TIME TO "DWELL" ON

WACKY LOCATION

FOR NEW BETHESDA

POST OFFICE

Is 6900 Wisconsin Avenue Really the

Ideal Mail Hub for the Future of Bethesda?

You may have taken note of vague media announcements regarding the closure of Bethesda's post offices, and the "consolidation" of two mail operations into one new location at 6900 Wisconsin Avenue.

But no one is really talking about where that new post office will be, and the consequences of selecting that location.

Now, before we consider that, here's Grandpa, about to head out to mail in his tax return to the IRS. Grandpa lives in a building near the Bethesda Metro Center, and it's going to be quite a walk. So let's give Grandpa a head start here. OK, he's got his coat and hat on. He's picked up the cane. And he's off to the races...6900 Wisconsin Avenue.

While he's staggering along 355, let's consider this building at 6900 Wisconsin Ave. It has a modest parking lot between it and a mattress store. Behind the building is a sort of alleyway, which gives access to the rear garage doors of 6900, as well as some garden apartments.

This alley is accessible from both Leland St./Woodmont Ave, and Bradley Blvd. There is a narrow staircase that runs up to the future post office's surface lot. However, this alley is - by nature - narrow, and not really designed for heavy, bidirectional vehicle traffic. I'm not sure that the 6900 garage is even open to the public, or how many spaces it has.

How's Grandpa doing? He's made it as far as the Apex Building. Getting a little tired. Heading into Regal for a Coke.

Anyway, it's not clear at this point how the 6900 site will handle two post offices' worth of foot and vehicular traffic. The county, the developer, and the Postal Service are not volunteering answers, and the politicians and journalists don't seem too inclined to ask any questions. Maybe they've got a genius solution, but wouldn't it have been a good idea to tell us up front.

All I know is, the 6900 lot has less than half of the spaces the Arlington Rd. post office has. And 355 is a state highway. The current post office is a notorious congestion point on Arlington Road. But it's one of many such points in the Bethesda Row area, and is probably a positive for pedestrian safety on the busy crosswalk ahead of it.

Imagine that volume of traffic now zipping (crawling?) in and out of 6900 during rush hour. Yikes. Assuming they'll put a time limit on the spaces, the ingress and egress is bound to cause dist-ress. Can they allow the public into that garage? Will people illegally park in the alley, and run up the back stairs to mail something?

OK, Grandpa's as far as Starbucks now...

People like Grandpa, who live near the center of town, or even farther north in "Old Town" Bethesda simply aren't going to be willing and/or able to walk that many blocks. So they are likely to drive, and who could blame them? But Government and developers keep telling us they're going to "get people out of their cars" and make walkable communities. So why are they letting the USPS move to 6900?

It seems these days that there is no adult supervision for politicians and planners. Want to build something without the infrastructure to support it, while you make the profit and the taxpayer picks up the tab? Done. The folks are away, and the bigshots are throwing a party. We don't need a well-planned, underground subway; just throw some surface rail or bus line up so we can build, build, build!

Shouldn't Bethesda's main post office for the next 100 years be centrally-located in the urban core? After all, it is a basic utility everyone uses. You'd think the politicians could have worked out a deal to put the post office in the ground floor of one of these lackluster, boutique buildings they've approved recently, closer to the center of town.

The USPS chose not to reopen in the future development at its current Arlington Rd. site, Dwell Bethesda. There are no pictures of the proposal so far, but the name is already getting things off to a bad start. "Dwell Bethesda?!" And the historic Wisconsin Avenue Post Office, complete with Madonna of the Trail statue, adds no value to the community as a private building for the private profit of Donohoe, the new owner.

But the big problem is that both sites - which together provided walking-distance mail services to all of downtown Bethesda - are closing at once. Forever. And the new location woefully underserves the urban population.

Forget about the farmers market moving; this is the issue Action Committee for Transit should be at least equally concerned about. Farmers markets are informal affairs that can be moved at will, and it is certain to return to Bethesda Row once The Darcy opens.

But the post office is going to be stuck at 6900, way out of walking distance for the average busy person. For many decades. It's just poor planning, but it's probably too late to stop the process now. Just tell us what the plan is. Can the Bethesda Circulator add the Post Office, Safeway and Bradley Shopping Center to its route sometimes? That might be an easy but insufficient fix. Are they going to somehow expand parking, since they've chosen a site beyond walking distance?

And don't say we won't use mail in the future. Unless you know how to squeeze that box of shoes-that-were-the-wrong-size into the USB port, so you can email them back for a refund!

So let's check back on Grandpa. He's finally made it down to the new post office. The sun is going down. He's going in! He's mailing his package! He's coming out! Uh-oh! He's starting to get a chest pain from overexertion. Fortunately, the new post office is convenient to CVS, and Grandpa can get a refill on his heart medication. At least it's convenient for something!

UP IN ARMS ON

THE (URBAN) FARM

Controversy Over Bethesda Farmers Market Move

Still Simmering Despite Successful Opening Day

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The popular, year-round Bethesda Central Farm Market officially opened its 2012 season on Sunday, at Bethesda Elementary School. Despite it being the first market held away from its original Bethesda Row location on Elm Street, the opening day appeared to have been a success, and featured several new vendors.

