A big part of the fabric of the community are the mom and pop stores in the neighborhood. When I lived downtown, I patronized the local businesses as much as possible. I loved living in a walking neighborhood, with storefronts just outside my front door. The more I got to know them, the more neighborly the community felt.
My local dry cleaner was owned by a nice elderly couple. A few times I not only walked away with my dry cleaning but also with a plateful of home made dumplings for dinner. It was bittersweet when they retired and sold the business. I was happy for them to enjoy their new phase in life but also sad to see them go. They were a sweet old couple and I remember them fondly.
There was a local bar frequented by the residents and business owners. Once I had drinks with an 85 year old man whose family business had been in the neighborhood since 1903. Although he handed the business over to his son, he still came out to the old neighborhood because he still called it home. I remember stumbling home feeling fortunate to have met him.
One of the cool things about living downtown, there were a number of restaurants within walking distance. I was a regular at some of the local eateries. I wouldn’t go as far to say I was Norm at Cheers, but I was a recognizable friendly face.
With real estate prices soaring, rents have been creeping up. Many of the local businesses are being priced out and forced to either close or relocate. I used to cheer on gentrification because it expanded and improved the neighborhood. Or so I thought. I later learned of the ugly consequence felt by the mom and pop stores. Now I don’t quite know how to feel about it. I want neighborhoods to grow and evolve, I’m just not quite sure if it’s worth the cost.
I searched for a warm and fuzzy song about cozy neighborhoods, to no avail. We’ll just have to enjoy This Town by the Go Go’s. A little more grit and glam than my neighborhood, but a great excuse to enjoy some older Go Go’s music.
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For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
We all know the chosen toys
Of catty girls and pretty boys
Make up that face
Jump in the race
Life's a kick in this town
Life's a kick in this town
[Chorus:]
This town is our town
It is so glamorous
Bet you'd live here if you could
And be one of us
Change the lines that were said before
We're all dreamers - we're all whores
Discarded stars
Like worn out cars
Litter the streets of this town
Litter the streets of this town
MyGenXerLife 
Cheers AND the GoGos – great post! “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name” 💛
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I’m a big fan of both! Cheers brings back good memories. And the early Go Gos was so good!
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Loved the GoGos. I saw them live with The Police at the Boston Garden when I was in high school. It was the “Ghost in the Machine” tour.
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I just looked that tour up. That must of been when the Go Gos first came out with Beauty of the Beat. That’s my favorite album from them. It was such a great sound and paved the way for other girl bands. That album I’d play right through. Less mainstream, more guitar.
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Beaut and the Beat” yup, we knew and loved all those songs. And they had Noxema all over their faces on the cover. We did that too! Very 80s.
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The album cover was really good. It’s one of the few that I really remember. That concert must be a good memory!
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I recently visited downtown near my workplace, but I nearly got lost as many of the places I used to frequent have closed down. And let’s not talk about those ugly tall buildings diminishing the charm of this small town.
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Parts of downtown have gotten dilapidated since Covid. I haven’t been to San Francisco in awhile, but I heard that city is getting pretty bad. Too bad, because it was such a wonderful city. Hope there is a revitalization
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Mom and Pop stores are the best! Your neighborhood sounds so welcoming.
I live in the outskirts of a sprawling metropolis. No small town charm here. I was born in a small town where everyone knew everyone. I often wonder what my life would be like if my family had never moved away.
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I’ve always been curious about living in a small town. It sounds nice. I’m sure it has its own unique challenges, but I’d like to try it in retirement
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Ya know there is a show playong near me based on the music of the go go’s
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That sounds pretty cool. I’d probably go see that if it were near me.
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We used to live in downtown Seattle and frequent a teriyaki shop just a block from our apartment. They knew my husband and what he wanted because he ate there so often. Of course when we moved to a small town just outside of the city limits, all of the cafes knew him there too. Ha! He likes to eat out a lot. ^_^
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I’ve only been to Seattle once on a stop over. We had a day there. It is such a great place. We were fortunate to be there when it didn’t rain. I suppose daily rain is a different vibe.
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I’ve lived in and around Seattle a few times. I like the Pacific Northwest. We might move there again someday. 🙂
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I’ve been wanting to visit Portland. That seems like a unique place. You can’t go wrong with the slogan “keep Portland weird”
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They tried “Keep ‘Burque quirky” here.in Albuquerque, but it never caught on. I almost moved to Portland, but moved here instead. Ha!
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I love the feeling of community. I wish I felt that a little more where I live, but I should make more effort to get out more. There are a couple of coffee shops that I go to often, though. I don’t remember this song by the Go Go’s. Saw them in concert years ago!
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I miss the feeling of community I had when I lived downtown. I haven’t had it in awhile, especially since moving to suburbia. Glad you are venturing out. I’m sure there are many nice places nearby. This song was an early Go Go’s song. I’m not sure how much airplay it got. It’s probably my favorite album from them. Beauty and the Beat – check it out on YouTube if your interested.
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There’s a delicate balance between infill and the preservation of the previous built environment and you’ve captured the tension well. We live in an old area in a 119-year-old home that we invest a lot of upkeep in. I am quite sure that when we move out a developer will buy it, level it, and put up a box stretching to all four corners of the land on the property. I miss corner stores. There are still a couple near us, though I’m sure they struggle. Catchy song. I guess another one might be Madness’s “Our House” though that’s maybe only subtly neighbourhood-oriented…
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Yes, I miss corner stores, too! I imagine your 119 year old home brings charm and character to the neighborhood. That’s something that can’t be replaced.
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Yes the area is quite unique, most of it built around 1905. We enjoy it and have tried to keep renovations faithful to the period. So many of these beauties have been bulldozed with no reclamation of artisanal fixtures.
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Oh no! The fixtures were lost! There are a few shows I watch where they restore older homes. I’ve learned from watching how important the original fixtures are. You are so fortunate to live in a house with character!
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