ROCKVILLE RESTAURANTS OPEN THANKSGIVING 2013

Here is a short list of restaurants in or near Rockville that will be serving dinner on Thanksgiving Day this year:

CHEF GEOFF'S (Rockville Pike)

HOOTERS (Open 4 PM to 10 PM Thanksgiving, 1584 Rockville Pike)

IHOP (Rockville Pike)

MERITAGE (White Flint at Marriott conference center hotel)

SEASONS 52 (White Flint)

CLYDE'S TOWER OAKS LODGE (Rockville)

BUCA Di BEPPO (Gaithersburg/Kentlands)

ROCKVILLE POLITICAL CARTOON

In the best traditions of political cartooning, William Charles is putting pen - and Rockville politics - to paper. And via Rockville Nights, to the internet:

(Click cartoon to enlarge for more detail)

PIKE AND ROSE SITE PLAN AMENDMENT GOES TO MOCO PLANNING BOARD DECEMBER 5 (PHOTO)

A site plan amendment for the Pike & Rose development, on the former Mid-Pike Plaza property along Rockville Pike in White Flint, will be taken up by the Montgomery County Planning Board on December 5.

The amendment would allow changes to be made to, and around, an existing retail building currently leased by Bank of America and Starbucks. That building is located at the southeast corner of the Pike and Rose development, where Old Georgetown Road meets Rockville Pike, and is referred to as "Building 13."

Changes described in the amendment include new building facades, a 1000 square foot expansion of retail space, a new pedestrian connection to Rockville Pike, and screening of existing trash receptacles and an electric transformer.

On the Pike side of the structure, the amendment would allow for outdoor cafe seating with overhead catenary lights, landscaping and a fountain.

Planning department staff have recommended approval of the site plan amendment.

Map via Montgomery County Planning Department:

BLACK FRIDAY 2013 AT WESTFIELD MONTGOMERY MALL - SCHEDULE/OPENING TIMES - STORES OPENING THANKSGIVING

Black Friday will begin on Thanksgiving at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Many stores will open "after dinner" on Thursday, November 28.

Old Navy will actually open Thursday morning, but then close at 4:00 PM. Then it will re-open at 7:00 PM.

Other stores will follow throughout Thanksgiving night:

8:00pm
Macy's
Sears
American Eagle
Brookstone
Forever 21
Dippin Dots
Tea Neck
Gap
Abercrombie & Fitch
Hollister Co.
Arden B
Pac Sun
Piercing Pagoda
Walking Company

9:00pm
Starbucks

10:00pm
Aeropostale

10:30pm
Caribou Coffee

11:00pm
Aldo
Aroma
Jamba Juice

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATION COMING TO WOODLEY GARDENS SHOPPING CENTER IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

An electric car charging station is coming soon at the Woodley Gardens shopping center in Rockville. In addition to serving any nearby residents with electric cars (I saw a Chevrolet Volt parked in the area), it could also be a charging point for drivers between Bethesda and Frederick, as the shopping center is off of exit 6A on I-270.

FORMER ROCKVILLE COUNCILMAN SEEKS CHANGES TO CITY ELECTIONS

Jim Marrinan, a former Rockville city councilmember, expressed concerns about recent and future city elections at last night's Mayor and Council meeting. Speaking during Citizens Forum, Marrinan submitted a written outline of issues he believed the city's election board should review.

Marrinan said the under-17% turnout in the 2013 city elections was unacceptable. He suggested early voting be adopted. The election night delay in the counting of votes was also troubling, and should never happen again, he said.

He also criticized the involvement of partisan elected officials in this month's non-partisan city election. Marrinan did not name any specific individuals, but has been critical of partisan politics entering municipal elections in the past. When former councilmember Bob Dorsey challenged Montgomery County Councilmember Phil Andrews in a Democratic primary for the District 3 county council seat - while still holding a city council seat- Marrinan warned of fallout at the city level. A city official could become less effective, with constituents saying, "I didn't like what that councilman said when he ran in that partisan race," Marrinan argued at the time.

He also suggested that the use of Ritchie Park Elementary School as a polling place while school is in session is a danger to students there, presumably referring to cars coming and going during arrival and dismissal times.

Marrinan endorsed the Team Rockville slate in the 2013 city elections.

SMART TOYS RETURNS TO MONTGOMERY MALL (PHOTO)

The Halloween Adventure pop-up store is now reverting back to Smart Toys at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.

Smart Toys emphasizes toys with a science or learning element, such as a build-it-yourself robot.