How do you tell a DC native from a transplant?
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Anonymous
Except the “Cabin John Bridge” was built in 1962 and renamed the American Legion Bridge in 1969, so it was called that for all of a decade (including the pre construction period) and then it’s current name for 54 years. Only someone who is trying really hard would say cabin John bridge today. |
Anonymous
Garfinkel’s! Although younger natives won’t remember the store, the building is still there. Older DC natives remember celebrating the return of Velatis candy — albeit to Silver Spring. |
Anonymous
Not necessarily. Cabin John also refers to other things in the area, so that name stuck with people like my parents. Has nothing to do with trying hard (they could not impress anyone if they tried). |
Anonymous
My mom and her best friend worshiped Garfinkels! As the youngest and still at home while all the other kids were in school, I loved going to Garfinkels with them, so much so when I got old enough for school I used to fake sick to get picked up  . Seven Corners had the first one. 1973 saw the one in Springfield Mall open.
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Anonymous
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^ ohh and when the Georgetown Park first opened in Georgetown—it was decadence 😀.
Remember Goldie Hawn falling asleep with her face in her chicken salad in the restaurant on the lower level of Georgetown Park (“Best Friends,” 1982)? |
Anonymous
This. No native Washingtonian says DMV. Period. It appears to have been invented by clownish weather and traffic reporters who are from somewhere else. |
Anonymous
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PP who asked about the Hong Kong store; I thought it was a single store and one of the Springfield Mall stalwarts! It never changed location nor decor and kept its orange shag carpet for its duration.
Claim to late 80s fame: I modeled prom gowns at Garfinkel’s! I’ve just unlocked a memory; the radio jingle circa 1984: Springfield Mall! The only mall you’ll ever neeeeed! |
Anonymous
Mostly how the locals look for differences to judge, while transplants look for differences and similarities to bond. |
Anonymous
I’m the Hong Kong question poster: yes! At Springfield Mall. Thanks. Springfield Mall also had a W. Bell, which was also a DC chain I think? And now I have that jingle stuck in my head. Remember the Jhoon Rhee karate commercials? “Nobody bothers me!” |
Anonymous
Always nice to share Garfinkels nostalgia! Are you talking about the “first one” in Virginia ? I’m reasonably sure that the first store opened in downtown DC in the early 1900s. |
Anonymous
Lol I’m glad that’s been your experience. Both my experiences and many of the comments in this thread and throughout this site strongly suggest that many of the transplants have zero interest in “bonding” with the majority of DC Natives. |
Anonymous
Yes, Bell was a DC store. I remember their catalogs and going to the DC store with my mom when I was a kid. |
Anonymous
There was also Best, which was a Richmond thing. |
Anonymous
Old? This person is connected to old school DC in crazy ways. |
Anonymous
I’ve lived in Arlington and Silver Spring and worked in NW DC for 20+ years, and I can do this. I even know all the Beach Drive access points in upper NW. I also get all the Cool Disco Dan etc. references from the other PP’s post, and it will never be anything but National Airport to me. I still can’t remember to call the Verizon Center “Capital One Arena,” and I’ve been known to occasionally forget and refer to it as the MCI Center, which *really* confuses my teenager. I even remember zoned cab fares. When walking three blocks to hail a cab, then having them drop you two blocks from your destination, could save you the price of a drink. |