“When the Saints Go Marching In” (song)
"When the Saints Go Marching In" is a popular song in New Orleans. The song is responsible for the nickname of the New Orleans Saints football team, and for the city nickname, Saint City.…
“Where yat?” (“Where y’at?”)
"Where y' at?" or "Where yat?" is a popular New Orleans greeting, meaning "Where are you at?" or "How are you?" People who speak in this "Yat"…
“You can make it illegal, but you can’t make it unpopular”
Entry in progress -- B.P. American journalist Arthur “Bugs” Baer (1886-1969) frequently used the "You can make it illegal, but you can't make it unpopular" sentence construction.…
“Your mama is the reason this town is called The Big Easy” (“yo mama” joke)
"Big Easy" is a popular nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana. The term is also sometimes used as a "yo mama" joke. "I am now in the Big Easy and this time I don't mean…
America’s Most Interesting City (New Orleans nickname)
America has many interesting cities. New York City was called "America's most interesting city" in 1901. Washington, DC was called "America's most interesting city" in…
Baghdad-on-the-Bayou (New Orleans nickname)
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans in 2005, several commentators nicknamed that city "Baghdad-on-the-Bayou." The comparison was with Baghdad, Iraq, where a war was…
Big Apple Bar & Restaurant (New Orleans, 1952-1970s?)
Polk's New Orleans City Directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service). The term "Big Apple" was used in 1920 by a stablehand at the Fair Grounds race track…
Big Apple Concession (City Park in New Orleans, 1947-1949)
Polk's New Orleans City Directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service). The term "Big Apple" was used in 1920 by a stablehand at the Fair Grounds race track…
Big Crescent (New Orleans nickname)
The city of New Orleans, Louisiana, is very infrequently called the "Big Crescent" (Big City/Big Easy + Crescent City). The "big crescent" is the shape of the Mississippi River,…
Big Easy (Derik Queen nickname on New Orleans Pelicans)
"Big Easy" is a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans Pelicans basketball player Derik Queen was nicknamed "Big Easy" during his rookie season in 2025. The nickname…
Big Easy (New Orleans nickname)
"The Big Easy" (a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana) was the name of dance hall in Gretna that burned in 1911, and then, with a gap of over 40 years, appeared in newspapers in the 1950s.…
Big Greasy (New Orleans nickname)
"Big Greasy" is a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana, that was developed after the more popular nickname of "Big Easy." There are two different reasons for the "Big…
Big Sleazy (New Orleans nickname)
"Big Sleazy" is a nickname for New Orleans, Louisiana, that is basically a negative version of a popular nickname, "Big Easy." The nickname "Big Sleazy" was published…
Birthplace of Jazz (New Orleans nickname)
The word "jazz" has been cited in baseball in Los Angeles, Californina, in 1912 and in San Francisco, California, in 1913. The term went to Chicago (probably by Bert Kelly) in 1914, and…
Calas (“Belle Calas! Tout chauds!”)
"Calas" (often said in this plural) are Creole fried cakes, usually made of rice. The name is thought to be from the African word kala (stalk of cereal). "Belle Calas! Tout chauds!…
Chocolate City (New Orleans nickname)
The term "chocolate city" refer to a city with a large (or, usually, a majority) African American population. In the early 1970s, the terms "chocolate city" and "vanilla…
Chopper City (New Orleans nickname)
"Chopper City" (1996) was the first rap album from American rapper B.G. "Chopper" means an AK-47 rifle. In 2001, B.G. formed Chopper City Records. B.G.'s home town of New…
City of a Million Dreams (New Orleans nickname)
"City of a Million Dreams" is a song by New Orleans native Raymond Burke (1904-1986) that was copyrighted on April 2, 1958. "City of a Million Dreams" has been an infrequently…
City of Yes (New Orleans nickname)
"City of Yes" is a nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana, that was officially introduced in June 2018 by Mayor LaToya Cantrell. The slogan was in response to "City of N.O." that…
City That Care Forgot (New Orleans nickname)
"The City That Care Forgot" is a somewhat forgotten nickname of New Orleans. The nickname has long been associated with the New Orleans Mardi Gras and was first cited in 1910. "The…