“What time is it?”/“Do you mean right now?” (Yogi Berra)
New York Yankee baseball great Yogi Berra is well known for his humorous sayings, although Yogi once remarked: "I never said everything I said." Yogi was once asked (usually attributed to…
Archive for 04/2008
Forever (F subway line)
The "F" train has been called the "Forever" train because of (alleged) long waiting times. The nickname dates from at least 2006, but hasn't appeared often in print.…
SoMa (South of Macy’s)
SoMa (South of Macy's) is a nickname for the area south of Herald Square in Manhattan. The "SoMa" nickname is taken from the well-established SoMa (South of Market) in San Francisco.…
Pizza Slice Joke (“Make six slices, I can’t eat eight”)
The "pizza slice joke" is so old that, in the original telling, "slices" were called "pieces." A pizza parlor waitress asks a customer if he wants the pizza cut into…
People’s Roadway (Queensboro Bridge bike and pedestrian path)
"People's Roadway" is the nickname that Transportation Alternatives uses for the Queensboro Bridge's bike and pedestrian path. The Queensboro Bridge has had many lengthy…
Hell’s Bedroom
"Hell's Bedroom" is a 1970s variant of Hell's Kitchen. In the 1970s, Eighth Avenue in Manhattan was filled with prostitutes and called the Minnesota Strip. Gail Sheehy wrote two…
The Jews’ Highway (Williamsburg Bridge)
The Williamsburg Bridge connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan with Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The bridge opened in December 1903; an article in the New York Tribune in April 1904 commented on the…
Cajun Fries
"Cajun fries" are french fried potatoes with Cajun seasoning. "Cajun fries" are cited in print from at least 1969, but became nationally known in the 1980s, when Cajun food…
Bear Mountain Compact (Tappan Zee Bridge Rule)
Albany (the state capital) has its own version of the "sin city" slogan: "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Legislators from downstate (New York City and its suburbs) would…
Southwest Burger (Southwestern Burger)
A "Southwest Burger" (or "Southwestern Burger") is a hamburger with Southwestern ingredients. Although the ingredients vary, guacamole appears to be the most popular. Other…
Fried Onion Burger (Onion Fried Burger; Onionburger)
The fried onion burger (also written as "fried onion hamburger," "onion-fried burger' and "onionburger") is a specialty of El Reno, Oklahoma. Johnnie's Grill…
Penis Motel & “So Close Yet So Far Out” (Austin Motel)
The Austin Motel (in the capital city of Austin, on Congress Avenue) has been family owned and operated since 1938. The motel boasts an original red 1938 neon sign that some see as a "middle…
Chow Mein Sandwich; Chop Suey Sandwich
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: American Chinese cuisineChow mein sandwich— Sandwich of chow mein and gravy (Southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island). Chop suey sandwich — Sandwich of…
Puffer or Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes)
Potato pancakes have been served in Germany and other European countries since at least the 19th century, called "kartoffelpuffer" or "puffers" or "latkes." German…
Sauerkraut Bend (King William Street, San Antonio)
King William Street (originally "Kaiserwilhelm Strasse") in San Antonio had so many German immigrants that it was called "Sauerkraut Bend." The "sauerkraut" nickname…
Texas Horseshoes (Washer Pitching; Washer Tossing; Redneck Horseshoes; Hillbilly Horseshoes)
"Texas horseshoes" is a game that goes by many other names, such as "washers," "washer pitching," "washer tossing," "redneck horseshoes,"…
Halfway House or Half-Way House (Anthony nickname)
The city of Anthony, Texas (and its other half of Anthony, New Mexico) is half the distance between El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Anthony has been called "Halfway House" (or…
Best Little Town in Two States (Anthony, TX & Anthony, NM)
The towns of Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico go be the slogan "The Best Little Town in Two States." The town (or towns) about 16 miles north of El Paso reportedly had the slogan on…
Leap Year Capital of the World (Anthony slogan)
Anthony, Texas and Anthony, New Mexico (the so-called "best little town in two states") pronounced itself the "Leap Year Capital of the World" in February 1988. A Leap Year…
Señorita Special (Señorita Plate; Señorita Platter)
The "Señorita Special" (also called "Señorita Plate" and "Señorita Platter") is a Mexican combination plate, still served in old-time Tex-Mex restaurants and…