Boulevards
Encyclopedia
Boulevards is a network of city guides on the Internet established in 1994 by Boulevards New Media Inc., an early digital media pioneer. It preceded other city guide networks such as Citysearch
and Microsoft's now-defunct Sidewalk.com
product, which launched under a similarly metaphorical brand and may have been influenced by Boulevards.
The network includes city guides operated at the dotcom version of city names in 60 percent of the Top 20 U.S. cities. Among Boulevards' properties are LosAngeles.com, SanFrancisco.com, Seattle.com, Houston.com, Dallas.com, SanAntonio.com, Denver.com, SaltLakeCity.com, Minneapolis.com, StPetersburg.com and Philadelphia.com.
, who remains its CEO. At first, the sites emphasized directories of arts and entertainment, dining and community information in the style of the alternative press, along with original content. An early editor was Larry Smith
, of Six-Word Memoirs
fame. Its first interface was designed by Dutch typographer Erik van Blokland.
A year later, Boulevards acquired a portfolio of city names that included LosAngeles.com, SanJose.com and other major city domains. Other acquisitions followed. The company today owns the dotcom version of the names of the majority of the 20 most populous cities in the United States
.
In 2002, the sites began to emphasize travel and dining content and provided booking links to travel-related commerce services. In 2005, Boulevards acquired the popular San Francisco city guide SF Station
and further expanded its content offerings. The company also that year acquired a controlling interest in the service now known as MovieTimes.com. In 2007, Boulevards' large city sites added business directories and calendars of events that allowed community-contributed events and listings to be added. Boulevards also operates community news and opinion websites such as San Jose Inside in San Jose, California.
Boulevards is based in San Jose, California
.
Citysearch
Citysearch is an online city guide that provides information about businesses in the categories of dining, entertainment, retail, travel, and professional services in cities throughout the United States. Visitors to each of Citysearch's local city guides will find contact information, maps, driving...
and Microsoft's now-defunct Sidewalk.com
Sidewalk.com
Sidewalk.com was first registered in 1995 by a C.D. Bell of Los Angeles, CA, as a website where local subscribers could gain a presence on the web. Bell compiled a lengthy list of possible names for his new domain, and much to his surprise his first choice, "Sidewalk.com", was available. Most of...
product, which launched under a similarly metaphorical brand and may have been influenced by Boulevards.
The network includes city guides operated at the dotcom version of city names in 60 percent of the Top 20 U.S. cities. Among Boulevards' properties are LosAngeles.com, SanFrancisco.com, Seattle.com, Houston.com, Dallas.com, SanAntonio.com, Denver.com, SaltLakeCity.com, Minneapolis.com, StPetersburg.com and Philadelphia.com.
History
The company was founded in 1994 by Dan PulcranoDan Pulcrano
Dan Pulcrano is a journalist, newspaper owner and Web executive in San Jose, California. He is CEO and executive editor of Metro Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley’s alternative newsweekly, as well as its sister publications, Santa Cruz Weekly and the North Bay Bohemian...
, who remains its CEO. At first, the sites emphasized directories of arts and entertainment, dining and community information in the style of the alternative press, along with original content. An early editor was Larry Smith
Larry Smith (editor)
Larry Smith is an American author and editor, and publisher of SMITH Magazine. He is best-known for developing the "Six-Word Memoir" a literary subgenre that took on a life of its own in popular culture as publications began holding reader contests and publishing the results...
, of Six-Word Memoirs
Six-Word Memoirs
Six-Word Memoirs is a project founded by the U.S.-based online storytelling magazine Smith Magazine. Like that publication, Six-Word Memoirs seek to provide a platform for storytelling in all its forms.-History:...
fame. Its first interface was designed by Dutch typographer Erik van Blokland.
A year later, Boulevards acquired a portfolio of city names that included LosAngeles.com, SanJose.com and other major city domains. Other acquisitions followed. The company today owns the dotcom version of the names of the majority of the 20 most populous cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2002, the sites began to emphasize travel and dining content and provided booking links to travel-related commerce services. In 2005, Boulevards acquired the popular San Francisco city guide SF Station
SF Station
SF Station is a city guide operated in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California specializing in arts and culture, entertainment, food, shopping and urban living...
and further expanded its content offerings. The company also that year acquired a controlling interest in the service now known as MovieTimes.com. In 2007, Boulevards' large city sites added business directories and calendars of events that allowed community-contributed events and listings to be added. Boulevards also operates community news and opinion websites such as San Jose Inside in San Jose, California.
Boulevards is based in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
.