Quick thought or two

[kjpepper]

1) Reason #265 to be glad to have moved out of Northampton: B-Side Records and Gypsy Heart are closing/have closed. Two more in the long list of casualties that pretty much changed the face of downtown into serious yuppie paradise - you know it's bad when old standards like the Army Navy store, LaSalle Florists (hell, they survived the fucking building burning down at one point!), Beyond Words, Space Crime and Whalens have jumped ship for cheaper climes or early retirement. *sigh* I know times change and all that, but barely anything is left of downtown from when I first got here almost a decade ago. What next? Taipei and Tokyo?

2) I find it amusing that when purchasing something potentially embarrassing (for some people anyway) like condoms or yeast infection creme or tampons or pregnancy tests or adult diapers or enemas or diet pills or something else the compulsion is to also buy something else reasonably innocuous as if that cancels out the other purchase. Like diet pills and christmas candy. Or Depends and a soda. Or tampons with the latest issue of Motor Trend. (I saw a guy purchase that combination not to long ago; me and the checkout girl had a vast gigglefit afterwards). I mean... what's the mentality behind that? when all is said and done and the purchase has been made, are we really going to care what the clerk or the people behind you in line are going to think about the fact that you purchased an enema? And do you honestly think the dinky bottle of water or the face cream you got with it are really going to hide the fact that you purchased a box of Fleet? I mean really, if we're going to be embarrassed about our drugstore shopping list, how about finding something to balance that gigantic animatronic reindeer you just bought? That right there is embarrassing...

Comments

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

They're just worried that people will think "Hey! I'm bleeding like a stuck pig right now and I'm out of plugs!" or similar if they don't make it seem like more of a *casual* purchase. You buy Fleet, gum and an animatronic reindeer, it doesn't look so much like you're in a hurry to get home...just something you might need at some point. Or someone else might need. One item, and it's clear it's an immediate need.

[morlock.livejournal.com]

its cause if you by something like a coke or somehting along with tampons, theres a chance the clerk migth think "oh, hes picking it up for his girl" even tho OBVIOUSLY the tampons or yeast infection cream are for his girl. or sister. or mom.

that poor basturd...

[peacockdress.livejournal.com]

Very sorry to hear of the demise of Gypsy Heart particularly. Sasha's emporium was such fun, even though I was always too intimidated by her gypsy bellydancing coolness to know what to say.

I shall festoon my staircase with chilli pepper lights in her honour.

[sydneycat.livejournal.com]

I have to be a bit of a grinch here and say that 1) B-Side kinda sucked and 2)Gypsy Heart while cool and eclectic and all...was always too expensive to actually buy anything from. So that kinda hurts your ability to maintain longevity. I know it was probably at least in part due to the ridiculous rents...but still. Ah well...there's no denying that the place is getting increasingly *yuppy* and *annoying*.

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

LOL, ok, that's the bit I was missing. There definitely is that "OMG I need this right now" air if it's just that.

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

I loved that. Tampons and Moter Trend. He couldn't have reestablished his masculinity any more if he'd bought American Bodybuilder or something.

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

Gotta disagree on both points. B-side at least made the effort to know their market and cater to them (can we say a midnight release party almost every time Ani Difranco sneezed?), and I always thought they had a better atmosphere and selection than the other places in northampton.

I could also usually find something fairly cheap and in my size at Gypsy Heart. Unlike, say, Ultra Gal.

[austingoddess.livejournal.com]

True.
OTOH, *everybody* knows that trick, so it only really serves to make it more amusing when you really mix and match your purchases. :)

[sydneycat.livejournal.com]

Actually you're right about B-Side. But they didn't have a very good overall selection unless you were interested in vinyl or mainstream rock. But they definitely did the cool midnight releases and such which was neat.

I could never find anything at Gypsy Heart...you must have all the luck. :-)

[nireena.livejournal.com]

my god. if/when i ever end up in the noho area again, the place will be well-nigh unrecognizable to me. bart's, herrell's, all the ones you mentioned, what's left? please don't tell me the Teapot has closed...

i remember one of my friends being amazed that dad was willing to buy pads for me and mom. we used to actually cut the front panel off the package and give it to him so he'd get the right brand and subtype, especially since mom and i had different preferences (company, heaviness, length, wings/no wings, etc). he would just tuck the pad package clippings in the same bundles as the coupons for that week that he and mom had saved from the flyers. apparently my friend's dad refused to buy pads for her right from the outset when she was 13 or so. i thought that was weird; pads were just part of the groceries, like eggs or milk.

[sundart.livejournal.com]

Hey, if B-side isn't quite gone yet I have $20 in gift cetificates. Would you take and spend them for me this week?

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

Herrells at least is still there. :) Yuppies need ice cream too.

And so's teapot and 30 other asian restaurants. o_O

[kjpepper.livejournal.com]

sure