3 comments about LITTLE BLACK BOOK NEW YORK 2nd ED. (Little Black Book Series).

1. Very informative and splits up New York by sections to make it easy to find the area you want to see and what attractions are available.



2. I travel to NYC for work and I enjoy being able to explore during my free time - this book has proven itself helpful over and over again. The fold out subway map is the main reason I bought the book - I think I need to have that page laminated!
   
   Still, I have three small suggestions to make this Little Black Book even better: 1) a place to stash a pencil/pen (a small elastic loop would work) 2) two or three blank pages in the back of each section for adding our own "finds" for each neighborhood and 3) a small envelope in the front for tossing in business cards, Metro cards, etc.
   
   Can't wait for the second edition!



3. I brought this book with me when I revisited New York City last year, and it came in extremely handy in helping me navigate the different sections of Manhattan. The book divides the big city into eight neighborhoods, each given its own fold-out area map and chapter that gives a brief history & overview of that neighborhood, as well as suggestions and tips for activities, places to eat, and hotels at which to stay. There's also a fold-out map of the MTA subway system that's easier to use than the giant folded ones you get at the subway stations.
   
   The size of the book is perfect for carrying in your jacket pocket or small handbag, and because it's in a nice little black-book format, it's not as conspicuous as some other tourist guides. I read through the book before my trip and made good use of sticky flags to mark pages that contained info I was sure to need during my trip. I recommend this book for any first-time visitor to New York City, but it's also great if you've already been there several times but could still use a few tips.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to New York City 10 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. Nice guide. It lacks more pictures, for people who buy this book but will not travel to NYC.

5 comments about Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture & Design in the New York City Subway.

1. Interesting - The book is copyright 2004 by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The legal name for the parent agency is Metropolitan TRANSPORTATION Authority. So is this book legal?



2. After having seen too many books narrating the history, especially the first years, of the NYC Subway, this book is quite a surprise. Stunning photographs, with interesting details!



3. Finally a book that appreciates New York's iconic subway system..yeah London has the clean and modern "Tube" and Paris has it's efficient "Metro", but the most famous or infamous and most recognizable is the NYC "Subway". The images in this book are fantastic and the text kept me interested all the way to the last word. I really came away with an appreciation for the history of this great transportantion system and it's surprising beauty..who knew? Highly recommended.



4. I've always appreciated the unique style and details of the NYC subway system. And being a history affecionado as well, this book satisfied my curiosity. A nice blend of historical description, nice collection of photos. I think ultimately it's more on the photo side, but there are succinct captions for each of them.
   
   This is not really a thorough history book but I would describe more as a jumping point should you decide it's something you want to know more about.



5. This book is a beautiful catalog of the visuals associated with the New York City subway system. I have seen books with pictures of the cars, but no other book shows the stations, the history of the transit maps, subway advertisements, even the various designs of tokens that have been used. It's a great job and I'm happy to give it a 5-star rating!

2 comments about Frommer's Great Escapes From NYC Without Wheels (Wonderful Weekends).

1. This is a great guide for New Yorkers who want to get out-of-town for the weekend or for visitors who want to go beyond the standard tourist attractions. Detailed and engaging, the book conveniently groups destinations according to type (i.e.--romantic weekends, outdoor activities, kid-friendly escapes). So it's easy to find a spot to match whatever you're in the mood for. Plus, there's a section on fun festivals and special events even lifelong New Yorkers might not know about.
   
   Even if you own a car, this book might make you think twice about using it (especially with currently high gas prices). The author demystifies mass transit and gives all the information you need to feel confident about being "without wheels."
   
   The perfect book for ideas on where to take guests or where to go when you need a breather from the city. Great to have on hand next time you're trying to figure out what to do for the weekend.



2. I bought this book, thinking it would be of great advice for my boyfriend and I. We live in the city and thus, don't have a car.
   But... Wait!!! We are not rich!!
   All the 'escapes' proposed seemed to be for more than $300 per week end.
   At this price, I'd rather rent a car...
   This book, since, stays on the shelf where it is covering with dust... until we get rich?

No comments about Zagat Long Island Restaurants 2008/09 (Zagatsurvey: Long Island Restaurants).

