One of only two "oversized" townhomes in the heart of Downtown Bethesda!

Amazingly situated in the heart of Downtown Bethesda, this expansive 4-level colonial brownstone/townhome offers all of the luxury amenities discriminating buyers demand. The biggest advantage, however, is the proximity to Downtown Bethesda and its walk-ability number – on a scale of 1-100 – its got to be 100!! Walk to metro, over 200 restaurants, boutiques, the Crescent Trail and more. This lovely brownstone is the largest townhome unit in this 13-year old Montgomery Lane development, and is truly the “grand dame” of all of the townhomes located in Downtown Bethesda. Features include a three car garage, 4 light-filled levels of living, formal living & dining rooms, gourmet kitchen, an elevator, two master bedroom suites, and more – all constructed with the highest level of workmanship you can imagine.

Take a peek at the “preview” below, and then contact us today to arrange a showing or to obtain more information on this amazing property. The KoitzGroup knows Bethesda!

The Breaking News: You can be my next door neighbor in this extraordinary 2010 49 unit condo boutique, just two block from the Friendship Heights Metro on the red line.

And for those of you thinking it, because I know you are :-), I’m a wonderful neighbor. Just ask around :-)

If you’re looking for a two bedroom condo in the Greater Bethesda / Close-in NW DC area, take a look at the specs below and if you have question, or would like to preview the unit, feel free to contact me, despite the major inconvenience :-) 301-254-6576 will bring you directly to me kk at koitzgroup.com is fine too!  Be safe out there, Washingtonians! 

The Harrison – 5201 Wisconsin Ave Nw #406, WASHINGTON DC

5201 Wisconsin Ave Nw #406, Washington, DC 20015 (MLS # DC7720003)

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Move right in. Top floor VIEWS in SOLD OUT new building near Chevy Chase. Enter your new home thru semi-private breezeway to unobstructed western sunset views & an E/N- facing outdoor deck extending length of LR & BR. Hrdwd flrs, designer Kit. w/ granite & breakfast bar, large ELFA closets. GARAGE park your car & walk to Crunch Gym, Whole Foods, Metro, Bloomies, & more. SPOTLESS. Avail furnished

Property Type(s): Residential for Sale, Res. Condo for Sale

Last Updated	1/31/2012	Tract	Chevy Chase
Year Built	2010	Community	n/a
Garage Spaces	1.0	County	Washington
Total Parking	2	Walk Score ®	82

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Listed with Washington Fine Properties LLC

(view all details for MLS #DC7720003)

The Woodley Wardman Luxury Condominimums - 2818 Connecticut Ave., NW

This boutique condo has emerged and has had healthy sales in the highly desirable Woodley Park neighborhood.  The Woodley Wardman Condominium‘s 7-story “tower” is being transformed into four luxurious townhomes (condo flats).  The end result will be a total of 39 units, with almost as many different floor plans, from studios to three bedroom, three bath residences.  An eco-efficiency design includes natural gas appliances  and heating systems, energy star appliances, energy efficient windows, recycled core materials in doors and more.

View Woodley Wardman Condominiums For Sale  <<

A two block walk gets you to the Woodley Park Metro, and you are only a 10 minute walk to Adams-Morgan.  Also close by are the vibrant neighborhoods of Dupont Circle and Cleveland Park where you’ll find a host of great restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, banks, fitness studios, a library and post office and the Uptown Theatre.

With the National Zoo and Rock Creek Parkway a stone’s throw from the Woodley Wardman, there is plenty of leisure activities to accommodate the outdoor enthusiasts as well.

Woodley Wardman Condominiums - Bedroom

Woodley Wardman Condominiums - Living Area w/ Maple Hardwood Floors

Woodley Wardman Condominium - Kitchen

More Information?  Contact us, we’re always happy to help!  We also invite you you to visit our NW DC Luxury condo guide to view sample floor Woodley Wardan floor plan.

