There is nothing like New York during the holidays: it’s all sparkles and cheer! There are holiday markets, ice-skating rinks, hot chocolate sold on the street, and more Christmas trees than you can count. A wonderful new way to experience the holidays in the city while learning a thing or two about it is “Questo”…
Tag: New York History
Books About New York
Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (The History of NYC Series), Edwin G. Burrows, Mike Wallace The Island at the Center of the World, Russell Shorto Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City, Michelle Nevius, James Nevius Footprints in New York: Tracing the Lives of Four Centuries of New…
The Waldorf-Astoria: hyphenated hotel and a family scandal
Most family scandals don’t result in hotel construction. However, the famed Waldorf-Astoria owes its existence to the Astor family quarrel. The Astor fortune was divided between two branches of the Astor family headed by the two grandsons of the dynasty founder – John Jacob Astor III and William Backhouse Astor, Jr. Each of them had…
The Empire State Building – the Eighth Wonder of the World saved by a Hollywood movie
Tallest in the world for 41 years and saved by King Kong… Location: 350 5th Ave between 33rd and 34th StreetsBuilt: 1931Architect: William F. Lamb of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon The first in the world to rise over 100 stories, and constructed in mere 14 months, the Empire State Building stood as the tallest in…