Hair Design Zone posts Coming Soon signage at Rockville Town Square (Photo)

Some coming soon signage has appeared at the future home of Hair Design Zone, at 141-C Gibbs Street in Rockville Town Square. Owner Juan Ma is a veteran of top salons in Japan.

Future Rockville hotel applies for liquor license

The future Cambria Suites hotel, nearing completion in Rockville Town Center, has applied for a liquor license. A hearing on the matter will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 11:30 AM by the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control's licensing board.

Rockville hotel switching to senior housing requests APFS waiver (Photo)

The Quality Suites at 1380 Piccard Drive wants to convert its building into senior housing, and has requested a waiver from Rockville's Adequate Public Facilities Standards requirements. Under their plan, the 219 room hotel would become a 203-unit seniors-only (age 62+) apartment building.

Their development application was approved by the city's planning chief, Jim Wasilak, on January 10. Because no exterior changes are being made to the building, the Chief of Planning was the approving authority in that case.

However, the applicant must obtain a minimum of 5 approving votes from the Planning Commission to receive the APFS waiver. Based on the current APFS standards, city planner Nicole Walters says the applicant is eligible for the waiver. The rules allow exemptions for "age-restricted residential uses."

The commission will take up the waiver request at its April 8 meeting, at 7:00 PM in City Hall.

Rockville construction update: Bainbridge Shady Grove apartments (Photos)

The future Bainbridge Shady Grove apartment building has come a long way since my last update. It actually now resembles the multi-colored facade found in the above rendering. "Reed Brothers Dodge - what's that?" It's the historic Dodge dealership this building replaces, a former landmark at 15955 Frederick Road.

Mayor, residents seek correction to Rockville Reports' APFS decision coverage

The characterization by official Rockville public relations materials that the Mayor and Council "declined to vote" on changes to the city's Adequate Public Facilities Standards on school capacity has generated some controversy among city officials and residents. 

Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton said "I think we need to correct the record," on the wording in Rockville Reports that the Mayor and Council "declined to vote" on changes to the APFS. Rockville Reports is the official city newsletter that is mailed to all residents, making it an influential source of information.

The "factually incorrect" statement created a "tsunami" of inaccurate coverage, Newton said. "The Gazette wrote it, Rockville Reports wrote it," and other communications included the characterization of the APFS decision, she said.

Councilmember Tom Moore disputed the inaccuracy of the statement. Newton said the characterization was "disingenuous," as Moore withdrew his motion when he realized it would fail. "You were the one who put it on your Facebook page first," that the council had declined to vote, she noted. 

Moore's motion, which would have weakened the city's APFS standards on school overcrowding, and put them in line with Montgomery County's lower standards, was withdrawn by the councilman at the February 9, 2015 Mayor and Council meeting.

Popeyes Red Stick Chicken arrives in Rockville

Popeyes launched a new menu item Monday, called Red Stick Chicken. The name comes from the ingredient the fried chicken tenders are marinated in - Tabasco sauce. The McIlhenny family has been  producing that sauce on Avery Island, Louisiana since 1868, and growing the cayenne peppers for it there, as well. It is from the growing process of those crops that the Red Stick name comes from.

In monitoring and harvesting the peppers, employees use a wooden stick painted the exact shade of red that the fruit must be to meet McIlhenny standards for ripeness. The baton rouge is known in English as "the Red Stick."

Tabasco flavor and heat is met by an equally-spicy Smok'n Pepper Ranch sauce, also new this week at Popeyes. The meal is completed with a serving of Popeyes' famous fries and Southern-style biscuit.

How hot is the Red Stick Chicken, and how does it taste? Watch my review to find out!

Summer House review at Pike & Rose (Photos)

You've been invited to a dinner party at a millionaire's oceanfront summer home - although you'll be paying for your meal at the end of the evening. That's perhaps the best way to sum up dining at the hotspot Summer House Santa Monica. Located in Federal Realty's rapidly-expanding Pike & Rose development in Montgomery County's newly-dubbed Pike District, the restaurant is jam-packed. Is it North Bethesda? Is it Rockville? It doesn't matter, because once inside the revolving front door, you are in Santa Monica or the Hamptons.

