POLICE ARREST 24 FOR DRUNK DRIVING ON THANKSGIVING EVE

The Montgomery County Police Holiday Task Force hauled in 24 drivers for DUI in a Thanksgiving Eve anti-drunk-driving operation. In all, police said, Task Force officers interacted with 291 citizens, and issued 253 traffic citations, 127 warnings, 32 equipment repair orders, 9 criminal violations, and 2 civil violations.

Among alcohol-related offenses were underage drinking and public urination. At least 5 of the drivers alleged to be driving under the influence Wednesday night, and early Thursday morning, were taken to the Bethesda 2nd District Police Station.

SCULPTURE DEDICATED AT DOWNTOWN CROWN (PHOTOS)

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman and other city officials took part in the dedication of a new piece of public art in Downtown Crown yesterday. Amid frigid temperatures, they welcomed Inner Being, a 750-pound bronze sculpture by St. Louis-Missouri artist Charles Strain - and the 24th piece of public art in the city of Gaithersburg.

Robert Zeiller, artist Charles Strain and
Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman

At over 8 feet tall, Inner Being was designed to reflect a spirit of innovation and community that the developers of Crown Farm sought the development's design to embody.

Strain was in attendance at the dedication, still putting the finishing touches on the display.

GERMANTOWN BURGLARY CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Montgomery County Police have released a video of a burglary in progress in the 11400 block of Flowerton Place in Germantown. Police hope the video will help the public identify the suspects, and their getaway car, which was also captured on the surveillance video. Anyone who recognizes either of these suspects or who has further information is asked to call the 5th District Investigative Section at 240-773-6237. Callers may remain anonymous.

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT DOWNTOWN CROWN WINE AND BEER

Celebrate Halloween all weekend at Downtown Crown Wine & Beer. Tonight, they'll have 4 pumpkin beers on tap. Stop by during their Happy Hour between 4 and 7 PM, and fill up your growler with pumpkin beer at a discount from the regular price.

Saturday night, they'll have live music from special guest Pat Looney.

Finish the weekend on Sunday with NFL games on 2 giant screens, plus extended Happy Hour pricing between 1 and 7 PM.

Downtown Crown

Wine & Beer

303 Copley Place

PUMPKIN PIE POP TARTS REVIEW (VIDEO)

Pop Tarts has two limited-edition flavors for Halloween, and the most promising variety is Frosted Pumpkin Pie. I tested it out in this video review. The Halloween Countdown continues on the Robert Dyer Channel.

PAWS FOR A CAUSE THIS SATURDAY IN UPPER ROCK

Dogs will be the guests of honor at Saturday's Paws for A Cause, 11 AM to 2 PM, at Gables Upper Rock, 70 Upper Rock Circle in Rockville. The November 1 event will raise money for fundraiser for MCPAW—Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being, a partner of the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. Most activities Saturday will be free, but with donations accepted.

Is your K-9 ready for the dog costume contest? He or she will enjoy a host of Fido-centric freebies including doggie ice cream, potty bag dispensers, natural dog treats and more. There will be activities for those on two legs, too, including face painting, music, a photo booth and food trucks like Holy Crepes and The Mighty Dog and Acai.

Pet-centric vendors will offer information, discounts and merchandise, including MCPAW, Tiki’s Playhouse, Bark!, Amazing Art Studio, Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic, Sniffers Doggie Retreat, Unleashed by Petco and Whole Pet Central.

If you and your dog enjoy your visit to Upper Rock, you may be interested to know that Gables Upper Rock welcomes dogs as residents in their apartments, as well. 

When completed, Gables Upper Rock will offer 441 pet-friendly apartments, a private on-site dog park, Turf, and a dog spa area for bathing and grooming, Couture. All community care products used at Gables Upper Rock are safe for pets, and the paths connecting the community’s four residential buildings are perfect for dog walking.

“We are about creating places where people want to live, and we recognize that more than ever, our residents’ pets are important members of their families,” says Greg Gaisor, Vice President, REIT Operations—East for Gables Residential.

Upper Rock is a short trip down I-270 from Sam Eig Highway.

