Rockville High School student wins Montgomery County BOE Student Service Award

A Rockville High School student was named the winner of the 2025 Montgomery County Board of Education Student Service Award last evening at The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda. German Diaz-Peña, a senior at RHS, was forced to cut short his student athletic career due to an injury. He maintained his involvement in sports by becoming Sports-Announcing Operations Manager for Rockville High School's Broadcast Journalism program. In this role, he organized and led coverage of all Rockville sports events, assigning reporters to games, juggling the schedules of the many sports, and providing commentary himself.

In addition to providing coaching for aspiring student announcers, Diaz-Peña also volunteered with Montgomery County Public Schools' MCPS-TV, and as a photographer at school and sporting events. He is currently vice-president of Rockville’s Student Government Association, and a member of both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, earning the Seal of Biliteracy. Diaz-Peña plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.

Diaz-Peña was selected over the other two finalists, Samantha (Sam) Ross of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, and Kylie Zhang of Poolesville High School, who have both been recognized for their outstanding records of service to the community. You can watch Diaz-Peña's winning moment and brief speech from last night here.

Anti-drug carnival at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda May 2-11, 2025

A carnival with an anti-drug message for children has set up in the parking lot at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. L.E.A.D Fest, an initiative produced by the organization Law Enforcement Against Drugs, will be at the mall tonight through Sunday May 11, 2025. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 18, some rides require a parent to also ride along, only clear bags will be allowed into the carnival area, and no face coverings are allowed, unless required for a medical reason. 

Tickets can be purchased online. It's intriguing to have an anti-drug event in a county and state whose leadership are strongly pro-drug, both legal and illegal. Worth contemplating, is why your elected officials want you to be zonked out on mind-altering drugs. Just say no!

Rockville Best Buy to participate in midnight Nintendo Switch release on June 5

Some Best Buy stores across America will hold special late-night hours for the June 5, 2025 release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Customers who pre-order their system will be able to pick it up at participating stores at 12:01 AM. In Montgomery County, the Best Buy stores at 1200 Rockville Pike in Rockville, at 20914 Frederick Road at the Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown, and at 10901 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton will be participating in the Switch 2 event. Despite the exorbitant $449.99 price, Best Buy is warning that "This item is expected to sell out quickly."

Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Montgomery Mall Lunar New Year events in Bethesda

The last 12 months may have been the quickest in history, and the Lunar New Year is already almost upon us again. For 2025, Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will host a Lunar New Year celebration in partnership with the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) on January 25th and February 8th, from 10:40 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Attendees will join in celebrating the Year of the Snake with a range of family-friendly activities. As you can see in the photos here, decorations are already in place. The following events will be held in the Nordstrom wing of the mall on Level 1:

January 25:

• Dragon Parade: A dragon parade will kick off the festivities at 10:40 AM.
• Opening Remarks: Meet the Dragon at Center Court for opening remarks from CCACC, Westfield Montgomery, and local dignitaries.
• Cultural Performances: Enjoy a diverse array of performances, including lion and dragon dances, musical performances, singing, folk dancing, opera, kung-fu & martial arts, Tai-chi, folk sports, Guzheng, and harmonica.
• Interactive Activities: Participate in hands-on crafts like traditional Chinese painting & calligraphy, flour doll making, paper cutting, origami, henna tattoos, and more.
•  Clothing Drive: Bring gently-used or new clothing to donate to Interfaith Works. In return, receive a "hongbao" (lucky money) to redeem at participating retailers within Westfield Montgomery.

February 8 - Lantern and Riddle Festival:

• Dragon Parade: Another exciting dragon parade will commence at 10:40 AM.
• Cultural Performances: More captivating live performances.
• Crafts and Riddles: Engage in creative activities, and test your wits by solving riddles written on colorful lanterns. Successful riddle-solvers will receive a special "hongbao."

All events are free to attend, but you are asked to RSVP online, so Westfield can get a sense of how many people will be participating in the activities, to know what quantity of materials will be needed, for example.

Christmas tree installed at Rockville Town Square ahead of lighting on Dec. 6

The Christmas tree is up at Rockville Town Square, but it's not lit yet. That will officially happen this coming Friday, December 6, 2024 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM in the town square. Mr. MoCo himself, Alex Tsironis, will be your host for the evening. King Teddy will perform live music in the square, and there will be food, drinks, activities for the whole family, and a chance for selfies with Santa Claus.

Black Friday 2024 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The biggest shopping day of the year at Westfield Montgomery Mall is tomorrow, November 29, 2024. Black Friday hours at the mall this year will be 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. In contrast to past years, the Black Friday deals are not listed on the mall's website. Westfield advises you to instead download their app from the Google Play or Apple store, which it says will display the deals available Friday. 

