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.
City story
A Gilded Hill
Before it became one of the most prestigious addresses in the city, Carnegie Hill was semi-rural land, part of the old Common Lands of…
City story
A Haven in Chinatown
In the heart of Chinatown, a forty-four story brown brick tower stands as a symbol of community resilience. Built in 1975, Confucius P…
City story
A Haven in Harlem
Harlem's cultural legacy is woven into the walls of the Studio Museum, founded in 1968. It was designed as a nexus for artists of Afri…
City story
A Heightened Choice
In Brooklyn Heights, there's a quiet house at 70 Willow Street that once held some of the most famous words in modern literature. For…
City story
A Hidden Harmony
Tucked away in Brooklyn Heights is a private gated street called Washington Mews. Originally a row of stables for nearby homes, it too…
City story
A Hidden Prohibition Den
To find The Back Room, you have to be in on the secret. On Norfolk Street, look for a sign for the Lower East Side Toy Company. Pass t…
City story
A Home for Chinatown
In the early 1970s, community organizers in Chinatown faced a desperate need for affordable housing. They didn't just hope for a solut…
City story
A Home for Chinatown
High above the intersection of Bowery and Division Street stands a forty-four story brown brick tower that represents a hard-won victo…
City story
A Home for Harlem
In the heart of Chinatown, there's a brown brick tower that stands as a symbol of community resilience. Built in 1975, Confucius Plaza…
City story
A Home for the Community
In the heart of Chinatown, there's a brown brick tower that stands four hundred and thirty-three feet tall. This is Confucius Plaza, b…
City story
A Home for the Community
In the early 1970s, organizers in Chinatown saw a desperate need for affordable housing. They didn't just want buildings; they wanted…
City story
A Home for the Community
In the early 1970s, community organizers in Chinatown fought for a new kind of housing. Through New York State’s Mitchell-Lama Housing…
City story
A Home for the Community
In the heart of Chinatown, a 44-story brown brick tower stands as a symbol of belonging. Constructed in 1975, Confucius Plaza was the…
City story
A Legacy in Black Art
Founded in 1968, the Studio Museum in Harlem was created to be a nexus for artists of African descent. For decades, it's been more tha…
City story
A Legacy in Cast Iron
Walking through SoHo, you'll notice a distinct architectural rhythm: the repeating patterns of the Cast Iron Historic District. Design…
City story
A Legacy in Chinatown
High above the intersection of Bowery, Doyers, and Division Streets stands a brown brick tower that marks a turning point for Chinatow…
City story
A Legacy in Harlem
In 1968, a new kind of institution was born in the heart of Harlem. The Studio Museum in Harlem was founded as a nexus for artists of…
City story
A Legacy in Harlem
In 1968, a new kind of institution was born in Harlem. The Studio Museum was founded to be more than just a gallery; it was designed a…
City story
A Legacy in Harlem
Langston Hughes was a giant of the Harlem Renaissance, and for the last twenty years of his life, he called 20 East 127th Street home.…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
Architecture often tells the story of who was welcome in a city. In Harlem, the neoclassical design of the Apollo Theater speaks to th…
City story
A Legacy of Community in Chinatown
In the heart of Chinatown, the Confucius Plaza Apartments stand as a 44-story brown brick tower. Built in 1975, this was the first maj…
City story
A Legacy of Luxury
In 1903, Andrew Carnegie decided to build a home that would redefine the Upper East Side. His mansion at 2 East 91st Street wasn't jus…
City story
A Legacy of Soul
At 253 West 125th Street, the Apollo Theater stands as a legendary landmark of Black American performance. Designed in a neoclassical…
City story
A Market Born of Need
The Grand Bazaar NYC is now the largest curated weekly market in the city, but it started as a humble act of community recovery. Aroun…