LILLY PULITZER OPENS AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Shopping just got twice as nice for Lilly Pulitzer fans in Bethesda. The existing Pink Palm boutique at Bethesda Row is now joined by a Lilly Pulitzer store, which has just opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall. They also have a display in the center of the corridor outside of the store.

In other Westfield Montgomery Mall news, frantic construction is underway inside the future Talbot's, which is moving over from White Flint Mall. I could hear loud machinery operating behind the wall.

The Walking Company has moved into, and opened, its new second level location. Speaking of moving, Crabtree & Evelyn is about to open its second level store, as well. Yesterday, workers were making the move, clearing out the current store on the lower level.

The current Crabtree & Evelyn on
the lower level was being emptied
Tuesday, with contents moving
upstairs to the soap and fragrance
boutique's new location

BETHESDA METRO CENTER CAPITAL BIKESHARE STATION OPENS (PHOTOS)

Finally - a Capital Bikeshare station has opened where commuters have demanded it most, at the Bethesda Metro Center. As you can see, despite the rain, the vast majority of bikes were already in use Tuesday. I would expect many trips to be made between this station and Bethesda Row, and to the Woodmont Triangle.

STRUT YOUR MUTT MAY 17 IN BETHESDA

Once again, it's time to parade your furry friend on the streets of Bethesda. Strut Your Mutt Bethesda 2014 will take place on Saturday, May 17, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle.

Register your dog online now for a $25 fee, plus processing charge. In return, you'll get a doggie goody bag, event T-shirt, and, of course, entry into the parade. There will be more than just the parade, though:

10:00am - 3:00pm	Registration, Dog Vendors, Music
10:00am - 3:00pm	Kids Play Area - Moonbounces and Games
10:00am - 2:00pm	Raffle - win 50% of the pot - you need not be present to win!
10:30am	Parade Line-up - at Main Stage
10:45am	Dog Parade
11:30am	Dog Contests - Main Stage
Noon - 3pm	Every half hour: Training shows  and Adoption Shows by rescue groups.
2:15pm	Raffle Winners Announced
3:00pm	Strut Your Mutt Concludes

Parade Awards - one winner in each category

• Best Strut - large dog
• Best Strut - small dog
• Biggest dog
• Smallest dog
• Best tail wag
• Best Parade Outfits
• Best Mutt

Contests - 1st, 2nd and 3rd places:

• Owner/Dog look-alike
• Best Kisser
• Best Costume
• Best Trick
• Best Singer

Strut Your Mutt is a rain or shine event.

There will also be exhibitors showing and selling a variety of dog products. Strut Your Mutt is organized and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Parking will be available in county garages on Cordell/St. Elmo Avenues (Garage 40), and on Woodmont Avenue by Black's Bar and Kitchen.

CINCO DE MAYO BETHESDA SPECIALS AND BAR CRAWL 2014

Where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Bethesda on Monday, May 5, and on the weekend before it?

Fest Productions is hosting its first annual Bethesda Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl, this Saturday, May 3. Order your $7 ticket online, and then go to Union Jack's Bethesda at 4:30 PM Saturday, to pick up your wristband from the registration table. Your wristband will entitle you to a $3 special Cinco de Mayo drinks, $3 tequila shots, $2 Yuengling/Yuengling Lights, $4 Coronas, and $3 special rail drinks of your choice.

The following bars are participating in the crawl:

Union Jack's, Caddies on Cordell, Parva Lounge, Hanaro Restaurant and Lounge, 4935 Bar and Kitchen.

Of course, you'll want some food on Cinco de Mayo, too. So consider these Bethesda Mexican restaurants:

Gringos and Mariachis - Bethesda's newest Mexican restaurant is getting ready for its first Cinco de Mayo. Stay tuned for specials, which haven't been finalized as of this writing.

Gringos & Mariachis, 4928 Cordell Avenue. 

240-800-4266

Tía Queta - This longtime Bethesda Mexican restaurant's owners are actually from México - it doesn't get anymore authentic than that! Stop by for appetizer and drink specials on both May 4 and 5, and enjoy their newly renovated rooftop patio.

Tia Queta, 4839 Del Ray Avenue.  

301-654-4443.

