No comments about Meyer Berger's New York.

3 comments about Belly Up to the Bar: Dining at New York City's Top Restaurants without Reservation(s).

1. I thought the concept of this book was brilliant and I wondered if it would live up to my expectations. It did so and more. The author provides an insider's view of what to order and how to order it "at the bar" at the city's great dining spots. Mitchell somehow manages even to convey the ambiance of the places. I can't wait to try all these great places without having to plan ahead!



2. BELLY UP TO THE BAR: DINING WITH NEW YORK CITY'S CELEBRITY CHEFS WITHOUT RESERVATIONS is a guide to getting into the best Manhattan restaurants without reservations, and is a pick for any collection strong in New York travel guides. Each bar receives a 2-page description with all the information on ambiance to number of bar seats to people. From assessments of formality to etiquette and of course food quality, the book assesses only New York's best.



3. Reviewed by Nikki Pringle for Reader Views (7/08)
   
   "Belly Up to the Bar" is a collection of reviews of 101 New York City restaurants that service their full menu at the bar. All restaurants included in the book have a Zagat rating of 23 or higher, and some are Michelin starred as well. While it could take up to a month to get a reservation for a seat in the dining area at most of these establishments, you can walk in off of the street and pull up a stool to the bar without reservations. Restaurants highlighted include well-revered spots like Jean Georges, Gramercy Tavern, wd-50, Babbo, and Veritas.
   
   Each of the 101 establishments in the book list the address, phone number, Zagat rating, Michelin rating (if any), website address and the name of the chef. The author gives wonderful descriptions of the atmosphere at each location, including the crowd that typically frequents the bar (businessmen, vacationers, opera-goers, thirty-something's, couples, older foodies, etc.). The décor of the location is included as well as what to expect when you pull up a seat and ask for a menu, right down to the type of placemat that is laid before you, the bartenders' knowledge of the menu, the bread and butter and how it is served, and if water is provided without asking.
   
   Background information on some of the chef's and the concepts behind their menu design and the set-up of their dining establishments is included. "Belly Up to the Bar" also highlights the beer and wine selections available at each site, and the price ranges that you can expect for your drinks. Quite a few of the appetizers, entrees and desserts available at the restaurants are noted, along with their prices, and the author tells you what she ordered and how it was. Handy indexes are also included for the 101 restaurants included in the guide, broken down by cuisine, location and Michelin star rating.
   
   I would suggest this guide to any New Yorker who appreciates fine dining and doesn't mind the less-formal bar and lounge area as long as the food is just as good as what is served in the dining room. Vacationers planning a trip to New York City will find this guide no less handy than those native to New York, as with so many dining options to choose from, even native New Yorkers probably don't know which spots offer full menu's at the bar for those times when you can't possible wait four weeks for a table. "Belly Up to the Bar" by J.S. Mitchell is a guide that will allow you to walk into the setting with confidence, knowing the crowd to expect, the attire required, the atmosphere, and the certainty that you can pull up a bar stool without reservations for a great meal.

1 comments about Cheap Thrills New York: Great NYC Meals for Under $15 (Cheap Thrills series).

1. This is a restaurant guide for those of you looking for really good food with a wide variety of ethnic cuisine and without the ridiculously pompous nature of your typical five-star. If you go out to eat for the snooty service and to drop a bunch of money, don't buy this book. However, if your focus is on the quality and variety of the food you are eating, with fancy service as a secondary concern, this is the book for you. That is not to say the restaurants in this book lack decent service....Many have excellent service and swanky locals. Some may also have dismal decor and downright cranky staff (read hole-in-the-wall). But they all have great food in common. One of the great things about New York is experiencing the wide variety of flavors and cooking styles available in this melting pot. You won't find me in New York without this book close by.

5 comments about New York from the Air (From the Air).

1. This is a great book! I have visited New York City many times in my life on business and have always loved that famous skyline. Viewing the city from the air gave me a new appreciation for the great beauty of the buildings that make up that skyline, the grand design of Central Park, and the other elements that make New York City "world class" in so many ways. I also enjoyed the brief history of New York contained in the introduction and the interesting facts and trivia in the photo captions.



2. This book is just amazing! It is sooo reasonably priced for a book of this magnitude. If you have never been to New York City, you will still appreciate this book. It is like a tour without ever being there. I have ventured to NYC once, and this book just brings back great memories.

   There are pages upon pages of pictures, which also have captions. These captions tell some of the history of the sights. I definitely see this as a good investment.




3. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what the City of New York is really like. If a tourist to NYC were to leave their camera at home, all they would need to do to is leaf through it's pages - it's THAT good! The Capital of the World is yours to explore!

   Personal Note...
   I remember buying my first copy of this book during a lunch break in the summer of 2000 from Strand's Bookstore on Fulton Street - about 3 blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood. The images of Lower Manhattan stir emotions that I didn't know I had.




4. While in holiday in NYC in Dec 2001 I was looking this title everywhere as I thought it was out of print. However, I found a copy in a tourist shop under the Empire State Building, as a reprinted version with a newer picture on the cover -ISBN 1-57145-276-1. It was well well the $21 I paid for it. The pics are very good and there's just enough text keep it interesting. Well worth the money and a really good souvenir too. Could not find anything better for the money despite spending hours looking for this title everywhere!

   It now lives on my coffee table back in GB!




5. I bought this book because of my adoration for the City of New York, and the beautiful picture on the front. Those looking for an in-depth history of NYC or more of a "hands-on" book, should look elsewhere. This book provides what the title suggests. It is a brief introduction to the vast world that is New York City. The photography is beautiful, although sometimes blurry at edges. There are small paragraphs explaining what you are looking at. Most of the main attractions are covered (Empire State Building, Central Park, Harlem, Greenwich Village, etc), as well as some others that I didn't know about, but had my eyes opened to. I will definitely be more prepared and educated as I go to NYC next time. The only complaint is that most of the coverage is of Manhattan, and it's attractions and not so much of the other parts of New York, as the book suggests. This was fine by me, as I was mostly interested in Manhattan anyway, but could mislead others. I would highly recommend this book if you like the city of New York, or are planning a trip there. This could be a great supplement as it gives you a different view of the city, one that you can't get just by being there. A view from the air.

3 comments about The Timeline History of New York City.

1. This is an amazing book. It has a fold out section that is over 10 feet long and you have the entire history of New York at your fingertips. It's well produced and -- for $20 or so -- it's an amazing bargain. I visited NY recently for the first time with my friend and we bought this when we were coming home. Every time I look at it I think about the great time I had. I can't wait to go back now that I know so much more about the city. Buy this book if you love New York or if you know anyone who does.



2. Here is an interesting idea for history fans of NYC. But, it is hard to read--too many tints, lines through copy. Hard to handle and very superficial. Inserted photos confusing. Copy begins and ends on binding with no end papers. The architecture page with it's wheel is a bit of a gimmic. This book would be a useful suverier for visitors and young students.



3. The Playnes' TIMELINE HISTORY OF NEW YORK CITY is a convenient guide through New York's long and rich history. For most New Yorkers, there's nothing really new here; we've all heard it before. And a lot of the information just touches the surface of some of the historic moments; too many of the reasons for the events that created the history, and their ramifications for the rest of America, are glossed over. That said, this timeline is still of value (especially for the price). It does contain a lot of information, given its size. In that regard, I would recommend this to those who are just starting their voyage to the City's history. I also think that people from out of town would appreciate this compact publication, especially if their planning a trip to the Big Smear.

No comments about Hagstrom 75-mile Radius Map from Columbus Circle, New York City Pocket Map.

No comments about Postcards from New York City / Postales desde New York City (Bilingual English/Spanish) (Traveling With Anna / Viajando Con Ana).

5 comments about Christmas in New York.

1. Daniel Pool has scored again! The social historian who delighted me with What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, as well as his second book, Dickens' Fur Coat and Charlotte's Unanswered Letters, has written a delightful, entertaining, fact-crammed little book on the Christmas holidays in New York.

   The photographs are great fun, since so many of them recapture important moments of the past. The design of the book makes it luxurious to hold and easy to read.

   This book is the stocking-stuffer par excellence because it is learned, visual, and, most important, fun!




