Dunking Doughnuts (and “Sinkers”)
"Dunking" doughnuts became popular when New York City's own Eddie Cantor promoted the practice in his 1931 movie Palmy Days. The practice of dunking doughnuts in coffee was popular…
Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
"Dunking" doughnuts became popular when New York City's own Eddie Cantor promoted the practice in his 1931 movie Palmy Days. The practice of dunking doughnuts in coffee was popular…
"By Hammer and Hand All Arts Do Stand" symbolizes the Mercantile Library. Its logo features an arm and hammer. The "by hammer and hand" slogan has been used in New York City…
The New School for Social Research was famous for its "University in Exile" during the 1930s. Many Jewish scholars, discarded by universities in Nazi Germany, came to New York City to…
The Hangman's Elm or Hanging Tree is the elm in the northwest corner of Washington Square Park. It's said to be over 300 years old. It is also said that several hangings occurred from…
V.I.M. started in Brooklyn and proudly declares its slogan: "The best jeans and sneaker stores in America." Its website say it's been around since 1977, but trademark records say…
"Triburbia" has become a new nickname for TriBeCa. http://www.newyorkmetro.com/news/articles/wtc/tribeca1.htmTriBeCa has long been home to well-off families who wanted space and good…
It is sometimes (not often, thankfully) said that New York City is called "the Big Apple" because of Governor Peter Stuyvesant's apple tree. Actually, it was a pear tree. The tree is…
"Hudson River Crawl" was the name that swimmers of the Hudson River would apply to...well, I'll let them used their own words for it.…
Dairy Associates is located in Union, New Jersey. It bills itself as "The Greater New York Dairy" and produces several popular milk products.…
Nathan Hale is celebrated as America's first spy. He was hung by British forces in New York City on September 22, 1776, and various memorials in the city celebrate his story. His now-famous…
New York City had several "Liberty Poles" between 1766 and 1776. The first blood shed in the American Revolution was on January 18, 1770, in defense of a Liberty Pole that stood in what…
An Urban Ranger (or Urban Park Ranger) is a member of the Parks Department who will instruct you on the wildlife in New York City's parks. They've been compared to the National Park…
White Street in Tribeca is being called "little Broadway" because of its many entertainment offerings. http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/64596.htmYOUR BEST BETS FOR THIS WEEKENDBy…
Newsday is based on Long Island. It briefly ran a New York edition (New York Newsday) that folded in the 1990s. New York Newsday had a memorable slogan: "Truth, Justice and the Comics."…
"Brooklyn-Queens Day" is best known simply as a day off school. It originally celebrated the birth of Brooklyn's Sunday School Union in early 1800s. The day was also known as…
Brooklyn is part of Share Our Strength's annual "Taste of the Nation" fundraising festival. http://www.gothamist.com/June 13: Taste of the Nation BrooklynGet a taste of the finest…
The Solo Arts Festival (by terraNOVA Collective) is a new annual event of readings, music and more. http://www.terranovacollective.org/SoloArtsFestival.phpJune 8-25Center Stage, NY48 West 21st…
Manhattan College has claimed to have originated baseball's "seventh inning stretch" in 1882. The seventh inning is the time before the end of the game where the spectators stretch…
Jana Hunsaker was a tennis instructor at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens. The memorial wheelchair tennis tournament is a new annual event.…
The Corporate Challenge began in 1977; it was sponsored by Manufacturers Hanover, but is now sponsored by JP Morgan Chase. The 3.5-mile race has grown in popularity and now takes place on two days.…