BETHESDA MEWS LUXURY HOMES COMING SOON SIGNAGE ON OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Coming Soon signage for the future Bethesda Mews development on Old Georgetown Road has popped up on the property.

An exclusive 29-home community of single family manor and shingle-style homes by Michael Harris Homes and Streetscape, the 10-acre community will feature an undisturbed mature forest and recreational access to the Bethesda Trolley Trail.

Formerly home to the American College of Cardiology Foundation, likely residents would be physicians with privileges at Suburban Hospital, or higher-salary employees at NIH and Walter Reed.

TEA NECK COURT REOPENS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS) - BUBBLE TEA BETHESDA

As promised, Tea Neck Court has reopened in its new location within Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It is now located outside of Macy's, next to the HTC display.

Bubble Tea is a specialty of Tea Neck, as you can see in the photos below:

NEW JALEO BETHESDA ROW AWNINGS UNVEILED (PHOTOS)

Jaleo at Bethesda Row put the finishing touch on the tapas restaurant's recent makeover this past weekend. Wraps on the exterior awnings were finally removed to reveal bolder designs that trumpet celebrity chef-owner José Andrés.

WHICH BETHESDA CAPITAL BIKESHARE STATION IS MOST POPULAR? NOT THE ONE YOU'D EXPECT

Something fascinating for transportation buffs to watch over the first full day of Capital Bikeshare operations in Bethesda:

Where is the greatest demand for the bikes in downtown Bethesda among "early adopters?"

You can be sure that Capital Bikeshare will be monitoring that and other data in the coming weeks.

But, my unofficial count over the first 24 hours yielded surprising results.  While bikes sat virtually untouched at busy Bethesda Row, at the Cordell Avenue station, at times, there was only one bike left on the rack.

Is it the apartment dwellers on Cordell? The prime location in front of 2 restaurant patios?

It's too early to say, but there is a pattern here suggesting demand is greatest in Woodmont Triangle.

BETHESDA ROW ATM VANISHES (PHOTOS)

The prominent M&T Bank ATM at the corner of Bethesda Lane and Elm Street is gone. I had not heard any advance notice that this machine was being removed, much less whether to expect a replacement or not.

This could be a step backward in convenience for residents and visitors of the Bethesda Row area, so let's wait to hear what the future plans are for this spot.

Here is a Google Maps photo of the old ATM for comparison, as well as Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row photos of the same spot Saturday afternoon:

MARKHAM'S BAR AND GRILL OPENING IN BETHESDA IN EARLY OCTOBER (PHOTOS)

Markham's Bar and Grill, a new restaurant from Chevy Chase resident Steve Markham, has posted a banner announcing its new opening date in Bethesda.

The announcement hangs in front of the restaurant's future home on Wisconsin Avenue, by the Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market. It was previously home to Majestic Bar and Grill, and Gaffney's.

Markham is known to many Bethesda residents and workers as the man behind the One3five Cuisine food truck.

CAPITAL BIKESHARE STATIONS OPEN IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The bikes are here!

Several Capital Bikeshare stations opened yesterday in downtown Bethesda, marking the launch of bikesharing in Montgomery County.

The stations include Bethesda Row (Elm Street garage entrance), Montgomery Lane (Newlands Building), Veterans Park, and Cordell Avenue (by Freddy's Lobster and California Tortilla).

WENDY'S PRETZEL PUB CHICKEN SANDWICH REVIEW (VIDEO)

OK, this sounds promising: Wendy's delicious soft pretzel bun, combined with crispy fried chicken? How did it turn out in reality? Watch my detailed review of the new Wendy's Pretzel Pub Chicken Sandwich now to find out!

Pricey at over $5, toppings on the Pretzel Pub Chicken Sandwich include honey mustard sauce, cheese sauce, tomato, fresh greens, and a slice of Muenster cheese.

BOBBY'S BURGER PALACE BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

The exterior walls of Westfield Montgomery Mall are taking on the hues of Bobby's Burger Palace outside the Old Navy wing.

That's where Bobby Flay's hamburger emporium is scheduled to open in October. A job fair is already scheduled for Monday, September 30, from 10 AM to 5 PM, across from Caribou Coffee in the mall.

GRINGOS & MARIACHIS, FUTURE BETHESDA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, JOINS TASTE OF BETHESDA OCTOBER 5

Bethesda Urban Partnership's latest roster for the annual Taste of Bethesda on Saturday, October 5, shows that attendees will get the first taste of future Mexican restaurant Gringos & Mariachis.

The addition is so new, that the specific menu items they'll offer are not yet known.

