The Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Aqueel Karim Aleem, a missing 12-year-old from Silver Spring. Aleem was last seen on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m., in the 8500 block of 16th Street in Silver Spring. He is 5-feet tall, 102 lbs., with brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing a black puffy coat, a camouflage jacket with a hood, gray sweat pants with white lines on the side, and black Jordan sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Aqueel Karim Aleem is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
Lids is now open at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The store is located next to LEGO on the mall’s lower level. Lids is a “mall based, retail headwear” store that sells NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL licensed hats and merchandise. According to Westfield, “Get lettering or a unique design embroidered on you new find! Don’t want a flat brimmed hat? Lids will steam and curve the brim in house!”
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival is coming to Montgomery County on November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland. Get ready to sip, sample, shop, and enjoy a full weekend of family-friendly fun!
Sip, Sample & Shop
Get ready to explore a festival floor filled with top chocolate makers, coffee roasters, bakeries, specialty food vendors, artisan brands and small businesses from across the region and beyond. Sample new flavors, meet the people behind the products and shop directly from the talented makers and businesses who created them.
Experience Chocolate History
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a large-scale chocolate sculpture of George Washington on horseback, created by award-winning chocolate artist Paul Joachim.
The sculpture will be part of a special exhibit exploring chocolate’s place in early American history. Guests can see the sculpture up close, sample colonial-style drinking chocolate, and shop the exclusive Collector’s Heritage Box inspired by the historic drink. It’s a unique opportunity to experience chocolate through art, history, and taste all in one place.
Seminars, Demonstrations & More
Visit the Sip & Share Seminar Classroom for educational sessions and demonstrations throughout the weekend, all included with your festival admission. Explore topics ranging from ancestral cacao in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the realities of starting a coffee business to craft chocolate and festival trivia. Learn directly from experts and makers as they share their knowledge, demonstrate their craft and offer a closer look at how their products are made.
Fun for All Ages
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival offers an experience the whole family can enjoy. Kids under 12 receive free admission with a ticketed adult and can get creative at our complimentary kids’ craft tables. Festival mascots Chunk & Bean will also be on-site for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities throughout the weekend. Families can even shop for Chunk & Bean plushies, children’s books and other kid-friendly items.
Whether you’re a serious chocolate lover, a coffee enthusiast, a foodie or simply looking for a fun fall outing, there’s something for everyone to see, taste, shop and enjoy.
Save on Tickets
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival Maryland Edition takes place November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland.
MoCo Show readers can use code MOCO10 at checkout to save 10% on online festival tickets. Grab your tickets and get ready to sip, sample and shop at one of the sweetest weekends of the fall!
Akon is bringing his “The SuperFan Tour” to the DMV, when he performs at The Fillmore in Silver Spring on Tuesday, November 7th. Akon recently promoted the show on his instagram, referring to Silver Spring as “Silver Springs“, a common mistake among those not familiar with the area. The video can be seen below.
The Senegalese-American singer, record producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has become an influential figure in modern world music after rising to prominence in 2004 following the release of “Locked Up”, the first single from his debut album Trouble (2004), followed by the second single “Lonely”, which was also a smash hit. Akon’s second album, Konvicted (2006), received three Grammy Award nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Smack That” (featuring Eminem) and “I Wanna Love You” (featuring Snoop Dogg). Both singles became Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits, followed up by “Don’t Matter” and “Sorry, Blame It on Me”. His third studio album Freedom (2008) was led by the single “Right Now (Na Na Na)”.
Sailing Through The Winter Solstice begins annually in November, when a number of boats, transformed through the “creative minds of many Frederick friends”, set sail on the Creek. The boats are anchored in Carroll Creek (50 Carroll Creek Way, Frederick, MD 21701), between Market Street and Carroll Street in Frederick County. The fleet includes gaff-rigged ketches, yawls, three-masted schooners, and pirate ships, moored with their sail outlines, rigging and decks lit up from dusk till dawn. This year, the experience launches on November 18th. Admission is free from 8am until midnight (a video of the experience is available below).
“It’s not just fun, it’s for a purpose. In addition to voting for your favorite boat ($1 per vote), many organizations are raising awareness and money for amazing causes. All proceeds raised during STTWS got to Color On The Creek and each boat’s designated charity. The event runs from launch week in November through the 1st Saturday in February’s traditional theme ‘Fire & Ice’.” Per Visit Frederick, “You can view the boats anytime day or night. In fact, you may want to take a look while it’s light out and again after it gets dark and the lights come on. Lights typically turn on at sunset, so this is a great time to see them both ways. Sailing Through the Winter Solstice is a fundraiser – visitors can vote on their favorite boat, with donations supporting local non-profit organizations. The 2022-23 season raised more than $130,000 for charities in Frederick County!”
