The Choice of the Next Generation

One of my favorite places in our home is not really inside our home.   As you peer out onto the lofts named after hip, New York streets and over the cleared land, development delayed by the recession (apparently over, you know), you see a few of the last vestiges of the "edginess" of Rosslyn (our neighborhood in Arlington which apparently wasn't always so PC**) -- the lit up Pepsi machine.

{see the lit up Pepsi machine?}

{zoomed-in view}

{tried night view...it didn't work out so well}

I get a kick out of it everytime I see it.  I have this vision of people in the middle of the night craving a Diet Pepsi, getting out of bed, scrounging for change and hitting up the Pepsi machine on the side of the road.  Or a small group breaking out into "Billie Jean" around the Pepsi machine.




I haven't actually gone up close to see if it even works -- I'd like to think that it does and let my imagination entertain me.

**Note that apparently in the 1870s - 1890s, Rosslyn experienced a period that may have resembled the likes of pre-Giuliani NYC.  It was home to a number of brothels and bars, many of which were open 24 hours.  In addition, a short distance up Lee Highway (maybe near the famous Italian Store?), was an area known as Dead Man's Hollow.  Rossylyn's website notes that the area was considered so dangerous that Virginia farmers returning from DC with proceeds from weekly produce sales frequently traveled in an armed convoy.  A series of raids in 1905 led by Crandall Mackey, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, resulted in the closing of several illegal businesses and a “clean up” of the area.  This was not, apparently the "right" side of the river for reputable men and women.  I also learned all of this from my friend (and home office redesign client!  Pictures to be posted soon!) Amy who is in an amazing band called Dead Men's Hollow -- check it out here -- they are playing at the Birchmere for New Year's Eve!