MORE THEFTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD CORRIDORS IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

The latest Bethesda crime data includes additional thefts in two corridors already hit during the last 10 days: Massachusetts Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The number of incidents does not yet equal a crime wave, but is a good reminder to lock doors in these areas.

APRIL 19:

Theft. 6100 block MacArthur Boulevard.

Theft from vehicle. 5800 block Namakagan Road (Sumner).

Theft from vehicle. 4900 block Westway Drive (Green Acres).

Theft from vehicle. 11000 block Rosemont Drive (Luxmanor).

Theft. 10400 block Grosvenor Place.

Burglary. 7900 block Woodmont Avenue.

APRIL 20:

Assault/"other sexual offense." 5100 block Nicholson Lane.

APRIL 21:

Burglary. 4900 block Essex Avenue (Town of Somerset).

Theft. Tommy Joe's.

Theft. Bethesda Row Giant.

Burglary. 6100 block Rudyard Drive (Wildwood area).

BETHESDA ROW CINEMA RENOVATION: NO EXPENSE SPARED, SAYS LANDMARK THEATRES CEO

The CEO and President of Landmark Theatres is excited about the renovations at the Bethesda Row Cinema - and wants you to know you should be, too.

Ted Mundorff says you'll notice the difference before you even reach the front doors.  “From the minute you approach the theatre and see our stunning new marquee," Mundorff said Tuesday, "our hope is that our guests notice the attention to detail in every facet of the theatre, and share our excitement as we begin a new chapter at the Bethesda Row."

Mundorff assures Bethesda cinephiles, "we have spared no expense to give our patrons the best movie-going experience in town."

The box office is now fully-automated, but there are no additional charges to order your tickets online, and print them out at home.

All seating is now reserved. New, luxury theaters at Westfield Montgomery Mall and Pike and Rose have promised reserved seating, but Bethesda Row Cinema will be the first area theater to actually offer it. It will be interesting to see how it works out. Reserved seating will require extra attention to cleaning, as patrons will be locked in to a specific seat. Should that seat have food and drinks, etc. spilled on it, for example, you will not be able to just move over one seat.

On the technical side, the new Bethesda Row Cinema will have Real 3D projection, new wall-to-wall screens, and all-new sound systems.

The centerpiece of the redesign, is the new bar/concession area with relaxing seating, modern design, and new menu offerings. Adult beverages will include local craft beers and movie-themed cocktails.

When the theater reopens next Friday, May 3, new films will include Academy Award nominee Kon-Tiki and arthouse movies with stars like Pierce Brosnan and Kate Hudson.

Given that The Great Gatsby is #3 on my personal Top 5 Novels of All Time list, I'm looking forward to the new movie adaptation, opening May 10 at Bethesda Row Cinema.

HIGH ACRES BETHESDA TOWNHOMES DEVELOPER NIXES UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE, CLUBHOUSE FROM SITE PLAN (PHOTOS)

Yet another stalled project from the pre-recession real estate bubble is coming back to life in Bethesda.

The luxury High Acres townhouse development on Brookes Lane, adjacent to the expanding intelligence campus on Sangamore Road, will be an exclusive community of 12 4-story townhomes. Currently, the lot is partially occupied by a relatively-modest white mansion. That home will remain, and share a private cul-de-sac off of Brookes with the new residents.

Also fronting on MacArthur Boulevard, I imagine the top floor windows could have a nice view of the Potomac River, but obviously, I can't confirm that at the moment!

With a very safe neighborhood and cul-de-sac (especially for kids playing outdoors), these homes would be ideal for wealthy professionals, particularly if they work at the campus next door. They will also be within walking distance of Ride On bus service to the Friendship Heights Metro station, and the Shops at Sumner Place.

The developer is requesting 2 significant changes in the 2007 site plan. One will delete the intriguing underground garage concept in favor of individual above-ground garages.

Originally, the homes were to share a sizable garage structure beneath all 12 homes. Atop part of this structure, was to be a clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool.

But nixing the garage meant nixing the clubhouse, too. Which eliminates some very appealing amenities, and Thurston Howell III probably wouldn't be pleased.  The project also eliminates a significant amount of green space on a property with significant rainwater run-off.

SHOPS OF WISCONSIN AVENUE RENOVATION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Renovations continue at The Shops of Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Best known as the home of Trader Joe's, the shopping center is getting an extensive makeover.

Although painting is still underway, there is already a new color scheme apparent. And, as you can see in the photo below, new railings are being constructed along the exterior walkways on the upper floors and stairs.

HOT POCKETS CHILI CHEESE DOG REVIEW (VIDEO)

Hot Pockets has a limited-edition Chili Cheese Dog Hot Pocket. Here's my review. The Hot Pocket contains sliced hot dogs (which Hot Pockets terms "Hot Dog Coins"), melted cheddar cheese, and chili sauce with meat "crumbles."

I found these at Target in Rockville.

FORMER BETHESDA BP STATION REOPENS CONVENIENCE STORE (PHOTOS)

The gas pumps and concrete islands of the former BP gas station at Old Georgetown Road and Fairmont Avenue have been demolished.

But the property has pulled an Eastham's. Like Eastham's, the site is about to be redeveloped as a luxury residential building. But, also like Eastham's, its service station structure remains.

Where Eastham's has temporarily leased their space as a repair shop, the BP has now reopened its convenience store.

My guess is, the convenience store is leasing the space, which allows the landowner to earn income until construction begins later this year.

The shop closes very early in the evening, but if you happen to walk past it on your way to work, or home, it could indeed be convenient.

I-495 OUTER LOOP LANES REOPEN AFTER FUEL SPILL (PHOTO)

A mid-afternoon fuel spill incident has been cleared on the outer loop of the Beltway between Bethesda and Tysons Corner.

The fuel was leaking out of a truck, and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

All lanes on I-495 are now open in the American Legion Bridge area.

ASSAULT AT WESTLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, ANOTHER STOLEN CAR IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

A second car was stolen in Bethesda Thursday, April 18, according to crime data.

One vehicle was stolen in Pooks Hill, as I reported yesterday. The second was taken from the 5200 block of Nahant Street, in the Sumner neighborhood off Massachusetts Avenue.

Also on Thursday, a second non-auto theft was reported in the 5100 block of Marlyn Drive, a short distance from the stolen car incident in the same neighborhood.

An unusually-busy day of crime along Massachusetts Avenue was capped off by an assault at Westland Middle School, also reported on Thursday.

THE MOST UNUSUAL SECURITY GUARD IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

This character guarding the front door after hours at Mathnasium is sure to send would-be criminals strolling along Fairmont Avenue running:

THAT 70s BUILDING STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A BUILDING - BETHESDA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

The well-lit Donohoe construction site of That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) makes details of the rapidly-rising structure more visible at night than in the daytime.

Among the interesting details in the photos below: the actual underground parking garage entrance and ramp are now well under construction. It practically looks ready to drive a whitewall tire, vinyl roof 70s sedan into.

There's also a bridge segment that ends in middair, probably temporary, but where you might expect Darth Vader to duel Luke Skywalker.

The building in the background is Triangle Towers, and that's the original WHFS radio tower atop the building.

That 70s Building continues to hold a commanding lead in the current Bethesda construction race, and Donohoe is on track to deliver the first post-recession luxury building downtown by winter.

DOWNTOWN BETHESDA LANE CLOSURES CONTINUE TONIGHT (PHOTOS)

The Verizon utility work - and related lane closures on Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane - continue tonight in downtown Bethesda.

NIGHTTIME UTILITY WORK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Last night, Verizon appeared to be doing some major work in downtown Bethesda, requiring digging and lane closures.

The right lane of northbound Wisconsin Avenue was closed between Montgomery Avenue and East-West Highway. And one lane of Montgomery Lane was closed between Tommy Joe's and the 2nd District police station.

Just something to be aware of when driving in that area, in case they haven't finished the work yet.

CAR REPORTED STOLEN FROM BRISTOL SQUARE APARTMENTS IN BETHESDA THURSDAY - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

A vehicle was reported stolen from the apartment complex on Bristol Square Lane on Thursday.

According to crime data, the car was stolen from the 9800 block of Bristol Square Lane, which is in the Pooks Hill area of Bethesda, across from the Bethesda Marriott hotel.

EGG WHITE DELIGHT McMUFFIN ARRIVES AT BETHESDA MCDONALD'S

The new Egg White Delight McMuffin is now available at the only McDonald's in Bethesda, on River Road. This is a healthier breakfast option, although I'm more of a Sausage and Egg Biscuit person, myself.

100 MONTADITOS BETHESDA OPENING DELAYED

No one is looking forward to the opening of Spanish sandwich shop 100 Montaditos at Bethesda Row more than I am.

But from what I could tell this week at the former Green Papaya space on Elm Street, the May grand opening didn't seem likely.

Nothing is going on there, and the interior renovation does not appear to be far along at all.

Sure enough, a company spokesperson is now saying the restaurant will open this summer. Which could mean as late as August, technically.

Patience is a virtue.

BOLOCO JOINS BETHESDA ROW RESTAURANT WEEK (PHOTOS)

Boloco on Elm Street has joined the celebration of Bethesda Row Restaurant Week.

Enjoy 15% off... everything!

Just tell them "I saw the sign out front," and you'll get 15% off.

To read menus for all of the other Restaurant Week participants, click here.

RITZ CAMERA MOVING IN AT NEW BETHESDA LOCATION (PHOTOS)

Ritz Camera is in the process of moving into its new home next to the CVS on Arlington Road.

Is a VCR-TO-DVD conversion machine (see photo below) an appropriate symbol of the anachronism photo stores have become?

With a sizeable population of senior citizens, there may yet be a niche market for photo printing and other services Ritz provides in Bethesda.

BURGLAR MAY BE PROWLING OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD NEIGHBORHOODS IN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Just a heads up to residents of Bethesda neighborhoods along Old Georgetown Road, between Democracy/Grosvenor and Greentree Road:

Two burglaries in two days there this week could mean one or more burglars are casing the area.

On Monday, April 15, a burglary was reported in the 9100 block of Friars Road, and the next day in the 5700 block of Kingswood Road.

This could simply be a coincidence. But should it be a trend starting, be sure to lock doors and garages.

Watch for unusual or suspicious activity and vehicles. Report such activity and tag numbers to the police. Burglars often case neighborhoods during the day.

VAPIANO OLIVE FESTIVAL AT BETHESDA ROW, APRIL 21-MAY 5, 2013

VIVA OLIVA!

Vapiano at Bethesda Row is having an Olive Festival starting April 21, and ending on May 5.

As you may know, Vapiano has olive trees in all of its restaurants, so it's no surprise they would be celebrating its fruit.

Expect pizza, pasta, salad and bruschetta specials featuring... olives.  Try new olive oil creations like olive ciabatta, or special combinations served in glasses: olives and cucumber (April 21), olives and bell pepper (April 28) and olives and feta (May 5).

MEET THE WINEMAKER AT VINO VOLO IN BETHESDA ON APRIL 24

Vino Volo at Bethesda Row invites you to Meet the Winemaker on Wednesday, April 24, from 6-9 PM.

Their guest will be from Acorn Winery of Healdsburg, in California's Russian River Valley. The latter three words are familiar to even the most casual American wine aficionado, of course.

Family owned and operated by Betsy and Bill Nachbaur, Acorn offers the following varieties:

Russian River Valley Cabernet Franc Russian River Valley Dolcetto
Russian River Valley Sangiovese
Russian River Valley
Syrah Russian River Valley
Zinfandel
Acorn Hill, a proprietary blend
Medley, a proprietary blend
Rosato, a dry rosé

One of Acorn's specialties is field blends. Field blends are pretty much what they sound like: different varieties of grapes, grown together in the same vineyard, with flavors that complement each other when blended together in a finished product.

So, save yourself the airfare to California, and stop by Vino Volo on the 24th to sample the best of Acorn Winery.