Wednesday, July 31, 2013

POPEYES CHICKEN WAFFLE TENDERS REVIEW (VIDEO)

Popeyes new Chicken Waffle Tenders arrived in restaurants Monday. Last night, I stopped by the Popeyes at Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Road to try them. Here's my review, including close-ups of the tenders and special sauce.

Chicken Waffle Tenders are only available for a limited time.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

POMEGRANATE & CO. CLOSING IN ROCKVILLE TOWN SQUARE (PHOTOS)

Longtime tenant Pomegranate & Co. is closing its store in Rockville Town Square.

They are currently holding a 50%-off closing sale.

Monday, July 29, 2013

ROCKVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION NOMINEES SKEPTICAL OF ROCKVILLE PIKE PLAN

A very significant item on the agenda of tonight's Rockville Mayor and Council meeting (7:00 PM at City Hall) is the appointment of two citizens to vacant seats on the Rockville Planning Commission. Those who fill the seats could well determine the outcome of the Rockville Pike Plan, and the future of the city's APFO.

Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio, who has been critical of plans to promote urban density in suburban Rockville,  has had mixed success with her previous appointments. While Marcuccio has had the opportunity to completely shift what has, in recent decades, been a pro-development body, there is still not a solid majority in opposition to the Pike Plan.

If one were to place bets on the 5 sitting members' potential Pike Plan votes, well, that would be difficult.

Only Jack Leiderman is a likely NO vote. David Hill and John Tyner II are likely YES votes, if the changes they've suggested are approved.

But Dion Trahan and Don Hadley have yet to reveal their hand. Both have been skeptical of the urbanization concept the plan represents.

2 YES, 1 NO, 2 UNKNOWNS.

Enter 2 new members:

Mayor Marcuccio has nominated Charles Littlefield and Anne Goodman. Both are skeptics of the Pike Plan. Littlefield served on the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance committee in 2011, and issued his own Minority Report that dissented against attempts to weaken the ordinance.

In his report, Littlefield made clear that he feels a strong APFO is essential to protect residents from out-of-control growth:

"As a member of this Committee I witnessed an aggressiveness on the part of certain developers, elected officials and public planners to push through large-scale residential development regardless of public opinion. The impression they made on me left me firmly convinced that Rockville's APFO/ APFS should not be weakened. From the perspective of a Rockville resident/ homeowner, the APFO 'evens the playing field' between everyday citizens and organized, connected and financially powerful developers. Without this tool, it would be virtually impossible for citizens to stop an undesirable development project from occurring and negatively impacting our quality of life."

Goodman also expressed concern "about the potential for weakening the APFO to allow more development" in her Pike Plan testimony.

While Marcuccio and Councilmember Bridget Newton owe much of their political support to voters who favor limiting growth and building heights, councilmembers Tom Moore and Mark Pierzchala are running (for council and mayor, respectively) on a more aggressive development platform.

It could be a contentious meeting tonight, as a result.

If approved by the council, could strong arguments by Littlefield and Goodman lead to a 5-2 or 4-3 defeat for the Pike Plan? Can they get majority support tonight, with outgoing councilmember John Hall as the potential deciding vote?

Intrigue! Suspense! Stay tuned!

Friday, July 26, 2013

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEW VERIZON PREMIUM RETAIL STORE AT 11431 ROCKVILLE PIKE (PHOTOS)

A Verizon Premium retail outlet is moving into the space vacated by The Countertop Store at 11431 Rockville Pike.

The White Flint-area strip mall location is just north of Fitzgerald Auto Mall.

Store hours are already posted on the door, and Verizon decor has already made over the interior.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

CHICK-FIL-A ROCKVILLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (PHOTOS)

Here's the latest progress at the Chick-fil-A Rockville construction site in the Montrose Crossing shopping center on Rockville Pike.

The restaurant is scheduled to open August 22.

It's pretty clear at this point that the restaurant will not have a drive-thru, which seems strange for 2013, and given its automobile-convenient location off of the exit from the Montrose Parkway.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

PALADAR LATIN KITCHEN AND RUM BAR TO OPEN IN ROCKVILLE AUGUST 15 (PHOTO)

Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar has announced it will open its new White Flint/Rockville location on Thursday, August 15.

