Covenant House and Nineline (800-999-9999)
Covenant House was founded in 1969 as a refuge for runaways by Father Bruce Ritter, who died in 1999. It quickly became an international success. It established itself in the Times Square area, and…
Crack Is Wack
The artist Keith Haring died of AIDS on February 16, 1990, at age 31. His originally unauthorized 1986 "Crack Is Wack" mural at a playground on the FDR Drive and 128th Street still can be…
Crime Stoppers (577-TIPS); 267-RAPE; 374-DRUG; NYC-SAFE; COP-SHOT & more
"Crime Stoppers" began in the 1980s to fight crime. Crimes were re-enacted and publicized in the media, and a tips line (577-TIPS) was set up. People who gave helpful tips were rewarded.…
Democracy Wall (Carroll Street subway station, Carroll Gardens)
China's "Democracy Wall Movement" existed from November 1978 to December 1979, when a brick wall at Xidan Street in Beijing included posters of protest. Brooklyn's…
Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT)
A "desk appearance ticket" (DAT) has nothing to do with a desk's appearance. In New York City, many people arrested for misdemeanors and “E” felonies are ordered to appear for…
Develop Don’t Destroy
"Develop Don't Destroy" was an early (2003) chant of the people who opposed the Nets building a new arena in downtown Brooklyn. It later (2004) became the name of an organization. 22…
Diamond Horseshoe (Metropolitan Opera House ring of seats; Billy Rose nightclub)
The "Golden Horseshoe" -- sometimes called "Diamond Horseshoe" -- was the ring of seats for the rich patrons of the Metropolitan Opera House, at Broadway and 39th Street. The…
Do a Brodie
On July 23, 1886, Steve Brodie jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, survived, and achieved instant fame. Some books state that this was a hoax and that Brodie never jumped, but David Shulman of Brooklyn…
Dreidel
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: DreidelA dreidel (Yiddish: דרײדל dreydl plural: dreydlekh, Hebrew: סביבון Sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish…
Dumpster Diving (Dumpster Pool)
'Dumpster diving" has meant, since the early 1980s, to search through a dumpter for food or other items. What is "trash" to the person who throw the item into a dumpster might…
EMS (“Every Minute Sucks”)
EMS is the Emergency Medical Services. Nicknames include "Every Minute Sucks" and "Earn Money Sleeping." http://www.faqs.org/faqs/tv/nypd-blue/EMS Emergency Medical Services,…
Excelsior
"Excelsior" ("higher") is sometimes taken to be New York City's motto, but it is a state motto. http://www.dos.state.ny.us/kidsroom/nysfacts/seal2.htmlMotto. On a silver…
Far Rockaway Cough
Far Rockaway suffered much damage from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. A November 14, 2012 MyFoxNY.com report on the post-hurricane health problems in Far Rockaway was titled "Far Rockaway…
Fat City
"Fat City" was the title of a book and a movie. The slang term ("easy street in fat city") meant to be well off. It is not known where this originated. "Fat" meant…
Father’s Day in Harlem (racist joke)
What's the definition of "confusion"? Father's Day in Harlem! This racist joke dates from the 1980s and is of unknown origin. Google BooksThe Mirth of Nationsby Christie…
Fire Department’s Maltese Cross
I'm going through some fire department books and magazines for more on the "Maltese Cross" and "fire buff." I'll try to post the earliest dates as I find them. The…
Flatbush Diabetes
"Flatbush diabetes" was identified in 1994 by Dr. Mary Ann Banerji and others at the Diabetes Center of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. (It is, perhaps, more…
Freedom of the City
The "Freedom of the City" was an honor that has been replace by the "key to the city." It was a scroll that gave you citizenship privileges. Like the key to the city, it was…
Fresh Air Fund
Did the Fresh Air Fund start in 1877, as its history says? Or did it start in 1869? I found that it began under William A. Muhlenberg in 1869. Dr. Muhlenberg (see the 1898 article below, a review…
Fugeddaboutit! (“forget about it”)
"Fugeddaboutit" is not in Irving Lewis Allen's City in Slang (1993). I remember its use in a popular 1990s radio ad for Tops Appliance City. The Works Progress Administration in the…