Covenant House and Nineline (800-999-9999)
Covenant House was founded in 1969 as a refuge for runaways by Father Bruce Ritter, who died in 1999. It quickly became an international success. It established itself in the Times Square area, and…
Archive for 05/2005
Fire Department’s Maltese Cross
I'm going through some fire department books and magazines for more on the "Maltese Cross" and "fire buff." I'll try to post the earliest dates as I find them. The…
Snakehead
"Snakeheads" (or "snake heads") are people who traffic in illegal (usually Chinese) immigration. Many Chinese brought into America by "snakeheads" find themselves…
“Like No Other Bagel in the World” (H & H Bagels)
About ten years after Bloomingdale's declared itself "like no other store in the world," H & H Bagels declared that its product was "like no other bagel in the world."…
THRU Streets
'THRU Streets" is a Department of Transportation program to improve the traffic flow in Manhattan. The program has been declared a success and might be expanded to other streets. The…
Empty State Building (Empire State Building’s 1930s nickname)
The Empire State Building opened in 1931, during the Great Depression. It had a problem finding tenants and was soon derided as the "Empty State Building." This nickname is not used…
New York Swat Vest (from England)
The "New York Swat Vest" appears to be a Thatchreed Viper Vest from England. It is not authorized by the NYPD or New York City in any way.…
Taste of Tribeca & Dine Around Downtown
Two new lower Manhattan food festivals are "Taste of Tribeca" (1994) and "Dine Around Downtown" (1997). Taste of Tribeca was once $15, but is (in 2005) $40 in advance and $45 on…
CityHawks, Dragons (arena football teams)
The CityHawks played in Madison Square Garden and briefly (1997-1998) represented New York City in arena football. The New York Dragons (2000-present) currently represent "New York" in…
“Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field” (was Ebbets Field first)
The Chicago Cubs celebrate "the friendly confines of Wrigley Field." "Mr. Cub" -- baseball player Ernie Banks (1931-2015) -- would welcome people there, and many people believe…
The Scotsman’s Kilt
The following was attached to Richard Stratton's very informative May 13, 2005 e-mail to me: The Continuing Saga of the CourtshipofAndrew MacTavish and Mary Margaret MacDuffA brief summary…
Whole Nine Yards (summary; Capt. Richard Stratton’s 1955 attestation)
"The whole nine yards" has been the great American etymological mystery of the second-half of the twentieth century. The expression is similar to many other expressions, such as the…
E-Z Pass
"E-Z Pass" (or "E-ZPass") lets you go through bridges and tunnels without stopping. Your plate is automatically recorded and you'll get a bill, but the system is designed…
Isle of Tears or Island of Hope (Ellis Island Immigration Station)
The Ellis Island Immigration Station (1892-1954) is now a widely visited tourist destination. To those who were rejected at Ellis Island and were sent home, it was an "Isle of Tears" (or…
“You gotta believe!” (“Ya gotta believe!”)
"You gotta believe" (or "Ya gotta believe") was the catchphrase of New York Mets baseball relief pitcher Tug McGraw in 1973. The Mets had come from far behind in a crowded field…
Competitive Eating Contests
Eating contests have been held in New York City since at least the 19th century. A pie-eating match was held in Brooklyn in in August 1886. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is held at Coney…
SINO (Student In Name Only); Pushout
There is a RINO (Republican In Name Only). Don't know who that would be. There is also a DINO (Democrat In Name Only). SINO (Student In Name Only) is new, but it could catch on.…
Murderers’ Row
"Murderers' Row" is a true New York City term. It grew from the infamous "Tombs" prison (long demolished) in the 1800s. In the 1920s, "Murderers' Row" was…
New York Sack Exchange
The "New York Sack Exchange" (a pun on the New York Stock Exchange, of course) was the New York Jets football defensive front four of Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, and Abdul…
Off-Track Betting (OTB) & “Go, Baby, Go!”
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, New York had a lot of problems. "The Big Apple" campaign was started to improve its image, but that can do only so much. You need money! Mayor John…