Bethesda Actually

Friends, I’m holding an open house with a twist this weekend. I’ll be just outside Bethesda -in Potomac actually! – holding open a fabulous home site on Sandy Landing Road. 

It is an absolutely beautiful, very private, wooded sanctuary 2.6 acre home site that is ready to build! The site has mature trees and a delightful winding creek with a bridge rebuilt in 2006. It is situated CLOSE to Potomac Village just off River Road!

If you are interested in living in Potomac or just curious about the space pop by on Sunday from 1-4pm. And as ever don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help you with your real estate needs!

More details on the home below: Read the rest of this entry »

Recently an avid Bethesda Actually reader gave us a call to ask where he should celebrate his 21st birthday. His key parameter was that the location be a pub in or near Bethesda — we suspect he is also looking for a place to act as the transition to 21:

Where is he going to go for a pint, to watch the futbol or listen to some music with friends on a Friday night now that he is 21?

As you can imagine your Bethesda Actually team were pleased to dig into this question and examined the options available to this reader. Our conclusions are listed below — let us know if you agree/ disagree or have alternatives we should have considered for the top slots.

1. Harp and Fiddle — this old Bethesda favorite is number one on our list and we recommend our reader celebrate his birthday there for a few key reason: Harp and Fiddle is a real pub — there is a sense of community, the staff are terrific (our reader needs to get to know Steve, Keith and the rest of the crew) the draft beer options are solid (good Guinness on tap!), food is decent (not gourmet but not bad) it is a venue for music and sports watching (the TV upgrade has enhanced the viewing experience).

2. Irish Inn at Glen Echo — the pub side of the Irish Inn feels like a real pub from the old country and we love it. The food is super and the drinks are terrific. There are no negatives but there was a thought that for a 21st it may be a tad bit quiet. If our reader is celebrating with a diverse age group this could be the right option….certainly this should become a long term venue for a quiet Sunday afternoon pint.

3. RiRa’s — we love RiRa’s in new Bethesda — great music and a lovely space to eat, drink and be merry. We have little to say that is negative about it — if our reader decides to go there he needs to consider whether to be based in the quieter restaurant side or the bar/ band side. One big plus is the light summer shandy’s that RiRa’s is making this summer. One suggestion for RiRa’s — they should look to up their sports viewing options a bit.

4. Royal Mile — Wheaton — outside Bethesda but a lovely place. Love the food and the drinks. The staff are nice and the Welsh Rarebit is WONDERFUL!

5. Rock Bottom Brewery Bethesda — a really good Bethesda brew pub — good food, lots of home style beer options along with a sports and music scene. For the 21st it may not work as the reader in question is keen on having a Guinness.

Honorable mentions:

Black Finn — a loud and lively crowd.

Four P’s in Cleveland Park — an honorable DC option but has lost a bit of its past charm.

Brickskeller Saloon in Dupont Circle — a large variety of beers but we have found that at times the beers we want are out of stock. We do suggest a visit sometime after the 21st birthday.

American Tap Room — downtown Bethesda is opening soon!

Union Jack — some of our British readers feel that they need to up their authenticity a bit….

NOTE: Remember — no drinking and driving/ don’t overindulge and only try and buy a pint if you are legally allowed to do so!

Our good friends over at Bethesda Central Farm Market are holding their first annual “Bake Bethesda a Pie” contest, inviting amateur bakers to submit two pies which will be judged by some of Washington’s top food professionals.  Applicants must enter before August 31st.  Here’s all the info you will need to take part.  Good luck!

BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL “BAKE BETHESDA A PIE” CONTEST

–It’s your turn to show off what you can do with a pie! —
–Prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants, shops and BCFM–

Bethesda, MD…. August 4, 2010…Bethesda Central Farm Market, located at the Elm Street parking lot between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues on Sundays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and at Bethesda Row on Thursday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. is holding its first annual “Bake Bethesda a Pie” contest.

To enter, contestants must be amateur bakers. All applications include a $5 fee  that will benefit Manna Food Bank. For an application, go to www.bethesdafarmmarket.com and enter before August 31, 2010. A separate entry form is required for each pie entered; bakers may submit up to two pies. Entries may be e-mailed to moserdebra@aol.com or turned in at the information tent at the Sunday market. For complete details and contest rules, click on www.bethesdacentralfarmmarket.com

The contest will be judged on Sunday, September 5 at 11 a.m. at the market by some of Washington’s top food professionals: Bonnie Benwick, Assistant Food Editor, Washington Post; Carole Sugarman, Food Editor, Bethesda Magazine; Nancy Hickman, Manager, Buzz Bakery Arlington, and Deann O’Brien, Gazette Newspapers. Prizes will be awarded for both fruit and savory pies. First place is $100 gift certificate, second place wins $50 gift certificate and third place is a $25 gift certificate. All prizes can be redeemed at participating local restaurants, shops and at the Bethesda Central Farm Market.

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Just a reminder folks — they are celebrating being 2 years old this evening!

Our friends at Redwood turn two this week and will be holding a party from 7-11pm. It looks like a lot of fun and will include a viewing of Top Chef (Wash DC) at 9pm. Try and head over there and raise some cheer if you can!

Friends,

Good news — Bethesda Restaurant Week is almost here! It will run from 23rd July to August 1st this year and will cost $12-15 for lunch and $25-30 for 3 course dinners. The participating restaurants, according to Bethesda UP, are:

Read the rest of this entry »

Just wanted to pass this along:

HELP MANNA FIND VOLUNTEERS!

Your group could help us staff part of a specific day or direct your folks to me to sign up for individual shifts. This is a very big undertaking and will require many people. You can have volunteers reach me at

Kim@mannafood.org or by phone at 301-424-1130.

Manna Food Center will be partnering with the 2010 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair August 13th thru 21st. Many volunteers are needed throughout the 9-day event to collect food donations at the fair entrance gates.

Please contact Manna if you, your business, sports team, high school youth group, social concerns committee or organization can help us find volunteers. We will need 4-6 people for each 2 hour shift between 10 am – 8 pm throughout the 9 days. We would love you to sign up for just one shift, a group of shifts, or to “own” a whole day and staff one gate for the full day – 2 – 3 people from 10AM – 8PM, in any timeframes that work for you. Wear your organization’s t-shirt and show how your organization is partnering with us and making a difference in our community.

SSL hours will be offered to students. Students 16 and over will need to attend a volunteer orientation and sign up for a 2 hour shift. Students under 16 must volunteer with an adult. Also, volunteers may enter the fair for Free at the end of their shift.

Summer Music Wednesday’s start at Bethesda Lane this week — Justin Trawick will be performing from 6.30pm onwards. Try and stop by if you can — it should be fun!