5 comments about The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn (Neighborhoods of New York City).

1. One of the most accurate portrayals of Brooklyn ever. Accurate neighborhood borders and fantastic descriptions. I was especially fond of Professor John Manbeck's historic "time line" added to this book. Well worth the price!



2. Under the guidance of Professor John Manbeck and using the resources of the Citizens Committee for New York City, THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF BROOKLYN is a survey of Brooklyn that is as colorful and diverse as the borough itself. Examining the nearly 100 neighborhoods of Brooklyn, each section is part history, part tour, part reference. (It even tells you how to get there by mass transit! It even tells you the local police precinct!) Maps of each neighborhood are great for walking tours you can take on your own. And the abundant illustrations really put a face on everything. One time Brooklyn resident, Columbia University Professor Kenneth Jackson, provides the introduction which is both appropriate and enjoyable.



3. As a couple of other reviewers, I was disappointed in the lack of information about the neighborhoods in the 50s and 60s, when I grew up in East Flatbush. Even still, it is fascinating to learn of the full history of each neighborhood. How and when the original Dutch settlers bought the various sections from the Canarsee and Rockaway Native Americans. It is also interesting to learn of the fates of the various neighborhoods and their changing ethnic faces. I ALSO recommend the book "It Happened In Brooklyn: An Oral History Of Growing Up In The Borough In The 1940s, 1950s, And 1960s." The two books are VERY different. While this book is also light on the 50s and 60s, it brings back wonderful memories of Coney Island. It is actually a compilation of anecdotal memories from many people who grew up in Brooklyn, some of whom are world famous for various reasons!



4. This book gave a great overview of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn. However, if you are someone who is not at all familiar with Brooklyn you might be better off using this book in conjunction with other resources.



5. Listen, I was born and bred in Brooklyn, and lived there most of my adult life, though I've voluntarily exiled myself to the southland, just had enough of winter. But when I was given "The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn" as a sort of goodbye and look what you'll be missing book, I was kind of skeptical. How could anyone else know Brooklyn as well as I did?
   
   Brooklyn, of course, is a big and important place. If it were considered on its own, it'd be one of the largest cities in America, and a remarkably high percentage of Americans trace their families back through Brooklyn.
   
   As the authors write in the preface,"Why begin with Brooklyn? Because everyone, everywhere has heard of Brooklyn...Brooklyn is one of the best-known place names in the United States. In addition, it is one of the city's oldest settlements: many of its neighborhoods date back to before the beginning of our nation. Indeed, Brooklyn was present at the creation of the nation, the site of the Revolutionary War's Battle of Brooklyn. And for millions of immigrants it was--and is--their first home in America. If we are a nation of immigrants, Brooklyn, which boasts residents of 200 nationalities, is America's quintessential home town."
   
   So it ain't just about the Dodgers leaving town in the mid-50's, though believe me, I was there at the time, and it was quite a blow.
   
   At any rate, the writers of this book have obviously done a lot of first hand research. They have learned a lot about Brooklyn's neighborhoods, and transmit their knowledge in a highly readable fashion. There are also a lot of interesting photographs: their photo editor is really one of the book's unsung heroes. But I do wish they'd splurged on color, although that might, perhaps, have made the book too expensive for most people.
   
   This book will interest many sorts of people, those who've never lived in Brooklyn, those who are contemplating living in Brooklyn, those who have just moved there, and those who have left the place.
   
   That being said, I won't miss winter at all, but boy, I still miss the Dodgers.

4 comments about The Beautiful Bronx 1920-1950.

1. The Beautiful Bronx brings back to life many beautiful memories. It is truly an excellent text and pictorial review of what was once home for so many people. The words and pictures give the reader a feeling of going back into the past. Life in the Bronx from the Roaring 20's to the beginning of the Kennedy Presidency certainly experienced many changes,good and bad,like the rest of our beloved country. The book describes events and locations perhaps forgotten by many people because so much time has passed from the time period examined. To study the many pictures is tantamount to looking at a time capsule. This book is "must reading" for those folks who never lived in the Bronx during this era and also for those folks who did. Yes, you can go home again.



