GIANT BAKING UTENSILS DESCEND ON PIKE & ROSE! (PHOTOS)

In a scene reminiscent of Hardware Wars, giant baking utensils have landed at Pike & Rose, and attached themselves to the side of the PerSei apartments. Actually, these are just the latest design additions to the building's facade that recall a legendary area baking equipment company.

SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA, STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA TO OPEN JANUARY 15 AT PIKE & ROSE

Artisanal pizza and California cuisine will arrive at Federal Realty's new Pike & Rose development next month. Stella Barra, a pizzeria concept by Chef Jeff Mahin, and Summer House Santa Monica (also created by Mahin) will open on January 15, 2015, at 11825 Grand Park Avenue. Both restaurants are part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group, of which Bethesda Row's Mon Ami Gabi is a family member, as well.

Construction continues on the interior, but as you can see, a lot of work has been done on the exterior facade. Already popular in Southern California and Chicago, Stella Barra will be a must-try for pizza fanatics in the DC area. Red and white pizzas will join 40 bottles of wine and some unique menu additions created just for this location. Summer House will be centered around a wood-fired grill, and will employ locally-sourced ingredients and simple preparation of American food in a beach house-themed setting.

BORDEN EGG NOG REVIEW (VIDEO)

Borden Egg Nog certainly brings back fond memories of childhood Christmases past. It's been missing in recent years, but I found it in a new, resealable container this year at Giant. No more punching holes in the top of a metal can, and now it will stay fresher. Unlike other egg nogs on the market, Borden's can stay off ice for many months until you open it.

Elsie the Cow, Borden's famous mascot, is still on the package, as well. During my review, you'll also learn a bit about her history, and about the history of egg nog.

Does Borden's egg nog still taste as good as it did decades ago? Watch my review to find out!

HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON 5 CHOKE CHERRY ROAD IN ROCKVILLE

The Rockville Historic District Commission wants more information before rendering its decision on whether or not the office building at 5 Choke Cherry Road merits historic designation. At the outset of last night's meeting, Commission Chair Robert Achtmeyer asked if this matter was essentially a rubber stamp action for the body (the property is part of The JBG Companies' Upper Rock development, which received initial approval from the Mayor and Council, and a housing component has already been constructed). It quickly became apparent that that would not be the case.

Ironically, the commercial structure in question had previously been slated for a retrofitting by JBG, to transform it into a mixed-use, live-work housing development. That would have preserved the arguably-historic exterior. More recently, JBG determined that there was no market for additional housing in that immediate area, and has now asked for permission to demolish 5 Choke Cherry Road to make way for a retail development.

The building was designed by highly-regarded local architect John "Jack" Sullivan, who was responsible for many notable buildings in Rockville, including the County Council building. Now many of them are threatened with demolition, which concerned Commissioners Craig Maloney and Jessica Reynolds. Reynolds said she was still lamenting the demolition of the Suburban Trust Building (a.k.a. The Pink Bank), and the commission's decision last month to allow demolition of the Gillette Building.

Nancy Pickard, speaking on behalf of Peerless Rockville, testified that the building deserves consideration for historic designation on several of the criteria required to meet current preservation standards. 

While the staff report found 5 Choke Cherry Road did not meet any of the criteria for historic designation, Reynolds and Maloney disagreed. Maloney noted that the Brutalist architecture element of the 1973 structure predated the height of that style's popularity, making it an early example ahead of its time. There was also a sense during the discussion that the importance and prominence of Sullivan's work in Rockville met the criteria for having been designed by a master architect.

Ultimately, the commission voted to postpone the question. Reynolds asked city staff to provide more information on Sullivan's buildings, how many remain in unaltered form and which ones have been demolished already. She said that information would help the commission begin to reckon with which Sullivan buildings it should prioritize preservation of. The commission also felt that it would help to discuss the matter with JBG at a future meeting, to determine if there is any viable way for the developer to utilize the existing building, such as removing floors to allow higher ceilings for contemporary retail.

Given that the ground floor currently houses individual retail such as a credit union, it seems that retrofitting this building for retail would be possible. It also has prime placement along Shady Grove Road, giving it - and future tenants - high visibility.

The two single-family homes, whose owners were seeking a finding to allow demolition last night, were both found to not meet historic designation criteria by the commission.

PETER CHANG'S CHINA BISTRO APPLIES FOR ALCOHOL LICENSE (PHOTOS)

The future, eponymous Peter Chang restaurant in Rockville Town Square has applied for its liquor license. It will replace Taste of Saigon at the retail center. In an update from the initial announcement, the name appears to have added "China Bistro" to the end of it. Peter Chang's license hearing will be held today at 9:00 AM in the auditorium of the County Council building at 100 Maryland Avenue.

HOME, OFFICE BUILDING DEMOLITIONS ON HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION AGENDA

The Rockville Historic District Commission will examine requests for demolitions of two homes and one office building at its next meeting, Thursday, December 18, at 7:30 PM, in the Mayor and Council Chambers at City Hall.

Property owners of homes at 417 Park Road and 515 Crabb Avenue are asking for a determination of historic significance, as they seek to demolish the structures. The JBG Companies seeks the same ruling for an office building it wants to demolish at 5 Choke Cherry Road.

ROCKVILLE'S MOST WANTED: CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS MAN?

The man pictured is wanted by police in connection with a stabbing Monday morning at 6:08 AM by the Rockville Metro station. An earlier altercation led to two adult males being stabbed, and the assailant is still at-large.

The attack took place at a Ride On bus stop, and both victims were transported to local hospitals with non-lifethreatening injuries.

If you recognize this person of interest, please call Metro Transit Police Detectives at (202) 962-2121, and reference case #2014-62731. Tips also can be sent via text message to "MyMTPD" (696873). There are no current warrants for the arrest of the wanted man.