Fashion Week (“7th on 6th”)
"Fashion Week" was an event known only to the trade until 1993. In that year, it was called "7th on 6th" and Seventh Avenue (the Fashion District) began tent shows at Bryant…
Crab Crunch (River Project of Hudson River Foundation)
The Hudson River Foundation has been sponsoring a "Crab Crunch" since 2000. A "crab crunch" is the crab version of a "clam bake" or "fish fry." Westchester…
“The Mattress Professionals” (Sleepy’s)
Sleepy's (www.sleepys.com) has many stores in New York City. It all began with Harry Acker in Brooklyn. "The Mattress Professionals" has been a company slogan since 1977. The company…
“Leave off the last ‘s’ for ‘savings’” (212-MATTRES)
"Dial a Mattress" advertised the number 212-MATTRES. The company advertised heavily on New York City television stations, usually late at night. Viewers were told to leave off the last…
“Always a Pleasure” (Nedick’s)
Nedick's was known for its orange juice and its hot dogs. It went out of business in New York city then was brought back about 2000 with the slogan "Always a Pleasure." The name…
Switch Building (109 Norfolk Street)
The building at 109 Norfolk Street quickly has been called the "Switch Building." It literally looks like a bunch of light swtiches on top of one another. http://109norfolk.com/…
“Bird in Flight” (WTC Transportation Hub)
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava's design for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub was announced by the Port Authority in July 2005. The design looks like a "bird in flight"…
“Lead us not into Penn Station”
"Lead us not into Penn Station" is a child's classic mangling of the Lord's Prayer ("Lead us not into temptation"). It received great popularity when mention in the…
“Everywhere You Go” (Duane Reade)
"Everywhere You Go" is the jingle/motto of the Duane Reade drugstore chain. The company name was taken from the corner of Duane Street and Reade Street in lower Manhattan, with the first…
Walk-Up Apartment
A "walk-up" apartment has no elevator. (Oxford English Dictionary)walk-up, a. and n.A. adj. 1. Of an apartment, etc.: that has to be reached by stairs rather than by a lift. Also applied…
Beautiful People
"Beautiful People" was a popular term in the 1960s. It's said to have started in Vogue magazine. (Oxford English Dictionary)beautiful people orig. U.S. (occas. written with capital…
Dock-walloper
New York City was once known for its ports. A "dock walloper" is a loafer on those docks. (Oxford English Dictionary)dock-walloper (U.S.), a casual labourer engaged at docks and…
Iron Maiden or HEET (High Entrance/Exit Turnstile)
Did you ever go into the subway and see those metal bars in a revolving door-type entrance? That's an "iron maiden" or a "High Entrance/Exit Turnstile" (HEET). The HEETs…
Fare-beater
"Fare beaters" are those people who jump subway turnstiles and don't pay the subway fare. New subway technology has cut down on some types of "fare-beating," but it still…
La Playita (Little Beach)
"La Playita" (the Little Beach) is a strip of land along Viele Avenue in the Bronx, at Hunts Point. In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg announced improvements planned for the area, such as athletic…
“Bringer” show
New York City comedy clubs have developed "bringer" shows. A comedian must "bring" two or more paying guests. The more paying guest, the longer time on stage. This often results…
Jungle Alley (West 133rd Street)
"Jungle Alley" was West 133rd Street in Harlem, between Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue. Many night clubs, speakeasies and fried chicken restaurants were located there. "Jungle…
“Vogue” (1990)
Madonna's 1990 song and dance, "Vogue," was actually a New York City tradition that may have been started in Harlem many years before. It's from the fashion magazine, Vogue.…
Parthenon of Wall Street (Federal Hall National Memorial)
A statue of George Washington stands outside a Greek Parthenon-like building on Wall Street. It's the Federal Hall National Memorial, sometimes called the "Parthenon of Wall Street."…
Vote early! Vote often!
Where else could this come from but New York City, the home of, ah, honest elections? American HeritageDictionary of American Quotationsby Margaret Miner and Hugh RawsonNew York: Penguin…