2. First read the book at my brothers in Florida, had to have one. So many memories, Happy ones. The RKO Royal my farther worked thier for over 25 years. The pictures were so good again memories of days gone by. I lived in Edgewater remember the Mansion and our Volinteer Fire Dept. How things have changed, but your book brought it back to life for me again, no Bronx-ite should be without one Thankyou Bill Taylor



3. I loved the book, but was very disappointed that my neighborhood which is around Mckinley Square, Morrisania Library, Fulton Avenue Y, Crotona Park and the Indian lake, Boston Road Yiddish Theater, Jennings Street with Jackie the Pickle man were not mentioned.



4. Born 79 years ago on Bway. near Van Cortlandt. Lived in Kingsbridge & Mosholu areas 27 years. Drove the trolley cars, Bx.& Van Cort., University, Webster, 167 st. xtown, etc. after WW2. Fordham Rd.,3 movies and the Windsor within a few blocks. Loews Grand, Paradise and 1 more few blocks east. What an era! Skinny dip & sleep out in Botanical Gardens. De Witt Clinton Grad. 1938. Jacob H. Schiff center. Brought back many memories. Only complaint, didn't cover enuff. Faded roses are almost impossible to revive. Still a few childhood friends left from those years. Going back brought a mixture of emotions, so many are gone. elkvppast@aol.com

5 comments about Invisible Frontier: Exploring the Tunnels, Ruins, and Rooftops of Hidden New York.

1. This book was a tremendous disappointment. Many of the "missions" are laughably boring and/or carried out in a stunningly inept fashion, much of the writing is markedly narcissistic in its tone and yet inconsistent in content, and perhaps most disappointing the descriptions of the places where the authors go are remarkably poor.
   
   First, the missions. The mission to the UN mostly involves trying to get inside by asking for an interview. Wow, it's like working for my high school newspaper all over again. Once they're shot down, one member of the team briefly sprints past a barrier and `explores' a plaza outside the building for less than a minute (the main point of which is to hold up the Jinx flag while his friends take his picture). Another involves staying on the subway even after the conductor announces passengers should get off! - oh the bravery and cunning!. This is made all the more ridiculous when two non-English speaking tourists inadvertently do the same thing and when the authors do not even get off the train once it's stopped at the abandoned subway station they had planned to explore. Later, they go into an abandoned house, where they discover that a lot of other people have also done this over the years.
   
   Second, the writing. Much of the text focuses on how cool they look in their "uniforms" (dark suits and sunglasses), how cool they look walking to their missions, how cool they look on their missions, how cool it is when they all get together and how everybody else in New York are mindless zombies who don't appreciate what is around them because they are trapped in their sad, meaningless lives. The whole uniform thing is particularly stupid. There's one throw-away sentence explaining that they wear these uniforms because otherwise "scientists" and "philosophers" will not take their "empirical data" seriously, but you simply can't shake the feeling that they just want to look like they're either in "Reservoir Dogs" or "The Matrix" (particularly when the ridiculous `uniforms' keep attracting attention when they're trying to sneak into some place.) Throughout the book the authors bounce between stressing that they explore places for the scientific, empirical value of doing so and that it is not at all for a sense of adventure, only then to talk later about how much fun the adventure of it all is (including one author's admission that he believes the other has a death wish and that is why he engages in so many dangerous activities while exploring). In addition, much space is taken up with various diatribes on the evils of modern life (including a particularly passionate rant against the United Nations that comes totally out of nowhere), and all the horrible twenty-somethings of the world who spend their lives drinking iced coffees (which is a particularly hollow complaint when - a few pages later - the Jinx crew sits down to iced coffees after having screwed up the UN mission). You almost get the sense that after trying in vain to improve the writing, the publishers finally decided to spin the writing as "witty" and hope that people fell for it.
   
   Finally, the descriptions are no better than what you'd get if you wrote down what you think the locations look like without ever actually going. The Croton Aqueduct is dark and slippery. An abandoned subway station is eerie. When you're on top of the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River looks a long way away. And that's about as good as the descriptions get.
   
   Don't waste your time or your money.



