Photo by Ted Eytan
Welcome back to Overheard in D.C., DCist’s weekly column of funny, strange, and poignant things that our readers and staff overhear and send in. We’ve been doing it since 2006, and check out the archives here.
Halloween is always a big event in D.C., and this year was no different.
Overheard of the Week
At CVS:
Woman with two vibrating Durex rings and a bag of Halloween candy drops her purchases on the counter.
CVS cashier: “You know those are buy one, get one free.”
Woman says happily: “I know, that’s why I bought two!”
CVS cashier: “Uhhhh, I was talking about the Halloween candy.”
Woman: “Oh right, ok, I’ll get two of those too!”
We can’t have Overheard in D.C. without your submissions! Email your Overheards to overheard(at)dcist[dot]com and don’t forget to include who was talking, to whom, and in what context.
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Conclave!
In an office hallway near Dupont Circle at 12:30pm:
Female worker in the hallway entrance to an office exclaims to someone inside: “My office will explode with rainbows and unicorns… if Joe Biden is named Secretary of State. Glitter too. THAT will be the smoke signal.”
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Let’s not get ahead of ourselves
In line for a documentary screening at the Newseum:
Two young men, interns or very recent college grads, are discussing the social scene around D.C. Guy 1 clearly fancies himself an expert.
Guy 1: “Where have you been going out?”
Guy 2: “Dupont mostly.”
Guy 1: “Dupont’s cool, but you should really expand your territory, get out of your Northwest bubble. Maybe go to Logan Circle!”
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A good way to make a cabbie mad
Friday before Halloween in Clarendon at Clarendon Blvd. and Highland:
Three drunk bros in their 20s are waiting on the side of the street.
One bro knocks on a cab window: “Hey, are you Uber?”
Cab leaves.
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Yep
At a Mt. Pleasant Halloween party:
A bunch of 20-somethings dressed as Rick from Rick & Morty, a Crayon, Frida Kahlo and a Bloody Mary are talking about NPR friends and Tiny Desk concerts.
Rick: “I’ve got to learn how to exploit people more.”
Bloody Mary: “That’s the most D.C. thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
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Also yep
GW Campus, woman in her early 20’s talking on her cell phone:
“Most people at the Halloween party were older—almost everyone was around 30. It was weird because we didn’t really understand their costumes and they didn’t understand ours. Before the party I didn’t think there was such a big generation gap but believe me—THERE IS.”
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Nice to see the young people taking strong stands
National Zoo on Halloween afternoon:
Two tween boys are trying on animal ear headbands.
Kid 1: “Hey! I’m a furry now!”
Kid 2: “No. You don’t know me anymore.”
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Love these guys.
On an unusually crowded Green Line train Tuesday evening:
The Metro operator has animatedly welcomed the riders to the train “bound for Greenbelt by way of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C,” extolled the virtues of this crisp Tuesday evening, and talked straight through from Gallery Place to Mt. Vernon Square.
Then at the end of the ride: “And remember, no one can steal your joy.”
Later:
He ends our stop at Columbia Heights with an equally sincere, “Thank you for choosing Metro, supporting Metro, and tolerating Metro.”
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Another very D.C. conversation
Trivia night at Penn Social:
Two mid 20’s women are chatting.
Woman 1: “So where do you work?”
Woman 2: “At the World Bank.”
Woman 1: “Oh! Do you know Sarah? She works in web design.”
Woman 2: (stares blankly) “…Um… no, sorry. There’s thousands of people who work there.”
Woman 1: “Oh I had no idea. I figured web design would have narrowed it down.”
Woman 2: “Nope, sorry.”
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Christmastime is here again!
Clarendon, Thursday morning. Two women are talking while walking out of an office building:
One woman to the other: “…Starbucks commissions the Devil himself to design the Christmas cup.”
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Cap Lounge!
Wednesday night during game 7 of the World Series, at Capitol Lounge on Pennsylvania Ave SE.
An anti-Trump ad airs mid-inning.
Bartender: “Enough with politics. Can we get back to the Cubs grabbing Cleveland by the pu**y right now?”
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Hopefully this is a Halloween joke
In Georgetown:
Sharp dressed man in dark suit says into cell phone, “…and we should sacrifice them right in front of the building before the project starts!” (Laughs hysterically.)
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Right
At A Baked Joint on Thursday afternoon:
A group of three women in their 20s get assorted iced beverages from the counter. Two of the women start adding cream/sugar to their drinks while the other stands back with her iced tea and, smirking to herself, proudly declares: “I’m a purist.”