MUSSEL BAR ADDS BEER FLIGHTS AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTO)

Mussel Bar at Bethesda Row is now offering beer flights. You can try an all-local flight like this lineup of three regional beers from Devil's Backbone (Virginia), Evolution & Burley Oak (Maryland) and Dominion (Delaware).

BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET SEASON OPENING TODAY

The full-scale Bethesda Central Farm Market returns to Bethesda ES (at Arlington and Old Georgetown Roads) today from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Expect to find your favorite vendors, but new ones will appear as the season goes forward.

Highlights of today's market include:

Music by Heavy Traffic Ahead

Pure Light Candles: Individually hand poured 100% natural soy wax candles with fragrances.

Sweet Nuttings: Try their CookiNuts, a variety of gluten-free, dairy-free treats.

Stonyman Gourmet Farmer: Farm-fresh cheeses.

Heirloom Kitchen: Spring Sweet Pea with fresh herbs & lemon; Butternut Squash with apples, sage & white wine (last batch until fall). New Scarlet Runner Bean, with tomato & fresh rosemary.

Chouquette: Enjoy 20%-off Chocolate of the Month for all of April. Try Chouquette's Spicy Caramels before you buy them today.

SWEET FARM SAUERKRAUT JOINS BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET

Do you like sauerkraut? I didn't, until I tried one that didn't come out of a tin can!

Yes, a fresh or bagged sauerkraut is a great side dish, and now you can get it from right here in Maryland.

Sweet Farm Sauerkraut made its Bethesda debut last Sunday, and will be back again this Sunday, 9 AM - 1PM at Bethesda ES.

Sweet Farm is in Woodsboro, in Frederick County. Their vegetable krauts are naturally fermented, and made with only organic vegetables, unrefined sea salt, and spices.

So until we finally get a German restaurant in Bethesda, at least you can get real sauerkraut at Bethesda Central Farm Market.

BAKE BETHESDA A PIE CONTEST IS HOURS AWAY AT BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET

While Labor Day weekend is a time many relax, Bethesda Central Farm Market is offering even more than usual at today's market.

Stop by between 9 AM and 1 PM at 7600 Arlington Road (Bethesda ES) to pick up supplies - like premium, organic ketchup and mustard - for your holiday cookout.

The headlining event is the annual Bake Bethesda a Pie Contest from 11 AM-noon.  While Chef Joseph Poupon and Bethesda Magazine food editor Carole Sugarman will handle the professional judging part, you will have a chance to try every pie after the winners are chosen.

Also here today:  Mr. Divabetic, who will be wearing his "world famous fruit suit."  He will be asking your opinion on healthy lifestyles, and you'll be asking him how he got that name, and about his fruit suit, I suppose.

Finally, Bethesda's venerable BCC Rescue Squad will be on hand to give you a free blood pressure check, and with an ambulance customers can tour.

By getting your BP check out of the way, then you can go ahead and cheat at brunch in downtown Bethesda!

BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET NOW TAKING THANKSGIVING TURKEY ORDERS

Gobble, gobble.  Are you ready to talk turkey (as in Thanksgiving turkey) in August?

The Sparks, MD farm that raises natural, hormone/antibiotic-free, free-range turkeys for the market has just begun taking orders.

Bethesdans ready to order Thanksgiving dinner months in advance can fill out a simple online form now.

Springfield Farm Turkeys will be available for pickup at a special edition of the market in downtown Bethesda a couple of days before Thanksgiving.

Are you ready to order your Thanksgiving turkey this early?

What kind of turkey person are you:  fresh or frozen?  Brined or not brined?  Long holiday in the kitchen, or fully-cooked and catered by your grocery store?

NEW FARMERS MARKET IN BETHESDA - LITTLE FALLS PARKWAY FARM MARKET

Bethesda's exploding farmers market scene has detonated again.  Another new player has entered town, just outside of downtown Bethesda.

The Little Falls Parkway Farm Market is in the parking lot on - where else - Little Falls Parkway, just past the intersection with Arlington Road.

The market will be open Fridays from 2-7 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM-7 PM.  These hours are great if you are one who can't get up - for one reason or another! - early Saturday or Sunday morning for the bigger markets downtown.

What really gets my attention here, is that this market had Baugher's produce from Westminster, MD.  I remember their orchard and restaurant in Westminster, and this is a first  (for me, at least) to have Baugher's selling in Bethesda.

FREE FLYING DOG BEER TASTING TONIGHT IN BETHESDA!

Start your weekend tonight at Cork 57, for a FREE Flying Dog beer tasting from 5-7 PM.

The obvious benefit of a beer tasting - aside from free beer - is that you can try a beer without being stuck with a whole case, if you didn't like that particular kind.

Tonight's main event will be the Single Hop Chinook Imperial IPA, which is in short supply.  This is your chance to try - and buy! - this limited-time brew.

Montgomery County's favorite Flying Dog representative, Kathleen Naughton, will host the event.

Here are the beers you will be sampling tonight:

Single Hop Chinook Imperial IPA

Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout

Dogtoberfest Marzen

Underdog Atlantic Lager

Have you tried any of these?  Which Flying Dog beer is your favorite?

