Silver Spring, Singular

The bar thing was discussed before. I'm too l...

2012-05-31T17:25:22.929-05:00

The bar thing was discussed before. I'm too lazy to look up all the information again. But, the laws requiring 50% food sales is almost universal for MD, VA and DC.

The only idea I have as to why is possibly that th...

2012-05-31T14:25:25.259-05:00

The only idea I have as to why is possibly that the regulations were passed relatively recently and said Bethesda bars were already operating and were grandfathered in by legal/political finagling. I honestly don't know but the liquor laws are there.

Whenever the bar thing is raised, I always see people saying, "But Bethesda has bars!" as if the liquor laws are suddenly somehow moot and invalid because Bethesda has bars. If someone knows why there are bars in Bethesda with these laws in place, I'd like to know.

But in the meantime, it doesn't look like anyone can just open a bar in SS right now. Sorry.

"As you point out, Bethesda has a number of p...

2012-05-31T13:23:56.642-05:00

"As you point out, Bethesda has a number of places that meet the definition of a bar."

At least I think that's the point you're trying to make. Feel free to correct me if I'm misunderstanding what you mean by "no one can explain Bethesda yet."

...what about Bethesda? Bethesda bars are notoriou...

2012-05-31T13:20:39.678-05:00

...what about Bethesda? Bethesda bars are notoriously awful (certainly none that come close to touching Sidebar or Quarry House). I believe the point of the "liquor license argument" is that it makes it very hard to run a great bar, not that it's hard to have a crappy bar. As you point out, Bethesda has a number of places that meet the definition of a bar. They just aren't places that are even remotely well reviewed.

Heard the liquor license argument, but no one can ...

2012-05-31T11:10:18.191-05:00

Heard the liquor license argument, but no one can explain Bethesda yet.

I have to say that folks have often ranted about o...

2012-05-30T10:17:09.368-05:00

I have to say that folks have often ranted about opening bars in Silver Spring. But it's just not that easy. MoCo regulations, which can be found on their website, are clear. Class B beer/wine/liquor licenses requires bathrooms for both sexes, minimum seating for 30 people, and 50% food sales. Kinda puts the kibosh on bars, then. Rather than ranting about bars, maybe it's time to pressure our elected officials to change the laws. (A rundown of licensing requirements is found here: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/lretmpl.asp?url=/content/DLC/liquor/LRE/lic_classes.asp)

And I have to admit, I've seen so much ranting about bars and Cheesecake Factories, that I simply can't resist poking fun at it.

?? Asian Bistro isn't a chain and Austin Grill...

2012-05-30T09:31:26.733-05:00

?? Asian Bistro isn't a chain and Austin Grill is a small, local chain (3 other locations - 2 in VA and 1 in DC). That said, duh, Cheesecake Factory is a joke (except to Issayah).

I love how people mock the "bar" people ...

2012-05-30T08:41:00.086-05:00

I love how people mock the "bar" people as if there are enough real bars around here.

Agreed: cheesecake factories should go away. Macaroni grill, Red Lobster, Austin grill and asian bistro cover the quota of terrible overpriced crappy chain eateries already thanks.

I went to the re-opened Walter Reed museum this we...

2012-05-30T06:41:56.897-05:00

I went to the re-opened Walter Reed museum this weekend.

My last visit was almost 40 yrs ago when I was a kid. At the time, my sister and I christened the place The Gross Museum, despite finding it very interesting.

The new museum is a world of improvement. It's small, but has well thought out exhibits that are a tasteful and educational. It's not the gross out must see anymore. The highlights are still there, such as the bullet that shot Lincoln (along with bits of his hair and skull) and the leg and scrotum with elephantiasis. But everything is in context now, not just rows of jars to oogle. You come away with a good sense of the progression of military medicine, as well as a confirmation of the reality of war.

It's worth a visit.

While you are there, you can take a quick drive through the new and renovated buildings at the old Forest Glen seminary/school. Some of the old landmarks, such as the pagoda, are being redone. Someone must have bought them. The grounds are really densely built, but interesting and pretty.

H&M still sucks

2012-05-29T17:03:33.571-05:00

H&M still sucks

lol, quit it Vagrarian! Your sarcasm will anger th...

2012-05-29T14:00:02.982-05:00

lol, quit it Vagrarian! Your sarcasm will anger the Cheescake Factory gods! There was/is quite a heated exchange re this (EYA development, not cheesecake)on Just Up the Pike.

