Photo by Paul Cortez

The National Zoo is great. It’s free, it’s outdoors, it’s educational. You see people of all ages and backgrounds learning and having fun. To wit:

An about 5-year old girl and her mother are at the National Zoo on Saturday overlooking the elephants:

Girl: “Look mommy, the elephant has 5 legs.”
Mother: “No, it has 4 legs and a tail.”
Girl: “No, I didn’t count his tail.”
Mother, after realizing what the 5th leg on the male elephant was: “Yes you’re right. That elephant does have 5 legs!” (Mother hurries child away.)

After the jump, concerts, more kids, and Metro operators being Metro operators.

Overheard in D.C. relies on you to send in the good stuff you hear. Make sure you tell us who, when, where, and in what situation, or else it won’t make sense.

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It’s probably simpler than filling out the enrollment paperwork

At the 9:30 Club, waiting in line for the doors to open before the Jonathan Coulton/They
Might Be Giants Show:

Girl in her twenties to her friend: “People in my office start talking about health care and when they ask me what I think I just say ‘I don’t care – I’m going to be a cyborg.'”

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Hunger affects the senses

Southside exit of Dupont Circle, heading up the (working!) escalator:

From the street level a sing-song voice can be heard.

Annoyed woman: “Who keeps singing Big Mac Big Mac?”
As the escalator reaches the street, it’s clearly hear what she definitely misheard: A vendor is calling, “Street Sense! Street Sense!”

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At first this might make you mad, but then you realize the guy has dreadlocks and a soul patch, and suddenly you just feel bad for him.

On the corner of 14th and L St. NW on Wednesday:

An older white guy with dreadlocks and a soul patch is yelling into the driver-side window of a cab: “Where are you from?”
Cab driver answers.
Man screams sarcastically, “Oh well! He’s from Africa! Jesus!! All of ’em are foreigners!”

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Dan Snyder is hoping people do this at Redskins games. Except the Caps score more than the Redskins.

A group of older hockey fans, probably in their 50s, is outside the Gallery Place Metro right before Monday’s Caps vs. Coyotes game:

Older Caps fan: “Ok, when the away team scores, we buy the beers. When we score, you buy the beers. If it is a penalty shot, two beers. And we can change the rules if we aren’t drinking enough beer.”

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Another reason why Metro operators should always be allowed to say whatever they want

On the Red line to Glenmont:

Train operator announces that the train is headed towards Glenmont, welcomes everyone into the train, and then says:

“I just want to take a second to give my condolences to all the Redskins fans on the train today. My understanding was that you’re supposed to win your ‘Redemption Game.’ I don’t think DC stands for ‘District of Columbia’ anymore — it stands for ‘Dallas Cowboys.’ BUT, at least you can save 15% on car insurance with Geico and Costco is having a sale on paper products in aisle 7. Thanks and have a great day!”

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Occupiers: funny

At Occupy DC in McPherson Square:

Mid-20s girl enters the open “common area” in the square eating a sandwich and joins a conversation with four other 20-something Occupy DC protesters.

Girl #1: “Where did you get that?”
Girl #2 (with sandwich): “From CVS.”
Girl #1: “That has meat? I thought you were a vegan.”
Guy: “I’m not a vegan, but I’d probably become one if I ate that.”

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Kids

In the Starbucks on Conn. Ave. near Chevy Chase Circle:

Little boy: “Mom, can I get a pa-titty?”
His mom: “A what?”
Little boy: “A pa-titty.”
His mom: “Um… what?”
Little boy: “That’s what it says on the case. P-e-t-i-t-e. A pa-titty.”
His mom: “OHHH A PETITE. Petite. It’s French, so the e doesn’t make a sound.”

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That is correct

Walking past the YWCA on G Street near the American Art Museum:

Guy to his girlfriend: “No, I think you’re wrong. If it were the women’s YMCA, it would be called the WYMCA.”

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And scene

Overheard by the Capitol reflecting pool:

Two Asian men in suits are standing beside the U.S. Capitol reflecting
pool, taking numerous pictures of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Two twenty-something guys walk by. One says to the other: “Why are the Chinese
guys taking so many pictures of the Capitol?”
The other replies: “‘Cause they’re going to own it one day.”