New hours for Bethesda Circulator July 1 (Photo)

The free Bethesda Circulator bus will have a new schedule starting on July 1. Hours will be:

Monday-Thursday: 7 AM - 11 PM

Friday: 7 AM - 12 AM

Saturday: 10 AM to 12 AM.

For more information on the Circulator and its route, visit Bethesda Urban Partnership's website.

NEW HOURS AT BARNES & NOBLE SUGGEST BETHESDA TURNS IN EARLY (PHOTOS)

Montgomery County's "Nighttime Economy" initiative has stumbled again. Some elected officials have touted the efforts to get downtown Bethesda staying up all night, and becoming more "hip." But two years later, several of the most popular nightclubs have shuttered, including BlackFinn, Ri-Ra, and Relic Lounge. Meaning that downtown Bethesda actually has less nightlife than before the initiative launched.

Now popular Bethesda Row hangout Barnes & Noble is having second thoughts about late nights, as well.

Starting today, the bookstore is cutting back its closing time from 11:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Sunday and Friday-Saturday hours will remain the same, as on the now-outdated sign below. That means the store will still be open until 11:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Will the doors locking early make the small plaza less welcoming to people hanging out there at night? It seems whatever's been done so far to boost nightlife, it hasn't worked yet in Bethesda.

HSBC BANK ELIMINATING SATURDAY HOURS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

At a time when banks are popping up all over town - and when one of them, TD Bank, is boasting about its expanded hours - HSBC Bank is taking the opposite approach. Starting Tuesday, October 14, its branch inside the Lionsgate condominiums is changing its hours - and dropping Saturday hours altogether. The bank will then be open only from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Previously, the bank had been open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Ironically, TD Bank will be opening directly across Old Georgetown Road from HSBC, on the site of the current Shell gas station.

HSBC Bank

7637 Old Georgetown Road

ROOF BETHESDA TO ADD BRUNCH AND LUNCH HOURS THIS MONTH (PHOTOS)

 

Bethesda's much-talked-about rooftop restaurant, Roof, is about to launch the most scenic brunch and lunch in town. Brunch with Woodmont Triangle views will launch this Saturday, January 25, at 10:00 AM.

Next, the restaurant will add lunch hours, starting at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 30. Previously, Roof has been opening at 4:30 PM.

By the way, the Washington Post's guide to best brunches last Friday was another example of either their usual anti-Bethesda bias, or ignorance. They listed not one brunch spot in Bethesda! Have they been to Bethesda recently? Maybe they should book a table for Day One of brunch at Roof.

4935 BAR AND KITCHEN NOW OPEN REGULAR HOURS FOR DINNER IN BETHESDA

4935 Bar and Kitchen, the restaurant that replaced Tragara at 4935 Cordell Avenue over a year ago, is now open regular hours. While the restaurant has functioned primarily as a nightspot with varying schedules, a spokesperson says patrons can now dine Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4:00 to 11:00 PM.

Last night's New Year's Eve party was a Grand Opening for the restaurant, which hired new staff in December. 

BETHESDA BP REOPENS GARAGE FOR AUTO REPAIRS AT FAIRMONT AND OLD GEORGETOWN (PHOTOS)

Two months ago, the shuttered BP station at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road reopened as a convenience store.

Now the gas pump-less Bethesda service station has reopened the garage as an auto repair facility. Much like Eastham's across town, they are repairing cars on a short lease, while the developers who own the respective properties await groundbreaking for their luxury residential buildings.

One thing you won't find at BP: restrooms. They don't have one.

The throwback, limited hours of the convenience store are 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM weekdays, and 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturdays. They're closed on Sundays.

UPS STORE OPENS IN BETHESDA 20816 ZIP CODE WHILE USPS DAWDLES (PHOTOS)

The USPS has been talking for nearly a year about opening a new post office in the 20816 area of Bethesda. Such an opening is still at least a year away.

Meanwhile, UPS has leapfrogged Uncle Sam, and opened a UPS Store in 20816, at 5237 River Road.

The store replaces Anessi Salon in the Kenwood Station shopping center best known as the home of Whole Foods (or, for longtime residents, as once being a Brunswick bowling alley).

The new UPS Store has - yes - mailboxes, printing services, packing and shipping assistance, faxing and notary services...pretty much the things most people need on a regular basis.

For downtown Bethesda residents, if you weren't aware already, there is a UPS Store on Hampden Lane.

4935 BAR AND KITCHEN EXPANDS HOURS

4935 Bar and Kitchen on Cordell Avenue is expanding its hours of operation. While the new establishment has been open primarily Friday and Saturday nights since opening, the owners now want to serve weeknight diners, as well.

The restaurant will now be open for dinner every evening from Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5:00 PM.

