February 16, 2026 |  | 🍡 Mochi Mogul Mom Makes Millions | | Good morning, Bethesdan! Presidents Day + Winter Olympics = We honor great American leaders by sitting on the couch watching an extra day of curling. Washington would be proud. In today's Bethesda Loop, • Mom's mochi empire grows • New semi-pro soccer team starts • Crafts at Little Falls Library Let's Loop. | | | 🍬 Bethesda mom builds national mochi gummy brand. Bethesda's Mika Shino transformed her love of Japanese sweets into Issei Mochi Gummies, now hitting major retailers nationwide with her plant-based, squishy-soft treats. Read her story [Bethesda Magazine] | | 🥯 Call Your Mother Deli construction starts downtown. The popular D.C. bagel shop begins construction on its permanent return to Bethesda at 4828 St. Elmo Avenue after previous location closure. Read the story [MoCo Show] | | ☣️ Health officials warn against Potomac River contact. Virginia and Maryland health authorities are now urging complete avoidance of Potomac River water following the massive sewage spill contamination spanning over 70 miles. Read the details [WTOP] | | 📱 Teen video contest fights distracted driving. High schoolers can win a MacBook Air or share $800 in prizes by creating 30-second videos about ditching phones while walking, biking, or driving. Submit by February 28. Submit your entry | | 🤖 MCPS pilots AI safety system in three schools. Three county high schools will test AI safety software from Bethesda-based ZeroEyes this spring, using cameras to detect weapons and alert authorities in real time. See how it works [Bethesda Magazine] | | ⚽ New semi-pro soccer club recruiting players. Defiance FC, a new semi-pro soccer club, is flipping the script on pay-to-play with free tryouts, training, and seasons for players 14+ across the County, plus college guidance and career support. Tryouts February 22 and March 1. Sign up here |
| | Support the Loop by mentioning it when you attend. | | Crafts at the Library: School's Out! 11am-1pm · Little Falls Library Drop-in crafts session for kids when school's closed, designed to build creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills with all materials provided. |
| | Davis Adult Global Book Discussion 4:15pm-5pm · Davis Library The Davis library's book club tackles a gripping Siberian crime novel where a child's disappearance exposes the fault lines in a remote community. | Voter Education Talk 6:30pm · Promenade Towers Indivisible MoCoWomen hosts a voter education talk with David Naimon, President of Montgomery County Board of Elections, and Michelle Whittaker, Executive Director of Rank Choice Voting Maryland, on ranked choice voting and election integrity. | Free Workshop: The Art of Entertainment 7:30pm · The Mansion at Strathmore Trumpeter Cyrus Mackey teaches performers how to connect with audiences beyond technical skills, covering microphone confidence, smooth transitions, and compelling setlists that turn concerts into experiences. |
| | Art Discussion Group 1pm-3pm · Davis Library Share your take on art's meaning in a welcoming circle where curiosity matters more than credentials, exploring everything from technique to personal impact. | Spousal Caregiver Support Group 2pm · The Kensington Bethesda New monthly support group led by Care Manager Leslie Mason, LCSW-C, for spouses caring for partners at home or in communities, with light refreshments provided. RSVP in link | Mahjong at The Bunny Hive x The Charleston Coach 7pm · The Bunny Hive Bethesda The Charleston Coach hosts weekly mahjong lessons with guided play and coaching for beginners, plus wine and snacks. | Memoir Book Club 7pm-8pm · Wonderland Books First meeting to discuss Lara Love Hardin's hilarious no-holds-barred account of her journey from soccer mom to opioid addict to successful ghostwriter. Sign-up information on website | Writing in Times of Conflict: Interior/Exterior with Maya Marshall 7pm · Virtual Cave Canem fellow and MacDowell alum Maya Marshall guides writers through crafting protest and witness poems that bridge personal experience with political action. |
| | Move When the Spirit Says Move 3pm-5pm · Chevy Chase Library A Black History Month film screening that showcases the life and legacy of Civil Rights leader Dorothy Foreman Cotton who trained activists in nonviolence alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and led freedom songs that powered the movement. |
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| 👉 See every Bethesda event on our full calendar 👈 | | | Mon | Irish Inn Mates
The Irish Inn · 7pm |
| | Wed | Inn House Band
The Irish Inn · 6pm |
| | Thu | Jeff Herbert
The Irish Inn · 6pm | Inn House Band
The Irish Inn · 6pm | Mike Winch (Traditional Irish Music)
The Hunters Hound · 7pm |
| | Fri | 9th Street Chamber Music Collective
Fourth Presbyterian Church · 1pm | Jim Stephanson
Clyde's of Chevy Chase · 5:30pm | Jack-A-Roses w/ Special Guest Drummer Jared Coffin
Tommy Joe's · 7pm · TIX | Collective Disturbance
The Alley at Bethesda Boards · 7:30pm-10pm | Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: La Vida Loca
Strathmore · 8pm · TIX | Chris Timbers Band
Clyde's of Chevy Chase · 10pm |
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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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