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Office: 8229 Boone Blvd. Suite 280 Potomac, MD 22182 Hours Open Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM

Help Reverse Cognitive Decline with

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment in Potomac, MD

There's no way around it: Getting diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease can be both scary and disheartening for patients and their loved ones. The cognitive impairment, memory loss, and eventual cognitive decline can seem like a grim prognosis. Unfortunately, the standard reductionist approach seeking to identify a single silver bullet cure doesn't account for the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease.

That's why treating Alzheimer's disease requires a multifaceted response from functional medicine. While there is no single drug that can cure Alzheimer's, protocols addressing the nuanced factors contributing to the disease can make a difference. That's where Proactive Wellness Centers and Bredesen protocol treatment in Potomac, MD comes into play.

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Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

The Proactive Wellness Approach to Brain Health

At Proactive Wellness, we firmly believe that brain health is an essential part of your overall well-being. However, despite the emergence of new research, there has been limited understanding of how to promote brain health effectively. This includes reducing the risk of dementia/Alzheimer's and stabilizing cognitive decline in patients with early symptoms. Dr. Lawson, an esteemed Bredesen Protocol practitioner and ReCode 2.0 Certified with 17 years of experience in functional medicine can identify and address the root cause of cognitive decline in you or your loved one.

Dr. Lawson's goal isn't to replace the role of family physicians. Rather, we collaborate with primary care physicians, internists, and other medical professionals to provide a comprehensive approach to care. We believe that every individual is unique from a physiological perspective, and therefore, we avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, our programs focus on a customized approach, addressing risk factors that, if avoided or modified, could have beneficial effects for men and women who have dementia.

Our programs have a strong emphasis on slowing down and reversing the aging process, preventing diseases, and treating chronically ill patients. To achieve this, we employ a three-pronged approach:

  • We empower patients with the knowledge they need to manage their health and attain optimal well-being.
  • We prioritize disease prevention by conducting a thorough evaluation with the help of comprehensive diagnostics and the patient's health history form.
  • We collaborate with patients to implement a rejuvenation program that includes various science-based treatments, like our Brain Health Optimization Program (BHOP) for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's

One of the most popular and effective programs we offer includes Bredesen protocol treatment in Potomac MD. This revolutionary approach to dementia has provided hope and improved cognitive function for countless people in the US. But to understand the importance of the Bredesen protocol, it's important that you first understand dementia, Alzheimer's, and its effect on people across the world.

The Wide-Reaching Effects of

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

There are currently more than 5.8 million individuals in the United States who are living with Alzheimer's disease. It is predicted that the number of individuals with Alzheimer's disease will more than double by 2050.

Dementia is a type of cognitive decline that affects mental abilities. There are many different causes and complex layers involved. Cognitive impairment is characterized by abnormal results on tests measuring memory, speech, critical thinking, and other cognitive abilities, but individuals with this diagnosis are still capable of performing daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Without proper treatment, Alzheimer's disease is likely to follow within a few years. Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, and it is diagnosed through neuro-imaging and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

In the past, being diagnosed with Alzheimer's was often worse than receiving a death sentence. It was dehumanizing and stripped individuals of their memories, thinking abilities, and independence. However, after three decades of research, we now have a greater understanding of this devastating illness and even solutions like Bredesen protocol treatment in Potomac, MD that can help patients deal with dementia.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

What Causes Dementia?

Dementia is caused by a normal and healthy brain process that malfunctions due to a toxic environment, inflammation, and a lack of necessary nutrients and hormones. The brain's defense mechanism produces amyloid plaques, which serve as a protective helmet around the brain. Unfortunately, these plaques destroy connections between nerve cells, ultimately affecting comprehension, recollection, and clarity.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

Dementia by the Numbers

It's important to understand the impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD) around the world. According to the CDC, AD is present in 50% of patients in nursing homes and causes more than 110,000 deaths annually in the US. It was the 6th leading cause of death in 2015. More than 5 million people in the US are affected by AD, and recent data indicates that the problem is getting worse.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 47 million people around the world are currently living with dementia, and this number is expected to rise to 75 million by 2030 and 132 million by 2050. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all cases.