Uncle Julio's - Bethesda Row's Mexican spot has fresh hand-shaken margaritas, new Tableside Guacamole, and their signature Swirl beverages for adults.

Uncle Julio's, 4870 Bethesda Avenue.  

301-656-2981.

Guapo's - This local chain usually goes all-out with live mariachi music, and more.

Guapo's, 8130 Wisconsin Avenue.  

301-656-0888.

Cheese fondue at Fish Taco

Fish Taco - On Cinco de Mayo, Fish Taco will offer several drink specials, including $5 frozen margaritas, and $4 draft beers. Order any taco or platter and enjoy a free order of Elote, a popular corn-on-the-cob street snack in México, which Chef Michael Harr has topped with queso cotija, and his signature sauce. There'll also be free cheese fondue with chips for kids on Monday.

Fish Taco, 7945 MacArthur Boulevard

Cabin John, MD

301-229-0900

Guardado's - All this weekend, Guardado's will serve special margaritas made with upscale tequilas, available in flavors like pineapple, mango, raspberry and sangria. They'll be $5.

Guardado's, 4918 Del Ray Avenue

301-986-4920

ASSAULT ON GREENTREE ROAD + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 26, according to crime data:

Burglary. 4700 block Bradley Boulevard.

Assault. 6300 block Greentree Road (Hillmead).

Theft. 7100 block Darby Road (Bradley Hills Grove).

Theft. Lord and Taylor at White Flint Mall.

Theft. Nordstrom at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Drug arrest. Montrose Road at Montrose Parkway (North Bethesda).

WHITE FLINT POST OFFICE CLOSES (PHOTOS)

The Dark Side of White Flint, Part 27

Welcome to The Dark Side of White Flint, an ongoing series about the not-so-wonnerful, wonnerful, wonnerful side of urbanizing the suburbs of Montgomery County.

The U.S. Post Office inside White Flint Mall has closed, and its replacement will not open until this summer. Patrons of the post office are being left in the lurch, much like their neighbors to the south in downtown Bethesda, where residents lost 2 walkable post offices, post office parking (regular and handicapped), and drive-up drop boxes, in what became an infamous local debacle.

If you had a P.O. Box at White Flint, those services will temporarily shift to the Kensington Post Office at 10325 Kensington Parkway - hardly walking distance. Mail services are available there, as well. Customers may also find full U.S. Mail services at the Pike Post Office, at 143 Rollins Avenue in Rockville.

White Flint won't have its own post office again until July, in the Nicholson Lane Plaza Shopping Center.

Here are photos from these final hours of the vacant post office, which will indeed be missed by nearby residents:

THE FRONT ROW AT BETHESDA ROW 2014 WITH VIP GUEST MARIA MENOUNOS

Fashionistas, prepare yourselves for another blockbuster weekend of celebrity guests, and designer sneak previews, June 12-14: The Front Row at Bethesda Row 2014 will feature TV personality, producer,  and movie actress Maria Menounos, and - speaking of movies - the DC premiere of the fashion motion picture, Versailles 73. The most hardcore fashion lovers will want to line up in cyberspace on May 26, when Gilt City will sell VIP tickets to the fashion show, and VIP reception at Redwood on Bethesda Lane.

Thursday, June 12:

"VERSAILLES 73" PREMIERE

7:30pm - Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema, at 7235 Woodmont Avenue

RSVP to versailles73@brandlinkdc.com to assure yourself a seat at the Washington, DC premiere of this documentary. Find out how a historical fundraising effort at the 1973 Versailles Fashion Show turned into a competition between French and American designers - and ended up making fashion history instead.

Friday, June 13:

MEET MARIA MENOUNOS

5:00-6:30pm Meet VIP guest Maria Menounos, who will be signing her new book, "The Everygirl’s Guide to Diet & Fitness."

THE FRONT ROW FASHION SHOW

7:30 PM - On Bethesda Lane

Enjoy a free fashion show, with VIP guest Maria Menounos. You've seen her on TV as a host and actress, and on the big screen with last year's VIP guest Jessica Alba, in the Fantastic Four franchise. Now see her in person at Bethesda Row.

But wait, there's more!

Enjoy pop-up beauty lounges, fashion sketch artists, and strike your best pose for the money shot in the Front Row photo booth. And there'll be trunk shows and boutique events galore around the Row.

