Best of Bethesda
Transcription
Best of Bethesda
Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 3 Table of Contents The City At A Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Living in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Working in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Playing in Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Arts and Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Shuttle Service and Parking Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 New Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Questions for Bethesda’s Leaders . . . . . . . . .14 NorthMarq Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 BDO Seidman, LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Did you know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Strike Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Economic Development Contacts and Area Business Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Meridian Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Paley Rothman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Dave & Buster’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Monument Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 The American Inn of Bethesda . . . . . . . . . . .21 Fidelity & Trust Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Linowes and Blocher LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Federal Realty Investment Trust . . . . . . . . . .22 Bond Beebe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Published by: 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 n n n n n Publisher: Pete Grzybinski Director of Advertising Sales: Mary McAndrew Production Coordinator: Lyn Brennan Layout : John Schmitz Design : Son Young Lee This supplement was produced by The Gazette of Politics & Business Advertising Sales Department, in Partnership with Rockville Economic Development, Inc. Unless otherwise noted, this report was written by Jim Mahaffie, jmahaffie@mac.com. None of the copy was written by The Gazette of Politics & Business editorial staff. Photos on cover: Bethesda Row image, Visualization by Interface Multimedia Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty. 4 Special Advertising Supplement Best of Bethesda THE CITY AT A GLANCE Bethesda, Maryland is one of the most well-known and respected suburban cities in the nation. The city is unincorporated, meaning it has no official boundaries. But it's generally recognized to be the 13 square miles of land that's bordered by Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase, Rockville and the Potomac River. Bethesda is an extraordinarily wealthy and well-educated area. The 2000 Census recorded it as the best-educated city in the nation with a population of 50,000 or more. Along with neighboring Chevy Chase and Potomac, Maryland, it makes up one of the wealthiest suburbs in America. The city is home to several important government institutions. The National Institutes of Health is here, as is the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. The National Naval Medical Center, commonly referred to as Bethesda Naval continued on page 5 At every main artery entrance to Bethesda, signs greet visitors and commuters. Designed in the distinctive “Bethesda Red” color, the signs were created by Betheda Urban Partnership. Best of Bethesda The City at a Glance continued from page 4 Hospital, is also located on Wisconsin Avenue. Adjoining the hospital to the east is the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Fortune 1000 companies include defense conglomerate Lockheed Martin, hospitality services giant HMSHost and hotel and resort chain Marriott International. Located in and around Bethesda are Geico, Home Team Sports Network and Comsat. There are four major shopping malls: Chevy Chase Pavilion, Westfield Montgomery, Mazza Gallerie and White Flint. There are more than 200 restaurants in the downtown Bethesda business district. Three Metro stops serve the city along one of its major commuting arteries, Route 355 and Wisconsin Avenue. The two primary high schools, Walt Whitman and Bethesda-Chevy Chase, are consistently ranked in the top schools in the country. The list of prestigious private college prep schools includes the Landon School, the Holton-Arms School, Georgetown Preparatory School and Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Exclusive country clubs include the Burning Tree Country Club, Bethesda Country Club and Kenwood Golf and Country Club. Special Advertising Supplement 5 More than a third of Montgomery County's guest rooms are available in 11 Bethesda-Chevy Chase area hotels. They provide 2,363 rooms, plus convention, meeting, and banquet facilities. The 12-acre National 4-H Youth Conference Center offers lodging for 630 guests, a 550-seat auditorium and a conference center. Downtown Bethesda is managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. (BUP), a non-profit organization established by Montgomery County in 1994. With a staff of 35, BUP handles landscaping and maintenance and promotes the community through marketing campaigns and large-scale events. Much of Montgomery County is still countryside. But the suburban areas are undergoing denser pedestrian-friendly redevelopment. Bethesda is a good example. Though congestion is always an issue, Bethesda planners are building a community where people are less dependent on their cars. The vision is for "wonderful walkability," in the words of Bethesda Urban Partnership's W. David Dabney. This development calls for mixed-use and high-density development, blending residential and commercial space, utilizing wide sidewalks, landscaping, bike paths and plaza-like spaces and concentrating on transit options as a focal point. 