1. The first performance of the song "The Star-Spangled Banner" in New York City took place on August 21, 1831. This patriotic anthem was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 and officially became the national anthem of the United States in 1931.

2. On August 21, 1939, five New York City municipal airports were officially renamed in honor of World War I pilots who had died in combat. These airports included Floyd Bennett Field, Newark Metropolitan Airport, Teterboro Airport, LaGuardia Field, and North Beach Airport (which is now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport).

3. The New York Yankees played their first game at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 1923. This iconic sports venue would go on to host countless memorable moments in baseball history, including Babe Ruth's legendary "called shot" in the 1932 World Series.

4. On August 21, 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th state to join the United States. This historic event was celebrated with a massive statehood parade in New York City, complete with floats, bands, and hula dancers.

5. The New York City blackout of 2003 began on August 14 but lasted until August 21, affecting approximately 50 million people across eight states and parts of Canada. This widespread power outage resulted in chaos and confusion throughout the city, but also brought out the best in New Yorkers as neighbors helped each other navigate the dark and crowded streets.