1. The first Valentine's Day parade in the United States was held in New York City in 1868. Known as the "Valentine's Day Ragamuffin Parade," it was originally a children's parade with participants wearing costumes made from old clothes and rags.

2. The Empire State Building, one of New York City's most iconic landmarks, officially opened on February 14, 1931. At the time, it was the tallest building in the world.

3. On February 14, 1779, the first public celebration of George Washington's birthday took place in New York City. The celebration included a parade and the firing of cannon salutes.

4. The infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, a gang-related shooting that killed seven members of the Chicago Outfit, occurred on February 14, 1929. While the massacre did not take place in New York City, it was widely covered by the city's newspapers and became a national news story.

5. In 1986, on February 14, Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Poitier won the award for his role in "Lilies of the Field," which was filmed in Arizona but is set in the American West.