Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? AFI Silver Theater says yes

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? AFI Silver Theater's answer to that controversial question is definitively, "yes." The downtown Silver Spring movie theater is including the Bruce Willis action flick in its marathon of Christmas movies this week. Die Hard will be screened tonight, Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:40 PM, and Wednesday night, December 24, at 9:15 PM. The original Die Hard movie poster is on display at the historic theater, which is located at 8633 Colesville Road.

Die Hard, like Batman Returns, is a great film but doesn't meet my definition of a Christmas movie. But one that does, It's a Wonderful Life, the best Christmas movie ever, is playing all three days before Christmas at the theater, 1:30 PM today, 2:00 PM Tuesday, and 2:00 PM Wednesday. Other Christmas movies on the bill include Edward Scissorhands, Home Alone, Elf, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Christmas in Connecticut. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Popeyes posts holiday hours in downtown Silver Spring

Popeyes at 8401 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has posted its holiday hours schedule. The restaurant will be open from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Christmas Eve. It will be closed all day on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, it will be open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Regular business hours will be observed on New Year's Eve. Hours on New Year's Day will be 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The lobby will close two hours before closing time on each of these days.

Ellsworth Place has Christmas decor cornered in downtown Silver Spring

The shocking lack of Christmas trees and decor at Downtown Silver Spring, and around downtown Silver Spring in general, has stunned many shoppers and residents. One tiny oasis has been located in the downtown area, inside Ellsworth Place mall. Tucked away in a semi-shadowy corner of the mall are a nicely-decorated Christmas tree, a life-size Santa Claus figure, and five wrapped gifts. Did the Montgomery County Council quietly pass a ban on holiday decorations in downtown Silver Spring? If so, kudos to Ellsworth Place for defying it.

Starbucks adds Cinnamon-Shaken Waffles to menu

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.

Downtown Silver Spring skipping Christmas this year (Photos)

Where are you, Christmas? Downtown Silver Spring has experimented with some non-traditional spins on holiday decorations in recent years. But it appears Ebenezer Scrooge was hired as the decor consultant for 2025. As of this evening, the Peterson Cos. retail property at 916 Ellsworth Drive is devoid of Christmas trees and decor, as well as any overt holiday-themed lighting. It's up to individual tenants to supply the Christmas cheer this year.

Kensington Holiday Market 2025 today and Sunday

Thanksgiving weekend isn't over yet! Before tearing into those Thanksgiving dinner leftovers, get some more holiday shopping out of the way at the 2025 Kensington Holiday Market today, November 29, and tomorrow, November 30, at 10241/10305 Kensington Parkway in Kensington. This outdoor market runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days. Handmade gifts from local artisans and holiday treats will abound. There will be live music for entertainment, and hot beverages to keep the cold at bay (I was just thinking of a flaming rum punch!). The market is sponsored by BabyCat Brewery and Olive & Loom.

What's open on Thanksgiving at Westfield Wheaton Plaza mall?

Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall is almost entirely closed today for Thanksgiving Day 2025. However, a few businesses will be operating at the mall today. AMC Theatres will be open for all showtimes listed on its website. CVS Pharmacy will be open until 2:00 PM. And Jollibee will be open until 6:00 PM. The entire mall will reopen for business tomorrow on Black Friday at 8:00 AM, with select stores opening earlier.

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.”

Gingerbread house at Downtown Silver Spring

A life-size gingerbread house has appeared at Downtown Silver Spring for the holidays. "Snow Be It" is the theme for the elevator tower house at the Peterson Cos. development. Pose in front of it and tag @dtsilverspring on Instagram, and you might be featured on their social media accounts. It's not a duplex or quadplex, so don't tell the Montgomery County Council!

Holiday "Flash Lights" decorated buses to return on US 29 in December

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation announced that "Flash Lights" buses decorated for the holidays will return on the Colesville Road/U.S. 29 Ride On Flash bus rapid transit line in December. With neon bright lights and decorations, the buses will be hard to miss, particularly after dark. MCDOT encourages the public to post pictures of the Flash Lights buses on their X, Facebook or Instagram accounts, and tag @MCDOTNow for a chance to win a $25 gift card. One winner will be randomly selected from all participants in a weekly drawing. The contest begins on Monday, December 3, 2024. Details will be posted on RidetheFlash.com.