The head chef is Ashish Alfred.

FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE SLICE AT ALL BETHESDA GIANT STORES TODAY

Is today your birthday? Well, it doesn't matter, you're getting some birthday cake anyway.

Today is the birthday of venerable grocery store chain Giant Food - its 77th birthday.

In honor of this, and odd-numbered birthdays, every Giant store in the whole chain will serve you a FREE slice of birthday cake today between 3-8 PM.

I hope it's one of their fabulous sheet cakes.

BETHESDA CHIPOTLE CLOSED UNTIL DECEMBER 11

Chipotle in downtown Bethesda closed late Friday night for extensive kitchen renovations.  The restaurant will not reopen until 11 AM on December 11, 2012.

Many frustrated customers were arriving to find the doors locked.

If you are in that area, and want burritos for lunch during the closure, the easiest thing to do is to board the Bethesda Circulator on Woodmont Avenue.  Take it to Elm Street at Bethesda Row, walk west on Elm, and Boloco will be on your left.

Boloco has a similar menu, and you can just take another free Circulator trip back when you're done (or with your carry-out bag).

CHAPTER TWO BOUTIQUE OPENS IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Chapter Two Boutique, a fine consignment shop, opened yesterday on Cordell Avenue.  The website was not working, however, as of last evening.

WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY BLACK FRIDAY MIDNIGHT DOORBUSTERS - BETHESDA BLACK FRIDAY

PLUS,

I PICK THE

TOP SPOTS TO

HIT AT THE MALL

ON

BLACK FRIDAY!

Westfield Montgomery Mall is the place to be in Bethesda for Black Friday, without question.

To make up for the lack of Walmart and Target-style "giant flatscreen for $50" doorbusters, Westfield uses its advantage of sheer number of high-quality tenants.  Beyond the significant doorbuster savings, Westfield also tries to enhance the Black Friday experience with food and fun as the hours go by.

The full list is below, but I recall that last year there were lots of surprises and giveaways around the mall that were not announced in advance.

Finally, what's about to take place defies the nutty claims by some "experts," who want to convince us
that the great American indoor mall is a dinosaur of the past, and that the suburbs are dying, etc., etc.

Obviously, those folks weren't at Westfield Montgomery last Black Friday, where there were huge crowds and delays just trying to park the car. Or at Milestone Shopping Center in Germantown, where every single space was taken in their massive parking lot.  Those are the same geniuses who say both retail meccas have "too much parking."  Uh, OK guys, if you say so.  But I hope you're ready to join the rest of us in the real world some day again soon.

Westfield continues to do a great job managing the mall, and this Black Friday is the perfect time to show your support for this classic American shopping mall.

Here's the complete list of Black Friday specials for the Midnight opening (don't forget, Sears opens right after Thanksgiving dinner at 8 PM!).  My picks are in bold:

Midnight to 8am: Enter to win a $500 Shopping Spree. Hourly giveaways.

American Apparel - 12am - 6am: 25% off entire store with a purchase of 4 items or more.

Arden B - 12am - 10am: Buy 1, get 1 free; 10am - 10pm: Buy 1, get 1 for $5.

Banana Republic - 40% off entire store.

Banner's Hallmark - 12am - 9am: 25% off entire store. Excludes Gift Cards, Stamps, Sale, Past Purchases.

Bare Minerals - Get the Royal Treatment for $49, regularly $85.

Bath and Body Works - See store for details.

BCBGMAXAZRIA - 30%-50% off select items.

Bebe - See store for details.

Body Shop, The - See store for details.

Bose - Savings on SoundDock 10 Series, Lifestyle Home Theatre, Bose Audio Headphones and more.
Plus, Wave Music System and Multi-Disc Changer special.

Brookstone - 12am - 10am: Save $25 on Active Sport Massager; save $100 on Pure Ion Air Cleaner; Save $70 on a 3-piece luggage set.

Brow Art - 8am-10pm: $20 for a full face threading.

Bubbles Salon - 9am - 2pm: Half off all blow dry's and men's haircuts.

Build-a-Bear Workshop - Door Buster: $5 Snow Boy and Snow Girl. While supplies last.

Candy World - 10% off bulk candy.

Caribou Coffee - Stay Awake for Midnight Madness opening 10pm on 11/22/12

Champs - See store for details.

Chick-fil-A - Enter to win Chick-fil-A for a year. Submit entry at the store.

Children's Place - 30-50% off entire store.

California Pizza Kitchen - 8am - 10am: Yummy Breakfast Pizza; 8am - 10pm: buy a $100 gift card, get a $40 gift card for free.

Crabtree & Evelyn - Gardeners 250 ml Hand Sanitizer $4.99; select 50ml Hand Sanitizer $5.

