1 comments about Spectacular Wineries of the Napa Valley: A Captivating Tour of Established, Estate and Boutique Wineries (Spectacular Wineries series).

1. Having visited many of these wineries I can say that this book truly captures the best of Napa Valley. The book is an excellent guide of the "must see" wineries of California. I sent a dozen copies to my friends.

4 comments about Day Hikes Around Los Angeles, 4th.

1. Considering that there are like 20 million people living in the LA area, it's sad no one's really written a review of this gem of a book. I find that even though people may have lived here their whole lives, they really haven't seen much of the city.
   
   So what better way to get acquainted with my new home than this book? More interesting to me than "how to go to Disneyland with 110,000 other people" or "learning where the Orange Crush is located," is a book about some offbeat, and beautiful, parts of LA.
   
   Case in point was the hike to Point Fermin I took Sunday. A fine day with my father-in-law, son, and daughter. My panama hat did yeoman's duty, and we enjoyed the wonderful scenery and relative solitude. The best part is, it didn't cost a dime. We even drove over the only suspension bridge in LA county to get there. My boss has lived in LA for forty years, and hadn't heard of this location.
   
   Anyway, this book falls under the heading of "potentially life-changing books" not because the hikes are all that mind-blowing, but because it is the key to unlock experiences you'd otherwise never have. It's that little push that gives you permission to do something a little unusual, a little less safe, than your ordinary weekend. The exploration of such a complex city rich in natural beauty is a great gift, and opening the book is the first step on that journey.
   
   Sean Penn says that now that men aren't hunters anymore, the only thing left for them is violence. I say that's not true. There's a whole world out there to explore, and a man can still try to see it for himself, and take pleasure in showing it to his family.



2. I haven't gone on all 82 hikes in this book. But I have gone on a few, and on some the directions are not quite right. So if you get this book, here's some notes:
   
   Hike 51: Rustic Canyon
   This hike is awesome. However, if you go, go with someone who has gone before, or you WILL get lost. The trail in the canyon is not maintained whatsoever, and has pretty much disappeared at the tail end. The best way out is to slog through the stream, so you will be soaked. Be prepared.
   
   Hike 66: Brush Canyon
   It says to reach Mt Bell, to take a right on Mount Hollywood Drive. It's a left. The turnoff isn't far, but it's to the left. If you go right, the first turnoff takes you up to Mt Hollywood (a back way to Hike 68).
   
   Many, many hikes:
   Be very careful - there are numerous hikes where North is not at the top of the map. On some hikes, North is the bottom of the map. Who does that? If you don't realize this, you're going to get lost. Be sure to double check.
   
   Other than that, some great hiking routes. Many are pretty far from "Los Angeles" - so be prepared for a bit of a drive sometimes. Also, there are NO hikes east of the 5 freeway - even though there are some fantasic hikes above Pasadena, Altadena, Azusa. Even a few above Whittier. They're just not in here at all. The majority of the hikes are nearer to the Ventura County Line than they are to Los Angeles. They're just not in here at all.



3. I purchased this book for directions to hike to the Hollywood sign with a friend, and was not disappointed. The directions in this book take you as close as you can legally get to the sign. The map, driving directions, and hiking directions were quite accurate. The trailhead has been moved since this edition was published, but there were signs clearly directing us to and marking the new trailhead. The only unclear element was the listed hiking time, which the book says is 1.5 hours, not stating whether this is one-way or round-trip. Taking time along the trail to stop for water breaks on a warm sunny day and photograph the excellent vistas, it took us about 3 hours round-trip to complete the hike. I suppose if one did the hike in a hurry it might be completed in the stated time, but if you plan to admire the scenery, you should probably add at least an hour onto the hiking times provided in this book. Though there were several other groups of hikers on the trail with us (one group also using this book as a guide), there were many points where it was so quiet that you couldn't hear anything but nature sounds. Even the freeways and fellow hikers elsewhere along the trail were often inaudible. The views along the trail and from the top of Mt. Lee were gorgeous - we could see all the way to the ocean!



4. I went on a number of the suggested hikes - all were good ideas and well described in the text, also nicely sorted by area - hill range. The maps leave a bit to be desired - best to check the trip out on Google maps first, especially if you are combining routes into a single longer hike.

5 comments about City Walks: San Francisco: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

1. I was disappointed with this product. The format is convenient, but the walks they recommend aren't real intersting. Most of the walks are very short (usually only a few blocks) and are mostly in the touristy edges of the city. I much prefer "Stairway Walks in San Francisco" which has longer walks (a few miles each) and focuses more on the more diverse interior of the city.



2. That walk you show online is virtually impossible for any but the most
   physically fit walkers - and, like others in the book you don't end up where you started.
   On the other hand,virtually all of Adah Bakalinsky's walks in her book, "Stairways of San Francisco" bring the walker, via most interesting routes, back to the point of the walk's origin. Great to have your car or bicycle right there after the walk. The stories of the stairways and the neighborhoods are fascinating. Good walks and a good read.



3. This nifty box of 50 walking tours printed on cards takes the drudgery of using a big flat paper map & gives you info about the individual tour & suggests stops along the way.



4. I compare this to my two favorite books of San Francisco walking tours: Stairway Walks in San Francisco by Adah Bakalinsky and Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past by Rand Richards (see my reviews of both). If Adah is your eccentric walking Aunt and Rand is her history professor, tour guide husband, this deck of 'walk cards' is their slacker nephew.
   
   These cards are the slacker nephew saying "Dude, you should just go to the Ferry Building and then walk up the Embarcadero. They've got cool stuff at the Ferry Building" without the extensive directions and commentary you'd get from either of the other books.
   
   Of course I exaggerate, but here each 'walk' is printed on a card about four inches by 5 inches. One side is a map with your route; the other is brief highlights of history, places to stop, and so on.
   
   Each walk is explained in much less detail, but that's actually the strength here. The walks are shorter and quicker and the walk cards are easy to carry in a pocket or purse. This is probably a better resource for someone brand new to San Francisco or a casual tourist than it is for a resident or even a tourist who wants to get to know San Francisco by walking around.
   
   With this deck it is easy to look for quick walks near your new home, new office, or hotel or tourist spot you are going to anyway. It should also appeal to people who find the structure and information in other two books to be overkill.



5. These are OK cards for someone who wants a tour of a neighborhood to get a general feeling of what it's like and isn't as concerned about the details. I would've missed some interesting spots that I've seen on San Francisco City Guide tours if I only relied on these cards.
   
   If you're looking for something a little more in-depth, then you may want to pick up one of the other books that some of the other reviewers have suggested. Either that or take some tours with the San Francisco City Guides (free tours through SF public library). The City Guides tour creators are required to do thorough research before creating a tour, and the guides are thoroughly trained on the history, architecture and sights of a neighborhood. You'll get a lot more out of those tours than from these cards.
   
   Having said all that, these aren't bad for the casual tourist or new resident of the city. Just don't believe everything you read on the cards. In reading over the first 15 cards I noticed two "facts" that were wrong.
   
   The cards claimed that Coit Tower was made as a tribute to firemen. Though Lillie Hitchcock Coit had a fireman thing, Coit Tower was built after she died. Money was given to the city upon her death for beautification and the city decided what to do with it. Coit did get a statue of firemen put in down the hill in Washington Square Park, but that's not the same place as Coit Tower.
   
   Another card claimed that Grace Cathedral was built in 1910, when in actuality the Grace Cathedral that currently exists was started in 1928 and finished in 1964.
   
   The routes on the cards are decent, but some of the routes leave out hidden gems that I think are more interesting than some of the things that were included. That and the fact problems make me think that these cards were put together by someone who had a moderate knowledge of San Francisco, but that isn't as much of an expert as some other authors out there.
   
   The tips for places to eat and rest along the way seemed nice and the author seemed to know more about the shopping and commercial establishments than the history and architecture.
   
   Don't get me wrong, these are handy cards with some good, if sometimes superficial, information for someone who is relatively unfamiliar with the city. They just don't measure up very well as a great resource for anyone who is already somewhat familiar with the neighborhoods of San Francisco.

4 comments about Comeback Cities: A Blueprint for Urban Neighborhood Revival.

1. Community development practitioners, grass roots activists, and others who have long worked to revitalize America's inner city neighborhoods know that change is afoot. The transformation is subtle and still uneven but palpable nevertheless. In recent years there have been positive improvements in the day to day lives of inner city residents across America. Here is a book thta tells us why it happens, where, and what we can do to support this trend.

   Drawing on evidence from urban neighborhoods in different regions of the country and on their own substantial knowledge of the field, Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio identify key factors that have contributed to these positive changes. Several factors, including the revival of private markets in the inner city, have been identified by other experts in the field. Grogan and Proscio make an especially compelling case, however, that it is the confluence of factors - the right combination of effort and innovation - that makes for "Comeback Cities."

