“78704—More than just a ZIP code” (“78704—Actually, it’s just a ZIP code”)
The Bouldin Creek area of Austin (ZIP code 78704) advertises that it's the extra funky part of Austin. "78704 -- More than just a ZIP code" and "78704 -- It's not just a…
“Make Austin Normal”
"Make Austin Normal" was promoted by Andrew Allemann in 2004 to counter Austin's popular slogan of "Keep Austin Weird." The "Make Austin Normal" phrase was…
“Keep Wimberley Weirder”
"Keep Wimberley Weirder" is a gentle borrowing (trademarked in 2005) from the popular slogan "Keep Austin Weird." Wimberley is located near Austin and this "weirder"…
Moscow on the Colorado (Austin nickname)
The city of Austin is located on the Colorado River and is home to the University of Texas. The city (and university) has been attributed to have such liberal and anti-American leanings that some…
Texas Gulag (Gulag State of Texas)
"Gulag" was the name for the penal labor camps that existed in the Soviet Union; the term was popularized by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's 1973 book, The Gulag Archipelago. Some political…
Texas Two-Step (Primary & Caucus voting; Primacaucus; Primaucus; Primacus; Caucumary; Caucary)
The Texas Two-Step is a popular dance. For the March 4, 2008 Texas presidential primaries, voters were instructed to vote in the primaries -- and then to return after 7 p.m. on election day to vote…
“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy” (Al Smith)
New York Governor Al Smith (1873-1944) said in 1923: "If there are any ills that democracy is suffering from today, they can only be cured by more democracy." The quote was part of a…
Wop Salad
"Wop salad" is an "Italian Salad" that became popular with Sicilian immigrants to New Orleans (also famous for the muffuletta sandwich) by at least 1930. The salad can contain…
Concrete or Blizzard (frozen dessert)
Entry in progress. Penniless lexicogapher taking a break, attending to pregnant wife -- B.P. Wikipedia: Ted DrewesTed Drewes is a frozen custard shop well-known in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The…
Counterfeit Triangle (Canal Street area)
The "Counterfeit Triangle" area of Manhattan that sells counterfeit merchandise is bounded by Canal, Walker, Baxter and Centre Streets. The name "Counterfeit Alley" had been…
Chicken Fried Shrimp
Chicken fried shrimp is another attempt to imitate the Texas success of
Mexican Food Shit (Mexican Shits; Taco Shits; Screamers)
Mexican food has resulted in some scatalogical language, such as "Mexican food shit" or "Mexican shits," "Mexican food poop," "Mexican food poo," "taco…
“Come on ice cream!” (post-jalapeño-eating saying)
Mexican (or Tex-Mex) food can be hot. After eating several jalapeños, it's not unusual to follow that up with ice cream for dessert. An old joke/saying goes that, the following day while…
Southwestern Crab Cakes (Southwest Crab Cakes)
Southwestern Crab Cakes (or Southwest Crab Cakes) is a seemingly Gulf Coast dish, but it appears perhaps most frequently on restaurant menus in Austin, Texas. "Southwestern crab cakes" is…
Tex-Mex Mile or Mexican Food Mile or Taco Row (South First Street, Austin)
Austin's South First Street has about a dozen Mexican food establishments (restaurants/bakeries), all independently owned. South First has been called "Taco Row" (first cited in…
Painted Desert Soup (black bean soup + corn chile chowder)
"Painted Desert Soup" is a specialty of the Blue Mesa Grill (various locations, originally in the Dallas area in the 1990s). The soup actually combines two popular Southwestern soups --…
“Gal reminds me of the highway between Fort Worth and Dallas. No curves.” (Foghorn Leghorn)
"Gal reminds me of the highway between Fort Worth and Dallas. No curves" is a saying by the cartoon rooster Foghorn J. Leghorn in the 1953 cartoon Of Rice and Hen. Foghorn Leghorn spoke…
Taco Short of a Combination Plate (“not all there”)
"Taco short of a combination plate" is another way of saying that a person is "not all there" or "not playing with a full deck" (called "full deckisms"). The…
Vietnamese Fajitas (Bo Nuong Xa)
Vietnamese fajitas (Bo Nuong Xa) are strips of beef with lemongrass, rolled in rice-paper wrappers (rather than tortillas). Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, sprouts, mint, basil, carrots, jalapeños…
LoCo (Lower Congress Avenue, Austin)
LoCo (Lower Congress Avenue in Austin) is just below SoCo (South Congress Avenue). "Loco" is a Spanish word meaning "crazy," and the unofficial neighborhood nickname has…