View of the bar from the
dining room

Catch all the action in
the open kitchen

But as the tenacious winter gives way to spring, Summer House is planning to get more summery. Work is scheduled to begin today on the two outdoor dining areas, one on Grand Park Avenue, and one alongside the restaurant. The sidewalk cafe section will be similar to that of Lettuce Entertain You's sister restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi at Bethesda Row, while the second patio will be larger. Parts of the side walls, and garage doors on the front, will open during warmer temperatures, bringing more of the summer weather into Summer House, and the restaurant's hip atmosphere out to the streetscape.

I stopped by to check out Summer House for myself yesterday. The first thing you will notice when entering is the bakery, chock full of fresh-baked bread, cookies and brownies - and Mint Oreo Rice Krispies treats. Man cannot live on bread alone. You'll most likely be stopping there again before you leave.

Right now you need a refreshing beverage. There are quite a few summer-appropriate cocktails, and a good selection of wines - including one of my favorites, a Malbec by Alto las Hormigas. But I decided to go to the beer list, noticing that - alongside my standby Pabst Blue Ribbon - they had another classic American brew less often found on beer lists around here: Anchor Steam. I liked this California Common-style beer, which dates back to 1896 San Francisco. I'm giving it 4 stars out of 5 under my beer rating system.

Anchor Steam pours
with a massive head of foam

Next, I tried the Guacamole and Corn Tortilla Chips platter, which also includes some charred tomato salsa. The chips were fresh with good corn flavor, and well-paired with the two above-average dips. You'll be satisfied, as they deliver exactly what you expect.

Tortilla chips with
guacamole and charred
tomato salsa

My favorite appetizer was the Baked-to-Order Biscuits, which are just that - baked when you order them. Slightly sweeter than the Southern-style baking powder biscuit, they are heavenly with the included roasted poblano honey and soft herb butter. I recommend putting extra of both on as I did, as the melting butter on the fresh, hot biscuit made this a 5-star winner.

Baked-to-Order Biscuits
are a must-try

Then it was on to the main event.

Decisions, decisions

The Roasted Half Chicken provided a large portion of white meat chicken, some carved, and some still on the bone - including a drumstick. I found it not overly salted, with a crisp snap to the outer skin. The salsa verde gave it more of a summer flavor. A massive heap of french fries that provide what everyone loves in McDonald's-style fries (crisp outside, soft and warm inside, but with some skin on in this case) was next to the chicken. A side dish of Country Stuffing boasted massive, soft croutons and cherry tomatoes, the latter keeping the theme from sliding from summer to Thanksgiving. This is a classic dish, basic and perfectly-executed.

Roasted Half Chicken with
french fries, salsa verde and
ketchup

Country Stuffing

Some other highlights - a well-cooked burger with more of those great fries, a Georges Bank swordfish, and a grass-fed Prime Skirt Steak with Point Reyes blue cheese were also winners.

Georges Bank Swordfish

Prime Skirt Steak

Classic Wood-grilled
Hamburger

Now when it comes to dessert, you have a selection of menu items - or, you can head out and pick your dessert from the bakery case (I told you you'd be back!).

The Trifecta Fudge Cake seems to be a popular choice, and with good reason. A dense fudge cake topped with a massive dollop of fancy whipped cream, its fudge filling and fudge sauce are rich enough to be a match for the cube of peanut butter fudge that joins it on the plate. Peanut butter sealed the deal for me, and again works with the summer theme, as the fudge reminds one of that sold on the boardwalk at Ocean City.

Trifecta Fudge Cake

Then again, you could go for the bacon-topped chocolate chip cookie. It is a real thing, and it's scrumptious.

Bacon-topped Chocolate
Chip Cookie

Overall, the service was outstanding. I'm looking forward to going back during the summer to check out the patio, and see what the summer menu and beer list will have to offer.

Summer House Santa Monica

11825 Grand Park Avenue

301-881-2381