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Secret New York: An Unusual Guide
Discover Secret Gardens, decipher ancient riddles on tombstones, visit a disturbed Indian burial ground, observe the stars and planets through a university telescope, frown at a bronze statue of Lenin, harvest mastodon food in Central Park, enjoy the aroma of a roomful of dirt, find a Venetian palazzo above a former stable, spot the forbidden island that was once declared a sovereign nation by a guy in a rowboat, track down a townhouse concealing a subway tunnel, walk under the canopy of the primeval forest, read a memorial plaque to an event that happened in another dimension, fall into a trance before a piece of subway art that flickers and moves, have your bicycle blessed in church. New York offers endless opportunity to step off the program and peer into the city's fascinating past and present. Secret New York - An Unusual Guide is an indispensible resource for those who thought they already knew everything about America's metropolis, or want to begin exploring it hidden places.
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 17, 2025
This was my dad’s book. I had been annoyed at him for not letting me borrow it. After all, he lived in Connecticut and I actually lived in New York City so would be in a much better position to visit these places. Especially since a lot of these places are less “secret” and more “obscure,” and less likely for anyone to visit who doesn’t live in the city.
When my dad passed away, I finally got a chance to read it, even though by that point, I, too, had moved away from the city. And I realized that most of these places you don’t need to visit. They are historical relics: a 17th century millstone or an original Post Road mile marker. But to read about them is fascinating. As someone who was born and spent most of his life in New York, I care about the city’s history. And it’s fascinating to see and hear chapters in the city’s history that I had never heard of before, especially from areas of the city I rarely visited like the Bronx or Staten Island.
There are also the parts of the book that weren’t so secret—that I knew about and were nice reminders (Dream House, Earth Room). And it was great to see explanations of things I had always wondered about but never bothered to look up (for instance, the huge Lenin statue in the Lower East Side). And then it’s great just to flip through the pages and see all these other sites close to where I had been, where I had walked by every day or at least every once in a while and not had the slightest idea there was anything significant there (for instance, the Polish King Jagiello statue in Central Park). Ultimately the book became an exploration not only of New York’s past but also my past, and my relationship with the city.
Mind you, there were plenty of places which made me wish I was still living in New York so I could go to them—the Living Museum, for example, or some of these hidden parks. But at least I now understood why my dad was so reluctant to part with the book. I’m sure this book fueled his nostalgia, as well.
My edition of this book was published in 2015, ten years ago. Already a number of sites are already gone (goodbye American gangster museum.) But then again, I thought of myself as a New York fixture and I, too, have left. The city moves on.
When my dad passed away, I finally got a chance to read it, even though by that point, I, too, had moved away from the city. And I realized that most of these places you don’t need to visit. They are historical relics: a 17th century millstone or an original Post Road mile marker. But to read about them is fascinating. As someone who was born and spent most of his life in New York, I care about the city’s history. And it’s fascinating to see and hear chapters in the city’s history that I had never heard of before, especially from areas of the city I rarely visited like the Bronx or Staten Island.
There are also the parts of the book that weren’t so secret—that I knew about and were nice reminders (Dream House, Earth Room). And it was great to see explanations of things I had always wondered about but never bothered to look up (for instance, the huge Lenin statue in the Lower East Side). And then it’s great just to flip through the pages and see all these other sites close to where I had been, where I had walked by every day or at least every once in a while and not had the slightest idea there was anything significant there (for instance, the Polish King Jagiello statue in Central Park). Ultimately the book became an exploration not only of New York’s past but also my past, and my relationship with the city.
Mind you, there were plenty of places which made me wish I was still living in New York so I could go to them—the Living Museum, for example, or some of these hidden parks. But at least I now understood why my dad was so reluctant to part with the book. I’m sure this book fueled his nostalgia, as well.
My edition of this book was published in 2015, ten years ago. Already a number of sites are already gone (goodbye American gangster museum.) But then again, I thought of myself as a New York fixture and I, too, have left. The city moves on.
