Oakwood Apartments vandalized, burglarized in Gaithersburg

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating a man they allege broke into the Oakwood Residences at Rio Apartments at 9890 Washingtonian Boulevard on November 15 around 12:09 AM. The suspect broke into the building by forcing his way through an locked inner front door, detectives say.

Inside the building, police allege the man went on a mini-rampage, busting into a storage room and knocking over a washing machine and dryer. He is also accused of damaging an interior wall.

Detectives have not yet released a motive in the bizarre case. But they have released surveillance footage of the suspect flinging throw pillows across a lobby.

Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding this suspect to call the 6th District Investigative Section at 240-773-5770. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this crime.

Gaithersburg Dave & Busters hiring ahead of July 2019 opening

The opening of the long-awaited Dave & Buster's at RIO Washingtonian Center is fast approaching in Gaithersburg. But first, the entertainment and dining establishment needs to staff up. Over 200 people, in fact.

Positions open include front and back-of-house, servers, bartenders, hosts, line cooks, game techs, and more. RIO will be the 129th Dave & Buster's location when it opens this summer.

Lanzhou Hand Pull Noodles now open in Gaithersburg

The newest Asian flavors in Gaithersburg can be found at Lanzhou Hand Pull Noodles, located at 3 Grand Corner Avenue at Rio/Washingtonian Center. Here, hand-pulled, knife-cut noodles are made to order. The long thin noodles end up in a spicy, Lamian-style soup. Lanzhou also serves your favorite traditional Chinese dishes, as well.

Photo courtesy Peterson Cos.

One Washingtonian Center signs two new tenants in Gaithersburg

RSM US, LLP, an audit, tax and consulting services firm, and ManpowerGroup, a staffing and workforce development company, have signed leases for office space at One Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. The building's owner, KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, announced the deals this morning.

“One Washingtonian Center offers its tenants countless opportunities for entertainment and shopping thanks to its access to the RIO shopping center next door, which is currently undergoing a $30 million renovation,” KBS Senior Vice-President of Acquisitions Stephen Close, said in a statement. “We see the appreciation that current tenants have for a location like this, and it’s a great fit for world-class companies such as RSM US, LLP and ManpowerGroup.”

KBS notes the convenience of the Class A building to I-370 - even referring to it as the "Outer Beltway - and I-270 as another advantage for tenants. Imagine how much it would increase the draw for much bigger corporate firms if Montgomery County would stop blocking the extension of I-370 across the Potomac River to Dulles International Airport. With ever-increasing traffic gridlock, record-high taxes, and no direct access to Dulles, Montgomery County has failed to attract a single major corporate headquarters in over two decades.

Gaithersburg senior housing project proposed

Developers SHA Capital Partners and Kisco Senior Living have proposed a new senior housing project at the corner of Sam Eig Highway and Washingtonian Boulevard in Gaithersburg. Under a project amendment, the building would be 80' tall with 310 units. Most will be for independent living, while others will be set aside for assisted living, memory units, and affordable units.

Outdoor amenities will include a "wellness courtyard," walking trails, bocce ball, a Tai-Chi lawn, a pavilion, a fire pit, outdoor dining with a bar, and garden areas. The inside will host a game room, two dining facilities and another bar, a fitness center, an aerobics room and an indoor pool. 218 parking spaces will be mostly in structured parking decks, with some surface parking.

The land where the development is proposed to be built was originally planned for 320000 SF of office space, which makes sense given its proximity to I-270. A public hearing on the project will be held at tonight's Mayor and Council meeting at City Hall, May 6, 2019 at 7:30 PM. 

Rio/Washingtonian Center boardwalk construction update (Photos)

A large area of the waterfront at Rio/Washingtonian Center remains closed off, as construction of a new boardwalk, stage and fire pit continues at the Peterson Cos. development in Gaithersburg. There will also be a green turf area outside Tara Thai. The new boardwalk section will be made from a higher quality wood, and will feature new seating areas. Let's hope they can git-r-done by Memorial Day weekend.

Xfinity store coming to Rio/Washingtonian Center, AMC completing theater renovations

Xfinity will soon open a store at Rio/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. Located at 31 Grand Corner Drive, the store may offer a convenient alternative to going to the cable company's nightmarish Motor Vehicle Administration-like customer service center in Rockville. With the long waits and crowded waiting room there, they should really open more of these around the county.

To convert the space, which used to house a children's clothing store, Xfinity is spending $305,000 to completely renovate it.

Speaking of expensive renovations at Rio, AMC Theatres is currently renovating the last of the auditoriums at its Dine-In cineplex there. This final auditorium by itself is getting $400,000 worth of renovations and updates, according to the City of Gaithersburg. Recliners and reserved seating, as well as the new lobby bar, are among the highlights of the complete renovation of the cineplex.

