Damascus has been named the best place to live in Maryland in TownRatings’ 2026 Best Places to Live rankings, finishing No. 1 among 259 communities evaluated across the state.

The Montgomery County community received an overall A+ grade, placing it among the top 2% of towns nationwide, according to the website. TownRatings highlighted Damascus for its household income, low natural-hazard risk, health indicators, and employment-related measures.

According to TownRatings, Damascus has a median household income of approximately $159,000, compared to $127,000 across the Washington metropolitan area. The website estimates the typical home value in Damascus at approximately $550,000.

Damascus earned A+ grades in both hazard risk and jobs and income, an A in health, an A- in walkability, a B+ in schools, and a B- in cost of living. The website’s analysis found that Damascus has a lower natural-hazard risk than approximately 97% of U.S. communities, while CDC-based health estimates placed its residents ahead of 94% of the country.

The rankings also highlighted the community’s outdoor amenities. Damascus received an A for outdoor recreation, with TownRatings noting approximately five miles of trails and 22% conserved land. The community is home to Damascus Recreational Park and is surrounded by natural areas, including the Great Seneca and Magruder Branch stream valleys.

TownRatings uses data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, CDC PLACES, FEMA, Zillow, and OpenStreetMap to evaluate communities across several categories. Its rankings consider factors such as affordability, employment, health, schools, walkability, and environmental risks.

Damascus, an unincorporated community in northern Montgomery County with approximately 17,640 residents according to TownRatings, finished first statewide in the website’s 2026 edition.

Haraz Coffee House is opening a new location at Federal Plaza in Rockville/North Bethesda, taking over the space at 1776 E. Jefferson Street that was previously home to Seven Seas Restaurant. A video of the Haraz experience can be seen below.

Seven Seas operated at Federal Plaza for 33 years before closing in May 2018. This will be the first tenant to go in since the restaurant’s closure. The future Haraz will be located on the side of the shopping center where DMV Iron Gym is located.

The new location will be Haraz’s second in Montgomery County. The Yemeni-inspired coffee house made its county debut in early 2026 when it opened at Burtonsville Crossing, 15701 Columbia Pike.

Known for Yemeni-inspired coffee, tea and desserts, Haraz Coffee House blends traditional flavors with modern café favorites. During our visit to the Burtonsville location, we tried several items including an iced mufawar, red tea, saffron latte, Biscoff milk cake, and Mosaic cake in both Dubai and Biscoff flavors.

A representative from the Burtonsville location confirmed the Rockville cafe last month, but wasn’t aware of the specific address. Signage is now up at the former Seven Seas space, confirming the location, but an opening timeframe for the Federal Plaza cafe has not yet been announced.

 

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Il Pizzico, the longtime Italian restaurant at 15209 Frederick Road in Rockville, has been named the best Italian restaurant in Maryland by Chowhound. A video of the restaurant experience can be seen below.

The Rockville restaurant was selected as Maryland’s representative in Chowhound’s “The Absolute Best Italian Restaurant In Every US State, Hands Down,” which highlights one Italian restaurant from each state.

To make its selections, Chowhound said it considered national and international accolades along with customer reviews, ultimately choosing restaurants ranging from traditional Italian establishments and classic Italian-American red sauce spots to restaurants offering more modern takes on Italian cuisine.

Chowhound highlighted Il Pizzico for its innovative approach to traditional Italian dishes and noted that the restaurant is the only one in Maryland to hold a Gambero Rosso “forchette” recognition.

The publication specifically pointed to dishes including mushroom and ricotta ravioli served in a pistachio cream sauce and veal scaloppine with pine nuts and raisins in a savory wine sauce.

Il Pizzico, whose name translates to “the pinch,” has been a fixture in Rockville for more than 30 years. The restaurant began as a small takeout deli before growing into a full-service restaurant as demand increased.

Proprietor and chef Enzo Livia’s approach is rooted in traditional Italian recipes while adding his own “pinch” of herbs, spices and other personal touches. Enzo and Sandra Livia have operated Il Pizzico for more than three decades, building a reputation that extends well beyond Montgomery County.

 

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