Stories
New York City stories for walks, landmarks, and local context
Short, source-backed reads that explain what you are seeing while you move through the city.
Essential story
Welcome to the Five Boroughs
A warm introduction to the vibe, geography, and character of New York City.
Essential story
The Spirit of the Streets
Exploring NYC's identity as a hub of immigrant dreams and cultural evolution.
Essential story
Iron and Ambition
How architecture and innovation, from cast-iron to elevators, defined the city's growth.
Essential story
Shadows and Spotlight
The city's duality—from hidden speakeasies to the bright lights of the stage.
City story
A Basement in Brooklyn
Truman Capote once famously declared, I live in Brooklyn. By choice. For ten years, from 1955 to 1965, the acclaimed author rented a g…
City story
A Beacon for the Community
In the heart of Chinatown stands a forty-four story brown brick tower that represents a major milestone in urban housing. Constructed…
City story
A Beaux-Arts Beacon
At the very tip of Manhattan, overlooking Bowling Green, stands the U.S. Custom House. Built between 1902 and 1907, this seven-story s…
City story
A Bridge to the Waterfront
Under the massive steel spans of the Manhattan Bridge lies a space that has worn many masks. Construction on the Dumbo Archway began i…
City story
A Choice in Brooklyn
While many writers of the mid-century clung to Manhattan, Truman Capote looked across the river to Brooklyn Heights. For ten years, fr…
City story
A Choice in Brooklyn
In the 1830s, 70 Willow Street was just a sturdy home built by Adrian van Sinderen. But a century later, it became a sanctuary for one…
City story
A Community's Pillar
At the intersection of the Bowery, Doyers, and Division Streets, a forty-four story brown brick tower rises above Chinatown. This is C…
City story
A Country House in the City
Long before the grid of Manhattan filled in, the area around East End Avenue was a quiet escape. In 1799, Archibald Gracie built a Fed…
City story
A Court for the Community
Ever wonder where the heart of TriBeCa's local energy beats? Head over to Washington Market Park. This isn't just a patch of green; it…
City story
A DUMBO Transformation
In the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, there's a public space that literally supports the city. The Archway was originally built in 19…
City story
A Floating Concert Hall
For decades, if you wanted to hear intimate chamber music on the East River, you had to step onto a boat. Bargemusic was founded in 19…
City story
A Floating Concert Hall
What happens when you combine chamber music with a converted coffee barge? You get Bargemusic. Founded in 1977, this unique venue spen…
City story
A Floating Stage
For nearly five decades, one of Brooklyn's most intimate musical experiences happened on the water. Founded in 1977, Bargemusic began…
City story
A Floating Stage
Imagine a concert hall that doesn't sit on land, but drifts on the tide. That was the original magic of Bargemusic. Founded in 1977, t…
City story
A Floating Stage
Imagine a concert hall that doesn't sit on land, but drifts on the water. That was the original vision for Bargemusic. Founded in 1977…
City story
A Forest in the City
If you feel the city noise fading away, you've likely found the Hallett Nature Sanctuary. This four-acre woodland in the southeastern…
City story
A Foundation for Chinatown
In the early 1970s, organizers in Chinatown fought for a place where their community could truly put down roots. Their resilience paid…
City story
A French Château in Manhattan
Tucked away on the Upper East Side is the James B. Duke House, a limestone mansion that feels like it was transported straight from Fr…
City story
A Garden in the Heights
Truman Capote once famously wrote, I live in Brooklyn. By choice. For ten years, from 1955 to 1965, the acclaimed author rented a gard…