Thursday, October 31, 2013

SHOPHOUSE BETHESDA ROW REVIEW (VIDEO AND PHOTOS)

ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen opened yesterday at Bethesda Row.

I stopped by for lunch, and here is my complete review.

Meanwhile, here are some photos from yesterday:

HALLOWEEN LUNCHABLES REVIEW (VIDEO)

When it's time for a snack during your Halloween horror movie marathon, Halloween Lunchables manage to pack plenty of Halloween spirit.

Watch my review, and pizza-making demonstration!

CANNON UPHOLSTERY MOVING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

A 28-year-old Bethesda business is moving to the Woodmont Triangle on Monday.

Cannon Upholstery has been cleaning and reviving furniture for residents, and corporate/business clients, for decades. It is family-owned by the son of the founder.

Their new location will be at 4913 Cordell Avenue, and it opens on Monday, November 5. Cannon's current location will be demolished to make way for The Lauren condominium project on Hampden Lane.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

JACK THE RIPPER HALLOWEEN BASH AT UNION JACK'S BETHESDA (PHOTO)

Union Jack's is sure to have one of the wilder Halloween parties in Bethesda. Their Jack the Ripper Bash is so big that one night isn't enough. Go on Halloween night, and then go back again Friday night.

You can win over $1000 worth of cash and prizes for the funniest, sexiest, and most original costumes.
The grand prize is a free Caribbean vacation.

HALLOWEEN CHIPS AHOY REVIEW (VIDEO) - HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN

America's second-best-selling cookie, Chips Ahoy, is celebrating Halloween with a special version containing orange candy-coated fudge pieces. Watch my review to find out if these are the right cookies for your Halloween party.

7628 OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD DEVELOPMENT UPDATE - BETHESDA SHELL STATION/TD BANK

A representative for the developer of the Bethesda Shell station site at 7628 Old Georgetown Road says a Stormwater Management Plan has been filed with Montgomery County. They are waiting to hear back from the county to move forward in the development process.

Once the county officially accepts their stormwater plan, they can file a site plan. Once the site plan is filed, groundbreaking on the new TD Bank branch building will take place approximately 15 months later, the representative said Tuesday.

Rendering courtesy Core/Bohler, All rights reserved:

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

BUILD-A-BEAR TO REOPEN FRIDAY IN BETHESDA

A new Build-A-Bear Workshop will open across from the current one this Friday, November 1, at 10:00 AM, at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

An employee previously stated that the size and shape of the new space was better suited to the workshop's configuration and activities.

NEW BIKESHARE STATION OPENS AT NORFOLK AND RUGBY IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

A new Capital Bikeshare station has opened at the corner of Norfolk and Rugby Avenues in downtown Bethesda. This station will provide access for residents of the future Gallery Bethesda building, as well as for those living in single family homes on the western end of Rugby.

The wayfaring sign directs riders to the Bethesda Metro station.

EQUITY ONE CLOSES ON BOTH WESTBARD AVENUE CITGO STATIONS

Developer Equity One has closed on two more pieces of the Westwood Complex, a pair of Citgo stations on Westbard Avenue.

Rumor has it that Equity One will not renew the lease for the Citgo nearest Ridgefield Road. That is possibly the last remaining full-serve gas station in Bethesda. Closing it would be a loss in a town with large numbers of senior citizens, who rely on Citgo to check under the hood, pump gas, and fill tires.

That Citgo was also the last station with fuel in Bethesda when others ran out during a storm last summer.

There has been no public statement on the eventual fate of either property by Equity One.

Monday, October 28, 2013

GALLERY BETHESDA LUXURY APARTMENT TOUR (VIDEO), PRE-LEASING UNDERWAY - BETHESDA APARTMENTS

The Gallery Bethesda pre-leasing website has gone live. First move-ins are expected in January.

Tour an actual, completed unit in this exclusive video, that I filmed on-site. You will be able to see the high-end appliances, premium finishes and views for yourself.

