1

French Bulldog

The French Bulldog has held the title of the most popular dog breed in the US since 2022. Their friendly and adaptable nature, combined with their small size, makes them perfect companions for people living in apartments or smaller homes. They may snore a little when they sleep, but that only makes them even cuter.

Just be cautious around water. Despite their bold personalities, French Bulldogs are not strong swimmers. So it’s important to supervise them closely near pools, fountains, or any other body of water.

2

Labrador Retriever

In second place, we have the beloved Labrador Retrievers, who were surpassed by French Bulldogs only in 2022. For more than three decades, the sweet Labrador was America’s favorite dog, and for good reason.

Known for their outgoing and gentle temperament, they get along wonderfully with adults, children, and even other animals. Their intelligence and sensitivity also help them stand out not only as loyal family pets and hunting companions, but also as therapy and service dogs.

3

Golden Retriever

Right behind Labradors are Golden Retrievers, the good guys of the neighborhood. With their warm temperament and endless energy, they’ve earned the number three spot among the most popular breeds. Often described as "people pleasers," Goldens are more than just obedient; they’re quick learners who are always eager to join you on any adventure.

4

German Shepherd

Fourth on the list are German Shepherds, elegant, impressive dogs renowned for their loyalty, intelligence, and ability to learn quickly. Unlike Labradors and Golden Retrievers, however, they often have a more serious image, largely because they’re commonly associated with police work, search and rescue, and service roles. Naturally protective, they tend to be reserved at first but become affectionate with those they trust.

Do you remember Rin Tin Tin? He was a great example of the breed and helped bring German Shepherds to worldwide fame.

5

Poodle

It’s hard to write a paragraph about Poodles, not because we don’t have anything to say, but because it’s easy to be distracted by all that cuteness. Ranked fifth among the most popular breeds, Poodles also rank among the most intelligent dogs in the world. Their extraordinary smarts and enthusiasm to learn come from their history as skilled hunting dogs and even circus performers. Thanks to their obedience, agility, and strong bond with people, they continue to hold a top spot among America’s favorite breeds.

6

Dachshund

In sixth place are the adorable Dachshunds. Famous for their long bodies, short legs, and big personalities, these dogs weren’t in the top rankings a decade ago. Many believe their surge in popularity has been fueled in part by viral internet videos showcasing their charm and humor. But don’t let their small size fool you: Dachshunds may be small, but their deep, bold bark makes them sound much bigger than they really are.

7

Beagle

Beagles come in seventh place, though if there were a contest for best ears, they’d surely take first. They’re loved not only for their adorable looks but also for their intelligence and, above all, their extraordinary sense of smell. Originally bred as rabbit-hunting hounds, Beagles have a highly efficient nose and a powerful tracking instinct.

8

Rottweiler

With their striking appearance and muscled bodies, Rottweilers naturally command respect. Known for their loyalty and strong protective instincts, Rottweilers are a favorite among families who have enough space for these large, energetic dogs.

Did you know they’re considered one of the oldest surviving dog breeds? It’s true! Their ancestors are believed to have accompanied the legions of the ancient Roman Empire, where they were used to herd and guard livestock.

9

Bulldog

They may have a grumpy look, but Bulldogs are incredibly sweet and calm. Ranked number nine on the list, this lovable breed is a great choice for anyone looking for a dog that easily adapts to their home and lifestyle. While they’re not exactly lazy, Bulldogs do enjoy taking plenty of breaks and conserving their energy, often choosing a cozy spot on the couch over a run around the block. Plus, with those funny faces, you’ll never run out of excellent pictures.

10

German Shorthaired Pointer

Last on this list, but still among the most popular breeds in the country, the German Shorthaired Pointer is admired for its elegance and presence. Originally bred in Germany as versatile hunting dogs, this breed excels at pointing, retrieving, and tracking. With their boundless energy, German Shorthaired Pointers are best suited to homes with plenty of outdoor space, as their athletic build and enthusiasm also help them shine in a wide range of dog sports.

1

New York’s many names…

Image: ian dooley

Did you know that New York has had several names throughout its history? The first documented European visit to New York Harbor was in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer who claimed the area for France and named it Nouvelle Angoulême (New Angoulême), after the French city located on the banks of the Charente River.

Almost a century later, English explorer Henry Hudson rediscovered New York and claimed it for the Dutch East India Company, who christened Manhattan Island as Nieuw Amsterdam (New Amsterdam). In 1664, due to the war between The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the British took over the area and renamed it New York , as a tribute to King Charles II's brother, James, Duke of York.

2

…and nicknames

Image: Artem Zhukov

In addition to its various official names, New York City has earned a good number of nicknames over the years. For example, Canvas Town, The Empire City, The City of Churches, Second City of the World, The Melting Pot, The City that Never Sleeps, The Center of the Universe, The City So Nice They Named It Twice, The Five Boroughs, and Metropolis, among many others.