Here is a google map of where you can find The Woodley Wardman condominiums (2818 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008).

View Larger Map

• Location – Chevy Chase Maryland, 20815
• Number of Homes in Neighborhood – 704
• Chevy Chase Village in Two Words:  “Prestige” + “Small-Town-Charm” (OK, I cheated)
• Types of Homes:  Colonial style bungalows, Traditional Colonials
• Map of Chevy Chase Village Boundaries?

A google map snapshot of the boundaries of Chevy Chase Village

View all homes for sale in Chevy Chase Village >>

Current “Village” Market Trends

Pictures & Video coming soon!

A Little Chevy Chase Eye Candy?  You Got it!

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 6. See more city of Chevy Chase real estate.
(all data current as of 2/5/2012)

1. $3,250,000 : 5304 Woodlawn Ave, Chevy Chase
   
   5 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 23,724 sq ft

   Year built: 1958

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 3
2. $4,995,000 : 6408 Highland Dr, Chevy Chase
   
   6 beds, 6 full, 2 part baths

   Lot size: 21,438 sq ft

   Year built: 1942

   Parking spots: 1

   Days on market: 17
3. $3,495,000 : 6219 Kennedy Dr, Chevy Chase
   
   4 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 12,845 sq ft

   Year built: 1938

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 150

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Check out this short iMovie trailer about Chevy Chase MD below – then visit our sister site to see more about living in Chevy Chase, where the “Village” lives!

View Downtown Bethesda Townhomes in a larger map

One of the few townhome communities with condo-ownership, especially in lower Montgomery County, individual associations maintain the exteriors of all the properties, as well as the grounds.  Kenwood Forest units are mostly priced in the $500ks and $600ks.

View our “trailer” below to get a brief (really brief!) snippet of  ”Kenwood Forest life”….

As a kind reminder, turn your volume down if your surroundings are “volume prohibitive” :-)

A Little History…

Kenwood Forest was originally built as rental housing just after World War II. In the late 1970s developers began the conversion from rental to condo ownership.   Most units are two to three level townhome style with two, three and four bedrooms, with just a handful of one-level apartment style units. Many owners have added decks and, in recent years, renovations have included dramatic kitchen and bath updates.

Local AND Expert Luxury Property Realtors® – Can’t get much better than that!

Please contact us if you would like more details on this or any DC, MD, VA real estate opportunities.  We are your local real estate experts!

Note Bethesda to Northwest DC - Picture Courtesy of of LIFE SEARCH tool (top navigation menu). Feel free to give it a try!

Answer: Montgomery County, Maryland…one grandiose “area” that desserve a little more information.

Montgomery County Is…

• “Moco”: yes :-)… Moco is nomanclture some use when refering to Montgomery County – we love our “acrynyms”
• “Moco” is Maryland’s largest county and one of the nation’s most affluent…
• It borders Washington, D.C. to the South and the Potomac River on the West.
• The Southern area, probably 1/10th the size of the county, is often the “Greater Bethesda area”.
• Houses the National Institutes of Health, the Federal Drug Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a corridor “high tech” industries, the county is a large employer in its own right and attracts Washington workers
• There is an abundance of recreational and cultural facilities and the county is known for its extremely well respected public school system.
• The Metro subway system serves much of the county and there are areas, such as Bethesda that are known for their fine dining opportunities.

Montgomery County / Greater Bethesda Real Estate – The Nitty Gritty

The City Homes of Edgemoor, in The Heart of Downtown Bethesda fetch $1M+ because of proximity to Metro and the Downtown bethesda core.

• The county affords every type of housing imaginable – from high rise condos to tree lined single family neighborhoods, to working farms. It’s all here!
• The most expensive areas in the county lie closest to the city line…”the Greater Bethesda area”.
• When many people are asked to define The Greater Bethesda area, most will include Bethesda’s adjacent towns, Potomac and Chevy Chase, Garrett Park, Kensington (don’t worry, we have guides on this site for all these areas!).

