Nationals victory fever leaves Bethesda Bryce Harper de-faced

A Bryce Harper display outside a Bethesda wellness spa endorsed by the all-star athlete has been "de-faced," following his former team's World Series victory. The giant poster on the storefront of Ninotch at 8301 Wisconsin Avenue now has a "World Champions...And now we dance" radio station placard slapped over Harper's face.

For those living under a rock for the last year, Harper enraged many Washington Nationals fans when he chose to sign with the rival Philadelphia Phillies in pursuit of a World Series title. But over the course of the remarkable Nationals season, that rage slowly turned to schadenfreude as Harper and his Phillies' fortunes headed south. while the Nats ultimately grabbed the prize Harper wanted all along.

Ninotch founder and former Nationals head massage therapist Tatiana Tchamouroff told the City Paper last spring that she had no intention of taking down the Harper images at her Bethesda and Tysons spas despite the outfielder decamping to Philly. The poster notes Harper has been a client since 2011, and Tchamouroff said the player's endorsement helps emphasize the sports therapy services Ninotch offers.

DREW STOREN, TIM KURKJIAN AT BETHESDA BASEBALL HOLIDAY AUCTION (VIDEO)

Finally! I have the video I promised from the 2013 Bethesda Baseball Holiday Auction, which featured celebrity guests Drew Storen of the Washington Nationals, and Tim Kurkjian of ESPN. Sponsored by BCC Baseball and the Bethesda Big Train, the annual event raises funds for local youth ballfields.

In this video, you'll travel vicariously to the Doubletree Bethesda hotel, see the vast smorgasbord of food that was available, hear from the celebrity guests, and witness the best parts of the auction.

NATIONALS FANS TO BYPASS METRO ON NEW BUS FROM DOWNTOWN BETHESDA TO NATIONALS GAMES ON WEEKENDS

Do you love to attend Washington Nationals games, but hate being a sardine at the mercy of inept WMATA on Metro? Or - even worse - having to wait for yet another shuttle transfer, when Metro shuts down stations between Bethesda and Nationals Stadium on weekends?

I have good news for you: DC Hopper, the same company that has made getting to DC nightclubs from Bethesda easier, is now launching a Bethesda Nationals shuttle to weekend Nationals home games.

The DC Hopper bus will leave 2 hours before the scheduled first pitch from in front of Caddies on Cordell, at 4922 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

You can either reserve seats in advance on the DC Hopper website (definitely the smartest way to go) or show up early in front of Caddies.
You can - literally - "pre-game" at Caddies, but only non-alcoholic beverages are allowed on the Hopper buses. No food is allowed on the bus. Who needs food, when there is so much great food available at the stadium.

After a pressure-free ride into SW DC, you will be dropped off outside the First Base Gate at 1st and Potomac Avenue.  This is the same spot where you'll be picked up 30 minutes after the game. And even if the night game goes for 30 innings, the DC Hopper will still be waiting for you 30 minutes after the game.

Once again, resourceful entrepreneurs are filling the vacuum of public transit with private transportation. New York City doesn't shut down its subway on weekends. Somehow, here it is not only acceptable to shut down a line during major weekend events, but they give the boss a raise for doing so! With trains still on manual, stranded passengers walking through tunnels, and yet another near miss incident, there are no tangible results from the weekend track work that is not only scaring away riders, but cutting revenue. You can't make money if you don't run trains!

Fortunately, with baseball season here, DC Hopper is offering us a convenient - if pricier - alternative, at $24 round trip.

NINOTCH SPA MOVING TO NEW BETHESDA LOCATION IN ROSEDALE APARTMENTS

"URBAN RETREAT" IS

OFFICIAL MASSAGE THERAPY

GROUP OF

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Ninotch, an "urban retreat" spa currently located at 7720 Wisconsin Avenue, will move up to the Rosedale Park apartment building in November.

The official massage spot of the Washington Nationals, Ninotch also offers facials, acupuncture, and waxing.  They also specialize in organic, sunless airbrush tanning, for which it was named the best by Washingtonian magazine.

Last evening, a team of men were working furiously inside the new location.