Existential crisis in downtown Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda sucks. I go there sometimes to meet a friend and grab a bite to eat but I’m amazed at all the vapid people walking around and acting like the faux high end chain stores are the cat’s meow. The restaurants are mostly pretty lame also.
Brooklyn in NYC or Santa Monica, LA are both 100x better. Chevy Chase MD is awful as well.

Downtown Bethesda is by no mean perfect. Bethesda Row is operated by a single landlord charging high rents which limits the stores, although why they end up with multiple outposts of internet brands like peloton and warby parker is a mystery to me (like how bank branches can apparently be so profitable).

All that said, I am not sure which is the more ridiculous part of your post— the part where you can tell everyone is vapid while you grab a quick bite to eat or the part where you compare it to Brooklyn and Santa Monica, both of which have their own issues and neither of which is likely to be a reasonable alternative for someone looking for a place to live eat or shop.

Bethesda has a lot going for it even if you never step foot on Bethesda avenue or Bethesda row. And of course not everyone is spending their time yelling at waitstaff or being pretentious or whatever other stereotypes you have.

+1. It’s no better or worse than any other close-in UMC suburb of DC and awfully similar to close-in UMC suburbs in other east coast cities. Not sure why all the hate. What did you expect it to be? If UMC suburbs aren’t your thing, cool, there’s plenty of other places out there.

It’s better. Anywhere else, Bethesda would be considered a city. Downtown Bethesda and it’s surrounding walkable neighborhoods are not at all suburban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

This is hysterical. Someone remembering Bethesda from ten years ago…
Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

This is hysterical. Someone remembering Bethesda from ten years ago…
Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

Try rereading the post and work on your reading comprehension. They own a house and live here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, to help you with your existential crisis, let me share with you my favorite DCUM comment of all time.

In response to the question, "What's it like to live in downtown Bethesda, right off Wisconsin?"

"There’s a lot of crime. They’re attracted by all the kitchen design showrooms. Things haven’t been the same since Stromboli closed because that was a mob establishment that controlled all the corners so they kept the violence hidden. Now it’s a turf war. It’s a lot like The Wire, idk if you have seen that show but it is a good way to get a sense of downtown Bethesda."

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1047826.page

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my friends and family members not from here (and across all incomes) observe the same thing about lack of independent shops and dining. They feel this area is devoid of character and is entirely charmless. I’m sharing this only to say that you are not the only person who feels this way. Perhaps Bethesda and the greater DC area is not the right spot for you.

OP:That's just it! It feels like a synthetic, Epcot Center generic version of an UMC neighborhood. Even Great Neck Long Island has more authenticity and local character. I do like the residential parts though, some of them. But it has been so humid and, well, swampy and mosquito-y here. I am really questioning its appeal.


Here is what I value: Education & at least some similarly educated and accomplished people; beautiful high quality housing; leafy neighborhoods where people and kids know each other; natural beauty, the outdoors, outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, skiing, swimming, sailing, horseback riding; the arts; high quality food which can mean restaurants but also farmer's markets with real farmers that are not more expensive than Whole Foods. Education has value. Making things has value. Making and listening to music have value. Entertaining indoors and outdoors with people I love and like talking to about things that matter (not just the latest status symbol who who stayed in what hotel on which vacation) have value. I am lucky in that my work is already lucrative and meaningful, and is portable. I do not care what type of car I or others drive or how big your engagement ring is/was and I have never attended a Spin class.

Where should I live?

Europe.

+1 I'm not trying to be snarky, I see a lot of myself in this particular post by OP (And I live near the site where OP is currently seated).

I've been pondering Stockholm, Cophenhangen, Toronto or possibly Dublin. I too have a portable skill and can work anywhere in the world where English is spoken.

OP here and I have a european parent and spent a lot of time there growing up, you may be on to something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

That’s why the County Council mandated between 15% to 20% Moderately Priced Dwelling Units in all those new buildings downtown. And why Elrich today is unveiling the “deeply affordable” aka homeless, true poverty level housing.
Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

LOL that's not diversity. That's a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda. [/quote

OP - I have found your new BFF. You can be block buddies who trash the neighborhood. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am sitting in downtown Bethesda on a Sunday afternoon, sipping my $5.50 iced coffee. I am looking around me at these three blocks of fancy chain stores, that are just like the fancy chain stores in the analagous parts of other upscale suburbs, and watching people pop in and out like automatons. It seems so pointless and empty. Is this what it's all for? Strive to live in a HCOL area and make a big enough salary to live there so you can go disburse your dollars among certain branded storefronts as if you are robot operating on preprogrammed instructions thinking that you "belong"?

As I got my coffee I witnessed a middle aged UMC (white) woman haranguing the (black) barista for ten minutes about how dishonest they and the business are for putting too much ice in her iced juice drink & how they are defrauding customers by putting in too much ice and not enough juice. Seriously? Work all your life for the privilege of raising your kids around people like this?

How old are you, OP? Ballpark.

Why do you ask?

Not the PP, but maybe mid-life crisis?

I was going to say teenager.

OP here. I am 50. Why would you think teenager?

Because you are just seeing this NOW?

I am actually not from around here and thinking of moving here. I have the money. I am just looking around and wondering about the value and purpose.

It's a bragging rights thing. The public school clusters there are like private schools. I decided against that area because of the entitlement behavior that the store patrons use leads to assumed contention from the store employees. That friction makes it difficult to do chores or errands without confrontation like what you described. I strongly dislike getting lumped in with people like that but it happens all the time when I shop there. I just don't like the NIMBYism even though I look like a NIMBY.

And yes, Bethesda residents, I can afford to buy a house there. The realtor I worked with for a while was floored when I said this to him as one of the reasons for not buying there. I will admit that the houses I can afford there are not as new and nice as the houses where I ended up buying, but that's only part of the reason I decided against that area.

For people that aren't bothered by this dynamic, it's very nice. It's also not something that you deal with in every transaction. It just doesn't take much distance from that zip code to avoid that dynamic entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't find Bethesda stores all that. They seem to cater to people who have more money than sense.

No, I am not jealous. I used to live in the Bay Area that is waay more expensive than Bethesda.

OP here and I agree, these stores all all generic storefront outposts of businesses that are ubiquitous online. There is not a speck of individuality, originality, uniqueness or creativity among them. They are just uniform stores for an UMC tax bracket.

The problem is people don’t shop at cute, independent stores. So, the market responds.

It’s a beautiful day. I love having a cold coffee and watching the world go by. So many families and connections. I’m not a shopper, and I certainly get down. But, you’ll always find what you’re looking for.

People don’t shop at independent stores? The Blue House is probably the most popular shop in Bethesda, across from that famous independently owned Bethesda Diner.

Sorry to be the one to tell you The Blue House went under.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't find Bethesda stores all that. They seem to cater to people who have more money than sense.

No, I am not jealous. I used to live in the Bay Area that is waay more expensive than Bethesda.

OP here and I agree, these stores all all generic storefront outposts of businesses that are ubiquitous online. There is not a speck of individuality, originality, uniqueness or creativity among them. They are just uniform stores for an UMC tax bracket.

The problem is people don’t shop at cute, independent stores. So, the market responds.

It’s a beautiful day. I love having a cold coffee and watching the world go by. So many families and connections. I’m not a shopper, and I certainly get down. But, you’ll always find what you’re looking for.

People don’t shop at independent stores? The Blue House is probably the most popular shop in Bethesda, across from that famous independently owned Bethesda Diner.

Sorry to be the one to tell you The Blue House went under.

No it moved to next to Tout de Sweet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

LOL that's not diversity. That's a bubble.

The thing is, anyone that can't afford it can complain all they want. If they had the income, most of them would make the same choice. Clustering isn't unique to Bethesda. It's happening all over the country. Highly educated, wealthy people cluster. That has consequences for everyone else.

Newsflash: there actually ARE folks living in the DMV who don't just talk the talk. They CAN afford places like Bethesda but don't want their kids surrounded by nothing but privilege so they live elsewhere. I know that's hard to believe, but it's true.

LOL, everyone has privilege. Privilege is a meaningless word in the context that progressives use it. You cannot escape privilege in the US, it's all around you regardless of where you go. You can certainly choose to live in other areas that you find more agreeable, such as being near certain cultural centers, food, amenities, etc. But doing so for privilege, or the perceived lack thereof, is asinine.

+1. That poster sounds like a virtue signaler.

