Murray Hell (Murray Hill + hell)
The New York Observer has called the Murray Hill section of Manhattan "Murray Hell." The strip of Third Avenue, between 29th and 38th Street, just has too many young people. The horror!…
Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
The New York Observer has called the Murray Hill section of Manhattan "Murray Hell." The strip of Third Avenue, between 29th and 38th Street, just has too many young people. The horror!…
"Subway alumni" are supporters of a college team who have never gone to that college. Notre Dame had powerful football teams in the early 1900s, and the Fighting Irish often played games…
It's commonly believed that Frederic Law Olmsted coined the term "lungs of the city" in reference to New York's Central Park. Olmsted helped design Central Park in 1858, and the…
The ten officers' houses built between 1864 and 1901 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard are called "Admiral's Row" or "Officer's Row." The buildings have been abandoned…
"MoCA" is the Museum of Chinese in the Americas. It was organized in the 1990s. "MoCCA" is the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. It's a new museum, just opened in 2004. Yes,…
The annual International Dance Festival began in 2002. Time will tell if it becomes a New York City institution. http://www.internationaldancefestival.org/mission.htmInternational Dance Festival…
The Strawberry One-Act Festival was started by the Riant Theatre in 1996. The New York Daily News has dubbed it "American Idol for playwrights."…
"LoCo" (as in "loco," Spanish for "crazy") seems like a natural "SoHo" knockoff. It's recently been suggested for "Lower Court" street in…
"Howl" is the title of a 1955 poem by Allen Ginsberg. HOWL! is the Festival of East Village Arts, a week-long August celebration first held in 2003. 2005's festival celebrated the…
Queens Plaza has been called "the Gateway to Queens." A transportation redesign of Queens Plaza was approved in 2002-2003.…
The Dyckman Basketball Tournament was founded by Kenneth Stevens and takes place Monsignor Kett Playground on West 204 Street and Nagle Avenue (near Dyckman Street). The Dyckman Games have been…
J & R is the electronics/music/computer giant on Park Row. It's a favorite of New York City government, located a block away at city hall. (Trademark)Word Mark J & R Goods and Services…
Sam Ash has called itself "The Musical Instrument Megastore." Websites include http://www.samash.com and www.samashmusic.com. (Trademark)Word Mark SAM ASH Goods and Services (CANCELLED)…
Gristede's has called it's large stores "Meg Stores." Gristede's has been in New York since 1888. http://www.gristedes.com/ourcompany_history.aspGRISTEDE'S HISTORYIn…
D'Agostino supermarkets began in New York City in 1932, at Lexington Avenue and East 83rd Street. The "Dag bags" have become famous, just for the name. The jingle "Love that…
"LoBro" is Lower Broadway in Manhattan, between 8th Street and Canal. "LoBro" started being used by restaurateurs in the 1980s, but hasn't been used much since then.…
"New Directors/New Films" is the long-running companion to the New York Film Festival. It seeks out more political films, representing many of the countries of the world.…
"SoFi" can mean either "South of Fifth Avenue" (this doesn't exactly make sense because Fifth Avenue runs north and south!) or "South of Flatiron" (this…
The Carnaval Del Boulevard is a Dominican festival that takes place on St. Nicholas Avenue (Juan Pablo Duarte Boulevard). Mayoral candidates attended the sixth annual Carnaval in 2005, showing the…
"Pride in the City" is a new annual event by the People of Color in Crisis (POCC). It's meant to call attention to such important things as AIDS in the African-American community.…