Do you call Loop 1604 “The Death Loop”? You’re not alone.
Across the US, communities have created their own nicknames that might confuse out-of-towners asking for directions. Locals still reference Chicago’s “Willis Tower” as the “Sears Tower,” NYC’s Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is lovingly shortened to “the BQE,” and our friends over in Greenville, SC call Augusta Street “Augusta Road.”
What readers said
We asked our readers what their nicknames for local landmarks, businesses, and streets were. Here’s what they said:
- Y’all couldn’t decide on the best nickname for San Antonio. It was a tie between “Alamo City” and “San Antone.”
- The Central Library is “The Red Enchilada” to at least one reader.
- “The orange art thing downtown is the corkscrew,” said one reader. We believe they’re talking about the Antorcha de Amistad.
- Two readers said they call it “Durango” instead of Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
- Many readers said they identify things by their proximity to other locations. One reader said, “Next to the Whataburger or next to HEB or next to Taco Cabana,” and another said, “That place by that high school...it’s a San Antonio thing. We use high schools to identify neighborhoods and areas of the city.”
- Several snarky readers said they call things “By their real name.”
- And our personal favorite response? One reader said they call I-35 “Disaster.”
Anything to add? Let us know below.
