Cafe Society
"Cafe Society" was coined by Cholly Knickerbocker (Maury Paul) at the New York American in 1919. There was a movie titled Cafe Society (1939). Lucius Beebe consulted on the movie and was…
Westchester: Golden Apple (nickname)
Westchester County also got into the "Big Apple" act in the late 1970s, copying New York City with a "Golden Apple" campaign of its own. The nickname is still used, but does not…
Chess District; Washington Square Park’s “Snake Pit”
Greenwich Village has its own "Chess District." It starts at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park, where you can grab a table if the weather cooperates. Then, walk down Thompson…
“Here Comes Mister Softee” (1959)
The Mister Softee jingle brings back fond memories to many; to others, it's simply more noise pollution. It's been the subject of a recent crackdown by Mayor Bloomberg on noise. The soft…
New York Review of Each Other’s Books
The New York Review of Books began in 1963. It's been called many things, but New York Review of Each Other's Books seems to have stuck in people's minds. It is not known who coined…
New York of the North (summary)
In the 1970s, Toronto (Canada) promoted itself as a cleaner, more livable New York City. Film production went to Toronto (Remember those "New York" scenes in Short Circuit?). It was…
Toilet Paper (or, Medicated Paper)
Did "toilet paper" originate in New York City? Yes, New York had "medicated paper" in 1857-58, but this wasn't successful. The words "toilet paper" appear first…
Utica: Chicken Riggies
"Chicken riggies" (or "riggies") are "chicken rigatoni." In 2005, Utica held its first-ever "Riggiefest." Other Utica foods include half-moon cookies and…
Troy: Collar City (nickname)
Troy was known for its Arrow shirt factory and its detachable collars. It acquired the nickname "Collar City." There is a "Collar City Bridge" there today. "THE Troy Times…
Thousand Islands: Thousand Islands Dressing
The "Thousand Islands" refers to the Thousand Island of upstate New York. However, was this dressing popularized in New York City or Chicago? (Oxford English Dictionary)thousand island…
Saratoga: Saratoga Potato (Chip)
Saratoga is famous for giving birth to the "potato chip" (or, Saratoga chip) in the early 1850s. I couldn't find anything that early, but below are some interesting citations. 17…
Syracuse: Salt City (nickname); Salt Potato
An early nickname for Syracuse was "Salt City" because of its role in the salt trade. Wikipedia: Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse (/ˈsɪrəkjuːs/ or local /ˈsɛrəkjuːs/) is a city in and…
Rochester: Garbage Plate (or Dumpster Plate)
The "garbage plate" (or "dumpster plate") is a Rochester specialty. Roadfood:The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors,…
Rochester: White Hots; Pop Opens
Rochester hot dogs are often called "white hots" or "pop opens." 7 August 1933, Zanesville (Ohio) Signal, pg. 5 ad:WHITE-HOTSThis sausage was originated exclusively for Kroger…
Rochester: Flour City (nickname)
An early nickname for Rochester was "Flour City" because of its role in the production and transportation of flour. "Rochester, the great flour city" was cited in an 1847…
Long Island: “Longuyland”
"Longuyland" is, supposedly, how New Yorkers in the 1920s and 1930s pronounced "Long Island." The name "Longuyland" has been cited in print since at least 1925, and…
Long Island: Long Island Ice(d) Tea
JAY LENO: I think this Amy Fisher has gone way too far. Now bars are selling an Amy Fisher Cocktail. Have you had this? It's a Long Island iced tea with a shot on the side.-- NEWSDAY, 31…
Buffalo: Sponge Candy
Buffalo is also known for "sponge candy," but it probably didn't originate here. Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream…
Buffalo: Beef-on-Weck
"Beef-on-Weck" is roast beef on kimmelweck bread, a Buffalo (NY) specialty. Wikipedia: Kaiser roll A variation called a kümmelweck (alternatively spelled "kimmelweck" or…
Binghamton: Spiedie
The "spiedie" is an Endicott-Binghamton specialty, brought to the area by immigrants from Italy. The "spiedi" or "spiedie" (pronounced "speedy") began with…