Christmas Day

This year more restaurants than ever seemed to be open for Thanksgiving. But Christmas is still Christmas, and most places are closed on Dec. 25. Yes, many Chinese and Indian restaurants remain open on Christmas Day. But I always thought the annual Christmas Day dinner in a Chinese restaurant was one of those customs more honored in the breach than the observance. At least around here. Below are the handful of Christmas Day options I have found so far. Anything else I learn of will be posted on Dining@Large ( baltimoresun.

The suspect in the attempted bombing of the Army recruiting center in Catonsville apparently drew inspiration from an array of websites and radical Islamic leaders, including a U.S.-born cleric who has been targeted for assassination by the Obama administration, according to an FBI affidavit. Anwar al-Awlaki, the American imam who has become one of the world's best-known advocates of violence against the United States, was described by bombing suspect Antonio Martinez as "my beloved sheikh," according to the affidavit.

Ahhh, me, another inane, ranting commentary by Susan Reimer ("Where a terrorist and '60s child converge," Feb. 22). This time comparing the Christmas Day bomber to a child of the 60's. She actually admits that she can "almost understand" what fuels so many jihadists! Somehow it's related to the choice of cereal in the grocery store. I'm sorry, I just can't seem to connect the dots. First of all, Ms. Reimer refers to the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a "pious young man" confused and disappointed by the actions of others around him. She blames Victoria's Secret models, female network evening news anchors (just female?

Suspect in Salisbury girl's kidnapping, death is indicted The suspect in the slaying of an 11-year-old Salisbury girl found dead Christmas Day was indicted Monday on charges of kidnapping, child abduction and burglary, according to online court records. Thomas J. Leggs Jr. will face additional charges, authorities have said. A medical examiner has determined that Sarah Haley Foxwell's death was a homicide. Her body was found Christmas Day. Leggs, 30, has convictions for sex offenses in Maryland and Delaware.

It's not often that children say they can't wait to go back to school. But after an extended end-of-year vacation courtesy of a monster snowstorm on Dec. 19, some kids - not to mention their parents - have just about had enough of being cooped up at home. "It's been bad," said Abbe Milstein, who, despite the bitter cold, drove Sunday from her home in Rockville to visit the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore with her three children, Michaela, 9, and 5-year-old twins Adin and Gabrielle, and their father, Andrew Hoenig.

A would-be bomber had just tried to blow up a plane on Christmas Day, so we braced for extra security measures as we headed to the airport for a flight from Chicago to Baltimore last Sunday. Expecting a gantlet of pat-downs, dog sniffs and, who knows, mandatory trou-drops once we got inside, my husband and I decided to check in curbside. The agent asked our names and destination - prompting an exchange of groans over the Ravens' self-destruction in Pittsburgh that day - and soon our bags were on the conveyor belt and we had our boarding passes.

SALISBURY - -Friends, family and law enforcement officials came in from the cold Saturday morning to share their grief, disbelief and recollections of 11-year-old Sarah Haley Foxwell, whose body was found in a wooded patch of northern Wicomico County on Christmas Day. As about 1,600 people filed into Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, two projection screens flanking the stage showed pictures taken of the blond, blue-eyed Sarah "Haleybugs" from the time...

A would-be bomber had just tried to blow up a plane on Christmas Day, so we braced for extra security measures as we headed to the airport for a flight from Chicago to Baltimore last Sunday. Expecting a gantlet of pat-downs, dog sniffs and, who knows, mandatory trou-drops once we got inside, my husband and I decided to check in curbside. The agent asked our names and destination - prompting an exchange of groans over the Ravens' self-destruction in Pittsburgh that day - and soon our bags were on the conveyor belt and we had our boarding passes.

The Twelve Days of Christmas, which begin on the 25th of December and end Jan. 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany, hold special meaning for Willa Boze and her daughter, Sharon Williams. In addition to an entire tree decorated with Wedgewood ornaments depicting a partridge in a pear tree, three French hens, two turtle doves and so forth, the home is a showplace of decorative art collections celebrating the season of peace and goodwill. Just as the task of trimming the home began months before Christmas Day, the festive atmosphere the women have created is enjoyed long after presents are opened and carols are sung.