About Us
There are eight million stories in this city…
…and we’re dedicated to telling all of them. Or at least some of them. Okay, realistically, we can only tell a fraction of them, so we have to be selective.
After combing through all eight million (by special arrangement with the NSA) we’ve picked only the best stories to feature on our tours—like that time when George Washington nearly lost his entire army (not to mention the Revolutionary War) right in Brooklyn. Or that other time when William Van Allen hid the spike on the Chrysler building from a rival architect. Or the time when Mrs. Applebaum of Canarsie became the city stickball champion.
Okay, so we made that last one up, but you get the point. We offer both public and private tours, with an emphasis on true New York stories that aren’t widely known or covered on other tours.
We love New York, and we know its hidden history better than anyone you’re likely to meet outside your favorite old-man bar, and that place smells like feet and memories. Come take a walk outside with us, in the fresh air. It’ll do you good.
“Our guide Russell was funny and personable and just all around friendly not to mention very
– William C, Tripadvisor
Russell Wolin
CEO, Tour Guide
Russell is a New York native, born and raised in Flushing, Queens. He attributes his later disinterest in sports to his misfortune at growing up in a place where the Mets were the hometown team. Upon receiving his driver’s license he immediately took a Datsun cross-country, and realized very quickly that growing up in New York City left him with very little understanding of the country that he lived in. As a corrective measure he traveled the nation five more times, and has lived in Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Whatever state you’re from, he’s probably spent some time there. Finding at last that his limit for living outside of New York is 18 months, he is now a permanent resident of Harlem–at least until they learn how to make bagels someplace else. (We won’t even talk about the pizza.)Russell has worked in New York’s independent theater scene for over 20 years as a writer, director, producer, and theater owner. He also drove a Hansom Cab in Central Park for 15 years before formally becoming a tour guide. Combining his varied experiences both in and out of New York City with a deep love of history, Russell provides a tour that is funny and informative, combining personal anecdotes about his native city with a thorough exploration of its past, present, and future.
“Sarah shared a wealth of historical information and fun facts on the area… Our tour ranged in age from 20-somethings to 60-somethings and we all had a great time! We laughed, sighed and even shared drinks together at one of the stops highlighted after the tour! Thanks again for an enjoyable evening!”
– tjayklein, Tripadvisor
Sarah Pencheff
COO, Tour Guide
“I need someone to sublet half of my apartment for three months. How do you feel about Brooklyn?”
Those were the fateful words that led our heroine to drive a fourteen-foot U-Haul across the Goethals Bridge to an apartment she’d never seen, in a city she’d visited maybe twice without adult supervision. Seventeen years later, it seems she made the right decision. Aside from getting out of Brooklyn and movin’ on up (WAAAAY up) in Manhattan, she’s never left. Sarah fell in love with New York City like the lead in your
With a background in education, performing, and bartending, Sarah fell into tour-guiding by chance and has never looked back. Welcoming the excuse to geek out over just about anything, New York City’s past, present, and future lends a welcome change from video games and science fiction novels. She loves nothing more than learning new things, and immediately sharing them with every single person she can find. Seriously, her friends would like to thank you for giving them a break. Sarah’s tours are energetic and peppered with anecdotes from her own life, plus all the fascinating tidbits she dug up on her latest research binge.
**Hair
hiddennewyorktours@gmail.com
646.981.3004