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| Subject | Date Asked |
| street grid | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: why are 14, 23, 24, 42 etc streets wider, instead of, say 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, etc... A: Sam, The original layout of the streets of Manhattan above Houston Street was devised by the ... | |
| NYC Buildings | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: Which buildings in NYC use solar panels? A: Alice, Great question. If there is a person who can give you an up-to-date list of all the ... | |
| How many public phone boxes in the USA | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm working on a project and it is important for me to approximate how many items I will require. ... A: Dave, Some full-size outdoor phone booths are still around in Manhattan. There are 2 or 3 and 2 of ... | |
| History of the name of Moore Street in NYC | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Could you tell me for whom Moore Street in New York City was named? A: Moore Street Before landfill changed the shape of Manhattan, Moore Street was the location where ... | |
| Perry Street NYC | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: What is the origin of the name Perry Street. in West Village, New York City? A: Cindy, It was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, who commanded the U.S. fleet in the Battle ... | |
| Manhattan Street Names Ending in Place | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: How many Manhattan street names end with the word "place" (eg st mark's place)? If very few can you ... A: Ethan, My guess is about 40 and here we go: Battery Ericsson Exchange Florence Park Trimble ... | |
| The Big Apple | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: My partner and I are travelling to New York from the 2nd to 7th July of this year and we really ... A: Megan, You asked a bunch of questions and here are my answers: 1) You can purchase tickets at the ... | |
| Egg creams | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Not sure if this is in your area of expertise, but there seems to be some discrepancy in how to make ... A: New York's (Brooklyn's) Famous Egg Cream 1 cup milk Sparkling seltzer water About 2 tablespoons ... | |
| Columbia Oval | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: The first ever American Marathon (1896) ended at a stadium called the Columbia Oval, often described ... A: Hugh, I found two articles on the web which explain where it was and that it was auctioned off and ... | |
| Horse Racing in NYC/Staten Island | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: is there a lot of horse racing or betting in NYC? Not that I'm interested in that stuff; it's ... A: William, The NYRA (NY Racing Association) would have specific answers to all of your racing ... | |
| Bronx Street | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: John, I would appreciate your help if possible please. In October 1901 my great uncle came from UK ... A: Sue, This may require searching many old maps. The Bronx Borough Historian should help with this ... | |
| Lighthouse | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: On the highway that goes past the new & old Yankee Stadiums, there is a brown building on a corner ... A: Marie, Here's the detailed story: In 1885, Halsey William Wilson was an enterprising young man ... | |
| Staten Island | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: I know this may be a bit out of your field, but i'm trying to identify the setting for the "Grounded ... A: William: Originally known as "Factoryville," Islanders now commonly refer to the area as West ... | |
| NYC Warehouses | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm a writer in the midst of creating a short story that will be based in New York City. I don't ... A: William, Yes, there are deserted warehouses! I will give you the perfect location. It is the "Long ... | |
| Street names | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: What are all of the street names in New York City? A: Shayla, There are too many names to list here. Starting with Manhattan, I suggest that you get a ... | |
| Famous Blues Guitarists | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: Have there been any famous bluse guitarists from New York State? A: Adam: That is a very interesting question. I am a NYC trivia expert, but would like to try to help ... | |
| Underhill Ave & Hector Pl. | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I recently acquired a porcelain street sign with iron frame and post top. It is from UNDERHILL AVE ... A: Matt, Two suggestions may get you an answer: 1) This web site holds tons of obscure NYC info, but ... | |
| the Commodore Theatre - Brooklyn | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to find photos of the Commodore Theatre - in willamsburg,Brooklyn. I can't find any ... A: William, A little searching on the internet can usually do the trick. After a 15 min search, I ... | |