Bring your family and friends to our free , all-day outdoor Oktoberfest celebration. These will be an outdoor craft fair featuring local artisans and professional woodworkers, a chainsaw carving, woodworking and tool demonstrations by Festool, Montgomery Wood Turners and Carvers. There will also be lots of delicious food provided by El Parente Tacos, El Jeffe Wood-fired pizzas, Bruster's Ice cream and seasonal craft brews from Saints Row Brwsing Company.
Chop Robinson, a 6’3, 253 pound Defensive End for the Penn State Nittany Lions, watched his current team beat his previous team as Penn State rolled through Maryland 51-15 on Saturday. Robinson, a Quince Orchard High School graduate and Gaithersburg native who owns his high school’s sack record, was injured two weeks ago against Ohio State, and wasn’t able to play in the last two games, including Saturday’s game against Maryland. The now-Penn State standout is having a great season for the 8-1 Nittany Lions, with five tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble on the season, and hopes to return next week against Michigan. Many analysts and draft experts currently have Robinson going in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Last year, Robinson was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, named a Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten second team selection, and earned the team’s Reid Robinson Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award with Adisa Isaac. Appearing in 12 games as a sophomore, he posted 26 tackles (19 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Prior to the start of this season, Robinson earned preseason second-team All-American honors and was named to the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists prior to the start of the season.
Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting in the White Oak Shopping Center on Saturday, November 4. According to police, “At approximately 5:51p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the America’s Best Wings restaurant in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Ave. for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located two adult male victims, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to an area hospital, where one of the victims was pronounced dead. The second victim is in critical condition.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that there was an altercation inside the restaurant that led to the shooting. After the shooting, the suspect left the scene. No suspect is in custody at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Montgomery County Police tweeted the following at 6:09pm on Saturday, November 4: “MCPD is responding to a shooting call in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Ave. More information will be released as it becomes available.”
According to public safety reporter Cordell Pugh, two victims were shot during a fight near the White Oak Shopping Center around 5:50pm. Montgomery County Police 3D Officers aided both victims prior to EMS arrival. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has provided a sad update to a missing person’s investigation, as MCPD has announced that Alan Hooker, 24, was found dead by police on October 31st. According to police, no foul play is suspected. Hooker was previously last seen on September 15th in Germantown. The original missing persons release can be seen below.
Per MCPD on October 10th: “The Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Alan Hooker, a missing 24-year-old. Hooker was last seen on Friday, September 15, 2023, at approximately 6 p.m., in the 20900 block of Frederick Road in Germantown. He is 5-feet, 9-inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, possible facial stubble, and was last seen wearing a blue shirt with Husqvarna in white lettering on the back, a light brown parka hat, black pants and carrying a neon green backpack.
Per WMATA: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is saddened to learn of the passing of former federal Board Member, Board Chair and transit industry titan Mort Downey. Downey served on WMATA’s Board of Directors from 2010-2016 and was the very first federal member appointed to the Board. His decades of transportation experience were invaluable to the Board, particularly in policy setting and oversight.
As Board Chair, he led the Board in taking on some of WMATA’s toughest challenges, including the recruitment and selection of a new General Manager, overseeing Metro’s responses to Federal Transit Administration and National Transportation Safety Board safety findings, and its oversight of Metro’s response to the FTA’s Financial Management Oversight findings.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on Saturday, November 4, on Littleton St (Stoneybrook Estates) in Wheaton-Glenmont. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, a brush/grass fire that was likely caused by improperly discarded/displaced fire pit ashes, spread to a nearby shed. The fire has been extinguished and damage is estimated to be ~$5,000.
There were no injuries reported but “a woodchuck (or two) may be displaced.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.
Metro is celebrating veterans this November with a special wrapped train and bus to honor those who served our country. The red design features an American flag motif and the message: “Proud to serve those who served our country” and “Honoring Veterans Day.”
Per WMATA: “Metro is honored to support our military members, veterans, and their families with mobility across the region every day,” said Metro board member and retired Army Colonel Donald Drummer. “We also acknowledge and salute the veterans and family members on our Metro team for their service and sacrifices. This train and bus are symbols of our enduring respect and appreciation.”