But that didn't quiet critics of the move. Last night, transit advocacy group Action Committee for Transit released a statement and photos it says prove the pretense for moving the market given by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation was "a sham."

The official reason was that the pending closure of the section of Woodmont Avenue affected by the Darcy condo project would increase traffic pressure in the Bethesda Row area, requiring the need for Elm Street to be fully open Sunday mornings.

"There is no car traffic on Sunday mornings," said ACT's Ronit Dancis, and the included photo shows a virtually empty block of Elm Street.

In contrast, a second photo shows a jam-packed parking lot at Bethesda ES. ACT says the photo was taken at 9:30 AM, 30 minutes after the market's start. By this point, ACT asserts, the market "ran out of parking."

ACT's primary concerns, that the market is now away from the action, and that the new location encourages automobile travel over walking or biking, remain. They also believe the move has hurt Sunday morning business at Bethesda Row shops.

I think they have a very good point about the business impact. BCFM has always been a good neighbor at Bethesda Row. They have regularly encouraged patrons to stay for brunch at Bethesda Row after the market. Should people be inclined to stay now, they will be closer to restaurants in "Old Town" Bethesda, rather than Bethesda Row. The other problem is that they have to move their car again, rather than just walking around the corner to brunch, in either Old Town or Bethesda Row.

But I also think the Old-New Bethesda dynamic is really the central issue here. As I mentioned Sunday, sure, the new spot is relatively inconvenient for Bethesda Row residents and visitors. However, the vast majority of apartments and condos are actually in Old Town Bethesda. So that should encourage a greater number of walkers than before.

At the same time, two other factors disfavor the new site: it is not just off the Capital Crescent Trail for morning bike riders and joggers, and the Bethesda Circulator doesn't have Sunday hours.

Would I prefer the market was back at Elm St.? Of course. But we won't know the full impact of the Woodmont closure until it happens - about 60 days from now. At that point, the traffic volume and patterns should be studied. If the impact is minimal, perhaps the county will reconsider the matter.

There are also other factors, such as emergency vehicle access in case of a fire, that are part of the MCDOT's judgement. They'd also need to consider the traffic level up through 1:00, which increases as the day goes on.

Finally, if the goal here is promoting environmentally-friendly policies and local, sustainable farming, I believe having more attendees would outweigh the desire for less cars.

First, we need to establish if there really are more cars, or if we're simply seeing all the cars that used to be hidden in the public garages and lots at Bethesda Row crammed into one place.

Second, I am sure that BCFM can tell us if market sales increase or decline.

So let's say we found there are more people driving, but that sales are markedly up. Isn't the environmental impact of that - in the grand scheme of things - inconsequential? And the greater impact - more people eating local, fresh produce; improving their health; and keeping farms going, rather than having them snapped up by developers, who pollute watersheds with construction runoff - more important than how we travel there?

Certainly, I would encourage all of those who can to make the walk; it's not that far. And ACT should continue to be engaged on the issue. They have made several good points that should be debated. Ultimately, once the street closure takes effect, it is not beyond possibility that the market could move back. If not, perhaps MCDOT can give a fuller reasoning of why that is, so patrons will be understanding that the inconvenience is unavoidable.

Until then, please continue to voice your opinions here in the comments, or directly to BCFM.

Do you think it's positive that the market is closer to a majority of residential buildings in downtown Bethesda at the new location? Is it bad if more people drive if farmers receive more income? Is it a dealbreaker for you if the market is further from the action at Bethesda Row? Did you attend the market this past Sunday? If so, how was your experience? Better, worse? If the parking lot is jammed, will that encourage people to walk?

I think everyone is prepared to adjust to the circumstances. Part of urban living is big projects like The Darcy getting built, and people adapting to constant change. And it's also about people having the freedom to voice their opinions, and effect change themselves.

This is a healthy dialogue. In the meantime, let's all try to remember the positive goals of supporting local farmers, and enjoying a healthier lifestyle at the market on Sundays, 9:00-1:00! Wherever it is.

CAPITAL CRESCENT

TRAIL BUMPS BEGONE

This may be a first in Montgomery County: the county government removing bumps, rather than installing them!

If you noticed bumps on the Capital Crescent Trail near the railroad tunnel and intersection with the Little Falls Trail, and north of the Massachusetts Avenue railroad bridge, there is good news.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has eliminated them, so it will be smooth-riding again. As you can imagine, dangerously bumpy surfaces and bikes are a bad combination.

JETTIES BETHESDA

ADDS ONLINE

ORDERING

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

It just got easier to order your favorite sandwich at Jetties. The local chain has just added an Online Ordering tab to their website.

Ordering is a simple, 3-step process. After you select the Bethesda location, enter your credit card information. The menu will be on the left side, and you can bring up a photo of each item.

The site also gives you a time estimate for when to pick up your order. It was 20 minutes when I visited.

This new option could save you some time, especially during the busy lunch hours, so give it a try!

http://www.JettiesDC.com

Jetties Bethesda, 4829 Fairmont Avenue. 301-951-3663.

WANT TO MEET

STACY LONDON

IN

BETHESDA?

Get a Photo with TLC's Style Expert at

Westfield Montgomery Mall April 14

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

I hope you know What Not to Wear Saturday, April 14th at Montgomery Mall. That's when TV's famous Stacy London and her style experts will be giving the ladies of Bethesda FREE style sessions and makeovers.

