Bethesda Magazine: May-June 2018 by MoCo360

Interviews with the Democratic County Executive Candidates MAY/JUNE 2018

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May/June 2018 | Volume 15 Issue 3

contents

Kobo’s

P. 128 Kobo’s ¯ ¯ Piter Tjan

THE FOOD AND RESTAURANT ISSUE 128

Our Favorite New Restaurants More than 70 restaurants have opened in the Bethesda area in the last two years. Our critic chooses his 10 favorites. BY DAVID HAGEDORN

150

Crazy for Crabs Get ready for crab season with our guide to crackin’ crabs in the Bethesda area

COVER: Dry-aged duck with beet purée and Bing cherry reduction from Duck Duck Goose Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

14 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

BY CAROLE SUGARMAN

contents

FEATURES

182 Back to her Roots

192 ‘A Perfect Match’

206 In Sync

216 Bethesda Interview

Wedding florist Sophie Felts grew up on a tree farm in Montgomery County, where she helped out in her father’s nursery. Years later she moved home and started a business of her own.

At a therapeutic riding center in Boyds, horses are helping people with special needs discover their strengths and abilities

Derwood siblings Michael and Rachel Parsons have dedicated their lives to ice dancing. Their goal: an Olympic medal in Beijing in 2022.

Conversations with the six Democratic candidates for county executive

BY APRIL WITT

BY MELANIE D.G. KAPLAN

16 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

BY MIKE UNGER

BY LOUIS PECK

PHOTO BY GASTON LACOMBE

P. 182

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contents

P. 68

DEPARTMENTS 22 | TO OUR READERS

68 | HOMETOWN Undocumented but undeterred, a Silver Spring man becomes an advocate for “Dreamers” BY STEVE ROBERTS

24 | CONTRIBUTORS

good life

art. festivals. culture. day trips. hidden gems.

34 | BEST BETS

245

home

298 | WELLNESS CALENDAR

303

Can’t-miss arts events

246 | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

38 | ARTS CALENDAR

Liven up your home with bold and beautiful patterns

Where to go, what to see

disorder that causes everything from fatigue to fainting, it can take years to figure out the problem

dine

304 | TABLE TALK What’s happening on the local food scene

308 | DINING GUIDE

248 | ISLAND LIVING

banter

people. politics. books. columns.

52 | FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING Great Falls by the numbers

56 | QUICK TAKES News you may have missed

Today’s kitchens boast islands that are more beautiful, versatile and functional than ever

New books by local authors, literary events and more

A Potomac couple has given new life to their 1970s-era home

276 | HOME SALES BY THE NUMBERS

64 | SUBURBANOLOGY Whatever happened to drivers being civil? BY APRIL WITT

287

etc.

328 | SHOP TALK

258 | HOME, REIMAGINED

60 | BOOK REPORT

327

health

The latest in noninvasive beauty treatments, plus a Chevy Chase monogram shop

332 | WEDDINGS A Gaithersburg couple married at the same church where they met and later shared their first kiss

336 | GET AWAY

288 | BE WELL

Your cheat sheet for a weekend away

A 94-year-old Rockville athlete has no plans to slow down

338 | DRIVING RANGE

290 | WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME? For teens suffering from a little-known

Kent Island is more than just a pass-through on the way to the beach

344 | OUTTAKES

AD SECTIONS 2018 FACES 74

PROFILES: ASK THE ATTORNEYS 167

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LONG & FOSTER AD SECTION 239

SHOWCASE: BUILDERS & ARCHITECTS 266

PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

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PICKING FAVORITES THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE went through a rough patch recently. According to Bethesda Beat, 11 local eateries closed or announced they were closing in January and early February. Among the casualties were TapaBar and Yamas Mediterranean Grill in Bethesda, The Classics in Silver Spring and Mix Bar & Grille in Potomac. The karma was so bad that one restaurant location in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle actually closed twice in just over two months. In late October, Mark Bucher shuttered his upscale diner Community (after being open for less than a year) and replaced it just over a week later with One Scotch, One Burger, One Beer. Alas, the latter lasted only a week into the new year. But all is not gloom and doom for the area’s restaurant scene. In March, we compiled a list of all restaurant openings and closings that Bethesda Beat had reported on in 2016 and 2017. The results surprised me: There were many more openings than closings (71-42). While there were only a few notable closings in those two years—in particular, Grapeseed in Bethesda and 8407 Kitchen Bar in Silver Spring—there were many worthwhile openings. So many that we asked our restaurant critic, David Hagedorn, to sort through them and choose his favorites. His 10 picks are the cover story in this issue. “Two things stand out to me most about my selections,” says Hagedorn, who was a restaurateur and chef for 25 years before becoming a critic. “First, experience matters. Six of the 10 restaurants are owned by local entrepreneurs with other restaurants. Second, Asian restaurants are currently preeminent. My top three picks are Asian.” Hagedorn’s story about his favorite new restaurants starts on page 128. ONE EVENING LAST SUMMER I attended the grand opening of the new Target store in downtown Bethesda along with County Executive Ike Leggett. As we waited for the official ribbon-cutting, I asked Ike if he had to go to any other events that night. He answered, wearily, “Three more.” 22 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

I remember thinking, “Who would want that job?” Well, now we have the answer: Lots of people want that job! As of this writing, seven candidates are running for county executive (six Democrats and one Republican). The Democratic candidate will be chosen in the June 26 primary. Overall, a remarkable number of people—nearly 200— will be on the primary ballot, all running for state or local offices. Why so many? It’s a matter of both motivation and open seats. The vast majority of candidates are running as Democrats—not surprising in a county where Dems outnumber Republicans by more than 3-to-1 among registered voters. And many of the Democratic candidates, especially the scores of new ones, are running in response to President Donald Trump. There are also more offices in play than in recent memory. That’s mostly because county voters in 2016 approved term limits, which meant that Leggett and four of the nine members of the county council couldn’t seek re-election. An astonishing 34 candidates are running for the four at-large council seats. With nearly 200 candidates, we know it’s going to be harder than ever for voters to make informed decisions. In this issue we feature in-depth interviews with the Democratic candidates for county executive. (We will run a debate-style interview with the Democratic and Republican candidates in our September/October issue.) We have also compiled a Voters Guide on BethesdaMagazine.com and are providing extensive coverage of the local campaigns in Bethesda Beat, our local news service. You can read our coverage—and sign up for the free Bethesda Beat daily newsletter—on BethesdaMagazine.com. Thank you for reading Bethesda Magazine!

STEVE HULL Editor & Publisher

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contributors

LOUIS PECK

MELANIE D.G. KAPLAN

GASTON LACOMBE

LIVES IN: Bethesda

LIVES IN: Washington, D.C.

IN THIS ISSUE: Interviewed the six contenders for the Democratic nomination for county executive. “This is the most wide-open election since that post was created a half-century ago. The outcome could have implications for decades to come, given the recent challenges posed by significant demographic and socioeconomic changes in the county.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Wrote about florist Sophie Felts, the founder of Blossom + Vine in Laytonsville. “When I visited Sophie’s studio and farm, I half expected to see her skipping through fields and leisurely collecting flowers. What I found was hard work, long hours and the endless struggle to balance creativity with selfemployment—something I know well.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Spent four days photographing the florists and their work at Blossom + Vine.

FAVORITE PLACE: His weekend home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he and his wife, Nancy, a fellow journalist, enjoy spending time with their two rescue dogs.

WHAT SHE DOES: Kaplan is a freelance writer whose articles focus on domestic adventures, national parks, cycling and her beagle. She also teaches ukulele at a women’s shelter—and performs when she’s feeling brave. WHERE SHE GREW UP: In Rockville, near Lake Needwood. “My mom enjoyed arranging the flowers we grew in our backyard. I remember walking through the basement, dodging straw flowers and statice hanging from the ceiling to dry.” FAVORITE THING ABOUT SUMMER: Early morning trips along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers on her pink stand-up paddleboard, spotting herons and ducklings.

HOW HE GOT HIS START: He gave up administrative jobs behind desks 10 years ago to follow a dream of working as a photographer and artist. “I got a degree in professional photography from Boston University and have never looked back.” FAVORITE FLOWER: “I love nature and color, so it was a great match to photograph the florists at Blossom + Vine. I discovered many new and intriguing flowers, but tulips are still my favorite.”

CORRECTION

In the March/April “8 Great ‘Affordable’ Neighborhoods” story, the photo that accompanied the Woodside write-up was actually a picture of a home in nearby Woodside Park. A photo of Woodside is printed here. 24 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

LOUIS PECK PHOTO BY RICHARD BLOOM; COURTESY PHOTOS; WOODSIDE PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

WHAT HE DOES: He’s a freelance writer and editor who has covered politics at the local, state and national level for more than four decades. His Washington, D.C., experience includes covering presidential campaigns and editing a twice-daily newsletter about Congress. He is a member of the team of authors for the biennial Almanac of American Politics.

WHAT HE DOES: A photographer and graphic artist, he shares his time between his studio in Brentwood, Maryland, and his studio/gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He has taken assignments on every continent, including a two-month artist residency in Antarctica.

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EDITORIAL EDITOR

Steve Hull DESIGN DIRECTOR

Maire McArdle SENIOR EDITOR

Cindy Rich ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kathleen Seiler Neary DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Laura F. Goode ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Fischer BETHESDA BEAT MANAGING EDITOR

Julie Rasicot BETHESDA BEAT WRITERS

Andrew Metcalf, Bethany Rodgers, Joe Zimmermann WEB PRODUCER

Amélie Ward RESTAURANT CRITIC

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Eugene L. Meyer, Louis Peck, Carole Sugarman COPY EDITORS

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Caralee Adams, Jennifer Barger, Stephanie Siegel Burke, James Michael Causey, Dina ElBoghdady, David Frey, Michael S. Gerber, Steve Goldstein, Janelle Harris, Melanie D.G. Kaplan, Christine Koubek, Laurie McClellan, Melanie Padgett Powers, Amy Reinink, Steve Roberts, Charlotte Safavi, Jennifer Sergent, Bara Vaida, Mark Walston, Carolyn Weber, April Witt, Sarah Zlotnick PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

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Model Home Open House Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm. Exquisite new condominium residences from $1.25 to over $4 million.

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I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I lived in the same house in Wynnewood, PA for 40 years. My son and his family live in Silver Spring and it’s wonderful to see them more often. However, there’s great peace of mind in being independent and not relying on him. When I first visited, I liked the floor plan of the apartment, the view of Gingerville Creek, the size of the community, the facilities, and the many amenities. Also, my kayak is here and my sailboat is 30 minutes away at our family cottage on the West River. A typical day at Ginger Cove consists of personal pursuits, chairing various committees, interviewing new residents, and socializing with friends before having dinner. Sometimes, there’s music or a lecture. I’m on the computer every day to keep up with current events and stay in touch with friends. I also enjoy the fitness classes. Exercising alone can be hard, but the classes makes it fun. Water aerobics is a godsend. We have an excellent teacher who varies our exercises while testing our strength, flexibility, balance, stamina, cardio conditioning and muscular endurance. I love keeping fit while having a great time in the process. If I could do it again, I would have moved in sooner. There are so many activities and programs to take advantage of. If you’re new to the area, Ginger Cove is full of interesting people, who couldn’t be friendlier. I didn’t know anyone when I moved in. Now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

- Martha, resident since 2007

To discover Ginger Cove, please call Joan Williams at 410-266-7300. gingercove.com • 4000 River Crescent Drive • Annapolis, MD Ginger Cove is an equal housing opportunity provider.

art. festivals. culture. day trips. hidden gems.

good life

BALLOON BONANZA PHOTO BY FREDERICO LORENZI SENRA

A MIX OF COLORFUL patterns will dot the sky over the Howard County Fairgrounds, just west of Baltimore, during the Preakness Balloon Festival from May 11 to 13. The hot-air balloon festival is held the weekend before the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course. The first two days of the festival include live music and food vendors, and views of more than 15 giant, vibrant balloons, some of which are tethered to the ground from varying heights, while others are in flight. After dusk, the balloons glow in the sky, illuminated by their propane burners. Visitors can watch or sign up ahead of time to compete in the Nathan’s hot dog-eating contest on

Saturday, May 12, at 5 p.m. The winner will qualify for the Fourth of July contest in Coney Island, New York. Balloon rides can be booked for certain times during the festival ($250 per person gets you a half hour to an hour of flight time, or it’s $20 for a five-minute tethered ride; visit the website for reservations). The Preakness Balloon Festival is May 11, 6:15 to 9 a.m. media balloon tethering (open to public viewing), 4 to 9 p.m. festival; May 12, 6:15 to 9 a.m. balloon rides, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. festival; May 13, 6:15 to 7:45 a.m. balloon rides. Admission is free; parking is $20. 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Maryland, preaknessballoonfestival.com —Amanda Perelli BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

good life

SEE THE STARS

The Montgomery College Astronomical Observatory (51 Mannakee St., Rockville) opens to the public two Fridays a month, from March through November, 9 to 10 p.m. Upcoming dates are May 4 and 18 (check the website for more dates). The event is free; reservations are required at mcobservatory.blogspot.com. Email carrie.fitzgerald@montgomerycollege.edu for more information. —Amanda Perelli 32

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

MOST OF US DON’T have telescopes to look at planets and star clusters, but two powerful 14-inch telescopes at the Science Center on Montgomery College’s Rockville campus offer a chance to gaze at astronomical wonders. Two Friday nights a month, the center opens its doors to 24 visitors for an astronomy program. Carrie Fitzgerald, an associate professor of engineering and physical and computer sciences at the college, gives a 10-minute introduction to the observatory. Then visitors are guided above the center to an area where the roof rolls back to expose the sky. Throughout the event, Fitzgerald aims the telescopes at objects in the sky that she knows will be best for viewing at that time of year. Visitors, including children ages 5 and older, move from telescope to telescope, peering through. Some people bring a date to the observatory, and at least two couples have gotten married after having their first date there. “There’s something romantic about a sky full of stars,” Fitzgerald says.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

good life

BEST BETS

Our picks for things to see and do in May and June BY STEPHANIE SIEGEL BURKE

May 5

Back in 2003, Ruben Studdard was victorious in the second season of American Idol, charming audiences with his soulful voice and earning comparisons to R&B great Luther Vandross. Studdard grew up listening to Vandross, who was one of his mother’s favorite singers and became a huge influence on his career. At Always & Forever: An Evening of Luther Vandross Starring Ruben Studdard, the Idol crooner pays tribute to his own idol with a performance featuring hit songs by the eight-time Grammy Award winner. 8 p.m.; $50, $40 faculty and staff, $35 with student ID; Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Rockville; montgomerycollege.edu/reppac

May 11

THE LOWE DOWN Known for his good looks and roles in Brat Pack ’80s movies as well as TV shows such as The West Wing and Parks and Recreation, Rob Lowe is also the author of two New York Times best-selling memoirs. The books were praised for their juicy tales from the actor’s personal life and career, including experiences with other Hollywood denizens. You can hear some of those stories directly from the star when he brings his one-man show, Stories I Only Tell My Friends: LIVE!, to Strathmore. The show, based on the two memoirs, includes video clips from Lowe’s career, as well as a Q&A session and photos and videos from his personal archive. 8 p.m., $38-$88, The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda, strathmore.org

34 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

May 10 through early 2020

ARTIST UNRAVELED Body parts, spiders and fractured families are repeated themes in Louise Bourgeois’ artwork. Glenstone’s new exhibition, Louise Bourgeois: To Unravel a Torment, features about 30 pieces spanning more than 50 years of the French-American’s career. Bourgeois (1911-2010), an influential feminist artist, was known for her largescale sculptures and installations, but she was also a prolific painter and printmaker. Her artwork focused on desire, the unconscious and the body—sometimes explicitly. The exhibition will feature sculptures, drawings, prints, textiles and roomlike installations that the artist called “cells.” 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, free, Glenstone, Potomac, glenstone.org

LOWE COURTESY OF STRATHMORE; STUDDARD COURTESY OF DAVENPORT DESIGN; BOURGEOIS COURTESY OF MARK SETTEDUCATI, THE EASTON FOUNDATION/VAGA, NY

AN IDOL’S IDOL

good life

BEST BETS May 12-13

ARTY PARTY

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, free, Norfolk and Auburn avenues, Bethesda, bethesda.org

June 2

USE YOUR IMAGINATION Colorful balloons line the streets, and roaming performers weave through the crowds at Imagination Bethesda. The whimsical children’s arts festival, organized by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, features handson arts and crafts, and live music and dance performances by local and national groups. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free, Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street, Bethesda, bethesda.org

June 6 through July 1 June 10-16

CUE THE BLUES The 10th annual Silver Spring Blues Festival features a daylong blues block party with live music on two stages. A stage at Veterans Plaza features an all-acoustic lineup on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then, things get loud and move over to the main stage near the fountain at Ellsworth Drive for amplified music from 3 to 10 p.m. The party wraps up Silver Spring Blues Week, a series of nightly performances at various locations in Silver Spring. June 10-15, various locations; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 16, Veterans Plaza and Ellsworth Drive, free, silverspringbluesfest.yolasite.com

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WHAT A DRAG What’s the difference between an Elvis impersonator and a drag queen? Not all that much, main character Casey comes to find out in The Legend of Georgia McBride. Round House Theatre closes its season with this comedy, in which Casey, a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator, uses the tools of his trade—sequins, lip-synching skills and swiveling hips—to transform from “the King” to “queen” after the struggling bar where he works hires a drag show to attract more customers. This production promises a fierce cast performing fun musical numbers in outrageous costumes. $36-$65, Round House Theatre, Bethesda, roundhousetheatre.org

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL AND IMAGINATION BETHESDA COURTESY PHOTOS; GEORGIA MCBRIDE COURTESY OF ROUND HOUSE THEATRE

Paintings, sculpture, original photography and handmade jewelry are among the unique offerings on display at the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival. The annual event, which features items for sale by about 120 artists, takes over the Woodmont Triangle section of downtown. Browsers and buyers alike can also hear live music by local bands and sample food from Bethesda restaurants, lending the festival a partylike atmosphere.

good life arts & entertainment

CALENDAR COMPILED BY SANDRA FLEISHMAN

May 4

ZOE TOUR. Mexico’s Latin Grammy Awardwinning indie-rock band is known for such albums as Rocanlover, Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea and Reptilectric. 8 p.m. $29.50. The Fillmore, Silver Spring. 301-960-9999, fillmoresilverspring.com.

May 5

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: BEETHOVEN’S “PASTORAL” SYMPHONY. The program also includes Marjorie Merryman’s “Windhover Fantasy” and Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. 8 p.m. $28-$88. Children ages 7-17 can attend for free with a paying adult. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, strathmore.org.

May 6

SHANGHAI QUARTET AND ALEXANDER FITERSTEIN: STRING QUARTET & CLARINET. The program includes works by Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms. 7:30 p.m. $35-$45. Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Rockville. benderjccgw.org.

May 10

May 12

MUSIC May 2 MC WORLD ENSEMBLE: WATER MUSIC. Montgomery College students and community members from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds perform a concert of works they collected from around the world last year on the theme of water. 7:30 p.m. Free. The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, Rockville. 240-567-5301, montgomerycollege.edu/pac.

May 3-4 IRON & COAL. Composer/lyricist/ singer/actor Jeremy Schonfeld created this theatrical concert—which includes projections and animations—as a tribute to his father, Gustav, a Holocaust survivor brought to Auschwitz as a 10-year-old. The world premiere, sponsored by Strathmore and Beth Morrison Projects, will involve 200 musicians onstage, including a rock band, chamber orchestra and choirs. 8 p.m. $43-$175. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-5815100, strathmore.org.

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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN. The much-heralded singer/pianist and former assistant to musical icon Ira Gershwin headlines Strathmore’s Annual Spring Gala. 9 p.m. $65-$130. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, strathmore.org.

May 12

BROADWAY IN BETHESDA GALA. Euan Morton takes a night off from Hamilton to raise the roof for Round House Theatre. The Scottish actor and singer won Tony and Olivier award nominations for his Broadway performance as Boy

COURTESY OF STRATHMORE, PHOTO BY JILL STEINBERG

Strathmore stages the world premiere of a theatrical concert called Iron & Coal on May 3 and 4.

BSO: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. While the audience watches the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ epic score. 8 p.m. $35-$99. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, bsomusic.org.

CHILDREN’S NATIONAL IS #1 FOR BABIES Children’s National is proud to be named #1 for newborn intensive care in the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals survey and ranked among the Top 10 children’s hospitals overall. What makes us the best choice for care in the nation’s capital? Expertise that’s focused on children’s unique needs and support for every family. At Children’s National, we want every child to GROW UP STRONGER.

Learn more about top-ranked care for children at childrensnational.org/usnews 1-888-884-BEAR

childrensnational.org

#GrowUpStronger

Come Together

good life George in Taboo, and took over the role of King George in Hamilton last July. See website for details on the dinner, performance and live auction. Round House Theatre, Bethesda. 240-641-5352, roundhousetheatre.org.

May 17 JONATHAN DAVIS. The vocalist for altmetal/rock band Korn is on a solo tour in advance of his first solo album. 7:30 p.m. $35-$49. The Fillmore, Silver Spring. 301960-9999, fillmoresilverspring.com.

May 31 BSO: GERSHWIN’S PIANO CONCERTO. Acclaimed pianist Kirill Gerstein joins with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for Gershwin’s 1926 concerto. The program also includes Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird and Schumann’s Second Symphony. 8 p.m. $35-$99. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, bsomusic.org.

June 2

Upcoming Shows

BACK TO THE ’80S {Murder mystery show} FRI, MAY 4

BE STEADWELL

{Queer Love Songs album release}

SAT, MAY 5

URBANARIAS

{A new twist on opera}

THU, MAY 10

AMP & COMEDY ZONE PRESENT

TOM SIMMONS JAMIE UTLEY THU, MAY 17

SECRET SOCIETY {Feel-good R&B jams} FRI, MAY 18

11810 Grand Park Ave, N. Bethesda, MD Red Line–White Flint Metro

AMPbySTRATHMORE.COM

12TH ANNUAL JUBILATION DAY GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA. Gospel music, the uniquely American art form that gave rise to jazz, blues, R&B and rock ’n’ roll, is celebrated at this event. Check website for details. 4-8 p.m. Free. Concert Pavilion, Gaithersburg. 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov.

June 2 ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS. The Broadway, movie and TV star performs his song revue for Olney Theatre Center’s 80th anniversary gala. See details on the website. Olney Theatre Center, Olney. 301924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

June 2 NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLAND’S INDEPENDENCE. Guest conductor Miroslaw Jacek Blaszczyk leads the Philharmonic, Chorale and soloists in a program of works by Chopin, Debski and Szymanowski. 8 p.m. $23-$76. Children ages 7-17 can attend for free with a paying adult. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100, strathmore.org.

June 7 AN EVENING WITH JESSE COLIN YOUNG AND BAND. Folk rock hero Jesse Colin Young has 17 albums on his own and with the Youngbloods, the ’60s band he founded. 8 p.m. $35-$40. Bethesda Blues

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& Jazz Supper Club, Bethesda. 240-3304500, bethesdabluesjazz.com.

June 8-17 PATIENCE. The Victorian Lyric Opera Company presents a fully staged performance, with orchestra, of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1881 comic opera. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. On June 10, a Community Outreach Matinee starts at 12:45 p.m., with backstage tours and kids craft activities, and ends with a post-show “talk back” session with cast and crew. $28; $24 seniors; $20 students. F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville. 240-314-8690, vloc.org.

June 28 CANNED HEAT. Original members of the legendary ’60s blues rock band— including drummer and now band leader Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, bassist Larry “The Mole” Taylor and guitarist Harvey Mandel—are still going strong after 50 years and 38 albums. 8 p.m. $35-$55. AMP by Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301581-5100, ampbystrathmore.com.

DANCE May 5 35TH ANNUAL VIENNESE WALTZ BALL: AN EVENING WITH STRAUSS. The benefit for Glen Echo Park features live music with classical arrangements of Viennese waltzes and other couples dances, including polka, schottische and tango. 8 p.m.-midnight. $20. All ages welcome. Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo. waltztimedances.org.

May 12 32ND ANNUAL WASHINGTON SPRING BALL. Many of those attending the Folklore Society of Greater Washington ball, which features English country dancing, come dressed up, often in period clothing. 7-11 p.m. Dances are taught from 2:305 p.m. at a pre-ball practice session. See website for ticket prices. Silver Spring Civic Building, Silver Spring. fsgw.org.

THEATER & TALKS Through May 5 THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE. A finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for drama, the play considers four constant companions named Watson: the sidekick to Sherlock Holmes; the

engineer who built Bell’s first telephone; the super-computer that became Jeopardy! champ; and a techno-dweeb looking for love. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $22$25. Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring. 301-593-6036, ssstage.org.

Through May 6 “MASTER HAROLD”… AND THE BOYS. South African playwright Athol Fugard’s scorching indictment of the apartheid system, which debuted on Broadway in 1982, is being revived around the country as conversations about racism have dominated national politics. See website for times. $36-$65. Round House Theatre, Bethesda. 240-644-1100, roundhousetheatre.org.

Through May 6 RADIUM GIRLS. Rockville Little Theatre performs a play inspired by a true story about female factory workers in the World War I era who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with luminous radium-based paint. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $22; $20 seniors and students. F. Scott

Fitzgerald Theatre, Rockville. 240-3148690, fscottfitzgerald.showare.com.

Through May 19 DEREK JETER MAKES THE PLAY. A romantic comedy about a couple who live by a single philosophical question: What would Yankees’ legend Derek Jeter do? See website for dates and times. $25. Best Medicine Rep, second floor of Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg. bestmedicinerep.org.

Through May 20 THE CRUCIBLE. Olney Theatre tackles the Arthur Miller classic 65 years after it opened on Broadway, noting that it “maintains its power today for masterful language, flawed heroes and the timeless reminder of what can happen when truth is bent to political convenience.” See website for times. $49-$74. Olney Theatre Center, Olney. 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

May 9-June 10 THE INVISIBLE HAND. From Ayad Akhtar, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Disgraced, comes a thriller about Nick, an American options trader and Citibank

executive held hostage by a fringe radical group in Pakistan. See website for days and prices. Olney Theatre Center, Olney. 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

May 11-26 PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. Kensington Arts Theatre’s musical is based on the 1994 movie about two drag queens and a transgender woman who encounter a comedy of errors on their way to perform a drag show in the remote Australian desert. 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $17-$25. Kensington Town Hall, Kensington. 240621-0528, katonline.org.

June 1-June 23 A DELICATE BALANCE. Edward Albee’s play about the “delicate balance” in a wealthy Connecticut couple’s uneasy marriage won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for drama; a 1996 version on Broadway won a Tony for Best Revival of a Play. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. June 10 and June 17. $22-$25. Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring. 301-593-6036, ssstage.org.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 41

good life

Bring the kids to the free Train Day at Gaithersburg Community Museum on May 5.

June 8-June 24 THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Arts on the Green and the Damascus Theatre Company team up on the romantic musical about a brief love affair between a National Geographic photographer and an Italian-American housewife in 1965 Iowa. Recommended for ages 14 and older. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $22; $12 for ages 14 and younger. The Arts Barn, Gaithersburg. 301258-6394, gaithersburgmd.gov.

June 20-July 22

ART Through June 15 VARIED MEDIA. A juried members’ show by the Rockville Art League. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m.9 p.m. Thursday. Free. Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville. 240-314-8660, rockvillemd.gov.

Through July 15 BOOM: THE 1950S IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. The interactive exhibit—with more than 200 objects, photos and documents—explores the cultural, social and economic factors in the ’50s that changed life in the county and led to a massive influx of families. Noon-4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. $7; $5 seniors, students and active military; free for children younger than 6 and Montgomery County Historical Society members. Beall-Dawson Museum, Rockville. 301-340-2825, montgomeryhistory.org.

Through June 30, 2019 ON THE HOMEFRONT: GAITHERSBURG IN WORLD WAR I. The exhibit explores what Gaithersburg was like when the war started on April 6, 1917, and how its citizens stepped up to help the country. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Free. Gaithersburg Community Museum, Gaithersburg. 301258-6160, gaithersburgmd.gov.

May 6-June 2 SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT. Forty artists, including present and past Waverly Street Gallery members, are

displaying works. Gallery hours are noon6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Special celebration reception 6-9 p.m. May 11. Free. Waverly Street Gallery, Bethesda. 301-951-9441, waverlystreetgallery.com.

June 7-July 1

BETHESDA PAINTING AWARDS. The annual event invites painters from the area to compete for $14,000 in prize money, with the top prize of $10,000 for best in show. The eight finalists’ works are on display. Gallery hours are noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. June 9. Free. Gallery B, Bethesda. 301-215-6660, bethesda.org.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Through May 12 LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. A 40-minute version of the classics, told with lots of audience participation and a B.B. (Big Bad) Wolfe who raps. Recommended for ages 3 and older. 11 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $12. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo. 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org.

Through May 20

ROBIN HOOD. With his band of Merry Men and the lovely Maid Marian, Robin robs the rich to help the poor—with sword fighting, bows and arrows, and miraculous escapes. Recommended for ages 4 and older. 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $12-$30. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301-280-1660, imaginationstage.org.

Through June 3 JUDY MOODY & STINK: THE MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD TREASURE HUNT. Based on the book

42 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

series by Megan McDonald, this production was commissioned by seven theaters. Judy Moody’s in a mood over third grade, and her brother, Stink, is in her way. But when the family visits “Artichoke” Island, the two might want to team up to find the treasure. Recommended for ages 4 and older. See website for times. $19.50. Adventure Theatre MTC, Glen Echo. 301-634-2270, adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

May 5 TRAIN DAY. Experience Gaithersburg’s history with the railroad by seeing model train displays, exploring a caboose and railcar, or taking pictures with a 1918 steam locomotive. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. Gaithersburg Community Museum, Gaithersburg. 301258-6160, gaithersburgmd.gov.

May 6 GROUP ASTRONOMY DAY. Explore the historic Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory, learn about telescopes, observe the sun through solar telescopes, make a model of the Earth-sun-moon orbit and train like an astronaut. 2-5 p.m. For ages 6-10. One adult chaperone required for every six children; reservations must be made as a group. $3 per child in the group; no cost for chaperones. Gaithersburg Community Museum, Gaithersburg. Registration required. 301258-6160, gaithersburgmd.gov.

May 12 ROYAL TEA PARTY. Princesses ages 2 and older and their royal families are invited to celebrate Mother’s Day at this annual event, with games and activities. Dress in your fanciest princess attire. An adult family member or friend must accompany children. 2-4 p.m. $14 for City of Rockville residents; $16 for nonresidents. Thomas

COURTESY OF CITY OF GAITHERSBURG

ON THE TOWN. The epic Broadway musical features beloved area singers and dancers, including Evan Casey, Sam Ludwig, Donna Migliaccio, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Bobby Smith and Rachel Zampelli. See website for details. $37-$69. Olney Theatre Center, Olney. 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

Farm Community Center, Rockville. Registration required. rockvillemd.gov.

May 17-June 24 SLEEPING BEAUTY. Rod puppets tell the story in this 45-minute show. Recommended for ages 3½ and older. 11 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $12. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo. 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org.

May 18 POTOMAC VALLEY YOUTH ORCHESTRA SPRING GALA. Eight youth ensembles will perform, marking 27 years of activities: PVYO Philharmonia, Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia, Concert Orchestra, Preparatory Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Flute Choir. 7 p.m. See website for ticket prices. The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda. 301-5815100, strathmore.org.

May 18-20 ZOMBIE PROM. Students in the graduating class of Imagination Stage’s Musical Theatre Conservatory present this “girlloves-ghoul rock and roll” off-Broadway

SUMMER

musical set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High. (The performers are finishing a two-year program at the theater; they range in age from eighth- to 10th-graders.) Recommended for ages 11 and older. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. $12. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301280-1660, imaginationstage.org.

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © &™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING`S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s18)

June 1-3 THE PENCIL IS MIGHTIER. Students in Imagination Stage’s Speak Out on Stage Ensemble, a one-year program for fourthto-sixth-graders, came up with the ideas for this work crafted by playwright Amanda Zeitler and will perform it. Recommended for ages 8 and older. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. $12. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301-280-1660, imaginationstage.org.

May 19-20 DRAGONS LOVE TACOS. The story about a boy who throws a spicy salsa taco party for his new dragon friends, and the trouble that ensues, is produced by Theatreworks USA for Olney’s Theater for Young Audiences. Recommended for those in kindergarten to fifth grade. 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Saturday; noon and 3 p.m. Sunday. $20. Olney Theatre Center, Olney. 301-924-3400, olneytheatre.org.

June 22-Aug. 20 TINKER BELL. You may think you know the story of Peter Pan, but this world premiere tells the tale from Tinker Bell’s perspective. Bethesda playwright Patrick Flynn’s adaptation is still based on the works of Sir J.M. Barrie. Recommended for all ages. Check website for dates and times. $19.50. Adventure Theatre MTC, Glen Echo. 301634-2270, adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

May 26 and June 30 CHILDREN’S ART TALK & TOUR. Kids ages 7 and older get a close-up view of the artists and their art in a guided tour of The Mansion at Strathmore, followed by an art activity. 10:15 a.m. Reservations required. $5; free for accompanying adults. The

JOHN FOGERTY | ZZ TOP: BLUES AND BAYOUS TOUR MAY 29 + 30

June 23-July 29 PAPER DREAMS. Imagination Stage remounts last year’s collaboration

STEVEN TYLER AND THE LOVING MARY BAND THE SISTERHOOD BAND

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LEE ANN WOMACK

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BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 43

good life with Mons Dansa Dance Company of Barcelona, Spain, in its first dance performance-based show. The interactive production—aimed at children ages 1-5—“tells the story of two delightful creatures who live inside a wastepaper basket.” 10 and 11:15 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays (July 21 shows at 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.). $12. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301-280-1660, imaginationstage.org.

June 23-Aug. 12 YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Peppermint Patty and Schroeder join Charlie Brown in an adaptation of the 1967 off-Broadway hit musical based on Charles M. Schulz’s cartoon strip. Recommended for ages 5 and older. See website for days and times. $15-$30. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301-280-1660, imaginationstage.org.

June 29-Aug. 5

SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARVES. Snow White meets “seven vertically challenged bachelors” and learns—in 40 minutes— “that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses” and “friendship and teamwork make any challenge smaller.”

Recommended for ages 4 and older. See website for times. $12. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo. 301-634-5380, thepuppetco.org.

and faculty enrichment. See website for times. Landon School, Bethesda. landon. net/community/landon-azalea-festival.

May 5 MONTGOMERY COUNTY GREENFEST. The fourth annual event was being finalized at press time. Previous years’ events featured an electric vehicle car show, workshops on home energy options, water conservation at home and other topics; and exhibits by local environmental nonprofit groups. Plus music and food. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Jesup Blair Local Park and Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus, Silver Spring. montgomerycountygreenfest.org.

SEASONAL AND FESTIVALS Through Sept. 16 WINGS OF FANCY LIVE BUTTERFLY AND CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT. Brookside Gardens’ exhibit features hundreds of live butterflies and caterpillars from around the world. The insects fly freely among plants and flowers inside the South Conservatory. See website for times. $8 for ages 13 and older; $5 for ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and under. Brookside Gardens, Wheaton. 301-9621400, montgomeryparks.org/events/wingsfancy-live-butterfly-caterpillar-exhibit-2.

May 5-6 A-RTS ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE ARTS FESTIVAL. The festival transforms Rockville Town Square into an outdoor art gallery, with 160 artists, music and food vendors. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free. Rockville Town Square, Rockville. 301-637-5684, a-rts.org.

May 4-6 LANDON AZALEA FESTIVAL. Thousands of visitors attend Landon School’s annual signature event on its 75-acre campus. Plants, flowers, gifts and gently used items are for sale; the event also includes music, carnival rides, games and food. All proceeds go toward student financial aid

May 5-6 URBNMARKET BETHESDA ROW POPUP. The upscale handmade and vintage

On The

TOWN

MUSIC BY LEONARD BERNSTEIN

BOOK AND LYRICS BY BETTY COMDEN AND ADOLPH GREEN BASED ON AN IDEA BY JEROME ROBBINS MUSIC DIRECTION BY CHRISTOPHER YOUSTRA CHOREOGRAPHY BY TARA JEANNE VALLEE DIRECTED BY JASON LOEWITH

JUNE 20 - JULY 22

olneytheatre.org 301.924.3400

44 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

O LNE Y T HE AT R E CE N T E R

market will include about 30 mostly local vendors selling one-of-a-kind items, including home décor, pet accessories, bath and beauty products, jewelry and toys. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Bethesda Row, Bethesda. urbnmarket.com.

May 6

KENSINGTON CAR SHOW. The fifth annual event features vintage, oversize and soupedup cars, music, food booths and kids activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Donations go to a local charity. Howard Avenue, Kensington. kensingtoncarshow.com.

May 7

KENTLANDS DAY. The day includes a car show, kids activities, a Taste of Kentlands, live entertainment and a parade. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. In and around Kentlands Market Square, Gaithersburg. facebook.com/ kentlandsday.

May 26-28

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS AND MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. Rockville’s parade draws thousands and caps off the weekend Hometown Holidays festival. The events include the 30th annual Music Fest, with several stages; the Taste of Rockville; and

many family-friendly activities. Hometown Holidays: 2-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Memorial Day ceremony and parade: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday. Free. Rockville Town Center, Rockville. rockvillemd.gov/hth.

May 30

BEST OF BETHESDA PARTY. Sample food from more than 20 restaurants that were featured in Bethesda Magazine’s 2018 Best of Bethesda issue, and catch live music by Justin Trawick. 6-9 p.m. $68. Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Bethesda. bethesdamagazine.com.

May 30

GAITHERSBURG MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVATION. The city of Gaithersburg’s event includes a wreath-laying ceremony. Participants are invited to fill out a remembrance card and bring a 4-by-6inch photograph for a book honoring those who served. 11 a.m. Free. Christman Park, Gaithersburg. 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov.

the area’s folk traditions. Noon-7 p.m. Free. Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo. 301-6342222, fsgw.org.

June 23-24 MONTGOMERY COUNTY HERITAGE DAYS. The weekend includes open houses at more than 30 locations throughout the county—including farms, parks, museums and historic sites—highlighting local history, culture and nature. Games, crafts and cooking demonstrations are traditional. Noon-4 p.m. Free. Check website for details. 301-515-0753, heritagemontgomery.org.

June 30 SUMMERFEST. Gaithersburg replaces its July 4 and Celebrate! events with this street festival, with multiple stages of music, food and kids activities. It ends with fireworks and a SummerGlo After Party. 5-11 p.m. Free. Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm, Gaithersburg. 301-258-6350, gaithersburgmd.gov. ■

June 2-3

WASHINGTON FOLK FESTIVAL. Storytellers, craftspeople and five stages of music and dance performances will help celebrate

To submit calendar items, or to see a complete listing, go to BethesdaMagazine.com.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

culture watch Summer Camps at BlackRock!

BlackRock Center for the Arts 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874 June 18-Aug. 17 Before and after care available BlackRock offers a summer chock full of fun, sampling all of the various art forms including music, dance, theater and visual arts. Your camper will spend their days off this summer painting, singing, learning new dances and creating characters on stage. One week and two week camps are available for grades K-12! Check out our website for pricing! BLACKROCKCENTER.ORG/CAMPS OR 301-528-2260

Snow White Maryland Youth Ballet Sat., May 12 at 1pm & 5pm Sun., May 13 at 3pm This spring, experience the exciting adventures of Snow White! Scared and lost in the forest, Snow White takes refuge in the house of the seven dwarfs to hide from her stepmother, the wicked Queen. Filled with forest friends and creatures, MYB’s adaptation of the classic tale is perfect for audiences of all ages! Also presenting Alvin Mayes’ contemporary piece “Eireann Kente” and the classical ballet “La Bayadère, Act II, Kingdom of the Shades.” Tickets start at $19, group discount available. MARYLANDYOUTHBALLET.ORG OR 301-608-2232

ENJOY A CLASSIC TALE

SILVER SPRING & BETHESDA LOCATIONS!

Summer Camps for Grades K-12 Round House Theatre Two Locations! Education Center in Silver Spring, MD Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD One- and two-week sessions from June 18- Aug. 31 Before and after care available (K-6) Round House Theatre inspires creativity, exercises imaginations, and promotes artistic risk-taking, while developing critical thinking, cooperation, and confidence. We believe every child is an artist and we encourage them to explore every aspect of theatre— acting, music, movement, design, and play creation— and the unique ways of telling stories through theatre. Students are split into groups by grade to ensure they are being challenged at the appropriate level. Camps are offered for grades K-12. Camp prices are $300 per session or $500 for 2-weeks. CONTACT: EDUCATION@ROUNDHOUSETHEATRE.ORG ROUNDHOUSETHEATRE.ORG/EDUCATION OR 301-585-1225

Creative Voices + Cultural Happenings at CultureSpotMC.com CultureSpotMC.com is a service of the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County

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Heritage Days

Irish Twist on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Heritage Montgomery June 23 & 24 from noon-4pm Join in celebrating the 21st anniversary of Heritage Days Weekend! Over 35 sites throughout Montgomery County will be open with FREE admission highlighting local history, culture, and nature – African American heritage, railroads & streetcars, farming & farm animals, heritage food traditions, and much more! Pack a picnic and stop in at area parks, museums, and historic sites featuring live music, children’s games & crafts, site tours, cooking demonstrations – fun for all ages! FREE Admission! HERITAGEMONTGOMERY.ORG OR 301-515-0753

Quotidian Theatre Company July 25-Aug. 12, 2018 Shakespeare’s enchanted woods replete with mischievous faeries, quarreling lovers, and ridiculous rude mechanicals are transported to 1820s Ireland. Live Irish music and dance. QUOTIDIANTHEATRE.ORG OR 301-816-1023

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience The Victorian Lyric Opera Company June 8-17, 2018 Fri. & Sat. at 8pm; Sun. at 2pm Join VLOC for a comic operetta featuring a bevy of lovesick maidens, two aesthetic poets, a regiment of dejected Dragoons, and one very perplexed dairymaid! VLOC.ORG OR 240-314-8690

A Whole Village

Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt Adventure Theatre MTC Apr. 20-June 1, 2018 Third grade has put Judy Moody in a mood. When the Moody family drops anchor on “Artichoke” Island, they meet Cap’n Weevil with a secret treasure map, launching them on a mad dash across the island in search of gold. But they’re not the only salty dogs lookin’ for loot! Come aboard as we launch this world premiere production! Tickets are $19.50 each. ADVENTURETHEATRE-MTC.ORG OR 301-634-2270

ADVENTURE AWAITS!

Six Degree Singers Sat., June 2 at 7:30pm @ Rockville United Church Sun., June 3 at 4:30pm @ Hughes Methodist Church Celebrate diversity with the Six Degree Singers! Their 2018 Spring Concert Series, A Whole Village, features music spanning six continents and creative collaborations with local artists, the Einstein High School Choir, and dancers from the SAPAN Institute. SINGSIX.COM OR 240-650-0625

100th Anniversary of Poland’s Independence National Philharmonic Sat., June 2 at 8pm Pianist Brian Ganz plays Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in a performance celebrating Poland’s 100th anniversary of regaining independence. Other featured works: Krzesimir Debski’s uplifting “Hussars’ Polonaise” and Szymanowski’s “Stabat Mater.” NATIONALPHILHARMONIC.ORG OR 301-581-5100

Free Summer Concerts at Glen Echo Park Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture June 14-Aug. 30; Thursdays @ 7:30pm You don’t have to dress up and pay a fortune to hear great music! Performers range from the United States Marine Band to Oasis Island Sounds, and music styles include jazz, blues, pop, funk, world music, and more.

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GLENECHOPARK.ORG/SUMMERCONCERTS OR 301-634-2222

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FISHING FOR ANSWERS A Bethesda attorney’s quest to make zebrafish central to the study of disease

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

BY CARALEE ADAMS

TINY ZEBRAFISH DON’T look like scientific heroes. However, the common striped aquarium fish have most of the same organs, tissues and cells as humans, making them good candidates for biomedical research and giving them the potential to do lifesaving work. Bethesda’s Jennifer Manner created a documentary to educate the medical community about the value of using zebrafish in experiments to treat a range of conditions. Zebrafish: Practically People, Transforming How We Study Disease, debuted at the National Press Club in

Jennifer Manner became familiar with the promise of zebrafish through her husband, Eric Glasgow (left), who has spent much of his career studying them.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

Zebrafish, which have most of the same organs, tissues and cells as humans, are being used in experiments to treat a range of medical conditions.

Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9 to a crowd of roughly 100. Manner, an attorney, became familiar with the promise of zebrafish as model organisms through her husband, Eric Glasgow, who has devoted much of his career to their study. When the couple first met 30 years ago, Glasgow was in graduate school working on goldfish. He developed an interest in zebrafish at the National Institutes of Health, and is now an assistant professor of medicine, molecular oncology research, and director of the Zebrafish Shared Resource laboratory at Georgetown University. Over the years, Manner heard Glasgow’s stories from the lab about zebrafish. Often on long runs in their Carderock neighborhood after work, Manner would mention a friend battling a health problem, and Glasgow would suggest that research on zebrafish might lead to a cure. “I said that so many times that her response became: ‘Yeah, yeah. Zebrafish are the salvation for humankind,’ ” Glasgow says. Manner’s fascination with zebrafish inspired her to create the company ZScientific in 2008 and the ZScientific 50

Foundation last year, both of which are focused on supporting research using zebrafish. After the U.S. presidential election in 2016, Manner became concerned about the country’s support for science. “I started to look at how to make a documentary that explains why it makes sense to use this cost-effective, efficient scientific model to be able to do research,” says Manner, who enjoys writing and always wanted to try out the medium of film to tell a story. “I felt it was really important to get the message out. It was very much a passion project,” says Manner, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar Corp., working out of the company’s subsidiary office in Germantown. Since she was new to filmmaking, Manner hired a screenwriter, story editor, associate producer and production company to put together the documentary. As the director and executive producer, she spent nights and weekends working on the 10-minute film, which can be viewed for free at zebrafishfilm.org. Manner plans to

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

show it at film festivals and scientific meetings. The film explains how mice are commonly used in drug testing, but zebrafish are less expensive, smaller and easier to observe in a lab. It costs 90 cents a day to keep five mice in a cage, compared with 6.5 cents a day for 70 zebrafish in a tank. Also, mice produce about 300 offspring in a lifetime, while zebrafish produce 9,000. Because zebrafish embryos are transparent, researchers can observe directly how drugs impact their organs, rather than having to get a tissue sample. Although fish don’t seem closely related to humans, they are vertebrates, and gene sequencing has revealed that humans and zebrafish share 70 percent of the same genes. Manner wants scientists to consider zebrafish as a low-cost, high-volume way of figuring out which drugs have the potential to move to the next level of testing and development. Cancer, diabetes, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and autism are all being studied with the help of zebrafish. “It’s quite a remarkable organism,” says Dr. Leonard Zon, director of the stem cell program at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Grousbeck Professor of Pediatric Medicine at Harvard Medical School, referring to zebrafish in the documentary. “We have learned amazing things about organ development from the zebrafish. We also have found new genes that cause human disease, and found new therapies that can be used to treat patients with diseases.” The documentary was shown at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Film Festival and Austin Spotlight Film Festival in March, and is slated for the Mediterranean Film Festival in Syracuse, Italy, in June. As the word gets out, Manner is optimistic that acceptance of the model will lead to scientific advances. “We are trying to educate,” she says. “It’s not that fish are better than frogs or better than mice, it’s that they should certainly be part of the equation.” n

COURTESY PHOTO

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DEMOCRAT

DAVID TRONE U.S. CONGRESS

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BY AMANDA PERELLI

FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING GREAT FALLS BY THE NUMBERS Part of the Potomac River, Great Falls is owned by the state of Maryland, while the land on both the Virginia and Maryland sides of the water is managed and protected by the National Park Service. Known for its dangerous Class 5 rapids and unpredictable water levels, the natural landmark draws skilled kayakers. Suitable only for experts, the annual Great Falls Race began in 1988 and is considered the most difficult white-water kayak race on the East Coast, says former race director Geoff Calhoun. The rocks around the falls are slippery, and swimming or wading in the Great Falls/Potomac Gorge area of the Potomac River is illegal. Safe viewing is available at Olmsted Island, an overlook with boardwalks and bridges. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a glimpse of Great Falls, by the numbers.

Waterfallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drop in elevation over less than a mile

5 million Approximate number of people who visit the Maryland side of Great Falls every year

550 million Estimated age in years of the metamorphic rocks in the Great Falls area

16,750

cubic feet per second (CFS) Highest water volume recorded* (The American side of Niagara Falls comes in at around 202,000 CFS.)

16 Miles of hiking trails at the Great Falls section of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

15 Searches by the Montgomery County Swift Water Rescue Team for someone missing or in distress in the Potomac River in 2017

7 People removed from the rocks near Great Falls via U.S. Park Police helicopter basket in 2017

People who died in the river near Great Falls in 2017

* The highest water volume is an average across multiple years from a gauge that measures the river constantly. Sources: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park; Great Falls Foundation; Montgomery County Swift Water Rescue Team; National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington; Niagara Parks

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

INFOGRAPHICS BY AMANDA SMALLWOOD

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P.J. Gregory plays the saxophone at Einstein High School in Kensington, where he works as a school resource officer.

SOUND CONNECTION School Resource Officer P.J. Gregory gets to know students in the hallways and at band class

WEARING HIS POLICE UNIFORM, complete with a bulletproof vest and multiple radios, Officer P.J. Gregory pulls his tenor saxophone out of its case and softens a reed in his mouth. He had to deal with a last-minute emergency, so he’s late to the 1:45 p.m. jazz ensemble class at Albert Einstein High School. A full head taller than most of the other musicians, Gregory opens his folder and leans over to the young girl seated next to him to see where the band left off. From jamming in class to playing the national anthem at basketball games 54

to performing alongside students at their concerts, the 6-foot-1-inch school resource officer uses music to make himself approachable to students as he tries to keep them on track. “It’s all about relationships,” says Gregory, 53, referring to his job at the public school in Kensington, where he mediates with kids after fights, handles occasional drug issues and works to build trust with students. During Gregory’s 23 years as a Montgomery County police officer, he has had various assignments in Bethesda,

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Germantown, Wheaton and Rockville, including a stint at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg. Gregory was in a serious motorcycle accident while on duty in 2012. He says he had a “come-to-Jesus moment” in the hospital and decided to finish his career working in the schools because he wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives. Gregory, the son of a D.C. police officer, grew up in Prince George’s County, first picked up a saxophone in the early 1990s, and now plays with the praise band at his church. He mostly played

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

BY CARALEE ADAMS

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

tunes by ear, but wanted to learn how to read music. So in the fall of 2016, Gregory asked if he could sit in on a class and show the kids that an “old dude” could try new things. “He gives us advice and asks for our advice,” says Tyler Wilson, a senior saxophone player at Einstein who credits Gregory, a talented improviser, with teaching him how to do more complex solos, improving his dynamics and helping him become a more confident musician. Wilson says he’s also gained respect for Gregory as a person: “I’m able to see how passionate he is about this job and about learning in general.” In the hallway between classes on a January afternoon, Gregory gives students fist bumps and high-fives, and says hello as they pass. One girl he encounters asks to talk to him. Gregory says he “read the riot act” to her earlier in the week after she’d been in a fight. Today, he shows a softer side. “You need to take care of yourself. Let it go,” he says. “You need to focus on your grades.” Gregory, a father of three, tells the girl he is treating her as he would his own and wants her to do well. He gives her a hug and tells her to call if she needs him. “He knows kids. He talks to kids,” Einstein Principal James Fernandez says of Gregory, who has been at the 1,840-student school for five years. “He’s not afraid to take action. He’s here to be seen as a representative of the law, but at the same time they see him as a human being and another adult.” Gregory says he tries to get past the rough exterior of students to see their promise. “I’m mindful this is not the end product,” he says of the teenagers he encounters. “You never know the environment they are coming from.” When Gregory runs into former students, he says he typically gets one of two reactions: “Thank you” or “I should have listened.” n BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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QUICK TAKES

News you may have missed BY JULIE RASICOT

COP OUT While the pleasures of eating frozen yogurt might entice some to break a diet, one man allegedly broke the law to get the treat in February. First, he tried to use a counterfeit $100 bill to pay at a Sweet Frog in North Bethesda, according to Montgomery County police. Then, when an employee noticed the bill was fake, the man flashed a badge, said he was a cop and tried to take back the bill. The employee kept the bill, and the man ran from the store. Police didn’t say whether he took his frozen yogurt.

FALSE ALARM It was déjà vu all over again when Montgomery College mistakenly sent out an emergency alert in February about an armed person on one of its campuses. The false alert was reminiscent of a similar error in Hawaii by an emergency management agency employee who erroneously sent an alert in January about an impending missile attack. The community college’s mistake, which was quickly corrected, prompted some on social media to wonder whether the employee from Hawaii had gotten a new job with the school.

NAILED IT Montgomery County police say a man attempting to rob a downtown Silver Spring 7-Eleven on a Sunday morning chose an unusual weapon: a wooden board with protruding nails. After entering the store, the man approached an employee who was working behind the counter and demanded cash from the register. He then fled on foot, getting away with an undisclosed amount of loot.

OPEN-DOOR POLICY

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

A BAGUETTE BREAK The Fresh Baguette bakery in Rockville gained an unexpected drive-thru window one February morning, when a pickup truck slid on ice in the parking lot and crashed through the bakery’s glass storefront. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident. Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer spoke to the driver after the crash. “He said he saw a couple parking spots and went for it, and [the truck] just kept going,” Piringer said.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY ANN SMITH

Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin learned a lesson about locking doors when he found an intruder in his home upon returning from a 3 a.m. walk with his aging basset hound in February. The young man, whom Slavin had seen on the street minutes earlier, brushed past him and headed out the front door. “The moral of [the] story is I should have locked the door and shouldn’t have left the garage door open,” Slavin said. Nothing was taken, and Slavin discovered that his cat wisely had remained hidden under a bed.

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Grace Lee, executive director of the National Park Trust, with students on a field trip to Rock Creek Park in D.C.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Potomac’s Grace Lee wants kids to grow up enjoying national parks like she did GRACE LEE STILL REMEMBERS the black Chrysler station wagon, without air conditioning, that her parents would fill with camping equipment every summer. They’d put her and her brother, Richard, in the back seat and drive across the country, stopping at every national park they could. “We’d take the northern route out west and the southern route back home,” says Lee, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. When Lee was growing up in Newark, New Jersey, her parents didn’t have much money but did have an affinity for national parks—inexpensive vacation destinations with breathtaking views. “I can still remember the smell of the smoke when we’d cook 58

food outdoors, and every evening the national park rangers put on a program. I loved that.” For years, Lee and her husband, Kenneth, a cardiologist at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute in D.C., made it a point to take their children, Bethany and Brian, to national parks. The Potomac couple has photos in their kitchen of the family white-water rafting on the Snake River in the Tetons. But plenty of people don’t get the opportunity to experience the parks, which is something Lee, now executive director of the Rockvillebased National Park Trust (NPT), hopes to change. “In 2016, there were over 330 million visits to the national parks— most of the visitors [were] older and

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

white,” she says. “By 2044, the census tells us that we are going to be a majority-minority country. If we don’t start building that pipeline now of young people that care about the parks, there aren’t going to be enough people left that care about it.” Lee, 59, came to NPT in 2006 after her younger child, Brian, now 28, graduated from high school. The stayat-home mom, who has a background in chemistry, had served on the board of trustees at the Bullis School in Potomac, which her kids attended. Dick Jung, a former headmaster there, later served as a consultant to NPT. He’d seen Lee help craft strategic plans and raise money for scholarships and

PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

BY REBECCA GALE

COURTESY OF NATIONAL PARK TRUST

professional development at Bullis, and suggested that she bring those skills to NPT. Within a year, she was executive director. Since NPT was established in 1983, its primary focus had been to acquire land and donate it to the National Park Service for permanent preservation. But Lee wanted to diversify that mission. The parks needed generational support to succeed long term, she realized. There were too many kids who had never been to a national park, even children in the D.C. area who lived a couple of miles from one. In 2008, longtime NPT donor Pat Simons sent Lee some photos from her national park trips, and the pictures showed Simons holding a small stuffed bison toy she’d received as a gift from NPT. As Lee looked at the photos, she realized she’d found a hook. The following year she helped launch the Buddy Bison School Program, which centered on NPT-sponsored field trips to national parks for students at low-income schools. Each child gets a Buddy Bison T-shirt and small stuffed animal to clip onto a backpack or belt loop, and NPT provides teachers with an educational curriculum that matches their students’ grade level. “We know kids love to collect things. We thought if we could inspire them to take ‘Buddy Bison’ to parks, they’d want to come back,” Lee says. Now in its 10th year, the program partners with 65 Title I schools across the country—including three in Montgomery County—and most of the money to underwrite the trips comes from donations to NPT. “I tell people, ‘For $10, you can send one kid to a national park,’ ” Lee says. Marisela Campbell, a teacher at Harmony Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring, used to take her second-graders on NPT field trips to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, where they walked the trails to learn more about insects, fauna and birds they’d been studying in class. Now Campbell is teaching kindergarten,

Lee helped launch the Buddy Bison School Program, which centers on field trips to national parks for students at low-income schools. Park visits have included Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland, and the National Mall and Memorial Parks in D.C. (below).

and this year her students will go to the National Mall to look for American symbols. “We take three trips per year, and the park ranger comes to the classroom to pass out the T-shirts and give out the little Buddy Bison,” Campbell says. “They see him five to six times throughout the year, and we really know him well by the end of it.” After the success of the Buddy Bison program, Lee decided she wanted to do more. “I said, ‘Let’s go for broke—how can we get a bigger megaphone?’ ” she recalls. She decided to start a “Kids to Parks Day,” celebrated on the third Saturday of May, with programming at participating national parks across the

country. In 2011, its first year, 18,000 people participated; in 2017, there were more than 1 million participants. Even as the Trump administration considers increasing fees to visit some of the most popular national parks, Lee remains undeterred. Organizations like NPT are “critically important,” she says, “not only to preserve and protect our national parks, but also to provide access to these places for our youth.” She points to a lesson on D.C.’s Anacostia River, where students on an NPT-sponsored field trip picked up litter from the water and put it in the canoes they were using. Says Lee, “We’re creating the next generation of park stewards.” n

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

banter

BOOK REPORT

There’s nothing more stressful than not feeling in control. That’s why William Stixrud and Ned Johnson want well-meaning parents to stop nagging, listen to kids and allow them to have some autonomy. Their book, The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives (Viking, February 2018), is not about letting kids run the show but rather encouraging anxious parents to trust kids more. “Some parents think that if they let up, their kid is going to sink into an abyss,” says Stixrud, a clinical neuropsychologist from Silver Spring whose co-author is the founder of Bethesda-based PrepMatters tutoring service. “It’s important to treat kids respectfully. They want to do well, and they can make some pretty good decisions for themselves.”

Whitney Ellenby wrote Autism Uncensored: Pulling Back the Curtain (Köehler Books, April 2018) to share her personal story of heartache and joy in raising her son, Zach, now 17, who has autism. The Bethesda resident and former U.S. Department of Justice attorney describes her determination to expose Zach to concerts and movies, despite his public outbursts, and how the family coped. “It’s not that either your child recovers and you have a happy ending, or your child doesn’t and you are devastated,” says Ellenby, who founded the nonprofit Autism Ambassadors in 2008. “It’s possible to have an ‘unrecovered’ child who is able to navigate the community, form attachments to others, become employed, even with the limitations of his disability.”

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

The latest book by Bethesda’s Gary Krist, The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles (Crown, May 2018), examines the growth of L.A. from 100,000 people in 1900 to more than 1 million in 1930. “There is no good reason for Los Angeles to exist where it exists. It didn’t have enough water for a big city. It is isolated from the rest of the country by mountains and deserts. It didn’t have a good port or natural resources,” Krist says. “It took a lot of creativity, and not all of it was entirely honest.” After years of writing fiction, Krist took up nonfiction with books about cities, including Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans and City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago.

Eugene Meyer was on assignment for The Washington Post in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, when he first learned of the black men who were involved in the attempt led by white abolitionist John Brown to incite a slave uprising there in 1859. Later, as a freelancer, Meyer dug deeper and uncovered their stories of bravery in Five for Freedom: The African American Soldiers in John Brown’s Army (Chicago Review Press, June 2018). The book sheds light on the raid against the federal armory in Harpers Ferry and the fate of these African-Americans—two were killed, two later hanged and one escaped. “These five men deserved to have their stories told and not just be footnotes or forgotten,” says the Silver Spring author, also a contributing editor for Bethesda Magazine.

ALL BOOK COVERS FILE PHOTOS

BY CARALEE ADAMS

banter LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR

DATA PROVIDED BY

READING LIST

The top-selling books in our area. Data is based on books sold at Politics and Prose’s Connecticut Avenue location in Upper Northwest D.C., from Feb. 27 to March 13, 2018. Note: Author event sales may influence the presence of some titles on these lists.

