Ray’s Pizza (started by Ralph)
Many pizza places have "Ray" in the name. It all began in 1959 with Ray's Pizza at 27 Prince Street. http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/ny432.htmlRays Pizza, 1986-2005 New York…
Liberty Bonds
The Liberty Bonds program started afte Spetember 11, 2001. http://www.newyorkbiz.com/WorldTradeCenter/GrantsInfo/LibertyBondProgramAnswers.htmlWhat are New York Liberty Bonds? New York Liberty…
Empire Zone
There are "Empire Zones" in New York City and throughout New York State (the Empire State). Businesses in those zones get a break on their taxes. Chinatown recently received Empire Zone…
Empowerment Zone
New York City has an Empowerment Zone (NYEZ). http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/nyez.htmlThe New York Empowerment Zone (NYEZ), created to revitalize Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, is an…
Mexican Day Parade
The Mexican Day Parade (or Mexican Independence Parade) celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain. The parade began in the 1990s. New York City has seen a large increase in immigrants from…
Lavender Lake (Gowanus Canal)
The Gowanus Canal (opened in 1866) became so polluted that it was called "Lavender Lake." Recent efforts have been proposed to clean up the area.…
“The Bronx” (Batley, England)
Batley, England has been called "the Bronx" because of its rough citizens. http://indianewswatch.blogspot.com/2005/07/authorities-probe-pakistani-linked-to.htmlAswat, 31, grew up in…
Murder Avenue (Myrtle Avenue)
Myrtle Avenue (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) used to be known as "Murder Avenue" in the early 1990s, but the neighborhood has changed. http://www.myrtleavenue.org/newsPress_media_2004.cfmMyrtle…
Lights Out NY
"Lights Out NY" is a program to encourage buildings to turn off lights late at night. The lights interfere with bird migratory patterns, and the program also helps save energy. FOR…
Zebra (420 West 42nd Street)
The building at 420 West 42 Street has stripes, so it's known as the "Zebra" building. "Oreo" is another nickname that has been used for it. http://www.420w42.com/…
Cemetery Belt (Glendale)
Glendale in Queens has been called the "Cemetery Belt." Glendale began to be surrounded by cemeteries after Manhattan stopped added cemeteries in 1852.…
Darth Vader Building (Family Court)
The Family Court Building in lower Manhattan has been called the Darth Vader Building by some. It's a gloomy building. http://www.downtownexpress.com/DE_11/talkingpoint.htmlMore darkness comes…
Stuff and Guff, or Gog and Magog (Herald Square figures)
The New York Herald newspaper used to be printed at what is now still called Herald Square (34th Street, where the Macy's department store is). Two bell ringers (dubbed "Stuff" and…
Toaster (Columbia University Law School)
Columbia University's Law School has been said to look like a toaster. That's one of the better comments on several of Columbia's newer buildings.…
African American Day Parade
The African American Day Parade literature states that it is the largest black parade in America. The parade is held up Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue), from 111 Street to 142…
Sock and Sausage Fests (criticism of street fairs)
Street fairs have came under criticism in the summer of 2005. A New York Post writer editorialized that the street fairs are all the same and that many should be eliminated. The debate was…
Only city with a foreign policy (politicians visiting Israel and Puerto Rico)
New York City politicians have regularly visited places such as Israel and Puerto Rico to appeal to those ethnic constituancies. New York City has sometimes been called the only city to have a…
CultureFest
NYC & Company (formerly the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau) has hosted a "CultureFest" since 2001. Many organizations have participated.…
Bus Festival
The New York Transit Museum hosts an annual "Bus Festival." It's very moving. http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/museum/New York Transit Museum12th Annual Bus FestivalCelebrating a Century…
The public be damned! (William H. Vanderbilt)
"The public be damned" was the famous 1882 retort of railroad magnate William H. Vanderbilt. The writer Rufus Hatch popularized the phrase in this damning interview. 17 October 1882,…