iPic THEATER TANZY RESTAURANT AT PIKE AND ROSE HIRING CHEF, GENERAL MANAGER

Tanzy, the gourmet restaurant in the future iPic Theater at Pike and Rose in White Flint (a.k.a. North Bethesda or Rockville, depending on your opinion), is hiring an executive chef and general manager ahead of its expected November opening. The luxury theater will immediately square off with Westfield Montgomery Mall's ArcLight Cinemas and new restaurants and dining terrace, also opening this fall. With 2 upscale theaters with restaurants about 10 minutes apart, it will be interesting to see the pricing, given the immediate competition. ArcLight will have double the screens of iPic (16 vs. 8) and more dining options, while iPic offers some additional perks like recliners, pillows and blankets.

Image courtesy of iPic Theaters
All rights reserved

FIRST LOOK AT iPic THEATER AT PIKE AND ROSE (PHOTOS)

The future iPic movie theater at Pike and Rose in White Flint has mostly been discussed for its upscale pricing, dining options, and reserved seating. But here are the first renderings of what the cineplex will actually look like on Grand Park Avenue in North Bethesda. Those of you who get a chill from the AC at movies will enjoy the preview photo of the trademark iPic blankets. Overall, there are some design similarities to the newly-renovated Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema. Let's take a tour:

Have you bought your Star Wars: Episode VII
tickets yet?

Does the curved screen suspended above
this corridor look familiar?

Not your typical snack bar

Premium ticket holders get iPic pillows
and blankets. In case you're wondering, they are
replaced with fresh ones at each screening

Images: iPic Theaters, All Rights Reserved.

ARCLIGHT CINEMAS TO OPEN 16 SCREEN LUXURY THEATER IN BETHESDA AT MONTGOMERY MALL!!

CHAIN'S FIRST LOCATION OUTSIDE OF

CALIFORNIA TO DIRECTLY CHALLENGE

PIKE AND ROSE iPic THEATER ON

PROGRAMMING, AMENITIES AND PRICE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Bethesda cinephiles are the winners as a second, premium West Coast theater chain has chosen our town - out of all in America - to expand.

Highly successful ArcLight Cinemas has 4 theaters in Southern California.  They have announced that their 5th location will not be in California, but right here in Bethesda, at Westfield Montgomery Mall!

The mall's new 16-screen ArcLight Theater will open in 2014, with construction beginning next spring.

ArcLight and Westfield Montgomery are positioning themselves to squarely challenge the future Pike and Rose iPic theaterplex for the hearts and wallets of Bethesdans who desire - and are willing to pay for - an upscale cinema experience.

Like iPic, ArcLight will offer reserved seating, gourmet food and alcohol.

And like its primary competitor, ArcLight's tickets will be more expensive than the standard multiplex.

So what other advantages will ArcLight bring to the Battle of the Megaplexes?

ArcLight's programming, for starters.  Its 16 screens will show not only the latest blockbusters, but also independent films like Bethesda Row Cinema, and even some classic movies.

ArcLight also offers special family events.  In California right now, ArcLight is offering Sweet Summer screenings of family films like Pixar's Brave, which include a free "sweet treat" like S'mores or cotton candy, and themed activities.

Art exhibits and Q&A sessions with actors and directors will appeal to the true film buff.

No commercials!!  Are you sick and tired of the lame commercials playing before the movie?  Commercials begone! says ArcLight.

They'll have special 21+ screenings.

The ArcLight membership program will entitle you to special events, private screenings and advance ticket sales.

What about the food?

Here are some selections:

Crab Cakes with spicy remoulade sauce

Red Potato with sour cream and Tobiko caviar

(caviar - in a movie theater!)

BBQ Swedish Meatball

Lamb Lollipops with tarragon sauce

Beef Empanadas with cilantro creme fraiche

Red Velvet Cake

7-layer Carrot Cake

...and those are just a few that got my attention!

The biggest advantage ArcLight has is its location.  It is right on an interstate off-ramp, and slightly closer to downtown Bethesda than White Flint.

Who will win this battle?

Ultimately, the winner is the Bethesda moviegoer, when at least 3 premium theater chains (the third being at nearby Rock Spring) square off for your movie dollar.

At ArcLight Bethesda, your champagne wishes and caviar dreams may just come true!

NORTH BETHESDA

TO HAVE FIRST

iPic THEATERPLEX

ON EAST COAST

Federal Realty, developer of Bethesda Row, is bringing a 44,000 square foot, 8 screen iPic Entertainment theater to anchor its new Pike & Rose development at the Mid-Pike Plaza property.

What does this mean?

Upscale cuisine during the movies, and at a separate restaurant accessible to non-theatergoers, called Tansy.

A bar called Salt, with the first "Select and Serve" Wine Tower in Montgomery County.

All-reserved seating at the movies.

Unobstructed views upon micro-suede chairs complete with dining tables.

Premium seats add recliners, pillows and blankets (!!), and waiters to bring "chef-inspired creations" right to your seat.

iPic will compete most closely with the new, 15 screen cinemaplex coming soon to Westfield Montgomery Mall. That will have twice as many screens, new restaurants, but it is not known how its "bell-and-whistle" amenities will compare to those found at Pike & Rose.

Sounds like Regal Bethesda 10 will have to step up its game bigtime, as the iPic theater will be only a short Metro ride away, and Montgomery Mall is within easy driving distance.

The iPic theater will open in 2014.