Where Kids Applied to College | 9 Beautiful Kitchens
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Bethesda Magazine • BethesdaMagazine.com • September/October 2014
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September/october 2014 $4.95
Are some coaches doing more harm than good?
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contents
September/October 2014 volume 11/ issue 5
152
FEATURES In a culture where winning is paramount, are some youth coaches doing more harm than good? By Stacey Colino
76 Education’s New Model At Wheaton High School, teachers and students are exploring a hands-on approach to learning. By Julie Rasicot
86 Making the Grade
Five local teachers who earn top marks
152 The Hunger Fighters In the past five years, the number of county residents who receive food stamps has grown by more than 150 percent. Solving the problem is much more complicated than providing food. By Amy Reinink
166 Mall of the Future As many malls around the country close, Westfield Montgomery is reinventing itself with an $89-million makeover. By David Frey
By Archana Pyati
174 Into the Woods
92 The College Chart
Chain saws, demonic clowns, skeletons that suddenly jump to life—Markoff’s Haunted Forest delivers the fright of a lifetime.
Where 2014 high school graduates applied to college—and where they got in. Compiled by Jacob Bogage
142 ’Effervescent Evan’ Sixteen-year-old Evan Rosenstock loved sports and had a big, easy smile. When he took his own life last year, the Churchill community was devastated. How could this have happened? By Eugene L. Meyer
By Archana Pyati
186 Bethesda Interview How Michael Wilbon went from sports columnist to television star. By David Elfin
COVER: Photo of Michael Kelly by Michael Ventura; taken on location at Maryland SoccerPlex
lisa helfert
62 Out of Bounds
12 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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F I N E P RO P E RT I E S I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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contents 261 Health 218
264 Follow the Leader
How a local acupuncturist used Chinese medicine to improve her health By Leah Ariniello
266 Rescue Day
A silent killer turns a day of celebration into one of the biggest emergencies the B-CC Rescue Squad has ever faced. By David Frey
274 On the Mend
Surgery helps a Potomac teen get his life back on track. By Rita Rubin
210 House Appropriations A small-scale sofa can be a useful, attractive piece—and you can find one in almost any style.
282 Seeing Success
Often overlooked, vision therapy can help with everything from eyestrain and headaches to concentration. By Stacey Colino
By Carolyn Weber
288 Health & Fitness Calendar
212 Elements of Style
Seminars, running events and support groups.
From dramatic open shelving to colorful backsplashes and whimsical breakfast nooks, homeowners are finding creative ways to add personality to their kitchens.
Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
282
By Jennifer Sergent
317 DINE
218 Growing Up
317 Dine Review
The transition from kid to teen can be hard on everyone. One way to help? Create an organized, sophisticated space. By Charlotte Safavi
224 Designing Independence
Macon Bistro & Larder delights with Southern and French fare.
By Carole Sugarman
322
A North Potomac home builder draws on his own experience to ease the way for others with special needs. By Archana Pyati
230 By the Numbers The most expensive home sales in the area, as well as home sales trends by ZIP code.
320 Table Talk
A new gourmet market . . . Crazy for cronuts . . . Fending off the “freshman 15” at college, and more. By Carole Sugarman
322 Cooking Class
A L’Academie de Cuisine chef explains how to make perfect eggs Benedict. By Brian Patterson
324 Dining Guide Write-ups on more than 200 restaurants.
stacy zarin-goldberg (teen room & eggs benedict) mike olliver (boy)
207 hOME
14 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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When it comes to Creativity, these brothers stand together. Wydler Brothers were selected by the editors of Inman News as the Most Innovative Real Estate Agent in America. We're humbled and flattered by the honor and are eternally grateful to our team. They are the most dedicated, hardworking, kind and...well, innovative, group of real estate professionals in the country. Unfortunately, we're out of ideas now. Maryland Office 301.986.6405 Virginia Office 703.873.5020 DC Office 202.600.2727 General 301.215.6444 x 6405
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contents Departments 20 To Our Readers 22 Contributors 28 Letters 31 Hometown Many children who come to this country illegally face uncertainty. One young woman is using her experiences to help others cope.
58
By Steve Roberts
34 Suburban•ology Four rules to eat by By April Witt
38 My Stuff A retired lawyer’s “war room” in Chevy Chase is home to thousands of toy soldiers. By Teddy Amenabar
40 People Watcher The CareerBuilder.com founder wants to make online shopping easier . . . What’s on Kensington Mayor Peter Fosselman’s nightstand . . . Scrabble champs in Silver Spring, and more. By Maura Mahoney
360
After her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the author wanted to find a way to honor her legacy. By Erin Jones
52 Re•Invention An attorney turns a lifelong passion into a new career. By Karen A. Watkins
56 Work Related A retired Montgomery County judge talks about helping kids from the bench.
338 Shop Talk
360 Driving Range
Fall’s statement coats prove that outerwear can be more than a way to keep warm. Plus, new places to find vintage items, artwork and more.
Maryland’s Tilghman Island serves up local seafood—plus a tall tale or two.
By Robin Fisher and Cynthia Hacinli
368 Once Upon a Time
352 To-Do List
How a Rockville tavern played a role in the birth of America.
From the Taste of Bethesda to David Sedaris at Strathmore, there’s lots to do this fall.
As told to Jacob Bogage
By Cindy Murphy-Tofig
58 Person of Interest
358 What Bethesda’s Reading
The wonders of nature are everywhere. John Francis wants to show them to us. By Jacob Bogage
By Virginia Myers
Best-selling books in the area vs. those nationwide
By Mark Walston
Special Advertising Sections 108 193 238 291
Private School Guide Long & Foster Ad Section Home Experts Profiles Physicians Profiles
liz lynch (john francis); denise foley (tilghman boat)
46 Story of My Life
16 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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LUXURY CONDOS IN HEART OF BETHESDA AT THE CORNER OF BETHESDA AND WOODMONT AVENUES
TheDarcy.com
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Sales by PN Hoffman Realty
8/7/14 1:21 PM 7/18/12 6:26 PM
BethesdaMagazine.com enter our
what’s online Our daily news service features stories about the community, restaurants, Montgomery County politics and more—every weekday at 11:30 a.m.
Giveaways
Archives Explore past issues and stories using our searchable archives.
digital Edition
september
1
Social Seen Share photos from community events by emailing them to website@ bethesdamagazine.com and we’ll post them to our gallery page.
exclusives
Subscribers get free access to the digital edition at www.bethesdamagazine.com/digital. In this issue, read about:
7719 Wisconsin On September 1, enter Ave., to win Bethesda, dinner for twoMD and a20814 show at (240) 330-4500 Bethesda Blues & Jazz
www.bethesdabluesjazz.com Supper Club (approximately $300 value)
Into the Woods: Explore more
Social Media
photos from our trip into Markoff’s Haunted Forest, on page 174.
Find us on Facebook and Twitter to learn about community news, special offers and contests.
Chef Antics: Watch the outtake reel from our Dine Review photo shoot at Macon Bistro & Larder, on page 317.
Follow us on Instagram to get the scoop on happenings in the Bethesda area at instagram.com/ bethesdamag.
2014 Private School Guide: Find the updated edition of our Private School Guide in our Digital Edition Library and on page 108.
Dinner for two up to MARTIN $200 PHILLIP “DOC”
(excludes tax and tip) JANUARY 11 Tickets to any show in October, November, December 2014
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MID-ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE JAZZ ORCHESTRA JANUARY 12
TIZER FT. KAREN BRIGGS JANUARY 16
POPA CHUBBY Starting October 1, enter to win a 18 dining $1,000 JANUARY shopping and package from Westfield Montgomery
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THE SOUL SERENADERS
JANUARY online 19 Enter giveaways at: www.bethesdamagazine.com/ giveaway
SAMMY FIGUEROA & HIS LATIN JAZZ EXPLOSION Newsletters
NOVEMBER 30daily news Sign up to receive emails from our service, Bethesda Beat, and to receive special offers from local businesses. Gmail users: Add RONMagazine KEARNS QUINTET W/ Bethesda as a contact to ensure you SPECIAL GUEST receive our emails. 18 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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MICHAEL THOMAS
stacy zarin-goldberg (chefs)
page 317
JANUARY 26
DEANNA BOGART BAND
8/14/14 9:33 AM
Talent leads to trust Christine Nicolaides Kearns and Jeannette Owen Roegge join Chevy Chase Trust.
“We’ve known each other for years. And while we couldn’t have guessed we’d be working together, it’s no surprise we both were attracted to Chevy Chase Trust.” Christine Nicolaides Kearns, General Counsel and Vice Chair of the Board Jeannette Owen Roegge, Chief Fiduciary Officer and Managing Director
You need only meet a few of our people to know what draws clients and experts alike to Chevy Chase Trust. See what can happen when more than eighty talented professionals help you pursue your investing and planning potential. To learn more, contact Stacy Murchison at 240.497.5008 or visit ChevyChaseTrust.com.
INV E ST M E N T MA N AGEMEN T
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F I N A N C I A L & E STATE PLAN N I N G
F I DUCI ARY & TRUST
FAM I LY W E ALTH S ERVIC ES
8/6/14 11:07 AM
to our
readers
Out of Bounds? I’ve spent a lot of time watching kids play
sports. It was 16 years from the day my son Sam stepped onto the ice for the first time as a Mite hockey player to the day my stepdaughter, Amy, played her last field hockey game for BethesdaChevy Chase High School. Often, I was also a coach, mostly in ice hockey, but also in baseball, softball and soccer (the latter I coached somewhat reluctantly because I knew virtually nothing about the sport). When our kids started playing high school sports, I went from coach to spectator—and my wife, Susan, and I attended countless games, matches and meets. Through the years, I worked with and observed scores of coaches, most of whom were good teachers and role models. But I also saw many coaches who should never have been given the job. Too many had a win-at-any-cost attitude and spent more time tearing down players than building them up. One coach in particular clearly believed that telling players how awful they were would inspire them to play better. No surprise, it didn’t work: All it did was make the players feel bad about themselves and grow to hate the sport. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t one of those parents (or coaches) who believed that every player should get a trophy or get equal playing time on travel and high school teams. As a coach, I expected a lot from my players, especially in terms of trying hard and working together as a team. I, of course, liked it when we won, but I measured our success more in terms of how hard the players worked, how much the team and the individual players improved, and, yes, how much fun we had during the season. Because youth sports and coaches play such a central role in kids’ lives, we decided to devote our cover story to the topic. In “Out of Bounds,” writer Stacey Colino looks at the impact good and bad coaches can have on kids. Colino writes: “[T]he intensity and negativity of some coaches raise a few worthwhile questions: Is
bad coaching turning kids off to sports? Is it affecting their development in other ways? And when you step back and look at the whole picture, are some coaches doing more harm than good?” The story begins on page 62.
It’s time again for the Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll! This year we’re asking you to tell us your favorites in more than 70 categories and, for the first time, to provide your comments (if you want to) with some of your picks. To vote, go to BethesdaMagazine.com. Don’t wait: The deadline for voting is Sept. 15. As a thank you, everyone who completes the Readers’ Poll will be emailed a $10 coupon from Roof Bethesda. The results of the voting will appear in the January/February “Best of Bethesda” issue. If you’re looking for a great way to spend
a late summer Saturday afternoon, I suggest you sign up for the “Perfect Pairings” wine tasting tour Sept. 13 on Bethesda Row. Participants will be able to sample (and learn about) two wines at 10 different restaurants and stores—and keep their stomachs full with tasty appetizers at each stop. Bethesda Magazine is once again a sponsor of the event. I hope to see you there. For more information and to buy tickets, go to bethesdarow.com.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Bethesda Magazine. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please email me at steve.hull@bethesdamagazine.com.
Steve Hull Editor-in-chief and publisher
20 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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amy reinink A New Jersey native, Amy Reinink considers herself to be socially aware. She wrote about Montgomery County’s chronically homeless in the March/April 2013 issue of Bethesda Magazine. Still, she was stunned by what she learned while reporting a story on hunger for this issue. “I knew there was a good deal of poverty in the county, but it was still shocking to see firsthand how widespread food insecurity is, and how it’s present even in the wealthiest neighborhoods,” she says. A graduate of the University of Colorado’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Reinink has written for Runner’s World, Skiing Magazine and The Washington Post, among other publications. She splits her time between Silver Spring and Upstate New York, where she lives with her husband.
michael ventura A Bethesda native, photographer Michael Ventura took the photo on the cover of this issue. About eight years ago, Ventura volunteered to coach his daughter’s 6th-grade soccer team at a local private school. He says he didn’t expect the other coaches he encountered to be as cutthroat as they were. “It was all about winning,” he says, “and fun seemed to be forgotten or just an afterthought.” The experience was gratifying, though. “I loved getting extra time with my daughter,” he says. “I had a great group of girls who worked hard even when opponents were tough.” A regular contributor to Bethesda Magazine, Ventura lives in Silver Spring and has two children.
Kat Ignatova (rubin); courtesy photos (reinink, ventura)
Real Experience. Real Relationships. Real Estate.
Bethesda resident Rita Rubin got her start in journalism early—she was the editor of her elementary school newspaper in Wheeling, W.Va. The daughter of a physician, Rubin naturally gravitated toward health and medical stories after earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She contributes regularly to Bethesda Magazine as well as WebMD, NextAvenue.org and POZ Magazine. In this issue, Rubin writes about Potomac teenager Harrison McCabe’s battle with ulcerative colitis. Rubin was twice Harrison’s age when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, another type of inflammatory bowel disease. “I was so impressed by the maturity with which he handled his illness,” she says.
22 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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GR A ND OPENING
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letters
Strong Words
Regarding “Public Spirits” (May/June 2014), Montgomery County must get out of the alcohol business. The system is antiquated, inefficient, frustrating for consumers, and harmful to business. A 21st-century county should not be saddled with Prohibition-era laws.
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Going Too Far?
There’s not much wrong with the article “The Killer Next Door” (May/June 2014), except it revealed way too much private information about the people involved, totally unnecessarily. If the family went far enough to change their last name, why publicize it? Do readers need to know the street names of the homes involved and names of their current residents? I don’t think so. It might be fun to gossip about these, but in a published article? Really? Yan Wang Bethesda
How She Does It
The working mom you chose to profile for “We Don’t Know How She Does It” (March/April 2014) is clearly an accomplished professional with a beautiful home and family, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why you selected her as the area’s symbolic superwoman. How does she do it all? Seems to be with a lot of household help and a lot of outsourcing… which, of course, is fine. But it does not make for a good profile of a busy woman successfully juggling a lot. I could throw a stone…even in Bethesda…and locate a dozen more suitable candidates. I just returned from a spring break
vacation where several friends and family members read the piece and almost choked over the over-the-top fawning descriptions. It really sounded like a farce in The Onion of one of these all too common superwoman stories. Yawn. Andrea Orr Chevy Chase, D.C.
Write It Down
I read with interest Murray Schweitzer’s article, “Memories of Me” (May/June 2014), about writing his life story for the benefit of his children and grandchildren. As Mr. Schweitzer stated, “everybody has a story,” and it is our stories that our family will savor when we are gone. In addition, research now shows that youngsters benefit hugely by learning about their family history. According to a 2013 New York Times article, “The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.” I strongly recommend readers take a class like the one Mr. Schweitzer offers or engage a personal historian to help them write their memoirs. Their families will most certainly thank them. Karen Bender Personal Historian Herndon, Va. Bethesda Magazine welcomes letters to the editor. Please email your letter to letters@bethesdamagazine.com and include your daytime phone number. Bethesda Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.
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STEVE ROBERTS’
hometown Takoma Park’s Karina Velasco still faces the threat of deportation, even though she has lived in the U.S. for 10 years, attends college and has a steady job.
liz lynch
Living in Limbo Many children who come to this country illegally face uncertainty. One young woman is using her own experiences to help others cope.
Karina Velasco was 14 years old and had just finished ninth grade in her home village near Mexico City. Carrying only a small book bag packed with family photos, a few favorite poems and a change of clothes, she climbed a ladder, jumped over a wall and landed in the United States. “When I crossed the border and started walking through the bushes, the pants that I was wearing that day, they got ripped,” she says. “I still keep the book bag, I still keep the pants.” Much has changed since that day for Karina, who lives with her family in Takoma Park. Now 24, she works for a nonprofit agency that ministers to young immigrants and is studying for a degree in social work. She pays her mother rent, finances her own education and sends money to her grandmother in Mexico. Karina Velasco is a hard-working, taxpaying, law-abiding young woman. But the torn pants and small bag are reminders that one fact has not changed: She is still an illegal immigrant. Last year she qualified under a federal program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that protects young newcomers from deportation and grants them permission to work. But the program is based on an executive order, signed by President Barack Obama in 2012, that could be revoked by the next president. Until Congress passes a law providing immigrants like her with a permanent pathway to citizenship, she must cope with constant uncertainty. “I feel like I’m in limbo,” she says. “Even though I don’t have to worry about my immigration status right now, when people ask me, have you gone back to visit your grandmother in Mexico, I can’t. “When I left Mexico,” Karina continues, “she said to me, ‘I wish I could be a little bird to fly over there and be with you.’ I got very emotional when she said that because I wish I could be with her. That’s something that I have to live with every day.” That’s something every immigrant has to live with. No matter how well they adjust to BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 31
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hometown their new country, they leave behind lives and loves, graves and grandmothers. The pain is even sharper for undocumented immigrants like Karina who cannot travel freely. About one-third of Montgomery County’s one million residents were born abroad, and about 60,000 are here illegally, according to unofficial estimates. We see them every day without knowing who they are—standing at the bus stop and studying in the library, trimming our lawns and tending our children. Karina and I talk in her tiny office at the Maryland Multicultural Youth Center, set in a strip mall near the Fort Totten Metro stop. Her grandmother instilled in her a strong work ethic when she was very young. As a child of 9 or 10, Karina sold candies in front of her grandmother’s house in Mexico. “It wasn’t just to have an income for the house,� says Karina. “It was for me to learn how to be independent, to work hard for what I want.� Karina’s parents came to America first, settled in Montgomery County and sent for her younger brother. By the time Karina jumped over that wall and joined them here a few years later, her mother was working several jobs, cleaning restaurant kitchens and office buildings. Early one morning she met her mother at a Starbucks in downtown Washington after her shift ended. “My mom ordered two coffees and two chocolate doughnuts and we sat down to have them,� Karina says. “Suddenly, as my mother sat there resting her chin on one hand, she fell asleep. It was the first day I really recognized all the sacrifices my parents had made.� Karina adjusted slowly to her new world and worried incessantly about her illegal status. “One night I woke up with a nightmare,� she says. “My mom and dad were being deported; I was crying and crying and called my mother. I was like, ‘What am I going to do with my brother here by myself? Who am I going to turn to?’ � Her mother worried more about the culture than the cops and warned her away from her fellow students at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring: “My mom always told me, ‘You’re not the same as the others, you don’t belong in that group, you’re not going to be that girl who
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gets pregnant and drops out of school.’ ” Karina’s mother had her usual answer for the temptations of adolescence: Work. And during her daughter’s senior year in high school, she convinced her supervisor to hire her. “I said, ‘No Mommy, I don’t want to work,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘Yes you do want to work.’ ” That was her life for the next five years. During the day she went to school (first at Montgomery College and then the University of Maryland, Baltimore County). From 6 to 11 she cleaned office buildings. After midnight she did homework. Her mother wanted her to be a nurse, but Karina had other ideas. She was surrounded by young immigrants—friends, classmates, co-workers—and she realized they all suffered the same nightmares. Being caught. Being left. Being betrayed. She had found a calling, and when she changed her major to social work she explained to a professor that many young people suffer from stress and depression after crossing the border and living in limbo. “I was talking about me,” says Karina. “I was talking about the emotions that I felt.” She did an internship at the youth center, and last year they offered her a fulltime job with flexible hours so she could finish her undergraduate degree, but on one condition—stop cleaning buildings and get more sleep. She agreed with a “heavy heart.” That job had helped her grow up, pay for school, find a path. But now she was ready for a new life, beyond scrubbing toilets and emptying waste baskets. When I ask her about future plans, Karina mentions attending law school and focusing on immigration policy. But seeing her grandmother again is never far from her mind. “One promise we made to each other is that she wouldn’t die on me,” Karina says. “She would wait for me to have my first baby. I want one day to go back and be able to present her with my baby.” n
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BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 33
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april witt’s
suburban•ology
Keeping It Real Four rules to eat by John Norman remembers when most Americans thought of kale as a garnish— if they thought of it at all. He’s lived that cultural shift. He and his brothers started selling fruits and vegetables from roadside stands in 1987. In 2007, the Potomac-based Norman’s Farm Market opened a CSA program offering locallygrown fruits and vegetables. It now has 1,000 members and seven pickup locations in or near Bethesda each week, and uses social media to communicate schedule changes instantly to customers. Still, having choices isn’t the same as finding clarity. Growing up in the suburbs in the 1960s, I remember being taught just a few simple food rules, such as “never talk with your mouth full.” Proliferating options and information have made eating so complicated today that Michael Pollan, the best-selling author and foodie intellectual, felt compelled to write Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual (Penguin Books, 2009). It’s full of pithy guidance, such as “avoid foods containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce” and “the whiter your bread, the sooner you’ll be dead.” I’ve come up with a few of my own rules for navigating the healthy-food revolution:
Don’t be greenwashed. Greenwashing is the new whitewashing. As demand for healthy food burgeons, so do incentives for portraying products as somehow good for you—whether they are or not. Hence the proliferation of the largely meaningless label “natural” affixed to products such as oversweetened box cereals that are anything but healthy. Last time I checked, the chemical element arsenic was “natural.” But I wouldn’t want to eat any. Know your farmer. If you want to know what you’re eating, there’s no substitute for asking the farmer who grew or raised the food. Maravell, who sold me that steak, serves on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board and advocates for stricter food labeling laws. Grohsgal, who sold the salad greens, is a cookbook author and former chef who has degrees in botany and soil science. I trust their advice and the food they sell. Don’t just read labels, demand better labeling. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require food labels to say if a product was made with geneti-
claudine hellmuth
I grilled filet mignon one night recently and ate it with salad greens tossed with buttermilk blue cheese dressing. The meal sounds retro, as if it should be served in a dark booth by a waitress pushing martinis. It was actually new American cuisine, Bethesda-style. The steak came from Nick Maravell of Potomac, who raises certified organic chickens, turkeys and grassfed cattle in the Frederick Valley. I bought the salad greens at a Chevy Chase farmers market from the man who grew them: Brett Grohsgal of Even’ Star Organic Farm in Lexington Park. Even’ Star makes boxed deliveries to Bethesda nearly year-round for members of the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program or CSA. Now that the health problems associated with a Western diet of highly-processed, commercially-produced foodlike substances loaded with cheap sweeteners have become well known, affluent places like Bethesda offer a cornucopia of healthier options. In my ZIP code, kale is the new Wonder Bread. It’s such a household staple that panicked shoppers strip every leaf from produce aisles in grocery stores whenever hurricanes or snowstorms threaten.
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suburban•ology
cally modified organisms, or GMOs. Polls show that most Americans want to know. Vermont this year became the first state to require labeling of GMO foods. In Maryland, similar legislation never made it out of committee. Follow the money. Conglomerates that manufacture heavily-processed food products have bought many of the smaller organic brands associated with the healthyeating trend. That should concern consumers, according to Michigan State University Associate Professor Philip H. Howard, who tracks such consolidations. Some large corporations have weakened ingredient standards for their new subsidiaries and lobbied against the kind of full-disclosure labeling that their organic customers likely favor. If you need a primer on why it’s important to be vigilant when grocery shopping, look no further than the legal battle between POM Wonderful,
which made pomegranate juice a bestseller, and Coca-Cola. At issue is a beverage sold under Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid brand that is prominently labeled “Pomegranate Blueberry” but contains just 0.3 percent pomegranate juice and 0.2 percent blueberry juice. POM Wonderful sued Coca-Cola for false advertising. Lower courts dismissed the suit, deciding that calling a beverage “Pomegranate Blueberry,” even when it is 99.4 percent grape and apple juice, doesn’t violate FDA rules. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, recently allowed POM Wonderful’s suit to go forward, saying that Coca-Cola’s labeling practices “allegedly mislead and trick consumers, all to the injury of competitors.” Even so, I’m not sure there’s a clear moral high ground when it comes to the big business of selling commercial juices. The Federal Trade Commission found last year that POM Wonderful had decep-
tively advertised its juice and dietary supplements and had insufficient evidence to support claims that its products reduced the risks of heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. The commission banned company marketers from claiming that its products are “effective in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any disease.” In the interest of keeping life simple, I try to avoid foods that require the services of corporate legal departments. I’ll be serving steak again soon. Only this time I’ll make cauliflower “steak,” thick slices of the dense vegetable, seasoned, seared and topped with herb salsa verde. If I want a glass of juice with that, I’ll make my own. n April Witt is a former Washington Post writer who lives in Bethesda. To comment on this column or suggest ideas, email aprilwitt@hotmail.com.
B L A C K ’ S B A R & K I TC H E N . STILL FRESH.
C O M E B Y A N D J O I N U S I N C E L E B R AT I O N O F O U R 1 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y. 7 7 5 0 W O O D M O N T AV E | B E T H E S D A , M D | 3 0 1 . 6 5 2 . 5 5 2 5 | B L AC K S B A R A N D K I TC H E N .C O M
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Text by Teddy Amenabar | Photo by Michael Ventura
The custom-made cabinets feature thick glass shelves to hold the weight of the toy soldiers, which are made of lead.
Denger is holding a model of Lawrence of Arabia, which is from a collection of characters from the classic 1962 British film.
Zulu, a historical war film made in 1964, showed how a small force of British soldiers held off a large number of Zulu warriors in 1879. Denger says he has watched the movie hundreds of times. He used to own almost a dozen copies, but kept giving them to people who hadn’t seen the movie.
This is the second of five volumes of a history of the French and Indian War written by the Rev. John Entick and published in 1763, according to Denger.
The British soldiers wore red uniforms so commanders could see the troops through the smoke from artillery and muskets, Denger says.
Denger set up soldiers on the table to reenact an “idealistic” version of a battle at Fort Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War. Two major battles of the war occurred at the fort in upstate New York.
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myStuff
This model fort was made by a Florida man who specialized in building structures for collections. It took six to eight months to place all of the stones by hand, Denger says.
The War Room As a child growing up in Iowa, Michael Denger was a big fan of the 1958 TV series Northwest Passage, an action-packed account of the French and Indian War, and enjoyed playing with his neighbor’s set of toy soldiers. The 68-year-old Chevy Chase resident also remembers visiting Vaughan’s seed store in downtown Chicago, where tiny replica troops were for sale on the second floor. Many years later, during a family vacation in London in 1985, all those memories came rushing back when Denger spotted a store full of toy soldiers made of lead just like those from his childhood. He decided to buy a few—representing the conflicts of the late 1870s between British soldiers and the Zulu tribe—to start a collection. Denger, who retired in 2012 after 41 years practicing law, now owns thousands of toy soldiers, almost all replicating British redcoats hailing from roughly 1690 to 1890. “We’ve lost an entire room in the first floor of our house” to the collection, says Denger’s wife, Mary. Ranging from five-eighths of an inch to just under 3 inches tall, the mini militias fill cabinets around a glassenclosed diorama. The display room originally was used by his wife as an office. Denger agreed to an extensive renovation of the basement to convince her to trade spaces. “If I have to buy any more [soldiers], I have to sell some,” Denger says, adding that he’s already given away hundreds. Modeled after Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, the pool table-size diorama depicts an “ideal”—but not realistic—conflict of the French and Indian War. Having been infatuated with the Brits for so long, “I couldn’t have the French winning,” Denger says. n
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people
Go Figure
watcher
of MCPS graduates who 51.4 Percentage earned a college-ready score of 3 or
By Maura Mahoney
higher on at least one AP exam in 2013
of Maryland high school 29.6 Percentage graduates who earned a college-ready score of 3 or higher on at least one AP exam in 2013 Source: Montgomery County Public Schools
The Play’s the Thing
The Teen Beat Evan Candelmo and several classmates at Bethesda’s Walter Johnson High School were looking for a way to provide their own takes on music and fashion. After the YouTube channel they created proved to be a less-thanideal medium for what they wanted to do, the students began publishing an online magazine called Line-Up (www. lineup-mag.com) last year. “Lots of kids don’t necessarily get into the magazine market,” says Evan, now a junior and the magazine’s editor in chief. But the 10 Covers for online students decided a magazine made magazine Line-Up sense after they couldn’t procure enough interviews to produce videos for YouTube. “All the interview offers were for phone or email,” Evan says. “We also realized we had a lot of strong writers.” None of the students had magazine experience, and none had worked on their school newspaper, but soon they were turning out original articles and splashy layouts like old pros. “We pride ourselves on being all teenagers,” Evan says, and “have gotten no help from grown-ups on writing, marketing, editing and promoting.” Thirty kids are now involved, working as models, photographers and writers for the magazine, which gets 25,000 unique visitors per issue, according to Evan. “We hope to continue through high school,” he says. “We’re really proud of the product.”
Big Yellow Taxi’s Russell Ginns
Fun and Games “I’ve always loved smart fun,” says Bethesda resident Russell Ginns, who has made a career out of teaching through entertaining. Ginns is a game designer, video producer, painter, writer and composer who specializes in interactive family education. Currently executive producer for Big Yellow Taxi, a creative agency with offices in Bethesda and New York, he has written dozens of board books for kids—“I love telling people that I’m the author of Is There a Chance You’ve Seen My Pants,” he says—designed board games and software, developed apps for Hooked on Phonics, and created talking electronic telephones for Sesame Street. His music videos have racked up more than 20,000 views on YouTube. Ginns’ latest project is The Big Reading Show, which he calls “a musical extravaganza for preschoolers, filled with games and interactive stories that teach foundational reading skills.” Look for the free app on iOS and Android devices this fall.
Kelly Van Dilla (erbacher); evan candelmo; russell ginns
Budding artistic director Tracey Erbacher
Tracey Erbacher says her passion for directing began when she took (former Bethesda Magazine contributor) Matthew Boswell’s directing class at BethesdaChevy Chase High School. Erbacher graduated in 2009 and went on to Vassar College, where she directed The House of the Spirits and became artistic director/producer of a classical and Shakespearean theater group. After earning a bachelor’s degree in drama in 2013, she returned to Chevy Chase, determined to pursue her dreams. So far, so good: Erbacher is now the associate artistic director of Theatre Prometheus, a new company in the D.C. metro area that is dedicated to “nurturing the fire of emerging artists and audiences.” She was expected to direct Twelfth Night at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda in late August and says it’s “great to be back, working where I grew up.”
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people
Award-winning mystery writer Martha Grimes of Bethesda returns to one of her most popular characters, Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury, in Vertigo 42, published by Scribner in June. Jury has a fresh investigation: the death of Tess Williamson, which was ruled an accident caused by vertigo but, her husband insists, was actually murder. A story of friendship and deception that spans 25 years, the book interweaves references to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film Vertigo, although the inspiration for the title came from the name of a champagne bar at the top of Tower 42 in London’s financial district, according to Grimes. “All of the Jury book titles come from the name of a pub...I found that name irresistible. And then I realized that someone in the book would have to fall from a tall building,” she says.
Neely Tucker, a veteran reporter and author of the successful memoir Love in the Driest Season (Fusion Press, 2004), published his first novel, The Ways of the Dead (Viking Adult) in June. The Bethesda resident, who currently writes for The Washington Post Magazine and the newspaper’s Style section, says the book, the first in a two-part series, was inspired in part by the Princeton Place murders that occurred in Washington, D.C., in the 1990s. It features Sully Carter, whom Tucker describes as “a journalist and half-drunk attitude case from Louisiana.” Carter is covering the slaying of the daughter of a powerful D.C. judge, which he believes might be related to other unsolved homicides. A portrait of race relations and the power of the media, The Ways of the Dead is the story of “a guy who walks out of a Tom Waits song and into a crime scene,” Tucker says.
Poet and musician Terence Winch says “My Life,” the first poem in his latest collection, This Way Out (Hanging Loose Press, 2014), “sets up an opposition between surface autobiography—my life—and the deeper realities of our interior life—me. Most of the poems in the book come out of the strange interplay between these two forces.” One of the book’s highlights is a poem called “X-Man,” which was inspired by the experience of obtaining his Irish mother’s birth certificate and realizing that her father, who had signed it with an “X,” must have been illiterate. Two other poems, “The Emptiness” and “The Moor Child,” are about “being a father, in one way or another,” the Silver Spring resident says. Winch, who won an American Book Award for Irish Musicians/American Friends (Coffee House Press, 1985) and whose work is often known for its comic element, has published six books of poems and two story collections as well as numerous other writings.
The son of two statisticians, Jordan Ellenberg grew up in Potomac and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in 1989. He excelled in math, competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad and winning a silver and two gold medals. After graduating from Harvard University, he earned a master’s degree in fiction writing from Johns Hopkins University, and then returned to Harvard for a doctorate in math. Now a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he has written How Not To Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking (The Penguin Press HC, 2014). Ellenberg says he wrote the book to appeal to a broad audience; it draws from 3,000 years of mathematical history as well as the latest theoretical developments to show how mathematical ideas are an integral part of human reasoning. “Math is too important to be left to mathematicians,” he says.
All books courtesy of Barnes & Noble
Book Report
watcher
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Peter Fosselman
All books courtesy of Barnes & Noble; peter Fosselman; brendan rich
What’s on Your Nightstand?
Former Bethesda Magazine contributor Susan Coll says she got the idea to write The Stager (Sarah Crichton Books, 2014) while she was selling her home in Bethesda, where she lived for 12 years before moving to Washington, D.C., in 2007. “Our Realtor suggested we have the house staged, which I’d never heard of before, but it’s someone who comes in and makes lots of cosmetic fixes to the house,” she says. “It’s a very strange experience to have a stranger mucking around in your personal space. I thought that this was a rich setup. What if someone comes in who has no boundaries, or who has some kind of different intent, or who knows you from an earlier time in your life?” And so her novel tells the story of the Jorgenson family—Bella, an investment banker; Lars, a former tennis star; and their daughter, Elsa, a precocious 10-yearold—and what happens when Eve Brenner, a former journalist, stages their Bethesda home. Coll is the events and programs director at Politics & Prose bookstore in Northwest D.C., and the author of the novels Beach Week (Sarah Crichton Books, 2010), Acceptance (Picador, 2008), Rockville Pike (Thorndike Press, 2005) and karlmarx.com, (Simon & Schuster, 2001).
Peter Fosselman is the mayor of Kensington as well as a Maryland deputy secretary of state, so time for R&R can be hard to come by. But Fosselman says nothing helps him unwind more than a good read; he recently finished F. Scott Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (Scribner, 1922). The book tells the story of a young married couple during the Jazz Age, and, according to Fosselman, “It reminded me of my maternal grandparents, who had a similar age difference and lifestyle. The book causes one to appreciate those you adore and love.”
A-W-E-S-O-M-E In many ways, Colby and Twelve-year-old twins Colby Dylan Rich of Silver Spring (left) and Dylan Rich are the are typical 12-year-old boys “Silver Spring Scrabblers.” who love playing soccer, lacrosse and video games with friends. But it’s their skill at playing an old-fashioned board game—Scrabble—that sets the twin brothers apart from other adolescent gamers. Colby, a seventh-grader at Sligo Middle School, says that he and Dylan, a seventhgrader at Eastern Middle School, started playing the game at age 6 and won their first tournament at age 9. In April, the boys earned the highest score (136 points) for any one word and notched the highest score of all sixth-graders participating in the National School Scrabble Championship for students in grades four through eight in Providence, R.I. The boys play as a team, the “Silver Spring Scrabblers,” which Dylan says “can be a little complicated, because sometimes we get mad at each other.” But he agreed with Colby that “it’s really good to play with someone you know.” Their dad, Brendan Rich, an associate professor of psychology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., says, “It’s just been really fun to watch them play . . . it blows my mind, the words they know.”
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people
Ellouise Schoettler
watcher Cobrain and CareerBuilder. com founder Rob McGovern
Tell Me a Story “Storytelling keeps me alive,” says Chevy Chase resident Ellouise Schoettler, whose career as a professional storyteller began more than 20 years ago, when an interest in genealogy inspired a curiosity in personal stories beyond cataloging births and deaths. Now she tells her original tales all over the country at festivals, colleges and libraries, and to genealogical societies, and has been the host of two programs on storytelling on Montgomery Municipal Cable Channel 16 since 2008. In July, she performed for the fifth consecutive year at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. This year’s performance was something of a departure; instead of a personal story, she told the tale of the World War I “Hello Girls,” American women who served as telephone operators in the Signal Corps near the battlefields in France, and who then faced another battle at home after the war, when the U.S. Army denied them benefits for 60 years. “I like new challenges,” Schoettler says of telling someone else’s story. “I am loving it, and I really connected to this one—it took me back to my days as an activist for the Equal Rights Amendment. We stand on the shoulders of these women.” Catch her performing the story of the “Hello Girls” again at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Athenaeum in Alexandria, Va.
Shopping 2.0
Kenyan student portraits by Landon School student Ashton Duplessie (left) and classmates.
The Art of Giving During the summer of 2013, Ashton Duplessie, now a senior at Landon School in Bethesda, volunteered for nearly a month at the Nyumbani Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya, which provides food, shelter, education, and medical and holistic care for orphans who are HIVpositive. “It was one of the best experiences of my life,” Duplessie says of the trip, which was arranged through KEST (Kenya Educational Service Trips) in Rockville. The Bethesda teen wanted to build a stronger bond with the children he’d met, and to expand that connection to his classmates. So he and Landon art teacher Walt Bartman organized a dozen students to help paint portraits from photos of the 13 students who were graduating from the home’s secondary school. “Art can influence and connect different parts of the world,” Duplessie says. The children “don’t have many material things of their own. I wanted to give them a special keepsake.” When the portraits were finished, Lloydie Triplett Zaiser, founder and director of KEST, traveled to Kenya to give them to the graduates. “I am really impressed with Ashton’s commitment,” Zaiser says. “These are children that don’t remember their parents. They want to be special to someone…this told them that ‘someone in America cared about me.’ ” Duplessie says he plans to organize another painting project to create portraits of next year’s graduates, and hopes to return to the home next summer. Maura Mahoney lives in Chevy Chase. Send People Watcher tips to peoplewatcher @bethesdamagazine.com.
ellouise schoettler; Rob Mcgovern; Tom DiChiara (duplessie)
Looking to update your wardrobe, but feeling overwhelmed by all the online choices? Chevy Chase resident Rob McGovern, founder of CareerBuilder.com, wants to help. Last May, McGovern launched Cobrain, whose free app allows consumers to simplify their online apparel shopping. After users supply preferred brands, styles and prices, the app provides personalized options drawn from more than 300 retail partners, such as Macy’s, Old Navy, Gap and Nordstrom. McGovern says Cobrain, which has an office in Bethesda, differs from other website recommendations in two ways. “One, we draw from nearly almost all of the products that exist, because our partners represent nearly all of the retail market, and two, we are intensely focused on personal data, not what’s popular,” he says. “You teach it who you are and what you like. [Also], the app is very social…you follow your Facebook friends and you can see what they think is cool.” McGovern started thinking about “collaborative intelligence” in 2009 after a car accident left him with a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for several months, and spent a year in the hospital. As he was recovering, he had an epiphany: “What if we could all share each other’s brainpower to make each other smarter?” he says. So he began developing an algorithm in his hospital bed, which led to Cobrain. “My passion is to develop technology to change people’s lives, help them make better decisions, and be happier,” he says.
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story of my life
by Erin Jones
Preserving Time When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I saw the spirited woman I had always admired begin to fade. When I was a little girl, descend-
ing the basement stairs of my grandmother’s log cabin in Vermont always felt as though I had stumbled upon a pioneer woman’s root cellar on the prairie. In addition to vintage toys and dusty books from my mother’s childhood, Grandma’s shelves were stocked with colorful mason jars full of jams, jellies and pickles that she had preserved from the produce of her garden. At breakfast, sweet raspberry jam frosted crisp rye toast, and cold cut sandwiches at lunch came with a dill
pickle, so fresh it snapped with each bite. As a teenager, I flew up to Vermont alone to stay with my grandparents for a week. My grandmother taught me how to make fruitcake and scour the mossy side of the mountain for morel mushrooms. Berry season had ended, and the once bountiful raspberry bushes were barren, but she promised to teach me preserving. Someday. I was well into my 20s and she in her 80s the next time I was in Vermont for any considerable length of time. I was an English teacher living in North Bethesda
and studying English at a summer graduate program an hour from my grandparents’ property. After spending most of my life a 10-hour drive away, I made a point to visit them as often as possible. But that wasn’t the only reason I wanted to spend more time with my grandmother: Two years earlier she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In the time since her diagnosis, phone conversations had grown shorter, and I often had to repeat my answers to her questions. Any notions I had that she
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might be able to teach me the art of preserving had long faded and given way to the challenges of her daily routine. The changes in her were subtle. She sat on the couch in mismatched clothes chatting pleasantly while my aunt cooked, cleaned and ran the house. “Was the drive down here difficult? Are you making friends at school? Are you enjoying your classes?” I would explain it all, wryly throwing in details that I knew would elicit a witty response. “Last night we watched The Shining in a barn in the woods,” I told her. Cue disapproving and scornful stare. “Why, pray tell?” “This weekend we had a crazy party in which one of the students showed up wearing only kale.” “Horrors! I hope it was securely fastened.” I laughed. “And when are your mother and father
going to be here?” “Remember they are in Maryland?” I reminded her softly. “I’m up here by myself for school.” “Of course, that’s right. Be sure to call us when you get back safely.” As I drove back to my apartment after each visit, my thoughts were haunted by memories of the Grandma of my childhood who bustled around the kitchen, glass of merlot in hand, interrupting conversations with comments about “that jackass Regis Philbin” on the TV. Although there were moments when I could pretend that the diagnosis had never occurred, it was hard to ignore that her spark was gone. I tried to soak in the details of each visit: our conversations, her expressions, the sound of the stillness around the mountain cabin. But I still left weighed down by the knowledge that later she might not remember I had been there at all.
I returned that summer to North Bethesda with a clock ticking in my ears. How much of her memory would have slipped away the next time I saw her? So many stories would be untold; so many lessons and skills untaught. As I sat in traffic, walled in by highrises and shopping centers, I could feel the mental fresh air I had found in Vermont beginning to dissipate. I couldn’t pause my life and flee to Vermont to live under Grandma’s final tutelage, but while she was still alive and alert, I was determined to honor her legacy. Autumn was approaching, but in the lingering days of summer there was still time to preserve. I set out to find which fruits were in season and discovered that Butler’s Orchard in Germantown had raspberries. I scoured the Internet and found articles and video tutorials on how to make raspberry jam. I made shopping lists, minute-by-minute timelines and
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cross-referenced recipes and instructions to ensure that I hadn’t missed anything. My first free Saturday morning, I drove up to Germantown to harvest raspberries. Avoiding bees and thorns, I labored in the sun, trying to pretend the suburbs weren’t lurking through the trees that lined the farm. That afternoon I returned home with two blue cartons overflowing with plump raspberries and began turning my kitchen into a canning factory. Clean dish towels? Check. Mason jars disassembled? Check. Cookie sheet with cooling rack to drip dry? Check. Pot to boil jars? No! A quick Target run and the jam-making headquarters was back in business. As the raspberries melted into a syrup and boiled on the stove, I waited for the first catastrophe—suburban girls can’t make jam, I kept thinking. After I poured the thickening syrup into jars and sealed them tight, I rigged
up a contraption made by tying yarn to a colander and placed them carefully into the water. When the timer rang, I raised the jars from the boiling depths and, after some precarious transporting with grilling tongs against slippery glass, lined them up to cool. After a glass of wine and a gargantuan cleaning of the kitchen, I checked the neat little row of jars. Bracing myself for a syrupy slop of failure, I gingerly turned one of the jars on its side. The mixture shifted only slightly, holding firmly to the shape of the jar in a manner that looked suspiciously like…jam. I ran to the other room, picked up the phone and dialed my grandmother. “I have something to tell you,” I said. “I made jam today from raspberries I picked at a farm.” “How wonderful!” she said. “That will be great for your self-confidence.” We exchanged further pleasantries and then hung up—she doesn’t have the patience
to stay long on the phone these days— but I couldn’t stop thinking about her comment. It wasn’t the response I had expected, but something in those words resonated with me. I thought that day had been about learning to make jam, but I realize now it was about something much bigger. I may be a part of the multitasking, sitting-intraffic, smartphone generation, but I also have a few things in common with my independent and feisty grandmother. I learned that day that as Grandma fades, I can take inspiration from her hardworking ingenuity and make jam. n Erin Jones of North Bethesda is a freelance writer and an English teacher. She is pursuing a master's degree through the Bread Loaf School of English, a summer graduate school at Middlebury College in Vermont. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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re• INVENTION Bethesda’s Julia Farr counts Jill Biden and CNN chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash among her clients.
Fashion Forward After a personal tragedy, an attorney turns a lifelong passion into a new career By age 4, Julia Farr would lay out
outfits to wear after her nap. In high school she worked at fashion boutiques during vacations in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and often helped her mother and sister pick out clothes. “I got the same joy from dressing them as I did dressing me,” she says. “They knew what they liked but didn’t
know if it was the right thing for them or the occasion.” Still, Farr, 47, never considered fashion as a career: “I didn’t think you could make something that you loved that much your career,” she says. After graduating from Georgetown University and Catholic University law school, Farr
began practicing law at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart (now K&L Gates) and eventually became chief compliance officer and counsel for what is now Sotherly Hotels. In 2009, her former husband passed away, and Farr found herself with sole responsibility for their three children, now 18, 15 and 12. After 17 years as an attorney, she began searching for a career that was both personally fulfilling and more flexible. “I knew I wanted my own business, where I could leave and lock the door if I needed to,” says Farr, who lives in Bethesda. Four years ago, Farr opened her eponymous boutique and wardrobe makeover business in Washington, D.C.’s Friendship Heights. Now she counts the vice president’s wife, Jill Biden, and CNN chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash among the clients she helps dress for meetings, dinners, trips or special occasions. Bash says Farr has an incredible knack for helping choose pieces that make her feel good about herself. “If it’s for a big work event, she will help me feel confident and authoritative, which matters a lot in what I do,” Bash says. “If it is for a fun event where I want to feel young, fresh and—dare I say—sexy, she will steer me to something that is perfect.” On the ground floor of a two-story town house on 44th Street, NW, Farr’s boutique is a luxurious respite from department store shopping. A large window bathes the space in natural light, while bleached floors, soft turquoise textured walls and chic French-style furnishings give the space a feminine feel. In the back are fashions from emerging designers such as Gregg Pellegrini, Susana Monaco, Gomez-Gracia, Catherine Malandrino and Ports 1961. “They are fresh and creative,” Farr says. “They’re trying things each season in a bold, expressive way that you might not see from a seasoned designer.” About half of her sales come from her own line, launched two years ago with friend Ann Prochnow, who formerly worked for Ralph Lauren. Designed pri-
michael ventura
By Karen Watkins
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marily for the professional woman, the Julia Farr Collection features pieces named after Washington, D.C., landmarks: the Sequoia top, the Dumbarton dress and the M Street skirt. Farr provides tips on how to wear each piece on the collection’s website. Making the switch from the corporate world to entrepreneur required on-thejob training. “Everything I’ve done here I’ve had to learn myself,” she says. Farr found that analyzing financials for a company was a lot different from dealing with your own. “It becomes personal,” she says. But her law career proved to be an asset. “It helped me to read, write and think critically,” she says. It also taught her how important clothes are in making an impression. “Fashion should be an expression of yourself,” she says. The willowy Farr is nearly 5 feet 10 inches tall and is a self-proclaimed min-
imalist. When meeting clients, she typically wears a dress or a pencil skirt and silk blouse, with either boots or slingback shoes. Her favorite designer is Ralph Lauren Black Label. Elise Joyce of Potomac says Farr helped her pick the perfect dress for her daughter’s wedding. “I got so many compliments on that dress,” she says—and she’s been able to wear it on several other occasions. Joyce also hired Farr to sort through her closet, an experience she described as “cathartic.” Equipped with a rolling rack, Farr gave a “no” or a “yes” to each item, while also whittling down the number of similar pieces. Then she left Joyce with a list of items to add. “She’s sensitive to your look and doesn’t pressure you,” Joyce says. Michelle Pablo of Northwest D.C. echoes the sentiment: “She chose things for me that I never would have taken off the rack.” Under Farr’s guidance, Pablo
shook off her dark conservative suits from her days in finance and embraced fresher dresses and unstructured jackets for her role as a sales consultant. Farr says most women approach her closet consultations (which cost $150 per hour) with trepidation. “They’re exposing themselves a certain way. But I tell them to trust me; when I leave, they’re going to feel a certain lightness they haven’t felt in a long, long time.” Though running her own business and raising three children requires a “daily balancing act,” Farr isn’t looking back. “I am doing what I love most, and my family sees that and supports me. What could be better?” n Freelance writer Karen Watkins can be reached at karenwnm@aol.com. To comment on this story, email comments@ bethesdamagazine.com.
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work related
As told to Jacob Bogage
The Judge Katherine Savage, 69, youth advocate and retired associate judge I first got involved in Teen Court when I was a prosecutor in the mid1990s. We wanted to take these kids, these respondents, who are in trouble, and have a court procedure where they’re judged by their peers and then they themselves become jurors. We wanted to shift something in their minds, and that was from becoming one of the problem kids to one of the problem solvers and one of the constructive kids. We’ve had 4,700 kids as respondents and, by now, around 3,000 volunteers, and many of our volunteers come back.
About three years ago, a young man landed at my doorstep as a candidate to be my law clerk. He said, “Oh, I remember you, Judge Savage from Teen Court.” Of course, that was a very smart thing to say in an interview to be my law clerk. Lo and behold, he got hired and he was wonderful. Here he had gone from Teen Court in high school, to college, to law school, to my law clerk. I was so proud of him, and now he is doing very, very well at one of the local law firms. This past March it was 17 years [from] when we did our first Teen Court case.
When I first started working in juvenile court as a prosecutor, I realized how vulnerable these children were and how ripe they were for intervention. I loved working with the kids, even though I was prosecuting them. I was a prosecutor for about 10 years in the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, and then I ran [successfully] for district court judge in 1997. In 2000, I started to work exclusively in juvenile court, and then in 2002 our juvenile court became a part of the circuit court, so I ran to be a circuit court judge.
skip brown
for the Montgomery County Circuit Court
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I worked in criminal and civil, but I did a fair amount in juvenile court and family court. When I retired in November [2013], I was doing sort of a hybrid rotation of family and CINA [Child in Need of Assistance] cases. It was really kind of a labor of love, but that’s sentimental. I was always interested in not just being in juvenile court, but also in developing programs that would help this population. When you’re working with kids and with families, you want to be open to as many ideas as possible, to not only safeguard the community, but also to build in services [and] programs that will benefit the child so that he or she can move on in a way that helps that child mature. I started the Preparing for Success program for high school girls with the Women’s Bar Association and a number of attorneys and other people who are interested in the same population. We put on an all-day program of workshops [each fall] for girls getting ready to apply to college. We’ve been doing that for 14 years. After the first forum we had more money than we spent, so we took that money and that was the beginning of the Women’s Bar Foundation Scholarship Fund. This year we’re giving five scholarships to Montgomery College students and five to future law school students. To date, we have given just short of $120,000 in scholarship money. There’s another thing that I started when I was in juvenile court: the mentoring program. A lot of these kids don’t have consistent parenting. Outside of the courtroom they need some consistency, they need stability, they need mature adult guidance. I work part time now and it’s great. You get more flexibility, but you still get to work and you get to work in a court. It’s never boring. Everybody brings their own problems into court hoping for a solution, looking for somebody to help them, and that’s what you’re there for. n
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person
of interest
By Jacob Bogage
The Explorer The wonders of nature are everywhere. And John Francis wants to show them to us. The Antarctic Peninsula looks like another planet to John Francis. He says the spontaneous waterfalls that erupt after a hard rain on Chile’s Robinson Crusoe Island are awe-inspiring. And he proclaims the biodiversity and cultural marvels in Bhutan are unlike anywhere else in the world. As vice president of research, conservation and exploration at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., Francis travels around the world in hopes of awakening people to the beauty of nature, often accompanying filmmakers or scientific researchers who have received a grant from the nonprofit organization. “Everyone can be an explorer,” says Francis, 59, who lives in Silver Spring with his wife, Nancy, and sons John Paul, 19, and Will, 14. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of opening your eyes.” Francis also created and leads National Geographic’s BioBlitz program, an annual 24-hour event in which members of the public—“citizen scientists” as he calls them—help professional scientists catalog species in a national park. The first, held in 2007 in Rock Creek Park, drew several hundred participants. He expects 10,000 people at the May 2015 event in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Francis, who travels internationally about six times a year, says he developed his interest in nature growing up in Seattle “with the woods in my backyard.” His
maternal grandfather was an outdoorsman who fished and hunted frequently and spoke a couple Native American dialects; several cousins became park rangers. They introduced Francis to the wilderness, and his imagination caught fire. He explored the forests of the Pacific Northwest and camped out in his backyard. While working on his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Washington, Francis took a summer job with a professor observing seals for a scientific project on a couple of remote Alaskan islands. His salary paid for the rest of his undergraduate degree and part of graduate school at the university. Francis worked as an environmental filmmaker for six years before receiving a grant from National Geographic to spend two years on Robinson Crusoe Island studying Juan Fernandez fur seals. Working with two Chilean scientists, he stayed for a total of five years after receiving another grant, sleeping in tents and showering under waterfalls. Once, a seal chomped into his elbow while he was maneuvering a jerryrigged capture net. The Chileans nursed him back to health over the course of a week. The nearest hospital, he says, was 500 miles away. Francis returned from the island in 1993 and took a job as an associate television producer with National Geographic at its Washington headquar-
“Everyone can be an explorer,” says marine biologist John Francis, who’s traveled the world through the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C.
ters. A couple years later he moved to the research side of the organization. He doesn’t believe he’ll ever visit another place like Robinson Crusoe Island. “It was just magical,” he says. “I don’t think another place has been so impressive.” He got the idea for BioBlitz after conducting a weekend science experiment with son John Paul, then 8. The two set out to catalog which bugs would be attracted to white light versus black light when both were shone on a bedsheet hanging outdoors. Francis says it bothered him that he
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liz lynch
couldn’t identify the bugs they captured. “I’m not an entomologist,” he says. “I’m a marine biologist.” So Francis scoured the Internet in search of photos of the insects. Eventually he was able to identify 13. He says the research paid off when a small black bug got into the house that week and the father and son captured it, screaming “Hister beetle!” “By looking up that bug and investigating it, I came to love it,” Francis says. “I know other people will love it, too.” Francis pitched the idea of BioBlitz to National Geographic and the National Park Service, thinking the event would let others
inspect nature the way he had with his son. The two organizations teamed up a year later, agreeing to 10 excursions leading up the Park Service’s 100th birthday in 2016. Participants are armed with an “iNaturalist” app on their smartphones so they can take photos of plants or animals with tagged GPS locations and in minutes have them reviewed by scientists on-site. If the photos are good enough, they become scientifically documented for that national park. Those observations can help researchers track species populations in the park or discover new ones that have moved in, Francis says.
Francis hopes the trips—and the idea of citizen science—will continue beyond the Park Service’s anniversary. It’s the perfect way, he says, to get people to discover the world around them in a scientific way. “The whole idea of citizen science has become a loving activity for me,” he says. “We engage with nature all the time. Why not put it to scientific use?” n Jacob Bogage, who grew up in Olney, was a Bethesda Magazine intern. He is a junior in the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri.
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In a culture where winning is paramount, are some youth coaches doing more harm than good? By Stacey Colino
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michael ventura
xxxxxxxx By Archana Pyati | Photos by Hilary Schwab
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they begged their parents not to complain to the head coach, the athletic director or the principal of the school. Instead, many of the new players chose to tough out the season, but few of them returned to football after that. One of the former players, now a junior in high school, says, “To be honest, I was pretty turned off to organized sports after that season.”
“You’ve got to be able to identify what motivates each kid.” —Rob Keegan, MYHA
Cutthroat coaches running up
and down the sidelines screaming at their players are nothing new. We live in one of the wealthiest and most competitive communities in the country. The Bethesda area is rife with hard-driving, powerful people whose intensity can find a misplaced home in youth sports. Talk to any Bethesda-area parent with kids who play team sports and you’re likely to hear stories about coaches lambasting players during games, making unrealistic demands on kids’ time, and even getting into fights with referees, parents and other coaches. But the problem has become more pronounced in recent years thanks largely to the professionalization of youth sports, where kids with athletic talent are encouraged to start specializing in a particular sport at a young age. Colleges now regularly recruit kids before they get to high school— this spring, two Landon eighth-graders verbally committed to play lacrosse for University of Virginia, an NCAA powerhouse. It’s a trend that has fueled a fear among young athletes that they’ll fall behind if they don’t start playing seriously early on. “This is an area where there’s more pressure regarding status and prestige, and that extends to kids’ sports,” says Dr. Antonia Baum, a sports psychiatrist in Chevy Chase and vice president of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry. “Sports can seem like the golden ticket to getting into a good college.” Generally, kids can start playing in local leagues at age 5. Each year, about 23,000 teens participate in team sports through Montgomery County public high schools, and about 15,000 kids participate in MSI soccer. The Montgomery Youth Hockey Association (MYHA) currently has about 1,200 players between the ages of 5 and 18—nearly double the participation level from when Rob
michael ventura
n an October af te r no on i n 2012, two freshman fo otb a l l teams faced off at a local private school. It was the third game of the season for the visiting team, which had many players who were new to the sport. The players looked fresh and handsome in their clean uniforms. The only blemish came from the sidelines. “Two of the visiting coaches were screaming and cursing and ranting and raving,” recalls a father who attended the game. “It was kind of surreal.” The team had been billed as having an all-inclusive spirit. Freshmen were allowed to walk on without having to try out, whether they had played football in the past or not. But what happened during the game that day wasn’t a fluke. “They prioritized winning over all else,” recalls one player who rarely got onto the field. During practices, many of the newer players were told to sit on the sidelines and watch the A-team play. Two of the four coaches routinely yelled, cursed and insulted the weaker players to try to motivate them. “One of the coaches would physically grab kids and yell in their faces,” a mother from Chevy Chase recalls. “He would tell them how much they sucked. It got to the point where my son would come home from practice in the worst mood and say, ‘I hate this sport!’ ” Her son quit halfway through the season. “The head coach was verbally abusive,” says another mother, who lives in Upper Northwest D.C. “My son has learning issues, and I have worked my entire life to help him develop good self-esteem. Then I had to worry about a coach calling him a ‘f—ing retard’ or ‘a goddamn moron.’ It was all so demoralizing.” Because the players feared retribution,
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Practicing Proper Sideline Etiquette Being the coach of a youth sports team isn’t easy, but sometimes parents unwittingly make the job more challenging than it needs to be. Here are six things coaches wish parents would keep in mind.
“When someone important yells at you, it triggers the fight-or-flight response, which triggers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, to soar in the brain.” —Caroline Silby, sports psychologist
“When you sign up your child to be on a team, that’s a commitment, and your kids need to make it to games and practices. When I don’t have enough players because a bunch of kids went to a birthday party—that’s one of the most frustrating things because I’m giving up my free time to do this.” — Dr. James Gilbert, MSI soccer coach
“It is very frustrating to have parents shouting instructions like pass to John or shoot on goal. This diminishes the kids’ decision-making abilities, confuses them because they may not even know where John is, and often undermines or counters the coaches’ instructions. Parents don’t stand behind their kids in the classroom, shouting instructions about when to write notes, or how to answer a question. In fact, the mere concept of this seems stupid. But when they go onto the field, they quite happily tell them how to do everything.” — Sholto Stewart, DC Stoddert Soccer coach
“Some parents have a tendency to coddle if a kid slips and falls, has her hand stepped on or gets hit by the ball. I don’t want the parent to run out there and take their child off the field. If the kid acts like it’s not that serious, I’d rather have the kid keep playing. When parents rush in, it sets a bad example for the other kids, but mainly it disrupts the team. If someone really gets hurt, of course that needs to be attended to, but I try to help kids learn how to play through a certain number of things not going exactly right.”
Courtesy Photo
michael ventura
—Girls’ softball coach from Chevy Chase
Keegan, director of hockey operations for MYHA, began coaching in 1997. As the pressure to specialize in a particular sport at a young age has grown, a new model for coaching has emerged. A generation ago, coaches of youth teams often were volunteer parents who had other day jobs and coached on the side because they loved the sport and relished the opportunity to teach kids. It was a labor of love. That’s still true in many recreational leagues, but with the rise of club teams—particularly in soccer and lacrosse—professional coaches have entered the picture. For them, coaching kids can be a way to make a good living. “Coaches’ success is now measured by their win-loss records and what types of players they have and keep,” says Caroline Silby, a sports psychologist based in
“There are a lot of people [in the area] who are important, make a lot of money, and have power, and they’re competitive in nature—and they try to instill that into their kids. …They want to get their kids onto top teams so they can say their kid is on the A-team. The kids’ level of playing becomes a reflection of them. But often parents have trouble seeing their kids’ talent level realistically.” — Matt Procopio, club soccer coach
“You have to let coaches coach—and not interfere by insisting that your kid gets more playing time or plays a different position. Different kids respond differently to certain coaching suggestions: Some need to be pushed a little harder; that doesn’t mean we’re being mean to those players.” —Dr. James Gilbert, MSI soccer coach
“Don’t yell at or criticize the umpire or ref. It’s important for parents and coaches to model good sportsmanship and good behavior, regardless of the outcome. This teaches kids to do the same.” —Joel Adler, former Montgomery County Recreational League basketball coach and former B-CC baseball coach
— Stacey Colino
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“If Mildred feels the coach has faith in her abilities, she thrives. If she feels the coach has doubts about her abilities, she wilts.” —Erik Devereux, parent Potomac and author of Games Girls Play (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2001). And with that comes a lot of pressure on kids to play year-round. “I see coaches being inflexible, rigid or intense in their expectations of kids, often asking for a yearlong commitment even as young as 11 or 12,” says Keith Kaufman, a clinical psychologist based in Friendship Heights who specializes in sports psychology. “They aren’t very forgiving if a child makes a choice other than what the coach wants. It’s really hard for kids to hear that they’re not dedicated enough.” Three-sport athletes have become rare; instead, kids crowd baseball dia-
monds, lacrosse fields or basketball courts year-round. School-age athletes battle on turf fields, train in state-of-theart weight rooms and pay thousands of dollars a year to join elite travel teams. The message: Sports are serious business. Rob Kurtz, coach of the girls’ varsity soccer team at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, says he has noticed a significant change in the level of play and style of coaching since he started coaching in private leagues in 1999. “Since then, new leagues and new teams have come up that someone has devised to try to make money,” Kurtz says. “With some of the private coaches, their attitude is: They don’t work with parents. I don’t get
Whether we like it or not, coaches
are role models for kids, and they can have a profound effect on a child’s personal development. “Sports are a major way that youths in our culture develop a self-concept, and coaches are integral to that,” Kaufman says. Erik Devereux’s 16-year-old daughter, Mildred, has played on six travel softball teams since she was 10. “She has had very mixed coaching experiences,” says her father, a nonprofit management consultant in Silver Spring. “If she feels the coach has faith in her abilities, she thrives. If she feels the coach has doubts about her abilities, she wilts.” Being the target of shaming behavior puts a kid in the spotlight, and not in a good way. “It creates a bit of a scarlet letter effect—it’s like wearing an invisible L, for loser, on your head,” says Joel Adler,
joanne pietanza
Sixteen-year-old Mildred Devereux plays varsity softball at Montgomery Blair High School.
that. These parents are paying you. The idea that we’re creating separation and not coming together for the sake of the players makes me ill.” Michael Witt, coach of the Walt Whitman High School girls’ JV basketball team and a father of two in Bethesda, says this new model could trigger questions about a coach’s motives. “There are people making money doing this stuff with the club teams,” Witt says. “It’s important for coaches to ask themselves: Why do I coach? Is it for a love of sports and competition? A way to challenge kids on a physical, emotional and mental level? Because you enjoy being with the kids or you like being a part of the community?” There are many good coaches in private leagues, of course, and for every bad or abusive coaching story, there are an equal (if not greater) number of examples of coaches who inspire their players and instill time-honored values such as teamwork, discipline and self-confidence. But the intensity and negativity of some coaches raise a few worthwhile questions: Is bad coaching turning kids off to sports? Is it affecting their development in other ways? And when you step back and look at the whole picture, are some coaches doing more harm than good?
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a Bethesda-based clinical psychologist who regularly works with athletes and has coached kids’ baseball and basketball. It also produces a physical response in the body. “When someone important yells at you, it triggers the fight-orflight response, which triggers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, to soar in the brain,” Silby says. Two years ago, a Bethesda girl who’s now in eighth grade was placed on a travel basketball team with a coach who was very discouraging, a marked change from her previous experiences. Her father, a scientist, says the coach picked on her shooting technique and form without offering any constructive criticism. “He’d say things like, ‘You’ve got to get with the program,’ but he wouldn’t tell her what she was doing wrong or what the program was.” Eventually she quit the team. “She ended up being really spooked by this guy, and it really shook her confidence,” her dad says. Kaufman says he sees a lot of kids who feel their coach has unrealistic expectations. “The coach’s voice gets into their heads,” he says. “I think a lot of coaches don’t realize how much weight their messages carry.” Even kids who aren’t targeted can experience stress and fear from witnessing a critical outburst. “With some kids, it engenders a sense of anticipatory anxiety,” Adler explains. “This can lead them to wonder when the anvil is going to fall on them.” Psychologists say some coaches make a big mistake by trying to recapture their own athletic dreams through their players. “I have encountered plenty of coaches who carry out a vicarious sports passion gone awry that leads to an abuse of power,” Baum says. The upshot: a misguided intensity on the playing field and a desire to win at all costs. One Bethesda woman says this happened on her 9-year-old daughter’s soccer team. “During games, [the coach] would push the kids to score, score, score, even if they were crushing the other team,” says the mother of three. Practices were just as bad. “The coach sometimes made the girls sit in mud puddles because they were running around
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“We’re looking to de-emphasize the scoreboard and really look at what it means to win.” —Jake Wald, Positive Coaching Alliance them on the field,” the mom recalls, “and he would say sarcastic things to the girls that would make them cry.” Extreme intensity can be physically dangerous, too. In 2011, three football players at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville ended up in the ER after an overly strenuous preseason conditioning program. The boys, who had been asked to do push-ups on folding chairs in a weight room, developed varying severities of a potentially life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis (in which the muscle fibers break down and enter the bloodstream). Wootton athletic director Christopher Thompson says that after the incident, the school instituted a policy requiring coaches to meet with cer-
tified experts before starting any new strength-training programs. This is an extreme example, but experts say excessively rigorous training is common and can lead to overuse injuries and, more frequently, burnout. In recent years, Baum and Kaufman both have treated kids who either faked injuries or wished for them so they could sit out games and practices. “For me, the biggest red flag is kids feeling trapped,” Kaufman says, “like they can’t take a break because it’ll disappoint their coach or their parents.”
Stories like these can make parents think twice about whether they should let their children play organized sports. But it’s important to remember the lifechanging power of a positive relation-
ship between a coach and an athlete. Before his first two-day swim meet for a private team last January, Christopher Connelly, now 12 and in seventh grade at Westland Middle School in Bethesda, struggled with anxiety. Christopher’s mom, Mary, an attorney who lives in Chevy Chase, says his coach, Scott Bryant, did a wonderful job addressing her son’s fears. When Christopher said he was worried about all the people in the stands looking at him, his coach pointed out that most of them were parents watching their own kids and that only he and Christopher’s parents would be paying attention to him. He stressed to Christopher that they would be happy with his performance regardless of his time. Christopher was still too scared to compete that first day. On the second day, he mustered the confidence to swim in the 50-meter freestyle race. He came in third in his heat, and in the middle of the pack overall. Mary says Christopher’s confidence has blossomed. “It has been a transformative experience for him, and we have Coach Bryant to thank for that,” she says. “Sports provide an endless procession of teachable moments for kids—we want that to be at the forefront of coaches’ philosophy,” says Jake Wald, partnership manager for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Mid-Atlantic, which is based in Northwest D.C. “A good coach understands what kids need, and it has a lot less to do with teaching skills and drills than [imparting] life lessons and creating a fun environment for kids to compete.” There’s often a delicate balance between challenging kids physically and mentally, and going too hard on them. Coaches say there shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach, and that two key factors are the age of athletes and the level of play. You’d expect a more intense environment at the high school level than in middle school, and you’d also expect more competition and pressure on a travel team than in a local rec league. Coaches also have to consider personality differences among players.
Emily Hemphill
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Junior Ryan Dimmick, a quarterback for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School football team, developed confidence under a coach he had in sixth grade.
“Winning wasn’t the most important thing—but the coach always tried to find a way to win by playing to the kids’ strengths.” —Stacy Farrar, Ryan Dimmick’s mom
In her first season, Rushin took the team to an 11-13 record. Their record the previous year under her predecessor? 2-20.
To many parents, it may seem that the attributes of a good coach vary from sport to sport, but experts say the most important coaching principles are universal. For starters, it’s
important for coaches to be safetyminded, skilled at first-aid and trained in concussion-awareness. “I see us changing rules and getting stricter about not letting athletes play hurt,” says Dr. James Gilbert, an orthopedic surgeon who practices in Silver Spring and also works with the D.C. United and U.S. Soccer teams. “The pre-
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“You’ve got to be able to identify what motivates each kid,” says Rob Keegan of MYHA. “There are some kids with whom you have to be nothing but positive, and some kids with whom you have to raise your voice to get them to perform at a higher level.” Rob Kurtz, the girls’ varsity soccer coach at B-CC, says something that works for one player may not work for another. “There are some girls I really need to motivate because they don’t have intrinsic motivation. My eyes will get big and I’ll say, ‘I really need you to do X.’ Then there are girls I don’t have to say one word to except, ‘Thank you for playing tonight.’ ” Similarly, some kids will turn off if they’re critiqued in front of other players, says Witt, the girls’ JV basketball coach at Whitman. “Other kids don’t mind it because they like the challenge,” he says. Having a coach yell at a player isn’t inherently bad or inappropriate. “It depends on what they are yelling,” says William Beattie, director of system-wide athletics for Montgomery County Public Schools. “When a coach becomes demeaning or abusive in his or her comments, he or she has crossed a line.” It also depends how much a coach is yelling. “I’ve coached against teams where the other coach did nothing but scream and yell, and sometimes you see the players tune the coach out,” Keegan says. That’s the last thing a coach wants. Experts also stress that coaches can be positive and still win games. Hannah Clendenin, 19, played varsity basketball for four years at B-CC. She estimates she played a total of five minutes in the first two years. The coach “didn’t pay attention to me, and when he did, he yelled at me,” says Clendenin, now a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. Clendenin’s experience at B-CC improved dramatically in her senior year, when Jennifer Rushin, a physical education teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School, became the coach. “She gave us a lot of say about the kinds of plays we felt comfortable with. I loved it—and it wasn’t just me,” Clendenin says.
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vailing rule has become when in doubt, leave them out, especially when it comes to concussions.” But more than anything, a good coach is willing and able to focus on the kids, rather than on winning or his or her own ego gratification. To that end, the PCA encourages coaches to be “doublegoal coaches”—to aim to win on the field while also teaching life lessons through sports. If there’s a conflict between winning and teaching life lessons, the lessons part of the equation “should always win out,” Wald says. “We’re looking to de-emphasize the scoreboard and really look at what it means to win.” When Ryan Dimmick was in sixth grade, he had a football coach named Tim Conley who was especially good at that. “Winning wasn’t the most important thing—but the coach always tried to find a way to win by playing to the kids’ strengths,” says Ryan’s mom, Stacy Farrar, who lives in Silver Spring and has coached field hockey, softball and soccer. Farrar says Ryan developed a level of confidence under Conley that has stuck with him through the years—he’s now in 11th grade and a quarterback on the B-CC team. “When we recently ran into Tim, Ryan said he was one of his all-time favorite people,” Farrar says. “I could understand why.” Winning, according to the PCA, involves creating an environment that allows for kids’ mastery of the sport. The ideal way to do this is to emphasize the importance of giving your best effort (hustling), learning (becoming better than the day before) and bouncing back and learning from mistakes (developing resiliency). In June, Paul Tewksbury, a social worker and father of two in Silver Spring, saw his 11-year-old son, Stewart, learn all of these lessons at once. Stewart’s travel baseball team was in a playoff game against the toughest team in the league. Stewart’s team was winning, but the other team was coming back. “Stewart kept getting on base, but he got picked off twice—he was very upset
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with himself,” recalls his dad. “It was the first time I’d ever seen the kid shed a tear in baseball.” The coach told Stewart that he knew he was discouraged, but that he still felt Stewart was the best person to bring in to pitch. “He said the right stuff to boost his confidence and focus, then brought him in as pitcher,” says Tewksbury. Stewart shut down the other team, leading his team to victory. A good coach also fills the “emotional tank” of every player, according to the PCA. Encouragement and positive reinforcement are the best ways to motivate players. When it comes to feedback, the PCA says coaches should try to give kids five positive comments for every criticism—a 5-1 ratio, in other words. “If you can maintain that, you’re going to keep their emotional tanks full, they’ll be more receptive to negative criticism, and they’ll come back year after year,” Wald says. Good coaches honor the game by respecting the rules, opponents, officials, teammates and themselves. Rather than vilifying opponents, Wald says good coaches get kids excited about testing their skills against a tough team. Besides fostering good sportsmanship, this approach teaches kids to focus on working hard toward a desired outcome, while also learning how to lose gracefully and bounce back. Wald adds that a good coach also recognizes that games belong to the kids, while practices are theirs as coach. This helps build a sense of community on the team, which is ideal, because a cohesive team tends to play together better and support each other more. If anyone knows this, it’s Montgomery Blair High School’s Louis Hoelman, who was named the 2014 softball Coach of the Year by The Gazette. “He is a fantastic coach,” says Devereux, whose daughter, Mildred, plays on the Blair team in addition to a fast-pitch travel team. Not only is Hoelman beloved by his players, but he also knows how to build a cohesive, competitive team, parents say.
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LIVE IT UP DOWNTOWN
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“My litmus test is to make sure the head coach is a kind, gentle-hearted person,” Devereux says. “I want my daughter to be on a team that’s going to help her grow.” It’s not that Hoelman is a softie. “I expect the players to take it seriously and commit to the team,” says Hoelman, who has coached girls’ softball at Blair for 17 years. “We have built a culture where everyone wants to work hard for each other, and they pick each other up when someone makes a mistake. It’s their team and they buy into it.”
So what should you do if a coach’s
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style is having an adverse effect on your child? The first step is to approach the coach directly—or to have your child do so if he or she is old enough. (Don’t send an email blast to the whole team criticizing the coach; that’s likely to backfire.) Have your child tell the coach what he or she needs, Kaufman advises. A player might say, “It’s not helpful to me when you call me out in front of the team. I know you’re trying to motivate me, but here’s what I think would help me more.” Or as a parent, Silby says, you might say to the coach, “I want to share what I’m seeing and hearing from my child when he comes home because I’m concerned about confidence going down on the team.” Remember, Silby says, “You have the right as a parent to talk to the coach.” If the direct approach doesn’t help, you may want to encourage other parents to voice their concerns to the coach or the school’s athletic director. Different leagues have different ways of handling such complaints. In the MCPS system, the principal or athletic director will investigate the concern and take appropriate disciplinary actions, Beattie says. Doug Schuessler, executive director of MSI, says his soccer league has a coaches review committee that handles problems in a variety of ways— “from telephone calls that are essentially counseling to formal hearings with a group of peer coaches.” He says MSI receives about four complaints a year
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that are serious enough to go in front of the committee, and in his 13 years with MSI only a handful have resulted in long-term suspensions or dismissals. “The straw that breaks the camel’s back is when you come across a coach who doesn’t get it,” he says. “They just cannot imagine that there’s anything wrong with their behavior.” When minor problems are reported, Schuessler says counseling might include reminders not to constantly yell out to players on the field; to talk to and coach substitutes on the sidelines during games; and to find players who are doing something right and praise them for it. “No matter how many mistakes a player makes, there always is something you can find that they are doing well,” Schuessler says. If these steps fail to change the coach’s tactics, it may be time to look for another team or sport. “It’s really on the parents’ shoulders to determine if this is the right fit for your child,” Silby says. “If you don’t think it’s a healthy environment for your child, you need to find a program and a coach that’s a better fit.” Despite his love of flag football, a 10-year-old Bethesda boy struggled to stick with it because of the coach’s style. “He was a yeller and a screamer, and it was incredibly intimidating to the kids,” recalls the boy’s mother. “The kids were so worried about how the coach was going to react to what was happening on the field, and they cried a lot because there was so much pressure put on them.” She removed her son from the team after a season and switched him to a tackle football team whose coach had a gentler style. “It’s like any good relationship,” Silby says. “When the fit is good, athletes tend to feel empowered, and it builds growth, confidence and resilience”—all the things you want your child to gain from playing organized sports. n Stacey Colino lives in Chevy Chase and regularly writes about health, psychology and family issues for national magazines.
HOW TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF AN AFFAIR ON CHILDREN Mary S. Pence
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Education’s
NEW model By Julie Rasicot | Photos by Barbara L. Salisbury
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Honors biology students Sarah Reside (right) and teammate Luke Inman (at computer) present their ideas for improving the digestive system to a panel of AP biology students at Wheaton High School. Left: Teammate Elise Fisher places the group’s new organ into a model of the human body.
Traditional teaching methods aren’t doing enough to engage kids and prepare them for the 21st-century workplace. At Wheaton High School, teachers and students are exploring a hands-on approach to learning. By Julie Rasicot | Photos by Barbara L. Salisbury
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W
heaton High School classmates Sarah Reside, Elise Fisher and Luke Inman faced a dilemma: What should they call the new body organ they’d invented to solve common digestive problems such as acid reflux and peptic ulcers? Perched on stools in a biology lab one morning in early May, the team bandied about a few ideas. How about “the potato organ,” suggested Sarah, a freshman in Wheaton’s biomedical magnet program who wants to be a doctor. No one bit. Then Elise, a sophomore in the engineering magnet, came up with the more medical-sounding “esophageal gland.” But a quick Google search by Luke on a classroom laptop revealed that the esophageal gland already existed. Thinking fast, Elise suggested that he try “macroesophageal gland.” Luke, a freshman also studying engineering, tapped out the letters. No hits. Now the team had a cool name to go with the fantasy organ that they created out of deep-red modeling clay in the shape of a hot dog. Weeks of research led them to envision that the organ would make sodium bicarbonate to help the pancreas neutralize stomach acid, relieving the symptoms of troublesome digestive problems. “Basically, it’s your own biological Tums,” Sarah says. The three students were nearly ready for May 21, when all of the teams in Talia Turner’s honors biology class would present their ideas for improving the human body to a panel of AP biology students. The prize wasn’t that important—the winning team would receive lunch at Chipotle—but hopes of earning good grades and impressing the upperclassmen who sat on the panel had raised the stakes. “The AP bio students are gonna try and nitpick and see if we’ll crack under pressure,” Sarah warned her team.
Honors biology student Mimi Ho attaches labels to a model of a human leg.
