Pike District Partnership to Host ‘Barks, Brews and BBQ’ Dog-Friendly Beer Garden in North Bethesda on Saturday, Nov. 2

The Pike District Partnership will host its third annual “Barks, Brews and BBQ Beer Garden” free, dog-friendly event from noon-4 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Pike District Pop-up Park in North Bethesda.

The event will have tail-wagging, hand-clapping, local brews and mocktails at the Pike District Pop-up Park at Grand Park and Banneker Avenues, one block south of Old Georgetown Road.

Dog-friendly activities will include dog play areas and opportunities to snap adorable pics at the dog selfie station. Dogs and owners also can get creative at the dog ornament-making booth. Local vendors will include Dogtopia, Paw by Paw, Petwell Clinic and nonprofit PetConnect for dogs looking to connect with their forever families.

Hepcat Hoodie will open the music at the event. It features covers from the 60’s to today. The 19th Street Band returns as the event headliner, bringing together Americana, country and rock. It has made appearances at festivals including DelFest, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Annapolis Irish Festival and Maryland Irish Festival. Its latest album is currently airing across 100 radio stations in Ireland and the U.K.

Brews, cocktails and mocktails will be available from Third Hill Brewing Co., 7Locks Brewing and Saints Row. Vine Alley will have a specialty cider cocktail, seltzers and mocktails.

BBQ will be available from Origins BBQ and Grubbing Hard BBQ.

The Pike District Partnership will collect donations to benefit Pet Connect, a local organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming pets in need.

For up-to-date information on the festival and to check for weather-related changes, click here.

The Pike District Partnership (PDP) is the advocacy and marketing engine that fosters connections and amplifies community voices to promote economic opportunities. Its central purpose is to position the Pike District’s success as North Bethesda’s Urban Core. The PDP continues the mission of The Friends of White Flint (FoWF) nonprofit advocacy organization and the White Flint Downtown Advisory Committee (WFDAC) to support North Bethesda.

Yappy Hour and ‘Pop Up’ Dog Park in Bethesda Will Welcome Owners and Pets on Select Thursday Evenings

The Bethesda Urban Partnership and Montgomery Parks are teaming up to welcome dog owners and their pets on select Thursday nights. The events at Elm Street Park in Bethesda will feature music and food and drinks for purchase. The next Yappy Hour will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, featuring the music of Andrew O’Day.

Elm Street Park is located at 4600 Elm Street in Bethesda.

Future Yappy Hour events are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19 (6-8 p.m., featuring the music of The New Rockwells), and Thursday, Oct. 10 (5-7 p.m. with Swing5 performing).

Smoke BBQ will be on site at each Yappy Hour, selling food, beer and wine.

For more information on Yappy Hours, go to Yappy Hour | Bethesda Urban Partnership.

‘The Roots of Modern Bethesda – Part II’ Will Be Presented Online by Montgomery History on Thursday, July 27

The Bethesda Historical Society’s Hank Levine, who last year led a Montgomery History presentation on the development of Bethesda from 1750-1920, will advance the story of one of the County’s most prominent communities in The Roots of Modern Bethesda—Part II. The online presentation will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 27.

In his original look at the evolution of Bethesda, Mr. Levine addressed the geography and advances in transportation that set the stage for the development of the community.

In his continuing look at Bethesda, Mr. Levine will tell the story of how in the century after the end of World War I Bethesda became the affluent suburb and urban center of today.

The presentation from Montgomery History will explore how the rise of the automobile brought new neighborhoods and a growing central business district. He will discuss the zoning and “planning wars” of the 1960s-1990s shaping the community. He also will talk about how Metrorail jump-started the growth of a town into a more of a city.

Mr. Levine heads up the Heritage Trail and Tour Committee of Bethesda History. For the past six years, he has been a docent at the Library of Congress, leading tours of the largest library in the world. He has lived in the Washington area for 43 years (38 in Bethesda) and has been active in community organizations ranging from the Edgemoor Civic Association to the Washington Hebrew Congregation (of which he is a past president and historian). He is a graduate of Yale (where he was a history minor and led tours for prospective students) and Harvard Law School. He retired from private practice in 2018 after 40 years as a telecommunications/technology lawyer.