6 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement LIVING Ginanne Italiano leads the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce. She says one of the unique things about Bethesda is the growth of new residential housing, with more than one thousand condominium units coming online in the last few years alone. What's Ginanne Italiano Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce driving this housing development is demand: "People work in and visit Bethesda and soon realize they'd like to live here, too," says Italiano. For almost a century, Washington, D.C. workers have lived in Bethesda, which offers a bedroom community with easy access to the nation's capital. Housing varies from tiny bungalows and Cape Cods to big colonials and mansions. In the 1970s, Bethesda became what demographic experts call an "edge city" - a suburban downtown that has sprung up on the edge of a large metro area offering a mixture of employment, shopping and entertainment. Bethesda is one of many edge cities in the area, and it is considered one of the most mature, with a character and infrastructure that lures visitors, new homebuyers and commercial business. Besides the thriving restaurants drawing day and evening crowds, Bethesda is home to two vibrant markets, the Montgomery Farm Woman's Cooperative Market and the Bethesda Farmers Market. The downtown area also has 20 flourishing art galleries and six hotels. Bethesda offers a rare mix of businesses of all sizes, restaurants, services, community amenities and housing. Even so, development continues, with pedestrian-friendly redevelopment near transit hubs and shopping and commercial centers. These areas were tagged as the "next frontiers" of Montgomery County and Maryland state government's Smart Growth initiatives. Proof of this belief can be seen in the expansion of Bethesda Row, the office towers around the Bethesda Metro and new mixed-use development along Woodmont Avenue. "This community is going through a lifestyle change," said BUP's Dabney. "We want it to be a wonderful, walkable downtown, where you can take the elevator to hundreds of restaurants, the bank, Giant and Safeway, a free shuttle, live music and theaters." Along with office buildings already there, developers today are creating thousands of new townhome and condominium homes in the downtown Bethesda area. Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 7 WORKING "Bethesda is a great place to work as it is a social and business hub with lots of entertainment and meeting places," said Andy Weiss, president of Meridian Capital Group. Bethesda is a location of prestige. A business in this city is Andy Weiss located among 19 federal govPresident of Meridian Capital Group ernment agencies that generate over $3.14 billion annually in contracts for Bethesda- and Montgomery County-based firms. Bethesda has hundreds of commercial businesses of all sizes. An office in Bethesda borders Washington, D.C., with major commuting arteries, Metro's Red Line and an extensive bus system serving drivers and employers. Three international airports are within an hour of the city. Tony Cord BDO Seidman CPA Firm From their Bethesda base, the BDO Seidman CPA firm's greater Washington, D.C. Metro office serves businesses from Baltimore to Richmond. BDO is adding bold signage to the top of 7101 Wisconsin Avenue where they have signed another long-term lease, said the firm's Tony Cord. Barry Watkins, president and CEO of Fidelity & Trust Bank, said, "Fidelity & Trust began in downtown Bethesda, which gives us historical and leading-edge knowledge of one of our region's most important and rapidly growing business communities. Although we've Barry Watkins expanded into other areas of President & CEO of Fidelity & Trust Bank the metropolitan area, our roots are here. Our board members are local businesspeople and leaders, and the bank's management knows and understands the local business environment. We are growing and improving continued on page 8 8 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement continued from page 7 Andrew Goldstein Linowes and Blocher PLAYING all the time by expertly servicing Bethesda businesses-creating strong personal and professional relationships, putting our customers' success and growth at the top of our priorities, and having a real investment in this community that has been so supportive of us." When Andrew Goldstein walks around Bethesda, he sees business success everywhere he looks. Goldstein is the managing partner of the law firm Linowes