 1,000-year storm is really based on a mid-20th century understanding of climate being stable,” Kilbourne says. “[That] doesn’t exist anymore.”

Total homes in Montgomery County

404,057

legislative deadline for half of its electricity to be generated by renewable sources, refrigerants used by air conditioners also contribute to global warming. Heat pumps are an emerging alternative County homes that can transfer heat to the outdoors during hot weather, but the average cost of retrofitin, or within 500 ting homes with a variety of systems to reduce feet of, FEMA carbon emissions (pegged at about $70,000 floodplain* per household by Rewiring America, a nonprofit group that advocates such efforts) highlights what the Climate Action Plan terms the “climate gap.” It notes that residents of color are more likely to be “disproportionately affected by climate change, yet have the least Percent of resources and less ability to cope with and total homes respond and adapt to its impacts.” “Extreme heat is even more severe for populations living in substandard housing that may not have air conditioning. …More*DESIGNATED BY FEMA AS ANY LAND AREA SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING INUNDATED BY over, unless cooling retrofits are made finanFLOODWATERS FROM ANY SOURCE. cially accessible, low-income residents will SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY CLIMATE be faced with the wrenching choice between ACTION PLAN, PUBLISHED 2021 running the air conditioners or dealing with THE CHANGES IN THE environment that are producing more— the intense heat to save money,” the plan adds. and more violent—precipitation here will also shift average Though the county aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emistemperatures upward and produce more days of scorching sions by 2035, young activists expect to see the impacts conheat, according to experts and data. tinue to worsen in their lifetime. “The most significant changes from today’s climate condiHasham Khan, a 17-year-old senior at Watkins Mill High tions…appear to be related to extreme heat,” states the Climate School in Gaithersburg, immigrated to Montgomery County Action Plan. The county’s utilities, homes and people will have from Pakistan with his parents when he was 5. He has particithe greatest exposure and sensitivity to these shifts, according to pated in several demonstrations pressing for action on climate the plan. For instance, power substations are very vulnerable to change. One of his top priorities is “an emphasis on closing the heat, which can stress electric infrastructure and cause outages. poverty gap, because climate change will only widen it more. But it’s the impact on homes and people that underscores Resource wars will become the common thing.” the inequity in climate change, according to the plan. Factors He adds, “In Montgomery County, we’re…more develexacerbating the impact include “heat islands” which contain oped than India and Pakistan. But we still have to know that dense populations, lots of impermeable surfaces and little tree resources drying up means that poorer people will be left to shade, “high-exposure occupations” such as construction and scramble for what’s left, while the richer off can make do with landscaping, and reliance on “high-exposure modes of trans- what they have.” portation” like transit and walking. Khan worries about whether the political will exists, at home “Montgomery County is going to see higher temperatures and abroad, to avoid what he fears will become a “huge humanin both winter and summer, and it’s going to come with a itarian disaster” during his adult years. whole bunch of adaptations that are necessary to maintain a high quality of life,” says Andrew Elmore, professor of land- MATT FITZPATRICK, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR for research at scape ecology at UMCES’ Appalachian Laboratory in Frost- UMCES’ Appalachian Laboratory, has designed an online tool burg, Maryland. He also has this warning: “You’re going to see that allows users to determine which areas of the country will more people dying of high heat in some parts of urban areas.” most resemble the temperature of their current home location Among the adaptations is greater access to and the use of in 2080. The results for the Washington, D.C., area: Summers air conditioning—which brings with it another set of issues nearly six decades from now could feature temperatures similar related to social equity and the environment. to current-day Greenwood, Mississippi—less than 300 miles Much of today’s air conditioning is powered by electricity north of New Orleans—where the typical summer is now 6.4 generated by fossil fuel-burning plants that contribute to green- degrees warmer than D.C. house gas emissions. Even as Maryland strives to meet a 2030 That calculation assumes that efforts to significantly reduce

38,491 9.5%

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danger ahead

THE HEAT IS ON

Montgomery County greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury will officials have forecasted beginning to address. fall short. According to data in the Climate the increase in 95-plus “According to stakeholders, the county is Action Plan, the county’s historical climate degree days based on barely meeting investment needs for mainbaseline (a period from 1950 to 2005) has indi- two models: RCP 4.5 taining existing infrastructure, let alone future risks,” the Office of Legislative Oversight cated about four days a year in which the local (big cuts to greenhouse gas emissions) and RCP declares in an April 2021 report. “There is a temperature tops 95 degrees. 8.5 (high emissions). By 2100, the number of such days is callack of climate data available, and available data RCP 4.5 days above 95ºF is siloed in county departments (often offline). culated to jump to at least 28 annually, even RCP 8.5 days above 95ºF Stakeholders also report a lack of expertise under a best-case scenario for controlling among county staff to understand the extent greenhouse gas emissions, according to the BASELINE (1950-2005) of climate risks and adaptation strategies necplan. That projection assumes a leveling off 4 of greenhouse gas emissions after 2050 under essary to protect critical infrastructure.” what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Hochberg, who is also serving as acting 2035 (RCP 8.5 projection is identical) Change has dubbed RCP (Representative Condirector of the Department of Environmencentration Pathway) 4.5. The worst case, RCP tal Protection, says county government is in 12 8.5—the so-called “business as usual scethe “initial stages” of centralizing climate data and determining what additional data ought nario”—would yield 60 days annually of 95 2050 degrees or higher by 2100. to be collected. “It’s important to point out that the increase At the same time, in the wake of last Sepin 95-degree days doesn’t even factor in the tember’s Twinbrook flood, the county estab16 + 3 impact of humidity,” Hochberg says. “Another lished an interdepartmental task force to aspect [is that] in the nighttime in summer— examine “where is flooding happening, where 2100 and we’ve already started to experience this— is it likely to happen in the future, and how do temperatures are not going to be cooling down. we keep people and property safe from it,” she Everybody needs that for public health, and says. “We know that these flooding events we’re not going to be getting that.” are going to continue, and that they’re going Even if the county achieves its goals of reducto get exacerbated as we move forward. And ing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2027 and we need to move from a reactive stance to a 100% by 2035 (it was only 19% of the way there proactive stance.” as of 2018, the last year for which figures are As Goldwyn succinctly put it while speakavailable), the specter of two months of 95-plus ing to the Chevy Chase View Council last 28 + 32 degree days locally will continue to loom if simi- SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY summer: “Essentially, the gray infrastructure CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, PUBLISHED 2021 lar reductions are not achieved worldwide. is undersized and the green infrastructure is To achieve RCP 4.5 “globally, you’re saying underutilized.” everybody is coming into line, so that by the middle of the cen“Gray infrastructure” is a reference to the network of stormtury, emissions will have peaked and we’ll be going on a down- water pipes, drains and inlets that development in the county ward trajectory,” Hochberg says. But, she adds: “We’re not on that has outgrown; “green infrastructure” refers to so-called “envipath right now. We’re very much on the 8.5 RCP path.” ronmental site design” that allows greater absorption of rainfall before water migrates and contributes to flooding in other AS IT GRAPPLES WITH how to remain on a trajectory to poten- locations. Such measures have run into political resistance in tially head off the heat, the county also faces a major financial some neighborhoods over concerns about possible restrictions and political challenge that exists right now: how to allevi- on uses of private properties and adjacent streets. “It is going to be a very significantly expensive project to ate the impact of the increasing instances of severe flooding brought on by intense storms, for which extreme heat will only upgrade our stormwater management system, with a lot of provide additional fuel. complexities in permitting that are going to take years for us “The stormwater management system has limited adaptive to sort through,” says County Council President Gabe Alborcapacity, particularly as storms become more intense in the noz, whose Kensington residence is located near the site of the future, and the existing system is underdesigned,” the Climate September 2020 flooding. Action Plan concedes. During the generation since much of the He adds ruefully, “In the meantime, local neighborhoods are system was built, the county’s growth has resulted in the con- experiencing really life-altering kinds of incidents.” n struction of larger homes and an increase in impervious surfaces, from which water runs off rather than being absorbed. Louis Peck has written about politics as well as environmenIt’s a challenge that the county government, along with other tal issues over a five-decade career as a journalist. He can be state and regional agencies with jurisdiction in the area, is only reached at lou.peck@bethesdamagazine.com. 164

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‘ Nothing

Else

A devastating accident nearly cost Grant Bonavia his life. But it only proved the strength of his bonds.

Matters’ I BY MIKE UNGER | PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

t’s odd, the things Grant Bonavia remembers. One is the stoplight. As he lay on his back on the pavement in the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Saul Road in Kensington, he watched it dangle above him. He doesn’t remember feeling any pain, even though the bone from his fractured right femur had pushed through the back of his thigh, his pelvis was shattered in several places, and he was bleeding profusely. But he remembers the yellow traffic light. Moments earlier he had been waiting to walk his bike across Connecticut before completing the ride to his home on Saul less than three blocks away. It was Oct. 23, 2019, a sunny and warm fall day. “A Wednesday,” he says. “5:40 p.m.” More than two years later, Bonavia is sitting at his dining room table with his wife, Mattie, recounting the worst day of his life. He doesn’t talk about the accident much anymore; doing so brings back a smattering of difficult memories and feelings. “The first thing that was out of the ordinary was the pickup truck,” he says. “A Ford F-150, blue, I think it had gray trim on it. It’s coming south on Connecticut, and he turns into the left turn lane. I’m watching him, and I notice he’s not stopping. I just thought to myself

Grant Bonavia in his home during a workout in March

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PHOTO CREDIT TK

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something bad is going to happen here.” through the whole thing.” He was right. As the truck tried to His voice cracks, and he takes a moment to compose himself. turn left on a green light onto Saul, it “The upside of what I went through was struck by two cars traveling north on Connecticut. (According to the police is realizing nothing else matters except report, the drivers of the cars stated they your family and how much you apprewere traveling in excess of 50 mph in a ciate the people around you,” he says. “I 35-mph zone. Both were cited for multialways try to think about that feeling as ple traffic infractions.) The impact of the a little gift.” crash sent the truck into Bonavia, who was standing on the sidewalk. BONAVIA WAS RAISED IN Groton, a small “It was almost like the wind coming at town in upstate New York. His mother me,” he says of the split second before the was a biology teacher, and his father is an truck’s front left quarter panel hit him. electrical engineer. They instilled a love “That’s the best way I can describe it.” of science in him, and one day in high It’s been a long and arduous road school he went on a field trip to a local hospital. back to normality for the 51-year-old “They took us in to see the radiolofather of three. The journey has been gist,” Bonavia recalls. “I see the guy sitfilled with pain, but also with plenty of ting there, and he’s looking at CT scans. love. Love from his family, of course, but also from his friends, I thought, wow, he’s not his fellow parishioners at confined to one type Holy Redeemer Cathoof di s e a s e. He lo ok s lic Church, and his colat oncology cases, ER leagues at Walter Reed cases, any type of medicine they do in the hospiNational Military Medital. I thought that would cal Center in Bethesda, where he’s a radiologist. be cool.” After graduating Although he drifted in from the College of the and out of consciousness while strangers tended to Holy Cross in Worceshim, there’s another thing t e r, M a s s a c h u s e t t s , B o n av i a r e m e m b e r s Bonavia earned a Ph.D. before EMTs arrived and in inorganic chemistry took him to the hospital. from Syracuse Univer“ When I was lying sity. That’s where he met Mattie, a fellow graduate in the intersection, you lose all concern about all student. the stuff you’re thinking “I noticed that he was really a deep thinker. I about at the time that’s liked how smart he was,” always in the back of says Mattie, a business your mind: work, worrying about finances, the professor at the Univercar, the house,” he says. “I sity of Maryland. “And of remember all that stuff course, he was hot. A lot of my girlfriends had said just melting away. None that he liked me. I needed of that mattered. Your a date for a wedding, and family, your loved ones, so I took him. He told you’re like: Why did I me at the wedding that ever worry about any he liked me.” of this other crap? That Three years later they was probably the most intense feeling that I had The Bonavia family gathered in December 2019 for Grant’s first outing after the crash. were married. The cou-

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTIE BONAVIA

“ The upside of what I went through is realizing nothing else matters except your family and how much you appreciate the people around you,” Grant Bonavia says.

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Bonavia on a run in March with his daughters, from left: Nicholette, Genevieve and Alexandra Bonavia

ple has three daughters: Alexandra, 22, Genevieve, 19, and Nicholette, 16. An avid runner, Grant got the girls into running, and he still coaches track at Holy Redeemer Catholic School, which is just around the corner from their house. Bonavia got his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Walter Reed and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before returning to Walter Reed, where he’s been a military physician ever since. He’s a commander in the U.S. Navy. Before the accident, Bonavia rode his bike to work almost every day. The trip from his house to Walter Reed took him about 15 minutes. For safety reasons, Bonavia rode on the sidewalk instead of the street. “I see people riding their bikes in the street all the time,” he says. “I never could understand how people felt confident enough to do that.” On Oct. 23, 2019, Bonavia rode into work on an L.L. Bean mountain bike that

Mattie had given him. In the evening, he stopped in Rock Creek Park to use exercise stations on which he did pullups and pushups. It was an occasional detour that required him to cross Connecticut Avenue, which wasn’t necessary when he went straight home. “The week before, Mattie had seen me coming from the east side of Saul Road,” he says. “She said, ‘Where are you coming from?’ I told her I was in the park doing pullups and pushups, and she gets mad at me. She said, ‘I don’t like you on Connecticut.’ One week before. Seven days. No lie.” “I gave him hell for even being at that intersection because I don’t trust it,” Mattie says. Traffic on Connecticut Avenue has been a concern of Mattie’s—and many other local residents—for a long time. A Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) study released in February found that from 2014 to 2018, 566 crashes were reported on Connecticut between the D.C. line and Univer-

sity Boulevard in Kensington. Ninety of those were severe, disabling or fatal, and 11 involved a person walking or biking. (Those statistics do not include Bonavia’s accident or a fatal one in 2021 at the same intersection involving a pickup and an SUV.) According to Montgomery County Police Department records, there were 19 documented accidents at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Saul Road between April 27, 2017, and Nov. 21, 2021. Although there are dedicated turn lanes onto Saul, there are no turn arrows on the stoplights. Motorists must yield to oncoming traffic that’s often speeding. Bonavia knew the dangers of Connecticut’s intersection with Saul Road firsthand. Almost a year before his accident he witnessed a serious crash there and tried to help one of the victims. “The young girl was in a Volvo, slumped over on the passenger seat,” he says. “We were talking to her, and she’s not responding at all. So we just kind of sat there with her until the emergency

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team arrived. They cut her out, and I watched as they put her on a stretcher. She never really gained any consciousness at the time.” Similarly, onlo okers r ushe d to Bonavia’s aid after he was hit and initially pinned against a utility pole. Miraculously, several were doctors, including vascular surgeon Frederick Beavers. “It was clear that he was hurt. He was crying out in agony,” Beavers recalls. “His leg was pretty mangled, but he was awake and talking. He had a helmet on, thank goodness. He was bleeding from the leg where he suffered the compound fracture. He lost consciousness for a bit, so we put a tourniquet on. I think somebody volunteered their belt.” Mattie was cooking dinner at home when she heard sirens. “I didn’t give it much thought,” she says. “Then the phone rang and they said, ‘Is Marjorie there?’ Nobody calls me by that name. Everybody calls me Mattie. I thought, ‘Oh, they’re selling something.’ ” She hung up, but it rang again. Again, the woman on the other end asked for Marjorie. Again, Mattie hung up. “The third phone call came in and she said, ‘Is this Grant’s wife? Your husband is down at the corner of Saul Road and Connecticut.’ ” Panicked, Mattie threw on Nicholette’s shoes and drove down the street with her. She describes the scene they encountered as a “war zone,” so she left her daughter in the car. Emergency personnel were everywhere, and Bonavia was conscious. “I remember looking up at the lights on the ceiling of the ambulance,” he says. “I think it was a woman and a man who were talking over me. I remember being really scared because I thought it was possibly fatal. I thought any minute now…this could be the end. They were saying, ‘You’re going to be fine,’ and I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s what you say to everybody.’ ” AT SUBURBAN HOSPITAL, BONAVIA was

awake while he received close to 20 units of blood and platelets.

“ I thought any minute now… this could be the end. They were saying ‘You’re going to be fine,’ and I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s what you say to everybody,’” Bonavia says. “They were giving me lots of blood, and I wasn’t holding my pressure,” he says. “I was watching the pressure monitor and I could see the numbers, and they weren’t good. I could tell from the way they were talking and what they were doing and how my pressure wasn’t coming back up; I remember thinking, ‘This is not looking good.’ If they can’t get your pressure back up, they can’t take you to surgery. And if they can’t take you to surgery, they can’t stop the bleeding.” About two hours later, doctors clotted the bleeding in his pelvis and stabilized some of his broken bones. It was the first of 12 surgeries he would undergo over 12 months. About 2:30 a.m.—roughly nine hours after the accident—Mattie went in to see him. “He was so swollen that he looked pregnant,” she says. “I had never seen someone like that. I thought, ‘That’s not my husband laying there.’ ” Over the course of the next week, as Bonavia’s physical state stabilized, his mental state began to waver. He became paranoid and started hallucinating. Both were likely side effects of the powerful painkillers he was getting. “I remember thinking, ‘They’re never going to let me out of here. I’m going to be here for the rest of my life,’ ” he says.

On Halloween, he was transferred to Walter Reed, where colleague Dr. Melvin Helgeson operated on him. “He had a bad pelvis injury—it was in poor alignment after it had initially been stabilized at Suburban,” Helgeson says. “I put screws and rods into the spine to help align the top of the pelvis with the spine and correct the alignment. From an orthopedic trauma perspective, it was a significant injury that did require critical care to be able to manage it.” While Bonavia was still hospitalized in November, his community mobilized. Three women from Holy Redeemer hosted a blood drive with the Red Cross. “We have a really tight community, and when the accident happened, people were kind of at a loss for what to do,” says Elizabeth Rembold, one of the trio. “Mattie was the one that suggested that there was a high need for blood. People felt, whether they knew Grant or not, that it was a way to help.” Ann Turgeon, another organizer, says so many people signed up for appointments to give blood that walk-ins had to be turned away. “Grant runs the cross-country and track program at our parish school. Anyone’s welcome,” she says. “Mattie ran the cheer program. They’ve touched so many lives, but it’s always done in a really quiet, humble way. So I think that when they’re in need, everyone would do anything for them. That’s the type of people they are.” David Hull, a spokesperson for American Red Cross Blood Services, told Bethesda Beat that donors gave 138 units of blood—enough to help about 377 patients. A week earlier, the District 18 state legislative delegation hosted a meeting at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington that focused on improving traffic safety in the immediate area of the crash. More than 100 people, including state and county transportation officials, attended. “I think people were galvanized because we have been asking the state to help with issues in this corridor for so long,” says Jana Coe, town manager of

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Bonavia coaches track at Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington. During his recovery, the parish hosted a blood drive.

Chevy Chase View, where the Bonavias live. At the meeting, the girl Bonavia tried to help a year earlier spoke about her own accident at the intersection of Connecticut and Saul. Stella Biles was 15 when she was in the passenger seat of the Volvo her father was driving as it was involved in a collision with a Camaro. She was in a coma for a few days and in a wheelchair for three months. “I had to relearn how to walk and talk and eat and do basic functions,” says Biles, now 19 and a student at Montgomery College. “I lost a lot of my athletic abilities, and other performance abilities, like music, really went down. I had to really work to get my voice back for singing, and my fine motor skills weren’t good for guitar anymore. I was on the field hockey team at my school, and I didn’t perform as well at all.” Biles says it took her about two years to recover. AFTER BONAVIA WAS RELEASED from

Walter Reed on Nov. 25, he moved into Building 62 on the campus and began physical therapy. Many of his fellow

patients were service members wounded in battle. “I was surrounded by people with amputations, people who had been injured by IED blasts,” he says. “One guy who was a friend was riding his motorcycle and got hit by a truck and had his right leg amputated. I saw a guy with no arms. So I felt fortunate.” Bonavia’s rehab was often grueling. Therapists would inflate a blood pressure cuff around his leg and have him do squats. His middle daughter, Genevieve, occasionally joined him during his sessions. She sometimes sat and watched, but mostly she kept him company as he moved from station to station. “I was curious as to how each small activity would build him up to walking again,” she says. “When I first rolled him over in his wheelchair from the rehabilitation building, I questioned how these exercises would ever get him running again. [But] the atmosphere was amazing. I was able to see regularly how [physical therapists] kept [patients’] strength up and built onto it further.” Genevieve is now a freshman at Marquette University in Milwaukee, where

she is majoring in physical therapy. Watching her father during those sessions is a major reason she has chosen that career path. “I knew that I wanted to be a person that helped give people their independence back, like the physical therapists my dad worked with,” she says. Bonavia came home on Dec. 7, 2019. A month later he stood up from his wheelchair for the first time. “You forget how tall you are,” he says. “I stood up and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m tall!’ And I’m 5-11—I’m not that tall.” Progress was slow. After standing, Bonavia began to walk with the use of crutches. After shedding them, he used two canes. Then one. After walking, he began to jog. After jogging, he began to run. “At each benchmark, when he had to make a transition, there was fear,” Mattie says. “And this dose of fear is something he had to wrestle with because he had never experienced that in his entire life. It took us to some really dark places as a family, as a couple, and I know for Grant it was not a place that he’d ever been. It was scary.”

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Grant Bonavia at home in March with (from left) daughters Alexandra, Nicholette and Genevieve and his wife, Mattie

The transformation from wheelchair reliance to a version of what he once was took about six months. “It was difficult more often than not,” he says. “I went from being a person who could run a 20:20 5K to having somebody push me in a wheelchair. Which teaches you humility. It was a learning lesson for me, but I wasn’t always graceful at it.” Bonavia says he has no lingering emotional pain these days, just tightness and discomfort in some parts of his body. “But I always know it’s there.” “[He had] a severe injury to his pelvis, to his bilateral lower extremities,” Helgeson says. “Most people do not get back to full function. I’m surprised he’s back to running and being able to do what he does. It’s great to see.” Meanwhile, after years of lobbying by residents for changes to the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Saul Road, the county and state have taken action. In early 2020, the county tweaked the timing of the lights on Saul Road and increased the time pedestrians have to cross Connecticut Avenue. In January, a speed camera was installed on northbound Connecticut Avenue, near Dresden Street, three blocks north of Saul Road. There’s been one in the same area on southbound Connecticut for years. “We have been advocating for many

years for a northbound camera because we know people come off the Beltway and it’s like the open road,” Coe says. “You would not in a million years know that on Saul Road there is a dense residential area.” Perhaps most importantly, more change is coming to the site of the crash that almost took Bonavia’s life. “Our traffic engineers have noticed challenges with left turns along MD 185 [Connecticut Avenue],” MDOT spokesperson Shanteé Felix wrote in an email.

“ I was riding by people’s houses. It wasn’t a big deal to them, but I felt like it was a big deal to me,” Bonavia says.

“We are in the process of designing a reconstructed traffic signal system that will include dedicated left turn arrows from MD 185 onto Saul Road to improve operations and safety for left turning vehicles. Design activities will continue in the spring, with construction starting in early summer.” Bonavia, who started working again in March 2020, still commutes by bike sometimes. He vividly remembers the first time he went for a ride after the accident. His cycling partner through his neighborhood on that cool spring day was his daughter. “I was riding by people’s houses. It wasn’t a big deal to them, but I felt like it was a big deal to me,” he says. “I was waving at people. I remember riding by one guy in particular who did a double take. He hadn’t seen me in a while.” Every now and then, Bonavia still stops in Rock Creek Park to work out. Much to the chagrin of his wife, he still pedals up Saul Road and waits to cross Connecticut Avenue on his way home. Only these days, after he pushes the pedestrian button, he takes several steps back from the road. n Mike Unger is a writer and editor who grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.

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George Pelecanos at home in Silver Spring

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HIRES REQUESTED (4) FROM JT, 3/25

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A CONVERSATION WITH

GEORGE PELECANOS

The Silver Spring novelist and TV producer talks about writing, police and the Baltimore-set HBO series We Own This City BY STEVE ROBERTS

AT AGE 11, GEORGE PELECANOS went to work, taking the bus from his home in Silver Spring to his father’s diner in downtown Washington, on 19th Street near M. “I worked with my dad my whole teen years,” he tells me. “There’s just an incredible experience to work with your father and see what he does and what a man is supposed to do when he grows up, by example.” Pelecanos’ grandfather had also run a diner on 14th Street and “all of us Greeks kind of grew up around the business,” he notes. But the young man departed from the family tradition. His job as a kid was to deliver orders to the surrounding office buildings, and he recalls: “I was on foot a lot of the day, and I had a real huge imagination. I would make up stories as I was delivering food, just to pass the time. My dad [a combat veteran of World War II who died in 2009] called me the dreamer, but he always said it with a twinkle in his eye, like affectionately.” The dreamer became a writer, a teller of tales not a maker of meals. But it took awhile. First came Northwood High, the University of Maryland and a variety of odd jobs, including one at a shoe store in Montgomery Mall, where he met his wife, Emily, a Bethesda native. Pelecanos was 35 when he published his first novel, A Firing Offense, in 1992. It happens to feature a Greek American, Nick Stefanos, who happens to run an electronics store—another of Pelecanos’ many temporary gigs. Nineteen more novels followed, nearly one a year, all set in the Washington, D.C., area, all focused on the characters, cops and criminals who inhabit local neighborhoods. “The cliché is that Washington is a transient town of people who blow in and out every four years with the new administration,” Pelecanos once explained.

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interview

When you were 11, the 1968 riots that ravaged Washington had a big impact on you. That summer was when I started working for my father, and I took the bus down Georgia Avenue and people looked different than they had before. I’m talking about Black Washingtonians, workingclass Washingtonians. They were standing tall is the best way I can describe it. Something had changed, and on some level it was hitting me. I always wanted to write a book about the riots, but I waited 12 books before I wrote it, because I didn’t think I was good enough. But at some point I said, OK, I’m ready now to take this on [Hard Revolution was published in 2004]. Your interest in writing was sharpened at Maryland by a course in crime novels taught by Charles Mish, a legendary English professor. I took this class as an elective. It just looked easy. It said: Read paperback nov-

els and discuss ’em, so I did it. I wasn’t much of a reader. I was like a movie freak; that’s what I thought I really wanted to do, and he turned me on to books. I wanted to tell stories, and I thought, well, maybe this is something I could do. And it meant a lot to have a guy like that tell me that it’s OK to like these kinds of books. Why did it take you so long to write your first novel? My mission, when I graduated from college, was to read voraciously for a number of years and just figure out how this is done. So that’s what I did. I just read a couple of novels a week for years and years while I was bartending, doing things like that. And it was almost 10 years before I thought: OK, I’m ready to try this. I wrote a novel in longhand in notebooks, and I rewrote it the same way. And I sent it up to New York and forgot about it. I only sent it to one publisher, and they got back to me a year later and said, ‘We want to publish it.’ That’s what happened. You had married your wife, Emily, in 1985, and you decided to adopt children. Your sons are both Black, both from Brazil, and your daughter is from Guatemala. Tell me about that decision. The process is kind of weird, you know. You go into a room and they say, ‘Well, what kind of kid do you want?’ And I said, ‘What do you mean? Like what color?’ And they go, ‘Well, yeah.’ I was a little dumbfounded, but my wife said, ‘We want whoever needs to be adopted.’ And so pretty soon after that they called us and said, ‘There’s a baby; he’s on a plane right now. Are you interested?’ The next day we were in the lawyer’s office, and they put my son Nick in my arms, my oldest son. It was like magic. When they put him in my arms, I was his father. And then we just kept going with Peter, my other son. We thought it would be nice if they were both from the same place,

so they could lean on each other. Then Brazil shut down [intercountry adoptions], so we went to Guatemala and we got Rosa. They were all babies when we adopted them. You’ve said that having a mixed-race family helped shape your decision to settle in Silver Spring, one of the most diverse places in America. I didn’t want to be somewhere where they were growing up around kids who didn't look like them. This is real. This is truly a mixed neighborhood, not just racially and ethnically, but also economically. So, yeah, that’s been good. I don’t think we’re going to leave here. But it was challenging at times. The policing in this part of the county is different than it is in Bethesda. Over there, you don’t see a lot of kids sitting on the curb at 2 in the morning, pulled out of their cars, but it’s routinely done here. It’s happened many times where one of my sons would be out in the driveway and police would pull up and say, ‘What are you doing here?’ Think

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

“But the reality is that people have lived in Washington for generations, and their lives are worth examining.” The dreamer’s real passion had always been movies, however, and his break came when he was asked to write an episode for The Wire, the critically acclaimed series about Baltimore’s underworld that ran on HBO for five seasons starting in 2002. That led to other assignments on other series—Treme, about post-Katrina New Orleans, The Deuce, set in New York’s porn industry— and he evolved from writer to producer to showrunner. His latest effort, We Own This City, a six-part miniseries that was to debut on HBO in late April, centers on a unit of corrupt cops in Baltimore. Yet Pelecanos never went Hollywood. At 65, he still lives on a modest street just east of downtown Silver Spring, 2 miles from where he grew up. We talked over Zoom one sunny morning in February. Our conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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GEORGE PELECANOS Born: Feb. 18, 1957, in Washington, D.C.