   This book is a must-read for community and economic development practitioners, grass roots activists and others in both the public and private sectors who hope to create an urban agenda for the future. For those who are already on the front lines, this is an acknowledgment of hard-won accomplishments and a valuable road map for the future.




2. Though it leaves the reader acutely aware of the problems still facing America's core urban areas, "Comeback Cities" nonetheless instills a wave of optimism in the reader about the revivifying effects that grassroots community development organizations, new techniques of community policing, and deregulation in welfare, public housing and public schools have had in some of the nation's formerly moribund cities.

   Grogan and Proscio take an anecdotal approach to their argument, which serves the book well. Where such an approach can sometimes mask a paucity of evidence, these authors have no such problem. Grogan and Proscio show that the phenomena they're discussing are just as visible in Cleveland and Boston as they are in San Francisco and Chicago. And each actual case they cite bolsters the book's argument: that bold, new approaches to age-old urban problems have recusitated patients that most prognosticators long ago said were dead on the operating table. Whether one considers HUD's mid-1990s recasting of the role and form of public housing in Chicago's Cabrini Green, William Bratton's widespread application of the "broken windows" method of community policing in Boston and New York City, or Cleveland Mayor Michael White's and Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist's audacious efforts to make public schooling in their respective cities more accountable, Grogan and Proscio clearly illustrate the key changes that are uplifting cities.

   Another fantastic aspect of "Comeback Cities" is the multi-layered, nuanced approach the authors employ. Proscio and Grogan understand, and they make the reader understand, that community policing, community development corporations, economic deregulation, and public school accountability are all interrelated solutions to urban problems. Far too often, politicians and public policy commentators argue that such problems are individual and should be combatted individually and apart from the larger picture. Smartly, these authors show that such an approach is not only no longer possible, but that it may just have contributed to the deep-seated problems affecting cities in the first place.

   Finally, the prose of "Comeback Cities" deserves an effusive salute. Where many planning books can be arrid and full of jargon, these authors are careful to boil down their arguments to their essential terms, while providing the appropriate and necessary background. "Comeback Cities" reads like the best journalism, and I must recommend it as one of the finest books I've read in months.




3. Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio may be on to something - a completely new urban dynamic that has quietly evolved over the past 20 years or so - largely unnoticed except for those engaged in it. In a lively and entertaining style, the authors tell a remarkable story of four, sometimes discrete, but often coordinated trends that they say hold the promise of the rebirth of the nation's inner city neighborhoods.

   The central thesis of "Comeback Cities" is that if lost inner city neighborhoods are to be reclaimed, the residents of those neighborhoods must do it. Until they themselves take responsibility - mainly through the creation of nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs) - nothing else seems to work. But these "engines of reclamation" are not enough - the authors say they need to be coupled with new policing techniques, deregulation of public systems, (i.e., welfare and public housing reform) and educational reforms to reach a "critical mass" and real improvement. Seems unlikely, - but in city after city, - New York, Boston, Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oakland, Houston, - the authors detail the extraordinary results achieved by the confluence of these four new forces.

   The central question of course is whether these trends can gain sufficient traction to become the blueprint for reliable inner city revitalization. Or are they simply anecdotal random events, uniquely tied to local circumstance.

   This compelling and insightful book examines these new trends and shows, especially in the synergy of their confluence, that meaningful revitalization is not only possible but also predictable. The evidence, skillfully woven into cogent argument, builds chapter on chapter. Without denying the importance of a booming economy or new energy from immigration, the authors make a credible case that but for these new forces - especially the local nonprofit CDCs - the successes they describe would not have been realized. And while they acknowledge the important role of HUD's Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs, and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, (which provide the "fuel" for these engines), the authors rightly focus on the local nonprofit machinery as necessary for these programs to work. As a 30-year practitioner at the federal level, I can attest to the wisdom of this focus. The best outcomes seem to occur, as is borne out by the book, when the Federal government uses its leverage, instead of prescriptive programs, (e.g., the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the CRA, FannyMae directed-mortgage commitments and so fourth), and the local level - using this Federal leverage - is free to design and implement appropriate solutions.

   The writing is a pleasure: speaking, for example, of the Federal government's role in establishing the practice of "redlining" [excluding large demographic areas from access to mortgages] and the decades later passage of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) [encouraging banks to lend in such areas], the authors comment:

   "Consequently, to view the modern mortgage industry as an immaculate offspring of the unfettered private market - one whose dainty virtue was now threatened by an unprecedented federal groping [the CRA] - was disingenuousness raised to the level of parody. Perfect, in other words, for a congressional debate."

