Is New York City the world capital of… everything? It’s sure putting up a good effort.
We could talk about how the New York Stock Exchange started under a tree (!) on Wall Street and how NYC is now the financial capital of the world. Billionaires, millionaires, blah blah blah.
Let’s talk about what really matters.
Like… the best pizza and bagels in the world, the Met and the New York Public Library, art deco skyscrapers and bodega cats, Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and that one place on the corner in Brooklyn with the best Polish pastries.
There’s the immediately identifiable New York accent and the 800 or so languages spoken by New Yorkers from all around the world. The City That Never Sleeps is the ultimate melting pot; we’re all better for it.
New Yorkers are a unique breed who’ve changed the personality of the city over and over again. Dutch and British settlers named the place, immigrants made it cosmopolitan, the elite of the Gilded Age filled it with skyscrapers, and the artists of the Harlem Renaissance blasted through barriers. And let’s not forget the unnamed good samaritan on the subway who will warn you that the next station is closed so you need to transfer.
In this episode, we grab an imaginary coffee to go in a ‘We Are Happy to Serve You’ cup and explore the ultimate bookish day in New York City. In Two Truths and a Lie, we meet the musicians of the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and visit a Brooklyn store where you can buy a can of chutzpah. Then we recommend six great books that took us to New York City on the page, including two graphic novels, a love letter to ’90s Manhattan, a frothy family saga, historical fiction with a challenging heroine, and a collection of short stories from a master of fiction.
Read the full transcript of New York City: NO! SLEEP! TILL BROOKLYN!
Sex with a Brain Injury: On Concussion and Recovery by Annie Liontas
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir by Roz Chast
Here’s a playlist of songs about New York City to entertain you while you look at the links below.
And some photos to set the scene…
Treat yourself to a bagel at the fantastic Egg-A-Bagel — and read about why they’re so awesome.
Visit the exhibit Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy at the Morgan Library in New York, starting 25 October 2025.
Here’s what you need to know about the free tour of the New York Public Library.
Enjoy the The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism exhibit at the Met. There’s a great podcast — and this video:
Our virtual bookish tour had stops at P&T Knitwear and Word in Brooklyn. But maybe you want to check out fun indie specialty bookstores, 12 best specialty bookshops, and 6 must-visit bookstores.
Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop! Don’t miss the pepperoni pizza with hot honey. Visit the website and Instagram.
Here’s the Atlas Obscura essay about Bemelmans Bar and the bar’s website.
Book a room at the Library Hotel. Here’s a first-hand account of spending the night.
The Central Park Literary Walk is lined with statues of iconic authors and characters. Here’s the Hans Christian Andersen statue, Alice in Wonderland, and the Shakespeare Garden.
Statement 1: There’s a superhero supply store in Brooklyn. Get some chutzpah at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co and learn more about 826 Network youth writing program.
Statement 2: At least one musician played in ‘Phantom’ for the entire 35-year run. The Guardian on the end of Phantom’s run, a piece from NPR, and the NYTimes on its famed orchestra.
Statement 3: There’s a burlesque dancer in Brooklyn. She has an entire act centered around books and literature. Her stage name is Page Turner. Follow Books & Burlesque on Instagram. Here’s the info on their June show and the link for tickets.
Manhattan Beach: Jennifer Egan’s website; an article about Andrea Motley Crabtree, the army’s first female deep-sea diver and Crabtree’s website. Don’t miss the portrait of Andrea Motley Crabtree at The Met or this CBS News interview with her.
LaserWriter II: Tamara Shopsin’s website and the obituary for the legendary restaurant owner Kenny Shopsin.
Olga Dies Dreaming: Xochitl Gonzalez’s website and Instagram. Read an excerpt from Olga Dies Dreaming.
Hello, NY: Julia Rothman’s website. Here’s the beautiful The Campbell Bar in Grand Central Terminal and the eyeglasses store Dave wants to visit: Moscot. (Don’t miss this article about Moscot’s 100 years in business.)
Roaming: Jillian Tamaki’s website and Mariko Tamaki’s Instagram.
Table for Two: Fictions: Amor Towle’s website. And two fun interviews:
Congratulations! You made it to the end. Here are your tasty rewards:
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