“The AP bio students are scary,” Elise agreed.
In mid-April, Turner told her biology students that their final project would be on body systems. But the students were the ones who decided on the driving question: How can you make the human body run more efficiently in today’s environment? Students were required to research the body’s eight systems, pick one and then form a team with other students inter-
ested in improving the same system. The teams would spend the next five weeks researching ideas on classroom laptops and in textbooks, developing solutions and preparing for their final presentations. The work would require problem solving, critical thinking, communication and collaboration; team members were assigned jobs, including project manager, graphic designer and engineer. Using those skills and technology to investigate an open-ended query or to
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Teacher Talia Turner (center) examines a model of a nerve cell created by honors biology students Rafeed Ullah (left) and Jason Ejimogu (right).
solve a problem defines project-based learning, touted by top educators as the best way to teach skills that today’s students will need in the 21st century workplace. Project-based learning inverts the traditional classroom model—students are in charge of their own learning, with teachers serving more as facilitators than directors. Partnerships with local businesses and organizations create realworld learning opportunities through internships and mentoring. The idea is quickly gaining popularity as educators acknowledge that traditional teaching methods—think of a class taking notes as a teacher lectures— no longer engage today’s tech-savvy, multitasking students. “Those of us who have taught it see how successful it is, how much it makes sense,” says Lisa Gerhardt, co-coordinator of project-based learning at Wheaton. “This is what kids want, this is what kids need.” Educators and schools have embraced
“Those of us who have taught it see how successful it is, how much it makes sense. This is what kids want, this is what kids need.” —Lisa Gerhardt, co-coordinator of project-based learning at Wheaton the idea of learning by doing for decades. Project-based learning has long been the hallmark of magnet and signature programs in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), such as the Communication Arts Program and the Science, Mathematics and Computer Science caption here to describe this photo Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, and the
Ulysses Signature Program at Northwest High School in Germantown. But this year, Wheaton becomes the first traditional MCPS high school to offer project-based learning in every class—from AP courses to special education to those for students learning English as a second language. The school, which draws students from Silver Spring, Rockville and Wheaton, was chosen as the vanguard of project-based learning for several reasons. First, it already had success with the approach. For more than a decade, Wheaton has been offering projectbased learning through courses provided by Project Lead the Way, a national nonprofit that supplies programs in math, science, technology and engineering to 5,000 elementary, middle and high schools in the country. Wheaton is also in the process of building a new school, scheduled to open in January 2016, which provided
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education’s new model
AP biology student Teresah Toussaint (right) questions one of the student teams about their project as fellow judge Keliane Ghonda looks on.
the perfect opportunity to plan for the 21st century classroom. Designed specifically for project-based learning, the new $97 million Wheaton, under construction next door to the current facility on Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring, will provide more than 330,000 square feet on three floors. Gone are traditional computer labs and classrooms where teachers deliver lectures behind closed doors. Instead, the school will feature wireless Internet access so students can work anywhere, and large, open spaces where they can collaborate. Classrooms will have chairs and desks that can be rearranged easily into different configurations and walls partly covered with whiteboards. Glass windows into hallways will allow others to see what’s going on inside. Some classrooms will include smaller, glass-enclosed areas where students can work on projects under supervision. Wheaton’s auditorium will seat 900 people and will be the first MCPS high school to have a balcony. A glass-walled gallery on the school’s first floor will display student projects. “The basic idea is to have flexible space, and space we can use to help facilitate project-based learning instead
“Having people look at your idea and see it in a different way improves your thinking.” —Wheaton student Jayna John of hinder it,” says Kevin Lowndes, a former Wheaton principal who is now the MCPS director of school support and improvement for high schools. The $119 million project includes construction of a new home for the Thomas Edison High School of Technology, another MCPS high school that shares Wheaton’s plot of land. That school is expected to be completed in 2018. Finally, MCPS officials say it was important to choose a school with diverse demographics. During the past school year, about 90 percent of Wheaton’s 1,336 students were from minority groups and nearly 59 percent qualified for free and reduced meals, according to MCPS. “Doing this work at the school with our most vulnerable and impacted population is a clear statement of our com-
mitment to equity because our kids who have the greatest needs need us to invest more,” MCPS Superintendent Joshua Starr says. “And we’re doing that with the idea that it’s for everybody at that school and for everybody across the district.”
No one needed
caption here to describe this Turner photo that to tell traditional teaching methods were failing to engage today’s students. A teacher at Wheaton for six years and the head of its biosciences academy, she says teaching “by the book” sometimes felt like a fight to keep students’ attention. “It was boring,” she says. “It was not really engaging.” Turner began experimenting with project-based learning in her biology classes two years ago after undergoing training for Project Lead the Way. She had more fun as a teacher, and she says her students were more engaged. One late April morning, Turner’s biology classroom buzzed with the voices of 32 students as they researched questions on laptops, flipped through textbooks, and pulled out models of body parts and craft materials to work on their projects. Turner walked through the classroom, dangling a model skeleton of a human leg from her right hand. She stopped at a long black lab table to hand
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education’s new model
the leg to a team that was researching how to reduce the number of injuries suffered by athletes. Teammates Mimi Ho, Jayna John and Reina Melgar were debating their theory that thickening a part of the tibia, one of the body’s most commonly broken long bones, could help prevent fractures. At the next table, Sarah, Luke and Elise were discussing their solutions for digestive problems and preparing to call a local gastroenterologist to check whether their ideas were feasible. In addition to a new organ, the team proposed straightening the small intestine to reduce the risk of bowel obstructions. “Are you guys fine with these plans?” asked Elise, who was in charge of creating drawings of the proposed improvements for the team’s website. It’s this kind of give-and-take among students that Turner was looking for as she moved about the classroom. Because determining individual accountability is such a challenge with project-based learning, she relies on grading rubrics that outline expectations for assignments and other teaching materials from the Buck Institute for Education, a California-based nonprofit that is considered a thought leader in project-based learning. For this project, students were required to sign a group contract detailing their responsibilities, develop a timeline, and complete weekly peer evaluations of each other’s work. Team members could be fired from the group for violating the contract and end up having to do an individual project. Turner says students were “completely honest with each other” on the peer evaluations. “If someone wasn’t pulling their weight, they were like, ‘Can you step up?’ and the person was like, ‘Absolutely,’ ” she says. When asking students to work on a group project, Gerhardt says it’s important to create individual deadlines within the process. “So at each stage,” Gerhardt says, “whether it’s writing a paper or designing something, you need to hold them accountable.” Students say they also realize the
caption here to describe this photo
Students used existing models of body parts (above) or created their own (below) to demonstrate their ideas for improving the human body. This model of an eye was used to illustrate how to strengthen eye muscles so they don’t strain when looking at electronic devices.
importance of doing their part and choosing teammates with whom they work well, which may mean staying away from friends, especially if they are known for not getting their work done. Jayna recalled a project in another class when she struggled with team members who weren’t completing their assignments. “Personally, it kind of teaches me to stand up a little bit because I didn’t want to rat my group members out,” she says. Students also say they enjoy the opportunity to direct their own learning. “We kind of teach ourselves, which is basically what happens in the real world,” Jayna says. “I think it’s more beneficial than having Ms. Turner just teach it to us. Having people look at your idea and see it in a different way improves
your thinking.” Turner says she was pleasantly surprised to see some students calling professionals to test their theories. “Then everyone was calling professionals and it was exactly what project-based learning pushes us to do: reach out and get in touch with our community,” she says.
Research shows that students
involved in project-based learning are more engaged; improve their skills in critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration; and perform better on assessments, according to a 2009 report by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis. Starr says another advantage of projectbased learning is that it’s “completely consis-
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Magnificent brick colonial on a .79-acre lot backing to Chevy Chase Club’s 14th hole. Over 7,000 sq ft. Public rooms, first floor study and library, gracious master suite with 2BA. Elevator, 10’7” ceilings on the main level, 2-car attached garage. ttrsir.com/id/QD6B79
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POTOMAC, MD $2,495,000
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8/4/14 12:17 PM
education’s new model
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tent” with the Common Core, a set of rigorous academic standards adopted in recent years by the District of Columbia and 43 states, including Maryland. The Common Core is “about synthesis and analysis of information, it’s about going much deeper and being able to apply certain discrete skills to conceptual understanding,” he says. Plus, as standardized tests such as AP exams and the SAT align more with the Common Core, project-based learning helps students prepare more effectively. The revised AP biology exam, for example, requires students to apply formulas rather than demonstrate how much they have memorized during the school year. “It’s about thinking and understanding and conceptualization, it’s not just about ‘memorize and regurgitate,’ ” Starr says. The University of Indianapolis report also raises some areas of concern. According to the report, teachers find projectbased learning challenging because their schools don’t provide the support they need, including planning time and training. Some teachers are also uncomfortable with the lack of direct control in the classroom, and have difficulty incorporating technology into the process and assessing student progress. Starr says MCPS administrators and principals will watch what happens at Wheaton this year and discuss how the best practices of project-based learning can ripple into the county’s other public high schools. “Because this rests so much on teachers, we don’t want to do it in a school where the staff isn’t ready and doesn’t embrace it,” Starr says. The process will take time. MCPS will offer training for teachers and rework schedules to provide time for them to collaborate. The school system won’t physically modify its high schools to accommodate project-based learning, though architectural features like those in the new Wheaton High School may be incorporated in plans for other new schools, officials say. “You work with what you have,” Starr says. “Project-based learning is not about physical plant. …It’s more about the task you’re asking kids to perform and how
you integrate it in your various content areas and how you’re assessing it.” No one should expect to see MCPS adopt a standard model of project-based learning for the district’s 26 high schools, officials say. “When we look at projectbased learning, it looks very different everywhere,” Gerhardt explains. How it would look at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda is different from how it looks at Wheaton. “We’ve struggled to figure out what it really means here at Wheaton, and it means different things for different teachers at different points,” Gerhardt says. Wheaton’s staff has been working on changing the school’s culture so teachers can be comfortable giving up some control in the classroom and trusting students to take intellectual risks, Gerhardt says. The school also has encouraged teachers to communicate with colleagues about successes and failures. In June, 35 teachers participated in training at Wheaton offered by the Buck Institute. “In some ways, it is a shift in the way we’ve been teaching, and for some of us it’s a shift back to how we used to teach. You get to do what you’re passionate about. You get to be creative in designing lessons,” Gerhardt says. “But it’s harder because doing a project means there’s organized chaos in the classroom and that there are days where you’re pulling your hair out as a teacher and days where there’s nothing to do because everyone is on task.” MCPS officials say they don’t expect project-based learning to be the only method used by teachers. Rather, teachers will continue to use a combination of approaches—as good teachers always have—to make sure they engage students. “It’s not like we’re saying that at Wheaton High School you’ll never see a teacher in front of a classroom,” says Christopher Garran, MCPS associate superintendent for high schools. “One thing we do know is that our teaching practice has to change.”
Finally, it’s competition
day. Students flow into Turner’s classroom and start organizing what they’ll
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FINE EARTH LANDSCAPE need for their presentations. Six AP bio students with the confident air of upperclassmen take their seats at lab tables in the front of the room. Meanwhile, Sarah, Luke and Elise are checking handouts printed off their website that they’ll give to the judges. The team hasn’t practiced its presentation and hasn’t decided who will talk first, figuring their previous presentation experiences in other classes will carry them through. Turner stops by and says the team will be presenting first. “What? What?” Sarah says, starting to panic. She spits her gum into a green trash can as the team quickly makes a plan for presenting. And then it’s showtime. Elise confidently takes the lead, describing the digestive problems that the team is addressing. Luke operates a computer nearby, pulling up the group’s website on a large white screen behind Elise and Sarah. It’s titled “The Digestive System Rocks!” and it’s illustrated with a cartoon drawing of a bright pink stomach with an unhappy face. Sarah helps explain the team’s solutions. “Overall, we solved acid reflux, constipation, peptic ulcers, lactose intolerance and bowel obstructions—five major issues in the digestive system,” she says. The judges ask a few questions, and then Elise, Sarah and Luke sit down to listen to the other students. They think their presentation went well. “It is kind of a little bit nerve-racking when you stand up there and you can see the judging eyes,” Sarah says. The judges ended up giving first place to a team that proposed ways to strengthen eye muscles so they don’t strain when focusing on electronic devices. Turner says she thought all of her students were winners. “They were so prepared,” she says. “They were selling it. They were answering questions. It made me proud.” n
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Julie Rasicot is senior editor at Bethesda Magazine. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine. com. BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 85
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Making the
Grade
y r a n i d r o a tr
Ex
s r o t a c Edu
Each year we write about local teachers who earn top marks for inspiring students as well as educating them. From a teacher who offers her home phone number to students struggling with schoolwork to another who practices tough love to foster By Archana Pyati Photos by Lisa Helfert
independence, here are five educators who believe that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door.
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Caterina Earle Middle school science teacher Washington Episcopal School, Bethesda Middle school teacher Caterina
Earle finds that comics are good for more than laughs—they’re also effective teaching tools. One of her favorites is a Non Sequitur strip in which preteen Danae Pyle believes she has finally stumped her sister, Kate, with the question: “If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?” Yes, Kate responds, explaining that principles of physics prove that “sound waves exist regardless of anyone’s presence.” Danae stomps off, calling science a “metaphysical party pooper,” while Kate, always the voice of reason, says she prefers to think of it as the “designated driver.” “That sounds like me!” says Earle, 55, pointing out Kate in the strip posted on a classroom wall that’s covered with
other comics and news stories about biology, chemistry and physics. “Comics show that science really is everywhere.” Earle’s enthusiasm for science hasn’t waned since she arrived at Washington Episcopal School in 1995 to create its first middle-school science program. The daughter of Italian biologists, Earle was born in Rome but grew up locally, attending Walt Whitman High School and Georgetown University, where she was a premed student and a lab instructor. She developed a passion for helping students draw conclusions from data, which led her away from studying medicine and into her first teaching job at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda in 1980. Abstract concepts dominate the study of physics, but Earle makes them real for her eighth-graders through every-
day examples. “That’s a beautiful interference pattern,” she tells them, pointing to a photo on the wall of a rainbow-colored oil slick on rainy asphalt. To illustrate how transverse and compressional waves differ, she pulls out a Slinky. Jamie Durling, 22, of Chevy Chase, a former student and son of fifth-grade teacher Linda Durling, says Earle’s hands-on approach and fun personality motivated him. “It made you excited about coming to class and kept you engaged,” he says. Earle believes that students get more out of moving around the classroom and performing experiments than they do listening to her lecture. “There really is this cool world out there,” she says. “You should never get bored because there’s always something to investigate.”
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y r a n i d r o a Extr
s r o t a c u Ed
√
Christine Batky Kindergarten teacher Carderock Springs Elementary School, Bethesda As a kindergarten teacher,
Christine Batky’s job is to help young children find their footing while navigating a full day of learning away from home. It’s no small task, and one that Batky, with a singsong voice and nurturing disposition, embraces. Each morning, students eagerly wait for her outside the classroom door. “They are always so excited when I greet them,” she says. “That’s the favorite part of my day.” Batky, 26, believes kindergarten is a time when no milestone is too small to celebrate—even learning to count to 100. Her students count the first 100 school days as part of their daily ritual. On the 100th day, they each bring in 100 small objects of their choosing, write
stories about what they would do with $100 and sing songs. “It’s a big day for them,” Batky explains. It’s that understanding of her students that makes Batky so effective, Principal Rock Palmisano says. “Every day, the message she gives her students is…we have important things to do here, and I’m your partner in learning,” he says. Potomac parent Sarah Graf says her children, Ryan, 7, and Emma, 6, thrived under Batky even though Ryan is reserved and Emma is an extrovert. “She does a great job of hooking kids into liking school,” Graf says. “She was such a great fit for both my children.” Raised in Ellicott City, Batky became a kindergarten teacher at Carderock Springs in 2009 after graduating with
a degree in early childhood education from Towson University. She earned her master’s in special education from Towson at the Universities at Shady Grove while teaching full time. Pride of authorship is a lesson Batky teaches students early on. “All year long I refer to them as authors and illustrators,” she says. Students create their own books, and often read them to their parents during an Author’s Tea in May. “It makes them feel their work is important…[that] writing is exciting,” she says. Graf, who attended the annual tea twice, says she marveled at the progress students had made during the school year. Batky “instills in them that sense of excitement and accomplishment,” she says.
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√¾ =
Mary Jayne Bortz Math teacher Herbert Hoover Middle School, Potomac
Mary Jayne Bortz’s classroom resembles an art gallery more than a place where math is taught. Multicolored pencil drawings of geometricallyshaped monsters decorate one wall, and paper collages of lizards nestled tightly together in a “tessellation”—a pattern with no spaces between shapes that’s inspired by Dutch artist M.C. Escher— cover another. All are works created by students who have turned algebra and geometry lessons into art. Bortz, 61, says such projects help her sixth- and seventh-grade students better learn the abstract concepts of middle-school math. Take pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, roughly 3.14, a concept that students need to master before attempting geometry. Every March 14, Bortz celebrates “Pi Day” by asking students to bring in their favorite pies. Each student gets a pi symbol to decorate, and together they sing songs and read a story about Sir Cumference, Lady Di Ameter and their son, Radius. The lesson teaches the concept of pi through art and storytelling instead of using “just paper and pencil, doing the formulas,” Bortz says. “It gives them a chance to visualize it [since] nobody wants to listen to me talk for 45 minutes.” Bortz began teaching in 1975 and continued for five years before taking a break to raise her two children, now adults. She resumed teaching in 1988 and has been at Hoover since 1997. Students appreciate Bortz’s personal touch, flocking to her 7 a.m. and lunchtime tutoring sessions. Bortz calls students at home to congratulate them if they’ve gone up a grade level on a quiz, and gives her home phone number to students struggling with their homework. She also inspires kids to help
each other; eighth-graders tutor their younger peers in an after-school program she started 11 years ago. “If you teach the students with respect, if you let them know you care,” Bortz says, “then they’ll do anything for you.” Special education teacher Michelle
Kennedy, who has taught math classes with Bortz for students of varying abilities, says Bortz is great at motivating kids. “She’s fantastic at making students feel responsible for their work and making sure they have what they need,” Kennedy says.
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a Extraordin
ry
s r o t a c u Ed
Each fall, Jennifer Houston’s fifth-
Jennifer Houston Fifth-grade teacher Bullis School, Potomac
graders can hardly wait for a rite of passage they’ve heard about from older students: a unit on entrepreneurship, during which they launch small businesses with $30 loans from the school. The unit culminates in November, when students sell their products at a school fair. Last year they sold everything from homemade waffles to decorative bows made from duct tape to caricatures drawn on demand. Earnings go to the school to repay the loans, and anything extra goes to charity. Houston, 44, says the unit and fair teach lessons about the marketplace principles of needs vs. wants, scarcity and opportunity costs. “When the kids start their own business, it’s that real-life experience that lets them learn the information,” she says. The fair also teaches kids how to rely on themselves to troubleshoot, says Houston, explaining that she has to “shoo parents away” to keep them from helping their children. Some students will break even by the end of the fair and others won’t—that’s the nature of business, she says. “Independence is a big thing for me,” says Houston, a Bullis teacher since 2001. “What if people don’t like what you make? It’s not always going to work out. …It’s good for them to have this experience, whether it’s good or bad.” Her tough-love approach impresses parents, including Chevy Chase resident Julia Beck, whose youngest child, Samuel Bromberg, 12, was Houston’s student in the 2013-14 school year. “There’s a way she creates a boundary so that it honors [the kids] doing things themselves,” Beck says. Houston, raised in Rockville, began teaching in local private schools in 1992. She says she has felt at home with children since she was a camp counselor in high school and college. She loves teaching fifth-graders in particular because “they can do so much, yet they’re still interested in learning,” she says. Every student is unique, Houston says, and her key to success has been understanding what makes each one excited about learning. “Teaching is like acting all day long, and I have to make it interesting and fun,” she says.
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Chris Kosmaceski Music Department chairman Walter Johnson High School, Bethesda Music teacher Chris Kosmaceski
kicks off each school year with these words: “The Olympics aren’t every four years. The Olympics are every day.” The point, Kosmaceski tells students, is that the little choices they make every day—staying focused during rehearsal or practicing their instruments at home—have a cumulative effect. An Olympian’s “drive to get better for that split second” shows that persistence can yield mastery, he says. Kosmaceski, whose father is also a music teacher and musician, grew up playing saxophone, flute and piano, but opted to study actuarial science in college. Upon graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia, he got a job at an insurance company. But the pull of performing was too strong; he went back to Temple for a second bachelor’s degree in music,
and then earned a master’s in musical performance from the University of Maryland. He has taught at Walter Johnson since 2005, after four years as a music teacher at Walt Whitman High School. Kosmaceski, 40, says he relishes the variety provided by teaching students in four performance classes and one Advanced Placement music theory class. The Honors Jazz Ensemble may be rehearsing for a community event, while the 70-piece symphonic orchestra prepares for a school concert—or a more prestigious occasion, such as the time it competed in the National Orchestra Cup at Lincoln Center in New York City in 2012. Parents appreciate Kosmaceski’s ability to motivate students with a range of abilities and interests. Rockville resident Renee Howell’s sons both studied music
with Kosmaceski at Walter Johnson. One son, a trumpet player who graduated in May with plans to study music in college, was more focused on his instrument than the other, a clarinetist who now plays multiple instruments as a hobby. “Both walked away with an excellent education in music even though they had different ambitions with it,” Howell says. Kosmaceski says that playing in an ensemble has taught him valuable lessons about teamwork that he passes on to students. “It’s not enough that I can play my part,” he says. “I have to be aware of everyone else’s part and have that balance, [which] can be applied to life in general.” n Freelance writer Archana Pyati lives in Silver Spring. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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College Bound Compiled by Jacob Bogage
Where Bethesda-area high school graduates applied to college and where they were accepted The following is a list of the colleges and universities where 2014 graduates from six Bethesda-area high schools applied and where they were accepted, based on data provided by the schools in late spring. The high schools that provided the data are: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson in Bethesda; Thomas S. Wootton in Rockville; Winston Churchill in Potomac; and Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring.
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Because the acceptance information was “self-reported” by the graduates, school officials stress that they cannot verify its accuracy. Because only Churchill included those schools with four or more applicants and only Whitman included those with three or more, we have designated their numbers as nonapplicable (N/A) in certain places. For brevity’s sake, we limited the list to colleges and universities with at least seven applicants from the combined high schools.
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Albright College
0
0
4
2
4
3
1
0
1
1
0
0
Allegany College of Maryland
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
2
2
N/A
N/A
10
5
Allegheny College
2
2
7
6
4
1
0
0
N/A
N/A
4
3
American University
34
11
31
18
42
12
29
12
17
11
19
8
Amherst College
9
3
16
5
4
0
7
1
N/A
N/A
4
1
Appalachian State University
1
1
3
1
2
1
0
0
1
1
3
2
Arizona State University
3
3
10
6
9
5
7
5
4
4
2
1
Auburn University
4
2
6
2
2
1
5
4
5
5
3
1
Bard College
0
0
3
0
5
3
1
0
1
1
2
1
Barnard College
5
2
N/A
N/A
3
1
3
0
2
2
6
1
Bates College
6
1
7
4
3
3
1
0
3
1
2
0
Baylor University
0
0
N/A
N/A
5
4
1
1
4
2
2
2
Beloit College
5
3
N/A
N/A
2
2
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
Berklee College of Music
1
1
N/A
N/A
3
1
1
1
1
1
4
4
Binghamton University
0
0
N/A
N/A
2
2
5
2
6
6
2
1
Boston College
12
3
20
9
16
5
7
5
17
9
2
0
Boston University
24
11
46
17
36
9
32
11
24
17
24
11
Bowdoin College
8
1
13
3
4
1
3
0
1
0
5
0
Bowie State University
4
2
N/A
N/A
4
0
0
0
1
1
16
6
Brandeis University
12
8
13
7
8
3
10
6
6
5
3
3
Brigham Young University
1
1
3
3
2
0
2
2
1
1
1
1
Brown University
24
2
36
1
20
3
28
1
17
1
33
4
Bryn Mawr College
6
4
N/A
N/A
2
1
1
0
1
0
4
3
Bucknell University
10
1
16
5
12
1
4
1
7
5
6
3
California Institute of Technology
0
0
9
3
2
0
6
1
7
1
17
6
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
4
2
N/A
N/A
1
1
0
0
1
0
2
1
Carleton College
8
5
3
3
3
1
1
0
N/A
N/A
3
0
Carnegie Mellon University
10
2
26
9
23
4
44
13
13
4
33
5
Case Western Reserve University
5
3
12
10
9
3
10
4
27
17
14
4
92 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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8/13/14 4:11 PM
College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Catholic University of America
11
9
4
3
13
7
13
3
2
2
14
7
Champlain College
1
0
4
3
2
2
1
0
1
1
1
1
Chapman University
3
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
1
1
3
2
4
2
Christopher Newport University
2
2
4
3
2
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
Claremont McKenna College
7
0
6
0
5
0
2
0
1
0
4
1
Clark University
9
7
8
6
6
3
1
0
1
1
7
5
Clemson University
12
4
24
13
17
4
29
17
13
6
6
3
Coastal Carolina University
8
5
4
4
5
4
4
1
5
5
2
2
Colby College
6
3
16
7
3
1
2
0
2
0
2
0
Colgate University
9
4
13
4
3
1
4
1
4
2
1
0
College of Charleston
12
7
29
25
10
7
8
5
N/A
N/A
1
0
College of William & Mary
15
5
16
4
26
6
25
6
13
5
14
3
College of Wooster
6
5
8
5
4
2
0
0
N/A
N/A
12
11
Colorado College
6
2
10
3
1
1
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
Colorado State University
3
2
7
2
3
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
Columbia College Chicago
4
4
N/A
N/A
1
1
2
2
N/A
N/A
4
2
Columbia University
14
1
30
2
19
1
22
1
22
5
35
9
Columbia University-Montreal
3
1
N/A
N/A
4
2
0
0
1
1
1
0
Connecticut College
5
3
9
7
5
2
1
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
Cornell College
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
1
1
37
11
1
1
Cornell University
18
1
66
20
36
5
58
9
N/A
N/A
37
8
Dartmouth College
10
1
26
4
6
1
19
1
18
5
11
2
Davidson College
4
2
6
3
2
1
0
0
1
0
3
0
Delaware State University
5
3
N/A
N/A
0
0
3
2
N/A
N/A
3
3
Denison University
5
3
3
2
5
4
2
1
1
1
4
4
DePaul University
1
1
3
2
3
2
1
0
1
1
11
8
Dickinson College
10
7
18
11
21
10
8
4
6
4
8
4
Drexel University
16
13
26
21
36
27
27
15
21
19
36
21
Duke University
15
1
29
3
18
1
31
2
35
8
27
4
Duquesne University
2
2
N/A
N/A
3
3
2
0
1
1
0
0
East Carolina University
4
1
4
1
8
2
9
4
5
5
0
0
Eckerd College
11
9
7
5
4
3
0
0
N/A
N/A
3
3
Elon University
21
14
29
15
15
8
12
6
18
10
12
8
Emerson College
7
4
4
1
3
1
4
2
3
3
6
5
Emory University
35
5
33
9
12
4
32
7
23
5
13
2
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts
4
4
N/A
N/A
2
2
2
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
Fashion Institute of Technology
2
0
4
1
3
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
5
1
Flagler College
5
5
N/A
N/A
1
1
2
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
Florida State University
8
1
4
3
6
1
18
12
14
10
2
1
Fordham University
18
6
10
5
12
2
5
3
6
6
13
8
Franklin and Marshall College
8
3
4
4
8
3
5
2
6
4
6
2
Frostburg State University
34
18
5
4
29
10
7
7
2
2
27
12
George Mason University
11
3
16
7
31
21
24
13
26
24
25
13
George Washington University
19
6
13
7
31
9
37
14
20
14
21
5
Georgetown University
21
3
28
4
15
4
31
8
21
6
16
3
Georgia Institute of Technology
7
2
14
8
14
2
27
15
15
9
22
11
Gettysburg College
1
0
8
2
20
9
11
7
5
5
1
0
Goucher College
19
12
7
5
14
9
8
5
1
1
11
9
Grinnell College
5
4
3
1
1
1
3
2
1
0
5
2
BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 93
pages_FEATURE_College Chart.indd 93
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College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Guilford College
5
5
9
7
5
3
0
0
N/A
N/A
5
3
Hamilton College
6
2
6
4
3
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
Hampden-Sydney College
1
0
N/A
N/A
2
2
0
0
N/A
N/A
6
3
Hampshire College
6
3
N/A
N/A
4
3
0
0
N/A
N/A
4
3
Hampton University
6
4
N/A
N/A
1
1
1
1
N/A
N/A
10
10
Harvard College
14
1
33
4
19
1
18
1
25
0
34
3
Harvey Mudd College
1
0
4
1
4
1
1
0
2
1
10
2
Haverford College
0
0
4
1
9
2
2
0
2
0
7
3
High Point University
8
8
9
5
7
4
7
2
9
8
7
6
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
3
1
5
5
1
0
2
0
1
1
1
0
Hofstra University
5
4
8
5
11
6
7
3
6
6
13
9
Hood College
8
5
3
1
8
8
7
3
3
3
9
6
Howard University
5
4
3
3
6
3
2
1
2
1
36
16
Indiana University at Bloomington
16
14
28
24
26
22
44
36
46
45
1
1
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
0
0
N/A
N/A
2
1
10
8
1
1
1
1
Ithaca College
19
15
17
13
28
21
8
7
10
9
10
8
James Madison University
16
8
19
14
19
10
52
37
30
22
5
3
Johns Hopkins University
14
2
26
5
34
4
45
7
33
7
47
5
Juniata College
5
4
3
1
3
3
2
1
2
2
6
6
Kent State University
2
2
N/A
N/A
1
0
3
2
N/A
N/A
4
2
Kenyon College
7
6
14
5
6
1
3
2
1
1
3
1
Lafayette College
9
2
6
2
8
2
3
1
6
0
8
2
Lehigh University
8
2
12
5
10
1
24
5
8
6
3
1
Lewis & Clark College
7
5
N/A
N/A
0
0
1
1
N/A
N/A
6
3
Longwood University
1
0
N/A
N/A
2
1
3
2
N/A
N/A
5
2
Louisiana State University
4
4
5
5
3
1
2
0
2
1
2
2
Loyola Marymount University
3
0
3
2
5
3
1
1
2
0
4
3
Loyola University Chicago
4
2
N/A
N/A
3
2
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
Loyola University Maryland
6
1
5
3
23
8
7
4
6
4
30
10
Lycoming College
3
2
N/A
N/A
4
1
0
0
N/A
N/A
4
0
Lynchburg College
3
2
5
3
7
5
1
1
2
2
2
1
Lynn University
1
0
N/A
N/A
6
5
1
1
N/A
N/A
2
2
Macalester College
5
4
15
11
4
4
1
0
N/A
N/A
6
3
Manhattan College
6
4
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
4
1
Marist College
1
0
3
2
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
Marshall University
2
2
N/A
N/A
3
3
0
0
1
1
1
0
Maryland Institute College of Art
1
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
4
2
N/A
N/A
2
1
Marymount University
7
1
4
1
9
7
3
2
1
1
7
5
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4
0
17
1
10
1
15
1
18
0
44
10
McDaniel College
24
9
20
15
30
17
13
8
6
5
12
8
McGill University
11
4
17
11
12
6
5
3
9
5
9
5
Miami University, Oxford
21
15
23
16
9
7
6
5
21
19
2
2
Michigan State University
5
4
7
4
8
6
5
4
6
5
5
4
Middlebury College
6
1
21
4
5
0
4
1
5
0
1
0
Montgomery College, Rockville
84
69
49
47
73
67
52
52
22
22
116
103
Montgomery College, Takoma Park
26
16
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
115
97
Morehouse College
2
2
N/A
N/A
1
0
6
3
N/A
N/A
17
10
Morgan State University
8
2
N/A
N/A
4
1
3
2
2
2
19
9
Mount Saint Mary’s University
10
6
N/A
N/A
17
14
11
8
11
11
18
14
Muhlenberg College
8
7
3
0
8
3
10
7
1
1
2
2
94 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_FEATURE_College Chart.indd 94
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Untitled-1 1
8/13/14 11:44 AM
College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
NCAA Eligibility Center
6
0
8
0
4
0
1
0
N/A
N/A
18
1
New York University
23
8
32
14
33
10
33
14
24
14
21
6
North Carolina State University
8
1
6
2
10
6
16
9
5
4
6
2
Northeastern University
33
19
27
12
40
22
24
13
23
15
14
9
Northwestern University
18
3
41
13
26
0
25
4
25
2
24
2
Notre Dame of Maryland University
2
1
N/A
N/A
2
2
0
0
1
1
4
2
Oberlin College
6
2
11
6
6
4
4
2
N/A
N/A
10
7
Occidental College
5
3
5
4
5
1
0
0
N/A
N/A
2
2
Ohio State University
9
6
19
7
3
1
32
17
33
21
8
4
Ohio University
7
3
N/A
N/A
3
2
14
9
8
6
4
4
Ohio Wesleyan University
10
3
4
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
Old Dominion University
3
1
N/A
N/A
4
3
0
0
2
1
4
3
Pace University, New York City
2
2
N/A
N/A
6
5
2
2
N/A
N/A
8
2
Parsons The New School for Design
1
0
N/A
N/A
4
2
2
2
N/A
N/A
4
1
Pennsylvania State University, University Park
29
19
49
42
65
44
98
98
58
55
31
19
Pepperdine University
1
0
N/A
N/A
3
1
3
0
1
1
0
0
Philadelphia University
4
3
N/A
N/A
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
Pitzer College
9
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
1
0
N/A
N/A
2
1
Pomona College
9
2
7
2
3
0
2
1
1
0
7
2
Pratt Institute
3
1
N/A
N/A
1
0
3
2
N/A
N/A
5
4
Princeton University
13
0
22
0
24
2
20
3
29
3
38
4
Purdue University
10
5
13
7
13
8
10
8
15
13
6
5
Radford University
1
1
N/A
N/A
4
3
2
1
1
1
4
2
Reed College
7
6
N/A
N/A
1
0
1
0
N/A
N/A
5
3
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2
1
3
3
9
5
8
3
8
8
10
4
Rhode Island School of Design
0
0
3
2
3
1
2
0
1
1
2
0
Rhodes College
5
4
N/A
N/A
2
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
Rice University
0
0
12
4
6
1
19
0
7
2
15
4
Rider University
0
0
N/A
N/A
3
3
1
0
2
1
1
1
Roanoke College
3
3
N/A
N/A
3
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
Rochester Institute of Technology
10
8
8
6
13
10
6
6
5
5
13
9
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
0
0
2
2
4
3
Rutgers, The State of N.J. at New Brunswick
4
1
N/A
N/A
8
4
12
10
3
3
1
1
Saint Joseph’s University
3
3
N/A
N/A
2
1
1
0
4
4
3
1
Salisbury University
57
28
28
20
68
46
37
15
30
22
58
29
San Diego State University
0
0
N/A
N/A
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
1
Santa Clara University
3
2
4
3
5
1
1
1
2
2
2
0
Sarah Lawrence College
7
2
3
2
0
0
2
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
Savannah College of Art and Design
4
3
N/A
N/A
3
1
1
0
N/A
N/A
7
5
Seton Hall University
1
1
N/A
N/A
1
0
1
1
1
1
5
4
Sewanee: The University of the South
4
3
N/A
N/A
1
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
2
0
Shenandoah University
1
0
N/A
N/A
5
3
1
1
N/A
N/A
3
1
Shepherd University
9
5
N/A
N/A
4
2
4
4
2
1
6
2
Skidmore College
10
6
16
11
2
1
3
1
2
1
7
3
Smith College
3
1
3
3
2
2
1
0
N/A
N/A
2
1
Southern Methodist University
2
1
N/A
N/A
1
0
0
0
4
4
2
2
Spelman College
1
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
1
1
N/A
N/A
5
3
St. John’s University - Queens Campus
7
3
N/A
N/A
6
4
7
2
3
3
21
15
96 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
pages_FEATURE_College Chart.indd 96
8/13/14 4:12 PM
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Untitled-3 1
8/11/14 1:01 PM
College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
46
27
40
24
67
44
38
25
10
10
29
22
Stanford University
16
0
31
5
19
1
21
0
24
1
35
4
State University of New York, Plattsburgh
0
0
31
18
0
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
Stevenson University
0
0
4
2
30
17
2
0
7
7
23
8
Stony Brook University
2
1
3
2
12
8
11
7
2
1
1
0
Susquehanna University
6
4
6
4
6
3
2
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
Swarthmore College
6
0
5
1
13
3
8
1
1
0
9
1
Syracuse University
31
11
32
15
39
19
29
12
20
15
18
4
Temple University
18
9
12
7
14
8
3
1
1
1
30
20
Texas A&M University
2
1
N/A
N/A
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
Towson University
73
34
51
27
115
65
112
62
58
42
100
48
Trinity College
3
1
4
1
3
1
4
3
5
2
0
0
Trinity University in Washington, D.C.
9
6
N/A
N/A
4
2
0
0
N/A
N/A
14
10
Tufts University
17
3
40
9
18
3
14
3
12
4
3
0
Tulane University
39
20
64
42
19
11
24
16
37
29
12
6
Union College
1
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
2
1
N/A
N/A
3
2
University of Alabama
6
4
N/A
N/A
9
8
8
6
12
12
11
8
University of Alabama at Birmingham
0
0
10
9
3
2
2
0
2
2
1
1
University of Arizona
7
4
7
5
3
3
9
7
6
6
4
3
University of Baltimore
3
1
N/A
N/A
5
1
0
0
N/A
N/A
6
1
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pages_FEATURE_College Chart.indd 98
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Untitled-4 1
8/4/14 12:18 PM
College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
University of British Columbia
7
5
8
3
3
2
4
3
1
1
0
0
University of California at Berkeley
27
8
20
7
19
7
31
7
17
7
30
8
University of California at Davis
4
2
5
4
3
1
4
1
2
1
1
0
University of California at Irvine
3
1
6
1
7
2
2
0
1
1
5
2
University of California at Los Angeles
20
3
41
16
19
9
22
8
22
5
14
3
University of California at San Diego
14
5
14
4
16
10
11
2
6
4
4
3
University of California at Santa Barbara
12
5
18
7
14
5
6
1
7
6
8
7
University of California at Santa Cruz
7
2
4
2
3
2
3
2
1
1
2
2
University of Central Florida
2
1
4
3
4
2
4
4
8
6
1
0
University of Chicago
7
1
26
6
19
0
31
2
16
2
33
5
University of Cincinnati
3
2
N/A
N/A
4
2
2
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
University of Colorado at Boulder
28
18
30
21
22
14
4
3
5
5
10
5
University of Connecticut
6
1
9
2
16
4
19
10
9
6
2
1
University of Dayton
4
4
N/A
N/A
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
University of Delaware
25
17
20
10
47
22
56
33
23
19
17
9
University of Denver
6
4
11
6
6
6
5
3
0
0
4
3
University of Edinburgh
5
4
9
7
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
University of Florida
11
5
11
4
5
3
12
10
27
21
5
1
University of Georgia
12
5
22
11
8
5
18
11
23
17
2
1
100 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
University of Hartford
1
1
5
5
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
University of Hawaii at Manoa
4
1
N/A
N/A
3
2
1
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
University of Illinois at Chicago
1
1
N/A
N/A
3
2
3
3
1
1
0
0
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
6
5
11
7
20
8
28
14
10
8
19
17
University of Kentucky
4
4
3
3
2
2
9
6
2
2
3
2
University of Maine
3
3
N/A
N/A
4
4
2
1
N/A
N/A
4
2
University of Mary Washington
4
4
3
2
8
6
1
1
3
2
3
2
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
53
23
37
18
138
85
163
108
66
56
125
85
University of Maryland, College Park
163
84
222
171
237
150
348
249
213
176
262
170
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
16
5
N/A
N/A
3
1
2
1
1
1
15
6
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
14
10
17
12
12
8
20
16
3
3
5
3
University of Miami
19
9
36
24
24
15
25
13
32
25
22
15
University of Michigan
36
12
97
52
41
16
75
21
67
33
41
14
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
3
2
7
4
9
6
5
2
2
2
2
2
University of Mississippi
6
4
N/A
N/A
3
3
1
0
1
1
0
0
University of New Hampshire
4
1
3
2
4
3
3
0
N/A
N/A
1
1
Burt Wealth Advisors was Ranked #4 on the Listing of the Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Managers by
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College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
University of North Carolina at Asheville
7
6
7
4
4
2
1
1
1
0
11
5
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
18
3
50
10
31
6
30
5
41
9
29
5
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
2
2
7
4
3
2
0
0
2
1
4
4
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
6
2
3
3
1
0
4
4
2
1
3
2
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
11
10
6
3
8
3
11
2
4
2
10
8
University of Notre Dame
7
1
5
0
5
1
5
2
6
1
0
0
University of Oregon
3
0
4
4
4
3
3
3
1
1
1
0
University of Pennsylvania
22
2
49
5
24
1
39
1
40
3
44
4
University of Pittsburgh
32
20
42
28
54
39
76
51
48
45
32
25
University of Rhode Island
3
2
N/A
N/A
2
2
3
3
5
5
1
0
University of Richmond
6
2
10
1
8
2
5
1
11
6
8
1
University of Rochester
12
6
25
12
16
10
16
7
7
6
15
5
University of San Diego
3
3
7
3
6
4
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
University of San Francisco
10
9
4
3
2
0
2
0
N/A
N/A
3
1
University of Scranton
1
1
N/A
N/A
3
1
0
0
3
3
1
0
104 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
University of South Carolina
18
10
27
15
9
3
36
21
28
23
2
2
University of South Florida, Tampa
1
0
3
1
3
0
2
0
1
1
2
0
University of Southern California
20
1
33
13
22
8
19
5
20
10
18
1
University of St. Andrews
4
3
8
6
2
1
0
0
4
3
2
1
University of the Pacific
0
0
N/A
N/A
4
3
1
1
2
2
0
0
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
1
1
N/A
N/A
2
2
3
2
N/A
N/A
1
1
University of Tampa
8
7
8
6
13
7
5
5
6
5
8
4
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2
1
N/A
N/A
2
1
5
3
1
1
0
0
University of Texas, Austin
0
0
12
5
11
4
5
1
21
10
11
3
University of Toronto, St. George
3
1
4
4
2
1
2
2
N/A
N/A
1
1
University of Vermont
41
28
56
50
25
15
10
7
N/A
N/A
13
8
University of Virginia
27
7
61
7
35
9
41
9
N/A
N/A
20
5
University of Washington
6
3
N/A
N/A
8
6
6
3
5
5
3
0
University of Wisconsin, Madison
28
12
63
25
21
7
36
17
31
13
12
9
Ursinus College
2
2
7
6
5
3
2
2
N/A
N/A
2
1
Vanderbilt University
17
3
31
5
20
6
21
3
22
3
13
5
Vassar College
11
2
11
3
6
0
2
0
1
0
4
0
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
0
0
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
0
15
14
0
0
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106 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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College Bound
B-CC Walt Whitman Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Walter Johnson Thomas S. Wootton Winston Churchill Montgomery Blair Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted Applied Accepted
Villanova University
5
1
12
8
9
2
11
2
10
7
2
2
Virginia Commonwealth University
6
2
10
3
16
8
7
3
6
3
16
5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
17
7
21
11
32
14
50
29
8
6
7
4
Virginia State University
4
2
N/A
N/A
2
2
0
0
1
1
5
3
Wake Forest University
10
1
24
11
12
7
8
2
6
5
2
0
Washington Adventist University
2
1
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
8
6
Washington and Lee University
1
0
N/A
N/A
3
1
4
0
7
1
0
0
Washington College
8
5
4
1
5
5
7
3
3
2
7
5
Washington University in St. Louis
26
6
44
11
28
6
38
4
45
13
19
1
Wellesley College
6
2
N/A
N/A
4
3
4
1
5
2
1
0
Wesleyan University
10
3
18
7
4
1
2
0
5
1
12
2
West Virginia State University
20
10
N/A
N/A
0
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
1
0
West Virginia University
0
0
6
3
23
17
34
21
9
8
16
9
Western New England University
1
1
N/A
N/A
4
1
1
0
N/A
N/A
1
1
Williams College
5
2
12
0
7
1
7
1
4
0
5
0
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2
0
N/A
N/A
7
4
1
1
3
3
4
3
Yale University
9
0
21
4
13
0
20
1
31
2
32
2
York College of Pennsylvania
1
1
N/A
N/A
11
6
5
3
1
1
6
3
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Special advertising Section
Private Guide School scores of good schools to chose from and a countless number of factors that you need to consider. Co-ed or single gender? A school with a religious affiliation or not? What’s the educational philosophy and approach? Bethesda Magazine’s Private School Guide will help you to find the school that’s the best fit. In the following pages, we provide essential information on 40 schools. You’ll find the information you need to narrow your search and to start your exploration in a targeted and effective way.
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Choosing a private school for your child isn’t easy. There are
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The Academy of the Holy Cross 4920 Strathmore Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-942-2100 www.ahctartans.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 530 Average class size: 19 Student/teacher ratio: 11:1 Religious affiliation: Catholic Seniors with National Merit recognition: 6 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $20,725 Annual tuition for grade 12: $20,725 Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Ride-on Bus stop at school entrance; Metro – 5-minute walk Number of AP courses offered: 11, plus International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme World School Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 71% Varsity sports: Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming/Diving, Tennis, Track, Volleyball Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 8 (Musical, Dance, Vocal, Instrumental, Dramatic) Music ensembles: 1 Instrumental, 4 Vocal Accreditations/Affiliations: National Catholic Education Association, Middle States, Independent Education, International Baccalaureate Organization, Maryland State Department of Education Founded: 1868
Barrie School 13500 Layhill Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 301-576-2800 www.barrie.org Grades: 18 months-grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 330 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: Lower School, 13:1; Middle-Upper School, 10:1 Religious affiliation: NA Seniors with National Merit recognition: NA Grade foreign language first offered: Primary Languages offered: Spanish, French, Chinese, Independent Study Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $19,650 Annual tuition for grade 12: $27,810 Students receiving financial aid: 47% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes
Number of AP courses offered: 5 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 5 Varsity sports: Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Tennis, Equestrian, Track & Field Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Tennis, Equestrian, Track & Field Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 5 Music ensembles: 5 Accreditations/Affiliations: American Montessori Society, Independent Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Maryland & DC Founded: 1932
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School 3500 Woodley Road, NW Washington, DC 20016 202-537-6485 www.beauvoirschool.org Grades: PK-3 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 395 Average class size: 20 Student/teacher ratio: 10:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: PK Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $33,315 Students receiving financial aid: Children currently receive grants ranging from approximately 12% to 98% of full tuition. More than $1 million in grants are awarded each year. Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of art studios: 1 Accreditations/Affiliations: See www. beauvoirschool.org Founded: 1933
Bullis School 10601 Falls Road Potomac MD 20854 301-299-8500 www.bullis.org Grades: 2-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 765 Average class size: 15 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 3rd Languages offered: French, Spanish, Latin, Chinese
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $32,970 Annual tuition for grade 12: $36,610 Students receiving financial aid: 27% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes, throughout the metro area Teacher retention rate: 92% Number of AP courses offered: 17 Varsity sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, Wrestling Interscholastic sports (middle): Baseball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Wrestling Number of art studios: 4, plus dance studio Theater productions per year: Upper School—at least 3, often more, plus dance shows and musical concert performances; Middle School—one plus dance shows and musical concerts; Lower School—two plus musical concerts Music ensembles: Chorus, Chamber Singers, Concert Band, Jazz Workshop, Jazz Ensemble, Strings Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Maryland Department of Education, National Association of Independent Schools, Independent Education, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Secondary School Admission Test Board, The Black Student Fund Founded: 1930
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School Lower School: 1901 E. Jefferson St. Rockville, MD 20852 Upper School: 11710 Hunters Lane, Rockville, MD 20852 301-881-1400 www.cesjds.org Grades: K-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,100 Average class size: 18 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Open to all backgrounds and affiliations Seniors with National Merit recognition: 20% of class of 2014 Grade foreign language first offered: Dual language program in Hebrew begins in Kindergarten; others begin in grade 7 Languages offered: Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $23,050 (Lower School)
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Special advertising Section
Private School
Guide Annual tuition for grade 12: $15,110 (seniors graduate in February); 7-11 tuition is $29,570 Students receiving financial aid: 35% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: In keeping with the school’s educational philosophy, emphasizing personal academic discovery, creativity and a deep exploration of course material, CESJDS does not offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses. However, students often elect to take AP exams. For the class of 2014, students took more than 50 AP exams. Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 94% Varsity sports: 12 Interscholastic sports (middle): 9 Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: 7 Accreditations/Affiliations: The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Founded: 1965
Christ Episcopal School 22 W. Jefferson St. Rockville, MD 20850 301-424-6550 www.cesrockville.org Grades: Age 2–Grade 8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 150 Average class size: 13 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: PK4 Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $10,620 (PK3 half-day); $10,970 (PK4 half-day); $17,620 (K-8) Annual tuition for grade 12: N/A Students receiving financial aid: 30% Uniform: Yes, beginning in PK4 Bus transportation: None, but possible given demand Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field; Daily P.E. K-6 Number of art studios: 1
School McLean School • Profile
Theater productions per year: 3 (Preschool, Lower School, Middle School) Music ensembles: Band, Strings Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Episcopal Schools, Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association, Independent Education Founded: 1966
Concord Hill School 6050 Wisconsin Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-654-2626 www.concordhill.org Grades: Preprimary (age 3)-3 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 100 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 6 to 1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Primary (age 4)
•
•
8224 Lochinver Lane Potomac, MD 20854 240-395-0698 www.mcleanschool.org
Enrollment
350
Grades
K-12
Average Class Size
9
Student/Teacher Ratio
7:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$37,000
Year Founded
1954
McLean School is transformative. It provides bright students with a K-12 college preparatory education that emphasizes small classes, differentiated instruction and individualized program enhancement. We embrace both traditional learners and ones with mild to moderate learning differences. McLean distinguishes itself through its readiness to accelerate students in areas of strength while supporting them in others. Our Upper School curriculum offers an extensive selection of AP and honors classes. McLean graduates have gained acceptances to colleges and universities such as Duke, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Vassar. These placements are a tribute to the fine quality of our students, teachers and program. For each student, we seek to find the right college; not just the most selective one. Always a leader in teaching to individual aptitudes and achievement levels, McLean is now also at the forefront among east coast schools of implementing Mindful practices. A rapidly growing body of scientific research shows that mindful practice reduces stress and aids in focus, performance, and the learning process overall. To see McLean up close is to see a school that transforms lives.
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The love, attention, and the individualized understanding of our daughter’s academic needs were managed in such a positive manner. McLean has changed our child’s life, and our family dynamic.
McLean celebrates differences; they don’t walk away from them. These kids are the people who will think differently and solve the world’s problems.
Our son was off the charts smart—but couldn’t get organized. It was a relief to come to a school that recognized his intellectual strengths.
It is surprising how few public or private schools understand how to educate a child with learning disabilities—yet capable of high academic performance. McLean is the only school that can provide a rigorous, college prep curriculum for students with learning challenges!
Parents Talk. Join the conversation about McLean School.
Open House 9:00 am Wednesday, October 22 9:00 am Saturday, November 15 RSVP admission@mcleanschool.org 240.395.0698
8224 Lochinver Lane Potomac, Maryland 20854 www.mcleanschool.org K-12 College preparatory school supporting bright students’ individual learning styles
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Special advertising Section
Private School
Guide Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $15,959(Preprimary); $20,372(Primary); $24,600 (K – 3rd) Students receiving financial aid: 15 Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 100% Number of art studios: 1 Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS/ IE, NAIS, NAEYC, Black Student Fund, Latino Student Fund Founded: 1965
Connelly School of the Holy Child 9029 Bradley Blvd. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-0955 www.holychild.org Grades: 6-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 300 Average class size: 13 Religious affiliation: Catholic Grade foreign language first offered: 7 Languages offered: Spanish, French
Lowest tuition for 5-day students: Upper School Tuition: $28,850. Middle School Tuition: $25,700 Annual tuition for grade 12: $27,470 Students receiving financial aid: 30% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: 8 Varsity sports: Soccer, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Cross Country, Tennis, Basketball, Swim & Dive, Dance, Lacrosse, Softball, Track, Tennis, Equestrian Interscholastic sports (middle): Field Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Equestrian, Swim & Dive, Lacrosse, Softball, Track & Field Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: 4-6 Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, The Maryland Department of Education, National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, the College Board AIMS, Independent Education, Archdio-
cese of Washington, Black Student Fund Annual applications per opening: 2.5 Founded: 1961
The Diener School 11510 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-4602 www.thedienerschool.org Grades: K-6 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 47 Average class size: 8 Student/teacher ratio: 3:1 Religious affiliation: None Students receiving financial aid: Please inquire Uniform: None Bus transportation: None Teacher retention rate: Please inquire Accreditations/Affiliations: Please inquire Annual applications per opening: Please inquire Founded: 2007
Edmund Burke School 4101 Connecticut Avenue NW
School Washington episcopal school • • • Profile
5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 301-652-7878 www.w-e-s.org Washington Episcopal
Enrollment
260
Grades
pK-8
Average Class Size
16
Student/Teacher Ratio
7:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 8)
$31,340
Year Founded
1986
School believes learning should be joyful because academic excellence and happy children belong together. An independent, coeducational school for students from Nursery through Grade 8, Washington Episcopal School (WES) is committed to helping every child develop his or her fullest potential. In a balanced and supportive environment, we combine rigorous academics with a relish for living life with kindness and adventure. We are a diverse, inclusive community, true to the Episcopal tradition of welcoming and celebrating all faiths and cultures. Our skilled, caring, and attentive teachers accept children as they are while nurturing the unique talents and abilities of every child. Our broad and enriched curriculum builds knowledge while strengthening moral awareness, self-reliance and leadership. We seek to always impart a spirit of community, achievement, character, creativity, adventure and faith. WES students strive confidently into the world, delight in it and contribute to it.
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Special advertising Section
Washington, DC 20008 Phone: 202-362-8882 www.burkeschool.org Grades: 6-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 300 Average class size: 14 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition: 5 Grade foreign language first offered: 6 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, French Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $33,575 Annual tuition for grade 12: $35,765 Students receiving financial aid: 33% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Morning shuttle from Virginia Teacher retention rate: 97% Number of AP courses offered: 12 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 50 Varsity sports: Cross Country, Track, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Wrestling, Ultimate Frisbee, Swimming, Softball Interscholastic sports (middle): Softball, Track, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer
Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: 6 Accreditations/Affiliations: Independent Education, National Association of Independent Schools Annual applications per opening: 3.5 Founded: 1968
Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 98% Accreditations/Affiliations: Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland State Board of Education Kindergarten Certification, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Certified Green School Founded: 1965
Geneva Day School 11931 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-340-7704 www.genevadayschool.org Grades: 2 years old - Kindergarten Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 270 Average class size: 12-18 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 3 years old Languages offered: Spanish, Chinese, Sign Language Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $6,588 Students receiving financial aid: 5-10%
Georgetown Day School PK-8th Grade: 4530 Macarthur Blvd., Washington, DC 20007 9-12th Grade: 4200 Davenport St., NW, Washington, DC 20016 202-295-6200 www.gds.org Grades: PK-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,075 Average class size: Lower and Middle School varies; High School 12-14 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
spirit of
achievement
Washington Episcopal School students love to learn. They are challenged daily in a balanced, joyful environment that lets kids be kids. With teachers always instructing – from books, the latest technology, studios, hallways, and athletic fields – children reach new levels of achievement. Our students stand out without burning out.
COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF:
General Admissions Open Houses Thursday, October 9, 9:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, 9:00 a.m. Early Childhood Open House Friday, October 24, 9:00 a.m.
Call 301-652-7878 to schedule a visit today!
WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL An independent, co-educational school for Nursery – Grade 8 5600 Little Falls Parkway, Bethesda, MD 20816 | www.w-e-s.org
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Private School
Guide Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition: 6 National Merit Finalists and 31 Commended students Grade foreign language first offered: 3 Languages offered: Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $31,600 Annual tuition for grade 12: $36,390 Students receiving financial aid: 22% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: 25 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 87% Varsity sports: 13 Interscholastic sports (middle): 11 Number of art studios: 4 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: A Cappella, Barbershop, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association, Association of Independent Maryland Schools Annual applications per opening: Approximately 5 Founded: 1945
Georgetown Preparatory School 10900 Rockville Pike N. Bethesda, MD 20852 301-493-5000 www.gprep.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Boys Total number of students: 490 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Jesuit (Catholic) Seniors with National Merit recognition: 3 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: 4 Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $32,120 Students receiving financial aid: 28% Uniform: Sport Coat and Tie Bus transportation: Bus transportation from the Grosvenor–Strathmore (Red Line) Metro stop. Students commuting to Georgetown Prep from Virginia can take advantage of a new joint transportation option with Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart for the upcoming school year. Number of AP courses offered: 23 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 95%
Varsity sports: Football, Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Wrestling, Hockey, Swimming & Diving, Winter Track, Baseball, Lacrosse, Track, Rugby, Tennis, Golf Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: 3 Accreditations/Affiliations: Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, Jesuit Province of Maryland Annual applications per opening: 3.5/1 Founded: 1789
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School 1524 Thirty-fifth St., NW Washington, DC 20007 202-337-3350 www.visi.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 490 Average class size: 12-15 Student/teacher ratio: 13:1 Religious affiliation: Roman Catholic
School st. patrick’s •episcopal •day school • Profile
4700 Whitehaven Parkway, NW Washington, DC 20007 202-342-2805 www.stpatsdc.org St. Patrick’s is an independent,
Enrollment
515
Grades
nursery-8 Average Class Size
18
Student/Teacher Ratio
7:1
Annual Tuition
$16,876-$32,348 Year Founded
1956
coeducational, Episcopal parish day school in the Palisades neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Located on two campuses, Whitehaven Parkway and MacArthur Boulevard, St. Patrick’s has more than a half-century tradition of providing a vibrant, challenging, coeducational school environment within the District of Columbia for students in Nursery through Grade 8 to grow as healthy intellectual, social and emotional, and moral and spiritual beings. Development has recently begun on the Foxhall campus, beginning with a regulation-size athletic field, which was completed in April 2012. Please explore our website to learn more, complete an inquiry form to receive printed materials, and call our Admission Office to ask any questions about the process of applying to St. Patrick’s, and to schedule a tour of this exciting place.
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Seniors with National Merit recognition: 13 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: French, Spanish, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $26,500 Annual tuition for grade 12: $26,500 Students receiving financial aid: Approximately 35% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: High Number of AP courses offered: 19 Varsity sports: Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis (Fall and Spring), Track & Field (Winter and Spring), Volleyball Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: Madrigals (select), Chorus, Orchestra Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States, IE, NCEA, CASE Annual applications per opening: Approximately 4 Founded: 1799
Grace Episcopal Day School 9411 Connecticut Ave. Kensington, MD 20895 301-949-5860 www.geds.org Grades: PS-5 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 100 Average class size: 12 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopalian Grade foreign language first offered: Kindergarten Language offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $11,800 Students receiving financial aid: 45% Uniform: Yes (K-5) Bus transportation: Yes (Services Prince George’s County) Interscholastic sports: 4th/5th Grade Kickball, Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 2 Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools, Independent Education, Mid-Atlantic Episcopal
School Association, National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Episcopal Schools, Black Student Fund, Latino Student Fund Founded: 1960
Green Acres School 11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-4100 www.greenacres.org Grades: PK-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 300 Average class size: 12 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: PK Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $17,000 (Half-day Pre-K), $26,500 (Pre-K), $28,000 (Kindergarten), $32,470 (1st - 8th Grade) Annual tuition for grade 12: N/A Students receiving financial aid: 26.4% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes
Join us. Find out what makes St. Patrick’s—a coeducational Nursery through Grade 8 school in the nation’s capital—a vibrant learning community, committed to the infinite value of every participant. Learn more about our philosophy of Exceptional Literacy and apply online by visiting our website, www.stpatsdc.org. For more information, contact Xiomara Hall, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, at hallx@stpatsdc.org or 202.342.2831.
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Private School
Guide Teacher retention rate: 90% Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Softball Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: Multiple Music ensembles: Middle School Instrumental Ensemble; 4th Grade Chorus
The Harbor School 7701 Bradley Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-1100 www.theharborschool.org Grades: PK-2 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 100 Average class size: 14 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Preschool Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: Half-day: $11,390; Full-day: $20,860
Students receiving financial aid: 24% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 87% Number of art studios: 1 Music ensembles: 4 Accreditations/Affiliations: Accredited by AIMS, member of IE, NAIS Annual applications per opening: 2 Founded: 1972
Holton-Arms School 7303 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-5300 www.holton-arms.edu Grades: 3-12 Gender: Girls Total number of students: 640 Average class size: 15 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition: 31% of graduation class
School saint james school • • Profile
Grade foreign language first offered: 3 Languages offered: Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $35,155 Annual tuition for grade 12: $36,875 Students receiving financial aid: 25% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 21 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 78% Varsity sports: Basketball, Crew, CrossCountry, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Diving, Tennis, Track And Field, Volleyball Accreditations/Affiliations: Accreditations include Association of Independent Maryland Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Affiliations include National Association of Independent Schools, Independent Education, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Parents Council of Washington, National Coalition of Girls Schools, National Middle School Association, Secondary School Ad-
•
17641 College Road Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-733-9330 www.stjames.edu As the oldest Episcopal
Enrollment
220
Grades
8-12
Average Class Size
11
Student/Teacher Ratio
6:1
Year Founded
1842
boarding school founded on the Oxford model in the United States, Saint James School has proudly prepared students for success in college with its rigorous curriculum, extensive extra-curricular offerings, and focus on character and leadership development since 1842. Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, Saint James serves a diverse student body of 220 young men and women in grades 8-12. Saint James specializes in teaching students timeless skills that help them thrive in college and beyond—critical (and creative) thinking, creative (and critical) writing, and the ability to engage in rigorous and thoughtful discussion. Saint James students quickly learn to close their laptops, open their minds and learn from one another. At Saint James, students and teachers live side by side, creating a warm and inviting community that encourages learning to continue well after the final school bell. While the school accepts students of all faiths, each school day begins with a mandatory and inclusive chapel service that is used to prepare students for the challenges that await modern high school students.
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School | Camp | Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies
Located in Silver Spring just minutes from the Beltway and ICC, we are a private, independent school serving students age 18-months through Grade 12, a summer day-camp serving children ages 4-14, and a professional training and certification center for aspiring Montessori educators. To learn more, visit www.barrie.org, or stop by our campus at 13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring.
Open House Join us Saturday, October 4, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saint James School Since 1842, Saint James has prepared students for success in college with its rigorous curriculum, extensive extra-curricular offerings, and focus on character and leadership development. Saint James School is a traditional, co-ed, Episcopal boarding and day school located in Hagerstown, Maryland serving a diverse body of students in grades 8-12.
301-733-9330
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Private School
Guide mission Test Board Founded: 1901
Lowell School 1640 Kalmia Road NW Washington, DC 20012 202-577-2000 www.lowellschool.org Grades: PK-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 340 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Kindergarten Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $16,900 (Half day, Pre-Primary) Students receiving financial aid: 1/3 Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Interscholastic sports: Co-ed Cross Country, Co-ed Soccer, Co-ed Kickball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Co-ed Swim-
ming, Co-ed Jr. Track & Field, Co-ed Sr. Track & Field, Girls Lacrosse, Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: Performance opportunities occur in music and drama during the school year through in-class performances, school-wide assemblies, or culminating performance events usually connecting to the essential themes of the grade level. Music ensembles: 4th - 5th Grade Chorus, Recorder Consort, Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Violin Ensemble, Pop Bands Accreditations/Affiliations: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS), Independent Education (IE), National Association for the Education of Young People (NAEYC), Progressive Educators Network (PEN), Capital Area Progressive Network (CAP), Black Student Fund (BSF), Latino Student Fund (LSF), Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), Edu-
cational Records Bureau (ERB) Founded: 1965
Lycée Rochambeau, the French International School 9600 Forest Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-530-8260 www.rochambeau.org Grades: PK-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,000 Average class size: 20 Student/teacher ratio: 11:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Bilingual French/English program in all grades. Additional language in 3rd grade. A 4th language can be added in Middle School. Languages offered: Spanish, German, Arabic Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $17,380 Annual tuition for grade 12: $20,645 Students receiving financial aid: 98 Uniform: No Bus transportation: No
School the madeira school • • Profile
•
8328 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22102 703-556-8273 www.madeira.org
Enrollment
306
Grades
9-12
Average Class Size
12
Student/Teacher Ratio
12:1
Annual Day Tuition (Grade 12)
$41,224
Year Founded
1906
Madeira is an independent boarding and day school educating 306 girls in grades 9 through 12. Our 376-acre campus is located 15 minutes from Washington, D.C. in McLean, Virginia. Madeira’s challenging academic programs and experiential learning opportunities, like the award winning Co-Curriculum program, cultivate women leaders who are ready to make positive impacts in their local and global communities. Madeira’s curriculum is grounded in expert teaching and active involvement of the students when planning their academic paths. Personal academic advising enables girls to customize a schedule beyond graduation requirements, offering them the highest degree of challenge that best suits their interests. The unique grade-level objectives of Madeira’s Co-Curriculum program progress from learning about identity and community during freshman and sophomore years to experiencing “real-life work” and leadership training through junior-year internships in Capitol Hill offices and student-selected internships during the girls’ senior year. Madeira girls graduate with a solid resume that rivals that of college students, along with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
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Special advertising Section
ADMISSION OPEN HOUSE Allow us to introduce you to Madeira’s academic programs and school community at one of our fall open house events. Meet teachers, take a campus tour, and experience the magic of Madeira.
Sunday, October 5 • 1:00 pm Sunday, November 9 • 1:00 pm or by appointment throughout the year
For more information call 703-556-8273 or begin your journey online at www.madeira.org. Now offering transportation from D.C., Alexandria, and Tysons Metro.
8328 Georgetown Pike • McLean, VA 22102
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Private School
Guide Teacher retention rate: 80% Accreditations/Affiliations: French Ministry of Education (AEFE), State of Maryland Dept. of Education Founded: 1955
The Maddux School 11614 Seven Locks Road Rockville, MD 20854 301-469-0223 www.madduxschool.org Grades: PK-2 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 55-60 Average class size: 10-12 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Languages offered: Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $18,000 Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: Number of art studios: 1 Accreditations/Affiliations: State approved
curriculum Annual applications per opening: Founded: 2004
The Madeira School 8328 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22102 703-556-8273 www.madeira.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Female Total number of students: 306 Average class size: 12 Student/teacher ratio: 12:1 Religious affiliation: None Seniors with National Merit recognition 14 Grade foreign language first offered: 9th Languages offered: Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $41,224 Students receiving financial aid: 20% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Limited Teacher retention rate: 86% Number of AP courses offered: 20
Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 91.9% in May 2014 Varsity sports: Lacrosse, Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Field Hockey, Softball, Basketball, Tennis, Squash, Cross Country, Track, Equestrian Interscholastic sports (middle): N/A Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: Glee, A Cappella, Chamber Orchestra Accreditations/Affiliations: Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Independent Education (IE), CASE Annual applications per opening: 5 Founded: 1906
Massanutten Military Academy 614 S. Main St. Woodstock, VA 22664 540-459-2167 www.militaryschool.com Grades: 7-12 Gender: Co-ed
School beauvoir, the national school Profile cathedral elementary • •
•
3500 Woodley Road NW Washington, DC 20016 202-537-6485 www.beauvoirschool.org
Enrollment
395
Grades
pK-12
Average Class Size
20
Student/Teacher Ratio
10:1
Year Founded
1933
Beauvoir is an independent elementary school, serving a co-ed population of close to 400 students from grades Pre-Kindergarten through Third. Our campus is located on the picturesque grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest Washington, D.C. Under the nurturing guidance of our faculty, children at Beauvoir are challenged and supported academically while also learning the character-building skills that will help them succeed throughout their lives. At Beauvoir, we recognize that the years between three and 10 are the most intensely productive and vital learning years in a child’s life. Children’s earliest educational experiences help shape the kind of learners they become. For this reason, we seek to develop in our students a spirit of inquiry and a joy in learning.
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Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School is an independent elementary school for grades Pre-Kindergarten – Third Grade. For more information, please visit us online at: www.beauvoirschool.org. www.ThePrimaryDaySchool.org 3500 Woodley Road, NW · Washington, DC 20016 · www.beauvoirschool.org
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Private School
Guide Total number of students: 130 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious affiliation: None, but the school has relationships with religious organizations of nearly every faith. Grade foreign language first offered: 7 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, German Annual tuition for grade 12: $29,000 Students receiving financial aid: 20% Uniform: Military Styled Cadet Uniform Bus transportation: Boarding School Number of AP courses offered: 9 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 40%. Although we offer AP courses, most cadets have switched to Dual Enrollment options that don’t require an AP exam. Varsity sports: Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Track, Cross Country, Wrestling, Tennis, Rifle, Raiders Number of art studios: 1 Music ensembles: Highland Bagpipe and Drum Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chorus
Accreditations/Affiliations: NAIS, VAIS, TABS, AMCSUS Founded: 1899
McLean School 8224 Lochinver Lane Potomac, MD 20854 240.395.0698 www.mcleanschool.org Grades: K-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 350 Average class size: 9 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Grade foreign language first offered: Grade 3 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, American Sign Language Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $26,000 Annual tuition for grade 12: $37,000 Students receiving financial aid: 27% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes Teacher retention rate: 96% Number of AP courses offered: 10 Varsity sports: Volleyball, Softball, Lacrosse,
Track & Field, Cross Country, Soccer, Wrestling, Basketball Interscholastic sports (middle): Volleyball, Softball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Cross Country, Soccer, Wrestling, Basketball Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 1 drama/comedy per year, 1 musical per year, 2 musical concerts per division, talent shows Music ensembles: Strings Ensemble, Jazz Band, Rock, Pop & Blues Band, Chorus Accreditations/Affiliations: Maryland Department of Education, National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Independent Education, The Black Student Fund, Secondary School Admission Test Board, Association of Independent School Admission Professionals, National Business Officers Association Founded: 1954
The Nora School 955 Sligo Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-495-6672
School connelly school of the holy child • • • Profile 9029 Bradley Blvd. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-0955 www.holychild.org
Enrollment
300
Grades
6-12
Average Class Size
13
Student/Teacher Ratio
8:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$28,850
Year Founded
1961
Connelly School of the Holy Child is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory middle and upper school for young women in grades 6 through 12, in Potomac, Maryland. Founded in 1961 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, the school is a member of the Holy Child Network of Schools in the United States and a part of the larger community of Holy Child schools that includes Europe and Africa. Our foundation is the educational philosophy of Cornelia Connelly (1809-1879), whose ideas even today are advanced in personalized, compassionate education. Holy Child provides Advanced Placement and honors courses on site. Additional specialized course offerings are available through our membership in The Online School for Girls as well as through other online educational institutions. Campus ministry, robust community service programs, international travel, newly renovated fine arts and athletics center, artificial turf field, publications, newly revised STEAM (STEM, plus Arts) offerings as well as a Spanish Heritage Program for native Spanish speakers, enrich the curriculum. With an active, engaged alumnae network, comprised of successful professionals in many fields, a young woman joining the Holy Child community begins a life-long journey of joyous and enriched experiences.
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CELEBRATING 225 YEARS OF FORMING MEN FOR OTHERS Georgetown Prep, an independent, Jesuit college-preparatory school for young men in grades 9-12, is part of a rich tradition of Catholic education in America since 1634 and is the oldest Jesuit secondary school in the country. Prep’s 90-acre campus features state-of-the-art academic, athletic and student centers, small classes and a rigorous curriculum that has helped graduates earn admission to the world’s best colleges and universities. 10900 rockville pike • north bethesda, md 20852 • 301-493-5000 • www.gprep.org
Holy Child is building up STEAM* New Head of School Dr. Shannon Gomez invites you to discover how at our
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, 10/26 11AM-1PM
St. Anselm’s Abbey School. Where a rigorous curriculum keeps students challenged and engaged. Where a warm community encourages every boy to be himself. Where dozens of sports, arts, and clubs give rise to confident leaders. Where a strong Benedictine tradition grounds values and inspires faith.
* SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ARTS MATHEMATICS
Experience the Exhilaration of Excellence
www.holychild.org/steam
Where Bright Boys Become Exceptional Men. Open House: Sunday, November 2, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
.
Grades 6-12 | AM Shuttle from Bethesda | www.saintanselms.org
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Private School
Guide www.nora-school.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 60 Average class size: 8 Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, German Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $27,300 Annual tuition for grade 12: $27,900 Students receiving financial aid: 20% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 100% Varsity sports: 4 Co-ed JV teams Number of art studios: 2 Music ensembles: 2 Accreditations/Affiliations: NAIS, IE and Middle States Accreditation Association Founded: 1964
Norwood School 8821 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-2595
www.norwoodschool.org Grades: K-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 440 Average class size: 10-12 Student/teacher ratio: 6 to 1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Kindergarten Languages offered: Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $28,540 Students receiving financial aid: 19% Uniform: Dress Code Bus transportation: Morning routes available Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Cross-Country, Summit Number of art studios: 4 Theater productions per year: 2 (Fall Play and Spring Musical) Music ensembles: 4 (Choral, String, Band, Hand Bells) Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS, Middle States Founded: 1952
The Primary Day School 7300 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-4355 www.theprimarydayschool.org Grades: PK-2 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 155 Average class size: 19 in homeroom, 10 per small group (reading, math, art, etc.) Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: Pre-K Languages offered: Spanish, Chinese, French Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $18,600 Students receiving financial aid: 11% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of art studios: 1 Music ensembles: twice a month Accreditations/Affiliations: IE/AIMS Founded: 1944
Randolph-Macon Academy 200 Academy Drive Front Royal, VA 22630
School green acres school • • Profile
•
11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852 301-881-4100 www.greenacres.org
Enrollment
300
Grades
pK-8
Average Class Size
12
Student/Teacher Ratio
6:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
n/a
Year Founded
1934
Green Acres School challenges and inspires students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade to live and learn with intellect, curiosity, determination, joy and compassion. For 80 years, Green Acres has embraced the principles of progressive education. The school’s academic program nurtures children’s development, encourages respect for others and fosters students’ ability to observe, question, evaluate and make decisions. At Green Acres, students develop a strong sense of who they are, both as learners and as members of society. Alumni go on to find success in high school, college and beyond as passionate, creative, curious, intelligent and successful adults. Located on 15 wooded acres in North Bethesda, learning at Green Acres extends into the woods, streams, playgrounds and athletic fields. Green Acres was voted “Best K-8 School” in Bethesda Magazine’s 2014 “Best of Bethesda” Readers’ Poll. To register for an open house, go to www.greenacres.org/visit.
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Special advertising Section
fall open house saturday
oct 11, 2014
Experience Memorable Moments Experience St. Timothy’s School An Exceptional College-Preparatory Education for Girls Offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Boarding and Day, Grades 9 – 12 Cutting Edge Academic and Athletic Facilities iPad Integrated Learning and Teaching Individualized Riding Program Please join us for an interactive tour, lunch, and roundtable discussions with faculty and students. To RSVP, contact the Admissions Office admis@stt.org | 410 · 486 · 7401 | www.stt.org
IA STUDENT AM LEADER. A TEAM PLAYER. A CHANGE AGENT.
Sunday Family Open House
OPEN HOUSES
UPPER SCHOOL · October 19, 12:00-2:30 pm ALL-SCHOOL · November 11, December 10, January 16, 8:45 am
10/26 • 1:30–3:30 PM 2014 Bethesda Magazine Readers’ Pick, Best K-8 Private School
Find out more! www.greenacres.org
View the Open House schedule at
www.stoneridgeschool.org/openhouse
Limited spaces available for fall
Pre-K — 8th Grade
301-881-4100 11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD
Empowering leaders to serve with faith, intellect, and confidence. Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for girls, Grades 1-12, with a coeducational Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Early Childhood Program, located in Bethesda, MD. Multiple round-trip bus routes available in DC, MD, and VA.
www.stoneridgeschool.org
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Special advertising Section
Private School
Guide 540-636-5200 or 800-272-1172 www.rma.edu Grades: 6-12, plus post graduate Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 359 Average class size: 13-15 Student/teacher ratio: 9:1 Religious affiliation: United Methodist Church Grade foreign language first offered: 7 Languages offered: Spanish and German Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $25,714 Annual tuition for grade 12: $34,565 Students receiving financial aid: 35.5% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: N/A Number of AP courses offered: 14 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 79 Varsity sports: 20 Interscholastic sports (middle): 9 Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 2 Music ensembles: 3 Accreditations/Affiliations: Accredited by VAIS (Virginia Association of Independent
Schools) and SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, listed with the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. A Falcon Foundation School. A member of AMCSUS (Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the U.S.) Founded: 1892
Saint James School 17641 College Road Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-733-9330 www.stjames.edu Grades: 8-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 220 Average class size: 11 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: 8th Languages offered: Latin, Spanish, French Annual tuition for grade 12: Boarding: $42,600; Day $28,400 Students receiving financial aid: 33% Uniform: Formal dress code during aca-
demic day Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: 15 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 92% Varsity sports: 16 Interscholastic sports (middle): 16 JV sports Number of art studios: 1 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: 5 Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Associate of Colleges and Secondary Schools; NAIS, TABS, SBSA, Maryland State Board of Education Annual applications per opening: 5:1 Founded: 1842
Sandy Spring Friends School 16923 Norwood Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-774-7455 www.ssfs.org Grades: PK-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 555 Average class size: 12-15
School christ episcopal school • • • Profile
22 W. Jefferson St. Rockville, MD 20850 301-424-6550 www.cesrockville.org Christ Episcopal School
Enrollment
150
Grades
age 2-grade 8 Average Class Size
13
Student/Teacher Ratio
7:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 8)
$17,620
Year Founded
1966
(CES) is an educational gem in historic Rockville, seconds from I-270 and two blocks from Rockville Town Center. CES has been known for providing a rigorous private school education at an affordable price for the last half century. CES is a diverse school committed to providing traditional curricula using 21st century technologies. Through relationships with Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education, NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute and Carnegie Institution for Science, CES students are well prepared for the rapidly changing world in which they live and welcomed into top-area high schools. A ministry of Christ Episcopal Church parish, founded in 1726, CES honors its history while also embracing families of all faiths. A commitment to cultivating moral and ethical behavior is reflected in the CES mission: Academic excellence, respect and a passion to serve are the inspiration for our community where every interaction is rooted in our CES promise: to nurture students to become kind, confident, well-rounded individuals prepared to contribute to their community and thrive personally, spiritually and academically.
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Special advertising Section
Age 2-Grade 8 Offering LIFT: A 21st century education with emphasis on language arts, mathematics and preparation for STEM-related fields of study. • Nurturing kind, confident, well-rounded students • Small class size • Outstanding visual and performing arts programs • Located seconds from I-270
Open House Dates:
Saturday, Nov. 8 10:00-12:00 Friday, Nov. 21 10:00-12:00 Friday, Jan. 23 10:00-12:00 Saturday, April 18 10:00-12:00
Christ Episcopal School
Inspiring minds to learn, hearts to love and hands to serve.
www.cesrockville.org (301) 424-6550
22 W. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20850
I am living the big and small moments of my life with courage and compassion.
