I used to be baffled whenever I’d walk by tacky theme restaurants like the Jekyll and Hyde Club or the Slaughtered Lamb Pub in the Village. You’d expect to find them […]
The Pirate’s Den at 8 Christopher Street
Steve Madeja
My name is Steve, and I’m an animator and licensed New York City tour guide. I’m a sucker for dive bars, used bookstores, Tom Waits, and New York City history. When not giving tours, you can usually find me hanging out at home in Harlem with my wife and 2-year-old puppy, Shaggy. I’d love to hear your comments and feedback, especially if you have a lead on a good bit of trivia. Feel free to e-mail me at secretsofmanhattan@gmail.com.
The Hell Hole at West 4th Street and 6th Avenue
LARRY SLADE: “What’s it matter if the truth is that their favoring breeze has the stink of nickel whiskey on its breath, and their sea is a growler of lager and ale, […]
The Jewish Forward at 175 East Broadway
If you’ve ever got a little free time in Chinatown, take a stroll towards the East Broadway F stop and look for a regal, 10-story Beaux Arts building of yellow brick and […]
The New Victory Theater at 209 West 42nd Street
If you’re looking for family-friendly fare near Times Square, you can’t beat the New Victory, one of the oldest theaters in New York City. You can recognize it by its sweeping staircase, […]
Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park
Pop quiz: What is the oldest outdoor structure in Manhattan? Give up? If you guessed some old British farmhouse or Dutch graveyard, you’d be off by a couple millenia. The oldest structure […]
The Stage Door Canteen at 216 West 44th Street
At first glance, the horror-themed restaurant at 216 West 44th Street looks like everything wrong with Times Square. The Jekyll and Hyde Club is tacky, noisy, crowded, overpriced, and packed with tourists. […]
Thank God It’s Friday at 63rd Street and 1st Ave
What’s happening, cats? Hope you’re ready to flip your wigs because today’s post is a real gas. The year is 1965. The sexual revolution is in full swing, nearly 6.5 million Americans […]
The Manhattan Well Murder at 129 Spring Street
On the night of December 22nd, 1799, a beautiful young woman named Elma Sands left her cousin’s boarding house dressed in her finest coat and fur muff. The next morning, she had […]
“But Five Lives to Lose for my Country”: The Many Deaths of Nathan Hale
It was a warm autumn morning when Nathan Hale awoke to face his execution. Just weeks before, the British had taken New York City, and General Washington was desperate for useful intelligence. […]
BLOCK PARTY: 2nd Avenue between St. Mark’s Place and 9th Street
Hey guys! It’s another Block Party, where we explore the rich history of a single Manhattan block. We’re going to take a look at one of my favorite blocks in New York – […]
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