Finger Building
The "Finger Building" is the large condo building at North 7th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Why "Finger Building"? Because the building looks like a finger? Because the…
Windy Apple (summary)
The popular animated television show The Simpsons coined the nickname "Windy Apple" for the fictional Capital City. "Windy Apple" is, of course, a blend of "the Big…
Witness (2006): Joe Zito
In 2006, the Society for New York City History (SNYCH) changed its website. No longer did it declare that "the Big Apple" came from a 19th century French whore. The horseracing theory was…
Welfare Queen
A "welfare queen" is a woman who is on public assistance, often fraudulently. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani cut the welfare rolls in the 1990s, dramatically decreasing the "welfare…
Widget (New York World Journal Tribune)
The "Widget" was the short-lived New York World Journal Tribune. It marked the sad end of many once-proud New York City newspapers.…
Red Square (and the Lenin statue)
A red brick apartment building put up in 1989 at East Houston Street and Avenue A was named "Red Square." In 1994, a statue of Lenin was added to the top of the building. A conversation…
Slime Warner (Time Warner nickname)
For those who don't like their Time Warner cable/internet service, "Slime Warner" has been used as a company nickname.…
New York Daily Snooze (New York Daily News nickname)
New York Daily Snooze is an unflattering nickname of the New York (NY) Daily News newspaper. The nickname Daily Snooze has been cited in print since 1938, but has become popular since about 1995 --…
Yankee Stadium was the first “stadium” (myth)
Yankee Stadium was not the first "stadium." This myth has been repeated in the 2000s. John Tomlinson Brush was an owner of the baseball New York Giants who died in 1913. In 1911, the Polo…
Welcome to New York & New York Hello
"Welcome to New York" (or "New York Hello") can be a sincere greeting or a warning of the horrors to come. The sarcastic version probably comes from the army or the National…
Urban Jungle; Concrete Jungle; Asphalt Jungle
New York City has been called an "urban jungle" and a "concrete jungle" and an "asphalt jungle." These terms have been applied to other cities as well. The Asphalt…
“Haircuts for New Yorkers” (Dramatics NYC)
"Haircuts for New Yorkers" is, perhaps, not the most thrilling of hair salon slogans. Dramatics NYC has also used "Wash, Cut and Entertainment."…
Mitzvah Mobile (Mitzvah Tank)
A "mitzvah mobile" or "mitzvah tank" was started by Brooklyn's Lubavitch sect of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the 1970s. The mobile vans comb the streets for lapsed Jews and try…
Three Kings Day Parade
Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th in Spanish communities. The annual Three Kings Day Parade is run by El Museo del Barrio. http://www.elmuseo.org/Three Kings' Day ParadeOn Friday,…
Upper West Fest
The "Upper West Fest" was inaugurated in 2006 and figures to be an annual event. It takes place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and is being promoted by Symphony Space.…
NYC Volunteer Expo
The NYC Volunteer Expo was a success in 2005 and may become an annual event. www.nycvolunteerexpo.orgThe NYC Volunteer Expo is a program run through the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Community…
New York Culinary Festival
The first New York Culinary Festival (May 19-21, 2006) looks to herald an annual event. http://www.nyculinaryfestival.com/What is the New York Culinary Festival?It is a celebration of New York City…
UnConvention Center (Pier 94)
Pier 94 is on the west side of Manhattan, at 54th Street. It used to be a garage, but since 1998 it has been the "UnConvention Center," a mini-Javits Convention Center.…
Tartan Day Parade
Scotland has been late to the New York City list of ethnic parades. The first "Tartan Day Parade" was held only recently, in 1999. Certainly, it's no match for the traditional St.…
New York Open Judo Championship
The New York Open Judo Championship has been an annual event since the 1980s. Judo is not a major sport in America, and the event has generated modest interest. http://www.judonyc.com/typo3/Welcome…