THAT 70s BUILDING BETHESDA VIP WAITING LIST OPENS

Impeccable timing by developer Donohoe: The same moment  famous 1970s doorman Ralph Hart (a.k.a. Ned Wertimer) has passed, the VIP waiting list for prospective residents of That 70s Building in Bethesda (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) has opened.

The Jeffersons actor would have felt right at home in the mellow 70s styling of this future, luxury tower between Auburn and Del Ray Avenues in Old Town Bethesda.  Currently, the project is in the early stages of construction.

Even if you don't share my appreciation for all things 70s - including 1970s architecture, of which The Gallery is a surprisingly groovy example - you may still be impressed by its 18th floor rooftop pool, and an amenity list that surpasses all buildings but The Darcy (currently under construction at Bethesda Row across town):

*Show-off your style with your beautifully appointed apartment home

*Access your inner chef in culinary kitchens with stainless steel appliances, stone countertops and custom cabinetry

*Breathe easily in Bethesda's first smoke-free apartment residence

*Kick back in the cyber lounge and coffee lounge

*Zip through work in the high-tech business center

*Keep fit in the sports-club style fitness center

*Invite your friends to the rooftop club suite perfect for get-togethers

*Luxuriate at the rooftop pool with incomparable views and outdoor kitchen area

*Spoil your pet with our dog walk and dog washing station

*Head downstairs to onsite retail

*Walk to dozens of unique restaurants and stores

Donohoe says The Gallery will be the tallest building in Bethesda, but the Capital One building is 19 stories. Hmm.

One question I have: can I get discount parking if driving a brown Plymouth Fury with whitewall tires?

When That 70s Building opens, it will be like that decade, without the gas lines, Billy beer and Bee Gees.

And, sadly, without Ralph the Doorman. May he finally collect that tip from Mr. Jefferson.

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO APARTMENT HUNTING IN BETHESDA, MD - BETHESDA APARTMENTS, RENTALS

Welcome to the sixth installment of My First Bethesda Apartment:  a weekly, urban guide to the intimidating task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and furnishing your dream pad once you find it.

BETHESDA APARTMENT

OF THE

WEEK

1 BR/1 BA  THE METROPOLITAN (click for listing) - $1801 a month

This week's apartment is not cheap.  But the outstanding location right by the Bethesda Metro Center, washer and dryer in-unit, large closets plus storage, fitness center, 24-hour concierge, and pool are among many reasons to round up a roommate or two, and make it work!

SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

You can't spend more lavishly than at Bethesda's Design Within Reach.  So if you're searching for a multi-arm lamp for that living room sofa, you're going to have a choice:

SPLURGE

Serge Mouille 3 Arm Floor Lamp from DWR - $7,380

FAKE IT

Ore 5 Arm Floor Lamp from Kmart - $93.60

Where do you stand?  There are people in Bethesda who could write that check for the Serge Mouille without a second thought.  And they'd be getting a 1952 design classic, the finest materials, and... it's made in France.

But the rest of us will have to Fake It this week, and save over $7200(!!) in the process.  Get to know your local Kmart in Aspen Hill for handy bargains like this.  5 arms beat 3 any day!

Have a great weekend, and let me know if this guide helps you find the apartment of your dreams, in the Richest Town in America!

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO APARTMENT HUNTING IN BETHESDA, MD - BETHESDA APARTMENTS, RENTALS

Welcome to the fifth installment of My First Bethesda Apartment:  a weekly, urban guide to the intimidating task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and furnishing your dream pad once you find it.

BETHESDA APARTMENTS

OF THE

WEEK

1 BR/1 BA  THE CHRISTOPHER (Click for listing) - $1750 a month

Once again, the rate is a bit steep, but not too bad if you have a roommate to pay half.  The tradeoff is a luxury building right by the Bethesda Metro Station.  Utilities are extra, but parking, storage and water are included in the rent.  Please note that the move-in date is not until December 1.  Lots of amenities, in a modern building, and location, location, location!

PRIVATE SUITE IN BROOKMONT HOME (Click for listing) - $1100 a month

Although I am usually directing you to the best units in the best downtown Bethesda buildings, this suite in a private home is worth considering if a) you work near the Sangamore Intelligence Campus, Georgetown, American University, Sibley Hospital or on the Red Line (Ride On bus to Friendship Heights passes by the home); b) price is more important to you than the excitement of downtown living.

