Bethesda

Lids is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The store is located next to LEGO on the mall’s lower level. Lids is a “mall based, retail headwear” store that sells NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL licensed hats and merchandise.  According to Westfield, “Get lettering or a unique design embroidered on you new find! Don’t want a flat brimmed hat? Lids will steam and curve the brim in house!”

Lids has additional Montgomery County locations at the Clarksburg Outlets, Ellsworth Place (Silver Spring), and Wheaton Mall.  Click here to see a list businesses that are also coming soon to Montgomery Mall. Featured photo courtesy @lids on Instagram. 


Arts

Akon is bringing his “The SuperFan Tour” to the DMV, when he performs at The Fillmore in Silver Spring on Tuesday, November 7th. Akon recently promoted the show on his instagram, referring to Silver Spring as “Silver Springs“, a common mistake among those not familiar with the area. The video can be seen below.

The  Senegalese-American singer, record producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has become an influential figure in modern world music after rising to prominence in 2004 following the release of “Locked Up”, the first single from his debut album Trouble (2004), followed by the second single “Lonely”, which was also a smash hit. Akon’s second album, Konvicted (2006), received three Grammy Award nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Smack That” (featuring Eminem) and “I Wanna Love You” (featuring Snoop Dogg). Both singles became Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits, followed up by “Don’t Matter” and “Sorry, Blame It on Me”. His third studio album Freedom (2008) was led by the single “Right Now (Na Na Na)”.


Beyond MoCo

Sailing Through The Winter Solstice begins annually in November, when a number of boats, transformed through the “creative minds of many Frederick friends”, set sail on the Creek. The boats are anchored in Carroll Creek (50 Carroll Creek Way, Frederick, MD 21701), between Market Street and Carroll Street in Frederick County. The fleet includes gaff-rigged ketches, yawls, three-masted schooners, and pirate ships, moored with their sail outlines, rigging and decks lit up from dusk till dawn. This year, the experience launches on November 18th. Admission is free from 8am until midnight (a video of the experience is available below).

“It’s not just fun, it’s for a purpose.  In addition to voting for your favorite boat ($1 per vote), many organizations are raising awareness and money for amazing causes. All proceeds raised during STTWS got to Color On The Creek and each boat’s designated charity. The event runs from launch week in November through the 1st Saturday in February’s traditional theme ‘Fire & Ice’.” Per Visit Frederick, “You can view the boats anytime day or night. In fact, you may want to take a look while it’s light out and again after it gets dark and the lights come on. Lights typically turn on at sunset, so this is a great time to see them both ways.  Sailing Through the Winter Solstice is a fundraiser – visitors can vote on their favorite boat, with donations supporting local non-profit organizations. The 2022-23 season raised more than $130,000 for charities in Frederick County!”


DMV

Chop Robinson, a 6’3, 253 pound Defensive End for the Penn State Nittany Lions, watched his current team beat his previous team as Penn State rolled through Maryland 51-15 on Saturday. Robinson, a Quince Orchard High School graduate and Gaithersburg native who owns his high school’s sack record, was injured two weeks ago against Ohio State, and wasn’t able to play in the last two games, including Saturday’s game against Maryland. The now-Penn State standout is having a great season for the 8-1 Nittany Lions, with five tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble on the season, and hopes to return next week against Michigan. Many analysts and draft experts currently have Robinson going in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Last year, Robinson was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, named a Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten second team selection, and earned the team’s Reid Robinson Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award with Adisa Isaac. Appearing in 12 games as a sophomore, he posted 26 tackles (19 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Prior to the start of this season, Robinson earned preseason second-team All-American honors and was named to the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists prior to the start of the season.


Event

Beautiful venue; great art, gifts and hand-crafted items; refreshments; and meet the award-winning painters, photographers, mixed media artists, ceramicists, fiber artists, and more – some 40 artists in all. It’s an extraordinary array of framed wall works, 3-d media including sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber pieces, and unframed prints.