Register to view the presentation on July 27 by going to Webinar Registration - Zoom.

To view Part I of the history of Bethesda, go to the Montgomery History website.

‘A Wide Place in the Road—The Roots of Modern Bethesda’ Will Again Be Available from Montgomery History from Feb. 20-26

The evolution of Bethesda was the subject of a 2022 virtual presentation from Montgomery History that proved to be its most watched presentation of the year.

Starting Monday, Feb. 20, and continuing for a one-week period through Sunday, Feb. 26, “A Wide Place in the Road—The Roots of Modern Bethesda” will again be available in a free virtual presentation from Montgomery County’s history organization.

Bethesda Historical Society Secretary and Tour Chair Hank Levine will take viewers through how, between 1750 and 1920, a fall line, a ridge line, a turnpike, a trolley line, rail lines, the coming of the automobile and Chevy Chase set the stage for the development of Bethesda. Mr. Levine will address how Bethesda went from being an affluent suburb and transformed into the urban center it is today.

The presentation includes stories of early churches, stores and real estate moguls. It looks at the decades Bethesda was bypassed and almost died. Mr. Levine will look at the experimental animal farm that struck many as less than heaven scent and will also explore the founding of the town’s first neighborhoods.

To join the presentation starting Monday, Feb. 20, go to » WATCH (montgomeryhistory.org).

MCDOT Seeks Input on Proposed North Bethesda BRT/Flash Line

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) currently operates one line of the County’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, branded Flash, in the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (US 29) corridor. The upgraded bus service is part of a planned network of BRT lines in the County. MCDOT is now in the planning stages for a North Bethesda BRT line and would like residents to assist in determining the street layout, location of stations and the endpoints of the corridor.

MCDOT has established a brief project survey to help refine goals and recommendations for the North Bethesda study. The survey will be open until Friday, April 29.

To participate in the survey, which is available in English and Spanish, residents can go here. Residents can select their preferred language on the dropdown menu located in the top right corner of the survey.

The Flash service on the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (US 29) line connects the Downtown Silver Spring Transit Center with White Oak, Briggs Chaney and Burtonsville. It has stops along the way.

Flash buses feature bike racks inside, free Wi-Fi service and USB ports. The service—which uses 60-foot-long articulated buses—carries more than 2,100 riders per day on the Colesville Road/Columbia Pike line. Buses run every 15 minutes from 5:30 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week. The service operates twice as often during peak hours.

The US 29 Flash was the first step in creating a network of rapid transit lines in the County. The County is performing preliminary engineering and design for its next two planned Flash corridors along MD 355 (Rockville Pike) and MD 586 (Veirs Mill Road). It also is in the preliminary planning stages for the New Hampshire Avenue and North Bethesda lines.

BRT’s unique service include:

• Frequent, reliable service.
• Bus lanes at intersections that allow buses to keep moving, known as “queue jump lanes.”
• Dedicated bus lanes in some parts of the corridor, reducing traffic delays.
• Priority green light signaling, allowing for shorter travel times.
• Near-level accessible boarding at multiple doors, facilitating quick and efficient boarding and exiting.
• Comfortable stations providing weather protection, pre-payment stations and real-time transit information via electronic message boards.
• Community-friendly design with enhanced pedestrian walkways and bike facilities.

To learn more about the BRT/Flash Bus Service, visit the Flash website here.

Artist Applications Being Accepted Through Aug. 6 for Bethesda’s ‘Paint the Town’ Mural on the Woodmont Corner Garage

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is partnering with the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District in a call for artists to participate in the “Paint the Town” initiative to promote and bring more public art murals to Downtown Bethesda. The deadline for applications is Friday, Aug. 6.

This year’s project will be a mural that will cover the Old Georgetown Road side of MCDOT’s Woodmont Corner Public Parking Garage. Garage 11 is located at 7730 Woodmont Ave.

