HYATT BETHESDA POWER RESTORED AFTER FIRE

A spokesperson for the Bethesda Hyatt has announced power has been restored to the hotel after Monday morning's electrical fire.

BRIAN MITCHELL TO APPEAR AT BETHESDA CHARITY EVENT THURSDAY (PHOTO)

Ball Hogs Radio and KEEN will welcome famed Washington Redskins player Brian Mitchell to BlackFinn in Bethesda Thursday.

Click flyer to enlarge:

RUGBY CONDOMINIUM COULD REPLACE JUST CAKES BUILDING IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

With plans to redevelop the "Just Cakes Building," and adjoining properties, people may be wondering what will end up going there.

In this case, we have something to go on - the plans for this site that were tabled when the condo market crashed a few years ago.

The Rugby Condominium was slated to be built on this Rugby Avenue site. A 9-story building with a rooftop picnic area and fitness center, the Rugby was also to house 1850' of artist studio space.

Here are renderings of the planned building:

BETHESDA ROW RESTAURANT WEEK APRIL 15-21, 2013

Bethesda Row Restaurant Week returns April 15-21! Enjoy a $15 three-course lunch or a $30 three-course dinner, just in time for Spring outdoor dining weather. This is one of those rare opportunities during the year to try out several restaurants around the Row in the same week, without emptying your bank account.

Menus are coming soon, but here is a list of participating restaurants:

Assaggi
American Tap Room
Café Deluxe
Jaleo
Lebanese Taverna
Le Pain Quotidien
Luke’s Lobster
Mon Ami Gabi
Mussel Bar & Grille (lunch only) Parker’s American Bistro
Raku
Redwood
Vino Volo

CELESTE MEXICAN PIZZA REVIEW (VIDEO)

Celeste has a new, Limited Edition Mexican Pizza for One. I found this at Target. Watch my review.

The pizza has beef and chicken crumbles, diced green and red peppers (the same ones from the Celeste Deluxe Pizza for One), imitation cheddar cheese, and pizza sauce.  This pizza has the standard Celeste thin crust, and includes a microwave crisping disk.

EMPTY LOTS AT WHITE FLINT MALL - THE DARK SIDE OF WHITE FLINT, PART 3 (PHOTOS)

PART I - White Flint Mall Demolition
PART II - Inside a Dying Mall

Welcome again, as we examine the less-reported side of the post-sector plan White Flint. One major story is the intentional decline of White Flint Mall, where demolition has already started, to make way for a future "town center."

I can remember dining at Cheesecake Factory there just a few years ago on a Sunday, and being unable to find a parking space in the large lot out front.

Last Sunday, I returned at the same dinner hour, and was able to find a space quite easily.

Meanwhile, other mall parking lots that used to hold cars were completely empty.

ASSAULT AT TRIANGLE TOWERS IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

An assault was reported to police at the Triangle Towers apartments in downtown Bethesda Saturday, according to crime data.

No further details were available at the moment.

Another individual was assaulted at Montgomery County Public Parking Garage 40, at 4935 St. Elmo Avenue on Friday, March 22.

A third assault took place at BlackFinn on Fairmont Avenue a day earlier.

HYATT BETHESDA REMAINS WITHOUT POWER TONIGHT AFTER FIRE (PHOTOS)

The Hyatt Regency hotel in Bethesda remains dark tonight, after an electrical fire forced the evacuation of 430 guests early this morning.

Guests have been relocated to hotels, and the next word we are waiting for is when the hotel will reopen for guests, as well as for diners at Morton's and the Daily Grill.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the overnight fire, as it happened live.

UNITED BANK CLOSES RIVER ROAD BRANCH IN BETHESDA

United Bank has closed its River Road branch in the Kenwood Professional Building in Bethesda.

The space is now for lease.

United retains two other Bethesda branches, on Old Georgetown Road and on Wisconsin Avenue.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BRT TASK FORCE CHAIR'S DEVELOPER TIES REVEALED

WINSTON STANDS TO PROFIT FROM LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, WHILE ADVOCATING BRT-RELATED DEVELOPMENT

The public relations disasters for Montgomery County Bus Rapid Transit advocates just keep on coming.

Among the most memorable were the revelation that the BRT vehicles would move 15 miles in 50 minutes.

And that Communist Chinese officials were advising the county government on the development of its BRT system.

Just last week, the Montgomery County Planning Board sent planning staff back to the drawing board, after Master Planner Larry Cole and others produced fictional BRT data that was not even close to real-world accurate.

Cole also tried out this whopper: he said traffic volume on area roads will increase 70%.  The solution? Cole recommended reducing current highway capacity by 33% on roads like Rockville Pike, by turning already-jammed car lanes into bus lanes.

Let's add that up, folks:  to handle volume increase of 70%, reduce capacity by 33%.

Huh?

These people not only need a calculator, but also some spray-tan.  Because they obviously don't get out very much. Here's the real world numbers, Mr. Cole: at 4:00 PM last week, it took me an hour to drive from Bethesda to Rockville Town Center. The Pike was crawling, and lights were not synchronized, contrary to government statements otherwise.

You're going to make that 33% worse?

One secret driving force behind BRT has been that land along the BRT routes will be eligible for taller, denser, urban-style development. Whether anyone rides the Emperor's New Bus, or not.

Now a Washington Post article has revealed BRT Task Force Chair L. Mark Winston's ties to development interests.  According to the Post, Winston stands to profit from local transit-oriented development projects. Hmm.  Sound familiar?

But wait, there's more!

Winston's law firm, Glazer Winston, is all about real estate development. On its website, Winston's firm touts the following:

"In its Real Estate practice, the Firm represents local, regional and national real estate owners, developers and investors in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing and sale of office and industrial properties, retail shopping centers, apartment projects, hotels and raw land."

Isn't this a conflict of interest, to chair a commission pushing a pro-development agenda that you could also profit from, if successful?

What lands around the county might Glazer Winston have a financial interest in, now or in the future?

The final irony?

Winston - a fervent advocate for the rest of us to get out of our cars, and take the bus - says "it has been a while" since a rode a bus himself.

Classic Montgomery County elite hypocrisy. Smart growth, transit-only advocates should take the medicine they prescribe for everyone else.

WESTIN BETHESDA HOTEL DESIGN UNVEILED (PHOTOS)

Westin has unveiled the first renderings of the future 12-story Westin Bethesda hotel.

The two-building hotel-office complex will share an underground parking garage with over 500 spaces. A pedestrian promenade will cut between Wisconsin Avenue and Woodmont Avenue.  It resembles Bethesda Lane without the arches. Art and a water feature will be among the public amenities. Lobby and garage entrances will be on the Woodmont side.

You can also see a rendering of the lobby below.

This hotel definitely needs a Las Vegas-style nightclub. But no such nightspot is in the works.

FIRE AT HYATT BETHESDA HOTEL (PHOTOS)

Update 2:34 AM: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is being opened as a shelter for Hyatt Bethesda fire evacuees.  MCFRS Public Information Officer Scott Graham has confirmed one critical injury in Hyatt Bethesda fire. Generator-powered fans are providing some ventilation from the building. Firefighters are conducting a floor-by-floor search of the hotel.

* New photos added.

A 2-alarm electrical fire at the Bethesda Hyatt Regency has caused the evacuation of 430 guests. Fire operations are ongoing. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue has requested a canteen truck, and a staging area is being set up at Pumphrey's Funeral Home on Wisconsin Avenue.

Sprinkler systems have deployed in the hotel, according to one report, and there is an unconfirmed report of one injury.

Additional units from Kensington and DC have joined the operation.

Firefighters have requested Ride On and Metrobuses, and 4 are end route to the scene to pick up evacuees.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for more details.

CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL REPAIR WORK ADVISORY FOR BETHESDA AND WASHINGTON DC

The National Park Service has announced a major renovation of the B&O Railroad trestle that, today, carries the Capital Crescent Trail over Canal Road in Washington, DC.

Contractors will construct a temporary bridge for trail users, and will try to limit Canal Road closures to the 9 PM to 5 AM time period.

However, a 1-2 day period of 8-hour trail closures will be necessary for the demolition of the trestle's concrete deck, and again for the deck's reconstruction.

Work on the trestle should be completed by June.

A separate project to refurbish the trail's shoulders, and stormwater management system, will begin Monday, March 25 near Bethesda Row. Montgomery County Parks Department employees will work their way west, towards Washington, DC.

This work will also be completed by June, and cyclists are asked to please slow down when passing work crews on or alongside the trail.

BRUCE VARIETY OWNER SPEAKS OUT ON RIVAL BRADLEY PARTY & VARIETY

EXCLUSIVE!

Local residents have been taking sides, and gossip and rumors have been popping up online, regarding the contentious rivalry between Bruce Variety and new competitor Bradley Party & Variety.  Conspiracy theories about Bruce's being "forced out" of the Bradley Shopping Center have been posited, and some have suggested the whole dime store showdown has its origins in a family feud. One popular rumor is that BV's former next-door neighbor, Strosniders Hardware, wanted to take over Bruce's space. Strosniders has vigorously denied this, and says it was unaware Bruce Variety would reopen across town.

Now, Bruce Variety owner Richard Dimock is speaking out, in a statement posted here on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row.

"For Strosnider's to say that they didn't know, and then try and manipulate the community's thinking to believe that they were trying to 'save the day' by putting another variety store in," said Dimock, "is simply not factual."

As proof, Dimock pointed to the sign Bruce's posted on their former storefront announcing their pending reopening on Woodmont Avenue, which he believes was removed by the landlord or new tenant after they vacated the premises.

Regarding the rumors of Strosniders having a role in Bruce Variety's rent being increased, Dimock asserted that "Strosniders wields influence in that shopping center, and there is no question that they have wanted that space for years."

Dimock accused a member of the Strosniders family of "plying" one ex-employee "with money" to gain information about which vendors Bruce's utilizes.  He added that "we discovered that they reserved their new business name for Bradley Party and Variety, within five days after we moved to our new location."
***

It seems that this competition is quickly growing personal. I personally find this unpleasant, as I and others in my family have been loyal customers of both Strosniders and Bruce Variety for decades.

In fact, I was just shopping at Strosniders a few nights ago.

And I plan to shop at the new Bruce Variety location when it opens. At the same time, given the excellent customer service I've experienced at Strosniders over the years, I would also shop at the new Bradley Party & Variety. I wish all 3 stores the best, and would not want any of them to fail.

Let's hope the competition moves to prices, service and selection sooner, rather than later.

FREDDY OPENS IN BETHESDA AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTO)

Freddy has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall. You may remember my preview not long ago. Inside, you'll find high-end activewear, and the ultra-tight Wr.up jeans. The chain is based in Milan.

GIANT ROBOTIC ARM IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Danger, Will Robinson!! A giant robotic arm appeared on Fairmont Avenue this week. It was assisting at the Bainbridge Bethesda construction site. Perhaps inspired by Donohoe's progress on That 70s Building, the Bainbridge crew is picking up steam. As you can see, the pit is filling up fast towards street level compared to just a few weeks ago.

BETHESDA MARCH MADNESS SPECIALS - BETHESDA BARS NCAA TOURNAMENT

March Madness is here in Bethesda.

Brickside Food and Drink will open at noon today, and have food and drink specials. They also have a 160" HD screen, and 5 51" screens to watch all the games.

Meanwhile, Union Jack's Bethesda has 25 screens, $10 pitchers of Miller Lite or Yuengling, and their famous $2 College Can Roulette.

TASTYKAKE PANCAKE KRIMPETS REVIEW (VIDEO)

Do you like pancakes? Can the pancake experience be shrunk down to a snack cake?

Join me as we find out in this video review of Tastykake Pancake Krimpets!

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDS GRADE-SEPARATED INTERCHANGE FOR MONTROSE PARKWAY AT PARKLAWN, AGAINST CLOSURE OF RANDOLPH ROAD

The Montgomery County Planning Board made two White Flint-related recommendations requested by transportation authorities yesterday.

Maryland's State Highway Administration and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation sought the board's input on whether or not to close Randolph Road permanently at the CSX railroad crossing, and what type of interchange the Montrose Parkway should have at Parklawn Drive.

After public testimony and discussion, the board recommended to keep Randolph open.

The commissioners voted 4-1 to recommend a grade-separated, single-point urban interchange for the Montrose Parkway at Parklawn.  Commissioner Casey Anderson cast the lone dissenting vote.

I believe these were both good decisions for White Flint, and the county as a whole.

Leaving Randolph open will allow residents and patrons of businesses access, while also making it easier to travel to the new White Flint development via bicycle from Randolph Hills.

And keeping through traffic moving with the highway-style interchange will keep it off the new street grid in White Flint, allowing safer movement for pedestrians and cyclists.

By retaining the original express traffic concept, the larger Rockville Facility remains viable to construct the long-delayed Rockville Freeway. The Rockville Freeway, if you are not a regular reader of this blog, includes the built and planned Montrose Parkway segments, but would continue northeast to Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue, and Layhill Road, ending at an interchange with the ICC near Indian Spring Country Club.

RELAXED NAILS & SPA OPENING IN BETHESDA AT WESTWOOD SHOPPING CENTER (PHOTOS)

Or is it Relax Nails & Spa?

A source has confirmed that Relaxed Nails & Spa has leased the former GNC space at the Westwood Shopping Center, on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda.

However, there is a national franchise called Relax Nails & Spa, so that may be the actual name.  In any case, this is going to be a nails and spa place, and renovations of the interior are underway.

I guess this is good news for women, but disappointing news for those who had hoped Westbard Avenue might get its first traditional, sit-down family restaurant since the mid-80s, when Farrell's closed. The former Farrell's is now Anglo Dutch, for you Bethesda trivia buffs.