At Untapped Cities, we have a “Daily What?!” series, which consists of one surprising thing every weekday. The column keeps us on our toes at all times looking for quirky New York City stuff. We’ll admit that on some days, we’re stumped, but that rarely happens. To catch you up, here are the Top 10 Daily What?!s of 2014 on Untapped Cities:
25. The Secret Entrance to the Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square Subway
A defunct doorway in the Times Square subway that once led to a hotel so popular it was nicknamed “The 42nd Street Club.” Read more here.
24. The Clandestine Naval Battle of Mau Mau Island in Brooklyn
Mau Mau Island is man made, but a small artists’ collective known as Swimming Cities has hosted an epic naval battle for the island. Read more here.
23. Head to Koronet’s for the Largest Slice of Pizza in NYC
Slices at Koronet Pizza are larger than your head. Their crown jewel is the Jumbo slice–from a 32″ pizza–that’ll only set you back about $4. Read more here.
22. There’s a Hindu Ganesh Temple in the Heart of Soho, NYC
For those on the search for this Hindu temple, you’ll have to spot a “blue door” at the corner of Crosby and Broome Street and head up to the second floor. Read more.
21. The Gold Penis on Fernando Botero’s “Adam” Sculpture in NYC’s Time Warner Building
At the Time Warner Center, so many people touch Fernando Botero’s Adam sculpture’s small but prominent penis that it has been worn to a golden shine. Read more here.
20. NYC Bus Driver Steals Own Bus, Drives to Florida in 1947
In 1947, a man decided to take the bus he was driving to Florida…and didn’t get fired. Read more here.
19. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Gold Vault
Did you know that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has a gold vault containing the world’s largest known depository of gold? The approximately 530,000 gold bars weigh 6,700 tons. Read more here.
18. Sculpted Rats on the Graybar Building at Grand Central
The next time you pass by the Graybar Building at Grand Central Terminal, be sure to look up. Three sculpted rats are depicted as if they are climbing the anchor ropes on a ship, a quirky reference to New York’s maritime roots. Read more here.
17. There Is An Underground Network of Tunnels at Columbia University
What is now possibly the worst kept secret at Columbia’s Morningside campus, an intricate network of tunnels connects many of the school’s buildings. These tunnels date back to 1900 when the campus was home to another institution: Bloomingdale’s Insane Asylum. Read more here.
16. The Gold ATM on 57th Street
On 57th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue, across from the Parker Meridien Hotel, is this Gold ATM. That’s right, a machine that dispenses gold. Find out more here.
15. What Are Those Numbers Counting in Union Square?
It’s been a centerpiece in Union Square now for 15 years, but it still bewilders many a passerby. No, these numbers don’t count the national debt or the acres of rain forest being destroyed. Find out what it is here.
14. The Hidden Rooftop Gardens of Rockefeller Center
When dodging people on Fifth Avenue and at Rockefeller Center, you probably don’t have time to look up and ponder what secrets may lie in the tourist trap. But atop the Art Deco infused Rockefeller Center are some great garden rooftops. Find out more here.
13. The Bronx’s Best Pizza Place Is Hidden Behind a Gas Station
Pugsley’s Pizza has been located behind Fordham Road in the Bronx for almost 30 years and is a true mom and pop pizzeria. As it’s hidden by a gas station, many people walk right by without ever realizing it. Read more here.
12. One Times Square Is The Emptiest Building in Midtown But Wildly Profitable
When Lehman Brothers purchased One Times Square in 1995, they envisioned a new kind of tenant: advertisers. Instead of renting the offices inside the 25 floor building, they began retrofitting the facade with billboards. By 1997, the profits were up 400%, and the inside was empty. Read more about this and where the New Year’s Eve ball is stored here.
11. South Street Seaport Mall at Pier 17 Demolition Fully Underway
In April 2014, the demolition of the mall at Pier 17 at South Street Seaport was fully underway. See more photos here.