Downtown Silver Spring's gift of holiday decor for 2023 (Photos)

Peterson Cos.' Downtown Silver Spring development is once again decorated for the holiday shopping season. 2023 finds the centerpiece of the seasonal decor to be a massive gift box, rather than the traditional Christmas tree. The tall box sculpture features a wavy frame exterior that allows one to see the interior, which is mostly empty except for colored lights at the bottom. A separate sculpture centers on a golden cylinder that appears to be bursting open, unleashing a torrent of gift boxes and Christmas ornaments toward the sky and ground simultaneously. 

There's more than decor for the holidays at the popular retail center. Save the date for Downtown Silver Spring's Holiday Artisan Market on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Artisans and their wares, curated for DTSS by Urban Village Markets, will join live musicians for six hours of holiday shopping fun.

North Star Christmas Trees gets set for 53rd Christmas season outside downtown Silver Spring

After Thanksgiving dinner, shopping for the Christmas tree is among the Black Friday weekend activities for many. North Star Christmas Trees has been a popular choice for over half a century; this will be North Star's 53rd year in the business. 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 will open the day after Thanksgiving. Hours will be Monday-Friday 12:00pm - 9:30pm; Saturday/Sunday 10:00am-9:30pm; and Christmas Eve 10:00am-3:00pm. 

Wheaton Plaza packed for Black Friday

Holiday shoppers turned out in force for Black Friday at Westfield's Wheaton Plaza mall. The parking lot and garages were filled to pre-pandemic levels the day after Thanksgiving. Santa Claus will continue to be in the Level 1 Macy's court through Christmas Eve, and you can RSVP online to schedule your visit. On December 11, there will be a live performance of Frozen I & II: The Musical in the same area. Due to pandemic crowding restrictions, space will be limited for the two performances, and an RSVP is necessary.

On year's biggest travel day, Downtown Silver Spring holiday decor celebrates holiday journeys home

Americans are hitting the roads, airports and train stations on the biggest travel day of the year today. The holiday decorations at Downtown Silver Spring are very timely in that respect. For its tenth annual holiday display, the Peterson Cos. property has chosen the theme of "traveling home for the holidays."

The Gifting Tower display features a bounty of giant, wrapped gifts atop an iconic Volkswagen bus camper van. Its psychedelic 1960s exterior paint is capped off with a wreath. The bus even has operating lights on the front, along with smaller Christmas light bulbs strung across. Don't try to hit the road with that license plate, though!

Guests can photograph themselves in the front seats of the bus. Post your best shot on social media and tag @DTSilverSpring, and you could win a $100 holiday gift card from Downtown Silver Spring. Nice!

Wheaton Town Plaza decorated for holidays

The new Marian Fryer Town Plaza near the Wheaton Metro station has been decorated for the holiday season. Taking the stage at the plaza are reindeer, a snowflake, giant Christmas tree ornaments, and a well-lighted Christmas tree.

Photo via Montgomery County Government

Downtown Silver Spring Christmas tree and lights (Video+Photos)

The Christmas tree is up at Downtown Silver Spring, and it may be the best one yet. This year, the theme is, "Sparkling Snowfall," a return to a seasonal theme in contrast to past diversions like bicycles. See this and more holiday decorations in the video and photos below:

Christmas banners installed in downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

Santa's elves were hard at work getting downtown Silver Spring ready for the holiday season last night. Workers on Colesville Road removed summer banners with flags and fireworks, and replaced them with Christmas ones like the wreath banner shown below. These intrepid elves went about their work high in the air, even as blustery winds and frigid temperatures buffeted the downtown.

Christmas at Downtown Silver Spring (Video+Photos)

Here's a look at the Christmas tree and decorations at Downtown Silver Spring. The tree this year is the "Colorbound Tree." Several local artists collaborated on the design, which combines animated light and a bursting treetop star while attempting to evoke a tall evergreen in the forest.