ASIA NINE OPENS AT DOWNTOWN CROWN (PHOTO)

Asia Nine opened this past Friday at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. The Asian fusion restaurant was previously only available to those venturing to 9th Street in the District. Its new location gives Montgomery County residents an easier way of getting there. Asia Nine's signature entrées include Asia Nine Lamb Chops, seasoned with house spice rub, grilled and served with mango-soy coulis, and potato nest with mint oil; Miso Honey Duck Breast, marinated in miso honey and fresh herbs and laced with a sake butter sauce; Hoisin BBQ Ribs, Miso Honey Duck Breast, Pad Thai, Singapore Fried Rice and spicy Kapow. Dessert items include Thai Tiramisu, and Sesame-Ginger Cheesecake.

254 Crown Park Avenue

(202) 629-4355

DOWNTOWN CROWN CELEBRATES WITH NIH CHARITY EVENT (PHOTOS)

Downtown Crown welcomed a crowd - including residents and local VIPs - to sample food from some of its best restaurants (and beer from Dogfish Head Alehouse - also located in Gaithersburg), and enjoy live music and a photo booth last Friday evening. All proceeds from the Sip. Nosh. Mingle. Charity Event went to NIH Charities.

Gaithersburg Mayor (and future Montgomery County Councilmember) Sidney Katz was among the notables in attendance. Katz has presided over a building boom in the city, which has included its latest planned development, Downtown Crown. 

Participating restaurants included Coastal Flats, newly-opened Asia Nine, Starbucks, Paladar, Venti Tre, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Chopt, and even the not-yet-open Ted's Bulletin. Many were also celebrating the big news from earlier in the day, that another Ted's - Ted Turner's Ted's Montana Grill - is coming to Downtown Crown in 2015. It was a very nice event with great weather, and a chance for many to get their first taste of what the downtown restaurants have to offer. With several events held this past weekend alone, I'm curious to see what Downtown Crown will have up its sleeve for the rapidly-approaching holiday season.

The Dogfish Head Alehouse
beer bus has arrived

La Madeleine opened October 16

Food samples were available under the tent

Live music

The tent was packed

Those are official Downtown
Crown red bags, with a
surprise gift inside

Working the grill at
Asia Nine

Asia Nine just opened
at Downtown Crown

Chopt

The always-great Coastal Flats

Coastal Flats was serving up
its deviled eggs

An impressive display from
Paladar 

Speaking of Paladar...their
outdoor seating areas (at their
actual restaurant in Crown) were
absolutely packed Friday evening

Ruth's Chris Steak House

A sampler tray from Ruth's Chris

Ted's Bulletin (coming in
January 2015 to Downtown Crown)

Peanut Butter and Bacon
Pop Tart samples from
Ted's Bulletin!

In fact, they had 4
flavors to choose from

Venti Tre Modern Italian
restaurant

A small sample of what
Venti Tre had to offer

Those red bags are
catching on

Photo booth fun

The weather was perfect,
especially considering it
is late October

This upper level near the tent
became an impromptu biergarten

I had Dogfish Head's
Punkin' Ale, which is
fantastic

As day turned into night...

...the stringed bulbs inside
the tent could be better
appreciated...

...and the band kept playing

TED'S MONTANA GRILL COMING TO DOWNTOWN CROWN IN GAITHERSBURG

Ted's Montana Grill is the latest A-list restaurant to sign on at the Downtown Crown development, giving Montgomery County's newest planned community "a restaurant for every night of the week,” in Gaithersburg Mayor Sid Katz's words. Media mogul Ted Turner is the biggest name behind the Ted's chain, which takes inspiration from the Big Sky Country state, and serves up American food ranging from the traditional to the more adventurous.

The restaurant will take a 5,031 SF space on Ellington Boulevard, and like many of the dining options in Downtown Crown, will include an outdoor dining area. Crown residents who like to leave the Thanksgiving cooking to someone else, take note: Ted's is open on Thanksgiving annually with a classic American Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it won't be open yet this year, but that will come in handy in years to come.

Word of the lease became public at the big Downtown Crown ribbon cutting Friday morning, which was attended by Mayor Katz, as well as Dave Wagner, Executive Vice President of JBGR Retail, retail developer of Downtown Crown; Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett; Robert H. Zeiller, Executive Vice President, Westbrook Properties, Crown master developer; and Toby Bozzuto of The Bozzuto Group, developer of the Cadence luxury apartments at Crown.

Bison nachos anyone? There could be some confusion with two restaurants named Ted's in town (the other being Ted's Bulletin, of course). Both serve adult milkshakes, too. But given the 2 restaurants in question, that's a good kind of confusion to have.