| Grand Central Question | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about Grand Central Terminal, I hope you can help me. I read somewhere that there ... A: The tunnel network under the station and terminal complex wasn't built in fits and starts but all at ... | |
| 4th of July | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: John My friend and I will be in New York for a few days over fourth of july weekend this year. I ... A: Jane, Mostly the streets that are adjacent to the FDR Drive become closed because people view the ... | |
| Brooklyn mail addresses | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I hope I make sense when trying to explain this. Why does postal mail that is sent to and from ... A: Ryan, Remember that Brooklyn was at one time a city all of its own. Queens was really formed as a ... | |
| restaurants | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Approximately how many restaurants are there in NYC? Thank you. A: Today New York City has more than 18,000 eating establishments and yet new ones are setting ... | |
| TOURIST QUESTIONS | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: Barbieri I'm a 47 year old lifelong resident of the San Francisco bay area and will be spending my ... A: Dan, My first advice is...don't drive. Manhattan is not car-friendly. Secondly, Manhattan is ... | |
| nyc steampipes | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: what is the function of these steampipes during the summer, if they are used for heating? A: Most of the steam is used for heating and cooling. Steam used for heating flows from Con Edison's ... | |
| mew years eve | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on travelling with my family to New York this December and staying in times square ... A: Michelle, Times Square on New Years is very very intense. Most New Yorkers hate it and stay far ... | |
| mew years eve | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on travelling with my family to New York this December and staying in times square ... A: Michelle, A great hotel in the Times Square area is the QT Hotel. It has reasonable rates for ... | |
| South Greenfield, Brooklyn | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: The area near Ave. M and Ocean Ave. was once called South Greenfield. That would seem to indicate ... A: Andy, Your answer is in the Forgotten NY website! See below: South Greenfield, its name begs ... | |
| my neighborhood | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I recently moved into a place at Spring and Elizabeth and immediately fell in love with the ... A: Here are 3 great ones: ... | |
| immigration jails | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: Are there any immigration jails/detention centers in nyc? If so, where are they located? A: Indy, Try these: Varick Street Service Processing Center Varick Street SPC 201 Varick Street New ... | |
| Post Office Addresses | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: Why do the four non-Manhattan boroughs of New York City not have a New York, NY address with the US ... A: Joe, NY, NY has meant "New York County" (Manhattan)to postal employees. NYC is so big with so many ... | |
| neighborhoods | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: are there really any italians in the city, like mulberry street or old italian harlem. or in the ... A: Bobby, Little Italy was formed during the final decades of the nineteenth century when many ... | |
| Manhattan | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: i don't have a car and i want to travel by public transportation ( the closest to find near 42nd ... A: Jina, Both means of travel that I gave you are public transportation. As to which one is faster, ... | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I are both transplanted Brooklynites and love baseball. It's common for a World ... A: Amy, Impromptu motorcades formed on the streets and cars paraded down Fulton Avenue, dressed in ... | |
| Houses on Park Avenue | 9/9/2006 |
| Q: sir. Is this the only privately owned home on Park Avenue? The short story I'm creating would ... A: William, Park Ave. above Grand Central is mostly commercial and high-rise apartments. No such ... | |
| Houses on Park Avenue | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I'm in the process of writing a short story about a haunted house on or near Park Avenue and was ... A: William, I think that this is what you are looking for... ... | |
| Manhattan streets | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: Why are certain cross streets (34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd,etc) wider than others? I thought the street ... A: Andrew, The plan of numbered crosstown streets has survived for two centuries with only minor ... | |
| New York shopping | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: me and a very dear friend of mine are planning a trip to New York City. We've heard about the ... A: Antoinette, Canal Street is great for very cheap items such as bags, watches, clothes, etc. (many ... | |
