NoMo

First there were neighborhoods like SoHo and TriBeCa. SoHo, a clever abbreviation for South of Houston (for those of us in Texas, it is pronounced “How Stun”), reached its creative zenith in the 70s. TriBeCa, or Triangle Below Canal, was home to many of the artists that fled SoHo once it became a victim of its own success. Other cities adopted similar naming conventions for their edgy neighborhoods that often previously served as industrial/warehouse zones. SoMa, in San Francisco, is an example. No longer unique or interesting, this technique is still wholeheartedly embraced by cities attempting to market their boho districts. Austin is no exception. South Congress has the SoCo Center and occasionally there appears to be momentum to officially establish the South Congress area as SoCo. Driving down South Lamar today, I noticed a new boutique (located at the former sex shop by Austin’s Pizza) called “SoLa”. Get it? As in South Lamar! Perhaps the best indication that we need some fresh ideas for evoking a sense of place would be Britney’s NyLa.

January 28th, 2003