While reading those statistics can be disheartening, there's reason to be hopeful. New therapies and treatments offered at Proactive Wellness - like Bredesen protocol treatment - can help patients deal with dementia and cognitive decline.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

The Power of

Bredesen Protocol Treatment in Potomac, MD

The Bredesen Protocol is a highly personalized treatment program that aims to reverse cognitive decline and improve brain function in patients. Dr. Bredesen has designed the protocol to be adaptable and customizable, tailored to the specific symptoms and needs of each patient.

The program is centered around lifestyle changes, medication, and nutritional adjustments, all of which are tailored to address the unique symptoms and environmental factors that may be contributing to cognitive decline. This approach, referred to as ReCODE, helps patients to combat brain fog and prevent the onset of dementia.

It has also helped patients improve cognitive function significantly, reverse symptoms, and even return to work. The ReCODE program comprises lifestyle interventions, therapeutic diets, and targeted nutrients. Proactive Wellness Centers is thrilled to offer this promising treatment modality for Alzheimer's disease to benefit our patients.

It all starts with a baseline Bredesen evaluation at our wellness clinic in Potomac, MD.

Baseline Bredesen Evaluation from

Proactive Wellness Centers

At Proactive Wellness Centers, we have two ways to help patients who are in search of Bredesen protocol treatment in Potomac, MD. The first option is our Baseline Bredesen Evaluation, which is best suited for asymptomatic patients - that is, individuals who do not exhibit any significant cognitive decline beyond what is expected with age. Dr. Bredesen classifies such patients as "PreCode."

This evaluation serves as a starting point for PreCode patients, as well as those who are unsure of their cognitive status and potential risk factors. Our baseline evaluation includes the following:

The first step involves conducting a comprehensive set of baseline labs to evaluate your overall health, closely following the Bredesen protocol. This step goes beyond standard labs that you might have for a physical. It includes tests for magnesium, zinc, and selenium levels, B6, B12, and folate levels, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels.

It also includes

  • Pre-Diabetes Evaluation
  • Hormone Level Evaluation
  • Thyroid Level Evaluation
  • Specific Immune Marker Evaluation such as TH1, TH2, IL6, and TNF.

Our goal with this assessment is to establish a starting point and compare your cognitive function against what is typical for your age group. We have chosen to use the CNS Vital Signs cognitive assessment, which is widely recognized as one of the best in the industry. Additionally, we will be conducting the standard MoCA test as part of the evaluation.

A DNA test is performed to identify the specific APOE genotype present in your DNA. APOE e4 has been shown to be associated with an increased chance of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, which occurs after a person is 65 years old.

This step covers your lab results and includes a detailed plan of action to address areas of improvement as identified in your baseline evaluation.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

What are the Early Signs of

Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease?

As we grow older, it can be difficult to distinguish between normal changes in our cognitive abilities and the initial signs of dementia. The issue with preventing chronic illnesses is that we often believe we are healthy as long as we don't experience any symptoms, but this is not entirely accurate. Symptoms are typically the last indicator of a disease, meaning it has already progressed by the time they appear.

While it's always best to catch diseases before you notice symptoms, taking proactive measures at the first sign of cognitive changes can greatly impact the aging of your brain and body. It's crucial to act immediately if you're experiencing the following symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment. That way, ,you have a better chance of preventing the development of Alzheimer's.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

Roughly 10% of individuals with MCI progress to Alzheimer's annually.

Fortunately, Bredesen protocol treatment in Potomac, MD may provide you with a chance to delay or even reverse these symptoms

Memory Issues

Memory Issues

You have a hard time remembering events that happened recently, such as appointments or important conversations with loved ones. You may also have trouble remembering important information.

Language Issues

Language Issues

You have trouble finding relevant words when you're talking with other people. You may also have problems following along with complex or complicated discussions.

Maintaining Concentration

Difficulty Maintaining Concentration and Attention

You have noticed a reduced ability to focus and stay honed in on most tasks. You may also not be able to multitask effectively, and it may be harder to keep your attention for long periods of time.

Decline in Executive Functions

Decline in Executive Functions

This symptom involves difficulty with skills like decision-making, planning, problem-solving, and organizing. These difficulties are often most apparent in day-to-day activities.