Among them, you’ll see:


MCPD

Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting in the White Oak Shopping Center on Saturday, November 4. According to police, “At approximately 5:51p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the America’s Best Wings restaurant in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Ave. for the report of a shooting.   Upon arrival, officers located two adult male victims, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to an area hospital, where one of the victims was pronounced dead. The second victim is in critical condition.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that there was an altercation inside the restaurant that led to the shooting. After the shooting, the suspect left the scene.  No suspect is in custody at this time.  This is an active and ongoing investigation.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps. 


MCPD

Montgomery County Police tweeted the following at 6:09pm on Saturday, November 4: “MCPD is responding to a shooting call in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Ave. More information will be released as it becomes available.”

According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, two victims were shot during a fight near the White Oak Shopping Center around 5:50pm. Montgomery County Police 3D Officers aided both victims prior to EMS arrival. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.


MoCo Police

The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has provided a sad update to a missing person’s investigation, as MCPD has announced that Alan Hooker, 24, was found dead by police on October 31st. According to police, no foul play is suspected. Hooker was previously last seen on September 15th in Germantown. The original missing persons release can be seen below.

Per MCPD on October 10th: “The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Alan Hooker, a missing 24-year-old.  Hooker was last seen on Friday, September 15, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., in the 20900 block of Frederick Road in Germantown. He is 5-feet, 9-inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, possible facial stubble, and was last seen wearing a blue shirt with Husqvarna in white lettering on the back, a light brown parka hat, black pants and carrying a neon green backpack.


DMV

Per WMATA: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is saddened to learn of the passing of former federal Board Member, Board Chair and transit industry titan Mort Downey. Downey served on WMATA’s Board of Directors from 2010-2016 and was the very first federal member appointed to the Board. His decades of transportation experience were invaluable to the Board, particularly in policy setting and oversight.

As Board Chair, he led the Board in taking on some of WMATA’s toughest challenges, including the recruitment and selection of a new General Manager, overseeing Metro’s responses to Federal Transit Administration and National Transportation Safety Board safety findings, and its oversight of Metro’s response to the FTA’s Financial Management Oversight findings.


Glenmont

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Saturday, November 4, on Littleton St (Stoneybrook Estates) in Wheaton-Glenmont. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, a brush/grass fire that was likely caused by improperly discarded/displaced fire pit ashes, spread to a nearby shed. The fire has been extinguished and damage is estimated to be ~$5,000.

There were no injuries reported but “a woodchuck (or two) may be displaced.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. 


DMV

Metro is celebrating veterans this November with a special wrapped train and bus to honor those who served our country. The red design features an American flag motif and the message: “Proud to serve those who served our country” and “Honoring Veterans Day.”

Per WMATA: “Metro is honored to support our military members, veterans, and their families with mobility across the region every day,” said Metro board member and retired Army Colonel Donald Drummer. “We also acknowledge and salute the veterans and family members on our Metro team for their service and sacrifices. This train and bus are symbols of our enduring respect and appreciation.”


Downtown Crown

Downtown Crown, the restaurant and retail portion of Gaithersburg’s Crown neighborhood opened in 2014 with Harris Teeter as an anchor and restaurants including Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Coastal Flats, Paladar Latin Kitchen, La Madeleine Country French Café, and more. Though the places listed are all still open, there have been some changes in the area the last nine years or so. Below, we’ll go over a few recent closures, some vacancies, and a pretty big “coming soon.”

BurgerIM, an Israeli burger chain, closed permanently earlier this year after about three and a half years at 200 Ellington Blvd. Doki Toki, an Asian bakery and dessert shop that took over for Mango Mango in May 2022, closed early this past summer after just over a year at 202 Ellington Blvd. Old Town Pour House, one of the original Downtown Crown tenants, closed last month at 212 Ellington Blvd after 8.5 years.