The Weekly Feed: Experimentation Edition
Former Blade Staffers Launch 'DC Agenda'
D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling
Controversy Over Rhee Now to Include Sex, Congress
D.C. Unemployment Rate Reaches 11.9 Percent
Whilst enjoying a few beers and the weather with friends yesterday, the conversation wiggled its way towards drinking establishments in Bethesda, D.C.'s friendly borough/township/indefinable blob of offices and residences to the north. Personally -- and, of course, this is opinion at best -- I've got nothing against Bethesda on the whole, but there's certainly no gravitational pull marching me closer to the inner Montgomery County suburban area. Sure, there's a couple of bars, a restaurant here or there, and it's certainly Metro-accessible, but really, it's just kind of...there.
But if Bethesda has more action-packed days like yesterday, I might have to change my predisposition towards other, closer-in destinations. Not only was there a bank robbery -- foiled by customers and employees, no less! -- but Barack Obama rolled into town for a parent-teacher conference at Sidwell Friends right around the corner. Then a whole bunch of people got free cupcakes! (Take that, other area municipalities!)
First, the robbery: according to multiple sources, a District man held up the Bank of America at 7316 Wisconsin Avenue yesterday -- apparently for the second time in less than a month. (The man also had a warrant out for a robbery he committed at the same branch on February 13.) After he demanded cash and absconded with currency in hand, two bank employees and one customer pursued on foot -- not exactly a police-recommended tactic, but definitely ballsy as all get out -- tackling the man two blocks away. The robber was eventually arrested and the money was returned.
Oh, but there's more! At the same time, the Prez's motorcade arrived but a couple blocks away for a meeting at Sidwell Friends' satellite campus, assumedly about young Sasha's academic performance -- although one can hardly blame Sasha's teacher if she had the ulterior motive of wanting an audience with the Obamas. (Hey, maybe it was to thank them for the extra drink or two per paycheck that the newly passed economic stimulus will provide us worker bees. Since reporters weren't allowed inside, I suppose we'll never know.) To top off the busy afternoon, there were treats distributed: Takoma-based blog Redline reports that those who were anxious to get a wave in towards Obama got some free tasty morsels from an intrepid local bakery.
Brazen citizen vigilance, visits from one of the world's most popular world leaders, and free cupcakes? Geez, Bethesda's lookin' up.
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Banks don't have any money!
I was there!! I work for Fancy Cakes by Leslie, and the cupcakes were red velvet. You are welcome, Bethesda.
PRESIDENT OBAMA, LET US MAKE YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE.
"a restaurant here or there," uh...there are like 200 restaurants crammed into downtown Bethesda, along with 2 movie theaters, a few live performance theaters, parks, the library...its not exactly filled with hipsters but if one is looking for family friendly burbs without having to live in the boonies Bethesda can't be beat.
Bah! Thesda!
I feel that I must say a few things about this article:
1. Bethesda is not a township or borough of D.C. It is an unincorporated area in Montgomery County. No one who lives in Bethesda thinks of their area as being part of the district.
2. 'Couple of bars or restaurant here and there' Are you f'ing serious? There are more than 180 restaurants and 16 bars within walking distance of the Bethesda metro station.
3. Saying that Bethesda is just 'there' seems to me to be a bit foolish. Bethesda is inside the beltway and the beginning of the I-270 technology corridor that runs all the way up to Germantown. It also happens to be the home of NIH and the Naval Medical Center, and headquarters of some big corporations (i.e. Marriott, Lockheed, etc). It is the best-educated city in America with more than 50k residents. Ultimately I suppose that any area, including D.C., could be thought of as just 'there.'
4. Maybe if you ventured into Montgomery County a bit more often you would find something there worth making the trek out. For example, the best Taiwanese food in the D.C. area is found in Rockville. And you certainly won't find anything like the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair (Gaithersburg) in D.C.
Sorry for the rant but I get fed up hearing people talk trash about Montgomery County - especially the good parts.
P.S. Couldn't this D.C. resident have found a D.C. bank to rob?
Point taken, but come on. It is a different universe to talk about downtown Bethesda as a neighborhood, and the rest of Bethesda. Also, for all the numerous restaurants and bars, there are only a very small handful that are worth going out of your way to. I lived near and worked in Bethesda for some time, so while I agree with your sentiments, I completely understand the point of view shared by many that Aaron expressed. If you're in Bethesda, it's a great place. If you're not, then there's not a real big draw bringing you in from the outside.
The ideal weekend for the better half and I is one that contains the following all close together.
Indie theater with stadium seating.
Bookstore with café.
Restaurants.
Metro friendly.
From what we have seen, there’s only two places in the entire Washington region that meet all four, the Penn Quarter and Bethesda.
The thing we really like abut Bethesda is the first three are very close and there’s this great feel to it in the warmer weather days with everyone hanging out in front of the Barnes and Noble.
We like both the Penn Quarter and Bethesda a lot. D.C. would get our overall best nod, as we value it for being more walkable urban.
Seems like others have got this covered already but Bethesda definitely has a lot going on.
On the restaurant numbers the local metric for years has been that Bethesda has more restaurants than Denver, I also remember reading a piece recently that said you could eat out in Bethesda every night without a repeat for nearly the entire year.
The most hopping Bethesda's ever been was in the period where MC had a smoking ban and DC didn't...
Bethesda has a lot going for it -- it has me. Other than that? Well....I'll get back to you on this one.
(I am damned sorry I missed the free cupcakes at Fancy Cakes. Red Velvet FTW.)
I'd have to agree with the writer that Bethesda does not have a very strong gravitational pull to a DC resident. I have had good friends there for years, and still not been presented with much reason for going out there. In fact, they're in DC so often, there's no reason.
Bethesda, it's like the burbs, but the parking is a mess and everything is as expensive as it is in the city.
Hmmm... Ok let's try again.
Bethesda, it's like the city, but smaller and less diverse and not really as interesting, and there's an actual city a little further down the street.
Hmmm... This isn't going well is it?