Visuospatial Awareness

Problems with Visuospatial Awareness

You may have trouble parking your car, judging distances, reading maps, or completing tasks that necessitate spatial orientation.

Impaired Judgement

Impaired Judgement and Reasoning

This may include problems when making judgments or decisions. Examples may consist of difficulties making financial decisions, managing finances, making reasonable and appropriate social decisions, or thinking through risky situations.

Bredesen Protocol Alzheimers Treatment Potomac, MD

By contrast, some of the most common signs of normal aging can include the following

Experiencing temporary lapses in memory, where recently learned details like names or scheduled events may slip from one's mind but can be remembered later on

  • You occasionally make mistakes, but nothing that stands out as significant or unusual.
  • You have to ask for help putting together or setting up electronic devices or equipment.
  • You sometimes forget what day it is but have the ability to remember the correct date later on.
  • Your vision is getting worse, which is caused by cataracts.
  • You experience shortness of breath or get tired more often when being active.
  • You feel unusual aches and pains, especially during poor weather.
  • You get confused sometimes but don't have an inability to make decisions or multitask.
  • You have a hard time keeping your body temp regulated.
  • You get angry or frustrated when tasks aren't completed in certain ways.

Your Trusted Choice for Bredesen Protocol Treatment in Potomac, MD

Maintaining a healthy brain is crucial for one's overall well-being, yet there remains a lack of knowledge when it comes to promoting brain health, reducing the likelihood of dementia, or managing symptoms for those exhibiting early warning signs.

That's why we're excited to offer patients the ReCODE program at Proactive Wellness Centers. Developed by Doctor Bredesen, this treatment has shown remarkable success in improving cognitive function and even reversing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. This comprehensive program includes lifestyle changes, dietary interventions, and specialized nutrients, and we are eager to provide this promising treatment option to patients like you.

If you or a loved one are starting to show concerning signs of cognitive decline, contact our office today to learn more about Bredesen protocol therapy. It could be your first step toward reversing mental decline and enjoying life to its fullest.

Latest News in Potomac, MD

‘Real Housewives Of Potomac’ Star Karen Huger Charged With DUI

POTOMAC, MD — Karen Huger, a cast member of Bravo's reality TV series "Real Housewives of Potomac," has been charged with under the influence and seven other charges in Montgomery County, reports said.Huger, 60, was driving a 2017 Maserati about midnight Tuesday when it crossed the median strip and crashed into street signs, near the intersection of Oaklyn Drive and Beman Woods Way in Potomac, WTOP reported, citing court records. She was not seriously hurt.Huger is also charged with driving while impaired by alc...

POTOMAC, MD — Karen Huger, a cast member of Bravo's reality TV series "Real Housewives of Potomac," has been charged with under the influence and seven other charges in Montgomery County, reports said.

Huger, 60, was driving a 2017 Maserati about midnight Tuesday when it crossed the median strip and crashed into street signs, near the intersection of Oaklyn Drive and Beman Woods Way in Potomac, WTOP reported, citing court records. She was not seriously hurt.

Huger is also charged with driving while impaired by alcohol, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property, People magazine reported.

Other charges she faces are failure to control vehicle speed on the highway to avoid a collision, driving a vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on the highway, driving a vehicle on the highway with suspended registration, and failure to notify administration of change of address within 30 days.

Before charges were filed, Huger told TMZ on Wednesday that she was in shock from the crash, and acknowledged she had received some citations.

Find out what's happening in Potomacwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Last night I met a girlfriend for dinner, we talked and brought up some very emotionally sensitive topics. I was crying on my way home and saw a car heading right for me. I swerved to avoid the head-on collision, hit the divider and then a tree," Huger told TMZ. "I would like to stress, it’s important to understand your emotional state when driving and may this be a reminder to all to use their seatbelts ... the seatbelt saved my life."

Huger has been a cast member of the Bravo series since the show began in 2016.

Huger was cited for drinking and driving in October 2006, WTOP said, citing court records. She was stopped in a Mercedes in Bethesda on Wilson Lane near Bradley Boulevard in that case. A judge granted Huger probation before judgment as a first-time offender.

The show website describes Huger as a "pillar of strength and a force to be reckoned with. ... She attended the University of Virginia and is applying her entrepreneurial spirit in various beauty, fashion and lifestyle ventures while reigning supreme as the Grande Dame of Potomac."

