Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, New York Off the Beaten Path shows you the Empire State with new perspectives on timeless destinations and introduces you to those you never knew existed––from the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, forget the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.
While it may seem that every possible topic about New York City's attractions has been written about, 'Off the Beaten (Subway) Track' is the first book to focus on the hundreds of off-the-beaten-path destinations in the city. Some are small museums, others are historic places long forgotten, some are stores that sell only odd things, and some are distinguished for their claim to fame as the world's largest/smallest whatever. All of them are notable for the passion with which their proprietors and curators care for them, and all can be visited via the subway system as the author directs readers to which of the city's 486 subway stations will get them closest.
"As a kid growing up in Manhattan, William Helmreich played a game with his father they called "Last Stop." They would pick a subway line and ride it to its final destination, and explore the neighborhood there. Decades later, Helmreich teaches university courses about New York, and his love for exploring the city is as strong as ever. Putting his feet to the test, he decided that the only way to truly understand New York was to walk virtually every block of all five boroughs--an astonishing 6,000 miles. His epic journey lasted four years and took him to every corner of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Helmreich spoke with hundreds of New Yorkers from every part of the globe and from every walk of life, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former mayors Rudolph Giuliani, David Dinkins, and Edward Koch. Their stories and his are the subject of this captivating and highly original book. We meet the Guyanese immigrant who grows beautiful flowers outside his modest Queens residence in order to always remember the homeland he left behind, the Brooklyn-raised grandchild of Italian immigrants who illuminates a window of his brownstone with the family's old neon grocery-store sign, and many, many others. Helmreich draws on firsthand insights to examine essential aspects of urban social life such as ethnicity, gentrification, and the use of space. He finds that to be a New Yorker is to struggle to understand the place and to make a life that is as highly local as it is dynamically cosmopolitan."--Publisher's description.
Tired of the same old tourist traps? Take the road less traveled and uncover the hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales other guidebooks just don't offer. Off the Beaten Path® features the things you'd want to see—if only you knew about them! From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits, you'll say over and over again: “I didn't know that!” Discover a different side of the Empire State. Check out Wing’s Castle, the fabulously eccentric stone dwelling overlooking the Hudson Valley; prospect for “Herkimer diamonds” in Middleville; or stop in Elmira to see what Mark Twain called “the loveliest study you ever saw” (he should know—it was his). So if you've “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.
This book is a travel guide of sorts to New York's local legends and best kept secrets, filled with crazy characters, cursed roads, abandoned sites, and bizarre roadside attractions that the author feels reflect the shared modern folklore of our time.
Your All-in-One Guide to New York’s Best Outings! If you’ve ever asked, “What should we do today?” then you’ve never seen New York Day Trips by Theme. This comprehensive guide to the Empire State is jam-packed with more than 150 of New York’s top spots for fun and entertainment. Take a simple day trip, or string together a longer vacation of activities that catch your interest. Destinations in the book are organized by themes, such as Adventure, Airplanes & Railroads, Family Fun, and Natural Wonders, so you can decide what to do and then figure out where to do it. Useful for singles, couples, and families—visitors and residents alike—this guide by Sandra Mardenfeld encompasses a wide range of interests. Discover the state’s unique attractions—lighthouses, museums, rail-trails, winter activities, and more. The book’s handy size makes it perfect for bringing along on your road trips. Plus, with tips for other things to do in the area, you’re sure to maximize the fun on every outing. With New York Day Trips by Theme at your fingertips, you’ll always have something to do!
Like every aspect of life in the Big Apple, how New Yorkers have interacted with death is as diverse as each of the countless individuals who have called the city home. Waves of immigration brought unique burial customs as archaeological excavations uncovered the graves of indigenous Lenape and enslaved Africans. Events such as the 1788 Doctors' Riot--a response to years of body snatching by medical students and physicians--contributed to new laws protecting the deceased. Overcrowding and epidemics led to the construction of the "Cemetery Belt," a wide stretch of multi-faith burial grounds throughout Brooklyn and Queens. From experiments in embalming to capital punishment and the far-reaching industry of handling the dead, author K. Krombie unveils a tapestry of stories centered on death in New York.
THE GUIDE TO ODD NEW YORK proves that weirdness still lives in the world's greatest city. Perfect for locals and adventurous visitors who are tired of conventional tourist attractions, ODD NEW YORK lures readers off the beaten path to a quirkier side of New York. THE GUIDE TO ODD NEW YORK includes the irreverent, the unconventional, and the unexpected with more than 60 eye-popping photos and a surprising entry on every page: * A psychedelic dreamworld in Tribeca * A mummified nun in upper Manhattan * A kitschy mermaid parade in Coney Island * The oldest transvestite training school in the country * Abandoned nuclear missile silos in Queens * An East Village museum celebrating organized crime * America's last circus sideshow school * The city's wickedest witchcraft store * A schlock sex and horror film company in Long Island City * Plus 100 more offbeat entries. THE GUIDE TO ODD NEW YORK also points the way to unusual nightlife destinations and bizarre events happening throughout the five boroughs. THE GUIDE TO ODD NEW YORK: Unusual Places, Weird Attractions and the City's Most Curious Sights reminds us that New York is still the capital of kookiness, as it exposes the fun and fascinating underbelly of New York.
Tired of the same old tourist traps? Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, let this first edition of Metro New York Off the Beaten Path show you the metro New York City region you never knew existed. Visit a sizable chunk of the Berlin Wall—in Battery Park. Attend a session of Night Court. Discover isolated and tranquil spots scattered across the five boroughs and beyond—including nearly forgotten islands, tucked away beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, a working farm, subway tunnel tours, crumbling ruins, and bizarre haunts in the middle of one of the planet’s most visited cities. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.