I am a Lady of the Academy. OR AN JOIN US F
USE OPEN HO ber 2 • 10:00 am
Sunday, Novem
- 1:00 pm
w w w .A cAd e my O f T h e h O ly c r O s s . O r g All-Girls, Grades 9-12 • 4920 Strathmore Ave, Kensington MD • 301.942.2100
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Private School
Guide Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Quaker Seniors with National Merit recognition: 2 Grade foreign language first offered: PK - Spanish Languages offered: Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $15,500 Annual tuition for grade 12: $29,200 Students receiving financial aid: 23% Uniform: No Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 16 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 120 scored 3 or higher out of a total of 248 exams administered Varsity sports: Yes - check website for specific sports by gender Interscholastic sports (middle): Yes – check website Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: Several Music ensembles: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS, NAIS, IE Annual applications per opening: Varies Founded: 1961
The Siena School 1300 Forest Glen Road Silver Spring, MD 20901 301-244-3600 www.thesienaschool.org Grades: 4-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 94 Average class size: 10 Student/teacher ratio: 10:1 Religious affiliation: None Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $33,856 Annual tuition for grade 12: $35,463 Students receiving financial aid: 33% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: 95% Varsity sports: Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Softball Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, Cross County, Softball Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2
Music ensembles: 2 Accreditations/Affiliations: NAIS, ISM, MSACS, IDA, LDA-MC Annual applications per opening: 8 Founded: 2006
St. Anselm’s Abbey School 4501 South Dakota Ave., NE Washington, DC 20017 202-269-2350 www.saintanselms.org Grades: 6-12 Gender: Boys Total number of students: 250 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Religious affiliation: Catholic (Benedictine) Seniors with National Merit recognition: 36% Grade foreign language first offered: 7th Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, Greek, French, Arabic Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $24,000 Annual tuition for grade 12: $25,000 Students receiving financial aid: 42% Uniform: Coat and tie Bus transportation: Shuttles available
School holton-arms school • • • Profile
7303 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-5300 www.holton-arms.edu The Center for the Advance-
Enrollment
640
Grades
3-12
Average Class Size
15
Student/Teacher Ratio
6:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$36,875
Year Founded
1901
ment of STEM at Holton-Arms continues our rich history of inspiring girls to find a way or make one. The center features an integrated grade 3-12 program that capitalizes on Holton’s faculty, facilities and strategic partnerships to educate girls to be fluent, not just literate, in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Teachers encourage students to apply a growth mindset to explore and discover, tinker and innovate, and collaborate and problem-solve. All students learn through the center’s innovative curriculum; however, some go even further and achieve the designation of Holton-Arms STEM Scholar. These students engage in a variety of applied science and math opportunities, achieve at a high level in related academics, and complete science research at Georgetown University, George Washington University, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, or the University of Maryland. The Center for the Advancement of STEM and the STEM Scholar designation further establish Holton-Arms as one of the preeminent institutions for preparing young women to pursue STEM education and careers in this complex and changing world.
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Teacher retention rate: 87% Number of AP courses offered: 21 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 72% Varsity sports: Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field, Wrestling, Tennis, Fencing and Lacrosse Music ensembles: Middle School Chorus, Jazz Band, and Small Ensemble; Men’s Chorus, A Capella Club Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Catholic Education Association, Independent Education, Association of Independent Maryland Schools, National Association of Independent Schools Founded: 1942
St. John’s College High School 2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 202-363-2316 www.stjohnschs.org Grades: 9-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 1,095 Average class size: 21
Student/teacher ratio: 12:1 Religious affiliation: Catholic Seniors with National Merit recognition: 12 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, French, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $17,200 Annual tuition for grade 12: $17,200 Students receiving financial aid: 39% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 21 Students scoring 3+ on AP exams: 69% Varsity sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew (Fall and Spring), Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Swim and Dive, Tennis, Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor), Volleyball and Wrestling Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 2-3 Music ensembles: 17 Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Annual applications per opening: 4:1 Founded: 1851
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School 4700 Whitehaven Parkway, NW Washington, DC 20007 202-342-2805 www.stpatsdc.org Grades: Nursery-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 515 Average class size: 18 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: Grade 1 Languages offered: Spanish Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $17,200 % Students receiving financial aid: 19% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: Varsity sports: Cross-Country, Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse Interscholastic sports (middle): Cross-Country, Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 4 Music ensembles: 7:Young Singers, Orff Ensemble, Handbells, Chamber Singers,
Timeless lessons. Enduring values. Brilliant futures.
© Jeff Mauritzen
What happens when academic depth intersects with cultural continuity?
ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 9, 2014 2 to 4:30 p.m.
7303 River Road | Bethesda, MD 20817 www.holton-arms.edu College Preparatory School for Girls Grades 3-12
Visit our community! Lower School Open House Sunday, November 16 10:00 a.m.
WWW.CESJDS.ORG /cesjdsconnect
THE LIGHTS COME ON. The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) is redefining Jewish education. Our dual program integrates timeless study habits rooted in collaborative inquiry, lessons steeped in 360 degree character development, and the devotion of teachers who guide with purpose. Confident, kind-hearted, and intellectually prepared, students emerge self-assured and ready to take their place in the world as shining stars.
@cesjdsconnect
/cesjdsconnect
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Private School
Guide Grades 7 and 8 Chorus Accreditations/Affiliations: AIMS, Middle States Founded: 1956
Music ensembles: 3 Accreditations/Affiliations: AdvancEd Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Founded: 1868
St. Peter School
St. Timothy’s School
422 Third St., SE Washington, DC 20003 202-544-1618 www.stpeterschooldc.org Grades: PK - 8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 220 Average class size: 23 Student/teacher ratio: 23:1 Religious affiliation: Catholic Grade foreign language first offered: PK Languages offered: Spanish and Latin Students receiving financial aid: 10% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: Metro Teacher retention rate: 90% Interscholastic sports (middle): CYO Basketball, Track & Field, Cross Country Theater productions per year: 1
8400 Greenspring Ave. Stevenson, MD 21153 410-486-7401 www.stt.org Grades: 9-12, plus post graduate Gender: Girls Total number of students: 185 Average class size: 9 Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Seniors with National Merit recognition: 0 Grade foreign language first offered: 9 Languages offered: Spanish, Latin, French, Mandarin Annual tuition for grade 12: Day students: $28,560/Boarding students: $50,330 Students receiving financial aid: 40% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No
School st. peter school • • Profile
Number of AP courses offered: St. Timothy’s offers the IB Diploma Program Varsity sports: Tennis, Soccer, Indoor Soccer, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Golf, Badminton, Swimming, Volleyball, Ice Hockey, Cross Country, Equestrian, and Softball Number of art studios: 2 Theater productions per year: 3 Music ensembles: A Cappella, Choir and Hand Bell Choir Accreditations/Affiliations: Middle States Association; Association of Independent Maryland Schools. St. Timothy’s is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School and a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the Association of Boarding Schools, the Council of International Schools, the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools; the Council for Advancement and Support of Education; the National Association of Episcopal Schools; the College Board; and the National Association for College Admission Counseling Founded: 1882 (Chartered in 1832)
•
442 Third Street, SE Washington, D.C. 20003 202-544-1618 www.stpeterschooldc.org At St. Peter School students are provided
Enrollment
220
Grades
pK-8
Average Class Size
23
Annual Tuition (Grade 8) catholic rate
$8,950
Non-catholic rate
$11,300
Year Founded
with an education that is founded on love of God and service to others, characterized by Catholic values and academic excellence. Recognized by the Department of Education as a “2013 National Blue Ribbon School,” St. Peter School strives to instill in each student an educational foundation for lifelong growth in knowledge, wisdom and spiritual maturity. The St. Peter School community shares a vision of high expectations and performance with proven results. Situated in the historic district of Capitol Hill, St. Peter School offers a wealth of cultural and educational enrichment opportunities just outside its doors. The United States Capitol, the Smithsonian Museums, Folger Shakespeare Library, Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center are just a few of our neighbors. The supportive community of faculty, parents and administration works collectively on behalf of the students.
1868
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Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart 9101 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814 301.657.4322 www.stoneridgeschool.org Grades: Preschool-Grade 12 Gender: Co-ed Preschool, Pre-K, K; All-girls Grades 1-12 Total student population: 700 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 11:1 Religious affiliation: catholic Seniors with National Merit Recognition: 1 finalist, 12 Commended Scholars, 1 National Hispanic Recognition Finalist Grade foreign language first offered: Preschool (3 year-olds) Languages offered: French, Spanish, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $23,800 Annual tuition for grade 12: $29,500 Uniform: Yes Bus: Yes Number of AP courses offered: 20 Students scoring 3+ on ap exams: 73% Varsity sports - high school: Soccer, Field
Hockey, Cross Country, Basketball, Swimming/Diving, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track & Field, Softball; Club Level: Equestrian, Ice Hockey, Squash, Golf Interscholastic sports - middle school: Soccer, Field Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Lacrosse, Softball, Track & Field, Ice Hockey, Golf Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: 2 in Upper School, 2 in Middle School Music ensembles: Junior Chorus, Heartfelt (A Cappella), Upper School Chorus, Middle School Band Accreditations/affiliations: AIMS, Middle States Associations Of Colleges And Schools, Network Of Sacred Heart Schools, National Catholic Education Association, National Association Of Independent Schools, National Coalition Of Girls Schools, National Association Of Principals Of Schools For Girls, Association For Supervision And Curriculum Development, Independent Education, National Association For The Education Of
Young Children Founded: 1923
Washington Episcopal School 5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 301-652-7878 www.w-e-s.org Grades: PK-8 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 260 Average class size: 16 Student/teacher ratio: 7:1 Religious affiliation: Episcopal Grade foreign language first offered: Age 4 Languages offered: French, Spanish, Latin Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $9,800 Annual tuition for Grade 8: $31,340 Students receiving financial aid: 23% Uniform: Yes Bus transportation: No Teacher retention rate: Average tenure of 15 years Interscholastic Sports: Soccer, Cross-Country, Basketball, Lacrosse, Track
The Key to Educational Excellence since 1868
National Blue Ribbon School
Open House Dates: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6–8 pm Friday, Nov. 7, 9– 11 am Friday, Jan. 16, 9– 11 am
Be who you are and be it well. -St. Francis de Sales
open house
Saturday, October 18 • 1-4 p.m.
Pre-K to 8th grade Rigorous Academic Program Religion • Spanish • Latin • Accelerated Reader • Music Art • PE • Health & Wellness • Aftercare Enrichment Programs All Denominations Welcome
Come learn more about us—a Catholic high school committed to academic excellence and the education of women of faith, vision, and purpose. For further information, please contact our Admissions Office at 202-337-3350 or visit our website.
For more information, call: 202-544-1618 or visit stpeterschooldc.org 422 Third Street, SE • Washington, DC 20003
1524 Thirty-fifth Street, NW • Washington, DC 20007 • www.visi.org
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Private School
Guide Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: Every grade performs at least once/year for entire school Accreditations/Affiliations Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS); MidAtlantic Episcopal Schools Association (MAESA); National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES); National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS); Independent Education; Black Student Fund. Founded: 1986
Washington Waldorf School 4800 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 20816 301-229-6107 washingtonwaldorf.org Grades: PK-12 Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 275 Average class size: 18 Student/teacher ratio: 9:1 Religious affiliation: None
Seniors with National Merit recognition: None Grade foreign language first offered: 1 Languages offered: Spanish (German also available after sixth) Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $20,100 for full-day Kindergarten Annual tuition for grade 12: $25,200 Students receiving financial aid: 35% Uniform: No Bus transportation: No Number of AP courses offered: 1 (Calculus) Varsity sports: Soccer, Cross-country, Basketball, Baseball/Softball Interscholastic sports (middle): Soccer, Cross-country, Basketball, Baseball/ Softball Number of art studios: 3 Theater productions per year: Class plays grades 1-8, drama club, Folger Theater HS Competition, Sr. Play Music ensembles: Middle School and High School Orchestras, Chorus, Flute Ensemble; High School Jazz Band Accreditations/Affiliations: Association of In-
dependent Maryland Schools & Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Founded: 1969
Westmoreland Children’s Center 5148 Massachusetts Ave. Bethesda, MD 20816 301-229-7161 www.wccbethesda.com Grades: age 2-PK Gender: Co-ed Total number of students: 235 Average class size: 15 Student/teacher ratio: 13:5 Religious affiliation: None Lowest tuition for 5-day students: $13,365 for full day Students receiving financial aid: 10 Uniforms: No Bus Transportation: No Teach retention rate: 97% Accreditations/Affiliations: NAEYC Accredited Founded: 1970
School st. john’s college high school • • • Profile
2607 Military Road, NW Chevy Chase, DC 20015 202-363-2316 www.stjohnschs.org
Enrollment
1,095
Grades
9-12
Average Class Size
21
Student/Teacher Ratio
12:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$17,200
Year Founded
1851
St. John’s College High School is an independent, Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school. Rooted in the Lasallian tradition, we are committed to academic excellence and to preparing young men and women for lives of leadership, achievement and service to their community. St. John’s offers 21 AP and 16 honors courses, as well as a Scholars Program for gifted and talented students. Our dynamic 1:1 educational technology program, featuring iPads provided by the school, allows students to learn, produce and collaborate in a manner now commonplace at colleges across the country. Our graduates have a 100 percent college acceptance rate; the Class of 2014 earned $24 million in scholarships. We field 26 varsity sports teams and offer more than 45 extracurricular activities and clubs. Unique to St. John’s is an elective JROTC program that promotes leadership and teamwork. Our 30-acre campus is adjacent to Rock Creek Park in Chevy Chase, D.C. St. John’s has invested approximately $30 million in recent campus improvements, including the Kimsey Science and Technology Center, Fitzpatrick Library and Cassidy Commons Dining Hall.
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Special advertising Section
Massanutten offers:
College-Level Dual Enrollment
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Program
100% College Acceptance Rate $940,000 in Scholarships
Enrolling Day & Boarding Students for this fall! Toll Free: (877) 466-6222 admissions@militaryschool.com
Massanutten Military Academy
614 S. Main St. Woodstock VA 22664 www.militaryschool.com
Opening Minds
|
Unlocking Talents
|
Building Leaders
Equipping Our Students To Excel Open House October 26, 2014 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Three years ago, St. John’s was one of the first schools in the area to incorporate a school-wide 1:1 iPad program at no additional cost to our families. For our students, the benefits include: 2607 Military Road, NW
|
Chevy Chase, DC 20015
• Global collaboration with experts • Digital organization and online storage • More than 90% of courses use cost-effective eBooks • Instant access to online research tools and databases • Easy networking with classmates at St. John’s and other schools
Admissions Office: 202-363-2316
|
www.stjohnschs.org
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School bullis school Guide Profile • • Private School
•
10601 Falls Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-299-8500 www.bullis.org At Bullis, we believe that
Enrollment
765
Grades
2-12
Average Class Size
15
Student/Teacher Ratio
7:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$36,610
Year Founded
1930
the best education is achieved through a balance of academics, arts and athletics. Here, students learn and grow, discover their passions, achieve their highest potential and develop the best tools to succeed in college and beyond. At the same time, they are happier and more confident through communitybuilding, service, teacher relationships and our healthy Bullis balance. Combining superior academics, arts and athletics with signature programs—in STEM, Entrepreneurship, Visual and Performing Arts and Humanities and Global Studies—Bullis leads the way in 21st century educational approaches. Our students are equipped to make the most of today and tomorrow’s global opportunities and challenges. Located on a 100-acre campus in Potomac, Maryland, Bullis offers top-rate facilities, a one-to-one laptop/iPad program, a highly diverse student body and a unique combination of traditional with progressive for all of our students in grades 2-12. You are welcome to visit during open houses, campus tours or through individual appointments. Visit our website or contact our Admission Office at 301-983-5724 to learn more.
School norwood school • • Profile
•
8821 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301-365-2595 www.norwoodschool.org Norwood uses the proven
Enrollment
450
Grades
K-8
Average Class Size
10-12
Student/Teacher Ratio
6:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 8)
$30,220
Year Founded
1952
power of a K-8 education in a diverse, inclusive and connected community to inspire joy in learning and engage the whole child in a challenging and dynamic academic program. At the core are more than 60 years of proven excellence in educating and preparing children for the future. Our students are guided to develop important 21st century skills: to think critically, creatively, collaboratively and compassionately with a global perspective. We believe that world languages, art, music, PE and athletics should never be considered extracurricular subjects. Each is a vibrant program that is as much a part of the Norwood experience as other subjects. Teachers are highly skilled at blending the very best of traditional and innovative teaching methods to inspire analytical and critical thinking, strong oral and written communication, independent thinking and leadership in teamwork. Lower school teachers understand the careful balance of nurture and challenge; middle school teachers provide the freedom and structure adolescents need to flourish. Our goal is for every child to leave at the end of the day, excited to return the next morning.
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Weekly Tours: Tues. & Thurs. at 9:30am For more information: admissions@thedienerschool.org 11510 Falls Road Potomac, MD 301.299.4602
www.TheDienerSchool.org
Motivating Minds, Inspiring Capabilities
Saxophonist Defensive Back
Serving Students Kindergarten-6th Grade with Learning Disabilities, Language and Sensory Processing Disorders, Executive Functioning & Attention Issues, and Social Thinking Challenges
Sports Editor
Stan
Readers’ Pick, Runner-Up, A 2013 A 2012 A 2011 Top Vote Getter Top Vote Getter Top Vote Getter
Best School for Non-Traditional Learners
OPEN HOUSE, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1:00 P.M. 10601 Falls Road | Potomac, MD 20854 www.bullis.org | 301-299-8500
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School the nora school Guide Profile • • Private School
•
955 Sligo Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-495-6672 www.nora-school.org
Enrollment
60
Grades
9-12
Average Class Size
8
Student/Teacher Ratio
5:1
Annual Tuition (Grade 12)
$26,500
Year Founded
1964
Think differently. At The Nora School, these are words we take to heart. This intentionally small, college preparatory learning community works to bring out the best in high school students with diverse learning styles. Many students turn to us because they’ve become frustrated in large, impersonal institutions, while others seek a richer, more engaging education without the emphasis on standardized testing. In our discussion-based classrooms, students find their voice in an intellectually rigorous, accepting and nurturing environment. With a thought-provoking curriculum, and inclusive sports and arts programs, The Nora School helps students find their unique path in life. We encourage responsibility and build confidence and excitement about learning. We inspire a critical world view. At Nora, we prepare students for college, work and life. We invite you to discover the essence of our school. RSVP for an Open House or call us to arrange a visit. Come see how our students thrive. Celebrating the same mission for 50 years. Think Differently.
School lowell school • Profile
•
•
1640 Kalmia Road, NW Washington, DC 20012 202-577-2000 www.lowellschool.org At Lowell, dedicated teachers nurture curios-
Enrollment
340
Grades
Age 2 1/2-Grade 8 Average Class Size
16
Student/Teacher Ratio
6:1
Year Founded
1965
ity and help children develop fundamental skills and deep, conceptual understandings that will last a lifetime. In the Pre-Primary School, opportunities abound for exploration, discovery and learning. Teachers pay close attention to each child’s social, emotional and academic development. In the Primary and Middle Schools, a rigorous, integrated curriculum—which includes the full complement of academic classes, as well as arts, technology and physical education—engages students in active, experiential learning. A strong social curriculum develops interpersonal skills, multicultural understanding and community engagement. A full array of after-school activities—including sports, swimming lessons, music lessons and minicourses—are also available for all enrolled students. Lowell’s dynamic and welcoming community is committed to ensuring that the principles of diversity and inclusivity permeate all aspects of the school from administrative decisions and event planning to curriculum and student life. Lowell is centrally located on eight, tree-filled acres adjacent to Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington, D.C.
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tel 301. 495.6672 i S i lv e r S pr i n g, M D 2 0 9 1 0 i 955 Sligo Avenue
Think differently. At The Nora School, these are words we take to heart. This small, college preparatory high school, grades 9 –12, works to bring out the best in students with diverse learning styles since 1964.
t He nor A SC Hool
www.nor A-SC Hool.org
800-272-1172
www.rma.edu
An inclusive community of life-long learners in which each individual is valued and respected
Join us for a tour! Come, learn more about our programs for children ages 21/2 through 8th grade. Tours begin in October. 1640 Kalmia Road NW Washington, DC 20012 202.577.2000 | lowellschool.org
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School westmoreland children’s center Guide Profile • • • Private School
5148 Massachusetts ave. Bethesda, MD 20816 301-229-7161 www.wccbethesda.com Westmoreland Children’s Center
Enrollment
235
Grades
age 2-pk Average Class Size
15
Student/Teacher Ratio
13:3
Annual Tuition
$14,000
Year Founded
1970
(WCC) believes play is essential to children’s overall development. Inventors. Problem-solvers. Discoverers. Dreamers. Children are born with a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. At WCC, we know children learn best by investigating, exploring and playing. We provide fun activities and opportunities for growth in the areas of: social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and the arts. Indoor and outdoor playtimes are valued components of our program. From our classrooms to our common areas, everything about WCC has been developed to help children build relationships with warm, caring teachers while they learn in a safe and stimulating environment. WCC offers part-time and full-time programs for the school year (September – mid-June). Each class is taught by one of our wonderful lead teachers and one or more energized assistant teachers. WCC is licensed by the Division of Early Childhood Development/Office of Child Care of the Maryland State Department of Education as a nursery school and as a child care center. WCC’s preschool programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
School edmund burke school • • Profile
•
4101 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008 202-362-8882 www.burkeschool.org Burke is an independent, co-ed, college
Enrollment
300
Grades
6-12
Average Class Size
14
Student/Teacher Ratio
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Year Founded
1968
preparatory school with a great urban location in the Van Ness neighborhood of D.C. Our founders were inspired by the words of Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing,” and we set high academic expectations while teaching students to be independent, responsible citizens committed to social justice. From the moment you walk through the door you’ll notice our vibrant, warm and inclusive atmosphere—students are cheerful, the halls are filled with college-level artwork and the classrooms buzz with lively discussions and hands-on projects. We are a progressive school, which means our teachers are up on the latest education research and rely on interactive, engaging lessons rather than static lectures. Our graduates go on to terrific colleges where they report being better prepared than their peers. Our small size (300 students,) and strong advisory program allow us to really understand and appreciate our diverse group of kids—part of what makes Burke students so happy while they work so hard!
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Siena is known for providing individualized reading/language remediation through daily reading classes offering explicit, systematic instruction in the five essential skills identified by the National Reading Panel: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Our focus is bright, creative, college-bound students in grades 4-12, with mild to moderate language-based learning differences. At Siena, a critical component of our engaging and successful learning environment is the value we place on an interdisciplinary curriculum, packed with experiential learning and integrated arts. Siena’s arts program includes substantial experiences in the fine and performing arts. Courses in history and literature are connected thematically and topically, and other subjects draw on the themes and topics covered in the humanities. Through highly individualized, research-based, multisensory instruction and curriculum-related field trips, our students develop critical thinking skills and acquire the tools and strategies needed to become successful and independent learners, prepared for college. The Siena School is conveniently located on Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring, off the Beltway, just past Holy Cross Hospital and near the Forest Glen Metro station.
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Sixteen-year-old Evan Rosenstock loved sports and had a big, easy smile. When he took his own life last year, the Churchill community was devastated. How could this have happened? And who or what was to blame? By Eugene L. Meyer
Jacqui South Photography
‘effervescent EVAN’
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Jacqui South Photography
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‘effervescent evan’
I
than a year after Evan’s death, everyone n Jewish tradition, a cemetery knew him is still grasping for an gravestone or plaque is “unveiled” about who explanation. Some of Evan’s family members and friends focus their anger on the a year after a person dies. And so it basketball coach, Matt Miller, was that on a beautiful Sunday in May, Churchill who they say demanded too much and felt little of the pain—physical and emoSue and Howard Rosenstock removed too tional—that befell Evan. Sue Rosenstock, a felt cloth covering the bronze plaque especially, feels that Miller abandoned her son, leaving him to wallow in a deepening memorializing their son, Evan. depression and asking him to do manual make a tangible public statement that the deceased was remembered. The Hebrew word for rock, Raskin told them, is eben. “Evan should be our rock, his memory, his life, what he has continued to teach us. Let him be our eben, our strength, our rock.” If there was any solace, the rabbi said, it was in Evan’s legacy: His death had given birth to an organization, umttr— texting shorthand for “you matter”— that seeks to combat bullying and abuse in youth sports and to fight the scourge of teen suicide, the third leading cause of death nationally among 15- to 24-yearolds, behind unintended injuries and homicide. There had been a recent spate of them in the Washington, D.C., area— six teens had killed themselves within three years at Northern Virginia’s W. T. Woodson High School. When a tragedy like this happens, it is natural to look to place blame, and more
Mourners placed pebbles on a bronze cemetery plaque memorializing Evan Rosenstock.
labor when he knew Evan was in pain. Those who support the coach strongly disagree. They say he cared deeply not only about winning but about the wellbeing of all his players. He worried about their academics as much as their athletics, they say, and went out of his way to help kids. They say there must be other factors at play. Perhaps, they say, there was an overbearing parent pressuring Evan. Or perhaps it was the antidepressant medication, Celexa, that Evan was taking in his last month of life, despite a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that it and other antidepressant medications in its class could cause adolescents to have suicidal thoughts or behavior. Or, perhaps Evan’s death was just a tragedy. One without villains. No more, no less.
“I haven’t touched it,”
Sue says as she walks into Evan’s basement room one evening this past March. Evan’s clothes are still on the floor, the bed is unmade, sheets and pillowcases unchanged. She says the room still smells like her son. His backpack contains a calculator, notebooks, a copy of Lord of the Flies and rubber bands for his braces. The last entry in his assignment book is for Wednesday, May 15, five days before he died. On May 13, he notes, it’s his sister Allison’s birthday. Also a Chinese quiz, a bio quiz, an English chapter that must be read by Thursday. Churchill sweatpants are in a laundry basket, waiting to be washed. There is the 2013 Churchill
Eugene L. Meyer
Unveilings are invariably sad affairs, but this one was especially so. Evan, a beloved student and varsity basketball player at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, had committed suicide at age 16. It was, his parents said, the conclusion to a spiraling depression linked to his inability after surgery to play basketball, the sport that had become so central to his life that without it he saw no reason to live. About 50 mourners gathered at the gravesite for the unveiling at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Va. “It’s as hard to imagine we’re here today as it was when we opened the earth to bring Evan to a place of rest,” Rabbi Adam Raskin, the spiritual leader of the Rosenstocks’ Potomac synagogue, Congregation Har Shalom, told those in attendance. The mourners left pebbles on the grave marker, also a Jewish tradition, to
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Coach Matt Miller and team
family photos; Jacqui South Photography (basketball)
Evan takes a shot while playing for an I-270 Youth Basketball Association team. He also played varsity basketball at Churchill.
Family photos (top to bottom): Evan with his mother, Sue; father, Howard; and sister, Allison.
yearbook, and a Robert Griffin III jersey, “his favorite,” Sue says. Evan’s room at his father’s house is similarly preserved. There’s a Buzz Lightyear figure, Evan’s math binder on the desk and a Michael Jordan poster. An art project Evan made in preschool reads, “I am Special. My name is Evan Rosenstock.” A swimsuit calendar is opened to May 2013. Evan’s parents separated in 2004 and divorced in 2006. The divorce, initiated by Howard, was uncontested, and the parents shared joint custody of Evan and his older sister, Allison. Today, both parents still live in Potomac, less than 4 miles apart. Howard, 60, an attorney, continues to reside in the large 1971 brick colonial where they had lived together as a family on Sorrel Avenue, near Potomac Village. Sue, 52, an accountant, lives in a town house she purchased in 2008 on a cul-de-sac off Falls
Road, near their synagogue. Though the divorced parents had other relationships, they remained dedicated to their children and determined to keep their lives as normal as possible. “I always thought Sue and I worked as a very effective team,” Howard says. Evan’s pediatrician concurs, writing to Sue after Evan’s death that the boy had “adjusted well to changes in his life due to his parents’ divorce.” Howard and Sue say Evan was an easy child. Sweet and even-tempered, he was nicknamed “Effervescent Evan” by his preschool teacher. He volunteered to shovel the neighbors’ walks when it snowed. “I would put up a list of things—chores— he’d need to do,” Sue says. “By the time I’d wake up in the morning, the list was done.” Sue says Evan loved all sports but that basketball was his favorite. He began playing basketball at age 7 in a recreational league. “He was always in the
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‘effervescent evan’
90th percentile for height and weight, so he was just a big kid. He really took to it. It became natural for him.” He played forward and center, and in addition to his school teams, he played on Potomac Pride, an Amateur Athletic Union team, and in the I-270 Youth Basketball Association under former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. At home, Evan would spend free time shooting hoops on a neighborhood court behind Sue’s house. “I made him do this,” Sue says. “It was for him to get exercise and, also, when you’re the big man in the middle, what does it come down to? Foul shots.” Elliot Thaker, a friend of Evan’s since kindergarten, says Evan loved to make people laugh. “He always had this big, stupid-looking smile on his face,” Elliot says. “He was one of the most caring people I’ve ever seen.”
The older of two children, Matt Miller grew up in Northwest D.C. and graduated from Gonzaga College High School. His father, now retired, worked as a scientist for the federal government, and his mother teaches interior design at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
Miller, 31, studied economics and played basketball at St. Mary’s College in southern Maryland. A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) forced him to sit out his senior season but also helped him discover a passion for coaching, he says. “I earned a coaching position with the team during my senior year,” Miller says. “While it wasn’t the same as playing, it really helped me transition to the next part of my life.” He went on to obtain a master’s degree in education from Marymount. Before coming to Churchill, he taught physical education and coached basketball at Wheaton and Walt Whitman high schools. Under Miller, the Churchill Bulldogs won three consecutive division championships and compiled a 79-41 record. He also coached the Potomac Pride summer team that was an unofficial training camp for Churchill players. Miller declined to be interviewed in person for this article but agreed through an attorney who describes himself as a family friend to respond to emailed questions. “My philosophy is pretty simple with regards to both basketball and the classroom,” he says. “Work hard, make a com-
mitment to doing the best you can, communicate issues or concerns early and often, manage your time well, and respect fellow students, teachers, coaches, opponents, referees and your family. I have always thought that high school athletics was an excellent opportunity to help kids develop certain skills that will serve them well later in life, such as teamwork, communication and responsibility. I was fortunate to be a part of three different high school programs as a coach and I feel good about the impact I was able to make.” Miller first met Evan when the young athlete was playing for Herbert Hoover Middle School, which feeds into Churchill. Miller says he attended a few games to show support for the kids who might be playing for him one day. The summer after ninth grade, Evan was a counselor at Miller’s summer basketball day camp for younger children. “He was very helpful, responsible and an outstanding camp counselor,” Miller says. The coach decided to put Evan—who was 6 feet 3 inches tall—on the varsity team his sophomore year. “I thought we could develop him for the future and he would improve the most by practicing with the varsity every day,” Miller says. On Aug. 21, 2012, Sue emailed Miller: “Evan is excited about starting fall workouts and getting back to his routine.” She added that Evan’s grades the previous spring were disappointing. “We feel he should spend more time in Study Hall,” she wrote, signing off with, “Best always – Go Bulldogs!” Miller replied that Evan would have two lunch study halls per week. “I will also put him on a plan where he has to prove that he has visited a teacher every other day during the week,” he wrote. Sue responded: “That’s a great plan of action in school…Thanks for your willingness and understanding of how important both grades and basketball are to Evan. Evan really likes you and really wants to please you.”
Neither of Evan’s parents
can pinpoint when Evan’s back problems began. Sue says he had been experienc-
Doug Kapustin
Former Churchill basketball coach Matt Miller, now an assistant basketball coach at Shepherd University in West Virginia, says he had “no inkling” that Evan was depressed.
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J. Stuart Harris Photography (bar mitzvah); courtesy photo (tribute)
ing back pain off and on for two years but didn’t complain. Then, in November 2012, she says, “He came to me and said, ‘I don’t like basketball.’ That was the first time he’d said that.” She’d send him out to practice his foul shots, about two dozen before he could come back inside. “He kept coming back earlier and earlier.” The pain got worse, and he would take Advil to alleviate it, but he continued to practice and play, Sue says. In early January, Howard took Evan to see an orthopedist who diagnosed a herniated disc. Sue says she called Miller to tell him. Evan continued to attend practice but in street clothes. Laurie Halverson, a Churchill parent whose son was on the varsity team with Evan, says she often drove Evan and her son, Charles, home from practices. On one occasion, she says, Evan said his back was “killing him.” “I heard him talking to my son,” Halverson says. “He said the coach was making him sweep floors. He had a doctor’s note that he wasn’t supposed to practice, just rest. I said, ‘Why are you sweeping the floors?’ He said, ‘The coach asked me.’ I emailed Sue to let her know. I was concerned.” A teammate of Evan’s who requested anonymity in order to discuss Miller candidly says, “Evan didn’t have the best relationship with our coach. I would say a lot of us were not really afraid [of him] but sort of hesitant, not looking forward to going to practices.” The teammate says he saw Evan sweeping the gym floors on three or four occasions with a giant push broom. “[Miller] came into team room one day because one of the players had sprained an ankle and he asked Evan to carry a bucket of ice,” the teammate says. “Evan did. The second time, he said no because it was hurting his back.” “If I asked Evan to do either of these tasks—and I have no recollection of doing so—then I believed at the time he was capable of doing so,” Miller says. “I never doubted or questioned Evan’s injury. I just never knew the extent or severity until it had progressed to the point where he
Evan is surro unded by well-wishers at his bar mitzvah in 20 09.
tball team The Churchill baske to Evan. son sea dedicated its 2013 nner displaying ba a ld ho ers ad rle Chee team jersey. the number on his
needed surgery. Evan was never forced to do anything against his will.” On Feb. 15, 2013 Evan posted on his Facebook page: “Yesterday I went [back] to my orthopedist who said I needed surgery for a herniated disk (L4 L5). Today I got a second opinion, same result. So tuesday i’ll be getting surgery, 7:30 am at shady grove hospital. Just got
my pre-op exam all ready to go!” After the surgery, Evan took a prescribed narcotic painkiller for a week. He returned to school but decided not to return to practice. Howard says Evan was getting a lot of pressure from Miller to get back on the court, and he felt he had to hide from the coach and his teammates. “When I’d take him to
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‘effervescent evan’
A table holds mementos of Evan’s life at the September 2013 inaugural basketball tournament for umttr, a nonprofit created by his friends and family.
Soon after Evan Rosenstock’s death, his friends and family began looking for a way to memorialize him and help other depressed teens. Four of Evan’s close friends, led by former teammate Erik Roberts, approached Sue Rosenstock in July 2013 with an idea. She happily agreed to help. Their plan was to hold a youth basketball tournament to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Positive Coaching Alliance, a national nonprofit
that promotes positivity in youth sports. The group chose the name umttr, texting shorthand for “you matter,” which the teens thought would resonate strongly with their peers. Its mission statement is to “raise awareness about teen depression and suicide while inciting a cultural shift away from negativity, bullying, and abuse in sports.” The first umttr tournament was held in September 2013 at Bullis School in
school, he’d ask me to walk with him as sort of a protector, so he didn’t confront the coach on the lawn or on the way into school,” Howard says. “That hadn’t happened before. I don’t think they quite understood his predicament.” Sue says Evan’s doctors told him that he couldn’t play any sports until the fall, and that she called the coach to update him after the surgery. Sue says Miller said, “ ‘Why don’t you just tell him not
to come back anymore?’ I said OK, he won’t. He was of no use to him anymore. I couldn’t believe my ears. The coach didn’t text or call him after surgery.” Not so, Miller says in his emailed responses. He says he texted Evan a few times shortly after the surgery to see how he was doing. “I never told Evan’s mother or anyone else that Evan should not come back to practice or in any way suggested he would no longer be part of
Potomac, with 100 volunteers helping and more than 300 youths playing 3-on-3 halfcourt games. Scott Rivinius, the Churchill athletic director, endorsed the effort. “I think we can do more with depression awareness,” he says. “One thing that’s good about this tournament is that it’s CHS students taking time to remember Evan.” The event raised $27,000. For information about the 2014 umttr tournament, visit www.umttr.org. Says Sue, “I pray that through the efforts of umttr we can save some other life and family from this horror we live each day.”
the team,” Miller says. “I assumed Evan would recover his health and we would get him back at some point once healthy.” Miller says he saw Evan in the school hallways a few times: “I would ask how he was doing, to which he would smile with a ‘hi coach’ and routinely say ‘better.’ ”
But Evan’s mood darkened. Sue says he became lethargic and felt lonely, and lost interest in sports. He had
courtesy umttr.org
honoring EVAN
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trouble going back to school and doing homework. “His identity was as a varsity athlete,” she says. “He fell into this depression.” Increasingly concerned, Sue took Evan to see his pediatrician, Carol Plotsky, on March 29. In a letter to Sue nearly two months after the suicide, Plotsky, who’d known Evan since birth, wrote that Evan complained of feeling different during that March visit. “He felt sad and uninterested,” she wrote. “The surgery made things worse but did not cause the feelings. A radical change occurred sometime in the Fall of 2012. He tried to keep going, interacting with friends and going to school, but he continued to feel disengaged and sad.” Sue says Evan told Plotsky he wanted to speak with a psychiatrist. From April 4 to May 16, Evan had seven sessions with a psychiatrist who specializes in children and adolescents. Sue shared the doctor’s notes from the first visit with Bethesda Magazine. The psychiatrist declined to comment for this article. They said in part: “in a bad mood… not me…hard to fall asleep, wakes, then falls back asleep. Tired all the time… hard to focus & concentrate.” On basketball: “didn’t like it, unpleasant coach. Didn’t want to play anymore. Season no fun – wanted to stop.” She further noted “suicidal thoughts.” His goals were “not to be lazy. Help Mom out—calm her down financially. Back up to speed in school.” The doctor wrote “major depression” and suggested exercise, psychotherapy and “consider medication.” After the second session, the psychiatrist started Evan on Zoloft. When the medication upset Evan’s stomach, she switched him to Celexa. On May 16, four days before his death, Sue says she told the psychiatrist during Evan’s final session that her son was “totally despondent.” Sue said she thought he should be hospitalized, but the doctor said that since he was still going to school and socializing with friends his condition did not meet the clinical criteria. Howard says the psychiatrist had told all of them that suicidal thoughts could be a side effect of Celexa, and to call her if Evan expressed them. “I had real misgivings about drugs, period,” he
says. “But I put my faith in doctors as the experts. But now I just don’t know.” The use of Celexa and some other antidepressants by adolescents remains controversial. Parents whose children have committed suicide after taking Celexa have filed multiple lawsuits against the manufacturer. The suits have routinely resulted in settlements, especially if the deaths occurred before the 2004 FDA “black box” warning on its use by adolescents. Harris Pogust, a Conshohocken, Pa., attorney who has worked on more than 100 such cases over the past 10 years, says, “Typically, it’s out of the blue, when there is no prior history of suicidality.”
happy that evening,” says Allison. When they got home, they said goodnight and see you in the morning. At 7 a.m. Monday, Sue heard a door slam. She thought it was Evan leaving for school. Evan was scheduled to have physical therapy that afternoon at 3:30, and she was going to take him there. But when she left for work, his backpack and house keys were still in the house. She thought that maybe he had an exam and didn’t need his backpack that day. Later she texted him and got no response. When she was driving home from work, around 3 p.m., Sue received a phone call from Antonieta Hess, Howard’s housekeeper. Antonieta had found
“I knew he was depressed; he looked a little down in third period, but as the day went on he just got happier and happier. In eighth period, we were giggling the entire class.”
—classmate Elliot Thaker
Howard and Jill Showell, his significant other, had planned a vacation to Italy from May 12 to May 20, 2013. Howard saw Evan—for the last time—at a bar mitzvah party on the night of May 11. “Before I left,” Howard says, Evan had “pretty much organized a way to catch up with his schoolwork, but he still seemed very weighed down. I guess he was never able to share deeply how difficult that life was. The psychiatrist also said it was difficult to reach him.” Elliot Thaker says he had two classes with Evan on Friday, May 17. “He was in such a great mood, it seemed like,” Elliot recalls. “I knew he was depressed; he looked a little down in third period, but as the day went on he just got happier and happier. In eighth period, we were giggling the entire class.” On Sunday night, May 19, Evan went to see a movie, The Great Gatsby, with his sister, Allison, recently home from college, and a friend of hers. “Evan was very
Evan in the driver’s seat of Sue’s boyfriend’s car, which Evan had parked in Howard’s garage. According to the police report, Antonieta said, “Evan, what are you doing sleeping here?” She opened the door and touched Evan but couldn’t wake him, then called 911. When Sue got to Howard’s house, the police sat her down on a chair outside and instructed her to stay there. “I guess so I wouldn’t see the car and I wouldn’t see him,” Sue says. After the police left, the coroner let Sue go into the garage. “They had taken him out of the car and put him on a gurney,” she says. “Because it was still a crime scene, they wouldn’t let me touch him, but they let me kiss him on top of the head. I kept thinking it was an accident.” Sue sat in the chair outside for five and a half hours. She called Evan’s psychiatrist and told her what happened. “Evan was the first patient she’d ever lost,” Sue says. Howard returned from Italy in shock.
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‘effervescent evan’ The carbon monoxide level in his house was so high he could not stay there. “I remember coming back here the next day and closing all the windows,” Howard says. “They had opened them to let it clear out. I can’t put into words how horrible that was.”
The day before he ended his
life, Evan sent several texts. To his friend Elliot: “I love you man, no matter what happened you were always there for me with a helping and caring hand…I know you’re going to do something incredible with your life.” Elliot would reflect later on Evan’s use of the past tense. “I called him 50 times, but he never answered,” Elliot says. “I called his sister. She said she thought he was fine.” To a girl on whom he’d had a crush, he wrote: “I love you so much with all my heart. I’ve been wanting to be more than friends since 5th grade. You’re the best/ hottest overall young woman I know.” At 9:29 a.m. on Sunday, Evan texted his father: “You are the best thing to ever happen to me, an enormous blessing that only a few lucky ones like me get to be your son. I love you like no other my heart sings when I’m with you big H. You taught me good values and wish I could be more like you. If there was a greater word for love I would use it to describe my feelings toward you. <3 I love you dad.” Howard texted back: “Evan I am so touched by your note and I love you so very much and miss you. I am lucky to have you as my son. See you very soon. Your Dad.” One text he drafted on Monday but did not send was to Sue. “I know you do you’re best and I appreciate everything you do for me. Love you mommy.” Sue thinks he “fell asleep” from the carbon monoxide poisoning before he could send it. There were no more outgoing texts. But inbound texts to Evan’s cellphone continued. One told him to never stop smiling. One said: “I really hope you went somewhere you can finally be happy and all the sad things in your old life disappeared.” Within 24 hours, more than 6,000 had “liked” an “RIP Evan Rosenstock” page on Facebook. Carter Kaplan, a friend of Evan’s, ordered blue, white, yellow and red bracelets that said, “Evan
Rosenstock always in our hearts.” On Tuesday night, about 1,800 students, teachers, friends and others filled the Churchill gym to light candles and memorialize him. A dozen girls in white gave testimonials, punctuated by sobs and preserved on YouTube. One talked about how she had told Evan she was having trouble with her mom. “He made me feel better,” she said. Sue and Howard say they didn’t know until after his death that Evan was the kid others gravitated to when they had problems. “I’m hearing these stories now how helpful he was and how much joy he got out of making life easier for newcomers, for minority kids who were being pressured or bullied,” Howard says. “He just had such empathy. It’s a personal tragedy, of course, but it’s beyond that. All of a sudden, we’re all saints when we die. But if you could see all the emails I’ve gotten from kids I didn’t know; that’s what makes this all just harder to fathom.” Along with the sorrow, there was bitterness. Sue remembers walking into the school for the vigil and seeing Matt Miller. “We locked eyes,” she says. “I liked the guy. He liked us, until he had no use for us. His eyes were filled with tears. He hugged me. I whispered, ‘Please don’t come to the funeral on Thursday. You’re not invited.’ ” Miller tells a different story. “Evan’s sudden death shocked and saddened me,” he says. “After I got over the initial shock, I wanted to help his family, friends, teammates and coaches cope in any way I could. We came up with the idea at school for organizing a vigil for Evan. The principal and athletic director put me in charge… We were all trying to come to terms with this tragedy. I can’t remember a time when I was so affected by events…I had no inkling he was apparently depressed.”
After Evan’s death, some advised his parents to investigate whether there were grounds for a lawsuit—but against whom? The coach? The school system? The psychiatrist? A lawyer they consulted counseled against it. Howard, who had opposed the idea, was relieved. “Why go through the mental anguish?” he says. Moreover, adds Sue, “Howard and I did not want to put our son on trial.”
But she did demand an investigation of Miller, specifically regarding the secondhand reports that while Evan was having back pain before the surgery the coach asked him to carry a bucket of ice to an injured player and sweep the gym floor with a push broom. Sue met with Churchill Principal Joan Benz on June 12, 2013. A group calling itself Concerned Parents from Churchill High School wrote Benz on July 2 to request an investigation and action regarding Miller’s behavior. The letter summarized categories of “questionable behaviors and rule violations” that occurred during Miller’s five years as head varsity basketball coach. “Numerous examples of harassment and intimidation involving players despite individual parents’ efforts to bring those concerns to Coach Miller’s attention had occurred and continue to occur,” the letter said. Under Miller, the letter said, student athletes were publicly embarrassed, humiliated and demeaned; medical directives “risking the health, safety and well-being of players” were disregarded; and pressure was exerted “to unreasonably put basketball ahead of academics and other [Churchill] team sports.” The letter also alleged that students were subjected to “emotional punishment, profanity and telling/imposing fear instead of positive motivational strategies.” Meanwhile on June 26, 20 former players wrote to Benz in support of Miller, asserting “a fine young coach’s career and reputation cannot be destroyed through unsupported innuendo, rumor and speculation…This awful tragedy will be compounded greatly if someone is wrongly held accountable.” William Lewis, a former Churchill student and basketball player, wrote about breaking his ankle and being taken to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. “All of a sudden Coach Miller walks into the ER and he basically says to me: ‘Will, this is not the end of anything. We are going to figure this out together with your parents…All you need to do is rest, try to get better and take care of your classes. Basketball is not as important right now.’ ” He wrote that Miller spent hours at his house that night talking about his own career-ending torn ACL. Over the next
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few weeks, Lewis says he was depressed, but that Miller called him every day to see how he was doing. “He told me to keep positive and not to worry about when or if I would play again,” Lewis wrote. Benz declined to be interviewed for this article, but wrote in an email that “a thorough investigation was conducted… and Coach Miller was found totally innocent of all accusations. Since [the] allegations were unfounded, Coach Miller’s employment status had not changed.” But it did change in September 2013. Miller resigned to take a position as assistant basketball coach at Shepherd University, a Division II school in Shepherdstown, W.Va. On the same day, his three assistant coaches at Churchill also resigned. They all said publicly that it was time to move on and take advantage of other opportunities. Scott Rivinius, Churchill’s athletic director, says that while the coaches all found other good jobs, it was more complicated than that. “[Miller] was hearing through the grapevine the Rosenstocks would take this to the end, go to court,” Rivinius says. “That’s why the other three left, too. They have so much respect for him they wouldn’t want to stay around when they felt he was completely treated unfairly.” Three days after the resignations, the first “3-on-3 where everyone counts” umttr
Howard says he’s not angry, but that he has regrets. “Did our separation and divorce have an impact?” he says about the end of his marriage to Sue. “It would be naive to think it was not a contributing factor; it would be a little too self-protecting. It’s fair to put a slice of that in the pie chart, but I thought we minimized the risk.” He says that while he doesn’t hold Evan’s Churchill coaches “uniquely responsible,” he feels they are part of a system that needs reform. “The role of athletics, particularly in high school, is supposed to be an adjunct to education, but it’s gotten quite past that.” Sue, he says, “took an immediate and public stance.” He would be supportive, he told her, “but I couldn’t shoulder it.” Sue says she wonders every day what she could have done differently, but that she tries not to let herself dwell on the past. “I did my best,” she says. After the service, the family lingered outside on the grass by a stone labyrinth and slate bench, an Eagle Scout project recently completed by Evan’s teammate, Charles Halverson. Earlier in the day at Churchill, students had raised $500 for umttr by selling t-shirts and wristbands at a baseball game dedicated to Evan. Sue was scheduled to attend a golf tournament benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention the next day in Hay-
Evan wore one Batman sock and one Superman sock to his first high school homecoming dance—a tribute to his hero, Robert Griffith III, who famously wore Superman socks to accept the Heisman Trophy.
family photo
basketball tournament was held at Bullis School in Potomac. “We can all point fingers and blame, but that will not help anybody or bring anybody back,” says Erik Roberts, a friend and former teammate of Evan’s who founded umttr with Sue Rosenstock. “Our mission now is to make sure nothing like this happens again.”
To complete the year of mourning, Sue and Howard attended an evening service at their Potomac synagogue, Har Shalom, where they stood to
say kaddish, the mourner’s prayer. It was May 20, the first anniversary of Evan’s death, and two days after the unveiling of Evan’s cemetery gravestone. Sue wore a “umttr” gray shirt and Batman socks. The Rosenstocks threw Evan a Batman-themed birthday party when he was 4, Sue says. Evan had worn one Batman sock and one Superman sock to his first high school homecoming dance— a tribute to his hero, Robert Griffin III, who famously wore Superman socks to accept the Heisman Trophy.
market, Va. She was also in the midst of planning the second umttr basketball tournament to raise money for suicide prevention and the Positive Coaching Alliance. “Today, I’m not going to be outraged,” Sue said in the fading light. “If there’s one child that can be helped, that gives some meaning to why this happened.” n Eugene L. Meyer is a contributing editor for Bethesda Magazine. To comment on this story, e-mail comments@bethesda magazine.com.
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Hunger Fighters the
In the past five years, the number of county residents who use food stamps has grown more than 150 percent. Solving the problem is much more complicated than providing food.
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s Parishioner Brian Ruberry helps deliver food to the needy for St. Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s United Methodist Church in Kensington.
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K
im Longsworth loads a dozen heavy white canvas bags of groceries into the trunk of her Honda SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. Petite and fit at 49, Longsworth plugs a Kensington address into her GPS, then cruises down Plyers Mill Road, passing well-kept colonials on tree-lined streets. She continues toward University Boulevard, where strip malls and apartment complexes begin to overtake single-family homes, then heads west until she reaches her first stop of the evening, a high-rise apartment building. A short woman with long dark hair waits outside for her, smiling. Longsworth is one of seven volunteer drivers at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington. Last fall, the church pledged to deliver a three-day supply of food to anyone in its ZIP code who calls a hotline, no questions asked. The woman at the high-rise, a 54-yearold disabled U.S. Army veteran who asked to be identified as Melissa, is a regular customer who says the three bags of groceries Longsworth is delivering mean
the difference between covering rent and expenses this month or not. It’s an exchange that’s becoming more common in Montgomery County, where hunger is on the rise, sparking a new wave of hunger fighters—from school lunch programs finding ways to feed children on weekends to social entrepreneurs who recover day-old bread from area bakeries and deliver it to people in need. For Melissa, who has two knee replacements and no car, it’s tough to travel to traditional food pantries, few of which are located close to bus or Metro lines. She says last winter, with its frequent snow and ice storms, was particularly difficult. “I am so appreciative of Kim and her help,” Melissa says. “It means I have hope.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not quantify the number of hungry people in the country, but instead tracks “food insecurity,” defined as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” According to the Chicago-based hunger relief charity Feeding America, more than 8 percent of Montgomery County residents and more than 16.3
Parishioners Meg Baker (left) and Kim Longsworth compare checklists of those who need groceries while a recipient chooses (above) from donated food set up on tables at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
percent of the county’s children were food insecure at some point in 2012, the most recent year for which data was available. In Montgomery County, hunger is often measured by participation in federal food programs. In July 2013, more than 69,700 county residents received help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps—an increase of about 151 percent from July 2008, according to the Baltimore advocacy group Maryland Hunger Solutions. And as of June 2014, 35.6 percent of the county’s 151,000 public school children qualified for the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) program based on their family’s income, according to Marla Caplon, director of
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HUNGER by the numbers 69,700
Montgomery County residents receiving help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—food stamps—in July 2013
151 35.6
Percent increase in food stamp participation from July 2008 to July 2013
30 22 8 16.3
Percentage of FARMS-eligible children in 2010
Percentage of MCPS students eligible for the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) program based on their family’s income as of June 2014
Percentage of FARMS-eligible children in 2002 Percentage of Montgomery County residents who were food insecure at some point in 2012 Percentage of the county’s children who were food insecure at some point in 2012 SOURCES: Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap; Maryland Hunger Solutions; Division of Food and Nutrition Services for Montgomery County Public Schools.
the Division of Food and Nutrition Services for Montgomery County Public Schools. That’s compared with 30 percent in 2010 and 22 percent in 2002, Caplon says. The income guidelines for the FARMS program depend on the number of people in a household; a family of four with a household income of less than $30,615 qualifies for free meals, while a family of four with a household income of less than $43,568 qualifies for reduced price meals. Caplon says there are FARMS-eligible kids in every school in Montgomery County. “There’s a stereotype that hungry people are poor, that they’re from broken families, that the parents are poorly educated,” Caplon says. “The reality is, in every community, there are hard-working, intelligent people who can’t make ends meet.” Melissa says she spent several years as an opposing missile computer operator in
the Army. She says she moved from California to Annapolis for a job after getting out of the military about 10 years ago. In 2004, she was riding in a taxi on Maryland Route 3 when the cab was hit by a tractor-trailer and then an SUV, she says. She sustained a traumatic brain injury, and was left with debilitating arthritis that led to two knee replacements. The brain injury caused memory problems that make the months following her accident seem blurry now, Melissa says. But this much she remembers: After she recovered, she found herself unable to hold a job, and was even homeless for a while. “I’ve been struggling for so long,” she says, “I can’t even remember what it feels like to not be in pain.” She connected with Easter Seals, a nonprofit offering help to disabled veterans, a few years ago and slowly got back on her feet. She has been in her apartment on University Boulevard for three
years, and hopes to get training that will allow her to find a job in information technology. Though she’s far from being on the street again, she says, it’s still hard to pay the rent, bills and medical expenses and to buy food most months, even with disability checks from the military and other assistance. Montgomery County has always been an expensive place to live, but the housing market crash and ensuing recession made it even harder for many families to make ends meet, says Uma Ahluwalia, director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. “What we saw during the recession is a lot of two-parent households who had been making it until one person lost their job,” Ahluwalia says. “All of a sudden, the numbers don’t work, and they end up in our offices for food assistance.” At the same time, unexpected hardships such as the federal government
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xxxxxx the hunger fighters
Left: Executive Director Jackie DeCarlo says Gaithersburg-based Manna Food Center has been handling a steady increase in clients. Right: A woman chooses from Manna’s selection of breads.
shutdown and furloughs created new and complex challenges for the county’s working-class families, says Jackie DeCarlo, executive director of Gaithersburg-based Manna Food Center, the largest food nonprofit in the county. “Workers at every level are being tight with their budgets,” DeCarlo says. “Middle-class households are not getting home repairs done, or are opting to discontinue their house cleaner. For people living on the edge—many of them blue-collar workers in the service industry—this means lost jobs and decreased wages.” At Manna, any Montgomery County resident who doesn’t meet the self-sufficiency standard, which is defined by the hourly wage needed to meet basic needs without public or private assistance, is
eligible for a week’s worth of food each month. In Montgomery County, given the average cost of housing, transportation and food, a single adult needs to make an hourly wage of $17.07 to be self-sufficient, according to the Montgomery County Community Action Agency. And the number of people who don’t meet that standard increases every quarter, DeCarlo says. “It’s a really troubling trend,” DeCarlo says. “I’m not suggesting that there are large numbers of people in our county who are malnourished. But to be in this society and not know where your next meal is going to come from is troubling.” Increasingly, assistance from one organization isn’t enough to get by—especially after cuts to federal food-stamp programs
earlier this year, Ahluwalia says. That was the case for Sue, 50, a disabled Rockville woman who has cared for her four grandchildren since 2008. Sue receives food stamps, but says cuts to her benefits earlier this year led her to seek extra help from Manna and Nourish Now, a Rockville-based food-recovery nonprofit. “Even if you’re on Section 8 lowincome housing, you still have rent and utilities to pay,” says Sue, who asked that her last name not be published. “It can come down to paying your rent and your bills or feeding your kids.”
The increase in hunger
and food insecurity in the county has led many organizations to radically alter the way they provide services. For Manna, that means communicating more with the other 50 organizations in the county that do similar work. “We’re trying to be more aware and proactive about how we share clients with other agencies, and even how we share volunteers and donors,” DeCarlo says. For example, Manna recently partnered with Colesville Presbyterian Church in northeastern Silver Spring to create a food pantry there. Once a month, residents in need of food assistance can “shop” for supplies at the pantry, which Manna stocks with produce and other fresh foods. Manna also participates in the Mont-
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gomery County Food Council, an independent coalition of government officials, businesses, nonprofits and professionals, and DeCarlo co-chairs the Food Recovery Work Group, a county-run task force that is fighting food waste at restaurants, catering companies, grocery stores and anywhere else fresh food gets thrown away. The group recently received a planning grant from the county to create a network of food donors and food nonprofits, using a system that could include a website and a smartphone app to pair surplus food with shelters and pantries that can redistribute it. “So a restaurant could send a message to the network saying, ‘Hey, it’s a slow night, we expect to have 50 servings of chicken cacciatore,’ and have an alert go out to homeless shelters in a 10-mile radius,” DeCarlo says. Members of the local business community also have stepped in to help organizations collaborate more efficiently. “We can’t have 50 groups operating separately
“We have to get better at sharing information in more sophisticated ways; otherwise, all the money in the world won’t solve the problem.” —Andy Burness and duplicating the same efforts 50 times over,” says Andy Burness, founder and president of Burness Communications, a Bethesda company that provides public relations assistance to nonprofit organizations worldwide. “We have to get better at sharing information in more sophisticated ways; otherwise, all the money in the world won’t solve the problem.” In May, a group of 15 representatives of local hunger-fighting organizations met in a Burness Communications conference room. Burness talked about addressing the problem by building a comprehensive database that would catalog a family’s individual needs and be
accessible to all food nonprofits. It would show, for example, that a family receiving hot meals from one organization also needs groceries from another. “I’m not an IT guy, but I’m told that there is very limited information on who needs what, when and where,” Burness says. The meeting was scheduled to last for an hour and a half. Burness had to cut it off after about an hour and 45 minutes, and he says some attendees continued the conversation as they left. “A few meetings alone aren’t going to solve this problem,” Burness says. “But we’ve started a conversation.”
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the hunger fighters
in need for food assistance also means recognizing that hungry kids rely on their public schools to provide much of their food during the week. “We know that there are kids who come to school when they’re sick to get breakfast, then go home to rest,” Caplon says. That led officials to question whether MCPS was doing enough to reach foodinsecure kids when school wasn’t in session. Since 1976, the county has served federally-funded breakfast and lunch during the summer to kids participating in summer programs. But in 2006, school officials noticed that only a small
percentage of eligible children were receiving meals, so they began brainstorming ways to increase the numbers. That summer, they started serving meals at walk-in locations—such as elementary schools, churches or community centers—in neighborhoods where more than half the student body receives free or reduced-price meals during the school year. Still, they knew they weren’t reaching as many kids as they could. They found that some walk-in sites not connected to a camp or summer-school program weren’t succeeding for a simple logistical
reason: Kids left at home alone all day may not have a way to get to the walkin sites, and may not be able to afford a camp or summer program. So this summer, in a pilot program that may expand to other parts of the county, MCPS partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Recreation to sponsor a free, six-week halfday camp for 50 kids at Rockville’s Maryvale Elementary School, where 44 percent of students were FARMS-eligible in the 2013-2014 school year, according to MCPS. MCPS also found by talking to kids
Jeremy lichtenstein photo by Thomas De Clerck
Top left: Katie Showers hands out free lunches to kids attending a Montgomery County-run summer camp at Maryvale Elementary School in Rockville. Top right: Brett Meyers packs meals for his nonprofit Nourish Now, which collects and distributes food from local restaurants and businesses. Bottom left: Bethesda real estate agent Jeremy Lichtenstein packs food for Kids In Need Distributors, a nonprofit he created that provides a weekend’s worth of food for local schoolchildren. Bottom right: Nourish Now volunteer Roger Carmack loads a van with pre-packaged meals for delivery to those in need.
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that the brown-bag lunches served at most summer programs were unappealing to some children, so it started offering hot lunches at nine locations throughout the county in 2013. The hot meals were such a hit with kids that the school system expanded to 50 locations this summer, Caplon says. These efforts led to an increase in meals served from 207,000 in the summer of 2005 to 430,000 in the summer of 2013, Caplon says. Nonprofits also are rallying to help fill the gaps between school-provided meals and those kids may get at home. Multiple nonprofits, including Manna, provide sacks of food to FARMS-eligible children each Friday so they don’t go without over the weekend. Among the nonprofits is volunteer-run Kids in Need Distributors (KIND), founded by Bethesda real estate agent Jeremy Lichtenstein two years ago. Lichtenstein created KIND after hearing of a “smart sacks” program run by a friend in Kentucky. He called the principal of Cedar Grove Elementary
“We may not be able to end hunger in Nicaragua or Africa, but we can take ownership of 20895.” —Rev. Adam Snell St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
School in Germantown, which his kids attended, and asked if the school could use similar help. When he learned of the high number of hungry and food-insecure kids at Cedar Grove and other local public schools, Lichtenstein says, “I was completely blown away.” He began making Costco runs to purchase oatmeal, canned tuna and other nonperishable food for the 34 kids he agreed to sponsor at Cedar Grove. Two years later, he has recruited 35 volunteers to help deliver food to nearly 1,000 students at 17 public schools throughout the county. The group also has raised $250,000 in donations and grants to
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The Rev. Adam Snell knows what it’s like to feel unsure about where you’ll get your next meal. Snell, now the senior pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington, grew up in a small town in Delaware in a family that he describes as having “limited means.” “I have found myself in places throughout my life where I have been food insecure, and I know the low-grade anxiety that permeates that situation,” Snell says. So a few years ago, when Snell heard what he describes as a clear message from God to feed hungry people, he didn’t question it. For years, St. Paul’s had sponsored meals for hungry families around the holidays. But after Snell’s epiphany, the church began collecting funds and canned food from church members on designated days throughout the year, not just around the holidays. Two years ago, the church started hosting monthly food pickups, called “Communion Collect,” for 30 needy families in its ZIP code. The families could come to the church on a designated evening to pick up a few bags of dried goods, beans and a small Safeway gift card for milk and produce. Soon the church had an unexpected problem with the money it was bringing in from parishioners. “We couldn’t spend it fast enough,” Snell says. They considered donating to a food pantry. But Brian Ruberry of Kensington and the other church members who headed the hunger ministry had another idea. They would declare 20895 a hunger-free zone, promising to deliver three days’ worth of groceries to anyone in that ZIP code, no questions asked. The church partnered with the all-volunteer nonprofit Bethesda Help, which was already operating an emergency food-delivery service for a wide swath of the county, and last September started placing lawn signs advertis-
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ing the “hunger-free zone” around town. “When you come to church, you look around and say, ‘Wow, this is a nice area,’ ” Ruberry says. “South Kensington is very affluent. But just north of our church, around Einstein High School and along University Boulevard, there are hidden pockets of poverty.” Ruberry recalls delivering to a woman who lived in a large, well-maintained house, and realizing once he walked inside that there were nine children living there, and the fridge was bare. Melissa was among the first residents to call last fall. She was far from the only one—since deliveries started in October 2013, drivers such as Kim Longsworth have made more than 150 food deliveries. “We may not be able to end hunger in Nicaragua or Africa,” Snell says, “but we can take ownership of 20895.”
2 9 T H A N N UA L
MONTGOMERY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
golf and tennis
classic
When he managed a Panera
Bread in Potomac in 2006, Brett Meyers recalls seeing full crocks of soup being dumped out and loaves upon loaves of bread being thrown into the trash. The waste, which he describes as “an atrocity,” stuck with Meyers after he left Panera and, in 2011, he quit his job at a vending machine company and founded Nourish Now, a nonprofit that recovers surplus food donated by restaurants, caterers, bakeries and grocery stores and distributes it to people in need in Montgomery County. He started by contacting Panera and driving donated food from his former workplace to food banks, shelters and group homes nearby. Meyers drove to low-income apartment complexes and asked building managers to pass out meals, approached people at bus stops, and even knocked on doors in low-income neighborhoods to ask if residents knew anyone who was in need of food assistance. After six months, five restaurants were routinely donating food, Meyers says. At first, he found space to store surplus food at The Universities at Shady Grove, but as donations increased, he decided last year to rent his own space in Rockville. These days, Nourish Now has a refrigerated truck and four full-time employ-
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the hunger fighters
ees, funded primarily by grants and private donations. Most of the 350 families or individuals who come to Nourish Now to pick up five-day supplies of food each month are referred by other socialservice agencies in the county, though a few clients Meyers connected with at bus stops still come, too. Nourish Now also delivers fresh food to several other agencies. On a recent afternoon, Meyers was driving a refrigerated truck full of vegetables to Manna so it could distribute the produce to clients. St. Paul’s Church often gives out bread recovered by Nourish Now. In three years of operation, Nourish Now has recovered and redistributed 200,000 pounds of food, Meyers says. This past June 18, Meyers received a call from a supplier asking if he could use 2,400 pounds of cauliflower dated as fresh until June 30. A few months ago, another supplier offered 2,000 pounds of chocolate milk. “That sometimes happens when a company over-orders,” Meyers says. “It can be a little difficult to figure out how to distribute it all while it’s still fresh, but we always get rid of it.” The nonprofit is also beginning a pilot program to test whether it can eradicate food insecurity for a small group of people by closely collaborating with social service agencies and other food nonprofits. The idea is to closely track 30 people—seven men living in a group home and several families—and connect them with every available food-assistance measure necessary to meet their needs. “If a family lives in Gaithersburg and already receives assistance from us, we might connect them with [the nonprofit agency] Gaithersburg Help to help them get through the rest of the month,” Meyers says. If the program is successful, Meyers says it could be one idea for solving a very complicated problem that doesn’t lend itself to a one-size-fits-all solution. “If you have 10 different clients, you’ll get 10 different stories,” he says. “One person lost his job. Another is living in a homeless shelter. I met a lady yesterday who can’t leave her house because she
just had surgery, and she needs a little extra help to get by while she recovers.”
The people who work to feed Montgomery County’s hungry all know that solving this problem is more complex than providing food; it involves a range of social issues, including poverty, lack of education, job security, housing, transportation and social stigmas. Longsworth, the St. Paul’s volunteer, says she likes to think she is tackling that big truth in a small but meaningful way. The first time she delivered food to Melissa last year, the Army veteran was wearing a shy smile and a sweatshirt with appliqué leaves. “She just had this cute little crafty sweatshirt, and she was so sweet,” Longsworth says. “Something about her and her personality really touched me.” As Longsworth handed over bags of groceries, the two struck up a conversation. Melissa’s son is 15, as is Longsworth’s youngest daughter. The women exchanged phone numbers, and before long they were talking on the phone regularly. When Longsworth delivers to Melissa now, she makes a point of including crunchy peanut butter—she knows it’s one of Melissa’s favorites. “Oh, wow!” Melissa says, peering into one of her three grocery bags and spotting the crunchy peanut butter. “I know you like that,” Longsworth says. “We have to have fun, right?” It’s a small thing, but thanks to St. Paul’s and Longsworth, Melissa has added one more layer to her social safety net. She even attends church with Longsworth and her family. “I feel bad, because she’s got a big family and I take up room in the car,” Melissa says. “What did I tell you the other day?” Longsworth says, smiling. “I told you there’s room for you. There’s always room for you.” n Amy Reinink is a frequent contributor to the magazine who also writes for Runner’s World and other outdoor publications. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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The remodeled Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda hopes to create a more contemporary experience for shoppers.
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Mall of the
New restaurants include Bobbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Burger Palace, opened in October 2013 and owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay.
Future As many malls around the country close, Westfield Montgomery is reinventing itself with an $89-million makeover.
By David Frey | Photos by Skip Brown
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mall of the future
Shoppers fill the mall’s food court, which was wrapping up a major renovation and expansion this summer, depicted in the rendering to the right. The new space will be called a “dining terrace.”
O
n a May afternoon at Westfield Montgomery shopping mall, a group of teenagers with shopping bags races across the tile floor before deflating into chairs by the escalator, checking their cellphones and sipping Starbucks Frappuccinos. For Olivia Andreassi and her friend Vanessa Pontachak, both 13-yearolds from Bethesda, this is a weekly ritual. While Friday nights are for meeting up with friends in downtown Bethesda, weekend afternoons are for getting together to prowl the mall, just as they were for their parents’ generation, when shopping malls meant video arcades and Orange Julius. “We’ve been here for, like, four hours,” Olivia sighs, before sipping from her straw. But step past the food court and through the exit door and the scene transforms. Rather than teenagers laughing against a backdrop of piped-in music and the smell of soft pretzels, you’ll see a frenzy of con-
struction. Workers in yellow hard hats bang nails. Power tools whir and pound. From the mall’s old parking garage, a new wing is emerging, looking like a massive modernist sculpture of shiny rails, rusted steel girders and concrete walls. Though Olivia and Vanessa may not realize it, indoor shopping malls are on the decline across the country, and the new construction taking place at Westfield Montgomery is evidence that malls, no longer the pillar of American suburbia that they once were, are trying to reinvent themselves. Anchor stores are dwindling. Online sales are growing. Few new malls are being built. Hundreds of old ones of various sizes are closing, the high school hangouts of yesteryear relegated to hollowed-out hulls. Other aging malls are seeking new life as outdoor plazas with streets, sidewalks and umbrella tables alongside storefronts that mimic the downtowns they once put out of business. Instead of closing or starting over from scratch, the 46-year-old shopping center once known as Montgom-
ery Mall is opting for an $89-million makeover and expansion. It’s meant to keep the mall current and relevant without leveling the existing shopping center. The remodel brings a sophisticated design, stylish furnishings and higherend offerings to appeal to Bethesda’s increasing prosperity. There will be a new movie theater that serves cocktails, as well as restaurants owned by celebrity chefs. The remodel is set to wrap up this fall with a new wing that mall owners hope will spare Westfield Montgomery the fate many now-shuttered malls have experienced across the country. “You can’t ever stay the same,” says Diego Gonzalez-Zuniga, marketing manager for Westfield Montgomery. “Retail is ever-evolving, ever-changing. That’s something we always have to keep in mind: What kind of experience are we giving shoppers?”
When the Bethesda shopping
center opened as the Montgomery Mall in 1968, it was only the second indoor mall in the county, behind Wheaton
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supplied rendering
Construction is underway on the lobby for ArcLight Cinemas, a state-of-theart 16-screen theater offering a mix of blockbusters and art house fare.
Plaza (now Westfield Wheaton). Owned in a joint venture of the May Department Store Co., based in St. Louis, and Strouse, Greenberg & Co., based in Philadelphia, the original mall included a colonial-themed corridor of shops with 18th-century facades called Georgetown Row, and a lineup of stores that reads like the intake form at the retail morgue: Hecht’s, Garfinckel’s, Woolworth, Kinney Shoes, Waldenbooks, Peoples Drug. A major expansion added 40 new tenants in 1991, kicked off with a concert by Tony Bennett. Three years later, the Australia-based Westfield Holdings (now the Westfield Group) bought it. Those were the glory days of malls. Throughout the 1980s, shopping centers became fixtures in the suburban landscape as more than 16,000 new malls went up across the country. In 1990, consumers told Gallup that they shopped more at malls than anywhere else. But by the time the movie Mallrats appeared in 1995, mall construction had dwindled, outpaced by new “big box” developments anchored by stores
Westfield Montgomery Makeover By the Numbers
Cost: $89 million Size: 91,500 square feet
Size of expansion planned in 2005: 360,000 square feet Number of restaurants in the new wing: 15
Number of movie theater seats: 2,400
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Eric Howard, senior general manager for Westfield Montgomery, shown at the mall’s new main entrance, says that more of the restaurants will have an outdoor presence.
such as Wal-Mart and Target instead of enclosed shopping centers anchored by department stores. By the late 1990s, those traditional retail anchor chains were consolidating. In the first decade of the 2000s, as online shopping began to take off, mall standbys such as Marshall Field’s and Hecht’s vanished. Today, online sales account for 6 percent of retail sales; not a lot, but double
the amount in 2006, forcing major retailers to rethink how they do business. Traditional anchors are shrinking, both in number and in size. In 2005, Macy’s swallowed up rivals such as Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field’s, both of which were once mall mainstays. JCPenney announced plans to close 33 stores this year. Sears has closed some 300 stores in the U.S. since 2010. While a few upstarts,
such as Lululemon and Michael Kors, are on the rise, other specialized retailers are cutting back. Aéropostale is set to close 175 stores over the next several years. Coldwater Creek started closing all of its 370 stores in May. Other mall standbys—bookstores, record stores, video arcades—look like something out of an old John Hughes movie. The website DeadMalls.com has chronicled some 400 shuttered malls and counting since it launched in 2000. Malls in Montgomery County, like others across the country, are facing a changing consumer landscape. White Flint is reinventing itself as a mixed-use outdoor shopping complex. Owners of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg are considering some sort of mixed-use development as vacancy rates rise there. At City Place Mall in Silver Spring, developers are eying a redesign to bring back tenants. “In some cases it will be an enhancement of an existing mall,” says Steven Silverman, Montgomery County’s economic development director. “In other cases it may be a restart because of the nature of the center. Retail is changing all over the country and all over the world.”
Amid the carnage,
though, some malls are thriving. Tysons Galleria in Fairfax County, Va., enjoyed its best sales year ever last year. Eric Howard, who came to Westfield Montgomery in November as senior general manager after overseeing a pair of Westfield shopping centers in San Diego, won’t release Westfield Montgomery’s numbers, but he says sales are up 8 percent from this time last year. That’s far ahead
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of the industry as a whole, Howard says. “I don’t think the mall is dead,” says Anita Kramer, vice president of the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate, a nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C. “There are many, many malls that continue to do well.” So why do some thrive while others languish? Kramer says the survivors tend to be big malls with lots of anchors that draw in customers from a wide region. Older, smaller malls suffer, she says, but their big competitors—places like Westfield Montgomery and Tysons Corner—survive by complementing traditional retail anchors with new draws that focus on entertainment and dining. The changes happening now at Westfield Montgomery are modest compared with the overhauls many malls are going through—and those changes represent only a quarter of the 360,000 squarefoot expansion that was planned back in 2005, before the recession forced Westfield to do some rethinking. But they’re still part of a national trend: reimagining the mall for consumers who don’t just want shopping. They want a shopping experience. Websites can sell stuff. Malls are being reimagined to give shoppers a place to be and things to see that keep pace with their changing tastes. “The aesthetic is very important,” Howard says. “The retail mix is very important. But at the end of the day, we want a place where people in Bethesda and Montgomery County can come together and be together. That’s really what we’re designing here. A place where they can
The arrival of the Cheesecake Factory last December kicked off an array of new sit-down eateries for shoppers. Once completed, the remodeled mall will offer 15 new restaurants, including Met Bethesda, Blaze Pizza and Crave.
meet friends for a coffee. They can meet friends to go to the cinema. They can meet friends for a nice meal.”
Thin and long-legged
with gelled black hair, Gonzalez-Zuniga gives a tour of the mall to see the work that’s already been done. New shiny railings are in place along the corridors. Curving minimalist sofas and high-backed chairs sit between floor lamps on antique-looking tripods. He strolls past storefronts for Lilly Pulitzer and True Religion Brand Jeans, two of the new retail offerings at the mall. A white Jeep Cherokee
painted with pastel sailboats is parked outside Lilly Pulitzer to promote its new store. Lululemon is on the way, too. The new wing will be home to ArcLight Cinemas, a state-of-the-art 16-screen theater offering a mix of blockbusters and art house fare, with a food menu that will include chicken sausage baguettes, beer, wine and cocktails alongside Sno-Caps, Junior Mints and popcorn. This is the first ArcLight to be built outside California as the company readies for a national expansion of its high-end theater concept, one intended to focus on the experience of moviegoing, with incredible sound and sharper images, seats with double armrests, no commercials and fewer trailers before the show. The wing also will feature what Westfield execs are calling a “dining terrace,” a modern, airy and glassy eating area
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more like one at an airport than the shopping mall food courts of old. It will come with a valet lounge to welcome customers as their cars are parked. The terrace will complement a growing list of sit-down restaurants elsewhere in the mall, such as the new Bobby’s Burger Palace, which opened last October with owner and celebrity chef Bobby Flay on hand. “I think there’s a stigma about malls and mall dining, and I think that’s going to change,” says Boston restaurateur Kathy Sidell, whose Met Bethesda restaurant, featuring wood fire-grilled meats and a martini bar, is slated to open at Westfield Montgomery in late October. It’s her first venture outside Massachusetts, the first of several fine but casual dining spots she plans to open at Westfield malls across the country. Says Sidell: “There’s no reason you can’t have fantastic food in a mall.” Not everyone is so upbeat about the
“Within 10 to 15 years, the typical U.S. mall, unless it is completely reinvented, will be a historical anachronism.” —Rick Caruso, CEO of Caruso Affiliated future of malls, however. Last January, Rick Caruso, CEO of real estate giant Caruso Affiliated, stood before a crowd at the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York and challenged his colleagues to rethink how they do business. “Within 10 to 15 years, the typical U.S. mall, unless it is completely reinvented, will be a historical anachronism,” he said. Caruso has led the charge for outdoor shopping complexes with his shopping centers The Grove and The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles, a trend that literally turns shopping centers inside out in an effort to make them 21st-century gathering places. Howard says what’s happening at
Westfield Montgomery is just the first phase of a bigger transformation. In coming years, expect the retail mix to tip more upscale, and a greater shift toward stores that face the outdoors. Already, several of the new restaurants have an outdoor presence, he says, and that will continue as the mall expands and redefines itself. It’s the sort of mall new generations of shoppers, like Olivia and Vanessa, may welcome, but one their parents and grandparents may barely recognize. n David Frey lives in Gaithersburg and has written for Sunset magazine and other publications. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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into the woods
Chain saws, demonic clowns, half-buried skeletons that suddenly jump to lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Markoffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Haunted Forest delivers the fright of a lifetime By Archana Pyati | Photos by Hilary Schwab
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into the woods
It’s a chilly night in October, and
bonfires are roaring as dozens of teens and twentysomethings chatter and laugh nervously. The crowd has come from all over the Washington, D.C., area to this farm in Dickerson to experience one of the most notorious and popular haunted attractions in Montgomery County. Jennifer Doan, 26, who admits to being easily frightened, is sandwiched between two friends, Erin True, 27, and Khrystine Stine, 23. Actors dressed in garish clown makeup and kaleidoscopecolored tuxedos taunt them with ghoulish stares. “I’m scared,” Stine says, gripping Doan’s waist as they walk toward the entrance, the gaping mouth of a demonic clown. It’s a feeling shared by many who have visited Markoff ’s Haunted Forest, a county tradition that dates to 1992, when brothers Nick and Alex Markoff devised a creative way to raise money for their dream business: a summer camp for kids. What began as a whim has turned into a million-dollar business that attracts roughly 30,000 thrill-seekers every fall in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Led by True’s fiancé, Jason Goff, 30, the group makes its way through the forest, where candles shed flickering light on skeletons that are strewn with cobwebs and half-buried along the trail. Chain saws snarl in the distance while screams, laughter and expletives fill the night air. A masked demon jumps out from behind a tree, and a slumpedover scarecrow with a pumpkin head suddenly springs to life with a hideous cackle. “Oh my god! That f--king pumpkin!” Doan cries. Doan and her friends enter a carpeted, coffin-like chamber meant to evoke the feeling of being buried alive. Next, they descend into a crypt full of skulls where hidden actors are waiting to jump out of dark corners. Then it’s on to a circus scene with headless dolls and a fire-breathing clown under a big top. Finally, the buzzing sound they’ve heard all night is right in front of them as men in blood-splattered flannel shirts give chase
with chain saws. (In fact, there are no chains on these saws, just blunt bars that vibrate against your legs—terrifying nonetheless when you’re being chased.) The group ends its journey on an elevated ramp in a junkyard, where a rusted hearse sits atop a battered school bus with shattered windows. Thrash metal music blares and white lights flash, blinding Doan and her friends as men in orange jumpsuits and white masks chase them out of the Haunted Forest for good. Doan and Stine can’t seem to run for the exit fast enough. “The chain saws freaked me out,” says True, breathless as she runs to catch up with her friends. Even though they drove an hour to get here, the foursome is already making plans to return this fall.