Greater Bethesda Home Prices = Location and DC Accessibility

There are nuances to all these areas the county but since the question referred specificaly to Bethesda, let’s talk Bethesda!

There are nuances to different neighborhoods which have direct correlations to home prices…the “Micro-Market”.  Proximity to metro, demand for property types in a certain neighborhoods, …will vary not just in these large towns, but the neighborhoods.

Interested in more information about Montgomery County and the Greater Bethesda area? We have both tools and some pretty decent agents :-) working behind the scenes more than happy to answer questions / help educate. Feel free to call or e-mail, leave a comment any time.  Great days to all…

Bethesda Lights Up at Night!

Gallery B in Bethesda is a non-profit arts venue managed by The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District and Bethesda Urban Partnership for the purpose of providing maximum exposure to art-enthusiasts for painters, photographers, sculptors and other arts professionals.  Their next exhibit, which begins December 8 and runs through January 8, 2012, features a group exhibition with works by Anne Bouhour, Constance Chabrieres, Nathalie Pouliquen and Brigitte Zelenko.  In addition to this month-long exhibit, a special opening reception is planned for Friday, December 9, 2011 from 6-9 p.m.

Gallery B is located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Speaking of art, don’t forget that the monthly Bethesda Art Walk occurs on the 2nd Friday of every month from 6-9 p.m.

Check Bethesda Urban Partnership website for more details  - http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/gallery-b.  Want to explore more about Downtown Bethesda?  Visit our sister website and check out our new Downtown Bethesda video.

The construction site (at the corner of Arlington Lane & Bradley Blvd) was the former home of an “old” Safeway.  Many residents often referred to it as “dated”, or “the last option” grocery store in the neighborhood. As a Chevy Chase resident I know Jason Koitz, Realtor Extraordinare,  can attest to having had some of these same feelings.

So when the store closed several months back with the promise of a new “lifestyle” upgraded store to take its place, many of us were pleased to think of the possibilities — especially in light of the transformation of the “Social Safeway” in Georgetown-which has brought a unique vibe to grocery shopping in the Georgetown area.

There has been some crticism of the new structure and questions of accessibility at a very difficult intersection. In my humble opinion, having an anchor for the Kenwood Forest area, easily trumps the location challenge and this exciting new store will be very welcome in Bethesda.

A Kenwood Forest Effect?

This new shopping option may also add value to a residential area that has garnered attention by both young families and single professionals over the last several years. Kenwood Forest, a “townhome style” condo development, is just steps away from the new site of the new Safeway, and is sure to benefit from its arrival.

Officially located in Chevy Chase, Kenwood Forest is already highly desirable neighborhood  offering the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area’s only “townhome” (officially “condo ownership”) option at a price tag around or under $600k. Residents enjoy all the amenities of Downtown Bethesda living — a short walk to the Bethesda Ave Shops, Metro, easy access to the Capital Crescent Trail, etc — while retaining a neighborhood feel and sense of community.  There’s an escape from the urban hustle and bustle.

So now with an upscale market and coffee shop just steps away, does Kenwood Forest become more desirable?

Thoughts? And Thanks as Always…

An unlikely scene for this year's Winter Wonderland, Bethesda December 2-3, 2011. Photo KoitzGroup.com

Though the landscape will likely NOT be as shown here, Bethesda once again will be celebrating the start of the holidays with their annual WINTER WONDERLAND celebration.  As in year’s past, be sure to make time on your busy schedule to be entertained and start the holiday celebrations early with Bethesda’s annual WINTER WONDERLAND, set this year for December 2-3, 2011.  Many free performances throughout downtown Bethesda, a live ice sculpting presentation and more!

