Montgomery County residents in parks, grocery stores more than before the pandemic, data shows

Residents still not going back to the

office, transit, or general shopping 

in great numbers

Montgomery County residents are shopping inside grocery and drug stores in larger numbers than they were before the pandemic, the latest Google Mobility data show. They're making even greater use of parks than before Covid-19 officially arrived last spring. Other travel hasn't bounced back as strongly, such as going into the office, or commuting there by transit. And in-person retail shopping for items other than groceries and medicine remains sluggish, in relative comparison.

Using a baseline of mobility data Google collected from Montgomery County residents' devices between January 3 and February 6, 2020, behavioral changes are evident. The latest Google data covers the period between Monday, July 19, 2021, and Monday, August 30, 2021.

Hillwood Manor Park in Takoma Park

Over the last half of this summer, County residents were using parks 28% more than they were at the start of 2020. One caveat to that: the new data covers a warm, summer period, while the baseline was taken during the height of winter.

Safeway in Damascus

A more apples-to-apples comparison is in grocery and pharmacy shopping; the latter surges during winter months. But during late summer 2021, County residents were going into grocery stores and drugstores 7% more than they were during the height of cold and flu season in early 2020. There has been an increasing strain on grocery supply lines again in recent weeks, as evidenced by Costco reinstating limits on the number of some items that may be purchased, such as paper towels and toilet paper. Business Insider reports that shortages are the result of panic buying over the Delta variant, and of labor shortages affecting the ability to produce, ship and restock merchandise.

CVS Pharmacy

Residents aren't shopping in other types of retail stores, or traveling for non-park recreational activities as much, though. "Retail and recreation" travel was down 12% in late summer this year, compared to early 2020. One would expect recreation to be higher in summer than in midwinter, so that is a notable decline.

Metro Red Line train in Rockville

Travel to workplaces looks better than it was during the lockdowns and peaks of the pandemic, but still follows the national trend of those working from home continuing to do so where possible. Workplace travel was 44% lower in late summer 2021 in Montgomery County than it was in January-February 2020. Those traveling for any reason are often still wary of using public transit. Bus and rail commuting was down 42% in recent weeks, compared to early 2020.

One thing many residents are doing is continuing to stay home. Despite warm weather, County residents stayed at home 11% more over the last six weeks than they did in frigid January-February 2020.

LensCrafters coming to Pike & Rose

LensCrafters is coming to Pike & Rose. The eyewear retailer will be located at 901 Rose Avenue. LensCrafters is also a tenant at Federal Realty's Bethesda Row. It currently has locations at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and at Edmonston Crossing in Rockville.

Rockville Taco Bamba participating in local chain's Bar Crawl promotion

Taco Bamba is launching a Bar Crawl promotion at all of its locations in the region today, September 2, 2021, including the Rockville restaurant at Congressional Plaza. Each location, beginning with Fairfax today, will feature a special cocktail for $11. It will come in a collectible glass that is yours to keep.

When the collectible glasses run out at each location, its particular drink will no longer be available. Rockville's special cocktail and glass will be available at the end of the month, September 30. Here is the full Taco Bamba Bar Crawl schedule, if you want to collect all 5 glasses this month:

• September 2: Fairfax
• Stay Classy: served frozen with mezcal, rum, pineapple, lime, simple syrup, and campari floater
• September 9: Vienna
• Prince Hairy: Reposado tequila, white peach, ginger citrus agave, and Fino sherry
• September 16: Ballston
• This Kind Of Monkey: Tequila, banana syrup, ancho reyes, lime, and chocolate salt rim
• September 23: Springfield
• Rum The Jewels:  rum, ancho verde, smoked pineapple, lime agave, muddle cilantro and jalapeño
• September 30: Rockville
• Space Drank: Beefeater gin, lemon juice, lavender syrup, butterfly pea ice sphere

Photo by Leading DC

Rockville experiences heavy lightning, some serious flooding in overnight storm

UPDATE - September 1, 2021 at 12:19 PM: Montgomery County police are now asking that any residents of the Rock Creek Woods apartments who left the complex please call them at 301-279-8000, so that they can be accounted for

11:52 AM: Officials have announced that one person has died, and a second is missing in the flooding at Rock Creek Woods apartments on Twinbrook Parkway this morning

A storm that passed through Montgomery County around 3:30 this morning had Rockville in its direct path. Residents unlucky enough to be out on the roads encountered flooding and high water, including along Rockville Pike. 

A resident of Congressional Towers reported water in his apartment as high as seats of the chairs in the room, and said he and others were rescued from the building minutes later by the Rockville Fire Department. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer said that residents of basement apartments in the 13200 block of Twinbrook Parkway had to be rescued, as well.

About 224 Pepco customers are without power right now in Rockville, particularly in the Twinbrook, King Farm and Rockshire areas.

Shouk coming to Rockville in Montgomery County expansion

Shouk has posted coming-soon signage at its future space at 5436 Westbard Avenue, in the Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. The globally-inspired, plant-based street food chain is also opening a Rockville location at 5568 Randolph Road, in the Montrose Shopping Center. Both locations are expected to open this fall.

Shouk's future Rockville location

The Bethesda location will initially be carry-out only, as it is moving into the small China Cafe space. At a later date in the redevelopment of the Westwood Shopping Center, it will move to a larger, newly-constructed space in the new Westbard Square development that recently began construction. The Rockville location will be full-service with indoor dining.

Shouk Burger

Shouk's most famous menu item is the Shouk Burger, a veggie burger that has won several awards. Celebrity chef Carla Hall called it "the best dang burger I've ever tasted," and "mind-blowing" on the Food Network. Pita bread sandwiches, bowls, hummus and salads round out the menu.

Vacant former China Cafe space

Both the Rockville and Bethesda locations will be constructed of reclaimed materials, and will be 100% wind-powered. Shouk uses renewable packaging from plant sources, such as wooden utensils and biodegradable materials.

One piece of interesting trivia: Shouk's arrival will give the Westwood Shopping Center two eateries in its 62-year history that served dishes named "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the Food Network. Mo Rocca chose former tenant Farrell's' Gibson Girl Sundae as the best thing he ever ate. Rocca originally ate the sundae at the Westwood Shopping Center Farrell's location in the 1970s.

McDonald's adds Glazed Pull-Apart Donut to menu

McDonald's has added a new item to its McCafe line of baked goods designed to go with coffee beverages. The Glazed Pull-Apart Donut is shareable, with donut holes attached to the center that can be torn off. McDonald's says it is a limited-time item, and will be available all day, not just for breakfast. 

The new donut has already appeared at some McDonald's locations in Montgomery County, and will be available at all McDonald's nationwide on September 1, 2021. How does it compare to Krispy Kreme? Watch my review to find out.

Let's Taco sets opening date in Rockville

Let's Taco is bringing authentic Mexican tacos to Pike Kitchen at 1066 Rockville Pike. The newest addition to the food hall next to Taco Bell will open next Friday, September 3, 2021. 

Tortillas will be handmade from dozens of types of corn. Burritos (including a California burrito stuffed with grilled steak, french fries, cheese, avocado crema, pico de gallo, and chipotle crema), quesadillas, ramen birriamen, elote, garlic crab fries, a Mexican Dip sandwich, chips, churros, flan and pudding will also be available. Preview the menu here. It looks like they will also deliver via UberEats.