The Markoffs started the Haunted
Last year’s Haunted Forest featured demonic clowns; many props were made by the staff.
Forest not out of an affinity for horror but for the dream it was intended to subsidize. As boys, the brothers spent their childhood summers working at Valley Mill, a camp in upper Montgomery County owned by their maternal grandparents, Robert and May McEwan (the camp is still owned and operated by the Markoffs’ maternal aunt). They often led weekend kayaking and backpacking trips to West Virginia, and as they grew older, they dreamed of opening their own camp one day. They just needed to find the money to do it. When Nick Markoff, now 45, was a student at Brigham Young University in Utah in the early 1990s, he visited an outdoor haunted attraction in American Fork, a nearby city, and it struck him as an ingenious way to attract crowds and cash. He told Alex, now 44, who, in a fit of inspiration, transformed the family’s RV into a mobile haunted house and drove it around neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County. “It looked Sanford and Son-ish,” recalls Nick, describing a popular 1970s TV show about a junk dealer. “It barely ran and was very well received by all the kids, but not the police or neighborhood watch.” Although it was popular, the
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Staffer Sherwood â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cashâ&#x20AC;? Alderton (top left) sodders pipes together for the junkyard scene while make-up coordinator Chris Martin-Knowles (top right) works on the clown face for the entrance. Below: The completed props.
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into the woods
The clowns in last year’s show were supposed to look dead— each actor’s mouth was painted with a skeletonlike grin.
mobile attraction didn’t make the Markoffs much money and was cast aside after one year. In 1993, Nick and Alex set up an early version of the Haunted Forest at Valley Mill. They posted fliers on telephone poles and invited friends. That first year, the brothers made $19,000, which they used to buy a few kayaks and put a down payment on two vans for their future summer camp. After two years, the Haunted Forest was drawing crowds too large for it to remain at Valley Mill—parking was such a problem that the line of cars often shut down traffic on Seneca Road in Germantown, Nick recalls. In 1995, the brothers moved their operation to a 165-acre farm that their parents had helped them buy in Dickerson, where it’s still located today. Meanwhile, they had raised enough money to launch their camp, Calleva, which means “a place in the woods” in Celtic. Today, Calleva runs camping, skiing and kayaking trips for children, and corporate team-building exercises for adults. It offers a wide array of scholarships for kids who can’t afford to attend, and the farm serves as an agricultural and environmental education center with workshops in sustainable farming, forestry and renewable energy. Given the breadth of its programming and nonprofit status, Calleva depends heavily on the Haunted Forest for revenue—and the Halloween attraction has delivered. In 2013, the Haunted Forest sold nearly $1 million worth of tickets, which ranged in price from $20 to $30 per person, Nick Markoff says, adding that about 65 percent of ticket sales go towards Calleva each year. A portion of the proceeds from the Haunted Forest support other local nonprofits. A highly anticipated event throughout the D.C. area, the Haunted Forest is a massive theatrical production that takes months to plan and tens of thousands of dollars to create. We went behind the scenes last fall to see the show come together.
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into the woods
A few hours before the Haunted
Patrons stick close together as they encounter frightening sights on their way through the Haunted Forest.
Forest’s doors open at 7 p.m. the crew gathers around a whiteboard to learn their assignments for the evening. One of the hallmarks of the forest is that it cleverly mixes cast members with dummies and dolls in each scene. Not knowing which is real and which isn’t makes for an unnerving experience. Each year, the Markoffs hire up to 180 local teens and adults to work as actors, makeup artists and technical crew. Once they learn their assignments, the actors head to the costume shop, where Gracie Jones, 25, has set up a color-coded wardrobe system with hundreds of costumes organized by scene and trail. Jones, who studied theater at the University of Maryland, sprays Febreze on each outfit and Lysol on each mask; she washes costumes that are sweat-soaked and dirt-caked. Costumed and ready for makeup, actors walk up to the second floor, where makeup coordinator Chris MartinKnowles, 40, commands six makeup artists with brushes, sprayers and industrial strength face paint. Martin-Knowles reminds artists to spend no more than seven minutes on each actor so they’re ready when doors open. “These are not nice clowns,” MartinKnowles says as he sprays a white base coating on an actor’s face. The clowns are supposed to be dead—each actor’s mouth is painted over with a toothy skeletonlike grin. Although there is fake blood at their disposal, the makeup artists use it sparingly. “We don’t want to go all gory,” Martin-Knowles says. “It’s a bit of a cop-out just to chuck blood on people. We’re trying to make people freak out, not gross them out.” To that end, the Markoffs try to keep the Haunted Forest “as PG as possible,” says Nick. They also want to stay consistent with Calleva’s mission, which is focused on youth development and leadership skills. It’s difficult to say who enjoys the Haunted Forest more, the patrons or the staff. Actors make it a personal challenge
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into the woods
Matthew, Alex and Nick Markoff (from left to right) get into the act. Below: A roaring bonfire helps ward off the fall chill as visitors wait to enter the forest.
to terrify anyone who crosses their path. “My first year working here, I made someone cry and then they stood up and peed their pants,” says Keri Bridgett, 28, as she waits in line for makeup. “It means you’re doing something right,” adds Allie Delgado, 18, who, like Bridgett, is dressed in olive-green rags for the cannibal scene, which takes place in a hut-like structure made of twigs and burlap. Tiny skulls mounted on sticks stand vigil in a small bog behind the hut as an ominous bongo drum beats in the background. Shana Dahnhert, 39, a patron who has visited the Haunted Forest every year for the past decade, says that even though the show takes place in almost pitch-black darkness, the crew has an uncanny ability to spot patrons who act scared. “They’ll chase you,” she says. “They’re like dogs.”
The Markoffs pride themselves
on the Haunted Forest’s improvised, made-from-scratch approach. The so-
called “haunt industry,” which by some estimates is worth $300 million annually with its conventions, consultants and prefabricated props, is of little interest to them. They have resisted offers to franchise and overtures from corporate sponsors who see the Haunted Forest as prime real estate for branding. “We get so many offers of ‘let’s put banners on your products,’ ” says Matt Markoff, 39, another brother who participates in the family business. Instead, they’ve been able to boost revenue via other income streams. While patrons wait for their numbers to be called to enter the Haunted Forest, they can go on a zipline tour for $40 per person or a haunted hayride around the farm for $12 to $15 per person. These diversions also help with the long lines. “It’s what we can do to entertain, to keep the masses happy while they wait,” Nick says. Each year, the Markoffs budget $35,000 to $40,000 for props. Paul Brubacher, vice president of operations for the Haunted Forest and its only full-
time employee, scours Craigslist and eBay for secondhand prop-making equipment. He found a powerful computerized machine for $7,000 that cuts and shapes Styrofoam, wood and plastic, a bargain compared with new models that cost three times as much. He also taps into a government surplus program from which nonprofits can purchase equipment at a discount. He picked up a Navy fire engine and Navy Honor Guard hearse for $3,800. “We’re junk collectors,” Nick says. Over the 18 years that Brubacher has worked for the Markoffs, he has learned that procrastination and last-minute brainstorming lead to all-nighters and focused work just before the Haunted Forest opens each October. As he gives a tour of the trails two weeks before last year’s opening weekend, Brubacher lets his perfectionist tendencies show, calling “amateurish” a row of fake bodily organs strung like Christmas lights across a beat-up shed. Then he explains the formula for making plastic skeletons look like rotting corpses: liquid latex, cheesecloth and equine cotton. “We’re building constantly to the last day,” he says. Brubacher walks past a church scene made of Styrofoam that still needs a coat of paint. He built the structure himself— the staff calls it the Church of St. Paul— and inside, a mannequin priest holds forth over dummy parishioners who are slumped over and dressed as monks in robes. When patrons walk through, actors will be hiding in the pews, waiting to jump out. If it all seems a bit kitschy, that’s intentional. “If we can’t scare you, we’ll make you laugh,” Brubacher says.
Halloween is two weeks away and bonfires are burning around the front circle, a cordoned-off area where patrons wait to have their numbers called after buying tickets. People nibble on concession stand food and play macabre carnival games such as Toxic Fishing, in which patrons fish for Barbie doll heads and legs floating in a blood-colored pool. A few
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clowns warn people to stick together as they’re siphoned into lines for trail one or trail two, separate paths through the forest with their own distinctly creepy scenes. Melissa Lombardo, 42, of Bethesda is standing in line with sons Michael, 18, and Anthony, 11. Michaela Johnson, Michael’s girlfriend, and her younger sister, Tabitha, have come along, as well. “I’ve been coming here since sixth grade,” Michaela says. “Each year is a new experience.” Anthony, on the other hand, is nervous. He has pulled the hood of his red sweatshirt tightly over his head and is firmly wedged into his mother’s side. The girls huddle around him. As the group makes its way onto the trail, Melissa holds Anthony tight. “I’m here,” she assures him. “No one’s going to take you.” “Just think of it as a joke,” Michael offers. Just then, an actor jumps out of the darkness and they all scream. The group crosses a raised platform
Enter At Your Own Risk The staff has spent the summer developing ideas linked to Dante’s Inferno and the seven deadly sins as the theme for this year’s front circle. “There will be fire, there will be devils and plenty of games based on the seven deadly sins,” says Paul Brubacher, the Haunted Forest’s vice president of operations. The Haunted Forest is open on Fridays and Saturdays in October, as well as on Thursday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Nov. 1. Tickets are $20 to $35. Markoff’s Haunted Forest is located at Calleva Farm, 19120 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson, Md., 301-216-1248, www.markoffshauntedforest.com. bathed in fluorescent lights, with blasts of hot air and fog coming from below. Kind of like a bridge over hell. “I think Anthony is having a panic attack,” Melissa says, jokingly. Up ahead, a group of twenty-something men from D.C. is whooping and grabbing onto one another as they run out of the chain saw house. They’re all laughing at the biggest and tallest among them, who screamed so loudly
that one of the chain saw men chased him mercilessly. Each explains why a trip to the Haunted Forest is a special way to celebrate Halloween. “It’s the anticipation,” one says. “It’s the rush,” replies another. “It’s the adrenaline,” the big and tall friend says. The final assessment: “It’s one of the best shows in town.” n
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Michael Wilbon strikes a playful pose at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.
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bethesda magazine interview
Michael Wilbon:
Skip Brown
sports writer turned TV star Most weekdays, roughly a million viewers tune in to ESPN to watch Bethesda resident Michael Wilbon spar with fellow sportswriter Tony Kornheiser on Pardon the Interruption. A sports columnist for The Washington Post for 20 years, Wilbon insists that he’s just a writer who happens to star on his own television show. However, during the 13 years that Wilbon has co-hosted PTI he has pioneered a new form of sports talk show and become one of the most well-known sports personalities in the country. A Washingtonian for 34 years, Wilbon is still a Chicagoan at heart. Growing up on that city’s South Side, Wilbon fell in love with baseball— the first sport he was paid to write about at The Washington Post after graduating from St. Ignatius College Prep and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Although he’s covered virtually every sport, he’s most known for basketball and often appears on ABC’s NBA pregame show. Wilbon, 55, lives with his wife, Sheryl, an attorney, and their son, Matthew, in Bethesda. Matthew, 6, was born two months after Wilbon suffered a heart attack in 2008 while covering the Super Bowl in Arizona, where he also owns a house. Bethesda Magazine sat down with Wilbon over lunch at Guapo’s on the eve of this year’s NBA playoffs, which wound up matching his hometown Bulls against the Washington Wizards. Wilbon incorrectly picked Chicago to win the first-round series—but as he has shown on PTI, he isn’t afraid to be controversial or wrong.
By David Elfin
Q&A Presumably you were a big sports fan when you were growing up in Chicago. Did you play every sport, too?
We played everything that existed. My first love was baseball. [Cubs Hall of Famer] Ernie Banks was a sponsor of our Little League. I pitched and played first base in high school. I was good. [Cubs Hall of Famer] Billy Williams lived in my neighborhood on the far South Side of Chicago, a place called West Chatham. Ernie Banks lived not far away. Wendell Smith [a sportswriter who famously befriended Jackie Robinson] was writing for The Chicago Defender and he was on WGN. I knew him. The South Side was big, but it was also a small place. You knew everyone. That was the good thing about segregation. People weren’t scattered all over the area. How many kids were there in your family?
Two. My brother, Don, is two years younger. He has been my best friend through life. He’s a banker in Chicago. We did everything together. We played baseball, touch and tackle football, basketball and hockey. It was the 1960s. Baseball came first. And yes, black kids play hockey in Chicago. What did your parents do for a living?
My father, Raymond, was a route salesman for soda companies, ice cream companies, bread companies. We had enough ice cream in the house that we could have opened a Good Humor store. He did not graduate from high school. He was from Washington, Ga., the place where The Color Purple was set. My mother, Cleo, is from Tennessee, about 20 miles from Jackson. She taught for 35 years in the Chicago public schools. My parents valued education. They escaped the segregated South because they believed that education was the great equalizer. There was no question that my brother and I were going to college. How did you become a sportswriter?
I married my interests in sports and in writing. In elementary school, I could diagram sentences better than the teachers. Mrs. Richards would call me to the board to ask me if the sentence was right. I was always terrible in math and science, but my reading comprehension scores were off the charts. BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 187
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michael wilbon
Were you always going to go to Northwestern? What about an Ivy League school?
Not many kids in the Midwest in the ’60s and ’70s aspired to go to Ivy League schools. I don’t think anybody in my high school class went to an Ivy League school, and I went to one of the best high schools in the country. Plenty of people went to Notre Dame, Northwestern and Illinois. I knew Northwestern had the best journalism school in the country and I wanted to be there. What was your first beat at The Daily Northwestern?
Intramurals. I look back at some of the stuff I wrote and I cringe, but I went on to cover the basketball team and the football team. I loved being a sportswriter. If you love something and you work at it, you’re going to be good at it. Writing stories about Northwestern getting ready
to play Indiana with [legendary coach] Bobby Knight [and stars] Mike Woodson and Randy Wittman, or talking to coaches after practice wasn’t work. What did you do during your summers in college?
The summer after my freshman year I worked at my uncle’s store. I knew that was going to be my last carefree summer. I rode my bike there, hung out and got paid too much. The next summer I worked in university relations at Northwestern. I hated it. I learned a lot, but I hated PR. The summer after your junior year you got a job as an intern at The Washington Post. How did you land there?
I applied for all the summer internships in 1979: the Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the N OW Accepting ts New Patien Weekend Evening & ents Also Appointm Available
O P E N
I N
Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times. I wanted to work at the Trib, but they turned me down. I wanted to be Mike Royko, Bob Verdi, Bob Greene, Roger Simon or David Israel. I wanted to be a columnist in Chicago. That summer I covered the Orioles because the Post had no one full time on that beat. The Orioles won the pennant. I looked it up the other day. I had 33 bylines that summer. That was pretty good for an intern. Jane Leavy and Tony Kornheiser had started working there. Dave Kindred was writing columns. Barry Lorge was covering tennis. Tom Boswell was covering baseball. It was a pretty incredible experience. It was so intoxicating to walk into the newsroom every day, having seen All the President’s Men. I never got over that feeling. Did you know when you left that you would go back to the Post after graduation?
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No, but [then-Deputy Sports Editor] Lenny Shapiro called me in February and asked me to come back. It wasn’t a full-time job, but I was an intern again in the summer of 1980 after I graduated and then I was hired. So I’ve never applied for a job since. I didn’t even have a résumé. What was your first beat?
G e orgetow n b asketb a l l. [Hoyas coach] John Thompson didn’t talk to me the whole season. With John, it’s all about getting to know him. I was some kid he didn’t know. I was back and forth on the Maryland and Georgetown beats for five, six years. Then I covered college football and basketball and the NFL. There wasn’t offseason everyday NFL coverage in the 1980s like there is now, so I still covered colleges, too. Then I started covering the NBA.
When did baseball get replaced as your favorite sport?
That’s a great question. In the summer of ’85 I was covering the Orioles every day. I hated it. It was the only thing in my career that I’ve hated. It felt like work. I didn’t want to see the same people every single day. I don’t see my wife and my son every day. That’s why covering the NBA and the NFL as leagues were great for me. I was always seeing different people. Which do you like better, football or basketball?
I love the NFL, but I like covering the NBA better. You have better access to the players and coaches. I have written more columns about Michael Jordan than anyone else. I was a national columnist, so I didn’t have to write about the Bullets/Wizards. If you were in Washington from 1988-2000, you wanted to read
about Jordan more than anyone else. I built relationships like that because I showed up. You know you wrote more about Jordan because he was playing in Chicago and you’re from there.
I am completely prejudiced. Unlike everybody else in the business, I admit it. But that had no bearing on where my editors sent me. Did you have similar relationships with football players?
Yes, not as many, but a good number of guys, like [former Maryland quarterback] Boomer Esiason and [Redskins Hall of Famer] Darrell Green. But basketball gives you better access. Who gets one-on-one time with [New England star quarterback] Tom Brady? Michael Jordan once called me into a private room while he was getting dressed
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michael wilbon
before a game in the Eastern Conference finals. You have been here for more than 30 years. When did you begin to feel like less of a Chicagoan and more of a Washingtonian?
People here always talk about going back where they’re from, which makes it different than other places. But just because Chicago is my home doesn’t mean that people haven’t been great to me here. In 1997, the Chicago Tribune made me an incredible offer—to succeed Bob Verdi, with his blessing, and write a column for the newspaper I delivered growing up—but I stayed at the Post because I had the best job in the country. The Chicago Tribune was great, but it wasn’t The Washington Post. I loved working at the Post. I love Don Graham. I love George Solomon. I love Tony Kornheiser. I love Sally Jenkins. Ben Bradlee is like a God to me. Then there are editors that no one knows like Jeanne McManus and Lenny Shapiro. These are my friends. I began working there when I was 21 years old. I don’t have a life without these people. In 1989, I came reasonably close to going to Sports Illustrated to cover football, but I stayed because the Post promised to make me a columnist. But then you left the ‘‘best job in the country’’ for ESPN in December 2010. Why?
People always ask me if I miss the Post. I miss it every day, but I would’ve missed it even if I was still there because it doesn’t exist in the same way that it used to. No newspaper does. I don’t know if I could write about the same things in the same way and have it matter. You have to tweet and be on camera. Newspapers have become marginalized over the last 10 to 15 years. I loved going all over the country, but columnists aren’t traveling anymore except to cover their home teams. I went to ESPN for the money and the opportunity.
Did you know that PTI was going to be such a hit?
No way. [Then-Sun-Times columnist] Jay Mariotti was the smartest one about this. Even though I would have been his main competition, he called me every day for three weeks to try to get me to take the Tribune job. He kept saying that the next Siskel & Ebert wasn’t going to be at the movies. It was going to be in the press box, and that could be us. I knew he was right, but I didn’t know what to do about it. So how did it happen?
[Then-ESPN executive] Mark Shapiro agreed with Mariotti that the next Siskel & Ebert would be about sports. He offered me and Tony the platform. I did it for nine years while I was still working at the Post. It was like putting the arguments that Tony and I would have in the newsroom on television. I knew it was a hit when a young receiver came over when I was interviewing [Cowboys Hall of Famer] Emmitt Smith and he couldn’t believe Emmitt knew me! And then players I had known for a long time, like Magic and Charles Barkley, and coaches like Jim Boeheim and Gary Williams told me that the show was going to change my life. Tony and I didn’t understand that. We knew nothing about television. We still really don’t. Thankfully we have great producers. We have a contract with PTI that runs through 2018. That will be 17 years. Tony says he’s going to retire then, but if PTI says I stay, I stay. You also appear often on ABC’s NBA pregame studio show. That’s a lot of TV work, especially during basketball season, but you’re still writing a column for ESPN. Why?
Because I love it. That’s what I do. I’m a writer. I’m supposed to write 80 pieces a year. But it can take me 3 1/2 hours to write what used to take me 45 minutes. That just means I have to write more often. When are you going to write a book?
Never. I don’t have a book in me. I don’t see myself as a celebrity like other people do. How much time do you spend traveling?
I commuted to L.A. for three years to do an NBA show. We used to do 200 PTIs a year. Last year I did 170 [usually taped in a studio in downtown Washington, D.C.]. I’m here 50 percent of the time, with the rest split between Chicago and Arizona. I didn’t change my schedule after my heart attack. I changed my habits. I weighed 252 pounds in 1995. I weighed 218 this morning. I’m trying to get down to 211. We got 10 years’ use out of the house in Arizona, but now that my son’s in school, he can’t be out there very much. Sheryl and I probably only spend 40 percent of the nights together, but that was my life when she signed up for it. I didn’t get married at 24. I got married at 39. I’ll read with Matthew and play basketball with him, watch games and put him to bed, but I’m rarely home to have dinner with him. What do you do for fun?
I play golf. I belong to Columbia Country Club and to a club in Arizona. I read, but like most men, I don’t read fiction. I’m playing tennis again because Matthew plays. What do you like about living in Bethesda?
I hate the summers here like I hate the winters in Chicago. But I love Washington’s literacy. I have lived all around the area—Upper Northwest, Arlington, Fairfax. Sheryl grew up in Northwest. She went to Stone Ridge, UVA and Duke Law School. She made the decision for us to live in Bethesda. We live near Stone Ridge. I love the house. I love the neighbors. I love the neighborhood. I love the way Bethesda works. I love its intelligence, the feel of it. n David Elfin is a Bethesda resident and the author of seven books on Washington sports.
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[ home]
® ®
Welcome
to The Long & Foster® Companies’ exclusive “Showcase of Homes” As the home of the best-trained, best-equipped agents in the industry, we are positioned to provide unsurpassed service and expertise to today’s real estate clients from contract to closing and beyond. No matter what your real estate goals are, Long & Foster agents can help you take advantage of historic real estate opportunities. Enjoy browsing the following pages, and when you’re ready to take the next step, we welcome you to contact one of our sales offices or expert sales associates.
1
#
Readers’ Pick— Best Real Estate Agency
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In Bethesda In the Washington Metro Area In the Mid-Atlantic Region Independent Real Estate Company in the Nation Seller of Luxury Homes in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Celebrating 45 years of real estate success! Our company was founded on the principles of integrity, honesty, innovation, and customer service— values we continue to support today.
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Your Way to Your Perfect Home Once you have an idea of the renovations you want to do, you can start identifying potential contractors. Your real estate agent should be an excellent source of recommendations for various types of contractors.
Real estate inventory has been tight the past year, and even as more homes are coming onto the market, potential buyers could still encounter difficulties finding their dream home. Often buyers find a property in their preferred location, but without their desired features like updated bathrooms and a kitchen with upgraded appliances. And with America’s aging housing inventory—according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 American Housing Survey, the median age of a home in America is 40 years—that’s likely to continue. What that leads to is an influx in remodeling projects and renovations, even in higher-end and luxury homes. Real estate is a tremendous investment, and buyers want to make sure that their newly purchased home — whether it’s 5 or 25 years old — matches their high standards and functions for the way they and their family live. That’s where renovations come in, and in fact, the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), a forecast by the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University, predicts Americans will spend about 9.9 percent more this year on remodeling projects than they did in 2013 for a total of $146.2 billion by year-end.
Your Real Estate Agent’s Role in Remodeling You may assume that after you’ve bought a home, your relationship with your real estate agent will end, but your agent can be a great partner to help you settle into your home and begin making renovation decisions. Depending on the plans for your remodel, you may even have the work done before you move into your home. You’ve been relying on your real estate agent to help you identify potential properties to buy and to show you the value in different communities and homes. Most agents see hundreds of homes every single year in your area, so they know about current design trends and features that add value to homes. Experienced agents can suggest ways to improve the homes you’ve been visiting and many can even tell you in broad terms what it might cost to remove a wall or add a sunroom or a family room off the kitchen. Every year, Remodeling and REALTOR magazines collaborate on a Cost vs. Value report that analyzes the return on investment for popular remodeling projects, comparing the cost with the potential additional resale value. While you’re more likely to make renovation choices
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based on your personal preferences than hard data, you should still be aware that you don’t want to “over-improve” your home, increasing its value too far above others in your neighborhood. On average, the cost-value ratio in 2014 for all remodeling projects nationwide was 66.1 percent, according to the report. Once you have an idea of the renovations you want to do and whether you want to complete them all at once or one at a time, you can start identifying potential contractors. Your real estate agent should be an excellent source of recommendations for various types of contractors whose work they’ve seen in other homes or who have worked with some of their clients. Additionally, some real estate firms maintain comprehensive databases of service providers—from plumbers to general contractors—that their clients can search to find the best partner for their remodel or other projects.
Assembling Your Remodeling Team While your primary focus may be on hiring the right contractor, you might also be looking for interior design help and information about financing your renovation. A lender can provide you details about your options, such as a Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation loan that allows you to wrap your purchase and renovation costs into one mortgage. Other options include a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Once you’ve established a budget and know how you’re going to finance your project, you can begin to assemble your team to tackle the work. If you plan on working with an interior designer for your home, it’s wise to bring that person into the discussion about your renovation as early as possible. Trained designers know about far more topics than fabrics and frills; in fact, many have the expertise to suggest ways to incorporate storage, organize rooms to maximize the use of space and bring in more light. You can find an interior designer through recommendations from friends or online at the American Society of Interior Designers’ website. Your real estate agent is also likely to be connected to the interior design community. Interview a few designers to discuss your project and your budget and learn how they would work with contractors during your renovation. Your process for choosing a contractor should be similar to selecting an interior designer. Get recommendations from your real estate professional and from friends and then take the time to check their references and research their business. Discuss your priorities and your budget with each prospective contractor. You’ll need to find someone you can trust and who will provide the best possible quality of work within the parameters of your time and your spending plan. Take the time to develop a solid plan for your project and you’ll find that the entire experience is far smoother than if you frequently change your mind or your priorities after the project is underway.
About the author Jeffrey S. Detwiler is president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster® Companies, parent company to Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., the largest independent real estate company in the United States, and Prosperity Home Mortgage. From extensive, neighborhood-level market information to Long & Foster’s core services companies — providing mortgage, settlement, insurance and property management services in a streamlined manner — Long & Foster offers the services necessary to make today’s real estate transactions manageable for owners and investors.
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Bethesda Gateway Office
www.BethesdaGatewaySales.com mobile: m.BethesdaGatewaySales.com 301.907.7600 | LongandFoster.com ® ®
SALeS OveR $1.2 BILLION IN 2013 — MORe THAN $1 BILLION FOR THe 10TH yeAR
Bethesda, Maryland
$699,000
Brookeville, Maryland
$799,900
Beautifully renovated 4 bedroom, 3 bath home on culde-sac in sought-after Carderock Springs. Bright, open floorplan, updated kitchen, gleaming hardwoods, living room with soaring ceilings and fireplace, and pretty landscaped lot with deck. Agnes Maroshek 301.448.8720 AgnesMaroshek@aol.com
Spectacular contemporary on 2+ acres in exquisite setting. Fabulous limestone kitchen, great room with marble fireplace, loft. Four bedrooms, 3 baths including 2 master suites with luxury baths. Finished, walkout lower level, bright, soaring spaces throughout. Gary Bledsoe 202.294.1500 gary.bledsoe@LNF.com
Darnestown, Maryland
Gibson Island, Maryland
$869,900
Chevy Chase, Maryland
$2,650,000
Absolutely stunning masterpiece built in 2005 by renowned PKK Homes. 6 bedrooms, 6 ½ baths, all the bells and whistles including gourmet kitchen with island, wonderful family room with stone fireplace, gorgeous stone patio. Tim Harper 301.674.1416/ TimH@LNF.com Scott Harper 301.938.1596/ scott.harper@LNF.com
$3,999,999
5,000 square-foot, 3-finished-level Colonial, built in 1994 by Centex, on 2 acres in sought-after pool/tennis community of Spring Meadows. Four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, remodeled kitchen, updated systems, expansive deck, and 2-car garage. Adrienne Deming 301.801.6031/ adrienne@LNF.com Joan Gallagher 301.325.0682/ joan@LNF.com
Extraordinary, totally renovated waterfront property overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and backing to CB MacDonald Golf Course. Five bedrooms, 5½ baths, high ceilings, sun room, wine cellar. Surrounded by magnificent Burmese rock gardens with 150 feet of waterfront. Five-zone central air conditioning, high-tech telephone and security systems, fine architectural detail. Gibson clubhouse pool, tennis, golf course and marina. Easy commute to the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Joan Gallagher 301.325.0682/ joan@LNF.com Sharon Owens 301.785.0810/ sharon.owens@LNF.com
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
$2,699,000
Magnificent 2-acre estate near the C & O Canal with grand living and entertaining space. Expansive gourmet kitchen, media room, 5-car garage. Seven bedrooms and 9 baths, including separate quest suite and enormous master with sitting room, fireplace and porch. Susan Fitzpatrick 240.793.8523/ Sue@LNF.com
$965,000
Sophisticated former model condominium offering large balcony and 1,700+ square feet of superb craftsmanship. Two master suites, chef’s kitchen with island, 2 parking spaces, 2 storage units. Corner unit flooded with light. Joyce Rausnitz 301.785.2009/ JR@LNF.com Christy Bakaly 301.412.8830/ Christy@LNF.com
Silver Spring, Maryland
$449,000
Pristine, light-filled 4 bedroom, 2½ bath home on gorgeous 10,262 square foot lot. Hardwood floors, 4-season sunroom, renovated kitchen with granite, fireplace, huge basement, and fenced backyard. Ingrid Dallaire 301.455.6962 ingrid.dallaire@LNF.com
4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD
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Wendy Banner
& The Banner Team
4650 East West Highway Bethesda, Maryland 301.907.7600 | LongandFoster.com ® ®
301.365.9090 | Wendy@BannerTeam.com | www.BannerTeam.com
Potomac, Maryland
$4,050,000
Potomac, Maryland
$2,500,000
Potomac, Maryland
2,388,000
Breathtaking custom built home on 2 professionally landscaped acres in the privately gated village of Rapley Preserve at Avenel offering over 11,000 finished sq. ft. of luxurious living and entertainment space! 7 bedrooms, 7 full and 2 half baths, 4-car garage.
Reduced $750K! Elegant and timeless estate on 2 landscaped acres features an in ground pool/spa, pool house and lighted field. Separate apartment, 7 bedrooms, 7 full and 2 ½ baths, 4-car garage and generator. Owner will consider financing.
Architectural masterpiece with 6,800 square feet on ½ acre in the gated village of Rapley in Avenel. Banquetsized dining room, gourmet kitchen and cherry paneled study. Serene exterior with pool, hot tub and stone water feature. 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 3 half baths.
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
$2,250,000
$1,645,000
$1,599,000
Incredible Mediterranean with over 10,000 sq. ft. on 2 acres with heated pool and spa. Grand formal spaces, chef’s kitchen, 4 fireplaces, home theater and wine cellar. 5 bedrooms, 6 baths and 2 half baths, a 3-car garage and generator.
Custom home in Merry-Go-Round Farm with over 6,800 square feet of luxurious living space. Exquisite exterior boasts a screened porch, deck, stone patio with a woodburning fireplace and pergola. 8 bedrooms, 7 full and 1 half bath.
Walk to Potomac Village! Dramatic brick home with soaring ceilings in Normandy Farms with 8,000 square feet on 3 levels. Sun room and screened porch overlook 1.2 acre lot on quiet cul-de-sac. 3-car garage. 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths.
Potomac, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
$1,299,900
Views from the patio, verandas and rooftop terrace of this 4-level, end-unit townhome overlooking the TPC Golf Course at Avenel. Features an elevator, exercise room, wine cellar! 2 bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms.
Potomac, Maryland
$1,075,000
Location, Location, Location — 1 minute to Potomac Village! Stately colonial on a ½ acre, with a must-see backyard — ideal for entertaining! Gorgeous updated kitchen, back staircase, mudroom and screened porch. 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths.
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$1,185,000
$1,134,900
Former model on one of the largest lots in Avenel. Customized with a 4th bedroom suite — unique to this property! Open floor plan, 5 bedrooms, 5 ½ baths, 2-car garage and a tranquil yard backing to parkland.
Sun-filled home by Rocky Gorge Builders in Avenel boasts luxury touches throughout including a 2-story living room and 3 fireplaces. A fenced yard offers a pool and serene wooded views. 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths.
Washington, D.C.
$1,045,000
Bethesda, Maryland $549,000 Washington, $1,045,000 Rarely availableDC in Sumner Village! Oversized unit
DuPont Circle condo converted in 2007, only blocks from 2 Metro stations. This light-filled, 2-level unit boasts an open floor plan as well as a rooftop terrace/ patio & garage parking. 2 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths.
with a renovated gourmet kitchen, balcony DuPont Circle condo converted in 2007,fireplace, only blocks from and garage parking spot. Community amenities 2 METRO stations. This light-filled, 2-level unit boasts include pool,with exercise room and gated entry. an opentennis, floor plan luxury touches throughout. 2Features bedrooms, 2 full terrace/patio baths. a rooftop & garage parking.
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Chevy Chase Office 202.363.9700 20 Chevy Chase Circle, NW, Washington, D.C.
Woodley Park Office 202.483.6300 2300 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
® ®
Chevy Chase, D.C.
$1,169,000
Chevy Chase, D.C.
$735,000
Dupont, D.C.
$1,295,000
Built in 2006, this beautiful 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home boasts an open floor plan, gourmet kitchen, maple floors, living room with fireplace, grand master bedroom suite with skylights and double vanity, lower level bedroom with full bath, slate patio and 1-car garage. Samuel Davis 202.256.7039
Three bedroom, 1.5 bath, brick Center Hall Colonial (built 1949), 7,300+ sq. ft. lot, slate roof, central air conditioning, new French drain, hardwood floors, fenced rear yard, off-street parking, easy access to everything.
Grand 3-story Victorian with separately metered English basement unit and 2-car garage. Large rooms, some nice original detail, 3rd floor family room with walk out to party deck! Ideal for owner or developer. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.
Tim Healy 301.980.4085
Roby Thompson 202.255.2986
Forest Hills, D.C.
Palisades, D.C.
$1,949,000
This handsome 1930 stone Tudor has a modern soul! With 6 bedrooms, 4 full baths and 2 half baths, it boasts all the fine details of a bygone era but also embraces today with its 2004 renovation. Rarely does one encounter such a harmonious blend of old and new. Lenora Steinkamp 202.246.4475
Bethesda, Maryland
$675,000
Lovely, rarely offered, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1,823 sq. ft. corner unit set in the tree-tops! Formal dining room, table-space kitchen, master bedroom with balcony. Parquet wood floors, washer/dryer, exceptional closet space, additional storage and TWO GARAGE SPACES! Pool/Tennis/Fitness. Connie Lopez-Parker 202.302.3900
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$1,400,000
Wesley Heights, D.C.
$2,950,000
A little bit of Mayberry in D.C. This 1923 charmer has been renovated and expanded to meet today’s needs. Five bedrooms, 4.5 baths, high ceilings and beautiful hardwood floors, granite/stainless kitchen open to great room with fireplace, large deck with sandbox! Fenced yard with 2-car garage. Julie Roberts 202.276.5854
Stunning 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath expanded Colonial with over 5,500 sq. ft. of living space! Multiple skylights and walls of glass provide wonderful light throughout. Gourmet designer kitchen, fabulous family room and master wing additions, plus attached 2 car garage.
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
$1,525,000
Amazing space in this beautiful Cape Cod Home. Large kitchen with breakfast bar that opens to the family room with fireplace. Windows galore overlook deck, garden and pool. Lower level rec room with bar and fireplace opens to spacious terrace. Elaine Conroy 202.744.6291
Roby Thompson 202.255.2986
$675,000
A traditional beauty yet modernized! Enjoy the period details of large rooms with tall ceilings, gorgeous woodwork and floors, tall windows, huge modernized country kitchen, expansive dining and living rooms, cozy family room with fireplace plus 5 generous size bedrooms. Cindy Holland 301.452.1075
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Creig Northrop Realtor®
11620 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 office: 301.770.0760 | northropteam.com ® ®
direct: 301-761-5997
Severna Park $3,00,000
Spencerville $2,500,000
Potomac $2,500,000
Ellicott City $2,500,000
Glenwood $1,700,000
Clarksville $1,700,000
Lothian $1,335,000
Gaithersburg $1,250,000
Sandy Spring $1,100,000
216OldCountyRoad.com
11635VixensPath.com
5900CandaceDrive.com
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16110DraytonFarmDrive.com
3405ShadyLane.com
8108WarfieldRoad.com
11206AlbermyrtleRoad.com
11819SheppardCrossing.com
18821CelebrityLane.com
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Miller Bethesda All Points Office
4701 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 301.229.4000
#1 W.C. & A.N. MILLER REALTORS® Office • #14 Long & Foster Office for 2013 Page Eisinger
301.351.4517
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Lynn@LynnStewartSells.com
MOVING YOUR HOME . . . “FOR SALE TO SOLD”! ● Your Bethesda residential specialist ● Your expert Buyer’s Agent in MD & DC ● Your Top Producer ● Your go-to help for “right-sizing” ● Your Certified Negotiation Expert ● Your neighbor! ● Licensed in MD, DC & VA
2012 Realty Alliance Award Recipient, Top 5 Percent North America ● Licensed in MD, DC & VA ● Staging, marketing, and negotiation expert Let my experience work for you! ●
Ted Duncan
Providing Personal Attention to Every Detail Since 1992 301.785.7966
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“Your Chesapeake Connection” Specializing in finding folks their staycation home in beautiful Annapolis. Be it waterfront, waterview or a water oriented community, Tom & Elizabeth go the extra mile for their clients. Their love of Annapolis is very apparent, they live, work and play and truly enjoy the Annapolis lifestyle.
SCochran@LNF.com www.SCochran.com
Lynn A. Stewart 301.580.4552
410.212.3383 www.yourchesapeakeconnection.com
#1 INDIVIDUAL MILLER AGENT 2012
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#6 Individual Agent Miller Bethesda Office #6 Individual Miller Bethesda Office (units) Native Washingtonian. Offering Caring, Committed, Personal and Professional service to buyers and sellers for over 25 years. Consistently Ranked Top Producer Bethesda All Points Office. Please call for a personal consultation.
Tom & Liz Eicher
Sharron Cochran
301.461.3934 Page.Eisinger@LNF.com Licensed in DC, MD & VA
●
Ted@LNF.com
Knowledge and ability to clearly explain all aspects of home sale ● Unparalleled pricing of homes ● Countless examples of negotiating ability to get the best results for you Providing a spectacular experience in the sale of your home. ●
Anne Emmett
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301.466.2515
Anne.Emmett@LNF.com
Laura Emmett
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202.422.6374
Laura.Emmett@LNF.com
Bethesda, Maryland
$1,195,000
A storybook Colonial in the heart of Bethesda! Beautiful and convenient Battery Park neighborhood. 4+ bedrooms and 10,000+ sq. ft. lot.
Lydia Chopivsky Benson 202.365.3222 LydiaBenson@StanfordAlumni.org ●
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A portion of all listing and sales proceeds will be donated to your choice of either The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or MCPAW — Montgomery County Partners for Animal Welfare.
Commitment to excellence Driven to succeed Experienced in luxury estates and first-time homes Personal, caring, and intelligent take on real estate Prompt, responsive, confidential, and committed
Walsh Richards
301.706.3151 Walsh.Richards@LongandFoster.com Licensed in DC, MD & VA ●
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Results driven Native Washingtonian committed to finding you the perfect home. Professional and personal level of service Over 45 years of diverse commercial and residential real estate experience to help you throughout the selling and buying process.
Call Our Award-Winning Managing Broker Susan Sanford to find out why top producing and new agents join our office and choose to stay! 301.320.8300 | ssanford@longandfoster.com
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Miller Bethesda All Points Office
4701 Sangamore Road Bethesda, MD 301.229.4000
#1 W.C. & A.N. MILLER REALTORS® Office • #14 Long & Foster Office for 2013 Nancy Mannino
Congratulations to Susan Sanford and her Extraordinary Team!
301.461.1018 Nancy.Mannino@LNF.com Top 150 out of Long & Foster’s 8,000 Agents ●
#1 Team Miller Bethesda Office #1 Team Miller Bethesda Office (units) #2 Team Companywide #3 Team Companywide (units) Celebrating 20 years of success selling real estate in DC, MD & VA! Long & Foster Gold Team, Founder’s Club Consistently top ranked team– Washington Metro Region, 2012 Realty Alliance Recipient Native Washingtonian
The #1 Miller Office Congratulations to Susan Sanford on her 25th Year in Real Estate. Susan Sanford
VP, Managing Broker ssanford@LNF.com Office Direct:
301.320.8300
Tammy Gruner Durbin
Andy Alderdice
301.996.8334 TGDHomes@LNF.com Serving MD, DC & VA Associate Broker ●
#1 Listing Team Companywide 2013
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W.C. & A.N. Miller REALTORS Bethesda All Points Office is the flagship office for Miller Realtors Companywide. We are home to successful and top-producing agents seeking an executive approach to their business as well as new agents ready to launch successful real estate careers. Call me for a confidential interview to find out why top producing and new agents join my office and choose to stay!
301.466.5898 andy4homes@gmail.com www.andy4homes.com A 5th generation Washingtonian assisting many MD, DC and VA residents in the sale and/or purchase of their first and subsequent homes since 1994. ●
Recently Ranked Top 8 of 10 for the Miller Group, Long & Foster Real Estate Selling Residential Real Estate for 25 Years Resident of the Community for over 25 Years
Call her to schedule a private consultation. 301.466.5898
Kat Conley Witowski 301.943.3865
● katconleywitowski@gmail.com Found the buyer for this classic, 4-level split in desirable Springfield with sought after 2-car garage. Gorgeous hardwood floors, freshly painted, sparkling baths, Updated eat-in kitchen. Spacious rooms, living room with fireplace, family room with fireplace, screened porch, tiled lower basement and large, flat, private backyard.
COMING SOON
NOW AVAILABLE Potomac, Maryland
$1,495,000
Elegant and stately, 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath River Falls Colonial with impeccable attention to detail. Over 6800+sq. ft. of living space with updates throughout. Dine al fresco on the rear deck overlooking the patio with sparkling pool and private 1/3 acre lot.
Annapolis, Maryland Custom Rixey built Contemporary with spectacular waterfront views and access. Over 5,900+ sq. ft. of living space with private pool and beach. Boat slip and community stable membership included.
www.andy4homes.com
Debora Edwards 301.412.9759 Debora.Edwards@LongandFoster.com ●
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Providing you with thorough assistance in buying and selling in DC and MD. Your neighbor for over 10 years in Chevy Chase. A DC resident for over 15 years. A specialist in cooperatives and condominium sales in Cathedral Heights, Capitol Hill and Kalorama. I will work with and for you to meet your real estate needs!
Mary Lou Dell 301.404.5554
●
MaryLouDell@aol.com
I’d love to work with you. Call me when you’re ready to buy or sell. And watch me periodically News on Now TV at Noon talking about our local real estate market. Licensed in MD & DC
Call Our Award-Winning Managing Broker Susan Sanford to find out why top producing and new agents join our office and choose to stay! 301.320.8300 | ssanford@longandfoster.com
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Everywhere you want to be! ® ®
Top 20 in Maryland
Voted one of the Area’s Top REALTORS® by Readers of Bethesda Magazine in 2012 & 2013
Lyn Moritt, Lisa Frazier, Ying Chen, Margie Halem, Amy Gordon, Kendall Strang Unikel, Lori Silverman
301.775.4196
Potomac
$2,198,000
8200 Kingsgate Road Architectural Masterpiece Nestled in the Trees
Potomac
$1,695,000
Licensed in MD | DC | VA Please view our listings at MargieHalemRealtor.com. The Margie Halem Team Welcomes Harrison Halem MargieHalemRealtor.com MargieHalem@LongandFoster.com
Potomac
$1,195,000
12624 Tribunal Lane Palatine Gem
North Bethesda
8201 Coach Street River Falls Best Value
$1,050,000
6409 Tilden Lane | Luxmanor Custom Colonial on 1/2 Acre Lot
Laytonsville 6525 Olney-Laytonsville Road Country Retreat Close to the City
Rockville
$1,159,000
9902 Bald Cypress Drive | Willows of Potomac Charm & Warmth Abound
$895,000
North Potomac
$659,000
11532 Paramus Drive Private Wooded Lot
#1 Billion Dollar Bethesda Gateway Office | 301.907.7600 (O)
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Exquisitely Renovated Private Retreat
240.876.8750 Bethesda, MD. Nestled on a gorgeous private .55 acre lot, this rich in architectural details custom home offers 10,000 square feet on four finished levels. Well-suited to both elegant entertaining and casual family gatherings, the exceptional interior features a new Chef’s Kitchen with Breakfast area, a stunning Family Room with a second story Loft, an Owner’s suite with two renovated baths, four upper level en-suite Bedrooms, walk-out Lower Level with an in-law suite, high ceilings, six fireplaces, and hardwood floors. Framed by mature trees, the grounds are nicely enhanced by a recent addition of a heated swimming pool, fully equipped outdoor kitchen, and two stone terraces with a pergola. This tranquil oasis is just minutes to Washington, D.C. and the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment. Offered at $1,995,000.
For more information, photos and virtual tour, please visit: KrystynaKazerouni.Lnf.com
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Phyllis Wiesenfelder
301.529.3896 PhyllisW@LNF.com #2 Agent in 2012 & 2013 Bethesda Gateway Office 301.907.7600
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Rare Opportunity In Old Somerset
Extraordinary brick and stone colonial residence overlooking a magnificent 22,000+ square foot yard on a beautiful street in the Town of Somerset. This exquisite home boasts superb additions by acclaimed architect Benjamin Van Dusen as well as fairytale gardens. It offers a gracious entry foyer, formal living room with stone fireplace, grand dining room, butler’s pantry, chef’s kitchen with vaulted ceilings, sundrenched family room, and handsome library. There are five bedrooms, four full and one half baths, including a high ceilinged master bedroom suite with sitting room and fabulous garden views. This home is ideally located down the street from Somerset Elementary School and convenient to the town pool and tennis courts, Metro, and the Capital Crescent Trail. Offered at $2,895,000.
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North Bethesda/ Rockville Office
6000 Executive Blvd., #100 Bethesda, Maryland 301.468.0606 | LongandFoster.com ® ®
Bethesda, Maryland
$1,227,000
Custom 3 level Colonial replete with distinctive stone front, dramatic 2 story foyer and soaring cathedral ceilings offers 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, luxurious owners’ suite and dramatic features throughout. Tom Corcoran 301.938.7567 www.CorcoranGalleryofHomes.com
Potomac, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
$825,000
Nestled in prestigious Falls Bend, a desirable neighborhood of tree-lined streets, this 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath renovated brick Colonial is well sited on a beautifully landscaped lot. Easy commute to Metro, bus, Rockville Town Center, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Sherri Earman 301.728.6060
$2,390,000
Potomac, Maryland
$649,990
Olney, Maryland
$459,900
Renovated, refined, and refreshed, this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with a finished walk-out basement is ready for you to just move in. Conveniently located within steps of Charline Manor Family Park and close to elementary and middle schools. Bill Calomeris 301.370.3962 www.calomerisgroup.com
Rockville, Maryland
$349,900
Distinguished for its design and appointments, this exceptional Arts & Crafts Estate Home with over 9,000 sq.ft. of living space offers 4 levels of beautifully appointed architectural details. Located near Great Falls Park, within walking distance of the C&O Canal and minutes to Washington, D.C., Virginia and I495. Edmond Ko 301.915.6611
Sun-filled and beautifully remodeled split level in Regency Estates features entry foyer, formal living and dining rooms with gleaming wood floors, table space kitchen with new cabinets, granite, and skylight, 4 family-sized bedrooms, remodeled baths and family room with brick fireplace. MaryAnne Fiorita 301.529.0090
A solid brick home on one of the largest lots in the Randolph Hills neighborhood presents an opportunity for you to move in now and update later. New roof and central air installed in the past few years. Thermopane windows, hardwood floors, screened porch.
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Annandale, VA
$699,000
Magnificent Center Hall Colonial with 2-story family room is in model home condition! Finished lower level with bedroom and full bath. Many updates and fabulous backyard with terrace and slate tiered patio, great for entertaining, complete the picture. Barbara Ciment 301.346.9126 www.Ciment.com
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$549,000
Imposing and elegant, this 3-level Colonial with stately pillars is sited down a long driveway on a corner lot. Features include fresh paint, new carpet, a detached garage, fenced yard, and a finished basement with full bath. Close to downtown Silver Spring and within walking distance of Metro. Nina Davis 240.888.8557
Denise Szczur 301.452.5544
$549,000
This spacious and distinctive split foyer home on private cul-de-sac in sought after Ramblewood offers a gourmet center island kitchen with granite and stainless, a large deck, a walk-out lower level rec room and full bath, all on lovely, professionally landscaped grounds. Mary Sokhor 301.455.7311
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Sitting Pretty | Growing Up: From Kid to Teen Room
Bethesda Magazine
Standout Spaces
september/october 2014
Creative ways to inject personality into todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchens
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Bethesda Magazine
september/october 2014
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A small-scale sofa can be a useful, attractive pieceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and you can find one in almost any style. By Carolyn Weber
COVER STORY 212 Elements of Style
From dramatic open shelving to colorful backsplashes and whimsical breakfast nooks, homeowners are finding creative ways to inject personality into their kitchens. By Jennifer Sergent Home COVER PHOTO by robert c. lautman
218 Growing Up The transition from kid to teen can be hard on everyone. One way to help? Create an organized, sophisticated space where your teen can do homework, spend time with friends and relax in private. By Charlotte Safavi
224 Designing Independence A North Potomac home builder draws on his own experience to ease the way for others with special needs. By Archana Pyati
230 By the Numbers A look at the most expensive home sales in the area, as well as home sales trends by ZIP code.
trisha landwehr/swank-designs.net
210 House Appropriations
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appropriations
By Carolyn Weber
Sitting Pretty
Sometimes smaller is better. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called an apartment sofa, a loveseat or a settee, a small-scale sofa (less than 75 inches wide) is a useful piece. A couch that accommodates two people works well in a home office, den and master bedroom suite or to supplement larger furniture in a formal living area. Manufacturers are responding to consumer demand with smaller options in every style.
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1. Simple and sleek, the 71-inch Ollie Sofa is available in three colors, including bold Hacienda red, and costs $899. The piece is upholstered in subtly textured fabric and has flared oak legs. See it in person at the Crate and Barrel in Upper Northwest D.C. (202-364-6100; www.crateandbarrel.com).
2. At 61 inches wide, this cozy sofa would fit well in a master bedroom sitting area. The Laney Loveseat from CR Laine is shown in ivory linen with an aqua skirt band and accent pillows ($3,065), but is available in any of the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many fabrics. Check them out at Urban Country in Bethesda (301-654-0500; www.urban countrydesigns.com).
3. A reproduction of a midcentury modern sofa by Danish architect and interior designer Finn Juhl, this curvy piece exudes vintage cool. A mere 53 inches wide, the Poet Sofa is available in four color combinations for $10,900 at Design Within Reach in Bethesda (301-215-7200; www.dwr.com).
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4. Leather never goes out of style. This versatile minisofa would work in most any room in the house. The Irving settee measures 55.5 inches wide and comes in coffee (shown) or chestnut for $1,699 at Pottery Barn in Friendship Heights (202-244-0537; www. potterybarn.com).
5. This Swedish Art Moderne settee is an antique from the 1930s, but still looks chic today. Its sculptural form is softened by a curved back, painted wood trim and new linen upholstery. It is 56 inches wide and priced at $4,750 at Tone on Tone in Bethesda (301-240-4970800; www.tone-on-tone.com).
6. This classic design is inspired by vintage salon style and would work well in a formal living space. Covered in soft gray upholstery, the 65-inchwide Tangier sofa features a tufted back, antiqued-brass nail head trim and dark walnut finished legs with casters. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $2,699 at Arhaus in North Bethesda (301-230-2973; www. arhaus.com).
Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design. Send product ideas to carolyn.weber@ bethesdamagazine.com.
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Elements of Style By Jennifer Sergent A few years ago it seemed like every renovated kitchen had the same granite countertops, the same recessed lights, the same wood cabinetry. But designers say thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing as homeowners in the Bethesda area look to inject more personality into their kitchens. fast nooks, homeowners are looking for ways to make their kitchens feel one-of a-kind. Here are nine ways local residents have made their kitchens shine. 212 September/October 2014 | Bethesda Magazine HOME
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michael ventura
Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s through dramatic open shelving, colorful backsplashes or whimsical break-
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Mix and Match
Anne and Robert Hawkins with son Jonas, 5, and daughter Sedona, 7, in their Chevy Chase kitchen.
Anne and Robert Hawkins were going for an Italian bistro look in the kitchen of their new house in Chevy Chase. “I wanted something that really stood the test of time,” Anne says. The Hawkins worked with Doug Roberts of Bethesda’s GTM Architects and designer Shell Azar, a childhood friend of Anne’s who runs SAS Design Studios in New York. Industrial and metallic accents mingle with crown molding and a groovedwood ceiling. Storage comes in the form of traditional white cabinets, glass-front cabinets and open shelves. Creamy white marble contrasts with honed black granite. “It’s a traditional look with modern features,” Roberts says. Anne Hawkins carefully chose the glassware and plates for the glass-front cabinets, and the sculptural white pitchers for the open shelving. Along with metal chairs and pendant lighting, the kitchen achieves “a nice balance of clean elegance and industrial chic,” Azar says. Hawkins especially loves the marble-topped island, which shows the signs of its use in the manner of a wellloved bistro. “You do see the circles,” she says of the marks left by glasses.
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elements of style Use Furniture as Art
robert c. lautman
Steve and Jessica Tave enlisted Cabin John-based Anthony Wilder Design/Build to redesign and enlarge their kitchen, which was essentially a bottleneck galley between the dining room and the large family room of their Bethesda home. Architect J.P. Ward and kitchen designer Shannon Kadwell borrowed space from the family room to expand the kitchen and make it a more open area. But the new design left no walls for displaying art. As a result, Steve Tave says, “we wanted the kitchen to be its own work of art.” Ward says the striking red island base, which has an eggshell finish on one side and high-gloss cabinets on the other, was designed to look like a piece of furniture. The Silestone countertop stretches down to the floor on one end, creating a waterfall effect and echoing the drywall enclosures around two banks of Konst cabinetry. Open shelves across from the island are also painted red, providing a dramatic backdrop for a rotating sculpture gallery. “Every time we walk through the space, we just can’t help but be happy,” Tave says.
Kitchen designer Nadia Subaran was thrilled when Glen Echo homeowner Patricia Ozeki said her top remodeling priority was banishing the overhead cabinets. “That’s a huge trend we’re seeing,” says Subaran, the principal designer at Aidan Design in Silver Spring. Moving storage to large drawers or a custom pantry armoire makes the space feel larger and frees up the walls for more interesting design elements. “I wanted something that was not too kitcheny,” Ozeki says. “It just makes the place more spacious, not having cabinets.” In their stead: a wall of handmade, hand-glazed and textured tile; elegant sconces; and floating shelves made of alder, the same wood as the island base. The deep-gray armoire, meanwhile, provides a beautiful backdrop to the petal-like pendant light that hangs over the breakfast table. Along with the soapstone countertops, the new design has “a warm, rustic farmhouse feel, but with some really modern punches,” Subaran says.
robert radifera
Lose Overhead Cabinets
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john smith
robert c. lautman
Make a Custom Piece As in many town houses, Wendy Danziger’s Bethesda kitchen was tight on space. “It was very small—it was unworkable, and I needed more counter space,” Danziger says. In addition, one of the walls had an odd pass-through to the entry foyer. The opening took up valuable space and didn’t add anything aesthetically. Danziger, an interior designer, hired longtime collaborator Jan Goldman to help her figure out how to fix the space. Goldman, owner of Kitchen Elements in Olney, decided to fill in that wall and attach a custom table flanked by two tall storage cabinets. The new storage space allowed her to remove the upper cabinets from the wall behind the stove and to cover that area with a swath of glass tile and a dramatic range hood. The new table replaced a freestanding round table that took up more space. Danziger highlighted the area with a contemporary light fixture and art she found at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival. Danziger uses the new piece as extra prep space and as a table for meals. “Even though it’s not a huge kitchen,” Goldman says, “it really just exploded in usefulness and storage.”
stacy zarin-goldberg
robert radifera
Go Big Laila Soltz was looking for an island that would serve as the workhorse of her Silver Spring kitchen. She wanted it to provide ample storage on all sides and to be clear of appliances and equipment so she could use it for food prep or as a buffet for entertaining. Soltz and her husband, David, hired Stephanie Fried of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens in Rockville to do the work. Fried chose the island’s cabinet finish to complement other pieces of furniture in the home, most notably the custom armoire that was built to hold the refrigerator and freezer. The dark base also anchors the room’s light colors, and its unusual L-shape was a happy medium between a too-long rectangle and a too-wide square. “It’s pure storage and working space,” Soltz says—important for the kosher kitchen, which must be able to accommodate separate sets of plates, silverware and cookware, one for meat and one for dairy. “Everyone is so comfortable here,” she says. “The island has a beautiful presence to it.”
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elements of style Introduce Some Whimsy
angie seckinger
Bethesda designer Lorna Gross-Bryant saw an opportunity in the Chevy Chase kitchen remodel she was orchestrating for a couple with Houston roots and a love of the Caribbean: She could introduce the tropics in the sunny breakfast nook. While she kept the main kitchen “classic—not overly ornate” to fit the couple’s traditional taste, she brought sun and sand into the nook with woven-back chairs upholstered in a tropical print; a round table with a carved pineapple base; and rattan bar stools with seat fabric featuring island women carrying baskets on their heads. The goal, Gross-Bryant says, was to reference the faraway in the everyday. “I think of eating areas as your opportunity to get really whimsical,” she says. “It’s less formal, more casual and a place where you can have a little bit of fun.”
Chevy Chase architect Bruce Wentworth often incorporates open shelving into his kitchen designs, not only to open up the space, but also to punch up the look. There are lots of ways to make the shelves visually interesting: You can vary the depths, change up the materials or build cubbies. When open shelving doesn’t fit with the aesthetic of the house, he says glass-front cabinets can be a way to create a similar, striking look. Hank Hendrickson and Anne Derse didn’t want their renovated kitchen to conflict with the architecture of their ’60s-era Dutch colonial in Bethesda. Wentworth suggested glass-front cabinets rather than contemporary-leaning open shelves. “Glass makes the room look larger, and it fits with the traditional style,” Wentworth says. “I really wanted to take advantage of the beautiful light that comes in from the windows,” Derse says. “The cabinets provide more reflection.”
geoffrey hodgon
Open Your Cabinets
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Create a Focal Point Chevy Chase kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer used tile to add personality to the Silver Spring kitchen of Arielle and Aton Teitelbaum. “I wanted something that was very different, but functional,” Arielle Teitelbaum says, “a combination of modern and earthy.” Rather than stacking double ovens on
the wall of the long kitchen, Gilmer placed them side by side, leaving the space above exposed for vibrant orange stained glass tile. On the kitchen’s other two walls, Gilmer chose rough-cut stone tiles that complement the gray cabinetry and warm butcher block on the island. “They give the kitchen a more natural feel, and it’s a nice
frame for this beautiful splash of orange,” Gilmer explains. “We’re a very kitchen- and food-centric family,” Teitelbaum says of her husband and three kids, who keep kosher and entertain for every Jewish holiday. “This is a really great change—it’s like night and day from the original kitchen.”
stacy zarin-goldberg
Don’t Be Afraid of Color From a designer’s perspective, tile for the backsplash is like fabric for upholstery. “There are so many options—it’s like candy,” says Laura Fox of Kristin Peake Interiors in Rockville. Fox worked with Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens to update Bennett and Roscoe Brady’s North Bethesda kitchen. When the Bradys chose a distinctive blue granite for their new kitchen counters, Fox paired it with a strong, cerulean-blue glass backsplash, noting that they love color. “Backsplashes are where you can have a little bit of fun,” Fox says. The kitchen is now a destination for both husband and wife. “I talk to my wife while she’s cooking,” Roscoe Brady says. “I didn’t like to before. I liked her, but I didn’t like the space.” The couple is already reaping the benefits of spending more time there. Says Bennett Brady: “I think my cooking has gotten better.” n Jennifer Sergent is a home and design writer based in Arlington, Va. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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Ginger Looneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s redesigned bedroom has a grown-up color palette of pink, coral, cream and brown.
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g n i w o Gr Up The transition from kid to teen can be hard on everyone. One way to help? Create an organized, sophisticated room where your teen can do homework, spend time with friends and relax in private. By Charlotte Safavi | Photos by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg Sixteen-year-old Bethesda resi-
dent Ginger Looney was ready for a new room. “She was 12 when we moved in,” says her mom, Kathy Looney. “She’d picked ‘Barbie Blue’ wall paint, hot pink bedding and had boy band posters everywhere.” But Ginger says redoing her room was about more than just outgrowing the design. “The way my room was set up before wasn’t terribly functional,
and I had a hard time finding a place for everything,” she says. Organization is critical in the often chaotic lives of teens. Designers say it’s important to incorporate zones for sleeping, studying and lounging, as well as designated spots to store things, whether schoolbooks, bobby pins or baseball bats. The Looneys turned to Northern Virginia-based interior designer Carrie Miller, who owns her own design firm,
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growing up
Lapis Ray, to help them create a more orderly and calm room. Miller suggested a soothing palette of dusty pink, rich coral, soft cream and smoky brown. She also installed draperies in the windows and a valance above the bed to give the space a more grown-up feel. Miller says that even more important than color, texture and pattern was purging and reorganizing. “I wanted Ginger to have a place for everything,” Miller says, “so she could focus on homework and enjoy the space with her friends.” Miller and Ginger spent a couple of hours going through her books, posters and other knickknacks, figuring out what was worth keeping and what could be donated or put into storage. “I really didn’t like the idea of sorting through my things at first,” Ginger says. “I thought it would take a long time, but once we got started, it wasn’t that difficult to do.” Ginger’s new room has baskets for her needlework hobby, shelves for her books, pegs for her handbags, a display easel for her artwork, and an end-ofthe-bed trunk for out-of-season clothing. She also has two places to study, either at her desk or on her settee, where she can read textbooks while propping her laptop on a ceramic garden stool. The settee and stool are also useful as casual seating when she’s hanging out with her girlfriends. For Kathy, the redesigned room serves two purposes. “My intent was to have Ginger enjoy her space,” Kathy says. “But I also wanted to be able to use the room for guests when she goes off to college.” Miller says making that transition should be easy and inexpensive. “By changing out the color of the walls and switching out the pillows, using more masculine shades, the room can become a neutral space for guests. But, of course, it will always be Ginger’s room.”
For teens—and their parents—the transition from kid to adult is rife with
Interior designer Regan Billingsley, who co-owns the Regan and Meaghan Boutique in Kensington, often designs rooms for teens.
challenges. On top of heavy homework loads and schedules packed with extracurricular activities, teenagers are figuring out who they are and trying to fit in socially. Designers say one way to help children through this sea of change is to create serene, functional rooms for them, where they can have their own private space to do homework, spend time with friends and decompress. Some kids, especially boys, are not particularly interested in redecorating. Take 14-year-old Trey Valenta. Trey didn’t care that his clothes were bursting out of his childhood dresser and that his
feet hung over his bunk bed. His Germantown room was lined with dinosaur posters and stuffed animals, and accented with candy-striped valances. “The mother came to me,” says Potomac-based interior designer Syntha Harris-Wendel, whose company, StoryBook Rooms, started out by specializing in upscale kids’ rooms before expanding into full house design. “He was comfortable enough there and he worried it would get unfamiliar,” Harris-Wendel says. “He especially didn’t want anything too designery and pretty.” Harris-Wendel says she tried to be
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The Power of Paint sensitive to Trey’s reluctance. She and Trey’s mom, Kelly, slowly began to show him photos of other boys’ rooms that they thought he might like. Finally he saw something— a duvet in a navy, brown and tan check. Harris-Wendel and Kelly acted quickly. “He was in Boy Scouts, so we decided he could earn his work badge by painting his room,” Harris-Wendel says. Trey chose a steel blue paint that transformed the room at little cost. Next, a custom-made desk was ordered for a niche, and a queen bed replaced the bunk bed. Trey’s bedding was switched to more grownup linens, and his red and white window treatments were tossed in favor of tailored box valances in tan with blue ticking. Designers say one of the best ways to make a reluctant teen feel more comfortable is to incorporate personal collections of favorite objects from childhood. Anything from Matchbox cars to dollhouse furniture can be tastefully displayed in a teenager’s room, not as playthings, but as meaningful connectors to the not-so-distant past. The same is true of framed photographs. It’s worthwhile talking to kids about what they don’t want to part with, and then involving them in how and where the items are displayed. Harris-Wendel took a treasured U.S. map that was tacked to the wall in Trey’s former room and had it professionally mounted and framed. “It instantly became more adult-looking, but it was also an element from his old room that meant a lot to him,” she says. She also found a place for a metal lizard sculpture that Trey had purchased on a family trip to Costa Rica. “We edited and picked the more sophisticated items, so the room remains reflective of him,” she says.
By Jacob Bogage A lot of parents don’t want to spend too much money remodeling a room that their teen will move out of in a few years. But they still want to give their child a more grown-up space. A new coat of paint can be an easy, cost-effective solution. We asked local interior designers which paint colors they turn to again and again when remodeling a teenager’s space.
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“For either boy or girl, we’re finding a lot of navy or darker blues are nice transitional colors. They’re not too juvenile or adult, and they mix wonderfully with other colors.”
Samantha Friedman, Samantha Friedman Interior Designs
Her pick: Farrow & Ball Hague Blue No. 30 (1)
“I’m often drawn to suede because it is neutral enough to easily match with a large variety of colors. Suede paint creates a masculine and rich feel to the room, all while providing a textured and unique look.”
Syntha HarrisWendel, StoryBook Rooms
Her pick: Ralph Lauren Mochernut Suede Paint SU80 (2)
“Blue pairs well with many colors—black and white, orange, yellow, even hot pink—and almost acts as a neutral color. If you want to achieve a light and airy feel, a crisp, bright blue works nicely. Just be cautious of a blue paint color that looks too ‘baby’ blue.”
Nicole Lanteri, On My Agenda
Her picks: Benjamin Moore Crystal Blue 2051-70 (3), Benjamin Moore In Your Eyes 715, Benjamin Moore Twilight Blue 2067-30
“In general, I go from pastels to stronger, more saturated hues. For instance, from baby blue and pink to navy and hot pink; from soft fern green to more edgy greens like chartreuse, neon greens or apple greens; from soft grays to darker, richer grays and taupes, even black.”
Lana Barth, Lana Barth Design
Her picks: SherwinWilliams Frolic Green SW 6703 (4), Benjamin Moore Bermuda Blue 2061-30, Benjamin Moore Country Pink 2001-60
“The trio of blue, bone and mahogany serves as a wonderful backdrop for message boards, posters and other accessories a young adult collects. Mahogany speaks to me as rich, deep and substantial, in contrast to the practical bone. The blue feels like a fun, whimsical surprise.”
Wendy Danziger, Danziger Design
Her picks: Benjamin Moore Peacock Feathers 724 (5), C2 Paint Pale Bone BD 2, Sherwin-Williams Polished Mahogany SW 2838
“Most of the time girls want their rooms to be more sophisticated when they become tweens, so they like blue. Blue accents make a room feel a lot more grown up than a little girl’s room.”
Regan Billingsley, Regan Billingsley Interiors
Her picks: Benjamin Moore Icy Moon Drops 2056-70 (6), Benjamin Moore Ice Blue 2052-70, Sherwin-Williams Glimmer SW 6476
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growing seeing up the light
Girls can be ready for a renovation
at a younger age. Rockville-based interior designer Samantha Friedman says she’s currently designing a room for an 8-yearold Bethesda girl. “She has an older sister and wants a room that feels older,” says Friedman, who is decorating the girl’s room in a chic palette of soft gray walls and lacquered gray woodwork, plus fabrics in pops of jewel-toned teal. For parents looking to keep costs down, designers suggest using existing furniture where possible and pairing it with new pieces that will last. Friedman picked a queen bed for the girl, and now it’s set up as a daybed. When she’s older, it will be pulled out into the room. Adding a headboard or a canopy to an existing bed can be a quick fix, too. Another option is to pick furniture and accessories that enable the space to double as a guest room when your teen goes off
to college, just as Carrie Miller did in Bethesda with Ginger’s room. One item parents say they like to invest in is a good desk and bookshelf. Kensington-based interior designer Regan Billingsley recently redid a 14-year-old girl’s room in Friendship Heights, where a small desk was overflowing with books. “We added a builtin with bookshelves, file drawers and a computer desk, as well as a messaging board for keeping track of important dates,” Billingsley says. Lauren Clark of GTM Architects in Bethesda says homeowners don’t often realize how little space you need to accommodate built-ins. “All you need is 24 inches to build out,” she says. “If you have a wall with a window, you can combine full-height bookcases, a desk and a window seat; that gives you a neat reading nook instead of an armchair or
settee, plus you can store items beneath the bench.” Some parents even take it to the next level—adding built-ins in a kid’s bathroom or closet. Bethesda-based architect Jim Rill recently added an en suite bathroom and walk-in closet to 15-year-old Kate Vargo’s room in Potomac. “I used to share a bathroom with one of my brothers,” Kate says. “In my new bathroom, I have a place for shampoos and bath things, a medicine cabinet for toothpaste and brushes, and drawers for my makeup and hair accessories. There’s even a vanity area in my closet for when I’m getting dressed.” Now that’s a happy teen. n Charlotte Safavi is a freelance writer living in Alexandria, Va. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesda magazine.com.
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Independence A North Potomac home remodeler draws on his own experience to ease the way for others with special needs.
it was clear to Russell Glickman from the beginning that his son, Michael, 26, was going to be the master of his own fate—despite facing tremendous odds. Deprived of oxygen before his birth, Michael was delivered at 25½ weeks and weighed just over 2 pounds. His brain was damaged and his lungs were underdeveloped. Three days after his son was born, Glickman and his wife, Anne, rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit at what is now MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. There, doctors told them that Michael’s oxygen levels were dropping precipitously and that he would likely die— the Glickmans needed to say goodbye. What happened next was as life-changing as it was inexplicable. Michael’s eyes— “blue as the Caribbean,” Anne Glickman remembers them—opened. “It was as if he said, ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ ” says Russell Glickman, 58. “I wasn’t sure what qual-
ity of life he was going to have, but apparently he wanted to give it a shot.” Diagnosed with cerebral palsy—a spectrum of conditions affecting cognition, movement, balance and posture caused by a brain injury or malformation—Michael has struggled his entire life with walking, talking and other tasks of daily living. Nonetheless, his family’s efforts to provide him with the medical care, therapy and education he needed and his own persistence have enabled him to achieve a level of independence. In 2012, Michael moved from the family’s house in North Potomac to a group home in Frederick, where he attends an educational and therapeutic day program, goes to church every week and has his own circle of friends, including two roommates. Bearing witness to his son’s journey shaped Glickman’s identity as a father and
trisha landwehr/swank-designs.net
By Archana Pyati
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Russell Glickman designed and built this ramp to the front door of his North Potomac home so his son, Michael, could have easy access.
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designing independence
husband, and more recently his professional life as well. Five years ago he began seeking out clients with mobility challenges for his home-remodeling business, Glickman Design/Build. He has leveraged his experiences caring for Michael and additional training in accessible design to create customized solutions for clients with special needs: seniors, people with degenerative diseases or debilitating injuries, and families like his own. It took some time for Glickman to connect the two halves of his life—as a businessman and a parent dealing with a special needs child—but he says he came to realize that “I can help people. I have empathy for their situation.” Although Glickman calls Michael a “blessing,” he is the first to admit that having a disabled child meant letting go of certain long-held aspirations. The father of two girls, Glickman had dreamed of having a son to take on fishing trips and to toss a football with. After the cerebral palsy diagnosis, Glickman worried about paying for Michael’s medical care and therapy for the rest of his life. Adjusting to the reality of Michael’s disability was difficult because he saw his son as an “extension of himself,” he says. “Maybe that’s what fathers do.” After coming to terms with Michael’s limitations, his family pitched in to ensure that he lived the best possible life. For Glickman, that meant renovating their home to foster Michael’s independence and facilitate his care. When Michael grew too heavy to be carried upstairs, Glickman renovated the basement so Michael could have his own living space on a single floor. Glickman built ramps to the front door, and a smooth stone path from the driveway to the basement entrance so Michael could exit the home in his wheelchair. He installed a series of ceiling tracks between Michael’s bedroom and bathroom so that a family member or caregiver could simply place Michael in a sling and move him with the flip of a switch. Around this time, Glickman occasion-
Glickman retrofitted this upstairs bathroom for Michael, who later grew too heavy to be carried upstairs and moved into the basement, which his father renovated to provide living space on one level.
Landscaping disguises the ramp to the front door of the Glickman home (above) and a smooth stone path (right) leads from the driveway to the basement entrance.
“I can help people. I have empathy for their situation.” — Russell Glickman
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ally renovated the homes of other families with disabled children that he met through Michael’s activities. But Glickman says he “never made it a point to seek out that kind of work,” being “more interested in the bottom line” since opening his business in 1975. In 1999, partly due to burnout from the remodeling industry, Glickman closed his business and focused solely on investing in the stock market for eight years, earning more than enough to support his family. After the Great Recession hit in 2007, though, Glickman says his investments lost value and he considered re-launching his business with a specific demographic—people like his family—in mind. During his hiatus from business, Glickman had become interested in “universal design,” a set of principles aimed at creating homes for people of all ages and abilities without sacrificing style or aesthetics. He earned certification as an “aging-inplace” specialist from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and reopened Glickman Design/Build in 2009. He planned to market his services to families with disabled children, disabled adults who yearned for more independence and property owners wanting to age in their own homes. Five years later, universal design accounts for about half of Glickman Design/Build’s business, says Glickman, who has become passionate about accessibility in a way that he wasn’t able to be during the physically exhausting and emotionally overwhelming days of Michael’s childhood. “I would wake up and go, ‘Do I have enough energy to get through today?’ ” he says. “I lived like that every day, and 25 years went by.” Glickman and other proponents of universal design say they’re pushing back against the perception that homes for the disabled and the elderly have to be unattractive or—worse yet—advertise a person’s mobility challenge. “Universal design isn’t about illness or frailty,” says Stephen Hage, owner of Strategies for
The renovated bathroom in Robin Levis’ Bethesda condo is wheelchairaccessible and includes a special shower chair (below left) for her disabled daughter, Jessie.
A ceiling lift helps Jessie move about the living room.
Independent Living, a remodeling business in Takoma Park. “It’s intelligent, realistic design that attempts to be aesthetically pleasing.” Examples of universal design include: single-floor living, stepless entries, widened doorways and hallways, pocket doors, lever handles that don’t require twisting a doorknob, and curbless showers into which a disabled person can be easily wheeled. Countertops are constructed with open spaces underneath to accommodate wheelchairs, and household appliances are installed at lower
heights for greater accessibility. Outdoor ramps are typically hidden through creative landscaping, “There’s no particular reason that these things have any aesthetic limitations,” says Louis Tenenbaum, a Potomac-based consultant and universal design advocate who developed the “Certified Agingin-Place Specialist” curriculum for the NAHB in the late 1990s. Tenenbaum, who is occasionally hired by Glickman to work on remodeling projects, believes every new home should be built according to universal design—no matter how able-bodied the owners may be right now. Montgomery County also has recognized the need to boost the housing stock for people of varying physical abilities. New tax credits, approved by the
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Kathleen Tevnan with her dog, Cosmo, in front of her renovated Silver Spring home.
An expanded front porch includes a hidden lift for Tevnan’s wheelchair.
Tax credits may be welcome news for consumers since major home renovations can be costly. Elevators alone can cost up to $30,000, according to John Salmen, an architect and president of Universal Designers & Consultants in Takoma Park. “Retrofitting existing properties is going to be more expensive” than incorporating accessible features into new construction, he adds. In 2011, Kathleen and Mike Tevnan hired Glickman Design/Build to retrofit their Silver Spring home after a spinal cord injury turned Kathleen, a former educator, into a paraplegic. For $150,000, the firm built a new master bedroom and accessible bathroom, installed an elevator, and expanded the couple’s front porch with a hidden lift for Kathleen’s wheelchair. “He’s a perfectionist,” Kathleen, 59, says of Glickman. In aiming for an upscale clientele and those who have ready access to cash, Glickman acknowledges that his business is “not going to be the right company for everyone.” Still, his clients say they value his insight on the specific home modifications they require. “I was starting from ground zero,” says Robin Levis, a Food and Drug Administration microbiologist who hired Glickman Design/Build in 2012 to renovate the Bethesda condo she shares with her 21-year-old daughter, Jessie, who recently graduated from Walt Whitman High School. Like Michael Glickman, Jessie has limited verbal and physi-
cal abilities resulting from cerebral palsy. “It was so clear [Glickman] knew what needed to get done from his own personal experience,” Levis says. Levis, 54, needed assistance lifting and carrying Jessie, particularly after the death of her husband, William Chin, from an aneurysm in 2011. Chin had raised Jessie with the belief she could do anything with her life, and also took on the major physical work required in her care, Levis says. Also, Jessie “needed to grow into being more independent than she was,” Levis says. Levis hired Glickman to renovate the master bathroom to accommodate Jessie, who uses a wheelchair, and to install a ceiling lift in the living room. With its marble tiles and recessed lighting, Levis’ bathroom exudes a spa-like ambiance and earned Glickman Design/Build an award from Professional Remodeler magazine. Jessie enjoys the bathroom’s luxurious curbless shower except for one feature— the body dryer. Mounted on a wall, the dryer can’t access all of Jessie when she is sitting in her shower chair, Levis says. The lift has afforded Jessie more independence since she can now move around the living room on her own once she’s placed in a sling and hooked to the lift. In one corner of the room, Jessie has her own office with a computer, which she is adept at using, Levis says. Although Michael Glickman lives independently, he stays connected to his family through weekend visits and weekly Skype chats. Now that Michael is grown, Glickman says he channels his mixed emotions of the past into creative challenges posed by clients like Levis and the Tevnans. “I understand their dilemma, their pain, their confusion” over dealing with a disability, he says. And he’s there to tell them that life can get better. n Archana Pyati, a frequent contributor to the magazine, lives in Silver Spring. To comment on this story, email comments@ bethesdamagazine.com.
trisha landwehr/swank-designs.net
county council in November, took effect in July for property owners and builders of homes with universal design features. The credits incentivize people to consider future circumstances in which they or their loved ones might face mobility challenges, says Betsy Luecking, program manager and staff liaison to the county’s Commission on People with Disabilities and the Commission on Veterans Affairs. “Our target is the whole community,” she says. “We’re not singling out the disabled or the elderly.”
