2 comments about Do Not Give Way To Evil: Photographs of the South Bronx, 1979-1987.

1. The book documents the decay of the Bronx in the late 60s
   through the early 80s. Both Presidents Carter and Reagan
   visited the Bronx. I'm certain that President Clinton
   has done the same. Page after page documents the run-down
   buildings which were once proud edifices around the turn
   of the previous century.
   
   After a number of decades, the South Bronx has seen
   a considerable restoration. The Bronx Land Reclamation
   Project is put forth as a success story
   in the continuing revival of the Bronx. Many pages have
   actual pictures of local residents. Some of the pictures
   are familiar to me. The presentation is an important
   contribution to the continuing restoration of NYC and
   the Bronx in particular. The author should have stressed
   the role of "enterprise zones" in the restoration of
   inner city neighborhoods.



2. As an aficionado of New York in the 70's and 80's, as well as being a lifelong New Yorker I found this book to be wonderful. It gives a glimpse of the creative scene contrasting with the culture of the South Bronx during a tumultuous time in the city's history.I find myself looking at it over and over.

1 comments about MapEasy's Guidemap to Upper Manhattan (City Guidemaps North America).

1. MapEasy are fantastic, and beautiful maps suitable for framing, really. Each map is entirely hand-drawn, annotated with small illustrations of landmarks, historical tidbits, and filled with color-coded listings of many neighborhood shops that a resident, not just a visitor would find useful. There is one main map, and in the back, a series of mini-maps focusing on various areas of interest along with driving directions, suggested itineraries, and more. The maps are printed on tear resistant, and water resistant material for long lasting quality. The only downside is MapEasy's definition of "Upper" Manhattan, it is the area from 59th to 89th Street, so it is misleading. rkchin. more map reviews at http://www.nychinatown.org/bookstore/index6.html

5 comments about One Thousand New York Buildings.

1. Every once in a while I'll walk down a street of my busy city and spot a building that I'd never seen before, or, if I had seen it, never paid it much mind. But something about it--its age or its architecture--tells me that there's a story to be told about it. Judith Dupre, Bill Harris, and photographer Jorg Brockmann in their monumental book, "One Thousand New York Buildings", fill in the gaps left behind in the AIA books.
   
   There are hundreds of buildings that, for whatever reason, have escaped landmark status and/or the attention of New Yorkers. Although "One Thousand New York Buildings" does discuss the familiar structures, like the Empire State Building, the Woolworth Building, and Grand Central Station, it also devotes equal time to those that have been ignored or overlooked. What are those tiny, Colonial style houses on Harrison and Greenwich Streets? How old is that building at 2 White Street? Who lived in those somber buildings at 130-132 MacDougal Street? "One Thousand New York Buildings" answers these and hundreds of other questions. In this sense, this book is much like "New York Streetscapes: Tales of Manhattan's Significant Buidlings and Landmarks" by Christopher Gray and Suzanne Braley, in as much as it pays equal tribute to the famous and not so famous structures.
   
   One last note, this is a solidly put together book. The binding is sturdy, the paper thick and glossy, and the photos are clear and intriguing. It as well constructed as the buildings they pay homage to.



2. and come back and sit and look at this book.
   
   Bet you missed a lot on each street.
   
   Then go out again and do it all over.
   
   A real treat.



3. The title might have been 1,000 of the BEST buildings in New York City. No city in America, and few the world over, contain the mind-boggling ensemble of outstanding urban architecture, both historic and modern, as does New York City. This city is a national and world treasure, and all of Manhattan SHOULD be a UNESCO World Heritage site, but, alas... There's simply no comparison possible. This book is a survey of 1,000 outstanding structures in the city, properly chosen in my opinion, each including a black & white photograph and short descriptive essay. With so much wonderful material from which to choose, the book is a real feast of architectural goodness! Because it isn't as exhaustive as White & Willensky, it is more thorough in coverage of the selected buildings. It's well put together. Good buildings. Nice photography. Well written short essays. Covers the five boroughs well.
   
   America's peninsular cities; San Francisco, New York, Charleston and Boston also happen to contain the best architecture. Hmm...



4. I'll disregard the book's one glaring omission--Saarinen's TWA Terminal at JFK is not included--and give it a five. Well written.



5. This just might be the most awesome book about my hometown of NYC. The artwork is fabulous and this book is put together so well. Its shown me things I never saw. I think being a tourist in your own town is great.

5 comments about New York, Empire City: 1920-1945.

1. A wonderful pictoral history of early 20th century New York. One will be astounded at the space between the buildings of the city and the level of architecture throughout. In our daily hustle, this book reminds us of the beauty of the many buildings that make up the skyline of New York. Enjoy.



2. When David Stravitz bought around five hundred glass negatives from a New Jersey photo shop in the late seventies I bet he didn't realise what a nice little earner he was onto. This treasure trove of images has so far produced two books, the amazing day-by-day building of the Chrysler Building (ISBN 1568983549) and now 'New York, Empire State'.
   
