No comments about Open Road'S Best Of New York City: Your Passport to the Perfect Trip!" and "Includes One-Day, Weekend, One-Week & Two-Week Trips (Open Road Travel Guides).

1 comments about Jazz Guide, New York City, 2nd Edition (Jazz Guide New York City).

1. This book is more than a guide. It's an entertaining lesson in jazz history. The author writes like he's talking to an expert and/ or a novice at the same time. Dollar's expertise is also completely down to earth, often relating stories and anecdotes, which really draws in the reader and gives us a feeling for the depth of the subject.

No comments about Rand McNally Easyfinder New York City, New York: Laminated (Easyfinder Maps).

No comments about The Living Cathedral - St. John the Divine: A History and Guide.

5 comments about The Underground Guide to New York City Subways.

1. I thought I was a wiseass, but once I read this New York kid's views and opinions on the city he lives in, I realized I am not even close. His witticisms can get a bid on the "edgey" side, but in the grand scheme of the work, the author's writing comes through with flying colors. A+. I am looking forward to his future works.



2. Dave Frattini writes with wit and detail about the Subways of New York. As a native of New York, Frattini gives a very candid view of the subway stations and their decor, the subway lines and their neighborhoods and an understanding of the culture of New York City. His humor is great and pokes fun at himself as well as some of the outrageous things that occur in the City. He also gives to the point details of the best and worst of the places that you can or cannot visit. You will laugh out loud at some of the wry observations he makes about his hometown and the City. I would recommend this book to anybody who would like understand the heart of New York City and all of its many neighborhoods and boroughs. Buy it and enjoy!



3. I can't swear for the rest of the boroughs, but I can tell you that the author doesn't appear to have all his Brooklyn facts straight. A couple of examples: He talks of a stop on the "N" line at 86th Street and 8th Avenue (p.259). Not only is there not a stop there....there is no "there" there. Those two streets do not cross. Eight Avenue ends in the 70's. Also, the author talks of the view of the Ave X subway yards and overhaul center that can be "clearly seen from the "N" and the "R" Lines as they begin the Stillwell Avenue descent into Coney Island" (p.5). Problem is, the "R" train goes nowhere near Coney Island. In fact, it is underground for its entire run in Brooklyn. There were others, but I won't bore you with the details. In a book that purports to be a "guide," attention to detail is important. In a lot of cases here, we are not talking about minor details. The prose style, if you can call it that, is way too cute. All in all, if you want a guide to the subway, get the free map from the MTA. If you want to know about the neighborhoods, take a bus tour and see for yourself. Given the unreliability of the book regarding areas of the world with which I'm familiar, I'd be very hesitant to count on it for anything at all.



4. Blessed with a hefty wit (and an appetite to match), Frattini has a good time bouncing his way through the New York City Underground, and his enthusiasm for the subway system he obviously loves rubs off on even the most jaded subway patron (Having spent 18 years myself riding the less than stellar "F" line, I can tell you NO ONE brings the 179 Street Station alive like Frattini does). From Duffers hocking scholky Rolexes in rundown stations to the not necessarily Hi-Class glories of New York cuisine (lovers of Greaseburgers, Indian Buffets, and Jamaican Beef Patties have a friend in Frattini), you really get a distinct feel for the less glamorous, yet no less interesting, underbelly of New York. The addition of local eateries is a Nice Touch, and I hope this "Cesar" of the Subway continues to skewer and yet love, his home town.



5. This book's goal is admirable to anyone who loves the city subway - visit every station and desvribe it for all to know. However, Dave Frattini, makes a pretty bad job of it. While his effort is admirable, his information as duly noted by others is often plain wrong.
   His style could use some work too - how many times can one write "let's face it" in one publication??
   Furthermore he includes completley unnecessary racial comments into the descriptions: why "scary black guy"??(p.180) Why shouldn't residents of Ralph Avenue watch a TV sitcom with white characters?(p.37) Van Siclen Avenue area is not a shanty town - why should it be surprising to see satelite dishes? (pp.179-180) I can't find such remarks informative or funny.
   Real people live and work in all these neighborhoods - they have many more positive sides than can be seen from a brief peek from inside the station - but it seems the author did not really do this much for some of his listings...
   The book presents New York, New Yorkers and the subway as the same old stereotypes from bad movies of a few decades back.
   Some one should us all a favor and write a new and better book!

No comments about New York in Store.

5 comments about Quattrocento.

1. A beautiful tale, rich in both imagery and imagination. Seamlessly, it tells itself, weaving a fine tapestry of past and present, matter and mind, fact and fantasy. Even the distortion & darkness of human nature here clothes itself in grotesque finery, lifting the common above itself, and above the inevitable mud of life.



