Today, the quiet wooded streets of Strivers’ Row still feature markers for “Private Road, Walk Your Horses,” intricate rod-iron gates, and spacious parking areas from another era. 

Strivers’ Row is nestled between Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Frederick Douglass Boulevards from 138th to 139th. The four rows of elegant Harlem Brownstones were not always known as Strivers’ Row. When they were first built by real estate mogul David H. King in the late 19th century, the development was known as the King Model Homes. 

To give buyers multiple architectural styles to choose from, King worked with three different architects on the project. One designed Italian Renaissance-style brick homes on the north side of 139th, another designed yellow brick and limestone townhomes on the north side of 138th, and the third designed Georgian-style, brownstone-and-red brick homes on both the south and north sides of 138th. 

The townhouses were designed with stables in the back to attract horse-owning suburbanites willing to pay the high prices that King demanded. To this day, the signage can still be seen reminding people to walk their horses and park behind the homes. 

The project was not without problems. When the Panic of 1893 caused a severe recession, New Yorkers began leaving the city in droves. As a result, King was unable to find buyers for the townhouses. This was made even more difficult because King decided that he would not sell houses to minorities. 

When he was unable to find a return on his investment, King’s development was taken over by its financial backer, the Equitable Life Assurance Society. But, they too refused to sell homes to minorities, and with the US fighting in WWI, they were unable to sell any of the townhouses. But that changed in 1919 when the company finally made homes available to all buyers for the price of $8000.  

In the following years, the development started to find its feet as African American professionals began purchasing the townhouses. Soon the neighborhood became known as Strivers’ Row after the desire for immigrants and African Americans to own homes. This moniker was meant as an insult, but soon that was lost as it was embraced by doctors, lawyers, and artists looking to raise their standing in society. 

At the same time, Harlem’s population was booming, which coincided with the Harlem Renaissance. Correspondingly, Striver’s Row became the go-to destination for many who rose to prominence, including musician Eubie Blake, composer Will Marion Cook, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and actor Lincoln Perry. 

But, the neighborhood’s prominence did not last forever. During the Great Depression and WWII, New York City saw an increase in poverty and crime. While this impacted all areas of the city, Harlem was especially hard hit. By the early 1960s, many of the prominent residents of Strivers’ Row had moved out, and the interiors of the homes were converted into smaller apartments. This trend continued for the next thirty-odd years that saw the interiors of most Strivers’ Row townhouses radically changed, but the exteriors remained largely the same. 

In the 1990s, Harlem saw a revitalization that caused increased interest and attention to Strivers’ Row. The old alleys that were originally intended for horses were converted into parking spaces for cars or patios for social gatherings. The neighborhood began attracting musicians and artists again, including Bob Dylan and Tupac Shakur. Dylan owned a home on Strivers’ for all of the 90s and into the 2000s before eventually selling. 

Given the neighborhood’s historical significance, it has become a popular destination for historical tours and small pop-up concerts. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in demand for Strivers’ Row real estate, with most homes going for millions. 

The neighborhood has been officially designated as the St. Nicholas Historic District by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

The post Strivers’ Row and the Resurgence of the Harlem Brownstone appeared first on CitySignal.

On April 15, 1947, Ebbets Field made history. Jackie Robinson stepped onto the field as Major League Baseball’s first African American player, changing the landscape for the better.

In the following years, the franchise saw incredible success primarily due to the playing of Robinson and the team the Dodgers had assembled around him. In 1955 the Dodgers won the World Series, which was also the impetus for the destruction of Ebbets Field. The stadium’s lack of size, parking, and usability was routinely overwhelmed by the large number of fans that surged into the gates every game day. To this day, Ebbets Field is warmly remembered by historians of the game and old-time Dodgers fans. 

The History Of Ebbet’s Field

To this day, Brooklyn is distinctly proud of the Dodgers legacy. The team was founded in 1883 as the Brookly Grays. They were funded by a real estate mogul, Charles Byrne, and played at Washington Park on 5th Ave. In 1889, the team won the National League pennant and followed that victory by winning the championship series. To this day, they are the only team to win back-to-back in both leagues.

With their mounting success, the team changed their name to the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers after Brooklyn’s most common mode of transport. But in a move that’s become common in New York City, the name was shortened to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Soon, team executives began searching for a permanent home for the team. In 1913, they settled on Ebbets Field in Flatbush. Over the next half-century, Ebbets field would be home to some of the most iconic teams assembled in baseball’s history.

The first of these was “Dem Bums” in the 1930s. Under legendary manager Casey Stengel, the Dodgers won the pennant in 1934. For the next five years, they were widely considered to be the best team in baseball. In 1941, Ebbets Field and the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted the first televised baseball game. Of course, the Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 6-1. 

Five years later, Jackie Robinson entered the team, winning the Rookie of the Year award and forming a cornerstone for one of the greatest baseball teams of all time. The dodgers assembled an all-star cast around Robinson, including Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, and Gil Hodges. In short succession, the team won five pennants but lost each of the World Series matchups to the Yankees. Finally, in 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series, vanquishing their greatest rival, the New York Yankees. 

Ebbets Field was not only used for baseball. It was the site of boxing matches, wrestling matches, and other shows. Ebbets Field is even the birthplace of Bugs Bunny, who made his debut on July 27, 1940. 

The Demise of Ebbets Field

As the team was entering their best years, Ebbets Field became structurally unsound. It had terrible plumbing, a small capacity, and no parking. As a result, the Dodgers ownership decided to build a massive publicly funded domed stadium. The problem was, the most powerful person in New York City, Robert Moses was opposed to this proposition. Moses wanted the Dodgers to go to Flushing Meadows (the site of Citi Field today) to build their new stadium. In the ensuing power struggle, Los Angeles approached the Dodger’s ownership offering a perfect site for a new stadium. For ownership, the decision was an easy one: they decided to move to a city that welcomed them and the titan they had created. 

