Shark Bites versus...New York City Bites?!

There are few things we love more than absurd and unusual prices of trivia about New York City. We've seen some astounding facts…but this is one for the books:

In any given year, New Yorkers bite TEN times more people than sharks do worldwide.

Fascinating, right? And we're not just pulling this number out of our keister. We've come with the data and facts! The Big Adventure is nothing if not thorough.

A very precise report listed 140 instances of Shark attacks on humans in 2019 according to the University of Florida's delightful sounding International Shark Attack File.

Not a tiny number, but statistics provided by the New York City Health Department annual report showed a WHOPPING 1,587 "Human to Human" bites reported in The Big Apple! Also, If you're keeping track of such things, the same report indicated three "skunk to human" bites in the same year.

Its hard to say how we feel about all this…but we guess it's good news for Sharks and Shark related PR but bad news for New Yorkers. 

And really bad news for those who go to beaches that are IN New York City and also have sharks in the surrounding water.

The NYC "Great White Fleet" Subway Cars!

Spooky ghost train or massive, rolling blank canvas just waiting to be tagged?

There was a brief period in the early 1980's where NYC made the perplexing decision to paint more than 7,000 subway cars all WHITE.

Why? The infamous paint job was conceived as an ill-fated effort to combat the graffiti which had run amok at the time. Particularly on the 7-Line cars as they rolled through Queens.

The MTA broke out this infamous plan based on the idea of negative reinforcement - all cars would be painted bright white with hope that graffitists would be hesitant to deface such pristine beauty. The repainted cars were launched with much grandeur and known as “The Great WhiteFleet".

You might be shocked to hear this next part: The plan failed miserably and the cars’ original colors were restored quickly.

Check out the fascinating article from the always fantastic Forgotten NY site: 

NYC's Best Black And White Cookie

When it comes to New York City treats, there are few things that are arguably more New York-ey than the infamous Black and White Cookie.

We've never been a giant fan of the beloved bi-colored treat, but we also can't resist a good list. Such as one entitled "Who Has The Best Black and White Cookie." So....who tops the list? (For what it's worth, Zabar's is #1 in our book)

4. LESKE'S BAKERY -7612 5th Avenue (btwn 76th & 77th Streets), Bay Ridge, Brooklyn - "These are delicate things, and you will have to carefully lug the boxes to your destination without ruining them,"

3. ZABAR'S - 2245 Broadway (btwn West End & Broadway), Upper West Side - Of course, Zabar's. This is one of their trifecta staple goods along with bagels and pickled herring.

2. WILLIAM GREENBERG -1100 Madison Ave (btwn 82nd St & 83rd St), Upper East Side - Notice a trend? Almost all of these are on the Upper West or Upper East Side...

1. RUSS & DAUGHTERS -179 E Houston St (btwn Orchard & Allen), Lower East Side

Check out the full article here from Gothamist

And, if you need a second even hotter take on top New York Black and White Cookies Ranked, check out a second countdown list here from TopDust.

 

New York's Most Famous Big Cats

Anyone familiar with New York knows EXACTLY where you can find this pair of ever vigilant stone lions.

And anyone who knows their New York trivia knows their names...

Patience and Fortitude! And their story is kinda awesome...

The famous duo has been in place since the New York Public Library building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan first opened on May 23, 1911.

Once labeled as “New York’s most lovable public sculpture” by architecture critic Paul Goldberger, the Lions have been bedecked in top hats, graduation caps, Mets and Yankee caps, and more.The Lions were modeled and sculpted for a cost of $13,000 using pink Tennessee marble. And, if they've looked a little more dashing lately, it's because the lions were professionally cleaned and restored in 2019.

Our MOST fun fact is that their name have actually changed over the decades. First they were called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after The New York Public Library founders John Jacob Astor and James Lenox! Later, they were known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox which are simply amazing names.

However, it was during the 1930s, Mayor LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. 90 years later, "Patience" still guards the south side of the Library's steps and "Fortitude" sits unwavering to the north!

An Elephant on the Loose in Coney Island

This kinda sounds like the plot to a poorly scripted animated kids movie… but it really did happen!

