Bat Bridge (Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin)
"Bat Bridge" is an obvious nickname for the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. That's the bridge where the bats hang out until they start to fly away at dusk.…
Archive for 07/2008
McHattan (McDonald’s + Manhattan)
"McHattan" is a blend of "Manhattan" and "McDonald's." The "Mc" prefix has been applied to many words, such as "McJob." "McHattan"…
Wine Ice Cream
Mercer's Dairy in Boonville, New York (Oneida County), introduced wine ice cream in 2007. In July 2008, the New York State legislature approved the manufacture and sale of wine ice cream; a…
“You’re going to like the way you look. I guarantee it.” (Men’s Wearhouse)
Men's Wearhouse was founded in Houston, in 1973, by George Zimmer. Zimmer appears in Men's Wearhouse commercials, saying: "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee…
Adopt-a-Highway
Adopt-a-Highway programs began in Texas in 1984-1985. James R. "Bobby' Evans, an engineer at the Texas Department of Transportation, noticed the need for cleaner highways when he saw…
“Start Here. Get There.” (Austin Community College)
"Start Here. Get There." is the slogan of Austin Community College, trademarked from 1999. The college emphasizes that it's a good place for local residents to start a career. ACC…
“Make it a Blockbuster night” (Blockbuster)
Blockbuster Inc. began with a Dallas video store in 1985. The entertainment rental store is now the largest such chain in the world, headquartered at the Renaissance Tower in Dallas. "Make it…
“The energy to take you anywhere” (Valero Energy Corporation)
Valero Energy Corporation began in 1980 and takes its name from Mission San Antonio de Valero (better known as the Alamo). The San Antonio-based energy company has many gas stations throughout…
Texas Schmexas (Texas Shmexas)
"Fancy schmancy" (less frequently spelled "fancy shmancy") is a Yiddish expression from the early 1900s, meaning that something may be "fancy," but that it's…
Wham Bam Tram or A Streetcar Named Disaster (Houston’s MetroRail)
The city of Houston's MetroRail system is 7.5 miles of light rail, first opened in 2004. MetroRail had so many accidents in its first months of operation that it was being dubbed the…
Brown Bag Special (“crack kit”)
A "brown bag special" has also been called a "crack kit," consisting of a glass pipe, steel wool pad and butane lighter -- all sold in a brown paper bag by convenience stores.…
Slacker Capital of the World (Austin nickname)
Richard Linklater's 1991 film Slacker showed one day in the life of the offbeat characters of Austin, Texas. A "slacker" is someone who does not follow the corporate track with his…
Silicone City (Houston nickname)
"Silicone City" is a nickname for Houston that first appeared in a lengthy story in the August 1995 Texas Monthly. The silicone breast implant was invented in Houston in 1962 by doctors…
“Tyler and Texas!”
President John Tyler tried to form a new party of Democratic Republicans, using "Tyler and Texas!" as its slogan. Tyler's Texas annexation treaty was rejected by the Senate, 35-16,…
“Let the bastards freeze in the dark” & “Drive 80 mph and freeze a Yankee”
"Let the bastards freeze in the dark" (or "Let the Yankee bastards freeze in the dark" or "Let them freeze in the dark") and "Drive 80 mph and freeze a…
“Texas: Come for the adventure, stay for your wrongful execution”
"Texas: Come for the adventure, stay for your wrongful execution" is one of several politically incorrect state slogans sold by the Jerkass Clothing Company. The slogan has not been cited…
“How hard could it be?” (2006 Kinky Friedman campaign slogan for governor)
"How hard could it be?” was Texas author/musician/humorist Kinky Friedman’s 2006 campaign slogan in the race for Governor of Texas. He finished fourth. Another popular Kinky Friedman…
“Standing Over Texas” (Tex Randall statue slogan)
"Tex Randall" is the name that was given in 1987 to the 47-foot-tall statue in Canyon, Texas, in Randall County. The statue was originally built in 1959 to promote a Western curio shop…
Moonlight Towers & Moonlight City (Austin nickname)
Austin is the only city in the country that has "moonlight towers." In 1894, 31 arc light towers (165 feet tall) were purchased by the city of Austin from the city of Detroit. Seventeen…
“Walking back to Houston” (Ace-King in Texas Hold’em)
"Walking back to Houston" is the Ace-King starting hand in Texas Hold'em poker. Championship player T. J. Cloutier coined the term, saying: "I can see you learned to play in…