Apricot Lane Boutique Signs Lease At Cabin John Village In Potomac

Apricot Lane Boutique has signed a lease to move into a new retail space at Cabin John Village in Potomac, according to a report.Mark Hand, Patch StaffPOTOMAC, MD — Apricot Lane Boutique has signed a lease to move into a new retail space at Cabin John Village in Potomac, according to a report.The women's apparel boutique is ...

Apricot Lane Boutique has signed a lease to move into a new retail space at Cabin John Village in Potomac, according to a report.

Mark Hand, Patch Staff

POTOMAC, MD — Apricot Lane Boutique has signed a lease to move into a new retail space at Cabin John Village in Potomac, according to a report.

The women's apparel boutique is expected to open later this year and will be located across from ReWild, Robert Dyer@ Bethesda Row reported Saturday.

Cabin John Village has been undergoing major renovations since 2016 when it was acquired by D.C.-based real estate owner and developer Edens. Other recent and planned business openings in the shopping center include Chopt, Capo Deli and The Scoop.

Apricot Lane Boutique will be located at 7951 Tuckerman Lane, Suite C in Potomac. The chain's other locations in Maryland include boutiques in Columbia, Cockeysville and Bel Air. Its other D.C. area location is at One Loudoun in Ashburn.

Each Apricot Lane boutique is locally owned, and all the styles are hand-picked by the owner. "You’ll see today’s most sought after styles and must-have pieces. Every item carefully curated with the local fashionista in mind!" Apricot Lane Boutique says on its website.

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"We have the newest styles, which you'll love. We bring them in with very limited quantities, so you can be sure that you won't see every other woman in town wearing the same clothes as you," the company said.

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More from Potomac

Historic Black cemetery restoration finally moves forward after years of delays

WUSA9 first reported on Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery in February 2023. An unknown number of former enslaved people and freed Blacks are buried there.More VideosPOTOMAC, Md. — African American history, once forgotten, is now a mission for descendants of a 150-year-old Black cemetery in Montgomery County.“You can see there’s a stone here,” said Cherisse Crawford, who lives in Potomac. “There’s stones on top of stones here.”In the 1800s, headstones were often just...

WUSA9 first reported on Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery in February 2023. An unknown number of former enslaved people and freed Blacks are buried there.

More Videos

POTOMAC, Md. — African American history, once forgotten, is now a mission for descendants of a 150-year-old Black cemetery in Montgomery County.

“You can see there’s a stone here,” said Cherisse Crawford, who lives in Potomac. “There’s stones on top of stones here.”

In the 1800s, headstones were often just that. Stones. Especially for the grave of a former enslaved person or even a freed Black person.

“From babies to elderly people,” Crawford said. “Buried out here.”

Historic Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery is hidden in a wooded area off Piney Meetinghouse Road. It is a place Crawford finds family. And frustration.

“There’s been no progress,” Crawford said. “There’s been no progress at all.”

WUSA9 first reported Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery in February 2023. An unknown number of former enslaved people and freed Blacks were laid to rest underneath the brush and debris that now covers it.

That includes Crawford’s great great great grandparents, Nelson Cooper, Sr. and his wife, Louisa.

“I just feel like I need to make it right,” Crawford said. “I feel like they didn’t deserve this. My family didn’t deserve this.”

A WUSA9 Investigation revealed Montgomery County auctioned off the land the cemetery sits on in 1975, but did not know the cemetery was there when it sold the property to a developer for $162 named Saul Joseph.

The land was then passed down to his son, Jeff Joseph, who still lives in Potomac and after realizing the location’s significance, left it undisturbed in the event descendants of those buried there one day stepped forward.

Which is what happened when Crawford knocked on Joseph's door in December 2022, and he pledged his support for the cemetery’s restoration.

Documents show Montgomery County realized the land was a former cemetery at least 2018, when a county preservation survey listed the condition of the burial site as “...poor, overgrown and neglected. With no signs marking at least 10 uncarved field stones and one broken hand-carved marker.”

Crawford believes many more graves than that lie hidden.

In March 2023, a month after WUSA9 original report, Dale Tibbitts, Special Assistant to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, pledged to act.