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NUMBERS Data provided by
Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Expensive Home Sales 20015 (Upper NW D.C.)
Courtesy of Marc Fleisher
20817 (Bethesda)
6800 Hillmead Road List Price: $7.5 million Sale Price: $7.35 million Days on Market: 343 Listing Agent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 7/2
3921 Huntington St. NW List Price: $1.85 million Sale Price: $1.95 million Days on Market: 7 Listing Agent: Claudia Donovan, TTR Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1
20016 (Upper NW D.C.)
4948 Lowell St. NW List Price: $4.7 million Sale Price: $4.7 million Days on Market: 0 Listing Agent: Eileen McGrath, Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 5/1
20812 (Glen Echo)
Courtesy of Washington Fine Properties
20815 (Chevy Chase) 6009 Highland Drive List Price: $4.2 million Sale Price: $3.9 million Days on Market: 31 Listing Agent: Joanne Pinover, Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2
7316 University Ave. List Price: $1.1 million Sale Price: $1.1 million Days on Market: 0 Listing Agent: No agent listed Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20816 (Bethesda)
5300 Carlton St. List Price: $1.4 million Sale Price: $1.43 million Days on Market: 4 Listing Agent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1
20818 (Cabin John)
Courtesy of Washington Fine Properties
20814 (Bethesda) 7210 Glenbrook Road List Price: $3.3 million Sale Price: $3 million Days on Market: 23 Listing Agent: Sherry Davis, Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
6408 Little Leigh Court List Price: $1.1 million Sale Price: $1.1 million Days on Market: 4 Listing Agent: Patricia Ammerman, W.C. & A.N. Miller, a Long & Foster Co. Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20832 (Olney)
18630 Woodgate Place List Price: $1 million Sale Price: $1 million Days on Market: 32 Listing Agent: Eric Stewart, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
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The Fleisher Group Long & FosTer reaL esTaTe, Inc.
Beautifully expanded and Renovated ď&#x201A;§ HeaRt of SomeRSet
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by the
NUMBERS
Juneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Expensive Home Sales 20850 (Rockville)
9912 Bald Cypress Drive List Price: $1.1 million Sale Price: $1.1 million Days on Market: 0 Listing Agent: Marjorie Halem, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20851 (Rockville)
1205 Gladstone Drive List Price: $419,900 Sale Price: $430,000 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agent: Youssef Zeroual, Weichert Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)
6505 Tilden Lane List Price: $1.9 million Sale Price: $1.9 million Days on Market: 0 Listing Agent: Nurit Coombe, RE/MAX 2000 Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20853 (Rockville)
20878 (North Potomac/Gaithersburg)
14001 Crossland Lane List Price: $1.3 million Sale Price: $1.2 million Days on Market: 351 Listing Agent: Jeannette Lemieux, MoCoRealEstate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20879 (Gaithersburg)
20882 (Gaithersburg)
20801 Layton Ridge Drive List Price: $875,000 Sale Price: $875,000 Days on Market: 50 Listing Agent: Robert Myers, RE/MAX Realty Services Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1
20886 (Gaithersburg)
9853 Canal Road List Price: $639,900 Sale Price: $590,000 Days on Market: 22 Listing Agent: Donna Gibson, Prudential PenFed Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20854 (Potomac)
20895 (Kensington)
10401 Stapleford Hall Drive List Price: $2.7 million Sale Price: $2.5 million Days on Market: 886 Listing Agent: Lynda Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dea Teubner, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 6/3
20855 (Rockville)
5606 Silo Hill Court List Price: $725,000 Sale Price: $710,000 Days on Market: 56 Listing Agent: Robert Kerxton, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
20877 (Gaithersburg)
127 Bookham Lane List Price: $469,950 Sale Price: $469,900 Days on Market: 10 Listing Agent: Ricardo Riley, RE/MAX Realty Group Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
307 Hillmoor Drive List Price: $650,000 Sale Price: $638,500 Days on Market: 23 Listing Agent: Tamara Kucik, W.C. & A.N. Miller, a Long & Foster Co. Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20904 (Silver Spring)
1121 Heartfields Drive List Price: $799,900 Sale Price: $740,000 Days on Market: 39 Listing Agent: Shirley Bannister, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1 14317 Shoreham Drive List Price: $545,000 Sale Price: $525,000 Days on Market: 9 Listing Agent: Jami Dennis, RE/MAX Realty Centre Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
20906 (Silver Spring)
14414 Clay Rock Lane List Price: $639,900 Sale Price: $671,065 Days on Market: 160 Listing Agent: Nathan Dart, RE/MAX All Pro Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
4519 Clermont Place List Price: $995,000 Sale Price: $995,000 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agent: Todd Harris, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
20901 (Silver Spring)
10204 Lariston Lane List Price: $429,500 Sale Price: $429,500 Days on Market: 3 Listing Agent: Carl Franceski, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20905 (Silver Spring)
4100 Franklin St. List Price: $1.37 million Sale Price: $1.4 million Days on Market: 7 Listing Agent: Margaret Percesepe, Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1
20896 (Garrett Park)
1801 Sherwood Road List Price: $675,000 Sale Price: $675,000 Days on Market: 19 Listing Agent: Kathleen Whalen, Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20903 (Silver Spring)
19324 Erin Tree Court List Price: $674,990 Sale Price: $668,000 Days on Market: 36 Listing Agent: September Lundeen, Redfin Corp. Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1
14701 Essington Road List Price: $775,000 Sale Price: $760,000 Days on Market: 40 Listing Agent: Catherine Carroll, Weichert Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20902 (Silver Spring)
20910 (Silver Spring)
1310 Dale Drive List Price: $799,900 Sale Price: $799,900 Days on Market: 12 Listing Agent: Jan Silverman, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Bedrooms: 3 Full/Half Baths: 3/0
20912 (Silver Spring)
7307 Maple Ave. List Price: $1.25 million Sale Price: $1.26 million Days on Market: 4 Listing Agent: Amy Sadacca, RE/MAX 100 Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 4/1 Note: Some sales and list prices have been rounded off.
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by the
NUMBERS
Real Estate Sales Trends (by Zip code) June 2013
June 2014
20015 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million
June 2013
June 2014
20817 (Bethesda) 17 24 $1 Mil. $1.1 Mil. 24 13 7 18 9 6 8 12
Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million
June 2013
June 2014
20853 (Rockville) 71 47 $1 Mil. $1.4 Mil. 43 38 22 14 40 24 26 25
Number of Homes Sold 37 24 Average Sold Price $460,377 $423,283 Average Days on Market 37 21 Above Asking Price 17 8 Below Asking Price 14 12 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20016 (Upper NW D.C.)
20818 (Cabin John)
20854 (Potomac)
Number of Homes Sold 27 31 Average Sold Price $1.6 Mil. $1.8 Mil. Average Days on Market 31 24 Above Asking Price 12 11 Below Asking Price 11 11 Sold Over $1 Million 17 24
Number of Homes Sold 2 3 Average Sold Price $960,700 $835,000 Average Days on Market 27 28 Above Asking Price 1 1 Below Asking Price 1 1 Sold Over $1 Million 1 1
Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million
20812 (Glen Echo)
20832 (Olney)
20855 (Rockville)
Number of Homes Sold 0 2 Average Sold Price N/A $1.1 Mil. Average Days on Market N/A 129 Above Asking Price N/A 0 Below Asking Price N/A 1 Sold Over $1 Million N/A 2
Number of Homes Sold 14 30 Average Sold Price $499,393 $557,668 Average Days on Market 24 31 Above Asking Price 3 9 Below Asking Price 7 17 Sold Over $1 Million 0 1
Number of Homes Sold 14 15 Average Sold Price $471,893 $526,953 Average Days on Market 55 66 Above Asking Price 7 2 Below Asking Price 7 10 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20814 (Bethesda)
20850 (Rockville)
20877 (Gaithersburg)
Number of Homes Sold 22 13 Average Sold Price $1.1 Mil. $975,038 Average Days on Market 31 15 Above Asking Price 10 2 Below Asking Price 10 5 Sold Over $1 Million 11 2
Number of Homes Sold 25 30 Average Sold Price $679,000 $701,867 Average Days on Market 15 42 Above Asking Price 9 6 Below Asking Price 15 17 Sold Over $1 Million 3 4
8 9 Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price $429,688 $370,211 Average Days on Market 14 77 Above Asking Price 3 0 Below Asking Price 5 9 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20815 (Chevy Chase)
20851 (Rockville)
20878 (North Potomac/Gaithersburg)
Number of Homes Sold 34 29 Average Sold Price $1.2 Mil. $1.2 Mil. Average Days on Market 33 21 Above Asking Price 16 7 Below Asking Price 12 18 Sold Over $1 Million 18 16
Number of Homes Sold 17 18 Average Sold Price $323,277 $336,756 Average Days on Market 29 25 Above Asking Price 9 5 Below Asking Price 7 8 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 38 48 Average Sold Price $683,714 $698,652 Average Days on Market 24 46 Above Asking Price 17 7 Below Asking Price 14 33 Sold Over $1 Million 2 2
20816 (Bethesda)
20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)
20879 (Gaithersburg)
Number of Homes Sold 25 16 Average Sold Price $608,695 $751,031 Average Days on Market 31 13 Above Asking Price 8 6 Below Asking Price 13 6 Sold Over $1 Million 2 4
Number of Homes Sold 12 16 Average Sold Price $389,667 $462,000 Average Days on Market 53 56 Above Asking Price 3 2 Below Asking Price 6 10 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million
20 $1 Mil. 20 7 7 8
17 $1 Mil. 10 10 3 7
80 52 $1 Mil. $1.1 Mil. 48 55 26 13 37 36 36 23
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12717 Hunting Horn Court, Potomac
6901 Persimmon Tree Lane, Bethesda
4301 Military Road NW #314, Washington DC
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SOLD 7814 English Way, Bethesda
SOLD 9418 Thrush Lane, Potomac
For additional information and photos, please visit www.TeamPotomac.com
Market Trend Reports Indivualized Home Searches Professional Staging & Photography Direct Line: 301.983.1212 | Office: 301.983.0060 | E-mail: Yasmin@starpower.net | www.TeamPotomac.com
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June 2014
June 2013
June 2014
20903 (Silver Spring)
20882 (Gaithersburg) Number of Homes Sold 13 18 Average Sold Price $554,462 $562,106 Average Days on Market 70 62 Above Asking Price 2 1 Below Asking Price 10 13 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 6 6 Average Sold Price $354,333 $338,917 Average Days on Market 35 27 Above Asking Price 3 2 Below Asking Price 3 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20886 (Gaithersburg)
20904 (Silver Spring)
Number of Homes Sold 9 15 Average Sold Price $429,989 $426,867 Average Days on Market 22 31 Above Asking Price 2 2 Below Asking Price 4 10 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 21 26 Average Sold Price $406,633 $435,285 Average Days on Market 32 50 Above Asking Price 6 8 Below Asking Price 12 16 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20895 (Kensington)
20905 (Silver Spring)
28 25 Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price $596,704 $626,296 Average Days on Market 43 25 Above Asking Price 8 13 Below Asking Price 15 7 Sold Over $1 Million 1 1
Number of Homes Sold 12 21 Average Sold Price $421,692 $442,567 Average Days on Market 34 45 Above Asking Price 3 9 Below Asking Price 7 10 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20896 (Garrett Park)
20906 (Silver Spring)
Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million
2 2 $1 Mil. $837,500 90 5 0 1 0 0 1 0
Number of Homes Sold 40 42 Average Sold Price $411,733 $379,494 Average Days on Market 28 39 Above Asking Price 12 14 Below Asking Price 22 20 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20901 (Silver Spring)
20910 (Silver Spring)
Number of Homes Sold 40 41 Average Sold Price $459,243 $457,894 Average Days on Market 21 33 Above Asking Price 18 13 Below Asking Price 16 21 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 20 26 Average Sold Price $519,755 $573,873 Average Days on Market 15 44 Above Asking Price 9 8 Below Asking Price 9 15 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
20902 (Silver Spring)
20912 (Silver Spring)
Number of Homes Sold 32 29 Average Sold Price $394,382 $402,310 Average Days on Market 31 27 Above Asking Price 12 4 Below Asking Price 12 16 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0
Number of Homes Sold 14 24 Average Sold Price $479,551 $557,083 Average Days on Market 114 30 Above Asking Price 5 12 Below Asking Price 7 9 Sold Over $1 Million 1 1
Information courtesy of MRIS as of June 1, 2014. Listing information should be independently verified. MRIS is real estate in real time™, enabling real estate professionals to list and sell more than $100 million in real estate each day in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and markets in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. MRIS powers MRIShomes.com, the only real estate home search site in the Mid-Atlantic brought to you by the Multiple Listing Service. Visit MRIShomes.com or text MRIS2Go to 87778 to download the MRIS Homes™ app for real-time local listings. Note: Some sales and list prices have been rounded off.
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Profiles
Home Experts
16815 Budd Road, Poolesville, MD 20837 301-972-8810 | info@fineearth.com www.fineearth.com
“
What makes you different than others in your profession? We feel we’re unsurpassed when it comes to our absolute commitment to quality. No matter the size of the job, we’re 100 percent thrilled about doing the work and confident that we can beautify and enhance any landscape.
What is the one thing your customers should know about you? Our design/build landscaping firm has won over 100 local and national awards, and the experience, skill level and knowledge of our design team is second to none in this market. Although we’ve been fortunate to work on some high-profile
At Fine Earth, we’re eager to please and focused on surpassing client expectations with each project.” projects, our “bread and butter” business comes from clients we’ve served for decades who are kind enough to refer us to their friends. We are incredibly proactive about following up with clients to ensure they’re enjoying their outdoor living space for years to come.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? Working in tandem with clients to really transform parts of their property into inviting outdoor living spaces never gets old. It’s constantly stimulating to go on this journey with them and make them fall in love with their backyard, front porch or side patio all over again. At Fine Earth, we’re eager to please and focused on surpassing client expectations with each project.
Hilary Schwab
Fine Earth Landscape, Inc.
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Special Advertising Section
Deb Levy, Senior Mortgage Banker NMLS ID: 481255 The Deb Levy Team Washington, D.C. 301-332-7758 | www.debbielevy.com
What makes you different than others in your profession?
“
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I learned that the secret to sales was making the problem seem easy to solve. Buyers and financing are as different as the homes they choose. It’s never one-size-fits-all. That’s where I excel—identifying the goal and setting a strategy. Not just for this home, but for the big picture. After all, no one wants a mortgage loan. They want a solution: a home for the family, investment for the future or the first step to adulthood.
What is the one thing that your customers should know about you? In the 28 years I have been financing homes, I have noticed today’s buyer is different and yet the same. We used to meet everyone with a handshake. Now we move at virtual and lightening speed. Impressions
I learned that the secret to sales was making the problem seem easy to solve.”
need to be formed within seconds. Consumers receive so much information from many directions, and it’s overwhelming. A mortgage is a very important financial transaction. Buyers need a trusted professional to help them navigate through this difficult process.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I feel proud when I hear Realtors say they trust an offer when my name is on the approval letter...and I appreciate being voted “Best Mortgage Broker” by the readers of Bethesda Magazine for 2012 and 2013. My partner, Lisa Bennett, is wonderful at keeping buyers on task advising of next steps and moving towards the settlement. Both of us are busy moms with crazy schedules, and we understand that getting a mortgage is not fun, yet we make it look easy. We are mortgage loan experts, but we are also real people. Bethesda Magazine HOME | September/October 2014 239
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Special Advertising Section
Andy Alderdice, Realtor W.C. & A. N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Company 4701 Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 Main office: 301-229-4000 | Mobile: 301-466-5898 www.andy4homes.com
What makes you different than others in your profession? Our unique combination of results, relationships and communication sets us apart from every other agent. On our listings, the percentage of list price to sale price is consistently above 97 percent. We have strong relationships with other top agents, and that helps to make for smooth transactions and effective negotiations. Many successful agents hire a team of junior agents and client relations are delegated. When you work with us, whether buying or selling, you will always deal with one of us, Andy or Jessica, not a junior team member. We also provide weekly updates on marketing activity. Communication is vital.
How would your clients describe you?
hilary schwab
“
Our unique combination of results, relationships and communication sets us apart from every other agent.”
A multi-generational Washingtonian, I live and breathe real estate in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. I love what I do, and my clients benefit. Here are excerpts from reviews I’ve received: “Looking for a new home could have been stressful, but Andy’s warmth and expertise put us at ease. She really listened and took the time to understand what we needed. Being new to the area, we relied upon her to help us identify a community that would work for us. She knows the area inside and out, with an extensive network that made the process go more smoothly. Professionally, Andy is eminently qualified. Personally, she is a joy to work with: thoughtful, cheerful and a lot of fun.” “Andy helped me find and buy my first house over 15 years ago, and she’s been my Realtor ever since. I’ve used her both as a buyer’s and a seller’s agent, and each time she has provided me with outstanding customer service.”
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(L to R): Mel Silicki, Matt Covell, Adam Goozh, Jeff Lastner, Phil Leibovitz, Mimi Brodsky Kress.
“
Phil Leibovitz, CEO We’re full-service, meeting client needs from a new kitchen to an estate home.”
What makes you different than others in your profession?
michael kress photography
We have been in the building business for 34 years, and are the experts in land development in our area. Clients can work from our extensive floor plan library, or we can build totally custom homes. We live among our clients in the community and give back. We’re full-service, meeting client needs from a new kitchen to an estate home. We work toward our client’s goals in an open format; what we do standard in homes, other builders do as options.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? Definitely our product. We can drive all over Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Washington and see our work everywhere. We are incredibly proud of our projects, and take great pleasure in bringing prospective clients into finished homes and hearing the homeowners speak so enthusiastically about their home and working with us. Most importantly, we love what we do!
Sandy Spring Builders, LLC 4705 West Virginia Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 301-913-5995 | www.sandyspringbuilders.com
What’s an example of when you helped a client you’re particularly proud of? We worked with a client and their architect to build a beautiful new home with an accessible, independent-living attached cottage for their adult daughter. The home and the cottage incorporated LEED Platinum standards, and the house has geothermal HVAC along with 48 thermostats! Most of the house is automated and can be operated from a smartphone. The upper cabinets and appliances are lowered to counter height by hydraulic lifts at the push of a button; there is an indoor resistant rehab pool. We are proud of this home for its incredible beauty and unique features, but also for helping someone have a more independent life.
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(L-R): Richard Lashley, Property Manager; Jacqueline Blocker (seated), Concierge Manager; Eddy Argueta, Concierge
Special Advertising Section
Richard Lashley The Palisades of Bethesda 4835 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814 301-961-0981 | www.southernmanagement.com
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I get satisfaction from helping residents and problem solving. Recognition is also very gratifying. Readers of Bethesda Magazine have voted The Palisades “Best Luxury Apartment Building,” most recently in 2013. We are in the center of Bethesda, and that is fun for residents, many of whom are downsizing from their large Potomac and Bethesda homes.
What is the one thing that prospective residents should know? They may not know Palisades has three levels of Penthouses on the top floor. The Penthouses have upgraded finishes and amenities, including maid service and preferred parking.
What makes you different? I have been in the business for 21 years, and at The Palisades for 11. Our management company, Southern Management, is truly different. They offer residents a Bill of Rights and stand behind those guidelines with a strong commitment to excellent service. Our team members demonstrate a great attitude and prompt action. They are empowered to make decisions. We have a 24-hour maintenance guarantee, and no one has to get a form signed by a supervisor when they want to get a repair started. All team members have solid training, and their positive attitude can be attributed to Southern Management creating a great working environment. They were recently ranked second among large corporations by the Washington Post in a list of best places to work.
Our employees demonstrate a great attitude and prompt action.”
We have a new program called SMCPay that allows residents to pay their rent online by debit or credit card. In addition, we have BuildingLink, a communications tool and virtual marketplace. People in The Palisades can list items for rent or sale.
darren higgins
“
How do you employ new technology to benefit your residents?
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Special Advertising Section
Jimmy Johnson, Charlie Johnson, & Matt Johnson Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. 7201 Brookville Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-6414 | www.johnsonslandscaping.com
mike olliver
What made you decide to get into your line of work?
“
(L to R): James H. Johnson (Founder) with sons, Matt, Charlie, and James C. (Owners)
Our projects enhance the quality of a family’s life because they’re spending more time outdoors.”
What is one thing that your clients should know about you?
We come from a long line of landscaping and garden design professionals. Our grandfather, Raymond T. Johnson, was the founder of Johnson’s Florists and Garden Center in Northwest D.C. Our father, James H. Johnson, opened Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. in 1960. We all worked in the business at some point and eventually came together to carry on the family tradition of creating distinctive and memorable outdoor spaces for our clients.
We truly are a one-stop shop for clients seeking to transform their outdoor spaces. We offer a full array of design, masonry, lighting, planting and carpentry services to create a whole new look for parts of their property that need refreshing. Maintenance services are also a core part of our business, ensuring a client’s long-term enjoyment of their new space. We also feel our design team is unsurpassed in its skill level and knowledge base.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
How would your clients describe you?
We’re most satisfied when our designs and installations enable clients to both enjoy their property more than they have before and solve a specific problem posed by their landscape. Often, our projects enhance the quality of a family’s life because people are spending more time outdoors and our projects address specific issues like drainage or erosion. Both aspects add value to their property.
After serving clients in Montgomery County for more than 50 years, they equate our family name with quality, integrity and professionalism. Clients view us as a genuine partner in enhancing their outdoor living environment.
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Special Advertising Section
Margie Halem, Realtor ® Long & Foster Real Estate 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 (cell) 301-775-4196 | (office) 301-907-7600 margiehalem@longandfoster.com www.margiehalemrealtor.com
What makes you different than others in your profession? My clients appreciate my enthusiasm coupled with my calm and confident temperament. I take pride in developing a personal relationship with every one of my clients, and these continue to this day. Whatever their price range, my clients receive my highest degree of service. It’s been 30 years and I’ve enjoyed wonderful success.
“Margie showed us numerous houses and never wasted our time. We never walked out of a house and wondered why she brought us there.” “We were leaving the country for two weeks and she stayed on top of everything to ensure all paperwork between parties was expedited and always correct. Her professionalism and upbeat personality made the entire process very positive.”
How would your clients describe you?
How do you employ new technology to help clients?
I am always accessible, detail-oriented, a skillful negotiator and look out for my clients’ best interests. They would say I’m very hands-on and attentive. Here are some recent comments:
This is a networking business, particularly if you’re selling a home. So we’re very tech-savvy and involved with all social media available. including Twitter, blogging, Facebook, Pinterest. We put your listing on as many websites as possible. We’re very connected throughout the community, with colleagues and past customers and clients; so personal phone calls are also an integral part of our platform.
“She had excellent knowledge of the housing market in general, was very familiar with all the areas we were interested in and a great understanding of current trends. But maybe more important was her willingness to gain an in-depth understanding of exactly what we were looking for.”
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“
Whatever their price range, my clients receive my highest degree of service. It’s been 30 years and I’ve enjoyed wonderful success.”
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Special Advertising Section
Jeffrey M. Nelson, Mortgage Banker, NMLS #408131 Ryan E. Strickler, Mortgage Banker, NMLS #1064045
Sandy Spring Bank
“
7550 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-617-4239 (Jeff’s office) | 301-617-4236 (Ryan’s Office)
Bethesda is a beautiful community; when I drive down our streets and see homes financed by Sandy Spring Bank, it’s rewarding to know we’ve helped to grow our neighborhood.”
What made you decide to get into your line of work? I was introduced to mortgage banking while accompanying my father as he applied for a loan to purchase a home in Bethesda. Since then, the industry has changed but the one constant is helping individuals and families achieve their home ownership goals.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
tony lewis jr
I’ve been with Sandy Spring Bank for 13 years and have helped numerous clients buy, build or refinance their homes. There’s no better satisfaction or recognition than when a past client refers family and friends, or returns to finance their next purchase. A large part of my business is new construction, tear down and renovation lending, which has become increasingly popular in Bethesda and the surrounding communities. When clients approach me for an initial meeting, they have a vision of what they
want to accomplish. After the project is complete, it’s satisfying to have helped a family construct the home of their dreams. Bethesda is a beautiful community; when I drive down our streets and see homes financed by Sandy Spring Bank, it’s rewarding to know we’ve helped to grow our neighborhood.
What makes you different from others in your profession? Working with my partner Ryan Strickler has afforded many unique advantages to our business. This partnership has added increased flexibility, accessibility for clients and a higher level of service. Being part of a community banking organization like Sandy Spring Bank, which has deep roots in Bethesda and the surrounding communities, has allowed Ryan and me the opportunity to assist in improving the financial lives of our clients while continuing our passion for providing a remarkable client experience.
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Special Advertising Section
Susan Fitzpatrick Long & Foster 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-793-8523 | www.fitzpatrickrealestategroup.com
What made you decide to get into your line of work? In 1984, when interest rates were 16 percent, two different agents failed to sell our condo. I decided to try selling it myself, and was able to sell it very quickly by following up on every single lead. We then found a great agent who helped us through the purchase of our first house. She impressed me, and with my husband’s encouragement, I went into real estate sales working with her. She became the office manager and I was voted “rookie of the year.” We grew to be the top Long & Foster office, selling over $1 billion a year.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I have found great satisfaction in building long lasting relationships with clients, many of whom turn into friends. It’s interesting to watch them settle into a home, and sometimes out of one home and into another. Helping sellers and buyers through the whole process is rewarding. Especially if the move is a stressful one, my team and I try to make things as hassle-free as possible.
What is the one thing that your clients should know about you?
hilary schwab
“
I have found great satisfaction in building long lasting relationships with clients, many of whom turn into friends.”
My team and I are there for the long term and we work very hard to make sure all clients’ needs are met, during the purchase or sale, and after the closing. I take a holistic approach to the entire process, so if a client needs a painter, roofer, stager or mover, I have a great network and can help them by introducing them to a professional they can trust.
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Special Advertising Section
What made you decide to get into your line of work? I have a Bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University, where I studied business and marketing. I have worked as a sales consultant in the remodeling/ building products industry in the D.C. area for the last 14 years. My interests in real estate, remodeling and design, coupled with my sales and marketing background, brought me to where I am today.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I pride myself on providing a consultative, solutions-based approach to every project or situation, whether it’s a contractor, builder, architect or homeowner. I enjoy coordinating with clients on design ideas and product suggestions. For instance, a landscape architect client was searching for a sustainable decking material for her home. She wanted to achieve the look of hardwood without dealing with the maintenance and care that comes with it. She had gathered samples of different decking options, but told me that it was hard to make a decision based on small samples. I coordinated with a contractor and homeowner who installed our product and took my client to that home, where we walked the completed deck together. After only a few minutes, she decided to proceed with her project and thanked me for making her decision so easy.
Dave Macauley, Market Development Manager Royal Building Products
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240-215-5585 | zuri.royalbuildingproducts.com
“
What are your interests outside of work?
I pride myself on providing a consultative, solutions-based approach to every project or situation, whether it’s a contractor, builder, architect or homeowner."
Spending time with my wife and daughter—at home or traveling—is most important. When I find time, I enjoy tackling projects around the house and working on my love/hate relationship with golf.
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Special Advertising Section
Doug Monsein, Owner Douglas Construction Group 8429 Fox Run, Potomac, MD 20854 301-983-6947 | doug@dcghomes.com www.dcghomes.com
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I am, in fact, that person who wakes up each morning and cannot wait to start my day. The relationships I’ve built over time with owners, trade partners and my team are at the heart of my business. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with everyone—from architects to trade workers to bankers—inherent to the design/ building process. I take enormous pride in my craft given that there are so few manufacturers left in this country. It’s gratifying to point to a home and say, “I built that!”
Honesty, integrity and a spirit of collaboration permeate our culture. We work diligently to earn a client’s trust through a steadfast commitment to quality materials, a transparent process and a truly caring approach. We take extraordinary measures to make ourselves accessible and create an experience that’s enjoyable and rewarding.
mike olliver
What makes you different than others in your profession?
Davida Rodriguez, Owner Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles 435 A&B East Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877 240-361-9331 | www.davidaskitchenandtiles.com
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? There are so many aspects of my work—designing and remodeling kitchens and bathroom—that I enjoy. However, client satisfaction would have to top the list. When a client sees their renovated space for the first time and is thrilled at how perfectly it turned out, it makes the obstacles and hours of hard work worth it. I love sharing that moment with them.
After I graduated with my degree in Interior Design from the University of Maryland, I spent 10 years designing kitchens and baths, and then another 10 years designing with tile, finally opening my own award winning showroom in 2007. Not only does my showroom feature beautiful kitchen and bath displays, but an amazing tile selection. We are a one-stop shop for all cabinetry and tile needs.
hilary schwab
What makes you different from others in your profession?
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Marc Fleisher Long and Foster Realtors 5101 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016 202-364-5200 | www.thefleishergroup.com
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I get the most satisfaction from knowing that my clients, whether buyers or sellers, are particularly happy that they select me to represent them because I exceed their expectations. I have always put my clients’ interests first. To achieve their goals without compromising my ethics is of utmost importance to me.
What is the one thing that your clients should know about you? They should know that the amount of business I conduct and regardless of how busy I am, I am always available to address clients’ questions and prioritize their interests. Whether I am in town or travelling, my clients can be comforted in knowing that I am available to answer their questions or handle their concerns with a single phone call.
What makes you different than others in your profession? Rather than being different, I believe I am a cut above others in my profession as a result of attaining an extraordinary knowledge of the market, the financial environment and total understanding of all that is necessary to complete a transaction smoothly from start to finish.
How would your clients describe you?
mike olliver
I would hope that clients would describe me as personable, knowledgeable, sincere and wellbalanced. Most importantly, my clients would emphasize that I am trustworthy. They put a lot of faith into my judgment and actions.
“
I have always put my clients’ interests first. To achieve their goals without compromising my ethics is of utmost importance to me.”
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Special Advertising Section
Christine Basso pictured at Quarry Spring, under construction. Currently Selling.
Christine Basso TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
It is a fascinating process, watching a condominium building move from architectural plans to marketing materials, while the structure emerges from an empty plot of land.”
What made you decide to get into your line of work? Directly after receiving a degree from Loyola College in Maryland, I obtained my real estate licenses in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. I had an immediate attraction to the creative and emotional aspects of real estate. I am an emotional person; in the real estate business, emotions are appropriate. Buyers and sellers want their agent to care as much as they do.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? Buying a home is a decision that forces us to consider the future; this scares most people. I enjoy guiding my clients—from search to settlement—with peace, ease and a sense of humor. I have been afforded the opportunity to work as a listing agent for
several developers in the area, currently Quarry Springs (www.Quarry Springs.com) and The Lauren (www.TheLaurenResidences.com). It is a fascinating process, watching a condominium building move from architectural plans to marketing materials, while the structure emerges from an empty plot of land. Presenting a building that is in the process of construction is far different than presenting existing homes to buyers. It is outstandingly rewarding to help a person select a floor plan on a sheet of paper, build a relationship over the year of construction and watch them move into a condo that was not in existence the year prior. I get a window into people’s real lives and real feelings during this process. The ultimate reward is to see a satisfied new homeowner thank the developer that brought his vision to life. Amazing.
mike olliver
“
5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-302-2508 | www.BassoRealEstate.com
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What should your customers know about you?
“
American Plant (AP) is a local, 90-year-old family owned business committed to our traditions of superior quality, hard work and treating our customers as if they’re guests in our home. In both our retail and landscape divisions, American Plant is a leader in natural and organic gardening. We prefer using natural products to nurture plants and manage pests, and encourage our customers to do the same.
Earlier this year we were contracted to redesign a client’s backyard in preparation for a wedding. Lingering cold kept their original planting from flourishing. On short notice and at our expense, we replanted all the beds, creating a beautiful setting with flowers in full bloom.
Erik Shorb, General Manager and Co-Owner American Plant Landscape Design|Build
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7405 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-762-6301 | www.americanplant.net
From masonry to aquascaping, our in-house professionals get the job done.”
What’s an example of a time when you helped a client that you’re particularly proud of?
What makes you different than others in your profession?
How would your clients describe you?
In a word: specialization. Our landscape division offers experienced, personalized design and building services that transform even a difficult space into a paradise. From masonry to aquascaping, our in-house professionals get the job done. We don’t rely on contractors. Our customers know that their project will be completed with the same attention to detail and dedication to quality that built our sterling reputation in the retail world.
My favorite customer comment is, “I would rate AP Landscaping ten out of ten stars.” I also appreciated these reviews we have received recently: “I could not be happier. I wish all my home projects were so easy to execute,” and, “American Plant was able to schedule our start date quickly, and I was impressed at how quickly the project was completed.” Bethesda Magazine HOME | September/October 2014 251
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Special Advertising Section
Janice Wise Walker Poole Insurance
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? It’s very gratifying to give someone reassurance during a challenge or a joyful change. Being an Erie Insurance agent utilizes my skill set to help people and fulfills my passion to educate people about personal, commercial and life insurance needs. Working with homeowners, my wonderful team of agents and I enjoy guiding condo owners on coverage that satisfies association bylaws. We guide homeowners navigating insurance through the
settlement and escrow process, and help them understand the amount of dwelling coverage needed to qualify for a 100 percent Dwelling Replacement Guarantee. We advise clients about jewelry and special contents coverage and appraisals. We know who pays when a neighbor’s tree falls on your land; how to change policies for trusts; when to protect mortgages; and how to get flood, earthquake and even sinkhole coverage. The breadth of this industry is amazing and service to others is very rewarding.
mike olliver
19502 Club House Road, Montgomery Village, MD 20886 301-258-2602 | www.walkerpoole.com
Vicki Porter Long & Foster All Points 4701 Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 301-325-2965 | www.VickiPorter.net
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I enjoy helping people, whether they’re selling or looking for a new home. When I help my clients do both transactions it seems to make the process go much smoother. A recent client says, "Thank you for helping us find our new home and sell our house. We appreciated your great advice and guidance through the whole process. You truly went above and beyond for us!" They say I make things easy, which is exactly my goal. I want to have clients for life, not just for one transaction. A recent client wrote, "We want to thank you for all the extra things you did while our condo was on the market. We felt taken care of and knew we could count on you even though we were out of town much of the time."
hilary schwab
How would your customers describe you?
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Special Advertising Section
Jerry Weed Kitchen & Bath Studios 7001 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20815 301-657-1636 | j.weed@kitchen-bathstudios.com www.kitchen-bathstudios.com
“
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? We get the most satisfaction from creating designs that have the desired look, yet functionality our clients will love. Many clients come to us because they’re looking for substantial change in their kitchen or bathroom. Nobody else has given them the solution to their problem, but we pride ourselves on thinking outside the box. There’s always two halves to designing a kitchen: the color, style and other visuals on one hand ; the functionality of the space with the appliances, on the other. There comes a moment in time when you solve the puzzle and are able to put these two halves together.
hilary schwab
What is the one thing that your customers should know about you? We get over 85 percent of our business from referrals, mainly from other industry professionals, which is a huge compliment. We also get referrals from individual clients referring a friend or relative. Most of our business comes by word of mouth from architects, designers and contractors who thought we did a really great job.
Most of our clients come to us because they’re looking for substantial change in their kitchen or bathroom. Nobody else has given them the solution to their problem, but we pride ourselves in thinking outside the box.” What’s an example of a time when you helped a customer that you’re particularly proud of? I once had a client who needed a second dishwasher in her kitchen in order to keep kosher. She also wanted to expand her laundry room. Several other professionals advised her to do an expensive addition. I came up with a plan to convert a seldom-used side door into a window, which eliminated the need for a 4 x 10 ft. hallway, opening up space in both the kitchen and laundry room. My design solution saved the client from having to do a $150,000 addition.
How would your customers describe you? Kitchen & Bath Studios has received over 100 letters of referral describing our clients’ gratitude for creative designs, attention to detail and fair business practices. Clients often praise the beauty and design of our work. They talk about how much they enjoy being in their kitchens and how often their friends compliment the renovated space. Bethesda Magazine HOME | September/October 2014 253
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Special Advertising Section
Edward H. Willis NMLS 513943
Chase Bank 10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, MD 21044 301-785-4247 | homeloan.chase.com/edward.h.willis
What makes you different than others in your profession? Every step of my education and career contribute to my effectiveness as a mortgage loan specialist. I earned an accounting degree in college, studied real estate appraising in graduate school and was trained as an underwriter in the mortgage industry. For 20 years I had my own construction and property management companies. I understand every aspect of getting mortgages approved and closed.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
tony lewis jr
As a sixth generation Washingtonian who has only moved from Chevy Chase to North Bethesda, I appreciate working in the community where I have lived my entire life. My children went to B-CC, Walter Johnson and Whitman. I like helping both old friends and new acquaintances with their financing needs. Working for Chase, I have the large bank advantage of very competitive rates and many mortgage financing programs.
Jonathan and Michael Lerner, founders Meridian Homes 301-652-4440 | info@meridianhomesinc.com www.meridianhomesinc.com
We enjoy being personally engaged in every project. When clients tell us that they know we listen carefully because we deliver results that reflect who they are and what they want, it is very satisfying. Establishing Meridian Homes over 17 years ago, our goal was to create custom homes and renovations that exceeded our clients’ expectations. Since then, we’ve worked diligently to produce the highest quality work and provide superior customer service. We’ve been fortunate to build strong relationships with our clients, working with many of them multiple times. As brothers who grew up in Bethesda, these strong ties are especially meaningful. Our philosophy as a family owned and operated business results in great relationships with our clients, which brings them—and us—great experiences throughout the process. Of course, winning dozens of awards is also very satisfying.
tony lewis jr
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
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Lynda O’Dea Long & Foster
James kim
“
4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-988-4400 | LyndaODea@LNF.com www.BethesdaRealEstate.com | www.LegendaryHomes.com
Our multi-generational perspective allows us to genuinely relate to all of our clients as they transition from one stage of their lives to the next.”
What made you decide to get into your line of work?
What makes you different than others in your profession?
After spending my early career as a marketing executive with technology expertise, I realized that I had developed skills that could dramatically enhance a career in real estate, which was my personal passion along with interior design. My tech experience allows me to provide a higher level of online exposure for my listings, which is where the heart of the action is today. The ability to get listings in front of potential buyers exactly when they are searching online is a hugely important advantage that we provide through our two leading websites. In fact, we just settled on a luxury listing where the buyers had seen that same home over a year prior when it was listed with another agent. After we staged the house and did a stunning virtual tour, they happened to see it on our one of our websites, fell in love with it and bought it!
I’m very proud to be the top individual agent at Long & Foster’s top office. My daughter Christina has now joined me. Our multigenerational perspective allows us to genuinely relate to all of our clients as they transition from one stage of their lives to the next. Both of us were raised in Bethesda/Chevy Chase so there isn’t much we don’t know and love about our community.
How would your clients describe you? They are likely to tell you that we will help them with every conceivable detail from the moment we meet until well after settlement. This often includes unsolicited decorating advice!
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Special Advertising Section
(From L-R): Jacob Kirk, production coordinator; Josh Truby, lead carpenter; David Merrick, president & Brian Eberhart, director of production.
David Merrick, MCR, UDCP Merrick Design and Build Inc.
Design build brings together the knowledge of the contractor with the creativity of the designer for complete accountability and efficiency.”
What made you decide to get into your line of work? Design build is a respected approach in residential remodeling today. When I attended architectural school in the 70’s, it did not exist. The Boston Society of Architects made it clear: architects are architects and contractors are contractors. I knew there was a better way. I founded my business based on a model that was still in its infancy. Design build brings together the knowledge of the contractor with the creativity of the designer for complete accountability and efficiency.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? I enjoy working with people and solving problems. Getting to know our clients and understand their challenges and goals is our key to success. We listen carefully until we determine what is driving the
need to remodel. Only then can we start a design. Our clients are involved in the process from start to finish and budget is considered at every step along the way. We use the latest state of the art computer aided design tools to help them visualize their projects fully rendered in three dimensions.
What is the one thing that your clients should know about you? I love to watch home improvement shows on TV, mostly to make fun of the process. Designers should not dictate to clients how things should be! I can’t imagine waiting until the end of a project to allow clients to see the work. At the reveal, I know that the look of surprise is sometimes mostly shock.
darren higgins
“
3923 Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, MD 20895 301-946-2356 | www.remodelwithmerrick.com
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Creig Northrop, President and Chief Executive Officer The Creig Northrop Team, Long & Foster
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11620 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 301-770-0760 | www.northropteam.com
I don’t consider real estate to be a job. This is my life and my passion.”
What makes you different than others in your profession? Real estate is my life’s passion rather than a job. The most important characteristic I look for in a new team member is that same passion for the real estate business. Technical skills and industry knowledge will come in time, but passion is a first and a must. It’s what sets us apart from the rest. I also believe the team approach is best for my clients. With over 100 people on the Northrop Team, we have specialists in every stage of a transaction.
james kim
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? Selling a house at the highest possible price in the current market. Having said that, realism is important. The appraisal must support your list price to ensure mortgage approval. I also find satisfaction in our ability to do massive amounts of marketing and reach buyers everywhere.
What is the one thing that your clients should know about you? It surprises people when I tell them to leave their house as it is before I meet with them. I don’t want anyone to waste their time or money doing things I may not advise.
How would your clients describe you? They would say I am very involved. I enjoy speaking personally to potential sellers who contact us about a listing. My goal is to establish one-on-one relationships with customers from the beginning of a transaction and match them with the Agent on my team best suited for them and their situation. If the customer is interested in working directly with me, I continue that relationship through to settlement.
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Claude C. Lapp Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20852 301-881-6856 | www.cclarchitects.com
What made you get into your line of work? I’ve always enjoyed solving puzzles and every project we work on, big or small, is a puzzle. Each melds the client’s wishes and needs with style, function and budget. My six years of experience in the construction field, prior to my career in architecture, allowed me to understand how homes are properly constructed. When my team and I approach each project, we are not only striving to create a pretty picture, we are working to meet client expectations without breaking their budget.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work?
james kim
Satisfaction comes from the relationships that I’ve built with builders, tradesmen and, most importantly, my clients. Through these relationships, our projects come to life. The greatest compliment that I can receive is when a client refers me to a friend.
Jacqueline Band-Olinger & Jill Balow, Realtors Greystone Realty 3833 Farragut Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 Jacqueline Band-Olinger: 301-928-4669 | jolinger@greystonerealty.net Jill Balow: 301-233-5596 | jbalow@greystonerealty.net (office) 301-244-4705 | www.greystonerealty.net
Our full-service approach leaves no stone unturned in optimizing the buying and selling experience for our clients. Our team is small enough to be personal, focused and efficient, yet big and connected enough to bring any resource to make each transaction smooth and successful. We approach business as real estate coaches and partners, because we know this is not just a transaction, but a personal, life-changing event. We work with you to tackle each phase including custom-staging a home, innovative marketing, friendly open houses and expert negotiations, to ensuring a final signed contract that exceeds your goals and expectations. The process for you is seamless, and we approach each relationship with patience, open communications and unprecedented commitment to meet your needs. We take on every challenge, predict every step and manage every detail. The result is a quickly growing list of satisfied customers.
mike olliver
What makes you different than others in your profession?
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Special Advertising Section
Paul E. Biciocchi Forum Properties, Inc.
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10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-518-6999 | www.forumpropertiesinc.com
With 35-plus years of experience and nearly $800 million in career transactions, I’m not interested in just making a sale, but assisting in a shrewd investment.”
What makes you different than others in your profession? With 35-plus years of experience and nearly $800 million in career transactions, I’m not interested in just making a sale, but assisting in a shrewd investment. Right now, it’s very easy for consumers to make a bad buy. Too many agents push buyers just to make their “numbers” regardless of the value of the deal for the client.
hilary schwab
How would your clients describe you? Exceptionally service oriented, incredibly involved in the transaction and someone with integrity who exceeds expectations. As a result my referral business continues to flourish, with satisfied clients across the region. I am involved in not only my client’s repeat sales and purchases, but often their parent’s and children’s, too.
What’s an example of a time when you helped a client that you are particularly proud of? During the tremendous snowfalls of this past winter, an elderly lady called, wanting to know if I’d list her home for $300 and place it in multiple listing. In 12-18 inches of snow, I visited her and her husband in their snow-buried home. After making a full marketing presentation, she was leaning toward giving me the listing of her home at a normal commission rate. She stated, “One agent told me he’d paint the interior of the main two levels for free, and another said she’d stage the home for free.” I said, “Folks, if you sign the listing with me now, I’ll go home, change my clothes, come back and shovel your sidewalk, driveway and backyard patio.” That sealed the deal, and the home sold in four days for $29,000 over their $875,000 asking price.
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Special Advertising Section
(From L-R): Keith Long, CAPS, Project Manager; Russ Glickman, CAPS, Founder & Dana Kaminsky, Business Development/Designer
Russ Glickman, Owner Glickman Design Build
Good design positively affects people’s emotions and everyday life.”
What made you decide to get into your line of work? It’s in my blood. My grandfather, a builder, saved scraps for me to work on with real carpenter tools. As the son of a Naval aviator stationed in Hawaii, I scaled a fence near Pearl Harbor to get driftwood that I hauled home to build tree forts.
What brings you the most satisfaction in your work? Good design positively affects people’s emotions and everyday life. It’s creative, challenging and requires teamwork. When we are working on a two-story addition or whole house remodel, we see the impact this has on a family which makes us feel good about what we do.
What makes you different than others in your profession? Our teamwork and collaboration make us unique. In our collective efforts, all clients are included as important members
of our design/build team. I enjoy joint brainstorming sessions, and make sure clients know that no idea is a bad idea—the crazier the session, the more fun. We get great ideas from client input.
What’s an example of a time when you helped a customer that you’re particularly proud of? We recently worked with a family that having never remodeled before, was extremely apprehensive about building a two-story addition and a whole house renovation. We were able to build trust throughout the process and help turn their starter home into their forever home. The house is now nearly double the size of the original with a master suite, laundry room, mud room, great room, family room, expanded kitchen, front porch and screened porch—and they couldn’t be more thrilled. Not only were we able to make them comfortable but we gained a friend along the way.
darren higgins
“
14516 Pebblewood Drive, N. Potomac, MD 20878 301-444-4663 | www.GlickmanDesignBuild.com
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Sticking with It | On the Mend | Vision Therapy Bethesda Magazine
september/october 2014
first responder How B-CC Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherbourne led one of the biggest rescue efforts in his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history
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Bethesda Magazine
September/october 2014
264 Follow the Leader How a local acupuncturist used Chinese medicine to improve her health. By Leah Ariniello
264
COVER STORY 266 Rescue Day A silent killer turns a day of celebration into one of the biggest emergencies the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad has ever faced. By David Frey
274 On the Mend Surgery helps a Potomac teen get his life back on track. By Rita Rubin
282 Seeing Success Often overlooked, vision therapy can help with everything from eyestrain and headaches to concentration. By Stacey Colino
288 Health & Fitness Calendar Seminars, running events and support groups.
Health COVER PHOTO by skip brown
erick gibson
Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
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By Leah Ariniello
Sticking With It Since birth, Rachel Brumberger of Silver Spring battled ailments including digestion problems, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, chronic bronchitis, anxiety and intense fatigue. Sometimes she felt so horrible, she was certain she was dying. Her days were filled with doctor visits, medical tests and medications, but no one could clearly determine what was wrong. And then in 2009, when she was 29, “the scales really tipped,” Brumberger says. She had just returned home from a trip when she started shaking and became hysterical, suffering a full-blown panic attack. Brumberger says the attack was a turning point. She started a new search for answers to her health problems and soon found acupuncture, a healing practice that is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine. Her health began to improve and she started practicing additional principles of Chinese medicine, including nutritional therapy and philosophy. Brumberger also became a licensed acupuncturist in May 2013 and plans to open a wellness center in Silver Spring later this year. Now 34, Brumberger says she’s amazed at how good she feels; she no longer needs to take medication regularly. “I enjoy life now,” she says. “It’s a whole new world.”
According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, about 3.1 million American adults had used acupuncture in the previous year, an increase of approximately 1 million people since the 2002 survey. Source: Most recent data from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
erick gibson
How a local acupuncturist used Chinese medicine to improve her health
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Personalized, Advanced Hearing Care
What SHE Does Focuses on Energy Flow
Every three weeks, Brumberger undergoes a 60-minute acupuncture session, involving five to 15 minutes of discussion with her practitioner about her health and care, and then the insertion of hair-thin needles into certain points in her skin, which helps activate “chi” or energy flow. She’ll practice acupressure on herself periodically by applying pressure to various acupuncture points. For example, if she is suffering from an upset stomach, headache or nausea, she’ll press the thumb and forefinger of one hand between the thumb and forefinger of the other for a few minutes, repeating every five minutes until she feels better.
that can improve your
Quality of Life.
The Payoff: Brumberger says acupuncture and acupressure aid energy flow, helping to balance, regulate and heal the body. The acupuncture has helped her feel calmer and more refreshed. She sleeps better, has less bloating and her digestion has improved. The acupressure helps when she needs a quick boost. “Symptoms can improve almost immediately” with the pressure, she says.
Eats for Internal Harmony
Based on Chinese nutritional therapy, Brumberger incorporates the five flavors of sweet, sour, salty, bitter and acrid or pungent in her meals. For example, she may have chicken seasoned with salt, pepper, rosemary and clementine oranges, with chard on the side and buttered polenta. She generally drinks water at room temperature and often eats warmer foods, such as grains or soups. When she consumes a cooler food—a cucumber, for example—she’ll counter the coolness with a warmer food, such as a baked sweet potato. Occasionally she consults a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and consumes a customized herbal mixture that includes natural ingredients, such as ground oyster shell, licorice and tangerine peel, prepared in a special way.
The Payoff: Brumberger says the warmer foods and water are easier for her body to turn into energy, and that flavor diversity keeps her digestion system working properly. She also balances cooler foods with warmer choices to keep her body internally balanced and her digestion on track. The herbal formulas provide extra help for her digestion, sleep and other aspects of well-being.
Reflects and Refreshes
erick gibson
Brumberger occasionally practices Qigong, an ancient Chinese exercise involving graceful movements, for 30 minutes in the morning. She consults ancient Chinese wisdom and philosophy, including writings in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, an ancient Chinese medical text, to gain guidance on staying healthy, including how to adjust to the seasons. She says extra sleep is important in the winter, so she’ll go to bed earlier. During the summer, she tries to take things easier and carve out social time.
The Payoff: Practicing Qigong helps Brumberger meditate and feel refreshed. The Chinese writings help her reflect. By following the seasonal wisdoms she sustains balance and avoids burnout. n
Leah Ariniello lives in Bethesda and frequently writes about health. To comment on this story or suggest subjects, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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B-CC Rescue Squadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brian Starin, Aaron Webster and Robert Dinkelspiel (left to right) help evacuate the Middlebrooke Apartments in Bethesda after a carbon monoxide leak last year.
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A silent killer turns a day of celebration into one of the biggest emergencies the B-CC Rescue Squad has ever faced. By David Frey Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 267
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ethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne awoke around 6 a.m. at the squad station, where he had spent the night, as he often does. He knew it would be a busy day. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, was the Taste of Bethesda, and the station would be welcoming the public for its annual Rescue Day open house. Kids would be checking out the shiny fire trucks, dousing cardboard cutout houses with a fire hose and watching as members of the station’s crew rip apart a car to show what a real rescue looks like. Sherburne busied himself getting the station ready for the event. He cleaned up, moved the trucks out to the park-
B-CC Rescue Squad Chief Ned Sherburne, shown here in front of the Middlebrooke Apartments, was one of the first responders to the scene.
ing lot, then jumped into the chief ’s car, a Chevy Tahoe stocked with communication radios and incident command equipment, to drive home, change clothes and come back to the station to greet visitors when they began showing up at 11 a.m. He made it only a few blocks. At 10:17 a.m., a call came over his radio from dispatch: There was an unconscious man in the basement of a Bethesda apartment building. It sounded like a routine call—perhaps a mild heart attack or diabetic episode—not the sort of call a chief would typically respond to. But something seemed odd to Sherburne. It was serious enough for dispatchers to call for two paramedics, plus a rescue squad truck for extra manpower. And the loca-
tion was the Middlebrooke Apartments, a 10-story building that stood almost directly across Battery Lane from the rescue squad station. Sherburne, who had been a paramedic before becoming chief about 20 years ago, spun around and headed back. He pulled up to the apartment building just as paramedics Jason Gill and Alex Baden arrived in an ambulance from across the street. In the back of the building, a maintenance worker was lying on the sidewalk, unconscious. A co-worker was with him, and he told the paramedics that at some point—he wasn’t sure when— the building’s backup generator, which is powered by natural gas, had kicked on unexpectedly in the basement. The maintenance man went to check it out, but never came back, never answered his cellphone. When the co-worker went to check on him, he found the man unconscious and dragged him outside. The medics speculated that it could have been electrocution. Sherburne didn’t think so. He’d seen this scenario before. Moments later, the rescue squad truck arrived. It’s a 50,000-pound 10-wheeler outfitted with equipment to respond to everything from building fires to car crashes. Lt. Aaron Webster led the crew, which included four more men: Keith Stakes, Brian Starin, Robert Dinkelspiel, and Capt. Jed Kurry. Webster had joined the squad as an 18-year-old volunteer in 1983. He says nothing in all the years since compared with what he was about to see.
As Webster’s team pulled up in the truck, Sherburne radioed to them with an order: Don oxygen masks and fire suits and check the air quality inside. When Webster and his team took a few steps inside the basement door, the alarm started sounding on their handheld air-quality meter, registering elevated levels of carbon monoxide. A few more steps and its high alarm went off. The meter was reading up to 800 parts per million of carbon monoxide,
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Padraic Hughes (3)
enough to knock a person unconscious after an hour and be deadly after a prolonged exposure, and 16 times what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers safe. The rescuers quickly concluded that the generator’s flue wasn’t venting properly, and its exhaust was filling the building. This was a 10-story building with 98 units, including some in the basement. It was home to about 150 residents, many of them elderly. It was Saturday morning, a time when occupants were likely to be home—many still asleep— as spreading carbon monoxide turned the building into a potential death trap. If they were asleep as the gas entered their apartments, Sherburne feared, they might never wake up. Carbon monoxide is a subtle killer. It can’t be seen. It can’t be smelled. In small doses, it can be all around you and you’d never notice any effects. In very large doses, it can be lethal. In between, it’s sneaky. Prolonged exposure brings on flulike symptoms such as a headache, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. They’re familiar symptoms that are easy to brush off. Eventually the symptoms become more severe—from drowsiness and lethargy to dizziness, difficulty thinking clearly and eventually unconsciousness and convulsions. How long had the gas been pouring into the Middlebrooke Apartments? How many had been exposed? How many were dead? Sherburne didn’t know, but he started running the scenarios through his mind. This wasn’t about one unconscious man anymore. This was about scores of people at risk. “I’m no longer a medic here,” Sherburne told Gill and Baden as he switched roles to become incident commander at what would be one of the biggest rescue operations his mostly-volunteer squad had ever faced. Required only in large emergencies, an incident commander acts as a general, handling strategy and delegating manpower. He retreated to his chief ’s car to draw up plans and call in resources from throughout the county.
B-CC Rescue Squad Deputy Chief Rich Fleischer (left) confers with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Jim Resnick at the scene.
Squad paramedic and triage officer Alex Baden (left) and fire-and-rescue paramedic Lt. Robert Tobin Jr. help coordinate the medical response.
Several of the first responders arrive with stretchers for residents suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
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rescue day
Until they arrived, the five-man rescue team was on its own to pull residents to safety and into the hands of just two paramedics.
As soon as he saw the readings on the air meter, Webster pulled the fire alarm. Not a single door in the basement apartments opened around him. An eerie feeling filled Stakes, the firefighter alongside him. Stakes was 24 years old, but he had started as a junior member at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad the day he turned 16. His love is fighting fires. At night he volunteers with the rescue squad. In his day job, he’s a fire protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, studying the best ways to put out fires. This call was becoming surreal. It was like a fire without smoke or flames, Stakes thought. Seconds after Webster pulled the alarm, rescuers fanned out, going door to door, floor to floor. They pounded on
doors, breaking some in with axes and Halligan bars, metal tools tipped with claws and wedges. In the half-dozen or so basement apartments, they found residents passed out and carried them to safety. On the first floor, the scene was only slightly better. Some were unconscious, some just barely holding on. In one apartment they found a resident in a wheelchair who was unable to escape and carried him outside with the others. Webster says the scene unfolding reminded him of a vampire movie, with victims falling to the ground all around them. As apartment doors opened, occupants collapsed into the rescuers’ arms. One woman approached Stakes in the hallway and told him that her daughter had passed out in the stairwell as they were trying to flee. As she spoke, she faded into unconsciousness herself. Stakes pulled her to safety, then went upstairs and found the daughter, unconscious in the stairwell. He dragged her into the elevator and sent her down to
fresh air outside. This was a carbon monoxide emergency, not a fire, and the elevator still worked. That’s what seemed so strange to Stakes. This was an emergency as severe as a building blaze, but nothing about it looked dangerous. Although the air showed no visible sign of the poison, carbon monoxide molecules invaded the bloodstream of residents as they breathed. Hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, carries carbon monoxide much more easily than it carries oxygen. (Its bond with carbon monoxide is 230 times stronger than its bond with oxygen.) As carbon monoxide levels increased in the residents’ bloodstreams, their organs became deprived of oxygen, as if they were slowly suffocating. How close were these residents to death? “A razor,” Webster says. He figures that many were probably within minutes of succumbing. The maintenance worker may have had mere seconds left before his colleague pulled
Padraic Hughes (4)
On the day of the incident, traffic is rerouted away from the building on Battery Lane in Bethesda (top left) while B-CC Rescue Squad staff, including emergency medical technicians Anne Golightly (top right) and Michael Simpson (bottom right), aid residents.
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him to safety. Webster’s team was running out of air, too. Usually a rescuer is so physically depleted by the time an oxygen tank runs out that rest time is needed before a return to action. This time, there was no chance to rest. Until reinforcements arrived, they were on their own. The men swapped out their spent oxygen tanks for new ones on the truck and went back to work. As they climbed to higher and higher floors, the carbon monoxide levels decreased. While residents in the basement were near death, most on the upper floors had no idea there was a problem. Emily Webber, 30, and Tracey Raybourn, 36, were dressing for the Taste of Bethesda when they heard shouting outside. They looked out the window of their fifth-floor apartment and saw rescue workers carry out a man who was flailing wildly (possibly a result of convulsions that can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning). Then came residents stumbling onto the lawn. Should they evacuate, they asked each other? Or would they be in the way? Then came the sound of firefighters shouting and pounding. The two grabbed their cat, Esmeralda, and fled. In a third-floor apartment, three men in their 20s were still in their pajamas when three firefighters banged on their door. “We need to get you out! Now!” one of the rescuers said. The young men looked in disbelief at the firefighters in their helmets and oxygen tanks. “You know we’re breathing air, right?” one said, wondering what the oxygen tanks could possibly be for when the air in their apartment seemed just fine.
After about 10 minutes, help began pouring in below. The scene on the street started to look like it might for a two-alarm fire, with six engines, four trucks, two rescue squads, 10 ambulances, five transport medic units and three hazardous material units. What began with just eight responders from across the street ended with 106 rescue personnel streaming in from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service’s Cabin John, Kens-
B-CC Rescue Squad members Keith Stakes, Jed Kurry and Brian Starin (left to right) led an emergency evacuation of the building.
ington and Wheaton stations. Paramedics set up a triage area for the residents on the grass in front of the apartment building. Rescuers had carried a dozen to safety. Others walked or managed to get out on their own. Across the street at the station, Rescue Day was going on as planned. Some visitors thought the trucks at the apartment building were part of the display. Neighbors, not knowing that there was a real emergency, began complaining that firefighters had blocked off the street for Rescue Day without telling them. Kids even crawled into the equipment the rescue squad was using in response to the emergency. Volunteer Barbara Bryniarski left her Rescue Day post at the station to drive an ambulance. One patient told her that he had felt funny that morning, like he
was hung over—which was odd, he said, because he hadn’t been drinking. He was among 16 people taken to area hospitals. The two most serious cases were flown by helicopter from the landing pad at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, whose shock trauma center has the largest hyperbaric chamber in the state. Best known for helping people recover from underwater diving accidents, it is also used to treat carbon monoxide victims. It floods the body with 100 percent oxygen under high pressure to replace the carbon monoxide in the bloodstream. Another two dozen residents sought treatment at the scene for minor complaints. Severe carbon monoxide poisoning can damage the heart, brain and other organs, but Sherburne says no one is
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rescue day
expected to have lingering effects from this event. Everyone made it out alive. Rescue Day was a success.
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It used to be, Sherburne says, when the B-CC Rescue Squad responded to a carbon monoxide poisoning, it was usually a suicide attempt: somebody running a car in a closed garage. Not anymore. Carbon monoxide calls are on the rise in Bethesda, he says, adding that he hears the same thing from other chiefs around the county. “There’s no reason anyone can point to,” Sherburne says, “but one of the theories is that as some of these buildings get older and infrastructure isn’t replaced, fossil fuel appliances are not receiving maintenance as aggressively as they should.” Carbon monoxide is found in the fumes of devices that burn fuels such as gasoline, propane and even wood and charcoal. Sources of it are all around us and can include gas and oil furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces, woodstoves and electric generators. In enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels. Rescue squad responders aren’t sure exactly what happened at the Middlebrooke, but they believe that after the apartment building’s natural gas-fired backup generator unexpectedly kicked on, its flue failed to vent the exhaust, allowing carbon monoxide to accumulate in the basement and spread throughout the building. The Middlebrooke was built in the 1960s, long enough ago for debris to accumulate in the ventilation system, cracks to form and joints to leak. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says 150 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning from home-related products each year. Poorly-ventilated generators are the top cause. In many cases these are new, properly-functioning generators being run in enclosed spaces, such as a garage, where the carbon monoxide can’t escape. The second biggest cause, the CPSC says, is faulty furnaces, which crack
over time, letting exhaust gases escape into the house instead of up the chimney. The good news, Sherburne says, is that carbon monoxide deaths are easily preventable with a $20 carbon monoxide detector. But while the county requires smoke alarms in homes, it doesn’t require carbon monoxide detectors. The Middlebrooke Apartments didn’t have any. If it had, residents could have been alerted to the leak much earlier. “I think the community lessons learned here are [that] carbon monoxide and smoke detectors really save lives,” Sherburne says. “Public officials need to seriously consider if it would be in the public safety interest to modify the regulations to require them more aggressively.”
Eight months after the incident, Sherburne sits in the rescue squad building as calls ring out on the radio behind him. He has been with the department long enough to say with authority that the Middlebrooke event was one of the most serious his team has ever faced. “It’s pretty rare for us to have an alldepartment event like that,” he says. Sherburne says he can’t stop imagining other ways the day might have played out. What if the generator had kicked on in the middle of the night, instead of in the morning? The maintenance man might never have checked it out. What if his colleague hadn’t checked on him when he didn’t answer his phone? No one would have called 911 at that moment, and the generator might have run for much longer. “That guy probably saved his life and possibly other people’s lives, as much as we saved other people’s lives,” Sherburne says. And it didn’t hurt that the rescue squad was based across the street, staffed unusually well for a Saturday morning because it happened to be Rescue Day. n David Frey lives in Gaithersburg and has written for Sunset magazine and other publications. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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ON THE
MEND More teens are suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes surgery is the only cure.
Harrison McCabe’s mint-green vest and bow tie matched perfectly with his prom date Jessica Cohen’s Grecianstyle gown. On a mid-May evening, he slipped a wrist corsage of white roses and baby’s breath onto her arm upside down. “Sorry, I’ve never done this before,” he said before sliding it off and flipping it around. Like all proud parents of prom-bound progeny—Jessica’s had driven her from their home in Severna Park to Harrison’s house in Potomac—the McCabes and the Cohens snapped photos of the smiling couple, who had become friends through BBYO, a Jewish youth group. Dark-haired Harrison, a strapping 6-foot-1, looked for all the world like the varsity football player he’d been at Winston Churchill High School.
Listen closely, though, and you might have noticed that something was amiss. As the 18-year-old sat on the family’s living room couch, Lois McCabe came up from behind and gently placed her hand on her son’s shoulder. “Do you want to take an Advil?” she asked softly. He shook his head. The families went outside for more pictures. “You look so happy, Harrison,” Lois said. “It looks like you just got drafted for the NFL,” added his father, Michael McCabe, a patent attorney. In reality, Harrison had been too ill to play football since the homecoming game in his junior year. By going to the prom, his mother said, he was “trying to have a little normalcy in the middle of the biggest crisis of his life.” Less than three weeks later, Harrison
would undergo life-changing surgery at a hospital hundreds of miles from home. On this lovely spring evening, though, he was just another high school kid on the way to his senior prom. “He made it all the way to 2 a.m., and it was so great to see him happy!” his mother wrote in an email the next morning. It all started just before Labor Day 2012, as Harrison—“McBabe” to his
michael ventura
By Rita Rubin
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Harrison McCabe, at home with his dog, Archie, underwent surgery in June to cure debilitating ulcerative colitis.
school friends—began his junior year at Churchill. “He says to me, ‘Mommy, I’m bleeding. I have diarrhea,’ ” Lois recalls. “It was really bad, really quick.” She thought her son might have picked up a bug that August at a BBYO camp in Pennsylvania, and a gastroenterologist friend agreed. But there was no evidence of an infection in Harrison’s stool sample, and he wasn’t getting better. He was running fevers and would go to bed as soon
as he got home from school. A colonoscopy at the end of September revealed that Harrison had ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine, which is also called the colon. IBD occurs when the immune system mistakes food, bacteria and other materials normally found in the intestines for foreign invaders. It sends in white blood cells to do battle, producing chronic
inflammation and ulcerations. As many as 1.4 million Americans have IBD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Genetic, immunologic and environmental factors all seem to play a role in IBD, whose symptoms most often begin between the ages of 15 and 30, according to the CDC. Medication can help control symptoms, sometimes putting patients in remission for years, but it can’t cure IBD.
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on the mend
After Harrison was diagnosed, his doctor prescribed steroids and Asacol, a brand name for mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory drug. He felt well enough to play in the October homecoming game, but three days later the bleeding returned. His diarrhea was so bad that he had to make 10 to 14 trips to the bathroom every day,
“
Harrison and his date, Jessica Cohen, before the May prom.
Lois says. Going to school regularly was out of the question. A second colonoscopy before Thanksgiving that year revealed “out-of-control colitis,” his mother recalls. “He never got better from that. He would go to school for a couple of hours, and he would call me. He couldn’t stay awake. He kept going to the bathroom.” By January 2013, he couldn’t go to school at all. His doctor prescribed Remicaid, a last-ditch medication for ulcerative colitis that’s also used to treat a handful of other autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis. Remicaid belongs to a class of drugs known as immunosuppressants. It is administered intravenously and can cause serious side effects, such as a lowered ability to fight infections and a rare, fatal type of lymphoma. The family sought a second opinion
“
Rates of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, the other most common type of IBD, are growing faster in children and teens than in adults, especially in urban areas. Research suggests that 20 percent of patients with ulcerative colitis and 25 percent to 30 percent of patients with Crohn’s disease are diagnosed before age 20, says Dr. Amosy M’Koma, an IBD researcher at Meharry Medical College and a colorectal surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, both in Nashville, Tenn. “Stress, pollution, diet, antibiotic use, medication use—all these things are probably involved in the incidence of IBD increasing worldwide,” says Dr. Aline Charabaty, a Potomac resident and the director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, who helped care for Harrison. Why Harrison developed ulcerative colitis probably will never be known. But he and his family soon found themselves facing a medical crisis as his disease progressed quickly.
and then a third, but doctors at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., concurred that Remicaid was Harrison’s only remaining option in the armamentarium of drugs used to try to put ulcerative colitis into remission. If medication didn’t work, the next step would be surgery to remove his diseased colon. Harrison didn’t respond to the first infusion, which took nearly five hours at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. After his second infusion, he felt better for a couple of weeks, “and then he tanked,” Lois says. His doctor upped the dose for his third infusion, on Valentine’s Day 2013, but he was so sick he was barely able to participate in the BBYO international convention held that weekend at National Harbor in Washington, D.C. A Philadelphia native, Lois McCabe worked in the 1990s as a prosecutor in Washington, D.C., handling cases involving abused and neglected children. After Harrison and then his younger brother, Andrew, now 17, were diagnosed with developmental delays as toddlers, she left the prosecutor’s office and became an advocate for children with learning disabilities. She served for seven years as head of admissions for The Diener School, a small private school in Potomac for children who have deficiencies in language, learning and social skills. She is now beginning her second year as head of The Diener School.
Stress, pollution, diet, antibiotic use, medication use—all these things are probably involved in the incidence of IBD increasing worldwide. —Dr. Aline Charabaty, director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
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Churchill’s homecoming football game in October 2012 marked the final time that Harrison was well enough to play. Pictured here from left to right: Caitlyn, Lois, Harrison, Michael and Andrew McCabe.
Desperate to relieve Harrison’s suffering, Lois looked beyond Washington and Baltimore for answers. She kept hearing about Dr. David Rubin, a University of Chicago gastroenterologist who specializes in inflammatory bowel disease. In February 2013, she emailed him while waiting for her youngest, 11-year-old Caitlyn, to finish a dance lesson. “I was sitting in the car,” Lois says. “I poured my heart out to this doctor. In three minutes I had a response. He said, ‘Thank you so much for reaching out. We want to help your son. It sounds very, very serious.’ ” Rubin asked Lois to send him all of Harrison’s medical records. After reviewing them, he emailed Lois: “Our team wants to see him immediately.” “We just dropped everything,” Lois says. She emailed 10 friends and said, “I need help. You just need to take care of my kids. I’m leaving.” Harrison and his parents flew to Chi-
cago on Monday evening, Feb. 25, just a few days after his mother had emailed Rubin. The next morning, Harrison was admitted into a new hospital building that had opened over the weekend. “We thought we’d be home by Friday,” Lois says. “We ended up being there 18 days.” Rubin says he thinks of every patient as a family member, but he didn’t realize until his first year of medical school at the University of Chicago that he actually was related to someone with inflammatory bowel disease: his grandmother Pearl. “I thought she was like every Jewish grandmother,” Rubin recalls. “She just complained about her stomach all the time.” Now co-director of the university medical center’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Rubin is one of the country’s top experts on IBD. When Harrison arrived at the hospital, Rubin ran
tests to see how his body was tolerating the Remicaid. The results revealed that his immune system had begun producing antibodies against the drug, which explained why it had stopped working. About one in seven inflammatory bowel disease patients doesn’t respond to drug therapy, Rubin says, adding that Harrison was unusual in that he responded, but only intermittently. So Rubin suggested a different approach that involved using Remicaid followed by cyclosporine, probably best known as a drug that’s given to organ transplant recipients to suppress their immune system and prevent rejection. Along with those two medications, Harrison would continue to receive steroids. Lois says Rubin told Harrison that the drugs could cause serious side effects, “but this is the only way you can keep your colon.” Harrison developed tremors from
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on the mend
Harrison (left) and his dad, Michael McCabe, hold a banner picturing classmates and teachers that was sent to Harrison while he was hospitalized at the University of Chicago’s medical center in March 2013.
the cyclosporine, his mother recalls. Although he was too sick to read some nights, she says, he kept up with his schoolwork, which his teachers emailed to him. Lois would read to Harrison, and he’d dictate his homework answers to her. University of Chicago students tutored him in honors precalculus and Advanced Placement chemistry. Because he was hospitalized out of state, Lois says, he wasn’t allowed to take advantage via the Internet of a Montgomery County Public Schools’ program that provides teacher help to students sick at home or in local hospitals. “Damn if that kid didn’t get straight A’s that semester,” Lois says. “It was the thing that kept him going, knowing that he could still have control over his brain.” In May, Harrison earned the top score of 5 on the AP chemistry exam, notorious for being one of the toughest AP subjects. Harrison started to feel better on the cyclosporine, and after more than two weeks in the hospital he was finally
allowed to fly home and work with an MCPS tutor when he wasn’t well enough to attend classes. Georgetown doctors saw him every Monday to monitor how he was doing on the potent drug. He was able to return to school for part of the day during the spring semester of his junior year, but he had gained so much weight from treatment with steroids since the previous September that he was unrecognizable, his mother says. “Honestly, it was hard to look at him. He got distorted.” Harrison, who was about 70 pounds lighter this past July than the 300 he weighed when he returned from Chicago in March 2013, says his ballooning weight was the least of his problems at the time. “It was an obstacle, to a degree,” he says matter-of-factly. “But it was really the fatigue” that got him down. That summer, he was an intern at the Department of Homeland Security. “He had a lot of purpose because he was busy doing something,” Lois says. But he was still quite ill. “He spent a lot of time in bed that summer,” she says. “It’s a very isolat-
ing disease because of the exhaustion.” Harrison returned to Churchill when school started in late August 2013, but his colitis symptoms worsened. “I could tell he was physically, emotionally and mentally deteriorating,” says classmate Ryan Mortman, 18, of Potomac, a friend of Harrison’s since they started playing high school football in ninth grade. “He didn’t get the same senior year that other people did. He wasn’t able to hang out with us. We definitely missed him.” Harrison estimates that he missed all but 30 or 40 days of his senior year, including the entire second semester. He had to drop AP courses in calculus, economics and geography. “I just wouldn’t have been able to do the work,” he says. Even so, he learned in late December that he had been accepted into the University of Michigan. By early February this year, his parents knew he needed to see Rubin, with whom they’d been in touch since their trip to Chicago nearly a year earlier. When they contacted Rubin, he told them it was time for Harrison to consult with a surgeon. About a third of patients with ulcerative colitis end up having surgery, which usually involves removing the colon and rectum. The colon, or large intestine, has two main functions: recycling liquids and storing waste for convenient elimination. “You can live a healthy life without your large intestine,” Rubin says. “Your nutrition is all in your small bowel,” or small intestine. After the large intestine and rectum are removed, the small intestine is connected to a hole in the abdominal wall. A plastic bag is attached to the hole to collect waste from the small intestine. Usually, the bag is only temporary. In most cases, after patients heal from their initial surgery in three to six months, surgeons fashion a new rectum, called a “J-pouch,” out of the small intestine and connect it to the anus, eliminating the need for an external bag.
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on the mend
“
“
I was just happy to be there. That was one of my goals— to be able to go to graduation. I just wanted to be normal. I didn’t have to stand out from everybody.
Rubin says he recommends surgery based on a patient’s prognosis and response to drug therapy as well as what he calls the “psychological threshold” of the patient and his family. “This has to do with them being comfortable with the decision and having faith and trust in their health care team that this is indeed the right choice at the right time,” Rubin says. “It is never a tough call for me, but it is almost always a tough call for the patient.” With no drugs providing lasting relief from his debilitating symptoms, Harrison had clearly crossed the physiological threshold for surgery. But he hadn’t yet reached the psychological threshold when he and his parents returned to Chicago in March. When Rubin raised the need for surgery, Lois says, Harrison burst into tears and started shaking. “I don’t think I can do this,” he said. But a week after the McCabes returned home, Harrison told his parents, “I’m done…I need to get healthy.” He decided to put off attending college for a year. The surgery was scheduled for June 2. Harrison was willing to part with his large intestine, but he wasn’t willing to miss out on the festivities at the end of his senior year. “Because I hadn’t been in school the past two years really, on and off, I wanted to spend some time with my peers before we parted ways,” he says. “It was still good to get out and see people.” On May 22, six days after the prom, Harrison went to Churchill for senior prank day and graduation rehearsal. About 15 minutes after arriving, he felt faint and went to the nurse’s office. She called an ambulance, which took him to
Georgetown University Hospital at his mother’s request. Harrison’s red blood count was low from bleeding, and he was dehydrated because of his diarrhea. Doctors in the emergency department wanted to admit him, but he refused because he was afraid he would miss graduation, just five days away. “His last day as a student at Churchill, and he left on a stretcher,” Lois says. “Of all the times he has been sick, we never needed an ambulance. Surgery at this point could not come soon enough.” On May 27, Harrison received his diploma along with the rest of Churchill’s class of 2014. “I was just happy to be there. That was one of my goals—to be able to go to graduation. I just wanted to be normal. I didn’t have to stand out from everybody,” he says. Afterward, he posted this status update on Facebook: “High school is in the books. Get my first surgery in less than a week, and after taking the year off to recover from all of them, off to Ann Arbor for University of Michigan class of 2019. A new chapter in my life has begun.” Harrison checked into the University of Chicago Medical Center at 6 a.m. on June 2. At 7:20 a.m. he was wheeled into an operating room, where a surgical team removed his large intestine via a laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, procedure. The surgery “went flawlessly,” says Rubin, who saw Harrison in recovery. Rubin always asks his patients if they want to see a photo of their diseased bowel after surgery. He says it helps some to have a concrete image of what caused them so much pain for so long. “I never want them to have second thoughts about
—Harrison McCabe
surgery,” Rubin says. “I think that this is a very important message to send.” The photo of Harrison’s large intestine shows a black and shriveled organ. Although Harrison’s wasn’t the worst that Rubin has ever seen, “this was not a colon that medicine was going to save,” he says. On June 4, Lois posted an improvised “beach week” photo of Harrison on her Facebook page. It’s a head shot of him smiling in his hospital bed, an oxygen tube clipped to his nose. She drew neon pink shades on his face and colored the background the warm golden color of a sandy beach. “I’m really feeling a lot better,” Harrison said at the time. “It was the right decision to get it out.” On June 7, Harrison was discharged, and he and his parents flew home. He started his second summer as an intern at Homeland Security in July. The McCabes plan to return to Chicago this fall for the first of two operations to create a J-pouch. Meanwhile, Harrison, who turned 19 in August, is free to do whatever he liked to do before he got sick, Rubin says. “The whole point of the surgery was to restore his life to normal,” he says. Three weeks after his surgery, Harrison was beginning to feel his energy come back. “I’m not constantly exhausted,” he says. “I’ve gone out with friends a bunch of times. I can take steps forward. I have control of my life now.” n A former medical writer for USA Today, Rita Rubin lives in Bethesda and frequently writes for the magazine. She is not related to Harrison’s physician, Dr. David Rubin. To comment on this story, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
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seeing
SuCcess Vision therapy is helping patients get their eyes back on track By Stacey Colino | Photos by Mike Olliver
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An intense 10-month program of vision therapy helped Nick Dellonte of Bethesda, now 11, deal with reading issues caused by convergence insufficiency, a common vision disorder that often affects kids.