and Blocher, and many of the office and condominium buildings in Bethesda-decades old and currently under construction-owe their groundbreakings to this full-service real estate and business law firm. The 50-year-old firm moved its main law office to Bethesda three years ago. "Bethesda has emerged as the legal and financial center of Montgomery County," said Goldstein. "Beyond the economic aspects, the energy and amenities that surround our building enhance our business and are attractive when recruiting new attorneys." Glenn M. Cooper Paley Rothman Principal great little, big town." "Bethesda is the play place and workplace of the locals," said Glenn M. Cooper, Esquire, a Paley Rothman principal and one of the firm's top litigators and family law practitioners. "It's lively and exciting, stimulating and engaging. It carries much of the urbanity of a big downtown, but with a sense of charm and community. It is a Downtown Bethesda is a destination in and of itself, a mature community of more than 200 diverse restaurants, sophisticated home fashion retailers, contemporary art galleries and celebrated live theater. The Strike Bowling Alley (www.strikebethesda.com) moved into the Westwood bowling lanes several years ago continued on page 9 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 9 continued from page 8 and completely renovated the building. Today they offer highend bowling and events for the entire area. "With so many dining and entertainment options available to both residents and visitors to Bethesda, it's absolutely critical that any successful operation delivers a quality product at an attractive price," stated Steve Goglia, president & COO of Strike Holdings. "To be successful, particularly in this market, we have to deliver that and much, much more. We're proud of the fact that over the past five years, we have emerged as a major player on the Montgomery County recreation scene. We truly have the city of Bethesda to thank for that success." The State of Maryland designated downtown Bethesda as an Arts and Entertainment District in 2002. This means that special tax incentives are in place to benefit artists, arts enterprises and developers. The designation also means that Bethesda hosts many events that not only showcase area artists and merchants, but also bring thousands of visitors to the streets and stores: - Dance Bethesda - March 2-3 - Bethesda Literary Festival - April 20-22 - Bethesda Fine Arts Festival - May 12-13 - Imagination Bethesda - June 2 Strike Bethesda is a major player in the area’s recreation scene, offering high-end bowling and an events venue on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. - Bethesda Painting Awards - July 6 - July 7 - The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards September 4-28 - Taste of Bethesda - October 6 - Winter Wonderland - December 9 Along with these events, the city hosts the Bethesda Art Walk, Artist Market, "Play In A Day," Summer Concert Series and Outdoor Movies. Bethesda is also the home of Imagination Stage and the Round House Theatre. continued on page 10 10 Special Advertising Supplement Best of Bethesda continued from page 9 ARTS & CULTURAL RESOURCES Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County 801 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 565-3805 www.creativemoco.com Numerous outdoor events attract crowds to the downtown area, such as the annual art walks and fine arts festivals. The greater Metro area's largest independent film movie theater, Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema, shows first-run independent films, foreign films, restored classics and other non-traditional studio fare on eight screens. Bethesda offers plenty of recreation including the C&O Canal National Historic Park, Glen Echo Park and Rock Creek Regional Park. The Capital Crescent Trail offers an outlet for hiking and biking and follows the old tracks of the B&O Railroad from Georgetown to Silver Spring, running right through downtown Bethesda. Thousands of cyclists, joggers, in-line skaters and walkers use the trail every week, and several of Washington, D.C.'s running and cycling road races start and end in Bethesda. There are several public swimming pools, skating rinks and public and private golf courses nearby and playing fields spread around the city. Dance Bethesda is held every march, attracting many different kids of dance acts from around the region. Imagination Stage (formerly Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts) 4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 961-6060 www.imaginationstage.org Round House Theatre P.O. Box 30688 East-West Highway at Waverly Street Bethesda, MD 20824-0688 (240) 644-1099 www.round-house.org Strathmore Hall Arts Center 10701 Rockville Pike N. Bethesda, MD 20852 (301) 530-0540 www.strathmore.org Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 11 SHUTTLE SERVICE The Bethesda Circulator is a free shuttle service run by the Bethesda Urban Partnership. The Circulator has a total of 20 stops, including the Bethesda Metro station, and it runs every eight minutes. The system operates