2 comments about Waterway Guide Northern 2007: Jersey Shore, New York, Hudson- Erie, Long Island Sound and New England Waters to Canada (Waterway Guide Northern Edition) ... Edition) (Waterway Guide Northern Edition).

1. Dozier's has done a great job compiling extensive data about harbors and presenting it in an easy-to-read format with pictures and charts. This Guide provides an overall perspective on a harbor's surroundings before delving into navigation, dockage and anchoring specifics. At the top of the page, nearby marinas are listed detailing phone numbers, slip and floating dock accommodations, which VHF channels are monitored, approach/dockside depths, fuel, repairs, electrical service, lifts and cranes, laundry/pool/showers, pump-out stations, and whether or not there are nearby grocery stores, motels, and restaurants. All this information about the marinas is presented in a chart-like form, taking up very little room on the page yet making it easily readable at a glance. This, in turn, leaves the rest of the page to be filled with helpful hints including a history of the area and what you can find if you go ashore.
   
   Aerial photographs are in abundance with digitally-added dashed lines to show the channel routes. There are, of course, numerous advertisements throughout the Guide, and they only add to the helpful information already presented. I am very impressed by the details on dockage and anchoring - it tells you where you can and cannot anchor and what to expect once you are there.
   
   An often-overlooked yet extremely handy feature is that this 492-page book is spiral-bound, making it easy to read on a flat table. There is still much, much more to this Guide, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to plan some overnight cruises to area harbors.



2. My wife and I live on the Chesapeake Bay and cruise the ICW (north and south) so we purchased both editions the waterway guide. The information they contain is accurate and up-to-date. The airial pictures of the harbors which accompany the charts are useful visuals to orient people (such as my wife) who are relatively new to maritime navigation. The "going ashore" sections provide a wealth of information on things to do for planning a trip (we enjoy playing golf and nearby courses are listed).
   
   I highly reccomend this guide to anyone who is interested in "exploring" the ICW and it's tributaries.

1 comments about Hagstrom Nassau County, New York Street Atlas.

1. This is a very comprehensive street guide to Nassau County. It is easy to find where you are going by using it. This Atlas sure beats fighting with fold up maps and struggling to read these maps with their tiny print, even when using a magnifier and wearing reading glasses. If you do a lot of traveling in Nassau, perhaps you should consider owning one of these guides. The guides from Hagstrom for the five boroughs of New York and Suffolk county are of equally fine quality. I would be lost without these guides! :-)

3 comments about Buffalo Architecture: A Guide.

1. This book and the city it shows us are a must see for architects, students, and architectural buffs alike. The book is packed with wonderfull black and white photos showing a suprising array of high quality though little known American architecture. It is refreshing and informative to see and learn of architecture which has been passed over by the traditional architectural press solely because it is not in the typical bigger cities. The buildings presented form a rich and diverse portfolio ranging from masterpieces by Sullivan, Wright, and Richardson,to the simplest of victorian cottages, to a magnificent cathedral or a delicate greek revival temple. This book presents the unknown and forgotten richness of American architecture and releases the reader form the monotony of seeing the same cities and the same buildings published over and over agian. The writers of this book ventured out into the great american wilderness and and showed us its refinement.



2. This book acts in many ways as the unofficial guidebook to exploring what is one of the most important architectural cities in America.For those who are familiar with Buffalo and those who are not the book is filled with a splendid variety of both well known Richardson and Wright masterpieces and some not so well known masterpieces. Its divided into sections based on the geography of the city so it makes the perfect book if one wants to set out exploring. Buffalos neighborhoods and amazing housing stock are unparalleled in size and preservation nationwide. Its American Indian inspired art deco city hall, perhaps the finest building of its type in the nation is just one of buildings you will find profiled. Reyner Banham ,the editor,was at the time was on the faculty at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture. His wonderful book about the origins of the modern movement and its ties to Buffalos grain elevators, A Concrete Atlantis could act as a supplement to Buffalo Architecture: A Guide if you are interested in Buffalos industrial buildings as well...



3. The book rocks, so does the city. Buy it!

2 comments about Tales of New York: Some Will Surprise You.

1. This is a handy little book, which you can read chapter by chapter. I have now read the entire book and I absolutely love it!
   It is informative, funny, elegantly written, and unique.
   Excellent entertainment, and you can learn those little tidbits and impress on your friends and visitors.
   Get it now!!



