Explore the city’s past and present, and of course, eat some pizza.

New York gave birth to three global foods: the bagel, the deli sandwich, and my favorite, the New York slice. We’ll spend the day stopping for food to explore how 20th-century migration from Italy, Eastern Europe, and the Arab world gave birth to New York’s favorite foods. Without Lox, Motz, and Shawarma, where would we be?

Whether it’s the Jewish, Italian, and Black communities of Brooklyn, or the Arab, South Asian, and Latino communities of Queens, we can explore any enclave, Little-Insert Country, or neighborhood not as gawking tourists, but as friends and acquaintances. I know people in every corner of this city.

Whether it‌’s a shot of espresso in Little Italy, a cup of Adeni tea in Brooklyn, or the latest fancy latte, New Yorkers can’t start a day without caffeine. We’ll try at least three types of coffee and tea, whether from the third-generation roasters at Porto Rico in the West Village or the farm-to-cafe beans found in small, local cafes on a Brooklyn corner.

Want to spend some time exploring the world’s most expensive book, the Houghton (Shah Tahmasp) Shah-nama? Want to explore one of America’s oldest mosques? Want to attend an authentic Sufi zikr? All of this and more is available to you, according to your interest.

As the son of an architect, I grew up with building plans and long stories of architectural history. From the cast-iron buildings of SoHo to the Brownstones of Brooklyn, New York is one of the most architecturally significant cities in the world. Join me as we learn about the city that created air conditioning, the fire escape, the stoop, and so much more.