Remember the images Aroma Espresso Bar unveiled of their future outdoor dining area at Westfield Montgomery Mall? The initial work is getting underway, as you can see in these photos.
Part of a general overhaul of this existing mall entrance by Westfield, the outdoor patio is going to be a great place to hang out during good weather.
In case you've been worried about all of the scaffolding and pedestrian shielding all across the front of the Bradley Shopping Center recently - don't be.
All shops are open during the roof work, including the Barber Shop, so you can still get that haircut.
After some time off the road, Bethesda Magazine's reigning top food truck - the Go Fish! truck - returns to the streets today for lunch.
Owner Missy Carr says the truck will be at 6705 Rockledge Drive from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM today. On the menu are lobster rolls, fish tacos, crab cakes, fish bowls and soup.
The fish is purchased fresh, and the crab products are made with real Maryland crab.
Rita's Crepes has reopened at Bethesda Row, if you hadn't noticed already. The cart had to shut down during the recent cold snap that affected its waterlines.
Yesterday I passed by on the Barnes and Noble side of Woodmont, and the cart appeared to be open for business.
Yesterday I was at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club press conference, and I brought back some video for you of that spectacular Streamline Art Deco movie theater, and from the press conference itself.
Owner Rick Brown said that some regulars at Glen Echo Park's famous Spanish Ballroom convinced him to not only place a new dance floor in front of the stage, but to put a layer of cork beneath it.
Brown also said there is the potential to host a House of Blues-style Gospel Brunch on Sundays in the future. All of the more general details are covered in the above video.
The club opens Friday.
You could win lunch every day for a year from Roti Mediterranean Grill by Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda! All you have to do is fill out this entry form.
Roti will open on March 9. Here are some pictures of the future Bethesda Roti taken about a week ago. You can also see the size of the patio dining area:
Even E-books and readers gnaw away at what's left of the bricks-and-mortar book business, a move by Barnes and Noble's founder to buy those physical locations is doing little to calm industry nerves.
Leonard S. Riggio has announced his intention to bid on his chain's retail stores - including ours at Bethesda Row - and take them private. Standard and Poors estimates the stores' total value to be $1.3 billion. Riggio's announcement caused B&N stock to spike to $15.06 by yesterday's closing bell (it fell .15 in after hours trading).
The move would leave the Nook E-reader as its own business unit.
But the stores and Nook are both being destroyed by competitors like Amazon.
With little reason to believe that will change, stores like the Bethesda Row location face uncertainty.
Should the store close, the space could be filled. But the cafe-and-book-shop-in-Paris concept Bethesda Row's anchor tenant provided much of would be dealt a severe blow.
I'd expect the Bethesda store to be a last-resort closure, but the lack of a clear competitive strategy rightfully has industry analysts concerned about B&N's future in retail and cyberspace.
Searching for a new and different dessert? Try this new Yogurt Pie at Yogi Castle, at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda:
Blasting at the Lot 31 construction site at Bethesda Row is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, says Tom Pogue of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. However, given that that assumes good weather - and rain is forecast all day today - there's a chance it could end Thursday instead.
Three construction cranes will be erected in the pit next week, and then concrete-pouring work will begin. Throughout next month, crews will construct foundations, footings and a drainage system.
During this, a new Bethesda Avenue entrance to the site will be utilized. Cement mixers and other trucks will enter and exit there, so be alert for flagmen while driving on Bethesda Avenue or Woodmont Avenue.
All of this work is to build The Darcy, The Flats, and a 900-space public parking garage at Bethesda Row.
Dissatisfying all-around, future luxury residential building 4831 West Lane is heading back to the Montgomery County Planning Board with 2 minor adjustments from planning staff:
A 15' setback from the property's western boundary, and a 15' setback from the northern boundary.
This is unlikely to satisfy nearby homeowners who have expressed concerns about the project's size, and the possibility that traffic volumes will exceed Montgomery Lane's capacity.
