SOWA, NOWA, EWA, WEWA....
I have been reeling with the mostly positive comments on this blog since it was featured in last week's South End News. Some of you made some pretty astute observations and others were just plain funny. In any event, it just reassured me that I'm not going crazy and that there are others out there who feel the same way.
This week, I started thinking about SOWA (see previous posts for what I really think it stands for) and SOHA. What about people who live on just plain WA? Can they still have their own acronym? I thought of some more South End acronyms and I invite readers to some up with their own in the comments section. Not limited to just acronyms, mine are the following:
HeTo (the heirloom tomato district, corner of Waltham and Tremont) (Which actually sounds like "HeTerO," which is probably more appropriate now that I think of it);
DoWiMac (stands for "Double Width Maclaren" district);
Uggia (city of Uggs);
CoBa (Coach Bag district);
ObExpOm ("Obscenely Expensive Omelette" district);
GraMaSt ("Granite Maple Stainless Steel" district);
DaBoMyCo ("Daddy Bought My Condo" district).
I have also thought of a new name for yet another condo building in the South of End marketed towards wealthy suburbanites who still want the cachet of the artists who they've driven out of the neighborhood:
IhopethisexpensivepaintingmatchesmysofaBlock450.
From the brochure: Live in a "working artist's" 5 bedroom loft just like the artist you've driven out onto the streets, except with an elevator, doorman, concierge, underground parking, marble bath, built-ins and none of those pesky easels, paints, or chalk!! Impress your friends back on Beacon Hill or in Wellesley by mentioning that you live just like a starving artist in the city!! Bonus points if you know how to pronounce words like "atelier" ("artillery"? "artileer"?).
posted by thesouthender at 9:29 PM
18 Comments:
Here's one for you. I was sitting at the Butcher Shop enjoying a very mediocre glass of Cotes du Rhone ($14 for what would be considered a half of a glass at a normal restaurant, of a vintage that would cost you $10 for the bottle at the corner of Dartmouth and Tremont, I know you need to mark things up but, but give me a break - sorry, I digress . . .) with a former colleague visiting town on business. We went there because it was convenient for her, I myself had studiously avoided the place since the day it opened.
In any event, the bartender approaches us and asks if we would mind moving down a seat, to make room for a group of Sean's and Megan's who were standing at the bar. Of course we didn't mind moving at all, and I turned to acknowledge this group (wondering of course why they didn't have the manners to politely ask us themselves instead of sending over "the help" to get "those people" to move). However, they all continued to keep their backs turned to us, took the seats that we surrendered, and deigned to even look at us, never mind speak to us or actually say "Thank you" for accomodating their group.
LOVE this blog. I moved from the SE over ten years ago, to Dorchester! It's become home. I've learned a lot living in a truly urban and diverse setting.
On my way to the T station everyday I walk by a house which turned their entire front yard into a vegetable garden. During the summer it is covered in huge tomato plants, huge vines with the biggest squash flowers I've ever seen. The garden is tended everyday by an old vietnemese man, who wears a pointed straw hat. If your eyes meet with his, he smiles and bows/nods. He has big white buckets all over the yard, and collects rain water from his drain pipes on the house to water the garden.
When I first moved here, I had some residual South End mentality. My first thought upon seeing this house with the vegetable garden was "how ugly, how inappropriate, I'd hate to be their direct abutter, is this legal?"
Now, I've grown in my diverse neighborhood. I actually love the "yard that's a vegetable garden" and show it to people who come from out of town to visit. I think the tomato plants look beautiful on the lawn. And, when you get a "hello" from the old man tending his garden, it sometimes is the nicest thing that happened to me all day after being at work in the harsh city.
If he ever gave me one of his tomatoes, that would truly be my HEIRLOOM TOMATO. But, alas, I don't think that would ever be part of his plan. So, I'll just enjoy the wonderful sight of the old man in the straw hat tending his huge garden in the city!
Thats diversity!
How about DOGPOO? or DogPU (Can't come up with what it stands for yet, but I'm sure someone can work it out.)