Schedule of Events:

Friday, December 2nd at 8:00pm FREE Choral Concert at Imagination Stage, located at 4908 Auburn Avenue. Featured groups include:

• American University Gospel Choir
• Capital Blend
• The Capital Hearings
• Vox Pop DC

Saturday, December 3rd fro 1-4 pm in Veterans Park (corner of Woodmont & Norfolk Avenues)

• Live Ice Sculpting Presentation (1-2 pm)
• Choral Performances (2-4 pm) – Academy of the Holy Cross, Garrett Park Elementary School, Our Lady of Lourdes, Seneca Valley High School and Watkins Mill High School
• Visit from Santa! (2-4 pm)
• Holiday Treats for all of the children!

Check Bethesda Urban Partnership website for more details  – http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/winter-wonderland, and as always check our our sister website for useful information on Downtown Bethesda.

Downtown Bethesda Doing The True Boutique Condo

The smallest New Bethesda condo boutique in the pipeline may still have one unit available.

Months ago, I wrote about a new Downtown Bethesda Townhomes development  in the works.  Forget what I said? :-)  The developer has decided to go the with four downtown Bethesda condos instead.

According to one of the reps, there will be  “4 condos”, that  ”2 [have already] sold already…maybe 3″, and that “construction [is slated] to start in approx. 1 year.”

Each unit will have it’s own garage door that enters into elevator lobby. It appears the units will be a shade smaller than 2000 sq. ft. though  Kind reminder, I’ve yet to follow up for a few weeks and plans continually change!  From what I could cajole from the developers , units will be hovering in that $2 million dollar area.

Condo fees are a tougher nut to crack, but if I were to guess, even in a very small boutique, one should expect 50-60 cents per square foot (meaning somewhere in that $800-$1000/month area).

I’ve included the few elevations below and I’ll keep you updated  as I learn more!

If you have any interest, would like to set up an appointment, or would like to be kept in the loop.  Contact me, (or simply use the form below) and I’ll be more than happy to do what I can.

Check out Kensington’s Monthly Event – THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT OUT

If you haven’t had a chance to explore the charming Town of Kensington, this is your chance!  The Town, along with many of its fine shops and eateries, will open their doors for special events, discounts, open mic, book readings, chess challenges and more on Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 5-8 pm.  Come on out and see what Kensington has to offer!

And, after experiencing this fun and delightful evening for the whole family, you may want to explore real estate options in Kensington…feel free to visit our sister site, www.koitzgroup.com and set up your own unique search for properties in and around Kensington, MD (using the most innovative search engine with great results including Walkscore(R), Virtual Tours and more) or read up on some of the communities located in Kensington, MD.

Garrett Park Nursery School's 45th Annual Craft Sale on November 12-13, 2011!

Garrett Park Nursery School, founded in 1953, is holding their 45th annual CRAFT FAIR!  Wow!  45th Annual…that’s a lot of crafts!  In addition to the plethora of toys, doll clothes, clothing, pottery, jewelry, fresh wreaths, stained glass and more, there will also be a bake sale with cakes, pies, cookies and other yummies.

If you are out traveling around the Greater Bethesda area during the weekend of November 12-13, it would be worth it to stop by and pick up some early holiday gifts and/or treats!

Saturday Nov 12th and Sunday Nov 13th from 10am to 5pm

View Larger Map

Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Avenue, Garrett Park, MD 20896

Garrett Park Nursery School | P.O. Box 314 | Garrett Park, MD 20896 | 301.933.5254 | www.garrettparknurseryschool.org

Located in southern Montgomery County, about 4 miles from the closest border with Washington DC, and abutting Kensington Maryland, Garrett Park Maryland maintains a small town feel in the close-in DC suburbs.

A Garrett Park of History & Charm:

• Historic sites?  Yep –  a large portion of this special town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Mailing it in: All residents pick up their mail at the local post office (which also happens to house a wonderful restaurant…be sure to visit  Black Market if you’re ever in thenighborhood).

More information about this fine community or others DC Metro neighborhoods?   Feel free to stick around here as we continue to build out more area info.   Or feel free to visit our sister site, www.koitzgroup.com and explore away!

