“Second toughest job in America” (NYC mayor)
In running for re-election in 1969, New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay admitted that he'd made some mistakes, but that he had "the second hardest job in America," and had done an…
Archive for 12/2007
Texasing (“Texas” as a verb)
"Texasing" is a use of "Texas" as a verb. When President George W. Bush shook up his cabinet (composed largely of people from Texas) in April 2006, it was written that he was…
Space City, USA (Houston nickname)
The Manned Spacecraft Center was established in 1961 in Houston; it was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1973. By 1962, Houston was being called "Space City, USA." On July…
“Where Sunshine Spends the Winter” (San Antonio, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley slogan)
"Where Sunshine Spends the Winter" was/is a slogan for San Antonio, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, Long Beach (CA), Tucson (AZ), Phoenix (AZ), and probably other places as well. In 1924,…
Mother-in-Law of the Army (San Antonio nickname)
San Antonio is home to Fort Sam Houston and other military bases. So many military men (including Dwight D. Eisenhower) married women while serving in the San Antonio area that the city has been…
Gunspoint or Gangspoint (Greenspoint District, Houston nickname)
The Greenspoint District (known as "the downtown of Houston's north side") experienced a crime wave in the late 1980s-early 1990s. The nicknames "Gunspoint" and, to a…
Ghost Voting (Button Punching; Button Pushing)
"Ghost voting" (also called "button punching" or "button pushing") occurs in the Texas House of Representatives when a representative is away from the desk, and…
Six Shooter Junction
A "six-shooter" is a revolver capable of firing six shots before reloading. The Texas towns of Harlingen, Hempstead, Kenedy, and Waco have all claimed to be known as "Six Shooter…
Gringolandia
"Gringolandia" is the "land" of the "Gringos" ("Americans" or "Yankees"). "Gringolandia" today most often refers to the United States of…
San Anto (“San Antonio” in Chicano slang)
"San Anto" means "San Antonio" in Chicano slang. This slang (called "Caló") was popular with Mexican-Americans in the 1970s, when several citations of "San…
Mission City (San Antonio nickname)
The city of San Antonio was named by Spanish explorers and missionaries who discovered a river of June 13 (the feast day of Saint Anthony) in 1691. The river was named "San Antonio" and…
Six Flags Over Texas
Texas has been under six flags -- Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States of America, and United States of America. The city of Laredo, Texas claims seven flags -- one for the…
City Under Seven Flags (Laredo nickname)
Texas prides itself to have been under six different flags, but the city of Laredo was under seven flags. The short-lived (January- November 1840) Republic of Rio Grande was centered in Laredo.…
“Home of the free 72-oz. steak” (Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo)
The Big Texan Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo has advertised "Home of the free 72-oz. steak" since 1963. You have to prepay your meal, eat the whole thing within an hour, plus bread and…
Military City, USA (San Antonio nickname)
San Antonio is home to the Alamo (one of the most famous of all Texas battles). San Antonio is also home to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Brooks Field, and has…
Cantina (Cantinera)
A "cantina" is a bar or saloon. Tex-Mex restaurants often use the name "cantina." The "cantina" (for "saloon") had been popular in Mexico and in Texas by the…
Dragon Turds (bacon-wrapped stuffed habaneros)
Atomic Buffalo Turds (ABTs) (also called "Wolf Turds") are hollowed-out jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese ("Armadillo Eggs") wrapped in bacon, with a smoked sausage added in…
Pambazo (bread and sandwich)
"Pambazo" is a dark bread, from the Spanish "pan bajo," or "bread eaten by the poor." In Vera Cruz (Mexico), "pambazo" is also a sandwich filled with…
Taco Truck (Taco Trailer)
"Taco trucks" (or "taco trailers") have become ubiquitous in Texas cities such as Houston and Austin, and in cities all throughout the United States. The taco trucks are…
Atomic Buffalo Turds or ABTs (bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños)
Atomic Buffalo Turds (ABTs) are hollowed-out jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese ("Armadillo Eggs") wrapped in bacon, with a smoked sausage added in the middle. Depite the…