This house is within walking distance of the Shops at Sumner Place shopping center, with a great CVS, a Safeway, Bethesda Market (opening soon), Praline French bakery and restaurant, Passion Fin sushi bar, and a Starbucks.

Obviously, you'd want to do a thorough inspection, but $1100 a month is a very good price in Bethesda.

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SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

Let's consider another basic piece of furniture that everyone has - the coffee table.  There's nothing wrong with the traditional wood coffee table, but maybe you want something a bit more contemporary.

SPLURGE

Skye Indigo coffee table from Crate and Barrel - $319

FAKE IT

Wall Street coffee table - $149.09

Both of these have similar lines and designs, but faking it will save you about $180 this week.  Nothing says "living large" like Wall Street, right?  Gordon Gekko would approve, and so will your wallet.

FIRST-TIME RENTER

TIP OF THE WEEK

Security.  An unsafe apartment isn't worth any amount of money.  When apartment hunting, do your own security audit of the building, and the particular unit.  Do doors and windows lock securely?  Do blinds or curtains give you privacy when you want it?  Is the garage or parking lot secure?  How easy is it to gain access to the building?  Is the front desk manned?  Is that "man" on duty 24 hours a day?  Can you have a dog?

Have a great weekend, and hurry out to check out these apartments before they're gone.  I believe that every Apartment of the Week I've featured so far, has been leased by the end of the weekend.  Let me know if this guide helps you to find the apartment of your dreams, in the Richest Town in America!

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO APARTMENT HUNTING IN BETHESDA, MD - BETHESDA APARTMENTS, RENTALS

Welcome to the fourth installment of My First Bethesda Apartment:  a weekly, urban guide to the intimidating task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and furnishing your dream pad once you find it.

BETHESDA APARTMENT

 OF THE

 WEEK

1 BR/1 BA  FAIRMONT PLAZA (click for listing) - $1750 a month

This week's unit is once again in Fairmont Plaza, but with a slightly cheaper rent than last week.  Apartment 701 faces north towards the Doubletree and NIH.  Just to rehash a few critical benefits:  Location near top restaurants, nightspots and Metro.  Washer and dryer in-unit!!

Just reviewing listings, many downtown units were offering 200 square feet less than this, but for a far higher price.  A third candidate was in The Promenade, which is a fancy building, but I know you are seeking the true urban experience.  The Promenade has great amenities, but is over a mile away from downtown.  You'll also encounter a lot more people your age in the Fairmont than in the Promenade.

Please note that parking is an additional $130 a month.  It's fairly steep, in total, but 2 roommates can make a go of it.  This is what is considered "affordable" in downtown Bethesda.

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SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

This week, let's turn our attention to the kitchen area of your apartment, and more specifically, entertaining.

Whether you are a cook yourself, and ready to hand-prepare dozens of fancy hors d'oeuvres, or just fire a box of frozen snacks in the microwave, you need something to display them on for guests, right?

That's when the 3-tier stand comes out.

SPLURGE

3-Tier Stand from Le Creuset - $90.00

FAKE IT

CooksEssentials 3-Tier Rotating Platter from QVC - $21.97

You can't ever go wrong with high quality products from Le Creuset at Bethesda Row.  People who know cookware will think you're smart, and the cookware is going to last.

But you can save a lot by faking it this week.  After all, how many young people are cookware snobs?  And maybe being a guy makes me biased, but isn't an automatically-rotating tray a lot cooler than some fancy piece your parents or boss will probably appreciate more than your friends will?

My verdict is to Fake It this week, with a nearly-5-star rated conversation piece of a 3-tier stand, on clearance to boot!  You can do a lot with the $70 you'll save.

FIRST-TIME RENTER

TIP OF THE WEEK

Parking.  Is it above ground, or in a garage?  Are there assigned spaces?  How secure is the parking facility?  What are the street parking policies nearby?  And most importantly, how much is the parking fee per month?

The exasperating world of parking is an oft-neglected consideration, but the wrong policy or fee could turn your dream building into a nightmare fast.

So do your homework, and you'll avoid nasty surprises.

