ELVIS PRESLEY OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN (VIDEO)

Just 3 days left in the 12 Days of Christmas, and we're celebrating with another Christmas classic by The King, Elvis Presley: the second official Elvis singing Christmas ornament of 2012 is not only a highly-detailed guitar, but also plays "Santa Claus is Back in Town."

Come back each day for a new video through January 6!

STAR TREK 2012 SPOCK ORNAMENT REVIEW

Here is an exclusive video review of the 2012 Hallmark Star Trek ornament, "An Extraordinary Meeting."  This Christmas ornament is based on a scene from the 2009 J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot.  In the scene, Spock (Leonard Nimoy, obviously) meets his younger self (Zachary Quinto) via time travel.

As far as I can tell, this is the first and only video of this talking ornament on YouTube.

Enjoy another exclusive, and stop by the Robert Dyer Channel again tomorrow, as we continue counting down the 12 Days of Christmas.

KRIS KRIMINAL? ROBBERY, ASSAULT ON CHRISTMAS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

Criminals celebrated Christmas their own way in downtown Bethesda this year, and Santa Claus has some names on his Really Naughty list already for next December 25.

According to crime data, a robbery occurred Christmas Day in the 4900 block of Battery Lane.

An assault was also reported at the Bethesda Row Cinema, of all places. It's important to note that the address from which an assault is reported is not always the location at which the assault took place.  Remember, for example, the jogger who was assaulted on the Capital Crescent Trail; the crime was listed in data as having been reported from the nearby home where she sought help afterward.

WIZARD OF OZ 2012 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT BY HALLMARK REVIEW (VIDEO)

Yesterday's Christmas Countdown video did get uploaded - but not until 10:30 last night, thanks to the same internet problem as last week.

In this episode, I review Hallmark's 2012 Wizard of Oz ornament. And I have a few beefs with Hallmark, as you'll find out in the video.

Fortunately, today's episode (December 20) has already successfully uploaded, so you'll be getting twice the holiday entertainment today!

CAP'N CRUNCH CHRISTMAS CRUNCH REVIEW (VIDEO)

A holiday tradition, Cap'n Crunch Christmas Crunch, on today's episode of the Robert Dyer Channel Christmas Countdown!

A new video each day through January 6!  Share the holiday spirit with your friends, and subscribe on YouTube.

BETHESDA RESTAURANTS OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY 2012

Wondering which Bethesda restaurants will be open Christmas Day for dinner?

Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row to the rescue!

Here's a list of restaurants that will be serving Christmas dinner, with menu and hours if the restaurant included that information:

ASSAGGI
BENIHANA
BRASSERIE MONTE CARLO

DU-PAR'S HAMBURGER HAMLET
- Du-par's is going all-out for its first East Coast Christmas Dinner.

A plated turkey or glazed ham dinner will be only $19.95 for adults, and $11.95 for children under 12.

Side dishes will include Pumpkin Soup, Green Bean Almondine, glazed carrots, homemade stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, baked dinner rolls, and Du-par's famous house-made fruit pies.

You can also order large, family-size turkey or ham dinners for pick-up Christmas Day.  Call 301-897-5350 to place an order, or to ask any questions.

LEGAL SEA FOODS
- Legal Sea Foods is in Westfield Montgomery Mall.

RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
- Another great-if-pricey menu from Ruth's Chris in downtown Bethesda:
A 6 oz. Filet Mignon, and your choice of lobster tail or Alaskan King Crab legs, for $46.95.

This is the complete list I have as of this morning. Other restaurants could be open, but aren't sharing it with me yet. If yours is one, let me know, and I'll add it (if it is actually in Bethesda, of course!).

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN VETERANS PARK (PHOTOS)

Enjoy these photos of the new holiday decorations and lights in downtown Bethesda's Veterans Park.  These were just installed by Bethesda Urban Partnership.

WINTER WONDERLAND BETHESDA, SANTA CLAUS IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA THIS WEEKEND

It will officially be December on Saturday, and that means Christmas and holiday events will be happening all around.

Saturday starts with pet photos with Santa at Bethesda Row from 2-4 PM.  That's right, pet photos. For $10, your pet can tell Santa what he or she wants for Christmas. The proceeds go to a familiar Bethesda Row charity, Canines for Veterans.  CFV rescues, trains and places service dogs with wounded veterans, who need their skills and companionship.

Santa will be back Sunday during the same hours, again on Bethesda Lane.

Saturday night at 8:00, enjoy a Christmas choral concert at Imagination Stage (4908 Auburn Avenue), $10 adult tickets, $5 for children under 12.  The concert is being produced by Bethesda Urban Partnership.

Bethesda UP is also behind the biggest event of the weekend: the arrival of Santa Claus himself in downtown Bethesda!

Hey, wait a minute - Santa Claus will be at Veterans Park from 2-4 PM.  That just happens to be the same time that Santa Claus will be posing for dog photos across town at Bethesda Row!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an impostor on our hands!  Will the real St. Nicholas please stand up?  This is an outrage! An investigation is in order!  This could require a beard-pulling test to verify the veritable Kris Kringle.

Real or not, this Santa Claus will be just one part of the 1-4 PM show at Veterans Park (Norfolk and Woodmont Avenues) Sunday.  You can also witness live ice sculpting (as opposed to pre-recorded ice sculpting?), and concerts by Westbrook ES, Our Lady of Lourdes, Norwood, Garrett Park ES and Seneca Valley HS students.

As always, it might be advisable to fortify yourself with a hot chocolate or holiday coffee drink at Dunkin' Donuts on Bethesda Avenue.

BCC RESCUE SQUAD CHRISTMAS TREE SALE 2012 - BETHESDA CHRISTMAS TREES

One of the Christmas tree lots actually in downtown Bethesda is at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, at the corner of Battery Lane and Old Georgetown Road.

All proceeds from tree and wreath sales go to fund the squad's lifesaving operations. Get a tree, and also know that you're helping yourself and your neighbors with every dollar well spent.

Here is their price list:

Fraser Fir 9-10' $175
Fraser Fir 8-9' $116
Fraser Fir 7-8' $90
Fraser Fir 6-7' $80
Fraser Fir 5-6' $70
Fraser Fir 4-5' $50
Table Top Trees $30
Small (14") wreath $15
Medium (20") wreath $19
Large (24") wreath $23
Roping (25 ft) $20
Bows/Other $5
Firewood $7.50
Tree Stands -reg. $20
Tree Stands -XL $25

You can stop by the Squad to buy a tree between Noon and 9 PM Monday-Friday, and 9 AM to 9 PM Saturday and Sunday.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS EXTRAVAGANZA AT SHOPPES OF BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Maybe it's the effect of having a Christmas tree lot on your street, but the Shoppes of Bethesda shopping center has gone all out for the holidays this year.

Even the "secret staircase" between Elm Street and Hampden Lane is filled with Christmas cheer.

Would you believe there's a Nutcracker soldier guarding the premises?  And judging from those red cheeks, he's been having one too many drinks at Ri-Ra in the process! It's hard to find good help these days.

BETHESDA ROW BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: APPLE STORE, BARNES AND NOBLE, CURRENT BOUTIQUE

Here are some of the best Bethesda Row Black Friday deals you may not have heard about.  Federal Realty distributed a nice summary of offers, but did not include these other major retailers:

BETHESDA ROW APPLE STORE

The always-secretive Apple is playing its Black Friday cards as close to the vest as you'd expect.

But wait - check the Apple Store's window wreath decoration for a possible clue!

Are those iPads? Yes!  Should we expect a discount on iPads Friday? With Apple, you have to be willing to be surprised. But that's a pretty obvious hint on the storefront.

One other thing - you can get the same prices online, or via your iPhone app Friday.

BARNES AND NOBLE

Bethesda Row's favorite hangout is offering deals on the Nook reader, and Buy One Get One 50% Off intellectual toys for intellectual kids.

CURRENT BOUTIQUE

Current is up the street from Bethesda Row at 7220 Wisconsin Avenue.  Owner Carmen Lopez says her upscale consignment shop will be giving 20% off all merchandise, all day Friday.

