"Published in conjunction with the exhibition Left Bank New York: artists off Washington Square North, 1900-1950, curated and organized by Virginia Budny for La Maison Fran÷caise of New York University, New York City. The exhibition is on view from October 27 to December 15, 2006, and at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, New York, in Spring 2007"--Cover, p. [3].
An incandescent group portrait of the midcentury artists and thinkers whose lives, loves, collaborations, and passions were forged against the wartime destruction and postwar rebirth of Paris In this fascinating tour of a celebrated city during one of its most trying, significant, and ultimately triumphant eras, Agnes Poirier unspools the stories of the poets, writers, painters, and philosophers whose lives collided to extraordinary effect between 1940 and 1950. She gives us the human drama behind some of the most celebrated works of the 20th century, from Richard Wright’s Native Son, Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, and James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Saul Bellow's Augie March, along with the origin stories of now legendary movements, from Existentialism to the Theatre of the Absurd, New Journalism, bebop, and French feminism. We follow Arthur Koestler and Norman Mailer as young men, peek inside Picasso’s studio, and trail the twists of Camus's Sartre's, and Beauvoir’s epic love stories. We witness the births and deaths of newspapers and literary journals and peer through keyholes to see the first kisses and last nights of many ill-advised bedfellows. At every turn, Poirier deftly hones in on the most compelling and colorful history, without undermining the crucial significance of the era. She brings to life the flawed, visionary Parisians who fell in love and out of it, who infuriated and inspired one another, all while reconfiguring the world's political, intellectual, and creative landscapes. With its balance of clear-eyed historical narrative and irresistible anecdotal charm, Left Bank transports readers to a Paris teeming with passion, drama, and life.
In the late 1980s, a handful of artists priced out of Manhattan and desperately needing affordable studio space discovered 111 1st Street, a former P. Lorillard Tobacco Company warehouse. Over the next two decades, an eclectic collection of painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, and writers dreamt and toiled within the building’s labyrinthine halls. The local arts scene flourished, igniting hope that Jersey City would emerge as the next grassroots center of the art world. However, a rising real estate market coupled with a provincial political establishment threatened the community at 111 1st Street. The artists found themselves entangled in a long, complicated, and vicious fight for their place in the building and for the physical survival of 111 1st Street itself, a site that held so much potential, so much promise for Jersey City. Left Bank of the Hudson offers a window into the demographic, political, and socio-economic changes experienced by Jersey City during the last thirty years. Documenting the narrative of 111 1st Street as an act of cultural preservation, author David J. Goodwin’s well-researched and significant contribution addresses the question of the role of artists in economically improving cities. As a Jersey City resident, Goodwin applies his knowledge of the city’s rich history of political malfeasance and corruption, including how auspicious plans for a waterfront arts enclave were repeatedly bungled by a provincial-minded city administration. In writing this story, Goodwin interviewed thirteen artists and residents, two businesses, three government officials, and five non-profits, civic organizations, and community activists. The book chronologically explores the history and business of the P. Lorillard Tobacco Company, its evolution into a bustling arts community, the battle to preserve the warehouse as a historic structure, and the lessons to be drawn from the loss and ultimate demolition of the building in 2007, as well as the present state of the neighborhood. Setting the facts straight for future generations, Left Bank of the Hudson provides an illustrative lesson to government officials, scholars, students, activists, and everyday citizens attempting to navigate the “rediscovery” of American cities.
The Rough Guide to New York City is the ultimate travel guide to this exciting city. In full color throughout and with dozens of photos to illustrate New York City's great buildings, iconic landmarks, and distinctive neighborhoods, this updated guidebook will show you the best the city has to offer. The guide includes itineraries to help you explore the city, discover great places to eat, and experience the city outside of the traditional tourist's path. You'll also find detailed information neighborhood-by-neighborhood, whether you want to visit the historic Financial District, Chelsea's High Line park, the churches of Harlem, Brooklyn's Coney Island, or even the furthest reaches of the Bronx. New York City has something for everyone--art galleries and museums, festivals and nightlife--and The Rough Guide to New York City uncovers it all, revealing hidden gems in some of the most popular areas and including all kinds of highlights in its "Top 5" lists. Detailed color maps for each neighborhood, plus a subway map and practical information on all the essentials, make getting around easy. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to New York City. Now available in ePub format.