This is the second mural project MCDOT has undertaken to enhance the vibrancy of highly visible County spaces. The other is outside of MCDOT’s Woodmont-Rugby Public Parking garage located at 8216 Woodmont Avenue.

“I am proud of the work MCDOT is doing to enrich the County landscape through the arts,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Creative partnerships like this are a wonderful way to integrate art into our daily lives. One of the fundamental purposes of art is to uplift and inspire. Coming out of a pandemic, we need that more than ever. It makes a difference. A mural can change the feel of a neighborhood.”

A stipend of $27,500 will be provided to the chosen artist to pay for time, supplies, fabrication, installation, travel and other project-related expenses. The artist will be chosen by Aug. 30 and the project will be completed by Nov. 15.

Artists must be at least 18 years old and be a resident of Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C. Additional requirements and the application form can be found here.

“This is a great way to revive some of our public spaces,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “These projects bring color and interest to spaces that would not otherwise be very exciting.”

Maryland designated Downtown Bethesda as an “Arts & Entertainment District” in 2002. The District is managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, with the mission of creating and implementing arts and entertainment projects that contribute to the artistic, cultural and economic growth of Downtown Bethesda.

A collection of colorful murals located within the Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District can be viewed at https://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/bethesda-murals.

Bethesda Big Train to Return to the Diamond

Montgomery County has approved the “2021 Return to Play Plan” submitted on April 28, 2021 by the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club (BCBBC) to allow up to 250 fans to attend Bethesda Big Train baseball games at Shirley Povich Field this June and July.

In making the announcement, Big Train Founder Bruce Adams thanked Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County government staff, and County residents for making the sacrifices necessary to allow this reopening. “I particularly want to thank County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson for helping guide us through this process,” Adams said.

“With the county’s decision, we will be able to bring the fun back to Shirley Povich Field this summer,” Adams said. “After all the sacrifices our residents have made these last fourteen months, we all deserve the enjoyment of a summer’s night at ballgame.”

The Bethesda Big Train is a team of top level college players playing in the summer wooden bat Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. The Big Train, named the best summer college baseball team in the nation in 2011, is an eight time Ripken League champion. Sixteen Big Train alumni have made it to the major leagues.

The Big Train Return to Play Plan provides for 250 fans to sit in pods of two, three, and four -- socially distanced from other pods of fans. All fans will be masked except while eating or drinking in the picnic pavilion or in their assigned seating pod.

With the support of The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation, the Big Train will honor a different group of 25 Community Heroes with free tickets at every game this season. “The nurses, community nonprofits, first responders, doctors, grocery store clerks, educators, and delivery personnel who have heroically helped our community through these challenging times deserve a night of fun,” explained Adams.

Adams thanked the leaders of the Ripken League and the members of the Covid-19 task force that produced the Big Train’s 27-page Return to Play Plan, especially BCBBC Vice President Eric Cole, Director of Baseball Operations and Manager Sal Colangelo, and General Manager Chris Rogers.

“Special thanks to Community Radiology Associates and Gelberg Signs for providing the resources we need to make sure we have the signage, protective equipment, sanitizers, and ballpark modifications necessary to protect our fans, players, staff, and volunteers this summer,” said Adams.

Information about buying tickets, scheduling picnics, and sponsoring games will be posted on the Big Train website shortly at www.bigtrain.org.

County Executive Elrich, State and County Leaders Say They Are Committed to Building a 21st Century Economy at Launch of Business Connect in Bethesda

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich was joined by local and state officials for the official launch of Business Connect at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. Elrich said he is focused on building a 21st century economy that will help the County maintain its leadership position in the State, while being more competitive in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today told a group of County and business leaders that he is focused on building a 21st century economy that will help the County maintain its leadership position in the State, while being more competitive in the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. 

At the launch of Business Connect at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, Elrich welcomed new Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) President and CEO Ben Wu.

“Ben was the right choice for this position,” said Elrich. “We need somebody who is focused on economic development and I think we have got that now. Our priorities are to give Montgomery County a 21st century economy and we need a 21st century government, which is why we are opening Business Connect hubs around the County. We want to make sure our small businesses have the opportunity to start and grow in Montgomery County. Business Connect provides them with access to resources, training, and programs that help strengthen the small business community.”

