Comments on The West Edge

I looked back at a 2001 Stranger piece on the re-branding of the neighborhood, and it mentioned that the alternative monikers that had been considered included "Chenora" since the neighborhood is bounded by Cherry and Lenora. What say we bring it in a block and called it VirginCherry?

Or Hexablan, for "hexagon below blanchard."

The problem with these phony names is that Seattle ALREADY has wonderful neighborhood names that are ripe with historical meaning. Belltown. The Regrade. Pioneer Square. Pill Hill. Queen Anne. Garlic Gulch, even. :-)

Put up against those wonderful monikers, "West Edge" falls about as flat as anything can.

For Hexablan, the tagline could be "it's anything but a pentagon."

I hate the name "West Edge"; it's completely generic and has nothing to do with Seattle. The fact that the boundaries include the Pike Place Market pisses me off. The Market is its own neighborhood and doesn't need to be included in the boundaries of some other made-up, corporate 'hood. Ick.

Hexablan! Best Slog comments ever.

I cracked up laughing at a West Edge mention in Dina Martina's show, and very few other people seemed to get it. Most Seattlites had never even heard of it. It wAs a bigger failure than "Say WA".

West edge is a very attractive name. I think I will move there with my girlfriend so we can have an urban lifestyle without giving up any of the benefits of suburban living. We pour over the New Homes Section of the Post-Intellegencer every Saturday morning while we drink Starbucks Coffee. This name resonates with us.

Fashion is very important to us, so it's good to know that there is a Nordstrom nearby. I say yes to West Edge!

The funniest things about the West Edge name was the slogan that went with it "West Edge: There's Nothing Dull About It!" Seriously hilarious.

There is also a Cineplex within walking distance to the West Edge. The gossip section of Real Change is circulating rumors of more sequels to come in theaters. Our family of four is excited about The Stepford Girlfriends hitting the screen sometime next year. The West Edge concept really is just absolutely perfect.

West Edge: Better or worse than "Metronatural"?

My girlfriend and I value sequels to movies, because it stands to reason that if you loved the original, you're going to love the sequal. The characters are like old friends who come to visit you, and that gives us a warm, centered feeling.

It's great that we are getting more cineplexes, but I hope they have parking. Like most Americans, We are concerned about our personal safety, so we would have to drive to any movies, particularly if we go to see them after dark.

That's one of our complaints about the Market. There's just not enough parking. The same is true of my gym, and my girfriend's yoga studio.

Somewhat better - and certainly better than "Say Wa?" Of course, it still sucks mighty ass (and comes across as some really lame wanne-be Vancouver BCism), but it's all relative..

It's apples and oranges, though both are proof that ad agencies make way, way too much money. When I go to a place, it's because I saw a pretty picture or because of something I've heard. It is never because of a catchy phrase.

And GOD, *why* "metronatural"? It's obviously a play on the out of fashion, stupid word "metrosexual". Like the coastal west needs to seem any gayer.

Where was the debate about West Edge in last week's comments? I wanna read it.

I lived in the "West Edge" when it was named. Right down near Western and Union. You know what my neighbors and I called our neighborhood? Furniture Row, after all those crappy high-end couch shops.

Furniture Row is a kick-ass neighborhood, though - tons of neighborhood bars, great little hidden restauraunts, and direct access to the Market. And the people! Loads of bartenders, Market employees, creatives - the closest to a real bohemian life I've ever led. Everyone was broke, but everyone was having such a good time, all tucked safely beneath downtown. There never was anything dull about it.

I live there, and was all annoyed at not only the lamest possible branding attempt, but having to pay for the privilege. But now, its failure is final, and I can laugh.

Metronatural: Hate it. I also hate "metrosexual" (for millions of reasons), which is clearly what the term is based on.

The only good tourist slogans are "Don't Mess with Texas" and "I [Heart} NY". Everyone else should just put the word "Visit" in front of their state or city's name and be done with it.

The slogan "Don't Mess with Texas" was developed for an anti-littering campaign in the 80s.

THERE'S NOTHING DULL ABOUT IT!!!!!!

Favorite neighborhood name: the Counterbalance.

The West Edge is where a person can sit in a faux-soho bar, drinking a mocha-tini whilst reading the Seattle Metropolitan and speechlessly ponder the wHa..Wah..WA beauty of the metronatural state of Lake Chelan. Greenwood is where you go to a bar, have a beer, and ask around for any good river fishing spots with easy camping access. Isn’t an urban environment grand?

Metronatural sounds too much like BC’s old Supernatural slogan.

You know, the one the enviros satirized with billboards of clearcuts.

I always thought "DownTown" was a pretty good handle. It has all of the marketing built in. People know where it is etc etc.
Instead of trying to rename it they should try to remedy some of it problems or give people reasons to visit.
By the by both Pioneer Square and Belltown had earlier monikers of Skid Row and The Denny Regrade.

You know, noone who actually lives in Seattle ever refers to that area as anything other than Downtown.

They should just stop lying.

"West Edge" is marginally better than "metronatural" because it's the kind of name people might have theoretically come up with even without being paid for it. But it's still nowhere near good.

I seem to recall that the great West Edge unveiling took place on September 11, 2001, so whatever front-page discussion it might have received was completely squelched.

Wait, another good slogan:

"Trenton Makes--The World Takes"

http://www.stanglpottery.org/trentonbridge.htm

Awesome.

(Oh, and "Don't Mess with Texas is a damn good anti-littering campaign name.)

The problem with these phony names is that Seattle ALREADY has wonderful neighborhood names that are ripe with historical meaning. Belltown. The Regrade. Pioneer Square. Pill Hill. Queen Anne. Garlic Gulch, even. :-)

Put up against those wonderful monikers, "West Edge" falls about as flat as anything can.
Posted by Sachi - October 23, 2006 08:28 AM

I could not agree more! I also hate that they're trying to call Lower Queen Anne (LQA), Uptown. I personally love calling it LQA and in fact make a habit of pronouncing it Lacroix, to flaunt my fagginess to the hilt. But whatever, Uptown, Midtown, clearly belong to Manhattan. I can take the SoDo referencing SoHO, but it's got to stop there. Oh, and MetroNatural is the common odor you smell on the buses.

Skid Road, not Skid Row. Ain't no such thing as Skid Row. It's Skid Road.

Lenerry or Lerry? (Lenora to Cherry)

I vote for Hexablan.

Fnarf-

I accept your academic correction. Having read Morgan, Speidel and Sales I should no better.
Darren Mcgavin, and that dang pop culture, lead me astray.