Where are we?

[GuyContinental]

@baiskeli 26657 wrote:

I live right at the intersection of the W&OD and Bluemont Junction trails–I am the Junction Keeper.

Tell me that you live in the caboose…

[Jason]

I dont like to follow directions, live in Arlington Courthouse, hate the superficial people in the arlington area for the most part, liked it better when it was weirder. I do like the fact that its an easy 4 miles to work. I listen to music most people hate, and like giving dirty looks to men who wear brown flip flops.

[KelOnWheels]

@Jason 26663 wrote:

I listen to music most people hate, and like giving dirty looks to men who wear brown flip flops.

At the Starbucks, and the Starbucks, and the Starbucks, and the Starbucks?

[Jason]

@KelOnWheels 26667 wrote:

At the Starbucks, and the Starbucks, and the Starbucks, and the Starbucks?

EXACTLY. But I am crazy, I still can’t understand how in neighborhoods in DC that used to be dangerous and have crack houses, you see mothers with those huge baby carriages now! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over. The flip flop wearers need to be put down!

[rcannon100]

liked it better when it was weirder

Back before it was weird, it was Vietnamese. When we moved in, there were two types of people in Arlington: 1st owners of homes – who moved into their homes during the housing boom of the WWII era – and new arrivals, mainly civil servants, with small young families. Both had a lot vested in Arlington. Neither were the transits you get in most of the ‘burbs or in the current Ross-Balls corridor.

The Vietnamese began to move out when metro was installed; the disruption to business did most of them in – them moved out to the strip mall near 7 corners. Cafe Dalats was a standard that stayed in Clarendon long after most had left but even Cafe Dalats gave in to gentrification.

Ballston Mall use to be that “huge mall way out in the suburbs that no one would possibly go to!!!” That was before Tysons, White Flint and the current montgomery mall.

Of course before that time, it was chicken farms and dairy farms, with train lines that took you from WasheDC to the hinterland. The Donaldsons use to take crops down what is now Donaldson Run, to the Potomac, to the market in G’Town. Most of the trees in Arlington were cut down during the civil war to provide for the defense of the city.

It has changed a lot – some better – some worse. I think the thing that causes me the most loathing is the franchise chain restaurants. We never use to have those.

I have lived all over WasheDC. Arlington is still my favorite place.

[PotomacCyclist]

White Flint won’t be around for too much longer. That entire area is slated for redevelopment, with more of an open-air, town center-type scheme. Sad to see those massive parking lots disappear. Actually, I’m not. Now if they could only redevelop Ballston Commons. What a waste of space. Even fans of malls don’t like that place.

As for the forum, does it help if I can claim never to have run over a squirrel or chipmunk on my bike? True. However, a toad or frog once jumped up and smacked into the side of my bike shoe once, on the MVT. It was his fault. I was riding in the trail and he decided to jump into me from the side of the trail. I don’t know what happened to him but I can’t imagine it was anything good.

[DSalovesh]

@rcannon100 26648 wrote:

Just remember, databases such as this are used for data mining. Only put information here (in FB, Twitter, G+) that you feel comfortable having data miners get. (I dont put any accurate personal information in social media sites)

I can’t agree with this enough.

The last time I was burglarized it coincided with a special ride I did that I had announced on a local email list. I can’t say for sure that someone evil connected that planned absence with other information I had put out, but I can’t rule it out either. Fortunately they were unaware of my dogs and their attempt was unsuccessful, but they did make it into my house.

I like to track my rides with GPS, but I start the recording at a nearby park, which is saved as “Home” in the devices. I take videos of some of my rides, which also start on the streets of my neighborhood but never at my house. I never announce my longer rides or travel plans, and I don’t talk much about other people in my life or things I have.

I don’t pretend this makes me invisible, and that’s not the intention. I’m just hoping to make it a little harder for the lazy crooks to pass me over.

[PotomacCyclist]

I never post GPS info on my workouts online. Seems like way too much personal information to be releasing.

[Riley Casey]

While I will admit that I vaguely remember the last veteran of the Civil War dying when I was a little kid I can safely say I do not remember the Army cutting down the trees for the defense of the city – definitely before my time. On the other hand I do remember entire army divisions taking up 20 miles of the right lane of the then two lane I95 while they tried out the newly minted Defense Highway System but that was a different war – of sorts.

@rcannon100 26670 wrote:

Most of the trees in Arlington were cut down during the civil war to provide for the defense of the city.

I have lived all over WasheDC. Arlington is still my favorite place.

[5555624]

@rcannon100 26670 wrote:

Ballston Mall use to be that “huge mall way out in the suburbs that no one would possibly go to!!!” That was before Tysons, White Flint and the current montgomery mall.

No, it was Parkington. It was never called a “mall” until it became Ballston Commons Mall. When Springfield Mall opened, like Tysons Corner, it was a “day trip” for a Saturday.

[SteveTheTech]

@jabberwocky 26650 wrote:

Oh no, now the data miners are gonna know I like poking dead things with a stick.

On the plus side, I’m looking forward to getting some very interesting google ads.

Ahh I’m in good company it seems.
http://games.adultswim.com/floater-twitchy-online-game.html

I get the oddest mix of ads on the side of my primary gmail I don’t know what they think I am up to. Amazon is pretty pushy too.

@KelOnWheels 26623 wrote:

I live in the extremely fashionable Extremely West End of Alexandria (no, not Fairlington, I’m not that fashionable)

I think I got you beat fellow West Ender, I too live in the westernmost part of with the other uncool folks.This is a great area to live and eat but not so great for riding.

I work less than a mile from where I live…but I rarely ride in. It cost me two wheels and several flats in a month last year. It’s not far enough to make it worth it and people suck at driving near bikes around here especially in the morning. (Translated by Bing) I’m a wuss and I like my wheels and tires now.

[OneEighth]

@5555624 26698 wrote:

No, it was Parkington. It was never called a “mall” until it became Ballston Commons Mall. When Springfield Mall opened, like Tysons Corner, it was a “day trip” for a Saturday.

I still remember the S&W Cafeteria in Landmark when it was an open mall.
If Arlington hadn’t been Vietnamese, we wouldn’t have Eden Center for nuoc mam fixes.

[MV Clyde]

@OneEighth 26713 wrote:

If Arlington hadn’t been Vietnamese, we wouldn’t have Eden Center for nuoc mam fixes.

Oh, man…. I love Eden Center. Nouc mam….. yummmmmmm. For me it’s Banh Xeo and Pho addictions.

[acc]

@OneEighth 26713 wrote:

I still remember the S&W Cafeteria in Landmark when it was an open mall.
If Arlington hadn’t been Vietnamese, we wouldn’t have Eden Center for nuoc mam fixes.

Guess what? There was an S&W cafeteria inside 7 Corners when it was an open mall too.

[Dickie]

@baiskeli 26657 wrote:

I live right at the intersection of the W&OD and Bluemont Junction trails–I am the Junction Keeper.

“… What is your name? What is your favorite color? What is the velocity of an unladen Swallow?”

[Author]

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