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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14th street was where the prostitutes hung out.

And K and I Streets.

I used to work at 13th and K in the early 2000s. There were prostitutes hanging out on our block and several of my male colleagues had been approached multiple times.

Worked on K in the early 90s and will never forget one of my bosses being approached by one of them on his way home from our office holiday party--while he was on the phone with his wife. (The phone was the size of a brick, of course.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14th street was where the prostitutes hung out.

And K and I Streets.

I used to work at 13th and K in the early 2000s. There were prostitutes hanging out on our block and several of my male colleagues had been approached multiple times.

Worked on K in the early 90s and will never forget one of my bosses being approached by one of them on his way home from our office holiday party--while he was on the phone with his wife. (The phone was the size of a brick, of course.)

They wouldnt have been there if there weren't people willing to purchase their services

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14th street was where the prostitutes hung out.

And K and I Streets.

I used to work at 13th and K in the early 2000s. There were prostitutes hanging out on our block and several of my male colleagues had been approached multiple times.

There were still a few spilling over from when I started on L in the early 2010s, but they're all gone now. Even when I get in at 7 AM, I don't see them anymore.

[Anonymous]

I hope I can never describe myself as a Washingtonian. And also, pls, SMH, you can't fathom to cross a bridge to VA. Please. It's DC, not NYC, Chicago, etc. Get over yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like I'm a weirdo if I tell people "I'm a New Yorker" if I am not even from New York. Weird!!! Does not matter how many parkways or museums or restaurants I know. I'd be an imposter

New Yorkers aren't as possessive of NY as Washingtonians. If you live in the City for three decades you definitely call yourself a New Yorker. It's a state of mind as much as place of residence. -New Yorker

The irony, of course, is that the multiple generation Washingtonians ("my grandparents and great grandparents are buried here!") as descendants of settlers on Indigenous land. Not that they would ever think about that, despite their "liberal" bona fides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like I'm a weirdo if I tell people "I'm a New Yorker" if I am not even from New York. Weird!!! Does not matter how many parkways or museums or restaurants I know. I'd be an imposter

New Yorkers aren't as possessive of NY as Washingtonians. If you live in the City for three decades you definitely call yourself a New Yorker. It's a state of mind as much as place of residence. -New Yorker

The irony, of course, is that the multiple generation Washingtonians ("my grandparents and great grandparents are buried here!") as descendants of settlers on Indigenous land. Not that they would ever think about that, despite their "liberal" bona fides.

Every smidge of land in America is Indigenous land. The Dutch claimed New Amsterdamn without regard to Indigenous tribes too, so this is not a NY vs DC thing as a weird way to position it. There is no where, here, that was not claimed by some if not many tribes.
It’s not ironic, it’s a fact.
Also, before DC was DC (1790s) it was Maryland.
So even multi gen Washingtonians (Me, Hi, 7th gener here) are by way of Maryland on stolen land (12 gen counting MD settlers)

just because the King gave Lord Baltimore land, it was guess what, Indigenous land and not the King’s to hand out.
Most of us get that, but again, it’s not ironic, Alanis.

[Anonymous]

Born in DC, raised in Arlington, lived 90% of my life in NoVa and would never describe myself as a Washingtonian. In fact, when I say I'm from Virginia I then kind of grudgingly add, "the DC area" meaning not Roanoke or Tidewater or the Shenandoah Valley. When people say, "Oh Virginia! It's so beautiful! The trees, the leaves, the mountains!" I say, "Uh, no, the DC area" just to clear that up.

I have a multitude of memories of my childhood, teens and adulthood that involve DC but I've never been afraid to cross the bridges either way. That's bizarre.

I do understand people from the burbs who hesitate to go into DC since you can't find a public bathroom anywhere that doesn't require an inquest and a key and parking is a nightmare, so why would you go to DC if you can just have an easy shopping experience in the burbs?

[Anonymous]

We always hit Trax on Thursday night (straight night), and had a blast! My favorite dance/bar throughout my 20s (late 50s now).

How has no one mentioned Hechingers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Riggs Bank, the excitement of the second phase of Georgetown Park Mall , getting Jamaican patties late night on 18th street as a snack and getting yelled at by compliment man, the 15 minute club which was an officer worker cafeteria by day and a club/bar at night right in the CBD, bullet proof glass barriers in all of the liquor stores, no road closures around the White House, and Woodies downtown all come to mind for me

Sweet Compliment Man! He always complimented my shoes.
Other old school DC stuff (from a lifelong resident): Mrs. Shippens; going to the Charing Cross in Georgetown and using your older brother's ID; watching St. Elmo's Fire and DC Cab being filmed; Greaseman on DC101; trick or treating at the Vice President's residence on Mass Ave; the hair salon in the basement of Garfinkel's in Spring Valley; Sutton Place Gourmet; so many great things ar gone....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

It must suck to feel that intimidated and trapped

No it’s just the hassle. The American Legion Bridge is awful. I’d happily drive up to Frederick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Riggs Bank, the excitement of the second phase of Georgetown Park Mall , getting Jamaican patties late night on 18th street as a snack and getting yelled at by compliment man, the 15 minute club which was an officer worker cafeteria by day and a club/bar at night right in the CBD, bullet proof glass barriers in all of the liquor stores, no road closures around the White House, and Woodies downtown all come to mind for me

Whoa! I totally forgot about the Compliment Man. Thank you for making me smile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Born in DC, raised in Arlington, lived 90% of my life in NoVa and would never describe myself as a Washingtonian. In fact, when I say I'm from Virginia I then kind of grudgingly add, "the DC area" meaning not Roanoke or Tidewater or the Shenandoah Valley. When people say, "Oh Virginia! It's so beautiful! The trees, the leaves, the mountains!" I say, "Uh, no, the DC area" just to clear that up.

I have a multitude of memories of my childhood, teens and adulthood that involve DC but I've never been afraid to cross the bridges either way. That's bizarre.

I do understand people from the burbs who hesitate to go into DC since you can't find a public bathroom anywhere that doesn't require an inquest and a key and parking is a nightmare, so why would you go to DC if you can just have an easy shopping experience in the burbs?

You can't figure out how to go into a Smithsonian or a DC Public Library or even one of the big hotels downtown to use a public bathroom? My grandkids know how to do this. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

+1 The Compliment Man, Commander Salamander and zone taxi fares. Man, I went on some wild rides-- remember how they used to stop and pick up other fares?

I will add you hung out/played soft ball right in front of the White House

Also, I think you have to know how to navigate the city by bus, to be able to claim status, without using your phone.

Speaking of the Compliment Man, does anyone remember the guy who used to jog down the middle of downtown streets, while dancing/singing/shot? He was a very fit black guy, who was like 60-70 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like I'm a weirdo if I tell people "I'm a New Yorker" if I am not even from New York. Weird!!! Does not matter how many parkways or museums or restaurants I know. I'd be an imposter

New Yorkers aren't as possessive of NY as Washingtonians. If you live in the City for three decades you definitely call yourself a New Yorker. It's a state of mind as much as place of residence. -New Yorker

The irony, of course, is that the multiple generation Washingtonians ("my grandparents and great grandparents are buried here!") as descendants of settlers on Indigenous land. Not that they would ever think about that, despite their "liberal" bona fides.

I guess that depends on your definition of “settlers”. In my case — 3rd Gen here — probably not. I do think about that though, among other things.

[Anonymous]

You stand right, walk left everywhere. Doesn't matter what city or country, that is ingrained in you.