RTC Rudeness - Just Me? (Reston, Winchester: car insurance, credit, student loan)

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Making over $50,000 a year at age 23 is hardly ''poor folks". Most young people would be VERY happy to make that much money at that age.

Which chain eatery would one pay $300 for dinner? We ate at Clyde's tonight and didn't spend half that amount for two of us, with drinks, wine and dessert! We ate lobster too!

It depends on what part of the country said 23 yr old is in, but $50,000 in NOVA with student loans, car payments, insurance, utilities and the high price of rent it won't go far. These are just the bare minimum expenses so add food, gas, and whatever else into the mix and that $50,000 shrinks even more.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

That's hilarious, and proves that she's not well schooled in company history because Tyson Beckford was the face of Ralph Lauren for several years, and he has quite a tattoo collection.

Excellent observation bmwguydc!

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Which chain eatery would one pay $300 for dinner? We ate at Clyde's tonight and didn't spend half that amount for two of us, with drinks, wine and dessert! We ate lobster too!

Easy . . . any one of these places we all mention so frequently -- once one tallies up the appetizers, dinner, coffee, dessert, and of course, drinks (w/alcohol)! As far as Clydes, one martini at the the Old Ebbitt Grill in downtown DC (one of Clydes groups) will run ya $12.

BTW, I love Clydes -- the food, the drinks, the different atmospheres . . .

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by normie

So there you have it, this is really all about jealousy. . . If you had a higher paying job and thus could afford to eat out at RTC, then you would be singing a completely different tune. . .

I don't think it's merely about money and envy. Money would allow someone to eat out at these places more often and freely (ordering whatever and in unlimited amounts). However, RestonR has eaten out at these places; that's why he's so familiar with them. I believe it's more about the atmosphere, the people, the conversation, etc.

I've eaten at Jackson's several times so I'll use it as an example. It is indeed a popular spot for the yuppy-types RR has described. It's clean, modern and the service and food are pretty good (not outstanding though). Typically it's full of local young professionals; most of them are around the bar vs dinner tables during Friday and Saturday nights. What I see with this group (generally) is that it is homogeneous and boring (to me), meaning that everyone basically looks alike, dresses alike, and talks about the same/similar things. Questions to one another are typically generic (where do you work, how long have you lived here, hey what about that Redskins game, etc.).

Okay, big deal -- let's take a similar scene in downtown historic Winchester. Environment is clean but not modern/new (historically-preserved pubs and restaurants, lots of original stone and wood). People might look similar and even dress similar but I noticed that conversations are different. People can say where they come from, how long they've lived in VA and even joke about local issues. IOW, it's a more friendly, down-to-earth feel where people aren't afraid to say whatever they want because there's not much (or no) pressure to impress everyone else.

I think it may have to do with the environments: old/historic and new/fabricated. And the people are different. At RTC most folks would be new to the area so they don't have a long history or roots in the area versus somewhere older. So they cannot talk about relatives, the school they went to, etc.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

Northern Virginia is a lot more like New Jersey and New York than the rest of Virginia. That's all I have to say!!!!

Yeah, how? You're comparing a few counties in VA to the largest city in America and an entire State.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

It depends on what part of the country said 23 yr old is in, but $50,000 in NOVA with student loans, car payments, insurance, utilities and the high price of rent it won't go far. These are just the bare minimum expenses so add food, gas, and whatever else into the mix and that $50,000 shrinks even more.

How many recent college graduates do you know who make over $50,000? I know a few, and all of them are computer and electrical engineers. Yet those young people with lower salaries seem to do fine. They share apartments and houses, drive cars, join gyms, go away for the weekend, party on the weekends in Old Town and Ballston and shop at Anthropolgie. They plan vacations, some take cruises. They don't expect to make $100,000 at age 23, but they enjoy their lives anyway. They don't consider themselves poor because they ''only'' make $40,000 or less a year. Those making over $50,000 a year at age 23 certainly aren't whining about it because they know their friends, all of whom make less, wouldn't tolerate it!

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

I don't think it's merely about money and envy. Money would allow someone to eat out at these places more often and freely (ordering whatever and in unlimited amounts). However, RestonR has eaten out at these places; that's why he's so familiar with them. I believe it's more about the atmosphere, the people, the conversation, etc.

I've eaten at Jackson's several times so I'll use it as an example. It is indeed a popular spot for the yuppy-types RR has described. It's clean, modern and the service and food are pretty good (not outstanding though). Typically it's full of local young professionals; most of them are around the bar vs dinner tables during Friday and Saturday nights. What I see with this group (generally) is that it is homogeneous and boring (to me), meaning that everyone basically looks alike, dresses alike, and talks about the same/similar things. Questions to one another are typically generic (where do you work, how long have you lived here, hey what about that Redskins game, etc.).

Okay, big deal -- let's take a similar scene in downtown historic Winchester. Environment is clean but not modern/new (historically-preserved pubs and restaurants, lots of original stone and wood). People might look similar and even dress similar but I noticed that conversations are different. People can say where they come from, how long they've lived in VA and even joke about local issues. IOW, it's a more friendly, down-to-earth feel where people aren't afraid to say whatever they want because there's not much (or no) pressure to impress everyone else.

I think it may have to do with the environments: old/historic and new/fabricated. And the people are different. At RTC most folks would be new to the area so they don't have a long history or roots in the area versus somewhere older. So they cannot talk about relatives, the school they went to, etc.

I agree that many people in NOVA are transients and are looking to make friends based on things other than family and high school. I also agree that it's nearly impossible to impress people who have known you since you vomited all over yourself in 2nd grade and when you had to settle for a date a with your cousin for senior prom.

What happens when new people move to Winchester and go into those old bars and restaurants? What do they talk about? How do they make friends? Can they impress the locals with their talk of having lived in a big city like Reston?

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

Easy . . . any one of these places we all mention so frequently -- once one tallies up the appetizers, dinner, coffee, dessert, and of course, drinks (w/alcohol)! As far as Clydes, one martini at the the Old Ebbitt Grill in downtown DC (one of Clydes groups) will run ya $12.

BTW, I love Clydes -- the food, the drinks, the different atmospheres . . .

Yes, I think my Pomtini was $9 or $10 last night. I had two! But the young people drank beer. BTW, Clydes is running their lobster special for ALL of September and October. We all got the lobster and it was perfect, cooked exactly right and very, very, sweet. Just perfect! We had 2 drinks before dinner, appetizers, 4 lobster dinners, a nice bottle of wine with dinner, 4 desserts, two after dinner drinks and coffee. Total bill, with a generous tip, was $240, or $120 a couple. Of course we didn't have to have all those drinks and appetizers. But $60 per person is a pretty good deal for all that food and drink. I might also add that the service was perfect. We love Clyde's!

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Denton56

I agree that many people in NOVA are transients and are looking to make friends based on things other than family and high school. I also agree that it's nearly impossible to impress people who have known you since you vomited all over yourself in 2nd grade and when you had to settle for a date a with your cousin for senior prom.

Made me laugh D!

What happens when new people move to Winchester and go into those old bars and restaurants? What do they talk about? How do they make friends?

Well, we are exactly that . . . new people who move to Winchester (from NOVA).

Can they impress the locals with their talk of having lived in a big city like Reston?

Um, no one talks about Reston. And the locals don't give a hoot if someone does mention Reston.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by Denton56

Yes, I think my Pomtini was $9 or $10 last night. I had two! But the young people drank beer. BTW, Clydes is running their lobster special for ALL of September and October. We all got the lobster and it was perfect, cooked exactly right and very, very, sweet. Just perfect! We had 2 drinks before dinner, appetizers, 4 lobster dinners, a nice bottle of wine with dinner, 4 desserts, two after dinner drinks and coffee. Total bill, with a generous tip, was $240, or $120 a couple. Of course we didn't have to have all those drinks and appetizers. But $60 per person is a pretty good deal for all that food and drink. I might also add that the service was perfect. We love Clyde's!

Okay . . . now I'm hungry -- for lobster. Sounds like a good deal with what you described. And a nice celebration!