Newbie mistakes (Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo: transplants, public schools, tornado)

[Dave101]

In my younger days as a radio DJ, the scariest part of moving to a new town was going on the air and then mispronouncing a local street or area name.

So as we prepare to move to “The Springs” I’m hoping you can help us avoid some “newbie” mistakes.

I already know that there is Briargate Blvd and Briargate Pkwy. Are there other duplicate or confusing streets.

Which street names or area names are we “newbies” most likely to mispronounce?

Are there specific streets that are typically referred to in a generic way (such as, it’s just past the “bypass”)?

Are there local sayings, nicknames (stores or ?) or idioms everyone understands?

What other mistakes do "newbies" to the Springs make?

[jazzlover]

Well, if you can pronounce these Colorado place names correctly, you will be on your way:

Saguache
Towaoc
Cochetopa

Also, it helps if you can actually pronounce Spanish correctly, like

Huerfano
Cebolla
Conejos

I'm always amazed how many butcher those.

And, know the local "bastardizations" and nicknames for places like

Buena Vista


Answers later . . . . . . . ?

[ryanek9freak]

Yes, there's several Academy loop streets off academy blvd. It can confuse a newbie

[sgermanguy]

Isn't Buna Vista that town near Dell Nortt?

[Terytee]

Originally Posted by Dave101

In my younger days as a radio DJ, the scariest part of moving to a new town was going on the air and then mispronouncing a local street or area name.

So as we prepare to move to “The Springs” I’m hoping you can help us avoid some “newbie” mistakes.

I already know that there is Briargate Blvd and Briargate Pkwy. Are there other duplicate or confusing streets.

Which street names or area names are we “newbies” most likely to mispronounce?

Are there specific streets that are typically referred to in a generic way (such as, it’s just past the “bypass”)?

Are there local sayings, nicknames (stores or ?) or idioms everyone understands?

What other mistakes do "newbies" to the Springs make?

I can't really think of any unique local references that I've heard here in town. That's interesting that there don't seem to be any nicknames for places.

Coming from a big metro area (Wash DC), I've always found it kinda' cool in COS that you can talk to anyone about somewhere you went, or maybe even the part of town you live in, and everyone nods and pretty much knows where you're talking about.

They only thing I would advise, is that you may not want to bad mouth the military when you're talking to anyone (not assuming that you would), but almost everyone has some connection to the Air Force or Army or knows someone who does.

[kristie73]

I think the saying is "Wait five minutes for the weather to change", but that's a saying that is said in other cities besides Colorado Springs.

I really can't think of anything else.

[Swampy101]

The town of Kiowa. Some people pronounce it Kee o wah, but think of the state of Iowa. Ki o wa.

[osugirl2]

sounds a bit like Oklahoma If you can pronounce

Wetumka
Checotah
Nowata
Prauge
Miami (My-am-muh here )
Weletka
Eufaula
You're on your way.....plus the weather really does change here every five minutes..........lol

[kalipsoh]

When I moved from Denver to the Springs area, I was very confused when listening to the traffic reports and weather advisories on TV. Here's what I didn't know at first:
Motor City area?!? What the heck is that? I guess that's the part of I-25 that is inundated with car dealerships. Maybe someone here can specify exactly where that is.

North and South Academy. There are 2 Academy Blvd. exits on I-25.
Traffic reports will list intersections that you have never heard of. Often they are minor/side roads, so if you haven't heard of it, don't worry about it then as you most likely won't pass it on your drive.

You'll hear some names everywhere and they have nothing to do with the same geographic area - for example, Palmer Ridge High School is nowhere near Palmer Ridge or Palmer Lake for that matter.

Do get to know the other area highways because they're frequently mentioned and often impact your travel. Highway 24 is one that goes west and east of I-25, and can be confusing at first where they're talking about until you know the area. For a while I thought of it only in reference to heading to Woodland Park, but it's also highly traveled east too.

They also refer to all schools by the district number rather than city, because the "Springs" is all-encompassing pretty much. In the Denver area, schools were listed by city rather than number, so when you watched & prayed for a snow day, you listened for "Denver Public Schools" rather than D-20. I kept watching for "Monument" at first and was surprised to see it as D-38 instead.

Oh, and "cold reporting" is equivalent to "accident alert" during problematic weather.

And weather advisories on TV. They'll show a graphic of the counties without any indication as to where the Springs is in reference to it. There could be a tornado alert and just a rectangular-shaped county is highlighted and you have no idea where Baca county is...I guess they assume everyone knows. Which is ridiculous since there's so many transplants here considering the military bases. So unless you hear "El Paso County" on the alert, no need to worry

[tfox]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

And, know the local "bastardizations" and nicknames for places like

Buena Vista

Don't forget about the "correct" pronunciation of "Pueblo." Even most people in-state don't get that one "right". Or, how about "Las Animas?"