As a result, the Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957, before moving to Los Angeles for the start of the new season. Shortly thereafter, Ebbets Field was demolished by the city. This left a gaping hole in the hearts of Dodgers fans across New York, but nothing could be done. Critics cite this move as the change of the MLB from a fan-centric enterprise to one that focused on profits above all else. But New York City historians are quick to point out that Robert Moses had the power to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn but ultimately chose not to. 

No matter what side you take on the Dodger’s move to Los Angeles, the team has a special place in New York City lore. Today, they are fondly remembered for their daring decision to desegregate baseball and for their decades-long dominance of Major League Baseball. 

The post The History of Ebbets Field: Home of the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers appeared first on CitySignal.

The History Of The New York City Air Shaft:

In New York City, windows were not required in every room until the mid-19th century. When the new law was passed, most developers found ways to meet the regulations without fixing the ventilation and lighting issues that were common. Developers’ first solution was to install an interior window between two rooms, meeting the requirement with only one window!

To address this issue, city officials made exterior windows mandatory in the late 1880s. Of course, developers had to comply with the new regulations, but it was their main goal to use as much building space as possible. To do this, they built air shafts through the building, so the windows were facing the “exterior” of the building. Often, these air shafts were narrow enough that people could shake hands with neighbors in other buildings or even reach across into other apartments. 

The problem was, no one was shaking hands or even opening these windows. In the space of a few years, they had become home to waste, disease, and a terrible stench. To many, the new air shafts were far worse than apartments without windows!

This passage found in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty’s Smith’s story of a young girl growing up in the middle of a Williamsburg slum (based on her own childhood), illustrates the issue perfectly:

The airshaft was a horrible invention. Even with the windows tightly sealed, it served as a sounding box, and you could hear everybody’s business. Rats scurried around the bottom. There was always the danger of fire. A match absently tossed into the airshaft by a drunken teamster set the house afire in a moment.

There were vile things cluttering up the bottom. Since the bottoms couldn’t be reached by man (the windows being too small to admit the passage of a body), it served as a fearful repository for things that people wanted to put out of their lives. Rusted razor blades and bloody clothes were the most innocent items.

To give you a picture of the problem, indoor plumbing was not common in those days, especially in tenement housing. So the easiest solution for disposal of human waste, food scraps, and more was directly into the air shaft. As a result, the garbage compiled at astonishing rates at the bottom. 

In fact, in 1855 an Irish immigrant named Mary Olsen attempted to jump to her death in her tenement’s air shaft, but the large amount of garbage at the bottom was enough to cushion her fall, resulting in minor injuries. 

In 1901, the city introduced stricter requirements on developers, which were called the “New Law” by dismayed landlords. This was in large part to the work of Jacob Riis and a few other “muckrakers” who had made it their mission to expose the abysmal living conditions in NYC tenements. 

After the New Law, developers settled on the DumbBell building that included larger air shafts and was shaped like a dumbbell you might find in the gym. 

The End of the Air Shaft:

With little being done to address the putrid odors and chronic lack of ventilation, many tenants had had enough. In 1900, hundreds testified before the Tenement House Committee, all objecting to the smell, air quality, and idea behind them. Reports note that there was not a single positive remark about air shafts during any of the committee meetings. 

Importantly, the tenants were not alone. The FDNY had had enough of the air vents as well. While the air vents did little to provide fresh air for tenants, they were perfect for fueling fires, allowing them to spread rapidly throughout tenement buildings.

As a result of this uproar, the city introduced new regulations that created larger interior courtyards and stating that developers could only build on less than 70 percent of a lot. 

Air Shafts Today: A Fight For Preservation.

Even with the air shaft’s abysmal history, there are some people who want to save the few older building that still have the pre-1900 airshafts. They argue that given the important historical significance, a few air shafts should be preserved. For example, a couple living at 1664 Third Avenue fought to keep their access to an airshaft which let in light and air to their rental unit in the Upper East Side. In 2021, there are still a few air shafts present in the city, but it’s unclear whether or not they will remain in action. 

The post The Sordid History Of NYC Air Shafts appeared first on CitySignal.

To be honest, I didn’t like the sound of the name. It sounded ancient and eerily like something to come from a notorious Dumbell tenement building. However, after doing some digging, I discovered that the few remaining Pullman Kitchen Apartments are often quite affordable and a great housing option for many couples and singles. 

The History of Pullman Kitchens:

Pullman kitchens are named after the layout of kitchens in Pullman train cars. This is because their shape closely resembled them – long, narrow, and open on both ends. This means that users can pass through the kitchen much like a rail car. 

Pullman kitchens were primarily built in tenement buildings as they were cheap, a great use of space, and most developers did not think about the user experience. If you aren’t too excited about cooking, this is probably a good thing. 

There were several designs for Pullman kitchens. They can have counters on one side, both sides, or even be opened up to create an island. This is important to know as each Pullman kitchen is not exactly like the rest, and you want to make sure you know what you will be getting. 

Pullman Kitchen Space: Effective, but Not Ideal for Frequent Use.

Given their origins, Pullman kitchens use every bit of space, all while doubling as a corridor. If you have roommates, a spouse, or even a pet in the apartment with you, then it can become tricky to navigate around each other. Cooking with another person is difficult to begin with and nearly impossible in a Pullman. 

What Configuration Is Right For You?

As I already mentioned, there are several Pullman configurations. It’s important to know which one you are going to be getting and if that works for your living situation. 

