Inside The Apple: A Streetwise History of NYC, Includes 14 Walking Tours

Michelle and James Nevius met in New York City while Michelle was studying art history and archaeology at Columbia University and James was at New York University studying English and American literature. They launched Michelle Nevius Tours in 2000 to provide in-depth tours of New York City neighborhoods, which now cover most of Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. Their tours combine history, architecture, art, and culture, with a focus on uncovering hidden history and intriguing stories that might not be readily apparent to the casual visitor. Their guided tours have become a regular part of academic programs at The Columbia School of Journalism, The New York School of Law, Siena College in Albany, and Texas A&M's Mays School of Business as well as for non-academic clients Brown Brothers Harriman, Fordham University alumni, The Hofstra University Museum of Art, and many more.

Most of this guide book is devoted to an exhaustive catalog of New York City history, beginning with glaciers' impact on the geography of Central Park and ending (161 chapters later) with the aftermath of 9/11. Not for cover-to-cover reading, this guide from a tour-guide/entrepreneur husband-and-wife team is best approached from behind, with the 14 walking tours that cap the volume; each highlighted site references the relevant chapters preceding. Considering New York's dense history, these tours offer something for everyone: the Greenwich Village tour alone encompasses the Stonewall Inn, considered the birthplace of gay rights; Jefferson Market Courthouse, the nation's first night court; and the house where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women. Not even natives know this much; even if they do recall the late-19th and early-20th century tenement laws meant to improve living conditions (chapter 84), they'll probably be surprised to learn where the city’s first tenement is located (chapter 32). From the 1765 Bowling Green Park protest of the Stamp Act to the 1980 murder of John Lennon outside the Dakota Apartments, this extremely thorough sidewalk-level guide is rich with 20 years of combined tour experience. Photos and maps. (Mar.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

"I was born in New York and lived there for years, but I had no idea what I was missing until I picked up Inside the Apple. It's jammed with fascinating pieces of history and great nuggets of trivia. I can't wait to walk Manhattan again with this book in hand." -- Noah D. Oppenheim, coauthor of the bestselling The Intellectual Devotional™ series
"As a longtime New Yorker, I never tire of walking the streets and uncovering something new about the world's most fascinating city, where every street has a story to tell. Inside the Apple is a gem of a book, filled with nuggets about New York's extraordinary past, from the sidewalks up. Whether you are a tourist exploring for the very first time or a seasoned walker in the city, this book is a must." -- Kenneth C. Davis, author of the bestsellers America's Hidden History and Don't Know Much About® History