The other day, I told you about Burger Month at BlackFinn Bethesda, and the custom grill you could win in the Burger Month contest.
Now, here is the actual grill you can win, a custom Samuel Adams grill. If you are a fan of the brewery, you'll definitely want to enter this very easy contest.
Consignment store Once Again was indeed short lived at 7810 Old Georgetown Road. And, Once Again (sorry, I couldn't resist!), a new tenant is taking over the space.
Nail Studio is remarkably straightforward in its name, and the usual nail salon services you would expect are currently 25% off, in celebration of the opening.
This space used to belong to Graffiti Audio-Video, which - last I'd heard - had moved into DC.
Two westbound lanes of Battery Lane are closed off of Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. Pepco is working on underground utility lines.
More replacement of brick pavers is underway in downtown Bethesda, this time at Old Georgetown Road and Commerce Lane.
Award-winning photographer Michael Bennett Kress is moving out of the Landow Building, and over to 7801 Norfolk Avenue, Unit T4.
The long-rumored Steak Quesadilla has finally been added to Taco Bell's upscale Cantina Bell menu. I tried it, and here is my review.
Created by Chef Lorena García, the quesadilla contains a double serving of thick-cut steak, in a special marinade, and melted Pepper Jack cheese. The tortilla wrapper is nicely browned. Included in the box are tortilla chips with two dipping cups: Cantina Fire-roasted salsa, and reduced fat sour cream.
All of this costs $4.99, but don't forget the county council takes some additional money for themselves through the "take-out tax."
Naked Pizza on Del Ray Avenue already had healthy pizza.
Now it is introducing a new Naked Salads lineup, featuring the following varieties: Spinach and goat cheese, Caesar with Naked croutons, Mediterranean, and Greek.
Reddz Trading on Woodmont Avenue closed an hour early yesterday. But it wasn't for a lack of business.
Rather, it was just the opposite.
Reddz founder Wendy "Red" Ezrailson has experienced such success in Bethesda, that she is opening a second Reddz Trading in Georgetown.
Last night, Olympian Giuseppe Lanzone and "West Wing"/"House of Cards" actor Vincent DePaul lent some celebrity aura to a grand opening celebration in Georgetown.
Music was provided by DJ Neekola, who has (wo)manned the turntables at the annual Front Row at Bethesda Row fashion show in the past.
The new Georgetown store has an appropriately red facade.
Reddz has become known in Bethesda and beyond as the place where you might find something high-end Kate Middleton wore, for much less than Kate Middleton paid for it.
The upscale consignment shop also wants to buy your clothing, as well. Reddz Trading is right across Woodmont from Veterans Park.
EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
The "independent" investigator hired by the Montgomery County Planning Board to untangle the Farm Road dispute is actually a massive donor to politicians who have oversight authority in the case.
It was widely reported yesterday that Bethesda attorney Douglas Bregman was appointed by the board. He was relentlessly described as an experienced attorney, highly-respected, and - in the words of Board Chair Francoise Carrier - a man of "unquestioned integrity."
Those traits are not necessarily in dispute. But the truth is more complicated than the Planning Board press release.
"And now," as the great Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story:"
Douglas Bregman is also a very hefty political donor in Montgomery County. And his donations are to politicians who have legal oversight, and may launch investigations, in the Farm Road dispute.
According to Maryland campaign finance records, Bregman donated $4000 to Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler. Gansler has been asked for years, by citizens, and by elected officials, to open an investigation into the Farm Road matter, in which several African-American residents of a historical kinship community in Sandy Spring have been duped out of a road, addresses, and property rights by Planning Department "mistakes" that benefitted a nearby developer.
Gansler now disputes that anyone asked him to investigate Farm Road. But, in fact, Del. Herman Taylor and Councilmember Marc Elrich asked him to do just that, in a joint letter 5 years ago.
Now that the dispute has become high-profile, Gansler could - and should - launch a state investigation. Having a preliminary report produced by a $4000 donor to Gansler is not a good way to start.
Bregman has also donated thousands of dollars to Maryland Senator Brian Frosh (D - District 16). As a legislator, Frosh has oversight authority over the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, of which the county planning board is a part.
But, wait! Frosh is also a rumored candidate for Maryland attorney general.
Oops!
According to the Washington Post, Bregman was also part of Steve Silverman's staff in his 2006 run for county executive. Silverman was strongly supported by developers in that race. Bregman has also given $1250 to County Executive Ike Leggett.
This is hardly the "objective" investigator we need in this case. Farm Road is a very serious matter. There could ultimately be criminal charges, as well as federal civil rights violations. People could go to jail.
A Bregman investigation that turns up no smoking gun, and recommends modest changes to keep a similar "mistake" from occurring in the future, could defuse higher investigations by Frosh and Gansler. Given the amount of money both have received from Bregman, sadly, there is the - at least - public perception that they would give his opinions more weight.
Given the weight of the issues involved, an FBI investigation is called for. There needs to be a truly independent investigation, with people answering questions under oath, and a thorough search of all existing or deleted computer records, emails, etc. by federal investigators. There is a clear justification for Justice Department involvement regarding the civil rights issues in this case.