You'll also have a chance to meet Stacy, and have your picture taken with her - but you'll have to work for it!

"Wait a minute, Robert," you might be asking, "why are you telling me about this 12 days ahead of time?"

Because I'm trying to help you, as usual! The reason is, in order to meet Stacy London, you'll have to make $100 in purchases from Montgomery Mall women's apparel and/or accessories retailers between now and April 14th.

So rather than having to make a big purchase the day of the event, you can shop around the mall at your own pace the next 2 weeks. Just end up with at least $100 in total purchases, and **save your receipts**!! You'll have to show your receipt(s) to meet Stacy.

Stacy will appear from 12-2 PM, and 3-5 PM in the Center Court.

In addition to your brush with celebrity, you'll also receive a copy of the glossy Westfield Style magazine (autographed by Stacy), and a "fashionable" mystery gift valued at $20.

Receipts will be validated the day of the event, starting at 10 AM.

**ONE MORE BIG THING: ONLY THE FIRST 250 CUSTOMERS TO SUCCESSFULLY HAVE THEIR RECEIPT(S) VALIDATED WILL MEET STACY LONDON**

I mention that because it's in the fine print, and I don't want my readers running out and blowing $100, and being shocked by that rule the day of the event. Just keep in mind that you should get there early that day. All of these rules are laid out by Westfield, so check with the concierge at the mall if you have any questions, or to verify the accuracy of these rules, which were provided by the mall.

You can see why I said you'd have to work for it!

But you can still enjoy the Style Tour, the styling sessions and makeover FREE, even if you don't buy anything.

The Style Tour will be at the mall April 14 and 15, 21 and 22, in the Center Court, Lower Level.

You'll get an unsigned copy of Westfield Style, the FREE makeover at the Westfield Beauty Bar from Sephora, and the FREE style appointment with one of the Style for Hire stylists, trained by Stacy London herself. Your stylist will pull the latest fashions perfect for you from the Westfield Style Closet, with apparel from bebe, White House l Black Market, The Limited, BCBCMAXAZRIA, Banana Republic, Michael Kors, Gap and more!

The best part is, if you like what they suggest, you can buy it right there at the mall, rather than searching all over town. So, really, if your budget is tight, the smart thing to do might be to pass on meeting Stacy London, save your money, and then purchase your clothes after her stylist gives you professional advice.

To RSVP for a style session or makeover, go to http://www.WestfieldStyleTour.com

BETHESDA CENTRAL

FARM MARKET

2012 SEASON

BEGINS TODAY

Farmers Market Moves from

Bethesda Row to new spot at

Bethesda ES

Today is moving day for the Bethesda Central Farm Market. The popular market officially opens the 2012 season at its new location, Bethesda Elementary School at Arlington Road and Wilson Lane, with summer hours of 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

There has been some grumbling about the change. Like I said before, if you live in Upstairs at Bethesda Row or The Seasons, it's going to be a longer walk or short drive. But I don't agree with the argument that this is spurring people to drive, or shortchanging our "walkable community." Why? Because the majority of downtown Bethesda apartments are in "Old Town" Bethesda, and this new location is an easier walk for almost all residents than the old spot.

And if someone wants to bring their car so they can load up on healthy, local and sustainable foods for the week, that's their right, and a net gain for the environment in my opinion. If easy parking gets more people to come out, that means more farms stay in business. And those farms don't get sold to developers to cause construction runoff into streams. So, everybody relax and enjoy the market!

Today's cooking demonstration is by Bethesda's own Francesco Ricchi of Cesco Osteria on Woodmont Avenue. Get ready to expand your knowledge of Italian cooking for your own kitchen experiments at home. The chef demos will be at 9:30 and 10:30.

Remember I told you that a benefit of the new location is more room for more vendors?

It came true! Welcome these new folks to the Market today:

Teazan Tea

Love and Kindness - natural soap and lotions

Karen Kay's Cakes - layer cakes

Zeke's Coffee - freshly roasted by the cup or the pound

But all of your old favorites are back, too, including Westmoreland Farm, Two Acre Farm, Mock's, Toigo Orchards, Bending Bridge Farm, Walnut Hill, Meatcrafters, Stonyman Gourmet, Vernon's Seafood, and many more!

Returning vendors of prepared food include Betty's Chips and Salsa, Caprice de Joelle, and Old Smoky Barbecue.

SPAGnVOLA isn't just bringing chocolate; today they are introducing their homeade gelato!

Uppercrust Breads will have scones, pastries, granola and locally-milled flour (you can't get any greener than that, unless you're Kermit the Frog!).

If that's not all, Sharpen This stands ready to sharpen your kitchen knives and small garden tools just in time for Spring.

So head over this morning, and soon the Bethesda ES location will be old hat.

AND NOW FOR

SOMETHING COMPLETELY

DIFFERENT

Co2 Lounge Brings DJ Manifesto from the

World Stage to Bethesda Tonight

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Tonight at 9:00, Co2 Lounge in Bethesda presents the Bethesda debut of DJ Manifesto. Manifesto brings a new plot twist to the usual dance floor m.o. He mixes electronica with classical music, and somehow manages to play a violin while working the turntables(!).

In other words, this is going to be an unusual evening you won't want to miss, for the novelty if nothing else.

