SECOND ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD ADDED AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

A second screen showing advertisements has been installed at Bethesda Row, this time in a pedestrian passage. The advertisements themselves are similar in content and sponsors, and the display unit itself again resembles an oversized iPhone. It will be interesting to see how many more of these, if any, are added around the block. So far, I am not hearing much buzz about them, positive or negative. The first sign was placed on Bethesda Lane.

BETHESDA ROW ADDS ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD ON BETHESDA LANE (PHOTOS)

The ads usually found around Bethesda Row are ones for the development itself, and its stores, restaurants and events. Now you'll find ads for just about anything on Bethesda Lane, after the installation of an electronic billboard screen. Imagination Stage, Sandy Spring Builders, and Supertooth Dental Group are among the first advertisers. The monitor itself looks like a giant iPhone.

BRUCE VARIETY ADVERTISES IN FRONT OF RIVAL'S STORE (PHOTOS)

Bruce Variety had a sign man stationed in front of competitor Bradley Party & Variety's yet-to-open store in the Bradley Shopping Center Saturday.

Of course, if you've been following the dime store soap opera in Bethesda over the last 5 months, you know that BP&V's store is the former home of Bruce Variety. One of the signs carried by the man alerted shoppers and passing motorists that Bruce Variety is now open at 8011 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda.

It will be interesting to see if Bruce's brings the sign man back to Bradley Shopping Center when their competitor opens.

NEW FLOOR-TO-CEILING ADS DEBUT ON 225 METRO RAIL CARS

A new Samsung Galaxy Note 5-foot ad inside a
Red Line Metro car at Gallery Place

WMATA and CBS Outdoor have launched new interior ads in Metro rail cars throughout the Metrorail system.  CBS spokesman Jeremy Murphy said Washington is the first subway market in the US to get the new floor-to-ceiling ads.

Murphy said the ads are the largest interior ads installed in Metro rail cars. The panels - a minimum of 5 feet in height - are positioned by the car doors.

The ads are now installed on 225 WMATA rail cars.  Samsung (Galaxy Note smartphone) and Drexel University (eLearning program) are the first advertisers to buy the new in-car ads.

Increasing ad revenue is one of the few actions by Metro's current leadership I can agree with.

The system needs more money, but higher subway fare is not the way to get it.

Have you seen the ads yet on trains running through the Bethesda Metro station?  With 225 throughout the system, there's a good chance you'll end up in one of those cars.  In fact, the ad pictured above was aboard a Red Line train.

Now, about those Bethesda Metro escalators...