POP-UP ANTIQUE SHOP OPENS IN ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE (PHOTOS)

A pop-up antique shop, Unique Antique Boutique, has opened in the former Potomac River Running space at Rockville Town Square. The boutique features jewelry, paintings, glassware, collectibles, rugs, lighting fixtures and lamps, furniture, art and chandeliers at up to 50% off.

Unique Antique Boutique

115-B Gibbs Street

301-455-5246

ROLLED CHICKEN TACOS ROLL INTO TACO BELL IN ROCKVILLE (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has reinvented the taco - in a new rolled form, wrapped around marinated, shredded chicken, and served with your choice of 5 dipping sauces. Also known as "dipping tacos" since they were announced last week, the new Rolled Chicken Tacos rolled into Taco Bells nationwide yesterday. I stopped by the Rockville Taco Bell to test them out. As you can see above, they come 2 to a paper sleeve, with a clear window on the side of the sleeve.

I found out you could only get 1 or 2 of the sauces (2 in my case, since I bought the 4-piece Rolled Chicken Tacos). I chose Spicy Ranch and melted Nacho Cheese. How did they taste? Watch my YouTube World Premiere review to find out.

ROY ROGERS OPENING POSTPONED TO DECEMBER

Hold on to your fry holsters, Roy Rogers fans. The restaurant says the planned early November opening of its Rockville Pike location has been postponed until mid-December.

ROCKVILLE RETAINS AAA BOND RATING

Moody's and Standard and Poors have reaffirmed Rockville's AAA bond rating. The reaffirmation was related to Monday's sale of General Obligation Bonds by the city. In announcing their decision, both agencies cited the city's "conservative fiscal management, its strong policies and practices, the city's ample reserve levels, and its low debt burden," according to City Manager Barbara Matthews.

The rating means that financing for improvements to the city's Civic Center and the Rockville Swim Center will proceed as planned. Water, sewer and stormwater improvements will also be funded by the bond sale.

Raymond James & Associates had the winning bid Monday, offering a 2.69% interest rate.

The agencies did express concern about the city's water and sewer funds, Matthews said.

FREE PARKING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AT ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, and nearby retail meccas Westfield Montgomery Mall, RIO and Downtown Crown beckoning with free parking, Rockville Town Square has announced a Holiday Parking Experience starting November 26, 2014.

In plain terms, parking will be FREE nightly after 6:00 PM, and all-day on weekends from November 26 to January 4, 2015. That should make those 2000 parking spaces a lot more appealing for shoppers, as well as those attending the annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Open House, which will be on Thursday, December 4, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM.

Don't thank the Monopoly guy - thank property owner Federal Realty, surely concerned about keeping the holiday cheer high at a retail center where several tenants have closed in recent months. A second Federal Realty property, Pike & Rose, is also a competitor with Rockville Town Square, but does not have many retail stores open yet. Pike & Rose offers 2 hours of free parking to guests.

I know free parking sure makes me more likely to dine and shop at Rockville Town Square.

HUNGER GAMES MARATHON AT REGAL ROCKVILLE

Extreme fans of the Hunger Games series will want to attend a movie marathon this Thursday, starting at 2:30 PM, at the Regal Rockville theater. Attendees who are members of the Regal Crown Club will receive a limited-edition commemorative keychain. The marathon will conclude with the newest film, Mockingjay - Part 1.

Tickets can be pre-ordered online now.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TIMING, COUNTY COUNCILMAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN MOCO LIQUOR SCANDAL

The shocking results of an investigation by News 4's I-Team into the Montgomery County Department have added to the growing public questioning of why the county is in the liquor business to begin with. But the timing of the revelations, and Councilmember Hans Riemer's quickness to grandstand in a later News 4 sit-down appearance, raise questions. What did he know, and when did he know it? And why did this all go public just 48 hours after Election Day?

Riemer has received tremendous publicity in local media for several years regarding changes he has suggested in county and state liquor regulations. None of those reports indicated that Riemer had received a campaign contribution from at least one liquor license attorney. Riemer's initial proposals did not address public concerns such as the inability to purchase beer and wine at grocery stores in the county, but were more related to expanding the number of people eligible to obtain liquor licenses in the county, and being able to serve liquor without food in county establishments. Now, in this latest interview, Riemer is talking about getting the county out of the business altogether. Which I would welcome. In any case, it's been known for some time that the councilman is eager to change liquor regulations.

Fast forward to immediately after the reports aired. Hans Riemer conveniently was the only county councilmember interviewed for the follow-up report. I'm sure Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich or Nancy Floreen or any other number of councilmembers would have something to say about stolen liquor, and county employees allegedly drinking and driving. But they did not appear. No details have been given so far, but the rapid TV appearance suggests that Riemer was known to the reporters prior to the day the reports aired.

So to get back to the question of, "What did they know, and when did they know it," the News 4 report says the I-Team was following the trucks for several weeks. I think what the taxpayers have a right to know is, when was it known that County DLC drivers were allegedly drinking on the job, and stealing and reselling liquor? Before Election Day, or after? When was Hans Riemer alerted to these findings by News 4 - before Election Day, or after?

If the scandal had become public prior to Election Day, it would have been damaging to Mr. Riemer, County Executive Ike Leggett, and any other council incumbent on the ballot, as each one of them has oversight authority over the DLC.

What was the timeline?