Amen Corner
The "Amen Corner" was a place in the old Fifth Avenue Hotel, at Madison Square, where people would meet, agree on issues and all say "Amen." It was named in 1897 in honor of…
Search
Searched for . Search results: 37592
Unbought and Unbossed
"Unbought and Unbossed" was the title of the late Shirley Chisholm's 1970 autobiography. Chisholm was the first black woman to become a member of Congress. However, former New York…
Sixth Borough (Yonkers, Scarsdale, Fort Lee, Jersey City, Hoboken, Nassau County, Rockland County)
New York City has five boroughs. The consolidation into the borough system took effect on January 1, 1898. Yonkers (in Westchester County) was soon proposed to be New York's sixth borough.…
Yappian Way (Broadway)
"O. Henry" called Broadway the "Yappian Way." It's a pun on Rome's "Appian Way" for the New Yorkers who "yap" (talk excessively). The term has…
Skyscraper
"Skyscraper" was the name of a horse in the late 1700s. "Skyscraper" also meant a large, triangular sky-sail in the late 1700s. In the 1880s, in both Chicago and New York, the…
Cantors’ Carnegie Hall (First Roumanian-American Congregation)
The First Roumanian-American Congregation (Shaarey Shamoyim) at 89 Rivington Street has been called the "Cantors' Carnegie Hall" because of its many famous congregants (mostly in…
“An Intimate Place to Learn, in the Heart of a Great City” (York Prep)
"An Intimate Place to Learn, in the Heart of a Great City" is the slogan of York Prep on West 68th Street. http://www.yorkprep.org/admissions/about/Default.asp?bhcp=1York Preparatory…
Lamb (stock market gullible investor)
The stock market's "bulls" and "bears" originally come from England. However, the stock market "lamb" (gullible investor) comes from New York. The term is not…
The Bronx (Da Bronx)
"The Bronx" has an article, like "the Hague." The area used to be referenced as the towns located on "the Bronx River." The Bronx name (with the article) came up…
Money Train
The 1995 film Money Train showed the little-known car that collects money. Reportedly, it's reached the end of the line. http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/61628.htmBy JEREMY OLSHAN…
New York Guitar Festival
The New York Guitar Festival was started in 1999. It features lots of guitar music, of course. http://www.newyorkguitarfestival.org/January 14 - February 8, 2006Three weeks of spectacular guitar…
Goon
The "goon" started in New England college slang, but it quickly spread to New York City by 1911. (Oxford English Dictionary)goon[Perhaps a shortened form of dial. gooney (GONY 1) 'a…
Idiotarod (with shopping carts!)
The "Iditarod" is the famous dog sled race in Alaska. The "Idiotarod" is a shopping cart race that's been held in New York since 2004.…
Barnes Dance
Henry Barnes was the city's traffic commissioner in the 1960s. He was known for the traffic scramble called the "Barnes Dance" to help pedestrians cross the streets safely. His…
Moses’ Law: Don’t eat in park concessions!
John Hess developed "Moses' Law" (after Robert Moses, the Parks Commissioner) in his New York Times column in August 1973. Actually, the food at some places (such as the Tennis…
“Always Open” (nyc.gov)
New York City's government website (nyc.gov) has had the slogan "Always Open" since the late 1990s. http://www.americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_cutting_cords/Always open New…
“Where are the customers’ yachts?”
"Where are the customers' yachts?" is a question asked by someone who saw only brokers' yachts at a yacht club. It's an old Wall Street remark. 29 October 1885, Forest and…
Hanging for murder is played out in New York
"Hanging for murder is played out in New York" is a phrase associated with the Tombs prison in early 1870. 2 April 1970, Punchinello, pp. 3-4:PUNCHINELLO will only add that he would at…
Drummer
In the early 1800s, New York City was called the "Commercial Emporium." A "drummer" is a salesman. The term was popular in the 19th century, but is no longer used. A…
Paint the Town (NYC & Company)
NYC & Company (the city's tourism bureau) annually sponsors winter tourism discounts under the program title "Paint the Town." It appears that "paint the town"…