   So fluid is the writing that one is barely aware of all the information actually coming off the page. Surprising nuggets, simple but powerful, are so easily told their significance might not be immediately appreciated. Just two of many examples: that poverty needn't be inexorably associated with disorder and slum conditions, - as demonstrated by the South Bronx story - deserves serious reflection. As does the lesson of how taking care of little things - like people jumping the fare stiles in the NY subway system - can pay major dividends:

   "Collaring 'petty' offenders suddenly led to a harvest of arrests of serious criminals. One out of ten fare beaters turned out to be wanted on a felony warrant, and many others were carrying illegal firearms. In one stroke, Bratton had not only eliminated an appalling spectacle that was frightening the public and costing the transit system tens of millions in lost revenues annually, he was bagging large numbers of wanted felons in the bargain. As a billiard player would say, a three cushion shot. Crime in the subways fell off a cliff. Between 1990 and 1994 felonies dropped 75%, robberies by 64 percent."

   But cities are complex entities, even "organic," and if there is any criticism, it may be that the writing is so clear and easy that some may think it belies an extraordinary energy required of these local citizens and officials to achieve these hard won victories. This would be a mistake. Certainly, effort and energy are required, but perhaps one of the lessons of this book, to put it simply, is that things go much easier with the right approach. In fact, no matter the energy expended, they might not "go" at all without it. This book is about the right approach.

   Comeback Cities is superbly crafted. And, while optimistic, it is by no means a Pollyannaish book about the elimination of poverty, injustice, and how we can all get along. Speaking from "hands-on" experience the authors describe what they see, and take care not to overstate the case. This is an honest, balanced book that provides a sound basis for hope, with realistic recommendations to multiply the rebirth they document.

   "The political challenge for cities and their supporters -and specifically for the next president and Congress-is to draw the national imagination towards the astonishing accomplishments already underway, the pace of those accomplishments, the intelligence that has led them, and the mounting opportunity they will create as they continue to pile up.".

   Comeback Cities will fire this imagination. It is well worth the time of anyone interested - even if only remotely- in urban America. It avoids the normally dense "policy wonk stuff" and makes complex issues transparently accessible. It is must reading for academics, policymakers, and the general public.

   Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio are definitely on to something.




4. Find out why & how the inner cities in America have started recovering from social disorder and crimes that plagued them only years ago.
   
   Informative.

No comments about Red, White, and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey.

1 comments about Moon Tahoe (Moon Handbooks).

1. If you only have a few days or a week to spend in Tahoe you will certainly want to make the most of your time. A good place to start is this new book by outdoor author Ann Marie Brown. In addition to stunning photos (both color and black and white--a trademark of Brown's travel guides), decent maps, and multiple itineraries for various types of vacation activities, this book povides a detailed listing of all the recreational opportunities at Tahoe. Hiking and biking receive the most attention but water sports, skiing and climbing opportunities are also covered in detail. Using this book, you will have no problem filling the days of your vacation.
   
   But of couse you will also want to enjoy Tahoe's nightlife, dining, lodging, and other tourist attractions. Brown's book covers it all. The book is divided into four sections: south shore, north and west shores, eastern shore (the Nevada section), and the Carson Pass area. Each section includes mini restaurant reviews, a list of lodging options (including campgrounds) and entertainment and shopping opportunities. This is truly a comprehensive guide. For my part, I will primarily use it to plan outdoor activities on my next all-too-brief visit to Tahoe, but I recommend this book to everyone who wants to spend some time in this fabulous region in California.

No comments about Fodor's Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

5 comments about Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier.

1. As a newspaper columnist for The Register-Guard in Eugene, Ore., I loath the well-written but poorly reported essay. That's why I'm so anxious to endorse Sides' "Americana," which is, to be blunt, the best collection of essays on beyond-the-press-conference America I've ever read. Sides is not only a master of language - "they survey the scene with frozen smiles, like old-time Kremlin leaders on a reviewing stand" - but an observer extraordinaire. What makes his pieces shine is his incredible attention to detail, his not only seeing the aging band Steppenwolf at the Harley gathering, but REALLY seeing them: "haggard dinosaurs with tubercular-blue skin, their scaly forms mailed in black leather." From bikers to Tupperware women, from skate boarders to national spelling bees, Sides shows us an America that you won't always find on prime time. And does so with an open mind, an insatiable curiosity and a keen wit. But what places the book at the forefront of such collections is two last-chapter essays - "Point of Impact," about 9/11 and "First," about the war in Iraq. Sides' humor is delicious, but when he gets serious, as he does for these two pieces, he can tell a gripping story like few other American writers. If you want to better understand Americans - and treat yourself to uncommonly great writing in the process - "Americana" is for you.



