ROC BAR LIVE OPENING IN BETHESDA MARCH 2, REPLACES DRY FRIED WINGS/THE BOX - EXCLUSIVE!

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!

MD LT. GOV. BROWN, FORMER LT. GOV. STEELE TO ATTEND BETHESDA OPENING OF THE BOX AND DRY FRIED WINGS JOINT VENTURE

Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, and former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele have been added to the list of dignitaries who will salute American civil rights heroes this Friday in Bethesda.

Brown, widely considered the Democratic front runner in next year's gubernatorial race, and Steele, a past Republican National Committee chairman who has political opportunities in his future as well, are the latest high-profile names to confirm for the ribbon-cutting at The Box Bar and Grill.

This Friday, January 18, at 2:00 PM, they will join civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis and Box owner George Farrell for speeches, and a tribute to the Wilmington 10.  These 10 African-American civil rights activists were falsely accused of crimes decades ago, but were eventually exonerated of the charges. Just 2 weeks ago, they were officially pardoned.

This is definitely an unusual event, particularly for a sports bar, and it's happening right here in Bethesda this Friday at The Box, which has dropped its original Hooters-esque theme in favor of a new focus on the menu.  Specifically, the new menu items resulting from an exclusive partnership with the Dry Fried Wing Company.

Dry Fried Wings - endorsed by Shaquille O'Neal - will be exclusively available in the Mid-atlantic area for the first time at The Box.

BOX BAR AND GRILL, DRY FRIED WINGS UNITE FOR JANUARY 18 BETHESDA GRAND OPENING, OBAMA INAUGURATION TIE-IN

A revamped Bethesda sports bar has announced a January 18 grand opening, with a civil rights commemoration a spokesperson says will tie-in with the Obama inaugural celebration.

The Box Bar and Grill, which opened last fall promising a Hooters-style sports bar theme, has signed a co-branding agreement with Shaquille O'Neal's Dry Fried Wings.  This will play out as a revamped menu at The Box, centered on the special recipe wings.

Both partners have just announced the "new" restaurant will open on January 18.

The grand opening will coincide with the second Obama inauguration, and will feature a commemorative recognition of the Wilmington 10, led by Dr. Benjamin Chavis.  Chavis and 9 other civil rights activists were pardoned, for arson crimes they were exonerated of, by outgoing North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue on New Year's Eve 2012.

"I am trying to convey a message of economic empowerment through entrepreneurship," said Chavis in a statement. "The Dry Fried Wing Company is a perfect example of how to build businesses and good jobs through creativity and hard work. We are a new company with a truly special potential to make a difference in the economic development of our communities."