Growing up between Philadelphia and New York, David Sigmund has always been fascinated by cities. He has seen Philadelphia change in the best way possible, going from an old manufactuing town to a modern, sophisticated metropolis. His great-grandfather came to the city from Germany, and operated a popular tavern ("The Golden Lager") in the Fairmount neighborhood. He was formerly a journalist for a mid-sized daily newspaper in New Jersey, specializing in in-depth stories and opinion articles on urban issues. He served on the staff of the US Senate's leading expert on cities. He studied Urban Planning at the graduate level, and taught local history in a top-rated area high school, developing original coursework on the contemporary city. He has been a guide in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC, and has traveled throughout Europe and Mexico. He enjoys showing off the city to visitors from all over the world.