Small Town Charm, World Class Culture (Orange slogan)
"Small Town Charm, World Class Culture" is the 2008-issued slogan of the city of Orange, Texas. It is not known if "the Big Orange" was considered. Wikipedia: Orange,…
Small Town, Big Lake, Great People (Mathis motto)
"Small Town, Big Lake, Great People" is the motto of the city of Mathis (near Corpus Christi). The "big lake" (21,000 acres) is Lake Corpus Christi, formerly called Lake Mathis.…
Smithsonian of Texas (Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum)
The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas, was called "the Smithsonian of Texas" by its director, Guy C. Vanderpool, in the November 2007 Texas Highways. The PPHM is the…
Snake on Stilts (tall, thin person)
"Snake on stilts" is an old West term for a tall, thin person. Texas was known for its many snakes, and it's easy to see how it could color the cowboy's language. Old West…
Snake Poison (whiskey)
"Snake poison" was an 1800s nickname for whiskey. It's easy to see why. There was a rumor that the only antidote for a snake bite was whiskey, so all the cowboys stocked up. Texas…
Snakebit or Snake-bit (Snakebitten or Snake-bitten)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Merriam-Webster Online DictionaryMain Entry: snake·bit Pronunciation: \-ˌbit\Variant(s): or snake·bit·ten \-ˌbi-tən\Function: adjective Date: 1957: having or…
Snow Cone
The snow cone is a descendant of Italian ices. Dallas resident Sammie Bert invented a snow cone-making machine in the 1920s and sold the product for over half a century at the State Fair of Texas.…
SoCo (South Congress Avenue, Austin)
SoCo is the nickname for the South Congress Avenue area of Austin. The name is reminiscent of SoHo in New York City. "SoCo" meaning Southern Comfort was used by the Austin Chronicle in…
SoFlo (South Flores Street, San Antonio)
The South Flores Street area of San Antonio was composed of many large, underutilized industrial-type buildings. Like the SoHo (South of Houston Street) area of New York City, artists began to…
SoLa (South Lamar Boulevard, Austin)
"SoLa" is a name for South Lamar Boulevard in Austin. Austin's neighborhood name game began with SoCo for South Congress Avenue. To see where all this may lead, see the New York City…
Sombrero (cocktail)
A "Sombrero" cocktail is Kahlua (the Mexican coffee liqueur) and cream or milk. The drink is first cited in the 1970s. It is unknown why the name "Sombrero" (a Mexican hat) was…
Sometimes Islands (Lake Travis)
The "Sometimes Islands" are in the middle of Lake Travis (near Austin). When the water level of the lake goes down, the Sometimes Islands appear. When the water level goes up, the…
Son-of-a-Bitch Stew (Son-of-a-Gun Stew)
"Son-of-a-bitch stew" (or the more politely titled "son-of-a-gun stew") is a cowboy stew with a little bit of everything in it. In the closing years of the range (by the early…
Sonoran Hot Dog (bacon-wrapped hot dog)
"Bacon-wrapped hot dogs" have been featured in newspaper recipes since at least the 1960s. Usually these were bacon-wrapped, cheese-filled sausages. The "Sonoran hot dog" (also…
Sopaipilla (Sopapilla)
The sopaipilla (or "sopapilla") was declared in 2003 (with the law expiring in 2005) the official state pastry of Texas, along with the strudel. Yes, there are two official state…
Sope (appetizer)
"Sopes" are appetizers that are served in many Tex-Mex restaurants; it is believed that "sope" originated in Guadalajara, Mexico. Sopes have been described as little tortilla…
Soppin’ Sauce (Sopping Sauce; Sop Sauce; Moppin’ & Soppin’ Sauce; Mop & Sop Sauce)
Soppin' sauce (also "sopping sauce" or "sop sauce") is, to some, just a Texas term for a type of barbecue sauce or "finishing sauce." A "mop sauce" is…
Sorority Sauce (ranch dressing)
"Sorority sauce" has been a slang nickname for "ketchup" since at least World War II. Since about 2006, ranch dressing has been called "sorority sauce" at Texas Tech…
SoSo (South of Southtown, San Antonio)
"SoSo" is the "south of Southtown" neighborhood of San Antonio. The neighborhood nickname -- like so many others -- is inspired by New York City's 1960s-era neighborhood…
Soup of the Devil (Devil’s Soup) (=chili)
Chili has been called the "soup of the devil" or "devil's soup." Yes, it can be hot. The term "soup of the devil" supposedly dates to the 19th century, but the…