| Nature in the City | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: I do not know if you can even answer this question, but I have lived in NYC for 2 years and I want ... A: Stella, What you crave is pretty common. Many people want to live in a home with a nice backyard, ... | |
| hotel and taxi in NY | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: I am an expert for Milan but I don’t know anything about New York! I would like to ask you few ... A: Francesca, The Milford Plaza is a similar hotel in the same area that is probably better. It is at ... | |
| to the bronx | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: ------------------------- IF I WANT TO TAKE THE SUBWAY SYSTEM FROM TIMES SQUARE OR PORT AUTHORITY ... A: Marie, BY SUBWAY- #4 or D train to Fordham Rd. Take #12 bus on Fordham Rd. (East) to Arthur Ave. ... | |
| NYC jails | 5/5/2006 |
| Q: Can you break down to me all the jails by borough A: There are many jails and prisons in New York City and New York State. Four boroughs each have a ... | |
| italian harlem | 5/4/2006 |
| Q: how many italians are left up in east harlem these days im going up to patsy pizzaria next week is ... A: BB, The Spanish Harlem of today was known as Italian Harlem until the 1950's. The area was once the ... | |
| Smokehouses | 4/25/2006 |
| Q: I am writing a freelance article on Old New York, and came across smokehouses and icehouses. I ... A: Tracey, Sounds interesting! Here's what I found: Smokehouse---- ... | |
| Brooklyn street name | 3/29/2006 |
| Q: John, I have noticed that one street in Brooklyn has 2 spellings - Beverley Road and Beverly Road. ... A: Allan, Great question! The spelling of Beverl(e)y Road depends on where you are. As it runs through ... | |
| bridges | 3/1/2006 |
| Q: Can you please break down all the bridges in NYC and their connection? I know of Man/Bk & they ... A: Alex, There are 2,027 bridges in New York City. Dept of Transportation's Division of Bridges is ... | |
| New York Geology | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: John; I have been unsuccesful in my recent research regarding New York City (or Long Island) that ... A: Keith, I hope that the following sites help you: ... | |
| history | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: I've heard that Fidel Castro lived in NYC, during the 1940's. Is this true? If so, do you know when ... A: Marie, I have heard of this "rumor", but am unsure if it is true.* Visit this site: ... | |
| area code | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: Can you please break down the NYC borough tele area codes for me? A: Alex, Manhattan customers: 212 and 917 area codes, while some new Manhattan residential and ... | |
| Help with my son classes | 1/30/2006 |
| Q: I would be very happy if you can help me. My son is 11 years old, we live in the upper east side of ... A: Hector, I'm an expert on NYC trivia, but I would like to help you. Try: ... | |
| Grand Central Station | 1/19/2006 |
| Q: Who owns Grand Central Station? A: Judy, Despite leaving the railroad business many years ago, American Financial Group (an insurance ... | |
| New York | 12/24/2005 |
| Q: Why is New York called 'The Big Apple' A: Jack, New York is called the Big Apple because in the 1920s a sportswriter for the Morning ... | |
| buy skateboard at 3am in manhattan | 12/18/2005 |
| Q: I just moved to NYC and had a random urge last night at 3am to buy a skateboard. I live in the ... A: Gabe, It's not a crazy request, but the demand for sporting goods at 3am, even in this town is ... | |
| New York Tid bits of infor | 11/11/2005 |
| Q: How many: manhole covers in each burough traffic lights in each burough A: Aaron, These are great questions. There are roughly 600,000 manhole covers in NYC. I don't have the ... | |
| Names | 10/5/2005 |
| Q: Where Did the name Subway come from? What's the most successful borough in business? Is it ... A: "Subway" is most commonly used in the United States and some parts of Canada, though the term is ... | |
| safety in the city | 9/9/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering how safe are neighborhoods like Soho and Tribeca? When I think of downtown(in any ... A: Danielle, The neighborhoods of Soho and Tribeca have recently become very fashionable and high ... | |
| NY Steak house | 7/21/2005 |
| Q: Presenting your stupid question of the day! I'm from the UK and saw a programme where a English TV ... A: Pete, When Ground Force was looking for a project to show support of the beleaguered citizens of ... | |
| Lower East Side/Urban legend | 7/7/2005 |
| Q: Growing up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and as an adult, I have long heard many rumors ... A: Jimmy, Seward Park High School was built on the site of the Ludlow Street Jail. This jail was also ... | |
| JFK to Upper East Side to CT | 6/16/2005 |
| Q: I am flying to JFK Sat. and was wondering what the cheapest/eassist way to get to the upper east ... A: Fran, Budget travelers who don't mind carrying their own luggage will find the new AirTrain at JFK ... | |
