MTV's newest season of "The Real World" is being filmed about 20 feet from my house. This blog will chronicle the pain and annoyance they put me and my neighbors through as well as the heckling my friends and I plan for the newest crop of "real worlders."
Omega is a well hidden LGBTQ bar in DC. Formerly known as the Fraternity House, this bar is off the beaten path for many. I’ll be honest…I rarely go there. I just don’t get to western Dupont that often.
However, I did last night for the amateur drag queen competition to see a friend, Lady Gabanna/Grandma Wrinkles, perform in her very first show. The performances ranged from the guy not in drag wearing a prison jumpsuit to Mary Poppins and her spoonful of sugar. Grandma Wrinkles came in second and all rejoiced.
Yet throughout the whole performance, I got this feeling that this is not a bar that the RWDC would go to….even if a friend was performing. Not sure if it is because Omega isn’t “hip/cool” like Town or Halo, or if it is just off the beaten path, or if they’d just be shocked, but the vibe was still there.
I hope they do go to the amateur drag competition and stay for the whole thing. In the meantime, I wonder what other secret treasures they are missing in DC simply because they aren’t for MTV’s current viewing audience.
To begin, let me say that I am somewhat new to these “weblogs,” as they are known, so I apologize if I do not use the parlance or rules that have arisen in this nouvelle medium.
That said, I was invited to speak on the topic of these young pups that are being filmed for a show known as “The Real World.” I live across the street and have to put up with the tomfoolery they and their stalkers/devotees/disciples bring to my neighborhood. And let me tell you…I am NOT pleased!
Does a dog not have a right to her territory? I have lived in this neighborhood for 3 years and peed on this “Real World” house multiple times. Using the precedence of Fido v. Queen Victoria, any residence that a dog has peed on for over 1 year becomes wholly or partially property of said dog. As a homeowner, I had no say whether these fiends would move into my property! Worse, I can no longer relieve myself on this house due to gentlemen who threaten to call the super-villain known as Dog-Catcher.
Furthermore, when I take my human slaves outside to exercise them, where is a respectable lady like myself supposed to walk when these humans take up all the street being videotaped and recorded??? I do respect these “Real World”-ers for having human slaves like myself but my goodness! Have some control over your human slaves!
Last, there is a panda that lives in that house. Now, I know many fine Pandas–not just the Pandas that live in the palatial estate on Connecticut, but also the Pandas that are currently plotting to become the new royalty in Myanmar. However, this “panda” seems to be some kind of manimal–possibly the kind that prostitute-loving Senator David Vitter has recently warned the animals about. He seems somewhat poorly bathed and does not eat bamboo at all. This panda may have Stockholm Syndrome. My brethren and I shall keep you updated on his status.
I will not lie…I shall miss the folk across the street. Because for all of their faults, they do have one redeeming quality that myself and many other dogs do enjoy–their shit does stink.
I have confirmation firsthand from my stylist, Tyler, that VSL Hair Design in Dupont has signed with the Real World to allow filming for when cast members need a trim and a makeover.
I’ve been getting my haircut at VSL for over 6 years. It’s my favorite place in DC as I am VERY particular about who gets to touch my hair. Interested to see how this is portrayed on the show and whether or not producers will ask one of the cast members to “make a big change” and cut all their hair off or get a makeover so they can edit it later on into something bigger.
Either way – just passing along the info on this gorgeous Saturday in DC.
A friend of the blog tried to find a little zen tonight at a yoga class, ran into a few castmates, and shared her story with us. Another in our continuing series of how the RWDC is invading the Dupont WSC.
Tonight after work our friend decided to go to a yoga class at the Dupont WSC. Our friend walked into class and sat down next to one of the RWers (big mistake, her words). There were no cameras at that point. The cameras arrived as the class was about to start. They stayed for awhile at the beginning then left and came back. No one in the class was asked to sign a release and our friend was told that the teacher would and that would be enough [Editor's note: what?!] She said that none of them could say where they were from or why they had cameras following them and one was wearing stripped pajama bottoms that looked ridiculous. My friend described them as annoying and whiny (shocker).
One of our loyal readers let us know that the Real Worlders are using the WSC on Connecticut Ave near the house. Read the email below to find out the details and then let management and corporate (800-565-2692) know how you feel.
My friend and I asked to speak to a manager. Here’s the scoop:
- The Sports Club corporate headquarters made the decision and passed it down to the General Manager, who is very sympathetic to her members, but can’t do much to change it.
- No Real World cast or crew member is allowed to speak to you while at the gym. Management promised me that they will be reminded of this.
- They are only using the Dupont Circle WSC location (great…)
- They are not allowed in the locker rooms or spa downstairs.
- The gym cannot tell members what is being film, when it is being film, etc. so even if you call and ask if they’re there, they can’t tell you. (This is apparently some legal issue)
- They will not film you, but the waiver has been signed by corporate, so they can film whenever they want in the building.
I’d encourage readers to ask to speak to management. Be polite, file a complaint, and then call the member service department: 800-565-2692
Also, report them every single time they speak to you or get in your way. They were told, according to management, that they are absolutely not to disturb the members.
While we would have preferred not to be followed up by the RWDC equivalent of “Spencer” – a self-proclaimed “stalkerazzi” who has also tweeted that she told Hot 99.5’s @kaneshow that she’d “… get nekked in the hot tub!!” – it’s a solid piece that might help explain a little more about what neighbors are dealing with, and also why we’re here.
I’m sitting with a few friends at Big Hunt. We’re talking about the New York Senate shit show and I’m passively hitting on this wonderful lady who is about to hit the trail. She’s tall and blonde, has a bombastic personality and can keep up with me at the bar, totally my type. As we’re talking she looks behind me and smiles. “You aren’t going to believe this….but The Real World just walked in.” Naturally I thought she was fucking with me. There is no way that I am quite literally living my earlier post. I tell her she’s fucking with me, right about the time I get bumped in the back by a camera man. I’m only about two vodka sodas in and all of a sudden I’m filled with joy. This is going to be epic. My friends were overtaken by both a sudden glee and a sudden terror as they realize any conversation we were having was about to be hijacked by my analyzing every move that the cast and crew made. They are a forgiving sort. One is a professional writer who understands my sudden need to digest everything, one a former successful blogger turned operative. The blonde thinks that ARWDC is cool. She is a political operative from the other side of the aisle which magnifies her sexiness by like a million. (Sorry girls, Republicans really are hotter than us Democrats for some reason)
The cast arrives at their table and I’m now on Vodka soda number two. It’s a Sunday night so I figure I should take it easy. This one went over to the juke box and and, immediately scans the selections on the “VH1 Greatest Hits Volume 4 album”. I wanted to shit myself, I mean how could you so consciously be more of a corporate whore? He ended up choosing:
Kanye, All falls down Outkast: The way u move, club mix Queen; Another one bites the dust Temptations: Something or other, I was starting to get tipsy by this point.
As my friends and I were quietly critiquing his musical selections, I overheard the General Manager say to a member of his staff, “I’m really not thrilled they are here.” I immediately perked up and the two of us began talking. The staff and management of the bar were extremely gracious, but were squarely Anti-Real Worlders. I was happy to know that I was at home amongst my people…and let me just tell you, I’ve always been a big fan of The Big Hunt, I am even moreso a fan now.
At this point, I feel as though we were getting a bit loud, and maybe we were flagrantly talking about the blog within earshot of one of the Production Assistants. It was then that the most immaculate thing ever happened. One of the cast chose to engage us.
Ashley was a lovely girl, a 22 year old from out west, a foster child who planned on volunteering somewhere in the city with children. As we came to learn, all the house members are free to find employment wherever they want. She told me that she was a serious, life-long Democrat and a former Obama Delegate in Las Vegas. She was very “religious” and said that she was sure that if Jesus were alive today, he’d be a Democrat. This nearly got my lovely blonde friend to leap out of her chair. I shot her a glance and a wry smile. My Republican friend did not tear her to shreds…slightly disappointing. Ashley continued talking to me and then very candidly said, “Why does everyone in this town hate us?” I responded, “I don’t hate you.” (OH COME ON READER, SHE WAS CUTE.) Furthermore, she REALLY cared, and I must say, it was endearing.
“Well so many people do, I mean, I guess if I lived somewhere, and a reality tv show came to town and went to my bars and restaurants, I’d be a little pissed too, but we’re just normal people, like everyone else.”
“But, you aren’t, because you are being followed by cameras…”
“But before we were followed by cameras, we were just like anyone else.”
“Well, yes and no, I mean, my friends and I wouldn’t ever have cameras follow us around and EVERY ONE of us works in media. By the way, can I buy you a drink?”
“I can’t drink today, I’ve been drinking for three days straight and I have [A medical condition] I should probably lay off.“
“Indeed”
“Well, it was nice meeting you.”
“Same.”
A fellow ARWDC blog contributor then walked in and smiled at all the craziness. He proceeded to walk over to the juke box and put DeVo’s “Whip It” on repeat. We identified an African-American male on the cast as being gay based on his Human Rights Campaign t-shirt. This pissed me off slightly as HRC doesn’t really DO much for the LGBT cause, I mean wearing an HRC t-shirt is kinda like wearing a Che Guevara shirt…it shows how tragically hip and non-revolutionary you are.
At the end of the day, I had a few too many drinks and went home alone. Story of my life.
Despite what the Fenty Administration’s Andrew Huff promised, tour busses are coming down S street to gawk at the Real World DC house.
UPDATE: This is the Real World DC’s tour bus for the night. They also got a free pass from the Fenty Admin. to have a chartered bus on a residential street…which, again, the Fenty Admin. said would not happen.
While I am sure Spencer and Heidi are riding these everyday, tour busses don’t make local property owners/renters and small business owners happy because they ruin residential streets and cause noise pollution.
ARWDC just received an anonymous tip from an area resident who had a bad, to put it mildly, experience with Real World DC security last night. What happened to these two individuals is awful, yet frankly, not shocking….way to go MTV and Real World DC.
Note: This is the tip in full, unedited.
“Just dialed 311 after a security guy near the street asked me and a friend to leave. We heard the cast discussing how rude people in DC were in what we think were their hottub, The police arrived. I have no problem with them protecting the property, but the guy told us he was Park Police. He reached into his back pocket and said he was our worst nightmare. He said he was going to arrest us.
That was my complaint to the MPD when they arrived after we called the non-emergency number. The security officer claimed he worked for an agency he clearly did not. He also should not have reached towards his back pocket and threatened us. Additionally, he made a homophobic comment. When I told him he was not a park policeman, he told me just because I was walking with a girl this did not mean I was straight. As I am gay this statement was true, but it was clearly intended to demean me and make me feel inferior. I asked him why he was making a homophobic comment, but he responded by continuing to insist that we leave the area.
The police arrived. The 311 operator called me back and asked if I wanted to file a report. I said I wanted to get on with my night. When my friend told me the police were leaving the scene I flagged them down. I told them what happened and said a man in a black security shirt had stated he was a park policeman. The police said they could not find him, but I returned to the scene and pointed the man out. When the police approached him and asked him if he was park police and he stated he was not.
The police told me the security were a bunch of “yahoo’s”. They planned to speak to the head of security.
Just so you are aware, beware if you plan to walk by and stop near S and 20th Streets, NW. Apparently, this areas if off limits until Thanksgiving.”
###
Remember, YOU have rights…you can walk by the house, you can stand out in front of the house. If you get harassed, call 311 just like our tipster did! If RWDC fans like DCist and Woodbridge, VA blogger Spencer can gawk, so can RWDC opponents. Just don’t break any laws–we don’t, our tipster didn’t, and neither should you.
While we would have described Berg as “resident anti-douchebag and current Berg,” we wanted to h/t to WaPo’sReliable Source for quoting one of our own:
“I’m not a curmudgeony 28-year-old,” he told us. “I just don’t really feel like living next to a dorm.”
Word.
Like the Reliable Source, the steady stream of gawkers outside the house last night really seem to want the new cast to DOSOMETHINGALREADY. The contributors of this blog, however, were busy getting our drink on in a bar far away from Real World cast members.
MTV's newest season of "The Real World" is being filmed about 20 feet from my house. This blog will chronicle the pain and annoyance they put me and my neighbors through as well as the heckling my friends and I plan for the newest crop of "real worlders."
Tips, Photos, Stories can be sent to:
antirealworlddc [at] gmail [dot] com
