[Ads-l] [Non-DoD Source] Re: Rocket City

[MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US)]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Rachael Allbritten
> Sent: Friday, March 24, 2017 9:59 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Rocket City
> 
> 
> Born and raised in the Huntsville area, I can confirm that both "Rocket City" and "Huntsvegas" are common nicknames. However,
> Huntsvegas is much more common in conversation. My understanding, as we used it in high school (early 90's) and college, was that it is
> used ironically. Though Huntsville is a reasonably medium-sized city, it is not *that* urban. And yet, from many smaller towns in the region,
> young people will view Huntsville as a "Saturday night" destination." From the perspective of someone living in Plevna, Arab, Moulton, or
> Piney Chapel, the city of Huntsville certainly has a lot more going on. Huntsvegas" therefore was jokingly used to invoke a sense of a wild
> party destination, while understanding that the city is just really not all *that* exciting. This is also true for "Nashvegas", which I only heard
> as I got older, but could possibly have come first.
> 
> Rachael Allbritten
> 

The "ironically" is key here -- I've only heard it used with the understanding that Huntsville isn't all that exciting.  (Especiallly since the Plush Horse closed . . . . )

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