1. Single-Sided Pullmans: A single-sided Pullman generally only has one long counter throughout the kitchen area. This is a great place for appliances, and depending on your size, there may be enough room to build a narrow shelf on the other wall for spices, snacks, or other smaller items. Single-sided Pullmans are generally installed in a studio or loft apartments. 
2. Pass-through Pullmans: This design is more traditional and generally consists of two parallel counters which open to rooms on either end. If you don’t mind cooking between your dining room and living room, then this might be the Pullman Kitchen for you.
3. Dead-End Pullmans: History buffs argue that this is NOT a Pullman Kitchen, but real estate agents use the term liberally, so it’s worth including here. A dead-end Pullman is essentially the same design as a pass-through Pullman but with a wall or a door at one end.

   

4. Island Pullman: An island Pullman has the counter space in the middle of the hallway rather than on the sides. This is convenient as it can be used as a kitchen, a work area, a setting area, and much more if you get creative!

The post The History of Pullman Kitchens appeared first on CitySignal.

If you haven’t been paying attention to the news, things got a lot better for cyclists here in Manhattan as the MTA announced they will be waiving bike fees and permit requirements so cyclists can bring bikes on commuter trains hassle-free. The MTA also announced that it will designate weekend Metro-North and Long Island Railroad trains as “Bicycle Trains” to allow cyclists to escape the city for rides on The Island or in the Hudson Valley. This news comes just in time for New York’s most beautiful season. The only thing you need is a bike, a place to store your bike, some spare time, and maybe a Strava account to show off to your friends. 

But, for newcomers to the city, finding the right shop to buy a new bike or bring in your old one for repairs can be daunting. Fortunately, there are plenty of bike shops across the city that provide bikes for purchase, rent, or repair. 

Here are the best bike shops in the city:

Bicycle Habitat

Address: 228 7th Ave, New York

Bicycle Habitat in Chelsea is the city’s second-largest bike shop. It was founded in 1978 and specializes in bikes for commuting and recreation, offering well over 200 fully assembled models for your enjoyment. Bicycle Habitat also has several mechanics on hand for free brake and gear adjustments any time you need them. Their employees are extremely friendly, and most of the bikes are reasonably priced, which can be hard to find in the Big Apple. One thing to note is that Bicycle Habitat does not sell any used bikes or components, so you should plan your budget accordingly. 

Frank’s Bike Shop

Address: 553 Grand St, New York

This is an old-school joint that’s well worth the visit. Frank knows basically everything there is to know about fixing and optimizing bikes. He can instantly spot what’s wrong with your ride and have it back on the streets in no time. Better yet, Frank makes sure you get the best price for your bikes and offers a wide variety of inventory, ranging from high-end models to discount-priced ride-abouts. 

Echelon Cycles

Address: 151 West 19th Street

This is just a great store with a wide variety of options – nothing fancy but enough to meet everyone’s needs. It’s a comfy place with a welcoming staff that makes you feel at home the minute you walk through the door. Make sure to stop by Echelon Cycles if you are looking to get involved in the NYC bicycle scene. 

Toga Bike Shop

Address: 110 West End Ave, New York

Toga is one of the most iconic bike shops in the city. It’s the oldest and largest bike shop in the five boroughs and has been running since 1967. Toga is consistently voted as one of the top 100 bicycle stores in the U.S and has an extremely friendly staff with a reputation for their expertise and quick repair jobs. The shop has one of the most exotic bike selections in the city, offering a selection of road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, triathlon bikes, and even some downhill bikes. To complement its large inventory, Toga has a wide variety of accessories and bicycle clothing for everyone from commuters to seasoned professionals. 

Bike Works NYC

Address: 27 Broadway, Brooklyn

This shop has been operating for over 25 years and has a great reputation for expert repairs, friendly staff, and free tune-ups. If you’re looking for a mechanic to fix the gnarliest bike problems, then Bike Works is the place to visit. They also have a decent selection of new bikes with the majority being fixed-gear or road bikes. 

Recycle a Bike

Address: 858 Fulton St, Brooklyn

Recycle a bike has one of the best selections of used bikes if you want something less pricey that already has some miles on it. This community-based bike shop offers everything from full-service repairs to sales of refurbished bikes. Recycle a Bike also provides job training, bicycle education, and environmental stewardship, and has become a community hub for exercise and everyday bicycle use. If you want to give back to the community and become more involved in the local bike scene, Recycle a Bike may be the place for you!

Now, Get out And Ride

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what bike shop you choose as long as you get yourself a bike and get out there to enjoy the views, fresh air, and exercise! Use the new MTA rules and visit Storm King or the Hudson Valley in all its glorious fall colors. 

The post The Five Best Bike Shops in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

It’s certainly one possible explanation why 13th avenue in Manhattan no longer exists. 

Jokes aside, anyone who has visited New York City knows that there are twelve avenues that run longitudinally across the island of Manhattan. But, few people realize that, for well over 150 years, there was a 13th avenue on the island. 

Even in recent years, as the last remnants of this historical stretch of road were being turned into a state-of-the-art park (just a few yards from the greenway), it garnered little public attention.

It’s time that New Yorkers become aware of the glorious rise and demise of New York City’s shortest avenue. 

The History of 13th avenue

13th avenue was created in 1837, as city planners envisioned it extending all the way up to 135th Street. However, that never came to be. At its longest, the finished avenue ran for 15 short blocks, starting at West 11th and ending at 25th.

The avenue was built with dirt, debris, and garbage excavated from other building sites in Manhattan which were then dumped into the Hudson River to form the road’s foundation. 

Dumping of debris into the Hudson River was made possible because of a change in the law, allowing New York State to purchase plots of “land” under the river and use debris, dirt, and trash to expand the Island. As soon as the bill was passed, developers and investors began buying, selling, and exchanging these plots of land with grand goals of future developments, buildings, and infrastructure. In just a few years, 13th avenue ran for over ten blocks. 

