“The Costco in Gaithersburg is the 7th circle of hell” is just one of many answers we received when we asked the question, “What is the worst parking lot in MoCo?” on social media. Everyone has had their share of terrible experiences in MoCo parking lots, and while there are more than 26 “bad” parking lots, we’ve narrowed down a list (in no particular order) of what we feel are the worst.
US Postal Inspectors from the Washington Division and the Montgomery County Police Department are investigating an incident where a USPS mail carrier was robbed at gun point on Thursday, October 20, around 11:30am in the 7600blk of Coddle Harbor Ln in Potomac. Per the United States Postal Inspection Service:
This is investigation is still in the preliminary stages. We are requesting that anyone with information regarding this incident contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455. Callers may remain anonymous, and a reward is being offered up to $50,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.”
We are about a month into fall and the colors around us are changing. Whether it’s the taste of a warm pumpkin-flavored latte, the cool breeze of a crisp fall morning, weekends full of football, or the yellow glow of the sun on a tall birch tree, autumn is often a contender for MoCo residents’ favorite season (however short it may be). Many locals are looking forward to combining all the best parts of fall and enjoying the foliage outdoors, so we’ve put together a small list of 10 where you can enjoy the foliage across the county:
Agricultural Reserve: A drive through the rural areas that the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve encompasses, along with the larger rural communities of Damascus and Poolesville and small crossroad communities such as Beallsville, Sunshine and Dickerson, are sure to give you your fill of fall foliage.
Pines of Rome has been a Bethesda staple for over 50 years, serving its extremely popular white pizza, spaghetti & meatballs, and other traditional Italian dishes. The throwback Italian restaurant that still uses the classic red-checkered tablecloths has tabbed WashUrban to spearhead their first ever search for a second location, Danny Rubin (Co-founder, WashUrban) tells us. The restaurant is located at 4918 Cordell Ave. in Bethesda, where it moved in 2017. Pines of Rome was previously located at 4709 Hampden Lane, opening in 1972. They are currently targeting Potomac, Rockville, and Gaithersburg as possible location for the second restaurant.
Per the Pines of Rome: “At Pines of Rome, owner Chef Marco Troiano brings together a unique set of offerings coming from the small, peasant town in southern Italy where he grew up as well as from the many different Italian restaurants he worked in across Europe and the USA as a young man. The Pines of Rome has been an institution in Bethesda, Maryland for 5 decades.The key to our food quality is simple: we use FRESH ingredients every single time and make each dish to order. Nothing is prepared beforehand. Whether it’s Pasta, Pizza, Chicken, Veal, Vegetables, Seafood, you are sure to get fresh, home-cooked tasty food at a reasonable price. Since 1972, there has always been only one Pines of Rome.”
Saturdays & Sundays in October mean the popular Eye Spy Trains are back for Halloween. Great for families of all ages, Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train will take a ride through “Trainslyvania.” Please visit ActiveMontgomery.org to purchase tickets and guarantee your seat at your ideal train time and date, tickets are available for purchase online.
A small number of tickets may be purchased onsite, but ride times will not be guaranteed. Registration closes the morning of the scheduled ride, so don’t wait, book your ride reservation online today! Trains will run Saturdays and Sundays beginning October 1 and ending October 30, 11a – 6p. For tickets purchased online, any train canceled due to weather or mechanical issues will result in a full refund automatically credited to your method of payment.
Cabin John Village, formerly known as the Cabin John shopping center and mall, is named for the adjacent creek and regional park. It has been a pillar of the Potomac community since 1967 and was acquired by EDENS in 2016. Per EDENS: “EDENS has transformed the traditional shopping center experience into a welcoming communal environment that naturally fosters meaningful social interaction. Complementary retail options include a curated mix of home goods, dining, health and wellness and more outdoor greenspace welcomes the opportunity for community events.” Below you’ll see a list of some of the places coming soon to the shopping center:
Augie’s: Augie’s Mussel House and Beer Garden is coming to 7747 Tuckerman Ln (Cabin John Village), the former site of Lahinch Tavern. Augie’s currently has a location at 1106 King Street in Alexandria, VA. In addition to mussels, menu items include a 10-Day Cured & Smoked Brisket Sandwich, Chicken Pot Pie Empanada, Chicken & Waffles, and Soft Shell Crab. Opening information has not been announced.
