Newcomers Guide 2019-2020

Bethesda Magazine 2019-2020 Newcomers Guide • BethesdaMagazine.com

Magazine’s

2019-2020

The Must-Have

Resource FOR

Neighborhoods Schools Restaurants Health & Fitness Things to Do Kids Fun

$4.95 www.BethesdaMagazine.com

BETHESDA | CHEVY CHASE | GAITHERSBURG | KENSINGTON | POTOMAC | ROCKVILLE | SILVER SPRING

Cynthia Plate, MD Breast Surgeon

Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare in your Community As you settle in your new home, rest assured you have convenient access to quality healthcare.

Whether you are looking for a checkup, urgent care or physical therapy, Adventist HealthCare has your health needs covered.

Hospitals • Shady Grove Medical Center • Washington Adventist Hospital • White Oak Medical Center (Opening August 2019)

Community Locations • Urgent Care • Imaging • Outpatient Rehabilitation • Adventist Medical Group

Specialty Care • Behavioral Health • Home Care • Shady Grove Adventist Aquilino Cancer Center

• Adventist Rehabilitation

Learn more at AdventistHealthCare.com/Welcome

Care. Compassion. Community.

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Become part of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to grow your network of decision makers and influencers from Maryland and beyond.

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MCCC is hands down #1 in terms of being the best chamber of commerce, and is leading the way in showcasing that our businesses can truly lift up a community.

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-Timothy J. Regan, President and CEO The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

2019 SIGNATURE EVENTS Friday, May 17

MCCC GovConNet Procurement Conference The Universities at Shady Grove

Tuesday, June 4

MCCC 60th Annual Dinner Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and County Conference Center

Monday, July 22

MCCCF 2019 VIP Golf Tournament Lakewood Country Club

Thursday, November 21

MCCC Business Awards Dinner Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and County Conference Center

@MCCCMD @MCCCMD MCCCMD.com I 301-738-0015

HOME

This is home, and it starts with Coldwell Banker. If you’re new to the area or making a local move, let us help you find your way home.

Bethesda Downtown 301.718.0010 Tammie Henderson Branch Vice President

North Potomac/ Rockville 301.921.1040 Kelly Vezzi Branch Vice President

Potomac 301.983.0200 Joan Reilly Branch Vice President

ColdwellBankerHomes.com

Dedicated to the love of people and home since 1906. Š2019 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell 582873MA_2/19 Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

WELCOME

31 OUR TOWNS

12

TO OUR READERS

Montgomery County is home to a wide variety of communities. Here’s information on the demographics, history and neighborhoods of 12 in the Bethesda area.

15

GOOD LIFE

32

BETHESDA

57 POTOMAC

41

CHEVY CHASE

46

GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC

61 ROCKVILLE/ NORTH BETHESDA

THE ESSENTIALS 17 This handy guide provides all the info you need about local government and frequently used services.

51

KENSINGTON & GARRETT PARK

74

WHERE TO LIVE

78

AMENITY WARS

65 SILVER SPRING 69 CABIN JOHN & GLEN ECHO

From pet spas and wine lockers to outdoor fireplaces and rooftop pools, apartments and condos are taking luxury living to the next level An annual publication of

82

HOME SALES HIGHLIGHTS

Here’s the latest on the hottest neighborhoods and highest average sale prices in 2018

MAGAZINE 8 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

COVER PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

PHOTOS BY EDGAR ARTIGA, MICHAEL VENTURA AND SKIP BROWN

inside

the newcomers guide

YOUR LIFE 101 SCHOOLS

151 THINGS TO DO

Best of Bethesda picks, Montgomery County public high schools list and nontraditional public school programs

Music venues, festivals and special events, farmers markets and parks, play centers, art and dance classes, theaters for kids and sports leagues

111 HEALTH

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS REAL ESTATE AGENT PROFILES | 83

165 GETAWAYS

HOME EXPERT PROFILES | 87 SHOWCASES | 92

126 FITNESS & BEAUTY

From beach towns to mountain escapes, here are 15 ideas for day trips and close-by vacations.

Best of Bethesda picks, plus popular hiking and biking trails in the county and region

168 PICTURE SHOW

BUILDERS & ARCHITECTS | 94

Full moon over the Potomac River

KITCHEN & BATH | 96

Guide to hospitals, Best of Bethesda picks and urgent medical care options

133 DINING Best of Bethesda picks and dining guide

LUXURY CONDOS, TOWNHOMES & APARTMENTS | 92

HOME MAKEOVER RESOURCE GUIDE | 97 PHYSICIAN PROFILES | 120

An annual publication of

MAGAZINE 10 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

DENTIST PROFILES | 123 LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD PROFILES | 132

PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN, LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY AND ERICK GIBSON

inside

the newcomers guide

LIVE LARGE. The all-inclusive luxury lifestyle.

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welcome

to the neighborhood I MOVED TO THE Washington, D.C., area from Connecticut 29 years ago—and I can still recall the feeling of dislocation. Besides not knowing how to get from Point A to Point B, I didn’t know the best places to dine and get my hair cut, let alone how to find a doctor and a dentist.

Unfortunately, there were few resources available to help me figure things out. (In 1990, the Internet as we know it was not an option.) Through word of mouth and trial and error I eventually found my way around— although not before enduring several bad meals and haircuts.

Nearly 30 years later, things have gone from famine to feast. These days anyone who is moving to a new community has countless resources available at the click of a mouse.

That’s a wonderful thing—and a big problem.

The amount of information available online can be overwhelming. (A recent Google search of “Bethesda + Maryland + Doctor” produced more than 15.4 million results!)

In 2004, my wife, Susan, and I launched Bethesda Magazine from the basement of our Chevy Chase house. We started the magazine because we wanted to help keep local residents informed about the people, places and happenings in the area—and to help foster a sense of community.

Now we are pleased to publish the Bethesda Magazine “Newcomers Guide,” an annual print and digital publication. It is the resource I needed when I moved to the area.

It is full of useful information for newcomers about towns, neighborhoods, real estate, schools, dining, doctors, dentists, things to do and much more. It also contains hundreds of web addresses in the print edition and links

12 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

in the digital edition so you can obtain more detailed information.

I believe the guide is an invaluable resource for newcomers. It will help you make educated and informed decisions about all the choices you face.

You have moved (or are moving) to an extraordinary area. Bethesda and the surrounding towns are among the most affluent and well educated in the country.

The public and private schools are superb.

There are literally hundreds of neighborhoods to choose from, and countless dining, shopping and recreational options. (Of course, the summers and the traffic can be brutal, but no place is perfect!)

I believe you will love living in our community. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Steve Hull Editor and Publisher, Bethesda Magazine steve.hull@bethesdamagazine.com

P.S. BY READING BETHESDA MAGAZINE, you’ll learn a lot more about your new community.

To subscribe, simply fill out the card between pages 80 and 81 or go to BethesdaMagazine.com.

I also urge you to check out Bethesda Beat, our daily online news briefing that will keep you up to date on local happenings. You can read Bethesda Beat on our website.

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Magazine’s

Get the most for your money

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Steve Hull

VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLISHING AND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Magazine’s

Susan E. Hull

Save up to 30% when you place your home, auto and life coverages with Erie Insurance.

CONSULTING ART DIRECTOR

Sylvia Silver

MANAGING EDITOR

Julie Rasicot

DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Laura F. Goode

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Ragone COPY EDITOR

Steve Wilder

FACT CHECKER

Setota Hailemariam NEWCOMERS GUIDE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Caralee Adams, Meredith Carlson Daly, Madaline Donnelly, Steve Dryden, Brooke Lea Foster, Rebecca Gale, Natalie Griffin, Cydney Hargis, Louisa Jaggar, Jim Mahaffie, Maura Mahoney, Kathleen Seiler Neary, Archana Pyati, Amy Reinink, Mark Walston, Judith Welles, Sarah Zlotnick NEWCOMERS GUIDE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Edgar Artiga, Scott Betz, Hugo Brooks, Skip Brown, Richard Cook, Amy Cubbage, Chris Frye, Laura Chase de Formigny, Erick Gibson, Dave Grebowsky, Darren Higgins, Leslie Katz, Sam Kittner, Kenneth Krach, James Mertz, Amy Moore, Asia Reynolds, Daniel Schrieber, Russ Sprague, Michael Ventura, Heather Victoria, Steve Walker, Keith Weller, Stacy Zarin Goldberg SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jennifer Farkas

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Arlis Dellapa, Elizabeth Leasure, Penny Skarupa, LuAnne Spurrell ADVERTISING PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Meghan K. Murphy

MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER

Amélie Ward

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Leigh McDonald

Walker Poole Insurance Inc 18310 Montgomery Village Ave., Suite 360 Gaithersburg, MD 20879 301-258-2602 Fax: 301-330-8903 www.walkerpoole.com wpia@walkerpoole.com

WEB PRODUCER

Ellyse Stauffer

CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

Onecia Ribeiro

FINANCE MANAGER

Jill Trone

ADVERTORIAL WRITERS

Ann Cochran, Jim Mahaffie ADVERTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lisa Helfert, Darren Higgins, James Kim, Tony Lewis Jr., Hilary Schwab

Bethesda Magazine is published six times a year

by Kohanza Media Ventures, LLC. © 2009 For customer service: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 205; or send an email to customerservice@bethesdamagazine.com.

For advertising information: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 220; send an email to advertising@bethesdamagazine.com; or go to www.BethesdaMagazine.com.

14 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE Erie Insurance ad.indd 1

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For information on events and reprints: Call 301-718-7787, ext. 207; or send an email to marketing@bethesdamagazine.com.

Bethesda Magazine 7768 Woodmont Ave., #204, Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: 301-718-7787 Fax: 301-718-1875 www.BethesdaMagazine.com

good life

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

PETAL POWER The 1,000-plus cherry trees that form a delicate pink canopy over the streets of Chevy Chase’s Kenwood neighborhood are a magnificent sight, typically peaking in late March or early April. The Yoshino cherry trees (the same variety as most of the trees at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.) were planted in Kenwood in the 1930s and ’40s. Adjacent to the Kenwood Golf & Country Club, the neighborhood is bordered by River Road, Little Falls Parkway and Goldsboro Road. Parking is limited within Kenwood, so visitors often leave their cars in a nearby neighborhood. Residents embrace visitors, but have one request to keep the trees healthy: no climbing, please.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 15

good life

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life by heading out to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The canal’s hard-packed dirt towpath provides a pleasant way to take in the beauty of nature whether by strolling, jogging or cycling. Plenty of parking is available at the park’s Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center on MacArthur Boulevard in Potomac, where visitors can trek out to Olmsted Island to watch the powerful current cascading over the falls of the Potomac River. The park also offers mule-drawn rides along the canal on an 1870s packet boat.

11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac; nps.gov/choh/index.htm

16 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

WONDERS OF NATURE

COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

essentials Finding what you need in your new hometown can sometimes feel like searching for your wallet in a large handbag: You know it’s in there, but you can’t seem to put your hands on it. We’re here to help with information on how to contact county offices and frequently used services.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 17

essentials

County Government MC311

Dial 311 for the county’s general information line (or 240-777-0311 from outside the county); www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/contactus.html Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, 240-777-0311, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/opi/contactus.html Montgomery County Council, 240-777-7900, www.montgomerycountymd. gov/council/. The County Council generally meets on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Five council members are elected by their respective council districts; four others are elected at-large.

Council Members President Nancy Navarro, D, District 4 240-777-7968 councilmember.navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov

County Executive Marc Elrich

voting Montgomery County Board of Elections 18753 N. Frederick Ave., Suite 210, Gaithersburg, 240-777-8500 Register to vote or find your polling place by visiting www.montgomerycountymd.gov/elections

Gabe Albornoz, D, At-Large

240-777-7966 councilmember.glass@montgomerycountymd.gov

Will Jawando, D, At-Large 240-777-7811 councilmember.jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov

Hans Riemer, D, At-Large 240-777-7964 councilmember.riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov

Andrew Friedson, D, District 1 240-777-7828 councilmember.friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov

Tom Hucker, D, District 5 240-777-7960 councilmember.hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov

Sidney Katz, D, District 3 240-777-7906 councilmember.katz@montgomerycountymd.gov

Craig Rice, D, District 2 240-777-7955 councilmember.rice@montgomerycountymd.gov

18 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

County Council District Map

PHOTO OF COUNTY COUNCIL BUILDING COURTESY; PHOTO OF HUGHES BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Evan Glass, D, At-Large

MAP GRAPHIC FROM COUNTY

240-777-7959 councilmember.albornoz@montgomerycountymd.gov

Police and Fire

Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department 301-365-2255 (Station 10) 301-299-4300 (Station 30) http://cjpvfd.com

Chevy Chase Village Police Department 301-654-7300 chevychasevillagemd.gov/35/Police

Glen Echo Fire Department 301-229-3200 gefd.org Volunteer EMT Padraic Hughes of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

In an emergency, dial 911. For nonemergency calls, try the following numbers.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service

City of Rockville Police Department

Bethesda Fire Department

240-683-6520 montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs/

240-314-8900 rockvillemd.gov/police

Montgomery County Police Department

Gaithersburg Police Department

301-279-8000 montgomerycountymd.gov/police

301-258-6400 gaithersburgmd.gov/government/ departments/ gaithersburg-police-department

301-652-5602 bethesdafire.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad 301-652-0077 bccrs.org

Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Department 301-587-3400 silverspringvfd.org

Kensington Volunteer Fire Department 301-929-8000, kvfd.org

Rockville Volunteer Fire Department 301-424-0310 rvfd.org

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad 301-949-4044 wvrs.org

MAP GRAPHIC FROM COUNTY

ADVERTISEMENT

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 19

essentials

Schools Montgomery County Public Schools Some Montgomery County public schools are considered to be among the best in the nation, appearing regularly in national rankings such as those produced by The Washington Post, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. mcpsmd.org

Register your child for school Children from 5 to 17 years old must attend school in Maryland. Use the county’s School Assignment Locator (http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ SchoolAssignmentTool2/Index.xhtml) or call 240-314-4710 to determine which school your children will attend. Then go to that school to register.

Parents need to provide proof of age, identity, county residency and immunizations for the child they are registering. Also, bring report cards if your child previously attended a different school, or a copy of the current Individualized Education Program if your child is in a special education program.

Private Schools There are dozens of private schools in Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., with programs emphasizing foreign languages, religious studies and college preparation. Find the school that’s right for your kids by using the National Center for Education Statistics’ search tool: nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/ privateschoolsearch.

Higher Education After high school, a top-notch college education is obtainable through these local options:

Montgomery College

This public, open-admission community college has campuses in Rockville, Germantown and Takoma Park/Silver Spring. Serving 60,000 students, it offers more than 100 areas of study, with a new science center at the Rockville campus, and an arts center with a 500-seat theater and dance studio at the Takoma Park/ Silver Spring location.

Germantown Campus, 20200 Observation Drive,

Germantown; Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville; Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park; 240-567-5000; www.montgomerycollege.edu

University of Maryland at College Park The state’s flagship university has 41,000 students and 300 academic programs, and is consistently ranked among the top public universities by publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

301-405-1000, www.umd.edu

The Universities at Shady Grove This unique regional education center offers more than 80 degree programs from nine state universities at its Rockville campus, with a wide variety of day and night courses. The campus is popular among nontraditional students as a way to get an education more affordably and conveniently.

301-738-6000, shadygrove.umd.edu

Think clearly.

Feel compassionately.

Act purposefully.

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20 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

For 50 years, the Washington Waldorf School has prepared young people for the future by developing their full capacities for creative imagination, critical thinking, and active engagement in the world.

Preschool - 12th Grade Parent & Child Classes Outdoor Kindergarten Summer Camps www.washingtonwaldorf.org - 301.229.6107

Libraries Aspen Hill Library

Little Falls Library

Davis Library

4407 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville, 240-773-9410

6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 240-777-0922

Connie Morella Library

Gaithersburg Library

7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 240-777-0970

18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, 240-773-9490

Chevy Chase Library

Germantown Library

8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-773-9590

19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, 240-777-0110

Damascus Library

Kensington Park Library

9701 Main St., Damascus, 240-773-9444

Quince Orchard Library

5501 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, 240-773-9520

4201 Knowles Ave., Kensington, 240-773-9515

15831 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, 240-777-0200

Long Branch Library

Rockville Memorial Library

8800 Garland Ave., Silver Spring, 240-777-0910

21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, 240-777-0140

Maggie Nightingale Library 19633 Fisher Ave., Poolesville, 240-773-9550

Silver Spring Library 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 240-773-9420

Marilyn J. Praisner Library 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, 240-773-9460

Twinbrook Library

Noyes Library for Young Children

202 Meadow Hall Drive, Rockville, 240-777-0240

10237 Carroll Place, Kensington, 240-773-9570

LIBRARY CARD

Wheaton Interim Library 2400 Arcola Ave., Wheaton, 240-777-0678

Olney Library

You can register for a library card in person at any Montgomery County Public Libraries branch by bringing a photo ID and proof of address.

You also can apply online at http://montgomerycountymd.gov/library/ services/registration.html.

3500 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, 240-773-9545

White Oak Library

11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, 240-773-9555

Potomac Library

10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 240-777-0690

Extraordinary Environment for Learning

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St. Jane de Chantal School Catholic Education for Children Pre-K through Grade 8 St. Jane de Chantal Catholic School is a Christ-centered educational community

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Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 21

essentials

Utilities Digital Cable/ High-Speed Internet and Digital Home Phone

Phone

Electric

800-922-0204 verizon.com

800-685-0123 bge.com

Gas

First Energy/Potomac Edison

Verizon

Washington Gas 703-750-1000 washingtongas.com

Water/Sewer

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

BGE

Comcast

800-686-0011 firstenergycorp.com

RCN 800-746-4726 rcn.com

PEPCO 202-833-7500 pepco.com

Verizon 800-922-0204 verizon.com/home/fios-fastest-internet/

301-206-4001 wsscwater.com/home.html

TRASH & BULK TRASH

800-934-6489 xfinity.com

Shady Grove Transfer Station

Poolesville Beauty Spot

16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, 240-777-0311

19200 Jerusalem Road, Poolesville, 240-777-0311

22 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Recycling Shady Grove Transfer Station 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood, 240-777-0311

Transportation How to Get Around Metro (map on page 25) The Metro has a dozen stops in Montgomery County on the Red Line, which connects the county to Washington, D.C. The Red Line stretches from Shady Grove through the nation’s capital and back into the county, ending in Glenmont. Parking is available at 44 Metro stations. wmata.com/ rail

Metrobus Metrobus’ 400,000 trips each weekday in Maryland, Virginia and the District make it the sixth busiest bus agency in the United States. For information about schedules and stops, visit wmata.com/bus.

Ride On bus The Ride On bus system is the most used form of public transportation in the county. Ride On operates dozens of routes, which serve much of the county. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation lists the routes and schedules: montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/ routesandschedules/rideonroutes.html.

Zipcar

find a Zipcar at one of dozens of locations in Montgomery County and the Washington, D.C., area: zipcar.com/find-cars/dc.

Bethesda Circulator This free bus makes a 3.3-mile loop through downtown Bethesda every 10 to 15 minutes. Its 20 stops include the Bethesda Metro station and Bethesda’s public garages. bethesda.org/bethesda/bethesda-circulator

Silver Spring VanGo The VanGo is a free shuttle service circulating through downtown Silver Spring from the Silver Spring Metro station. silverspringdowntown.com/ transportation/vango-stops

Bike Rentals Capital Bikeshare enables users to rent its signature red bikes from one of hundreds of stations across the region, including dozens throughout Montgomery County, and then return them to another station. In Silver Spring, users can also find dockless bikes available from other bikeshare companies.

The car-sharing service Zipcar allows you to pick up a car whenever you want to use one, with more convenience than a typical car rental service. To

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Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 23

essentials Motor Vehicle Administration There are four MVA offices in Montgomery County, plus one pop-up office that opens once a month in Chevy Chase. Find out which services are offered at each location, along with wait times, at the MVA website: www.mva.maryland.gov/locations/montgomerycounty.htm.

Gaithersburg

Full service

15 Metropolitan Grove Road, Gaithersburg

Glenmont

Limited service

Glenmont Shopping Center, 12335 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

Limited service

16520 S. Westland Drive, Gaithersburg

White Oak

Full service

2131 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring

Chevy Chase MVA Bus, Friendship Heights Village Council

Limited service

4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase (The MVA Bus is only at this location once a month.)

Walnut Hill

How to get a driver’s license New residents must obtain a Maryland driver’s license within 60 days. Bring your out-of-state license, plus proof of your age, identity and residency. You’ll need to pass a vision screening at an MVA office or submit a vision screening form from a doctor.

All

are

How to title and register a vehicle You must register your vehicle within 60 days of moving to Maryland. Generally, you’ll need to provide proof of ownership (the existing title identifying you as the owner), a state inspection certificate and an application form (available on the MVA website). You also must have a vehicle liability insurance policy that conforms to Maryland’s requirements. Apply for a Maryland title and registration at any full-service MVA office, or mail copies of the above documents to the MVA’s Out-of-State Title Unit, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062.

Maryland requires the inspection of a vehicle’s emissions system every two years. Get your car inspected at these two Montgomery County locations. mva.maryland.gov/ locations/veip/montgomerycounty.htm Montgomery County, East 2121 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring Montgomery County, Central 15910 Chieftain Ave., Derwood

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essentials

Pets How to get a pet license All dogs and cats over the age of 4 months and living in the county need to wear tags that prove they have been licensed and vaccinated for rabies. Pet licenses can be obtained from the county online at licensepet.com/ montgomerycounty, in person at the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center (7315 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood) or by mail (call 240-773-5900, option 7, to request a form).

Veterinarians issue rabies tags. Rockville and Gaithersburg residents also need to register their pets with their cities. Rockville residents can visit www.rockvillemd.gov or apply in person at Rockville City Police Department, Neighborhood Services Division, 2 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville. Gaithersburg residents can apply in person at City of Gaithersburg Animal Control, 31 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg, or by visiting www.gaithersburgmd.gov.

Dog parks Black Hill Regional Park 20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, 301-528-3490

Comprehensive wellness, emergency and specialty care Primary Care

Emergency Care

Specialty Care

Wellness Plans

Open 24/7/365

Dermatology

Evening & weekend appointments

VECCS-Certified Level I

Neurology

General surgery

Board-certified Criticalists

Dentistry

Oncology

Rehabilitation And more!

Cabin John Regional Park 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda

Dog Exercise Area in Green Park 251 Bickerstaff Way, Gaithersburg

Ellsworth Urban Park & Dog Park 621 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring

Olney Manor Recreational Park

Friendship provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive services for our clients and patients. But, more than that, we provide a caring team who understands the unique human-animal bond.

Friendship is open 24 hours every day and has been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association for over sixty years.

16601 Georgia Ave., Olney

Ridge Road Recreational Park 21155 Frederick Road, Germantown, 301-528-3450

Rockville Dog Park at King Farm 1800 Piccard Drive, Rockville, 240-314-8700

Takoma Park Dog Park 198 Darwin Ave., Takoma Park

Wheaton Regional Park

PHOTO BY JAMES MERTZ

11710 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton, 301-905-3045

24 hours 202.363.7300 www.friendshiphospital.com 4105 Brandywine Street NW Washington, DC 20016

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 27

essentials

28 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Malls & Shopping Centers The Bethesda area offers many shopping opportunities that range from shops and boutiques found in pedestrian-friendly centers such as Bethesda Row, Rockville Town Square and Pike & Rose in North Bethesda to those located in more traditional indoor malls such as Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda and Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. Here’s a sampling of local shopping areas:

Bethesda

4950 Elm St., www.bethesdarow.com

1 Bethesda Row

2 The Shoppes of Bethesda

10 Lakeforest Mall

19 Federal Plaza Rockville Pike and East Jefferson Street, www.federalrealty.com/properties/ federalplaza

20 Montrose Crossing

4928 Hampden Lane, www.shoppesofbethesda.com

701 Russell Ave., www.shoplakeforest.com

12055 Rockville Pike

3 Wildwood Shopping Center

11 RIO Washingtonian Center

11580 Rockville Pike, www.pikeandrose.com

10241 Old Georgetown Road, www.shopsatwildwood.com

4 Westfield Montgomery 7101 Democracy Blvd., www.westfield.com/montgomery

Chevy Chase

5 The Collection at Chevy Chase 5441 Wisconsin Ave., www.collectionchevychase.com MAP GRAPHIC DRAWN BY MARY ANN SMITH AND JENNY FISCHER

9 The Kentlands Kentlands Boulevard at Market and Main streets, www.kentlandsdowntown.com

6 The Shops at Wisconsin Place 5310 Western Ave., www.shopwisconsinplace.com

Clarksburg

7 Clarksburg Premium Outlets

22705 Clarksburg Road, www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/clarksburg

9811 Washingtonian Blvd., www.riowashingtonian.com

Potomac

12 Cabin John Village

11325 Seven Locks Road, www.shopcabinjohn.com

13 Potomac Promenade 9812 Falls Road, #201

14 Potomac Village Shopping Center 9935 Falls Road

15 The Shops at Park Potomac 12525 Park Potomac Ave., www.parkpotomac.com

Rockville/North Bethesda

16 Congressional Plaza

21 Pike & Rose

22 Potomac Woods Plaza 1087 Seven Locks Road

23 Rockville Town Square 200 E. Middle Lane, www.rockvilletownsquare.com

24 Wintergreen Plaza 815-895 Rockville Pike, www.wintergreenplaza.com

Silver Spring

25 Downtown Silver Spring

908 Ellsworth Drive, www.downtownsilverspring.com

26 Westfield Wheaton 11160 Veirs Mill Road, www.westfield.com/wheaton

Rockville Pike and Halpine Road, www.congressionalplaza.com

Upper Northwest, D.C.

Gaithersburg/ North Potomac

17 Congressional Village Shopping Center

5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, www.chevychasepavilion.com

8 Downtown Crown

1701 Rockville Pike

Sam Eig Highway at Fields Road, www.downtowncrown.com

28 Mazza Gallerie

18 Fallsgrove Village Center

5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, www.mazzagallerie.com

14995 Shady Grove Road, www.fallsgrovevillagectr.com

27 Chevy Chase Pavilion

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 29

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PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

our towns

A variety of dances are held weekly in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY defines the towns and cities in the Bethesda area.

From neighborhoods that hold annual events such as Fourth of July parades to concerts and festivals sponsored by individual towns and cities, these communities strive to create a welcoming environment for their residents, whether they have lived in Montgomery County all of their lives or have moved here.

Newcomers will find the county offers top-notch schools, a broad variety of housing styles and communities ranging from the bucolic neighborhoods of Potomac to the more urban environs of Bethesda, Rockville and Silver Spring.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 31

Downtown Bethesda is a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants and housing.

32 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Bethesda SOMEONE ONCE REFERRED to Bethesda as “big city, small town.” It’s an apt description.

Bethesda, which is actually unincorporated, has many of the attributes of a big city—a bustling downtown, an educated and sophisticated populace, a striking number and variety of restaurants, and world-class cultural venues. (The flip side is that it also has bad traffic, limited parking and expensive housing.)

But Bethesda in many ways still feels like a small town: people recognize each other on the street, and there are dozens of leafy neighborhoods and a strong sense of community. The recent completion of a major development project—11 years in the making—on what had been a public parking lot sparked a fresh vitality in Bethesda, adding new shops, restaurants and high-end housing to a bustling downtown. Meanwhile, construction cranes dot the downtown Bethesda area as upscale condo and apartment complexes continue to rise, meeting a demand for close-in living and easy access to shops,

POPULATION 60,858 EDUCATION

High school graduate or higher (persons age 25+) 98.3% Bachelor’s degree or higher (persons age 25+) 83.7%

INCOME

Median household income $154,559

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $877,300

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+) 29.3 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

dining and mass transportation.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Don’t Miss JUNE

OCTOBER

IMAGINATION BETHESDA

TASTE OF BETHESDA

Families take over Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda for this celebration of children, art and “all things fun” that offers plenty of activity tents and live entertainment.

This event attracts tens of thousands of people to sample the food of 60 or so restaurants, with five stages for live entertainment.

#1

“MOST EDUCATED PLACES IN AMERICA”

Nerdwallet.com in 2016

#77

“BEST SUBURB TO LIVE IN AMERICA” Niche.com in 2018

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 33

our towns | BETHESDA

FOR MUCH OF ITS EARLY existence,

Bethesda was little more than “a wide spot in the road,” as one early resident put it.

That road—today’s Wisconsin Avenue—began as a ridgeline trail through ancient woods, traveled by Native Americans as they hunted. At the end of the 17th century, the English took it to newly granted plantations measured out of the virgin forests. In time, farmers hauled produce to the 18th-century port of Georgetown over it. Drovers herded livestock, British regiments marched in formation and travelers joggled along it in wooden-wheeled wagons.

By the middle of the 18th century, a small stone tavern had been built near the northwest intersection of presentday Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. It was the nucleus of what would become downtown Bethesda.

In the early 19th century, simple clapboard homes of farmers sprang up, fronting fields of grazing cattle and hills of wheat and corn. On Jan. 23, 1871, the town was named “Bethesda” after the Presbyterian meetinghouse that still stands high on a hill above Rockville Pike.

Shortly afterward, farmers abandoned the road in favor of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which ran far to the east. Travelers also found that a faster means of reaching downtown D.C. The old road slid into disrepair, and the village languished. By 1878, its population numbered only 20.

In 1910, the Georgetown Branch of the B&O Railroad came to town, bringing new commercial growth along the tracks. And soon a revolutionary presence arrived—the automobile. The trolley had jump-started growth, but the

auto threw it into high gear. All around the village suburban communities rose, promising luxurious homes in beautifully landscaped surroundings just a short car trip to and from downtown offices.

In 1912, local real estate magnate Walter E. Tuckerman created a gated community, soon named Edgemoor, and its sports complex became the Edgemoor Club. Exclusive sports and social clubs became a trademark of Bethesda living, forming a wide green ring around the village.

The Montgomery Country Club was established in 1913 (it became the Bethesda Country Club in 1947). It was followed by the Town and Country Club founded by members of Washington’s German-Jewish community, which moved to the northern boundary of Bethesda in 1921. (That club officially became “Woodmont” in 1930.) On River Road, Congressional Country Club opened in 1924, as did Burning Tree Country Club. Kenwood Golf and Country Club followed in 1928.

Within a 10-year period, from 1920 to 1930, the population of Bethesda soared from 4,800 to 12,000. Even the Great Depression couldn’t dampen the

34 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

BY MARK WALSTON

Wisconsin Avenue at the intersection with Elm Street in 1940

Eastham’s Service Station, pictured here on Wisconsin Avenue in the 1930s

explosive growth. The large number of government paychecks invested in home mortgages, filling the coffers of area banks and supporting local businesses, helped insulate Bethesda from the economic conditions ravaging the rest of the nation.

In 1938, President Roosevelt visited the site of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and while touring the

PHOTOS BY HUGO BROOKS

The making of Bethesda

At the Boro theater’s opening in 1938, local papers hailed it as “a triumph in modern theater construction.”

property, looked out over Rockville Pike and pointed out land he thought would be perfect for a proposed Naval Medical Hospital. At its completion in 1942, the Navy Medical Center, along with NIH, would inscribe a northern limit to the expansion of Bethesda’s commercial district, and would eventually bring thousands of new workers to the area’s busy streets—and thousands of new homeowners to the suburban communities.

After World War II, Bethesda’s boom continued. But geographical restrictions—the circling of the business district by stable residential communities,

WHAT’S IN A NAME? In 1862, the town was named “Darcy’s Store,” after the general store in which the first post office resided. The town was officially renamed “Bethesda” in 1871, after the meetinghouse that can still be seen from Rockville Pike.

country clubs and federal lands—would work to contain the downtown’s outward expansion. Development was forced upward, and by the 1960s, eight-, nineand 10-story office buildings had begun to cast longer shadows on Wisconsin Avenue.

In 1972, the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road was chosen as the site of the Bethesda Metro subway station. Again, the progress of transportation—from turnpike to trolley to automobile to subway—seemed destined to direct the town’s future. In 1984, Bethesda’s Metro station opened—one

The phone company’s switchboard in 1941

year after the county had approved plans for 14 medium- to high-density buildings surrounding it, in a package redevelopment plan unprecedented in the county’s history. ■

PHOTOS BY HUGO BROOKS

PHOTOS BY HUGO BROOKS

The “Old Blacksmith Shop” sat on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road in about 1910.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 35

our towns | BETHESDA

Many of the houses lining the streets of Battery Park were built in the 1920s.

great

neighborhoods

BY CARALEE ADAMS, MEREDITH CARLSON DALY, LOUISA JAGGAR AND AMY REININK

Residents in Alta Vista can quickly hop onto a commuter route and head in several directions. The neighborhood is bordered on the north by the Beltway, the west by Rockville Pike and the east

by Old Georgetown Road. Just to the south is the campus of the National Institutes of Health. Alta Vista features split-levels, ramblers and colonials, mostly built in the 1950s and ’60s. The average sale price in 2018 was about

$983,000. Situated in the Walter Johnson High School cluster, the area offers familyfriendly recreation options, including the BethesdaChevy Chase YMCA with its swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness classes and summer camps. Residents also enjoy the Bethesda Trolley Trail and MaplewoodAlta Vista Local Park.

Ashburton

Lots of neighborhoods can be considered close to the Beltway, but Ashburton is

36 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

actually split into two sections, with the interstate cutting through it. To get on the Beltway and I-270, residents can take Old Georgetown Road, which borders the east side of Ashburton. With about 650 split-level and colonial homes, many on cul-de-sacs, the neighborhood is filled with sidewalks on fairly flat terrain. Many houses haven’t undergone major renovations, so the neighborhood is known for being slightly more affordable than other areas of Bethesda.

Bannockburn With a cooperative nursery school, public elementary school and private swimming pool available, Bannockburn residents have plenty of places to connect. The active citizens association hosts parties and an annual spring musical in a community clubhouse.

Block coordinators make sure older residents get help with shoveling or transportation when needed. With its hilly and winding streets, Bannockburn is a close-in neighborhood

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Alta Vista

located just north of Goldsboro Road, east of MacArthur Boulevard, and near the C&O Canal and Glen Echo Park.

Part of the Walt Whitman High School cluster, it was established in 1946, but many of the houses were built in the 1960s and ’70s, with recent teardown activity making room for new construction. The average sale price in 2018 was about $835,000.

Battery Park

CARDEROCK SPRINGS PHOTO BY LESLIE KATZ; LI PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Residents of this neighborhood, bounded by Old Georgetown Road to the north, Wilson Lane to the south and Maple Ridge Road to the west, enjoy being close to downtown Bethesda.

Many of the nearly 200 houses were built in the 1920s and sit on quarter-acre lots with tree-lined streets. The neighborhood’s name echoes the marketing campaign for its first targeted buyers: The developers advertised in military journals with the aim of attracting veterans and servicemen.

Bradley Hills

A few blocks on either side of Bradley Boulevard, roughly between Goldsboro and Devon roads, Bradley

Hills is considered a prime location with high-end homes for people who want to live near downtown Bethesda and its amenities. Some of the traditional colonial homes have three bedrooms and date back to the 1920s, while the newest homes boast up to 20,000 square feet of space and eight bedrooms. Homes in this well-established, leafy neighborhood in the Walt Whitman High School cluster sell for as much as $4.5 million, with an average sale price of under $1.4 million in 2018.

Locals

Carderock Springs

Off River Road and the Beltway, buffered by Cabin John Regional Park, Carderock Springs celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2012 with a party at the Carderock Springs Swim and Tennis Club, the central hub.

Carderock Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its prime examples of “situated modernism”— houses that complement and blend in with the landscape. A local developer, the late Edmund Bennett, built the modest homes in the early 1960s, designed to “be of the land instead of on it.’’

Carderock Springs

“

We picked Bethesda because it is safe, the school system is strong and the location is ideal. It’s close to downtown D.C., [and] shops in Rockville. For foodies, this is a really good place to be. There is so much diversity and ethnic cuisine—if you want a fancy place or something quick, there is a whole variety.

”

Rose Li

owner of Rose Li and Associates, member of the Maryland State Board of Education and chair of the Maryland Commission on Aging Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 37

our towns | BETHESDA Many of Wyngate's original homes were torn down to make way for bigger houses.

great

neighborhoods East Bethesda With two Red Line Metro stops, the Capital Crescent Trail and downtown Bethesda a short stroll away, East Bethesda is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Bethesda.

Located east of Wisconsin Avenue and north of East West Highway, it features a mix of colonials, Cape Cods and other architectural styles. Teens can walk to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Annual events include a neighborhood yard

sale, a Labor Day picnic and a Halloween parade.

Edgemoor Edgemoor, established in the early 1900s, is a repeat “Best Neighborhood” winner in Bethesda Magazine’s “Best of Bethesda” awards for several reasons: its stately colonials, mansions and contemporaries; the easy walk to Bethesda Row, the library, grocery stores and Metro; and a ready-made social life via the

38 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Edgemoor Citizens Association and the Edgemoor Club, a private swim and tennis club.

It is such a prized location that residents joke that nearby neighborhoods are “edgeless.”

Glen Echo Heights The nearly 500 houses in this community of winding tree-lined streets overlooking the Potomac River range from modest bungalows to multimillion-dollar mansions. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by MacArthur

Boulevard to the west, Westpath Way to the south, Sangamore Road to the east and Dahlonega and Onondaga roads to the north. Residents can walk to the Potomac River and the C&O Canal towpath.

Sumner W.C. and A.N. Miller developed Sumner just north of the District line off Sangamore Road in the late 1940s.

Sumner’s 470-plus colonials have been added to and

updated since then, but the neighborhood retains its stately appearance and old-line reputation. An added benefit: Much of it is a short walk or bike ride away from the Capital Crescent Trail and to restaurants, a pharmacy and a Safeway in the nearby Shops at Sumner Place.

