Frida Beer Garden now open in Bethesda (Photos)

Frida Beer Garden, which is attached to the new TacoArepa restaurant at 4905 Fairmont Avenue, opened over the weekend. Although I mentioned this in my St. Patrick's Day specials report, I wanted to post some photos of the beer garden space now that it is complete.

Bethesda construction update: Owen's Ordinary at Pike & Rose (Photos)

The construction walls have been removed at the future Owen's Ordinary restaurant and beer garden at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. While the interior build-out is still under wraps, you can now see the custom exterior of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group's newest venture.

Take note of the white panel areas of the facade. You'll notice a shallow shelf sitting out from those segments of the exterior. That is the two-sided soapstone bar that is built into the facade of the restaurant. Owen's Ordinary will be located at 11820 Trade Street, next to Carluccio's.

Probably the best view of the
bar jutting out from the exterior;
notice the light reflecting off of
it in Muse Alley at right

NRG's Owen's Ordinary beer garden aims for late summer/early fall opening at Pike & Rose

I have some more details on the long-awaited beer garden and restaurant from Neighborhood Restaurant Group at Pike & Rose called Owen's Ordinary. This is NRG Beer Director Greg Engert's first project in Maryland, and he is promising a well-curated selection of 50 beers on tap.

Yellow construction wall
is the future location of
Owen's Ordinary in
Muse Alley

The way the beer garden and restaurant elements intersect will be via a two-sided soapstone bar built into the restaurant's facade. It will serve both the 60-seat beer garden outside in Muse Alley, and the 175-seat interior restaurant.

Interior details will include subway tile, zinc cladding, wood floors and "industrial steampunk elements," as well as an open kitchen.

Owen's Ordinary refers to the historic tavern that was located in the vicinity of Courthouse Square in the center of Rockville in 1755, according to Rockville historian Eileen McGuckian.

The new Owen's Ordinary should give Muse Alley a one-two punch of dining destinations along with next door neighbor Carluccio's. Its street address will be 11820 Trade Street, and is right next to the new Pike & Rose garage. Owen's Ordinary will also be adjacent to Muse Alley's most notable feature, an outdoor fireplace. An NRG spokesperson says it is expected to open in late summer, or early fall.

PIAZZA BEER GARDEN TO REOPEN SATURDAY FOR SUMMER IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The Piazza Beer Garden outside of Cesco Osteria, at 7401 Woodmont Avenue, will reopen this Saturday, May 10, for the summer season. Bethesda's only beer garden opened briefly last fall, and shut down for the winter. Flying Dog beers will be only $1 this Saturday to celebrate the opening.

Last night the beer garden was taking shape again outside Cesco. Here's a preview: