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Boom-Bust-Boom Town
Boom-Bust-
Boom Town

In 1968, many New Yorkers were panicked about the city’s future too. Needlessly, as it turned out.
by Kurt Andersen

Letter From the Editors

Introducing our 40th anniversary issue.

Perpetual Revolution

The ongoing saga of a city that thrives on upheaval.

YuppiesYuppies in Eden
How young urban professionals revived the city, turning it into their own personal playground.
HeadlinersHeadliners
What became of ten memorable newsmakers.
BrooklynBrooklyn Revisited
Pete Hamill returns home to find that everything, and nothing, has changed.
The New York ActorThe New York Actor
We love them in long shot and close-up, from the Ziegfeld to the line at Zabar’s.
Parties14,600 Nights Out
Four decades of parties with Andy, Bianca, Nan, Mariah, Sly, Liza, Brooke, Marc, Cher, and company.
Bloomberg and KochMichael Bloomberg and Ed Koch
Mayors in times of crisis.
Woody AllenWoody Allen
New York’s hometown auteur.
Liz SmithLiz Smith
The original gossip girl.
Debbie Harry and SantogoldDebbie Harry and Santogold
Rock stars past and present.
Richard Price and Junot DíazRichard Price and Junot Díaz
New York novelists.
Gloria Steinem and Suheir HammadGloria Steinem and Suheir Hammad
A feminist icon and a rising star.
André Soltner and David ChangAndré Soltner and David Chang
Culinary kings.
RudyThe Day Everything Changed
Modern New York was born on January 1, 1994. And, love him or hate him, it was Rudolph Giuliani who made the city what it is.
Hip-hopThe Holy House of Hip-hop
On August 11, 1973, D.J. Kool Herc didn’t know he was revolutionizing pop music— he was just trying to keep people dancing.
Assimilation and Its DiscontentsAssimilation and Its Discontents
How success ruined the New York Jew.
Hamid & SonsHamid & Sons
An immigrant family’s 40-year quest for the American dream.
PeepPeep
A Times Square veteran remembers all too well how dirty sex could get.
The Never-Ending ParadeThe Never-Ending Parade
Forty years of open-air peacocking.
2048Who’s Who, 2048
Six New Yorkers who will be players 40 years from now.
Who Matter MostWho Matters Most
The top ten New Yorkers who reshaped the city, picked and ranked.
ChampsChamps
Five sports pundits rank the top ten New York athletes of the past 40 years.
Memorable AdsMemorable Ads
A panel of New York ad executives ranks the top twenty since ’68.
The Haute-est CuisineThe Haute-est Cuisine
Gael Greene's most important restaurants.
Best MealThe Best Meal
Dinner at the Palace stands out from Greene's 18,814 meals.
Enter EdamameEnter Edamame
And sea salt. And kiwis. And ficelles. And other food-world breakthroughs.
MatrixThe Anniversary Matrix
Our deliberately oversimplified guide to the last 40 years.
The New York QuestionnaireThe New York Questionnaire
Notable locals on living in the city.
What Things CostWhat Things Cost
A look at the exponential rise of New York’s cost of living.
Urban RenewalUrban Renewal
The changing look of everyday life.
ContributorsContributors
A look at those whose work is featured in this issue.
CoversCover to Cover
Memorable front pages from the past 40 years.