Marvelous Manhattan

There are many books written nostalgically about the New York that used to be or the New York that perhaps featured prominently in an author's memory. Marvelous Manhattan is a marvelous (pun intended) addition to this genre and a very welcome one as well.
Nadelson has the personal experience, writing chops, and credentials to author a book like this. The balance between storytelling, photographs, and length of each vignette is perfect and gives the reader just the right amount of schmear on the bagel.
The first thing a reader is going to want to do is peruse the table of contents to see if their own personal favorites have been included. Nadelson has astutely included a wide range of New York favorites, but has not neglected lesser known, but intriguing locations. The historical and generational tidbits are memorable and though the pandemic won't last forever, this is prime reading for those of us still stuck at home and/or unable to travel to New York.

I loved it. Can we have a second volume, please?

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

Having grown up in NYC, I have visited and eaten at many of the places mentioned. I have fond memories of the many tastes, smells, people, and sights .. NYC does this to a person, the experience is amazing and magical. It is also wonderful reading about the owners and the history of the buildings. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

A tour through Manhattan's many beloved eating institutions is also a trip through the various cultures who've built the island's food culture; where every few blocks one runs into yet another slice of grimy history and the deliciousness it birthed alongside its pain and unspeakable horrors. The crime, the poverty, the racial tensions, the sheer grind of living in that city - the dark, seamy bits that often get forgotten in the sparkle and fairy dust Hollywood and the popular imagination like to sprinkle over it - all of it is reflected in the food featured in this book. This is a loving tour through the different neighborhoods of Manhattan, ranging through the author's own beloved childhood haunts to more recent discoveries. It's a love letter to Manhattan and a snapshot of the communities that have found their home in it. Truly marvelous.

Written by Author Reggie Nadelson, this book takes you on a tour of some of Nadleson’s favorite places in New York. Providing historical backgrounds on the building, families or famous persons that have visited, it’s a wonderful look at the city that never sleeps through the eyes of one of its own.

I was finally able to visit NYC a few years before Covid came along. I had hoped I’d be on a return trip by now but that’s going to have to wait. Reading through this book, I was able to learn so much about these places and now have added at least 10 new places I’ll need to visit when I’m finally able to return. My husband, originally from New York, had only heard of a handful of these places and learned quite a bit reading over my shoulder, along with salivating at all the descriptions of food from the restaurants listed!

A favorite quote from the book that reinforces my growing love for this city I’ve barely had time to explore:
Very few cities cling to their myths or their history the way New York does; even as it hurries to tear things down, to build up bigger, higher, richer, there is always that rueful melancholy for the past.

This book was such a pleasure to read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing this book. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy and all views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thank you for the E-Arc NetGalley. My goodness this book will take you right in to NYC and you won’t want to leave. The photos are divine and the stories to go along with the featured spots are riveting. I loved this book so much as an ebook and I’m sure it’s even better in print. I have so many new sights to see, cocktails got drink and bites to eat during our next visit now and we can’t wait! This is a top of the stack coffee table book thats guaranteed to make people pick it up. Beautifully done!

This could be an excellent guide to Manhattan places and it made me travel and wish I was there.
A fascinating collection of places, stories and photos about the places the author loves.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine