Alison Fortier lived with her family at 15 West 72nd Street next to the famous Dakota Apartments. Alison is the author of A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy published by The History Press in May 2014. She has a BA from the College of William & Mary and an MA in history from the University of Michigan. She is the widow of Donald Robert Fortier and the mother of Graham and Merrill Fortier.