2. This is the third book by Hampton Sides I have read. I absolutly loved it!
   
   Indepth insights into American subcultures, personalities, locations and events conveyed in masterful color and detail. Humor, pathos, irony, Sides elicits the full gamut of emotions. From the first page to the last, pure genius.
   
   Sides has become my favorite author. Can't wait for his next book.



3. Great start to this collection of essays... "What is an American?" Most of these essays are very interesting reading... a few are just a bit slow. I've used the essay on Bass fishing in my HS English classes to highlight "good writing." My students have enjoyed scoring his work with the six traits... great writer!



4. After reading "Ghost Soldiers" I found "Americana" to be disappointing.
   
   "Americana" is a collection of unrelated magazine articles, and they seem to have been written to accompany the photos of the magazine, instead of standing on their own. Some of the characters Sides writes about are interesting, but there's not much drama to the essays.
   
   Sides is an outstanding writer, as he proved with "Ghost Soldiers" -- a captivating and amazing story that was hard to put down. But be cautioned: "Americana" takes effort to get through!



5. Skateboarder? Why would I even be interested in a skateboarder? Yet Sides writes it so well, I couldn't put it down!
   
   He does it so well that I am anticipating the meeting of Gordon Liddy, just like he did, but he doesn't show up until the end for just a small bit. Yet getting there was so much fun!
   
   I love having this book on my Kindle. I know I can 'open it up' anytime and find a great short story.
   
   Hampton Sides - keep 'em coming!

No comments about Not for Tourists 2008 Guide to Atlanta (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

5 comments about The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Join the Corps of Discovery to Explore Uncharted Territory (Kaleidoscope Kids Book).

1. Build a keelboat, learn how to use a compass, carve a canoe - all of these adventures await you in The Lewis & Clark Expedition! Terrific book which makes the Expedition come alive. The activities and illustrations are excellent and have proven to be winners with children of all ages.



2. The Lewis and Clark Expedition, by Carol Johmann, is a fantastic book filled with first-hand information about two of our U.S. history's famous explorers. Johmann includes excerpts from Lewis & Clark's own journals, as well as from some of their fellow soldiers. This lends a great deal of authenticity to Johmann's book, as well as gives the reader a feel of being right alongside these men as they progress on their journey west.
   As a home-schooling mom, I especially find Johmann's kid-friendly style of writing refreshing as well as informative. The inclusion of various age-appropriate crafts throughout the book is a great way to stimulate further interest in the reader, and gives the child an even greater understanding of what these two men and their crew dealt with during their journey.
   I highly recommend this book. For the home-schooler, this is an excellent social studies curriculum combining intellect with creativity. For public schools, it's a fantastic way to draw the students in and give them a more thorough understanding of the trials and accomplishments Lewis & Clark underwent. For parents who want to give their child(ren) (or themselves) a more informative and well-rounded experience of Lewis & Clark's exploration for westward expansion as well as to determine if a single water route existed across the continent to better accommodate for trade, this is the book for you!
   Ms. Johmann, two thumbs up!



3. What a lot is packed into this brief (112 pages) activity book for children! It's a vivid account of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, rich in adventure, yet also presenting the journey from many political and cultural angles. Activities and lively descriptions bring out not just the physical conditions of the trip, but leadership dilemmas, and moral issues faced along the way.

   The book is filled with apt and frequently witty illustrations. Also, numerous intriguing asides about the trip mesh nicely with the main narrative.

   Facts are presented; questions are posed. Children are asked to think - and after the mental activity - they'll come away from the book feeling they were there




4. This book is full of information and activities that are interesting to kids. Many pieces of information that I never came across in other books. For younger children (4-7), the best one might be Lewis & Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President.



5. I bought this book after meeting the author. The book cover doesn't look as pretty as other books but they are wonderful! The writing is marvelous! I learned a lot about the Lewis and Clark Expedition from this book. I was also impressed with the activities that go along with the book. Very nice. I wish I had bought the book on Columbus and the exploration of the New World, it is out of print, but I bet it's good!