You know the iconic I Love New York logo, here's the story and the man behind the most recognizable, imitated logo that's become a part of American pop culture.

New York was crime-ridden and in economic and social turmoil, rightfully earning a reputation as one of America's most unfriendly and dangerous places. So in 1973, the New York State Department of Commerce concocted an I Love New York campaign to promote tourism to the city, and they asked graphic designer Milton Glaser to design a logo, pro bono, to match those words. Glaser created the logo on a scrap of paper while in a cab.

Milton Glaser, one of America's most celebrated graphic designers, was born in New York City in 1929, where he still resides and works today. In addition to the I Love New York logo, Glaser co-founded New York magazine. He's also the first graphic designer to be awarded the National Medal of Arts (by President Obama) and was given a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. He also created the famous Bob Dylan silhouette poster, logos for DC Comics and Brooklyn Brewery, and the interior design for Rockefeller Plaza's Rainbow Room.

Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Glaser updated his famous logo to read "I Love New York More Than Ever," with a smudge in the "lower west side" of the heart. Glaser said of the new logo "The only subtlety is the wound, which is located on the lower ‘west side’ of the heart. The shaded portion represented the very area in lower Manhattan where the once proud World Trade Center Twin Towers stood until a pair of hijacked passenger jets slammed into them. Showing a wounded heart is important. To attain healing, the first thing one must do is to acknowledge that there’s pain."

Check out this interview with Milton Glaser.

Check out Ten Things I Have Learned by Milton Glaser.

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photo: W.C.S./Time

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the Legendary Katz in the L.E.S. One of the best if not the best pastrami on rye. Don't forget: extra mustard, a cold Dad's rootbeer and to leave a tip for your cutter.

In a rush and craving a dog on the cheap. Praised by Bourdain and dual thumbs up from us. Absolutely NO Ketchup.

Homestyle doughnuts & a hot cup of joe. The cinnamon apple fritter is recommended.

A favorite of our friend Tony and ours, Mexico 2000 is one of those hole in the wall taquerias that does it traditional to the bone. A no frills family bodega/eatery. The secret is out, location - nope. Just follow your nose on the J&M lines to BK.

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The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Five days later, the liner's chief barber Charles Weikman gave his personal account of the sinking of the Titanic. So I searched for a photo of the Titanic's two barbershops - one for 2nd class passengers and one for 1st class (where Mr. Weikman worked).Unfortunately, I couldn't locate it, but I found this photo of the barbershop in the RMS Olympic (also known as "Old Reliable"), which is supposed to be near identical to the one that would have been in the Titanic. The RMS Olympic was one of the Olympic-class ocean liners built for the White Star Line, which also included the Titanic and Britannic. If anyone is able to locate a picture of the Titanic's actual barbershop, send me an email.

The Olympic Barbershop

RMS Olympic 1911, NYC.

Safe Journeys on the High Seas ~ Grant's Golden Brand Pomade the premiere water based pomade made in the good old USA

pray for good genes.