2. There are some significant holes in the plot and the characters could have been more developed but, for me, that was offset by the richness of the descriptions and the wonderful dialogue. It is not a classic time-travel romance, although that is an element, but it made me think and taught me some things about art, science and music. I very much enjoyed this book, find myself still thinking about it and hoping he writes another book.



3. I am only now just reading this book, having found it among a stack of other good novels in the local Goodwill Store.(my favorite spot for book hunting)
   
   While I am fascinated by the period (which seems to be in vogue as of late) I was somewhat disappointed at not learning more about DaVinci, one of the most interesting human beings in our history. I was hoping to learn more of the period and his works, ideas and motivations as it related to this possible piece attributed by him. I was even expecting him to be introduced to the Master. But unfortunately, the "love triangle" with Anna was a bore and I read "between the lines" at the interplay of Matt in Rennaisance Italy. Overall it was a good first novel and I do think the author is on to better things. It was enjoyable and I did find myself looking forward to getting back to it's pages day in and out but again, the author clearly knows the actual subject matter basing the novel ("time travel" aside and I see another such novel with more depth and character in the future. Looking forward to it.



4. Expert violinmaker, McKean, ventures into new territory with his ambitious debut novel, Quattrocento - a story of fine art and love, cleverly disguised as time-travel conceit.
   
   At the heart of the story is Matt O'Brian, an art restorer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who struggles with the realization that he has revealed a never before discovered quattrocento* masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci; a painting of a beautiful young woman, who O'Brian names "Anna". The painting and the subject become the focus of his obsession, and O'Brian fears its discovery, as he does not wish to be parted from it. In the meantime, the Metropolitan Museum has finished the restoration of Federico's Studiolo, an ancient study, a placeO'Brian is often drawn to for quiet reflection.
   
   Unwilling to psychologically part with the painting that he has worked tirelessly on, O'Brian ultimately loses himself to the mysterious allure of the studiolo, and finds himself unwittingly whisked across five centuries to the quattrocento to be with the painting's beautiful subject, Anna. There he discovers she is a Contessa and also an artist, married to an elderly man. It is not long before O'Brian also encounters her dangerous suitor, a covetous knight named Leandro, who plunges the art curator into a treacherous love triangle, vying for the Contessa's affections. After falling in love and sharing their affection with a discreet kiss, Matt is parted from Anna, and is returned to present day.
   
   O'Brian, desperate to return to Anna summons the aid of some ambiguous quantum mechanics, and is somehow jettisoned back to the quattrocento to pursue her again freely. Her elderly husband has since passed away, and most importantly the jealous suitor Leandro is (somewhat too conveniently) gone.
   
   McKean's imaginative Quattrocento is a sprawling tale that is more fantasy than it is drama. The author's artistic background serves him well throughout the novel, as details regarding the beautiful world of art are truly breathtaking. Several passages meld "castle in the sky" whimsy and reality as O'Brian loses himself inside various art works. And yet, throughout the novel, it seems as though McKean has bitten off a bit more than he can chew with regards to physics and the idea of time travel, as the descriptions become often tedious and lack a lot of logic. But his efforts do deserve at least a nod of appreciation from art and book lovers alike.



5. Matt works in a museum, restoring paintings. One day a picture catches his eye, and he ends up spending his time cleaning up a portrait of a woman he comes to refer to as Anna. As he works on the restoration, it becomes more and more clear that this painting is a Da Vinci. It also becomes clear, especially to Matt's girlfriend, that he has fallen in love with Anna.
   
   When the museum realizes what Matt has discovered and puts the painting on display, Matt is devastated at the thought of so many people staring at his beloved. When he retires to an isolated part of the museum to collect himself, though, he find himself suddenly transported, to the time of swordfights, nobility, and Anna.
   
   This book contained wonderful descriptions of art and music. I liked reading about pigmentation and the paintings he described, which came to life in my mind. However, parts of the plot were sketchy. Somehow Matt was able to travel to the exact place and time he desired, and once there was able to get the woman of his dreams to fall in love with him. Matt was able to fit in, without question, with the people of this time period, despite his many strange behaviors. Time travel stories are difficult to pull off, since they require more suspension of disbelief than other stories. This particular one had too many gaps.

No comments about The city of New York in the year of Washington's inauguration, 1789.

4 comments about Hunter Travel Guides Catskills: Alive! (The Catskills Alive!).

1. The Catskills have long been a vacation spot for New York residents: The Catskills Alive! provides a survey of the Catskills; from hiking and outdoors opportunities to history and regional attractions. Places to stay and eat are included in this take-along travel tote.