Dollar Store Plus - 12am-8am: 1 free roll of Christmas wrapping for the first 100 customers with minimum $5 purchase.

Express - 12am - 12pm: 50% off entire store; 12pm-10pm: 40% off entire store.

Fire & Ice - 12am - 12pm: $25 Fire and Ice gift card with $75 purchase; 12pm-10pm: 20% off entire store; All day get a free ornament with $100 purchase, while supplies last.

Forever 21 - See store for details

Furnish @ the Mall - $100 off on every $1,000 purchase; free delivery on every $2,000 purchase or more (offers and deals cannot be combined); 90 days same as cash option financing available with no interest and no credit check; free lay-a-way available.

Gap - 12am - 12pm; Door Buster Event: Select Styles - Mens & Womens $19, Gap Body PJ Sets $19, Gap Kids & Baby Gap $5 graphic tees.

Godiva - See store for details.

Gold Palace - 12am - 6am: 40% off silver (select styles); free fashion earrings with any purchase ($6 value); free watch with any $25 purchase; watch battery change $5 and up; buy 1, get 1 free any body jewelry; free jewelry cleaning

Guess - 30% off entire purchase (some restrictions apply).

Gymboree - See store for details.

Haagen-Dazs - 12am - 4am: Buy any Dazzler and get a 2nd 50% off, including the new Peppermint Bark flavor; 4am - 8am: $1 off any Smoothie or Baristo frozen beverage. One discount per person, not valid with any other offer.

House of Hoops by Footlocker - See store for details.

Icing By Claires - Free cell phone stylus with any $20 purchase, pre-tax. While supplies last.

Janie and Jack - See store for details.

J.Crew - 25% off your entire purchase.

Keurig - Opening at 11pm on Thursday with Coffee Samples.

Laila Rowe - 12am - 6am: Buy 1 get 1 50% off” ALL DAY and 20% off all mark downs.

Leather Store, The - Rimona Luggage $100 off; 20% off Bagatelle, and Women's Lodis briefcases and
wallets; 15% off Werks Collection Victorinox Luggage; $50 off every $350 purchsae of Briggs and Riley
luggage.

Lucky Brand Jeans: 12am - 10am: 30% off entire store.

Lids - Buy 1, get 1 50% off, promotional Nationals and Redskins hats.

Macy's - Savings throughout the store.

Marbles: The Brain Store - Free Marbles Colorfall with $250 purchase, limit one per customer; Free Geek Box with $100 purchase.

McDonald's - 12am - 8am: Buy an extra value meal and receive a free large regular coffee.

Michael Kors - 12am - 10am: 25% off sale merchandise and other select items.

Mirch Masala - 12am - 2am: Get $2 off purchase of $10.

Naartjie Kids - Buy 1, get 1 50% off girls dresses and boys tops. Extra 40% off clearance items.

Old Navy - 12am - 4am: $5 fleece half-zips, $15 jeans, $12 adoraboots; 4am - 8am: Disney/Pixar DVD and Graphic-T $15; 8am - 12pm: Sherpa Hoodie $15.

Pandora: Limited Edition Mystery Bead Release, while supplies last.

Papyrus: 50% off pre-wrapped gifts; Holiday boxed cards, buy 2, get 1 free.

Payless Shoesource - Up to 50% off select items.

Pen Boutique - 12am - 12pm: 25% off entire purchase (some restrictions apply); Parker Insignia Ball
Point Pen 50% off or free with any $50 purchase; Parker Jotter Ball Point Pen free with any purchase.

Qdoba Mesixan Grill: Buy 1 entree, get 1 free. Limit one per customer.

Radio Shack - Buy a Galaxy Siii with upgrade or 2-year new line and get a $50 Google Play gift card. Galaxy Siii is $99.99.

Sears - Doorbusters and savings throughout the store.

Sephora - Special items starting at $10.

Shenk & Tittle - 50% off all Reebok NFL apparel; 50% off selected snowboards, boots & bindings; 40% off selected snow sports outerwear.

Services Plus - Gatorade/Powerade- 2 for $2 (20oz), 2 for $5 (32oz); Red Bull 2 for $4 (8oz), 2 for $5 (12oz).

Soma Intimates - 10% off when you purchase Soma Sensualities; First customer to donate gently used bra for "Soma Bra Donation-Ending Domestic Violence" will receive a free bra of their choice.

Steve Madden - Scratch off sale - see store for scratch off card with instant special offer.

Sunglass Hut - 70% off select Vogue styles; Buy select styles and get 1 free; Purchase a full price item 
of $150 or more and get a $50 off coupon reward.

