Big Train Partnering With Nonprofits For Pregame Picnic
The Bethesda Big Train is partnering up with local nonprofits for a pregame picnic and equipment drive before the team’s game on Friday, June 7.
The Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County, which helps connect small businesses and corporations with volunteer work, and Leadership Montgomery will host the picnic and pizza dinner from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Big Train, a summer team of college players from across the country, will play Youse’s Orioles at 7:30 p.m. at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park (10600 Westlake Dr.).
Organizers are asking participants to donate new or gently used soccer balls or basketballs to benefit IMPACT Silver Spring Long Branch Athletic Association.
Tickets are free for members of the Volunteer Council or Leadership Montgomery and $15 for non-members. Adventist HealthCare is sponsoring the event. For more information, or to register, visit the Volunteer Council’s website.
Flickr photo by Mark Briscoe
Business Forum, Small Business Awards This Week
A pair of events celebrating area businesses are set for this week, with The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce’s Business Forum & Showcase on Wednesday and Montgomery County’s first ever Small Business Awards Luncheon on Friday.
The Showcase will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda (7400 Wisconsin Ave.) and includes more than 65 area businesses displaying their products and services.
The event also includes two educational presentations and a networking luncheon. For more information and to register, visit the event website.
Andy Stern, owner of Andy Stern’s Office Furniture in Rockville and the chair of the Chamber Board, sat down with Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the event and challenges facing local businesses.
On Friday in North Bethesda/White Flint, Montgomery County will put on its inaugural Small Business Awards Luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Rd.)
The ceremony will honor winners in eight award categories: Bioscience Company of the Year, Information Technology Company of the Year, Montgomery County Innovation Network Company of the Year, Small Business Award for a company with one to 10 employees, Small Business Award for a company with 51 to 200 employees, Small Business Award for a company with 51 to 200 employees, Start-up Business of the Year and Workforce Award.
The county’s Department of Economic Development initiated the event and will present the awards, chosen from more than 60 entries.
Video via Comcast Newsmakers
DoubleTree Bethesda Bringing Back Rooftop Pool Party
DoubleTree Bethesda’s popular rooftop pool party will return next week with an added night of the event.
The hotel (8120 Wisconsin Ave.) is adding Friday night pool parties to its Thursday night and Sunday parties, which will make room for a more subdued atmosphere on Thursdays:
“Thursdays 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., this year you will find Thursdays to be a relaxing sophisticated evening with light jazz, crafted cocktails, single malt selections and cigar smokers welcome. The chef will have a Tapas menu available from the grill.”
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be back to margaritas and burgers from the grill. DJs, drink specials and grill food will return on Sundays starting at 1 p.m., in an event that can reach capacity by mid-afternoon. A recently created map of D.C. area rooftop bars found the DoubleTree was the only one in Montgomery County.
The 2013 rooftop pool party season will start Thursday, May 30. For more information about specials and weather, visit the Facebook page.
BUP Announces Annual Outdoor Movie Series
The Bethesda Urban Partnership has announced its lineup for this summer’s annual outdoor movie series, set for July 23-July 27 in Woodmont Triangle.
The free movies will all begin at 9 p.m. at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues. Attendees can bring their own lawn chairs. BUP will provide a limited number of chairs.
This year’s selection includes “The Princess Bride,” on Tuesday, July 23, the Alfred Hitchock classic “Rear Window,” on July 24, “Back to the Future,” on July 25, “The Hunger Games,” on Friday, July 26 and “Life of Pi,” to round out the event on Saturday, July 27.
BUP hopes to attract crowds to Woodmont Triangle’s nearby restaurants. Parking is available at street meters and in a number of public garages and lots nearby.
For more info, visit BUP’s website.
Photo via Bethesda Urban Partnership
Save The Trail 5K Set For May 25
The 4th Annual Save The Trail 5K is set for Saturday, May 25, even as the Maryland Transit Administration nears its final plan for the 16-mile Purple Line light rail that would be built on it.
The event, from the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail, is meant to celebrate the Trail and “let our officials know that dwindling greenspace is invaluable and is not habitat for trains.”
The right-of-way for the Trail, former site of the Georgetown Branch rail line of the B & O Railroad, belongs to the state of Maryland. The MTA plans to build a completed companion trail next to it, but the Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail argue it won’t be the same.
“We want it preserved as the 20 acre wooded park that many have enjoyed for over 20 years,” according to a press release on the 5K.
Those who pre-register will be guaranteed a free race shirt. Registration the morning of the race begins at 7:30 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. The course will start and finish in Elm Street Park in the Town of Chevy Chase.
The top three women, men and runners 14 and under will receive prizes. Events include music, face-painting, sign-making and prizes.
To register or for more information, visit the event website.
Photo via Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail
Healthcare Nonprofit Holding Comedy Show Fundraiser Thursday
A Bethesda-based nonprofit that provides healthcare to 7,000 of Montgomery County’s uninsured and poor is hosting its 2nd Annual stand-up comedy fundraiser on Thursday.
