Rockville Archives - Page 226 of 366

Phase 1 Plans for Shady Grove Innovation District Expected Soon

Published March 23, 2023 at 9:26AM

Plans for the Shady Grove Innovation District (“SGID”) are expected to be submitted soon to the City of Rockville. SGID has been described as a “world-class, amenity-rich, mixed-use district catering to the dynamic life science industry in the heart of the Shady Grove cluster in Rockville, Maryland.” The first phase of SGID will feature a brand new 137,000 RSF lab building and 315 luxury apartments set in a new, walkable urban environment. Phase 1 will be located at 15815 Shady Grove Road and Choke Cherry Rd. Future phases will include an additional 1M SF+ of new lab space in new buildings. Below you will see a photo of what Phase 1 is expected to look like. A rendering of the completed project can be seen in our featured photo, courtesy of SGID:

Additional information can be found on the SGID website.

House Fire Started by Overheating Bathroom Ceiling Fan Causes ~$275K in Damage

By Patrick Herron

Published March 23, 2023 at 9:21AM | Updated March 23, 2023 at 11:29AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire at a single-family home in the 200 blk of Ashley Manor Dr in Rockville around 10:30pm on Wednesday, March 22. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the cause of the fire was a bathroom ceiling exhaust fan that overheated. Around 60 firefighters responded to the scene and there were no injuries reported. Damage is estimated to be ~$275K and two adults have been displaced. We will post an update when additional information is available. Photo courtesy of @liem__s on Instagram.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “200blk Ashley Manor Dr,(3/22 initial dispatch 1030p); single family house; fire contained to attic/roof; Origin/Cause, bathroom ceiling exhaust fan, probable fan motor overheated (fire extended to attic); Damage ~$275K; 2 adults displaced; no injury; ~60 FFs responded”

Bonchon Rockville is Hosting a Wing-Eating Competition on March 25

By MCS Staff

Published March 23, 2023 at 9:11AM

Bonchon, located at 107 Gibbs Street in Rockville, will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in Rockville Town Square by hosting a wing-eating competition on Saturday, March 25th. The Korean fried chicken chain will be choosing five contestants for spicy and five contestants for soy garlic wings to “see who can eat 15 wings the fastest in under 1 minute (bones must be clean).”

This competitive food eating contest is for amateurs that are 18+ only. The first place winner in each group will receive a $100 gift certificate and t-shirt. The competition will take place March 25th at 4pm, and any contestants selected would need to arrive thirty mins prior. Aspiring competitors can register for the competition using this form. Featured photo courtesy of Bonchon.

Gym & Tonic Has Closed in Park Potomac

By MCS Staff

Published March 23, 2023 at 8:43AM

Gym & Tonic, a boutique featuring “the best in luxury athletic and casual wear” has closed after approximately 4.5 years in Park Potomac. The 1,000 SF boutique opened in September 2018 at 12435 Park Potomac Ave. According to Store Reporter, the brand is hoping to reopen at a different shopping center, likely in Potomac or Bethesda, but decided not to renew its lease due to a lack of foot traffic in Park Potomac.

Per a previous press release, Gym & Tonic offered a unique blend of high-end athleisure apparel. It’s the brainchild and labor of love of two retail veterans and good friends – Amy Block and Wendy Abelman. Block, a Miami native turned Bethesda-ite, wanted to open a store that she felt was lacking in the DC Metro area.“We created Gym & Tonic to feature the kinds of fashionable, top-of-the-line clothes that we all love to wear,” Block said. “Everything we offer is stylish whether you’re at the gym in the morning or out on the town at night.”

Montgomery County to Sponsor Seven Pit Stops During Washington Region’s Annual ‘Bike to Work Day’ on Friday, May 19

By Patrick Herron

Published March 22, 2023 at 12:13PM

Per Montgomery County: National Bike to Work Day will be held on Friday, May 19, and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will sponsor seven pit stops throughout the County as part of the Washington Region’s participation in the event. Registration for the free event is now open. The first 15,000 bicyclists to register and participate will get a free t-shirt and will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a new bike.

“Today, we offer more bike paths, dedicated lanes, as well as opportunities to transport a bike on RideOn, MetroBus and Metrorail, than ever before,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Biking to your job or to run errands is a healthy form of transportation that does not produce pollution or add cars to the road. I encourage everyone to join us on Bike to Work Day and consider biking as a transportation alternative this summer.”

Hello Kitty Truck Returns to MoCo (Pike & Rose) in April

By MCS Staff

Published March 21, 2023 at 4:02PM | Updated March 21, 2023 at 4:27PM

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, a traveling food truck selling Hello Kitty-themed treats, will make a stop at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda on Saturday, April 8th from 10am-7pm. The truck will be located near The Gap on Grand Park Avenue. Treats like cookies, madeleines, macarons, clothing, bags, all decorated with Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, will be available while supplies last. The truck will make nearby stops in Tyson’s Corner from 10am-7pm on Saturday, March 25th and at The Mall in Columbia on Saturday, April 1 from 10am-7pm.

