Blog
New York City Firsts: Big Apple Innovations That Changed the Nation and the World describes some 300 unique achievements by New Yorkers. But it’s not over! New Yorkers continue to make pioneering contributions in every imaginable field. In addition, some older firsts didn’t fit the organization of the book or came to the author’s attention too late to be included. This blog tells these stories and also reflects on the feats included in New York City Firsts .
Bring out the Hellmann’s
Hellmann’s mayonnaise was created more than a century ago by New York City deli owners Richard and Margaret Hellmann.
Clothes for the Mother-to-be
A young New York widow created a new type of commercially available clothing: maternity wear.
Research Never Ends
The first car-vs-bike accident occurred in New York. Where, exactly? Continued research helped finesse the details.
Jane’s Walk Never Disappoints
After two years without in-person events because of Covid, Jane’s Walk returns. It was a wet but wonderful weekend.
From Pandemic Horrors to a Shot of Hope
A nurse in an area hit hard by Covid-19, the New York City borough of Queens, became the first recipient of the vaccine in the United States.
After the First Bat Mitzvah
The very first bat mitzvah anywhere in the world occurred 100 years ago in New York City. What happened after that?
Black Pioneers of New York
In honor of Black History Month, this post looks at several Black New Yorkers—some well known, like Wynton Marsalis (pictured), others not—with first-of-their-kind achievements in the second half of the twentieth century.
