World’s Most Famous Christmas Tree
The lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is now a big event, broadcast nationally around the world. The first tree was set up there in 1931 and the first celebrated lighting…
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Scratchiti
Graffiti marks scratched into glass or plastic (such as subway windows) are sometimes called "scratchiti" or "scratchitti." The word was coined by Newsday writer Dennis Duggan…
“Call me a taxi.”/“You’re a taxi!”
"Call me a cab" is such an old joke, it pre-dates the popular introduction of the word "taxi." It's now most frequently "Call me a taxi"/"You're a…
World’s Second Home
"The World's Second Home" is Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to sell New York City to the world and the 2012 Olympic Committee. It was probably coined by deputy mayor and…
Big Apple Bowl
When New York City had planned a West Side stadium for the Jets football team and the 2012 Olympics, a "Big Apple Bowl" was also planned for the proposed stadium. The press release…
Dollar Van
A "dollar van" is a commuter van. It may or may not cost a dollar. http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/dollar_van/dollar van n. In New York City and Long Island, privately…
“It Shines For All” (New York Sun)
The New York Sun newspaper was published from 1833-1952. A new newspaper began in 2002 using the same name and famous slogan: "It Shines For All." The slogan was supposedly first used in…
“The House That Ruth Built” (Yankee Stadium)
George Herman ("Babe") Ruth (1895-1948) played for the New York Yankees from 1920-1934. Some consider him the greatest baseball player ever. Yankee Stadium opened in 1923. "The House…
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers…”
Greek historian Herodotus (484 BCE - 430 BCE) is often said to have written in Histories, Book 8, Chapter, 98: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from…
Express/Local Trains - what to do with minutes saved?
The "express" subway trains skip stops; the "local" trains usually make all stops. The difference is a few minutes. But what to do with those minutes? That has long been the…
“A nickel a shtickel”
"A nickel a shtickel." New York delis used to feature these signs. It meant that they were selling the ends of a salami for five cents. It was a good rhyme and a good business. New York…
Steak Row (East 45th Street)
"Steak Row" used to be East 45th Street, from Lexington to First Avenue. The defunct Pen and Pencil Restaurant helped to give it that name. However, it is not correct to say that…
Carry/hold a torch for someone
Does "carry/hold a torch for someone" come from the Statue of Liberty? All we know for certain is the the phrase was used in Vanity Fair (NY) in 1927. Singers of smoldering music were…
“Nina” in Al Hirschfeld’s caricatures (New York Times)
Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003), the Broadway caricaturist, was probably Broadway's longest-running success story. His first theater doodle was in 1926 for the New York Herald Tribune. He soon…
“Longest Running Show on Broadway” (Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade)
Macy's ("The World's Largest Store," at Herald Square) has held a Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924, with a suspension during the war years of 1942-1944. In 1986, Macy's…
“Copacabana (At the Copa)” (1978)
"Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl." So begins Barry Manilow's 1978 Grammy-winning song, "Copacabana (At the Copa)." The lyrics are by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman.…
America’s Cup (Damon Runyon’s “watching grass grow”)
The America's Cup yacht race used to be located in New York City. In 1851, British yachtsmen challenged the New York Yacht Club to a race. It was won by a New York yacht called…
Ladies’ Day
"Ladies' Day" was the day after New Year's (January 2nd). It was somewhat popular in the 19th century. It appear to have been the only day when women were invited to men's…
Coliseum Books (not near the departed Coliseum)
The New York Coliseum opened in 1956. It almost immediately became a "white elephant" and was torn down in the 1990s. The Time Warner Center has occupied the Columbus Circle site since…
Knife & Fork, Bottle & Cork Spell “New York”
"A knife and a fork, a bottle and a cork; that's the way to spell New York" is a popular New York City rhyme that dates back to at least 1910. The children's rhyme was used in…