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

No comments about Welcome Back to Brooklyn.

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: 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).

No comments about Nature Walks of Central Park.

No comments about Looseleaf Streetwise New York Metropolitan Commuter Rail Map.

1 comments about Doin' New York With Your Pooch: Eileen's Directory of Dog-Friendly Lodging & Outdoor Adventures in New York (Barish, Eileen. Vacationing With Your Pet Travel Series.).

1. I found this guide indispensable to traveling with my golden, Molly. After I exausted every resource to run away for the weekend, and was at wit's end, Eileen's guide came to the rescue. I have referred to it, time and time again, with happy results. I recommend it to anyone who wants to travel with their pooch and not feel like a criminal.

4 comments about Discovering Black New York: A Guide to the City's Most Important African American Landmarks, Restaurants, Museums, Historical Sites, and More.

1. This book is fantastic!! It has everything - history, culture, restaurants, live music, shopping, guided tours and lots of valuable information about black New York. Everyone knows about the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Times Square and all the other sites that tourist visit, but Discovering Black New York explores places that I was not aware of, like the Joloff and Brooklyn Moon restaurants in Brooklyn, Sylvan Terrace in Harlem and the African American Museum in Hempstead, Long Island.

   It's written in a friendly inviting way, that inspires you to visit all the great places in the book. I loved this book!!!!




2. This is a great book for anyone who visits New York City and wants to walk in the footsteps of Africans and African Americans. The guide helps you to understand the important contributions of black people past and present. The information is quite comprehensive and includes well-written descriptions of historic sites, restaurants and cultural venues.

   Anyone who wants to know about African Americans in New York City will find value in this wonderful guide.




3. A lot of great info you won't find in the "standard" travel books. Good historical stuff too.



4. I've been trying to get my hands on a copy of Discovering Black New York: A Guide to the City's Most Important African American Landmarks, Restaurants, Museums, Historical Sites, but the price just keeps getting higher and higher. I spoke to the author and she only has 4 copies left to her name and would not part with any. She says that the historical data is the most important and that the restaurants should be called first since business is swift(my word) in NYC. I sure hope that she produces another guide book so that the madness of the over inflated price wars grinds to a screeching halt.
   
   I Never was crazy about history, I told her so, now I am curious about her book. This book gets one star reserved until I read it for myself and not at this inflated price. Amazon's price is the bargain.

3 comments about Best Bistros & Brasseries: Manhattan, Paris, San Francisco.

1. "Best Bistros & Brasseries" is the best food-specific guide I have used. Long time residents of NYC and lovers of French food, my husband and I have often sifted through pages of other restaurant guides trying to locate the perfect restaurant in the right neighborhood. Flipping back and forth between the list of restuarants by neighborhood and/or cuisine and the index did not add to a pleasant dining experience! The BBB makes easy work of this often daunting task by organizing the restaurants in rank order by neighborhood. In addition, the book contains a true working index. If you know the name of the restaurant you'd like to visit, simply refer to the index which lists each restaurant featured in the book, its rating, address, and location in the guide for a more detailed review.



2. This guide for the neophyte bistrophile traveling in Paris is a "must have". Sightseeing planned around meals as the primary intent and location as secondary is our kind of trip. Brasserie Flo and Chez Louie are favorites. Buy some "Slimfast" for consumption one week before and one week after this trip. The NY Guide is just as helpful. We have never been disappointed with their recommendations. Bistro Les Amis on Spring Street is a favorite. Seasonal cuisine indoor or outdoor weather permitting.



3. I bought this book because of the section on Paris. I was very disappointed in the book because it was of little help. There is no map shown of where the bistros might be so there was no way of knowing where any were. The list of addresses didn't really help as Paris, unlike New York, is not laid out on a grid and the addresses actually give an idea of the location. Also, most of the bistros were the higher priced ones.

No comments about Step by Step New York (Step By Step).