A must for all who love New York.
925770
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It captures the spirit of New York while showcasing numerous works of art from the Metropolitan Museum in the city.  Juxtaposed together, children will love the fun drawings and adults will appreciate the cleverness contained in each page. I have bought this book as gifts for friends, and also bought two copies for myself. One sits proudly on my shelf, and I have matted and framed some of my favorite pages from the other copy to hang on my wall. If you love New York, art, and/or wonderful children's books you must discover this book for yourself.
334210
My favorite description of New York City is that it is very convenient to the United States without actually having to live there. William Helmreich examines the extent to which this is true in a remarkable tour of the city, that saw him cover more than six thousand miles - on foot - up and down every street there is. The result is a book with a totally appropriate title: The New York Nobody Knows.

When I was a reporter, I marveled at my privileged status. I got to go places and speak to people I would otherwise not only not have access to, but who would be suspicious if I tried.  This book empowered Helmreich to accost anyone, anywhere. So he saw New York like no one else has. He found that people in sports bars also have automatic icebreakers asking the score, and dog walkers have it because of their pets. My favorite of his discoveries is that "many people don't pay attention to what you say, as long as you say something". It got him into numerous places and revealing conversations with total strangers.

New York is different than pretty much any major city in the world, because it is the proverbial melting pot. Races, colors, religions and nationalities have to live and work side by side in cramped quarters, and they do to an extent that is simply not replicated anywhere else. For anyone outside the city, this will be a revelation. For those who live it, it is acknowledgment and confirmation of a work in process. As former mayor David Dinkins told Helmreich, New York was the only major American city to not break out in riots after the Rodney King incident in LA. New Yorkers look at things differently, and this book makes that really come alive.

New Yorkers don't expect comfort and are resilient, he says. They may congregate by common interest, be it bocce or church or homeland or food.  Some neighborhoods are fiercely united. Some districts have gangs. Some people mix. Some sit it out. It all combines to give the city a wealth of character, characters, variety, and depth.

Helmreich spends a lot of effort on gentrification as an issue: the situations it causes and changes. But gentrification is just a function of change. New York is constantly changing, renewing some neighborhoods while others slide. There is no stasis and no normal. Come back in ten years and the neighborhood will be different. Fugeddaboudit. New York City is very much a living, evolving being. Gentrification is a just another phase.

Oddly, with all his perspectives and perceptions, broken out and neatly collected into dozens of categories with examples from all corners of this vast agglomeration representing all the world, Helmreich missed possibly the most destructive trend going. For all his love of ethnic delis and foreign groceries and mid block churches, New York has turned precipitously to mass market national chains. For a hundred years, you could shop till you dropped in New York in unique New York stores, without ever encountering a national chain. Shoppers came by their millions to experience it. Now, it's all but impossible to avoid them. There are eight Starbucks in just 21 blocks (one mile) on Columbus Avenue, pretty much every other block. There are Home Depots and Old Navys and Best Buys and JC Pennys. New York is being homogenized, and not for the better. It is becoming a just another American city, not simply convenient to the United States, but undifferentiated from it. That's the real issue.

Despite this glaring omission, The New York Nobody Knows is an excellent snapshot of a miraculous city.

David Wineberg
3762657
Great book for old hand New Yorkers and third time tourists. Beautifully designed, well written, and lots of information that goes beyond what you can buy in these 111 stores. Made me want to go to all of these shops, just to get the taste of them.
12668
If you've ever been to New York or if you've never been to New York Lily Brett's view will open your eyes to a gleaming facet of this incredible city.
If you've read Lily Brett before - I expect you'll love this and if you've never read Lily Brett then this is a very great place to start.
1699087
The characters are real, unique and likeable. You will find yourself smiliing throughout the book, wishing you were in their midst, to share their comical stories, participate in their mismatched courtships and wine and dine with them. The heart warming side of New York City with all the glamour and glitz of the art scene.
4927646
Viewing this documentary has been a sensational experience. New York has been my favourite  city - I am there at least once a year - back again in November. I thought I knew the city well - however Ric Burn's documentary has provided me an unique ability - imagining various aspects of the city in times past during my next visit and  "travelling" to what they are now. Congratulations, Mr Burns - Well Done!
236648
I've read it 7 or 8 times and am reading it again. Hope they don't slaughter this masterpiece in the film about to be released. If you have never found New York a city of enchantment, perhaps some of the book wouldn't make sense or you may not warm to some of the specific references to it. I love New York. To me, the echoes of all Helprin writes about are. perhaps thin but extant never the less in the New York of today--you do have to reach for them.
4121892
Carrie Boretz's photos take your breath away...literally. She has captured an era of a real, multi-layered New York that pulsates with love, sadness and most of all humanity. Her eye as a photojournalist reveals her deep understanding of NYC and the people that make it come alive. A lifetime of work in this gem of a book that you will want to buy for all the people you care about!
344216
This is the prefect film for me since I love to visit New York City as a tourist and I have been studying French for years. What could be better than a French film about French tourists in New York City? Half of the dialog is in English and there are English subtitles so you will have no problem understanding the action. New York City is shown in all this glory in this movie. There are even some scenes in Brooklyn.

The soundtrack is also great and includes a cover version of Rod Stewart's "Young Turks".
3992796
If you love art and architecture and are going to New York, this is the  only guide you need. This book is beatiful and informative.
3178737
We plan on going to Las Vegas and New York by the end of the year for the first time in both locations so this was a must have.  Great pictures, facts about the city and where to go to be seen!

A must for all New York vacationers!
200531
Mr. Klein has done a remarkable job of bringing to life some of the most well known bars and restaurants of New York to life in this photographic collection.  Revisit the glory days of historic New York with this title.  Each bar or restaurant has its own individual chapter, detailing the history of the location through pictures and antidotes.  This form allows a more intimate introduction for the reader, especially if you are not terribly familiar with the business.

This is a must have for anyone's personal collection, would make a beautiful gift for those that enjoy a leisurely stroll through history with entertaining captions along with a healthy dose of beautifully taken photographs.  This is one title I highly recommend.
3313387
For anyone who lived or worked in NYC this is a must read book. Prodigious research and lots of information on the movers and shakers. For those never involved in NY work, finance or society it might be considerably less interesting. The writer is to be complimented on including both historical details with efforts to contact living heirs.
1272122
New Yorked is excellent. What starts out as a crime novel quickly escalates into a more complex story touching on love, friendship, revenge, and dealing with personal demons as much as the real life bone crushing demons. The backdrop of New York City is great, especially for anyone who has lived or visited. New Yorked scenes touch the tourist spots, as well as the seedier underbelly of the city, while offering commentary on the ever changing landscape. I highly recommend this for New York natives, transplants, visitors, and even those who only know the New York they see on TV.
2190226
Filled with great period photos and detailed information, these books (written in 1893)are an absolute must for anyone interested in late nineteenth century New York. Fantastic bits of information about the city's clubs, hotels, businesses, prisons -- EVERYTHING is in there!!
[Thank you, little sister!]
2820120
One of my very best reads.  Linda Fairstein had interesting characters and plots but her history of New york and what's it all about if just phenomenal and so very interesting.  I have recommeded this book over and over again - especially for New Yorkophiles.
4656773
I was fortunate to see the exhibit for this book (at the Museum of the City of NY, five years ago) and I couldn't resist buying the book; it's a real treat to see the great selection of photos and to read everything.  The author did a terrific job!