An etymological dictionary

Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.

Whitney Biennial

The "Whitney Biennial" is an arts festival that has been held by the Whitney Museum of American Art since 1933. It occurs every two years, with the next scheduled for 2006.…

NYC Open Studios

NYC Open Studios (www.nycopenstudios.org, or www.isupportart.org) featured a city-wide open studios tour in October 2005. This looks to be an annual arts event. http://www.isupportart.org/The Open…

Kremlin (110 Livingston Street)

The Board of Education used to be located at 110 Livingston Street in Brooklyn. The new Department of Education is located at the Tweed Courthouse near city hall in Manhattan. In July 2003, Mayor…

Rendez-Vous With French Cinema

The annual "Rendez-Vous With French Cinema" at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center is a decade old. http://www.filmfestivaltoday.com/dailies_item.asp?ID=661The Film Society of…

Latino Expo

The Latino Expo has been held annually at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square. This is a new event that has been growing in recent years. Miami claims to hold the largest "Latino…

Swedish Broadway (Atlantic Avenue)

Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn) used to be called "Swedish Broadway" in the 1890s and soon thereafter, but it has entirely lost its Swedish influence. Middle Eastern stores can be seen there…

Liberty Bonds

The Liberty Bonds program started afte Spetember 11, 2001. http://www.newyorkbiz.com/WorldTradeCenter/GrantsInfo/LibertyBondProgramAnswers.htmlWhat are New York Liberty Bonds? New York Liberty…

Empire Zone

There are "Empire Zones" in New York City and throughout New York State (the Empire State). Businesses in those zones get a break on their taxes. Chinatown recently received Empire Zone…

Empowerment Zone

New York City has an Empowerment Zone (NYEZ). http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/nyez.htmlThe New York Empowerment Zone (NYEZ), created to revitalize Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, is an…

Mexican Day Parade

The Mexican Day Parade (or Mexican Independence Parade) celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain. The parade began in the 1990s. New York City has seen a large increase in immigrants from…

“The Bronx” (Batley, England)

Batley, England has been called "the Bronx" because of its rough citizens. http://indianewswatch.blogspot.com/2005/07/authorities-probe-pakistani-linked-to.htmlAswat, 31, grew up in…

Murder Avenue (Myrtle Avenue)

Myrtle Avenue (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) used to be known as "Murder Avenue" in the early 1990s, but the neighborhood has changed. http://www.myrtleavenue.org/newsPress_media_2004.cfmMyrtle…

Lights Out NY

"Lights Out NY" is a program to encourage buildings to turn off lights late at night. The lights interfere with bird migratory patterns, and the program also helps save energy. FOR…