Potomac residents Sina and Nina Farzin brought their popular product, Oogie Bear, onto Season 14 of Shark Tank with the hopes of raising $400,000 dollars. Oogie Bear is “the only infant booger picker on the market that effectively and safely removes sticky and dried boogers from babies’ nostrils.” Their research and product development facility can be found in Rockville/North Potomac.
The Farzins were interested in parting with 5% of their company for $400,000. It costs approximately $3 dollars to make and sells at a price point up to $24.99. The product is specifically designed for children under the age of two and uses a “patented, award-winning design features a loop end that’s a magnet for sticky boogers and a scoop end that takes care of those dry, crusty ones, plus our trademark bear head, which is way more than just cute: it prevents the tool from going too far into baby’s nose.”
Jillian Wiener, 21, and Lindsay Wiener, 19, both of Potomac, were killed in an early morning house fire in the Southampton hamlet of Noyac in August. The sisters, who are both graduates of The Holton Arms School in Bethesda, were vacationing with family, according to Lt. Susan Ralph of the Southampton Town Police Department. The owners of the home the Wiener family was renting now face 58 building code violations, according to a Daily Mail report.
According to the report, the owners of the home, Pamela and Peter Miller, “were arraigned on August 29 and faced various building charges, including the smoke alarms that weren’t working.” They are scheduled to be back in court on September 30th.
Ever/Body, a woman-led beauty and wellness company that announced $55.5 million in series C funding earlier this summer, is opening it’s first Maryland location in Potomac’s Cabin John Village. At that time, Ever/Body announced plans to expand into new markets, starting with the opening of six locations across the East Coast by the end of 2022. In addition to its three existing NYC locations, Ever/Body will open three new locations in the greater New York City area, and three in the DC Metro area (Logan Circle in D.C. and Arlington in addition to Cabin John Village). Plans for further nationwide expansion are on the horizon in the near future. We don’t have an expected opening date, but we are told construction on the location will begin in the near future.
Ever/Body created a proprietary training program for providers that includes 300-500 hours of clinical practice and didactic lectures, far exceeding the current industry average. The program is led by a team of internal educators and outside experts and will roll out nationally as the business expands. A hallmark of the curriculum is its comprehensive diversity and inclusivity training to ensure that all clients’ needs are met with the highest standards.
Five Montgomery County bakeries have been voted in to WTOP’s 2022 ‘Best Bakery’ list. WTOP readers and listeners nominated a number of local businesses in D.C., Maryland and Virginia that serve baked goods. Out of hundreds of restaurants and eateries, Arlington’s Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe was voted the favorite, but 50% of the list consists of bakeries that have at least one MoCo location.
Coming in at #2 was Silver Spring’s Kosher Pastry Oven (1372 Lamberton Drive). Georgetown Cupcake, which has a location at Bethesda Row, came in 4th. Sunflower Bakery, which has both locations in MoCo (North Bethesda and Rockville), came in at #5. Woodmoor Pastry Shop at 10127 Colesville Rd in Silver Spring was ranked 7th, and The Pretzel Bakery, which recently opened a location in Cabin John Village (Potomac) was ranked 9th.
The Scoop at 7909 Tuckerman Ln in Potomac (the former Baskin-Robbins location in Cabin John Village), is holding its grand opening today, August 24. The creamery is being opened by Timothy and Mitch Ryoo, Potomac natives and Winston Churchill High School Graduates (2010 and 2006). The Scoop is open 11am-9pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am-10pm Friday and Saturdays.
The Scoop will feature 24-30 permanent flavors and 8-10 seasonal options (photo of their current selections below). All of the ice cream is made in house with natural ingredients, staying away from products like simple syrup. The owners tell us they are working with local distributors and are in talks with local farms to purchase ingredients from.