BaLyCo - Barbara Lynch Corner
I wonder,can they relo the pine st inn? Its unsightly after all-JK
(they own their property)
I'm surprised and happy Ming's market survived and will for now anyhow. I can't afford to shop at Foodies.
Harry the Greek's was way cool for
work cloths. Its replacement is some Indian Furn. Boutique?
Agree with Butcher Shop, sad but agree.An appitiser of entitlement to go with my over priced swill please.
Tommy Tish's old card store
(maybe tied with Copley Flair for best of boston?)is getting a major over haul.
Any predictions?
let's see.. army navy store?, the rebirth of Tremont Ice Cream?
I vote expensive hair parlour or even more expensive retail wine store.Or hugely expensive eyeglass store..maybe SHOES..Hmm.time will tell.
A man in a straw hat makes Dot. diverse? The south end is full of gardens and gardeners in straw hats.
What do you mean, exactly, by diversity, anyway? Your brand of diversity seems very exclusive. Do you mean skin color? Because I live in the S.E. and it is hardly all white. Do you mean sexual orientation? Because It seems that the more mix of gay lesbian and straights that live in the area equals more diversity, not less. Do you mean economically? Because there are still plenty of ghettos, projects and section 8 housing for the "underprivilged" artists to live in since they are unable to earn a living without feeding off the government tit.
Or do you mean crime? Well, you got me there. When it comes to raping, murdering thugs who are terrorizing the neighborhoods, Dorchester is THE place!
In response to the last comment:
One can pay lip service to "Diversity" by saying one lives in a "mixed" gay/straight, black/white, etc. neighborhood. Its only when you mix with and respect those who are different from yourself is it truly diverse. If you think that just because you live in the South End - where there are gays and blacks - then you are a diversity-lovin' guy or gal, then you aren't ghetting the point of this blog. which is that although we have black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, they don't seen to mix like they used to.
Just because you can sip wine in a pretentious resturant and watch "minorities" out the window, doesn't cut it. Sorry pal.
Its only when you mix with and respect those who are different from yourself is it truly diverse.
But you don't want that! You want to live in a neighborhood that falls in line with YOUR idea of "diversity". Exclusive of whites, straights and money.
Also- I don't think I'm a diversity-lovin' guy or gal. Frankly, I could not give a rat's ass if my neighbor is black or white or gay or straight or where they eat or what they wear. But, I certainly don't hold any hostility toward them just because they've pursued their dreams and bought a home in a decent neighborhood.
Face it, the only reason the South End was "diverse" by your standards is because it was run down and therefore undesireable to the very class that could improve the area.
I have lived here now for almost 20 years, and I am glad that there is a greater mix of gay and straight. I am glad that I can walk home at night and feel safe after years of having to keep an eye out all around me. I'm glad that I can dine in a decent restauraunt (Rave was HORRIBLE, so was Geoffeys, Blackstones and Gallia.) Apparently the sign of diverse neighborhhod for you is bad cuisine as well.
although we have black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, they don't seen to mix like they used to.
They never did! The only group that contained all those classes was the gays. And that is still true. Go to Mistral, and you will see predominantly white rich folks, like always. Go next door to Club Cafe, and you will see rich, poor, gay, straight, white, black, etc. Nothing has changed in that area.
The South End is a much friendlier and much prettier place than it was in 1988- when I moved here.
I know that probably "doesn't cut it, sorry pal" either. But that's how I see it. You seem hellbent on being really unhappy about it all. Which is sad. Good luck in Dorchester. Take some body armor with you.
My only diversity observation is trite. As property gets so Expensive, you have the poor of Villa Victoria living next to the Bentley and R.Royce (literally)driving neighbors. SE has polorized along many guidlines.
Anyone have an escape plan to share?
Yes- Address the real problems! End the overly oppressive zoning laws that make property so expensive in Boston and keeps it out of reach from the folks in Villa Victoria. And stop letting the out of control city couincil place so many restrictions on private property.
My response to the person who left the 3rd comment above this:
First of all gays and straights DID in fact previously mix, as did poor section 8 residents and gay boys, believe it or not. As opposed to negative comments from suburban yuppies denigrating gay folk and black folk, both of which I have heard frequently in the last couple of years (i.e., in front of the movie place about gays, and about the avaiability of gay newspapers in the neighborhood).
