May 16, 2008
Beacon Hill and Back Bay: Someone Gimme a Nickname
It’s been bugging me for a while now. The phrases “Beacon Hill and Back Bay”, “Back Bay and Beacon Hill”, or any recombination thereof, are woefully unpoetic. I am sick of saying them.
What I really want is some sort of euphemism that covers both areas. Like saying “the bullpen” instead of saying “Timlin, Okijima, Hanson, Pappelbon, etc.” I could say “the nice parts of town”, but that’s more like saying “the center of the lineup” to refer specifically to Manny and Ortiz. Plus everyone who didn’t live in either of the neighborhoods I cover would complain.
My instincts are to say “the gaslight district”, which is completely wrong (plenty of other places have ‘em) and at any rate, the phrase is already in use by panicky Charlestown agents trying to persuade yuppies that the projects are as far away as possible. Then I thought up “unannexed Boston”, which, while true, must also include the West, North, and South Ends, along with Bay Village.
Any attempt to define the neighborhood architecturally is doomed to end in failure. Sure, a great many of the houses in the neighborhoods adhere to a certain architectural milieu, but there are plenty that do not. And even those homes that do conform, do so to very different styles: federal, Victorian bowfront, and brownstone, to name a few.
So please, Boston, pepper me with suggestions. Brick-lined Boston. Capital Gainsville. The European Auto District. Anything to keep me from having to write “Back Bay and Beacon Hill” one more time.
More of Cosmo on Back Bay and Beacon Hill
Sunshine & Lollipops said:
My colleagues and I refer to this area as “The Golden Triangle”, which pretty much covers it, in more ways than one!!!!
Certainly there’s the obvious fact that our nabe is home to the elite and priviledged cream of the community: doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, venture capitalists and various other captains of industry.
But there’s the less obvious fact that as property values have dropped all around, ours have held up and even increased! Golden sunshine abounds in our blessed little nook as unquenchable demand meets limited supply. Let’s face it, who *doesn’t* want to live here?? We’re surrounded by history, wealth and splendor.
Anyway, I’d write far more but I’ve been on the phone all day counseling anxious buyers and happy sellers!
May 16, 2008 1:19 PM
snobby mcsnobbins said:
It’s just Boston and there’s nothing remarkable about it other than the rundown, overpriced housing stock, lack of parking, and overbearing government regulation.
It’s Communist Boston, with the State House as its nexus.
Find me a proper brownstone in Boston and maybe I’ll give you a dollar. Youse people call a bowfront brick building a brownstone, which it ain’t. Take an arch history class you fools!
May 16, 2008 3:53 PM
cosmo.catalano said:
http://www.2004dnc.com/backbaytownhouse_382.jpg
Brown enough for ya?
In case you’re wondering, yes, I do take PayPal.
May 16, 2008 4:11 PM
Tom said:
“Beacon Bay” seems to maintain the fundamental content while sounding like an island resort.
Actually, experimenting out loud, “BacBeacon Bay” (like MacBeacon) sounds a lot better in a Jamaican accent. “Hey, Mon, let’s get some Cocomacoques at BacBeacon Bay.”
As an added benefit of something with so little wit, it’s easy enough that you don’t have to explain it. I bet you get tired of explaining all your witticisms, Cosmo.
May 19, 2008 1:20 PM
Econ Cat Sez: In the Future, We’re All Rich! | Redfin Boston Sweet Digs said:
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May 20, 2008 5:30 AM