Island of Misfit Toys (Harry Chapin Playground, Brooklyn Heights)
Brooklyn's Harry Chapin Playground was a place where used toys could be dropped off so that other children could play with them. The playground was nicknamed "The Island of Misfit…
Jabits Center (Javits Center used as a vaccination site)
New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was used in 2021 as a vaccination center against Covid. Some people said it should be called "Jab-Its." "New York's Jacob…
JAVax (Javits Center used as a vaccination site; Javits + vax)
New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was used in 2021 as a vaccination center against Covid. Some people called it "JAVax" or "Javax" (Javits Center + vax).…
Jenga Building (56 Leonard Street)
The Swiss architecture firm of Herzog & de Meuron designed a building for 56 Leonard Street in Manhattan that looked like imperfectly stacked blocks. Curbed NY's Septembe 15, 2008 story…
Jewel of Jamaica (Rochdale Village)
Rochdale Village is a 20-building residential cooperative that opened in 1963 and was dubbed "The Jewel of Jamaica" (Queens). The nickname is still used. Wikipedia: Rochdale,…
Joker Stairs (1165 Shakespeare Avenue, Bronx)
The movie Joker (based on a DC Comics character) opened in the United States on October 4, 2019. The Joker character danced on the 132 steps at 1165 Shakespeare Avenue in the Bronx. The staircase…
Jolly Green Giant (McGraw-Hill Building)
The McGraw-Hill Building (330 West 42nd Street in Manhattan) was completed in 1931 and is known for its exterior of blue-green terra-cotta ceramic tiles, alternating with green-metal-framed…
Killer County (Kings County Hospital Center)
The Kings County Hospital Center has a Level 1 Trauma Center and gets many patients who are gunshot victims. The Kings County nickname of "Killer County" has been cited in print since at…
Landlord of Last Resort (New York City)
New York City has taken control of much abandoned property. City government is called "the landlord of last resort." It appears that this was coined by George Meany in 1967 to describe…
Lava Lamp (Hearst Building)
The Hearst Building (at Eighth Avenue and 57th Street) never got finished because of the Depression. However, in 2003, plans were made to finish it with a "lava lamp" skyscraper.…
Liar’s Ball (Real Estate Board of NY annual banquet)
"Liar's Ball" is the nickname for the Real Estate Board of New York's annual banquet, held since the 1890s. Members of the real estate industry puff up their sales to colleagues…
Lights Out NY
"Lights Out NY" is a program to encourage buildings to turn off lights late at night. The lights interfere with bird migratory patterns, and the program also helps save energy. FOR…
Limestone Jesus (15 Central Park West)
Fifteen Central Park West is a condominium building at West 61st Street and Central Park West that was designed by Robert A. M. Stern and completed in 2008. It was the subject of a book, House of…
Lipstick Building
The "Lipstick" building, at Third Avenue and East 53rd Street, was completed in 1986, but was given that name by 1985. The name is from the building's shape -- like a lipstick…
Little Church Around the Corner
In 1870, a church refused to perform burial rites for a member of the acting profession. However, the actors were told that there was a "little church around the corner" (the Church of…
Little Flatiron Building (Herring Lock and Safe Company Building)
The historic Flatiron Building is at 23rd Street and Broadway. The "little Flatiron Building" (the Herring Lock and Safe Company Building) is on Hudson Street, between 13th and 14th…
Little White House (Gracie Mansion)
Manhattan's Gracie Mansion, built in 1799, has been the mayor's official residence since Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia moved there in 1942. Mayor Michael Bloomberg declined to live there,…
Living Room of Lincoln Center (Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center)
The Film Society of Lincoln Center opened the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in June 2011. Architect David Rockwell called it the "Living Room" of Lincoln Center. Wikipedia: Lincoln…
Lollypop/Lollipop (2 Columbus Circle)
Two Columbus Circle has been called the "lollipop building." It's also been called much worse. People hate it. It's in a very important area, especially since the building of…
Low Line
The High Line is a public park that was made from an abandoned elevated railroad on the west side of Manhattan. Two proposed New York City public parks grabbed the "Low Line" moniker. In…