Soon, many businesses had sprung up along 13th avenue, including shipping yards, lumber stores, cheap apartments, and saloons. By all accounts, the men who worked in this part of town were far from civilized. Reporters at the Times were quick to cover 13th avenue development, documenting the “deeper mud holes” found on the avenue, and the “dreary waste” of poor immigrants and dockworkers who lived along the avenue. 

With easy access to piers along the river, 13th avenue was a busy hub for business during the day, but at night it turned into a squalid sordid mess that law enforcement officials were fearful to enter. Saloons and bars in the area gained a reputation for their common brawls, dirty atmosphere, and occasional murders. 

At the end of the century, 13th Avenue’s era of growth and prosperity ended just years after it started. The city realized that it needed to create piers large enough to house the latest invention in travel: steamships (think the Titanic and Lusitania). So officials decided to remove the landfill that was 13th avenue and begin constructing Chelsea Piers. 

However, the city did not condemn one section of 13th avenue that was home to the West Washington Market, creating a small peninsula that jutted out into the river. The market slowly died out several decades later, and the peninsula became known as the Gansevoort Peninsula.

13th Avenue in the 20th century

For much of the 20th and 21st centuries, only a small sliver of 13th avenue remained. The peninsula was closed to the public, housing a variety of facilities for the sanitation market. During the Bloomberg era, there were plans to turn the small strip of land into Manhattan’s collection point for waste. The location was ideal, with easy barge access, but the plans never manifested. Instead, Gansevoort Peninsula slowly grew more dilapidated each year.  

13th Avenue Rises From the Ashes

That all changed when the Hudson River Park Trust proposed turning the Gansevoort Peninsula into a park with a “rocky shoreline,” “play lawn,” and Manhattan’s first public beach. Construction has already begun on the $70 million 5.5-acre park, and New York City’s residents eagerly await its opening in 2023. Sadly, this means the destruction of the last remaining section of 13th avenue. 

The park will include a sandy beach area, kayak access, a salt marsh for wildlife, a dog run, lounge chairs, and picnic tables. The park’s easy access to the greenway, Chelsea Piers, Pier 40, and the vibrant neighborhoods of Manhattan make it the perfect spot for meeting friends, playing sports on the field, or just enjoying time outdoors. 

The Whitney Museum of American Art is constructing a sculpture by David Hammons, one of the country’s largest public art projects!

So if you are looking for housing in and around Chelsea, don’t forget that New York City will open one of its most exciting parks to date in the space of a few two short years. 

Real estate prices near Gansevoort Peninsula are already on the rise, so don’t wait too long to bet on the future of this exciting city. 

The post 13th Avenue: NYC’s Shortest Avenue appeared first on CitySignal.

Buying a new apartment in New York City is always an exciting experience. Maybe you’ve found the perfect spot, in the right neighborhood, but there’s one final hurdle you need to clear before closing the deal. That’s passing the co-op board interview.

With 75 percent of Manhattan real estate inventory found in co-ops, the dreaded co-op board interview has become a right of passage for apartment seekers in New York City. The interview is the board’s first chance to meet you and see for themselves if you are a fit for their apartment. It is also, one of the most stressful parts of closing that perfect apartment you’ve been dreaming of.

When it comes to board interviews, there’s no standard procedure or set list of questions. They’re often a free-for-all, covering everything from your finances, hobbies, political beliefs, and past history with the law. Some interviews are amicable, others are curt and direct, all are tense and life-changing.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what used to be a face-to-face interview process, has largely shifted online. This makes scheduling meetings more convenient for both you and the board but comes with its own set of unique challenges.

Before you can pick up those keys and call the apartment home, you have to pass this interview. While no guide can prepare you for the range of questions and dreadful experience of a board interview, here are several ways that you can prepare.

7 Essential Tips To Pass Your Board Interview

The co-op interview’s purpose and scope vary widely depending on which board you come up against, but there are general rules that hold true no matter what situation you find yourself in.

1. Dress Appropriately

You should dress appropriately for your board interview. You should wear business casual that is tidy, respectable, but not too formal. The board interview is a chance for your future neighbors to get to know you and if you overdress it may appear tacky and have the opposite effect than what you imagined.

2. Clean up your online profile

This one hardly needs saying these days, but it’s always worth a reminder. If your social media is filled with pictures of wild parties and celebrations, consider archiving those posts to appeal to your future neighbors. Also, do your best to remove politically charged statements that might rub the board the wrong way. No one wants a staunch radical in their building evangelizing their political beliefs on everyone else.

3. Prepare For Personal Questions

Board interviews are notorious for their personal interrogations of applicants so get ready to be grilled about the details of your life. The board is trying to determine if you will be a good neighbor or not, so do your best to portray the best side of yourself. But remember, be truthful. If the board thinks you are lying to them, then your application is as good as gone. Some examples of personal questions may include questions about your hobbies, your social life, whether or not you work from home, etc.

4. Do NOT Over-Share

Answer the questions directly and accurately but don’t provide additional information unless called upon. Everyone there probably wants to get the interview done with and the last thing they want to hear is a tangential story about something that happened years ago. We recommend keeping your answers brief and to the point but cordial and friendly.

5. Refrain From Asking Irrelevant Questions

This is mostly the co-op board’s chance to ask questions, not yours. Some board members will find your questions disrespectful and a waste of time. However, it is always good to come with a few questions prepared just in case you are asked. Make sure that the questions are relevant and show your desire to fit into the community and be a good neighbor. Don’t take this time, however, to ask irrelevant questions or make negative comments about the building. The last thing you want is for the board members interviewing you to feel insulted.