Westbrook

Westbrook Elementary School serves as the geographic and social center of this quiet residential neighborhood. Events hosted by the school are wellattended by residents—nearly 2,000 turn out for its annual carnival. Located north of the intersection of Massachusetts and Western avenues, the community is characterized by tree-lined streets and tidy colonials. Residents enjoy the convenience of being close to Washington, D.C., and the popular Capital Crescent Trail, which runs along the west side of the neighborhood.

WYNGATE PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN; THOMAS PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Wildwood Hills

Just south of Westfield Montgomery mall, Wildwood Hills is a small community of 181 homes bordered by Democracy Boulevard, I-270 and Bells Mill Road. The neighborhood is primarily comprised of colonial-style townhouses built in the 1980s, but there are also some large single-family homes on quarter-acre lots.

The average sale price in 2018 was about $735,000.

Residents can enjoy the nearby Locust Grove Nature Center, the Cabin John Ice Rink, and the miniature train, playground, and hiking trails in Cabin John Regional Park, along with Big Train Baseball at nearby Shirley Povich Field.

Wildwood Manor

Anchored by the Wildwood Shopping Center, the neighborhood offers easy access to the Beltway and I-270 via Old Georgetown Road, and it is also close to the GrosvenorStrathmore Metro station.

Many of the 381 houses were built in the 1950s and are in the midcentury modern or splitlevel styles, though teardowns are now common. Residents enjoy the annual Fourth of July parade that winds through Wildwood Manor’s streets, and then head to Wildwood Manor Pool for an afternoon party.

Locals

WOOD ACRES

With many homes dating back to the 1940s and canopy trees lining front yards, Wood Acres exudes a small-town charm.

Neighborhood children walk to Wood Acres Elementary School, and the local Wood Acres Park boasts tennis courts, a basketball court, several fields and a playground that was fully renovated in 2001, with a bike-friendly “highway” that circles the park. The houses and yards tend to be small, but the neighborhood rests between Massachusetts Avenue and River Road, making this a prime location for commuters.

Wyngate

Wyngate is a quaint, wellsettled neighborhood, though many of its 1950s colonial and Cape Cod-style homes have been torn down and replaced with bigger homes. The popular Wyngate Elementary School is a big draw for families. Lemonade stands are common in the warm weather and Ayrlawn Park offers dog walkers a place to gather. The neighborhood is nestled inside the Beltway between Old Georgetown Road and Fernwood Road.

“

Coming from Chicago, we love cities. Bethesda was the best of both worlds because you can have the benefits of living in a city, but also enjoy a neighborhood feel with a backyard. What I love about the neighborhood is the people and the culture in Bethesda.

It has a very tech-savvy young demographic that loves local, whether it’s a local coffee shop, a local restaurant, a local diner.

”

Cherian Thomas

Co-founder and CEO of Play Octopus and Spotluck

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 39

EXPERIENCE MEMBERSHIP AT THE Y! YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase membership includes access to multiple heated indoor & outdoor pools (for lap swimming, instruction & more), support from nationally certified wellness staff to help you reach your wellness goals, unlimited group exercise classes offering something for everybody, opportunities to volunteer and give back to your community, and so much more.

Come connect with members in our newly renovated lobby or try relaxing saunas in our newly renovated locker rooms.

POOLS & AQUATICS PROGRAMS The Y’s Aquatics Programs encourage children and adults to live healthier lifestyles, have fun, and be safe in the water. Youth can take advantage of programs that range from beginner to advanced swimming. As youth grow, opportunities are available to learn CPR or to become certified lifeguards. For adults, there are additional benefits of swimming or participating in water activites including improved muscle definition, blood flow and flexibitlity, lower stress and inflammation, and more.

TO GET STARTED, PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY! 301.530.3725 ymcadc.org

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

As one of the largest providers of childcare services nationwide, the Y believes that the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success. YMCA Ayrlawn Program Center offers: • Early Learning for children ages 2-5, full and half day • Before/After School Programs + pick up/drop off from 4 area schools • Day Camps – Up to 29 different offerings a week (sports, travel, • specialty, leadership and traditional)

YOUTH SPORTS The Y offers various programs including music lessons, tennis, gymnastics, martial arts, sports leagues, and enrichment classes. Programs run from ages 9 months-99 and we have sessions starting every 8 weeks. Whether you want your child to try something for the first time, enhance their skills, just have some fun, get some exercise, or meet new friends the Y is the place for you.

JOIN THE YMCA TODAY! YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase • 9401 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814 YMCA Ayrlawn Program Center • 5650 Oakmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20817

DESPITE ITS HEAVY concentration of high-octane inhabitants, Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase

somehow manages to seem bucolic and old-fashioned, a place that time forgot. Chevy Chase isn’t a single entity, but rather a collection of small towns and unincorporated neighborhoods. Together they make up an affluent enclave of pricey homes, well-tended lawns and hushed streets, as well as top-notch public schools—although many families choose private schools. Residents praise Chevy Chase for its familyfriendliness and charm—as well as its proximity to the nation’s capital—and enjoy the convenience of having three Metro stops and downtown Bethesda close by.

Stately homes line the streets in the Village of Chevy Chase.

POPULATION 9,545 EDUCATION

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

High school graduate or higher (persons age 25+) 98.5% Bachelor’s degree or higher (persons age 25+) 84.4%

INCOME

Median household income $173,333

HOUSING

#2

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $897,000

“10 BEST SUBURBS IN AMERICA”

COMMUTE

#1

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+) 30.5 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Zippia.com in 2016

“MOST EDUCATED TOWN IN MARYLAND”

Business Insider website in 2019

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 41

our towns | CHEVY CHASE

Small-town roots

The Kensington Trolley at Chevy Chase Lake in about 1905

Two boys walking along Brookville Road at Williams Lane looking north, in about 1920

border of England and Scotland.

Chevy Chase “was a seminal development in the history of the growth of the Nation’s Capital for the influence it exerted upon the location and quality of other suburban subdivisions,” wrote Montgomery County historian Joey Lampl in her 1998 history of the community. Its “well-built houses repre-

42 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

sent an important cultural expression of American wealth and power.”

Friendship Heights’ origins and aspirations, by contrast, were humble. The name comes from the 3,000-acre “Friendship” land grant made to colonists in 1713.

During the 19th century, the Shoemakers, a Quaker family from Philadelphia, farmed the land along Georgetown-Frederick turnpike (now Wisconsin Avenue) on both sides of the District line. It was a quiet place, about a mile from Tenleytown, then a largely working-class community.

By 1900, the Georgetown trolley reached Montgomery County’s southern border. Local entrepreneurs, including Albert Shoemaker (great-grandson of original settler Samuel Shoemaker) and Henry Offutt, a Georgetown grocer turned banker, constructed homes for commuters. Offutt subdivided 16 acres in 1901 along the northern side of Willard Avenue.

The 32-acre “Village of Friendship Heights and the Hills,” recognized by the Maryland legislature in 1914, included

FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE CHEVY CHASE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

CHEVY CHASE isn’t a town itself; it’s a collection of villages, towns and unincorporated areas with different looks and feels— and in some cases, with very different histories. For example, while two of those communities, Chevy Chase Village and the Village of Friendship Heights, share a common border, they hardly share a similar past. A 1971 interview with the late Chevy Chase grande dame Edith Claude Jarvis, on file at the Montgomery County Historical Society library, speaks volumes about that difference: “During my administration, we had quite a squabble over the Saks Fifth Avenue store coming into the Village,” Jarvis said.

A squabble over Saks Fifth Avenue?

Wasn’t Saks good enough for Chevy Chase Village?

Jarvis was a member of the Chevy Chase Village Board of Governors during the 1950s and early 1960s. She also was the granddaughter of Maj. George Augustus Armes, one of the founders of Chevy Chase, and thus a link to the ideology of strict planning and exclusivity that defined the posh suburb at its creation.

The Chevy Chase Land Co., which broke ground in the early 1890s, banned all commerce from residential neighborhoods. This was inspired by the preeminent landscape architect of the time, Frederick Law Olmsted, who proclaimed that the “tendency of civilization” was to “separate and greatly distinguish business premises from domestic premises.”

Along with the Boston-based Olmsted and Washington, D.C.-based designer Leon Dessez, the land company came up with a plan of winding streets wrapped around hillsides and enlivened with native oak, maple, elm, sycamore and dogwood.

The name recalled both a 1725 land grant for the area, called “Cheivy Chace,” and the Cheviot hills along the

BY STEVE DRYDEN

FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE CHEVY CHASE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

One-Stop Shoppes the Offutt subdivision. Its boundaries have stayed the same: Wisconsin Avenue on the east and, today, the 4701 Willard Apartments on the west. Much of the area outside the village line is known as Friendship Heights, too.

In the early days, Friendship Heights homeowners sometimes bought an adjacent lot to plant a garden or orchard.

Cows and mules were common, as were chicken coops. The annual hog slaughter was a late autumn ritual.

In the rest of Chevy Chase, there were no hog killings in the front yard. A garden was OK, but finding other necessities required driving your regulation Model T to Tenleytown, or ordering goods from Washington to be delivered by daily freight trolley. There was also a small grocery on Brookville Road that somehow escaped the commercial ban.

The Chevy Chase Land Co. backed the Saks deal in 1960, and the county approved the store. Villagers grudgingly accepted it. “Certainly they [Saks] take up a large amount of space that would otherwise perhaps be given over to rather honky-tonky places of business,” Jarvis said in that 1971 interview.

Newlands Street is a memorial (along with the Chevy Chase Circle fountain) to the man who financed the suburb, Francis Griffith Newlands. Newlands represented the new state of Nevada in the House of Representatives from 1893-1903 and in the Senate from 1903-1917. He was a leader of the turn-of-the-century campaign to complete Washington, D.C.’s monumental core.

Newlands bought up farmland along the future route of Connecticut Avenue.

By 1890, he owned 1,713 acres and formed the Chevy Chase Land Co. He then bought the charter of a railway company intended to serve Woodley Park in the District, and made plans to extend service all the way to Maryland. The line opened in 1892.

The creation of Chevy Chase’s core residential neighborhoods lasted from the 1890s to the 1940s, according to Lampl, the historian. n

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www.ShoppesofBethesda.com Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 43

our towns | CHEVY CHASE

One of the wealthiest communities in the U.S., Chevy Chase Village is known for its quiet, treelined streets and grand, beautiful homes.

great

neighborhoods

BY CARALEE ADAMS, LOUISA JAGGAR AND AMY REININK

Living just west of Wisconsin Avenue, south of Bradley Boulevard and north of Drummond Avenue, Chevy Chase Terrace residents are about halfway between the high-end shopping found in Friendship Heights and the amenities of downtown Bethesda. The neighborhood is filled with many large colonialstyle homes, some dating back to 1897, and new construction.

The average sale price was about $1.1 million in 2018, although there are some smaller and less expensive houses.

Residents enjoy Norwood Local Park and walking, cycling and running along the nearby Capital Crescent Trail.

CHEVY CHASE VILLAGE Established in 1890, Chevy Chase Village has about 2,000 residents and borders the District of Columbia. One of the wealthiest communities in the United States, the Village is known for its quiet, tree-lined streets and grand, beautiful homes. There are about 700 single-family homes, including colonials and Victorians, and the community holds a winter holiday party, a Fourth of July parade and other activities. The Village is a municipality run by its own board, and it has its own police force. The Chevy Chase Village Hall offers classes as well as a place to host community events and private celebrations.

44 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

The Hamlet

The first block of a dozen homes built in the Hamlet in the 1930s was designed to resemble an English country town and featured a large common area. Development expanded, and by the 1950s there were nearly 250 houses covering several blocks bordered mostly

by East West Highway and Connecticut Avenue. Residents of the Hamlet enjoy social activities hosted by the Hamlet Citizens Association, including an annual family-friendly Fourth of July party and parade. The Capital Crescent Trail, popular with hikers, cyclists and joggers, is nearby, although the stretch near the neighborhood is temporarily closed for construction of the light-rail Purple Line.

KENWOOD

The pillowy pink blooms of the cherry blossoms in Kenwood have become almost as famous as the ones at the Tidal Basin.

(The hordes of tourists in Kenwood during cherry blossom time are almost as famous, too.) The other 51 weeks of the year Kenwood, a roughly 300home community, is known for stately mansions, its proximity to downtown Bethesda and the Capital Crescent Trail, and many social events—everything from a Halloween haunted house to a variety show written and performed by residents annually.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Chevy Chase Terrace

MARTIN’S ADDITIONS The Village of Martin’s Additions, a municipality that covers only .14 square miles, was originally designed for families of the men who were working on the trolley line that ran down Connecticut Avenue. Many of the homes are bungalows; others are colonials. Along with 324 single-family homes, it also has a commercial strip that hosts a pharmacy, grocery store, dry cleaner, coffee shop and more.

Chevy Chase Park on Shepherd Street is a neighborhood gathering spot, especially on snowy winter days when kids with sleds and toboggans zip down the park’s modest hill.

Somerset

KENWOOD PHOTO BY DAVID CRAIG THOBURN; JINICH PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Somerset is tiny, with just 400 houses in a quarter of a square mile between Bethesda and Friendship Heights. The diminutive town, which was incorporated in 1906, packs a punch—it has more than 30 acres of parkland including

tennis courts and a pool. Each fall, the Somerset Elementary School “Back-to-School Classic” 8K and 2K help to raise money for the school.

And with close proximity to both Bethesda and Friendship Heights, residents enjoy easy access to almost any goods or service they could want. The downside: Homes there don’t come cheap.

Town Of Chevy Chase Incorporated in 1918, the Town of Chevy Chase has about 1,030 homes and almost 3,000 people, as well as its own mayor and council.

Features include Leland Park, which boasts tennis courts, playground equipment and a community center. The Capital Crescent Trail runs along the town’s perimeter, and the town’s proximity to Bethesda is undoubtedly one of its main attractions. Construction on the Purple Line, a light-rail line that will run adjacent to the town, began in 2017 and has temporarily closed the trail.

Locals

“

We’re right between Bethesda and the Friendship Heights area.

Where we live it’s full of trees and it’s green and it’s gorgeous and you don’t feel like you’re in a busy city with traffic at all. We walk with the kids everywhere.

But at the same time, we don’t feel disconnected or isolated because in a second we can be in Bethesda getting our groceries or dry cleaning.

”

Pati Jinich

Cherry trees line the streets of Kenwood.

Cookbook author, host of Pati’s Mexican Table on PBS

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 45

FROM THE HISTORIC central business district known as “Old Towne,” to the newer, planned

Downtown Crown combines shopping, dining and living options in a convenient central area of Gaithersburg.

neighborhoods that emphasize pedestrian-friendliness and community closeness, to the shops and restaurants of the RIO Washingtonian Center, Gaithersburg has a lot to offer. It’s a diverse community that provides an affordable alternative to Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac. Crown, a growing neighborhood that lies near the intersection of I-270 and the I-370/Intercounty Connector, is a bustling community within walking distance of Downtown Crown, which features a Harris Teeter grocery store, restaurants, shops and businesses. Many of Gaithersburg’s residential areas such as the Lakelands and Kentlands neighborhoods are in the far west, which can pose some challenges to residents commuting to the District.

Gaithersburg/ North Potomac

POPULATION 68,710 High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 87.1% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 53.3%

INCOME

Median household income $85,773 46 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $380,300

#31

“BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN MARYLAND”

Niche.com in 2018

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+) 33.1 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

#6

“MOST DIVERSE CITY IN U.S.” WalletHub in 2018

PHOTO BY STEPHEN WALKER

EDUCATION

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAITHERSBURG HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

The place to farm IN 1949, VOLUNTEERS from area 4-H clubs built the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair complex on Gaithersburg’s Chestnut Street, near the Victorian-era railroad station. The choice of Gaithersburg for the complex was a symbolic one: It recalled the town’s longtime role as a market for county farmers.

The town took its name from the Gaither family of Virginia, which traced its lineage back to the Jamestown colony. The Gaithers married into Maryland families with money and land, and shortly after the Revolutionary War, one member, Benjamin Gaither, moved with his bride, Margaret, to her 200 acres of dowry land on what would become the Georgetown-Frederick turnpike (now Frederick Avenue) at the intersection with Diamond Avenue.

Montgomery’s first farmers had concentrated on tobacco, the cash crop of the mid-Atlantic colonies. The county’s poor soil, though, could only produce the less desirable burley tobacco.

Within a few decades, Gaither and others turned to more profitable corn and wheat, along with clover and pasture grasses. Improved roads to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore stimulated sales.

In addition to farming, Benjamin Gaither built a blacksmith shop, tavern and store. He owned 11 slaves in 1824, but within four years was declared insolvent, an apparent victim of the economic turbulence during the early decades of the 19th century.

Even so, farming flourished here, and soon a modest, incorporated town of 200 citizens emerged, with one of everything a self-respecting American community had in those days, including a drama club, a literary society and a hotel whose dinner dances sometimes lasted until 5 a.m. That last activity led to the formation of a branch of the Woman’s

BY STEVE DRYDEN

The Gaithersburg Train Station in 1900, the same year the town’s prohibition against baseball was lifted

Christian Temperance Union, which attempted to halt clandestine trafficking in liquor, and to reform alcoholics.

Town residents also organized baseball teams, giving rise to an ordinance that passed in the early 1890s prohibiting the sport, placing it in the same category as using profanity, lighting firecrackers and discharging rifles in the streets.

The town’s strict Methodists argued that baseball was the first step down a slippery slope that led to gambling and drinking.

Ironically, the only person who went to jail for violating the baseball ordinance was a former Gaithersburg sheriff named Frank Ferrell, who did a few hours in the town’s lockup in 1894. The dispute was resolved amicably, and by 1900 the prohibition was dropped and Gaithersburg teams were playing visiting clubs.

Ferrell, meanwhile, found work as the one-man staff of the Gaithersburg phone company. Advances such as the phone company, along with the availability of trains to Washington every morning at 6:30, were by now attracting Gaithersburg’s first commuters. Small industry grew. The Gaithersburg Milling and Manufacturing Co. was started in 1891, followed by a second flour mill in 1917.

Water service and sewage facilities were

running in the town by 1924.

In 1899, a modest U.S. government observatory was built to study the Earth’s rotation. And in the 1950s, ground was broken on 555 acres of farmland at Clopper Road for a newly established federal facility known today as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. NIST eventually brought an estimated 4,000 jobs to the area. The town’s population jumped from 3,487 in 1960 to 26,420 in 1980, and by that time, Gaithersburg was calling itself a city, albeit one still perceived by some as just another faceless Washington suburb.

In fact, Gaithersburg became one of the first jurisdictions in the country to experiment with “new urbanist” design, an effort to re-create a Main Street atmosphere in the midst of suburban sprawl.

The showpiece, Kentlands, opened in 1991, features homes arranged around a walkable commercial sector.

Gaithersburg’s growth has made the agricultural fairgrounds on Chestnut Street a valuable piece of real estate. The Montgomery County Agricultural Center, the nonprofit group that runs the fair, continues to maintain the event in the middle of a city that, with more than 65,000 residents, is one of the largest in Maryland. n

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 47

our towns | GAITHERSBURG/NORTH POTOMAC

Homes in North Potomac offer quiet streets and leafy yards.

great

BY CARALEE ADAMS, LOUISA JAGGAR AND AMY REININK

CROWN

KENTLANDS

LAKELANDS

Crown, one of the newest additions to Gaithersburg, combines urban convenience with an emphasis on community. Over 2,000 homes, mainly apartments, townhomes and single-family homes, have opened or are in development.

Rooftop decks replace individual yards, and parks are designed to offer community members a taste of nature. The biggest amenity is Downtown Crown, located at the corner of I-370 and Fields Road in Gaithersburg. A 258,000-square-foot multi-use complex with everything from Starbucks to LA Fitness, it opened in 2014.

Developers of Kentlands aimed to design a community that offered many avenues for residents to interact: through a traditional downtown business district, ample parks and public spaces, houses with expansive front porches and amenities such as a public art gallery and theater. It offers a diverse array of housing types, including more than 940 houses and 1,200 apartments. Residents of the community, which marks its 31th anniversary in 2019, say the original mission was accomplished. Also notable: Kentlands residents can walk to Rachel Carson Elementary School, and multiple shops and grocery stores.

Lakelands was designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., the mastermind behind the adjacent Kentlands development, in the late 1990s.

Like its sister neighborhood, 340-acre Lakelands aims to replicate a traditional small town, with a Main Street business district, uniquely designed houses and parks and other public spaces.

Get-togethers include bridge games and book clubs, and among the recreation areas are Lakelands Park, with athletic fields and a pool where the Lakelands Lionfish swim team practices.

48 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

NEIGHBORHOOD PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WALKER; PALKA PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

neighborhoods

Locals POTOMAC CHASE This neighborhood off Jones Lane and south of Darnestown Road in North Potomac includes townhomes and single-family colonials built in the 1980s. The average sale price was about $670,000 in 2018. The 14.5-acre Aberdeen Local Park is a neighborhood gathering spot with a playground, gazebo, soccer field, sand volleyball court, basketball court, tennis courts, grills and paved trails. An active women’s club in the neighborhood and the family-friendly Fourth of July parade and Halloween fall festival help provide a sense of community.

NEIGHBORHOOD PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WALKER; PALKA PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

STONEBRIDGE This community of 440 houses and 376 townhomes was built in the mid- to late-1980s, and boasts a swimming pool, tennis courts and walking paths within its boundaries.

Located roughly between Muddy Branch Road and Shady Grove Road south of Darnestown Road, the neighborhood offers many houses that sit on large lots and have twocar garages and front porches. The neighborhood pool is a gathering spot during the summer, as many neighborhood kids are members of the Stonebridge Sharks Swim Team.

Kentlands offers a diverse array of housing types, such as these stately homes.

“

Gaithersburg’s got it all. There are amenities that I really treasure. I can ride my bike over to Seneca Creek State Park. It’s over 6,000 acres, and it’s got a lake in it. I can rent a kayak there and go out kayaking for an hour and then ride my bike home. Gaithersburg’s got Shady Grove Medical Center, and I can do all my doctor appointments nearby.

”

Sue Palka Weather forecaster for Fox 5 DC

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 49

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Kensington & Garrett Park WITH HISTORIC Victorian homes, tree-

furniture and collectibles of Antique Row,

the entire town is on the National Register

lined streets and shady parks, Kensington

there are glass and art studios and a

of Historic Places. Hallmarks include the

doesn’t feel all that removed from its late

variety of apparel shops ranging from

towering trees and manicured gardens

19th-century roots, when it was created as

boutiques to consignment stores. And

that led the town to designate itself an

a haven from the Washington summer heat.

recent arrivals are creating a dining scene

arboretum in 1977; as well as left-leaning

In recent years, an influx of interior design

for people who want to stay close to home,

politics and quirky traditions, including the

studios, clothing boutiques, spas and

adding even more to the appeal of this

lack of home mail delivery, which means

restaurants has been changing the image

small community.

residents must pick up their mail—and

of the town of nearly 2,400 residents.

interact with their neighbors—at the town

Since 2013, several new retailers have

GARRETT PARK, an incorporated town

post office. The town is also conveniently

opened in the town and just outside of its

located west of Kensington, offers

located, with easy access to commuter

borders in an area once dominated by auto

impeccably preserved Victorian homes

trains and the Grosvenor-Strathmore

repair shops. Now, along with the timeworn

and “Chevy houses” of the mid-1920s;

Metro station.

NOYES LIBRARY PHOTO BY RUSS SPRAGUE; GARRETT PARK PHOTO BY HEATHER VICTORIA

Noyes Children’s Library in Kensington

One of the many Victorians in Garrett Park

KENSINGTON

GARRETT PARK

POPULATION 2,394

POPULATION 1,055

EDUCATION High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 96.7% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 74.5%

HOUSING

EDUCATION

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $675,400

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 99%

COMMUTE

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Mean travel time to work

83.1%

(percent of persons age 25+)

(workers age 16+)

INCOME Median household income $127,000

31.3 minutes

HOUSING Median value of owneroccupied housing units $810,000

COMMUTE Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+)

INCOME Median household income $173,839

33.9 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 51

our towns | KENSINGTON

All aboard Although the mill and its waterwheel were no longer running during her childhood, they still stood on St. Paul Street near the intersection with Farragut Avenue. Kensington Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek, flowed past the wooden mill building, which was eventually torn down and replaced by a private home.

“All of the neighborhood children loved to play, wade and fish in the [Kensington Branch] creek,” Houser recalled.

In the 1930s and ’40s, Howard Avenue was the town’s “main street,” with a small

This is what Connecticut Avenue looked like in 1902, looking south past the old Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church..

52 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

grocery store, McKeever’s ice cream parlor and the two-room Kensington Bank.

Across the street was the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad station. Houser walked with her mother to Kensington’s modest, but handsome, Noyes Library (today, the county’s only library exclusively for children). Built in 1893, the building got its name from an endowment of 1,600 books by Evening Star newspaper publisher Crosby S. Noyes.

Houser literally lived on the other side of the railroad tracks from the affluent part of town with its attractive Victorian homes. The train line was the reason the community began to grow in the years just after the Civil War. The town was then called Knowles Station, after George Knowles, a farmer who sold some of the land to the railroad company.

The Knowles Station stop allowed farmers in the area to send goods to Washington and the first commuters to ride to work. Yet the population in 1880 was no more than about 70.

The tiny community began to take off in 1890 after Washington financier Brainard H. Warner bought several parcels south of the railroad line and recorded a subdivision he named “Kensington Park,” after the London suburb Kensington Gardens.

Warner built handsome houses in a verdant setting that served as a summer retreat for Washington’s well-to-do. The styles included Queen Anne Georgian Revival, Victorian Cottage and Dutch Colonial, with wraparound porches, stained-glass windows and curving brick sidewalks. The area was listed in 1980 on the U.S. Interior Department’s National Register of Historic Places as exemplifying a Victorian-era community.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Houser grew up near the town mill. It wasn’t Plyers Mill, though, as in the Plyers Mill Road that runs from east to west through the center of town. There probably never was such a place.

In the late 19th century, Plyers Mill Road was the byway from Wheaton Postmaster George Plyer’s property to the Newport Mill on Rock Creek, about a half mile from the center of Kensington.

There was, however, a small, family-run grain mill in town—Wheatley Mill—and Houser remembers it well.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENSINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

KENSINGTON NATIVE Susan

BY STEVE DRYDEN

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENSINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Named in 1890 for the London suburb Kensington Gardens

by Washington financier Brainard H. Warner

Kensington residents successfully petitioned the Maryland General Assembly in 1894 to allow the town to be incorporated so it could better handle the demands for civic improvements.

As Kensington grew, promoters painted a picture of a country retreat, typified in this excerpt from a sales pamphlet at the turn of the century: “Come to Kensington! The Pasadena of the suburbs in the rolling hills of Maryland. Your children will avoid the contaminating influences of city life. …Its people are people of culture and essential refinement.”

Yet Kensington was hardly an enclave of white-collar exclusivity.

Adjacent to the railroad tracks were the busy work yards of the Mizell Lumber & Hardware Co., founded in 1922. A concrete manufacturing facility operated nearby for many years.

A working-class, African-American neighborhood called Ken-Gar, located close to Rock Creek just outside the Kensington town line, formed during the first decades of the 20th century and still exists.

After World War II, an auto repair sector sprang up on the western side of Connecticut Avenue, which became known as “Gasoline Alley.”

Today, the area still features numerous auto repair and body shops.

In 1945, Kensington had a population of about 1,500. Today, the town has more than 2,300 residents, although the Kensington postal address includes thousands of other homes and addresses, including highrise apartment buildings, outside the town limits. n

Locals

Allison Aubrey and daughter Lillian Symer on their front porch

“

There is a lot of town spirit in Kensington. The Labor Day parade feels like you are going back in time.

People really are neighborly and feel connected. And you can walk everywhere. That’s how you see everybody. You walk to the park, the farmers market, the train, and you run into neighbors.

”

Allison Aubrey, correspondent, NPR

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 53

our towns | GARRETT PARK

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Train town

In the mid-1880s, businessman Henry W. Copp purchased 500 acres between what are now Kensington and Rockville and named his new town in honor of B&O Railroad President Robert W. Garrett.

Penn Place, pictured here between 1880 and 1890, was a general store.

Today, it houses Black Market Bistro, the Town Hall and the Post Office.

IN THE MID-1880s, businessman

Henry W. Copp had a vision of the perfect summer getaway for work-weary Washingtonians. He formed the Metropolitan Investment and Building Co. in 1886, purchasing 500 acres between what are now Kensington and Rockville, on land bordered by Rock Creek and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

The name of his town: Garrett Park, in honor of B&O President Robert W. Garrett, one of his company’s sponsors.

It was to be, according to an 1887 brochure about lots for sale, “what Tuxedo Park is to New York, Bryn Mawr to Philadelphia, and Hyde Park to Chicago.”

Garrett Park, quaint and unassuming,

didn’t quite turn out that way. Architect John T. Freeman and well-known landscape designer William Saunders mapped out the town in the style of a quaint English village, limiting commercial development and drawing many street names, such as Kenilworth and Waverly avenues, from the novels of Sir Walter Scott.

Construction boomed in the 1890s: Thirty-three houses, requiring down payments of $5 to $25, went up along with the Garrett Park Chapel (now Town Hall) and the railroad station, where MARC trains stop today. By 1900, 175 people were living in the town’s 37 homes.

Development continued in 1924,

54 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

when a group of retired military men formed Maddux, Marshall, Moss & Mallory and began building new affordable housing. The “four M’s” built 50 homes in less than 10 years, including the “Chevy” houses that you can still find scattered throughout the community. (The town’s website points to 10926 Clermont Ave. and 4517 Clermont Place as good examples.) For an extra cost, these tiny homes came with a Chevrolet already parked in the driveway.

By the 1930s, most transportation routes passing through Garrett Park, including the B&O, Kensington Trolley and the Garrett Park bus line, had either been eliminated or their service

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWN OF GARRETT PARK

BY MADALINE DONNELLY

SALVATORE PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

reduced. Through the years, residents have fought hard to preserve the resulting sense of seclusion.

Today, according to Town Hall Manager Elizabeth Henley, Garrett Park is known as an “activist community.”

She says this dates to 1898, when, in an effort to prevent a typhoid outbreak from spreading through septic tanks, the town collectively rose up against one resident who was using private plumbing, risking bringing the disease into the community. The town incorporated and immediately outlawed the practice. The resident eventually fled town.

Garrett Park’s townspeople have successfully fought home mail delivery service since the 1950s, when the postal service first approached them about changing the system. To this day, residents pick up their mail at the post office in the Penn Place building, formerly a 19th-century general store and now home to the Town Hall and Black Market Bistro. “It’s the town gathering place,” says retired town archivist Barbara Shidler.

A 1968 proposal to widen Strathmore Avenue, the only road into town, was met with picketing and a resounding “no.” The town also introduced strict zoning ordinances to further restrict development. And in 1975 it created an Arboretum Committee and a Historical Preservation Committee to encourage the protection of Garrett Park’s natural beauty and history.

Ask former Mayor Chris Keller the type of person who’s attracted to Garrett Park and he’ll say: “Someone who’s willing to put up with all of our idiosyncrasies.”

Garrett Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and declared itself an arboretum in 1977.

In 1982, Garrett Park declared itself a nuclear-free zone, making the front page of The New York Times. n

Locals

“

My wife and I always loved the town of Garrett Park, the historic part. Even though it’s eclectic and there’s a lot of older people and a lot of younger people, it all seems to mix pretty well.

If you have kids, it’s a great network for kids, but there are plenty of people who don’t have kids as well, and they love it just as much.

”

Damian Salvatore,

Chef and co-owner of Persimmon, Sal’s Italian Kitchen and Wild Tomato Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 55

CJVILLAGE.COM

E veryone has a S T O R Y CABIN JOHN VILLAGE serves as the central gathering place for the Potomac community— where stories are written, memories are created and meaningful connections are made.

79 1 9 Tu c ke r m a n L a n e, P o to m a c , M D 2 0 8 5 4

POTOMAC IS THE Bethesda area’s most affluent community, characterized by large lots, houses that run the gamut from spacious

Potomac

to gargantuan, rolling fields with Grazing horses are a common sight in the rolling fields of Potomac.

split-level fences and the genteel, outdoorsy feel of horse country.

Cars are a must, but the schools are top-notch, the parks and preserves are abundant, and the shops in Potomac Village bustle with customers. On the downside: The cost of housing means Potomac is off limits to many—in 2018, the average sales price in Potomac’s 20854 ZIP code was about $1.1 million. And all that seclusion can translate into long commutes for workers. But residents don’t need to drive to Rockville or Bethesda for a decent meal. Recent years have seen the arrival in Potomac Village of some well-regarded eateries and diners can find plenty to choose from at Park Potomac, a mixed-use development off I-270, and Cabin

#2

John Village, a retail and residential redevelopment underway at a

“WEALTHIEST ZIP CODES IN GREATER D.C.”

former shopping center.

POPULATION 44,965 EDUCATION

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 97.4% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 80.6%

INCOME

Median household income $187,568

Washington Business Journal in 2018

#4

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $893,600

“MOST EDUCATED PLACES IN AMERICA”

COMMUTE

#11

Mean travel time to work

Nerdwallet.com in 2016

33.6 minutes

“BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN MARYLAND”

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Niche.com 2018

(workers age 16+)

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 57

our towns | POTOMAC

Heavily traveled today, Falls Road was just a stretch of dirt in about 1910.

IN THE 1930s, a group of well-to-do

professionals was in search of a place to ride in an English-style hunt. The District and near suburbs had become too built up to allow that kind of activity anymore.

They wound up in Potomac, where they found beautiful streams, the Potomac River and cheap land. The Great Depression hit local farmers hard, and many were selling out for as little as $50 an acre.

Elie Cain’s father, Moran “Mike” McConihe, moved from Washington to Potomac in 1938. “Dad was in real estate,” recalls Cain, a longtime civic activist known to many as the unofficial mayor of Potomac. “He just knew it would grow.

He started driving around and finally found a farm.” McConihe and his partners went on to start the Potomac Valley Bank and the Potomac Valley Shopping Center on River Road, forming the genesis of today’s wealthy Potomac.

Before the equestrians and well before the shopping center and the bank, there was a long history of farming in the Potomac area, preceded by an even longer period of Native American residence. Potomac is home to the first Algonquin Indian site in Maryland documented by state historians.

It is believed the village was occupied between 1200 and 1500 A.D. After pushing out the Algonquians, English colonists moved west into Montgomery County from the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1700s and began farming. Potomac remained a modest agricultural community throughout the 19th century. Economic growth came with the construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which reached the area from Georgetown in 1831.

Slavery was widespread in Montgomery County, even though there weren’t many large plantations. The Joseph Magruder farm (the home still stands on Kendale Road near Bradley Boulevard), where as many as 13 slaves have been documented, was typical of the slaveholding culture.

The area avoided the destruction suffered in other parts of the region during the Civil War, and in the postwar period saw steady growth. By 1880, the name of the crossroads area became Potomac.

African-American communities, like Tobytown, which was established in about 1875, sprang up, as emancipated slaves either purchased land or received it for free from former owners. Residents worked on nearby farms, raised livestock and grew their own vegetables and fruits, but lived without indoor sanitation and running water until the 1960s.

The first appearance of the wealth for which Potomac would become known came during the Roaring ’20s, when financier Lyman Kendall built his Kentsdale mansion in the Italian Renaissance style on a 1,000-acre estate just west of Cabin John Creek. Farther out, past the Potomac Village crossroads, the beaux arts-inspired Marwood was built in 1931 by the dissolute son of a Chicago tycoon who died four years later at age 26. (It is now the home of Ted Leonsis, majority owner of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.)

The hunt club crowd that moved to Potomac in the 1930s and 1940s lived on large expanses of land, but wasn’t known for castle building. The surviving members of that group will tell you that their homes were spacious but tasteful. For a while, the Potomac Almanac newspaper

58 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

BY STEVE DRYDEN featured on its masthead the motto, “Our Policy: To Resist Progress in Potomac.”

But in the 1960s, county planners stepped in with guidelines for growth.

While the county’s commercial expansion and infrastructure would be concentrated along the I-270 corridor, Potomac would serve regional and county needs for open space and lowdensity development.

The county planners allowed a “residential wedge” in Potomac, composed mostly of 2- and 5-acre lots, also known as large-lot zoning. What they didn’t foresee was how large-lot zoning would open the way for the big houses that many residents now say have marred the rural landscape. Builder Guy Semmes, whose father, Harry Semmes, was an early developer in Potomac, considers the planning vision a failure. “Generally, people move out here not for community, but to get away and have privacy,” he says.

Robert Hanson, whose family owns the last large farm in Potomac, recalled riding his horse 13 miles during the 1940s from his family’s home on Quince Orchard Road to Landon School in Bethesda every Monday morning, boarding there during the week, and returning on Friday evenings. Back then, “if you met a car on horseback, the car shared the road with two wheels on, two wheels off,” Hanson says. “They didn’t hog it.”

The remaining Potomac equestrians don’t recommend that you ride a horse on the roads today. Along winding Glen Road, cars honk at the slightest slowdown in traffic. The Potomac Hunt club itself moved near the northern village of Barnesville, near Frederick County, in 1980. n

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The old Potomac

great

Avenel is one of the county’s most expensive neighborhoods.

neighborhoods

PHOTO BY JILL TRONE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BY CARALEE ADAMS, MEREDITH C. DALY, LOUISA JAGGAR AND AMY REININK

AVENEL

BEDFORDSHIRE

COPENHAVER

The majority of homes were built in the 1980s, making Avenel—nearly 900 luxury homes and townhomes—one of the newest communities in Potomac and Bethesda. It’s also one of the most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhoods in the county. Avenel is more than 1,000 acres altogether, with yards ranging from under a half-acre to 2 acres. The properties surround the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, a country club; and ball fields, biking trails, children’s playgrounds and wooded trails abound. There is no easy Metro access available, but Avenel is convenient to the Beltway.

