🌍 Potomac-area powerhouse, again. WTO Director-General and local neighbor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala lands on Forbes’ 2025 World’s Most Powerful Women list for the eighth time. Read her profile [Forbes]

🥂 New Year’s Eve, Hunter’s style. Potomac Village’s longtime institution is ringing in 2026 with Rob Patrick & Friends, a taco buffet, and a champagne toast at midnight. Reserve your seat

🏆 MoCo ages like fine wine. AARP’s 2025 rankings bump Montgomery County up to No. 2 nationwide of best places to live for 50+, with Rockville jumping to No. 5 and Gaithersburg reentering at No. 15 after missing last year. See the full rankings

🥬 Go Fresh 365 pops up nearby. The Asian-focused grocery just debuted in Twinbrook, taking over the former Safeway and bringing one of the closest Asian supermarkets yet to Potomac. See photos [Rockville Nights]

🛋️ Roche Bobois pops up on the Pike. The French design brand has opened a winter outlet at Congressional Plaza, offering 10% to 70% off floor models and overstock. See photos [Store Reporter]

💋 Mistletoe record smashed. D.C. set a new Guinness mark with 1,435 couples kissing under the “National Mistletoe” at Anthem Row, blowing past the old record of 480. Read the recap [Washington Post]

Menorah Lighting Ceremony | 4–5pm @ Westfield Montgomery Mall
Potomac Chabad hosts its 8th annual menorah lighting for a warm, family-friendly pause centered on light, tradition, and holiday cheer. Meet on Level 1 in Nordstrom Court 🕎

Orchid Basics | 7pm @ REWILD Cabin John
Learn how to keep Phalaenopsis and other orchids thriving long past “sad grocery orchid” season in this care crash course. You’ll head home with an orchid and pot included. Tickets in link 🌸

Tally Ho Toastmasters | 7:30–8:45pm @ Potomac Community Recreation Center
Build confident public speaking through prepared talks, impromptu table topics, and supportive, specific feedback in a small group that wants you to succeed. 🎤

Chanukah Spectacular | 5pm–6:30pm @ Cabin John Village Community Green
Glow-in-the-dark Chanukah takes over Cabin John Village with Abracadabra Alex magic, a luminous menorah lighting, LED dreidels, latkes, doughnuts, and kid-friendly chaos. 🕎

Merry Mahjong! | 7–9pm @ Whelan’s Beer & Wine
Clink a holiday pour while you Charleston through open-play American Mahjong, from total beginners to seasoned players, paired with holiday pours, open play, and new tablemates. Reserve your seat in link 🀄

Har Shalom's Jewish Film Festival | 12–1pm @ Congregation Har Shalom
Enjoy Hanukkah on Rye, a cozy deli-set rom-com where rivalry meets romance, then let donuts and latkes do their holiday diplomacy. 🎬

Potomac Library Book Discussion | 6:30–7:30pm @ Potomac Library
Dig into Alexis Henderson’s An Academy for Liars, a dark-academia tale of secret admissions, persuasive power, and campus charm that bites back. 📚

PCV Speaker Series: Murder, Inc. | 3–4:30pm @ Potomac Community Center
Local Author and former Senate Intelligence Committee counsel Jim Johnston examines CIA assassination plots, Castro blowback, and how the JFK-era narrative took shape. Register in link 🕵️‍♂️

Intergenerational Graphic Novel Book Club: The Faint of Heart | 6:30–7:30pm @ Potomac Library
Teens and older adults read The Faint of Heart together, discovering how a graphic novel lands differently when shared across generations. Register in link 🗯️

Nail Art for Tweens & Teens | 4:30–5:30pm @ Potomac Library
A hands-on DIY mani lab for ages 10–18 with non-toxic polish, tools, and stickers, because Fridays deserve a little unapologetic sparkle. 💅

^{*Dates & times subject to change based on weather and/or venues making your life more difficult}

Send the Loop to that neighbor who casually mentions global trade policy over latkes.

-Potomac Loop Team