NEW PICS OF BAINBRIDGE BETHESDA LUXURY APARTMENTS' POSH LOBBY

The lobby at the Bainbridge Bethesda luxury apartment tower is looking more finished than a week-and-a-half ago, with additional furnishings and artworks in place. That art design on the floor under the yellow chairs is new, as are the paintings on the walls upstairs, and in the lower level on the right. A coffee table, and some reading material, have been added to the sofa set. Outside, upscale patio furniture has been placed on the pedestrian street/plaza. Click on the photos to enlarge for greater detail.

The coffee table, books and
decorative dish are new

Better view of the coffee table

Cover slipping off the
pedestrian plaza artwork

View of the pedestrian street
looking toward Fairmont Avenue;
check out the outdoor furniture

FIRST LOOK: BAINBRIDGE BETHESDA LOBBY, PEDESTRIAN STREET OPENS (PHOTOS)

Take the first look at the posh lobby of the future Bainbridge Bethesda luxury apartments in these new photos. The pedestrian plaza/street that connects St. Elmo and Fairmont Avenues opened over the weekend, and now you can see more details of the artworks and benches. This is good news not just for future Bainbridge residents, but for downtown Bethesda pedestrians, as well. The pedestrian connection allows mid-block access between the two streets, creating a shortcut to businesses on both streets.

Take the stairs

Note artworks at left waiting
to be hung up

Preview of next winter in
Bethesda?

Plenty of throw pillows

A nice throwback to the
original name for the
building, The Monty

Blow this picture up to see
the hanging light fixtures

If you're a regular reader,
you've actually gotten a
sneak peek of this art
piece on the pedestrian
plaza several months ago

Deja vu from the pedestrian
plaza at competitor Gallery Bethesda?

Artwork still under wraps on
the pedestrian street

Sneak preview of the benches
that will be on the plaza

Even the trash cans are
fancy here; note glassed-in
entrance in the background

17 stories to the top

Balconies with a view

8200 WISCONSIN AVENUE APARTMENTS FRONT ENTRANCE CLOSED IN BETHESDA

8200 Wisconsin Avenue residents are probably aware of this, but the Wisconsin Avenue lobby entrance of the building is closed for construction. Until an unspecified future date, residents and visitors will have to use the rear Woodmont Avenue access to the building.  A new ground floor office is being constructed for Aldon Management.

Meanwhile, the Mitchell Eye Institute has moved to the 8218 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda Medical Building.

7550 WISCONSIN AVENUE NEW LOBBY PHOTO GALLERY

Finally, I have here for you a complete photo gallery of the gleaming new main lobby of 7550 Wisconsin Avenue.

7550 is the first new Class A office space in downtown Bethesda in over a decade.

Take note that Ethan Hunt left his sunglasses on the lobby's still-under-wraps front desk.

For you, readers, this exclusive preview is Mission: Possible.

GLEAMING NEW LOBBY AT 7550 WISCONSIN AVENUE (PHOTO)

Here's a photo of the brand-new main lobby at the future Class-A office tower 7550 Wisconsin Avenue.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF FUTURE WESTIN BETHESDA LUXURY HOTEL (PHOTO)!

NATURE-INSPIRED LOBBY

UNVEILED AHEAD OF

2015 OPENING

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Remember when I broke the worldwide exclusive scoop that Westin was going to build a luxury hotel at 7740 Wisconsin Avenue last year?

This is why you read this blog every day - fasten your seatbelt, it's about to happen again!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you this exclusive first image of the lobby of the future Westin Bethesda hotel:

Concept of future Westin Bethesda lobby [Photo: Westin]

Westin says the lobby will be inspired by nature, and the centerpiece of the concept is the vertical garden.  In addition to meeting the goal of providing a calming experience in the lobby area, the vertical garden will also improve the space's air quality.

A consulting team from Ambius will select the final plants "for their detoxifying, high-oxygen-producing properties that improve overall air quality," said Westin's Nadeen Ayala.  Westin wants "guests (to) leave feeling better than when they arrived."

The lobby, designed in-house by a team led by Erin Hoover, will have other stress-reducing features.  Gone is the front desk!  In its place, are "check-in pods."  These New Age front desks emit Westin's "signature White Tea scent," and soft music and lighting.

Another area of the lobby will be geared towards business travelers.  The Dock will feature meeting tables with ample power outlets, computers and printers.

Hungry?  Next to the lobby seating, will be the Westin Grab & Go Cafe, with a "lively, engaging lobby bar experience in the evening."

Hmm.  Can that work?  "Excuse me guys, can you keep it down?  I'm trying to give a PowerPoint over here."

Shopoholics rejoice!  The Westin Bethesda gift shop will not only have the basics, but also Heavenly bedding and upscale bath products.

The hotel gym will lend you New Balance shoes (sounds kind of like a bowling alley) "apparel and fitness program content."  That's okay, I brought my own clothes, guys!

Well, it all sounds pretty posh.  But I'm still hoping for a pretentious, upscale, Las Vegas-style nightclub in the Westin.  The only other hotel being built downtown in the near future is the JBG project at Bethesda Row, so we have to get a 5-star nightclub - and outdoor/rooftop pool "dayclub" with cabanas - out of one of these.

Stay tuned for more details, and I'll start saving up my Starwood Preferred Guest points now.

What do you think of the lobby concept?  Are you excited about the Westin Bethesda?