Boston has it’s own set of confusing terminology, geographic references and ways of navigating our roadways. See if you can follow along. If not, let us explain it to you on our tours…
- The geographical center of Boston is in Roxbury.
- Due north of the center we find the South End. This is not to be confused with South Boston which lies directly east from the South End.
- North of the South End is East Boston and southwest of East Boston is the North End.
- There is no school on School Street, no court on Court Street, no dock in Dock Square, and no water on Water Street.
- Back Bay Boston streets are in alphabetical ordah named for English Noblemen.
- South Boston streets are less hoity toity and just go by: A, B, C, D, etc.
- If the streets are named after trees you are on Beacon Hill.
- Massachusetts Avenue is Mass Ave.
- Commonwealth Avenue is Comm Ave.
- South Boston is Southie.
- The South End is The South End.
- East Boston is Eastie.
- The North End is east of the West End.
- Roxbury is The Berry.
- Jamaica Plain is J.P.
- There are two State Houses, two City Halls, and two Hancock buildings (one is old; one is newer).
- The colored lights on top the old Hancock tells the weathah:
“Clear blue, clear view.”
“Flashing blue, clouds are due.”
“Steady red, rain ahead.”
“Flashing red, snow instead.” (except in summer, flashing red means the Red Sox game is rained out!) - Most people live here all their life and still do not know what is going on with this one: Route 128 South is I-95 south and it is also I-93 north, oh and it is also Route 1.
- The underground train is not a subway. It is the T, and it does not run all night.
- Order the cold tea in China Town after 2:00 AM; you will get a paper bag full of beer.
- Bostonians: think that it is their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.
- Bostonians: think that there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (No Rs, except in idear.)
- Bostonians: refer to six inches of snow as a dusting.
- Bostonians: always bang a left as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.. We also Bang Uies but take rights.
- Bostonians: believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.
- Bostonians: think that 63 degree ocean water is warm.
- The bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge via Massachusetts Avenue is commonly known as the Harvard Bridge but is no where near Harvard.
- The Sox = The Red Sox.
- The Cs = The Celtics.
- The Bs = The Bruins.
- The Pats = The Patriots.
- How to pronounce these Massachusetts cities correctly:
- Worcester: Wuhsta.
- Gloucester: Glawsta.
- Leicester: Lesta.
- Woburn: Woobin.
- Dedham: Deadum.
- Revere: Re-vee-ah.
- Quincy: Quinzee.
- Tewksbury: Tooks-berry.
- Leominster: Lemon-sta.
- Peabody: Pee-buh-dee.
- Waltham: Walth-ham.
- Chatham: Chad-dum.
- Samoset: Sam-oh-set or Sum-aw-set, but nevah Summerset!
- Frappes are made with ice cream – milkshakes are not.
- If it is carbonated and flavored, it is tonic. Tonic means Soda.
- Pop is another name for Dad.
- Dinner is Suppah
- A water fountain is a Bubblah
- We get a regular coffee at Dunks
- We get booze at a Packie
- We use a clickah to change the channels on a TV while sitting in the Pahluh.
- Scrod is whatever fish they tell you it is, usually white fish.
- It is not a water fountain.. it is a bubblah.
- It is not a trash can… it is a barrel.
- It is not a hero, or a grinder… it is a sub.
- It is not a shopping caht… it is a carriage or wagon.
- It is not a purse… it is a pockabook.
- They are not franks… they are haht dahgs.
- Police do not drive patrol cars, they drive a crewza.
- It is not a rubber band.. it is an elastic.
- It is not a traffic circle or round about… it is a rotary.
- “Going to the islands” means going to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.
If you think that is funny, it is and it is just the way it is around here. Come join us and learn to tahk like a Bawstonian!
