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New York Offbeat Walks
This is NOT your typical guide —this book will show you the quirkier side of Manhattan. See where the slave market was in Colonial Manhattan, learn who the streets were named after, visit the site of Studio 54, CGBGs, William S. Burroughs’ Bunker, and John Lennon’s Nutopia, see the locations you’ll recognize from The Godfather (1972), When Harry Met Sally (1989), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and places where other famous movies were filmed, visit everything from tiny community gardens to skyscrapers beloved by billionaires . . . Each walk covers lesser-known architectural, historical, and cultural highlights. Five reasons to buy this
- GenresTravel
416 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 11, 2025
A fun, witty, and eye-opening guide that reveals Manhattan’s hidden gems and quirky history. Packed with great stories, cool film locations, and unique spots you’d never find on your own. Smart, entertaining, and perfect for curious explorers. 🗽✨
March 5, 2026
Such an interesting tour through MANHATTAN, covering the known and surprising unknowns.
March 19, 2023
I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
This travel book is for those who want to explore by walking and using their imaginations rather than being entertained by the standard tourist spots.
There are 12 Manhattan walks, ranging from the southern end to Harlem. Distances range from just under 2 miles to more than 5.5 miles, each with dozens of spots. Each of the walks provides insight into how the use and culture has evolved over time by identifying Idiosyncratic sites of historical, economic, and cultural interest. Locations spotlighted include such things as:
-The borders of New Amsterdam: the East River along Broad Street and the fortified wall at the North edge of the community, along what is now…Wall Street.
-Locations where movie scenes were shot, such as for The Godfather movies and Ghost.
-Where there used to be a pond, Collect Pond, in lower Manhattan.
-Random observations, such as where the first gallery in Soho used to be located and areas that used to be frequented by prostitutes and are now locations for high end real estate owned by celebrities.
-Buildings with interesting architectural details or where historical events happened.
-There are more traditional tourist sites included, such as the Federal Hall National Monument, site of George Washington’s inauguration; and another building that houses the National Museum of the American Indian.
-Public art, such as “Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk” or the former location of the highly controversial “Tilted Arc” in the 1980s.
-Churches and other institutions that served immigration communities.
-Former homes of celebrities such as Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.
-And so much more–totaling more than 500.
I look forward to using some of these walks as blueprints for exploring Manhattan neighborhoods.
This travel book is for those who want to explore by walking and using their imaginations rather than being entertained by the standard tourist spots.
There are 12 Manhattan walks, ranging from the southern end to Harlem. Distances range from just under 2 miles to more than 5.5 miles, each with dozens of spots. Each of the walks provides insight into how the use and culture has evolved over time by identifying Idiosyncratic sites of historical, economic, and cultural interest. Locations spotlighted include such things as:
-The borders of New Amsterdam: the East River along Broad Street and the fortified wall at the North edge of the community, along what is now…Wall Street.
-Locations where movie scenes were shot, such as for The Godfather movies and Ghost.
-Where there used to be a pond, Collect Pond, in lower Manhattan.
-Random observations, such as where the first gallery in Soho used to be located and areas that used to be frequented by prostitutes and are now locations for high end real estate owned by celebrities.
-Buildings with interesting architectural details or where historical events happened.
-There are more traditional tourist sites included, such as the Federal Hall National Monument, site of George Washington’s inauguration; and another building that houses the National Museum of the American Indian.
-Public art, such as “Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk” or the former location of the highly controversial “Tilted Arc” in the 1980s.
-Churches and other institutions that served immigration communities.
-Former homes of celebrities such as Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.
-And so much more–totaling more than 500.
I look forward to using some of these walks as blueprints for exploring Manhattan neighborhoods.
October 26, 2025
I have tried lots of similar walking tour books of New York, but this one is the best. I've done five of the walks: The Civic Centre and Chinatown, Upper West Side, Hell's Kitchen, Harlem, and the West Village. All very good - not too long and plenty of points of interest to keep you engaged.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews