Bethesda Actually

I’ve heard a few tales this morning but before I share those I’ve got to say that I was relieved that I both live and work in Bethesda. I had postponed some home showings in the lead up to the storm and consequently only had to navigate the walk to and from my Weichert Realtors office on Wisconsin Ave. As I was walking home at about 5.45pm, the wind was whipping up and it occurred to me that I was fortunate in not having to travel far to get home. I must say that if ever there was an advert for downtown condo living it was the storm yesterday!

A couple of stories from readers yesterday illustrate the difficult commuter conditions — one of our readers left Bethesda at 7pm yesterday and got back home to Great Falls (VA side) at 1am! Another reader was doing a pick up at Dulles airport at 4pm and got back to Bethesda at 10pm.  We also heard from other folks who had to abandon their cars on the side of the road.

Things are slowly returning to normal today but conditions on the roads and sidewalks aren’t super so you should take care out there and, if you get the chance share your pictures and stories via our email!

At about 3pm conditions abruptly changed to heavy rain with thunder and lightening to sleet and then to snow.  As light is fading there is a notable difference on the ground.  Here are two pictures of the same view over Battery Park taken at 3pm and then at 5pm. And, IT IS STILL COMING DOWN!

Temperatures are hovering just above freezing (currently at 34 degrees) which means the light snow and freezing rain we had last night is now SLUSH!

As temperatures drop the slush may well re– freeze and become ice.  So please TAKE CARE. And in the mean time, when waiting to cross the road, stand back or be sprayed!!!!

Here is a picture of the slushy mess from earlier

Take care and send in your pics!

PS Wonder when the Federal Gov will close?

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Looks like an early departure for the Feds: http://www.opm.gov/status/

Friends — we have snow on the ground and Montgomery County Schools are closed (see here for more).  So far the Federal Government is Open (see here for more). Please take care and if you can safely take pics send them to us at bethesdaactually@gmail.com with a note in the email confirming we can post them on our website (the first from a reader is below!!). Cheers!

Friends — wrap up warm — it is REALLY Cold out there!! I don’t think the temperature is going to get above freezing today and if you have to be out and about, you will need some different ways to keep warm.

SO — in the spirit of warming up as you move around out town here is the Bethesda Actually Top 5 list of Winter Warmers for January 2011 (feel free to email your own to us at bethesdaactually@gmail.com and we will share them):

1. Head over to Zen Tara Tea for a pot of the warm stuff…..perhaps you could try their Chai Mate Tea….it is very nice!

2. Visit Satsuma in Old Bethesda for lunch and dig into a bowl of their Ramen Noodle Soup (vegetarian and meat options)

3. Hard Times — their menu is designed for this type of weather…..perhaps have something with a little kick in it for dinner!

4. A Winter Warming Drink at the Harp and Fiddle (a hot toddie perhaps?) – just don’t drink and drive!

5. Head over to Barnes and Nobles for a day of looking at books, working via Wi-Fi in their cafe and enjoying the warm food and beverages.

Green and Ice — Lovely Pics!

Be careful out there friends! Thanks to Bethesda UP and everyone else who is pitching in to clear the roads and sidewalks. Here are a few pics that have sent in by our super readers!

We may not have been hit with the Snow Storm that the North East did, but Bethesda was not completely unscathed.  The freezing wind took its toll on this door outside the Midland bank on Norfolk Ave in Bethesda. YIKES !!! Stay warm out there.