MR. BANH MI MENU (PHOTOS) - MR. BÁNH MÌ OPENS IN ROCKVILLE!

Can't get enough of Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches? You're in luck: Mr. Banh Mi is now open in the Ritchie Center on Rockville Pike, near Wooton Parkway and behind the IHOP. A great new addition to the Rockville dining scene!

Here is the menu (click photos to enlarge):

Bánh Mì

Dessert drinks

Specialty drinks

Smoothies

Fresh fruit or veggie juicers

LEAN CUISINE ROASTED TURKEY BREAST REVIEW (VIDEO)

A real turkey dinner like Thanksgiving or Christmas from Lean Cuisine? Can it be done? It's time to test out Lean Cuisine's Roasted Turkey Breast frozen dinner, featuring turkey and all the trimmings.

HOLIDAY CHIPS AHOY COOKIES REVIEW (VIDEO)

Chips Ahoy, America's best-selling chocolate chip cookie, has a very inclusive Holiday cookie. The packaging gives a shout-out to Chanukah and Kwanzaa, as well as to Christmas.

Of course, the most important cookie issue is, how does it taste? Watch my video review to find out!

PINK BANK DEMOLITION BEGINS IN ROCKVILLE TOWN CENTER (PHOTOS)

Demolition of the historic Rockville building known as "The Pink Bank" has begun. The building was cleared for condemnation by the previous Mayor and Council on October 14. In its place will be a mixed-use development by Kettler. Most historic preservationists are dismayed by the demolition, and a sitting member of the city's Historic District Commission, Jessica Reynolds, took city leaders to task in a recent letter.

The New Formalist structure was built at 255 North Washington Street in 1965, when it was known as the Suburban Trust Building. This demolition is an unflattering reflection of our disposable society, and echoes the mass demolition of the city's original, historic town center decades ago.

TACO BELL GRILLED STUFT NACHO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has an early Christmas present: the Grilled Stuft Nacho. The Grilled Stuft Nacho has seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, cheesy jalapeño sauce, red strips (a.k.a. Fritos), and reduced fat sour cream. How does it taste? Watch my video review to find out!

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING BOARD ABANDONS ASPEN HILL ROAD EXTENDED

The Montgomery County Planning Board voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to abandon the Aspen Hill Road Extended right-of-way between Veirs Mill Road and Twinbrook Parkway. "I don't see any reason not to abandon it," board chair Francoise Carrier said. This vote clears the way for redevelopment of the Halpine View garden apartments, which currently comprise one of the few existing affordable housing complexes in Montgomery County. Such redevelopment will surely allow luxury apartment buildings to loom over the adjoining Twinbrook neighborhood within the City of Rockville.

I do not know who might have submitted written testimony on the matter besides me. But the questions raised in my testimony were never addressed by the board. In fact, my written testimony was entirely ignored. The only significant issue of any sort, which was not in my testimony, was raised by Commissioner Casey Anderson. Anderson expressed concern that some notation be made in the record to preserve the county's right to provide trail access from Twinbrook Parkway for pedestrians and cyclists.

It is simply beyond belief that a body responsible for planning and transportation can simply decide not to consider the future uses of such a right-of-way. And why the county continues to aid and abet the demolition of what existing affordable housing we have, is a serious question that needs to be answered.

During the discussion, it was revealed that conditions 3, 4, and 5 were revised - 4 substantively - since the staff report was made public. Not even the applicant had the language. Is this what passes for open data and citizen involvement in planning in Montgomery County?

Prior to the hasty vote, Carrier said, "I'm helping the developer here." No one can dispute that.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY OPENS TODAY AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTOS)

The new Cheesecake Factory at Westfield Montgomery Mall will open today at 11:30 AM.