You could spend hours browsing the photos and traveling back in time at Ephemeral New York.
The photo above is from “Which city park hosted the first Christmas tree?” New York City during the holidays is transcendent, no matter what the century.
Years ago, I jogged past Carl Shurtz Park every day, but I never knew Peter Pan lived there.
Nine Barrow Street in Greenwich Village bears a version of my husband’s family name, in honor of an inventive Irish blacksmith. I found that out when I read, “A village monument to a 19th century blacksmith.”
There are 75 posts about out-of-date guidebooks.
And 45 posts about defunct department stores.
Many a bittersweet tale, as well: “The Tragedy of the Loveliest Woman in America” and “Notes Pinned to Babies at the Foundling Asylum.”
You could write a book about each and every post at Ephemeral New York.
Photo: Bain News Service
Books Can Save A Life 
What a cool blog. It makes me nostalgic for living in New York. Which I never did. But great New York stories and images always make me feel that way. I think those of us who grew up on movies feel like we’ve lived there.
Karen, when I first moved to NYC, many places felt so familiar to me, because I saw them in the movies growing up! So I know what you mean. I remember the first time I went to Coney Island, it seemed like deja vu. I looked at all the old apartment houses jammed together across the street from the beach, and each building had dozens of tv antennas – for some reason that struck me as hilarious, and very familiar.
I remember your fascination with the rooftop antennas!
Yup, don’t know why!
A fascinating insight, collecting the fading collections, good to know they are still being appreciated and shared, the media would have us think otherwise, that shiny and new is all the rage, but memories become one of our most important tools of survival. Thank you for sharing.
Val, remember the junk store on Carmine Street across from Our Lady of Pompeii. We spent forever there looking through a box of old postcards that were on a table outside. We looked for the ones with writing and post marks on the back. Even the script was old fashioned and more elegant like the times they were written.
Yes, I remember that evening. I think it was a very warm night in the summer. Had a good time that evening, and I think I still have one of the postcards.