“We have a history that we have to reckon with,” Tibbets said. “And we have to respect that.”

But a year later, Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery sits in the same condition it did when Cherisse first showed it to WUSA9.

But now she’s not the only one fighting to save it.

“The only answer I got is God,” said Tracy Holsey, who also has ancestors buried at Union Wesley Methodist Church cemetery.

When Crawford told Holsey what she was doing, he was floored. Holsey is working on a book about his own family’s history in Montgomery County. Which, as it turns out, is Milliner’s family also.

“And when she got in touch with me and told me what she was doing, you know it just closed the chapter on things I never knew I’ve been looking for,” Holsey said.

Which means, it’s not just her long-lost ancestors buried here. His are too.

“And I had no clue,” he said. “It was right here.”

Holsey called his childhood friend David McKenzie, owner of the fencing company Capital Fence.

“It’s wrong what’s being done,” McKenzie said. “The county should really help them clean it up, and they’re not giving them any help.”

“I told him what was going on,” Holsey said. “I didn’t have to ask him. When I told him what was happening, he said, I’m there.”

McKenzie offered to do the work free of charge.

“We can come in with plenty of equipment and grub down the trees,” McKenzie told Crawford and Holsey as they stood and planned work on the cemetery site.

McKenzie even offered to donate fencing to keep the historic cemetery preserved once it’s restored.

“By the time we’re done their families can come sit and talk to their relatives,” McKenzie said.

Only bureaucratic red tape in Montgomery County was preventing that, too.

Tibbets spent months blocking Crawford, Holsey and McKenzie from moving forward with their clean up, because Tibbets said the work might require sediment control permits and a land survey first.

After WUSA9 continued to press Tibbets, in February 2024 Tibbets relented.

In an email, Tibbets wrote to Crawford, “I checked with DPS (Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services) and a sediment control permit is not required. You are not exposing 5000 sq. ft. of raw dirt.”

Tibbets said the county’s survey of the land had still not been completed, but told Crawford “You can proceed with the cleanup you described with Mr. Joseph's permission.”

And now, a broken past can slowly be put back together by a determined present.

“This stone here it says, ‘gone but not forgotten’,” Crawford told the group.

“We’re here to make sure they’re not forgotten,” McKenzie added.

Tibbets did not respond to WUSA9’s specific questions about whether all the bureaucratic delays in getting this work started could have been avoided.

Councilmember Andrew Friedson, who represents the area and visited the cemetery site with Crawford and Jospeh, told WUSA9 in an email “I share in their frustration” over those delays.

Editors Note: In past coverage of this story WUSA9 referred to Cherisse Crawford as Cherisse Milliner. Milliner’s name has since changed to Crawford.

Inside the Grove, a Floral-Filled Mediterranean Marvel for Maryland

A fantastical dinner awaits at the Grove, a daring new dining oasis where a Spanish-born chef shows off his Vegas credentials across a menu full of meticulously plated Mediterranean dishes. Alexandria-based Common Plate Hospitality (Mason Social, Urbano, Augie’s Mussel House) steps out of its casual comfort zone with tonight’s opening of a highly ambitious restaurant for Potomac...

A fantastical dinner awaits at the Grove, a daring new dining oasis where a Spanish-born chef shows off his Vegas credentials across a menu full of meticulously plated Mediterranean dishes. Alexandria-based Common Plate Hospitality (Mason Social, Urbano, Augie’s Mussel House) steps out of its casual comfort zone with tonight’s opening of a highly ambitious restaurant for Potomac, Maryland.

Nestled in the Cabin John Village shopping center, the Grove’s nightly menu showcases flavors and techniques synonymous with regions of coastal Spain, Italy, and Greece (7747 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, Maryland). Its huge fine-dining hire is executive chef Jose Lopez-Picazo, whose former West Coast workplace — the Bellagio’s French-Spanish showpiece Picasso — earned two Michelin stars and the James Beard Award for outstanding restaurant under his watch. More recently, he helped spearhead the opening of Fabio Trabocchi’s Spanish stunner Del Mar on the Southwest Waterfront.

