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Ok folks, I give up. I've noticed people refer to Manchester as "Manchvegas" and was just a little curious as to why. Now that I've spent some time there, I don't get it at all. There is nothing "Vegas" about Manchester in any way, shape, or form. Is it just some stupid pet name that the locals dreamed up or is there some validity to it, or maybe I'm just a nutcase who thinks too much about stuff like this? Help me decide.
Ok folks, I give up. I've noticed people refer to Manchester as "Manchvegas" and was just a little curious as to why. Now that I've spent some time there, I don't get it at all. There is nothing "Vegas" about Manchester in any way, shape, or form. Is it just some stupid pet name that the locals dreamed up or is there some validity to it, or maybe I'm just a nutcase who thinks too much about stuff like this? Help me decide.
I am with you bryfry. I never understood what that meant but I felt silly asking because I felt like I was the only one who did not know.
Here in Vermont we have "RutVegas" (Rutland). The name comes from the shopping strip on Route 7 south of town (strip development, lots of signage, etc). Maybe it has something to do with that?
I don't get it either... maybe because Manchester's the closest thing that NH has to an urban city? Lots of bright lights (the irritating flashing sign for Mortgage Specialists at Exit 1/293 comes to mind) And driving along South Willow Street (all 2 miles of it) there are quite a few businesses. Actually I think Nashua has more of an urban center than Manchester... maybe NashVegas doesn't have quite the same ring. Actually I heard a rumor that Adam Sandler (who graduated from Manch. Central High) has referred to Manchester as ManchVegas, maybe that's why it stuck?
By NH standards, Manchester is thought of as "the big bad city" by many other state's standards, it's pretty tame...
OMG, if Val doesn't know then who does? I still think it's an inside joke ..somebody tell us what it means?
"Everyone knows that candlelight at night is flattering — it hides flaws and adds glow. Downtown Manchester offers an illustration of this effect, transforming from a gritty business and shopping district by day into a suave entertainment destination when the sun goes down — hence its semi-sarcastic nickname — Manch Vegas. "
"At night, Manchester does morph into something else. The streets start to fill with diners, dancers and theatergoers. Retro neon and streetlights put a luster on the old gal and downtown Manchester looks attractive — some might even say hot."
~~quotes from: New Hampshire Magazine (http://www.nhmagazine.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NHM01/295713313 - broken link)
Last edited by ~Boo~; 04-29-2008 at 02:36 PM..
Reason: It's semi-sarcastic? ...gotta love it!
Manchester earned the nickname when they got busted roughly ten years ago for illegal gambling machines. Practically every little nightclub and hole in the wall bar had them and was making big $$$ and paying out $$$ without paying taxes on the income. Even the city cops were playing the little poker machines.
Natives don't call the city Manchvegas and never will. It's a stupid nickname and hopefully, someday, it will disappear.
Ah, now I see. Thanks for clearing it up, buck and boo. It makes sense now. Maybe the name came out of some front page headline when the gambling thing broke. I could easily see it on the front page of the Herald. As for the "hot" aspect, welllllllll.........I don't know about that! As Val said, pretty tame for sure.
LOL Boo too funny!! I actually think that Manchester has a pretty downtown area, especially at Christmas time There really are tons of restaurants, etc. and of course when it's hot nothing better than stopping by Ben & Jerry's for a cold one It helps that their store is right next to the music store where I get supplies for the kids (reeds, etc) A coincidence? I don't think so--just about every kid that comes out after a lesson gets an ice cream
Someone a while back made some great "Manchvegas" tshirts........I don't know if they are still out there somewhere. I am a NH native and have lived in Manchester for over 5 years now, and we call it Manchvegas sometimes, in jest. We love Las Vegas, and we think it is pretty funny, since Manchester NH is about as opposite to Las Vegas as you can get................we use it to describe the "bustling" night life, etc..........NOT!!!
I know this is a couple of years after the fact, but just thought I'd reply based on how it was explained to me. "Manch-Vegas" was apparently coined to be quasi-ironic. Manchester mostly shuts down by 7, while Vegas, like NYC, never sleeps. It's meant to humorously make fun of NH's quiet lifestyle if anything.
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And driving along South Willow Street (all 2 miles of it) there are quite a few businesses. Actually I think Nashua has more of an urban center than Manchester... maybe NashVegas doesn't have quite the same ring. Actually I heard a rumor that Adam Sandler (who graduated from Manch. Central High) has referred to Manchester as ManchVegas, maybe that's why it stuck? 
ManchVegas ...what happens in ManchVegas stays in ManchVegas...
LOL...
..somebody tell us what it means? 
