A week and a day and it's come down to this….

> ….and I’m not eating it. Well, maybe the pie. Later.

Good riddance leftovers, most of us feel, when it has finally come down to the last crumbs of stuffing and a glob of cranberry sauce (whole berry, of course). Kind of sad, though, isn’t it? An empty fridge after having all that good stuff you get only once a year jam-packed into it just a few days ago.

Make anything special this year? I did, the sweet potato creme brulee I first attempted a few years ago. I swore it off, but brought it back by popular demand this year. I might have seen Emeril make it - Oh Yeah, Babe! My copy of the recipe is off the internet, but it can’t be his, no pork fat. No worry, a cup of sugar, eight egg yolks and a quart of heavy cream ought to register high enough on the artery-clogger scale.

It is a pain to make. Separating egg yolks is just the beginning. You have to bake it in a fancy flan dish, and put the dish in a hot water bath. Placing a big pan of boiling water into an electric oven just seems so wrong. And of course, it isn’t done in the hour or so as they say. So another 45 minutes was risky. Then it has to chill overnight. But it was worth it.

Serve it warm, covered with a glaze of melted brown sugar - the recipe says run it under the broiler a minute, and the microwave works fine. But a torch would be much more festive! And that way, you still have a chance to burn down the house, even though the family vetoed your idea to deep-fry the turkey.

So, gentle readers, have any thoughts on good holiday eats to share? We have been wondering what will sustain RC after the elections. Maybe food? I heard Emeril was cancelled. Maybe he would sign on with us!

But finally, please help me solve this mystery. What’s up with the those Ocean Spray people, putting the cranberries into the cans upside down this year? Inquiring minds want to know……

The Nutcracker Ballet Spreads Joy On Stage and Off

> Three girls from Julius West Middle School are sharing the role of Clara in the upcoming performances of the Nutcracker by the Rockville Civic Ballet . Each girl will dance two shows. I had to opportunity to speak with one of them, Paige Washington. She’s been dancing for six years under the instruction of Claudia Mangan. In fact, all these girls have been taking classes together since they were little kids through the City of Rockville Recreation Program.

I’ve praised our Parks and Recreation Department before, but it is truly amazing that you can have such quality instruction at an affordable price through the City. Paige said, “What I like the most about dancing is the rush of being on stage.” These kids get to live their dream and it all starts in that little Rockcrest recreation center off Broadwood Drive.

Paige’s favorite part of the production is “the party scene in the beginning because everybody has a little acting part.” She thinks that the props are awesome and marveled that “in the snow scene it actually snows!”

I’ve personally enjoyed the Rockville Civic Ballet. You can tell that from the youngest child all the way up through the adults that they truly love to dance. The Nutcracker is a tradition in Rockville and a great way to start your holiday season. It gets you in a festive mood.

So make the time to be magically carried away by Peter Llyich Tchaikovsky’s fairy-tale ballet under the direction of Claudia Mangan. We are lucky to have one of the Washington area’s best community-based ballet troupes at our very own F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.

POTD: Big Red Ball

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This is probably the last “foliage” POTD of the year. This was on Mannakee. So red!

Weekend to Weekend 11/29/07

>Events in Rockville

Thursday, November 29

Fundraising 101, Rockville Library, 1 PM – 4 PM. Free training for Montgomery County nonprofits! $49/others. The Center for Nonprofit Advancement will explain about fundraising for nonprofits including planning, researching sources, and finding a varied funding base. Register here.

Child Health and Nutrition – Preventing Childhood Obesity, Beall Elementary School, 7PM-8:30PM. Sponsored by the Counselors from Beall, College Gardens, Ritchie Park, & Twinbrook Elementary Schools. Childcare for children age 4 and older. Light refreshments.

Celeste Starchild – duo, Austin Grill – Rockville, 9:30 PM. Promises to be a dedicated effort. Great voice. Everyone will love her.

Saturday, December 1

Holiday Bazaar, Rockville Senior Center, 9 AM – 2 PM. Find something unique and special at this annual fundraiser. Handmade crafts, thrifty items, plants, books, computers, and home-baked goods. Raffle for cash, a quilt, or gift certificates. All to benefit the Senior Center.