My Fox News vocabulary bingo card is almost full. We’ve got “privilege is not a thing” and “virtue signaling” (which they use, I gather, as an insult for people who dare to have actual values?). Now we just need “SJW” and I’ll have right wingnut bingo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

LOL that's not diversity. That's a bubble.

The thing is, anyone that can't afford it can complain all they want. If they had the income, most of them would make the same choice. Clustering isn't unique to Bethesda. It's happening all over the country. Highly educated, wealthy people cluster. That has consequences for everyone else.

Newsflash: there actually ARE folks living in the DMV who don't just talk the talk. They CAN afford places like Bethesda but don't want their kids surrounded by nothing but privilege so they live elsewhere. I know that's hard to believe, but it's true.

LOL, everyone has privilege. Privilege is a meaningless word in the context that progressives use it. You cannot escape privilege in the US, it's all around you regardless of where you go. You can certainly choose to live in other areas that you find more agreeable, such as being near certain cultural centers, food, amenities, etc. But doing so for privilege, or the perceived lack thereof, is asinine.

+1. That poster sounds like a virtue signaler.

My Fox News vocabulary bingo card is almost full. We’ve got “privilege is not a thing” and “virtue signaling” (which they use, I gather, as an insult for people who dare to have actual values?). Now we just need “SJW” and I’ll have right wingnut bingo.

Cute rant but “virtue signaling” is a non partisan term. Try not bringing up politics for an entire 24 hours of your life. This is the money and finance forum lol, you need to chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I've owned a home in Bethesda for more than 10 years and can't stand the drivers, those people or those stores. However, I'm here for the wonderful public schools (our kids are in the Whitman cluster), the beautiful tree lined streets, our non-McMansion colonial, the convenience of being able to walk to downtown Bethesda, the joy of biking the Capitol Crescent Trail, and living inside the Beltway. I love being able to drive to Pennsylvania ski slopes in 90 minutes, the Delaware beaches in 2-3 hours, and every major airport in under an hour. I love Gringos and Mariachis. I love Pesca Deli. I love Landmark Cinemas. I love the Bethesda Central Farmers Market. Do I wish there was more authenticity? Absolutely. I'd love a good, local craft brewery. I'm looking forward to Salt Line coming to Bethesda. I don't buy $5+ coffee - I grind mine at home from Major Dickasons from Costco. I realize I live in a bubble and am surrounded by plenty of unhappy middle aged SAHMs with their Soul(less) Cycle and Pure Barre classes. I avoid those and those social climbing types like the plague. However, there are plenty of good, down to earth, educated families in Bethesda - you just need to find your people and avoid/ignore the rest. I also don't think this issue is unique to Bethesda.

LOL. "Wonderful public schools" means rich white people and no dirty poor people. And it's "2-3" hours any time that matters only if you have a helicopter.

This is hysterical. Someone remembering Bethesda from ten years ago…
Yawn. Why do you think people move to places like Bethesda? There's plenty of diversity btw. It's just diversity within the UMC (i.e., children of diplomats, UMC POCs, etc.). And yes, we don't want to deal with the problems of poverty and crime - hence, why people cluster in these areas.

Try rereading the post and work on your reading comprehension. They own a house and live here.

YOU try re-reading the subject of this post: Downtown Bethesda, which sends kids to BE, Westland and BCC. The pp lives in suburban Bethesda, still walking distance to downtown, but her kids go to “Whiteman” aka Whitman. This is a tale of two Bethesdas.

[Anonymous]

This is why I could never live in a place like that. My OB-Gyn was in Bethesda and I witnessed stuff like this a lot. On the one hand, everything is very nice and shiny there and I get the appeal of things being so clean and convenient. But it does wind up feeling like living in Disneyland, and yes, the entitlement is off the charts. I was happy to drive back to my much less shiny and convenient neighborhood, where people are kind and much more varied and interesting. Sometimes "clean and convenient" isn't actually worth the trade offs.

[Anonymous]

All of the DMV is impacted by the federal government and the fact there the city is not industry-fueled. That makes a huge difference in the character of a city. You won't get any "soul" anywhere in the DMV the way you will in other cities that were built on the shoulders of industry and real workers, i.e., not office workers and wonks.

Considering all that, might as well be in the newest, shiniest neighborhood like Bethesda.