6. Familiarize Yourself With Online Meetings

With the majority of board meetings now taking place online, you should troubleshoot your system to make sure that you are fully prepared for the interview. Make sure you know how to use the platform (mute/unmute), have a suitable background (don’t show off your dirty laundry pile behind you), implement desirable lighting, pick out a flattering camera angle, and make sure the kids aren’t making too much noise in the background. Yes, all of this might seem like a lot to figure out ahead of time, but believe me, it’s worth it!

7. Prepare For The Interview Questions

As with any interview, preparation goes a long way. In a board interview, pretty much everything is fair game. You will likely be asked about your finances, how hard you like to party, and in some extreme cases whether or not you plan on having another child! Though most boards these days will refrain from doing so as it could be labeled as housing discrimination.

Similarly, there are softball questions that you should be able to hit out of the park. These include “What made you choose this co-op building?” and “Why do you want to live in this neighborhood?”. Make sure you have a compelling answer that shows your interest in the co-op and the area that it is situated in. The board members will more than likely want to opt for someone who shows interest in their building and community.

Final Thoughts

If anything catches you off guard and you have not prepared, just be honest with the board. Being honest and direct will serve you well as all the board is trying to do is figure out whether or not you will be a good tenant in the future. Besides, if you do pass the interview, this will ensure that your neighbors trust and like you.

The post How To Prepare For a Co-op Board Interview appeared first on CitySignal.

The question is a simple one: What’s the best bagel in New York?

It turns out, this question is important for everyone in the city, from obnoxious tourists to crusty New York natives. People come to New York City, home of the best bagels in the world, and want to know what the deal is.

But why is this such a difficult question? After all, a bagel is just some boiled dough and schmear. So making a good bagel should be easy to do, right?

Quite the opposite.

We’re going to stop you right here. We want you to join our journey of finding the best bagel in NYC, but if you only have time for a New York minute, scroll to the bottom for the ultimate decision as to who has the best bagel in NYC.

Anyone who has spent time in the city knows that finding the best bagel is not that simple.

Every New Yorker I’ve talked to has deeply held opinions about what the best bagel is, whether or not it should be toasted, and what should go on/in it.

Order the wrong bagel and risk ridicule and shame from those closest to you!

In truth, creating a perfect bagel is as much an art form as it is a science – one that goes back decades for some of the storied bagel shops found on New York’s streets.

From the preparation of the dough to the water used for boiling the bagels, each minute detail is of critical importance to the true bagel connoisseur.

A Debate For the Ages

New Yorkers have been debating this question since bagels were first brought to the city in the 19th century. The subjective nature of what makes a great bagel is as much a part of this tradition as the bagel’s history. Everything including what goes on top or between a bagel is fair game as far as new yorkers are concerned.

That said, there are some aspects that all new yorkers can agree upon. A true bagel should be crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. But exactly how crisp or how chewy?

For the average Joe, like yourself, the hardest part of the debate is discovering what bagel you like the most.

That’s exactly what Zack did.

In the midst of all the opinions, debate, and questions about New York’s best bagel, Zack decided to answer the question for himself.

He had recently moved to New York and was tired of being told over and over again that he was not eating the best bagel in town.

So he decided to figure things out himself and devised a game-plan with his friend.

The plan was simple: simultaneously order the same bagel at two different shops and then compare the two bagels side by side.

That day, the bagel bracket was born.

To accomplish this task, Zack created a giant map of every supposedly decent bagel shop in the city and started taste testing.

What followed was a summer-long saga, taking the two friends across the city, eating dozens of bagels as they went.

Each Saturday and Sunday the two of them worked towards answering the all-important bagel question.

To make the taste test easy, they always ordered the same bagel at each shop: Sesame Seed Bagel Toasted with Regular Cream Cheese, Lox, Lettuce, and Tomato.

While this might not be the most orthodox order, Zack realized that if he was going to eat over one hundred bagels that summer, he might as well stick with his favorite combo.

Similarly, a toasted bagel might not be the “true” New York style, but Zack wasn’t just looking for the best bagel. He was tired of poor service and burnt bagels on his way to work, so he wanted to make sure that the winning bagel shop would not only have the best bagel but also the best customer service.

Narrowing down the field from the many shops, Zack settled on 16 contenders with solid reputations and fantastic Yelp reviews.

Absolute Bagels

Absolute Bagels is one of the most popular bagels in the city with lines stretching around the block on weekends. While the storefront may be considered slightly drab and boring, the wide variety of kid-oriented, colorful, and sweet spreads makes up for that. Absolute also serves a delicious Tofutti spread for anyone who is lactose intolerant.

Ess-A-Bagel

Widely considered to serve one of the best bagels in Midtown, Ess-A-Bagel has a reputation for its long, but quick-moving lines. Founded in 1976, this iconic bagel shop has a wide selection of savory salads and smoked fish allowing you to put anything you choose on your bagel! They also now have a location in DUMBO.

Tompkins Square Bagels

Known for its massive customizable bagels, Tompkins Square Bagels is a fan favorite. Their wide variety of spreads, schmears, and toppings allows you to create whatever bagel you may want.

Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company

A rapidly growing chain, Brooklyn Bagels has just opened a 5th location and judging on their popularity will open more bagel shops soon! Offering a breakfast and lunch selection that goes well beyond bagels, Brooklyn Bagel is a great spot to grab a later breakfast or lunch. And, of course, their coffee is great.

Best Bagel & Coffee Company

This small but delicious bagel shop is right by Times Square which can result in long lines of tourists and sight see-ers coming to check out what a New York bagel is like. Best Bagel has one of the highest Yelp ratings in the city with thousands of perfect scores across the board.

Tal Bagels

Tal Bagels is known for their plain untoasted New York bagel which stands out among competitors who are jumping on the latest trends. Tal Bagels is widely considered to be one of the best New York-style bagels in the city.