May 10

May 17 EMILY X.R. PAN AND SARAH NICOLE LEMON. The two young-adult authors will discuss their books and sign copies. Pan’s The Astonishing Color of After has been called a “brilliantly crafted, harrowing first novel” (by best-selling author John Green) about grief, loss and family. Lemon’s Done Dirt Cheap is a look at two young women who have endured hard lives but team up to survive. 7 p.m. Free. The event is sponsored by Politics and Prose. Bethesda Library. 202-364-1919, politics-prose.com.

May 19 GAITHERSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL. The daylong event includes author events; writing workshops for children and adults; a Children’s Village with activities, workshops and performances; book sales; music; and food. More than 100 authors will participate in book discussions and signings, including Alice McDermott, Sarah Pekkanen and John Feinstein. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Gaithersburg City Hall. 301-2586394, gaithersburgbookfestival.org.

HARDCOVER FICTION

PAPERBACK

Asymmetry, Lisa Halliday

1. Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders

Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too, Jomny Sun

2. Silver Girl, Leslie Pietrzyk

Cloudbursts, Thomas McGuane

4. Pachinko, Min Jin Lee

Happiness, Aminatta Forna

5. The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead

Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Ward

An American Marriage, Tayari Jones

Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng

6. Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler’s Defeat, Giles Milton

The Power, Naomi Alderman

Straying, Molly McCloskey

10. Manhattan Beach, Jennifer Egan

3. Exit West, Mohsin Hamid

7. Tempest, Beverly Jenkins 8. Hello Stranger, Lisa Kleypas 9. Wilde in Love, Eloisa James 10. Acting on Impulse, Mia Sosa

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

CHILDREN’S

1. Islandborn, Junot Diaz

Enough as She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, Rachel Simmons

Obama: An Intimate Portrait, Pete Souza

Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker

The Class of ’74, John A. Lawrence

The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars, Sebastian Abbot

Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump, Michael Isikoff, David Corn

The Last Wild Men of Borneo, Carl Hoffman

Educated, Tara Westover

The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, Benn Steil

10. We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights, Adam Winkler

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

2. The Night Diary, Veera Hiranandani 3. Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles, Patricia Valdez 4. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle 5. The Science of Breakable Things, Tae Keller 6. The Beauty That Remains, Ashley Woodfolk 7. Dory Fantasmagory: Head in the Clouds, Abby Hanlon 8. The Whole Story of Half a Girl, Veera Hiranandani 9. Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals, Gabrielle Balkan 10. Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans, Russell Ginns

ALL BOOK COVERS FILE PHOTOS

JESSICA KENSKY AND PATRICK DOWNES, WITH RESCUE. The authors based their fictional children’s book, Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship, on their partnership with Rescue, a service dog that entered their lives after the couple was injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. In the book, Jessica is an 11-year-old who is adjusting to life with prostheses, wheelchairs and crutches. The authors will discuss the book and sign copies. 10:30 a.m. Free. Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C. 202-364-1919, politics-prose.com.

MOVING OUR COUNTY FORWARD

David is a progressive Democrat and lifelong resident of Montgomery County. It’s where he went to school, met his wife and where they’re raising their family. It’s also where he started and grew a business that became a Fortune 500 company with thousands of employees. David believes our county’s diversity is a huge asset and understands innovation will position us ahead of our competition in the region and around the world. As Montgomery County Executive, David will fight to make our county the best place in the nation. Here are some of his ideas:  Build an innovation economy that supports local businesses and attracts new ones to create more high-wage jobs and grow our revenue base.  Close the achievement gap by expanding early childhood education and adding more remedial, support and vocational programs to ensure all students graduate high school collegeor career-ready.  Implement “smart” traffic lights, invest in reversible lanes, join forces to improve Metro, and make Ride On buses free.  Put telemedicine in our schools and senior centers to access healthcare remotely and launch our “Ask-A-Pharmacist” program to save seniors on drug costs.  Keep our schools safe by providing free gun safes and safety demonstrations to MCPS parents and launch an anonymous tip app in our schools.

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banter | SUBURBANOLOGY

BY APRIL WITT

RULES OF THE ROAD

I’M TRANSFIXED BY the Geico commercial in which an actor portrays George Washington in one of the iconic scenes of the American Revolution: crossing the Delaware in a boat. Only the Geico George Washington, unlike the Founding Father, is crossing the Delaware Turnpike, not the Delaware River. “Pull together,” Geico George Washington says as actors playing Continental Army soldiers use ropes to drag their boat across the dry terrain of the turnpike. “A little to the left. Easy, easy.” As these American heroes make their way haltingly across the turnpike, blocking traffic, impatient drivers honk. The honking grows louder and angrier until finally the Geico George Washington snaps. “All right, all right,” he yells at the honkers. “We’ve all got places to go! We’ve all got places to go!” It is a funny commercial. But it doesn’t make me laugh. It’s too accurate a parody of what our nation has become in these challenging times. A healthy democracy requires a certain politeness among its populace and leaders. “Long before current fears about incivility in public life—before anxieties about Twitter-shaming and cable-news

name-calling—politeness was very much on the minds of United States leaders,” according to a recent essay by historian Steven Bullock. Thomas Jefferson, Bullock notes, placed “good humor” at the very top of his list of important “qualities of mind” for any citizen. Autocrats and bullies, by contrast, are rude. They shout and dominate; they run right over their fellow citizens, sometimes literally. I don’t have to drag a boat across the turnpike to encounter drivers who may be civil in other areas of life but are capable of turning aggressive and dangerously selfish. I see it every day. So do Montgomery County school bus drivers and police officers. Not all of the county’s school buses are equipped with cameras yet. Still, in the previous two years, 34,000 drivers have been caught on camera and ticketed for passing school buses that were stopped—lights flashing and the little red stop sign out— to let children get on or off. I wish those numbers shocked me. They don’t. I watched in horror recently as a boy of 7 or 8 tried crossing Old Georgetown Road at a crosswalk near Bethesda Elementary School during

64 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

rush hour. The boy, who was carrying a soccer ball, made a few starts into the crosswalk, then jumped back to the curb. Not one driver stopped for him. Some drivers probably didn’t notice the boy, too distracted by the unrelenting whoosh of their daily responsibilities. They had places to go. I was walking, so it was easy for me to stop and help. After the child convinced me that he had his parents’ permission to cross Old Georgetown and play in the schoolyard, I escorted him. As we crossed the road, I eyed drivers warily, trying to ensure that we weren’t mowed down by someone talking on their cellphone. One man met my gaze and honked so loudly that the little boy and I both jumped. I guess I should have been grateful that the driver didn’t flip us the bird. There have always been impatient jerks behind the wheel, and sometimes I’ve been one of them. Here’s an old joke: What’s the shortest time interval ever measured? It’s the interval between the traffic light in front of you turning green and the driver behind you honking. These days, there’s an entire Reddit.com thread—listed under Petty Revenge—on how to respond to impatient honkers at

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE BENTLEY

Whatever happened to drivers being civil?

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banter | SUBURBANOLOGY stoplights. This is my favorite posted suggestion: As soon as the driver behind you honks, hit your hazard flashers, pop the hood and act as if you are checking your oil. Don’t get back in your car until the light turns red again. I would, of course, never do that. I’d be afraid someone would run me over. I know that some drivers are growing more aggressive, impatient and selfish. I’ve watched it happen just blocks from my home. I’ve lived on Wilson Lane in Bethesda for 18 years. For most of that time, the intersection of Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard was my perfect escape route to avoid driving through the traffic of downtown Bethesda. Most drivers I encountered there didn’t just follow the rules of the road. They did what we ask schoolchildren to do: They waited their turn. If someone heading in either direction on Bradley was trying to turn left onto Wilson, drivers behind sat

and waited. They stayed in their lane until they reached the intersection and could safely assess approaching traffic from all directions before they either crossed Wilson or turned onto it. That’s changed in recent years. I’ve seen many near misses as drivers abandoned their lane and rode the right shoulder—sometimes for blocks—to avoid waiting for somebody up ahead to turn left. Months ago I saw a teenage jogger wearing a fluorescent safety jacket almost struck by a driver who, fed up with waiting his turn, decided it was a good idea to race along the shoulder where she was jogging. It’s only going to get more dangerous at that intersection, and others like it. The state legislature recently made it legal in some circumstances for drivers to leave their lane and ride a paved right shoulder to pass a driver turning left. Middays and weekends, the driving in my neighborhood still looks a lot like

it did when I moved here: pretty civil. Drivers stop and wave me on when I walk across Wilson. When I drive and try to change lanes, most people slow to let me in. When I wave to thank them, most wave back. It’s the weekday rush hours that now feel like the Wild West after the bad guys shot the town marshal. Rush hours aren’t just for getting to and from work anymore. There has for a long time been an extended afternoon rush hour as parents or nannies drive kids to and from farflung after-school activities. As county traffic increases and main arteries clog, drivers increasingly use smartphone apps like Waze to find alternate routes. That often puts them on roads, like Bradley Boulevard, that run through many neighborhoods, Bethesda police Capt. Paul Liquorie recently told me. The instant he said that, some of the

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aggressive driving I’ve witnessed made sense. Some aggressive drivers in my neighborhood may not live here. They might not live anywhere near here. They may not feel any connection to the drivers around them or the children crossing our streets. They might—like internet trolls—feel a certain protective anonymity. That new reality struck me so hard recently that I nearly cried. My Labrador retriever had surgery to remove a malignant tumor. He’s a sweet big boy: 80 pounds. He was dopey from the anesthesia when I picked him up from the vet in Potomac. Vet techs offered to let him stay the night in a large crate in the surgical suite of their office. I didn’t want him to be afraid, confused and alone in the night. So the techs carried him to my SUV on a stretcher. We all hoped that the anesthesia would wear off during my drive home. It didn’t. When I tried lifting my dog out

of the back of my Honda, I collapsed under his weight and we both tumbled onto the driveway. I struggled up and tried every way I could to lift my good big boy without injuring him. I didn’t have the strength. So I sat and cradled my dog at the end of my driveway, just a few feet from the passing traffic on Wilson Lane. We were both in distress and increasingly covered in blood from his surgical drain. Driver after driver passed us. Some looked at us, then looked away. Two young girls from my neighborhood walked over and offered to help. They were kind, but too petite to help me lug 80 pounds of dead weight up the stairs from the driveway to my front door. So I called a friend who has both the physical strength and the heart to help. He’s a mergers and acquisitions lawyer who lives in Chevy Chase. He’s a political archconservative. We fight politics like cats and dogs. Yet we always find common ground:

reverence for the U.S. Constitution and a belief that in a democracy we are all, in some profound way, in this together. I warned my friend to expect to get his good clothes bloody. He said, “I’m on my way.” As I waited, I watched the afternoon traffic on Wilson grow heavy and slow. I searched each driver’s face, hoping to spot a burly friend or neighbor to flag down. I didn’t. At least some of these drivers, these strangers, had time to ponder the odd sight of a scared, bloody woman cradling an unconscious dog at the side of the road. Nobody stopped to help. I don’t know why. It’s a tough spot to pull over. Maybe some people thought it was too dangerous to stop. Maybe some figured that whatever was happening was not their business. They all had places to go. n April Witt is a former Washington Post writer who lives in Bethesda.

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banter | HOMETOWN

BY STEVE ROBERTS

OUT FROM THE SHADOWS Undocumented but undeterred, a Silver Spring man becomes an advocate for “Dreamers”

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

undergraduate degree from the University of Baltimore and a master’s from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Guzman also has an apartment near the Glenmont Metro station, a longtime girlfriend he hopes to marry, and a sense of mission: to advocate for the “Dreamers,” young people brought to the U.S. as children who risk deportation from the only country many of them have ever known. The boy who loaded concrete blocks in the predawn darkness now gives speeches, organizes rallies, writes articles and lobbies members of Congress. There’s one thing Juan Guzman does not have: a valid visa for staying in the United States. He is

Juan Manuel Guzman, an undocumented immigrant, has become an advocate for young people brought to the U.S. as children who are at risk of being deported. PHOTO BY LIZ LYNCH

IT TOOK JUAN MANUEL GUZMAN 29 days to travel from his hometown in Bolivia to Silver Spring, including two perilous weeks dodging the Border Patrol in Texas. “I arrived on Jan. 3, 2006, and on Jan. 5 I was working,” recalls Juan, who was 17 at the time. “I was at Home Depot at 5 or 6 in the morning, it was dark and cold as hell. We were going to load concrete blocks on my uncle’s pickup truck—he works in construction—and from that point onwards, that was my life in the U.S.” But the boy’s father, who dropped out of school very young, had always stressed the importance of education. “I had in my head this idea that I have to go to college,” Juan says. Now 30, he has an

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banter | HOMETOWN

undocumented and can be expelled at any time. He spent years hiding “in the shadows,” fearing police, avoiding airports, deceiving officials, earning low wages, living with stress and missing his family back home that he could never visit. But after finishing school, Juan decided to step forward and confront an administration that resents and rejects immigrants like himself. “I had to tell people that I had papers when I didn’t, and that for me was painful because I don’t like to lie to people in their faces,” he tells me one Sunday morning, the day before helping to lead a march supporting the “Dreamers” that filled the National Mall. “It became a very uncomfortable situation because I wanted to be free, I wanted to be able to have a voice.” Juan’s search for his voice began back in Bolivia, where jobs were scarce and

the future grim, and as he notes, “I come from a family of immigrants.” His parents spent eight years as undocumented workers in Argentina, and many relatives, including two older siblings, moved to America. When Juan graduated from high school, the family decided he would escort his 5-year-old nephew, Marcelo, to join the child’s father in the Washington suburbs. Guzman was eager for the chance. He’d always been obsessed with American culture—basketball players like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, rappers like Eminem, movies like Home Alone. “It was a movie that gave me a lot of perspective, because in Home Alone you see a nice house, the commercialism, the gadgets that the kid has,” he recalls. “Early in my childhood I realized things are really different there.” He can still quote Eminem songs that

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

fired his youthful imagination, including these lines from “8 Mile”: “I’m a man/ Gotta make a new plan/ Time for me to just stand up and travel new land/ Time for me to just take matters into my own hands.” When he got to Silver Spring, taking matters into his own hands took on a different meaning. “My fingers were numb for a long time because I was lifting so much heavy stuff,” he says. “I started to know what it is to work. I went from zero experience to an adult immediately.” Many jobs with his hands followed— carpenter and caterer, woodcutter and gardener—but he never forgot his father’s admonition about education. Guzman started taking free English classes at Montgomery College and finally saved enough money to pay for credit courses. It took him more than five years to finish a two-year degree, and as he puts it: “I

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always tell people I don’t have a talent for school. I just have a heart.” Moving to Baltimore to finish college, Juan “had this wish to be normal,” to be a full-time student for the first time. A scholarship covered part of his tuition and his mother back in Bolivia borrowed money for the rest. Relatives who “were really proud of the fact that I was going to school” chipped in for food. He did well enough to get into Georgetown, but normalcy was still elusive. Even with a generous scholarship, money was always tight. An uncle gave him a bed in his basement, his mother borrowed more money, and he overtaxed his credit card, a debt he’s still paying off. Guzman recalls the first day of a fall class. Other students talked about their summer adventures in places like Japan and Turkey. When it was Juan’s turn, he

told them, “I was here, I was helping my uncle in construction.” “I didn’t fit in, I was alone,” he says. “I didn’t have my undocumented community with me.” That community now undergirds his confidence but also underscores his vulnerability. About 800,000 “Dreamers” are protected under a program started by President Obama that provides legal status to young people who arrived before turning 16, but because Juan was 17 he does not qualify. (President Trump has proclaimed the program “dead,” but two federal judges have barred him from ending it.) When I ask why he decided to risk becoming an activist, he replies passionately: “Because I’m proud of who I am, of what my family is. Most of my family is undocumented and Trump uses

broad brushes, he uses just one color to paint this picture of the undocumented immigrant, and in my experience that is not right. I felt awkward because I was silencing myself, but that is not the kid who came here to the U.S. No, that kid is strong, is fearless, and I wanted to regain that.” At a time when “fear has become the new normal” for undocumented immigrants, as Juan puts it, his courage is more valuable than ever. The boy who loved Eminem is now inspired by the hero of the musical Hamilton, also an immigrant, who sings: “Hey yo, I’m just like my country/ I’m young, scrappy and hungry/ And I’m not throwing away my shot.” ■ Steve Roberts (sroberts@gwu.edu) teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University.

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L–R: Michael Feinstein by AJ Mast, Iron & Coal by Jill Steinberg, Boz Scaggs, Rob Lowe, Herbie Hancock by Douglas Kirkland, Kristin Chenoweth, Backyard Theater by Liz Lynch

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852 | 301.581.5100 | STRATHMORE.ORG

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2018 FACES

The Face of

Complex Immigration Law Dawn C. Sequeira | Legacy Immigration, LLC Legacy Immigration is a full-service immigration law firm in Bethesda. Ms. Sequeira has represented individuals, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, hospitals and nonprofits. Since the firm’s only practice area is immigration, it is able to obtain favorable results for complex immigration matters that are seemingly impossible cases. “Navigating immigration law is like walking through a minefield,” says Ms. Sequeira. “One misstep can be

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catastrophic. You need an expert who can interpret the statutes and regulations in an advantageous way, especially in this administration. Being able to succeed on extremely difficult cases is the value that I bring to my clients.” Ms. Sequeira has been featured in Washingtonian’s “Top Lawyers” edition. 301-529-1912 www.legacyimmigrationattorney.com

HILARY SCHWAB

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HILARY SCHWAB

2018 FACES

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Engaged Living Ingleside at King Farm The Ingleside at King Farm lifestyle offers residents a multitude of opportunities to remain truly engaged. Through diverse wellness programs, fitness classes and multiple, stylish dining venues and options—along with thought-provoking lectures and entertaining, culturally rich events—we provide an environment that supports active lifestyles both on campus and beyond. Our unique location

in a vibrant, walkable Rockville neighborhood offers easy access to parks, shopping, restaurants, the Metro and the Nation’s Capital. Discover a new lifestyle that reflects the interesting life you already enjoy. 240-499-9019 www.inglesidekingfarm.org

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2018 FACES

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The Face of

Innovation in Real Estate

HILARY SCHWAB

Compass Real Estate | Chevy Chase Agents Compass is reinventing real estate by combining best-in-class agents with a proprietary platform of tools. Our agents are trailblazers, united by a common goal to disrupt the traditional brokerage model in favor of a more efficient and automated home search and sell process. With over 300 agents in the greater D.C. Metro area, Compass captured over $790.7 million in sales at the Chevy Chase office in 2017 alone. Seamlessly navigate your home search or sell

experience by harnessing our end-to-end platform that empowers you to search for and keep track of homes, market homes with ease, and access valuable data around how listings are performing. Powered by data, technology and deep expertise, Compass is revolutionizing the real estate industry, one home sale at a time. 301-298-1001 www.compass.com

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The Face of

All DC, Chevy Chase and Bethesda Homes Erich Cabe | Compass

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person, is extremely important,” he says. “So much about buying a home is the way it makes you feel.” Whether buying or selling, Cabe’s clients appreciate his attention to detail, outstanding negotiating skills and collaborative approach. “We form partnerships with our clients,” he says. “Our goal is to exceed expectations.” 202-320-6469 www.ecrealtor.net

ERICK GIBSON

As one of the region’s top-producing agents, Erich Cabe knows that a home’s presentation is critical. That’s why he and his team focus on preparing and staging each home and creating a customized marketing plan for every listing. “Buyers tour a property twice—first online and then in person,” says Cabe, who offers his clients complimentary staging consultations, HD video tours and premier placement on real estate websites. “The experience of walking into a home, whether virtually or in

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The Face of

The American Dream

MICHAEL VENTURA

Raynold Mendizabal | Urban Butcher Downtown Silver Spring, one of the nation’s most culturally diverse cities, is where Cuban-born restauranteur Raynold Mendizabal calls home. The chef and owner of Urban Butcher, a vibrant neighborhood steakhouse, approaches life just as he does in the kitchen: stick to the basics, be bold, work hard and never stop creating. So far, it’s proven a formula for success, placing him and his restaurant at the leading edge of this dynamic community. A lively atmosphere, upbeat

sidewalk bar and meat-centric menu have deemed Urban Butcher a hot spot in Silver Spring and a cornerstone of its recent flourishing. And, with promises of a fresh, new concept later this year, Chef Mendizabal keeps moving forward in true American form, except he doesn’t just have dreams… he has plans. Big ones. 301-585-5800 www.urbanbutcher.com

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An Attorney-Author David Bulitt | Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA

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recently completed a third, a non-fiction book co-authored with his wife, a family therapist. That process has made him a strong observer of the human condition. “I’m more passionate about defending my clients’ rights during divorce, particularly the interests of their children,” he says. 240-399-7888 www.jgllaw.com

HILARY SCHWAB

An accomplished attorney, David Bulitt brings a fresh perspective to every client’s needs in a divorce. He is a skilled negotiator with some of the highest rankings on national, regional and local top divorce lawyer lists. Part of what makes him so effective is his dedication to the welfare of each client and their children. However, much of what makes his practice so successful is his work as a published author. He has written two well-received novels, Card Game and Because I Had To, and

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2018 FACES

The Face of

Audiology Experience Gail Linn, Au.D, Doctor of Audiology Potomac Audiology

DARREN HIGGINS

Gail Linn is a leader in audiology, not only building a renowned clinic, but also as a speaker, director of private practice and industry at the American Speech Language Hearing Association and treasurer of the Maryland Academy of Audiology. “I’ve been in practice for more than three decades, and I’ve seen tremendous changes in technology and patient needs,” she says. “We can help anyone with hearing issues with what we have available today.” Dr. Linn leads four other top audiologists in her busy practice in Rockville and recently added extra office space for more growth in the business. The office carries the latest in hearing aid and other device technology. Highly experienced in all aspects of hearing problems, Potomac Audiology sees patients of all ages. 240-477-1010 www.potomacaudiology.com

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The Face of

Behavioral Health for Teens and their Families “NorthStar Academy was founded on the belief that by harnessing the natural support of family and community in an environment built around the six C’s of positive youth development, teens struggling with mental health and/or substance misuse can and do thrive,” says Gale Saler. CARF Internationally Accredited, the transitional therapeutic full-day and/or after school program is designed to meet the behavioral and mental health needs of struggling teens. In the unique traumasensitive, recovery school environment, NorthStar’s team works with teens whose

mental health and/or substance use concerns are impacting family as well as social and academic integration and success. Offering wraparound therapeutic and educational services for teens challenged by the mainstream school setting, NorthStar utilizes evidence-based practices, including expressive therapies, positive youth development, adolescent therapeutic community and transitional family therapy. 240-669-9094 www.northstaracademy-metrodc.com

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HEATHER FUENTES

Gale Saler, LCPC, CRC-MAC, CAI-II, CIP, Founder/CEO NorthStar Academy

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The Face of

Bespoke Furniture Makers

ADAM FREEDMAN

Stephen Doyle | Hardwood Artisans Stephen Doyle has worked for Hardwood Artisans for over 30 of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 42 years, wearing many hats. In 2016, he opened their new showroom in Woodmont Triangle in Bethesda. For Stephen, this was like coming home, as he grew up three blocks from the new store. Everyone at Hardwood Artisans strives constantly to make items that are both useful and a joy to behold. Most importantly, we feel a special responsibility to be good

stewards of our valuable forest resources by making things that last longer than it takes to grow a tree. The best part of our jobs is the wonderful people we get to meet, so drop by and pay us a visit. Bring your dog. We love dogs. 1-800-842-6119 www.hardwoodartisans.com

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The Face of

Bethesda’s Best Boutique Betty Barati and Sherri Hatam | Belina Boutique

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“Women have so many choices when it comes to shopping, and we step up the experience for them with the latest styles and trends and top-notch service,” says Sherri. “As an added convenience, we also offer complimentary wardrobe advice and off-hours personal shopping appointments.” 301-897-2929 | www.belinaboutique.com

HILARY SCHWAB

Sherri and her mother Betty founded their contemporary women’s boutique in 2003 at Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. In Belina Boutique, they wanted to offer a highly personalized shopping experience for women around the area. Today, the mother-daughter team serves an ever-growing clientele with a carefully edited selection of apparel and accessories from both known and young, emerging designers.

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The Face of

Bethesda’s Best Builder MICHAEL BENNETT KRESS

Phil Leibovitz & Mimi Brodsky Kress | Sandy Spring Builders, LLC For over 30 years, Phil Leibovitz and Mimi Brodsky Kress have been building and renovating award-winning homes throughout the Washington-area. Sandy Spring Builders has been chosen “Best Builder” in Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers Poll every year since its inception. Their team of dedicated employees are among the most talented and passionate in the industry. Whether a new home or renovation, each project is built with great pride.

“We are full-service builders and our expertise is unmatched in the industry,” says Leibovitz. “Our clients, including friends and family, are the biggest testament to an enduring theme that everyone at Sandy Spring Builders goes by, ‘We are your builder for life.’” 301-913-5995 www.sandyspringbuilders.com

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The Face of

Bethesda Real Estate Hans Wydler Wydler Brothers Real Estate

301-640-5701 www.wydlerbrothers.com

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TONY J. LEWIS

“We believe our brokerage is second to none,” says Hans Wydler. “We’re committed to offering clients consistency and excellence in all we do— from marketing materials to technology to the training and experience of our agents—so our clients will have the very best and most positive experience possible when buying or selling a home.” Wydler and his team love helping people make intelligent buying and selling decisions and always treat people the way in which they would like to be treated. It’s the cornerstone of their marketing campaign: “We’ll treat you like family... maybe even better.” “We promise to deliver first-class service and attention each and every time you work with us,” says Wydler.

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The Face of

Brow and Lash Artistry

LISA HELFERT

Peta-Gay Llewellyn, RCS | Bosch Beauty Bar Peta-Gay has built her brow and lash studio, Bosch Beauty Bar, and a loyal roster of clients by obsessing over the details. Coupling a passion and experience in makeup artistry and a medical background, Peta-Gay understands the key factors that create the perfect brow shape and proper lashing techniques. Whether it’s shaping and tinting, creating feather perfect microblading strokes, or enhancing eye shape through lash extensions, when you sit in her chair you can

be certain to get up a better version of yourself. “Understanding what my clients want and delivering is what drives me. Helping my clients look their best is an ultimate joy.” In her light-filled studio in downtown Bethesda, Peta-Gay works alongside a warm and inviting staff trained in the most recent techniques. 240-551-4977 www.boschbeautybar.com

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The Face of

Commercial Technology Support “We’re an IT consulting group, providing managed services and cloud services to small and medium-sized organizations,” says Freidkin. “But at our heart, what we really do is help people use technology to grow and succeed.” “This has been all I’ve done for over 20 years, and I’m passionate about using technology to help people grow,” Freidkin says. “I’ve seen incredible levels of really positive impact in the commercial and nonprofit world—not just in making money but growing every client’s efficacy and effect.” The company delivers flexible and affordable technology solutions to support clients’ unique business requirements and long-term goals. Ntiva genuinely cares about their business relationships and is known for delivering far more than comparable service providers. “As you grow, we grow,” says Freidkin. 703-891-0131 www.ntiva.com

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ADAM FREEDMAN

Steven Freidkin, Chief Executive Officer | Ntiva, Inc.

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The Face of

Cosmetic Dermatology

ADAM FREEDMAN

Dr. Sherry Maragh | Maragh Dermatology, Surgery & Vein Institute Dr. Maragh and her team of Board Certified specialists provide comprehensive care including medical, surgical, cosmetic and laser dermatology. They use the latest laser technology for facial rejuvenation, skin tightening, fat and vein removal, stretch mark and scar revision. Dr. Maragh trained at the prestigious Mayo Clinic Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Highly skilled and experienced, she completed extremely competitive, specialized surgical fellowship training in Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery with advanced facial re-

construction and minimally invasive cosmetic surgery with emphasis on liposuction and facial rejuvenation. She is an accomplished fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Surgery. Dr. Maragh states,“It’s my goal to help patients feel comfortable and confident with their look and achieve an appearance that positively impacts their lives.” 301-358-5919 www.maraghdermatology.com

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The Face of

Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry “At our practice, our patients embrace the artistry that goes into the care we provide,” says Dr. Cohen. “We preserve, protect and enhance dental health, while also offering a caring and gentle atmosphere.” Born and raised in Montgomery County, Dr. Cohen attended the University of Michigan and then the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He completed his residency at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center. The practice’s commitment to consistent continuing education allows their office to Treat Your Family Like Family, providing treatment with the care, skill and judgment that they would want for themselves and their families. From the front desk to the clinical experience and any follow-ups, their goal is to make your dental visit a great experience. 301-656-1201 www.cosmeticdds.com

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MICHAEL VENTURA

Dr. Jason A. Cohen

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The Face of

Cosmetic and Laser Surgery

HILARY SCHWAB

Ronald S. Perlman, MD Dr. Perlman is exactly who people want for a fresh, refined look today. As much an artist as a doctor, he has perfected aesthetic procedures for faces and bodies over 30 years. He is highly regarded by patients and peers for surgical skills and aesthetic sensibility. He also serves as chairman for Second Chance Employment Services and provides pro bono services to victims of domestic violence. Operating exclusively at Sibley Hospital, Dr. Perlman offers a concierge approach throughout initial consulta-

tions, procedures and recovery. “Above all, we want our patients to be comfortable, cared for and wellinformed,” he says. Dr. Perlman was voted, “Best Cosmetic Surgeon” by the readers’ of Bethesda Magazine, 2017, and “Best Washington D.C. Cosmetic Surgeon” in Allure magazine, 2018. 202-362-7300 www.ronperlmanmd.com

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The Face of

Custom Homes Doug Monsein, Founder | Douglas Construction Group (DCG)

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2. 3. 4.

after construction of your home. An organized and stress-free product selection process allows you to thoroughly enjoy your homebuilding experience. Quality trades and vendors dedicated to upholding DCGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high expectations. Ongoing, considerate dialogue, built around the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision and dream home.

301-983-6947 www.dcghomes.com

LAWRENCE CHENG

Doug Monsein spent his post-college years working in the field for a regional construction company, honing his profession and passion for building homes. In 1999 he started DCG, blending his business acumen with knowledge of the sticks and bricks side of construction. With over 150 new homes built in the Bethesda area, DCG provides an extraordinary experience, and proudly affirms their past clients being their best ambassadors. Pillars of the DCG custom-build process are fundamental to every project: 1. Exceptional communication before, during and

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2018 FACES

The Face of

Dental Implants Israel Puterman, DMD, MSD

TONY J. LEWIS

When you need specialized care, you deserve a doctor with the highest level of expertise. In addition to being a periodontist, Dr. Israel Puterman completed a three-year residency in Implant Dentistry, giving him rare expertise in all aspects of dental implants. Treating the simplest to the most complex cases involving implants, gum grafting and bone grafting, Dr. Puterman emphasizes the least invasive techniques to achieve superior results. Additionally, he provides IV sedation, so that you can rest comfortably during any procedure. Repeatedly voted by his peers as a Washingtonian â&#x20AC;&#x153;Top Periodontist,â&#x20AC;? his goal is to provide world-class periodontics and implant dentistry in the gentlest and most relaxing of atmospheres. Read his rave reviews online and see what his patients say. 301-652-0939 www.implantsdc.com

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The Face of

Dyslexia Education The Siena School serves bright college-bound students with language-based learning differences in grades 4 through 12. Siena trains its students in reading, writing and organization. The multisensory curriculum is designed to nurture and explore students’ incredible strengths and creativity. As one parent recently noted, “I continue to be amazed and grateful at how clearly the teachers see our child’s gifts and identify ways to address their challenges.” Siena relies on the latest research to help best under-

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stand how its students think and learn. It offers consistent approaches to teaching strategies and skills to help the students thrive, while preparing its graduates for mainstream college programs. Siena offers a summer school and workshop series to assist students and educators from the broader community. 301-244-3600 www.thesienaschool.org

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

The Siena School

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The Face of

Experience and Integrity in Real Estate

HILARY SCHWAB

Andy & Jessie Alderdice, Realtors | Long & Foster All Points. Ever known 5th and 6th generation Washingtonians? Meet Andy and her daughter, Jessie, of Long & Foster/Christies Real Estate. Licensed in the District, Maryland and Virginia, their team offers deep local knowledge, experience, and strong community connections gained from being born and raised in area neighborhoods. “Our clients are our top priority,” says Andy. “We don’t take on a lot of listings so listing clients and buyers work directly with us at all times. We will always provide realistic

information on property values and smart opinions on what buyers and sellers can expect.” Andy is a leading Realtor, and past president of the Potomac Chamber of Commerce as well as the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C. She knows the real estate market and how to meet your goals. 301-466-5898 www.Andy4homes.com

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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The Face of

Eye Care & Fashion Eyewear The face of eye care is changing – and Dr. Rachel Cohn is leading the way. “I’m an optometrist with a passion for fashion, too. I think that’s why people really like us,” she says. Blending the latest eye care technology and comprehensive eye exams with an eyewear boutique, Wink has become a go-to practice for people who want unique frames that are perfectly fitted to their face and prescription.

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Located in Potomac, Wink offers a complete selection of handpicked eyeglasses and sun wear from eyewear designers around the world. “Glasses should flatter but also match your personality,” says Dr. Cohn. “Try on lots of them and have fun with it!” 301-545-1111 www.wink.net

TAMZIN B. SMITH PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Dr. Rachel Cohn | Wink Eyecare Boutique

2018 FACES

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The Face of

A Fun Summer

COURTESY PHOTO

Valley Mill Camp “Valley Mill campers can achieve anything they set their minds to,” says Evelyn McEwan, whose parents, Bob and May, founded the camp in 1956. Combining closeness to home with the atmosphere of an away camp, Valley Mill provides ample space for a vigorous camp program for both boys and girls. Through a myriad of fun and challenging activities—kayaking, canoeing, gymnastics, horseback riding, archery and air rifle and more—“Valley Millers” spend their days in the rugged outdoors, learning

about self-sufficiency and resilience. Those qualities translate into self-confidence in all walks of life. Some Valley Millers have gone on to compete in kayaking and canoeing on National and Olympic Teams, and in the 2018 Winter Games, a Valley Mill alum competed on the Gold Medal US Women’s Hockey Team! 301-948-0220 www.valleymill.com

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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The Face of

Home Renovations Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a certain art that goes into transforming an outdated home and creating a truly amazing new space. With walls as his canvas, Matt Covell has risen to be one of the most exciting young builders in the D.C. area, bringing the transformative power of renovation to his clients with a fresh take on what it means to turn an old house into a modern, stylish home. Founder of the boutique renovation firm STRUCTURE., Covell leads a new generation of renovators who

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bring a soulful and creative approach to construction thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing the parameters of how home transformation is experienced. With a reputation for quality and attention to detail, Covell makes highly customized living accessible in a way that feels organic, enjoyable and undeniably artistic. 240-994-1520 www.structurecustomhomes.com

MICHAEL VENTURA

Matt Covell | STRUCTURE.

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2018 FACES

The Face of

Independent School Leadership Dr. Eliana Lipsky | Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School

HILARY SCHWAB

Dr. Eliana Lipsky, middle school principal, came to Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) after six years as a consultant and coach with REACH (Resources for Educational Achievement, Collaboration and Health), a Chicago-based organization that provides Jewish day schools with a comprehensive model of inclusion. She also taught middle school history and Tanakh (Bible) for six years at Boston’s Jewish Community Day School. Dr. Lipsky believe social-emotional skills are the foundation of academic learning in middle school. “It is imperative that we consider our students and the individuals they strive to be, not always who we think they ought to be,” she says. CESJDS is a JK-12 pluralistic school that engages students in an exemplary and inspiring general and Jewish education. 301-692-4870 www.cesjds.org

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The Face of

Interior Design Rachelle, Jillian & Sascha Roth | Urban Country

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business which offers design services and custom window treatments. “We’re proud to have been featured in multiple design publications for our work,” says Sascha. The store carries its own signature line, Piper Jack, for unlimited design options with a great price point. “We can’t wait to grow with the local community.” 301-654-0500 www.urbancountrydesigns.com

TONY J. LEWIS

This women-owned local family company just expanded into a large new space at 7121 Arlington Road in Bethesda (formerly City Sports). Jillian and Sascha’s parents founded the store in 1991. Rachelle Roth remains the main design eye, and today, the second generation offers an entire range of high-end to affordable, family-friendly furniture. “We also have a brand-new website and we’re very excited about the direction of Urban Country,” says Jillian. Urban Country also manages a large interior design

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The Face of

Invisalign

MICHAEL VENTURA

Dr. Andrew Orchin & Dr. Jill Bailey | Orchin Orthodontics Famous for making people smile in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Washington, D.C., Drs. Orchin and Bailey are certified orthodontic specialists who are experts in moving teeth and creating healthy, functional and beautiful smiles using Invisalign. Dr. Bailey and Dr. Orchin are in the top 1 percent of all dentists in the world treating smiles with Invisalign. Did you know that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Invisalign treating you? The success of your treatment relies solely on the expertise of the doctor using Invisalign. Trust your care with these leading

orthodontic specialists and their amazing team at Orchin Orthodontics. Visit www.orchinorthodontics.com; read the practiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online reviews at Yelp, Google, Healthgrades, etc.; and give the office a call to find out more about the affordable excellence of Orchin Orthodontics! 202-686-5100 www.orchinorthodontics.com

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The Face of

Leadership in Home Care Susan Rodgers, RN, Owner and President | Capital City Nurses

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achieving a genuinely personal connection with everyone we serve. Contact us today to learn more about our commitment to being the leaders in home care, and to delivering exceptional home care for your family. 301-652-4344 | Toll-free: 1-866-687-7307 www.capitalcitynurses.com

HILARY SCHWAB

There is really just one thing that families seek when choosing home care for a parent or loved one: confidence that they’ve made the right choice. The “Capital City Nurses Way” is our finely crafted philosophy that shows our clients that we have the nurses, coordinators, caregivers and knowledge to fulfill that promise. The Capital City Nurses Way is a dedication to training, to communication with client and family, and to

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The Face of

Luxury Penthouse Living

MICHAEL VENTURA

Palisades of Bethesda Service Team Members These are the friendly faces of The Palisades Apartments and Penthouses in downtown Bethesda. The service team members are the people youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see daily, maintaining our community and servicing your needs around the property. They are on-call for emergencies 24 hours a day. The Palisades is an oasis in the concrete of downtown Bethesda. Apartments are equipped with en-suite washer/ dryers, closet systems and limited access entryâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;plus all

utilities are included! The Palisades Penthouses at 4835 offer a step up in lifestyle with maid service, premium parking and distinctive floor plans. Their signature finishes and layouts are the most breathtaking in the area. Stop by and say hello to any of our team! 844-235-8173 www.penthousesbethesda.com

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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The Face of

Luxury Real Estate The Fleisher Group | TTR Sotheby’s International Real Estate

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a wealth of trusted outside resources—allows us to expertly guide buyers and sellers. In everything we do, we are guided by core values of transparency and client interest.” “We’re very proud of our reputation for responsiveness and results and our position as the top team in the region,” he says. 301-967-3344 www.thefleishergroup.com

TONY J. LEWIS

Led by the inimitable Marc Fleisher, a 36-year industry veteran, The Fleisher Group is the go-to-choice for clients who demand the very best. His team of 10 offers the experience of more than $3.6 billion in career sales, blending insider expertise around the region with the support of dedicating marketing, listing and contract professionals. “Whether selling or buying, our clients receive an unparalleled standard of service,” says Fleisher. “The depth and breadth of our team—complemented by

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The Face of

Making a Difference, One Child at a Time

MICHAEL VENTURA

Libby Dubner King, Executive Director Westmoreland Children’s Center (WCC) Libby absolutely loves her job. Bringing a sense of wonder to a child is magical for her. “I’m a strong believer in early childhood education and I’m truly committed to our children, families and the community.” “Children learn best by direct hands-on experience. The need to actively explore and manipulate materials and toys; discovering answers, relationships, skills and concepts for themselves. We lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning in every child that comes through

WCC. Children are naturally playful, and that play builds strong self-confidence.” WCC programs inspire children to learn through play and the thrill of discovery. Classrooms are warm, nurturing and exciting, which makes learning fun. At the three locations along Massachusetts Avenue, preschoolers develop a love of play, exploring and lifelong friendships. 301-229-7161 www.wccbethesda.com

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The Face of

Marriage and Family Therapy Emily Cook, PhD, LCMFT | Emily Cook Therapy

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•

• •

partnerships thrive again. For engaged couples – helping prepare for marriage through meaningful discussion of important topics for a happy married future. For families - reestablishing a happy home environment, restoring peace and respect. For children and adolescents helping to navigate issues at home and school, and express emotion in healthy ways.

240-424-5328 www.emilycooktherapy.com

COURTESY PHOTO

When you’re struggling in your important relationships, you deserve to work with a therapist who is specifically trained to repair and enrich connection. Dr. Emily Cook and her team of licensed marriage and family therapists are experienced, highly qualified and genuinely invested in your well-being. “We are the relationship experts,” she says. • For individuals – Relief from anxiety, depression, trauma, and painful relationship patterns. • For committed and married couples – improvement with communication and intimacy so that

2018 FACES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Face of

Maryland Wines

LAWRENCE CHENG

Georgia & Damon Callis, Vintner & Sommelier The Urban Winery of Silver Spring Eighteen years in the making, this dynamic husband and wife launched The Urban Winery with “Taste. Learn. Create.” as their mantra, where you can sip and explore wines of Maryland and around the globe. Want to make your own wine and personalized labels with your friends or company? The Urban Winery does that and more. The boutique winery experience is right in the heart of Silver Spring. A terrific menu of Greek-inspired mezze, cheeses, charcuterie and organic chocolate are perfect for

pairing with over 80 bottles, wine cocktails and local beers on tap to choose from. “We’re putting Maryland wine on the map,” says Damon. “Immerse yourself in wine culture, good friends, music and more. It’s a wonderful environment to taste, learn and create.” 301-585-4100 www.theurbanwinery.com

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The Face of

Neck Lifts and Facelifts Men and women of varying ages are often frustrated by the changes to the contour and appearance of their neck. Changes with age may include loose skin and muscle, and sometimes excess fat, which is often genetic. The traditional facelift with prolonged recovery has been largely replaced by the neck lift along with the addition of fat transfer to the under eye hollows to replace lost volume and to the cheeks for lift. Dr. Lynch is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with nearly 20 years of experience in private practice devoted solely to

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cosmetic plastic surgery. She completed Plastic Surgery training at Brown University and specialty fellowship training in Cosmetic and Breast Surgery at Georgetown University. Her other interests include breast augmentation, reduction and lifts and body contouring, including liposuction, tummy tucks and arm lifts. 301-652-5933 www.lynchplasticsurgery.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Sheilah A. Lynch, M.D., Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

2018 FACES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Face of

Neurosurgery

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Johns Hopkins Medicine | Suburban Hospital Get the expertise of Johns Hopkins neurosurgeons without the drive to Baltimore. Neurosurgeons Jeff Jacobson, MD and Shih-Chun (David) Lin, MD, Ph.D. are available to evaluate neurosurgical patients at their Bethesda office at 4927 Auburn Ave. The doctors offer comprehensive, tailored treatment for all neurosurgical conditions, including minimally invasive treatments for spinal disorders, and provide personalized care before and after surgery.

Following any consultation and throughout the course of treatment, our team works with your physicians to determine the best care plan for you. Most neurosurgical operations are performed at Suburban Hospital. To learn more about our services, please call us or visit our website. 301-896-6069 www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neuro/bethesda

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The Face of

New American Brasserie Ype Von Hengst, Co-founder and Executive Chef Silver New American Brasserie

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ingredients. At Silver Diner, he revolutionized the diner industry by providing healthy alternatives and won numerous awards for his innovative healthy kid’s menus. As a health enthusiast and avid competitor, he recently won Food Network’s Chopped, donating the $10,000 prize to Doctors Without Borders. Bethesda: 301-652-9780 Cathedral Heights: 202-851-3199 www.EatAtSilver.com

MICHAEL VENTURA

After 30 years of success with American Café and Silver Diner, award-winning Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst co-founded Silver New American Brasserie (in Bethesda and Cathedral Heights). “With Silver we wanted to create a restaurant that provided an ‘elevated’ casual dining experience,” said Von Hengst. Silver offers contemporary versions of American favorites combined with healthier options and a creative bar program. Von Hengst has received many accolades for his highly creative, healthier menu using locally sourced

2018 FACES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Face of

New Development

MICHAEL VENTURA

The Babbington Team | Compass Margaret Babbington, Carrie Babbington Hillegass, Michael Sumner, Megan Meekin, Jeff Chreky, Chad Cunha, Britt Nelson, Deirdre Jo Fricke, Michelle Munro Native Washingtonian Margaret Babbington brings a top performing record as a Realtor to buyers and sellers, coupled with a real passion for local communities. Her team is a diverse group of local Realtors, with backgrounds in marketing, education, architecture and design. “We see every transaction from all angles,” she says. “We have a rare perspective on our market, and we want to help you find your place in it.” Based in downtown Washington D.C. and Chevy Chase, the team knows neighborhoods in and around the nation’s capital

extremely well. They offer expertise, empathy and knowledge for first-time buyers and sellers to experienced property owners, savvy investors and developers. The team is achieving big wins in neighborhoods poised for renovation and new development across the changing D.C. landscape. O: 301-298-1001 | 240-460-4007 www.babbingtoninc.com

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The Face of

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. James M. Ryan, DDS, MS (Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon) is the only physician in the D.C. Metro area to provide and perform Profound—a revolutionary new energy-based non-surgical facelift procedure. Profound is the only clinically proven device to show 100 percent response rate. This is done by repairing the dynamic properties of the skin – elastin, collagen and hyaluronic acid – and restoring dermal volume loss. Profound significantly reduces the risks of face lift surgery at a fraction of the cost. Patients can take years off their facial appearance by correcting the nasolabial folds, jowls, submental/submandibular redundancy and neck strands. Profound is a non-cutting, non-surgical, radiofrequency skin facial tightening laser. Call us to schedule your consultation. 301-916-6000 www.EvolutionOralSurgery.com

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HILARY SCHWAB

James M. Ryan, DDS, MS Evolution Oral Surgery, LLC

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The Face of

Pediatric Dentistry

DARREN HIGGINS

Dr. Karen Benitez, DDS | Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry Chevy Chase Pediatric Dentistry has created an inviting and engaging pediatric dental environment to meet your child’s unique needs. Upon entering, vibrant colors welcome them and immediately the little patients sneak away into their little utopia: the kid’s nook. They are greeted by name every step of the way to our exam area where they select their favorite toothbrush, toothpaste, vitamins and animal to polish their teeth. These decisions help kids gain confidence that the entire experience involves them.

“They kick back, relax and are introduced to all of my dental toys in their language,” says Dr. Karen. “Did I mention our ample toy selection?” “Consideration of your child’s unique needs is our core philosophy,” says Dr.Karen. “It is palpable, personal and loving because I cannot help but feel you are family!” 301-272-1246 www.chevychasekids.dentist

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The Face of

The Perfect Date Some ideas for a little love and adventure: 1. Drink and Snacks Swing by City Perch Kitchen + Bar for a handcrafted cocktail and some fresh seafood bites, inside or on the outdoor patio. 2. Movie Night at iPic Theaters Catch a movie, concert, comedy or magic show in our oversized reclining leather seats, complete with seat-side service by ninja-like servers, personal pillow, blanket and complimentary popcorn.

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Dinner at City Perch Kitchen + Bar Dinner and drinks in our seasonal American dining room by James Beard-renowned Chef Sherry Yard, with fireplaces, candlelit spaces and plates designed for sharing. Dinner & a Movie Enjoy comfort food at City Perch Kitchen + Bar, sourced from nearby farms and waters, then stroll to iPic Theaters and indulge in a new standard of affordable luxury.

301-231-2310 | www.cityperch.com

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iPic Theaters & City Perch Kitchen + Bar

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2018 FACES

The Face of

Precious Jewelry & Watches Lee Siegel | CIRCA Jewels

TONY J. LEWIS

Lee Siegel has worked in the jewelry trade for over 25 years and earned his prestigious Graduate Gemologist Degree from The Gemological Institute of America in 1996. He also received a diploma in Rough Diamond Grading from the American Institute of Diamond Cutting. “It has given me a true understanding of a diamond’s journey,” explains Siegel. Along with Siegel’s degrees and diplomas, he specializes in colored gemstones, antique and estate jewelry, vintage and modern timepieces. Before joining CIRCA in 2006, Siegel spent 15 years working in a family-owned jewelry business in Virginia. He says: “Hands down, the best part of my job is the privilege of educating my clients so they have the information they need to make a good decision when selling their jewelry and watches.” 240-482-1581 www.circajewels.com DLLR: #2153

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The Face of

Preschool & Kindergarten Geneva Day School is known for encouraging a lifelong love of learning in children ages two years old through kindergarten. Our extremely low studentâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;teacher ratio allows us to offer individualized programs, small group activities and lots of oneon-one attention. Our experienced, nurturing and dedicated staff, along with engaging and developmentally appropriate programs, are foundational in helping each child grow into confident, happy learners. We offer

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a broad curriculum with thematic units incorporating literacy, handwriting, STEAM, sensory activities, art, music and movement, environmental education, cooking, field trips and outdoor play. We have rolling admissions and an active parents association. Schedule a personal tour and see why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been voted Best of Bethesda multiple times! 301-340-7704 www.genevadayschool.org

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Geneva Day School

2018 FACES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Face of

Real Estate Margie Halem Margie Halem Group of Long & Foster Real Estate

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Clients depend on Margie and her team for her expert market knowledge, exceptional service and a highly effective, tech-savvy approach to buying and selling real estate. Concentrating her efforts on the District, Bethesda, Potomac and Rockville markets, Margie has established an impressive record since 1985. Her knowledge and commitment to evaluating each client’s needs and finding them the ideal property has earned her many accolades from Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine’s Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll, Real Trends, The Wall Street Journal, National Association of Realtors and Long & Foster. Besides her passion for the industry, Margie is deeply committed to the community, playing significant roles in numerous charities as a chair, member, sponsor or volunteer, including Autism Speaks, Temple Beth Ami Sisterhood, The American Heart Association and more. 301-775-4196 | O: 301-907-7600 www.margiehalemgroup.com licensed in MD, VA, D.C.

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The Face of

Resident-Owned Retirement Living Diane Sahr and Ian Spence, Board Presidents Maplewood Park Place

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cost—and it’s absolutely gorgeous!” “Our award-winning community is nestled in a highly desirable wooded neighborhood. Residents here have an active social life with many activities to choose from, inside and outside of Maplewood. And let’s not forget our 5-star dining!” says Spence. 301-571-7444 www.maplewoodparkplace.com

HEATHER FUENTES

All residents at Maplewood have a direct voice in the excellent lifestyle of Bethesda’s best retirement community. “We chose Maplewood because we love the location. And the ideal size. We all know each other, like a second family,” says Diane Sahr. “And the idea of owning our home here is very appealing to us.” “In addition to our independent lifestyle, our Lifecare Plan for on-site Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing is exclusive to Maplewood,” says Ian Spence. “It delivers high-quality, long-term healthcare at a very manageable

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The Face of

Tailored Insurance Solutions Alan Meltzer, NFP The Meltzer Group

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Alan Meltzer came to the area more than 40 years ago. Soon after American University, he launched his insurance career, beginning as a single agent. Alan has grown The Meltzer Group into one of the largest and most respected insurance brokers in the region. The firm now boasts several hundred employees across eight offices and is consistently recognized as one of the Top Corporate Philanthropists and Best Places to Work in the region. His unwavering commitment to clients is matched only in his support of his community. “Philanthropy is simply part of our culture,” he says. “There is great enthusiasm and energy throughout our team to be involved in the community. Of all we do, I’m most proud of the way we give back.” 301-581-7300 www.midatlantic.nfp.com

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The Face of

Teamwork At least 80 percent of middle schoolers at Green Acres participate regularly in two sports during their time at the school, on teams that include soccer, cross-country, basketball, softball, swimming, and track and field. Sports are open to all in grades five through eight. “Our no-cut policy gives kids an introduction to both teamwork and the true meaning of sportsmanship,” says Athletic Director Derek Edwards. “We want them all to step onto the field and court wanting to make the players around

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them better.” Many student-athletes go on to play sports in high school and college—and are routinely recognized by their peers and coaches as leaders on and off the field. Located in North Bethesda for students from age three through grade eight, Green Acres has been a national leader in progressive education since 1934. 301-881-4100 www.greenacres.org

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

Green Acres School Athletics Coaches

2018 FACES

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Face of

Transformative Education

COURTESY PHOTO

McLean School What happens when a school focuses on abilities not disabilities? Transformation. McLean School’s “Abilities Model™” has helped hundreds of K-12 students with learning challenges ranging from dyslexia, anxiety and difficulties with organization and attention issues to succeed at school and in life. By focusing on each child’s strengths, supporting in areas of individual challenge and fostering resilience, we are transforming how our students

view themselves. Ninety-one percent of our parents reported a rise in their children’s self-esteem while 55 percent of our senior students gained entrance to “More or Most Selective” colleges as ranked by US News & World Report. Where others see need, McLean sees gifts. Join us for a tour by contacting admission@ mcleanschool.org. 240-395-0686 | www.mcleanschool.org

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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The Face of

Westbrook Neighborhood Homes Dana Rice | Compass Real Estate

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through Bethesda, Chevy Chase and D.C., Dana Rice brings a depth of community knowledge that makes a difference to sellers and buyers alike. With unmatched marketing insight, an on-staff stager, interior designer and a roster of go-to experts, the Dana Rice Group brings concierge service to each client. Office: 301-298-1001 | Direct: 202-669-6908 www.compass.com/agents/dc/dana-rice

TONY J. LEWIS

Specializing in the unique collection of “Westbrook” neighborhoods (Westmoreland Hills, Westgate, Brookdale, Green Acres, Crestview, among others), Dana Rice is a familiar and trusted resource in Bethesda and Chevy Chase real estate. “Homes in these neighborhoods are well-built, and extremely desirable for their proximity to Friendship Heights and D.C.,” says Rice. “My team lives and works here, which makes a huge difference as we serve our clients.” From small bungalows to expansive custom new homes,

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The Face of

Wine in Montgomery County

LAWRENCE CHENG

Bill Van Laaten | Downtown Crown Wine and Beer Working at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg, Bill has utilized his 20-plus years of experience to curate the best wine selection in the area and an amazing Wine By The Glass Program. He also organizes complimentary educational wine festivals and partners with local restaurants for fabulous wine dinners. Downtown Crown isn’t only a place to buy wine, it’s also a lively place to enjoy one of 16 wines by the glass along with a delicious charcuterie plate, which Bill is also

curating. Bill is also the wine buyer at Lakewood Country Club and helps with wine buying at Georgetown Square Wine and Beer. Despite the challenges of operating under the DLC, Bill has proven it’s not impossible to provide value driven and interesting wines. You just have to work harder. 301-330-7110 www.downtowncrownwine.com

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The Face of

Your Partners in Real Estate The Coleman Group Real Estate | Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

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“We’re committed to helping you navigate through the buying and selling process, taking the time to make sure you always know the advantages and disadvantages of each decision along the way,” summarizes the philosophy of both Dennis and the Group. Dennis Coleman: 301-996-9344 Rosa Mendoza: 301-661-1381 Nanci Miller: 301-537-7271 Marcela Zoccali: 301-275-5978 www.TheColemanGroupRealEstate.com

HEATHER FUENTES

The choice of The Coleman Group ensures that you will have dedicated, caring and committed professionals helping you buy, sell or invest in real estate. They have been helping people “On the Move” since 1985. The Coleman Group services the entire metro area from Washington, D.C. to the suburbs throughout Montgomery County, as well as Northern Virginia. They bring the combined expertise of over 70 years and more than $750 million sold. From the moment you contact them you will find them attentive, knowledgeable and anticipating your every need.

SAVE THE DATE

Seventh Annual Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame Tuesday, October 30, 2018 11:30am The Universities at Shady Grove Conference Center 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

WHAT IS IT?

2018 HONOREES

The Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame (MCBHOF), co-founded by Grossberg Company LLP, CPAs and Revere Bank, successor to Monument Bank, is a celebration of individuals who have made a significant impact in the Montgomery County Business community.

The 2018 honorees are Mark Bergel, Ph.D., Founder & Executive Director, A Wider Circle Michelle Freeman, CEO, Carl M. Freeman Companies Bruce Lee, President & CEO, Lee Development Jorge Restrepo, M.G.A., CEO, Eureka Facts

WHY SUPPORT IT?

All net proceeds from the MCBHOF will benefit the scholarship programs at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the University System of Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regional education center that brings 80+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs from nine Maryland public universities directly to Montgomery County. The same type of vision that led to the creation of USG in the fall of 2000, to do something truly unique and extraordinary, is the type of vision our honorees all share.

PRESENTED BY

Sponsorships to honor these great contributors are available. For more information or to register, visit our website: www.MCBusHallofFame.com, or contact Lenore Dustin at 301.571.1900 or lmd@grossberg.com

Our Favorite

New

Restaurants More than 70 restaurants have opened in the Bethesda area in the last two years. Our critic chooses his 10 favorites.

At Lina’s Diner and Bar in Silver Spring, a server’s warm greeting and enthusiastic description of the cocktail menu inspire me to order a bracing Hemingway daiquiri and predispose me to a favorable impression as I start a meal there. The first bite of the meat portion of my steak frites is seasoned confidently, cooked precisely as requested and pleasantly tender. By the end of the meal, Lina’s earns a spot on my list of favorite new restaurants. More than 70 new restaurants opened in the Bethesda area in 2016 and 2017, according to Bethesda Beat. It was my job to determine which I liked best and to rank them in order. Some points of interest: The top three restaurants are Asian. Five of them are owned by local empire builders: Daisuke Utagawa, Peter Chang, Michael Babin, Jeff Black and Bo Blair. Another is owned by Ashish Alfred, whose empire is just getting started. What do my 10 favorites have in common, besides the quality of the food? A devotion to good service, their craft, hospitality and consistency. Here are my favorite restaurants that opened in 2016 and 2017.

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PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

BY DAVID HAGEDORN

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Ashish Alfred, chef and owner of Duck Duck Goose, plates scallops with Israeli couscous, parsnip and apples.