from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and until 2 a.m. on weekends, with no service on Sundays. The Circulator offers brand new trolleys painted in Bethesda's distinctive red color. PARKING IMPROVEMENTS In 2006, Bethesda completed a total renovation of Public Parking Garage 11 at Woodmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The public garage features new flooring, elevators, stairs, electrical and plumbing systems and parking control equipment. More parking is coming with new development in the future. Bethesda Row is home to street-level retail stores along Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues. It draws shoppers and diners from all over the metro area. Rockvillebased Federal Realty Investment Trust led the development, building brick sidewalks, trees, fountains, plazas and outdoor seating. Tenants include a mix of local, regional and national retailers and restaurants, including a Barnes & Noble. Sidewalk café seating is right next to the public sidewalks and storefronts, and curbside parking creates a buffer between street traffic and diners. There's a 1,000-space, County-built public parking garage in the middle of the development, easily accessible from all merchants and restaurants. Bethesda Row has 230,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, plus 110,000 square feet of office space above it, with more coming soon. Rendering of the new addition to Bethesda Row, now under construction on the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road. Visualization by Interface Multimedia Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty. 12 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement NEW DEVELOPMENT Lionsgate Lionsgate is a new condominium of 158 homes currently under construction at Woodmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road, in the former location of the Woodmont Corner shopping center. It was developed by Duball Woodmont, LLC and will also offer street level retail businesses. The Lionsgate Sales Center is located at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Edgemoor Lane on the Plaza Level at 7500 Old Georgetown Road. (www.lionsgatebethesda.com) Adagio Located at Wisconsin Avenue and Bradley Boulevard, the Adagio's views of the Washington National Cathedral and two country clubs assisted in the quick sale of 92 loft-style condominium units. (www.adagiobethesda.com) Arlington East & Festival Way Arlington East is a mixed-use project being built now at the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road. It is the old location of the Giant Food store, which has since moved across Arlington Road. The site is becoming a mixed-use project of 43,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, with 460 new parking spaces and 180 luxury apartments. Festival Way, a meeting place for outdoor dining and events, will be developed between Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue. Federal Realty Investment Trust leads the project. Trillium This set of three luxury condominium buildings is planned continued on page 13 Rendering of the new mixed-use buildings to be constructed at Lot 31, the municipal parking lot that borders the Capital Crescent Trail across from the Barnes & Noble store, Stone Bridge Associates. Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 13 continued from page 12 for the site of the former Clarion Hotel in Bethesda. Trillium is a nine-story, 173-unit complex on Wisconsin Avenue just south of the National Institutes of Health campus. The development will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with the largest floorplans at 2,850 square feet. The Patrinely Group, with offices in Bethesda, New York and Houston, is the developer. Sales began this past October. (www.trilliumbethesda.com) At Woodmont & Bethesda Avenues Coming soon is a new public/private development at the site of the County's public Parking Lot 31 on both the east and west side of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. In 2005, Montgomery County awarded development rights to Lot 31 Associates, LLC, comprised of Stonebridge Carras, LLC and PN Hoffman. They are working with the Montgomery County Parking Lot District. When completed, the project will offer a new County parking garage with 1,100 spaces, as well as retail space and condominiums over the garage. The team expects to break ground in 2008 and complete the project in 2011. Rendering of the new Festival Way, a meeting place for outdoor dining and events, that will be developed between Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue. Bethesda Row image, Visualization by Interface Multimedia Inc., Courtesy of Federal Realty. 