Four stages of live music featured the percussive Latin beat of La Jazz and Rhumba Club, the classical music of WGMS 103.5 FM, the rockin' mix of Mary Pat Hughes & Heavy Groove, the Motown of the Mustangs, the popular sound of the Music Unlimited Big Band and the cool jazz tones of Ritmo Junction. Festive roving entertainers brought animation and smiles.

Admission was free. Taste tickets were sold on-site: $10 for eight tickets, $5 for four tickets. Tastes cost one to three tickets. All public parking meters, lots and garages were free on weekends. Shuttle bus service was available. Taste of Bethesda was sponsored by Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., Chevy Chase Bank and WGMS 103.5 FM.

The 1996 Taste of Bethesda's participating restaurants: Athenian Plaka, Bangkok Garden, The Bean Bag, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Bob's Famous Ice Cream, Breads Unlimited, Bruegger's Bagels, Cafe Bethesda, California Tortilla, Cameron's Seafood Market, Chicken Out Rotisserie, Cooker Restaurant, Costa del Sol, Cottonwood Cafe, Delhi Dhaba, Flanagan's Irish Pub, Foong Lin, George Starke's Head Hog BBQ, Gifford's Ice Cream, Hofbergs, Hyatt Regency Bethesda-Plaza Cafe, Johnny Rockets, La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe, La Panetteria, Marvelous Market, Nam's of Bethesda, O'Donnell's, Outback Steakhouse, Prince Deli, Quartermaine Coffee Roasters, Rio Grande Cafe, Shakey's Pizza of Bethesda, Spring Mill Bread Co., Stromboli Restaurant, Tara Thai, Thyme Square, Uncle Jed's Roadhouse and Wu's Dynasty.*L'Academie de Cuisine will present cooking demonstrations.

The 1997 Taste of Bethesda is coming very soon! Don't miss this incredible opportunity for affordable family fun.