Comments on: Verizon Center Have Some Self Respect

By: Guy Mondo

Guy Mondo — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:21:53 +0000

Ttue, i have never been to China, but I have been out to eat with Chinese associates who know their food and most of them lamented the Americanized kitchens in the more popular restaurants. The point in my earlier post was that, with the advent of chains like Starbucks and Hooters (which are helping to revitalize a dying downtown), there isn’t much left in Chinatown that is Chinese. That to me, as a native Washingtonian, is sad. I am all for development but not at the expense of the cultural identity of a neighborhood. Trying to translate the logo for “Hooters” into Chinese characters doesn’t help preserve the identity of Chinatown, it mocks it.

As for my knowledge of Chinese cuisine, ChinaMuch?, I have eaten in the real home-style restaurants where my judgement was, initially, questioned by servers because few Americans (especially a Black American!) had ever ordered an item before. I also spent 2 years working under an award-winning Thai chef in Atlanta so I think I am very qualified to have an opinion on what authentic Asian food should be. I am not an elitist. I’m just a guy who misses being able to get congee with marinated pig intestine or stuffed duck feet in Chinatown anymore.

Se xian ni.

By: ChinaMuch?

ChinaMuch? — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:13:19 +0000

Seriously, have you been to China? Recently? They put a Starbucks in the Forbidden City! Guy wouldn’t know Chinese if he got hit in the face with a chopstick.

By: JS

JS — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:15:17 +0000

That was a great comment, Meow.

By: DC Metrocentric » Linked: Neighborhood Roundup

DC Metrocentric » Linked: Neighborhood Roundup — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:56:35 +0000

[...] Verizon Center Losses Self Respect [PrinceOfPetworth] [...]

By: yoyoindc

yoyoindc — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:55:46 +0000

Meow, you are a hoot. I am LOL. You are so right; I have lived in Chinatown for 2 years and have never heard anything good about the neighborhood. I LOVE living here, chains and all. I can get (almost) anything I need within a 2 block radius.

Thanks for the tip on PF Changs.

By: jimmy crack corn

jimmy crack corn — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:50:59 +0000

You can call it elitist if you want, but the reason a lot of people do not like chains is because they don’t want their town or city to look like EVERY OTHER town and city in America and are owned by someone with no local ties and thus no incentive other than their own good PR to care about the local area.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:33:33 +0000

The nice thing about that Starbucks is that it’s open 24 hours on the weekends. I like independent coffee shops and all, but the ones in DC close way too early and tend to be too noisy for studying.

By: Meow

Meow — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:20:44 +0000

Yup!! It’s in the rule book.
Section 8, Paragraph 9: “When living in Penn Quarter or any other up and coming neighborhood in D.C., you must always comment on how horrid any chain is when a new store opens up regardless if that store is a chain or not. It will make you feel quite elite when you post. But over all, you’ll just sound like an ass. You will fulfill that ass perception when you are dining at PF Changs on Friday evening.”

I’ll gladly take as many chains as we can get as long as it’ll help kick start this town into a real metro area. OMG we’re getting metered taxi’s.. It’s already happening.. nooooooo…

By: noway

noway — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:55:22 +0000

OMG, there’s a Starbucks in Chinatown?!? That must be bad because it’s a chain, right?

By: Guy Mondo

Guy Mondo — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:04:25 +0000

If you look around, big ads on the Verizon Center are nothing compared to the permanent eyesores that permeate what was once DC’s Chinatown. There’s a friggin’ Hooters, Starbucks, Bennetton, Fudruckers, Potbelly, Urban Outfitters, etc., etc., etc., among the most Americanized Chinese restaurants (unless you are brave enough to venture east of 6th Street past the panhandlers to Li Ho Food or Full Kee).

There are giant-sized ads on every available building with an unobstructed view along New York Ave. from the Convention Center to Union Station.