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The Worst Name for a Public Space One Could Possibly Hope to Conceive of ...
2/12/2006 10:58 pmLast Read: |
People with A.I.D.S. Plaza This is a real place, right by City Hall and across from J&R. I understand why it was named thusly, and it screams mid-late 1980s and possibly even early-1990s at me. But come on, there has got to be a better name for a public space than that. Attention could have been brought to the cause more adeptly. How about a fountain? A statue? A giant bronzed sculpture? "OK ma'am, what you wanna do is head straight down here and hang a left at People with AIDS . . ." "Honey, I am just taking the kids out to play over by People with AIDS . . ." "Hey, if yer gonna be walking to the train late at night, just be careful going through the People with AIDS . . ." I wonder if this impacted property values at all? "Yes, our restaurant is located at 213 People with AIDS Plaza . . ." Struck me as an odd choice. |
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2/13/2006 6:10 am |
I live right by J&R and never even noticed the sign. One reason for it is the names of people who have died from AIDS are read in city hall park every December first on World AIDS day. And it is benign enough to get approved without controversy. I agree however, that it is a little odd but those type of street signs (there are hundreds) are strictly honorary and no self respecting New Yorker ever uses them in conversation or in giving direction.
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2/13/2006 8:14 am |
well, it could be called 100 Words Topic o'the Week; Pressure. plaza. that would be worse.
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2/13/2006 8:40 am |
That sucks. I think you should rip that sign down! * B Joie de Vivre! *BB* 
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2/13/2006 9:22 am |
There's also a town in Delaware called Slaughter Beach. Here's a quote from their website: "Slaughter Beach Delaware is a tiny town of 133 on the Delaware Bay. Founded in 1681 and incorporated in 1931, it is home to the only wooden frame lighthouse still standing in Delaware. Overlooking the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek, the lighthouse is in the National Register of Historic Places. Slaughter Beach is also home to the Milford Neck Wildlife Area, and numerous serial killers." OK, I added the last bit.
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2/13/2006 9:41 am |
WTF? that is so not right
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2/13/2006 10:31 am |
Simonelee] - Yeah, I know they are 'honourary' or whatever, but still . . . Raindogzilla - Repost, dammit. Faust - Slaguhter Beach. Doesn't sound like a place I'd want to go on my honeymoon. But at least it's not called 'Needle Bay.'
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2/13/2006 10:55 am |
It's just another one of those millions of places in NYC that people fight to get a name on a street - as if that means something - without any thought to doing something real in their memory. Hey, here's an idea. Instead of naming a street after them, why not donate money to their favorite charity. Number of dollars = number of years old they would be. Just a thought. But you can't really do that for "People with AIDS," can you?
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2/13/2006 11:19 am |
Omigod, that is so FOOKED. And of all places too -- near Wall Street as opposed to Christopher Street. The wackiest the street names get here in SF is, well, we have Beaver street right in the middle of the Castro. Tell me the road folks had the mammal in mind when naming that street.
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2/13/2006 2:33 pm |
Lots of oddly named places. Anyone want to visit Hell? Hell was first settled in 1838 by George Reeves and his family. George had a wife and 7 daughters – no reason to call it Hell yet… George built a mill and a general store on the banks of a river that is now known as Hell Creek... In 1841 when the State of Michigan came by, and asked George what he wanted to name his town, he replied, “Call it Hell for all I care, everyone else does.” So the official date of becoming Hell was October 13, 1841...
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2/13/2006 3:33 pm |
Olno - You know, that is such a great idea! I mean, it's almost such a great idea!  HG - Well, it's right beside City Hall which would have some political association rather than anywhere else . . . such is my thinking. Tucker - That's great.
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2/13/2006 8:23 pm |
My favorite street in all of Los Angeles is Stoner Avenue, in West LA. According to what I've been told, it is the most frequently stolen street sign in the county, but how someone climbs a pole and gets it down without a sledgehammer is beyond me. As far as that sign goes...political correctness can definitely be taken a bit far.
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2/14/2006 6:30 am |
They should change the name to J&R Way. I love that store.
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2/14/2006 11:10 am |
Yeah, except you can't ever tell which entrance/store you need to go to, and then once you're in there it is all weird and stuff ...
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2/15/2006 9:56 am |
Mme X, are you still here? I thought you were headed back to Canadia? If not, please come to the giant pillow fight in Union Square this Saturday! I am trying to get people to meet up beforehand and praps after for snackin....ya wanna?
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2/15/2006 4:12 pm |
As a cat owner I find this sign offensive. Haven't they heard of feline AIDS? It should be called All Living Creatures With AIDS Way.
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2/16/2006 10:17 am |
In TO the worst named street is in North York, Orfus Drive. Aforementioned burb, also has the nicest named street, Swirling Leaves Crescent.
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