116 years ago a massive elephant escaped from a showcase at Coney Island's Luna Park and swam all the way to Staten Island. This is an amazing read from our friends at the phenomenal site Untapped NY about a crazy day almost lost to history!

Talk about a New York City Big Adventure...

https://untappedcities.com/2020/05/22/the-brave-escape-of-alice-the-elephant-who-swam-from-coney-island-to-staten-island/

Coney Island's Luna Park as it appeared around 1904

Topsy the Elephant about to meet a lousy fate

Not your average scenic NYC Photo!

Okay, show hands: How many people have dreamed of sneaking to the top of the beautiful Chrysler Building just so you can snap an amazing photo like this one!?

 
The stunning photo was taken by self-proclaimed daredevil photographer Lucinda Grange who has taken "equally amazing photos all over the world, none of them very legal."
While we're here two fun facts about the famous ole Chrysler Building:

- Built 90 years ago, it remains the tallest brick building in the world with a steel framework,

- For a short time it was the tallest skyscraper in the city, but today, the 1,046 height is good for making it the 11th-tallest building in the city.

You can see more of Lucida Grange's photos from around the world here

In the meantime, we'll leave you with THIS view:

Another unique and quirky NYC landmark...

 One of New York's most unique and quirky landmarks - Do you know about the tiny "Spite Triangle" at 7th Avenue and 17th Street? It's a fun, long-standing middle finger to the city's effort to tear down buildings for expansion of roads. Great read!

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-tiny-spite-triangle-that-marks-a-century-old-grudge-against-new-york-city

Best Dim Sum in NYC?!

We recently got an email from a fan planning an upcoming trip to New York City with one simple question: What is the BEST Dim Sum in The Big Apple?!

That's an easy one. Our absoloute favorite place to enjoy authentic Dim Sum dining is in the heart of Chinatown: Nom Wah Tea Parlor.

Nom Wah first opened their doors in 1920 and now holds the honor of being the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Chinatown Stepping inside always feel like a bit of a time warp and the food options are always flavorful and amazing. In our opinion, there is no better place to spend a Saturday morning with some friends, some tea and some dim sum for all to share.

But arrive early! Lines tend to form before the restaurant opens at 10:30 AM.

13 Doyers Street, Chinatown
https://nomwah.com/chinatown/

A Guide To Planning your own Spring NYC Big Adventure!

Ah, finally Spring is upon us. Longer days, beautiful weather and...what's that...people on the street seem to be smiling. 

To celebrate, we've put together an itinerary to allow you to create your own "Spring Big Adventure" allowing you and friends to descend upon several outdoor locations throughout NYC. You can make this happen on any weekend day and tweak the itinerary for a day of basking in the sun, enjoying the outdoors and in general, rejoicing in Spring. This has been brewing since Jan 23rd – which was the coldest day of winter when we were suffering through cabin fever and immensely tired of slush and gray. All of us have braved the most miserable winter in a while. Now…we celebrate spring!

We encourage you to pass the information along to anyone who might enjoy outdoor bars, rooftop locales, competitive chalk art, New York City Parks and musty old tombs (really). If you follow our guide, we promise will be unique, affordable, social and distinctly NYC. 

The West 79th Street Boat Basin Café – 1:00 PM –Walk as far west on 79th Street as you can past Riverside Drive until you end up overlooking the Hudson River and Boat Basin. We’ll sit with a view of the House Boats and Riverside Park as we sip Electric Lemonade and fried perfection. The perfect place to soak in the sun and start the day.



Host a Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition - 2:30 PM –As you stroll through Riverside Park –one of the most beautiful and underrated parks in NYC– set up and enjoy some Sidewalk Chalk Art. It’s art guerilla style (because Sidewalk Chalk is verboten….breakin’ the law, breakin’ the law). Create teams, bring art supplies, endless chalk and lovely sections of sidewalk to vandalize…er decorate. After everyone hones their skills and talent, chose one winner will be crowned the Picasso of the Park! The Salvador Dali of the Sidewalk! The Rembrandt of the Road! The Georgia O'k....you get our drift.

  

Grant’s Tomb – 3:30 PM – 122nd and Riverside Drive - Hop on the M5 Bus and journey up to what is officially known as The General Grant National Memorial. Nothing like spending a spring day at a tomb. Seriously though, this is a very cool museum that opened over 110 years ago. Despite rich history, architecture and grandeur, seemingly few New Yorkers have ever visited. Rectify that with a private tour by the National Park Service guide all dedicated to that 18th President and Civil War General with the awesome first name: Ulysses S. Grant

The Heights Bar and Grill – 4:45  PM– Broadway and 112th –The Heights (named after its neighborhood Morningside Heights) is a somewhat secret gem and the only rooftop bar in Manhattan north of 59th street. Swing by for a drink while lounging on the top floor roof-deck patio and judge who has the best sandals in the bar.

Traversing The High Line -6:30 PM – Entering at 20th Street and 10th Avenue- The plan here is simple – a stroll down the most unique urban park on the East Coast at Sunset. Starting at the northern most section and ending at around 12th street, we’re going to walk every inch of the park and get it on like Ponce De Leon. Lots going on most spring days including a roving book cart and guides.

The Standard Beer Garden– 8:00 PM -  Little West 12th and Washington Street – Fresh off The High Line and back on firm ground, you’ll be transported to a magical faux German land. Outside and spacious, visitors leave their Meatpacking pretensions at the door in exchange for Ping-Pong, Brats and Steins.

Ear Inn – 10:00 PM – 326 Spring Street near Washington Street – Man, we love this place. End the evening with one of New York's oldest bars where the drinks are as tasty and affordable as the history of the place is remarkable Historic Home turned Brothel turned Bar. Great to get our relaxing on after a long day of trekking. Also known as the Green Door Bar or the James Brown House. God Bless drinking establishments with three names.

 

Enjoy! We hope this makes for a wonderful Spring Adventure for any who follow our route! Let us know how your journey goes by visiting us on Facebook  or sending us an E-mail: Info@NYCBigAdventure.com

Madison Square Garden....The Fourth?!

Did you know that New York City is currently on its FOURTH Version of Madison Square Garden? True enough: Four Venues in four different locations throughout the city.

The latest construction of "The World's Greatest Arena" (known in some circles as MSG IV) opened in 1968, but the original was built waaaayyy back almost 90 years earlier in 1879.

MSG I-The first Madison Square Garden opens its doors on East 26th Street and Madison Avenue in 1879. Unfortunately, the roofless Garden was hot in the summertime and freezing in the wintertime so it had a rather limited lifespan.

MSG II - The second incarnation opens on the same spot in 1890. Topping the Garden's tower was a statue of Diana which caused Madison Square Park to become known as "Diana's little wooded park".

MSG III -The third to bare the name, this MSG built in 1925 was located on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets in Manhattan, on the site of the city's trolley-car barns Moving uptown, It was the first Garden that was not located near Madison Square. It was home to the Rangers, Knicks, Defunct NHL team The Americans and the annual NIT college basketball tournament.

MSG IV - Ah, the site we now all know an and love. It's a little trivia that most people don't know. The arena we have now is probably destined to remain for a long time and is currently undergoing a significant renovation.

The MSG Co. offers a great program called "The All Access Tour for Madison Square Garden." that's well worth a few bucks.

In the meantime, brush up on all of your Madison Square Garden history at this site below:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-madison-square-garden.html 

Answers to our NYC Trivia Quesitons

So, last week we challenged you with three big questions about NYC. See the answers below. Did you get all three right? Are you a master of all things Big Apple? More NYC trivia to follow in the next couple of weeks.  

Sure, you've mastered complicated Subway transfer at 59th street and you know the best Happy Hour specials from Midtown to the Bowery, but how well do you really know NYC? Here are three basic trivia questions about New York City. Any proud true resident should go three for three. After all, these are elements of the city that you likely see every day. Good luck!

1. The official New York City flag

The city flag is a vertical tricolor in blue, white, and orange and charged in the center bar with the Seal of New York City in blue. The tricolor design is derived from the flag of the Dutch Republic—the Prince's Flag—as used in 1625, when New Amsterdam was settled on the island of Manhattan. This design reflects the current design implemented in 1977.

