Contest: Win Passes to See The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

** Please note: One entry per person/household. Multiple entries will be deleted.

We're giving away 20 admit-2 passes to see an advance preview of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, starring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis. The screening takes place on Tuesday, November 14th at Regal Majestic. It starts at 7:00 PM, but seats are first-come, first-served; so winners are encouraged to show up sooner than later (ideally between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM.) Seating is not guaranteed. Fill in the entry form below, and we'll select 20 winners to receive a pass for two (2.) Winners will be notified by e-mail. All entries must be received before November 11th at 11:59 PM EST, so act fast. Good luck!

Bethesda Theater Hosts Lisa Ann Walter This Sunday

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My girlfriend Talia steers our TV binge watching, and recently recommended Abbot Elementary (on ABC.) It didn't take long to win us over. My two favorite players on the show are Janelle James and Lisa Ann Walter. The latter happens to be local (as in Silver Spring, MD and Catholic University (Go Cardinals!)) She also just happens to be headlining this Sunday (Sept. 17) night at our favorite Bethesda Theater.

Corner Bakery at 19th & L Streets Closes

Corner Bakery at 19th & L Streets, NW

And then was one. The once great Corner Bakery has closed its 1828 L Street location, leaving only one more DC location (struggling to stay) open. You can still visit National Press Building at 529 14th Street, NW (14th & F Streets) but I wouldn’t wait too long, especially if you have a gift card or app rewards.

Captain Cookie Soft Opens in Cleveland Park!

Inside Captain Cookie

It felt like forever, but Captain Cookie has opened its doors in Cleveland Park. Their soft opening started today, with an official opening set for Saturday, September 9th. The setup is simple, with a few stools by the front window, and a couple of tables before the sales counter. Cool ceiling-to-floor artwork greets you as you walk inside, and there were a few paintings set to hit the walls over the next couple of days. Other than that, clean and spacious.

Contest: Get Free Passes to See Adam Ferrara in Concert

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Living in the DMV is expensive, so any chance to do something for F-R-E-E is A-OK in our book. Even better, when it's a night of comedy at the Bethesda Theater (formerly Bethesda Jazz & Blues.) This Friday night to be exact, date night (September 1st.) Follow the instructions below to get a pair of F-R-E-E tickets to see comedian Adam Ferrara (Nurse Jackie, Rescue Me) this Friday night. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the show starts at 8:30. Please note: There's a $20 drinks/food minimum (per person) but the food's terrific, and their $11 mimosas are to die for.

Signage Up at Thai Love Restaurant in Cleveland Park

We noticed new signage at the former St. Arnold's Mussel Bar space this afternoon. Coming soon, Thai Love Restaurant at 3435B Connecticut Avenue, in Cleveland Park. There were signs posted earlier, asking neighbors to "guess" what was coming; but we were surprised (and disappointed) to discover yet another Thai restaurant, mere steps away from Paragon Thai and Siam House. Hopefully, they'll offer outdoor seating, which would make it more lively/noticeable; but we'd have preferred something fast (casual) and less expensive such as a burger or pizza joint. Yours truly is predicting a quick exit (before EOY '24) but we'd love to be wrong.

Byblos Deli Takes Summer Break, Reopens 9/5

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Cleveland Park mainstay Byblos Deli will be closed through Labor Day (September 4th) so that chef/owner Marco Adas and his team can take a much-deserved break from feeding the neighborhood masses. Their summer break began on August 23rd and their doors will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th. We love their (super affordable) hamburgers and fries, but they specialize in Mediterranean fare (falafel, gyros and kofta.) Byblos Deli is open 11 AM - 8 PM Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 on Sunday. You can reach them at (202) 364-6549.

Simply the Best: The Ultimate Tina Turner Tribute Stops in Bethesda This Sunday

Vivian Ross is the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll

Tina Turner passed away just three months ago, but she's surely not forgotten. True greats live on in a number of ways... even live, as in this coming Sunday (August 27th) at the Bethesda Theater (formerly known as Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.) Vivian Ross stars in Simply the Best: The Ultimate Tina Turner Tribute, with doors opening at 5:30 PM (click here to see the dinner & drinks menu.) The show starts at 7:30 PM, and yours truly will be there with his Bey, ready to rock hard to "Private Dancer," "Proud Mary" and a myriad of other amazing hit songs. Tickets are still available (click here) and can literally be had for for a mere "song" (only $30 per.)

Cirque du Soleil Returns to Tysons II, September 6th

There's no shortage of things to do in the nation's capital, but if I had only one show to see (and one show only) it would be Cirque du Soleil. Lucky for me (and you) it returns next week after a year-long absence. Cirque du Soleil ECHO opens Wednesday night, September 6th under the Big Tent at Tysons II, and runs through October 22nd.

Oppenheimer Movie Review

Cillian Murphy stars in Oppenheimer

Can You Hear the Music?

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. (Matt Damon) appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history. Directed by Christopher Nolan.

Contest: Win Passes to See Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

** Please note: One entry per person/household. Multiple entries will be deleted.

We're giving away 15 admit-2 passes to see an advance preview of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, starring the voices of Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as the titular team, with Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph. The screening takes place on Saturday, July 29th at AMC Tysons Corner. It starts at 11:00 AM, but seats are first-come, first-served; so winners are encouraged to show up sooner than later (ideally between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM.) Seating is not guaranteed. Fill in the entry form below, and we'll select 15 winners to receive a pass for two (2.) Winners will be notified by e-mail. All entries must be received before July 23rd at 11:59 PM EST, so act fast. Good luck!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Movie Review

Phoebe Mary Waller-Bridge & Harrison Ford (r) star in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

History's Greatest Moment?

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Daredevil archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) races against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history. Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA. Directed by James Mangold.