Every Sunday, for the past 24 years, Marjorie Eliot and Rudel Drears open the doors of their Harlem apartment to anyone in the mood for jazz. Initially beginning the apartment sessions as a way to honor her son’s passing, Marjorie’s concerts soon gained popularity and began attracting visitors from all corners of the world. Today, Marjorie’s matinees have become iconic, continuing to restore, renew and unite people all through the magic of music.

The excellent New York Landmarks Conservancy's Tourist in Your Own Town series explores some of New York City’s best hidden gems as well as some of its classic iconic landmarks. In this video from the series, the conservancy takes a look at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in North Corona, Queens.

One of the world’s most renowned jazz musicians and entertainers; Louis Armstrong lived in this modest Queens home from 1943 until his death in 1971. In 1983, his widow Lucille willed the building and its contents to New York City for the creation of a museum and study center devoted to Armstrong’s career and the history of jazz.

Local historical website Ephemeral New York recently dug up this great 1897 map from the NYPL Digital Collections that shows exactly how New York City appeared in 1642 as a Dutch Colony. Be sure to check out the accompanying article for some insight into the map's details.

“The Great Highway” is Broadway. The “Common Ditch” was a rather filthy canal that once filled in became Broad Street. And before landfill reshaped the Lower Manhattan shoreline, the waters of the North River (the Hudson to you and me) lapped at Greenwich Street.