2. I bought this book to share with my three sons, as we are taking our first family vacation to New York this Thanksgiving, and I was looking for something to enhance their appreciation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectactular. Without even looking I knew the author was a New Yorker. Reading this book feels like listening to a narrative by someone in your family, describing the charm of your own home town to a young adult or out of towner. Of course this town is New York City-the very heart of the Christmas Spirit in the United States! This book gave me what I was looking for and so much more. As if the sheer sight of New York at Christmas isn't enough, the history and stories shared by the author has deepened my love of the Holidays, this sensational city and the people who experienced it in the past and in the years to come.



3. This book couldn't be made better if you tried. Daniel Pool did an excellent job describing New York at Christmastime. From Rockefeller Center to Tiffany's & Co. This book describes everything to see, from store windows to parades, to movies.

   This is a must have for anyone visiting New York this holiday season, and a beautiful book to add to any collection.




4. What I truly loved about this book, aside from it's fun, compact, easily tote-able size, is that it tells the story of many beloved New York holiday landmarks and traditions, from the Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Tree at Rockerfeller Center. As a New Yorker, these are integral aspects of Christmas--Celebrated and admired year after year with little question or understanding as to where their traditions stemmed. This book takes you back to the first windows ever displayed on 5th Ave, while telling fun, quirky stories about the Macy's Parade balloons and how in the early years, they were actually released into the air at the end of every parade. This was eventually halted when an airplane almost crashed into one, and ships on the Atlantic reported strange floating sea creatures! I have always loved New York during the holidays and I feel as if this book has increased my appreciation of them by giving me a greater connection to their origins. It's a quick read, which is good in one aspect, (it covers a lot of topics) but you don't get a whole heck of a lot of detail on each topic. Though, it is just enough to keep you interested and moves you right along to the next topic. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is becuase none of the photographs in the book are color. Personally, I would have been willing to pay slightly more for the book to get color pics.. You just dont do justice to Christmas anything in black and white--but its nice that there are a few pictures, especially that of the first Rockerfeller Christmas tree ever, that workmen erected on the then construction site during the depression. The men spent so much of their time their, they got their own little tree and decorated it with cans and other things that were strewn about... But truly this book would have been much improved if color photographs were included. Otherwise this is a fun coffe table table medley of history and tradition!



5. it was ok. interesting reading, but no color photos except for the jacket. That was disappointing.

5 comments about An Actor Prepares...To Live in New York City: How to Live Like a Star Before You Become One.

1. What a gold mine! This book isn't just for actors--it is a meticulously-researched, up-to-date and readable guide to living well in Manhattan without watching money flow through your fingers--it covers everything from haircuts and clothes to great deals at the opera. I'm recommending it to all newcomers, regardless of profession. If I had to find one small flaw, it's that I'm not quite confident about his recommendations for women, as--and he freely admits this--they rely on the judgment of his female friends, and the reader can't gauge whether these women share the author's ability to find the best, the least expensive and the most hard-to-find secrets of New York. Regardless, a minor detail in a worthwhile book.



2. Actor or not, this book is a huge help in finding the cheapest of everything in New York City. Listed by category, the author gives listings and phone numbers of the cheapest of it all. There are hints and tips on how to make it in New York on a budget, how to find a place to live, and even where public restrooms are available!



3. This book is fantastic! I live in Australia but I'm going to be living and working (hopefully...) in New York in a couple of months.
   The book includes sections on practically every aspect of life - from cheap food, medical care, and general merchandise, to hairdressing, public toilets, and internet service providers.
   I would say this is one of the most useful books I have ever read, and I can definitely recommend it to anyone planning on making a move to New York City.
   It is extremely easy to read and not at all like trawling through a guidebook. The sections are well organised and easily located in the table of contents. I particularly liked the book and music store 'reviews'.
   It also felt as though it was written by a person that I would actually like in real life, and while this is not entirely relevant, it gave me even greater faith in the advice.
   I feel a lot more confident about my trip now that I know where to go and what to expect as I attempt to set up house.
   This has certainly relieved me (at least temporarily) from my increasingly frantic google searches.



4. Wile some of the info offered may be slightly out of date by the time a reader gets their hands on this book (addresses and phones can change, etc.) the wisdom and experience of the author comes through very well. Anyone who is headed for the Big Apple as an actor should read this book.



5. This book is good, but even better if you plan on living in Hell's Kitchen (midtown west). As the author refers to that area often. Overall, i liked it though. I'd say it helps speed up the process of getting comfortable living in the big city, not working, but LIVING.

No comments about New Yorker's New York City Map: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.