The building facade is virtually complete.

You can view animated renderings of what the finished lobby/Wi-Fi lounge/fitness center and rooftop areas will look like when finished.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Construction continues at the future Cheesecake Factory at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. There is major expansion work underway at the exterior of the restaurant space.

WILSONS LEATHER OPENS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Wilsons Leather opened over the weekend at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The store carries all types of leather apparel, bags, handbags, accessories and more.

If you click to enlarge the photos, you can see some of the price savings during the fall sale they're having.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

UTILITY WORK AT NORFOLK AND DEL RAY AVENUES IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Utility crews are working on underground cables on Del Ray Avenue tonight, at the Norfolk Avenue intersection. The same type of work has been going on in that area in recent nights. It could, perhaps, be related to electrical and/or data connections required for the new Gallery Bethesda apartment building, which is adjacent to the work site. But that is just my guess.

MCDONALD'S CBO QUARTER POUNDER REVIEW (VIDEO) - MCDONALD'S BRINGS BACK CBO

Remember the special CBO (Cheddar Bacon Onion) variation of the McDonald's Angus Burger last year? Sadly, the Angus Burger is no longer on the menu. But McDonald's has brought the CBO back - as a Quarter Pounder!

Watch my review to find out all about the new CBO Quarter Pounder.

The CBO Quarter Pounder features a 1/4 pound 100% beef patty, white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and the special CBO creamy mustard sauce, all on a fresh bakery bun.

You can also order the CBO as a Premium Chicken Sandwich, crispy or grilled. All of the CBOs are available for a limited time only.

BATTERY LANE PARK BIKESHARE STATION NOW OPEN IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Another Capital Bikeshare station opened Friday in downtown Bethesda, on Battery Lane by Battery Lane Park. This one should get heavy use, due to its proximity to the Bethesda Trolley Trail bike path.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

BEER LIST FOR TODAY'S OKTOBERFEST ON BETHESDA LANE

Join Redwood Bethesda on Bethesda Lane today from 1-7 PM for an Oktoberfest of food, music and - of course - beer. There will also be sales at The Pink Palm, lulu, Courage B, and Ginger.

Tickets are $39 at the door.

Here's a preview of the beer list:

DC Brau Brewing

Penn Quarter Porter
Corruption
Public
Tradition

Flying Dog Brewery

Doggie Style
Snake Dog
Underdog
Rogan
Single Hop Citra

Starr Hill Brewing Company

Northern Lights IPA
The Love
Starr Pils
Box Carr Pumpkin Porter

New Belgium Brewing

Ranger IPA
Fat Tire

Sam Adams

Boston Lager
Oktoberfest
Angry Orchard

MillerCoors

Miller Lite
Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin

WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES LEASES BETHESDA ROW SPACE (PHOTOS)

Washington Fine Properties, a high-end real estate firm, has leased a vacant storefront on Arlington Road at Bethesda Row.

The space is next to Massage Envy, at 7029 Arlington Road. This was once a wireless phone store.

SHOPHOUSE BETHESDA OPENING OCTOBER 30 (PHOTO)

ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is opening ahead of schedule, on Wednesday, October 30, at Bethesda Row.

The restaurant will be open 7 days a week, from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The Chipotle-owned restaurant will offer an ordering process similar to its fast casual Mexican parent. This will allow the patron to customize dishes and ingredients. The entire ShopHouse menu is gluten-free and dairy-free. That menu, like the ShopHouse concept itself, is inspired by the family recipes of Chipotle's Director of Concept Development, Tim Wildin, and memories of the foods he ate growing up in Bangkok.

ShopHouse is located at 4820 Bethesda Avenue, at Bethesda Row.

Friday, October 25, 2013

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Construction continues at the future Bethesda rooftop restaurant Roof, at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues.

In these photos, you can see some of the interior brick work and finishes, indoor and outdoor staircases, the first floor elevator you will ride up to the rooftop bar and restaurant, and more.

Click photos to enlarge for detail: