Congratulations to Grace Jennings of Winston Churchill High School, and Etana Heda of Springbrook High School, for winning the 2023 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s (MPSSAA) Minds in Motion Scholar-Athlete Scholarships.

Grace participates in bocce, swimming and diving, track and field, and field hockey, where she serves as team captain. She was one of two student-athletes to represent Churchill on the Student-Athlete Leadership Council and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. Etana participates in cross country, indoor track, and track and field, serving as team captain. He has received nine Minds in Motion Awards.


The Scotland Juneteenth Festival, and its presenting sponsor Minds in Motion Child Care, are bringing recording artists Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, Jamaican reggae legend Tarrus Riley with opening act Dean Fraser & The Blak Soil Band, and more for the Freedom Day Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Monday, June 19th. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information below:

Celebrating the past and present of the first places African-Americans owned land in Montgomery County, the Scotland community of Potomac, has announced significant expansion of the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for 2023. Featuring a children’s carnival and musical performance highlighted above, as well as art exhibitions, food, sports, and presentations on Black history in this region, the events for the federal holiday on Monday, June 19, will be spread across the Cabin John Regional Park, Cabin John Village, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and the Scotland community on Seven Locks Road.


“Shake Shack is celebrating the hardworking teachers in our communities by treating them to a FREE SHAKE during Teacher Appreciation Week. Between Monday, May 8 and Friday, May 12, teachers and school staff can enjoy a hand-spun shake with their order, on us, when visiting their local Shack. This offer is valid in-Shack with proof of school badge.”

There are Montgomery County Shake Shack locations in Potomac (Cabin John Village), Bethesda (Montgomery Mall), and Gaithersburg (Kentlands). Shake Shack shared the following post via its Instagram story yesterday:


Capo Italian Deli is now open in Cabin John Village, taking over the location that was previously home to Goldberg’s New York Bagels, which closed last year, at 7731 Tuckerman Lane. The menu includes Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiano, Hot Italian Beef, Prosciutto & Provolone, and more.

The Italian delicatessen was previously available for carryout and delivery in Montgomery County out of sister restaurant Brickside Food & Drink (4866 Cordell Ave) in Bethesda. The deli’s first location opened at 715 Florida Ave in NW, DC.  Using a a prohibition style speakeasy gimmick, the deli used their old school Italian deli as a “front” to it’s back bar. Capo gained attention in the area in the summer of 2020 for their popular “Fauci Pouchy” carryout cocktails. The deli has since opened a Western Market location and has a Tyson’s Corner location coming soon.


Permanent signage went up last month at the new Baskin Robbins at 1079 Seven Locks Rd in Potomac Woods Plaza, located in the space that was previously home to Ibhana Creations. Baskin Robbins has now set an opening date of Sunday, May 7th.

Last February, Baskin Robbins closed its doors at Cabin John Village and announced its plans to open in the nearby Potomac Woods Plaza shopping center this spring. Baskin Robbins was replaced in Cabin John Village by The Scoop, which was opened this past August by Timothy and Mitch Ryoo– Potomac natives and Winston Churchill High School Graduates (2010 and 2006). Baskin Robbins will also be opening a location later this year in the Montgomery Village Center. 


ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by OpenAI and released in November 2022. We asked it to tell us the “10 best restaurants in Montgomery County, MD.” Three of the restaurants on ChatGPT’s list are no longer open, but the AI chatbot did provide a disclaimer that it doesn’t have access to the most current data. Here’s the response we received:

As an AI language model, I don’t have access to the most current data or information about restaurants in Montgomery County, MD. However, here are ten restaurants that have received high ratings from various sources:


Last summer we let you know that Colony Grill, a popular Connecticut Pizza restaurant offering “bar pies”, is expanding into Maryland with its upcoming location at Cabin John Village in Potomac. Over two years ago, the New England-style hot oil bar pizza spot opened a nearby location in Arlington (2800 Clarendon Blvd). The menu is simple- Drinks on one side and pizza/toppings on the other. Pizzas range from $10.50 to $13.50, according to the Arlington location’s menu. While an opening date has not yet been set, the restaurant could open by the end of spring. Progress photos below:


Almost a year ago, we let you know that Capo Italian Deli will be opening a new location in Cabin John Village. It will be taking over the location that was previously home to Goldberg’s New York Bagels, which closed last year, at 7731 Tuckerman Lane. Capo Deli had its hearing last month with Montgomery County’s ABS for its alcohol and liquor license and a representative from the DC location let us know that the Cabin John Village location should open in “a couple weeks.” Photo of the interior can be seen below.

The Italian delicatessen was previously available for carryout and delivery in Montgomery County out of sister restaurant Brickside Food & Drink (4866 Cordell Ave) in Bethesda. The deli’s first location opened at 715 Florida Ave in NW, DC.  Using a a prohibition style speakeasy gimmick, the deli their old school Italian deli as a “front” to it’s back bar. Capo gained attention in the area in the summer of 2020 for their popular “Fauci Pouchy” carryout cocktails. The deli has since opened a Western Market location and has a Tyson’s Corner location coming soon. The menu includes Italian classics like Chicken Parmigiano, Hot Italian Beef, Prosciutto & Provolone, and more.


Last June we let you know that Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden was coming to 7747 Tuckerman Ln in Cabin John Village, taking over the space that was previously home to Lahinch. Lahinch closed permanently last May. Since then, Common Plate Hospitality has decided to bring a new concept to the space– The Grove.

The Grove has a hearing with Montgomery County’s Alcoholic Beverage Services on Thursday, May 4th at 11am. Construction is ongoing at The Grove, which still has Lahinch branding on windows at the restaurant. Robert Dyer reports that “Common Plate and Guapo’s veteran Jorge Figueredo will be The Grove’s general manager. The Grove’s operating hours will be 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM Sunday – Thursday, and 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.”


MCPS has announced that Dr. Sheri Massey, media specialist at Cabin John Middle School in Potomac,has been named School Librarian of the Year for the state of Maryland. There were 44 nominations for the top award; that list was narrowed to 14 finalists, which also included Meredith Hickman, media specialist at Seven Locks Elementary School in Bethesda.

This top award honors a school librarian for exemplary service and outstanding achievements in the field of school library media. To be considered, nominees must be a current member of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), actively working as a school librarian and serving in the same position for three or more years.


Forbes has released its annual “World’s Billionaires List” and six currently listed as Montgomery County residents have made the list. Overall, the United States still boasts the most billionaires, with 735 list members worth a collective $4.5 trillion. China (including Hong Kong and Macau) remains second, with 562 billionaires worth $2 trillion, followed by India, with 169 billionaires worth $675 billion. To calculate net worth, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 10 to determine the ranking, but updates wealth in real time. Below are the six Montgomery County billionaires who made the list:

World Rank #402: Annette Lerner and family (Chevy Chase) 


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