The first ‘Taste of Rio’ will take place on Sunday, October 15th from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The “foodie celebration” will take place on the lakefront featuring bites from rio restaurants, live music, craft cocktails and more.

Participating restaurants include: AMC, Auntie Anne’s/Cinnabon, BurgerFi, California Pizza Kitchen, Charley Prime, Chipotle, Copper Canyon Grill, Corner Bakery, Dave & Buster’s, Donutchew, Fantasticks, FineWine.com, Guapo’s, Han Spot, Kung Fu Tea, Lanzhou Pull Noodle, Le Macaron, Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen, Muse Paint Bar, Nando’s Peri-Peri, Poki DC, Potbelly, Silver Diner, Starbucks, The Bench, True Food Kitchen, Uncle Julio’s, and Yard House.


Chopin Noodle House is currently holding its soft opening at 12123 Darnestown Rd in the Shops of Potomac Valley shopping center, in the location that was home to Pho City for 15 years until the restaurant closed at the end of July.

Chopin Noodle House offers a variety of hand pulled noodle soups, including Lanzhou beef noodle soup, traditional beef noodle soup, crispy fish noodle soup, cold noodles, and many others. The menu will also offer appetizers such as cucumber salad, chili oil cabbage, mutton chops and more. A variety of milk teas and iced tea/lemonades are also available. The restaurant opened its first location in Catonsville earlier this year.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Explosive Investigators are seeking information on multiple fires that occurred early Sunday morning in Gaithersburg. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, at 2:30am approximately 75 firefighters responded to the Holbrook Center (across from Gaitherburg High School) at 400blk S. Frederick Ave. near Education Blvd, for the report of a fire. Investigators indicated there were at least three separate fires, all suspicious in nature.

Around 3:15am, MCFRS units then responded to LaFrontera Restaurant at 3 Russell Ave in Gaithersburg. Several vehicles were on fire, which then spread to the building.  There were also several other “outside” fires reported in the area. A person of interest has been taken into custody. Anyone with information is asked to call the arson topline at 240-777-2263. Additional images and video below courtesy of @mcfrsPIO on Twitter:


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a two-car collision on Saturday, September 16, in Montgomery Village. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision occurred on East Bound (EB) Montgomery Village Ave at Tall Oaks Road.  One person was evaluated for non-life threatening injuries. Expect residual delays.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “East Bound (EB) Montgomery Village Ave at Tall Oaks Road. 2 car collision, @MCFRS_EMIHS evaluating one (1) person with NLTI. @mcfrs A708B, PE708 on scene, some lanes CLOSED”


Construction continues to progress at the site of Montgomery County’s first Wawa, which will be located at the site of the old Becraft Antiques (405 S Frederick Ave.) on 355, across from Gaithersburg High School (photos below).  The store has also added job listings on its website for Customer Service Supervisor,  Team Supervisor (Overnights), and Customer Service Associate for the new location.

Wawa began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa, in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa has become an “all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs, and Boundless Convenience. A chain of more than 950 convenience retail stores (over 750 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies , freshly brewed coffee , hot breakfast sandwiches , built-to-order specialty beverages , and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.”


“TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A traffic collision has Woodfield Road at Deanna Drive closed in both directions. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays. #mcpd #mcpnews #traffic

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A traffic collision has Woodfield Road at Deanna Drive closed in both directions. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays. #mcpd #mcpnews #traffic pic.twitter.com/9NZYvLHKF0


The county is discussing building a new recreation center in Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. On October 3 from 7-9 p.m. at Montgomery Village Middle School, Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Laurie-Anne Sayles will be joined by community leaders, residents and organizations to discuss the vision for a recreation center.

“The county is committed to providing an enriching amenity for the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village communities, where there is a high need for investment in our residents, with a particular focus on our youth. During the ‘Stop the Violence’ town hall held in July at Germantown Library, there was a consistent need for space where residents could live, learn, work and play. Communities with convenient access to recreation space and opportunities have proven economic success and overall well-being,” said Councilmember Sayles.


dd’s DISCOUNTS at 18236 Contour Rd in the Montgomery Village Plaza shopping center in Gaithersburg will hold its grand opening on Saturday, September 23 at 9am. The store is located in the former space previously occupied by Marshall’s, which relocated to Gaithersburg Square in 2021.  dd’s is owned and operated by Ross Stores, Inc and items for sale at its locations are similar to those found in other discount retailers. This will be the first dd’s location in Montgomery County.

About: dd’s DISCOUNTS opened its first store in 2004 as the place to shop and save in your neighborhood. We’re part of the Ross Family, so our buyers know all about delivering great deals every day on clothing shoes home decor fashions toys and much, much more. We have the looks and brands you love at prices well below other retailers.


The LuminoCity Winter Lights Festival is coming to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (501 Perry Pkwy) in Gaithersburg this winter. According to its website, “LuminoCity was imagined through a desire to create unforgettable experiences. Using light and imagination, we can explore concepts of transforming creative thoughts, inspired by the world around us, into illuminating works of light and color. Every year, we bring new and unique pieces of art into our festival to create an immersive experience full of magic and wonder.”

The event is scheduled to run November-January. Specific dates and ticket information is expected to be announced soon.


Montgomery County Police issued the following traffic advisory at 4:16am on Wednesday morning. As of 7am, an update has not been provided:

“TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Downed wires and fallen trees has Darnestown Road closed at Peach Tree Road. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Expect significant delays.”


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