Mother Nature decided to throw her own version of a temper tantrum last Thursday, and frankly, she made quite the impression on our typically well-manicured corner of the world. Montgomery County Fire & Rescue responded to over 600 incidents on June 19, including 295 medical calls and 247 fire-related emergencies, with more than 200 occurring in just two hours between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., primarily involving downed trees and power lines across Potomac, Glen Echo, Cabin John, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park. The storm's particular fondness for our leafy neighborhoods meant that century-old oaks suddenly became unwelcome houseguests, with multiple trees crashing through roofs and onto vehicles, though mercifully no serious injuries were reported. One might say the storm had exquisite timing—arriving precisely when everyone was either stuck in Beltway traffic or picking up children from various after-school enrichment activities.

The Bulldogs are doing what Bulldogs do best—running circles around the competition while making it look effortless. Bullis School's track program has solidified its position as one of the nation's elite, capping off 2025's New Balance Indoor Nationals with six national championships, while Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson continues to anchor relay teams to historic performances, including a stunning 43.99 split that broke a 40-year-old national high school record at Penn Relays. Between Wilson's otherworldly speed and the program's depth across events, Potomac's own are redefining what it means to "run in the right circles"—quite literally setting the pace for prep athletics nationwide. The track team's success has become as predictable as the annual Great Falls trail closures, except infinitely more pleasant to witness.

Wellness warriors can now officially achieve peak performance optimization without venturing beyond the familiar confines of Wisconsin Avenue. Pure Green opens its doors at 7906 Wisconsin Avenue on Tuesday (6/24), bringing cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, açaí bowls, and a toast menu, with a grand opening celebration featuring free samples and discount wheels scheduled for Saturday (6/28). The brand's mission to "connect people with nutrient-rich superfoods through delicious, performance-driven products" seems tailor-made for a community that approaches wellness with the same intensity other places reserve for playoff sports. Between the post-workout crowd from nearby fitness studios and parents fueling up between school board meetings and soccer tournaments, Pure Green has positioned itself perfectly to caffeinate the consciously caffeinated.

The late Anthony Bourdain's culinary seal of approval continues to carry weight in dining circles, and his beloved Xi'an Famous Foods is eyeing our neck of the woods for expansion. The northwestern Chinese noodle specialist, which Bourdain championed long before its rise from a 200-square-foot basement stall in Queens to over 15 New York locations, is actively scouting Maryland locations with Montgomery County's Rockville area under serious consideration. Fresh off opening in Alexandria to "bonkers business," the hand-pulled noodle and dumpling chain represents authentic Shaanxi province cuisine that transforms the humble noodle into something approaching art. For a community that appreciates both culinary authenticity and the validation that comes with Bourdain's posthumous endorsement, Xi'an's potential arrival feels like destiny meeting demand on Rockville Pike.

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Pajama Storytime. 6:30-7pm @ Potomac Library
The Library's evening Pajama Storytime continues its charming tradition of making literary appreciation a pre-bedtime affair, with 25-30 minute programs designed for children of all ages (though tickets are required and distributed starting at 6 p.m. on event days). 📖

Getting Started with AI: Intro for the Real World. 1-3pm @ Potomac Library
Victor Rezmovic promises to demystify artificial intelligence using the delightfully relatable analogy of "having Einstein in your basement," turning what could be another tedious tech lecture into something approaching practical wisdom for adults who've been pretending to understand what ChatGPT actually does. 🧑‍💻

Teen Park After Dark. 6-7pm @ Meadowside Nature Center
Teenagers get the rare opportunity to roam nature trails after sunset, complete with campfire hot dogs and group-decided adventures that might include spooky cabin stories or moonlit wildlife listening—essentially summer camp nostalgia with modern parental supervision logistics. 🏞

LGBTQ+ Crafting Night. 7-8:30pm @ Meadowside Nature Center
Montgomery Parks celebrates Pride month with an evening that combines ethical foraging, queer ecology facts, and hands-on crafting at Meadowside Nature Center, proving that environmental consciousness and creative expression make natural companions on a Friday night. 🎨

Parks Playhouse Jr. - The Puppet Co. 10-11am @ Cabin John Regional Park
The Puppet Co. brings their marionette magic back to Cabin John with a classic retelling of Peter and the Wolf, offering families a mid-morning cultural interlude that combines live performance with the simple pleasure of blanket picnicking under open skies. 🐺

Butterfly Release. 10:30-11:00am @ Potomac Library
The Potomac Village Garden Club transforms the library grounds into a living canvas as families gather to release butterflies into the summer blooms, creating one of those Instagram-worthy moments that actually serves a genuine environmental purpose. 🦋

Kidcreate Studio Grand Opening. 11am-2pm @ Kidcreate Studio Rockville
Come celebrate the Rockville location grand opening with an open house for ages 18 months to 12 years, giving families a fun place to create more fridge-worthy masterpieces. 🖼

Drag Brunch Pride Extravaganza. 12-3pm @ Clear Skies Meadery
A Pride Month drag brunch featuring the "Bed by Ten" divas who are decidedly "Up at Noon," complete with Beltway Bistro food truck fare and complimentary mead-mosas for a mere $5 ticket that promises sparkle, sass, and weekend revelry. 🍹

Ch/Art Summer Magic Exhibition Opening Reception. 4-6pm @ Chevy Chase Village Center
Chevy Chase's nonprofit Ch/Art opens its "Summer Magic" members' exhibition June 28th with 52 works from 31 local artists, running until July 27. 🎨

Twinbrook Quarter Family Fun Day. 11am-2pm @ Twinbrook Quarter Central Park
Fun for the whole family featuring The Peruvian Brothers, complete with free empanadas, face painting and an alpaca petting zoo right where the future Wegmans will stand. 🦙

Montage 2025: Drama Duo Performance. 4-6:30pm @ Bender JCC of Rockville
The Tagore Music Group presents an evening of sophisticated theatrical entertainment featuring Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's romantic ghost story "The Hungry Stones" in English alongside a Bengali comedy with English supertitles, offering cultural enrichment that requires no prior knowledge of Bengali literature. 👻

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Scotty is a favorite of everyone who meets him, an adorable 7 1/2 pound one year-old border terrier Chihuahua, with a white soft coat and the most incredibly personable and genial manner. He is friendly with people of all ages and other dogs, he loves to greet everybody who comes his way— he has an excellent sunny disposition. Neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on his shots. Request to adopt him here.

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