H&H Midtown Bagels East

Making bagels in Manhattan since 1972, H&H is a cultural icon in New York City lore. Featured in both Seinfeld and Sex & The City, H&H crafts one of the best New York bagels in town. Sadly, H&H is no longer owned by its famous founding family, but its legacy lives on.

Black Seed Bagels

Black Seed bagels are not true New York style, but that doesn’t matter if you are trying to find what bagel you like the most. They are actually a blend of Montreal-style bagels and New York-style bagels. This means, that Black Seed Bagels offers you a culinary experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

Bagels & Schmear

As you may have guessed from the name, this shop focuses on the two most important ingredients to a New York bagel: the bagel and the schmear. With great scores from food critics and Yelp, this spot maintains the legacy of the old-time bagel joints.

Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish

Anyone who reads reviews about Zucker’s will see words like “delicious” and “amazing” over and over again. Zucker’s is known for its high-quality smoked fish, offering a wide variety of different kinds.

David’s Bagels

David’s bagels are known for being large and plush, with the perfect New York texture. No matter the weather or the humidity, bagels at David’s never seem to be under or over-baked.

Pick A Bagel

Sometimes chain bagel shops get a bad name but don’t let that happen for Pick A Bagel. Their customer reviews show that they have remained true to their methods and that each location produces fantastic bagels.

Leo’s Bagels

A favorite of Wall Street, Leo’s Bagels knows how to make a classic New York bagel. Complete with a wide variety of spreads, lox, and lactose intolerant options, Leo’s makes sure their customers are taken care of.

Murray’s Bagel

In the business of making great bagels for over 25 years, Murray’s is a perennial top-ten bagel spot in the city. Close to the Highline, their location is perfect for a quick breakfast before one of the city’s most scenic walks.

Russ & Daughters

Founded in 1914, this classic family-owned shop is the most “appetizing” store in town. They boast one of the best varieties of spreads, smoked fish, savory salads, and much more. If you are looking for a quintessential New York bagel experience, look no farther than Russ & Daughters.

Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys

Over the last 80 years, Kossar’s has consistently served delicious bagels and bialys. An iconic kitchen that has kept its spirit from decades gone by, this spot is a classic in the New York bagel game.

Once Zack had picked the 16 shops, each was then paired with another based on location and ease of access.

For each round, Zack and his friend would head to the two bagel shops, order a Lox bagel and then meet in a central location to perform the taste test. This ensured that neither bagel had the advantage of being warmer or fresher than the other one.

As the bracket progressed, the trips became longer, often including long treks on the subway and even longer lines waiting to order. But that didn’t matter, what mattered was finding a winner for the bracket.

Zack took detailed notes in real-time. No detail was too small or aspect unimportant to be included.

Match 1: Tal Bagels Vs. Tompkins Square Bagels

The loser: Tal Bagels — Not great quality bagel (chewier). Bagel-to-filling ratio not as good (smaller bagel with more in it).

The winner: Tompkins Square Bagels — More consistent fill. Great quality bagel

Match 2: Black Seed Bagels Vs. Ess-A-Bagel

The loser: Black Seed Bagels — Very small. Little cream cheese. Very doughy. Great iceberg lettuce.

The winner: Ess-A-Bagel — Large. Solid crunch. Two layers of cream cheese.

Match 3: Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company Vs. Best Bagel & Coffee

The loser: Best Bagel & Coffee — Huge line out the door at 9 AM on Saturday. Two Layers of cream cheese. Huge, heavy, and an indented bagel with a weird curved shape. Lots of lox. More chewy/doughy.

The winner: Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company — Great crunch. Not as chewy. Tastes more sesame. Not overstuffed. Great quality.

Match 4: H&H Midtown Bagels East Vs. Absolute Bagels

The winner: Absolute Bagels — Didn’t ask if we wanted it toasted. Put onions instead of lettuce. Good texture and good crunch. Very no shits place run by all Thai people

The loser:  H&H Midtown Bagels East — Weird taste. Tastes like bread. No crunch. Very bougie.

Match 5: Bagels & Schmear Vs. Zuckers Bagels & Smoked Fish

The loser: Bagels & Schmear — Came with coleslaw and pickles side. Overloaded with cream cheese that was globbed all in one place, should have been double layer for better distribution. Romaine lettuce. Bagel had no crunch and was too chewy. Contents fall all over the place when you try to eat it.

The winner: Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish — Two layers of cream cheese. Iceberg lettuce. Harder shell, but the inside is still a little too chewy. Thicker overall bagel sandwich.

Match 6: Leo’s Bagels Vs. Pick-A-Bagel

The winner: Pick-A-Bagel — Hard outer shell results in great crunch. Soft inside. Not too much of any ingredient. Not too hard, not too chewy. Great coffee.

The loser: Leo’s Bagels — Huge overstuffed bagel with lots of lox, lettuce, and double cream cheese layers. Sweeter bagel with more sesame flavor, but not evenly cut. Good crunch, but a little too chewy. Very long and slow low line.

Match 7: Murray’s Bagels Vs. David’s Bagels

The loser: Murray’s Bagels — A ton of lox. 2 layers of cream cheese.  Overstuffed. A little chewier. Burnt.

The winner: David’s Bagels — Cheaper bagels (10$). Unassuming place. 2 layers of cream cheese. Bigger bagel resulting in more equal bagel to topping ratio. Solid crunch, but burnt.