They need to rezone it to be bars and Cheesecake F...

2012-05-29T12:45:30.103-05:00

They need to rezone it to be bars and Cheesecake Factories....

"This article shows a shallow and ignorant vi...

2012-05-23T10:04:50.584-05:00

"This article shows a shallow and ignorant view of the issues involved in this matter."

Someone sounds bitter.

Shallow and ignorant? Sorry, master plans aren'...

2012-05-23T09:16:13.498-05:00

Shallow and ignorant? Sorry, master plans aren't set in stone and are designed to be changed with the times, which is exactly what was recognized by the Planning Board, the hearing examiner and hopefully will be by the council. SOECA's leaders are stuck in the mindset the 90s masterplan. They are unwilling to accept that in 2012, the solution for this specific site in this specific location is no longere 25 homes (the primary option under the existing zoning), but higher density. Notice i didn't say high density? It's because the final density of this development will be less than 12 units per acre (compare to much higher density of EYA's townhomes at other developments, nearby Sprinvale Terrace or the high rise apartments across Ellsworth).

This article shows a shallow and ignorant view of ...

2012-05-23T08:56:30.623-05:00

This article shows a shallow and ignorant view of the issues involved in this matter.

Keeping headlights from SHINING into the existing ...

2012-05-23T08:56:18.726-05:00

Keeping headlights from SHINING into the existing homes. Damn you autocorrect! Now singing headlights might be a good alternative to horn honking :)

The townhouses don't face the street for two r...

2012-05-23T08:54:01.600-05:00

The townhouses don't face the street for two reasons: the grade change across the site is significant so the TH strings run with the grade instead of against it (much more expensive site work). Equally important is that EYA knew that neighbors on Springvale would be even more vociferous in their opposition (is that possible?) if the plan was to have then face an uninterrupted wall of townhomes. In the final design, only six townhomes face the existing homes on Springvale and the ends will be architecturally detailed with functional entries and typical front facades. Also, EYA has said they will hide the view into the alleys with decorative walls and landscaping (also keeping headlights from singing into the existing homes).

I agree that this is a huge win for the community....

2012-05-23T07:56:15.099-05:00

I agree that this is a huge win for the community. The area around the old house looks like a nicer park in the final design also, although I think the townhouses would have been more urbane facing the street, but I nit-pick. I'm sure our citizen/planning counselors will ensure there are enough carrige lamps to dress up the alley elevations.

Sucks that a dozen units had to be sacrificed, but...

2012-05-22T21:47:20.479-05:00

Sucks that a dozen units had to be sacrificed, but still a major win nevertheless. I'm pretty sure I've heard the council voice their support for the project in the past so I'm optimistic that won't be a hurdle. Wonder what EYA's vision is as far as construction timetable.

We were just at Fajita Coast last weekend and JJ, ...

2012-05-22T18:57:43.190-05:00

We were just at Fajita Coast last weekend and JJ, the owner told us that they were planning to new menu items.
It's one of our favorite places to hit up in Silver Spring.

I was thinking immaterial in the sense that buildi...

2012-05-22T18:35:01.650-05:00

I was thinking immaterial in the sense that building 76 townhouses wouldn't "change the character" of the neighborhood any more than adding 64 would. Admittedly I didn't know about the loss of the MPDUs.

Thanks as always for your work. Piping in to comm...

2012-05-22T17:24:00.190-05:00

Thanks as always for your work. Piping in to comment that we cannot consider the change immaterial as 2 MPDU's were lost whetsar went down in density. That's a damn shame.

Maybe they should open a Cheesecake Factory and so...

2012-05-22T08:35:30.034-05:00

Maybe they should open a Cheesecake Factory and some bars in the garage?

(Sorry, it seems that a comment thread for SSS is naked without someone ranting about opening a Cheesecake Factory and some bars in DTSS....)

Fajita Coast in Downtown has bad parking. I really...

2012-05-21T16:31:50.012-05:00

Fajita Coast in Downtown has bad parking.
I really miss the Four Corners location They had plenty of Parking and better service.

I live across the street from this hideous garage,...

2012-05-21T14:54:28.930-05:00

I live across the street from this hideous garage, and am thrilled to hear that United Therapeutics will purchase the parcel. I mean, I'd obviously prefer a Trader Joe's or something (hey, a girl can dream), but as long as the site design is as sweet as the rest of their complex, this is good news!

On a related note, has anyone heard if United Therapeutics has leased any of their planned retail space?