Transit-oriented development folks could ask, on the other hand, how planners who claim to be "smart growth" gurus could approve a 7-story building only a football's throw from Metro. While a 10-story building is going to loom over single-family homes in the Sacks subdivision. Does that make any sense?
The Arlington Road corridor was always going to be a huge challenge, and someone was sure to be dissatisfied no matter what, for that reason.
You have a residential neighborhood right behind the library. And homes and townhomes new and old.
That part of town was once claimed to be where affordable apartments would be provided. Developers and their buddies on the County Council made sure that didn't happen. Instead, boutique luxury mini-hulks and $1M+ townhomes began to pop up.
There are only so many sites around Metro, and so many in that spot have now been wasted in that fashion.
On the other hand, if you approve so many townhomes, don't you then have to rethink the idea of a 7-story building right next to them? This is what happens when you have a County Council beholden to developers: a complete hodgepodge mishmash.
Maybe they should call 4831 West Lane "Hodgepodge Lodge."
This particular building has a small section of glass at the entrance, but the rest is simply mundane. I cut-and-paste, therefore I am.
And, man, get a load of that sketch of the future building at Hampden and Arlington Road. Holy Berlin Wall, Batman!
Let's hope that's not the finished product. Yikes.
Now I've tried all three Flavor Finalists in the Lay's Do Us a Flavor contest, and I'm declaring a winner!
But first, I have to review #3, Lay's Cheesy Garlic Bread potato chips.
Best-selling YA author Maureen Johnson will appear at the Bethesda Library (7400 Arlington Road) this Thursday, February 28, at 5:00 PM.
She will be discussing her newest novel, The Madness Underneath, which will be released tomorrow.
Madness is the second in Johnson's 4-book Shades of London series. Heroine Rory Devereaux returns after tangling with a Jack-the-Ripper copycat in Book 1.
Now she is in therapy (understandably), but the ghost-hunting secret police known as the Shades won't let Rory's newfound ghost-killing powers go to waste on her shrink's couch.
Back to London it is, and this time there are a whole bunch of paranormal problems. Expect surprises, witty dialogue and "spectacularly gruesome details" from the creative author behind Book 1, In the Name of the Star, which you have all of tonight to read before Book 2 hits shelves tomorrow.
Like you needed an excuse to head to 7904 Woodmont Avenue for a real Colombian mojito!
Today, starting at 2 PM (and you can get in FREE before 4 PM), is an afternoon of mojitos and Caribbean music at The Parva.
Enjoy half-price appetizers and drink specials, as well as performances by Black Spider, Hazzard, Majestic and Nemesis.
It's a day of Caribbean sounds and libations at Bethesda's South Beach-inspired The Parva.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be released on Blu-ray and DVD this Saturday, March 2. Which store has the best Twilight package? And which stores are opening at midnight?
Amazon.com
No bonus material or collectibles.
Best Buy
Exclusive Blu-ray combo with collectible locket key chain (see photos below). Includes "hours of bonus features."
Exclusive $44.99 Twilight Saga collection, featuring all 5 films, including the new Breaking Dawn Part I Extended Edition.
No midnight openings listed.
Target
Target seems to offer the best packages, and midnight opening parties at the following stores in the region: Alexandria, Woodbridge, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Columbia and Annapolis. (If you're reading this and live in another state, click on the link in the first paragraph above to find the store closest to you).
Take note: early birds can pick up a voucher starting at 8:00 AM, Friday, March 1. Then bring your voucher back to the store at midnight to get your Twilight package.
What Target has is a $22.99 DVD/$26.99 Blu-ray Limited Edition version of Breaking Dawn Part 2, with 50 minutes of exclusive video content, including "black carpet" footage, and "hours of additional bonus content."
But wait, there's more.
A $14.99 Target-exclusive Limited Edition of Breaking Dawn Part 1, in a 2-DVD gift set that includes an actual prop flower from the film's wedding scene (see photo below) The prop includes a Certificate of Authenticity to verify it was actually in the movie.