Gringos & Mariachis will be a tacqueria at the former home of Bangkok One on Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. So you might expect a taco to be one of the items next Saturday.

BETHESDA ROOFTOP RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here's the latest progress on the Steven Karr-designed Norfolk-Cordell II building, at the corner of Norfolk and Cordell Avenues in downtown Bethesda.

The building will house Roof, a rooftop restaurant; Dunkin' Donuts and Smashburger.

MORE SIDEWALK CLOSURES IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Sidewalk upgrades continue throughout downtown Bethesda. Work has begun at the corner of Hampden Lane and Wisconsin Avenue, and at the western intersection of Fairmont and Norfolk Avenues. Expect closures in those areas.

MOCO COUNCILMAN SAYS HE WAS BEHIND COLUMBIA COUNTRY CLUB PURPLE LINE DEAL

LEVENTHAL SAYS COLLEAGUES WERE AWARE OF SECRET NEGOTIATIONS ALL ALONG

Speaking at a public hearing on Bus Rapid Transit corridors last night, Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal (D - At-Large) took credit for negotiations between the Maryland Transit Administration and Columbia Country Club that resulted in a controversial agreement, made public by the Washington Post Thursday. The deal gave several concessions to the club in exchange for the club's written agreement not to protest, or file litigation against, the Purple Line light rail, which will bisect the club's 100-year-old golf course.

Leventhal contradicted fellow councilmember Roger Berliner (D - District 1), who had told the Post he had never heard of the talks until now.

In Thursday's Post, reporter Katherine Shaver wrote that Berliner "said he did not know about the agreement until The Post contacted him Wednesday." Yet, Leventhal said last evening that his updates to colleagues on the talks were so voluminous, that one councilmember, Nancy Floreen (D - At-Large), told him to stop emailing her.

Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Craig Rice were not on the council when Leventhal launched the negotiations in 2009.

Only Berliner and Leventhal have gone on the record about what they knew, and when they knew it. But their statements contradict each other.

SIGNAL WORK SLOWING TRAFFIC ON RIVER ROAD AT LITTLE FALLS PARKWAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

One left-turn lane and one through lane of eastbound River Road are closed at Little Falls Parkway for signal work.

Traffic is slowed on River Road as a result.

BERRY YOGURT SALAD MENU REVEALED (PHOTOS) - FREE BREAD - 10% STUDENT DISCOUNT - BETHESDA, MD

Here are the details on the new salad menu at Berry Yogurt I told you about last weekend.

The Norfolk Avenue yogurt shop is offering a large selection of salad ingredients, from which you can build your own for $7.84 a pound. With that, you will receive free bread. Students can get a 10% discount.

To see the full list of salad ingredients, click on the photo below to enlarge:

"SECRET" CAPITAL BIKESHARE SIGN REVEALED IN VETERANS PARK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

A mystery signpost revealed itself when part of the covering apparently slipped off in Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda.

This is what is usually referred to as a "bike wayfaring sign," for reference by Capital Bikeshare users heading north through the Woodmont Triangle, in this case.

Obviously, the lower half is still concealed, so I don't know what it says.

The stations are popping up all over town, but these signs will probably be unveiled after the official announcement by county politicians this week.

100 MONTADITOS INSTALLS SIGN, MURAL AS OPENING APPROACHES

The permanent exterior sign has been installed at 100 Montaditos, on Elm Street at Bethesda Row. Inside, a tile mural reading "Cervecería Montaditos," or, "Montaditos Brewery," is now in place on the right interior wall.

100 Montaditos will feature Spanish sandwiches and other small plates, as well as Spanish beers, and is one of the most anticipated openings this year in downtown Bethesda. The opening has been scheduled for next week, but stay tuned.

TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ON EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

I'm not sure what incident occurred over on East-West Highway, but two lanes appear to have been momentarily blocked off by firetrucks. Scanner reports would suggest they are wrapping up and those lanes will reopen soon, if they haven't already.

IS NEW EQUINOX BILLBOARD LESS CONTROVERSIAL THAN THE OLD ONE? (PHOTOS)

Equinox gym at Bethesda Row has finally posted a new billboard on its Woodmont Avenue facade, several months after a controversial one drew criticism from some Bethesda residents.

Do you find this one less "offensive?"

It features two athletic models, but, as we found during the brief dust-up over the last one, billboards completely unremarkable to some give offense to others.

Whatever the opinion, the last campaign had people talking about Equinox, which is the point of edgy advertising.

By the way, Equinox is charging $0 for their initiation fee at the moment, so it might be the time to sign up if you were considering it.