 (There are also flags for each of the five boroughs, but we've left them out of our examples just to make it easier)

 

 

 

2. What is the official New York State motto?

A) Freedom and Unity! - Vermont's Sate Motto	B) Excelsior(Latin for "Ever upward!") -Correct!
C) Wisdom, justice, and moderation - Georgia's State Motto	D) Labor Omnia Vincit (Latin for "Hard work conquers all things!) - Oklahoma's State Motto

3. What is the State Fruit of  New York?

A) Pumpkin	B) Avocado
C) Wild Blueberry	D) The Apple - Naturally!

Testing your New York City knowledge!

Sure, you've mastered complicated Subway transfer at 59th street and you know the best Happy Hour specials from Midtown to the Bowery, but how well do you really know NYC? Here are three basic trivia questions about New York City. Any proud true resident should go three for three. After all, these are elements of the city that you likely see every day. Good luck!

1. Can you pick out the official New York City flag?

Only one of the flags below reflects the current design implemented in 1977.

 (There are also flags for each of the five boroughs, but we've left them out of our examples just to make it easier)

2. What is the official New York State motto?

A) Freedom and Unity!	B) Excelsior(Latin for "Ever upward!")
C) Wisdom, justice, and moderation	D) Labor Omnia Vincit (Latin for "Hard work conquers all things!)

3. What is the State Fruit of  New York?

A) Pumpkin	B) Avocado
C) Wild Blueberry	D) The Apple

How did you do? Fret not: Answers will be revealed on Friday!

How to give back in NYC? Try New York Cares

New York City is a tremendous city and those who have spent time in the Big Apple knows that the people are the heart and soul of this town. Despite the stereotype of the surly, rushed New Yorker, most people who live in the five boroughs are warm and generous with both their time and their money.

But what's the best way to give back? There are thousands of deserving good causes spread near and far. Most are amazing, some are a bit sketchy and only a few are the right fit.

The NYC Big Adventure recommends checking out New York Cares. The organization was founded by a group of friends in 1987 who wanted to take action against some of the endless social issues in New York City. Today, the organization engages 59,000 volunteers in service each year, helping 400,000 New Yorkers in need.


But what we really dig about New York Cares is their superior interactive website that offers an amazing selection of opportunities. A highly searchable listing system with features such as a map and filters provides details and clearly indicates the number of spots left. In our opinion, it make determining how to spend your time giving and contributing!


NY Cares doesn't get enough love and it is one of best for showcasing 1000s of volunteer opportunities in NYC. Make a difference today, yo!

Our New Favorite Map of NYC

The Big Adventure is often on the lookout for quality New York City memorabilia that we can hang on the wall in our home or office. They is so much cheap garbage out there (sorry, Times Square vendors) that we let out a little of yelp of excitement when we discovered this.

Are you familiar with those large MTA neighborhood maps that provide detail about a specific set of blocks? They can be spotted in  just about every subway station in the system. Now, the MTA has put several of them up for sale in their only Transit Museum store!

Station Size: Unframed 44 x 49 inches $115

These Neighborhood Print Maps are available as custom-made unframed prints as large as 44 inches by 49 inches - the same size that are found in subway stations! It looks like there are 68 different maps available from Astoria to Union Square. A giant map with great detail that would look great on our office wall...if we didn't work in an cubicle the size of phone booth.

Station Size: Unframed 44 x 49 inches $115

Station Size: Unframed 44 x 49 inches $115

Neighborhood Map Print

Neighborhood Map Print

Neighborhood Map Print

Neighborhood Map Print

Neighborhood Map Print

The bad news? They run about $115 per print. Ooof!