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starting in the first grade, Nick Dellonte’s teachers would tell his parents that he was fidgety and wiggly at school, largely because he had trouble focusing and being attentive. “At first, we didn’t question what the teachers were telling us about his behavior,” says his mother, Amy Barry, 47, a housing financing specialist who lives in Bethesda. But when Barry saw how much Nick was still struggling with reading in fourth grade—suffering from headaches whenever he picked up a book—she took him for a complete eye evaluation by an optometrist. Nick’s eyesight was perfect, but he had a condition known as convergence insufficiency, which the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus defines as “the inability to maintain binocular function (keeping the two eyes working together) while working at a near distance.” “His eyeballs were competing with each other to send the image back to the brain—the result for Nick was the words looked like they were dancing on the page,” Barry says. Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common vision disorder that often affects children and can lead to double or blurry vision, headaches while reading, concentration problems and eyestrain. It stems from an eye-muscle coordination problem, which means it can’t always be corrected with glasses, according to the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda. Glasses, contact lenses or corrective surgery are common solutions to vision problems, but they aren’t always the only—or best—solution, according to ophthalmologists and other vision experts. A lesser-known option for some of these disorders is vision therapy, which is basically physical therapy for the eyes.
“It’s essentially reprogramming the brain to change how somebody is using their vision.” —neuro-optometrist Bryce Appelbaum “It’s essentially reprogramming the brain to change how somebody is using their vision,” explains neuro-optometrist Bryce Appelbaum, clinical director of Appelbaum Vision in Bethesda and Annapolis. “Vision therapy addresses vision, not eyesight.” That’s a distinction not everyone understands, explains Dr. Stan Appelbaum, Bryce’s father and the founder and president of the practice. “There’s no such thing as 20/20 vision—it’s 20/20 eyesight,” Stan Appelbaum says.
While eyesight refers to the eyes’ ability to distinguish small details—to see letters on a chart or signs on a street, for example—“vision goes beyond that,” says Stan Appelbaum, who also suffered from vision problems and credits vision therapy with helping him become a voracious reader. “It’s about how the eyes work together, move together, focus together, form images and make sense of and process what they see,” he says. “Vision is learned, and vision can be learned better.”
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Vision therapy has been proven to help alleviate a range of disorders, including lazy eye (amblyopia), eyes that aren’t properly aligned with each other (strabismus), double vision (diplopia) and convergence insufficiency, and even some visually-based reading and learning disabilities, Bryce Appelbaum says. “Many kids with convergence insufficiency go untreated for years because they thought it was a reading problem or laziness,” says Dr. Vike Vicente, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Chevy Chase. Vision problems such as convergence insufficiency sometimes can go hand in hand with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and exacerbate the inattentiveness that results from those conditions. “Vision therapy doesn’t cure ADHD, but it can get rid of the visual attention problem that often goes with it—and sometimes that’s enough, particularly if we catch it early,” says Stan Appelbaum, author of Eye Power: An Updated Report on Vision Therapy (BookSurge Publishing, 2009). “Convergence insufficiency is very frustrating for patients, parents and teachers because it affects near tasks such as reading, writing or even handheld video games,” Vicente adds. In a 2008 study involving 221 children with CI, researchers at NIH found that officebased vision therapy, when combined with at-home reinforcement, is “more effective” than home-based therapy alone in treating convergence insufficiency. An intense program of vision therapy involving four to six sessions per week for 10 months helped Nick Dellonte improve his reading skills to above grade level. Now 11, Nick genuinely enjoys reading and has become an exceptional athlete who can score from well beyond the 3-point line during basketball games, Barry says. Vision therapy “changed the trajectory of our son’s life, and we could not be more grateful,” she says. “It is scary to think what would have happened if we had not figured out what the issue was.”
Despite proven benefits, vision therapy remains an unknown to many
“Vision is learned, and vision can be learned better,” says Stan Appelbaum, founder of Appelbaum Vision.
Nick Dellonte performs an exercise as part of his vision therapy.
people and practitioners. “Awareness is growing, but on a regular basis I hear from parents, ‘Why didn’t anybody tell me about vision therapy before?’ ” says developmental optometrist Amanda Zeller Manley, director of the Vision & Conceptual Development Center in Chevy Chase. “Often the child has a vision disorder that is creating a significant obstacle to reading and/or learning, and the parents have spent thousands of dollars and years…on tutoring and other programs with minimal results, not knowing that the problem was easily treatable with vision therapy.” Vision therapy “has been recognized for years as helpful in convergence insufficiency,” says Dr. Marguerite McDonald, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. “Its use for other indications is somewhat controversial, but there are some recent changes in how the world of traditional ophthalmology views vision therapy. Researchers have recently discov-
ered that even longstanding amblyopia in adults and those unhappy with [lenses implanted in the eyes] after cataract surgery may benefit from vision therapy.” After a particular vision problem is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, vision therapy typically involves an individualized treatment program designed to enhance “the brain’s ability to control the eyes and get the mind, eyes and body to work together,” according to Bryce Appelbaum. Through a series of in-office and athome exercises, people learn to retrain their eyes to function more efficiently when it comes to focusing, tracking, eye teaming, eye movement control and visual processing. Treatment typically involves one or two hour-long sessions per week over the course of four to 12 months. Costs can run from $125 to $200 per session, depending on the practice and the length of the session. Some medical insurance policies will cover treatment.
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seeing success
The therapy often involves the use of computerized programs. Filters, lenses and prisms are incorporated to control how the eyes see various targets one at a time. Patients perform basic activities such as shifting their focus from the center of a target to a point in the distance or visually tracking beads on a stationary circle. A more complicated exercise could include inserting pegs into various holes in a particular pattern on a rotating pegboard while standing on a balance board. In addition to treating functional visual problems, vision therapy can help with headaches caused by convergence insufficiency. It also can be used to treat vertigo and dizziness resulting from problems with the sensory system that “tells us which way is up and which way is down,” Stan Appelbaum says. Certain vision problems, such as convergence insufficiency or double vision, can occur after a concussion or other head trauma. A 2012 study by researchers at the
New Jersey Institute of Technology involving 557 people with traumatic brain injuries found that 23 percent had developed CI. “Vision therapy is very effective in treating the visual disturbances secondary to brain injury,” Zeller Manley says. “It’s estimated that somewhere between half and two-thirds of brain injury sufferers have visual symptoms, since more than half of the physical real estate of the brain plays some role in vision.” For these types of brain injuries, a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation—including vision therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy— is often warranted, Zeller Manley says. Even an ordinary fall can lead to problems with convergence insufficiency. Bryce Appelbaum recently worked with a 48-year-old Bethesda woman who suffered a concussion after hitting her head on the granite countertop in her kitchen. “As a result of the head injury, she suffered from headaches, double vision,
dizziness, eyestrain and an overall sense of fogginess for several weeks before I evaluated her,” Appelbaum recalls. Using vision therapy exercises, Appelbaum and the woman worked on her tracking skills and ability to control her eye movements, and she enhanced her depth perception and spatial awareness. After a few weeks of therapy, her symptoms began to improve. She regained her ability to use a computer without discomfort, and her reading comprehension and concentration capabilities were restored to where they were before her head injury.
Sometimes visual problems
such as CI can emerge for the first time in adulthood. “A person can often compensate for subtle, asymptomatic visual inefficiencies for many years,” Zeller Manley explains. “When something changes, either in the environment, such as increased reading or computer use during law school, or internally, such as
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the eye’s lens losing elasticity with age, the person’s visual demands may now exceed his or her ability to compensate.” A 2013 study by researchers at the University of Waterloo in the Canadian province of Ontario found that the prevalence of binocular vision disorders such as CI increased from about 41 percent among adults in their 60s to 51 percent among those in their 80s. These disorders often can be improved with vision therapy, Zeller Manley says. “Not everybody benefits from vision therapy—that’s why thorough testing needs to be done,” Bryce Appelbaum says. But when it’s done correctly and for the right reasons, many people experience significant progress in a matter of weeks or months, he says. More often than not, these improvements endure, and vision therapy doesn’t have to be repeated or ongoing, Appelbaum adds. “Once the brain develops a path of least resistance and sticks with
it,” he explains, “it’s rare to have people regress to a less efficient path—unless they get another traumatic brain injury.”
Vision therapy has been the solution to problems that a Gaithersburg woman and her two children had been experiencing. All three had nearly perfect eyesight, but each struggled with having their eyes work together smoothly. “As a child, I had learning disabilities, and because my eyes weren’t tracking properly, I had a really hard time reading,” says Stephanie, now 44, who asked to be identified by her first name only. Her father, who suffered from frequent headaches and eyestrain, was diagnosed with a similar visual tracking problem after she was treated as a child. Stephanie’s children also suffer from similar issues. Her 7-year-old son has had trouble learning to read and playing sports because of vision disturbances. Vision problems affected her 9-year-old
daughter’s spatial awareness, so she frequently injured herself by falling off the chair she was sitting on or walking into things. “When she’d read, she would put one cheek on the table so that one eye would do the bulk of the work,” Stephanie recalls. After two years of twice-weekly vision therapy sessions, Stephanie’s daughter has become an advanced reader for her age and grade and now plays basketball and baseball. Her son continues to get vision therapy. “The difference in my daughter has been profound. It’s a total success story,” Stephanie says. “People have no idea what vision therapy is,” she adds. “Nobody thinks of the eyes as involving muscles that are hard to control. As soon as you put it in the realm of occupational therapy, they get it.” n Stacey Colino lives in Chevy Chase and regularly writes about health, psychology and family issues for national magazines.
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health & fitness calenDAR
RUNNING/WALKING EVENTS The Adventist Healthcare Walking Club, 8-9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. The free event is open to people of all ages and fitness levels. Register to become a walking club member from 8-9:30 a.m. at the food court. Registrants receive a gift and invitations to free health screenings and events. 301-3153030, www.AdventistHealthCare.com/ WalkingClub. Rise and Shine Walking Program, 8:309:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg. Free. 301-8963100, www.suburbanhospital.org. Eye Run 5K for Prevention of Blindness, 9 a.m. Sept. 7. Westlake Terrace parking lot of Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Proceeds will help the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington provide education and services. The event includes a kids’ camp with activities with children’s author Valerie Tripp of the American Girl series. The camp is included in the registration fee and runs from 8-11 a.m.; the 5K begins at 9. $40. www.youreyes.org. Parks Half-Marathon, 7 a.m. Sept. 14. Race starts at South Stonestreet and Highland avenues, near the Rockville Metro station. Runners must be at least 18 and able to finish within two hours and 45 minutes. Organizers recommend not taking Metro to the race since it won’t be operating early enough to get runners to the start on time. $60 (plus $4.68 online processing fee by Sept. 10; $65 at Sept. 13 packet pickup and race day. www.parkshalfmarathon.com. Lake Needwood Cross Country 10K, 8:50 a.m. Sept. 20. Off Beach Drive in Derwood. A quarter-mile and a half-mile kids’ run begins at 8:30 a.m. and a 1-mile fun run begins at 9 a.m. Free for members of Montgomery County Road Runners Club; $10 for nonmembers 18 and older; $5 for nonmembers younger than 18. Registration is race
Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
day only and starts an hour before the race. www.mcrrc.org. Kensington 8K, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 20. Race starts at Warner Circle in Old Town Kensington. The 21st annual race supports Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, North Bethesda Middle School and Walter Johnson High School. A 2-mile run begins at 7:45 a.m.; an 8K wheelchair race starts at 8:25 a.m.; a 1K fun run starts at 8:35 a.m. $29 for the 8K and wheelchair races; $16 for 2-mile run; $13 for 1K. www.kensington8k.org. Home Run Race, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 21. Race starts on East Jefferson Street behind Federal Plaza, 1780 E. Jefferson St., Rockville. Proceeds benefit residents of the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, including the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. A 5K begins at 8:40 a.m. and a fun run starts at 8:45 a.m. $25 for either the 10K or 5K by Sept. 12; $30 after Sept. 12; $40 race day. The fun run is $10. www.hebrew-home.org/events. 5K Oktoberfest Run, 9 a.m. Sept. 27. German School of Washington, D.C., 8617 Chateau Drive, Potomac. Proceeds will help buy new technical equipment, such as an audio system and spotlights. A children’s 1K fun run starts at 10 a.m. Stay for the Oktoberfest celebration after the races. The 5K registration is $25 through Sept. 8; $30 Sept. 9-15; and $35 Sept. 16-24. Registration for the 1K is $15 through Sept. 8; $20 Sept. 9-15; and $25 Sept. 16-24. dswashington. org/oktoberfest-run.html.
in either the 5K race or a 3K walk. Fees are $25, $15 for students (ages 13-18) by Sept. 16; $35 for adults, $15 for students Sept. 17-27; $40 for adults and $20 for students on race day. Children ages 3-12 can participate for $10 each. www.ellensrunonline.org. Matthew Henson Trail 5K, 9 a.m. Oct. 4. Park in the lot behind Global Mission Church, 13421 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. The race starts at the metal fence near Georgia Avenue. Free for members of Montgomery County Road Runners Club; $10 for nonmembers 18 and older; $5 for nonmembers younger than 18. Registration is race day only and starts an hour before the race. www.mcrrc.org. Somerset Elementary School Back-toSchool Classic, 9 a.m. Oct. 12. Race starts at the corner of Dorset Avenue and Warwick Place, Chevy Chase. Participate in either an 8K or a 2K race. A free fun run for kids 11 and younger starts at Somerset Elementary School after the 2K race. Fees are $30 for adults by Sept. 30 and $35 by Oct. 9 for online registration; $40 by Sept. 30, $45 by Oct. 9 and $50 by Oct. 12 for mail registrations. Students 18 and younger are $15 by Sept. 30 for online registration ($25 by mail); $20 by Oct. 9 ($30 by mail) when online registration closes; and $35 by mail only by Oct. 12. www.safetyandhealthfoun dation.org/somerset.
Cabin John Kids Run, 9 a.m. Sept. 28. Cabin John Regional Park, 10610 Westlake Drive, Rockville. A quarter-mile race starts at 9 a.m., a half-mile race at 9:10 a.m. and a 1-mile race at 9:25 a.m. Races are open to runners 18 and younger. Registration is race day only. Free. www.mcrrc.org.
Halloween Hustle, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25. Montgomery Village Shopping Center, 19227 Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg. Proceeds benefit Family Services Inc. and the Montgomery Village Rotary Club Foundation. The 1K begins at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K starts at 9 a.m. The 5K is $25 through Sept. 16, $30 Sept. 17-Oct. 24 and $35 on race day. The 1K is $10. www.eliteracemanagement.com/ halloween-hustle-5k.
Ellen’s Run, 9 a.m. Sept. 28. Candy Cane City pavilion, 7901 Meadowbrook Lane, Chevy Chase. The race is held in honor of longtime Chevy Chase resident Ellen Vala Schneider. Proceeds benefit the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Community Scholarship Fund. Participate
Cross Country on the Farm 5K, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26. Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood. Free for members of Montgomery County Road Runners Club; $10 for nonmembers 18 and older; $5 for nonmembers younger than 18. Registration is race day only and starts an hour before the race. www.mcrrc.org.
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Inaugural Golf Tournament www.CornerstoneMontgomery.org
Tuesday October 7, 2014 The Members Club at Four Streams 11:30 AM Lunch - 1:00 PM Shotgun Start - 6:00 PM Dinner Reception Everyone at Cornerstone Montgomery, from our staff and clients to our volunteers, believes in each person’s right to live, work, and thrive in the community. Serving Montgomery County since 1971! “For me this tournament is about so much more than golf. It is about the mission and vision of Cornerstone Montgomery. I am playing in this tournament because, like Cornerstone Montgomery, I believe that everyone has the right to participate fully in the community.” - UMD & NBA Star Walt Williams Our program will include: Sponsored in part by: • Presentation of the 2014 Alan F. Brenner Award for Exemplary Service and Vision to NBC4 • Exciting auction items including a chance to sit with the Washington Nationals in the dugout during a game, a chance to play basketball with NBA star Walt Williams on his home court and many more! • Contests, Prizes, and more! Contact Rooftop Events, LLC at 240-355-5718
to purchase your tickets to the dinner reception or reserve your foursome today.
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health calendar Health and Wellness EVENTS Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center, 1500 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring. 301-754-7000, www.holycrosshealth.org.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Support groups are free unless otherwise noted. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda. 301-6347500, www.hopeconnectionsforcancer.org.
Comfort Measures for Labor, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4, Sept. 17 or Oct. 20. The class reviews breathing techniques, massage and other nonmedical ways to cope with labor. Bring two pillows and a mat or blanket to class. $40.
Young Adult Group, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Share with peers the challenges of having cancer as a young adult.
Transition to Wellness Workshop, 6 p.m. Oct. 2. The workshop helps breast cancer survivors transition from treatment to life after breast cancer. Free; call 301-754-7278 to register.
Blood Cancers Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. For patients with leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma and other blood-related cancers.
Look Good, Feel Better, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Female cancer patients can learn skin care and makeup applications and hair/ wig techniques to help address appearance-related side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Free; call 301-754-8800 to register. Mindfulness Meditation, 10 a.m. Fridays, Sept. 5-Oct. 3. Bethesda Regional Service Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Second Floor, Bethesda. Focus on posture, breathing and energy. $55. www.suburbanhospital.org. Community Screening Program, 8 a.m. Sept. 14. Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, 9901 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. Health practitioners conduct various screenings for cholesterol, body fat, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Fees vary depending on the specific screening. For registration and more information, call 800-542-5096. www. adventisthealthcare.com. Active Aging Week, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 23-27. Holy Cross Senior Source, 8580 Second Ave., Silver Spring. Attend a week of free events and activities. Participants need to register if there’s a specific class they want to take. For other activities, drop by Senior Source anytime during the day. Classes are Senior Fit on Sept. 23 and 25; Better Bones on Sept. 24 and 26; Jazz Dance on Sept. 24; Tai Chi on Sept. 25; and Changing the Way We Age, Line Dance and Zumba Gold Fitness on Sept. 27. To register, call 301-754-8800. www.holycrosshealth.org. 16th Annual Living With Breast Cancer Symposium, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25. Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. The symposium will focus on healthy body weight and how it can help reduce the risk of a recurrence. Free; registration required. 301-896-3100, www.subur banhospital.org.
Advanced Cancer Support Group, 3 p.m. Thursdays. For people whose cancer has metastasized.
Diabetes Support Group, 6 p.m. Sept. 2 and Oct. 7. Washington Adventist Hospital, 7610 Carroll Ave., Suite 350, Takoma Park. Registration required; call 301-891-6105 to register. www.adventisthealthcare.com. Bereavement Support Group, 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept 3-Oct. 29. Holy Cross Resource Center, 9805 Dameron Drive, Silver Spring. The eight-week group is for people who have recently lost a loved one. No group scheduled Sept. 24. Free; registration required. Call 301-754-7742 to register. www.holycrosshealth.org. Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. 301-921-4400, www.montgomery hospice.org. Events are free and open to Montgomery County residents. Registration required. Journaling and Grief Workshop Miniseries, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 and 11. The two-session workshop focuses on using journaling techniques to address grief issues. No previous journaling experience necessary. Evening Grief Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 29-Nov. 3. The six-week group is for anyone grieving a loved one. Afternoon Grief Support Group, 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 30-Nov. 4. Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda. The six-week group is for anyone grieving a loved one. Parent Loss Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 1-Nov. 5. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, 9727 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. The six-week group is for adults who have experienced the death of one or both parents. Child, Adolescent and Teenager Grief Support Group, 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 1-Nov. 5. The six-week group is for
4-year-olds through teenagers who have lost a parent or sibling. A parent/guardian group will meet at the same time. Cancer Caregivers Support Group, 12:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and 23 and Oct. 14. Aquilino Cancer Center, 9905 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. For more information, call the Cancer Care Call Line at 240-826-6297. www.adventisthealthcare.com. Breast Cancer Support Group, 1 p.m. Sept. 11 and Oct. 9. Holy Cross Radiation Treatment Center, 2121 Medical Park Drive, Suite 4, Silver Spring. 301-592-9124, www. holycrosshealth.org. Ovarian and Gynecological Cancer Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center, 1500 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring. 301-754-9124, www.holycrosshealth.org. Better Breathers Club, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. For patients with chronic lung disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. 301-896-3100, www.suburban hospital.org. Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism Support Group, 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, 9901 Medical Center Drive, Rockville. For more information, call 240-826-6177. www. adventisthealthcare.com.
SEMINARS/ WORKSHOPS Suburban Hospital, 8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. 301-896-3100, www.subur banhospital.org. Let’s Beat Procrastination! 7 p.m. Sept. 10. Learn how to recognize procrastination patterns and techniques to help address them. $20. AARP Smart Driver Course, 1 p.m. Sept. 20. Learn defensive driving techniques and new traffic laws. For drivers 50 and older. $20; $15 for AARP members. Bring check, payable to AARP, to class. Call 301-896-3939 to register. Girl Talk, 7 p.m. Oct. 2. Holy Cross Resource Center, 9805 Dameron Drive, Silver Spring. Explore puberty changes, including menstruation, and learn how to open the lines of communication. For girls ages 8-11 and their mothers. $20. 301-754-7000, www.holycrosshealth.org. ■ To submit calendar items, go to Bethesda Magazine.com.
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Special Advertising Section
Profiles Physicians
DermAssociates
hilary schwab
See Profile page 302
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profiles | PHYSICIANS
Special Advertising Section
Gail Linn, AuD, CCC-A & Tricia Riley Terlep, AuD Potomac Audiology
It think it’s really special to practice with my daughter Tricia. I get to see her almost every day and we work very well together.”
“We’re known as Gail and Tricia in the office, and people don’t often know we’re mother and daughter,” says Dr. Linn. “It think it’s really special to practice with my daughter Tricia. I get to see her almost every day and we work very well together.” Drs. Linn and Terlep are a family business. Tricia grew up around her mother’s audiology practice and her father, a retired ear, nose and throat specialist. Tricia joined Potomac Audiology in 2011 after more than seven years of practice at Georgetown University Hospital. Besides expert audiology and diagnostic work, she has expanded the practice to include pediatric audiology services. Gail has been in practice for more than 30 years. Besides her thriving business and loyal patient following, she has been director of private practice and industry for the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association, and is well known for her work in other industry associations.
Located in Rockville, Potomac Audiology offers leading-edge hearing evaluations, real-ear measurement and customized hearing aid fittings, as well as a variety of innovative hearing technologies. Since 1984, Dr. Linn and her team have helped over 10,000 patients improve their hearing with customized solutions to meet their individual needs. “There’s no one answer for your needs,” says Gail. “We find solutions that fit your unique lifestyle and, most importantly, one that you feel comfortable with.” “One of the most important things we do every day is to hear,” says Gail. “When I can help someone with their hearing – that’s very important to me.” “It’s so important to follow best practices and have regular checkups and follow-ups,” says Tricia. “I enjoy interacting with patients and helping them improve their communication in day-today life.”
tony lewis jr
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11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 105, Rockville, MD 20852 240-477-1010 | gail@potomacaudiology.com www.potomacaudiology.com
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Special Advertising Section
Jennifer Parker Porter, MD, FACS Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC
Abby Greenawalt
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8401 Connecticut Ave., Suite 107, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-652-8191 | concierge@chevychaseface.com www.ChevyChaseFace.com
One of the things that I like is that the nonsurgical front is always evolving with new fillers, injectables and skin care products for making people look better and younger.”
Dr. Porter focuses her practice in Chevy Chase on facial plastic surgery, specializing in both surgical and nonsurgical procedures.
she says. A full-time professional aesthetician offers chemical peel and microdermabrasion services.
If it’s possible for an expert to have a “favorite” surgery, Dr. Porter prefers those that offer her busy and professional clientele the most extraordinary results. “Upper eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty are very popular in this area,” she says. “Upper eyelid procedures, in particular, because the recovery is relatively painless and easy and it delivers a ‘wow’ result.”
“Also from the nonsurgical standpoint, radiofrequency skin tightening with the Reaction® and Thermage® CPT Total Tip are real game-changers for results,” she says of new technologies. “We have many ways to restore the youthful beauty of your skin and our trained professionals can help you to maintain the results.”
Fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin are other conditions where her practice can make a difference. There are laser skin treatments, DermaPen®, BOTOX® Cosmetic, fillers and other facial rejuvenation technologies available. “One of the things that I like is that the nonsurgical front is always evolving with new fillers, injectables and skin care products for making people look better and younger,”
An area native, she is a clinical associate professor at Georgetown University Medical Center, and a graduate of Brown University (undergraduate) and Duke University School of Medicine. Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, she has been recognized for a number of contributions as a researcher, scholar, faculty member and author. Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 293
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profiles | PHYSICIANS
Special Advertising Section
Carrie Runde, ND Casey Health Institute
There’s a huge divide between two worlds – conventional and alternative medicine – and we’re this wonderful bridge between them."
“We’re like healthcare’s best kept secret,” says Carrie Runde, ND of naturopathic doctors. “We combine natural therapies with modern medicine and get excellent outcomes for patients.” A naturopathic doctor, Dr. Runde works at the Casey Health Institute on the foundations of health and wellness, such as diet, stress management, sleep habits and body movement. “There’s a huge divide between two worlds – conventional and alternative medicine – and we’re this wonderful bridge between them,” she says of her practice. “We’re holistic, meaning we look at the entire person – their hormones, digestion, stress, exercise, diet, genetics, social situation, mood and spirit. NDs emphasize prevention and wellness.” NDs are trained in naturopathic medical schools, and are taught natural modalities, like nutrition, counseling, herbal medicine, nutrient therapies, homeopathy and physical medicine. “It’s a nice
toolbox to offer patients,” says Dr. Runde. Besides her practice at Casey, she is involved in Maryland health care legislation. She serves on the board of directors of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and was the vice president of the Maryland Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Runde and her colleagues’ recent efforts will allow for NDs to be licensed in Maryland, as they are in many other U.S. states. “This changed political landscape is going to open the doors for more health care choices. It’s the first step toward greater access for the public and better health for Marylanders,” she says. “People want to know if they have more options for care. They’re taking supplements because of what they see on TV. I think there’s a need in the community and the healthcare system for doctors trained in science-based natural medicine and who have a holistic philosophy.”
james kim
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800 South Frederick Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-664-6464 | info@caseyhealth.org www.caseyhealth.org
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Special Advertising Section
Roberta F. Palestine, MD The Dermatology Center & Rockledge MedSpa The Champlain Building, 6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 201, Bethesda, MD 20817 Other locations in Germantown and the Sibley Medical Building 301-530-8300 | www.dermskin.com
“
Skin exams are easy and painless, and they can save your life.”
Led by founder and medical director Dr. Roberta F. Palestine, The Dermatology Center & Rockledge MedSpa offers complete medical and cosmetic dermatology services. The staff includes dermatologists, physician assistants, a plastic surgeon, a nurse practitioner and medical estheticians. From infants to senior citizens, patients of all ages and skin types are welcome. The practice also treats all types of skin cancer and has a MOHS skin cancer surgeon on staff.
hilary schwab
“We encourage everyone to have total body skin exams,” says Dr. Palestine. “Skin exams are easy and painless, and they can save your life. Our providers will advise you on any concerns you have and make sure you leave with a skin care regimen that will keep your skin healthy.” The cosmetic part of this comprehensive practice specializes in minimal to no downtime procedures, including Botox, fillers, lasers and the latest in non-invasive fat reduction.
The practice’s newest fat reduction technique is Vanquish, which targets unwanted fat with deep tissue heating and radio frequency. Effective for larger areas, treatments are usually spaced one or two weeks apart. “It’s very comfortable for patients,” says Dr. Palestine. “Applicator panels never make contact with the skin and the sensation is similar to that of a heating pad.” Like Vanquish, Exilis uses radio frequency to remove fat and also tighten loose skin. Another innovative fat reduction treatment is CoolSculpting®. This technique reduces fat in areas that tend to be diet- and exercise-resistant by freezing fat cells without damaging skin. “All three techniques are excellent for those who want to lose fat without surgery,” says Dr. Palestine. “These safe and effective procedures have produced remarkable results for patients.”
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Special Advertising Section
Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates, P.C.
When pain in your joints, muscles, neck, back and bones is severe or persists for more than a few days, you should see your doctor.”
“We all have general musculoskeletal pains from time to time that last for just a few days,” says senior member and managing partner Dr. Herbert Baraf. “But when pain in your joints, muscles, neck, back and bones is severe or persists for more than a few days, you should see your doctor.” Rheumatic diseases are difficult to identify in their early stages and you can have everyday symptoms that actually are related to much more complex conditions. The physicians of ARA are your experts in this area and are trained to evaluate all of your symptoms to diagnose and treat your condition. They know it’s imperative to find the correct diagnosis as rapidly as possible to begin appropriate treatment because many of these disorders respond best to treatment in the early stages of disease. Complex and changeable rheumatic diseases often require ongoing assessment and evaluation. Patients benefit from the
collective expertise of ARA physicians who meet frequently to discuss patient cases, new drug treatment protocols and promising research. In addition, based on the requirements of your treatment plan, ARA rheumatologists coordinate your care with the other professionals comprising your healthcare team. The practice encourages the formation of close physician/patient and family relationships as they monitor conditions and modify treatment. Their goal is to reduce pain and maximize function. ARA is the largest rheumatology practice in the Washington area and has served the community for more than 30 years. ARA takes pride in delivering exceptional care with courtesy and respect. ARA doctors all know that there are choices in selecting a physician or healthcare service and they look forward to being your choice.
hilary schwab
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Chevy Chase: The Barlow Building, 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 600 Wheaton: 2730 University Blvd. West, Suite 310 Rockville: 14995 Shady Grove Road, 2nd Floor Washington, D.C.: 2021 K St., NW, Suite 300 301-942-7600 | www.washingtonarthritis.com
296 September/October 2014 | Bethesda Magazine HEALTH
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Special Advertising Section
Elizabeth Tanzi, MD
Rebecca Kazin, MD
Tina Alster, MD
Tania Peters, MD
Terrence Keaney, MD
Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery
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1430 K St., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20005 5550 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase, MD 20815 202-628-8855 | www.skinlaser.com
We built our practice by combining advanced technology and unmatched expertise with the highest level of patient care.”
monica true
Did you know that the first freestanding laser center in the world was launched in Washington, D.C.? Pioneered by Dr. Tina Alster in 1990, the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery leads the industry in cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. Having served as the consulting dermatologist to multiple globally recognized aesthetic and laser companies, Dr. Alster has influenced new product development and industry direction. In 2012, the first dermatologic center exclusively for men – W for MEN – was created to address their specific skin care needs with great success. “We built our practice by combining advanced technology and unmatched expertise with the highest level of patient care,” says Dr. Alster, “and that is why the decision was made to open a satellite facility in Chevy Chase
with Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi at the helm.” Dr. Alster has assembled an expert team of boardcertified dermatologists to treat skin conditions with the latest lasers, injectables and advanced skin care products. Combination therapies – wherein multiple different procedures are performed in the same session – optimize cosmetic outcomes and limit recovery. With a wide variety of therapies available, options are nearly limitless in what can be achieved. “When it comes to results, we like to keep it natural. Most procedures require minimal to no post-treatment recovery,” says Dr. Alster. “We make it easy for professional women and men to undergo procedures so that their work and social schedules remain uninterrupted.”
Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 297
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Special Advertising Section
Anupam (Anu) Laul, OD, FAAO & Anisa Gire, OD, FAAO Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Medicine Bethesda Crossing (Formerly Air Rights Center) 7315 Wisconsin Ave., West Tower, Suite 610, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-482-1100 | www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer
Patients with eye problems no longer have to travel to the Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore for top ophthalmology care – Wilmer is now in Bethesda. “We’re right in downtown Bethesda. Our team offers primary eye care services as well as specialty care five days a week, and sameday appointments for patients with urgent needs,” says Dr. Laul. The Bethesda office of Johns Hopkins' Wilmer Eye Institute opened in 2013 with the same patient-centered environment, expertise and equipment as Wilmer’s flagship location in Baltimore at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. There’s valet parking, and the Bethesda Metro is a few blocks away. An on-site optical shop offers eyeglasses and contact lenses. “Our ophthalmologists and optometrists work together delivering routine eye care as well as co-managing eye diseases such as glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy,” says Dr. Gire. “Our team approach allows patients to be seen in a timely fashion by the optometrists and referred to sub-specialists as indicated.”
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We offer primary eye care services as well as specialty care five days a week, and same-day appointments for patients with urgent needs.”
Also an instructor of ophthalmology, Dr. Gire’s specialties include contact lens fitting for corneal disorders, and cosmetic contact lenses and scleral lenses. She also treats patients with dry eye and ocular surface diseases, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, graft-versushost disease and Sjogren’s syndrome.
mike olliver
As an instructor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Laul specializes in comprehensive eye exams and the diagnosis and management of ocular conditions. He performs research in thyroid eye disease and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis and offers special expertise in diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and eye trauma.
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Special Advertising Section
Margaret Sommerville, MD, FAAD Chevy Chase Dermatology, LLC 5530 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 830, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-SKIN (7546) | info@chevychasedermatology.com chevychasedermatology.com
“I believe in taking the time to listen to each patient, because building a relationship based on trust and mutual respect is not only satisfying, but essential to healing and accomplishing the best results,” says Dr. Sommerville. Raised by parents who are both physicians, she has always regarded her profession as, “an honor and a responsibility to do your absolute best – one patient at a time.” Dr. Sommerville is an expert in both cosmetic and medical dermatology. These two areas are intertwined in most patients and being well trained in each enhances overall results. “One in five Americans will develop a skin cancer during his or her lifetime, therefore much of my time is dedicated to complete skin exams and treating precancerous skin conditions.”
hilARY SCHWAB
In cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Sommerville’s practice has established a large, loyal, local and international clientele because of her genuine dedication to natural results, meticulous technique and a carefully chosen, thoroughly researched menu of treatments. “Beauty is all about harmony and proportion,” says Dr. Sommerville. “The only way to respect my patients’ individuality is to create youthful results without the telltale signs of obvious, cookie-cutter cosmetic treatments like frozen forehead, overly full lips or cheeks. My clients are accomplished, professional women and men. They can’t afford to look artificial or grotesque.” Dr. Sommerville is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology. For her continual dedication and contributions to the field of dermatology, she was selected as one of the “America’s Top Dermatologists” by the Consumers’ Research Council of America and chosen as one of the “Leading Physicians of the World” by the International Association of Dermatologists.
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Beauty is all about harmony and proportion. The only way to respect my patients’ individuality is to create youthful results without the telltale signs of obvious, cookie-cutter cosmetic treatments like frozen forehead, overly full lips or cheeks.” Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 299
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Special Advertising Section
Marlon R. Maragh, MD Shady Grove Dermatology, Laser & Vein Institute 14995 Shady Grove Road, Suite 150, Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-358-5919 www.shadygrovedermatology.com
Northern Virginia Dermatology, Vein & Surgery Center 45155 Research Place, Suite 140, Ashburn, VA 20147 | 703-858-0500 419 Holiday Court, Suite 10, Warrenton, VA 20186 | 540-878-5781 www.novadermatology.com
“Our centers offer a full range of services for diagnosis and treatment of medical and cosmetic leg veins,” says Dr. Maragh. “I personally specialize in helping people with spider and varicose veins and other leg vein issues.”
Dr. Maragh has many years of experience to offer. He earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Harvard University and his medical degree with honors from the Yale University School of Medicine. Vein treatments require meticulous attention to detail and thoroughness and Dr. Maragh is well known for these qualities. “We have an outstanding and compassionate team of dedicated Board Certified specialists to serve our patients’ needs,” he says of his practice.
toney lewis jr
Dr. Maragh is an expert and highly trained in laser and other treatment modalities for leg veins. In addition to techniques such as sclerotherapy, he uses various laser technologies including endovenous laser ablation to treat veins in patients of all skin types.
Sherry L. H. Maragh, MD, MBA Shady Grove Dermatology, Laser & Vein Institute 14995 Shady Grove Road, Suite 150, Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-358-5919 www.shadygrovedermatology.com
Northern Virginia Dermatology, Vein & Surgery Center 45155 Research Place, Suite 140, Ashburn, VA 20147 | 703-858-0500 419 Holiday Court, Suite 10, Warrenton, VA 20186 | 540-878-5781 www.novadermatology.com
Dr. Maragh, founder of the centers, received her training at the prestigious Mayo Clinic with specialized training by world-renowned experts in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. Dr. Maragh is recognized as a “Top Doctor” and respected leader by her peers and patients with a leading practice offering the most advanced laser technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques for all skin types with various skin conditions. These include skin cancer, scar revision, facial/ body rejuvenation, laser resurfacing, injectables, liposuction, cellulite reduction and hair removal. “Our comprehensive skin care centers create specialized treatment plans tailored to the individual needs of our patients for their specific medical and cosmetic skin conditions,” says Dr. Maragh.
tony lewis jr
“We offer the most advanced techniques and services in medical, cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology,” says Dr. Sherry Maragh, Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs/Cosmetic Surgeon, who leads the team of highly trained specialists with three locations in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
300 September/October 2014 | Bethesda Magazine HEALTH
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Special Advertising Section
Wade Chien, MD; Clint Allen, MD and Murugappan (Murray) Ramanathan, MD Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 6420 Rockledge Drive, Suite 4920, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-896-3330 | www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/bethesda
tony lewis jr
Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery provides specialty surgical services for adults and children in the Washington, D.C. and Bethesda areas who are experiencing challenging and complex head and neck conditions such as: • Acoustic neuromas • Airway disorders • Chronic sinusitis • Head and neck cancer • Hearing and ear conditions, offering cochlear implants • Skull base and sinonasal tumors • Thyroid nodules and cancer • Voice and swallowing disorders
The Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology location on Rockledge Drive in Bethesda is conveniently located near Suburban Hospital. The practice is committed to working with your current doctor to coordinate your care. For appointments or questions, call 301-896-3330.
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Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery provides specialty surgical services for adults and children.”
Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 301
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Hyland Cronin, MD; Benjamin Lockshin, MD; Saurabh Singh, MD; Amy Cole, MD; Norman Lockshin, MD; Melissa Abrams, MD; Jennifer DeSimone, MD; Edward Cowen, MD; Rishi Patel, MD
DermAssociates 10313 Georgia Ave., Suites 301 & 309, Silver Spring, MD 20902 15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 480, Rockville, MD 20850 301-681-7000 – Call Center | 301-346-4241 – Clinical Trials Center www.DermAssociates.com
In addition to comprehensive skin care services, DermAssociates has experts in: • Mohs Micrographic Surgery • Skin Cancer Surgery • Pediatric Dermatology • Women’s Dermatology • Dermatopathology • Phototherapy • Cutaneous Lymphoma • Atopic Dermatitis • Psoriasis
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“Our physicians are thought leaders who speak nationally,” says, Dr. Lockshin. The doctors are also involved in clinical trials, and teach dermatology residents at Georgetown University, George Washington University, the Washington Hospital Center, New York University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. For over 40 years DermAssociates has provided comprehensive dermatologic care to the people of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. “We are proud to have grown with the D.C. community, to have evolved with changes in medical advancements, and we will continue to excel in the provision of quality care to our patients,” says Dr. Lockshin.
Our mission is to provide exceptional medical dermatologic care, where every patient is seen by a board certified dermatologist who focuses on medical dermatology.”
courtesy photo
Founded in 1974, DermAssociates offers all the benefits of a large academic facility with the efficiency of a private clinic. “Our mission is to provide exceptional medical dermatologic care,” says Dr. Lockshin, “where every patient is seen by a board certified dermatologist who focuses on medical dermatology.”
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Mayo F. Friedlis, MD StemCell ARTS, An Affiliate of National Spine & Pain Centers 5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 100, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-215-4154 3031 Javier Road, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22031 703-738-4381 www.stemcellarts.com
The StemCell ARTS medical team is committed to advancing the science and art of using a patient’s own blood platelets and stem cells to help harness the body’s natural healing abilities. These regenerative treatments offer safe, non-surgical, viable alternatives to steroid injections or surgery.
hilary schwab
“We treat sports injuries such as rotator cuff tears, ACL injuries, tendinitis, arthritis of all joints, as well as pain from disc injuries and pinched nerves,” says Dr. Friedlis. “Using your own stem cells to heal musculoskeletal injuries is an excellent alternative to surgery.” A national expert in pain management, Dr. Friedlis is one of the first doctors in the area to use Stem Cell Therapy. StemCell ARTS is one of the few practices in the area trained and licensed to perform the Regenexx family of stem cell and platelet procedures for common orthopedic injuries and joint conditions. Regenexx is consid-
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Using your own stem cells to heal musculoskeletal injuries is an excellent alternative to surgery.”
ered the most advanced method of processing blood platelets and stem cells. This assures optimal therapeutic benefits. “Stem cell and platelet therapies ‘supercharge’ the healing process, restoring strength and mobility,” says Dr. Friedlis. “Our procedures increase function, decrease pain and offer viable alternatives to invasive surgery typically followed by lengthy periods of downtime and painful rehabilitation.” A “Top Doctor” for many years, Dr. Friedlis is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management and the National Board of Medical Examiners. Always interested in a challenge, he has trekked the Himalayas, and has been to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and base camp of Mt. Everest.
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Geeta M. Shah, MD; Roni W. Ford, MD & Anne E. Rothman, MD Center for Cosmetic & Clinical Dermatology
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6 Montgomery Village Ave., Suite 322, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 301-977-2070 | forddermstaff@yahoo.com www.fordderm.com
We’re really committed to highly personalized care and service. Making you completely comfortable with your decisions and your treatment is paramount for us.”
Their patient-centered approach begins with a comprehensive initial visit. “Appointments are never rushed,” says Dr. Shah. “We’ll always take the time to listen to your concerns, and then fully educate you about your diagnosis and treatment options.” “We have many tools at our disposal for people with specific skin issues, or for anyone who wants to look younger and healthier,” says Dr. Rothman. All three doctors are board-certified dermatologists and consistently included on “Top Doctor” lists around the metro area. Drs. Ford, Rothman and Shah see patients of all ages, and all three are
experts in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers and other diseases of the skin, hair and nails. They offer combined medical experience of over 40 years. The doctors are also experts in non-invasive and minimally invasive rejuvenation techniques, including Botox and other neurotoxin injections; dermal fillers; laser treatments of unwanted blood vessels, pigmentation, fine lines and acne scars; and sclerotherapy for leg veins. Laser hair removal is also available. A licensed medical aesthetician on staff provides aesthetic services including facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, waxing and eyebrow/eyelash tinting. The Center for Cosmetic and Clinical Dermatology is conveniently located off I-270 in Gaithersburg on Montgomery Village Avenue, with ample free parking.
darren higgins
The three dermatologists at the Center for Cosmetic and Clinical Dermatology offer an individualized experience for their patients. “We’re really committed to highly personalized care and service. Making you completely comfortable with your decisions and your treatment is of paramount importance to us,” says Dr. Ford.
304 September/October 2014 | Bethesda Magazine HEALTH
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Special Advertising Section
Joe McDonald, MD YourMD, LLC 7505 Democracy Blvd., Suite A-113, Bethesda, MD 20817 240-560-5100 | info@yourmdllc.com www.yourmdllc.com
“Doctors can be pretty formal and stuffy. But I’m just Joe,” says Dr. Joe McDonald to patients and people he meets. Originally from the Midwest, he’s naturally easygoing and very approachable. That’s why he began YourMD, a concierge medicine practice where you get complete access to Joe, small practice size, round-the-clock appointments even at a home or office, and the highest quality evidence-based care. “I give all my patients my cell number and e-mail, which I’ve been doing since I was a resident,” he said. “Whatever time it is and whatever they need, they can call or shoot me a text.” Another difference? No white coats and no big medical building – YourMD is in the ground floor of a residential condo building on Democracy Blvd. with free parking. Appointments are never rushed. “We’re for anyone who doesn’t want to wait a month or more to see their doctor, sit in a waiting room only to spend just a few minutes with them.” In addition to basic exams, tests and treatments, he also provides patients with initial access to other health care providers for dentistry, senior and transitional care, nutrition, mental health and more. “I have the resources in place to make it happen immediately.” He also offers an individualized and comprehensive weight loss program, with a proven record of results.
darren higgins
Dr. McDonald earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and has specialized training in both pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Washington Hospital Center. He founded YourMD to give patients more: “More attention, more communication and more coverage.”
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Doctors can be pretty formal and stuffy. But I’m just Joe."
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Special Advertising Section
Janine A. Blackman, MD, PhD, Medical Director & Founder RiverSoul Wellness Integrative Medicine 8120 Woodmont Ave., Suite 560, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-828-1490 | info@riversoulwellness.com www.riversoulwellness.com
“Knowing how to live – eat, think, move, rest, play and stress – in such a way that you’re sustaining a life of optimal health versus chronic illness, resiliency versus burn-out, robust living versus accelerated decline.” Dr. Blackman calls this “personal health intelligence.” Based on abundant research evidence, the model of care at RiverSoul Wellness is designed to teach personal health intelligence. After an initial consultation with Dr. Blackman, patients begin a program of care from three to 12 months, including: • Workshops on the essential components of health. • Extensive functional medicine testing to identify hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, digestive dysfunctions and more. • One-on-one mentoring on specific lifestyle changes for improving the body’s functioning, reducing need for medications, and setting a course for lifelong independence with their health care. “Our lifestyles and environment are the reason for the growth in chronic illness in the U.S.,” says the doctor. “It’s especially dramatic and worrisome in our children and young adults. If we start with ourselves, and live to reverse the epidemic, then we can raise our children to do the same.” There’s a misperception that “wellness medicine” substitutes natural supplements for medicines to treat blood pressure, cholesterol, depression and more. “Unfortunately, that simplistic approach doesn’t teach someone how their lifestyle is leading to the problem in the first place,” says Dr. Blackman. “That’s where we come in.”
Our lifestyles and environment are the reason for the growth in chronic illness in the U.S. It’s especially dramatic and worrisome in our children and young adults. If we start with ourselves, and live to reverse the epidemic, then we can raise our children to do the same.”
mike olliver
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Dr. Blackman founded RiverSoul Wellness Integrative Medicine to give people the insight and tools they need to restore and maintain optimal health. She is board-certified in Family Medicine and a Fellow in Integrative & Functional Medicine. She holds a Ph.D in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and is a Diplomate on the American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine.
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Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, and Jessica Kulak, MD The Naderi Center Rhinoplasty & Cosmetic Surgery 5454 Wisconsin Ave., #1655, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-222-2020 | info@nadericenter.com www.nadericenter.com
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…because specialization improves results."
stephanie bragg
The Naderi Center is Washington, D.C. area’s most specialized cosmetic surgery practice. In fact, there are very few, if any practices anywhere in the United States similar to the clinical model set up by Dr. Naderi and Dr. Kulak. “My surgical practice is focused almost exclusively on rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty,” says Dr. Naderi, one of very few true rhinoplasty specialists in the United States. Dr. Naderi’s office-based practice is focused on advanced Botox, Dysport and dermal filler injections. He is a clinical instructor for Allergan (makers of Botox and Juvederm) and Medicis (makers of Dysport, Restylane and Perlane). Dr. Naderi teaches other doctors how to properly inject Botox, Dysport and fillers. More impressively, he is known for talking 25 percent of his patients out of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Jessica Kulak is a skillful and artistic facial plastic
surgeon. “My practice is dedicated to rejuvenation of the face using minimally invasive, no down-time, in-office injections as well as CO2 laser and chemical peels to the more traditional and definitive facelifts, necklifts, browlifts and eyelid lifts,” she says. Dr. Kulak has a warm and compassionate bedside manner, but more importantly, she is a confident and highly trained cosmetic surgeon focusing exclusively on the face. Dr. Kulak does not do any breast or body plastic surgery nor does she do any rhinoplasty. She is a true face specialist surgeon. In fact, the theme of specialization carries over in all aspects of the practice. Employing only a small, dedicated number of patient coordinators translates to great personalized competent care for each patient, from their first phone call all the way through the completion of their procedure—without a sales pitch. Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 307
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Special Advertising Section
Paul McNeill, MD, FACS Capitol Vein & Laser Centers The Champlain Building 6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-760-3027 | www.BetterLegsBethesda.com
Venous Disease, which affects 60 percent of adults, is associated with unsightly, tired, painful legs and can be complicated by leg swelling, skin discoloration, ulceration and blood clots. Dr. Paul M. McNeill, a board certified vascular surgeon, has been an important part of the treatment revolution in venous disease, refining techniques and instructing thousands of physicians. Nationally, he is a featured speaker and faculty member as an expert in vein care. This leadership reaches many patients beyond his practice. Vein care is a two-step process – seal closed the trunk vein reflux and eliminate the bulging veins. Dr. McNeill has the expertise to offer several options for care tailored specifically to the patient. “It’s not one size fits all,” he says of his treatment plans. Venous reflux is corrected by closing down non-functional, “leaking” trunk veins inside the leg. VNUS Closure (also known as Venefit™), effectively stops the leak. Other treatments include Clarivein™, and Varithena™, which seal closed the leaking vein as well. “Both Clarivein and Varithena are quite comfortable for patients as they require minimal anesthesia,” says Dr. McNeill. “The advantages of one treatment over the other depend on the scope of the patient’s vein problem.”
Dr. McNeill and partner Dr. Garth Rosenberg are available in Bethesda, Leesburg and Frederick. “Come in for an assessment,” says Dr. McNeill. “We’ll take the time to ensure that you receive the type of care that is best for you.”
tony lewis jr
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Both Clarivein and Varithena are quite comfortable for patients as they require minimal anesthesia. The advantages of one treatment over the other depend on the scope of the patient’s vein problem.”
Bulging varicose veins are cleared with microphlebectomy or sclerotherapy. “These therapies have almost no downtime associated with them and results are durable and pleasing,” says the doctor.
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Special Advertising Section
Daphne Keshishian, MD; Lee Pennington, MD; Alan Sheff, MD; Brent Berger, MD; & Susan Baruch, MD Bethesda Medical Associates
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10215 Fernwood Road, Suite 50, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-493-9320 | www.mdvip.com
Too often a patient feels lost in the system. But our MDVIP practice is a proven innovation in the delivery of primary care – all focused on the patient and not the other way around.”
tony lewis jr
The physicians at Bethesda Medical Associates, who opened the first MDVIP-affiliated practice in the mid-Atlantic area in 2003, are proactive advocates for patient health. “We’re both high-technology and also high-touch,” says Dr. Alan Sheff. MDVIP was created as a better way to fully care for patients – not merely treat them. Unlike traditional primary care where physicians have thousands of patients, MDVIP doctors have smaller practices and take the time to get to know you. With in-depth consultations, comprehensive screenings and advanced testing, you get a carefully thought-out wellness plan customized for you, care for acute or chronic medical needs, and you’re never just a number on a chart. MDVIP physicians are available when you need them – 24/7 – by phone, email, even text, and are involved in coordinating your specialist care.
our MDVIP practice is a proven innovation in the delivery of primary care – all focused on the patient and not the other way around.” Dr. Sheff’s particular focus is in prevention and management of cardiovascular risk factors. The newest member of the team, Daphne Keshishian, MD, emphasizes a comprehensive approach to wellness, incorporating diet and age-appropriate exercise. As an internist, mom and competitive golfer with interests in Pilates, yoga and healthy cooking, she has a passion for helping patients make better lifestyle choices to achieve their unique goals. “In this era of increasing costs and complexity, it’s imperative for primary care physicians to step up and lead the way,” says Dr. Sheff. “Primary care keeps people healthy, out of the hospital and away from expensive procedures. It also holds healthcare costs down and creates happy patients.”
“Too often a patient feels lost in the system,” says Dr. Sheff. “But Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 309
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Special Advertising Section
Pantea Tamjidi, MD, FAAD Tamjidi Skin Institute 5454 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1045, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-652-4828 | info@tamjidiskininstitute.com | www.tamjidiskininstitute.com Tyson’s Corner: 8100 Boone Blvd., Suite 300, Vienna, VA 22182
“I like to see results fast, and so do my patients,” says Dr. Tamjidi. “We have a variety of procedures and techniques we can do to make you look younger, healthier and more vibrant quickly.” Dr. Tamjidi is well known for her expertise in anti-aging solutions and cosmetic dermatology, but the practice offers practical skin care solutions for the whole family: • General and cosmetic dermatology • Dermatologic and laser therapies • Body contouring and fat reduction • Injectables and fillers • Skin cancer screenings • Non-surgical face lifts • Skin enhancement products Brand-new to the practice is a specialized center for Mohs Surgery at the Tyson’s Center location. “We offer highly personalized regimens for every skin care need,” says Dr. Tamjidi. “Particular specialties include highly advanced anti-aging skin techniques and fillers, skin rejuvenation, and help for dryness and sensitivity as well as discoloration and scarring.” An acknowledged expert in skin rejuvenation procedures, Dr. Tamjidi trains other professionals in injection techniques. She is highly experienced in using Botox®, Juvederm®, Restylane®, Radiesse®, Perlane®; as well as laser therapy, including Fraxel® laser resurfacing, and chemical peels.
We have a variety of procedures and techniques we can do to make you look younger, healthier and more vibrant quickly.”
Dr. Tamjidi works to educate patients and highlight awareness about skin health. “We have always been on the leading edge of anti-aging solutions and skin care technology, and that’s a big benefit for our patients.”
hilary schwab
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Dr. Tamjidi offers a new, longer lasting filler from Allergan called Voluma XC. She recommends Thermage® for tightening skin on the neck and face, which provides an instant lift and skin tightening – and a younger, softer look without surgery. An on-staff master aesthetician, Megan, offers HydraFacial™ treatments, chemical peels, and eyebrow and eyelash sculpting and tinting.
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profiles | PHYSICIANS
Dr. Rachel Cohn, Optometrist Wink Eyecare Boutique 1095 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, MD 20854 301-545-1111 | drcohn@wink.net www.wink.net
“I’m an optometrist with a passion for fashion, too. I think that’s why people really like us,” says Rachel Cohn of her optometry practice and eyewear boutique. “We offer a very high standard of care.”
courtesy photo
Located in Potomac, Wink offers state-of-the-art technology to “map” eyes and look at the retina without dilating drops. The practice corrects sight problems with innovations such as i.Scription® technology by Zeiss, which helps patients with night vision difficulties. Besides extraordinary eye care, Wink offers a complete selection of eyeglasses and sun wear to correct vision and serve as fashion accessories. Handpicked designer frames are available from around the world and certified opticians will help you select your style, shape and color. “Glasses should flatter but also match your personality and reflect the way you want to be viewed by the world,” says Dr. Cohn. “Try on lots of them and have fun with it!”
Paul Ross, DPM The Podiatry Center 8218 Wisconsin Ave., Suite P-14, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-6055 | pbross@aol.com www.paulrossdpm.com
For more than 30 years, Dr. Paul Ross has been treating Bethesda-area patients with a wide range of foot and ankle conditions. “We try to educate people so they can make good choices with their feet and ankle care,” says Dr. Ross. His website at www.paulrossdpm. com offers valuable information, and Podiatry Center experts believe in sharing as much as they can so you can make informed choices and take the best possible care of your feet.
tony lewis jr
“Whatever your issues are, we’ll work together to find solutions that will bring you relief,” says Dr. Ross. A highly experienced and board certified podiatric surgeon, Dr. Ross and his team treat heel pain, plantar fasciitis, diabetic foot and heel spurs. Along with sports medicine and other treatments, he performs minimally invasive surgery in their state-of-the-art, in-office certified Ambulatory Surgery Center. The Podiatry Center has a second location in Springfield, Virginia.
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profiles | PHYSICIANS
Special Advertising Section
Washington Center for Women’s and Children’s Wellness, LLC (WCWCW) The Westmoreland Building 6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 218, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-881-9464 | info@wcwcw.org | www.wcwcw.org
WCWCW eliminates obstacles to care and treats every patient like a VIP, providing a playroom with free childcare, a separate entrance for patients concerned about privacy, doctors cell phone numbers for emergencies and last-minute appointments when necessary. Visit www.wcwcw.org for more information.
peter stepanek
Wendy J. Hookman, MD, Jessica Lu, MD, Valerie Relacion, MD & Joy Paul, LCSW-C
WCWCW has moved to Bethesda! Now centrally located on Rockledge Drive in Bethesda, Dr. Hookman and her associates have settled into a beautiful new space designed for comfort and convenience for patients. “We specialize in taking excellent psychiatric care of women and children,” says Dr. Hookman. “Our new space is a direct reflection of our holistic philosophy of psychiatric care and our special focus on weight management.”
Marcia Goldmark, MD Aimee Seidman, MD, FACP Rockville Concierge Doctors 9420 Key West Ave., Suite 104, Rockville, MD 20850 301-545-1811 | info@rockvilleconciergedocs.com www.rockvilleconciergedocs.com
“We’re patient-focused physicians. Every decision is in the best interest of our patient – not a third party entity,” says Dr. Goldmark of their membership-based practice. Since 2006, concierge doctors Aimee Seidman and Marcia Goldmark have limited the number of patients they see to about 20 percent of a traditional practice. That provides each with much more time to invest in patient care and develop a meaningful one-on-one relationship with each patient.
“Our goal with each patient is for them to achieve and maintain optimal health, vitality and longevity,” says Dr. Seidman. As internal medicine physicians, the doctors treat adults of all ages. Both are medical directors at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg and volunteer their services in the community.
tony lewis jr
With their patient-centered approach, the doctors offer preventive care and personalized wellness plans in addition to sick care. Practice programs include prevention of heart disease, osteoporosis, smoking cessation, weight loss, etc.
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profiles | PHYSICIANS
Special Advertising Section
Jeffrey A. Elting, MD, MPH, MS, Founder Presidential Healthcare Center
courtesy photo
“
5215 Loughboro Road, NW, Suite 470, Washington, D.C. 20016 202-537-1100 | info@PresidentialHealthcareCenter.com www.PresidentialHealthcareCenter.com
We offer the most intensive physical exams possible, customized to personal history and designed to assess cardiac risks and detect cancer and other diseases early.”
Want to be treated like the President? The Presidential Healthcare Center specializes in the same comprehensive Preventive Executive Physical as received by the President of the United States.
tech imaging studies look inside all major internal organs. Advanced biophysical procedures are included, as are complimentary 24/7 primary care physician services for an entire year.
Dr. Elting began offering private executive healthcare in 2002, based on his experience as White House Physician. In 2012, he opened the Center on the Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital campus. “Presidents live longer,” said Dr. Elting, citing the Journal of the American Medical Association study which shows that recent presidents have lived to an average age of 89 – 17 years longer than expected. "Everyone deserves the same opportunity for presidential longevity and well-being. Therefore, we offer the most intensive physical exams possible, customized to personal history and designed to assess cardiac risks and detect cancer and other diseases early.”
Dr. Elting is the first board certified family physician to serve as White House Physician, providing full-time healthcare and medical consultations for the President, Vice President, their families and White House staff.
Physicals include sophisticated lab tests for hormone deficiencies, tumor identification, treatable genetic conditions and infections. High-
Prior to The White House, he was headquarters physician for the 101st Airborne Division during combat operations in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and earned the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. A West Point graduate, he has a long history of service in the area. After 9/11, he was the emergency preparedness coordinator for all hospitals in the District of Columbia. He has taught at Georgetown University; and has appeared on CNN, Fox 5 News and News Channel 8; and in the Washington Business Journal and The Washington Post. Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 313
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Special Advertising Section
Kathy Grace, AuD Auditory Services, Inc. 9800 Falls Road, Suite 5, Potomac, MD 20854 301-339-8583 | hearingstaff@auditoryservices.com www.auditoryservices.com
Choose the right audiologist and you’ll choose the right hearing aids. That’s our motto, and it’s so true!
Change the way you feel about your hearing! You have so much to gain from a life with better communication. We will help! Make Auditory Services your home for a better-hearing future.
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Auditory Services wants your hearing aid experience to be great. Consistently top ratings for quality of service and value are just the beginning. Our offices are set up to provide a personal and meaningful experience. We get to know your background, needs and goals for better hearing. Experience our professional sound-booth testing environment and the most advanced techniques for hearing aid fitting and adjustments. Use your hearing aids with your favorite wireless devices. We support and guide you in the years ahead, to assure that you always hear your best as needs evolve.
Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP & Victor M. Priego, MD The Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders 6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 660, Bethesda, MD 20817 301-571-0019 | www.ccbdmd.com
“We’re growing and expanding capabilities, and we’re pleased to welcome Dr. Iva Ferreira to our team,” say Drs. Boccia and Priego.
Dr. Iva Ferreira
Dr. Ferreira is a valuable addition to the practice. A graduate of Rush Medical College in Chicago, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Hematology/Oncology fellowship training at Rush University Medical Center. She is board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Ferreira is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology.
james kim
Dr. Ferreira recently joined the CCDB team to provide stateof-the-art, evidence-based hematologic and oncologic treatment. “I’m very excited to move to Bethesda and be part of this innovative and research-oriented medical community,” she said. “I have a special interest in treating patients with benign hematologic disorders, as well as lymphoma, leukemia, lung cancer and breast cancer.”
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james kim
Special Advertising Section
profiles | PHYSICIANS
Mohsin S. Sheikh, MD, Founder & Medical Director Pain, Spine & Rehab Associates
“
501 North Frederick Ave., Suite 302, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 301-591-8261 | msheikh@painspineandrehab.com www.painspineandrehab.com | www.facebook.com/relievemypain
So few doctors take the time to go over the treatment approach and really talk to their patients about expectations and goals. When you do, the outcomes are much better.”
James kim
“Pain management is usually so fast paced and procedure driven – but not here,” says Dr. Sheikh of his practice in Gaithersburg. “So few doctors take the time to go over the treatment approach and really talk to their patients about expectations and goals. When you do, the outcomes are much better.” Board certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dr. Sheikh founded his practice to offer a vastly different experience for patients. “Pain can be frustrating, debilitating, depressing and puzzling,” he says. “Sure, you want it eliminated. But you need to know what you’re taking, why you need an injection in your back, or how rehab will help your condition. It’s my responsibility to make this part of your patient experience.” His practice is the antithesis of the large, “cookie-cutter,” volume-based pain practices, where he worked after completing his
residency at Georgetown University Hospital and fellowship at UNCChapel Hill. Pain, Spine & Rehab Associates turns the typical doctor visit into a stellar patient experience. “I think medicine has lost sight of the patient. But we put the patient back in focus.” Appointments are never rushed. New patients may spend up to an hour with Dr. Sheikh. There’s no double- or triple-booking. The entire team is specially trained to care for people suffering from sensitive painful conditions. Calls will always be returned. “If I practiced medicine any other way, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night,” says Dr. Sheikh. “I’m not very old but I’m very old school. I remember when doctors actually took time with their patients. I believe it’s still possible to get truly patient-centered care in this day and age.” Bethesda Magazine HEALTH | September/October 2014 315
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dine
Revie w Chef de cuisine Mike Matis (left) and owner and executive chef Tony Brown playfully demonstrate the French and Southern influences at Macon’s Bistro & Larder. Below: The airy dining room.
The Winning Mix
Macon Bistro & Larder delights with Southern and French fare By Carole Sugarman | photos by Stacy Zarin-Goldberg
As owner and executive chef Tony Brown puts it, Macon Bistro & Larder is best described as Southern Garden Party meets Bistro Luxe. That’s because the menu takes its culinary inspiration from Macon, Ga., and its sister city, Macon, France, incorporating both Southern and French classics, as well as dishes that meld the two cuisines. The décor is a blend of sensibilities, too, with emerald cushioned bistro chairs; a giant pen-and-ink drawing of a magnolia tree; chalkboard maps of
the Macons in Georgia and France, and the restaurant in Upper Northwest D.C.; and flowery art nouveau wallpaper that would look equally fitting in a Savannah sunroom or a Paris café. Not surprisingly, Brown shares allegiances, growing up mostly in the Dixie Macon, but having lived in Europe as the child of an Army doctor. As contrived as it may sound, the concept works. The food is gracefully executed and the setting in the historic Chevy Chase Arcade is charming. BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 317
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w Revie
Grandma Essie’s biscuits, served with honey butter and pepper jelly Colorful deviled eggs are topped with red bell pepper marmalade, bacon bits and homemade hickory-smoked olive oil. Sea scallops are served atop a mash of green butter beans and surrounded by a moat of pink beurre rouge.
Speaking geographically, though, the Southern and hybrid dishes outshine the French-inspired ones. So in the spirit of the place, here’s a map of the menu: Southern Fare (Macon, Ga.) Biscuits, deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes—you can’t go wrong with any of these classic Southern starters. Grandma Essie’s biscuits aren’t the flakiest I’ve ever tasted, but add a schmear of honey butter and pepper jelly and you’ll be glad you ordered them. The deviled eggs, listed on the bar snack menu, are among the prettiest and cleverest around town; the swirled egg yolks are mixed with mayonnaise and sweet pickle and topped with red bell pepper marmalade, bacon bits and a drizzle of homemade hickory-smoked olive oil. And by all means, do not miss the fried green tomatoes: thick, ultra-crisp slices topped with squares of pork belly and a spicy tomato aioli. The frying and accompaniments would impress even Fannie Flagg. Salad fans will be delighted with the Bibb County Greens (named after both the lettuce and the county in which Macon, Ga., is located), an unassuminglooking but flavor-packed toss of Bibb
lettuce, braised beets, radishes, buttermilk dressing and pecans charged with cayenne, brown sugar and rosemary. As for main courses, beef eaters will be happy with the rib-sticking short ribs, a quintessential comfort dish served with creamy grits that is probably best enjoyed on a cool night. Desserts at area restaurants are often an afterthought, lacking in creativity and appeal. Not so here, where each dessert is a classy play on a classic sweet. Gigi Mama’s Coconut Cake, named after Brown’s 97-year-old grandmother who lives in Birmingham, Ala., makes me wish she was my grandma, too. Sweet and super-moist, the dessert is sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with sesame ice cream—interesting (but not essential) contrasts added by chef de cuisine Mike Matis. The spot-on chocolate party cake—an elevated version from pinthe-tail-on-the-donkey days—is served to every patron with a candle, regardless of whether it’s your birthday; the deeply chocolate cake and creamy, nottoo-sweet icing are cause for celebration. And the fruit-packed blackberry cobbler, served with crème fraiche in a Mason jar (what isn’t these days?) is another comfort food from Grandma Essie. Brown says she made it often when he was a kid, and its inclusion on the menu means a lot to him. It will make for a memorable ending to your meal, too.
Crisp and salty hand-cut fries accompany the tender hanger steak.
French Fare (Macon, France) Three starters that were okay but not worth ordering again: the shrimp bisque (thin in consistency and flavor), raclette (boring and heavy after a few bites of the melted cheese and sliced purple potatoes) and the bar snack of pork rillettes (a bland mash of shredded pork and invisible spices). However, for those hankering for hanger steak, Macon’s cut is tender and cooked to order, and it’s hard to resist finishing the pile of accompanying crisp and appropriately salted hand-cut fries. For vegans or those who want a meatless main course, the French-leaning cauliflower steak is a lively and filling jumble of charred, sliced cauliflower served with ratatouille, spring vegetable emulsion and thyme crumble.
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Macon Bistro & larder
5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, (in the Chevy Chase Arcade), Washington, D.C., 202-248-7807, maconbistro.com
Blackberry cobbler with crème fraiche
Hybrid Fare (Southern and French) In the category of order-again entrées, I’d put the rainbow trout, a nod to both French trout amandine and the mountain trout of Georgia that Brown fished for while growing up. The dish is served with the small, green French Le Puy lentils and a persillade, a French seasoning mixture containing parsley that is also mixed with pecans, the native Southern nut. The flavorful combination gives the mild-mannered white fish a wake-up call and will convert even the most avid lentil loathers. I’d also go for the sea scallops again, a Technicolor play on coquilles St. Jacques that is served atop a mash of green butter beans (baby limas like the ones Brown used to get at his hometown farmers markets) and surrounded by a moat of pink beurre rouge. The colorful mix of mollusks, veggies and buttery red wine sauce tastes as good as it looks. Somewhat less successful in the fusion field is the pork tenderloin, served with a chipotle peach preserve, chevre soubise (onion paste mixed with goat cheese) and wilted watercress. The pork is rather tasteless on its own, but the dish improves with a forkful of the meat combined with the spicy preserve, creamy cheese and bitter greens. Aside from the pleasures of the food, I found the service informed and personable. But the acoustics! On busy nights (which occur often), the din can get as noisy as a Bastille Day celebration. Nonetheless, the Macon sister act is clearly a hit. n Carole Sugarman is the magazine’s food editor. To comment on this review, email comments@bethesdamagazine.com.
HOURS Open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Open for dinner 5 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The Larder, which sells restaurant-made items, such as Essie’s bake-at-home biscuits, cheese coins, sea salt caramels, rosemary-cayenne pecans and pepper jelly, opens at 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. on Sunday. The restaurant and larder are closed on Monday. RESERVATIONS Highly recommended, available on Open Table PRICES Dinner appetizers, $8 to $15; main courses, $22 to $26; desserts, $9 to $10. Brunch main courses, $14 to $24. Larder items range from $6 to $10. FAVORITE DISHES Amuse bouche of cheese coins and pickles (or pickled cauliflower), deviled eggs, biscuits with pepper jelly and honey butter, fried green tomatoes, rainbow trout, sea scallops, short ribs, hanger steak, grilled asparagus, coconut cake, chocolate party cake, blackberry cobbler PARKING Street parking
Wine and More Macon’s wine list is full of delicious, reasonably priced French wines. Each is listed with its appellation of origin and the grapes to help diners choose. 17 wines by the glass, priced $8-$22 34 wines by the bottle, priced $36-$90 30 of the wines are $60 and under Recommendations by the glass If ordering the sea scallops, try the Domaine de L’Hemoniere Touraine Sauvignon Blanc (white, $10); the pork tenderloin, the Cave de Beblenheim “Reserve” Riesling (white, $10); and the hanger steak, the Chateau Coupe Roses “La Bastide” Minervois (Carignan/Grenache) (red, $10). Top bottle picks 2013 Triennes Provence Rosé ($48); 2011 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Macon, Chardonnay (white, $56); and 2010 Chateau Mondésir Cotes de Bordeaux, Cabernet/Merlot (red, $45). Recommended beer “Hopzilla,” Terrapin Brewing, Ga. (on tap for $8). This Double IPA is for serious “Hop Heads.” Recommended cocktail Martini de Lamartine (vodka, St. Germain, orange, lemon), $12 Overall grade: A The wine list is perfectly suited to the food and fun, casual vibe at Macon. —Jay Youmans Jay Youmans, of Kensington, an Advanced Sommelier and a Master of Wine, owns the Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.
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table
By Carole Sugarman
Market Watch Attention shoppers: Here are some area markets making news.
A&H Gourmet and Seafood Market, soon to be called Pescadeli
Presenting Pescadeli: In 2007, Santiago Zabaleta, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and former chef at downtown’s Taberna del Alabardero, bought Bethesda’s A&H Gourmet and Seafood Market from the Martinez brothers, who had been running the wholesale and retail operation since 1983. Over the past few months, the Spanish-born Zabaleta, 36, spiffed up the place with a paint job and new tile work, and expanded its retail seafood space and European delicatessen offerings.
On Tap: Downtown Crown Wine and
In September, he plans to change the shop’s name to Pescadeli; the wholesale business—with its 100-plus restaurant customers—will remain A&H. Aside from fresh fish and shellfish sold at reasonable prices and imported items such as olive oils, cheeses and ham, Zabaleta now offers a catering menu of Spanish tapas and a line of terrific prepared foods. Don’t miss the gazpacho, tortilla espanola and homemade gravlax. 4960 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-841-8151, www.anhmarket.com
Downtown Crown
Beer is much more than your average beer and Wine and Beer wine shop. Opened this spring by the Tafakor family (which also owns Georgetown Square Wine and Beer), the 3,500-square-foot store sports a bar serving 12 beers on tap, 16 wines by the glass and simple charcuterie plates with locally made meats and cheeses. Along with a vast selection of craft beer and boutique wines, Downtown Crown Wine and Beer sells 12 draft options for filling growlers. The attractive shop (the family hired a designer) hosts complimentary beer tastings every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and wine tastings on Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. Happy Hour is held daily from 4 to 7 p.m. 303 Copley Place, Gaithersburg, 301-330-7010, downtowncrownwine.com
Giovanni and Ashley Vignola
Pick Your Pasta: Vignola Gourmet, a longtime family-run deli, market and caterer in Rockville, is following in the footsteps of fast-casuals such as Chipotle and sweetgreen. At press time, the carryout was due to start offering design-your-own pasta dishes. Patrons can choose a type of pasta; a sauce such as Bolognese, pesto or Alfredo; a protein such as chicken, salmon, shellfish or sausage; and veggies. And this fall, the operation is adding three new clients to its list of Montgomery County parochial schools where it provides fresh lunches made from scratch. Vignola Gourmet now contracts with about a dozen schools. But you don’t have to be a student to enjoy the other offerings at the deli, which include a small grocery section stocked with imported goods; homemade Italian frozen dinners, all made from original Vignola family recipes; and must-try takeout items such as arancini and a porchetta sub. 11612 Boiling Brook Place, Rockville, 301-770-4523, www.vignolagourmet.com Market Crawl Tours: If you want to shop, eat and drink till you drop and not worry about driving, check out industree’s new artisan food market tours. Created in 2013 by Gaithersburg resident Alisia Kleinmann, the Bethesda-based industree is a hospitality trade organization that hosts events for the restaurant and beverage industries. The tours, offered monthly to the public, feature five District markets, including the Little Red Fox in Upper Northwest. Participants can munch on cheese, bread, charcuterie and salads as well as sample small-batch wines and hand-crafted beer; they get 10 percent off purchases at each market. The cost of the tour, including samples, transportation and the discount, is $70 plus a $4.84 processing fee. The next tour is Sept. 14. For more information, go to www.dcindustree.com
Kat ignatova (pescadeli); courtesy of downtowncrownewine.com; courtesy of vignola
TALK
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Breads Unlimited’s non-Cronuts come in three flavors: cinnamon sugar, glazed and chocolate drizzle.
COMINGS & GOINGS Hinode, the Japanese eatery in the Shoppes of Bethesda, closed in July, and Tako Grill, another sushi spot, is moving in, probably by November. Tako Grill needed a new space since its current location at 7756 Wisconsin Ave. is being razed for redevelopment…Speaking of sushi, Crave, a chain that features both raw fish and American standbys (burgers, pizza), is taking a spot in Westfield Montgomery mall’s new dining terrace this fall. Also coming to the mall is the modern American MET Bethesda, the Boston-based MET Restaurant Group’s first foray out of Massachusetts…In September, the casually chic Potomac eatery, Mix Bar and Grille, is opening a second location in Silver Spring on the corner of Georgia and Thayer avenues…Amsterdam Falafelshop, the rapidly expanding fast-casual franchise that features—you guessed it—falafel, is expected to open locations (as yet unknown) in Silver Spring and Bethesda…And finally, Indique Heights, the Indian restaurant in Friendship Heights, closed in July and will reopen by the end of the year as a smaller, more contemporary restaurant.
Nutrition 101 For students heading off to
Get ‘em while they’re HOT Kat ignatova (non-cronuts); courtesy photo (Faye Berger mitchell)
Kat ignatova (pescadeli); courtesy of downtowncrownewine.com; courtesy of vignola
Food FIND
Bethesda may be a latecomer to the Cronut craze, but Breads Unlimited makes a dynamite version of the croissantdoughnut hybrid that took New York City by storm in 2013. Created by the Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo, the Cronut is made with a layered dough that gives it a less dense texture than a regular doughnut. Since the name has now been officially trademarked, Breads Unlimited owner Steve Raab has a new moniker for the decadent pastry: “non-Cronut.” Non-Cronuts, available in cinnamon sugar, glazed and chocolate drizzle, are $2.50 each and sold only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings at around 8. They usually sell out by 10 or 11 a.m. 6914 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 301656-2340, www.breadsunlimited.com
college this fall, fear not the “freshman 15.” Bethesda dietitian Faye Berger Mitchell hopes to nix the nervousness over potential weight gain with her new website, Foodie on Campus (www.foodieoncampus.com). “There’s so much fanaticism around food and fitness,” says Berger Mitchell, who’s been counseling teenagers for 25 years. “I wanted to provide something calming.” So this spring, she gave up her private practice and started the website, which focuses on eating at college. All the columns are written by students studying nutrition and Berger Mitchell serves as editor in chief. Articles include features on vegan
Dietitian Faye Berger Mitchell
and gluten-free eating on campus, dining services at specific universities, apartment cooking, food for fitness, recipes and more. As for those freshman 15, here are Berger Mitchell’s top tips for avoiding the weight gain:
● Eat three meals a day, including breakfast, no matter what time you wake up. ● Stock your dorm refrigerator with carrots and hummus, nonfat Greek yogurt, fruit, cheese sticks and crackers so you have healthy snacks when late-night munchies hit.
● Schedule exercise the same way you schedule classes and homework. ● And make sure to get enough sleep (about eight hours), so you don’t confuse being hungry with being tired and then overeat.
Carole Sugarman is the magazine’s food editor. Send ideas to carole.sugarman@bethesda magazine.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CaroleSugarman BethesdaMagazine.com | September/October 2014 321
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cooking CLASS
By Brian Patterson L’Academie de Cuisine | www.lacademie.com
Eggs-ceptional For many people, eggs Benedict with its rich hollandaise sauce is synonymous with brunch. But fans may be more likely to order the dish in a restaurant than make it at home because the preparation can be daunting. While making hollandaise sauce can be challenging, organizing your ingredients ahead of time and following these simple steps will help even the novice home cook produce a dish that’s restaurant worthy.
Eggs Benedict
ingredients (Serves six) For the hollandaise sauce: 8 ounces of clarified butter 4 eggs 1 tablespoon water Juice of one lemon (about 1 ounce) Salt and cayenne to taste For the dish: ½ cup vinegar 3 English muffins, divided into 6 halves 6 slices of Canadian bacon Butter 6 eggs
clarifying Butter
To clarify 8 ounces of butter: Place cubed, unsalted butter in a small pot and bring to a low simmer. Allow the butter to bubble gently until all noise subsides and the bubbling stops, meaning the water has evaporated and only the separated fat and solids remain. Remove it from the heat and carefully pour the fat into a bowl, leaving browned solids behind. Clarified butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
photoS by stacy zarin-goldberg
Unlike whole butter, clarified butter adds flavor without burning. Clarifying butter is a simple process that separates the fat— good for cooking at high temperatures— from the milk solids, which burn easily even at low temperatures.
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1 To make the hollandaise sauce: 1. Fill an 8-inch diameter pot halfway with water and bring it to a low simmer. Have ready a 12-inch-diameter stainless steel bowl that can nestle snugly into the pot of simmering water.
2 Sauce essentials
2. Warm the clarified butter until it is hot to the touch. 3. Crack four eggs and separate the yolks from the whites, placing the yolks in the stainless steel bowl. Add the tablespoon of water. Whisk the egg yolks and water briskly until a few bubbles form. 4. Set the bowl of yolks over the pot of simmering water and whisk continuously for up to 5 minutes, rotating the bowl to ensure the eggs cook evenly. The
whipped egg yolks will thicken as they cook in the bowl over the simmering water. The eggs are done cooking when you see the path of the moving whisk in the bottom of the bowl. The cooked yolks should appear creamy and foamy, and not look like scrambled eggs. 5 . Remove the bowl of cooked yolks from the simmering water and turn off the heat. Using a small ladle, whisk the clarified butter into the egg yolks one ounce at a time. Add the lemon juice and finish with salt and cayenne. Hold the hollandaise in a warm place in your kitchen. You can set the bowl back in the pot of hot water that was used to cook the egg yolks.
