Where We Live

[Wilfrid]

People have an opinion about where you live. 

I am not innocent. I work with a company where everyone is remote and I constantly ask myself, why would you live *there*? But we’re all different.

I have lived in Harlem for four years. I have lived in a bunch of places in the city that no one has opinions about. Boy do people have opinions about Harlem.

All smiley-face positive. 

The most frequent response when I tell people where I’m from is “Oh, I hear it’s a good place now.” These are white people of course. I also get, “Oh, interesting.”

Yesterday I did get a recommendation for Harlem Biscuit Co from an Atlanta native who had visited recently and was a plausible judge of biscuits.

In an Uber tonight, a centro-European guy who had been to NYC once said, “So it’s no ghetto any more? When did it stop being ghetto?”

At least that’s direct.

Tomorrow morning, home to Harlem. 
 

 

[maison rustique]

I am currently reading East of Troost which is largely about segregation in Kansas City, Missouri, fictionalized but quite the way I recall it back in the 50s-70s when I was growing up here. I find it interesting that much of that segregation still exists all these decades later. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Not everything is up to date in Kansas City.

 

That said, living around 30 years in Orange County, CA, if I saw a black person in the area, it was startling. It was changing by the time we moved and I don't get back there much now, so am not sure whether or not the Orange curtain is still closed.

[splinky]

4 hours ago, maison rustique said:

I am currently reading East of Troost which is largely about segregation in Kansas City, Missouri, fictionalized but quite the way I recall it back in the 50s-70s when I was growing up here. I find it interesting that much of that segregation still exists all these decades later. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Not everything is up to date in Kansas City.

 

That said, living around 30 years in Orange County, CA, if I saw a black person in the area, it was startling. It was changing by the time we moved and I don't get back there much now, so am not sure whether or not the Orange curtain is still closed.

A friend wrote this book about her father's quest to bring quality healthcare to Black and poor citizens of Kansas City, Missouri. The health center he built just had its 50th anniversary. Segregation and continuing disinvestment are definitely still very much a thing.

Edited March 28, 2024 by splinky

[splinky]

Where I live, neighbors ask me in which apartment I work and try to poach me as a cleaner or companion. Where I live, neighbors tell me that I need to check in with the doorman before I bring a delivery upstairs. 

[StephanieL]

I live in a neighborhood of well-maintained homes and gardens.  I also live in a neighborhood of small apartment houses, not well-maintained homes, and front yards with cars on blocks.  Fireworks are a regular nighttime occurrence from May through October, as is the occasional gunshot in empty lots from folks taking target practice.  My cul-de-sac of 13 houses has residents of White, Black, Mexican, Filipino, and Vietnamese ancestry.  My city has one of the largest per-capita Pacific Islander populations in the mainland US.  My city is on no one's idea of hip places to live, but it has its own vibe.

Edited March 28, 2024 by StephanieL

[voyager]

We've lived in our current home for 47 years.    Turn of the century neighborhood of big unattached houses, back yards.    Little turnover but massive renovations when houses are sold.    On our block we have two Chinese and one Indian family, two venture capitalists and the city's best orthodontist.    Husband jokes that we live in a better neighborhood than our neighbors because we don't have any poor white trash nextdoor.

[Orik]

Local Holiday: Santacon

Indigenous People: Crusties

Thought Leader:

 

[Wilfrid]

Harlem, latest response I got twice, twice on my trip out of state, “It has really good food there.”

Yes it has food.