Saturday, June 23, 2012

"Bloomingdale, here is why I hate you" essay posted to a tree on S St NW

A neighbor passed along this pic of a brief essay on Bloomingdale posted to a tree on the unit block of S Street NW:

24 comments:

Stanvick said...

Hmmmm, perhaps a tad unhappy with life at the moment? Seems kind of sad. Hope it gets better for the writer.

Anonymous said...

Looks like someone wants to be Allen Ginsberg when they grow up. Not doing so hot now.

Alex Dancingmantis said...

No wonder the brunching men with flayed mustaches and plaid collars move here, if Bloomingdale is a "comestible" neighborhood. "Yes, I would like a side of Eckington to go with that, please."

Competition Lawyer said...

This is actually pretty brilliant. And hits the nail on its head. Just look around first and RI on a weekend.

Unknown said...

Yeah, the hipsters are rather annoying. Not sure what can be done about them or the addicted loitering around liquor stores (calling them corner stores is a cop out, a euphemism).

djtansey said...

The photo didn't include what was below the letter -- a note from a resident saying "if you want tobtalk about these issues, call." They listed their number.

We need to be having more avenues for discussion.

David said...

Man, that tree sure is judgmental.

MPS said...

Agreed with DJ tansey. We shouldn't minimize the very real issues this points to.

Jenifer said...

I really don't like it when people staple stuff (poetry, notes, ads, lost dogs, lost cat notices etc etc) to trees, chain their bikes to trees and otherwise find ways to damage the bark. This is how trees die -- bugs and mold and other nasties get in the dents and holes made by such uses and you end up speeding up the death of the tree. Dead trees are bad -- they fall on people and cars and it's not like DC bureaucrats run around removing them and planting new ones. Besides, we all pay for these trees so quit damaging them! The tree canopy in DC is fragile given the way people abuse the trees!

Brian Bradford said...

How about we stop inflaming bs by posting garbage like this publically? Why not just rip it down and move on with your life? It wasn't exactly Acta Diurna.

Allison said...

What's the phone number that went with it? Does someone have access to it? Please email me at Basile.Allison@gmail.com. Thanks very much.

Rabindranauth said...

Imagine if we took the same approach to humans (our youth and others) here who suffering from lack of every aspect of "nutrition" (food, education, amenities, parks, libraries, etc.), whouldn't that be really the right attitude. I hope I see all our tree/bark "savers" at the Phelps Meeting about the Trolley barn. It is a shame that we all can't see spending $1 more on Street Cars right now when we have so many other priorities which needs to be addressed; especially for our kids!

Allison said...

David - do you have the email? I would love to set up a conversation w whoevers interested.
Allison
Basile.Allison@gmail.com

M said...

Seriously? None of you think this is some idiot hipster's attempt at being ironic? I think too highly of the long-term residents in our neighborhood to think they did this.

dwbdalefoodie said...

I can't believe i'm even responding. You lose me when you have misspellings, bad grammar, etc. Who cares what this person thinks, and it sure as hell isn't the newbies' fault. You want to get rid of the loitering drunks, stop selling beer, etc by the can...it's not rocket science

John Novak said...

Here's why I hate Bloomingdale: 1. It's safe to walk the streets at night and gather outside in the evenings. YUCK!!! 2. I can not stand all the convenient and approachable places to eat, drink, shop and socially gather. WTF!!! 3. I despise the fact that all those abandoned houses are being purchased and turned into viable housing while the criminal element is being evicted and told under no uncertain terms, we do not want your drugs and prostitution here. I mean really...drug dealers have rights too you know. 4. I am really sick and tired of my property values going up. I was kind of hoping that when I bought here I would lose my shirt and end up bankrupt and living in my Prius. I am discouraged to say the least. 5. All these new parks and green spaces are supremely screwing up the area. I mean what's inclusive and community oriented about a free open space where everyone can gather? 6. And last but not least, I am just tired of how friendly everyone is. If one more person that I do not know says "hi" to me on the street or waves when they drive by I am going to "go ballistic."

Heather Joy said...

The snarky and mean-spirited comments on this page and part and parcel of the problems Bloomingdale continues to have. Instead of actually trying to discern what this writer is trying to communicate, many in our area, and on this blog, dimiss the validity of the writer's perspective because his writing is feeble and riddle with bad grammar and spelling. What kind of community discounts those who are not well-educated? This kind of class-based snobbery and contempt for those who have not benefitted from the educational and life opportunities many in Bloomingdale have had access to is the best way to firm up neighborhood divisions and heigten already tense neighborhood dynamics. Get over yourselves and try to do what your so-called education has prepared you for; living in, shaping, and being a change agent in an increasingly diverse, complex, and dynamic world.

Todd said...

brilliant prank...got the neighborhood all in a tizzy...probably a good thing. Reminds me of the "yes" men. Discuss amongst ya-selfs.

dc said...

I would pretty much prefer that the blog not post such blatant attention-seeking troll-bait.

Though I think Bloomingdale's new motto should be "Comestible at Best."

AS said...

Exactly, Heather Joy is right. See my prior comment above. Many valid points in the posting, despite misspellings and all...

One key problem is that the hipsters are precisely NOT what the other poster said, namely friendly and saying "hi" to passersby, as old-time residents and "proper" newcomers all do. The F*ing hipsters ride their fixed-gear bikes or walk with headphones on, staring straight down the sidewalk, and ignore any human being along their path. They do not acknowledge or smile or say hello. THAT is what is bothering a lot of old-time residents, and I understand why. No social skills on the part of the hipsters.

David said...

Can someone define what a hipster is please? I need to be clear what I should denigrate them for before I get started.

Todd said...

Dave, you can identify hipsters by their flayed mustaches and a plaid collars. Are you not paying attention? i try to flay my beard every morning. My mustache is ironic enough so i don't flay it.

Unknown said...

Please see Rabindranauth's comment, and stop your rant about trees! Especially in a neighborhood where many of the resident's are below the poverty line. Really? Trees are your main concern?

Vitoamos said...

The sure-fire defense against hipsters is to take care of your neighborhood so that there are no vacant houses to buy and fix up, no vacant stores to turn into duechey brunch venues and no crappy tree boxes to plant flowers in. as a self confessed hipster (although I can't grow a mustache without looking like a porn star) there was no community home owners association that I needed approval from. I bought a foreclosure and will act as I damn well please and revel in my arrogant newcomerness