The opening will begin at 6:00 PM that evening with a ribbon cutting. A dinner featuring some of Paladar's most-popular dishes will follow. The cost of dinner will be $40 per person, not including gratuity. 100% of the dinner's proceeds will go to the Manna Food Center right here in Montgomery County.

Paladar co-president Andy Himmel says this is just the first example of how the restaurant will actively engage with the local community. "Manna Food Center, committed to providing food, food education and advocacy for residents of Montgomery County, is the right match for Paladar," he says.

The 180-seat restaurant will be located in JBG's North Bethesda Market development on Rockville Pike in White Flint. Free parking will be available after 5 PM weekdays, and all day on weekends, in the restaurant lot off of Woodglen Drive.

Inspired by the cuisines of Cuba and Central and South America, Paladar's menu will feature favorites like Grilled Skirt Steak and Fish Tacos. Its Rum Bar will stock over 50 flavored, spiced, white and gold, dark and aged runs. Best of all, you can order rum flights and tasting size pours.

Appetizers will include a chip platter featuring plantain, yucca, malanga and tortilla chips, and 3 kinds of guacamole for dipping purposes.

There will be 2 patios for outdoor dining.

Paladar's hours will be:

Sunday-Thursday: 11 AM - 11 PM

Friday-Saturday: 11 AM - 1 AM

Brunch Sat./Sun.: 11 AM - 3 PM

Happy Hour: 4-7 PM every day

Late Night Happy Hour Sun.-Thurs.: 9-11 PM

To make reservations for opening night on August 15, call 301-816-1100 weekdays between 9 AM and 6 PM. Hurry!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

ROCKVILLE'S QUENCH, WHITE FLINT'S BRIO JOIN BETHESDA RESTAURANT WEEK 2013 (VIDEO)

Bethesda Restaurant Week is here again! Bethesda-Chevy Chase Summer Restaurant Week is Monday, July 29 to Sunday, August 4, 2013. The official website has the full list of participating restaurants.

Yesterday, Lebanese Taverna hosted a restaurant week kickoff event at Bethesda Row. I always say that the patio outside of Lebanese Taverna is the best-smelling corner in downtown Bethesda. The wonderful aromas drifting out of the restaurant certainly entice you to go in, even if you are a tourist not familiar with the local Lebanese Taverna chain.

As you will see (or just saw) in the video, Chef Jeff Heineman of Grapeseed on Cordell Avenue is the chair of this year's BCC Restaurant Week Committee. And that's been a Herculean task, as the entity behind previous years' events has stepped down.

Fortunately, the Restaurant Association of Maryland has stepped in to produce this year's restaurant week. And reliable local sponsors like EagleBank, Grapeseed and Bethesda Magazine have joined Friends of Restaurant Week BCC Chamber of Commerce, Bethesda Urban Partnership, the NIH and NOAA Recreation and Welfare Association, Metromedia Energy and Congressional Seafood Company to ensure a successful event.

2-course lunches will be $12 or $16, and 3-course dinners $33.

Best of all, a portion of the proceeds will go to wounded service members and their families, through the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Speaking of ribbons, there was a ribbon cutting yesterday to mark the one-week countdown to BCC Restaurant Week. Delegate Bill Frick (D-District 16), a 2014 candidate for Maryland Attorney General, was on hand to assist, as was Ginanne Italiano, president of the BCC Chamber of Commerce.

Participants around Bethesda Row include Assaggi, Jaleo, Lebanese Taverna, Mon Ami Gabi, Nest Cafe (on the EuroMotorcars block of Bethesda Avenue), Newton's Table, Raku, and Redwood.

Further afield additions include the new-and-already-award-winning Quench in the Traville Gateway area of Rockville, and the fabulous Brio Tuscan Grille in White Flint.

Start planning now, as this is a chance to try many top Bethesda restaurants for far less than the usual prices. Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @RockvilleNights, as additional restaurants join the Restaurant Week list.