Thanks to BethesdaGreen.org!

Do you have old electronics hanging around the house that you want to recycle?  This Sunday, November 6, 2011, is your opportunity to gather up your old electronics and bring them to Walt Whitman HS from 12:00 – 4:00 pm.  See the list of items accepted below.

Thanks to Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste and Bethesda Green for co-sponsoring this event!

Here is a list of the items they will accept:

• Small electronic appliances
  

  Continue to keep Bethesda Green

• Calculators
• Camcorders
• CDs and floppy disks
• CD players
• Cell phones
• Computers and computer-related products
• Consumer electronics
• Copiers
• Cords and cables (including chargers)
• Digital cameras
• Electronic typewriters
• Fax machines
• Monitors
• Personal digital assistant equipment
• Printers
• Projection equipment
• Scanners
• Telephones
• Small electronic toys
• Televisions
• VCRs

For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/recycling or call 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311 (outside Montgomery County).

Lesser known fact about The Koitz Group, besides being real estate pros, we are also all fitness freaks. I spend an average of 10-15 hrs a week working out — it provides me with an outlet for stress and an opportunity to meditate on many of the complex aspects of deals for clients. Another lesser known fact is that I am such a swift runner, that I can actually change space and time, and here’s the story behind that..

Back in 2009 I became really serious about running being a part of my health routine. I run an average of 30 miles a week and have run as many as 80 miles a week at points. In 2010 I competed in my first full marathon, and thought I’d choose an easy city…so I went with San Francisco. Simply put, when it comes to training, I keep it real.

Recently I smoked my colleagues Matt Moses and Kevin Koitz in the Parks Half Marathon running from Rockville to Bethesda on a course that winds through Rock Creek Park. But this accomplishment alone was not enough — I’m destined to do something greater.

…So this coming Sunday, November 6th, I will be running to reverse time. That’s right, I said it, I will be literally running so fast that time will move back exactly one hour during the course of my race. In a run appropriately titled the “Anything Is Possible 5k” I will be changing the spectrum of time.

The run will begin at 1:50am EST at Georgetown Square in Bethesda, and over the course of the race what everyone will see happen is their clocks will literally go back an hour. If you have seen the movie Back to the Future, it will be like a smaller version of the experiment in that film, minus the Delorean. When I have reached a cruising rate of around 10mph the whole world will travel back in time one hour!

Work hard, play hard is part of what makes every individual balanced. To stay sharp in business matters we find that our bodies must help us keep our minds sharp. Plus it helps to have the ability to turn back time too, you never know when you’ll need that (and yes, you can thank me in advance for the extra hour of sleep that night)!

For more information on the race, check out the website at http://www.anythingispossible5k.com/

Not only is this one of the nicer areas to live in all of  Washington DC, but it has also been great in terms of investment. The average home prices in Berkley have remained more stable than many other DC neighborhoods, with the average home value indexed at just over $1.3 million in July of 2011. Further, adding to the good news for investors who are lucky enough to have the option to purchase in this area, is the relatively low turnover. Recent years have see a shortage of good inventory in this desirable neighborhood, which has stabilized home prices even in declining markets.

As the autumn has fallen upon us in DC, one of the fruits of the area harvest in terms of real estate has been a few good options in Berkley. Investors would be wise to take advantage of these properties while they can. The Koitz Group at Keller Williams Capital properties is pleased to represent one of these special properties. This is one of the flagship homes for the DC Area Luxury division that we are proud to be a part of, and is one of the most distinctive and charming residences on the market in the city. The home is perfect for families as well as for the discerning diplomat looking for a proper residence in the city.

More about this home?  Visit >> 4607 Kenmore Drive, NW DC 20007

As a Calgary real estate professional I understand the benefits of hiring an agent with a tech savvy edge when buying or selling a home in today’s very competitive real estate market. Both a buyer and seller can benefit immensely by using a Realtor® who understands the complexities of web-based tools, culture, and how to leverage them.

