HAIR DESIGN ZONE TO TAKE OVER HAIR CUTTERY SPACE AT ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE

Hair will remain the theme in the former Hair Cuttery space at Rockville Town Square. The haircut chain's vacant spot will be filled by Hair Design Zone. Nothing is known about HDZ at this time (such as, is it a notch upscale or downscale from Hair Cuttery?), but it appears to not be a national chain.

ROCKVILLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: LA MADELEINE AT PIKE & ROSE (PHOTOS)

The architecture of the future La Madeleine at Pike & Rose is taking on the distinctive design of the French cafe chain's other locations. It should definitely be fireplace weather when it opens this winter.

HOUSE FIRE IN TWINBROOK FOREST

A house fire in the unit block of Marcia Court early this morning around 1:35 AM was extinguished by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue services. The fire was in the recreation room of the house, according to MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer. All residents managed to escape, but one was evaluated for injuries by EMS personnel. The street is located near the natural boundary of Rock Creek Park in Twinbrook Forest.

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.