FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE LEON PANETTA TO APPEAR AT BETHESDA ROW OCTOBER 12

The apparently indispensable Leon Panetta will appear at the Bethesda Row Barnes and Noble on Sunday, October 12 at 5:00 PM. Congressman, OMB Director, White House Chief of Staff, CIA Director and Secretary of Defense. Is there any government secret this guy doesn't know about? But don't expect him to tell you; it's just a book signing.

BATMAN DAY IN BETHESDA TODAY AT BETHESDA ROW BARNES AND NOBLE - FREE COMIC BOOK

Stop by Barnes and Noble at Bethesda Row today - Batman Day! - to pick up a FREE copy of this Detective Comics #37 Special Edition. Enjoy the original Batman adventure, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," as well as a reimagined version and other stories of the Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader is 75 this year.

The free book is while supplies last, so it's safe to say going earlier is better than going later.

LINDSAY SMITH TO APPEAR AT BETHESDA ROW BOOK SIGNING TONIGHT

Debut novelist - and DC-area resident - Lindsay Smith will appear tonight at the Bethesda Row Barnes and Noble at 7 PM. She will read from her novel, Sekret, answer questions, and sign copies of the book. Sekret is a YA paranormal historical thriller about a psychic spy forced to work for the KGB, whose mission is to disrupt the American space program.
So, is it any good? You can read a generous-size excerpt from Sekret here, to get up to speed for tonight's event. If you're interested in Cold War history and the space industry like me, it sounds like a good read.