Match 8: Russ & Daughters Vs. Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys

The winner: Russ & Daughters — Oddly quiet in packed store made it extremely uncomfortable. Pull a number and have to wait to be seen. Bagels are hand-rolled and boiled, like absolute bagels. They didn’t have any lettuce because of the CDC recall on Romaine lettuce. The bagel was tiny and had very few sesame seeds, but it was thick and had a solid crunch. It was also a little chewy, but not too bad. The lox tasted very fresh as well, and there was not too much cream cheese (it still had 2 layers of cream cheese) resulting in a good bagel-to-topping ratio. Expensive ($15)

The loser: Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys — Nice little bagel spot with a very nice staff and a few tables. They also offered samples of some of the cookies that they offer. The bagel was a little too flat and thin and looked a little more like bread than a bagel should. It had a crunchy outside, but it was so thin that was more like a flagel than a bagel. It did have a great sesame flavor though. Pretty cheap also ($10).

Quarter-Finals:

Match 9: Tompkins Square Bagels Vs. Ess-A-Bagel

The winner: Ess-A-Bagel — Very Long Line. Expensive (~15$). Much smaller and more circular. 2 layers of cream cheese. More aesthetically pleasing. No crunch, but solid outer layer. Not too chewy. Good proportion of ingredients. Much more fishy (more lox). More flavor in bagel (more bagel-y, less bready).

The loser: Tompkins Square Bagels — Very efficient place. Cheaper (~11$). 2 layers of cream cheese. Good amount of lettuce, but distributed unevenly. Not as well put together bagel. Decent crunch, not too chewy. Taste varies from bite to bite. Some are better bites than Ess-a-Bagel (when you get everything together) but some are worse (when you only get some ingredients).

Match 10: Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company Vs. Absolute Bagels

The winner: Absolute Bagels — Line way out the door. Much smaller. Erroneously added onion. Good crunch. Not a lot of lettuce.

The loser: Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company — Double-layer cream cheese was a little too much. A little too chewy. More sesame flavor.

Match 11: Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish Vs. Pick-A-Bagel

The loser: Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish — Much taller/thicker bagel with a ton of sesame seeds. A ton of cream cheese all in 1 later, resulting in large cream cheese clumps. Really chewy and bready with less of a crunch. Seed tasters in store.

The winner: Pick-A-Bagel — No lettuce because of CDC recall. Super hard shell, but the inside was very thin and a little too hard. A ton of lox, resulting in the lox going all over the place when bitten. Really good-looking pastries in store.

Match 12: David’s Bagels Vs. Russ & Daughters

The winner: David’s Bagels — Much bigger. 2 layers of cream cheese. Outside was not quite as hard and inside was more chewy, but had a solid crunch to chew ratio. Didn’t toast.

The loser: Russ & Daughters — Free lox sample. Tiny. A little overstuffed (2 layers of cream cheese & a lot of lox). Great crunch to chew ratio (great crunch with harder outside & solid chew). No lettuce. 2 layers of wrapping.

Semi-Finals:

Match 13: Ess-a-Bagel Vs. Absolute Bagel

The loser: Ess-A-Bagel — Not even bagel halves. Flatter bagels. Double cream cheese layer. Not as much crunch (doughier). A little too much cream cheese.

The winner: Absolute Bagel — Double cream cheese layer. Much crunchier.

Match 14: Pick-A-Bagel Vs. David’s Bagels

The loser: Pick-A-Bagel — Not evenly cut. All the toppings coming out of the back/not evenly distributed. Had an outer shell, it didn’t have too much of a crunch.

The winner: David’s Bagels — Too much cream cheese globbed on in double layers. A little burnt back. Not much lox. Better crunch.

The Finals

Match 15: Absolute Bagels Vs. David’s Bagels

The runner-up: Absolute Bagels — Very crunchy outside. Very chewy inside (a little too much). Less lox. Not as much of a sesame flavor. Double cream cheese layer.

The overall winner: David’s Bagels — A little less of a crunch on the outside, but also not quite as chewy inside. Way more lox. More of a sesame taste. Double cream cheese layer.

Want to be more like a New Yorker? Check out all our Insider’s Guides to fool all the locals.

The post Best Bagel in NYC? Two Friends Set Out On A Quest appeared first on CitySignal.

It’s that jolt of caffeine setting the cogs of our brains in motion. 

For all these reasons and more, having the right coffee shop near your apartment is essential.

For most of the country, that’s a Starbucks: fast, efficient, and no surprises. In fact, there’s a phenomenon in real estate called the “Starbucks Effect” whereby housing prices increase the closer they are to one of the chain’s locations. 

Like it or not, coffee shops (or lack thereof) have a large impact on their neighborhood and its real estate market.

However, here in New York, the best coffee is not found in mugs with a green siren on the side. Old-time New Yorkers know that the coffee to buy is found in cups with blue and gold greek lettering on the side. 

It even has a special name:  the “Anthora”. For years, the blue, gold, and white cup has been a symbol of the city’s fast-paced hardworking culture. Besides, there’s something inherently heartwarming in the words “WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU” which are emblazoned on the side of each cup. 

It’s how we prefer our “cup o’ joe” in the mornings – a bagel in one hand and a coffee in the other.  That’s why you’ll see the Anthora celebrated widely across the city, from local bodegas and gift shops to classic shows like The Sopranos and Seinfeld. 

How The Anthora Came To Be:

The history of the Anthora starts in the late 1800s with a surge of Greek immigrants to New York City. This demographic shift was followed by a wave of Greek-owned coffee shops and carts springing up across the city, igniting a love of coffee in many. 

The Anthora was officially introduced to New York in 1963. Leslie Buck, a Czech-American immigrant designed the first-ever “to-go” coffee cup in an attempt to attract the over 600 Greek-owned coffee shops in NYC. It was a genius marketing decision. 

A scrappy, hardworking hustler, Leslie was the best person to introduce this coffee cup to the market. He had survived both Auschwitz and Buchenwald, while his parents and other family members tragically did not. Seeking a new life, he arrived in NYC and Americanized his name from the Czech, Laszlo Büch. 

In the early ’60s, Leslie became the director of marketing for Sherri Cup, a leading cup manufacturer. In this role, he designed the iconic coffee cup, for which he is remembered today. 