But perhaps the most iconic New York City monikers are Gotham —coined by writer Washington Irving in 1807— and, of course, The Big Apple . In May 1921, sportswriter John Joseph Fitz Gerald of the New York Morning Telegraph first used The Big Apple in a feature on horse racing. As he later explained, that was the way New Orleans grooms' referred to New York City. Later, in the 1970s, an advertising campaign revived the nickname, and the rest is history.

3

National capital

Image: Cornelius Tiebout, artist and engraver of the original; this copy engraved by Hatch & Smillie and printed by J. &. G. Neale., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Given its cultural, political, and financial richness, it's curious that New York is not the capital of the United States. However, although it was only for five years, at one point in history it became a reality. Between January 11, 1785, and August 12, 1790, The Empire City served as the last capital under the Articles of Confederation and the first capital under the U.S. Constitution .

While the capital resided in New York, the representatives of Congress met in Federal Hall, a building located close to the current site of the Wall Street Stock Exchange. In fact, this is where George Washington was sworn in as president in 1789. However, a year later the Residence Act established the temporary seat of government in Philadelphia until the construction of the new capital, Washington, DC, was completed. Congress met for the first time in its new and current location on November 17, 1800.

4

Linguistically diverse

Image: Dan Gold

Did you know that New York is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world? It’s like a modern-day Tower of Babel, which is no surprise given its nickname, The Melting Pot . It is estimated that up to 700 different languages are currently spoken in New York, many of them endangered. For example, in Queens, there is a small community that speaks Tagalog, the language on which Filipino is based. In the Bronx, on the other hand, several families still speak Laotian at home.

Alongside these lesser-known dialects, other more widespread languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and Italian, are spoken daily by communities that migrated to New York from their native countries. And that today, after several generations, still have a relevant representation in the most cosmopolitan city on the planet.

5

First pizza

Image: Jon Tyson

Not surprisingly, the first pizzeria in the United States is located in New York. The Italian immigrants who arrived in the city at the end of the 19th century brought with them their language, customs, and of course, their delicious food. One of these immigrants, Gennaro Lombardi, used leftover dough from the bread he sold in his Little Italy grocery store to make "tomato pies," following his Neapolitan family's recipe.

This pizza was so successful that in 1905, Lombardi converted his store into a pizza place. Little by little, he adapted his pizza to American ingredients and tastes, and lo and behold in a short time he had created what we now know as New York-style pizza. Lombardi's Pizza, today one of the most legendary pizzerias in New York, is the oldest in the United States. Be sure to grab a slice next time you visit The Big Apple — you won’t regret it!

6

Golden city

Image: Zlaťáky.cz

A city of firsts and mosts, New York is also home to the world's largest known depository of monetary gold. Buried 80 feet below street level, on the bedrock of Manhattan Island, hides an incredible treasure. Established in 1924, the vault of the main building of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, located in the Financial District, stores more gold than The United States Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox.

As of 2024, it houses approximately 507,000 gold bars. This reserve is enclosed in a 140-ton steel-and-concrete frame protected by a state-of-the-art security system. About 98% of the gold belongs to foreign governments, while the rest is owned by the U.S. government and other financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund.

7

Unique ZIP codes

Image: William Wachter

Apart from being home to major companies, the most photographed building in the world, and getting struck by lightning about 25 times a year, the Empire State Building is also notable for having its own ZIP code: 10118.

Although located in South Midtown, the building is so large that the U.S. Postal Service needed to assign it a unique zone improvement plan—ZIP for short—to handle its high volume of mail more accurately and efficiently. To be fair, other buildings in New York also have their own ZIP codes , including 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Chrysler Building, The Pavilion, Park Avenue Plaza, and the Pennsylvania Building, among others.

8

Birding paradise

Image: Laila Zouaki

New York has something for everyone, but wildlife? Who would have thought! When it comes to fauna, New York is much more than just rats, squirrels, and cockroaches. In fact, this concrete jungle has had animals at its heart since the beginning: two beavers adorn the official city seal. But not many New Yorkers know that Central Park is one of the nation's top spots for bird-watching.

The city is located at a concentration point on the Atlantic Flyway bird migration route, making it possible to observe birds year-round. In 1886, the park's first official bird census counted 121 species. Since then, 282 have been observed, including cuckoos, warblers, sparrows, owls, gulls, and Peregrine Falcons, among many others. Some of the best places in Central Park for birding are North Woods, The Ramble, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, and The Pond.

