Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel ready for Christmas

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel at 1 Bethesda Metro Center is ready for Christmas. LED accent lighting on the facade has been set to red and green Christmas colors. Meanwhile, Morton's Steakhouse in the hotel will be open for dinner on Christmas Day. Hours on December 25 will be 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Starbucks adds Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles to menu in Bethesda

Check out what's new at Starbucks for the holiday season. Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles are starting to pop up on menus at Starbucks locations across Montgomery County in recent days. Three bite-size Belgian waffles are shaken in a Cinnamon Dolce Shake Shake Topping, and served warm and golden brown. The waffles are available all day long, not just for breakfast.

Dolcezza has new sign, new Holiday Menu at Bethesda Row

Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee has a new sign and a new Holiday Menu at its Bethesda Row location at 7111 Bethesda Lane. The new neon-look sign has been installed above the storefront. Inside, their largest Holiday Menu of gelato flavors and beverages is now available.

Holiday Gelato Flavors:

• Coffee & Xmas Cookies – Rich coffee gelato folded together with chocolate covered biscoff cookies and a touch of xmas sugar

• Hot Cocoa –  Holiday spiced milk chocolate gelato with fresh marshmallow and warming notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.

• Sugar Cookie Dough –Vanilla Bean Gelato, bits of dark chocolate chips and morsels of sugar cookie dough.

• King Leo Peppermint – Crushed pieces of King Leo peppermint candy folded into mint gelato and ladled with melted dark chocolate. 

Holiday Hot Drinks:

• Gingerbread Latte

• King Leo Peppermint Mocha 

• Coconut Spiced Coquito Latte – a nod to Puerto Rican coquito, the island’s festive twist on eggnog.

Coming soon to the Bethesda shop will be new soft-serve gelato and sundaes. These are available now at the local chain's H Street NE and Hirshhorn locations in downtown Washington, D.C.

Egyptian holiday pop-up shop at Serpentine Dance Studios in Bethesda

Holiday shopping season officially begins Friday, and is quickly followed by Small Business Saturday, when shoppers are encouraged to support local small businesses. One such business in downtown Bethesda is Serpentine Dance Studios at 4930 St. Elmo Avenue, which is hosting a holiday pop-up shop with handcrafted items from Egypt. Pieces include jewelry, ornaments, and stone carvings. 

Here's a chance to pick up a high-quality gift for the Egyptology buff or handicrafts collector on your shopping list, while supporting a local small business. Serpentine Dance Studios is open 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays, and closed on Fridays and Sundays.

Indoor Artisan Market this Sunday, November 16, in Chevy Chase

The highly anticipated Indoor Artisan Market 2025 is returning to The Woman's Club of Chevy Chase (WCCC) for a one-day only event. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and craftsmanship this Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Woman's Club of Chevy Chase at 7931 Connecticut Avenue. Forget the big box stores and shop local for the holidays in your own community. This year's market features over 45 talented local artists showcasing their incredible work. You'll find a wide array of unique treasures, including handmade crafts, stunning jewelry, and original artworks. 

With a range of prices, it's the perfect opportunity to find that special something—whether it's a treat for yourself, a thoughtful gift for a colleague, or a heartfelt present for a loved one. What better way start your holiday shopping than by supporting local artisans?

Admission to Sunday's event is free, and the parking is free, as well. Park in the lot behind the clubhouse, which can be accessed from Connecticut Avenue using Dunlop Street.

Your attendance does more than just support local artists. The market will also feature a raffle, with all proceeds benefiting two wonderful organizations: the Bare Necessities Foundation, and The Betty Ann Krahnke Center (JSSA). Enjoy a festive atmosphere, discover beautiful, one-of-a-kind items, and contribute to a great cause, all at the same time. Come celebrate local talent and find your next favorite piece at the Indoor Artisan Market 2025.

Montgomery Mall decorates for the holidays in Bethesda (Photos)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Holiday decor has been set up for the 2025 holiday shopping season. A few additions have been made since last year. The menorah lighting has been scheduled for December 15 at 4:00 PM, in the Nordstrom wing near Zara.

North Star setting up for 55th Christmas tree season in Chevy Chase

Elves have been spotted making preliminary preparations for the 55th year of North Star Christmas Trees in Chevy Chase. They'll be returning to their spot of recent years at 2550 East-West Highway Service Road at Grubb Road in Chevy Chase. You may recall them being on the "Green Mile" along Wisconsin Avenue in the past, but they've found this Chevy Chase location is the sweet spot to draw customers from both Bethesda and the greater downtown Silver Spring areas. North Star says it will be opening for business on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving this year - Thanksgiving Eve, you might say.

The company is also hiring staff. See the contact information in the photo above. These are tough times in Montgomery County, and across the nation. By the way, these are new photographs; North Star is still displaying their 50th Anniversary banner at the site.