April 5, 2021
Oh my goodness. It took me over 14 months to finish this book and I’m so happy I’ve done it! It’s a guide book, so obviously not a huge page-turner, but it’s really good! It makes me want to go to these places or tell my friends about them and it has given me lots of new fun facts about New York. I’m a big fan.
April 30, 2019
Curious and quaint... explore the hidden city!
Secret New York is a fascinating compilation of “different” things to do in the city. Take a look at Patchin Place, a little forgotten cul-de sac – a gas light lamppost too! There is a wonderfully awful story to be had behind the remaining tenement building at 33 West 63rd, surrounded as it is by tall buildings…. Only in New York!
There are plenty of sights to choose and it is easy to find what you are looking for on the maps.
The print can be quite small but there is a lot to pack into this guide book full of highlights and unusual sights.
In our photo we have paired it with a Final Girls (see the location through the eyes of an author) and colouring for mindfulness! Get to know the city in detail!
Secret New York is a fascinating compilation of “different” things to do in the city. Take a look at Patchin Place, a little forgotten cul-de sac – a gas light lamppost too! There is a wonderfully awful story to be had behind the remaining tenement building at 33 West 63rd, surrounded as it is by tall buildings…. Only in New York!
There are plenty of sights to choose and it is easy to find what you are looking for on the maps.
The print can be quite small but there is a lot to pack into this guide book full of highlights and unusual sights.
In our photo we have paired it with a Final Girls (see the location through the eyes of an author) and colouring for mindfulness! Get to know the city in detail!
May 28, 2013
So, I didn't actually read every word of this book but did skim through multiple times & used it on my latest trip to New York. I plan on buying a copy to work my way through visiting all the places in the book. Much fun! =)
January 27, 2013
best xmas present ever. really wonderful details the overlooked sites of the city. highly recommended for any fans of culture/history/trivia, etc. and nyc. part of a series of which i am eager to read more volumes: london, florence, etc.
October 2, 2022
An interesting sort of guide book, divided by neighborhoods of the city, and focused on things that you might miss or never know about. So much fun I purchased the DC version for my return.
It covers a wide variety of unusual aspects of the city. It calls out normal buildings for their unusual history, like the unassuming brownstone that was the home to the Black Chamber, the first US communications intercept agency. It points out remaining elements of New York's past, like abandoned reservoirs and a small section of a remaining factory wall. It pointed me to tiny parks that would be hard to find without directions. And sometimes just history explanations, like why a part of Manhattan is across the Harlem river in Brooklyn.
It shouldn't be your first guidebook if you are exploring NYC, nor is it the best supplemental (I would give that to Wildsam Field Guides: Manhattan. But if you have time to explore the neighborhoods of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn over more than a week, this one is worth adding to your reading.
It covers a wide variety of unusual aspects of the city. It calls out normal buildings for their unusual history, like the unassuming brownstone that was the home to the Black Chamber, the first US communications intercept agency. It points out remaining elements of New York's past, like abandoned reservoirs and a small section of a remaining factory wall. It pointed me to tiny parks that would be hard to find without directions. And sometimes just history explanations, like why a part of Manhattan is across the Harlem river in Brooklyn.
It shouldn't be your first guidebook if you are exploring NYC, nor is it the best supplemental (I would give that to Wildsam Field Guides: Manhattan. But if you have time to explore the neighborhoods of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn over more than a week, this one is worth adding to your reading.
August 1, 2018
I am not sure how this would work as a travel book for someone coming to NYC for the 1st or second time on vacation as this certainly doesn’t cover the main “tourist” sites. But as someone who live in the suburbs and works in Manhattan this is a great book full of unseen gems that one can check out when they are in the neighborhood they are located or even a jaunt on a free day to check out multiple ones. It is broken up nicely by location as they are all grouped together. Each site is broken down into 1 photo and a 1 page description which includes details on how to get there, subway bus route etc. An excellent read.
