For Fun: How You Know You've Become a Washingtonian

[Anonymous]

After living in DC now for nearly three decades, I call DC (proper) my home. Yes, I'm from somewhere else (most of us are), but at this point, I'm far more comfortable in DC than in any other city. In my mind, these are some markers of a DC local. Please add your own!

1) You know how to navigate Rock Creek Parkway, even during rush hour (both ways)
2) You know which side of the metro to get on and off of to get to where you need to go
3) You know all the Safeways by their nicknames (RIP Secret Safeway)
4) You are sad when you remember that Georgetown and Friendship Heights used to be good places to shop
5) You recognize the long-term protestors in front of the White House
6) You feel annoyed by the closures around the White House
7) You know the names of neighborhoods like Barnaby Woods, Colonial Village, Crestwood, and Hillcrest
8) You know when not to drive to the Mall (e.g., race days) and where to park for free in Georgetown (for up to two hours)
9) You know which CVSs sell wine
10) You have a mental block driving over the bridge to VA, even though you know factually that it's not that far away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After living in DC now for nearly three decades, I call DC (proper) my home. Yes, I'm from somewhere else (most of us are), but at this point, I'm far more comfortable in DC than in any other city. In my mind, these are some markers of a DC local. Please add your own!

1) You know how to navigate Rock Creek Parkway, even during rush hour (both ways)
2) You know which side of the metro to get on and off of to get to where you need to go
3) You know all the Safeways by their nicknames (RIP Secret Safeway)
4) You are sad when you remember that Georgetown and Friendship Heights used to be good places to shop
5) You recognize the long-term protestors in front of the White House
6) You feel annoyed by the closures around the White House
7) You know the names of neighborhoods like Barnaby Woods, Colonial Village, Crestwood, and Hillcrest
8) You know when not to drive to the Mall (e.g., race days) and where to park for free in Georgetown (for up to two hours)
9) You know which CVSs sell wine
10) You have a mental block driving over the bridge to VA, even though you know factually that it's not that far away

#5 and #9 made me laugh out loud. Thank you !

[Anonymous]

You roll your eyes at just another transplant that tells you what’s what.

How about you have grandparents buried in DC and know where your family lived before the riots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You roll your eyes at just another transplant that tells you what’s what.

How about you have grandparents buried in DC and know where your family lived before the riots?

Not to be snarky, but as a native this made me LOL.

[Anonymous]

You had me until the bridge to VA part. I've never had an issue with going to VA or MD. I feel like that's just such a weird hill to die on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You roll your eyes at just another transplant that tells you what’s what.

How about you have grandparents buried in DC and know where your family lived before the riots?

Yep, this!

Although I’ll raise my eyebrow and ask: “Which riots?” since my family lived in the District before more than one era of riots.

[Anonymous]

Re 10: I’m in Bethesda and have friends in Fairfax who I haven’t seen in years because of the bridge. They may as well live in Pittsburgh. Also all trips that require the bridge must take place between 10 am and 2:30 pm if on a weekday. Also I won’t go to the canal on any nice weekend day.

[Anonymous]

What was the name of the bar under the key bridge that had awesome live music? I remember going there in the 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You had me until the bridge to VA part. I've never had an issue with going to VA or MD. I feel like that's just such a weird hill to die on.

Then you’re not a true Washingtonian

[Anonymous]

Unless you used to buy weed on the way to Tracks at what is now the site of a luxury condo, you arent a real lifer.

[Anonymous]

1) You know how to navigate Rock Creek Parkway, even during rush hour (both ways)

Still can't do this! I don't drive much and rarely on that side of town.

2) You know which side of the metro to get on and off of to get to where you need to go

Oh yes, this is true.

3) You know all the Safeways by their nicknames (RIP Secret Safeway)

I've been here so long (25 years) that I have now forgotten half of the Safeway nicknames.

4) You are sad when you remember that Georgetown and Friendship Heights used to be good places to shop

Wouldn't say I'm super sad about it but yes, I do remember this very clearly. My closest friend when I first moved here had grown up in Georgetown and she taught me all the good spots to shop. But it's changed a lot.

5) You recognize the long-term protestors in front of the White House

Ha! It's true. I've known some of those people for over a decade!

6) You feel annoyed by the closures around the White House

Yes, and the ones around the Capitol too.

7) You know the names of neighborhoods like Barnaby Woods, Colonial Village, Crestwood, and Hillcrest

Yes, especially true if you get to know a lot of native Washingtonians because these are places that transplants rarely go to but people who grew up here know well. Similar deal with DC high schools -- lots of my colleagues and neighbors identify people based on which HS they went to because that's how they know what neighborhood they are from.

8) You know when not to drive to the Mall (e.g., race days) and where to park for free in Georgetown (for up to two hours)

Oh yes, I know ALL the secret free parking spots. I even know where to park for free by the Mall!

9) You know which CVSs sell wine

Ok, you got me -- I literally don't know a single CVS that sells wine!

10) You have a mental block driving over the bridge to VA, even though you know factually that it's not that far away

For whatever reason, I have never had this block, not once. I live on the Hill and the proximity of certain NoVa neighborhoods (Old Town, Potomac Yards, Ballston, even Falls Church) is a major upside to DC, in my opinion. I can arrive at the convenience of the suburbs in 20 minutes in non-rush hour traffic. Sometimes even in rush hour traffic if you time it as a reverse commute. Without actually having to live there! Even back before I had a car in DC, I used to like the ability to take the metro to Pentagon City or Old Town for shopping or a change of pace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You had me until the bridge to VA part. I've never had an issue with going to VA or MD. I feel like that's just such a weird hill to die on.

Then you’re not a true Washingtonian

Maybe, but also, I have to get to work. And I like going to places like the airport and H Mart and Glenstone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You had me until the bridge to VA part. I've never had an issue with going to VA or MD. I feel like that's just such a weird hill to die on.

Being able to quickly get to and from the NoVa suburbs is a a major plus to living in DC as opposed to there major cities. I can drive to the suburbs, run three errands, and be back home in about 90 minutes. That's amazing. You'll never catch me living out there but I am happy to go spend money there when it's convenient. There are a bunch of services you can't find in DC that can be conveniently found in a quick trip across the river.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was the name of the bar under the key bridge that had awesome live music? I remember going there in the 90s.

Are you thinking of the Bayou under the Whitehurst?

[Anonymous]

This is a very WOTP perspective. Which is fine, but it doesn't really apply to people who spend most of their lives in DC living EOTP or EOTR.