Interestingly, I was in Clinton Hill across from the projects. When California was called, and Obama eclipsed 270 electoral votes, we immediately began hearing a ton of screaming/shouting in the streets below.
I was though, I admit, pretty disappointed to look outside and see that the noise was coming entirely from a group of 20 or so white kids who'd piled out of a bar across the street. The projects themselves, which we walked through to the train about an hour later, were completely dead and silent.
It's a pretty curious thing that Obama winning led to impromptu celebrations that demographically were largely white in the East Village and Williamsburg, but nothing of the sort took place in the projects I walked through.
I'm not claiming to know what this means, or trying to rain on anybody's parade. Just pointing it out is all.
I'm so sick and tired of "hipster" being a four letter word. Now that we have something we can all agree on would you people shut the fuck up already?!
@SurlyDuck: I'm with you on that. It's pretty weak, and tiresome, and automatically makes me think less of the person slinging it around. And they really mean "poseur", not "hipster", anyway.
@hamburgerhotdog: Awesome indeed! I am happier today than I have been in 5 years. The last time I felt this good I was on a plane getting the fuck out of this country to go on my honeymoon.
@hamburgerhotdog: Funny you shoud mention Klonopin though. I was on Klonopin last night, as a safety precaution in case the Repugs tried to steal the election or some other such shenanigans. I'm still a bit groggy.
yeah, i mean, it's sort of terrifying for me to speak without irony and cynicism and to not be all logical and rude and all, i don't know, the way we've all been used to being about politics and america for the length of our voting lives, but it was last night was seriously unbelievable. i watched the news in my friend's apartment in williamsburg and hearing everyone cheering in the streets was nothing short of surreal, and went to union square shortly after and just had never witnessed anything like that, at all, and then sat on her steps and had a really drunk conversation about feeling like we were a part of something and having hope and faith again and all kinds of doofy shit like that, but i mean, SERIOUSLY.
This was the last neighborhood I lived in (5 years, N. 6th near Havemeyer) before retiring from NYC at the twilight of the 90s; this is one of the few times I'm sorry I no longer live in Williamsburg.
U Street in Washington DC was beautiful scene. strangers hugging, drums and dancing, cheers carried throughout the city. Then we hiked up to the White House, where in the face of all the cheers outside the windows they shut the lights out. The White House shut the lights out! I didn't even think there was such a switch (perhaps an old switch for hiding from bombing raids...that's apt). Then the crowd sang Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey Goodbye to GWB.
I was at hipster haven Pete's Candy Store last night, and let me tell you Lorimer street reminded me of the Boston streets when the Sox won the World Series. It was crazy and amazing.
Spent election evening teaching then I went over to a cop bar in working-class NJ. You should've seen these hardcore guys well up. The bartender was amazed. It was a beautiful site.
Now we've got some work to do. All you Uncle Women and Luxury People, come around to my way of thinking.
I was at Prospect and Vanderbilt last night. We had been cheering and having a good time at the bar, but when CNN called it, it was a totally different experience. Everyone cheered, cried, hugged, high fived. I've never experienced anything like that. Shortly after I went outside to call my parents and there were people literally dancing on the streets. Every car that drove by honked their horn and people were just cheering.
On my way home around 1 am i hugged a bunch of strangers and yelled WE DID IT. Everyone was smiling. It was really amazing.
The scene on U Street in DC was fucking beautiful. I saw it on teevee, wished I was there. Also, a bunch of tourists & locals swarmed the White House, I think maybe to exorcise it.
Took a drunken cab ride home last night. The driver was as excited and happy as I was. We gushed the whole way, and when I got out, he told me to have a great night.
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I was though, I admit, pretty disappointed to look outside and see that the noise was coming entirely from a group of 20 or so white kids who'd piled out of a bar across the street. The projects themselves, which we walked through to the train about an hour later, were completely dead and silent.
It's a pretty curious thing that Obama winning led to impromptu celebrations that demographically were largely white in the East Village and Williamsburg, but nothing of the sort took place in the projects I walked through.
I'm not claiming to know what this means, or trying to rain on anybody's parade. Just pointing it out is all.
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Hamburgerhotdog loses.
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DC on Bush in 2001:
DC on Obama in 2008:
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Now we've got some work to do. All you Uncle Women and Luxury People, come around to my way of thinking.
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On my way home around 1 am i hugged a bunch of strangers and yelled WE DID IT. Everyone was smiling. It was really amazing.
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"Have a great four years, man!" I said back.