DJ Manifesto has performed in London, Asia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York and here in DC at the swanky W Hotel.

He has played with artists such as Seal, Benny Benassi and Paul Van Dyk.

Tonight, Co2 Lounge is bringing him to Bethesda, and you can be a part of it from 9:00 until they close it down.

Co2 Lounge, 7401 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda.

50 LUCKY LADIES

WILL GET A

FREE CUPCAKE

TONIGHT IN

BETHESDA

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The first fifty women at BlackFinn Bethesda's Cupcake & Cocktails event tonight at 9:00 will receive a FREE CakeDreams cupcake!

They will also get their first drink of the evening for one cent.

BlackFinn Bethesda, 4901 Fairmont Avenue. 301-951-5681.

OUTER BELTWAY,

NEW POTOMAC CROSSING

OFFICIALLY ON THE

TABLE

Governors McDonnell, O'Malley Begin

Discussion on Top Regional

Transportation Priority

Isn't it great to be ahead of the curve? In addition to advocating for the construction of the DC Outer Beltway on this blog, I've also been keeping you up to date on the small moving parts behind the scenes on the issue. Like the "Outer Beltway bills" in Richmond, the redesignation of corridors, Sen. Mark Warner getting on board, etc.

So now that it is being discussed at the highest level, regular readers have known this was coming long ago.

Yes, the Outer Beltway is finally going to happen after 60 years of delay.

What does the Outer Beltway mean for Bethesda? It means great news: finally, the gridlock between Tysons Corner, the I-270 spur and Gaithersburg will be relieved. If the Rockville Freeway is also built, the spur backups would be entirely eliminated. With eventual completion of the I-270 widening, the Watkins Mill interchange, and the M-83 Highway, I-270 would essentially be jam-free.

If I-95 were one day completed through DC - as it was planned to - and the North Central Freeway and Northern Parkway were built, so too would the Beltway gridlock be a memory of the past.

But in a day of tight budgets, the Potomac Crossing is the first step.

Where will the Outer Beltway go?

There are only two reasonable route options, and only two matching connections on the Virginia side.

On our side, we have the ICC/I-370 (the final Outer Beltway alignment chosen by planners in the 1970s), and the Rockville Freeway right-of-way (Rockville Facility).

The ICC is the likely choice, as it now reaches the Sam Eig interchange of 270, as well as I-95 at its eastern end. And it's already built.

The Rockville Freeway/Facility provides access to both interstates, as well. Currently known as Matthew Henson State Park, this highway facility reaches the ICC near Indian Spring Country Club. Hence I-95 traffic could take the ICC, and exit onto the future Rockville Freeway.

The Rockville Freeway would then connect to the existing Montrose Parkway (a silly road squatting on a portion of the Rockville Freeway right-of-way). Originally, the freeway was to occupy the full west portion of Montrose Road over 270. That right of way remains all the way to Falls Road. In fact, I have seen the real estate records for the purchases of land around the future freeway's intersections with Seven Locks Road and Falls Road. (Cloverleaf interchanges would have been built at both).

Two advantages the Rockville Freeway alignment would have over the ICC are shorter distance to Virginia (hence, far cheaper), and a clearer path to the Potomac River west of 270 (cheaper yet! Those eminent domain seizures and lawsuits are expensive).

Originally, the Rockville Freeway was planned as the Outer Beltway, and was to cross the Potomac near Virginia's Riverbend Park.

That brings us to the waiting connections across the river.

The two options are VA Rt. 28, and VA Rt. 286 (formerly SR 7100) a.k.a. Fairfax County Parkway.

In a world of sensible people, both get connected to Maryland. But it's complicated.

The Rockville Freeway was designed to line up with the Fairfax County Parkway to create the western half of the Outer Beltway. Once the ICC alignment was chosen for the Outer Beltway, planners dropped the Rockville Freeway crossing.

At that point, planners on both sides began to consider the Rt. 28/Dulles Airport corridor for the Virginia portion of the Outer Beltway.

If the ICC is selected as the Potomac Crossing route, you can be pretty sure it will connect with Rt. 28 (a.k.a. Sully Road for its northern section).

Wait a minute, you might ask, why would they take the longer route?

Good question!

To answer it, pretend you are a leprechaun. I'm serious.

Now open Google Maps, and search for "Dulles Town Center" (Sterling, VA).

Ok, just to the left of that is Sully Road. Now, Lucky the Leprechaun, scroll south on Sully Road, and start counting the cloverleafs. Each one of those is a grade-separated interchange (like the Beltway, the Outer Beltway will have exits, not traffic signaled intersections).

Wow, this is your lucky day! There are a ton of them!

Now look at Fairfax County Parkway. Uh-oh. Lots of work to be done.

One of the many stealth actions smarter planners on the Virginia side have taken is to prepare Rt. 28 for interstate highway designation.

They've also taken smaller steps towards that on the Fairfax County Parkway, but as you can tell from the map, it's nowhere near ready. 28 needs work too, once you get into Centreville. But there's plenty of room there to expand.

So if you're gambling, put your money on the ICC-370-Potomac River Bridge-VA Rt. 28 alignment.

There's plenty of time and room to bring Fairfax County Parkway up to interstate standards, and one day connect it to the future Rockville Freeway via another Potomac River bridge, as originally planned.

How will the Outer Beltway be completed?

