Expect a barrage of numbers at tonight's Mayor and Council meeting at 7:00 PM at City Hall.
It's budget time again.
Aside from a presentation of the budget for the next fiscal year, the meeting agenda includes a six-figure bid on police cruisers, an election law change to allow candidates to withdraw their candidacy, and a proclamation of "Earth Hour."
You can watch the meeting on Channel 11, or online.
Watch Georges St. Pierre take on Nick Diaz for the World Welterweight Championship in UFC 158, tonight at 10:00 PM, at Hooters of Rockville.
MILLER'S ALE HOUSE
Corned Beef and Cabbage with red skin potatoes. $10.99
Irish Flatbread with corned beef hash, melted Swiss cheese, spicy mustard and scallions. $9.79.
Corned Beef Reuben with potato chips. $7.99
Irish Red Beer Cheese Soup. $5.79
BAR LOUIE
$3 green beers, $5 Irish Whiskeys, and $6 Car Bombs.
Kegs and Eggs today, Saturday, March 16th from 9 am – 11am. $10 all you can eat buffet, with a collector's t-shirt.
MR. SMOOTHIE
Green freshly squeezed juices are 25% off. All smoothies are 10% off.
TIPPY'S TACO
Buy any burrito or enchiladas with green tomatillo sauce and receive a side of salsa and chips free.
VIE DE FRANCE
Pick up your St. Patrick’s Day treats: Shamrock shaped cookies, Irish Soda Bread, and more.
HOOTERS OF ROCKVILLE
Celebrating all weekend. UFC tonight (Saturday) at 10:00 PM.
ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE
Check out the green ice at the ice rink in Town Square!
I have an update on the Hurley Avenue robbery story I broke a few days back. Rockville Police have released their official report, and a description of the robbers, who are still at-large.
A woman was in the process of bringing her groceries into a home in the 800 block of Hurley Avenue last Friday, March 8, around quarter of 8:00 PM. She noticed two subjects opening the left sliding door of her vehicle. Seeing her, the suspects assaulted her, causing her to fall. They then grabbed the woman's purse from inside her vehicle, and fled to the Rockshire Shopping Center. The two suspects then leapt into a black 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, with DC tags, and fled the scene. The suspects are described as: 2 black males, last seen wearing: black pants, and black hooded sweatshirt.
I've wondered if the closure of the Giant would make that shopping center more dangerous for nearby residents. The site is surrounded by trees, making it easier for crooks to hide there after dark.
Montgomery County is one of the first places in America to get the product launch of McDonald's new McWrap menu item. Click here for an in-depth review of the McDonald's McWrap!
The McWrap comes with your choice of grilled or crispy chicken. There are 3 variations: Chicken and Bacon, Sweet Chili Chicken, and Chicken and Ranch.
Sweet Chili sounded the most unique, so I decided to get that first.
Watch my review for all the details, and my final verdict. You'll also find out about the McWrap packaging, which is not only different, but highly functional.
Yes, an infamous Star Trek villain was invoked, and a citizen created some very minor drama, at last night's meeting of the Rockville Planning Commission at City Hall.
The final bell is tolling for the venerable retail center at 1592 Rockville Pike, home to Radio Shack, Fuddrucker's and Pier One. I'll be sorry to see it go.
In the near future, the property will most likely be known as Twinbrook Metro Place, and will rise over its namesake community at around 150 feet.
Last night, the applicant, Twinbrook Partners, LLC, presented its site plan to the Rockville Planning Commission.
One initial complaint by a speaker was that notification procedures had not been followed. Unable to get the answer he wanted from city staff, he turned to the applicant's attorney, Heather Dlhopolsky, reminding her, "You're under oath!"
Planning commissioners corrected him, clarifying Dlhopolsky was not under oath.
Later, the same man rushed to the podium and interrupted commission deliberations on the project, prompting Chairman Jerry Callistein to respond, "You're out of order."
The building that will front to the Pike has a glass facade, which raised concerns about glare among some commissioners.
Beyond that, there was a question as to how well this fits in with 1-2 story structures nearby.
Commissioner Jack Leiderman found the proposed design "very different in architectural character" from its surroundings. Leiderman pressed for design changes throughout the meeting, saying the city would not want to end up with a "Borg cube" in the middle of Rockville Pike. He also questioned how the contrast in aesthetics would create a "sense of place."
Commissioner Dion Trahan asked planning staff if the site would be part of the region's growing bikesharing network.
City Transportation Planner Rebecca Torma said there are no plans for a Twinbrook bike sharing station. However, the project does have around 200 bicycle parking spaces.
Commissioner David Hill wanted to know if it was feasible to retain street trees along the Pike.
Assistant City Forester Elise Carey noted sidewalk expansion there will require removal of street trees.
Commissioner Don Hadley inquired as to how many street trees would be subject to removal.
"5," responded Carey.
Twinbrook Civic Association President Christina Ginsberg pointed out that Tilden and Farmland public school parents should be notified of development along this stretch of the Pike, as they are two schools that will have to accomodate children who live in these buildings.
A majority of the commission concluded that the site plan was worthy of approval, but requested two conditions: that the building facade facing the Pike be altered to fit less-imposing city design requirements, and that any compartmentalizing of on-site parking facilities be approved by city staff.
Happy trails to Rockville: Roy Rogers restaurant is returning to Rockville.
The new Roy's will open this summer on Rockville Pike.
But the company has been secretive about the exact location. The only clues it has given are that it will be south of Town Center, on the Pike, and near Marlo.
Behold! I believe I've found the future home of the legendary fast food restaurant. It's on the old Century Ford property, diagonally across from Marlo.