| transportation | 5/10/2005 |
| Q: I remember there being an underground pedestrian walkway between 7th avenue (Penn Station) and 6th ... A: Lee, Penn Plaza has many underground passages connecting the Garden, retail shops and 1 Penn Plaza. ... | |
| Department Store | 4/24/2005 |
| Q: What was the name of a large department store on the east corner of 34th Street & Fifth Avenue - ... A: Jose, Thanks for your good question! In 1905 the firm of B. Altman & Co. erected their new store ... | |
| Harlem | 4/19/2005 |
| Q: John, i have some questions about Harlem: 1. What is the size of Harlem area? 2. Does it run ... A: Jovy, Harlem is bounded by 155th Street to the north, and the Harlem River to the east; it has a ... | |
| north pole and santas workshop | 4/18/2005 |
| Q: when i was a kid i went to santas workshop and the north pole located in new york state. i am trying ... A: Jeff, I am an expert on NYC, but I happen to know the answer to this question. (Santa's Workshop: ... | |
| writing an article and want your input | 3/28/2005 |
| Q: i am a new york times reporter and wanted to ask you about a story idea. Wondering if you can give ... A: Ian, My "Mr. NY" voicemail phone number is 212 978 7523. You may e-mail me at NYCtriviaWIZ@aol.com ... | |
| new resident | 3/21/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering what are some good ways to meet people if you're new to New York and don't know ... A: Danielle, Your question, "What are some good ways to meet people?", can be interpreted a few ... | |
| population | 2/27/2005 |
| Q: What is the population of Manhattan? All NYC? A: Jim, According to the 2000 census, the population of Manhattan grew by 3.3 percent to 1.54 million ... | |
| NYC Street Name | 2/24/2005 |
| Q: John, I have to write a follow-up question because I think this issue requires more investigation. ... A: Donald, JFK Jr. lived on "N Moore St." The Ghostbusters' firehouse is located on the very same ... | |
| NYC Street Name | 2/23/2005 |
| Q: John, What is the origin of the name N. Moore St. in Tribeca, New York City? It is my ... A: Donald, Real estate companies often change the name of Nathaniel Moore Street in Tribeca to North ... | |
| New York | 2/19/2005 |
| Q: How many lbs. of garbage does NY city produce every day? What year was NY city the capital? How many ... A: John, New York City generates an enormous amount of waste -approximately 18,500 tons per day of ... | |
| statue | 2/18/2005 |
| Q: I have been wondering about the statue of the three firefrighters raising the flag over ground o. I ... A: Pat, The New York City Fire Department proposed that a statue be commissioned showing three ... | |
| 9/11 | 1/30/2005 |
| Q: I was very moved by the picture in the news paper of the three firefighters raising the flag at ... A: Pat, The three firefighters, William Eisengrein, George Johnson and Daniel McWilliams, had ... | |
| New York Steam Pipes | 1/14/2005 |
| Q: John What do the steam pipes beneath Manhattan streets heat? And where is this steam generated? Also ... A: Simon, Some 30 billion pounds of steam every year flow beneath the streets of Manhattan from the ... | |
| I can't get into your site! | 11/28/2004 |
| Q: I did... that's how I got Flash 7. But the site STILL won't open! I'm most upset by the whole ... A: M.G. "Natalia", Wow, you googled me - I'm honored. I've never had anyone have a problem getting ... | |
| I can't get into your site! | 11/25/2004 |
| Q: After all sorts of technological machinations/manipulations/assorted mishaps, I have come to accept ... A: Natalia, Simply use the flash download on the first screen of my site. You are a real mystery! How ... | |
| Why the Apple? | 10/21/2004 |
| Q: Why is N.Y. called the big Apple? A: Ozetta, Back in the 1920's NYC was the horseracing capital of America. New Orlean's stablehands ... | |
| Brooklyn Statue | 10/11/2004 |
| Q: In Brooklyn, there is a bronze statue that appears to be waving to the Statue of Liberty. What is ... A: Sarah, The statue that is less than 1 mile from Brooklyn (in Battery Park - Manhattan)is the East ... | |
| NY Boxing history | 10/10/2004 |
| Q: Which boxer drew the largest crowds at Madison Square Garden in 1920? A: Sarah, Jack Dempsey. On December 14,1920, he appeared in the Garden, knocking out Bill Brennan in ... | |
| neighborhoods | 10/6/2004 |
| Q: I asked you a question recently about the neighborhoods of Tribeca, Soho and Greenwich Village. You ... A: Danielle, Let me say first that there are no specific boundaries for Soho and Tribeca (other than ... | |
| Highest area of command in the NYPD | 9/8/2004 |
| Q: I'm a writer down here in PA and am currently writing a novel that has a fair amount to do with the ... A: Dan, The 40,000-officer NYPD is headed by a police commissioner,whose duties are not primarily ... | |
| wholesale computer and african american books | 8/18/2004 |
| Q: i was in manhattan and harlem a few weeks ago to find out where i can buy computer and african ... A: Sam, The book vendors all over the city usually don't reveal their sources. If you are looking for ... | |
