FATHER'S DAY SPECIAL AT ROCK BOTTOM BETHESDA (PHOTO)

This Sunday, June 16, Rock Bottom in Bethesda has a hot Father's Day special: a Smokin' Jalapeño Sirloin and a beer for $20.

Rock Bottom is located at the corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues in downtown Bethesda.

MAGGIE'S PUTS THE TIKI IN TIKI BAR IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Maggie's on Cordell Avenue has added more Tiki to its outdoor Tiki Bar. 

Compare today's Tiki Bar (bottom photo) with how it looked last September (top photo):

WATCH THE MASTERS AT MAGGIE'S TODAY IN BETHESDA

Maggie's on Cordell Avenue will be showing the Masters golf tournament today through Sunday.

Enjoy New York-style pizza, wings, and - with the great weather - the outdoor patio.

Green jacket optional.

DJ CHRIS HYPNOTYC OF LA NUEVA 87.7 FM TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY IN BETHESDA TONIGHT - AND YOU'RE INVITED!

There's no school or work tomorrow, and that means it's time to party in Bethesda tonight!

You're invited to a birthday party tonight at The Parva (7904 Woodmont Avenue).

La Nueva 87.7 FM DJ Chris Hypnotyc is celebrating his birthday tonight with music by DJ Suelto, DJ Pootie, DJ Enemy, and DJ Distrakshun.  Entry is FREE for anyone 21+.

Enjoy $6 Patrón shots all night, plus $1 drinks between 9-10 PM.

BRICKSIDE BETHESDA GRAND OPENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Bethesda's newest restaurant, Brickside Food & Drink, has been open for a week or so.

But next Friday, the owners are making it official.

Join them at Brickside Friday, February 15, for a grand opening party.  There will be music, specials, a few surprises when you step up to the bar, and even some door prizes to win.

MAGGIE'S FINISHED OUTDOOR TIKI BAR (PHOTOS)

A while back, I posted the first photo of the new outdoor tiki bar at Maggie's on Cordell Avenue.

But now the bar is actually finished, and it's time to have a look at the final product.

It's not just a wood framework anymore!

The finishes tell you this isn't your
great grandfather's tiki bar

The brackets hold large flatscreen
TVs when the bar is open

By the way, Maggie's Tiki Bar is actually the second outdoor tiki bar to open this year in downtown Bethesda.  The first?  The tiki bar at Black's Bar and Kitchen on Woodmont Avenue.

RELIC NIGHTCLUB MOVES OUT - EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

The final words in the final chapter of troubled Bethesda nightspot Relic were written this week.  After losing its liquor license, and then its home to foreclosure and auction, the club appears to be vacating the premises.

Despite its unpopularity with police and county officials, the club did have a loyal following.  Whenever I pass by that building on Fairmont Avenue, there is almost always someone just discovering that Relic is closed.  Relic will be most remembered for being the first in Bethesda history to offer bottle service and VIP tables.  BlackFinn and The Parva soon followed, and still offer that on specific nights (for example, Thursdays at BlackFinn, and, usually, weekend nights at The Parva).

I'm still holding out hope - albeit a futile one, given our county's rudderless "leadership" - that Bethesda will eventually get a pretentious, Las Vegas-style nightclub.  Complete with rope lines, bottle service, swanky surroundings, and C-list celebrity guest hosts.  Bethesda wallets can afford it, but the question is, will anyone build it?

BETHESDA BAR ASKING PATRONS TO SOLVE A MURDER MYSTERY IN SEPTEMBER

DISPLACED THEATER

COMPANY PROMISES

"A WHOLE NEW

CRIME SCENE IN

BETHESDA"

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Whodunnit?  That's what Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle is hoping Bethesda barhoppers can answer.

Every Friday and Saturday, beginning September 14, the popular Bethesda pub will host a murder mystery dinner theatre production.  If this sounds like the shows you may have heard of, or attended, at the Blair Mansion, well... these are those shows.

Blair Mansion has closed, and the theatre company behind the mysteries is now decamping to downtown Bethesda.  And promising to bring "fear, mayhem and mystery" with them.  Come to think of it, that kind of sums up the parking experience in downtown Bethesda...

Shows will be held in the private dining room at Flanagan's.  Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM, and the show will start at 7:30.   The first show will be "Drop Dead, Gorgeous!," and a new show will be introduced every six weeks.  Organizers say the material is rated "PG-13" as an advisory to family patrons.

