“On the 6” (1999) & “Jenny from the Block” (2002)
On September 1, 1850, Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," arrived in New York on the strength of her big hit, "Jenny from the Block." Nah, wrong Jenny. Just kidding! Bronx…
Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
On September 1, 1850, Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," arrived in New York on the strength of her big hit, "Jenny from the Block." Nah, wrong Jenny. Just kidding! Bronx…
A "Bronx Indian" or a "Brooklyn Indian" was a term for a Jew. The terms are not complimentary and are not used anymore. They were most frequently used in the 1940s during World…
"Rubbermen" or "Red Menace" are cop terms (especially television's NYPD Blue) for members of the fire department. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/tv/nypd-blue/Red Menace…
The Bridal Building is in the Garment District (or, Fashion Center) at 1385 Broadway, by 38th Street. The name "Bridal Building" itself isn't that old, but bridal wear has been in…
"La Maqueta" is the name for the market on Park Avenue, from 111th to 116th Streets. Mayor LaGuardia removed the pushcarts and created the market in 1936. In the 1950s, the area became…
The Downtown Athletic Club (18 West Street) is probably best known for awarding the Heisman Trophy to the nation's best college football player. In 2001, however, the financially strapped DAC…
"Little Spain" is (or was) 14th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. A restaurant called Little Spain was at 232 West 14th Street. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Spanish Harlem…
"Automobile Row" (where the auto dealerships are) has moved from Broadway (between the 50s and 70s) to Eleventh Avenue. The term dates from about 1900. 25 June 1907, New York Times, pg.…
"Cafe Society" was coined by Cholly Knickerbocker (Maury Paul) at the New York American in 1919. There was a movie titled Cafe Society (1939). Lucius Beebe consulted on the movie and was…
Westchester County also got into the "Big Apple" act in the late 1970s, copying New York City with a "Golden Apple" campaign of its own. The nickname is still used, but does not…
Greenwich Village has its own "Chess District." It starts at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park, where you can grab a table if the weather cooperates. Then, walk down Thompson…
The Mister Softee jingle brings back fond memories to many; to others, it's simply more noise pollution. It's been the subject of a recent crackdown by Mayor Bloomberg on noise. The soft…
The New York Review of Books began in 1963. It's been called many things, but New York Review of Each Other's Books seems to have stuck in people's minds. It is not known who coined…
In the 1970s, Toronto (Canada) promoted itself as a cleaner, more livable New York City. Film production went to Toronto (Remember those "New York" scenes in Short Circuit?). It was…
Did "toilet paper" originate in New York City? Yes, New York had "medicated paper" in 1857-58, but this wasn't successful. The words "toilet paper" appear first…
"Chicken riggies" (or "riggies") are "chicken rigatoni." In 2005, Utica held its first-ever "Riggiefest." Other Utica foods include half-moon cookies and…
Troy was known for its Arrow shirt factory and its detachable collars. It acquired the nickname "Collar City." There is a "Collar City Bridge" there today. "THE Troy Times…
The "Thousand Islands" refers to the Thousand Island of upstate New York. However, was this dressing popularized in New York City or Chicago? (Oxford English Dictionary)thousand island…
Saratoga is famous for giving birth to the "potato chip" (or, Saratoga chip) in the early 1850s. I couldn't find anything that early, but below are some interesting citations. 17…
An early nickname for Syracuse was "Salt City" because of its role in the salt trade. Wikipedia: Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse (/ˈsɪrəkjuːs/ or local /ˈsɛrəkjuːs/) is a city in and…