Gaithersburg Planning Commission unanimously approves boardwalk upgrades at RIO/Washingtonian Center

A good thing at RIO/Washingtonian Center is about to get better. The Gaithersburg Planning Commission last night unanimously approved a request by the Peterson Companies to expand and upgrade the popular boardwalk around Washingtonian Lake.

This is Phase 1 of a full-property update Peterson is conducting at RIO. The boardwalk updates will include upgrading surfaces from concrete to pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine wood, new seating for pedestrians, a new stage and a new fire pit. Located at the waterfront corner of the area in question, the stage features an appropriately nautical-themed sail roof.

Peterson's Jeff Parana said the company also wants to install a turf area outside Tara Thai, similar to what they have at their National Harbor property. They also want to install a railing of the type used at National Harbor.

Commissioner Lloyd Kaufman urged Peterson to create a more welcoming pedestrian connection for people to walk between RIO and the adjacent Downtown Crown development. Parana was also asked about the status of Silver Diner, and were told it is now under construction at RIO.

Dave & Buster's to open at RIO/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg

After losing its original Dave & Buster's when the owners of White Flint Mall pulled the plug on the popular shopping and dining destination, Montgomery County will end up with two of the all-ages arcade, dining and entertainment megacenters. The newest will be at the RIO/Washingtonian Center off Sam Eig Highway and I-270 in Gaithersburg.

Dave & Buster's will take over the vacant health club suite in the building that also houses the AMC Theatres at RIO. Their 39000 SF space is expected to open in 2019.

Cafe Deluxe closes in Gaithersburg (Photos)

Cafe Deluxe has closed in Gaithersburg. Located in the Rio/Washingtonian Center, the restaurant was usually crowded and had popular boardwalk seating overlooking the water. The chain's other locations remain open.

Cafe Deluxe opened at Rio in November 2011. I'm personally disappointed, because this was one of my favorite restaurants at Rio, serving one of my favorite DC-area dishes, their Chicken Pot Pie. Fortunately, they still have their other locations.

Copper Canyon Grill invites Gaithersburg home for the holidays (Photos)

I was invited to a preview of the Home for the Holidays holiday menu at Copper Canyon Grill last evening. You can order this as a take-out meal for four with 2 days advance notice. It doesn't matter which holidays you are celebrating, either, as the deal will be available through January 1, 2016.

Anthony Peake, Executive Chef
and Director of Culinary Education
at Copper Canyon Grill, talks
about the recipes he created for
the holiday menu

The menu offers many traditional favorites, from rotisserie turkey to mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and - of course - stuffing. There's also the occasional modern dish - like bacon mac & cheese. Last night, I had the pumpkin cheesecake, which is a seasonal dessert. On the take-out menu, the dessert choices are Key Lime Pie and Bread Pudding with Grand Marnier Sauce.

The take-out meal is available from all Copper Canyon Grill locations, including Rio/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, and downtown Silver Spring. In addition, if you're seeking a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, the Silver Spring Copper Canyon Grill will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

I started off the meal with a glass of a 2013 Iris Vineyards Pinot Gris from Oregon. It's pretty good, with a citrus flavor, and a score of 91 from Wine Enthusiast. You might want to give the Albino Rocca Chardonnay Langhe from Italy a try, though, because the description sounds like it is perfectly paired to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Let's start with the turkey. I'm more of a dark meat person when it comes to turkey, and especially, chicken. But the white meat was very tender on this rotisserie turkey, with a nicely-crisp skin. If you're like me, you may have had some tough white meat turkey in restaurants. That won't happen here.

For me, stuffing is the main event of the Thanksgiving dinner. You won't be disappointed with this cornbread stuffing from Chef Anthony Peake's own grandmother's recipe. It includes my one must-have ingredient for stuffing - sage.

The mashed potatoes have a traditional flavor, and it's a rich one enhanced with sour cream. There was a good balance of sweet and tart in the cranberry sauce, and you'll definitely want some extra gravy.

Green beans

Sweet glazed carrots

A nice seasoning on
the green beans

For a vegetable choice, I would go with the Sweet Glazed Carrots. I was searching for every last one hiding on the plate. The green beans would certainly fit the bill, though, if that is your personal preference. I just thought the carrots had a little something extra.

The bacon Mac & Cheese was super-rich with 3 cheeses, and finely-chopped raw onion added an extra zing of flavor throughout.

There were several fresh breads on hand from sister restaurant Stanford Grill's in-house bakery in Rockville. It seemed like the biggest hit at the table was the cornbread.

For the big finish, a huge slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake appeared. It was topped with whipped cream and a rich chocolate ganache. A fantastic finish to a delicious early Thanksgiving dinner. Why have just one a year, after all?

New dessert menu at Cafe Deluxe (Photos)

Try the new dessert menu at Cafe Deluxe at RIO/Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, which features a new semisweet chocolate bread pudding with caramel sauce, a gigantic new chocolate cake, a warm skillet cookie with ice cream, and this 5-star Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich I tried over the weekend.