GALLERY BETHESDA OKTOBERFEST (PHOTOS)

Despite a few last minute changes due to Montgomery County's antiquated liquor laws, the Gallery Bethesda had a good turnout for its first Oktoberfest celebration yesterday. Guests enjoyed food and beer catered by Woodmont Triangle neighbor 4935 Bar & Kitchen in the building's well-appointed lobby and cyberlounge. Outside, music was supplied by DJ Maxi and attendees played cornhole on the Gallery's outdoor green space, which was decorated with a fall harvest theme.

Fall decorations on the plaza

4935 Bar and Kitchen's chef
and owner, Ashish Alfred, at
the bar in the Gallery's cyberlounge

Gallery Bethesda property manager
Manuel Majano and DJ Maxi behind
the turntables

Bethesda start-up Spotluck was
there to promote its new app
that gives new deals on downtown
Bethesda restaurants every day

A cornhole game underway

Maybe this will become
an annual event

Hay bales on the plaza

New grass added this week

Spotluck was at the party inside,
too, with a human demonstration
of how the app works

Fun at the photo/video booth

4935 Bar and Kitchen is
at 4935 Cordell Avenue

These signs reminded attendees
that beer drinking had to be
limited to the indoors

While the beer-related changes did not spoil the fun of the event, I do mention them because I was not even aware of these particular regulations. And because these should be a topic in the current discussion about the county's and state's outdated liquor laws, and how they are stifling local business and creative events that are vital to our downtown areas.

You may recall the original plan was for an outdoor biergarten, and a German beer list to be supplied by Gallery Bethesda's own convenience store, Aria Beer Wine & Deli. But citing yet more regulations, the County said the beer would have to be consumed inside the building only. And County regulators said the building could not buy beer from its own convenience store, for an event on its own private property!

This is what I mean when I say that liquor "reform" in the county can't just be about a few issues particular politicians want to change. We hear a lot about the need for public gathering space in downtown Bethesda, and here the county's own outdated rules prevented the public from enjoying an outdoor beer garden setting, on just such a gathering space in the Woodmont Triangle. Clearly these two regulations should be added to the list of those needing review and change.