Publisher Description

Uncover some of the Big Apple's most bizarre news items--classic "strange but true" stories that reached the "and finally" sections of news reports worldwide. Included here is the story about the man who kept a tiger and an alligator as pets in his Harlem apartment; the latest call-out service, whereby thrill seeking New Yorkers can arrange their own kidnapping experience; and the adventures of an NYC postal worker who mailed himself to his parents in Dallas to skimp on the fare home.Also featured are little-known facts about life in the big city, such as the antiquated law against leaving a mannequin undressed in a shop window (although it's legal for Macy's to sell used underwear). From incredible anecdotes and eccentric stories to news of the weird, Strange But True: New York will amuse and inform in equal measure.

Back Cover

Strange But True: New York City brings together the city's most bizarre news items, almost-believable urban myths, incredibly antiquated laws, curious little-known facts, and neighborhood eccentric oddballs and weirdos into one compulsively readable guide. Whether you're a native New Yorker or just passing through, Strange But True: New York City is your guide to the Big Apple's wackiest, most offbeat, mostly totally true tales, trivia, and events.Discover hundreds of wacky, offbeat, mostly totally true tales from the Big Apple, where you'll:Meet a man who kept a tiger and an alligator as pets in his Harlem apartmentDiscover why manhole covers are round and taxis are yellowMarvel at the adventures of an NYC postal worker who mailed himself to his parents in Dallas to skimp on the fare homeCelebrate the birthplace of the flashlight, toilet paper, and Bazooka bubble gumLearn how thousands of roaming pigs were used as the city's first sanitation systemVisit a yoga class for dogs and a restaurant that serves $1,000 omeletsOnly in New York City . . .is it against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for funthe penalty for jumping off a building is deathdonkeys are not allowed to sleep in bathtubsis it illegal to slurp soup

Author Biography

S. B. Howard has lived and worked in New York City for more than thirty years. A resident of the Upper East Side, she has lived in walk-ups and high-rises; explored by bus, subway, and foot; been caught in blackouts and blizzards; and traveled extensively, always returning to New York City, her home. A publishing professional all her working life, she has written a number of books under different pen names.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Strange but True3. Law and Disorder4. Urban Myths5. Oddballs and Weirdoes6. Only In New York

Long Description

Uncover some of the Big Apple's most bizarre news items--classic "strange but true" stories that reached the "and finally" sections of news reports worldwide. Included here is the story about the man who kept a tiger and an alligator as pets in his Harlem apartment; the latest call-out service, whereby thrill seeking New Yorkers can arrange their own kidnapping experience; and the adventures of an NYC postal worker who mailed himself to his parents in Dallas to skimp on the fare home. Also featured are little-known facts about life in the big city, such as the antiquated law against leaving a mannequin undressed in a shop window (although it's legal for Macy's to sell used underwear). From incredible anecdotes and eccentric stories to news of the weird, Strange But True: New York will amuse and inform in equal measure.

Excerpt from Book

LOONY NEW YORK LAWS* A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting* It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun* The penalty for jumping off a building is death* A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket* While riding in an elevator, one must not talk but fold his/her hands while looking toward the door* Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 pm* Women may go topless, providing it is not being used as a business* You may not smoke within 100 feet of the entrance to a public building* It is illegal for a woman to be on the street wearing "body hugging clothing"History's first submarine attack took place in New York Harbor in 1776. An inventor from Connecticut named David Bushnell developed a submarine and called it the Turtle because it resembled two large tortoise shells. On September 6, 1776, the Turtle targeted the HMS Eagle, flagship of the British fleet. The submarine, with its watertight hull made of six-inch-thick oak timbers coated with tar, was supposed to secure a cash of gunpowder to the hull of the Eagle and sneak away before it exploded. Unfortunately, the Turtle got entangled with the Eagle's rudder bar, lost ballast, and surfaced before the gunpowder could be planted.

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