“Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry” (1942)
"Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" was a novelty song by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Victor Schertzinger (music). It was sung by Betty Hutton in the film The Fleet's In…
New York is not America
New York is a "blue state." Very blue. Very Democratic. The Republican party has won the last two presidential elections. "New York is not America" is a timely, apt cliche.…
Strip Tease
New York City has a Museum of Sex. Not only did we give the world the "hooker," but we also started "strip tease." "Strip tease" grew out of burlesque, about…
No Orleans (New Orleans nickname)
Disaster struck New Orleans in August 2005 from Hurricane Katrina. "No Orleans" has been used by some. Other New Orleans nicknames include "America's Most Interesting…
City That Care Forgot (New Orleans nickname)
"The City That Care Forgot" is a somewhat forgotten nickname of New Orleans. The nickname has long been associated with the New Orleans Mardi Gras and was first cited in 1910. "The…
Big Easy (New Orleans nickname)
"The Big Easy" (a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana) is related to "the Big Apple" (a nickname of New York City). There was a dance hall in Gretna (across the river from New…
“Made in New York”
"Made in New York" is the campaign, actively promoted in 2004, by the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting to promote New York City as a "Hollywood on the…
“New York’s Most Famous Store Since Before the Civil War” (Hammacher Schlemmer)
Hammacher Schlemmer is today probably better known for its web site and its mail order business than for its store on 57th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues. Its web site says:…
“The Most New York You Can Get” (Daily News)
"The Most New York You Can Get" was, briefly in the 1990s, a slogan for the New York Daily News. It was never an official slogan such as "New York's Picture Newspaper" or…
Page Six
"Page Six" is the gossip page of the New York (NY) Post. It features stories of "celebrities" as Paris Hilton and the Olsen Twins. "Page Six" was started in January…
CBGB & OMFUG
CBGB's -- a now-defunct music club at 315 Bowery, at Bleecker Street, in Manhattan -- was opened in 1974 by Hilly Kristal. The club was legendary for its punk rock period in the 1970s, when it…
“Chelsea Morning” (1969)
"Chelsea Morning" was written by Joni Mitchell and recorded by Mitchell and (more popularly) Judy Collins in 1969. Today, the song is famous for being the first name of Chelsea Clinton,…
“Twelve-Thirty”(1968)
The Mamas & the Papas recorded this minor hit in 1968. It was also sub-titled "Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon." I can't show all the lyrics here, but it's clear that…
Golden Edge (110th Street); Hollywood Heights (St. Nicholas Place)
"The Golden Edge" is 110th Street, the northern border of Central Park. The name is historical, from the 1930s. The following 1934 article also explains "Hollywood Heights" (St.…
San Juan Hill; The Gut
"San Juan Hill" and "The Gut" are old names for the west side of Manhattan. "San Juan Hill" dates immediately after the Spanish American War and the taking of San Juan…
World’s Most Famous Christmas Tree
The lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is now a big event, broadcast nationally around the world. The first tree was set up there in 1931 and the first celebrated lighting…
Scratchiti
Graffiti marks scratched into glass or plastic (such as subway windows) are sometimes called "scratchiti" or "scratchitti." The word was coined by Newsday writer Dennis Duggan…
“Call me a taxi.”/“You’re a taxi!”
"Call me a cab" is such an old joke, it pre-dates the popular introduction of the word "taxi." It's now most frequently "Call me a taxi"/"You're a…
World’s Second Home
"The World's Second Home" is Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to sell New York City to the world and the 2012 Olympic Committee. It was probably coined by deputy mayor and…
Big Apple Bowl
When New York City had planned a West Side stadium for the Jets football team and the 2012 Olympics, a "Big Apple Bowl" was also planned for the proposed stadium. The press release…