Existential crisis in downtown Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I live close to downtown Bethesda, 2 minutes away from my favorite restaurant, because:

1. My husband has a 10 minute bike commute to work.
2. The public schools are a good.
3. I love the idea of a quiet suburban life with leafy sidewalks but also excellent walkability to restaurants, shops and metro.

You know what I never do?

Shop at the stores you mention

You sound like my friend's husband, who also works in Bethesda like us, but is jealous he could never afford to live there, and who thus denigrates that little town whenever he can.

? You like that you live near shops but you don't shop at those stores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I live close to downtown Bethesda, 2 minutes away from my favorite restaurant, because:

1. My husband has a 10 minute bike commute to work.
2. The public schools are a good.
3. I love the idea of a quiet suburban life with leafy sidewalks but also excellent walkability to restaurants, shops and metro.

You know what I never do?

Shop at the stores you mention

You sound like my friend's husband, who also works in Bethesda like us, but is jealous he could never afford to live there, and who thus denigrates that little town whenever he can.

^^^^Perfect example of who lives there. OP, don't move here unless you want to raise your kids around people like this.

People who bought because of commute, walkability and schools, and who rightly point out that OP is unnecessarily critical?

"You sound like my friend's husband, who... is jealous he could never afford to live there, and who thus denigrates that little town whenever he can."

OP is correctly noticing this^^^, not just the schools/commute/walkability.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like my part of Bethesda for the pretty trees everywhere, proximity to the towpath, variety of housing stock, and good schools. I also like that it’s convenient to DC and places with good, cheap food like Rockville. If you find yourself going out for expensive iced lattes frequently, regardless of your location, you probably need to look for some more fulfilling things to do with your time and money.

OP here, which part do you live in? I like trees/houses/schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be frank, Bethesda is TERRIBLE for this. MoCo in general is pretty bad. I can't even count how many entitled boomers (sorry, but it really is this age range) I saw during my time living in Bethesda and Chevy Chase. They just LOVE to chew out minimum wage workers. I saw old people chew out the ticket seller in front of Bethedsa Row Cinema 3-4 times in a one year period over stupid stuff. One guy was infuriated that he had to select seats. For whatever reason I do not observe this in NoVa - perhaps merely because the average age is 5 years younger and there are fewer of those people *yet*

The common denominator is they're from Maryland. Marylanders are assh*oles. They're the worst drivers in the DMV. Prickliest retail customers. Most insufferable parents. Avoid at all costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like my part of Bethesda for the pretty trees everywhere, proximity to the towpath, variety of housing stock, and good schools. I also like that it’s convenient to DC and places with good, cheap food like Rockville. If you find yourself going out for expensive iced lattes frequently, regardless of your location, you probably need to look for some more fulfilling things to do with your time and money.

OP here, which part do you live in? I like trees/houses/schools.

Bannockburn Estates. Off of Wilson between MacArthur and River, very close to the one-lane bridge.

[Anonymous]

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.

Devoid of independent stores and bookshops etc. This issue is not just specific to Bethesda. Retail has changed incredibly in the past 30 years, as we all know.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I live close to downtown Bethesda, 2 minutes away from my favorite restaurant, because:

1. My husband has a 10 minute bike commute to work.
2. The public schools are a good.
3. I love the idea of a quiet suburban life with leafy sidewalks but also excellent walkability to restaurants, shops and metro.

You know what I never do?

Shop at the stores you mention

You sound like my friend's husband, who also works in Bethesda like us, but is jealous he could never afford to live there, and who thus denigrates that little town whenever he can.

If you were really rich you would be paying Bethesda taxes and still sending your kids to top-tier private. It's folks like you, so proud and protective of their middling place on the social ladder and assuming anyone who has other values an't afford it, who ruin perfectly nice places.

WTH? I'm not the PP but this is nuts. PP was explaining why she lives there, not claiming to be wealthy. Your response is way off. In fact, it's people like YOU who ruin perfectly nice places, including DCUM. Who wants a neighbor like this???

[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: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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I live close to downtown Bethesda, 2 minutes away from my favorite restaurant, because:

1. My husband has a 10 minute bike commute to work.
2. The public schools are a good.
3. I love the idea of a quiet suburban life with leafy sidewalks but also excellent walkability to restaurants, shops and metro.

You know what I never do?

Shop at the stores you mention

You sound like my friend's husband, who also works in Bethesda like us, but is jealous he could never afford to live there, and who thus denigrates that little town whenever he can.

? You like that you live near shops but you don't shop at those stores?

Are those stores the OP mentioned the only ones in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I live walkable to Bethesda but technically Chevy Chase and only go to Bethesda Row to get dinner every so often at Fish Taco. I never shop at the stores OP is whining about. But I live here, like PP because I can walk everywhere. I have a tree-lined street. I have access to the Bethesda pool and library. Great schools. And I always tip when I get a coffee. But I’m a millennial so maybe it’s just you as a Boomer, OP.