Guidebook for Bethesda

These are just a few of my favorite places. There are many bars and restaurants including several with great happy hours. Most places have happy hours but here are some good ones: Alatri Bros. (I’ve never been there yet but this is what folks tell me.) 4926 Cordell Avenue When: 4 – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday Food: $5 “tasty bites” including whipped feta, hot wings and spicy carrots; $9 select pizzas Drink: $5 house wine, sangria and local beer Barrel and Crow (I’ve never been there either, yet! 4867 Cordell Ave. When: 4 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday Food: $5 potato croquettes, $6 pulled pork taquitos and $4 fried calamari Drink: $5 wine by the glass, $3 Jailbreak draft beer and $5 rail drinks Black’s Bar & Kitchen (sturdy local bar/restaurant) 7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda When: 3 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon – 6 p.m. Saturday Food: $10 barbecue duck nachos, 2/ $2.25 Chesapeake bay oysters and $7 crispy fried calamari Drink: $5 local draft beers and $7 hand crafted martinis Gringos & Mariachis (noisy joint!) 4928 Cordell Ave $6 Al Pastor Tacos When: 4 – 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Food: $6 small plates including tacos, Mexican meatballs and roasted vegetable nachos Drink: $6 house margaritas and $2 off all draft beer Jaleo (best tapas!) 7271 Woodmont Avenue When: 4 – 7 p.m. at the bar every day except Saturday; 9 to 11 p.m., Saturday Food: Selected tapas from $3 to $6 including patatas bravas for $4 and garlic shrimp for $6 PassionFish (just overall nice place) 7187 Woodmont When: Food: 3 – 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 4 – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 – 9 p.m. Sunday Drinks: 3 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 4 – 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 – 9 p.m. Sunday Food: Assorted “bar bites” including $5 spicy salmon maki roll and $7 blackened fish tacos Drink: $5 speciality cocktails including house margaritas

There are so many restaurants here, so many different cuisines. These are just a few of my favorite spots. By the way, another american breakfast and lunch place is Georgetown Grill. Old-school joint serving straightforward diner grub, including pancakes, burgers & blintzes. Open till 3:30 pm. Address: 7755 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814

Take a walk! Here are two recommendations: 1. NIH is bordered by an extensive green space with many trees, including flowering Cherry trees. It is a very large area, so you can walk or sit in the grass and still keep your distance from other people. The only caution is to watch out for bicycles on the paved path. Walk to the right so they can pass on the left, or, what I do is to walk in the grass next to the path. They typically ring a bell or yell out when approaching from behind, but still, be mindful. To get there, at the beginning of Chelsea Lane, turn right to walk along Wisconsin Avenue as if you are going to NIH. Just a little way up (just half a block) there is a crosswalk with a light. Cross to the west side of Wisconsin. You’ll arrive at another crosswalk to cross over to the northwest side of Woodmont Avenue – cross there (it is divided so you have to cross first the outbound lane, then cross over the inbound lane). Watch out for cars. Now, look ahead and to your left. You’ll see a sidewalk that goes up a slope of grass and trees onto the NIH grounds. (On the left is a pretty marsh area with reeds, trees, geese, birds….). Walk to the top of the slope where there are two very large rocks. Turn left on the paved path and follow it. (watch out for bicycles!) Keep walking along that path along the perimeter of the NIH campus. You will come to a big wide-open area with many trees, picnickers, people playing Frisbee, walkers, etc. It goes all the way to Old Georgetown Road. There are a few walkways angling off here and there…when you are comfortable explore them! One takes you into the Bethesda urban area, a couple others go into pretty neighborhoods. All very safe and walkable. 2. If you want a short stroll, there is a hike and bike path in our neighborhood. Leaving my house, turn right on South Chelsea Lane. Walk a half block where a road dead ends onto South Chelsea. Look right. There is a path that goes several blocks into the neighborhood. You can walk up and back, or choose to turn left onto a side street and circle around This is a pretty, safe, walkable neighborhood just to wander around the streets. Again, on the path, be mindful of bicyclists but currently it is mostly families not commuters.) Just be sure to keep the 6 foot social distancing as much as you can. FYI: this path has been beautified by folks in the neighborhood. Sometimes you see me walking up the street in dirty clothes with yard tools in my hands. That is where I go when we have clean-up days. We’ve been working on it for 5 years now! It is all native plants.