New York the self-proclaimed capital of the world, the largest city in the United States, and is known as a melting pot of immigrants, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Wall Street, Broadway, bridges, bodegas, restaurants, museums, and so much more. The “city that never sleeps” is bustling with people, cultural and sporting events, world-class shopping and high fashion, and other tourist attractions that draw in millions visitors from all over the world. The Handy New York City Answer Book explores the fascinating history, people, myths, culture, and trivia, taking an in-depth look at the city so nice, they named it twice. Illustrating the unique character of the city through a combination of facts, stats, and history, and the unusual and quirky, it answers more than 850 intriguing questions about people, events, government, and places of interest, including Who were the first New Yorkers? Why are Manhattan’s streets laid out in a grid? Why is there a windmill on the New York seal? How did New York help elect Abraham Lincoln president? What were “sweatshops”? Who started the gossip column? What is “stop and frisk”? How many trees are there in New York?

Chris Barsanti is the author of Filmology: A Movie-a-Day Guide to the Movies You Need to Know, The Sci-Fi Movie Guide, and the Eyes Wide Open annual film guide series. He is co-author of the forthcoming Monty Python FAQ, and he has written articles for a variety of publications, including PopMatters, the Chicago Tribune, Playboy, The Millions, the Virginia Quarterly Review, Publishers Weekly, and Where New York. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and he resides in New York City.