This is a new phenomenon for Bethesda; I can't recall a murder mystery dinner theatre here in my lifetime.

Tickets will be $47.50 each, and include the show, a buffet dinner, and taxes.  Beverages and gratuities will cost extra.  Order tickets online or by calling 443-422-3810.

The tickets are a little pricey, in my opinion, but you are getting dinner.  And it's definitely something new and different you can't find in DC, Clarendon, Rockville or Silver Spring.

Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle, 4844 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda.

HANARO SUSHI'S ROLL OF THE MONTH: DANCING CRAB ROLL - BETHESDA SUSHI BAR

Hanaro Sushi's Dancing Crab Roll - which has nothing to do with the Tenleytown restaurant, and everything to do with fresh seafood and a fabulous diversity of flavors - is their August Roll-of-the-Month:

Which is the top

 restaurant for

 sushi in 

Bethesda, 

in your opinion?

WHERE TO WATCH 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONIES IN BETHESDA TONIGHT

Can it really be over?  It bloody well can, mate!

It seems like just yesterday that TV screens were filled with opening ceremonies, and now the 2012 London Olympic Games are ending tonight with a bang.  And the Spice Girls.

Where to watch the closing ceremonies in Bethesda?

Why, at Bethesda's British pub, Union Jack's!

Starting at 7 PM, over 20 HD flatscreens and projector TVs will be showing the London closing ceremonies, with full theater sound.

Enjoy actual British cuisine and beer while you watch.

How about a FREE pint of Bass?  Just print out this coupon, and bring it with you tonight!

MAGGIE'S OF BETHESDA OFFICIALLY OPENS ON CORDELL AVE. (PHOTO)

Maggie's of Bethesda

It's official:  Tenleytown favorite Maggie's is now open in downtown Bethesda.  Fans of former tenant Wing Hub need not worry - your favorite chicken wings are still on the Maggie's menu.

Last night, Maggie's celebrated its official grand opening.  In addition to wings, and the original Maggie's pizza recipe, other options I found interesting on the menu included The Original Dash (a crispy chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise), and Maggie's "Signature Spuds," particularly the Garlic Parmesan and Lemon Pepper variations.

Maggie's is yet another newcomer with potential on Cordell, a street undergoing a major makeover aesthetically, and tenantwise.   And also quickly becoming the street with the most variety in cuisines in "Old Town" Bethesda.

Maggie's, 4914 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda.  301-907-9466.

WATCH LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS IN BETHESDA, AND YOU COULD WIN PRIZES!

Where to watch the Olympics in Bethesda, or the DC area in general?

Union Jack's Bethesda!

And now the British pub has sweetened the deal beyond just the 20 flatscreens, giant projection TV with theater-quality sound, and British food and adult beverage specials:

Now they're giving away prizes!

The more times you come to Union Jack's for the Olympics, the better your chances of winning British-themed prizes that will be awarded after the closing ceremonies in London.

One prize is a Newcastle home draft system.  Just what every man-cave (or woman-cave) needs!

For dog owners, don't miss the special Olympic Doggie Brunch on their patio from 11 AM to 2 PM today!  Not only will there be British dog treats, but a photographer will be on hand to snap photos of your mutt Royal-paparazzi style.

FREE PINT OF BEER TONIGHT IN BETHESDA!!

I found FREE beer for you again!

Just print out this coupon, and redeem it at Union Jack's Bethesda tonight after 9 PM.

This time, you're getting a full pint!

FREE BEER 7 PM TONIGHT IN BETHESDA!

Don't tell me you're going to pass up FREE BEER!

Get smart and head to Rock Bottom at the corner of Norfolk and St. Elmo Avenues right here in downtown Bethesda, at 7:00 tonight.

There you will enjoy a FREE sample of their house-brewed Right On Rye, an American-style pale ale.  With 33% rye malt, and Cascade hops, Right on Rye is a great summer beer with sweet bread and citrus flavors.

But don't take my word for it; Right On Rye won the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival!

Collect your friends and report to Rock Bottom at 7, because when it's gone, it's gone!

P.S.  Don't forget that the new Lot 8 on St. Elmo Avenue is a great place to park for Rock Bottom, if you can find a space.  It's on the second block of St. Elmo, on your left past The Corner Slice.

BETHESDA RESTAURANTS OPEN WITH POWER AND AIR CONDITIONING

Here's a huge list of choices for Bethesda residents seeking dining and/or nightlife options during the power outage:

the parva [party until 2:30 AM in cold AC with frozen margaritas!], bgr, rock bottom, berry yogurt, louisiana kitchen, wing hub, caddie's, la panetteria, mia's pizzas, sorrento, passage to india, tragara, matuba, freddy's lobster, grapeseed, victor's, cal tort, south street steaks, harp & fiddle (open w/ live music), guapo's, tia queta (open including the rooftop), bacchus, brasserie monte carlo, tastee diner, black's bar and kitchen, woodmont grille, starbucks, cesco, redwood, vapiano, kraze burgers, mussel bar (live music), jaleo, american tap room, cafe deluxe, mamma lucia, yogiberry, panas gourmet!

FREE BEER! FREE BEER!! FREE BEER!!! TONIGHT! IN BETHESDA!

What more do you need to know?

FREE BEER.  7 PM until it runs out.  At Rock Bottom Bethesda.  Tonight.

Plus, be one of the first to try Rock Bottom's new summer menu!

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

Now that Montgomery County has torn up Relic's liquor license, only two Bethesda nightspots with VIP table service remain.  And that block of Fairmont Avenue is nearly dead.

Most businesses have either moved away or closed due to construction damage caused by the Bainbridge development.  Fortunately, the most active remaining storefront - Bold Bite - is close enough to Norfolk Avenue to still get foot traffic at night.  But with Relic sidelined perhaps indefinitely, that is one lonely street at night.

I hope Westin will recognize that the market and deep pockets to support an upscale, pretentious Las Vegas-style nightclub exist in Bethesda, and build one into their new hotel planned for Wisconsin Avenue.

BELMONT STAKES IN BETHESDA AT MUSSEL BAR

With I'll Have Another out of the race, no horse can win the Triple Crown at today's Belmont Stakes.

But someone can still win the Triple Crown right here in downtown Bethesda - you!

Head to Mussel Bar today for their Belmont Stakes Triple Crown cocktails.

Each one commemorates a race on the road to the elusive Triple Crown.

But at $18 for all three, or $9 apiece, these drinks won't elude you for long at Mussel Bar.

Start off out of the gate like a winner, with their Kentucky Derby Mint Julep:

Then head to Charm City with a full head of steam for a Preakness Black Eyed Susan:

Finish like a Champion with the Belmont Stakes White Carnation:

Mussel Bar's White Carnation is made with vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, soda water and a splash of cream.

If you're wondering where to go for the Belmont Stakes today in Bethesda, or the DC area in general, head to Mussel Bar to claim your own Triple Crown!

Mussel Bar, 7262 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda.  (301) 215-7817.

TAPPING PARTY TONIGHT: NEWCASTLE SUMMER ALE AT UNION JACK'S BETHESDA!

Just what the doctor ordered for this heat and humidity:  a frosty mug of Newcastle Summer Ale!

Tonight at 6 PM at Union Jack's Bethesda, they're tapping just that.  Order one, and you'll get to keep the glass!  And in that glass, you will be able to put refills for only $2.

Representatives from Newcastle will be there to give out FREE samples, swag and prizes.

If you think this beer pairs well with summer foods, so does Union Jack's.  That's why, starting in June, they'll be offering a Newcastle Summer Menu.  Order any item off of it, and you'll get a frosty pint of Newcastle for only $3.

Union Jack's Bethesda, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue. 301-6-JACK-61.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN BETHESDA: THE BEST OF THE BEST!

Spending Memorial Day Weekend in Bethesda?

Mussel Bar, American Tap Room and The Parva are three places to get the most out of the weekend!

Why not start today and Memorial Day at Mussel Bar?  Couldn't get away to the beach this weekend?  Everyone's favorite Ocean City and Delaware summer drink is coming to you, at Bethesda Row!

Check out this Orange Crush - or better yet, order one at Mussel Bar!

Burger lovers - converge on American Tap Room for their burgers and beers Memorial Day special!

The Parva keeps rewriting the rules of Bethesda nightlife.  Two separate floors of music and dancing - and their famous Colombian Mojitos! - tonight!

HAPPY WEEKEND!