Hollandaise is a temperamental emulsion that can break (1) if it gets too hot, too cold, too thick, or too thin. Check the sauce occasionally while making the rest of the dish to make sure it is in good condition (2) for serving. If it is too thick, whisk in a little water; too thin, whisk the sauce in its bowl over warm water; too hot and butter is starting to seep out of the sauce, add an ice cube and whisk; and if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too cold, warm it up on the stove or whisk in a little warm water.
To make the dish: 1. Heat a wide shallow pan with about 4 inches of water to just barely a simmer; tiny bubbles should be active in the water. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the water. While the water is heating up, toast the English muffins either in a toaster or on a sheet tray under the broiler. Warm the Canadian bacon either in a pan with a little butter on the stove or placed on a sheet tray in a heated oven. 2. Crack six eggs into individual, small coffee
cups. Have a slotted spoon ready. Tip the eggs one by one into the simmering water. If the temperature is just right, each egg will form a skin just as it sinks to the bottom, and then will rise up slightly with the white gathering around the yolk. The egg is perfectly done when the white is firm but the yolk is still softâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this takes about 4 to 5 minutes. Cook an extra egg or two to test your results. 3. While the eggs are cooking, arrange the
toasted English muffin halves on a plate, and top with a slice of Canadian bacon. 4. Check the hollandaise to make sure it is creamy and warm and well-seasoned. Using the slotted spoon, retrieve an egg from its poaching water, shake gently to remove excess moisture, and place the egg on the Canadian bacon. Then spoon on just enough hollandaise sauce to cover the egg but not so much that it drips all over the plate.
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dining
GUIDE
Check out the online version of the DINING GUIDE at BethesdaMagazine.com or download our free app at the Apple Store. It’s browsable by category and updated frequently.
Bethesda 100 Montaditos, 4922 Elm St., Bethesda, 240-3966897, us.100montaditos.com/home. As its name proclaims, the Spanish-founded chain features 100 varieties of montaditos—mini sandwiches served on rolls. Ranging in price from $1 to $2.50, the sandwiches sport fillings from authentic (Serrano ham, manchego cheese, chorizo) to American (Philly cheesesteak, hot dogs and burgers). ❂ L D $ 4935 Bar and Kitchen, 4935 Cordell Ave., 301-8308086, www.4935barandkitchen.com. Former Tragara Ristorante space gets a major redo, with a sleek, modern interior and a young chef-owner serving French and Indian fusion dishes such as spicy chicken confit and Tandoori pork chops. The popular upstairs private party room is now called “The Loft at 4935.” L D $$$ Aji-Nippon, 6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons sushi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. L D $$ American Tap Room, 7278 Woodmont Ave., 301656-1366, www.americantaproom.com. Classic grill menu featuring sliders and wings, from Thompson Hospitality, the owners of Austin Grill. ❂ R L D $$ &pizza, 7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, www.andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of three crusts, three cheeses and eight sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to falafel crumbles, fig marsala and pineapple salsa. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $ Bacchus of Lebanon, 7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-6571722, www.bacchusoflebanon.com. This friendly and elegant Lebanese staple has a large, sunny patio that beckons lunch and dinner patrons outside when the weather is good to try garlicky hummus, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabobs, veal chops and dozens of small-plate dishes.❂ L D $$ Bangkok Garden, 4906 St. Elmo Ave., 301-951-0670, www.bkkgarden.com. This real-deal, family-run Thai restaurant turns out authentic cuisine in a dining room decorated with traditional statues of the gods. L D $
as the chef chops and cooks beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood tableside on the hibachi. This popular national chain serves sushi, too. J L D $$ Bethesda Crab House, 4958 Bethesda Ave., 301652-3382, www.bethesdacrabhouse.net. In the same location since 1961, this casual, family-owned dining spot features jumbo lump crabcakes, oysters on the half shell and jumbo spiced shrimp. Extra large and jumbo-sized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve them. ❂ L D $$ Bethesda Curry Kitchen, 4860 Cordell Ave., 301656-0062, www.bethesdacurrykitchen.com. Former Saveur India chef-owner Anil Kumar moves across town with a new lunch buffet and Southern Indian vegan specialties, served in a spare and casual setting. There are plenty of choices from the tandoor oven, as well as vegetarian, seafood and meat curries. L D $ Bistro LaZeez, 8009 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-8222, www.bistrolazeez.com. Terrific Mediterranean grilled dishes from local Arabic teacher Reda Asaad. ❂JLD$ Bistro Provence (Editors’ Pick), 4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, www.bistroprovence.org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. ❂ L D $$$ Black’s Bar & Kitchen (Editors’ Pick), 7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, www.blacksbarandkitch en.com. Bethesda Magazine readers voted Black’s “Best MoCo Restaurant” and “Best Happy Hour” in 2014. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients. ❂ R L D $$$ Bold Bite, 4901-B Fairmont Ave., 301-951-2653, www. boldbite.net. Designer hot dogs from the Venezuelan Roche brothers, with a menu that won “Best Menu Design” from the magazine’s editors in 2013. J L D $ Brasserie Monte Carlo, 7929 Norfolk Ave., 301656-9225, www.brasseriemontecarlo.com. FrenchMediterranean dishes and a mural of a Monte Carlo landscape transport diners to Monaco. ❂ R L D $$ Brickside Food & Drink, 4866 Cordell Ave., 301-3126160, www.bricksidebethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian bar bites and entrées. ❂ R D $$
Bel Piatto Pizza, 7812 Old Georgetown Road, 301986-8085, www.belpiattopizza.com. Entrées, calzones, strombolis and salads, along with a large selection of pizzas. L D $
Caddies on Cordell, 4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, www.caddiesoncordell.com. Twenty-somethings gather at this golf-themed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. Bethesda Magazine readers voted Caddies "Best Bar Food" in 2014. ❂ J R L D $
Benihana, 7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, www.benihana.com. Experience dinner-as-theater
Café Deluxe, 4910 Elm St., 301-656-3131, www.cafe deluxe.com. This local chain serves bistro-style Amer-
Key: Price designations are for a three-course dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol. $ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150 $$$$ $150+
b
Outdoor Dining Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch L Lunch D Dinner
ican comfort food in a fun and noisy setting with wood fans and colorful, oversized European liquor posters. ❂ J R L D $$ Cava Mezze Grill, 4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-6561772, www.cavagrill.com. The guys from Cava restaurant have created a Greek version of Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. J L D $ Cesco Osteria, 7401 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-8333, www.cesco-osteria.com. Longtime chef Francesco Ricchi relocates from Cordell Avenue, turning out his Tuscan specialties in a bigger, jazzier space. ❂ L D $$ Chef Tony’s, 4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, www. cheftonysbethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean seafood tapas in what was formerly called Visions Restaurant. J R L D $$ City Burger, 7015 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0010, www.cityburgeronline.com. Simple and inexpensive quarter-pound burgers made from all-natural, antibiotic-free beef from the owners of Food Wine & Co., Beer Wine & Co., Don Pollo and Fish Taco. Hot dogs, half-smokes and fries, plus homemade milkshakes and ice cream also served. White-tiled space seats about 15, but geared for takeout. L D $ City Lights of China, 4953 Bethesda Ave., 301913-9501, www.bethesdacitylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery relocates to a different stretch of Bethesda Avenue, serving the same menu of familiar Szechuan and Beijing dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a darker, sharper look. L D $$ Daily Grill, One Bethesda Metro Center, 301-6566100, www.dailygrill.com. Everyone from families to expense-account lunchers can find something to like about the big portions of fresh American fare,
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including chicken pot pie and jumbo lump crabcakes. ❂ J B R L D $$ Don Pollo, 7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery a go-to place any night of the week. Locations in Rockville and Hyattsville, too. L D $
Guardado’s, 4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, www. guardadosnico.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 $
Faryab Restaurant (Editors’ Pick), 4917 Cordell Ave., 301-951-3484, farandawaycycling.com/Fary ab/index.html. Faryab serves well-prepared Afghani country food, including Afghanistan’s answer to Middle Eastern kabobs, vegetarian stews and unique sautéed pumpkin dishes, in a whitewashed dining room with native art on the walls and attentive service. D $$
Hanaro Restaurant & Lounge, 7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, www.hanarobethesda.com. Modern dark woods and lots of light brighten the corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses. The bar offers a daily happy hour and is open on Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m. ❂ L D $$
Flanagan’s Harp & Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Ave., 301951-0115, www.flanagansharpandfiddle.com. This stylish pub features live music several days a week and Tuesday night poker and Monday quiz nights. In addition to traditional stews and fried fish, Flanagan’s offers smoked ribs, salmon and traditional Irish breakfast on weekends. ❂ J B L D $$
Hard Times Café, 4920 Del Ray Ave., 301-951-3300, www.hardtimes.com. Good American beer selections,
Freddy’s Lobster + Clams, 4867 Cordell Ave., 240743-4257, www.freddyslobster.com. New Englandstyle seafood shack with fried specialties and a terrific beer menu. Bethesda Magazine readers voted its lobster roll the best in 2013. ❂ J L D $
Persimmon
Garden Grille & Bar (in the Hilton Garden Inn), 7301 Waverly St., 301-654-8111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers and other sandwiches to crabcakes, short ribs and pasta dishes. J B D $$
Sunset Dining 3 Course Tasting Menu $33.00 Tuesday thru Sunday 4 pm - 6 pm ■
Geste Wine & Food, 4801 Edgemoor Lane, 301-7181675, www.gestewine.com. Pizza, panini, subs and salads, plus a small retail area with reasonably priced bottles of wine. L D $
Wine Down Tuesday Nights Select Half Price Bottles of Wine and an Exclusive List of Exceptional Steals
Happy Hour
■
at the Bar Food & Drink Specials Tuesday thru Friday 4 pm - 7 pm
Grapeseed American Bistro + Wine Bar (Editors’ Pick), 4865 Cordell Ave., 301-986-9592, www.grape seedbistro.com. Chef-owner Jeff Heineman, who develops each dish on the frequently updated menu to pair with a specific wine, also offers small plates and a 10-seat wine-room table. L (Tuesday-Friday) D $$$ Gringos & Mariachis (Editors’ Pick), 4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, www.gringosandmariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurants in Bethesda and Silver Spring trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals, dark booths and plenty of tequila. Starters include duck nachos, chorizo-stuffed dates and bacon-wrapped jalapenos, and the taco selection nears 15 different choices. Platters available, too. L D $ Guapo’s Restaurant, 8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-6560888, www.guaposrestaurant.com. This outpost of a local chain has everything you’d expect: margaritas and chips galore, as well as a handful of daily specials served in festive Mexican surroundings. Perfect for families and dates. J R L D $
Heckman’s Delicatessen, 4914 Cordell Ave., 240800-4879. The latest attempt at bringing corned beef to Bethesda features all the deli staples, plus a dinner menu with chicken-in-a-pot and stuffed cabbage. Menu offers long lists of ingredients to build your own salads, sandwiches and eggs. Sweets include rugelach, black-and-white cookies and homemade cheesecake, and on a sour note, deli owners are relatives of the founder of the old Heckman’s Pickles firm in the District. ❂ J B L D $
Look what we’re cooking up at...
Food Wine & Co. (Editors’ Pick), 7272 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-8008, www.foodwineandco.com. American fare at a stunning bistro in the old Uno Chicago Grill space. L D $$
Geppetto, 10257 Old Georgetown Road, 301-4939230, www.geppettorestaurant.com. Sicilian-style pizza served in a casual atmosphere inside bustling Wildwood Shopping Center, plus classic Italian sandwiches and red-sauce dinners. ❂ J L D $$
hearty chili styles ranging from Cincinnati (cinnamon and tomato) to Texas (beef and hot peppers), and hefty salads and wings bring families to this Wild West-style saloon for lunch and dinner. Owner Greg Hourigan is a fixture in the community. ❂ J L D $
Sunday Brunch 11am - 2 pm
Damian anddD anniieean pha S Steteph re re to Salva S 7003 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda
7003 Wisconsinwww.persimmonrestaurant.com Avenue, Bethesda • www.persimmonrestaurant.com • 301.654.9860 • 301.654.9860
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dining guide Himalayan Heritage (Editors’ Pick), 4925 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1858, www.himalayanheritagedc.com. Indian, Nepalese and Indo-Chinese fare, featuring momos (Nepalese dumplings) and Indian takes on Chinese chow mein. L D $ House of Foong Lin, 4613 Willow Lane, 301-6563427. With a (slightly) new name but the same Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, Bethesda’s longtime Foong Lin restaurant has relocated to the old Moon Gate space. L D $$ House of Milae, 4932 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-1997. The Kang family, who own Milae Cleaners in Bethesda, bring simple Korean dishes to their first food foray in the old Plaza del Sol space. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap; also look for the Korean-style sushi known as kimbab. The kids’ menu has one item: spaghetti, made from the recipe of owner Thomas Kang’s former college roommate’s mother. L D $ Jaleo (Editors’ Pick), 7271 Woodmont Ave., 301913-0003, www.jaleo.com. The restaurant that launched the American career of chef José Andrés and popularized Spanish tapas for a Washington, D.C. audience offers hot, cold, spicy and creative small plates served with outstanding Spanish wines. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. ❂ R L D $$ Jetties, 4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-951-3663, www.jetties dc.com. The first suburban location for the popular sandwich, salad and ice cream eatery, which has two restaurants in Northwest Washington, D.C. Also look for one-pot “crock” dishes and an innovative children’s menu. ❂ J L D $ Kabob Bazaar, 7710 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5814, www.kabobbazaar.com. The younger sister of a popular Arlington restaurant with the same name offers kabobs in every protein possible, plus lots of vegetarian side dishes. Music on Saturdays and Sundays. ❂ J L D $ Kadhai (Editors’ Pick), 7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-7180121, www.kadhai.com. The popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi has relocated to the old Uptown Deli space. L D $$ La Panetteria, 4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, www.lapanetteria.com. For more than 25 years, La Panetteria has transported diners into a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving such classic dishes as homemade spaghetti and veal scaloppine. L D $$ Le Vieux Logis, 7925 Old Georgetown Road, 301-6526816, www.levieuxlogisrestaurant.com. The colorful exterior will draw you into this Bethesda institution, but classic French dishes such as Dover sole meunière will keep you coming back. D $$ Lebanese Taverna, 7141 Arlington Road, 301-9518681, www.lebanesetaverna.com. The latest branch of this long-lived local chain is an elegant spot for dipping puffy pita bread into hummus and baba ghanoush. The rest of the traditional Lebanese mezze are worth a try, too, as are the slow-cooked lamb dishes. Voted “Best Mediterranean Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. J L D $$ Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar, 4907 Cordell Ave., 301-652-6945, www.louisianabethesda.com. Former
Louisiana Express chef José Blanco and veteran waiter Carlos Arana continue the tradition of the popular Bethesda institution in a larger, spiffier setting. The prices and Cajun- and Creole-style menu are pretty much the same, the fried items are still divine and the pain perdou and beignets remain a great way to start a Sunday morning. B R L D $
Mon Ami Gabi, 7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, www.monamigabi.com. Waiters serve bistro classics such as escargot, steak frites and profiteroles in a dark and boisterous spot that doesn’t feel like a chain. Voted “Best French Restaurant” by the magazine’s readers in 2014. Live jazz Tuesday and Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$
Luke’s Lobster, 7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, www.lukeslobster.com. An upscale carryout with authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped direct from Maine. ❂ L D $
Morton’s, The Steakhouse, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, www.mortons.com. An ultra-sophisticated steak house serving pricey, large portions of prime-aged beef and drinks. The restaurant is known for a top-notch dinner experience but also offers lunch and a bar menu. D $$$
Mamma Lucia, 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, www.mam maluciarestaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. ❂ J L D $$ Markham’s Bar and Grill, 7141 Wisconsin Ave., 240800-4700, www.markhamsbar.com. A brick-and-mortar eatery from the owner of the former One3Five Cuisine food trailer, Markham’s is a neighborhood spot offering many of the popular sandwiches and salads from the mobile operation. Look for Pakistani tacos, banh mi and a marinated flank steak sandwich, plus nightly comfort-food specials. The beige-andblack interior sports a handsome wine cabinet and photographs of old Bethesda. An outdoor patio includes a pergola and a 5½-foot waterfall. ❂ L D $$ Matuba Japanese Restaurant, 4918 Cordell Ave., 301-652-7449, www.matuba-sushi.com. Detail-oriented sushi chefs and attentive service perk up this otherwise plain white-and-blond-wood Japanese restaurant that has been doing a steady business in downtown Bethesda for 30 years. L D $$ Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, 7263 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-8305, www.maxbrenner.com. It’s sweetsonly at the newest location of this international chain. Chocoholics and dessert lovers will have a field day with the restaurant’s milkshakes, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, crêpes, waffles, fondue, ice cream and chocolate pizza. There are also “Fast Max” items to go, and a retail section offers fashionably packaged bonbons, praline wafers and caramelized nuts rolled in hazelnut cream and cocoa powder. $ Mia’s Pizzas (Editors’ Pick), 4926 Cordell Ave., 301718-6427, www.miaspizzasbethesda.com. Mia’s woodburning oven turns out Naples-style pies with a variety of toppings; homemade soups and cupcakes in a cheery dining room with yellow, green and orange accents. ❂ J L D $$ Moby Dick House of Kabob, 7027 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, www.mobysonline.com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. L D $ MOMO Chicken + Jazz (New), 4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, www.momofc.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space. Framed record albums grace the walls, and glass shelves are stacked with yesteryear radios, fans, typewriters, movie projectors and Coke bottles. ❂ J L D $$
Mussel Bar & Grille, 7262 Woodmont Ave., 301215-7817, www.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, which won “Best Beer Selection” by the magazine’s readers in 2013. ❂ R L D $$ Nest Cafe, 4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-6378, www.nestwinebarcafe.com. Nest offers simple salads, pasta and pizzas. Among the best eats, however, are the crispy calamari and artichokes appetizer and the mussels and fries entrée. ❂ J R L (Wednesday-Saturday) D $$ Newton’s Table (Editors’ Pick), 4917 Elm St., 301718-0550, www.newtonstable.com. Modern American cuisine from up-and-coming chef-owner Dennis Friedman, whose creations were voted “Best Example of Plating as Art” by the magazine’s editors in 2013. ❂ J L D $$$ Oakville Grille & Wine Bar (Editors’ Pick), 10257 Old Georgetown Road, 301-897-9100, www.oakville winebar.com. Fresh California food paired with a thoughtful wine list in an elegant, spare setting may not sound unique, but Oakville was one of the first in the area to do so, and it does it well. ❂ J L D $$ Olazzo (Editors’ Pick), 7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-6549496, www.olazzo.com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable prices. Voted “Best Italian Restaurant” and “Best Fried Calamari” by our readers in 2014. ❂ L D $$ Original Pancake House, 7703 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, www.ophrestaurants.com. Dozens of pancake dishes, as well as eggs and waffles galore. Named “Best Breakfast” by the magazine’s readers in 2014. ❂ J B L $ Panas Gourmet Empanadas, 4731 Elm St., 301657-7371, www.panasgourmet.com. Baked, not fried, empanadas with a modern twist—think chicken pesto, smoked eggplant and chipotle steak. L D $ Parker’s American Bistro, 4824 Bethesda Ave., 301654-6366, www.parkersbistro.com. An all-American menu with vintage local sports posters, Parker’s offers a wide-ranging food and wine list, upbeat soundtrack and servers who take an interest in your happiness. ❂ J R L D $$ Passage to India (Editors’ Pick), 4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, www.passagetoindia.info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chef-owner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. Elegant ivory screens shield diners from street noise.
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Voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. ❂ R L D $$ Penang Malaysian Cuisine, 4933 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-2878, www.penangmaryland.com. At this Malaysian spot decorated with exotic dark woods and a thatched roof, spices run the gamut of Near and Far Eastern influence, and flavors include coconut, lemongrass, sesame and chili sauce. L D $$ Persimmon (Editors’ Pick), 7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, www.persimmonrestaurant.com. Chef-owner Damian Salvatore’s popular restaurant has reopened, with more casual décor, lower prices and less formal fare. ❂ L D $$ Pitzze Table, 7137 Wisconsin Ave., 301-664-9412, www.pitzze.com. Haven Pizzeria Napoletana changed names in mid-June. Tiger Mullen, who opened Haven in 2012 before being bought out by his partners, is back and overseeing the reinvigorated restaurant, which offers an expanded menu with more salads and small plates. plus morning coffee service with freshly squeezed juices and a toast bar. B L D $ Pines of Rome, 4709 Hampden Lane, 301-657-8775. Local celebrities and families gather at this downhome Italian spot for traditional food at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. L D $ PizzaPass, 4924 St. Elmo Ave., 301-657-5522, www. pizzapass.net. Waiters, or “pizza passers,” circulate with a variety of hot slices of pizza on their trays, al-
lowing diners to choose their preferred topping. Informal and very kid-friendly, the restaurant also offers pasta and a salad bar. It’s all-you-can-eat for a set price, with substantial discounts for the kids. ❂ L D $ Pizza Tempo, 8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0003, www.pizzatempo.us. Pizza with a twist, which includes toppings such as sujuk (Mediterranean beef sausage), pistachio mortadella and spicy beef franks, plus a wide selection of pides (boat-shaped pizzas). Salads, wraps, panini and entrées also available. Limited seating; delivery within about a 3-mile radius. L D $ Pizzeria da Marco (Editors’ Pick), 8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, www.pizzeriadamarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a $15,000 Italian brick oven. ❂ L D $ Positano Ristorante Italiano, 4940-48 Fairmont Ave., 301-654-1717, www.epositano.com. An authentic Italian, family-run restaurant popular for private events, large and small. Colorful rooms are decorated with Italian landscapes, copper pots and hanging plants, and the outdoor patio is one of the most beautiful in the county. ❂ L D $ Praline Bakery & Bistro, 4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, www.praline-bakery.com. Two former White House pastry chefs opened this sunny restaurant with a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken pot pie and pralines, is French with an American accent. The magazine’s editors
voted its desserts the prettiest around in 2013. ❂ J B R L D $$ Raku (Editors’ Pick), 7240 Woodmont Ave., 301718-8680, www.rakuasiandining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by the magazine’s readers in 2014 and “Best Bethesda Restaurant” in 2013, this casual restaurant has bamboo walls that do little to dampen the noise, but the menu satisfies with everything from sushi to kung pao chicken. ❂ L D $$ Redwood Restaurant & Bar, 7121 Bethesda Lane, 301-656-5515, www.redwoodbethesda.com. An upscale wine bar featuring fresh, local food and California-centric wines in the heart of Bethesda Lane. Voted “Best Private Dining Room” by the magazine’s readers in 2013 (in a tie), Redwood features a frequently changing menu and in-season farmers market dinners. The interior décor makes the most of recycled redwood and “green” materials. ❂ J RL D $$ Rice Paddies Grill & Pho, 4706 Bethesda Ave., 301718-1862, ricepaddiesgrill.com. This cute copper-andgreen eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites like pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $ Rock Bottom Brewery, 7900 Norfolk Ave., 301652-1311, www.rockbottom.com. The award-winning beers are crafted in-house and the menu is vast at this cavernous yet welcoming chain. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$
When it starts getting chilly this Fall, Fall into our Sweet Potato/Quinoa Chili.
Voted by Zagat Survey “Extraordinary to Perfection for Food” BETHESDA 301-986-0285 ROCKVILLE 301-468-0886 FALLS CHURCH 703-698-6292 www.ophrestaurants.com FREE PARKING ALL LOCATIONS
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dining guide Roof Bethesda, 7940 Norfolk Ave., 240-245-7663, www.roofbethesda.com. Bethesda’s first full-service rooftop restaurant and bar is a two-level extravaganza with a casual glass-enclosed dining room and bar on the second floor and a large rooftop space—serving drinks and lighter fare—directly above it. The modern American menu focuses on familiar dishes such as sea scallops, pork chops and shrimp and grits, elevated with simple twists. Craft cocktails and homemade desserts are taken seriously, too. ❂ J R L D $$ Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7877, www.ruthschris.com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happy-hour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices. D $$$ Sala Thai, 4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, www. salathaidc.com. This Thai mainstay cooks the classics and offers diners a nearly panoramic view of Woodmont Avenue through huge, curved windows. Live jazz Friday and Saturday evenings. L D $$ Saphire Café, 7940 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-9708. A relaxing spot for tasting everything from Maryland-style crab soup to Argentine skirt steak, Saphire pumps it up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights with drink specials and DJs. Tiki bar open Wednesdays through Saturdays. ❂ J L D $ Satsuma, 8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut— short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue—and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$ Shanghai Village, 4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-7788. Owner Kwok Chueng prides himself on personal attention and recognizing regulars who have been stopping in for his classic Chinese cooking for more than 25 years. Order the secret recipe Mai Tai. L D $ Shangri-La Indian and Nepalese Cuisine, 7345-A Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-4444, www.shangrilaus.com. Northern Indian and Nepali specialties such as butter chicken and fresh flatbreads known as naan shine here. J L D $
pecially if diners sit on the wraparound porch in warm weather with a bucket of crabs and some beer.❂ J L D $$ Stromboli Family Restaurant, 7023 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-1980, www.strombolisrestaurant.com. In addition to a large selection of delectable hot Italian sandwiches called stromboli, this proud family restaurant/carryout features pizzas, subs and pastas at reasonable prices. L D $ sweetgreen, 4831 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-7336, www.sweetgreen.com. Founded in 2007 in Washington, D.C., by three newly graduated Georgetown students, the sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients—has expanded rapidly. The menu concentrates on salads and wraps (devise your own, or pick from a list), plus tart frozen yogurt. Look for eco-friendly décor, a healthy sensibility and a hip buzz. ❂ L D $ Tako Grill, 7756 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7030, www. takogrill.com. Families and sake connoisseurs seek out this eclectic spot where sushi, sashimi and other Japanese treats are fresh, and waiters are knowledgeable and friendly. L D $$
Trattoria Sorrento (Editors’ Pick), 4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, www.trattoriasorrento.com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Halfprice bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Opera dinners at 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month feature a four-course meal and a performance for $50 per person. D $$ Tyber Bierhaus, 7528 Old Georgetown Road, 240821-6830, www.tyberbierhausmd.com. Czech, German and Belgian brews served in an authentic beerhall setting, furnished with the same benches as those used in the Hofbrau brewhouse in Munich. Pub menu features mussels, hearty sandwiches, familiar entrées, and some schnitzel and goulash, too. R L D $$ Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Café, 4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, www.unclejulios.com. Loud and large, this Tex-Mex eatery packs in families and revelers fueling up on fajitas, tacos and more. Kids love to watch the tortilla machine. ❂ J R L D $$
Tara Thai, 4828 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-0488, www. tarathai.com. Thai goes high style at Bethesda Magazine readers’ pick for “Best Thai Restaurant” in 2014. With colorful murals of ocean creatures looking on, diners can try dishes ranging from mild to adventurous. ❂ L D $$
Union Jack’s, 4915 St. Elmo Ave., 301-652-2561, www.unionjacksbethesda.com. This authentically decorated British-style pub is partially below street level. English dishes such as Welsh rarebit cozy up to burgers, salads and crabcakes. DJ and dancing weekends until 2:30 a.m. ❂ J L D $$
Tastee Diner, 7731 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-3970, www.tasteediner.com. For more than 70 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything from breakfast to burgers to blueplate specials like steak and crabcakes. Open 24 hours. J B L D $
Vapiano, 4900 Hampden Lane, 301-215-7013, www. vapiano.com. Worldwide Italian chain offers reasonably priced pizza, pasta and panini in a chic cafeteriastyle setting. ❂ J L D $
Taylor Gourmet, 7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-9519001, www.taylorgourmet.com. Upscale takes on Philadelphia hoagies and sandwiches. Italian flavors and top-notch ingredients. L D $ The Barking Dog, 4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, www. thebarkingdogonline.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Salsa dancing on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesdays, karaoke on Thursdays and a DJ and dancing Fridays and Saturdays. L D $
Smoke BBQ Bethesda, 4858 Cordell Ave., 301-6562011, www.smokebbqbethesda.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s at Bethesda’s only sit-down barbecue joint. L D $
The Burger Joint, 4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great at this frequently packed eatery next to Veterans Park. The non-beef burgers are good, too. ❂ J L D $
Steamers Seafood House, 4820 Auburn Ave., 301-718-0661, www.steamersseafoodhouse.com. Steamers brings Bethany Beach to Bethesda, es-
Tommy Joe’s Restaurant, 4714 Montgomery Lane, 301-654-3801, www.tommyjoes.com. Hot wings and drink specials abound at this friendly restaurant/ bar/nightclub featuring 20 big-screen TVs for game time. ❂ J L D $$
Tandoori Nights, 7236 Woodmont Ave., 301-6564002, www.tandoorinightsbethesda.com. Indian cuisine returns to the former Delhi Dhaba space. ❂ L D $$
Share Wine Lounge & Small Plate Bistro, 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (in the Doubletree Hotel), 301-6522000, www.doubletreebethesda.com/Food-DrinksFun/Share-Wine-Lounge-Small-Plate-Bistro. 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 $$
South Street Steaks, 4856 Cordell Ave., 301-2157972, www.southstreetsteaks.com. Even transplanted Philadelphians will admire the cheesesteaks at this local chain’s third location. The shop also offers chicken cheesesteaks, hoagies (that’s Philly-talk for cold subs) and sandwiches called “Phillinis,” a cross between “Philly” and “panini.” J L D $
and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. ❂ J L D $$
The Corner Slice, 7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, www.thecornerslice.net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. ❂ L D $ The Parva, 7904 Woodmont Ave., 301-312-6488, www. theparva.com. Latin-fusion cuisine with offerings from Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. ❂ D $ Tia Queta, 4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, www.tia queta.com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers authentic Mexican food like moles
Vino Volo, 7247 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-0916, www. vinovolobethesdarow.com. First non-airport location for the wine bar and shop that also features a rustic café serving small plates, salads, sandwiches, pizza and a few entrées. ❂ L D $$ Wildwood Kitchen (Editors’ Pick), 10223 Old Georgetown Road (in the Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-571-1700, www.wildwoodkitchenrw.com. Attractive neighborhood bistro serving fresh and light modern cuisine from well-known chef Robert Wiedmaier. L D $$ Woodmont Grill (Editors’ Pick), 7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, www.hillstone.com. Part of the Houston’s chain, offering such classics as spinach and artichoke dip and the famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. ❂ J L D $$$ Yamas Mediterranean Grill, 4806 Rugby Ave., 301312-8384, www.yamasgrill.com. Gyros, souvlaki, lemon chicken and other Greek specialties at this friendly and sunny café. ❂ J L D $ Yuzu, 7345-B Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-5234, yuzu bethesda.com. Authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi and cooked tofu, vegetable, tempura, meat and fish dishes, prepared by sushi chef and owner Yoshihisa Ota. L D $$
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Cabin John Fish Taco, 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, www.fishtacoonline.com. This counter-service taqueria from the owners of Bethesda’s Food Wine & Co. features a full roster of seafood as well as nonaquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. The eco-chic décor is casual and attractive, and there are rolls of paper towels on every table to sop up sauce-stained fingers. Don’t miss the bread pudding. ❂ J L D $ Wild Tomato (Editors’ Pick), 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, www.wildtomatorestaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted "Best Fish Tacos" by our readers in 2014. ❂ J L D $
Chevy Chase Alfio’s, 4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, www.alfi os.com. Owner Anastasios “Tasios” Hatzitanagiotis welcomes families and casual diners to the elegant dining room of this northern Italian classic, located on the first floor of the Willoughby Condominium. The salad bar, pastas and homemade desserts are popular. L D $$ Capital Grille, 5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, www.capitalgrille.com. The upscale steak-house chain, known for its he-man-sized portions and extensive wine list, is located in The Shops at Wisconsin Place. L D $$$$ Clyde’s, 5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, www. clydes.com. Features a frequently changing menu of American favorites and a collection of vintage airplanes and cars, as well as a model train running on a track around the ceiling. ❂ J R L D $$ La Ferme (Editors’ Pick), 7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, www.lafermerestaurant.com. This warm and charming Provence-style restaurant is a popular choice for an intimate dinner or a celebration in one of several private rooms or on the heated patio terrace. Perhaps that’s why the magazine’s readers voted it the “Most Romantic Restaurant” in 2014 and editors named it “Best Restaurant for Ambience” in 2013. Classic French cuisine from onion soup to sweetbreads. ❂ R L D $$$ Lia’s (Editors’ Pick), 4435 Willard Ave., 240-2235427, www.liasrestaurant.com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on high-quality, low-fuss modern ItalianAmerican fare at this funky and modern space with a wine room. Pizzas, house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. The magazine’s readers chose it as “Best Chevy Chase Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ J R L D $ Manoli Canoli Restaurant, 8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, www.manolicanoli.com. Italian and Greek specialties at a fun family eatery that features a large prepared foods section, dishes made with olive oil from owner Stavros Manolakos’ family farm
in Greece and homemade mozzarella on pizza and subs. ❂ J L D $ Meiwah Restaurant, 4457 Willard Ave., 301-6529882, www.meiwahrestaurant.com. This modern restaurant on the second floor of a Friendship Heights office building offers top-quality Chinese dishes that are hard to beat. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio. Sushi bar. ❂ L D $$ Mi Cocina, 5471 Wisconsin Ave. (in The Collection), 301-652-1195, www.micocinarestaurants.com. A Dallas-based chain serving Tex-Mex staples such as enchiladas, tacos and fajitas in stylish surroundings. L D $$ Potomac Pizza, 19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, www.potomacpizza.com. This cheery, casual dining room provides a break from the ultra-posh shopping surrounding it. In addition to pizza, subs and pastas are popular. Beer and wine available. ❂ J L D $ Sushiko (Editors’ Pick), 5455 Wisconsin Ave., 301961-1644, www.sushikorestaurants.com. Washington, D.C.’s oldest and most respected sushi restaurant, opened in Glover Park in 1976, continues its tradition in a bigger, sleeker suburban outpost. ❂ L D $$ Tavira, 8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, www. tavirarestaurant.com. Fish stews and several versions of bacalhau (salted cod) figure prominently on the menu of this intriguing Portuguese restaurant, which manages to be charming and attractive despite its location in an office building basement. L (except Saturday and Sunday) D $$
GarretT Park Black Market Bistro (Editors’ Pick), 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, www.blackmarketrestaurant. com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. ❂ J R L D $$
All natural breads made from scratch
Glen Echo Irish Inn at Glen Echo, 6119 Tulane Ave., 301-2296600, www.irishinnglenecho.com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been bringing smiles to faces and hearty food to bellies since 2003. Traditional Irish music on Monday nights and The 19th Street Band on every other Wednesday night. ❂ J R L D $$
Opening in Rockville this summer!
Kensington Frankly…Pizza! (New), 10417 Armory Ave., 301-8321065, www.frankly-pizza.com. Frank Linn turns his mobile pizza kitchen into a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant, featuring Amish-crafted tables, salvaged wood and an old church pew. The menu offers the same high-quality, wood-fired pies topped with homecured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-year-
4961 Elm St Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-7970 Located in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Barracks Row (Capitol Hill)
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dining guide old family recipe. Homemade sodas and wines served on tap, too. ❂ L D $ K Town Bistro, 3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, www.ktownbistro.com. Beef Wellington, duck breast à l’orange and other classic continental dishes from this eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$ Savannah’s American Grill, 10700 Connecticut Ave., 301-946-7917. A casual sports bar serving American bar food, including wraps, burgers, salads and ribs, and brunch on weekends, which spills out onto a 50-seat patio. ❂ J R L D $ Sub*urban Trading Co., 10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, www.suburbantrading.com. Earthy, neighborhood bistro and market in a small strip shopping center features creative seasonal dishes. Think cured duck leg sandwich with shaved onions and fig preserves, roasted sausage and rice-stuffed shallots, vegetable pot-au-feu, plus homemade sweets. Coffeehouse atmosphere in the front area; back dining room offers rustic vibe. R L D $$
North Potomac/ Gaithersburg Athens Grill, 9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, www. athensgrill.com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant in Goshen Plaza specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties like rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked behind the counter on a hardwood grill. L D $ Bonefish Grill, 82 Market St., 240-631-2401, www.bone fishgrill.com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks, crabcakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites. Bethesda Magazine readers selected it as the “Best Gaithersburg Restaurant” in 2013. R L (only on Sundays) D $$ Brasserie Beck Kentlands, 311 Kentlands Blvd., 301569-4247, brasseriebeck.com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier and his RW Restaurant Group have opened the first suburban locale of their highly successful downtown restaurant. Like its District sister, the Belgian-inspired brasserie focuses on raw oysters, mussels, artisan cheeses and charcuterie, plus hearty main courses such as beef carbonnade and braised pork shank. Spacious, blueaccented interior and outdoor patio are conducive for drinking European beers, too. ❂ L D $$$ Buca di Beppo, 122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, www.bucadibeppo.com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties amid a sea of Italian kitsch. J L D $$ Burma Road, 617 S. Frederick Ave., 301-963-1429, www.burmaroad.biz. A good place to sample pickled tea leaf salad and other Burmese specialties. L D $ Coal Fire, Kentlands Square, 116 Main St., 301-5192625, www.coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by anthracite coal and topped with your choice of three different sauces, plus toppings. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available. Full bar. ❂ L D $
Copper Canyon Grill, 100 Boardwalk Place, 240-6310003, www.ccgrill.com. Large portions of American classics like salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious chain restaurant. J L D $$ Dogfish Head Alehouse, 800 W. Diamond Ave., 301963-4847, www.dogfishalehouse.com. The first Maryland outpost of the popular Rehoboth Beach brewpub, the restaurant is packed with revelers and families clamoring for the Dogfish Head brews, burgers, pizzas and ribs. ❂ J L D $$ Famous Dave’s, 917 Quince Orchard Road, 240-6830435, www.famousdaves.com. This local outpost of a national chain offers smoked meat and hearty portions of classic sides such as baked beans and creamy coleslaw. ❂ J L D $ Growler’s, 227 E. Diamond Ave., 301-519-9400, www. growlersrestaurant.com. This turn-of-the-century building in downtown Gaithersburg is now a brewpub with regular and seasonal house brews and a full menu including pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and entrées such as Cajun rigatoni and steak frites. Live music Wednesday through Saturday. ❂ R L D $ Guapo’s Restaurant, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17, 301-977-5655, www.guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $ HaKuBa Restaurant, 706 Center Point Way, 301-9471283, hakubakentlands.com. An elegant, modern Japanese sushi spot that also serves fresh fish and teriyaki and tempura dishes. Wood stools and a silver bar elevate the décor. Dollar-sushi happy hours Monday through Thursday; sake bottles half-price on Mondays. L D $$ Il Porto Restaurant, 245 Muddy Branch Road, 301590-0735, www.ilportorestaurant.com. A classic redsauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thin-crust pizza at a friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. L D $ Joe’s Crab Shack, 221 Rio Blvd., 301-947-4377, www. joescrabshack.com. This is one of three Maryland locations of the chain, which offers blue crabs from April through August and other varieties year-round, as well as chicken and burgers for landlubbers. Popular with families and young couples. ❂ J L D $$ Le Palais, 304 Main St., Suite 1, 301-947-4051, www. restaurantlepalais.com. Chef-owner Joseph Zaka trips lightly through the dishes of Brittany and Burgundy, adding a modern twist here and there. D $$$ Not Your Average Joe’s, 245 Kentlands Blvd. (in Kentlands Square Shopping Center), 240-477-1040, www.notyouraveragejoes.com. Massachusetts-based chain serving creative casual cuisine. ❂ J L D $$ Potomac Pizza, 625 Center Point Way, 301-9779777, www.potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $ Red Hot & Blue, 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, 301948-7333, www.redhotandblue.com. Hickory-smoked barbecue and a Southern attitude at a chain popular for its office party takeout and its family-friendly, kitschy roadhouse décor. J L D $ Rio Grande Café, 231 Rio Blvd., 240-632-2150, www. unclejulios.com. See Bethesda listing under Uncle Julio’s. ❂ J R L D $$
Romano’s Macaroni Grill, 211 Rio Blvd., 301-9635003, www.macaronigrill.com. Standard Italian-American fare served in a lively, family-friendly setting. Pastas, pizzas and house-label wine. ❂ J L D $$ Sardi’s Pollo a La Brasa, 430 N. Frederick Ave., 301977-3222, www.sardischicken.com. Yes, there’s chicken, but don’t miss the other Peruvian specialties, especially the ceviche. L D $ Tandoori Nights, 106 Market St., 301-947-4007, www.tandoorinightsmd.com. Downtown martini lounge meets modern curry palace in the Kentlands. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, Tandoori Nights specializes in marinated meats baked in the eponymous clay oven. ❂ L D $ Tara Thai, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9, 301-947-8330, www.tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$ Thai Tanium, 657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, www. thaitaniumrestaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. ❂ J L D $ The Melting Pot, 9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, www.themeltingpot.com. There’s nothing like dipping bits of bread, vegetables and apples into a communal pot of hot cheese to get a date or a party started. The Melting Pot chain also offers wine, oil or broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$ The Wine Harvest, The Kentlands, 114 Market St., 301-869-4008, www.thewineharvest.com. Popular Cheers-like wine bar locally owned by the Meyrowitz family, with salads, sandwiches and cheese plates. It also has a Potomac location. ❂ L D $ Vasilis Mediterranean Grill, 353 Main St., 301-9771011, www.vasilisgrill.com. With soaring white pillars and a spate of inviting outdoor tables, the Greek restaurant serves the usual souvlaki and gyros as well as more interesting dishes such as grilled branzini (sea bass) and lamb chops. ❂ J L D $ Yoyogi Sushi, 328 Main St., 301-963-0001. A nononsense neighborhood sushi place with bright fish tanks, offering the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura and green tea or red bean ice cream. L D $ Ziki Japanese Steak House, 10009 Fields Road, 301-330-3868, www.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 $$
Potomac Amici Miei, 1093 Seven Locks Road, 301-545-0966, www.amicimieiristorante.com. Chef Davide Megna and manager/partner Roberto Deias have created an upscale Italian neighborhood gathering place, with wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and creative salads. Happy Hour held Monday through Friday. ❂ R L D $$ Attman’s Delicatessen, 7913 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-765-3354, attmansdeli.com. After getting its start on Baltimore’s Corned Beef Row in 1915, the landmark Attman’s Deli made an historic move and opened a second loca-
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tion in Potomac in July 2013. The menu at the nearly century-younger sibling offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Thirdgeneration owner Marc Attman is at the helm. J L $ Benny’s Bar & Grill, 7747 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-299-3377. Familiar American favorites and old-time cocktails served amidst 1940s-era décor. L D $$ Brooklyn’s Deli & Catering, 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, www.brooklynsdelimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. ❂ J B L D $ Elevation Burger, 12525-D Park Potomac Ave., 301838-4010, www.elevationburger.com. Fast-food burgers go organic and grass-fed at this Northern Virginia-founded chain. Veggie burgers, salads and grilled cheese available, too. ❂ L D $ Gregorio’s Trattoria, 7745 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center), 301-296-6168, www. gregoriostrattoria.com. “Our food is like a warm hug with spaghetti sauce” is the slogan for this familyowned restaurant, where proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home. The extensive menu reads like a hit parade of traditional Italian favorites, with all the familiar pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa spaghetti and penne. J L D $$ Mix Bar and Grille, 9812 Falls Road, Potomac, 301299-3000, www.mixbarandgrille.com. The former Bezu restaurant has been transformed into a more casual concept, serving charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads and other light fare. The space was gutted and renovated into a modern, hip and totally different-looking dining room, with Plexiglas chairs, tall white banquettes, oak walls made from old whiskey barrels, five big screen TVs, cobalt blue light fixtures and a 20-seat bar. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. L D $$ MoCo’s Founding Farmers, 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, www.wearefoundingfarmers. com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown Founding Farmers. Bethesda Magazine readers chose it for “Best Brunch” and “Best Craft Cocktails” in 2014 and as “Best Potomac Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ B R L D $$ Normandie Farm Restaurant, 10710 Falls Road, 301983-8838, www.popovers.com. A fine-dining French restaurant, open since 1931, that strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. It offers quick service and crayons for children, a casual café option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$ Old Angler’s Inn, 10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-2999097, www.oldanglersinn.com. Open since 1860 and known for its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. ❂ R L D $$$ Potomac Pizza, 9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, www. potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. L D $ Renato at River Falls, 10120 River Road, 301-3651900, www.riverfallsmarket.com. The classic Italian restaurant has added more wine and greatly improved fish dishes to its menu of pastas and classics such
as osso bucco and linguini with clams and eggplant parmigiana. ❂ J L D $$ Sugo Osteria & Pizzeria, 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 240-386-8080, www.eatsugo.com. The Greek guys who own Cava Mezze and Cava Mezze Grills partner with Mamma Lucia restaurants to serve Italian small plates, meatballs, sliders, pizza and pasta. Bethesda Magazine readers chose Sugo as the “Best New Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ R (only on Sundays) L D $$ Tally-Ho Restaurant, 9923 Falls Road, 301-2996825, www.tallyhorestaurant.com. A local fixture since 1968 serving a diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. ❂ J B L D $ The Grilled Oyster Company (Editors’ Pick), 7943 Tuckerman Lane (in the Cabin John Shopping Center), 301-299-9888, www.thegrilledoystercompa ny.com. Chesapeake-style seafood eatery, featuring small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrées. Happy Hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in bar only. Named “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2014. ❂ J R L D $ The Hunter’s Inn, 10123 River Road, 301-299-9300, www.thehuntersinn.com. A Potomac institution and a popular English hunt-themed spot for a big salad or hamburger lunch with friends or a filet mignon dinner with the family. ❂ J R L D $$ The Tavern at River Falls (Editors’ Pick), 10128 River Road, 301-299-0481, www.thetavernatriverfalls.com. Seafood-heavy pub menu served in a rustic setting; the tavern is owned by the adjacent Renato’s at River Falls and River Falls Seafood Market. ❂ J L D $$ The Wine Harvest, 12525-B Park Potomac Ave., 240-314-0177, www.thewineharvest.com. The second location of the popular Gaithersburg wine bar. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ L D $ Zoës Kitchen, 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Suite 115, 240-328-1022, www.zoeskitchen.com. First Maryland outpost of a Birmingham, Ala., fast-casual chain, Zoës features Mediterranean dishes such as kabobs, hummus and veggie pita pizzas. Specializes in takeout dinner for four for under $30. ❂ J L D $
Rockville/ North Bethesda 82 Steak Out, 101-C Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 240-428-1295, www.82steakout.com. Parisian-style steakhouse offers steak, salad and French fries for a set price in a hip, industrial setting. American touches include options of a blue cheese chopped salad and sweet potato fries. L D $$ A & J Restaurant (Editors’ Pick), 1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, www.aj-restaurant.com/main. html. Northern dim sum, more bread, less dumplings, is the specialty at this hard-to-find spot tucked in the Woodmont Station shopping center. Warm-colored walls and modern lighting surround the young crowd as they dig into thousand-layer pancakes and fresh tofu. Named “Best Dim Sum Brunch” by the magazine’s editors in 2014. L D $ Al Carbon, 200 Park Road, 301-738-0003, www. alcar bonrestaurant.com/. Serving authentic Latin American fare across the street from the Rockville
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dining guide Metro station, this unassuming roadhouse has a loyal following for its arepas, empanadas and more. ❂BLD$ Amalfi Ristorante Italiano, 12307 Wilkins Ave., 301770-7888, www.amalfirockville.com. A family-run, redsauce Italian restaurant with specialties like white pizza and lasagna. The gazebo is a charming spot to dine during the summer. J L D $ Amina Thai Restaurant, 5065 Nicholson Lane, 301770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-and-wife team and bills itself as the first Muslim Thai restaurant in the area, using only halal meats and serving familiar Thai dishes. L D $ Benjarong Thai Restaurant, 885 Rockville Pike, 301424-5533, www.benjarongthairestaurant.com. This Thai food stalwart has a reputation for above-average food served in a gracious setting reminiscent of an upscale country home. L D $ Bombay Bistro, 98 W. Montgomery Ave., 301-7628798, www.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. J L D $ Bonchon Chicken, 107 Gibbs St., Unit A, 301-637-9079 and 301-637-9379, www.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, bimbimbop and scallion seafood pancakes. Red, black and white color scheme encompasses a bar, tables and booths. L D $ BRIO Tuscan Grille, 20 Paseo Drive, 240-221-2691, www.brioitalian.com. Look for Tuscan specialties served in a handsome setting. ❂ J R L D $$ Carbon Peruvian Chicken & Grill, 100-F Gibbs St., 301-251-1944, www.carbonperuviangrill.com. A Peruvian grilled meat mecca from the owners of the popular La Canela, also in Rockville Town Square. ❂ L D $ Cava (Editors’ Pick), 9713 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-9090, www.cavamezze.com. The dark and elegant Cava offers small plates of fried Greek cheese, octopus and orzo in cinnamon tomato sauce and martini specials. ❂ R L D $$ Cavo’s Cantina, 4007 Norbeck Road, 301-929-3501. Traditional Tex-Mex fare, from nachos to enchiladas and fajitas. J R L D $$ Chef Geoff’s, 12256 Rockville Pike (in the Towne Plaza), 240-621-3090, www.chefgeoff.com. Geoff Tracy branches out with his fourth eponymous restaurant featuring contemporary cuisine and something for everyone. ❂ J R L D $$ Cuban Corner, 825 Hungerford Drive, 301-279-0310, www.cubancornerrestaurant.com. Pork and empanadas shine at this small space brimming with ethnic pride (there’s a tribute wall to famous Cuban-Americans). Don’t skip the Cuban coffee or the Cuban sandwich, a sub bursting with ham, pickles and tangy mustard. L D $ East Pearl, 838-B Rockville Pike, 301-838-8663. www. eastpearlrestaurant.com. Hong Kong cuisine, includ-
ing familiar dishes, as well as those for adventurous tastes. L D $
beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $
El Mariachi Restaurant, 765-D Rockville Pike, 301738-7177, www.elmariachirockville.com. Serving TexMex and South American food in a bright, pleasant space made lively with colorful art. In addition to the usual enchiladas, tacos and burritos, look for Peruvian seafood and Cuban beef specialties. ❂ L D $
La Brasa Latin Cuisine, 12401 Parklawn Drive, 301468-8850, www.labrasarockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa. Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and Tres Leches. ❂ L D $
El Patio, 5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225, www. elpatiointernational.com. This bustling café with pretty green umbrellas on the patio serves up the traditional meat-heavy dishes of Argentina, as well as pizzas and freshly made baked goods. Look for mouth-watering empanadas, beef tongue and sausage specialties. ❂ J B L D $
La Canela (Editors’ Pick), 141-D Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301-251-1550, www.lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy black ironwork. ❂ L D $
Far East Restaurant, 5055 Nicholson Lane, 301-8815552, www.fareastrockvillemd.com. This classic Chinese restaurant greets customers with two royal stone lions out front and sticks to the familiar Chinese-American basics. Check for daily specials. L D $$ Fontina Grille, 801 Pleasant Drive, 301-947-5400, www.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. Two-dollar pasta dishes on Monday nights, half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays and ladies’ night on Thursdays with half-priced alcoholic drinks. ❂ J R L D $$ Gordon Biersch, 200-A E. Middle Lane, Rockville Town Square, 301-340-7159, www.gordonbierschrestau rants.com. The national brewpub chain prides itself on house beers and friendly service. The shiny bar is boisterous, and the menu includes bar favorites with some barbecue and Asian touches.❂ J R L D $$ Grand Fusion Cuisine, 350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grandfusionrestaurant.com. Something for everyone seeking a taste of the Asian continent, a full sushi bar, and Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean specialties. ❂ L D $ Hard Times Café, 1117 Nelson St., 301-294-9720, www.hardtimes.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $ Hinode Japanese Restaurant, 134 Congressional Lane, 301-816-2190. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine since 1992. All-you-can-eat lunch and weekend dinner buffet. L D $$ Il Pizzico, 15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, www. ilpizzico.com. Setting aside the strip mall location and lack of pizza (il pizzico means “the pinch” in Italian), chef-owner Enzo Livia’s house-made pasta dishes, gracious service and extensive wine list make even a weeknight meal feel special. L D $$ India Garden, 1321-C Rockville Pike, 301-838-0000, www.india-garden.com. Decorated in warm shades of orange and yellow, India Garden offers northern Indian specialties such as tandoori chicken and the flavorful flatbread called naan, as well as vegetarian options. Daily lunch buffet. ❂ J L D $ Joe’s Noodle House, 1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-8815518, www.joesnoodlehouse.com. Despite the barebones service and dingy interior, Chinese ex-pats and many other customers consider the Szechuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot
La Limeña Restaurant, 765 Rockville Pike, 301-4248066. Diners can choose dishes such as beef hearts, tripe and homemade pastries in this tiny but wellappointed eatery. And of course, there’s rotisserie chicken to go. L D $ La Tasca, 141 Gibbs St., Suite 305, Rockville Town Square, 301-279-7011, www.latascausa.com. The Rockville location of this regional chain strives to keep things interesting with 45 tapas dishes and six kinds of paella. ❂ J L D $$ Lebanese Taverna Café, 1605 Rockville Pike, 301468-9086; 115 Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301309-8681; www.lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner after shopping at Congressional Plaza or Rockville Town Square, Lebanese Taverna Café is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. J L D $ Lighthouse Tofu & BBQ, 12710 Twinbrook Parkway, 301-881-1178. In addition to numerous tofu dishes, diners at this Korean stalwart can try barbecue, stirfried specialties and kimchee, the national dish of pickled cabbage. L D $ Mamma Lucia, 12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-7704894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; www.mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$ Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro (Editors’ Pick), 1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, www.matchbox foodgroup.com. Mini-burgers and thin-crusted pizza in a super-cool space in Congressional Plaza. ❂ J R L D $ MemSahib, 4840 Boiling Brook Parkway, 301-4680098, www.memsahibrestaurant.com. Patrons eat the Indian country way, with their hands. MemSahib offers a buffet lunch and a six-course prix fixe dinner while belly dancers entertain customers. L D $$ Michael’s Noodles, 10038 Darnestown Road, 301738-0370, www.michaelsnoodles.com. Extensive Taiwanese menu at this popular strip mall eatery includes dim sum, mixed noodle dishes, noodle soup and unusual specialties. L D $ Mi Rancho, 1488 Rockville Pike, 240-221-2636, www.mi ranchotexmexrestaurant.com. A boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place serving standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. ❂ J L D $ Moa, 12300 Wilkins Ave., 301-881-8880. A welcoming Korean restaurant in the midst of an industrial stretch. Try the seafood pancake appetizer—a satisfy-
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ing, crispy frittata bursting with squid, clams, shrimp and scallions. L D $
be customized with bean sprouts, Thai basil, chilies, lime, and hot and hoisin sauces. L D $
Mosaic Cuisine & Café, 186 Halpine Road, 301-4680682, www.mosaiccuisine.com. A diner with a soft European accent. Try the fresh Belgian waffles for breakfast. For those with hefty appetites, the waffle sandwiches are worth the trip, but don’t overlook the homemade soups or light dinner entrées. J B R L D $
Pho 95, 785-H Rockville Pike, 301-294-9391, www. pho95md.com. Pho, the Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is king here. Other offerings include fat ricepaper rolls of shrimp, noodles and herbs with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. L D $
Mykonos Grill, 121 Congressional Lane, 301-7705999, www.mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ J L D $$ Nagoya Sushi Japanese Restaurant, 402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm. L D $$ Nantucket’s Reef, 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301-279-7333, www.nantucketsreef.com. Located in the former Stella’s restaurant, this casual New England-style eatery offers a wide range of reasonably priced seafood dishes, including raw and baked oysters, stuffed cod, fried Ipswitch clams, fish and shrimp tacos, tuna and salmon salads, and several lobster items. The décor is bright and nautical, with baby blue walls, white wainscoting, model ships and other seafaring décor. Signature cocktails are made with Nantucket Nectars juices. ❂ J L D $$ Nick’s Chophouse, 700 King Farm Blvd., 301-9268869, www.nickschophouserockville.com. Aged Angus beef cooked over an open fire is the specialty at this upscale spot, but seafood lovers can get their fill from big crabcakes. Separate bar menu. ❂ J L D $$
Old Kimura Sushi, 785 Rockville Pike, Unit D, 301251-1922, www.oldkimura.com. A small restaurant serving an extensive sushi menu, along with noodle soups, rice dishes and tempura. L D $$ Original Pancake House, 12224 Rockville Pike, 301468-0886, www.ophrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. J R L $ Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar, 11333 Woodglen Drive, 301-816-1100, www.paladarlatin kitchen.com. This small 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, curry shrimp and jerk chicken. The extensive bar selection includes 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos, plus sangria, margaritas and specialty cocktails.❂ J R L D $$ Pho 75, 771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. One of the Washington area’s favorite spots for the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as pho. Soup can
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Pho Hoa Binh, 11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrées. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $
HAPPY HOUR & LATE NITE SPECIALS EVERYDAY
Pho Nom Nom, 842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, www. phonomnom.net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. L D $ Pizza CS, 1596-B Rockville Pike, 240-833-8090, www. pizzacs.com. Authentic Neapolitan pies offered in a sub-shop atmosphere. ❂ J L D $ Potomac Pizza, 9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301279-2234, www.potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. ❂ J L D $ Quench, 9712 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-424-8650, www.quenchnation.com. Urban bar scene in the suburbs, with unique cocktails and contemporary American cuisine. ❂ J R L D $$ Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, 891-A Rockville Pike, 240-268-1120, www.rocklands.com. John Snedden has perfected the art of barbecue since he first opened Rocklands in Washington, D.C., in 1990. This location serves all-American pork ribs, smoked chicken, brisket and lamb cooked exclusively over red oak and hickory. ❂ J L D $ Rolls ‘N Rice, 1701 Rockville Pike (Shops at Congressional Village), 301-770-4030, www.rollsnrice.com. This Asian café serves more than 25 varieties of rolls, from a volcano roll (spicy tuna, white fish, salmon, tomato, jalapeno, fish eggs and vegetables) to a Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado). J L D $ Sadaf Halal Restaurant, 1327-K Rockville Pike, 301424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting the Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes. ❂ J L D $ Sam’s Café & Market, 844 Rockville Pike, 301-4241600, www.samcafemarket.com. After filling up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats, have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ J L D $ Seasons 52 (Editors’ Pick), 11414 Rockville Pike, 301984-5252, www.seasons52.com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Nightly piano music. Voted “Best Rockville Restaurant” in 2013. ❂ L D $$ Seven Seas Chinese Restaurant, 1776 East Jefferson St., 301-770-5020, www.sevenseasrestaurant. com. An elegant restaurant popular with politicians and local chefs and known for its fresh seafood and impeccable service. Specials include the paper hot pot, meals using ancient Chinese herbs and afternoon tea. Sushi, too. J L D $ Sheba Restaurant, 5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-8818882, www.shebarockville.com. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. L D $
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Niwano Hana Japanese Restaurant, 887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, www.niwanohana.com. Clean Asian décor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. Niwano Hana serves the usual sushi rolls, plus more creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori, as well as a special crêpe for dessert. L D $$
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dining guide Sichuan Jin River, 410 Hungerford Drive, 240-4037351, www.scjinriver.com. Terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a no-frills setting. Take the plunge with the authentic Chinese menu. L D $
Temari Café, 1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$
Silver Diner, 12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, www.silverdiner.com. Shiny new digs replace the local chain’s first location a few traffic lights away. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. J B R L D $
Thai Farm, 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, www. thaifarmrestaurant.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$
Spice Xing, 100-B Gibbs St., Rockville Town Square, 301-610-0303, www.spicexing.com. Started by Sudhir Seth, chef and owner of Bethesda’s Passage to India, this location offers lower prices, smaller plates and dishes reflecting the history of culinary influences on India. ❂ J R L D $$ Super Bowl Noodle, 785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086. Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions. ❂ L D $ Sushi Damo, 36-G Maryland Ave., Rockville Town Square, 301-340-8010, www.sushidamo.com. A slice of New York sophistication, this elegant restaurant offers sushi à la carte or omakase, chef’s choice, plus beef and seafood entrées and an impressive sake list. L D $$ Sushi House Japanese Restaurant, 1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043. A tiny, plain restaurant serving fresh sushi. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$ Sushi Oishii, 9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-2511177, www.sushioishii.com. Charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offering friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items. ❂ L D $$ Taipei Tokyo, 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301-881-8388; www.taipei-tokyo.net. These sister restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. Opened in 2003, the Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993 across from White Flint Mall, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$ Tara Asia, 199-D E. Montgomery Ave., 301-315-8008. A pan-Asian offshoot of the Tara Thai family, dominated by a floor-to-ceiling mosaic and an 82-item menu that spans the cuisine from Japan to Thailand and the tiny islands in between. ❂ J L D $$ Tara Thai, 12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, www. tarathai.com.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$ Taste of Saigon (Editors’ Pick), 20-A Maryland Ave., Rockville Town Square, 301-424-7222, www.tasteof saigon.com. This neighborhood favorite focuses on elegant Vietnamese preparations. Tamarind soft-shell crab and lime steak topped with an egg are specialties, but a variety of noodle dishes and lemongrass skewers are also offered. ❂ L D $$ Ted’s 355 Diner, 895 Rockville Pike, 301-340-0088, www.teds355.com. The former Broadway and Hollywood diners get reincarnated again, this time by Virginia pizza restaurateur Ted Thedorou. J B R L D $$
Thai Pavilion, 29 Maryland Ave., Unit 308, Rockville Town Square, 301-545-0244, www.thaipavilionrestau rant.com. The soaring ceilings decorated with red chandeliers shaped like giant, stationary spinning tops give the feel of a modern museum. When the menu says spicy, believe it. ❂ J L D $$ That’s Amore, 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-2680682, www.thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on family-style portions of classic Neapolitan dishes like lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$ The Dough Roller (New), 403 Redland Blvd., #3160, (in the King Farm Village Center), 301-869-4584, www. doughrollerrestaurants.com. Grab a pizza slice and dream of boardwalk breezes at the first inland outpost of Ocean City’s popular pizza and pancake chainlet. In addition to pizza, this locale features most of the sandwiches, burgers and other items, including pancakes served all day, on the menus at the four Ocean City locations. J B R L D $ The Original Ambrosia Restaurant, 12015 Rockville Pike, 301-881-3636, www.theoriginalambrosia.com. When Ambrosia Restaurant lost its lease after 30 years, the original employees opened this location, which features an eclectic menu of breakfast, gyros, pizza, crabcakes and soups. J B L D $ The Potomac Grill, 1093 Rockville Pike, 301-7388181, www.thepotomacgrill.com. A spacious, nautical-themed restaurant with a fireplace, Potomac Grill specializes in seafood but also features serious steaks, burgers and salads. Look for daily specials featuring a catch of the day and several desserts of the day. J R L D $$ Timpano Italian Chophouse, 12021 Rockville Pike, 301-881-6939, www.timpanochophouse.net. A chain steak house with an Italian accent, Timpano is a favorite of wheeler-dealer business lunchers and nighttime diners looking for a high-quality steak or wellprepared pasta. ❂ J R L D $$$ Tower Oaks Lodge, 2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, www.clydes.com. The Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish. J R L D $$ Trapezaria, 11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, www.trapezariarockville.com. Down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/Mediterranean restaurant dishes out top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrées. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages, simple broiled items, and more-
involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$ Urban Bar-B-Que Company, 2007 Chapman Ave., 240-290-4827, www.iloveubq.com/. Urban Bar-B-Que Company, a tiny joint run by a couple of local friends with a winning formula, features finger-licking ribs, burgers and wings and a friendly staff. J L D $ Urban Burger Company, 5566 Norbeck Road, 301460-0050, www.iloveubq.com. Urban Bar-B-Que’s Black Angus burgers were so popular, its owners decided to open another location in 2007. The fullservice restaurant also offers killer fries, salads and wings. ❂ J L D $ Villa Maya, 5532 Norbeck Road (in the Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247, www.villamayarestau rant.com. Traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex food for the whole family. ❂ J R L D $$ Woodside Deli, 4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, www.thewoodsidedeli.com. A second location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that has been dishing up matzo ball soup since 1947. This one has a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $ Yekta, 1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-0005, www.yekta. com. Persian cuisine served in a beautiful dining room. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kebab. L D $$ Yuan Fu Vegetarian, 798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, www.yuanfuvegetarian.com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese vegetable products. L D $
Silver Spring 8407 Kitchen Bar (Editors’ Pick), 8407 Ramsey Ave., 301-587-8407, 8407kb.com. With new chef Ed Witt, this sleek space across from the Silver Spring Metro prides itself on stellar service and from-scratch preparations, such as house-smoked salmon and home-cured charcuterie. It tied for “Best Silver Spring Restaurant” in 2013. J R L D $$ Addis Ababa, 8233 Fenton St., 301-589-1400 or 301589-1999. Authentic Ethiopian-style vegetables and fiery meats served atop spongy bread in communal bowls. Traditional woven tables and a roof deck add to the ambience. ❂ R L D $ Adega Wine Cellars & Café, 8519 Fenton St., 301608-2200, www.adegawinecellars.com. This light and bright blond wood dining room serves creative sandwiches and allows customers to choose from a small selection of wines by the bottle to take home. A fine place to stop for lunch, if only to try the eggplant fries. ❂ L D $ Asian Bistro Café, 8537 Georgia Ave., 301-589-0123, www.asianbistrocafe.com. A bevy of choices, from Japanese sushi to Chinese noodles and vegetarian dishes. L D $ Austin Grill, 919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, www. austingrill.com. Fun and friendly service welcomes families and couples to this noisy, colorful Tex-Mex favorite. ❂ J R L D $$
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Unrivaled Italian Tradition and Authenticity Azúcar Restaurant Bar & Grill, 14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucarrestaurantmd.com. The name means sugar, and it fits. A colorful Salvadoran spot decorated in bright purple and orange with Cubiststyle paintings. The pork-stuffed corn pupusas are stars. Also look for more elegant dinners, including fried whole trout. L D $$ Blair Mansion Inn, 7711 Eastern Ave., 301-588-1688, www.blairmansion.com. The graciously restored, 19th-century mansion (formerly the residence of Abigail and Charles Newman) is best known for its participatory mystery dinner theater shows, but it also serves dinner à la carte for private events. J L D $$ Bombay Gaylord, 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-565-2528, www.bombaygaylordsilverspring.com. A neighborhood favorite serving respectable Indian fare for years. Lunch buffet. ❂ L D $ Copper Canyon Grill, 928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-5891330, www.ccgrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$ Crisfield Seafood Restaurant, 8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oyster-plate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. J L D $$ Cubano’s, 1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, www. cubanosrestaurant.com. The brightly colored tropical dining room of greens, blues and reds and the authentic Cuban cooking evident in dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains keep customers coming back. ❂ J L D $$
Fenton Café, 8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841. An out-of-the-way crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. B L D $ Fire Station 1 Restaurant & Brewing Co., 8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, www.firestation-1.com. A historic firehouse has been given a makeover as an eatery serving 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. J R L D $
Sorrento trattoria
4930 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda 301-718-0344 www.trattoriasorrento.com
Jackie’s Restaurant (Editors’ Pick), 8081 Georgia Ave., 301-565-9700, www.jackiesrestaurant.com. This lovable eatery serves modern American cuisine in a former-auto-repair-shop-gone-1960s-hot-pink. The Sidebar is a cocktail lounge; Jackie’s Back Room has live music and private parties. The restaurant tied for “Best Silver Spring Restaurant” in 2013. R D $$ Jewel of India, 10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-4082200, www.jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant décor and top-notch northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find. ❂ L D $$ Kao Thai, 8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, www. kaothairestaurant.com. This recently expanded restaurant turns out top-notch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce. ❂ L D $$ La Casita Pupuseria & Market, 8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, www.lacasitapupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $ LacoMelza Ethiopian Cafe, 7912 Georgia Ave., 301326-2435, www.lacomelza.com. Traditional Ethiopian cuisine served in a modern and attractive setting. J R L D $
Chevy Chase, Maryland | 301.986.5255 | lafermerestaurant.com Mi Rancho, 8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, www. miranchotexmexrestaurant.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ J L D $ Mrs. K’s Restaurant, 9201 Colesville Road, 301-5893500, www.mrsks.com. An elegant, antique-filled option for special occasions and sublime Sunday brunch. This historic restaurant beckons a younger crowd with the Wine Press, a European-style wine bar downstairs, which has its own more casual menu. ❂ J R L D $$$ Olazzo, 8235 Georgia Ave., 301-588-2540, www. olazzo.com. The Silver Spring location of the Bethesda restaurant draws crowds to its dark and intimate space with classic Italian-American fare and Tuesday martini specials. ❂ J L D $
Da Marco Ristorante Italiano, 8662 Colesville Road, 301-588-6999, www.damarcorestaurant.com. This full-service restaurant has been a fixture in Silver Spring for years, with an intimate ambience for classic Italian pasta suppers. J L D $$
La Malinche, 8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, www.lamalinchetapas.com. Interesting selection of Spanish and Mexican tapas, plus a full Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring huevos rancheros, variations of tortillas Espanola and more. R L D $$
Eggspectation, 923 Ellsworth Drive, 301-585-1700, www.eggspectations.com. This Canadian import features fresh and creative egg plates in an elegant yet casual dining room complete with a fireplace and colorful Harlequin-themed art. It also serves great salads and dinners. ❂ J B L D $$
Langano Ethiopian Restaurant, 8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700, www.langanorestaurant.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 $
Oriental East Restaurant, 1312 East West Highway, 301-608-0030, www.orientaleast.com. Be prepared to wait for a table and maneuver around carts filled with dumplings, noodles and spare ribs at this popular dim sum restaurant that caters to families and groups on weekends. Chinese standards for dinner, plus tripe and jellyfish. L D $
Lebanese Taverna Café, 933 Ellsworth Drive, 301588-1192, www.lebanesetaverna.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ J L D $
Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria (Editors’ Pick), 8113 Georgia Ave., 301-588-1011, www.paccispizzeria.com. This stylish eatery turns out top-notch pizzas from a wood-burning oven. ❂ J (upon request) L D $
El Aguila Restaurant, 8649 16th St., 301-588-9063, www.elaguilarestaurant.com. A cheery bar and generous plates of Tex-Mex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this popular with families and others looking for a lively night out. ❂ J L $ El Gavilan, 8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or pork-filled pupusas. Live music on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. J L D $ El Golfo, 8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolfores taurant.com. Friendly, home-style Latin service is the hallmark, as attested to by the many Salvadorans who stop in for lunch and dinner. Pupusas, soups and beef dishes such as carne asada as well as more adventurous choices can be found in the charming, raspberry-colored dining room. ❂ J R L D $
Mamma Lucia, 1302 East West Highway, 301-5620693, www.mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $$ Mandalay Restaurant & Café, 930 Bonifant St., 301585-0500, www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.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, 301-5871270, www.mcgintyspublichouse.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live music and dancing. Early-bird special, three-course menu for $15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Happy Hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. ❂ J R L D $$
Pacci’s Trattoria & Pasticceria, 6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, www.facebook.com/Paccis Trattoria. Classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage, from the owner of Pacci’s Pizzeria, also in Silver Spring. L D $$ Parkway Deli & Restaurant, 8317 Grubb Road, 301587-1427, www.theparkwaydeli.com. Voted “Best Deli” for 2014 by Bethesda Magazine readers, Parkway features a bustling back dining room, around for decades, that makes this popular spot so much more than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. All-you-can-eat pickle bar. ❂ B L D $
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dining guide Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza, 962 Wayne Ave., 301-588-7383, www.petesapizza.com. Sporting more stylish décor than its other locations (see Upper NW D.C.), Pete’s fourth and latest restaurant offers the same crunchy-crusted New Haven-style pizzas, plus pasta, panini and salads. This branch is the only one so far to offer fried calamari. J L D $ Pho Hiep Hoa, 921-G Ellsworth Drive, 301-588-5808, phohiephoa.com. Seventeen kinds of Vietnamese soup called pho can be customized to taste in this upbeat restaurant overlooking the action in the downtown area. L D $ Piratz Tavern, 8402 Georgia Ave., 301-588-9001, www. piratztavern.com. Decorated to the hilt with scabbards, skeletons and booty, this pirate-themed tavern opened by husband-and-wife graphic artists offers frequent live entertainment and a secluded back terrace. ❂ J L D $ Quarry House Tavern, 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-5878350, www.quarryhousetavern.com. A great dive that serves organic burgers and dozens of beers; frequent live music. D $ Romano’s Macaroni Grill, 931 Ellsworth Drive, 301562-2806, www.macaronigrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. J L D $$ Samantha’s, 631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, This white-tablecloth, Latin-Salvadoran spot in an industrial neighborhood is popular because of its welcoming attitude toward families with young children. The steak and fish specialties are good. L D $$ Scion, 1200 East West Highway, 301-585-8878, www. scionrestaurant.com. A contemporary American eatery from sisters Joanne and Julie Liu, who also own a popular Dupont Circle restaurant with the same name. Look for everything from wasabi Caesar salad to lobster reuben to spicy yogurt chicken. R L D $$ Sergio’s Ristorante Italiano, 8727 Colesville Road, 301-585-1040. A classic red-sauce Italian restaurant that manages to feel special, with soothing wall murals and high-quality service, despite a basement location inside the Double Tree Hotel. Ravioli with asparagus and cheese in a tarragon sauce is popular. L D $$ Sushi Jin, 8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, www. sushijinnextdoor.com. Spare, clean and modern, with terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. L D $$ sweetgreen, 8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, www. sweetgreen.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $ Tastee Diner, 8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, www. tasteediner.com. A 1930s-era lowbrow classic open 24 hours and featuring friendly service and typical diner food. ❂ J B L D $ Thai at Silver Spring, 921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-6500666, www.thaiatsilverspring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. ❂ L D $$ Thai Derm, 939 Bonifant St., 301-589-5341, www. thaidermusa.com. This local favorite serves homestyle Thai food in a pleasantly modest dining room off a quiet street near downtown. The large menu includes noodle dishes like pad Thai and savory-sweet salads. Lunch specials daily. ❂ L D $
The Big Greek Café, 8223 Georgia Ave., 301-5874733, www.biggreekcafe.com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, whose family operated the decadesold Golden Flame restaurant, the café serves a hit parade of Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. ❂ J L D $
Voltaggio’s “restaurant within a restaurant.” Look for modern takes on Italian standbys like steak Florentine, prawns with polenta and pasta carbonara, and inventive combinations such as lentils with charred octopus and sprouted wheat berries or beef cheek with farro and bone marrow. D $$$
The Classics (Editors’ Pick), 8606 Colesville Road, 301-588-7297, www.theclassicsdc.com. The restaurant features great steaks and seafood served without the pomp in a basic white dining room. Serious drinks and fresh seasonal American fare. D $$$
American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202244-1949, www.americancitydiner.com. Retro diner complete with blue-plate specials such as Salisbury steak and stuffed peppers; malts and egg creams. Classic movies free with dinner. ❂ J B L D $
The Daily Dish, 8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, www. thedailydishrestaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food. Full-service catering, too. ❂ J R L D $$
Arucola, 5534 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-1555, www.arucola.com. Authentic Italian in a casual setting, with a changing menu that includes creative treatment of traditional dishes, homemade pasta and pizza from the wood-burning oven. ❂ J L D $
The Greek Place, 8417 Georgia Ave., 301-495-2912, www.thegreekplace.net. Big portions of better-than-average food at reasonable prices. The bifteki pita sandwich, a seasoned ground lamb and beef patty with tzatziki, tomatoes and red onions, is especially good. ❂ J L D $ The Society Lounge, 8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, www.societyss.com. Former collegiate and professional basketball player Jason Miskiri opened this restaurant and lounge with a Caribbean accent. ❂ L D $$ Urban Bar-B-Que Company, 10163 New Hampshire Ave., 301-434-7427, www.iloveubq.com. A fast and friendly spot to meet for smoked meats, especially the ribs. See Rockville listing. J L D $ Urban Butcher (Editors’ Pick), 8226 Georgia Ave., 301-585-5800, www.urbanbutcher.com. Hip, eclectic setting provides the backdrop for this New Age steak house, with its home-cured salamis, sausages and other charcuterie, plus imaginative meat dishes made from local animals of yesteryear breeds. Space includes a lounge, bar, meat curing room, retail counter and dining area. B D $$ Vegetable Garden, 3830 International Drive (in Leisure World Plaza), 301-598-6868, www.vegetable gardensilverspring.com. Popular vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic Asian restaurant relocates from Rockville to a fresh-looking dining room done in pink and green. The health-focused menu features a wide variety of eggplant and asparagus dishes, plus vegetarian “beef,” and “chicken” dishes often made with soy and wheat gluten. L D $$ Vicino Ristorante Italiano, 959 Sligo Ave., 301-5883372, vicinoitaliano.com. A favorite neighborhood redsauce joint that hasn’t changed in decades, featuring some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families welcome. ❂ L D $ Woodside Deli & Restaurant, 9329 Georgia Ave., 301-589-7055, www.thewoodsidedeli.com. Famous for its matzo ball soup, terrific clubs and Reuben sandwiches since 1947. J B L D $
Upper NW D.C. Aggio, 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW (in the Chevy Chase Pavilion), 202-803-8020, www.volt-aggio.com. Located in the former private party room at Range, this formal and sophisticated space is celebrity chef Bryan
Blue 44, 5507 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-362-2583, www.blue44dc.com. Classic American favorites in the old Senor Pepper space. ❂ J R L D $$ Buck’s Fishing and Camping, 5031 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0777, www.bucksfishingandcamping. com. Hip takes on comfort food such as roast chicken (locally raised) and “camp” steak, with fun twists that include grilled chorizo and tempura squash blossoms, in an artsy-chic setting. D $$$ Café of India, 4909 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-1395, www.cafeofindiadc.com. Cute corner café with two levels of dining. Features an extensive menu, including vegetarian and Tandoori entrées, dosas, samosas, tikkas, curries and kabobs. ❂ L D $$ Chads Friendship Heights, 5247 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-8040, www.dcchadwicks.com. Neighborhood hangout sometimes compared to Cheers, but with a full menu beyond bar food, including salads, steaks, seafood and sandwiches. ❂ J R L D $$ Comet Ping Pong (Editors’ Pick), 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0404, www.cometpingpong.com. Landmark fun spot where you can play ping-pong or admire local art while you wait for your wood-fired pizza. ❂ R L (weekends only) D $ DeCarlo’s Restaurant, 4822 Yuma St. NW. 202-3634220, www.decarlosrestaurant.com. Family-owned neighborhood staple, with traditional Italian menu and upscale/casual atmosphere. Signature dishes include agnolotti, veal Bolognese, broiled salmon and hand-made pasta. ❂ L D $$ Eurasian Hotpot, 4445 Wisconsin Ave., 202-9667088, www.eurasianhotpot.com. The extensive Vietnamese menu features pho, egg and rice noodle soups, vermicelli dishes, entrée salads, broken and fried rice entrées and choices for vegetarians. You can also devise your own soup by choosing among broths, meat, vegetables and starches. Then you do the cooking in hotpots brought to the table. ❂ L D $ Guapo’s Fine Mexican Cuisine, 4515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-3588, www.guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $$ Jake’s American Grille, 5018 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202966-5253, www.jakesdc.com. Burgers, steaks and sandwiches in a restaurant named after the owner’s grandfather, an accomplished Navy test engineer. J R L D $$
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Le Chat Noir, 4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-2442044, www.lechatnoirrestaurant.com. Cute, cozy neighborhood bistro run by French restaurateurs, with traditional fare like steak frites, bouillabaisse and braised lamb cheeks. R L D $$ LUNCH BOX (New), 5535 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 018, 202-244-3470, www.voltlunchbox.com. A Washington remake of the defunct sandwich and salad restaurant in Frederick from Chef Bryan Voltaggio. Specialties include the Southern Bahn Mi (crispy chicken, pickled vegetables, liver mousse and cilantro mint on a baguette) and B’More (pepper-crusted pit beef, scallion-bacon jam and Tiger sauce), plus clever takes on grilled cheese and a fish sandwich, the “FileoFish.” The rustic setting is Voltaggio’s third spot in the Chevy Chase Pavilion, which also houses his Range and Aggio restaurants. Macon Bistro & Larder (Editors’ Pick), 5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-248-7807, maconbistro.com. Southern and French cuisine converge at this airy, charming restaurant in the historic Chevy Chase Arcade. Raclette and fried green tomatoes share space on the appetizer menu, and steak frites is offered alongside short ribs with grits for main courses. Owner and Executive Chef Tony Brown harkens back to his early Georgia childhood and far-flung travels as the son of an Army doctor for inspiration. Review, page 317. ❂ R D $$
Maggiano’s, 5333 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-5500, www.maggianos.com. Old-style Italian fare that’s a favorite for large groups and private celebrations. J L D $$ Masala Art (Editors’ Pick) 4441-B Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-4441, www.masalaartdc.com. Fine Indian dining featuring tandoor-oven specialties and masterful Indian spicing. L D $$ Murasaki Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar, 4620 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-0023, www.murasakidc. com. Wide variety of specialty sushi rolls plus full menu, including teriyaki, tempura, noodle soup and other authentic Japanese dishes in tastefully understated décor. ❂ L D $$ Parthenon Restaurant, 5510 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-7600, www.parthenon-restaurant.com. Neighborhood eatery taken up a couple notches, with an extensive menu full of authentic selections familiar and exotic, including avgolemono (egg/lemon soup), tzatziki, moussaka, dolmades and souvlaki. ❂ J L D $$ Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza, 4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-237-7383, www.petesapizza.com. New Haven-inspired pizza with crusts that are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. Salads, pasta and panini also served. ❂ J L D $ Range (Editors’ Pick), 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 201, 202-803-8020, www.voltrange.com. Celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio’s extravaganza, featuring multiple open kitchens, 300 seats and an enormous wine list. The res-
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taurant was chosen for “Best Cocktail” in 2014 by the magazine’s editors. L D $$$ Rosa Mexicano, 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-7779959, www.rosamexicano.com. Upscale Mexican chain known for its tableside-prepared guacamole and stylish decor. J R L D $$ Satay Club Asian Restaurant and Bar, 4654 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-8888, www.asiansatayclub. com. Comfortable/casual with a menu that spans Japanese sushi, Chinese moo-shi vegetables, Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls. L D $ Tanad Thai, 4912 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-0616, www.tanadthaicuisine.com. Extensive menu includes noodles, rice, curries and vegetarian entrées, and even a Thai lemonade cocktail. ❂ L D $$ Tara Thai, 4849 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-363-4141, www.tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $ Terasol (Editors’ Pick), 5010 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-237-5555, www.terasolartisans.com. Charming French café serving soups, salads, quiches and a few entrées, along with jewelry and pottery from local artisans. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays. ❂ J B L D $ The Dancing Crab, 4615 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-2441882, www.thedancingcrab.com. Informal family restaurant that looks as if it has been relocated from the beach, with a fresh seafood menu that includes hardshell and soft-shell crabs in season. ❂ J L D $$
Well, it ’s probably mostly about the food. But if all yo u want is good food, yo u can have dinner at yo ur mom’s ho us e.
