February 11, 2026 |  | 💙 Wootton Begins to Heal | | Good morning, Potomacker. We're skipping the jokes today and leading with an update on Monday's shooting at Wootton High School. Our thoughts are with the students, families, and staff as the community begins to heal. Also in today's Potomac Loop, • Jazz legends take over Bethesda this weekend • Time to get that pothole fixed • Swing'N On A Star Trio at Hunters Thursday Let's Loop. | | | Read This If You Love Real Soup |  | Right here at The Market at River Falls, someone did the chopping, stirring, and simmering for you. | This week, every soup is 25% off through Thursday, including the rich Lobster Bisque, classic Beef Stew, and hearty Beef and Turkey Chilis. | Two days left to stock the fridge, feed the family, or keep an easy “don’t feel like cooking” backup at home. | See what’s simmering at The Market at River Falls | *This section is sponsored by a friend of the Loop |
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| | | | | 🚨 Wootton brings students back for healing while parents still seek answers. After Monday's shooting, the school focused on counselors over classrooms yesterday while beginning to add security cameras and door locks. Two family information sessions with Rockville Police were also held Tuesday but some still seek answers around the communications, process, and changes moving forward. Read the Superintendents message and latest updates [MoCoShow] | | 🚗 Car crashes and catches fire in Potomac. One person was hospitalized Monday morning after their vehicle slammed into a tree and caught fire on River Road near Stoney Creek Road. Read the details | | 🏠 Convicted squatter returns to $2.3M Bethesda home. Despite being found guilty on all charges, the convicted squatter is back at the Braeburn Drive property, leaving neighbors on edge about safety in the typically peaceful neighborhood. Read the full story [Fox Baltimore] | | 🧶 Fiber arts summer camps open for registration. FiberArt.STUDIO in Carderock Springs launches 2026 summer camp registration, offering week-long fiber arts adventures for kids 8-16 where they'll learn everything from weaving to yarn crafts in small groups of eight. Register now | | 🎺 Jazz legends take over Bethesda this weekend. The Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival kicks off this Friday at the Bethesda Marriott, honoring the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with three nights of world-class performances including Gary Bartz, Jason Marsalis, and local favorite Paul Carr. Grab tickets for the three-day celebration | | ⛳ MCG Academy tees up spring registration. Montgomery Country Golf's academy is now accepting registrations for adult group programs, junior coaching, and summer camps for the upcoming season. Check out the programs | | 🕳️ County launches 2-day blitz to fix potholes Montgomery County deploys 125+ workers today & tomorrow (2/11-12) for intensive pothole repairs across 5,400 lane miles following severe winter storm damage. Residents are encouraged to report the issues to fix report your potholes here | | 🎓 Our brains rank third in the nation. Maryland places third among America's most educated states in WalletHub's 2026 rankings, with the second-highest percentage of graduate degree holders and the smallest gender gap in educational attainment. While we excel at the top (5th for bachelor's degrees), there's room to grow in high school completion rates (28th) and racial equity (17th). Read the full report [WalletHub] Full story [wallethub.com] |
| | | Valentine’s Dinner at Home |  | This year, skip the crowded reservations and set the table your way. | The Market at River Falls has a Valentine’s Dinner for Two with mains like Filet Mignon, Beef Wellington, or Lobster Tails, plus seafood starters and sides ready to heat and serve. | Finish with chocolate-dipped colossal strawberries and house-made chocolate mousse in edible chocolate cups. | Every bottle of champagne and sparkling wine is 20% off this Friday and Saturday, perfect for a quiet toast at home. | Order your Valentines Day dinner here | *This section is sponsored by a friend of the Loop |
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| | | | Support the Loop by mentioning it when you attend. | | Mastermind 11:30am-1pm · The Grove Bar and Grill Felicity Tchoufa leads a high-impact mastermind for women entrepreneurs and professionals, turning goals and challenges into actionable next steps. Bring a 30-second intro and one ask | The Digital Side of Estate Planning: Managing Photos, Documents, & Online Accounts 1pm-2:15pm · Hybrid - At Oasis Bethesda & Virtual Estate planning experts from Oasis show you how to organize and manage your photos, documents, and online accounts before it becomes a crisis for your heirs. | Chinese New Year Open House 3pm · Cogir of Potomac Cogir of Potomac celebrates Chinese New Year with cultural activities, traditional elements and community gathering. | Coding with Python 4:30pm-5:30pm · Potomac Library High school mentors from Rocket Robotics at Richard Montgomery guide young coders through Python fundamentals in this six-week introduction to programming. | Mahjong Night 7pm · Whelan's Beer & Wine Whelan's sets up mahjong tables with The Charleston Coach for players to practice their tile-matching skills. |