Communication, for example – the best agents, of course, will be in touch face to face or on the phone — but for those who need/want a quick logistical response, a tech savant will no doubt be fast to respond to email, text messages and social media.  For clarity, I’m working on the presumption that you’ve found an agent who will get back to you in a timely manner regardless of medium…but the biggest bang for your buck will come from a professional who also has the technological know-how to communicate with clients who share this expertise.

For contracts and offers? This new breed of agent will harness technology to expedite delivery of an offer to the listing agent or his/her clients.

For Marketing your home? When selling a home it is imperative to use an agent with the online prowess to reach the maximum potential buyer pool.  The tech savvy agent can reach a broader audience through an Internet presence, and by strategically utilizing You Tube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn … and among many others.  This process of creating a “workflow like social media marketing program” is appropriately named Social Media Optimization.

You may have read that 90% of buyers are finding their new home on the Internet.  Given this increasingy growing pradigm shift, it’s imperative to find an agent who can leverage the internet to develop online strategies.  The best “online agents” understand this importance of proper presentation when marketing a home and will optimize this presentation to reach the largest audience possible.

Let’s take a step back and remember that photos are the foundation of any successful marketing campaign.  This is where the best online real estate marketers/agents shine. Through use of premier third party virtual tour companies and using their knowledge of photo editing programs, creation of the most visually engaging images will be par for the course.

The best online marketing agents will have access to the latest listings and will email them to you as they come onto the market.  You will never miss out on any listing that matters to you.

Aside from knowing the market and its inventory, the most Tech savvy Realtors® will also have a a heads up on industry changes — harnessing traditional media and using local trending technology on social networks like Twitter, and Facebook.

In the end, when working with this new breed of real estate professional, it’s certainly important to make sure that they have extensive knowledge about both the local market and about the contract language.  If you’re impressed with their breadth of knowledge, as a buyer or seller, you will unequivocally benefit from the tools the real estate web savant brings to the table.

Crystal Tost, an award winning Calgary Realtor uses a “hands on, tech-centric” approach to provide her buyer and sellers unriveled access and maketing tools.  Visit her today at www.CalgaryListings.com

1. A Separation – This Iranian gem may or may not make its way to local theatres, but you should hope that it does. We were lucky enough to not only see this film, but also to hear a Q & A with the director — who is a wonderful human being. The “separation” is manifested on many levels. On surface, this is the story of a woman who is seeking a divorce from her husband because she has an opportunity to take their daughter out of the country for a better education…and the husband refuses to go. So, it is a separation of two people. As the story unfolds, we also see a class separation, religious separation and gender separation. The Iranian justice system comes off as very primative — although the “judge” in this particular case seems to be kind and caring. The acting is superb and I believe that both the lead actor and actress were award winners at the Berlin Film Festival.

2. The Descendants – This one you will have no trouble seeing at a local theatre, thanks in great part to the fact that the lead role is played by George Clooney (who was at Telluride!!!). In this film, which will have you laughing and crying practically at the same time, George (we’re on a first name basis since I was in the same theatre as him :-) plays a flawed dad (he works all the time and is pretty distant from his two daughters) who has to step up to the plate after his wife has a tragic accident. Again, our experience was heightened by a Q & A with Clooney and a young actress, Shailene Woodley, who plays his older daugher. Definitely a “must see.”

3. The Artist — Ok…this is one of those films that I was sure wasn’t going to interest me when I read the synopsis. Among other things, it is silent!! Yes, this 2011 production about a silent movie matinee idol is shot in black and white and is without spoken dialogue. It does, however, have a wonderful score and you soon “forget” that the spoken word is missing. My husband likened it to watching a good foreign film that has subtitles. The more you get into the move, the more the subtitles “disappear” — and the same thing happens with the lack of sound. The acting is so wonderful that you are able to get all the emotions and it is great fun!! The lead female role is played by an Argentinian actress, Berenice Bejo, and she is absolutely gorgeous!!