14 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement A FEW QUESTIONS FOR BETHESDA'S LEADERS W. David Dabney Executive Director, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. (BUP) What are the biggest challenges facing Bethesda right now? Dabney: "It depends on your perspective. Lots of people look at the traffic and congestion issues associated with development. Many also look at what development is doing to the downtown area. I think there's enough underway to dismiss those perspectives. Smart growth needs an infrastructure that can handle it. There's really good infrastructure here. The people who complain about growth are sitting in traffic, looking at others in traffic and all are single occupancy vehicles. "'There is another way.' That's our slogan for transportation, and it means that we have an answer for you in Bethesda. We have the Bethesda Circulator (trolley service), carpools and vanpools and more. Parking is perceived as a problem in Bethesda. But the reality is that we have 7,500 spaces spread out through downtown. We're trying to modify people's behavior in Bethesda. We want to make it so that people don't have to worry about their car and feeding meters. So that people can make appointments, shop, have lunch, etc., without a worry. We're like a 300-acre mall with so much to offer. Our challenge is to get the word out. People will have a good experience and our Ginanne Italiano President, Greater Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce new urbanization will take hold in a place that used to be a suburban community. Bethesda's now a destination. People would rather take the elevator to do errands, run to the bank or post office or go to an art gallery." Italiano: "The biggest challenge facing Bethesda-Chevy Chase is the traffic and congestion going into and throughout our community. A lot of this could be alleviated if our government could move forward in putting in the Purple Line, in particular the Georgetown Branch at the top of the list for transportation funding. This has been in the plans for this community for years, but unfortunately has been put on hold at various times depending on the governor of the state. Some would say that parking is a major issue and challenge in downtown Bethesda, and it is, but given the thousands of parking spaces available throughout the community as well as our Bethesda Circulator, the challenge is more about continually educating everyone as to where all of the available parking spaces are located and how they can get around via foot or the Circulator. Unfortunately, the perception that we lack parking in this community seems to take over the reality that there's plenty of parking but that it's spread out throughout the community." continued on page 15 Best of Bethesda continued from page 14 What's happening in Bethesda right now that you're most excited about? Dabney: "I think right now it's the management of the Bethesda Circulator. The county is entrusting us with it, and it's a window of opportunity. We manage it and we can do much more with it, too. The Circulator creates an intimacy with people downtown. It's an experience, offering people visiting in their cars the opportunity to park in an underutilized garage and get to their destination quickly. It overcomes the objections of people who need connections from Metro to their jobs, homes, shopping, etc. We can whisk them wherever they need to go. I'm excited about this new global perspective of navigating the downtown. " Italiano: "I'm excited about the new changes that are underway and in the future for the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda. With the new zoning changes that have been recently made to this area, we'll be seeing increased foot traffic for the restaurants, stores, arts and entertainment venues and all other businesses. Over the next few years, our community will see Woodmont Triangle rival any other community in the Washington region as the best place to live, work and visit. The success of this area will also be due to the new residences planned and underway, as well as the renovation and restoration of the Bethesda Theatre and ultimately Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment bringing Broadway to Bethesda." Special Advertising Supplement 15 Where do you see Bethesda in the next decade? Dabney: "There will be a continuation of commercial development. The planning board projects 5,000 more jobs in the downtown area. Yet every project at the planning board right now is a combined residential/mixed use development, with retail at street level and residential above. Downtown Bethesda will become a much more livelier 24/7 environment, too. You'll find people coming home and spending lots of time on the streets, in the restaurants and shopping and dining. More people will want to live and work here, from young professionals to seniors. There will be more people living in Bethesda who will never have to take their car out of their space to go to the new Bethesda Theater or Strathmore performances, for instance." Italiano: "Bethesda-Chevy Chase will continue to grow as the economic center of Montgomery County. We are proud of the internationally renowned businesses that are already headquartered here including Marriott, Lockheed Martin, Ritz Carlton and so many others. It's also no surprise that we're branded as 'The Smart Place' by the County's department of economic development. The largest industry in BethesdaChevy Chase is the health care industry, for good reason. With Suburban Hospital, the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the National Naval Medical Center, and now the move of Walter Reed to our community, this will truly be what we were named for: Bethesda - the healing pool." Metro Plaza, a public promenade above the Bethesda Metro Station, offers a venue for events and outdoor activities at the corner of Old Gerogetown and Wisconsin Avenue. 