Nestled between Falls and Glen roads, Bedfordshire includes more than 560 homes, with a mix of colonials, California-style contemporary homes and townhomes (in the Fallswick section).

Built between 1970 and 1988, the single-family homes average 2,700 square feet and sit on lots that are mostly between a quarter-acre and three-quarters of an acre. Bedfordshire, which has its own park with a creek running through it, is a short drive to Westfield Montgomery mall and other shops.

In the 1960s and early ’70s, developers turned farmland into Copenhaver, a community with more than 200 single-family homes. It is bordered by Copenhaver Drive to the south, Falls Chapel Way and Exchange Court to the west, and Wooden Bridge Road and Cold Spring Road to the north. The quiet enclave has a large private park that’s owned by the residents and includes a pond, gazebo, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking paths and a baseball field. The closest public schools are Cold Spring Elementary, Cabin John Middle School and Thomas S. Wootton High School.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 59

our towns | POTOMAC POTOMAC VILLAGE

What used to be rolling Potomac farmland was transformed in 1967 by Pulte Homes into Fox Hills.

Today, the neighborhood boasts more than 500 homes, several schools and its own incorporated Fox Hills Civic Association. The neighborhood runs along Gainsborough Road between Bells Mill Road and Tuckerman Lane, and is known for being the “best of both worlds” because it has easy access to highways and is convenient to urban amenities, but retains some of its original rural charm. The homes are mostly colonials, with some ramblers and split-levels.

Potomac Village is made up of about 250 homes in the center of town, within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, stores and cafes off Falls Road.

Quick access is available both to shopping and recreation, and the nearby C&O Canal National Historical Park.

MCAULEY PARK Travel east on Democracy Boulevard, past Potomac Village on your left and sprawling landscapes on your right, and you’ve reached McAuley Park. Many of this neighborhood’s spacious, colonial-style homes feature large front porches, although other styles, including ramblers, can be found. Horse stables can be seen from the road, but it isn’t as rural as it appears. McAuley Park is still within a 15-minute drive from Westfield Montgomery mall and only minutes from Potomac Village.

RIVER FALLS River Falls, a popular, familyfriendly Potomac neighborhood, has swim and tennis clubs, three separate civic associations and excellent public schools, as well as stately homes. With a mix of older homes as well as modern styles, the neighborhood is located off MacArthur Boulevard and Brickyard Road.

It’s a short walk to the C&O Canal, which offers miles of hiking and biking.

WINDSOR HILLS With about 120 homes, the neighborhood is not tightly defined, but includes colonialstyle homes built in the 1970s north of Democracy Boulevard and west of Gainsborough Road. Much of Windsor Hills is surrounded by parkland, including Buck’s Branch Creek and Cabin John Regional Park.

It’s common to see deer, foxes and owls in this area even though it’s not far from I-270.

The family-friendly River Falls neighborhood has swim and tennis clubs.

Locals

“

One of the things I’ve come to appreciate and embrace the most is this place really is special because you never know who the person walking next to you on the path is or the person driving next to you in the village or [sitting] downtown at a restaurant. You never know what these people think or believe, but it’s likely to be something interesting. I really get energy from that and I love that about living here.

”

Leon Harris

NBC4 news anchor

60 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

RIVER FALLS AND HARRIS PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

FOX HILLS

Rockville Town Square offers plenty of dining and shopping, a public library and a green where community events are held.

Rockville/ North Bethesda

ONE OF MARYLAND’S oldest

manages to be both a fitting setting for

downtown. In next-door North Bethesda,

towns, Rockville is nonetheless a

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s burial site

Pike & Rose, a multiuse development,

quintessentially 21st-century American

(at Old St. Mary’s Church) as well as

continues to grow since opening in 2014.

suburb: From the busy Rockville Pike

an attractive magnet for vibrant new

The neighborhood of restaurants, stores,

with its big-box stores to its comfortable

immigrant communities. Rockville

entertainment venues and housing

homes and quiet cul-de-sacs, Rockville,

Town Square, with its broad plaza, public

provides a modern vibe to the area at

the second-largest city in Maryland, is a

library and pedestrian-friendly shops

the corner of Rockville Pike and Old

study in contrasts. Rockville somehow

and restaurants, serves as the city’s

Georgetown Road.

POPULATION 68,401 EDUCATION

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 92.1% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 63.1%

INCOME

Median household income $100,436

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $498,200

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+) 32 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

#1

“BEST PLACES TO RAISE A FAMILY” Livability.com in 2016

“BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN MARYLAND” Money magazine in 2018

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 61

our towns | ROCKVILLE/NORTH BETHESDA

IN THE STEAMY DAYS of July 1953, Rockville ran out of water.

This ironic development—the town is surrounded by streams, and is named after one of them, Rock Creek—spurred a campaign to modernize both the government and infrastructure of the quaint county seat of about 7,000 residents.

The next municipal election swept a group of reformers onto the city council and into the mayor’s office. They went to work, and in 1954 Rockville was proclaimed an All-America City by the National Municipal League and Look magazine.

Six years later, with land annexations and a population that had swelled to 26,000, Rockville’s leaders became emboldened with can-do optimism. They signed up for an innocuous-sounding national program called “urban renewal,” and bulldozed 47 acres of the downtown that had grown organically for more than 160 years.

A total of 111 buildings were razed.

Only a few iconic structures, such as the Red Brick Courthouse that dated to 1891, were saved.

Having made a dramatic split with its past, Rockville has been trying to get its downtown right ever since. With the construction of an entire Town Square in the mixed-use, neo-traditionalist model, it has bet on a back-to-the-future approach.

Some of the early history of Rockville coincided closely with that of the United States. In 1776, Montgomery County was carved out of Frederick County and the county seat was located at Hungerford’s Tavern on today’s Washington Street.

In 1801, a few months after the federal government took up residence on the banks of the Potomac River, the settlement around the Montgomery Courthouse became known as Rockville.

Only 150 people were counted within its limits, along with countless farm ani-

BY STEVE DRYDEN

mals. The General Assembly passed a law banning geese and pigs from running loose within the village limits. A visiting writer dismissed the courthouse as being “without either taste or elegance.”

The town grew slowly during the first half of the 19th century. The most notable event in those This was East Montgomery early decades, it seems, Avenue in 1917, looking was a large meteor shower west opposite the historic Red Brick Courthouse. in 1833 that reportedly convinced many townspeople to repent been known as one of the worst pieces of main highway in the state,” the Marytheir sins.

On the eve of the Civil War, slavery land Geological Survey declared in 1899. was common, and many town and out- The road wasn’t paved until 1925.

Through two world wars, Rockville lying residents were Southern sympathizers. The county’s leaders were only able to kept its small-town feel, but with rapid muster a two-vote majority on a motion expansion and a population boom in to urge Maryland to stay in the Union, the 1950s, leaders were seduced by the and even then the resolution backed the urban renewal philosophy. In exchange continuation of slavery. A few months for federal money, “blight” would be later, federal troops disarmed a pro- vaporized, and a clean, modern template Southern militia, the “Rockville Rifle- placed on the downtown.

No matter that there weren’t vast men,” and raided homes to confiscate weapons and arrest advocates of seces- slums or industrial wastelands to be sion. The town’s sympathies were well cleaned up. A 1965 photograph shows represented by the Confederate soldier Rockville Mayor Alfred Ecker hurling a statue that stood on the old courthouse ceremonial rock at a two-story building square. County officials decided in early to kick off the urban renewal offensive.

“The result was disaster,” Washington 2017 to move the statue north to White’s Ferry after public criticism of Confeder- Post architecture critic Wolf Von Eckardt declared in 1979. ate symbols erupted nationally in 2015.

Downtown Rockville was defined by As with many communities around Washington, the coming of the railroad a squat concrete mall and hulking, stylein the late 19th century spurred greater free municipal buildings.

In 1995, eerily repeating the action of economic growth. Rockville became popular as a summer destination for Ecker three decades earlier, County Execwell-off families wishing to escape the utive Doug Duncan took a ceremonial sledgehammer to the bankrupt Rockville capital’s muggy heat.

Well-heeled travelers used the train Mall. By mid-2007, the 15-acre Rockville for their commutes. Rockville Pike, so Town Square was a reality, with a redeworn that some sections were 12 feet signed central library, residences, offices below the adjacent lands, had “long and upscale eateries. ■

62 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEERLESS ROCKVILLE

Looking back

great

neighborhoods

Luxmanor offers a quiet community of homes on mostly half-acre lots.

BY LOUISA JAGGAR AND AMY REININK

LUXMANOR PHOTO BY KATIE MACIOCHA; KING FARM PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

COLLEGE GARDENS Located off Route 355 and West Gude Drive, this neighborhood is walking distance from nearby Montgomery College. Built in the late 1960s and early 1970s, its housing stock is composed of colonials, ranch-style and split-level homes. The King Farm residents can walk to shops, restaurants and services.

community is also a short Ride On bus trip away from the Rockville and Shady Grove Metro stations. In addition to informal social gatherings—potluck dinners, coffee klatches—the civic association hosts a “National Night Out” party every August that includes a barbecue dinner.

KING FARM

King Farm, a high-density planned community in Rockville developed over more than a decade starting in the late 1990s, offers multiple parks and walking trails. Its 3,200 condos, apartments, houses and town houses are located within walking distance of the Shady Grove Metro station and shops, restaurants and services in King Farm Village Center. All that has netted the neighborhood recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency for its use of “smart-growth” principles.

LUXMANOR

Many of the homes in Luxmanor sit on half-acre lots, and many of the community’s streets end in cul-de-sacs, so if it’s quiet you’re seeking, Luxmanor is a safe bet. But thanks to several community events, from a book-exchange brunch each fall to a free movie night, residents never confuse “quiet” with “unsocial.” Located near Tilden Woods Park off Old Georgetown Road, the neighborhood, originally established in 1938, is a short bike ride from Metro, Westfield Montgomery mall and Cabin John Regional Park.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 63

our towns | ROCKVILLE/ NORTH BETHESDA Residents say Manor Park, located off Georgia Avenue and Norbeck Road, is part neighborhood, part social club. Many of the residents who live in the neighborhood’s roughly 350 homes belong to Manor Country Club, which hosts low-key trivia nights and beer tastings, in addition to an annual black-tie party in December. But you don’t have to join the country club to enjoy community events, such as the Great Oak-toberfest held every fall.

OLD FARM

Located in a sweet spot straddling Rockville and North Bethesda, Old Farm has more than 500 single-family houses, which tend to be colonials and split-levels. The average home sale price was about $850,000 in 2018, and the majority of homes sit on at least a quarter of an acre, allowing families with children room for swing sets and playground equipment. The Old Farm Swim and Paddle Tennis Club is a popular option.

ROCKSHIRE

This planned community of more than 750 single-family homes and town houses developed in the 1970s sits just off Interstate 270 along Darnestown Road and Wootton Parkway. Residents say they like the easy access to the county’s main interstate highway and the community’s quiet, tree-lined streets. The 106-acre Woottons Mill Park, which has walking paths, fitness equipment and playing fields, anchors the community. The Rockshire pool is a popular summer gathering spot for families.

TILDEN WOODS

and Old Georgetown roads, Tilden Woods has a mix of about 350 colonials, ramblers and townhomes mostly built in the 1960s. Homes sold for an average of about $720,000 in 2018. Residents have easy access to I-270 and Pike & Rose with its stores and restaurants. Tall old trees canopy the small neighborhood. Residents frequent Tilden Woods Local Park, which includes a playground, lighted tennis courts, a softball field, a basketball court and a picnic area. The neighborhood is located in the Walter Johnson High School cluster.

WEST END

Washington attorney Henry Copp marketed the West End Park subdivision as “Peerless Rockville” when he first developed it in the 1890s.

Many of the grand Victorian homes he built are still part of the neighborhood, now known simply as “West End.” In addition to the history and architecture, residents like the location—between Interstate 270 and Rockville Town Square—which offers easy access to the Rockville Metro station.

WILLOWS

Residents of the 701 homes in Willows of Potomac—417 houses and 284 colonial-style town houses built between 1997 and 2004—don’t have to wander far for entertainment.

Residents find plenty to do in this quiet residential community among the community center, which residents can rent to host parties and other events; the pool, which is home to the Willows of Potomac Water Dragons Swim Team in the summer; and the tennis courts.

Nestled southeast of Montrose 64 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Locals

“

What we like about Rockville is that it’s an incorporated city, so we can have more impact in our neighborhood and community. I know all my council members on a first-name basis, and it’s easy for people to get involved. If you are concerned about trash, or the way the streets are kept up, or recreation activities, it is so much easier to understand how the city works and gets things done.

”

Max van Balgooy president of Engaging Places, a design and strategy firm that connects people to historic places

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

MANOR PARK

SILVER SPRING IS KNOWN for its rich diversity of dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation, as well as for tranquil neighborhoods filled with brick colonials and pedestrian-friendly streets. You’ll find longtime residents, recent immigrants, young families and single professionals. A mix of ethnic and racial diversity, the unincorporated suburb has neighborhoods such as Woodside Park near downtown Silver Spring, where the average home sales price was about $820,000 in 2018, and Connecticut Avenue Estates, farther out, with an average sales price of more than $350,000. With a boom in residential options and the opening of its transit center plus new shops and restaurants, the downtown area is the place to be on weekends. There’s likely to be something going on, whether it’s a farmers market or a musical performance at Veterans Plaza or families enjoying splashing in the large fountain on Ellsworth Drive.

Silver Spring A colorful fountain is a popular gathering place in downtown Silver Spring.

POPULATION 79,483 EDUCATION

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 85.4% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 54.1%

INCOME

Median household income $76,608

Don’t Miss

HOUSING

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $477,800

COMMUTE

Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+)

34.9 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

SEPTEMBER

The Silver Spring Jazz Festival The Silver Spring Jazz Festival is an annual fall event, which has been headlined by top musicians including Aaron Neville, Wynton Marsalis, Sérgio Mendes, the Preservation Hall Band and Branford Marsalis.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 65

our towns | SILVER SPRING

THE FOUNDING OF Silver Spring involved a Washington newspaper editor named Francis Preston Blair; his daughter, Elizabeth; and a fall from a horse.

As the story goes, the two Blairs were riding out on the capital’s old Seventh Street turnpike, now Georgia Avenue, in 1840, looking for land on which to build a summer house away from Washington’s heat. According to one version of the story, Elizabeth fell from her horse, which trotted away and was later found drinking from a mica-infused spring.

Francis Blair liked the spot so much that he bought 250 acres and built his summer estate there. Taking inspiration from the water’s sparkling appearance, he named the place Silver Spring.

Today, Silver Spring is among the most venerated of Montgomery County’s towns, villages and communities.

Longtime resident Walter Gottlieb made a 2002 documentary, Silver Spring: Story of an American Suburb, celebrating the rise, fall and rise again of the unincorpo-

rated area. The film pinpoints the 1940s through the 1960s as a time when Silver Spring “had it all.”

Even the normally dispassionate Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission has singled out Silver Spring, declaring the 1920s-era Woodside Park, the leafy subdivision off of Georgia Avenue, “probably the purest manifestation of the…suburban ideal to have been built in Montgomery County.”

Neighborhood historians like to say that Silver Spring’s early days can be summed up as the making of a “retreat for the elite.” Francis Blair’s son, Montgomery, Abraham Lincoln’s postmaster general and a member of his Cabinet, built his own home, Falkland, on the western side of the Blair land. During the Civil War, the house was burned in the aftermath of Confederate Gen. Jubal Early’s unsuccessful attempt to capture Washington.

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad ran from Washington to Point of Rocks on

BY STEVE DRYDEN the Potomac River. It wasn’t until the early part of the 20th century, though, that the community really took shape.

E. Brooke Lee, great-grandson of Francis Preston Blair, established the North Washington Realty Co. in the early 1920s and built subdivisions such as Northgate, Colonial Village and Sligo Park Hills. A new five-room bungalow was priced at $6,000 in 1927.

Even during the Depression, Silver Spring continued to expand. The Falkland Apartments, named after Montgomery Blair’s original home, opened in 1938.

It was the first such complex in Maryland to receive mortgage insurance from the New Deal’s Federal Housing Administration, and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt presided over the ribbon-cutting.

Other major developments included the Silver Spring Shopping Center, built in the late 1930s and hailed for its art deco design. So beloved was the shopping center and its matching Silver Theatre that activists saved the movie palace

This was Georgia Avenue in about 1915. Ten years later, it was widened, thanks to the connections of E. Brooke Lee, great-grandson of Silver Spring founder Francis Preston Blair.

66 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The rise of Silver Spring

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Locals

from the wrecking ball in the 1990s, and in 2003 it became the American Film Institute’s screening center.

In 1947, the Hecht Co. opened its first department store outside of Washington, D.C., at the intersection of Fenton Street and Ellsworth Drive. Other stores followed, including J.C. Penney and Sears, Roebuck & Co., making the downtown a pleasant, walkable destination for many. Restaurants and specialty establishments completed the mix.

Meanwhile, Montgomery Blair High School gained a certain mystique thanks to high academic achievement, athletic victories and standout graduates including Goldie Hawn, Ben Stein, Connie Chung and Carl Bernstein (the last of whom nearly flunked out).

As with many communities, the good times began to fade in the 1970s. Wheaton Plaza and the Beltway had opened, shifting traffic and business away from Georgia, Colesville and other main streets. Crime became a major concern.

With the opening of the county’s first Metro station in 1978, however, the scene was set for a downtown revival. There were a few missteps, notably a proposed mega mall to be named, with no sense of irony, the “American Dream.” But in 1999, county leaders broke ground for a redevelopment plan that created pedestrian streets and brought major businesses to the area.

“For a while, it looked like downtown Silver Spring would remain a ghost town forever,” Gottlieb, the filmmaker, says.

“Now there’s foot traffic again, a sense of life on the streets—like we used to have in the old days, but in an updated setting.” n

Emily Bruno, left, and Julie Verratti of Denizens Brewing Co.

“

Silver Spring is a very diverse community.

When you look at our 200-seat beer garden, you’ve got folks from all walks of life—all different ages, all different backgrounds, all different colors. It’s like a great community melting pot.

Emily Bruno

”

“

I love that there are so many small independent businesses run by people who live in Silver Spring that employ people who live here. Also, I love the walkability. You can always find something great and fun going on in the town.

”

Julie Verratti

Two of the co-founders of Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 67

our towns | SILVER SPRING Woodside Park is home to a variety of architectural styles.

great

neighborhoods

More than 1,200 colonials, split-levels and ramblers, all built in the 1950s and ’60s, fill Kemp Mill Estates off Arcola Avenue. The Kemp Mill Shopping Center—with a grocery store, restaurants and other services—is within walking distance, and the 2.7acre Kemp Mill Urban Park is next to the shopping center.

The neighborhood is also close to Sligo Creek’s trails, the Northwest Branch’s trails and the sports fields, gardens and trails of Wheaton Regional Park.

Springbrook Forest

Springbrook Forest was developed from rural farmland in the 1940s and has some of Silver Spring’s largest lots, ranging from 1 to 4 acres. With just under 90 homes, including colonials, ramblers and split-levels, the neighborhood maintains a country feel.

Most of the original houses remain, although some new construction is popping up as lots are subdivided. South of Springbrook High School and north of Warrenton Drive, the neighborhood is situated between New Hampshire Avenue on the east and Northwest Branch parkland along the Rachel Carson Greenway Trail on the west.

68 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Woodmoor

Located just north of the Beltway off Colesville Road, Silver Spring’s Woodmoor neighborhood consists mostly of brick colonials and Cape Cods built in the 1930s and 1940s. Residents like the community’s sense of history and friendly vibe, in addition to its hilly, wooded streets. In December, residents gather for a treelighting ceremony at the 80foot pine tree on Woodmoor Drive. The summer brings a neighborhood-wide Fourth of July parade, and the fall an Oktoberfest. Residents also enjoy close proximity to the Woodmoor Shopping Center, which offers a locally owned bakery and other basic services.

Woodside Park

Architectural diversity and preserved history define Woodside Park’s housing stock, which includes roughly 625 houses between Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue north of Spring Street. Since houses were built by individual homeowners over multiple decades, the community comprises the architecture of every decade since it was first developed in the 1920s. Residents can walk to downtown Silver Spring, the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Trail and to nearby businesses, stores and restaurants on Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road.

PHOTO OF WOODSIDE PARK BY STEPHEN WALKER

Kemp Mill Estates

BY CARALEE ADAMS AND AMY REININK

Cabin John & Glen Echo CROSS THE SINGLE-LANE

River and C&O Canal with fish-

tasks as gardening, cooking,

home from 1891 until her

stone bridge to Cabin John,

ing poles and buckets of bait.

making home repairs, paying

death in 1912. Streets are

bordered by the C&O Canal

The community has a neigh-

bills, preparing tax forms and

named after universities in

National Historical Park and

borhood pool and the Clara

providing transportation.

the United States, such as

the Beltway, and you feel like

Barton Community Center run

you’ve traveled through time

by the Montgomery County

STARTED IN 1889, the

Place, and many of the homes

as well as space. Its housing

Department of Recreation. The

Town of Glen Echo is a

here date back to the turn of

stock of about 900 homes

center offers activities, has an

chartered town, with its own

the century. Glen Echo Park

includes everything from Sears

exercise room and runs a sum-

mayor and ZIP code, that

offers many opportunities for

houses from the early 1900s

mer camp and special events.

resides along the west side

fun, including a puppet theater

to modern mansions. Resi-

A symbol of the community’s

of MacArthur Boulevard. Glen

and Adventure Theatre MTC,

dents meet for a weekly coffee

commitment to its residents,

Echo borders the C&O Canal,

a renovated 1921 Dentzel

klatch at The Market on the

the Neighbor 2 Neighbor pro-

Glen Echo Park and the Clara

Carousel and the Spanish

Boulevard, and it’s not uncom-

gram helps residents age in

Barton House, named for the

Ballroom, which offers dance

mon to see kids riding their

their own homes by providing

founder of the American Red

classes and holds dances

bikes to the nearby Potomac

volunteers to perform such

Cross who called Glen Echo

year-round.

CABIN JOHN PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN; GLEN ECHO PHOTO BY DANIEL SCHRIEBER

A backyard fort in Cabin John.

Princeton Avenue and Harvard

The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park

CABIN JOHN

GLEN ECHO

POPULATION 2,280 EDUCATION

POPULATION 341 HOUSING

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 97% Bachelor’s degree or higher (percent of persons age 25+)

79.8%

HOUSING

EDUCATION

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $934,200

High school graduate or higher (percent of persons age 25+) 97.6%

COMMUTE

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Mean travel time to work

89%

(percent of persons age 25+)

(workers age 16+)

INCOME Median household income $156,250

31.6 minutes

Median value of owneroccupied housing units $878,200

COMMUTE Mean travel time to work (workers age 16+)

INCOME Median household income $192,500

29.9 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 69

our towns | CABIN JOHN

Down by the river

BY JUDITH WELLES

AROUND THE TURN of the 19th century, Cabin John was a scenic destination, a place to escape the summer heat of the nation’s capital. Members of high society dined in the restaurant of the ornate,Victorian-style Cabin John Bridge Hotel. In later years, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson came, too. A trolley from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., brought patrons and tourists to the Glen Echo side of the Cabin John Bridge. Next to that bridge was a decorative iron pedestrian span they would stroll across to the hotel’s impressively landscaped grounds. An amusement park and a 1,000-seat theater overlooking the Potomac River provided further entertainment.

The Cabin John Bridge, known as the “Union Arch” when it was built during the Civil War, was completed in 1863. The

bridge still carries the aqueduct that gives Washington its public water. Joseph Bobinger, an enterprising stone mason who had worked on the bridge, and his wife, Rosa, who had fed hungry workers there, built the hotel on the Cabin John side of the span in 1870. He speculated that the bridge would attract visitors who would need a meal and a place to rest. Indeed, people came from far and wide to see the engineering marvel. Listed today in the National Register of Historic Places, it was the longest single-span, masonry arch bridge in the world until 1903.

The Bobingers’ sons, George and William, expanded the hotel into a lavish resort after their parents died. Along with banquet rooms for high-style social events, they had a rathskeller in the basement for working-class patrons.

But Glen Echo’s amusement park began

70 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

drawing customers away, and Prohibition took its toll, and the hotel closed in 1926. Five years later, the uninsured building burned down. Arson was suspected, but no one was charged. Only a small brick gas house, which once fueled the hotel’s gas lights, remains.

The uncertain origin of the name Cabin John has led to legends about hermits, pirates, lovers and ghosts.

One tells of a hermit named John who “sprang from the river.” He fished, hunted raccoons and lived in a cabin next to a creek, the tale says.

Another story makes the mysterious John a pirate captain who came up the Potomac River to bury his treasure.

A romance novel published in 1912, The Legend of the “Female Stranger”: A Tale of Cabin John Bridge and Old Alexandria, claims that John was a British

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD COOK

The Cabin John Bridge Hotel, seen here from the rear, was built by a stonemason and his wife in 1870.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD COOK

One story has it that John, an early settler, mourned his wife in a cabin until he died.

Another possibility is that Cabin John is a corruption of “Captain John,” as in Capt.

John Smith of Pocahontas fame, who founded Jamestown in Virginia and traveled up the Potomac near the mouth of the creek that is in Cabin John.

commoner who loved a noblewoman.

The story goes that he accidentally killed her guardian, and that he and the noblewoman fled to America, where she became gravely ill. As she was dying, the woman told him to bury her with no name so he wouldn’t be caught. A gravesite dated 1816 actually is inscribed to a “female stranger” in Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Cemetery in Alexandria, Virginia. The novel then has John mourning his wife in a cabin near a creek until he died, with the creek and the bridge that was later built being named for him.

Land records dating back to 1715 suggest yet another origin for the name. They refer to what is now Cabin John Creek as Captain John’s Run. Some suggest that Cabin John is a corruption of “Captain John,” the same Capt. John Smith who founded Jamestown, Virginia, and journeyed along the Potomac River in 1608 near the mouth of the creek that is in Cabin John. In 2008, the Cabin John Citizens Association celebrated the 400th anniversary of that voyage with a large community barbecue.

Lock tenders along the Chesapeake and & Ohio Canal, farmers and aqueduct workers were among early Cabin John residents. Major growth began in 1912, when John S. Tomlinson, owner of the now-defunct American Land Co., bought 600 acres of farmland for a development he called “Cabin John Park,” which is synonymous with Cabin John today. The community formed its citizens’ association in 1919. In property deeds, Tomlinson shrewdly reserved rights to half of any treasure “which may have been hidden by John of the Cabin.” n

Locals

“

We like the quirky, vibrant, artistic vibe of Cabin John. We love that it’s only a few miles from the city, but feels a bit rural and very outdoorsy. Living close to the river is so magical. We go running and walk our dog on the towpath. My kids love exploring the woods and heading down to the canal to fish.

”

Rachel Donnan

stay-at-home mother and photographer Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 71

our towns | GLEN ECHO

Park land

BY JUDITH WELLES

The Dentzel Carousel replaced the park’s old merry-go-round in 1921.

WHEN EDWIN and Edward Baltzley set out to explore Conduit Road, now MacArthur Boulevard, in the late 1880s, they happened upon a scenic spot where echoes reverberated and the hills sloped to a glen. The twins, both government workers, came from an Ohio family of industrialists and inventors. They quickly saw investment potential in the cooler, high ground above the Potomac River.

In 1888, using money from Edwin’s invention of a mechanical eggbeater, they

purchased 516 acres along the Potomac River. In sales brochures they offered a romantic vision of a community with castle-like homes and called it “Glen Echo on the Potomac: The Washington Rhine.”

To further entice people to the area, the Baltzleys turned to the growing Chautauqua movement, which offered classes, speakers and performances for the education, spiritual enlightenment and entertainment of the middle classes.

The Baltzleys advertised a Hall of Philos-

72 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

ophy and an Academy of Fine Arts, and built an amphitheater and stone buildings with round turrets in 1891. Nearly 1,000 people came on June 16, 1891, to opening ceremonies for the National Chautauqua Assembly of Glen Echo. Hundreds stayed to attend classes that summer, living in tents on raised platforms. The tents eventually gave way to summer homes.

The building lots were small, and in keeping with Chautauqua educational values, streets were named after prestigious

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY; COURTESY OF RICHARD COOK

The Baltzley brothers

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY; COURTESY OF RICHARD COOK

In the late 1880s, founders Edwin and Edward Baltzley were looking to start a new suburb and discovered a spot where the hills sloped to a glen and sounds echoed.

schools: Harvard and Princeton avenues, Vassar and Wellesley circles. Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, built her house and organization headquarters on Oxford Road in 1891.

Then, in 1892, Chautauqua business school director Henry Spencer developed a fever, and fears of malaria swirled. Barton herself tried to dispel the rumors (Spencer later died of pneumonia, not malaria), but attendance waned and the Chautauqua succumbed to debt.

In 1899, the Baltzleys rented the grounds to the Glen Echo Co. for an amusement park with rides and a merry-go-round, later replaced by a Dentzel Carousel. Edward had moved to Colorado in 1897 to pan for gold, where he developed mercury poisoning in the process of prospecting. He later died in a sanitarium in Arkansas. Edwin went to live with his son in New Jersey. He eventually died penniless. And in 1903, the Chautauqua grounds and buildings were foreclosed and later sold to the Washington Railway and Electric Co. The community expanded as amusement park workers and others began living there year-round. In 1904, Glen Echo became an incorporated town with a mayor and town council. Over the decades, the amusement park added new attractions, but with deteriorating structures, other modern amusements and the arrival of bigger theme parks, attendance declined and, in 1968, the amusement park closed.

The National Park Service acquired Glen Echo Park in 1970. The carousel remains, and the nonprofit Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture Inc. runs arts and education programs to make the park financially self-sufficient. n

Locals

“

Glen Echo feels like a town with the way the streets and houses are situated—and no two [houses] are alike. There is a town hall, post office and three or four communitywide events. The people who live here are progressive and eclectic. It’s a huge plus for us to have Glen Echo Park within walking distance with its carousel and festivals.

”

Tom Helf attorney and co-founder of the band Cravin’ Dogs

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 73

where to live

caption here for this photo

seeking a condo within walking distance of downtown or you’re a lawn lover craving a slice of suburban heaven, Montgomery County’s housing stock is full of options. And newcomers will be thrilled to learn that the Greater Washington, D.C., housing market has remained relatively stable through the spikes and downturns seen in other parts of the country. But before you start your housing hunt, check out these options. >>

74 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

WHETHER YOU’RE AN URBANITE

ELEVATED

RENTING VS. BUYING All the regular rules apply when it comes to renting vs. buying in Montgomery County. Buying can provide a sense of control and ownership, while renting can give uncertain newcomers a little time to learn about the area before jumping into the real estate market. Those who decide to rent have a plethora of options, from high-rise apartments near Metro stations to rent-to-own houses in suburban neighborhoods.

Either way, new residents may want to contact a real estate agent to guide their search. Many agents in the area are happy to take renters as clients, knowing that they may one day turn into homebuyers.

LUXURY Two new resort-style neighborhoods that take elevator, rooftop-living to the next level

QUARRY SPRINGS

URBAN LIVING Area real estate agents say walkability is a major factor for many buyers.

There are plenty of neighborhoods in downtown Bethesda, Rockville and Silver Spring where residents can travel by foot to shops, restaurants and public transportation. Living near a Metro station can cut down on transportation costs and frustrations, as the region’s notoriously bad traffic can be a stumbling block for commuters.

CROWN CITY HOMES

LUXURY CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES

PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

Young professionals and empty nesters seeking housing with less yard work and maintenance may want to check out the variety of services offered at many luxury condo and aoartment communities in the Bethesda area. For details, see “Amenity Wars” on page 78.

QUARRY SPRINGS

CROWN CITY HOMES

Bethesda $1.4M+ Elevator Townhomes CALL 301.691.8029 WEB wmld.co/qs1

N. Potomac / Gaithersburg $1.2M+ Elevator Single Family CALL 301.926.4000 WEB wmld.co/cr4

HISTORIC CHARM Many communities in Montgomery County were built in the 1800s as weekend escapes from the District. Thanks to efforts by history-minded homeowners,

Brokers welcome. MHBR Nos. 7342 and 8317. Prices are rounded and subject to change without notice.

wormald.com

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 75

WHERE TO LIVE

many of the area’s original houses have been well preserved. As a result, historic homes abound in the Bethesda area. Gingerbread Victorians and cute bungalows line the streets of the tiny town of Garrett Park and of historic districts such as the West End in Rockville, among other communities.

WIDE-OPEN SPACES Living a short drive from the White House doesn’t mean the absence of open space. Drive through the upscale community of Potomac and you’ll see horse farms and tony mansions on spacious lots. Nearby Cabin John offers an eclectic vibe and easy access to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Those willing to drive a bit farther can also enjoy rural charm within the county’s borders in communities such as Poolesville and Darnestown.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SUBURBIA Not everyone dreams of exploring wideopen spaces from their backyard or walking to get coffee in the morning at an upscale café. Lovers of cul-desacs and residential atmospheres will find themselves at home in scores of neighborhoods in the area. And commuters don’t necessarily have to trade ease of transport for their big lawns—the county’s Ride On buses circulate through most area neighborhoods and travel to nearby Metro stops.

Families with school-age kids will love the wide variety of neighborhoods that include some of the top public schools in the state and country. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report named four Montgomery County public high schools, including Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, among the top five in Maryland, with several other county high schools earning high spots in state and national rankings. n 76 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

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places to live

AMENITY WARS From pet spas and wine lockers to outdoor fireplaces and rooftop pools, apartments and condos are taking luxury living to the next level

BY MARGARET ENGEL

T

HE BETHESDA AREA HAS been transformed in recent years by the arrival of fancy highrise living in both apartment and condominium buildings. To attract renters and buyers, developers are outdoing themselves in providing amenities to make life easier and more interesting.

The high-rises come with concierges, who handle many of the bothers and errands of daily life, including receiving packages and grocery hauling. They even help with your tech needs.

Builders have added luxury communal space, giving residents the ability to entertain within the building, but outside their living quarters. Fireplace seating, large-screen TV viewing areas, private dining rooms, gyms, rooftop kitchens, coffee bars and fully equipped business centers have become common.

The white-glove service is aimed at a “turn the key and leave” lifestyle. Chores like mail collection, plant watering, and cat and fish feeding are handled.

The staff will tend to many household details that family members, neighbors and friends once were asked to do.

“We’re providing the hospitality of a luxury hotel for everyday living,” says Mike Ennes, vice president of residential properties at Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns 930 Rose, a luxury condo building in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development. “It’s a level of convenience mixed with dining, retail, entertainment and green space.”

Here’s what’s offered in some of the newest luxury apartments and condominiums in the Bethesda area.

DARREN HIGGINS PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEVAL

Cheval Bethesda’s rooftop

78 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Don’t Lift a Finger

Your Personal Assistant

Would having your own butler make your personal wish list? Wish granted at the Flats 8300 apartment complex in Bethesda, which has hired the New York-based “Hello Alfred” service to provide a free weekly light cleaning of your apartment, including making your bed and taking out the trash. You’re also given a phone app menu of options for a fee, such as picking up prescriptions or cleaning your refrigerator. Nearly every tiresome chore (oven cleaning, car washing) can be handled for a fee by your personal helpmate. At The Palisades of Bethesda apartments, free monthly maid service is provided for residents of the 51 penthouse units.

Making travel arrangements and organizing parties require attention to detail that you might wish to off-load onto others. At 930 Rose condominiums, concierge Greg Timpone uses his training from the St. Regis, Four Seasons and InterContinental hotels to book travel, arrange babysitting and suggest restaurants. He also plans anniversary parties and birthday celebrations. Like most concierges, he’ll also schedule and handle any service calls to your home, lifting the burden of having to wait for the cable guy.

No-Excuse Exercise There are no barriers to fitness for residents at Quarry Springs, the ultra-luxury condominiums just outside the Beltway on River Road in Bethesda. Quarry Springs has the largest outdoor pool of the area’s newer luxury condominium and apartment complexes; an expansive 1,000-square-foot fitness center with a multitude of machines and space to meet with a trainer; a yoga studio; and separate men’s and women’s steam rooms and saunas. At the Flats 8300 apartment complex, there are four free exercise classes a week (often Zumba and Tabata) and trainers are on call. There’s also a separate yoga studio at the fitness complex at Cheval Bethesda, a new luxury condo building.

A Dog’s Life No more pet carriers for your Fido or Meowser. At the Flats 8300 apartment complex, pet groomers and vets will come to you, for a fee. Moreover, it’s just an elevator ride away to have your animal treated at a pet spa that includes two dog washing stations (for small and large breeds).

The menu includes blueberry facials for dogs, milk conditioners for cats, and nail buffing and teeth brushing for all. You can show off their beauty at monthly “yappy hours,” with treats for the pets and wine for their owners. Basics like dog walking and feeding also are handled by a pet care company. The Element 28 apartment building in Bethesda also offers pet grooming, walking, training and vet services through a pet care contractor. And there are dog washing stations at 7700 Norfolk, The Brody (with a dog run), Gallery Bethesda and Gallery Bethesda II (rooftop dog run), all apartment buildings in Bethesda. The condos at 930 Rose also have an ample dog park.

Up on the Farm Green roofs, lush interior courtyards and landscaped rooftops have sprouted at many Bethesda-area high-rises. But at the 930 Rose condominiums, residents can see their future zucchini salad growing in a 17,000-square-foot rooftop garden. Condo owners get a discounted price on the produce through its farm membership program and never have to pull a weed. Residents also get a break on prices at the restaurant and bar in the Canopy by Hilton hotel, which is in the same building as 930 Rose.