Lives in: Silver Spring Education: Northwood High School and University of Maryland

Career: Dishwasher, shoe salesman, bartender, line cook, novelist, TV writer, producer and showrunner Bibliography: 20

novels, most recently The Man Who Came Uptown in 2018

Filmography: Writer/producer on

The Wire; executive producer on Treme, The Deuce; showrunner on We Own This City

Family: Married to Emily Pelecanos; three children: Nick, Peter and Rosa

of what that does to your psyche or how you think about the police. I’m no different than any parent, worrying about your kid when they’re out. But when your kids are Black, there’s that extra added worry: Is something going to happen to them with law enforcement? Talk about why you set so many of your books in this area. Most Washington novels are about politics or the Pentagon and all that. I saw a way to shine a light on people who are not usually represented in books, people who go to work every day and don’t get much glory or anything like that; they’re not famous. That’s the reason I got hired on The Wire, because David Simon [a former crime reporter who created the show] read one of my books and he said to himself, this guy’s doing what I’m doing. That’s how I started in television. Why did you take this turn into production and film writing? I had always wanted to do it, but I got so

into my novel writing career that I put aside that sort of ambition. But being a novelist can go away. You can have a contract that’s too big and you don’t earn back the advance, and all of a sudden you can’t get published anymore. And I was in my 40s, I had little kids, and I wanted to know how to do something else. So I did. I went to work for Simon the first season. I wrote an episode that got a lot of attention, and he asked me back to come on staff. I wanted to learn how to produce, so I was on set every day. I became a producer, and then I started showrunning, and I’ve been doing that for over 20 years. I haven’t written a book in about three years, but the idea is that I’ll get back to writing novels when I age out of this, which is coming. It’s coming. Laura Lippman, the noted Baltimore crime writer, is married to David Simon, and she was the one who connected the two of you. We were at a funeral for a mutual friend, and David says, ‘Ride back with me to

the shiva [a traditional Jewish mourning ritual].’ On the way over there, he said: I got this show; I just sold it to HBO; it’s about police and drug dealers and all that. Do you want to write an episode? Yeah, I’ll do it. He didn’t say: It’s going to be the greatest show on television, or anything like that. That happened once I got into the writers’ room and I saw what we were doing and it got very exciting at that point. Because we all saw the potential of it. It was a great experience. But also a humbling one. Novelists are used to having complete control over their work. Script writers have to accept that films are a group enterprise, and you didn’t like what they did to your first effort. I called David and I said, ‘What happened, man?’ And he said: Well, you got about 30% of what you wrote in there; that’s pretty good for a script. But it put a chip on my shoulder in a way because I wanted to write the whole script myself and get that shot. And by season three I

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interview the opposite. I think police should have more money to do a better job. And there should certainly be more police hired. But there should be higher standards to be a police officer, and the salaries should go up. We don’t hire teachers that aren’t educated, or medical professionals. It’s an important job. People in the neighborhoods want more of a police presence. They want to be safe. What they don’t want is to be stopped while they’re driving home because they have braids or they’re wearing a hoodie or when they’re sitting on the stoop of their own house. They don’t want those things.

had a script that got nominated for an Emmy, and I would say 95% of it was completely me. I’d sort of figured it out. How did you make the transition from the solitary work of a novelist to working on a team for television? There’s a lot of argument in the writers’ room. All the writers have egos, as they should. When I’m in a room with David Simon and these other great writers, I wanted to kick their ass, you know. I wanted to write the best script of the season, and they felt the same way about me, and that’s a healthy thing. But if you’re going to do this, you have to let go as a writer. Meaning no matter what you write, even if the script is all yours, it’s going to mutate by the time it gets to the screen. There are all these people that have a role—the actors, the director, the costumes might not be what you had in mind, the cars, everything. Which is why I wanted to be a showrunner eventually, so I could control everything and have the same kind of control that I had over a novel, although that’s never going to be possible. Do you see a theme running through your novels and your TV work? Yes, they’re all about American cities and people trying to make it under oppressive systems. Even if it’s not conscious, you tend to be drawn to the 178

same kinds of stories all the time. Anytime we get into something, when I’m working with David, we ask each other: What’s this about? What are we trying to say here? And that’s how we choose things. The Deuce wasn’t about pornography; it was about women trying to make it in a man’s world basically. We Own This City is not really about dirty cops; it’s about police in America. Talk about your new series, We Own This City, and what drew you to the story. The opportunity to examine police, to use Baltimore as a microcosm for policing in America, which is obviously at a crossroads. We raise a lot of questions and maybe have some answers. The thing about the cops in this story is that the system actually worked: They were caught, they were charged, they were convicted and they’re doing time in federal prison. But there are still a great many problems there, as there are in any city. What do you want viewers to take away from the series? First of all, that things have to change. The idea of constitutional policing and public safety are not mutually exclusive. You can have both if you work at it. By the way, the writers on this show, we all have different opinions, but none of us are for defunding the police. In fact, it’s

Did you talk to your own sons about the script? They work with me. Peter is in the art department and Nick is an assistant director. And so, he was on set every day, he read the scripts and we talked about it all the time. There was one scene that I wrote that was directly out of our lives. And I went to Nick, and I asked him permission to write it. There’s a Justice Department official in this show, and the backstory I gave her is that her father was a federal judge and she went to law school and she grew up in Bethesda, a Black family. And she talks about her brother—he’s a craftsman, but he wore jeans and a hoodie to work every day. And he had braids and all that stuff. So he got followed home by the police, and they made him get out of his car in the driveway of his parents’ house. Police said he made a threatening move towards

PHOTOS BY PAUL SCHIRALDI/HBO

George Pelecanos (right) and son Nick Pelecanos on the set of We Own This City. The hand gesture is personal to them, meaning they’re united for life.

Do your Black sons give you a special sensitivity to how people of color view the cops? Yes. I mean, it’s personal to me, and that’s why I got involved in the show. We give voice to the police. We let them have their say, too. There are several really good scenes of police talking about why they’re not appreciated for doing a very dangerous job. On the other hand, we show the lives of people who are impacted by their actions, who were robbed by these police, who had home invasions perpetrated against them. So, we tried to give a voice to everybody and let the viewer decide how they come away from it.

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From left: Actor Jon Bernthal, director Reinaldo Marcus Green and showrunner George Pelecanos on the set of We Own This City

them and they arrested him. Well, that happened to my son right out front of my house. And Montgomery County police arrested him. They said he made a threatening move. But we had witnesses. He didn't do anything. He was driving home and they followed him. And I guess they didn’t like the way he looked or something like that. The cop was belligerent, he pointed his finger at me, and he said: I’ll see you in court, because we had an argument out there. You went out and confronted the cop? I went outside, yeah. We had a conflict. And my son kept saying: Why are you all doing me like this? The cop didn’t show up in court; I knew he wasn’t going to. It was a bad arrest. [Presented with Pelecanos’ account, the Montgomery County Police Department did not respond to requests for comment from Bethesda Magazine.] But here’s the upshot of it:

My son had relationships with police before that, in the neighborhood, and they were pretty good. But he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the police anymore. And I wrote a scene that exactly replicates that event. I bring it up because, well, there was a woman on set who didn’t like it ’cause she’s from Bethesda. And I tried to explain to her that it wasn’t about Bethesda. It’s about a family, it’s about the police being unable to see a young guy who’s Black living in a nice house somewhere. That’s what it’s about. It’s not a negative portrayal of Bethesda; it’s a replication of an actual event that happened in Montgomery County. A lot of these people are powerless. That’s the whole idea behind it. In some of your books, you mention local hangouts. Do you still go to Vicino and Sergio’s in Silver Spring for Italian food?

Vicino is open and we use them quite a bit. But Sergio’s closed, which was so awful. That was a real sleeper restaurant and had great food. Where do you ride your bike? It’s mainly walking now, since the pandemic. Sometimes I’ll go to the valley trail in Rock Creek; that’s the most beautiful trail. It goes way up, and you’re looking down at the creek. It’s total immersion in the woods. And there’s no city like this. Don’t talk to me about Central Park. It’s not the woods. Rock Creek is such a beautiful thing to have in a city. Do you have another book in you? Yeah, definitely. I don’t know what it is yet, but it’ll come to me. n Steve Roberts teaches journalism and politics at George Washington University. His latest book is Cokie: A Life Well Lived.

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Ready to Ride

OUR GUIDE TO BIKE SHOPS IN THE BETHESDA AREA

BY JEFFREY YEATES

t’s a thought that might pop into your head on a beautiful day: “I’d like to go on a bike ride.” If the bicycle sitting in your garage or storage shed is a little rusty, with flat tires, maybe even some cobwebs, and you can’t remember the last time you rode it, you might be due for a new one. The World Economic Forum, citing statistics published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, reported in June 2021 that after essentially flat spending dating at least back to 2018, Americans—likely fueled by pandemic restrictions—spent $6.9 billion on bicycles and accessories in 2020, $800 million more than the year before. This number was expected to jump to $8.2 billion for 2021. For Montgomery County residents looking to buy a new bike, there are plenty of independent shops to choose from. We’re highlighting seven shops in the Bethesda area. Here’s what you should know before you walk through their doors and find yourself surrounded by shiny bicycles and accessories:

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PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

Bethesda’s Griffin Cycle is well-stocked with Trek bicycles.

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AMERICANS— LIKELY FUELED BY PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS— SPENT $6.9 BILLION ON BICYCLES AND ACCESSORIES IN 2020, $800 MILLION MORE THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

PICK YOUR PURPOSE. Every bike shop

employee we talked to agreed on some variation of the first question they ask a customer: What do you want to do with the bike? Be ready to describe as best you can where you want to ride, how often, how far and on what kind of surface— pavement, gravel, dirt or all three. To help customers determine the style of bicycle they need, Manny Madrid, co-owner of Bike Center LTD in Gaithersburg, asks: “Are you looking for a sports car, a fourwheel-drive truck or crossover SUV?” GET A GOOD FIT. Bicycle frames come in

sizes, generally based on your height. The shop can adjust the saddle height and handlebar distance and angle to dial in your comfort. Some shops offer a more comprehensive and expert bicycle fitting session, including 3D video recording, and will provide a discount on the service if you buy a bicycle from them. TRY IT. When you have some bike candi-

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dates, you can test them out. The store will lend you a helmet, and you can ride on nearby neighborhood streets and bike trails. Shops advise giving yourself enough time—at least 45 minutes—for working with a salesperson and going on test rides. EMBRACE WHAT’S AVAILABLE. Several

salespeople mentioned that it helps to be flexible. With continuing supply chain issues, some shops may struggle to get a specific color or model, so be willing to try other options. FIND THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOUR KIDS. Not

surprisingly, most kids choose their bike based on the color and graphics rather than how it feels. It’s wise to let bike shop experts select a few bikes for them to try and to make sure they are able to ride comfortably. Another option, particularly when shopping for kids, is to consider refurbished bikes, which you can buy at a few of the stores in our guide to bike shops in the Bethesda area.

PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

Nick Griffin, left, owner of Griffin Cycle, helps customers Judy and Lance Kilpatrick.

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THE BIKE SHOPS

Well placed in its location adjacent to the Capital Crescent Trail, Big Wheel Bikes’ Bethesda shop is one of four outlets for the Washington, D.C.-area retailer. They particularly highlight their service and repairs. Using refurbished parts, their mechanics often can make repairs at more affordable prices. Big Wheel Bikes offers a variety of brands, especially Fuji, and has started stocking electric bikes. Along with selling new bikes, Big Wheel buys and sells used ones and has a robust rental service. 6917 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 301-652-0192, bigwheelbikes.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASTYA MACK

After working for other bike shops for more than 20 years, Manny Madrid opened Bike Center LTD with his partners in Gaithersburg three years ago. Madrid emphasizes the shop’s commitment to serving the entire range of cyclists, from beginners to experienced riders and triathletes. Their selection reflects that commitment, offering a range of road, mountain, kids and commuter-style bicycles. Bike Center

LTD also offers a selection of custom-fit services for more experienced cyclists, including a video analysis as part of a comprehensive Full Bike Fitting package. 15930 Luanne Drive, Gaithersburg, 301-366-0927, bikecenterltd.com Just up the street from Big Wheel Bikes, you’ll find Griffin Cycle, a 50-year-old Bethesda institution run by Nick Griffin, whose father was the original owner. Griffin sells only Trek bicycles, including their line of electric bikes. What Griffin may lack in brand selection is covered in availability thanks to Trek being able to avoid some of the supply chain hiccups that smaller brands may face. On the day we visited, Griffin had nearly 500 new bicycles in stock—“a bike for just about anybody in any category,” says Griffin, adding that 79 more were arriving the next day, including a plentiful selection of kid-size bicycles. Griffin also offers 15 months of free tune-ups and adjustments with any bike purchase. 4933 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-6188, griffincycle.com

Silver Cycles’ Ivan Reimers makes modifications to a customer’s new bike at the downtown Silver Spring shop.

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ready to ride

After buying a Trek bike at Griffin Cycle, Sam duPont brings his purchase outside.

In downtown Silver Spring, you’ll find the appropriately named Silver Cycles, which is owned by Linda Mack. Tracey Foley, who is a manager at the Silver Spring location and a co-owner of the D.C. outpost with Mack and Mack’s daughter Lana, jokes that the shop’s name could also refer to her and Mack’s hair color after 18 years in the business. Silver Cycles is the only women-owned bike shop in the area, according to Foley. It features some unique brands, such as Surly, Breezer, All-City

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and SE, all of which attract the urban and commuter crowd. Foley touts Silver Cycles’ extensive service and repair operation as well as the business’ commitment to all kinds of riders, particularly families and kids. They sponsor a junior cyclocross race team, Rock Creek Velo. Silver Cycles’ website includes extensive how-to guides on choosing a bike and basic bicycle maintenance and repairs. 8307 Dixon Ave., Silver Spring, 301-585-1889, silvercycles.com Takoma Bicycle welcomes customers into a brightly colored space set inside a 100-year-old Craftsmanstyle bungalow home—look for bicycles hanging along the front porch during warm weather. Owner Bruce Sawtelle grew up in the bike shop business. If you bought a Schwinn bicycle in the ’80s in Maryland, there’s a good chance it was from one of his dad’s six area shops. Takoma Bicycle focuses on beginner and casual riders, especially kids. Inside, you’ll find a variety of bikes, including a good selection of the Giant brand’s Liv line, designed for female riders, as well as an impressive range of accessories. 7030 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, 301-270-0202, takomabicycle.com

PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

“Hello, fun” is electric bike company Pedego’s motto, and it’s hard not to have fun when you add a smooth electrical boost to your bicycle ride. After watching his 90-year-old father enjoy a Pedego electric bicycle, owner David Bondareff left his operations job in the food industry to open the Pedego Bethesda store, one of over 200 locations. Pedego offers 18 models ranging from comfortable cruisers to trail-ready mountain bikes. Bondareff says Pedego originally targeted the “boomer” generation, but with the pandemic, electric bikes have become popular for all generations. 4926 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, 240-800-3154, pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/bethesda

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN STRUMWASSER

Terrapin Bicycles is one of Bethesda’s newest shops, opened by former Fannie Mae accountant Kevin Strumwasser on Norfolk Avenue in early 2021; the shop moved to a new space on Auburn Avenue in April. Strumwasser describes Terrapin as “mechanic owned,” meaning that he and his staff know their bicycles inside and out. They carry a variety of brands, with a focus on Giant’s Liv line. The shop’s name comes from the Grateful Dead song “Terrapin Station,’’ but is perhaps also a signal to any Maryland resident that they will feel welcome here. The new space includes a beer and wine license so customers can enjoy a drink while shopping. 4933 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 443333-9879, terrapinbicycles.com n Born and raised in the D.C. area, Jeffrey Yeates works for the federal government. His last major bike ride was the 2021 Civil War Century ride, a 103-mile jaunt among historic battlefields and on Catoctin Mountain in Maryland.

At Terrapin Bicycles’ new store on Auburn Avenue in Bethesda, a variety of brands are for sale, including Giant’s Liv line, designed for female riders.

BECAUSE

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Supports Maryland Made Products Montgomery County is home to 25 amazing breweries, wineries and distilleries. Find their products in countless restaurants and beer & wine shops throughout the County. Shop #MarylandMade.

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/abs/marylandmade BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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Thanks to Bethesda Magazine Readers for Voting Us

BEST BROKERAGE FOR LUXURY HOMES 2022

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ROMAN MYCHAJLIW c 240.994.5067 | o 301.975.9500 Roman@LNF.com 2021 was a record breaking year for Roman and his team. Over $100 million in real estate was closed this past year. Over 500 properties have been sold in the past two years. They have worked incredibly hard to assist their clients with selling and purchasing homes in DC, Maryland and Virginia. With almost 20 years of experience, they put their clients needs first, which has attributed to their success. They are appreciative of all the continued business from their clients and look forward to another banner year in 2022!

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interior design. architecture. home sales.

COURTESY PHOTO

home

This Libations brass bar cart from Crate and Barrel is one way to be party-ready. For more, turn the page.

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home | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

SHAKE IT UP A perfect martini is a breeze with the elegant Harrison cocktail shaker. It holds 26 ounces, is 8¾ inches high and has a tight-fitting lid to prevent drips, and a tapered base for a good grip. Find it for $39.50 (monogramming is extra) at Pottery Barn in Bethesda (301-654-1598, potterybarn.com).

RAISE THE BAR

BRASS ACT

Once a staple of chic midcentury entertaining, bar carts are back and local stores have everything to outfit your party on wheels

The Libations brass bar cart is a statement piece that adds utility and sparkle to a living or dining room. It measures 33 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 32½ inches high and features a clear tempered glass shelf on top, an antique mirrored shelf below, leather-wrapped handles and rubber wheels. It retails for $699 at Crate and Barrel in D.C.’s Spring Valley neighborhood (202-364-6100, crateandbarrel.com).

BY CAROLYN WEBER

TROPICAL TWIST

COURTESY PHOTOS

Every drink looks like an exotic concoction when served in a fun tiki glass. Made of heavy lead-free crystal, the 14-ounce tumblers from Viski feature strong lines and deep cuts, with a heavy base and a smooth rim. Purchase a set of two for $26 at Red Orchard in Bethesda (301-571-7333, redorchard.com).

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MAKE IT NEAT Pretty cocktail napkins are a seasonal must on a cart. Adorned with a multicolored fish print design, they tuck neatly into a decorative 5¾-inch-square box made from recycled sandcast aluminum, and even come with a weighted fish of the same material. Find the Mariposa Shimmer Fish beaded napkin box for $49.50 at The Cottage Monet in Rockville (301-279-2422, cottagemonet.com).

TOOLS OF THE TRADE Keep all your bar tools close at hand with a kit that includes a black walnut cutting board, a bar knife for slicing fruit and herbs, a channel knife for making fancy twists, and a peeler for making garnishes. The Crafthouse bar tool set sells for $100 at West Elm at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda (301-230-7630, westelm.com).

IN THE MIX Surprise your guests with a fancy, flavorful drink right at home with these handcrafted cocktail syrups from Washington, D.C.-based Pratt Standard Cocktail Co. The pre-Prohibition-style mixers come in flavors such as bitter lemon, rosemary grapefruit, blackberry mint, lemon tonic and cherry blossom, and are available in 16-ounce bottles for $24 each at SW7 in Kensington (240-274-6448, sw7.design).

READ ALL ABOUT IT Brush up on your bartending knowledge and be ready for any drink order with this handy guide. It contains 20 classic cocktail recipes along with essential techniques and tips for stocking the home bar, accompanied by vibrant photographs. Pick up The Cocktail Workshop for $27.50 at Anthropologie in Bethesda (240345-9413, anthropologie.com).

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home

O A S I S

Create a soothing outdoor retreat by adding a pond and even a waterfall BY AMY BRECOUNT WHITE

abby and Mike Coan of Cabin John were hit hard by repercussions from the pandemic. When Gabby was furloughed from her job as an event manager and Mike had to go online to give piano and guitar lessons, the couple decided to add a pond to their property to corral their energy and lift their spirits. Gabby’s parents, who enjoyed two ponds at the home where she grew up, had passed along a hard-shell pond liner that they didn’t need, so Mike grabbed a shovel in April 2020 and dug a hole 14 inches deep in the backyard to accommodate the 3-by-5-foot liner. With guidance provided by YouTube videos on how to build a natural-looking pond with a waterfall, some more hard labor, and the installation of a submersible pump to circulate the water, the couple soon had a water feature they loved. Through the process, they also discovered they’d joined a welcoming community. “I suddenly found this entire world of pond people,” Mike says. “It’s like its own little cult.” Online, he addictively watched pond builders in action across the country and

also connected with Ponds by Bee Landscaping in Boonsboro, Maryland, whose staff generously shared their knowledge. About a month later, the couple added a larger and “more professional” pond to their small backyard. They incorporated a malleable rubber liner that’s used by commercial installers, several waterfalls, a 15-foot stream and a firepit. They learned by creating designs similar to those they admired, and also honed their skills by practicing at Ponds by Bee. One of their biggest challenges was “learning how to place rocks so that everything looks very natural,” Mike says. Meanwhile, the couple also completed five months of mostly online training, along with submitting video samples of their work, to become certified as installers by Aquascape, an Illinois pond product company. In March 2021, the Coans launched Oasis Water Gardens and began designing and building water features professionally, a vocation that draws on and fulfills their artistic sides. The Coans joined an increasing number of homeowners who are adding water features—ponds with waterfalls, pondless waterfalls and fountains—as they

seek to transform their yards into outdoor retreats during the pandemic. “Everyone wants a water feature— the y just don’t know it yet,” says Scott Brown, the founder and owner of Damascus Enterprises, a landscaping and water feature installation business in Damascus. He’s been fascinated by ponds since installing one in his parents’ backyard in thenrural Damascus when he was in high school two decades ago. In 2021, Brown saw a 75% increase in his water feature business over the previous year, growth he attributes to homeowners spending more time in their yards and having disposable income on hand that normally might have been spent on travel or entertainment. DIGGING YOUR OWN POND and haul-

ing heavy rocks—like Mike Coan did— can be backbreaking work. That’s why water feature specialists recommend that homeowners hire professionals who can install long-lasting pond liners, pumps,

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PHOTO BY MARGARET COAN

At the beginning of the pandemic, Mike and Gabby Coan reinvented their backyard in Cabin John with two ponds, a stream and waterfalls. They got certified in installing water features and founded Oasis Water Gardens to design and build water features professionally.

biological filters and aquatic plants—all of which will help keep the water clear and reduce maintenance work. The dugup dirt can be used to create a berm near the pond or spread over flatter areas of the yard, but sometimes it has to be hauled away, installers say. Today’s water systems are designed to be more eco-friendly by using power efficiently, with nighttime lighting systems employing LED bulbs, Brown says. Ponds often can be filled with a garden hose and then topped off when necessary due to evaporation. The systems also recycle the water, and that keeps most ponds from freezing in the winter. Professionally installed ponds range from $5,000 to $20,000, installers say, depending on size and other features, such as waterfalls.

When considering a water feature, homeowners can ask to visit examples of an installer’s work. In the process, “figure out what you’re most interested in,” Mike Coan advises. If it’s mainly just hearing the sound of water, then installing a stack of rocks through which water is recirculated or a fountain or a waterfall without a pond would work well, Brown says. Adding a bubbling boulder, which is a rock with a drilled hole for water to flow through, or a small fountain with an underground reservoir could also be ideal for smaller spaces and restricted budgets. If attracting and supporting wildlife is a goal, then a pond is a better choice, installers agree. Those who’ve added water features often wax passionate about the trans-

formative aspects of hearing water flowing outside their homes. “I like the sound of moving water,” says Jeff Tumarkin of Potomac, who hired Oasis Water Gardens in April 2021 to install a stream with several waterfalls and a pond to top off the patio and firepit that he and his wife, Tricia, had recently added to their halfacre backyard. “Being able to hear the stream is just very peaceful. It’s very zen.” Carolynn Young says it’s soothing to spend time by the three-tier waterfall that Brown installed in her North Potomac yard in 2020. “For me, it’s a place of rest and relaxation and rejuvenation,” she says. “I don’t ever get tired of it. It reminds me to sit and be still and get rejuvenated.” Her dream is to have a house on the water, but that doesn’t fit with her present lifestyle. “I had to bring water to my current living arrangement,” she says.

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home Designed and installed by Backyard Ponds, Kate and Thomas Pratt’s two ponds and waterfalls create a calming atmosphere in their Bethesda yard.

trend toward more natural-looking landscapes, which contrasts with the formal rectangular design that Gabby Coan refers to as “old school.” Designers now want ponds and waterfalls to blend into the preexisting yard and accentuate its strengths, rather than looking like something plopped into it, she says. Tumarkin’s backyard, for example, has a landscaped hill that ends in a flat area, which Tumarkin and Oasis Water Gardens thought was ideal for the series of waterfalls that flow into his lower pond. Additionally, many builders may choose to include rocks and boulders, on which lichens and mosses can grow, Mike Coan says. That desire for a more natural look may extend to the plants that designers and customers choose. Some seek native vegetation, including aquatic plants, that will better support biodiversity. People want fewer invasive species in their yards, so the idea of creating a natural habitat is “a rising star in the landscaping area,” says Jennifer Isley, who founded Rockville-based Backyard Ponds in 1996. She often recommends planting popular plants—swamp milkweed, native pickerel rushes, sweet flag and cardinal flower—that will attract and help to support birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bees. Having the right mix of plants also contributes to keeping the pond “clean and balanced and clear and beautiful,” adds Isley, who praises the “aesthetic” that a water feature can add to any landscape. “It makes the whole yard feel more alive, like one of those essential components of an ecosystem,” she says. “When you have a pleasant yard, groomed and beautiful, that’s nice, but when you add the water, that’s like the icing on the cake. That’s your spark.” When Renee Moloznik bought her home in Gaithersburg’s Washington

“ When people come to visit, they all love sitting out there where you can hear the water. After a long day, it’s like ahhh,” says Renee Moloznik of Gaithersburg.

Grove neighborhood, the property already had a small pond that she found challenging, especially dealing with the algae. Still, she liked the idea of having a pond—but with less maintenance. So she contacted Mike Westwood, who owns MetroPonds in Potomac. “You don’t have a pond—you have a puddle,” she says he joked upon visiting her property. Assessing her yard and its possibilities, he recommended digging a larger pond, installing up-to-date pumps and filters, and adding a stone waterfall. In addition to supplying an auditory dimension, waterfalls contribute to continuous circulation, which helps keep the water clear and pest free. While some homeowners may worry about attracting mosquitos, those insects lay eggs only in standing water. Additionally, aquatic features—especially those that incorporate

PHOTO BY KATE PRATT

RECENT POND DESIGNS REFLECT the

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After facing frustrations with an existing pond at the Gaithersburg home she bought, Renee Moloznik hired MetroPonds to dig a larger, lower maintenance pond with a waterfall that she enjoys.

native plants—will usually attract native dragonflies, which devour mosquitos. Some homeowners may worry that a pond will only add to their list of maintenance tasks, or that the water will become dirty and unsightly. Problems with excessive algae, water leakage, or cloudy water usually arise from improperly installed ponds or outdated filtration and circulation technologies, Brown says.

PHOTO BY RENEE MOLOZNIK

IF THE OWNER IS “putting a lot of work

into it, then something’s amiss,” Isley says, adding that her “whole goal is to get things to be streamlined and simplified and have it so that it’s balanced and somewhat takes care of itself.” Most installers recommend clearing the pond skimmer, which removes floating debris, once a week and cleaning a pond twice a year. According to Westwood, the cleaning process, which can be done by professionals, usually involves draining the pond, vacuuming accumulated debris, and then power washing the liner and rocks before refilling the pond. The new water is then treated with a detoxifier to remove the chlorine and chloramines, he says. Covering a pond with netting in the fall can keep out leaves, which might darken the water and clog the pond’s pumps and filters. Tumarkin compares his pond-own-

ing maintenance to “having an outdoor aquarium basically” and says it’s “totally worth the work. It’s not even a question.” He checks the filter once a week and uses a long-handled net to clear leaves or debris as needed. His pond has a treatment system that kills algae, and he plans to add a water auto-refill system this spring. So far, he’s handled the cleaning himself and jokes that he wants an even bigger pond, which is a common desire among homeowners with water features, according to installers. When consulting with homeowners, they often recommend installing a larger pond than planned because waterfalls and other features can be added more easily and less expensively than by expanding the size of an existing pond to accommodate them. Installers say the y often refurbish older or problematic ponds, like Moloznik’s, and recommend hiring a specialist rather than a general contractor to do the initial design and installation. “A lot of that refurb work we do is redoing ponds that were built by wellmeaning landscapers and other contractors,” Isley says. “People who don’t specialize in it can miss small but key details in the design or the construction.” Having that larger pond and waterfall that Westwood installed in May 2021 revitalized how Moloznik uses her out-

door space. For safety, she enclosed her pond with an iron fence because her 3-year-old grandson is a frequent visitor. “I sit outside more often,” she says. “I have a nice little swing that’s near it. When people come to visit, they all love sitting out there where you can hear the water. After a long day, it’s like ahhh. It was a big-ticket item, but it’s well worth it.” BACKYARD WATER FEATURES CAN also

support the local ecosystem. “Frogs, birds, all kinds of things need water. So [a backyard pond] can have a very beneficial effect ecologically,” says Ann English, the RainScapes manager for Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection. Frogs, in particular, may act as a bellwether or indicator species for local water and ecosystem quality. The Coans say they frequently count as many as a dozen frogs in the warmer months while they relax beside their ponds or when Gabby meditates there. Since the Tumarkins installed their pond, their yard has become a welcome home for tree frogs, green frogs, wood frogs, American toads and Fowler’s toads—plus lots of tadpoles. “In the summertime, the frogs are like a chorus out there,” Jeff Tumarkin says. “It was amazing. I was looking into getting tadpoles to populate the pond, and they just came.”

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PHOTO BY GABBY COAN

home

Oasis Water Gardens designed and installed this pond for Marie and Tom Rojas’ backyard in Poolesville.

