In this diverse and richly informative collection, author (and lifelong New Yorker) Reggie Nadelson introduces readers to 40 New York institutions that have defined cool for decades, from time-honoured restaurants to unsung dives. Entries span the length of Manhattan, from the beloved appetising shop Russ & Daughters and dim sum parlor Jing Fong downtown to the Three Lives bookstore and Julius’ bar in the West Village, German food shop Schaller & Weber on the Upper East Side to the Minton’s Playhouse jazz club in Harlem.
The essays weave together Reggie’s own experiences of these beloved shops – from her childhood in the West Village to her present-day Soho haunts – and the histories of these storied institutions and their owners. The book is at once dripping in nostalgia and celebratory of the modern-day incarnations of these locations, many of them family-run, that continue to mean so much to the residents of this city.
About the Author
Reggie Nadelson lives in New York and currently writes a column for the New York Times called The 212. She has also written columns for the Guardian, the Independent, the Financial Times, and Departures. She is the author of numerous books, including At Balthazar, a celebrated mystery series featuring detective Artie Cohen, and Comrade Rockstar. Last year she wrote and produced a major feature-length documentary about Ella Fitzgerald called Ella: Just One of Those Things.
Industry Reviews
“A timely read. . . . [Nadelson’s] reporting, all from a personal lens, is up-to-date with how various places are responding to the pandemic. Like chocolate chips in a cookie, the book is studded with delicious photos old and new, including Al Pacino exiting Caffe Dante and Giorgio DeLuca shopping for cheese at Di Palo’s.
—New York Times
“Delightful . . . [and] alive with the comedy, history, grit, and romance of the city. Nadelson has served up a small cultural treasure—part Baedeker, part memoir, part literary read, and a timely reminder of everything we love about Manhattan and lost for a year.”
—Avenue, 4 New Books that Deserve a Spot on Your Summer Reading List
“A nostalgic look at New York’s beloved haunts. . . . A refresher on reasons to stay committed to New York City living.”
—WWD
“Attention New Yorkers missing the Before Times. . . . [These] stories and photos will make you proud you stayed in town.
—Tasting Table
“This book is perfect for the nostalgic New York City lover, an ode to all of the special places that make New York City feel like an old movie set.”
—Dame Traveler, The Best Gifts for the New York City Lover
“A wonderfully lively, knowledgeable journey through the past and present of places that help make New York City what it is, and which we must cherish and (hopefully) preserve.”
—Salman Rushdie
“Reggie Nadelson is synonymous with New York, and her book will make the most ardent anti-urbanist fall in love with both the thrumming city and her evocative prose.”
—Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story and Lake Success
