Most of the native speakers of the critically endangered Germanic language, Gottscheerish, now live in Queens, New York City.
NYC
A 1968 NYC sanitation strike brought…
A 1968 NYC sanitation strike brought the city to its knees in 6 days. A 1970 Irish banker strike had no effect on the economy for 6 months.
In the 1980s, teenagers in New York…
In the 1980s, teenagers in New York would jam the token turnstiles for the subway and suck out the tokens with their mouths so they could use them later. To combat this, employees sprinkled chilli powder or spray mace on the slots and see if they noticed anyone with red lips.
There is a neighborhood called…
There is a neighborhood called “The Hole” in NYC. It has no streetlights, sidewalks, or sewers, and it sits 12 feet below the surrounding area (hence the name). It was once home to a farming town, black cowboys, the mob, until finally earning the reputation of the worst neighborhood in NYC.
The famous “I ❤ NY” logo was drawn…
The famous “I ❤ NY” logo was drawn in the back of a taxi cab, given to New York for free, and makes New York State close to $30 million per year.
Despite how TV shows and movies…
Despite how TV shows and movies depict it, New York only has a few alleys. Almost every alley scene is shot at the same location: Cortlandt Alley.
In 1896, New York passed a law that…
In 1896, New York passed a law that alcohol could only be served on Sunday if it was with a meal. New York taverns then started “selling” inedible sandwiches (served with a drink). The waiter would collect the sandwich at the end of the meal, and serve it the next customer.
The steam iconically shooting…
The steam iconically shooting out of the streets of New York City comes from the underground new york steam system. The 105 mile system of pipes began providing services in 1882, it uses clean water and still delivers steam to over 2,000 city buildings today.
Thanks to skyrocketing real…
Thanks to skyrocketing real estate prices, Manhattan gas stations are worth much more than the money the owner can make selling gas.
Nearly half the states in the US allow…
Nearly half the states in the US allow village and town judges to hold office without a law degree. In NY, these judges aren’t even required to have a degree of any kind and can preside over criminal cases.
At least 43 buildings in…
At least 43 buildings in NYC actually have their own zip code. Due to size, or amount of people who work there, or money they generate.
Back when the NY subways used tokens, criminals…
Back when the NY subways used tokens, criminals would jam the slot and then suck out the token with their mouths. To discourage this, subway workers would put hot chili powder in the slots.