Rooftop Entertaining Residents of The Brody apartments are encouraged to entertain outside with an outdoor fireplace, wraparound terrace, TV screening lounge and rooftop kitchen. At the Element 28 apartment building, there are no worries about a downpour affecting your party in its indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge (the glass walls slide shut). The rooftop terraces at Hampden Row, The Lauren and Stonehall Bethesda, all condominium buildings in Bethesda, have large dining areas with high-end couches, all-weather furniture and sophisticated landscaping for sunset parties. Residents of the Gallery Bethesda II apartments bake their own creations in the rooftop kitchen’s brick pizza ovens, which are flanked by outdoor grills.

Pool Time For water lovers, nothing beats a convenient pool. Serious lap swimmers can do their workouts in an ultramodern Olympic-length pool atop the 17-floor 7770 Norfolk apartment building in Bethesda. The poolside view is expansive—to the Mormon temple in Kensington and beyond.

At the Flats 8300 apartment complex, swimmers and waders get their own space in two large rooftop pools atop the ninth floor, with impressive views of downtown Bethesda. Lifeguards are on duty during business hours. The Gallery Bethesda and Gallery Bethesda II apartment buildings both have rooftop pools with terrific views. All the rooftop pools are open air and are surrounded by lounge areas and umbrellas that can be used for relaxing year-round.

Breakfast’s on Us! For the residents of The Palisades of Bethesda’s 51 penthouse apartments, making breakfast is one more chore that’s vanished. Free breakfast is served Monday through Friday in the 12th-floor penthouse lounge, with fresh fruit, oatmeal, sweet rolls, cereals, juices, hard-boiled eggs and premium coffee.

Wheels Pampered Cars and bicycles get special attention with charging for electric engines, car washing, and bike repair and storage available at nearly all high-rises. At The Lauren condos, residents get 24-hour valet parking.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 79

places to live

Cyclists at the Flats 8300 apartments can choose between two bicycle repair rooms, each with storage space for 60 bicycles and permanent air pumps, loaner tools and workstations. You’ll also find bike repair stations at The Brody, Element 28, Gallery Bethesda and Gallery Bethesda II.

Come Together In-house experiences for community building and neighborly fun are a central part of the offerings at the Flats 8300 apartment complex. Professional comedians are hired for regular comedy nights, along with guest lecturers and musicians. The ground-floor lobby becomes a small auditorium filled with rows of chairs for the special events, which are held about every other month. Residents and the public are invited to fine art shows in the expansive lobby of the Quarry Springs condominiums.

Vintage Service Wine is taken seriously, with many buildings offering wine and cheese gatherings. At the Element 28 apartment building, a concierge places your wine arrivals into a temperature-controlled cooler in the lobby. At The Lauren condominiums, residents can store their own bottles in a wall of wooden wine lockers that line a special lounge. You can uncork your wine with friends in the lounge’s formal dining space. There’s also a nearby fireplace and cozy couches for a casual place to raise a glass. n

The clubroom at Flats 8300

Luxury Apartments 7770 Norfolk

7770 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda; 301652-7340; live7770.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 and oncall maintenance service 24/7 ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop swimming pool ✦ Rooftop living rooms with grills ✦ Resident lounge with double fireplace ✦ Clubhouse ✦ Lobby coffee and snacks lounge ✦ Pet washing station ✦ Bike storage

The Brody

4901 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda; 301-347-7187; brodyapts.co ✦ Concierge daily, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. ✦ 24/7 package retrieval system ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop lounge with TV screening room ✦ Wraparound terrace with outdoor fireplace ✦ Rooftop kitchen and catering kitchen ✦ Pet spa and dog run ✦ Bike repair station

The rooftop at the Flats 8300 apartment complex includes this lounge area and two pools.

80 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

100 Commerce Lane, Bethesda; 202-719-2329; element28apts.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness studio ✦ Rooftop lounge with retractable glass walls ✦ Rooftop service kitchen with bar ✦ Lobby-level temperature-controlled wine lockers ✦ Contracts for dog walking, mobile vet care, grooming and training ✦ Bike storage area with repair station ✦ Monitor with real-time transit information

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLATS 8300

Element 28

Gallery Bethesda’s rooftop pool

Cheval Bethesda’s clubroom

The lobby lounge at Gallery Bethesda

Luxury Condos Flats at Bethesda Avenue

7170 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-795-2896; flatsatbethesda avenue.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness center, yoga space ✦ Rooftop lounge with demonstration kitchen, fire pit, bar ✦ Two-level clubroom with fireplace, pool table, kitchen ✦ Outdoor patio with landscaped courtyard ✦ Coffee lounge with Wi-Fi ✦ Bike storage area

GALLERY PHOTOS COURTESY OF DONOHOE; RENEE ALEXANDER PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEVAL

Flats 8300

8300 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 301-683-7425; flats8300.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ “Hello Alfred” weekly butler service ✦ Fitness center with four free classes weekly ✦ Rooftop lap pool and wading pool ✦ Rooftop lounge with fireplace, eating areas, demonstration kitchen ✦ Fireside lobby lounge with coffee bar, Wi-Fi ✦ Clubroom with three-sided fireplace, pool table, bar, TV area ✦ Courtyard with water feature, sculptures, path ✦ Multiple bike rooms with repair stations ✦ Pet spa and dog washing area ✦ Entertainment (comedy shows, classes) seven times a year

Gallery Bethesda

4800 Auburn Ave., Bethesda; 240654-4800; www.vmimgmt.com/ apartments/md/bethesda/gallerybethesda ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop pool ✦ Rooftop lounge with pool table,

grills, fireplace ✦ Cyber lounge with Wi-Fi, computers, printers, coffee bar ✦ Pool table, multimedia center ✦ Indoor party kitchen ✦ Bike room with tools and repair stand ✦ Pet washing/grooming area and dog run

Gallery Bethesda II

4850 Rugby Ave., Bethesda; 240287-4850; www.vmimgmt.com/ apartments/md/bethesda/gallerybethesda-ii ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop pool ✦ Rooftop lounge with grills, pizza ovens ✦ Clubroom ✦ Coffee lounge ✦ Business center with Wi-Fi ✦ Bike area with tools and repair stand ✦ Rooftop dog run (artificial turf) ✦ Pet washing station

The Palisades of Bethesda

4835 Cordell Ave., Bethesda; 240-681-2652; southernmanagement. com/communities/palisades-ofbethesda ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness center with free access to personal training ✦ Rooftop lounge ✦ Residents’ lobby lounge ✦ 24/7 business center with computers, printer and Wi-Fi ✦ Car washing station ✦ Full backup generator supplying 100 percent of electrical needs ✦ Free monthly maid service to the 51 penthouse units, plus free continental breakfast Monday through Friday

930 Rose

930 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda; 301-747-3634; 930rose.com ✦ Concierge daily during business hours ✦ Rooftop fitness center ✦ Rooftop garden terrace with grills, dining area, entertaining kitchen ✦ Dog park ✦ Bike storage ✦ Rooftop farm (17,000 square feet) that provides produce to residents at a discount through a farm membership program ✦ Located above Canopy by Hilton boutique hotel with special rates for residents for meeting rooms, catering services, restaurant and bar

Cheval Bethesda

4960 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-476-1527; chevalbethesda.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Concierge arranges dog walking and grooming, car detailing, transportation, in-residence catering ✦ Fitness center and yoga studio ✦ Clubroom ✦ Rooftop living room with bar ✦ Bike storage

Hampden Row

4915 Hampden Lane, Bethesda; 855-298-0316; hampdenrow.com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Rooftop terrace lounge with fireplace, grills, dining tables, sunbathing area ✦ Rooftop fitness center ✦ Residents’ lounge ✦ Bike storage

The Lauren

4901 Hampden Lane, Bethesda; 301-463-7012; thelaurenresidences. com ✦ Concierge on-site 24/7 ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop terrace with outdoor dining, lounge, sunbathing area ✦ Rooftop catering kitchen ✦ Residents’ lounge with fireplace, TV, dining room, bar, personal wine lockers, Wi-Fi ✦ Pet services and away-from-home services ✦ Bike storage ✦ 24-hour valet parking ✦ Car detailing available ✦ Tech assistance ✦ Loaner tools

Quarry Springs

8101 River Road, Bethesda; 240-762-6809; quarrysprings.com ✦ Concierge daily during business hours ✦ Fitness center with yoga studio, men’s and women’s steam rooms, saunas, locker rooms ✦ Outdoor resort pool ✦ 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with library, catering kitchen, game rooms and lounge ✦ Direct-entry elevators ✦ Gated community with 24/7 attendant ✦ Terraced gardens and waterfall

Stonehall Bethesda

8302 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-747-3217; stonehallbethesda. com ✦ Concierge daily, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. ✦ Fitness center ✦ Rooftop terrace, garden, dining tables ✦ Clubroom with bar

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 81

places to live

HOME SALES HIGHLIGHTS Which neighborhoods and ZIP codes have the highest selling prices for homes? Here’s a snapshot of 2018 home sales in the area.

Neighborhoods

Highest Average Sale Price in 2018*

KENWOOD FALCONHURST EDGEMOOR BRADLEY FARMS

Chevy Chase Potomac Bethesda Potomac

BRADLEY HILLS GROVE

Bethesda

AVENEL**

Bethesda

BRADLEY HILLS***

Bethesda

VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE LONGWOOD WESLEY HEIGHTS LANDON WOODS

Chevy Chase Bethesda Upper Northwest D.C. Bethesda

CHEVY CHASE SECTION 6 & 7

Chevy Chase

SOMERSET HEIGHTS

Chevy Chase

SPRING VALLEY

Upper Northwest D.C.

MERRY-GO-ROUND FARM

Potomac

MARWOOD

Potomac

ENGLISH VILLAGE****

Bethesda

CHEVY CHASE SECTION 3

Chevy Chase

WEST CHEVY CHASE

Chevy Chase

PINEVIEW

Bethesda

$2,787,143 $2,596,875 $2,507,667 $2,368,750 $2,201,018 $1,989,484 $1,909,857 $1,897,611 $1,802,500 $1,793,479 $1,789,500 $1,753,333 $1,748,115 $1,718,329 $1,715,625 $1,708,333 $1,703,000 $1,660,375 $1,659,038 $1,643,669

ZIP Codes Highest Average Sale Price in 2018 20016

Upper Northwest D.C.

20815

Chevy Chase

20015

Upper Northwest D.C.

20814

Bethesda

20816

Bethesda

20817

Bethesda

20818

Cabin John

20854

Potomac

20812

Glen Echo

20896

Garrett Park

$1,506,830 $1,408,017 $1,230,904 $1,202,748 $1,163,560 $1,152,143 $1,111,274 $1,079,830 $995,833 $868,855

Data is for single-family homes and was provided by Bright MLS and MarketStats for ShowingTime.

Statistics generated on Jan. 14, 2019. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

82 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

*Minimum of three sales **Amount is only for homes in ZIP code 20817 (does not include homes in 20854) ***Amount is only for homes in ZIP code 20814 (does not include homes in 20817) ****Amount is only for homes in ZIP code 20817 (does not include homes in 20814)

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP PRODUCER

Real Estate Agents PROFILES

Front Row, L-R: Ilene Gordon, Michelle Teichberg, Pat Karta, Wendy Banner, Julia Fortin, Jody Aucamp, Gail Gordon. Back Row, L-R: Brooke Bassin, Emily Moritt. Not shown: Paula Nesbitt, Sharyn Goldman.

The Banner Team What is the one thing that your clients should know about you?

What's more important than being number 1 is that we have a professionally trained opera singer, a native Brazilian, a gymnast, a serious Wisconsin Badgers fan, an avid skier, rock climber, world travelers, and a foster mom for local dog rescues on our team.

What makes you different than other real estate teams?

We’re a real team of 15 women and, besides our professional relationships, we're besties.

We do weekly yoga sessions together. We have an annual work retreat at the beach that's fun and productive, too. We laugh a lot and that's important, because we work hard to provide our clients with less stress and more success.

We think our diverse backgrounds, our willingness to go above and beyond for clients and our mutual love of fulfilling dreams leads to our success. The Banner Team is a fixture in Montgomery County, and a top 200 real estate group in the nation year after year.

LISA HELFERT

What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?

We love working with each other. But we also love helping people, no matter what their situation or needs. Whether you're a first-time buyer, a seller wanting to downsize, or family looking for additional space, we get excited and commit to giving you a happy and memorable real estate transaction. Our team successfully helped over 120 families move in 2018 and settled over $134 million in sales—our best year ever!

What’s an example of something in your professional life that you’re particularly proud of?

Joining this amazing team!

“We laugh a lot and that's important, because we work hard to provide our clients with less stress and more success.”

AWARDS AND HONORS Over $1 billion sold and settled; Washingtonian, Best Team, 2018; Top-producing group, Long & Foster Bethesda Gateway Office, 2018; Top 200 Realtors Nationwide, REAL Trends

Bethesda Gateway Office 4650 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 301-365-9090 | Info@bannerteam.com www.BannerTeam.com

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 83

Real Estate Agents

PROFILES

TOP PRODUCER

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Alex Stefan and Helena Pulyaeva RE/MAX REALTY SERVICES What is your professional and educational background?

Alex Stefan: My education is in linguistics and economics. I’ve been working full-time as a Realtor in Maryland and Northern Virginia for 25 years. In addition to real estate, my passion is art photography. I’ve received professional photography training and I’ve found this to be very useful when working with my clients.

Helena Pulyaeva: I joined Alex as a Realtor in 1999 after working at the NIH (I have a PhD in biochemistry). I’m deeply interested in interior design and I enjoy helping my clients make their homes look beautiful. One of the interiors I designed was featured in Home & Design Magazine.

As a successful real estate team and married couple, we draw on our varied backgrounds to help our clients achieve their goals. We’re proud to serve a client base that is as ethnically diverse as the population of our area.

4825 Bethesda Ave., #200 | Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-0400 | Stefan.Tandem@gmail.com www.zTandem.com

TOP PRODUCER

HILARY SCHWAB

AWARDS AND HONORS RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Chairman's Club, Platinum Club and 100% Club; RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award; 2018 Washingtonian Very Best Realtors (Top Producers)

Barbara Carnemark Nalls VICE PRESIDENT, TTR SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY How would your clients describe you?

Positive, creative, hardworking, proactive, unflappable and cheerful to a fault.

I know this because I get so many thank you notes. Some of them are so nice they really make me blush—and very proud!

What is the one thing that your clients should know about you?

This job never gets old for me. That’s why I love it so much. Not a day goes by that I don’t get to solve a problem for someone or help in some way. I love being of service!

I am honestly blown away by the magnitude of the trust people put in me —it’s their home, and 99 percent of the time it’s their largest financial asset.

They trust me to guide the transaction. What a privilege! Even on the bumpy deals—maybe especially on the bumpy deals—I can’t imagine wanting to do anything else.

5454 Wisconsin Ave. | Chevy Chase MD 20815 301-967-3344 | D: 240-602-9035 | barbaranalls@gmail.com www.BarbaraNallsHome.com 84 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

TONY J. LEWIS

AWARDS AND HONORS Top Individual Agent, TTR Sotheby's Chevy Chase Office, 2018; Top Montgomery County Listing Team L&F, 2015; Top Producer, Bethesda Magazine, 2019; Top Agent, Washingtonian, 2014 - 2018

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Real Estate Agents TOP PRODUCER

Trent Heminger & Mary Noone TRENT & CO – COMPASS REAL ESTATE What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?

Nothing makes us happier than succeeding for our clients! For our sellers, getting their property under contract quickly and over asking price. For buyers, it's finding that perfect place.

For sellers, we exceed our clients’ expectations with a well-executed plan that motivates them to invest in updates or stage the property to make it look its best. For buyers, we want to support their vision of a property’s potential. The stars always align. While it doesn’t seem that way going through the process, in the end we always win for our clients!

TONY J. LEWIS

What makes you different than other real estate agents?

When it comes to selling, we take the process to another level of detail. In this area it’s critical to get the presentation right. We take the time to walk room-by-room and discuss what will get you the most return, offering our resources and personally staging the home. We support our buyers and sellers with contractors, managing the process because they're busy, or adding the important final touches. It makes all the difference.

We’ve taken stale listings that have been on the market 100+ days and sold them quickly and successfully with a few Trent & Co special tweaks.

What’s an example of something in your professional life that you’re particularly proud of?

So many times our Bethesda clients will come to us and ask, “Are we a teardown?” They think they can only get $800,000 at most for their beloved home they’ve lived in for 20+ years. We get excited because we can help them with minimal investment achieve bigger returns.

“We’ve taken stale listings that have been on the market 100+ days and sold them quickly and successfully with the Trent & Co touch.”

AWARDS AND HONORS $800 million+ in career sales; America’s Best Real Estate Agents, Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends; Top Producer, Top Agent, Washingtonian

5471 Wisconsin Ave., Third Floor Chevy Chase, MD 20815 O: 301-298-1001 | D: 240-461-3928 Mary.Noone@compass.com www.trentandco.com

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 85

Real Estate Agents

PROFILES

TOP PRODUCER

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ben Fazeli LONG & FOSTER | CHRISTIES INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE Where do you find that flexibility is important in home buying and selling?

For house hunters, budget and number of bedrooms are usually inflexible, but I can bring in creativity with other factors such as architectural style or neighborhood. For example, if buyers fall in love with an unaffordable home in a preferred neighborhood, I introduce them to homes in other neighborhoods with comparable appeal.

On the selling side, I try to be sensitive to people who want to list their home for more than its market value. I can show them comps on paper, but it’s more effective to drive them to just a few homes at the price they have in mind, and let them reach their own conclusions about where their home should be priced.

I always stress curb appeal, which is very important, and help sellers identify the changes and repairs that will make their home most attractive to buyers and put it in the best condition for sale.

4650 East West Highway | Bethesda, MD 20814 O: 301-907-7600 | C: 202-253-2269 Ben.fazeli@lnf.com

LOOKING FOR REMODELING ADVICE? We’ve got you covered with advice and ideas from architects, builders, interior and kitchen designers, landscapers, financing experts and more in our

HOME MAKEOVER GUIDE TAKE A LOOK AT www.BethesdaMagazine.com

86 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

TONY J. LEWIS

SPECIALTIES Residential and commercial sales, Accredited Buyer Representative, Senior Real Estate Specialist, licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

Ask the Home Experts

Ask the Home Experts

PROFILES

Deb Levy SENIOR HOME LENDING ADVISOR, CHASE What made you want to become a mortgage professional?

I began my career with what was then Chase Bank of Maryland and Chase Personal Financial Services in 1985 while attending The University of Maryland at night. I basically grew up at Chase, learned how to value my clients, approach a loan, analyze income and every facet of the mortgage industry. I still utilize these skills daily and remember my time at Chase fondly.

It’s exciting to see Chase expanding our banking services to the Washington, D.C. area.

COURTESY PHOTO

What makes your client experience unique?

I’m a native Washingtonian, I grew up in Montgomery County and live in Bethesda. My family and I are personally invested in this community and see it as a wonderful place to live. As a Senior Home Lending Advisor, I can use my local knowledge and advice along with Chase products and services to consult homebuyers and make the dream of homeownership a reality.

Buying a home or refinancing can seem overwhelming. So much has changed since we started in the mortgage 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.

What type of client do you specialize in?

Our lending specialties include the professionally employed, self-employed borrowers, lowto-moderate income program, vacation home financing, condominium and co-op lending and first-time homebuyer programs, too.

If you’re looking for a mortgage or financing solutions, let me show you the next step. I’ll guide you every step of the way, from application through closing.

“If you’re looking for a mortgage or financing solutions, let me show you the next step. I'll guide you every step of the way, from application through closing.”

HONORS Best Mortgage Broker, Bethesda Magazine, Best of Bethesda Readers’ Pick, 2012 – 2016; 32 years as a Senior Home Lending Advisor 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. ©2019 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

1401 New York Ave. NW Washington, DC 20005 301-332-7758 | Deb.Levy@chase.com homeloan.chase.com/deb.levy NMLS ID: 481255

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 87

Ask the Home Experts

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Christy, Chris & John Scango CAPITOL HARDSCAPES

Bethesda, MD 301-887-1880 www.capitolhardscapes.com

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Other than design and installation of outdoor living spaces, what’s the most requested type of hardscape project you receive?

Over the past few years, permeable paving systems have become one of our biggest requested projects. Permeable driveways and patios have evolved over the years to not only solve drainage problems and prevent unwanted runoff, but also provide beautiful curb appeal and a return on investment for the homeowner. Permeable paving systems today are very durable and better looking than your everyday concrete or asphalt driveway.

Over the last 15 years, we have built a strong reputation for our hardscape expertise and technical ability. We understand that your home is your biggest investment. Our goal is to ensure your vision for your property and valuable investment is achieved. Therefore, we give every homeowner the personal attention that is required for a successful hardscape project.

Andrew Balfour and Jim Vagonis HASSLE FREE HOME SERVICES, INC.

P.O. Box 59619 Potomac, MD 20859 301-294-9444 | info@hfhsinc.com www.myhasslefreehome.com 88 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

LISA HELFERT

How can I take care of home maintenance chores and “honey-dos” with my busy schedule?

Your home is your most valuable asset, but you may lack the time, knowledge or desire to do the little things needed to keep it in peak condition. That’s why we created Hassle Free Home Services.

Since 2003, our contract-based, Home Maintenance Program has become the smart choice for hundreds of Montgomery County homeowners, including busy executives, seniors and single parents.

Monthly visits by a dedicated service technician take care of critical preventive and seasonal maintenance. We also handle “honey-do” items and large-scale repairs. No matter what's needed, Hassle Free Home Services keeps you happy and your home operating efficiently. We provide a single point of contact for all maintenance and repairs, along with a simple single monthly invoice.

We call it “A Smarter Way to Care for Your Home.” We provide peace of mind for busy homeowners. Contact us for a complimentary, in-home consultation.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

Ask the Home Experts

Dana Rice DANA RICE GROUP | COMPASS REAL ESTATE

TONY J LEWIS

Love it or list it?

We sell homes and we personally renovate homes. In fact, we’ve renovated a dozen homes in recent years. Because of this experience, we bring a truly holistic view to buying, staging and marketing a home. Every. Detail. Matters.

So when to sell? Every house has a buyer. Even with flaws, there is a buyer who will love it just like it is. You don't have to sell to a builder who will tear it down. In our market, risk is not as high as other areas. Buyers are extremely well-qualified and enjoy the process of expanding or improving homes themselves. The home you loved for 30 years is just waiting for the next owner, and we love playing matchmaker.

What do you love most about working in real estate right now?

The potential in older homes is awesome. Each neighborhood has its own aesthetic. We love highlighting the uniqueness and possibilities to our buyers.

The funny thing is, we will meet with homeowners who are thinking of selling, talk through renovation ideas and boom—they decide they're going to stay and improve.

HONORS #1 Compass YOY Growth, 2017; Best of Washingtonian, 2015-2018; Washingtonian, Top 100 2017-2018

5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-298-1001 | Direct: 202-669-6908 Dana.Rice@compass.com www.danaricegroup.com

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 89

Ask the Home Experts

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Tom, Dan and Ilan Fulop ROCKVILLE INTERIORS

After fashion and function, what's the next important consideration?

What lies beneath? Replacing your furniture's foam can bring the comfortability back to any piece. Because all cushion filling, especially foam, sags and loses firmness over time we recommend replacing as needed. We offer a variety of fillings in a range of densities from which customers can choose, including down and feather. In addition to delivering a “new� piece of furniture that looks gorgeous, we aim to provide a sofa or chair that is comfortable and enjoyable.

90 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

SPECIALTIES In addition to reupholstering furniture, we also fabricate custom-made slipcovers, draperies, shades, pillows, headboards and valances.

5414 Randolph Road Rockville, MD 20852 301-424-1900 | hello@rockvilleinteriors.com www.rockvilleinteriors.com

TONYY J. LEWIS

How do I choose the right fabric for reupholstery projects?

Our designers advise customers to consider fashion and functionality when choosing fabric for their next reupholstery project. When it comes to style, for example, think about how the fabric will pair with the other colors and motifs of the room. When it comes to functionality, consider the double rub (the measure of the thickness) of the fabric. Is the fabric durable enough for the family couch? Or do you need a fabric that is less dense and more elegant to match the satin finish on the dining room chairs? Customers can browse our carefully curated library to find a gorgeous and functional fabric that will look great on their sofa or chair

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

Ask the Home Experts

Sarah Funt, CBR LONG & FOSTER | CHRISTIES INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE How far do you go to help sellers improve their homes before putting them on the market?

I do everything from arranging for minor fix-ups and repairs to overseeing full-scale renovations. I evaluate every home with a keen eye based on my 27 years of experience in real estate.

I know what draws buyers to a home and what causes them to walk away. My clients and I compare their home to the comps to determine what work will be most worthwhile. Recently, I met with a couple whose time and energy had been devoted to their successful careers in healthcare, to the detriment of their house. Cosmetic updates and even basic systems maintenance had not been priorities for them, but they understood that they needed to explore making some changes to their home before putting out the for sale sign.

I went directly to my granite supplier, a plumber and other trades professionals I’ve worked with for years and got them to give us timely estimates. Because I’ve given them so many jobs, they gave my clients excellent prices and efficient scheduling. I offered to oversee and coordinate all of the work—as I do with all my clients who are renovating— so they wouldn’t need to hire a general contractor. In the end, this couple had quite a bit of work done and reaped the reward of a much higher sales price than they originally thought possible. They were ecstatic to receive six offers and to sell their home for $40,000 over asking price.

What is the advantage to working solo versus on a team?

I have never wanted to form a team because I enjoy, and want to take care of, each client personally. This is especially important since almost 100 percent of my business comes through referrals.

MICHAEL VENTURA

HONORS AND DESIGNATIONS Long & Foster’s Luxury Alliance Group of 80 top agents, Luxury Homes Specialist with Christie’s International Real Estate, Certified Buyer Representative

Bethesda Gateway Office 4650 East West Highway | Bethesda, MD 20814 O: 301-907-7600 | C: 301-509-1283 www.SarahFunt.com Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 91

SHOWCASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

L UX URY APA R T M E NT S , CO NDO S , T O W NH O M E S

4835 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 301-725-4723 | thepalisadesapts.net

BIO

THE PALISADES OF BETHESDA APARTMENTS & PENTHOUSES Since 1965, the name Southern Management has been synonymous with quality, service and value.

Whereas other companies may simply manage or own their apartment communities, Southern Management does both—assuring the highest standards in the business. It’s what makes us the leader in apartment home living, and your first choice when searching for the perfect community.

Step inside The Palisades of Bethesda and you are immediately surrounded by indescribable luxury and charming sophistication. Boasting a premier location on the corner of Cordell and Woodmont avenues, this beautiful high-rise promises a living experience far exceeding expectations. With free concierge services and all utilities included, The Palisades provides a perfect blend of convenience, comfort and customer service. With sophisticated colors and contemporary wood and marble finishes, the lobby lounges and library resemble private clubs while the private fitness studio offers personal training in a windowed, spacious and bright facility—and no fees are charged for any of it. The Palisades is within walking distance of countless shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities, as well as the Bethesda and Medical Center/NIH Metro. The Palisades has established a reputation as one of the most coveted residential communities in the Metropolitan area.

Four-time Best of Bethesda winner.

92 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT:

S HO WCAS E

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LUXURY APAR TM E NTS, CO ND O S, TO WN HOMES

4915 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-718-6353 | HampdenRow.com/Bethesda

BIO

HAMPDEN ROW Toll Brothers City Living® is the urban development division of Toll Brothers, Inc., the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. Toll Brothers City Living brings the same quality, value and service familiar to our luxury home buyers throughout the country to some of the most dynamic urban markets, including Bethesda.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: Hampden Row blends classic and modern design, which reflects and respects the traditional brick elegance of the neighborhood. Meticulous craftsmanship reveals itself at every turn —from the wrought-iron inspired lobby doors to the intricate railings of the private balconies. On a quiet corner with access to it all, Hampden Row is a sanctuary away from it all.

Inside, spacious residences of grand proportion and scale contribute to a remarkable sense of abundance. Oversized windows invite natural sunlight to flood the home, while wideplank hardwood floors and architectural millwork deliver a look of timeless sophistication. The kitchens are a celebration of style boasting custom white cabinetry, quartz countertops and gourmet caliber appliances. And then there’s coveted outdoor space. Terraces or balconies, available in many residences, are the perfect perches from which to let go and watch the world go by.

On-site decorated model residences are open. Two and three-bedroom residences are available for immediate move-in priced from $1,395,000 to $3,650,000.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 93

SHOWCASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BUILDERS & ARCHITECT S

GILDAY RENOVATIONS

With over 40 years of experience, Gilday provides its clients with a highly collaborative design-build process that seamlessly blends the expertise of its award-winning integrated team of architectural designers, interior designers and master builders. Pictured, a porch addition, with custom made removable screens and glass inserts, becomes a stunning three-season room.

94 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

COURTESY PHOTOS

9162 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-565-4600 | info@gilday.com | www.gilday.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

S HO WCAS E BU IL DERS & ARC HITEC T S

PHOTOS BY ANICE HOACHLANDER

CARNEMARK DESIGN + BUILD

7550 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 120, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-5000 | info@carnemark.com www.carnemark.com Fed up with their 1980s-era kitchen, these McLean homeowners were ready for a modern chef’s kitchen with space to entertain. Bumping out the original kitchen made room for two parallel islands plus a minimalist yet hard-working wall of gray cabinetry with integrated appliances—and a walk-in pantry hidden behind a pair of false cabinet doors.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 95

SHOWCASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

KITCHEN & BATH

15745 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood, MD 20855 301-762-6621 | www.housetohomesolutions.com

Before

BIO

HOUSE TO HOME SOLUTIONS Envision ◆ Design ◆ Renovate. House to Home Solutions specializes in luxury home renovations.

The team focuses on deeply understanding their customers’ vision and translating that vision into highly functional and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. Each part of their streamlined process, from conception through completion, is designed to provide an overwhelmingly positive customer experience.

This project fully embraced our company name. Located on over a half acre overlooking the Potomac River, this home needed complete renovations to modernize the space and incorporate the homeowners’ vision, which included a kitchen addition and expanded family room, three full- and two half-bathroom remodels, garage and master suite additions topped with high-end finishes and fixtures.

Particularly in the kitchen, the homeowner wanted an unobstructed view along with ease and accessibility to both the family and the formal dining spaces. We removed two walls to open both rooms and created a kitchen bar peninsula as the only separation between the kitchen and formal dining room. On a third wall, we built a kitchen addition to allow for additional cabinetry and updated appliances. By replacing all windows & doors as well as encapsulating the exterior provided better energy efficiency. By raising the kitchen ceiling it created a more open and breathtaking experience.

96 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT:

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

S HO WCAS E RES O U RCE G U IDE

AIDAN DESIGN LLC

BOWA DESIGN BUILD RENOVATIONS

Founded in 2001, Aidan Design is a boutique design firm known for creating thoughtful living spaces that reflect the unique character and lifestyle of each client. Our specialties include kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, built-ins, and many other custom cabinetry applications.

What if we could promise you an enjoyable remodeling experience? While guiding you through every step of your home or condo remodel, our design build experts will deliver while also providing unparalleled advocacy, quality and value. Call today to learn how!

301-320-8735 | www.aidandesign.com

301-657-3947 | bowa.com

AMICUS GREEN BUILDING CENTER

CAPITOL HARDSCAPES

A design center and home improvement store creating fresh spaces—beautiful designs, fresh air and water, and a fresh take on what our buildings can do for us—using products fostering a vibrant home and planet.

“Best of Houzz,” 2015-2019.

Capitol Hardscapes is a family owned company founded on providing superior customer service and personal attention.

We bring the heart of a gardener, the eye of an artist and the discipline of an architect to each project we undertake.

301-571-8590 | www.amicusgreen.com

301-887-1880 | capitolhardscapes.com

APPLIANCE DISTRIBUTORS UNLIMITED & THE APPLIANCE SOURCE Let us help pick out appliances for your dream kitchen. Whether you are building a home or remodeling, come see us for exceptional service.

Come visit us at one of our 8 locations.

844-900-8600 | www.adu.com www.theappliancesource.com

CARNEMARK DESIGN + BUILD From whole-house remodels and additions to condo, kitchen, bath and exterior renovations, CARNEMARK creates design-build solutions that flow—meeting practical needs in contemporary life through a client-responsive and environmentally sensitive process.

301-657-5000 | www.carnemark.com Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 97

SHOWCASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

RES OURCE GUIDE

CHASE BUILDERS, INC.

DAVIDA’S KITCHEN & TILES

Chase Builders is an awardwinning company for custom/ spec homes in the metro area.

Although they differ in style, floor plan and size, our unique homes have this in common— they are thoughtfully designed and well-built with each homeowner in mind.

Visit our showroom and discover why our projects have been featured in multiple publications. Our showroom features custom cabinetry; the finest selection of tile in glass, porcelain, ceramic, stone and more.

Call to schedule your complimentary design assessment.

301-588-4747 | www.chasebuilders.com

240-361-9331 www.davidaskitchenandtiles.com

CLOSET STRETCHERS

FISHER LUMBER

We’ve been designing and installing customized storage solutions for 40 years. Because we are not a franchised company and own our own manufacturing facility in Rockville, we can keep prices low and offer a quicker turnaround time to our customers.

Family owned and operated since 1947, Fisher Lumber provides top quality building materials.

Our selection includes only the best materials from the brands professionals trust. With an enthusiastic and friendly staff, our focus is outstanding service that exceeds customer expectations.

301-468-1090 | solutions@closetstretchers.com www.closetstretchers.com DESIGN

DAD’S DISCOUNT APPLIANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

301-424-6500 | www.fisherlumber.com

GILDAY RENOVATIONS

Leave the stress of furnishing your kitchen and laundry appliances to Dad’s. Our knowledgeable Sales Reps will help make your dream home into a reality. Call us today. Brand new appliances at a discounted price!

With over 40 years of experience, Gilday provides its clients with a highly collaborative design-build process that seamlessly blends the expertise of its award-winning integrated team of architectural designers, interior designers and master builders. Gilday Renovations helps you make your home truly your own.

301-937-0222 | www.dadsappliance.com

301-565-4600 | www.gilday.com

98 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

S HO WCAS E RES O U RCE G U IDE

GLICKMAN DESIGN BUILD

KITCHEN & BATH STUDIOS, INC.

Glickman Design Build is a home remodeling firm with a focus on creating homes for life. Glickman develops designs based on master plans that can be implemented over time. They have specialized experience with aging-inplace, accessible and universal design.

For over 25 years Kitchen & Bath Studio’s has built a great reputation in the D.C. Metropolitan area. Our showroom features four cabinet lines displaying a vast array of cabinet styles and finishes.

Five designers on staff provide functional design with no upfront design fees.

301-444-4663 | GlickmanDesignBuild.com

301-657-1636 | www.kitchenbathstudios.com

HOUSE TO HOME SOLUTIONS

MERIDIAN HOMES, INC.

A luxury home renovation company with award-winning customer service and functionally beautiful designs that focuses on understanding the customer’s vision and translating that vision into highly effective and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. Their streamlined process, from conception through completion, is designed to provide a positive experience.

At Meridian Homes we specialize in luxury renovations and custom home building. Our highly personalized design process and careful management of every project has earned us a reputation over many years for outstanding client service and solid, beautiful craftsmanship.

301-762-6621 | www.housetohomesolutions.com

301-652-4440 | info@meridianhomesinc.com www.meridianhomesinc.com

JACK ROSEN CUSTOM KITCHENS, INC.

MOLLY MAID

Voted “Best Kitchen Design Firm, 2018” by the readers of Bethesda Magazine, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Inc. continues to be one of the most celebrated kitchen design firms in the Washington, DC area.

Offering award-winning designs and fine cabinetry for culinary, closets, home offices and entertainment with outstanding service.

We’re Maid for This! Life goes by fast. Responsibilities and priorities change. It’s hard enough finding time for the people and activities you love. House cleaning duties shouldn’t get in the way. Take back your precious free time with professional house cleaning services.

240-595-6732 | info@rosenkitchens.com www.BeautifulRosenKitchens.com

301-841-9292 | mollymaid.com Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 99

SHOWCASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

RES OURCE GUIDE

PORCELANOSA NORTH BETHESDA

GLENN SCHWARTZ | USBANK

Porcelanosa features a luxurious selection of tile, bath, hardwood and kitchen collections.

Porcelanosa’s showrooms display full vignette installations and product libraries with samples available. Visit a Porcelanosa showroom to meet with their creative design consultants about your project today!

Glenn Schwartz, a known, local, 25+ year Top Producer, shares his extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry. With USBank’s Private Wealth Division, Glenn offers his exclusive 1-Time ConstructionPerm Program on any NewBuild, renovation, or custom home, anywhere in the country.

240-290-1120 | info@porcelanosa-usa.com www.porcelanosa-usa.com

301-455-7777 | glenn.schwartz@usbank.com

ROCKVILLE INTERIORS

WENTWORTH, INC.

Since 1971 Rockville Interiors has been manufacturing custom draperies, valances, cornices, swags and all types of window treatments in our workroom on the premises.

Our professional technicians measure and install all our products.

There’s an art to remodeling an older home. And that’s where we come in. Because we offer architecture, interior design and construction under one roof, we are able to manage every detail of your project without losing sight of your design needs and budget. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

301-424-1900 | www.RockvilleInteriors.com

240-395-0705 | www.wentworthstudio.com

SHEFFIELD FURNITURE

WIEDEMANN ARCHITECTS

Live beautifully in a home that reflects your tastes. As Washington’s leading design-focused furniture store, we understand the importance of loving what you see every time you walk through your door. That’s why we combine the finest home furnishings with professional design services to create a home tailored to your lifestyle. Visit a showroom today.

