April 1st & the Bronx Zoo (Telephone Hoax)
It's April 1st. You see a note on your desk to call a Mr. Lyon. Or Mr. Wolf. Or Mr. Katz. Don't do it! It's not known if this telephone hoax began in New York, but it certainly may…
Alphebetical for "a"
AQUA (Ascan Avenue/Queens Boulevard/Union Turnpike/Austin Street in Forest Hills)
AQUA (an acronym nickname for the area of Forest Hills in Queens bordered by Ascan Avenue, Queens Boulevard, Union Turnpike, and Austin Street) was invented by the blog "Forest Hills 72"…
Aquacise (aqua + exercise)
"Aquacise" (aqua + exercise) is an exercise done in water, such as in a swimming pool or a lake. "Aquacise" has been cited in print since at least April 1970, when it was…
Aquacycling
"Aquacycling" (or "aqua-cycling") is an exercise bike that is submerged in water. The bottom part of a person's body pedals the bike under water. "Aquacyling" has…
Aquemuck (Aqueduct racetrack scandal)
The Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens was proposed to be converted into a "racino" (racing + casino) in the 2000s to help reverse years of declining attendance. Questions about the racino…
Arabic Amenity (hotel tray of dates, dried fruit and nuts)
"12 Shocking Things I Learned by Working as a Butler at the Plaza Hotel" by Brandon Presser, published in Time magazine on August 16, 2017, stated how Manhattan's Plaza Hotel treats…
Arachibutyrophobia (fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth)
"Arachibutyrophobia" -- from arachis (“peanut”) + butyro- (“butter”) + -phobia -- is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one's mouth. The word was printed in…
Arbageddon (arbitrage + Armageddon)
One day in August 2014 was a disaster for the arbitrage trade. The day was quickly dubbed "Arbageddon" or "arbageddon" (arbitrage + Armageddon). "On a day some traders…
Arbuckle (coffee)
Arbuckle's was a popular brand of coffee that was made in Pittsburgh (PA) after the Civil War. The coffee quickly became a favorite with cowboy cooks and so dominated the market that…
Archtober (architecture + October)
New York City's annual Architecture Week became an annual architecture and design month in October 2011 with the first "Archtober" (architecture + October), pronounced…
Aren’t Ready for the Marines Yet (“army” backronym)
"Aren't Ready for the Marines Yet" (sometimes also "Aren't Ready to be Marines Yet" and "Aren't Really Marines Yet") is a backronym (back acronym) for…
Arepa (“Arepa Lady”)
An "arepa" is a corn-based bread popular in South American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela. The "Arepa Lady" is the popular vendor of arepas in New York City,…
Arepera or Areperia (place that sells arepas)
An "arepera" or "areperia" is a place (such as a restaurant or a food cart) that sells arepas -- corn cakes usually filled with cheese (or other fillings). "Arepera"…
Aristocrat of Harlem (Cotton Club nickname)
The Cotton Club (located in Harlem at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue from 1923 to 1935, then midtown at Broadway and 48th Street from 1936 to 1940) was called the "Aristocrat of Harlem."…
Aristocrat of the Village (Barney Gallant’s nickname)
Bernard "Barney" Gallant (1884-1968) operated several speakeasies in Greenwich Village. "Barney Gallant's" was located at 85 West 3rd Street. From 1929 through 1931, the…
Arizona: “In Arizona we salt margaritas, not sidewalks”
A margarita cocktail is often served in a glass with a salted rim. A cold climate area might use salt on sidewalks and roads to prevent icing. "We salt margaritas, not sidewalks" (or…
Arizona: Valentine State (nickname)
Arizona is called the "Valentine State" because it was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912 -- Valentine's Day. U.S. President William Howard Taft purposely chose the special…
Arkansas: “Arkansas is just Kansas for pirates”
The name of the state of "Arkansas" also contains the name of the state of "Kansas." There is "Ar" that is added, and this is something that a pirate might say.…
Arkansas: “Arkansas is the only state mentioned in the Bible” (joke)
It is sometimes claimed that Arkansas is the only state mentioned in the Bible because Noah looked out of the "Ark and saw." "When was Noah in America? When he was on the…
Arkansas: Bear State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. (Oxford English Dictionary)Bear State n. U.S. the state of Arkansas (occas. also California).1848 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms App. s.v., I once asked a Western man…