THE FRONT ROW AT BETHESDA ROW 2013

Fashionistas, are you ready for the biggest event of the year at Bethesda Row?

With Jessica Alba appearing in-person, this will be the biggest Front Row at Bethesda Row event ever.

When should you plan to be at The Row?

THURSDAY, MAY 16

7:30 PM

Attend the premiere of fashion flick "The Tents" at the newly-renovated Landmark Bethesda Row Theatre. Afterwards, participate in a Q&A session with director Marcus K. Jones. Take a star-studded trip backstage at New York Fashion Week by reserving your free theater seat: RSVP to thetents@brandlinkdc.com now!

FRIDAY, MAY 17

5:00 PM

Jessica Alba. 'Nuff said. She'll be signing her new book, "The Honest Life," a handbook to living an environmentally-sensitive life and eating a healthy, toxin-free diet.  Book signing will take place on Bethesda Lane in front of Redwood.

7:30 PM

The sun goes down and the music turns up as models take the latest fashions to the runway on Bethesda Lane. There will also be a preview of pieces from the Fall 2013 season.

Georgetown Cupcake founders Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne will be your emcees.

You'll also enjoy beauty lounges, fashion sketching, a street-style photo booth, and trunk shows around the Row all day, night and Saturday.

A complete list of all in-store sales and events is available here.

KON-TIKI MOVIE REVIEW - BETHESDA ROW CINEMA

Kon-Tiki opens today in the Washington, D.C. area, exclusively at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.

The Norwegian film is based on the true story of Thor Heyerdahl, an adventurous ethnographer who set out - literally - to prove Polynesia was settled by South American natives. Believing they used a raft, Heyerdahl attempted to duplicate their journey in 1947.

Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg bring a Scandinavian simplicity and straightforwardness to the adventure - too simple, at times.

After an opening that gives you a sense of Heyerdahl's lifelong tendency to take risks, and maybe enjoy the attention that results, the movie races over 20 years into the future. One gets the sense that significant parts of this film ended up on the cutting-room floor.

There is little metaphor or symbolic imagery. Heyerdahl often has a eureka moment based not on his research, but on convenient, offhand remarks by other characters. While an effective plot device, it reduces the complexity of the protagonist.

And it's hard to sympathize with Heyerdahl, in this portrayal. Why is a married father leaving his family to sail on a "suicide" mission?

Taking a raft on the high seas - with a crew including an engineer-refrigerator salesman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Conan O'Brien sidekick Andy Richter - brings predictable results. What could possibly go wrong? What you might imagine often does in this movie. Filmgoers with shark phobias would be wise to skip this story.

The cast does a competent, effective job, and the natural scenery is spectacular. This won't end up on your personal Top 10 list. But you can be sure it will end up on a lot of high school and college course required-viewing lists.

If you enjoy adventures on the high-seas or historical films, Kon-Tiki is definitely worth your time. But the lack of depth will leave fans of directors like Christopher Nolan and Guillermo del Toro with little to debate afterward.

Rating: ***

PG-13
118 minutes

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!

CHRISTMAS VACATION T-SHIRT REVIEW (VIDEO)

We're in the final days of the 12 Days of Christmas, and what better than a National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation T-shirt to keep the holiday spirit going? This shirt is from Target.

Two more days to go - check back this weekend for the final Christmas videos!

LED ZEPPELIN CELEBRATION DAY WEDNESDAY AT BETHESDA ROW CINEMA!

"LED ZEPPELIN

WEDNESDAYS!"

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

If only the legendary Anton Fig were here to give that the proper audio announcement.

Led Zeppelin fans, you are in for a treat at Bethesda Row Cinema this Wednesday night:  the long awaited and much-discussed concert film of the band's 2007 concert at London's O2 Arena is showing in hi-definition digital, with audio you simply haven't heard on your old CDs at home.

There will be two screenings Wednesday night, at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM.

You could have dinner nearby, or enjoy the many options on the theater's hot concessions menu, including chicken fingers and the original Phillips Crab Pretzel.

Some interesting facts about the movie:

This was the first, only, and possibly last full-length Led Zeppelin concert since 1980.

20 million fans attempted to order tickets, but only 18,000 were able to obtain one!

Director Dick Carruthers used 14 cameras, capturing not only every angle, but incredible close-ups of Jimmy Page's fretwork.  If you ever wondered, "how did he play that," your question might be answered Wednesday night.

Have the best seat in the house Wednesday night at Bethesda Row:  tickets are $12.50.  Click on your preferred showtime to order:  6:30 PM or 9:00 PM

RUBY RED TUESDAY AT BETHESDA ROW MEANS FREE STUFF FOR YOU!

Today is Ruby Red Tuesday at Bethesda Row.

Thanks to you being such a smart person - and thereby reading this blog - you'll be one of the few who knows how Ruby Red Tuesday can equal FREE stuff!

Just go to the box office at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.

Wear red!

Show them you're wearing red, buy one or more tickets to Ruby Sparks, and say the password, "Ruby Red Tuesday."

Et voila, you'll get free Ruby Sparks mystery gifts.

Ruby Sparks is a romantic comedy about a writer whose dream girl character he invented suddenly appears in real life.

All kinds of quirky, arthouse, Bethesda Row Cinema-style antics and mayhem ensue.

And thanks to you reading this blog, you'll get free swag to boot!

BETHESDA OUTDOOR MOVIES!

Summer is just around the corner.  In downtown Bethesda, that means - among other things - outdoor movies.

There are two annual outdoor movie festivals in Bethesda, one sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership in "Old Town" Bethesda, and a second at Bethesda Row.

Mark your calendars - or tell Siri - for the evenings of July 24 through July 28 at 9:00 pm.  That's when Bethesda UP will host its outdoor movie spectacular at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues.

Here is the 2012 lineup of movies:

Tuesday, July 24:  Stand By Me 

Wednesday, July 25:  Vertigo

Thursday, July 26:  The Muppets (the recent one)

Friday, July 27:  Crazy Stupid Love

Saturday, July 28:  Hugo

Bring your own chair (BYOC).  You can also bring food from any one of the many restaurants nearby.  I would personally suggest hot dogs from Bold Bite, or lobster rolls from Freddy's Lobster.

Admission is FREE!

Which movie is the best?  It would have to be Vertigo with Jimmy Stewart, of course!

THE FRONT ROW AT BETHESDA ROW COUNTDOWN

T-MINUS 24 HOURS

Less than 24 hours until the DC area's biggest fashion event:  The Front Row at Bethesda Row.

The movie premiere of "God Save My Shoes" will be at the Bethesda Row Cinema at 7:30 PM Thursday.  Tickets are FREE while they last.  RSVP to shoes@brandlinkdcrsvp.com to reserve your seats.

Enjoy happy hour specials before the movie at Jaleo, Assaggi, Mon Ami Gabi and Mussel Bar.  Special themed cupcakes will be for sale at Georgetown Cupcake.

Valet parking will be available by Mon Ami Gabi on Woodmont Avenue, to help you avoid the terrible parking issues around Bethesda Row.