16 Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement NorthMarq Capital BDO Seidman, LLP NorthMarq Capital is a leading real estate investment banking firm, with 27 regional offices coast-tocoast. The firm offers its clients the ideal combination of a strong national company capable of attracting a wide range of capital sources and an organization strategically positioned to provide vital firsthand knowledge of local markets. BDO Seidman has been the fastest growing CPA firm in the U.S. three years running, according to Audit Analytics. Guided by core values of integrity, trust, professionalism, independence and service for almost 100 years, the company has provided quality service and leadership through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals. With an annual production volume of over $12 billion and a loan servicing portfolio of nearly $32 billion on behalf of more than 50 institutional investors, NorthMarq is one of the largest commercial real estate investment banking firms worldwide. The national professional services firm provides assurance, tax, outsourcing, financial advisory and consulting services to a wide range of publicly traded, privately held and tax-exempt organizations. Tony Cord is frequently the first point of contact with the business community as Strategic Development Leader, serving as a client advocate to help businesses optimize the resources available to them within BDO Seidman and its independent alliance firm network. NorthMarq Capital provides the entire spectrum of capital for commercial real estate transactions, including equity, mezzanine and gap loan products and bridge loans as well as first mortgage loans. They have origination and servicing relationships with more than 50 capital providers including life insurance companies, conduits, pension funds, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as well as their own direct bridge and gap loan programs. NorthMarq's Washington, D.C. area office is located in Bethesda for a variety of reasons. A number of local clients are in and around Bethesda. The Bethesda Metro station provides easy access to downtown, and the proximity to major road transportation allows quick access to other submarkets and airports within the Metro area. Additionally, from a quality of life standpoint, the wealth of great restaurants and services makes Bethesda an outstanding business location. The firm serves clients through 37 offices and more than 300 independent alliance firm locations nationwide. As a Member Firm of BDO International, BDO Seidman, LLP serves multi-national clients by leveraging a global network of resources comprised of 601 Member Firm offices in 105 countries. BDO International is a worldwide network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms, serving international clients. Each BDO Member Firm is an independent legal entity in its own country. Led locally by Assurance Business Line Leader Wayne Berson and Tax Business Line Leader Cathey Barry, the company is very visible due to its numerous leadership positions on community Boards, Chambers of Commerce and their unique BDO Counts! Corporate Volunteer programs. (www.bdo.com) "Bethesda's what other communities want to be when they grow up." - Ginanne Italiano, President, Bethesda Chamber of Commerce Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement DID YOU KNOW? Bethesda got its name from a church located there, the Bethesda Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1850. The church got its name from the Aramaic words "Beth Hesda," meaning "house of mercy." It also means healing pool - very appropriate for all the medical facilities around the city." Bethesda has its share of famous people who are from the city or live there now. They include: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, heiress and critically acclaimed actress, was raised in Bethesda and graduated from the Holton-Arms School. Maury Povich, talk-show host. Resides in Bethesda with his wife, Connie Chung. John R. Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and former Under Secretary of State. William Peter Blatty, writer of The Exorcist and other works. E.J. Dionne, author and journalist. John Feinstein, author, columnist and reporter. John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Red Auerbach, former NBA coach. Gary Clark, former Washington Redskin and twotime Super Bowl Champion, owns and operates South Beach Restaurant and Martini Lounge. 17 18 Special Advertising Supplement Best of Bethesda Strike Bethesda Strike is suburban Washington, D.C.'s most dynamic bowling-centric entertainment center. It has 34 bowling lanes, 17 jumbo movie screens, four plasma television sets, two full-service bars, a restaurant area, a VIP reception area and conference room, and, of course, state-of-the-art bowling equipment. Birthday bashes, company outings and holiday parties at Strike Bethesda are all unforgettable. They offer packages that include bowling, shoe rentals for all guests, in-house gourmet catering and, for the adults, bar options. Strike Bethesda is the place to be during Monday Night Strike, where 21 and over patrons enjoy glowin-the-dark bowling from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with drink specials, a live DJ and $15 unlimited bowling and shoe rental. STRIKE is on Westbard Avenue. (www.Strikebethesda.com) Best of Bethesda ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTACTS Technology Strategy and Business Development Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development 217 E. Redwood Street o Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Telephone: (410) 767-6870 o Toll Free: 888-ChooseMD Fax: (410) 333-6792 TDD/TTY: (410) 333-6926 www.ChooseMaryland.org Montgomery County Department of Economic Development 101 Monroe Street, Suite 1500 Rockville, Maryland 20850 Telephone: (240) 777-2000 Fax: (240) 777-2001 TDD: (240) 777-2046 www.TheIdeaLocation.com Special Advertising Supplement 19 AREA BUSINESS RESOURCES Bethesda Urban Partnership www.bethesda.org Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce www.bccchamber.org Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce www.montgomery-chamber.com Maryland Chamber of Commerce www.mdchamber.org Hispanic Chamber of Montgomery County www.hccmc.org (Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, www.mdhcc.net) Potomac Chamber of Commerce www.potomacchamber.org 20 Special Advertising Supplement Best of Bethesda Meridian Capital Founded in 1991, Meridian Capital Group LLC is one of the nation's largest mortgage brokers serving the multifamily and commercial real estate sectors. The company is based in New York City with additional offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Florida and California. Working with a wide variety of lenders, Meridian finances transactions ranging from $500,000 to more than $500 million for multifamily, co-op, office, retail, hotel, healthcare, self-storage, industrial and construction properties. Nationally, Meridian reported more than 2,500 transactions in 2005, totaling over $16 billion. (www.meridiancapital.com) Paley Rothman The reputation of Paley Rothman's attorneys in both the community in which they work and among their peers reflects the hard work and dedication to clients that have been trademarks of this full-service law firm for the past 35 years. Even though there is a business orientation to much of their work, the depth and diversity of Paley Rothman's practice areas allows the firm to provide a wide range of legal counsel and representation to corporate and individual clients throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in tax, real estate, estate planning, estate and trust administration, employment law, litigation, pensions and retirement plans among others. The client list includes publicly traded and privately held corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, banks, trade associations, charities, nonprofits, family-owned businesses, other law firms and individuals. Their success is at least in part a function of the firm's stability; many of Paley Rothman's 40 attorneys and a good number of support staff members have worked together for more than 25 years. Best of Bethesda Special Advertising Supplement 21 Dave & Buster's Monument Bank Dave & Buster's at White Flint Mall is the ultimate place to boost both productivity and morale. All it takes is putting a little fun in the mix. Their professional meeting facilities are fully equipped with A/V equipment and can accommodate groups large and small. Interested parties can choose to rent out the entire location and host up to 2,000 people. Organized by a group of local business leaders and professionals, Monument Bank opened in Bethesda in 2005. The organizers raised over $13 million from about 250 shareholders. The bank's foundation is the business and professional communities, a reflection of the composition of its Board of Directors and the experience of H.L. Ward, the Bank's President and Chief Executive Officer. Dave & Buster's activities are designed to turn colleagues into teammates-whether opting for organized team challenges or turning troops loose in the Million Dollar Midway with charged up Power Cards. Contact the fun spot's Special Events team to see how to produce remarkable results at Dave & Buster's. For menu and entertainment options, call 301-230-5151 or email kent_franklin@daveandbusters.com Recognizing the critical importance of differentiation in a highly competitive market, Monument carefully selected its board members, recruited highly regarded senior community bankers and staffed itself with quality people who are able to support an array of sophisticated remote banking products. There's no branch network. But by utilizing remote tools, business clients can transact banking from the comfort and privacy of their own offices any time of day. Through the first full year of actual operations, Monument Bank has grown to over $50 million in assets, over $40 million in deposits and it has originated over $40 million in loans to its target markets. The directors and staff of the bank recognize a responsibility to be a good corporate neighbor by contributing countless hours to worthwhile charitable and civic organizations and look for opportunities within the friendly Bethesda community. The American Inn of Bethesda Located on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, the American Inn of Bethesda charms guests with a small inn atmosphere and remarkable affordability. It offers comfortable accommodations, a convenient location, and professional staff attending to a guest's every need. An independently owned property, it began welcoming guests in 1985 when the current ownership took over. There are 76 well-appointed rooms, a pool, meeting space and a business center. Free wireless Internet access is available in all guest rooms and public areas. A local courtesy van takes guests to and from various destinations throughout the Bethesda ChevyChase area. The Inn caters to government, military, corporate and leisure travelers to Bethesda and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. The Inn is conveniently located a half mile south of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and is on the NIH Shuttle route. 22 Special Advertising Supplement Fidelity & Trust Bank Fidelity & Trust is a Maryland-chartered bank and residential mortgage company with branches throughout the Washington, D.C. Metro area. The company is the private banking choice for businesses, providing their customers with the close banking relationships and structure of services that small- and medium-sized businesses need. Their mortgage subsidiary offers "start-to-finish" residential mortgage services and a broad array of mortgage products to meet the needs of many different borrowers. They emphasize direct access to key, local decision-makers and personal relationships with all of their clients. Federal Realty Investment Trust Any visitor to Bethesda knows the popular dining and shopping destination of Bethesda Row. More than 50 restaurants, cafes and boutiques bustle with activity every night of the week along the streets of Woodmont, Elm and Bethesda. A creation of Federal Realty Investment Trust, Bethesda Row is now expanding to Arlington Road, with new apartments, restaurants, shops and parking scheduled for 2008. A unique interior street called Festival Street will bisect the new block, adding open-air dining in a European atmosphere. With more new residential and retail on the horizon for this urban district, Federal Realty will continue to play a prominent and positive role in the continuing development of downtown Bethesda. Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, management, development and redevelopment of high quality retail assets. Its national portfolio includes more than 18.3 million square feet of retail with Bethesda Row and Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. Federal Realty (NYSE-FRT) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Best of Bethesda Linowes and Blocher LLP In practice since 1956, Linowes and Blocher quickly gained a reputation as Montgomery County's premier land use, zoning and real estate law firm. Over time, the firm has evolved into one of the County's largest and leading full-service real estate and business law firms. As a real estate firm, Linowes and Blocher is capable of guiding a project from initial concept through land use approvals, financing, construction, leasing and sale. The firm has helped landowners and developers ride successive waves of legislative and economic change as its lawyers regularly deal with issues concerning development rights, environmental regulations, transportation, planning and infrastructure financing. The business law side of Linowes and Blocher's practice provides entrepreneurs and companies with the services needed to thrive: business planning, tax planning, debt and equity financing entity structure and reorganization. Should a business hit a bump in the road, the firm's attorneys are skilled in bankruptcy, workouts, asset protection and commercial litigation. Bond Beebe Bond Beebe, a certified public accounting firm with a rich 75 year history, partners with small to mid-sized businesses, membership organizations, employee benefit plans, other non-profits and high net-worth individuals to help them achieve their goals, increase productivity and efficiency and maintain compliance. From its beginning, the firm has operated with a singular vision to combine precise accounting work with a high level of personalized service. Bond Beebe's broad range of services includes audit & accounting; tax planning and compliance; financial planning; management advisory; litigation support and forensic accounting; and information technology consulting. The firm maintains an efficient paperless work environment and employs the latest technology for secure and seamless client communications. From its two offices in Bethesda, Maryland and Alexandria, Virginia, Bond Beebe brings Trust, Values, Service, and Imagination to every client it serves. (www.bbcpa.com)