Cork 57, 4910 Bethesda Ave.  301-652-4910.

DOWNTOWN BETHESDA RESIDENTS AND WORKERS: THERE MAY BE $5 WAITING FOR YOU IN THE LOBBY!

The hunt is on to find $5 in Bethesda FreshFarm bucks in downtown Bethesda.

Some apartment/condo residents report finding these FreshFarm flyers, with $5 in "FreshFarm Markets Dollars" attached, in their buildings' lobbies.

Redeemable only at this Saturday's and next Saturday's markets on Norfolk Avenue by Veterans Park, $5 is a fairly generous amount.

So check your lobbies!  Maybe they are in some office buildings, too.  It's the Willy Wonka Purple Ticket, and worth grabbing if you can find one.

Have you found the Purple Ticket around downtown Bethesda?  What do you recommend spending the 5 bucks on at Saturday's market?

IT'S ALL ABOUT ZE GERMAN SAUSAGE AT BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET TODAY

Today's Bethesda Central Farm Market (9 AM - 1 PM at Bethesda ES) comes to you by way of Germany today.

Meatcrafters will have its newest sausage, Landjaeger.  It is does not contain Jagermeister, but would probably pair well with it!

Instead, Landjaeger is a German Hunter's sausage made with organic beef and pork.  Try a bite of this traditional German snack at the market today.  Then take some home.

Finish off your buy-local Father's Day feast with German potato salad made with 2012's first crop of potatoes from Bending Bridge Farm, and a Peach-Blackberry pie from Westmoreland Berry and Toigo Farms.

NEW FRESH YOGURT BAR AT FANCY CAKES BY LESLIE

Bethesda Row has many dessert options, ranging from cupcakes and ice cream to crepes and gelato.

But what if you are still sticking to that New Year's resolution of a healthier diet?

Fancy Cakes by Leslie on Elm Street has the answer:  a brand-new Fresh Yogurt Bar inside their shop!

Photo:  Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Even if you're just waiting to pick up a cake, stop by the bar.  Don't be expecting mass-produced, packaged yogurt - these flavors are made locally from milk produced by grass-fed cows.  That's right, locavores, it's time to buy local yogurt.  In addition, there are 3 Greek yogurts, which are the current fad in yogurt.

Flavors include maple, raspberry and chocolate, and toppings are available to customize your treat.

Stop by Fancy Cakes by Leslie today and find out how fresh yogurt can be!

Fancy Cakes by Leslie, 4939 Elm Street.  301-652-9390.

BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET SPECIALS

Stop by the Bethesda Central Farm Market - 9 AM to 1 PM today at Bethesda ES - for a chef demonstration by Chef Francois Dionot, of L'Academie de Cuisine!

There will be a Father's Day book-signing by author Paul Stankus.

Today is the debut of the first blueberries of 2012, from Moody Blues Farm in Baltimore County!

Plus, organic ketchup, organic lard for baking and another Boordy Vineyards Maryland wine tasting.

MOVIE STARS AT

BETHESDA CENTRAL

FARM MARKET

Farmers Market Rolls Out the Red Carpet for

Patrons at Bethesda ES this Morning

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

This is Week 3 of Bethesda Central Farm Market's 2012 season at Bethesda Elementary School. Here are a few helpful advisories from BCFM about today's market:

* Please park at Bethesda Library on Arlington Road, or in Public Parking Garage 40 on St. Elmo Avenue, and walk to the market, if you can do so.

* Those who cannot walk, or refuse to, are welcome to park in the Bethesda ES lot. BCFM urges you to drive cautiously, out of concern for children who are attending events inside the school during market hours.

* Starting this morning, those who park at the library or garage WILL NOT HAVE TO CARRY THEIR PURCHASES BACK TO THEIR CAR (unless they wish to!). BCFM is offering a new Valet Bag service. Simply leave your bags at the info tent, walk back to your car, drive to the inner parking area, and valets will bring your bags to the car.

At today's market, Pong's Orchards, Sababa Falafel, Fresh Crunch and Bethesda/Whole Foods favorite Cava make their 2012 debuts at the market.

SPECIAL OF THE WEEK:

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From All Things Olive - A bottle of Robbins Family Farm Ascolano, and your choice of Katz Sparkling Wine Vinegar or Red Wine Trio Vinegar. This premium $37 package is yours today for only $30. Quantities limited!

If it's unusual new flavors you're looking for to add a unique twist to old recipes, check out the new, organic Orange Chili Mustard and organic Asparagus Sauce(!!) from Two Acre Farm.

There will be plenty of fresh baked goods and local cheeses for picnics in the parks of downtown Bethesda available at the market.

Dogs are welcome!

Oh, and about those movie stars... No, George Clooney won't be there. But some other movie stars from local farms will!

This Tuesday evening at 9:00 PM on MPT is the premiere of The Maryland Harvest. Featured in this new documentary on "Maryland farms and the chefs who love them," are BCFM vendors: Cottingham Farm, Liberty Delight Farms and Springfield Farm! Get their autographs, and load up on fresh, local, sustainable and healthy foods today!

Music will be provided by the BCC HS Jazz Trio at today's market.

So stop by, and help preserve farmland in our region with every purchase!