CITIES

Hubert Grimmig, Kultur- und Tourismus GmbH Gengenbach

Inside the German Town Where Advent Is the Main Attraction

Gengenbach is serious about its Christmas countdown.

The Secret World War II History Hidden in London's Fences

London's housing developments often feature a unique form of fencing: stretchers reused after World War II.

What Do You Get the Person Who Has Everything? Perhaps a German Village for Less Than $150,000

The tiny hamlet of Alwine has around one dozen buildings and 20 full-time residents.

Spelunkers Discover New Caverns in Montréal's Ancient Cave Network

The cave system below the Saint-Léonard borough is believed to sit atop an aquifer and may lead to the Montréal water table.

These Are the Top 25 U.S. Cities With the Lowest Cost of Living

For those who'd rather have a full bank account than a hipster ZIP code.

The Brooklyn Public Library is Now Home to a Tiny Mollusk Museum

The vending machine-sized installation features 15 itty-bitty "exhibitions" about bivalves, snails, octopuses, and more.

Photograph by James Ewing. Courtesy Public Art Fund, NY

A New Exhibit Celebrates New York City's Public Art Legacy

"Art in the Open" features works by artists including Kara Walker, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein, among others.

How a London Tragedy Led to the Creation of 911

Connecting to emergency services used to be much less efficient—until a 1935 disaster.

The New York Public Library Needs Help Identifying Old Photos of New York City

Many photos depict landmarks that no longer exist.

How 8 Twin Cities Neighborhoods Got Their Names

Both crime and amphibians may play a role.

This Bronx-Based Running Club Doubles as a Local History Class

Bronx Sole wants to make fitness fun for runners of all levels. To do that, the running club takes local residents on a joggable history tour of their borough.

Artwork from the Moe's Tavern pop-up bar in Chicago

A Chicago Bar is Dressing Up as Moe's Tavern for Halloween

Down Duff Beer while complaining about Ned Flanders.

How to Pack 15 World-Class European Cities Into One $500 Trip

When it comes to seeing Europe on a budget, bus travel is the way to go.

These LED Crosswalks Adapt to Whoever Is Crossing

Crossing in the rain? The Starling Crossing will create a wider buffer for you. Crossing diagonally? It'll adapt to your path.

Tokyo Tops List of Safest Cities in the World, New Report Says

If you want to find the safest cities on Earth, you'll have to leave the U.S.

In 1909, a Door-to-Door Catnip Salesman Incited a Riot in New York

"Why don’t you arrest the catnip? That is collecting the crowd. Not I,” he argued.

The English Town That Changed Its Name Because of Sacha Baron Cohen

Booyakasha!

Palace in Venice’s Famous Piazza San Marco to Open to the Public for the First Time in 500 Years

The palace will become the home of a nonprofit called The Human Safety Net.

A woman at a Los Angeles Indigenous Peoples Day event.

10 Alternatives to Columbus Day Celebrated Around the United States

Around the United States, cities and local organizations are holding events in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, an alternative way to mark Columbus Day.

A Dutch Startup Wants to Train Crows to Pick Up Cigarette Butts

The solution to our cigarette waste problem may be right in front of us.

What's the Difference Between a Street, a Road, and an Avenue?

Those names aren't arbitrary.

The Netherlands Is Paving Its Roads With Recycled Toilet Paper

A Dutch bike lane paved with recycled toilet paper is the first of its kind in the world.

25 Things You Should Know About Jacksonville, Florida

From a famously misnamed oak tree to a virtual museum of dinosaur dung, Jacksonville is filled with quirky attractions.