MobileMed provides volunteers to give primary care to low income, working poor and homeless people in the county, many who suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, allergies, orthopedic problems or cancer.
The Laugh Riot for MobileMed, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, will feature comedians Big Al Goodwin, DC Improve veteran Andrea Fuller and Shahryar Rizvi a one-time runner-up in the “Funniest Fed” contest.
Tickets are $50 for gallery seating and include two drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The show will take place in the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Ballroom (7400 Wisconsin Ave.).
For more information on the event and to buy tickets, visit MobileMed’s website.
Montgomery Wants You To Help Create Phone Apps
Montgomery County is hoping its recently made public databases lead to phone apps for finding food trucks, reporting dangerous potholes or keeping up-to-date on public transportation schedules.
On the weekend of June 1 and 2, the county will host its own National Day of Civic Hacking event at the Universities of Shady Grove, a forum to encourage software engineers, entrepreneurs, activists or residents to come up with new ways to put its public information to good use.
County officials will pitch sample ideas to hackers at the event including: water quality protection apps, food recovery tools, student wellbeing analytics, food truck locator apps, adopt a fruit tree and transit data visualizations.
County Executive Isiah Leggett revealed the collection of Open Montgomery websites in December. On the Engage Montgomery site, the county has asked for ideas for apps to be developed during the National Day of Civic Hacking.
So far, people have suggested an app to submit 311 Service requests, an app to locate and encourage county parks and an app to let people know wait times and required documents at various Motor Vehicle Administration offices.
For more information on the event, visit the website.
Imagination Bethesda Coming June 1
Bethesda’s street festival for the 12-and-under crowd is coming back to Woodmont Triangle on Saturday, June 1 with a number of art projects, performances and activities geared specifically to children.
The 19th annual Imagination Bethesda, put on by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Auburn and Norfolk Avenues.
Activity tents include face painting, pastel drawing, sculpture making and musical instruments from a number of area arts organizations with programming for kids. Imagination Stage, Round House Theatre, Strathmore, Adventure Theatre and the Washington Conservatory of Music will all offer activities.
Norfolk Avenue dance studio Dansez! Dansez! will put on a stage performance, as well as some other children’s musicians.
For more information, visit the event website.
Photos via Bethesda Urban Partnership
Bethesda Events This Week
Here are some of the interesting events planned for this week in Bethesda.
If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form. Also, please check out the event calendar to see what is going on in the area.
Thursday
BCC Chamber May Quick Connect
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce (7910 Woodmont Ave.)
Time: 8 – 9 a.m.
Come to this brief orientation session to learn how to get involved with the Chamber and maximize your Membership Investment.
BCC Chamber Annual Business Showcase
Hyatt Regency, One Bethesda Metro Center (7400 Wisconsin Ave.)
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Exhibitors, seminars and roundtables discussing moving your business into the future.
Game Night
Marbles: The Brain Store (7101 Democracy Blvd.)
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
On the third Thursday of every month, come to Marbles: The Brain Store for fun and games that will challenge your cranium!
Saturday
8th Annual Strut Your Mutt Dog Parade & Festival
Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Day packed with fun activities for kids, adults and their best friends, including dog vendors, dog parade and dog training shows.
Sunday
Angelic Expressions Benefit Fashion Gala for NCCF
The National Center for Children and Families (6301 Greentree Rd.)
Time: 3 – 6 p.m.
Join area and youth and families to support NCCF, an agency that provides shelter and resources to homeless families. The event features youth models and performers dedicated to helping NCCF continue its mission with special performances and a meet and greet.
Bethesda Craft Beer Tasting Tour Coming May 18
Nine Bethesda bars will take part in a bar-hopping event to celebrate craft beer and benefit the Manna Food Center on Saturday, May 18.
The Bethesda Craft Beer Tasting Tour, set for 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., will include specials on beer prices and food at BlackFinn (4901 Fairmont Ave.), Brickside Food & Drink (4866 Cordell Ave.), Caddies on Cordell (4922 Cordell Ave.), Hard Times Cafe (4920 Del Ray Ave.), Flanagan’s Harp & Fiddle (4844 Cordell Ave.), Maggie’s (4914 Cordell Ave.), Steamers (4820 Auburn Ave.), Tommy Joe’s (4714 Montgomery Lane) and Union Jack’s (4915 St Elmo Ave.).
Lindy Promotions, Miller Lite and Manna are partnering up for the event.
Tickets are $10 and tour-goers can get half-priced entry if they donate two canned goods that will go to Manna. Advanced tickets are available here. Day-of tickets will be available at Caddies from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Specials include $2 Miller Lites and $3 craft bottles that will include Batch 19, Redds Apple Ale, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Blue Moon Agave Nectar Ale, Third Shift, Killian’s and Henry Weinhard’s Woodsland Pass IPA.
Bethesda Row Gears Up For Front Row Fashion Week
Bethesda Row’s Front Row will return May 16 for three days of fashion-inspired events, including a documentary screening, book signing from actress Jessica Alba and the annual runway show.