Saturday, June 14:

FASHION FUEL ON THE LANE

I know, I know. You thought this was going to be a spread of gourmet food from restaurants around the Row, to fuel your shopping spree at all the boutique events. Instead, that spree will get off to an energizing start with the staff of elite fitness center Equinox, and a live DJ, pumping shoppers up with workouts on Bethesda Lane.

TOWER CRANE ERECTED AT 7770 NORFOLK IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Construction on the future luxury apartment tower at 7770 Norfolk Avenue has taken its most dramatic step yet. After months of excavation, shoring and sheeting, this weekend the site's tower crane was erected. This follows last weekend's tower crane installation at 8300 Wisconsin Avenue, as more long-delayed, pre-recession projects finally get moving. The 17-story 7770 Norfolk is being developed by JBG.

3 DRUG ARRESTS, 2 DOWNTOWN ASSAULTS + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 25, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Drug arrest. Norfolk Avenue at Woodmont Avenue.

Assault. Old Georgetown Road at St. Elmo Avenue.

Assault. 7100 block Woodmont Avenue.

Drug arrest. Old Georgetown Road at N. Brook Lane.

Burglary. 4600 block Norwood Drive (Chevy Chase West).

Vehicle theft. 9400 block Kingsley Avenue (Alta Vista).

Theft. 4400 block Willard Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Drug arrest. I-270 ramp at Rockville Pike (Pooks Hill).

CORDELL AVE. TRANSFORMER GETS TRANSFORMED IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Is this the earliest Christmas tree lot in Bethesda history? Passersby can't be blamed for momentarily being in the holiday spirit.

The transformer that some found an awkward occupant of the patio, at the new Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins on Cordell Avenue, is awkward no more. Now it's behind a wall of trees, which have been placed around it as a screen.

It can truly be said that "you can't see the transformer for the trees" in Bethesda. Somebody get Michael Bay on the phone - preferably a Samsung phone.

HECKMAN'S DELICATESSEN POSTS COMING SOON SIGN (PHOTOS)

The "Coming Soon" sign is up at Heckman's Delicatessen, and the future deli on Cordell Avenue is hiring staff. They've also applied for a liquor license from Montgomery County. Here are some new pictures of the interior; as best as I can tell, nothing significant has been altered since my last update:

PARTIAL CLOSURE OF LITTLE FALLS PARKWAY LOT TO IMPACT BETHESDA POOL PATRONS

A portion of the public parking lot just north of Arlington Road on Little Falls Parkway will close Monday, April 28. It will remain closed from tomorrow through December, while it is utilized as a staging area for WSSC contractors for the Bethesda Waterline Replacement project. That project itself has generated complaints from residents closer to the actual work.

One has to ask if this is an appropriate use of public property. The loss of parking spaces will surely be a problem when the Bethesda Pool opens in May, as the lot handles overflow parking for that Little Falls Parkway recreational facility. This is just the latest insult to users of Little Falls Stream Valley Park over the last few years, with the Hoyt/Betco property decision and results being the most notable.

TACO BELL MOUNTAIN DEW SANGRITA BLAST REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell's latest exclusive Mountain Dew flavor is Sangrita Blast. How does it compare to Baja Blast? Let's find out in this video review.

BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 24, according to crime data:

Vehicle burglary. 7700 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Liquor arrest. St. Elmo Avenue at Wilson Lane.

Vehicle burglary. 4600 block Highland Avenue (Rosedale Park).

Theft. 6500 block Bradley Boulevard (Hillmead area).

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Wyandot Court (Glen Echo Heights).

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Theft. Home Depot, 7111 Westlake Terrace.

Theft. 6100 block Roseland Drive (Luxmanor).

DUCHY TRACHTENBERG SEEKS CHIPOTLE VOTE IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

The giant photo of Montgomery County Council District 1 candidate Duchy Trachtenberg reappeared again in downtown Bethesda. This time, it was parked out in front of one of the most popular businesses in town, Chipotle. Trachtenberg is running against incumbent Roger Berliner in the June Democratic primary.

2 ASSAULTS IN N. BETHESDA, AUTO BREAK-INS IN GREEN ACRES - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 23, according to crime data:

Theft. 7700 block Norfolk Avenue.