It's interesting. Remember I told you a few weeks back my prediction that the ICC will be extended to Bowie? That gets you to MD Rt. 301.

Now, take VA Rt. 28 to its end. Then take Route 17. You've got an interchange with I-95 there as you head east. You've made a critical connection with Fredericksburg. Now keep following 17 east, and then Rt. 218 east. Eventually, you connect to...

Rt. 301! You've made a complete circle. An Outer Beltway.

But there are many alternative routes to accomplish that.

Right now, expect the governors to concentrate on the bridge crossing, and handling interstate volumes between western Montgomery County and the Dulles area.

And, alas, rumor has it that there will be tolls!

WANT A FREE

FOREVER 21

GIFT CARD WORTH

UP TO $210?

First 200 People in Line to Receive

Gift Cards Saturday at 10 AM

Ladies, are you a fan of Forever 21 at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda? You may want to turn in early tonight. (Or plan to have coffee in the morning).

That's because Saturday morning, March 31, is the Grand ReOpening of Forever 21 at the mall!

More importantly, the first 200 people in line by 10 AM will receive FREE Forever 21 gift cards. The cards will have different dollar amounts, and some lucky winners will get the cards worth $210! Will you be one of them?

That's not all - another winner will be chosen Saturday to receive one of Forever 21's hottest ensembles for Spring, an outfit hand-selected by their stylists worth up to $150.

Forever 21 is located near Sears.

So set some extra alarms for tomorrow morning, because the doors open at 10:00 AM!

BETHESDA / NW DC

CRIME WAVE

UPDATE

Has the Park Bethesda Ski Mask

Gang Reemerged on DC Side of Line?

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

The January 19 Park Bethesda armed robbers remain atop Bethesda's "Most Wanted" list.

No incidents fitting their description (3 robbers using firearms, wearing ski masks, assaulting and robbing victim of property) are found in the Montgomery County Police official crime report.

However...

Let's check SpotCrime's unofficial report:

Assault, 5000 block of Dalton Road, Bethesda, 3/24/12

Robbery, 4200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW, DC, 3/28/12

***Armed Robbery, 4000 block of Connecticut Ave. NW, DC, 3/28/12

According to SpotCrime:

Metropolitan Police Department officers reported an armed robbery "at gunpoint" at 2:01 PM on Tuesday, March 28. Suspects described as 2 black males, who fled the scene and are still at large.

This sounds somewhat like the ski mask gang, fits their m.o. of operating near Metro stations on the Red Line (Van Ness, in this case), but there are only two robbers mentioned. And there is no specific mention of them wearing masks. Is this a different group, or have they lost their Third Musketeer?

Were they the same guys who committed that second robbery on Connecticut that same day? That second incident (above) does not mention "armed" but it is reminiscent of how the ski mask gang struck on Wisconsin Avenue one night, the victim escaped, and then they struck again just a few blocks south.

It's a waiting game at this point. Certainly, there were no armed robbery incidents reported in nearby NW or Bethesda for several weeks. No official information on this incident is available, which is strange, because the SpotCrime source for this says the robbery was reported by MPD units.

No crimes of any kind were reported in the Westbard Sector this past week. Police remain on patrol in the area.

Nothing's changed at the Westwood Shopping Center; large portions of the parking lot were pitch black again for the entire week, as of last night. Park Bethesda residents must brave the darkness to walk over to the Giant or Rite Aid, as Capital Properties - for reasons still known only to them - simply refuses to activate full lighting on the property at night.

UNCLE JULIO HAS

SIGNED YOU UP

FOR A

REFRESHER COURSE

New Beverages Debut for Spring at

Uncle Julio's at Bethesda Row

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

When you think of drinks at Uncle Julio's, their many special margaritas may be what come to mind.

But Bethesda Row's popular Mexican restaurant and Happy Hour spot has a new lineup of Spring beverages for all ages.

The weather is getting warmer, and after a long day at work - or a hot workout at the gym - these new drinks will hit the spot:

MANGO PASSION LEMONADE - You'll be passionate about this hand-shaken blend of lemonade and Uncle Julio's fresh Mango Passionfruit puree.

STRAWBERRY GUAVA LEMONADE - An exotic blend of fresh strawberries, guava nectar and lemonade.

CHERRY LIMEADE - A collision of sweet cherry and tart lime.

RASPBERRY ICED TEA - Freshly-brewed with real raspberries.

RASPBERRY ICED PALMER - Want lemonade with that Raspberry Iced Tea?

Enjoy patio dining al fresco, and cool off with one of these refreshing drinks at Uncle Julio's today.

OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

TO GET COMPLETE

OVERHAUL

County Promises Aerial Crossing Will

Remain in Operation Throughout Repairs

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

One of "New Bethesda's" most prominent landmarks is getting an overhaul. This spring, Montgomery County will begin an 8-month renovation of the pedestrian bridge over Old Georgetown Road.

The bridge connects Bethesda Place with The Metropolitan (which also houses the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, and a 1,100 space public parking garage).

90 feet long, this bridge is only 13 years old. I can actually remember the Metropolitan being built. It was just a skeletal framework, and all of the car horns honking in the traffic jams were echoing inside of it. Once completed, the bridge - like the Bethesda Metro Center - became a symbol of the "new" Bethesda, and the futuristic potential ahead. Alas, the record, architecturally-speaking, since then has been quite the mixed bag.