Have a great weekend, and let me know if you find the apartment of your dreams, in the Richest Town in America!

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO APARTMENT HUNTING IN BETHESDA, MD - BETHESDA APARTMENTS, RENTALS

Welcome to the third installment of My First Bethesda Apartment:  a weekly, urban guide to the intimidating task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and tricking out your dream pad once you find it.

Have questions about Bethesda - restaurants, stores, where to find "this or that?"  Just post a comment, or send me an email.

BETHESDA APARTMENT(S)

OF THE

WEEK

We have a tie this week!  In fact, there was a three-way tie, but I whittled it down to two.  They are in different buildings, but both were built by Nathan Landow:

1 BR/1 BA  FAIRMONT PLAZA [Click for listing] - $1795 a month

If you read the debut edition of My First Bethesda Apartment, you already know what makes Fairmont Plaza a great building for a young, single person, or two roommates.  But this unit is even swankier than that one was.  Especially for the ladies, because it has the deluxe floorplan with 5(!!) closets.  And a double, wraparound balcony that's not only great for entertaining, but means you have floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding door access from your bedroom.

Some notes about the listing:  There actually is no "desk" per se in the lobby, but there is a building representative on duty off the lobby during the listed hours.  He or she can receive packages for you while you're at work, for example.  Also, I believe pets are allowed in the building, but this particular unit's owner is specifying no pets.  Which is smart from an investment standpoint, but I clarify that so that people won't think the building has a no pet policy.

On to Apartment #2!

The Seasons 

Studio   The Seasons - $1425 a month

This is a large, 600 square foot studio in The Seasons, at 4710 Bethesda Avenue.  It's 50 sq. ft. smaller than the Fairmont Plaza unit, and The Seasons itself is twice the age of Fairmont Plaza.

So why is it tied with the Fairmont listing?

Price, size, Landow materials, and location, location, location.  The Seasons is a football throw away from Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row, Landmark Bethesda Row Theatre, the Capital Crescent Trail and the many nearby restaurants.  In just the last 2 weeks, a Zipcar station was added right outside of Barnes and Noble, so you don't even need a car.

Floorplan - click to enlarge

Much like Fairmont Plaza, when you enter the lobby, you'll immediately know you're in a Nathan Landow building.  You won't find cheap floors, or the 1940s-style "health facility" interior design of lesser buildings.

You also get a 24-hour service desk, balconies, parquet floors (in the units, not just common areas) and a fitness center.

One thing to know if you are coming from outside of the area:  a major construction project will be ongoing next to The Seasons for the next 2 years.  It should not affect people too much after business hours, but you know how those things go!  So be sure to check which side of the building you are on before leasing [construction will be next to the west side of the building (Woodmont Avenue)].

You also have the Zen Tara Tea shop, a boutique, and a Jimmy Johns sandwich shop right outside the front door.

To tour The Seasons, call 301-652-6688, or stop by the lobby at 4710 Bethesda Avenue.

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SPLURGE OR FAKE IT

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

We've been talking about roommates splitting a 1 BR apartment over the last 3 weeks, and that usually involves a living room sofa bed of some kind.

So let's examine a couple of sleeper sofas:

SPLURGE

Ava Tufted Sleeper Sofa from Urban Outfitters - $749

FAKE IT

Ektorp Sofa Bed from IKEA - $649

The Ava sofa sure looks more posh and expensive.  And sophisticated.  But there are downsides.  First, it stains and damages easily, while the IKEA sofa has a machine washable cover.  Second, reviewers say the Ava is extremely firm as both a bed and a sofa.  So it's one to avoid if that would be a problem for you.  The IKEA reviewed better for comfort on and off of the retailer's website.

The best thing to do is to try sofa beds in the store.  Finding a comfortable sofa bed can mean not only getting double duty out of one expenditure, but saving that much more money for other expenses.  Faking it will save you $100 this week.

FIRST-TIME RENTER

TIP OF THE WEEK

When planning to lease your first apartment, make sure to budget beyond rent and your deposit.  There can be a number of fees required after you sign the lease, so don't get caught short and lose the apartment.  Find out what utilities average if they aren't included, too, and what level of cable service you'll have.  Are there any fees?  These are all questions the leasing agent should answer before you sign anything.

