Novoarte and I have put together this "Before You Go Guide" to New York City. The idea is to collect some of the city's cultural resources (books, movies and music about or from the city) in one place, so travelers can immerse themselves before, during or after their stay. Obviously the cultural output of NYC is almost endless, so this is a small sampling to start off with - please chime in with your thoughts and more suggestions!!
BOOKS
Here is New York by E.B. White
You probably know E.B. White as the author of the children’s favorite, Charlotte’s Web, but White was an inveterate observer of New York life, not only as a staff writer at The New Yorker, but also as the author of the slim volume, Here is New York. This 56 page book, written in 1948, is both memoir and love letter to New York, and it’s a fantastic read, whether you’re a native New Yorker or a new arrival. Little about the book is dated, and with lines like “The island of Manhattan is without any doubt the greatest human concentrate on earth, the poem whose magic is comprehensible to millions…but whose full meaning will always remain elusive,” you’ll be ready to pack your bags and stake your own claim on the city.
Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill
Hamill’s candid assessment of the complexity of New York is as loving as White’s book, and his observations are as spot-on and moving: “New York is a city of daily irritations, occasional horrors, hourly tests of will and even courage, and huge dollops of pure beauty.”
This is New York by Miroslav Sasek
Published and marketed as a children’s book, This is New York performs equally well as a condensed and colorful history of New York for adults.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Ellison’s book is a classic, set in the grittiest days and places of New York.
The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City by Jennifer Toth
There are probably more urban legends about New York than any other city in the world, and in this book, Toth takes on the legend about the people who live in subway tunnels beneath the city’s streets and shows how real their stories are.
MOVIES
Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979)
New York has served as Woody Allen’s muse in plenty of his films, but these two would be my top picks. Annie Hall is a classic, the last comedy to win the Oscar for Best Picture, and Manhattan is a love letter on film – check out the famous intro, complete with black-and-white footage and Gershwin score, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o6QKpNK9Cc
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
One of the all-time classic romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally is filled with New York eye candy – check out the Katz’s Deli scene here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-bsf2x-aeE
Trust the Man (2005)
Openly modeled on movies like Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally, Trust the Man is another smart romantic comedy about professionals in New York. (Insert scene with shrink here.) It’s a great script and a great cast, and in my opinion has been tragically overlooked. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SGXGki_rSU
Wall Street (1987)
This movie may be dated, especially if you focus on the hair styles and dress, but Wall Street is still the best movie around about one man’s transformation from an eager stockbroker to a ruthless—and eventually rueful—executive. Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/trailers-screenplay-E20595-310
Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
Catch Robin Williams in his glory days in this film about a Russian immigrant who is chasing the American dream in Manhattan. Check out Siskel and Ebert’s enthusiastic review at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thd9_HxFUGk
New York (1999)
Ric Burns’ epic documentary (14 hours) takes viewers from the founding days of the city right up to the millennium, and is a must for history aficionados. Burns relies upon archival footage and the accounts of historians who are obviously passionate about New York to develop an engaging narrative. Even if you don’t watch the series, the companion website is chock-full of useful and interesting information.
MUSIC
James Brown, Live At The Apollo (1963)
Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater has seen its share of big names and historic musical happenings, but this live album, recorded on October 24, 1962, might be one of the biggest. Live at the Apollo spent over a year on the Billboard pop charts – a completely unprecedented accomplishment at the time for an R&B album – and DJs across the country regularly played it from end to end, live on radio. Featuring James Brown’s older, lesser-known hits like “Think” and “Try Me”, it’s been called “the most apocalyptic non-gospel album ever recorded.”
What other singer can tell the complex story of migration from the South to the North—a story that can fill books (and has)—in a song that’s less than 5 minutes long? Check out this version with Ray and Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thd9_HxFUGk
Pretty much anything by The Beastie Boys
Some people swear by the groundbreaking sampling work of Paul’s Boutique, while others stand by the old-school cred of Licensed to Ill. Many more fans only came on board with the introduction of Mix Master Mike on Hello Nasty – and me? All I know is, “Professor Booty” always makes me giggle, and Adam Horovitz is dreamy. Oh, and I also know that few musicians this high on the fame scale remain so closely and publicly tied to their hometowns. The Beastie Boys have become particularly outspoken in their love of New York in the years since 9/11. Check out their Open Letter to NYC here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkhuye2jWfE
Joined: 08-07-07
Novoarte and I have put together this "Before You Go Guide" to New York City. The idea is to collect some of the city's cultural resources (books, movies and music about or from the city) in one place, so travelers can immerse themselves before, during or after their stay. Obviously the cultural output of NYC is almost endless, so this is a small sampling to start off with - please chime in with your thoughts and more suggestions!!
