Untapped New York — Local services in New York

A friend of mine recently asked me to recommend a tour to see world's fair remnants in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Immediately I suggested Untapped New York's Remnants of the World's Fair tour as the only choice. Why travel with amateurs when you can rediscover New York City with pros who know? My interest in local history led me to discover Untapped New York's online blog posts 16 years ago. They are dedicated to digging up the city's unique and unusual history presented as podcasts, tours, and member insider events. They've become the insider everyone wants to connect with. As a native New Yorker, I thought I knew the local history. Remarkably not a week goes by that Untapped New York doesn't unearth a new find. They leave no stone unturned. From exploring the largest underground art gallery to discovering hidden rooftop bars in the five boroughs to uncovering underground midtown passageways to tasting the downtown coffee that powered the first stock exchange. Seriously, I don't know how they do it. But I do know firsthand they do things differently, with a genuine enthusiasm that I had the pleasure to know when I gave a talk to members about my book, Looking Back at the Future: Vintage Leftovers of New York's World's Fairs. Nicole Saraniero, the Editor and Director of Events, who coordinated the event, could not have been more gracious, attentive, knowledgeable, and organized. She guided each step which resulted in an engaging presentation that brought meaning and impact to insider members. For curious locals and tourists, Untapped New York is the city's...

Like many, I love the HBO Max series Gilded Age. When I saw this walking tour was available, I jumped on it! There were about 30 of us there, and we were divided into two groups. Richard was the guide for my group. Each of us was given an ear piece to use, so that we could hear Richard very clearly. Richard absolutely knew his stuff! He started the tour with information about the Gilded Age series, so that was a thrill. His knowledge of history and architecture was both thorough and accessible...which is not always the case. The tour was an easy walk, but we covered significant ground. Several times, we were able to pop inside a building - such as the Ralph Lauren flagship men's store - to see examples of Gilded Age interior finishings. After two hours, which went like a flash, my brain felt full of fascinating information. Thank you, Richard, for a splendid tour. I can't wait to take another Untapped...

My husband and I took the Fifth Avenue Gilded Age Mansions tour in early January with Richard as our guide. What an awesome tour! Richard was a fantastic tour guide, battling the winds and NYC noise, to present us with so much information! Not only did he take us to the sights of current and former mansions, Richard shared pictures and many stories as well! He even told us how to navigate in Central Park! While it was a cold and windy day, Richard was caring and asked each of us if we were doing ok throughout the tour. One of the things we loved most, other than Richard, was the use of ear pieces and a microphone which allowed us to hear incredibly well, even while in the back of the group with the wind whipping through our hoods! I highly recommend a tour with Untapped New York and cannot wait to return and...