DCist: The House That Borf Built is Closing

Hoodrat

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:56:57 -0500

this sucks. there aren't enough such venues in dc.

Hillman

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:53:09 -0500

"AFAIK none of the kids involved with running the space were involved with anything BORF did. Not sure whatever made any of you think that they were except for the name-association and your lazy assumptions." This, from Wikipedia...."In a video shown on July 29, 2006, the Borf Brigade, a group claiming responsibility for the graffiti spree, asserted that capitalism and the culture of aesthetics created the alienation and feelings of worthlessness that caused a 16-year-old to commit suicide. The group said they used other peoples' property to commemorate and pay homage to their deceased friend." And, uh, isn't this Tsombikos guy actually Borf?

Kriston Capps

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:18:20 -0500

Note that it's Bobby Fisher, as in Borf, not Bobby Fischer, as in the antisemitic chessmaster.

Dauragon

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:12:31 -0500

I'm actually kind of sad by this. I hate seeing places like this go. Hope they can find another spot! :D *tips hat*

crymeanicerink

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:09:54 -0500

Regardless of what one thinks of Borf, the Bobby Fischer Memorial Building provided a valuable DIY space - and a welcoming DIY space - following the closing of the Warehouse next door. Significant improvements have been made to the building, and I for one would rather have a usable space than another abandoned building on East Capitol. And Kriston, ITA. I got a new shirt!

IMGoph

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:07:30 -0500

sexy fitsum: i live down the street from the borf building. i'm not confusing it with the douchy kid from great falls, va. i was commenting on the fact that borf wants to buy real estate. says so right there in the last quote of this story. he always railed against the system and the man in his rants, and now he's going to join the system. good for him if he's planning on undermining society from within, i wish him well. still is worth a laugh though. kriston: should the potential warehouses be at 9th and rhode island NE, not NW? don't seem to be too many warehouses on the corner in NW...

Sexy Fitsum

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:46:15 -0500

Commenters 2-7 (fuck knows what the hell Monekyrotica is getting at) are confusing the building w/ BORF the graf guy. AFAIK none of the kids involved with running the space were involved with anything BORF did. Not sure whatever made any of you think that they were except for the name-association and your lazy assumptions. Anyway, I'll miss the big time. I haven't seen spirit like that since the 80s

Kriston Capps

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:45:24 -0500

@kneel: It looks like the ergs! and Weston are still playing on Sunday, though the people I spoke to weren't responsible for the music lineup at the space and did not know whether they would have the generator throughout the day on Sunday. An acoustic set was mentioned as a possibility. I for one think it would be great if Weston ran through Got Beat Up on acoustic guitars. —Kriston

kneel

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:23:13 -0500

this is awful news. i hope this doesn't affect sunday afternoon's show with the ergs! and weston. this space is a great idea, and dc is really lacking places for truly independent artists to express themselves. all of the music venues around here seem to be more interested in putting on indie/brit-pop dance parties than showcasing local diy talent.

La Chingona

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:02:23 -0500

As another neighbor of the BORF building, I am very sad to see it go as well. These kids took over a space that no one wanted, that everyone neglected and began a transformation. I don't understand all the cranky vitriol of these crotchety commenters - Does your Starbucks jones go that deep? Does the DIY ethic harsh your mellow that badly? Personally, as a nearby property owner, I welcomed their presence. And given the molasses pace at which non-corporate sponsored change actually occurs in DC, I have zero problem with rent-free neighbors who bring independent arts to the community.

wheresmycoffee

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:28:58 -0500

damn straight mike.

Mike2

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:25:46 -0500

This place was one of the few DIY art, music etc spaces in the city. I saw bands here that wouldn't be able to get a gig elsewhere. Regardless of their politics, it sucks that another cool venue that allowed for weird/unknown acts to perform is shut down. For a city of this size, DC has very few such spaces, and those are disappearing (ex Warehouse next door). I hope these guys can find a way to reopen somewhere else.

wheresmycoffee

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:11:26 -0500

i'm actually sad this is closing. i liked the direction they were taking. and as a neighbor to the building, i appreciated them livening up north capitol a bit.

IMGoph

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:07:59 -0500

great to hear that mr. tsombikos is selling out. sell-out! sell-out! sell-out! sell-out! guess that means that the NCMS people are going to have to look for another art-based institution for bloomingdale/eckington's revival...

Bethesdaist

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:58:01 -0500

Dear Borf: Get a job. Sincerely, The Arts Community

MrTinDC

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:38:29 -0500

Add me to the list of those who are unimpressed, to say the least, with Borf and his cohorts.

downtown rez

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:24:44 -0500

""[The landlord]'s decided to charge rent while we're trying to get $20,000 worth of repairs done," says Marissa Botelho, a member of the Borf Brigade." It's called "triple-net". Just wait for your portion of the owner's tax bill. Dilettantes.

Jaynuze

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:12:35 -0500

"John [Tsombikos] has recently become more interested in owning real estate." Once his purchase has been made ... prepare your spray cans DC. Eye for an eye?

Hillman

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:10:35 -0500

Borf fans don't understand the concept of paying rent? I am shocked. Shocked. You want to build temples to self-absorbed, pimple-faced dorks that caused a lot of people (mostly landlords and other property owners) a lot of $$ and hell, go ahead. But don't then go bitching about the rent.

monkeyrotica

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:01:45 -0500

I don't know "art" but I know what I hate. And I hate Borf. You clowns picked the wrong day to go Borfing. Locked and loaded. Express elevator to Hell....GOING DOWN!