Buy your MTA Neighborhood Print Maps Here

The Big Dog Show - 10 Facts about The Westminster Kennel Club 139th Annual Puppy Parade

Happening right this very moment at Madison Square Garden are royal grand finals or some such of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. A NYC tradition for pups, owners, fans and Christopher Guest.The Big Adventure thought we would supply some quality trivia and facts about the show lifted straight from their own site -http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org

Astonish your friends, amaze assorted dog owners and astound strangers with the following information: 

1. The Westminster Kennel Club was established in 1877, making it America's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. 
2. First held in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is America's second-longest continuously held sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby.
3.  The dog show has outlasted three previous versions of Madison Square Garden, and is currently being staged in MSG IV.
4. The first telecast of Westminster was in 1948, three years before "I Love Lucy" premiered.
5. A portion of the proceeds from Westminster's first show in 1877 was donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to establish a home for stray and disabled animals.
6. The Empire State Building first honored Westminster by lighting its tower in the Westminster colors of purple and gold in 2004 and will do so again in 2011.
7. There have been over 300,000 dogs entered in Westminster's 138 shows through 2013
8. Through the 2010 show, there have been 1,673 judges who have officiated at least once at Westminster, some as many as 23 times, at Westminster.
9. Two Best In Show winners, Norwich Terriers, had the same sire: 1994's Ch. Chidley's Willum the Conqueror and 1998's Ch. Fairewood Frolic were offspring (half brother/sister) of Ch. Royal Rock Don of Chidley. We don’t even know what any of that means.
10. In 1884, The Westminster Kennel Club became the first member of the American Kennel Club.
For what it's worth, The Sporting, Working, Terrier, and Best In Show competition is going to be televised live on USA Network from 8-11 PM ET

Exploring the rare Track Geometry Car of the NYC Subway

If you're a frequent strap-hanger on the NYC subway, then you might have been lucky enough to once get a glimpse of the elusive MTA's Track Geometry Car. Making only sporadic appearances, the train rarely emerges from the underground tunnels like a mythical mechanical beast. A sighting is usually spoken about only in hushed tones late at night at local bars.

Okay, we're exaggerating a bit, but The Track Geometry Car is arguably the most unique car among the rolling stock in the MTA's line up. Of the entire 6,500 plus subway cars, there is only one incredibly cool Track Geometry Car.

The train uses a crew of seven and an endless array of sophisticated tools such as the "Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Measuring System" to carefully measure the track's alignment, curvature, rail gauge, vertical gap and more. Each and every section of the 637-miles track is manually checked six times a year by a trained crew of mechanics, analysts, and engineers.

The train has one main purpose: spot track defects before they become dangerous. After all, some of these tracks are over 100 years old and endure the stress of hundreds of heavy trains each day. In the past, track inspection was painstakingly completed by track inspectors walking the tracks and visually inspecting every section of track.

If you find yourself standing on a NYC subway platform, keep your eyes peeled and you just might spot the Track Geometry Car!

The NYC Big Adventure Recommends: The Redhead Bar

Following up on our recent post regarding delicious Hot Chocolates throughout NYC, the Big Adventure highly recommends The Redhead bar and restaurant in the East Village at 13th Street & 1st Avenue. Come for the deliciousness of the Hot Chocolate Car Bomb, stay for Bacon Peanut Brittle (amazing and...unexpected), a full and unique dinner menu and friendly, fastidious bartenders.

Another great Free NYC attraction - The Museum at F.I.T.

So, cold, cold January has arrived but not the fun part of January. The part where the calendar reads just after New Year's and the city has come to a frozen stop. All of your friends are suddenly broke and no one wants to leave their apartment because they have soup belly. Plus, with the sun setting at like a quarter after four in the afternoon, it feels dark all the time.

The worst part about this is that all the traditionally great free things to do in NYC- Walk the High Line, Bike Ride through Central Park, Run along Riverside Park - are suddenly terrible, terrible ideas. What to do? How about a visit to the Free Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.(227 W 27th Street at 7th Avenue)

The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion, and features innovative and award-winning exhibitions. The museum's Fashion Culture special programs run year-round and include exhibition talk and tours, fashion conversations with leading designers, lectures and book signings. Admission to the exhibitions is always free year-round. We've been impressed with our visits in the past and always a unique place to hit.

With a mix of permanent and rotating exhibits, the museum houses work from designers such as Dior, Chanel, and Balenciaga. With more than 4,000 pairs of shoes, 50,000 clothing pieces and accessories (dating back to the 18th century), and 30,000 textiles (dating back to the 5th century), there is plenty to see here. Be sure to stop by the Gallery FIT to view work from up-and-coming students and faculty members as well.

