3 comments about On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C..

1. What a great book! It is refreshing to read a historical guide that doesn't take itself too seriously. On This Spot brings the sights and history to life for us transplated Washingtonians. While the book can be used as a walking tour guide, it can just as easily take you on a tour through history from your living room. Makes me feel like I am in Washington again!



2. I LOVE THIS BOOK!! i love learning about the little trivia type things. And this one is full of them. Now I just want the same thing for other cities.



3. This book is wonderful. There are places pointed out in this book that are not pointed out anywhere else. If you are going or live in DC please buy this book and use it as you walk around.

No comments about Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington.

No comments about Access Seattle 6e (Access Seattle).

1 comments about Olympic Peninsula Rivers Guide.

1. Let me begin by saying that Steve Probasco has written and published some excellent NW fishing articles, books and magazines...and that's why this book is such a disappointment. The amount of valuable information it contains is marginal and may be a reflection of the pre-internet times it was written. Save your money and search the web--you'll find a lot more information for free. The sad part is that Steve has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Olympic Peninusla and its wonderful anadramous fishery. He could have put out a killer book: this is not it.

4 comments about Greater U Street (DC) (Images of America).

1. One of his many on the city's neighborhoods, this book captures the old balck U Street in all its glory. Nicely done indeed!



2. I really enjoyed the book, being a native Washingtonian it brought back some old memories.



3. I really enjoyed the book, being a native Washingtonian it brought back some old memories.



4. The U Street Area of Washington, D.C. has had a long and varied history. It is best known as Washington D.C.'s Black Broadway for the vibrancy of its nightlife and for the many African American performing artists and intellectuals it attracted during the 1920s - 1930s. But U Street included much more than entertainment. It was the center of a largely self-contained African American community whcih flourished during the years of segregation beginning in the early 20th Century. In the late 1960s, U Street was decimated by the riots that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the community was slow to recover. Today, with the completion of the U Street Cardozo Metro Station, the African American Civil War Memorial, and the Reeves Municipal Center, U Street is a thriving and lively neighborhood in a city very different from the segregated Washington D.C. prior to the 1960s The Greater U Street Area became a National Register Historic District in 1999.
   
   In his photographic history "Greater U Street" (2002), published as part of the "Images of America" series, Paul K. Williams offers an overview of U Street from its beginnings to the present day. Williams is a Washington D,C, historian who works with a firm that specializes in historic properties. He has written several books about Washington D.C. neighborhoods for Images of America.
   
   In a brief opening chapter, William begins with the Civil War era when the area that became U Street was used as an encampment area for Union soldiers. William offers some rare views of Civil War life and of the hospitals and orphanages, and some of the people, that made U Street home before the 20th Century.
   
   The remainder of the book traces the development of what became black U Street, the "City Within a City". Williams offers a view of both change and continuity. Many historic buildings on U Street were designed by African American architects, flourished through the 1960s, and then fell into neglect. Williams traces the history of buildings such as the Whitelaw and Dunbar Hotels, the 12th Street YMCA. and the True Reformers Building, all of which have a long history within the community. Williams also devotes substantial space to old Griffith Stadium, located at the eastern boundary of the U Street Corridor, the site of the current Howard University Hospital. Griffith Stadium was on of the few Washington D.C. facilities which was never segregated. It was home to the old Washington Senators as well as to Washington D.C. teams in the Negro Leagues.
   
   Williams documents U Street as the "Black Broadway" and his book is replete with photographs of performers who appeared on U Street. These include Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey,Louis Armstrong, and Harry Belafonte. The list could be extended. U Street was also home to the early African American lyric soprano, Lillian Evans Tibbs, known as "Madame Evanti" and to literary figures such as Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, and Alain Locke who are also portrayed briefly in Williams's book.
   
   In the chapter from which I took the title to this review, Williams shows everyday life on U Street during the 1940s and 1950s. During this time, the area included many African American owned businesses some of which, such as the Industrial Savings Bank and the small Whitelaw Market, still operate today. For me the high point of the book is a series of photographs by the African American photographer Gordon Parks which show a wide variety of U Street life, from stores to homes to street. Parks's photographs together with others (pp. 71-84) bring the U Street area to life as little else can.
   
   Near the end of the book, Williams offers several photographs of the destruction resulting from the riots on U Street in 1968. He also tells the sad tale of the subsequent deterioration of many of the community landmarks. Recovery was slow, in part because the construction of the Metro station restricted access to U Street, driving out many of the businesses that tried to return to the area in the early 1970s.
   
   The final chapter of the book shows briefly the current resurgence of U Street, juxtaposed with photographs of historical buildings that remain in a state of decay. Appropriately, the book both begins and ends with photographs of a landmark U Street restaurant, Ben's Chili Bowl, which survived both the 1968 disturbances and the Metro construction to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in August 2008. Ben's Chili Bowl is itself the subject of a recent book in the Images of America series.
   
   Those who live in or visit Washington D.C. have the opportunity to visit U Street for themselves, to walk a historic trail, and to see the sites described in this book and more. But for those who may see U Street and for those who have no contact with it, this book captures something of a special community.
   
