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.

Winter Wonderland today in downtown Bethesda

The annual Winter Wonderland event will be held today, Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, along Norfolk and Cordell Avenues in downtown Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Bethesda Urban Partnership's event will include a live ice sculpting demonstration from 12:30 to 2:00, a visit from Santa Claus, a concert by local school students, face painting, arts and crafts activities, and an URBN Market holiday market. 

Entry to the event is free. Attendees are asked to bring a donation of a new toy for distribution by Toys for Tots. Watch out for street parking restrictions.

Grinch Experience Holiday Pop-Up Bar in Bethesda (Photos)

Are you ready for the Grinch Experience? No, it's not a meeting of the Montgomery County Council, but a pop-up bar inside Fialova, the restaurant at The Bethesdan Hotel at 8120 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. "You Sleigh Me: A Grinch Experience" will be open through December 31, 2024. A selection of Grinch-themed cocktails and adult hot chocolates are served amongst decor that would make even the Grinch feel at home. Admission is free; the food and drinks are not.

Cereal Milk Punch

Grinch Who Floo Fluff

Black Friday 2024 at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

The biggest shopping day of the year at Westfield Montgomery Mall is tomorrow, November 29, 2024. Black Friday hours at the mall this year will be 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. In contrast to past years, the Black Friday deals are not listed on the mall's website. Westfield advises you to instead download their app from the Google Play or Apple store, which it says will display the deals available Friday. 

Santa's Workshop now open at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Santa's Workshop has been transported south to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and you are invited to enter through Christmas Eve, December 24. Inside, children are invited to write letters to Santa, enjoy Mrs. Claus’ weekly story time, and create gingerbread crafts in Comet’s Craft Room. LEGO mini-build classes will be held, and a gift-wrapping station will be manned by the Girl Scouts, Hope Connections and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Look for Santa's Workshop on Level 1 of the mall, near J.Crew.

See's Candies opens for the holidays at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

See's Candies has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, and you know what means: the holidays are just around the corner. The candy brand is an annual fixture in malls across the country, with its seasonal pop-up gift shop. My recent experience in trying their candy is that they have not only maintained the quality they are known for, but may have even improved upon it. Sample a Whitman's Sampler assortment after a See's Candies box, and you'll see what I mean. Good God, Whitman's has gone downhill in recent times.

Like many great things in America, See's Candies comes from California. The company was founded in Los Angeles in 1921, and many of their candies still use Mary See's original recipes. They've found maybe their best spot in the mall yet this year, right next to GameStop on Level 1 in the Old Navy/The Cheesecake Factory wing of the mall. Talk about one-stop shopping! Fill the kids' wish list at GameStop, and then go right next door to load up on See's gift boxes for the adults and whole family.

Calendar kiosk opens at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

It's almost that time of year again: Time to replace your wall calendar. The seasonal calendar kiosk at Westfield Montgomery Mall is just what the doctor ordered. Popular calendar subjects this year include perennial favorites like Taylor Swift and Star Wars, as well as timely presidential candidates President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris. Not to be outdone are the retro Muhammad Ali, Rocky, and Rainbow Brite selections. I've already got my 2025 calendar; find yours at the calendar kiosk on Level 1 of the mall, by Forever 21.

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

Bethesda Row lived out the October 31/November 1 holiday transition meme in real time Friday, as the giant Christmas tree and holiday lights were quickly installed around the property. More decorations are forthcoming, but by nightfall, hundreds - if not thousands - of bulbs were already lit. They included some new ones for 2024, including those on the plaza canopy. Earlier in the day, elves were caught in action on Bethesda Lane, as you will see in the photos below.

See's Candies closes at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Nothing says Christmas is over like the departure of See's Candies at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. In recent years, they haven't lingered for long, clearing out right after Christmas. See's still hasn't subscribed to the idea that Christmas officially ends on January 6. That hasn't stopped them from prospering - their profits increased by $10 million over 2021 by the end of the 2022 holiday season.

Merry Christmas from Avocet Tower in Bethesda (Photos)

The exterior LED lights may have gone dark at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, but across the street the Avocet Tower office building was all lit up for Christmas Eve. Accent lights along the facade and rooftop were lit in green and red Christmas colors as the calendar changed to December 25 this morning.

Grinch Experience Holiday Pop-Up bar at Bethesdan Hotel through Dec. 31

Finally, something new and different is happening for the holidays in downtown Bethesda. The Bethesdan Hotel at 8120 Wisconsin Avenue is hosting "You Sleigh Me: A Grinch Experience Holiday Pop-Up Bar" through December 31, 2023. The exterior of the hotel is glowing a shade of Grinch green. Inside, you will find a special selection of Grinch-themed holiday adult beverages. They range from egg nog and other cold refreshments to hot toddies of several flavors, and the option to build-your-own steaming hot drinks. The pop-up bar is inside the hotel's Fialova restaurant, and spots can be reserved online.