Hey and if you still need some Free middle of winter entertainment when you're done, go for a spin on The Staten Island ferry and have a contest to find the saddest Staten Islanders on the boat.

Frequently Asked Questions we get about NYC!

Combing through the ole e-mail inbox, we get a ton of questions from travelers, visitor and others just seeking something specific in a NYC experience that is inexpensive, unique, and a little bit off the beaten path. We thought that we would post some of those here!

What Times Do the Lights Go On at The Empire State Building? Since The Big Adventure is often asking "Why is the Empire State Building this particular color tonight?” we’ve always found this handy: The official daily lighting schedule for the Empire State Building. You can preview the ESB color scheme for upcoming weeks and check out the lighting occasions over the course of the last year. Of course, the standard colors of white, white and more white make up the lighting pattern about half of the time. But the ESB can also accommodate blue, red, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple as well. Want to take it a step further and become a "Lighting Partner" with your own private colors? The application is right there on the site. Who knows? Maybe you can have it the building lit in your favorite colors on your birthday.  Where can I find The Best Guinness in NYC? Who has the Best Pint of Guinness in New York City? Well, we've enjoyed enough of Ireland's best stout in enough bars to be smart enough not to get tangled up in this debate: There are too many great bars, great bartenders and just amazing locales in the city to coin on as "The Best."  We created a whole list that you can review here! Is there gold in the New York City federal reserve? Are you planning a heist? In fact, there is! More so than in Ft. Knox and almost anywhere else in the world! You probably didn't know that the NYC's Fed Bank is one of 12 regional banks in the Federal Reserve system.  Mostly because that's not very interesting. You also probably didn't know that downtown New York City is home to the largest gold deposit in the world. The vaults at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York holds more than 200 billion dollars of gold most of being held for foreign countries. Well, you might have known that if you saw Die Hard III.  The best part about it all is that you can actually visit the vaults where all of the gold is tightly guarded and kept safe. The Federal Reserve offers free tours daily of the bank. We suggest a visit a while back! Read all about planning your trip here. What was the last movie to run at Radio City Music Hall? Strange that multiple people asked this, but who are we to judge the knowledge that others seeks. The answer is Caravans starring Anthony Quinn in 1978. There have been some special exceptions since then, but it has be 35+ years since the venue was used as a part-time movie house.  We wrote all about the fascinating history of Radio City Music Hall here! Your Adventures look like a lot of fun! Can you help me plan a day in NYC that is exciting, unique, inexpensive and custom for me and my crew? Yes! We'd be happy to take our encyclopedic knowledge of NYC and help give you pointers and tips. We've spent years combing the streets and digging up countless gems.  E-mail us at Info@NYCBigAdventure.com or send us a message on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAdventure and we'll make it happen, Cap'n!

The 2013 NYC No Pants Subway Ride Returns

The 2013 No Pants Subway Ride in New York City. You have to smile just a touch when saying it. Ah, it is back once again. Like clockwork in early January of each year, those wacky folks at Improv Everywhere are hosting The 12thAnnual No Pants Subway Ride in NYC this Sunday, January 13^th from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Groups will be gathering in in Astoria, Downtown Manhattan, Uptown Manhattan, Flushing, and two locations in Brooklyn. 

Details can be found right here and if you're interested in a photo gallery of past no pants subway ride that can be found here.The premise is simple: Groups of people gather on random Subway platforms to ride the NYC Subway sans pantaloons. The participants (in theory) do not behave as if they know each other or as if anything is wrong. Aside from the lack of pants, everyone wears otherwise regular winter clothing.

The event is completely free, you can RSVP on Facebook and they raising the ante be selling official T-shirtsthis year. Hey, there is even an after party at Bar 13that afternoon.

Be forewarned: it is not a small, subtle event. So far, over 4,500 people have signed up on Facebook to join. That's a lot of people missing pants. 

Bottom line, if your goal is to make some new friends and walkaway with some memorable visions and good stories, this just might be the event for you. Although, where you keep your Metrocard without any pants  is your business.

We've written in more detail about this event - feel free to check out our former posts here.  Stay warm!