2. If the writing and adventures could match the inflated perceptions that the authors have of themselves, this would be a great read. Unfortunately, the writing is downright pedestrian and the urban adventures are either lackluster and/or poorly described. Also, the flow of each chapter is interrupted with uninteresting asides and juvenile commentaries on a scattershot laundry list of topics.
   
   A typical example of this is the uninspiring breakin of an abandoned Harlem row house. The author starts off with a truncated textbook-like history of Harlem that lasts a few paragraphs. Once that boring bit of exposition is done with the writer and his friends drive around a little bit and then enter an abandoned building. They look around a little bit (not exactly thrilling) and then attempt to leave via the fire escape. Here, we are presented with a another aside about the author's 'love' of fire escapes.. "What, in fire escapes, do I admire?... their constancy... firm as Gibraltar... like Ulysses to his barque.. supporting, as Atlas, the gravid snows of winter". Ugh, at times like this you wish the author would have consulted with an editor.
   
   Not everything is terrible. Things pick up here and there, there are a few interesting tid-bits of history, but overall the book does not live up to it's potential.



3. As someone very interested in urban exploration (especially in the subways) I wanted to check this book out upon hearing of it. After reading many of these Amazon reviews though, I opted out of a purchase, and took it out of my Bronx library instead. Thank goodness as I only wasted valuable time, and not any money.
   
   This book is a sham. It is obviously mostly fiction. And it's boring fiction at that. The book is divided into chapters, each chapter a new "adventure."
   
   I read the subway one first, where the "explorers" take the 6 train around the loop at the end of the line, to see the City Hall Station, which opened in 1904 (NYC's first station) and closed in 1948. The station is located on the loop of the 6 train, that makes the southbound trains go back up north after the last stop, Brooklyn Bridge. First of all, anyone can go on this "adventure." Just stay on the train at the last stop, Brooklyn Bridge, and that's it. You go south, circle around the loop through the City Hall station, and head uptown. Despite the author's attempt to make this sound risky, no conductors walk through the train to see if anyone is on (like they really care), just sit down. As a matter of fact, the train conductor actually says the next stop is Brooklyn Bridge, uptown! The author created some "European tourists" that inadvertantly stayed on the 6 after the last stop, and the author even tries to create some mystery by saying "are we on the wrong train?" Well, unless all those huge "6" signs that are lit all over the train are difficult to read, then you probably got on the correct train. The author also fails to mention that the MTA used to give public tours all the time through this station (and others like the 18th street on the 6 and more) but stopped after 9-11. This chapter was a joke. (UPDATE: The MTA now gives tours through the original City Hall station again.)
   
   I started reading the other chapters, and saw they were no better. I then started to breeze through the book. One thing that is very obvious - no photographs of the adventures are in the book at all. This, despite the fact that on page 67 the author states, "Josh takes out his camera and snaps away at every pipe and puddle..." But no photos of their "adventures" are in the book. Why? Because it's fiction.
   
   There are photos of what they are supposed to be exploring, sure, that's easy. There's even one pic of one of these clowns hopping some fence somewhere, ooo. Buit no pics of the actual "adventures." I guess "Josh" lost all those pictures when he went to CVS to have them developed.
   
   The funny thing is, you can save yourself a lot of time by just going online and viewing pictures of these things for yourself. Especially the City Hall station, there are tons of pictures of it available from the people that were in there during the tours.
   
   Just stay away from this sham of a book, it's really a huge waste of time.



4. Invisible Frontier: Exploring the Tunnels, Ruins, and Rooftops of Hidden New York
   
   this book was a tremendous dissapointment.. it couldnt even hold my attention while i try to skim through it on the john.. lol.. but seriously, its has absolutely no interesting information about the hidden aspects of NYC. it just describes how this "team" walks around breaking into stuff in the city (and lists every individual person involved in each activity at least once a paragraph, so lame) let me give you an example. "johnny b was the first one walking in the pack on the island, then comes randy jo behind wearing all black.. right behind him is betty sue"... AND THIS IS EVERY CHAPTER AND ALMOST EVERY PARAGRAPH..it gives no background infomation on the places the visited, there is no secret information in it, it decribes the george washington bridge, grand central and some other lame sites that anyone who can search google could get 100000x more info then what this book provides. What a great idea for a book but it was so poorly executed that it made me mad enough to log onto amazon just to write a bad review.. dont waste your money