5 comments about Downtown: My Manhattan.

1. Mr. Hamill takes on every bit of New York and discusses why he loves even the worst parts of it. He crafts a walk downtown thru the 1800's past buildings and men who shaped this city and produces a novel that inspires.



2. being an ex-NYer and having been changed forever by the years I lived there this book was a whirlwind tour through my favorite city. Pete Hamill knows his history and takes you through the history of buildings, people and the vibrant city that it's always been. Parsing bits of his own life with the life of the city it's like being on personal guided tour by one of NY's finest writers. My only problem was it was too short, I wanted to read more.



3. During Pete Hamill's lifetime, he has lived mostly in Manhattan which is usually the priciest and most expensive borough in the city. I live in New Jersey which is considered the poor sibling to the most exciting city in the world. Pete's right about writing about how much the twin towers' presence is missed alright. Where I live about thirty miles south of the city, you could have seen the twin towers. My grandfather's home was right across Manhattan where you could have seen the New York City skyline. He passed away before September 11, 2001. Every time I drive to Jersey City for school, I see the skyline without the twin towers and it's heartbreaking. It's just not the same without them there. Even though I didn't lose somebody I know, we all know people that did or survived the disaster with horrifying memories. Hamill's cynical but New York cynical, he writes about a city he loves so much, warts and all. Of course, most people just can't afford to live in New York City or they would not have moved away to the suburbs. People don't choose to run away from the city, they just have too because it's just expensive. Nobody unless you make six figures can afford to live decently in Manhattan or most of the five boroughs. The Village is not the same anymore since it has become so fashionable not just for gay couples but for straight couples with children. According to the times, the West Village has become family friendly. The East Village is following suit in becoming expensive and gentrified. It's all about money, who has it and doesn't that determines who gets to live there. Even Harlem has become gentrified like the rest of the city. Hamill doesn't talk much about the celebrity invasion that has determined who gets to live in the greatest city in the world. I love Manhattan! Would I live there? I don't know but it's got the best restaurants in the world, the best shopping, and the best sight-seeing of celebrities. In New York City, I feel so alive but it's still so expensive for the artists' population. Where do the artists like writers, artists, actors, and actresses go? The Village is no longer the place unless you're successful in your career. I wished the city well in the future and Hamill too. After September 11, 2001, there was a line in my church for confession which there never was or has been since. Many of the victims of 09-11-01 lived in New Jersey too. Commuters to New York City make up a lot of the foot traffic and business but they also contribute by spending the time to commute which can be difficult to do. If you want to see something in New York City, you should go to Penn or Grand Central Station and watch the commuters around rush hour. You'll see thousands of people waiting to find out which track their train is on and rush to get on board. I think of those stations as a place where I most likely run into people I know. New York City's great to visit, work, and even live if possible. I beg that the twin towers be rebuild but stronger because it's just not the same city anymore. I remember when I was in Warsaw where almost the entire city was destroyed about 90 percent I believe from World War II. After the war, the Poles rebuilt the city best as it was before the war and even added some Russian influence from the Soviet Communism. New York City should be rebuild those twin towers to make them stronger as well. There too busy concentrating on contracts and politics rather than remembering those lost their lives. If only, New Yorkers would stand up and demand the twin towers to be rebuilt and a memorial to honor those who were killed on that fateful day. By not rebuilding the twin towers, they are only cowering to the terrorists themselves.



4. My attraction to this book was unexpected. As I got into it I became helpless to stop reading.
   
   To reveal too much would be a kind of sin. You must read for yourself. You'll learn, you will chuckle, cry and, I promise, the historical facts will amaze you at times. The history of New York is the history of our country, and our known history goes back only so many years. Just looking at some of the buildings, the architecture, the streets, will bring old stories to life. As a native New Yorker, Pete Hamill has lived his life as journalist and reporter, soaking up the flavor and moods of the city. He has been editor in chief of the New York Post and the New York Daily News, as well as author of numerous books and many articles and stories for other distinguished publications.
   
   New York IS history - and I think New York is Pete Hamill - and the natives live with it as they breathe. Pete Hamill will surprise and delight you, sharing his life and style while gently informing.
   
