BETHESDA ROW HOLIDAY MARKET (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

Stop by Bethesda Lane this Sunday, December 7, noon to 6:00 PM, for the Bethesda Row Holiday Market. Several of your favorite retailers and restaurants from around the Row will be set up under tents, and there will be food, crafts, a photo booth and Christmas music.

Video of ice sculptor
at work Friday night

Today's scheduled market has been cancelled due to weather, but last night's market went on as scheduled. NBC Washington was holding its holiday party at the same time at Redwood on Bethesda Lane. Here are some photos from last night's market:

Carolers on the Lane
(and out of the rain)

NBC Washington being really
low-key about the office
Christmas party

Tents were a must
on a rainy evening

What can one do to
make the cold, damp
evening more hospitable?

How about a free sample of
Lebanese Taverna's piping
hot lentil soup?

Natty Beau is the manly
version of The Pink Palm

He'd be right at home in
the neighborhoods of
Bethesda

Good night from Bethesda Row

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.