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Monkfish liver “foie gras” topped with osetra caviar, persimmon purée and purple nasturtiums

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PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Kobo ¯ ¯ at Sushiko

In Chevy Chase, you walk through an excellent restaurant, Sushiko, to get to an extraordinary one called Kobo, ¯ ¯ a restaurant-within-a-restaurant that owner Daisuke Utagawa launched in late 2016. Kobo ¯ ¯ is a private counter where six diners experience a multicourse tasting menu crafted and served to them by Sushiko’s executive chef, Piter Tjan, who engagingly interacts with guests throughout the meal. The prix-fixe menu comes at a steep-but-worth-it price and seats are coveted, so book well in advance. Dinner costs $130 per person including tax and tip for an all-vegan menu offered on Tuesdays; $160 inclusive for the nonvegan menu offered Thursday through Saturday. The price goes up when you add quaffs from the beautifully curated wine list. My tasting menu starts with tea (green tea and kelp) theatrically brewed before me in a tabletop siphon. The chef exchanges pleasantries with each of the guests and discovers in our conversation that I’m left-handed. “Ah, that’s important to know!” he says. “I will switch the angle of the nigiri I present to you so it will be more comfortable to pick up.” For the first course, a server proffers a covered dish, removing its lid to reveal a cloud of smoke hiding a medallion of monkfish liver “foie gras” topped with slate gray osetra caviar, persimmon purée and lush purple nasturtiums. A sashimi course includes two generous slices each of decadent fatty tuna, lean tuna, house-cured and smoked Arctic char, and wild winter yellowtail, presented with a nest of bean thread, a pile of imported and freshly grated Japanese wasabi and a verdant shiso leaf. For the nigiri courses, the chef uses akazu and red vinegar to make his sushi rice, imparting a brown hue. (Akazu is made from sake lees, the yeasty dregs left over after sake is made from rice.) He deftly molds small mounds of the rice, topping each with a pristine slice of fish. Among the dazzlers are cured snapper topped with julienned ginger blossom, and soy-marinated tuna with caviar and gold leaf. Next are two sushi courses: one a hand roll of fatty tuna; the other an oval nori cup filled with tartare made with the highest grade (A5) of Japan’s famed wagyu beef and gilded with a quail egg yolk. The evening’s pièce de résistance isn’t fish; it’s a thick slice of deep-fried, medium-rare, panko-crusted A5 wagyu beef sirloin served on toasted housemade milk bread. If you have room for udon (thick Japanese noodles) and poached lobster in miso dashi broth, more power to you. Strawberry panna cotta is a light and refreshing coda to a revelatory dining experience. 5455 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase 301-961-1644 | sushikorestaurants.com

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When chef Peter Chang opened Q by Peter Chang in a Bethesda office building in May 2017, expectations were high. His cooking was legendary, part of a mystique that started when he left his post as chef of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 2003, essentially defecting. On the run and without papers, Chang embarked on a string of restaurant jobs he’d leave once word got out that he was there. Finally dealing with his legal status and acquiring a business partner, Chang, who lives in Bethesda, now owns six restaurants in Virginia and two in Maryland. Q, short for qi jian, meaning flagship, was to be his crowning achievement, a swanky place where he wouldn’t tone down the trademark heat of his regional Chinese dishes to suit American tastes, as he does at other restaurants. Reviews have been mixed. Some diners object to the higher prices for the fancier digs and upgraded service, and are unable to discern the difference between Q and other Chang establishments. I agree it has been a bumpy road, but I am a Q fan. I appreciate the sweeping 5,000-squarefoot dining room with its high ceilings, jade-colored walls and full bar service. But I return for Chang’s food—the braised red snapper with chili bean paste, minced beef, bamboo shoots and pickled cabbage; the kung pao chicken (a usually hackneyed dish that is heavenly at Q); and the Peking duck with rose-scented black garlic purée. The sleeper at Q, though, is the superlative dim sum brunch served on Saturday and Sunday, with many of the offerings made under the direction of Chang’s wife, Lisa, also an accomplished chef. A dumpling extravaganza is de rigueur here; my standing order includes rich chicken broth soup dumplings, pan-fried shrimp dumplings, wagyu beef dumplings and spicy pork-filled wontons. Then I move on to shrimp balls, BBQ pork buns and stir-fried rice noodles with beef. Can’t make up your mind? Get the dim sum assortment, which comes with seven items and two sauces. 4500 East West Highway, Bethesda 240-800-3722 | qbypeterchang.com

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PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

Q by Peter Chang

An assortment of dim sum dishes, available at brunch on Saturdays and Sundays

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Akira Ramen & Izakaya

Take my word for it and show up at this 42-seat Rockville Pike eatery in the Galvan at Twinbrook apartment building when it opens at 11 a.m. Otherwise, you’ll likely wait 10 to 20 minutes in line on weeknights and longer on weekends. Akira’s fine cooking team is headed by chefs Tony Lin and Jerry Li. Chef Li makes the restaurant’s curly and straight ramen noodles in a Silver Spring warehouse. “Kotani-san taught us how to make our wheat-based ramen noodles,” says owner and Silver Spring resident Edward Wong, referring to Japanese noodle master Shuichi Kotani, whom Wong hired as a consultant to ensure that the key ingredient in Akira’s ramen betters any competition. “And now he is showing us how to make our own soba [buckwheat] and [thick, chewy, wheat-based] udon noodles.” The noodles are the star of the show at Akira Ramen, which opened last October. The curly variety, which have a bit of a chew, can withstand the heat of the broth longer than the thinner, straight noodles. Some of Akira’s seven ramen offerings are made with pork stock, others with chicken or vegetable stock. The signature Akira Ramen is my favorite; its broth, made with pork thigh and back bones, onions, carrots and ginger, offers a complexity and richness developed during a 12-hour simmering. Rolled pork belly is braised in a soy-based sauce, refrigerated, sliced and then seared to order with a blowtorch before being added to the bowl, along with a softboiled egg, chopped scallions, corn, sliced fish cake, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms and nori sheets. Bean sprouts and ground pork that have been quickly sautéed in a flaming wok impart a slight smokiness and extra dimension to the soup (this technique is also used in the vegetable ramen), and dashes of black (fermented) garlic oil provide a complex finishing note. In the tonkatsu miso broth, seasoned miso paste makes the broth milky white and lends the soup a creamy texture. But Akira isn’t just about noodles; it’s also an izakaya, which is a pub that serves snacks—a Japanese version of a tapas bar. From the special offerings menu, the hamachi carpaccio—slices of yellowtail seared with a blowtorch, topped with flying fish roe (tobiko) and served in a light soy broth—is a winner. Thumbs-up also for the okonomiyaki, an egg and cabbage pancake perched on bacon slices and dressed with mayonnaise and a ketchup- and Worcestershire-based condiment called okonomi sauce. Delicate dried bonito flakes on top of the okonomiyaki “dance” in the wind. This place is so good I’d even brave the line. 1800 Rockville Pike, Rockville 240-242-3669 | akiraramen.com

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PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

The broth in the signature Akira Ramen is simmered for 12 hours.

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PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

Herbes de Provencecrusted seared tuna with cassoulet, radishes and rosemary red wine reduction

PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

Addie’s

I was a fan of Addie’s on Rockville Pike, which had an 18-year run from 1995 to 2013. That restaurant was the first in chef and restaurateur Jeff Black’s empire, which now includes six restaurants, two bars and a fish market. He clearly learned a great deal there about how to create and run inviting, high-quality establishments. That’s why it’s no surprise that the new Addie’s, which opened last August, is even better than the old one. From its high design, paying homage to Black’s grandmother Addie and his family’s Texas roots, to the well-crafted dinner and brunch menus, Addie’s, which seats 130 inside, is the personification of a stylish, modern-day watering hole. But with spring upon us, my thoughts turn to Addie’s 70-seat covered patio, a perfect perch for playing hooky from work and lolling over a lazy lunch. Iced tea comes with an ornate iced tea spoon and a little porcelain tray that holds a small pitcher of simple syrup and lemon wedges—little details that Black’s restaurants get so right. Caesar salad is done as it should be: Whole leaves are each coated with dressing that has the proper amount of tang from Worcestershire sauce and lemon. Grated hard-boiled egg, lightly toasted croutons and an anchovy complete the presentation. The standout that’s really worth the trip to Addie’s, though, is the French dip sandwich of roasted Allen Brothers prime rib cooked medium rare, sliced ultrathin and stuffed between two halves of French bread slathered with horseradish cream. Dipping into the dark, rich beef jus adds a burst of umami to an already flavor-packed sandwich. Pro tip: Take half of the sandwich home and get the chocolate bombe for dessert—it’s a ball of chocolate mousse and toffee enrobed with chocolate glaze, topped with a shard of feuilletine (a thin, crunchy, crepelike cookie) and served à la mode. 12435 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac 301-340-0081 | addiesrestaurant.com

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When Duck Duck Goose opened in Bethesda in April 2016, it had all the makings of a small, charming neighborhood bistro, down to the bentwood chairs, wrought-iron tables and nicely curated French-inspired menu. Its chef and owner, Ashish Alfred, has real talent, as his rendition of steak tartare—perfectly dressed and seasoned hand-cut cubes of beef tenderloin—proved. I gave the restaurant a favorable review in Bethesda Magazine’s September/ October 2016 issue, but lately wondered if the quality of the food there has remained consistent, given that Alfred had opened George’s Chophouse on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda in November and is working on a Baltimore location of Duck Duck Goose. After revisiting the Norfolk Avenue location in February, I can report that the food continues to delight, especially the beef tartare, and the staff is as gracious as ever. Credit goes to chef de cuisine Carson Schneider as much as it does to Alfred. For a cunning starter generous enough for two, try the thin and curvy Japanese eggplant, halved lengthwise, roasted until tender and topped with lemon-enhanced yogurt, finely julienned mint leaves and chopped Fresno chilies. Date purée rounds out this wink to Middle Eastern flavor by adding a touch of sweetness to balance the yogurt’s tartness. Lamb Bolognese with spaghettini (thinner than regular spaghetti) has a depth of flavor that comes from the long, slow, careful cooking of that classic sauce. It’s a satisfying dish, even if I would prefer thicker noodles that aren’t prone to overcooking. An entrée of duck breast, perfectly cooked to medium as requested, spotlights the slight gaminess of the meat, nicely balanced with roasted golden beets, red beet purée, roasted and buttered panko breadcrumbs (for a bit of crunch) and a Bing cherry reduction poured tableside from a little copper saucepan. Desserts are an afterthought here, but the majestic napoleon of flaky puff pastry, rich pastry cream and raspberries is still mighty fine. 7929 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda 301-312-8837 | ddgbethesda.com

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PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Duck Duck Goose

PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

A starter of roasted Japanese eggplant topped with lemonenhanced yogurt, mint leaves and Fresno chilies

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The vegetable combo platter includes several items that can be eaten with spongy injera bread.

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Meleket

PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

You sense elegance immediately when you walk into chef and owner Abe Bayu’s 48-seat Ethiopian restaurant, Meleket, which opened in July 2017 on Seminary Road just off Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. An ornate, bronze-colored pressed tin ceiling, an under-lit fieldstone bar and large framed panels of paisley tapestry catch the eye. (A meleket is a musical instrument made of a ram’s horn, like a shofar.) Bayu, who lives in Silver Spring, explains that his cooking is actually more Eritrean, referring to the country that borders Ethiopia to the north and achieved independence from the nation in 1991. “My dad is Ethiopian; my mother is Eritrean,” Bayu says. “The flavors are different. Ethiopian is spicier. Eritrean cooking uses tomatoes because of the Italian influence there, so there is a sweetness to the sauce and wots [stews] rather than a lot of heat. [Eritrea was an Italian colony from the late 19th century until the 1940s.] We also don’t use as much butter as Ethiopian food; we use olive oil or vegetable oil instead. I also add a lot of ginger and garlic to our dishes to bump up flavor.” Begin a meal at Meleket with flaky triangular pastry pies (sambussa) filled with ground chicken and served with a zesty red pepper mayo called boum boum sauce or with Bayu bites, which are fingers of buttered, toasted Italian bread topped with a spread of finely chopped cooked kale and ricottalike cheese. Then order a vegetable combo platter, the components of which are eaten with large rounds of injera, a thin, tangy, spongy bread made with teff flour. (Teff, a fine, dark grain, is a staple of the Ethiopian and Eritrean diets.) The offerings include three wots made respectively with red lentils, yellow split peas and green split peas; buttery, basil-enhanced collard greens; and sautéed cabbage, onions and carrots. Don’t miss the kitfo (Ethiopian steak tartare made with clarified butter and red chili spice mix) and Zizi’s special tibs (braised lamb sautéed with tomatoes, onions, garlic and jalapeño and served dramatically on a sizzling hot platter). 1907 Seminary Road, Silver Spring 301-755-5768 | meleketrestaurant.com

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Millie’s

If ever there was proof that the formula for success is location, location, location, Millie’s is it. Spring Valley, a well-heeled neighborhood loaded with families, has a dearth of restaurants, so restaurateur Bo Blair (Due South, Jetties, Surfside, et al.) seized the opportunity. He teamed up with his longtime executive chef, David Scribner, and debuted his second Millie’s seafood restaurant (with Baja touches) in May 2017 on Massachusetts Avenue NW. (The flagship opened on Nantucket in 2010.) The 90-seat restaurant and its 30-seat bar area are decorated with a navy blue and white color scheme and outfitted with nautical bric-a-brac, such as colorful oars on the walls and a ceiling light fixture fashioned from an inverted rowboat. A spacious patio seats 120. The menu is designed to appeal to everyone, and does. The appetizers induce impulse buying the moment you sit down: “May we have the trio of guacamole, queso with poblano pepper, and salsa with tortilla chips while we’re looking over the menu, please?” Start with one of the generous and well-made traditional or modern cocktails, or choose from the beer and wine lists and let the bold graphics help you easily pinpoint the category you have in mind. After snacks, have a bowl (or cup) of dreamy clam chowder rife with potatoes, corn, chopped clams and bacon. Menu sections of quesadillas and tacos appeal to grown-ups and kids alike. My Rhode Island Avenue quesadilla is thick with medium-rare skirt steak, mushrooms, roasted poblano peppers, onions and jack cheese. When you take some of it home (which is likely), the very accommodating server supplies you with new containers of sour cream and salsa—a nice touch. (Tacos are just as abundant.) The fried butterflied shrimp platter I try is fine enough, but the lobster roll at Millie’s is a scene-stealer and just what it should be: a buttery griddled roll split and lined with a Bibb lettuce leaf and filled to overflowing with barely dressed, ultrafresh chunks of lobster meat. For dessert, hit the walk-up window outside and order from 12 flavors of Gifford’s ice cream and sundry toppings (such as Heath bars, Oreos and M&M’s). 4866 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-733-5789 | milliesdc.com

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PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

The lobster meat is barely dressed and ultrafresh in the lobster roll at Millieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

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Owen’s Ordinary

If there is a finer beer program in Montgomery County than the one at Owen’s Ordinary, I haven’t found it. The person responsible for that is Greg Engert, the beer director of Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG). That company, owned by restaurateur Michael Babin, operates 19 food and beverage concepts in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia; Owen’s Ordinary, which opened in the Pike & Rose development in October 2016, is its first Maryland property. There are roughly 50 brews on draft, half from Maryland, and 150 canned and bottled offerings, one-third of which are from Maryland breweries. (The list changes frequently.) A 2014 Maryland law allows small craft brewers to self-distribute up to 3,000 barrels of beer annually; NRG buys from 13 of them, including Denizens (Silver Spring), Waredaca (Laytonsville), Cushwa (Williamsport), Goonda (Baltimore) and Hysteria (Columbia). The 114-seat dining room at Owen’s, where the décor is steampunk-meets-English-country-house, is lovely, but if you’re interested in sports, head to the 50-seat bar area or, better yet now that warm weather is upon us, the 60-seat beer garden and watch games being shown on several televisions. Engert has set up the beer menu to enable people with even rudimentary knowledge of that libation to explore easily. He divides the menu into flavor categories (malt, fruit and spice, crisp, tart and funky, hop, and roast) and even informs you of the beer’s temperature and the kind of glass it’s served in. Drafts are offered in 4-ounce tasting pours ($2 to $6) or full portions that range from 10 to 16 ounces ($6 to $12). Food-wise, you can’t go wrong choosing menu items whose provenance is NRG’s own Red Apron Butcher, such as the juicy 8-ounce Angus burger and double stack cheeseburger, or the steak tartare blended with hard-boiled egg, chopped cornichons (pickles), capers and whole-grain mustard. Best of all, though, are the Bavarian specialties offered in the bar and the beer garden: bratwurst or kielbasa with sauerkraut; chicken schnitzel; and senfbraten, roasted pork with mustard gravy and braised red cabbage. While you’re at it, get a house-made soft pretzel with zesty beer cheese. 11820 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda 301-245-1226 | owensordinarymd.com

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PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Roughly 50 beers are on draft at Owenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ordinary, and the beer menu is broken down into six flavor categories.

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Lina’s Diner and Bar

Chef Joancarlo Parkhurst, born in Puerto Rico and raised in Manhattan, started cooking in restaurants while in college to pay the bills. He caught the restaurant bug and, after a brief try at law school (he hated it), started a 20-year career going back and forth between line cooking and management. A gig as a corporate trainer with Ruth’s Chris brought him to Bethesda 15 years ago. After other managerial stints with Blue Ridge Restaurant Group and Lettuce Entertain You, Parkhurst decided to go out on his own. Named after Parkhurst’s daughter, Carolina, Lina’s opened in May 2017 in Silver Spring, where he resides. This is Parkhurst’s baby, and you can feel the warmth in the bright pink entrance. You pass through a small front room and down a narrow corridor with booths and papier-mâché bulls’ heads on the wall to reach a small back dining room and bar, plus a secluded outdoor patio that seats 30. Eclectic furnishings— shabby chic distressed sideboards, steampunk wall sconces encasing Edison bulbs, his grandmother’s plates depicting John James Audubon illustrations, a Swiss baking cabinet from his mom—give the place a homey, welcoming feel. So do the classic cocktails, among them a great Hemingway daiquiri that’s heavy on the grapefruit. The quirky menu features a baker’s dozen of items, plus four “samwiches,” and tends toward the French, such as: a hockey puck-size round of velvety chicken liver and foie gras mousse with grilled country bread; perfectly moist sautéed rainbow trout almandine; a thick croque-monsieur ham sandwich oozing with nutmeg-laced cream sauce and gooey Gruyère cheese; and a steak frites that melts in your mouth and is so nicely seasoned that it doesn’t need its béarnaise sauce accompaniment. Save room for tiny pots of crème brûlée or chocolate pudding crowned with whipped cream and grated orange zest. Lina’s is the kind of neighborhood joint you want just around the corner. 8402 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring 240-641-8061 | linasdiner.com

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PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

The croque-monsieur ham sandwich with nutmeg-laced cream sauce and Gruyère cheese is called a croque-madame when it’s topped with an egg.

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Juice made with ginger, apples, celery, cucumber and lemon is on the menu at True Food Kitchen, along with Margherita pizza and kale guacamole.

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True Food Kitchen

are also noteworthy, especially a lushly green juice of ginger, apples, celery, cucumber and lemon. Many offerings on the 30-bottle wine list come in 6- or 9-ounce pours. Though I am suspicious about the notion of kale guacamole, I enjoy True Food’s version, where chopped roasted poblano pepper, bits of pink grapefruit and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds are added to the mix of avocado and kale. The Margherita pizza is a credible rendition of that classic. An entrée of grilled salmon with farro, quinoa and pumpkin-seed pesto, along with an arugula and golden beet salad, hits the spot, even if the dish could use an extra bit of zing. Dessert, in my case a small pudding of whipped coconut cream, puréed banana and chia seeds garnished with strips of toasted coconut, comes without a side dish you often get at other places: guilt. ■ 7100 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda 240-200-1257 | truefoodkitchen.com

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

True confession: When it opened in the Solaire Bethesda apartment building in June 2017, I expected not to like True Food Kitchen, the 22-location restaurant chain whose menus are based on health and wellness guru Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet pyramid. That translates into a diet mostly reliant on vegetables (unlimited Asian mushrooms!), fruits, grains and legumes, with protein and healthy fats allowed here and there, along with a smidgen of chocolate and red wine. The first thing I notice on a visit is the enormity of the 6,400-square-foot space, which seats about 200 people inside and 34 on a patio. The décor includes lime-green vinyl banquettes with rows of spiky snake plants behind them, hanging Edison bulbs and industrial pendant lamps, and an open kitchen and long bar. All True Food Kitchens have the same menu of appetizers, starters, salads, bowls, pizzas, sandwiches, entrées and desserts, and many items are rotated seasonally. I thoroughly enjoy my 230-calorie Thai grapefruit martini, but the nonalcoholic drink options

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y z a cr S b a cr CRABS PHOTO BY DEBORAH JAFFE; CRAB ILLUSTRATION BY NINA CLEMENTE

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Get ready for crab season with our guide to crackinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crabs in the Bethesda area BY CAROLE SUGARMAN

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Crackin'

the Maryland Crab Myth SINCE CRABS ARE nearly

synonymous with Maryland, it’d make sense that the crabs you’re eating here are themselves Marylanders. Sorry to ruin the romance, but a lot of the crabs we get in Montgomery County are not even from the Free State. There are a variety of reasons for this, not the least of which is that crabs are a fresh living product with an unpredictable supply, given weather conditions, water temperatures and migration patterns. The sourcing, availability and price, therefore, can fluctuate daily. Blue crabs mate and grow in many waters, primarily along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. and in areas of Central and South America. While the Chesapeake Bay produces half of the blue crab harvest in the United States, that statistic also includes Virginia. And the quantity isn’t on the upswing. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, an organization in Annapolis that works to restore and protect the bay, the total number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake has lingered below the long-term average for most of the last two decades. Another reason we may not be getting Maryland crabs is that consumers in our area prefer large crabs, according to some seafood sellers and restaurateurs. Maryland

crabs tend to be small during the spring and summer. They are larger and more locally available in the fall, but that’s when vacations are over and fewer people are gathering for crab feasts. Maryland crabs often cost more, says Jesse Lowers, a crab salesman at Congressional Seafood Co., a large distributor in Jessup, Maryland, that does business in Montgomery County. Nantucket’s Reef, a restaurant in Rockville, has tried serving Maryland steamed crabs every now and then, but they’ve been “so small, and for the price people pay, they need to see what they’re paying for,” says general manager Katharyne Murphy, who adds that the larger, heavier crabs the restaurant serves from Texas deliver “the most bang for the buck.” Yen Lee, general manager of the Bethesda Crab House, agrees that the Gulf crabs are bigger and says that 90 percent of the blue crabs served at this Bethesda institution are trucked in from dependable and consistent suppliers in Louisiana and Texas, even during the Maryland crab season. In addition, the demand for crabs within Maryland is so huge that it couldn’t be satisfied without reinforcements from other states. Crabs are an integral part of our culture, heritage and tourism industry, and everybody knows it.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Diana Rutberg eats steamed crabs for dinner about four times a week when they’re readily available, from May through November. On average, the Potomac resident can polish off a dozen in one sitting, but has been known to eat 18 or 19 at a clip. “I probably eat my weight in crabs,” says Rutberg, who doesn’t even top 100 pounds. “I could pick for hours.” She’s not alone in her passion for crabs—among our region’s foods, there’s nothing more iconic and beloved than the Maryland blue crab, the official state crustacean. When the weather gets warm, it’s fun to gather with friends for a communal crab feast on the Eastern Shore or at a Baltimore crab house. But what if you’re craving crabs in Montgomery County? What are the options for those who love Old Bay but hate the Bay Bridge? Where are the crabs really coming from? And how do you stage a crab feast once you’ve got them? Our crab compendium dives into all you need to know.

Yen Lee, general manager of the Bethesda Crab House, turns to suppliers outside of Maryland for many of the crabs served at the restaurant.

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where to get ’em

restaurants A FIXTURE ON BETHESDA AVENUE since 1961, the Bethesda Crab House has been the go-to joint for tourists, celebrities and generations of local crab lovers. Actresses Kathleen Turner and Jane Lynch, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have all stopped in. Episodes of reality-television shows have been filmed there (Braxton Family Values and Our Little Family), and 154

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Bethesda resident and internationally known chef José Andrés is a regular. On a busy Saturday night in July, the king of Montgomery County crab places can go through 400 dozen crabs—steamed on the well-worn burners in the restaurant’s kitchen. Only about 10 percent of the crabs served there come from Maryland, and the Bethesda Crab House doesn’t use Old Bay seasoning. Along with some

Diners on the patio at the Bethesda Crab House, from left: Xareny Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Pamela Esterson, Maddy Glistand and Patrice Webb

MORE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE STEAMED BLUE CRABS

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Call ahead to make sure crabs are available.

other restaurants, it sprinkles its crabs with seafood seasoning from the J.O. Spice Co. in Halethorpe, Maryland. Bethesda Crab House general manager Yen Lee says the seasoning contains a finer quality paprika and is spicier and less salty than Old Bay. Bethesda Crab House, 4958 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-652-3382, bethesdacrabhouse.com

ANCHOR SEAFOOD PLACE, 11423 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 240-669-7136, anchorseafoodplace.com LIVE CRAWFISH & SEAFOOD, 765 Rockville Pike, Suite F-G, Rockville, 301-978-7988, livecrawfishmd.com NANTUCKETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REEF, 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301-279-7333, nantucketsreef.com URBAN CRAWFISH, 670 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, 240-474-5302, urbancrawfish.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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Cameron (left) and Pey Manesh run Cameron’s Seafood, which sells crabs at its stores and food trucks and also ships them.

markets distributors, the company sells more than 75,000 bushels of crabs annually. That high volume, Pey Manesh says, enables Cameron’s to charge less than other sellers. And while Manesh says that wholesale prices can fluctuate daily, a good rule of thumb is that crabs are a better deal Monday through Thursday, when demand is lower, than on weekends and holidays. Cameron’s Seafood, 875 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, 301-251-1000, cameronsseafood.com

MORE MARKETS THAT SELL CRABS Call ahead to make sure crabs are available and to ask about sources and prices; you may need to order in advance.

DAWSON’S MARKET Live crabs 225 N. Washington St. (Rockville Town Square), Rockville, 240-428-1386, dawsonsmarket.com GIANT FOOD Live and steamed crabs From July 4 through Sept. 30, Hooper’s Crab House in Ocean City, Maryland, sells crabs on weekends and holidays from trucks parked outside 12 Giant Food stores in Montgomery County. For a list of locations, see hooperscrabhouse. com/crab-steam-truck-events or Giant’s Facebook page. MARKET AT RIVER FALLS Steamed crabs 10124 River Road, Potomac, 301-765-8001, marketriverfalls.com 156

O’DONNELL’S MARKET Live and steamed crabs 1073 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-251-6355, odonnellsmarket.com POTOMAC GROCER Live and steamed crabs 10107 River Road, Potomac, 301-299-4200, potomacgrocer.com SEAFOOD IN THE BUFF Live and steamed crabs 19201 Frederick Road, Germantown (food truck); 12132 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring (storefront operation), 301-962-9700 WHOLE FOODS MARKET Steamed crabs All stores in Montgomery County

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Is it OK to reheat steamed crabs? It’s not the greatest idea, but if you can’t eat ’em while they’re hot, they can be reheated. Cameron’s Seafood, which ships cooked crabs all over the country, suggests re-steaming them in a steamer basket inside a large covered pot for five minutes. Alternately, Cameron’s says crabs can be reheated in the oven for about 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE WILLIAMS

CAMERON’S SEAFOOD is a local seafood institution opened in Rockville in 1985 by brothers Allen and Bijan Manesh. The successful company, now run by their sons—first cousins Cameron and Pey Manesh—includes nine storefront operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania and three food trucks. Last year, the cousins started an online operation, shipping steamed crabs and other seafood around the country. Nine months into the new project, they had already processed more than 1,500 shipments. Contracting directly with crabbers as well as buying crabs from

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crazy for crabs

Best local beers with steamed crabs Where there are crabs, there must be beer. We asked Montgomery County brewers which of their beers they’d pair with the spicy crustacean.

▲

7 LOCKS BREWING: Devil’s Alley IPA

BROOKEVILLE BEER FARM: Philsner

DENIZENS BREWING CO.: Born Bohemian Pilsner

SAINTS ROW BREWING: Dry-hopped gose

WAREDACA BREWING CO.: Bunkhouse

HAVING GROWN UP on the Eastern Shore, Emily Easton fondly remembers catching crabs every summer. “That’s my big childhood memory,” says the Gaithersburg resident and body piercer at Ambrotos Tattoo in Germantown. So about seven years ago, Easton made those memories indelible by having a 4½-inch-by-3-inch blue crab tattooed on the inside of her arm. She’s far from alone—at Ambrotos Tattoo, the crustacean gets inked on 20 to 30 people a year. Blue crabs are “the most common Maryland-themed tattoo we do,” Easton says.

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Emily Easton got her crab tattoo about seven years ago.

ILLUSTRATION BY NINA CLEMENTE; PHOTO BY STEPHEN WALKER

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everything crabs MAUREEN ARNSON COMES from a family with a longtime tradition of crab feasts. While some women bond over sewing circles, “we had a crab-picking circle,” says Arnson, who grew up in Chevy Chase. “If something was bothering someone, we’d 160

say, ‘Let’s get together over crabs.’ ” Arnson’s fondness for crabs is evident in collectibles she owns, including a tic-tac-toe game, hand-painted wine glass, squeaky toy, potholder, dish towel, bracelet, ring, garden mobile and sweatshirt—all decorated with a

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

crab motif. Arnson’s mother, Mary Gorman, has a crab collection that includes jewelry, shoes and a purse. The scene of their crab klatches is a rustic screened-in porch at the house in Chevy Chase where Gorman and her husband,

Maureen Arnson, left, and Mary Gorman with some of the items from their crab collections

know your crabs

Talk like an expert with our guide to crab lingo male crab

female crab

APRON: The abdomen of a crab, which operates like a folded flap. The T-shaped apron of a male crab resembles the Washington Monument; the mature female’s apron looks like the Capitol dome. BUSHEL: A basket containing any number of crabs, depending on their size. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a general conversion rate: One bushel equals 40 pounds or seven dozen crabs. That amount refers to 5½-inch male or female crabs. CALLINECTES SAPIDUS: The Greek/Latin scientific name for the Atlantic blue crab. It translates into “savory beautiful swimmer.”

JIMMY: A male crab with blue-tipped claws. It comes in two sizes, No. 1 and No. 2. The No. 1, prized for crab feasts, is larger. The No. 2, sometimes called a “whitey crab,” has recently shed its shell and has less meat. Both jimmies vary in size throughout the season, which runs from April until November or December. MOLT: The process by which a crab grows by shedding its shell for a new one; this can happen more than 20 times. Male crabs molt throughout their lifetimes, while females stop molting when they reach sexual maturity. MUSTARD: The gelatinous yellow matter found inside a cooked crab. It’s the crab’s hepatopancreas, the digestive gland that filters impurities from the crustacean’s blood. Depending on the waters from which the crab was harvested, it can contain contaminants, so to be on the safe side many people avoid eating it.

Timothy, have lived since 1969, and where they’ll host a half dozen or more crab feasts again this summer. Not surprisingly, Arnson hosts her own crab feasts at her home in the Takoma neighborhood of D.C., where she puts many of her tchotchkes to use.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY NINA CLEMENTE

PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

PICKING: The act of removing the meat from a crab. SALLY: An immature female crab that has not yet mated. It has a triangularshaped apron and reddish-orange-tipped claws.

SOFTSHELLS: Crabs less than 12 hours after molting. (It takes two to three days for the shell to fully harden again.) SOOK: A mature female crab, with reddish-orange-tipped claws. According to Cameron’s Seafood, sooks tend to have denser meat than jimmies. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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How to

A wall in Karen Hardeman’s foyer is covered in crab-themed art.

crabs as art

WHEN KAREN HARDEMAN opens the front door of her townhouse in the Kentlands neighborhood of Gaithersburg, the first thing she sees are crabs. Four pieces of crab artwork and a ceramic crab hang vertically from top to bottom of the foyer wall. “It’s the very favorite part of my house,” Hardeman says. “It makes me happy to look at them.” Aside from being the symbol for Hardeman’s astrological sign of Cancer, crabs are a favorite food. From softshells to crabcakes to crab balls, “I just love crabs,” she says. 162

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Put an inch or two of cold water at the bottom of a crab pot, making sure it doesn’t touch the steamer rack. (Alternately, you can use any combination of water, beer, vinegar and/ or Old Bay.) Bring liquid to a boil. Using tongs or gloves, layer live crabs in the pot, generously sprinkling Old Bay or other seasoning on each layer. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not keep checking crabs as they cook, as that will release the steam. Crabs are done when they turn bright reddishorange.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN WALKER

steam crabs

1. With a knife, pull up the apron and remove the shell.

2. Remove the muck and guck. Scrape away the gills and discard.

How to

pick crabs 3. Snap the body in half. Keep the legs intact for leverage.

ILLUSTRATIONS AND TEXT BY JACKIE MALONEY

4. Slice through the center of each half to expose meaty compartments. Pick out the meat. Pull off the small legs, and either discard them or break them and suck out the meat.

5. Crack the claws using a knife and a mallet, then remove the meat. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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How to stage a

crab feast

Here are Urgo’s directions for staging a crab feast: Get the proper cooking equipment.

FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO COOK live creatures with sharp pincers (and serve them with finesse), we went to the experts—the Capital Crab Co. (capitalcrab.com), cofounded by Tim Walsh and Michael Urgo. The two childhood friends, who grew up in Potomac, run a food truck and catering business, and aside from home events, stage crab feasts at weddings, fundraisers, office parties and more. They handle any or all of the logistics, from setup to cleanup, along with side dishes and onsite cooking. And they’re well suited for the task: Walsh worked at the Bethesda Crab House for about a decade, and Urgo managed restaurants while working for Urgo Hotels & Resorts, his family’s Bethesda-based business. The two also have ownership stakes in several metro-area restaurants.

That means a big pot with a lid and a steaming rack or basket on the bottom, and long tongs or thick rubber gloves for transporting the crabs to the pot and taking them out.

Determine how many crabs you’ll need. Capital Crab recommends four to six large crabs per person, or five to seven medium crabs. But at every crab feast, there’s always someone who knocks off a dozen, and another guest who can handle only two, Urgo says.

Cover a sturdy table with brown paper. Urgo recommends avoiding glass Crab mallets, tables covered in brown paper, and buckets for shells are among the essentials for hosting a crab feast.

tables because all it takes is one miss with a mallet (it’s happened). Brown paper is cleaner, looks better and lasts longer than newspaper, which is thinner and can bleed ink.

Organize each place setting. Each person should have a crab mallet and thin crab knife or paring knife to help remove the shell. Set out individual ramekins with apple cider vinegar, melted butter and extra Old Bay or other seafood seasoning.

Consider handheld side dishes. These include corn on the cob, spiced shrimp and hush puppies. Coleslaw is popular, but that means forks with messy fingers.

Put shell buckets on the table. Urgo says anything from flower pots or mixing bowls to 12-pack beer boxes or wine buckets will do.

Set out several rolls of paper towels, and distribute moist towelettes after the feast.

Buy thick contractor trash bags for cleanup. Crab shells are sharp and will cut through thinner bags, which also can be an ineffective barrier against smells, particularly on a hot day. Without heavy bags, Urgo says, “it can get stinky.” 164

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL URGO

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3/19/18 12:02 PM

The Grilled Oyster Co.

Owner Rick Dugan’s 16-year-old daughter, Olivia, prompted a redo of the restaurant’s crabcake, insisting it had “too much stuff” and needed to be simpler. The no-frills reincarnation incorporates big, visible clumps of jumbo lump, barely held together with a touch of gluten-free panko, mayonnaise, Old Bay, Dijon and pepper. Dugan says he often ends up with crabmeat 166

from North Carolina, and sometimes Alabama, Louisiana or Venezuela, or Maryland if he can get it. The 5-ounce broiled patty is available in a sandwich or set alongside a grainy mustardfennel sauce and a corn-and-cucumber succotash, in what turns out to be a delicious idea. 7943 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, 301-299-9888, thegrilledoystercompany.com

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DECIDEDLY LESS MESSY than picking crabs yourself, crabcakes are on many menus in our area. But if you think your favorite patty is made from Maryland crabmeat, think again. Only a small number of restaurants in Maryland make their crabcakes from local crabmeat, says the Maryland Department of Agriculture. “For years it has been an open secret that many ‘Maryland crabcakes’ may be Maryland-style, but not necessarily with Maryland, or even American, crabmeat,” says the department’s website. So in 2012, the state developed a logo and promotional program called True Blue, which identifies restaurants and other establishments that are selling crabmeat from Maryland blue crabs. It now has 155 members throughout the state, with a handful from Montgomery County. (For a complete listing, see seafood.maryland.gov/true-blue-maryland-crab-meat.) The following restaurants are not part of the program, but make notable crabcakes nonetheless. After all, Maryland crabmeat doesn’t guarantee a chef’s success.

Nantucket’s Reef

The restaurant’s Crab “No” Cake is true to its name, with large knobs of broiled jumbo lump that are very lightly bound. “If you want cake, go to the baker,” jokes general manager Katharyne Murphy, who says the restaurant’s blue crabmeat comes from a variety of locales, depending on the quality and market price. That means there’s no Maryland crabmeat, which Murphy says is “significantly” more expensive—anywhere from $6 to $12 more per pound than crabmeat from other sources. “At that point, we’d be charging $80 for a crabcake dinner,” she says. Nantucket’s Reef’s entrée is $19.55 for a 5-ounce crabcake and two sides. And they don’t have to be the ubiquitous coleslaw and french fries—they could be roasted and flash-fried Brussels sprouts, grilled corn on the cob or other options. Just ask. 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301-279-7333, nantucketsreef.com

O’Donnell’s Market

In the seafood business for nearly 100 years, O’Donnell’s should know how to nail a great crabcake, and it does. Mixed with mayonnaise, egg and other ingredients that owner Bill Edelblut would “prefer not to tell,” the interior has a nice creaminess, the jumbo lump crabmeat is fresh tasting and generous, and if you order the sandwich, it comes on a grilled brioche roll with terrific house-made tartar sauce. Edelblut (grandson of founder Tom O’Donnell) says he’s tried Venezuelan crabmeat but sticks with domestic products from North Carolina, Virginia or Maryland. The 5-ounce crabcakes at O’Donnell’s can be eaten at the tables or counter at the market, and they’re available for carryout in a special container that goes right in the oven. 1073 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 301-251-6355, odonnellsmarket.com n Contributing editor Carole Sugarman lives in Chevy Chase.

CRABCAKE PHOTO BY DEB LINDSEY

The crabcake sandwich at O’Donnell’s Market in Potomac

3 great crabcakes

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Lerch, Early & Brewer

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What should I expect from my divorce attorney? If you are going through or are contemplating separation or divorce, you need information. Our attorneys are responsive: they’re excellent listeners, they answer their phones, and they include you in the process at every step of the way so you understand your rights and responsibilities. When working with us, you always know exactly where things stand in your case. Lerch Early clients also benefit from the experience of a boutique family law shop backed by the knowledge and support of a full-service law firm. When a matter involves complex real estate, business, tax, employment, estate, or criminal defense issues, our clients benefit from close collaboration between our divorce attorneys and their colleagues in the firm’s other practice areas.

Lerch Early’s team of divorce lawyers, one of the most respected family law groups in the D.C. metropolitan area, represents clients in complex and highly contentious conflicts, as well as in simpler, more amicable matters in Maryland and D.C. We regularly handle issues including alimony, asset distribution, child support/ custody/visitation, post-divorce modifications and prenuptial/ postnuptial agreements.

When should I go to court for a divorce? Ideally, disputes are resolved amicably, without the need for litigation. Lerch Early attorneys are highly skilled at negotiation, mediation, and collaborative law. However, in the case you are unable to come to an amicable resolution, you need attorneys who excel in the courtroom. Lerch Early’s divorce attorneys are prepared and forceful advocates before the courts in Maryland and the District, with significant trial experience.

7600 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-986-1300 www.lerchearly.com

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Jeffrey N. Greenblatt ATTORNEY AT LAW JOSEPH GREENWALD & LAAKE, PA Do you have a particular type of client you often work with? Although I represent husbands/fathers and wives/mothers of all ages and in all situations, due to our aging population, I’m representing more and more clients going through “gray divorces.” This refers to clients over 50 who no longer have young children living at home. Gray divorce has become more common because of longer life spans, a reduced stigma attached to divorce and a large increase in the number of women in the workforce. These clients face distinctive challenges in their divorces, and I work to help them achieve their goals of long-term financial security, a fair division of substantial assets and debts, access to health care, and providing for adult children’s higher education expenses. Do you anticipate any major changes in the law that will affect your clients? Yes. Under the new federal tax law enacted last year, alimony payments will no longer be deductible by the spouse paying alimony, nor will spouses receiving alimony be required to pay taxes on the alimony received. BUT, this change doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2019. I expect this change in tax law will have a significant impact on the amount of alimony that the economically dominant spouse would be willing to pay because alimony will no longer provide a tax benefit to the paying spouse. So, those individuals likely to be obligated to pay alimony will want to take action before the end of 2018. Once 2019 comes around, all of our assumptions regarding alimony will no longer apply.

HILARY SCHWAB

Jeffrey N. Greenblatt is a leading family law attorney in the Maryland area. He represents individuals in complex matters such as divorce, alimony, child custody, support, prenuptial agreements, division of retirement assets and business valuations. He’s equally skilled at trying cases in court and negotiating settlements.

111 Rockville Pike, Suite 975 Rockville, MD 20850 240-399-7894 www.jgllaw.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 169

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Dawn C. Sequeira LEGACY IMMIGRATION

What sets you apart? I come from a scientific and artistic background, which enables me to think logically, yet creatively. I include a lot of “heart” in my filings because my clients are more than “just a number” or “case file.” My aim is to put the adjudicator in my client’s proverbial shoes, and in doing so, I can often persuade the officer to approve the case. To me, knowledge is power. I empower my clients by educating them about their case and immigration law. This area of law is deeply personal. My clients place their trust and faith in me, and because I hold their lives in my hands, I devote myself wholeheartedly to each filing. I work on each case until I know I’ve done my best. My clients are often surprised by my spirituality. I pray for every client, regardless of his or her religion. I pray over every petition sent and attribute most of my success to God, with the remainder going to my amazing husband, mother and brother. 170

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Ms. Sequeira has represented individuals, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, hospitals and nonprofits. She is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. and N.Y. Bars.

10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20817 301-529-1912 www.legacyimmigrationattorney.com

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What is Legacy Immigration? Legacy Immigration is the manifestation of my desire to help people from a grassroots level. In choosing the name, I thought, “What makes this country great?” The answer was the same reason my parents came: Opportunity and freedom to create a lasting legacy. Immigration Law is extremely challenging due to ever-changing statutes and regulations. Each case requires an in-depth understanding of the INA and CFR and how they’re intertwined. I advocate vigorously by presenting new and persuasive interpretations of preexisting law based on a meticulous examination of my client’s case.

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Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC

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Will I will have to pay alimony? Alimony is determined based on one spouse’s reasonable and necessary needs and other party’s ability to contribute to those needs after his or her own needs have been met. Unlike child support, there are no sanctioned “guidelines” or calculators for the determination. Instead, in determining the amount and the duration of the alimony that should be awarded, the court looks at each parties’ financial statement along with a number of other factors, such as the marriage length, age of the parties, health of the parties, ability of the spouse seeking alimony to be self-supporting, circumstances that led to the breakdown of the marriage, and the standard of living the parties established during the marriage. There are two types of alimony—rehabilitative and indefinite. Rehabilitative alimony is for a set period of time. Indefinite alimony has no pre-determined time limit. Alimony ordered by the court is always modifiable in amount and in duration. When alimony is determined by an agreement between the parties, the parties can agree on whether alimony will be non-modifiable or modifiable. If I receive alimony, will I have to pay taxes on it? The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes the way alimony is handled starting in 2019 to become tax neutral—or nondeductible to the payor and tax-free to the recipient. However, divorce or separation agreements executed prior to 2019 (including subsequent modifications) will preserve the old tax treatment.

Stein Sperling’s Family Law team understands the personal and financial difficulties individuals face during a divorce. With over 100 years combined experience handling issues of separation, divorce, custody and the distribution of marital property, our attorneys utilize a sensitive approach together with the determination and expertise needed to achieve clients’ objectives.

25 West Middle Lane Rockville, MD 20850 301-340-2020 www.steinsperling.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 171

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Hostetter Strent LLC

How do I pick the best family law attorney for me? Look for someone who listens; someone with extensive knowledge of Maryland law, who appears in court regularly, is known by judges and works well with other firms. You want someone with the skills to litigate, while maintaining the judgement and discretion to seek other dispute resolution methods if more effective. Find someone who is responsive to your requests, truly cares about you and will be on your side, working to improve your family situation. 172

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We focus on all aspects of domestic relations law—divorce, property distribution, alimony, custody and child support—and can assist at any stage in a relationship: from prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements to divorce. We are well versed in all methods of dispute resolution—all settlement options, collaborative law, mediation, litigation and more—and use methods best suited to each client’s goals. 7201 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 675 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-0010 www.hostetterstrent.com

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How will the new tax law affect my divorce case? Alimony awards agreed upon via signed and legally binding divorce or separation agreements or court ordered after Dec. 31, 2018, will not be tax deductible to the payor nor will the payments be treated as income to the alimony recipient. Alimony awards—regardless of how long payments are to be made—either agreed to via a signed and legally binding divorce or separation agreement, or are court ordered prior to that date, will continue to be deductible from the payor’s income and treated as income to the alimony recipient, unless parties agree otherwise. After Dec. 31, 2018, modifications of alimony awarded or agreed to prior to that date, will receive the same tax treatment as the original amounts if the agreement expressly provides for this accommodation. Parties should also consider the elimination of dependency tax exemptions when negotiating allocation of tax benefits related to children.

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Anne E. Grover JOSEPH GREENWALD & LAAKE, PA How do clients benefit from working with you/ your firm? Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A. is a sizable firm that handles a number of different areas of law. This is incredibly beneficial to a client, whose life may not fit neatly into one “box” or subject matter when he or she comes to me for assistance. I focus on family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, and enforcement actions. However, my client may need a business attorney to delve into how best to handle a buy-sell agreement or may need a trusts and estates attorney to handle a family trust. Our ability to have so many talented attorneys specializing in different areas of law is a great benefit to our clients. What are the three most important characteristics to look for in a lawyer and why? Knowledge, experience and rapport. You always want someone with breadth of knowledge in the specific area of law. There are a lot of minutiae in family law. It is not an intuitive area of law. You need an attorney who understands what legal concepts like dissipation are and what cases establish how one proves dissipation—and who also has the experience to put the information in front of the judge in an easily digestible manner. Just as important, you need to feel like you and your attorney are speaking the same language, that your attorney understands your concerns and goals and addresses them with you.

HILARY SCHWAB

Anne E. Grover provides compassionate and aggressive representation to her clients in a wide variety of family law matters, including separation and divorce, child custody disputes, contempt and enforcement proceedings, prenuptial agreements, and protective orders. She brings a sophisticated understanding of financial and tax issues to her work.

111 Rockville Pike, Suite 975 Rockville, MD 20850 240-399-7896 www.jgllaw.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 173

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Andrea Hirsch LAW OFFICE OF ANDREA HIRSCH Why have you focused your career on family law? I enjoy the personal approach. My practice is very client focused; I build relationships with my clients, relationships in which they trust me to have their best interest at heart— and I always do. I get to know my clients, I listen to their concerns and needs, and together we figure out what is most important to them. For example, what they want their lives to look like after their divorce, what they want their children’s lives to look like or how they want to co-parent. A good family lawyer should be the right fit. When I first meet clients, it’s my job to engage them. I’m a pretty relaxed person, and I’m creative. I can help people think outside the box, and coming up with creative solutions is important in reaching settlements. How can I benefit from a collaborative divorce? In a collaborative divorce, both parties sign a commitment agreement ensuring the case will be settled outside the courtroom. The process then moves along at a pace that best suits the client, rather than court system—which usually cuts costs—and the final result is not left up to a judge’s discretion. Everyone is looking for shared solutions; there is no posturing, no strategic positioning. Both sides have a team behind them looking out for their best interest every step of the way. As your collaborative law attorney, I will be by your side, guiding you to make good decisions and helping you advocate for yourself.

1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20009 202-480-2160 www.andreahirschlaw.com 174

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Serving D.C. and Maryland, Hirsch is a skilled litigator, trained mediator and a leader in collaborative law, handling all family law matters—divorce, child custody/support, prenuptial agreements and more. She provides a personal approach to family law and has the tools to help clients resolve their most contentious disputes.

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Shelly D. McKeon, Esq. THE MCKEON LAW FIRM Will getting a divorce break the bank? While money is a concern when facing divorce, fears about cost are often exaggerated. The most extensive costs typically occur when someone attempts a doit-yourself approach and later has to pay to fix their mistakes. Consider working with a family law attorney a worthwhile investment in your future. At The McKeon Law Firm, we are big proponents of empowering our clients through education on every available option, enabling them to make informed decisions that fit within their comfort zones. Many issues can be settled through mediation, which can be more cost effective than going to court. We know family law issues can create stress and fear, and we strive to minimize those feelings as much as possible, through our handson approach to every case. How is alimony determined? There are many factors to be considered—the court’s guidelines for determining alimony do not include a fixed formula. In court, the judge has discretion to grant alimony based on such factors as, contributions to the marriage by each party, age and health of the parties, and length of the marriage. Judges also take into consideration who the children’s primary caregiver was and the projected future income. We can guide you through your divorce, help determine whether you should ask for alimony and what to expect during the process. We can also present a case challenging alimony claims from the other party, if needed. We are experienced negotiators, both in and out of the courtroom, and our experience as parents and spouses, makes us understanding litigators. The McKeon Law Firm offers a personal approach and customized solutions for all family law matters. Shelly D. McKeon has been recognized as a top lawyer by Washingtonian magazine, included in “Maryland Super Lawyers” and received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating.

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17 B Firstfield Road, Suite 101 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-417-9222 www.mckeonlawfirm.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 175

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Rismiller Law Group

When should I see a divorce lawyer? The earlier you start planning, the better prepared you and your attorney will be. If you are contemplating a change such as a family separation, you don’t need to wait until you are separated to schedule a consultation or seek advice. We’re often asked if a oneyear separation is required to get divorced and many clients are surprised to learn the answer. We encourage anyone contemplating the process to reach out for information and guidance. 176

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At Rismiller Law Group we practice in the areas of family law, business planning and formation, trusts and estates law, and civil and criminal litigation. We combine experience and compassion to provide effective legal representation with integrity, professionalism and unrivaled commitment to our clients’ best interest.

51 Monroe Place, Suite 1406 Rockville, MD 20852 301-340-1616 www.rismillerlaw.com

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How do clients benefit from working with your firm? Our clients benefit from the reputation we have built and from our goal-centric approach. Our reputation is guided by the fundamental principles of integrity, professionalism and results. We employ these principles in all aspects of our representation. With each client, we develop a plan that is custom tailored to help the client achieve his or her desired goals in the most cost-effective way. While some firms market themselves as being aggressive litigators or collaborative peacemakers, we handle all resolution methods. We effectively handle matters involving mediation, alternative dispute models, collaborative methods, litigation and everything in between. At Rismiller Law Group, we consider ourselves in a partnership with clients. We don’t just tell them what to do, we explain all options and the most likely outcomes. Working in partnership, we map out a plan and create a strategy to achieve our clients’ goals, keeping them informed throughout the entire process. We are vigilant about staying in communication with clients.

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Scott M. Strickler and Geoffrey S. Platnick SHULMAN ROGERS FAMILY LAW

TONY J. LEWIS

How do you prepare differently for mediation versus litigation? The best way to settle any case, inside or outside the courtroom, is to be better prepared than the other side. We believe in strategic rather than reactive thinking whether preparing for mediation or trial, recognizing that every case is different and that a tactical approach is critical. Every decision made on behalf of clients must be calculated to achieve their ultimate goals, and being prepared for litigation enables a client to feel confident in approaching an alternative dispute resolution process like mediation. Resolving a case in mediation makes it possible to include terms that are outside of the court’s authority, including structuring financial settlements in tax-advantageous ways or including specific provisions for children, such as college funding or life insurance coverage. How do I choose an attorney to represent me in my financially complex divorce? Ask lots of questions! Your attorney should be able to explain different strategies and approaches to the identification and valuation of businesses and other assets, the purposes and tactics involved in your financial statement preparation and ways to use the tax code to maximize alimony, child support and other financial outcomes for you and your family. Most financially complex divorce cases will involve expert witnesses in different disciplines, from forensic accountants and business valuation professionals to vocational rehabilitation experts, and your lawyer should be able to identify the areas in which such expertise will be necessary.

Geoffrey Platnick and Scott Strickler are shareholders within the Shulman Rogers Family Law Practice Group, a U.S. News & World Report “First Tier” Family Law Firm. Both are Peer Review Rated as “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence for attorneys.

12505 Park Potomac Ave. Potomac, MD 20854 301-231-0924 www.ShulmanRogers.com

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Kuder, Smollar, Friedman & Mihalik, PC What is one thing your clients should know about you? At our firm, we believe that in the majority of cases, resolving family law disputes through private agreements specifically tailored to our clients’ needs is preferable to contested litigation. Our attorneys offer reliable advice and creative solutions, and seek to handle the complex issues facing our clients using a team approach that is designed to avoid the extraordinary costs—both monetary and emotional— of lengthy litigation. We, of course, understand not every case is suitable for private resolution and our attorneys are prepared to zealously advocate for our clients’ interests at every stage of the process.

1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 202-331-7522 www.ksfmlaw.com

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Kuder, Smollar, Friedman & Mihalik, P.C. has been committed to helping clients in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with family and personal legal matters for more than 40 years. Our attorneys are experienced litigators, skilled negotiators and well-versed in alternative dispute resolution methods, including Collaborative Practice.

Webb Soypher McGrath What are the most critical steps I should take if facing separation or divorce? It is never too early to consult with an attorney to learn about your rights, obligations and what legal concepts may apply to your situation. A simple internet search won’t be tailored to your specific case; therefore, early preparation will help avoid missteps and undesirable outcomes. We often encounter clients who negotiated with their spouse without consulting an attorney. In such cases, we frequently discover they’ve agreed to terms contrary to the law that do not serve their best interests. In addition, be mindful when sending electronic communications and posting on social media; written messages sent impulsively can have lasting effects on you or your children. Seeking guidance from an attorney early on can reduce the likelihood of making common mistakes.

4340 East West Highway, Suite 401 Bethesda, MD 20814 301-298-8401 www.wsmfamily.com 178

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HEATHER FUENTES

Webb Soypher McGrath is devoted to family law and trust and estate litigation in Maryland and D.C. The premier boutique firm provides responsive, ethical and cost-effective representation.

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Reza Golesorkhi

JOSEPH GREENWALD & LAAKE, PA Why should I hire you? I understand the value of your time. Many of my clients are career professionals, businesspeople and stay at home moms who all have tight schedules by which they live. To make the most effective use of your time and mine, I routinely meet my clients at their businesses, office or home. Personalized service, I believe, is what clients want, need and deserve. If you’re getting divorced, or contemplating it, you’ll need a lawyer and advisor who understands the law and is unafraid to stand up for your rights. That’s me. I’m happy to go toe-to-toe with another top-ranked attorney. That being said, only a few divorces cases actually go to court. So, I use the same advocacy skills to get my clients favorable settlements. What is one thing clients should know about you? I’m divorced with four kids who are a huge part of my life. You can be both a professional and a good parent. The reason I am so upfront and honest with my clients—I don’t sugar coat things—is that without a doubt, I draw upon my experience. A reality check can be tough at the time, but clients are always appreciative in the end. People hire me for my professional opinion, not to agree with them.

HILARY SCHWAB

Reza Golesorkhi is widely recognized as one of a few elite divorce lawyers in the Maryland and D.C. areas. Skilled in all facets of client advocacy, his command of the courtroom sets him apart—he’s the divorce lawyer you want in court. His business background also makes him the go-to divorce lawyer for high net worth individuals.

111 Rockville Pike, Suite 975 Rockville, MD 20850 240-399-7892 www.jgllaw.com BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018 179

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Altman & Associates Who needs an estate plan and why? Estate planning is often misunderstood, perceived as something only done when people are very old, ill or rich. But estate planning accounts for much more than who will inherit your assets after you’re gone. Today’s estate planning brings clarity to some very important and deeply personal issues impacting the daily lives of people of all ages, and families of all kinds: Tackling tricky family circumstances like divorce and remarriage, deciding who will make your medical, financial and parental decisions if you become incapacitated, planning for long-term care of a special needs child, establishing a business succession plan, looking for ways to reduce income taxes, making gifts to loved ones and charitable organizations, and much more. We view estate planning as a process, not a product…something that guides people through every stage of their lives.

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The Altman & Associates team brings more than 50 years of combined estate planning and wealth experience to residents of MD, D.C., VA and N.Y.

Sogand Zamani ZAMANI & ASSOCIATES What separates you from others in the industry? Serving a multicultural area, my educational background, proficiencies in French and Persian, and experience in conflict resolution and international legal issues, allow me to navigate challenging international custody and divorce disputes with complex jurisdictional and cross-cultural considerations. I go above and beyond what is expected of me as an advocate, utilizing my relationship-building skills to influence others, whether at the negotiating table to achieve the best results possible for clients, or in the legislative process where I seek to advance positive change in family law. At the end of the day, you need an attorney who will not only advance your interests to reach resolution, but who will also roll up her sleeves and keep going, even in the face of adversity.

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Sogand practices family, adoption and assisted reproductive technology law. She is an experienced litigator, mediator and collaborative law practitioner.

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Jay Holland JOSEPH GREENWALD & LAAKE, PA What do you find most satisfying about your job? I love what I do: I help people and businesses resolve problems. That might mean engaging the other side in intensive negotiation; or in some cases aggressive litigation and taking my client’s case to trial. I pride myself on actively listening to my clients to truly understand not just their predicament, but what resolution they are seeking. Whistleblowers and victims of harassment and discrimination often feel as if the whole world is against them. I find it incredibly rewarding to serve as an advocate for a client throughout what can be a lengthy legal battle. Helping my clients with my deep understanding of the law and creative use of resolutions is the most satisfying part of my job. What is one thing your clients should know about you? I received an unexpected gift from a client at the end of a very hotly contested whistleblower case. It is a plaque that reads: “The Best Lawyer a Client Could Ever Have.” The plaque is a reminder of the importance of serving as a loyal ally, protector and advocate for my clients. The process and “legalese” can be daunting – even for sophisticated clients. So, it is my job to make sure they understand the process and the options. You can be passionate without arrogance. I maintain a healthy dose of humility which is appreciated by my clients and helps achieve their goals. As C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

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Jay Holland represents individuals and businesses in workplace disputes. He has litigated and negotiated settlements for thousands of clients facing employment issues. Jay also represents senior-level executives in contract and severance negotiations. He is nationally known for his representation of whistleblowers under the federal False Claims Act in cases involving government contract fraud.

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Back to Her Roots

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Wedding florist Sophie Felts grew up on a tree farm in Montgomery County, where as a child she helped out in her fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nursery. Years later she moved home and started a business of her own. BY MELANIE D.G. KAPLAN | PHOTOS BY GASTON LACOMBE

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ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON in

September, wedding florist Sophie Felts is searching for something. Standing in the middle of her floral studio in an old converted barn, she scans dozens of tall plastic pails on the floor that are filled with branches and sherbet-colored flowers. “We need whites,” she says to no one in particular. “Where are the whites?” She stares at the dahlias. “Are these too orangey?” she mutters before moving toward the walk-in flower refrigerator. The studio, on a quiet two-lane road in Laytonsville, just a stone’s throw from where she grew up, is painted white, with a contemporary table and four pastelpink folding chairs set up near a garage 184

door in the front. House & Garden magazines from the 1970s are stacked in the bathroom, and a spool of hand-dyed silk ribbon hangs near a wood-burning stove. Twenty clipboards adorn the wall, perfectly aligned, each with an upcoming wedding date and a collage of flower photos. Felts, her hair in a messy bun, walks out of the refrigerator. “Oh good, there’s more white in the cooler,” she says, also remembering the delivery of white cosmos scheduled for that afternoon. At the moment, Felts, the founder of Blossom + Vine, is preparing for a threewedding weekend: one in Annapolis, another in Purcellville, Virginia, and a

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third in St. Michaels at the Inn at Perry Cabin, where Wedding Crashers was filmed. Gone are the days when she ran the business on her own and often found herself crying at 2 a.m. over the amount of work she had to do. Still, the weight of making a bride’s dream day come true, at least in the floral department, rests on her shoulders. “It always hits me when all the flowers are here,” she says. “A panic about not being able to do it.” Felts, who has four young children, has to leave home before 5 a.m. tomorrow to deliver one couple’s flowers to a wedding planner. Later in the weekend she’ll be hanging giant eucalyptus wreaths on

barn doors and handling flower arrangements in giant urns, which she’s afraid will blow over. One of the brides, whom Felts describes as “a country girl,” wants her bouquet nestled around pheasant feathers and antlers. Yes, antlers.

THERE’S A FLORAL REVOLUTION

underway, producing stunning, wild and flawed arrangements that may include dead sticks, miniature strawberries or even animal horns. A New York Times “Vows” column earlier this year reported that a wedding florist “foraged the greenery for the gorgeous flower arrangements from trees in a nearby parking lot.” Today’s brides pay good money for

Felts emerges from the flower refrigerator at a Laytonsville nursery with a bucket of dinnerplate dahlias. Opposite: Felts, right, works on wedding centerpieces with colleagues Erica Conner (far left) and Ali Chakola.

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imperfection—whether it’s browning weeds or leaves nibbled by worms—and for the creativity behind it. Goodbye, rigidly positioned, perfectly proportioned arrangements. Hello, whimsy. Felts, 35, is at the forefront of this movement. Inspired by the work of celebrity florist Erin Benzakein, Felts started her business in 2013 and now averages 30 to 35 weddings a year. She teams up with local growers who adjust their planting based on her needs, not unlike chefs who partner with organic farms that will accommodate a restaurant’s menu. In March, she and her Blossom + Vine team hosted a nine-day, $3,000 per person training workshop for freelance floral designers. Tan and slender with bright blue eyes, Felts has a youthful, folksy and sometimes self-deprecating way, quick to deflect praise. Even in her design work, she can seem uncertain, doubting the placement of new stems. Other times, her delight over a new floral combination, wildflowers on the side of the road, or seedlings sprouting from the ground can make her gasp, giddy with joy. At the studio, named “Daphne Hill” after her youngest child, Felts breathes a sigh of relief over the white flowers. For the moment, everything is on track. She’s already picked up her order from PlantMasters, a nearby flower shop— the wreaths, four bunches of lavender and white cosmos, 50 tuberoses and 15 bunches of peach and coral Lilliput zinnias—and the strong smell of eucalyptus has overtaken the studio. Felts hops into a small utility vehicle and drives onto the adjacent 600-acre tree farm where she spent much of her childhood—her father, Craig Ruppert, founded Ruppert Nurseries there. When trees grow too close together, the nursery staff marks individual trunks with ribbon to indicate where Felts can cut branches for her brides. With a long pruner, she trims from ginkgo and dynasty elm trees, and clips some goldenrod and aster from a field. Throughout the day, the barn bustles with visitors. Felts’ sister, Charlotte 186

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Clockwise from opposite page, top: Feltsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daughters June (left) and Cordelia join her as she drives around Ruppert Nurseries pruning branches and leaves; Cordelia, 7, snacks on a sunflower; Felts and colleague Erica Conner stop on the side of the road to harvest wild greenery for floral arrangements; Felts and Ali Chakola inspect the contents of the vehicle after a foraging trip; the nursery staff marks tree trunks with ribbon to indicate where Felts can cut branches for her brides.

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Erica Conner gathers flowers at one of Blossom + Vine’s local suppliers, Red Wiggler Community Farm in Germantown. Below: Felts with Leon Carrier at PlantMasters in Laytonsville.