Things Remembered - Select Jewelry buy 1, get 1 free; Spend $100 and get $20 credit toward a
December purchase; Five items (see store) are free when you engrave them for $6 or more.

Under Armour - Get a $20 gift card for every $100 you spend on select styles.

Urban Outfitters: 50% Sale items. See store for details.

Vans - Free Vans phone case for iPhone 4/4S with purchase of $100 or more (while supplies last)

Verdict - 20% off any 1 item; 30% off 2 or more items; Fall Fashion Sale up to 50% off plus an extra 50%.

Vera Bradley - Holiday Tote - free with a $100 purchase (while supplies last); Holiday Sale - 25% off
select colors and styles.

Victoria's Secret - Free tote bag with $65 purchase. While supplies last.

VIP Outdoor Apparel - 10% - 50% off The North Face, Spyder, Kelly Hansen, Patagonia, and Mountain Hardware

Vitamin World - Mix and match, buy 1 get, 1 50% off all Vitamin World and Precision Engineered brand Items (excludes spectacular values).

Washington Redskins - Earbuds, $7.95; DJ Headphones, $29.95; iDock, $39.95, while supplies last.

Walking Company, The: Free Cozy Scarf from Zealand, a $20 value, with any regular priced footwear purchase before 9 am. While supplies last.

White House Black Market 25% off entire purchase; Free tote with purchase, while supplies last.

The following restaurants will open at Midnight:

Auntie Anne's
Bistro Sensations
Candy World
Caribou Coffee (opening at 10pm on Thursday, November 22)
Charley's Grilled Subs
Chick-fil-A (see special offer)
Dairy Queen
Dippin' Dots
Dumpling Dojo
Godiva (see special offer)
Haagen-Dazs (see special offer)
Jamba Juice
J.Chow's Chicken & Rib
McDonald's (see special offer)
Mirch Masala
Panda Express
Popeyes
Qdoba Mexican Grill (see special offer)
Ruby Thai
Sbarro Italian Grill
Sarku Japan
Subway
YoCake

CAN YOU REALLY GET A BLOWOUT AT THE DRYBAR AT BETHESDA ROW BEFORE IT OPENS FRIDAY? MAYBE. [PHOTOS]

Word has been going around Bethesda Row since the weekend that some lucky ladies have been pulled into The Drybar for a free blowout, just because they were walking by.

Well, there are definitely women
in there getting blowouts

Even though it's not Friday yet

It seems there's something of a soft opening going on ahead of the official grand opening Friday.

So if you're going to be at Bethesda Row anyway, it can't hurt to check it out.  Maybe try the door to see of it's open?  Linger around outside for a few minutes.  I don't know what the criteria is - maybe none at all.

But just passing the rumor along...

ICE CREAM AT BETHESDA CENTRAL FARM MARKET

The newest vendor at Bethesda Central Farm Market  (Sundays, 9-1 at Bethesda ES parking lot) is Moorenko's Ice Cream!

Check out their Corn or Honey Lavender ice creams today.

They also have Cantaloupe, Heirloom Tomato and Wild Blueberry sorbet.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE - POWER OUTAGES, COOLING CENTERS

Heat Alert! Storm Alert!

There is a chance of storms today, the temperature will be high (what a shock!) and many are still without power.

For those reasons, the Bethesda Library on Arlington Road will be opened as a cooling center (and as a library, of course: books, internet, etc.) from noon until 8 PM tonight.

You'll be a short walk from the barbecue on Bethesda Lane in front of Redwood between 12 and 6 PM, if you'd like a burger or hot dog.

New Power Outages

Last night's storm caused an additional 11,000 outages.

Old Power Outages

Kenwood (the neighborhood, not the club!) was without power as of 11:00 PM last night.

Power Restorations

Pepco made some progress in the hard-hit 20816 and 20817 zip codes.  Residents near Fernwood and Greentree Roads reported having power by mid-evening last night.

Gas stations on River Road reopened, but 7-11 appeared to remain closed.

Power was restored for the first time in the Springfield neighborhood off River Road.

Stay tuned to @BethesdaRow on Twitter and this blog for the latest news!

BETHESDA PUBLIC POOL OPENS SATURDAY

For those in Bethesda who either don't have a membership to "the club," or a rooftop pool atop your building - and with temperatures in the 90s forecast for the weekend - you'll be glad to know the Bethesda public pool on Little Falls Parkway opens Saturday.

The pool will be open from noon until 6 on weekends intitially.

Starting June 11, it will be then be open on weekdays, and close every night at 8:00 PM.

Call for information regarding swimming lessons.

Hint:  if you live in downtown Bethesda, it's an easy walk on the Capital Crescent Trail.

Bethesda Pool, 6300 Little Falls Parkway.  301-652-1598.