Off the Beaten (Subway) Track: New York City’s Best Unusual Attractions

Suzanne Reisman
Cumberland House Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781581826418
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/09) 

 

People who know me are often surprised when I tell them that New York is NOT one of my favorite cities. Granted, the first time I was there, it was miserably cold, and that could make most anybody dislike a place. But the second time was in the spring; I got great Broadway tickets and saw some amazing exhibitions, yet I still wouldn’t count it among my favorite places in this country, let alone on this planet. When I picked up Suzanne Reisman’s “Off the Beaten (Subway) Track,” I was quite skeptical. Promising us the New York City’s best unusual attractions, it made me curious enough to crack it open and read a few sentences here and there.

Well, I have to admit – if Ms. Reisman would be my guide, or if I simply follow some of her suggestions next time I find myself in NYC, I just might change my mind about it. Written in pleasantly chatty, yet extremely informative way, this book takes the reader to places I never thought to look for during either of my visits. I have to admit that the only place I was aware of before I read the book was actually Louis Armstrong House. I don’t scare easily, yet most of my NYC explorations have been sadly limited to Manhattan, maybe due to the fact that people simply do not smile much in the city, and even less so while on the subway. But after reading about all the fascinating places described within “Off the Beaten (Subway) Track,” there were so many of them that piqued my interest that I’ll probably have to head up North sooner than I anticipated.

Organized in a sensible, geographical way, Ms. Reisman’s book would enable anybody to head to less well-known areas with enough confidence to conquer even the fascinating New York City’s public transportation. The pleasantly eclectic mix of attractions in the book, ranging from a Troll Museum to a Masonic Museum, with enough art and religious places thrown in, should make anybody’s visit to NYC far more pleasant and unusual. And the addition of some quite off-the-wall-sounding eating places only makes the whole mix more appealing.

I’ve enjoyed Ms. Reisman’s “Off the Beaten (Subway) Track” greatly and I would recommend it to anybody who loves to travel, either for real or just in an armchair. The New York she describes is fresh, unusual and engaging. I found the book to be well researched, thoughtfully written and filled with valuable practical advice.

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