McGehee, Blossom + Vine’s production manager, arrives at lunchtime with her baby. Then the au pair shows up with three of Felts’ children (7-year-old Cordelia is in school). Four-year-old twins June (hanging onto her mother’s neck) and Kael (jealous that June’s being held) want to stay with Felts while she works, as they often do. Felts says she struggles with the idea of having full-time help for her children, but she considers her au pair part of the team that makes the business possible. “I feel constantly guilty and wonder if I’m doing it right,” she says. “But I feel like we’ve hit a really sweet spot. I feel like we found a formula that, at least for this second, is working.” Felts calls Woody Woodroof, the founder of Red Wiggler Community Farm in Germantown, where she’ll go 188

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later today to cut end-of-season cosmos and strawflowers, to tell him that she’s running late. Then Jessica Todd from Cut Flowers by Clear Ridge, a flower grower in Carroll County, stops by to drop off 385 stems of pompon dahlias in peach, coral and burgundy, which look like tissue paper flowers. She and Felts talk shop for a few minutes, agreeing that they should grab coffee sometime, then laughing because, of course, they’re both too busy.

GROWING UP ON THE tree farm,

Felts was surrounded by plants and dirt. She and her three younger siblings helped out in their father’s nursery—two hours of “Pop time” every week spent pruning, mulching, mowing and raking, and later helping with tree inventory. Craig Ruppert, who heads up what is now one of the largest big-tree nurseries east of the Mississippi, taught his brood about business at a young age. Whenever they stopped at a lemonade stand, he was quick to turn the experience into a teachable moment, discussing business concepts like the cost of supplies. “Lemonade cups aren’t free,” he’d say. Felts graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, then located in Wheaton, in 2000. When she and her sister Charlotte were in college at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, they went into the pumpkin business, coming home during fall breaks to sell wholesale and from a roadside stand in Laytonsville. One year, the handheld tiller broke when they were in the first row of planting, with 5 acres to go. Felts remembered an old sign her father had hung in the barn, written in marker on a crooked piece of wood: “Don’t despair, but if you do, work on in despair.” (They managed to finish the job.) At harvest time, Ruppert would watch his daughters drive off with a pickup truck and trailer full of pumpkins and challenge them not to return until it was empty. At Virginia Tech, Felts enjoyed college life—“if only it weren’t for the classes,” she told her mother freshman year—con-

. The morning of a wedding, Felts and her team have to pack all the flowers and supplies into her van without damaging anything fragile.

sidered becoming an actress, and met her future husband, Mike. They began dating in February 2004, and shortly after that his National Guard unit deployed to Afghanistan for more than a year. He proposed during a two-week leave. The couple married on the tree farm in October 2005 after dating in person for less than two months. Guests sat at tables

with blue-and-white gingham tablecloths, and the celebration exploded with wildflowers. The couple moved to Asheville, North Carolina, for five years, where Felts worked at a summer camp for girls, before moving back to the tree farm to start a family. Mike started working as an estimator for Ruppert Nurseries. In

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back to her roots

From left: Felts and Conner use magnets to hang eucalyptus in a wedding reception hall; a floral arch assembled on location for a wedding.

2013, Felts was home with three young children, nursing twins and itching to get back to work. One day during nap time she found herself on Pinterest and discovered Erin Benzakein’s Floret, a farm specializing in uncommon and heirloom flowers in Washington state’s Skagit Valley. Oh my gosh, I want to do that, Felts thought. That’s what I want to be. Felts pored over photos of flowering branches, fresh-from-the-garden herbs and asymmetrical bouquets. “I kind of became obsessed,” she says. Within days, Felts had signed up for Benzakein’s threeday workshop outside of Seattle. In the meantime, she read all of Benzakein’s blog posts, visited local flower farmers 190

and bought seeds. “I went flower crazy.” At the workshop, Felts daydreamed about her future. “Erin got the business end of it and the beautiful flower end of it,” she says. “That made sense to me.” Felts’ father had joined her on the trip. She remembers him saying, “Sophie, is this going to be a hobby or a business?” Today, Benzakein’s book, Cut Flower Garden, is Felts’ bible, and she keeps it within arm’s reach when she’s working. “She’s a whole empire,” Felts says, flipping through the book and commenting on photos. “Mums are typically straight burgundy or white, not burnt-orange with deeper orange tips or mustardy-yellow. Such cool stuff.” Benzakein says Felts sets her work apart

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by foraging on the tree farm and reflecting the seasons. “Sophie’s work is really lovely,” she says. “The trend toward local, seasonal flowers is rapidly growing, and Sophie is leading the way in her region.” Felts also relies on her local floral tribe, including Sue Prutting of White Magnolia Designs in Potomac. The two met at Benzakein’s workshop. Felts called on Prutting to help with her first big job—a 70-centerpiece corporate event that involved branches of baby tomatoes—and considers her a mentor. Felts’ sister handles the orders and maintains the budget. “She’s the numbers girl, steady and stable,” Felts says of McGehee. “I’m more out there, like, ‘Chill out—it’s all going to work.’ ” Both women

learned about numbers from their father. “He’d say, ‘The top line—total revenue— feeds your ego,’ ” Felts says. “ ‘The bottom line—actual profit—feeds your family.’ ”

BRIDES START BY FILLING out a

questionnaire on Blossom + Vine’s website that covers their wedding style and color scheme. Felts then has what she calls a “hopes and dreams” phone call with the bride, and the occasional groom, using all the phrases that probably make women think she’s a mind reader: “loose and elegant,” “hand-tied bouquet,” “shades of cream and blush.” She talks about twinkly lights, soft seasonal greenery and lush romantic arrangements. Then she puts together a mood board, a collage of inspiring images. Her wedding packages start at $6,000. Naturally, Felts encounters the occasional bridezilla who needs to control every detail. But her favorite customers tell her, “Just make me something beauti-

ful with what’s in season now. I trust you.” Taylor Sevin of Alexandria hired Felts for her September 2017 wedding at Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg. “I wanted it to feel like nature,” Sevin says. “Lush, laidback, nothing too stuff y.” She also wanted plenty of bright colors to reflect her and her fiancé’s Middle Eastern heritage. On her wedding day, Sevin was having her hair and makeup done when Felts delivered her bouquet. “It took my breath away,” Sevin says. “It looked like you just walked through a garden and picked up flowers, and that’s exactly what I wanted it to look like.” The couple married under a floral arch in front of 200 guests, with Sevin wearing a flowy organza dress. “I told Sophie I wish I could get married a second time so I could build this creative vision again.” When it comes time for a wedding, Felts and her staff are in high gear, building arches, hanging giant arrangements over entrances, tying ribbons on chair

backs and moving flowers from the ceremony site to the reception. Now that she has a staff of four, Felts has started thinking about details such as uniforms. She envisions a black jumpsuit, a leather farmer-florist tool belt (which sells for $175 on Benzakein’s website) and lipstick. Why a jumpsuit? “Because then you can reach up,” Felts says, “and the belly doesn’t show.” She often thinks of the corny sayings and lessons she learned while growing up on the farm. Her dad, who started his own business when he was 16, still likes to give her advice. “He knows nothing about flowers, but he thinks it’s fun to be involved,” Felts says, laughing. “I think he’s proud of what we’re doing.” His latest quip: Anyone can sell a good steak—you gotta work on the sizzle. ■ Melanie D.G. Kaplan (@melaniedgkaplan on Twitter) is a freelance writer in the District. Her website is melaniedgkaplan.com.

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David Godoy hugs and thanks his favorite horse, Del Boy, at the end of each therapeutic riding session. Then Godoy wraps his arms around Del Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck in order to help himself safely dismount.

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‘a perfect match’ At a therapeutic riding center in Boyds, horses are helping people with special needs discover their strengths and abilities TEXT AND PHOTOS BY APRIL WITT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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A After his therapeutic horseback riding session, David Godoy waits for a MetroAccess van to take him home to Montgomery Village.

The late-afternoon sun casts long shadows across the bucolic grounds of Great and Small. The barns in the background once belonged to a dairy farm.

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A white MetroAccess van with a motorized lift to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters heads north past the dense subdivisions and clotted roadways of a suburbia chockablock with strip malls, big-box stores, dry cleaners and restaurants. The van and its passenger travel miles beyond all that to a spare landscape where pastures and barns outnumber subdivisions, and red-tailed hawks circle overhead. The lone passenger in the van, David Godoy, 37, of Montgomery Village, is going to the Great and Small therapeutic riding center in Boyds, Maryland, to visit a horse. This is no ordinary meeting; it is a kind of communion. The man and the horse each journeyed far to reach this patch of farmland where their fates, improbably, intertwined. Godoy, who has cerebral palsy, was born in Ecuador with physical deformities that made it difficult for him to stand or walk through much of his childhood. Kids in his small town mocked him. As a teen he had surgery to lengthen the muscles in his contorted legs, and he now walks with leg braces. To cover longer distances faster, Godoy rides a motorized scooter. The mount Godoy has come to ride is a sturdy, grayish-white Connemara pony named Del Boy. Born in Ireland, Del Boy was brought to the United States in his youth and went on to compete successfully in horse shows. Now Del Boy, who is about 24, is too old for athletic contests focused on leaping barriers to win ribbons and silver cups. Last year he began a new career as a therapy horse. “It seems like Del Boy and me have known each other a long time,” Godoy says in his usual soft, formal cadence. “I can whisper something in his ear and he knows what I am saying. His personality is like my personality: outgoing and very

Godoy, wearing a protective riding helmet, stands in the sunny, comfortably well-worn lounge of Great and Small.

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Godoy beams during a therapeutic horseback riding session with staff instructor Peggy Itrich (right) and volunteer Ellen Pearl (left).

friendly. He knows how the rider feels. If the rider feels a very sad emotion, the horse feels the same way. If I am feeling happy because we are having a very good lesson, then I am transmitting my happy emotions to Del Boy. “We are a perfect match.” Godoy pauses to think. Then he smiles. “It is,” he says, “like together we are making heaven.” 196

SARAH PHELPS, 55, is drinking her morning coffee and thinking, once again, that she really needs to buy curtains for her kitchen windows. That’s because Pete, one of three horses that live on her family property in Boyds, knows where to stand in the front paddock so he can peer into the kitchen and remind Phelps that he, too, would like breakfast. Phelps doesn’t need much prodding. “I love all the rituals

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of taking care of horses,” she says. “Twice a day—very early in the morning and late in the afternoon—it’s filling up water buckets, filling troughs, preparing the hay, doling out the hay. I love the smells and the sounds. There is nothing so transcendently peaceful for me like the sound of horses eating hay in a quiet barn. It is like having a satin blanket pulled all the way up to your nose. It is just so beautiful.”

Phelps’ desire to share that beautiful peace inspired her to found Great and Small, the nonprofit center that Godoy now visits every Wednesday afternoon. In the 1990s, Phelps, a lawyer, was doing some pro bono work for abused and neglected children in the District. She began taking some of her young clients on country outings to visit and eventually ride horses. Phelps watched children who had little control over the difficult circumstances of their daily existence experience joy and empowerment. Inspired, she began strongarming everyone she knew to help her fund and formalize a therapeutic riding program. Great and Small officially opened in 1998. Today, Phelps has returned to practicing law full time and has no official role at the riding center she founded other than as a helpful neighbor. She and her family live right down the road. Great and Small is located on an approximately 40-acre site that once was occupied by a dairy farm and is now owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The therapeutic riding center, which leases its land and buildings from the commission, has expanded to serve clients of all ages and backgrounds. A staff of trained instructors and managers, supported by a large roster of horseloving volunteers, hosts about 55 clients weekly. Those who come to Great and Small face a variety of challenges, ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to Down syndrome. Great and Small is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, and its instructors are certified by the association. A separate category of therapeutic riding, known as hippotherapy, is led by a licensed individual, such as a psychologist or speech therapist. The volunteers who help care for Great and Small horses and assist during therapeutic riding sessions are trained on-site by center staff. “Broadly speaking, we use equineassisted activities to help people with special needs achieve whatever their goals are,” Center Director Rachel Neff, 29, says. “Those goals could be recreational, they could be physical, or they could be emotional.” For people with physical disabilities

or weaknesses, riding improves balance, builds muscles and helps with posture. “When you sit on a horse, your pelvis goes through the same motion as if you are walking,” Neff says. “So you are getting all the sensory input and building many of the same muscles as if you were ambulating normally.” Emotionally, riding horses that can weigh more than 1,500 pounds helps some people build confidence, independence and a hopeful sense that, despite their limits and struggles, there are new thrills and skills to be savored.

For everyone at Great and Small— staff, volunteers and clients—just being around horses can be transformative, Neff says. These peaceful but powerful animals can be dangerous when startled. That requires people who interact closely with them to be calm, responsible, attentive and focused on experiencing the moment. “Horses give you a chance to get to know yourself,” says Neff, who grew up riding in Indiana and has a degree in agribusiness. “Horses are so good at mirroring people emotionally. They give you a really good reflection of

Lawyer Sarah Phelps, who founded Great and Small two decades ago, with Pete, one of the three horses who live with her family in Boyds.

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what you are putting out into the world. You get instant feedback. “We believe that horses make us better people.”

“NO.”

Yusif Azam, 4, doesn’t want to put on a warm jacket. He is a beautiful child with thick straight hair and enormous eyes. But his eyes look wary. Yusif, his parents say, has been diagnosed as being on the spectrum for autism. “It’s going to be chilly in the arena,” his father, Dr. Mohammed Ashfaq “Ashi” Azam, a psychiatrist, says cajolingly.

“No,” the boy repeats. No is a word that’s heard a lot, Yusif’s dad says good-naturedly. “Do you like ice cream?” he asks his son. “No.” Point made, Azam, 38, chuckles as he expertly wrangles his son into a warm jacket. There is much to be happy about these days. A few minutes later, when it is time to put on Yusif ’s riding helmet for today’s session at Great and Small, the boy doesn’t just smile—for a fleeting moment he beams. Over the next 30 minutes he circles

Yusif Azam, 4, waits for one of his two weekly riding sessions at Great and Small to begin. Yusif has been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

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the arena atop a horse named Pork Chop and chats shyly with the speech therapist who walks alongside him. The therapist makes learning feel like playing a game. She hangs a bright blue rubber ring around Pork Chop’s left ear. The horse isn’t fazed. “Where is the blue ring?” the therapist asks Yusif. The child points at Pork Chop’s left ear. “Use your words to tell me where the ring is,” the therapist prods gently. “On his ear,” Yusif whispers. “That’s right! The blue ring is on Pork Chop’s ear. Is that silly?” Yusif nods. “Yes,” he says. As Yusif and Pork Chop amble around the arena, the therapist holds up flash cards with colorful pictures. She asks Yusif questions designed to help him use verbs in complete sentences. “What is this girl doing?” the speech therapist asks. “She is drinking milk,” Yusif says softly. “That’s right!” the therapist exclaims. “She is drinking milk.” Last summer, when Yusif was 3½, he was still largely nonverbal. Azam, who is based in Silver Spring, and his exwife, Karen Kane, 41, of Olney, spent time and money taking their son to traditional office-based speech and occupational therapy. They didn’t see much progress. Finding recreational activities to help their son build confidence and social skills was a challenge. “Swimming was a little bit difficult,” Azam recalls. “He goes through these phases where he becomes very frightened of water. There was a three-month period where just giving him a bath was a nightmare. We’re not sure why. Maybe it was something tactile. Maybe it was something sensory. Or maybe he was just going through a phase where he was afraid of water.” Other activities, like karate lessons, were also a bust, his father says: “After an individual one-hour lesson or two of those, we were told, ‘Oh, we can’t help him’ or ‘He can’t do it.’ It seemed like people were just coming up with excuses for why they couldn’t work with him.” Then Yusif ’s mom, researching options, learned about Great and Small. With a mixture of curiosity and desper-

Yusif Azam, 4, reaches to put a hoop over a stick during a therapeutic riding session designed to help him build balance and motor skills as well as confidence. One of the center’s trained instructors, Peggy Itrich, center, looks up and offers Yusif encouragement as two volunteers help out.

“He was excited to come. He got a smile and a pep in his step. He liked it. Then he loved it.” —Dr. Azam, Yusif’s father ation, his parents signed him up for a series of therapeutic riding sessions in the fall of 2017. His first few sessions on a horse were unforgettable for everyone: He cried and shrieked incessantly. “I just kept thinking, oh that poor horse, that poor horse,” Kane recalls. But no matter how loudly Yusif shrieked, the horse held steady. “She just did her job,” Kane says. “She was as gentle as she could be.” Yusif ’s father recalls being “scared we were going to be told: Go away, he

can’t do this.” But the center staff assured Yusif ’s parents that their instructors and horses are patient and know how to interact with children who don’t adjust quickly or easily. “They gave me a sense of confidence and hope,” Azam says. It wasn’t false hope. Yusif cried less each time they put him on a horse. Soon he stopped crying. “He was excited to come,” his father says. “He got a smile and a pep in his step. He liked it. Then he loved it.” Yusif now rides twice weekly

at Great and Small. His standard therapeutic riding lessons cost $55 each; sessions with the speech therapist cost more. Yusif ’s parents have trouble getting reimbursed by their insurer. Still, Yusif ’s vocabulary has “expanded exponentially,” his father says. He’s speaking in sentences. His sentences are getting longer and more complex. And very often, when he speaks, he talks about horses. Yusif’s father bought him a giant toy horse to play with between visits to

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Angus, a therapy horse at Great and Small, wraps himself around his owner, Katy Hansen, as he tries to get at the peppermint she holds in her hand. Hansen is the volunteer manager at Great and Small.

Great and Small. “He’s obsessed with horses,” his mother says. “Fifty times a day he says, ‘Momma, I get on the horse. I got to pull the reins.’ ” As a man of science, Azam can’t explain precisely why his son’s life is changing for the better because of his interactions with horses and horse-loving people at Great and Small. As a father, he can see it. “Every time he comes here, there is just a little bit more confidence,” he says. “There is a functional difference. He is different. And I think he is different because of the horses.” 200

Last December, in gratitude, Yusif ’s mother found herself doing something she couldn’t have imagined a year earlier: buying alfalfa treats to give to a horse as a Christmas present.

MARGOT PETTIJOHN, a retired federal

worker who lives in Potomac, is physically strong. At 71, she racks up top-10 times and All-American honors in U.S. Masters Swimming competitions. On this blustery winter day, however, the wiry athlete moves slowly and delicately, as if she were handling bone china in a windstorm.

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Pettijohn and two other female volunteers are in an outdoor paddock at Great and Small, surrounding a 20-year-old thoroughbred named Okie Dokie. The women rest their open hands lightly on the horse’s ears, face, belly, flanks and rump. They are performing something they call equine craniosacral therapy or massage. It looks to the uninitiated bystander as if they are performing a kind of religious ceremony, a healing laying on of hands. As the women gently touch the horse, he visibly relaxes. Okie Dokie exhales deeply. His lower lip droops. He begins to lick and chew. His eyelids flutter as if he might fall into a trance. Twenty feet away, Del Boy watches and awaits his turn. Every few minutes, he sidles silently a few feet closer to the trio of women as if to remind them: me next. Working as a therapy horse can be stressful. Not every horse has the necessary temperament. A successful therapy horse has to be what Neff, the center director, calls “bomb-proof ”: calm, steady and quiet, no matter what happens. As of this past winter, Great and Small had seven official therapy horses that were either leased monthly from their private owners or had been donated to the center. Two additional horses were undergoing 90-day trials to see if they had what it takes to succeed. Given the stress of the job, Neff limits each Great and Small horse to no more than eight lessons weekly. Horses are prey animals that evolved to evade predators by racing away. In therapy-riding sessions, however, horses are boxed in, surrounded by an instructor and a crew of volunteers. During lessons, a designated leader stands to one side of the horse’s head or neck and typically holds a lead line clipped to its bridle. Other volunteers, known as side-walkers, position themselves on the right and left of the horse’s barrel-shaped belly to help riders maintain proper posture and balance. They also help the rider understand and respond to the instructor’s directions. Not long ago, Neff rejected a potential therapy horse that made aggressive movements—pinning his ears back and swinging his head side to side— whenever side-walkers stepped into what

A successful therapy horse has to be what Neff, the center director, calls “bomb-proof”: calm, steady and quiet, no matter what happens. he considered his personal space. “For a lot of horses, that feels really claustrophobic,” Neff says. “Naturally, horses are disinclined to be boxed in on all sides and not have a method of escape. That’s a lot to ask of an animal whose natural reaction should be to run first and ask questions later. The miracle of domestication is that there are many horses who are totally OK with that. They just trust the people around them.” Some horses at Great and Small are stepping down from physically demand-

ing careers as competitive athletes. Racehorses have relatively brief careers. The thoroughbreds that compete in the Kentucky Derby, for example, are 3-year-olds. Yet horses can compete well into their teens in equestrian eventing, a three-day triathlon of sorts in which competitors are judged on a variety of skills that can take years of training to perform expertly. At Great and Small, the youngest horse is 10, Neff says; the center’s longest-serving horse died in March at age 33. Great and Small Volunteer Manager

Katy Hansen, of Poolesville, began leasing her Kentucky-born thoroughbred, Angus, to the center last year. Angus was a comfort to Hansen long before he became an official therapy horse, she says. Hansen, now 47, was pregnant when she bought Angus many years ago, and she miscarried soon after. Without Angus to tend to, “I would have run off the rails of my life completely,” she says in an email. “How many overly-tight neck hugs and tears he endured during that first year I don’t know.” Hansen came to

Center Director Rachel Neff smiles at her personal horse, Stella, 14. Stella is smart, but has back problems and personality quirks that make her unsuitable as a therapy horse. “She’s a little bit like a cat,” Neff says. “The relationship is on her terms. She likes me, especially if I have something for her to eat. But she’s also quite happily independent.”

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The paddocks of Great and Small are especially peaceful late in the day when most of the riders have gone home.

understand and cherish Angus’ “funny way of turning his nose to nudge my foot if he didn’t understand something” and “his impatient head butts if I was affectionate for too long.” She grew to relish galloping through fields atop Angus in equestrian eventing competitions that included daring leaps over fixed barriers. “To ride the powerful shift of balance, bone and muscle stretching forward, gathering, shooting upward in a massive push, a moment of suspension, over one fence to land, rebalance and explode forward to another is the event rider’s drug,” she recalls. The glee Hansen felt competing with Angus, she says, “doesn’t match the real joy I feel watching him transition into his new role as therapy horse. There is a deep sense of satisfaction hearing others discuss their affection for him, because it confirms all that I know about who he is and what a 202

gift he’s been to me. …Angus doesn’t really belong to me. He belongs to everyone whose life he touches, moves and heals.”

THE INDOOR ARENA at Great and

Small is dimly lit, quiet except for the rhythmic cooing of pigeons in the rafters. It’s a February afternoon, and both David Godoy and Del Boy are preparing for their weekly session. In one corner adjacent to the oval arena, Godoy is warming up. He uses his arms to pull himself on top of a horizontal vaulting barrel on a stand. The barrel is covered in carpet and has looped handles to help him steady himself. It looks like a piece of homemade gymnastics equipment. Godoy alternately straddles the barrel and balances on top of it. For more than 20 minutes he works alone through a series of exercises designed to stretch the muscles of

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his legs and improve his balance. Godoy pushes himself like a champion athlete to go further, be stronger. Godoy is a champion. He competes in the Special Olympics in events including cycling and swimming. Although he is too polite to mention his accomplishments, he has won more than 300 medals in the Special Olympics. Godoy doesn’t like bragging. Neither does he like recalling less happy times in his life. He could not walk until he was 7 years old. Even then, because of his physical disabilities, he could only walk on tiptoe. When he was a young teen, his parents, seeking more opportunities for him, moved the family to the United States. Until they could afford to buy their own home in Montgomery Village, the family lived with relatives in Silver Spring. Godoy graduated from a special education program at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins performed the surgery that allowed Godoy to walk with his heels as well as his toes touching the ground, increasing his stability. As Godoy prepares to ride, Del Boy is nearby in a stall adjoining the dirt-floor arena. A volunteer, Ellen Pearl, 77, who lives in Gaithersburg, is cleaning, brushing and saddling the horse—preparing him to join Godoy in the arena. Pearl, a former stockbroker, has been riding and loving horses since she was a small girl at summer camp. She’s ridden horses with fox hunters in Maryland and cowboys in Wyoming. She’s galloped down a beach in Ireland. Pearl can still recall the name and personality quirks of every horse she ever rode. Neither her love of horses nor her confident knack for interacting with them has dimmed with the decades. Pearl identifies with Del Boy. They are filly and colt no more. Both have come to Great and Small to walk its peaceful paddocks, and to be useful. When Pearl leads Del Boy into the arena, the Connemara pony looks pris-

tine. As Del Boy prances past the open double doors of the dim arena building he is bathed in sunlight. His white, perfectlytrimmed tail—fleetingly backlit—glows. Godoy’s legs don’t have enough strength and range of motion for him to safely step up into one stirrup and hoist himself into the saddle. So he stands waiting for Del Boy on one of two raised mounting platforms that are built out of plywood and spaced just a few feet apart. Pearl leads Del Boy to stand, perfectly still, between the two platforms. Godoy’s therapeutic riding instructor helps him ease into the saddle as a second helper, standing nearby on the other platform, rests her hand on Godoy’s back to steady him. Godoy takes the reins. “Walk on, Del Boy,” he says. Riders direct trained horses through a combination of voice commands, moving the reins in their hands—left or right, backward or forward—and using their legs to apply pressure to the sides of their mount. Press your left leg into a horse’s left side and the animal knows to turn right. Press your right leg into a horse’s right side and

it knows to go left. Apply pressure to the horse with both legs at once and the horse knows to go forward or go faster. After eight years of riding at Great and Small, Godoy knows exactly what to do. But his physical limitations sometimes prevent him from giving his mount perfectly clear physical directions. Del Boy is smart and intuitive. He has come to know Godoy’s every shift in the saddle and movement of the reins the way an expert ballroom dancer reads the movements of their regular partner. “Del Boy is wonderful at this job,” Neff says. “He is both extremely tolerant and at the same time expert at judging when the rider is being purposeful with their body. He will respond to someone who is trying to give the right cues. He does a really good job of deciding whether the rider’s input was intentional.” The riding instructor tells Pearl to unclip the lead from Del Boy’s bridle. For now, at least, Godoy and Del Boy trot freely around the arena; Pearl jogs alongside them just in case she is needed. But

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For everyone at Great and Small—staff, volunteers and clients— just being around horses can be transformative, Neff says. the man from Ecuador and horse from Ireland find their own special rhythm without mishap. As they trot past the open doors to the arena, wide shafts of sunlight catch them in beautiful motion.

AFTER HIS LESSON, Godoy sits in

the lounge at Great and Small waiting for his ride home. He has his evening carefully planned. He will rest, to recover from the exertion of his riding lesson. He will help his mother prepare the family dinner. Then Godoy, who plays the clarinet, flute and saxophone, will spend the evening at Montgomery College practicing to perform in a spring band concert. In order to control the weight of his saxophone, he plays while sitting in a wheelchair. Godoy enjoys talking about the many opportunities in his life for which he is

grateful. He is grateful that he can volunteer at a nursing home where he feels useful. He is grateful for Great and Small, where he has come to believe not just in himself and Del Boy, but in new possibilities. He’s working on a speech he has agreed to give in June at a Special Olympics event styled after the TED Talks. He has been asked to speak about a topic on which he is an expert: transformation. “In the beginning [of riding], I was being scared,” he says. “I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what would happen to my legs. I didn’t know what would happen with my arms. But the program is happening in a positive way in my life so I can be more independent.” Godoy lists his new life goals: “So I am looking forward to getting my own apartment, being able to buy groceries by

myself, catching the Metro train all completely by myself, being able to catch the bus by myself, being able to have a job—a paid position. “Those goals are going to become a reality,” he says, “because I have learned to have faith in myself and to know that there are no real obstacles in life. No matter what disability you have, you can overcome obstacles. Everything can be possible.” Del Boy is in a paddock munching hay by the time the MetroAccess van turns into a small parking area next to the arena. Godoy watches as the driver opens the side door and lowers the ramp for him. He starts the motor on his scooter and rides forward. ■ April Witt (aprilwitt@hotmail.com) is a former Washington Post writer.

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In Sync Derwood siblings Michael and Rachel Parsons have dedicated their lives to ice dancing. Their goal: an Olympic medal in Beijing in 2022. BY MIKE UNGER

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PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Michael and Rachel Parsons train at the Wheaton Ice Arena.

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it’s about pushing muscles past the point that you can do stuff, because the next time you do it, they’ll be able to go that much further. Our seasons are always a work in progress. We train so we peak at the very end. Every competition we’ve done this year we’ve gotten better. We’re trying to keep that going.” It’s five days before Christmas, less than two weeks since the pair returned from an international event in Croatia, where they finished eighth among 20 teams, and Michael’s quads and glutes are throbbing. “We could get upset, but there really wouldn’t be a point,” says Rachel, 20. “We fall all the time—ice is slippery. I think no matter how many hours you put in, you always have days when you can’t stand up straight. It’s just part of the sport.” Winning an Olympic medal in ice dancing, a discipline of figure skating in which participants are judged on the precision of their footwork and the gracefulness, synchronicity, and fluidity of their movements, consumes them. They’ve dedicated their lives to the quest. Countless hours sweating in gyms, dance studios and on the

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20-degree sheet of ice that continually beckons them back is worth it, they say, because their talent, passion and work ethic give them a chance to achieve their goal. While they’ve tasted success with other partners, Rachel and Michael didn’t truly break out until they started skating together in 2011. Brother-andsister teams are rare in the sport, but not unprecedented; 2018 Olympic bronze medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani are siblings, as well. From the start of their partnership, Rachel and Michael showed why the whole of their union is greater than the sum of their parts. In March 2017, they won the ice dancing competition at the International Skating Union’s World Junior Championships. As newcomers to the senior circuit—the sport’s top tier—Rachel and Michael didn’t expect to qualify for this year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. But their fifth-place finish in January at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where they nailed the move they flubbed in practice, proved to them that qualifying for the 2022 games in Beijing is a very real possibility. “They have the physical and emotional

PHOTOS COURTESY PARSONS FAMILY

SANDWICHED BETWEEN spectacular lifts, twists and turns, the maneuver looks simple. About halfway into their free dance routine, Michael Parsons extends his left arm and places his hand on his kneeling sister Rachel’s right knee. It’s a subtle, artistic two-second move in a four-minute program, but if this were a competition, tonight, those two seconds would have proved catastrophic. Fortunately, one of America’s brightest up-and-coming ice dancing teams is just practicing at the Wheaton Ice Arena, rather than performing at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, California, in two weeks. They’re on their second run-through, and the physical demands of the sport, which can be camouflaged by its enchanting beauty, are taking a toll. Winded, Michael puts too much of his weight on Rachel, who’s in the proper position on one knee. Startled, she crumples onto her back and lets out a “wooh!” before popping up and quickly resuming the routine. “If it were our first run, I’d be upset, because in a competition you only get one shot,” Michael, 22, says afterward. “The second one is just for stamina, so

From left: Michael and Rachel at a competition in 2007; the duo performing a waltz in 2010; a 2012 performance at the Rockville Ice Show; Lake Placid Ice Dance International in 2016.

potential to be at the top of the sport,” says Alexei Kiliakov, one of their coaches. “If they look at each other as brother and sister, it will probably limit them on an emotional level. But if they look at each other as professional athletes, I don’t think it matters. If everything keeps moving as it is moving now, I think they have a big chance to get there.”

HOCKEY FANS HAVE long heard tales of child prodigies who supposedly could skate before they walked. Richard and Christine Parsons both were raised in the often-frozen Northeast. If their kids walked before skating, it was only a few steps. “I’m from southern Maine, in an area with a lot of lakes that would freeze over thick enough to drive your pickup truck out on the ice,” Richard says. “We would set up our ice fishing traps around the perimeter and set up a couple of goals and play hockey until the traps popped, when we would call timeout and reel in the fish.” Christine grew up in Buffalo, New York, where her father taught her and her three siblings how to skate. “My [skating] career took a dive when we

moved to Miami when I was 15,” she jokes. The lure of bitterly cold winters proved too strong to ignore, so she returned to upstate New York for college at St. Lawrence University, where she began coaching figure skating. After she married Richard and they started a family in Montgomery County, it wasn’t long before she began lacing skates onto her own children, Michael, Rachel, and Katie, now 18. “Michael took to it just like walking,” says Christine, who still skates. “Rachel was sitting in a stroller kicking her legs the first time I took Michael out. She was all excited.” Using a big tarp and two-by-fours, Richard built a makeshift rink in the backyard of their home in Wheaton. The family bought several pairs of skates in different sizes and invited the neighborhood kids over on cold winter days to skate with their children. Rachel was always tantalized by figure skating—the sparkly dresses, the roar of the crowd—while Michael showed more of an interest in hockey. But Christine insisted that if her son wanted to play that sport, he had to learn figure skating first to solidify his skills on the ice.

“So I started taking lessons and never stopped,” he says with a laugh. “I really like the feeling you get when you’re gliding on your blades. It’s almost like you’re flying. There’s really nothing else like it.” When Michael was 7 and Rachel was 5, their parents enrolled them in classes at the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy, which is led by Kiliakov and his wife, Elena Novak. They started taking lessons twice a week, but for the past several years they’ve been skating twice a day, six days a week. Sunday is their only day off. Both had abbreviated academic schedules at Rockville’s Magruder High School—they had no first or last period class—so they could spend more time on the ice. “Our social lives were definitely different than most high school [kids],” Rachel says. “When you’re in peak training mode, you’re not going to be going out to parties every weekend and staying up super late. When you’re on the ice until 8:45 at night and then you’re back on the ice at 6:45 the next morning, it can get a little bit tedious, but it’s necessary. I think the sacrifices that we made definitely paid off.” At the age of 12, Rachel won the ice

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Rachel and Michael, pictured during practice, placed fifth in the ice dancing competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January.

dancing competition at the 2009 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships with her partner, Kyle MacMillan, and the duo won again in 2010. Michael excelled with his partner, Kristina Rexford, but then she hit a growth spurt and shot up over the 5-foot-7-inch Michael—a dealbreaker in ice dancing. Michael and Rachel, who now live in Derwood, say their parents never pressured them to continue skating. There was just one rule: If they started a season, they had to finish it, out of respect for their sibling, coaches and themselves. When Michael learned that he could no longer skate with Rexford, his mom asked him— as she often did—if he wanted to keep competing. After a week of soul-searching, he decided he was ready to commit. “I still was considering doing other sports, but to compete at the level we are at, that has to be your main responsibility,” Michael says. “I knew I was already pretty good at it, and I decided I wanted to go at it 100 percent.” He needed a new partner, and his coaches thought they had the perfect candidate in Rachel, who’s 5 feet 4 inches tall. “They have similar skating styles,” Novak says. “Both of them have exceptional flow on the ice. They both are very technical skaters. I don’t care that they’re brother and sister because performance is more like acting.” Michael and Rachel have always gotten 210

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PHOTOS BY SKIP BROWN

along well. When the iPod Touch debuted in 2007, they both pined for one. So they approached their parents with a plan— they would pool their money and share the device. They didn’t fight over it once. Their personalities mesh nicely. Rachel is more calm and cool-headed, and people often are surprised to learn that she’s the younger sister. Michael, while analytical and emotional on the ice, is the more playful of the two. Rachel tells a story of her brother bouncing on a pogo stick in their driveway after an ice storm. Predictably, he wound up on his backside, with a smile on his face. She laughs every time she recounts it. Still, spending hours each day training with a sibling is different than compromising over who gets to listen to Green Day (the first band they loaded

onto the iPod). At first they balked at the idea of skating together, but both have unwavering faith in their coaches, so they decided to give it a try. In their debut event together in 2011, Rachel and Michael finished ninth out of 21 teams at the Baltic Cup in Gdańsk, Poland, their first Junior Grand Prix competition. A little over a year later, they won the bronze medal in Zagreb, Croatia. They’ve gone on to skate in more than a dozen countries, including Japan, their favorite. There, rabid fans throw gifts onto the ice after a routine—the two have received chocolates, handwritten letters and Easter eggs with their names on them. (Flowers, once a mainstay, are now a no-no. Petals are too difficult to clean off the ice.) Progress slowed in 2013, when

Michael slipped and crashed into the boards during a basic power skating exercise. His right ankle was fractured, an injury that forced the team to withdraw from the junior national championships. “It was a drag,” he says. “What helped me the most was I turned it into an opportunity to balance myself. Everyone has a dominant side, and right is mine. Coming back, I would always favor my left side, which made that side get much stronger. As a result, I’m a much more balanced skater now.” It took Michael three months to recover, and when he returned, he and Rachel scored several silver and bronze finishes. Still, after a solid 2017 season, a monumental victory eluded them until they arrived at the world junior championships in Taipei City, Taiwan. Their

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in sync

routines were nearly flawless. “I think it was a result of our whole body of work that season,” Michael says. “We have improved a huge amount every year. That season was the most consistent we’ve ever had.” Sitting hand in hand as the judges’ scores were revealed, their eyes welled as they realized they had won. “What? What?” Rachel, wearing a sparkly blue outfit, said in disbelief as the crowd cheered. “Are you serious?”

IN EARLY DECEMBER, Rachel and Michael are sitting at a table near the closed snack bar at the Wheaton Ice Arena, contemplating their position in the sport. They have just returned from a disappointing performance in Lake Placid, New York, and the transition from juniors to seniors is proving difficult. If ice dancers achieve a certain level of success as juniors, they can elect to move up, but most, like the Parsonses, wait until they’ve met the minimum age requirement—21 for males, 19 for females—before they become seniors. When asked what they love about the sport they’ve dedicated their lives to, their faces light up. “Ice dancing is not so focused on the raw elements of the jumps and the spins, it’s more about 212

the musicality and the acting,” Michael says. “We focus more on the flow, the beauty of our body positioning, and the storytelling.” “It’s the artistry,” Rachel adds. “It’s more focused on edges and footwork.” If they weren’t so passionate about the sport, there’s no way they would survive the obstacles it throws at them. While Rachel and Michael have pocketed some prize money—roughly $14,000 for winning the world junior championship—it pales in comparison to their expenses. Ice time is not cheap. At $14 an hour, per person, three hours in the morning plus two in the evening costs them $140 a day. Coaches, trainers, costumes—custom-made by a woman in Rockville—equipment and travel make ice dancing an expensive endeavor (though most of their travel costs are now covered by U.S. Figure Skating). Their Italian Risport boots cost about $600 a pair, and their specialized dance blades, which are professionally sharpened every three weeks or so, are another $500 each. As a family, they’ve had to make sacrifices. Michael and Rachel still live at home with their parents. Richard, a political and public affairs consultant, and Christine, a Montessori teacher, bankroll as much of the operation as

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they can, and a GoFundMe page has raised more than $32,000 to help cover ice dancing costs. They don’t take vacations or buy new cars. Christine and Richard attend all of their kids’ domestic competitions, but only a handful of their international events. Sometimes travel costs are simply too much, so TV coverage or YouTube videos have to suffice. Between skating, cardio and strength training, ballroom dancing and ballet, Michael and Rachel don’t have much time for anything else. Michael, who’s eyeing a career in orthopedics, is a student at Montgomery College; Rachel is taking a year off from college and isn’t sure what she wants to do after hanging up her skates. When they do get to unwind, she enjoys painting, typically acrylic and oil on canvas, and he plays the guitar. “There is a point for everyone where you really need to think if this is something that you really want to do,” Novak says. “It could be at different times for each skater, because it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and especially when you get to seniors, it’s a way of life. It affects everything. That’s what’s called being a professional athlete.” Their commitment has to be allencompassing. They might not eat dinner until 9, and they have to stick to a

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

Michael and Rachel, with coach Elena Novak, train for five hours a day, six days a week.

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in sync

ON A COLD WEDNESDAY evening in early December, Rachel and Michael are intently focused on their movements during a one-hour ballet class with 10 other skaters. They meticulously arch their backs, curve their arms

and flex their feet to the classical music soundtrack. When the class members are instructed to do the splits, Michael is the lowest to the ground of any of the seven males. Next, it’s onto the ice, where Rachel and Michael practice their routines for the umpteenth time since they choreographed it with their coaches over the summer. “It’s almost like painting a picture,” Michael says. “You have to see in your head what you want to show on the ice, and then you keep trying out different steps, different positions, until you find something that fits.” Because they’re related, Michael and Rachel have to avoid the romantic or even sensual sentiments that can emerge in ice dancing routines. “Obviously we wouldn’t pick a Romeo and Juliet program, but you can be flexible with the story you choose to tell,” Rachel says. This year’s free dance, a routine in which teams are allowed to choose their own theme and rhythm, is set to

Michael, Rachel and their sister, Katie (right), at home in Derwood with the family’s golden retriever mix, Luke

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a contemporary ballet called “Ghost Dances.” The short dance, which includes required elements, is a combination of mambo, rumba and samba. “Latin is a very romantic style, but we’re bringing out the playfulness of the music and emoting more outwards than toward each other,” Michael says. “That gets us around the fact that we’re brother and sister.” On the ice, Michael holds Rachel parallel to the ground with only his right arm as he glides on his left skate. Later, Rachel wraps her legs under Michael’s arms, her blond ponytail skimming the ice as they spin with each of their arms held wide in an exalted pose, their eyes looking skyward. It’s an extraordinary maneuver that requires immense upper-body strength from him and equal lower-body strength from her. They execute it perfectly. n Mike Unger is a writer and editor who grew up in Montgomery County and lives in Baltimore.

PHOTO BY SKIP BROWN

strict dietary regimen. Rachel has yogurt for breakfast, chicken for lunch, and salad for dinner almost every day. She has to maintain her strength and agility while staying light enough for Michael to lift her. “The girls have to be pretty careful because of the really specific look that most skaters have,” she says. “It’s a balancing act.” Michael loads up on lean proteins, carbs and foods high in iron in order to take in as many calories as he burns. Beer is only for the offseason—late spring and summer—and his beloved Skittles are only for rare moments of weakness. “There’s a very fine line between adequate fuel and not having anything extra,” he says.

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Burtonsville 4/3/1 $315,000 4231 Red Maple Court Sandra Blair 301-414-7478

Kensington 4/2/0 $499,900 3132 Plyers Mill Road Cathy Hunter 301-580-8132

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The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ÂŠ2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 10696WDC_5/16

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CONVERSATIONS WITH

THE CANDIDATES

Clockwise from opposite page, top left: Roger Berliner, David Blair, Marc Elrich, George Leventhal, Rose Krasnow and Bill Frick

Democratic voters will choose from six candidates for county executive when they go to the polls in the June 26 primary. And for the first time in 12 years, there won’t be an incumbent on the ballot: Term limits approved by voters in 2016 prohibited County Executive Ike Leggett from seeking re-election (although he probably wasn’t going to run anyway). The politics of the candidates—County Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich and George Leventhal; state Del. Bill Frick; former Rockville Mayor Rose Krasnow; and businessman David Blair—range from liberal to very liberal (with Elrich occupying the far left, à la Bernie Sanders). But there are differences in the candidates’ positions on some issues (especially economic development), and in their experience and temperament. Bethesda Magazine contributing editor Louis Peck recently conducted in-depth interviews with the candidates, exploring their views on and approaches to a wide range of issues facing the county. Extended versions of the interviews appear in the Voters Guide at BethesdaMagazine.com.

BY LOUIS PECK | PHOTOS BY LIZ LYNCH BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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interview

RoGer Berliner AGE: 67 HOME: North Bethesda; married, two children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Dartmouth College, 1973; law degree, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, 1983 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Congressional aide (U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman of California); policy adviser (California State Assembly); attorney; legal counsel (County of Los Angeles); small-business owner (energy consulting firm) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Montgomery County Council, 2006-present (president, 2012, 2017)

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What distinguishes you from the other Democratic contenders for county executive? [I] started as a small-business man, … grew a small business and actually was in business more than I’ve been in public life. That experience, [along with] having worked on Capitol Hill, having worked for the California State Legislature, and having represented the largest county in the country, Los Angeles County— all before my service [in Montgomery County]—is, I think, a unique and strong background for this work. I believe [my] record stands apart, particularly when it comes to knowing the county. It’s a big county; it took me two years on the council before I was able to have a good understanding of the breadth of county government. So I do think it matters that the leader we pick is someone who is conversant with and has been involved with the county. Even some of those who support you feel that you can be slow to make a

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decision, perhaps owing to an abundance of caution. Are they on target? I actually take some pride in that I approach my work thoughtfully. I try to make sure I understand the arguments from both sides, if it is a controversial issue, before I make a decision. And I actually think that is the best way to go about our work. But it does not prevent me from moving forward, and advancing legislation that, quite frankly, has been groundbreaking. I work really hard to reconcile competing truths. That’s how I go about my business. That’s what some people might accuse of being ‘cautious.’ For me, it is trying to strike the right balance. I am progressive and pragmatic. That is my brand, and I stand by it. Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? I think the greatest challenge is creating greater shared prosperity. It does mean our county needs to be more competitive economically, it needs to be able to attract as

well as retain businesses. And it also needs to make progress addressing what I think is the overarching national issue, which is income inequality and growing poverty in our county. We need to [address] both. If we are competitive economically and grow our tax base, it will give us the revenue we need to make progress on the other. To me, the future is pretty clear. It is an innovation economy. And our county needs to be positioned as a county that itself is innovative, and encourages entrepreneurs and an innovative economy. Our county is getting poorer. It is shocking. I got involved in creating a hunger plan because our county had never formally said, ‘We need to reduce hunger.’ And I said, ‘We’re just giving dollars to nonprofits, and we don’t have a plan?’ And now we need [a plan] on poverty, too. That means also that our education system needs to adjust. …Institutions as large as county government, as large as the school system, are, by definition, slow to adjust.

So my hope is to be a spur to overcome sort of the natural stasis that sets in and see if we can’t spur a little more innovation across the board. Notwithstanding several steps taken in recent years, such as the creation of a small-business navigator, which you sponsored, there continue to be complaints that the county is not business-friendly. What additional moves are needed? We do need to change the perception of our county, and I think there are enough things we don’t do particularly well to justify a perception. I just had a meeting where someone was sharing with me his experience of building a 10-foot-by10-foot shed in his backyard. It took 14 pages [of paperwork] and a plat—and two inspectors. And he’s a land-use expert. He said to me, ‘I don’t know how somebody who isn’t a land-use expert could possibly have done this; they

would have needed to hire a lawyer.’ [If elected], I’m going to have to really dig down in departments like the Department of Permitting Services. Why does it take this long, why do our residents have to go through this kind of process? Aren’t there ways we can make it easier for…them to interact with county government? You were part of a unanimous county council vote in 2016 for a property tax increase that averaged about 9 percent. County Executive Ike Leggett urged a lower increase, and there is a widespread view that the hike was a major factor in term limits being approved by voters that year. Any second thoughts? No. It was all about the school system. The county executive proposed exceeding the charter limit [which restricts the growth of property taxes to the rate of inflation without a unanimous council

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interview vote]. The difference in the county executive’s proposal and what the county council ultimately passed was really so on the margin at that moment in time. Everybody understood in county government that given the challenges that our school system faced, that it required $90 million above the maintenance of effort [level required by the state]. We could not do that without raising taxes. The school system in my judgment is one of the pillars of our community. We can ill afford for that reputation to be tarnished. And now we need to grow our economy instead of raising taxes. It is not my intention [if elected] to be proposing any further tax increases. Do I fully appreciate that our residents have tax fatigue? Absolutely. I feel like we’ve hit the wall on tax increases, which is why I think the focus must be in this race on: ‘Who do you have confidence in who can grow our economy, who can grow our tax base? Who has the vision that will allow us to prosper without raising taxes?’ In 2017, you opposed a bill, vetoed by the county executive, to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. You later supported the revised $15 minimum-wage increase that he signed. Are you concerned this law could affect the county’s competitiveness? [Councilmember] Sidney Katz and I worked very closely together to make sure we negotiated a deal that we felt stretched it out in a way that was least damaging to our small-business community. Am I concerned about it? I am, but in terms of the overall equities, it is also true that people work too hard for too little in our county.

David B. Hurwitz

CFP®, CRPC®, CRPS®, RICP®, APMA®

Private Wealth Advisor Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2018 Ameriprise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved.

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6400 Goldsboro Road, Suite 550 Bethesda, MD 20817 Direct: (301) 263-8509 Email: david.b.hurwitz@ampf.com davidbhurwitz.com

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Gov. Hogan has proposed to widen I-270 and I-495 and put in toll lanes, similar to those used in Virginia. Is that a concept you support, and what are your transportation priorities? I am a [mass] transit guy, but that doesn’t mean you don’t attend to I-270 and the American Legion Bridge. It is intolerable for people who drive I-270 every day. Now, there are important differences [with Hogan’s proposal to widen I-270 and I-495]. Our council has been on

record for years supporting the adding of two reversible lanes to I-270. Anybody who looks at I-270 sees it is a totally peak-driven system. So I don’t get where we need four lanes…and, hopefully, it would be less expensive and therefore the tolls would be less. And what you can do on the Beltway is somewhat of a mystery, because any of us who have driven it see how tight the Beltway is. If we fix Metro, have the Purple Line, and have bus rapid transit, you have the bones of a state-of-the-art system. And then you can focus on one of the more perplexing problems, which is the first mile/last mile problem: How do you get people out of their homes to the transit? Other communities are now partnering with Lyft and Uber to do that, and I sent a letter to our Department of Transportation saying, ‘Excuse me, why aren’t we doing this?’ Those are the kinds of things I would seek to do as county executive. You’re one of several candidates who has spoken about how the county government needs to improve its attitude toward business. Has it also become overly regulatory in terms of the rank-and-file citizen? The short answer is yes: We went further than we had to [to] address serious issues. [Regarding the ban on cosmetic lawn pesticides], we were advised by the attorney general’s office that it was likely to be preempted. I also felt that this was a realm in which…we were going from zero to 100 miles per hour in a nanosecond. I felt like we needed to lead our community to understand more fully the dangers. So I proposed an alternative that would have been the strongest pesticide law in the country, short of a ban…and do that for several years and see if it didn’t reduce our use of pesticides by 50 percent. That, to me, is good government: You lead people to the result you want to take them to without breeding resentment and pushback. Now, there are some situations where you can’t afford to do that, and there are those who argued this was one of them—that lives are at stake. I understand that, too. So I again tried to reconcile what I thought were competing truths.

CASEY WEINBERG FLORANCE

Principal

Family Law Attorney

SUMMER TRAVEL FOR DIVORCED PARENTS

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interview manner. And then you’re executing— getting things done. I think that’s what this county needs.

David Blair AGE: 48 HOME: Potomac; married, six children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Clemson University, 1991 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Health care industry (executive chairman, Accountable Health Inc., 2013-2017; CEO, Catalyst Health Solutions Inc., 1999-2012); minority partner, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, parent company of Washington Capitals and Wizards (2013-present); co-owner, Badlands Playspace (2017-present) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: none 222

You’re the one candidate in the Democratic primary field who has not previously held elected office. What else do you feel distinguishes you from the other contenders? I have spent my entire professional life as an executive running a billion-dollar corporation. I have developed unique skills around creating jobs, [exercising] fiduciary responsibility when we have someone else’s money, accurately forecasting revenues, adhering to a budget, stamping out redundancies [and] looking at…how we get more done with less. I ran a company that touched millions of lives, and so you focus on things like first-class customer service. As a business leader, you’re always coming up with big ideas, you’re challenging the status quo, you’re pulling together groups in a collaborative

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After a career in business, what prompted you to decide to seek elected office? And how steep a learning curve do you feel you would face moving from the private to the public sector? I live here. And I don’t need a job—I need good schools, I need roads that aren’t gridlocked. And so I don’t want to leave, and neither am I going to sit home and complain. I believe I’m qualified, I have some big ideas of where this county ought to be, and I think I can lead us there. I am a lifelong Montgomery County resident; I certainly have a keen understanding of the county. I think it’s easier for an executive to transition into government than a legislator into an executive role. Part of being an executive is setting big goals, and then leading a group of individuals to achieve those. …You are surrounded by the best and the brightest in their respective fields, and we have many of them right here in Montgomery County. So, while I haven’t held an elected office position, I have been an executive, and I know what it takes to recruit the best and the brightest to lead. Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? I think the biggest priority is creating jobs, because we need to expand the revenue base. Over the past year and a half, as I’ve met with government officials and community leaders, there’s one thing that’s consistent—and that is everyone needs more resources. And I believe that in Montgomery County we should have the best schools and the best social services. But to do that requires money, and continually raising the property tax and other taxes is not sustainable. If we want to be the best county, we need to pay for that…and [we] can get that through a growing economy.

I have a vision that we can be the startup capital of the East Coast. We have the best schools, we have a talented workforce. We have access to some of the best research and development in the country—in the world for that matter— as well as the federal government. I want to set a culture of innovation that starts at the top. So I think about things like reprioritizing our marketing expense. Right now, we spend less than onetenth of 1 percent of our annual budget on economic development. That’s got to change. Today, it’s about $5 million, and I think it needs to be at least $15 million. Several candidates in this race have cited complaints that the county is not business-friendly. As someone who has done business here, what’s your perspective? That’s one of the reasons I’m running. Having run a business here for close to 20 years…not once did someone knock on my door—from the city of Rockville or from the county or from the state. At first, I thought that’s just how business was, because I was [already] here. But then, as we opened offices in 30 other states, I realized that was not the norm. The other states and jurisdictions took a much different approach to economic development. While it’s getting better, it is still not a business-friendly environment. When we opened up Badlands Playspace in Rockville, we were told by one inspector: ‘The lighting looks great. We’ll sign off on it next week. You’re ready to go.’ And then the next week, an inspector came in and said: ‘That wiring will never work, you’ll need to redo that.’ We were fortunate that we could afford to get the lighting redone. But it’s just a crime to think there are many folks out there who are maxing out their credit cards and borrowing money from family and friends, [and when] they’re about to open up their small business, they’re told: ‘The inspector missed it.’ To me, what business-friendly means is that if the inspector misses it, we’re going to pay for it—we being the county.

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—Mother Teresa

montgomerycollege.edu/foundation Carol Rognrud Executive Director of the Montgomery College Foundation carol.rognrud@montgomerycollege.edu 240-567-7493 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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interview Had you been on the county council in 2016, would you have been part of the unanimous majority that voted to raise property taxes by an average of almost 9 percent? No. In the position the [council] found themselves in, I think what would have been appropriate would have been to follow [County Executive Ike] Leggett’s recommendation, which I think was roughly a 6.2 percent increase. The council put themselves in a very difficult position, because for 15 years we haven’t created jobs: We created 3,900 private sector jobs while the population has grown by 150,000. It’s roughly one job for every 38 residents. What that has done is to put a tremendous strain on everything—our roadways, the schools, the tax base. After vetoing an earlier version, County Executive Leggett last year

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signed a bill to make the county the only one in Maryland with a $15-perhour minimum wage. Would you have signed that legislation? My strong preference would have been to see this measure at a more regional level. You can drive 20 minutes in any direction and be outside our county, and the concern about losing jobs is a real one. And [raising the minimum wage is] at best a partial solution several years down the road. By any study that you see…the cost of living here is significantly higher than $15. In fact, someone would have to work 100 hours a week at $15 an hour to make ends meet. Right now, there are something like 40,000 jobs available in Montgomery County. I would like to invest in programs that train those individuals to fill those jobs. The plan that I am proposing is not how do we get folks to $15 an hour, but how do we get them to $30, $40, $50 an hour—so they can live

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

and work in Montgomery County. Are you supportive of Gov. Larry Hogan’s plan to widen I-270 and I-495 and include toll lanes? What are your transportation priorities? I divide [transportation] up into shortterm solutions and long-term solutions. What can we do right now for our residents? First, fix Metro. Second, we’ve done a nice job with the east-to-west traffic—the Intercounty Connector and the Purple Line—and we’ve got to start thinking about the north-south. With regard to the governor’s specific plan, it’s easy to be critical, but at least he’s put forth a plan for us to consider. I think we have to have reversible lanes on I-270. I would make the Ride On buses free. Right now, we’re subsidizing [fares] at about 80 percent. If you look at the utilization of our Ride Ons, you see six

people, 10 people in a bus that costs over $500,000. So, we need to fill up the buses, which would get cars off the road and make this county more livable. But if we make it free and people still aren’t going to use the buses, we need to rethink our transportation plan, because there are 12-to-15-passenger vehicles that cost $70,000 that we could be utilizing. I like the idea of bus rapid transit, but it requires a dedicated lane. I would like to see us make some traction on getting folks out of their cars and onto the buses before we started building new roadways. Transportation is changing rapidly with driverless vehicles, and I would caution us from spending billions of dollars on new roadways while these new technologies are being adopted.

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In addition to improving its attitude toward business, do you feel the 9545 River Road, Potomac county has become overly regulatory in terms of rank-and-file citizens? WW24232_Arlington.BethesdaMag2018.indd 1 3/12/18 Yes. In many instances we’ve overstepped, and the law of unintended consequences has played out. I think the bag tax is a good example. We haven’t seen the actual usage of bags decline; the revenue from the tax has And we can’t wait to been pretty consistent for the last three reconnect with you. years. The other unintended consequence is the administrative burden on small businesses. If you’re a grocery Our name has changed, but our dedication to providing store, you get into the routine of issuing these bags. But if you’re running a you with innovative solutions hasn’t. beauty parlor, and maybe you’re only Experience the same local attention — now with issuing three or four bags a day, you’ve global expertise. got to track that and pay it. So you might be spending more money on the stamp than on the actual tax. It hasn’t had the desired impact we NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides employee were hoping it would. I would propose benefits, property & casualty, retirement and individual private client solutions that we ban plastic bags. I have been to through our licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. Our expertise is matched only our up-county incinerator in Dickerson: by our personal commitment to each client’s goals. 18 percent of what we were burning up there was plastics that could be recycled. 301-581-7300 | NFP.com As a county, there’s a level of pride that we’re the best and the most environmentally conscious. But yet, there are some 17-FCB-EMBN-MA-0765 things we are not leading the country on, and we need to step it up. TM

5:40 PM

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interview

marc elrich AGE: 68

HOME: Takoma Park; divorced, four children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of Maryland, College Park, 1975; master’s degree (teaching), Johns Hopkins University, 1993 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Teacher (Rolling Terrace Elementary School, Takoma Park, 1990-2006); retail store manager (Montgomery Ward, Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Montgomery County Council, 2006-present; member, Takoma Park City Council, 1987-2006 226

What distinguishes you from the other Democratic contenders for county executive? I think I probably have the broadest range of experience. I’ve done everything from worked in a small business to, oddly enough, a real estate development [in Howard County]. I was a schoolteacher in the county. I worked in local government as a [Takoma Park] councilmember. The legislation I’ve passed has probably been some of the most difficult to get through the county council. I’m willing to take on hard issues, and I’m consistent: If you ask me a question, you’re going to get the same answer. You’re not going to discover that when you’re talking to somebody, that they’ll say, ‘Well, hey, he told me something different.’ So I think I offer a kind of… trustworthiness that people really need.

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You caused a controversy in this campaign with a remark about ‘ethnic cleansing’ perceived as aimed at the light-rail Purple Line, with several of your opponents citing it to question whether you have the temperament to be county executive. Your perspective on this? The ethnic cleansing thing was taken way out of context. When we were doing the Long Branch [Sector] Plan, we all knew the Purple Line was coming through. I thought the [Montgomery County] Planning Board did one of the most unconscionable things that I’ve ever seen a planning board do: It actually went to the property owners of the low-rise apartment buildings and basically wanted to incentivize them to tear down the buildings. I never said that the Purple Line would bring ethnic

cleansing. It was what the planning board did with this rezoning plan [for the Long Branch area]. I asked at a council meeting, ‘Couldn’t we just once let the low-income people who live in a community that we’re revitalizing stay there after we revitalize it?’ And I got no positive reception. So I [later] said to the planning director, ‘What you’re doing is ethnic cleansing. And ethnic cleansing doesn’t mean you kill people; it just means that you dislocate them.’ Within a week, the planning board withdrew its proposal to rezone all that. So yeah, I upped the temperature a little bit. …When I said it the nicer way—‘Shouldn’t these people be allowed to stay here?’—I got no support. …I have been really troubled by a planning department that has targeted large apartment complexes that are occupied by minorities for replacement, knowing that it would radically change the mix of people there and that we don’t have anywhere else for them to go. Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? I absolutely think this county has to do something about the achievement gap and the poverty gap. We pretty much have the same achievement gap that we had when schools were integrated over 50 years ago. Part of it is because we have almost solely emphasized the schools and haven’t looked at the broader social context. If you don’t deal with poverty, there is no curriculum in the world that undoes the damage coming from a home destabilized by economic problems. I think we have an obligation to try to redress some of that. Into that, I’d put early childhood education. When I was [younger] and put my kids in the day care program [at] Montgomery College, I did not have to make horrible economic choices, and I wasn’t being paid a whole lot of money. But the cost wasn’t simply just out of control. Today, people are routinely talking about $15,000-$20,000 to put a kid in child care, and that’s not just a problem for working people; it’s a problem for middle-class people.

