CUNY (City University of New York)
First there was SUNY ("sue-knee," not "sunny"), the State University of New York. Then came CUNY ("cue-knee," not "cunny"), the City University of New York.…
Co-op City
"Co-op City" is that huge 1960s development in the Bronx. The parking situation there is a mess, but that's a story for another day. A good web site (with a Co-op City Web Ring) is…
Tudor City
"Tudor City," in New York City? Have we gone London? It's called "Tudor City" after the architecture and, well, that's the name the developer gave it. The first…
Manhattan Project
Why was it called the "Manhattan Project"? Didn't it take place outside of Manhattan - such as Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Los Alamos, New Mexico? There are several good web sites on…
Bi-coastal (NY & LA)
In the 1970s, people in the entertainment industry who lived and/or worked in both New York City and Los Angeles referred to themselves as "bi-coastal" (or "bicoastal"). The…
Celebutante
Paris Hilton is/was sometimes described as a "celebutante." The word is a combination of "celebrity" + "debutante." 20 July 1986, Chicago Tribune, city edition, pg.…
The Bronx? No Thonx!
The Bronx?No thonx! This - one of the shortest poems ever - is the product of Ogden Nash (1902-1971). It was called a "Geographical Reflection" in his book Hard-Lines (1931). In 1964,…
“Scrapple From the Apple” (1947)
Jazz great Charlie "Bird" Parker recorded "Scrapple from the Apple" from the Savoy in Harlem in 1947. "The Apple" meant Harlem.…
Oyster Pan Roast
"Oyster Pan Roast" is most famously served in New York City at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal. The Oyster Bar has been a New York institution since 1913. "Oyster Pan…
Little Africa
Several places were called "Little Africa." 8 January 1898, New York Times, pg. 5:Church for Negroes on the West Side.The Rev. P. Butler Thompkins, pastor of St. James's Presbyterian…
“Streets of New York (In Old New York)” (1906)
"The Streets of New York (In Old New York)" (1906) was a popular song in its day. It had long puzzled me. Women were called "peaches." The first line contains: "In old New…
New York Font
There is a "New York font." The first mention of it in Google Groups appears to be in 1996. Below are sites that have the "New York font" and other famous fonts. New York…
“Native New Yorker” (1977)
"Native New Yorker," from a group called Odyssey, is often described as a "disco" hit. However, it's also Carribean - the singers are from the Virgin Islands!…
“Boy From New York City” (1965)
Finally, a song about me. This song was a hit for the Ad Libs in 1965, and then for the Manhattan Transfer in 1981. http://www.oldies.com/artist/view.cfm/id_3214.htmlDescription by Oldies.com:Best…
“B.A., Buenos Aires, Big Apple” (Evita musical, 1978)
"B.A., Buenos Aires, Big Apple" is a lyric in what some have called the "Madonna movie musical," Evita (1996). Tim Rice (lyrics) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer) started work…
“The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” (1966)
"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy" was a Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel hit from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966). The song has no New York City details in…
“New York Groove” (1978)
Ace Frehley (of the rock group KISS) did a solo album in 1978. "New York Groove" was his big hit from the album. The lyrics ""I'm back in the New York groove" occur…
“Ev’ry Street’s a Boulevard in Old New York” (1953)
"Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard in Old New York" appeared in the musical Hazel Flagg (1953) and the movie Living It Up (1954). The music is by Jule Styne and the lyrics are by Bob…
“The Bowery” (1892)
This popular song about an infamous New York street (now slowly being gentrified) is a New York City standard. http://www.musicals101.com/lybowery.htmSample Lyrics"The Bowery"Music by…
“Spanish Harlem” (1960)
"There is a rose in Spanish Harlem..." It's a dramatic, romantic song. "Spanish Harlem" (1960) is from the prolific songwriting team of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Their…