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Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Rossilynne Culgan, MA
Adjunct Professor, Communication and Media Studies
What is the central theme of your book?
Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is all about encouraging people to get outside and explore New York City. Too often, we stay in our own neighborhoods, visit the same places, and eat at the same restaurants. This book offers another way, as it’s packed with nearly 100 quirky things to do, from historical sites to subway art to ghostly buildings. I consider Secret New York City a scavenger hunt to the nation’s biggest city, a guidebook that goes off the beaten path far beyond the reaches of the subway map.
What inspired you to write this book?
As a journalist, a sense of curiosity drives me every day. When I moved to New York City a few years ago and began working for Time Out New York magazine, I found myself constantly in awe of the fascinating people and places I got to write about. This book became a natural outgrowth of that work, a way for me to dive deeper into the hidden gems of our city and collect these spots in an easy-to-use compendium for locals and visitors.
Tell me about a particularly special moment in writing this book.
Researching this book demanded a lot of on-the-ground reporting. I went to every single location in-person, so I could write from first-hand experience. Every weekend for almost a year, I would fill my time off with adventures across the five boroughs to explore every nook and cranny of the city.
One of my favorite experiences was visiting Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage in the Bronx, where the poet lived in the mid-1800s. The building is open on the weekends for tours, which offer a chance to learn more about Poe’s life in New York City, set foot in his writing room, and see the porch where he kept caged songbirds. As a writer, walking in Poe’s footsteps is a thrill. Now that my book is published, I have even been lucky enough to do a few readings in Poe’s parlor.
What is the one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope readers will be inspired to observe the city around them. Instead of absent-mindedly texting while walking around town, I’d encourage New Yorkers to pay attention to the city. In researching my book, I realized how often I had walked right past cool attractions simply because I wasn’t staying present. Some of these secrets hide in plain sight at the busiest places in the world, like an underground art installation in the middle of Times Square, curious medallions at the Empire State Building, and an eerie witch in Central Park. Others are more obscure, such as a surprisingly delightful rat artwork, a puzzling Scrabble sign, or a nostalgia-packed island escape. I hope Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure will encourage readers to find all of these secrets and more.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your book?
I’m a proud New York City transplant—and I think that’s an asset for this book. I explored the city with fresh eyes, then I dove into research mode, digging into newspaper archives, conducting detailed interviews, and reading to the end of the Internet about each site. Being able to stump New York City natives with some of the spots in the book always makes me smile. There’s always something new to learn about this city—so much so, that maybe I’ll create a second edition of the book someday.
What other books have you published?
My first book was a guidebook about my hometown of Pittsburgh. Titled 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die, the bucket list book chronicled the best things to do in the city, from can’t-miss cultural attractions to off-the-beaten-path events. I wrote both of my books with Reedy Press as my publisher.
Fun facts
When did you join Dyson College?
September 2022
What motivates you as a teacher?
Watching students grow as writers and as critical thinkers truly brings me joy. As an adjunct professor who works full-time as a journalist, I run my class as if it’s a professional newsroom. I lead story pitch sessions, host writing workshops, and edit articles just like I would for publication. Watching students blossom in their confidence as writers motivates me semester after semester.
What do you do in your spare time; to relax/unwind?
My favorite thing to do to unwind is to walk around this incredible city. I spend lots of time in Central Park admiring nature as the seasons change. I also love walking through New York City’s neighborhoods and noticing all the beautiful details that make this city so special.
What are you reading right now?
My current fiction read is Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s Long Island Compromise. As for non-fiction, I’m finally starting the epic journey that is Robert Caro’s The Power Broker— wish me luck!