What are the priority steps that must be taken to help pay for the needs you have described? If you grow, it’s going to take care of some of that. We should grow jobs in lots of different sectors. I do support doing what we can do without giving away the store. But there is no way we’re growing faster than the needs are growing. It hasn’t happened anywhere, and there’s no reason to believe that it’s going to happen here, that you’re going to generate that much tax revenue. I could give you 20 things in the social sphere that we ought to do. But the truth is we don’t have any money. We can’t even address the needs we have today. What I really believe we have to do is reshape the county government in a fundamental way. We’ve got to look at how we do business. …The employees who work in county government can tell you tales of things that they don’t feel are well done or efficient. And I don’t think we’ve gone to our employees and the unions and said, ‘Look, we’re both in this together. If I run out of money, you run out of salaries.’ They’re as vested in this county becoming sustainable as we are. One barrier often cited in attracting new jobs and increasing the tax base is what many feel is an unfriendly business climate. How big a problem is this? I had a meeting in Fairfax County with their planning agency. I said, ‘I wanted to come over and talk to you, because developers in Montgomery County tell us you’re nirvana and we’re hell—and I wanted to kind of understand what’s the difference between what we do and what you do.’ And they looked at me and laughed. They said, ‘When [the developers] come over here, they tell us that Montgomery County’s heaven and we’re hell.’ So I think we’re less unfriendly than the dialogue says. But there are things we do, in what’s required in permitting, in stuff in the building code, where some of the [complaints] to me seem legitimate. I’ve had a conversation for years with the chambers of commerce, saying, ‘Set up a meeting with me. Let’s talk about

what are the regulations you think are impediments.’ The number of times they’ve come into my office? Zero. One of the things I would convene—since as county executive I’m sure they would then come to the table—is [an examination] of what things we require that maybe we don’t need to do. You were part of a unanimous county council vote in 2016 for a property tax increase that averaged about 9 percent. The county executive urged a smaller increase, and there is a widespread view that the hike was a major factor in term limits being approved by voters that year. Any second thoughts? I don’t have any regrets. We have struggled to deal with issues in the schools. A large portion of the money is going to the schools, but not all of it. I felt that we have to bring back the libraries, to bring services back to a level that people expected of us. We’ve got the problem that we were never able to recover from the recession; in some parts of our budget we’re funding roughly where we were 12 years ago. And what people don’t understand is that we were facing [requirements] where [bond underwriters] want you to have reserves at a certain level. We have put tens upon hundreds of millions of dollars into reserves that we weren’t doing before the recession. We could have done a gazillion things with that money if it weren’t sitting in reserve accounts for future retirement benefits—and that’s what people don’t understand. I think we communicated that really poorly. That has taken money away that would have solved all these problems without any tax increases. As county executive, could you foresee yourself proposing a property tax increase above the charter limit of the rate of inflation, requiring another unanimous council vote? I would seriously hope not. I feel that before you go talk about a tax increase, I would have to demonstrate to people that I’ve done everything I can do to lean

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interview out the county, to make sure we’re as efficient as possible, that I’ve taken people and been able to repurpose them, rather than just going to taxes first. I think the days of going to taxes first are over.

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As the sponsor of the 2017 minimumwage increase, does the $15-per-hour rate put the county at a competitive disadvantage? Not for the kind of businesses we’re trying to attract. Businesses which are what we say we want—which pay decent wages—are not minimum-wage businesses. Most businesses [in the county] pay more than minimum wage, so it doesn’t even affect most businesses. The businesses that don’t pay more aren’t really geographically flexible. If you’re a McDonald’s owner, I’m sorry, you’re not going to leave here and go to Virginia. None of your customers are driving across the river to go to McDonald’s. Gov. Larry Hogan has proposed to widen I-270 and I-495 and put in toll lanes, similar to those used in Virginia. Is that a concept you support, and what are your transportation priorities? I-270 is easy: Go ahead with reversible lanes. There is no need to run two lanes north to Frederick in the morning. And I don’t need two extra lanes going south in the evening. The Beltway is really problematic because…you can’t mess with Rock Creek Park. So unless they’re going to deck the Beltway, which I actually heard is one thought, I don’t see how you do it. I’d like to build out bus rapid transit. This is critical, because people tell us transportation in the county is one of the major impediments to economic development. And you’re not going to solve it with roads; I think everyone agrees that you’re not building another road into Bethesda or Silver Spring or Wheaton or Rockville. If you’re not building roads, you’ve got to get a transportation system. I’ll say that if we land the Amazon deal, I will be 100 percent vindicated on this, because the means of getting people to Amazon is going to be a bus rapid transit route.

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Bill frick AGE: 43 HOME: Bethesda; married, two children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Northwestern University, 1997; law degree, Harvard Law School, 2000 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Attorney (Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, 2000-present) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Maryland House of Delegates (2007-present); House majority leader (2017-present) 230

What distinguishes you from the other Democratic contenders for county executive? I think I hit the ideal sweet spot in terms of experience. With the overwhelming vote in favor of term limits, the voters sent a clear message they’re ready for a new set of leaders in county government… which really, I think, rules out the existing [county] councilmembers. Getting around the county, you hear time and time again frustration, and an interest in moving forward beyond these councilmembers. Yet I also know this county well. I know we like to give promotions to people who have proven themselves. With 10 years under my belt in Annapolis, having moved up from a freshman appointee to House majority leader…I think I really am ideally suited to be a change agent, but also someone with a proven track record. You’re one of two people in this race who have not previously held a county office, and your background is in a legislative rather than executive capacity. There are some who suggest this would put you at a disadvantage in stepping into the role of county executive.

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Many of the most important issues facing the county in the next term will actually be state issues. Education is the No. 1 priority for many of our citizens, and the most important thing in education over the next four years is going to be the Kirwan Commission, and the funding decisions that come out of Annapolis. [Editor’s note: The commission, chaired by former University of Maryland Chancellor William Kirwan, was created in 2016 and is working on proposed revisions in the allocation of state aid for education.] And I think I showed in state government that I could flatten learning curves pretty quickly. I got there without any particular expertise in taxes, and I was the chair of the tax subcommittee within three years. When it comes to executive leadership, I think temperament is a pretty important piece of this. We’re going to need an executive who can chart a clear vision for the county and be a strong leader, but also be a diplomat and represent the entire county. You can say bombastic things when you’re one of nine councilmembers. You can accuse people of ethnic cleansing and, in the case of the council, there are eight other

voices…to disagree with you. When you’re chief executive and you have both administrative authority and sort of symbolic importance, it’s not appropriate. [Editor’s note: Frick was alluding to a comment made late last year by Councilmember Marc Elrich, a rival candidate for county executive, who accused the Montgomery County Planning Board of “ethnic cleansing” in its 2013 sector plan for the Long Branch community adjacent to the route of the future Purple Line.] Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? The most important [issue] is growing our tax base. We are 20th out of 24 local jurisdictions [in Maryland] in job growth. Coming out of the recession, our per capita income [growth] was negative 1.7 percent. D.C.’s was plus 6 s percent. [InMagazine’ Virginia], Tysons 10 years 2018-2019

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ago was a mall. Tysons today is the economic center of a city. Meanwhile, you can’t point to much in Montgomery County that has that same kind of excitement and transformation. There’s certainly no question that the number of people in need in our community has grown. People still think of Montgomery County as this affluent community, and in some ways we are. You can drive around Potomac and you see that. People might not believe that 41 percent of the kids in our elementary schools are on free and reduced meals. We as a community want to welcome those kids and guarantee they’ve got a bright future. But we’re going to have to have a robust tax base to afford that. Had you been on the county council in 2016, would you have been part of the unanimous majority that was required under the county charter to

raise property taxes by an average of almost 9 percent? No, I would have done what County Executive [Ike] Leggett recommended. If you remember the history, the [state] legislature was able to get some relief on payments related to the Wynne tax decision [which mandated refunds to county residents who paid local income taxes elsewhere]. [Leggett] urged [the council] not to increase [taxes] as much as they did. Ike has made it very clear that the additional revenue never went to the school system. And that’s what I hear when I’m talking to folks around the county: ‘We don’t mind paying taxes if it’s for schools and roads and cops. We get frustrated because it feels like the taxes have gone up, and then gone into pet projects for the councilmembers.’ [Editor’s note: At issue is about $18 million the council approved for fiscal year 2017 above what Leggett had

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proposed—money that went to programs outside the schools. This included a $4.5 million contribution to the county’s new public campaign finance system and $2.7 million to restore staff reductions at a couple of local fire stations; the largest portion, $7.7 million, was to cover increased costs in programs funded by the county Department of Health and Human Services. The council also reduced Leggett’s request for non-school programs by $5 million, for a net increase of $13 million over the executive’s proposed budget.]

next to a metal sign for almost 45 minutes hoping the bus will pick you up. You can press a button on your phone and there will be a minivan there in five minutes. I don’t want to have, on a Saturday night, a fleet of buses driving around empty. It makes no sense financially or environmentally—and it’s not good service.

If, during your tenure as county executive, the county council again wanted to raise taxes by more than the rate of inflation, would you support it? Absent unusual circumstances, no. It’s time for us to live within our means and to fund the priorities of our voters, not just the priorities of the politicians. Our priorities need to be…schools, roads, public safety. If it’s not in those three categories, we need to step back and ask whether that should be the priority.

After vetoing an earlier version, County Executive Leggett last year signed a bill to make the county the only one in Maryland with a $15-perhour minimum wage. Would you have signed that legislation? I would have worked all along for that to be an issue taken up by our state legislators rather than our county council. I share the basic notion that if you’re working full time, you shouldn’t be living in poverty, and I have supported minimum-wage increases. [But] employment regulation doesn’t make a lot of sense at the county level. We don’t even have an appropriate department to enforce those rules.

Are you supportive of Gov. Larry Hogan’s plan to widen I-270 and I-495 and include toll lanes? What are your transportation priorities? [The governor] deserves credit for at least proposing something on the scale that we need, [but] I think a lot of us are particularly skeptical about the Beltway widening, if only for physical constraint reasons. I’m not sure financially how an entirely public-private partnership will work for I-270, but, by God, we’ve got to do something. I-270 has been a mess long enough. I think we should be fundamentally revisiting how we do busing. One of the things I’m pushing in this campaign is embracing technology to deliver services. Why are we still running buses in the 1925 model of a set schedule with set routes in 2018? In the era of Uber and Lyft, you don’t need to stand outside

Are there other areas of regulation that you feel are an overreach at the county level? I don’t think we need our council to be a tiny Congress or a tiny United Nations— and sometimes it feels like the breadth of their ambitions jeopardizes our ability to succeed on the core functions. I thought it was a little sad in the days leading up to Discovery’s departure [from Silver Spring], the big priority for our council was whether to include kangaroos in a circus animal ban. There was an old joke that went around that the council could deal with transgender and trans fats, but couldn’t deal with transportation. And sadly, there’s some truth to it. That’s not to say we disagree with how they feel about transgender or trans fats. But it’s a sense that we need the focus to be on the quality-of-life issues that local government is there to work on.

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rose krasnow AGE: 66 HOME: Rockville; married, two children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Washington University in St. Louis, 1973; master’s degree (urban and regional planning), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1975 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Montgomery County Planning Department, 2004-2017 (acting director, 2012-2013; deputy director, 2013-2017) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Rockville City Council (19911995), Rockville mayor (1995-2001) 234

What distinguishes you from the other Democratic contenders for county executive? I’m the only candidate who has both executive experience and a tremendous knowledge of the county. I also have a proven track record in terms of the things that I got accomplished when I was mayor of Rockville and at the planning department. The planning department, to me, is the perfect complement to being mayor: I got to work with all the different neighborhoods in the county. One of your opponents recently took a swipe at your planning background, saying, ‘I don’t think when you get around the county there’s a sense that this is a particular area of excellence and citizen satisfaction.’ He is right about one thing: A lot of people don’t like development. And so, yes, if he said, ‘Do you think it’s good that Rose is from the planning department,’ people would probably say, ‘Oh, they’ve approved way too much development.’ It’s something I’m very proud of because if the county doesn’t grow, it stagnates, and if we want to have money

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to do all the wonderful things that we do, we better continue to grow, or what the residents will find is their taxes continuing to go up. …I think the fact that I am so unabashedly saying I would like to encourage more economic development is something that sets me apart from several of my opponents. The planning department is sometimes criticized by citizen groups as insensitive to their concerns. As a potential county executive, does this need to be addressed? Yes and no. People hate change. What I think is great is that planners have the courage—and I do mean that—to realize things aren’t going to stay the same, that we have a growing population and need to provide places for them to live. They can put up with the tremendous resistance [they] get…and actually make sure that the county is able to grow and thrive. Now here’s where I’m on the side [of the critics]. We always bragged at the planning department that our plans were in balance, that we don’t allow any more growth than what we have infrastructure for. But the development moves forward,

and the infrastructure promised in the plan does not get funded; it’s not the planning department’s job to fund it; that’s the county’s. And I would try very hard to get some of that provided. So I do think there’s a reason that people feel they’ve been sold a bill of goods. Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? One of the reasons I got into this race is that I really felt that the demographics of this county have changed so tremendously and that we talk a good game, but we don’t live it. We say that we welcome the changing Montgomery County, but the fact of the matter is that we continue to perhaps favor certain ZIP codes with some of our policies. As a result, I don’t think the quality of life [in some communities] is the same as others, and I would really like to put in programs that would make it more equal. It has a lot to do with the fact that I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. It was not a well-to-do city, and it was a very segregated city. I worked very hard [in several campaigns while attending high school] to make sure that the AfricanAmerican community in Memphis was able to get the same education, the same services as others were. That really shaped a lot of who I am, and I see some of the same problems in 2018 that I saw in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Notwithstanding your experience, are there areas where you feel you’ll face a learning curve if elected? One of the things I hadn’t quite realized until I got on the campaign trail is that while the school budget is such a large part of the county budget, [and] because there is an elected school board, the county executive does not really get to decide how that money is spent. For me, it’s really figuring out [if there are] programs that we currently support in the schools that either aren’t producing what they should be for what they cost, or are there ways to re-prioritize? And I think if we reach out [to the superintendent and school board] and really sit

down and talk, maybe there are some things we can change. What needs to be done to grow the county’s tax base to fund the needs you’ve cited? One of the first things is to simply make the business community feel like they’re appreciated here. I’ve talked to several well-known developers and consulting firms and others who really say they’re ready to throw in the towel. It was obviously great to be on the short list for Amazon, because it does point out that we really have a lot of things going for us. So why are we viewed so negatively? I do think that the business community would like to feel a little better appreciated. Had you been on the county council in 2016, would you have been part of the unanimous vote that was required under the county charter to raise property taxes by an average of almost 9 percent? I don’t think we had to have that big a tax increase. And I think I would have been very hesitant to approve the increase. [County Executive] Ike [Leggett] originally proposed a bigger tax increase based on the Wynne decision [which mandated refunds to county residents who paid local income taxes elsewhere]. And then, when he was able to push it further out, he told the council that he didn’t need that big a tax increase. …I’ve been a politician before, and I know the pressure they were under to please various constituencies. …I do feel their pain. And that’s why we have to expand the tax base or we are going to feel more pain going forward. You’re on record as backing Ike Leggett’s decision last year to veto the first version of the $15 minimum wage. Would you have signed the second version of the bill, as he did? I probably would have. It did spread it out over a longer period of time, [and] given the number of people who really felt this was something that would help them, it would have been very hard to look them in the eye and say no. I don’t know how anybody lives in this county

on minimum wage; it’s not that I don’t feel their pain. But if it’s going to make McDonald’s go to robotic flippers, that doesn’t help anyone have a higher standard of life. It just takes away jobs. In addition to Gov. Hogan’s proposed widening of I-270, what other steps need to be considered to deal with transportation in the county? I would love to do more to extend some mass transit options outside of the county line, and all the way up to Frederick. …I have said publicly, and it’s certainly not where the planning department is, that I’m not sure we shouldn’t build M-83, the continuation of the Midcounty Highway, because we based our growth on it, and we haven’t provided it. [Editor’s note: The proposed highway would run for 8.7 miles between Clarksburg and Derwood; so far, only a 3-mile segment has been constructed.] I’m not sure [bus rapid transit] is the way we should be going right now. Maybe on Route 29, where we’ve got the pilot project, because there’s so little transportation there and we’re getting so much traffic. If we’re really going to be going to more of a vehicle-on-demand sort of system, the problem with BRT is that you have to get to it. I live a mile and a half from the Rockville Metro station, and it’s still difficult for me to get there. But if I could just have a little vehicle that could come pick me up at my door, that’s a whole different thing. Did you vote in favor of the 2016 term-limits referendum? I voted for it because I did indeed feel this county is going in the wrong direction. I used to be adamantly opposed to term limits…but I have to say as a woman, when it’s so hard for women to get elected in general, we need to open up the process. I am surprised that three term-limited councilmembers are running for this job. To me, what they were basically being told is: ‘You have tried hard, but you haven’t gotten the job done that needed to get done.’ One of the reasons I got into this race was that it said to me that people are looking for a new way of doing things.

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George LEventhal AGE: 55 HOME: Takoma Park; married, two children EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of California, Berkeley, 1984; master’s degree (public administration), Johns Hopkins University, 1987; doctorate (public policy), University of Maryland, College Park, 2017 PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Congressional aide (Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland); lobbyist (Association of American Universities) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Member, Montgomery County Council, 2002-present (president, 2006, 2015); chair, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (1996-2001) 236

What distinguishes you from the other Democratic contenders for county executive? Immigration has immeasurably benefited Montgomery County, and it has immeasurably benefited my family. My wife came here as an adult, and we’ve raised our two sons in a multicultural, multilingual household. We all speak English, Spanish and Portuguese. My wife’s immigrant experience has highlighted for me the experiences that many of my constituents live with, and…it’s very, very important that the next county executive have a deep understanding of the dayto-day immigrant experience. I sincerely feel I have the greatest depth in terms of understanding the changing demographics of this county and the broadest set of relationships with community leaders. I have the most extensive experience in county government. I’m not running as an outsider. …The job of county

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executive is a complicated [one], and I think it is important that [its occupant] has years of service to the county and understands the relationships between the executive, the county council, the state legislature, [the county] planning [board], the school system. I think I was a really good councilmember about three years in. I fully understand the job of county executive; I’m ready to get started on day one. I think anyone who comes in as a pure outsider with no background and no history who’s very bright will learn how to do the job after a couple of years. And I don’t think the county can wait a couple of years for someone to learn the job. During your four terms on the council, you have acquired a reputation for flashes of temper, causing some to wonder how well you would work collaboratively in a highly visible,

high-pressure role. Are these concerns merited? My colleagues elected me council president twice, and 2015 [second term as president] was a particularly cooperative year in which councilmembers got along very, very well. I view my role as county executive as the coach of the team. Every member of the team has got to be given credit for his or her accomplishments. I understand how to do that, and I did that as council president. I recognized and praised my colleagues, and worked very well with them. Now, I am passionate about having government provide housing for the homeless, I am passionate about reducing educational and economic inequity. It’s because I’m passionate about things that [the] Purple Line Now [organization] maintained its advocacy for the Purple Line in good times and in bad. You have to have passion to accomplish big things, and that’s been my record. I’m not running as an outsider: I like interacting with other elected officials. I understand where they’re coming from, I understand what their needs are. So I’m entirely comfortable I will play well in the schoolyard with others. Over the next decade, what do you feel are the major challenges facing Montgomery County? The single largest challenge is inequality of educational opportunity. The largest demographic group in the public schools today is Latino, and we are not serving our Latino students as well as we are serving other demographic groups. And we are not serving African-American students as well. But those are the workers of the future, and the future of our school system and what it means for our economy is much too important for the next county executive to play a hands-off role. I’m not proposing structural changes. I am proposing an assembling of data [and] outside review and audit. …I would make sure that the school system is accountable for results, and I would detail staff to assess whether we are achieving

measurable reductions in the achievement and opportunity gap. And I would speak to issues of [allocating] resources, making the most rigorous curriculum available to every student regardless of ZIP code, and providing more choices and more options for students. There continue to be complaints that the county is not business-friendly. What needs to be done to address this? The county executive has to spend his or her time getting to know employers and understanding their needs. An important employer in this county, [Mayorga Organics President] Martin Mayorga, is a good friend, and last year I went to visit [him] and said, ‘So Martin, what can county government do for you?’ He said, ‘You know, you are the only elected official who has sat at my conference table and asked me that question.’ So that kind of relationship building is something that the next county executive has to prioritize—both in the county and traveling to identify opportunities with people who might want to move to the county. We need to let employers know that we care about them, that we’re responsive to them, and that we have a culture of customer service. We’ve got a great story to tell; we’ve got to market ourselves better. Clearly, the fact that we have advanced to the second round on Amazon’s [second headquarters] speaks well of the county. The things that made us attractive to Amazon should make us attractive for investment around the globe. You were part of a unanimous county council vote in 2016 for a property tax increase that averaged about 9 percent. County Executive Ike Leggett urged a lower increase, and there is a widespread view that the hike was a major factor in term limits being approved by voters that year. Any second thoughts? We made the decision to make a major investment to keep pace with rising

student population. Public education is the most important function of local government, we were falling behind, and it was necessary. Some of it [also] went to road resurfacing, some of it went to police protection, some of it to libraries. These are core functions of county government that constituents expect. Everyone wants great services, and nobody wants a tax increase—and that’s the reality of being an elected official. I would not anticipate a property tax increase during my term as county executive. I think we have to prioritize and we have to seek efficiency. I think our economic prospects are bright, and we have every reason to look ahead to a prosperous future. In 2017, you supported two versions of the bill to raise the local minimum wage to $15 per hour—the first one vetoed by the county executive, the second one signed into law. Are you concerned this move could affect the county’s competitiveness? The jobs that we’re seeking to attract, including Amazon but not only Amazon, are not minimum-wage jobs. Employers benefit when workers can afford to live here, and when workers feel they’re being treated decently and that they want to stick around in a job. I’ve read a lot of the economic literature on this; I think the multiplier effects of having more cash in the pockets [of those] at the low end of the income scale will be of significant benefit to the very merchants and retail establishments who are complaining about the minimum wage. Gov. Larry Hogan has proposed to widen I-270 and I-495 and put in toll lanes similar to those in Virginia. Is that a concept you support, and what are your transportation priorities? I was pleased that Gov. Hogan identified I-270 and the American Legion Bridge as a priority. I would like to see a [mass] transit component in the plan. I’d love to see rail all the way to Frederick, but I think that’s a long-term goal. Short

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interview of that, if we had a dedicated busway, people will take public transportation if it’s rapid and it’s reliable. And I think they would take it on I-270, not just in Montgomery County, but from Frederick all the way down. East of the I-270 spur, widening becomes very problematic. There is residential and commercial construction right up to the edge of the Beltway. …Tolls are not popular, but everything has to be paid for. I think Virginia has moved more successfully and more rapidly than we have on I-495. Virginia is having difficulty on I-66; the tolls are out of reach of ordinary commuters. Somewhere in there, there’s got to be a sweet spot where the tolls are reasonable enough that people use the lanes and the revenue is enough to pay for the improvements. During the 2016 campaign, you called the effort to impose a three-term limit on county elected officials a ‘dumb, unnecessary protest gesture,’ and contributed funds to an unsuccessful effort to defeat it. If elected county executive, could you see yourself seeking to reopen this issue? No. The voters have spoken. …It was never my intention to run for a fifth term on the county council. Had term limits not passed, had Leggett decided to run for a fourth term, I would not have run for council under any circumstances. I’m very proud of what I accomplished, but for me, four terms on the council is enough for one lifetime. Having said that, I worked closely with County Executive [Doug] Duncan and County Executive Leggett. I think they were both superb leaders for our county, but I don’t think either of them shone the brightest in their third terms. So if I’m fortunate enough to be our next county executive, I would hope to serve two terms only, regardless of what limits the voters have imposed. n Louis Peck (lou.peck@bethesdamaga zine.com) has covered politics extensively at the local, state and national level for four decades. 238

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Contemporary home on 2 acres in Palatine with pool, hot tub, garage for 6 cars! Open concept-living spaces, expansive owner’s suite with sitting area, bar and fireplace. Separate apartment with elevator, lower level with theatre, exercise room, wine cellar and sauna. This home is the ultimate retreat!

Stunning winner of the 2016 Maryland Building Industry’s Gold Award. Three levels with 10,000 sq. ft. and exceptional finishes. Gourmet/ catering kitchen, wine cellar/tasting room, Potomac / Avenel $2,195,000 theater, deluxe master, Custom children’smasterpiece loft. Walk to in Rapley Preserve. Rich finishes, soaring ceilings, walls of windows, and generous sized downtown Bethesda. spaces. Glorious kitchen, luxurious main level owner’s Gail Quartner wing, a study with floor-to-ceiling built-ins and a walk 301.332.6655 out lower level with a spa-like retreat, complete with wine Gail.Quartner@LNF.com cellar; truly one of a kind!

Stunning 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath custom Craftsman in Kenwood Park. Spacious, innovative floor plan with extensive custom detail throughout. Screened porch, large, level yard. Aaron Jeweler Bethesda / Avenel $1,995,000 301.325.8569 Custom brick home with 6 bedrooms and 5 full baths. Glass Aaron.Jeweler@LNF.com enclosed indoor pool with retractable roof. NEW gourmet kitchen, family room with floor to ceiling fireplace, main level guest suite, walk-out lower level with billiard room, wet bar, and carriage house, perfect for entertaining guests or home office.

Chevy Chase Village $2,399,000

Potomac / Avenel

$1,795,000

Custom home is an entertainer’s dream! Featuring 5 bedroom suites, 5 full and 3 half baths, kitchen open to great room, formal living and dining rooms, high ceilings and exquisite finishes. Billiard room, bar, theater, and backyard with covered porch, fireplace, sport court, waterfall, pond and more! Contact Ilene Gordon 301.440.1060.

TEAM

Potomac $3,500,000

Rarely available, 4-finished level Colonial Revival home featuring wraparound porch, large windows, high ceilings, 6 fireplaces and heart-of-pine floors throughout. Large, updated kitchen with table-space Potomac Potomac $1,725,000 overlooking/ rear garden.Outside Old world Tudor charm on 2 acre lot with pool, 2-story oak Genie Asmuth library, 3 wood burning fireplaces and elegant moldings. 301.996.3937 Upper level is the ideal retreat with 5 bedroom suites and Genie@LNF.com separate in-law apt! Walk-out lower level with bar, craft room, ample storage and more!

Grand, Modern French Chateau to be built on level 1+ acre with 11,000 sq. ft. of breathtaking space. Highlights include gourmet kitchen, expansive great room, family room, library and theatre with high Bethesda / Avenel $1,650,000 ceilings, stunning millwork Enjoy some of the most spectacular in the DC and 3-carviews garage. area! Custom home on premierSharyn lot overlooking Goldman Avenel golf course. Features 5 bedrooms including a main level 301.529.7555 owner’s suite, 4.5 baths, kitchenSharyn.Goldman@ open to great room and large entertaining spaces. LNF.com Contact Ilene Gordon 301.440.1060.

Potomac Bethesda/ Potomac Village

Potomac/Avenel Potomac / Park Potomac

NEW ON MARKET

Bethesda Chevy Chase / Mass Village Ave Forest

$1,495,000 $3,260,000

$1,399,900 $1,885,000

$1,295,000 $1,750,000

Large Custom-built oval foyer in and 2006,sweeping this Georgian staircaseColonial with entry boasts to all4 rooms stunning on levels the main withfloor. 8600Spacious sq. ft. Features masterinclude suite compliments 7 bedroom this suites, light-fi 4 fireplaces, lled 5 bedroom, soaring ceilings, 4 full, 1 dramatic half bath architectural home. NEW gourmet lines, family kitchen roomwith off chef’s access kitchen to deck andprovide 2-car garage. convenient outdoor Sharyn Goldman living. Steps 301.529.7555 away from Merrimack Park and a short walk Sharyn.Goldman@LNF.com to schools.

Incredible Featured value in Architectural steps away from Digest, Potomac this stunning Village! Sunny, 2014 spacious renovationnewer features home a first-floor with 7 master bedrooms, suite with 7 full, spa1 bath, half baths. screened Hardwood porch with floors stone onwall 3 levels. fireplace, Kitchen large with patiosunand fipool lled — breakfast a delightful roomcity open oasis. to a 2-story family room. Walkup Michael lowerMatese level with 301.806.6829 in-law suite, media room, rec room, exercise Mike@MichaelMatese.com room.

Beautiful Bright, sophisticated, brick home 2onbedroom, a private2.5cul-de-sac bath + den in offering Avenel. Bright over 2,700 kitchen sq. ft.with of upgraded breakfastliving roomspace. openGourmet to familykitchen room with with flisland, oor toluxury ceilingowner’s fireplacesuite. all with Expansive accessterrace to deckoffers and landscaped wonderful lot. outdoor Lowerentertaining level with rec space room, media and panoramic room and ample skylinestorage. views. 5 bedrooms, 4 full, 1 half bath. Donna Karpa 301.215.6907 / Donna.Karpa@LNF.com

Potomac / Rivers Edge Silver Spring

Potomac Bethesda/ Avenel

Bethesda McLean, Virginia / Locust Hill Estates

NEW ON MARKET

$1,095,000 $1,249,000

Classic beautifully sited onhomes privateonlotSligo withCreek two First ofColonial 3 new multigenerational decks backing to sq.creek trees space with two-story Park. Over 5,300 ft. ofand finished with in-lawfamily suite room, renovated and 4.5 great room/potential main and elevator. Fivekitchen, bedrooms, baths, stunning kitchen, level suite.2-car Updated windows andand HVAC! Convenient to side-load garage, stone patio firepit. Bretton Potomac Village and more! SterlingWoods, Mehring 301.585.2600 / YoSterling@gmail.com

$939,500 $649,800

Renovated Meticulouslyend maintained unit townhome townhome with in Avenel! stunningNEWLY tablerefi space nished kitchen, hardwood hardwood floors, floorsNEWER and twoenergy fireplaces. effiBuiltcient windows, ins and closet kitchen organizers with NEWinSubzero master. fridge, Beautifully and walkout finished lower walkout level. lower Landscaped level withlot French with doors brick patio, to patio. loggia entry, 2 car-attached Debbie Cohen garage. 202.288.9939 / DebbieCohen@msn.com

$899,000 $449,000

Renovated, Renovated bright corner and 3 bedroom, close to 2.5 everything! bath condo From with the updated southernkitchen exposure andinbaths, private, to the gated formal community. living and Stainless dining rooms steel appliances, and study with granite fireplace, countertops, to the backyard washer and treedryer house, in zip unit,line, hardwood campfirefloors. circleIndoor and large parking, yard 24/7 this home security, haspool. it all! Contact Ben Fazeli Ilene 202.253.2269 Gordon 301.440.1060. / Ben.Fazeli@LNF.com

BethesdaGatewaySales.com | LongandFoster.com 301.365.9090 | info@BannerTeam.com | www.BannerTeam.com 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland | 301.907.7600

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Wendy

BANNER TEAM

Wendy Banner 301.365.9090

Potomac / Bradley Farms

$3,495,000

Timeless Georgian on a pristine 2.4 acres with pool, water feature, multiple stone patios and carriage house. Paneled library with built-ins, 5 fireplaces, main level guest suite and chef’s kitchen open to family room with floor to ceiling fireplace. Seven bedrooms, 7 full, 2 half baths. Garage parking for 5 cars!

NEW ON MARKET

Potomac / Kentsdale Estates

Bethesda / Burning Tree

$3,295,000

Custom home with 7 bedrooms, 7 full, 2 half baths plus an outdoor oasis featuring pool, sport court, flagstone terrace! Main level study, gourmet kitchen with sun-filled breakfast area, walk up lower level with gym, theater, and wet bar offer the perfect blend of casual and formal living spaces.

E Q U E S T R I A N CO M M U N I T Y / N E W O N M A R K E T

$2,895,000

Exquisite all-brick estate with 6 bedrooms, 6 full, 2 half baths on gated, fully fenced 2 acre lot with pool, spa, tennis court and pergola. Embassy-sized rooms, renovated kitchen, plus exquisite ballroom with patio access, perfect for entertaining. Garage for 6 cars, circular driveway, much more!

Potomac / Merry-Go-Round Farms

$2,495,000

Villa on landscaped lot with guest house, pool, stone patio, and English gardens. Stunning finishes, soaring ceilings and entertainment spaces abound in this 6 bedroom, 6 full and 2 half bath estate. Main level owner’s suite with sitting room, patio, and marble bath. Walkout lower level with rec room, pool access and gym.

P R I VAT E E XC LU S I V E

Potomac / Potomac Village

$2,650,000

Perfect for entertaining! Custom home on 2 spectacular acres. Five bedrooms, 5 full, 2 half baths. Lower level wet bar, wine cellar, gym, rec room. Glorious gardens, pool, fireplace, pergola, pond, patios, pool house, sport court. Truly an outdoor paradise!

Potomac / Bradley Farms

$2,599,000

One of close-in Potomac’s finest estates on a private resort setting. Five bedrooms, 6.5 baths, embassy-sized entertaining spaces, high ceilings and exquisite finishes. Pool, pool house, tennis, spacious yard, award-winning landscaping. Easy access to The Village, Bethesda, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia. Contact Ilene Gordon 301.440.1060.

301.365.9090 | info@BannerTeam.com | www.BannerTeam.com 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland | 301.907.7600

Wendy Banner Bethesda May-Jun18.indd 3

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Stunning North Potomac Contemporary

Top 1% of Long & Foster Agents in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Top-Producing Team Bethesda Gateway Office 301.907.7600

Sondra Mulheron Pam Schiattareggia 301.785.9536 301.802.7796 smulheron@LNF.com pam.scat@LNF.com www.HomesbySondraandPam.com

Updated, one-of-a-kind home on quiet culde-sac. Renovated and expanded with lightfilled, open floor plan, large gourmet kitchen open to family room, spa-like baths and beautiful landscaped yard. Pristine condition!! Offered at $679,999 | 14508 Antigone Drive, North Potomac, MD 20878

13716 Safe Harbor Ct | Rockville Lakewood Estates | $1,395,000

Everywhere You Want To Be

13715 Lakewood Ct | Rockville Lakewood Estates | $1,198,000 Margie Halem Recognized by

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL as one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Real Estate Agents

11605 Luvie Ct | Potomac Merry Go Round Farm | $1,849,000

Left to Right: Leslie Fitzpatrick, Lori Silverman, Lyn Moritt, Jamie Baraff, Margie Halem (center), Harrison Halem, Amy Gordon, Emily Moritt, Ashley Townsend, Lisa Frazier

301.775.4196 Licensed in MD | DC | VA â&#x20AC;˘ MargieHalem@LongandFoster.com Please view our listings at www.MargieHalemGroup.com.

Bethesda May-June 18-halfs.indd 1

#1 Billion Dollar Bethesda Gateway Office 301.907.7600 (O)

4/10/18 1:30 PM

Bethesd

Bethesda All Points Office A Top Long & Foster Office for 2017 A destination office for top producing luxury market agents and their clients!

LYNN A. STEWART

301.580.4552 • Lynn.Stewart@LongandFoster.com Licensed in MD & DC Your Bethesda Neighborhood Specialist OFFERING YOU: • EXPERT advice and specialists for renovations and staging helping you achieve the highest possible sales price • EXPERT advice & assistance on Downsizing and Right Sizing • EXPERT advice and service on updates to your house long before you decide to Sell • EXPERT listing & negotiation advice for the most Stress Free sale The Only Real Estate EXPERT You Need!

Residential Real Estate in DC, MD, & VA call 202.365.3222

Congratulations to our 2017 Top Agents: • Susan Jaquet • Andy Alderdice • Anne & Laura Emmett • Ken Bennett • Sharron Cochran • Patricia Ammerman • Lydia Benson • Robyn Porter • Kelly Bohi • Nancy Mannino • Kat Conley • Marie McCormack • Page Eisinger • Chris Georgatsos • Jennie McDonnell

• Experience with luxury estates & first-time home buyers

• Prompt, responsive, discreet l

www.LydiaBenson.com LydiaBenson@ StanfordAlumni.org

PAGE EISINGER

301.461.3934 • Page.Eisinger@LongandFoster.com Licensed in DC, MD & VA Miller Bethesda Office: #1 Individual Agent (units) #1 Individual Agent (new homes volume) #1 Individual Agent (total volume) #2 Individual Agent (listings volume) • Recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as top agent in 2017 • Native Washingtonian. • Offering caring, committed, personal and professional service to buyers and sellers for over 30 years.

• Offering our Luxury Clients specialized Christie’s International Real Estate Marketing • A Top Producing Long & Foster Office with Award Winning Agents • An Executive Approach to Real Estate • Serving the DC MD VA area • Relocation Services Interested in joining our team? Call Susan today for a confidential interview to find out why top producing and new agents join her office and choose to stay!

WALSH RICHARDS

301.706.3151 l

• Personal, caring, & intelligent take on real estate

Congratulations to Susan Sanford and her award winning team! The DC Metro Region 2017 runner up office of the year!

Walsh.Richards@LongandFoster.com Licensed in DC, MD & VA l

Results driven Native Washingtonian committed to finding you the perfect home. Professional and personal level of service Over 50 years of diverse commercial and residential real estate experience to help you throughout the selling and buying process.

Susan Sanford

VP, Managing Broker ssanford@LNF.com Office Direct: 301.320.8300

SHARRON COCHRAN 301.351.4517 • SCochran@LNF.com www.SCochran.com

• Realty Alliance Award Recipient, Top 5 Percent North America • SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) • Staging, marketing, and negotiation expert

Let my experience work for you! Licensed in MD, DC & VA

ANDY ALDERDICE A 5th generation Washingtonian assisting many MD, DC and VA residents in the sale and/ or purchase of their first and subsequent homes since 1994. Call her to schedule a private consultation.

Kensington, Maryland $1,949,000 One of the largest homes in Chevy Chase View can now be yours. Built in 2008 and improved over the years with a gorgeous chef’s kitchen, beautiful built-ins, high-end finishes, 301.466.5898 / 301.229.4000 level rear yard with deck and low maintenance landscaping andy4homes@gmail.com • www.andy4homes.com that gardeners and non-gardeners will love and appreciate!

DIANA SWEENEY

703.407.4129 • Diana.Sweeney@LongandFoster.com Long & Foster Gold Club Member Your Key To A Successful Selling & Buying Experience l Licensed in MD, DC, & VA l

Over 25 years of Experience Committed to Helping You throughout the Selling & Buying process Let my Real Estate Knowledge Work for You

Darnestown, Maryland $1,499,000 This sprawling Darnestown estate features a main house with expansive main level master suite, elevator and pool, PLUS 2 separate guest houses, PLUS a 6-stall horse barn, all situated on over 10+ serene acres at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac.

Darnestown, Maryland $1,399,000 A treehouse in the summer and a warm chalet in the winter is what you’ll find in this extraordinary custom home on 5 gorgeous acres backing to park land. From the antique Heart Pine flooring to the Douglas fir beamed ceilings to the walls of windows with bucolic views, you’ll be enchanted by this retreat at the end of a private lane.

LongandFoster.com 4701 Sangamore Rd, Suite L1, Bethesda, Maryland | 301.229.4000

1:30 PM

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Bethesda Gateway Office 2017 Sales Volume of More Than $1.2 Billion

Chevy Chase Village

$3,260,000

Bethesda $3,499,000

Bethesda $2,150,000

Chevy Chase Village $2,399,000

Potomac $3,500,000

Bethesda

$1,885,000

Potomac / Park Potomac

$1,750,000

Custom-built in 2006, this Georgian Colonial boasts 4 stunning levels with 8600 sq. ft. Features include 7 bedroom suites, 4 fireplaces, soaring ceilings, dramatic architectural lines, family room off chef’s kitchen and 2-car garage. Sharyn Goldman 301.529.7555 Sharyn.Goldman@LNF.com

Featured in Architectural Digest, this stunning 2014 renovation features a first-floor master suite with spa bath, screened porch with stone wall fireplace, large patio and pool — a delightful city oasis. Michael Matese 301.806.6829 Mike@MichaelMatese.com

Bright, sophisticated, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath + den offering over 2,700 sq. ft. of upgraded living space. Gourmet kitchen with island, luxury owner’s suite. Expansive terrace offers wonderful outdoor entertaining space and panoramic skyline views. Donna Karpa 301.215.6907 / Donna.Karpa@LNF.com

Silver Spring

Bethesda

McLean, Virginia

$1,249,000

First of 3 new multigenerational homes on Sligo Creek Park. Over 5,300 sq. ft. of finished space with in-law suite and elevator. Five bedrooms, 4.5 baths, stunning kitchen, side-load 2-car garage, stone patio and firepit. Sterling Mehring 301.585.2600 / YoSterling@gmail.com

$649,800

Meticulously maintained townhome with stunning tablespace kitchen, hardwood floors and two fireplaces. Builtins and closet organizers in master. Beautifully finished walkout lower level with French doors to patio. Debbie Cohen 202.288.9939 / DebbieCohen@msn.com

$449,000

Renovated corner 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo with southern exposure in private, gated community. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, washer and dryer in unit, hardwood floors. Indoor parking, 24/7 security, pool. Ben Fazeli 202.253.2269 / Ben.Fazeli@LNF.com

BethesdaGatewaySales.com | LongandFoster.com 4650 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland | 301.907.7600

Bethesda Gateway 2018 May-June.indd 2

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interior design. architecture. home sales.

PHOTO BY JOHN COLE

home

The dining room was among the areas renovated in Cindy and Bob Hurleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Potomac home. For more, turn to page 258.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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home | HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS

1 2

PATTERN PLAY Liven up your home with bold and beautiful elements

1. HIP TO BE SQUARE

2. CIRCLE TIME

3. LIVELY LOUNGER

A cute cutting board adds pizzazz to a cheese and charcuterie spread. This one is fashioned from mango wood, trimmed with a black and white zigzaggy diamond design, and measures 17½ inches by 13½ inches. Add it to your collection for $29.99, from World Market in Rockville (301-816-2480, worldmarket.com).

The Paccha by Popham Design collection features sturdy and stylish concrete field tiles in a variety of modern shapes. The Rings design comes in 7 7/8 -inch squares and can be used indoors on floors or walls. They’re available in two colors, chocolate and milk, and yolk and milk, for $25.95 per square foot at Ann Sacks in Logan Circle (202-339-0840, annsacks.com).

This daybed’s simple, streamlined hardwood frame is reminiscent of midcentury modern furniture, and the chic black and white trellis pattern upholstery is on trend for 2018. The fun and functional Darcy daybed is 78 inches long by 40 inches wide, transitions easily from seating to sleeping, and is priced at $1,998 through Anthropologie in Chevy Chase (301-654-1481, anthropologie.com).

246 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

ALL COURTESY PHOTOS

BY CAROLYN WEBER

4. MIX ’N’ MATCH

5. PRINT POWER

6. MEET THE PRESS

7. FLOOR IT

Rev up a solid sofa in a flash with this accessory that does the pattern mixing for you. The colorful Pomona Kalamkari lumbar pillow cover is made from a blend of cotton and linen, measures 16 inches by 26 inches and retails for $35.50 at Pottery Barn in Bethesda (301654-1598, potterybarn.com).

Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Home collection for York Wallcoverings features this eye-catching diamond pattern called Handloom (ME1542). The wallpaper comes in five colors and retails for $39.99 per roll. Purchase it at Sherwin-Williams in Bethesda (301-654-7955, sherwin-williams.com).

This beauty looks sharp enough to leave out long after breakfast. The Eileen eight-cup French press coffee maker features a stainless steel frame with graphic cutouts over a glass beaker. It comes in four finishes, including white, which retails for $30 at Home Depot in Bethesda (301-6343726, homedepot.com).

Add a pop of color and pattern to the kitchen or screened-in porch with the Crystal indoor/ outdoor rug from Dash & Albert. Take your pick of eight colors, including red and ivory, and seven sizes, priced from $58 to $1,226 through Urban Country in Bethesda (301-654-0500, urbancountrydesigns.com). ■

Carolyn Weber lives in Silver Spring and frequently writes about architecture and home design. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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home

Island Living Today’s kitchens boast islands that are more beautiful, versatile and functional than ever

THE KITCHEN IS THE hub of the home, and the island is the hub of the kitchen. An island is often at the top of a homeowner’s wish list because it offers so much in one practical package. In many homes, the island is the family command center for everything from morning coffee, cooking and baking, homework and holiday buffets, to just hanging out with friends and neighbors. “The trend has been growing for 30 years,” says Jerry Weed, owner of Kitchen and Bath Studios in Chevy Chase. “Kitchens are larger, prettier, and people are spending more money per square foot.” Designers agree that islands are here to stay, and they are getting bigger with homeowners wanting as much space as their kitchens will allow. “Eight feet long used to be the general rule, mainly because that was the limit for a countertop material without seams,” says Nadia Subaran, co-owner of Aidan Design in Silver Spring. “Now that larger seamless slabs are available, nine- and 10-foot islands are the norm.” She recommends keeping the width of an island to a maximum of four feet. If they are any wider, the middle becomes inaccessible. The key to a successful island is flexibility, and for that reason the tiered configuration (differing heights for the seated bar area and the food prep area) is losing popularity. “We’re not doing as much higher bar seating,” says designer Stephanie Fried of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens in Rockville. She finds that her clients prefer a flat expanse because 248

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

it’s a cleaner look and more useful for cooking and entertaining. Designers are also improving island seating arrangements, making them more conducive to conversation. Rather than having people lined up like ducks on one side, they’re creating wraparound seating for socializing face-to-face. Extending the end of a countertop 15 to 24 inches can accommodate legs and a couple of extra stools. Because they are so prominent, islands now provide a great opportunity for a creative design element. Set it apart and make a personal style statement with an accent color or finish, or showcase a unique slab of stone. “The tops are such a focal point, we like to use materials with some pattern and movement, so the eye has someplace to go,” Subaran says. Tastes are shifting from furniture-look pieces with ornate corbels to simpler, more streamlined looks. “But people still do want interesting finish details,” Subaran says. As for task lighting, homeowners are opting for fewer, but larger, fixtures over the island. “For instance, we’ll do two large globes instead of four mini-pendants,” Subaran says. Islands are infinitely customizable, and there is a size, style and function to fit every kitchen and taste. “I don’t like to prescribe how homeowners will use an island forever,” says TJ Monahan, director of project development at Case Architects & Remodelers in Bethesda. “It’s got to be flexible enough to change with people’s lifestyles.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

BY CAROLYN WEBER

Amy and Andrew Herman increased the square footage of their Chevy Chase home to allow for an island.

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AMY AND ANDREW HERMAN really wanted a kitchen island. They had lived in their Chevy Chase Village home for 12 years and were updating it room by room, but Amy was anxious to get to the kitchen. It wasn’t very old, but it had dark cabinets and dark granite countertops, a circulation-blocking peninsula, and lacked storage and seating. “It wasn’t warm or welcoming, and people didn’t want to linger,” Andrew says. An island was central to the plan they envisioned, but when they consulted a kitchen designer, he came back with bad news. “We tried it within the existing space, but it just wouldn’t work with everything they wanted,” says Jerry Weed of Kitchen and Bath Studios. The couple hired architect Geri Yantis of Sutton Yantis Associates Architects in Vienna, Virginia, and builder Michael Lerner of Meridian Homes in Bethesda to increase the square footage just enough to allow for an island. The team devised a plan to take advantage of a relatively new zoning code and extended the kitchen’s 10-foot-long back wall with a 26-inch box bay bumpout at the rear of the house. A 72-inch-by-40-inch island now stands in the middle of the expanded room. “I was particularly obsessed with the size of island,” Amy says. “I put blue tape on the floor to make 250

sure there would be ample space to circulate, pull out trash cans, and fit three stools.” The island also features a 27-inch farmhouse sink and a dishwasher. The Hermans didn’t want the sink on the outer wall facing the yard, away from the action at the island. “We spend a lot of time there and wanted to see out and have conversations,” Amy says. Locating the cleaning functions in the island freed up the wall cabinets for much-needed storage, including deep drawers. “Jerry spent a lot of time on the cabinet layout,” Andrew says. “It was a bit of a puzzle to get everything in.” The finishes are light and bright, with painted maple cabinets made by Christiana Cabinetry and marble countertops. “We selected timeless materials that tie into the rest of the house,” says Amy, who consulted with interior designer Marika Meyer of Marika Meyer Interiors in Bethesda. Amy eschewed the ubiquitous subway tile backsplash in favor of large, textured white square tiles. Transforming the kitchen turned into a much bigger project than the couple had anticipated, but it was worth it. “We really had fun with it, and I think that was a function of waiting,” Andrew says. “It’s our ideal kitchen, and there’s not one thing we would change.”

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

Pushing the Envelope

Opposite: The center island is topped with sturdy marble, 2½ inches thick. Bright red metal stools, oversize globe pendants and chrome drawer hardware accent the classic look.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL VENTURA

A built-in banquette provides a comfortable spot for the Hermans’ two teenage children to relax. With good lighting and built-in USB ports, it’s great for homework and keeps the kids in the common space instead of up in their rooms.

BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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home The open kitchen/family room design enables the Lehrers to be together while they’re cooking, cleaning, dining or relaxing. A “floating” cantilevered maple slab serves as an adjoining dining table. There are two seating options at the island: high-back, leather-covered side chairs at the dining table, and modern chrome and molded plastic counter stools for chatting with the cook.

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center of attention

PHOTOS BY CRAIG KOZUN-YOUNG

WHEN MARILYN AND SANDE LEHRER moved into their brick center-hall colonial in Upper Northwest D.C.’s American University Park neighborhood in 1982, they weren’t worried about the home’s flaws. It had a typical small-galley kitchen, plus an informal eating area converted from a garage by the previous owners and located around a corner, two steps down. “It took us 30 years to realize it was inconvenient,” Marilyn says with a laugh. “We were just happy to have our own house.” When they finally took the remodeling plunge, they went all out, removing walls and opening up the rear of the house to improve circulation and make way for a 400-squarefoot addition. The new eat-in kitchen and adjacent informal living area have an open, airy feel with a vaulted ceiling and windows all around. The style is contemporary, with sleek lines and high-contrast colors that reflect the couple’s aesthetic and the décor in the rest of the house. The kitchen layout revolves around an 84-inch-by-40½-inch island with a prep sink and disposal, work surface, storage and a 54-inch-by-36-inch custom-integrated dining table that saves space and provides a sleek focal point. With this tabletop, the

total length of the island is 138 inches. “The island sort of evolved,” Marilyn says. “It was a collaborative effort.” D.C.-based architect William Feeney commissioned the tabletop, a cantilevered maple slab that appears to float. It is offset slightly, giving the appearance of overlapping the cabinetry. “It adds a nice design element in the space,” says designer Stephanie Fried of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens. The bold black-laminate front cabinets from North American cabinetmaker Cabico’s Elmwood series feature a modern horizontal grain. “They are dark, but it works in this kitchen because there’s so much light,” Fried says. The Lehrers wanted a smooth, modern backsplash, so interior designer Sherry Crocker of Crocker Design Associates in Bethesda suggested 3/8 -inch tempered glass painted bright yellow for a pop of color and high contrast with the cabinets and the white quartz countertops. The Lehrers are really enjoying the new design, whether it’s breakfast for two or while they’re entertaining a crowd. “There is plenty of room for lots of cooks in the kitchen, extra seating at the holidays and everyone feels connected,” Marilyn says.

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THE OWNER OF THIS home in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chevy Chase cooks and bakes practically ever y day, but a genetic muscular condition was making it increasingly difficult for her to work in her old kitchen. The existing space was small, divided by a peninsula, and heavy items were hard to reach. “I wanted easier access to appliances and storage so I’m not stressing muscles at the end of the day, when they are the most fatigued,” says the married mother of two teenagers. She turned to Nadia Subaran of Aidan Design in Silver Spring to create a kitchen that was less physically demanding. Having waited a long time for this renovation, she had a clear vision of her ideal setup. A central cleanup center with two dishwashers and a trash compactor was a priority. “The entire 114-inch-by-42-inch island is dedicated to trash removal and washing dishes,” Subaran says. A 30-inch-by-10-inch undermount sink is deep enough to conceal dishes so they aren’t visible from the table. When plan254

ning kitchens, Subaran always defers to the everyday function. “If it works well for large gatherings, that’s great, but we never start there,” she says. The island is a focal point, so it had to have the built-in functions but also appear as a soft element in the room. Cream-painted cabinets and white Macaubus quartzite counters blend in with the homeowner’s serene palette and collection of white ceramics and Swedish antiques. “This room is all about the view and the connection to [the] eating area,” Subaran says. “It was important to use panels on the island appliances because stainless steel would have chopped it up.” The new ergonomically designed kitchen is just what the homeowner ordered, and she and her family use it constantly. Even small touches, such as the built-in, spring-loaded shelf to lift her stand mixer to counter level, help facilitate her daily routine. “All of it has made an enormous impact on our lives,” she says. “It’s so much easier to prepare nice meals now.”

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

LEFT PHOTO BY ROBERT RADIFERA; RIGHT PHOTO BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

design within reach

Opposite: An existing stone fireplace in the informal dining area was covered with drywall and topped with a restored barn-beam mantel. The refrigerator and freezer are divided into two 24-inch-wide columns (at left in the photo) so that nothing is stacked high and out of reach. The island acts as a central cleanup center with two dishwashers, a trash compactor and a deep sink. On the outside wall are two French door ovens which the homeowner can open with one hand.

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A kitchen island was a must-have for this family of four. The center station houses a range, a wine cooler, ample counter seating and deep storage drawers for pots and pans. Warm wood-toned cabinets, refinished original oak floors and pale blue glass subway tiles soften the edges of the contemporary kitchen.

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treasured island

PHOTOS BY JUNE STANICH

JEREMY KRISHNAN and Prasanna Satpute-Krishnan relocated to the D.C. area several years ago and were looking for a house in a convenient, close-in location that was also surrounded by nature. They chose the Bethesda neighborhood of Carderock Springs, which checked all the boxes, and settled into a split-level house built in 1962. The house was in original condition when they bought it, “right down to the stove,” Jeremy says. The kitchen and main living areas were small and too chopped up for this family with two growing children. “We wanted to open it up and update it, but maintain the modern style and midcentury spirit,” Jeremy says. They enlisted Case Architects & Remodelers in Bethesda to handle the design and construction of a renovation that entailed removing two walls, extending the kitchen by 9 feet, and adding an attached two-car garage. The kitchen is now exposed to the living and dining rooms, and revolves around a long island that measures 141-inches-by-40inches and is packed with functions. There is seating for four, storage on both sides, a

wine cooler tucked into one end, and a fullsize range with an exhaust fan overhead. The range has ample workspace, with a full 24 inches of surface on its right side. Sliding the range down to one end gave flexibility to the island, as the other end is open for eating and serving. “When we do a range like this, we put it away from where people are hanging out,” says Case’s TJ Monahan, who worked on the project. The homeowners opted to break up the long run of cabinets visually by using two different varieties from cabinetmaker Crystal Cabinet Works: a carbonized bamboo and a dark cherry with a sepia stain. The island's snow-white quartz countertops set it apart from the perimeter, which has gray countertops. The white quartz wraps one entire end of the island for a waterfall effect. The new space is now the epicenter of the home’s main level and just what the Krishnans had in mind. It’s great for parties or a quick bite, and the kids have even started to help with food prep. “They love the island and the low built-in microwave,” Jeremy says. “Everything in here is easy for them.” n

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Home,

Reimagined A Potomac couple has given new life to their 1970s-era home

ONCE THEIR THREE CHILDREN were grown and college tuition was behind them, Cindy and Bob Hurley looked closely at the colonial where they had lived for nearly 20 years and wondered what to do next. The Potomac couple had considered moving to Georgetown, where they could walk to restaurants, but decided the hassle of parking and city life wasn’t for them. The Hurleys have good friends in their River Falls neighborhood and like having space to entertain. So they decided to stay put and update their 1970s-era home, which was getting tired and in need of some repairs. At first, they looked at what was wrong with their house and took a “Band-Aid approach,” fixing up the basement in 2012 and an upstairs master bedroom and bath in 2013. “Then we thought, why not do this holistically, look at everything and have the same company do it all so that you got continuity,” says Bob, the chief financial officer at EJF Capital in Arlington, Virginia. The Hurleys began working with Anthony Wilder Design/Build, an architecture, design and construction firm based in Cabin John. The first phase, in 2014, focused on the interior—renovating the kitchen and opening up the dining room and family room. The second phase in the following year created outdoor living space in the backyard, transformed the front entrance and included renovations of the upstairs bathrooms. “When they thoughtfully listened to how we live our life and how we would like to live our life, the world kind of opened up a bit,” Cindy says. The energy and ideas of Anthony Wilder’s team helped the Hurleys begin to envision using their house and yard in new ways that exceeded their expectations. 258

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

BY CARALEE ADAMS

Cindy and Bob Hurleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old home had a lot of doors. In their reimagined home, they opted for open spaces and natural light from the kitchen to the dining and family rooms.

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WAY TO FLOW

w before

CINDY, A HOMEMAKER AND parttime freelance photographer, is an avid cook. She spends a lot of time hosting everything from small dinners to big parties—once having 90 swimmers and coaches of her daughter’s college swim team over for dinner. The Hurleys’ priority was to freshen up the kitchen, make it function better and improve the traffic pattern on the first floor. The kitchen originally had a small door that led to the dining room, another door that led to the foyer, and a door to the hallway and family room— and the hallway had doors on each end to the laundry and powder rooms. “Way too many doors,” Bob says. The designers removed the doors, knocking down walls to widen the spaces leading into the kitchen from the

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dining room and family room. Standing at the island sink, Cindy now has a clear view into the family room, where a television was installed above the mantel. Although not a big Super Bowl fan, she says it was nice to be able to catch the game while making wings in the kitchen. “[The designers] brought in light and created flow we never had,” Cindy says. A walk-in pantry, built-in china cabinet, coffee bar area and wine cooler replaced the laundry room, which was moved to the basement. Soft neutral colors and natural textures were used for a simple, modern look. A centerpiece of the kitchen is an island with a marble top and barstools set up along one side for informal dining. “The marble is reminiscent of a French country villa,” says Shannon Kadwell, an

PHOTOS BY JOHN COLE; BEFORE PHOTOS COURTESY HURLEY FAMILY

interior designer with Anthony Wilder. “She wanted a look that was going to be casual but still [be] able to entertain.” The Hurleys bought a custom-made Lacanche range imported from France. The 600-pound unit with cast iron plates on top was a “bear” to get inside, Cindy says, but worth the effort. The variation in the heat on each burner allows her to get sauces just right, and the gas oven roasts meat like no other. “There is tremendous power in this machine,” Cindy says. The reconfigured kitchen space, with larger windows and wider openings to the adjacent rooms, welcomes additional light. It has made being in the kitchen so enjoyable that Cindy says she’s entertaining more than ever and feeling inspired, taking pictures of her food and sharing them on Instagram. “My friends have given up on cooking—we’re all in our early 60s now—but they come here all the time,” she says. Although the Hurleys’ kids are older (ages 28, 32 and 34), they come home often and invite friends. With the kitchen opening up to the dining room, there is more room for entertaining. The red wall paint and mahogany furniture are gone from the dining room, replaced with a lighter color palette, creating a breezy feel. Keira St. Claire-Bowery, an interior designer with Anthony Wilder, used a variety of natural materials—linen, cotton, iron, wood, sisal—“to create a home that would put [the Hurleys] and their guests at ease, an elegant yet carefree and welcoming home,” St. Claire-Bowery says. “Opening up spaces within an existing footprint can provide better flow within a home,” Anthony Wilder says. “In this house, we visually expanded the lines of sight by opening doorways from the first-floor living and dining rooms to the kitchen, the nerve center of the home where neighbors, friends and family gather. We established a visual connection between the interior and exterior spaces by converting windows to glass doorways, which allowed more natural light to fill the newly opened kitchen and dining spaces.”

before

There were some surprises, as is often the case with interior renovations. As the team tried to install new support beams in the basement to accommodate the wider door openings in the kitchen, they discovered standing water under the concrete slab. The soil was too soft to support the new load, a serious problem if not addressed. “We had to put anchors deep below on firm soil, attach steel columns and fill the holes with concrete,” says lead carpenter George Noble.

While the focal point of the Hurleys’ new kitchen is the island (opposite), which features a marble top and barstools, the custom-made Lacanche range was a priority for the homeowners. The Hurleys moved the laundry room downstairs to make room for a walk-in pantry, coffee bar area (above), wine cooler and built-in china cabinet.

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BACKYARD BLISS

w before

PHOTO BY JOHN COLE; BEFORE PHOTO COURTESY HURLEY FAMILY

The Hurleys’ renovation included improved outdoor entertaining options. A new deck, which seats eight to 10, leads to another area, which has a wood-burning fireplace. Trees on three sides of the yard create privacy for gatherings of friends and family.

