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| Fall decorations on the plaza |
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| 4935 Bar and Kitchen's chef and owner, Ashish Alfred, at the bar in the Gallery's cyberlounge |
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| Gallery Bethesda property manager Manuel Majano and DJ Maxi behind the turntables |
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| Bethesda start-up Spotluck was there to promote its new app that gives new deals on downtown Bethesda restaurants every day |
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| A cornhole game underway |
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| Maybe this will become an annual event |
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| Hay bales on the plaza |
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| New grass added this week |
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| Spotluck was at the party inside, too, with a human demonstration of how the app works |
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| Fun at the photo/video booth |
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| 4935 Bar and Kitchen is at 4935 Cordell Avenue |
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| 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 And because these should be a topic in the current discussion about the county's and state's outdated liquor laws, and how they are stifling local business and creative events that are vital to our downtown areas.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 We hear a lot about the need for public gathering space in downtown Bethesda, and here the county's own outdated rules prevented the public from enjoying an outdoor beer garden setting, on just such a gathering space in the Woodmont Triangle.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.