And by the way, I am white and have money (which I earned). I just don't feel the need to rub it in everyone's face and I believe in treating others people as human beings and lack the entitled attitude that other newer South Enders seem to have. My theory: when money is given too freely it breeds enititlement with no substance. Welcome to the neighborhood.
You Sir, (SouthEnder) are an idiot.
"I believe in treating others as human beings"
Not true. All you do is bitch and moan about everyone else beacuse you disagree with how they are changing your neighborhood.
YOU are the one who feels entitled. You expect everything and everyone to revolve around your huge head and tiny brain. Im sure mums and dads are proud of their little boy now.
Are you seriously trying to tell me that disparaging remarks about gays and blacks are new in the south end? Bullshit! I have been around long enough to know better. I can also remember a streak of violent crimes, including murder, against gays. Do you miss that diversity as well? It has been over a decade since that bullshit stopped. How is it worse now?
And what, exactly, is the difference between the racist remarks made by yuppies and the racist language you have employed in previous posts?
I made a racist comment? what was it??????
Random Acts of Entitlement....
I guess this would be the closest category. Spotted about 1 month ago, on the corner of Waltham and Shawmut: What appeared to be the very blonde and white offspring of some overprivileged yupple (yuppie couple) in a very high-end stroller being pushed by an African American young woman who was probably the nanny. As the woman pushed the little tyke, she yelled into her cell phone just about every obscenity I've ever heard (and I've heard 'em all).
This is by no means a criticism against African Americans or any other minority. In fact, I'd probably choose to spend my free time with the above-referenced nanny rather than a yupple that didn't seem to think careful interviewing was necessary in their choice of child care professional.
On the other hand, I can't wait for next summer's Ropes & Gray family summer outing when junior shouts "listen, motherfucker" to the managing partner. On the ride back to West Canton Street, I 'll bet you'll be able to cut the silence in that Range Rover with a knife!!
R.I.P MOVIE PLACE
selling off their inventory
gone by 6/1
higher rent, interior designer
moving in?
GREAT
Heirloom tomato craziness aside, You who decry the new South End are really hypocritcal!!
Just because I can discern between $26 a pound cheese and the curd they sell at Shaw's - why shouldn't I be free to enjoy myself? I made my own money, and I sense if the cry babies on this page had their own, they wouldn't begrudge me mine. What you're really saying is " I wish the rich, successful people didn't like the same things I like, then I'd be able to enjoy the South End at bargain basement prices!"
Unfortunately, in a free market economy it doesn't work that way. There is zero difference between a South Ender and a Back Bayer or Beacon Hiller. The difference is in the hypocrisy. The Hiller believes he's better than you because of his cash and doesn't try to hide his feelings. The Backbayer openly enjoys his wealth while keeping mum on the issue of entitlement. The south ender is supposed to be a common, holistic man who is not interested in wealth or it's trappings and is righteous enough to be offended by those who are? Get over it!!!!
Honestly, just what are "Seans and Megans"? Are they yuppies, or specifically hetero yuppies?
If the later, then I feel it's our butch ( and deep down jealous)residents who are so angry. They wish they had real careers and families. They rail against the Butcherie, but secretly long for an upscale Fish Shop.
I was just given this blog from a friend of mine who is a former South Ender and now a present Dorchester resident. I also am a former South Ender (as well as other neighborhoods and a former Bostonian). I lived in Boston and the the South End for the 80's and 90's. I moved out of Boston to Philadelphia in 2000. I feel that Boston was so much better in "my day". Philly today is a very diverse city.... 5th largest city in the world. my street which I live on is 1 1/2 miles from city hall. we have traditional older folks that were born in this neighborhood, we have gay and lesbian couples we have straight couples (both of which had kids) and we all get along. One thing I like about Philly is they talk to one another, commune with each other and just hang out. Bostonians I found never really even knew their neighbors. However Philly is changing as well..... and I fear that one day it will turn into what Boston has become today......
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