   Both books follow the same format, page after page of very detailed architectural photographs of the city in the first fifty years of the last century. This book has a hundred images (thankfully in 175dpi) taken by commercial photographers Peyser and Patzig probably for architects and builders as a record of their endeavours.
   
   It is the detail in the photos that makes the book so fascinating. Taken on eight by ten glass negs after carefully selecting the right position reveals street scenes and buildings where you can read the road signs and study the detail work on skyscrapers that would be impossible to see from street level. Nearly all the photos are of commercial property though near the end there shots of tenements, shops, sport arenas and Coney Island. Needless to say many of the buildings shown came down years ago.
   
   Each picture has the name of the building or city area and Christopher Gray adds more detail on six pages at the back of the book and this is where I felt the reader has been badly let down by the publishers. There are 130 photo pages yet only sixteen have page numbers, which makes nonsense of Gray's page numbered captions and the three page comprehensive index. Strangely page 105, with a whole page photo does have a number and this, I assume, was to be the case with every page but someone screwed up! Very frustrating (and do I get a refund?).
   
   I recently reviewed a similar architectural photo book about New York City with 170 stunning photos taken by Samuel Gottscho between 1925 and 1940. Included are some marvellous Manhattan night photos as well as shop and house interiors. Gottscho's work helped to define the popular skyline silhouette image of the big American city. Have a look at 'The Mythic City' (ISBN 1568985622) by Donald Albrecht.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. No regrets but I wish there were more photos of the city and street scenes.



4. I love the fantastic black and white images in this book, you forget how spectacularly beautiful the New York skyline was before the 50's, 60's and 70's international style of Mies and SOM ruined the skyline blocking many of these breathtaking buildings from view and altering an iconic american image forever. At any rate, this is a really good book, with well researched, interesting text and aforementioned great photo's. As you look at all the beautiful buildings and lament the loss of so many over the years, you can't help but want to throttle Robert Moses and David Rockefeller.



5. A rare glimpse into a glamorous New York as it once was. An amazing time machine. The photographs are of absolutely stunning quality.

5 comments about Tea in the City: New York (Tea in the City).

1. This is the perfect guide to tuck in your handbag or pocket when going to New York City. Color coded maps tell you the tea spots available in each area of NYC. Daily hours, phone numbers, subway stops nearby, websites, decor, approximate costs, and description of teas and food are included. This will be in my handbag anytime I take a train into New York City.



2. What I really love about Tea in the City is the breadth and depth of Ms. Knight's profiles, especially when it comes to non-traditional tea rooms. This is the first guide I've seen that really makes an effort to incorporate the newer influx of modern East Asian tea destinations, rather than limiting itself to British and hotel teas (though these are here as well). Although I work in NYC, this guide may inspire me to try some new places in some neighborhoods I haven't visited in a while. I also find this guide more male-friendly than most tea books.



3. If you enjoy tea, why not take a tea trip in my hometown, New York? With this book, you can plan out everything. I have found the information provided by Ms. Knight to be accurate and have also learned a few interesting tidbits about tea culture. The excellent photos are worth noting as well. With more and more tea places popping up (and I've noticed a few recently), I hope they plan to put out updated editions. But this is by far the best tea guidebook I've seen, and a necessity for any tea lover who spends time in New York City.



4. I had slight sticker shock and hesitated to buy this book. In fact, when it arrived, I was a bit unhappy with the small size. Having perused this small tome (with a cuppa in hand, of course), I've come to realize that my reservations were in vain. What a great book for the tea lover! This guide is not only informative, but well written. I'll be reading it again and again, and I'm sure that many a happy afternoon will be spent in the City (and here in Brooklyn, too) thanks to Ms. Knight. The only downside is that the fifth NYC borough is not mentioned... sounds like a great opportunity for someone in Staten Island to rise to the occasion for a possible (and hoped for by this reader) 2008 edition.



5. We used this book on two recent trips to NYC as a guide book for planning 4 different afternoon teas. Excellent!

1 comments about The Street Book: An Encyclopedia of Manhattan's Street Names and Their Origins.

1. When people think of the street names of Manhattan, they probably think of the grid and its numbered roads. WRONG! Manhattan, especially the older neighborhoods from Houston Street south to the Battery, are filled with twisting little streets whose names resonate with Manhattan's history. This is where you'll find out why Houston Street is pronounced "HOW-ston". Where did Maiden Lane get its name from? Who was Barclay? This book will tell all. My only complaint (which prevented from giving this five stars) was with the binding: it cracked almost immediately upon opening and, right now, several pages are precariously clinging to the spine. Maybe it was only the batch that mine came out of which is so weak.

   Still this is a very informative book. If only it can tell me why New Yorkers pronounce Avenue of the Americas as "Sixth Avenue".

3 comments about New York New York: Mini.

