Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Do you have items you no longer need? A number of holiday collections are underway and items can be easily donated at one location. Find out more!
Are you buying a new winter jacket? Do you have holiday lights that no longer work? Did your kids get duplicate toys this year? Did Santa bring you a new cell phone? If you have items you’d like to toss but aren’t sure what to do with them, a number of collections are taking place in Montgomery County and items can be dropped off right at the Salvation Army at 18705 North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, MD. You can also drop off items at Goodwill of Greater Washington at 619 South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg or 4816 Boiling Brook Parkway in Rockville. Have any unwrapped, unused toys? They can be donated to Toys for Tots in 2013. If you have coats you no longer need, donations are being collected through many local churches. Cell …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How many of these Christmas gift mistakes did you make this year?
Christmas is my favorite holiday of all the holidays. I love the lights and the family time and the cookies. I love getting cards with photos of happy families and I love decorating Christmas trees by reliving the history behind each ornament. If I'm being honest here, I have to admit that I love the presents too. It used to be that I loved getting presents—and don't get me wrong, I still enjoy unwrapping thoughtful gifts—but now that I'm a parent, most of my excitement about presents involves sitting back and watching my kids' joy on Christmas morning. I've worked hard to teach my kids about gratitude and looking at gifts as an expression of love from the giver. I've also worked to help my kids understand how to give gifts themselves by …
Some businesses will open for limited hours on the holiday.
There are all kinds of reasons a person might be trolling the neighborhood looking for open businesses on Christmas Day—an extra bag of ice, the one Christmas card you forgot or maybe your holiday tradition involves dining out on the holiday. In any event, no need to wander aimlessly, here's a list of what's open in Silver Spring on Christmas: Grocery stores: Giant grocery stores, locations include East-West Highway, Arliss Street, White Oak, Colesville and Burtonsville—8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Safeway grocery stores, locations include Thayer Avenue, University Boulevard West, Hillandale, Cloverly, Briggs Chaney—most will open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individual store hours may vary, check your local store’s hours here. Restaurants: Asian Bistro—12 …
Whether you're celebrating the holiday, out grabbing Chinese or enjoying a day off, we wish you well.
What a year we've had, huh, Silver Spring? With 359 days of 2012 behind us, Silver Spring Patch and Colesville Patch want to extend a big thank you to you, both faithful and occasional readers. Also, we're hoping you're enjoying your day—opening presents, volunteering in the community, eating Chinese food or just relaxing on this freebie day off. Whatever the case, we wish you all the best.
Try one of these places for an international holiday meal.
For those who do not celebrate Christmas, don’t feel like cooking or simply want to start a new tradition, Patch has put together this handy guide to Chinese restaurants in the area that are open on Christmas Day. Silver Spring Spring Garden – 11:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Asian Bistro - 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Pho Hiep Hoa - 10:30 a.m. - 10 pm. Wheaton Full Kee - 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Rockville Tony Lin’s – 11:00a.m. – 11:00 p.m. College Park Seven Seas - 11:00a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Greenbelt Royal Jade - 11:00a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Hyattsville China Palace - 11:00a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Riverdale Park Asian Restaurant – 11:00a.m.-11:00p.m. Know of others? Add them in the comments.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Your guide to movies premiering between now and New Year’s Day.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Ben Gross
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
With many offices closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day and the kids out of school, going to the movies tends to be one of the more popular holiday-season events, and Hollywood is unleashing some serious star power to end 2012 and welcome 2013. Patch has put together this handy guide to all of the great year-end movie releases: Friday, December 21, 2012 Movie: The Impossible Stars: Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor What it’s about: The main stars play a couple vacationing in Thailand with their three sons who get caught in the 2004 tsunami. Rating: PG-13 -- Movie: Jack Reacher Stars: Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall What it’s about: Cruise plays the role of Jack Reacher (the hero of many Lee Child books) as a former military investigator …
Your guide to stores open late on Christmas Eve.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Ben Gross
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
Did you forget to buy a bauble for Aunt Barbara? Leave Cousin Larry off the gift list? Neglect to be nice to your neighbor? Never fear, Patch is here with your guide to which stores are open nearby to grab that last-minute gift. Malls Westfield Montgomery - Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Westfield Wheaton - Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Mall at Prince George’s - Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Mall in Columbia - Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Lakeforest Mall - Christmas Eve: 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Best Buy Christmas Eve: 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Christmas Day: closed Kohl’s Most stores are open on Christmas Eve: 6:…
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Five quick tips for keeping toys safe for kids.
As the countdown to Christmas Day continues and parents rush out to get their children gifts this season, safety tops the list for one expert. Local Voice’s blogger Anna Schmitt from the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises parents to keep in mind their kids' eye safety. Schmitt says toys such as airsoft guns, bb guns and paintball guns can be particularly hazardous. Read more: Keep Eye Safety in Mind When Choosing Gifts this Holiday Season. Join Patch’s Local Voices! We want to provide a platform for your message. Email Tamika Smith, the Community Manager for Montgomery County, at Tamika@Patch.com to sign up.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.
Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend. Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. To submit an event in the Patch events calendar, click on “Events” at the top of the page and then click on the green "Add an event" button on the right side of the page. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra Sweeney Todd at The Highwood Theatre Waverly Street Gallery Holiday Exhibition of 24 Gallery Artists Cresthaven Craft Fair Holly Trolleyfest Nutcracker Olney Ballet Theater A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas Miracle on 34th Street Festival of Lights Garden of …
While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.
Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…
Jean Winegardner
9:51 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
VERY clever. The problem is when Santa brings one of their friends an iPhone. Then you'll have to tell them that Santa must love those other kids more. :) more ›