Conspiracy Theory of the Week: Bethesda Chemtrails

Most conspiracy theories have, at their base, a tiny nugget of truth in them then loads of speculation or pure fiction. Sometimes they even involve NIH, but rarely do they relate to other parts of Bethesda, MD. Earlier this week I blogged about the storm of stuff coming from the hotel construction on Waverly St. There were actually quite a few news articles about it, all seemingly sourced from the same Washington Post article that I saw.

This blog post however, takes the cake, calling it a "mysterious substance raining on Bethesda, MD" full of scary conspiracy theory stuff like "Local officials say they’ve traced the source of the material to a nearby construction site, but not everyone believes this answer." and "Chemtrail conspiracy theorists think they [NIH] could be conducting a new experiment on the people right outside their gates."

Anyway, I find it somewhat funny. Especially since I walked by there and there is quite a bit of little styrofoam balls blowing around in the breeze. When all the facts point to it coming from the construction site, I wouldn't be too hasty to dismiss the obvious answer.

A little work on the Trail

Today they were putting asphalt down on a small stretch of the Georgetown Branch trail, from the entrance at Elm Street Park to just outside the tunnel (going east) in Bethesda, MD. They also have recently paved the drainage ditch that runs alongside the trail. In the photo, you can see where the blacktop ends in the lower right corner. You can also see the wood plank across the ditch where you would access the trail from Pearl St. When I went by they had just finished the paving, the blacktop was still warm and they were still packing up.

Update 5/16: I went down the trail a ways to see how far the concrete drainage ditch goes. It continues until near the bridge at East-West Highway.

Is there something in the air?

The Washington Post has an article about how the construction of the Hilton Hotel on Waverly St in downtown Bethesda, MD is causing problems. They have been sanding the side of the building and it is causing a blizzard of fine dust and plastic foam to swirl through the air. The problem, began in "late March, [and] continued as recently as yesterday, despite eight more visits from county environment officials, three citations totaling $1,500 in fines and a threat by the county to withdraw the building permit."

There is a daycare right next to this building (Childtime), I wonder how those parents feel about this.

Update 3:20pm: I walked by there and even though they weren't working today there were a lot of small bits of Styrofoam swirling around on the ground. Nothing you would inhale, but anything smaller would have blown away by now.

Leaves and Rain (POTD)

We sure have been having a lot of rain the past few weeks. I got this picture of rain drops on young leaves during a break in the rain on Thursday. (go ahead, click on it, look at it bigger)

[where: Bethesda Metro Plaza, Bethesda, MD]

Strut your Mutt

If you are planning on being in Downtown Bethesda, MD on Saturday I hope you like dogs. It is the 4th annual Strut Your Mutt Dog Parade and Festival. There will be a a Pooch Parade, dog fashion show, canine contests, kids play area, and more. It runs from 10:00am to 3:00pm with the dog parade at 10:45. I wonder if Alley Cat Allies will be watching from a window.

This weekend: The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

The sixth annual Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will be held Saturday, May 9 & Sunday, May 10, 2009 in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Fine art and crafts created by 150 of the nation's best artists, live entertainment and great food from some of Bethesda's best restaurants!

Arts include photography, painting, furniture, ceramics, glass, sculpture, jewellery, and clothing.

10am to 6pm Saturday, May 9th and 10am to 5pm Sunday, May 10th, 2009.

Feed the meters, Help the homeless?

The Washington Post has a story about the new meters appearing in Bethesda. They are old parking meters but they aren't for parking. They are for donating to Bethesda Cares, an organization dedicated to reducing homelessness in Bethesda, MD. There are four of these meters spread throughout downtown. The goal of these meters is more to raise awareness than to collect money. According to Sue Kirk, the director of Bethesda Cares "With these meters, I mean, we're literally talking about pocket change, but we're already seeing people doing double takes as they pass by. As people start to notice, we're hoping it will do a lot of good."

I was a bit disappointed they took off the thing you spin and the time dial, I'd like to be able to put money in and have the time remaining go up. If your bored one day, you could try and find all four and put a quarter in each.

Temporary Parking lot closure

According to Montgomery County's DPWT, parking lot 31A is closed for a couple of months so they can "relocate utilities". This is a really tiny (about 20 spaces) lot on the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Lane, right in the heart of Bethesda, MD and right across the street from a much larger surface lot. The closure was supposed to begin "On or about May 1st" but this morning there were still three cars parked in the lot.

The reason they need to relocate utilities is to prepare for a much larger construction project that will turn both this lot and the large one across the street (lot 31) into a large mixed-use development with an underground public parking garage containing nearly 1,500 spaces. Construction for that project is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2010. More info about the development at the Gazette.

Update 5/30: The lot still isn't closed, the news release has been updated to a Mid June closing date, exact date to be determined.

Update 8/20: This lot still hasn't been closed, now it is scheduled to close around 9/1, we will see if they stick to that.

Update 11/16: Next they said it would close on 11/1, then pushed it to 11/16. It looks like that date stuck, because it is closed now.

Watching the races

Today I went to watch a horse race. No, not the Kentucky Derby, a different horse race that happens to be on the same day and is much closer to were I live.


I went to the Virginia Gold Cup a four mile long steeplechase run on a large grass field with timber jumps the horses go over. It is held the first Saturday of May every year in The Plains, VA. This years winner was Salmo and last year's winner, Bubble Economy came in second. In the photos, Salmo is the one with the green-shirted rider.

It is actually a whole afternoon of races, they hold 6 races, but the gold cup is the main draw.

I have a photo album from the fourth race, the Starter Allowance Hurdle as well as one from the main event, the VA Gold Cup.

Bethesda Weekend Events

There are a few happenings of note this weekend in Bethesda, MD

Celebrate Mama: Performance by Rocknoceros, puppet show, belly dancing, giveaways, market & more. Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda Row. 11am-4pm. Woodmont Avenue around Bethesda Row will be closed for this.

Glen Echo Park Family Day: Family Day celebrates the opening of the Park's historic Dentzel Carousel for the 2009 season and highlights the full range of activities offered at the Park. The celebration also recognizes the Asian-Pacific American Heritage during the month of May with hula dance performances and art activities. Families will enjoy artist demonstrations, magic shows, family dancing, Irish dance performances, tours by National Park Service rangers and $1.25 carousel rides. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The playground has been closed for renovation and is slated to re-open early May. Hopefully by that they mean May 2nd, but I don't know if it will be open for family day.

Free comic book day: Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. Big Planet Comics is participating.

Bethesda Farmers Market: Every Tuesday & Saturday - 10am - 2:30pm
May 2 - October 31, 2009 in Veteran's Park. This Saturday is the first one of the year.