See's Candies opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The holiday shopping season is in full swing at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. There's no better indication of that than the annual arrival of See's Candies. Look for their shop on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing of the mall, between Anya by Vivien and Everything But Water. There's a good reason See's Candies has been around for over 100 years.

Christmas tree & holiday lights lit at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The Christmas tree is lit on Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row. In addition, other holiday light installations around the Federal Realty property have also been activated. These include the stars hung from the canopy on the new plaza outside of Anthropologie & Co. There are also vertical strips and curtains of lights on the facades of the buildings along Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues. Let's take a look as we enter Day 4 of the 2025 holiday season!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bethesda Row (Photos)

The Christmas season was officially here, as of 12:00 AM this morning. Bethesda Row hasn't wasted a single minute. Elves from American Christmas of Mount Vernon, New York, have been busy working all day at the Bethesda development, and the main Christmas tree on Bethesda Lane has already been erected at this hour. Some decorations are new this year, such as the ornaments bouquet tacked up on the facade of Anthropologie & Co. And large stars, which are being hung from the new plaza canopy in front of that store, and hopefully light up.

See's Candies to return to Montgomery Mall for the holidays

If you needed another sign that the holidays are almost upon us, here it is. See's Candies is now confirmed to be returning to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda for the 2025 season. This year, it will be located on Level 1 in the Nordstrom wing of the mall, between Anya by Vivien and Everything But Water. See's Candies are super high quality, making them a gift you can give with confidence.

See's Candies closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

See's Candies has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Their space has been cleared out, although they left an odd artwork at the back of the store. Christmas is not officially over yet, as it ends on the Epiphany feast of January 6 or on Candlemas on February 2, depending on how you count it. But we can agree that the holiday gift-buying season is over, so seasonal tenant See's Candies departs for another year.

Avocet Tower lights up for Christmas in Bethesda (Photos)

Avocet Tower celebrated the nights of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a light display color-coordinated to the holiday. Accent lighting at the office tower was switched to red and green for the occasion. The building's neighbor across the street, Hyatt Regency Bethesda, had already made the holiday color change with its accent lighting. Avocet Tower is located at 7373 Wisconsin Avenue.

Bethesda restaurants open on Christmas 2024

Quite a few Bethesda restaurants will be open today, Christmas Day 2024. Make your reservations as soon as possible, as many are close to selling out. All are in Bethesda, except for those just over the line in Washington, D.C., or in "North Bethesda," as noted. 

Not celebrating Christmas? The oven exploded? Or maybe you just prefer Thai to turkey? Your favorite Chinese spot is probably going to be open even if it isn't listed here, but a variety of cuisines are available around town:

Benihana

City Lights of China

Claudio's Table (Palisades in Northwest D.C.)

Cooper's Mill (inside the Pooks Hill Marriott hotel)

Corella Cafe & Lounge

Delhi Spice

Fogo de Chao (Pike & Rose - North Bethesda)

Kadhai Indian Restaurant

Lao Sze Chuan (White Flint/"North Bethesda")

Lupo Verde Osteria Palisades (Palisades in NW D.C.)

Q by Peter Chang

Rosemary Bistro Cafe (Friendship Heights)

Sala Thai

Maryland to open new I-95 Express Toll Lanes ahead of holiday travel

The Maryland Transportation Authority announced that it will open a new stretch of Express Toll Lanes on northbound I-95 tomorrow, Wednesday, December 18, 2024. A variable toll charged to drivers who use the lanes will provide a way around traffic congestion, which is expected to be heavy around next week's Christmas and Chanukah holidays. The new Express Toll Lanes run for 6.5 miles along the northbound side of the interstate between White Marsh Boulevard (MD 43) and Mountain Road (MD 152).

Completed Express Toll Lanes all the way to MD 24 (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway), along with new ramps connecting I-695 to the northbound ETL, are expected to open to traffic by the end of 2027. The first section of ETL opened in 2014. MDTA recommends obtaining an E-ZPass, to save up to 77% over toll charges you might otherwise receive via Pay-by-Plate or video tolling.

“The northbound I-95 Express Toll Lanes extension project provides travelers with a more reliable travel experience while easing congestion on our highways,” MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said in a statement. “Through innovation and safety, this project represents our commitment to modernize Maryland’s infrastructure and enhance mobility options.”

Hyatt Regency Bethesda switches to Christmas mode

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel has gone into Christmas mode for the 2024 holiday season. LED accent lighting on the hotel facade has been switched to red and green Christmas colors. The lights were installed during a major renovation of the property in 2017, and can display a variety of colors and patterns. With the giant Christmas tree and ice skating rink at the Bethesda Metro Center now mere footnotes in Bethesda history, it's good that there is at least some sign of the holiday season for commuters and tourists using the Metro station.