To find product-market fit, Leslie did extensive research on Greek culture before carefully tailoring the cup’s design to thrive in the NYC market. The name “Anthora” is Leslie’s mispronunciation of the Greco-Roman word “amphora” – an ancient container used for carrying liquids (you can see a picture of an amphora on each cup). The blue, white, and gold colors are a tribute to the Greek flag and the font is in Athenian lettering, both chosen to appeal to New York’s Greek population. 

In the years after its release, the coffee cup became a New York City Icon. Sales skyrocketed. In 1994 sales hit an all-time high when Sherri sold upwards of 500 million cups. The Anthora began appearing in movies and television shows. In 2003, MOMA designed a ceramic version of the cup which they still sell in their gift store today. 

Then, in 2005, with cup sales averaging around 200 million a year, Sherri was bought by Solo Cup Company. This decline in sales was due in large part to the influx of chains like Starbucks and other minority restaurants moving into the city. 

The following year, Solo Cup made the decision to end the large-scale distribution of the Anthora, choosing to generate revenue by selling licenses to restaurants and souvenir stores. 

Fortunately, things changed for the Anthora cup in 2015. The Dart Container Company, the owner of the cup, brought it back to New York City. They offered two different sizes of cups, the 8 oz, and the 10 oz, both of which can still be purchased in batches of 1000. 

It’s 2022, can I still find an Anthora?

Given the decline in Anthora sales and the growth of Starbucks and other coffee retailers, the blue and gold cup is far less common than it was 25 years ago. Ironically, one of the most reliable ways to find an Anthora is to look in the gift section of myriad shops across the city. Additionally, many coffee shops use much cheaper knock-offs with subtle changes to the iconic design to hoodwink tourists. However, if you take the time to explore the city and try its local coffee scene it’s possible to find the real Anthora.

If you have the chance to drink your morning coffee from an Anthora, then make sure you take it. Support local businesses, actively participate in your neighborhood, and experience true New York City culture.

The post Behind NYC’s Classic “Anthora” Coffee Cup appeared first on CitySignal.

Unfortunately, the blow to my wallet soon forced me back to reality.  At one point I took on two side gigs: refereeing soccer games on the weekend and answering obnoxious tourists’ questions at the NBA store three evenings a week.  Combined, it wasn’t nearly enough to live the lifestyle promised on Mad Men, Wolf of Wall Street, or even Friends and Seinfeld (how do struggling comedians or waitresses snag such large NYC apartments anyway).

So I did what many college students do in NYC. I became a dollar pizza aficionado. The greasy, floppy, sometimes cold, often chewy, and always 99 cents delicacy became my go-to for lunch and dinner.

It’s no secret that New York is home to the best “Dollar Slices” in the world. At almost every turn, there’s another shop tempting you with their 99 cent offer. The dollar slice is cheaper than a subway ride, more enjoyable, and more predictable!

Half of the allure is that dollar pizza is quick and easy. There’s no wait time and no tax to create that annoying spare change. Just hand over the dollar bill, take the pizza, and eat it.

After a little digging, I found out that dollar pizza has only become popular in the last 15 years. Around the time of the financial crisis of 2008, many New Yorkers were left looking for more economical lunches. The easy solution was the dollar slice pizza shops. Affordable, tasty (most of the time), and quick, the shops were designed for success on New York’s streets. As a result, the dollar slice exploded.

In the years following, both the city and country have rebounded. Sadly this means that inflation has taken solid aim at many of the dollar slice shops across town. This past year has hit them especially hard. A brutal lockdowns of the pandemic followed by the highest rate of inflation we’ve seen in years has forced many dollar slice joints to close.

Walking the streets, visitors now see signs with the $1.00 crossed out in favor of higher prices.

So, while the dollar slice still exists on the streets of Manhattan, make sure you at least give it a try.

Here are five of my favorite dollar pizza joints in the city:

(Pro tip: most shops will only accept cash so make sure you are prepared!)

2 Bros Pizza — 32 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

This is one of the most famous dollar slices in the city. Everyone who stops by 2 Bros loves their fantastic crust which has its own unique texture and flavor. With a diverse selection of toppings and cheese, 2 bros should be your first stop if you are looking for a quintessential dollar slice.

NY Fresh Pizza — 787 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

NY Fresh Pizza lives up to its name with fresh pizza until late in the evening. Its Yelp reviews include “best dollar slice” “surprisingly tasty” and “not bad,” which are all incredible reviews considering that the pizza costs far less than a subway ride.

99 Cent Fresh Pizza — 1723 Broadway, New York, NY 10019

With plenty of cheese and a wide selection of toppings, this is an elite dollar slice shop. 99 Cent’s original location was near Port Authority Bus Terminal — the traditional spot for dollar slice joints. In recent years, they have expanded into other parts of Manhattan meaning that you don’t have to go far to find some of 99 Cent’s delicious pizza.

Percy’s — 190 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

Often packed with hungry NYU students, Percy’s is located in the heart of the West Village. It’s become a popular spot for young people to socialize after an evening out on the town. At the same time, the pizza here is exceptionally tasty. If you’re in the neighborhood and fancy a slice, just stop by, it’s only a dollar!

East Village Pizza — 145 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

While this spot is no longer serving dollar slices, it is too good not to include them on the list.  In life, we must cherish our occasional splurges — in this case, trust us when we say it’s worth the extra $3.35 (for the ballers out there,  80 more cents gets you pepperoni)! Nestled in the heart of the East Village, this is some of the best New York Style pizza around. Stop by for some of the real deal pizza. Yelp reviews include some of the highest accolades possible: “this pizza was AMAZING,”  “it was well worth it,” and “This is the best-drunk pizza you’ll ever eat”.

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