Fifth Avenue Forever

Few streets embody the essence of New York City like Fifth Avenue. With Assouline’s new book, readers can step into the rich tapestry of this iconic avenue’s history and charm. Featuring a foreword by celebrated author Jay McInerney and an introduction by journalist Julie Satow, this volume features stunning images that trace Fifth Avenue’s evolution, from black-and-white snapshots of horse-drawn carriages passing grand mansions to the vibrant, bustling scenes of today. Fifth Avenue: 200 Years of Stories and Legends, is an invitation to experience New York’s most storied boulevard—a place, as Fitzgerald once described, with “all the iridescence of the beginning of the world.” 

Introduced in the 1860s, cast-iron street clocks once proliferated on the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue. This ornate double-faced clock in the Flatiron District still stands, and the words “Fifth Avenue Building” mark its dial. (Fred W. McDarrah/Contributor/Getty Images)