Of course, that ’s an experience too. But it ’s different.
n u F
Chevy Chase, Maryland 301.986.5255
lafermerestaurant.com
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Brushed animal jacquard jacket in black/cognac from Talbots, $229 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place and www.talbots.com
Knit shawl collar coat from Eileen Fisher, $598 at The Shops at Wisconsin Place and www.eileenfisher.com
▲ Beth trench with leather sleeve from Ann Taylor, $248 at Mazza Gallerie and www.anntaylor.com
▲ 1 by O’2nd ice blue neoprene coat, $525 at Bloomingdale’s at The Shops at Wisconsin Place and www.bloomingdales.com
Chic Covers Fall’s statement coats prove that outerwear can be more than a way to keep warm. From bold colors and unexpected textures to exaggerated collars and eye-catching prints, here are four coats that stand out from the crowd. By Robin Fisher Robin Fisher is an image consultant and personal stylist based in Bethesda; she can be reached at robinfisher@polishedimageandstyle.com. 338 September/October 2014 | BethesdaMagazine.com
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shop
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By Cynthia Hacinli
Get Artsy
all courtesy photos
Urban Chic Hipsters take note: There’s a new market to check out in Bethesda. Inspired by such successful vintage and artisan markets as Clover Market in Philadelphia and Indie Craft Experience in Atlanta, Bethesda residents Debbie Sonnenreich and Julie Greenstein came up with the idea for URBNmarket. URBN brings together Etsy-style artisans, craftspeople and small business owners who sell upscale, handmade and vintage items in a wide range of prices every couple of months at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Ballroom. The next market is Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sonnenreich and Greenstein, both 47, were roommates at the University of Maryland and remained close over the years. After they graduated from college in 1989, Sonnenreich worked as a negotiator for the Claims Resolution Management Corporation in Virginia before opening My Sweet Confections, a Bethesda-based cookies and confections business. Greenstein worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide and as a lobbyist and advocate for health care and nutrition groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The two friends held their first URBNmarket in May and a second one in July. Wares at past markets have included jewelry, beauty products, vintage clothing and housewares, handmade clothing for adults and children, glass sculpture and artwork. 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda, www.urbnmarket.com.
Channel your inner DIY yearnings at Make Meaning, a studio for children and adults where you can dabble in various art forms. Walk-in options include candle making, glass making (for those ages 9 and older), soap making, ceramics painting, plaster painting and cake and cookie decorating. Prices range from $9.99 to $98. The studio is also available for events such as birthdays, showers and corporate get-togethers. An adults-only, two-hour BYOB pottery painting night is scheduled weekly from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Cost is $25; you choose from several preselected items. A storytelling and craftmaking session for kids under 5 runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays; cost is $15. 4809 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-828-1086; www.makemeaning.com.
The Real Deal Roy Lichtenstein. Frank Stella. Gene Davis. Art aficionados can find works by these top-name contemporary artists at Bethesda Fine Art, a new gallery that opened in March. Potomac resident Lori Rapaport opened the space with her mother-inlaw, Margot Stein, a longtime art dealer and gallery owner who divides her time between New York and Florida. Rapaport, who’s in her mid 40s, grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from Penn State University with a marketing degree and then got her MBA at American University in Washington, D.C. She did environmental research at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in D.C. and The Nature Conservancy
in New York before opening the gallery. She does not have formal art training, but she says she has learned much from her mother-in-law and has worked with her in Florida. The gallery, on the airy second floor of the PeriPoint Building off Old Georgetown Road, offers paintings, prints, sculpture and works on paper by major 20thcentury artists. The collection features Washington Color School artists, who brought the attention of the art world to the District in the 1960s with their focus on stripes, washes and blocks of single colors on canvas. Most works range in price from $2,000 to $30,000. 5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, www. bethesda fineart.com.
OPENINGS & CLOSINGS Roosters, a retro men’s barbershop with leather chairs, wood paneling and old-timey lanterns, has opened at 7135 Arlington Road in Bethesda. Haircuts include hot towels ($46); shaves include hot towels and a splash of cologne (with a straight razor, $41; or ProGlide, $48). Facials, hair coloring and gray blending are also available as are haircuts for boys ($24). …Silver Spring has lost one of its most venerable businesses: Dale Music, a family-run sheet music store that opened in 1950, has closed. …Also closed is Booktopia, a children’s book and toy store, in Bethesda’s Bradley Shopping Center.
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Helen Pappas could never find clothes that fit properly. At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Pappas often found that her shopping options were frustratingly bleak. Department store “tall” departments weren’t quite “tall” enough and the few online stores that did have clothes that fit lacked the styling and quality she craved. Pappas drew up a business plan for Talltique, a company she envisioned that would sell clothes for tall women, while studying marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She graduated in 2011 and worked in retail for a short time before launching www.Talltique.com from her Arlington home in 2012 with her mother, Diane Pappas, who does public relations, buying and some designing for the company. Talltique stocks sportswear and dresses in natural fabrics such as organic cottons and silks for women who are 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 7 inches tall. Prices range from $18
for a tank top to $330 for a silk evening gown. Many items exclusively produced for Talltique are available; the shop also carries other lines such as Zen Vintage denim and Yoga Jeans denim that are made for tall women and, in some cases, exclusively for Talltique. Last fall, Pappas, 27, opened a showroom in Bethesda where shoppers can try on her offerings. She also provides personal styling services, working with customers to figure out their sizes and create wardrobes. If clients can’t go to the showroom, Pappas takes samples to them— she’s met with customers in hotel rooms, offices and homes. Pappas says she loves when mothers and daughters come in together to her showroom. “Some mothers even cry from happiness which leaves me with a sense that I am making a difference and I’m making people happy,” she says.
7815-A Old Georgetown Road, Suite 210, Bethesda. For appointments contact Helen Pappas at info@talltique.com or at 855-3308255, www.talltique.com. n
Cynthia Hacinli lives in Chevy Chase and has written for GQ, The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler. Send Shop Talk ideas to editorial@bethesdamagazine.com.
Irene A. Magafan
A Tall Order
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shopping GUIDE
By Cynthia Hacinli
Where to find locally-owned boutiques BETHESDA American Classic Clothes If you can’t find what you’re looking for in this traditional children’s clothing shop, they can make it for you. Among the treasures here: classic smocked cotton rompers and party dresses, hand-knit sweaters and booties, delicate blouses and fun pj’s, and hand-sewn vests and dress pants. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-365-7740, www.americanclassicclothes.com
Amethyst A lavender-walled, jewel box of a shop, Amethyst offers classic and modern fine jewelry created by new and emerging designers, including Bethesda native Mauri Pioppo, Alberto Parada of Washington, D.C., and the store’s owner, Amy Hugo. An on-site jeweler provides custom work and repairs. Bethesda Row, 4808 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-907-6871, www.shopamethyst.com
Belina Boutique Owners Betty Barati and daughters Shiva Zargham and Sherri Hatam dress women of all ages in style-savvy designers such as Nicole Miller, Robert Rodriguez, Joie, Ella Moss, and Velvet. Finish the look with accessories by Jenne Maag and Graham & Spencer. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-2929, www.belinaboutique.com
Beyda’s Lad & Lassie This shop offers classic, upscale dressy and everyday clothing for infants, girls and boys by labels such as Petit Bateau, Bella Bliss and Quiksilver, as well as uniforms for local schools. There are also pajamas, swimwear and accessories. Alterations are available. 5444 Westbard Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-2026.
Blanca Flor This small shop lures in customers with glass cases full of sterling silver jewelry that owner Rigel Garcia collects from Mexico, Greece, Poland and the United States. Pieces include a changing selection of offbeat bracelets, ear-
rings and necklaces at a wide range of prices. There’s also a selection of hand-painted Mexican pottery from Guanajuato. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10231 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-6313, www.blancaflorofbethesda.com
The Blue House Owner Connie Cissel travels to markets around the world to choose the whimsical items in this jam-packed shop. In addition to fun things like glassware and pillows representing each state, the store has more practical items, including cookbooks by local authors and unique baby clothes. 7770 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-6566088, www.thebluehousebethesda.com
Bluemercury Bluemercury founders Marla and Barry Beck have more than 40 cosmetics stores and spas nationwide, and two in their hometown of Bethesda. Marla Beck, a self-proclaimed products junkie, stocks her shops with upscale cosmetics and skin care brands including NARS, SkinCeuticals and Laura Mercier. The Bethesda Row location features a full-service spa. The shop also offers makeup lessons. Bethesda Row, 7105 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-986-0070; Wildwood Shopping Center, 10231 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-0006, www.bluemercury.com
Claire Dratch Locally owned since 1946, Claire Dratch is where women go when they want to say yes to the dress. Proms, bat and bar mitzvahs, and weddings are all covered here. The store prides itself on personal service, alterations and customized clothing. And though party clothes are the main emphasis, there’s sportswear and day wear too. 7615 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-6568000, www.clairedratch.net
Current Boutique Designer labels abound at this local consignment boutique that sells online as well as at its brick-and-mortar shops in Bethesda, Logan Circle, Arlington and Alexandria. You’ll find in-demand names like Roberto Cavalli, Alexander Wang, Prada, Anya Hindmarch and Christian Louboutin.
7220 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-2221114, www.currentboutique.com
Daisy Baby & Kids Owner Dana Evans specializes in helping parents-to-be design the nursery. Daisy Baby & Kids offers an array of designer and upscale furniture and baby linens, including Serena & Lily, Maddie Boo, and Oilo, as well as accessories and gifts. 4912-A Del Ray Ave., Bethesda, 301-6547477, www.shopdaisybaby.com
Definition Boutique This women’s apparel store carries dresses, jackets, shorts, denim and tops imported from owner Hatice Rosato’s native Turkey. Many of the clothes channel a retro look from the ’30s and ’60s, and there’s an emphasis on details like pleats and color blocking. Designers include Sandro, Liu Jo and Iceberg. Look for kicky accessories like colorful handbags and earrings made with semiprecious stones like rose quartz and turquoise. 4700 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-9868518, www.definitionboutique.com
Etcetera This visit-by-appointment showroom is devoted to Etcetera, the edgier, less pricey line of Carlisle, a luxury clothing brand typically sold at in-house trunk shows. It’s the only Etcetera showroom in the country, and the experience is much like having a personal stylist to help you navigate the mix-andmatch classics-gone-trendy pieces. 4709 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, 301-215-8363, www.etcetera.com
Furs by Gartenhaus You can buy a new fur here. You also can get an old one restyled, repaired and appraised. Coats, jackets, vests, capes and hats are all options, and sheared mink is a specialty—as a lining or as a soft, light coat or jacket. The store also stocks exotic furs such as chinchilla and fox. Fur storage and wedding gown preservation are also available. 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-6562800, www.fursbygartenhaus.com
The Goldsmiths: Dealers in Dreams The store has been serving celebrities and
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shopping GUIDE regulars from its location at Bethesda Place since 1990 and before that was at White Flint since 1971. Most of the fine jewelry sold here is one of a kind. Owners Irwin Gross and Jason Kemp can help clients create their own unique piece and remount and restore heirloom items. Bethesda Place Shops, 7700-N Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-907-8114, bethesda.mdjewelrystore.com, www. dealersindreams.com
Ginger When former Capitol Hill press secretary Gretchen Hitchner opened her boutique on Bethesda Row in 2008, she created an eco-friendly space to sell fashions by Yoana Baraschi, Joie, Calypso St. Barth, and White + Warren. There are also handbags, shoes and fine jewelry by local artist Suzanne Somersall, as well as fun costume jewelry pieces. Bethesda Row, 7114 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-664-9242, www.gingerstyle.com
Hoamgar This Bethesda outpost of a Singapore-based shop is known for its Taiwanese tailoring, Japanese and European fabrics, and feminine styling. Clothing is produced in limited quantities, and handbags are one of a kind. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 301-767-9479, www.hoamgar.com
Irresistibles The clothing in the Bethesda location of this East Coast chain is an eclectic mix of names such as Beth Bowley, Three Dots, Autumn Cashmere, Christopher Blue and Trina Turk. The store also carries shoes, jewelry and accessories by Alexis Bittar and Orla Kiely. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10301 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-897-2574, www.irresistibles.com
Konplott Miranda Konstantinidou designs this shop’s whimsical costume jewelry sold all over the world. Born in Greece and raised in Germany, Konstantinidou gets her inspiration from all over and fashions her pieces from metals, crystals and fabric. Her various lines have names like Back to the Future, Gordian Knot and Moulin Rouge. Westfield Montgomery mall, 7107 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, 240-8887478, www.konplott.com
Lou Lou This jam-packed accessories boutique, which relocated to roomier digs across from its original location on Bethesda Lane (it’s in the former Urban Chic space) carries loads of costume jewelry, scarves, belts, small gifts and handbags from pleather to leather. 7115 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 301-6520048, www.loulouboutiques.com
Luna This Bethesda Row boutique is known for its collection of designer duds by the likes of J Brand, Autumn Cashmere, Velvet, and Free People, and for its extensive collection of fun, costume jewelry. There are also handbags, shapewear and hats. Bethesda Row, 7232 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-656-1111, www.shopluna.com
Madeline Inspired by her boutique-owner mother, Susan Rosen opened her women’s clothing shop in 1990 and named it after her own daughter. Longtime regulars return for dresses and sportswear by designers such as Niche and Joseph Ribkoff. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10303 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-564-9087.
Mustard Seed Appealing to a wide swath of customers— savvy middle schoolers to 70-somethings among them—this consignment store owned by Derek Kennedy and Gayle Herrmann specializes in items that are fewer than two years old. Think names like Elie Tahari, Nine West, Nicole Miller, Old Navy, American Eagle, Gap and H&M. There are some vintage offerings from the ’50s to ’80s as well. 7349 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-9074699, www.mustardseedshop.com
Petra Boutique Owner Petra Winkler hails from Germany and focuses on upscale European fashion lines, including Cambio and the Munich-based Bogner. The store, on Bethesda Row since 2009, features sportswear, party dresses and accessories for women. Bethesda Row, 4803 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-215-9080.
The Pink Palm This Bethesda outpost of a small chain known as The Pink Palm carries on the Lilly Pulitzer
tradition on Bethesda Row. Co-owner Lizanne Jeveret stocks a full line of the iconic print dresses, tops, accessories and shoes for women and children. Look for menswear in the spring and summer. Bethesda Row, 4867 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-913-9191, www. thepinkpalm.net
REDDz Trading This resale shop stocks high-end to less pricey designers such as Gucci, Céline, Alexander McQueen, James Perse, American Apparel and All Saints. Needless to say, the store also buys previously owned items. Unlike a consignment shop that gives you a percentage of what you sell, this resale store pays you a flat fee of 30 percent for items they want. 7801 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-6567333, www.reddztrading.com
Red Orchard Owners John Helm and Caroline Liberty enjoy scouting local art shows for many of the crafty items at Red Orchard. You can find everything here from apple green Sanctuary jeans and John Derian animal alphabet trays to home accents and fine jewelry made by local artisans. Whimsical Czechoslovakian glass “petal” rings are big sellers. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10253 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-571-7333, www.redorchard.com
Rita G’s Chapter Two Boutique Named for owner Rita Gendelman, this stylish consignment shop sells pre-owned designer handbags, jewelry, scarves, shoes and clothes at a fraction of their original prices. Designers include Dior, Bottega Veneta, Hermes and Chanel, as well as less pricey names such as Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs. 4931 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 301-718-7200, www.ritagfineconsign.com
RnJ Sports ASICS, Adidas and New Balance are some of the names you’ll find in this family-owned business that’s been selling running and tennis gear since 1976. RnJ prides itself on a knowledgeable staff that’s trained in foot biomechanics to help customers find the right shoe. There is also discounted apparel, socks and gear. The Rockville location (see Rockville section) has a self-serve clearance room.
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shopping GUIDE 4945 Elm St., Bethesda, 301-986-0558, www.rnjsports.com
Sassanova Sarah “Sassy” Jacobs and Sarah Cannova opened their women’s shoe store in Bethesda in 2009. The boutique stocks high-end designer footwear by Etienne Aigner, Stuart Weitzman, French Soles and Jack Rogers. Well-shod tots can try on pairs by names such as Elefantito and See Kai Run. Totes, wallets, jewelry and a selection of clothing by designers including Alice & Trixie and Yoana Baraschi round out the offerings. Bethesda Row, 7134 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 301-654-7403, www.sassanova.com
Secrète Fine Jewelry Custom fine jewelry, including bridal sets, earrings and necklaces, is the specialty in this family-owned store. Designs range from modern and contemporary to vintage. You also can choose a watch from established names such as Rolex, and get jewelry repaired and restored. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10227 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-7892, www.secretejewelry.com
Sequel This women’s boutique features an eclectic mix of upscale contemporary names, including Michael Stars, Clover Canyon, and Bailey 44. The store also carries jewelry and accessories. Its two sister stores, Wear it Well in Bethesda and Corby Collection in Chevy Chase, D.C., carry some similar merchandise, but each has unique items, as well. Wildwood Shopping Center, 10255 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-530-4423, www.sequelbethesda.com
South Moon Under Originally a surf shop in Ocean City, Md., this boho boutique for women and men is especially popular with teens and 20-somethings. But there’s way more than swimsuits and beachwear. Look for casual to dressy clothing from labels such as MINKPINK, Marc Jacobs, Trina Turk and Scotch & Soda, along with quirky home goods, gifts, jewelry and shoes (think Steve Madden and Seychelles). Wildwood Shopping Center, 10247 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 301-564-0995, www.southmoonunder.com
Tugooh Toys This store sells environmentally friendly toys for eco-conscious kids and their parents. There is a large selection of wooden toys, and even shelving is made of natural woods. Look for brands such as Alex, Fisher-Price, Radio Flyer and Kid Galaxy. There’s also a small selection of organic baby clothing for 9 months and under. Bethesda Row, 4823 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-2412, www.tugoohtoys.com
Underwraps Though the store specializes in underwear— bras, panties, pantyhose and nightgowns—it stocks denim by NYDJ and tops, too. Find familiar lingerie names such as Olga and Maidenform, as well as the upscale Natori, Cosabella and Wacoal brands. The Shoppes of Bethesda, 4928 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, 301-656-4900.
Urban Country In addition to having been a destination for home furnishings since 1991, Urban Country it is also a great place to buy a gift. Find everything from throw pillows and baby toys to Alicia Adams Alpaca throws and candles. There’s a fun jewelry and accessories collection, as well. Bethesda Row, 7117 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 301-654-0500, www. urbancountrydesigns.com
Wear it Well Wear it Well brings funky, fashion-forward sensibility to Bethesda Row. The store carries accessories and a number of different clothing lines, including Ella Moss, White + Warren and Majestic Paris. The shop has two sister stores with similar, but not identical merchandise: Sequel at the Wildwood Shopping Center, and Corby Collection in Chevy Chase, D.C., which has more evening wear than the other two. Bethesda Row, 4816 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-3713, www. wearitwellbethesda.com
CHEVY CHASE Boone & Sons Jewelers Started in 1966 by family patriarch French Boone, this fine jewelry store has everything from loose 11-carat diamonds to estate jewelry. Boone’s granddaughter Nellie Boone Benhard runs the Chevy Chase store.
5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase, 301-6572144, www.booneandsons.com
Chas Schwartz & Son Jewelers Offerings at this posh jewelry shop range from contemporary pieces to Victorian, art deco and art nouveau estate designs. If you’re searching for a cuff dripping with diamonds or a statement South Sea pearl necklace, this is the place you’ll find it. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-363-5432, www. chasschwartz.com
Gals on and off the Green Just because you’re playing sports doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. That’s the philosophy of this women’s shop that sells resort, sports and golf wear that covers all the bases from country club to edgy chic. Brands include DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Lily Pulitzer, Adidas, Puma and Greg Norman. Chevy Chase Center, 5449 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-800-4670, www. galsonandoffthegreen.com
Lemon Twist Lemon Twist has been a Chevy Chase neighborhood staple since 1977. Regulars like owner Sally Prince’s eclectic mix of women’s clothing and accessories from known names such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines. The store also sells handbags and jewelry. Chevy Chase Plaza, 8541 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-986-0044, www. lemontwist.net
Miller’s Furs This sixth-generation, family-owned furrier has been in Chevy Chase for more than 20 years. Find new and vintage fur coats, outerwear and fur-trimmed cashmere scarves. The salon also offers restoration services, repairs, appraisals and custom work. 4620 Leland St., Chevy Chase, 301-6563877, www.millersfurs.com
Nina McLemore Boutique The sedate yet stylish clothes seem tailormade for the professional woman. Look for work-ready dresses, separates, casual and evening wear in cashmere, wool, stretch cotton and silk at this eponymously named Georgetown-based designer’s shop, one of several across the country.
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shopping GUIDE 5310 B Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 301951-1111, www.ninamclemore.com
Pampillonia Jewelers Classic design, a large selection of engagement rings and wedding bands, and handcrafted statement rings are what this fifthgeneration, family-owned jewelry store is known for. Pampillonia also has an extensive collection of art deco, Victorian and belle epoque estate and antique pieces from names like Tiffany and Cartier. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-363-6305, www. pampillonia.com
Saks Jandel This family-owned department store has been a Chevy Chase destination for highend fashion for more than 40 years. Inside you’ll find clothing and accessories from European and American designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Michael Kors, Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld. The bridal salon carries equally posh labels, including Oscar de la Renta and Vera Wang. 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-652-2250.
Sylene For more than 35 years, sisters Helen Kestler and Cyla Weiner have been finding the right bras for local women, including former first lady Nancy Reagan. The lingerie boutique is also known for its extensive swimwear collection. And it offers in-store bridal showers and lingerie parties. 4407 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-6544200, www.sylenedc.com
Town Jewelers Town Jewelers owner and master goldsmith Saro Abrahamian has been designing fine jewelry for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community for 26 years. In addition to custom pieces, the store sells Novobeads and Citizen watches. The shop also does repairs, restorations and appraisals. 7017 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301656-8867, www.town-jewelers.com
KENSINGTON/ NORTH BETHESDA
Catch Can
Clover
This Kensington shop is stocked with everything from quality women’s apparel and shoes to children’s clothes and unique home accessories. If you’re in search of a gift, chances are you’ll find it here. And there’s a bargain basement clearance corner, too. 10505 Metropolitan Ave., Kensington, 301933-7862, www.catchcan.com
Locals Michon Frick and Jenn O’Brien wanted to bring an urban chic sensibility to Gaithersburg and opened Clover in 2004. Inside are jeans by AG and Citizens of Humanity, clothing by Cynthia Steffe, Diane Von Furstenberg, James Perse and Velvet, as well as accessories, jewelry and handbags. The Kentlands, 502 Main St., Gaithersburg, 301-869-4544, www.shopclover.com
Masica Diamonds Owner and master diamond cutter David Masica carries an array of diamonds, gemstones, necklaces, engagement rings and bracelets. There are also pieces featuring natural, coffee-colored diamonds. 11763 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301255-0000, www.masicadiamonds.com
The Mansion Shop at Strathmore A turntable kitchen timer, and wood spoons that double as drumsticks are the kind of offbeat, music-related items that can be found at this gift shop at the Strathmore mansion. There are also DVDs, hand-painted silk scarves, Monetinspired umbrellas, kids’ books and jewelry. The Mansion Shop at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 301-5815175, www.strathmore.org/shop
GAITHERSBURG/ NORTH POTOMAC Class Act Located inside Gaithersburg’s Lakeforest Mall, Class Act provides lots of options for women and girls looking for a party, prom or bat mitzvah dress. The store features a variety of price points and has some wedding gowns, too. Lakeforest Mall, 701 Russell Ave., Gaithersburg, 301-869-2244.
Chic to Chic This consignment store has clothing, accessories and shoes by high-end designers both familiar and obscure. Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Chloé, Roberto Cavalli, Richard Tyler, Mulberry, Theory and BCBG are just some of the names you’ll find here. You can also sell your own gently worn togs. 15900 Luanne Drive, Gaithersburg, 301-9267700, www.chictochic.com
Fleet Feet Sports Opened by runners and former CPAs Chris and Robyn Gault in 2005, the Gaithersburg outpost of the nationwide franchise is known for its running shoes and moisture-wicking apparel. Beyond that, the store offers running clinics, training programs and weekly group runs. 255 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, 301-9266442, www.fleetfeetgaithersburg.com
Imagine Named for owner Nancy Strauss’ favorite song, Imagine offers boho and contemporary styles from Dolce Vita, Trina Turk, Black Halo, Troo Wear and Sanctuary. In addition to handbags, shoes and accessories, you’ll find jewelry by local artisans. Men will appreciate the edited choices from Robert Graham and Velvet. 208 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg, 301527-1694, www.shopimagineclothing.com
South Moon Under See Bethesda listing. Washingtonian Center, 15 Grand Corner Ave., Gaithersburg, 301948-0971, www.southmoonunder.com
The Surrey Saddlery Looking for place mats, a gift or a saddle? You’ll find it all here. Originally started in 1953 as a tack shop for English-style riders, The Surrey has since expanded to include an array of riding clothes, jewelry and hostess gifts. 14120 Darnestown Road, Darnestown, 301299-8225, www.thesurreysaddlery.com
POTOMAC B Scene One of the first denim stores in the area, B Scene was opened by mother-daughter team Robin Greger and Ilana Kashdin in 2002. In addition to an entire wall devoted to jeans, find stacks of fashion-forward tees, accessories, handbags and dressy tops. Some select
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lines for kids can be had here, as well. Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 7725 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, 301-299-0194.
Emily Grace Women of all ages visit this airy shop at Park Potomac to peruse the latest in contemporary tops, bottoms and dresses from Rory Beca, Vince, Madison Marcus, and Alice + Olivia, as well as premium denim. Finish off the look with handbags from Rebecca Minkoff and Lauren Merkin. Park Potomac, 12525 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, 301-251-4184, www. shopemilygrace.com
Flora’s Feathered Nest Though most of the items are new, co-owners Marcia Copenhaver and Peggy Deitrick hunt down their weathered-looking merchandise at shows and sales. Find an array of unique decorative birdcages, upscale scented candles, mirrors, gifts and garden décor.
12211 River Road, Potomac, 301-765-0003, www.florasfeatherednest.com
Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-299-9662, www.shoetrainpotomac.com
Leila Fine Gifts & Jewels
Toy Castle
Owner Deb Shalom searches out offbeat artisanal items for this shop, which sells a wide range of gifts. Among the finds: metal sculptures and mobiles, ceramics, decorative wine accessories, Judaica, and jewelry made of glass, crystals, copper, pearls and leather.
Brian Mack, formerly of Toys Etc., and Carlos Aulestia, who also owns Toy Kingdom in Rockville, opened Toy Castle in Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall in 2010. The store features high-quality educational toys, books and games for children of all ages, and a very knowledgeable staff. Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-299-0680, www.toycastlepotomac.com
Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall, 7737 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, 301-299-5675, www.leilajewels.com
Shoe Train During the back-to-school season, more than 100 kids a day will visit this classic children’s shoe store for footwear from Ugg Australia, Primigi, Stride Rite and Nike, Appalachian Spring among others. The kid-friendly staff also This store carries everything from artisan specializes in fitting children with orthotics glassware, pottery and wooden items to and orthopedic footwear. quirky baby goods and birdhouses. miss 11:25 FEB14_BETHESDA_MAGAZINE_AD_v1_Border.pdf 1 Don’t 1/22/14
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shopping GUIDE Cloud 9 Clothing
glass cases of designer jewelry. Congressional Plaza, 1641 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-230-1380, www. appalachianspring.com
As Kindred Spirits Women love to shop here for the unique jewelry made by local and international artists who regularly make appearances in the store. You’ll also find natural fiber clothing, Judaica, whimsical home décor and gifts. Congressional Plaza, 1611 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-984-0102, www. askindredspirits.com
Barstons Child’s Play The Rockville location of this toy store is one of four in this family-owned chain that’s known for its hands-on service. Inside are children’s books and a wealth of toys, puzzles, games, art supplies and costumes. Congressional Plaza, 1661 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-230-9040, www. barstonschildsplay.com
Rockville Town Square’s Cloud 9 Clothing offers contemporary style for the young and the young at heart. Brand names for men and women include BB Dakota, Free People and Steve Madden. And there’s denim, too. Rockville Town Square, 130-B Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-340-1061, www. cloud9clothing.us
The Cottage Monet Inside this bright and colorful shop is everything from thick Italian ceramic dishes to fun costume jewelry to placemats and glassware. Some of the many established lines featured here include Vietri, Vera Bradley, Mariposa, Thymes and Trollbeads. Rockville Town Square, 36 Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-279-2422, www. cottagemonet.com
Hudson Trail Outfitters This locally-owned chainlet of five stores has
Brookville Healing Arts Massage • Pilates • Yoga Please join us from 5 - 8pm on Friday, September 5th to meet our new instructors - AND enjoy the paintings of local “Art Lady” Bernice B. Duvall!
301.346.5716 www.brookvillehealingarts.com 7019 Brookville Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
been selling outdoor gear and apparel for men and women since 1971. All the bases are covered: snow sports, paddling, running, camping, hiking, cycling and swimming. Fans rave about the knowledgeable customer service. 12085 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-8814955, www.hudsontrail.com
Knightsbridge Trading Co. This gift and stationery shop, formerly The English Trading Co. in Montgomery Mall, has an old English feel, with fine china, luxe throw pillows, picture frames and scented soaps. It’s worth a visit around the holidays for unique decorations, wrap and cards. Mid-Pike Plaza, 11844 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-231-9091, www. knightsbridgestore.com
Lacy Couture Apparel This 2010 addition to the Potomac Woods Shopping Center brought a large array of dressy tops, well-fitting pants and dresses to the area. Shoe lovers will relish the unique, edgy styles by Leifsdottir. Themed “Girls Night Out” events include trunk shows and book readings. Potomac Woods Shopping Center, 1081 Seven Locks Road, Rockville, 240-453-9007, www.lacycouture.com
Mervis Diamond Importers This family-owned fine jewelry store specializes in loose diamonds and creations from designers including Tacori, Sasha Primak and Benchmark. All the standards are here: cuff links, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, engagement rings and wedding sets. 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-2310030, www.mervisdiamond.com
Na Ohana Jewelry This family-owned shop in Federal Plaza on Rockville Pike specializes in custom-designed fine jewelry. One entire wall is devoted to pieces made with pearls of different colors and sizes. The store also does repairs. Federal Plaza, 12268-C Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-881-0141.
On Cloud 9 Carol Gowling brought her four daughters on buying trips when this “tween-age” store first opened, allowing them to help choose the teen-targeted styles. You’ll find casual wear as well as a unique selection of party dresses for bar and bat mitzvahs.
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Potomac Woods Shopping Center, 1085 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-251-1331.
Potomac River Running With nine locations, this store is owned and operated for runners by runners who want their customers to have the right shoes, clothes and gear. Customers run on a treadmill while staff members observe and analyze their gait in order to find the perfect match from name brands such as Nike, Mizuno and Saucony. Rockville Town Square, 115 S. Gibbs St., Rockville, 301-251-1290, www. potomacriverrunning.com
Red Hue Boutique Relative newcomer Red Hue opened in College Park in 2010 and moved to Rockville Town Square in 2011. In addition to clothing under the Red Hue label, there are other indie brands, including Gentle Fawn, Dainty June and Dear Creatures. There are also shoes and accessories, and the store recently opened a new jewelry bar with loads of on-trend pieces
at rock-bottom prices. Rockville Town Square, 36-F Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-610-0005, www. redhueboutique.com
RnJ Sports See Bethesda listing. 11910-R Parklawn Drive, Rockville, 301-8810021, www.rnjsports.com
TennisTopia TennisTopia carries everything for the courts, including rackets, apparel, shoes and bags by tennis standards including Tail, Nike, Fila, Kaelin and K-Swiss. Owners Darrell and Amy Haines also provide team uniforms and racket re-stringing and demos. Congressional Village Shopping Center, 1701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-230-9195, www.tennistopia.com
Tiara Galleries & Gifts This gallery-style gift store has been in business since 1960 and prides itself on classic, estab-
lished brands. Inside you’ll find collectibles by stalwarts such as Lladró, Waterford and Herend, as well as Alex and Ani and Pandora jewelry, Vera Bradley bags and Brighton accessories. Congressional Plaza, 1675 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-468-1122, www.tiaragalleries.com
Toy Kingdom European toys abound in this store, which has been operating since 2007 in Rockville Town Square. You’ll find dolls, toys and games for boys and girls from names such as Corolle, Lego, Madame Alexander, Ravensburger and Creativity for Kids. Carlos Aulestia, co-owner of Toy Village in Potomac, owns this store as well. Rockville Town Square, 36-C Maryland Ave., Rockville, 301-251-0220, www. toykingdomllc.com
Uptown Cheapskate Nancy Kline and Emily Schramm, who are mother and daughter as well as business partners, offer cash on the spot or 25 percent
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shopping GUIDE more in store credit at this fashion resale shop. Brands include Ugg, J.Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Michael Kors. Kline, the former COO for South Moon Under, and Schramm go for items that are current—shirts, dresses, denim, jackets, handbags and accessories. 1032 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-7621089, www.uptowncheapskate.com
SILVER SPRING Chaubara Fashion Studio From lavishly embroidered bridal lehengas, saris, and tunic and pants ensembles to colorful beaded handbags, the merchandise at Chaubara offers shoppers a glimpse of Indian culture. Contemporary dresses, sportswear and jewelry are also available. 8711 First Ave., Silver Spring, 301-920-2500, www.chaubara.com
Diane’s Boutique Diane’s Boutique has been outfitting women since 1989 in downtown Silver Spring. In addition to evening and contemporary apparel, there is a good selection of handbags, hats, belts and costume jewelry. 801 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 301-587-0607.
Dor-ne Corset Shoppe Hard-to-fit women will feel like they’ve found nirvana at this shop for ladies’ undergarments. But traditional-size women also are catered to, with bras, lacy corsets, colorful garters and body slimmers. There is a $5 fitting fee if you don’t buy anything (fittings are free if you do). 8126 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 301-5895151, www.dornecorset.com
Footlights It’s everything ballet at this boutique full of must-haves for dancers, from girly tutus and stylish leotards to leg warmers and wraparound sweaters. There are also dancing shoes (jazz, ballet, ballroom), plus pointe cushions and other footgear. Ballet-themed totes, pj’s and shirts round out the offerings. 938 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 301-3264351, www.dancefootlights.com
Metamorphosis Wardrobe & Accessories Boutique The search is over for women after that perfect hat. This store features racks of them in
every color and style. Also find contemporary clothing from emerging designers, wardrobe consulting services, and statement jewelry from local artists and overseas. Owner Sharon Bullock and her staff are savvy and know how to put looks together. 811 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, 301-5888901, www.metamorphosisboutiques.com
Rosta’s This two-level boutique in the heart of downtown Silver Spring carries a broad range of classic and unique apparel from names such as Terani Couture, Alberto Makali and Samuel Dong. Find colorful scarves to silk gowns, along with casual wear, handbags and jewelry at prices 30 percent to 70 percent off retail. 8618 Fenton St., Silver Spring, 301-5887554, www.rostasboutique.com
Silver Spring Men’s Wear This family-owned menswear discounter in downtown Silver Spring since 1970 is all about suits, but shirts, ties and other accessories are also available. Bargains abound on suits and other items. 8642 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-588-7827.
UPPER NW, Washington, D.C. Barstons Child’s Play See Rockville listing. 5536 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-244-3602, www. barstonschildsplay.com
Catch Can See Kensington/North Bethesda listing. 5516 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-686-5316, www.catchcan.com
Corby Collection Part of Chevy Chase’s Mazza Gallerie since 1992, this women’s boutique features a mix of dress, casual and career clothing, with an emphasis on suits. Sister stores, Wear it Well and Sequel, both in Bethesda, have some overlap in merchandise, but each has unique items, as well. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-686-5363, www. corbycollection.com
Core 72 Whether you’re into running, cycling, yoga, Pilates, skiing or swimming, this engaging store has the goods to outfit you. The colorful activewear and accessories come from boutique designers such as Hard Tail Forever, Letarte, 15 Love, Carve Designs and Balega. And many of the items are cool enough to wear on the street. 5502 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-686-4258, www.core72dc.com
Full of Beans Unusual clothes and toys for infants and children fill this wonderland of a shop. Owner Barbara Cohn stocks fun things to wear (some of them handmade) from designers including Sara’s Prints, Joules, Bobux, Endue and Tea, as well as artful toys (when was the last time you saw Pin the Tail on the Donkey?). 3813 Livingston St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-362-8566.
Julia Farr This beautiful little shop is part boutique, part style salon, with owner Julia Farr ready to help customers redo their look or their entire closet. Find a well-edited selection of sportswear and dresses and accessories from designers including Catherine Malandrino, Sachin & Babi, Halston Heritage and Jane Oh. 5232 44th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-3277, www.juliafarrdc.com
Periwinkle The dazzling windows alone (especially around Halloween and Christmas) are worth a visit to this charming shop of gifts, chocolates, cards, stationary and holiday décor. Brands include Stonewall Kitchen gourmet goods, Thymes bath products, and Seda France candles. 3815 Livingston St. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-3076, www.periwinklegiftsdc.com
Tabandeh Owner Tabandeh Sizdahkhani fills her store with bold, edgy apparel and jewelry from more than 200 designers including Samira 13, Janis Savitt, Alexis Bittar and Iradj Moini. Find fashions from avant-garde designers such as Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester. Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-244-0777, www. tabandehjewelry.com n
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Saturday, October 11
Taste of a d s e h t e B
•
11am - 4pm
The Taste of Bethesda food and music festival takes place in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle along Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell, Del Ray and Auburn Avenues. The festival site is three blocks from the Bethesda Metro.
Photos © Sonny Odom
Produced By
Sponsored By
For more info, please call 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org TOB-BethMag2014_v2.indd Untitled-1 1 1
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to-do list
Compiled by Cindy Murphy-Tofig
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
Evenings in Olde Towne, 6 p.m. Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25. City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. Performers for the free outdoor music series include Diamond Alley (dance/rock, Sept. 4), Cluster (jazz/a cappella, Sept. 11), Rescue Squad (classic/Top 40, Sept. 18) and Trio Caliente (Latin, Sept. 25). www. gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/arts/concerts/ evenings-in-olde-towne. Friday Night Live, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Rockville Town Square, 200 E. Middle Lane, Rockville. Performers for the outdoor music series include Ruthie & the Wranglers (Americana, Sept. 5), the Crawdaddies (roots rock/zydeco, Sept. 12), Dreamstreet (classic rock covers, Sept. 19) and Yellow Dubmarine (American reggae/Beatles tribute band, Sept. 26). Free. www.rockvilletownsquare.com/events/friday-night-live. Gildenhorn/Speisman Center for the Arts’ Kreeger Auditorium, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville. 301-881-0100, www.jccgw.org. U.S. Air Force Band Brass Quintet, 8 p.m. Sept. 9. The quintet performs new and old favorites from its repertoire. Part of the U.S Air Force Band Chamber Player Series. Free. RSVP to Janet Getz at jgetz@jccgw.org. Brian Ganz, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14. The pianist performs works by Debussy and Beethoven. $30-$40. U.S. Air Force Band Woodwind Quintet and Chamber Trio, 8 p.m. Sept. 16. The chamber trio’s repertoire includes original music arrangements. Part of the U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Player Series. Free. RSVP to Janet Getz at jgetz@jccgw.org. U.S. Air Force Band Geoff Reecer Jazz Trio, 8 p.m. Sept. 23. A tribute to the music of jazz composers Jim Hall and Jimmy Giuffre. Part of the U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Player Series. Free. RSVP to Janet Getz at jgetz@jccgw.org. U.S. Air Force Band String Quartet, 8 p.m. Sept. 30. The quartet performs works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Part of the U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Player Series. Free. RSVP to Janet Getz at jgetz@jccgw.org. Bill Medley, 8 p.m. Sept. 11. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville. Bill Medley gained fame as half of the Righteous Brothers and is also known for the duet “(I’ve Had) The
OCT.
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Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 1, 8 p.m. Sept. 27. The program, which features violinist James Ehnes, also includes the BSO premiere of blue cathedral by Jennifer Higdon. Broadway Standing Ovations, 8 p.m. Oct. 9. The orchestra performs songs from Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and other Broadway hits. Off the Cuff: Ein Heldenleben, 8:15 p.m. Oct. 24. BSO Music Director Marin Alsop discusses Richard Strauss’ tone poem Ein Heldenleben. $31-$67
Franki Valli and his band appear at The Music Center at Strathmore
The Boys Are Back in Town Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons began topping the charts in the 1960s, with such iconic songs as “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Fifty years later, the American pop group continues to shine. The story of their success was featured in a Tony Award-winning musical, Jersey Boys, and a movie of the same name released over the summer and directed by Clint Eastwood. Fans can catch Valli’s iconic falsetto when the group performs at The Music Center at Strathmore at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16. Tickets are $48-$165; $43.20-$148.50 for Stars members. For more information, visit www.strathmore. org or call 301-581-5100. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
Time of My Life” with Jennifer Warnes. The concert was originally scheduled for May 23. $55; $53 for seniors and students. 240-567-5301, www.montgomerycollege.edu/pac. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic. org. Tickets are $31-$75 except where noted. Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, 8 p.m. Sept. 18. Hilary Hahn performs the concerto; the program also includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
Ein Heldenleben: A Hero’s Life, 3 p.m. Oct. 26. The orchestra performs Richard Strauss’ tone poem, plus works by Christopher Rouse and Alexander Scriabin. Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, 8 p.m. Oct. 30. The program will also include Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org. Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8. The orchestra’s performance is part of its first American tour. $25-$55; $22.50$49.50 for Stars members. Dvořák’s New World Symphony, 8 p.m. Oct. 18 and 3 p.m. Oct. 19. The National Philharmonic performs Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, Mendelssohn’s overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sibelius’ Concerto for Violin, featuring Chee-Yun. $28-$84; children ages 7-17 are free with the purchase of adult tickets. Carlos Barbosa-Lima, 8 p.m. Oct. 18. Westmoreland Congregational Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda. Barbosa-Lima pays tribute to Cuban composer/guitarist Leo Brouwer and the Beatles in an evening that will also feature guitarist Larry Del Casale, the Sunrise String Quartet and the U.S. premiere of Brouwer’s Guitar Quintet. $35. 301-654-6403, www.marlowguitar.org.
Theater Fetch Clay, Make Man, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 8-Nov. 2. Round House Theatre, 4545 East West Highway, Bethesda. The play—in its area premiere—tells the story of a friendship between Muhammad Ali and American comedian Stepin Fetchit in the
Courtesy of the Music Center at Strathmore
MUSIC
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Renee Engebretson
Matthew Hatala
Phill Singer
17th Annual
October 18 & 19 Saturday 11am-6pm Sunday 10am-5pm
190 Master Artisans Live Musical Entertainment Fine Dining www.bethesdarowarts.org
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SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
SEP T. 2 OCT. 017 Comedian Wanda Sykes
COMEDY CENTRAL In the mood for a good laugh? Then head to The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda to check out veteran comedians Wanda Sykes and Bill Cosby and humorist David Sedaris, who are scheduled for return appearances this fall. Sykes, named one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America in 2004, will appear at 8 p.m. Sept. 20, and the legendary Cosby, who counts the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor among his many awards and accolades, will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 2. Sedaris, a Grammy Award nominee and bestselling author, will appear at 8 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets for Sykes are $39-$129, or $35.10-$116.10 for Stars members; Cosby tickets cost $49.50-$89.50; and Sedaris tickets are $48-$68, or $43.20-$61.20 for Stars members. For more information, visit www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
Humorist David Sedaris
midst of the civil rights movement. $20-$45. 240644-1100, www.roundhousetheatre.org. F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. 240314-8690, www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre.
The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 10-19. Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer-winning work explores the relationships of the members of Big Daddy’s family. Presented by Rockville Little Theatre. $22; $20 seniors and students.
Grease, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 31-Nov. 16. No performance Nov. 2. Grease is the word in this musical about greasers and Pink Ladies in the 1950s. Presented by Rockville Musical Theatre. $22; $20 seniors and students.
Courtesy of The Music Center at Strathmore
to-do list
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Glenview Mansion Art Gallery at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 240-314-8682, www.rockville md.gov/arts.
SEPT.
3-27 Dangerous Liaisons May, a woman whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trying to escape her past, is hiding out at a hotel near the Mojave Desert when Eddie, her on-again/ off-again lover, shows up. The meeting leads to a night of jealousy, betrayal and revealed secrets in playwright/actor Sam Shepardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acclaimed play Fool for Love, directed by Producing Artistic Director Ryan Rilette and playing from Sept. 3-27 at Round House Theatre in Bethesda. Shepard starred along with Kim Basinger in the 1985 movie version directed by Robert Altman. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $20-$45. For more information, go to www.round housetheatre.org or call 240-644-1100.
Round House Theatre, 4545 East West Highway, Bethesda
Art
Courtesy of Round House Theatre
The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards, noon-6 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, Sept. 3-27. Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E, Bethesda. The exhibition will feature works by finalists for the Trawick Prize. The annual juried competition awards $14,000 in prize money to selected artists. Opening reception from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 12. Free. 301-215-6660, www.bethesda.org. The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. 301-581-5100, www.strathmore.org. Grace Hartigan: A Survey 1966-2007, Sept. 6-Nov. 9. The abstract-expressionist painter was a friend and disciple of Jackson Pollock. Opening reception from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 19. Art & Wine Night: Grace Hartigan, 7 p.m. Oct. 17. Attend a craft workshop, reception and tour related to the Hartigan exhibit. $35; $31.50 for Stars members.
The Sumi-e Society, Sept. 7-26. The exhibit showcases East Asian brush painting and calligraphy. Susana Garten, Elaine Cafritz and Meryl Silver, Oct. 5-24. Garten works in enamels fired on metal, Cafritz in acrylic and mixed media and Silver in photography. Inner Light: Pastel and Oil Paintings by John Davis Held, noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Sept. 9-Oct. 4. Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East West Highway, Bethesda. Baltimore artist John Davis Held is known for his paintings of skies and landscapes. Reception from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 12. Demonstration from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 27. Free. 301-951-9441, www.waverly streetgallery.com. Bethesda Art Walk, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 12 and Oct. 10. Various galleries in downtown Bethesda open their doors on the second Friday of every month. Free. 301-215-6660, www.bethesda.org. Art Walk in the Park, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 12 and Oct. 10. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Open studios will include fused glass, stone-carving, silversmithing, painting and pottery. Free. 301-634-2222, www.glenechopark.org/ art-walk-park.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The Puppet Co. Playhouse, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $10; group rates available. 301-6345380, www.thepuppetco.org. Rapunzel, Sept. 19-Oct. 12. Witch Wartsmith goes to great lengths to keep Rapunzel away from a handsome prince. Recommended for children in prekindergarten through fourth grade. Please note that no Thursday performances are scheduled. The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Oct. 16-Nov. 21. Three brother goats meet a troll as they cross a bridge to reach greener pastures. Recommended for children in prekindergarten through fourth grade. Stuart Little, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays; Sept. 19-Oct. 26. Adventure Theatre, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. The tiny mouse in a human family ventures away from home to find his best friend, a bird named Margalo who disappears from her nest. Based on the book by E.B. White. $19. 301-6342270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
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SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
OCT.
11 Jaleo serves up an enormous pan of paella at last year’s Taste of Bethesda
All in Good Taste Tired of cooking? Then head to Woodmont Triangle on Oct. 11 when 60 restaurants offering a wide variety of small bites will line several streets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the 25th annual Taste of Bethesda. Admission is free, but taste tickets cost $5 for a pack of four (food costs one to four tickets). Arriving early is recommended; the event sponsored by Bethesda Urban Partnership usually draws more than 40,000 people. Ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment presented on five stages as you nosh, or visit the kids’ area for face-painting and crafts. For more information, go to www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660. Woodmont Triangle, along Norfolk, Fairmont, St. Elmo, Cordell and Del Ray avenues, Bethesda
StoryTime Station, 11 a.m. Sept. 23 and Oct. 28. Gaithersburg Community Museum, 9 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. The 45-minute story time is recommended for ages 3-6. $3 per child; free for infants in arms and adults. To purchase tickets online, go to www.gaith ersburgmd.gov/recxpress. 301-258-6160, www. gaithersburgmd.gov. The Night Fairy, 1:30, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sundays; Sept. 24-Oct. 26. Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. Flory, a night fairy, is injured and must learn how to survive during the day among the birds and other backyard critters. Along the way she makes new friends and discovers her creativity and resiliency. Suitable for ages 4-10. $10-$30. 301280-1660, www.imaginationstage.org. All Aboard, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sept. 27. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. From planes to trains, children will explore the excitement of traveling to new places. The performance is part of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Music Box Series, geared toward children ages 6 months to 3 years. $10. 301-581-5100, www.bsomusic.org.
SEASONAL Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade, 1 p.m. Sept. 1. Through Olde Towne Gaithersburg. The 76th annual parade will include antique cars and fire trucks, high school marching bands, dance groups and other organizations. Free. www. gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/special-events/ labor-day-parade. Takoma Park Folk Festival, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7. Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park. The festival includes seven stages of live music, a juried crafts show, food vendors and children’s activities. Free. www.tpff.org.
OCT.
18
LITERARY Café Muse, 7 p.m. Sept. 15 and Oct. 6. Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase. Monthly literary program with open readings following featured readers. In September: Dennis Kirschbaum and Margaret MacKinnon. October readers weren’t announced by press time. Free. 301-656-2797, www.word worksdc.com/cafe_muse.html.
First Annual Golf Outing, 11:30 a.m. Oct. 7, The Members Club at Four Streams, 19501 Darnestown Road, Poolesville. The event benefits Cornerstone Montgomery, which helps empower people with mental health and substance use disorders. Registration, a putting contest and a grill lunch will occur from 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m., followed by a shotgun start. A reception, raffle and live auction will immediately follow. Cost is $1,600 for a foursome. Email Jennifer@rooftopeventsllc.com to register. Oktoberfest at the Kentlands, noon Oct. 12. Kentlands Market Square, 821 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg. The afternoon will include horsedrawn wagon rides, apple-pressing demonstrations, live music, a beer garden and other activities. Free. www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/ special-events/oktoberfest-at-the-kentlands. Bethesda Row Arts Festival, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 18 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19. Along Elm Street and Woodmont and Bethesda avenues, Bethesda. Meander along Bethesda Row and view works from 190 juried fine artists. The event also includes an art sale to benefit NIH Children’s Charities, kids’ activities and live music. Free. 301637-5684, www.bethesdarowarts.org. Potomac Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 25. Potomac Promenade, 9812 Falls Road, Potomac. The annual community festival features a classic car show, parade and business fair, plus moon bounces, rides and other children’s activities. Free. 301-299-2170, www.potomacchamber.org.
FARMERS MARKETS Fulks Corner Farmers Market, 1-6 p.m. Thursdays. At the corner of Route 355 and Fulks Corner Avenue, Gaithersburg. Offerings include jams and jellies, meat, herbs, flowers and plants, cider, fruit butters and baked goods. www.gaithersburgmd. gov/leisure/markets/farmers-markets.
Real Wheels
More than 500 antique and classic cars will cover the grounds of Glenview Mansion on Oct. 18 during the annual Rockville Antique and Classic Car Show. Thirty car clubs will display vehicles from Packards to Ferraris at the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Vote for your favorite to win the People’s Choice Award, or browse the flea market. The car show includes a display of “orphans”—makes of cars built by a manufacturer that’s no longer in business. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.rockvillemd.gov/events or call 240-314-8620.
Glenview Mansion, Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville
© Sonny Odom, 2013 (taste of bethesda); Rt. 1 Multimedia (Classic cars)
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FRESHFARM Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Ellsworth Drive, between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. Offerings include produce, eggs, breads and pastries, honey and preserves. www.freshfarmmarkets.org. Pike Central Farm Market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. 5992 Executive Blvd., North Bethesda. More than 40 farmers and producers offer fruit, vegetables and other goodies. www.centralfarm markets.com. Rockville Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the corner of Route 28 and Monroe Street. Also 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays, at 225 N. Wash-
ington St., in front of Dawson’s Market. Offerings include goat cheese, baked goods, produce, coffee, jams and jellies. www.rockvillemd.gov/farmers.
Howard Avenue. Offerings include artisan breads, seafood, prepared foods and produce. www. explorekensington.com/farm ers_market.php.
Main Street Farmers and Artists Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Main Street Pavilion, 301 Main St., Gaithersburg. Meats, fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, honey and eggs, plus jewelry, knitted items, woodworking items and other work by craftspeople. www.gaithers burgmd.gov/leisure/markets/farmers-markets.
Bethesda Central Farm Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Bethesda Elementary School, 7600 Arlington Road. The year-round market’s offerings include baked goods, fruits and vegetables, seafood and some meats. www.centralfarm markets.com. ■
Kensington Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. At the historic Kensington train station on
To submit calendar items, go to Bethesda Magazine.com.
Marketplace
Veterinary Holistic Care Offering Holistic and Conventional Care including: Full range diagnostics Routine Wellness Visits Illness Care • Acupuncture Reiki • Homeopathy • Massage Chiropractic • Herbs Vaccination and Nutritional Counseling Routine surgery and dentistry 4820 Moorland Lane, Bethesda MD 301.656.2882 | www.vhcdoc.com
25, 2014
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what Bethesda’s
reading
Barnes & Noble Bethesda
Barnes & Noble Nationwide/www.bn.com
Hardcover Fiction
1. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt 2. The Heist (Gabriel Allon Series #14), Daniel Silva 3. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike Series #2), Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) 4. All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr 5. The Book of Life, Deborah Harkness 6. Midnight in Europe, Alan Furst 7. The Vacationers: A Novel, Emma Straub 8. Invisible, James Patterson and David Ellis 9. All Fall Down, Jennifer Weiner 10. Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King
1. The Book of Life: All Souls Trilogy # 3, Deborah Harkness 2. The Heist (Gabriel Allon Series #14), Daniel Silva 3. Tom Clancy Support and Defend, Mark Greaney 4. Act of War, Brad Thor 5. The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike Series #2), Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) 6. Invisible, James Patterson 7. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt 8. Cut and Thrust, Stuart Woods 9. Mr. Mercedes, Stephen King 10. Top Secret Twenty-One, Janet Evanovich
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Hard Choices, Hillary Rodham Clinton 2. Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty 3. Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner 4. Blood Feud: The Clintons vs. the Obamas, Edward Klein 5. 30-Second Maths, Richard Brown 6. Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book, Diane E. Muldrow 7. 30-Second Psychology, Richard Robinson 8. Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East, Scott Anderson 9. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, Malcolm Gladwell 10. One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future, Ben Carson
1. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand 2. Blood Feud: The Clintons vs. The Obamas, Edward Klein 3. One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America’s Future, Ben Carson 4. Hard Choices, Hillary Clinton 5. Strengths Finder 2.0, Tom Rath 6. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, Malcolm Gladwell 7. Factory Man, Beth Macy 8. #Girlboss, Sophia Amoruso 9. Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive, T.D. Jakes 10. Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Paperback (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Top-selling books in July at the Barnes & Noble in Bethesda compared with Barnes & Noble stores nationwide and at www.bn.com
1. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn 2. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline 3. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, Katherine Boo 4. The Cuckoo’s Calling, (Cormoran Strike Series #1) Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) 5. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling 6. And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini 7. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Daniel James Brown 8. The Silver Star, Jeannette Walls 9. The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri 10. The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion
1. Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn 2. Fifty Shades of Grey, E.L. James 3. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand 4. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline 5. Heaven Is For Real, Todd Burpo 6. Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell 7. Orange is the New Black, Piper Kerman 8. The Cuckoo’s Calling, (Cormoran Strike Series #1) Robert Galbraith (aka J.K Rowling) 9. Wreck This Journal, Keri Smith 10. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Daniel James Brown Source: Barnes & Noble Bethesda
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WHEN BUSINESSES DO GOOD, THE COMMUNITY PROFITS. As members of Community Profits Montgomery, the following businesses have committed to give at least 2% of their net income back to the community. To learn more, or to join in our pledge, visit CommunityProfitsMontgomery.org
®
www.mafcu.org
AN INITIATIVE OF
COMMUNICATIONS FOR A CHANGE
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photos by denise foley
The sails of the schooner Woodwind fill with wind (left) as a passenger takes a photo.
life
A great blue heron and a weathered, abandoned boat in the salt marshes of Tilghman Island, Md.
Tilghman Island serves up local seafoodâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;plus a tall tale or two BY virginia myers
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A breeze blows through sea grass in the island’s salt marshes.
Tilghman Island (population 784) is suspended at the end of a narrow peninsula that points like a finger down the Chesapeake Bay. In certain spots, the water is so close that boats anchored just offshore appear to be floating in fields next to the road. The magic starts at Knapp’s Narrows, where crossing the busy drawbridge onto the 2.8-square-mile island is like stepping back in time. Passing through town, I notice vintage cottages with peeling paint; further out on the main road is a steepled church built in 1891, its lawn flecked with white tombstones. Ginny Cornwell, who retired here 17 years ago, says that when people ask her husband where he lives, he answers, “In 1950.” I start my day with breakfast at Two If By Sea, a modest café just under a mile from Knapp’s Narrows on the main drag, Tilghman Island Road. The place is buzzing with a mix of tattooed 20-somethings and grizzled guys who look as though they’re on their way to the docks. I sidle up to the counter beside an 11-year-old
Dogwood Harbor hosts rowing races during the annual Tilghman Island Day in October.
boy and his dad, who tells me they’ve just sailed over from Herrington Harbour, directly across the Bay. The young waitress calls me “Honey” as she pours my coffee; behind me, a couple of locals chat in the drawl that’s peculiar to the Eastern Shore. After filling up on "crabby" eggs Benedict—a signature dish that substitutes local crab for the usual bacon—I pass by the open kitchen to chat with chef Henry
denise foley
T
he drive to Maryland’s Eastern Shore is familiar territory for my family and me. I like to count the sailboats underneath the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, make a mental note of the seafood restaurants on Kent Island (dinner options for the return trip home?) and enjoy seeing the egrets and herons swooping over the marshy grass along the Choptank River. Sometimes our road trip ends at one of the popular beaches, where colorful towels and umbrellas form a patchwork quilt along the coastline. Other times, we veer onto state Route 33 at Easton and head to the quaint town of St. Michaels, with its upscale “shoppes” and moorings lined with yachts. But what I like best is to drive the 14 miles past St. Michaels to Tilghman Island—a place where workboats are the predominant seafaring vessel, serveyourself produce stands line the roadside, and firehouse fundraisers are the main attraction on Saturday night.
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sabrina raymond
In certain spots, the water is so close that boats anchored just offshore appear to be floating in fields next to the road. Miller, a Culinary Institute of Americatrained transplant who worked in a number of East Coast restaurants and catering businesses before opening Two If By Sea in 2008. He lets me in on the secret to his spectacular eggs Benedict: mozzarella, which makes it that much richer. Popping into the vintage-bankturned-bookstore next door, I meet Gary Crawford, owner of Crawfords Nauti-
cal Books. A big-bellied, white-bearded bear of a man, Crawford is quick to make a friend, and even quicker with a joke. If he’s not delivering a punch line, he’s directing you toward Big Mouth Billy Bass, an animatronic fish that sings “Don’t Worry Be Happy” in the “Sea Myths” section of the store, or toward the photo of a sub sandwich near the books about submarines.
The shop is chockablock with titles on pirates, yachting, naval history and all things maritime, along with a good selection of regional books—including several chronicles of Tilghman Island history that Crawford wrote himself. Though he’s technically not a native (he first came to the island in 1980), Crawford has become the de facto island historian, drawing much of his material from locals who
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Local historian and bookshop owner Gary Crawford has compiled several albums of vintage island photos to share with visitors.
drop by to spin yarns for him to share. He’s even put together several albums of vintage island photos that he uses to “prime the conversational pump,” he says. A brochure advertises tours on the Rebecca T. Ruark, “We hope each picture will cause the oldest working skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay. a thousand words.” He shows me the album about a waterman-turned-artist (whom in 1886, the skipjack was once part of an I later meet in person in the quirky Til- oyster boom, back when 15 million bushghman Watermen’s Museum, housed els were harvested annually from a bay next door in a former barber shop). Bill brimming with shellfish. Since then, disCummings, a lanky, square-jawed local, ease and environmental conditions—and grew up on Tilghman and worked on overfishing, some say, though that claim the water for 67 years. In winter, he was is hotly debated—have diminished the a “tonger,” picking oysters off the bot- oyster beds. In 2012, only 150,000 bushtom of the bay with enormous tongs els were harvested. that dipped over the side of the boat. In A seasoned waterman, Murphy has spring and summer, he went “haul sein- seen it all: prices as high as $40 a bushel ing,” handling the heavy nets used to and as low as $2 a bushel; harvests as big as 300 bushels in three hours, and as small as catch fin fish including striped bass. Those experiences are now reflected four bushels a day. “It’s a daggone shame,” in Cummings’ landscapes, with scenes he says of the current conditions. “We put depicting teams of men hauling up nets, a man on the moon. We can’t bring back or young boys wading in the surf, side- the oysters? Something’s wrong here.” by-side, raking up oysters. State and federal agencies have been Cummings is a self-taught painter— working for years, though, on efforts to “the onliest waterman who was a true revive the oyster population, including artist,” Crawford says, mimicking the restoring the shellfish in 10 Maryland rivisland vernacular. “Bill brought all these ers and tidal creeks by building reefs and planting hatchery-raised baby oysters. images in his head, back to the shore.” Soon, Murphy will be gearing up for I find myself on board another winter of dredging with his son, the Rebecca T. Ruark, a historic skipjack rising routinely at 3 a.m. and motorowned by Capt. Wade Murphy Jr. Built ing 60 nautical miles out to the oys-
another day,
ter beds south of Tilghman to see what they can dig up. Until then, Murphy, 72— whose weathered face speaks of years spent on the water— is following his spring-summer-fall ritual of taking tourists out on his 53-foot beauty, the oldest working skipjack in the Chesapeake Bay's dwindling fleet of commercial sailboats. Before the tour ends, Murphy scrapes the bottom of the bay for a tong full of oysters, which we carefully inspect on deck, noting their size (and whether or not they are big enough to be legal) before we toss them back over the side. It’s still a month before oystering season begins in November. Of course oysters aren’t the only currency in this tiny Bayside town. Back on shore, I meet Wilson “Willie” Roe, 87, who patiently shows me how to make crab nets exactly the way he’s done it since he was 14. He’s manning one of the many booths that are part of Tilghman Island Day, a fall festival of rowboat races, docking contests, oyster-shucking and crabpicking competitions, traditional crafts, live music and plenty of seafood—held annually on the third Saturday of October. Roe was born on the edge of Dogwood Harbor, in the house right behind where he now sits, weaving nets under a shady awning. His father ran a repair shop in nearby St. Michaels, he says,
photos by Virginia myers
St. John’s Chapel was built in 1891.
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The island’s watermen ply the bay for a dwindling supply of oysters.
The busy drawbridge at Knapp’s Narrows connects Tilghman Island to the mainland.
noting that Tilghman’s resident physician, “Doc Reeser,” delivered him in exchange for a fixed-up radio. Roe’s dad operated a still next to the house—for root beer, he qualifies, though there was also something mentioned about a cousin stealing whiskey. Roe never worked on boats—he was a machinist at the Westinghouse Corp. on the mainland—but he did “haul seine” from the beach, pulling nets full of hardheads (a kind of catfish) and rockfish. That’s when he learned how to tie nets, he explains, his expert hands guiding the twine through mine as I weave a few rows myself. The work is addictive, slow and satisfying. Beside us, Roe’s friend Harvey Reed, 76, shucks oysters from a bushel at his feet, explaining that he left an office job for commercial crabbing 15 years ago and never looked back. “I went from a good, 40-hour-a-week job to an 80-houra-week job crabbing.” He has no regrets. “You’re your own boss,” he says simply, handing me one oyster after another. Sitting in the shade with Roe and Reed, I realize that a big part of Tilghman’s charm has to do with slowing down long enough to listen. And the stories are pretty good, too. There’s the one about the ongoing feud between brothers
who refuse to set foot on one another’s boats. And the tale about the St. Michaels boy, bullied by his schoolmates, who was fiercely protected by island kids. Or the time traffic was brought to a complete standstill by a black Labrador retriever sitting in the middle of the road— an incident that prompted Jim Moses, 67, to pull up stakes and move here. “Any place where a black Lab has the right of way is a place I want to live,” says Moses, a retired naval officer who moved here 15 years ago. It’s “a real, nokidding community.” Moses is rounding up grant funding to convert one of the island’s many weathered buildings (this one circa 1890/1900) into a new Watermen’s Museum—a grassroots effort to preserve the oral histories and artifacts of this community, and perhaps capture some of its magic.
Residents here
recognize that many of the traditions that have sustained the local way of life are fading. Harvesting food from the bay is not only exhausting, dangerous work, but it’s also becoming unprofitable in light of declining shellfish populations and increasingly restrictive state regulations. Still, other traditions remain alive and
well. Before Tilghman Island Day ends, I make sure to catch the rowing races in Dogwood Harbor, where heats of three take off from the bulkhead, rowing frantically—or methodically, depending on their level of experience—toward a finish line about 30 yards away. As the crowd cheers for its favorites, one rower struggles comically to get his dinghy going in the right direction, while two competitors up ahead get into a shoving match with their paddles. This tussle gives the slow rower just enough time to straighten himself out and breeze past them to win the race. And so another story is born. Capping off the day, I head to the firehouse, where community members are dishing up dinner. An Eastern Shore band plays a raucous brand of country music, while kids race across the grass and adults line up to buy beer, clam strips, soft-shell crabs and fried oysters from food trucks and tables. Stepping up to a friendly guy in an apron, I buy oyster stew—a milky, buttery broth packed with about a dozen plump bivalves—served in a Styrofoam cup. Slurping this elixir, I imagine what it was like when the bay was teaming with oysters and no one thought twice about having a full cup for dinner. And then I realize the people who made this stew are still living that dream. n Virginia Myers, a freelance writer based in Takoma Park, Md., is a regular contributor to Driving Range.
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If YOu GO GETTING THERE From Bethesda, the drive to Tilghman Island is an hour and 50 minutes. Take I-495 to the U.S. 50 exit east toward Annapolis. Drive across the Bay Bridge and stay on U.S. 50 until you reach MD-322/ Easton Parkway, and go right. Drive about two miles to St. Michaels Road/MD-33, and follow this for 22 miles.
A popular local eatery, Two If By Sea features chef Henry Miller’s “crabby” eggs Benedict—a local twist on the popular breakfast dish.
where to stay
Knapp’s Narrows Marina & Inn (6176 Tilghman Island Road; 800-322-5181, 410-886-2720; www.knappsnarrowsmarina. com) is perched along Knapp’s Narrows, the boat-lined channel that runs between the mainland and Tilghman Island. Guests often include boaters docked at the marina, and there are sunset sails and fishing charters available for those who come by land. The pet-friendly inn features 20 rooms, each with a balcony or patio with waterfront view; plus a pool, restaurant, tiki bar, Wi-Fi and free use of bikes. Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent. Rates: $90-$170. Includes continental breakfast.
Black Walnut Point Inn (4417 Black Walnut Point Road; 410-886-2452; www. blackwalnutpointinn.com), at the tip of the island’s secluded peninsula, features a 58acre bird sanctuary on one side and water views on the other three. The 1840s house includes fireplaces, a sunroom, a screenedin back porch and an expansive lawn that serves as a stopping point for butterflies migrating south each fall. Owners Bob Zuber, a former music teacher and bar owner (guests are encouraged to play the baby grand), and Tracy Staples, once a world-traveling IT engineer and now a fourth-generation minister, have close friends among the locals and can steer guests toward some of the island’s best features. Offering four rooms and three cabins with Wi-Fi, the inn also has a pool, a hot tub, and bikes and kayaks for rent. Rates: $120-$250 (rooms); $280-$350 (cabins). Includes full breakfast.
where to EAT Two If By Sea Restaurant, 5776 Tilghman Island Road; 410-886-2447; twoifbysearestaurant.com. Hours vary by season. The cozy café-style restaurant earned a “Best Weekday Breakfast” award from What’s Up Eastern Shore with selections like “crabby” eggs Benedict, a downhome corned beef hash, and blueberry- or cherry-stuffed French toast. Look for softshell crabs and rockfish among the specials and sandwiches at lunch. Dinner may include Chesapeake chicken (stuffed with crab) or swai, a cousin to catfish, paired
with produce from the garden out back. For dessert, try the Smith Island Cake, a nine-layer Eastern Shore tradition. Breakfast, $4.95 to $9.95; lunch, $5.95 to $8.95; dinner, $12.95-$18.95. BYOB. Harrison’s Chesapeake House, 21551 Chesapeake House Drive; 410-8862121; www.chesapeakehouse.com. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The companion restaurant to the Harrison House Country Inn, this sprawling eatery dominates the waterfront with a 100-seat outdoor patio, a separate bar on the dock and a full 180-seat restaurant indoors. The menu offers a mix of fresh, local seafood (think rockfish and crabs), plus local specialties such as oyster fritters or the pot o’ cheese and applebutter appetizer. You’ll also find standbys such as chicken wings and fried calamari. Live music on weekends. Dinner entrées, $14.99 to $27.99. Characters Bridge Restaurant, 6136 Tilghman Island Road; 410-886-1060 (for online info, see Characters Bridge on Facebook). Hours vary by season. The view is outstanding at this 200-seat (half indoors, half outdoors) restaurant on Knapp’s Narrows, where you can watch the boats go under the drawbridge or see the sun set over the water. Seafood is the specialty. The rockfish bites are especially popular, and you can get a crab feast of hard-shells in season. Dinner entrées, $18 to $30.
photo by Virginia myers
Harrison House Country Inn (21551 Chesapeake House Drive; 410-8862121; www.chesapeakehouse.com) is in the center of town. The waterfront property has its own docks and offers one of the largest restaurants on the island, plus fishing and hunting packages with local guides. Operated by the same family that founded it as a boardinghouse in 1875, Harrison House embraces island history and enjoys a legacy of return guests. The pool, playground, fire pit, volleyball court and bikes are available, free of charge, to guests of the inn, which has 50 rooms and four on-property rental houses. Rates: $129.99-$179.99 per night; $179.99$269.99 per night for suites; $1,299.99$2,999.99 per week for houses (which can also be rented on a per-night or per-weekend basis). Wi-Fi is available in all rooms and some of the rental houses.
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things to do Tilghman Island Day. Held on the third Saturday of October, this annual event begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends in the late afternoon. Festivities include oyster-shucking and crab-picking contests, rowing races and docking competitions, plus net-making demonstrations and watermen’s story sessions. Don't miss the best oyster stew you will ever taste. The day also brings live music from local bands, all sorts of seafood plus arts and nautical crafts for sale and a silent auction featuring everything from automotive tools and a free oil change to a guided fishing trip, framed nautical photos and a T-shirt from the Maryland Watermen’s Association. The $5 admission includes a map to the exhibits, events and food booths. www. tilghmanmd.com/tilghmanday.htm. Skipjack Sailing. Capt. Wade Murphy Jr., a fifth-generation Eastern Shore waterman, has spent 50 years dredging oysters off the coast of Tilghman Island; his boat, the 53-foot Rebecca T. Ruark, was built in
1886, and is the oldest in the dwindling fleet of sailing oyster boats called skipjacks. During the tour, Murphy will describe the history of the fleet, the restrictions on oystering (the skipjacks are permitted to dredge under sail for one month before motorized dredges are permitted to fish the oyster beds) and the complicated politics around protecting the bay and its bounty. The two-hour tour includes an opportunity for passengers to dredge a few oysters, and guests often get to hoist the sails and take a turn at the helm. $30 per person for two hours (bring your own food/drink). Half-day or full-day trips also available. 410-829-3976, 410-886-2176, www.skipjack.org. Tilghman Watermen’s Museum, 5778 Tilghman Island Road; 410-8862930; tilghmanmuseum.org. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April through December. Housed in a former barber shop, this crowded collection of artifacts includes both historic and current treasures. Paintings, oral histories (some
from locals who still live down the road) and model boats compete for space with nautical knot displays, photographs, fishing poles and totes made from sailcloth. A vibrant group of Tilghman enthusiasts, many of them transplants, is now raising money to move the museum to a historic “W-house”—so called because of its shape, which is designed to catch the breeze in the notoriously hot summers. Crawfords Nautical Books, 5782 Main St.; 410-886-2418; www.crawfordsnautical.com. Open weekends only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April to December. Specializing in maritime-themed titles ranging from Patrick O’Brien novels and yachting guides, to books on pirates and ship modeling, Crawfords is charming not only for its books, but for its historic location in an old bank building—complete with the original safe. You’ll also find locally focused literature and a jolly shopkeeper, Gary Crawford, who can tell a few tales himself. n —Virginia Myers
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Freedom on Tap How a Rockville tavern played a role in the birth of America On June 11, 1774, a group of con-
cerned citizens gathered at Charles Hungerford’s tavern at the crossroads of what would become Jefferson and Washington streets in the town of Rockville. Hungerford’s Tavern was a favorite meeting place of the men of the county, who would congregate in the wooden, story-and-a-half building to hoist a few and discuss current events. That day, the topic was Boston. Six months earlier, on Dec. 16, 1773, nearly 60 hatchet-wielding men had stormed three ships anchored in Boston Harbor, hacked open hundreds of chests of tea, and dumped the contents overboard. Their rage was fueled by incessant taxes levied by a British Parliament that refused the Americans any say in the proceedings. The citizens of Boston would rather do without their beloved drink than
submit to taxation without representation. Their protest was met with stern punishment. By March of 1774 the British had blockaded the port, prohibited town meetings, squelched free speech and disarmed all of the citizens. British soldiers were stationed throughout the town, ready to meet any further outbreaks with deadly force. The men who gathered at Hungerford’s Tavern to discuss the events were leaders of what was then called Lower Frederick County (Montgomery would not become a separate political entity until 1776). The group included such distinguished gentlemen as Thomas Sprigg Wootton, a noted local physician who later introduced the bill that led to the formation of Montgomery County, and Col. Zadok Magruder, a prosperous area farmer who would soon become a commander in the
By Mark Walston
Revolutionary War. Today, two local high schools are named in their honor. Communities up and down the Eastern seaboard were alarmed yet fearful to respond lest they suffer the same consequences. However, the men of Hungerford hammered out a set of resolutions that in no uncertain terms expressed their outrage over the Boston incidents. The Hungerford Resolves, as the resolutions became known, was the first such document in the D.C. area—created months before similar resolves appeared in Northern Virginia. It was an articulation of American freedom from Great Britain—published with names boldly stated. “Resolved,” the document began, “that it is the opinion of this meeting that the Town of Boston is now suffering in the Common Cause of America.” They called for solidarity of the colonists, that every legal and constitutional measure ought to be used “by all America” to procure a repeal of the Boston Harbor blockade. “It is the opinion of this meeting,” the resolutions continued, “that the most effectual means for the securing of American Freedom will be to break off all Commerce with Great Britain and the West Indies until the said act be repealed and the right of taxation given upon permanent principles.” On June 22, 1774, the 10 men who signed the resolutions attended a meeting in Annapolis with representatives from other communities about the best course of collective action. That and subsequent meetings would be instrumental in setting up the First Continental Congress, which met on Sept. 5, 1774, in Philadelphia. The original document has long disappeared, as has the tavern. Nevertheless, the Hungerford Resolves remains Rockville’s contribution to the events that culminated in the Declaration of Independence. n Mark Walston is an author and historian raised in Bethesda and now living in Olney.
Alice kresse
Once Upon a
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