Family Storytime, Twinbrook Library, 11 AM. All ages welcome to this family storytime for young children.

The Nutcracker, Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM & 7:30 PM. $12/adult, $8 children 12 & under and senior citizens (60+) online through Theatre link -or- in person at the Theatre (Tuesday through Saturday 2 PM – 7 PM.) Be magically transported into a festive mood!

JP McDermott and the Western Bop, Austin Grill – Rockville, 10 PM. You want some high-energy vintage, honky tonk, and country vocalist of the year? Then come on down to the Western Bop!

Sunday, December 2

Art Gallery Opening Reception and “Making Spirits Bright” holiday decorations, Glenview Mansion, 1 PM – 4 PM. Free. This month it’s time for the Rockille Art League Juried Members’ Winter Show with holiday musical performances:
1:15 Watkins Mill High School Chorale
2:15 Rockville Singers
3:15 Heart of Maryland Chorus

Ongoing: Over 30 rooms in the Glenview Mansion are now decked out for the holidays. If you want to get in the holiday spirit, go see the trees decorated by about 14 community groups. I visit each year and also take visiting family and friends, so sometimes I go more than once! The Mansion is open 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Check to make sure it is open for public viewing: 240-314-8660 or www.rockvillemd.gov/glenview

The Georgetown Quintet, VisArts, Event Room on 2nd floor, 2 PM. $ They will play “An Afternoon of Playful Music” including Bizet’s “Children’s Games” for all ages.

The Nutcracker, Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $12/adult, $8 children 12 & under and senior citizens (60+). Get tickets online through Theatre link -or- in person at the Theatre (Tuesday through Saturday 2 PM – 7 PM.) Be magically transported into a festive mood!

Tuesday, December 4

Ongoing: Starts on this date through Jan. 6th: Christmas in Minature – Special Holiday Tours of the Beall-Dawson House, Montgomery County Historical Society, 12 PM – 4 PM. Closed Mondays and holidays. $3/Adults, $2 kids/seniors. Holiday tours include cider and cookies. This year the decorations are particularly special, including trains, villages and traditional scenes.

Rockville Pike: Envision a Great Place, Ramada Inn Rockville and Meeting Center, Salon 1 & !!/Meeting Room, 7 PM – 9 PM. This is the kick-off meeting for an 18-month process that will look at the 1.5-mile stretch of Rockville Pike between Twinbrook Parkway and Richard Montgomery Drive. It is open to everyone, whether to live, work, shop or travel in Rockville.

Wednesday, December 5

Flute Sweets – Treasure of Light, Rockville Library, Juvenile Programming Room, 7 PM. Magical stories about the winter holidays told with music. For ages 5 and up.

Thursday, December 6

Billy Coulter Trio, Austin Grill – Rockville, 9:15 PM. He’s been around and back again with his rock mixed with pop sound.

Friday, December 7

Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane, Richard Montgomery High School, 6 PM - 10 PM. $ Take a tour of the old school, RMHS highlight media presentation, silent auction, sock hop, and alumni concert - all on one night!

Saturday, December 8

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, Kiwanis Club of Rockville, Montgomery College Rockville Campus Cafeteria, North Campus Drive, 7 AM – 12 PM. Tickets $7 at the door. Children under 5 free. Not just breakfast, but also pictures with Santa, choral entertainment, contests, drawings, and a bake sale. Kiwanis International is a global organization dedicated to changing the world one child at a time. All proceeds will benefit projects supporting children.

The Nutcracker, Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM & 7:30 PM. $12/adult, $8 children 12 & under and senior citizens (60+). Get tickets online through Theatre link -or- in person at the Theatre (Tuesday through Saturday 2 PM – 7 PM.) Be magically transported into a festive mood!