I don't believe it's appropriate to "choose your own investigator." Bregman is part of the MoCo political apparatus, that has much to lose if a Farm Road investigation uncovers unflattering details. He may well be of the highest integrity. But that's not the issue here. This case requires a thorough investigation, and one where there can be no perception of favoritism.
Bregman is not the person who can provide that assurance. The state has been implicated in emails uncovered by the group Save Sandy Spring. So it can't provide that assurance of integrity here, either.
We now need a federal investigation of the Farm Road matter, sooner rather than later.
EXCLUSIVE!
Readers of Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row can be the first to book appointments at the new Bonobos Guideshop at 4835 Bethesda Avenue.
Tomorrow, Bonobos will announce to the general public that their Bethesda Row Guideshop will open on Saturday, July 20, 2013.
But you are getting the word here tonight, first! And will be able to book your appointment (walk-ins are welcome, but appointments allow for best service) ahead of the general public, who will hear about it tomorrow.
As longtime readers know from the Bonobos pop-up Guideshop that was on Bethesda Lane during the holidays last year, the company has found success by making it easy for men who hate to shop find great-fitting trousers.
And the Guideshop is based around the Bonobos Guides, trained to help you find the perfect fit and make shopping easy.
Bonobos also offers a wide range of men's apparel and accessories, allowing you to overhaul your bad-fitting department store wardrobe.
Bonobos also sent along a photo of some of their summer product line (see below).
I appreciate Bonobos extending this invitation to my readers, and am also pleased to report that this is *not* a paid or sponsored announcement: I am not being paid or compensated to share this, and no posts on this blog are ever sponsored or paid for in any way.
ShopHouse won't be opening until later this year at Bethesda Row, but the work of transforming the former City Lights of China space into the "Asian Chipotle" is well underway. Here's the progress so far, inside the future ShopHouse:
That central elevator, that appeared to be undergoing a complete overhaul at Westfield Montgomery Mall?
It's now been pulverized, obliterated, and demolished for good measure.
Hopefully, the logic behind this decision will be revealed to us at some later date...
Here are photos from last night's Washingtonian Best Of Bethesda Row happy hour on Bethesda Lane:
Here's the latest on the escalator problems at the Bethesda Metro station, as of 7:00 PM tonight:
One main Up escalator is working. WMATA is on scene fixing a second.
A short Up escalator by the fountains is out of service.
The best happy hour in the DC area tonight will be at Bethesda Row from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
Washingtonian magazine and many co-sponsors are taking over Bethesda Lane tonight, to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
A $15 donation to LLS gets you 2 drink tickets and 5 taste tickets for the best restaurants and food shops around Bethesda Row.
Uber DC, an increasingly popular alternative to taxicabs, has just announced it is expanding service in the Bethesda area.
The company says the expansion will cover all of Bethesda, from Bethesda Row and nearby residential neighborhoods, to Congressional Country Club (sounds like the best way to travel to the golf tournament).
Average wait times should now be 10 minutes, which makes Uber even more competitive versus other taxi and sedan services.
Tonight from 5:00-7:00 PM at Vino Volo Bethesda Row, it's time to once again Meet the Winemaker.
This time it is a local winery, John Kent Cooke's Boxwood, from Middleburg, VA.
Boxwood only produces red wines. The four types you'll find are Boxwood, Trellis, Topiary and Rosé.
If you are a red wine aficionado, make a point of making reservations now for this special event, tonight at Vino Volo (301-656-0916).
After abruptly closing several months ago, Finish Line has reopened near Macy's in Montgomery Mall. The athletic wear shop specializes in basketball and other sport-related shoes.
Two months ago, the shuttered BP station at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road reopened as a convenience store.
Now the gas pump-less Bethesda service station has reopened the garage as an auto repair facility. Much like Eastham's across town, they are repairing cars on a short lease, while the developers who own the respective properties await groundbreaking for their luxury residential buildings.
One thing you won't find at BP: restrooms. They don't have one.
The throwback, limited hours of the convenience store are 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM weekdays, and 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturdays. They're closed on Sundays.
Redwood on Bethesda Lane has teamed up with Bethesda Row neighbor Equinox, to present a new Power Fit menu.
The 3-course $45 menu is for the health-conscious diner:
FIRST COURSE
Chilled English Pea Soup
Tarragon Raw Pea Salad, shrimp, crab, ricotta croutons
SECOND COURSE
Sesame and cilantro marinated halibut
Stir-fried soba noodles, vegetables, herbs, charred scallion-lemongrass broth
THIRD COURSE
Lemon sorbet
Berry compote, blueberry soup, cocoa nib tuile
Easy Spirit is closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall. Customers were being directed to the White Flint location, but - oops! - the White Flint Easy Spirit has already closed.
Tysons Corner, Lakeforest Mall and Columbia Easy Spirits remain open.
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| Rendering [top] Courtesy Steven J. Karr, AIA Inc. |
