New York Apples (tennis team)
New York's entry in World Team Tennis was originally called the New York "Sets," after the "Mets" and "Jets" and "Nets." The team moved from Long…
Archive for 02/2006
City for Sale
"City for Sale" refers to the purchase by Peter Minuit of Manhattan for an estimated $24 in 1626. In 1988, the Municipal Arts Society had an exhibit called "City for Sale." The…
“Truckin’” or “Truck on Down” (1935)
The dance "Truckin" or "Truck on Down" was popularized in Harlem in 1935. Various Harlem spots and entertainers took credit for popularizing it. (Oxford English…
Crumb-bum
A "crumb bun" is something you eat. A "crumb-bum" is a worthless fellow. Like the word "bum" itself (see the Brooklyn Dodgers' "bums"),…
Big Strawberry (summary)
"Big Strawberry" is the infrequently used nickname of Garden Grove, California. The Garden Grove Journal has helped popularize the nickname. http://ggjournal.com/guide.htmlA Guide to…
Big Mango (summary)
"Big Mango" is the Bangkok, Thailand tourism board's 1990s "homage" to "the Big Apple." Bangkok is also called he "Big Chilli." Wikipedia:…
“You Don’t Have To Be Jewish” (Levy’s Jewish Rye)
"Jewish rye bread" is the name of a bakery item that has been popular in Jewish communities. "You Don't Have To Be Jewish To Love Levy's Jewish Rye" is one of the most…
Cheese Danish
it is not known if the "cheese Danish" (like the "Danish") comes from New York. 8 August 1942, Los Angeles Times, pg. A2:CHEESE DANISHFolks rave about this heavenly concoction…
Brooklyn Wooley
"Brooklyn Wooley" is a new breed of cat. http://www.newbreedcats.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41Breed InformationType: Mutation New Breed -…
Big Apple of Wathena, Kansas (1928-1940)
There used to be a building (restaurant/dance hall) in the shape of a big apple near Wathena, Kansas. The "Big Red Apple" building was opened in 1928 -- before the 1937 big apple dance…
Street Smart & Street-Wise
"Street smart" perhaps started on the mean streets of New York City in the late 1950s-early 1960s. "Street-wise" is the slightly earlier term. (Oxford English…
BelDel (Below Delancey, or “Belancey”)
"BelDel" is a recent Manhattan neighborhood nickname for "Below Delancey" (or, "Belancey"). Not everyone likes this one.…
“An Experience at Every Table” (Benihana)
"An experience at every table" is the slogan of Benihana. http://www.benihana.com/benihana_history.aspBy the time Hiroaki arrived on U.S. soil in 1960, he had already begun to form the…
“Horrifying Vegetarians Since 1980” (The Post House)
A memorable ad for The Post House restaurant featured a sharp knife with the slogan "Horrifying Vegetarians Since 1980." The slogan has been taken/stolen by another restaurant…
“Where the Elite Meet to Eat” (Duffy’s Tavern)
Duffy's Tavern was the name of a situation comedy radio show that ran from 1941-1951. It was, perhaps, the New York City version of the television situation comedy Cheers ("Where…
“All the News That’s Fit to Eat” (The Food Section)
Josh Friedland's New York food blog, "The Food Section" (www.thefoodsection.com), began in July 2003. Its slogan was "All the News That's Fit to Eat," a take-off on…
Whaddya, Whaddya (Whaddaya, Whaddaya)
"Whaddya, whaddaya" (or "whaddaya, whaddaya") is supposedly a New York City saying, but it can also be found on The Sopranos television program. It means "what do…
“Feel Like a Kid Again!!” (Uncle Louie G’s)
Uncle Louie G's is a new Italian ices and ice cream chain from Brooklyn, but it has an old-time Brooklyn feel to it. Its slogan is "Feel Like a Kid Again!!"…
“Shop Like a Chef” (Gourmet Garage)
Gourmet Garage started in SoHo, but has spread to several stores. "Shop Like a Chef" is its newish slogan. http://www.gourmetgarage.com/story.htmOur StoryGourmet Garage was founded in…
“Calling All Men,” “Select, Don’t Settle,” “No Bunk. No Junk. No Imitations” (Barney’s)
Barney's clothing store has had a few slogans. "No bunk. No junk. No imitations" was the first one, from 1923-24. "Calling all men...to Barney's" is its famous sloagn…