Per IKEA, “Our Plan and Order points are smaller stores dedicated to kitchen, bedroom, and living room planning where you can find home furnishing advice and expertise to help design your ideal space.” You can book an appointment to start your design with a planning specialist, or use in-store, self-service tools to design your own solution. “Whilst there are no items to purchase in-store and take home on the day, for your convenience, purchases made at the Plan and Order points can be delivered to your home or picked up from one of our collection points.”

More bout Poke Bros: After the founders were introduced to the Hawaiian staple on a trip to California. The appeal of this fast and casual—while healthy—concept immediately inspired the founders to begin thinking how they could bring this unique dish to the midwest. From its inception, we were confident the foodies of Columbus would love the poké concept, but wanted to provide an inexpensive and accessible product in the larger market. After some intense research and trial and error, the Poké Bros founders developed their own brand of poké bowl flavor they are proud to share and call their own. Modeling similar assembly line casual dining concepts, we developed a unique way to build your “sushi in a bowl” and have fun doing so! As the poké movement has caught on, Poké Bros has rapidly expanded into multiple states across the Midwest and East Coast, offering the same fresh and authentic cuisine to a wider range of customers. We will continue to stick to our roots, as Poké Bros continues to grow, and offer only the best fresh ingredients that fill you up but don’t slow you down.


According to Gaithersburg Police, “On August 26, 2023 at 3:22 a.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Bralan Lane for the report of a theft from vehicle.

Responding officers observed two suspects running from the area and pursued after them on foot. One of the suspects was apprehended. Further investigation revealed that the suspects entered and rummaged through multiple vehicles in the area. Located on the suspect who was apprehended was a loaded 9mm handgun. While checking for additional targeted vehicles, officers located a Toyota SUV with out of state registration plates that had bullet holes in it. After conducting a stolen check of the vehicle, it was revealed that the vehicle was stolen out of Montgomery County in July 2023 and was used in an armed robbery in Prince George’s County in August. Any potential connection between this vehicle and the suspects is under investigation.


Peter Chang is coming to 637 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg, the former location of Ichiban Restaurant. Ichiban closed in September 2021 after 35 years in business. Chef Peter Chang’s signature dishes include Boneless Whole Fish, Dry Fried Eggplant, Crispy Pork Belly, Cilantro Lime Fish, Duck In Stone Pot, and Beef in Sichuan Chili.  Peter Chang opened its Rockville location at 20A Maryland Ave in 2016, and Q by Peter Chang opened at 4500 East-West Hwy in Bethesda in 2017. The restaurant is hoping to open by the beginning of February 2024.

In May, Peter Chang visited the culinary program at Paint Branch High School to teach students two recipes inspired by his family and culture as a part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.


The Container Store, which currently has one Montgomery County location at 1601 Rockville Pike in Congressional Plaza, will be opening a second Montgomery County location in Gaithersburg.  The retailer specializes in storage, home office organizers and organization supplies, including custom closets and shelving systems. It provides an experience-driven shopping destination with more than 11,000 organizational products offered.

Representatives from the Rockville location were unable to provide us with any additional details about the exact location of the retailer, but we are told that the vacant space in Downtown Crown next to Woodhouse Day Spa is the likely location. The Container Store recently announced that it will be opening six new small format stores in fiscal 2023 and three new stores in fiscal 2024, with Gaithersburg estimated to open in Winter 2023. The Rockville location is approximately 24,000 SF and the small format stores tend to be approximately 15,000 SF.  Visit www.containerstore.com/locationsfor more information about store locations, the product collection, and the services offered. We will have an update with confirmation of the Gaithersburg location being in Downtown Crown as soon as we have it. Below is a list of the six new locations expected to open by the end of 2023.


UPDATE: THE PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CONCERNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT

The City & the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department celebrate the unofficial end of summer with the 85th Annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, September 4, 2023, at 1 p.m.


Authorities responded to the scene of a man who was found unresponsive in the water in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, the town announced Monday morning. Life saving measures were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead. The man was identified as Germantown, MD resident, Steven Samuel Lehner (age 59). The full statement, per the Town of Carolina Beach, can be seen below:

“CAROLINA BEACH, NC, August 28th, 2023 at 11:54 a.m.- The Carolina Beach Police Department, Carolina Beach Fire Department and New Hanover County EMS were dispatched to the beach strand in the area of Seagull Ln., in reference to a subject found unresponsive in the water.


Spirit Halloween is coming to the former Pier 1 location (30 Grand Corner Ave) in Gaithersburg’s Rio. Currently, the upcoming Gaithersburg store is the only Montgomery County location listed on Spirit’s website. Last year, Spirit had additional locations in Burtonsville and Rockville.  During the Halloween season, Spirit operates over 1,400 stores in North America. The Spirit Halloween website is open year-round, offering its in-store products online. The store usually open 30-60 days prior to Halloween.

In previous years, Spirit has opened at 101 Boardwalk Place in Rio. That location is scheduled to become a new “plan and order” concept from IKEA later this year. Click here to see a full list of what’s new and what’s coming soon at Rio.


Ledo Pizza was voted best pizza in DC, Maryland, and Virgina by a recent reader/listener poll conducted by WTOP.  Ledo Pizza started near The University of Maryland in 1955 with its first location on University Boulevard. Since then, Ledo Pizza has grown substantially from just one location to over one hundred locations throughout Maryland, D.C., Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, New York, and Florida. Ledo Pizza is one of the pioneers of what we call “Maryland Style Pizza” and has Montgomery County locations in Bethesda, Damascus, Germanton, Montgomery Village, North Potomac, Rockville, and Silver Spring.

Additional pizzerias with Montgomery County locations to make the list include:


Sponsored article by the Gaithersburg Arts Barn: The Gaithersburg Arts Barn is pleased to announce its exciting 2023-24 artistic season of concerts, theater, comedy and magic, film, and more. The season kicks off with a headlining concert and arts fundraiser and reception featuring world-renowned pianist Brian Ganz.

Widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation, Brian Ganz returns to the Arts Barn on September 9 for the first Legacy Campaign Concert and reception. Ganz has made it his mission to join vivid music making with warmth and intimacy onstage to produce a new kind of listening experience, in which great works come to life with authentic emotional power. For this special event, enjoy a special reception of delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts, sponsored by French bistro Laperaux, bubbly, and wine followed by an intimate concert of incredible music. Your ticket purchase will contribute to the purchase of a new concert piano and expanded music programming for the community.


While there are many wonderful restaurants in Montgomery County to enjoy brunch, Eater DC has included two Montgomery County restaurants in its list of ‘The Hottest New Brunches to Try Around DC’– Charley Prime in Gaithersburg and J. Hollinger’s in Silver Spring.

Charley Prime opened in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront in May and has been generally well-received by the community. Last month it was listed by the Washington Post as one of food critic’s Tom Sietsema’s 6 favorite places to eat. Eater DC writes, “The stylish lakefront steakhouse in Gaithersburg added weekend brunch in July with plates of eggs, bacon, and hash browns; burgers, and roasted lamb French dip with fries. Go big with a lobster tail Benedict and decadent French toast on brioche with caramelized bananas. Brunch drinks include a (pomegranate) mimosa or espresso-tini, as well as coffee from Maryland roaster Ceremony. Go bottomless for $34.95, which includes any entree and bottomless mimosas or RAR lagers (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)


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