BOOKS
Here is New York by E.B. White
You probably know E.B. White as the author of the children’s favorite, Charlotte’s Web, but White was an inveterate observer of New York life, not only as a staff writer at The New Yorker, but also as the author of the slim volume, Here is New York. This 56 page book, written in 1948, is both memoir and love letter to New York, and it’s a fantastic read, whether you’re a native New Yorker or a new arrival. Little about the book is dated, and with lines like “The island of Manhattan is without any doubt the greatest human concentrate on earth, the poem whose magic is comprehensible to millions…but whose full meaning will always remain elusive,” you’ll be ready to pack your bags and stake your own claim on the city.
Downtown: My Manhattan by Pete Hamill
Hamill’s candid assessment of the complexity of New York is as loving as White’s book, and his observations are as spot-on and moving: “New York is a city of daily irritations, occasional horrors, hourly tests of will and even courage, and huge dollops of pure beauty.”
This is New York by Miroslav Sasek
Published and marketed as a children’s book, This is New York performs equally well as a condensed and colorful history of New York for adults.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Ellison’s book is a classic, set in the grittiest days and places of New York.
The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City by Jennifer Toth
There are probably more urban legends about New York than any other city in the world, and in this book, Toth takes on the legend about the people who live in subway tunnels beneath the city’s streets and shows how real their stories are.
MOVIES
Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979)
New York has served as Woody Allen’s muse in plenty of his films, but these two would be my top picks. Annie Hall is a classic, the last comedy to win the Oscar for Best Picture, and Manhattan is a love letter on film – check out the famous intro, complete with black-and-white footage and Gershwin score, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o6QKpNK9Cc
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
One of the all-time classic romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally is filled with New York eye candy – check out the Katz’s Deli scene here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-bsf2x-aeE
Trust the Man (2005)
Openly modeled on movies like Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally, Trust the Man is another smart romantic comedy about professionals in New York. (Insert scene with shrink here.) It’s a great script and a great cast, and in my opinion has been tragically overlooked. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SGXGki_rSU
Wall Street (1987)
This movie may be dated, especially if you focus on the hair styles and dress, but Wall Street is still the best movie around about one man’s transformation from an eager stockbroker to a ruthless—and eventually rueful—executive. Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/trailers-screenplay-E20595-310
Moscow on the Hudson (1984)
Catch Robin Williams in his glory days in this film about a Russian immigrant who is chasing the American dream in Manhattan. Check out Siskel and Ebert’s enthusiastic review at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thd9_HxFUGk
New York (1999)
Ric Burns’ epic documentary (14 hours) takes viewers from the founding days of the city right up to the millennium, and is a must for history aficionados. Burns relies upon archival footage and the accounts of historians who are obviously passionate about New York to develop an engaging narrative. Even if you don’t watch the series, the companion website is chock-full of useful and interesting information.
MUSIC
James Brown, Live At The Apollo (1963)
Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater has seen its share of big names and historic musical happenings, but this live album, recorded on October 24, 1962, might be one of the biggest. Live at the Apollo spent over a year on the Billboard pop charts – a completely unprecedented accomplishment at the time for an R&B album – and DJs across the country regularly played it from end to end, live on radio. Featuring James Brown’s older, lesser-known hits like “Think” and “Try Me”, it’s been called “the most apocalyptic non-gospel album ever recorded.”
Think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewmqD8I7wo0
Try Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2XY6oRD2xc
Counting Crows, “Chelsea”
Of the many, many, many songs out there about New York City by non-New Yorkers, this is one of my favourites. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp2AboPGSv8
Ray Charles, “Living for the City”
What other singer can tell the complex story of migration from the South to the North—a story that can fill books (and has)—in a song that’s less than 5 minutes long? Check out this version with Ray and Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thd9_HxFUGk
Pretty much anything by The Beastie Boys
Some people swear by the groundbreaking sampling work of Paul’s Boutique, while others stand by the old-school cred of Licensed to Ill. Many more fans only came on board with the introduction of Mix Master Mike on Hello Nasty – and me? All I know is, “Professor Booty” always makes me giggle, and Adam Horovitz is dreamy. Oh, and I also know that few musicians this high on the fame scale remain so closely and publicly tied to their hometowns. The Beastie Boys have become particularly outspoken in their love of New York in the years since 9/11. Check out their Open Letter to NYC here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkhuye2jWfE