Sunday, December 9

“Making Spirits Bright” Open House, Glenview Mansion, 1 PM – 4 PM. Free. Nearly 30 rooms and hallways in the Mansion are decked out for the holidays. If you want to get in the spirit, join almost 3,000 other people who will visit the Mansion to see the trees decorated by about 14 community groups.
1:15 PM The Groove Merchants
3:15 PM David La Fleur

Minature Workshop: Holiday in a Box, Montgomery County Historical Society, 1 PM – 4 PM. $10/members, $13/nonmembers. Pre-paid reservations required. In keeping with their holiday decorating theme, everything you need will be provided in a box. 301-340-2825 [email protected]

The Nutcracker, Rockville Civic Ballet, F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 2 PM. $12/adult, $8 children 12 & under and senior citizens (60+). Get tickets online through Theatre link -or- in person at the Theatre (Tuesday through Saturday 2 PM – 7 PM.) Be magically transported into a festive mood!

Email [email protected] if you have a fun, educational or community event to be included in Weekend to Weekend. Include links!

We will publish event listings occurring in & around our coverage area (map) on Thursdays. The inclusion of events is at our discretion.

POTD: Glenview Mansion

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A pretty picture of Glenview Mansion, if I do say so myself.

Tips From Rockville Police: Going Away On Vacation

> The Rockville Police have a number of helpful tips for ordinary citizens in various situations. It’s the kind of thing you might not run across in your normal Web-surfing life. As a community service, Rockville Central will occasionally highlight Tips From Rockville Police.

It’s holiday season, which means it’s vacation time for many readers. Here is what the Rockville Police Department has to say about securing your home when you leave for a trip:

Thieves look for what police term “targets of opportunity.” There are many things you can do to avoid becoming one of the victims, especially when you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time.

• If you plan to be gone for a long period of time, have someone pick up your mail and newspaper, or have them stopped until you return.
• Double check second floor, garage and basement windows-areas that are often forgotten.
• Leave a car in the driveway. Have outside lights turned on and off with a timer.
• Arrange to have the yard cut and bushes trimmed.
• Have several timers attached to lights in various locations throughout the house.
• Ask neighbors to check your house regularly. Leave a number with them where you can be located. Ask them to use your garbage cans.
• Don’t tell everyone about your vacation plans.
• Don’t leave notes on your door for deliveries, friends, etc..
• If you return home and find a break-in, do not enter the house. Call police at once using a neighbor’s phone.
• Make an inventory of your property. Mark your valuables with an engraver. Use your driver’s license number (and State) as identification on your property.
• Make sure your doors and windows are locked with the deadbolt lock and auxiliary locks.

For more information about crime prevention call the Rockville City Police Department Community Services Officer 240-314-8922.

POTD: Asphalt Leaf

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This leaf seemed so lonely….

What's Still to Open in Rockville Town Center?

>[Editor's Note: This listing continues to be updated as stores open and CLOSE. Last Updated 3/10/09]

While shopping in Ten Thousand Villages for a housewarming gift today, I met the manager of the Stonefish Grill. His restaurant opened last weekend. There’s still lots of construction in Rockville Town Center (map) so I wondered how many more businesses were going to open. Unfortunately, when I checked the City of Rockville website, the retail information had not been updated since 8/1/07.

Just in time for your holiday shopping and celebrating, I’ve updated the information from the City’s website for you. (Those in italics are not open yet.)

Also, here’s a special offer to keep in mind this week. The Stonefish Grill is offering 99₵ draft beer all day on Thursday 11/29, Friday 11/30, and Saturday 12/1. There will be a complimentary Grand Open Sampler with any entrée. The menu has seafood, salad, meat and pasta choices, which all sound delicious. Po’ Boys are listed for lunch. If the rest of the staff at Stonefish Grill is as nice and friendly as the manager, it will be a great place to eat!

Retail:

Bedheaders Home: Boutique offers “life-enhancing products” including dishware, glassware, bed linens, leather goods, occasional furniture and fine stationery.

Cloud 9 Clothing: Clothing store that carries great denim as well as handbags and accessories.
Cottage Monet: Offers Vera Bradley handbags, belts, and umbrellas; Italian Vietri ceramics;
Thymes lotions and Zutano’s children’s clothing.

CVS Pharmacy: Offers healthcare products and pharmaceutical needs.

Love Your Eyes: Upscale optical boutique.

The Papery: Specializes in boutique stationery from designers in the United States and Europe.

