Good Morning Montgomery County, MD - Your Local MoCo Good News Podcast

Westfield Montgomery Mall just landed Nan Xiang, a Michelin-recommended soup dumpling spot that's been packed since opening, Takoma Park is kicking off the holiday season with festive markets and a cocoa crawl, Gonzaga's Walker Littleton earned Player of the Week honors and he's Naval Academy-bound, and veteran sports broadcaster Frank Hanrahan is bringing his big-league voice home to spotlight Montgomery County teams. Starting your day with stories like these reminds you that good things are happening right in your backyard - world-class food, community celebrations, hardworking student-athletes, and hometown pride.

Stories in this episode:

• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/30/michelin-recommended-nan-xiang-soup-dumplings-celebrates-grand-opening-at-westfield-montgomery-mall/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/29/takoma-park-takoma-kicks-off-the-holiday-season-with-markets-cocoa-crawl-and-more/
• https://wtop.com/player-of-the-week/2025/10/player-of-the-week-gonzagas-walker-littleton/
• https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcm-welcomes-veteran-sports-reporter-frank-hanrahan/

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Bethesda's getting a new Mediterranean bakery with Algerian flavors this Sunday when Golden Fig Café holds its grand opening, Gaithersburg's beloved 30-year Winter Lights Festival tickets are on sale now (and selling fast), and Saturday's your last chance to hit Montgomery County's biggest flea market before it closes until spring. Three signs the season's changing in all the best ways.

Stories in this episode:

• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/28/golden-fig-cafe-bakery-to-hold-grand-opening-this-weekend-in-bethesda/
• https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/gaithersburg-winter-lights-festival-tickets-now-on-sale/article_0f85fd46-4a69-40fb-ace8-0bee4f6090c1.html
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/28/montgomery-countys-largest-flea-market-returns-for-final-event-of-the-season-this-saturday/

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Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com—I read every message.

Retry

Great way to start your Tuesday! A beloved Olney restaurant is back after six years (same burgers, same spot), ten local child care educators just got the recognition they deserve for shaping our youngest learners, Quince Orchard football reminded everyone why they've won 85 out of their last 88 games, and Montgomery County's lighting up green to honor our veterans.

Starting your day with good news isn't just nice - it actually sets the tone for everything that follows. That's why we do this.

Stories in this episode:

• https://www.mymcmedia.org/after-six-year-closure-olney-ale-house-reopens-tuesday/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/27/ten-local-child-care-professionals-recognized-for-excellence-in-early-education/
• https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/27/recap-quince-orchard-defeats-northwest-in-rivalry-showdown-35-16/
• https://mocofeed.com/montgomery-county-to-participate-in-operation-green-light-to-honor-veterans-mocofeed/

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Into true crime? Check out TrueCrimeUnheard.com

Got a good news story? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - I read every message.

A Wootton High grad who started selling croissants at a farmers market just earned recognition as one of Eater DC's Best Bakeries Around D.C. Plus, beloved Silver Spring Thai dessert spot Sweeteria is expanding to downtown Bethesda. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sunday Morning Bakehouse named one of Best Bakeries Around DC: https://mocoshow.com/2025/07/17/one-maryland-bakery-makes-list-of-the-best-bakeries-around-d-c/
• Sweeteria Dessert Café expanding to Bethesda: https://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/sweeteria-cafe-opening-bethesda-location.html

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

The historic Olney Ale House is finally reopening Tuesday after six years, a local speech pathologist created the Social Squad to help kids build social skills, and Walnut Hill Shopping Center in Gaithersburg is getting high-speed EV charging stations. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Olney Ale House Reopening After 6 Years: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/23/tasty-tidbits-olney-ale-house-reopening/
• Social Squad Program by Speech Pathologist: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/23/speech-language-pathologist-social-squad/
• Walnut Hill Shopping Center Getting EV Chargers: http://www.rockvillenights.com/2025/10/walnut-hill-shopping-center-adding.html