Award-winning Wiedemann Architects is a full-service architectural firm with over 30 years of design excellence for new homes, residential additions, vacation homes, farms and estates in the mid-Atlantic region. Our work has been recognized for both traditional and modern design.

301-881-6010 | SheffieldFurniture.com

301-652-4022 | www.wiedemannarchitects.com

100 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

schools Students walk in a hallway at Glen Haven Elementary School in Silver Spring, one of the highest-performing elementary schools in the county.

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS education to residents in our area? The short answer: very.

More than half of the adult residents of Montgomery County have attained a bachelor’s degree—or higher—and that percentage goes way up in many of the towns in our community.

Approximately 80 percent of Bethesda’s residents ages 25 or older have bachelor’s degrees, and 56 percent have graduate or professional degrees. In 2016, Bethesda topped NerdWallet’s list of the “most educated places in America,” and Potomac was No. 4.

When it comes to their children’s education, local parents want nothing but

the best. As a result, the county’s public school system, the largest in Maryland and the 14th biggest in the country, boasts some of the best schools in the nation. It has 41 National Blue Ribbon schools, a distinction bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education on high-performing or high-improving schools, an 89.5 percent graduation rate and a 66 percent Advanced Placement participation rate for the Class of 2017.

Potomac’s Winston Churchill, Poolesville High School, Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville and Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg ranked among the top 200 high schools in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 national rankings, and

the high schools were among the top 5 in Maryland, according to the same rankings.

Montgomery County’s 206 public schools serve nearly 163,000 students from 157 countries. The school system offers 134 elementary schools, 40 middle schools and 25 high schools.

And for families choosing to go the independent school route, the Bethesda area has some of the finest private schools in the country.

According to the Private School Review website, there are 187 private schools in the county, serving 34,528 students. And there are many others in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia that Bethesda-area students attend.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 101

READERS’ CHOICES FOR BEST

schools & kids Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2018 and 2019 for the top public and private schools, summer camps and children’s activities. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Walt Whitman High School Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Winston Churchill High School Walter Johnson High School Thomas S. Wootton High School

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS SPORTS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Walt Whitman High School Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Winston Churchill High School Walter Johnson High School

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SPORTS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Walt Whitman High School Winston Churchill High School Walter Johnson High School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS (LOWER)

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SPORTS

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR MUSIC & ARTS

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bullis School

McLean School St. Jane de Chantal School Christ Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Green Acres School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS (UPPER) (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bullis School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart McLean School Georgetown Preparatory School Holton-Arms School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR BOYS SPORTS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Landon School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Bullis School Holton-Arms School The Academy of the Holy Cross Connelly School of the Holy Child

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR MUSIC & ARTS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bullis School

McLean School Christ Episcopal School

PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR NONTRADITIONAL LEARNERS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

McLean School

The Katherine Thomas School The Siena School Ivymount School

Bullis School Georgetown Preparatory School 102 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Walt Whitman High School Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Winston Churchill High School Walter Johnson High School

CHILDREN’S THEATER (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Imagination Stage Adventure Theatre MTC

KIDS DANCE STUDIO (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bella Ballet

Dawn Crafton Dance Connection Bethesda Conservatory of Dance Joy of Motion Dance Center

KIDS GYM (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

My Gym Potomac Dynamite Gymnastics Center My Gym Bethesda

PHOTO COURTESY OF BULLIS SCHOOL

Students at Bullis School work together on a lab project.

SAT/ACT PREP

SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Bullis School Holton-Arms School Landon School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

Camps Airy & Louise

PrepMatters

Capital Camps Camp Tall Timbers

Prep U Tutoring Prep 1on1 Capital Educators

SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Calleva Valley Mill Camp

SUMMER ARTS CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

SUMMER SPORTS CAMP

PRIVATE SCHOOL WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Tru2Form Hoops

Bullis Summer Programs Koa Sports ESF Summer Camps Landon Summer

PRIVATE SCHOOL GRADES K-8 (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

VisArts Bella Ballet Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School

SUMMER DAY CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School Bender JCC of Greater Washington Green Acres Camp SummerEdge at McLean School

McLean School

PRIVATE SCHOOL GRADES 9-12 (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

McLean School

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Progressive before it was cool to care.

#theoriginals #since1934 #progressiveeducation #livingourmission #engagedcitizens #stewardsoftheearth #agentsofchange

TUTORING FIRM (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Washington Episcopal School Green Acres School Christ Episcopal School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Norwood School

Intellect& Curiosity& Determination& Joy& Compassion.

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Washington Episcopal School Christ Episcopal School St. Jane de Chantal School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

PrepU

PrepMatters Marks Education Learning Essentials

DRIVING SCHOOL (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

I Drive Smart

Greg’s Driving School Potomac Driving School

JOY AND MATH CAN BE USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

Beauvoir offers an extraordinary education designed for early learners.

Accepting applications for pre-kindergarten to third grade for the 2020-2021 school year.

Come explore our 15+ acres of classrooms, outdoor pathways, playgrounds, and pristine forest.

Green Acres School | Age 3 to Grade 8 | North Bethesda 301.881.4100 | admission@greenacres.org | www.greenacres.org

3500 Woodley Road NW, Washington, DC 20016 www.beauvoirschool.org

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 103

schools KIDS DANCE PROGRAM (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Dawn Crafton Dance Connection Joy of Motion Dance Center Bethesda Conservatory of Dance Maryland School of Dance

PLACE FOR KIDS PARTIES Badlands (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Koa Sports

Montgomery Soccer (MSI) Tru2Form Hoops Potomac Soccer Association Kidball Montgomery Youth Hockey Association BCC Baseball

KIDS ART OR MUSIC CLASSES (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

VisArts

Bach to Rock Artworks Fine Art Studio

SUMMER DAY CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School Green Acres Camp Calleva Valley Mill Camp SummerEdge at McLean School Camp JCC at Bender JCC

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM

Sherman Early Childhood Center at Har Shalom

Henry’s Sweet Retreat My Gym Sky Zone ZavaZone Kidville BounceU

SPORTS CAMP (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Koa Sports Tru2Form Hoops (TIE)

PRESCHOOL/DAY CARE (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Bender Early Childhood Center Geneva Day School (TIE) Temple Beth Ami Nursery School Christ Episcopal School B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School

ESF Summer Camps Coach Lun’s Our Team Basketball Camp Bullis Summer Programs Headfirst Summer Camps Landon Summer

Celebrate

HAPPINESS

Encourage

CURIOSITY

CHALLENGE

Unique Minds No

w

En ro

llin

Campuses in Fairfax , Silver Spring & Baltimore

g!

www.TheAuburnSchool.org A school for academic and social success!

104 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Authentic FRENCH IMMERSION

DISCOVER THE ROCHAMBEAU ADVANTAGE

3 Languages* 2 Diplomas 1 School

www.rochambeau.org /APPLY

It’s not just an education, it’s a skill for life!

THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

FRom AGE 2 to 12th graDE Authentic FRENCH IMMERSION

* a third language is required from 6-12th grade (Spanish, German, Arabic)

Our High Schools Av er 20 age 18 SA Gr T S ad co Gr ua re ad te s ua s fo r tio n Pe rc en To ta ta ge lE nr Ra ol te lm en St t ud en t/ St af AP fR /I at B io Sc T or es in ts Sc g : % or 3 o o in r f G g H 4 igh rad or e u Ye Hi r o ate ar gh n s s er AP Pr of on Te of E e x IB st % ssi per Te or w ona ien st ith l c 5- Per e of 15 so Ye Ye nne ar ar l: s Pr s of of E es xp % si er w on ien ith al c m Pe e o or rs f e on th n % an el: of 15 S to tu Ye Co de ar n lle ts s ge G /T oin r g Or ai ni ig ng in al Co ns tru Ye ct ar io Re n no Da va te te d

Here’s what you need to know about local public schools

Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Bethesda

1249

94.4

2,102

15.1

73.5

41.9

44.1

≥95

1934

Ongoing

Montgomery Blair, Silver Spring

1216

86.2

3,083

13.4

53.3

41.5

47.8

94.1

1998

N/A

James Hubert Blake, Silver Spring

1086

90.2

1,624

13.0

41.8

38.3

54.8

≥95

1998

N/A

Winston Churchill, Potomac

1341

≥95

2,123

13.2

78.2

42.7

44.8

≥95

1964

2001

Clarksburg

1112

91.5

2,148

13.0

37.1

43.3

52.7

92.6

1995

2006

Damascus

1148

94

1,271

11.7

48.3

21.7

73.9

89.2

1950

1978

Thomas Edison High School of Technology, Silver Spring

N/A

N/A

671

26.3

N/A

11.5

88.5

N/A

1982

2018

Albert Einstein, Kensington

1076

81.9

1,803

10.4

47.7

37.6

46.3

91.5

1962

1997

Gaithersburg

1063

77.4

2,388

10.3

34.6

36.7

43.8

86.6

1951

2013

Walter Johnson, Bethesda

1239

≥95

2,475

13.9

69.3

36.3

55

94.6

1956

2009

John F. Kennedy, Silver Spring

985

81.2

1,720

10.5

27.4

39.9

47.1

89.3

1964

1999

Colonel Zadok A. Magruder, Rockville

1127

89.6

1,617

12

46.5

32.8

47.5

89.9

1970

N/A

Richard Montgomery, Rockville

1237

92.2

2,428

13.8

67.1

38.6

51.2

≥95

1942

2007

1138

≥95

2,508

14

50.2

52.1

33.9

94.4

1998

N/A

1024

79.4

1,731

11.1

31.8

40.4

45.4

90.7

1956

2004

Paint Branch, Burtonsville

1062

90.6

2,000

12.1

40.5

32.2

58.4

94.3

1969

2012

Poolesville

1354

≥95

1,183

13.7

77.8

32.9

56.5

≥95

1953

1978

Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg

1166

≥95

2,031

12.4

60.8

43.4

42.1

≥95

1988

N/A

Rockville

1110

86

1,476

9.7

53.2

39.5

46

91.8

1968

2004

Seneca Valley, Germantown

1053

86.2

1,187

10

42.6

32.1

51.9

93.7

1974

N/A

Sherwood, Sandy Spring

1183

93.9

1,967

13.4

57.5

32.8

60.4

≥95

1950

1991

Springbrook, Silver Spring

1070

87.8

1,796

11.9

37.5

29.6

54.2

86.4

1960

1994

Watkins Mill, Gaithersburg

1050

84.5

1,660

10.9

38

33.8

48.1

93.5

1989

N/A

Wheaton, Silver Spring

1125

77.4

1,762

12.6

42

34.9

43.8

91

1954

2016

Walt Whitman, Bethesda

1330

≥95

2,085

12.9

82.7

30.6

58.3

≥95

1962

1992

Thomas S. Wootton, Rockville

1322

≥95

2,134

14.3

78.9

34.8

58.2

92.5

1970

N/A

Northwest, Germantown Northwood, Silver Spring

This chart reflects data from Montgomery County Public Schools for the 2017-2018 school year, the most recent available.

106 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

OPENING THIS FALL

OUR NEW BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING EDUCATION FACILITY

BUILT FOR

BREAKTHROUGHS

When the Universities at Shady Grove opens its new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education facility this fall, STEMM education in the region will never be the same.

Innovation labs will foster fresh thinking, and cuttingedge degree programs in emerging industries will prepare students to lead beyond the classroom.

BE PART OF THE JOURNEY: SHADYGROVE.UMD.EDU 9 Universities. 1 Campus. That’s the Power of 9.

schools

Poolesville High School students (left to right) Nick Molyneaux, Amy Lu, Manchun Xiao and Deepika Tripu conduct research in Seneca Creek with Dan Savino, a teacher in the school’s Global Ecology Program.

Beyond the traditional classroom Montgomery County public schools offer plenty of enrichment options MONTGOMERY COUNTY public schools offer a variety of enrichment programs for students from elementary through high school. These magnet, language and accelerated programs provide students with unique opportunities for a specialized education.

Some programs are only open to students who live within specific geographical areas, while others are open to students countywide.

MAGNET PROGRAMS Magnet programs provide tailored curricula for gifted students or students showing promise or interest in a particular academic discipline ranging from math and science to arts and humanities.

Takoma Park Elementary School offers a general enrichment magnet program for first- and second-graders. Takoma Park and Roberto Clemente middle schools offer a mathematics, science and computer science magnet program, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Eastern mid-

dle schools offer a humanities and communication magnet program. Eastern Middle School is in Silver Spring and Martin Luther King Jr. is in Germantown.

High school magnet programs open to students countywide include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Richard Montgomery in Rockville, visual and performing arts at Albert Einstein in Kensington, global ecology at Poolesville and various career-focused education tracks at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring. Students must apply for acceptance into these programs.

Admission into magnet programs often is highly competitive and consideration may begin with a central review by staff to identify which students may be qualified, followed by testing. Most applications, except for the elementary program, are due in the fall before the student would matriculate into the program.

The application for the Takoma Park Elementary School enrichment magnet is

108 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

due in the spring of the student’s kindergarten year.

Depending on the program, adjudicators may consider grades, coursework, test scores, teacher recommendations and written statements from students when determining admission. Most programs send acceptance decisions in late winter or early spring.

Several middle schools and high schools also offer regional or consortium-based programs. The Middle School Magnet Consortium consists of Argyle and A. Mario Loiederman middle schools in Silver Spring and Parkland Middle School in Rockville. Each school offers a challenging curriculum that focuses on a specific topic: digital design and development at Argyle, creative and performing arts at Loiederman and aerospace technology and robotic engineering at Parkland.

At the high school level, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring offers a science, mathematics and computer sci-

PHOTO BY DARREN HIGGINS

BY NATALIE GRIFFIN

ence magnet that is open by application to incoming ninth-graders from specific high school clusters. Blair also offers a communications arts program open by application to students who attend middle schools in a specific geographical area. Wheaton High School is the home of biomedical and engineering magnets, and John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring offers the Leadership Training Institute.

Generally, applications to regional or consortium programs are limited to students who live within prescribed geographical boundaries. However, unfilled spots may be available to students who live outside the zones. The middle school magnet consortium program is available to everyone residing within prescribed geographical boundaries, and is open to other students by application.

All third-graders are reviewed for participation in the Centers for Enriched Studies in their region of the county.

Students are notified in early February whether they will be invited to apply and those who are interested will take an

aptitude test. Selection results are mailed to parents in late March. Nine elementary schools offer center programs: Pine Crest, Oak View and Dr. Charles Drew in Silver Spring, Lucy V. Barnsley in Rockville, Cold Spring in Potomac, Fox Chapel in Germantown, Clearspring in Damascus, Mill Creek Towne in Derwood and Chevy Chase Elementary.

This two-year program may require students to change schools in fourth grade and doesn’t guarantee admission into magnet or consortium programs in middle school or high school.

LANGUAGE IMMERSION Some county public schools offer Chinese, French and Spanish language immersion programs for elementary and middle school students. These programs allow students to take some or all of their core courses in a target language.

On the elementary school level, Chinese and some Spanish programs are partial immersion, while the French program and other Spanish programs are total

immersion, meaning all core subjects are taught in the specific language. Middle school programs are all partial immersion.

These elementary schools offer language immersion programs: College Gardens in Rockville and Potomac Elementary offer Chinese; Maryvale in Rockville and Sligo Creek in Silver Spring offer French; and Burnt Mills and William Tyler Page in Silver Spring, Rock Creek Forest in Chevy Chase and Rolling Terrace in Takoma Park offer Spanish.

Middle school students can continue Chinese at Herbert Hoover in Potomac, French at Gaithersburg Middle or Silver Spring International and Spanish at Silver Spring International or Westland in Bethesda.

Students entering kindergarten through fifth grade are eligible to apply through a spring lottery. Admittance for students in grades two through five is determined by both language proficiency and available space.

Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org for more information. â–

Caring | Challenging | Community

Co-ed K-12 10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD www.bullis.org/admission

10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD www.bullis.org

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 109

Autism is treatable.

Early intervention is critical.

www.littleleaves.org 202-420-8359 info@littleleaves.org

en p O w ay! o d N ic o to n f i Cl e in s r d Bu mo e r l o Litt all f C

11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20850 301 340 7704

Ready to Take on the World At Lowell, children gain the knowledge and skills to become the creative problem-solvers and leaders that our world needs.

Sign up for a tour to learn about our PK–8 program.

1640 Kalmia Road NW Washington, DC 20012 202-577-2000 admissions@lowellschool.org Bus service available in MD/DC

CHARLES E. SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL

genevadayschool.org

CESJDS is a JK-12 independent school that engages students in an exemplary and inspiring general and Jewish education. Students grow in an expansive and dynamic learning environment full of opportunities, and develop into confident, creative thinkers who engage the world through Jewish values.

Encouraging a lifelong love of learning, we offer children ages 2-6:

Teacher:Student Ratio: 8:1

Average Class Size: 17

Exceptional Classes Innovative Programs

Engaging Summer Camp

Creek Walks Water Play Themes

25 Upper School electives courses including: Coding, Robotics, Sports Medicine, Intro to Guitar, and Sculpture 50+ zip codes around DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are represented by our community 6 sports teams won PVAC championships during the 2017-2018 school year 7 bus routes serving DC, Virginia, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac, Silver Spring

SCHEDULE A TOUR!

ADMISSION@CESJDS.ORG / 301.692.4870 Lower School (JK-5) 1901 East Jefferson Street Rockville, MD

www.cesjds.org 110 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Upper School (6-12) 11710 Hunters Lane Rockville, MD

/cesjdsconnect

health

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE

A nurse checks on a patient at Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center.

ACCORDING TO DATA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and the Princeton, N.J.-based Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, residents of Montgomery County live longer on average than most people in the country. The average life expectancy in Montgomery County is about 84 years.

People live longer here because they generally take care of themselves and have access to excellent doctors and hospitals, the latter including Suburban in Bethesda, Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

in Olney, Holy Cross in Silver Spring and Germantown, and Sibley Memorial in Northwest Washington, D.C. In addition, Bethesda is home to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

NIH opened its doors just north of downtown Bethesda in 1938. As the largest source of medical research funding in the world, it supports studies at more than 2,500 universities and research institutions across the country and around the world. About 6,000 scientists work in NIH’s own research

laboratories, most of which are located in Bethesda, and well over 1,000 clinical studies are underway at any given time in the NIH Clinical Center, where breakthroughs have included the first use of azidothymidine [AZT] to treat AIDS and the use of gene therapy to fight disease.

Across Wisconsin Avenue from NIH is Walter Reed, the world’s largest military medical center. It provides care and services to more than 1 million patients annually, including members of military families, active-duty personnel, veterans and political leaders.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 111

A $275 million campus enhancement project at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda is expected to be completed in early 2020.

area hospitals

What you need to know about their services and specialties

BY ARCHANA PYATI AND AMY REININK

SUBURBAN HOSPITAL Located in Bethesda, Suburban Hospital is a 233-bed facility that specializes in acute care and offers all major medical services except for obstetrics. Suburban is the state-designated Level II adult trauma center for Montgomery County, meaning acute care and surgical services must be available 24/7. The hospital treats about 1,600 trauma patients each year.

A member of Johns Hopkins Medicine since 2009, Suburban broke ground in 2014 on a $275 million campus enhancement project that is expected to be completed in early 2020. It is the hospital’s first major clinical addition in 40 years.

Suburban also has a unique relationship with the National Institutes of Health, which is located across the street. Stroke and cardiac patients benefit from the SuburbanNIH partnership. The NIH Stroke Center at

Suburban Hospital is part of a multiyear research effort to develop new strategies for stroke treatment, and the hospital’s NIH Heart Center gives patients access to state-of-the-art cardiac surgery, angioplasty and advanced cardiovascular therapies, including stem cell injections.

Patients with traumatic brain injuries may be eligible for screenings with advanced MRI technology. In addition, Suburban offers comprehensive cancer, cardiac and orthopedic care.

8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-896-3100, Hopkinsmedicine.org/ suburban_hospital

ADVENTIST HEALTHCARE SHADY GROVE MEDICAL CENTER Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center is a 444-bed comprehensive

112 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

community hospital in Rockville. Opened in 1979, Shady Grove is known for its state-of-the-art cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment to recovery and rehabilitation. Shady Grove’s Aquilino Cancer Center offers the full spectrum of cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, infusion therapy, rehabilitation and imaging, along with integrative therapies such as yoga, and classes on cooking and nutrition. It is the only freestanding facility of its kind in the county. The center holds accreditation with commendation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

The medical center also has built a reputation for its orthopedics and joint-replacement programs, earning Gold Seal accreditation for hip and knee replacements from The Joint Commission, a credentialing body for health care facilities. Robot-assisted joint replacements are an increasing part of its offerings for hips and knees, and in shoulder replacement cases surgeons utilize computer-assisted technology.

Shady Grove doesn’t perform openheart surgery, but it offers a full complement of services for heart attack patients, including cardiac rehabilitation and the only designated STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) center in upper Montgomery County. The hospital’s cardiac and vascular teams have earned American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association awards for quality and speed in heart attack and stroke care. A brain and spine surgery program offers advanced comprehensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities.

Patients requiring open-heart surgery are referred to Washington Adventist Hospital, Shady Grove’s sister facility in Takoma Park.

Shady Grove’s Birth Center delivers about 4,500 babies a year and includes a neonatal intensive care unit. Mothers recover in private rooms and have access to parenting classes, breastfeeding resources and support groups. The hospital also offers a dedicated pediatric unit.

Shady Grove’s Emergency Department,

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBURBAN HOSPITAL

health

Suburban Hospital

Building for tomorrow.

Visit SuburbanFuture.org to learn more.

Suburban Hospital has been a trusted source for complex care in Montgomery County for more than 75 years. Now we’re investing for the future with a comprehensive plan to transform our campus, including a 300,000 square foot clinical addition with all private patient rooms, opening in early 2020. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Close to Home.

The Promise of Medicine

health which includes an area dedicated to children and a freestanding Germantown Emergency Center, receives more than 90,000 visits each year. The medical center is home to the county’s only Forensic Medical Unit, which cares for crime victims.

9901 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, 240826-6000, www.AdventistSGMC.com

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center is a 117-bed hospital in Olney that offers a full range of services and a separate pediatric center. MedStar Montgomery’s stroke and chest pain centers have earned accreditations from ACC Accreditation Services and The Joint Commission.

MedStar Montgomery also has received the Delmarva Foundation’s Excellence Award for Quality Improvement for five consecutive years.

The hospital offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services for adolescents and adults, and a self-contained 24-hour crisis evaluation unit for behavioral health patients in its emergency department.

Founded in 1918, the hospital was known as Montgomery General Hospital until it merged in 2008 with MedStar Health, a regional health system that

includes MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. MedStar Montgomery has the ability to tap into the greater resources of MedStar Health.

18101 Prince Philip Drive, Olney, 855-6330207, www.medstarmontgomery.org

HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL One of the largest hospitals in Maryland, Holy Cross Hospital offers a full range of services, with an expertise in women’s and infant health, innovative senior care, surgery, neuroscience and cancer.

The hospital, a 449-bed facility that cares for about 31,000 inpatients per year at its location just outside the Beltway in Silver Spring, offers private rooms to all patients.

Holy Cross was the highest-ranking hospital in Montgomery County on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list for 2018-2019. In 2018, Healthgrades, a data A Maternal Fetal Medicine team performs 3D ultrasound on a high-risk patient at Sibley Memorial Hospital.

114 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

company, placed Holy Cross in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence, and named it one of America’s 100 best hospitals for critical care. More babies are born at Holy Cross Hospital than at any other hospital in the state. The hospital’s Seniors Emergency Center is a dedicated space for older patients with immediate needs that aren’t life-threatening, the first of its kind in the nation. The neuroscience program provides expertise in the care of complex brain and spine disorders, including an advanced Primary Stroke Center.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross founded the hospital, and the Holy Cross Health system, a member of Trinity Health, continues its tradition of advancing community health through six primary care centers, four of which exclusively serve lowincome individuals and families, and more than 70 exercise and health education programs that are offered each week.

1500 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, 301-754-7000, www.holycrosshealth.org

HOLY CROSS GERMANTOWN HOSPITAL Holy Cross Germantown Hospital opened its 237,000-square-foot, six-story facility in October 2014 with 93 beds and a fullservice emergency department. A member of the Holy Cross Health system, the hospital’s inpatient rooms are all private.

Holy Cross Germantown offers comprehensive maternity services, including private maternity rooms, an eightbed neonatal unit, and prenatal classes for its patients.

Other services include surgical care across a broad range of specialties;

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL

MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER

Surgeons operate at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring.

neuroscience expertise, including a Primary Stroke Center; a special behavioral health unit; and intensive care.

Located at Montgomery College’s Germantown campus, Holy Cross Germantown is the first hospital in the nation to share a campus with a community college, with an educational partnership to train future health care providers.

19801 Observation Drive, Germantown, 301-557-6000, www.holycrosshealth.org/hcgh

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL

SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Sibley Memorial Hospital, located in Northwest Washington, D.C., not far from the Montgomery County line, has been serving the community since its founding in 1890. The 318-bed community hospital offers medical, surgical, obstetric, oncological and orthopedic care, skilled nursing inpatient services and an emergency department. Sibley’s campus is also home to the Grand Oaks assisted living facility, a medical building with physician offices, and ambulatory surgery and imaging centers.

A member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sibley opened a new and expanded emergency department in 2015. The department includes a dedicated fasttrack area to care for patients with minor illnesses, as well as interior and exterior decontamination showers capable of handling unique emergencies, such as a mass exposure to hazardous materials.

Sibley opened a new main building in 2016 with 200 large fully private rooms, the capacity to handle 4,500 births per year, a new pharmacy, expanded oncological services, new operating rooms and more.

With its 3,000-square-foot “Innovation Hub,” Sibley is believed to be the only community hospital in the country with a hospital-based center to foster new ideas in patient care. Says former Sibley President Richard Davis, who established the Innovation Hub, “It is a real-world laboratory for testing new ideas and for providing the resources in which to implement them.”

5255 Loughboro Road NW, Washington, D.C., 202-537-4000, www.sibley.org ■

Bethesda Magazine Readers’ Pick

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Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 115

READERS’ CHOICES FOR

best health care Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2018 and 2019 for the top medical practices, practitioners and hospital departments. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

COSMETIC SURGEON

URGENT CARE PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

A. Dean Jabs, MD, FACS Joseph Michaels, MD Ronald S. Perlman, MD Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS

MedOne Urgent Care PM Pediatrics Patient First (Rockville) Righttime Medical Care Bethesda Immediate Care

EYE DOCTOR

VEIN CARE PRACTICE

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Rachel Cohn, OD Harry H. Huang, MD Michael A. Berenhaus, OD Melanie J. Buttross, MD Charles F. Bahn, MD George C. Agritellis, MD

HOSPITAL FOR MATERNITY (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Sibley Memorial Hospital Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring)

OB-GYN (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Joan Loveland, MD Steven Maggid, MD Brendan F. Burke, MD Tobie Beckerman, MD Israel Alter, MD Lori M. Kaler, MD

ORTHOPEDIST (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Christopher J. Cannova, MD Daniel J. Pereles, MD Richard M. Grossman, MD Edward J. Bieber, MD

PODIATRIST (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Paul Ross, DPM

Franklin R. Polun, DPM Michael L. Gittleson, DPM Amir D. Assili, DPM

Center for Vein Restoration Capitol Vein & Laser

GENERAL DENTIST (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Steven Janowitz, DDS Jason A. Cohen, DDS Jay H. Samuels, DDS Brad Levine, DDS Hilari Dunn, DDS

PEDIATRIC DENTIST (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Derek Blank, DDS Shailja Dhir Ensor, DDS Lauren Lewis, DDS Ricardo A. Perez, DDS Dana S. Greenwald, DDS

MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY PRACTICE (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

The Counseling Center of Maryland Julia Kirvan, LCSW-C Emily Cook Therapy

WEIGHT LOSS CENTER (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

BodyTech Weight Loss & Health WW (Weight Watchers) Dr. Zumbado’s Lifestyle Community EMP 180° Weight Loss National Center for Weight and Wellness

IN-HOME CARE (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Family & Nursing Care myPotential at Home

116 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Capital City Nurses Comfort Home Care Corewood Care

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Maplewood Park Place Ingleside at King Farm The Village at Rockville Five Star Premier Residences of Chevy Chase Fox Hill

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Suburban Hospital Sibley Memorial Hospital Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center Holy Cross Hospital

PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Rockville Concierge Doctors Rockville Internal Medicine Group Potomac Physician Associates

PHOTO BY ERNESTO MALDONADO

Roger J. Oldham, MD, FACS

Seniors from Maplewood Park Place enjoy a golf outing.

Live.

Learn.

Explore.

Grow.

Triumph.

Together.

You’re on a unique path. And Holy Cross Health is on that path with you and your family, to help you achieve your best health and quality of life every step of the way.

You can find our hospitals, primary care sites, specialty care and wellness programs throughout the region. Discover your path to good health at HolyCrossHealth.org.

health

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Potomac Audiology

Matthew Mintz, MD Cullen Umosella Cullen & Cullen Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Maplewood Park Place

The Feldman Hearing Studios The Family Hearing Center at TLC Kaiser Permanente Kensington Medical Center Live Better Hearing (formerly A & A Hearing)

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Capital Laser & Skin Care Drs. Jaffe, O’Neill & Lindgren DermAssociates The Dermatology Center

The Counseling Center of Maryland

EJL Dental

Georgetown Psychology Associates Rathbone & Associates Alvord, Baker & Associates Emily Cook Therapy Aspire Counseling

Byrdsmiles Orthodontics Rad Orthodontics Gerlein Orthodontics Frederick S. Fritz, DDS Peter J. Coccaro, DDS John & Bob Gillespie, DDS Dr. Jill Bruno, Orthodontist

IN-HOME CARE Family & Nursing Care

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Charles E. Smith Life Communities Ingleside at King Farm Leisure World of Maryland Kensington Park Riderwood (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

CHILD THERAPIST/ PSYCHOLOGIST

ORTHODONTIA PRACTICE

3 0 Year

AUDIOLOGY PRACTICE

Premier Homecare Comfort Home Care Home Care Solutions Lifematters

PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR ATHLETIC INJURIES (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Sports and Orthopaedic Therapy Services Point Performance Precision Physical Therapy Issa Physical Therapy ProAction Physical Therapy

are s of C

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Catering available anytime for any occasion Private parties | Family style dinners | Opera Night

no appointment needed Need a doctor in a hurry? Here are 23 places to go for urgent medical care.

BY CYDNEY HARGIS

Med-One Urgent Care 7930 Old Georgetown Road, 301-652-0111, www.medoneurgentcare.com Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Jivana Urgent Care 6931 Arlington Road, Suite B, 301-951-3606, www.jivanacare.com Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Closed Sunday.

Bethesda Immediate Care 8305 Wisconsin Ave., 301-800-7000, bethesdaurgentcare.com Hours:Â Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

Righttime Medical Center 4507 Stanford St., Bethesda 888-808-6483, Myrighttime.com Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

CHEVY CHASE

Concentra Urgent Care 803 Russell Ave., Suite 1A and 1B, 301-8690700, www.concentra.com/urgent-care-centers Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GERMANTOWN Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care 19825 Frederick Road, 240-801-9944, www.adventisturgentcare.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

KENSINGTON Fast Track Urgent Care 10540 Connecticut Ave., 800-417-1164, www.fastrackmd.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

POTOMAC First Clinic Potomac Medical Arts Center, 9800 Falls Road, Suite 3, 301-765-9255, www.firstclinicllc.com. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

GAITHERSBURG

ROCKVILLE

All Day Medical Care Clinic 8945 N. Westland Drive, 301-330-0006, www.myurgentcarenow.com Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Righttime Medical Care 882 Muddy Branch Road, 888-808-6483, myrighttime.com/gaithersburg Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

MedStar PromptCare 12111 Darnestown Road, 301-926-3020, www.medstarhealth.org/mpc-gaithersburg Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends and holidays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SILVER SPRING Metro Immediate & Primary Care 8484 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, 301-755-6655, www.metroimmediatecare.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Advanced Walk-In Urgent Care of Silver Spring 10801 Lockwood Drive, Suite 140, 301-592-1780, www.urgentcarelocations.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

Righttime Medical Care

Barlow Building, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., #401, 301-215-9440, www.medstarhealth.org/mpc-chevy-chase Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

MedStar Prompt Care

www.patientfirst.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care 750 Rockville Pike, 301-424-0658, www.adventisturgentcare.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Physicians Now Urgent Care 15215 Shady Grove Road, Suite 100, 301-637-5328, www.myphysiciansnow.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Righttime Medical Care 12220 Rockville Pike, 888-808-6483, www.myrighttime.com/rockville Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Patient First Urgent Care 726 Rockville Pike, 240-238-0411,

20 University Blvd. East, 888-808-6483, www.myrighttime.com/silver-spring Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Patient First 8206 Georgia Ave., 301-960-4682, www.patientfirst.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Fast Track Urgent Care 13428 New Hampshire Ave., 800-417-1164, www.fastrackmd.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHEATON MedStar PromptCare 11915 Georgia Ave., 301-942-4505, www.medstarhealth.org/mpc-wheaton Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Access Now Urgent Care 11406 Georgia Ave., 301-200-2230, accessnowurgentcare.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday. n

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 119

PHOTO BY APRIL WITT

BETHESDA

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Physician PROFILES

Dr. Lawrence Green AESTHETIC & DERMATOLOGY CENTER What made you decide to become a dermatologist?

I chose dermatology because I had a strong desire to help people feel better about themselves. I enjoy seeing my patients engaged and excited about their skin care routines, and thrilled with the results.

What is one thing your patients should know about you?

I’m an internationally recognized thought leader in dermatology, a dedicated patient advocate, and an expert in skin surgical techniques and cosmetic procedures like injectables and earlobe repair. I understand how important the procedures I perform are to my patients, and I stand behind my practice and every treatment I perform—I never do anything that I don’t fully believe in.

What is unique about you?

I’m dedicated to the field of dermatology and to patient advocacy. Currently, I’m an associate clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University, teaching skin surgical techniques to the next generation of dermatologists.

I’m also on the board of directors for my national dermatology and dermatologic surgery organizations, and I was recently selected to be president of the Montgomery County Medical Society. I spend a lot of time doing research and working collaboratively with dermatologists for better patient outcomes.

How do you employ new technology to help your patients?

My in-house clinical trials department consistently works to pioneer the latest advancements in dermatology and dermatologic surgery. Being a thought leader in dermatology and doing clinical research gives our practice the edge that no one else has in the D.C. area. My patients have access to treatments long before anyone else, and they have access to a practice that knows about the advancements in dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and dermatologic surgery.

AWARDS 2018-2019: Volunteer Teacher of the Year, GWU Dermatology Department; Advocate of the Year, American Academy of Dermatology; Outstanding Clinician of the Year, National Psoriasis Foundation

9601 Blackwell Road, Suite 260 | Rockville, MD 20850 301-610-0663 | info@aederm.com www.aestheticdermatologymd.com 120 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

HILARY SCHWAB

“My patients have access to treatments long before anyone else, and they have access to a practice that knows about the advancements in dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and dermatologic surgery.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

Physician

Sherry L. H. Maragh, MD, MBA MARAGH DERMATOLOGY, SURGERY & VEIN INSTITUTE With state-of-the-art facilities in Rockville, Ashburn (Va.) and Warrenton (Va.), the Maragh Dermatology, Surgery & Vein Institute has established itself as a premier center for comprehensive dermatological treatment in the Washington metropolitan area.

The team of board certified physicians offers extensive experience and is dedicated to providing compassionate, specialized care, paying great attention to detail and catering to the specific needs of each patient.

Maragh Dermatology specializes in the most advanced techniques of medical, cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology, from Mohs Micrographic surgery with cosmetic facial reconstruction for the treatment of skin cancer, to cutting edge procedures in minimally invasive face and body rejuvenation—such as liposuction and cellulite treatment—and the use of lasers to repair scars and stretch marks, tighten facial skin, remove unwanted hair, body contouring and leg vein issues, among other conditions. Lasers, Dr. Sherry Maragh says, can also be used to treat acne, rosacea and unwanted pigment caused by the sun.

Skin, the body’s largest organ, grows and changes with a person over time, says Dr. Maragh. Therefore, it’s important to care for this protective layer just as one would any other part of the body. Skin has “memory,” Dr. Maragh continues, and sun damage sustained over the years has a cumulative effect.

Early detection of skin cancer can save lives, which is why Dr. Maragh and the Maragh Dermatology team say maintaining an ongoing relationship with a dermatologist for routine screenings is key to overall skin health.

“For years we have been working to change public awareness of skin cancer,” says Dr. Maragh. “Caring for our skin is essential to a lifetime of good skin. Start with a consultation.”

ADAM FREEDMAN

AWARDS/HONORS 2018 “Face of Cosmetic Dermatology,” Bethesda Magazine; 2018 “Best (for Botox, fillers and injectibles) of Suburbia,” PoshSeven; 2016 “Face of Cosmetic Dermatology,” Washingtonian; 2014 “Top Doctor,” Washingtonian.

“Skin grows and changes with a person over time; it’s important to care for it as one would any other part of the body.”

14995 Shady Grove Road, Suite 150 | Rockville, MD 20850 301-358-5919 | www.maraghdermatology.com Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 121

Physician

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Rachel Cohn “For a lot of us, choosing glasses is almost as much fun as jean shopping,” says Dr. Rachel Cohn. “But glasses are one of the first things people notice, and finding the right eyewear is so important.”

“The right glasses can make you look sexy and smart, and the wrong frame can be distracting and make you look old,” she says. The most flattering frames play against facial contours. If your face is round, choose a frame with some angles. Square? Choose softer angles. “Don’t be afraid of color—it can add life to your face—and please don’t think you have to match your glasses to your clothes.”

