English Muffin
The English muffin dates back many, many years. However, the English, oddly enough, called it simply a "muffin." Samuel Bath Thomas opened a shop in New York City in 1880 and helped to…
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Gibson (cocktail)
The Gibson cocktail usually has gin, vermouth, and cocktail onions. There have been many theories about the name "Gibson." The 1904 date (below) rules out other Gibsons and might favor…
Bobbie Burns (cocktail)
The Old Waldorf Bar takes credit for the Robert/Bobbie/Bobby Burns Cocktail. I couldn't find early confirmation of this. This cocktail gets listed in cocktail books, but it has never been…
Rob Roy (cocktail)
In 1894, the opera Rob Roy opened around Herald Square. The old Waldorf Hotel was near Herald Square. It is probably correct that the "Rob Roy" cocktail began at the Waldorf in 1894 or…
“Second Hand Rose (From Second Avenue)” (1921)
"Second Hand Rose (From Second Avenue," with lyrics by Grant Clarke and music by James F. Hanley, was written for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921. Fanny Brice sang this song - a follow-up to…
“Rose of Washington Square” (1920)
"Rose of Washington Square," with words by Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley, appeared in Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic (1920). The usual singer was Fanny Brice (portrayed…
Sea Gulls of the Sink (roaches); Rats with Wings (pigeons)
"Sea gulls of the sink" = cockroaches."Rats with wings" = pigeons. These are two colorful New York terms. The first ("sea gulls of the sink") has really just been used…
Stage-door Johnny
Following the "dude" craze in New York City of 1883 came the "stage-door Johnny." This character waited at the stage door for his gal to come out after the show.…
Collyer brothers (hermits)
Homer Lusk Collyer (1881-1947) and Langley Collyer (1885-1947) are the legendary recluse brothers of New York City. The lived in Harlem, secluded from the world in a house filled with junk. They…
Theater Row
West 42nd Steet became "Theater Row" in the 1970s. In recent years, "Theater Row" has been redeveloped to accommodate new housing and newer theaters. The shows are small,…
“Green Acres Theme” (1965)
Husband (Eddie Albert): Fresh air!Wife (Eva Gabor): Times Square! Who can forget that classic theme song (1965) to the television situation comedy Green Acres? The show itself was pretty awful.…
Venice of New York (Broad Channel)
Broad Channel is a tiny island in Jamaica Bay. It's part of Queens County. Broad Channel has acquired the nickname "Venice of New York" for obvious reasons. 25 November 1984, New…
Lemon Chicken
Chinese "lemon chicken" was the specialty of Manhattan's Pearl's Chinese Restaurant, originally at 148 West 48th Street and then, in 1973, moved to 38 West 48th Street. The 1969…
New York City Water (“Champagne”)
New York City's tap water has been called the "champagne" of city waters. Indeed, it is good. The problem has been that many city buildings have old pipes. I've worked in city…
“Olympia, WA” (1995) (“52nd and Broadway” lyric)
"Olympia, WA" by the punk band Rancid was on their album ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995). The lyrics mention the corner of 52nd Street and Broadway. Someone should tell Rancid that…
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (1954, 1962) (“Forgotten in Manhattan” lyric)
"I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was written in 1953 by George Cory (music) and Douglass Cross (lyrics) in Brooklyn, NY, when they had moved to New York City but were nostalgic for San…
Wait in Times Square and eventually everyone you know will pass
Times Square has always been crowded with people. It's an old New York City proverb that, if you wait long enough in Times Square, everyone you know will pass by you. The proverb dates back to…
Cross-Roads of the World
Times Square became known as the "Cross-Roads of the World" by about 1923-1924. The nickname had been used before for European cities (London, Paris, Rome) or the Near East. It was soon…
Quick Lunch; Beef and—, Sinkers
"Quick lunch" was a term popular in the late 1800s. Was the "quick lunch counter" invented by Patrick Dolan, at 3 Park Row? A Souvenir of New York's Liquor InterestsNew…
Big Apple Greeter
"Big Apple Greeter" (www.bigapplegreeter.org) was started in 1992 by Lynn Brooks. It's New York's version of Welcome Wagon. Volunteer residents show visitors what's what…