Anonymous wrote:A native can take a shortcut through the Park without getting lost or looking at a map

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you were a kid, JW Marriott gave you pointers on how to run a lemonade stand…Edward Bennett Williams knew your name and invited you to games…you know which direction the smoke wafted in 1968…you are 5th generation Met Club…you drove a car up to the back stairs of the Capitol and got out and no one said anything because it was an open street…your grandparents took you to Sholls…Duke and Billy knew your dad…

This just makes you old.

Old? This person is connected to old school DC in crazy ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

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!”

Yes, Bell was a DC store. I remember their catalogs and going to the DC store with my mom when I was a kid.

There was also Best, which was a Richmond thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

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!”

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wondering how you can tell or spot the differences?

Mostly how the locals look for differences to judge, while transplants look for differences and similarities to bond.

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask if they remember the Bayou in Georgetown.

+1

and Crazy Horse, Anastasia's. Fifth Column, The Ritz, The Cellar, The Roxy, Quigley's and my favorite, Tracks!

Anyone remember The Bank on F Street? https://ggwash.org/view/13059/once-a-bank-and-a-nightclub-historic-f-street-building-readies-for-next-step

And these bookstores: Waldenbooks, Crown Books, Kramerbooks & Afterwards.

Radio: WHFS, and Weasel (the best) + HFSFestival, The Don and Mike Show, Q107, WPGC

Yes! So many great memories

B. Dalton bookstore and Sharper Image

Dart Drug and Hechinger’s

Woodward & Lothrop aka Woody’s!
And was there a store called Hong Kong?

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.

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.

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 wrote: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!

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 wrote:Wondering how you can tell or spot the differences?

Mostly how the locals look for differences to judge, while transplants look for differences and similarities to bond.

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 wrote:The DMV is the Department of Motor Vehicles, not the DC area.

This. No native Washingtonian says DMV. Period. It appears to have been invented by clownish weather and traffic reporters who are from somewhere else.

^ 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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask if they remember the Bayou in Georgetown.

+1

and Crazy Horse, Anastasia's. Fifth Column, The Ritz, The Cellar, The Roxy, Quigley's and my favorite, Tracks!

Anyone remember The Bank on F Street? https://ggwash.org/view/13059/once-a-bank-and-a-nightclub-historic-f-street-building-readies-for-next-step

And these bookstores: Waldenbooks, Crown Books, Kramerbooks & Afterwards.

Radio: WHFS, and Weasel (the best) + HFSFestival, The Don and Mike Show, Q107, WPGC

Yes! So many great memories

B. Dalton bookstore and Sharper Image

Dart Drug and Hechinger’s

Woodward & Lothrop aka Woody’s!
And was there a store called Hong Kong?

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Airport
Cabin John Bridge
Mumbo sauce
Gogo music

We never say that DC is full of transplants, and we get used to having friends move away.

If someone doesn't say the federal agency where they work, chances are it's the CIA.

Spot on!

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.

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask if they remember the Bayou in Georgetown.

+1

and Crazy Horse, Anastasia's. Fifth Column, The Ritz, The Cellar, The Roxy, Quigley's and my favorite, Tracks!

Anyone remember The Bank on F Street? https://ggwash.org/view/13059/once-a-bank-and-a-nightclub-historic-f-street-building-readies-for-next-step

And these bookstores: Waldenbooks, Crown Books, Kramerbooks & Afterwards.

Radio: WHFS, and Weasel (the best) + HFSFestival, The Don and Mike Show, Q107, WPGC

Yes! So many great memories

B. Dalton bookstore and Sharper Image

Dart Drug and Hechinger’s

Woodward & Lothrop aka Woody’s!
And was there a store called Hong Kong?

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:National Airport
Cabin John Bridge
Mumbo sauce
Gogo music

We never say that DC is full of transplants, and we get used to having friends move away.

If someone doesn't say the federal agency where they work, chances are it's the CIA.

Spot on!

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.