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Before revealing the meanings of the different nicknames of New York neighborhoods, I suggest a little game. Below is the list of 12 New York acronyms: do you know the meaning?
1/ SoHo
2/ NoHo
3/ TriBeCa
4 / FiDi
5/ BoHo
6/ Nolita
7/ NoMad
8/ MePa
9 / SoHa
10 / ABRO
11/ Dumbo
12/ BoCoCa
Do you have everything? ???? Do not hesitate to indicate your score in the comments below! Now that you’ve tried your luck, it’s time for the answers and the answer key. Here is the meaning of each acronym:
1/ SoHo : South of Houston Street
- SoHo is by far the best-known New York acronym. Invented in the 1960s, it designates the area bounded by Houston Street to the north, hence its name, Crosby Street to the east, Canal Street to the south and 6th Avenue to the west. SoHo is the fashion district, resolutely trendy. If you want to go shopping, this is THE neighborhood to visit!
More info in this selection of articles on SoHo. Also take a look at the addresses of the fashionable designers in the guide to shopping in New York.
2/ NoHo : North of Houston Street
- Much less known than SoHo, NoHo refers to the area north of Houston Street. An area bounded by Houston Street to the South, Astor Place to the North, Bowery to the East and Broadway to the West. NoHo is therefore found between the famous SoHo, Greenwich Village and East Village! But this district is worth a detour: the NoHo Historic District was classified in 1999 to protect 125 buildings from the end of the 19th century.
3/ TriBeCa : Triangle Below Canal Street
- As its acronym suggests, this area forms a triangle that is located south of Canal Street. TriBeCa is bordered to the south by the Financial District. This district is worth the detour for its cast iron buildings, its buildings with iron facade.
- TriBeCa is bordered to the south by the Financial District and you will be able to take many photos there that play on the contrast between the old listed buildings and the glass towers, including the One World Trade Center which measures TriBeCa.
4/ FiDi : Financial District
- When visiting New York City, you’re bound to spend a lot of time roaming FiDi, the Financial District, visiting One World Trade Center, the September 11, 2001 Museum, and Wall Street.
- This acronym of FiDi is however mainly used by the inhabitants of the district and less by tourists, who do not know it. Here’s a great way to pretend you’re a local ????
5/ BoHo : Bowery below Houston Street
- This recent acronym refers to the small perimeter around Bowery and below Houston Street. A small neighborhood which is mainly influenced by its big neighbor, Chinatown.
6/ Nolita : North of Little Italy
- You know Little Italy, the Italian quarter of New York. Continuing north you arrive in Nolita, northern Little Italy. Nolita begins at Broome Street in the south and extends to Houston Street in the north. The eastern boundary is at Bowery and the western boundary is Lafayette Street.
7/ NoMad : North of Madison Square Park
- NoMad is one of the new expressions that tries to make a name for itself in New York: the term actually appeared in 1999. It designates the district located north of Madison Square Park and it is bounded by 25th Street to the south, 29th Street to the North, 6th Avenue to the West and Madison Avenue to the East.
- In terms of monuments, NoMad is mainly located between the famous Flatiron Building, which borders the southern part of the district, and the Empire State Building, a few steps further north.
Matthew Rutledge)
8/ MePa : Meatpacking District
- MePa is another recent acronym: it designates a well-defined district, the Meatpacking District. A district that has changed enormously in a few years since it is now a very trendy place. The Meatpacking District marks one end of the High Line. You will also find the Whitney Museum of American Art here.
9/ SoHa : South of Harlem
- While the Harlem district is becoming more and more touristy, the South of Harlem has also launched its acronym: after the famous SoHo, place in SoHa. SoHa encompasses the 10 blocks between 116th Street and 106th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The pretty Morningside Heights is therefore in the heart of SoHa.
10/ SoBro : South Bronx
- The South Bronx also has its nickname! SoBro is even an association that intends to revitalize the Bronx. And, little by little, things are changing! Still, the name SoBro is not yet widely used by the inhabitants. It’s not easy to invent names!
11/ Dumbo : Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass
- Definitely the funniest nickname in New York! Dumbo does not designate Walt Disney’s elephant but this district of Brooklyn which is located between the Brooklyn bridge and the Manhattan bridge.
- A district which has been superbly renovated in recent years and which I strongly encourage you to visit! You should definitely visit Brooklyn Bridge Park, for its superb view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Financial District.
More info in this selection of articles on Dumbo.
12/ BoCoCa : Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens
- BoCoCa combines the names of 3 neighborhoods located in South Brooklyn: Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. It is therefore not a neighborhood strictly speaking but a term that brings them together. Moreover, this name of BoCoCa is not widely used by the inhabitants of these districts.
Acronyms are in any case a real New York specialty! In 2005, a name contest had even resulted in “Rambo” to designate “Right Around the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. A nickname already forgotten, which did not have the fate of SoHo!
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