9

Times Square

Image: graphicsdays1989

The busiest street in the Big Apple owes its current name to a newspaper . Formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street, this area is now a spectacle of lights, screens, neon signs, theaters, and hordes of people. However, it was once the center of New York's horse carriage industry. For this reason, in the late 19th century it was known as Longacre Square.

In the early 20th century, The New York Times moved its offices to a skyscraper on 42nd Street. A new subway station soon followed and the area was given the name we know it by today, Times Square. Although the newspaper moved out a few years later, that building is still famous for the Times Square Ball drop on its roof every New Year's Eve.

10

Film mecca

Image: Marta Wave

Declared a National Historic Landmark, Central Park is a staple of New York City. It’s no wonder that this area, in addition to its natural beauty, is a world cultural icon. Central Park is, in fact, the most-filmed location in the world , having been featured in movies as far back as 1908.

With silver screen classics like An Affair to Remember or Breakfast at Tiffany's and modern films including Home Alone and The Avengers , more than 300 productions have chosen this 843-acre park in the heart of the bustling city to film some of the most iconic scenes in movie history. Have you ever spotted Central Park in a film or TV show? Now you won't stop seeing it everywhere!

1

"No one ever escaped alive"

Image: Kelly

Alcatraz loved to sell itself as inescapable. According to official records, no inmate ever made it off the island alive . But the fine print matters…

Five men were not listed as dead, only as "missing and presumed drowned." No bodies were ever recovered… But, considering the cold, fast-moving waters of San Francisco Bay, drowning was a plausible explanation.

2

A 1962 escape still haunts the FBI

Image: Line Knipst

For example, there’s this one story. In June 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin vanished from their cells. They left behind dummy heads made of soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper . Using spoons, they had widened ventilation holes and built a raft from raincoats.

The FBI closed the case in 1979, concluding they drowned. But decades later, new evidence and family testimony reopened the question: What if they didn’t? No bodies were ever found.

3

It was not the harshest prison in America

Image: Klemens Köpfle

Despite its fearsome reputation, Alcatraz was not physically brutal by prison standards of the 1930s. Inmates had single cells, decent sanitation, and regular hot meals, which was not common at the time. In fact, after transfers to other prisons, some inmates requested to return.

4

Prisoners ate shockingly well

Image: Grant Durr

Alcatraz did not believe in hunger as punishment. As mentioned, inmates were served hot breakfasts, fresh bread, meat, and even desserts. The logic was simple: well-fed prisoners were calmer prisoners.

During the Great Depression, some inmates ate better on the Rock than they had on the outside.

5

Al Capone was just another prisoner

Image: Sindre Fjerdingby

Al Capone might have arrived at Alcatraz expecting influence, but he found none there. Stripped of his power, he became inmate number 85, assigned to cleaning duty.

He received no special treatment and no protection from other inmates. His mob connections meant nothing behind those walls. All of this proves that Alcatraz was designed to erase reputations.

6

There was music

Image: Clément Falize

Did you know that Alcatraz had music? Inmates were allowed instruments , and a small prison band rehearsed regularly. There are records of even Al Capone participating in its band.

Legend has it that on quiet evenings, the sound carried across the water to San Francisco. But that may be only local lore.

7

"The Hole" was a real nightmare

Image: Vanessa Werder

Solitary confinement at Alcatraz was called D Block, but inmates knew it as "the Hole." Prisoners were kept in near darkness and silence for days or weeks.

There, meals were restricted, sometimes to bread and water. Inmates came to fear the Hole, as it meant no talking, no reading, no escape from your thoughts, and no sense of time.

8

Nearby sharks were not a threat

Image: Rodrigo Soares

Hollywood seems to love the idea of man-eating sharks circling Alcatraz. But, in reality, the bay’s sharks are small and harmless to humans.

What truly made escape deadly was the near-freezing water and violent tidal currents . Temperatures could drop below 55°F, which would cause rapid muscle failure.

9

Not all inmates were America’s worst criminals

Image: Rita Morais

Alcatraz housed famous gangsters, but many inmates were sent there for different reasons. Some were transferred simply for disciplinary issues, breaking rules, or attempting escape elsewhere.

The figure of the island was a control tool, not just a punishment for violent crime. The threat of being sent to the island seemed to keep other prisons in line.

10

Families lived next to the cells

Image: Liberty Jay

Guards lived on the island with their wives and children . So, you could say that Alcatraz was a whole neighborhood. Kids played baseball, rode bikes, and attended school by ferry.

There were birthday parties and movie nights, because normal life unfolded just steps away from locked cells.

11

Alcatraz closed because it was too expensive

Image: Malcolm Hill

The prison shut down in 1963 because it was financially unsustainable . Everything from fresh water to fuel had to be shipped by boat. Plus, salt air corroded buildings constantly, driving maintenance costs sky-high.