Great Lawn (Central Park)
"The Great Lawn" in Central Park was not always there. It was designed and added in 1931. Today, the Parks Department is trying to protect the grass by limiting the Great Lawn's use.…
Great Stone Toilet Bowl (Guggenheim Museum)
The Simon R. Guggenheim Museum, at 1071 Fifth Avenue, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) and completed just after his death. The design of the museum caused much controversy. Reactions…
Green Giant (Condé Nast building at 4 Times Square)
The Condé Nast building at 4 Times Square in Manhattan has been called the "green giant" (since 1997; the building opened in 1999) because of energy-efficient or "green"…
Ground Zero Mosque
In 2009, the Cordoba House (a proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center) was planned for the former Burlington Coat Factory building, two blocks away from "Ground Zero." Many people…
Guantanamo on the Hudson (Little Gitmo) or Club Med on the Hudson (Pier 57)
Arrests were made during the 2004 Republican National Convention. Some (by no means all) protesters were arrested and taken to Pier 57 -- a place some called "Guantanamo on the Hudson"…
Hall of Fame for Great Americans
New York City has a Hall of Fame, the first one in the country. It's the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, opened in 1901, on the campus of what is now Bronx Community College. Few people…
Hangman’s Elm or Hanging Tree (English Elm in Washington Square Park)
The Hangman's Elm or Hanging Tree is the elm in the northwest corner of Washington Square Park. It's said to be over 300 years old. It is also said that several hangings occurred from…
Hare Krishna Tree (American Elm in Tompkins Square Park)
The "Hare Krishna Tree" is an American Elm in Tompkins Square Park, under which the Hare Krishna movement began in America in 1966. Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada…
Harlem’s Cathedral (St. Charles Borromeo Church)
St. Charles Borromeo Church in Harlem (213 West 141st Street) was completed in 1904. Its Gothic structure has caused many to call it "Harlem's cathedral" or "the cathedral of…
Hedgie Hive (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…
High-rise
A "high-rise" is a tall building. "High-rise developments" (apartment buildings in public housing) was cited in December 1951 in a Chicago publication.…
Hipster Industrial Complex
The Bush Terminal (now called Industry City) area of Brooklyn was composed of many shipping warehouses. In the 2010s, plans were made to modernize the area with the Brooklyn Nets' training…
Horseshit Beach (Orchard Beach)
Orchard Beach in the Bronx was opened by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses in the 1930s; it was so grand that it was called “the Riviera of New York"/"Bronx Riviera." The beach soon…
House of Death (14 West 10th Street)
The 19th century brownstone at 14 West 10th Street, in Manhattan, has been dubbed the "House of Death" since at least 2005. It's reported that 22 people have died in the house,…
Hypodermic Needle (Freedom Tower, latest design)
The latest design for the Freedom Tower (the building planned for the World Trade Center area) is said to look like a "hypodermic needle." This replaces the design that was said to look…
Iceberg Building (IAC Building in Chelsea)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: IAC BuildingThe IAC Building, InterActiveCorp's headquarters located at 555 West 18th Street on the northeast corner of Eleventh Avenue in the Chelsea…
INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) Bag
"INCH" stands for "I'm Never Coming Home" or "I'm Not Coming Home." In the survivalist lexicon, there is an "INCH bag" or "INCH kit" to…
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).…