   Robin Friedman

3 comments about Northwest Shore Dives.

1. The third edition of this book is an improvement on the previous and includes new dive sites, 55 in all. The dive sites are located in Washington State in Puget Sound and Hood Canal. All include a picture of the site which makes it easy to find them, the written directions are excellent. The tide and current table calculations are great, even going so far as to let you know if you should plan your dive for tides or currents. He even includes information on things to do for non-divers while they hangout waiting for divers to return. The maps are exceptional, most have depth measurements and all include ebb and flood current information that really makes it easy to plan dives at these sites. I have dived some of the sites listed in the book and the descriptions are excellent. Highly recommended for those diving in the Pacific Northwest.



2. The information is up to date and correct. I use this book exclusively to plan my dives. I have met the author and trust his knowledge of the dive sites and the information given in the book.



3. This book is highly regarded among divers in the BC/WA/OR area. My only criticism is the latest edition (3rd) wasn't really updated much in that it still lists the Edmonds Oil Dock as a "working" pier. This hasn't been a working pier for a long time. But other than that, it's still an excellent book, highly recommended.

1 comments about Washington's Rail-Trails : Walking - Running - Bicycling - In-Line Skating - Horseback Riding.

1. Excellent informative book! I am an equestrian and look for day rides in the Washington State, and this book clearly talks about all the old railroads bought by the state and turned into trails for walking, biking, hiking, and riding your horse! Each is mapped and has driving directions, lists restrictions and trail type, with pictures and telephone #'s for questions. Very informative and easy to use book!

No comments about Not for Tourists 2009 Guide to Washington Dc (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

4 comments about Discovering Washington Wines: An Introduction to One of the Most Exciting Premium Wine Regions.

1. This very attractively produced book serves as a terrific guide to the wines of Washington. I'm pretty much of an ignoramus when it comes to wines in general so I learned a great deal from this book and appreciated the non-exclusive tone of the writing, but feel sure there is ample depth here for the winoscenti. In addition to learning my Syrah from my Viognier I enjoyed the section on the history of the wine industry in the area and especially on the production and elements of winemaking.

   My favorite segment of the book may be the extensive appendix full of all kinds of great material in addition to the useful glossary and list of resources and directory of Washington wineries. The appendix includes indispensable advice on pairing wines with food, tips on selecting wineglasses, and how to remove corks from champagne and sparkling wine bottles.

   Now I'm waiting eagerly in hopes the author will start work on "Discovering Washington Beers."




2. I know many folks looking beyond California to Washington state for new directions in both wines and wine touring. Everyone seems to have visited California's wine country but Washington offers something new. I'm not a wine expert and didn't know much about Washington wines, but this guide brought me up to speed quickly on the history, wine regions, and other important facts. I'd recommend it as a gift to someone new to Washington wines or for keeping a copy in your car's glovebox when touring Washington wineries.



3. We've just ordered two more copies of Mr Parker's very useful and informative book, both for friends in Europe with educated palates who frequently journey to the Northwest for vacations. The book provides an interesting history of wine production in our state as well as quick-reference educational bits about wine types and other specifics. Maps, along with listings of dozens of wineries-- with addresses and websites-- are handy for visitors and residents as well. We enthusiastically recommend this guidebook!



4. This book is an easy read, and informative, though not nearly as detailed as some other books on Washington's wines which are available for comparable prices.
   
   I was bothered by the erroneous maps printed in the sections describing each of Washington's A.V.A.'s. These maps showed the Yakima River flowing south and east of the city of Yakima. In actuality, the river does go through Yakima, and extends north beyond Ellensburg.
   
   I wonder how much the authors really know about Washington wines, and how much care they put into their research, if this type of error slipped by them.

2 comments about Washington: Scenes from a Capital City.

1. When I first saw Mr. Cleave's book "Washington, Scenes from a Capital City", I thought...What a beautiful and interesting representation of all the wonderful architecture of our great city and its surrounding area. I found Mr. Cleave's choice of buildings and other structures, and the potpourri of other familiar landmarks, signs and other details to be superb. Many features were quite amusing and brought back nostalgic memories...haunts of my youth. Because of this, Mr. Cleave's book was chosen by me to give to all visiting guests attending my daughter's wedding from abroad; a gift they treasure, I've been told! Mr. Cleave's book has served as a wonderful housewarming and graduation gift for me but, more importantly, I believe it would make a splendid corporate gift for Christmas, and for delegates to conventions/conferences in our wonderful city; someone should investigate this marketing proposal.



2. This is not your typical "coffee table" book showing glossy photos of all the usual monuments and buildings that we already know from a thousand other pictures. This book is more of a work of art in itself, with photos marvelously re-worked into water-color-like portraits of scenes form Washington. The scenes too are different; familiar buildings seen from unfamiliar angles and unfamiliar buildings and views presented in a way that entices the reader to go and look. What this book does is to show Washington to be so much more than what we think we know about it. The city is shown to be as wonderful a work of art as the book itself.