The event, which Bethesda Row started in 2008, puts the spotlight on Federal Realty’s development as a fashion hotspot. Many of the boutiques along Bethesda Avenue and Bethesda Lane will offer big storewide sales, which you can check out at the event website.
Max Brenner, the chocolate restaurant chain coming to 7263 Woodmont Ave. in mid-June, will offer a sneak peek of some of its items in the VIP lounge of the event on Bethesda Lane. Other restaurants will also offer specials.
The four main events take place on Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18.
At 7:30 p.m. on May 16, the Bethesda Row Cinema will host the D.C. premiere of “The Tents,” the Marcus K. Jones-directed documentary chronicling the rise of New York Fashion Week. That event is RSVP only.
Alba will sign copies of her book, “The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True To You,” from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.on Bethesda Lane before the 7:30 p.m. runway show. The show will feature 15 of Bethesda Row’s fashion retailers, emceed by Georgetown Cupcake owners Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne.
On May 18, a day of children’s activities and entertainment is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo via Bethesda Row
Spots Still Available For Chick-Fil-A’s ‘Mother-Son Date Knight’
On Monday, a number of Chick-Fil-A locations (including the one in Westfield Montgomery Mall) will host a “Mother-Son Date Knight” meant to give moms and sons some quality medieval-themed time together over chicken sandwiches.
If you’re into that, there are still 13 spots available. The Chick-Fil-A in Montgomery Mall will be taking reservations for seating times up until Sunday on its website.
Each mother-son pair will receive a place mat with questions and topics “to get the conversation started,” according to a press release, and a take-home booklet with ideas for future dates.
Seatings are available at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Bethesda Chick-Fil-A won’t have the medieval battle scene slated for the Silver Spring location or the knighting ceremony from the Maryland Renaissance Festival set for a Southern Maryland location, but it will of course offer waffle potato fries.
Image via Chick-Fil-A
Whitman’s Festival Of The Arts Hits 50 Tonight
Today will mark the 50th time Walt Whitman High School celebrates its annual Festival of the Arts, the event that showcases all types of works and performances from the school’s students.
This evening’s program will also feature a selection of local food trucks and caterers.
It’s the 50th year of the school (7100 Whittier Blvd.), which has produced an interesting group of alumni that includes movie director Spike Jonze,’87, U.S. Senators Gordon Smith, ’70, and Mark Pryor, ’81, the billionaire Rales brothers (Steven, ’69, and Mitchell, ’74), celebrity news personality Giuliana Rancic, ’92, and football star Anthony Dilweg, ’84.
Tonight’s festival will have student paintings, sculptures, drawings, photography, graphic designs, ceramics and other works. The chorus, orchestra and jazz band will all perform and theater students will put on one-act plays.
The school’s arts department sponsors the event, which this year will include food from the GoFish food truck, Carmen’s Carts, BGR The Burger Joint, Armand’s Pizza, Ben & Jerry’s and the Stix food truck.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow in the school’s gym.
Bethesda Blues and Jazz To Celebrate 75th Anniversary of Theater
The Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club opened in March, but it has delayed an official re-opening celebration until it could celebrate another milestone.
On May 17, the Club will couple a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a celebration of the historic Bethesda Theatre’s 75th anniversary. Jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis will take the stage for a special performance.
The theater (7719 Wisconsin Ave.) was built in 1938 in the streamline moderne style and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s Wisconsin Avenue marquee went unchanged until the Club took over operations and renovated the 500-seat theater for $8 million.
The theater went to auction in 2010 with a $4 million debt attached. A $12 million contribution from developer Bozzuto Group helped re-open it in 2007 when Bozzuto built The Whitney apartment complex above it.
Club owner Rick Brown’s mother graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School on the theater’s stage in 1947. He remembered going to movies there when it was still a movie theater in the 1950′s.
On May 17 at 6 p.m., local dignitaries and others will make remarks and cut a ribbon. A cocktail reception will follow from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The main event, with Marsalis, starts with dinner at 7:15 p.m. and the show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $175 and include dinner, drinks, tax, handling and gratuity.
For more info, visit the Club website.
Montgomery To Host Night-Time Economy Conference
Montgomery County will host a two-day conference in June on creating night-time economies, after it was announced earlier this year the county would be taking a more detailed look at creating nightlife to attract younger residents.
The Sociable City Leadership Summit 2013 will come to the Silver Spring Civic Building on June 24 and June 25 to present strategies and case studies for improving nightlife, offer training on how to manage and police nightlife and a to take a late-night tour of the host city.
The event, from the California-based Responsible Hospitality Institute, looks at how local governments can tailor alcohol policies, provide transportation and manage crowds to create more business for hotels, restaurants, clubs and other businesses with late-night functions.
Kathie Durbin, the chief of Licensure, Regulation & Education for the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control, is the chair of RHI’s Board of Directors. RHI partnered with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and the County Department of Liquor Control in 2011 for an area-wide study of nightlife trends.
For more information, visit the conference website.