2. New York has been called the Big Apple. Have you ever wondered why?
   
   Licensed New York City tour guide, John Keatts, who has published articles in magazines and newspapers as well as having appeared in Broadway musical productions, cabaret performance and on television, has now assembled quite an interesting selection of tidbits concerning some of New York City's landmarks and other venues with his Tales of New York: Some Will Surprise You.
   
   The chief delight of this fascinating look at New York is its series of stories that will give you a unique perspective of just why New York is such an interesting city to visit. Drawing upon his personal research and experiences, Keatts presents brief sections highlighting a particular facet of New York that is related to its people, history, skyscrapers, landmarks, neighborhoods, the subway system, and other points of interest. The stories include something for everybody, from those who want to know more about the city's history to those who are interested in its skyscrapers as the Empire State Building, Woolworth Building, Metropolitan Life Insurance Building, and the Chrysler Building. As interesting travel guides usually do and what Keatts mentions in his Preface, in some instances, he draws conclusions and dramatizes events, using quotes and scenes that might have taken place, based on history.
   
   As examples of some of the entries, if you are interested in knowing more about the NYC subway, Keatts informs us that it was built in 1904 and that it went from City Hall in lower Manhattan to Grand Central Terminal, then westward to Broadway/42nd St. and uptown to 145th St. in Harlem's west side. It enabled people to become free and leave their crowed living spaces. In 1904 there were 39 subway stations and 20 miles of track. Today, there are 463 subway stations and 722 miles of track-quite a difference!
   
   What about the East River? We are informed that it is not a river at all. It just looks like one with its strong tides and high salt content. It is in fact the Eastern Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. I am willing to bet that probably most of us don't know who was the first European tourist of record to New York City?
   An Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazano, aboard a French exploration ship sailed into what is now called the Narrows of NYC's harbor in 1524.
   When he raised his spyglass he described what he saw: "A long, slender strip of land is ahead, bounded by two rivers. The land widens upstream, especially to the east. The harbor is perfect, deep and sheltered." As Keatts mentions, Da Verranzano was the first European to record an impression of Manhattan Island.
   
   And for the origin of the name Big Apple, this becomes a bit tricky. Apparently, as Keatts indicates, musicians used the word "apple" as a slang expression for NYC and "cotton" was slang for money. In 1920 when the famous Cotton Club was opened, some musicians referred to it as "the money club" while others called it "the big apple." Another possibility that Keatts mentions is that on the streets a friend may stop you and compliment you on the suite you were wearing and ask where did you get it?" To which you might reply, "That's the big apple. Translation: That's a winner, the best." Recently, the NYC Convention and Visitors Bureau began a new advertising campaign with the big apple as its symbol.
   
   Keatts does an excellent job of capturing the flavor of NYC by recreating the city's time and place with some fascinating nuggets of interesting reading that will surely appeal to visitors as well as armchair travelers.
   
   Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

5 comments about New York Vertical.

1. As a photographer who also has captured images of NY in black and white, I can appreciate this most beautiful publication. The meticulously printed duotones should be the standard for all photography books. Congratulations to Horst. Your book has an honored place on my coffee table. And this new, smaller size, makes it much more practical and affordable with little loss of enjoyment from the larger edition.



2. I fell in love with New York many years ago and visited for the first time last summer. The photographer's capture of the architecture is outstanding, the accompanying quotes well worth remembering. So, until I return the pages of New York Vertical will keep the memory fresh.

   Thanks Horst.




3. New York Vertical is to my knowledge the best book there is! I want to congratulate Horst Hamann, he did the impossible to photograph the New York we all love. The black and white photographs captured the beauty of the city, the format of the pictures is incredible! It's a masterpiece! BRAVO



4. I ordered Horst Hermann's "New York Vertical" after a trip to New York where I feel in love with the height and grandure. I bought it because I wanted something to remind myself of the magic I had experienced. I was then amazed to find this book of postcards being offered and decided to buy it so I could share them with friends and family. I was completely disappointed in the photographs that were chosen for this endevour as there are far more dynamic photographs in his book. I wish that care had been taken in the selection of photographs for this collection. If you are just wanting some cards it is fine, but if like me you fell in love with all of his work it will be a let down.



5. This book may be appropriate as a guide of skyscrapers in NYC. But I feel a little frustration when I look as a photo catalogue.

4 comments about New York's 50 Best Places to Take Children, 2nd Edition (City and Company).

