Bethesda

Imagination Stage Announces 23-24 Season

By Patrick Herron

Per Imagination Stage: Imagination Stage™, the metro DC region’s largest professional theatre dedicated to young audiences, announces our six shows for 2023-2024–a “greatest hits” season celebrating 20 years in our beautiful theatre arts center in downtown Bethesda. The international hit, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (September 22- October 22), kicks it off, with one-quarter of its performances in Spanish and three-quarters in English. That show is best for ages 3-8. Next up are three for the elementary-age crowd, returning hits A Year with Frog and Toad (November 15- January 7), Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale (February 14-April 7), and Miss Nelson is Missing! (June 20-August 10). For the youngest audiences, ages 1-4, the two beloved returning shows are Mouse on the Move (January 13 – February 11) and Inside Out (March 3-30).

Founding Artistic Director Janet Stanford–who has been at Imagination Stage since before the move to downtown Bethesda–chose these “timeless stories to speak to key milestones in youth development including imagining new possibilities, appreciating other cultures and traditions, and empathizing with others.” Managing Director Jason Najjoum says, “We can’t wait to introduce these wonderful shows to a new mini-generation of children. It has been very encouraging to see families returning to the theatre following the pandemic. So many of us all fell out of the habit, and we believe this “greatest hits” season will keep bringing them back.”

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MoCo’s Very Own, CAVA, Makes its Debut on the New York Stock Exchange

By MCS Staff

Cava is making its debut on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning, with its IPO priced at $22 per share, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. The company, which was started by three Montgomery County natives with its first full-service restaurant in Rockville in 2006 (Cava Mezze in Traville Gateway), has since become the largest restaurant operator in the Mediterranean category in the U.S. restaurant industry, has opened over 200 restaurants since opening its first fast-casual spot in Bethesda in 2011.

In 2006, first-generation Greek Americans Ted Xenohristos (Paint Branch High School), Ike Grigoropoulos (Gaithersburg High School), and Dimitri Moshovitis (Quince Orchard High School) launched the full-service Cava Mezze restaurant in the Traville Gateway shopping center (Rockville), with Moshovitis as executive chef. Following the launch of four additional restaurants, in 2008, Xenohristos, Grigoropoulos, and Moshovitis launched a line of dips and spreads to over 200 stores, including Whole Foods Market. In 2009, Brett Schulman joined them as CEO and co-founder of the fast-casual chain CAVA (originally called Cava Mezze Grill, later rebranded as Cava Grill and then simply as CAVA). The group opened the first CAVA restaurant in Bethesda in January 2011.

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Approximately 65 Firefighters Respond to House Fire Late Wednesday Night

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fire at a single family home on the 10800 block of Brickyard Ct., near Falls Rd., in Potomac at approximately 10:16pm on Wednesday night.

According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, approximately 65 firefighters were on the scene battling the heavy fire that was showing upon arrival. All occupants were able to get out safely, but the family of two adults, two children, and a guest, has been displaced. Damage is estimated to be at $2 million + and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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MD 355 Flash BRT Project Update

By MCS Staff

A briefing on the MD 355 BRT was provided to the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council on Tuesday night. Per the presentation, available below, the MD 355 BRT will provide a new transit service with greater travel speed and frequency along the MD 355 corridor that will help:

The MD 355 BRT has completed the Preliminary Engineering phase between Grosvenor and Montgomery
 College – Germantown. Preliminary Engineering is continuing for the Bethesda and Clarksburg segments (Fall 2023 completion), NEPA documentation is underway, there is ongoing coordination with FTA, and they are currently preparing procurement for Progressive Design-Build. Full presentation below:

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Scotland’s Juneteenth Festival Presents Wyclef, Many Others; Freedom Concert Moves to Anthem in DC 

By MCS Staff

Organizers of the widely expanded Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival will hold a final press conference on Wednesday, June 14, at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club at 7719 Wisconsin Ave to showcase the more than 20 performing acts that will appear across four main venues on June 17th and the 19th. Those performances include: 1) the opening-night Motown and Oldies Concert and Dance Party beginning at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Club; 2) Juneteenth’s Got Talent music and dance performances at the Cabin John Village in Potomac from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 3) the Children’s Stage at the Cabin John Regional Park at Potomac from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; and the Freedom Day Concert at the Anthem theater at the Wharf in DC.

Freedom Day Concert co-headliner Tarrus Riley will appear at the press conference via ZOOM, while internaTonal superstar Wyclef Jean will be issuing an exclusive video statement about why he is lending his name and talents to this fesTval in honor of the Black communities of Montgomery County in Maryland. Other musicians expected to abend in person include Daryl Davis, the nationally renowned keyboard player who will serve as the music director for the festival’s opening-night. Bill Wax, a master of ceremonies for that same event, will also abend the press conference, as will Montgomery County elected officials.

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Bethesda’s Eastern Union Closes $75 Million in Financing Within A 40-Day Period

By MCS Staff

Based in Bethesda, MD, the Eastern Union’s Mid-Atlantic Group secured more than $75 million in commercial financing within a 40-day period over May and June. Financing was delivered within the multifamily, single-family rental, retail, and industrial asset classes. Eastern Union is one of the country’s largest commercial real estate brokerage firms.

The largest transaction closed by the Mid-Atlantic office during this time span was a $49.5-millionconstruction loan provided to New York-based Hillcrest Acquisitions in support of a planned 288-unit multifamily property in Madison, AL, a submarket of Huntsville. The complex, called The Gabriel, will consist of ten three-story buildings and is scheduled for completion in July 2024. The financing, carrying a 36-month term, was provided by 3650 REIT.

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Black Bear Spotted in Rockville Tuesday Morning

By MCS Staff

Yesterday we received two reports of a black bear that was spotted in the Rockville area. This morning at 6:15, a Rockville resident spotted a black bear in a tree in a Rockville neighborhood near Horizon Hills park. A black bear was also spotted around 7:50am a couple miles away in nearby Willerburn Acres in Potomac, but it is not clear if it’s the same bear. The Rockville City Police Department tweeted the following on Tuesday morning: “Community Alert – Black Bear Sighting – In the area of W. Kersey Ln, Sunrise Dr & Bent Pine Ct at 6:00 am today. RCPD is working with DNR to alert of sightings. Please call RCPD at 240-314-8900 if you see the bear. Stay alert, calm & do not approach or attempt to capture.” According to neighbors, animal control is now on the scene.

Last week a black bear was spotted in Burtonsville and last month there were multiple bear sightings in Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Rockville, with one bear that was trapped and relocated by the Rockville City Police Department and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on May 8th.

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Pines of Rome to Open Second MoCo Location (Pines of Rome Express) After Over 50 Years in Business

By MCS Staff

Last year, we let you know that Pines of Rome, a Bethesda staple for over 50 years, tabbed WashUrban to spearhead their first ever search for a second location. Pines of Rome has found a home for its newest venture, Pines of Rome Express, according to the restaurant’s website. It will be located at 121B Congressional Lane– the former home of Congressional Deli, a representative from the restaurant confirmed. The new restaurant is located beside/behind Mykonos Grill and near Bed Bath& Beyond.

The original restaurant, which will remain open, is located at 4918 Cordell Ave. in Bethesda. Pines of Rome moved to the location in 2017 and was previously located at 4709 Hampden Lane, opening in 1972.  The restaurant is known for its extremely popular white pizza, spaghetti & meatballs, and other traditional Italian dishes.

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