Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Art 1
Hudson River School 2
Hamilton Statue 3
Diana 4
Father of Modern Gynecology 5
Abstract Expressionism 6
Familiar Subjects, Unusual Media 6
Earth Art 7
Buildings and Bridges 9
Cast Iron 10
Air Rights 11
Art Deco 12
Skyscrapers 12
Bridges 13
Business and Commerce 15
Chamber of Commerce 16
Department Stores 17
Bringing Electricity to Businesses and Homes 18
Millionaires 19
Credit Cards 20
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) 21
Coworking Space for Writers 22
Chain Restaurants That Started in New York City 23
Food and Drink 25
Hot Dog 26
English Muffin 27
Eggs Benedict 28
"Chinese" Food 28
Pizza 29
Other Italian Fare 30
Reuben Sandwich 31
Ice Cream 32
America's Favorite Cookie 33
Donuts and Cronuts 34
Sweeteners in Packets 35
Breweries 36
Cocktail Recipe Book 37
Cocktails 38
First Restaurant 39
Singles Bar 40
Government and Law 42
Stamp Act Congress 43
First Capital of the United States 44
First Recorded Murder Trial 45
Sanitary (Health) Code 46
Legal Aid Society 47
Night Court 48
Zoning Regulations 49
Twice Impeached President 50
Inventions 52
First Black Person to Receive a U.S. Patent 53
Baby Carriages 54
Pins and Needles 55
Elevators and Escalators 56
Toilet Paper 58
Cardboard 58
Municipal Incinerators 59
Air Conditioning 60
News Ticker 61
Firefighters' Tools 62
Long-Playing Record 63
Home Security System 64
LGBTQ 65
Bathhouse Raid 66
Gay Student Activities 67
Gay Bookstore 67
Birth of the Gay Rights Movement 68
Support Groups 69
Domestic Partner Benefits 70
Media 71
Newspaper by and for African Americans 72
Penny Press 73
Photojournalism 74
Newspaper Comic Strips 75
Weekly Alternative Newspaper 76
Public Radio Broadcast 77
Radio Commercial 78
Televised Sports 79
Television Commercials 80
Museums and Exhibitions 82
World's Fair 83
Cats and Cars 84
Children's Museum 85
Jewish Museum 86
Modern Art 87
Minimalism 88
TV, Radio, and Movies 88
Life's Pleasures 89
Posters 90
Music 92
Hondas Messiah 93
Master Juba 94
Musical Comedy 95
Classical Music 96
Jazz 97
Stadium Concert 98
Rock Musical 99
Hip Hop 100
Punk Rock 101
Parades 102
St. Patrick's Day 103
Labor Day 104
Ticker-Tape Parade 105
Gay Pride 106
National Cultural Heritage 107
Parks and Playgrounds 109
Central Park 110
Starlings 111
Playgrounds 112
Pocket Parks 113
High Line 113
Religion 115
Methodist Church 116
Episcopal Seminary 117
First American Cardinal 118
First American Saint 119
Christmas 120
First Jews 122
Reconstructionist Judaism 123
Chabad (Lubavitch) Judaism 124
Islam 125
Hinduism 126
Residences and Residential Areas 128
America's First Suburb 129
Tenement 130
Tenth Street Studio Building 132
Apartment Buildings 133
Co-op Apartments 135
Hotels 136
Carnegie Mansion 137
Garden Cities 138
Federally Funded Housing Projects 139
Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) 141
Passive House 142
Social Welfare 144
Bellevue Hospital 145
Sailors' Snug Harbor 146
Public Baths 147
Before Ellis Island 148
The "Y" for Women 149
Breadline 150
Settlement House 151
School Nurse 152
Birth Control Clinic 153
Giving Tuesday 154
Sports 155
Cricket 156
Transatlantic Yacht Race 157
Tennis 158
Indoor Ice Rink 159
Golf 159
Invention of Baseball 160
Baseball Uniforms 161
Home Run Kings 162
Jackie Robinson 164
Baseball Hall of Famers 164
World Series MVPs 165
Indoor Football 166
Overtime in Football 167
Basketball 167
Toys, Games, and Other Diversions 169
Board Game 170
Bowling 171
Roller Coaster 171
Teddy Bear 172
Gin Rummy 173
Dolls 174
Mr. Potato Head 175
Crossword Puzzle 176
Scrabble 177
Double Dutch 178
Flash Mob 179
Transportation 180
Steamboats 181
Packet Ships 182
Streetcars 183
Scenic Rides 184
Automobile Accidents 185
Taxicab 186
Underwater Tunnel for Cars 187
Early Aviation Milestones 188
Automated Train 189
Aerial Commuter Tram 189
Women Who Led the Way 191
Military Service 192
Doctor 193
Retail Executives 193
Brokerage Firms 195
Athletes 196
Presidential Politics 197
Judges 197
Walking Tours 199
Walking Tour 1 Financial District 200
Walking Tour 2 Greenwich Village 206
Walking Tour 3 Madison Square to Herald Square 212
Walking Tour 4 Midtown 218
Appendix: Beyond Manhattan 224
Appendix: New York City Firsts by Year 230
Photo Credits 241
Index 243
About the Author 257