Wink blends Dr. Cohn’s optometry practice and an eyewear boutique. “I’m an optometrist with a passion for fashion, and my staff and I will help you find your perfect frame. Try on lots of them. It’s certainly easier than trying on a pair of jeans!”

1095 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-545-1111 | drcohn@wink.net www.wink.net

TAMZIN B. SMITH PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

OPTOMETRIST, WINK EYECARE BOUTIQUE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Featured Dentists PROFILES

Jay Samuels, DDS What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?

I find satisfaction in going above and beyond traditional dentistry, spending time with patients and educating them on the direct link between their oral health and overall health. In a world where patients have less say in their health care, I strive to give personalized and conservative treatment in a comfortable setting, using the latest in dental equipment and technology.

I also focus on preventative measures to help patients keep a natural, healthy smile for many years.

How would your patients describe you?

Genuine, understanding, committed and a good communicator. Kristin M. recently said, “Dr. Samuels will make you feel comfortable during any procedure. You can expect the use of cutting-edge technology and techniques to get the job done in the best way possible. I used to dislike going to the dentist, but he has made each visit as painless as possible.”

11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 510 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-4200 | www.drjsamuels.com | drj@drjsamuels.co 122 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

TONY J. LEWIS

AWARDS 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 “A Top Vote Getter,” Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll, Bethesda Magazine ; 2015, 2017, 2019 “Top Doctor,” Washingtonian

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILES

Karen Benitez, DDS CHEVY CHASE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY How would your patients describe you?

Patients and parents describe me as playful, comforting, knowledgeable, patient and relatable. I’m passionate about providing the highest quality dental care. I chat at eye level with my patients and wear funny hats and masks to set the tone and let them know that I don’t take myself too seriously. I engage with my patients because I want them to feel comfortable talking to me. Some are initially scared and withdrawn, but after a few visits, they’re smiling and giving me high fives.

TONYY J. LEWIS

What is one thing that your patients should know about you?

I genuinely care. Parents entrust me with their kids. Frankly, I perform some big tasks on little people in small spaces. My practice philosophy is absolute patient comfort! The office design creates a feeling of happiness with bright colors and natural light. I offer nitrous oxide and mild sedation, fidget toys and weighted blankets for kids requiring additional reinforcements, above-head TVs, wall-mounted toys, chattering teeth, the crocodile dentist, joke books and an ever-expanding collection of shark teeth. This is more than a dental office—it’s an experience!

What makes you different than others in your profession?

I’m approachable and engaging with parents. They are critical in the entire experience and I want to educate and empower them. There’s a lot to talk about during an exam. Parents might have questions after they leave the office. I write a resource blog and provide short videos to explain various topics that parents can reflect on in their own time. Plus, I’m only one phone call away. It’s all part of building relationships with my families and gaining their trust.

Featured Dentists

“Parents entrust me with their kids.

Frankly, I perform some big tasks on little people in small spaces.”

SPECIALTIES Nitrous oxide, mild oral sedation, all-white cosmetic zirconia crown, silver diamine fluoride, toddler exams for optimal oral health practices, strong preventive and educational philosophy

8401 Connecticut Ave., Suite 650 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-272-1246 hello@chevychasekids.dentist www.chevychasekids.dentist

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 123

Featured Dentists

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Derek Blank, DDS DC PEDIATRIC SMILES

5640 Shields Dr. Bethesda, MD 20817 301-363-9026 | smile@dcpediatricsmiles.com www.dcpediatricsmiles.com

MICHAEL VENTURA

What is unique about your practice?

At DC Pediatric Smiles our motto is simple: your child’s visit should be as easy as a trip to the beach. Our team is committed to providing children with a fun, approachable introduction to dentistry. As a father of three young kids, I understand the importance of connecting with my patients to ensure that their first impression of the dentist is positive.

Our office has a bright, clean, beach house vibe. I’d love to use the word “gnarly” but don’t think I can say that with a straight face. In all seriousness, having a brand new, modern design really helps our team set the tone immediately with families.

As a board-certified pediatric dentist, I rely strongly on evidence-based training to care for patients. Parents play a key role in our practice’s teamapproach to treatment. Ultimately, we all share the common goal of creating a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles!

Jason A. Cohen, DDS What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?

Our philosophy has always been to Treat Your Family Like Family—and that's not an empty promise! We want to provide the best dental treatment with all the care, skill and judgment we would want for our own families. We do this from start to finish—on the phone, in our office, throughout your treatment—we live our mantra every day.

It’s very satisfying that our philosophy is such a win-win for everyone, our team and our patients. We see it in people’s smiles, in their wonderful feedback and when they bring their children and friends to us.

5530 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 560 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-1201 | drcohen@cosmeticdds.com www.cosmeticdds.com 124 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

MICHAEL VENTURA

What makes you different than others in your profession?

Besides our commitment to Treating Your Like Family, our team offers a calming, caring and gentle atmosphere that allows you to relax and enjoy your experience, as we preserve, protect and enhance your dental health.

DENTIST

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

FINDER

Your Guide to Leading Dentists in the Bethesda Area

PERIODONTICS, DENTAL IMPLANTS

GENERAL DENTISTRY, COSMETIC DENTISTRY

DR. ROY ESKOW

DR. JOHN J. HIGGINS

Bethesda Dental Implant Center

John J. Higgins, DDS PA

5626 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-493-6200 www.bethesdadentalimplantcenter.com

Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry Expertise: We provide state of the art periodontal therapy in a comfortable and caring environment. 30 years experience in dental implant surgery, periodontics, oral medicine, dental sleep apnea. Paramount is building a quality relationship with each and every patient.

5648 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-530-8008 www.johnjhigginsdds.com

Dental School: Georgetown University Expertise: Provide patients with excellent care and health education in a contemporary and comfortable atmosphere

GENERAL DENTISTRY, COSMETIC DENTISTRY

MOBILE DENTISTRY, GERIATRIC DENTISTRY

DR. H. BRANDT FOSTER

SENIOR SMILE Dr. Namita K. Thapar-Dua (Chaudhary)

Comprehensive Contemporary Dentistry

23219 Stringtown Road Box #324 Clarksburg, MD 20871 301-875-7477 www.srsmile.com

4702 Chevy Chase Drive Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-986-8804 www.fosterdds.net

Dental School: University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery Expertise: At our office we love what we do. We believe dentistry should be painless, functional and esthetic. We are committed to exceptional personalized care and use the latest technology to help you achieve a healthy beautiful smile.

Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry Expertise: Providing dental care in the comfort of your own home with portable equipment. Our services range from consultations to comprehensive exams and x-rays. Serving senior, disabled and special needs patients of all ages.

Your life. Your community. Your magazine. www.BethesdaMagazine.com/subscribe Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 125

fitness & beauty

Instructor Shayla Cornick at Cycled! in downtown Silver Spring

healthiest cities in America by national publications and the American College of Sports Medicine. It’s no wonder, considering the region’s hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, fitness studios that cater to all tastes, and convenient public recreation centers.

Here are just a few highlights of our area’s best fitness offerings.

TRENDSETTERS Call us early adopters. When a new fitness trend is on the horizon, you can bet the Bethesda area is first in line to get a studio where you can sample the

new activity. From posh indoor cycling studios to super-slow exercise gyms, you can try your hand at whatever’s the latest and greatest in the fitness world without traveling far from home.

Recent additions to the boutique fitness offerings in the area include aerial yoga, functional fitness and multiple indoor cycling studios. You can even impress your kids by learning parkour, the practice of running, leaping and spinning over obstacles to get from one place to another.

GYMS Just about every conceivable fitness chain has a local outpost. If luxury’s

126 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

your thing, there’s a gym that offers patrons chilled face towels soaked in eucalyptus-scented water for post-workout cooldowns. If you’re looking for the nofrills basics, you can find budget gyms or CrossFit “boxes” throughout Montgomery County. There are also several locally owned gyms where you’ll feel like everybody knows your name.

RECREATION CENTERS A great recreation center can serve as a place for community members to gather, enjoy each other’s company and improve their own health. The county has 21 recreation centers, and its municipalities have several more, most of which feature

PHOTO BY EDGAR ARTIGA

BETHESDA AND WASHINGTON, D.C., are perennially named among the

gyms, fitness classes and programs for kids and older adults. Many also have indoor or outdoor pools, and offer swim lessons and other aquatic programs.

YOGA Yogis can find studios specializing in a variety of styles, from Bikram to vinyasa to gentle. People seeking an authentic and meditation-focused experience will find plenty of traditional studios throughout the county. Those seeking to develop a “yoga butt” or get a good stretch will find studios that incorporate strength training and Pilates.

OUTDOORS LOVERS Newcomers to Montgomery County might not expect to arrive in a haven for outdoors lovers. But a few miles as the crow flies from the bustle of Washington, D.C., you can enjoy rock scrambles, worldclass kayaking and overlooks that make you feel like you’ve escaped civilization.

The same Potomac River that flows lazily through the District produces one of the world’s deadliest rapids, Great Falls, which is renowned by kayakers worldwide for its Class V white water. The Potomac River also offers plenty of options for novices, from kayaking in flat water to stand-up paddleboarding.

Montgomery County parks alone offer more than 100 miles of trails, from single-track dirt paths that will thrill the most hard-core trail runners, to mellow paved trails appropriate for casual cyclists and parents with baby strollers. That’s in addition to local favorites such as the Billy Goat Trail in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (start at the Potomac trailhead), trails on 1,282-foot Sugarloaf Mountain in Dickerson, and others in state, national and privately owned parks within county lines. Many neighborhoods in southern Montgomery County abut Rock Creek Park, a 2,000-acre swath of forest that bisects the northwest quadrant of the District.

Sections of Rock Creek Park’s central road, Beach Drive, are closed to make way for cyclists and runners every weekend.

If exploring the outdoors by foot or by bike isn’t your thing, you can also fish, row, ice skate or simply enjoy the flowers and other foliage in the county’s parks. ■ Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 127

READERS’ CHOICES FOR

BEST FITNESS & Beauty Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks in 2018 and 2019 for the top exercise facilities, hair salons and other services. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

FITNESS STUDIO (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Pulse Fitness

Equinox Orangetheory Fitness (Park Potomac) Zengo Cycle Truebody SoulCycle

PERSONAL TRAINER (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Lisa Platnik

Eric Toussaint Donté Brown

YOGA STUDIO

Lee Sommers Kim Teri Okinyi Ayungo Maddie Watkins

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

extendYoga

PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR ATHLETIC INJURY (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Haim S. Hechtman (Point Performance) Precision Physical Therapy Stacy King (Aspire PT & Wellness) ProAction Physical Therapy Cohen Health & Performance

Unity Woods Yoga Center CorePower Yoga Sweetbay Yoga Down Dog Yoga

DAY SPA (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

The Woodhouse Day Spa The Red Door Salon & Spa Blu Water Day Spa Karma by Erwin Gomez Aveda Bethesda Salon & Spa

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128 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

HAIR SALON (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Kindle & Boom Bella Bethesda Salon Progressions Salon Spa Store Plane Jane Salon Zohra & Zohra [Men] Salon Central

NAIL SALON (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Sandy Nails The Woodhouse Day Spa Nails by Tammy L’Vee Nails Spa Cindy’s Nails & Waxing Nail Design

PLACE FOR MEN’S HAIRCUTS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Seven Locks Barber Zohra & Zohra [Men] Kindle & Boom Karma by Erwin Gomez Roosters Men’s Grooming Center

GYM FOR PEOPLE UNDER 40 (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Equinox Planet Fitness LA Fitness

SALON IN CHEVY CHASE

Life Time Athletic Solidcore

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden

GYM FOR PEOPLE OVER 40

PR at Partners Dessange

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Life Time Athletic Bender JCC of Greater Washington Equinox Pulse Fitness Rock Creek Sports Club Bethesda Sport & Health

SALON IN GAITHERSBURG (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

O’Hair Salon+Spa Lash Beauté Salon Red The Red Door Salon & Spa

SPINNING STUDIO

SALON IN N. BETHESDA/ROCKVILLE

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

SoulCycle

New Wave Salon and Spa

Zengo Cycle

Kindle & Boom Oasis Hair Salon Progressions

BARRE STUDIO (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Pure Barre

SALON IN POTOMAC

The Bar Method Barre3

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Zohra Salon Studio Ten83 Bella Moda Salon & Spa Potomac Hair Design

SALON IN BETHESDA (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Bella Bethesda

SALON IN SILVER SPRING

Salon Nader Salon Central Ira Ludwick Salon Plane Jane Salon Aveda Bethesda

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Alchemy Salon

Kibana Headlines Hair Designers

Offering Oribe, Kerastase, Pureology, color specialists, formal styling and hair extensions.

at Kindle & Boom salon, we offer expert services & elite professional products wrapped in a positive vibe.

180 Halpine Road Rockville, MD 20852 301.770.0404 kindleandboom.com

Reader’s Pick Best Hair Salon 2019 & 2017 Best Salon Rockville 2016 Best Salon 2014

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 129

fitness & beauty

hiking | biking trails We may live in a major metropolitan area, but getting close to nature is easy.

Here are some of the region’s best hiking and biking routes.

HIKING BILLY GOAT TRAIL, SECTION A

There are three sections of the Billy Goat Trail in the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Potomac. Section A, running from Great Falls toward Old Angler’s Inn, is the most popular—and most rigorous. Roughly 4 miles round-trip, this hike takes two to three hours and provides stunning views of Great Falls and the Potomac River below.

The trail begins near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, and continues straight along the Potomac River for roughly 2 miles of varied terrain, from dirt trails through thick forests to rock scrambles. Save time by taking the C&O Canal towpath back to the parking lot, or savor the views again by retracing your steps. www.nps.gov/choh

ROCK CREEK PARK

Those looking for an escape into the natural world can find it in their backyards—sometimes literally—with the 2,000-acre Rock Creek Park, which abuts many neighborhoods in Silver Spring and Chevy Chase. Pick up the Western Ridge Trail on Beach Drive, near the Washington, D.C., line, and follow the green-blazed, 4-plus-mile trail through the heart of the park. Side trails lead to the park’s Nature Center and Planetarium, at 5200 Glover Road NW, or the Smithsonian National Zoo at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, both in the District.

Or stick to the path as it winds through thickly forested woods, and you’ll forget you’re in the city at all. www.nps.gov/rocr

MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST Those looking to escape summer crowds might want to drive a couple extra hours beyond

Shenandoah National Park to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The roughly 7-mile, three- to four-hour Cowpasture Trail loop offers something for history-seekers and wouldbe botanists alike. From the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, walk northeast on Route 150 until it meets up with crumbling blacktop, the site of the old Mill Point Federal Prison Camp, a 1930s work camp with no bars, fences or barricades.

(The remote location was thought to be enough to prevent escapes.) Follow the Cowpasture Trail as it leads into the woods and eventually meets up with the boardwalk through the Cranberry Glades, a series of five peat bogs created during the last glacial period. The area’s acidic soil supports plant life more commonly found in Canada than in the Mid-Atlantic region, including cranberry vines and carnivorous plants. After following the boardwalk around, meet up with Route 150 again and retrace your steps back to the nature center. It’ll take you four hours to drive back to Bethesda, so consider reserving a spot to pitch a tent at the Cranberry Campground for the evening. www.fs.usda.gov/mnf

OLD RAG MOUNTAIN

The 9.2-mile Old Rag loop near Sperryville, Virginia, is as much a warm-weather D.C. tradition as the National Cherry Blossom Festival. But be forewarned: On sunny summer days, the route to the 3,291-foot mountain gets as crowded as the Beltway during rush hour, so start the hour-and-45-minute drive from Bethesda early.

The hike starts in the Old Rag parking lot. From there, walk less than a mile uphill along State Road 600, then follow the blue-blazed Ridge Trail through several switchbacks to the first of many

130 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN

This 1,282-foot mountain in Dickerson—just a 35-minute drive from Bethesda—has arguably some of the best hiking in the area. Try the 7-mile loop around the base of the mountain, open to hikers and horseback riders year-round and bikers from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekdays only. Follow the 5-mile blue trail from the Westview parking lot through a thick forest of oak, tulip poplar and Eastern hemlock trees. Or take a quarter-mile hike on the green trail from the Westview parking lot to the summit. With 15 miles of trails within the recreation area, visitors have plenty of well-marked options to shorten the route. Stop for a wine tasting at Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard on Comus Road, near the entrance to the recreation area, before heading home. www.sugarloafmd.com

WHITEOAK CANYON

Looking for something less strenuous than Old Rag? Try the three-hour, 4.6-mile out-and-back Whiteoak Canyon hike, also in Shenandoah National Park. Highlights include some of the park’s highest waterfalls and multiple swimming holes.

Start at the Whiteoak Parking Area along Skyline Drive and follow the Whiteoak Canyon Falls Trail downhill. The trail will eventually parallel Whiteoak Run, a babbling stream you’ll follow until you reach Upper Whiteoak Falls. Stop to admire the 86-foot cascade, the highest of the Whiteoak falls, and cool down in one of the swimming holes below it before heading back. Intrepid hikers may want to continue on to the lower falls, adding 2.7 miles (and a 1,100-foot change in elevation) round trip to their journey. You’ll be hiking uphill on the way back, though, so conserve your energy. As with Old Rag, it’s best to arrive early to avoid congestion. www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN NEARY

A beautiful vista from Sugarloaf Mountain

viewpoints at the 2-mile mark. The fun begins less than a mile later, when you scramble over a series of rock formations for the last mile of the trail.

This includes shimmying through a narrow crevice in a large rock formation and walking through a small cave. Continue to follow the blue blazes to the summit for expansive views of Shenandoah National Park, then follow the blue-blazed trail and map directions to get back down. With steep, uneven pathways and inevitable stops for photo opportunities, it’s wise to set aside an entire day for the hike. (No pets allowed.) Families with young kids may want to view the National Park Service video detailing the dangers associated with the hike before planning a trip. www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/old-rag-hike-prep. htm

single-track trails. Both are less than an hour from Bethesda.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Find directions to the mountain-biking trails below and scope out other trails by visiting www.more-mtb.org.

GAMBRILL STATE PARK/ FREDERICK WATERSHED

Mountain bikers willing to cross the county line will find 16 miles of wooded, rocky trails in the Catoctin Mountains northwest of Frederick, about an hour from Bethesda. All trails (except the blue) are loops, allowing cyclists to explore new terrain every inch of their ride. Though beginners won’t find much here, experts will love the steep trails, ample rock gardens and heart-stopping descents.

Walkers and cyclists enjoy the 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail.

ROAD BIKING

BEACH DRIVE ON WEEKENDS

Parts of the leaf-canopied road are closed to vehicular traffic from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m.

Sunday, creating a wide, flat, paved surface suitable both for triathletes in training and for families with young kids on training wheels. (A word of caution, though: Paved trails such as this can get busy on weekends, so families should beware speeding cyclists.) Those looking to add mileage or variety can wander onto the paved, 18.6-mile Rock Creek multi-use trail or other adjoining paths. www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/things2do.htm; www.montgomeryparks.org

LITTLE BENNETT AND BLACK HILL REGIONAL PARKS

Located in Clarksburg and Boyds, respectively, these two parks offer some of the most challenging trails in Montgomery County. The hills are steeper and the roots and rocks are gnarlier than almost anywhere else nearby. But here, too, beginners can pedal along paved or gravel trails while adventure-seekers can test their skills on the

PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK

Once you’ve covered the trails listed here, expand your horizons at the 16,000-acre Patapsco Valley State Park, located a few miles from the Baltimore/Washington International Airport, about 40 minutes from Bethesda. The park extends along the 32-mile Patapsco River Valley, and its slopes provide some intense uphill climbs. It gets crowded on summer weekends, area cyclists say, because it offers the longest, steepest trails around.

SCHAEFFER FARM

This Germantown recreation area, located about 45 minutes from Bethesda, is the heart of Montgomery County’s mountain-biking scene.

With rolling hills, swoopy turns and a few roots along its 15 miles of single-track trails, it’s ideal for intermediate riders looking for a fun and scenic course. The best part: It offers options for beginning mountain bikers, too. Start with the 2-mile white-orange loop, which is well-marked and relatively easy.

—AMY REININK For more information about county parks, check out www.montgomeryparks.org.

C&O CANAL TOWPATH

This 184.5-mile towpath along the C&O Canal is the go-to location for long-distance bike rides in the Bethesda area. The wide, flat, hard-pack dirt trail follows the north bank of the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. But even short chunks of the towpath make for a great day trip, with killer river views for cyclists and hikers of all ages and experience levels. www.nps.gov/choh

PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL

The 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail may be the best place in the Bethesda area for a family bike ride. The trail, which follows the abandoned tracks of the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, stretches from Silver Spring to Georgetown. The 7-mile section from Bethesda to Georgetown is especially family-friendly, with a 10-foot-wide, hard-surface trail (the section from Bethesda to Silver Spring is packed, crushed stone). Woodsy and scenic, the trail traverses historic tunnels and bridges. The trail is closed east of Bethesda for construction of the light-rail Purple Line. www.cctrail.org

The Schaeffer Farm trail area offers 15 miles of marked trails for hiking and mountain biking.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 131

Salons & Spas

PROFILES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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132 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

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We provide uniquely customized and affordable body and skin care treatments through a range of services, including: Massage Therapy, Total Body Stretch™, facial waxing, chemical exfoliation, back facials and advanced skin care facials. We are dedicated to building a genuine connection with each guest. By carefully listening to and assessing our guests wants and needs, we are able to match them with the best Esthetician and/or Massage Therapist. This customized approach allows us to facilitate the highest level of individual care. Our knowledgeable and attentive staff, including our experienced and licensed Massage Therapists and Estheticians, are here to promote healing and help each guest gain access to total body wellness. We are dedicated to helping our guests incorporate wellness into their self-care routines. Everyone at Massage Envy Downtown Silver Spring is committed to helping our guests enjoy a standard of excellence and memorable, relaxing experience with each visit.

dining

By Brazil in Silver Spring serves an acai bowl topped with granola and sliced fruit.

PHOTO BY LAURA CHASE DE FORMIGNY

THE BETHESDA AREA HAS A thriving restaurant scene. Downtown Bethesda alone boasts nearly 200 places to dine out. And the rest of Montgomery County has hundreds more restaurants. The options range from fine dining at places such as Bistro Provence in Bethesda and La Ferme in Chevy Chase to neighborhood gathering spots including Wild Tomato in Cabin John and The Daily Dish in Silver Spring and every ethnic cuisine imaginable, such as Kadhai, an Indian

restaurant in Bethesda, and Sheba Restaurant, an Ethiopian eatery in Rockville.

There are plenty of happy hour deals, including the $8 grilled salmon sandwich at Bethesda’s Mon Ami Gabi and the $5 cocktails at All Set Restaurant and Bar in Silver Spring, and lots of good choices for kid-friendly dining.

For the nights that locals prefer to eat in, the ingredients for almost every conceivable dish can be found at the

wide variety of area food markets, ranging from the natural foods grocery store Dawson’s Market in Rockville to family-owned neighborhood establishments such as Snider’s Super Foods in Silver Spring to national chains including Giant, Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods.

And then there are the farmers markets operating throughout the county, several of which are open yearround. Check out our list on page 158 in the Things To Do section.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 133

READERS’ CHOICES FOR

BEST FOOD & DRINK Every year in its January/February issue, Bethesda Magazine publishes its “Best of Bethesda” picks. Here are some of the readers’ picks for favorite restaurants for 2018 and 2019. The winner is listed first, followed by the runners-up.

Summer House Santa Monica Seasons 52 Il Pizzico Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge

RESTAURANT IN POTOMAC (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Renato’s at River Falls MoCo’s Founding Farmers Hunter’s Bar and Grill Addie’s Normandie Farm Restaurant The Grilled Oyster Co. Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar

RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Urban Butcher

NEW RESTAURANT (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Gringos & Mariachis (Park Potomac) Slapfish The Big Greek Cafe (Bethesda) Fish Taco (Bethesda) Dog Haus Biergarten

RESTAURANT IN BETHESDA (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Woodmont Grill

Mon Ami Gabi Raku True Food Kitchen Jaleo PassionFish

RESTAURANT IN CHEVY CHASE (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

La Ferme Lia’s

Clyde’s of Chevy Chase The Capital Grille Sushiko

RESTAURANT IN GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Il Porto

Coastal Flats Vasili’s Kitchen

RESTAURANT IN GARRETT PARK/ KENSINGTON (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Black Market Bistro Frankly...Pizza!

The Dish & Dram

RESTAURANT IN NORTH BETHESDA/ROCKVILLE (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

134 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

All Set Restaurant & Bar Olazzo

RESTAURANT IN UPPER NORTHWEST D.C. (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Millie’s

Matisse Blue 44 Le Chat Noir

ACAI BOWLS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Henry’s Sweet Retreat Puree Artisan Juice Bar Car Wash Coffee Joe & The Juice

BAR/RESTAURANT TO WATCH A CAPS GAME (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Caddies on Cordell Tommy Joe’s Brickside Quincy’s Bar & Grille Old Town Pour House

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

Diners enjoy a range of dishes at Gringos & Mariachis in Park Potomac.

A selection of beer at Owen’s Ordinary

BRUNCH (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers Silver Summer House Santa Monica Sugo Osteria

KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Silver Diner

Uncle Julio’s Silver Cafe Deluxe

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Wild Tomato

Olazzo Gregorio’s Trattoria Black Market Bistro Sal’s Italian Kitchen Millie’s

RESTAURANT BEER SELECTION (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Owen’s Ordinary

World of Beer Mussel Bar & Grille Old Town Pour House

RESTAURANT WINE LIST (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Mon Ami Gabi

Seasons 52 Black’s Bar & Kitchen The Capital Grille

SALADS (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Chopt

Sweetgreen CAVA Jetties True Food Kitchen

SMALL PLATES (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Jaleo

CAVA Mezze Guardado’s La Tasca Botanero

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

SPECIAL-OCCASION RESTAURANT (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

La Ferme

Mon Ami Gabi Ruth’s Chris Steak House Old Angler’s Inn

NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET (Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Grosvenor Market Balducci’s

The Dish & Dram

The Market at River Falls O’Donnell’s Market

RESTAURANT IN POTOMAC

PLACE TO BUY GOURMET PREPARED FOODS

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers Renato’s at River Falls Addie’s Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar

(Readers’ Pick, 2019)

Balducci’s

Whole Foods Market The Market at River Falls Potomac Grocer O’Donnell’s Market

RESTAURANT IN ROCKVILLE/ NORTH BETHESDA (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

NEW RESTAURANT

Summer House Santa Monica

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Seasons 52 Matchbox Cava Mezze

True Food Kitchen Addie’s Q by Peter Chang

RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING

RESTAURANT IN BETHESDA (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Mon Ami Gabi

Urban Butcher

True Food Kitchen Woodmont Grill Raku

All Set Restaurant & Bar The Daily Dish Pacci’s Trattoria

RESTAURANT IN CHEVY CHASE (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

La Ferme, Lia’s (TIE)

RESTAURANT IN UPPER NORTHWEST D.C. (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Macon Bistro & Larder

Clyde’s of Chevy Chase The Capital Grille Sushiko

Millie’s Blue 44

RESTAURANT IN GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

BURGER (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Five Guys

BGR O’Donnell’s Market Bobby’s Burger Palace Elevation Burger

Coastal Flats

il Porto Vasili’s Kitchen

RESTAURANT IN GARRETT PARK/ KENSINGTON

CHEF/RESTAURATEUR

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

José Andrés

Black Market Bistro Frankly...Pizza!

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Jeff Black Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 135

dining

Pizzeria Da Marco Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza Pizza CS Potomac Pizza

Cava Mezze Bacchus of Lebanon Yekta

THAI RESTAURANT

INDIAN RESTAURANT

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Kadhai Boutique Indian Cuisine Passage to India Bombay Bistro Tandoori Nights

RESTAURANT DÉCOR (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge Gringos & Mariachis Summer House Santa Monica

RESTAURANT SERVICE (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Woodmont Grill

MoCo’s Founding Farmers Mon Ami Gabi Duck Duck Goose

ITALIAN RESTAURANT Olazzo

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

MoCo’s Founding Farmers

Il Pizzico Mamma Lucia Pines of Rome Gregorio’s Trattoria il Porto

Summer House Santa Monica Silver

COCKTAIL (Readers’ Pick, 2018)

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

MoCo’s Founding Farmers PassionFish

Gringos & Mariachis Uncle Julio’s (TIE)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Raku

HAPPY HOUR

Guapo’s El Mariachi Mi Rancho

Sushiko Yuraku Sushi Damo

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

PassionFish

MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

PIZZA (LOCAL)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

Moby Dick House of Kabob

Frankly...Pizza!

Bangkok Garden Sala Thai Ruan Thai Amina Thai Thai House Restaurant

BRUNCH

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

(Readers’ Pick, 2018)

SUSHI

Tara Thai

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar Black’s Bar & Kitchen Tommy Joe’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Dazzle.

Gourmet menus inspired by warmer days.

Outstanding attention to detail.

Memories of culinary perfection.

I T ’ S J U S T W H AT W E D O.

C E L E B R AT I O N S

WEDDINGS

CO R P O R AT E

136 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

&

MAJOR

EVENTS

301.652.1515

ridgewells.com

DINING GUIDE

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE DINING GUIDE AT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM Listings are current as of March 2018

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 entrée, 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 décor. 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 three crusts, three cheeses and eight sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to falafel crumbles, fig marsala and pineapple salsa. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $

BACCHUS OF LEBANON (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 $$

BANGKOK GARDEN 4906 St. Elmo Ave., 301-951-0670, bkkgarden. com. This real-deal, family-run Thai restaurant turns out authentic cuisine, including curries, soups and noodle dishes, in a dining room decorated with traditional statues of the gods. 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 on Thursdays and a DJ and dancing Fridays and Saturdays. ❂ L D $

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

BEEFSTEAK 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-365-0608, beefsteakveggies.com. The fastcasual spot from chef José Andrés is heavily focused

on seasonal vegetables for build-your-own bowls and salads (or pick one of their suggested combinations).

Toppings such as poached egg, chicken sausage and salt-cured salmon are also in the lineup. L D $

Key

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 entrées. J L D $$

Price designations are for a threecourse dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol. $ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150 $$$$ $151+ Outdoor Dining b  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch L Lunch D Dinner

BETHESDA CRAB HOUSE 4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382, bethesdacrab house.com. 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 $$

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, bgrtheburger joint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great at this frequently packed eatery next to Veterans Park. Try the veggie burger, made with a blend of brown rice, black beans, molasses and oats. ❂ J L D $

THE BIG GREEK CAFÉ 4806 Rugby Ave., 301-907-4976, biggreekcafe. com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, the café 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, blacksbar andkitchen.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 bites and entrées. 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. ❂ J R L D $

CAFÉ DELUXE 4910 Elm St., 301-656-3131, cafedeluxe.com. This local chain serves bistro-style American comfort food in a fun and noisy setting with wood fans and colorful, oversized European liquor posters. Menu options include burgers, entrées, four varieties of flatbread and mussels served three different ways.

❂ J R 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 $

CESCO OSTERIA 7401 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-8333, cesco-osteria.com. Longtime chef Francesco Ricchi turns out Tuscan specialties, including pizza, pasta and focaccia in a big, jazzy space. Stop by the restaurant’s Co2 Lounge for an artisan cocktail before dinner. ❂ L D $$

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dining 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. Delivery is available. L D $

CHEF TONY’S 4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, cheftonys bethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean seafood tapas, offering dishes ranging from fish and seafood to chicken, steak and pasta. Desserts include Drunken Strawberries and Classic Creme Brulée. 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 décor is moderncontemporary and the menu features dishes—from beef to vegan—served on one large platter, meant for sharing, and Ethiopian wine. L D $

CITY LIGHTS OF CHINA 4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, bethesda citylights.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 $$

COOPER’S MILL 5151 Pooks Hill Road, 301-897-9400, coopersmillrestaurant.com/bethesda. The restaurant showcases a modern, stylish menu with stone-oven flatbreads, homemade tater tots and locally sourced produce. Local beers on draft and by the bottle, plus regional bourbon and gin.

Happy hour and private dining are offered.

B R 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 $

CRAVE 7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 1530 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-469-9600, cravebethesda. com. Minnesota-based chainlet offers an eclectic melting pot of American dishes, including bison burgers, lobster-and-shrimp flatbread and kogi beef tacos. The restaurant is also known for its extensive selection of wine and sushi. J L D $$

DAILY GRILL One Bethesda Metro Center, 301-656-6100, dailygrill.com. Everyone from families to expenseaccount lunchers can find something to like about the big portions of fresh American fare, including chicken pot pie and jumbo lump crabcakes.

❂ J B R L D $$

DELINA ERITREAN URBAN KITCHEN 4914 Cordell Ave., 240-630-8579, delinakitchen. com. This Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant features small plates. Pick from an assortment of vegetables, two types of tsebhi (a traditional stew), ground fish, kitfo (a steak tartare preparation) and more. 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

hormone- and 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 a go-to place any night of the week. Family meals that serve four or six people are available.

❂LD$

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 entrées, look for updates of French classics, such as dry-aged duck with Bing cherries, and halibut with scallop mousse and puff pastry. ❂ L D $$

EJJI RAMEN 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 240-534-2842, ejjiramen.com. At this outpost of a Baltimore ramen shop, you’ll find build-your-own ramen and various spins on the noodle soup (pork, vegetarian, seafood). There’s also the Ejji Mac & Cheese Ramen Dog, a hot dog wrapped in ramen and cheese, then fried. J L D $

FARYAB AFGHAN CUISINE 4917 Cordell Ave., 301-951-3484. After closing for more than a year, Faryab reopened in 2017 and serves well-prepared Afghani country food, including Afghanistan’s answer to Middle Eastern kabobs, vegetarian entrées and unique sautéed pumpkin dishes, in a whitewashed dining room with native art on the walls. D $$

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.

JLD$

FLANAGAN'S HARP & FIDDLE 4844 Cordell Ave., 301-951-0115, flanagansharp andfiddle.com. This stylish pub features live music several days a week, Tuesday night poker and Monday quiz nights. In addition to traditional stews and fried fish, Flanagan's offers smoked ribs, salmon and traditional Irish breakfast on weekends. ❂ J B L D $$

GARDEN GRILLE & BAR 7301 Waverly St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 301-6548111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers to crabcakes, short ribs and pasta dishes.

J B D $$

GEORGE’S CHOPHOUSE 4935 Cordell Ave., 240-534-2675, georgesbethesda.com. This modern bistro with pop-culture décor features a seasonally changing menu of house-made pastas, plus a raw bar and a variety of steaks. The braised beef cheek fettucine combines two specialties: house-made pastas and slow-cooked meat. L D $$$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, gringosand mariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurants in Bethesda and Silver Spring trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip

138 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

taqueria with edgy murals and plenty of tequila.

LD$

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. J R L D $

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 $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-312-6509; 4733 Elm St., 240-3966398; eatgusto.com. The fast-casual eatery aims to serve healthy fare, with a focus on pizzas and salads. The menu includes suggested combos but you can also build your own. Pizza crust comes in cauliflower, whole grain or traditional, and housemade dressings top heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash and other salad items. ❂ (Elm Street location only) L D $

HANARO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, hanarobethesda. 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 $$

HIMALAYAN HERITAGE 4925 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1858, himalayan heritagebethesda.com. The menu includes North Indian, Nepali, Indo-Chinese and Tibetan cuisines, featuring momos (Nepalese dumplings), Indian takes on Chinese chow mein and a large selection of curry dishes. L D $

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. The kids’ menu has one item: spaghetti, made from the recipe of owner Thomas Kang’s former college roommate’s mother.

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 $$

JALEO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-913-0003, jaleo.com.

The restaurant that launched the American career of chef José Andrés and popularized Spanish tapas for a Washington, D.C., audience offers hot, cold, spicy and creative small plates served with outstanding

Spanish wines. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ R L D $$

JETTIES 4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-769-6844, jettiesdc. com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucket-inspired 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. ❂ 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 2018. ❂ L D $$

soups, Belgian open-faced sandwiches, entrée salads, wine and Belgian beer by the bottle. ❂ JBRLD$

LE VIEUX LOGIS 7925 Old Georgetown Road, 301-652-6816, levieuxlogisrestaurantmd.com. The colorful exterior will draw you into this family-run Bethesda institution, but classic French dishes such as Dover sole meunière and mussels in a white wine broth will keep you coming back. ❂ D $$$

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 4865 Cordell Ave., 301-347-7999. 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. Beef and vegan samplers are available at the Bethesda location. L D $

LUKE’S LOBSTER

LA PANETTERIA 4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, lapanetteria. com. La Panetteria transports diners into a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving such Southern and Northern Italian classic dishes as homemade spaghetti and veal scaloppine. L D $$

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.❂ L D $

MAKI BAR

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 7140 Bethesda Lane, 301-913-2902; 10217 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-752-8737, lepainquotidien.com. New Yorkbased Belgian-born bakery/restaurant chain with farmhouse vibe, featuring organic breads, European breakfast and dessert pastries, savory egg dishes,

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 entrées. L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. Gluten-free options available. ❂ L D $$

MEDIUM RARE 4904 Fairmont Ave., 301-215-8739, mediumrare restaurant.com. A prix fixe menu that comes with bread, salad, steak and fries is the sole option at this small chain outpost (there are two Medium Rares in D.C.). Desserts cost extra. Weekend brunch also features a prix fixe menu. D $$

MODERN MARKET 4930 Elm St., 240-800-4733, modernmarket. com. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, this Bethesda Row eatery is part of a Denver-based chain. The focus is on seasonal, from-scratch fare and ingredients such as nitrate- and hormonefree bacon. Sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza dominate the menu. ❂ J B R L D $

MOMO CHICKEN & GRILL 4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, momofc.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space with framed record albums gracing the walls. ❂ J L D $$

Exquisite French food, charming atmosphere, and attentive service. In the heart of Chevy Chase, the charm of the country side at your door step.

