After banning circus animals, MoCo gets one-man circus

The Montgomery County Council is infamously known for debating at length, and then approving, a ban on circus animals - at the same time as once-major County employer Discovery Communications was being wooed to relocate by other jurisdictions. Sadness ensued for all, as Montgomery County wound up losing both circuses and the Discovery Channel headquarters. But, now through Sunday, July 7 at Strathmore, it's David Dimitri to the rescue! The son of legendary clown Jakob Dimitri is bringing a one-man circus to Montgomery County, L'homme Cirque.

Dimitri will fire himself out of a cannon as a human cannonball. He will walk the high wire. Strathmore promises he will balance these and other daring feats with "humor, poetry and an accordion serenade." At the climax of the performance, Dimitri will open the top of the tent, and the audience will witness him disappear "into the sky" on the high wire.

The one-man circus is one contingency the anti-circus County Council apparently did not anticipate, and thereby is legal. Teeth are assuredly gnashing at 100 Maryland Avenue, but the show must! go! on! True to the Montgomery Way, though, Dimitri was required to get a permit from the County to erect his tent on the Strathmore property. Big Government for the Big Tent!

You can buy tickets online, and watch a trailer for Dimitri's L'homme Cirque:

Union ticket sellers to leaflet Strathmore performance tonight

Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 868 will leaflet a performance of "Black Violin" at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda tonight at 7:00 PM. The action is being held in support of ticket sellers at the Montgomery County concert hall. Ticket sellers there unionized with the IATSE a year ago, but have been unable to reach a collective bargaining agreement with Strathmore management.

Management has "fought us every step of the way," said Local 868's Anita Wilkinson. Attendees arriving at the sold-out show will be handed informational leaflets, the union says.

2 THEFTS AT BETHESDA ROW + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 11, according to crime data:

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road (downtown Bethesda).

Theft. Bethesda Lane at Elm Street (Bethesda Row).

Theft. 7100 block Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row).

Vehicle burglary. 10500 block Grosvenor Place.

Theft. 5200 block Symphony Forest Lane (Strathmore area).

Theft. 7100 block Democracy Boulevard.

Drug arrest. Cabin John Mall.

AUTO BREAK-INS IN GROSVENOR/STRATHMORE/CEDARWOOD AREA OF BETHESDA - CRIME UPDATE

An alarming number of crimes took place Thursday in the general vicinity of Grosvenor, Strathmore and the Cedarwood area off Tuckerman Lane. 5 vehicles were broken into, and an arrest on narcotics offenses was made on Luxberry Court, in that same vicinity. It is unknown if that arrest is related to the nearby vehicle burglaries.

If you live in that area, make sure your vehicle is locked, and that all valuables have been removed from the cabin. Check vehicles you haven't used since last Thursday for signs of burglary, or for missing property. And report any suspicious activity or vehicles to the Montgomery County Police.

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on March 20, according to crime data:

Theft. 6900 block Arlington Road.

Drug arrest. 5200 block Pooks Hill Road.

Vehicle burglary. 5300 block King Charles Way (Grosvenor area).

Vehicle burglary. 5300 block King Charles Way (Grosvenor area).

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Barbados Place (off Tuckerman Lane).

Vehicle burglary. 5900 block Barbados Place (off Tuckerman Lane).

Vehicle burglary. 10900 block Brewer House Road (off Tuckerman Lane).

Drug arrest. XX block Luxberry Court (off Tuckerman Lane).

FREE CONCERT AT STRATHMORE MANSION THURSDAY

Score FREE tickets for you and your friends to see internationally-acclaimed classical pianist Berenika - along with funk-rock band SOL - for an evening of diverse sounds at the Mansion at Strathmore Thursday (January 24).

Please RSVP if you would like to attend.

The concert will begin at 8:00 PM in the mansion's Music Room.

This is not Berenika's first appearance in Bethesda, as she previously appeared in concert here with violinist Rebecca Racusin (who may make a guest appearance at tomorrow night's concert herself).

DATE NIGHT WITH

"PASSION" AT THE

STRATHMORE TONIGHT

Did you take my date night advice last month, and attend the screening of Metropolis with live symphonic accompaniment?

If it worked out well, I have an encore for you tonight, right here in Bethesda at the Strathmore at 8 PM.

A screening of the 1928 silent classic, "The Passion of Joan of Arc," will be accompanied by a live performance of the acclaimed original score by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Marin Alsop.

Renee Falconetti's portrayal of Joan of Arc has only been named one of the top 100 cinematic performances of all time. No big deal, right?

There is also a FREE pre-screening lecture for you really intellectual cinephiles.

To reserve tickets, and for all the details, go to

http://www.bsomusic.org/explorations

Ah, but what about the dinner?

I would recommend Addies and Black Market Bistro, part of the same family-owned group as Black's Bar and Kitchen. Both are close to Strathmore.

Timpano's and Cheesecake Factory are nearby as well, and Matchbox on Rockville Pike a bit further yet.