Superbas (Brooklyn baseball team)
"Superbas" was the nickname of the baseball team that would later be called the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers). "Superba" was the title of an 1890s entertainment…
Texas Pecan Pie
Pecan pie has been a Texas regional specialty for over 100 years. The following citations help explain its origin. (Oxford English Dictionary)pecan, n.1901 T. P. MARSHALL Lone Star Cook Bk. 49…
Food Hole (Whole Foods nickname)
Whole Foods started its first store in Austin, Texas, in 1980. The food retailer is known for its organic foods -- and high prices. The nickname "Food Hole" was applied by at least 1995.…
Center of the Earth (Center of the World)
Boston was called the "hub of the solar system" by Oliver Wendell Holmes in the 1850s. New York was called the "capital of the world" after the United Nations was located in the…
Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition
The annual Little Italy Tuttorosso Pasta Eating Competition began in 2003. It isn't as popular (yet) as Nathan's hot dog eating competition a few days later in July, but pasta is probably…
Grosstedes (Gristedes nickname)
The Gristedes supermarket (www.gristedes.com) is sometimes called Gross-tedes, not for flattering reasons. http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=56597&st=30QUOTE(Dani Mc @ Dec 1 2004,…
“Makin’ Whoopee” (1928)
"Makin' Whoopee" (1928) was a popular song by Gus Kahn. However, it's believed that "making whoopee" (or, in other words, "to make love") comes from New York…
Bridge (card game)
The card game of "bridge" or "bridge whist" was popularized by the whist players of New York City as early as 1893. The game's origins remain a mystery. (Oxford English…
Hell’s Half Acre (Sands Street; Chatham Square)
Brooklyn's Sands Street was called "Hell's Half Acre" because of its red-light district reputation in the 19th century. I can't find historical citations for this in the…
Dine and Dash
"Dine and dash" is what occurs when someone eats at a restaurant and then leaves without paying. It's not known of the term comes from New York City, but it's cited from the…
“The World’s Greatest Newspaper” (SCREW)
The Chicago Tribune has been calling itself "The World's Greatest Newspaper" since Chicago first had a world's fair (1893). It would own a newspaper and a television station…
“The Actor’s Resource” (Back Stage)
Back Stage can be found on newsstands throughout the city. The newspaper for the performing arts began in 1960 and bills itself as "The Actor's Resource." It promises…
Pinstripers (Yankees, from their pinstripe uniforms)
The New York Yankees are sometimes called the "Pinstripers," from their pinstriped uniforms. The Yankees had pinstripes before they had Babe Ruth. It's an urban myth that they…
New York City Tap Festival
New York CIty has held a tap festival since 2001. Some say that tap dancing was born here, many years ago. http://www.atdf.org/tapcity_2006/tapcity2006_performances.htmTony Waag'sTAP CITYNew…
“Way to Shop” (Macy’s)
Macy's department store uses "way to shop" as its new slogan. http://www.macys.com/index.ognc (Trademark)Word Mark WAY TO SHOP Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S:…
Midtown International Theatre Festival
The Midtown International Theatre Festival began in 2000 and is held in midtown Manhattan (above 14th Street). http://www.midtownfestival.org/fest06/copy/schedule.htmMITFJuly 17th-August 6th,…
HOT! NYC Celebration of Queer Culture
Dixon Place runs the annual HOT! NYC Celebration of Queer Culture performing arts festival. http://hot.dixonplace.org/HOT!The 15th Annual NYC Celebration of Queer CultureJune 29th to August 26th,…
Fresh Fruit Festival
The Fresh Fruit Festival is a LGBT-related entertainment in the Big Apple each July. http://www.freshfruitfestival.com/calendar.htmFresh FRUIT FESTIVAL Happening July 10 - July 23, 2006…
Summer Play Festival (SPF)
The Summer Play Festival on Theatre Row (West 42nd Street) is an annual event that began in 2004. http://www.spfnyc.com/The 3rd annualSUMMER PLAY FESTIVALJuly 5-July 30, 2006SPF Presents the Work…
Honky Tonk (not from Tonk pianos)
It's sometimes said that the term "honky tonk" derives from William A. Tonk's pianos that were manufactured in New York. The first cited term for "honky tonk" was the…