Elrich also touted the number of entrepreneurs in Montgomery County.

“We have more entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, than anywhere else in the region,” Elrich said. “That is a little-known fact that the people should be aware of. In fact, the income of Montgomery entrepreneurs is twice the regional average.  That’s why we want more entrepreneurs to come here and grow their businesses.”

Elrich was joined by Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, Wu, County Council President Sidney Katz, County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz, Andrew Friedson, Hans Riemer and Will Jawando, Visit Montgomery CEO and President Kelly Groff,  Rockville Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Ed Harrington, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Andy Stern and the County’s business resource partners for the official launch of Business Connect in Bethesda. All of the leaders indicated that economic and business development is a top priority for Montgomery County and the State.

The Business Connect program is an initiative designed to grow and nurture small businesses in the County. The program, launched in 2019, offers classes, counseling, and connections for businesses ​in the communities where they are located. Services are now available in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase regional area as well as East County, Silver Spring and Upcounty and plans are in the works to expand to the Mid-County regional services area. From May 2019 to Jan. 2020, Business Connect has offered 56 classes, 637 hours of counseling, and 791 connections for businesses to County resources.

The addition of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase regional area to the Business Connect program will help the County grow more small businesses in an area that is going through a development renaissance led by the future Purple Line and new Marriott headquarters.

Both Elrich and Wu described the County as the economic engine of the State, noting the County’s gross domestic product (GDP) represented 25 percent of the state’s GDP in 2018. The County is home to more than 40 companies on Inc. Magazine’s 2019 Inc. 5000: The Most Successful Companies in America, and three of those companies are in the top 100.

Wu, who recently joined the MCEDC after serving as deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, introduced the new members of his team and emphasized the level of experience and expertise that each of them bring to Montgomery County.  Wu outlines the key areas MCEDC would be working are opportunity zones, bio-tech, building a tech workforce and more.

“I’m pleased to join with our business community, County and State officials to declare that Montgomery County is fully committed to growing the economy and creating opportunities for our residents and workforce,” said Wu. “MCEDC is taking a lead role in keeping companies here and helping new County entities start and grow—from cutting edge gene therapy to fast-growing business services. We are working closely with our partners in education, the private sector and all levels of government to ensure Montgomery County remains a strong economic engine for our State.”

Schulz applauded the County’s efforts to be more business friendly and expressed how important it is for the State to work with local jurisdictions so that all businesses feel that the government is working with them.

“Any way that government can streamline its processes and services can help Maryland companies reduce the cost of doing business and spend more time focusing on their customers,” said Schulz. “Initiatives like the ones being implemented by Montgomery County Government, as well as the state’s Maryland Business Express and Regional Resources Teams, promote inter-agency cooperation that benefits our business community."   Katz provided an update on the 4Business initiative, which has included six listening sessions, an online survey, and two charrettes. Over 450 people have provided input and deploying the Business Connect program strategically around the County is a direct result of the 4Business initiative.

“County Executive Elrich and I launched the 4Business initiative because we want businesses to locate, grow and prosper in Montgomery County,” said Katz. “We understand to build the economy of the future, our policies and systems must reflect business expectations of today and well into the future.  I believe that we are creating a roadmap for Montgomery County that will ensure we continue to be the economic engine, not just for the State of Maryland, but for the Washington Metropolitan Region.”

Winter Wonderland Warms up the Season

The Bethesda Urban Partnership starts the holiday season with Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. The free celebration features holiday performances, a live ice sculpting presentation and a visit from Santa Claus in Veterans Park, located at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues.

Blocks of ice will be transformed into wintery works of art during the live ice sculpting presentation followed by choral performances from local school groups. Santa Claus will visit the park and holiday treats and crafts will be provided to children.

For more information on Winter Wonderland visit www.bethesda.org.