“La Ferme is one of the area’s most pleasant places to catch up with friends, do business or toast a big day.”

Tom Sietsema, Food critique of the Washington Post (March 4, 2018)

7101 Brookville Road Chevy Chase, MD 301-986-5255

LaFermeRestaurant.com

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dining MON AMI GABI 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 $$

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 $$$

MUSSEL BAR & GRILLE 7262 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-7817, musselbar. com. Kensington resident and big-name chef Robert Wiedmaier serves his signature mussels, plus wood-fired tarts, salads and sandwiches. Wash them all down with a choice of 40 Belgian beers, a list that was voted “Best Beer Selection” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ R L D $$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 10400 Old Georgetown Road, 240-316-4555, notyouraveragejoes.com. This Massachusettsbased chain’s moderately priced menu offers burgers, big salads and stone-hearth pizzas, plus entrées including Anything But Average Meatloaf. ❂ J L D $$

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 2018. ❂ 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 flavorpacked 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 $

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 $$

PASSIONFISH BETHESDA 7187 Woodmont Ave., 301-358-6116, passionfish bethesda.com. The second location of Passion Food Hospitality’s splashy seafood restaurant features stunning coastal-themed décor and an extensive menu of shellfish, caviar, sushi, chef’s specialties and fresh catches of the day. Voted “Best Happy Hour” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018.

J 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 about 5 countries. The menu offers breaads and pastries, look for soups, sandwiches and quiche. ❂BLD$

PENANG MALAYSIAN & THAI CUISINE & BAR 4933 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-2878, penang maryland.com. At this Malaysian spot decorated with exotic dark woods and a thatched roof, spices run the gamut of Near and Far Eastern influence, and flavors include coconut, lemongrass, sesame and chili sauce. L D $$

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.

LD$

PIZZERIA DA MARCO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, pizzeria damarco.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. ❂LD$

POSITANO RISTORANTE ITALIANO 4940-48 Fairmont Ave., 301-654-1717, epositano.com. An authentic Italian, family-run restaurant popular for private events, large and small. Colorful rooms are decorated with Italian landscapes, copper pots and hanging plants, and the outdoor patio is one of the most beautiful in the county. ❂ L D $$

PRALINE BAKERY & BISTRO 4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, 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 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 high-end 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. ❂ J L D $$

RAKU (EDITORS’ PICK) 7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, rakuasian dining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018, 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 & PHO 4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddies grill.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 $$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7877, ruthschris. com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happyhour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices, which include Caribbean lobster tail and barbecued shrimp. 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

140 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

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. ❂ L D $

SATSUMA 8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400, satsumajp. com. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut—short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue— and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$

SHANGRI-LA NEPALESE AND INDIAN CUISINE 7345-A Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-4444, shangrila bethesda.com. Northern Indian and Nepali specialties such as butter chicken and fresh flatbreads known as naan shine here. The extensive menu ranges from soups and salads to tandoori and kabobs.J L D $

SHARE WINE LOUNGE & SMALL PLATE BISTRO 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (DoubleTree Hotel), 301-652-2000, doubletreebethesda.com/dining. aspx. Share some buffalo chicken sliders or avocado bruschetta, or go for main courses ranging from Yankee pot roast to cedar plank-roasted salmon. B L D $$

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. Delivery available for orders over $15. J 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 décor and a healthy sensibility. ❂ 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 $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 7236 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-4002, tandoorinightsbethesda.com. Located in the heart of downtown Bethesda, 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 $$

TAPP’D BETHESDA 4915 St. Elmo Ave., 240-630-8120, tappdbethesda.com. Beer-centric gastropub offering

40-plus beers on tap, 100-plus bottles and beer flights. Food menu includes standard American fare: soups and salads, char-grilled wings, beer-battered onion rings, burgers, brats and mains such as crabcakes, barbecue ribs and beer-can chicken pot pie. Top it off with a root beer float. ❂ J L D $$

TARA THAI 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-657-0488, tarathai.com. Thai cuisine goes high style at Bethesda Magazine readers’ pick for “Best Thai Restaurant” in 2018. 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 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 7228 Woodmont Ave., 240-345-9492, shopterrain. com/restaurants. Located inside the Anthropologie & Co. at Bethesda Row, this quaint café changes its menu with the seasons. Look for cheese boards; salads; toast topped with eggplant, smoked salmon or fig; and entrées such as duck breast and a fried cauliflower sandwich. ❂ R L D $$

THELO GREEK GRILL 8009 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7335. Greek classics such as gyros and meat skewers are the main offerings at this small full-service restaurant in the former Bistro LaZeez space.

❂ 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 $$

TOMMY JOE’S 7940 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-3801, tommyjoes. 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. Half-price 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 New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $

TYBER BIERHAUS 7525 Old Georgetown Road, 240-821-6830, tyberbierhausmd.com. Czech, German and Belgian brews served in an authentic beer-hall setting,

furnished with the same benches as those used in the Hofbrau brewhouse in Munich. Pub menu features mussels, hearty sandwiches, schnitzel and goulash. 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 Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ J R L D $$

VILLAIN & SAINT 7141 Wisconsin Ave., 240-800-4700, villainand saint.com. Listen to live music while digging into salt-roasted beets or slow-smoked pork ribs at this hip bar, courtesy of chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group. Delightfully dated décor includes lava lamps and photos of late great rock stars.

The menu is divided into hearty dishes (villain) and vegetarian options (saint). ❂ R L D $$

VÜK 4924 St. Elmo Ave., 301-652-8000, vukpinball. com. VÜK owner (and MOM’S Organic Market CEO) Scott Nash consulted restaurateur Mark Bucher for the only thing offered on the short menu of his Bethesda pinball arcade other than Trickling Springs Creamery’s soft-serve ice cream: thin-crust New York-style pizza and thick-crust Sicilian pizza sold by the slice or as whole pies: cheese, sausage, pepperoni and mushroom/onion. L D $

WILDWOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 10223 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-571-1700, wildwoodkitchenrw.com.

Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s attractive neighborhood bistro serving fresh and light modern cuisine.

Entrées range from Amish chicken with a scallion potato cake to grilled Atlantic salmon with creamy polenta. 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 “Best Restaurant Service” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $$$

T S E G M R A L Y ROO

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BARKINGDOGBAR.COM

301-654-0022 4723 Elm Street Bethesda, MD 20814

Looking for the freshest fish in the DC area? Find it here in Bethesda for lunch, brunch and dinner!

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. ❂ J R L D $

YUZU 7345-B Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-5234, yuzu bethesda.com. Diners will find authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi and cooked tofu, vegetable, tempura, meat and fish dishes, prepared by sushi chef and owner Yoshihisa Ota. L D $$

CABIN JOHN FISH TACO 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JLD$

SAL’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 240-802-2370, salsitalian kitchen.net. Persimmon and Wild Tomato owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore replaced their

7187 Woodmont Avenue • 301-358-6116

PASSIONFISHBETHESDA.COM

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dining 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 2017. ❂ J L D $

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, capitalgrille. 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. Entrées 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 $

LA FERME (EDITORS’ PICK) 7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, laferme restaurant.com. This charming Provence-style 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 include the French 75, with cognac, simple syrup, lemon juice and champagne. Voted “Best Romantic Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $$$

LIA'S 4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, chefgeoff.com.

Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on high-quality, 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. Voted “Best Restaurant in Chevy Chase”

by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂JRLD$

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. ❂ J L D $

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.

LD$

PERSIMMON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, persimmon restaurant.com. Owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore’s popular restaurant offers casual fare from salads to sandwiches to meat and seafood entrées 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, sushiko restaurants.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. Kōbō, 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 $$

GARRETT PARK BLACK MARKET BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, blackmarket restaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office.

Entrées range from swordfish to a burger and pizza, including several vegetable options. ❂ J R L D $$

KENSINGTON 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 $$

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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-yearold family recipe. Wines and homemade sodas served on tap, too. Voted "Best Pizza" by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $

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 $$

NORTH POTOMAC/ GAITHERSBURG &PIZZA 258 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 240-4998447, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ LD$

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 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, barkingmad cafe.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 madefrom-scratch brunch, lunch and dinner sweets and savories, such as breakfast pizza, watermelon salad and farro salad. ❂ R L D $$

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, crab cakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites. R L 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 $

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), 301869-8800, greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfax-based chain. Seaside-inspired décor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and Key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served. Voted “Best Restaurant in Gaithersburg/North Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ J R L D $$

COPPER CANYON GRILL 100 Boardwalk Place, 240-631-0003, ccgrill.com.

Large portions of American classics such as 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, dogfishale house.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 $$

DON POLLO 9083 Gaither Road, 301-990-0981, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

EAST DIAMOND BREWING CO. 227 E. Diamond Ave., 240-261-6196. This American restaurant in a turn-of-the-century building in downtown Gaithersburg serves its own beers and other local beers on tap and a full menu with sandwiches, pasta and house-made crabcakes.

The upstairs bar area, which has occasional live music, has kept the previous name of the business: Greene Growlers. J 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 entrées (surf-and-turf, salmon, burgers) and dessert (chocolate cake, Key lime pie, carrot cake). ❂ J L D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17, 301-977-5655, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JRLD$

HERSHEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR 17030 Oakmont Ave., 301-948-9893, hersheysat thegrove.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 RESTAURANT 245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, ilporto restaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thin-crust 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 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 $

DON’T LET

OUR NAME FOOL YOU!

IXTAPALAPA TAQUERIA 411 N. Frederick Ave., 240-702-0217, ixtataqueria.com. The owners of Taco Bar (in a gas station in Gaithersburg) serve Mexican street food at this fast-casual spot. Pick a protein to go on corn tortillas and then pile on toppings at a fixings bar. Or try a taco that comes already topped (the alambre with bacon, grilled onions and red peppers and Oaxaca cheese is good). ❂LD$

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 $

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 $$

Yes, our oysters are awesome but there’s a lot more you’ll absolutely love: • Fresh local seafood • Burgers, tacos & salads • Weekend brunch

YOUR “GO TO” SPOT IN CATHEDRAL COMMONS & CABIN JOHN SHOPPING CENTER WWW.THEGRILLEDOYSTERCOMPANY.COM

59th

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 includes 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos. ❂ J R L D $$

POTOMAC VILLAGE DELI 625 Center Point Way, 301-299-5770, potomacvillagedeli.com. Traditional Jewish deli in the Kentlands, offering all-day breakfast and all the classics, from bagels, smoked fish, knishes, matzo ball soup, corned beef, pastrami and chopped liver to overstuffed combo sandwiches, Reubens, subs, wraps, burgers, salads, pizza and New York cheesecake. J B L D $$

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dining QUINCY’S BAR & GRILLE 616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200, quincysgroup.com. Energetic neighborhood pub with a sports bar atmosphere, Quincy’s also has an extensive menu with wings, pizza, build-yourown burgers and chicken sandwiches, plus entrées including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $

RED HOT & BLUE 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, 301-948-7333, redhotandblue.com. You’ll find generous portions of hickory-smoked barbecue, plus burgers, salads and wraps, and a Southern attitude at this chain popular for its office party takeout and its family-friendly, kitschy roadhouse décor. J L D $

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, ruthschris.com. See Bethesda listing.

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. L D $

TANDOORI NIGHTS 106 Market St., 301-947-4007, tandoorinightsmd. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

TARA THAI 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9, 301-947-8330, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TED’S BULLETIN 220 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301990-0600, tedsbulletin.com. First Maryland location of the modern diner chainlet from the folks at Matchbox 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, thaitanium restaurant.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. ❂JLD$

UNCLE JULIO’S 231 Rio Blvd. (RIO Washingtonian Center), 240-6322150, 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 décor 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 $$

THE WINE HARVEST, THE KENTLANDS 114 Market St., 301-869-4008, thewineharvest. com. Stop by this popular Cheers-like wine bar locally owned by the Meyrowitz family for a glass of wine or a Belgian beer. The menu includes salads, sandwiches and cheese plates. ❂ L D $

YARD HOUSE (NEW) 211 Rio Blvd., 240-683-8790, yardhouse.com. Part of a chain with locations in California, Illinois and Texas, this RIO Washingtonian Center 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. ❂ LD$

ZIKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 10009 Fields Road, 301-330-3868, zikisteakhouse. com. This large steak house on a busy corner charms patrons with its fountains, stone Buddhas and geisha mannequins. Food offerings include sushi, as well as meats cooked on a tableside hibachi. J L D $$

POTOMAC ADDIE’S (EDITORS’ PICK) 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-0081, addies restaurant.com. Longtime North Bethesda restaurant from the Black Restaurant Group that closed in 2013 is reborn in the Park Potomac development. Date nights call for the signature entrées for two. ❂ R L D $$

ATTMAN’S DELICATESSEN 7913 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301765-3354, cabinjohn.attmansdeli.com. This landmark Baltimore deli has run a second location in Potomac since 2013. The menu offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Third-generation owner Marc Attman is at the helm. J B L D $

BROOKLYN’S DELI & CATERING 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, brooklyns delimd.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), 301200-5398, cava.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂LD$

ELEVATION BURGER 12525-D Park Potomac Ave., 301-838-4010, elevationburger.com. Fast-food burgers go organic and grass-fed at this Northern Virginia-founded chain. Veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese and a BLT available, too. Shake flavors range from banana to Key lime and cheesecake. ❂LD$

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA 7745 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301296-6168, 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

144 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa pastas. J L D $$

THE GRILLED OYSTER CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 7943 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 301299-9888, thegrilledoystercompany.com. This Chesapeake-style seafood eatery features small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrées. The sampler of four grilled oysters—with ingredients such as coconut rum and cucumber relish— showcases the namesake item. ❂ J R 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, thehuntersinn. 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 $$

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 $$$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 7991 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Village), 240205-7429, lepainquotidien.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B 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). Entrées include panroasted duck breast, crabcake, rockfish and New York strip steak. ❂ R 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. Bethesda Magazine readers chose it as “Best Restaurant in Potomac,” "Best Cocktails" and "Best Brunch" in 2018. Try the warm cookies for dessert. ❂ B R L D $$

NORMANDIE FARM RESTAURANT 10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, popovers.com.

This fine-dining French restaurant, open since 1931, strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. Dinner entrées run from seafood to beef and lamb. The restaurant offers quick service, a casual café option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$

O’DONNELL’S MARKET 1073 Seven Locks Road, 301-251-6355, odonnells market.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 (11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). The menu includes a raw bar, salads and many O’Donnell’s classics, among them a lump-filled crabcake sandwich, salmon BLT, seafood bisque and crab gumbo. ❂L$

CRITTER CORNER OLD ANGLER’S INN 10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-365-2425, oldanglers inn.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. Voted “Best Outdoor Dining”

by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $$$

POTOMAC PIZZA 9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, potomacpizza. com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $

RENATO’S AT RIVER FALLS 10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, renatosatriver falls.net. 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 $$

SUGO OSTERIA 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 240-386-8080, eatsugo.com. This stylish spot starts you off with honey-thyme butter on rustic bread. The menu focuses on Italian small plates, meatballs, sliders, pizza and pasta. Chef specialties include blue crab gnocchi and charred octopus. ❂ R 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 entrées. ❂ J B L D $

THE WINE HARVEST 12525-B Park Potomac Ave., 240-314-0177, thewineharvest.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂LD$

ZOËS KITCHEN 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Suite 115, 240-3281022, zoeskitchen.com. A fast-casual restaurant, Zoës features Mediterranean dishes such as kabobs, hummus and pita sandwiches. It specializes in takeout dinner for four for under $30. ❂ JLD$

ROCKVILLE/ NORTH BETHESDA A & J RESTAURANT (EDITORS’ PICK) 1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, aj-restaurant. com. Northern dim sum is the specialty at this hard-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, akiraramen. 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

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 entrées come with small ramekins of salads (think curried chickpeas; marinated red cabbage; and balsamic marinated mushrooms). ❂ L D $$

AMALFI RISTORANTE ITALIANO 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 $$

Olde Towne Pet Resort 888-475-3580 www.oldetownepetresort.com We have over a decade of taking special care of your pet family as if they were one of our own.

AMICI MIEI RISTORANTE 6 N. Washington St., 301-545-0966, amicimieiristorante.com. Previously located at the Potomac Woods Plaza, this upscale Italian restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and creative salads. The new, smaller establishment is cozier than the last with a menu that changes twice a year. L D $

AMINA THAI RESTAURANT 5065 Nicholson Lane, 301-770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-andwife 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$

BARONESSA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1302 E. Gude Drive, 301-838-9050, baronessarestaurant.com. Pizzas made in a woodburning oven and more than two dozen Italian entrées star on the menu at this 100-seat stripmall restaurant. Trivia nights and kids pizza-making classes are offered. J R L D $$

THE BIG GREEK CAFÉ 4007 Norbeck Road, 301-929-9760; 5268 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-4976, biggreekcafe.com.

See Bethesda listing. 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 glassenclosed 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), 301637-9079, 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), 240235-0627; 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. ❂ 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 $

CHUY’S 12266 Rockville Pike (Federal Plaza), 301-6032941, chuys.com. Drawing inspiration from New Mexico, Mexican border towns, the Rio Grande Valley and Texas’s deep south, Chuy’s is part of a family-friendly chain that serves up a Tex-Mex experience. Colorful food meets colorful décor, where “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s” rings true—eclectic collectibles give each location its own flair. Free chips are served out of a car trunk display. ❂ J 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 entrée options such as grilled shrimp and Long Island duck. ❂ R L D $$$

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dining 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. Voted “Best Restaurant Décor” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. J R L D $$

THE CUBAN CORNER 825 Hungerford Drive, 301-279-0310, cubancornerrestaurant.com. Pork and empanadas shine at this small space brimming with ethnic pride (there’s a tribute wall to famous Cuban-Americans).

Don’t skip the Cuban coffee or the Cuban sandwich, a sub bursting with ham, pickles and tangy mustard.

LD$

CSNY PIZZA 1020 Rockville Pike, 301-298-3650, csnypizza. wixisite.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 $

DEL FRISCO’S GRILLE 11800 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-8810308, delfriscosgrille.com. This is the Texasbased chain’s second location in the area. Look for upscale takes on American comfort foods, such as filet mignon meatloaf and short rib stroganoff, plus trendy items such as kale and Brussels sprouts salad, deviled eggs, flatbreads and ahi tuna tacos.

Plenty of burgers, sandwiches and salads, too. ❂ R 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, eastpearl restaurant.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.

LD$

EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT 765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177, elmariachi rockville.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 PATIO 5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225. This bustling café 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 $

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 $$

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 $

FLOR DE LUNA 11417 Woodglen Drive, 240-242-4066, flordeluna md.com. Latin American fare includes tamales and lomo saltado (a stir-fry of beef and peppers) at this 75-seat restaurant near Whole Foods Market.

Tacos, nachos and quesadillas are also in the lineup. Finish off your meal with the tres leches (three milks) cake. ❂ J R L D $$

FLOWER CHILD 10072 Darnestown Road (Travilah Square Shopping Center), 301-545-6750, 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 add-ons such as chicken, salmon and steak. ❂ 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 $$

GORDON BIERSCH 200-A E. Middle Lane (Rockville Town Square), 301340-7159, gordonbiersch.com/restaurants. The national brewpub chain prides itself on house beers and friendly service. The shiny bar is boisterous, and the menu includes bar favorites with some barbecue and Asian touches, small plates, salads, pizza and flatbreads. J L D $$

GRAND FUSION CUISINE 350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grand fusionrestaurant.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 $

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 fast-casual spot near Congressional Plaza. For dessert, Gyroland serves loukoumades, a bite-size fluffy Greek doughnut soaked in hot honey syrup. 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, hinode restaurant.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. L D $$

IL PIZZICO 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

146 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

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 $$

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 ex-pats 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 $

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, labrasa rockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa.

Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and tres leches. ❂ L D $

LA CANELA (EDITORS’ PICK) 141-D Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 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 sweet corn-based drink, pairs nicely with authentic and tender braised-beef entrées. ❂ J L D $$

LA LIMEÑA RESTAURANT 765 Rockville Pike, 301-424-8066, lalimena restaurant.com. Diners can choose dishes such as beef hearts, tripe and homemade pastries in this tiny but well-appointed eatery. Desserts include passion fruit mousse and vanilla flan. And of course, there’s rotisserie chicken to go. L D $

LA TASCA 141 Gibbs St., Suite 305 (Rockville Town Square), 301-279-7011, latascausa.com. The Rockville location of this regional chain strives to keep things interesting with 45 tapas dishes and six kinds of paella, including Paella Mixta with chicken, shrimp,

chorizo, scallops, mussels, squid and clams. ❂ R L D $$

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ 1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086; 115 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-309-8681; lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner after shopping on Rockville Pike, the café is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. J L D $

LIGHTHOUSE TOFU & BBQ 12710 Twinbrook Parkway, 301-881-1178. In addition to the numerous tofu dishes ranging from Mushroom Tofu Pot to Seafood Beef Tofu Pot, diners at this Korean stalwart can try barbecue, stirfried specialties and kimchee, the national dish of pickled cabbage. L D $

LITTLE DIPPER HOT POT HOUSE 101 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-6057321. An offshoot of an Asian restaurant in Virginia, this 90-seat restaurant serves individual fonduestyle meals. Pick a pot base (including miso and curry), the level of spiciness, the protein and the starch (either rice or noodles), and cook your food right at your table in a bowl of hot stock. J L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; mammalucia restaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX VINTAGE PIZZA BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK)

1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, matchbox restaurants.com. Look for mini-burgers, a “ginormous meatball” appetizer and thin-crusted pizza with toppings including herb-roasted chicken and portobella mushrooms or fire-roasted red peppers and Spanish onions served in a super-cool space in Congressional Plaza. ❂ J R L 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 $

MOA 12300 Wilkins Ave., 301-881-8880, moakorean restaurant.weebly.com. A welcoming Korean restaurant in the midst of an industrial stretch.

Try the seafood pancake appetizer—a satisfying, crispy frittata bursting with squid, clams, shrimp and scallions. Dol Sot Bibimbap, a mix of rice, vegetables and protein in a hot pot, is a customer favorite. L D $

MODERN MARKET 1627 Rockville Pike (Congressional Plaza), 301603-2953, modernmarket.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B R L D $

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 entrées. 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 $$

NANTUCKET’S REEF 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301279-7333, nantucketsreef.com. This casual New England-style eatery offers a wide range of reasonably priced seafood dishes, including raw and baked oysters, stuffed cod, fried Ipswitch clams, seafood tacos, tuna and salmon salads, and lobster items. Signature cocktails are made with Nantucket Nectars juices. ❂ R L D $$

NICK’S CHOPHOUSE 700 King Farm Blvd., 301-926-8869, nickschop houserockville.com. Aged Angus beef cooked over an open fire is the specialty at this upscale spot, but seafood lovers can get their fill from big crabcakes.

Signature steaks include slow-roasted prime rib weighing 10 to 32 ounces. Separate bar menu. ❂ L D $$

NIWANO HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, niwanohana. com. Clean Asian décor 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 $

Beverages include interesting options such as Iced Salty Pickled Lemon Juice. L D $

PHO 95 785-H Rockville Pike, 301-294-9391. Pho, the Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is king here. Other offerings include fat rice-paper rolls of shrimp, noodles and herbs with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce, Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken and Grilled Pork Chop and Shredded Pork Skin. L D $

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 entrées. 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. L D $

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. ❂ LD$

PIZZA CS 1596-B Rockville Pike, 240-833-8090, pizzacs.com.

Authentic Neapolitan pies are offered in a sub-shop atmosphere. Choose from a list of red and white pizza options, or build your own pie with herbs, cheeses, meats and vegetables. ❂ J L D $

POTOMAC PIZZA

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, beef, pork and fondue entrées, and those looking to grab a drink can make the most of the space’s 60-seat 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.

9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. ❂ JLD$

QUINCY’S SOUTH BAR & GRILLE 11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincysgroup.com. See North Potomac/ Gaithersburg listing. ❂ L D $

ROLLS ‘N RICE 1701 Rockville Pike (Shops at Congressional Village), 301-770-4030, rollsnrice.com. This Asian café serves more than 25 varieties of rolls, from a volcano roll (spicy tuna, white fish, salmon, tomato, jalapeño, fish eggs and vegetables) to a Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado). J L D $

SADAF HALAL RESTAURANT 1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting Rockville Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes. ❂ JLD$

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dining SAM CAFÉ & MARKET 844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, samcafemarket. com. Fill up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats or interesting entrées, including pomegranate molasses stew and marinated grilled salmon, then have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ LD$

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 entrée 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.

LD$

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 jalapeño and served with a side of homemade cheese. L D $

SICHUAN JIN RIVER 410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, sichuanjin river.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. L D $

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.

JBRLD$

SPICE XING 100-B Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-6100303, spicexing.com. Chef and owner Sudhir Seth, who also owns Bethesda’s Passage to India, serves up small plates and dishes that reflect the history of culinary influences on India. Try the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet. ❂ J R 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 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, thestanford grill.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 $$

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (EDITORS’ PICK) 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301881-2381, 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 2018. ❂ J R L D $$

SUPER BOWL NOODLE HOUSE 785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086, superbowl noodlehouse.com. 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 entrées 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 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 $$

TAIPEI TOKYO 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301-881-8388; 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 FARM 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, thaifarm restaurant.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$

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THAI PAVILION 29 Maryland Ave., Unit 308 (Rockville Town Square), 301-545-0244, thaipavilionrestaurant.com. The soaring ceilings decorated with red chandeliers shaped like giant, stationary spinning tops give the feel of a modern museum. When the menu says spicy, believe it. ❂ J L D $$

THAT’S AMORE 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, 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 entrées. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages and more-involved fish and lamb dishes.

Save room for the baklava. L D $$

URBAN BAR-B-QUE COMPANY 2007 Chapman Ave., 240-290-4827; 5566 Norbeck Road, 301-460-0050, urbanbbqco.com. Urban BarB-Que Company, a tiny joint run by a couple of local friends, has a winning formula and features fingerlicking ribs, burgers and wings, plus salads, chili and smothered fries. Staff is friendly, too. J L D $

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, thewoodside deli.com. A second location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that has been dishing up matzo ball soup since 1947. Choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, burgers and entrées. This one has a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $

WORLD OF BEER 196B East Montgomery Ave., 301-340-2915, worldofbeer.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ JRL 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 $

YAMACHAN RAMEN 201 E. Middle Lane, 301-666-6685, yamachanramen.com. This Rockville Town Center restaurant lets diners customize their bowls of ramen, from the soup base and noodles to protein and toppings. The eatery shares an address with Pearl Lady, a bubble tea shop. 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 and Baby Abalone in Tomato Sauce. L D $

SILVER SPRING ADDIS ABABA 8233 Fenton St., 301-589-1400, addisababa cuisine.com. Authentic Ethiopian-style vegetables and fiery meats are served atop spongy bread in communal bowls. Traditional woven tables and a roof deck add to the ambience. There’s a weekday lunch buffet, too. ❂ RLD$

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 crab cakes and rockfish, and beef and vegetarian options. The snazzy space is also the setting for clam bakes and fried chicken on Sunday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

AMINA THAI 8624 Colesville Road, 301-588-3588, aminathai silverspring.com. See Rockville/North Bethesda listing. 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 CAFÉ 8223 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, biggreekcafe. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

BUENA VIDA (EDITORS’ PICK) 8407 Ramsey Ave., 301-755-6132, buenavidarestaurant.com. The second-floor fullservice restaurant (its sister restaurant Tacos, Tortas & Tequila fills the first floor) has a menu with à la carte items, or you can pay a set price for unlimited Mexican small plates. Offerings include ceviche, guacamole, salads, tacos and enchiladas.

The space is light-filled, with vibrant murals and a 720-bottle tequila and wine rack. R 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, oyster-plate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. L D $$

Spring. Small bites such as empanadas and cod croquettes are on the menu with dishes that Cuba is known for, including the beef entrée ropa vieja and puerco asado (roasted pork). L D $$$

ETHIO EXPRESS GRILL 952 Sligo Ave., 301-844-5149. Ethiopian food goes fast-casual in this counter service eatery that offers your choice of carbohydrate bases (i.e., injera, rice, pasta), plus grilled meats (or tofu), sauces and lots of vegetables (the spicy lentils and yellow split peas are especially good). L D $

FENTON CAFÉ

CUBANO’S 1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, cubanos restaurant.com. The brightly colored tropical dining room and the authentic Cuban cooking evident in dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains keep customers coming back. ❂ L D $$

THE DAILY DISH 8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, thedailydish restaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food, including bar bites and brunch dishes. Full-service catering is available, too. ❂ J R L D $$

DENIZENS BREWING CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizens brewingco.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 $

DON POLLO 12345 Georgia Ave., 301-933-9515; 13881 Outlet Drive, 240-560-7376, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EGGSPECTATION 923 Ellsworth Drive, 301-585-1700, eggspectation. com. This Canadian import features fresh and creative egg plates in an elegant yet casual dining room complete with a fireplace and colorful Harlequin-themed art. It also serves great salads, dinners and dessert. ❂ B L D $$

EL AGUILA RESTAURANT 8649 16th St., 301-588-9063, elaguilarestaurant. com. A cheery bar and generous plates of TexMex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this eatery popular with families and others looking for a lively night out. ❂ L D $

EL GAVILAN 8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197, gavilan restaurant.com. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or 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. ❂ JRLD$

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, who also owns Urban Butcher in Silver

8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841, fentoncafesilver spring.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, firestation1. com. A historic firehouse made over as an eatery serves 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. Try the Cuban sandwich with seasoned pork, chipotle mayo, Dijon mustard, pickles and Swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. L D $

GHAR-E-KABAB 944 Wayne Ave., 301-587-4427, gharekabab.com.

In the heart of downtown Silver Spring, Ghar-EKabab 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), this intimate joint presents a variety of South Asian flavors. J L D $$

THE GREEK PLACE 8417 Georgia Ave., 301-495-2912, thegreekplace. net. Here are big portions of better-than-average food at reasonable prices. The bifteki pita sandwich, a seasoned ground lamb and beef patty with tzatziki, tomatoes and red onions, is especially good. L D $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET 8512 Fenton St., 301-565-2800, eatgusto.com.

See Bethesda listing. ❂ 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. Pizza and paninis are top notch. L D $

JEWEL OF INDIA 10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant décor 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, kaothai restaurant.com. This restaurant turns out top-notch 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 $$

LA CASITA PUPUSERIA & MARKET 8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, lacasita pupusas.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 $

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dining LA MALINCHE 8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, lamalinche tapas.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 $$

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 $

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8301 Georgia Ave., 301-589-6700. See Bethesda listing. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

MANDALAY RESTAURANT & CAFÉ 930 Bonifant St., 301-585-0500, mandalay restaurantcafe.com. The modest dining room is packed most evenings with families and large groups who come for the Burmese food, a cross between Indian and Thai. L D $

MCGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, mcgintys publichouse.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. Early-bird special, three-course menu for $15, from 5 to 7 p.m. ❂ J R L D $$

MELEKET 1907 Seminary Road, 301-755-5768, meleketrestaurant.com. This family-owned, Ethiopian-Italian restaurant serves classic vegetarian, beef and chicken Ethiopian plates, alongside Italian entrées 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. 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. ❂  R L D $$

MOD PIZZA 909 Ellsworth Drive, 240-485-1570, modpizza.com.

First Maryland location of this Bellevue, Washingtonbased 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 $

MRS. K’S RESTAURANT 9201 Colesville Road, 301-589-3500, mrsks.com.

Here’s an elegant, antique-filled option for special

occasions and brunch. This historic restaurant beckons a younger crowd with the Wine Press, a European-style wine bar downstairs, which has its own more casual menu. ❂ R L D $$$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE'S 8661 Colesville Road, 240-839-3400, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8235 Georgia Ave., 301-588-2540, olazzo.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

PACCI’S NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA (EDITORS’ PICK) 8113 Georgia Ave., 301-588-1011, paccispizzeria. com. This stylish eatery turns out top-notch pizzas from a wood-burning oven. Choose from red or white pizza selections, plus four kinds of calzones. ❂ JLD$

PACCI’S TRATTORIA & PASTICCERIA 6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccis trattoria.com. Diners will find a range of classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage, from the owner of Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria, also in Silver Spring. L D $$

PARKWAY DELI & RESTAURANT 8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, theparkway deli.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. ❂ BLD$

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 entrées (plus an entrée 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 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 $$

SERGIOS RISTORANTE ITALIANO 8727 Colesville Road, 301-585-1040. A classic red-sauce Italian restaurant that manages to feel special, with soothing wall murals and high-quality service, despite a basement location inside the DoubleTree Hotel. Ravioli with asparagus and cheese in a tarragon sauce is popular. L D $$

THE SOCIETY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 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 specials, which include $25 beer buckets. ❂ L D $$

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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 $$

TACOS, TORTAS & TEQUILA 8407 Ramsey Ave., 301-755-6132. Also called TTT, this first-floor fast-casual spot is below its fancier sister restaurant, Buena Vida. The focus is on quesadillas, tortas and tacos—beef tongue, duck carnitas and house-made chorizo among them.

There’s a full-service bar and an outdoor patio. ❂ BLD$

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, thaiatsilver spring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. ❂ L D $$

URBAN BAR-B-QUE COMPANY 10163 New Hampshire Ave., 301-434-7427, urban bbqco.com. See Rockville listing. L D $

URBAN BUTCHER (EDITORS’ PICK) 8226 Georgia Ave., 301-585-5800, urbanbutcher. com. Hip, eclectic setting is the backdrop for this New Age steak house, with its home-cured salamis, sausages and other charcuterie, plus meat dishes made from local animals of yesteryear breeds.

There’s a lounge, bar, meat curing room, retail counter and dining area. Voted “Best Restaurant in Silver Spring” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. R D $$

URBAN WINERY 949 Bonifant St., 301-585-4100, theurbanwinery. com. Silver Spring residents Damon and Georgia Callis open the first and only urban winery in the midAtlantic area. Tasting facility offers craft wines made with local and international grapes, and customers can even create their own wines (by appointment).

Light menu includes artisan cheese, charcuterie and smoked seafood platters, plus Greek mezze. D $

VEGETABLE GARDEN 3830 International Drive (Leisure World Plaza), 301598-6868, vegetablegarden.com. 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 $ $

THE WOODSIDE DELI 9329 Georgia Ave., 301-589-7055, thewoodside deli.com. See Rockville listing. J B L D n

things to do

Paddle boats on the 6-acre lake at RIO Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO? Why not

sponsor many events and festivals each year, including summer

attend an outdoor concert or stop by a farmers market to pick up

concerts and movies, art shows and theatrical performances.

a picnic before heading out to one of Montgomery County’s many parks and playgrounds? Whatever you choose, there are plenty of options and places to play year-round.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park; or ride on

World-class drama, music and other arts and entertainment are PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Those who like the outdoors can enjoy county parks with man-made lakes, hiking trails and ball fields; hike in the

available at numerous locations throughout the county. The Music

the historic Dentzel Carousel in Glen Echo Park. Nonprofit arts organizations also offer classes in the park’s buildings.

Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda and several live theater

For Bethesda-area residents, the Capital Crescent Trail

stages, including Round House Theatre and Imagination Stage,

reigns supreme. The former railroad right-of-way, which runs

are located within the Bethesda area.

from Bethesda to Georgetown, is a popular route for walkers,

Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg each

joggers and cyclists.

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 151

things to do

A crowd enjoys a show at The Filmore in Silver Spring.

music venues

Whether you’re in the mood for jazz, classical or hip-hop, you don’t have to go far to hear great music BY MAURA MAHONEY AMP opened in March 2015 in Pike & Rose, a growing downtown area on Rockville Pike. Located a quick walk from the White Flint Metro, AMP hosts rock, blues, jazz, folk and R&B concerts, as well as live comedy shows. The club has about 250 seats in its 2,800-squarefoot concert space, but can accommodate up to 350 guests for standing shows. There’s also a sleek, modern space for private events—from weddings to corporate meetings—which features floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to Juliet balconies.

11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.ampbystrathmore.com

Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

The Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club opened its doors in 2013 in the Bethesda Theater, a historic Art Deco movie palace on Wisconsin Avenue. With live entertainment several nights each week, the club features 300 seats for

dinner and an additional 200 performance seats, which go on sale when the dinner seats are sold out. Performances cover a wide variety of genres from blues and jazz to Motown, country, rock and comedy acts.

7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

The Fillmore Silver Spring

The Fillmore opened in 2011 in downtown Silver Spring and quickly became one of the area’s most popular entertainment venues for live music and events. A spin-off of the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco, the hall recalls the original venue, with dark red velvet-covered walls decorated with rock posters and four crystal chandeliers hanging from 40-foot ceilings.

Performers range from rock and pop bands to R&B and hip-hop acts, and from electronic musicians to stand-up comedians.

8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-960-9999, www.fillmoresilverspring.com

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Strathmore

Strathmore provides multidisciplinary arts programming in The Mansion at Strathmore and The Music Center at Strathmore on its 15-acre site just north of the Capital Beltway in North Bethesda.

The Music Center, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex, opened in 2005. The venue presents 150 performances per year by major international folk, blues, pop, R&B, jazz, world and classical music and show tunes artists. Moreover, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents about five performances at the Music Center each year, and there are more than 75 music and art education classes each week.

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301-581-5200 The Mansion consists of the 100-seat Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Music Room, the Strathmore Tea Room, the Shop at Strathmore, the Gudelsky Concert Pavilion and Gazebo, and the first-floor galleries and Gudelsky Gallery Suite for Strathmore Fine Art. 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FILLMORE

AMP by Strathmore

Jay Farrar by Jason Hornick

Music Above All

Upgrade your night out at AMP, an intimate, acoustically awesome venue for live music, comedy, and cocktails.