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME minor glitches, the Hurleys were pleased with the first-floor interior upgrades, which took about five months to complete. In May 2015, they began considering changes beyond the walls of their home. Windows in the dining room were replaced with French doors that brought in light and invited guests outdoors. The new access to outside led to a bit of “project creep” and a decision to replace and enlarge their deck, Bob says. Being on a corner lot, the Hurleys felt exposed and rarely spent time in their yard. Bob says they wanted to make better use of their half acre but weren’t sure how. The second phase, which was completed in August 2015, was all about the outside. Walking down from the new deck, they added a patio and seating area with a fireplace. Initially, the backyard was open with no trees or gates. Trees were planted around three sides of the yard to provide needed privacy. To solve some drainage issues, several drainpipes were installed to direct water away from the house. An 8-foot-high deer fence was added around most of the yard, along with two gates—one wood and one wrought iron. “When we created this space and stepped out to experience outdoor living, we were in shock,” Cindy says. “It was a joy to see it evolve.” These days, the Hurleys say dinner parties often start and end in their refurbished backyard. There are two entrances directly onto the deck now—one from the kitchen, another from the dining room. They can seat eight to 10 people comfortably around the fireplace. On the deck, there is room for another eight to 10. The couple often grill or smoke meats outside and enjoy a glass of wine by the wood-burning fireplace where they can bake pizzas or s’mores without having the wind blow smoke in their face, as is often the case with a fire pit. “That area is very cozy and comfortable,” Bob says.

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AN OPEN DOOR

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before

PHOTO BY JOHN COLE; BEFORE PHOTO COURTESY HURLEY FAMILY PHOTO CREDIT

Caralee Adams is a freelance writer in Bethesda.

The Hurleys opted to paint the house’s brick off-white to match the lighter look of the home’s interior. A portico was constructed with steps that are easy to access. A walkway from the front door to the street was softened with a circle pathway and accompanying hedges. One path off the circle leads to the driveway.

THE HURLEYS WANTED TO end the practice of guests often coming into their house through the garage, so they began to rethink their front entrance. The steps on the front stoop were too steep and in need of repair and the lighting was poor, so it seemed like a good time for an exterior facelift. A portico with a copper roof was constructed, and a custom-made glass door was installed to draw focus to the central entry. A brick and flagstone walkway was built from the driveway, and another from the street up the center of the yard. Both pathways met and formed a circle. Lighting and bushes were added along each side of the central pathway from the street. “Landscaping was a way to formalize the entrance,” Wilder says. “The hedge gives you a nice straight line, and the circle in the center softens it.” New railings on either side of the steps leading up to the house flare toward the bottom to open up and convey a welcoming feel, says Maria Fanjul, an architect on the project. “We added big volume to the front, but it looks like it belongs to the house; it doesn’t look like it was added,” she says. The design team had recommended painting the exterior brick surface. Bob was initially against the idea; Cindy was open to it. After seeing a mock-up of the painted house, the Hurleys agreed to turn the orangey brick to off-white. With a shift in the interior design and furnishings from dark wood to a lighter, textured feel, Bob says it made sense to lighten up the exterior to match. The new look is a hit with neighbors and passersby, some of whom slow down to take in the house’s new appearance and even knock on the door to ask about the color (Benjamin Moore’s Seattle Mist). Overall, the Hurleys say the projects went smoothly. They learned a lot about materials and the renovation process, and they developed a good rapport with the team. Carpenter George Noble was on-site every day and became like family, Cindy says. In 2015, the Hurleys even named their new Maine coon kitten after him. With their Potomac home complete, the Hurleys have hired Wilder to consult with them on a second home they are building on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in St. Michaels. n

PHOTO CREDIT

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GILDAY BIO

9162 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 301-565-4600 | www.Gilday.com

Gilday Renovations provides architecture, interior design and construction services under one roof. Using a team approach, we listen, we collaborate, we design and we build, making your dream space a tangible reality. For over 35 years, Principals Kevin and Tom Gilday have personally supervised every projectâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; from screened porches to whole-house renovationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to ensure every project is built to the highest standards. With Gilday Renovations, you get a space that is truly yours, on time and on budget.

This kitchen remodel exalts the art of cooking and entertaining while maintaining functionality for daily living. The focal point of this soft grey, transitional kitchen began with a Mugnani open hearth pizza oven. Spending summers with his uncle cooking pizzas in a handmade brick oven, our client wanted a kitchen where he could continue this special tradition with his own family. Equipped with this Tuscan beauty, Gilday Renovations had the task of installing and blending a 670-pound, wood-burning oven, reaching temperatures of 1,400 degrees, into a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen. The solution was a two-story addition which not only added space for a pizza oven but also for a wet bar, island, dining area and adjacent outdoor porch. The new kitchen is a place where tradition continues: friends and family gathering and experiencing good company and good food. 266

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GTM ARCHITECTS BIO

7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814 240-333-2000 | www.gtmarchitects.com

Established in 1989, GTM Architects is an award-winning design firm that offers architecture, planning and interior design services. GTM is committed to placing the needs of their clients and their projects first. Our team possesses a breadth of knowledge, a wealth of experience and a wide array of skill-sets, developed and fine-tuned over our many years in practice.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: Inspired by the old-world casual elegance of French Country architecture, this newly constructed Bethesda home provides present-day luxury and convenience cloaked in cedar and stucco. The modest appeal of a low swooping roof, shed dormers and clipped gables are hallmarks of the French Country style. The homeowners sought to combine these stylistic traits with a rich pallet of rustic materials to create their expansive dream home. An entry court paved with granite cobblestones is bounded on one side by a detached 3-car garage (with upper level in-law suite) and on the flanking side, by the main house’s wood timber framed entry porch. Beyond the heavy timber porch is a recurring theme of European rustic appointments throughout the “L” shaped floor plan’s interior spaces. In addition to the remarkable resort-style master suite, a few of the other memorable spaces within this home are: the custom sky lit sweeping entry stair, the groin vaulted gallery hall and the wine cellar rotunda. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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HOUSE TO HOME SOLUTIONS BIO

15745 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855 301-762-6621 | www.HousetoHomeSolutions.com

A full-service company specializing in luxury home renovations including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, whole home renovations, additions and more. Owner Daniel was born and raised in Montgomery County where he has spent decades in every facet of home construction. Known for exceptional customer service, functionally beautiful designs and total customer experience.

Daniel and his team have always focused on deeply understanding their customer's vision and successfully translating that vision into highly functional and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. Each part of House to Home Solution's streamlined process, from conception through completion, is designed to provide an overwhelmingly positive customer experience. Evident in their excellent reviews and numerous customer service and quality awards is the pride the entire team takes in their level of service. Their typical client seeks to incorporate both luxury and functionality into their everyday living. The company is well known among customers for their creativity, "solutions focus," exceptional communication and for completing projects on time through a concierge level of service. Their customer portal app and new design studio make the entire process easy and non-overwhelming. A customer was recently quoted as saying, “You can’t help but become friends with them and miss them when they're gone.” 268

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MID-ATLANTIC CUSTOM BUILDERS

BIO

11611 Old Georgetown Road, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD 20852 301-231-0009 ext. 235 | www.MidAtlanticCustomHomes.com

Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders brings more than 37 years of homebuilding expertise to carefully craft luxury homes in Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Offering spectacular design innovations, the company has been awarded the highest honors by industry experts, homeowners and trade partners alike for their service, quality and value.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: This luxurious 6-bedroom home is built in Bethesda’s Sumner community with a wealth of unique features and design innovations. The open-concept floorplan includes a gourmet kitchen with an oversized island and a spacious family room with custom built-in bookcases. Our signature owner’s suite and resort-style spa bath is the home’s retreat, with soft lighting, rich finishes, and luxury at every turn. In addition to its beauty, this high-performance home maximizes comfort, savings and value with our Energy$mart program, providing lower energy costs and higher efficiency through advanced technology and construction techniques.

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CARNEMARK DESIGN+BUILD BIO

7550 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 120, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-5000 | www.carnemark.com

From whole-house remodels and condo renovations to kitchens, baths, and additions, CARNEMARK design + build creates solutions that flow—meeting the practical needs of contemporary life. Using a client-responsive and eco-sensitive process, abstract ideas turn into clean, sensible designs built with careful craftsmanship. Since 1987, Bethesda-area clients have enjoyed the award-winning combination of function and beauty we’ve helped bring home.

With living-in-place top of mind, a handsome, fully accessible master bathroom was created. The old soaking tub made room for a large walk-in shower, with a custom linear drain to allow for curb-less entry. Inside, the oversized blocky bench provides a convenient and multi-purpose spot, while a thick pane of frosted glass covers the shower window to add both privacy and light—without changing the home’s exterior façade. Large-format, porcelain tile with slip resistant finish in mottled gray tones and clean, geometric details throughout lend a contemporary, masculine feel to the space. Wider doorways, a floating vanity, ample cabinet storage, bright LED lighting and self-cleaning toilet with integrated bidet all contribute to long-term livability. The new master bathroom creates a relaxing respite, yet will remain a remarkably practical space for years to come—proof positive that accessible design can be luxurious at the same time. 270

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STUDIO Z DESIGN CONCEPTS, LLC

BIO

8120 Woodmont Ave, Suite 950, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-951-4391 | www.studiozdc.com

Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC is an award-winning architectural firm specializing in custom and luxury residential architecture, and large-scale renovations. Studio Z provides complete architectural services for our clients on custom and speculative homes. Our success is built on a balance of client expectations, well-executed architecture and market-sensitive investment.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: With breathtaking expansive views of Deep Creek Lake, this contemporary lakefront cottage features more than 5,000 square feet of scenic waterfront living. Large walls of glass fill the rear elevation offering views of the lake from many spaces within the house, bring light and seasonal changes in and define the intersection between indoor and outdoor living. The use of natural elements like stone and white oak fill the interior living spaces, adding to the seamless feel of the lakefront lifestyle and the connection to the outdoors. A beautiful open gourmet kitchen is lit by a custom-lighting fixture made out of a canoe hanging over the large island. The large great room boasts a 2-story stone fireplace on one side, three levels of glass facing the waterfront and a large screened porch with full-length cascading glass doors that open fully creating a fluid indoor/ outdoor space. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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WORKSHOP 11 BIO

12121 Glen Mill Road, Potomac, MD 20854 301-379-2804 | www.workshop11inc.com

Wokshop11, led by Stephen Shum, is a full-service residential design and construction firm, with a focus on modern architecture. We seek to achieve our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision through a creative and collaborative process. Our team of expert craftsmen fabricate custom design elements, which allows for a truly unique and custom home.

This modern Bethesda residence is the culmination of creativity and thoughtful design between the Workshop11 team and homeowner. We strove for simplicity and openness to the surrounding landscape, focusing on a mix of textures and natural materials. The organic feel of the home is juxtaposed with custom metal work created by Workshop11 artisans. The house opens up with dramatic views from every vantage point, reducing the separation between indoor and outdoor living. The plan unites two vertical forms with a glass walkway. The result is a one-of-a-kind, open and airy home.

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POTOMAC HERITAGE HOMES BIO

8306 Melody Court, Bethesda, MD 20817 240-687-1104 | www.potomacheritagehomes.com

Potomac Heritage Homes did not become a popular homebuilder in Montgomery County's best neighborhoods by accident. Building on a foundation of over 30 years of experience, we have created a team of craftspeople that share our dedication to innovative designs, built with the excellence and quality our clients demand.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: The most distinguished locations deserve a truly custom touch. This innovative, hard to find, 1st floor master bedroom plan is situated on large cul-de-sac lot in the sought after neighborhood of Bradley Park and boasts over 6000 sq. ft. of luxury. The gourmet kitchen was completed with Thermador Professional Appliances and a large center island truly designed for a chef. A comfortable family room boasts a cozy fireplace and architecturally designed coffered ceilings. The master is complete with a work space, relaxed sitting area and a luxurious spa bath. Generous custom closets with washer and dryer space complete this owners retreat. A spacious second level includes a suite that could be 2nd master bedroom plus 3 additional large bedrooms all with private baths and walk-in closets. A loft and laundry room finish the second level. In the finished basement you will find an exercise room, billiards area with wet bar, office, bedroom and full bath. A generous 2-car garage rounds out this original plan. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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CHASE BUILDERS BIO

8750 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-4747 | www.chasebuilders.com

Chase Builders Inc. is an award-winning builder in the D.C. Metro area. Every Chase Builder’s home is custom designed and built with topquality, luxury features. Although they differ in style, floor plan, size and features, our unique homes have this in common—they are thoughtfully designed and well built.

Completed last year, this stunning new Chevy Chase spec home has many quality and luxury features including an open floor plan, masonry and gas fireplaces, exposed wood beams and much more! Every house we build is unique in its tile work, exceptional trim detail and finishes, including designer lighting, marble/granite countertops and fresh paint colors. This home features Visual Comfort and Hinkley lighting, Thermador appliances and Brookhaven cabinetry by Wood-Mode. Built with the homeowner in mind, our goal with every project is to create an inviting, spectacular home where friends and family can gather for many years to come.

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STRUCTURE. BIO

4810 Creek Shore Drive, North Bethesda, MD 20852 240-994-1520 | www.structurecustomhomes.com

STRUCTURE. is a boutique custom home building and renovation firm that specializes in high quality and highly personalized construction. Established on a company culture that prizes creativity and attention to detail, STRUCTURE. makes living in a truly incredible home accessible—regardless of project size, scope or budget.

COURTESY PHOTOS

THE PROJECT: The STRUCTURE team was asked to transform a dated loft into a modern living space that would reflect the richness of the original industrial-style warehouse where it is located and the vibrancy of its trendy downtown neighborhood. The renovated home is an incredible amalgam of the building’s past and current life. Exposed brick, concrete and a vintage fireplace mantel provide a window into the utility of its warehouse days; and modern finishes and personal finds on display throughout tell of its life in present times. The extensive renovation included all new construction, finishes, fixtures, systems and furnishings throughout. All aspects of the space were designed and sourced by STRUCTURE. to meet the owner’s aesthetic, lifestyle and personality.

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

Data provided by

FEBRUARY’S MOST EXPENSIVE

at A peek rea’s f the a some o pensive x most e sold recently s house

HOME SALES

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million SALE PRICE:

$3.1 million LIST PRICE: $3.1 MILLION

Address: 9900 Newhall Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: RE/MAX Platinum Realty Bedrooms: 8 Full/Half Baths: 9/3

LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

Address: 3709 Northampton St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 5 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$2.1 million LIST PRICE: $2.2 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

$2.4 million LIST PRICE: $2.6 MILLION

Address: 8212 Caraway St., Cabin John 20818 Days on Market: 41 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 5611 Durbin Road, Bethesda 20814 Days on Market: 140 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2.1 MILLION

Address: 6519 Old Farm Lane, North Bethesda 20852 Days on Market: 482 Listing Agency: RE/MAX Elite Services Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 6/2

SALE PRICE:

$2.3 million LIST PRICE: $2.4 MILLION

Address: 5700 Kirkside Drive, Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 175 Listing Agency: Gerlach Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

$2 million LIST PRICE: $2 MILLION

Address: 5103 Cape Cod Court, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 96 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/2

SALE PRICE:

$1.9 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

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COURTESY PHOTOS

SALE PRICE:

thef leishergroup

THE FLEISHER GROUP PRESENTS

7110 45th Street, Chevy Chase MD 20815 This fabulous home by renowned Chase Builders features 4 outstanding levels combining expert workmanship with designer materials. An expansive front porch invites you into this special home with a traditional floor plan incorporating a transitional and open flow for entertaining and comfortable family living, From the gourmet kitchen with expanded center island/breakfast bar, to the adjoining family room with fireplace, to the private library with custom cabinetry, to the deluxe master bedroom with luxury bath, no detail has been compromised in this home of distinction. The top floor hosts a studio/playroom along with guest bedroom and bath, while the fully finished lower level is complete with recreation room, game room, exercise room and additional bedroom and bath. Enhancing the home's appeal is a large deck overlooking a private level backyard and two car detached garage. Ideally located in the heart of Chevy Chase Section VIII, the home is only blocks to the vibrancy of downtown Bethesda and the Metro. Offered at $2,495,000.

MARC FLEISHER

+1 202 438 4880 cell marc@thefleishergroup.com

SINTIA PETROSIAN

+1 301 395 8817 cell sintia@thefleishergroup.com +1 301 967 3344 office

5454 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase MD 20815

home | BY THE NUMBERS TWINS. TWO MORE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT JOEY, A HERO WOUNDED IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. Will you help thank those who have answered the call?

Address: 5309 Iroquois Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 56 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 6/0

International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/2

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $1.6 MILLION

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 202 Primrose St., Chevy Chase 20815 Days on Market: 319 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 6510 Tilden Lane, Rockville 20852 Days on Market: 317 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.8 MILLION

THEY GAVE 100% so WE GIVE 100%

Address: 7117 Heathwood Court, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 122 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/3

SALE PRICE:

$1.8 million LIST PRICE: $1.9 MILLION

Address: 9811 Meriden Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 660 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 7/3

SALE PRICE:

$1.6 million LIST PRICE: $1.6 MILLION

combatsoldiersrecoveryfund.org

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Address: 7820 Kachina Lane, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 254 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

SALE PRICE:

$1.6 million Address: 8608 Grant St., Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 391 Listing Agency: Forum Properties Bedrooms: 7 Full/Half Baths: 6/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.5 million LIST PRICE: $1.7 MILLION

Address: 10801 Alloway Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 0 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.4 million LIST PRICE: $1.5 MILLION

Address: 11405 Palatine Drive, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 127 Listing Agency: Washington Fine Properties Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.4 million LIST PRICE: $1.4 MILLION

Address: 10414 Parkwood Drive, Kensington 20895 Days on Market: 2 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.4 million LIST PRICE: $1.4 MILLION

Address: 10004 S. Glen Road, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 97 Listing Agency: Beacon Crest Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/0

SALE PRICE:

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.4 MILLION

Address: 6604 Tulip Hill Terrace, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 224 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 6 Full/Half Baths: 5/1

Address: 10400 Bit and Spur Lane, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 257 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 5/2

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.3 MILLION

Address: 6003 Overlea Road, Bethesda 20816 Days on Market: 37 Listing Agency: RE/MAX Realty Services Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

$1.3 million Address: 9701 Beman Woods Way, Potomac 20854 Days on Market: 264 Listing Agency: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 4/1

SALE PRICE:

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $995,000

SALE PRICE:

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.5 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.1 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

LIST PRICE: $1.4 MILLION

SALE PRICE:

Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/1

Address: 4735 Butterworth Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Wydler Brothers

Address: 3043 Oliver St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Days on Market: 7 Listing Agency: Compass Bedrooms: 4 Full/Half Baths: 3/2

SALE PRICE:

$1.3 million LIST PRICE: $1.3 MILLION

Address: 9804 Belhaven Road, Bethesda 20817 Days on Market: 371 Listing Agency: Long & Foster Real Estate Bedrooms: 5 Full/Half Baths: 4/1 Note: Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

Christiana Signature Crystal

Celebrating 24 years Best of Houzz 2014, 2015, 2016

7001 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD www.KitchenBathStudios.com

Nancy Kotarski, NCIDQ•Karen Hourgian, CKD•Jerry Weed, CKD•Fred Grenfell•Peggy Jaeger, CKD, ABD Call for a free consultation in our spacious showroom. Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 10-3 BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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home | BY THE NUMBERS

REAL ESTATE TRENDS BY ZIP CODE

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

20015 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

6 $1 Mil. 19 4 2 2

6 $1.9 Mil. 7 4 2 5

FEBRUARY 2018

8 $1.2 Mil. 43 0 4 3

6 $1 Mil. 38 3 3 1

20814 (Bethesda) 9 $1.1 Mil. 14 6 2 3

20016 (Upper NW D.C.) Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

FEBRUARY 2017

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

15 $1.7 Mil. 122 1 13 14

FEBRUARY 2018

10 $1.1 Mil. 47 4 4 7

9 $1.2 Mil. 75 2 6 4

23 $1.4 Mil. 97 3 17 14

11 $1.1 Mil. 192 0 10 5

20816 (Bethesda)

20815 (Chevy Chase) 11 $2 Mil. 56 3 6 9

FEBRUARY 2017

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

20817 (Bethesda) 10 $1.1 Mil. 121 1 8 3

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

Be Home Contact me to get the buzz on real estate in DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Woodside.

Maya D. Hyman

RealtorÂŽ DC/MD 301.466.4677 maya@compass.com Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 5471 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 | 301.298.1001

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Make the move to U.S. Bank.

usbank.com

Selecting the right home is important to you, it’s important to me too. As a native Washingtonian and mortgage loan officer in our community for over 30 years, researching and selecting U.S. Bank as the new home for my career was a big and thoughtful move. While U.S. Bank is new to our area, we’re not new to mortgages. U.S. Bank has a 154 year history of responsible banking. Joining U.S. Bank means I can offer personalized attention to help you when you research and select your home loan, leveraging my experience for a smooth home-buying process. U.S. Bank offers competitive interest rates and low money down programs in all 50 states for primary and secondary properties. We provide construction and lot loans that offer a one-time closing for new construction, as well as a full suite of home lending products, including interest only adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and Home Equity Line of Credit. Be sure to check out our new U.S. Bank Loan PortalSM that keeps the loan process streamlined, simple, and convenient. Call today to learn more.

Deb Levy Mortgage Loan Officer 301.332.7758 deb.levy@usbank.com mortgage.usbank.com/deblevy NMLS #481255 Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn more about U.S. Bank products and services. Mortgage, Home Equity and Credit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered by U.S. Bank National Association. ©2018 U.S. Bank. Member FDIC. 180090c 1/18

home | BY THE NUMBERS FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

20832 (Olney)

20852 (North Bethesda/Rockville)

20855 (Rockville)

Number of Homes Sold 6 11 Average Sold Price $709,371 $509,726 Average Days on Market 65 38 Above Asking Price 3 3 Below Asking Price 3 7 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0

Number of Homes Sold 12 11 Average Sold Price $687,775 $869,091 Average Days on Market 59 101 Above Asking Price 2 2 Below Asking Price 6 6 Sold Over $1 Million 3 2

Number of Homes Sold 4 13 Average Sold Price $458,475 $543,000 Average Days on Market 39 46 Above Asking Price 0 2 Below Asking Price 2 11 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20850 (Rockville)

20853 (Rockville)

20877 (Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 13 12 Average Sold Price $705,846 $756,008 Average Days on Market 93 72 Above Asking Price 1 2 Below Asking Price 10 9 Sold Over $1 Million 1 3

Number of Homes Sold 10 23 Average Sold Price $463,810 $451,043 Average Days on Market 37 40 Above Asking Price 6 10 Below Asking Price 1 11 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 7 8 Average Sold Price $400,257 $399,125 Average Days on Market 68 51 Above Asking Price 1 1 Below Asking Price 3 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20851 (Rockville)

20854 (Potomac)

20878 (North Potomac/Gaithersburg)

Number of Homes Sold 6 12 Average Sold Price $385,665 $409,150 Average Days on Market 45 22 Above Asking Price 4 7 Below Asking Price 2 3 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold Average Sold Price Average Days on Market Above Asking Price Below Asking Price Sold Over $1 Million

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24 $1.2 Mil. 74 4 17 9

22 $1.1 Mil. 129 4 13 11

Number of Homes Sold 15 7 Average Sold Price $603,409 $612,821 Average Days on Market 96 111 Above Asking Price 3 2 Below Asking Price 12 5 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

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home | BY THE NUMBERS FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2018

20879 (Gaithersburg)

20895 (Kensington)

20903 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 5 5 Average Sold Price $360,600 $509,800 Average Days on Market 43 37 Above Asking Price 1 1 Below Asking Price 3 3 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 19 9 Average Sold Price $652,271 $622,167 Average Days on Market 70 38 Above Asking Price 0 2 Below Asking Price 13 4 Sold Over $1 Million 2 1

Number of Homes Sold 5 4 Average Sold Price $390,060 $425,500 Average Days on Market 61 41 Above Asking Price 2 2 Below Asking Price 3 2 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20882 (Gaithersburg)

20901 (Silver Spring)

20904 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 12 5 Average Sold Price $599,911 $548,980 Average Days on Market 135 40 Above Asking Price 4 1 Below Asking Price 8 4 Sold Over $1 Million 1 0

Number of Homes Sold 20 17 Average Sold Price $425,290 $506,291 Average Days on Market 54 37 Above Asking Price 6 6 Below Asking Price 13 9 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 13 8 Average Sold Price $417,086 $471,400 Average Days on Market 47 118 Above Asking Price 5 2 Below Asking Price 6 6 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

20886 (Gaithersburg)

20902 (Silver Spring)

20905 (Silver Spring)

Number of Homes Sold 7 2 Average Sold Price $481,414 $438,750 Average Days on Market 92 7 Above Asking Price 0 1 Below Asking Price 7 0 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 22 23 Average Sold Price $422,311 $405,213 Average Days on Market 75 76 Above Asking Price 4 5 Below Asking Price 12 15 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Number of Homes Sold 5 10 Average Sold Price $570,800 $517,918 Average Days on Market 117 43 Above Asking Price 1 2 Below Asking Price 3 6 Sold Over $1 Million 0 0

Information courtesy of Bright MLS, as of March 15, 2018. The Bright MLS real estate service area spans 40,000 square miles throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. As a leading Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Bright serves approximately 85,000 real estate professionals who in turn serve more than 20 million consumers. For more information, visit brightmls.com. Note: This information includes the most expensive detached single-family homes sold from Feb. 1, 2018, to Feb. 28, 2018, as of March 15, 2018, excluding sales where sellers have withheld permission to advertise or promote. Information should be independently verified. Reports reference data provided by ShowingTime, a showing management and market stats technology provider to the residential real estate industry. Some sale and list prices have been rounded.

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SWING INTO FITNESS

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RE/MAX Realty Services • Bethesda Row • 301-652-0400 240-353-7601 • Carolyn@CarolynHomes.com

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4/3/18 10:01 AM

fitness. wellness. medicine.

PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

health

Mildred Devereux was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) three years ago. For more on how the illness is affecting teens, turn to page 290.

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health | BE WELL

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MEDAL MAN

A 94-year-old Rockville athlete has no plans to slow down BY KATHLEEN SEILER NEARY | PHOTO BY MARLEEN VAN DEN NESTE

AS A CHILD, Ted Murphy spent summers at a lake in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where he’d fling stones into the water and try to make them skip. He’d pretend sticks were spears and throw them as far as he could. He remembers running a mile downhill to a nearby farm each morning to pick up fresh milk, then dashing back uphill. “That got me in pretty good shape,” says the Rockville resident, who turned 94 in February. He ran cross-country in high school and college, and has always stayed active, from training for the U.S. Army Air Forces—he flew planes in World War II and the Korean War—to hiking, skiing and playing tennis. Murphy retired from a career as a geologist and environmental planner when he was 60, and five years later he heard about the Maryland Senior Olympics, an annual competition for ages 50 and older. “I never thought of myself as an athlete,” he says. “But getting into the seniors I could see there was a chance I might do something.” After swimming his first year, he moved on to golf, bowling and track and field events. He’s competed for nearly three decades, has won more than 68 medals (he’s lost count) and holds 12 state records in events including softball throw, discus and standing long jump. Four years ago he threw the javelin 66 feet 9 inches for a record in the 90-94 age bracket, and he’s looking forward to moving up to the 95-99 group. As he’s gotten older, there’s been less competition, Murphy says, but his aim is always to beat his personal best. Murphy and his wife, Shirley, 92, settled in

Rockville in 1972, and moved into a cottage at The Village at Rockville, a retirement community, in 2008. The couple will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary this May and have three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Shirley says one secret to their long marriage is that they have their own activities and interests. Also, “patience and tolerance,” her husband says, “and love helps.” Murphy still plays 18 holes of golf in nice weather. Weekly games of bocce ball and practicing for the Senior Olympics keep him busy, and he drives to the bowling alley and the grocery store. “Some people don’t want to ride with me,” he says. “Having been a fighter pilot, I can’t slow down. I’ve got a lot of tickets around here. The speed cameras are terrible.” The Maryland Senior Olympics is a qualifying event for the National Senior Games, which are held every other year. The one time Murphy made the trip to the senior games, he slipped in mud while practicing for the javelin competition. “I could hardly walk when it was my turn to throw,” he says. Now he’s focused on earning a spot in the 2019 games. “If I can survive this year and get to the nationals one time more, that will be my swan song.” Murphy credits his longevity to his genes— his mom lived to 101, his brother to 93—and a good attitude. “I don’t think about age unless somebody asks me,” he says. People often guess he’s about 75, and are surprised to hear the truth. “I like to see how they take it,” he says, laughing. “I don’t go around bragging, but Shirley would say I do.” n

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what’s happening to me? For teens suffering from a little-known disorder that causes everything from fatigue to fainting, it can take years to figure out the problem

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NINA CLEMENTE

BY JULIE RASICOT

SOME HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS choose an easier course load after a grueling junior year, but Katya Damskey is taking three AP classes at Walt Whitman, plus playing in the band and swimming competitively for the Bethesda school and a club team. She often makes it through her packed day just fine. But other times she’s sitting in her secondperiod class when her mind suddenly goes blank. She knows that if she puts her head down on her desk, she’ll be asleep in seconds. It might happen twice in one week.

On those days, Katya heads to the school nurse’s office to call her mother for a ride home. Then she crashes into a deep sleep that may last four hours, and when she wakes up she feels much better. The next day, if she’s up to it, she heads back to school not knowing what the day will bring. Even though Katya now knows why she often suffers from these bouts of crushing fatigue, she still doesn’t understand how her body can suddenly betray her. “Sometimes it just hits me,” the 18-year-old Bethesda resident says. “I’m like, I was fine this morning. What happened?”

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Diane Damskey, left, helps her daughter, Katya, deal with her daily regimen of medications.

the symptoms experienced by his adolescent patients are often dismissed by other doctors. “How does it feel when we are at our most sincere, trying to project to somebody what we feel, and the other person tells us, ‘No, I don’t believe you.’ And now you go to another

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

person and get another diagnosis of ‘I don’t believe you,’ ” says Abdallah, director of The Children’s Heart Institute in Herndon, Virginia, where his patients include teens from Bethesda and Rockville. “What does that do to the psyche of a 16-year-old girl?”

PHOT0 BY MICHAEL VENTURA

KATYA IS AMONG A number of local teens who have been diagnosed in recent years with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an illness that medical experts say affects one in 100 teenagers, predominantly girls. The syndrome is a form of dysautonomia, an umbrella term covering illnesses caused by the malfunctioning of the body’s autonomic nervous system. In POTS patients, the nervous system sends the wrong signals, causing blood vessels to not constrict enough. That significantly reduces the volume of blood that returns to the heart when a person stands up after lying down, according to the National Institutes of Health. The lack of blood flow causes the heart to beat abnormally fast—increasing 30 to 50 beats per minute—which can make a person feel faint, dizzy and nauseous. People afflicted with POTS also often experience other symptoms that can range from mild to debilitating, including chronic fatigue, headaches, anxiety and depression, and digestive problems. Though awareness about POTS has been growing, the syndrome is still not widely recognized by doctors, leading to misdiagnoses and despair as families spend months and even years visiting specialists in a search for answers. Some teens are told by doctors who don’t know about POTS that their feelings of fatigue, anxiety and depression are no different than those suffered by most of their sleepdeprived peers. “It’s the most common illness that nobody has ever heard of,” says Ellen Kessler, a Potomac mother of two college-age children who have been living with POTS since adolescence. Kessler is a co-founder of Dysautonomia International, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and money for research about dysautonomia. “A lot of these teens are told, ‘It’s all in your head.’ ” Dr. Hasan Abdallah, a pediatric cardiologist who has been researching POTS since the early 1990s and diagnosed Katya, finds it disheartening that

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT TRIGGERS POTS, although research has shown that some patients began exhibiting symptoms after contracting viruses such as Epstein-Barr, which causes mononucleosis, or suffering a concussion. What Abdallah and other experts have found is that something has affected the nerves that signal blood vessels, and that POTS patients sometimes have other underlying medical conditions. The actual culprit remains a mystery. “Is it a virus making that circuitry impaired? Is it an antibody? Is it structural damage?” Abdallah says. “We have not put our hands strongly on anything. But most of these patients, their illness is preceded by a [viral] infection.” Abdallah says several factors probably have contributed to the growing prevalence of the syndrome, including increasingly sedentary lifestyles, additives in food, the expanded use of antibiotics and the rise of autoimmune diseases. Though Abdallah says he and others studying the syndrome initially had “a hard time convincing people” that POTS existed, attitudes have begun to change over the last five years. “People have accepted this condition as real, and we have started to see more research, more medical students knowing about it,” he says. There is no cure for POTS, although Abdallah says about 60 percent of his institute’s adolescent patients outgrow it. Patients manage the condition with medications and lifestyle changes, including an increased consumption of salt and fluids to boost blood volume, and regular exercise, which helps “retrain the autonomic nervous system to regulate blood flow correctly,” according to the Mayo Clinic website. Katya, who was adopted by her mother from Belarus when she was 20 months old, was dealing with problems with her adrenal glands and Lyme disease when she was diagnosed with POTS in February 2016. Looking back, she and her mom, Diane Damskey, now realize

that there were signs that something was wrong while she was growing up. Katya remembers back to fourth grade, when her eyes would “go black” when she got up in the morning. The pediatrician said the sensation was probably related to blood pressure and “that was it. No ‘take her to a cardiologist’ or this or that, and so I didn’t do anything,” Damskey says. Katya is able to bend her body in ways others can’t. She can “shut the refrigerator using just her shoulder blade,” according to her mom. Such hypermobility can be the hallmark of a connective tissue disorder called EhlersDanlos syndrome that causes muscles to be flabby and veins to be stretchy and unable to constrict properly. People with the syndrome have a higher chance of

Like many high school students, Katya wasn’t getting enough sleep, averaging about seven hours a night. But the lack of sleep—experts say teens need nine to 10 hours—couldn’t account for the leg pain and bouts of feeling faint that plagued Katya, often rearing up during seasonal temperature changes. The summer after her freshman year, Katya became more fatigued and was often sleeping 13 hours a day, including falling asleep between heats during meets in her summer swim league. “People just assumed I did not get a lot of sleep because I was always tired,” she says. A test for Lyme disease came back positive, and Katya began taking antibiotics, which didn’t seem to help. Then, one day in January 2016, the teen’s mother was out running errands

“It’s the most common illness that nobody has ever heard of,” says Potomac mother Ellen Kessler. “A lot of these teens are told, ‘It’s all in your head.’ ” developing POTS. Katya, who moved to Maryland from Florida the summer before fourth grade, has always gravitated toward swimming. But in eighth and ninth grade she started suffering from muscle pain and fatigue. She had trouble making it through earlymorning practices. Her club team coach suggested that she swim at a less competitive level that wouldn’t require as much intense practice, but the fatigue and pain persisted even though she began swimming less. “I remember in ninth grade, sitting in class and my legs wouldn’t stop hurting,” she says. She also would feel winded when climbing the stairs in school, and playing the alto sax in band class caused her muscles to hurt.

in Rockville when she got a call from her daughter, who was at home. “Mom, I fainted and I’m all bloody,” she said. She told her mom that she had cut her nose and chin when she fell. Katya was scheduled to see the integrative medicine doctor who was treating her for Lyme disease two weeks later. At that appointment, the doctor suggested that she had POTS and recommended that she see Abdallah for an official diagnosis. At Abdallah’s office, Katya underwent the classic test for the syndrome: She was strapped to a table that was then moved from horizontal to vertical. During the tilt table test, a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure are measured before and after the

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College student Mildred Devereux of Silver Spring maintains a healthy lifestyle and takes medication to alleviate the symptoms of POTS.

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patients whose memory and cognitive skills are so impaired that “they really look like young people with Alzheimer’s.” Before her teachers learned of her diagnosis, Katya had to deal with their skepticism when she wasn’t feeling well. “In the beginning, her teachers weren’t very sympathetic, her swim coach at first was just mad at her,” Damskey says. “POTS kids just get screwed because they don’t have a broken leg, they don’t have cancer. They look fine. It is invisible. You have no idea that they are suffering.” Katya now takes a daily regimen of medications to stimulate the constriction of her blood vessels and treat her other medical conditions. She tries to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, swims when she can, drinks

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

plenty of fluids and consumes lots of salt. The regimen seems to be working, and Katya has been feeling much better this school year. Still, Damskey has to wake up her daughter on school days so she can take her medication, which helps get her body moving. Then Damskey comes back a half hour later to wake Katya again. “Mornings are tough,” Damskey says.

BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS OF POTS can vary in degree and also can be attributed to a number of other conditions, diagnosing the syndrome can be difficult. “Like any condition, to diagnose, you have to have some sort of objective measure, whether that test is a blood test, which we don’t have for POTS, or there are findings

PHOTO BY MIKE MORGAN

change in position. Abdallah diagnosed Katya with POTS, as well as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, even though her heart rate increase was just under the threshold for POTS because of the medication she was taking to help her adrenal glands function. Diane Damskey can tell when POTS is most affecting her daughter because that’s when her grades drop. Temperature changes can affect her blood flow, so Katya can find it difficult to think when the weather turns colder, like it did last spring during the two weeks that AP exams were being administered. “She couldn’t finish her AP bio test. She just couldn’t think,” Damskey says. Socalled brain fog is a common symptom of POTS, says Abdallah, who has seen

PHOTO BY MICHAEL VENTURA

that are not just explained by psychological reasons,” Abdallah says. The dramatic change in heart rate upon standing is a sign that cannot be ignored. “Normally, our heart rate from laying down to standing should increase by 10 to 15 beats. So if it goes up then 30 or 40 [beats], you know there is something wrong.” Mildred Devereux, a college sophomore who lives in Silver Spring, was diagnosed with POTS three years ago, six months after she got a bad cold the summer before her junior year at Montgomery Blair High School. Her parents noticed that she didn’t seem to fully recover and was more tired than usual. A skilled softball player, Mildred was playing on a travel team, and her coaches noticed that she wasn’t tolerating the heat well and that her level of play had slipped. Then, after heading back to classes that fall, she started missing school because of fatigue and dizziness; she couldn’t get herself out of bed in the morning. A similar bout of symptoms had caused her to miss two weeks of middle school in eighth grade. Over the next few months, Mildred saw physicians who specialized in allergies and infectious diseases, but no one could figure out what was wrong with her, though an infectious disease doctor prescribed salt pills to help with the dizziness. Finally, an endocrinologist who examined her at Children’s National hospital in D.C. suggested that she see a pediatric cardiologist on staff who was studying POTS. The cardiologist at Children’s tested Mildred twice on the tilt table, and she passed out both times that the table was vertical. The doctor diagnosed Mildred with POTS and sent her to a neurologist who specializes in it. She also learned she had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypothyroidism. Before she was diagnosed, Mildred would try to convince herself that she must be “faking” her symptoms because no one could find anything wrong with her. She now knows she was in a sort

Ellen Kessler, whose two college-age children have been living with POTS since adolescence, cofounded a nonprofit to help raise awareness about the illness.

of “mental haze” that was impacting her thinking. “I thought everybody would see spots and get dizzy if they stood up too quickly,” she says. “And the fatigue came on so slowly that I assumed that I was just getting lazy. I guess I wasn’t reflective enough to realize the reason that I didn’t want to go to school was because I felt so tired that I couldn’t concentrate or pay attention or stay awake.” Getting a diagnosis and going on medication to help her body retain salt and constrict her blood vessels has helped Mildred feel “so much” better and accept that she has an illness. “It’s not until you get that final validation from a doctor that you truly believe you weren’t just faking it,” she says. “The first day I was on those drugs, it’s like I

looked around and the world was clear and I hadn’t been alive before and finally I could see and think.”

EIGHT YEARS AGO, Ellen Kessler endured feelings of hopelessness and frustration for five months while struggling to get a diagnosis for her then 10-year-old daughter, who was suffering from debilitating headaches. Kessler took her daughter to two neurologists, a cardiologist and an ear, nose and throat specialist, and says none of them could find anything wrong with her. The girl’s blood work, MRIs and CT scans were normal. After the fifth-grader missed most of the first half of the school year because she was too exhausted to go to class, her pediatrician, who’d recently

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seen a patient with POTS, finally took her vital signs while she was standing up. The doctor then sent the family to a POTS specialist. The lack of awareness among physicians about POTS and her struggle to find help drove Kessler to co-found Dysautonomia International in 2012 in an effort to bring together other parents as well as patients, physicians and researchers. The nonprofit, which has an office in East Moriches, New York, also provides resources for people dealing with POTS and other forms of dysautonomia. Kessler credits the group’s efforts for reducing the amount of time it takes for

Walt Whitman Principal Alan Goodwin and worked with Katya’s guidance counselor and teachers, things got much better. “All of her teachers have been very understanding. They know what she is going through. They know she can only take one test per day,” Damskey says. “If we didn’t have the high school supporting us, I don’t know what it would be like.” Goodwin knows of a half dozen Whitman students diagnosed with the syndrome. He has had to educate himself and his staff as families have sought help for their children in recent years. “Five years ago, I [had] never heard of POTS,” he says.

Before she was diagnosed, Mildred would try to convince herself that she must be “faking” her symptoms because no one could find anything wrong with her. patients to receive a POTS diagnosis. “As more people know about it, the more people are being diagnosed,” says Kessler, whose son was diagnosed with POTS at age 12, about 18 months after his sister. Abdallah says education is the first step of treatment for patients and their families at his institute so everyone can understand the nature of the chronic illness and how it can psychologically affect a patient, leading to anxiety, depression and low selfesteem. While medication and lifestyle changes can help patients control POTS, dealing with the illness impacts all aspects of a teen’s life and requires the cooperation of others who may not understand the illness, Abdallah and other experts say. Students with POTS often need special accommodations to make it through the school day. After Damskey met with 296

Colleen Desmond, a longtime guidance counselor at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School who retired in 2016, says she has helped several students with POTS whose symptoms ranged from mild to debilitating. One teen, diagnosed around age 15, was tutored at home for two years through a program provided by Montgomery County Public Schools. “He really was weak,” she says. “He couldn’t even come to school.” More often, students may need a place to rest during the school day, or extra time to complete assignments. Goodwin says he has asked teachers to forgive some assignments or adjust deadlines, and he also hands out passes that allow students to sit in his office if they need a place to rest. It’s a “very disheartening illness,” he says, and because symptoms vary, it can

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be difficult for teachers to understand. “When kids are feeling fairly well, they present as almost normal,” Goodwin says, “so it’s challenging for teachers to know when to let up on expectations.”

KATYA AND MILDRED AREN’T letting POTS define their lives. Katya is planning to study marine biology at Eckerd College in Florida, where the warm climate should help keep her symptoms at bay. Meanwhile, she continues to swim when she can. “Swimming is the best thing for Katya. The pressure forces your blood to flow,” Damskey says. After Mildred was diagnosed during her junior year, her parents adopted what she calls a form of “tough love,” pushing her to get up and go to school for at least half a day. Her mom would wake her at 5 a.m. and they’d go work out at a gym before school. “It’s like kick-starting your heart or jumping a car,” says Mildred, who quit travel softball during her junior year, but continued to play on the Montgomery Blair varsity team. Now majoring in biology at DePaul University in Chicago, she exercises daily to keep “brain fog” from occurring, and makes sure she takes her medication and eats regularly. She knows that maintaining her healthy lifestyle helps ensure that she has more good days than bad. Mildred’s experience with her illness, coupled with lessons she learned in an AP biology class, sparked a passion for understanding the molecular interaction of cells, specifically how the tiniest mutation can result in the formation of a disease. “I thought that was fascinating, that such a small effect can have such a large consequence,” she says. “You don’t really appreciate the complexity of a system until it breaks.” n Julie Rasicot of Silver Spring is the managing editor of Bethesda Beat, Bethesda Magazine’s online news service.

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health wellness

CALENDAR COMPILED BY SANDRA FLEISHMAN May 12 WOOD ACRES JOGFEST. The Wood Acres Elementary School PTA uses the proceeds from the 5K, 1-mile fun run and quarterand half-mile tot trots to help pay for Chromebooks and other academic support. 8 a.m. 5K; 8:30 a.m. 1-mile fun run; 9 a.m. tot trots. $25 ($30 at packet pickup), $15 for fun run, $10 for tot trots. Wood Acres Park, Bethesda. woodacrespta.org/index.php/ activities/jogfest.

May 13

RUNNING/WALKING May 5 KIDS ON THE RUN. Includes several races on paved trails based on children’s ages. A 100-meter toddler trot is for ages 4 and younger. Youths 17 and younger can participate in a 2K marathon, 1-mile or halfmile race. For the marathon, participants must run 1 mile each day for any 25 days by May 5; the final 2K is run on race day. 8:30 a.m. toddler trot; 8:40 a.m. half-mile; 8:55 a.m. 1 mile; 9:10 a.m. kids marathon. $10 by May 2; $15 May 4 and after. Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg. mcrrckidsontherun.org.

May 5 LA MILLA DE MAYO (THE MAY MILE). The 1-mile run/walk, sponsored by the city of Gaithersburg and the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, benefits the Dolores C. Swoyer Camp Scholarship Fund. The race includes quarter-mile and half-mile fun runs for ages 12 and younger. Music, food, salsa dancing and Cinco de Mayo festivities follow. 5:30-8:30 p.m.; check website for exact schedule. One-mile fees: $17-$27 for ages 12 and older; $10 for ages 5-11; $5 for participants younger than 5. Fun runs are free. Girard Business Center, Gaithersburg. gaithersburgmd.gov.

May 6 MARK’S RUN 5K. The race is held in memory of Landon School alumnus Mark Ferris, who struggled with heart disease complicated by diabetes. Proceeds benefit the Mark Ferris ’94 Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Joslin Diabetes Center. 8 a.m.; 8:20 a.m. 1-mile fun run. See website for fees. Landon School, Bethesda. marksrun.org.

May 6 RESCUE 1 RUN 8K AND FAMILY FUN WALK. The race loops through part of the BethesdaChevy Chase Rescue Squad’s coverage area. Proceeds benefit the squad. 8 a.m. A 2-mile family fun walk follows the 8K. Fees for 8K: $43 before May 5; $50 in person on race weekend. Fun walk: $25 for ages 13 and older; $13 for ages 12 and younger. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, Bethesda. rescue1run.com.

May 12 RUN AWARE. The 5K trail run goes over hills and near streams; runners can get wet and muddy. 8 a.m. for 5K; a 1K junior participation run for Montgomery County Road Runners Club members younger than 18 starts at 8:05 a.m. $10 ages 18 and older; $5 younger than 18; free for members of MCRRC. Cabin John Regional Park, Bethesda. mcrrc.org.

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May 20 RUN FOR THE ANIMALS. Proceeds support the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. Choose the 5K, 1-mile run/walk or 1.7-mile walk that your pet can join. 8:30 a.m. $28-$30 in advance; $35 race day. Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton. animalsanctuary.org.

May 27 DEFEAT DIPG SUPERHERO SPRINT & 6K. Proceeds from the 6K walk/run, 1K walk/ run and Tot Sprint benefit the Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for research into DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), the most lethal form of pediatric brain cancer. Michael Mosier of Bethesda died of DIPG at age 6 in May 2015. See website for times and fees. Westfield Montgomery mall, Bethesda. runsignup.com/race/md/ bethesda/superhero6k.

May 28 MEMORIAL 4-MILE. The race includes a 4-mile run and a 1-mile run for youths. 8 a.m. 4-mile; 8:05 a.m. 1-mile. $10 ages 18 and older; $5 younger than 18; free for members of the Montgomery County Road Runners

PHOTO BY DAN REICHMANN, COURTESY OF MCRRC

A 1-mile run/walk, two fun runs, salsa dancing and more are at La Milla de Mayo in Gaithersburg on May 5.

HOPE FOR HENRY MOTHER’S DAY 5K TO MAKE A KID’S DAY. Proceeds pay for gifts and parties for children hospitalized with cancer or other serious illnesses and to support professionals working with patients and families. The Hope for Henry Foundation honors Henry Strongin Goldberg, who was 7 when he died in 2002. 8:30 a.m.; 9 a.m. for 1-mile fun run on Walt Whitman High School’s track. See website for fees. Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda. https://secure.qgiv. com/event/hopeforhenry5k.

Club. Rock Creek Valley Elementary School, Rockville. mcrrc.org.

June 2 COLLEEN’S BA 5K AND 1-MILE FUN RUN/ WALK. The event is in memory of Colleen Mitchel, who was born with liver disease (biliary atresia) and died at age 19 of complications while awaiting another transplant. Proceeds benefit research at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. 9 a.m.; fun run follows. $25; $60 for families of three or more; $20 for students and members of the military. Start/finish line is on Beach Drive at Connecticut Avenue, Kensington. colleensba5k.org.

June 2 LOGAN’S RUN 5K. The 5K loop, 1-mile walk and children’s fun run were inspired by a student at Jamon Montessori Day School in Silver Spring who was diagnosed at age 3 with the neurological disorder transverse myelitis. Proceeds go to her medical expenses and Jamon’s STEM program. 8:45 a.m. 5K run/walk; 8:50 a.m. walking loop; 9:15 a.m. family fun run. See website for fees. Westover Elementary School, Silver Spring. 301-384-0052, logansrunbyjamon.com.

June 16 RUN FOR ROSES. The 5K is for women only, and finishers receive a long-stemmed rose. Kids 12 and younger can run in a quartermile or half-mile fun run. 8 a.m. 5K; 7:45 a.m. for fun runs. Fun runs are free; see the website for 5K fees. Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton. mcrrc.org.

June 23 SUDS & SOLES 5K. The city of Rockville and the Montgomery County Road Runners Club sponsor this downtown run and post-race party, with samples from local breweries for adults, and activities for kids. Proceeds benefit the Rockville Recreation and Parks Foundation and MCRRC’s youth and beginning running programs. 7 p.m. 7:05 p.m. fun run. See website for fees. Rockville Town Square, Rockville. mcrrcsudsandsoles.org.

Ongoing KENSINGTON PARKRUN. Timed 5K run/ walk weekly on Rock Creek Trail. Open to all, regardless of ability. Bring kids, dogs, strollers. Runners socialize at Java Nation afterward. 9 a.m. Saturdays. Free. Puller Park, Kensington. parkrun.us/kensington. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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SCREENINGS/CLASSES/ WORKSHOPS May 7 ACTIVE AGING EXPO. The city of Gaithersburg’s 10th annual event includes talks, fitness demonstrations, facials, massages, manicures and preventive screenings. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Donations requested of a canned good for Manna Food Center. Activity Center at Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg. 301-258-6380, gaithersburgmd.gov.

May 9 REMEMBERING MOM AND DAD. Montgomery Hospice counselors lead this workshop for adults who have lost a parent. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Montgomery Hospice, Rockville. Registration required. 301-921-4400, montgomeryhospice.org.

May 9-July 18 HEALTHY CHOICES. A 10-week program by Suburban Hospital to teach a non-diet lifestyle approach to weight management. 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays. $145. The Champlain Building, Bethesda. Registration required. 301-896-3939, events.suburbanhospital.org.

June 1 CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN INTIMATE

RELATIONSHIPS. The nonprofit Parent Encouragement Program offers this workshop for couples. 7-10 p.m. $85 per couple. 10 percent discount for PEP members. Kensington Baptist Church, Kensington. Registration required. 301-929-8824, pepparent.org.

June 2 or June 20 SAFE SITTER. The baby-sitting class teaches 11- to 13-year-olds the essentials. 9 a.m.3 p.m. $105. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, Bethesda. Registration required. 301-896-3939, events.suburbanhospital.org.

June 14 15TH ANNUAL MEN’S HEALTH SYMPOSIUM. Bethesda internist Matthew Mintz will be the speaker at Suburban Hospital’s annual symposium. Women can attend. 6-6:30 p.m. registration and light refreshments. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Kenwood Golf and Country Club, Bethesda. Registration required. 301-8963939, events.suburbanhospital.org.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups are free unless otherwise noted.

May 9-June 27 SUMMER CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP. The eight-week series includes sessions

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with speakers and time for questions and discussion. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. OASIS at Macy’s Home Store, on the second floor, Westfield Montgomery mall, Bethesda. Registration required. 301-469-6800, ext. 211; oasisnet.org/ washington-dc-area.

May 16-June 20 LOSS OF A CHILD SUPPORT GROUP: COURAGE TO GRIEVE. The six-week group supports parents who have lost a child of any age. Parents can share stories and concerns; information will be provided. 6:308 p.m. Wednesdays. Montgomery Hospice, Rockville. Registration required. 301-9214400, montgomeryhospice.org.

Ongoing ADVANCED CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, Bethesda. 301-634-7500, hopeconnectionsforcancer.org.

Ongoing YOUNG ADULTS WITH CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. 6:30-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Hope Connections for Cancer Support, Bethesda. 301-6347500, hopeconnectionsforcancer.org. n To submit calendar items, go to BethesdaMagazine.com.

DENTIST

FINDER

Your Guide to Leading Dentists in the Bethesda Area

GENERAL DENTISTRY, COSMETIC DENTISTRY

PERIODONTICS, DENTAL IMPLANTS

DR. JASON A. COHEN

DR. ROY ESKOW

Jason A. Cohen, D.D.S.

5530 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 560 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-1201 www.cosmeticdds.com

Dental School: University of Maryland Dental School Expertise: Treating Your Family Like Family. Our practice focuses on General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry. Our goal is to preserve, protect and enhance your dental health by creating a caring and gentle atmosphere where the level of treatment is second to none. 300 MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

Bethesda Dental Implant Center 5626 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-493-6200 www.bethesdadentalimplantcenter.com

Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry Expertise: We provide state of the art periodontal therapy in a comfortable and caring environment. 30 years experience in dental implant surgery, periodontics, oral medicine, dental sleep apnea. Paramount is building a quality relationship with each and every patient.

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DENTIST

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Your Guide to Leading Dentists in the Bethesda Area

GENERAL DENTISTRY, COSMETIC DENTISTRY

ENDODONTICS, GENERAL DENTISTRY

DR. JOHN J. HIGGINS

DR. KATE NEMATOLLAHI

John J. Higgins, DDS PA 5648 Shields Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 301-530-8008 www.johnjhigginsdds.com

Dental School: Georgetown University Expertise: Provide patients with excellent care and health education in a contemporary and comfortable atmosphere

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Dental Schools: Univ of Md. School of Dentistry and Univ of Michigan Expertise: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and believe the way to achieve a healthy, radiant smile is through informative, relaxed and pampered visits. Our practice offers everything from routine cleanings to total smile makeovers.

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DR. STACIA M. KRANTZ

DR. ANDREW L. SCHWARTZ

Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry

Capitol Orthodontics

14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850 301-610-9909 www.fallsgrovedentistry.com

Dental School: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Expertise: Dr. Krantz prides herself in treating her patients like family. Caring, compassionate, personalized treatment with over 20 years of experience in comprehensive family dentistry.

Offices in Rockville and Northwest DC 301.610.9909 (Rockville) 202.758.4746 (DC) www.capitolorthodontics.com

Dental School: University of Pennsylvania Expertise: One of the only American Board certified orthodontists in Mont Co and DC. Specializing in treatment of adults and children as discreetly as possible utilizing the most recent techniques. No more GOOPY impressions thanks to our 3D scanners!!

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DR. PATRICK A. MURRAY

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Patrick A. Murray DDS PC

Fallsgrove Center for Dentistry

15200 Shady Grove Road, Suite 340 Rockville, MD 20850 301-330-4600 www.shadygrovedentalcare.com

Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry Expertise: We provide a relaxing environment for your dental needs. Every patient is unique, and we are committed to providing you with high quality dental care based on your individual needs.

14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850 301-610-9909 www.fallsgrovedentistry.com

Dental School: Northwestern University Dental School Expertise: We treat your family like our own, committed to caring for your dental needs by providing you general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. A contemporary and comfortable environment allows our patients to achieve their dental health and cosmetic dreams. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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dine

Diners can choose items from a conveyor belt and add them to a bowl of broth at the new Urban Hot Pot in Rockville. For more, turn to page 306.

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BY DAVID HAGEDORN | PHOTOS BY DEB LINDSEY

CHEF CHAT

IN JANUARY, chef Karen Hayes, 52, took the helm of Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar, restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier’s American brasserie in Potomac Village. Hayes’ cooking pedigree, spanning a 23-year career, includes stints at many of Washington, D.C.’s betterknown eateries, among them the Roof Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center and José Andrés’ Zaytinya. We checked in with her to find out what she has in store at her new gig. What was your first job in a professional kitchen? It was 1995. Chef Ris Lacoste was going to 1789 [in Washington] and she took me on without any kitchen experience. The two sous-chefs there, John Wabeck and Jeff Eng, were unbelievably caring and nice and unselfish with knowledge. They taught me every little thing—breaking down a salmon, fabricating [butchering] meats and fish, how to make a fast soup. They were fun, too. Your path crossed with Robert Wiedmaier’s many times in your career. Doug McNeil [who was the chef of the Four Seasons hotel in D.C. from 1979 to 2001] told me that if I was serious about cooking, I should work for Robert. I did briefly when he was at Aquarelle in the Watergate in 1998. Then at Marcel’s [in Washington] from 2000 to 2003 and Brabo [in Alexandria] from 2009 to 2011. He has always been very supportive and very generous. There has never been a time when I wasn’t working for him that he didn’t ask, ‘When are you coming back?’ How much of the menu at Lock 72 have you changed? About 60 percent at lunch; more at dinner. In what direction are you trying to go? A little bit more upscale. It seemed to me that the menu kind of mirrored one of our competitors and I wanted to make it different from that. But this is still a tavern and there are things people expect at a tavern. Like a burger. The bar menu has burgers, wings, fried calamari—that’s what people expect when they sit at a bar.

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What are some of your new dishes? I put on a house-cured salmon with crème fraiche, cornichons and capers. A very nice bouillabaisse of mussels, shrimp, scallops, monkfish and salmon; a braised short rib that mimics bourguignonne, with deep red wine sauce and mushrooms; pan-seared Moroccan spiced salmon; and a crab dip. What’s coming up for spring? I’m playing around with spring bounty salad with peas, asparagus, baby beets, cucumbers and radishes. Maybe an almond hummus to go with an asparagus salad. Lamb with house-made harissa [spicy red pepper sauce]. I’m bringing back an old dish of mine—halibut with Asian pesto of basil, Thai basil, cilantro and cashews, in kaffir broth. Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar, 10128 River Road, Potomac, 301-299-0481, lock72.com

Karen Hayes, chef of Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar in Potomac

COMINGS GOINGS

HOLD THE GLUTEN FOR 28-YEAR-OLD Bethesda resident

Jaimie Mertz, opening The Red Bandana Bakery, which specializes in gluten-free products, was a labor of love. When her younger brother was put on a gluten-free diet in 2011 for medical reasons, the pastry chef, who has a degree in pastry arts from now-closed L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, had an epiphany: She would focus her nascent baking career on gluten-free desserts. Putting her experience at Wagshal’s in Spring Valley and Just Cakes in Bethesda (now closed) to good use, she started developing gluten-free and low-in-casein (milk protein) recipes for baked goods. She created a website, started selling her treats at farmers markets, including the Bethesda Central Farm Market, and made plans to open a brick-and-mortar bakery. “One thing I knew for sure from meeting so many people with celiac [disease] was that I had to have a dedicated kitchen,” Mertz explains, meaning one where gluten, which is most prevalent in wheat-based products, never enters the premises. She opened The Red

Bandana Bakery in November. The cheery space has an open kitchen and is decorated with bright red tiles, red walls and artwork from local artists. There is seating for 25 people. Among the baked goods are mini apple pies, chunky chocolate chip cookies, garlic herb rolls, buttermilk biscuits and a variety of cupcakes. Vegan products include coconut macaroons, banana chocolate chip muffins and black bean brownies. Most baked goods are $2 or $3. Mertz also makes custom cakes. The Red Bandana offers breakfast (such as avocado toast, an egg sandwich and an oatmeal bowl) and lunch (soups and build-your-own salads and sandwiches), but not dinner. “I like to have the evenings open to have special events, like artist openings, a local band, or to show someone’s ceramics,” Mertz says. “I want this to be a real community gathering place here.” The Red Bandana Bakery, 8218 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 240-284-6523, theredbandanabakery.com

The fast-casual Mexican fare chainlet District Taco will open in The Blairs shopping center in Silver Spring in the former Oriental East space in late 2018. The fast-casual burger chain Zinburger will also open in The Blairs, in the summer of 2019. Brother-and-sister team Aki and Ken Ballogdajan (she’s front of the house; he’s the chef), both Clarksburg residents, will open Kenaki, a sushi restaurant, in the Kentlands in Gaithersburg this summer. Slapfish, a fast-casual seafood chain, will open in Rockville’s Montrose Crossing this summer. Also this summer, restaurateur Aaron Gordon will open Little Beast, a café and restaurant, in Chevy Chase. The café will be open from 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. At Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Kusshi Sushi, a sushi and sake bar, will open this fall in the former Carluccio’s space, and Commonwealth Indian restaurant will open in the space formerly occupied by La Madeleine. No opening date has been announced yet for Commonwealth Indian. On Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, Helen’s restaurant closed in January. Next door, Hank Dietle’s Tavern burned down in February. The owners plan to reopen by the fall. Corned Beef King food truck, which frequently served from the parking lot at Dietle’s, has adjusted its schedule. Its owner announced plans to open a 24-seat outlet in the Liberty gas station at 1900 Rockville Pike in Rockville in late spring or early summer. Mix Bar and Grille in the Potomac Promenade shopping center closed in February. The Silver Spring location of the restaurant remains open. The Classics restaurant in Silver Spring closed on Feb. 27.

Jaimie Mertz sells gluten-free fare, including cupcakes (above), at The Red Bandana Bakery.