The Rough Guide to New York City is the ultimate travel guide to the city that never sleeps. With full color throughout and dozens of photos to illustrate New York City's great buildings, iconic landmarks, and distinctive neighborhoods, this updated guidebook will show you the best the city has to offer. The Rough Guide to New York City includes itineraries to help you explore all the must-see sights, discover great places to eat, and experience the city outside of the traditional tourist's path. You'll also find detailed information neighborhood-by-neighborhood, whether you want to visit the historic Financial District, Chelsea's High Line park, the churches of Harlem, Brooklyn's Coney Island, or even the farthest reaches of the Bronx. New York City has something for everyone - art galleries and museums, festivals and nightlife--and The Rough Guide to New York City uncovers it all, revealing hidden gems in some of the most popular areas and including all kinds of highlights in its "Top 5" lists. Detailed color maps for each neighborhood, plus a subway map and practical information on all the essentials, make getting around easy. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to New York City. Series Overview: For more than thirty years, adventurous travelers have turned to Rough Guides for up-to-date and intuitive information from expert authors. With opinionated and lively writing, honest reviews, and a strong cultural background, Rough Guides travel books bring more than 200 destinations to life. Visit RoughGuides.com to learn more.
The Rough Guide to NYC covers the all the sights and attractions and has up-to-date listings, detailed maps and the extensive practical information you’ll need to make the best of your visit to the city. The introduction gives you an overview of the city and a select list of things not to miss – the best museums, festivals, night-time activities and much more. The guide then goes neighbourhood by neighbourhood, covering everything from the historic Financial District and the landmark architecture of Midtown to Central Park, Prospect Park and the furthest reaches of the Bronx. Essentials on how to get around, a list of recommended New York books and films, a full-colour map section, colour inserts on architecture and the city’s ethnic neighbourhoods, and much more.
The Rough Guide to New York is the definitive guide to the cultural capital of the USA, taking you from the historic Financial District to the landmark architecture of Midtown and from peaceful Central Park to the furthest reaches of the Bronx. It's packed with detailed, lively reviews of accommodation and restaurants to suit all budgets, plus the practical information you'll need to make the best of your break. Get under the skin of this dynamic, vibrant city with the 'things not to miss', essentials on how to get around, and quirkier sections like the recommended New York books and films. With comprehensive research, stunning photographs and dozens of clear, accurate maps The Rough Guide to New York is your essential companion. Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to New York.
WINNER, THE VICTORIAN SOCIETY NEW YORK, 2022 BOOK AWARD How a prolific yet little-known architect changed the face of education in New York City As Superintendent of School Buildings from 1891 to 1922, architect Charles B. J. Snyder elevated the standards of school architecture. Unprecedented immigration and Progressive Era changes in educational philosophy led to his fresh approach to design and architecture, which forever altered the look and feel of twentieth-century classrooms and school buildings. Students rich or poor, immigrant or native New Yorker, went from learning in factory-like schools to attending classes in schools with architectural designs and enhancements that to many made them seem like palaces. Spanning three decades, From Factories to Palaces provides a thought-provoking narrative of Charles Snyder and shows how he integrated his personal experiences and innovative design skills with Progressive Era school reform to improve students’ educational experience in New York City and, by extension, across the nation. During his thirty-one years of service, Snyder oversaw the construction of more than 400 New York City public schools and additions, of which more than half remain in use today. Instead of blending in with the surrounding buildings as earlier schools had, Snyder’s were grand and imposing. “He does that which no other architect before his time ever did or tried: He builds them beautiful,” wrote Jacob Riis. Working with the Building Bureau, Snyder addressed the school situation on three fronts: appearance, construction, and function. He re-designed schools for greater light and air, improved their sanitary facilities, and incorporated quality-of-life features such as heated cloakrooms and water fountains. Author and educator Dr. Jean Arrington chronicles how Snyder worked alongside a group of like-minded, hardworking individuals—Building Bureau draftsmen, builders, engineers, school administrators, teachers, and custodians—to accomplish this feat. This revelatory book offers fascinating glimpses into the nascent world of modern education, from the development of specialty areas, such as the school gymnasium, auditorium, and lunchroom, to the emergence of school desks with backs as opposed to uncomfortable benches, all housed in some of the first fireproofed schools in the nation. Thanks to Snyder, development was always done with the students’ safety, well-being, and learning in mind. Lively historical drawings, architectural layouts, and photographs of school building exteriors and interiors enhance the engaging story. Funding for this book was provided by: Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund