Friday, August 30, 2013

FIERY DORITOS LOCOS TACO REVIEW (VIDEO) - TACO BELL ROCKVILLE

I finally had a chance to get out to Taco Bell in Rockville, to test their newest Doritos taco - the Fiery Doritos Locos Taco. Here is my review.

One really odd thing about this third Doritos taco: it's not even named after a real Doritos flavor! What's up with that? Can you really call it a Doritos Taco, when it doesn't have an official and popular Doritos flavor on the shell?

Watch the video for my verdict, and every detail you could want to know about Fiery Doritos Tacos.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

10 FREE WINGS WHEN YOU BUY 10 AT HOOTERS OF ROCKVILLE TODAY WITH THIS COUPON

Buy 10 of Hooters famous wings today or tonight at Hooters of Rockville, show them this coupon on your phone, and you'll get 10 more free!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

MCDONALD'S QUARTER POUNDER BLT REVIEW (VIDEO)

McDonald's has a new, limited-time only Quarter Pounder - the Quarter Pounder BLT. It is essentially a Deluxe Quarter Pounder (with red onions, premium whole-leaf lettuce, crinkle-cut pickles, mayonnaise, cheese, and mustard) with slices of thick-cut bacon added. Watch my review to find out how it rates.

Monday, August 26, 2013

HOSTESS CUPCAKES REVIEW (VIDEO)

Hostess Cupcakes are now widely available again in grocery stores. I have found the classic iced, cream-filled cupcakes at Safeway and Giant. Here's my review on the 2013 version of an old favorite.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

CHICKEN OUT OPENING SOON AT COLLEGE PLAZA IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Chicken Out, which closed further south on Rockville Pike earlier this summer, is opening a new restaurant in College Plaza.

Located on the Pike just north of Montgomery College, the space has previously been home to a KFC and an A&W Restaurant. The latter has been greatly missed by burger aficionados, as A&W has no other locations in our area.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

HALF-PRICE APPETIZERS AT AMERICAN TAP ROOM IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Tonight, August 20, only, appetizers at American Tap Room at Rockville Town Square will be 50% off at the bar between 4:00-7:00 PM.

Monday, August 19, 2013

BURTON STORE OPENS AT MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

Snowboarding pioneer Burton opened its first store in the Metro DC area Friday, and over the weekend, shoppers at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda had a chance to explore the new space.

Now you can do that from your easy chair at home, with my virtual store tour. As you will see in the photos below, there is a wide selection of Burton apparel, and all of the necessary equipment: snowboards, bindings and boots, to name a few.

This is the first Burton retail store to feature this specific configuration; others are massive flagship stores or warehouse-outlet stores. Another first for Westfield Montgomery Mall, following the first Hoamgar location outside of Asia, Aroma Espresso Bar, Tesla Store, Dumpling Dojo, and - coming soon - The Cheesecake Factory.

Friday, August 16, 2013

CURRENCY EXCHANGE KIOSK OPENS AT MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

Attention world travelers: a Currency Exchange kiosk has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

The electronic displays are interesting to read, even if you aren't jetting off to exotic locales.

Apparently the letter E is trending high against the US Dollar, as you can see in the photo below.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

BURTON STORE OPENING FRIDAY AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTO)

Snowboarding pioneer Burton has announced its new store at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda will open this Friday. Originally expected to open this fall, it is actually opening ahead of schedule.

The store is the first of its kind for Burton - not a flagship store, and not a massive outlet mall warehouse store. So the selection of equipment, apparel, and accessories will be interesting to check out. They will definitely have lots of snowboards - that I can confirm.

This will also be the only Burton Store in the region.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Monday, August 12, 2013

ROCKVILLE JUDICIAL CENTER ANNEX CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here are some new shots of the progress at the future Judicial Center Annex, in Rockville Town Center. It doesn't fit the nearby architecture very well, but like the new Courthouse across the intersection, it is still impressive in its own right. I guess I am one of the minority who is a fan of the design of the Executive and Council buildings, as well as 51 Monroe St. Just 3 of many, many classic buildings and shopping center designs in Rockville.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

PRINGLES XTRA SCREAMIN' DILL PICKLE REVIEW (VIDEO)

Dill pickle flavor potato chips often promise the flavor of a fresh dill pickle spear, and just as often fall short. Pringles is taking a swing at it, with their Xtra brand Screamin' Dill Pickle flavor. Let's test it out, and find out how it stacks up to my favorite dill pickle chip, Zapp's Cajun Dill.

Friday, August 9, 2013

HOSTESS CUPCAKES REVIEW (VIDEO)

Hostess Cupcakes are now arriving back on shelves at local Giant and Safeway stores. Selection varies by chain and store, but I found these at the Arlington Road Safeway in downtown Bethesda.

Now let's test them out, and determine if these are indeed the same as the classic Hostess Cupcakes.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

M STREET KITCHEN, STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA, PROTEIN BAR TO OPEN AT PIKE & ROSE

Three new additions to Federal Realty's Pike & Rose development on Rockville Pike will cover a broad range of cuisines.

M Street Kitchen and Stella Barra Pizzeria are not only owned by the same company, but are both from Southern California.

M Street Kitchen offers an eclectic mashup of American, Mexican and Asian dishes. Burgers, tacos, miso-glazed salmon, Evil Thai Princess salad and fresh sushi all share the same menu.

M Street's bar is just as diverse, pouring beer, wine, sake and a signature Sangria.

Stella Barra sounds like just a pizza place, but aspires to be upscale. Think Porchetta and Fennel pizzas, rather than sausage and pepperoni. Their Hollywood and Santa Monica locations not only serve "handcrafted" cocktails, but are known for their house-made desserts. Save room for the pot de creme or massive bacon-chocolate chip cookie.

You can get a video preview of Stella Barra by clicking here.

Want something healthier?

The Protein Bar is just what the doctor ordered.

Even the beverages can give you a protein boost at this establishment.

The Protein Bar, which has a Penn Quarter location in the District, is also highly accommodating of diners with food allergies (taking special precautions to prevent cross-contamination of allergens during food preparation, for example), or who seek vegetarian and gluten-free options.

You'll find juices, smoothies, salads and bowls heavy on meat, and a variety of dishes made with superfood quinoa.

Meanwhile, back at the Pike & Rose construction site:

Monday, August 5, 2013

JUST TIRES CLOSES IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Just Tires? Well, it Just Closed on Rockville Pike.

The handy shop was next door to Hooters of Rockville.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

QUIZNOS CLOSES AT 11802-D ROCKVILLE PIKE IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Quiznos has closed its Mid-Pike Plaza restaurant at 11802-D Rockville Pike. As you can see, the sign on the storefront is gone, and the windows are covered.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

WATCH UFC 163 TONIGHT AT HOOTERS OF ROCKVILLE

Tonight at 10 PM, Hooters of Rockville will be showing the live broadcast of UFC 163.

There are 3 bouts tonight: Machida vs. Davis (light heavyweight), Maia vs. Koscheck (welterweight), and, of course, the main event, Aldo vs. Korean Zombie for the World Featherweight Championship.

Friday, August 2, 2013

BRIDGET NEWTON RUNNING FOR MAYOR; MARCUCCIO DECISION COULD BOOST TEAM ROCKVILLE SLATE

Two-term Rockville Councilmember Bridget Newton officially launched her bid to be the city's next mayor last night. Her opponent will be another multiterm councilmember, Mark Pierzchala.

Newton has pledged to take no money from developers, and has been a skeptic of urban-style development outside of the city's Town Center.

Pierzchala, and the rest of his Team Rockville slate, favor denser, transit-oriented development.

Both mayoral candidates have long records of public service.

Current mayor Phyllis Marcuccio declined to run for another term, and has endorsed Newton.

Marcuccio's decision, and the current lack of opponents for Team Rockville, could lead to success on Election Day for the slate.

There are now three wide-open council seats. Incumbent Tom Moore will lead slatemates Julie Palakovich Carr, Beryl Feinberg and Virginia Onley into the contest.

While Newton has as much of a chance to win as Pierzchala, the Team Rockville council candidates could sweep the election, if it were held today.

Rumored candidate Anne Robbins, a veteran councilmember, has not filed yet. The filing deadline is little over a month away.

The vacuum that would have existed for a slow-growth candidate has now become a black hole.

While Newton vs. Pierzchala will be a marquee race, offering voters a clear choice for the city's future direction, the mayor holds little power in Rockville.

Should no city activists nor Robbins step forward to file, this election would be a blowout for Team Rockville in terms of council seats, and political power.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

TACO BELL SMOTHERED BURRITO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has a new Smothered Burrito. It came out Thursday, and I stopped by the Rockville Taco Bell Friday night to pick one up.

Now let's test it out together in this review on The Robert Dyer Channel.

What is it smothered in, what's inside, and how does it all taste? We're about to find out!