Purity or Virtue (1909)
The huge statue of a snow-white woman, "Purity" or "Virtue," stood briefly in Times Square in 1909. Pictures of the statue appear frequently in books about Times Square, but the…
Counterfeit Alley (Canal Street & Midtown Manhattan)
"Counterfeit Alley" is the name of any place that sells counterfeit (fake) goods. Yes, that $5 "Gucci" bag or $5 "Rolex" watch can probably be found there. Some of the…
World’s Fair (1853, 1939-40, 1964-65)
The first "World's Fair" was London's Crystal Palace exhibtion of 1851. New York City followed quickly with a Crystal Palace "World's Fair" of its very own, in…
Brownstone Front Cake
"Brownstone front cake" is a very rich chocolate cake. It's said to resemble the "brownstone front" houses. The cake was popular in the late 19th century and probably began…
“The Signature of American Style” (Lord & Taylor)
Lord & Taylor, on Fifth Avenue, is one of New York's most famous stores. Its Christmas window displays are a must-see. "The Signature of American Style" is a slogan from 1990…
Brooklyn’s Restaurant Row (Smith Street)
"Manhattan's Restaurant Row" is on West 46th Street and "Harlem's Restaurant Row" is on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Brooklyn has a "Restaurant Row" on…
Brooklyn’s Jewel or Brooklyn’s Backyard (Prospect Park)
Brooklyn's Prospect Park opened in 1868, finished by the same team of Olmsted and Vaux that made New York's Central Park. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses called Prospect Park "the…
Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower (Coney Island Parachute Jump)
The Coney Island Parachute Jump has been called "Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower." It was moved to Steeplechase Park in 1941, after the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair. The Parachute…
“New York’s Small-Town Paper” (New York Observer)
The New York Observer (a weekly newspaper) began in 1987. It's pink (like London's Financial Times) and it serves New York's "elite" -- mostly the upper east side or the…
New York Apples (tennis team)
New York's entry in World Team Tennis was originally called the New York "Sets," after the "Mets" and "Jets" and "Nets." The team moved from Long…
City for Sale
"City for Sale" refers to the purchase by Peter Minuit of Manhattan for an estimated $24 in 1626. In 1988, the Municipal Arts Society had an exhibit called "City for Sale." The…
“Truckin’” or “Truck on Down” (1935)
The dance "Truckin" or "Truck on Down" was popularized in Harlem in 1935. Various Harlem spots and entertainers took credit for popularizing it. (Oxford English…
Crumb-bum
A "crumb bun" is something you eat. A "crumb-bum" is a worthless fellow. Like the word "bum" itself (see the Brooklyn Dodgers' "bums"),…
Big Strawberry (summary)
"Big Strawberry" is the infrequently used nickname of Garden Grove, California. The Garden Grove Journal has helped popularize the nickname. http://ggjournal.com/guide.htmlA Guide to…
Big Mango (summary)
"Big Mango" is the Bangkok, Thailand tourism board's 1990s "homage" to "the Big Apple." Bangkok is also called he "Big Chilli." Wikipedia:…
“You Don’t Have To Be Jewish” (Levy’s Jewish Rye)
"Jewish rye bread" is the name of a bakery item that has been popular in Jewish communities. "You Don't Have To Be Jewish To Love Levy's Jewish Rye" is one of the most…
Cheese Danish
it is not known if the "cheese Danish" (like the "Danish") comes from New York. 8 August 1942, Los Angeles Times, pg. A2:CHEESE DANISHFolks rave about this heavenly concoction…
Brooklyn Wooley
"Brooklyn Wooley" is a new breed of cat. http://www.newbreedcats.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41Breed InformationType: Mutation New Breed -…
Big Apple of Wathena, Kansas (1928-1940)
There used to be a building (restaurant/dance hall) in the shape of a big apple near Wathena, Kansas. The "Big Red Apple" building was opened in 1928 -- before the 1937 big apple dance…
Street Smart & Street-Wise
"Street smart" perhaps started on the mean streets of New York City in the late 1950s-early 1960s. "Street-wise" is the slightly earlier term. (Oxford English…