Existential crisis in downtown Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Brookland?

Because crime.

[Anonymous]

Some troll posts this same exact post about Bethesda every other month. So tiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some troll posts this same exact post about Bethesda every other month. So tiring.

Maybe but there's some truth to what the OP says. It's easy to take pot shots at Bethesda though because it's generally a desirable place to live for a whole host of reasons and also can breed envy for those that can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some troll posts this same exact post about Bethesda every other month. So tiring.

+1. Glad we were efficient and got the complaints about driving and TP in the same thread…

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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:Some troll posts this same exact post about Bethesda every other month. So tiring.

Yeah, seemed like OP knew a lot more about Bethesda than would be gleaned sipping iced coffee at a Starbucks.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Bethesda and now live in a cheaper part of town and people are the same everywhere. The stores in Bethesda are fancier and the landscaping is nicer and the homeless are hidden. But whether you are happy or unhappy is really about you. Once you’re above the SES where you’re really threatened by random violent crime (understanding that violent crime happens everywhere, but in terms of significant daily risk) I don’t think where you live or shop matters very much.

One thing is that people have very different perceptions of their risk from violent crime. For a lot of people if they see a run down shopping center with someone sleeping on the sidewalk, they feel physically at risk even if they really aren’t. So I think that can make a genuine difference in people’s happiness to avoid that by living in exclusively wealthy areas, because they really do feel better even if it’s not based on facts.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Yeah, we get it. And there are plenty of people who do and are very happy with the choices they've made. You seem to write off everyone as "privileged" just because they've made different choices than you and happen to live in Bethesda. Stereotyping a bunch of people who happen to live a particular zip code or have kids in a particular school/cluster is just as ignorant.

[Anonymous]

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.

Yeah, we get it. And there are plenty of people who do and are very happy with the choices they've made. You seem to write off everyone as "privileged" just because they've made different choices than you and happen to live in Bethesda. Stereotyping a bunch of people who happen to live a particular zip code or have kids in a particular school/cluster is just as ignorant.

Kids who attend W schools are privileged by definition. And if you don't understand that, you're hopeless.

[Anonymous]

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.

Yeah, we get it. And there are plenty of people who do and are very happy with the choices they've made. You seem to write off everyone as "privileged" just because they've made different choices than you and happen to live in Bethesda. Stereotyping a bunch of people who happen to live a particular zip code or have kids in a particular school/cluster is just as ignorant.

I'm the PP and I'll add that you sound like a smug Takoma Park resident with a "In this house, we believe.." or "Black Lives Matter" poster outside your home. Someone who loves diversity, equity and inclusion, except when the county decides to upzone your neighborhood. Those are the insufferable liberal hypocrites that I cannot stand.

[Anonymous]

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.

What's wrong with being surrounded by privilege? I can think if worse things. Way worse.