Labels in stock include J. Crew, BCBG, Diane Von Furstenburg,  Tory Burch, Milly, Banana Republic, Marc Jacobs and Rebecca Taylor.

For consignment, Current prefers natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, cashmere and wool.  Consignors will keep 50% of the item's sale price.

Current's Black Friday hours will be 10 AM - 8 PM.  Their phone number is 301-222-1114.

Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday

 from

 Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row!

BETHESDA TURKEY CHASE ROAD CLOSURES THANKSGIVING MORNING

Don't forget that several roads between the YMCA on Old Georgetown Road and Pooks Hill will be affected by the Turkey Chase Thanksgiving morning.

Roads include Old Georgetown Road, Cedar Lane, Cypress/Benton/Holland Avenues, Alta Vista Road,  Pooks Hill Road and Route 355. 

There will only be partial closures of curb lanes on most of these roads, between 8:30-10:30 AM.

Once runners have passed, all lanes will reopen.

ROBBERY REPORTED ON WISCONSIN AVENUE - BETHESDA CRIME REPORT

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

A robbery was reported in the 7300 block of Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda Monday, November 12.  The Apex Building (Regal Bethesda 10) is on that block.  Bethesda continues to experience an increase in robberies in 2012.  There was another attempted mugging on Bethesda Avenue recently (I had reported that here a while back), in broad daylight, no less.  Fairly unusual, but a good reminder to stay alert even in areas considered safe.

BETHESDA RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR THANKSGIVING 2012

Spending Thanksgiving in Bethesda, but need to find a restaurant serving Thanksgiving dinner?  Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row to the rescue!

Whether your kitchen has malfunctioned, or you have to stay in town for work, or you're just all alone in the world, just about anybody can find themselves in need of a restaurant Thanksgiving dinner.  And it sure beats having to do all that cleaning up!

Here is a list of downtown Bethesda restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner.  There may be others offering dinner, but these are the ones that have made their intentions public so far:

Assagi - 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM.  3-course dinner, $44.  Whole turkeys also available to go.

Brasserie Monte Carlo - 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM.  Dinner, $29.95.

Morton's (inside Hyatt Bethesda) - 3:00-9:00 PM.  Steak dinner.

Rosa Mexicano (this in Chevy Chase, DC, but the menu sounds so good, I'm adding it to the list!) - Slow-roasted Yucatan Turkey, pumpkin creme brulee.

Ruth's Chris Steak House - 3-course dinner.  Turkey breast, sweet potato casserole.

At least 2 restaurants are opening as bars on Thanksgiving, providing an after-dinner getaway for those who can't stand their family members or need a meet-up spot for Black Thursday:

American Tap Room - 5:00-10:00 PM.

The Majestic (Wisconsin Avenue) - 4:00 PM - close.  Bar menu only.

If your restaurant is serving dinner on Thanksgiving, and it's not listed here, email me or tweet me @BethesdaRow so I can add it (if you're in Bethesda, obviously!).

SEARS BLACK THURSDAY AND BLACK FRIDAY IN BETHESDA 2012

Sears at Bethesda's Westfield Montgomery Mall is one of those stores opening on what's starting to be called Black Thursday.  Sears spokesman Brian Hanover spent much of Monday telling reporter after reporter that Sears customers will "drop their drumsticks and pick up doorbusters" this Thanksgiving night.

Is this new trend intruding on the most American of holidays, or is it the epitome of American free enterprise at work?  You decide!  Although I feel bad for the workers who have to miss Thanksgiving dinner, I have to admit that Black Thursday and Friday are pretty exciting.

But in Bethesda, the first Black Friday rule is to admit that, well, the most exciting Black Thursday/Friday action is taking place well north of our town.  Walmart at Milestone is probably ground zero, and the place to be to experience a real Black Thursday or Friday.  Last year, the parking lot was filled to the brim.  You had to drive around and around and around.

Target, Best Buy, Kmart... you know the drill.

All are out of our reach because the county has banned big box stores in Bethesda.  Even when Hechingers tried to open a sizable location at what is now the Kenwood Station shopping center years ago, the "powers that be" went ballistic.

So there, we've acknowledged that we don't have the best of Black Thursday in Bethesda.  But having said that, Sears will have a few deals that night right here at Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Opening at 8 PM on Thanksgiving, the Bethesda Sears will be offering a 32" HDTV for $97.  A ProScan DVD player for $9.99 (yes, that decimal point is in the right place).  2 carat diamond jewelry for $99.  And a 27 cubic foot Kenmore refrigerator for $1299.99.

Then, get some sleep, and come back at 4:00 AM.  They'll have a Craftsman 18 volt drill for 29.99, and a Kenmore Elite washer or steam dryer for $649.99 each.

Where are the iPads, and the killer flatscreens, and all that other stuff worth jumping up from the Thanksgiving dinner table for?

That's why I had to let you down easy.  You'll find plenty of deals and fun at Westfield Montgomery for Black Thursday and Friday.  They have different things and giveaways around the clock, if it's like last year.  But those super-duper, colossal doorbusters worth busting the doors for?  Plot a course for points north.  And rest assured, the wise politicians have put your best interests first by banning big boxes in Bethesda.  There are no politics involved in that decision whatsoever.

And if you believe that, I've got a bridge doorbuster to sell you.

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AT BETHESDA'S VETERANS PARK (PHOTOS)

Here are photos from yesterday's Veterans Day ceremony in Veterans Park in downtown Bethesda:

Wreaths laid at memorial to
Bethesda veterans KIA

Congressman Chris Van Hollen speaks

Councilmember Phil Andrews, Van Hollen

CHRISTMAS TREES ARRIVE AT BETHESDA ROW (PHOTOS)

TREE-TRIMMING

MARKS OFFICIAL

START OF THE

HOLIDAY SEASON

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

Last night, less than 48 hours before the first potential snow of the holidays, Santa's helpers were bustling all about Bethesda Row.  Large Christmas trees - including the main one on Bethesda Lane - were being erected and trimmed.

Cardboard boxes of trees, ornaments and "tree parts" were strewn about, turning Bethesda Lane into a giant living room.  It was your typical home Christmas decorating process x10.

Now that Halloween is passed, it won't be long before Thanksgiving, Black Friday and December.  With snow possibly on the way, and temperatures below freezing last night in Bethesda, it's beginning to look - and feel - a lot like Christmas at Bethesda Row.

NEW iPad AT BETHESDA ROW APPLE STORE (PHOTO)

While checking out the iPad Mini at the Bethesda Row Apple Store Friday, I also tested the new "regular" iPad.  It has a faster processor, a new port, and, of course, the Retina display.

ASSAULT REPORTED FROM WESTBARD CIRCLE IN BETHESDA SATURDAY

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

One day before a 21-year-old female jogger was sexually assaulted on the Capital Crescent Trail, an unspecified type of assault was reported to police a few blocks away.

Saturday's assault was reported from the 5300 block of Westbard Circle in Bethesda.  That is the Kenwood Place condominium complex off of Westbard Avenue.

The assault comes about a month after a pepper spray assault and robbery blocks away at Massachusetts Avenue and Baltimore Avenue.  There was also a recent robbery on Cammack Drive on October 6 [previously reported here], and a burglary in the 6000 block of Massachusetts Avenue on October 15.

An assault could simply be a domestic violence incident, or a fight between intoxicated individuals.  So Saturday's assault is not a cause for alarm, unless details emerge to suggest otherwise.  But given the serious nature of the nearby trail assault the following day, and the September pepper spray assault/robbery, any assaults reported in that area of Bethesda are worthy of attention.

In related news, Park Police are now conducting extra patrols along the CCT.  But the best advice at this time is to avoid using the CCT after dark.  Period.

BETHESDA ROW ARTS FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY 2012

Here are a few photos from the 2012 Bethesda Row Arts Festival, with more to come!

WMATA was brilliant to shut down Metro
during a major, annual event

Remember when we had
Ben & Jerry's in Bethesda?

My favorite artist at the
festival was R. Michael Wommack

He grew up in Levittown.  Timeless design
that defines the phrase, "American Dream."

I have a feeling David Brooks had
something to do with this

I've got the green light for a crab
cake sandwich

Jim.  Bob.  Jimi. ...Cutlery?
"That is now, man.  That is now!"