You Know You're a Real Washingtonian If... (restaurants, store)

[slowlane2]

I remember when

Skyline Center at Bailey's Crossroads, used to be site of a private airport.

BALLSTON was mainly known for its Hecht Dept. Store at "Parkington" shopping center, some car dealers, and a "putt putt" miniature golf course.

There was a roller rink on Washington Street in Alexandria, with a famous musical organ.

You were allowed to climb all 898 steps of the Washington Monument.

Tourists on weekends could freely park in the east parking lot of the U.S. Capitol, with no security. Visitors could also walk into the Pentagon freely without any badge (although a badge was needed to ride the shuttle busses - and office secretaries had to remove and lock up their plastic typewriter ribbons in a safe each night, so that any spies couldn't read what they were typing).

The favorite activity for kids, was to take the "F.B.I. Building" guided tour, see the wanted posters, cold-war spy exhibit, and watch the guide shoot a pistol and then a machine gun at a paper target. I believe this was discontinued, but may have been resumed again ?

The giant concoctions at Wiehle's ice cream parlor in Langley Park near U-Md. Mr. Wiehle was a Holocaust refugee.

The "world's largest chair" on display outside a furniture store in central Anacostia. (I believe the chair is still there, but it was repaired several years ago).

The summer evening "Watergate" military band concerts played on a floating barge, while the audience sat on special marble steps near the Lincoln Memorial. This was shown in the Hollywood movie "Houseboat." After years, the concerts were finally discontinued, due to loud noise from airplanes.

Glen Echo and Marshall Hall amusement parks, often reached by trolley car, or by river cruise boat, until both parks closed in the 1970s.

Columbia Road - Adams Morgan in the 1960s - 1970s was the only neighborhood in the metro area where Hispanic people were concentrated.

[WASHINGTON BULLET]

Howard Stern in DC.

[Kembek]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

You remember when $1.10 used to get you anywhere you wanted to go in the city on Metro.

Anything else?

You remember when 50 cents used to get you anywhere you wanted to go in the city on Metro.

You remember when Metro first opened for business.

You remember DC Transit.

You remember street cars.

You remember when JFK's grave had the white picket fence.

You remember going shopping at Woodies for your new school clothes.

You remember the wiindow displays at the downtown Woodies at Christmas.

You remember when you could park on the Mall.

You remember when you could buy a brand new, all brick house for $26K.

You remember "blocks" and "collegiates".

You remember being terrified of "blocks" and wishing your parents had never moved here.

You remember Jelleff's, Hahn Shoes, Kann's, Woodies, Hecht's, Garfinkels, Sir Walter Raleigh Inn, and Hechingers.

You remember Central Charge card.

[WASHINGTON BULLET]

My aunt paid 35k for a 3 bedroom.

[Kembek]

You remember when 14th Street was full of hookers, sex shops, and seedy bars.

[Childfree35]

Originally Posted by Kembek

You remember when 14th Street was full of hookers, sex shops, and seedy bars.

You could find anything on 14th St.

Lerners...best designed stockings. Would last for a day, but we loved them
Mariannes...see Larners
Morton's (Penn and Minnesota Ave) The huge beauty supply is there now
Woodies, they had the best Christmas displays. My parents would load us in the car and drive down. We would stand for hours.

[WASHINGTON BULLET]

Downtown DC had a much better mix of retail stores back in the days.

[Eugene80]

Can any DC veterans describe what the nightlife was like in DC prior to 2003-04. How was Dupont Circle, the K St. area, etc.? Were there a lot of bars and people in the streets? Was security strict? How was the partying in those days?

I know that "Platinum" used to be called "The Bank", and there was also a club called Zei. How was Dream back in the day?

[WASHINGTON BULLET]

70s, 80s, early/mid 90s > 2000s

There was no late night metrorail service.

Dream? Back in the day? LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eugene80]

[quote=WASHINGTON BULLET;18173229]70s, 80s, early/mid 90s > 2000s

in terms of nightlife, you mean?