Pomegranate & Co.: A home furnishings and design store.

Red Orchard: Seller of artisan-crafted jewelry, bags, belts and accessories.

Superfresh: Grocery store is not yet open.

Ten Thousand Villages: A company dealing with more than 100 artisan groups in more than 30 countries and offering fair trade jewelry, home décor, gifts and more.

Town Square Jewelers: Offers repair and engraving services, as well as the sale of fine jewelry and watches.

Toy Kingdom: Offers unique toys for boys and girls.

The Waygoose: This former Town Center tradition is returning to Rockville. A unique craft gallery and gift store with a wide variety of handcrafted items from jewelry, pottery, glass and wood.

VisArts: Arts Center, galleries, artists’ studios, classes, wedding receptions, conferences, scouting requirements, and much, much more.

Authorized Cingular Wireless dealer with 11 locations in the Washington metro area.

Service:

Aquanails: Nail salon offering services including manicures, pedicures, acrylic sets, waxing and more.

Chevy Chase Bank: Offers financial products and services.

Gold’s Gym: The largest co-ed gym chain in the world. Offers the latest equipment and services.

Hair Cuttery: A unisex salon whose services include haircuts and color to facial waxing and texturizing services.

Hollywood Tans: Offers both traditional-style tanning booths and UV-free tanning.

HSBC Bank

Jouvence Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa: Offering complete relaxation for the body and total escape for the mind.

RTS Cleaners: A dry cleaning business.

Dining/Entertainment:

Austin Grill: Original Tex Mex cuisine. They make 25 salsas, sauces and dressings from scratch.

Bobby’s Crabcakes: Seafood in a casual environment specializing in crabcake sandwiches, and lobster rolls.

Cosi: Serving coffees, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, soups, bagels, gourmet beverages and desserts.

First Watch Restaurant: Breakfast and brunch concept that serves omelets, French toast and other favorites.

Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries: Began as a family run business in 1986 focusing on serving the best burgers possible.

Fractured Prune: This “design-your-own-donut” shop now has locations throughout Maryland. Their specialty is hot, hand-dipped donuts.

Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy Co.: Washington, D.C.’s oldest and most distinct ice cream parlor.

Gordon Biersch: Specializes in fresh, hand-crafted beer that is brewed on site.

Greystone Grill: A Maryland-born restaurant featuring entrees of fresh fish, salads, pasta, chops, ribs and Black Angus steaks.

Jerry’s Subs and Pizza: Known for its cheesesteaks and authentic New York style pizza.

La Flor de la Canela: An upscale, full-service Peruvian restaurant.

La Tasca: This Spanish restaurant specialty is tapas—individual dishes that offer a very flexible and sociable way of dining.

Lebanese Taverna: Has bread ovens where fresh pita bread is baked all day. Also known for the shawarma and many mezza combo platters.

Moe’s Southwest Grill has CLOSED. Temporarily the Ice Skating Shack selling tickets and renting skates for the rink.

Noodles & Co.: [NOW OPEN]

Oro Pomodoro: Italian restaurant whose name translates to “Golden Tomato”.
(Tom Siestna of The Washington Post has written a very descriptive piece.)

Primo Italiano: Eat in or carry out restaurant that serves gourmet pizza and subs.

Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats: Offers fruit smoothies freshly squeezed vegetable juices, sandwiches, healthy snacks and nutritional supplements.

Spice Xing: [NOW OPEN]. Fine Indian Cuisine.

Starbucks Coffee: Offers fresh, rich-brewed, Italian-style espresso beverages, a variety of pastries and confections and coffee-related accessories and equipment.

Stonefish Grill has CLOSED.

Sushi Damo: Trendy sushi bar with an extensive menu of sushi and sashimi, as well as other Japanese favorites such as tempura and teryiaki.

Taste of Saigon: (New location Open) Offers authentic Vietnamese dishes, ranging from black pepper soft shell crab to braised lamb shank with spicy sauce.

The Thai Pavilion: Offers authentic Thai cuisine.

Leave a comment if you have an update. Let us know about your favorite specials in Town Center!

For more information about everything at Rockville Town Square, click here.