February 8, 2024
This book is a 429-page travel guide to unusual places in New York City and I recommend it for those who have already seen the usual tourist spots. This guide will take you to a few unusual places like the the house where Tom Paine died penniless (near where the cash register is at a Greenwich Village bar), a remnant of the Berlin Wall, where to go to see a rare Bible collection, a Chinese Scholar's Garden in Staten Island, the Elm trees on the mall in Central Park and the building where the first elevator in the world was installed. There are plenty of options within these pages that are supplemented with maps and historical background.
January 4, 2018
Best for people who have lived in NYC for long enough to get to know it but not long enough to get bored. I found it fascinating.
July 22, 2024
The book is wonderful literature and is a must for everybody who wants more from to a trip to New York. Splendid writing!
July 26, 2024
This is fun to read even if you're not planning a trip. :)
May 29, 2013
The subtitle is "an unusual guide". It is: but "a bizarre guide" might be more appropriate. On the other hand, it is worth perusing the Jonglez Publishing guides for treasures that may pique your interest. For example, the New York guide shows where you can find Cole Porter's Steinway (in the mezzanine of the Waldorf Astoria); or the Historic Aviation Restoration Project at Brooklyn's former airport, Floyd Bennett Field; or the Steinway Piano Factory, which does tours in the Bronx.
Jonglez is based in Versailles, France, so its European guides are equally interesting. Not just is there a "Secret Paris" but also "Secret Bars & Restaurants in Paris."
Jonglez is based in Versailles, France, so its European guides are equally interesting. Not just is there a "Secret Paris" but also "Secret Bars & Restaurants in Paris."
May 28, 2015
I found this awesome, unique guide to New York at Idlewild, a NYC bookstore devoted to travel books. It's just a shame that I found it so close to the end of my trip. There are so many interesting spots in this book, some that are tucked inside or near touristy spots, and some that are destinations of their own. I managed to see a couple and am looking forward to using it again, more in depth, next time I visit the city.
October 1, 2018
I think these guides work best when they find a balance: between history and modern pop culture; the almost forgotten and current events; the quirky and the somber. This guide is just lovely. I don't know that I will ever make it to New York to do much exploring, but this book definitely makes me interested- and I'd love to visit so many of the places in this book!
March 2, 2015
Although I was born a New Yorker, I love to read this sort of guide for the history I learn. Some of these places are more unusual than others. It may be a better guide for New Yorkers than out-of-towners who might have limited time and be more interested in seeing more "can't miss" sights.
July 24, 2016
I really liked this guide. While in NY, it's very easy to find stuff to do - that everyone else is doing. This guide allowed us to pick an off-the-path destination, see other interesting stuff on the way, and get a real feel for the city as travelers, without the lines and touristy crap.
July 9, 2014
Loved it! Very dense with information. Lots of quirky, fun stuff to look into next time you're in Manhattan, or if you live there and like going treasure-hunting for nifty places.
September 4, 2016
Me gusta mucho esta coleccion de guias. Aunque no son para una primera visita a una ciudad, si no mas bien para largas estancias, me gusta reconocer estas historias cuando las visito.
November 5, 2016
Superb. This is the kind of travel book that any true adventurer really wants and needs. It is a guide to the special nooks and crannies that you might overlook even if you were a resident.
December 27, 2012
Loving this book. Wish it had more outer boroughs, but the Manhattan stuff is great.
April 18, 2017
Reading Secret New York in the weeks before visiting set the perfect tone for my whirlwind visit. There are so many treasures hidden in a city this vast that you would hustle by them in the rush of pedestrian traffic, unless you knew where to look.
A section of the Berlin Wall on display in an ordinary midtown office building atrium sparked a conversation about post-war Germany that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
None of the spots featured in this book would figure into an ordinary tour guide, but having a heightened awareness of my surroundings made the journey to the classic spots much more enjoyable. Sometimes the joy is in the journey, not the destination #historymadereal #slowdown
A section of the Berlin Wall on display in an ordinary midtown office building atrium sparked a conversation about post-war Germany that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
None of the spots featured in this book would figure into an ordinary tour guide, but having a heightened awareness of my surroundings made the journey to the classic spots much more enjoyable. Sometimes the joy is in the journey, not the destination #historymadereal #slowdown
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews