Friday, October 2, 2009

Cuppa Cawfee

If you've been to New York you know this coffee cup. Over nearly half a century, New York has made the improbable cup its own - we have used as many as 15 million of them in a single month. Still so identified with the city, the iconic cups have become standard-issue props on TV shows and motion pictures set in the city. This humble coffee cup is one of the things that makes New York, New York. Ever wonder how they came about?

"When Greek immigrants arrived in New York in the early part of the last century, they brought their coffee culture along with them, giving birth to the city's ubiquitous Greek diners and sidewalk pushcarts. In 1963, the Sherri Cup Company set out to produce a to-go coffee cup that would appeal to the Greek vendors. Marketing director Leslie Buck dreamed up a motif that included blue-and-white colors from the flag of Greece. His customer-friendly message, WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU, was printed in Greek-style letters, adorned with a trio of steaming, mustard-yellow cups, flanked by ancient "Anthora" urns, and framed with a Greek Key pattern. "

If you're as smitten with them as I am you can get them for yourself without the trip to NY at The NEW YORK FIRST Company.

Change Purse

Ceramic Cup

Cufflinks

Reusable Tote

(first image from valentinapowers flicker)

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for this! I've wondered where those ubiquitous cups first came from. The ceramic cups and cufflinks are too cute!

Megan said...

Oooh, I like this post! I always wonder where things like that come from. And I love the kitchy products!

Anonymous said...

*feels stupid and left out of the cool kids party*

Seriously-never seen those before now...but they are teh coolness.

MFAMB said...

i'll take 4 of the ceramic cups please.

Belle de Ville said...

I'm going to have to pass...I just got a lecture about my obsessive consumption of coffee.

The Townhouselady said...

Rebecca- you'll always be in the cool kid crowd.

BHB- I think I did this post in response to the fat that I can't have any coffee. We LOVE coffee in this house. Yes, I've tried decaf and no, it's just not worth it.

mf&mb- I really would like to have a few of the ceramic one's as well.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I don't live in NYC, but I know the cup and I've wanted that ceramic one for a while!

Bathory House said...

Thank you for that history lesson! While in New Orleans all those years, I really missed this icon.

SpryOnTheWall said...

I've always loved those ceramic ones.

Michael St. James said...

It's so funny because I've never noticed these cups and I've been to New York many times, as most of my family lives there. Now, I see them on every show I watch that takes place in New York, from Gossip Girl to Law and Order. These novelty pieces are really cute and perfect for any New Yawker!

Ash Fox said...

so cute! love that famous cup.

x



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