930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: sweetcell on July 20, 2008, 10:12:00 pm
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from the front page of this weekend's Wall Street Journal:
<img src="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AM288_WHITER_20080718160848.jpg" alt=" - " />
Caption: Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington has become
a melting pot as the area's racial mix changes.
full story: The End of White Flight (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121642866373567057.html): For the First Time in Decades, Cities' Black Populations Lose Ground, Stirring Clashes Over Class, Culture and Even Ice Cream
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At this point, I'm guessing that Ben's Chili Bowl is filled with tourists trying to be hip.
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
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The food is great and the people are nice
that's why I like it
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having actually been there before, ben's totally lives up to the hype
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You've obviously never tasted MY chili, or my wife's chili.
We should have a 9:30 board chili contest.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
having actually been there before, ben's totally lives up to the hype
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
How is it cliched? They've been operating pretty much unchanged for 50 years. "Cliched" would imply that they planned out the reputation they have, like a typical nightclub or coffeehouse, e.g. College Perk (yes, that's really it's name).
And what about the cliche of the pride of nonpatronage?
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
You've obviously never tasted MY chili, or my wife's chili.
We should have a 9:30 board chili contest.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
having actually been there before, ben's totally lives up to the hype
[/b]
i would love to try it, but i bet your house is filled with tourists trying to be hip
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It's been written about in so many DC tourist guidebooks and newspaper articles about DC that it's a cliche.
Hell, according to this review, they were even featured on the Rachel Ray show. Uggh.
http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/entertainment/bens-chili-bowl/v-102199427?&=0&page=3 (http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/entertainment/bens-chili-bowl/v-102199427?&=0&page=3)
Old School Flavor, Idiot SonBy just1uponu on 06/20/2006
I went there this past Sunday, with my son & daughter & my ex - wife & my bride to be, & my grand parent's. It was packed for a min, so to speak because there was a show next door. About the late soul singer ~ Marvin Gaye. I & my son were the only ones who wanted to eat there, the rest of my group didn't & my fiancee had been there before, & she told us that we would be hot & uncomfortable because they don't have A/C. Plus I, had heard & seen, Ben's Chili Bowl ~ On The Food Channel & Rachel Ray show. Anyway we all orderd our food & beverages, my ice tea didn't come untill I, had finished my meal. It was hot in there as she had said but, they had a fan there, the crowd left for the show next door & we were starting to fell the fan. Well ~ Ben & Virginia, son was seated with a couple a lady who I, think may have had his baby, & a pregnant lady too. He decided to turn the fan toward's them, a customer complained & Ben's son, was very rude by telling the customer that a fan cost - what $12.00 & the pregnant lady was more important then us. The customer was nice & even said that these people = meaning my group would like to fell the fan as well. Ben son replied &&&&&&, now the customer who complained, had about 14 people in his group & I, had 7 in my group, then he = customer replied if we were white would you feel like that? We felt that way as well beause the pregnant lady was white, & we were not. Ben's son said ~ F.U. Now check this out - Rite Aid is down the block I, say buy a few more fan's. My Grand parent's wanted to leave they were insulted & hurt by this idiot son, of Ben's. Ben's son was lucky so to speak, because my ex - wife grabbed my right hand, & my fiancee grabbed my left hand, & my kids told me Dad, please don't do it. I choose not to recieve my black belt's in the art's because I, choose not have my hands registerd with the police dept. Thier son will kill there bussiness if he keep's that type of attitude, towards paying customers.
Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
How is it cliched? They've been operating pretty much unchanged for 50 years. "Cliched" would imply that they planned out the reputation they have, like a typical nightclub or coffeehouse, e.g. College Perk (yes, that's really it's name).
And what about the cliche of the pride of nonpatronage? [/b]
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Uggh.
I think you mean... YUMMO!
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
How is it cliched? They've been operating pretty much unchanged for 50 years. "Cliched" would imply that they planned out the reputation they have, like a typical nightclub or coffeehouse, e.g. College Perk (yes, that's really it's name).
what about the word "cliche" makes you think they had to actively plan their reputation?
the place is literally featured on every single food/travel show/article about DC ... EVERY ONE ... the shows/articles always use it as an attempt to show "local flavor" in a city you usually visit to see the federal sites ... so in that sense, ben's is a complete and total cliche
that said, i love the place and go once a month or so... seth is right, the people are incredibly nice and the food is great... fuck the hype...
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Hell, according to this review,
that was absolutely hilarious, thank you
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I'd take advice from this guy.
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I choose not to recieve my black belt's in the art's because I, choose not have my hands registerd with the police dept. Thier son will kill there bussiness if he keep's that type of attitude, towards paying customers.
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Ben's Chili Bowl
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Ben's chili half smoke late night is UNDISPUTED
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
you truly are cut from a different cloth.
is the white house cliche? it's featured in more write-ups of DC than ben's. popular, famous != cliche.
i think the biggest cliche associated with B.C.B. is right here on this bboard, and the fact that we seize every opportunity possible to bring it up (ex: this thread).
a boardee chili contest would be awesome. i'd take y'all DOWN. we'd have to enter a bowl of Ben's chili too, to make sure our creations are indeed better than the cliche.
Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
The food is great and the people are nice
that's why I like it
that, and because you're white :p
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
Hipsters are endless comedy, :::bows down to the headiness:::
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I agree. So are fat people.
Originally posted by fatskippy:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
Hipsters are endless comedy, :::bows down to the headiness::: [/b]
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I break from my vegetarian ways once or twice a year for a Ben's Chili Cheese half smoke.
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Originally posted by eddie:
I break from my vegetarian ways once or twice a year for a Ben's Chili Cheese half smoke.
Really? I can honestly say I'd throw my guts up if I ate meat at this point. Just the thought turns my stomach now.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
is the white house cliche? it's featured in more write-ups of DC than ben's. popular, famous != cliche.
cliche: "anything that has become trite or commonplace through overuse. "
ben's is cliche because it's _constantly_ mentioned as an exemplar of "local culture" (and usually the only one in the shows/articles i'm thinking about) when there are a million other places they could talk about
i think you could also make a pretty good argument that the white house (or that einstein memorial everyone takes group photos at, or a bunch of other places) is a "cliche" tourist site
"cliche" isn't necessarily pejorative, something can still be overused/commonplace and be just fine
and that's all the parsing of rhett's ridiculous ramblings that i'll be doing for today :D
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Rhett, maybe you need a reminder of what cliché means:
Main Entry: cli·ché
Variant(s): also cli·che
Function: noun
Etymology: French, literally, printer's stereotype, from past participle of clicher to stereotype, of imitative origin
Date: 1892
1: a trite phrase or expression; also : the idea expressed by it
2: a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation
3: something (as a menu item) that has become overly familiar or commonplace
Ben's Chili Bowl cliché? Please. Did you mean overrated? And if you look at the definition above, last time I checked there was only one Ben's. If you want cliché, try TGI Fridays. Or any other fast food chain. I think Ben's is kind of a one trick pony, but it serves a purpose and at the right time you can't beat their half smoke or a chili burger. Plus, it means a lot to the city because of its history. That in itself gives it more worth than any number of your run-of-the-mill fast food joints.
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Please see Hoya's additional commentary above.
BCB certainly meets definitions 2 and 3 that you've laid out here. Thanks for bringing home my point.
I didn't mean overrated. Since I haven't been there, I'm not really qualified to make that call. It seems that quite a few people on the message board that i stole that review from seem to think it is.
Originally posted by bearman:
Rhett, maybe you need a reminder of what cliché means:
Main Entry: cli·ché
Variant(s): also cli·che
Function: noun
Etymology: French, literally, printer's stereotype, from past participle of clicher to stereotype, of imitative origin
Date: 1892
1: a trite phrase or expression; also : the idea expressed by it
2: a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation
3: something (as a menu item) that has become overly familiar or commonplace
Ben's Chili Bowl cliché? Please. Did you mean overrated? And if you look at the definition above, last time I checked there was only one Ben's. If you want cliché, try TGI Fridays. Or any other fast food chain. I think Ben's is kind of a one trick pony, but it serves a purpose and at the right time you can't beat their half smoke or a chili burger. Plus, it means a lot to the city because of its history. That in itself gives it more worth than any number of your run-of-the-mill fast food joints.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer:
It seems that quite a few people on the message board that i stole that review from seem to think it is.
And some people break their vegetarianism for it. Everyone's a winner!
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Bono's been to Ben's so it must be cliche.
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bottom line is their half smoke tastes great so i just tune out all the other stuff.. i live pretty close by and if i pass by and there isn't too much of a line and i need a bite .. well then its a great pleace..
they're going to open up next door too and have beer... should be interesting..
i like the place..
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Since I haven't been there, I'm not really qualified to make that call.
[/QB][/QUOTE]
since when has that ever stopped you before?
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Originally posted by twangirl:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Since I haven't been there, I'm not really qualified to make that call.
[/b]
since when has that ever stopped you before? [/QB][/QUOTE]
OOOOOOOH, you go girlfriend!!!
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WaPo Suckered by Ben's Chili Bowl (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/08/21/wapo-suckered-by-bens-chili-bowl/)
more on the trite/cliched media coverage of BEN'S
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Ben's is great... and as for cliches... Ben's itself is not a cliche, talking about it is cliche... and thinking that going there makes you urban or hip is just plain ghey.
One might say the same of the 930 Club, though...
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... and I can't believe this thread exists with no mention of the Ben's Chili Bowl show at the club tomorrow!
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bottom line is when you put that chili half smoke in your mouth and take a bite, it's pure ecstasy
yeah I know..."that's what she said"
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Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
... and I can't believe this thread exists with no mention of the Ben's Chili Bowl show at the club tomorrow!
Did anyone go to this? I can't believe I missed-out on Trouble Funk and EU. :(
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Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
... and I can't believe this thread exists with no mention of the Ben's Chili Bowl show at the club tomorrow!
Did anyone go to this? I can't believe I missed-out on Trouble Funk and EU. :( [/b]
Trouble Funk totally threw down, and EU was great too.