Redneck Rock (Progressive Country)
The music produced in Austin in the 1970s (mostly at the famed Armadillo World Headquarters, or at Willie Nelson's concerts) was a mixture of many styles, including country and rock. Jan…
Reeking Regatta (Buffalo Bayou Regatta nickname)
Houston's annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta was started in 1972 by Wayne Walls and the Houston Canoe Club. The Buffalo Bayou was so polluted that the event was called the "Reeking…
Remax Ballunar Liftoff Festival (Houston)
The annual Ballunar Liftoff Festival began in the mid-1990s in Houston and is one of the country's leading balloon events. http://www.ballunarfestival.com/bhistory.aspBallunar History Who…
Rhinestone Cowboys (Dallas Cowboys replacements nickname)
The 1987 NFL season featured a 23-day players' strike; replacement players were used during weeks 4-6. The Dallas Cowboys' replacement football palyers were dubbed the "Rhinestone…
Right Kind of Guy (RKG)
A "Right Kind of Guy" (RKG) is a player who has good character and a genuine love of the game. College football coach Brian Kelly used "RKG" at the University of Cincinnati in…
Right Side of Texas (Beaumont slogan)
"Right Side of Texas" was a slogan for the city of Beaumont. In 2003, the city went with "Texas With a Little Something Extra," to promote its Louisiana ("lagniappe")…
Ristra
Chile ristras (strings of chile pepper pods) are a familiar sight in New Mexico and perhaps parts of West Texas. The original purpose was to group the pods together for later consumption, but the…
River City (Austin nickname)
The city of Austin has always had the Colorado River run through it. However, it wasn't until the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man (with its "River City" based on Mason City,…
River City (San Antonio nickname)
"River City" is one obvious -- but sparsely used until recently -- nickname for the city of San Antonio. The San Antonio River runs through San Antonio, and the River Walk is…
Riviera on the Range (Austin nickname)
Michael Corcoran of the Austin (TX) American-Statesman has called the city of Austin "Riviera on the Range" since 1998. Corcoran covers the film industry in Austin and he was comparing…
Roach Coach
"Roach coach" is an unfortunate nickname for many taco trucks. In the 1970s, airlines serving Latin America were sometimes called "roach coaches" (a slur against the…
Roadhouse (Road House)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Roadhouse (facility)In Australia A roadhouse is a service station in a rural area specifically aimed to service passing traffic on a major intercity route. A…
Robin Hood Plan (property tax)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Robin Hood planThe Robin Hood plan was a media nickname given to legislation enacted by the U.S. state of Texas in 1993 to provide court-mandated equitable…
Rodeo
"Rodeo" is Spanish for "round up." Pecos claims that it held the first "rodeo" (a spectator event as we know it today) on July 4, 1883. The claim is debated by other…
Rodeo Capital of Texas (Mesquite nickname)
Mesquite (near Dallas) has been home to Mesquite Championship Rodeo since 1958. In 1993, the Texas Legislature named Mesquite the "Rodeo Capital of Texas." Mesquite Championship Rodeo…
Romeritos
Romeritos is a Mexican herb that resembles rosemary. The Mexican dish of "romeritos" ("Romeritos en Revoltijo") adds dried shrimp, nopales, and pototoes and is served in a mole…
Romoing
Tony Romo became the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys during the 2006 season. He did not experience playoff success, and "Romoing" became a term for choking or failure.…
Rompope (Mexican eggnog)
Rompope ("rohm-POH-pay") is frequently called "Mexican eggnog." It usually contains eggs, milk, vanilla flavoring and rum. Rumpope was first made at a convent in Puebla, Mexico…
Roscas (Rosca de Reyes—Three Kings’ Cake or Three Kings’ Bread or Kings’ Ring)
"Rosca" means "to curl," and "roscas" are curled or ringed sweet bread with fruits, like a fruitcake. "Roscas" have been cited in Texas newspapers since the…
Rose Capital of America (Tyler nickname)
The city of Tyler has been called the "Rose Capital of America" since the 1920s and 1930s. A Tyler Rose Festival began in 1933, later renamed the Texas Rose Festival in 1936. About 20% of…