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| Cuisine, Liquor and FIreworks at DUTS |
The kids were just having fun, but there really needs to be boundaries set to prevent this in the future. People attending this weekly event shouldn't have their dining experienced ruined, because the organizers aren't paying attention. Attendees are paying good money to Media's restaurants and should at least be afforded a bit of relaxation.
As for dogs attending DUTS, I'm not sure what the policy is there. I think technically they are not invited, but I do remember at least one restaurant catering to these four legged guests. I'd recommend calling the restaurant in advance to verify their policy.
As a business owner on State Street, I was quite surprised to have young children coming into my store totally unattended while their parents dined at a location not directly in front of my store.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the ability for a 7 year to buy snaps at Deals unattended the reason we yuppie parents all live in Media? Perhaps if you don't want these children spending their "Yuppie parents money" in your store then snaps shouldn't be sold at Deals.
DeleteAgain, absolutely no real ideas for improvement, only criticism. Come on dude...
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness will you please just let the children have their fun? last summer that awful lounge singer set up a p.a. in front of Spasso pretty much every week and I didn't hear any righteous indignation about how "people shouldn't have their dining experienced ruined."
ReplyDeleteActually several people complained about that guy. ;)
Deletebecause Caroline... Kids in media are.a holes. There are these things called baby sitters that seem to be under utilized in this town. Some of us would rather avoid these kids who are raised by lackadaisical yuppies who never tell at them. As an employee of a dining establishment on state, I can tell you the nicer customers avoid kids while the crappier ones have theirs in tow
DeleteThey're buying them at Deals, so we need to ask Deals to either stop selling them or take them off the shelves on Wednesdays so when the little darlings come in to Deals to buy them they are nowhere to be found.
DeleteA couple of kids threw these at my 1 year old and 3 year old and they were so startled they started to cry and would not walk again the entire time we were there. They kept startling every time they heard one. I agree with letting children have fun but certainly not at the expense of other's good time and not when it's such a nuisance to adults and scares younger children. Unfortunately these kids parents were nowhere to be found.
ReplyDeleteAnd that friends, is the bottom line regarding issues like this and many others where children are permitted to run unattended all over this town. WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS??! Yes, I love going to the Y but when screaming banshee kids are runnning all over the lobby and hallway while their mothers gossip with each other and pay NO attention to what their own kids are doing it makes me crazy. Likewise with all the Real Housewives of Media who congregate at the pool while their children terrorize others because no discipline is enforced. Start paying attention to what your kids are doing if you are too cheap to pay for a babysitter!!!
DeleteCaroline, you are a goddess among women. That lounge singer...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the bourgeois tone of tedman's post. As the business owner stated, it is understandably problematic to have unattended children inside private businesses. But the original post is issuing complaints about some kids being rambunctious on a side street next to where their parents are "trying" to have a good time. Have you ever been to a family party where the cousins all get together in some elaborate plot to ruin the sanctimonious grown-up party (not to mention that your Aunt's dog ate the turkey dinner)? That was my Media experience: Family (/Community), in all its sad & imperfect glory. I grew up in this town, my little cousins are now teenagers in this town, my family has always partied together in this town... we are bored suburbanites who can only ride around our backyards on our dogs' backs so many times before our parents scream at us that we're too big & we need to find a new idea of "fun." I think that you need to accept that "DUTS(??)" is a place for all of us Media-ites to "be afforded a bit of relaxation." Media is EVERYBODY'S hometown - TEENAGERS AND DOGS INCLUDED!
But what's truly ridiculous is that ultimately in the original post, tedman backs off of the complaint against the kids who potentially WERE being unattended jerks during the event; it is a complaint against the "organizers" - the seemingly ominous and unidentified force of "DUTS'" organizers; the mysterious Oz behind the curtain. What? You'd prefer MORE regulation against a very quaint / laid back HUMAN-FAMILY social event? How about we accept that children get into hijinks; and it's fun to eat outside on a nice summer evening; and Media isn't some posh high-class village (IT'S A NORMAL MIDDLE CLASS HAVEN); and that you probably actually really enjoyed yourself at dinner tonight, even if that enjoyment was brought about by satisfaction in your snooty rant against the lack of regulation at a uniquely suburban experience. If you don't think the "rules" are being enforced enough, check out Swarthmore or The Main Line. This is MY town and I'm proud that it is made up of REAL people with REAL expectations about what REAL social interactions are like.
Caitlin, I agree with some of what you're saying but take issue with "It's a normal middle class haven". There is hardly anything middle class about Media Borough anymore. When is the last time a middle class family could actually afford to purchase a home in this town?
DeleteI keep thinking about the diners who could be bothered by the poppers but that's my MO, (I worry about everyone). My personal gripe is the litter. Beyond the little white popper remnants floating down the street, I personally picked up over twenty empty popper boxes & at least a dozen empty plastic "party poppers" bottles. That bums me out. I know the kids are having fun, heck I remember how much fun they were as a kid, but leaving the trash in the streets isn't cool. :/ Whether you are "pro popper" or "anti popper" I think we can all agree the kids should be throwing the boxes & empty "plastic party poppers" bottles in the trash.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr anonymous, tell me what establishment you own so I am sure nit to patronize it!! I'll pass the info on to everyone I know also.
ReplyDeleteNo but commenting about gossiping moms at the y is! Moms have better things to worry about then gossip and poppers for that matter. Redirect this energy to the problems in Syria, Turkey or our own communities. That's what moms I know talk about! That and our kids!
DeleteI'm gonna be at the Y tomorrow gossiping and watching my kids. Kids run, they banshee, and if mom takes a minute to talk to a adult while the kids enjoy each others company big deal. As long as they aren't being destructful leave them alone. Stop passing judgement. I love a relaxing, romantic evening with my hubba bubba. It's lovely. But I'm not trying to have that at a community event. Teens, schoolagers, tots and adults are part of what makes a community! Either say something to the dastardly popper prankster or deal with it.
Deletelol media mom, you sound like you coudn't find syria on a map let alone discuss it
Deleteif they are your brats; poppers littering the street and annoying customers, you should be talking to them about it. i bet you would have a stroke if someone dropped a cigarette on the street near your special snowflake.
I found the adults without children to be quite loud and disruptive last night. Maybe they should be banned as well. This is all crazy. The kids were having a great time. Maybe poppers should not have been the source of that fun but they were for sale at one of the stores and most of the kids were congregated in one specific area after they bought them(in front of the store). So take them off the shelf for one night a week. That would be best. Just be happy that the kids were not buying the roman candles or sparklers that were right next to the poppers. Or don't come out for dinner on Wednesday's during the summer any longer. Your voice is annoying me.
ReplyDeleteAs with everything else in the world, it's about things in moderation and general respect. People enjoy bringing their kids to Dining Under the Stars -- that's great! Some kids are well behaved. But some of them need to be taught to be respectful of others, including how close to people dining (and other small kids) they are setting off those snappers. There's an area between Little Anthony's and the Plumstead that has no tables set up and this is where the kids tend to congregate. I say let them have a blast. But when the snappers are being set off directly next to the tables at Little Anthony's... it's time for parents to intervene and either take the snappers away or take their kids to a more neutral space a handful of yards away to play with them. They're loud (much louder than people talking and laughing and generally having a good time), and it's disrespectful to people nearby when they're being set off DIRECTLY next to your table as you're trying to eat -- it's a really startling sound.
ReplyDeleteEventually they'll probably just be outlawed at the event entirely, because people don't practice general respect and common sense regarding moderation.
All of you are crying for more rules/regulations. seriously? have you ever heard of "it takes a village..." maybe if you had a problem with these kids you could have politely said something to them yourself. then maybe they'd get their parents who'd have a word with you & you could engage in a healthy discussion about why you're offended by their children's unsupervised activities. then maybe the parents can realize "oh wow, maybe i am being a jerk." then everyone can go about their merry way. why does it seem like our current societal mentality is to defer all action or discipline to some ominous higher power? if you want parents to be more accountable / responsible for their children then maybe you as community members can be accountable/ responsible for directly contributing to the "respectable" atmosphere you'd like to experience at a community event... instead of just whining about it on the internet later, begging someone else to solve this problem for you. also - if these kids were such unruly heathens, why would the solution be "get a babysitter" - maybe those kids would be better behaved if they had MORE interaction with their parents, not less. babysitters/ daycares/ schools are not who people should rely upon to "deal" with their kids while they go out.
ReplyDeletePS - dear moderator, i posted an original comment last night & it hasn't been approved. this isn't the first time that's happened. i don't know why my comments never go through on this site. yes, my comment was a little lengthier but it wasn't overtly rude or anything like that. if there is a character limit - please set it so it's more obvious. i am from this town, so i'd like my voice to be heard.
This! I would hope that if my children were misbehaving or being disrespectful towards an adult that the adult would, in a constructive manor, correct them. I teach my kids to be respectful of others and their space but I do let them run around and engage with other kids at DUTS. They understand that in doing so they have to stay away from tables, keep clear of the diners and we keep an eye on them. All that being said they are kids and they slip up, get wrapped up in play and forget the rules sometimes. In those moments I would hope that someone would correct them, kindly. I would have no issue, if I were irritated by it, telling a child that was snapping caps next to my table to please move and that it was disturbing my meal. If that wasn't affective I would ask for them to show me to their parents where I would then, calmly and respectfully voice my irritation. The thing that I wouldn't do is say nothing, stew about it and write a blog post.
DeleteDear anonymous misogynist,
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to eat with children, don't eat at 6:00 at a community family oriented event.
People need to act like Han in carbonite and chill. It's not like the poppers are thermal detonators or anything like that. Though this booty hunter must agree with Heather with respect to the littering. Adults and kids need to show some respect for their town (or the town they're visiting) and pick up after themselves! It's not like we have some giant trash compactor in the Borough which allows us to jettison all our garbage into a galaxy far far away. Come on you nerf herders!
ReplyDeleteBooty hunter? A slight Freudian slip?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the borough have a street sweeper go through after everything is over?
ReplyDeleteWhat about all those obnoxious toddlers scribbling with dusty chalk RIGHT NEXT to where someone is innocently BYOBing? Hello parents? ...ever hear of pink lung???
What about those filthy birds flying around overhead, the startlingly gentle breeze blowing, or the carcinogenic sunlight shining down?
Next time, please just eat inside at home by yourself.
My God, did anyone check to see of the poppers were made by an authorized Fair Trade business or at least a unionized shop? I live in Media, damn it, not that rightwing, conservative leaning town called Swarthmore.
DeletePlease get your own screen name troll. Fair trade, unionization, or anything having to do with my comments aren't the subject of this post by Tedman. Glad to see that I take up enough of your thoughts to inspire a plagiarized screen name.
DeleteThe borough does not have a street sweeper after Dining Under the Stars. It's up to businesses to clean up the streets. After the streets open at 11 & the cars park, there isn't a way to clean under them. There is a gentleman who comes around weekly with a hand pushed "sweeper" but again, it can't clean under a car. (Which is where trash left in the streets ends up.) Besides I don't think there is anything wrong with asking that people try not to litter. I know napkins & things blow away etc but intentionally throwing your trash on the ground with the mind set that someone else will take care of it isn't cool. (Let me reiterate, my displeasure is with the empty boxes & empty plastic "champagne" bottles left on the ground instead of thrown away.)
ReplyDeleteThe children are obviously future Delco tough guys and pretentious Trader Joe's super moms in training, we should accept this behavior. Clearly the people who want to escape from having to cook for themselves, are trying to enjoy some quality time with each other, and spend their hard earned money for this opportunity, are at fault. How dare anyone have any expectation that they won't be interrupted and harassed by obnoxious little kids, how dare we, adults, take this away from the children. Please, I am not from Media, Delco, or Philly, and, thankfully, it is reflected in how I live, and how I raise my children to be respectful and to not believe that they are the center of the universe. Nope, I'm not going to move, despite the strange people that reside in the area, I like it here, despite the people.
ReplyDeleteThis is SO ridiculous Tedman!? And, coming from you, a Republican who has (repeatedly) run (unsuccessfully) for Council and Mayor...don't y'all loathe "Big Government"?? Do you (and those above who sound like they hate children/"yuppie" moms/etc.) not understand that Dining Under The Stars is "hosted" by the MBA and the businesses and is intended to be a community event? Do you really want more rules, the police and "Big Government" telling the patrons of this great event how to enjoy it? I agree that poppers could be annoying while trying to eat, but again, this is a COMMUNITY event, so of course people will be coming out with their families. If you want a quiet, over 21 crowd, I'd suggest heading to the city, or choosing to eat out on a nice evening when it's NOT Dining Under The Stars. As for the poppers, how about you ask Deals to consider not selling them on Wednesdays? I understand that people can easily judge the parenting (or alleged lack thereof) of some, but we were all kids once, and especially in this day and age--where the opportunities for coming together as a community are somewhat rare--it's a GOOD thing that kids have the chance to run and "party" in town. Speaking of which, if you look at it from another perspective, the SAME thing could be said about the adult-oriented events in town (music festivals, beer fest, etc.) and how OBNOXIOUS and disrespectful some people are during those events. And, don't you have a big old party during the Media 5-Miler?? Complete with bands and kegs?? I'm sure all of your neighbors LOVE that!?
ReplyDeleteWow! Simmer down folks! They're just Popper's. I have five kids, teens to tots. If an older child had thrown a Popper at my tot I'd totally say something. Is it so bad to remind someone else's child to behave? It's really not! If my teen does any of this, Please redirect him to make a better choice with respect! I'm sure if you explain to that child, who is in his/her eyes just having fun, that he/she is disturbing you or your kid with the Popper's they would understand and move. I'm tired of people complaining about the teens in this town. I know many of them and if they get out of hand and I'm witness to it, I totally say something! They are respectful and stop their shenanigans. Let's talk about the people staggering to their cars after DUTS and driving home. I see it every weds. Let's talk about when DUTS causes a big head ache for the non-resteraunt owners when patrons can't get to an appointment at a business because of parking. I do have a problem with Deals selling these poppers and 12 books of matches to 12 year Olds. And I complained to them. Didn't do much good but say something! Stop griping about it. Be a good neighbor and help a momma out!
ReplyDeleteMad love for kids with party Popper's! Pop on kids! I once strategically placed these in the streets where car tires would run over them. The drivers would stop while we watched from afar. I grew out of it by 14 and I'm a big girl now. Geez, Louise the youth is going to be OK! They will learn to be respectful adults someday! But they are just adolescents, they are not fully cooked yet. Maybe a town skatepark would help keep them more occupied!
ReplyDeleteEveryone just relax and listen to the dulcet tones of my harmonica playing.
ReplyDeleteI once went to DUT with my spouse for a romantic dinner. The party next to us were finished with their meal and relaxing while their kids ran around. One of the children, a toddler, came over by our table and then he barfed right next to my feet before my dinner was served. The parents didn't bother to clean it up and neither did the restaurant staff!! Yeah, that was a really terrible experience. I haven't gone back to that restaurant and I haven't attended DUT since. I see the kids running around every Wednesday when I happen by and instantly the image of wet chunky vomit next to my shoes flashes into my mind along with the memory of a $pricey dinner bill... and I shudder. No thank you.
ReplyDeleteDining under the Stars isn't for everyone. Neither is picnicking, opera, surfing, drive-in movies, shopping, camping, or anything else that many, many "others" enjoy. Clearly, anan 8:23, another kind of experience is for you. And someone's waiting for your table....
DeleteWhy did you put quotes around others, anan 5:55? Yes, I'm quite aware that DUTS is for parents to get drunk while their kids run amok. I live in Media after-all.
ReplyDelete