4. We Need to Talk About Kevin — This is a tough movie. If you haven’t read the book, I’d highly recommend that you do so. It is a beautifully written piece about a hauntingly horrible story. The movie, starring Tilda Swinton (who was also at Telluride), follows the book as closely as it can in the time allotted…but you’ll get more questions answered if you read the book first. In a nutshell, it’s about a woman who is ambivalent about becoming a mother and her son, who turns against her almost from the moment he is born. You don’t exactly come away singing (!), but it is extremely well done and opened the doors for hours of conversation.

5. In Darkness — As the name implies, this one is also not a real upper…but, again, beautifully done and worth seeing. It is based on a true story of a small group of Polish Jews who hide in the sewers of the city of Lvov during World War II. This extremely suspenseful movie was, at times, hard to watch — and I was anxious for the survivors to be able to see the light!!

6. The Kid With a Bike — This hopeful film centers on an 11 year old boy who has been abandoned by his father (we never see of hear of his mother) and placed in a children’s home. He “escapes” from the home and, during futile attempts to reunite with his deadbeat Dad, he meets a young woman who agrees to become his weekend guardian. But even his beloved bike and his new guardian can’t keep him out of trouble as he continues his journey. In the end, we definitely see the kid with a bike headed in the right direction. This one is endearing.

7. Albert Nobbs — In this period piece (1890s Dublin), Glenn Close plays the role of Albert, a woman who has lived for many years as a man in order to be gainfully employed as a butler/server in a hotel. Painfully shy and totally removed from any sense of identity, Albert is a timid character who does his/her job and hides his/her earnings with the hope of eventually being able to buy a tobacco shop. We watch Albert as s/he tries to find companionship and a better life. Totally recommend!!

8. A Dangerous Method — I’m putting this one in because I saw it…and you will have an opportunity to see it, too. The great thing about movies is that, like wine, there’s something that pleases everyone …and we don’t all have to like the same thing. Having said that, we walked out of this one. It’s based on a true story about a young woman (played by Keira Knightley) who is diagnosed with acute hysteria and her doctor, Carl Jung. Jung consults with Sigmund Freud and the two end up at odds over the care of the patient — at least in part because of Jung’s growing passion for this young woman. To me, Knightley overplays the character so much that it was distracting and this psychological drama lost me completely!!

9: Recommended by others, but not seen by me:

a. The Island President — a documentary about the Maldives, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, that are threatened by climate change. Everyone loved this!!

b. Footnote – Described as “painfully funny”, this is a story about father and son Talmudic scholars, their relationship (flawed) and their attempts at reconciliation. Again, highly recommended by most everyone who saw it.

With the Fall harvest virtually upon us, Washington DC and Bethesda have gown increasingly begun alive with vibrant outdoor markets providing an abundance of farm to table items. From produce, to meats and seafood, many local producers have gained an entry into the market place through a growing number of Farmer’s Markets in DC proper as well as the near in suburbs. And where the tradition used to limit these markets strictly to Sunday mornings, we are now seeing them spread to all different days and times providing all sorts of options to shoppers.

There is also an ever increasing trend towards chef participation at these events from local as well as national food personalities, leading cooking demonstrations as well as discussing how they source ingredients for their respective establishments. Some markets are also expanding to include vending on site such as Red Zebra, a mobile gourmet wood fired pizza outfit that has recently taken up a “residency” at the Freshfarm Market by the White House every Thursday from 3-7pm.

It’s nice to know in this ever growing city that we can still get a little taste of country living, and from Dupont, to Downtown, to Bethesda there are opportunities to advance healthy eating habits. Enjoy in good health!

For more information on farm markets near your part of the city as well as a calendar of events and chef appearances, a great resource is www.freshfarmmarket.org, and independent non profit group based out of Washington DC dedicated towards providing economic opportunities for local farmers.