2. Silverman, a veteran feature writer for newspapers and magazines, is an expert when it comes to providing the reader with the most up-to-date details pertaining to the Catskills.

   The guidebook more than adequately dispels the often- heard misconception "there's nothing to do in the Catskills anymore."

   Admirably fulfilling its objective of providing a comprehensive guide to the Catskills, Silverman pinpoints locations by dividing them into four areas- Sullivan, Ulster, Greene and Delaware.
   Within these areas, the guidebook provides the reader with comprehensive listing and descriptions of places to stay, eat, and shop, attractions, museums, festivals, events, and other "goodies."

   In a way, the book serves as an invitation for people to come and enjoy this beautiful area of New York State.

   The introduction to the book sets the stage for the chapters that follow, giving a brief overview and explanation of the environment, forests, wildlife, contemporary Catskills, gambling, nightlife, getting around, driving, transportation services, where to stay and eat, shopping, seasonal considerations, guided trips, and brochures and publications.

   Each of the chapters that follow describe in detail all of the above, and in addition provide some interesting tips, and "did you know facts."

   As an example, Silverman informs us, Ostriches lack teeth but can painfully clamp down on your hand. Children should be warned to look and not touch.

   The Kaaterskill Falls & Catskill Mountain House's guest list is a biographer's dream:
   Alexander Graham Bell, Henry James, Oscar Wilde, Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Winslow Home and Tyronne Power.
   Most of all, it was Thomas Cole, leader of the Hudson River School of Landscape painters, who popularized the region with his Catskill Mountain House and other paintings.

   The book is also peppered with many other tidbits concerning the history of the hotels and bygone days, the Algonquin influence, community improvements, and works in progress that represent significant projects that may or may not materialize.

   No doubt, this guidebook will be of immense aid to those who are contemplating a visit to the Catskills or perhaps those who vacation in the area but were not aware of its many attractions.

   Silverman's profound knowledge gives the book a substance well beyond many Catskills' guidebooks.




3. As in previous guides by this author, information is arranged according to specific areas of the Catskills. Highlights of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, and Delaware counties are listed systematically in helpful fashion. Anything travelers or tourists could possibly want or need to know about the Catskills has been researched by the author. In a style that feels like reminiscing with an old friend, Ms. Silverman shares insights on food, lodging, and points of interest both past and present. And if her directions don't help travelers find their way through rustic country on mountain roads, the author states law officers and locals are friendly and helpful to lost tourists.
   
   Catskills history is fascinating. In addition to step by step guides for each county, readers will discover charming stories about famous visitors - a who's who of the past.
   
   The Catskills and Hudson River Valley come alive, thanks to Francine Silverman's skill. With fresh air, clean water, and pristine forests, it would make a most appealing destination.
   As was her previous guide book, Long Island Alive, this latest book is a must have for anyone planning a visit to the Catskills.
   
   Laurel Johnson
   Midwest Book Review



4. Beyond Dirty Dancing

   Francine Silverman's The Catskills Alive!, now in its second printing, brings the vivid mountain area of Southern New York to life for the casual or more discerning reader. The guidebook's narrative is interlaced with nostalgia, pointing out the great vitality of the Catskills in the 1950s and the current local proprietors' efforts to revive a somewhat ailing economy.

   The Catskills Alive! is divided into chapters of the four counties spanning across the Catskills region. Silverman dedicates two entire sections to the numerous campgrounds and farm markets available there.

   The Catskills Alive! is a great guide to have for an area whose advertising signs misrepresent what is still in business and what is not. Silverman has a rock-solid grasp on her subject matter as she sheds light on the history of grandiose hotels which have since been razed. In the case of the Leibowitz's Pine View Hotel, for example, the building has been turned into a correctional facility. These little facts make her book an easy and interesting read.

   Even sports fans can find something of interest in Silverman's book. Each chapter offers useful information on sports facilities, golf courses, fitness studios, bird watching, and the like. She offers noteworthy trivia such as famous faces who have graced the landscape, drawing the area closer to the reader's heart even as he or she is geographically miles and miles away. I highly recommend The Catskills Alive! for anyone who wants to learn beyond what you see in movies such as "Walk on the Moon" and "Dirty Dancing".

   Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff, is a freelance writer living near Munich with her husband and two children. Visit her Web site at http://www.diaryofamother.com

No comments about New York: City Guide : 1991/Full Fold-Out Map of New York, Airport Maps, Public Transportation and Walking Tours, Mobil Travel Guide Ratings of Hotel (Mobil Travel Guide New York).