Mediterranean restaurant Bistro LaZeez in Bethesda closed in February. Thelo Greek Grill is slated to take over the space. Yamas Mediterranean Grill, in nearby Woodmont Triangle, closed in January. The downtown Bethesda location of the Pi Pizzeria chain closed in January. Lebanese Taverna closed its Bethesda Row outlet in March after a 10-year run. BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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HOT STUFF

Diners can pick up veggies, noodles, meats and seafood from a conveyor belt, then add it to their bowl of steaming broth at Urban Hot Pot. Vivian Zhu (right) opened the Rockville restaurant in December.

caption

THERE’S A NEW RESTAURANT worth checking out for an all-you-can-eat adventure. Urban Hot Pot in the Galvan at Twinbrook apartments on Rockville Pike opened in December. For the most fun, ask for one of the tables that abuts a conveyor belt with a constantly moving array of alluring vegetables and proteins. This is a modern version of Chinese hot pot, where diners drop various ingredients in hot, flavored broth and then pick them out and eat them once they’re cooked. The broth, delicious on its own, becomes more and more flavorful as the meal progresses. At 100-seat Urban Hot Pot, you order from a tablet computer at your table, then a server brings the broth, placing the pots on each diner’s individual infrared burner. Broth choices are spicy beef; “original,” which is chicken- and pork-based; two kinds of tomato broth, one vegetarian, the other chicken- and pork-based; pork and kimchi; and herbal chicken. While your broth is heating up, head to the make-your-owndipping-sauce bar to whip up a customized concoction, say with scallions, jalapeño, soy sauce, sesame oil and oyster sauce. Back at your table, start picking vegetables, noodles and proteins at will from the conveyor belt, or order them from your 306

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

tablet and a server will bring them. Among the dizzying and diverse choices are razor-thin slices of raw beef (they cook in an instant), head- and shell-on shrimp, tofu, squid, Chinese sausages, quail eggs, udon noodles and ramen noodles. A panoply of vegetables includes such items as taro root, broccoli, shiitakes, kombu (seaweed), pumpkin, watercress and spinach. Each table is allotted a two-hour maximum stay. The price Monday through Friday is $18.99 for lunch and $25.99 for dinner. On Saturday and Sunday, the price is $25.99 for lunch or dinner. Some items come with a surcharge, including a whole chopped, shell-on lobster ($15), oysters ($1 each), scallops ($8 per half-pound) and King crab legs ($25 per pound). “I don’t want customers to have to spend a lot of extra money beyond the allyou-can-eat price to have the things they want to eat,” says owner Vivian Zhu. “We want a place for people to have fun and hang out with friends.” Mission accomplished. n Urban Hot Pot, 1800 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 240-669-6710, urbanhotpot.com

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BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

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DINING GUIDE

CHECK OUT THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE DINING GUIDE AT BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

BETHESDA AJI-NIPPON 6937 Arlington Road, 301-654-0213. A calm oasis on a busy street, where chef Kazuo Honma serves patrons several kinds of sushi, sashimi, noodle soups, teriyaki and more. Try a dinner box, which includes an entrée, vegetables, California roll, tempura and rice. L D $$

ALATRI BROS. (EDITORS’ PICK) 4926 Cordell Ave., 301-718-6427, alatribros.com. The folks behind Olazzo and Gringos & Mariachis bought Mia’s Pizzas and revamped it with a new name and décor. They kept the Naples-style pies that come from a wood-burning oven, but added small plates and healthy options. Sit in the cheery dining room with green, gray and white accents or under an umbrella on the patio.  L D $$

AMERICAN TAP ROOM 7278 Woodmont Ave., 301- 656-1366, americantap room.com. Here’s a classic grill menu featuring sliders, wings and craft beer. Entrées range from BBQ Glazed Meatloaf Dinner with whipped potatoes and green beans to the lighter Crabmeat Omelet. ❂  R L D $$

&PIZZA 7614 Old Georgetown Road, 240-800-4783, andpizza.com. Create your own designer pizza from a choice of three crusts, three cheeses and eight sauces or spreads. Toppings for the thin, crispy crusts range from the usual suspects to falafel crumbles, fig marsala and pineapple salsa. This location of the hip, fast-casual chain has limited seating. L D $

BACCHUS OF LEBANON 7945 Norfolk Ave., 301-657-1722, bacchusoflebanon.com. This friendly and elegant Lebanese staple has a large, sunny patio that beckons lunch and dinner patrons outside when the weather is good to try garlicky hummus, stuffed grape leaves, chicken kabobs, veal chops and dozens of small-plate dishes. ❂ L D $$

BANGKOK GARDEN 4906 St. Elmo Ave., 301-951-0670, bkkgarden. com. This real-deal, family-run Thai restaurant turns out authentic cuisine, including curries, soups and noodle dishes, in a dining room decorated with traditional statues of the gods. L D $

THE BARKING DOG 4723 Elm St., 301-654-0022, barkingdogbar.com. A fun place for young adults, with drink specials nearly every night and bar food such as quesadillas and burgers. Salsa dancing on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesdays, karaoke on Thursdays and a DJ and dancing Fridays and Saturdays. ❂ L D $

BARREL + CROW 4867 Cordell Ave., 240-800-3253, barrelandcrow. com. Contemporary regional and southern cuisine served in a comfortable setting with charcoal gray banquettes and elements of wood and brick. Menu highlights include Maryland crab beignets, shrimp

and grits croquettes and Virginia trout. ❂ R L D $$

Key

BEEFSTEAK 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-365-0608, beefsteakveggies.com. The fastcasual spot from chef José Andrés is heavily focused on seasonal vegetables for build-your-own bowls and salads (or pick one of their suggested combinations). Toppings such as poached egg, chicken sausage and salt-cured salmon are also in the lineup. L D $

Price designations are for a threecourse dinner for two including tip and tax, but excluding alcohol.

BENIHANA

$ up to $50 $$ $51-$100 $$$ $101-$150 $$$$ $151+ Outdoor Dining b  Children’s Menu B Breakfast R Brunch L Lunch D Dinner

7935 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-5391, benihana. com. Experience dinner-as-theater as the chef chops and cooks beef, chicken, vegetables and seafood tableside on the hibachi. This popular national chain serves sushi, too. The kids’ menu includes a California roll and hibachi chicken, steak and shrimp entrées. J L D $$

BETHESDA CRAB HOUSE 4958 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-3382, bethesdacrab house.com. In the same location since 1961, this casual, family-owned dining spot features jumbo lump crabcakes, oysters on the half shell and jumbo spiced shrimp. Extra large and jumbo-sized crabs available year-round; call ahead to reserve. ❂ L D $$

BETHESDA CURRY KITCHEN 4860 Cordell Ave., 301-656-0062, bethesda currykitchen.com. The restaurant offers lunch buffet and Southern Indian vegan specialties, served in a spare and casual setting. There are plenty of choices from the tandoor oven, as well as vegetarian, seafood and meat curries. L D $

BGR: THE BURGER JOINT 4827 Fairmont Ave., 301-358-6137, bgrtheburger joint.com. The burgers are good and the vibe is great at this frequently packed eatery next to Veterans Park. Try the veggie burger, made with a blend of brown rice, black beans, molasses and oats. ❂ J L D $

BISTRO PROVENCE (EDITORS’ PICK) 4933 Fairmont Ave., 301-656-7373, bistroprovence.org. Chef Yannick Cam brings his formidable experience to a casual French bistro with a lovely courtyard. The Dinner Bistro Fare, served daily from 5 to 6:30 p.m., offers a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert for $35. ❂ R L D $$$

BLACK’S BAR & KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7750 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-5525, blacksbar andkitchen.com. Customers count on the impeccable use of fresh and local ingredients and enjoy dining on the expansive patio. The bar draws crowds for happy hour. ❂ R L D $$$

BOLD BITE 4903 Cordell Ave., 301-951-2653, boldbite.net. Made-to-order hickory-smoked burgers, fried-chicken sandwiches, salads and milkshakes top the menu at this casual spot. A mix of barstools, booths and small tables offers 60 seats. J L D $

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BRICKSIDE FOOD & DRINK 4866 Cordell Ave., 301-312-6160, brickside bethesda.com. Prohibition-era drinks meet Italian bar bites and entrées. Dishes range from fried pork and waffles to short ribs. Try one of the colorfully named punches, which include Pink Murder Punch and Snow Cone Punch. ❂ R L D $$

BUREDO 10219 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-483-0530, eatburedo.com. Seaweed stands in for tortillas in the sushi-and-rice burritos at this fast-casual spot, part of a local chain. Try the Beatrix, which combines sweet, savory and crunchy—fresh salmon and tuna are bathed in unagi sauce and topped with tempura crunch. ❂LD$

CADDIES ON CORDELL 4922 Cordell Ave., 301-215-7730, caddieson cordell.com. Twentysomethings gather at this golfthemed spot to enjoy beer and wings specials in a casual, rowdy atmosphere that frequently spills onto the large patio. ❂ J R L D $

CAFÉ DELUXE 4910 Elm St., 301-656-3131, cafedeluxe.com. This local chain serves bistro-style American comfort food in a fun and noisy setting with wood fans and colorful, oversized European liquor posters. Menu options include burgers, entrées, four varieties of flatbread and mussels served three different ways. ❂ J R L D $$

CAVA MEZZE GRILL 7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 2360 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-658-2233; 4832 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-1772; cavagrill.com. The guys from Cava restaurant have created a Greek version of

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dine Chipotle. Choose the meat, dip or spread for a pita, bowl or salad. House-made juices and teas provide a healthful beverage option. ❂ (Bethesda Avenue location) L D $

CESCO OSTERIA 7401 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-8333, cesco-osteria.com. Longtime chef Francesco Ricchi turns out Tuscan specialties, including pizza, pasta and foccacia in a big, jazzy space. Stop by the restaurant’s Co2 Lounge for an artisan cocktail before dinner. ❂ L D $$

CHEF TONY’S 4926 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-3737, cheftonys bethesda.com. Chef-owner Tony Marciante focuses on Mediterranean seafood tapas, offering dishes ranging from fish and seafood to chicken, steak and pasta. Desserts include Drunken Strawberries and Classic Creme Brulée. J R L D $$

CHERCHER ETHIOPIAN (NEW) 4921 Bethesda Ave., 301-652-6500, chercherrestaurant.com. The second branch of a D.C. Ethiopian spot, this restaurant and bar took over the space housing Suma. The décor is moderncontemporary and the menu features dishes—from beef to vegan—served on one large platter, meant for sharing, and Ethiopian wine. L D $

CITY LIGHTS OF CHINA 4953 Bethesda Ave., 301-913-9501, bethesda citylights.com. Longtime Chinese eatery serves familiar Sichuan and Beijing fare, including six types of dumplings and seven handmade noodle dishes. Red walls and chocolate-colored booths give the place a sharp look. L D $$

COOPER’S MILL 5151 Pooks Hill Road, 301-897-9400, coopersmillrestaurant.com/bethesda. The restaurant showcases a modern, stylish menu with stone-oven flatbreads, homemade tater tots and locally sourced produce. Local beers on draft and by the bottle, plus regional bourbon and gin. Happy hour and private dining are offered. B R L D $$

THE CORNER SLICE 7901 Norfolk Ave., 301-907-7542, thecornerslice. net. New York-style pizza, available by the slice or as a 20-inch pie. Specialty pizzas include the spinachartichoke white pie with ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and the Buffalo Chicken Pie with blue cheese and hot sauce. ❂ L D $

CRAVE 7101 Democracy Blvd., Suite 1530 (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-469-9600, cravebethesda. com. Minnesota-based chainlet offers an eclectic melting pot of American dishes, including bison burgers, lobster-and-shrimp flatbread and kogi beef tacos. The restaurant is also known for its extensive selection of wine and sushi. J L D $$

DAILY GRILL One Bethesda Metro Center, 301-656-6100, dailygrill.com. Everyone from families to expenseaccount lunchers can find something to like about the big portions of fresh American fare, including chicken pot pie and jumbo lump crabcakes. ❂ J B R L D $$

DON POLLO 10321 Westlake Drive, 301-347-6175; donpollogroup.com. Juicy, spiced birds and reasonable prices make this Peruvian chicken eatery a go-to place any night of the week. Family meals that serve four or six people are available. ❂ LD$

DUCK DUCK GOOSE (EDITORS’ PICK) 7929 Norfolk Ave., 301-312-8837, ddgbethesda. com. Thirty-five-seat French brasserie owned by chef Ashish Alfred. Small plates include steak tartare, and squid ink spaghetti with Manila clams and Fresno chilies. Among the entrées, look for updates of French classics, such as dry-aged duck with Bing cherries, and halibut with scallop mousse and puff pastry. ❂ L D $$

FARYAB AFGHAN CUISINE 4917 Cordell Ave., 301-951-3484. After closing for more than a year, Faryab reopened in 2017 and serves well-prepared Afghani country food, including Afghanistan’s answer to Middle Eastern kabobs, vegetarian entrées and unique sautéed pumpkin dishes, in a whitewashed dining room with native art on the walls. D $$

FISH TACO 10305 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-564-6000, fishtacoonline.com. This counter-service taqueria features a full roster of seafood as well as non-aquatic tacos, plus margaritas and other Mexican specialties. JLD$

FLANAGAN'S HARP & FIDDLE 4844 Cordell Ave., 301-951-0115, flanagansharp andfiddle.com. This stylish pub features live music several days a week, Tuesday night poker and Monday quiz nights. In addition to traditional stews and fried fish, Flanagan's offers smoked ribs, salmon and traditional Irish breakfast on weekends. ❂ J B L D $$

GARDEN GRILLE & BAR 7301 Waverly St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 301-6548111. Aside from a breakfast buffet featuring cooked-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit and more, the restaurant offers an extensive menu, from burgers to crabcakes, short ribs and pasta dishes. J B D $$

GEORGE’S CHOPHOUSE 4935 Cordell Ave., 240-534-2675, georgesbethesda.com. This modern bistro with pop-culture décor features a seasonally changing menu of house-made pastas, plus a raw bar and a variety of steaks. The braised beef cheek fettucine combines two specialties: house-made pastas and slow-cooked meat. L D $$$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 4928 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4266, gringosand mariachis.com. The owners of the popular Olazzo Italian restaurants in Bethesda and Silver Spring trade in the red sauce for salsa at this hip taqueria with edgy murals and plenty of tequila. LD$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 8130 Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-0888, guapos restaurant.com. This outpost of a local chain has everything you’d expect: margaritas and chips galore, as well as a handful of daily specials served in festive Mexican surroundings. Perfect for families and dates. J R L D $

GUARDADO’S 4918 Del Ray Ave., 301-986-4920, guardados.com. Chef-owner Nicolas Guardado, who trained at Jaleo, opened this hidden gem devoted to Latin-Spanish cooking in 2007 and has developed a following with tapas specialties like shrimp and sausage, stuffed red peppers and paella. J L D $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-312-6509; 4733 Elm St., 240-3966398; eatgusto.com. The fast-casual eatery aims

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to serve healthy fare, with a focus on pizzas and salads. The menu includes suggested combos but you can also build your own. Pizza crust comes in cauliflower, whole grain or traditional, and housemade dressings top heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash and other salad items. ❂ (Elm Street location only) L D $

HANARO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 7820 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-7851, hanarobethesda. com. The restaurant’s modern dark woods combined with a light-filled dining room brighten its corner location, and the menu includes sushi and Asian fusion main courses such as pad Thai and galbi (Korean ribs). The bar offers a daily happy hour. ❂ L D $$

HECKMAN’S DELICATESSEN & BAR 4914 Cordell Ave., 240-800-4879, heckmans deli.com. The deli features all the staples, plus a dinner menu with chicken-in-a-pot and stuffed cabbage. Menu offers long lists of ingredients to build your own salads, sandwiches and egg dishes. Sweets include rugelach, black-and-white cookies and homemade cheesecake. ❂ J B L D $

HIMALAYAN HERITAGE 4925 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-1858, himalayan heritagedc.com. The menu includes North Indian, Nepali, Indo-Chinese and Tibetan cuisines, featuring momos (Nepalese dumplings), Indian takes on Chinese chow mein and a large selection of curry dishes. L D $

HOUSE OF FOONG LIN 4613 Willow Lane, 301-656-3427, foonglin.com. The Chinese restaurant features Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan cuisine, including chef’s recommendations, low-fat choices and lots of traditional noodle dishes. L D $$

HOUSE OF MILAE 4932 St. Elmo Ave., 301-654-1997. The Kang family, who own Milae Cleaners in Bethesda, bring simple Korean dishes to their first food foray. Chef “M&M” Kang prepares home-style fare such as bulgogi, galbi and bibimbap. The kids’ menu has one item: spaghetti, made from the recipe of owner Thomas Kang’s former college roommate’s mother. JLD$

THE IRISH INN AT GLEN ECHO 6119 Tulane Ave., 301-229-6600, irishinnglenecho. com. This historic tavern has been a family home and a biker bar, but its incarnation as the Irish Inn has been delivering smiles and hearty food since 2003. Traditional Irish music on Monday nights and The 19th Street Band on every other Wednesday night, plus live jazz on Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

JALEO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7271 Woodmont Ave., 301-913-0003, jaleo.com. The restaurant that launched the American career of chef José Andrés and popularized Spanish tapas for a Washington, D.C., audience offers hot, cold, spicy and creative small plates served with outstanding Spanish wines. Voted “Best Small Plates” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ R L D $$

JETTIES 4829 Fairmont Ave., 301-769-6844, jettiesdc. com. The only suburban location of the popular Nantucket-inspired sandwich shop, which has five restaurants in Northwest Washington, D.C. Aside from the signature Nobadeer sandwich (roasted turkey and stuffing with cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on sourdough), look for large salads and an innovative children’s menu. ❂ J L D $

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BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM | MAY/JUNE 2018

311

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salads, wine and Belgian beer by the bottle.

7905 Norfolk Ave., 301-718-0121, kadhai.com. This popular Indian restaurant formerly known as Haandi serves a variety of traditional chicken, lamb and seafood dishes, plus rice and vegetarian dishes and a selection of breads. An extensive lunch buffet is offered daily. Voted “Best Indian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $$

KAPNOS KOUZINA 4900 Hampden Lane, 301-986-8500, kapnos kouzina.com. This is chef Mike Isabella’s first foray into Maryland and the second outpost based on Kapnos, his D.C. restaurant that spotlights Greek spreads, salads, small plates and roasted meats. Not to be missed are the pyde, puffed pillows of bread. They are best as spread-dipping vehicles; crusts for topped, pizza-like flatbreads; or sandwich casings for souvlakis. ❂ R L D $$

LA PANETTERIA 4921 Cordell Ave., 301-951-6433, lapanetteria. com. La Panetteria transports diners into a quaint Italian villa with its impeccable service and Old World atmosphere, serving such Southern and Northern Italian classic dishes as homemade spaghetti and veal scaloppine. L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 7140 Bethesda Lane, 301-913-2902; 10217 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 240-752-8737, lepainquotidien.com. New Yorkbased Belgian-born bakery/restaurant chain with farmhouse vibe, featuring organic breads, European breakfast and dessert pastries, savory egg dishes, soups, Belgian open-faced sandwiches, entrée

❂ JBRLD$ LE VIEUX LOGIS 7925 Old Georgetown Road, 301-652-6816, levieuxlogisrestaurantmd.com. The colorful exterior will draw you into this family-run Bethesda institution, but classic French dishes such as Dover sole meunière and mussels in a white wine broth will keep you coming back. ❂ D $$$

LOUISIANA KITCHEN & BAYOU BAR 4907 Cordell Ave., 301-652-6945, louisiana bethesda.com. The popular Bethesda institution offers a Cajun- and Creole-style menu, complete with divine fried items. The pain perdou and beignets remain a great way to start a Sunday morning. B R L D $

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT (NEW) 4865 Cordell Ave., 301-347-7999. The authentic Ethiopian menu here includes beef and lamb plates, such as kitfo (raw beef) sandwiches and boneless braised yebeg alicha (Ethiopian mild lamb stew). The interior is decorated with Ethiopian-inspired art and features a full bar. Beef and vegan samplers are available at the Bethesda location. L D $

LUKE’S LOBSTER 7129 Bethesda Lane, 301-718-1005, lukeslobster. com. This upscale carryout features authentic lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; the seafood is shipped directly from Maine. Try the Taste of Maine, which offers all three kinds of rolls, plus two crab claws.❂ L D $

MAKI BAR 6831 Wisconsin Ave. (Shops of Wisconsin), 301907-9888, makibarbethesda.com. This tiny 30-seat Japanese restaurant and sushi bar offers 60-plus kinds of maki rolls, categorized as Classic (tuna roll), Crunch Lover (spicy crunch California roll) and Signature (eel, avocado, tobiko, crab), along with sushi, sashimi, noodle bowls and rice-based entrées. L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 4916 Elm St., 301-907-3399, mammalucia restaurants.com. New York-style pizza dripping with cheese and crowd-pleasing red sauce, and favorites like chicken Parmesan and linguini with clams draw the crowds to this local chain. Gluten-free options available. ❂ L D $$

MEDIUM RARE 4904 Fairmont Ave., 301-215-8739, mediumrare restaurant.com. A prix fixe menu that comes with bread, salad, steak and fries is the sole option at this small chain outpost (there are two Medium Rares in D.C.). Desserts cost extra. Weekend brunch also features a prix fixe menu. D $$

MOBY DICK HOUSE OF KABOB 7027 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-1838, mobyskabob. com. This kabob takeout/eat-in mainstay was one of the first kabob places in the area. It makes its own pita bread. The menu includes a variety of salads and vegetarian sandwiches and platters. LD$

MODERN MARKET 4930 Elm St., 240-800-4733, modernmarket. com. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily,

Exquisite French food, charming atmosphere, and attentive service. In the heart of Chevy Chase, the charm of the country side at your door step.

“La Ferme is one of the area’s most pleasant places to catch up with friends, do business or toast a big day.” Tom Sietsema, Food critique of the Washington Post (March 4, 2018)

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LaFermeRestaurant.com

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this Bethesda Row eatery is part of a Denver-based chain. The focus is on seasonal, from-scratch fare and ingredients such as nitrate- and hormonefree bacon. Sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza dominate the menu. ❂ J B R L D $

MOMO CHICKEN & GRILL 4862 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, 240-483-0801, momofc.com. Skip the breasts, and head for the wings or drumsticks at Bethesda’s first Korean fried chicken spot. Options such as seafood pancakes, bulgogi and bibimbap are part of the extensive offerings, all served in a hip space with framed record albums gracing the walls. ❂ J L D $$

MON AMI GABI 7239 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-1234, monamigabi. com. Waiters serve bistro classics such as escargot, steak frites and profiteroles in a dark and boisterous spot that doesn’t feel like a chain. Live jazz Tuesday and Thursday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE 7400 Wisconsin Ave., 301-657-2650, mortons. com. An ultra-sophisticated steak house serving pricey, large portions of prime-aged beef and drinks. The restaurant is known for a top-notch dinner experience but also offers lunch and a bar menu. L D $$$

MUSSEL BAR & GRILLE 7262 Woodmont Ave., 301-215-7817, musselbar. com. Kensington resident and big-name chef Robert Wiedmaier serves his signature mussels, plus wood-fired tarts, salads and sandwiches. Wash them all down with a choice of 40 Belgian beers,

a list that was voted “Best Beer Selection” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ R L D $$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 10400 Old Georgetown Road, 240-316-4555, notyouraveragejoes.com. This Massachusettsbased chain’s moderately priced menu offers burgers, big salads and stone-hearth pizzas, plus entrées including Anything But Average Meatloaf. ❂ J L D $$

OAKVILLE GRILLE & WINE BAR (EDITORS’ PICK) 10257 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-897-9100, oakvillewinebar.com. Fresh California food paired with a thoughtful wine list in an elegant, spare setting may not sound unique, but Oakville was one of the first in the area to do so, and continues to do it well. L D $$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7921 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-9496, olazzo.com. This well-priced, romantic restaurant is the place for couples seeking red-sauce classics at reasonable prices. Founded by brothers Riccardo and Roberto Pietrobono, it was voted “Best Italian Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $$

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Store D, 301-986-0285, ophrestaurants.com. Along with the classic flapjacks on this chain’s menu, you’ll find flavorpacked items such as apple pancakes with a cinnamon sugar glaze. And it’s not just pancakes to pick from: The restaurant serves a variety of waffles, crepes, eggs and omelets. J B L $

PASSAGE TO INDIA (EDITORS’ PICK) 4931 Cordell Ave., 301-656-3373, passagetoindia.

SIL.Bethesda_Magazine_7x4.625_$5Happy_Hour_Sept_2017.indd 1

info. Top-notch, pan-Indian fare by chef-owner Sudhir Seth, with everything from garlic naan to fish curry made to order. ❂ R L D $$

PASSIONFISH BETHESDA 7187 Woodmont Ave., 301-358-6116, passionfish bethesda.com. The second location of Passion Food Hospitality’s splashy seafood restaurant features stunning coastal-themed décor and an extensive menu of shellfish, caviar, sushi, chef’s specialties and fresh catches of the day. Voted “Best Happy Hour” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. J L D $$$

PAUL 4760 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-3285, paul-usa. com. Fifth-generation, family-owned French bakery becomes an international chain, with locations in close to 35 countries. Aside from breads and pastries, look for soups, sandwiches and quiche. ❂BLD$

PENANG MALAYSIAN & THAI CUISINE & BAR 4933 Bethesda Ave., 301-657-2878, penang maryland.com. At this Malaysian spot decorated with exotic dark woods and a thatched roof, spices run the gamut of Near and Far Eastern influence, and flavors include coconut, lemongrass, sesame and chili sauce. L D $$

PERSIMMON (EDITORS’ PICK) 7003 Wisconsin Ave., 301-654-9860, persimmon restaurant.com. Owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore’s popular restaurant offers casual fare from salads to sandwiches to meat and seafood entrées in a bistro setting featuring a lively bar, cozy booths and bright paintings on the walls. ❂ R L D $$

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dine PINES OF ROME 4918 Cordell Ave., 301-657-8775. Longtime Italian restaurant, formerly on Hampden Lane, still serves traditional pasta, pizza, fish and seafood at prices that are easy on the wallet. The white pizza is a hit, and don’t forget the spaghetti and meatballs. LD$

PIZZA TEMPO 8021 Wisconsin Ave., 240-497-0000, pizzatempo. us. Pizza with a twist, which includes toppings such as sujuk (Mediterranean beef sausage), pistachio mortadella and spicy beef franks, plus a wide selection of pides (boat-shaped pizzas). Salads, wraps, panini and entrées also available. Limited seating; delivery within about a 3-mile radius. LD$

PIZZERIA DA MARCO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8008 Woodmont Ave., 301-654-6083, pizzeria damarco.net. Authentic Neapolitan pizzas fired in a 900-degree Italian brick oven range from the Siciliana with eggplant confit and black olives to the Solo Carne with sausage, pepperoni and salame. Salads, antipasti and calzones available, too. ❂LD$

POSITANO RISTORANTE ITALIANO 4940-48 Fairmont Ave., 301-654-1717, epositano.com. An authentic Italian, family-run restaurant popular for private events, large and small. Colorful rooms are decorated with Italian landscapes, copper pots and hanging plants, and the outdoor patio is one of the most beautiful in the county. ❂ L D $$

PRALINE BAKERY & BISTRO 4611 Sangamore Road, 301-229-8180, praline-bakery.com. This sunny restaurant offers a tempting bakery takeout counter, full dining service and a patio. The food, which includes chicken pot pie and pralines, is French with an American accent. ❂ J B R L D $$

Q BY PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 4500 East West Highway, 240-800-3722, qbypeterchang.com. Notable chef Peter Chang’s high-end flagship restaurant offers traditional Chinese dishes in an attractive, modern space. Peking duck, double-cooked pork belly and other authentic Sichuan cuisine are served, and some dishes are “ultimate spicy” for brave palates. ❂ J L D $$

R FAMILY KITCHEN & BAR 7804 Norfolk Ave., 240-483-4004, rfamilykitchen. com. The owners of this space’s previous restaurant, TapaBar, revamped the concept and now serve a menu with items ranging from spring rolls and pho to tequeños, a Venezuelan cheese stick with smoky aioli. The Woodmont Triangle spot’s entrées feature chicken, steak or salmon served on a hot plate. J L D $$

RAKU (EDITORS’ PICK) 7240 Woodmont Ave., 301-718-8680, rakuasian dining.com. Voted “Best Sushi” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018, this casual restaurant has bamboo walls that do little to dampen the noise, but the menu satisfies with everything from sushi to kung pao chicken. ❂ L D $$

RICE PADDIES GRILL & PHO 4706 Bethesda Ave., 301-718-1862, ricepaddies grill.com. This cute copper-and-green eat-in/carryout makes quick work of Vietnamese favorites such as pork, beef and vegetable skewers infused with lemongrass and the classic beef noodle soup known as pho. L D $

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY 7900 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1311, rockbottom.com. India Pale Ales and specialty dark brews are among the award-winning beers crafted in-house at this cavernous yet welcoming chain, which offers a vast menu. The burgers are the real deal. ❂ J L D $$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-7877, ruthschris. com. A dark and clubby feel makes this elegant chain popular with families as well as the happyhour crowd. Don’t skip the fresh seafood choices, which include Caribbean lobster tail and barbecued shrimp. D $$$

SALA THAI 4828 Cordell Ave., 301-654-4676, salathaidc. com. This Thai mainstay cooks the classics and offers diners a nearly panoramic view of Woodmont Avenue through huge, curved windows. Live jazz Friday and Saturday evenings. L D $$

SAPHIRE CAFÉ 7940 Wisconsin Ave., 301-986-9708. A relaxing spot for tasting everything from Maryland-style crab soup to Argentine skirt steak, Saphire pumps it up a notch on Friday and Saturday nights with drink specials and DJs. Tiki bar open Wednesdays through Saturdays. ❂ L D $

SATSUMA 8003 Norfolk Ave., 301-652-1400, satsumajp. com. Bethesda’s first yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant has built-in grills at each table. Diners select a cut—short rib, chuck rib, skirt or tongue— and prepare it themselves. There’s also an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, as well as interesting cooked dishes. L D $$

SHANGHAI VILLAGE 4929 Bethesda Ave., 301-654-7788. Owner Kwok Chueng prides himself on personal attention and recognizing regulars who have been stopping in for his classic Chinese cooking for more than 25 years. Order the secret recipe Mai Tai. L D $

SHANGRI-LA NEPALESE AND INDIAN CUISINE 7345-A Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-4444, shangrila bethesda.com. Northern Indian and Nepali specialties such as butter chicken and fresh flatbreads known as naan shine here. The extensive menu ranges from soups and salads to tandoori and kabobs.J L D $

SHARE WINE LOUNGE & SMALL PLATE BISTRO 8120 Wisconsin Ave. (DoubleTree Hotel), 301-652-2000, doubletreebethesda.com/dining. aspx. Share some buffalo chicken sliders or avocado bruschetta, or go for main courses ranging from Yankee pot roast to cedar plank-roasted salmon. B L D $$

SILVER (EDITORS’ PICK) 7150 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-9780, eatatsilver. com. Upscale, tonier version of the homegrown Silver Diner chain, with modern takes on American classics and an emphasis on healthy, local and organic ingredients. Sleek interior takes its cue from the 1920s. ❂ J B R L D $$

SMOKE BBQ BETHESDA 4858 Cordell Ave., 301-656-2011, smokebbq.com. Pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, ribs and all the fixin’s, plus starters including smoked tomato soup and fried pickles served in a friendly, casual space. Delivery available for orders over $15. J L D $

SOUTH STREET STEAKS 4856 Cordell Ave., 301-215-8333, southstreet steaks.com. Even transplanted Philadelphians

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will admire the cheesesteaks at this local chain’s third location. The shop also offers chicken cheesesteaks, hoagies (that’s Philly-talk for cold subs) and sandwiches called “Phillinis,” a cross between “Philly” and “panini.” J L D $

SWEETGREEN 4831 Bethesda Ave.301-654-7336, sweetgreen. com. The sweetgreen fast-casual chain—with its focus on local and organic ingredients— concentrates on salads (devise your own, or pick from a list) and soups. Look for eco-friendly décor and a healthy sensibility. ❂ L D $

TACOAREPA (NEW) 4905 Fairmont Ave, 240-858-6975. This fast-casual restaurant in Woodmont Triangle serves a dozen fillings—from curried chickpeas with mango slaw to sliced grilled beef with salsa and chipotle crema—to go in a taco, tostada bowl or arepa (Venezuelan corn cake). The space, which seats 60 inside, has a full bar serving tropical cocktails and a beer list of five on tap and two in bottles. L D $

TAKO GRILL 4914 Hampden Lane (The Shoppes of Bethesda), 301-652-7030, takogrill.com. Longtime, popular sushi destination relocated to the space formerly occupied by Hinode Japanese Restaurant. Look for the same traditional sushi menu, plus some new options, such as griddle-cooked teppanyaki at lunch, and more varieties of yakitori at dinner. L D $$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 7236 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-4002, tandoorinightsbethesda.com. Located in the heart of downtown Bethesda, the restaurant serves traditional Indian fare ranging from tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, to a biryani flavored with saffron, nuts and raisins. ❂ L D $$

TAPP’D BETHESDA 4915 St. Elmo Ave., 240-630-8120, tappdbethesda.com. Beer-centric gastropub offering 40-plus beers on tap, 100-plus bottles and beer flights. Food menu includes standard American fare: soups and salads, char-grilled wings, beer-battered onion rings, burgers, brats and mains such as crabcakes, barbecue ribs and beer-can chicken pot pie. Top it off with a root beer float. ❂ J L D $$

TARA THAI 7101 Democracy Blvd. (Westfield Montgomery mall), 301-657-0488, tarathai.com. Thai cuisine goes high style at Bethesda Magazine readers’ pick for “Best Thai Restaurant” in 2018. With colorful murals of ocean creatures looking on, diners can try dishes ranging from mild to adventurous. L D $$

TASTEE DINER 7731 Woodmont Ave., 301-652-3970, tasteediner. com. For 80 years, this crowd-pleasing if slightly sagging spot has served up everything from breakfast to burgers to blue-plate specials such as steak and crabcakes to crowds of loyal customers. Open 24 hours. J B L D $

TAYLOR GOURMET 7280 Woodmont Ave., 301-951-9001, taylorgourmet.com. The sandwich shop offers a menu of upscale takes on Philadelphia hoagies, sandwiches and salads made with top-notch ingredients. Check out the eggroll appetizer of mozzarella, provolone, hot capicola, Genoa salami, peppers and red onion. L D $

TIA QUETA 4839 Del Ray Ave., 301-654-4443, tiaqueta.com. This longtime family and happy-hour favorite offers authentic Mexican food such as moles and fish dishes, as well as the usual Tex-Mex options. Drink

menu includes American and Mexican beers. ❂ J L D $$

TOMMY JOE’S 7940 Norfolk Ave., 301-654-3801, tommyjoes. com. This Bethesda institution is now in the space formerly housing Urban Heights. The second-floor, window-filled corner location suits its sports bar persona, and the vast rooftop is ideal for outdoor drinking and snacking. Fare includes wings (Pohostyle, grilled and smoky, are a good option), burgers, crabcakes and ribs. Chunky brisket chili, on its own or on nachos, is a winner. ❂ L D $$

TRATTORIA SORRENTO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4930 Cordell Ave., 301-718-0344, trattoriasorrento.com. This family-run Italian favorite offers homemade pastas, baked eggplant and fresh fish dishes. Half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays. D $$

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7100 Wisconsin Ave., 240-200-1257, truefoodkitchen.com. Health-focused chain prides itself on serving fresh ingredients and features an open kitchen. The eclectic, multicultural menu changes from season to season, and includes sandwiches, salads and pizza. Beer, wine and freshfruit and vegetable cocktails are also available. Voted “Best New Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $

TYBER BIERHAUS 7525 Old Georgetown Road, 240-821-6830, tyberbierhausmd.com. Czech, German and Belgian brews served in an authentic beer-hall setting, furnished with the same benches as those used

in the Hofbrau brewhouse in Munich. Pub menu features mussels, hearty sandwiches, schnitzel and goulash. R L D $$

UNCLE JULIO’S 4870 Bethesda Ave., 301-656-2981, unclejulios. com. Loud and large, this Tex-Mex eatery packs in families and revelers fueling up on fajitas, tacos and more. Kids love to watch the tortilla machine. Voted “Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂ J R L D $$

VILLAIN & SAINT 7141 Wisconsin Ave., 240-800-4700, villainand saint.com. Listen to live music while digging into salt-roasted beets or slow-smoked pork ribs at this hip bar, courtesy of chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group. Delightfully dated décor includes lava lamps and photos of late great rock stars. The menu is divided into hearty dishes (villain) and vegetarian options (saint). ❂ R L D $$

VÜK 4924 St. Elmo Ave., 301-652-8000, vukpinball. com. VÜK owner (and MOM’S Organic Market CEO) Scott Nash consulted restaurateur Mark Bucher for the only thing offered on the short menu of his Bethesda pinball arcade other than Trickling Springs Creamery’s soft-serve ice cream: thin-crust New York-style pizza and thick-crust Sicilian pizza sold by the slice or as whole pies: cheese, sausage, pepperoni and mushroom/onion. L D $

WILDWOOD ITALIAN CUISINE 10257 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-493-9230, wildwooditaliancuisine. com. The eatery, owned by the adjacent Oakville

Grille & Wine Bar, serves up thick-crusted Sicilianstyle pizza, pasta and entrées in a casual atmosphere. ❂ L D $$

WILDWOOD KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 10223 Old Georgetown Road (Wildwood Shopping Center), 301-571-1700, wildwoodkitchenrw.com. Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s attractive neighborhood bistro serving fresh and light modern cuisine. Entrées range from Amish chicken with a scallion potato cake to grilled Atlantic salmon with creamy polenta. L D $$

WOODMONT GRILL (EDITORS’ PICK) 7715 Woodmont Ave., 301-656-9755, hillstone. com. Part of the Houston’s chain, the eatery offers such classics as spinach-and-artichoke dip and its famous burgers, but also house-baked breads, more exotic dishes, live jazz and a granite bar. Voted “Best Restaurant Service” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $$$

WORLD OF BEER 7200 Wisconsin Ave., 240-389-9317, worldofbeer. com. Craft beer-focused tavern chain offers 50 brews on tap rotating daily and hundreds of bottled options. Food is classic pub fare, including hamburgers, wings and bratwurst sandwiches, as well as flatbreads and salads. ❂ J R L D $

YUZU 7345-B Wisconsin Ave., 301-656-5234, yuzu bethesda.com. Diners will find authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, sashimi and cooked tofu, vegetable, tempura, meat and fish dishes, prepared by sushi chef and owner Yoshihisa Ota. L D $$

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CABIN JOHN FISH TACO 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0900, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JLD$

SAL’S ITALIAN KITCHEN (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 240-802-2370, salsitalian kitchen.net. Persimmon and Wild Tomato owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore replaced their Asian concept Indigo House with a return to their roots. Find traditional Italian fare, such as bruschetta, risotto balls, Caprese salad, meatball subs, fettuccine Alfredo, chicken cacciatore and shrimp scampi. ❂ L D $$

WILD TOMATO (EDITORS’ PICK) 7945 MacArthur Blvd., 301-229-0680, wildtomato restaurant.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant from Persimmon owners Damian and Stephanie Salvatore, serving salads, sandwiches and pizza. Voted “Best Neighborhood Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂JLD$

CHEVY CHASE ALFIO’S LA TRATTORIA 4515 Willard Ave., 301-657-9133, alfios.com. This Northern Italian classic on the first floor of The Willoughby of Chevy Chase Condominium has been feeding families and casual diners for more than 30 years. Look for traditional pasta, veal and chicken dishes (plus pizza), served in an Old World environment. J L D $$

THE CAPITAL GRILLE 5310 Western Ave., 301-718-7812, capitalgrille. com. The upscale steak-house chain, known for its He-Man-sized portions and extensive wine list, is located in The Shops at Wisconsin Place.Entrées also include chicken, lamb chops, salmon and lobster. L D $$$$

CLYDE’S 5441 Wisconsin Ave., 301-951-9600, clydes. com. The popular restaurant features a frequently changing menu of American favorites and a collection of vintage airplanes and cars, as well as a model train running on a track around the ceiling. ❂ J R L D $$

DON POLLO 7007 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0001, donpolloonline.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

FISH TACO 7015 Wisconsin Ave., 301-652-0010, fishtacoonline.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JLD$

LA FERME (EDITORS’ PICK) 7101 Brookville Road, 301-986-5255, laferme restaurant.com. This charming Provence-style restaurant serving classic French cuisine is a popular choice for an intimate dinner. Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme, a bar within the restaurant, opened in fall 2016. The bar serves small plates, and cocktails include the French 75, with cognac, simple syrup, lemon juice and champagne. Voted “Best Romantic Restaurant” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $$$

LIA'S (EDITORS’ PICK) 4435 Willard Ave., 240-223-5427, chefgeoff.com. Owner Geoff Tracy focuses on high-quality, low-fuss

modern Italian-American fare at this modern space with a wine room. Pizzas, house-made pastas and fresh fish please business lunchers and dinner crowds. Voted “Best Restaurant in Chevy Chase” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2017. ❂JRLD$

MANOLI CANOLI RESTAURANT 8540 Connecticut Ave., 301-951-1818, manolicanoli.com. Italian and Greek specialties abound at a fun family eatery that features a large prepared foods section, dishes made with olive oil from owner Stavros Manolakos’ family farm in Greece and homemade mozzarella on pizza and subs. ❂ J L D $

MEIWAH RESTAURANT 4457 Willard Ave., 301-652-9882, meiwah restaurant.com. This modern restaurant on the second floor of a Friendship Heights office building offers top-quality Chinese dishes that are hard to beat. There’s also a sushi bar with an extensive menu. A fountain sparkles on the outdoor patio. ❂ L D $$

POTOMAC PIZZA 19 Wisconsin Circle, 301-951-1127, potomac pizza.com. This cheery, casual dining room provides a break from the ultra-posh shopping surrounding it. In addition to pizza, subs and pastas are popular. Beer and wine available. ❂ J L D $

SUSHIKO (EDITORS’ PICK) 5455 Wisconsin Ave., 301-961-1644, sushiko restaurants.com. Known as one of the Washington, D.C., area’s most respected sushi restaurants, Sushiko offers a wide range of sushi and other dishes. Kōbō, a restaurant within the restaurant, allows eight people to dine on 12- to 15-course tasting menus. ❂ L D $$

TAVIRA 8401 Connecticut Ave., 301-652-8684, tavira restaurant.com. Fish stews and several versions of bacalhau (salted cod) figure prominently on the menu of this intriguing Portuguese restaurant, which manages to be charming and attractive despite its location in an office building basement. L D $$

GARRETT PARK BLACK MARKET BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 4600 Waverly Ave., 301-933-3000, blackmarket restaurant.com. Sublime American bistro fare served in a restored Victorian building next to railroad tracks; the building once served as a general store and still houses a post office. Entrées range from swordfish to a burger and pizza, including several vegetable options. ❂ J R L D $$

KENSINGTON THE DISH & DRAM 10301 Kensington Parkway, 301-962-4046, thedishanddram.com. The owners of The Daily Dish in Silver Spring serve comfort food made with local ingredients in a 2,800-square-foot space in Kensington. Steak frites, Maryland crab soup, burgers and house-made desserts are on the menu. J R L D $$

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FRANKLY…PIZZA! (EDITORS’ PICK) 10417 Armory Ave., 301-832-1065, franklypizza. com. Owner Frank Linn turns out high-quality pizza in a rustic brick-and-mortar restaurant. The menu offers wood-fired pies topped with home-cured meats and tomato sauce made from an 80-yearold family recipe. Wines and homemade sodas served on tap, too. Voted "Best Pizza" by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ L D $

K TOWN BISTRO 3784 Howard Ave., 301-933-1211, ktownbistro. com. Try filet mignon, duck breast à l’orange, chicken marsala and other classic continental dishes from this family-run eatery owned by Gonzalo Barba, former longtime captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel. L D $$

NORTH POTOMAC/ GAITHERSBURG &PIZZA 258 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 240-4998447, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ LD$

ASIA NINE 254 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-3309997, asianinemd.com. Pan Asian restaurant with a first location in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers dishes from Vietnam, China, Thailand and Japan. Specialties include grilled lamb chops served with mango-soy coulis and miso honey duck breast drizzled with a sake butter sauce. R L D $$

ATHENS GRILL 9124 Rothbury Drive, 301-975-0757, athensgrill. com. This casual, friendly, family-run restaurant specializes in authentic Greek cooking, using recipes handed down through generations. Specialties such as rotisserie chicken, chargrilled salmon with a lemon dill sauce and lamb kabobs are cooked on a hardwood grill. L D $

BARKING MAD CAFE 239 Spectrum Ave., 240-297-6230, barkingmad cafe.com. Cooking from a wood hearth and selecting vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from its aeroponic (grown in air/mist but without soil) organic garden, Barking Mad Cafe has a corner spot in Watkins Mill Town Center. Look for madefrom-scratch brunch, lunch and dinner sweets and savories, such as breakfast pizza, watermelon salad and farro salad. ❂ R L D $$

BONEFISH GRILL 82 Market St., 240-631-2401, bonefishgrill. com. While fresh fish cooked over a wood fire is the centerpiece of this upscale Florida chain, the steaks, crab cakes and specialty martinis make it a fun option for happy hour and those with hearty appetites. R L D $$

BUCA DI BEPPO 122 Kentlands Blvd., 301-947-7346, bucadibeppo. com. The Kentlands outpost of this national chain serves huge, family-style portions of Italian specialties from fresh breads to antipasti and pasta dishes amid a sea of Italian kitsch. Desserts include Italian Creme Cake and tiramisu. J L D $$

COAL FIRE 116 Main St., 301-519-2625, coalfireonline.com. Homemade crusts fired by coal and topped with your choice of toppings and three different sauces:

classic, spicy and signature, which is slightly sweet with a hint of spice. Salads, sandwiches and pasta also available, plus a full bar. ❂ L D $

COASTAL FLATS 135 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301869-8800, greatamericanrestaurants.com. First Maryland locale for Great American Restaurants, a Fairfax-based chain. Seaside-inspired décor extends to the menu, which offers lobster and shrimp rolls, fried grouper and Key lime pie. Steaks, pasta and burgers also served. Voted “Best Restaurant in Gaithersburg/North Potomac” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ J R L D $$

COPPER CANYON GRILL 100 Boardwalk Place, 240-631-0003, ccgrill.com. Large portions of American classics such as salads, ribs and rotisserie chicken prepared with seasonal ingredients at family-friendly prices are the bill of fare at this spacious and casual chain restaurant. J L D $$

DOGFISH HEAD ALEHOUSE 800 W. Diamond Ave., 301-963-4847, dogfishale house.com. The first Maryland outpost of the popular Rehoboth Beach brewpub, the restaurant is packed with revelers and families clamoring for the Dogfish Head brews, burgers, pizzas and ribs. Check out the burger of the week. ❂ J L D $$

DON POLLO 9083 Gaither Road, 301-990-0981, donpollogroup. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

FIREBIRDS WOOD FIRED GRILL 390 Spectrum Ave., 301-284-1770, gaithersburg. firebirdsrestaurants.com. Part of a chain, this restaurant in the Watkins Mill Town Center cooks steaks and seafood over a wood-fired grill. Designed to look like a Colorado lodge, the eatery tends toward classic fare for entrées (surf-and-turf, salmon, burgers) and dessert (chocolate cake, Key lime pie, carrot cake). ❂ J L D $$

GREENE GROWLERS 227 E. Diamond Ave., 240-261-6196, greenegrowlers.com. Formerly Growlers, this American restaurant in a turn-of-the-century building in downtown Gaithersburg serves local beers on tap and a full menu with sandwiches, pasta and housemade crabcakes. Occasional events include trivia and standup comedy nights. ❂ J L D $

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-17, 301-977-5655, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂JRLD$

HERSHEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR 17030 Oakmont Ave., 301-948-9893, hersheysat thegrove.com. Fried chicken that tastes like it was made by an aproned elder is served up in a clapboard building constructed in 1889. Besides the fab fried chicken, Hershey’s serves up warm rolls, inexpensive prices and live music. ❂ J B R L D $$

IL PORTO RESTAURANT 245 Muddy Branch Road, 301-590-0735, ilporto restaurant.com. A classic red-sauce menu, elegant murals of Venice and an authentic thin-crust pizza are hallmarks of this friendly, unfussy Italian restaurant tucked in the Festival Shopping Center. Fried calamari and the white pizza are among customer favorites. ❂ L D $

INFERNO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA (EDITORS’ PICK)

12207 Darnestown Road, 301-963-0115, inferno-pizzeria.com. Tony Conte, former executive

chef of Washington, D.C.’s Oval Room, goes casual with his first restaurant, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria offering sophisticated toppings such as shaved truffles and garlic confit. Cozy dining room seats 39, with a tiled, wood-burning pizza oven as the centerpiece. D $

Looking for the freshest fish in the DC area? Find it here in Bethesda for lunch, brunch and dinner!

LE PALAIS 304 Main St., No. 100, 301-947-4051, restaurantlepalais.com. Chef-owner Joseph Zaka trips lightly through the dishes of Brittany and Burgundy, adding a modern twist here and there. Entrées include duck pot-au-feu and cassolette of lamb. D $$$

THE MELTING POT 9021 Gaither Road, 301-519-3638, themeltingpot. com. There’s nothing like dipping bits of bread, vegetables and apples into a communal pot of hot cheese to get a date or a party started. The Melting Pot chain also offers wine, oil or broth to cook meat tableside and chocolate fondue for dessert. J D $$

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE’S 245 Kentlands Blvd., 240-477-1040, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$

OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE 212 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-9636281, oldtownpourhouse.com. One of the eateries from Chicago’s Bottleneck Management restaurant company, this place features more than 90 local and international brews on tap. Classic American cuisine is served in a setting with copper-inlaid bars and high ceilings. ❂ L D $$

7187 Woodmont Avenue • 301-358-6116

PASSIONFISHBETHESDA.COM

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN & RUM BAR 203 Crown Park Ave., 301-330-4400, paladarlatinkitchen.com. This Cleveland-based chain covers the spectrum of Latin cuisine, with dishes from Cuba, the Caribbean and Central and South America. From Brazil, there’s feijoada stew; from Cuba, ropa vieja; and from Jamaica, jerk chicken. Bar selections includes 50 varieties of rum, 15 tequilas and six types of mojitos. ❂ J R L D $$

POTOMAC VILLAGE DELI 625 Center Point Way, 301-299-5770, potomacvillagedeli.com. Traditional Jewish deli in the Kentlands, offering all-day breakfast and all the classics, from bagels, smoked fish, knishes, matzo ball soup, corned beef, pastrami and chopped liver to overstuffed combo sandwiches, Reubens, subs, wraps, burgers, salads, pizza and New York cheesecake. J B L D $$

QUINCY’S BAR & GRILLE 616 Quince Orchard Road, 301-869-8200, quincys bar.com. Energetic neighborhood pub with a sports bar atmosphere, Quincy’s also has an extensive menu with wings, pizza, build-your-own burgers and chicken sandwiches, plus entrées including Guinness-braised brisket. Live music is also a big draw. L D $

RED HOT & BLUE 16811 Crabbs Branch Way, 301-948-7333, redhotandblue.com. You’ll find generous portions of hickory-smoked barbecue, plus burgers, salads and wraps, and a Southern attitude at this chain popular for its office party takeout and its family-friendly, kitschy roadhouse décor. J L D $

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 106 Crown Park Ave. (Downtown Crown), 301-9901926, ruthschris.com. See Bethesda listing. D $$$

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dine SARDI’S POLLO A LA BRASA 430 N. Frederick Ave., 301-977-3222, sardis chicken.com. Yes, there’s charbroiled chicken, but don’t miss the other Peruvian specialties, especially the ceviche and Salchipapas, a true Peruvian street food of thinly sliced pan-fried beef hot dogs mixed with french fries and served with condiments. LD$

TANDOORI NIGHTS 106 Market St., 301-947-4007, tandoorinightsmd. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

TARA THAI 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., L-9, 301-947-8330, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TED’S BULLETIN 220 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301990-0600, tedsbulletin.com. First Maryland location of the modern diner chainlet from the folks at Matchbox Food Group. Boozy milkshakes, homemade pop tarts and the Cinnamon Roll As Big As Ya Head (served weekends only) are among the specialties. ❂ J B R L D $$

TED’S MONTANA GRILL 105 Ellington Blvd. (Downtown Crown), 301-3300777, tedsmontanagrill.com. First Maryland location of billionaire and bison rancher Ted Turner’s restaurant chain, which uses bison as the showpiece in a humongous selection of dishes, including burgers, meatloaf, nachos and chili. Soups, salads, American classics and spiked milkshakes also available at this saloon-style eatery. ❂ J L D $$

THAI TANIUM 657 Center Point Way, 301-990-3699, thaitanium restaurant.com. Authentic Thai food laced with lots of chilies and garlic as hot as you like. Try one of the Thai street food dishes, such as roasted pork with Thai herbed sweet sauce and noodle soups. ❂JLD$

UNCLE JULIO’S 231 Rio Blvd. (RIO Washingtonian Center), 240-6322150, unclejulios.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J R L D $$

VASILI'S KITCHEN 705 Center Point Way, 301-977-1011, vasilis kitchen.com. Tan and brown décor lends a cozy vibe to this 4,700-square-foot Kentlands restaurant. The owners ran the popular Vasili’s Mediterranean Grill in another Kentlands location for more than a decade before closing it to focus on Vasili’s Kitchen. The Mediterranean menu is heavy on seafood dishes. ❂ J D $$

THE WINE HARVEST, THE KENTLANDS 114 Market St., 301-869-4008, thewineharvest. com. Stop by this popular Cheers-like wine bar locally owned by the Meyrowitz family for a glass of wine or a Belgian beer. The menu includes salads, sandwiches and cheese plates. ❂ L D $

YOYOGI SUSHI 328 Main St., 301-963-0001. A no-nonsense neighborhood sushi place with bright fish tanks, it offers the familiar sushi, teriyaki, tempura dishes, plus seaweed salad, soup, green tea and red bean ice cream. L D $

ZIKI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 10009 Fields Road, 301-330-3868, zikisteakhouse. com. This large steak house on a busy corner charms patrons with its fountains, stone Buddhas and geisha mannequins. Food offerings include sushi, as well as meats cooked on a tableside hibachi. J L D $$

POTOMAC ADDIE’S (EDITORS’ PICK) 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-0081, addies restaurant.com. Longtime North Bethesda restaurant from the Black Restaurant Group that closed in 2013 is reborn in the Park Potomac development. Date nights call for the signature entrées for two. Larger groups might opt for the supreme Seafood Tower, a mega assortment of daily seafood specials. ❂ R L D $$

ATTMAN’S DELICATESSEN 7913 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-765-3354, cabinjohn.attmansdeli. com. This landmark Baltimore deli has run a second location in Potomac since 2013. The menu offers the same legendary corned beef, pastrami and other deli specialties. Third-generation owner Marc Attman is at the helm. J B L D $

BROOKLYN’S DELI & CATERING 1089 Seven Locks Road, 301-340-3354, brooklyns delimd.com. From chopped liver to chicken soup, Brooklyn’s serves all the deli specialties, plus more. Think hot pastrami with coleslaw and Russian dressing on pumpernickel. ❂ J B L D $

ELEVATION BURGER 12525-D Park Potomac Ave., 301-838-4010, elevationburger.com. Fast-food burgers go organic and grass-fed at this Northern Virginia-founded chain. Veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese and a BLT available, too. Shake flavors range from banana to Key lime and cheesecake. ❂LD$

GREGORIO’S TRATTORIA 7745 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-296-6168, gregoriostrattoria.com. Proprietor Greg Kahn aims to make everyone feel at home at this family-owned restaurant serving a hit parade of traditional Italian favorites, with all the familiar pasta, pizza, chicken, veal and seafood dishes; the gluten-free menu offers pizza, cheese ravioli and quinoa pastas. J L D $$

THE GRILLED OYSTER CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 7943 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 301-299-9888, thegrilledoyster company.com. This Chesapeake-style seafood eatery features small plates, salads, sandwiches and entrées. The sampler of four grilled oysters— with ingredients such as coconut rum and cucumber relish—showcases the namesake item. ❂ J R L D $$

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS (EDITORS’ PICK) 12435 Park Potomac Ave., 301-339-8855, gringosandmariachis.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂D$

HUNTER’S BAR AND GRILL 10123 River Road, 301-299-9300, thehuntersinn. com. At this Potomac institution and popular English hunt-themed spot, try a big salad or hamburger for lunch and a traditional pasta dish or filet mignon for dinner with the family. ❂ J R L D $$

LAHINCH TAVERN AND GRILL 7747 Tuckerman Lane (Cabin John Shopping Center & Mall), 240-499-8922, lahinchtavernandgrill.com. The menu of this sister restaurant to The Irish Inn at Glen Echo commingles Irish standards (traditional sausage roll, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, lamb stew) with fare such as Alaskan halibut. Lahinch is a coastal town in Ireland’s County Clare. J R L D $$$

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LOCK 72 KITCHEN & BAR (EDITORS’ PICK) 10128 River Road, 301-299-0481, lock72. com. Well-known chef Robert Wiedmaier’s RW Restaurant Group runs this upscale American pub (formerly called River Falls Tavern). Entrées include crabcakes, fish tacos, grilled bronzino, a New York strip steak and steak frites. ❂ R L D $$

MOCO’S FOUNDING FARMERS 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 301-340-8783, wearefoundingfarmers.com. Farm-inspired fare in a modern and casual setting; this is the sister restaurant to the phenomenally popular downtown D.C. Founding Farmers. Bethesda Magazine readers chose it as “Best Restaurant in Potomac,” "Best Cocktails" and "Best Brunch" in 2018. Try the warm cookies for dessert. ❂ B R L D $$

NORMANDIE FARM RESTAURANT 10710 Falls Road, 301-983-8838, popovers.com. This fine-dining French restaurant, open since 1931, strives to preserve its classical heritage while embracing new traditions. Dinner entrées run from seafood to beef and lamb. The restaurant offers quick service, a casual café option and a violinist at afternoon tea. ❂ J R L D $$

O’DONNELL’S MARKET 1073 Seven Locks Road, 301-251-6355, odonnells market.com. This market, from the family that ran O’Donnell’s restaurants in Montgomery County for decades, features a 10-seat bar for lunch and happy hour (11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). The menu includes a raw bar, salads and many O’Donnell’s classics, among them a lump-filled crabcake sandwich, salmon BLT, seafood bisque and crab gumbo. ❂L$

OLD ANGLER’S INN 10801 MacArthur Blvd., 301-365-2425, oldanglers inn.com. Open since 1860 and known for its refined American food and beautiful fireplaces and grounds, it features live music on weekends. Signature cocktails include hard cider sangria and a pumpkin pie martini. Voted “Best Outdoor Dining” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R L D $$$

POTOMAC PIZZA 9812 Falls Road, 301-299-7700, potomacpizza. com. See Chevy Chase listing. J L D $

RENATO’S AT RIVER FALLS 10120 River Road, 301-365-1900, renatosatriver falls.net. The Italian restaurant offers fish dishes among its menu of pastas and classics such as penne with eggplant, and chicken parmigiana. Traditional Italian desserts include tiramisu, profiteroles and cannolis. ❂ J L D $$

SUGO OSTERIA 12505 Park Potomac Ave., 240-386-8080, eatsugo. com. The Greek guys who own Cava Mezze and Cava Mezze Grill partner with Mamma Lucia restaurants to serve Italian small plates, meatballs, sliders, pizza and pasta. Chef specialities include blue crab gnocchi and charred octopus. ❂ R L D $$

TALLY-HO RESTAURANT 9923 Falls Road, 301-299-6825, tallyhorestaurant. com. A local fixture since 1968, the eatery serves an expansive diner-style menu with Greek and Italian specialties. Choose from options ranging from burgers and deli sandwiches to pizza, calzones and dinner entrées. ❂ J B L D $

THE WINE HARVEST 12525-B Park Potomac Ave., 240-314-0177, thewineharvest.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂LD$

ZOËS KITCHEN 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Suite 120, 240-3281022, zoeskitchen.com. The first Maryland outpost of a Birmingham, Alabama, fast-casual chain, Zoës features Mediterranean dishes such as kabobs, hummus and veggie pita pizzas. It specializes in takeout dinner for four for under $30. ❂JLD$

ROCKVILLE/ NORTH BETHESDA A & J RESTAURANT (EDITORS’ PICK) 1319-C Rockville Pike, 301-251-7878, aj-restaurant. com. Northern dim sum is the specialty at this hard-to-find cash-only spot in the Woodmont Station shopping center. Warm-colored walls surround the crowd digging into thousand-layer pancakes and fresh tofu. R L D $

AKIRA RAMEN & IZAKAYA 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-242-3669, akiraramen. com. This minimalist Japanese eatery serves house-made noodles and vibrant food such as a poke salad. The sleek establishment, located on the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, features an open kitchen and several variations of ramen to choose from. L D $

AL CARBÓN 200 Park Road, 301-738-0003, alcarbonrestaurant. com. Serving authentic Latin American fare across the street from the Rockville Metro station, this unassuming roadhouse has a loyal following for its arepas, empanadas, tapas and more. Try one of the natural juices including mango and tamarindo. ❂BLD$

AL HA'ESH 4860 Boiling Brook Parkway (Randolph Hills Shopping Center), 301-231-0839, al-haesh.com. Kosher Israeli grill serves vegetable and protein skewers (including chicken, lamb, beef, chicken livers and sweetbreads). All entrées come with small ramekins of salads (think curried chickpeas; marinated red cabbage; and balsamic marinated mushrooms). ❂ L D $$

AMALFI RISTORANTE ITALIANO 12307 Wilkins Ave., 301-770-7888, amalfirockville. com. A family-run, red-sauce Italian restaurant with specialties including white pizza and lasagna. Lots of antipasti choices, too. The gazebo is a charming spot to dine during the summer. J L D $$

AMICI MIEI RISTORANTE 6 North Washington St., 301-545-0966, amicimieiristorante.com.Previously located at the Potomac Woods Plaza, this upscale Italian restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and creative salads. The new, smaller establishment is cozier than the last with a menu that changes twice a year. L D $

AMINA THAI RESTAURANT 5065 Nicholson Lane, 301-770-9509. Pleasant and bright, Amina Thai is run by a husband-andwife team and bills itself as the first Muslim Thai restaurant in the area, using only halal meats and serving familiar Thai dishes. Chef’s specials include pineapple fried rice and grilled salmon. L D $

&PIZZA 11626 Old Georgetown Road (Pike & Rose), 240621-7016, andpizza.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂LD$

BOB'S SHANGHAI 66 305 N. Washington St., 301-251-6652. Dim sum and rice and noodle dishes are the specialties at this popular eatery offering Taiwanese, Shanghai and Sichuan cuisine. It’s also one of the area’s top destinations for soup dumplings, where you can even watch the chefs making them in a glassenclosed booth. R L D $

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BOMBAY BISTRO 98 W. Montgomery Ave., 301-762-8798, bombaybistro.com. Bombay Bistro opened in 1991 as one of the first Indian restaurants in the area to combine high style, reasonable prices and a fresh take on traditional Indian, and it has been packed ever since. House specialties include tandoori lamb chops and shrimp and scallops masala. J L D $$

BONCHON CHICKEN 107 Gibbs St., Unit A (Rockville Town Square), 301637-9079, bonchon.com. International fried chicken franchise with Korean roots serves up wings, drumsticks and strips with soy-garlic or spicy hot garlic sauce, plus other traditional offerings such as bulgogi, bibimbap and scallion seafood pancakes. LD$

BOTANERO 800 Pleasant Drive, Suite 160, 240-474-5461, botanerorockville.com. Located in the King Farm neighborhood, this small plates restaurant and wine bar features cuisine that changes seasonally. Some recent offerings include a fig and prosciutto flatbread and quinoa grilled salmon. B L D $

CAVA MEZZE (EDITORS’ PICK) 9713 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-309-9090, cavamezze.com. The dark and elegant Cava offers small plates of everything from fried Greek cheese, octopus and orzo in cinnamon tomato sauce to crispy pork belly and macaroni and cheese. There are martini specials, too. ❂ R L D $$

CHINA BISTRO 755 Hungerford Drive, 301-294-0808. Extensive Chinese menu features many familiar favorites, but this is the place to go for dumplings. With tender dough wrappers and chock-full interiors, these beauties come 12 to an order and with 16 different filling choices. Fresh, uncooked dumplings are also available for carryout. L D $

CHUY’S 12266 Rockville Pike (Federal Plaza), 301-6032941, chuys.com. Drawing inspiration from New Mexico, Mexican border towns, the Rio Grande Valley and Texas’s deep south, Chuy’s is part of a family-friendly chain that serves up a Tex-Mex experience. Colorful food meets colorful décor, where “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s” rings true—eclectic collectibles give each location its own flare. Free chips are served out of a car trunk display. L D J $

CITY PERCH KITCHEN + BAR 11830 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-2312310, cityperch.com. Located above the entrance to the iPic Theaters at Pike & Rose, City Perch offers creative, seasonal American cuisine in a rustic, inviting space. The menu includes raw-bar selections, small plates, shareable salads and entrée options such as grilled shrimp and Long Island duck. ❂ R L D $$$

CUBAN CORNER 825 Hungerford Drive, 301-279-0310, cubancornerrestaurant.com. Pork and empanadas shine at this small space brimming with ethnic pride (there’s a tribute wall to famous Cuban-Americans). Don’t skip the Cuban coffee or the Cuban sandwich,

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dine a sub bursting with ham, pickles and tangy mustard. LD$

CSNY PIZZA 1020 Rockville Pike, 301-298-3650, csnypizza. wixisite.com/sneaksite. Carry out a New York-style pizza from this spot by the owners of Pizza CS. Their second Rockville location also offers six seats for guests to dine in, and serves whole pies, hot subs and pizza by the slice. L $

DEL FRISCO’S GRILLE 11800 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-8810308, delfriscosgrille.com. This is the Texasbased chain’s second location in the area. Look for upscale takes on American comfort foods, such as filet mignon meatloaf and short rib stroganoff, plus trendy items such as kale and Brussels sprouts salad, deviled eggs, flatbreads and ahi tuna tacos. Plenty of burgers, sandwiches and salads, too. ❂ R L D $$

DON POLLO 2206 Veirs Mill Road, 301-309-1608, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

EAST PEARL RESTAURANT 838-B Rockville Pike, 301-838-8663, eastpearl restaurant.com. Choose from many options of Hong Kong cuisine, including familiar dishes featuring chicken, beef, poultry, pork and even duck, as well as those for adventurous tastes. Try the soups ranging from egg drop to seafood with bean curd. LD$

EL MARIACHI RESTAURANT 765-D Rockville Pike, 301-738-7177, elmariachi rockville.com. Serving Tex-Mex and South American food in a bright, pleasant space made lively with colorful art. In addition to the usual enchiladas, tacos and burritos, look for Peruvian seafood and Cuban beef specialties. L D $

EL PATIO 5240 Randolph Road, 301-231-9225, elpatio international.com. This bustling café with pretty green umbrellas on the patio serves up the traditional meat-heavy dishes of Argentina, as well as pizzas and freshly made baked goods. Look for mouth-watering empanadas, beef tongue and sausage specialties. ❂ J B L D $

FAR EAST RESTAURANT 5055 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-5552, fareastrockvillemd.com. Owned and operated by the same family since 1974, this classic Chinese restaurant greets customers with two royal stone lions out front and sticks to the familiar ChineseAmerican basics. Check out the daily specials and dim sum menu. L D $$

FINNEGAN’S WAKE IRISH PUB 100 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-3398267, finneganswakerockville.com. Irish pub with a nice selection of bourbons, whiskeys and Irish beers and a very limited bar menu offering such fare as bangers and mash, poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese curds), a chicken club sandwich, fish and chips, wings and a burger. L D $

FLOR DE LUNA 11417 Woodglen Drive, 240-242-4066, flordeluna md.com. Latin American fare includes tamales and lomo saltado (a stir-fry of beef and peppers) at this 75-seat restaurant near Whole Foods Market. Tacos, nachos and quesadillas are also in the lineup. Finish off your meal with the tres leches (three milks) cake. ❂ J R L D $$

FONTINA GRILLE 801 Pleasant Drive, 301-947-5400, fontinagrille. com. A trendy spot with its curvy maple bar and

wood-burning pizza oven, Fontina Grille is a favorite gathering place for the King Farm neighborhood. Pizza, pasta and salads are the main attractions. Three-dollar pasta dishes available on Monday nights and half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. ❂ J R L D $$

GORDON BIERSCH 200-A E. Middle Lane (Rockville Town Square), 301340-7159, gordonbiersch.com/restaurants. The national brewpub chain prides itself on house beers and friendly service. The shiny bar is boisterous, and the menu includes bar favorites with some barbecue and Asian touches, small plates, salads, pizza and flatbreads. J L D $$

GRAND FUSION CUISINE 350 East Fortune Terrace, 301-838-2862, grand fusionrestaurant.com. Diners will find something for everyone seeking a taste of the Asian continent, a full sushi bar, and Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean specialties. Chef’s specials include Crispy Eggplant in Spicy Orange Sauce and Double Flavored Shrimp. ❂ L D $

GYROLAND 1701-B3 Rockville Pike, 301-816-7829, gyrolandmd.com. Build-your-own salads, open-face and wrapped sandwiches, and other Greek choices star at this fast-casual spot near Congressional Plaza. For dessert, Gyroland serves loukoumades, a bite-size fluffy Greek doughnut soaked in hot honey syrup. L D $

HARD TIMES CAFÉ 1117 Nelson St., 301-294-9720, hardtimes.com. Good American beer selections, hearty chili styles ranging from Cincinnati (cinnamon and tomato) to Texas (beef and hot peppers), and hefty salads and wings bring families to this Wild West-style saloon for lunch and dinner. L D $

HINODE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 134 Congressional Lane, 301-816-2190, hinode restaurant.com. Serving traditional Japanese cuisine since 1992. All-you-can-eat lunch and weekend dinner buffet offers 40 types of sushi, 14 hot foods and a salad bar. Check out the patio with full bar service. L D $$

IL PIZZICO 15209 Frederick Road, 301-309-0610, ilpizzico. com. Setting aside the strip mall location and lack of pizza (il pizzico means “the pinch” in Italian), chef-owner Enzo Livia’s house-made pasta dishes, gracious service and extensive wine list of mainly Italian wines make even a weeknight meal feel special. L D $$

JOE’S NOODLE HOUSE 1488-C Rockville Pike, 301-881-5518, joesnoodlehouse.com. Chinese ex-pats and many other customers consider the Sichuan specialties (soft bean curd with spicy sauce and hot beef jerky) among the area’s best examples of gourmet Chinese cooking. L D $

LA BRASA LATIN CUISINE 12401 Parklawn Drive, 301-468-8850, labrasa rockville.com. A bold, yellow awning marks the unlikely industrial location of the popular La Brasa. Customers rave about the rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado (Peruvian marinated steak), Salvadoran pupusas and Tres Leches. ❂ L D $

LA CANELA (EDITORS’ PICK) 141-D Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-2511550, lacanelaperu.com. Sophisticated, modern Peruvian cooking shines in a regally furnished dining room in a yellow stucco building graced with curvy

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black ironwork. The menu includes artfully prepared seafood, pork, chicken and beef dishes. ❂ L D $

LA LIMEÑA GRILL 1093 Rockville Pike, 301-417-4922. An offshoot of nearby La Limeña Restaurant, this Peruvian eatery with a spacious patio serves several traditional seafood dishes, including Ceviche Mixto, an appetizer of lime-marinated tilapia served with glazed potatoes and crispy dried corn kernels. The Chicha Morada, a sweet corn-based drink, pairs nicely with authentic and tender braised-beef entrées. ❂ J L D $$

LA LIMEÑA RESTAURANT 765 Rockville Pike, 301-424-8066, lalimena restaurant.com. Diners can choose dishes such as beef hearts, tripe and homemade pastries in this tiny but well-appointed eatery. Desserts include passion fruit mousse and vanilla flan. And of course, there’s rotisserie chicken to go. L D $

LA TASCA 141 Gibbs St., Suite 305 (Rockville Town Square), 301-279-7011, latascausa.com. The Rockville location of this regional chain strives to keep things interesting with 45 tapas dishes and six kinds of paella, including Paella Mixta with chicken, shrimp, chorizo, scallops, mussels, squid and clams. ❂ R L D $$

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ 1605 Rockville Pike, 301-468-9086; 115 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-309-8681; lebanesetaverna.com. A casual and pleasant family spot for lunch or dinner after shopping on Rockville Pike, the café is a more casual offshoot of the local Lebanese Taverna chain, serving hummus, pita, falafel, chicken and lamb kabobs. J L D $

LIGHTHOUSE TOFU & BBQ 12710 Twinbrook Parkway, 301-881-1178. In addition to the numerous tofu dishes ranging from Mushroom Tofu Pot to Seafood Beef Tofu Pot, diners at this Korean stalwart can try barbecue, stirfried specialties and kimchee, the national dish of pickled cabbage. L D $

LITTLE DIPPER HOT POT HOUSE   101 Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-6057321. An offshoot of an Asian restaurant in Virginia, this 90-seat restaurant serves individual fonduestyle meals. Pick a pot base (including miso and curry), the level of spiciness, the protein and the starch (either rice or noodles), and cook your food right at your table in a bowl of hot stock. J L D $$

MAMMA LUCIA 12274-M Rockville Pike, 301-770-4894; 14921-J Shady Grove Road, 301-762-8805; mammalucia restaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

MATCHBOX VINTAGE PIZZA BISTRO (EDITORS’ PICK) 1699 Rockville Pike, 301-816-0369, matchbox restaurants.com. Look for mini-burgers, a “ginormous meatball” appetizer and thin-crusted pizza with toppings including herb-roasted chicken and portobella mushrooms or fire-roasted red peppers and Spanish onions served in a super-cool space in Congressional Plaza. ❂ J R L D $

MELLOW MUSHROOM 33-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301294-2222, mellowmushroom.com. Bright retro décor adorns this 200-seat branch of the popular pizza chain, including a wall with more than 1,000 Coke bottles. The lineup: craft beers and over-thetop pies (including one with roasted red potatoes, bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar and mozzarella

cheeses, ranch dressing and sour cream). ❂JLD$

MICHAEL’S NOODLES 10038 Darnestown Road, 301-738-0370, michaels noodles.com. Extensive Taiwanese menu at this popular strip mall eatery includes dim sum, mixed noodle dishes, noodle soup and unusual specialties, such as Shredded Chicken with Jelly Fish and Stewed Pork Intestine and Duck Blood. LD$

MI RANCHO 1488 Rockville Pike, 240-221-2636, miranchotexmexrestaurant.com. You’ll find a boisterous party atmosphere every night at a place where customers can count on standard Tex-Mex fare at good prices. The outdoor patio, strung with colorful lights, is the place to be in nice weather. ❂LD$

MISO FUSION CAFÉ 33-E Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 240-614-7580, misofusioncafe.com. This 65-seat Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant features: yakatori (grilled marinated skewers of chicken, beef, shrimp); ramen bowls; katsu (breaded, deep-fried cutlets) bowls with rice, vegetables, scallions and egg; chicken, beef or pork katsu stuffed with mozzarella cheese and other fillings; and Korean BBQ of chicken, sliced beef, teriyaki salmon and spicy pork belly. L D $

MISSION BBQ 885 Rockville Pike, 301-444-5574, mission-bbq. com. This outpost of a national chain, known for its support of U.S. military troops and veterans, serves its barbecue—including brisket, ribs and pulled pork—alongside a slew of add-your-own sauces. Come for lunch and stay to recite the national anthem at noon. J L D $

MOA 12300 Wilkins Ave., 301-881-8880, moakorean restaurant.weebly.com. A welcoming Korean restaurant in the midst of an industrial stretch. Try the seafood pancake appetizer—a satisfying, crispy frittata bursting with squid, clams, shrimp and scallions. Dol Sot Bibimbap, a mix of rice, vegetables and protein in a hot pot, is a customer favorite. L D $

MODERN MARKET 1627 Rockville Pike (Congressional Plaza), 301603-2953, modernmarket.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B R L D $

MOSAIC CUISINE & CAFÉ 186 Halpine Road, 301-468-0682, mosaiccuisine. com. A diner with a soft European accent. Try the fresh Belgian waffles for breakfast. For those with hefty appetites, the waffle sandwiches are worth the trip, but don’t overlook the homemade soups or light dinner entrées. J B R L D $$

MYKONOS GRILL 121 Congressional Lane, 301-770-5999, mykonosgrill.com. An authentic Greek taverna with whitewashed walls with Mediterranean blue accents on a busy street, Mykonos Grill turns out legs of lamb and fresh seafood expected at any good Greek restaurant. ❂ L D $$

NAGOYA SUSHI 402 King Farm Blvd., Suite 130, 301-990-6778, nagoyasushimd.com. Cheery yellow walls decorated with shelves of Japanese knickknacks greet customers who come for the large selection of sushi at this unassuming sushi spot in King Farm. L D $$

NANTUCKET’S REEF 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, 301279-7333, nantucketsreef.com. This casual New England-style eatery offers a wide range of reasonably priced seafood dishes, including raw and baked oysters, stuffed cod, fried Ipswitch clams, seafood tacos, tuna and salmon salads, and lobster items. Signature cocktails are made with Nantucket Nectars juices. ❂ R L D $$

NICK’S CHOPHOUSE 700 King Farm Blvd., 301-926-8869, nickschop houserockville.com. Aged Angus beef cooked over an open fire is the specialty at this upscale spot, but seafood lovers can get their fill from big crabcakes. Signature steaks include slow-roasted prime rib weighing 10 to 32 ounces. Separate bar menu. ❂ L D $$

NIWANO HANA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 887 Rockville Pike, 301-294-0553, niwanohana. com. Clean Asian décor and elegant wooden screens greet diners at this friendly and busy sushi spot located in Wintergreen Plaza. There are the usual sushi rolls, plus creative options such as a Spicy Scallop Roll with mayonnaise and chili peppers, noodle dishes, teriyaki and yakitori. L D $$

Claudia Olea-Padin PA STRY CHEF & OWNER

(301) 460-1045

THE FINEST MOST AUTHENTIC

FRENCH BAKERY

O R D E R O N L I N E | P I C K U P AT S TO R E 2 2 8 1 B E L P R E R D . S I LV E R S P R I N G , M D

THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE 12224 Rockville Pike, 301-468-0886, ophrestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. This location stays open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. J B L D $

OWEN’S ORDINARY 11820 Trade St. (Pike & Rose), 301-2451226, owensordinarymd.com. This Americanstyle restaurant, barroom and beer garden from Neighborhood Restaurant Group boasts 50 rotating drafts and more than 150 types of bottled beer. The 175-seat restaurant serves salads, burgers, beef, pork and fondue entrées, and those looking to grab a drink can make the most of the space’s 60-seat beer garden. ❂ R L D $$

PANDORA SEAFOOD HOUSE & BAR 36-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301637-9196, pandoraseafoodhouse.com. French and Italian seafood is served in an aquatic-themed atmosphere, complete with seashell-inspired light fixtures. Whole lobster comes in a citrus broth with linguine, and a scallops entrée includes fennel pollen, butternut squash, parsnip cream, pistachio crumbs and pumpkin seed oil. Craft cocktails include the Half Moon, a twist on a Manhattan. ❂ J L D $$

PETER CHANG (EDITORS’ PICK) 20-A Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301838-9188, peterchangarlington.com. Chef Peter Chang’s Sichuan specialties are showcased in an apricot-walled dining space. Garnering a cult-like following over the years, Chang is best known for dishes such as dry-fried eggplant, crispy pork belly and duck in a stone pot. L D $$

PHO 75

GYROLAND THE AUTHENTIC GREEK FOOD 1701 Rockville Pike (Suite B3) Rockville MD 20852 301-816-7829

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771 Hungerford Drive, 301-309-8873. The restaurant is one of the Washington area’s favorite spots for the Vietnamese beef noodle soup known as pho. Soup can be customized with bean sprouts, Thai basil, chilies, lime, and hot and hoisin sauces. Beverages include interesting options such as Iced Salty Pickled Lemon Juice. L D $

PHO 95 785-H Rockville Pike, 301-294-9391. Pho, the Vietnamese beef noodle soup, is king here. Other offerings include fat rice-paper rolls of shrimp, noodles and herbs with a sweet and spicy peanut

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dine sauce, Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken and Grilled Pork Chop and Shredded Pork Skin. L D $

PHO HOA BINH 11782 Parklawn Drive, 301-770-5576, phohoa. com. This pleasant pho restaurant offers the full gamut of variations on the beef noodle soup, plus about a dozen grilled entrées. The Adventurer’s Choice features “unusual” meats, including tendon, tripe and fatty flank. The Vietnamese iced coffee is divine. L D $

PHO NOM NOM 842 Rockville Pike, 301-610-0232, phonomnom. net. As the name suggests, the specialty is pho, but there are also grilled dishes, noodles and the Vietnamese sandwich known as banh mi. House specials include Vietnamese beef stew and pork and shrimp wontons. L D $

PHOLUSCIOUS VIETNAMESE GRILL 10048 Darnestown Road, 301-762-2226, pholuscious.com. This casual restaurant and bar is home to traditional Vietnamese cooking, with fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil and many herbs and vegetables. The menu features pho, noodle dishes, rice plates and lots of protein dishes. Beverages include bubble tea, smoothies, beer and wine. L D $$

PIZZA CS 1596-B Rockville Pike, 240-833-8090, pizzacs.com. Authentic Neapolitan pies are offered in a sub-shop atmosphere. Choose from a list of red and white pizza options, or build your own pie with herbs, cheeses, meats and vegetables. ❂ J L D $

POTOMAC PIZZA 9709 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-279-2234, potomacpizza.com. See Chevy Chase listing. ❂ JLD$

QUINCY’S SOUTH BAR & GRILLE 11401 Woodglen Drive, 240-669-3270, quincys bar.com. See North Potomac/Gaithersburg listing. ❂LD$

ROLLS ‘N RICE 1701 Rockville Pike (Shops at Congressional Village), 301-770-4030, rollsnrice.com. This Asian café serves more than 25 varieties of rolls, from a volcano roll (spicy tuna, white fish, salmon, tomato, jalapeño, fish eggs and vegetables) to a Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado). J L D $

SADAF HALAL RESTAURANT 1327-K Rockville Pike, 301-424-4040. An elegant alternative to the run-of-the-mill kabob places dotting Rockville Pike, Sadaf is pristine, with lace curtains and glass mosaic tiles in front. In addition to kabobs, it offers Persian curries and fish dishes. ❂ JLD$

SAM CAFÉ & MARKET 844 Rockville Pike, 301-424-1600, samcafemarket. com. Fill up on the kitchen’s juicy skewered meats or interesting entrées, including pomegranate molasses stew and marinated grilled salmon, then have a gelato and check out the hookahs. ❂ LD$

SAMOVAR 201 N. Washington St. (Rockville Town Square), 240-671-9721, samovarrestaurant.com. Chicken Kiev, plov (a lamb-and-rice dish) and borscht are among the long list of Russian and central Asian dishes here. Infused vodkas and Russian and Ukrainian beers are available. A framed wolf pelt adorns one wall. J R L D $$

SEASONS 52 11414 Rockville Pike, 301-984-5252, seasons52. com. A fresh, seasonal menu featuring items under 475 calories. Choose from flatbreads including Blackened Steak & Blue Cheese and Grilled Garlic Pesto Chicken to entrée salads to meat and seafood dishes. Nightly piano music. ❂ L D $$

SEVEN SEAS 1776 E. Jefferson St., 301-770-5020, sevenseas restaurant.com. An elegant restaurant popular with politicians and local chefs and known for its fresh seafood and impeccable service. Specials include the paper hot pot, meals using ancient Chinese herbs and afternoon tea. Sushi, too. L D $

SHEBA RESTAURANT 5071 Nicholson Lane, 301-881-8882, sheba rockville.com. The menu features authentic Ethiopian cuisine with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. House specialties include Dulet Assa, chopped tilapia mixed with onion, garlic and jalapeño and served with a side of homemade cheese. L D $

SICHUAN JIN RIVER 410 Hungerford Drive, 240-403-7351, sichuanjin river.com. Customers find terrific Sichuan cuisine served in a no-frills setting. Take the plunge and try something new with the authentic Chinese menu, including 23 small cold plates. L D $

SILVER DINER 12276 Rockville Pike, 301-770-2828, silverdiner. com. Customers flock to this trendy diner that still offers tableside jukeboxes. The latest food trends (think quinoa coconut pancakes) share company on the enormous menu with diner staples such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. JBRLD$

SPICE XING 100-B Gibbs St. (Rockville Town Square), 301-6100303, spicexing.com. Chef and owner Sudhir Seth, who also owns Bethesda’s Passage to India, serves up small plates and dishes that reflect the history of culinary influences on India. Try the all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet. ❂ J R L D $$

STANFORD GRILL 2000 Tower Oaks Blvd., 240-582-1000, thestanford grill.com. From the Blueridge Restaurant Group, owner of Copper Canyon Grill restaurants, comes this 300-seat American eatery on the ground floor of an office building. Salads, burgers, steaks and seafood, plus sushi, with an eye toward high quality. ❂ R L D $$

STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301-7708609, stellabarra.com. Adjacent to its sister restaurant, Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra is an artisan pizzeria with a hip, urban vibe. Look for crisp crusts with chewy centers topped with butternut squash and candied bacon or housemade pork sausage and fennel pollen. Italian wines available. ❂ R D $$

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (EDITORS’ PICK) 11825 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), 301881-2381, summerhousesm.com. An airy, light and stunning space sets the scene for modern American cuisine with a West Coast sensibility. Fare includes salads, sushi, tacos, sandwiches and steak frites. Do not miss the bakery counter. Voted “Best Restaurant in Rockville/North Bethesda” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ J R L D $$

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SUPER BOWL NOODLE HOUSE 785 Rockville Pike, 301-738-0086, superbowl noodlehouse.com. Look for a large variety of Asian noodle dishes in super-size portions, plus a wide selection of appetizers. Also, bubble tea and desserts, including Sweet Taro Root Roll and Black Sugar Shaved Ice. ❂ L D $

SUSHI DAMO 36-G Maryland Ave. (Rockville Town Square), 301340-8010, sushidamo.com. A slice of New York sophistication, this elegant restaurant offers sushi à la carte or omakase, chef’s choice, plus beef and seafood entrées and an impressive sake list. L D $$

SUSHI HOUSE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 1331-D Rockville Pike, 301-309-0043. A tiny, plain restaurant serving a large selection of fresh sushi, including sushi and sashimi combinations. Lunch specials for under $7. It’s popular, so be prepared to wait. L D $$

SUSHI OISHII 9706 Traville Gateway Drive, 301-251-1177, sushioishii.com. This charming sushi bar in the Traville Gateway Center offers friendly service and 24 specialty sushi rolls, bento boxes and a few grilled items, including beef, poultry and seafood teriyaki. L D $$

TAIPEI TOKYO 14921-D Shady Grove Road (Fallsgrove Village Center), 301-738-8813; 11510-A Rockville Pike, 301-881-8388; taipei-tokyo.net. These sister restaurants offer a sizable roster of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. The Fallsgrove Village location is the younger and sleeker of the two, with full sit-down service. The older sister, opened in 1993, is more like a noodle shop/cafeteria. L D $$

TARA THAI 12071 Rockville Pike, 301-231-9899, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TEMARI CAFÉ 1043 Rockville Pike, 301-340-7720. Deep-fried oysters, classic rice balls, ramen noodle soup, sushi and sashimi and comic books to peruse while you await your order set this Japanese restaurant apart from the rest. L D $$

THAI FARM 800 King Farm Blvd., 301-258-8829, thaifarm restaurant.com. A tastefully modern dining room soaked in a soothing yellow light. The usual suspects are on the menu here, but chef’s suggestions include an intriguing broiled fish wrapped in banana leaf and stir-fried duck. L D $$

THAI PAVILION 29 Maryland Ave., Unit 308 (Rockville Town Square), 301-545-0244, thaipavilionrestaurant.com. The soaring ceilings decorated with red chandeliers shaped like giant, stationary spinning tops give the feel of a modern museum. When the menu says spicy, believe it. ❂ J L D $$

THAT’S AMORE 15201 Shady Grove Road, 240-268-0682, thatsamore.com. This local chain focuses on familystyle portions of classic Neapolitan dishes such as lasagna and chicken Parmesan in a more elegant setting than might be expected. Good for groups and large families. J L D $$

TOWER OAKS LODGE 2 Preserve Parkway, 301-294-0200, clydes.com/ tower. Here is Clyde’s version of a lodge in the mountains. Well-prepared food runs the gamut of American desires, from burgers to fish, plus a

raw bar. Check out the twig sculpture spanning the ceiling of The Saranac Room. Voted “Best Restaurant Décor” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. J R L D $$

TRAPEZARIA 11 N. Washington St., 301-339-8962, thetrapezaria. com. This down-to-earth and hospitable Greek/ Mediterranean restaurant serves top-notch and unfussy small plates and entrées. Choose among a variety of dips, vegetarian mezze, souvlaki, sausages and more-involved fish and lamb dishes. Save room for the baklava. L D $$

URBAN BAR-B-QUE COMPANY 2007 Chapman Ave., 240-290-4827; 5566 Norbeck Road, 301-460-0050, urbanbbqco.com. Urban BarB-Que Company, a tiny joint run by a couple of local friends, has a winning formula and features fingerlicking ribs, burgers and wings, plus salads, chili and smothered fries. Staff is friendly, too. J L D $

URBAN HOT POT 1800 Rockville Pike, 240-669-6710, urbanhotpot. com. On the first floor of the Galvan at Twinbrook building, this hot pot spot features a conveyor belt where food travels to diners. A prix fixe all-you-caneat menu allows you to create your meal at your table using one of the stationed iPads. Choose from a selection of noodles, vegetables and meat to add to a bowl of hot stock, then do it again if you’re still hungry. L D $

VILLA MAYA 5532 Norbeck Road (Rock Creek Village Center), 301-460-1247. Here you’ll find all the traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex favorites from quesadillas to fajitas that are sure to please the whole family. R L D $$

THE WOODSIDE DELI 4 N. Washington St., 301-444-4478, thewoodside deli.com. A second location of the venerable Silver Spring eatery and caterer that has been dishing up matzo ball soup since 1947. Choose from a wide selection of sandwiches, burgers and entrées. This one has a pickle bar. ❂ J B R L D $

WORLD OF BEER 196B East Montgomery Ave., 301-340-2915, worldofbeer.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ JRL D $

YEKTA 1488 Rockville Pike, 301-984-1190, yekta.com. Persian cuisine, including a selection of beef, chicken and lamb kabobs, is served in a beautiful dining room. Try a dessert such as frozen noodle sorbet or saffron ice cream. Check out the adjacent market after polishing off your kebab. L D $$

YUAN FU VEGETARIAN 798 Rockville Pike, 301-762-5937, yuanfuvegetarian.com. From tea-smoked “duck” to kung pao “chicken,” the whole menu is meatless, made from Chinese vegetable products. There is a large selection of chef’s specials, including Pumpkin Chicken with Mushrooms in a hot pot and Baby Abalone in Tomato Sauce. L D $

SILVER SPRING ADDIS ABABA 8233 Fenton St., 301-589-1400. Authentic Ethiopian-style vegetables and fiery meats are served atop spongy bread in communal bowls. Traditional woven tables and a roof deck add to the ambience. There’s a weekday lunch buffet, too. ❂ RLD$

ALL SET RESTAURANT & BAR 8630 Fenton St., 301-495-8800, allsetrestaurant. com. American cuisine with a focus on New England specialties. Look for clams, oysters and lobster, plus crab cakes and rockfish, and beef and vegetarian options. The snazzy space is also the setting for clam bakes and fried chicken on Sunday nights. ❂ J R L D $$

AMINA THAI 8624 Colesville Road, 301-588-3588. See Rockville/North Bethesda listing. L D $

DON’T LET

OUR NAME FOOL YOU!

AZÚCAR RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL 14418 Layhill Road, 301-438-3293, azucarrestaurant.net. The name means sugar, and it fits: The colorful Salvadoran spot is decorated in bright purple and orange with Cubist-style paintings. The pork-stuffed corn pupusas are stars. Also look for more elegant dinners, including fried whole trout. L D $$

BETE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE 811 Roeder Road, 301-588-2225. Family-run Ethiopian restaurant with a modest dining room but some exemplary cooking. Don’t miss the vegetarian sampler, and in nice weather, opt for eating outside in the lovely, shaded back patio. ❂ J B L D $$

THE BIG GREEK CAFÉ 8223 Georgia Ave., 301-587-4733, biggreekcafe. com. Owned by the Marmaras brothers, whose family operated the decades-old Golden Flame restaurant, the café serves a hit parade of Greek specialties, including a top-notch chicken souvlaki pita. L D $

CAVA MEZZE GRILL

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8515 Fenton St., 301-200-8666, cavagrill.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $

COPPER CANYON GRILL 928 Ellsworth Drive, 301-589-1330, ccgrill.com. See Gaithersburg listing. ❂ J R L D $$

CRISFIELD SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 8012 Georgia Ave., 301-589-1306, crisfieldseafood.com. With its U-shaped counter and kitschy, oyster-plate-covered walls, this landmark seafood diner has customers lining up for the Eastern Shore specialties such as oysters and crabmeat-stuffed lobster that it has served since the 1940s. L D $$

CUBANO’S 1201 Fidler Lane, 301-563-4020, cubanos restaurant.com. The brightly colored tropical dining room and the authentic Cuban cooking evident in dishes such as ropa vieja (shredded beef in onions, peppers and garlic) and fried plantains keep customers coming back. ❂ L D $$

THE DAILY DISH 8301 Grubb Road, 301-588-6300, thedailydish restaurant.com. A neighborhood favorite serving seasonally inspired, locally sourced comfort food, including bar bites and brunch dishes. Full-service catering is available, too. ❂ J R L D $$

DENIZENS BREWING CO. (EDITORS’ PICK) 1115 East West Highway, 301-557-9818, denizens brewingco.com. The bright-orange building houses Montgomery County’s largest brewery, featuring core beers and seasonal offerings, along with drafts from other regional breweries. Menu of snacks, sandwiches and salads includes vegetarian options. There is a large outdoor beer garden and indoor seating overlooking the brewery. ❂ D $

DON POLLO 12345 Georgia Ave., 301-933-9515; 13881 Outlet Drive, 240-560-7376, donpollogroup.com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

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dine EGGSPECTATION 923 Ellsworth Drive, 301-585-1700, eggspectations.com. This Canadian import features fresh and creative egg plates in an elegant yet casual dining room complete with a fireplace and colorful Harlequin-themed art. It also serves great salads, dinners and dessert. ❂ B L D $$

EL AGUILA RESTAURANT 8649 16th St., 301-588-9063, elaguilarestaurant. com. A cheery bar and generous plates of TexMex favorites such as enchiladas and Salvadoran seafood soup make this eatery popular with families and others looking for a lively night out. ❂ L D $

EL GAVILAN 8805 Flower Ave., 301-587-4197, gavilanrestaurant.com. The walls are bright, the music’s upbeat, the margaritas are fine and the service is friendly. The usual Tex-Mex fare is here, as well as Salvadoran specialties such as tasty cheese- or pork-filled pupusas. J L D $

EL GOLFO 8739 Flower Ave., 301-608-2121, elgolforestaurant. com. Friendly, home-style Latin service is the hallmark, as attested to by the many Salvadorans who stop in for lunch and dinner. Pupusas, soups and beef dishes such as carne asada as well as more adventurous choices can be found in the charming, raspberry-colored dining room. ❂ JRLD$

ETHIO EXPRESS GRILL 952 Sligo Ave., 301-844-5149, ethiogrill. com. Ethiopian food goes fast-casual in this counter service eatery that offers your choice of carbohydrate bases (i.e., injera, rice, pasta), plus grilled meats (or tofu), sauces and lots of vegetables (the spicy lentils and yellow split peas are especially good). L D $

FENTON CAFÉ 8311 Fenton St., 301-326-1841. An out-of-the-way crêperie serving 31 kinds of sweet crêpes and 16 varieties of savory crêpes. Savory versions range from cheese and ham to roasted eggplant with zucchini, bell pepper, sundried tomato, garlic and onion. B L D $

FIRE STATION 1 RESTAURANT & BREWING CO. 8131 Georgia Ave., 301-585-1370, firestation1. com. A historic firehouse made over as an eatery serves 21st-century pizza, sandwiches, meat, seafood and vegetarian entrées. Try the Cuban sandwich with seasoned pork, chipotle mayo, Dijon mustard, pickles and Swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. L D $

THE GREEK PLACE 8417 Georgia Ave., 301-495-2912, thegreekplace. net. Here are big portions of better-than-average food at reasonable prices. The bifteki pita sandwich, a seasoned ground lamb and beef patty with tzatziki, tomatoes and red onions, is especially good. L D $

GUSTO FARM TO STREET 8512 Fenton St., 301-565-2800, eatgusto.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

HEN QUARTER 919 Ellsworth Drive, 240-247-8969, henquarter. com. An outpost of a restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia, Hen Quarter focuses on Southern fare, such as shrimp and grits, and chicken and waffles. The space includes rustic décor and garage windows that roll back for open-air views of Downtown Silver Spring’s fountain. The bar pours

75 types of bourbon and other whiskeys, as well as craft beer and wine. ❂ J R L D $$

ITALIAN KITCHEN 8201 Fenton St., 301-588-7800, italiankitchenmd. com. Casual, attractive pizzeria with bar seating also turns out homemade sandwiches, calzones, salads and pasta dishes. Pizza and paninis are top notch. L D $

JEWEL OF INDIA 10151 New Hampshire Ave., 301-408-2200, jewelofindiamd.com. Elegant décor and excellent northern Indian cuisine make this shopping center restaurant a real find. Diners will find a good selection of curries, and rice and biryani dishes. L D $$

KAO THAI 8650 Colesville Road, 301-495-1234, kaothai restaurant.com. This restaurant turns out top-notch curries, noodle dishes and vegetarian options, plus house specialties, such as Siam Salmon with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce and Thai Chili Tilapia. Dishes are cooked medium spicy. ❂ L D $$

LA CASITA PUPUSERIA & MARKET 8214 Piney Branch Road, 301-588-6656, lacasita pupusas.com. Homemade pupusas, tamales and other Salvadoran specialties are available, plus a full breakfast menu and a small selection of grocery items. B L D $

LA MALINCHE 8622 Colesville Road, 301-562-8622, lamalinche tapas.com. Diners will find an interesting selection of Spanish and Mexican tapas, plus a full Saturday and Sunday brunch featuring huevos rancheros, variations of tortillas Espanola and more. R L D $$

LANGANO ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8305 Georgia Ave., 301-563-6700. Named for the popular Ethiopian vacation spot, Lake Langano, this longtime restaurant offers fine Ethiopian cuisine such as doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and tibs (stewed meat) in a cozy white- and red-accented dining room. Lunch specials on weekdays. L D $

LEBANESE TAVERNA CAFÉ 933 Ellsworth Drive, 301-588-1192, lebanese taverna.com. See Rockville listing. J L D $

LINA'S DINER AND BAR (EDITORS’ PICK) 8402 Georgia Ave., 240-641-8061, linasdiner.com. The casual diner features a blend of American and French-inspired options, from frisée aux lardons (salad topped with bacon and egg) to double cheeseburgers. Eclectic, Bohemian décor adorns the walls of the dining room. J L D $$

LUCY ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT 8301 Georgia Ave., 301-589-6700. See Bethesda listing. L D $

MAMMA LUCIA 1302 East West Highway, 301-562-0693, mammaluciarestaurants.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

MANDALAY RESTAURANT & CAFÉ 930 Bonifant St., 301-585-0500, mandalay restaurantcafe.com. The modest dining room is packed most evenings with families and large groups who come for the Burmese food, a cross between Indian and Thai. L D $

MCGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 911 Ellsworth Drive, 301-587-1270, mcgintys publichouse.com. Traditional Irish pub and restaurant features corned beef and cabbage, live

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music and dancing. Early-bird special, three-course menu for $15, from 5 to 7 p.m. ❂ J R L D $$

MELEKET 1907 Seminary Road, 301-755-5768, meleketrestaurant.com. This family-owned, Ethiopian-Italian restaurant serves classic vegetarian, beef and chicken Ethiopian plates, alongside Italian entrées such as pesto pasta with chicken. For breakfast, try a traditional Ethiopian dish of kinche (a buttery grain porridge) or firfir (bread mixed with vegetables in a red pepper sauce). B L D $

MI RANCHO 8701 Ramsey Ave., 301-588-4872, miranchotexmexrestaurant.com. See Rockville listing. ❂ L D $

MIX BAR & GRILLE 8241 Georgia Ave., #200, 301-326-1333. Modern American bistro with charcuterie and cheese plates, brick-oven flatbreads, ceviche and other light fare. Look for lots of wines by the glass and beers on tap. ❂  R L D $$

MOD PIZZA 909 Ellsworth Drive, 240-485-1570, modpizza.com. First Maryland location of this Bellevue, Washingtonbased chain offers design-your-own fast-casual pies (hence, Made on Demand, or MOD). Pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees for three minutes, can be topped with a choice of nearly 40 sauces, cheeses, meats, spices and veggies. ❂ L D $

MRS. K’S RESTAURANT 9201 Colesville Road, 301-589-3500, mrsks.com. Here’s an elegant, antique-filled option for special occasions and brunch. This historic restaurant beckons a younger crowd with the Wine Press, a European-style wine bar downstairs, which has its own more casual menu. ❂ R L D $$$

NAINAI’S NOODLE & DUMPLING BAR 1200 East West Highway, 301-585-6678, nainaisnoodles.com. Sisters Joanne and Julie Liu serve homemade noodles and dumplings in this lovable fast-casual eatery that shares a kitchen with their Scion restaurant next door. Focus on the noodles, and bring a photo of your “Nainai” (grandmother in Chinese) to tack on the bulletin board. L D $

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE'S 8661 Colesville Road, 240-839-3400, notyouraveragejoes.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $$

OLAZZO (EDITORS’ PICK) 8235 Georgia Ave., 301-588-2540, olazzo.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J L D $

PACCI’S NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA (EDITORS’ PICK) 8113 Georgia Ave., 301-588-1011, paccispizzeria. com. This stylish eatery turns out top-notch pizzas from a wood-burning oven. Choose from red or white pizza selections, plus four kinds of calzones. ❂ JLD$

PACCI’S TRATTORIA & PASTICCERIA 6 Old Post Office Road, 301-588-0867, paccis trattoria.com. Diners will find a range of classic Italian dishes, including homemade meatballs and sausage, from the owner of Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria, also in Silver Spring. L D $$

PARKWAY DELI & RESTAURANT 8317 Grubb Road, 301-587-1427, theparkway deli.com. Parkway features a bustling back dining room that makes this popular spot so much more

than a deli. Longtime waitresses greet regular customers and kids with hugs during busy weekend breakfasts. All-you-can-eat pickle bar. ❂ B L D $

PETE’S NEW HAVEN STYLE APIZZA 962 Wayne Ave., 301-588-7383, petesapizza.com. Sporting more stylish décor than its other locations, this Pete’s offers the same crunchy-crusted New Haven-style pizzas, plus pasta, panini and salads. This branch is the only one so far to offer fried calamari. J L D $

PHO HIEP HOA 921-G Ellsworth Drive, 301-588-5808, phohiephoa. com. Seventeen kinds of Vietnamese soup called pho can be customized to taste in this upbeat restaurant overlooking the action in the downtown area. ❂ L D $

QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN 8401 Georgia Ave., 301-844-5380, facebook. com/quarryhouse. Closed for nearly three years after a fire, this basement-level dive bar reopened in its original space. The inside holds the same 1930s-era feel as the original bar, and burgers and Tater Tots are still on the menu. D $

SAMANTHA’S 631 University Blvd. East, 301-445-7300, samanthasrestaurante.com. This white-tablecloth, Latin-Salvadoran spot in an industrial neighborhood is popular because of its welcoming attitude toward families with young children. The steak and fish specialties are good. L D $$

eatery from sisters Joanne and Julie Liu, who also own a popular Dupont Circle restaurant with the same name and Nainai’s Noodle & Dumpling Bar in Silver Spring. Look for everything from wasabi Caesar salad to crab Reuben to spicy yogurt chicken. J R L D $$

SERGIOS RISTORANTE ITALIANO 8727 Colesville Road, 301-585-1040. A classic red-sauce Italian restaurant that manages to feel special, with soothing wall murals and high-quality service, despite a basement location inside the DoubleTree Hotel. Ravioli with asparagus and cheese in a tarragon sauce is popular. L D $$

THE SOCIETY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 8229 Georgia Ave., 301-565-8864, societyss. com. A sleek and modern atmosphere catering to a nightlife crowd, Society offers fare with a Caribbean accent. Check out the rooftop seating and daily drink specials, which include $25 beer buckets. ❂ L D $$

SUSHI JIN NEXT DOOR 8555 Fenton St., 301-608-0990, sushijinnextdoor. com. The eatery is spare, clean and modern, and offers terrific udon noodle soup and impeccable raw fish. Choose from 11 appetizers and seven soups and salads. L D $$

SWEETGREEN 8517 Georgia Ave., 301-244-5402, sweetgreen. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

TASTEE DINER

SCION 1200 East West Highway, 301-585-8878, scionrestaurant.com. A contemporary American

8601 Cameron St., 301-589-8171, tasteediner. com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ J B L D $

TAYLOR GOURMET 8535 Fenton St., 301-304-6283, taylorgourmet. com. See Bethesda listing. L D $

THAI AT SILVER SPRING 921-E Ellsworth Drive, 301-650-0666, thaiatsilver spring.com. The Americanized Thai food is second to the location, which is superb for people-watching on the street below. A modern and stylish dining room with a hip bar in bold colors and good service add to the appeal. ❂ L D $$

URBAN BAR-B-QUE COMPANY 10163 New Hampshire Ave., 301-434-7427, urban bbqco.com. See Rockville listing. L D $

URBAN BUTCHER (EDITORS’ PICK) 8226 Georgia Ave., 301-585-5800, urbanbutcher. com. Hip, eclectic setting is the backdrop for this New Age steak house, with its home-cured salamis, sausages and other charcuterie, plus meat dishes made from local animals of yesteryear breeds. There’s a lounge, bar, meat curing room, retail counter and dining area. Voted “Best Restaurant in Silver Spring” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. R D $$

URBAN WINERY 949 Bonifant St., 301-585-4100, theurbanwinery. com. Silver Spring residents Damon and Georgia Callis open the first and only urban winery in the midAtlantic area. Tasting facility offers craft wines made with local and international grapes, and customers can even create their own wines (by appointment). Light menu includes artisan cheese, charcuterie and smoked seafood platters, plus Greek mezze. D $

Award winning salon serving the community for over 20 years 10317 Westlake Drive, Bethesda | www.SalonCentralBethesda.com

Salon Central

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BEST PATIO IN BETHESDA

OPENS MAY 1 7945 Norfolk Ave. Bethesda, MD 301.657.1722

www.bacchusoflebanon.com

dine BUCK’S FISHING AND CAMPING 5031 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0777, bucksfishingandcamping.com. Diners can enjoy a seasonal menu that changes daily, and offers hip takes on comfort food such as roast chicken (locally raised) in an artsy-chic setting. D $$$

CAFÉ OF INDIA FINE ITALIAN FOOD MADE FRESH DAILY

4909 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-1395, cafeofindiadc.com. Here’s a cute corner café with two levels of dining and an extensive menu that includes vegetarian and tandoori entrées, dosas, samosas, tikkas, curries and kabobs. ❂ L D $$

CHATTER Catering available anytime for any occasion Private parties | Family style dinners | Opera Night

VEGETABLE GARDEN 3830 International Drive (Leisure World Plaza), 301598-6868, vegetablegarden.com. The popular vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic Asian restaurant features a wide variety of eggplant and asparagus dishes, plus vegetarian “beef,” and “chicken” dishes often made with soy and wheat gluten. L D $$

VICINO RISTORANTE ITALIANO 959 Sligo Ave., 301-588-3372, vicinoitaliano.com. A favorite neighborhood red-sauce joint that hasn’t changed in decades, Vicino features some fine seafood choices in addition to classic pasta dishes. Families are welcome. ❂ L D $ $

THE WOODSIDE DELI 9329 Georgia Ave., 301-589-7055, thewoodside deli.com. See Rockville listing. J B L D $

UPPER NW D.C. AMERICAN CITY DINER 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-1949, americancitydiner.com. Retro diner complete with blue-plate specials such as Salisbury steak and stuffed peppers; malts and egg creams. Diners can catch a classic movie free with dinner. ❂ JBLD$

ARUCOLA 5534 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-1555, arucola. com. The restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine in a casual setting, with a changing menu that includes creative treatment of traditional dishes, homemade pasta and pizza from the wood-burning oven. ❂ L D $ $

THE AVENUE (NEW) 5540 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-244-4567, theavenuedc.com. A family-friendly neighborhood restaurant and bar with dishes such as crab pasta, poutine, burgers and baby back ribs. Fun décor includes classic posters and a giant magnetic scrabble board. ❂ J B L D $$

BLUE 44 5507 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-362-2583, blue44dc.com. The menu features classic American favorites infused with the flavors of Italy and France, including ratatouille, pork schnitzel and bouillabaisse. ❂ J R L D $$

5247 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-8040, chatterdc. com. A group that includes Gary Williams, Maury Povich, Tony Kornheiser and Alan Bubes bought this neighborhood hangout in 2017 and renovated it while maintaining its Cheers-like atmostphere. It offers a full menu beyond bar food, including salads, steaks, seafood and sandwiches. ❂ R L D $$

COMET PING PONG (EDITORS’ PICK) 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-0404, cometpingpong.com. Landmark fun spot where you can play ping-pong or admire local art while you wait for your wood-fired pizza. Choose from over 30 toppings to design your own pie. ❂ R L D $

DECARLO’S RESTAURANT 4822 Yuma St. NW, 202-363-4220, decarlosrestaurant.com. This is a family-owned neighborhood staple, with a traditional Italian menu and upscale/casual atmosphere. Signature dishes include agnolotti, veal scallopini, broiled salmon and hand-made pasta. ❂ L D $$

GUAPO’S RESTAURANT 4515 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-686-3588, guaposrestaurant.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ R L D $$

JAKE’S AMERICAN GRILLE 5018 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-5253, jakesdc. com. Burgers, steaks and sandwiches are served in a restaurant named after the owner’s grandfather, an accomplished Navy test engineer. Check out the Boiler Room, a sports bar in the basement. J R L D $$

JETTIES 5632 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-2465, jettiesdc.com. See Bethesda listing. J L D $

LE CHAT NOIR 4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-244-2044, lechatnoirrestaurant.com. This cute, cozy neighborhood bistro is run by French restaurateurs, who cook traditional fare such as steak frites, bouillabaisse and braised lamb cheeks. R L D $$

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 4874 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-459-9141, lepainquotidien.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ JBRLD$

LUNCHBOX 5535 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 018, 202-2443470, voltlunchbox.com. The Washington remake of chef Bryan Voltaggio’s defunct Frederick restaurant offers specialties including the Southern Banh Mi with crispy chicken and pickled vegetables, and B’More with pepper-crusted pit beef. L D $

MACON BISTRO & LARDER (EDITORS’ PICK) 5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-248-7807, macon bistro.com. Southern and French cuisine converge at this airy, charming restaurant in the historic

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Chevy Chase Arcade. Appetizers include raclette and fried green tomatoes, and steak frites is offered alongside short ribs with grits for main courses. Voted “Best Restaurant in Upper Northwest D.C.” by Bethesda Magazine readers in 2018. ❂ R D $$

MAGGIANO’S LITTLE ITALY 5333 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-5500, maggianos.com. The restaurant features oldstyle Italian fare that’s a favorite for large groups and private celebrations. Check out the signature flatbreads and specialty pastas, including lobster carbonara. J R L D $$

MASALA ART (EDITORS’ PICK) 4441-B Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-362-4441, masalaartdc.com. Here is fine Indian dining featuring tandoor-oven specialties and masterful Indian spicing. Start off by choosing from a selection of nine breads and 17 appetizers. L D $$

MILLIE’S (EDITORS’ PICK) 4866 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-733-5789, milliesdc.com. This eatery in the Spring Valley neighborhood may be from up north—it’s the second location of a popular Nantucket restaurant—but its flavors are distinctly south-of-the-border. The menu offers coastal takes on tacos, quesadillas and salads that are as summery as the bright, nautical décor of the dining room. ❂ J R L D $$

PARTHENON RESTAURANT 5510 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-966-7600, parthenon-restaurant.com. This is a neighborhood eatery taken up a couple notches, with an extensive menu full of authentic selections familiar and exotic, including avgolemono (egg/lemon soup), tzatziki, moussaka, dolmades and souvlaki. ❂ L D $$

PETE’S NEW HAVEN STYLE APIZZA 4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-237-7383, petesapizza.com. See Silver Spring listing. ❂ JLD$

SATAY CLUB ASIAN RESTAURANT AND BAR 4654 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-363-8888, asiansatayclub.com. The restaurant prides itself on providing a comfortable/casual setting with a menu that spans Japanese sushi, Chinese moo-shi vegetables, Thai curries and Vietnamese spring rolls. L D $

TANAD THAI 4912 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-966-0616, tanadthai cuisine.com. The extensive menu ranges from noodles, rice and curries to vegetarian entrées, and even a Thai lemonade cocktail. House specialties include pad Thai and Drunken Noodles. ❂ L D $$

TARA THAI 4849 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-363-4141, tarathai.com. See Bethesda listing. ❂ L D $$

TERASOL (EDITORS’ PICK) 5010 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-237-5555, terasolartisans.com. This charming French café offers soups, salads, quiches and a few entrées, along with jewelry and pottery from local artisans. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays. ❂BLD$

WAGSHAL’S RESTAURANT 4855 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-363-5698, wagshals.com. Longtime popular deli expands grocery and carryout section, and adds a casual sit-down restaurant in the Spring Valley Shopping Center. Same high-quality fare, including the overstuffed sandwiches. L D $ n

shopping. beauty. weddings. pets. travel. history.

etc.

PHOTO BY DEBORAH JAFFE

Personalized items are the focus of Whyte House Monograms. For more on the Chevy Chase store, turn to page 330.

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BY SARAH ZLOTNICK

SHOP TALK

TREAT YOURSELF FRUITY FIX

PHOTO FROM GETTYIMAGES.COM

Erwin Gomez has done makeup for Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Nancy Pelosi and Rosario Dawson. Some of the most well-heeled women in Washington, D.C., call on him for meticulously sculpted eyebrows. Now, along with longtime business partner Sab Shad, he offers his services in Montgomery County at a second location of his Karma by Erwin Gomez salon, which opened in April at Park Potomac (Gomez will split his time between the Potomac and D.C. salons). With a new location comes a new service: the cranberry smoothing treatment. Using two fan brushes for a dual massage, an aesthetician applies a gel made from organic cranberries (a natural source of vitamin C) and fruit enzymes under a steady flow of steam to boost moisture retention and help smooth and brighten skin. Add the 15-minute treatment to a facial for $50 (face) or $70 (face and décolletage).

PLUMP IT UP Earlier this year, Nava Health & Vitality Center in Chevy Chase introduced a microneedling session with hyaluronic acid. After applying a topical numbing treatment, an aesthetician uses a roller or pen to make dozens of tiny needle pricks in the skin. These microscopic controlled “injuries” to the skin stimulate a natural healing response. New collagen forms to plump the skin, thereby minimizing fine lines and improving the look of acne scars and pigmentation. Hyaluronic acid, a moisture-binding compound that occurs naturally in the human body but diminishes with age, is administered before the needling process to boost the plumping effect. The onehour sessions are $495 ($350 for members). 5 Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase, 301-795-0800, navacenter.com

12430 Park Potomac Ave., R13, Potomac, 301-7200320, karmaerwingomez. com

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The latest in noninvasive beauty and wellness treatments from Bethesda-area spas and salons

NEEDLES TO KNOW Facial rejuvenation acupuncture will be available starting in May at newly expanded Ohana Wellness in Bethesda. (The business recently doubled its square footage and added two acupuncturists, three massage therapists and three treatment rooms.) After an initial appointment that will focus on health history, the 45-minute sessions will include a combination of facial acupuncture needles (10 to 20 are typically applied per treatment), miniature 1to 2-centimeter versions of the suction cups used in cupping therapy, and a jade gua sha massage tool to stimulate blood flow to and circulation in the face. The results will be subtler than those from surgery or fillers, but Armeta Dastyar, who will be administering the sessions, says benefits include brighter, plumper skin, wrinkle prevention and reduced sagging around the eyes. $215 for first session, $125 per subsequent session; six to eight sessions are recommended to see full results. 4815 St. Elmo Ave., Bethesda, 301-215-6388, ohanawellnessbethesda. com

SKIN SMOOTHER The much-buzzed-about beauty treatment called dermaplaning was introduced at Ninotch in April. Using a sterile surgical blade held at a 45-degree angle, aestheticians gently scrape the top layer of dead skin off the face. (For this reason, dermaplaning is typically offered as a 20- to 30-minute pretreatment add-on to facials and peels, as a fresh layer of skin allows for increased penetration of the active ingredients in the peels.) For women in their 20s and 30s, dermaplaning helps with smoother makeup applications. For women 40 and above (the age group Ninotch owner Tatiana Tchamouroff most recommends it for), dermaplaning also serves as a less painful alternative to laser hair removal when it comes to getting rid of peach fuzz. $50 per treatment. 8301 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-913-0345, ninotch.com

HYDRATION STATION When used outside of a medical setting, IV therapy gets a bad rap (perhaps unfairly). Yes, it first gained national attention as a quick hangover cure for hard partiers in Vegas, but it’s also been used since March at Bethesda’s Rejuvenate MedSpa to rehydrate overworked athletes and boost immunity during flu season. At Rejuvenate, clients get comfortable with pillows and blankets before being hooked up intravenously to a saline solution mixed with various vitamins and minerals. The saline drip hydrates on a cellular level, with the intent of leaving exhausted and energydepleted marathon runners and business travelers feeling as refreshed as they would after a full night’s sleep—or several liters of water. According to chief practitioner Margaret Rajnic, an added jolt of vitamin C works to bump up the immune system, while vitamin B and dextrose give an extra burst of energy. $250 per 45-minute session. 7201 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 450, Bethesda, 301-241-0030, rejuvenatemaryland.com

COOL AND CALM If your skin is still showing the effects of harsh cold-weather winds, try the seasonal detox facial at Red Bloom Wellness Spa in Bethesda. The 75-minute treatment incorporates burdock root, red clover, green tea and dandelion to help repair and refresh dull, dry skin. A final layer of hyaluronic acid is applied to help lock in moisture. The whole thing winds down with a calming facial and upper body massage while healing crystals are placed on the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seven chakras, or energy centersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an added bonus if you believe in the powers of crystals. $140 per treatment.

PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

7215 Arlington Road, Suite 201, Bethesda, 301-907-9001, theredbloom.com

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LETTER LOVE

After running Whyte House Monograms out of her basement, Debbie McCarthy Whyte opened a shop for her business about a year ago.

Debbie McCarthy Whyte embroiders blankets, clothes—you name it—at her Chevy Chase store

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says. “But I was one of nine [siblings], so I didn’t.” When it came time for her own children, Whyte knew the opposite would be true. She picked her daughter’s name—Morgan McCarthy Whyte—precisely for the monogram. Done in script in traditional monogram style, “MWM” is considered one of the most elaborate—and thereby most beautiful—initial sets. Whyte, 60, began her business by doing monogramming jobs for friends on a standard Sears sewing machine before buying a commercial monogramming machine. She grew her customer base by participating in as many as 40 charity shows per year at local schools. Eventually, the other White House came calling: Whyte has monogrammed pillows for the residence, the robe Vice President Joe Biden gave to Ellen DeGeneres for her 57th birthday in 2015, and, most recently, the FLOTUS cap Melania Trump wore to visit Hurricane Harvey victims. 5471-E Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-657-5073, whytehousemonograms.com

MAY/JUNE 2018 | BETHESDAMAGAZINE.COM

T.C.W.T.M.

(The Cool Way to Monogram) When it comes to positioning, “anywhere but the left chest is cool now,” Whyte says. These days, clients mostly ask for monograms on the tails and upper arms of shirts, and along the back bottom of athletic shorts. They’re not always asking for initials. Inspired by U.S. Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s Super Bowl commercial, the acronym A.B.F.T.T.B.—always be faster than the boys—is one of Whyte’s most popular requests for girls sports equipment.

PHOTO BY DEBORAH JAFFE

IT ALL STARTED WITH sports equipment. In 1996, Silver Spring native Debbie McCarthy Whyte had three kids playing sports—and they could not stop losing their gear. “It made me crazy,” Whyte says. “I thought if I could get their names on their bags, the bags might come back home again.” And so the idea that led to Whyte House Monograms was born. Now, using state-ofthe-art embroidery machines, Whyte adds personalized designs—from simple block serif initials to elaborate family crests—to blankets, cosmetics cases, baby clothes and more. (She also has a machine to emboss acrylic pieces such as soap dishes; an outside partner etches her glass decanters and champagne flutes.) Until recently, she monogrammed anywhere from 15 to 50 pieces a day in the basement of her home in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chevy Chase. When the opportunity arose in May 2017 to “pop up” for a month in the former Christian Dior boutique space in The Collection at Chevy Chase, she went for it. One year later, she has a permanent lease for her inviting bright-white storefront on Wisconsin Avenue’s poshest retail corridor. She and eight part-time employees help customers choose from a variety of gifts in the store or add a personalization to their own items. Whyte’s love for all things initials began long before she turned it into a full-time job. “I don’t know if it was the era I grew up in, but everyone had [monogrammed items],” she

May 12, 10am – 6pm • May 13, 10am – 5pm Auburn & Norfolk Avenues in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will feature 120+ booths of contemporary fine art and fine craft, jewelry and furniture along with live music and Bethesda’s best restaurants.

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