The name Wall Street comes from an actual wooden wall the Dutch built in 1653, and the street itself is only eight blocks long. We trace the history behind America's financial center, from the Buttonwood Agreement to the Charging Bull.

The tradition started in 1931 during the Great Depression, when construction workers put up a small tree decorated with paper chains and cranberries. We trace how that grew into the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, from choosing the tree to the star made of 3 million crystals at the top.

An entire neighborhood was built on a platform above an active rail yard, and it cost the city a rumored $200 million just for one sculpture. We look at how Hudson Yards transformed Manhattan's West Side, and the controversy behind its most talked-about attraction, the Vessel.

One apartment on Billionaire's Row sold for $238 million, and that's not even the tallest building on the block. We look at the supertall towers that define 57th Street, and the wealth, architecture, and controversy behind New York's most exclusive stretch.

Miles Davis, Robin Williams, and Nina Simone all trained at Juilliard, one of five major institutions housed at Lincoln Center. We look at the history behind this Mid-century modernist campus, and the buildings that make it a landmark for the performing arts.

The jack-o-lantern started with turnips, not pumpkins, and comes from an Irish story about a man who tricked the devil. We trace Halloween back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, and how it turned into trick-or-treating, costumes, and one of New York's biggest annual parades.

The land the United Nations sits on doesn't technically belong to New York City or the United States at all. We look at why the UN Headquarters ended up here, its international design team, and the meaning behind sculptures like The Knotted Gun.

The Great Gatsby, Sapiens, and Persepolis all make the list. We recommend books across four genres, contemporary novels, YA fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels, chosen specifically to help intermediate English learners build vocabulary while enjoying the story.

Labor Day traces back to a violent clash between police and striking workers in 1886 Chicago. We look at the history of the American labor movement, how the holiday became official, and how US worker protections compare to Europe's today.

Tenth Avenue used to be nicknamed "Death Avenue" because of the trains that ran right through the streets. We look at how those old tracks became the High Line, one of New York's most beloved parks, and the gentrification debate that came with its success.

From free outdoor movies to a summer street festival that shuts down seven miles of road for walking and biking, we look at how New Yorkers make the most of summer in the city, heat wave and all.

We trace the road to July 4th, 1776, from the Boston Tea Party to why Americans still mark it with fireworks and barbecues today.