New York City Curiosities

The definitive collection of New York City's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things, for New York City residents and anyone else who enjoys local humor and trivia with a twist. From Chinatown restaurants that make "bubble tea" to the Burger King peacock statue in Staten Island, this book will have it all.

Where in Manhattan did George Washington sleep? Where was Teddy Roosevelt born? Where did James Monroe die? Where is the birthplace of the Twist? Where was Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff 's multi-million-dollar penthouse? Where is the site of the country's first traffic fatality? These tidbits are among the more than2,000 fascinating entries in All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities, the definitive guide to historic New York. All Around the Town brings the city's history to life, street by street, building by building, in all its diversity. The entries, organized in an easy-to-use format by street address, were culled from a number of sources-histories, biographies, newspapers, guidebooks, and maps. They range from amusing anecdotes to familiar and not-so familiar historical events, from the Dutch New Amsterdam period to the present day. It is a truly unique guidebook for its historical viewpoint and will delight those looking for a glimpse of New York City beyond Madison Avenue and Broadway. The second edition has been revised and updated for a new millennium, reflecting a constantly changing city, and is supplemented with additional anecdotes and more than a hundred new pictures and illustrations. It is even easier to use, with cross-street information, a more portable trim size, and 300 new and updated places of interest.

This all-new series title covers the entire Empire State, including a bizarre cemetery on 400 acres in the Bronx and a renowned restaurant in Rochester known as the Home of the Garbage Plate. If you can’t do it here, you can’t do it anywhere!

The people of Central New York know there's something different--perhaps strange--in the air. Across this vast and often wild region, history and lore are remarkably and markedly unusual. Ancient Iroquois mystical traditions still infuse the landscape with a sense of the otherworldly, and for some, witchcraft was a constant fear throughout the nineteenth century. Monsters and even fairies roam the region, frightening or delighting those who say they have encountered them. Visit the world's smallest church in Oneida and North America's only Tibetan monastery, Namgyal, in Ithaca. Join local folklorist Melanie Zimmer as she explores the curiosities of Central New York.

Downstate New York Rock Walks is both a hiking guidebook and a history book, calling attention to some of downstate New York's most spectacular and historic rocks: balanced rocks, perched rocks, rock shelters, talus caves, glacial potholes, split rocks, rock profiles, historic rocks, and massive, larger-than-life boulders. Many large glacial erratics have a history going back thousands of years to when they were moved to their present location by advancing glaciers. Many served as points of navigational reference at a time when the landscape was featureless and heavily forested, and still others were ceremonial sites for Native Americans. Rock shelters and talus caves have also been used for thousands of years by Native Americans and Europeans seeking refuge from the elements. It is important that these amazing natural wonders of stone be remembered and recorded before they are lost to collective memory or destroyed by the encroachment of civilization. Providing precise GPS location information along with length and degree of difficulty for each hike, Downstate New York Rock Walks will appeal to casual hikers, serious rock explorers, historians, geologists, and anyone wishing to explore some of nature’s greatest wonders within the reach of the lower Hudson River valley.

"New York wouldn't be New York without the subway. This one-time engineering marvel that united and expanded the city has been a cultural touchstone for the last 114 years. Somehow though, there has never been a book that celebrates the subway from the scars it left on the city's fabric to the romantic fantasies it unleashed. Subway will convey a sense of wonder and fun about the world's largest transit system. The book will include a complete, concise history of the subway beginning with the technical obstacles and corruption that impeded plans for an underground rail line in the late 1800s, and the visionary and sometimes wacky schemes put forward in that era for subterranean and elevated transport. It will also tell how additional lines were built and how three independent subway systems were merged, creating the mishmash of numbered and lettered lines we have today.Interspersed throughout will be sidebars and stand-alone sections including profiles of characters that helped make the subway what it is (including the mostly forgotten August Belmont Jr., a flamboyant financier who bankrolled the first subway); graphics and imagery showing the evolution of subway cars, tokens and MetroCards, graffiti, and even subway etiquette ads; how the subway has been characterized in movies, television, and music; a look at abandoned cars and stations and more. Packed with compelling stories, fascinating facts and anecdotes, vivid portraits of the people who made the subway and those who saved it, all supplemented with engrossing imagery and a dynamic design, Subway will be a visual feast and must-have gift book, perfect for any coffee table"--

This volume is a joy for anyone even the least bit interested in New York's legal culture and landmarks. . . . The book belongs on your shelf and in your lap. -Albert M. Rosenblatt, former Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and President of The Historical Society of the New York CourtsNew York's Legal Landmarks Second Edition takes you on a tour of Gotham through the eyes of a history-loving New York City lawyer. You'll visit courthouses past and present that were sites of sensational trials (both actual and in film), locations that figured in the nation's constitutional history, law firms where great Americans practiced law and the homes, schools and final resting places of Supreme Court Justices. Whether you want to stroll down the Lower East Side's Attorney Street or re-open the cold case of Judge Crater's disappearance, New York's Legal Landmarks is the guidebook for you.Hats off to Robert Pigott for shining a bright light on this unexplored corner of New York City history. This updated edition of New York's Legal Landmarks is a valuable research tool sprinkled with unexpected and delightful nuggets of legal, social, and architectural history. -Michael Miscione, Manhattan Borough HistorianThis is the second edition of the original book that was released in 2014. The 2014 first edition had nine customer reviews with average rating of 4.8 stars.

Lonely Planet’s New York is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Cross the Brooklyn Bridge, discover history at Ellis Island, and catch a Broadway show; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of New York and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s New York Travel Guide: Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak NEW top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of New York’s best experiences and where to have them What's NEW feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 50 maps Covers Lower Manhattan & the Financial District, SoHo & Chinatown, East Village & the Lower East Side, West Village, Chelsea & the Meatpacking District, Union Square, the Flatiron District & Gramercy, Midtown, Upper East Side, Upper West Side & Central Park, Harlem & Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s New York City, our most comprehensive guide to New York City, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket New York City, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)