Big Cave
Willie Morris (1934-1999) was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and became editor of Harper's magazine in 1967. An article in the June 1967 Harper's was titled "A provincial in New York:…
Big Crapple
For those who think "the Big Apple" is a load of crap, there's always "the Big Crapple." http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvi/12.4.98/ae/1999.htmlThe Big Crapple?…
Big Onion
In 1991, "Big Onion" Walking Tours started in New York City. I keep thinking they have the wrong city. Chicago is often called the "big onion" because some people think…
Big Oyster
Many oysters were grown and eaten in the New York City area in the 19th century. By the 20th century, through pollution and other causes, the oyster catching industry began to die out. New York…
Big Road Apple (Big Apple + road apple)
"Big Road Apple" (Big Apple + road apple) is an unflattering nickname for New York City. "Road apple" is a term derived from the horse manure that used to be found on roads in…
Billionaire Capital of the World
The "billionaire(s) capital of the world" is the city where the most billionaires live. This is not always New York City, although New York is usually in the top five. Forbes (an American…
Brimaquonx
"Brimaquonx" (Brooklyn + Staten Island + Manhattan + Queens + Bronx) was once suggested as the name for New York City. The proposed name is known largely through a mention in Mario…
Capital of Everything
New York is sometimes called the "Fashion Capital of the World," or the "Financial Capital of the World," or just the "Capital of the World." The New Yorker writer E.…
Capital of the World
New York ity was popularly called the "Capital of the World" following World War II and the introduction of the United Nations. Former mayor Rudy Giuliani used this nickname far more…
Caracas on the Hudson
"Caracas on the Hudson" is similar to "Moscow on the Hudson" (the title of a 1984 movie starring Robin Williams). It means that the values of Caracas (the capital and largest…
Center of the Earth (Center of the World)
Boston was called the "hub of the solar system" by Oliver Wendell Holmes in the 1850s. New York was called the "capital of the world" after the United Nations was located in the…
Cinderella City
New York City is "Cinderella City" in one comic. Wikipedia: Metropolis (comics)Metropolis is frequently depicted as being within driving distance of Gotham City, home of Batman. DC has on…
City of Cities
New York City is sometimes called the "City of Cities." It hasn't been a popular nickname, but it's been used increasingly as of late.
City of Golden Dreams
New York City has infrequently been called the "City of Golden Dreams." "That city of golden dreams and gold bricks, New York, N. Y." was cited in print in 1908. "The City…
City of Neon and Chrome
The musical Rent (1996) by Jonathan Larson (1960-1996) contains the song "Out Tonight," with the lyrics: "In the evening, I’ve got to roamCan’t sleep in the city of neon and…
City That Never Sleeps
In the song "New York, New York" (1977), Frank Sinatra (in a 1979 recording) said that he wanted to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep. The phrase is much, much older than the…
City With Everything
Wikipedia's "Nicknames of New York City" states that New York has been called "The City with Everything," but this nickname has been only infrequently used in recent years.…
Commercial Emporium
"Commercial Emporium" was perhaps New York City's first nickname. "Commercial Emporium" was applied even earlier than "Gotham." The commercial nickname was…
Empire City, Empire State
New York State is the "Empire State," and New York City is the "Empire City." New York City's tallest building for many years was the Empire State Building. "Empire…
Fat Apple (fat + Big Apple)
Hillary Clinton was a United States Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, but she wasn't born in New York and hadn't lived in New York long before she was elected to office. When…