Posted on 03/26/2007 7:33:51 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
Seattle has a new tag line: "metronatural." And Little Rock has recently begun calling itself "The Rock."
Now the District is looking for its own catchy way to describe and define the city and lure more tourists to town. Tourism officials are hiring marketers, conducting surveys and convening focus groups in search of a few words or images that capture Washington's essence.
The current slogan, used for nearly a decade, never electrified anybody. It appears in every D.C. taxicab and on the sleeve of every D.C. police officer, but even longtime residents are hard-pressed to recall it: "Washington, D.C.: The American Experience." Another catchphrase, "Celebrate and Discover," which appeared for a time on D.C. license plates, also was a snoozer...
Civic leaders say they are looking for more than just a snappy line. Tourism accounts for $5 billion in direct spending each year (and $550 million a year into the city's general fund.)..
"What we're trying to uncover are the emotional connections and motivators for our visitors," said Victoria Isley, senior vice president of marketing for the Washington Convention & Tourism Corp., the organization leading the effort.
Isley's Brand Marketing Task Force, which began meeting in January, includes officials from the Washington Convention Center, Marriott International, the Greater Washington Initiative and the National Gallery of Art...
In a survey running through April, a new Web site, http://www.shareyourdc.com, asks local residents what they think. (Sample factoid: 70 percent say they call their home "D.C." None calls it "the Capital.")
Two firms have been hired to research and develop the slogan, which will be launched in early fall, Isley said. The project is expected to cost about $150,000, she said...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Washington, DC: Cesspool of crime and corruption.
Agree. 395 and 66 just don't hack it for decent crosstown freeways. And Fairfax Co. has some pathetically choked country roads that could use some of that local tax money that's constantly sent down to Richmond.
Washington D.C.: It Stands for Duck and Cover!
Washington DC: Mogadishu On the Potomac.
Washing ton, DC. If you're not on the dole, the take or the payroll, you're not trying hard enough!.........
(Gang members) - Washington D.C.: If crime were a fun park, you're goin' to Disneyworld!
(Average people) - Washington D.C.: It's ain't Vegas. It ain't Disneyworld. It just feels that way to your wallet.
In Baltimore, they tried "the city that reads" which was such a joke the locals started calling it "the city that bleeds" then they tried "the greatest city in america", that was a huge joke too. Then O'Malley went to "Believe".
That was a joke and bumper stickers that said "B'lieve" starte showing up.
Argh! You beat me.
Washington, D.C.: Now, You Can Protect Yourself From Our Crime
Washington D.C.: It Stands for Department of Criminals!.......
295 sorta goes through town.
There are men in Seattle?
Baltimore: I believe I'll leave............(and did)......
Baltimore and DC Both:
If only we could just exterminate the criminals, a great city to live in!
Well, since the current license plates say "Washington, D.C. - Taxation without Representation" ANYTHING could be a better slogan.
DC Where the White crackas are Legislatas and the Black Mayor is a Crack Smokah !
I am talking about the district itself. To get from, say, Capitol Hill to the northwest part of town and the Maryland suburbs, you either have to drive up Wisconsin or Mass Ave, oh joy, and 100s of stop lights, at least an hour, or you can go out Penn. Ave., get on 295, go up 295 to BW Parkway, take the parkway to the Beltway and go west. That trip takes 35-40 minutes to go just a jew miles on the weekend (I can't even think about doing this on a week day) and head for the suburb of your choice. Rock Creek Parkway is not an option because there is always something happening along that route and you end up sitting there for a half hour or more, and if you want to go much farther north than Adams Morgan or Mount Pleasant, you are screwed. There is no direct east-west route, and there is no direct north-south route. L'Enfant is my enemy.
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