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

A brewery named after a tiny cat opens in Bethesda with actual food this time, Paris-meets-Maryland crêpes land in Gaithersburg, and two massive Halloween events taking over Silver Spring and Takoma Park this Saturday. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• BabyCat Brewery Opens New Bethesda Location: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/09/babycat-brewery-bethesda-october-opening/
• First Look: The Crêpe Shoppe Opens in Gaithersburg: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/22/first-look-the-crepe-shoppe-opens-in-gaithersburg/
• Downtown Silver Spring Zombie Walk & Takoma Park Monster Bash Set for Saturday: https://www.sourceofthespring.com/silver-spring-news/2884579/downtown-silver-spring-zombie-walk-takoma-park-monster-bash-set-for-saturday/
• Guapo's Keeps the Party Going Across DC, Maryland, and Virginia for Over 30 Years: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/23/guapos-keeps-the-party-going-across-dc-maryland-and-virginia-for-over-30-years/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Forty young entrepreneurs run real businesses at Saturday's FOXES Children's Business Fair in Gaithersburg, Total Wine opens Thursday bringing new life to Friendship Heights, BabyCat Brewery adds outdoor seating in Bethesda, and Insomnia Cookies brings late-night delivery to Silver Spring. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• FOXES Children's Business Fair: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/21/foxes-childrens-business-fair-coming-to-gaithersburg-this-saturday-with-40-young-entrepreneurs-participating/
• Total Wine opens in Friendship Heights: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/21/total-wine-more-opening-friendship-heights/
• BabyCat Brewery outdoor seating: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/babycat-brewery-setting-up-outdoor.html
• Insomnia Cookies coming to Silver Spring: http://eastmoco.blogspot.com/2025/10/insomnia-cookies-coming-soon-to-silver.html

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

A bedazzled dachshund named Leo wins his third straight racing title in Mount Airy, Boll & Branch brings high-end organic bedding to Bethesda Row, and the Hilton Rockville completes a multimillion-dollar renovation. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mount Airy Dachshund Derby: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/10/21/church-holds-dachshund-derby/
• Boll & Branch opening at Bethesda Row: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/boll-branch-close-to-opening-at.html
• Hilton Rockville renovation: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/20/hilton-washington-dc-rockville-completes-multimillion-dollar-renovation/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drops.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

The Crêpe Shoppe opens its first brick-and-mortar location in Downtown Crown this Wednesday, Clarksburg's Burnt Hill Farm is named one of America's most stunning vineyards, Don Bosco Cristo Rey's soccer teams win their fourth straight championship undefeated, Andy's Pizza expands to Montgomery Mall, and Rockville's Ritchie Center becomes an international food destination. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Crêpe Shoppe opening Downtown Crown: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/19/the-crepe-shoppe-to-open-first-birck-and-mortar-location-this-week/
• Burnt Hill Farm vineyard recognition: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/19/a-look-at-the-maryland-vineyard-named-one-of-americas-most-stunning/
• Don Bosco Cristo Rey soccer championship: https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2025/10/soccer-teams-at-don-bosco-cristo-rey-high-school-are-the-champions/
• Andy's Pizza at Montgomery Mall: http://www.rockvillenights.com/2025/10/andys-pizza-opening-at-montgomery-mall.html
• Ritchie Center international food hub: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/20/new-and-recent-changes-at-rockvilles-ritchie-center/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)

Celebrity chef Pati Jinich is bringing a burrito pop-up to Bethesda in early November, a new VR gaming experience just opened at Montgomery Mall, Kabob Zone is coming to downtown Bethesda, and Takoma Park's Monster Bash returns October 25th with parades and trunk-or-treat fun. Your daily dose of good news from Montgomery County with Steve Rhode.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Pati Jinich Burrito Pop-Up: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/16/celebrity-chef-pati-jinich-hosting-burrito-pop-up-in-bethesda/
• Immersa VR at Montgomery Mall: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/immersa-edutainment-vr-game-experience.html
• Kabob Zone Opening: http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2025/10/kabob-zone-opening-in-bethesda.html
• Takoma Park Monster Bash: https://mocoshow.com/2025/10/16/takoma-parks-monster-bash-returns-october-25-with-parade-live-music-and-trunk-or-treat-fun/

Join the email list at TapYourNews.com (https://TapYourNews.com) to get notified when new episodes drop.

Got a good news story to share? Need a friend who gets it? Use the contact form at TapYourNews.com - Steve reads every message.

Check out Steve's true crime podcast at TrueCrimeUnheard.com (https://TrueCrimeUnheard.com)