Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 458 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 12:43 pm: | |
I'm writing an ad piece about Detroit. What are some common or uncommon names or terms for Detroit, old or new, slang or otherwise? Such as The Motor City, Motown, etc.? Are there any other new hip terms like "The D"? ?? Thanks! |
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 3046 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:07 pm: | |
Big Motor |
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni
Post Number: 1001 Registered: 05-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:16 pm: | |
My fav from 70s and 80s was "the motor" ( as opposed to "the motor city"), an example follows. Hi, where are you from? I'm from the motor. Also, "chocolate city", though D.C. also carried that title. |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1185 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:35 pm: | |
The Detroit Almanac has a slew of them. I'd check there. Some off the top of my head: City of Churches, Arsenal of Democracy, City of Champions, City of the Strait. |
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 459 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:36 pm: | |
My grandad told me Detroit was once called Forest City because there were so many trees. True? |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1186 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:37 pm: | |
Spacemonkey, I believe it was called the City of Trees. I wasn't 100% sure, but the Detroit Almanac will have it. It's about halfway or so through the book on the right-side page toward the top. I saw it a week ago or so. I'd tell you for sure, but I don't have the book at my side. |
Jcole Member Username: Jcole
Post Number: 360 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:39 pm: | |
What about the '313' |
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover
Post Number: 80 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 1:42 pm: | |
Paris of the West is my favourite. It's so true too! |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 5214 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 2:29 pm: | |
Hockeytown |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 5742 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 3:16 pm: | |
The Big D |
Parkguy Member Username: Parkguy
Post Number: 266 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 3:20 pm: | |
I've heard "The Big D" before, but I think in the minds of most people, that refers to Dallas. |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2000 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 3:37 pm: | |
D-Town The 313 Detractor Mootorville And yeah D_stylin, Parkguy is right (Message edited by DetroitRise on April 26, 2008) |
Swede1934 Member Username: Swede1934
Post Number: 44 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:17 pm: | |
How about "Dynamic Detroit" in the 50's |
Mpow Member Username: Mpow
Post Number: 290 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:18 pm: | |
detoilet is quite common. |
Deteamster Member Username: Deteamster
Post Number: 110 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:21 pm: | |
"The D" always struck me as lame. Usually coming from teenage suburban white kids who listen to too much Eminem. It's usually sufficient for me to say, "I live in Detroit" rather than try to make it sound cool and hip. I like Motor City or "The Motor" as well, except with the Michigan accent it's pronounced "Moder Ciddy". |
Bobceng Member Username: Bobceng
Post Number: 78 Registered: 04-2008
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:21 pm: | |
Det-riot |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2003 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:27 pm: | |
"The Motor" sounds too Liberal for me. They're making it seem like Detroit itself is a car. (Message edited by DetroitRise on April 26, 2008) |
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 1205 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 4:30 pm: | |
Shit |
Hpgrmln Member Username: Hpgrmln
Post Number: 430 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 6:03 pm: | |
I always liked the pronounciation from "The wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald': Detroy-it, as in "A musty old hall in Detroyit." Not so much a nickname as a butchered mispronounciation but still worth a mention. |
Ladyinabag Member Username: Ladyinabag
Post Number: 582 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 6:05 pm: | |
I have always called it, "Detroit, The Emotional City"....or "Detroit, The Soul Of The Earth". But, this is just me. |
Retroit Member Username: Retroit
Post Number: 3 Registered: 04-2008
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:21 pm: | |
Okay, I'll be the bad guy... "The Murder Capital" |
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels
Post Number: 814 Registered: 08-2005
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:26 pm: | |
Rock City |
Savannah Member Username: Savannah
Post Number: 37 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:27 pm: | |
I gotta go with the motor city. That's what they called it in the '60's when I was a kid. When just about every car on the road was built by one of the big 3. The TV channel ads used to come on with a female voice saying" The motor City" |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 4782 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:28 pm: | |
'The City of Trees' was Highland Park's claim. It was on our blue and white city limit signs into the 80's. Tragically Dutch Elm disease made a mockery of the that. It is finally getting grown back in with mature trees. |
Ravine Member Username: Ravine
Post Number: 2243 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 7:54 pm: | |
Spacemonkey is looking for "alternative" names for a specific reason, so I don't want to thread-jack, but Deteamster has my whole-hearted agreement with post #110. Detroit now has a small touch of luster sparking up in the downtown area, at last, but it is still a very gritty place; the terms "shot & a beer" and "blue-collar" may be a bit over-used, but I think they still apply. We're not glitzy, but to paraphrase Lou Grant, I hate glitzy. |
Parkguy Member Username: Parkguy
Post Number: 268 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 8:38 pm: | |
Nobody has listed "Tigertown," even though they made a movie about it! |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 3228 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 9:32 pm: | |
I've noticed lotsa metro detroit diaspora refer to themselves as being from "Michigan", does that count? |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 3229 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 9:33 pm: | |
Greater Midtown? |
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy
Post Number: 143 Registered: 10-2007
| Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:18 pm: | |
Destroyed. In the same vain as Filthadelphia or Cincinasty |
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 461 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 9:18 am: | |
Thank you all, that was very helpful. |
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 462 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 10:14 am: | |
There is a new Model T museum: www.tplex.org/3_aboutclub.html Are there any other new museums or sites of interest like this that I should include in my brochure about Detroit? |
Django Member Username: Django
Post Number: 199 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 12:05 pm: | |
City of Ghettopalm Detroit Shitty |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 1589 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 1:06 pm: | |
Per the Detroit Almanac: Detroit's Nicknames 1890s - City of Progress 19th Century - City of the Strait, City of Churches, City of Trees 20th Century - Motor City, Dynamic Detroit 1930s - City of Champions 1940s - Arsenal of Democracy 1950s - Big D 1960s - Motown 1970s - Murder City, Snuff City, Renaissance City 1990s - Hockeytown |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 1270 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 3:18 pm: | |
Detroit as in (De twa) the French city en la riv! |
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 2238 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 3:22 pm: | |
Old-times: Paris of the Midwest With a Southern Accent: DEE-troit |
Clermont Member Username: Clermont
Post Number: 28 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 4:14 pm: | |
seen on an overpass in the '70's: "krazy masonite city." for that reason many of my friends referred to it as "the masonite." |
Melody Member Username: Melody
Post Number: 191 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 4:43 pm: | |
""The D" always struck me as lame. Usually coming from teenage suburban white kids who listen to too much Eminem." I'm inclined to agree with you there. Did anyone mention "Detroit Rock City," that's over used too, but it's cooler than others. |
Savannah Member Username: Savannah
Post Number: 42 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 4:45 pm: | |
Franklin D Roosevelt named it "The Arsenal of Democracy" |
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73
Post Number: 284 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 5:21 pm: | |
Regionally, I know a few people from the suburbs who refer to it simply as "The City." Not very original, but I liked the sound of it. |
French777 Member Username: French777
Post Number: 432 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 6:39 pm: | |
Paris of the West! |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2032 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 6:41 pm: | |
French777, I believe it's "Paris of the Midwest." |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 4166 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 6:43 pm: | |
"The Big D" was Detroit before it was Dallas. Sammy Davis Jr.'s song Hello, Detroit uses it. and French is right - it was once "Paris of the West" (Message edited by lilpup on May 01, 2008) |
Ggores Member Username: Ggores
Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 6:57 pm: | |
me and my friends always call it "the vacuum". it sucks ya in. you can leave even, but get too close, it'll suck ya right back in. oh! sorry, heh, you're looking for something more "romantic". ;-) |
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy
Post Number: 147 Registered: 10-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 1:17 am: | |
I always thought the Cass Corridor was the vacuum, or at least the breeding ground for lost souls. |
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey
Post Number: 526 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 8:11 pm: | |
Are you saying the Cass Corridor sucks? How so? The Old Miami is there and everything. |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2037 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 8:15 pm: | |
"Are you saying the Cass Corridor sucks? How so? The Old Miami is there and everything." Get rid of the homeless, whinos, trash, and crackheads then we'll talk. |
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover
Post Number: 93 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 8:21 pm: | |
It still is the Paris of the West or Midwest, i've heard it described as both, I'd probly say the Midwest. |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2038 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 8:30 pm: | |
Yeah, it's sad that we lost our Nicknames to Dallas and San Francisco. |
Downriviera Member Username: Downriviera
Post Number: 337 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 8:34 pm: | |
I always liked Car City. |
Detroits_own Member Username: Detroits_own
Post Number: 82 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 9:37 pm: | |
The D |
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass
Post Number: 648 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 8:42 am: | |
home |
Peachlaser Member Username: Peachlaser
Post Number: 176 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 9:49 am: | |
Dtowncitylover says, "It still is the Paris of the West or Midwest, i've heard it described as both, I'd probly say the Midwest." I think that 'West' may refer to its relationship to Paris since the U.S. is west of Europe. So, comparing Detroit to Paris is quite a compliment. I think to those of us in the U.S., 'West' means Calif., Nevada, Utah, etc., so 'Midwest' has more meaning to us. Of the two, I think Paris of the West is a very impressive nickname. |
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 2050 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 10:39 am: | |
We will never earn the "Paris of the West" name back or "Big D" unless San Francisco were destroyed by an earthquake then abandoned, or if Dallas were to lose a quarter of it's population or get destroyed by a tornado. |
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover
Post Number: 95 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 4:54 pm: | |
I think we can remain "Paris of the Midwest". But the link below describes SF as being "Paris of the West" way before we were described as such. I'll let them have "West" we can have "Midwest". http://sfist.com/2007/11/26/sa n_francisco_the_paris_of_the_w est.php |
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336
Post Number: 6089 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 10:11 am: | |
When did signs go up proclaiming Birmingham the "city of trees"? |
Alley Member Username: Alley
Post Number: 119 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 10:13 am: | |
the Grosse Pointes have "Tree City, USA" signs |
Tkshreve Member Username: Tkshreve
Post Number: 319 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 2:47 pm: | |
KWAME-Town De-toilet |