5. WARNING - no matter what this book says, it is NOT a guidebook. it is a very boring mission book written by some guys that i really feel sorry for (nerdy, misunderstood, few friends - this was gleaned from their own words, not mine). it is a book about their (mis)adventures. or really, their (boring)ventures. it never should have been written. at best, it could have been a blog - that nobody would have read except for their mothers. whoever gave this book 5stars must have written it.
   
   on the plus side - they do give some interesting bits about the history of a few places. this was the ONLY redeeming feature of this book. otherwise, it was a COMPLETE waste of TIME and MONEY. in retrospect, i wish i had read the reviews before buying. if you are considering it, the only saving grace is the little bits of history the history they give. but it is nowhere near enough to redeem the book. its only the badly written stories of a few lonely kids that wanted to make themselves look cool - and terribly failed. i promise you will be disappointed.

5 comments about A Return to Cooking.

1. what can I say, this is simply the most beautiful
   cookbook that I have ever come accross. What pictures
   and paintings.

   A real work of art and love. Almost to beautiful to want
   to cook out of it and risk to splatter food on it.

   Haven't tried any of the recipies yet, but can't wait and
   will update this review as soon as I have tried a few of them.
   But most of them look really surprisingly simple and
   soooo delicious and very often surprising!!!!

   A definite must have for any cooking lover




2. The book is beautiful: layout, photography, the food itself. As others have noted, the recipes are very good for a home cook: impressive, but not so complex as to deter a dedicated cook.

   Why 4 and not 5 stars? Because I think Ruhlman is merely an average writer. He spends too much time cozying up to M. Ripert. In browsing the book, I found several grammar errors (minor irritance, but in a book of this quality, I find disappointing). Ruhlman is no Reichl or Grimes -- but I think he tries to be. I think Ruhlman picks fascinating topics (I enjoyed Soul of a Chef immensely); it's just that, for me, his writing is a distraction from the content.




3. This may be Ripert's return to the kitchen (ie., this is arguably not "restaurant" food), but it's still demanding of money, time, and skill (probably in that order). I say money and time first because he uses top-notch and/or esoteric ingredients, which will require some investment and shopping (eg: live pibales: I never heard of them anywhere else before or since. Even the book says they are very difficult to find: Ripert special orders them from a supplier for $65 a pound. No substitution is mentioned, and the description of them is too limited to make a guess at an acceptable sub. Perhaps there simply is none...). But that's to be expected from any top-tier chef's book, so it's certainly no reason to knock this down.
   
   I'll leave it as established that the recipes are delicious and mouth-watering, etc., and intend to focus this review on who might consider this cookbook and whether or not I'd recommend it.
   
   Admittedly, I spent more time gazing longingly at this book than cooking from it. But, when I have cooked from it, I have always learned something about technique or ingredients, and for that, I rate this book 5 starts. The expense and general highly-demanding nature are irrelevant to rating, as I see it, because you can tell what you're getting into when you consider any book with this many artists and this size of pages involved.
   
   Like any chef's book, you have to be willing to take what you can use: if you can't commit yourself to preparing all the elaborate components of a dish, try making the sauce, or using the cooking method. I've learned a lot of new sauces here, and I look to this almost every time I have a piece of fish in the fridge.
   
   To me, the most interesting part of his grand project is how he brings his background to bear on the different cuisines and traditions of the location (my favorite chapter is in Puerto Rice). The flavor combinations alone are eye-opening, and satisfyingly so.
   
   The artwork, photography, and other writings are, well, there, and how much you like them is up to your own taste. In that respect, you can approximate the book by its cover. I really like the paintings, and how they look like woodcuts, but sometimes the personalities can teeter on the precious or smug side (Though who can blame them: take a year off to paint/cook/eat and travel? I'd feel pretty special too.). I actually do not think I would want to have been part of this particular entourage.
   