Well-versed in the art of everything from seafood preparation to sous-vide, the graduate of the Madrid Cooking Institute flexes his gastronomic muscles to the max at the Grove. His tuna tartare, a rectangular slab of avocado cream, nori, toasted sesame seed, Osetra caviar, and Mediterranean soy sauce, is “a different presentation than anyone doing it.” Red beet gel makes an appearance in beef tartare and pintxo built with Iberico black sausage and quail egg. Vibrantly hued, laser-cut crackers resembling the restaurant’s logo finish off much of the menu.

“We realized there’s nothing here to cater to a higher-end experience,” Common Plate’s founder Chad Sparrow told Eater this year. “People don’t have to go to D.C. — we can offer that at the Grove.”

Lopez-Picazo plans to rotate through local and seasonal ingredients all year, and his opening menu leading into winter celebrates comfort foods like paprika potatoes and sous-vide veal cheeks with caramelized red cabbage, celery root puree, and thyme demi sauce.

Boiled octopus capped off lemon foam is another good way to start. Braised meat atop brioche bread meets up with guanciale and creamy mashed potatoes in the “Unexpected Oxtail” order that lives up to its name.

An Italian breed of cows that predominately dine on corn supply the Buffala burrata, which he smokes and serves with sweet corn cream. “When you taste the milk of this cow and combination of the crema it marries very well,” he says. His sourcing skills are also evident in day boat seared scallops bought from a lauded New York purveyor, paired with artichoke puree and royal trumpet mushrooms. Entrees fit for two include an abundant Catalán fisherman’s stew brimming with monkfish, prawns, lobster, and clams or a whole sea salt-baked dorada — a rare catch akin to branzino.

Look for a la carte dinner to start (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), with a tasting menu joining the mix in about a month and a half. At the harmoniously designed project, the dreamy decor intentionally matches the artistry of the dishes. The elegant restaurant, predominately filled with corals, pinks, and white tones, features a “similar color [scheme] with the food we do,” says Lopez-Picazo.

Lopez-Picazo’s stateside cooking career kicked off in the late 1990s under José Andrés in D.C. and flourished across the U.S. in other large Vegas roles like Aria’s Julian Serrano Tapas.

“Bringing him in was a huge feather in our cap. He has the potential to win a Michelin star here,” Sparrow told Eater this year.

For now, the kitchen is focused on communicating the Grove’s story to guests.

“My goal is to make people understand what we do and surprise them with my food,” says Lopez-Picazo, whose sous chef worked under chef Robert Wiedmaier.

An 18-foot wine rack stocked with all sorts of Mediterranean varietals “lights up like a Christmas tree,” says sommelier Julia Ollar. An opening list of 45 bottles is expected to double down the line.

“Like any beverage program, we are not the stars of the show — we are here to compliment and support the [food]. They’ve raised the bar pretty high for us,” says beverage director Dan Marlowe, who came up with the creative cocktail list after Lopez-Picazo handed over his menu.

The bar leans heavily on Mediterranean classics like gin, amaro, port, and sherries. “But there’s so much you can do with that,” adds Marlowe.

A sangria shooter served in a cordial glass is quick-sipper sure to please, comprised of a savory wine reduction, orange liqueur, brandy, gin, and gelatin foam. Instead of one everyday espresso martini, there’s two next-level kinds: one with grappa-based liqueur and root spice syrup and another with honey and tequila reposado.

Common Plate’s second act in Maryland is its anticipated Heights Food Hall, slated to open near the Friendship Heights Metro next month.

Potomac, Maryland: Everything You Need to Know

Potomac MarylandPotomac, Maryland is in southern Montgomery County Maryland, just outside the beltway, bordering the Potomac River. There are dozens of smaller neighborhoods. Potomac is best known for being a DC suburb with luxury homes. With luxury comes higher price points. Stick with me until the end because I’m going to debunk a long-standing myth about Potomac.Potomac is one of the first areas in Maryland where it feels more suburban than urban like neighboring ...

Potomac Maryland

Potomac, Maryland is in southern Montgomery County Maryland, just outside the beltway, bordering the Potomac River. There are dozens of smaller neighborhoods. Potomac is best known for being a DC suburb with luxury homes. With luxury comes higher price points. Stick with me until the end because I’m going to debunk a long-standing myth about Potomac.