Theft. 7100 block Bethesda Lane (Bethesda Row).

Theft. 4500 block of Cheltenham Drive.

Theft. 8500 block Salem Way (Glenbrook).

Vehicle burglary. 5000 block Greenway Drive (Green Acres).

Drug arrest. Connecticut Avenue at Beach Drive.

Vehicle burglary. 4900 block Westway Drive (Crestview/near Green Acres).

Assault. 6000 block Berkshire Drive (Wildwood Manor).

Theft. 5800 block Nicholson Lane (White Flint).

Assault/"other sexual offense." 6300 block Tilden Lane (Luxmanor).

CITY BURGER HIRING IN BETHESDA AHEAD OF EARLY MAY OPENING

City Burger, opening in early May on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, is now hiring staff. You can apply in person between 3 and 4 PM daily, at sister restaurant Food, Wine & Co., at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue. The restaurant is searching for a kitchen manager, cashiers, line and prep cooks, and dishwashers.

SIDEWALK CLOSURE ON NORFOLK AVENUE IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The effort to upgrade sidewalks in the Woodmont Triangle got slightly easier this week, as the sudden closure of BlackFinn (at 4901-A Fairmont Avenue) means workers can start on the Norfolk Avenue sidewalk along the nightclub without disrupting business. There's no business to disrupt.

Expect this sidewalk to be replaced with brick pavers (a supply of which is standing by across the street), as part of the Bethesda Streetscape plan. A previous sidewalk upgrade across Norfolk was assisted by developer Bainbridge, as part of its Bainbridge Bethesda project approval from the county.

BURGLARY ON ROSEDALE AVE., AUTO BREAK-IN IN KENWOOD + MORE - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on April 22, according to crime data:

Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Burglary. 4700 block Rosedale Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. 5200 block Chamberlin Avenue (Kenwood).

Theft. 5100 block River Road (near The Kenwood and 7-Eleven).

Theft. 5400 block Westbard Avenue.

Assault. 3800 block Inverness Drive (North Chevy Chase).

Theft. 10500 block Aubinoe Farm Drive (Rock Spring/Wildwood area).

Theft. 5700 block Luxemburg Street (Tuckerman Lane area).

MOMO CHICKEN + JAZZ POSTS COMING SOON BANNER (PHOTOS)

Bethesda's answer to BonChon is still opening soon - but with a new name. A new Coming Soon banner on the front of the restaurant known up to now as Turntable offers a new moniker: 

MoMo Chicken + Jazz.

The main dish - Korean fried chicken - remains the same. And that's what matters, right? MoMo is located at 4862 Cordell Avenue.

NEW BETHESDA GYM CHANGES ITS NAME TO FITNESS GENERATION (PHOTOS)

Body Force Fitness on Woodmont Avenue, which opened last month, has changed its name to Fitness Generation. The 3000 square foot studio is owned by Ken Yazge, an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer who is also certified using the TRX suspension training system. Fitness Generation offers one-on-one training, partner training (you and friend/significant other/spouse, etc.), small groups and boot camps.

Call ahead with questions, or to schedule an appointment. Is Bethesda having a boom of gym openings, or what?

Fitness Generation

7809 Woodmont Avenue

301-312-6301

7001 ARLINGTON ROAD LUXURY APARTMENTS BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Let's check in at the site of the old Bethesda Post Office at 7001 Arlington Road, and see what progress they're making on the construction of the new mixed-use building with 140 apartments, and 7000 square feet of retail. Yesterday, they had a crane on-site assisting. This project is a stick-built building; hence, the site did not require a major excavation for underground parking.

BANQUET CHICKEN FINGERS MEAL REVIEW (VIDEO)

Here's a TV dinner with no pretenses of being a health food choice. No vegetables are to be found. Just three things many Americans enjoy eating: fried chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and a brownie.

You can find this meal for about $1 in the grocery store. How does it taste? Watch my review to find out.

PEET'S COFFEE INSTALLS SIGNS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Peet's Coffee & Tea installed its permanent signs on Wednesday, replacing the former Caribou Coffee name on the building facade. Construction continues inside the coffee shop, which is one of two Peet's locations opening soon in Bethesda. The other will be at Westfield Montgomery Mall.