Have a great weekend, and let me know if you find the apartment of your dreams, in the Richest town in America!

MY FIRST BETHESDA APARTMENT - A YOUNG PERSON'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO BETHESDA, MD APARTMENT HUNTING

Welcome to the first installment of a new series:  My First Bethesda Apartment!  This is an ongoing urban guide to the intimidating and challenging task of apartment hunting in Bethesda, and scoring and tricking out your dream pad once you find it.

If you're new to Bethesda and have questions about restaurants, stores or where to find "this or that," leave a comment, or send me an email.

Any suggestions or comments are also welcome, in the hopes of presenting more of what you, the reader, would find most useful in this series.  So, without further adieu, let's get started.

BETHESDA APARTMENT 

OF THE 

WEEK

1 BR/1 BA FAIRMONT PLAZA [Click for listing] - $1,780 a month

Why start with Fairmont Plaza?  This particular offer sounds like a fair deal, and it illustrates two points about apartment hunting in overpriced Bethesda:  1)  Sometimes it's worth paying slightly more, rather than cost-cutting in a low-quality building on the edges of town, and 2) With rents so inflated, one way to beat the system is to lease a condo from someone who owns one.

$1,780 isn't bad if you split it in two, and one person takes a fold-out sofa bed in the living room (maybe that person should pay less than half!).

What you're getting in return is one of the best buildings in Bethesda.

Start off with location, location, location.  Only Upstairs at Bethesda Row is closer to more things, and rents there are out of this world.  If you want to go out to bars at night, and literally be steps away from your apartment, Fairmont Plaza is the place to be.

As one of the Nathan Landow buildings - and I've been in just about all of them now - you are going to get high quality finishes, floors and countertops.  Marble lobby.  Ceramic tile.  Oak parquet floors.  Raised-panel wood interior doors.  Balconies.

Amenities are sparse in terms of there being no pool, no fitness center...

But how about this:  In-unit washer and dryer!  No more loose change or cards that don't register.  No finding your clothes thrown out of the dryer by the crazy tenant down the hall.  Big closets?  Check.  Gourmet kitchen?  Check.  Gas stove?  Right-o!

I notice this listing says you'll get the use of a large, wall-mounted flatscreen TV, so you can save TV money.

Convenience?  First of all, if you're uninsured or underinsured healthwise, you have a CVS Minute Clinic right across Wisconsin Avenue.  A 24-hour 7-Eleven with Redbox rentals right across from the (controlled) lobby entrance.

Dining?  Steps away, you have Starbucks, Black's Bar and Kitchen, Woodmont Grill, Tastee Diner, Jetties, BGR and Bold Bite .

Nightlife?  Just as close, are The Parva, BlackFinn, Hanaro, Rock Bottom, Union Jack's, and more.

The first floor of the Fairmont has a yoga studio, hair salon, and French pastry shop.

And Veterans Park, farmers markets and the Taste of Bethesda will all be yards away.

It's worth checking out this weekend, if someone hasn't beaten you to it!

Fairmont Plaza, 4801 Fairmont Avenue

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TRICK OUT YOUR PAD

Spend lavishly, or just make everyone think you did!

Most apartments have a bar area attached to the kitchen.  Which means you'll need bar stools for casual dining or entertaining.

SPLURGE

Ice Cream Bar Stool from Loft Living - $129

FAKE IT

Scooper Barstool from Target.com - $49.99

Verdict:  They look the same, but what a savings at Target, and the reviews average 5 stars.  I think Target is the right choice here, and you can get more bar stools so all your friends can pull one up when they come over.

FIRST-TIME RENTER 

TIP-OF-THE-WEEK

Don't forget Renter's Insurance when figuring out your budget!  The yearly cost is far less than the value of all of your stuff, should there be a fire or water damage.

Have a great weekend, and let me know if you you find the apartment of your dreams in the Richest Town in America!

OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD SAFEWAY GARAGE ENTRANCE TO REOPEN JUNE 9

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Attention Safeway shoppers:

The Old Georgetown Road store's garage entrance is getting a makeover, and will reopen June 9.  Until then, you can use the main Bethesda Place garage entry on Woodmont Avenue.

Or, just go to the other Safeway at Bradley Boulevard and Arlington Road until the 9th.