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck has been making annual trips to MoCo with its last one being almost a year ago at Bethesda Row. There are two Hello Kitty Cafe Trucks in the US, one that travels up and down the East coast, and one that travels the West coast. Additionally, there are two Hello Kitty Cafes in the US, one in Las Vegas and one in California. You can learn more about the traveling trucks here.

Charlie’s Pizza and Subs to Take Over Sam’s Pizza in Derwood

By MCS Staff

Published March 21, 2023 at 12:56PM

Charlie’s Pizza and Subs will be taking over the current Sam’s Pizza & Subs location at 15855 Redland Rd (off of Frederick Rd) in Derwood. The sale became official as of Wednesday March 14, 2023, but the restaurant will continue to operate as Sam’s until March 29, 2023 when the name officially changes to Charlie’s Pizza and Subs.

The change will come with a new name and new hours. Charlie’s will be open daily and will serve beer and wine for dine-in and carry out. The restaurant is currently working on delivery of beer and wine as well. The new menu, which will be available next week, will offer many of the selections currently on the Sam’s menu as well as fresh wraps (chicken, shrimp, Caeser), Maryland crab cakes, and more.

Six MoCo High Schools Make the “Sweet 16” in Hot 99.5’s “Best High School in the DMV” Contest

By Patrick Herron

Published March 21, 2023 at 9:58AM

Radio station Hot 99.5 (WIHT FM) is currently running it’s annual “Best High School in the DMV” contest on Instagram. The six Montgomery County high schools to make the “Sweet 16” are Montgomery Blair, Northwest, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Walter Johnson, and Wheaton. The schools included in the tournament were selected after receiving the most nominations and the winning high school will be awarded with $1,000 (courtesy of Burn Bootcamp in Rockville.) Wheaton High School lost to Osbourn Park High School (Manassas, VA) in the final round of the 2021 tournament. Voting takes place in Hot 99.5’s Instagram page’s stories. Hot 99.5 (WIHT) broadcasts out of the IHeartMedia studios at 1801 Rockville Pike in Rockville.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqB3fRVL8WA/

Four Separate Crashes Result in Overturned Vehicles Across Montgomery County on Monday

By MCS Staff

Published March 20, 2023 at 7:32PM

Four separate crashes resulted in overturned vehicles across Montgomery County on Monday, March 20, according to various reports by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.

The first was a single vehicle collision with rollover on I-270 on Monday morning around 9am. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the crash occurred on SB I270 in the HOV/Express Lane between Shady Grove Road and Route 28, prior to Exit 6. There were no injuries reported.

27-Year-Old-Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder of Her 92-Year-Old-Roommate

By Patrick Herron

Published March 20, 2023 at 4:48PM | Updated March 21, 2023 at 5:05AM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, defendant, Julia Birch, 27, of Kensington, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of her 92-year-old roommate, Nancy Ann Frankel. Birch faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 29^th at 10 a.m.before Judge Maloney.

On July 28, 2021 Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a residence on Spruell Drive in Kensington, Maryland for a death investigation. Upon their arrival, the complainant, 26-year-old Julia Birch, told officers that she had suffocated and killed her 92-year-old roommate, identified as Nancy Ann Frankel, who was found deceased in her bedroom. Birch had staged the body to look more presentable, laying the victim on a pillow, folding her arms over her chest, and putting perfume on her. This was after initially unsuccessfully trying to get the body back into her bed. Birch was taken into custody and transported to Montgomery County Police Headquarters to be interviewed. She admitted to killing Nancy Ann Frankel by trying to place a plastic bag over Frankel’s head to suffocate her, and when the victim poked a hole in the bag, Birch took her to the ground and strangled her to death. Physical evidence and autopsy confirmed the method of death. Birch admitted to then calling 911 to report the death.

Quickway Now Open in Travilah Square

By MCS Staff

Published March 20, 2023 at 2:32PM

Quickway has opened its 7th Montgomery County location right next to Trader Joe’s in the Travilah Square Shopping Center (photos below). The restaurant signed on nearly a year ago, and only recently began and completed construction. Their signature hibachi chicken dish is available for $7.95 and additional meals range in price from $9.95 to $12.75. Bento boxes, beef, shrimp, tofu, salmon, sushi, poke bowls and more are also available.

The regional chain opened its 6th location in Olney last year and and its 5th MoCo location in Stone Mill Square (Korean Korner shopping center) before that. Quickway which can now be found in 10 different counties across the DMV since opening its first location in 2012, will be joining Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken– another new fast casual restaurant that recently opened in the shopping center.