What are they doing to the bridge?

Cleaning, painting, fascia repairs, cladding and railing support replacement.

The east end approach bridge connection will be replaced. A new truss bridge drainage system will be installed. Stamped, lightweight concrete will replace the existing concrete pavers.

Last, but not least, they'll replace the expansion joint that connects the truss bridge with the approach bridge.

Got all that?

Do you use this bridge? If so, you'll be glad to know that - according to the county - the bridge will remain open during all of this work.

Now that is amazing, given the above list of repairs. This bridge has served the public well for over a decade, and this work will ensure it continues to do so well into the future.

PLEASE

VOTE FOR ME

IN

WASHINGTONIAN'S

BEST OF WASHINGTON

SURVEY

Dear readers, I could use your help. And you could win tickets to Washingtonian Magazine's Best of Washington 2012 Party, July 11 at the National Building Museum.

If you find this blog and/or my Twitter feed @BethesdaRow to be useful, I would super appreciate if you would take a minute to vote for one or both in the Washingtonian 2012 survey.

To do so, for #31, Best Local Blog, type "Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row"

For #32, Best Local Twitter Feed, type "@BethesdaRow"

Answer whichever other questions you wish, fill in your name and phone/email at the bottom to enter the ticket drawing, and submit.

Ready? CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

EXCLUSIVE!

UPDATE FROM FAMILY

OF BETHESDA WOMAN

WHO SURVIVED BEING

HIT BY TRAIN

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Good news for those who were concerned about Anika Manzoor, Bethesda resident and student at Grinnell College, who was struck by a freight train in Iowa. Manzoor is making a full recovery from her minor injuries, and will be returning to school next week.

Her father, Manzoor Hossain, posted an update here on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row, and wanted all who expressed concern to know the family appreciated their prayers and well wishes:

"Ms. Manzoor is spending Spring Break with her parents in Bethesda and Kensington. She plans to go back to school April 02. We are happy to report that she is on her way to making a full recovery from her injuries (a simple fracture and a few cuts and bruises). She fully understands and accepts the fact that the momentary lapse of judgement on that fateful afternoon could have led to a greater tragedy. We all are very thankful to everybody for their prayers and best wishes."

-Manzoor Hossain (father)

Fabulous news! All of us make mistakes, it is a normal part of life. As someone said, if you're not making mistakes, you're not doing anything. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and something good has come out of this: Although this was not a pleasant experience for her, Anika Manzoor may have saved lives, by making young people more aware about railroad safety. So there are two positive endings to this story.

Best wishes to the Manzoor family.

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

APRIL 16-22, 2012

Your Chance to Try All of the

Great Restaurants at Bethesda Row!

It's official! Bethesda Row Restaurant Week 2012 will be April 16-22!

Mark your calendar, and stay tuned for the official list of participating restaurants and menus.

But count on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row to come up with the inside scoop for you: Here is a sneak preview of the Bethesda Row Restaurant Week 2012 menus for one of the most popular spots on the Row, Jaleo.

BRT BOONDOGGLE

COULD COST

BETHESDA RESIDENTS

$1000 OR MORE

PER YEAR IN

NEW TAXES

Oversized Montgomery County

Rapid Bus Network Would

Drain Wallets, Existing Metro System

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Can anyone stop Montgomery County's runaway rapid bus proposal? Despite a serious "Emperor's New Clothes" problem, not a single journalism outlet in the DC region has spoken out against the BRT plan, or even provided an in-depth critique.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the "Montgomery County Rapid Transit Task Force" is considering tax plans that could charge Bethesda condo and single-family home owners well over $1000 per year, according to the Washington Post. This whopping tax increase would be just to pay for BRT.

With that kind of abuse of county taxpayers ahead, someone needs to speak out soon. Strangely, the BRT process - nominally public - has provided no forum for public input, even as the task force has dragged out its deliberations for a year.

There have been a handful of presentations, a jumble of different and confusing plans, but no public comment or involvement. And much like the panels of developer agents testifying about the Rockville Pike plan before the Rockville Planning Commission, no dissenting opinions are being permitted.

Allow me to present the very first critique of perhaps the most audacious fiscal and tax boondoggle in Montgomery County history.

First of all, you can't have a few elected officials ram a $2.5 billion dollar transit project through, with a back room plan presented and voted on with one public hearing in 2013. This process needs to SLOW DOWN. NOW.

Second, there is no credible evidence that people will ride rapid buses once they are in service. If they've got the miracle numbers, why not share them with us?

Third, on routes such as Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue and Georgia Avenue, BRT is a duplicative service. If you believe people will switch from a faster subway to a slower bus, then you are taking revenue from the already struggling Metro system. But if people don't switch, the buses will be empty. Either result is a complete waste of money.

Fourth, if we can so easily raise revenue for BRT, why wouldn't we just raise enough to add capacity to the Red Line north of Grosvenor and Silver Spring?

Fifth, likewise, we could take just a fraction of the $2.5 billion, and buy more Ride On and Metrobus vehicles. Run them one behind the other on 355, for example, and you'd have the same 5 minute service intervals.