1. You will no longer have any excuse for being bored on a rainy day (or a sunny day either!) I recently took my 5 year old to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island without first checking to see what information this book offered. BAD MOVE! My son was tired of waiting on the long lines, bored with static exhibits, hungry, hot, etc. If I had checked with New York's 50 Best Places to Take Children I would have found out that there is a 90 minute tour boat that goes past the Statue of Liberty. My son would have seen the statue without the long, tiring lines to wait on just to go to the top of the pedestal (we weren't early enough to go to the crown). Mr. Ishac has captured the best attractions the big apple has to offer a child from the kid's point of view. The book is small enough to carry in a pocket while acting like a tourist; even if you have lived in NY all of your life like I have. Included in the featured attractions are the usual favorites such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Empire State building plus some unusual and obscure spots such as the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. Now I just have to try and find the time to visit all of these great places.



2. I (like many) have been to NYC many, many times. But, going with children is a whole new experience. This book is helpful because it mentions things many visitors wouldn't know (Did you know there was a monorail in the Bronx zoo?). Great book!



3. This book is pretty helpful for those weekend 'what do you feel like doing' moments. I have lived in NY my whole life, (30 years) and had never been to the (mini) zoo in Queens. It lists some pretty cool places to go and see, with accurate and updated descriptions. If you have kids, and live in NY, you need this book.



4. This book represents a rare combination of keen insight, brilliantly clever writing, and effective layout. As you can tell, I really liked it. We had a much better NYC vacation with our children because of this book!

5 comments about Helluva Town: New York City in the 1940s and 50s.

1. Timeless and intimate images of a New York that I almost remember - but can still recognize today. Streets and faces that evoke nostalgia for a recent yet distant past.



2. I bought "Helluva Town" both because I grew up in the '40s and '50s and also because I like books on photography.
   
   This was a disappointment. It is not a very large collection of photos and there were too many taken of the same subjects, so it became boring.
   
   I looked through it once and returned it.



3. This is a rather slim collection of b/w photographs of mid-century Manhattan. A few interesting shots of outer-boro commuters sitting on rattan subway and el seats with the funny hats people wore in the 40's; the rest are unremarkable pictures of prosiac street scenes. Manhattan has always been the mother lode of subject matter for photography, whether the theme is architecture or the man on the street. There are countless coffee table books by better photographers at lower prices in most book stores.



4. Vivian Cherry captures ordinary people in their everyday lives and turns the moments into extraordinary pictures. In the era of humanistic street photography, Cherry was one of a handful of women street photographs, and it's about time that others get a chance to see her beautiful photographs. Some of her most memorable photographs include the demolition of the 3rd Avenue El line, and the startling series that depicts a group of kids in East Harlem who are playing at adult violence - aiming real-looking guns at each other and staging "lynchings," including one picture of a Black youth who is pretending to be lynched. The power and beauty of Cherry's photographs is inspiring. The photographs are important sources of history--capturing New York in the 50s--but are also beautiful, touching photographs. They take you into a time and place, and the faces of the people in the photographs stay with you long after you look away, making you want to look at them again.



5. Vivian Cherry's photgraphs are fantastic! This book is a wonderful addition to any photography collection. Each page could stand alone as a homage to a time past, they are insightful and intense glimses of old New York.

3 comments about Hudson Valley Harvest: A Food Lover's Guide to Farms, Restaurants, and Open-Air Markets.

1. We bought this book before a weekend trip to the Hudson Valley and can't imagine traveling to the area without it. It has everything you would want to know about the farmers and what they are growing and producing. It tells you where and what to eat and how to use what you buy at a farmstand or local farmers market. It also made us really think about the people who grow the food. Their stories are uniformly interesting, even moving. The author has a pleasingly gentle touch when she writes about issues so much in the news today like organics, the humane treatment of animals and keeping small farms viable. Even if you aren't visiting the Hudson Valley, this is definitely a worthwhile book to have and read.



2. This is THE book for anyone who lives, works, visits or is even thinking of a trip to the Hudson Valley, this bucolic but agriculturally threatened area, just an hour north of New York City. Jan Greenberg not only tells where to buy and eat these outstanding (and tasty) products but in a non-preachy way makes the reader understand why it is important to support these local farmers and producers. Her profiles and stories of the farmers who grow the fruits and vegetables and raise the livestock are truly heartfelt and gave me, and will do the same I think for anyone else who reads them, a new understanding of what is like to be a grower where everything, from weather to the economy, is out of your control. This is the high risk profession!! It makes Wall Street look safe.

   Above all, though, this is a book about enjoying food --buying it, serving it and tasting it. As Danny Meyer, owner of New York City's Union Square Cafe and other restaurants known for their support of local farms, writes - "This book deserves a place on the bookshelf (or in the glove compartment) of every itinerant aficionado of New York's bounty." He's right.




3. Jan Greenberg's guide came in handy last weekend when I took my visiting family - kids, grandparents and everything in between - on a two day trip through the Hudson Valley. This is a great area but it is hard to get off the beaten track , particularly if you want to do more than just look at historic sites and state parks. Even though it was early in the season, this book got us to some beautiful farm and country sites; the restaurant recommendations were right on; and we actually learned a lot as well. Don't visit the Hudson Valley without this book.

5 comments about Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides: New York (Eyewitness Travel Top 10).

1. I've used this guide several times on trips to NY and it is absolutely terrific. Pocketable, beautifully illustrated, wonderfully organized. We went to two of the restaurants recommended and were totally pleased. Very easy to use and filled with useful information. Will add a lot to a visit.



2. I visited NYC for the first time a few weeks ago. I took only three books about this city with me: this guide, the "Lonely planet NYC Guide", and "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide". Truth to be told, this guide is probably the only one I couldn't have done without.
   
   "Top 10 New York" is an extremely useful small guide that doesn't have as much information as the "Lonely planet NYC Guide", but that has the essentials, and excellent fold out maps in color that are more easily understandable than those of other guides. I would like to highlight the fact that even though I am very absent minded, I could easily find my way in NYC thanks to those maps. And if I can, everybody will be able to do that!
   
   From my point of view, this guide is ideal for those tourists that don't have a lot of time, and want to see as much as possible during their visit to NYC (specifically Manhattan), if possible without a tourist guide. "Top 10 New York" points out quite a few places you simply must go to in the city, but also tells you about different neighbourhoods, and their history. There are many photos in color that help you to decide what you want to do, and historic data that allows you to learn about this city.
   
   Moreover, most visitors will find the insider tips for tourists helpful, and the planned walks and itineraries a good option. Other useful sections in this guide are, for example, "Best shopping districts", "Best hotels for every budget" (I found my hotel through Internet, though), "Best restaurants in each area" and "Most fun places for children". What is more, "Top 10 New York" is almost pocket-sized, so you can carry it with you everywhere, even if your purse is tiny (not my case!), or if you have bought too many things and your handbag is rather heavy (yes, that often happens to me).
   
   All in all, I am very happy I bought this guide, and I strongly recommend it to you :)
   
   Belen Alcat



3. Great subway map! Just don't forget to read the signs in the subway, some trains only run certain days/times. AND if I remember correctly PATH is not really in the book.



4. For those traveling to New York City this is an essential guide to bring with you. The restaurant recommendations are top notch. The maps are detailed and a pocket subway guide is always helpful. Whether you are going in for a week or a weekend this is the guide you want to carry with you when you are out and about. You may want to use another guide if you are going in for a longer period of time for planning purposes but again this is the one you want to carry with you when you are in the city.



5. I have spent some time in NYC before but had always been with a city resident and hadn't ever needed a guide. But when the opportunity came about for my husband and I to spend a long weekend there, I absolutely took it. I love the city (in small doses, couldn't ever live there), but hadn't ever had a chance to do any touristy stuff. So I read some reviews and picked up this guide.
   
   I spent a few days reading over it, and after my trip, I would say it's a great guide if you don't know what you want to do, or how to structure your days, because it has very specific suggestions for stuff like that. It has a section for each part of the city, at the end of which is a run down on a sample day one could spend in that neighborhood.
   
   But as far as a comprehensive while-you're-there guide? I wish I had gotten Not For Tourists. This was a great planner, and had street and subway maps that were incredibly useful, but when you're looking for a bookstore nearby to kill an hour? Nada. Also, because of the setup of the book (chock full of Top Ten lists, duh), it jumps around a lot. One museum is mentioned in four different places, and vital information is only on one of those pages, but from the index there's no way to tell which one of those pages has something important like the hours of the place, for example, so you have to check every page.
   
   Again, great for planning, less great for a carry-along for your trip.

1 comments about High Peaks of the Northeast: A Peakbagger's Directory and Resource Guide to the Highest Summits in the Northeastern United States.

1. Must have for all of you "Peakbaggers". Every single 4000 footer or higher in NY and New England is described inside this incredible book. My only suggestion would be an update that includes all of the Catskill's 3,500' peaks.