   Coming to the end of this book is like having to say a reluctant goodby.



5. 
   Hamill's love for Downtown Manhattan is obvious. He speaks lovingly of "a city of daily irritations, occasional horrors, hourly tests of will and even courage, and huge dollops of pure beauty. He fills the book with tales of Peter Stuyvesant and John Jacob Astor, CBGB's and Delmonico's, but in the midst of this history, personal reminiscences are tossed in carelessly and this technique creates a schism in the narrative. It breaks the natural flow of his writing, which when on target create wonderful pictures of the Downtown that was. It's almost as if Hamill couldn't decide whether he was writing; history or memoir. I'm sure with careful consideration of approach this could have worked, but here style seems to be an afterthought, surprising for a newspaperman. Worth reading for his portraits of Old New York, but skip over the words when Hamill injects himself into the mix.

5 comments about MALACHY MURRAY'S UNIQUE NEW YORK: From the Stories You Were Never Told Series.

1. If you ever get to NYC, take the Circle Line Tour and request his tour. He's great! He's funny, informative, serious, inspirational and takes great pride in his city.



2. I ordered Malachy Murray's book after meeting him aboard the Circle Line Tour Boat on August 30th on the 4:30 pm tour. He is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. The book itself is truly unique in that it covers information and facts that a person would never know about unless they delved deeper into archives or lived the experience. Worth every penny and much, much more. My trip to NYC began on the Circle Line and will continue for months while reading and rereading "Unique New York"
   John P. Hayden



3. Visited NY the last of August for the first time. Malachy was the tour guide on the Circle Line boat tour my son and I took around Manhattan. For everyone who thinks history is boring, you will thoroughly enjoy how he gives you a recap of the how's,when's, where's, and why's of NY. This book models the tour talk he gives while you look around at all of the history and famous sights.
   It's light reading that leaves you with an education! He published this by himself so enjoy a handmade product full of his humor and unique twist on the Big Apple. Want to know where that phrase came from? This is where to look!



4. The way Malachy Murry brings the reader closer to New York and the great history behind the big city is both exceptional and breathtaking. If you have the slightest interest to know anything about New York - this book comes highly recommanded.
   In mid-August this year my wife and I had the pleasure of taking the full tour with Circle Line around Manhatten and our tour guide, Mr Murray, made that the most interesting, informative and enjoyable tours we've ever attended.
   Thank you,
   Janne & Trond, Norway



5. We were lucky enough to get on a boat of the NY Circle Line where Malachy Murray held a microphone in his hand - and the attention of his audience as well. He made history come alive, and through his colourful comments on NYC the two hours on that boat went by without a boring minute.
   This book is a fabulous way to remember this great tour of Manhattan, providing anecdotes and facts, and all of it in Malachy Murray's unique style.
   Well done, Malachy :-)

No comments about Let's Go New York City 16th Edition (Let's Go New York City).

1 comments about Frommer's 24 Great Walks in New York (Great Walks).

1. The book gives thorough, easy to follow walking tours throughout different areas of New York City. The historical facts and inclusion of details regarding the development of the city are impressive. The authors, Michele and James Nevius, are New York tour guides - I followed up with a tour of Greenwich Village with them to appreciate their level of knowledge of the area. If you are interested in a focused look at the city with insights into how time has passed through architecture and immigration, use this book as a guide.

2 comments about New York's 50 Best Places To Take Children, 3rd Edition (City and Company).

1. Awesome book with great suggestions- well written, easy to use! We and the kid loved the suggestions.



2. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars if I could.
   
   Buy this if you want to get to know NYC attraction if you live in New York. It made me excited about getting to NYC. Buy another book if you want a resource that can help plan where to go during a vacation stay.
   
   I bought this book along with another well known travel book. I liked reading this book a lot more as it was much better written. It suffers in comparison with the other book because it's just not that useful when in NYC.
   
   Regrettably, it wasn't up to do date -- like recommending the USS Intrepid while the attraction is closed. That's okay -- just not great.
   
   Moreover, as a book for vacationing, it wasn't much use when we got into NYC. A map would have been great. It's best for reading ahead of time and thinking about places to go but not for planning on the go or working out things just a day or two in advance.