Sixth, we don't have highway capacity for these buses on many of the proposed routes. You can't take a car lane for rapid buses, and no one can take seriously the bizarre suggestion that they would knock down buildings in downtown Bethesda to make room. Ridiculous. It ain't gonna happen.

Seventh, why hasn't a figure been released for the time savings BRT will provide users? Will it be 2 minutes faster? Five? Zero? And will you be willing to pay $1000 a year more in property taxes to arrive 2 minutes faster on a bus? Is there anyone who would answer, "Yes!" to that question? Put your hand down, Warren Buffett. Most recent discussions have suggested that much of the system will run in regular traffic. If that's not a waste of money, I don't know what is.

Eighth, the primary muscle behind BRT (aside from some councilmembers' desire to point to this massive albatross and say, "look what I accomplished, now vote me to higher office") is - guess who - the developers! Just wait. We'll soon hear that neighborhoods along BRT are now eligible for "Transit Oriented Development." This means suburban, residential areas in Aspen Hill, Olney and Rockville will have their commercial areas bulldozed for "town centers" to tower over their backyards. And you'll pay for the developers to profit, to boot.

Ninth, what exactly will force the public to use BRT? We have a good bus system now, but people don't use it. Do we have to spend $2.5 billion to either subsidize laziness, or even worse, find out no one will use a rapid bus, either? I say laziness because, I've been used early in my life to walking a few blocks to get a bus to a Metro station. I've waited 30 minutes (and even 60, when the bus didn't come) in cold and/or heavy rain, often without a bus shelter to get under. Do you need to pay $1000 a year to subsidize people who think they are too special to do that? Are they made of sugar? Are they going to melt? Deal with it. I'm tired of being lectured about buses by people who don't ride them, when I've logged more Metrobus hours than they have combined!

Tenth, county and regional "smart growth" gurus keep talking about "walkability" and "pedestrian safety." How does making roads even wider, and thundering buses down the middle of them, make major roads easier and more quick to cross on foot? Hmm.

Eleventh, why are corridors like River Road excluded from BRT? The waits for buses are longer there than some of the roads proposed for BRT service.

Twelfth, how does it make any sense for Bethesda residents to pay for the BRT anyway? Bethesda Metro Center is the southern end of the line on the proposed 355 route. Hardly anyone is going north out of Bethesda in the morning, or south to Bethesda in the evening. Most downtown Bethesda residents will either commute by car, bicycle, or they will walk to the Metro and take the Red Line downtown. So what are we paying taxes for, exactly? Bethesda is getting virtually no use of the proposed system. Downtown Silver Spring residents could justifiably say the same thing.

The fact is, we have a great bus system now. Except for outrageous actions by the county council - who cut weekend and holiday service on Ride On Route 90 (Shady Grove Metro-Damascus), stranding non-driving Damascus residents in town on those days - you can actually get around quite well. We have Metro. And we have cars, but an incomplete highway system.

The Post said "County officials and task force members say (BRT) is the most affordable option available to move commuters along increasingly congested corridors such as the Midcounty Highway, Randolph Road and Rockville Pike."

Really? "Survey says... BRRRRNNNNNNNNNTTTT!!"

Come on. Midcounty Highway is not even a corridor, and MCDOT has already said BRT is unnecessary on Midcounty Highway Extended.

Rockville Pike? Again, add more conventional buses. Synchronize the stoplights. Use Metro, and/or add more Red Line capacity for less than $2.5 billion.

Randolph Road? Build the Rockville Freeway for a sliver of what the BRT would cost, and you move the long-distance, cross-county traffic off Randolph permanently. Combined with the already-scheduled interchange at the Randolph-Georgia Avenue intersection, the Rockville Freeway restores Randolph to A-1 operating capacity.

There are only a few corridors where BRT would make sense. One is Veirs Mill Road, but WMATA already has a solid plan to improve bus service along that corridor for far less than the cost of BRT.

Route 29 is another. Along with the Corridor Cities Transitway, a BRT line there would be a good pilot project. Will people really ride a bus just because it comes every 5 minutes in the middle of the road?

Even there, however, it's worth a try to promote what we've already got. Humorously, the Post claimed that the only way to reach a popular Indian grocery store on Old Columbia Pike is by car.

If this mystery store is the one I'm thinking of near the intersection of Old Columbia Pike and Briggs Chaney Road, it is served by no less than 4 - 4!! - buses: the Z6, Z8 and Z9 from Silver Spring Metro, and Ride On 39.

I've done my homework. With $1000 more in property taxes on the line for the biggest boondoggle in county history, it's time for county officials and the local media to start doing theirs.

ROCKVILLE FREEWAY

UPDATE

Fellow supporters of the Rockville Freeway:

Several developments favoring construction of this long-delayed, 6-lane highway connecting the Montrose Parkway east of 355 to the ICC near Indian Spring Country Club have occurred.

The biggest news is the oversized town center known as Twinbrook Metro Place. A development equal to or larger than Rockville Town Center itself, the project includes no highway improvements to ameliorate the traffic it will generate.

There is much dispute about whether the developer's plan to get a waiver for reduced parking will result in overflow vehicles parking in other nearby retail centers. The model used by so many developers today, is that spaces will vacate after 5:00, and restaurant diners and bar revelers will then fill them. In other words, as office drone A backs out of his parking space, Lounge Lizard A is tapping his steering wheel impatiently, ready to pull in for his bottom shelf margarita and so-so chicken sandwich at the Mixed Use Mixed Grill. Does this theory translate to reality? Not in Bethesda.