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Homeowners say their water features also attract a variety of birds, including cardinals, doves, cedar waxwings, blue jays and bluebirds. Many pond owners add fish, such as small goldfish or guppies, or colorful exotics like koi because they find it fun or calming to watch them. Koi require a spacious pond that’s at least 3 feet deep, Isley says, because they can get large. As Tumarkin found out, a pond with fish may also attract the occasional heron looking for a meal. As a deterrent, he added a pondside decoy heron to discourage those flying overhead. Designers also recommend including fish caves below the surface of the water, where fish can hide from predators. Chevy Chase resident Pam Booth, whose pond was installed by Isley in 2020, finds the natural activity highly entertaining. Booth’s pond, which is 10 feet long and 2½ feet deep, has stone ledges around its sides where she places pots filled with

“ The birds also like to stand on the rocks and lily pads and splash around. It just brings a whole different type of nature to your backyard,” Chevy Chase resident Pam Booth says.

plants, such as aquatic lilies, lettuce and irises. “It’s fun to watch all the plants bloom, and they’re really beautiful,” she says. “The birds also like to stand on the rocks and lily pads and splash around. It just brings a whole different type of nature to your backyard.” LIKE OTHER ENTHUSIASTS, the Tumar-

kins say their pond, stream and waterfalls have enriched their outdoor social life. Since adding them, the couple has hosted multiple gatherings. “Not only do we love it, but everyone who comes over loves it,” Jeff Tumarkin says. “People want to come into our backyard and hang out.” With such gatherings in mind, Westwood advises his clients to “think about where you want to spend your time” before installing a water feature. Putting a pond at the edge of the yard may be a mistake because “people want to walk right to the water’s edge,” he

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INCAPACITY PLANNING FOR SENIORS – REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST REIGNS SUPREME

ADAM S. ABRAMOWITZ & SARAH J. BRODER Estates, Trusts & Probate Attorneys

The Pandemic was the latest chapter reinforcing the use of Revocable Living Trusts (RLTs) for seamless management and administration far beyond the benefits of a Durable Financial Power of Attorney and Will for seniors. Specifically, it can be difficult or burdensome for seniors, alone or in a group setting, to manage their finances and other property (e.g., real estate) as they age. While a Will can be a great tool to direct the disposition of a senior’s assets upon his/her death, it fundamentally cannot assist a senior with the management of his/her property during his/her lifetime. This is the situation where Revocable Living Trusts (RLTs) can be particularly useful. In its simplest form, an RLT is a financial arrangement whereby an individual, during their lifetime, transfers assets to a trustee to hold, manage and use the assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. Use of the RLT tempers the need for the Power of Attorney and the issues that often result therefrom. Why is an RLT Better than Power of Attorney? 1) Trustees Have More Authority: A Trustee would generally be afforded a higher level of respect and deference by financial institutions holding an individual’s assets than he/she would as an Agent under a Power of Attorney. 2) More Directions on How to Use The Individual’s Money: When an individual creates the RLT, he/she can express their intent on exactly how the Trustee should use the money and what should happen to the money during his/ her incapacity and even upon death. 3) Powers of Attorney are Often Associated with Fraud: Because they are relatively inexpensive to prepare and require little involvement from the senior (or principal), Powers of Attorney are frequently forged or obtained from seniors under pressure or duress. 4) Powers of Attorney are Only Useful to the Extent They Are Accepted: In light of the fraud risks noted above, many financial institutions require that an account owner sign the institution’s internal power of attorney form rather than accept externally prepared Powers of Attorney. Find out more about the benefits of an RLT at steinsperling.com/RLT.

301-340-2020 • www.steinsperling.com

says. “You want it to be where you’re entertaining.” Young, along with friends and family, enjoys her pondless waterfall from several nearby spots, including a screenedin porch, a patio with a firepit, and a hot tub. “After a hard day at work, sitting out there and spending time with people I love makes it a time we can enjoy nature and enjoy each other’s company without technology,” says Young, a Rockville gynecologist. She does, however, employ some technology, using her smartphone to control the lighting and to choose from 10 different flow speeds how rapidly the water will flow over the fall’s tiers. Young initially planned on a two-tier pondless waterfall for her backyard, but Brown assessed her setting and recommended that she consider three tiers to fill the 3-by-10-foot space she had in mind. “And he was exactly right,” Young says. “We ended up spending a little bit more, but the waterfall fills the area beautifully.” From the highest tier to the lowest, her waterfall has a drop of 24 inches. Water is stored in an underground basin and recirculated. Similarly, Kate Pratt says she and Isley collaborated on plans for her Bethesda backyard. A juniper in Pratt’s side yard grows almost horizontally toward the sun, so Isley suggested nestling a pond below that tree. “Visually, you have an illusion that there’s a stream feeding into the pond with this juniper over it,” Pratt says. Isley “gave us a bunch of options,” and Pratt and her husband, Thomas, chose two ponds connected by two waterfalls, which were installed in their yard in August 2020. The Pratts enjoy cocktails near their ponds most summer evenings. “We just feel so lucky these last couple years to have this quiet little spot,” Kate Pratt says. “It’s a lovely backyard retreat.” n Writer Amy Brecount White has a stream running behind her home in Arlington, which she can hear from her deck. She’s hoping to add a fountain with plantings to support birds, pollinators and dragonflies.

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Your Smart Living Experts

Matt Murton Founder Licensed in DC, MD, & VA m: 301.461.4201 o: 301.298.1001 matt@smartlivingexperts.com

Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 100 & 920, Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301.304.8444

Matt Murton Team Leader, Realtor®

Jonica Gibson Realtor®

Kristine Desmarais Realtor®

Erin Zablotney Realtor®

Since 2005, Matt has dedicated himself to exceeding the expectations of the sellers and buyers he serves. Matt is highly regarded by his peers as one of the market’s best agents and one of our market’s earliest adopters of using the newest technology as a marketing tool. Through care and skill, he has built a business based almost exclusively on repeat clients and the referrals of his satisfied sellers and buyers. Matt’s approach goes beyond the buying and selling of a home, he immerses himself in the process and treats each transaction as if it were his own.

Jonica has lived in the Washington, DC area for over 20 years and brings this real life experience and her years as an engineer and project manager to working with people hunting for the perfect home or attracting buyers to a your home. She is excited to work with clients to help them navigate through this difficult experience.

Real estate is a third career for Kristine. She was drawn to the profession because it allows her to use her marketing and entrepreneurial skills while working with people in a very direct way. Kristine studied psychology at Boston College to learn how the mind works and then earned an MBA at Johns Hopkins University to become an astute decision maker. She cares deeply about her clients’ needs and works tireless to earn their respect and trust.

Erin is a Colorado native who graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Communications. In 2011, she started her real estate career in property management leasing luxury apartments in the greater Colorado Springs area. Her extensive sales and customer service background from working as an account executive makes putting her clients first practically second nature. Erin is looking forward to earning your business and finding you the perfect home!

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Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC an as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814 | 301.304.8444

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

Data provided by

FEBRUARY’S MOST EXPENSIVE at A peek rea’s f the a some o pensive x most e sold n rece tly s house

HOME SALES

SALE PRICE: SALE PRICE:

$5 million LIST PRICE: $5 MILLION

Address: 7019 Natelli Woods Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 38 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 7/2

$5.1 million LIST PRICE: $5.3 MILLION

Address: 6205 Kennedy Drive, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 9 Listing Agency: Coldwell Banker Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.6 million LIST PRICE: $2.4 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

$2.7 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 4510 46th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 6 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/2

Address: 3215 East West Highway, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.9 MILLION

Address: 5400 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 150 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.5 MILLION

Address: 4017 Everett St., Kensington 20895 Days on Market: 70 Listing Agency: Keller Williams Capital Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

200

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $2.8 MILLION

Address: 11510 Springridge Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 86 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 5/0

COURTESY PHOTOS

SALE PRICE:

Address: 12904 Quail Run Court, Darnestown 20878 Days on Market: 66 Listing Agency: Rory S. Coakley Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

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28390 BLACK Road Princess Anne, MD 21853 $1,500,000 www.28390BlackRoad.com

Very private, this 38 acre waterfront estate is ideal for an Eastern Shore retreat or year round living! Approximately 9,000 square feet of living space offering formal and casual living and dining areas. Enjoy the peaceful sounds of waterfowl as they skim across the water from many outdoor areas including two balconies, waterside deck, screened porch, crab deck, private pier and convenient outdoor bath. Equestrians will love the paddock, tack room and barn for horses. Nearby is Deal Island Wildlife Management Area which consists of 13,000 +/-acres of tidal marsh, forested wetlands and provides for excellent waterfowl hunting.

8850 DAWSON RD Saint Michaels, MD 21663

5004 HELS HALF ACRE RD Oxford, MD 21654

Sold for $6,300,000

Sold for $1,900,000

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Chuck Mangold • Associate Broker, Benson and Mangold

31 Goldsborough Street • Easton, MD 21601 410-924-8832 (cell) • 410.822.6665 (office) • chuck@chuckmangold.com

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $1.8 MILLION

Address: 5410 Wehawken Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 6 Stanmore Court, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 2 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

Address: 7925 Sandalfoot Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $1.8 MILLION

Address: 9201 Wadsworth Drive, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 1 Listing Agency: Allied Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 8801 Clewerwall Drive, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 5 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

Address: 10008 Edward Ave., Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 190 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

Address: 7500 Marbury Road N., Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 101 Listing Agency: Rory S. Coakley Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

Address: 5306 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 133 Listing Agency: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $1.8 MILLION

Address: 7303 Summit Ave., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 5 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 6306 Marywood Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 8 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $2.1 MILLION

LIST PRICE: $1.5 MILLION

Address: 9646 Eagle Ridge Drive, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 182 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 3918 Ingomar St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 2 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/0

$2.2 million

$2.1 million

202

$2 million

$1.9 million

$1.8 million

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.5 MILLION

Address: 400 Salk Circle 11E, Gaithersburg 20878 Days on Market: 280 Listing Agency: Robert K. Wormald Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.4 MILLION

Address: 7013 Endicott Court, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 8 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.8 MILLION

Address: 9809 Hall Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 53 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 4/2 Note: Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

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“We are honored to continue the tradition and legacy of Hawkins Landscape Services and pleased to welcome their staff, clients, and gardens to the McHALE Landscape Design family.” KEVIN & STEVE

Imagine…WITH McHALE YOU CAN. SINGLE SOURCE

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

REAL ESTATE TRENDS BY ZIP CODE

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

20015 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

10 $1.7 Mil. 6 8 0 9

10 $1.4 Mil. 22 7 2 10

20016 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

9 $1.7 Mil. 12 4 3 9

15 $2.6 Mil. 5 10 2 15

20814 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

7 $1.2 Mil. 14 3 3 5

8 $1.4 Mil. 75 1 5 7

20815 (Chevy Chase) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

14 $1.3 Mil. 18 8 5 8

14 $1.6 Mil. 22 9 4 8

20816 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

13 $1.2 Mil. 6 10 1 8

3 $1.6 Mil. 3 3 0 2

28 $1.4 Mil. 41 9 16 21

17 $2 Mil. 37 4 6 14

20817 (Bethesda) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

204

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

20832 (Olney)

20855 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold 10 12 Average Sold Price $822,314 $713,208 Average Days on Market 27 45 Above Asking Price 8 9 Below Asking Price 2 2 Sold Over $1 Million 2 1

Number of Homes Sold 5 6 Average Sold Price $571,500 $774,666 Average Days on Market 14 12 Above Asking Price 2 4 Below Asking Price 2 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 1

20850 (Rockville)

20877 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 13 8 Average Sold Price $799,597 $972,250 Average Days on Market 34 28 Above Asking Price 6 3 Below Asking Price 7 5 Sold Over $1 Million 1 3

Number of Homes Sold 4 7 Average Sold Price $402,525 $471,107 Average Days on Market 21 14 Above Asking Price 3 5 Below Asking Price 1 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20851 (Rockville)

20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac)

Number of Homes Sold 6 15 Average Sold Price $468,733 $497,833 Average Days on Market 15 20 1 11 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 3 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 22 30 Average Sold Price $832,900 $912,933 Average Days on Market 12 10 13 24 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 6 1 Sold Over $1 Million 4 7

20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)

20879 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 10 7 Average Sold Price $836,697 $780,428 Average Days on Market 11 5 Above Asking Price 7 7 Below Asking Price 2 0 Sold Over $1 Million 3 2

Number of Homes Sold 9 7 Average Sold Price $552,955 $609,087 Average Days on Market 6 27 Above Asking Price 8 5 Below Asking Price 1 2 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0

20853 (Rockville)

20882 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 22 14 Average Sold Price $558,562 $616,928 Average Days on Market 18 25 Above Asking Price 15 8 Below Asking Price 3 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 3 2 Average Sold Price $991,600 $827,500 Average Days on Market 49 9 Above Asking Price 1 1 Below Asking Price 2 0 Sold Over $1 Million 1 1

20854 (Potomac)

20886 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

38 $1.3 Mil. 34 19 13 27

19 $1.4 Mil. 21 11 5 16

Number of Homes Sold 7 2 $559,000 $515,000 Average Sold Price Average Days on Market 5 16 Above Asking Price 6 1 Below Asking Price 1 0 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

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FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

20895 (Kensington)

20902 (Silver Spring)

20904 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 12 12 Average Sold Price $725,492 $950,033 Average Days on Market 9 34 Above Asking Price 9 8 Below Asking Price 1 3 Sold Over $1 Million 1 5

Number of Homes Sold 19 20 Average Sold Price $509,898 $537,340 Average Days on Market 7 19 Above Asking Price 12 13 Below Asking Price 1 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 13 10 Average Sold Price $562,384 $658,800 Average Days on Market 15 26 Above Asking Price 9 6 Below Asking Price 3 4 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20901 (Silver Spring)

20903 (Silver Spring)

20905 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 17 13 Average Sold Price $577,800 $573,770 Average Days on Market 4 16 16 10 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 0 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 6 7 Average Sold Price $593,333 $542,628 Average Days on Market 19 18 3 5 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 3 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 11 3 Average Sold Price $623,795 $766,666 Average Days on Market 11 41 9 2 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 1 1 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

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FEBRUARY 2021

20906 (Silver Spring)

FEBRUARY 2022

Number of Homes Sold 22 16 Average Sold Price $471,154 $506,968 Average Days on Market 13 10 Above Asking Price 13 13 Below Asking Price 5 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

FEBRUARY 2021

20910 (Silver Spring)

FEBRUARY 2022

Number of Homes Sold 16 9 Average Sold Price $725,812 $849,088 Average Days on Market 19 17 10 6 Above Asking Price Below Asking Price 5 2 1 1 Sold Over $1 Million

FEBRUARY 2021

FEBRUARY 2022

20912 (Silver Spring/Takoma Park)

Number of Homes Sold 9 10 Average Sold Price $637,977 $749,350 Average Days on Market 14 14 Above Asking Price 6 7 Below Asking Price 2 2 Sold Over $1 Million 1 3

Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of March 16, 2021. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 85,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve more than 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com. Note: This information includes single-family homes sold from Feb. 1, 2021, to Feb. 28, 2021, as of March 16, 2021, excluding sales where sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. Reports reference data provided by ShowingTime, a showing management and market stats technology provider to the residential real estate industry. Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

Q U A L I T Y.

Tulacro Development is a premier design-build firm serving Montgomery County and the surrounding areas for over 20 years. Our award-winning homes offer unmistakable style, superior quality and cutting edge technology. If you are looking for a LUXURY CUSTOM HOME, A LARGE-SCALE RENOVATION OR EVEN A SMALLER KITCHEN OR BATHROOM RENOVATION, Tulacro Development has the expertise to take your project from concept to completion. And, throughout the process, Tulacro Development is a loyal partner who listens and delivers because we recognize that this isn’t just a project to you; this is your home.

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V I S I O N .

D E V E L O P M E N T.

Tu l a c r o D e v e l o p m e n t . c o m B r e t t @ Tu l a c r o D e v e l o p m e n t . c o m 301.455.8226

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Drapery

Reupholstery

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5414 Randolph Rd. Rockville 20852 Visit Showroom Mon-Sat 9:30am-6pm • 301-424-1900

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MERIDIAN HOMES, INC 4938 Hampden Lane, #330, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-4440 | www.meridianhomesinc.com info@meridianhomesinc.com

BIO

At Meridian Homes, we specialize in luxury renovations and custom home building. Our mission is to create exceptional residences that exceed expectations. Our highly personalized design process and careful management of every project have earned us a reputation over many years for outstanding client service and solid, beautiful craftsmanship. We are obsessed with quality and the personal touch. From the first conceptual sketch through our meticulous construction process, you will notice our exacting attention to detail. If you, too, are obsessed with quality done right, you have found your design/build soulmates at Meridian Homes. In our vocabulary, “quality” is more than shorthand for expensive finishes. It’s in the uncompromising integrity of construction. Quality shows in the subtle finesse of fine craftsmanship. Quality expresses itself in a nook, a room, an entire home that feels totally satisfying because every detail is simply the way it should be. Let’s obsess about quality together on your renovation or custom home. To see more photos of this project and our many others, visit www. meridianhomesinc.com/portfolio.

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COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECTS

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Builders & Architects

GTM ARCHITECTS 7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-333-2000 | www.gtmarchitects.com

BIO

GTM Architects is an award-winning design firm with more than 30 years of experience offering architecture, planning and interior design services. Always committed to serving the needs and vision of its clients above all else, GTM’s professionals possess a wide array of finely tuned skills across vastly diverse styles and specialties.

PHOTOS BY ANISE HOACHLANDER

THE PROJECT

Situated on an idyllic wooded lot in Bethesda, this contemporary home’s exterior of sapele mahogany, stone, stucco and metal blends beautifully with its natural environment. The large expanses of glass are strategically placed to maximize views while also carefully considering privacy from the street front. The interior finishes complement the exterior, echoing the mahogany and steel materials on the stair railing and built-in fireplace and storage in the double-height family room. Expansive glass sliding patio doors pocket into the exterior wall to provide a seamless indoor/outdoor living space between the family room and screened porch that extends to the rear yard’s luxurious pool and deck. Double-height glass walls throughout create stunning architectural moments that invite the outside into the home. The abundant natural light, dramatic height changes and strong visual axis define and draw you into eachspace. A green roof over the screened porch continues the natural feel and warmth of the house. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2021 209

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CHASE BUILDERS 8750 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-4747 | www.ChaseBuilders.com | Instagram: @chasebuildersinc

BIO

Chase Builders Inc. is an award-winning builder in Maryland. Every Chase Builder’s home is custom designed and built with top quality, luxury features. Although they differ in style, floor plan, size and features, our unique homes have this in common—they are thoughtfully designed and well built. OUR WORK

COURTESY PHOTOS

This contemporary major remodel features the original home thoughtfully redesigned with a large addition to create a unique and comfortable space that reflects the homeowner’s personalities and suits their family’s needs. It’s three finished levels features two home offices, a spacious family room, a spectacular dining room and a luxury kitchen all while attaining a comfy home feel. Each house we build is unique in its tile work, exceptional trim detail, designer lighting and premium finishes all around. Built with the homeowner in mind, our goal with every project is to create an inviting, spectacular home where friends and family can gather for many years to come.

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SANDY SPRING BUILDERS 4705 West Virginia Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 | www.sandyspringbuilders.com

BIO

Sandy Spring Builders is the premier custom homebuilder in the area. We are an integrated, full-service team with 40 years of experience in bringing our client’s vision to life. Our well-built homes make a lasting impression, proven by our vast portfolio and myriad awards including be selected multiple times as “Best Builder” in the Bethesda Magazine Best of Bethesda Readers Poll.

COURTESY PHOTOS

OUR WORK

This stunning home in the close-in Edgemoor neighborhood, was originally built by Sandy Spring Builders in 2008 with an authentic French Country theme. Six containers of antiques from Paris were built into the home at that time. When the house was sold, the new owners loved much about the house, but wanted a more contemporary interior. Already having a relationship with Sandy Spring and the design team, the new owner hired us all for this amazing transformation. The exterior facade remains mostly the same, especially the front. Once you enter the house, the major transformation begins. French beams and finishes were removed throughout, floors were raised, rooms were reconfigured. The rear glass was modernized – all creating a crisper, sleeker, more modernstyle home. Perfect for displaying the clients beautiful art collection and a wonderful setting to entertain large groups of people. The end result is not only functional, it is magnificent. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2021 211

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GILDAY RENOVATIONS architecture

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fitness. wellness. medicine.

PHOTO BY LOUIS TINSLEY

health

Fitness instructor Adina Crawford, who is focused on health and wellness inclusivity, led a hike on the Billy Goat Trail along the C&O Canal in March. For more, turn to page 216.

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health | BE WELL

KINDNESS FIRST

A geriatric psychiatrist helps patients and their families cope with dementia BY CARALEE ADAMS | PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has been devastating for residents of long-term care facilities—especially for those with dementia, says geriatric psychiatrist Nick Schor. “If someone’s telling you to stay in your room, and you don’t understand why, you’re going to try and get out of your room, and you’re going to get agitated,” says Schor, 48, the founder of Olney Geriatric Psychiatry. “It just was a nightmare.” Schor specializes in treating people with dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s. About 20% of his patients died during the first year of the pandemic—mostly of COVID19. After providing remote care for several months, he returned to his regular rounds at about 40 area nursing homes, assisted living facilities and small group homes in January 2021. Schor says he saw the toll that isolation had taken on many of his patients—in some cases hastening the progression of their diseases. Most often, Schor and the two nurse practitioners in his practice are called by caregivers when someone is having a problem such as trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, hallucinations, restlessness, aggression, anxiety or paranoia. About 90% of people with dementia experience behavioral or psychiatric issues at some point in their illness, according to Schor, who is president of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., chapter of the American Geriatrics Society. “While a good portion of what we do to help our patients is medicating them, we are not in the zombie-making business,” Schor says. He looks at an individual’s 214

environment and life story to suggest changes. For instance, if a patient who is refusing to take a shower had been in the military, Schor might suggest an approach saying, “Soldier, it’s 0700 hours. Let’s go.” A Holocaust survivor may have a different association with a shower, so instead he recommends a warm towel bath in bed. “We look at their strengths and their vulnerabilities. We focus on what they can do and try to make accommodations,” says Schor, who typically sees each of his patients about once a month. Educating family members is also part of his approach. A common piece of advice: “It’s more important to be kind than to be right,” he says. If someone with dementia asks where their husband is, for example, it’s much kinder to say that the spouse is working late rather than reminding them that he died. If a person is repetitively asking the same question, Schor encourages understanding. “If you keep telling them, ‘I just told you that,’ that is not going to help them remember,” Schor says. “I think a lot of difficulties and frustrations that people have with individuals with dementia is that they feel like it’s ‘they won’t’ rather than ‘they can’t.’ The issue is they can’t remember, and no amount of telling them is going to fix it.” Despite the challenges and the heartache, Schor, who grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in 2000, says he finds it meaningful to work with people in their twilight years. “All of our patients have an incurable disease,” he says. “We are helpless to cure the disease, but our goals are maximizing their safety, comfort and dignity.” n

IN HIS OWN WORDS... TELL ME A STORY “The way dementia works is our most recent experiences are the ones that we tend not to be able to recall. But people can recall quite a bit from their earlier life. People have a lot of wisdom that they can still share. Engaging with the person, asking them questions, asking them to tell stories can be a beautiful way for families to connect with their loved ones—even if they aren’t going to remember the next day that they had that conversation.”

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COMBATING STEREOTYPES “Unfortunately, there is still a prominence of anti-psychiatry mindset. I’m very proud to be a psychiatrist. A lot of times I have to hide that. Families will say, ‘Don’t tell my mother you’re a psychiatrist,’ which I agree with because with this [older] generation: ‘only crazy people see psychiatrists.’ There are times when family members just don’t understand and can be very opposed to the interventions and can be very closed-minded.”

OBSERVING FAMILY DYNAMICS “We can see a lot of intergenerational pain. People who don’t have good relationships with their parents. Perhaps they are put in this difficult position to have to care for them, and it’s hard for them to dig deep and have empathy and take the time to really understand. It’s painful to see—not only because it makes it harder for me to do my job and help the person, but also to see these sad dynamics.”

LIVING IN THE MOMENT “I view patients with dementia as ‘unintentional Buddhists.’ They are truly in the moment. If they are in a moment that is uncomfortable or difficult, we try to use distraction. If they are panicking and say, ‘Oh my God, I’m late for an appointment. I have to go to work. Where are my car keys?’ and you say, ‘No, Mom, you’re retired. You’re not working anymore,’ a lot of times that doesn’t work. But if you say, ‘Mom, come here. Let me show you these pictures of your grandkids,’ it moves them into a different moment.”

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health

Inclusive Movement Instructor Adina Crawford aims to make fitness activities and spaces welcoming to all

BY CARALEE ADAMS | PHOTOS BY LOUIS TINSLEY

Adina Crawford leads a meditation session along the Billy Goat Trail as part of a hiking excursion for Black Girls Run!

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On a blustery Saturday night in February, there was a buzz of energy inside the Fleet Feet store in Gaithersburg. Women of various backgrounds, sizes and running levels had come for a community-building event that Adina Crawford of Germantown had helped organize for the local chapter of Black Girls Run! (BGR), a national organization. As they tried on shoes and waited in line to get fitted for sports bras, there was chatter and laughter among friends old and new. Some were catching up after their running groups had gone on hiatus during the pandemic. Others came for the first time in search of encouragement to get started. Applause filled the store when the winning raffle number was drawn for a new pair of running shoes and as organizers offered a pep talk, of sorts, to the women. “I’m excited to be here,” a smiling Crawford, 58, told the crowd. “It doesn’t matter what race you are. We are all community. Walkers, joggers—we welcome everyone!” Whether coaching runners, leading a yoga class or advising fitness retailers on inclusivity, Crawford aims to motivate others to move and feel good, no matter who they are. She often shares her own experience, which began about 12 years ago when she weighed more than 300 pounds and decided to get healthy. “I came into the fitness game really late,” says Crawford, who joined various running groups and found connection to others through BGR. “What kept me going is I found the sisterhood. …The rest is history.” Rockville resident Kelly El’Amin, 46, a BGR member who attended the event, says Crawford is having a powerful impact. “No one works harder for the health and wellness for Black women,” she says. “When I see someone who looks like me and has a body like me, I’m inspired. And it’s generational. When my kids see me run, they will want to run.” CRAWFORD IS ALL ABOUT creating inclusive exercise spaces in Montgom-

ery County, particularly for Black women and other people of color who don’t often see many people like themselves in traditionally white-dominated gyms and activities. She wants to increase participation by break-

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“ When we come into these different sports or activities… we just want to be part of it,” Adina Crawford says.

Crawford leads Black Girls Run! members in a meditation session after their hike on the Billy Goat Trail.

ing down stereotypes—something she has faced numerous times. Once, she was about to start a yoga class in Bethesda when someone asked her where the teacher was—assuming it couldn’t be her, she says. “I’m not a skinny chick. I am who I am,” says Crawford, who is 5 feet, 11 inches tall. To be accepted as a Black yoga instructor, she says she has to work much harder, but she’s determined to push through so more women like her feel comfortable getting fit. “We need to have a seat at the table. We need to feel welcome,” Crawford says. “When we come into these different sports or activities…we just want to be part of it.” Crawford reaches out to fitness companies to request that they be more representative of people of color in their images and messaging. For instance, she recently worked with REI to broaden its

understanding of what it means to be outdoorsy. Crawford gathered stories about how people from diverse communities enjoy the outdoors, even detailing the different kinds of food they eat around a campfire, according to an REI representative. THERE ARE DISPARITIES IN the fitness landscape that Crawford is working to address. Notable racial and ethnic differences in exercise patterns exist in the United States: Hispanic adults have the highest prevalence of physical inactivity (32%), followed by Black (30%), American Indian/Alaska Native (29%), white (23%) and Asian adults (20%), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, about 6% of yoga instructors are Black, according to research by employment resource Zippia.

Lack of regular exercise is one of many factors, including the impact of centuries of structural racism, that public health officials say contribute to poorer health outcomes for Black Americans. They experience higher rates of illness and health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma and heart disease, compared with their white counterparts, according to federal health data. Indeed, life expectancy for Black Americans is four years lower than that of white Americans, according to the CDC. Crawford sees her work as part of a bigger public health discussion and is committed to modeling healthy living and opening doors for all women. As a runner, Crawford has completed several half-marathons and two marathons. She is a lead cyclist (referred to as a “lady shero”) with the local chapter of Black Girls Do Bike and recently took

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up swimming, combining her talents to compete in duathlons and indoor triathlons. Crawford is certified in yoga , meditation and aqua instruction. She moved up the ranks to be an ambassador for the local BGR chapter and is on the board of directors for the BGR Foundation. Once she got active and felt better, Crawford says, she was compelled to support other women to do the same. “I find that I have a gift to bring to others—to let them feel that they are whole, and they are worthy,” Crawford says. “It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey, but when you start, you become unstoppable.” CRAWFORD, WHO IS ORIGINALLY from

Massachusetts, studied travel and business management in college. She and her husband of 29 years, Burnett, have one son, Burnett III, 32, who is a trainer at Equinox in Boston. Since 1989, Crawford has been a civilian employee at the Montgomery County Police Department. She works full time as a records division supervisor and also volunteers with the department’s peer support team, calling on officers’ families following a tragedy. “Adina is a very heartwarming, open individual. She has a great love and care for people,” says MCPD Chief Marcus Jones, adding that she’s gone “above and beyond” offering yoga classes and promoting well-being among the employees. It’s tough to get up at 4:15 in order to lead 30 people on a 5 a.m. run, especially in winter, but Crawford has a cando attitude and knows how to include people who may otherwise feel intimidated to get, and stay, involved, says

Fitness instructor Courtney Cornwall and Crawford walk along the Billy Goat Trail during the Black Girls Run! hike.

her friend and fellow r unner Lisa Roberts of Boyds. The BGR chapter, called GLAM (Germantown Ladies Always Moving), has dressed up in H a l l o w e e n co s tumes for workouts, and during Pride Month each member picked a color to create a human rainbow. Monique Coleman, 42, of Clarksburg started as a walker five years ago through BGR. Crawford’s example inspired Coleman, who eventually completed a half-marathon and lost 100 pounds. Crawford’s advice? “Never stop,” says Coleman. In October 2019, Coleman opened the Thick Chixx dance fitness studio in Damascus that offers workout classes focusing on body positivity. “Everyone is included. No body is left behind, kind of like Black Girls Run!” Coleman says. AS A YOGA TEACHER, Crawford says her

goal is to make her students, at whatever level, feel their best from the inside out. In a seated yoga class called Gentle Flow and Form at Onelife Fitness in Germantown, Crawford modifies poses for the students, mostly older women. For instance, instead of hinging from the hips to touch the floor, students place their feet in front of them and bend to touch their toes while in their chairs. As a recent class wraps up, Crawford sends them forth with reassuring words. “Be kind to yourself. Always meet your body where it needs to be,” Crawford says. While the women roll up their mats, she asks how they’re feeling and encourages them to return the next week. Wendy Block has been a regular in the class for six months. The 70-year-old BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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retiree who lives in Montgomery Village says Crawford “has the perfect personality for teaching yoga. She’s very calm. Her voice is easy to follow. It’s a joyful class. I leave feeling more energized.” TO TURN THE TIDE for others, Craw-

ford wants to help increase the presence of women of all sizes and backgrounds in advertising for fitness products. She partners with several companies to diversify their marketing, modeling their products and promoting brands on her social media channels. She’s known as deanietheyogini on Instagram. Crawford has been a fit model for Terry Precision Cycling and has given the company feedback on its plus-size clothing. On a recent photo shoot in Miami, she added colorful accessories and struck playful poses, says Paula

Dyba, Terry’s vice president of marketing and creative director. “Everything she does has a sense of joy, a sense of humor and sense of inclusivity and goodness all wrapped into one,” she says of Crawford. “She has been a great ambassador for not just the brand, but for cycling, for women being active. The power of one person is impressive.” Crawford is part of the influencer ambassador program for the footwear company OOFOS. If she likes a new product, she introduces it to her followers on social media. In return, the company sometimes supports her community events, says Darren Brown, the head of marketing at OOFOS. For instance, OOFOS provided free shoes to first responders at the county police department who attended one of her yoga classes during Mental Health Awareness

Month in May 2021. “When I connect with the brand, the ideals and the beliefs definitely have to resonate with me,” says Crawford, who contacts companies to be featured on their platforms and to push them to boost diversity throughout their operation. To keep track of her classes and events, Crawford writes on a big dry-erase board that hangs on the calming Caribbean blue walls of her “serenity room” in her house. She does not, however, track her weight. Crawford never gets on a scale. She has dropped a few clothing sizes since becoming a late bloomer to fitness. More important, she says, is how she feels: “Energetic. Alive. Fulfilled.” n Caralee Adams is a freelance writer in Bethesda who covers health, education and other topics for Bethesda Magazine.

Senior Living That Rises Above the Ordinary

Call 301-453-8101 today! AsburyMethodistVillage.org 201 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 220 MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging

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Ask the Experts: Seniors & Aging PROFILES

HEATHER FUENTES

Jan Brito, CSHP, SRES Laura Quigley, CSHP, SRES of Capital Senior Solutions

(powered by Brito Associates of Compass) See Profile page 225 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022 221

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SARA WOODWARD, DIRECTOR OF MEMORY CARE The Seneca is a Silverstone/Watermark Retirement Communities property located in a convenient setting next to King Farm in Rockville, Maryland. A brand-new community focused on hospitality and wellness, The Seneca offers assisted living, memory care and The Bridge—an intermediate level of care for those with mild cognitive impairment. 55 W. Gude Drive Rockville, MD 20850 240-614-2800 www.senecarockville.com

Q: What is The Seneca’s approach to

memory care? A: Our approach to memory care is nurturing, loving and thoroughly personcentered. Our memory care associates are called “nayas,” which means guide or person of wisdom in Sanskrit. With an innate understanding of what will help each memory care resident thrive in mind, body and soul, they foster a sense of wellbeing. All of our nayas are Certified Dementia Practitioners. Q: What advice do you have for

family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia? A: My advice to any family member is to

live in the moment with your loved one. Individuals living with dementia have an amazing capacity for creativity and joy. Don’t be afraid to sing, dance, make up the rules, laugh with the person and share pictures and stories. In the midst of all the

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care tasks, it’s important to take breaks to have fun. Q: What are some of the programs

you design for your residents? A: I am a board-certified music therapist and purposefully integrate music in many different ways. We have a Thrive Through Music program that takes into account each resident’s favorite music, which we use to create individualized playlists. We stream concerts of their favorite performers, from classical music to Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin. We offer live music in “Singing with Sara” sessions. They facilitate reminiscence and help members maintain language abilities. Of course, celebrating with food is always popular. An example of one recent interactive event would be Mardi Gras. For breakfast on Fat Tuesday, we made pancakes and waffles together. We also made masks, had a parade and ate New Orleans-inspired cuisine for dinner.

HILARY SCHWAB

The Seneca

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

For 20 years, Best Senior Care has provided seniors with top-quality, individualized care for up to 24 hours a day, helping them live confidently and age gracefully in their own homes. “Our communication is open, direct and productive, with no bureaucracy to get in the way of a solution,” says the company’s founder, Alex Petukhov. 17830 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 302 Ashton, MD 20861 301-717-2212 www.bestseniorcare.us

Q: Why choose Best Senior Care?

A: As a family-owned-and-operated business, we can serve our clients promptly and offer premium, individualized care — for up to 24 hours a day — at affordable prices. Over 20 years, we have built trusting relationships with clients and their families, caring for them with expertise, patience, kindliness and love as we would our own parents. All caregivers are carefully selected certified nursing assistants, supervised by registered nurses and thoroughly assessed through background checks and references. Q: What is your approach to

service? A: We begin with an in-home assessment of the client and their needs. A registered nurse then develops a specifically tailored care plan, and we introduce a caregiver to the family, keeping compatibility in

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mind. Ultimately, we want our clients to feel heard, understood and cared for with dignity and respect. Q: How has the global pandemic impacted your business? A: The American population is aging, and as life expectancy increases, so does the eventual need for at-home care. By the end of 2020, in the heart of the Covid-19 crisis, the number of people receiving care at home jumped from five million to 12 million. But Covid-19 has also exacerbated a pre-pandemic trend in our industry — the shortage of at-home healthcare providers. There are likely several contributing factors, including the growing number of seniors and the difficult nature of the work. But we remain committed to providing the highest quality of care to our clients, and we are dedicated to helping them and their families navigate their home care journeys.

LISA HELFERT

Best Senior Care

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Capital Senior Solutions (powered by Brito Associates of Compass) JAN BRITO, CSHP, SRES LAURA QUIGLEY, CSHP, SRES

HEATHER FUENTES

Licensed to serve the Greater Washington, D.C. region, Capital Senior Solutions, founded by Jan Brito and Laura Quigley, is the region’s only team comprised of Certified Senior Housing Professionals and Certified Senior Downsizing Coaches that specialize in guiding seniors through their next big move. 5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-656-3410 Jan.brito@compass.com CapitalSeniorSolutions.com

Q: What is your approach to

service? A: Our process starts with an open, honest conversation with our clients and their loved ones so we can evaluate their needs, explore the options and create a successful plan. We understand it is difficult to say goodbye to the place you've called "home" for so many years, so we get to know you on a personal level to ensure your wants and needs are heard and respected. We strive to simplify the downsizing process for you or your loved one through turnkey services that address the many questions you might have. We are here to streamline the buying/selling/ downsizing process, making it a more enjoyable, stress-free experience. Q: What is one thing prospective

clients should know about you? A: We have been trained by the Seniors Real Estate Institute as Certified Senior Downsizing Coaches and Certified Senior

Housing Professionals. This expertise and access to our trusted resource partners, including move managers, contractors, financial planners, estate attorneys and more, helps longtime homeowners feel empowered and informed throughout the downsizing or transition process. Backed by COMPASS programs, additional services including concierge services, bridge loans and marketing, allow us to sell your house faster while you move comfortably into your new home. Q: What are the most important

qualities a successful real estate agent should have? A: To work the senior market, we believe you need a servant's heart and a lot of patience. Many people are so unsure of their next move it could take months, even years, before they decide. We are willing to spend time with them early in the process, supporting them as they weigh their options, and will be by their side until they are ready to move.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THREE OF THE OWNER RESIDENTS AT MAPLEWOOD PARK PLACE Looking for a welcoming, energetic senior living community in the Bethesda area? Maplewood Park Place provides diverse opportunities to engage with your community, make new friends, and live life as you see fit. And we offer a variety of customizable homes to suit your lifestyle. To schedule your personalized visit, call us at 301-850-1950. 9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-850-1950 www.maplewoodparkplaceinfo.com

Q: Why did you choose a Continuing Care Retirement Community? A: Derek: “[My wife and I] would have our independent living… we could buy our own place. And if or when the time came where we needed assisted living or skilled nursing care, we could both be in the same place under the same roof.” Diane: “My husband started showing signs of dementia, and his neurologist said there would come a time when it would be difficult for me to take care of him. When we came here, my husband’s words were: ‘If we’re going to leave Charlottesville, this is the place for us.’” Donald: “We also gave a gift to our adult children, because during this whole time, they were terrified about what might happen to us. And the fact that we were being protected and cared for… was an enormous plus.” Q: Now that you’re at Maplewood

Park Place, what are some of your 226

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secrets for active, vibrant living? A: Derek: “We started coming to musical performances and lectures… I got involved in politics, joining the board, and committees… This place is full of really interesting people.” Donald: “I’m a former semi-professional ice hockey player, so the fitness room here is very important to me. The pool is an indoor pool that’s available to us all year around.” Q: How would you describe the

people here at Maplewood? A: Diane: “People are just so warm and friendly, and want to be part of us. We would come over for the exercise classes… for holiday get-togethers, and every time, people would come up to us and say ‘stay for dinner.’” Donald: “You have a group of people here who were very much like us: accomplished, schooled, interested in vibrance in living, and people who think of themselves as highly independent.”

HEATHER FUENTES

Meet Diane, Derek and Donald:

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Montcordia REBEKKA SIEDOW, COMPANION CARE PARTNER Montcordia is a full-service, boutique home care agency offering services ranging from companion care to care management. Our care providers are carefully selected, highly trained and rigorously supervised to provide an incomparable worry-free experience.

MICHAEL VENTURA

2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-691-5161 www.montcordia.com

Q: Can you describe what a typical day is like for you and a specific client?

with doctor’s visits and engagement. I help them stay as independent as possible, especially those with some memory loss.

A: A typical day for my client, Mary Ann, and I may include grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, window shopping in downtown Bethesda, grabbing a cappuccino and going to the library. We love to plan activities together and look forward to getting annuals at American Plant and visiting the Mansion at Strathmore. On less active days we might do some organizing while we enjoy long conversations. Before I leave, I tidy up the kitchen and prepare some simple meals. I also make sure her sweet cat’s litter box is clean. I take out the trash and recyclables As a Companion Care Partner my goal is to spend quality time with my clients doing what they enjoy most. Many older adults don’t need personal care such as dressing or bathing but could use medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, pet care, assistance

Q: Assuming you have worked for other services, what makes Montcordia a better working experience for you? A: Montcordia meets clients prior to matching them with the right companion. I feel I am a great fit for the clients I work with. Despite already having considerable experience, I received extensive training from Montcordia in dementia care, mental health and even The Ritz-Carlton’s customer service. They provide a very supportive network. I can always receive advice or help because each level of management is accessible 24/7 to clients and caregivers. I’m proud to represent an organization that delivers the highest level of home care.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Arden Courts is a stand-alone, purpose-built community which provides specialized memory care in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. The campus features four self-contained "houses" with community and outdoor living spaces which include an activity and craft studio, barber and beauty salon, wellness center and expansive landscaped walking paths, allowing residents to explore in an environment designed to keep them safe. 4301 Knowles Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-493-7881 KensingtonArdenCourts@promedica.org www.arden-courts.org/kensington

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Q: What makes Arden Courts

unique? A: We are a purpose-built community specifically designed for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Just as a cardiologist specializes in heart disease, we are specialists in memory care. Additionally, we are part of a nationally integrated healthcare system which includes hospitals, skilled nursing, physical therapy, hospice and more, ensuring our residents have the necessary available resources. Q: What advice would you offer

someone looking for a senior living facility for their loved one? A: Make sure you're looking through the eyes of somebody living with dementia and not the lens of what appeals to you. A person who is confused knows they're confused. If they don't feel confident in their ability to navigate a facility or socially participate at the level of others, they will isolate themselves. Within a month at a regular assisted living community, they'd

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

end up in the dementia unit, usually a hallway with two doors. Arden Courts features friendly common spaces, a kitchen, family rooms, a core with engagement stations, and walking paths within enclosed courtyards, all created for the safety and comfort of our residents. Our home-like environment helps residents stay as oriented and independent as possible. Q: What is your approach to care?

A: We integrate individuality, dignity, medical care and socialization, offering four levels of programming to meet residents' varying needs. Adult Montessori empowers higher functioning residents by focusing on what they can do. Designed for residents living in early stages of dementia, our trademarked program, Enjoying Time Together, focuses on accomplishments and abilities. Namaste Care helps residents living in the latter stages of dementia through sensory stimulation. Our less-structured Individual Pursuits program allows residents to interact with various engagement stations around our community.

MICHAEL VENTURA

Arden Courts ProMedica Memory Care

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Shulman Rogers FRONT ROW: JEANNE REAVEY, JAY EISENBERG, BONITA STILES BACK ROW: LAURA SHOCKLEY, MARILYN GREEN, PATRICK HOWLEY, JUSTIN DEVAULT, DEE BARSY

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Specializing in Estates, Trusts and Probate; Tax Law; Succession Planning; Charitable and Exempt Organizations. Attorney recognitions: Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; Washingtonian Top Estate Planning Attorneys; Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars. 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Sixth Floor Potomac, MD 20854 301-230-5223 info@shulmanrogers.com www.shulmanrogers.com

Q: I have owned my house for many

decades. Should I transfer it to my children before I die so that they can avoid probate? A: If you transfer your house to your

children during your lifetime, you transfer your tax basis in your house to them as well. This means that when your children eventually sell your house, they will pay capital gains tax on the difference between the sales price and the price you paid for the house. Instead, if your house passes to your children upon your death, the tax basis will be “stepped up” to the value on the date you die and the capital gains tax will be greatly reduced or eliminated.

Q: I have been advised to add

transfer on death (TOD) designations to my financial accounts. Should I do this? A: You must be certain you understand the effect of any beneficiary designation that you execute. Although adding a

TOD designation can efficiently transfer an account at your death without probate, doing so may have unintended consequences. All beneficiary designations should be discussed with your attorney to confirm that they are consistent with your overall estate plan. Q: Do I really need financial and

health care powers of attorney? Can’t my spouse and children make decisions for me if I am incapacitated? A: If you become incapacitated, the only person who can make decisions for you is the agent you appoint in your financial and health care powers of attorney. If you do not have these important documents, upon your incapacity, your family will need to petition the Court for guardianship to make decisions for you.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Q: How do you handle initial

JEFFREY BRIGGS, DIRECTOR OF INTAKE, KARIMI MWANIKI, INTAKE MANAGER

Whether the caller’s need for care stems from a major crisis or a smaller issue, we provide an empathic, calming and reassuring presence on the other end of the phone line or video screen. Our team doesn’t function as order takers who are there just to ask basic information needed to fill out a standard form. Rather, we seek to really understand each unique situation and associated care needs so that we can be as helpful as possible in addressing those needs. One of our top strengths as a company is our ability to make the right match between caregiver and client. That process starts with us, in the initial inquiry, and is the reason why we are so focused on understanding the distinctive circumstances of each potential client and getting to the heart of the matter in each situation. In addition to matching

Family & Nursing Care is a leading resource for private duty home care services in the region. Since 1968, they’ve been helping older adults maintain their independence and quality of life as they age. Ninety-seven percent of surveyed clients have said they would recommend Family & Nursing Care to a friend or family member. 1010 Wayne Ave., Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-8200 www.familynursingcare.com

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service inquiries from potential clients? A: First and foremost, we listen.

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appropriate skill competencies, we take each client’s specific needs and preferences into account. Q: What do you consider to be a

successful outcome of a service inquiry? A: No two stories are the same, but half of those who use our services need care within 24 hours, and those callers can often be feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable when they reach out. We are successful by attending to their immediate need for care as quickly as possible. It doesn’t have to be a huge commitment for the client. We can always come back to discuss additional care needs once the crisis has eased.

MICHAEL VENTURA

Family & Nursing Care

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Brandywine Living at Potomac Brandywine Living is a premier provider of quality care and services to seniors. The luxury brand has recently expanded its platform to Potomac. “Our residents enjoy a resort-like experience, where they can focus on what brings them joy instead of trying to keep up with life," says Brandywine Living at Potomac Executive Director Emily Molloy. 10800 Potomac Tennis Lane Potomac, MD 20854 301-417-3000 www.brandycare.com/our-communities/potomac

TONY J. LEWIS

Q: What makes Brandywine Living at Potomac unique? A: What distinguishes us is that we deliver a true five-star senior care experience. From built-in personalized butler service to luxury amenities, including pristine interior/ exterior courtyards, a therapy pool and gym, beauty salon, movie theatre and multiple dining venues, a full array of educational programs and invigorating activities that will stimulate your mind and senses, Brandywine Living at Potomac feels very much like a cruise ship that never leaves its port. Q: How can seniors benefit from moving to a community like Brandywine? A: Seniors thrive most when they connect with their community. And, there is a power to having peers who grew up and experienced many of life's major milestones around the same time. Brandywine residents also benefit from round-the-clock nursing support and structure specifically designed for them to maintain their independence and health. Additionally, since our team takes care of many tasks and errands often pushed onto family, when loved ones visit, everyone can sit back and enjoy each other's company. Q: When is the best time to move into a senior living community? A: Too often, people wait until there is a crisis or no other option. The transition is much more seamless and enjoyable when residents move in during a positive time when they are still independent and can take full advantage of our amenities but would benefit from assistance with everyday tasks. Q: What is one thing prospective residents should know? A: We have personalized pricing for various price points. People see our gorgeous campus and amenities and assume our community will be outside their price range, but we work with families to find what works best for them and their loved ones. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022 231

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

AL SIMONS, FOUNDER & MANAGING MEMBER Specialty Care Services is committed to meeting the care needs of Washington Metropolitan area seniors in their location of choice — private residence, assisted living facility, nursing home or rehabilitation center — at the best value. All long-term care insurance plans are accepted, and clients are offered case management at no additional cost. 8555 16th St., Suite 101 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-585-6300 www.specialtycareservices.com

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Q: Specialty Care Services was recently awarded a five-year contract by the Maryland Department of Human Services to provide home care to qualified individuals. What does this mean for your company? A: We are honored to have been selected after a lengthy and highly-competitive bid process and excited to broaden our reach. Receiving this contract lays the foundation for Specialty Care Services to expand home care services and partner with the Maryland Department of Human Services to meet the growing demand for in-home aide services. Under our contract, inhome aide services are available to qualified Maryland residents ages 18 and older who have functional disabilities and need assistance with such tasks as personal care, chores, meal preparation and other day-to-day activities, enabling them to continue at home safely and indepen-

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

dently. Vulnerable adults with no willing or capable caregiver available, those at risk for institutional placement and those at risk of abuse or neglect also qualify for our services. Q: Why choose Specialty Care Ser-

vices? A: Our customer service is second to none. I don't know that any other company can meet the immediate needs of their clients as swiftly and seamlessly as we can. A care coordinator is always available to take your call and offer expert guidance to ensure you or your loved one gets the proper care. Regardless of the level of care required, all care plans are customized to meet each client's unique needs. Often, you only get one shot at matching a client with the right caregiver. We ask a lot of personality-related questions at the very onset to pave the way for prosperous caregiver-client relationships.

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Specialty Care Services

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Kensington Park Senior Living MARY MELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As specialists in all aspects of care for Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, we offer services and programs that are thoughtfully designed, clinically comprehensive and highly personalized. We improve the quality of life for our residents to the greatest extent possible.

HILARY SCHWAB

3620 Littledale Road Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-7700 www.KensingtonParkSeniorLiving.com

Q: What makes Kensington Park

stand out? A: The moment someone decides to join our Kensington Park family, whether it be in Independent Living, Assisted Living or any of our three levels of progressive Memory Care, we go above and beyond to make new residents feel right at home, just like family. Our designated Move-In Coordinator walks the family through the entire process. The director of the community meets with the family prior to and within the first 24 hours to check in with the family. A transition meeting with the family and/or resident is held shortly after moving in to discuss how the resident is doing. This type of communication with families continues for the resident’s entire stay, along with photos of the resident having fun and engaging in events. What makes Kensington Park stand out is our unwavering commitment to partner with families. Our goal is to

incorporate their knowledge and expertise into a strong, individualized resident plan of care. Q: What kind of care can one expect

at Kensington Park Senior Living? A: We offer a full spectrum of comprehensive clinical care including end-of-life care. Our nursing team, which is here around the clock and under the direction of registered nurses, cares and guides the family and resident through clinical decisions. Other unique clinical components to our community include our three in-house licensed music therapists, two of whom are certified in neurologic music therapy, as well as our BCAT-certified Brain Wellness programs that contribute to the cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing of our residents. At Kensington Park, we share moments and meals, handshakes and hugs, heartache and happiness, challenges and triumphs. Together.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BY SOLERA SENIOR LIVING Style and elegance have touched every aspect of Modena Reserve at Kensington, where we offer extraordinary independent living, assisted living and memory care. Set free from day-today concerns, residents are enjoying engaging programming, best-in-class amenities, five-star service, innovative technology and the highest standards of safety and care. 10540 Metropolitan Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 240-998-9990 www.modenakensington.com

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Q: What is important to you when

hiring staff? A: We are dedicated to providing first class, five-star hospitality service. We all know what that feels like. Our staff members, many of whom have worked in healthcare and hospitality, have excellent skills, capability and competence. Through the interview process they must also demonstrate an inherent kindness and a special spirit for their work so that their joy is evident, every day. Q: What is special about your

dining program? A: Our chef, Kevin Cecilio, has a remarkable resume. He has trained and worked with renowned chefs such as Eric Ripert, Aaron Silverman, Brian Voltaggio and Eric Ziebold; in luxury fine dining with The Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental,

MAY/JUNE 2022 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Range and Rose’s Luxury. Our residents are thrilled by his seasonal creative and delicious food. Yes, he has a lofty background, but he is also a father who knows how to make a great classic burger and Neapolitan style pizza. Q: How would you describe the

energy of your new senior living community? A: We have all the advantages of being a new building with a leadership team who comes with years of experience. From our Executive Director to our Director of Wellness and Assisted Living Manager, many of us were hired away from the competition to launch this exciting new type of senior living. Solera’s owner, Adam Kaplan, envisioned building a place where he would be happy to live, and he did just that. HILARY SCHWAB

Modena Reserve at Kensington

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Gail Linn, AuD, CCC-A POTOMAC AUDIOLOGY

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Dr. Linn earned her Doctor of Audiology from Salus University. She has a certificate of clinical competence in Audiology (CCC -A) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), where she served as Director of Private Practice and Industry. She is a Board Member and former Treasurer of the Maryland Academy of Audiology. 11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105 Rockville, MD 20852 187 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 3 Frederick MD 21702 240-477-1010 www.potomacaudiology.com

Q: Is there a style of hearing aid

you like better than others? Why? A: I prefer receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids, where most of the electronics are behind the ear, and a thin wire leads from the hearing aid to a small receiver inside the ear. Aside from comfort and cosmetic appeal, it is virtually invisible, this style of hearing aid is very flexible, with an interchangeable receiver that allows the same device to correct mild to profound hearing loss. Additionally, wireless antennas make these hearing aids capable of pairing with cell phones and other electronic devices. Q: Do you recommend over-the-

counter hearing aids? A: Over-the-counter hearing devices can help with mild hearing loss, but anyone with moderate to severe hearing loss will find them inadequate. We purchased a few sets, measured them in patients' ears to see how they work, and found they

correct hearing loss about 30-35 percent. Over-the-counter hearing aids tend to fall short of the prescriptive target by 40-50 percent in the low- and mid-frequencies, getting closest to target at the beginning of the high frequencies, about 3,0004,000 Hz, and then dropping off in the ultra-high frequencies about 50 percent. The acoustics in each person's ear are different; therefore, experiences will vary. But I would not recommend over-thecounter hearing aids for anyone with more than mild hearing loss. Q: What are Real-Ear

Measurements? Why are they so important to your practice? A: The gold standard of hearing aid fitting, this method allows us to measure what the device is delivering to the eardrum, taking into account the acoustic properties of the ear canal. Without it, we cannot determine whether a hearing aid is providing amplification across the frequencies to correct the hearing loss.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Andre O. McDonald, Esquire MCDONALD LAW FIRM, LLC 7315 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 800 West Bethesda, MD 20814 301-709-7357 info@mcdonaldesq.com www.mcdonaldesq.com Q: Can I avoid probate?

Q: Will Medicare pay for my parents’ nursing home care? A: No! Medicare is general medical health insurance for seniors over the age of 65 and people with disabilities. Its coverage is limited to hospital care, physician care, hospice, home health care and short-term skilled nursing home care or rehabilitation. It does not pay for long-term care in a nursing home. When Medicare will no longer pay, and there’s no long-term care insurance, applying for longterm care Medicaid or Medical Assistance, as the program is known in Maryland, is an option. 236

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HILARY SCHWAB

A: Yes! But first, probate refers to the process of settling a decedent's debts and legal title to property held in the decedent's name solely and not otherwise distributed via beneficiary designation, trust or operation of law. They are several mechanisms that can be employed to avoid probate. First, title to property can be held jointly, thereby, vesting title to real and personal property to the surviving joint owner. Second, beneficiary designations can be used to name beneficiaries for bank accounts, insurance policies and the like. Finally, property can be held in a trust, revocable or irrevocable. If there’s a will, and any property is subject to probate, the probate process begins when the personal representative, named in the will, presents the will for probate to the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent lived or owned property. If there’s no will, an interested person (surviving spouse, child, parent, etc.) petitions the Register of Wills to be appointed personal representative of the estate. Once appointed, the personal representative becomes the legal representative of the estate.

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Chevy Chase House DR. MIKE UKOHA PT, DPT AZARIA NORRIS, EP JARED COHEN, MBA PRESIDENT AND CEO PARKINSON FOUNDATION OF NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA

LISA HELFERT

Chevy Chase House features charming architectural details and spacious, renovated apartments with luxurious amenities and features. Living in this vibrant neighborhood provides all the advantages of an apartment in the city with the availability of supportive assisted living services if and when they are needed. 5420 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20015 202-684-7204 www.chevychaseseniorliving.com

Q: What specialized fitness pro-

Q: Are there unique programs for

grams are offered to residents of the Chevy Chase House?

residents with Parkinson’s?

A: Fox Rehab offers on site physical, occupational and speech therapies covered by Medicare and most insurances. They have just introduced the innovative Stronger Living Program for all Chevy Chase House residents. An exercise physiologist provides a complimentary weekly individualized exercise program for each resident. This program is designed to maximize mobility and prevent functional decline. Chevy Chase House is the only community of its kind that offers this kind of personalized fitness amenity for free to its residents. We are proud of our new state of the art gym, where residents can work out and participate in a wide variety of exercise classes such as tai chi, Pilates and strength training.

A: As a partner with Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, Chevy Chase House offers a Boxing for Parkinson’s class both for our residents and members of the foundation who pre-register. This program has recently reopened as we all hope for a happy, healthy spring! Accredited Fox Rehab therapists also offer, on site, both LSVT-BIG and LSVTLOUD for people with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions. Designed for improved mobility, LSVT-BIG exercises result in faster walking, bigger steps and improved balance. LSVT-LOUD consists of specialized speech therapies for easier, more clear communication.

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Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Irene Cady-Harrington, President AT HOME CARE, INC. 15304 Spencerville Ct. Burtonsville, MD 20866 301-421-0200 www.athomecareinc.com

A: In business since 1977, At Home Care, Inc. is one of the five oldest licensed agencies in the Washington Metropolitan area and an industry leader in improving the options and alternatives that homecare offers. For 45 years, At Home Care, Inc. has exceeded clients’ expectations with premium care and service at a lower cost than institutional care. Dedicated to coordinating services for the elderly, convalescent, chronically and terminally ill, the owneroperated company offers a wide range of services — from companionship to personal care and hygiene and more — designed to make life safer and more enjoyable for individuals who need help with daily living. One-on-one attention is still the best medicine, and At Home Care, Inc. provides that.

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Q: Why choose At Home Care, Inc.?

Riderwood LEIRE MOULIER-CLARK, SALES COUNSELOR 3140 Gracefield Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 1-800-610-1560 www.Riderwood.com

considering a continuing care retirement community? A: The first step is to understand that a continuing care retirement community is, like Riderwood, a place that offers independent living plus multiple levels of on-site care, such as assisted living, long-term nursing care, respite care, memory care and home care. If a priority is to meet new people and stay active, look for a community that’s large enough to offer a variety of clubs, activities and amenities while retaining the warmth of a small town. Residents often refer to Riderwood as a “small town under one roof.” Its wealth of amenities are connected through climate-controlled walkways. Riderwood allows seniors to stay active and independent while enjoying peace of mind. 238

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Q: What should seniors look for when

Ask the experts: Seniors & aging SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Asbury Methodist Village CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY SUE PAUL, DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS DONNA MARINO, RESIDENT & BRAIN HEALTH PARTICIPANT 201 Russell Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-453-8101 www. AsburyMethodistVillage.org

Q: What’s the link between exercise and brain health? A: Sue Paul: Any physical activity is great because it pumps oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought. Experts agree that aerobic exercise has the greatest brain rewards, but when your brain and body work together to accomplish a task, the benefits multiply. Our new Rosborough Wellness & Brain Health Center features classes that do this, and equipment such as a rock-climbing wall, boxing studio and SMARTfit exergaming are designed to make the brain and body work together.

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Q: What are other keys for brain

health? A: Sue Paul: We all love Wordle but building brain health involves a lot more. By the time we reach retirement age our brains have mastered many tasks. Now’s the time to add novel experiences and introduce randomness and surprise.

Take a new route on errands or going home. Open yourself to a new hobby and experiences. Make new friends. Strong social ties make you happy, lower your risk of dementia and increase life expectancy. Q: What is your advice for brainhealth beginners? A: Donna Marino: It’s never too late to start! I call myself a ‘neuronaut’ because I was one of the first residents to enroll in Asbury’s brain health program. Start slowly by building a base of activities you enjoy and keep building. The more you do, the better you’ll feel. With a family history of dementia and heart disease, I want to do all I can. My routine is anything but routine, with yoga, ballroom dancing, weight-lifting and ping-pong. And I was one of the first residents to try Asbury’s new rock-climbing wall. It was exhilarating!

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When

Inspiration & Creativity are combined,

the blank canvas for the perfect backdrop creates a masterpiece.

Nationally recognized Luxury Realtor, Jill Schwartz is honored to be showcasing the artwork of nationally recognized artist Kim Cohen at her new estate listing 9121 Burdette Road in Bethesda throughout the month of May. They have joined forces to share a journey evoking elegant living in a custom home of distinctive timeless architecture, impeccably manicured landscaping and serenity within luxurious living quarters. Kim’s goal as an artist is to evoke emotion from the viewer. Her unique style and technique varies depending on her inspiration, often incorporating pops of color, mixed media, digital, oil and acrylic paint. Jill’s passion for luxury real estate is to interpret the landscape and possibilities for the lifestyle of each custom residence she represents. Her forte is to create a portfolio of digital assets which are combined to communicate that vision to both a national and international audience. Kim generously leverages her artistic talent to frequently give back to her community, with proceeds from her art sales benefiting organizations like Power of Pink-Breast Cancer, Adoptions Together, CysticFibrosis, Keen, and local school auctions. Jill’s philanthropy contributions include the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, National Asthma and Allergy Foundation, Suburban Hospital, JWRP, and homelessness prevention in Montgomery County.

Residential & Commercial Real Estate, Licensed REALTOR® DC, MD, VA, & FL 301.758.7224 | jillschwartzgroup@gmail.com | jillschwartzgroup RLAH Real Estate | @properties 4600 N Park Ave #100 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301.652.0643. This ad is not intended to solicit properties already listed for sale, nor intended to cause a breach of an existing agent relationship. E&EO Covered.