Potomac is one of the first areas in Maryland where it feels more suburban than urban like neighboring Bethesda. The lots are bigger, the houses larger, there’s more riding lawn mowers and many homes where you can’t even hear your mailbox open when the postman arrives.

Transportation & Commute

Potomac is indeed a “close-in” suburb, but it will be a longer commute if you are heading downtown or to Northern Virginia. If you are commuting via 270, it could take 15 minutes just to get to the highway depending on where in Potomac you are. River Road is another major corridor out of Potomac and into DC. While it is a main road, there are many lights and speed cameras.

Real Estate

In the last year, 406 single family homes sold in Potomac. The average house in the past year closed for $1.496M. The median was $1.297M.

I have some things to say about Potomac Real Estate. This is not a place where people come and go every few years. People set down roots here and you will often find that the homes for sale have been owned by the same family for 20, 30, 40 years. That said, be prepared for homes that are well-loved but may have dated features like wallpaper, polished brass fixtures, or textured ceilings.

Prices here start at about $800,000 and they can go up into the $2M’s. There are of course outliers at higher price points as well as lower price points but this is generally the range of the Potomac home. You are getting a lot more land typically and a lot more house than in areas like Bethesda or Chevy Chase.

There are some townhomes here, as well as the Park Potomac Community just off 270. There are brownstone homes here as well as condos. These were built about 15 years ago and also carry the prestige you would expect from a Potomac address.

Food

In Potomac you have the Potomac Village Shopping Center at the River Road and Falls Road intersection. There is both a Safeway and a Giant grocery store here. Also, there are restaurants here to include two of my local favorites – Potomac Pizza and Moby Dick’s House of Kabob. There’s also Renato at River Falls, which is Italian, and Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar. Across River Road, you will find Hunter’s Bar and Grill, Tally Ho Pizza and En Bistro & Sushi.

There’s another shopping area at Seven Locks and Tuckerman Road. This location has a Giant Grocery Store. There are a few restaurants here of note, my favorite from Connecticut just opened up – Colony Grill. There’s also Sister’s Thai and Gregorio’s Trattoria.

Then the newest of shopping areas is at Park Potomac where you will find a Harris Teeter Grocery Store, and several awesome restaurants – Founding Farmers, Gringos & Mariachis, King Street Oyster Bar.

Just on the edge is another of my local favorites, the Tower Oaks Lodge. I spent many of my single girl years at the Tower Oaks Lodge and it was the best.

Family & Fun

Potomac has country clubs, tons of trails, parks, and lots of green space. The hiking along the Potomac is unbeatable. Great Falls Trail and Billy Goat Trail have some amazing views of the river and the falls.

FUN FACT: There’s an annual 50 mile Kennedy Walk which goes to West Virginia, and it starts on the trails here by Old Angler’s Inn.

Potomac also has Cabin John Regional Park which has a lot of fun for everyone. There is a really large playground, an ice rink, and a train that has various themed rides through the year. The girls and I did the Halloween ride a few years ago for fun. It’s geared for little kids. There’s also a great dog park here too.

They like golf in Potomac. There’s Congressional Country Club (which has a Bethesda mailing address but falls inside the Potomac area,) Avenel and the Falls Road Golf Course.

Potomac Day happens in the fall, which is a fair for businesses, a car show, games, rides and a parade.

Schools

Potomac schools are well-ranked and sought after. This is as good as it gets. The Great Schools scores are all mostly 9’s and 10’s, even for middle school which we usually see take a dip.

Most of Potomac is zoned for Winston Churchill High School. Small parts of Potomac are zoned for Wootten High School on the north edge and Walt Whitman on the southern edge. These are all top high schools.

Ready for me to debunk the myth I mentioned? Locally there seems to be this cache associated with being zoned for Whitman. If you didn’t get a house in Whitman you were second-best. For public schools, this mad-focus on Whitman can actually derail people. I dug into Bethesda Magazine’s College Analysis for 2022. All the surrounding high schools sent the same percentages to top colleges, and in some cases, Churchill had more Ivy League Acceptances than Whitman. Take it all with a grain of salt when it comes to education.

Conclusion

If you want the suburbs, Potomac is the quintessential suburbs. Nice homes, great schools, and decent suburban amenities.

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