Bethesda Row Arts Festival Coming Oct. 13 and 14

Once again downtown Bethesda will transform into an outdoor gallery of arts and crafts when the free Bethesda Row Arts Festival returns on October 13 and 14. Over 190 selected artists will showcase their museum-quality works of all different types, including ceramics, drawings, fabrics, glass, graphics, jewelry, metalwork, paintings, pastels, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and 2D and 3D mixed media.

The event is held rain or shine. Bethesda Row is located on Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, Elm Street and Bethesda Lane, east of Arlington Road, and is within walking distance from the Bethesda Metro station. Free parking garages are also located around the site. Admission is free. More information is available from www.bethesdarowarts.org.

Some proceeds from the event will go to benefit the NIH Children’s Charities.

Sixth Annual Bethesda Film Festival Returns to Bethesda

The sixth annual Bethesda Film Festive will feature five short documentaries made by local filmmakers. The films will screen at Imagination Stage located at 4908 Auburn Ave. in Bethesda on Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 7 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The films selected for the screening include: 

• Aiven by Enrique Huaiquil from Silver Spring
• Mama Rwanda by Laura Waters Hinson from Washington, D.C.
• Pot of Gold: The Origin of Japanese Bidet by Daiei Onoguchi from Bethesda
• Sisterly by Nina Vallado, from Silver Spring
• Two Steps Back by R. Kayeen Thomas from Washington, D.C.

Each screening will be followed by a question-and-answer discussion with the filmmakers.

Winter Wonderland Comes to Bethesda

The Bethesda Urban Partnership will kick off the holiday season at Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland on Saturday, December 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. Veterans Park is located at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues in Bethesda. The free celebration features holiday performances, a live ice sculpting presentation and a visit from Santa Claus.

Other activities include holiday choral performances from local school groups. Academy of the Holy Cross, Chevy Chase Elementary School, Georgetown Preparatory School, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Seneca Valley High School, Washington Episcopal School and Westbrook Elementary School.

For more information visit www.bethesda.org.

Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District Announces Songwriter Contest

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District has announced the annual Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. The competition is seeking the best local songwriters and will award one talented songwriter a Grand Prize of $10,000 and 25 hours of recording studio time with Innovation Station Music.

The competition also includes a young songwriter category for aspiring songwriters, who are 18 years old or younger, to win $2,500.

Entries must be received by Monday, November 6. For more information on guidelines and information on the competition go to www.bethesda.org.

20th Annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival Will Bring Outdoor Art Gallery to Downtown Bethesda on October 14 and 15

National artists will showcase their original works October 14-15 when downtown Bethesda becomes an outdoor art gallery. The free event will feature glass weaving by an imaginative innovator in Michigan, mystical digital collages from a Nashville photographer, sculptural furniture from a Georgia native, and watercolors reflecting a life in Ghana by a Southern transplant.

This year, the 20th Annual Festival will again bring together 190 world-class artists in an open air outdoor gallery that transforms the streets of Bethesda Row in Bethesda. Bethesda Row is located on Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, Elm Street and Bethesda Lane, east of Arlington Road. The Festival will take place, rain or shine, Saturday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, October 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. More information is available at www.bethesdarowarts.org or www.facebook.com/BethesdaArtsFestival/ or by calling 301-637-5684. A special art sale will benefit the NIH Children’s Charities, thanks to generous donations from participating artists.

Downtown Bethesda Summer Concert Schedule Announced

With warm summer weather approaching, folks will soon be able to delight in weekly outdoor concerts in downtown Bethesda. This series, produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will feature free Thursday evening concerts during May, June, and July. The concerts offer a diverse range of music including rock, funk, jazz, swing and reggae.

The concerts begin on May 5 and take place on Thursday evenings, from 6 – 8 p.m.in Veterans Park, located at the corner of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues. See the full schedule.

Bethesda Winter Wonderland

The Bethesda Urban Partnership will kick off the holiday season with the Bethesda Winter  Wonderland. This free holiday event will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Veterans Park on the corner of at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont avenues. The celebration will feature holiday performances, a live ice sculpting presentation and a visit from Santa Claus. For more information go to Bethesda Winter Wonderland.