The things you see on a Woodmont Avenue sidewalk after a snowstorm (Photos)

A number of odd sightings were made on Woodmont Avenue Saturday, after the overnight snowstorm, between Fairmont and Cordell Avenues. Water pouring onto the sidewalk from a drain in a wall at the 8001 Woodmont apartment building had frozen into a waterfall of ice, and was cordoned off by a pair of JBG SMITH cones for safety purposes. 

Amazon packages had been left on the front step of the vacant former Sir Walter Raleigh restaurant building at 8011 Woodmont. And some of the building's street numbers - the 0 and a 1 - have been pried off. 

Finally, the vacant properties along Woodmont - including 8011 - that are now owned by the developer of the stalled Artena Bethesda project were again forcing their way into the news. The clear sidewalk of the southern portion of the block gave way to a narrow, one-person pathway in front of the Artena lots. That's not wide enough to meet ADA standards, much less for two able-bodied people to pass each other without someone stepping onto the ice and slush.

Sidewalk work on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda (Photos)

The sidewalk is blocked in front of 8011 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It appears several sections of the sidewalk are being replaced. 8011 Woodmont is expected to be demolished for the Artena Bethesda development. It is one of the few remaining examples of a Sir Walter Raleigh steakhouse building in the area.

Trader Joe's opens at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda (Photos)

Trader Joe's opened this morning at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in the 8001 Woodmont apartment building, the culmination of Joe's odyssey to bring you this store that began in 2014(!) with my scoop that Trader Joe's would be the anchor tenant for the development. Parking is available in a garage beneath the apartment tower, which you access from the Woodmont Avenue side of the property. Elevators in the garage bring you up to the store. Here is a store tour, with some of the sights and Trader Joe's products seen inside downtown Bethesda's newest Trader Joe's this rainy day:

Word association: when I mention "Trader Joe's," the 
first word you think of is..."parking"

Orange you glad they're repainting the Bruce Variety building? (Photos)

The most recent home of Bruce Variety at 8011 Woodmont Avenue has become vacant again, as I reported last week. Now the house-like retail structure is being repainted, and the most recent addition is a neon orange trim.

Former Bruce Variety building cleared out again in Bethesda

The home of Bruce Variety in its final years is vacant again. An estate sale had been occupying the retail space at 8011 Woodmont Avenue in recent weeks. The structure is now all-white, after the side walls and lower facade were repainted in yellow and blue trim by Bruce Variety.

BRUCE VARIETY REPAINTS EXTERIOR OF NEW BETHESDA STORE (PHOTOS)

Bruce Variety has added a fresh coat of paint to large areas of the exterior of its new Bethesda location.

The new colors are mustard yellow and blue. It looks like maybe the front is either staying similar to what it was, or the job is still ongoing.

BRUCE VARIETY OPENS AT NEW LOCATION IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS) - 8011 WOODMONT AVENUE

Bruce Variety has reopened in Bethesda at its new location, 8011 Woodmont Avenue.

A friendly employee was welcoming each customer entering the store yesterday. There is convenient parking alongside the store, and you can park for free on weekends, according to the posted sign.

Much of the familiar Bruce Variety products are back in stock, including thread, craft supplies and, yes, Mad Libs books.

The store has more open space, and brighter lighting than the old location, even though the cramped aisles and dim lighting were part of the original's charm. Overall, it is much easier to get around this store during more crowded times than the old one.

Enjoy a virtual tour of the new store below. It is also a virtual online catalog, as you can click to zoom in on each photo to see all of the individual products.

The Captain 20 Dick Dyszel pirate stole the show. Now that's classic Bethesda for you.