   I would most strongly recommend this to anyone who wanted to expand his/her repertoire of fish and seafood recipes: you will find ideas here that are not duplicated elsewhere, and seafood is why Ripert is famous.
   
   If fish/seafood are not strong points of interest, but you are generally a good, well-budgeted and well-supplied cook, you'll probably enjoy this, but I wouldn't say it's an essential addition to your working library.
   
   If you don't cook fish or seafood, I would buy something else.
   
   Also, if you don't live near good, extensively stocked grocery stores (especially fish markets and butcher's who can supply you with things like veal cheeks), I don't think this would have much value as a usable cookbook. Unlike game or foie gras, fish doesn't seem like a strong mail-order candidate. Once you deduct recipes requiring specialty items, you're left with things ike "Figs Wrapped in Bacon" (and not in some ingenious Thomas Keller way; it's quite straightforward).
   
   Obviously, if you're a novice cook, or looking for fast/simple/cheap recipes, you're probably not even viewing this item. In case you are, I recommend you immediately look elsewhere and avoid this book entirely.
   
   Nonetheless, even if you're eating through a feeding tube, or never intend to cook a single thing in your life, but you really like looking at pictures of food, or reading about how people feel about food, you'll probably love this. As an attractive coffee table/daydream cookbook, it's one of the best.



4. I ordered this book on Dec. 6th for a Christmas gift. Apparently the book was not in stock, they never told me that... only that I would be delivered within 2 weeks, then without any notice at all they changed the delivery date to Jan 6th, which I only found out by visiting amazon.com to find out where my book is.
   
   The book eventually arrived, too late for Christmas. After giving me really bad service, with NO communication at all, woody's has now contacted me multiple times to get me to remove negative reviews. Forget it, Woody. You give bad, unreliable service you get bad reviews.



5. am kind of disappointed when I paid over 70 dollars to get this book. I should have ordered books written by some European Master chefs from oversea source. Eric Ripert is no doubt one of the best in business. If you have eaten in his restaurant, Le Bernadin, you will completely agree with me. I dined there several times. It is another blockbuster team up (Rhulman and Ripert). Lately, Rhulman's books completely failed my expectation. It become more marketing driven. And this book certainly is one of them. Big book, lots of pictures. But it is just background picture of their vacation or some cherry tomatoes or unneccessary pictures of Ruhlman in cool looking sun glasses or Eric Ripert on the beach. It reminds me of a cookbook written by Mr.Town and Country's Geoffrey Zakarian. It shows his pictures more than anything.
   
   This should be a kind of book that is packed with his jack of all trade technique. Unlike European chef, their books are stunning and full of cooking technique. If you are a home cook, you may like the book. But I found it as overrated as Gray Kuntz's Elements of Taste which is sold nearly 100 dollars. And I found people who buy them are actually culnary students and professional cooks like me. It is a such a shame, both of them are one of my favorite chefs.
   
   I would suggest if any of you who plan to buy these two books, wait until they reprint second edition or paperback version. It is not worth this hefty price and lofty hype.
   
   If you want good home/restaurant cooking book, buy well written Think like chef (Tom Collichio) or else. Small book, well written, simple ingredients, and cheap to find. Save your money and borrow it from Library and see it yourself. Wanna pay this much? Go to Amazon.fr or Amazon.uk They sell much much better cookbook written by European master chefs. Trust me

1 comments about New York Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (Curiosities Series).

1. A great pocket guide of New York's coolest places and people. A must for the glove compartment of anyone who travles New York roads, or wants to be the first to find the perfect, well, curiosity. Hats & Eyeglasses: A Family Love Affair with Gambling

2 comments about No Place I'd Rather Be: Wit and Wisdom from Adirondack Lean-To Journals.

1. I bought this book for my husband for Xmas. He's been a camper, back-packer, and paddler for many years, and quite taken with the Adirondacks. So, I thought this book would be a perfect little stocking stuffer.
   He read it right away, chuckled and laughed throughout, and has recommended it to many of his friends.
   I think the book is a great idea and rings true for anyone who's dabbled in any outdoorsy-woodsman sport - or those who think they might like to!



