This is more of a motto than a nickname, but I like the idea of “overeducated, underrepresented”

The Great Tourist Trap

District of Criminals.

I read “DMV” and automatically think “Department of Motor Vehicles”.

DMV is stupid, and it’s not a nickname for DC anyway. I’ve always thought that most city nicknames were pointless marketing ploys. The Emerald City (Seattle) for example was cooked up by the city council in the 80s as a branding technique. No one there actually calls it that. Do New Yorkers call it the Big Apple? I’ve never heard one say it.

“DC, America’s asshole. We are a constant source of shit.”

I used “DMV” when writing for NBC Washington, and while I thought it was clever, it was also a bit clunky. Also, it refers to the region, not “D.C. Proper.” My understanding is that it’s mostly used in the hip hop community, and is otherwise uncommon.

How about updating “Chocolate City” for new demographic realities — Neapolitan City? Swirl City?

“city of magnificent distances” is the dumbest nickname ever, especially since our city is less than ten miles square. a sprawling city like houston might deserve that horrid nickname, but we sure don’t.

this will be a chocolate city for the foreseeable future, as d.c. will likely retain the largest proportion of black residents in any major american city for another generation, tops. it’s us and chicago. and since our city is smaller, we can always claim way more black people per household. lmao!!!!!!

I say City of Words. DC’s both a city of writers and a city of democracy (for some). Also compares well with other major city nicknames…think City of Angels, City of Lights, City of Brotherly Love, City of Broad Shoulders, etc…check out http://www.cityofwordsdc.org.

I know that many people do not believe that there are a such thing as a real Washingtonian but my family has been here since slavery. We are successful, college educated, upper middle class Washingtonians who have contributed to the city’s positive history and culture. This post regarding regarding nicknames for our city is the type of arrogance birthed from gentrification and the reason why those that have been disenfranchised and relocated due to gentrification are now reacting unfavorably towards the “new” residents. The bottom line is that DC, which I will also still refer to as the Chocolate City because we have an African-American mayor and African-American President who resides here, had and has a culture that was not created by people who relocated here 5 years ago for condos and jobs. If you’d like to hear about that from someone who cries because she remembers when U Street was Black Broadway, Chinatown had huge Chinese New Year parades, and Georgetown had boutiques owned by Italian merchants who greeted you in their native language but now the city is being suburbanized by overpriced condos, dog parks, Harris Teeters, and Starbucks on every corner, that woud be a relevant discussion.