Red Velvet Cake
Red Velvet Cake (a cake with red layers) has been a mystery. Was it invented at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City? Was it invented in the South? Was it invented in Canada? Where, and when?…
Holidays/Events/Parades
Red-Eye Gravy (Redeye Gravy; Red Gravy; Red Ham Gravy)
"Red-eye gravy" was first called "red gravy" and then "red ham gravy." Red gravy (from cured ham) was served through the South in the 19th century, in states such as…
Redbird and Brightliner trains
The "Redbird" trains began in the 1950s and the "Brightliner" trains began in the 1960s. http://www.nycsubway.org/faq/cartypes.htmlR-26, R-28, R-29, R-33, R-36: Mainline IRT…
Redmen, Red Storm (St. John’s teams)
St. John's teams wore red. Many teams were known for the color of their uniforms: Harvard Crimson, Syracuse Orangemen, Columbia Blue and White, NYU Violets. In the 1920s, the St. John's…
Redneck Rock (Progressive Country)
The music produced in Austin in the 1970s (mostly at the famed Armadillo World Headquarters, or at Willie Nelson's concerts) was a mixture of many styles, including country and rock. Jan…
Redwash (communist red + whitewash)
"Redwash" (communist red + whitewash) is similar to such terms as "greenwash" (about the "green" environmental movement) and "pinkwash" (about the…
Redwash (redskin + whitewash)
"Redwash" (redskin + whitewash) is similar to such terms as "greenwash" (about the "green" environmental movement) and "pinkwash" (about the "pink"…
Reeking Regatta (Buffalo Bayou Regatta nickname)
Houston's annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta was started in 1972 by Wayne Walls and the Houston Canoe Club. The Buffalo Bayou was so polluted that the event was called the "Reeking…
Referette (female referee)
A “referee” is a sports official who administers a game; the term is neither masculine nor feminine. Few referees in professional sports are women. "Referette" (a female referee) has…
Reflecting Absence (World Trade Center Memorial)
"Reflecting Absence" by Michael Arad and Peter Walker was selected from over 5,200 entries in the World Trade Center Memorial Competition. http://www.wtcsitememorial.org/fin7.htmlMichael…
Reformicon (reform conservative)
"Reformicon" (reform conservative) has been used since at least 2010 in Canadian politics. The American use of "reformicon" was popularized by liberal American political…
Reformocon (reform conservative)
"Reformocon" (reform conservative) has been used since at least 2008 in Canadian politics. "Extremely well-positioned to be the leading reformocon in the Senate, but hasn't…
Refrigerator Jenga
Jenga is a game where players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower of 54 blocks. If the tower collapses, that player "loses" and the other players "win."…
Refusenik
A "refusenik" originally was someone (usually Jewish) was was refused a visa to leave the Soviet Union. The term was based on the Russian "otkaznik" (one who refuses). Soviet…
Reggae Carifest
The annual "Reggae Carifest" has been held in Forest Hills, Queens and Randall's Island and Coney Island. It's been an annual event since 1998.…
Rego Parker (inhabitant of Rego Park, Queens)
"Rego Parker” is the name of an inhabitant of Rego Park, in the borough of Queens. The name “Rego Parker” has been cited in print since at least 1927. Wikipedia: Rego Park, QueensRego…
Rego Parkistan or Regostan (Rego Park)
Rego Park in Queens has welcomed many immigrants from the countries of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia. These countries (such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but usually not including…
Reich-wing (Third Reich + right wing)
"Reich-wing" (also "reich wing" and "reichwing," with or without capitalization) is an epithet from the political left wing directed to the right wing.…
Reindeer Chow (cereal snack)
"Puppy chow" is a snack where Chex or Crispix cereal is coated with melted chocolate and peanut butter, and then dusted with powdered sugar. The name comes from when the Ralston Purina…
Relief Rally
A "relief rally" (or a "sigh-of-relief rally") is when a market picks up after a period of bad or uncertain news. For example, at the end of 2012, the federal government in…