| | | | Great Backyard Bird Count 9am-10am · Locust Grove Nature Center Join Montgomery Parks naturalists to spot and count local bird species as part of this nationwide community science project. Bring binoculars or borrow theirs. Register in link | Make Your Own Collage Workshop 10:30am · Potomac Community Center Potomac Community Village's Cultural Arts Programming guides you through creating your own mixed-media collage using provided materials and techniques. | Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival 3pm · Bethesda Marriott A three-day jazz festival celebrating the centennial birthdays of jazz legends John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Features performances by Gary Bartz, Jason Marsalis, Paul Carr, and numerous acclaimed jazz artists across 5 stages, plus masterclasses, artist interviews, and jam sessions. | Parents' Night Out 6pm · My Gym Potomac My Gym Potomac keeps your kids entertained for three hours with fitness games, active play, pizza and Valentine's-themed activities while you get a break. | Advanced Arrangements 7pm · Rewild Cabin John REWILD's resident arrangement master teaches advanced techniques as you craft a 6-inch arrangement in an exclusive low bowl planter by a local ceramicist. |
| | 2026 Falling for You 5k/10k/Half 7:30am-8:30am · C&O Canal National Historic Park Run alongside the Potomac River with waterfall views post-race on the scenic C&O Canal trail. Walkers & strollers welcome | Valentine's Orchid Centerpiece Workshop 11am · Good Earth Garden Market Create a special Valentine's gift in this hands-on workshop where you'll design a living centerpiece featuring an orchid, complementary foliage plants, and creative decorative elements. |
| | Celebrate Lunar New Year 11am-3pm · Westfield Montgomery Watch lion and dragon dances, martial arts demos, and traditional Chinese music performances presented by the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center to ring in the Year of the Snake. | Valentine's Diffuser Workshop 2pm · Potomac French Market Reine des Fleurs guides you through creating custom scent diffusers with organic essential oils, complete with champagne and French desserts to set the mood. |
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| 👉 See every Potomac event on our full calendar 👈 | | | Wed | Emily and Jorge
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm | Keith Grimes & Dean Dalton
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm | Inn House Band
Irish Inn At Glen Echo · 6pm | AIR: Cyrus Mackey x Kenyatta
Strathmore · 7:30pm · TIX | Brother Bill Quintet
Hank Dietles · 8pm | 1964: The Tribute
The Barns at Wolf Trap · 8pm · TIX |
| | Thu | Ted Garber
The Grove · 5pm | Bossa Bordeaux
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm | Peace, Love & Boogie Woogie Happy Hour w/ Bill Starks & Greg Hardin
Hank Dietles · 5:30pm | Jeff Herbert
Irish Inn At Glen Echo · 6pm | Swing'N On A Star Trio
Hunters Bar & Grill · 7pm · TIX | BSO: Lunar New Year Celebration
Strathmore · 7:30pm · TIX | The Grandsons
Hank Dietles · 8pm |
| | Fri | Doug Bell
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm | Jay Byrd
Whelans · 7pm | Kurt Elling: In The Brass Palace
Strathmore · 8pm · TIX | Tim O'Brien with Jan Fabricius
The Barns at Wolf Trap · 8pm · TIX | Nobody's Business
Hank Dietles · 9pm |
| | Sat | Jeff Herbert
Old Anglers Inn · 2-5pm | Nat King Cole- A Trio Tribute
Hank Dietles · 5pm · TIX | Juliet Lloyd
Windridge Vineyards · 5pm | BSO Reimagined: Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Strathmore Music Center · 8pm · TIX | Bobby Thompson Band
Hank Dietles · 9pm · TIX |
| | Sun | Trinity Chamber Orchestra
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation Potomac · 2pm | Brooks Tegler & Friends
Irish Inn At Glen Echo · 4:30pm | Washington Performing Arts: Living the Dream... Singing the Dream
Strathmore · 7pm · TIX |
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| *Dates & times subject to change | Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here |   | Thanks for reading! Colin & Jonathan Your neighbors at the Loop |
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