August 22, 2008
Ben's Chili Bowl 50th Anniversary Block Party in Photos
U Street institution Ben's Chili Bowl celebrated its 50th anniversary today with a block party, complete with moon bounce, food and other games for kids of all ages. They also let the crowd have a sneak peak at the new Ben's expansion site next door, which is still under construction. The line for half-smokes ran all the way across the street and circled around in front of the Suntrust next to the Metro station entrance.
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Let's hope nobody mistakes that moon bounce for a well-ventilated port-o-let. Believe me, it happens to the best of us.
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On a Friday afternoon? Why aren't those people at work?
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Cotton Candy + Chili Half Smoke + Moon Bounce = spontaneous combustion.
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Moon Bounce and chili? I hope the Moon Bounce is well ventilated too. At least people won't know if it the Moon Bounce making the farting noises or them.
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i dont understand why ANYONE would wait in that line. i mean, are the half smokes free today? if yes, then ok, i can understand. if not, GO BACK ANY OTHER DAY.
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"On a Friday afternoon? Why aren't those people at work?"
Ironically, I was just asking myself the opposite question.
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"It's a celebration!"
but, yeah you beat me to it on the chili + moonbounce. uh, ditto.
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Yeah, but today's the day they're using the moon bounce as a splashy commode! How often do you get to do that?
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A mother is collecting her son from the moon bounce:
"Little Timmy, what do you have all over your Gap shorts and bright orange crocs?"
"Chili!"
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Mom: I don't think that's chili
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Ben's has their own line of tourist apparel now? And a book? Barf.
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That blue tarp under the moon bounce is going to get a workout.
A stinky workout.
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"Ben's has their own line of tourist apparel now? And a book? Barf."
You must have a tender stomach if such innocuous things make you vomit so easily.
Ben's has been around a long time, in a volatile neighborhood, and is probably one of the--if not THE--best known eateries in the District. Yes, God forbid they attempt to capitalize on their familiarity by selling merchandise...
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I've already reserved my Official Ben's Chili Bowl Stomach Pump. Can anyone confirm they're about to license an official Ben's branded colonic irrigator? Because that's some spicy end-to-end client service, yo.
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and bill cosby is where in these pics?
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Spotted the Ben's celebration on CBS Sunday Morning. Unfortunately, they repeated the oft-told story about how halfsmokes got their name because they're half pork, half beef. In reality, it's because they were originally served split in half (cooks faster that way). Did manage to mention that they started as a breakfast item.
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I love how they've added Jell-o Pudding Pops to the dessert menu, as a tribute to Bill Cosby.
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I think I see both white people who live there in that photo.