Santa's Workshop now open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Santa's Workshop has been transported south to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and you are invited to enter through Christmas Eve, December 24. Inside, children are invited to write letters to Santa, enjoy Mrs. Claus’ weekly story time, and create gingerbread crafts in Comet’s Craft Room. LEGO mini-build classes will be held, and a gift-wrapping station will be manned by the Girl Scouts, Hope Connections and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Look for Santa's Workshop on Level 1 of the mall, near J.Crew.

Kapow Buddy soft opening October 15-19 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Kapow Buddy is gearing up to serve its first customers at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda starting tomorrow, October 15, 2024. A soft-opening will be held from Tuesday through Saturday, October 19, with prices 50%-off, according to a sign posted on the gate of the fast casual Thai restaurant. Another permanent sign inside gives the inside scoop on Kapow Buddy's "secret ingredient," Holy Basil Leaves. As you can see in the photos below, they will also have easy touchscreen ordering. Look for Kapow Buddy starting tomorrow on Level 1, in the Old Navy wing of the mall.

Rockville celebrates Piketoberfest 2024 (Photos)

One day after downtown Bethesda held its biggest annual event, one of the biggest fall events returned to Rockville Pike for 2024. Piketoberfest at Pike & Rose brought out the masses for four hours of food, live music, games, and a craft beer garden. My favorite pumpkin man returned to preside over the festivities for another year. There was even a rock climbing tower for the daredevils in the crowd. Good fortune prevailed on the weather front, as the event fell squarely between two hurricane rain events.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opening in Rockville Oct. 5

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar at 12266 Rockville Pike at Federal Plaza now has an opening date. It is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 12:00 PM. "Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is a unique 'eater-tainment' destination that combines authentic Japanese cuisine with interactive dining," the chain said in a statement. "With more than 100 dishes served via a two-layered conveyor belt system, guests enjoy a whimsical journey of flavors, enhanced by our drink delivery robots, Kur-B the KuraBot, and Bikkura Pon prizes. It is our philosophy and ongoing promise to prepare food using REAL ingredients free of artificial sweeteners, seasonings, preservatives and colorings." Look for Kura right next to Torchy's Tacos, which just opened this past week.

But, wait, there's more! Save the date for the restaurant's Grand Opening celebration next week on Tuesday, October 8, at 11:30 AM. The first 50 seated dine-in guests on October 8th, 9th and 10th who show their Kura Sushi Rewards Member QR code will receive one (1) sushi towel. The first 300 seated dine-in guests on October 8th will receive a commemorative Rockville, Maryland location sticker. During the grand opening celebration, premium sushi will be $3.70 per plate. Other plate prices will vary. 

Operating hours from Saturday, October 5 through Monday, October 7 will be 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Beginning Tuesday, October 8, the regular business hours will be as follows: Sundays from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM, Mondays through Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Fridays from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM, and Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. 

How does the dual conveyor belt system work? One circulating belt rotates plates of sushi throughout the restaurant. Freshness is retained via their trademarked Mr. Fresh sushi lid, and the time plates have been out on the belt is monitored to ensure sushi is always fresh. A second belt above the primary belt is used to deliver a la carte items you order from your table directly to you. Any of the more than 100 menu selections you choose will travel the Express Belt to your table.

What are the Bikkura Pon prizes? According to the company, "the Bikkura Pon Prize System is an integral part of Kura Sushi USA’s innovative and tech interactive dining experience and is comprised of a prize machine, touch panel and plate disposal slot located at every table in the restaurant that are connected via sensors. The touch panel registers the number of sushi plates dispensed into the plate disposal slot. After every five plates inserted, a short animation will play on the touch panel and after every fifteen plates inserted, a prize will be dispensed from the prize machine."

Photo credits: 1-2 by Kura Revolving Sushi Bar; 3-5 by Emily J. Davis; 6-8 by Rockville Nights

 

Rockville International Overdose Awareness Day ceremony tonight starting at 5 PM

Rockville elected officials will participate in Montgomery County's International Overdose Awareness Day event this evening, August 29, 2024, beginning at 5:00 PM at Memorial Plaza at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. The event, which also launches Recovery Month, will begin with a Resource Fair and a commemorative photo display. At 6:00 PM, the event program will formally begin, with entertainment and food trucks. A candlelight ceremony and vigil will follow at 7:30 PM.

The resource fair will include Narcan training and distribution. "Attendees will learn about the dangers of fentanyl, alcohol, and other substances, information to keep youth and adults safe, school & community-based substance use prevention, harm reduction, and treatment initiatives, and what insurance is required to cover [treatment]," a County event announcement states.