A Patch App, a Pike Lap and Where to Watch the Caps

Good Friday afternoon, Rockville! We've almost made it.

Great weather today. Monsoons possible tomorrow. Clearing on Sunday. Let's make the most of this weekend. And let's get into it with what you need to know for the coming days and beyond with this "no nonsense, straight shootin'," edition of "The Rundown":

• Big news from Patch about Patch this week. On Thursday, the Patch iPhone app launched in the Apple App Store. Now it's easier than ever for iPhone users to access Rockville Patch—or any one of the more than 800 Patch sites nationwide. In fact, the app does much of the hard work for you, using your location or ZIP code to find the Patch site closest to you and bringing you community news, events, local business listings, weather and more.
  The app greets you with "The Front 5," a list of the most relevant local news, events and editor tweets. A "Favorites" feature allows you to cache any Patch content so that you can view it offline when you are, say, trapped in a Metrorail tunnel.
  To download the app, search "Patch" in the App Store. For more, check out the iTunes preview. And Android users shouldn't fret. An app for you is coming soon.
• Rockville Pike will double its—ahem—pleasure when it comes to traffic on Sunday, adding foot traffic to its usual clog of cars. The Montgomery County Road Runners Club sponsors the 16th annual beginning at 7:50 a.m. The foot traffic of runners along the course, which stretches from Redland Road to White Flint mall, could add to vehicle traffic frustrations if you're not in the know. Lanes on the pike will be closed from around 7:30 a.m. to about 9:30 a.m. There will be no cross-traffic along Rockville Pike during the race.
  For those more interested in traveling the pike by foot (and wearing a numbered bib) online registration is available (and encouraged).
• If you're picking up your Pike's Peek packet at White Flint on Saturday, think about swinging by the (the one we used to refer to as the "Gourmet Giant" back when you could get scoopfuls of gummy worms out of giant "bulk" barrels—truly gourmet) for some pre-race carbo-loading and to support a group of ladies who strap wheels on their feet.  offering homemade bake goods as well as bags of the team's special label coffee.
• The Caps are up 1-0 in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series with the New York Rangers. Washington will rock the red against the Blueshirts again at 7 tonight at "The Phone Booth." If you want to go out for the game, but can't make it to Chinatown,  is your unofficial place to cheer on the Caps, the barbecue joint reports in its latest edition of "The Meaty Times." Branded '72 offers the game on the bar TVs (with sound by request) and bar specials during the games. Surely there are other places around town showing the quest for Lord Stanley's cup. If you're rockin' the red and offering specials, let us know in the comments box below.
• There is a lot going on in and around town this weekend. So much, in fact, that we don't have the time to go into all of it here. But you can check it out in our calendar, which is becoming more comprehensive by the day. Thanks to all of you who have used the calendar to publicize your events. If you'd like to add something to the calendar, simply use the "Add your own event" button on the right side of the home page. If you have questions, please email me at sean.sedam@patch.com.
• Another way to share news with your neighbors is through Rockville Patch on Facebook. We share what we know with you @RockvillePatch on Twitter.