TAIPEI TOKYO VILLAGE CLOSES IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Taipei Tokyo Village, at 1596-A Rockville Pike, has been entirely cleared out.

M STREET KITCHEN, STELLA BARRA PIZZERIA, PROTEIN BAR TO OPEN AT PIKE & ROSE

Three new additions to Federal Realty's Pike & Rose development on Rockville Pike will cover a broad range of cuisines.

M Street Kitchen and Stella Barra Pizzeria are not only owned by the same company, but are both from Southern California.

M Street Kitchen offers an eclectic mashup of American, Mexican and Asian dishes. Burgers, tacos, miso-glazed salmon, Evil Thai Princess salad and fresh sushi all share the same menu.

M Street's bar is just as diverse, pouring beer, wine, sake and a signature Sangria.

Stella Barra sounds like just a pizza place, but aspires to be upscale. Think Porchetta and Fennel pizzas, rather than sausage and pepperoni. Their Hollywood and Santa Monica locations not only serve "handcrafted" cocktails, but are known for their house-made desserts. Save room for the pot de creme or massive bacon-chocolate chip cookie.

You can get a video preview of Stella Barra by clicking here.

Want something healthier?

The Protein Bar is just what the doctor ordered.

Even the beverages can give you a protein boost at this establishment.

The Protein Bar, which has a Penn Quarter location in the District, is also highly accommodating of diners with food allergies (taking special precautions to prevent cross-contamination of allergens during food preparation, for example), or who seek vegetarian and gluten-free options.

You'll find juices, smoothies, salads and bowls heavy on meat, and a variety of dishes made with superfood quinoa.

Meanwhile, back at the Pike & Rose construction site:

JUST TIRES CLOSES IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Just Tires? Well, it Just Closed on Rockville Pike.

The handy shop was next door to Hooters of Rockville.

QUIZNOS CLOSES AT 11802-D ROCKVILLE PIKE IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Quiznos has closed its Mid-Pike Plaza restaurant at 11802-D Rockville Pike. As you can see, the sign on the storefront is gone, and the windows are covered.

WATCH UFC 163 TONIGHT AT HOOTERS OF ROCKVILLE

Tonight at 10 PM, Hooters of Rockville will be showing the live broadcast of UFC 163.

There are 3 bouts tonight: Machida vs. Davis (light heavyweight), Maia vs. Koscheck (welterweight), and, of course, the main event, Aldo vs. Korean Zombie for the World Featherweight Championship.

BRIDGET NEWTON RUNNING FOR MAYOR; MARCUCCIO DECISION COULD BOOST TEAM ROCKVILLE SLATE

Two-term Rockville Councilmember Bridget Newton officially launched her bid to be the city's next mayor last night. Her opponent will be another multiterm councilmember, Mark Pierzchala.

Newton has pledged to take no money from developers, and has been a skeptic of urban-style development outside of the city's Town Center.

Pierzchala, and the rest of his Team Rockville slate, favor denser, transit-oriented development.

Both mayoral candidates have long records of public service.

Current mayor Phyllis Marcuccio declined to run for another term, and has endorsed Newton.

Marcuccio's decision, and the current lack of opponents for Team Rockville, could lead to success on Election Day for the slate.

There are now three wide-open council seats. Incumbent Tom Moore will lead slatemates Julie Palakovich Carr, Beryl Feinberg and Virginia Onley into the contest.

While Newton has as much of a chance to win as Pierzchala, the Team Rockville council candidates could sweep the election, if it were held today.

Rumored candidate Anne Robbins, a veteran councilmember, has not filed yet. The filing deadline is little over a month away.

The vacuum that would have existed for a slow-growth candidate has now become a black hole.

While Newton vs. Pierzchala will be a marquee race, offering voters a clear choice for the city's future direction, the mayor holds little power in Rockville.

Should no city activists nor Robbins step forward to file, this election would be a blowout for Team Rockville in terms of council seats, and political power.

TACO BELL SMOTHERED BURRITO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has a new Smothered Burrito. It came out Thursday, and I stopped by the Rockville Taco Bell Friday night to pick one up.

Now let's test it out together in this review on The Robert Dyer Channel.

What is it smothered in, what's inside, and how does it all taste? We're about to find out!