| new york trivia origins | 8/11/2004 |
| Q: i have three questions. why the big apple? i have read several different answers. how did n.y. ... A: John, 3 questions in one. Here we go... 1)In the 1920's NYC was the horseracing capital of the ... | |
| Harmony Theatre (burlesque) | 8/2/2004 |
| Q: Where did all the girls from the Harmony Theatre go when they closed down the Harmony Theatre due to ... A: Donna, The Harmony Theatre was an all-nude burlesque house located near Church & White Streets in ... | |
| New York | 7/4/2004 |
| Q: I have been watching a Webcam of Times Square, New York, & would like to know what causes the steam ... A: Rob, The steam coursing under Manhattan is used for heating and cooling. It is not to be confused ... | |
| Police stations - green lights | 5/21/2004 |
| Q: Outside of many police stations in NYC there is a green light. I can see a reason for a light but ... A: Greg, It is believed that the Rattle Watchmen, who patrolled New Amsterdam in the 1650's, carried ... | |
| St. Mark's Playhouse | 5/16/2004 |
| Q: I am a theatre historian researching the theatres along Second Avenue. I am confused about the exact ... A: Cezar, As a fellow "allexpert" I searched far & wide for your answer- which I could not find in ... | |
| Brooklyn Bridge Question | 5/5/2004 |
| Q: .. I'm working on a children's cartoon. Do you know if there is a ladder of staircase INSIDE the ... A: Gary, I have never heard or read of any such stairway or ladder system inside the Brooklyn Bridge ... | |
| Ferry pilot | 4/21/2004 |
| Q: Hey John. You look like the premiere NY info man! What ever happened to the ferry pilot who had that ... A: John, Not much has been reported about the asst. captain Richard Smith since the incident. He is ... | |
| Robert Moses | 4/10/2004 |
| Q: Was Robert Moses a positive influence on NYC or negative influence and explain why? A: Damon, Here are the facts: From the 1930s to the 1960s, Moses was responsible for the building of ... | |
| STREET NAMES | 3/24/2004 |
| Q: I know 6th Avenue is called Avenue of the Americas because of the flags that line the avenue but WHY ... A: Rachael, An elevated train on 6th Avenue was built in the late 1800s. In 1934, the city began ... | |
| Is Sesame Street completely fictitional? | 3/8/2004 |
| Q: Hey, I'm a native New Yorker, but I don't know the answer to this. While watching Sesame Street ... A: Nikki, This is not NYC trivia but here goes....the name "Sesame Street" is based on the term "open ... | |
| NYC streets and intersections | 2/8/2004 |
| Q: How many streets are there in NYC and how many intersections are there? A: Joe, That's a question that I've never heard before. Well, how do you define "streets"? What about ... | |
| New York City | 11/10/2003 |
| Q: Why is New York City called "The Big Apple"? A: Elaine, In the 1920's NYC was the horse racing capital of the USA. Southern stablehands nicknamed ... | |
| Nickname | 10/30/2003 |
| Q: How did NYC get the nickname "Big Apple?" A: Sue, In the 1920's NYC was the horse racing capital of the world. A big prize for a horse is an ... | |
| NYC aka Big Apple | 9/16/2003 |
| Q: My husband and I were both born in NYC (1947) and raised on Long Island......the other day a ... A: Dora, In the 1920's NYC was the horse racing capital of the USA. Southern stablehands nicknamed ... | |
| Quotation on rock at Rockefeller Center | 5/9/2003 |
| Q: Do you happen to know the exact quotation on the rock outside Rockefeller Center? If not, could you ... A: Peggy, AUTHOR: John D Rockefeller Jr QUOTATION: I believe that the rendering of useful service ... | |
| Street Names in New York City | 1/7/2003 |
| Q: Not counting streets with names that include whether it is a street or an avenue (e.g., Wall Street, ... A: Greg, Plenty…here are a few: Saint Mark's Place; Great Jones Street;Little West ... | |
| hey john i was wondering... | 12/26/2002 |
| Q: hey john i was wondering if you could tell me how to distinguish the differences between a Brooklyn ... A: Kasey, Great question. Here's one way to answer it... Queens accents: Edith & Archie, on ... | |
| New York news stories | 9/24/2002 |
| Q: I am going crazy trying to find a list of the top ten most popular news stories in the history of ... A: Noel, That is one question that everyone has a different answer. I will give you my top 10, but ... | |
John V. Barbieri
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am a New York City trivia buff. I have written "Mr. New York`s Trivia Quiz", a 600-page fun book which offers hundreds of multiple choice questions and answers. Each of the 38 chapters cover a different aspect of NYC. The topics include: places, people, history, sports, buildings, theatre, fun facts & more.
Experience
I was born and raised in NYC. My website is www.mrnewyorktrivia.com
Organizations
N.Y. Trial Lawyer's Association
Publications
In New York magazine.
Education/Credentials
St. John's Law School, New York
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