AMPbySTRATHMORE.COM | 301.581.5100 Pike & Rose | North Bethesda, MD |

On the Red Line

SAVOR THE EXPERIENCE. Afternoon Tea in the Mansion

For over 30 years, Strathmore’s Afternoon Teas have provided respite from the hustle and bustle. Enjoy light sandwiches, savories, and scones in our elegant Music Room, while notes from the piano, harp, or flute float through the air.

STRATHMORE.ORG/TEA 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852 | Reserve by calling 301.581.5108

Strathmore_BethesdaMag_Newcomers.indd 1

2/27/19 2:22 PM

things to do

festivals & special events There’s always something going on—from literary festivals to antique car shows to holiday parades by local, regional and national bands on five stages, Rockville’s Hometown Holidays is the city’s “premier event,” according to its website.

The event includes a Taste of Rockville, with more than 20 participating restaurants, and activities and entertainment for kids and teens.

It concludes with the Memorial Day parade. More than 60,000 people have attended in past years.

When: May 25-26, 2019, noon to 8 p.m.

Parade: May 27, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Rockville Town Center; parade starts on North Washington Street and Martin’s Lane and winds through the town square. www.rockvillemd.gov/HTH

Taste of Bethesda offers a day of great food for all ages.

JUNE

Imagination Bethesda

What: A celebration of children, art and “all things fun.” The festival, which is marking its 23rd year, includes activity tents, face painters and live entertainment.

When: June 1, 2019, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in Bethesda www.bethesda.org/bethesda/imaginationbethesda

AFI DOCS

Local Writer’s Showcase

What: The two-day event showcases the winners of essay, short-story, poetry and youth writing contests.

When: April 25-26, 2019 Where: Events will be held in Bethesda at Gallery B and the Bethesda Hyatt. www.bethesda.org/bethesda/localwriters

Kensington Day of the Book Festival

What: Family-friendly street fair celebrating local authors and books that includes guest speakers, poetry reading, live music, and children’s program.

When: April 28, 2019, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Armory and Howard avenues in Kensington www.dayofthebook.com

MAY

Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

What: Roughly 130 artists from all over the country showcase painting, drawing,

photography, furniture, jewelry, mixed media, wood and ceramics. The festival also features live entertainment, children’s activities and food from downtown Bethesda restaurants. Admission to the festival is free.

When: May 11, 2019, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; May 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The event is held in Woodmont Triangle. www.bethesda.org/arts/artsfestival.htm

Gaithersburg Book Festival What: The annual book festival attracts hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets and songwriters. Activities include author panels, writing workshops, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. Admission is free, as is the parking.

When: May 18, 2019, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Gaithersburg City Hall grounds in Olde Towne Gaithersburg www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org

Rockville Hometown Holidays Music Festival and Memorial Day Parade What: Featuring more than 30 live performances

154 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Silver Spring Blues Festival

What: The 11th annual event features an all-day blues block party with musicians performing on two stages.

When: June 15, 2019, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Veterans Plaza at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Fenton Street and Ellsworth Drive silverspringtowncenter.com/events

Suds & Soles

What: Suds & Soles features a 5K course through downtown Rockville, a post-race party where runners can sample some great beverages and listen to music. Proceeds benefit The Rockville Recreation and Parks Foundation and Youth and Beginning Running Programs of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club.

When: June 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Rockville Town Center (North Washington Street and Middle Lane) www.mcrrcsudsandsoles.org

PHOTO BY MAIRE MCARDLE

APRIL

What: AFI DOCS (formerly Silverdocs) showcases and honors the best new independent documentaries.

When: June 19-23, 2019 Where: Screenings are at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, and at venues in Washington, D.C. afi.com/afidocs

AUGUST

When: Sept. 14, 2019, 2 to 6 p.m.

Where: Clara Barton Community Center www.cabinjohn.org/events/crab-feast

What: One of the largest county fairs in the state, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has been entertaining families with activities, farm animals, food and carnival rides for more than 70 years.

When: Aug. 9-17, 2019 Where: Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds. 501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg. www.mcagfair.com

Silver Spring Jazz Festival

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

SEPTEMBER

Kensington Train Show

PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT

What: Visitors can check out model trains, live music and kids activities at the two-day event that benefits the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation and the Kensington Historial Society.

When: Sept. 7-8, 2019, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St. www.kensingtontrainshow.com

Cabin John Annual Crab and Chicken Feast

What: First held in 1969, the Cabin John Crab and Chicken Feast is the town’s biggest community event, attracting more than 500 residents and visitors. The feast is held in early September and features live music in addition to the food.

What: This free, outdoor event drew 25,000 people in recent years. Previous festivals have featured a wide array of performers, including Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Aaron Neville and Sergio Mendes. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and/or beach chair. Food is available from vendors on-site and nearby restaurants.

When: September 2019 Where: Veterans Plaza at the Silver Spring Civic Building, Fenton Street and Ellsworth Drive. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec

OCTOBER

Taste of Bethesda

What: Taste of Bethesda is an annual food and music festival with more than 50 participating restaurants and five stages of entertainment. In good weather, more than 40,000 people attend, sampling food, enjoying the live entertainment and heading to the kids’ corner for face painting and arts and crafts. Admission is free and taste tickets are sold in small bundles for a set price.

When: Oct. 5, 2019, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Woodmont Triangle www.bethesda.org/bethesda/taste-bethesda

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands

What: The 27th celebration of Oktoberfest includes a wine terrace, a traditional beer garden, food vendors and live performances. There are also horse-drawn carriage rides, apple-pressing demonstrations, and other family activities.

Admission and parking are free. There are walking paths and a festival-wide trolley route.

When: Oct. 13, 2019, noon to 5 p.m.

Where: Kentlands Village Green, grounds of Kentlands Mansion, Main Street and Market Square. www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/ oktoberfest-at-the-kentlands

Bethesda Row Arts Festival

What: One of the leading fine art and craft

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Oktoberfest at the Kentlands

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OlneyTheatre.org 9100 Gaither Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 240-224-7766

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Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 155

things to do Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival features 190 artists who work in a wide array of media, including ceramics, drawings, pastels, fiber, glass, graphics/ printmaking, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, oil/acrylic painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, watercolor and wood.

When: Oct. 12, 2019, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Bethesda Row, along Woodmont and Bethesda avenues and Elm Street www.bethesdarowarts.org

What: Thousands of car enthusiasts flock to the grounds of the Glenview Mansion in Rockville to check out over 550 antique and classic cars.

When: Oct. 19, 2019, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Where: Glenview Mansion www.rockvillemd.gov/carshow

Potomac Day

What: A parade, pony rides, a petting zoo, pizza, a classic car show, a business fair and a children’s festival are all part of this fall festival in Potomac Village that began in 1982.

When: Oct. 26, 2019, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: The parade starts at the intersection of Potomac Manors Drive and River Road.

The festival takes place at the Potomac Promenade shopping center. www.potomacchamber.org

NOVEMBER

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade

What: On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, rain or shine, downtown Silver Spring hosts the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. The lineup includes floats, bands, balloons, dancers, mounted police, politicians and Santa’s sleigh.

About 15,000 spectators line the route, and the parade is usually televised live on NewsChannel 8 from 10 a.m. to noon, and then rebroadcast several times on Thanksgiving Day. When: Nov. 23, 2019, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: The parade begins at the Silver Spring

Civic Building at Fenton Street and Ellsworth Drive, and then heads south on Georgia Avenue to Silver Spring Avenue. www.silverspringdowntown.com

Turkey Chase

What: Nearly 10,000 runners work up a holiday appetite by participating in Bethesda’s Turkey Chase. The event began in 1982, and is now the largest 10K race in Montgomery County, with the net proceeds benefiting youth and families in Montgomery County through YMCA programs and local Rotary charities. There is also a 2-mile race and a 50-meter kids’ run.

When: Nov. 28, 2019; 10K begins at 8:30 a.m.

Where: The race starts at 9401 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. www.turkeychase.com

YEAR-ROUND

Outdoor FOR Adventures ALL AGES

CAMP&RIVER

WWW.CALLEVA.ORG

FARM

Explorer Summer Camp

Calleva Horse Adventure Programs

Adventure Summer Camps

Farm & Forest Cubs

Leaders in Training Program

Dirty Dinners Farm-to-Table

Snow Club

Environmental Programs & Internships

Liquid Adventures Kayaking School (LAKS)

Farm Workshops

LAKS International Trips

Markoff’s Haunted Forest

Whitewater Rafting

Enchanted Forest

156 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show

Wheaton Regional Park is the home of Brookside Gardens, a 50-acre display garden that includes an indoor conservatory.

parks As the suburbs become more like cities, with dining, cultural and entertainment options close at hand, area residents can still enjoy the county’s parks. These are three of our favorites.

PHOTO BY DAVE GREBOWSKY

Cabin John Regional Park

Whether you want to take your toddler for a ride on a miniature train, glide around a full-service ice skating rink, or simply enjoy a picnic, the roughly 500-acre Cabin John Regional Park is a sure bet to fulfill your needs. The athletic area includes Shirley Povich Field, which seats 750 and is home to Bethesda Big Train baseball and the Georgetown University baseball team.

The other sports facilities include three lighted baseball fields, five softball fields (one lighted), four lighted tennis practice walls, nine lighted tennis courts, a peewee soccer field, four singlewall handball courts and one volleyball court.

The tennis center boasts six indoor tennis courts, and the skating rink is open year-round.

The many attractions include a dog park, a tai chi court, a campground and over 5 miles of hiking trails, playgrounds and picnic areas.

Locust Grove Nature Center, which offers educational programs for children and adults, is popular with families, as is the C.P. Huntington Miniature Train, which is available to carry visitors through the park during the season.

Hours: sunrise to sunset, year-round.

Please call or check website for permit information and availability, as well as for hours of the various facilities and features within the park.

7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, 301-495-2595, montgomeryparks.org

Rock Creek Regional Park/ Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail

Wheaton Regional Park

Visitors to Washington, D.C., are often struck by the magnificence of Rock Creek Park, a natural oasis that cuts through the city; but few may learn that, in fact, more than 70 percent of the creek is located in Maryland.

(The National Park Service maintains the parkland within the District, whereas the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission maintains it in Montgomery County.)

The Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail is an 18.6-mile hard-surface trail that starts in Rock Creek Regional Park in Derwood and continues along the stream valley all the way into Georgetown, where it meets the Potomac River. Rock Creek Regional Park is about 1,800 acres, and includes Lake Needwood and Lake Frank, where residents can fish and boat. There are playgrounds, a boat rental and snack bar, Meadowside Nature Center and lake tours on the Needwood Queen.

Hours: sunrise to sunset, year-round.

Please call or check website for permit information and operating hours of the facilities in the park.

6700 Needwood Road, Derwood, 301-948-5053, montgomeryparks.org

Like Cabin John Regional Park, Wheaton is a popular destination for residents and families who are looking to while away an afternoon. Board the C.P. Huntington Miniature Train or take a spin on the 1915 musical carousel, both of which operate weekends only in April and September and daily from May through August. Visitors can also fish at Pine Lake, play on the playground, or stretch their legs on 11 miles of hiking trails, biking and equestrian trails (4 miles of the park’s trails are hard-surfaced). Brookside Gardens, a 50-acre display garden, includes an indoor conservatory, and Brookside Nature Center provides educational activities and exhibits.

There are horse stables, which offer riding lessons and escorted trail rides; an ice rink; six outdoor tennis courts and six indoor ones; a covered sports field; four softball fields; two baseball fields; an outdoor basketball court; four handball courts; and a dog park.

Hours: sunrise to sunset, year-round.

Please call or check website for permit information and availability, as well as for hours of the various facilities and features within the park. Please note that there are three separate entrances into Wheaton Regional Park: 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton; 1800 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton; and 11717 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton, 301-905-3045, montgomeryparks.org

For more information about county parks in the area, check out www.montgomeryparks.org

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 157

things to do

farmers markets

Whether you’re craving heirloom tomatoes, artisanal cheeses or you just want to stroll and browse, farm-fresh produce is never far away. Here’s a sampling of the markets in our area.

Bethesda Central Farm Market Open Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(April to December); open Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (January to March).

7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda, bethesda.centralfarmmarkets.com

Derwood Farmers Market Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(April 27 to Oct. 26, 2019).

16501 Redland Road, Rockville derwoodmarket.org

Forest Estates Farmers Market Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon (May through November).

10000 Woodland Ave., Wheaton (General Getty Park)

Fulks Corner Farmers Market

Open Thursdays, 12:30 to 6 p.m.

(May through mid-November).

Corner of Route 355 & Fulks Corner Avenue in Olde Towne, Gaithersburg gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/farmers-markets

Garrett Park Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from spring to November, except the Saturday after Thanksgiving; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during winter, except the Saturday after Christmas.

4600 Waverly Ave., Garrett Park garrettparkmd.gov

Customers find everything from fresh soup to wooden cutting boards at the Bethesda Central Farm Market.

Kensington Farmers Market

Main Street Farmers and Artists Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (year-round).

301 Main St., Gaithersburg (Kentlands Main Street Pavilion), gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/farmersmarkets

Montgomery Farm Women’s Co-operative Market

Inside market: Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Outside market (weather-permitting): Open Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

7155 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, farmwomensmarket.com

Montgomery Village Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(June through October).

9801 Centerway Road, Montgomery Village (Christ the Servant Lutheran Church parking lot), mvfarmersmarket.com

Olney Farmers & Artists Market

Open Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (year-round).

2801 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, olneyfarmersmarket.org

Pike Central Farm Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(April through November).

910 Rose Ave., North Bethesda, pike.centralfarmmarkets.com

158 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Rockville Farmers Market

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(May through November).

Corner of Route 28 and Monroe Street, Rockville (Rockville Town Center), rockvillemd.gov/farmers

Silver Spring FRESHFARM Market

Open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(January through March); open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (April to December).

Ellsworth Drive, between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue freshfarm.org

PHOTO BY AMY MOORE

Open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (year-round). Howard Avenue, Kensington (Kensington Train Station parking lot), explorekensington.com/farmers-market

Indoor playground at Busy Bees

run & jump

When the basement playroom just isn’t cutting it or you need to get the kids out of the house and the weather isn’t cooperating, these centers can provide hours of fun with options ranging from indoor playgrounds to music and dance classes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADVENTUREMOMSDC

BY MAURA MAHONEY Adventure Zone

At Adventure Zone, kids can jump on trampolines and play arcade games, and there are plenty of programs designed for family fun. Attractions include the Main Jump area, Adventure Pit, Battle Beam and dodgeball.

18620 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, 301-703-3707, adventurezoneplay.com

great outdoors inside. Kids can climb or slide down its resin-composite mountain. There are also tunnels, an artificial forest, a turf field and a gaga court. Badlands also has a screening room and a workshop area offering clay crafts, constructible parachutes and a LEGO pit.

Butterflies fly in a contained greenhouse space.

5200 Randolph Road, Rockville, 301-618-0009, badlandsplayspace.com

Badlands

Be With Me Playseum

Badlands is a 30,000-square-foot, nature-inspired and interactive play space designed to bring the

Be With Me Playseum is a children’s used bookstore designed as a kid-size city, with

Your

Your Weekend Begins in Montgomery County From food festivals to concerts, brewery tours to art exhibits, Montgomery County is the place to play. Find things to do on our events calendar and blog. Plan your next weekend at VisitMontgomery.com.

interactive, themed cityscape rooms. These include a grocery store with grocery carts, produce and a register; a pet store with real animals, including rabbits, frogs, lizards and doves; a salon with costumes, wigs and ballet shoes; a fire station; a world travel shop; and a bakery.

7000 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-807-8028, playseum.com

Busy Bees

Busy Bees is an indoor playground catering to younger children—only those under 4 feet tall are allowed in. Its colorful space features large mobile setups, a balloon pit, swinging chairs and slides, and party rooms.

11 Wisconsin Circle, Bethesda, 240-396-6466, busybeeschevychase.com

Weekend Your Way

Get Inspired!

VisitMontgomery.com Socialize @visitmoco #MontgomeryMoment

Summer Twilight Concert Series at Brookside Gardens Photo by Montgomery Parks

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 159

things to do

Dynamite Gymnastics Center

Dynamite Gymnastics boasts a 15,000-squarefoot facility that features a designated preschool area with specially designed apparatus for children ages 5 and under. The gym offers classes for parent and child, preschoolers, kids ages 5-7 and 7-10, and tweens and teens (as well as adults). Check the website or call for open gym hours and regulations.

4956 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, 301-770-2700, dynamitegc.com

Freestate Gymnastics

Freestate Gymnastics offers parent-child classes for kids ages 18 months through 3 years old; and classes for kids ages 3 and up. The fully equipped gymnastics studio’s preschool classes use equipment specially sized for younger students and recreational gymnastics use competition-quality equipment.

Plus, there are fitness classes and competitive artistic gymnastics for girls and co-ed trampling and tumbling for boys and girls ages 6 and up.

9200 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, 301-987-7060, freestategymnastics.com

Hill’s Gymnastics Training Center

Hill’s Gymnastics is run by Kelli Hill, who was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame

in 2005 and has trained Olympians including Dominique Dawes and Courtney Kupets.

Classes are available for toddlers through teens. Summer minicamps for preschoolers and kindergartners include tumbling and gymnastics activities, arts and crafts and games. Half- and full-day summer programs for children entering first through eighth grades include instruction on vaulting, uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise and trampoline.

7557 Lindbergh Drive, Gaithersburg, 301-840-5900, hillsgymnastics.com

Kidville

Kidville offers a wide range of child development classes, including music, dance, gym, art and language, for babies through 6-year-olds. It also has a preschool alternative program, parent resources and a play space for members.

4825 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-5030, kidville.com

My Gym

My Gym’s classes incorporate music, dance, relays, games, gymnastics, sports and more, for children ages 6 weeks to 13 years. In addition to the weekly classes, My Gym offers camps, Parents’ Night Out and free play sessions.

5110 Ridgefield Road, Bethesda, 301-652-2820; Kentlands Market Square, 620 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg, 301-926-5969; Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-983-5300, mygym.com

Silver Stars Gymnastics

Silver Stars offers preschool and special-needs classes for children ages 18 months to 5 years, open gym hours and gymnastics classes for older children to teens. Kids’ Night Out is offered on select Saturdays.

2701 Pittman Drive, Silver Spring, 301-589-0938, gosilverstars.com

Sky Zone

Part of a chain, Sky Zone is an indoor trampoline park that features a variety of programs and attractions, including freestyle jumping and dodgeball. On Friday and Saturday nights, kids can enjoy a night out during Glow, an event available to ages 6 and older that tranforms Sky Zone using lasers, music and black light.

15813 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, 202-792-8404, skyzone.com

Best of D.C. 2018 Ages 4-14

Celebrating 60 yrs!

Transportation Included

Valley Mill Day Camp www.valleymill.com

Spring and Summer Programs 160 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

play ball

On any given weekend, the playing fields, rec centers and ice rinks of Montgomery County are filled with children, from preschoolers to teens. Their parents are there, too, toting spectator chairs, sunblock and extra water bottles. Here is a sampling of area sports organizations and leagues:

BASEBALL

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

SOCCER

301-229-2724, bccbaseball.com

301-570-3990, obgc.com/basketball

240-224-7363, bethesdasoccer.org

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department

FOOTBALL

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Baseball

Germantown Football Association

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

leaguelineup.com/sgfa

Koa Sports

maplewoodfootball.org

301-229-7529, koasports.org/programs/baseball

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

Montgomery County Little League

301-570-3990, obgc.com/football

mclittleleague.org

Rockville Football League

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

rfl.cc

301-570-3990, obgc.com/baseball

Rockville Baseball Association of Montgomery County rbba.org

BASKETBALL

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports

City of Rockville Recreation Department 240-314-8620, rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=408

Koa Sports 301-229-7529, koasports.org/basketball

Montgomery County Recreation Department 240-777-6840, montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/thingstodo/ sports/youth_bball.html

Maplewood Athletic Association

Bethesda Soccer Club

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports/

Montgomery Soccer Inc. (MSI) 301-762-4674, msisoccer.org

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association 301-570-3990, obgc.com/soccer

Silver Spring Saints silverspringsaints.com

Soccer Association of Montgomery

HOCKEY

301-528-1480, samsoccer.org

info@myha.org myha.org

SOFTBALL

Montgomery Youth Hockey Association

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department

LACROSSE

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports/

Bethesda Lacrosse bethesdalacrosse.org

Montgomery Village Sports Association

Montgomery Village Sports Association

mvsasoftball.com

mvsa.org/sports-we-offer/lacrosse

Olney Boys and Girls Community Sports Association

Olney Boys and Girls Club obgc.com/softball-1

301-570-3990, obgc.com

VOLLEYBALL

Potomac Power

301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/sports/

potomacpowerlax.usl.la

City of Gaithersburg Recreation Department

Montgomery Village Sports Association mvsavbc.org

Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE 161

things to do

get creative Eight great places for budding artists or dancers

BY REBECCA GALE

Young artists can learn a variety of skills during summer camps offered

by VisArts in Rockville.

When Whitman High School graduate Erin Johnson returned home after studying visual arts at Brown University, she recognized a need for art education in the area. Johnson opened Artworks, which offers art classes for ages 3 and older, 15 years ago in a historic home in downtown Bethesda. Teachers are trained in-house, and the focus is on classical drawing and painting, though the weeklong summer camps cover a variety of media, including clay and sculpture. Birthday parties also are available.

7740 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda; 10020 Falls Road, Potomac, 301-656-0044, www.artworksclasses.com

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Joy of Motion opened in downtown Washington, D.C., over 40 years ago and has expanded to Bethesda and Friendship Heights. The studio offers a wide variety of dance classes for children beginning at age 2, including ballet, jazz, tap, hiphop and modern. Students can audition for one of several youth dance companies or the awardwinning Youth Dance Ensemble Program. Winter/ spring classes culminate with a weekend recital in June. Summer camps also are available, with full- or half-day programs, and several classes and workshops are offered for adults.

7315 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 180-E, Bethesda, 301-986-0016; 5207 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-362-3042, www.joyofmotion.org

162 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

Maryland Youth Ballet

This classical ballet studio in downtown ​Silver Spring offers dance classes​for young people ages 2 to 20​, as well as adults. Classes for younger children fill up quickly. The MYB Studio Company for young dancers between the ages of 15 and 20 helps bridge the gap between being a student and a professional. Dancers must audition or be invited to join. Adult drop-in classes include Intro to Ballet, Floor Barre and Broadway Jazz; summer programs also are offered. Around the holidays, MYB offers performances of The Nutcracker and The Mini-Nut, an abbreviated version for younger audiences.

926 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, 301-608-2232, www.marylandyouthballet.org

PHOTO BY VISARTS

Artworks Fine Art Studio

Ballet Petite

Ballet Petite has offered creative ballet training for young children for two decades. Founder Nancy Parenti developed “storydance” to allow kids ages 18 months to 6 years old to use their imagination while learning how to move. The studio also offers two performance companies and the Youth Performing Arts School. Hip-hop, lyrical, modern and adult dance classes are available, as well as camps and parties for kids.

Bethesda: Brookmont Church, 4000 Virginia Ave.; Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 5500 Mass Ave.; Little House at Westmoreland Hills Park, 5315 Elliott Road; Washington Episcopal School, 5600 Little Falls Parkway.

Potomac: Potomac United Methodist, 9908 S. Glen Road; Wayside Elementary, 10011 Glen Road; Geneva Day School, 11931 Seven Locks Road; Beth Shalom, 11825 Seven Locks Road.

Silver Spring: Evergreen Montessori School, 10700 Georgia Ave.; 301-229-6882, www.balletpetite.com

CREATE Arts Center

CREATE Arts Center’s mission is to bring art education and art therapy to the region while supporting underprivileged populations and those with special needs. CREATE offers art classes and parties for kids ages 2 to 16, off-site courses for at-risk youth, and art therapy for mentally ill adults and children. In addition to spring, summer and winter camp

programs for kids ages 6 to 14, the center runs “No School Day” camps for students during scheduled school closings.

914 Silver Spring Ave., Silver Spring, 301-588-2787, www.createartscenter.org

High School and the VisArts studio features creative artistry programs such as woodworking, ceramics, mosaics and glass. Classes also are offered for special-needs students.

155 Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-315-8200, www.visartsatrockville.org

Montgomery County Recreation

Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance

Montgomery County’s recreation department offers dozens of art classes for all ages, including painting, drawing, pottery and crafts.

Classes take place in community recreation centers throughout the county, though some are offered at public schools and private art studios.

Teachers are professional instructors who have a degree in their art specialty or extensive experience as an artist. Programming guides, published four times a year, can be picked up at Montgomery County recreation facilities and public libraries, or viewed online.

Administrative office: 4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring, 240-777-6840, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec

VisArts at Rockville

This nonprofit arts center, established in 1987, offers a variety of classes for adults and children, grades K-12, including ceramics, glass, painting, drawing, mosaics and mixed media. The Resident Artist Program attracts artists from the Washington, D.C., area, who may teach classes.

The summer camp at nearby Richard Montgomery

With five locations around the county, Sean Culkin and his team of teachers provide a series of Irish dancing programs for children and adults. Students have the choice of a yearlong commitment or a “Mini-Mester”—an introductory eight- to 10-week program. The figures program, available for kids and adults, gives students the opportunity to dance in teams and compete locally, regionally and internationally. Beginners and experienced students also can participate in the school’s summer camps at Glen Echo Park and in Silver Spring.

Hughes United Methodist Church, 10700 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring; Imagination Stage (Del Ray Studio), 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda; Rockville United Methodist Church, 112 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville; Grace Episcopal Day School, 9411 Connecticut Ave., Kensington; Glen Echo/Annex, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo Park; 301-593-9600, www.culkinschool.com

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things to do

the acting bug

Whether your child is a first-time theatergoer or an aspiring actor, these theaters provide performances and programs that capture the imagination BY MAURA MAHONEY Imagination Stage Nationally known, Imagination Stage is a multidisciplinary theater arts organization for young people that offers professional shows, afterschool programs and summer camps for children ages 3-18. The mission of Imagination Stage is to inspire creativity through theater and arts education programs that nurture, challenge and empower young people of all abilities. Imagination Stage reaches 110,000 children and families annually.

4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, 301-961-6060, imaginationstage.org

Adventure Theatre MTC and the ATMTC Academy Adventure Theatre (founded in 1951) and Musical Theater Center (founded in 1986) merged to form the Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center in 2012. The center reaches approxi-

mately 75,000 children, parents and teachers annually with award-winning stage adaptations of popular children’s literature, as well as classes, workshops, camps, student productions and a pre-professional program. Serving student actors of all skill levels and families from diverse communities, ATMTC aims to develop new generations of artists and inspire a lifelong love of theater. The theater in Glen Echo Park accommodates approximately 165 patrons with general seating.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270; 837-D Rockville Pike (Wintergreen Plaza), Rockville, 301-251-5766, adventuretheatre-mtc.org

The Puppet Co. Playhouse at Glen Echo Park Using hand puppets, rod puppets, marionettes, masks and costumed figures to stage both

Professional Theatre Classes and Camps

All the world’s a stage, but the best is in your backyard! imaginationstage.org | 301-280-1660 164 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

original stories and children’s classics, the Puppet Co. has been delighting its audiences since 1983. According to the Glen Echo Park website, The Puppet Co. Playhouse is “the only year-round theater between New York and Atlanta dedicated entirely to the art of puppetry.” Main Stage performances each have their own general age recommendation. Most are recommended for ages 3½ and older, although some are for 5 and older, depending on the length of the show (usually 45 minutes), amount and sophistication of dialogue, conflict level and perception of the villain, according to the theater’s website. Tiny Tots performances are designed for children ages 2 to 4.

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org

Come see a show with us!

& ATMTC ACADEMY

see theatre. be theatre.

BUY TICKETS

www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org | 301.634.2270

outlets in Rehoboth Beach. Go dolphin watching in the waters off Bethany Beach, named by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2012 as one of the “Best Secret Beaches on Earth.” The Maryland and Delaware shore towns (Ocean City, Bethany Beach, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island) pack stunning stretches of sand alongside familyfriendly amusement—arcades, miniature golf courses, games (like Whac-A-Mole and Frog Bog) and kiddie rides. Have dinner at one of the many clam bars, fish houses and farm-totable restaurants lining the shores here, or pack a picnic and head for Assateague Island National Seashore, where you might catch a glimpse of the wild horses that roam the beaches—all about a three-hour drive away.

Families enjoy vacationing in Cape May, New Jersey.

EXPLORE THE EASTERN SHORE Less than two hours away, bucolic, gentle hills roll into the marshy waterways of the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

And in St. Michaels and Oxford, the region’s most picturesque towns, “Main Street” looks more like a classic New England village than a bustling metropolis. St. Michaels, the larger of the two, boasts boutique shopping on handsome Talbot Street. Get out on the water on one of the local cruise lines that take visitors down the Miles River deep into Chesapeake country, or hop onto a bike and pedal the mostly flat Oxford Loop, which takes riders on a 26- or 33-mile ride from St. Michaels to Easton and Oxford and back. (The highlight: Enjoying views of the Tred Avon River aboard the 10-minute Oxford-Bellevue Ferry.)

GREAT getaways From charming beach towns to mountain escapes, here are 15 ideas for day trips and vacations

BY BROOKE LEA FOSTER

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, IS CALLING Imagine street after street of Victorian homes lining the sea. In Cape May, New Jersey, about 180 miles north of Bethesda, the architecture is as much of an attraction as the wide expanse of sandy beach. Put on your walking shoes: Cape May is a great town for exploring by foot, with many of the larger inns and bed-and-breakfasts within walking distance of the beach and the village square, where most shops and restaurants are located.

The Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859, is worth a climb to the top. Don’t miss dinner at 410 Bank Street, which is located in a 19th-century carriage house. The food may be the best in town.

HIT THE BEACH Walk Ocean City’s boardwalk, which the Travel Channel has called America’s “Best Beach Boardwalk,” while nibbling on Thrasher’s famous french fries in the Maryland resort town. Shop the countless

DIVE INTO DEEP CREEK LAKE During the summer, water sports rule at Deep Creek, a 3,900-acre lake with 65 miles of shoreline in Garrett County, about three hours from Bethesda. Go play on a rented motorboat, kayak or Jet Ski. Anglers should cast a pole—it’s not hard to catch a sizable bass in a lake where smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye and yellow perch are plentiful. In the winter, Deep Creek Lake turns into a skier and snowboarder’s paradise with cross-country and green circle to black diamond ski trails, as well as opportunities for snowshoeing, tubing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. You can even take the family dogsledding.

HEAD WEST TO HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA Harpers Ferry, a historic town with quiet

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cobblestone streets, doesn’t just sit at the intersection of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers—it’s in the spot where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia meet. You can shop in the restored buildings, grab a bite to eat, or treat yourself to an ice cream cone. A visit to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will bring to life the town’s role in the events leading up to the Civil War, and 20 miles of hiking trails provide spectacular views of the mountains and rivers. Climb aboard a 14-foot raft to get an up-close look at the river rapids during a white-water rafting trip, go tubing, or rent a bike and pedal along the scenic C&O Canal, which runs along the riverfront. Best of all, it’s only an hour’s drive home.

A selection of beers from Devil’s Backbone on the Brew Ridge Trail

GET TO KNOW GETTYSBURG

EXPERIENCE LIFE IN LANCASTER COUNTY Get ready to step back in time. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, you might share the 2,700 miles of winding country roads with a traditional Amish horse and buggy. Home to thousands of practicing Amish people, Lancaster County makes it easy to learn about Amish life. A 12-acre village invites visitors to experience the simple Amish lifestyle, while Plain & Fancy Farm immerses guests in an “experiential” theater, offering an intimate view of Amish history and modern life. Take a horse-and-buggy tour of the countryside, and have breakfast or lunch at one of the Amish-run restaurants. When you’re ready to rejoin the 21st century, head to the 150 outlet stores nearby. Think Pottery Barn, Coach and J. Crew. Only two hours away, it’s an easy day trip.

SURF’S UP IN THE OUTER BANKS A six-hour drive south, Duck, North Carolina, is a low-key beachside resort town in the Outer Banks, where shell collecting and sunbathing meet fine dining and high-end shopping. Ditch your car for the weekend—the Duck Trail, a walking and bike path, connects

the small town’s locally owned shops and open-air restaurants with many rental home neighborhoods. Kayak serene Currituck Sound, surf the world-renowned waves or simply walk the 7 miles of uncrowded sand that was named one of America’s “Best East Coast Beaches” by the Travel Channel. There are only a few hotels in Duck, making this a favorite getaway for anyone who prefers calm and quiet.

HOP ON THE BREW RIDGE TRAIL The Blue Ridge Parkway in southwestern Virginia isn’t just for nature lovers—it’s for craft beer fans, too. Virginia once was known as the “Hop Capital of the New World,” and today the state’s artisanal beer-makers are reviving the tradition. With five craft beer breweries on the Brew Ridge Trail, about two and a half hours away, you can crisscross Nelson and Albemarle counties into historic Charlottesville, stopping along the way to get a taste. Plan to stay for lunch—four of those breweries also have full-service restaurants.

Some have outdoor picnic tables and seating areas where visitors can take in the breathtaking mountain vistas common in this part of the country. Best of all, go home with a six-pack of your favorite craft brew.

concerts. Take a walking tour of the restored Victorians, sip wine at nearby vineyards, or shop the small strip. (Blink, and it’s done.)

If you stay at the luxury waterfront Tides Inn, there’s an on-site sailing school and a spa.

Located in an 1890s schoolhouse, The Hope and Glory Inn rents out garden cottages and Carpenter Gothic vineyard cottages called “tents,” which are modeled after a similar “camp” of cottages in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard.

BEYOND THE INNER HARBOR There’s more to Baltimore these days than the popular Inner Harbor shops and restaurants on the waterfront near Camden Yards. What makes Baltimore, a quick 45-minute drive away, worth an overnight visit is the newly developed Harbor East neighborhood, where there’s sophisticated shopping, some of the city’s most positively reviewed restaurants, and cobblestone streets lining the harbor. Walk the Waterfront Promenade to neighboring Fells Point, with its eclectic mix of funky shops and bars, or hop a water taxi to the American Visionary Art Museum or the Maryland Science Center, both favorites with grown-ups and kids alike.

IRVINGTON’S LOVELY INNS

A THEMED WEEKEND IN WILLIAMSBURG

About a three-hour drive south, located on the Northern Neck of Virginia and overlooking Carter’s Creek, Irvington is small-town Americana at its best. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and home to fewer than 500 year-round residents, the village unfolds around a town common, where you’ll find a farmers market and summer

There’s enough to do in Williamsburg, about two and a half hours south in Virginia, to keep you busy all weekend. History buffs will hardly revolt at the thought of spending a day at Colonial Williamsburg, a historic restoration of the city during the throes of the American Revolution, where costumed interpreters read from, say, the Declaration

166 Bethesda Magazine | 2019-2020 NEWCOMERS GUIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEVIL’S BACKBONE

The battlefield outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the Civil War’s bloodiest battle unfolded, is one of the most visited military parks in the nation. Tour the Gettysburg National Military Park by Segway or horseback, or stand in the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address. There’s a reenactment with battles, military camps and soldiers every July. The small city boasts a lively downtown scene, with theaters, concerts and pubs.

Visitors can take a ghost tour (the town is rumored to be haunted) or explore one of several Civil War-themed museums.

Cheesesteaks are a favorite of tourists in Philadelphia.

of Independence and invite you into their blacksmith shops. Hands in the air as you drop more than 210 feet at a speed of up to 73 mph on Apollo’s Chariot, one of the favorite coasters of thrill seekers at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, a 383-acre theme park nearby. Or, explore Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum, where there’s a 12-foot-tall Transformer, a real shrunken head and 4D shows that spit wind, water and snow at you.

COURTESY PHOTO

ROAD TRIPPING IN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK Visitors rarely forget the first time they experience the breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys from Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Along the way, there are 75 overlooks, bookshops, visitor centers and gift shops. Best of all, you can stay inside the park at Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge, both offering no-frills accommodations, but old-fashioned family entertainment nightly. Be sure to take a quick detour from the park to visit Luray Caverns,

where you can go underground to experience towering limestone formations and crystalline pools created naturally over the last 400 million years.

GOLF AND GOOD FOOD AT THE GREENBRIER Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, about a fourhour drive away, The Greenbrier resort’s luxury rooms, suites, and guest and estate houses make it a destination in itself.

Built in 1778, the grand hotel is a National Historic Landmark, and boasts 10 lobbies, a 103,000-square-foot casino, and 10,000 acres of manicured grounds and gardens.

Then there’s a golf course, six restaurants and five bars/lounges. If you’re bored, ask the concierge to book you a spa treatment, a carriage ride, a game of laser tag or an offroading adventure.

FUN TIMES IN PHILLY A short two-and-a-half-hour drive away, Philadelphia offers the cosmopolitan vibe of New York without the hassle or the crowds.

There’s lots of history here. Don’t miss a visit

to the Liberty Bell, where you can get up close to the famed symbol of freedom, or the Georgian-style, red-brick Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Afterward, head to Rittenhouse Square, one of the toniest neighborhoods in the city, for shopping and trendy eats.

Don’t leave without tasting an ooey, gooey Philly cheesesteak from South Philly’s Tony Luke’s, whose Cheez Whiz-topped sandwich has been featured in GQ and The New York Times. ■

GET THE LOCAL NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

BETHESDA MAGAZINE’S DAILY NEWS SITE ON BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

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picture show

A kayaker checks out the moon while paddling on the Potomac River near the Old Angler’s Inn on MacArthur Boulevard in Potomac.

The river is popular with kayakers of all skill levels.

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PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

FULL MOON RISING

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The original Car Vending Machine.

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BethesdaNewcomers2019-20 _BALTMAG12/04 3/5/19 1:25 PM Page 1

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