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4/11/22 12:30 PM

restaurants. cooking. food. drinks.

PHOTO BY LINDSEY MAX

dine

A Spanish tortilla—a potato-layered omelet served with saffron and garlic mayo—is among the small plates at the recently opened El Mercat Bar de Tapas in Rockville. For more, turn to page 244.

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dine | TABLE TALK

BY DAVID HAGEDORN PHOTOS BY LINDSEY MAX

Dough Maker STOPPING IN ONE AFTERNOON to check out the recently opened Edith’s Pizza in Bethesda, I ordered a meat lovers pizza (cheese, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, meatballs, chicken) to take home for dinner. To tide me over while it was being made, I indulged in a slice of garden pizza (cheese, artichoke hearts, black olives, bell peppers, onions, spinach and arugula) that had just been baked on stone in one of the restaurant’s three electric deck ovens. The crust was thin and crispy on the bottom and pleasantly chewy on the circumference, the cheese abundant and gooey. “We use four types of cheese—whole, skim and buffalo mozzarella and provolone—that we shred ourselves because packaged shredded cheese is coated with cellulose to keep it from clumping,” says Kensington resident Jose Molina, who opened Edith’s in March a few doors down from Breads Unlimited, his Bradley Shopping Center bakery. The pizzeria, named after Molina’s wife, Edith, seats 20 inside and six outside. Unable to fulfill requests from customers for cakes, especially birthday cakes, due to space constraints at his bakery, Molina had approached the shopping center’s reps about renting a closed Pilates studio to open a cake shop. But, he says, the landlord didn’t want two bakeries in the same center, so he proposed a pizzeria with a cake business in the back, and they agreed. “The pizza idea came because for years with my wife and two boys [now 26 and 20], we’d rent a movie on Saturday night and I’d make pizza for the family,” Molina says. Molina immigrated to the States from

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El Salvador in 1990 and started working at Negril, a Jamaican restaurant in Silver Spring. In 1994, a friend told him about a job opening at Breads Unlimited, a fixture in Bethesda since 1981. Eager to learn about baking, he applied for the job and got it. His first task was to make bagels. “I didn’t even know what a bagel was. I started going to different places to see how they made bagels and started practicing. In two months, we were named one of the 10 best bagels in D.C. in The Washington Post. We went from making 10 dozen to 300 dozen a week,” he says. Molina learned the baking business inside out, becoming owner Steve Raab’s right hand at Breads Unlimited and its sister spot, New Yorker Bakery, now closed, in Silver Spring. Along the way, he learned how to repair the equipment himself and became a licensed electrician in 2008. Eleven years later, Raab

approached Molina about buying Breads Unlimited, which he did in 2020. “Mr. Raab is like family. Sometimes he still comes and makes challahs for us,” says Molina, whose older son, Roberto, manages Breads Unlimited. His younger son, Ricardo, is a business major at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and plans to go into the family business. Edith’s menu, which is still being developed, includes a small selection of appetizers and salads ($7.95 to $11.95),

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Caption Caption Caption Caption

Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption

Jose Molina and his wife, Edith (opposite page), at Edith’s Pizza, the new spot Jose opened in Bethesda. The menu includes a garden pizza (left) and a meat lovers version.

but the focus is on pizza. They offer eight 16-inch pies ($17.95 to $25.99): cheese, pepperoni, garden, meat lovers, Margherita, Edith’s paradise (cheese, onions, pineapple, capicola, spicy honey), supreme (cheese, peppers, onion, sausage, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms and olives) and the works (supreme toppings plus bacon, spinach and artichoke), or you can choose your own toppings. Individual slices of several of the pizzas are available, reheated on request. There are also

four calzones ($12.95 to $17.95): meat lovers, pepperoni, cheese and veggie. (Cakes, baked at Edith’s, are available for purchase at Breads Unlimited.) Molina says the pizza isn’t New York style or any other style—it’s his own style. “It’s a plain dough—just flour, salt, sugar, yeast and water. We make it fresh every day,” he says. In the future, he plans to experiment with sourdough crust (using the 60-year-old starter he uses for bread at his bakery) and whole wheat crust. He

believes altering a basic dough ingredient will be a gamechanger: “I will get New York water. Our water is filtered but still has too much chlorine and fluoride in it. I found a company in New York that can mimic any water from any city in the U.S.A. by changing the pH level through filtration. That will be great for our product.” Edith’s Pizza, 6910 Arlington Road (Bradley Shopping Center), Bethesda, 301-6863224, edithspizzas.com

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dine | TABLE TALK Clockwise from top left: gambas al ajillo with bread, Spanish tortilla and seafood paella at El Mercat Bar de Tapas

Tapa Quality THE INTOXICATING AROMA OF gambas al ajillo—shrimp nestled in piping hot olive oil infused with garlic, bay leaf, red chile and Spanish paprika—arrives at my table well before the small earthenware crock holding it does at El Mercat Bar de Tapas. The crustaceans are perfectly cooked and kissed with spritzes of lemon juice to impart acidity and cut the richness of the tasty oil, which gets sopped up by three accompanying slices of toasted bread. This perfect rendition of a Spanish tapa standby keeps good company with many other flavorful dishes on the menu at El Mercat Bar de Tapas, the Rockville Town Square restaurant opened in January by chef George Rodrigues and his wife, Wanessa Alves. “When my wife saw the [former] Gumbo Ya Ya space, we checked it out and fell in love with it,” Rodrigues says. “We felt the Spanish vibes. We live five minutes from there and were big fans of La Tasca.” (That Spanish tapas restaurant closed in Rockville Town Square in May 2020.) Rodrigues, 40, has experience in Spanish cooking. After going to culinary 244

school in his native Brazil, he intended to backpack through Europe and work in restaurants along the way before returning home to open a restaurant. Instead, a friend told him about a job at Mercat a la Planxa, a Spanish tapas restaurant in Chicago helmed by noted chef Jose Garces, where he worked for five years, leaving in 2010. Later jobs took him to Boston and Washington, D.C., working at chef Michael Schlow’s Tico in both places. From 2018 to 2021, he was the chef at D.C. tapas restaurant Boqueria. Alves designed the 1,800-square-foot, 60-seat restaurant, and its name has sentimental value. Rodrigues proposed to Alves at Barcelona’s huge outdoor market, El Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, in 2015. On one white brick wall, two sets of dark red shutters frame paintings of Barcelona street scenes. Another brick wall displays bottles of wine. Exposed beams, posts covered with Spanish tiles and a yellow neon “Bar de Tapas” sign contribute to the Barcelona vibe. (An outdoor patio with 28 seats will open when Rodrigues is able to staff it.)

The menu features 22 tapas (11 vegetarian, six meat and five fish), four paellas, three entrees and four desserts. Standouts we’ve sampled include Spanish tortilla, the custardy potato-layered omelet served with saffron and garlic mayo; patatas bravas, crispy fried potatoes with tomato sauce and aioli; cod fritters with aioli; and pork ribs braised in duck fat until ultra-tender, then glazed with apple cider. A seafood paella, its starchy Spanish bomba rice black from squid ink, comes teeming with mussels, clams, shrimp and squid. Another excellent paella is made with roast chicken and chorizo sausage topped with salsa verde. Both paellas reveal the hallmark of well-made versions of the dish: socarrat, a crusty layer of rice at the bottom of the pan. Don’t miss the churros stuffed with Nutella for dessert. The 32 bottles on the wine and sherry list are all Spanish. Cocktails and beer are also available. El Mercat Bar de Tapas, 101 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), Rockville, 240-403-7436, elmercatbardetapas.com

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COMINGS GOINGS A New York City-based bakery and cafe called Maman plans to open this summer in the Bethesda Row space that housed Le Pain Quotidien, which closed earlier this year.

McClimans, who own Nina May restaurant in Washington, are expecting to open American restaurant Elena James by the end of 2023.

Foxtrot, a market and cafe chain with a few local outposts, is planning to open later this year on Bethesda Row, replacing Mussel Bar & Grille, which closed in April.

Hulu Skewer House, which will offer skewered items and Chinese food, is hoping for a late summer opening in the former On the Border space in Rockville.

Bethesda-based sushi chainlet Raku is predicting a late fall opening for a second Bethesda location—this one in Wildwood Shopping Center—to be called Rakugaki.

BabyCat Brewery, which will be Kensington’s first brewery, aims to open by the end of the year.

Several food outlets have announced plans to open in the Chevy Chase Lake development in Chevy Chase. Baltimorebased ice cream chainlet The Charmery is slated to open this summer and fast-casual chainlet Playa Bowls (fruit bowls and smoothies) plans a fall opening. Danilo Simic and chef Colin

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Little Beet Table, a restaurant with a gluten-free menu, closed in March in The Collection shopping area in Chevy Chase’s Friendship Heights neighborhood. Goldberg’s New York Bagels closed its location in Potomac’s Cabin John Village in April. n

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dine

DINING GUIDE

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE DINING GUIDE AT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

BETHESDA AJI-NIPPON 6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons several kinds of sushi, sashimi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. Try a dinner box, which includes an entree, vegetables, California roll, tempura and rice. L D $$

ALATRI BROS. (EDITORS’ PICK) 4926 Cordell Ave., 301-718-6427, alatribros.com. The folks behind Olazzo and Gringos & Mariachis bought Mia’s Pizzas and revamped it with a new name and decor. They kept the Naples-style pies that come from a wood-burning oven, but added small plates and healthy options. Sit in the cheery dining room with green, gray and white accents or under an umbrella on the patio. ❂  L D $$

&PIZZA 7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of two crusts (both are vegan and one is also gluten-, soy- and dairy-free), three cheeses (including a vegan option) and five sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to Beyond Meat sausage and tater tots. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $

ANTHONY’S COAL FIRED PIZZA 7776 Norfolk Ave., 240-781-6943, acfp.com. A fullservice restaurant in Woodmont Triangle serving coal-fired pizzas and other Italian fare, Anthony’s is part of a Florida-based chain. The corner restaurant includes a large bar area with TVs. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂LD$

BACCHUS OF LEBANON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-657-1722, bacchusoflebanon.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 $$

THE BARKING DOG 4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, barkingdogbar.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Karaoke night is held weekly. ❂ L D $

BARREL AND CROW 4867 Cordell Ave., 240-800-3253, barrelandcrow. com. Contemporary regional and southern cuisine served in a comfortable setting with charcoal gray banquettes and elements of wood and brick. Menu

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highlights include Maryland crab beignets, shrimp and grits and roasted trout. ❂ R L D $$

BENIHANA 7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, 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. The kids’ menu includes a California roll and hibachi chicken, steak and shrimp entrees. J L D $$

Price designations are for a threecourse dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol. $ $$ $$$ $$$$

BETHESDA CRAB HOUSE 4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382. 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 jumbo-sized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve. ❂ L D $$

b  B R L D

BETHESDA CURRY KITCHEN 4860 Cordell Ave., 301-656-0062, bethesda currykitchen.com. The restaurant offers 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. L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT 4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, bgrtheburgerjoint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great. Protein choices include beef, chicken and Beyond Meat. Pick your own toppings or choose from a handful of selected combos, such as the Wagyu Wellington, with caramelized onions, roasted mushrooms, black truffles, blue cheese and BGR’s mayonnaise-horseradish “mojo” sauce. ❂ J L D $

up to $50 $51-$100 $101-$150 $151+ Outdoor Dining Children’s Menu Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner

bites and entrees. Dishes range from fried pork and waffles to short ribs. Try one of the colorfully named punches, which include Pink Murder Punch and Snow Cone Punch. ❂ R L D $$

CADDIES ON CORDELL 4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, caddieson cordell.com. Twentysomethings gather at this golfthemed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. Voted “Best Bar Scene” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂JRLD$

CASA OAXACA

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 4806 Rugby Ave., 301-907-4976, biggreekcafe.com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the cafe serves Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. L D $

BISTRO PROVENCE (EDITORS’ PICK) 4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, bistroprovence. org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. The Dinner Bistro Fare, served daily from 5 to 6:30 p.m., offers a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert for $35. ❂ R L D $$$

BLACK’S BAR & KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, blacksbarandkitchen.com. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients and enjoy dining on the expansive patio. The bar draws crowds for happy hour. ❂ R L D $$$

BRICKSIDE FOOD & DRINK 4866 Cordell Ave., 301-312-6160, brickside bethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian bar

4905 Fairmont Ave., 240-858-6181, casaoaxacamd. com. The focus is on tacos at this family-owned Mexican restaurant, but you’ll also find fajitas, salads, quesadillas and more on the menu. There’s an indoor bar and an outdoor beer garden.

❂ J L D $$

CAVA 7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 2360 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-658-2233; 4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-1772; cava.com. The guys from CAVA Mezze restaurant have created a Greek version of Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. House-made juices and teas provide a healthful beverage option. ❂ (Bethesda Avenue location) L D $

CHAIA 7237 Woodmont Ave., chaiatacos.com. Plantbased foods star at this fast-casual local chain. The menu includes kale and potato tacos, mushroom enchiladas, a quesadilla with squash blossoms, and sweet potato nachos. J L D $

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dine CHEESY PIZZI 8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0000, cheesypizzibethesda.com. In addition to the standard offerings of a pizza joint, this spot (formerly Pizza Tempo under different owners) has sandwiches and boat-shaped Turkish pizza known as pide. L D $

CHEF TONY’S 4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, cheftonysbethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean fare, offering dishes ranging from fish and seafood to chicken, steak and pasta. Desserts include cannoli, cheesecake and tiramisu. J R L D $$

CHERCHER ETHIOPIAN 4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-6500, chercherrestaurant.com. The second branch of a D.C. Ethiopian spot, this restaurant and bar took over the space housing Suma. The decor is moderncontemporary and the menu features dishes—from beef to vegan—served on one large platter, meant for sharing, and Ethiopian wine. L D $

CHIKO 7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-968-0053, chikodc.com. The name of this fast-casual outpost of a D.C.-based chain is a combination of Chinese and Korean, and so is its menu. Entrees are priced at $15-$20 and include Orange-ish Chicken and Cumin Lamb Stir Fry. Appetizers include Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls and Wok-Blistered Green Beans. ❂ J D $$

CITY LIGHTS OF CHINA 4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, bethesdacitylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery serves familiar Sichuan and Beijing fare, including six types of dumplings and seven handmade noodle dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a sharp look. L D $$

THE CORNER SLICE 7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, thecornerslice. net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. Specialty pizzas include the spinachartichoke white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and the Buffalo Chicken Pie with blue cheese and hot sauce. ❂ L D $

CUBANO’S 4907 Cordell Ave., 301-347-7952, cubanosrestaurant.com. Find authentic Cuban cooking with dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains. L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN 7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-4287, bethesda. doghaus.com. This fast-casual California-based chain serves hot dogs, sausages, burgers and chicken sandwiches. The hot dogs are all beef and hormoneand antibiotic-free. The industrial-chic space includes picnic tables, TVs, a bar and more than two dozen beer choices. J L D $

DON POLLO 10321 Westlake Drive, 301-347-6175; donpollogroup.com. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery

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a go-to place any night of the week. Family meals that serve four or six people are available. ❂ L D $

DUCK DUCK GOOSE (EDITORS’ PICK) 7929 Norfolk Ave., 301-312-8837, ddgbethesda. com. Thirty-five-seat French brasserie owned by chef Ashish Alfred. Small plates include steak tartare, and squid ink spaghetti with Manila clams and Fresno chilies. Among the entrees, look for updates of French classics, such as dry-aged duck with Bing cherries, and halibut with scallop mousse and puff pastry. ❂ L D $$

EDITH’S PIZZA (NEW) 6910 Arlington Road (Bradley Shopping Center), 301686-3224, edithspizzas.com. The owner of Breads Unlimited opened this pizza shop with 20 seats inside and six outside in the same strip mall as his bakery. Appetizers, salads, calzones and pizza by the slice or the pie. For an original take, try the Edith’s Paradise pizza (cheese, onions, pineapple, capicola, spicy honey).

❂LD$

FISH TACO 7251 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-0010; 10305 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-564-6000, fishtacoonline.com. This counterservice taqueria features a full roster of seafood as well as non-aquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. Voted “Best Tacos” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. J L D $

FLOWER CHILD 10205 Old Georgetown Road, 301-664-4971, iamaflowerchild.com. A fast-casual restaurant that’s part of a national chain, Flower Child has an emphasis on vegetarian eating (grain-based bowls, vegetable plates, salads) but also offers protein addons such as chicken, salmon and steak. ❂ L D $

FRANK PEPE PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA (NEW) 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), pepespizzeria.com. Part of a chain that serves coal-fired pizzas, Frank Pepe offers a signature pizza with fresh clams, Pecorino Romano cheese, oil, fresh garlic and oregano. Others include the Amanti Della Carne (tomatoes, mozzarella, meatball, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, Pecorino Romano) and one with spinach, mushrooms and gorgonzola. L D $$

GARDEN GRILLE & BAR 7301 Waverly St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 301-654-8111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-toorder omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers to pasta dishes. J B D $$

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA 4611-A Sangamore Road, 301-347-6830, gregoriostrattoria.com. Proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home at this family-owned restaurant serving 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 pastas.

❂ J L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, gringosandmariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurant in Bethesda trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals and plenty of tequila. Voted “Best Happy Hour” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. L D $

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-0888, 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.

JRLD$

GUARDADO’S 4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, guardados.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 SUSHI 7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, hanarosushi.com. The restaurant’s modern dark woods combined with a light-filled dining room brighten its corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses such as pad Thai and galbi (Korean ribs). The bar offers a daily happy hour. ❂ L D $$

HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FOOD 7117 Bethesda Lane, 240-203-8135, eathawkers. com. This Bethesda Row branch of a Florida-based chain features bright decor with neon signs for a fun vibe reminiscent of an Asian street. The menu stars small plates such as baos (buns filled with chicken or pork belly), chicken dumplings, wontons, beef and chicken skewers, wings and coconut shrimp. There are also rice and noodle dishes, and lighter vegetable-based eats, such as green papaya and shrimp salad, edamame and five-spice green beans.

❂LD$

HOUSE OF FOONG LIN 4613 Willow Lane, 301-656-3427, foonglin.com. The Chinese restaurant features Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, including chef’s recommendations, low-fat choices and lots of traditional noodle dishes.

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. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap.

JLD$

THE IRISH INN AT GLEN ECHO 6119 Tulane Ave., 301-229-6600, irishinnglenecho. com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been delivering smiles and hearty food since 2003. Traditional Irish music on Monday nights, The 19th Street Band or other live music on Wednesday nights and live jazz on Sunday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

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Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

JETTIES 4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-769-6844, jettiesdc.com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucketinspired sandwich shop, which has five 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 and an innovative children’s menu. Voted “Best Sandwich Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ J L D $

KADHAI (EDITORS’ PICK) 7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-718-0121, kadhai.com. This popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi serves a variety of traditional chicken, lamb and seafood dishes, plus rice and vegetarian dishes and a selection of breads. An extensive lunch buffet is offered daily. Voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ L D $$

LA PANETTERIA 4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, lapanetteria. com. La Panetteria transports diners to a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving Italian and Argentinian dishes, such as homemade pasta, pizzas and Argentinian meats. There are vegan options on the menu.

L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 10217 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-752-8737, lepainquotidien.com. New York-based Belgian-born bakery/restaurant chain with farmhouse vibe, featuring organic breads, European breakfast and dessert pastries, savory egg dishes, soups, Belgian open-faced sandwiches, entree salads, wine and Belgian beer by the bottle.

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LEO & LIV 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton), 301-652-2000, hilton.com/en/ hotels/wasbaup-the-bethesdan-hotel. Set in a hotel, this farm-to-table restaurant serves Mediterranean and American cuisine, from filet mignon and Moroccan lamb shank to butternut squash ravioli.

B R D $$

LUKE’S LOBSTER 7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, lukeslobster. com. This upscale carryout features authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped directly from Maine. Try the Taste of Maine, which offers all three kinds of rolls, plus two crab claws.

❂LD$

MAKI BAR 6831 Wisconsin Ave. (Shops of Wisconsin), 301907-9888, makibarbethesda.com. This tiny 30-seat Japanese restaurant and sushi bar offers 60-plus kinds of maki rolls, categorized as Classic (tuna roll), Crunch Lover (spicy crunch California roll) and Signature (eel, avocado, tobiko, crab), along with sushi, sashimi, noodle bowls and rice-based entrees.

L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with

$ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch

cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. Gluten-free options available. ❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX 7278 Woodmont Ave., 240-465-0500, matchboxrestaurants.com. At this local chain, look for mini-burgers, a “ginormous meatball” appetizer and thin-crust pizza with toppings, including herbroasted chicken, roasted mushrooms, fire-roasted red peppers and Spanish onions. ❂ J R L D $$

$$$$ $151+

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b Outdoor Dining D Dinner

PASSAGE TO INDIA (EDITORS’ PICK) 4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, passagetoindia. info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chef-owner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. ❂ R L D $$

PAUL 4760 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-3285, paul-usa.com. Fifth-generation, family-owned French bakery becomes an international chain, with locations in close to 35 countries. Aside from breads and pastries, look for soups, sandwiches and quiche.

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MEDIUM RARE 4904 Fairmont Ave., 301-215-8739, mediumrarerestaurant.com. A prix fixe menu that comes with bread, salad, steak and fries is the sole option at this small chain outpost (there’s a Medium Rare in D.C. and one in Virginia). Desserts cost extra. Weekend brunch also features a prix fixe menu.

D $$

PHO VIET USA 4917 Cordell Ave., 301-652-0834, phovietus.com. Part of a chainlet of Vietnamese restaurants, this Woodmont Triangle spot serves 10 types of pho, along with rice entrees, cold noodle dishes and banh mi sandwiches. L D $$

PICCOLI PIATTI PIZZERIA

MOMO CHICKEN & GRILL 4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, usmomo.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 with framed record albums gracing the walls. ❂ J L D $$

MON AMI GABI (EDITORS’ PICK) 7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, monamigabi. 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. Live jazz Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

10257 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-858-6099, piccolipiattipizzeria.com. The owner of local chains Fish Taco and Don Pollo opened this full-service Italian concept in the former Oakville Grille spot. Specializing in 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas, the restaurant also sells sandwiches, salads, small plates and pasta dishes. ❂ L D $$

PINES OF ROME 4918 Cordell Ave., 301-657-8775. Longtime Italian restaurant, formerly on Hampden Lane, still serves traditional pasta, pizza, fish and seafood at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. L D $

PIZZERIA DA MARCO (EDITORS’ PICK)

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE 7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, 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. L D $$$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 10400 Old Georgetown Road, 240-316-4555, notyouraveragejoes.com. This Massachusetts-based chain’s moderately priced menu offers burgers, big salads and stone-hearth pizzas, plus entrees including Anything But Average Meatloaf.

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OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-9496, olazzo.com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable prices. Founded by brothers Riccardo and Roberto Pietrobono, it was voted “Best Italian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, ophrestaurants.com. Along with the classic flapjacks on this chain’s menu, you’ll find flavor-packed items such as apple pancakes with a cinnamon sugar glaze. And it’s not just pancakes to pick from: The restaurant serves a variety of waffles, crepes, eggs and omelets. J B L $

8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, pizzeriadamarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a 900-degree Italian brick oven range from the Siciliana with eggplant confit and black olives to the Solo Carne with sausage, pepperoni and salame. Salads, antipasti and calzones available, too.

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PLANTA (NEW) 4910 Elm St., 301-407-2447, plantarestaurants. com. Part of a chain, this plant-based fine-dining spot features pasta dishes, salads, pizzas and appetizers. Cauliflower tots come with truffle aioli; the Bianca pizza is topped with rosemary potatoes, kale, olives, capers, hot chili oil, cashew mozzarella and onion. To drink: cold-pressed juices, beer, wine, cider, sake, and cocktails, including a few nonalcoholic options.

❂ R L D $$$

POKE DOJO 7110 Bethesda Lane, 240-696-0990, pokedojo.com. The owners of Bethesda’s Hanaro Sushi opened this poke place at Bethesda Row. The menu includes a handful of signature bowls, or you can build your own from the raw fish, rice and toppings offered. L D $

PRALINE BAKERY & BISTRO 4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, praline-bakery.com. This sunny restaurant offers a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken pot pie

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and pralines, is French with an American accent.

❂ J B R L D $$

Q BY PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 4500 East West Highway, 240-800-3722, qbypeterchang.com. Notable chef Peter Chang’s highend flagship restaurant offers traditional Chinese dishes in an attractive, modern space. Peking duck, double-cooked pork belly and other authentic Sichuan cuisine are served, and some dishes are “ultimate spicy” for brave palates. Dim sum is available.

❂ J L D $$

RAKU (EDITORS’ PICK) 7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, rakuasiandining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022 and “Best Restaurant in Bethesda” by readers in 2021, 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 $$

RICE PADDIES GRILL 4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddiesgrill.com. This cute copper-and-green eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites such as pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY 7900 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1311, rockbottom.com. India Pale Ales and specialty dark brews are among the award-winning beers crafted in-house at this cavernous yet welcoming chain, which offers a vast menu. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$

SALA THAI 4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, salathaidc.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.

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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 $$

SEVENTH STATE (NEW) 7707 Woodmont Ave. (Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ), 301-276-7707, marriott.com/enus/hotels/wasbd-marriott-bethesda-downtown-atmarriott-hq/dining. A half-dozen hearth-oven pizzas top the menu at the Marriott hotel’s ground floor

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restaurant. Other entree options include catfish, skirt steak, short ribs and a burger. Charred Brussels sprouts and a crab cake are among the shareable plates. ❂ R D $$

SILVER (EDITORS’ PICK) 7150 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-9780, eatatsilver. com. Upscale, tonier version of the homegrown Silver Diner chain, with modern takes on American classics and an emphasis on healthy, local and organic ingredients. Sleek interior takes its cue from the 1920s. ❂ J B R L D $$

SMOKE BBQ BETHESDA 4858 Cordell Ave., 301-656-2011, smokebbq.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s, plus starters including smoked tomato soup and fried pickles served in a friendly, casual space. J L D $

SPANISH DINER 7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-284-3700, spanishdiner. com. José Andrés replaced the Jaleo in downtown Bethesda with this breakfast-all-day (Spanish style) concept. Menu standouts include huevos rotos (over-easy eggs with potatoes); chicken, pork and duck foie gras-stuffed canelones with cheese sauce; and a breakfast ham, egg, cheese and avocado sandwich. For dessert, don’t miss the compressed pineapple with rum, lime and mint. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ L D $$

SWEETGREEN 4831 Bethesda Ave.301-654-7336, sweetgreen. com. The sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients—concentrates on salads (devise your own, or pick from a list) and soups. Look for eco-friendly decor and a healthy sensibility. Voted “Best Salads” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ L D $

TAKO GRILL 4914 Hampden Lane (The Shoppes of Bethesda), 301-652-7030, takogrill.com. Longtime, popular sushi destination relocated to the space formerly occupied by Hinode Japanese Restaurant. Look for the same traditional sushi menu, plus some new options, such as griddle-cooked teppanyaki at lunch, and more varieties of yakitori at dinner. L D $$

TARA THAI 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-657-0488, tarathai.com. Thai cuisine goes high style. 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, tasteediner. com. For more than 80 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything from breakfast to burgers to blue-plate specials such as steak and crabcakes to crowds of loyal customers. Open 24 hours. J B L D $

TERRAIN CAFÉ (EDITORS’ PICK) 7228 Woodmont Ave., 240-345-9492, shopterrain. com/restaurants. Located inside the Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row, this quaint cafe changes its

$$$$ $151+

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menu with the seasons. Look for cheese boards; salads; toast topped with eggplant, smoked salmon or fig; and entrees such as duck breast and a fried cauliflower sandwich. ❂ R L D $$

TIA QUETA 4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, tiaqueta.com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers authentic Mexican food such as moles and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. Drink menu includes American and Mexican beers.

❂ J L D $$

TIKKA MASALA 4929 Elm St., 301-312-8191. Named after the classic curry recipe, Tikka Masala serves its namesake dish with a choice of four proteins— chicken, shrimp, lamb and paneer (cheese). Other classic Indian meat dishes and vegetarian entrees (including chickpea curry and cauliflower vindaloo) are also on the menu. L D $$

TOMMY JOE’S 7940 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-3801, tommy-joes. com.This Bethesda institution is now in the space formerly housing Urban Heights. The second-floor, window-filled corner location suits its sports bar persona, and the vast rooftop is ideal for outdoor drinking and snacking. Fare includes wings (Pohostyle, grilled and smoky, are a good option), burgers, crabcakes and ribs. Chunky brisket chili, on its own or on nachos, is a winner. ❂ L D $$

TRATTORIA SORRENTO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, trattoriasorrento. com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Halfprice bottles of wine on Wednesdays. D $$

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7100 Wisconsin Ave., 240-200-1257, truefoodkitchen.com. Health-focused chain prides itself on serving fresh ingredients and features an open kitchen. The eclectic, multicultural menu changes from season to season, and includes sandwiches, salads and pizza. Beer, wine and freshfruit and vegetable cocktails are also available. Voted “Best Restaurant for Vegetarian Dishes” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

❂ R L D $$

UNCLE JULIO’S 4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, unclejulios. 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 “Best Mexican Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022 and “Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

VIRRAAJ FINE INDIAN CUISINE 4914 Cordell Ave., 301-906-8425, virraaj.com. The Indian fusion-style dishes at this Woodmont Triangle restaurant range from vegetarian entrees such as Paneer Makhan Masala (cottage cheese cubes in a tomato cream sauce) and Maa Ki Dal (creamy black lentils) to meat-based dishes like Lamb Vindaloo (with a spicy curry sauce) and Murgh

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dine Tikka Masala (boneless grilled chicken sauteed in a creamy tomato sauce).

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WANG DYNASTY 4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1188, wangdynastybethesda.com. A mix of dishes from Shanghai and Taiwan—sweet and sour chicken, crispy shrimp with minced pork, Peking duck, panfried noodles with beef—fill the long menu at this Chinese restaurant in the space that housed Shanghai Village. Weekend dim sum is offered. R

L D $$

WOODMONT GRILL (EDITORS’ PICK) 7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, hillstone.com. Part of the Houston’s chain, the eatery offers such classics as spinach-and-artichoke dip and its famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. Voted “Restaurant You Missed Most During the Pandemic” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Best Overall Restaurant” by readers in 2022.

❂ L D $$$

WORLD OF BEER 7200 Wisconsin Ave., 240-389-9317, worldofbeer. com. Craft beer-focused tavern chain offers 50 brews on tap rotating daily and hundreds of bottled options. Food is classic pub fare, including hamburgers, wings and bratwurst sandwiches, as well as flatbreads and salads. Voted “Restaurant With Best Beer Selection” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ JR L D $

ZAO STAMINA RAMEN 7345 Wisconsin Ave., Unit B, 301-312-8399, zaostaminaramen.com. The menu is concise here— ramen is the star (three of the ramen soups are vegan). You’ll also find a few appetizers, such as gyoza (pork or vegan dumplings) and pork buns.

LD$

CABIN JOHN FISH TACO 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂JLD$

SAL’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 240-802-2370, salsitaliankitchen.net. Persimmon and Wild Tomato owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore replaced their Asian concept Indigo House with a return to their roots. Find traditional Italian fare, such as bruschetta, risotto balls, Caprese salad, meatball subs, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken cacciatore and shrimp scampi. ❂ L D $$

WILD TOMATO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, wildtomatorestaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

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CHEVY CHASE ALFIO’S LA TRATTORIA 4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, alfios.com. This Northern Italian classic 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), served in an Old World environment. J L D $$

THE CAPITAL GRILLE 5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, thecapitalgrille. 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. Entrees also include chicken, lamb chops, salmon and lobster. L D $$$$

CLYDE’S 5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, clydes. com. The popular restaurant 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 $$

DON POLLO 7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001, donpolloonline.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE HUNTER’S HOUND 5471 Wisconsin Ave., 301-969-8281, thehuntershound.com. With fare the restaurant describes as “modern Irish Americana cuisine,” you’ll find a few Irish classics alongside Grilled Baby Gem Caesar Salad and a mushroom and black bean veggie burger at this dark and cozy spot at the Collection at Chevy Chase. End a meal with sticky toffee pudding. ❂ J R L D $$

LA FERME (EDITORS’ PICK) 7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, lafermerestaurant.com. This charming Provencestyle restaurant serving classic French cuisine is a popular choice for an intimate dinner. Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme, a bar within the restaurant, opened in fall 2016. The bar serves small plates and cocktails. Voted “Best Restaurant in Chevy Chase” and “Best Special Occasion Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ R L D $$$

LIA'S 4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, chefgeoff.com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on highquality, low-fuss modern Italian-American fare at this modern space with a wine room. Pizzas, house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. ❂ J R L D $

MANOLI CANOLI RESTAURANT 8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, manolicanoli. com. Italian and Greek specialties abound 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.

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MEIWAH RESTAURANT 4457 Willard Ave., 301-652-9882, 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. There’s also a sushi bar with an extensive menu. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio.

❂ L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 7023 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, mobyskabob. com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. The menu includes a variety of salads and vegetarian sandwiches and platters. Voted “Best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022.

LD$

PERSIMMON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, persimmonrestaurant.com. Owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore’s popular restaurant offers casual fare from salads to sandwiches to meat and seafood entrees in a bistro setting featuring a lively bar, cozy booths and bright paintings on the walls.

❂ R L D $$

POTOMAC PIZZA 19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, 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, sushikorestaurants.com. Known as one of the Washington, D.C., area’s most respected sushi restaurants, Sushiko offers a wide range of sushi and other dishes. Kobo, a restaurant within the restaurant, allows eight people to dine on 12- to 15-course tasting menus. ❂ L D $$

TAVIRA 8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, 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 D $$

GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC &PIZZA 258 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 240-4998447, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing.

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ASIA NINE 254 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-3309997, asianinemd.com. Pan Asian restaurant with a first location in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers dishes from Vietnam, China, Thailand and Japan. Specialties include grilled lamb chops served with mango-soy coulis and miso honey duck breast

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crabcakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites.

drizzled with a sake butter sauce.

R L D $$

ATHENS GRILL 9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, athensgrill. com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties such as rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked on a hardwood grill. L D $

BARKING MAD CAFE 239 Spectrum Ave., 240-297-6230, barkingmadcafe. com. Cooking from a wood hearth and selecting vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from its aeroponic (grown in air/mist but without soil) organic garden, Barking Mad Cafe has a corner spot in Watkins Mill Town Center. Look for made-from-scratch brunch, lunch and dinner sweets and savories, such as breakfast pizza, watermelon salad and farro salad.

BREWS & BARRELS BOURBON BAR AND GRILL 625 Center Point Way, 240-912-7736, brewsbarrels. com. With rustic chic decor, this Kentlands spot serves burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, baby back ribs and pan-seared scallops alongside craft beer, whiskies and cocktails. J D $$

BUCA DI BEPPO 122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, bucadibeppo. com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties from fresh breads to antipasti and pasta dishes amid a sea of Italian kitsch. Desserts include Italian Creme Cake and tiramisu. J L D $$

CAVA 213 Kentlands Blvd., 301-476-4209, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

❂ R L D $$

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT 229 Boardwalk Place (rio), 301-569-7086, bgrtheburgerjoint.com. See Bethesda listing.

CHENNAI HOPPERS

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BONEFISH GRILL 82 Market St., 240-631-2401, bonefishgrill.com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks,

136 Paramount Park Drive (Spectrum Town Center), 240-813-0061, chennaihoppers.com. The South Indian dishes here are made with creative twists, including the Kozhi Lollipop (chicken wings that are battered and fried, then tossed with a sauce, onions and peppers) and Madras Ilai Meen Varuthathu (fish

$$$$ $151+

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in a red sauce and coconut oil, wrapped in banana leaf and pan seared). ❂ L D $$

CINCO DE MAYO 640 Center Point Way, 240-261-4349, cincodemayorest.com. Part of a small chain, this Kentlands restaurant serves Mexican fare, including quesadillas, tacos, grilled chicken, steak, burritos and fajitas. ❂ L D $$

COAL FIRE 116 Main St., 301-519-2625, coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by coal and topped with your choice of toppings and three different sauces: classic, spicy and signature, which is slightly sweet with a hint of spice. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available, plus a full bar. ❂ L D $

COASTAL FLATS 135 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-8698800, greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfaxbased chain. Seaside-inspired decor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and Key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served. Voted “Best Restaurant in Gaithersburg/North Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

COPPER CANYON GRILL 100 Boardwalk Place (rio), 240-631-0003, ccgrill. com. Large portions of American classics such as

O U T D O O R PAT I O N OW O P E N

18 FOOT MEDIA WALL

Live music weekly • Outdoor patio + crush bar $5 build-your-own burger every Monday $2 Taco Tuesdays + $12 margarita flights

SportsandSocialBethesda SPORTSANDSOCIAL.COM Located At Pike & Rose

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dine salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken prepared with seasonal ingredients at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious and casual chain restaurant. J L D $$

DOGFISH HEAD ALEHOUSE 800 W. Diamond Ave., 301-963-4847, dogfishalehouse.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. Check out the burger of the week. ❂ J L D $$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN 644 Center Point Way, 240-690-6090, kentlands. doghaus.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

DON POLLO 9083 Gaither Road, 301-990-0981, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL 390 Spectrum Ave., 301-284-1770, gaithersburg. firebirdsrestaurants.com. Part of a chain, this restaurant in the Watkins Mill Town Center cooks steaks and seafood over a wood-fired grill. Designed to look like a Colorado lodge, the eatery tends toward classic fare for entrees (surf-and-turf, salmon, burgers) and dessert (chocolate cake, Key lime pie, carrot cake). ❂ J L D $$

THE GRILLED OYSTER CO. 200 Main St., 301-299-9888, thegrilledoystercompany.com. This Chesapeakestyle seafood eatery relocated from Potomac’s Cabin John Village to the Kentlands in Gaithersburg. You’ll find salads, lobster pasta, a poke bowl, a burger and mussels. The sampler of grilled oysters— with ingredients such as spinach and bourbon— showcases the namesake item. ❂ J D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17 (rio), 301-977-5655, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂JRLD$

HERSHEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR 17030 Oakmont Ave., 301-948-9893, hersheysatthegrove.com. Fried chicken that tastes like it was made by an aproned elder is served up in a clapboard building constructed in 1889. Besides the fab fried chicken, Hershey’s serves up warm rolls, inexpensive prices and live music.

❂ J B R L D $$

IL PORTO 245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, ilportorestaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thincrust pizza are hallmarks of this friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. Fried calamari and the white pizza are among customer favorites. ❂ L D $

INFERNO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA (EDITORS’ PICK) 12207 Darnestown Road, 301-963-0115, inferno-pizzeria.com. Tony Conte, former executive chef of Washington, D.C.’s Oval Room, goes casual with his first restaurant, an authentic Neapolitan

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pizzeria offering sophisticated toppings such as shaved truffles and garlic confit. Cozy dining room seats 39, with a tiled, wood-burning pizza oven as the centerpiece. D $$

IXTAPALAPA TAQUERIA 411 N. Frederick Ave., 240-702-0217, ixtataqueria. com. The owners of Taco Bar (in a Gaithersburg gas station) serve Mexican street food at this fast-casual spot. Pick a protein to go on corn tortillas, then head to the fixings bar. Or try a taco that comes already topped (the alambre with bacon, grilled onions and red peppers and Oaxaca cheese is good). ❂ L D $

KENAKI SUSHI 706 Center Point Way, 240-224-7189, kenakisushi. com. This sushi counter at Kentlands Market Square offers what the owners call a “modern take on traditional sushi.” Experiment with the Black Magic roll, which comes with truffle oil and black sushi rice. Lunch is more informal, but at dinner there’s full service. L D $

LANZHOU HAND PULL NOODLE 3 Grand Corner Ave. (rio), 240-403-7486, handpullnoodle.com. The made-to-order noodles (choose hand-pulled or knife-sliced) at this fastcasual spot are served in soups and stir-fries with beef, chicken, duck and other proteins. Rice dishes, dumplings and pork buns are also available. L D $

THE MELTING POT 9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, themeltingpot. 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 broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 105 Market St., 301-978-7770, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA 145 Commerce Square Place, 240-552-9850, modpizza.com. The Bellevue, Washington-based chain offers design-your-own fast-casual pies (hence, Made on Demand, or MOD). Pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees for three minutes, can be topped with a choice of nearly 40 sauces, cheeses, meats, spices and veggies. ❂ L D $

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 245 Kentlands Blvd., 240-477-1040, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J L D $$

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE 212 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9636281, oldtownpourhouse.com. One of the eateries from Chicago’s Bottleneck Management restaurant company, this place features more than 90 local and international brews on tap. Classic American cuisine is served in a setting with copper-inlaid bars and high ceilings. ❂ L D $$

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR 203 Crown Park Ave., 301-330-4400, paladarlatinkitchen.com. This Cleveland-based 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, jerk chicken. Bar selections include 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos. ❂ J R L D $$

QUINCY’S BAR & GRILLE 616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200. 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 entrees including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, ruthschris.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, which include Caribbean lobster tail and barbecued shrimp. Voted “Restaurant You’d Go to When Someone Else is Paying” and “Best Steak” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. D $$$

SILVER DINER 9811 Washingtonian Blvd. (rio), 301-321-3530, silverdiner.com. This branch of the trendy diner includes a full bar and brasserie-style interior. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Voted “Best Late-Night Eats” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J B R L D $$

SIN & GRIN 353 Main St., 301-977-5595, singrintacos.com. Located in the heart of Kentlands Market Square, Sin & Grin is a fast-casual restaurant owned and operated by the Hristopoulos family, which also runs Vasili’s Kitchen. Pick from eight tacos, rotisserie chicken and an assortment of Mexican cuisine.

LD$

SOUTH HOUSE GARDEN 317 E. Diamond Ave., 240-912-6395, thesouthhousegarden.com. The garden theme plays out in plants and vines around this stylish restaurant and bar, which has lots of room for grabbing a beer, wine or a cocktail. Appetizers have a Southern slant (fried green tomatoes and jalapeno cornbread skillet). Main courses include tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, crabcakes and several vegan options. You’ll also find billiards and a few arcade games.

❂ J L D $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 106 Market St., 301-947-4007, tandoorinightsmd. com. The restaurant serves traditional Indian fare ranging from tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, to a biryani flavored with saffron, nuts and raisins. ❂ L D $

TARA THAI 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9 (rio), 301-947-8330, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TED’S BULLETIN 220 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9900600, tedsbulletin.com. First Maryland location of the modern diner chainlet from the folks at Matchbox

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Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

Food Group. Boozy milkshakes, homemade pop tarts and the Cinnamon Roll As Big As Ya Head (served weekends only) are among the specialties.

❂ J B R L D $$

TED’S MONTANA GRILL 105 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-3300777, tedsmontanagrill.com. First Maryland location of billionaire and bison rancher Ted Turner’s restaurant chain, which uses bison as the showpiece in a humongous selection of dishes, including burgers, meatloaf, nachos and chili. Soups, salads, American classics and spiked milkshakes also available at this saloon-style eatery. ❂ J L D $$

THAI TANIUM 657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, thaitaniumrestaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. Try one of the Thai street food dishes, such as roasted pork with Thai herbed sweet sauce and noodle soups. ❂ J L D $

UNCLE JULIO’S 231 Rio Blvd. (rio), 240-632-2150, unclejulios.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

VASILI'S KITCHEN 705 Center Point Way, 301-977-1011, vasilis kitchen.com. Tan and brown decor lends a cozy vibe to this 4,700-square-foot Kentlands restaurant. The owners ran the popular Vasili’s Mediterranean Grill in another Kentlands location for more than a decade before closing it to focus on Vasili’s Kitchen. The Mediterranean menu is heavy on seafood dishes.

❂ J D $$

VINE ALLEY (NEW) 114 Market St., vinealleykentlands.com. In the Kentlands, this beer and wine shop has a bar and tables for dining in and a menu that focuses on salads, sandwiches and small plates. Wines by the glass and beer on tap are available, and there’s a $5 corking fee if you buy a bottle and drink it on-site.

❂ L D $$

YARD HOUSE 211 Rio Blvd. (rio), 240-683-8790, yardhouse. com. Part of a chain with locations in California, Illinois and Texas, this Gaithersburg spot is big: The 13,000-square-foot restaurant has more than 100 beers on draft, and more than 100 items on its menu, from poke nachos and Nashville hot chicken to Parmesan-crusted pork loin and ginger-crusted salmon. ❂ J L D $$

YOYOGI SUSHI 317 Main St., 301-963-0001. yoyogisushi.wixsite. com/yoyogisushi. A no-nonsense neighborhood sushi place offering the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura and green tea or red bean ice cream. ❂ L D $

GARRETT PARK

BLACK MARKET BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, blackmarketrestaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building

$ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch

next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. Entrees range from swordfish to a burger and pizza, including several vegetable options. Voted “Best Restaurant in Garrett Park/Kensington” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

KENSINGTON THE BIG GREEK CAFE 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE DISH & DRAM 10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, thedishanddram.com. The owners of The Daily Dish in Silver Spring serve comfort food made with local ingredients in a 2,800-square-foot space in Kensington. Steak frites, Maryland crab soup, burgers and house-made desserts are on the menu.

J R L D $$

$$$$ $151+

L Lunch

b Outdoor Dining D Dinner

to-find cash-only spot in the Woodmont Station shopping center. Warm-colored walls surround the crowd digging into thousand-layer pancakes and fresh tofu. R L D $

AKIRA RAMEN & IZAKAYA 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-242-3669, akiraramenizakaya.com. This minimalist Japanese eatery serves house-made noodles and vibrant food such as a poke salad. The sleek establishment, located on the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, features an open kitchen and several variations of ramen to choose from. L D $

AL CARBÓN 200 Park Road, 301-738-0003, alcarbonrestaurant. com. Serving authentic Latin American fare across the street from the Rockville Metro station, this unassuming roadhouse has a loyal following for its arepas, empanadas, tapas and more. Try one of the natural juices including mango and tamarindo.

❂BLD$

AL HA'ESH

FRANKLY…PIZZA! (EDITORS’ PICK) 10417 Armory Ave., 301-832-1065, franklypizza. com. Owner Frank Linn turns out high-quality pizza in a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant. The menu offers wood-fired pies topped with home-cured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-year-old family recipe. Wines and homemade sodas served on tap, too. ❂ L D $

JAVA NATION

4860 Boiling Brook Parkway (Randolph Hills Shopping Center), 301-231-0839, al-haesh.com. Kosher Israeli grill serves vegetable and protein skewers (including chicken, lamb, beef, chicken livers and sweetbreads). All entrees come with small ramekins of salads (think curried chickpeas; marinated red cabbage; and balsamic marinated mushrooms). ❂ L D $$

AMALFI RISTORANTE ITALIANO

10516 Connecticut Ave., 301-327-6580, javanation.com. There’s a brunch menu at this coffee shop tucked into a strip mall. Beer, wine and liquor are served, along with coffee that’s roasted on-site. Voted “Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. R L $$

K TOWN BISTRO 3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, ktownbistro. com. Try filet mignon, duck breast à l’orange, chicken marsala and other classic continental dishes from this family-run eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$

KNOWLES STATION WINE & CO. 10414 Detrick Ave., Suite 100; 301-272-9080; knowlesstation.com. Part retail wine shop, part restaurant, part bar, this spot near the intersection of Knowles and Summit avenues features a short menu with meat and cheese plates, appetizers, salads and sandwiches (including grilled chicken, roast pork and crabcake). Find more than a dozen beers on draft and more than two dozen wines by the glass, plus lots of beer and wine to go. ❂ J L D $$

12307 Wilkins Ave., 301-770-7888, amalfirockville. com. A family-run, red-sauce Italian restaurant with specialties including white pizza and lasagna. Lots of antipasti choices, too. The gazebo is a charming spot to dine during the summer. J L D $$

AMINA THAI 5065 Nicholson Lane, 301-770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-and-wife team and bills itself as the first Muslim Thai restaurant in the area, using only halal meats and serving familiar Thai dishes. Chef’s specials include pineapple fried rice and grilled salmon. L D $

&PIZZA 11626 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240621-7016, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂LD$

BANGKOK GARDEN THAI STREET EATS 891-D Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), 301-5452848, bkgrockville.com. This fast-casual spot offers Thai classics (drunken noodles, pad Thai, fried rice, and curries served with chicken or pork belly) alongside Thai street fare, such as a mussel omelet.

LD$

BARONESSA ITALIAN RESTAURANT

NORTH BETHESDA/ ROCKVILLE A & J RESTAURANT (EDITORS’ PICK) 1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, aj-restaurant. com. Northern dim sum is the specialty at this hard-

1302 E. Gude Drive, 301-838-9050, baronessarestaurant.com. Pizzas made in a woodburning oven and more than two dozen Italian entrees star on the menu at this 100-seat stripmall restaurant. Trivia nights and kids pizza-making classes are offered.

J R L D $$

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dine BB.Q CHICKEN 9712 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-0962, bbqchickenrockville.com. This Korean chain uses olive oil for frying its chicken, which you can order as whole, half, wings or boneless. Other Korean and fusion entrees and sides—including kimchi fried rice, calamari and fried dumplings—are on the menu too. There’s also a full bar. L D $

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 4007 Norbeck Road, 301-929-9760; 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE BLOCK FOODHALL & BAR 967 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), theblockfoodhall.com. This Asian food hall is a sibling of an Annandale spot that helped launch the food hall trend. Find tacos, Korean barbecue, shaved ice cream and more from a half dozen stalls. The center of the space houses a bar with TVs. ❂ L D $

BOB'S SHANGHAI 66 305 N. Washington St., 301-251-6652. Dim sum and rice and noodle dishes are the specialties at this popular eatery offering Taiwanese, Shanghai and Sichuan cuisine. It’s also one of the area’s top destinations for soup dumplings, where you can even watch the chefs making them in a glass-enclosed booth. R L D $

BOMBAY BISTRO 98 W. Montgomery Ave., 301-762-8798, bombaybistro.com. Bombay Bistro opened in 1991 as one of the first Indian restaurants in the area to combine high style, reasonable prices and a fresh take on traditional Indian, and it has been packed ever since. House specialties include tandoori lamb chops and shrimp and scallops masala.

J L D $$

BONCHON CHICKEN 107 Gibbs St., Unit A (Rockville Town Square), 301-637-9079, bonchon.com. International fried chicken franchise with Korean roots serves up wings, drumsticks and strips with soy-garlic or spicy hot garlic sauce, plus other traditional offerings such as bulgogi, bibimbap and scallion seafood pancakes.

LD$

BOTANERO 800 Pleasant Drive, Suite 160, 240-474-5461, botanerorockville.com. Located in the King Farm neighborhood, this small plates restaurant and wine bar features cuisine that changes seasonally. Some recent offerings include a fig and prosciutto flatbread and quinoa grilled salmon. B L D $

CAVA 12037 Rockville Pike (Montrose Crossing), 240-2350627; 28 Upper Rock Circle, 301-200-5530; cava. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

CAVA MEZZE (EDITORS’ PICK) 9713 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-9090, cavamezze.com. The dark and elegant CAVA Mezze offers small plates of everything from fried Greek cheese, octopus and orzo in cinnamon tomato sauce to crispy pork belly and macaroni and cheese. There are martini specials, too. Voted “Best Small Plates”

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by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ R L D $$

CHINA BISTRO 755 Hungerford Drive, 301-294-0808. Extensive Chinese menu features many familiar favorites, but this is the place to go for dumplings. With tender dough wrappers and chock-full interiors, these beauties come 12 to an order and with 16 different filling choices. Fresh, uncooked dumplings are also available for carryout. L D $

CHINA GARDEN 11333 Woodglen Drive, 301-881-2800, chinagardenhg.com. The Cantonese restaurant moved from Rosslyn, Virginia, to the former Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar space. The lunch menu includes dim sum items (they are on a pushcart on weekends). L D $$

CITY PERCH KITCHEN + BAR 11830 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-2312310, cityperch.com. Located above the entrance to the iPic Theaters at Pike & Rose, City Perch offers creative, seasonal American cuisine in a rustic, inviting space. The menu includes raw-bar selections, small plates, shareable salads and entree options such as grilled shrimp and Long Island duck.

❂ R L D $$$

CLYDE'S TOWER OAKS LODGE 2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, clydes.com/ tower. Here is Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish, plus a raw bar. Check out the twig sculpture spanning the ceiling of The Saranac Room. J R L D $$

COMMONWEALTH INDIAN 11610 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240833-3055. The owner of two Bollywood Bistro restaurants in Virginia opened this fine-dining spot that serves traditional Indian favorites such as curry chicken and butter chicken, along with fresh-baked bread and Indian salad. The bar has Indian-inspired cocktails and Indian beers and wines.

❂ R L D $$$

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY & RESTAURANT 1403 Research Blvd. (Research Row), 301-5179463, chwinery.com/locations/maryland/rockvillemd. Part of a national chain, this restaurant and winery lists which of its wines to pair with the contemporary American dishes on the sprawling menu (pasta, steak, seafood, burgers, 600-calorie or less dishes). There’s also a tasting room and a retail space. Voted "Restaurant With Best Wine List" by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

❂ J L D $$$

CSNY PIZZA 1020 Rockville Pike, 301-298-3650, csnypizza. wixsite.com/sneaksite. Carry out a New York-style pizza from this spot by the owners of Pizza CS. Their second Rockville location also offers six seats for guests to dine in, and serves whole pies, hot subs and pizza by the slice. L D $

DOMOISHI 201 E. Middle Lane, 301-666-6685, domoishi.com. This Rockville Town Center restaurant lets diners customize their bowls of ramen, and also sells poke and wings. The eatery shares an address with Pearl Lady, a bubble tea shop. L D $

DON POLLO 2206 Veirs Mill Road, 301-309-1608, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EAST PEARL RESTAURANT 838-B Rockville Pike, 301-838-8663, eastpearlrestaurant.com. Choose from many options of Hong Kong cuisine, including familiar dishes featuring chicken, beef, poultry, pork and even duck, as well as those for adventurous tastes. Try the soups ranging from egg drop to seafood with bean curd. L D $

EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT 765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177, elmariachirockville.com. Serving Tex-Mex and South American food in a bright, pleasant space made lively with colorful art. In addition to the usual enchiladas, tacos and burritos, look for Peruvian seafood and Cuban beef specialties. L D $

EL MERCAT BAR DE TAPAS 101 Gibbs St., Unit C. (Rockville Town Square), 240403-7436, elmercatbardetapas.com. The shareable dishes at this Spanish restaurant include pan-seared brussels sprouts and pork ribs with a cider glaze. Four types of paella are also on the menu. D $$

EL PATIO 5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225. This bustling cafe with pretty green umbrellas on the patio serves up the traditional meat-heavy dishes of Argentina, as well as pizzas and freshly made baked goods. Look for mouth-watering empanadas, beef tongue and sausage specialties. ❂ J B L D $

EMA ROSSI PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA 5556 Norbeck Road, 240-669-9900, emarossipizzeria.com. Neapolitan-style pizza, cooked in a wood-burning oven, is the focus of this spot in Rockville’s Rock Creek Village Center. Also look for rigatoni with Bolognese sauce; Wagyu beef and veal meatballs in marinara sauce; deviled eggs with a sauce flavored with anchovies, capers, chives and pickles; and house-made gelato. ❂ L D $

FAR EAST RESTAURANT 5055 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-5552, fareastrockvillemd.com. Owned and operated by the same family since 1974, this classic Chinese restaurant greets customers with two royal stone lions out front and sticks to the familiar ChineseAmerican basics. Check out the daily specials and dim sum menu. L D $$

FARMSOOK 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, farmsookthaikitchen.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual Thai 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 $$

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Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

FINNEGAN’S WAKE IRISH PUB 100 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398267, finneganswakerockville.com. Irish pub with a nice selection of bourbons, whiskeys and Irish beers and a very limited bar menu offering such fare as bangers and mash, poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese curds), a chicken club sandwich, fish and chips, wings and a burger. L D $

FOGO DE CHÃO 11600 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 301841-9200, fogodechao.com. Part of an international chain, the Brazilian steakhouse offers cuts of meat— plus a salad and vegetable station—at all-you-can-eat prices. ❂ R L D $$$

FONTINA GRILLE 801 Pleasant Drive, 301-947-5400, fontinagrille. com. A trendy spot with its curvy maple bar and wood-burning pizza oven, Fontina Grille is a favorite gathering place for the King Farm neighborhood. Pizza, pasta and salads are the main attractions. Three-dollar pasta dishes available on Monday nights and half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays.

❂ J R L D $$

GYROLAND 1701-B3 Rockville Pike, 301-816-7829, gyrolandmd. com. Build-your-own salads, open-face and wrapped sandwiches, and other Greek choices star at this

$ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch

fast-casual spot near Congressional Plaza. For dessert, Gyroland serves loukoumades, a bite-size fluffy Greek doughnut soaked in hot honey syrup.

LD$

GYUZO JAPANESE BBQ 33 Maryland Ave., Suite B (Rockville Town Square), 240-403-7670, gyuzobbq.com. Diners cook up their own meat using a small grill at their table here. The menu includes a variety of rice and noodle dishes, along with beef dishes such as Kalbi boneless short rib, sirloin, ribeye and filet mignon. Pork and poultry dishes include spicy pork belly and duck breast.

L D $$

HARD TIMES CAFÉ 1117 Nelson St., 301-294-9720, 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 West-style saloon for lunch and dinner. L D $

HINODE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 134 Congressional Lane, 301-816-2190, hinoderestaurant.com. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine since 1992. All-you-can-eat lunch and weekend dinner buffet offers 40 types of sushi, 14 hot foods and a salad bar. Check out the patio with full bar service.

$$$$ $151+

L Lunch

b Outdoor Dining D Dinner

IL PIZZICO (EDITORS’ PICK) 15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, ilpizzico.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 of mainly Italian wines make even a weeknight meal feel special.

L D $$

IRON AGE 1054 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1474, ironagekoreansteakhouse.com. Part of a small chain of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurants, this branch opened in 2012. Garlic pork belly, spicy chicken and beef brisket are among the dozen-plus offerings. There are two menu options (the pricier one includes a few more items, such as steak and octopus). J L D $$

JAVA NATION (EDITORS’ PICK) 11120 Rockville Pike, 301-836-6022, java-nation.com. An offshoot of a coffeeshop in Kensington, this Rockville Pike restaurant in the space that once housed Addie’s serves a full-service menu of fish, oysters and other seafood. There’s a 10-seat bar for beer, wine, liquor—and coffee. Voted “Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ J R L D $$

L D $$

bethesdablossom.com

7613 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 (301)656-2167

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dine JINYA RAMEN BAR 910 Prose St. (Pike & Rose), 301-816-3029, jinyaramenbar.com. A 74-seat eatery that’s part of a chain, Jinya serves 12 different types of ramen, ranging from the classic wonton chicken to a creamy vegan option. Try the Jinya Mini Tacos, which come with a choice of salmon poke, pork chashu and kimchee, or spicy tuna. J L D $

JOE’S NOODLE HOUSE 1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, joesnoodlehouse.com. Chinese expats and many other customers consider the Sichuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $

JULII (EDITORS’ PICK) 11915 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-5179090, julii.com. A French Mediterranean bistro from the owners of CAVA, Julii looks like a glass box from the outside and serves fare such as salmon crudo, roasted bone marrow, crispy trout, New York strip au poivre and tableside nitrogen ice cream. Voted “Most Imaginative Cocktails” (tied with another venue) by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. L D $$

KUSSHI SUSHI 11826 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 240-770-0355, kusshisushi.com. The owners of Hanaro Sushi, a Japanese restaurant in Bethesda, serve up similar sushi offerings here. A boat-shaped platter with 64 to 128 pieces of sushi or sashimi is a fun shareable option. L D $$

KUYA JA’S LECHON BELLY 5268-H Nicholson Lane, 240-669-4383, kuyajas. com. This fast-casual restaurant that started as a pop-up in the Rockville area specializes in serving lechon, a Filipino pork belly dish. Chef and owner Javier J. Fernandez, a native of the Philippines, shares the flavors of his home country through ricebowls, spiced wings and homemade pastries.

