The Early Bird

Here's what's cooking in Silver Spring this week:

Monday: The Silver Spring Neighborhood Committee meets to discuss housing, development, education and other quality-of-life issues. The party starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave).

Thursday: The county observes Thanksgiving. County offices--courts, libraries, even liquor stores--are closed. Metro buses and rail, as well as Ride-On buses, run on Sunday schedules. At least metered parking is free.

Friday: Sunrise shoppers can score deep discounts and a fierce case of mall buzz on the busiest shopping day of the year (above). It's like the PlayStation 3 carnival all over again, this time with less dejection.

Photo courtesy of Meister Planet.