1. I am not a big buyer of "coffee table books" but I made an exception for this one. The photographer is the brother of a boyhood friend of mine (Richard, if you're reading this, tell Jim I said hello!) and I got the book for my parents as a gift. I spent hours pouring over the incredible pictures thinking time and time again, HOW did he take THAT? I can only describe the pictures as breathtaking, sumptuous, and evocative of a New York that is all too easy to take for granted if you've lived in it. The pictures here make you see it anew.



2. I just got this book for Christmas, and it was by far the best gift. As a Californian who is in LOVE with New York, I could not have asked for a better book. The photos will leave you speechless, and longing for the city that never sleeps. I just spent 2 hours going through the different photos, and I can honestly say I have never seen a book that has done the city justice like this one. If you want a good book with photos that need NO explanation, this is it. I would not change this book for the world.



3. I'm not from New York but bought this as a gift for a gentleman who is and it is stunning! Gorgeous photos and beautiful history of the city. Definitely recommend this book!

No comments about American Map 2007 New York State Pocket Map.

2 comments about The Pratique Guide, The Meat Packing District and The West Village: Shopping Block by Block (Pratique Guides).

1. This little shopping guide is fabulous. It includes a wallet-sized folder with a skinny booklet outlining details of all the best shops, bistros, bars, coffee shops, designer boutiques and anything else you might need. Also included is a detailed map of the area with every business shown on the map in rainbow colors. Some friends and I are going to New York soon for a ladies only shopping trip. This little guide looks to be very user friendly. Also check out the Pratique guide to Greenwich Village shopping.



2. In 1884 New York City created a two acre food market named after a Revolutionary War hero, General Peter Gansevoort, who was Herman Melville's grandfather. In 1949 the Gansevoort Meat Market was established. Today the Meat Packing District is a 20 block, 24 hour restaurant and shopping neighborhood. It is located on the West Side between 15th and Horatio Streets, and west of and including Hudson Street.
   
   The West Village is less clearly defined. For the purposes of this fine guidebook, it is bounded by the Hudson River and Sixth Avenue, extending from 14th Street down to Houston Street.
   
   Both neighborhoods are filled with an extraordinary number of fine shops and art galleries. This comprehensive directory includes descriptions and contact information for the many stores, hotels, restaurants and other services. The guide contains a large fold out map that makes it easy to plot a course through the riches here.
   
   The Little Bookroom has produced a beautiful guide, and Sarah Caplan has filled it with excellent content. Example:
   
   "Geppetto's Toy Box
   Children's Toys
   10 Christopher St. (at Gay St.)
   212 620 7511 * Mon-Fri 11:30-7, Sat 10:30-6:30, Sun 12:30-5:30
   nyctoys.com
   Geppetto's is an apt name for one of downtown's best toy stores. Children and adults will delight in the enormous selection of high-quality toys. (A recent customer came in with the unusual request for a stuffed squirrel and left minutes later with one in his hands.) Top picks include Steiff animals, collectible Madame Alexander dolls, handmade rag dolls (in different skin tones), handmade paper mobiles, Ketler tricycles from Germany, and wall art by Eeboo. The owners stock many New York-themed toys and books, such as a 3D Empire State Building puzzle, as well as great kits, books, and puzzles. Lego, Brio, and Playmobil make an appearance (though the collections are not extensive), as do Siku die cast trucks from Germany."
   
   Stores are marked "Recommended" and "Must See" in the directory and on the map. There is simply no better guide to these interesting areas of New York City for the hard core shopper.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

5 comments about Catskill Trails: A Ranger's Guide to the High Peaks (Catskill Trails; A Ranger's Guide to the High Peaks).

1. Seems to have all the info except "how to reach the trail staring from HW exit". I was expecting direction starting from nearest highway exit and was not able find. I live in Long Island, and not familiar with Catskill area so direction is very important for me. I do not like to waste time searching for trailheads.
   In spite of this -ve things, I gave 2 starts because it has lot of historic data.



2. This book is a lot different (and better) than most guides. I bought this one and liked so much I bought the other Catskill Trails book also. There is a lot of history and ecology here and I learned more about the mountains than from any of my other guidebooks. The pictures are nice and the trail selections among the best the Catskills have to offer. At times, you really do feel like you are hiking with a ranger!



3. I bought this guide prior to going up to the Catskills near the area of Tannersville, Hunter Mountain and the Catskill Falls, and the guide was a great help in finding nice trails in the area with great text and indicative sketches of the trails.
   However, you will need a decent topographical map with compass indications and height measures, which is not provided with these crude maps. Therefore, you should seriously consider the Catskills Mountain Guide as it has a great map of the entire Catskill region, but with less detail for each specific area.



4. Please be aware that although the title and description do not indicate, this is part of a two book set. This book covers the northern Catskills the other, the southern. I received this book only to discover that the area I was interested in hiking in was not covered by the book.



5. We bought a house in Delaware County and have been using this book quite a bit to familiarize ourselves with numerous trails in the area. Nothing is truly comprehensive, but this comes close.