Book excerpt: People around the globe know the story of New York City—or like to think they do. But even lifelong locals will be surprised to discover the little-known facts in Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. 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. In these pages, you’ll also find an abandoned fort, hidden gold, a flock of parrots, a powerful Titanic tribute, and a lucky stump. Consider this book 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. With a heart for adventure and an insatiable curiosity, journalist Rossilynne Skena Culgan serves as your guide to explore the lesser-known side of New York City: a treasure trove of mysteries, obscurities, and hidden history waiting to be unearthed.