Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
Queens -- specifically Rego Park and Forest Hills -- is home to many Bukharan Jews from Central Asia, the result of emigration since the 1970s. Rego Park is sometimes given a "-stan"…
"God bless Texas" is a phrase that can be seen on many Texas gift items -- the phrase can even be purchased for a Texas special license plate. The official Texas state song, "Texas,…
Rego Park in Queens has welcomed many immigrants from the countries of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia. These countries (such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but usually not including…
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Roadhouse (facility)In Australia A roadhouse is a service station in a rural area specifically aimed to service passing traffic on a major intercity route. A…
"Bat Bridge" is an obvious nickname for the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. That's the bridge where the bats hang out until they start to fly away at dusk.…
"McHattan" is a blend of "Manhattan" and "McDonald's." The "Mc" prefix has been applied to many words, such as "McJob." "McHattan"…
Mercer's Dairy in Boonville, New York (Oneida County), introduced wine ice cream in 2007. In July 2008, the New York State legislature approved the manufacture and sale of wine ice cream; a…
Men's Wearhouse was founded in Houston, in 1973, by George Zimmer. Zimmer appears in Men's Wearhouse commercials, saying: "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee…
Adopt-a-Highway programs began in Texas in 1984-1985. James R. "Bobby' Evans, an engineer at the Texas Department of Transportation, noticed the need for cleaner highways when he saw…
"Start Here. Get There." is the slogan of Austin Community College, trademarked from 1999. The college emphasizes that it's a good place for local residents to start a career. ACC…
Blockbuster Inc. began with a Dallas video store in 1985. The entertainment rental store is now the largest such chain in the world, headquartered at the Renaissance Tower in Dallas. "Make it…
Valero Energy Corporation began in 1980 and takes its name from Mission San Antonio de Valero (better known as the Alamo). The San Antonio-based energy company has many gas stations throughout…
"Fancy schmancy" (less frequently spelled "fancy shmancy") is a Yiddish expression from the early 1900s, meaning that something may be "fancy," but that it's…
The city of Houston's MetroRail system is 7.5 miles of light rail, first opened in 2004. MetroRail had so many accidents in its first months of operation that it was being dubbed the…
A "brown bag special" has also been called a "crack kit," consisting of a glass pipe, steel wool pad and butane lighter -- all sold in a brown paper bag by convenience stores.…
Richard Linklater's 1991 film Slacker showed one day in the life of the offbeat characters of Austin, Texas. A "slacker" is someone who does not follow the corporate track with his…
"Silicone City" is a nickname for Houston that first appeared in a lengthy story in the August 1995 Texas Monthly. The silicone breast implant was invented in Houston in 1962 by doctors…
President John Tyler tried to form a new party of Democratic Republicans, using "Tyler and Texas!" as its slogan. Tyler's Texas annexation treaty was rejected by the Senate, 35-16,…
"Let the bastards freeze in the dark" (or "Let the Yankee bastards freeze in the dark" or "Let them freeze in the dark") and "Drive 80 mph and freeze a…
"Texas: Come for the adventure, stay for your wrongful execution" is one of several politically incorrect state slogans sold by the Jerkass Clothing Company. The slogan has not been cited…