Batman v Superman: I'll drink to that at ArcLight Cinemas Bethesda

Another blockbuster brings another blockbuster cocktail menu from the bar at ArcLight Cinemas in Bethesda. The theater in Westfield Montgomery Mall is among the few in town that allow you to partake of adult beverages, and often has a special selection of themed drinks tied to major releases.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is among the candidates for blockbuster of the year, and the question of #WhoWillWin this epic battle is being hotly debated on the internet and around office water coolers.

You can pick sides by picking the cocktail representing your hero, or be like Switzerland and try all three. Just don't plan to drive home if you do so, or you may be caught by the local heroes of Montgomery's Finest.

CITY PERCH RESTAURANT TO OPEN AT PIKE & ROSE OVER iPic THEATERS

Big restaurant news from Federal Realty's Pike & Rose development - City Perch will be a new restaurant opening there in November, above the iPic Theaters cineplex. The restaurant will feature an outdoor Infinity Terrace, which overlooks a public square below.

Locally-sourced ingredients, and a combination of traditional entrees and small plates will bring Chef Matt Baker's New American cuisine expertise to pre- and post-theater diners. Fresh seafood will also be highlighted on the menu. Baker is currently chef de cuisine at Occidental Grill in the District, but will be heading north to helm City Perch after his last day on Tuesday.

iPic Theaters' mixologist and sommelier, Adam Seger, is whipping up a cocktail list for City Perch, and promises bottled cocktails (including a refreshing Bethesda Punch with Rare Tea Cellar Magnolia Oolong) for moviegoers to enjoy in their theater seat. Already potentially on the list are Seger's El Corazon (tequila + passionfruit, pomegranate and blood orange juices), Brandy Alexander (with local cream and housemade Creme de Cacao), and a Grasshopper (local cream, Creme de Cacao and Creme de Menthe).

 The iPic Theaters itself is shooting for a November opening, as well.

City Perch

11830 Grand Park Avenue

BECOME A COCKTAIL EXPERT AT BETHESDA ROW

Tom Cruise would be jealous! Sign up now for Redwood's Cocktail Making Series every Tuesday in February, and become a master mixologist. Learn the often-fascinating history of cocktails, the basics of how to stock a real bar, how to bartend and impress your party guests with drinks and punches, and - by the end - some of the advanced tricks of the trade.

Redwood is located on Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row.

LANDMARK BETHESDA ROW CINEMA REOPENS AFTER $1.6 MILLION RENOVATION (PHOTOS)

The Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema officially reopens today, after a massive, $1.6 million renovation inside and out.

Last night, the theater held a VIP reception to mark the grand reopening. The new bar/concessions area did live up to the designs promised in renderings before the theater closed.  However, the "shimmering screen" that hangs above is more subtle than you might have expected.

Speaking of concessions, the new bar is nicely-designed to accommodate a crowd. The bartenders - or at least, the bartender who made my drink - know how to mix drinks properly. I had the Signature Cocktail, the Bethesda Row Fizz. This consisted of Buillet Bourbon, ginger ale, Cointreau and a fresh - organic! - navel orange slice. Quite refreshing.

They also had sliders, and catering by their neighbors, Mon Ami Gabi and Haagen-Dazs. The latter supplied ice-cream cupcakes designed to resemble popcorn bags, with real popcorn on top.

I took the opportunity to test the seating, to find out which rows and seat numbers are the best. That's good to know, as all seating is now reserved. I also did a test run on the automatic ticketing machines in the lobby.  This I got on video, to show you it's so easy, a caveman can do it.

There was a screening of new film Kon-Tiki at 8:30, and I found the new screen to be pristine and error-free, which can't be said about other local theaters.

The popcorn was above average, but not life-changing. I got movie theater butter on mine.

One celebrity in attendance was legendary Washington movie critic Arch Campbell. It was an honor to meet him, after watching his reviews since I was a child. Arch said the renovated theater is a great addition to Bethesda Row, and he certainly knows movie theaters!

I can also report that the Phillips Crab Pretzel is still on the menu, as well as Phillips Crab Cakes.

The leather seating is the widest I've encountered in the region, and there was a wonderful "new car" aroma in the air.

Any issues? The air-conditioning could have been turned up a bit higher. And maybe I did subconsciously expect the Mark Cuban connection to score at least one movie star for last night's event. I was a little disappointed there weren't searchlights out front, as they used to be synonymous with movie premieres.

But, to paraphrase the hipsters, don't let perfect be the enemy of the great, as this makeover is great.

There's a full set of brand-new movies debuting today, with stars like Pierce Brosnan, Robert Redford and Kate Hudson. So give the new Cinema a spin while it's still got the new car smell!

More pics to come!

BETHESDA ROWTINI CONTEST IS BACK FOR 2013 - MARTINI MADNESS AT BETHESDA ROW

March is here, and that means March Madness.

But at Bethesda Row, it also means March Martini Madness is back.

Every day this month, you can try a different special Martini - or Malbec Madness at Vino Volo, if you prefer wine - and then vote for your favorite.  The winning libation will receive the Bethesda Row-tini title.

Concoctions include "Clouds Over the Cosmo" (Jaleo), Asian Green Apple Cocotini (Raku), and Lycheé Madness (Cafe Deluxe).

You could also win dinner for 10 at Bethesda Row.

But wait, there's more!

A Drybar giveaway. And special offers at retailers and restaurants around the Row all month long.

Click on the link above for details.

4935 BAR AND KITCHEN SOFT OPENING PARTY TONIGHT

The hottest party in town tonight will be the soft opening at 4935 Bar and Kitchen, in the former Tragara space on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda.

DJ Groove will be spinning from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM, there will be special cocktails to celebrate the occasion, and you'll get to sample the chef's menu before it officially opens.

Dress code of "Dress to impress" will be strictly enforced at tonight's event.

MAGGIE'S FINISHED OUTDOOR TIKI BAR (PHOTOS)

A while back, I posted the first photo of the new outdoor tiki bar at Maggie's on Cordell Avenue.

But now the bar is actually finished, and it's time to have a look at the final product.

It's not just a wood framework anymore!

The finishes tell you this isn't your
great grandfather's tiki bar

The brackets hold large flatscreen
TVs when the bar is open

By the way, Maggie's Tiki Bar is actually the second outdoor tiki bar to open this year in downtown Bethesda.  The first?  The tiki bar at Black's Bar and Kitchen on Woodmont Avenue.