Walmart
Walmart has an exclusive Breaking Dawn Part 1 & 2 two-movie package, that includes the extended version of Part 1.
Walmart's other exclusive is a free set of 5 mini-posters (see photos below) that you receive with purchase of Breaking Dawn Part 2. But hurry - while supplies last.
Walmart stores opening at midnight in our region are Nottingham and Hampstead, both of which are in Maryland.
Bottom line
If you're an obsessed fan, you'll have to hit Best Buy for the locket key chain and 5-movie collection, Target for the Part 1 movie prop and 50 minutes of bonus video, and Walmart for the mini posters.
Things are coming along nicely at the new, larger location of lou lou Boutique on Bethesda Lane.
Larger means... more room for more inventory. And there appears to be no shortage of handbags.
Wednesday was a fairly unusual day along the River Road/MacArthur Boulevard corridors, as police made four narcotics arrests.
The busts were made in the 5100 block of River Road and 5500 Landy Lane, 6200 block of Bannockburn Drive and Halbert Road, 7200 block of MacArthur Boulevard and Oberlin Avenue, and on a River Road Beltway ramp.
Other crimes this week included a theft at Walt Whitman HS, which occurred on February 20, as well.
Monday, February 18:
Theft from vehicle. 4900 block Elm Street.
Liquor arrest. Rock Bottom.
Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.
Theft from vehicle. 9500 block Ewing Drive.
Theft from vehicle. 5300 block Elsmere Avenue.
Assault. 5100 block Pooks Hill Road.
Theft from vehicle. 6400 block Rock Forest Drive.
Tuesday, February 19:
Theft from vehicle. 7100 block Braeburn Place.
Liquor arrest. 7900 block Norfolk Avenue.
Theft. 6300 block Greentree Road.
Theft from vehicle. XX block Pooks Hill Road.
The suspense over the future of the Westbard Sector Plan, and the portion acquired by Equity One in late 2012, is building.
Tenants of those properties, and nearby residents, are wondering what Equity One's plans are, and what kind of relationship - cooperative, aggressive, etc. - the firm has with tenants and the communities it develops in.
Recent comments by Equity One CEO Jeff Olson provide the first hints of what's to come, but no definitive answers to the above questions.
I also found out that Equity One apparently has not bought the Westbard properties outright. Rather, it has a mortgage on them, with the option to buy as soon as 2014.
On a media conference call, Olson made his first public comments about the Westwood Shopping Center. If you're a fan of the venerable retail center - like me - you might be a bit offended. Apparently, where Olson is from, they don't have good, old-fashioned, functioning neighborhood shopping centers.
So Westwood Shopping Center strikes him - as it does many a nouveau-riche newcomer - as a bit quaint.
However, give the guy a break. He's here for business, and can't be expected to have nostalgia for the place like some of us who grew up around here. Let's give him a chance to meet with the community, describe his vision for Westbard, and explain what types of retail - and restaurants, in particular, of which Westbard has none in the traditional sense - he can bring to any proposed development.
It's important to note that the property is not currently zoned for a town center. I believe a landowner has the right to do anything he or she wants, that is allowed by current zoning.
If zoning must be changed to do it, as in this case, then - like it or not - the landowner has to work with the community to reach an agreement.
What hints I take from overall statements he made about the firm's entire portfolio, is that they do plan to add residential elements to some of their properties.
But they also have some that are retail and big box centers.
Olson's Westwood comments suggest that two things are certain: he definitely wants to develop the parcel closest to Westland MS and Park Bethesda. And, he wants Giant - parent company Ahold, in reality - to pay more rent. A lot more.
And Ahold's willingness to give up a sweet 99-year lease shows that they're really not attached to this shopping center for the long term. So the community is in danger of losing Giant in 2019, it sounds like to me.
If that happens, can Olson bring in a Wegmans? That's about the only way he could lessen the outrage of losing Giant.
The other big question: Given the company's expertise in big-name retail, would they be content to operate WSC as a retail center? Or are they dreaming of a massive, urban town center, like Capital Properties was?
The 3.3 acre parcel is currently zoned residential. That will easily be changed under the new zoning code.
Until Equity One reaches out to the community, we won't really know. What I do know is that Westbard is a community retail area designed to provide basic services and shopping (groceries, barber shop, pet store, drug store, gas stations, auto repair, and even watch and shoe repair) to nearby residents.
And it is currently "walkable" for surrounding neighborhoods.
It is not a sensible place for high-density, urban development or a regional destination.
And I noticed Olson used one of those "smart growth" buzzwords, "underutilized." Oh, brother.
The Westbard area has a lot of unacknowledged history in it, and has been disrespected by elected officials and the Planning Board as long as I've been alive. That prologue absolutely sets the terms for future decisions in the Westbard Sector Plan. There's no negotiation on that point.
Now, here are the words of the new landlord himself, Equity One CEO Jeff Olson, regarding the Westwood Shopping Center:
"[W]e're excited to buy the property. I was just out there this past weekend and I mean it's a very exciting redevelopment opportunity. In many ways...this reminds me of Serramonte, because it's an old large piece of underutilized real estate with incredible demographics and severe supply constraints. But like Serramonte, it's only had one owner since the developer built it and that owner had never expanded the property. So that's as unique in many ways. It was built in 1959 and if you look at the center today it looks like it's from 1959. I think you could do a Back to the Future movie there. It's anchored by a Giant Food with a 50-year lease [not true - Giant had a 99-year lease which they renegotiated for a shorter term a few years ago] that expires in 2019 and they pay $2 bucks a foot in rent. By way of comparison we've some other grocers in our portfolio that are doing similar sales volumes that are paying us in the 40s. And in addition to that below market lease there's a vacant 3.3 acre parcel that's never been developed. So there's a lot for us to do with that center."
After years of static and outdated messages (including a personal birthday message that lingered long past the birthday), the marquee at the historic Bethesda Theatre has come alive again, as the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club approaches its grand opening. I'm looking forward to seeing some big names in lights on Wisconsin Avenue in the coming years.
A Montgomery Planning Department memo by Senior Planner David Anspacher provides not only an update on the future Purple Line light rail, but also some little-known effects it will have in the Bethesda Row area.
Earlier, I reported on the noisy nighttime Capital Crescent Trail tunnel work planned for the first half of March.
That is part of the preliminary design phase, which Anspacher says will conclude this summer. At that point, the Federal Transit Administration will accept that report, and issue a Record of Decision. Then there will be a mandatory referral of three projects: the rebuilding of the Capital Crescent Trail, the future Bethesda South Elevators that will access the Red and Purple Lines, and the Purple Line itself.
What's new?
South Entrance
While the long-overdue Bethesda Metro South Entrance elevator project has been much-discussed, this memo also mentions that the current Regal Bethesda 10-side parking lane on Elm Street will be seized for the elevator site.
The high-speed elevators will take pedestrians down to a lobby level for the Purple Line, and to the Metro Red Line mezzanine level. There will also be a stairway from Elm Street down to the Purple Line.
Capital Crescent Trail
The CCT is currently planned to cross Wisconsin Avenue as a glorified crosswalk, a potentially-dangerous situation that has concerned many trail users.
Anspacher says one option is to deny drivers left turns onto Wisconsin from Bethesda Avenue. However, that idea is opposed by the Town of Chevy Chase and some Bethesda businesses.
MCDOT is preparing a second option, which is simply a "protected" light cycle for trail users at the intersection.
The surprising part of the memo, is that planners have resurrected the idea of a new underground crossing under Wisconsin Avenue. They've asked the Maryland MTA to study the feasibility of such a tunnel - which was declared dead by the County Council last year - in time for its possible inclusion in the 2014 update of the Bethesda Central Business Sector Plan update.
Fan Towers - Bethesda Row "Smokestack"
Here's the big one. Maybe this was discussed in some meeting somewhere, or buried in thick reports, but this is the first I've heard of it:
A 9-story exhaust tower will be erected outside of the current Capital Crescent Trail tunnel entrance at Bethesda Row, in full view from Barnes and Noble, Landmark Bethesda Row Theatre, and Haagen Dazs.
Essentially a smokestack, it will only emit smoke during a smoke emergency within the tunnel. But the exhaust fans within the smokestack will have to be tested once a month, and are required by federal law.
A second smokestack will be at the Air Rights Building garage.
Planners clearly anticipate community displeasure regarding the smokestacks.
They are pleading with the MTA to find an alternative location, or to design "an iconic treatment that makes it a landmark in Bethesda." Good luck with that, man.
The only real hope of hiding the tower, in my opinion, is to incorporate it into the new Woodmont East development.
Elm Street Park
While Elm Street Park is not expected to be impacted physically by Purple Line construction, the MTA will erect screening to block the view of construction from park patrons.
Is NASCAR popular in Bethesda? I don't think anyone has done a poll. But with Danica Patrick winning the pole position, there will be many tuning in for the Daytona 500 this Sunday. Are you one of them?
Here's my video review of a handy publication by USA Today's Sports department, NASCAR Preview.
It features stories that will bring you up to speed (pun intended) by their NASCAR writers, Nate Ryan and Jeff Gluck; driver biographies; a complete guide to every Sprint Cup track; Twitter handles for every driver who has one; specs for the brand-new Gen 6 race cars; schedules, trivia, Fantasy NASCAR advice, and more.
By the time the construction workers climbed out of the chasm between Fairmont and St. Elmo Avenues last night, it was dark and freezing cold. Powerful lights kept the site lit so work could continue. Finally, the street level door burst open as workers ascended the final stairs. Progress has been made, but the foundations of the final structure are literally still coming together following an excavation mishap that damaged a building on Fairmont Avenue.
Taste 20 different wines for only $20? And be the first to try Redwood's new bar menu, featuring appetizers like Pimento cheese & Surryano ham biscuits, and hush puppies?
"Where do I sign up?"
Right here to order tickets online, or stop by Redwood in person on Bethesda Lane.
The event will be on Tuesday, March 12 from 6:00-9:00 PM, and will feature live music by Taylor Carson (who appears Tuesday evenings at Redwood).
4935 Bar and Kitchen on Cordell Avenue is expanding its hours of operation. While the new establishment has been open primarily Friday and Saturday nights since opening, the owners now want to serve weeknight diners, as well.
The restaurant will now be open for dinner every evening from Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5:00 PM.
The head chef is Ashish Alfred.
Lay's Sriracha potato chips are in stores now. Sriracha on a chip? Yes! Watch my review. Sriracha is the new habanero - and the newest chip from Lay's in its Do Us a Flavor contest. You can also watch my Lay's Chicken & Waffles review.
The Dry Fried Wings craze was short-lived in Bethesda. Far shorter than the Hooters-style sports pub that preceded it, The Box.
Now Box owner Jason McCarther is back with a new concept to revitalize the space at 7525 Old Georgetown Road.
Roc Bar Live Bethesda will open its doors March 2.
McCarther operates a 3-level nightclub in the District called Roc Bar. But where that venue has DJ-centered music and table service, Roc Bar Live will emphasize live music.
Live bands will play 7 nights a week, and an all-new menu is being created.
Many had noted the Dry Fried Wings-rebranded space had seemed to be closed in recent weeks. For reasons not yet spoken about publicly, DFW Bar ended its run after having barely opened, with a well-promoted event featuring Dr. Benjamin Chavis and former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.
Now Roc Bar stands to be one of the few venues to host live bands nightly in Bethesda. Of course, Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club will open around the same time, and also plans to have live music every night.
Rejoice, fans of live music in Bethesda!
Chef Yoshihisa Ota's crew is working hard to get his new sushi and robata restaurant, Yuzu, ready by its scheduled April opening.
Here's a photo gallery as renovation continues at 7345-B Wisconsin Avenue:
