SFist: Is "FiDi" the new "Colored"?

largo01

Sat, 24 May 2008 04:28:49 -0800

Cheers! Although that brings up another point. Is Japantown not really a place because it is in the Addition? That seems to be the thought when you say NoPa doesn't exist because it is just a renaming of a part of the Addition.

taran

Thu, 22 May 2008 21:57:36 -0800

I live at McAllister/Baker, which is near the northeast corner of "NoPa" but right across the street from where "NOPNA" (nabe association) holds its meetings (Cafe Neon). I call it "the WAd", short for Western Addition, because that's where I am. The WAd stretches from Van Ness out to Masonic, and from somewhere north of Haight to somewhere north of Geary. It's a big 'hood. Japantown and the Fillmore lie within it. NOPNA defines NoPa as being between Divis and Masonic, but Divis is 2 blocks east of the Panhandle and Masonic is only halfway across the Panhandle. What about Lower Cole Valley, or Hayes Valley West? Maybe get over it, get out there in the city, and enjoy a beer with your fellow citizens. OK I admit, it's fun to haggle about neighborhood rubrics. But for fuck's sake at least have a defensible opinion. Oh wait, this is SF. Jeez, I sound almost like some other commenters here. Oops! Maybe we're ALL not so fucking smart and need to stop the wringing of hands, gnashing of teeth and just do what SF is known, if not reviled for: having fun. Cheers everyone.

Generic

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:29:17 -0800

But Brock, don't you see? Like Prince Adam, You Have The Power. As the editor of a powerful local blog, you can make it FiDi. You are the media. The media is you. Choose wisely O Red One.

The Angry Young Man

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:58:36 -0800

FiDi, like NoPa is an invention of the vile real estate agent cult. You think real estate agents are benign behind those glamour shots they place next to their poorly written ads? Hah! The words NoPa and FiDi are merely a desperate attempt to dress up old neighborhoods with shiny new names so they can ass rape suckers looking to buy a "lifestyle" out of even more American dollars. Are you a sucker? Is that what you are? It is if you live in NoPa or FiDi. Once upon a time, NoPa was part of the Western Addition. However, those pesky coloreds live there and that scared away all the white yuppies who could afford to buy houses. Enter the real estate agents, and voila! NoPa! No longer just an address, now an attitude just like the Nob Hill Gazette! Quick! Call DeDe! Same thing for FiDi. People are moving downtown and the words Financial District carries connotations of homelessness, pigeons, and Frank Chu. Who wants to live in that? Let's rename the district FiDi and raise prices 25% across the board! Urgh! Anyone who uses the words NoPa or FiDi in earnest needs to be rounded up.

periqueblend

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:54:42 -0800

I always call it 'the FD' or 'DF' when talking to my spanish speaking friends.

largo01

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:27:22 -0800

Fidi rolls off the tongue if you say it fiddy

carney

Thu, 22 May 2008 10:23:31 -0800

financh is good enough for me...

Joel

Thu, 22 May 2008 10:15:26 -0800

The main problem with FiDi is that it doesn't roll off the tongue.

airickoo

Thu, 22 May 2008 10:10:11 -0800

There are already far too many acronym names out there, and frankly I think the Financial District is just not cool enough to deserve a trendy acronym. NO FiDi please!

wsanders

Thu, 22 May 2008 09:40:27 -0800

Block by block affinity groups; each block can choose among four (or five!) different intersections. I'm a SaBu myself, although some PiMo's are starting to hang out around here with their tacky money-colored bandannas.

largo01

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:45:04 -0800

No evidence by means of neighborhood associations, however, that the Financial District is called FiDi.

largo01

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:12:50 -0800

The North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association self-refers to itself on the website as NOPA. http://www.nopna.org/ So yes, I do think NOPA exists as a neighborhood--albeit with undefined borders. And if not, then it is a tasty, expensive, yuppy restaurant. Excerpt: NOPA in the Big Apple? Thanks to freelance writer and NOPA neighbor Nicole Spiridakis, our neighborhood was recently written up in the travel section of the NY Times! Despite being edited significantly, the article explains to the world how NOPA has "emerged as a cultural bridge between hippie Haight Street and the rest of the City. Always good to get PR in the NY Times. Our merchants should be delighted. Read more.

jonathansoundit

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:16:23 -0800

According to some recent Craigslist leasing postings, its called the Trendyloin now... get it right!

RobInSF

Wed, 21 May 2008 23:48:07 -0800

Come on, Brock! I call bullshit. Inner Richmond=Southwestern Addition=Western Hayes=Higher Haight=Upper Hayes Valley=Hayes Vally Notch??? Let's just all agree that one neighborhood in SF should be called exactly what it is - no bullshit. The "Big Rich Titties and Cock Who Can Afford Them with Garaged S Class" area. Then we can tell everyone on Rincon Hill some bullshit line about getting the best soy lattes in "the city" in Daly City. Work with us here. People are staring at their crotches wondering where their pubes disappeared while San Francisco burns to the ground. Gavin and I will be hanging out waiting for the rest of you to gentrify our 'hood. hehe...

zippy_monster

Wed, 21 May 2008 21:33:20 -0800

WeTwPe anyone?

Brock Keeling

Wed, 21 May 2008 21:10:31 -0800

"North of Panhandle"

RobInSF

Wed, 21 May 2008 21:04:50 -0800

I guess I'm just a busy guy, but exactly where the hell is NOPA? North Of Pacific Avenue? Not Obviously Potrero, Asshole? Never Out Past Anza?

singlewall

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:20:23 -0800

All I can say is InSu represent boooyyyeeeee!

Sweet Melissa

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:05:30 -0800

Next thing you know, someone will tell me I can't refer to the Tenderloin as "That Shithole" anymore. Relax, it's just a nickname, people...

uggie

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:01:01 -0800

one thing we did right was the day we started to fight keep your eye on the prize hold on hole ON.

clemens

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:36:56 -0800

I work in the FiDi. I also live in the FiDi. I firmly believe that nobody would have come up with FiDi as a neighborhood nickname if we hadn't had a mayor and a Senator (and almost a governor) nicknamed DiFi. But if I lived a couple blocks over I could tell people I lived in ChinFinIon. Which, eventually, would result in my ass getting kicked by people who can't abide by made up neighborhood names.

bob brigham

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:15:53 -0800

Please don't call South of Howard Street Soho unless you are in New York as it is Soma here.

Brock Keeling

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:11:18 -0800

TAYM, i fear you will one day soon turn into a pillar of salt.

The Angry Young Man

Wed, 21 May 2008 17:50:39 -0800

There's no such place as FiDi. No such place as NoPa either.

DJTennessee

Wed, 21 May 2008 17:28:05 -0800

Despite my history of vocally despising the old "First two letters of both words" formula as wannabe and unbecoming of our trendsetting city, I think it's cute when this formula gives you an ironic double meaning (e.g. "SoSo" in Philly). I always thought "FiDi" was a mockery of Dianne Fienstein's name/popular pseudonym, so I have thought that it is cute. If this is not a mockery of Dianne Feinstein's name, then it is dumb and we should follow this prig's advice. Is it a mockery of Dianne Feinstein's name?