Height is another concern. While it makes sense to have tall buildings near Metro stations, not all Metro stations are in 360 degree urban surroundings. Twinbrook Metro, and this proposed development site at 1592 Rockville Pike, are backed primarily by homes in Twinbrook on Rockland, Lewis and Vandegrift Avenues, and Lemay, Holland and Halpine Roads.

It is not appropriate to have buildings of 15 stories looming over single-family homes. At the same time, Rockville's Mayor and Council gained a "concession" by the developer to make it 14 floors at last Monday's meeting. It seems if you're going to 14, one more floor won't make much of a difference.

Granting these parking and height concessions now makes them standard for every other future development within the Metro station's eligible proximity. Ultimately, this is the result not of a scheme by the developer, but of Rockville's recently-updated (and supremely developer-friendly) zoning code.

A Responsible Growth zoning code, and planning principles, would have acknowledged reality, and made clear that Twinbrook Metro will never have the density of a downtown DC stop. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

In totality, this and similar projects will overwhelm the Pike and other nearby roads. Only with the Rockville Freeway in place can adequate traffic capacity be provided in the 355 corridor.

Unlike the recent JBG announcement of its second White Flint project, Twinbrook Metro Place offers no unique architecture or sense of place, either. But the bottom line is, if you are bringing this many cars to Rockville Pike, the developer and the city have an obligation to provide the infrastructure required to support that growth.

With a second JBG project at White Flint, thousands of new units at the soon-to-be demolished White Flint Mall, the County Council trying to add apartments to the proposed Walmart site on Rockville Pike, and the Mid-Pike Plaza mini-Manhattan on the way, Twinbrook Metro Place only increases the pressure to build the Rockville Freeway. Without it, 355 simply cannot manage the coming volume requirements for traffic.

Finally, the council has tentatively tabled funding for the Montrose Parkway East. Like the existing Montrose Parkway, the extension will primarily use the existing right-of-way meant for the Rockville Freeway.

Stopping that project is good news. The Montrose Parkway is too narrow at 4 lanes, and its speed limit is too low. But worst of all, instead of building an interchange at Veirs Mill Road (as the Rockville Freeway would), Montrose Parkway East diverts from that route and connects to Veirs Mill across from Aspen Hill Road.

This alignment is a catastrophe. First, it means more land seizures from owners who had no way to know this would happen. The Rockville Freeway's long designated path requires virtually no demolitions of homes or other property.

Second, going forward with the parkway means having to pay for an intersection, but then building a ramped interchange anyway when the Rockville Freeway is built.

Third, we'd be making the same mistake again: 4 lanes when six are needed, and a silly parkway design rather than an interstate-standard highway. Why in the world is Montrose Parkway like that, when Montrose Road is six lanes, and has interstate-style sound barriers?

Fourth, the Parkway would dump eastbound traffic into the residential neighborhoods of Aspen Hill. In contrast, the Rockville Freeway would take cars closer to their ultimate destinations in Howard County, Baltimore and eastern Montgomery County.

The parkway delay is the perfect time to reassess the mess, and plan to build the Rockville Freeway instead. There is no other way to provide the capacity needed along Rockville Pike, Randolph Road, Edmonston Drive, Veirs Mill, Connecticut Avenue and Georgia Ave.

The Rockville Freeway will connect the burgeoning employment and residential hubs of White Flint and Columbia.

If it is built!

WE'RE NOT IN

KANSAS ANYMORE

Weather Channel Ranks Maryland

#3 Tornado Risk State in US

Head for the basement, folks - Experts at The Weather Channel have conducted a study. Compiled a list. And when it comes to deadly tornadoes, they have just declared Maryland the third most dangerous state in America.

Who knew?

The Weather Channel's Greg Forbes said we're just behind Florida and Kansas, because of the atmospheric effects from the Appalachian mountains, Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

According to the study, Maryland has 9.9 tornadoes per every 10,000 square miles (pretty impressive, considering we don't even have 10,000 square miles in the state!).

First earthquakes, now tornadoes. Time to stock up on canned goods!

HUNGER GAMES

FEVER IN

BETHESDA

Sold Out Movie Inspires Costumes,

Workouts and Hairstyles

When die-hard fans, some in costume, gathered at Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row the evening before the Hunger Games premiere, fever over the year's first blockbuster was just beginning.

Friday night, fans attended a special premiere at Montgomery Mall, which raised money for Invisible Children - the charitable arm of the Stop Kony movement.

Rain drove more people into theaters this weekend, and preliminary box office numbers are big.

All of this hype is creating opportunities for local businesses to capitalize on the moment.

Washington Sports Club is offering a free "Train Like a Tribute" workout on the next 7 Tuesdays, at their Chevy Chase, DC location (just take the Red Line one stop down from Bethesda to Friendship Heights). This punishing workout will pit you against your classmates until one is left standing. WSC promises to whip you into Jennifer Lawrence shape, including a bow and arrow portion. Maybe you don't want to stand right in front of the person behind you...

A little less taxing offer for ladies who want to look like the Hunger Games heroine is Refinery 29's DIY Guide to the Katniss braid, no hair salon necessary.

As for myself, call me when The Avengers opens.