LD$

LA BRASA LATIN CUISINE 12401 Parklawn Drive, 301-468-8850, labrasarockville.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), 301-2511550, lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a regally furnished dining room in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy black ironwork. The menu includes artfully prepared seafood, pork, chicken and beef dishes. ❂ L D $

LA LIMEÑA GRILL 1093 Rockville Pike, 301-417-4922. An offshoot of nearby La Limeña Restaurant, this Peruvian eatery with a spacious patio serves several traditional seafood dishes, including Ceviche Mixto, an appetizer of lime-marinated tilapia served with glazed potatoes and crispy dried corn kernels. The Chicha Morada, a

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sweet corn-based drink, pairs nicely with authentic and tender braised-beef entrees. ❂ J L D $$

LAO SZE CHUAN 20 Paseo Drive, 301-968-2096. An outpost of a Szechuan Chinese restaurant based in Chicago, this large and airy restaurant serves an extensive list of dishes, including sweet and sour chicken, Peking duck and jumbo shrimp coated with salted egg.

D $$

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ 115 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3098681, lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner, the cafe is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, lamb kabobs, salmon and chicken. ❂ J L D $

LEBTAV 1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086, lebtav. com. LEBTAV has a shorter menu than its fastcasual sibling Lebanese Taverna Café. You’ll find sandwiches, bowls, hummus, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX 1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, matchboxrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J R L D $$

MELINA 905 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-818-9090, melinagreek.com. The owners of CAVA opened this fine dining Greek restaurant. The fare includes artisan bread, cured hamachi (yellowtail fish) in a citrus dressing, cod skordalia over pickled beets, and slow-roasted lamb neck. End with Greek doughnuts for two. ❂ D $$$

MISSION BBQ 885 Rockville Pike, 301-444-5574, mission-bbq. com. This outpost of a national chain, known for its support of U.S. military troops and veterans, serves its barbecue—including brisket, ribs and pulled pork—alongside a slew of add-your-own sauces. Come for lunch and stay to recite the national anthem at noon. J L D $

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 14929-A Shady Grove Road, 301-738-0005, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOD PIZZA 12027 Rockville Pike, 301-287-4284. modpizza. com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing.

❂LD$

MOSAIC CUISINE & CAFÉ 186 Halpine Road, 301-468-0682, mosaiccuisine. 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 entrees. J B R L D $$

MYKONOS GRILL 121 Congressional Lane, 301-770-5999, mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls with Mediterranean blue accents on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ L D $$

NADA 11886 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7714040, eatdrinknada.com/n-bethesda. Part of a small national chain, Nada serves street tacos with fillings such as caramelized cauliflower, fried tofu and pork carnitas. The brief menu also includes soups, salads and a fajita plate. Margaritas and seasonal cocktails are available. R L D $$

NAGOYA SUSHI 402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778, nagoyasushirockville.com. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers who come for the large selection of sushi at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm.

L D $$

NIWANO HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, niwanohana.com. Clean Asian decor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. There are the usual sushi rolls, plus creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori. L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 12224 Rockville Pike, 301-468-0886, ophrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. This location stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. J B L D $

OWEN’S ORDINARY (EDITORS’ PICK) 11820 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 301-2451226, owensordinarymd.com. This Americanstyle restaurant, barroom and beer garden from Neighborhood Restaurant Group boasts 50 rotating drafts and more than 150 types of bottled beer. The 175-seat restaurant serves salads, burgers, pork, seafood and fondue entrees, and those looking to grab a drink can make the most of the space’s 60seat beer garden. R L D $$

PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 20-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301838-9188, peterchangarlington.com. Chef Peter Chang’s Sichuan specialties are showcased in an apricot-walled dining space. Garnering a cult-like following over the years, Chang is best known for dishes such as dry-fried eggplant, crispy pork belly and duck in a stone pot. L D $$

PHO 75 771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. The restaurant is 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. Beverages include interesting options such as Iced Salty Pickled Lemon Juice. L D $

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PHO HOA BINH 11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrees. The Adventurer’s Choice features “unusual” meats, including tendon, tripe and fatty flank. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $

PHO NOM NOM 842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, phonomnom.net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. House specials include Vietnamese beef stew and pork and shrimp wontons.

LD$

PHOLUSCIOUS VIETNAMESE GRILL 10048 Darnestown Road, 301-762-2226, pholuscious.com. This casual restaurant and bar is home to traditional Vietnamese cooking, with fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil and many herbs and vegetables. The menu features pho, noodle dishes, rice plates and lots of protein dishes. Beverages include bubble tea, smoothies, beer and wine.

L D $$

PIKE KITCHEN 1066 Rockville Pike, 301-603-2279, pikekitchen. com. The 6,200-square-foot, 100-seat Asian food hall at the Edmonston Crossing shopping center includes eateries dishing up Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, pho, poke, ramen, bibimbap and more.❂ L D $

PLAZA OAXACA 141 Gibbs St., #305 (Rockville Town Square), 301968-2136, plaza-oaxaca.com. A full slate of Mexican fare—from enchiladas and fajitas to tamales and carne asada—is served up in a festive atmosphere. Mariachi bands, salsa lessons, and late nights with a DJ are all in the mix. ❂ J L D $$

PLNT BURGER 11355 Woodglen Drive (Whole Foods Market), 301984-4880, plntburger.com. This vegan fast-casual eatery within Whole Foods Market serves cooked-toorder plant-based Beyond Meat burgers, fries, and soft-serve dairy-free ice cream. J L D $

POTOMAC PIZZA 9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing.

❂JLD$

POYOTECA 14921 Fallsgrove Blvd., 240-386-8234, poyoteca. com. Peruvian rotisserie chicken is the signature item here, in quarter, half or whole portions. You’ll also find burritos, a handful of salads, and bowls of rice with chicken and other toppings. J L D $

QUINCY’S SOUTH BAR & GRILLE 11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincyssouth.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ L D $

SADAF HALAL RESTAURANT 1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting Rockville Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains

$$$$ $151+

L Lunch

b Outdoor Dining D Dinner

and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes.

❂JLD$

SAM CAFÉ & MARKET 844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, samcafemarket. com. Fill up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats or interesting entrees, including pomegranate molasses stew and marinated grilled salmon, then have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ L D $

SEASONS 52 11414 Rockville Pike, 301-984-5252, seasons52. com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Choose from flatbreads including Blackened Steak & Blue Cheese and Grilled Garlic Pesto Chicken to entree salads to meat and seafood dishes. Nightly piano music. ❂ L D $$

SHANGHAI TASTE 1121 Nelson St., 301-279-0806. Co-owner and chef Wei Sun, a Shanghai native, specializes in preparing three different flavors of soup dumplings at this small restaurant in a strip mall. The menu also includes traditional Chinese-American dishes, such as General Tso’s chicken and fried rice. L D $

706 Center Point Way Gaithersburg, MD 20878 240.224.7189

KENAKI_SUSHI

SHEBA RESTAURANT 5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-8882, sheba rockville.com. The menu features authentic Ethiopian cuisine with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. House specialties include Dulet Assa, chopped tilapia mixed with onion, garlic and jalapeno and served with a side of homemade cheese. L D $

SICHUAN JIN RIVER 410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, sichuanjinrivermd.com. Customers find terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a no-frills setting. Take the plunge and try something new with the authentic Chinese menu, including 23 small cold plates.

LD$

SILVER DINER 12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, silverdiner. com. Customers flock to this trendy diner that still offers tableside jukeboxes. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Voted “Best LateNight Eats” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021.

Located at The Roost 1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE Washington DC 20003 202.661.0142 AKO_by_KENAKI

JBRLD$

SPORTS & SOCIAL 11800 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 240-7473006, sportsandsocialbethesda.com. Skee-Ball, foosball, basketball, shuffle puck and more than 20 TVs compete with a full food and drink menu at this branch of a national chain. This location’s cocktails include an Orange Crush, a drink well known throughout Maryland made with freshly squeezed orange juice, triple sec, orange vodka and Sprite.

COMING SOON! Potomac, MD KEMA_by_KENAKI

❂ J L D $$

THE SPOT 255 N. Washington St., thespotdmv.com. This 6,200-square-foot, 200-seat Asian food hall, not far from Rockville Town Square, includes a handful of vendors, including Mian Pull Noodle (dumplings and noodle dishes), Poki DC (the Hawaiian-inspired raw

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dine fish dish called poke) and Alpaca Dessert (shaved snow ice and ice cream-filled waffle cones).

LD$

STANFORD GRILL 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd., 240-582-1000, thestanfordgrill.com. From the Blueridge Restaurant Group, owner of Copper Canyon Grill restaurants, comes this 300-seat American eatery on the ground floor of an office building. Salads, burgers, steaks and seafood, plus sushi, with an eye toward high quality. ❂ R L D $$

STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7708609, stellabarra.com. Adjacent to its sister restaurant, Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra is an artisan pizzeria with a hip, urban vibe. Look for crisp crusts with chewy centers topped with butternut squash and candied bacon or housemade pork sausage and fennel pollen. Italian wines available. ❂ R D $$

ST. VEG 14929 Shady Grove Road, Unit M (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-605-7511, stveg.com. With its focus on plant-based foods, this vegan fast-casual spot offers gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free options. Fresh local and organic ingredients mean the menu can change, but look for cauliflower bites, tater tots, veggie burgers, and sandwiches packed with vegetables, along with bowls of rice, greens or whole wheat noodles with toppings that range from potatochickpea croquettes and braised tofu to pickled mustard greens and jicama. ❂ L D $

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (EDITORS’ PICK) 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-8812381, summerhousesm.com. An airy, light and stunning space sets the scene for modern American cuisine with a West Coast sensibility. Fare includes salads, sushi, tacos, sandwiches and steak frites. Do not miss the bakery counter. Voted “Best Restaurant in Rockville/North Bethesda” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Restaurant With Best Decor” by readers in 2020.

❂ J R L D $$

SUPER BOWL NOODLE HOUSE 785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086. Look for a large variety of Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions, plus a wide selection of appetizers. Also, bubble tea and desserts, including Sweet Taro Root Roll and Black Sugar Shaved Ice. ❂ L D $

SUSHI DAMO 36-G Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301340-8010, 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 entrees and an impressive sake list.

L D $$

SUSHI HOUSE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043, sushihouse1331.com. A tiny, plain restaurant serving a large selection of fresh sushi, including sushi and

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Key sashimi combinations. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$

SUSHI OISHII 9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-251-1177, sushioishii.com. This charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offers friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items, including beef, poultry and seafood teriyaki.

L D $$

TACO BAMBA 1627 Rockville Pike (Congressional Plaza), 301-8222334, tacobamba.com. The fast-casual chainlet features around two dozen traditional tacos and craft tacos, including the MoCo Crab (a crab melt with spicy mayo, vinegar slaw and potato sticks) and the Mrs. Hogan (pork, gochujang, kimchi bacon fried rice, cucumbers and radishes). There’s also a cocktail bar with 18 seats. ❂ B L D $

TAIPEI TOKYO 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301881-8388; taipei-tokyo.net. These sister restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. The Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$

TARA THAI 12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TEMARI CAFÉ 1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls, ramen noodle soup, sushi and sashimi and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$

THAI CHEF 29 Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398045, thaichefdmv.com. The colorful interior of this restaurant features fun and quirky decor, much of it from Thailand. A roster of street foods like what you would find at a Thai night festival includes cucumber salad, catfish dry curry, spicy eggplant, and peppery garlic fried rice with shrimp.

❂ L D $$

THAT’S AMORE 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on familystyle portions of classic Neapolitan dishes such as lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$

TRAPEZARIA 11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, thetrapezaria. com. This down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/ Mediterranean restaurant serves top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrees. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages and more-involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$

Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

URBAN HOT POT 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-669-6710, urbanhotpot. com. On the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, this hot pot spot features a conveyor belt where food travels to diners. A prix fixe all-you-caneat menu allows you to create your meal at your table using one of the stationed iPads. Choose from a selection of noodles, vegetables and meat to add to a bowl of hot stock, then do it again if you’re still hungry. L D $$

VILLA MAYA 5532 Norbeck Road (Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247. Here you’ll find all the traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites from quesadillas to fajitas that are sure to please the whole family.

❂ R L D $$

THE WOODSIDE DELI 4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, thewoodsidedeli.com. Though the original location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that dished up matzo ball soup from 1947 to 2019 closed, this location is still open. Choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, burgers and entrees. There’s also a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $

WORLD OF BEER 196B East Montgomery Ave., 301-340-2915,

worldofbeer.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ JR L D $

XI’AN GOURMET 316 N. Washington St., 301-875-5144, xian-gourmet.business.site. This casual diner prides itself on its comfort food. Named after an ancient city, Xi’an heavily features Sichuan and Shaanxi cuisines, after the chefs’ regional heritage. Go for the Shaanxi cold steamed noodles or the Shanghai soup dumplings. L D $

YEKTA 1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-1190, yekta.com. Persian cuisine, including a selection of beef, chicken and lamb kabobs, is served in a beautiful dining room. Try a dessert such as frozen noodle sorbet or saffron ice cream. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kabob. L D $$

YUAN FU VEGETARIAN 798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, yuanfuvegetarian. com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese vegetable products. There is a large selection of chef’s specials, including Pumpkin Chicken with Mushrooms in a hot pot. L D $

Z&Z MANOUSHE BAKERY 1111 Nelson St. (Woodley Gardens shopping center), 301-296-4178, zandzdc.com. A trio of brothers opened this tiny bakery to sell manoushe—pizzalike Levantine flatbreads with various toppings. Try the Classic with olive oil and za’atar or the Lahm Bi Ajeem with ground beef, tomatoes, sumac onions and lemon. Takeout only with some patio seating, and there’s a park nearby. ❂ L D $

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POTOMAC ATTMAN’S DELICATESSEN 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-765-3354, attmansdeli.com. The menu at this branch of a landmark Baltimore deli offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Third-generation owner Marc Attman is at the helm.

❂BLD$

BROOKLYN’S DELI & CATERING 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, brooklynsdelimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. Think hot pastrami with coleslaw and Russian dressing on pumpernickel. ❂ J B L D $

CAVA 7991 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2005398, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COLADA SHOP 7993 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240332-8870, coladashop.com. Pastelitos, empanadas and tostones are among the Latin food offerings at this D.C.-based, fast-casual, Cuban-style cafe. The menu offers breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, pastries, snacks, coffee drinks, cocktails and desserts (including key lime pie in a screw-top jar). The colorfully decorated space seats 100 inside, and there’s room for another 65 outside. ❂ B L D $

GRAND FUSION CUISINE 350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grandfusionpotomac.com. Diners will find something for everyone seeking a taste of the Asian continent, a full sushi bar, and Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean specialties. Chef’s specials include Crispy Eggplant in Spicy Orange Sauce and Double Flavored Shrimp. ❂ L D $

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA 7745 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2966168, gregoriostrattoria.com. See Bethesda listing.

J L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-339-8855, gringosandmariachis.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂D$

HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL 10123 River Road, 301-299-9300, huntersbarandgrill.com. At this Potomac institution and popular English hunt-themed spot, try a big salad or hamburger for lunch and a traditional pasta dish or filet mignon for dinner with the family.

❂ J R L D $$

KING STREET OYSTER BAR 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-296-6260, kingstreetoysterbar.com. Part of a small local chain, this Park Potomac restaurant replaced Addie’s. There’s a raw bar menu, plus cedar plank salmon, parmesan-crusted trout and crabcakes. ❂ L D $$

LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL 7747 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240499-8922, lahinchtavernandgrill.com. The menu of

this sister restaurant to The Irish Inn at Glen Echo commingles Irish standards (traditional sausage roll, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, lamb stew) with fare such as Alaskan halibut. Lahinch is a coastal town in Ireland’s County Clare. J R L D $$$

LOCK 72 KITCHEN & BAR (EDITORS’ PICK) 10128 River Road, 301-299-0481, lock72.com. Well-known chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group runs this upscale American pub (formerly called River Falls Tavern). Entrees include panroasted duck breast, crabcake, rockfish and New York strip steak. ❂ R L D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 9812 Falls Road, 240-660-2626, mobyskabob.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $

MOCO’S FOUNDING FARMERS 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, wearefoundingfarmers.com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown D.C. Founding Farmers. Try the warm cookies for dessert. Voted “Best Restaurant in Potomac” and “Best Brunch” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021, and “Best Brunch,” and “Most Imaginative Cocktails” (tied with another venue) by readers in 2022. ❂ B R L D $$

NORMANDIE FARM 10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, popovers.com. This fine-dining French restaurant, which is slated to close in June 2022, strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. Entrees run from seafood to beef and lamb. The restaurant offers quick service, a casual cafe option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$

O’DONNELL’S MARKET 1073 Seven Locks Road, 301-251-6355, odonnellsmarket.com. This market, from the family that ran O’Donnell’s restaurants in Montgomery County for decades, features a 10-seat bar for lunch and happy hour. The menu includes a raw bar, salads and many O’Donnell’s classics, among them a lumpfilled crabcake sandwich, salmon BLT, seafood bisque and crab gumbo. Voted “Best Takeout During the Stay-at-Home Order,” “Best Crabcake” and “Best Place to Buy Fish” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ L $

OLD ANGLER’S INN 10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-365-2425, oldanglersinn.com. Open since 1860 and known for its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. Signature cocktails include hard cider sangria and a pumpkin pie martini. ❂ R L D $$$

RENATO’S AT RIVER FALLS 10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, renatosatriverfalls.com. The Italian restaurant offers fish dishes among its menu of pastas and classics such as penne with eggplant, and chicken parmigiana. Traditional Italian desserts include tiramisu, profiteroles, and cannolis. ❂ J L D $$

SISTERS THAI 7995 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301-2994157, sisterscabinjohn.com. The owners of a Thai restaurant and bakery in Virginia serve classic Thai dishes in a setting that mixes several decor styles (one room has a fireplace and looks like a living room filled with books). A dessert counter offers coffee and tea drinks along with ice cream, snow ice and other treats. Voted “Best Thai Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2022. ❂ L D $$

TALLY-HO RESTAURANT 9923 Falls Road, 301-299-6825, tallyhorestaurant. com. A local fixture since 1968, the eatery serves an expansive diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. Choose from options ranging from burgers and deli sandwiches to pizza, calzones and dinner entrees. ❂ J B L D $

POTOMAC PIZZA 9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $

QUINCY’S 1093 Seven Locks Road, 240-500-3010, quincyspotomac.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. L D $

SILVER SPRING ALL SET RESTAURANT & BAR 8630 Fenton St., 301-495-8800, allsetrestaurant. com. American cuisine with a focus on New England specialties. Look for clams, oysters and lobster, plus crabcakes, and beef and vegetarian options.

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dine Voted “Best Restaurant in Silver Spring” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2021. ❂ J R L D $$

AMINA THAI 8624 Colesville Road, 301-588-3588. See North Bethesda/Rockville listing. L D $

&PIZZA 8455 Fenton St., andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THE ANGRY JERK 8223 Georgia Ave., 301-328-0788, theangryjerk. com. The fast-casual restaurant dishes out jerk chicken, fried fish, curry chicken, jerk salmon and other spicy Caribbean eats. You can build your own bowl or tacos, or order entrees and side dishes.

LD$

ASTRO LAB BREWING 8216 Georgia Ave., 301-273-9684, astrolabbrewing. com. A menu of about a dozen items—including handheld savory pies, a sausage roll and a hummus platter—are served in the downtown Silver Spring brewery’s taproom. Grab one of the hop-forward beers brewed on-site to sip at the communal tables or on the patio. ❂ J L D $

AZÚCAR RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL 14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucarrestaurant.net. The name means sugar, and it fits: The colorful Salvadoran spot is 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 $$

BETE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE 811 Roeder Road, 301-588-2225, beteethiopia. com. Family-run Ethiopian restaurant with a modest dining room but some exemplary cooking. Don’t miss the vegetarian sampler, and in nice weather, opt for eating outside in the lovely, shaded back patio.

❂ J B L D $$

THE BIG GREEK CAFE 8213 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

CAVA 8515 Fenton St., 301-200-8666, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COPPER CANYON GRILL 928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-589-1330, ccgrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$

CRISFIELD SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306, crisfieldseafood. com. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oysterplate-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. L D $$

CUBANO’S 1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, cubanos restaurant.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $$

THE DAILY DISH 8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, thedailydishrestaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food, including bar bites and brunch dishes. Fullservice catering is available, too. ❂ J R L D $$

DENIZENS BREWING CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizensbrewingco.com. The bright-orange building houses Montgomery County’s largest brewery, featuring core beers and seasonal offerings, along with drafts from other regional breweries. Menu of snacks, sandwiches and salads includes vegetarian options. There is a large outdoor beer garden and indoor seating overlooking the brewery. ❂ D $

DISTRICT TACO 1310 East West Highway, 240-531-1880, districttaco.com. This branch of a local chain of eateries that grew out of a food truck serves fastcasual fare, from egg-filled tacos for breakfast to quesadillas, burritos and tacos for later in the day.

❂JBLD$

DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN 933 Ellsworth Drive, 240-450-7000, doghaus.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

DON POLLO 12345 Georgia Ave., 301-933-9515; 13881 Outlet Drive, 240-560-7376, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EL AGUILA RESTAURANT 7926 Georgia Ave., 301-587-3000, elaguilarestaurant.com. A cheery bar and generous plates of Tex-Mex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this eatery popular with families and others looking for a lively night out.

❂LD$

EL GAVILAN 8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197. 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 pork-filled pupusas. J L D $

EL GOLFO 8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolforestaurant. 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. ❂ J R L D $

EL SAPO CUBAN SOCIAL CLUB (EDITORS’ PICK) 8455 Fenton St., 301-326-1063, elsaporestaurant. com. Cuban specialties are the focus at this restaurant from owner and chef Raynold Mendizábal. Small bites such as empanadas and cod croquettes are on the menu with dishes that Cuba is known for, including the beef entree ropa vieja and puerco asado (roasted pork). L D $$$

FENTON CAFÉ 8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841, fentoncafesilverspring.com. An out-of-the-way crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. Savory versions range from cheese and ham to roasted eggplant with zucchini, bell pepper, sundried tomato, garlic and onion. B L D $

FIRE STATION 1 RESTAURANT & BREWING CO. 8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, firestation1md. com. A historic firehouse made over as an eatery serves 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees. L D $

GHAR-E-KABAB 944 Wayne Ave., 301-587-4427, gharekabab.com. This spot offers a mix of authentic Indian and Nepali cuisine. From Indian staples such as chicken tikka masala and lamb curry to Nepalese appetizers such as furaula (vegetable fritters) and cho-e-la (marinated duck), there are a variety of South Asian flavors.

J L D $$

ITALIAN KITCHEN 8201 Fenton St., 301-588-7800, italiankitchenmd. com. Casual, attractive pizzeria with bar seating also turns out homemade sandwiches, calzones, salads and pasta dishes. L D $

JEWEL OF INDIA 10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant decor and excellent northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find. Diners will find a good selection of curries, and rice and biryani dishes.

L D $$

KAO THAI 8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, kaothairestaurant.com. This restaurant turns out topnotch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce and Thai Chili Tilapia. Dishes are cooked medium spicy. ❂ L D $$

KOITÉ GRILL 8626 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 240-8477016, ordering.app/koitegrill/koitegrill. A sisterand-brother chef team helm the kitchen at this Senegalese restaurant. Look for charcoal-grilled lamb dibi, chicken yassa and Senegal’s national dish, thieboudienne, which means “rice with fish.”

L D $$

LA CASITA PUPUSERIA & MARKET 8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, lacasitapupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties are available, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $

LA MALINCHE 8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, lamalinchetapas.com. Diners will find an 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 $$

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Key

Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

LANGANO ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700, langano restaurant.com. 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. L D $

LEBTAV 8535 Fenton St., 301-588-1192, lebtav.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ L D $

LOCAVINO 8519 Fenton St., 301-448-1819, locavino.com. In the space that overlooks Veterans Plaza and that once housed Adega Wine Cellars & Cafe, this wine bar focuses on local wines and beer but includes offerings from other regions. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and flatbreads fill the menu.

LD$

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8301 Georgia Ave., 301-589-6700. The authentic Ethiopian menu here includes beef and lamb plates, such as kitfo (raw beef) sandwiches and boneless braised yebeg alicha (Ethiopian mild lamb stew). The interior is decorated with Ethiopian-inspired art and features a full bar. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX 919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, matchboxrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ J R L D $$

MCGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, mcgintyspublic house.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. ❂ J R L D $$

MELEKET 1907 Seminary Road, 301-755-5768, meleketrestaurant.com. This family-owned, EthiopianItalian restaurant serves classic vegetarian, beef and chicken Ethiopian plates, alongside Italian entrees such as pesto pasta with chicken. For breakfast, try a traditional Ethiopian dish of kinche (a buttery grain porridge) or firfir (bread mixed with vegetables in a red pepper sauce). B L D $

MI RANCHO 8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, miranchomd. com. You'll find a boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place where customers can count on standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. ❂ L D $

MIX BAR & GRILLE 8241 Georgia Ave., #200, 301-326-1333, mixbargrille.com. Modern American bistro with charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads, ceviche and other light fare. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. ❂ J R L D $$

$ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch

MOD PIZZA

$$$$ $151+

L Lunch

b Outdoor Dining D Dinner

specials, which include $25 beer buckets.

909 Ellsworth Drive, 240-485-1570, modpizza.com. See Gaithersburg/North Potomac listing. ❂ L D $

PACCI’S TRATTORIA & PASTICCERIA 6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccistrattoria.com. Diners will find a range of classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage. L D $$

PARKWAY DELI & RESTAURANT 8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, theparkwaydeli. com. Parkway features a bustling back dining room that makes this popular spot so much more than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. All-you-can-eat pickle bar. ❂ B L D $

❂ L D $$

SPICE STREET 8242 Georgia Ave., 301-755-6144, spicestreetmd. com. In the bottom of the Solaire apartments, this spot serves Indian street food and other dishes. Expect tandoori chicken and shrimp, minced lamb kabobs, scallops in coconut sauce, and a crab and cauliflower entree with mild spices. L D $$

SUSHI JIN NEXT DOOR 8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, sushijinnextdoor. com. The eatery is spare, clean and modern, and offers terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. Choose from 11 appetizers and seven soups and salads. L D $$

SWEETGREEN

PHO TAN VINH 8705-A Colesville Road, 301-588-8188, photanvinh. com. A family-owned Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Tan Vinh was opened in 2014 by Tiffany Chu, who sought the traditional food she ate in her youth. She and her chef mother serve classics such as pho and put their own spin on items such as the Tan Vinh special, a “deconstructed” banh mi sandwich. L D $

PLNT BURGER 833 Wayne Ave. (Whole Foods Market), 301-6089373, plntburger.com. See Bethesda listing.

❂ JLD$

PORT-AU-PRINCE AUTHENTIC HAITIAN CUISINE 7912 Georgia Ave., 301-565-2006, paphaitiancuisine.com. The eatery serves a small menu of Haitian fare: five appetizers, five entrees (plus an entree salad) and two desserts. Chicken wings, fritters, whole red snapper, fried turkey and legume casserole are among the highlights. A Sunday brunch buffet draws crowds. R D $$

QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN (EDITORS’ PICK) 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-844-5380, facebook.com/ quarryhouse. Closed for nearly three years after a fire, this basement-level dive bar reopened in its original space. The inside holds the same 1930s-era feel as the original bar, and burgers and Tater Tots are still on the menu. D $

SAMANTHA’S 631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, samanthasrestaurante.com. This white-tablecloth, Latin-Salvadoran 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 $$

SILVER STRINGS 8630 Colesville Road, 301-587-0596, silverstringsonline.com. Serving classic American food in downtown Silver Spring, this spot features live music in the evenings by mostly jazz, blues and classic rock musicians. ❂ L D $$

THE SOCIETY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, sweetgreen.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

SWEET SWEET KITCHEN 904 Bonifant St., 301-244-5906. With its roots as a food truck, this spot that focuses on fare from Jamaica and Sierra Leone serves egusi stew, oxtails and other dishes. L D $

TASTEE DINER 8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, tasteediner.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B L D $

THAI AT SILVER SPRING 921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-650-0666, thaiatsilverspring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for peoplewatching 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 $$

UNDERGROUND PIZZA CO. (NEW) 8235 Georgia Ave., undergroundpizza.co. After gaining a following through pop-ups at locations throughout Montgomery County, this Baltimorebased pizza business opened in the former Olazzo space. A few appetizers and salads are offered but it’s the thick-crust Detroit-style pizzas—more than 30 varieties, 10 of which are vegan—that headline here.

L D $$

VEGETABLE GARDEN 3830 International Drive (Leisure World Plaza), 301598-6868, 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, Vicino features some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families are welcome. ❂ L D $$ n

8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, societyss. com. A sleek and modern atmosphere catering to a nightlife crowd, Society offers fare with a Caribbean accent. Check out the rooftop seating and daily drink

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Exquisite Jewelry Exceptional Prices

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shopping. weddings. history. pets. travel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VERONICA VAROS PHOTOGRAPHY

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The yurts at Savage River Lodge in Western Maryland are outfitted with king-size beds, heated floors and private bathrooms. For more on this and five other spots to go glamping, turn to page 272.

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SHOP TALK

BY JULIA BECK

ORANGE APPEAL Spring has sprung, and with it come warmer days, celebrations and more time outdoors. Orange is the day-to-night color that adds pop and personality to any look.

$137 at Progressions Salon in North Bethesda (301-231-8757, progressions.com)

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2 Simple, subtle, casual bling is a spring-forward must. Gorjana’s power gemstone bracelet is made of citrine, which is said to create “abundance” (other bracelets from the California brand promise clarity, balance, strength and more). Sizing is easily adjustable, and for a mellow layered look, the strands can be grouped with other Gorjana bracelets. $38 at Gorjana in Bethesda (301-288-1407, gorjana.com)

3 Mixed leather and linen make this on-trend Aila tote easy to love. At 20¾ inches wide, 12½ inches high and 7¼ inches deep with a slim pocket, the practical design takes you from day to night. $328 at J.McLaughlin in Bethesda (Bethesda Row, 301-951-5272, and Wildwood Shopping Center, 301-263-3304, jmclaughlin.com) PHOTOS COURTESY

1 Made of gold and coral, these midsize hoops by Viv & Ingrid—a domestic brand that’s decades old and owned by women—are as graceful as they are fanciful. Pair them with a crisp white tee, floral print or classic stripe.

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4 Free People’s Homecoming Jumper features a simple widelegged style in a linen blend. It works as a bright base for a Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or graduation celebration—just add accessories. $78 at Free People in Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda (301365-3192, freepeople.com)

5 “Kiss My.” liquid lip balm by Ròen is formulated to soothe lips and make them shine. Shown in “Remi,” this clean beauty, cruelty-free pick-me-up brings a hint of orange into a nearly nude tone. The nonsticky formula will not melt as temperatures rise. $26 at Bluemercury (multiple locations, including Bethesda Row, 301-986-0070, and Wildwood Shopping Center, 301-897-0006, bluemercury.com)

6 Wraps are an easy way to finish off any look with chic orange accents. Domestically handmade of poly chiffon, this striped stunner is by Meet Me in Miami, which has been a favorite of stylists for decades. $85 at Scout & Molly’s at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda (301-348-5047, northbethesda. scoutandmollys.com)

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DRESSES TO IMPRESS

A new bridal boutique from a local designer brings statement wedding gowns to Westfield Montgomery mall

REAL HOUSEWIVES OF POTOMAC’S Karen Huger renewed her vows in 2021 in a gown that featured hand-beaded Swarovski crystals, cascading ruffles and a bodice that fit like a glove. The designer of her $10,000 dress is also based in Montgomery County. She’s Vivien Agbakoba, 53, who opened Anya by Vivien, a bridal and evening wear shop, at Bethesda’s Westfield Montgomery mall in November. While growing up in Nigeria with her father, a university professor, and her mother, an entrepreneur,

Agbakoba was drawn to her mom’s sewing machine. “It was magical, and I felt I had a gift,” Agbakoba says. After earning a bachelor’s degree in information studies and nursing, and a master’s degree in information technology, she moved to Rockville in 2012 with her husband and three children. She worked at the National Institutes of Health as a protocol manager in clinical research while also making dresses for friends and family, and trying to learn as much as she could about sourcing, materials

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and skills that would be needed for opening a boutique. Agbakoba left NIH in 2017 to open a small warehouse space in Sterling, Virginia, to create and sell bridal, evening and ready-to-wear designs. She named her line “Anya,” after her maiden name, part of which means “vision” in her native language of Igbo, and added “by Vivien” when she moved her business to Westfield Montgomery mall. “Social media has had an enormous impact on brides. Everyone is trying to outdo each

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

Vivien Agbakoba at her store in Bethesda

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other,” Agbakoba says. She believes this has shifted her business model from her original focus on ready-to-wear dresses to selling more than 60% custom gowns. “Regular is not enough; brides come up with all kinds of ideas, and I do all I can to bring that to life.” Agbakoba often spends an hour or two of one-on-one time with a bride, discussing ideas, fabrics and embellishments, and sketching during the session. “I ask plenty of questions and pay close attention to the body in front of me,” she says. “I want each woman to shine.”

In 2019, Agbakoba started Felicia’s Fund, a nonprofit named for her mother that focuses on the education and empowerment of young people with an interest in fashion. The group runs school supply programs in Nigeria, and Agbakoba is currently building afterschool fashion education initiatives in D.C. and Montgomery County. She recently held a fundraiser in her store in partnership with the Tigerlily Foundation, a nonprofit focused on breast cancer and the empowerment of girls and young women. The evening included a fashion show and reception that was filmed for Love & Marriage: D.C., a series slated

to begin airing on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, in May. Agbakoba’s designs—from colorful ball gowns to statement wedding dresses—are getting more visibility at the mall than what was possible at her warehouse spot. “Last week a bride came into the boutique after seeing an off-the-rack gown in my window. She already had her wedding gown—still, she purchased mine and intended to sell the one she already had,” Agbakoba says. “It is quite a time.” Anya by Vivien, 7101 Democracy Blvd., #2504, Bethesda, 301-4694839, anyabyvivien.com n

DEB LEVY

The Face of Home Lending I began my career with the then Chase Bank of Maryland and Chase Personal Financial Services in 1985 while attending The University of Maryland at night. It’s exciting to see Chase expanding our banking services to the Washington, DC area. As a native Washingtonian, my family and I are personally invested in this community and see it as a wonderful place to live. Buying a home or refinancing can seem overwhelming. So much has changed since I started in the industry. Technology has made the process simpler and streamlined. However, remaining the same is the customer experience; the personal understanding, listening and advising our clients for their important home financing decisions. Our lending specialties include the professionally employed, selfemployed borrowers, low-to-moderate income program, vacation home financing, condominium and co-op lending and first-time homebuyer programs, too.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH TRAN

—Deb Levy, Senior Home Lending Advisor, Chase

If you are thinking about a mortgage, let me show you the next step. I’ll guide you every step of the way, from application through closing. All home lending products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Home lending products offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ©2022 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

DEB LEVY | NMLS ID 481255 1401 New York Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20005 | 301.332.7758 2021 A Top Vote Getter

Readers’ Pick Top Vote Getter Best Mortgage Broker

homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2022

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BY CHRISTINE KOUBEK FLYNN

GET AWAY

EXPLORE WITH THE KIDS OPENING IN VIRGINIA BEACH this June after a nearly $29 million renovation, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s South Building features new animals, including a giant Pacific octopus, chocolate chip sea stars, and an array of jellyfish, plus a moon jelly touch pool. Interactive exhibits highlight why cuttlefish are the magicians of the sea, how disco clams produce light, and more. Watch veterinarians at work

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in the new animal care center (push a button to ask questions). Outdoors, an enormous science play area gives kids (and adults) an opportunity to learn about rivers, bays and oceans in interactive ways, including water experiments to see how rivers shape the land, and pretend play as marine scientists. Visitors can have fun alongside North American river otters on a cleverly designed slide adjacent to a viewing window. Admission is $24.95; $22.95 for ages 62 and older; $19.95 for ages 3-11; free for children younger than 3. After all that play, spend the night at the 305-room Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Opened in 2020, the hotel boasts two highly regarded restaurants. Orion’s Roof serves Asianfusion cuisine and has 360-degree views of Virginia Beach and the many ships in the ocean awaiting entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Tulu Seaside Bar & Grill serves American fare with a

healthy twist, including cold-pressed juices and power smoothies. Tulu’s indoor and outdoor bars also serve handcrafted cocktails. Part of the Cavalier Resort, the hotel is across the street from the Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club and its famed Tarnished Truth distillery and SeaHill Spa. The Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront towers over the Atlantic’s edge, giving guests in sea-facing rooms the feeling of being on a cruise ship. The property has indoor and outdoor pools, lawns with games and relaxing seating areas, and a 24-hour fitness center. Rates begin at $269. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, Virginia, 757385-3474, virginiaaquarium.com; Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, 4201 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, Virginia, 757-937-4200, marriott. com/en-us/hotels/orfmc-marriottvirginia-beach-oceanfront/ overview

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF CAVALIER RESORT

Virginia Beach is home to a recently renovated aquarium. For dining with a view, check out the nearby Orion’s Roof at Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront (inset).

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TILGHMAN ISLAND INN

DOCKSIDE SERENITY SET ALONG THE BANKS of a Chesapeake Bay inlet on Maryland’s historic Tilghman Island is a waterside haven where it feels like you can slow down time. At the Tilghman Island Inn, sit in one of the Adirondack chairs that dot the lawn and watch boats meander by, birds flit among the trees, and a sun-painted sky of pinks and purples in the early morning light. Reopened in 2020 after extensive renovations, the inn features 20 guest rooms offering a king bed or two queens, a “Chill Corner” with a love seat or chair, and serene views of either the water or the weeping willows amid elegant landscaping. Popular corner room 12 has a vaulted ceiling, gas fireplace and wraparound balcony that overlooks the bay and Knapps Narrows. Dogfriendly rooms are available near the lawn. The inn’s restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating, includes a bar that overlooks the water. Seasonal menus are created from local ingredients, including Eastern Shore produce and seafood. Try the tangy deviled eggs with applewood smoked bacon and lump crab. Complimentary morning fare in the cozy lounge features coffee, gourmet tea and a continental breakfast box with a hardboiled egg, cured meats and cheeses, a house-smoked salmon spread, freshly baked bread, petite pastries and more. A firepit and yard games round out the relaxing vibe. Rates begin at $275. Tilghman Island Inn, 21384 Coopertown Road, Tilghman Island, Maryland, 410-886-1170, tilghman islandinn.com n

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GLAM CAMP Book a luxury tent, cabin or yurt for maximum enjoyment of the great outdoors—with none of the work

“I’M INDOORSY,” A FRIEND once quipped—and he’s not alone. For every person willing to rough it in the name of communing with Mother Nature, there’s a 40-year-old for whom sleeping on the ground is no longer an option, a family member who is deathly afraid of spiders, and a would-be camper who couldn’t assemble a tent to save their life. Thankfully, some enterprising folks have added a little glamour to the landscape, outfitting luxurious tents, yurts and tiny cabins with proper beds, rugs, throw pillows and armchairs. The shelters are small enough to encourage spending much of the day outside, but with the promise of refreshing each evening with a great night’s sleep—not to mention protection from the elements when the weather doesn’t go your way. (I am surely not the only one who has woken up to a river running through her tent during an unexpected midnight downpour.) Here are a half-dozen places within about four hours’ drive where you can unplug and enjoy all the beauty of the natural world without the risk of breaking your back—or even a nail.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPOT LODGE

BY RINA RAPUANO

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The luxe glamping tents at The Depot Lodge in Paint Bank, Virginia, have private bathrooms, king-size beds and an exclusive pond.

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Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort

Rates begin at $159 per night for a two-person furnished tent; linens are not included. 155 Keen Lake Road, Waymart, Pennsylvania, 570-488-6161, poconomountainsglamping.com

Savage River Lodge THIS PICTURESQUE SPOT IN Western Maryland hosts guests year-round in yurts and cabins surrounded by some 700 acres of serene state forest. Here, yurts look more like a luxury resort room than a tent in the woods— think king-size beds, heated floors, soft robes, wineglasses, private bathrooms, mini fridges, and comfy chairs for you and a good book. Muffins and juice are delivered to your doorstep daily, plus linens and toiletries are provided. The swanky two-story cabins also feature soaking tubs in the bathrooms and front porches with rocking chairs. Savage River Lodge welcomes kids but bills itself as an “adult-centered resort”— meaning no babysitting services or

PHOTO COURTESY CAMPGROUND STUDIOS

JUST NORTH OF SCRANTON in Pennsylvania’s Poconos, adventure-seeking families and kid-at-heart couples will find the summer camp of their dreams. Many of the spacious, safari-inspired tents here overlook a 90-acre lake, and all feature queen-size beds, porches with rocking chairs, firepits, free Wi-Fi, heat, electricity and a coffee maker, among other amenities. The larger family-size tents are also equipped with two twin beds. All tent campers use the shared bathhouses. On-property fun at this family-run, disability-accessible operation includes fishing, boat rentals, a children’s garden, movie nights, playgrounds, a

solar-heated pool, and basketball and volleyball courts. Communal spaces like a large fire ring and the group pavilion— where games, events and activities take place—help folks make fast friends when the urge strikes to be social. Further afield, explorers will discover farmers markets, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, golf, drive-ins and museums. And since the season runs through mid-October, there are plenty of fall activities celebrating the harvest and Halloween, and even a Harry Potterthemed weekend.

Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort in Pennsylvania’s Poconos offers tents that overlook a 90-acre lake.

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kid-friendly programming. Whether you have kids in tow or not, historic Frostburg features three stops on the Allegany County Ice Cream Trail. Hikers and cyclists might be interested in another nearby trail, the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile path of valleys, mountains and rivers. End your day back at the glampsite’s lodge with a fireside Boulevardier cocktail in the great room or make some new friends by the light of the nightly bonfire off the East Porch. Rates begin at $275 per night for a doubleoccupancy cabin; $295 for yurts. 1600 Mount Aetna Road, Frostburg, Maryland, 301-689-3200, savageriverlodge.com

Cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty at The Depot Lodge, where the lodging options include tents, a renovated caboose and an Airstream trailer.

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPOT LODGE; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF VERONICA VAROS PHOTOGRAPHY

The Depot Lodge YOU DON’T NEED TO be a train enthusiast to appreciate the low-key charm of this former Norfolk & Western train station turned relaxation destination in the mountains northwest of Roanoke, Virginia. Couples, friends and families can choose their own adventure since the property offers such unique accommodations as a renovated caboose with a bathroom, a gas fireplace and a creek-side patio; three luxe glamping tents with private bathrooms, king-size beds and an exclusive pond; and a 26-foot 1967 Airstream trailer refurbished with a retro-chic vibe. The property also rents rooms in the former depot and a restored hotel, as well as renting out full cabins, a cottage and a house, which is useful to know since some of the options—like the tents and the Airstream— are rented only seasonally. Visitors should be prepared to really unplug, as cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty. But hey, you’ll be that much more present to enjoy everything the area has to offer, such as hiking trails, fishing, white-water rafting and weekend crafts shopping at the scenic grist mill. Standard nightly rates are $159 for the caboose; $219 for the glamping tents; and $169 for the Airstream. 16071 VA-311, Paint Bank, Virginia, 540-897-6000, depotlodge.com

Guests staying in yurts at Savage River Lodge in Western Maryland get daily delivery of muffins and juice to their doorsteps.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF IRIS INN

DRIVING RANGE

This page and inset: The cabins and most of the cottages at Shenandoah Valley resort Iris Inn are couples-only.

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Iris Inn THE COZY YET MODERN digs, the on-site spa and the proximity to wineries and hikes like Humpback Rock and Crabtree Falls make this woodsy Shenandoah Valley resort a popular spot for anniversaries and other

couples celebrations. Yes, there are two accommodations suitable for families—but this clutch of cabins, cottages and a main inn building begs for a romantic getaway. In fact, the cabins outfitted with king-size beds, private hot tubs, screened decks and fireplaces are designated as couples-only, as are most of the cottages. So give yourself permission to leave the kids with the grandparents and indulge in some post-pandemic reconnecting. Add-ons like the Chocolate Lovers package, the Wine Down & Relax package and the Anniversary pack-

age—that last one featuring a bottle of Virginia wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, rose petals and two plush robes—might make it tough to ever leave the room. Local art on the walls, smart tablets loaded with information for guests, and firepits on the lawn are three more reasons to stay on site. But when you’re ready to peel your eyes off the 19-acre property’s panoramic views and venture out, head into Waynesboro or to nearby Staunton for shopping, museums, breweries, theater and top-notch dining at renowned spots like The Shack and Zynodoa. Rates start at $639 per night for cabins and $527 per night for cottages. 191 Chinquapin Drive, Waynesboro, Virginia, 540-943-1991, irisinn.com

We support many of the most successful restaurateurs in MD, VA, and DC.

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Blue Moon Rising THE MAIN DRAW TO this village of 14 quirky, tiny, eco-conscious cabins is the easy access to tons of outdoor activities. Its proximity to Wisp Resort and location on the banks of Marsh Run Cove off Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake means there’s skiing, boating, horseback riding, swimming, white-water rafting, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, golfing, a carriage/sleigh ride, fishing—you name it. The dog-friendly property promises lake access, free Wi-Fi, nightly campfires and hiking trails winding throughout its 116 acres. The proprietors are so committed to maintaining the peaceful vibe that guests park in a lot at the entrance to the community 278

and are transported, along with their luggage, to the cabins, in an effort to eliminate the intrusion of headlights, car noise and exhaust fumes. Designed to complement the landscape, each heated cabin is mainly constructed with reclaimed, recycled and eco-friendly materials. All feature kitchens furnished with necessary utensils, plus full indoor bathrooms (and a bonus outdoor shower for warmer months) stocked with towels and organic soap. Most cabins can easily accommodate two adults and two children, but each one has different bed configurations, so be sure to pay attention to that when booking. Rates are $225 per night for weekdays and $249 per night for weekends. 89 Blue Moon Rising Way, McHenry, Maryland, 240-442-5287, bluemoonrising.org

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BLUE MOON RISING

Blue Moon Rising’s heated cabins include a kitchen and full bath, plus an outdoor shower. The property, near Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake, is dog-friendly (below).

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Editor’s Note: After publication, operators announced that Camp Rockaway will not be opening in New York City this year.

Camp Rockaway at Fort Tilden NEW YORK CITY ISN’T a place you’d generally imagine when dreaming of camping under the stars, but citydwelling surfers, nature-seekers and beach-lovers in the know head toward Rockaway Peninsula in Queens via car, subway, bus or ferry whenever the concrete jungle becomes too much. Camp Rockaway’s Fort Tilden outpost, located about 4½ hours’ drive from the Bethesda area, offers the perfect place to embrace the outdoors while still having access to ev-

erything the city has to offer. Each luxury tent features a queen-size bed with linens and pillows, side tables, electricity, and private decks with Adirondack chairs. For families, a $99 pup tent with two twins can be added. Spend the day on the beach swimming, surfing, boating, standup paddleboarding and, of course, chilling—or maybe explore nearby Fort Tilden for forest hikes, beach walks, bird-watching or just taking in the views. Other local attractions include the Riis Park Par 3 Golf Course, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and the Rockaway Artists Alliance.

Evenings are a good time to relax in a hammock, play games, grill dinner and toast s’mores at the firepit, or to check out one of the bars and restaurants that dot the peninsula. Rates are $149 to $289 per night. Fort Tilden, Davis Road, Breezy Point, New York, 347-916-6199, camprockaway. com/fort-tilden n Rina Rapuano is a food, parenting and travel writer living in Washington, D.C. Like everyone else, she is anxiously awaiting the return of pandemic-free travel.

Take Charge of Your Health

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In Bloom

A Rockville couple that met in high school hosted a 50-person wedding at a Laytonsville farm with flowers at every turn BY DANA GERBER

THE COUPLE: Michelle McNabb (maiden name Herrera), 31, works in public health communications for the business management consultancy IQ Solutions in Rockville. Keegan McNabb, 32, is a field superintendent for the audio-visual contracting company National Technology Integrators in Gaithersburg. They both grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from James Hubert Blake High School there. They live in Rockville.

PHOTOS BY MORGAN-RAQUEL & CO.

HOW THEY MET: Though they ran in the same social circles in high school, it wasn’t until Michelle went off to Salisbury University in 2010 that they “friended” each other on Facebook and got to know each other. When Michelle came home for winter break, Keegan, who was attending Montgomery College at the time, asked her on a date to the (now closed) Sakura Japanese hibachi restaurant in Olney. “He was super easy to talk to,” Michelle says. “He was definitely a gentleman from the beginning.” Soon, they started officially dating. “Realistically, I wasn’t looking for anything long-term at the time,” Keegan says. “It just kept going…and then I couldn’t stop seeing her.” The two moved in together after Michelle graduated and they bought a house in Rockville in 2018. THE PROPOSAL: “We weren’t really in a rush because we’d been together for so long,” Michelle says about getting married, but Keegan popped the question in November 2019. He told her that he was going on a work trip to New York and he could bring her along, but then jetted her off to snowy Vail, Colorado, instead. “She wasn’t prepared for the cold,” he recalls with a laugh. While there, Keegan took her on a walk by a little river, where no one else was around. “It was just intimate and close,” he says. “This whole weekend, I was trying to find the right time, and eventually it just came out.”

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THE CEREMONY: Michelle and Keegan were thinking of getting married in 2020 but hadn’t booked any vendors and decided to delay the wedding as the pandemic continued. The pair said “I do” at the Howard County district court in Ellicott City on June 11, 2021, with a small group of family members waiting outside and watching via Zoom.

ceremony, the newlyweds and 50 guests gathered at the lush Inn at Tusculum Farm in Gaithersburg for their reception. The pair knew they wanted an outdoor venue and instantly fell in love with the farm’s sprawling greenery. “It’s this little hidden gem,” Michelle says. “Any corner that you turned was a perfect picture area.” After the first look by a large circular statue, there was cocktail hour by the pool, dinner in a courtyard behind the main house, and dancing to a mix of merengue, reggaeton, electronic dance music and oldies in a tented area on the edge of the property. “We made use of all the space,” Michelle says. 282

THE FOOD AND DRINKS: Michelle has been vegan for several years, so the couple called on DC Vegan for their buffetstyle dinner. “Everyone else, especially my side of the family, is very much meat and potatoes,” Michelle says. “I wanted to make sure that our food was good, hearty, but also recognizable.” Michelle is Salvadoran and Keegan is half Polish, so the caterers whipped up hearts of palm ceviche and potato pierogies to honor their respective cultures. As a nod to the pair’s shared Maryland roots, there were also “crab” cakes made with jackfruit. The

cake, also vegan, had double chocolate for the bottom tier and vanilla with raspberry filling for the top tier. Doughnut holes from D.C.’s Donut Run served as party favors at the end of the night. In lieu of bringing their two cats to the festivities, Michelle and Keegan named the signature drinks after them—“The Molly” was a blackberry paloma, while “The Olive” was a whiskey sour.

THE FLOWERS: “Ever since we’ve moved into [our] house, gardening is one of our hobbies,” says Michelle, so

PHOTOS BY MORGAN-RAQUEL & CO.

THE RECEPTION: The day after the

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The invitations featured watercolor flower designs, and the cake was topped off with edible dried petals.

florals became the de facto theme of the wedding. The invitations featured watercolor flower designs, and the cake was topped off with edible dried petals. The local Butterbee Farm dropped off the blooms for the bouquet and the centerpieces, which Michelle and her mom arranged themselves. “I just told [Butterbee], whatever is growing in season, we’ll take it and we’ll make it work,” Michelle says.

THE DRESS: “I really wanted a twopiece wedding dress—I just didn’t want anything too traditional,” says Michelle, who picked out a simple skirt-and-top set from the BHLDN wedding shop by Anthropologie. To add color, she wore sparkly emerald heels, “again, going with the garden theme, and instantly I was just drawn to the bright green,” she says. Later in the evening, she swapped them out for white sneakers with “good vibes” written on the back. THE HONEYMOON: The newlyweds, who had never been to California, took a scenic route in the northern part of the

state. They visited Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and Big Sur, which is now “one of our favorite places,” Michelle says.

THE VENDORS: Cake, Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats; caterer, DC Vegan; day-of coordinator, Denean’s Events and Designs; DJ, Pulse Entertainment; dress, BHLDN by Anthropologie; flowers, Butterbee Farm; hair, Seven Yu; makeup, Arfa Beauty; party favors, Donut Run; photographer, Morgan-Raquel & Co.; rentals, Party Rental Ltd.; rings, Brilliant Earth; tent rentals, Elite Tents and Events; venue and lodging, Inn at Tusculum Farm. n

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MAKING DO Caring for pets during a pandemic

BY CARALEE ADAMS

DIANA SCHONFELD SAYS SHE can’t imagine how she would have handled so much time in her small Bethesda apartment during the pandemic without the company of Rosie, her 9-year-old basset hound mix. “Just having her there was a comfort,” say Schonfeld, who had a mild case of COVID-19 in February. She didn’t have the space to quarantine apart from Rosie, but she wasn’t too worried about passing the virus to her dog. Schonfeld did notice that Rosie was more cuddly than usual, seeming to sense that she didn’t feel well. Early in the pandemic, Schonfeld took precautions to avoid getting infected with the coronavirus, and she kept her distance from other dog walkers while out with Rosie. Feeling badly about limiting Rosie’s 284

opportunities to interact with other dogs, Schonfeld began taking her to a local animal day care once a week to socialize. Now in its third year, the pandemic has impacted many aspects of pet care—from owners having to navigate interactions with others to the way that veterinarians are providing services. For veterinary practices, requiring owners to drop off their pets at the curb became the norm—even though the setup created communication challenges when owners weren’t allowed to be with their pets during examinations. And for the owners of animals facing serious health issues, trying to make end-of-life decisions or saying goodbye in unusual circumstances became even more difficult. While the coronavirus can spread from people to animals during close contact, the risk of pets getting seriously ill is extremely rare—and the risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I think there’s a lot of confusion” concerning the virus and pets, says Dr. Cathleen Ciampa, veterinarian and medical director at Kenwood Animal

Hospital in Bethesda. “If a dog or cat has an upper respiratory infection, the first thing people are concerned about is COVID. But fortunately, we really haven’t seen it.” During the pandemic, pet owners found that they often weren’t allowed into the veterinarian’s office because of safety protocols. A technician escorted the pet inside, and the veterinarian later called the owner to report the visit results. The pet was then returned to the owner, according to local practices. Emma Basch of Chevy Chase, D.C., received such curbside vet service at Kenwood for her 9-week-old goldendoodle, Luna, two weeks after adopting her in February 2021. “It was strange not to have a face in that experience,” says Basch, who didn’t meet Ciampa in person for several months. “It was a little hard to let someone else take your brand-new puppy out of the car and you can’t go in with them.” Despite the “weird virtual veterinary medicine,” Basch says, “our dog turned into a lovely addition to our family after being a very crazy little puppy.” For Lawrence Kotchek of Rockville, the revised office procedures only

ILLUSTRATION BY GETTY IMAGES

PETS

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compounded the heart-wrenching ending for his beloved 9-year-old Labrador retriever, Ozzie. The dog stopped eating in March 2021, and tests revealed a ruptured cancerous tumor on his spleen. With no promising treatment options, Kotchek brought him to Friendship Hospital for Animals in Northwest Washington, D.C., to be euthanized. Because of safety protocols, the procedure took place in a makeshift room behind a screen in the hospital’s parking garage, he says. “Unlike what I’ve dealt with in the past, where there’s at least a pleasant room with a couch where the dog is comfortable, it was basically just a black asphalt parking lot,” Kotchek says. “It was pretty horrible.” Friendship Hospital’s Dr. Christine Klippen says the situation was horrible

for veterinarians as well, but they tried to be as accommodating as possible with the outdoor set-up that lasted from April 2020 through October 2021. The rush to adopt dogs during the pandemic put even more pressure on vet practices, says Dr. Julie Augustine, a veterinarian at Montgomery Animal Hospital in Rockville. Some had trouble accommodating the demand for services and are now playing catch-up with clients who fell behind on getting their pets’ vaccinations and lab work. As the pandemic evolves, Ciampa says, it’s gratifying to look back on how pet owners responded. “We really see people caring for their pets and going above and beyond…to make sure that their furry family members are taken care of,” she says. n

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HIDDEN DIAMONDS

For Montgomery County’s Black communities, sandlot baseball was a big hit BY BRUCE ADAMS

THERE ARE NO HINTS at the Cabin John Village shopping center in Potomac or at the Walgreens on Hungerford Drive in Rockville that crowds used to watch baseball games on the land now occupied by those buildings. Growing up in Montgomery County in the 1950s as a baseball-crazy kid, I didn’t have a clue that some of the country’s finest ballplayers were playing at ballfields just miles from my house in Potomac. In the second half of the 19th century, when four of every 10 Montgomery 286

County residents were Black, formerly enslaved people founded more than three dozen communities throughout the county. These historic Black communities were isolated and often denied public services. Over the years, some were ignored, others were bulldozed. For many of them, “history is buried with the people,” says the Rev. Tim Warner of Emory Grove United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg. Along with churches and schools, baseball became the center of civic life in these communities from the 1940s through the 1960s. Many of them—from Emory Grove to Lyttonsville and Scotland to Sandy Spring—organized sandlot teams, according to my research for “In Search of the Ballfields of Montgomery’s Black Communities,” a 2021 presentation for the nonprofit Montgomery History. “Baseball was the entertainment. It started out of necessity,” former Sandy Spring player Jim Offord, who died in 2019, said in a County Cable Montgomery documentary that aired in 2000. “It

was one of the few places we could go. It didn’t take much to get us excited because we didn’t have much anyway.” Local baseball historian Billy Gordon, who grew up in Rockville watching the Black sandlot stars play, recalls that the “entire African American community” would turn out. “It was quite a scene,” says Gordon, who participated in the Montgomery History presentation. “The preacher would be at the game, and the bootlegger would be there dispensing beverages.” The center of the county’s Black sandlot teams was Johnson’s Park in Emory Grove. Roughly 1,000 people would show up on Memorial Day for food, fellowship and a twi-night doubleheader. Barnstorming Negro Leagues teams came to the Emory Grove ballpark to take on the county’s top sandlot teams: Rockville American Legion Post 151, the Maryland Wildcats and the Sandy Spring All-Stars, according to Gordon. Some of Montgomery’s best players competed in the Negro Leagues before

PHOTO BY KELLY MARTIN

A detail from artist Terry Rogers’ mural outside Dawson’s Market in Rockville honors Black baseball players in Montgomery County.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The ballparks provided entertainment and a place to gather for Black residents, who were blocked from other options because of Jim Crow laws. returning home to join their local sandlot teams and raise their families. Segregation denied them the opportunity to match their skills against the very best, according to Gordon, who lists Russell Awkard, Bill Williams and brothers Clarence “Pint” Isreal and Elbert Isreal as top players. Black business entrepreneurs and county residents Edward Johnson, Joe Davis, William Wims, Charlie Harris and Buck Bailey saw the success of the Negro Leagues and built ballparks that attracted hundreds of fans. The ballparks provided entertainment and a place to gather for Black residents, who were blocked from other options because of Jim Crow laws. Johnson’s Park and a ballfield in Norbeck with two names—Bailey’s and Page’s—hosted night games under the lights. Joe Davis’ Oak Haven in Boyds had a dance hall and served a full dinner after Sunday games. Wims Meadow in Clarksburg and Harris Meadow in Stewartown drew top crowds on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “When you played at night at Johnson’s Park, you felt like you were a pro,” Eddie Dove, a former Scotland Eagles third baseman, told me. Built in 1947, Johnson’s Park is now owned by Montgomery Parks. As entertainment opportunities for Black residents widened in the 1960s and early ’70s, the Black sandlot teams faded away. n Bruce Adams lives in Bethesda. His Montgomery History presentation can be viewed at tinyurl.com/Moco-black-baseball.

DENTIST

FINDER

Your Guide to Leading Dentists in the Bethesda Area

COSMETIC DENTISTRY, GENERAL DENTISTRY

DR. STACIA M. KRANTZ Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry 14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850 301-610-9909 www.fallsgrovedentistry.com Dental School: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Expertise: Dr. Krantz prides herself in treating her patients like family. Caring, compassionate, personalized treatment with over 20 years of experience in comprehensive family dentistry.

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or our cover story on bakeries, photographer Deb Lindsey took her camera to Sunday Morning Bakehouse at Pike & Rose to show the bakery’s process for making butter croissants (“Rise & Shine,” page 118). Baker Caroline Yi, who opened the North Bethesda spot in 2019, demonstrated the steps that are typically done over three days. “In the photo she is preparing to cut dough into triangles. The dough had already been ‘laminated’ or sandwiched with butter and rolled and folded. Baker Jeffrey Ramos is weighing dough to be refrigerated and then laminated the next day,” Lindsey says. “Watching her work was a highlight (well, other than sampling a few of the finished products). The precision and quickness were impressive, not to mention a little mysterious. We weren’t allowed to know exactly how many folds she makes.” n

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