2. This book is a collection of entries in lean-to journals throughout the Adirondack park. This book was hard to put down. Some very entertaining tales are found here. Enjoy!

5 comments about Pyramids of Montauk: Explorations in Consciousness (The Montauk Trilogy Book 3).

1. Reporter Chris Ketchum brings it all home with an excellent,
   objective, and honest report on the Montauk Project for national men's magazine, Gear.

   See it now on-line at
   http://www.geocities.com/montaukprojectexposed/

   Don't miss this one!




2. This book is pretty frucking far out...and I've read a lot of cutting edge stuff. Whose reality are we talkin' about here? The reader must decide for himself.



3. In fairness, I am only about a third through the book. I have however,read a few other books on the same subject.
   I think Peter Moon weakens his credibility, by constantly inserting his own unverifiable speculations, and presenting as conclusive evidences what are only possibilities. His life seems full of synchronous coincindences, but he gives them weight which may not be justified by the events.
   I suspect that there is a factual basis for the reported activities at Montauk, but Moon's style is enough to make one an unbeliever!



4. It is a good book but you dont want to buy this book without reding the others that preceded it first or you will be lost.



5. Unfortunately, I was a little late in coming round to the Montauk books. I regret that now, but I wholeheartedly recommend them to all free-thinking, educated, and open-minded people. There is no point going over the contents of the book here, as they will sound absurd when viewed out of context. Rest assured, the subject matter is not trivial, and neither is it an elaborate hoax.

2 comments about Michelin Red Guide 2008 New York City (Michelin Red Guides).

1. The Michelin Guide is a standard in the restaurant review business. It has a pedigree that is much more revered in France than in the United States. Personally, I feel Zagat tried harder and won. Ideally, you should own both red books and consult with each before planning a dining experience but inevitably, the one that you would resort to most of the time is Zagat, not Michelin.
   
   Michelin is not laid out in a cohesive user frienndly manner. It is divided by neighborhoods which is fine if you suffer from agoraphobia and your primary goal is to seek out a restaurant in a small definitive radius.
   
   Usually, when one dines out one is looking for a particular type of restaurant i.e. a romantic restaurant, a before theatre prix fix, a small tapas place, an over the top restaurant to max out your expense account, etc. To identify these restaurants and many many more, Zagat is the top choice. Michelin confines their reviews not only to particular neighborhoods but to a small number of particular restaurants as well! It only chooses to review what they consider Michelin worthy.
   
   If you're interested in only THE top restaurants, Michelin is for you. You will learn which restaurants, mostly French, in Manhattan have earned the coveted Michelin stars. However, if you want to have a glimpse of each and every restaurant in NYC from the pizza place downtown to the 5 star establishment in midtown... buy the Zagat.
   
   Go ahead... if you're like me and want to have the best of both worlds, buy both!



2. The Michelin Red Guide is the most respected Restaurant Guide in the world. There have been chefs that have committed suicide when they lost a star. They have exacting standards or service and understand haute cuisine better than any one else in the world. And this is precisely why they are almost totally irrelevant to Restaurants in New York City. They do not understand that American standards of service are different, not worse, not lower, just different. Nor can they understand cuisines that do not fit into their narrow concepts of haute cuisine. So chefs like Mario Batali and Yasuda-sama will never do as well as they should.
   
   You are better off with the Zagat's guide.

1 comments about The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City.

1. This Guide to New York City is Rich in history, anecdotes and Comic books-- what's that you say? you want to go to Hell's Kitchen so you look it up in this book and you'll find all about our Hell's Kitchen. But then Peter Sanderson takes you one step further and takes you through all of the historical places and Heroes that live and work in Hell's Kitchen(Daredevil/Matt Murdock) that are in the Marvel Universe.From Midtown and the fantastic four and the Baxter Building to Westchester County and the X-Men you'll find all sorts of info fun and pics. a worthwile investment for those who like to collect unusual guides to cities.

No comments about Hagstrom New York City, 5 Borough: Digitized Edition (Hagstrom New York City Five Borough Atlas).