POTD: Rainy Day

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(With apologies to 10,000 Maniacs.) That was quite a lot of rain yesterday!

Bob Dorsey: A Fond Citizens' Farewell

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Just prior to receiving the key to the city in thanks for his many years of distinguished service on the City Council, former councilman Bob Dorsey received perhaps a more moving tribute just outside the doors to the Council chambers.

Organized over the weekend by Ruth Hanessian and others, the “citizens’ potluck reception” drew many — perhaps a hundred — citizens, political leaders, and others to wish Bob well.

Just about every local elected official who could make it was there: council members Anne Robbins, Phyllis Marcuccio, and John Britton; mayor Susan Hoffmann; delegates Jim Gilchrist and Luiz Simmons; and senator Jennie Forehand.

Not only that, but the event was almost like another candidates’ forum, with Carl Henn, Drew Powell, Brigitta Mullican, Mark Pierzchala, Eric Kuohwa Wang, and Theo Anderson joining in praising Bob for his overall classiness and good will. And that’s just who I saw.

The Maryland legislative delegation presented Bob with a state flag, and Community Ministries of Rockville presented him with a “burning bush” award. In fact, the speakers’ list tells the tale of good will for Bob…here they are, in order: Linda Ekizian (president of the East Rockville Civic Association); Jennie Forehand; Luiz Simmons (who quoted Winston Churchill to great effect); Jim Gilchrist; Anne Robbins; Theo Anderson; Agnes Saenz (managing director of Community Ministries of Rockville); former Rockville mayor Rose Krasnow (who pointed out that she joined the council in 1991 and Bob in 1993, so they had worked long together); mayor Susan Hoffmann; Phyllis Marcuccio; Bob’s brother Bill; and self-described “nobody,” and Dorsey neighbor, Joe Horton. See? I took notes.

But the high point was Bob’s brother, Bill. Unplanned, Bill spoke up upon being introduced, and moved the crowd with a story of how their mother, who passed two years ago, would be proud to see her son receiving such accolades.

But if you are like me, you want to know about the food. Trust me, the citizens’ pot luck was a real spread:

Rockville Police Blotter 11/19/2007

Here is the mapped version of the latest Rockville police blotter, dated 11/19/2007. Sorry this is so late (I have been actually working for a living).>

(Remember, if you are receiving this in the email announcement, the map does not come through and you will have to visit the blog itself.)

Click on a pushpin to learn more about each reported incident.

Each week’s police report is a separate map. Click here for a list of all of them.

POTD: Squirrely Squirrely

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A scout song:

Squirrely Squirrely
shake your little tail
Squirrely Squirrely
shake your little tail
Scrunch up your toes and shove them in your nose
Squirrely Squirrely
shake your little tail

Citizen's Reception for Bob Dorsey Monday Evening

>Rockville Central friend Ruth Hanessian is organizing a celebration to honor former city council member Bob Dorsey’s 14 years of service to the City. Immediately prior to the Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, November 26, there will be a pot luck reception. Ruth writes:

I will plan to be there to say thanks and to enjoy the cookies! Hope to see you there!

(Photo of Bob courtesy the City.)

Matthew Taylor on Expectations

In the crush of Thanksgiving Week planning and preparations, I neglected to point out that >Rockville Central friend Matthew Taylor penned a simply wonderful essay that appeared in Monday’s Washington Post.

Matthew offers us an important life lesson about expectations — what can happen, and what we can do, when reality does not mean them.

Expectation is natural. Daily, we expect routine things to happen in routine ways. But more than just rational anticipation, expectation is also what the heart hopes for. So often, I set my heart on a particular outcome despite knowing that all the variables in human interaction make events impossible to predict. When things don’t turn out as I had hoped, I feel the rush of anger, bitterness and disappointment. So many times I have to stop and ask myself, “What were you expecting?”

But I have found it possible to decrease the distance between where I am and where I thought I should be by changing my expectations. Expectations can be raised or lowered. They also can be shifted, laterally, in a different direction, modified without judgment, amended in a way that more closely matches reality.

I urge you to read it.

POTD: Scattered

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This reminds me it’s time to clean up today!