MCDONALD'S BACON AND CHEESE QUARTER POUNDER REVIEW (VIDEO) - EXCLUSIVE! NEW QUARTER POUNDERS

Incredible! I've completed the trifecta, testing all 3 of McDonald's new Quarter Pounders. Today, I have a video review of the Bacon and Cheese Quarter Pounder for you.

In the video description, you will find links to my reviews of the Habanero Ranch, and Deluxe Quarter Pounders, as well.

NOOK HD AND NOOK HD+ ARE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

Still searching for great gifts for your intelligent and literary friends?

End the search at Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row.

Their new Nook HD and Nook HD+ tablets/readers are perfect for consuming mass quantities of books and publications.

Including this blog, as you can see in the screen shots below.

If you're seeking a high performance tablet, with a large app store, the Nook HDs won't replace a Nexus 10 or an iPad.

But for the average reader, the Nook will give them their money's worth.

WHERE TO BUY CHRISTMAS TREES IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

A Christmas tree lot in downtown Bethesda? Yes!  It's on Hampden Lane, just up Woodmont, north of Bethesda Row.  Just follow the signs.

Better yet, buy your tree, and they will deliver it to your apartment or house within 10 miles of Bethesda!

Years ago, there used to be a Christmas tree lot on Bradley Boulevard, on the street behind the Bradley Shopping Center. What's there today? Houses.

You will also be able to buy trees from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, on the corner of Battery Lane and Old Georgetown Road. And from North Star on Wisconsin Avenue, along the "Green Mile" between downtown Bethesda and Friendship Heights.

MICROSOFT SURFACE TABLET (PHOTOS) AT BETHESDA MICROSOFT POP-UP KIOSK

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The long-awaited Microsoft Surface tablet went on sale Friday morning at the Microsoft Kiosk in Bethesda's Westfield Montgomery Mall.

A sizeable number of people were giving the new tablet a workout, although no one actually made a purchase while I was there.

I'll have more photos and commentary once Sandy passes out of the area, but wanted to post a couple of photos here for you.

HURRICANE SANDY PANIC IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND LEADS TO BARE SHELVES, BOTTLED WATER AND BATTERY SHORTAGES AT SOME GROCERY STORES (PHOTOS)

PANICKED SHOPPERS

STRIP GROCERY SHELVES

BARE

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The bottled water aisle at
the Bethesda Row Giant
Friday evening

The frightening weather predictions of Hurricane Sandy are causing mild panic in downtown Bethesda.  Friday night, the Bethesda Row Giant's water aisle was stripped bare, and C and D batteries were also sold out.

It does a body good.
Empty milk shelves
at the Arlington Rd. Safeway

Safeway on Arlington Road had some water left, but no more lowfat or 2% milk.  The other Safeway - on Old Georgetown Road - was well-stocked in every department.  CVS on Arlington Road had plenty of bottled water and batteries.

C and D batteries are the
most in demand

All of this panic buying was taking place a full 3 days before Sandy is expected to hit our area, on Monday.

Two important things to do ahead of the storm, in preparation for extensive power outages, are to fill your gas tank, and withdraw the amount of cash you think you'll need to squeak by for the week.

Both gas pumps (as we already found a few months ago!) and ATMs can be forced to close without power.

Stay tuned here and at

 @BethesdaRow on Twitter

for all the latest

  Sandy information

MICROSOFT POP-UP STORE TO OPEN IN BETHESDA FOR HOLIDAYS

WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY

ONE OF 32 NATIONWIDE

LOCATIONS TO PUMP UP

AMERICA FOR

SURFACE RT TABLET

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Microsoft announced yesterday that it will open a holiday Microsoft Pop-up Store in Bethesda at Westfield Montgomery Mall.  The company did not say when the store will open, but my suggestion would be October 26.

Microsoft Store yesterday at Tyson's Corner

Why October 26?  That's when Microsoft's intriguing Surface RT tablet will be released, and the inside word is that the Surface is the raison d'etre for the pop-up stores.  Given that you will only be able to buy a Surface from a Microsoft Store, it's only sensible that the company would flesh out its spartan retail network nationwide for the tablet's launch.

At a rumored price of $199, the 32 GB Surface will be a formidable match for the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire.  While many assumed the tablet wars would produce a winner named Apple or Google, Amazon has changed the narrative in the last 12 months.  People are justified to be skeptical of Microsoft seriously threatening Apple in the gadget department (Zune, anyone?).  But the Surface Pro and RT models have generated substantial buzz this summer, buzz that became almost deafening when the $199 price rumor "leaked" four weeks ago.

Do you want a Surface?

Most will have to try one before they can answer that question.

Microsoft's Bethesda pop-up store is designed to let you do just that.

CAN YOU BUY A GOOGLE NEXUS 7 IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA? YES!

The highly-coveted Google Nexus 7 tablet can be hard to find.  Especially in downtown Bethesda.  It's not at the Verizon store.  It's definitely not at the Apple Store!  Not even at Best Buy.

Would you believe I found one at Staples on Wisconsin Avenue?

Not exactly the first place you'd think to look.

But sure enough, there it is:

Google Nexus 7 at Staples in downtown Bethesda

The only two problems are, this one was not getting any electricity and wouldn't turn on.  And, second, Staples can't seem to stock enough to satisfy demand.  So you'll be lucky if there's one there.